South Africa: SA, Mozambique commit to continued bilateral cooperation President Cyril Ramaphosa says as the world strives to emerge from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, neighbouring countries like Mozambique and South Africa must continue to deepen and strengthen the already existing ties between them. The President was speaking at a Plenary Session of the third South Africa-Mozambique Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Pretoria. The commission promotes cooperation between the two countries and encompasses committees in politics and diplomacy, defence and security, the economy and social development. Our two countries share a common view on issues of peace, stability, economic development, regional and continental integration. We are both undertaking programmes to advance youth development, womens empowerment, poverty alleviation and job creation. These are some of the concrete steps we are taking to realise the vision of the AUs Agenda 2063 and to improve the lives of our people, President Ramaphosa said on Friday. Energy President Ramaphosa told the commission that South Africa is expanding cooperation with Mozambique, particularly in the energy sector. Currently, the country supplies South Africa with at least 1 000MW of electricity per day from the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric power station. Mozambique remains one of South Africas top trading partners in the region, and there are several opportunities for expansion. South Africa is keen, in particular, to expand cooperation in the energy sector. Mozambique is endowed with significant volumes of natural gas. This can benefit not only the people of Mozambique and South Africa, but also the rest of the SADC region. Energy security is vital to economic growth in our respective countries, and we look forward to significant progress towards securing and sustaining our energy needs, the President said. Security and international relations President Ramaphosa recommitted South Africas support through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for Mozambique in the fight against terrorism-backed conflict and insurgency in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado region. We have weathered many difficulties in the past and through our resilience, we have emerged stronger. The crisis you are confronting in Cabo Delgado is no different. We will face it together with the same determination, certain that the forces of democracy and peace will be victorious, he said. The President revealed that on the international stage, South Africa will back Mozambiques bid to have a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Our countries share similar views on the need to reform the United Nations Security Council, to make it an organ that is representative, where the African continent can have a voice. South Africa fully supports Mozambiques candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Together with South Africas tenure in the AU Peace and Security Council, this will provide an opportunity for our countries to further cement cooperation between the two councils, especially in the area of financing peace support operations, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China denounces Australian defense chief's negative remarks Xinhua) 08:22, March 11, 2022 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Thursday expressed strong opposition to Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton's negative remarks about China. Dutton's remarks fully exposed his Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, which has seriously damaged relations between the two countries and the two militaries, said Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the MND. For some time, senior Australian military and political officials have, out of selfish political gains, frequently made negative remarks about China, clamored for confrontation with China in the South China Sea, and advocated alliances against China, Tan said. The Australian minister's remarks constitute gross interference in China's domestic affairs and distort China's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the spokesperson. The Taiwan question is purely China's own affair and brooks no interference from external forces, said Tan, noting that Australia is in no position to make irresponsible comments. The Chinese People's Liberation Army is determined to thwart any interference by external forces and foil any scheme by secessionists to split the island from the country, said the spokesperson. Commenting on the encounter between a Chinese vessel and an Australian aircraft last month, Tan reiterated that the operations of Chinese ships were safe, standardized and professional, and were in accordance with the relevant international laws and practices. The Australian aircraft's close reconnaissance of the Chinese vessels was malicious in intention and unprofessional in operation, posing a threat to the safety of the vessels, aircraft and personnel of both sides, Tan said. Instead of engaging in introspection, the Australian side has repeatedly spread false information, made mendacious accusations against China and advocated antagonism and confrontation, Tan added. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Marie-Elena studied creative writing, art, and photography at University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating with a BA in Studio Art -Visual Media. She moved to California from Nebraska in 2019 and is happy to call Calaveras County her home. Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input. A Lancaster County farmer has found a way to support refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With a passion for communing with others around the table while enjoying nutritious food, Nate Thomas, owner of Breakaway Farms & Butchery in Mount Joy Township, is producing two new flavors of sausages one blue and one yellow made with ingredients that mimic the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Ours is a small-scale craft operation, but I started thinking about the situation in Ukraine and how we could start the dialogue for people to consider how they can affect change. I tried to think of practical ideas, and this is what came out, said Thomas. Thomas and his team will be producing approximately 100 pounds each of Savory Blueberry and Ukrainian Plov sausages every week. The "blue" Savory Blueberry sausage is flavored with toasted fennel seeds, ginger, and sage. It's sweetened with maple syrup and can be served as a breakfast or dinner sausage. The "yellow" Ukrainian Plov is a pork sausage made with yellow rice and carrots flavored with cumin, coriander, garlic, chili powder, paprika and turmeric. The sausages will be available for purchase for $15 per pound, with two yellow and two blue sausages per package, at Lancaster Central Market in downtown Lancaster, Easton Farmers Market in Northampton County, Emmaus Farmers Market in Lehigh County, and Breakaway Farms & Butchery. All proceeds will go to Ukraine relief efforts. Thomas said he is in the process of identifying the organizations that have direct influence on the refugees and that are helping refugees coming out of Ukraine. We are donating materials and labor and will continue to do this as long as there is a need. My goal is for people to reflect about the situation in Ukraine and support this effort to help the refugees. We all can do something to help, Thomas said. How to buy Breakaway Farms & Butcherys Savory Blueberry and Ukrainian Plov sausages can be purchased for $15 per pound at the following locations. All proceeds will go to Ukraine relief efforts. Breakaway Farms & Butchery 2446 Valleyview Road, Mount Joy Township (Online only at https://app.barn2door.com/e/3DRE5/all/d27gy) Pick up online orders Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lancaster Central Market 23 N. Market St., Lancaster city Open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Easton Farmers' Market 325 Northampton St., Easton Open Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon Emmaus Farmers' Market Triangle Park, 2 S. Fourth St., Emmaus Open second and fourth Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon The National Weather Service in State College issued a winter storm watch for Lancaster County on Saturday, beginning overnight at 4 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m. Saturday evening. Snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches and gusty winds that could reach upward of 45 mph are possible, NWS said. "Travel could be very difficult," NWS said in the watch. "Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility." Friday will be mostly sunny with a high near 53. But temps will quickly drop overnight. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for much of central PA for generally 5-8 inches of snow late tonight through tomorrow. For the Lower Susquehanna Valley, a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the possibility of heavy snow with expected totals 3-5 inches. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/xOme9ZufGk NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) March 11, 2022 There's a 100% chance of rain and snow on Saturday, with rain expected in the morning, turning to snow after 9 a.m., according to NWS. "The rain and snow could be heavy at times," NWS said in its detailed forecast. Temperatures will fall to around 25 by 5 p.m. on Saturday, continuing to drop to a low of 16. Wind gusts around 20 to 25 mph which at times could top 41 mph or more will make it feel much colder. Along with Lancaster County, the winter storm watch was issued for Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams and York counties. Millersville University's Weather Information Center director Kyle Elliott said that, while it may not be the biggest snow event of winter for Lancaster County, Saturday's storm could potentially have the biggest impact on the county. This may not be our biggest snowfall of the winter, but when you look at the impacts as a whole, this will be the biggest impactful storm we'll see all winter, Elliott said. Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. THE ISSUE: In a move that will send a companys profits directly to community programs, S. Dale High and his family have transferred their shares of High Industries to the High Foundation, LNP | LancasterOnline's Lisa Scheid reported last week. It means the foundation will receive the profits as well as control of the East Lampeter Township-based company. It will send more than $5 million annually to the foundation for programs that address poverty and build up communities where the multistate company does business, including Lancaster County, central Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Florida. The High companies, headed by High Industries and High Real Estate Group, are involved in steel, concrete, real estate, construction and numerous other fields. Company and community begin with the same three letters, but too often thats where the relationship ends. The family behind High Industries, however, has long seen company and community as being interwoven. And last weeks announcement is a praiseworthy example of an incredibly successful family business investing more of its profits back into the betterment of the communities where it has thrived. As LNP | LancasterOnlines Scheid explained, High Industries contributes about $2.5 million annually to the High Foundation, which was established in 1980. With ownership transferred to the foundation, it will receive in profits more than double the annual contribution, Scheid reported. Thats a wonderful kind of doubling down. Even before the announcement, the High Foundation was one of the largest private foundations in the region. It has supported scholarships, classrooms and labs at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. It also has supported the Water Street Mission, Lancaster Conservancy, Fulton Theatre, Historic Rock Ford and Assets Lancaster, Scheid noted. The High Foundations website states that its focus is on the impact areas of education; health and human services; environmental stewardship; arts and culture; historic preservation and social enterprise. Since 1980, it has put millions toward those kinds of projects. Additionally, there is the $65 million High Foundation Fund that was established at Lancaster County Community Foundation last fall. But S. Dale High has consistently made the point that funding is only part of the process of community transformation. Resources are not where major initiatives begin, he said at a 2018 news conference detailing $600,000 in High Foundation grants to agencies working within the Southwest neighborhood of Lancaster city. They begin with a vision. They begin with a group that cares deeply and is conscientiously involved. We dont have the ability to lead this effort; we are only happy to be a catalyst and be with you and endorse what you desire to do. Its a noble, humble perspective from the head of a family that has brought so much good to the county. Indeed, Lancaster County is fortunate to have multiple philanthropic families that have focused on improving life here. In 2014, The Steinman Foundation was created through the merger of separate private foundations that had been established in 1951 by brothers James Hale Steinman and John Frederick Steinman. Contributions over many years by LNP Media Group (the parent company of LNP | LancasterOnline and other publications) and its affiliates have funded more than $100 million in local grants that have focused on early childhood education and development; economic and workforce development; and local journalism and media literacy. The Steinman family has been committed to this local newspapers production since 1866, when Andrew Jackson Steinman became co-publisher and editor of the Lancaster Intelligencer & Journal, a forerunner of LNP | LancasterOnline, we wrote in a 2020 editorial. In an industry that has seen local newspapers devoured and stripped of their assets by hedge funds, turning local communities into news deserts, Lancaster County is fortunate to have newspapers owned by a family committed to journalism. The High Foundation is employing a model of philanthropy used by The Steinman Foundation taking the profits from a for-profit entity and channeling them to the nonprofit. Last weeks announcement was made possible through an agreement by S. Dale High and his family members to transfer their shares of High Industries to the High Foundation Suzanne High, who is vice chair of the foundation (and Highs daughter), said the family wholly supported the move as a continuation of her fathers transformative and innovative leadership, Scheid reported. The restructuring allows the charitable foundation to become the majority shareholder of High Industries. Profits from the business will return to the foundation and essentially will be managed, grown and distributed into the community, Scheid explained. This quote is attributed to S. Dale High on the High Foundations website: We are on this earth for a purpose that is larger than our own interests. That purpose is to strive to make the world a better place ... beginning in our community. Were fortunate to live in a county where so many of us would agree with those words. That the High family has had the ability to put so much meaningful philanthropy behind that philosophy is very special indeed. As I write this, gas prices are at historic highs. When the Biden administration is asked if there is anything it can do to reduce the price of oil, we get the same old, same old. It claims that nothing can be done right now, but we need to reduce our need for fossil fuels and buy electric cars. But there is something the Biden administration can do. Oil prices are high right now because investors believe supply will be restricted and demand will stay strong, thus keeping oil prices high. Thats why President Joe Biden is asking other oil-producing countries, even Venezuela and terrorism-sponsoring Iran, to increase oil supply. What I believe Biden should do is open up our oil production by stopping his war on fossil fuels. We have the oil and gas resources. We just need policies that will remove restrictive barriers and allow the oil and natural gas producers to get their goods to market. I believe that if the world oil market sees a major commitment from the U.S. to increase the oil supply, the price of oil would begin to decline. Im not saying we shouldnt transition away from fossil fuels. But the transition will take decades, and we will probably always need fossil fuels. We cannot afford to pay the current price of oil for decades. We are also seeing firsthand how oil can be used as a weapon. As Danish Prime Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said this month, historical times call for historical decisions. Will Biden step up? Probably not. Bob Hofmann East Hempfield Township Friday, March 11, 2022 The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by an attorney against a dentist, holding that the state anti-SL APP statute required that result In 2020, Weinstein, an attorney, filed a complaint against Marina Narowetz, DDS, and her dental practice, Old Orchard Beach Family Dentistry, LLC (collectively, Narowetz). Weinstein alleged that, in response to Narowetzs handling of Weinsteins request for the dental records of his client, he had filed a complaint against Narowetz with the Board of Dental Practice,1 prompting Narowetz to file complaints against him with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, and the United States Postal Service. Based on statements that Narowetz made in her written answer to and testimony before the Board of Dental Practice and in her complaints to the Boards of Overseers and the Postal Service, Weinstein alleged seven counts: (1) libel, (2) slander, (3) defamation, (4) intentional infliction of emotional distress, (5) negligent infliction of emotional distress, (6) negligence, and (7) punitive damages. No actual injury Here, the only form of injury that Weinstein both referenced in his complaint and provided evidence about in his affidavit opposing the special motion to dismiss was injury in the form of embarrassment, shame, humiliation, emotional distress, and harm to his reputation. Such emotional injury alone does not constitute actual injury for anti-SLAPP purposes however, unless it is so severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it. A dissent by Justice Jabar Here, Narowetz made complaints to various regulatory agencies. She filed a complaint with the Overseers of the Bar in Maine and Massachusetts, alleging harassment and intimidation by Weinstein. She also made a complaint to the USPS, alleging that Weinstein was impersonating a postal employee, a federal crime. These statements are allegedly defamatory in that they pertain to Weinsteins profession as a lawyer and accuse him of violating the law. Narowetz has admitted that the statements were false. At this stage of the proceedings, Narowetz is not entitled to a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal based on an absolute privilege for claims that relate to complaints or statements made to Boards of Overseers and the USPS. If Weinstein can convince the fact finder by a preponderance of the evidence that either that the utterer knew [her] his statement to be false or recklessly disregarded its truth or falsity, i.e., entertained a high degree of awareness of probable falsity or serious doubt as to the truth of the statement . . . or acted entirely out of ill will toward [Weinstein],then he may overcome the privilege. Baker v. Charles, 919 F. Supp. 41, 45 (D. Me. 1996) (quoting Staples v. Bangor Hydro-Elec. Co., 629 A.2d 601, 604 (Me. 1993). Thus Although Narowetz is entitled to absolute immunity for her communications with and testimony before the Dental Board, see LaPlante v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 810 F. Supp. 19, 21 (D. Me. 1993), her statements to the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, and the USPS are entitled to only qualified immunity, see Truman, 2001 ME 182, 15, 788 A.2d 168. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2022/03/the-maine-supreme-judicial-court-affirmed-the-dismissal-of-a-lawsuit-filed-by-an-attorney-against-a-dentist-holding-that-the.html Doctors at Duke University in the American state of North Carolina announced that a baby boy is doing well after a new kind of operation to replace his heart. The heart transplant operation, doctors said, included special tissue to help prevent rejection of the new organ. The tissue came from another persons thymus gland and was partly grown in a laboratory. The thymus gland is an organ that plays an important part in the immune system, which fights infection and disease in the human body. Doctors have wondered if implanting thymus tissue that matched a donated organ might help it survive without requiring anti-rejection medicines. Those medicines can have harmful effects on the body. Easton Sinnamon of Asheboro, North Carolina received his transplant last summer when he was 6 months old. But Duke University waited to announce the operation until after doctors learned whether the thymus implants were working. They hoped the implants would begin producing immune cells that do not treat the childs new heart like foreign tissue. After some time, doctors will try taking Easton off the immune-suppressing drugs required after a transplant, said Dr. Joseph Turek. He is Duke Universitys head of childrens heart surgery. The research is in its very early stages. It is one possible method scientists are testing to produce what is called immune tolerance to a transplant. Turek said, if it works, the method could be tried with other organ transplants, not just the heart. Easton was a candidate for the experimental transplant because he had two separate health problems. He was born with some heart problems that surgeries right after birth failed to solve. And he suffered repeated infections that doctors realized meant his own thymus was not working correctly. Some babies are born without a thymus, which helps in development of part of the immune system known as T cells. Duke researchers had been working with Enzyvant Therapeutics to develop implants grown in a laboratory with donated thymus tissue. In fact, Easton received two operations. First, surgeons implanted his new heart while the donated thymus was sent to a laboratory. About two weeks later, he had a second operation to implant the processed thymus tissue. His own partly working thymus was removed so that new immune cells can develop. About six months later, testing shows the thymus tissue is building Easton new, well-working T cells, said Turek. Im Jonathan Evans. Lauran Neergaard reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story transplant n./v. The medical operation that replaces an organ in the body with another; to perform a medical operation in which an organ or other part that has been removed from the body of one person is put into the body of another person stage n. a particular point or period in the growth or development of something tolerance n. (medical) your body's ability to deal with something (such as a drug) so that its effects are experienced less strongly surgeon n. (medical) a doctor who performs operations that involve cutting into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts : a doctor who performs surgery Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input. Dubai has opened the dreamlike world of its new Museum of the Future. The torus-shaped, rounded structure rises almost 70 meters. It is held up by an unusual network of supports. Light flows in through the many windows around the building. The windows are shaped in beautiful forms of Arabic letters. The Museum of the Future represents Dubais continuing desire to be seen as a modern city of the United Arab Emirates. Its political system, however, remains rooted in ancestral rule. Freedom of expression is limited in the emirate. The museum presents an idea of what the world could look like 50 years from now. The imagined future crystalizes the UAE's 50 years of development from a small, sea-based community to a center of oil and gas riches. It was an imperative requirement to develop so fast because we needed to catch up with the rest of the world, said Sarah Al-Amiri. She is the UAEs minister of state for high technology. She also is the chair of the UAE Space Agency. She added that, before 1971, there were no basic road networks, no basic education, electricity network and so on. The UAE announced last year that it would join other nations in cutting the release of heat-trapping gasses and reducing fossil fuel use in the country. Fossil fuels include oil, coal and natural gas. The museum deals with the idea of a sustainable future. It invites visitors to reconnect with their senses and disconnect from their phones. However, digital screens and similar media also play a big part in many areas. The museums digital screens urge visitors to think about the planets health and biological mix in a city that celebrates riches, high-cost living and material goods. Al-Amiri said the museum organizers hope to show that progress toward a sustainable future and healthy planet should not bar economic growth. Creative director Brendan McGetrick agrees. Dealing with climate change doesnt mean that you have to return to ... some hunter gatherer lifestyle, he said. People can still invent and build and grow technologically, he said. McGetrick added, It should be done with an awareness of our relationship to the planet and that we have a lot of work to do. The museums goal is to get people to think about what is possible and to turn that into real world action, he said. Visitors to the Museum of the Future hear about a future of flying taxis, windfarms and a world powered from space. Some projects would capture the suns energy and send it to the moon. The so-called Sol Project would cover the moon with solar collectors that would direct energy toward devices on Earth. As the museum presents it, humans will be healthy and happy in the future. And, life on the future planet includes a new plant that is resistant to fire. McGetrick said the museum wanted to create a powerful picture of what would happen if we imagine space as a shared resource. The museum shows a future in which humanitys collective energy project is directed by a space station called the OSS Hope. It is the same name the UAE gave its real space mission to the atmosphere of Mars. Last year, the UAE became the first Arab country to send a spacecraft to another planet. The museums imagined future also is influenced by Islams past. For example, one area displays the planets in our solar system mapped using scientific tools called astrolabes. Muslims developed these complex devices hundreds of years ago. The museums Arab influence includes a meditation space that is part of a larger sensory experience guided by vibration, light and water. These three elements were important to life for tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The oil-fueled cities of the Gulf that have grown in the recent past continue to change how people in the area live, interact and connect with nature. Its always important to continue to evolve and develop and understand what parts of the culture actually push development forward, said Al-Amiri. Creating new norms and new ways of living and new ways of coexisting is OK. The centerpiece of the museum is a darkened mirrored space lit by tall columns of small glass shapes. The shapes hold the imaginary DNA of animals and plants that disappeared from existence, the polar bear among them. In this idea of the future, the health of the planet is observed much like a persons heartbeat and temperature are. Entrance to the Museum of the Future costs about $40 for an adult. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present at the official launch of the museum. It is his poetry that covers the building in Arabic lettering. The buildings designers, UAE-based Killa Design, said the building has been awarded LEED Platinum status. The rating is given to building designs that use energy as efficiently as possible and meet other environmental goals. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story torus-shaped n. a rounded circular shape crystallize v. to cause something such as an idea or belief to become fully formed imperative adj. very important sustainable adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources digital screen meditation n. the act or process of spending time in quiet thought; the act or process of meditating vibration n. continuous slight shaking movement; a series of small, fast movements back and forth or from side to side evolve v. to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state norm n. a normal way of doing something column n. a long post made of steel, stone, etc., that is used as a support in a building Russia's invasion of Ukraine is likely to threaten one of Chinas most secretive, but important relationships in recent years. China has purchased technology for its growing military from Ukraine. Ukraine and Chinas relationship has come under increased pressure from the United States. Military experts and diplomats say the current war could end a trade agreement that has helped China modernize its military over the last 20 years. Ukrainian anger over Chinas growing ties with Russia and uncertainty over its post-war economy and government could threaten the relationship, experts say. "It's always been a good hunting ground for Chinese military technicians, said Chinese military expert Vasily Kashin of HSE University in Moscow. There is a lot there, and it has been in some cases easier to get than getting it from Russia. He added that the relationship as it was will be completely destroyed over China's diplomatic support for Russia. China purchased from Ukraine one of the Soviet Unions last aircraft carriers and parts of a fighter jet. China has also bought airplane engines, destroyers and tanks from Ukraine, says the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI. Asia-based military experts say Ukraine has long been suspected of selling some command-and-control systems and other technology used in missiles. Ukrainian technicians have also worked privately inside China. This work is expected to continue even if the official relationship worsens or becomes difficult, the experts said. "One traditional advantage for China in Ukraine is generally the security situation is more fluid than Russia, so it is possible to do things unofficially," one expert told Reuters. SIPRI estimates that China has spent at least between $70 million to $80 million a year on military technology from Ukraine. For military technology, Russia remains China's most important seller. But Ukraine has provided some items that Russia can be slow or unwilling to give. SIPRI data shows a much larger Russia-China trade. Russia has provided China with more advanced engines for its airplanes, radars and surface-to-air, anti-ship and anti-tank missiles. But a suspicious Russia has not always provided its latest technology to its large neighbor, experts say. For example, Chinese competitor Vietnam was able to get far more advanced submarines from Russia over the last decade. The technology China's military technicians and engineers have purchased has helped grow Chinas own design and production abilities. That could mean China no longer needs Ukrainian technology. "China was very dependent on Ukrainian technology in the 1990s and early 2000s, but that has diminished more and more," said Siemon Wezeman. He is a researcher with SIPRI. "There still may be some technology the Chinese are after, particularly aerospace and missile related, Wezeman said. If the United States is involved in post-war Ukraine, that could also make trading more difficult. Already, pressure from the U.S. has had an impact. The Ukrainian government confirmed last year that it would halt the takeover of a local airplane engine maker by a Chinese company because of American concerns. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from The Associated Press and Reuters. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story advantage adj. something that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others fluid adj. used to describe something that can change easily or that changes often radar n. a device that sends out radio waves for finding out the position and speed of a moving object advanced adj. beyond the basic level submarine n. a ship that can operate underwater dependent adj. decided or controlled by something else diminish v. to become or to cause to become less in size, importance, etc. A public march will be held at the Corvallis Fred Meyer at noon Saturday, March 12 to call awareness to alleged racial discrimination experienced there by Black shoppers, specifically Black women. The Linn Benton NAACP Branch is leading its "Fred Meyer Anti-Discrimination Campaign" after several Black women came forward with racial profiling experiences at the Corvallis location. A Corvallis-based Fred Meyer denied Mid-Valley Medias request for comment regarding the campaign. A corporate spokesperson sent the following statement: "At Fred Meyer, we have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of discrimination. In fact, our company has been awarded a top score in Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2022 Corporate Equity Index for a fourth year in a row." The news release from the local NAACP branch, however, tells a different story. While racial profiling is hard to prove," says the news release, "it happens more often than it should in Fred Meyer stores. The blame rests with the administration, whose job it is to set policies that treat everyone the same, and to train their employees to steer away from racial profiling. The news release highlights several incidents. An unidentified Albany woman said both stores refused to take her checks to pay for supplies, but when her white husband presented the same check, they cashed it. It made me mad, the Albany woman is quoted in the news release. Im not going to shop there anymore. Its humiliating, too. I was in line, with people behind me. An unidentified Corvallis woman said she was repeatedly monitored at the self-checkout stand while white customers around her were not. The NAACP branch said both women asked that their names not be used in fear of retaliation. The Corvallis woman said staff treatment at both Fred Meyer stores varied depending on how she wore her hair and whether her white mother was with her. Close patrolling or monitoring happened most often if she was alone or she wore either an ethnic or braided hairstyle, rather than straight. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. I was totally fed up, I was done. And it takes a lot to bring that out in me, the Corvallis woman is quoted as saying in the news release. A third woman described as being born and raised in Oregon said she has suffered racial profiling at Fred Meyer for years. The release did not offer details. Here are the demands the branch is directing at Corvallis Fred Meyer: March 16: By this date, the store apologizes to all persons offended by the behavior of the Fred Meyer staff and publicly commits to adopting a non discriminatory approach to customer service April 6: By this date, Corvallis Fred Meyer requests to meet with Jason J. Dorsette, president of the Linn Benton NAACP Branch, alongside Fred Meyers local and regional management to further discuss the issue of discrimination at the business. June 1: By this date, Fred Meyer retains a local equity, diversity and inclusion consultant to facilitate workshops for managers concerning bias, equity and inclusion. Fred Meyer designs a customer-facing protocol for shoppers to report discrimination, provide quarterly reports of findings to local newspapers and display these findings on the Fred Meyer website. Dorsette first announced the campaign publicly during a speech after the Oregon State University Martin Luther King Jr. peace march. A planning meeting was held via Zoom Feb. 6, and the march will be the first action in the campaign. More information about the campaign and the march is available at https://linnbentonnaacp.com/End-Racism-Fred-Meyer. Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 LEXINGTON Jurors began deliberating Friday morning in the case of a 33-year-old woman accused of killing her husband on June 17, 2020. Kathleen Jourdan is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. She has claimed she acted in self-defense. Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman prosecuted the case. Brian Davis and Brian Copley represented Jourdan. A jury of 10 women and two men were presented the case at 11 a.m. They must be unanimous in returning with a verdict of second degree murder, manslaughter or not guilty. The trial lasted six days and closing arguments were heard Friday morning. Waterman recalled the words of her opening statement, saying there is a difference between fear and rage and that Joshua Jourdans killing was not about fear. Kathleen has a, shaky relationship with the truth, Waterman said and she cast doubts on the 2017 incident in Georgia, where Joshua allegedly punched Kathleen in the face. Waterman said Kathleens, credibility is at the center of this case, and also called into question her retelling of the events in the Ford pickup that ended with Joshua dead from two gunshot wounds. She said Kathleen lost her temper, lost control and killed her husband. Waterman noted Kathleens own words, caught by an officers body camera, that, she just wanted out. Davis said during his statement that the shooting on June 17, 2020 can only be understood by going through the history of Kathleens relationship with Joshua. He said Kathleen was a battered woman who had endured years of abuse but kept pushing through, seeking a career in the field of medicine. Davis said Joshua was the abuse and noted his abuse in Grenada before the strangulation incident when he urinated on her and poured baby powder on her head. Davis said most people couldnt do that to a dog, let alone their spouse. He also referenced Joshuas conditions for returning to Omaha with the children, a contract that demanded money and sexual access. What kind of person writes that? Davis asked, An abuser. Davis also noted the past abuse of Joshuas ex-wife, Jessica, when he sexually assaulted her while she was pregnant. In Joshuas pickup on I-80 on June 17, 2020, Davis said Kathleen was back in, his domain, and when he turned and raised a hand to her, Kathleen said she knew all he needed was, his rage and his fists, to strangle her in Grenada. As for the shooting, Davis said, She did what she thought she had to do. He said that Kathleen had long sought a fresh start and asked the jury to help give her one. During her rebuttal statement, Waterman asked the jurors to focus on the forensic reports and their discrepancy with how Kathleen had related events during her testimony. She said, the forensics dont lie. LEXINGTON Kathleen Jourdan testified in her own defense Wednesday during her ongoing murder trial. Kathleen Jourdan, 33, of Omaha. Is charged with is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. She has claimed she acted in self-defense in shooting her husband, Joshua, in June 2020. Kathleen said she met Joshua in January 2011, while they both volunteered at the same fire district. Joshua was a resident fireman and lived at the fire hall. The two began dating in February 2011 and at first, Kathleen said Joshua was, absolutely perfect. But the good times only lasted two or three months, she said. The couple married March 24, 2011, Kathleen was pregnant with their first child. Joshua wanted Kathleen not to tell anyone she was pregnant, as to maintain the belief they were, perfect Christians, and not having pre-marital sex. Kathleen told her mother anyway. Soon after they were married, Kathleen said she began to see red flags about his behavior, such as making her feel guilty and pressuring actions upon her she did not want to do. For instance, Joshua forced Kathleen to drink alcohol, by constantly pressuring her, or pushing her to the floor and pouring alcohol into her mouth. She said the abuse, only got worse, as time went on. When Kathleen expressed concerns to Joshua that they were not a compatible couple, he would accused her of having commitment issues or say she was a, bad mom and bad person. When asked if she known about Joshuas previous marriage to Jessica Jourdan and his children with her and another woman, Kathleen said yes, but said she had accepted Joshuas claims that they were liars, alcoholics and abusive. She said she know, absolutely doubts, her past impression of these women. Joshua began limiting Kathleens contact with her mother, and isolating her from friends. He would demand she return home immediately after work or church and if she was late, he would accuse her of infidelity. Kathleen said she had an affair in 2017 with one of Joshuas friend who was providing emotional support. Joshua found out after a neighbor mentioned seeing someone else in the driveway. She also said she had another relationship early on, while dating Joshua, calling it a stupid mistake. Kathleen said Joshua would deny her using birth control, saying it was a sin. When she became pregnant, Joshua blamed her and sometimes accused her of infidelity. Under cross-examination, Kathleen said that Joshua denied her birth control early in their relationship, but said after she gave birth to their first son, she did not take any of her own accord. When Kathleen learned she was pregnant with their daughter, Amelia, Joshua initially demanded a paternity test,. He also spoke about surrendering their children for adoption, which Kathleen did not want to do. From 2014 on, Kathleen said Joshua stayed at home with their children and said he was going to be the, trophy husband, because Kathleen was pursuing a career in medicine. Kathleen said she was the sole source of income for the family, apart from infrequent contributions from Joshuas, buying, selling and trading vehicles. Joshuas abuse was also sexual, Kathleen testified. She said he pressured her for sex during her pregnancies and soon after she gave birth. He told her sex was her duty as a wife and threatened to find someone else if she refused. She said he also very frequently forced her to perform oral sex, to punish her if she had made a mistake in his eyes, such as not doing his laundry the right way or messing up an oil change on a car. Kathleen said Joshua would sometimes record those incidents on his cellphone and then threaten to send the recording to her work as a bargaining chip to get his way. Kathleen said she realized her second son needed formula after breast feeding him was not working for him. When she talked with Joshua about it, he became angry, saying that formula was not natural and that she was a bad mom. Kathleen said Joshua pressured her into anal sex to allow the switch their son to formula. She said for the safety of her child she gave into the demand. During some arguments, Kathleen said Joshua would begin to record her on his phone. She said his demeanor would switch from being angry to being calm when recording her. The jury saw a video in which Joshua told Kathleen, do not follow me down the stairs, claiming it was, a threat of physical harm if she did and she could be arrested for it. In another recording shown to the jury, Kathleen was upset because her vehicle wouldnt start and she had to make a 12-hour drive for an interview for a medical residency. Kathleen testified that the car had been running normally the night before, but after she had an argument with Joshua, the car would not start in the morning. In the recording Kathleen is distraught and asks Joshua several times for Joshua to help her. He replies, Call someone who cares. This argument took place in front of one of their sons, who can be heard during the recording. Eventually, Joshua went to the garage, telling Kathleen not to follow and returned telling her the car worked now. She did make it to her interview. Kathleen said the abuse escalated in 2015, when the family was living in Grenada, while she was there for medical classes. On Aug. 29, 2015 she argued after both had a couple of drinks. Joshua said she, deserved to be punished, and ordered her to undress and go into the bathroom. He then urinated on her head and then dumped baby powder on her, telling her to wash her hair in the toilet. Fearing he might do something worse, Kathleen said she did as she was told and then walked out of the bathroom Joshua suddenly knocked her to the floor, got on top of her and began to strangle her. Their two sons were in the room. Kathleen said, the, look in his eyescared me so much. She said she thought he was going to kill her. Kathleen testified she was able at first to yell for help, but Joshua squeezed harder and she began to black out. She said she thought, I am not going to die, and kneed him in the groin and he let go. She said she grabbed her two sons and made it to another bedroom where she locked the door. Joshua pounded on the wooden door several times before punching a hole through it. Kathleen said she held the door against him, holding the lock with one hand while Joshua struck at her through the opening, trying to find the lock. Eventually, Joshua stopped and fell asleep. Kathleen sent a photo of the door to her mother and asked for her help in arranging a flight home. She also went to a medical clinic where a medical report showed she had scratches on her neck and bruises on her chest, forearm and legs. Before Kathleen could fly home with her children, Joshua called her and asked her to talk about what happened. He said it would never happen again and he would go to counseling. She said one of the reasons she stayed is she didnt want to leave medical school. The couple moved to Georgia in 2017 so Kathleen could continue her schooling. During a birthday celebration for one of their sons, Kathleen made a joke that made Joshua angry and he went upstairs and lay on the bed. Kathleen followed him. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to explain and apologize, when Joshua rolled over and punched her in the face. Joshua tried to explain it was an accident. Soon after Joshua duck taped the bedroom door shut. Given the assault, and because loaded gun was in the room and Joshua had threatened suicide in the past, she called 911. Joshua was arrested and charged after the assault, but he was able to take a diversion program for anger management. Despite a no-contact order, Kathleen said Joshua had friends and his parents call her, trying to convince her to drop the charges. She testified that Lisa Jourdan, Joshuas mother, called three to four times a day. Kathleen said she eventually told her she made the incident up to stop the calls. Under cross examination by the state, Kathleen recalled her words to Lisa saying, Do you want me to tell you that I made it up? Kathleen filed for divorce, but it the couple decided to reconcile. Their daughter, Amelia was born in 2018. The next year the couple was traveling in Nebraska for an a medical residency interview in Omaha. While on Interstate-80 near Grand Island, Kathleen said she turned around and saw Amelias skin was blue and blood was coming out of her nose. Kathleen immediately attempted CPR and 911 was called, but Amelia died. An autopsy later determined the cause of death to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. During cross examination, Waterman mentioned an incident where one of her sons dragged Amelia off of a couch and she hit the floor not long before her death. Kathleen said she had been watching all three children and cooking and turned her back, for a second, when the incident occurred. Kathleen said Joshua blamed her and alleged that her yelling during an argument in the car and been the caused daughters death. Kathleen said she began drinking to cope with the loss. Later, Kathleen was accepted into medical residency in Omaha and planned to move to the community, but Joshua threatened not to make the move and would keep their sons with him in his native Washington state. Joshua emailed her a list of conditions that he told her to notarize, before he would move. The stated a legal separation would take place and that he would get 30 percent of her income while she was in school and 50 percent while she was working throughout her life. She said he later emailed another condition to allow him have unlimited sexual intercourse access with her. The email exhibits were shown to the jury. Kathleen said she complied with notarization because, I wanted to see my children. Joshua later moved to Omaha, but often threatened to return with the children to Washington, Kathleen said. Later, after an argument, Kathleen returned home to find Joshua and her children gone. He took to his parents home in Washington and didnt return until January 2020. Kathleen said she was in the middle of her residency and couldnt leave to get her children. She said she began complying with Joshua but lived in constant fear, that he would leave with the children. Under cross-examination, Waterman asked Kathleen why she didnt leave to get her children back. Kathleen said she needed the job for the income and couldnt support them without it. When cross-examined, Waterman asked Kathleen if she ever took any, effective steps, to leave with the children despite fearing for her life. Kathleen said she did not. In 2020, Kathleen was set to move for a two year residency at the Scottsbluff hospital. In June she was going to see a house the family could rent. At first, she said Joshua wouldnt allow the children to go. He later relented but demanded that she keep her phones GPS turned on and that she return the same day. After leaving at 3 a.m. with the children, she made it to Scottsbluff about 11 a.m., saw the house and signed the lease. She spent several hours in the community with her sons. On the return trip, 30 minutes outside of Scottsbluff, her cars transmission failed. She said she called, but contacted Joshua, who blamed her for the breakdown but said she would go to her as it was, his responsibility. Joshua had brought a pickup and trailer to take the car back, but they couldnt load the car on the trailer, Kathleen said this further upset him. On June 17, 2020, the family was driving east back to Omaha, Kathleen said another argument broke out and Joshua called Calvin , a mutual friend who acted as a mediator. She said she tried to make her case to Calvin, but eventually Joshua switched the call over to his headset, cutting her off. She said Joshua began to speak to Calvin about, how bad she was. Kathleen said he rarely put her down in front of other people or on calls with Calvin. Kathleen said she made a motion to toss Joshuas phone out of the vehicle, but did not ultimately. She then said something in her own defense and Joshua slammed on the brakes hard enough to throw her against her seatbelt. When the pickup came to an abrupt halt, Kathleen testified Joshua turned toward her with the same look in his eye that he had when he was strangling her in Grenada and he raised hand toward her. Kathleen said there was, no decision, I reacted. She lifted the center console with her left hand and withdrew the handgun that Joshua habitually kept loaded, with the safety off. In the same instant that Joshua said to Calvin on the phone. Shes got the gun, shes got the gun, Kathleen said she pulled the trigger, As quickly as I could, and fired two shots. When asked if she had contemplated this, Kathleen said, I didnt have time, I just thought to protect myself. She said later, I thought he would kill me, I knew something was going to happen. She saw Joshua was bleeding from the chest and applied direct pressure to the wound. She said her next thoughts were, My husband is shot, he is going to die. She called 911, keeping one hand on the chest wound. Law enforcement arrived soon after and Kathleen responded to their commands to exit the vehicle. When asked what she meant when she told the law enforcement officers on scene, Im sorry, Kathleen fought back tears on the stand, saying she was sorry the relationship had reached this point; she had wanted out in the past but did not follow through. She wished she had divorced Joshua earlier, she said. Upon re-cross examination, Waterman asked Kathleen how she felt about Joshua being dead. Kathleen said she is, relieved the abuse is over (that Im) done with this bad life. She said that she is not relieved that the father of her children is dead. I regret killing Josh, she said. MOSCOW Following news that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe V. Wade, pro-choice protesters took to the streets of Moscow, and Planned Parenthood officials want to remind people that its health centers are still open and abortion services are currently legal. Under the spreading chestnut-tree, the village smithy stands So go the opening lines of Henry Wadsworth Longfellows immortal poem The Village Blacksmith. When Longfellow wrote that in 1842, American chestnut trees were the keystone species in Americas eastern hardwood forests. These magnificent trees were decimated by a blight in the early decades of the 20th century, and most of those that managed to survive were wiped out by a disease that causes root rot. One survivor stood in the forest on a 436-acre farm owned by the Gravatt family in southern Maryland near Prince Frederick. A group of local citizens banded together in the mid-1980s to purchase the property in order to preserve it from development. They formed a nonprofit group and named it for that lone tree: the American Chestnut Land Trust. Advertisement American Chestnut Land Trust - Jeff and Millie on the trail (Courtesy Photo) Since then, the ACLT has preserved more than 3,500 acres in Calvert County around the Parkers Creek and Governors Creek watersheds. It owns nearly 1,400 acres, manages 1,800 acres owned by the state of Maryland and holds conservation easements on 374 privately owned acres. Fortunately for us nature lovers, the land trust allows free access to 22 miles of trails that meander across this vast preserve. They also provide guided canoe trips on Parkers Creek, and volunteers grow produce that they donate to a local food bank. Advertisement It had been a couple of decades since Id been to the preserve, so I figured another visit was long overdue. My friend Dave Isbell of Eastport tagged along with Millie and me one sunny but chilly day this past week. Millie, of course, is my rescue retriever. Louise and I adopted her almost exactly a year ago, and shes grown to become an integral part of the family. Grown, meaning that shes now 67 pounds of sleek muscle and her front paws that seemed huge when she was a pup are now pleasingly proportional. The other day I found the little pink collar she came home with and tried to see if it still fit. I couldnt get it past her snout. American Chestnut Land Trust - Dave pondering a fallen sweet birch tree that refused to die (Jeff Holland) It takes about an hour to drive the 30 miles from Annapolis to the American Chestnut Land Trust headquarters. We parked in the lot near a renovated tobacco barn that the trust uses for programs. Dave had printed out a trail map downloaded from the trusts website, and we spent some time deciding which of the many trails to take. From this point, you can access most of the trails on the north side of Parker Creek. There are others on the south side. We opted for the Horse Swamp Trail that leads to an overlook of Parker Creek and another that gives a view of where the creek empties into the open Chesapeake Bay. Dave had his pair of super lightweight, high-tech hiking staves, and I had my homemade walking stick hacked from some unidentified shrub in my front yard. I hitched myself to Millie with our new dual harness rig and we all took off across the field to the trailhead. The remarkable feature of this area is its crenulated topography. Once inside the woods mostly made up of astoundingly large beech trees, their elephant-hide trunks towering more than a hundred feet up to the forest canopy you begin to realize that the field is on a high plateau surrounded by deep ravines. The sand-covered path leads down the hillside to a marshy swamp. A series of boardwalks and bridges spans the bottoms and then go up another hill to a field covered with the stubbles of harvested corn, then back down and up again. American Chestnut Land Trust - Dave crossing a bridge spanning Horse Swamp (Jeff Holland) Dave and Millie took the changes in elevation in stride, while I huffed and sweated despite the 43-degree chill. Dave, it turns out, has been cheating by taking 8-mile hikes along the Appalachian Trail, while I have been sauntering around the tidewater flatlands all winter. Millie was kind enough to tow me uphill at the end of the tether without a whimper. I was not at all surprised when we got back to the car and Dave consulted his GPS and announced that we had traversed more than 600 feet in elevation in about 3 3/4 miles. We arrived at the Parker Creek overlook and marveled at the narrow channel snaking through the marsh 140 feet below us. We could see a curious tree-covered island on the southern edge, looking out of place and reminiscent of an Indian mound. As we rested and took in the astounding view, we chatted about our favorite topic boats. Dave had kayaked that creek on one of the trusts guided tours a year or so ago. Hell soon be heading off for a week-long paddle in the islands off the southern tip of Florida, then hell start on building his new pack canoe in his back yard when he gets home. We backtracked and took another side trail to the Chesapeake overlook and there saw the mouth of the creek as it poked through a strip of sand. The bay seemed calm. We could hardly see the Eastern Shore on the far side. The GPS showed Hill Point 12 miles away on the neck between the Choptank and Little Choptank Rivers. Advertisement Theres a wonderful deck with welcome benches at that overlook. We took some time enjoying the view and talking about books we had read and adventures we had survived. We pondered the intricate lay of the land the valleys and ridges, plateaus and marshes. It seemed as though it must have been carved out by glaciers, but we agreed that the ice caps had never ventured this far south. It was only when I got home and started digging into the American Chestnut Land Trust website that I found a treatise on the areas geology by Peter Vogt, a founding member of the trust and a marine geophysicist who retired from a 28-year career at the Naval Research Laboratory. Vogt calls the preserve a museum of geomorphology, where steep hillsides give running water the gravitational energy to sculpt the land, like the Grand Canyon, but on a much smaller scale, and covered with hardwood forest. I also discovered that the trust is in the process of creating a Parker Creek Heritage Trail, with interpretive panels illuminating the areas rich cultural history, including the 50 archaeological sites that give hints of the people who lived there thousands of years ago as well as the Piscataway Tribe who occupied southern Maryland at the time the colonizers arrived in the early 1600s. To my astonishment, I found a photograph of one feature we did not stumble across on our ramblings that day. Do you remember when Millie and I toured Franklin Point State Park with state Sen. Sarah Elfreth? I proposed connecting the two disparate parts of the park with a ferry across Flag Pond. Well, there is just such a ferry on the trail that spans the upper reaches of Parker Creek. Were taking that trail next time. Where do you like to hike? Let me know at arundelhappytrails@gmail.com. American Chestnut Land Trust The ACLT office is located at the North Side Trailhead, Advertisement 676 Double Oak Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Trails are open dawn to dusk, year-round. There is a portable toilet at the North Side Trailhead. Polite dogs on leashes are welcome. Trail maps and trail condition updates are available at www.acltweb.org Two men, including a man injured in a 2021 Santa Maria shooting, are accused of possessing a handgun with an obliterated serial number after they were arrested at the San Luis Obispo County Jail parking lot in January, according to an affidavit filed in federal court earlier this month. The following is taken from the Lompoc Police Department's calls-for-service log and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office daily arrest log. Those appearing as "arrested" are only suspected of the crime indicated but are presumed innocent. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The battle for beer, wine and liquor dollars has ratcheted up yet again on Madisons Far West Side. Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits has opened at the corner of Mineral Point Road and DOnofrio Drive in a space that for years had been home to a Pier 1 Imports store. Its the first stand-alone liquor store in Wisconsin for the Iowa-based retailer, which also has about a dozen other stand-alone liquor stores in Iowa and Minnesota, some of which operate under the Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits brand. Hy-Vee also has liquor stores incorporated into most of its 285 grocery stores around the Midwest, including its three stores in Dane County. But Hy-Vees stand-alone liquor store that opened Feb. 22 in Madison is surrounded by other major liquor stores and grocery retailers. They include the 23,000-square-foot Total Wine & More that opened in 2018 and Metcalfes Market, both at West Towne; Steves Liquor and Pick n Save, both on Junction Road; a Brennans Market and a Walmart on Watts Road; and a Woodmans Market that has a massive liquor store attached to the grocery store. In addition, alcohol can be purchased at Target, Walgreens and two Kwik Trip stores on Mineral Point Road, one of which is across the street from the new Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits. Hy-Vee had originally planned to open a Hy-Vee Wall to Wall Wine & Spirits in Madison but those stores are typically two to three times the size of the space Hy-Vee is using for its liquor store on Mineral Point Road. The proliferation of other nearby retailers was not a barrier for Hy-Vee. This gives us another avenue and allows us to broaden our footprint in the Madison area, said KJ Harnack, Hy-Vees director of wine and spirits. As we expand, were going to a lot of other places and this allows us to bring our brand to another neighborhood. Hy-Vee entered Wisconsin in 2009 when it opened a store on East Washington Avenue. It added a second store in 2013 at Westgate and a year later built a store in Fitchburg. The company also has a store in Eau Claire and is building stores in La Crosse, Janesville and Ashwaubenon. The 8,900-square-foot stand-alone Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store in Madison is filled with aisles of bourbon, brandy, vodka, wine and coolers of domestic and imported beer. The store also includes a walk-in humidor stocked with more than 100 varieties of cigars, a temperature controlled, glass-walled wine cave and a bar that will be used for tastings and classes. The store also sells glassware, including hand-blown wine decanters from Austrian manufacturer Riedel that can top $500 each and beer glasses from Spiegelaw. QR codes throughout the store provide customers with information on products and how they can be used. This is very much about the experience, said Ross Grunwald, a district store director for Hy-Vee. Not to knock on our competition but its not sterile here. When you come in its inviting, its warm, its friendly, its fun. Dancing Goat whiskey Among the offerings at the Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits is a $60, eight-year-old malted bourbon bottled from a single barrel. Its part of a program from Dancing Goat Distillery in Cambridge in which retailers can feature whiskey from a specific barrel and that is then sold in 750ml bottles. In its first year of the program, Dancing Goat, named the 2021 Wisconsin Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirit Competition, has sold more than 35 barrels, each personally selected by retailers. Stores are invited to the distillery or sent a selection of samples to taste based on the profiles they are seeking. The tastings are done with Nick Maas, Dancing Goats vice president of distilling and innovation, who conducts the tastings at the distillery or virtually through a Zoom call if samples were sent directly. Its like a dance, Maas said. Going back and forth with each sip and sharing the nuances of different taste profiles that they are trying to achieve. Eventually getting to the perfect whiskey experience that they want to provide their customers. Barrels sold to date to retailers in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Missouri, Arkansas and Florida include the distillerys award-winning six-year-old Limousin Rye with special bottled proofs and finishes. The distillery also made exclusive mash bills available under a Dancing Goat Distillery Single Barrel Selects label. Those included rye bourbon, malted bourbon, oat bourbon and 100% corn whiskey. Retailers call it quits Pricey kitchen ware, jams, salsa and chocolates have exited West Towne Mall. Williams-Sonoma, the San Francisco-based retailer that has been shuttering stores around the country in favor of its growing online sales, has closed its lone store in Madison. The store had been a staple at the mall since 1998. The company still has Wisconsin stores at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa and Fox Valley Mall in Appleton. Across South Gammon Road, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, has closed after 20 years. The last day of business was Jan. 31. According to Bloomberg News, Signet Jewelers Ltd., which owns Jared, Zales and Kay, is in the midst of shuttering hundreds of stores throughout North America and the United Kingdom as the company is in the middle of a multiyear turnaround plan centered on expanding e-commerce and eliminating poorly performing stores. According to a listing by Park Towne Realty, the 5,856-square-foot Madison store, at the corner of South Gammon and Odana roads, gets more than 32,000 cars driving past each day and could be divided into a multi-tenant building or expanded to 8,000 square feet. Jared still has Wisconsin stores in Grand Chute, near Appleton, and in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield. Send retail-related tips and story ideas to badams@madison.com or call Barry Adams at 608-252-6148. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Turning Red may be the most tween-centric animated film in Pixar history. It takes a deep dive into the mood swings of a young girl and the changes that occur when she decides to defy her mother and face puberty on her own terms. Directed by Oscar winner Domee Shi, Turning Red breaks other barriers, too. Its set in 2002, dabbles in tradition and lets Toronto (not New York?) take the lead. Shi is so willing to address things others wouldnt, she even throws in a sexy sketchbook and a boy band. (Wait until you see who provide the voices.) That makes 13-year-old Meis ability to morph into a giant red panda among the least surprising aspects of the film. When Mei (Rosalie Chiang) starts to rebel against mom (Sandra Oh), theres a Freaky Friday kind of divide that finds each testing new waters without consulting the other. Shi provides lots of background (listen closely and youll learn plenty about Asian culture) and presses against the tiger mom stereotypes other films have dealt. When Mei turns red, theres plenty to consider not the least of which is loneliness. She keeps the secret as long as possible, then realizes this new identity isnt as bad as she feared, particularly when others are there to help her. Shi won the Oscar for her short subject, Bao, and its easy to see the connection. Because theres more time here, Turning Red can venture into more areas of adolescent angst. It doesnt become a gender identity lesson but there are openings for discussions. While it isnt as funny as last years Mitchells vs. the Machines, it does have a similar vibe and that big transformation. Mei as a panda is a merchandising windfall. Because you can practically feel the fur (and because the character isnt all that different from Kung Fu Pandas Po), theres a desire to keep her around. Mei learns plenty and pulls us along for the ride. Look at the character design and youll see a tip of the hat to Wallace and Gromit as well. Shis ability to pay homage and forge new trails is admirable. Had she done more with one of the male characters, "Turning Red could have been a smart film for boys, too. As is, its an awakening for an audience that isnt always considered. With this, Pixar is turning a corner and suggesting it can go where all those French and Japanese animated films have already been. Its not quite Hayao Miyazaki, but its a start. A case alleging drug dealing by a man later shot by two state Division of Criminal Investigation agents in early February will proceed after a preliminary hearing Friday in which a court commissioner found ample evidence to hold the case for trial. But Court Commissioner Scott McAndrew cautioned that while the bar is very low at this stage in the case, prosecutors could certainly encounter credibility issues involving a woman whose information about a man who sold her drugs in April led investigators to Quadren Wilson, 38, of Beaver Dam. Wilson was shot in the back on Feb. 3 while still in his vehicle, his family has said, as state and federal agents moved in to arrest him on a street on Madisons Far East Side. After wedging the SUV Wilson was driving between two large pickup trucks, agents converged on Wilson, still in his vehicle, and fired shots. DCI agents Mark Wagner and Nathan Peskie were identified by the Dane County Sheriffs Office, which is investigating the shooting, as the agents who fired gunshots. The Sheriffs Office has not said specifically whether the agents shot Wilson. Wilson is Black. The two agents are white. The Sheriffs Office said there is no evidence Wilson was armed. Sheriffs Office spokesperson Elise Schaffer said Friday there are no updates about the investigation to be released. The Sheriffs Office is investigating the shooting because DCI, which would normally do that, was involved in the shooting incident. So far, the Sheriffs Office and the state Department of Justice have not said why such force was used to arrest Wilson. A criminal complaint filed Feb. 18 alleges Wilson sold what a woman believed would be heroin it was fentanyl, the complaint states that she and a friend cooked and injected at a McDonalds restaurant in the town of Blooming Grove on April 9. The womans friend died from an overdose in the restaurants bathroom. The womans physical description of the man who sold her the heroin and had sold her drugs on two earlier occasions, the description of the vehicle he drove, and the phone numbers she said the man had given her to contact him led investigators to Wilson. The woman called one of the numbers the man gave her several times that night from the McDonalds landline phone, which the woman had borrowed. The phone number prosecutors say is linked to Wilson was also called several times since December 2020 from the Dane County Jail by people associated with Wilson, who always reached a man with the same-sounding voice, according to the complaint and testimony in court Friday by sheriffs Detective Leslie Keith. Wilsons attorney, Stephen Eisenberg, first in a motion to dismiss the complaint and in an argument opposing a finding of probable cause for Wilson, argued that the womans physical description of the drug seller a light-skinned Black male, about 6 feet tall and 250 to 300 pounds could describe any number of people. Her description of his car was vague as well, he argued. Eisenberg also produced a photo of Wilson posted on Instagram on April 10, showing what Keith admitted on the witness stand was a beard about 3 inches long. The woman who is alleged to have bought drugs from Wilson said her dealer had a mustache but no beard that day. Keith testified she did not show the woman a photo of Wilson for identification. McAndrew noted that a lot of the evidence heard during the hearing came from what the woman told police. By state law, she does not have to testify at a preliminary hearing and the plausibility of what she said, not her credibility, is at issue. That will change at a trial, he said. The holes are pretty significant, he said, referring to her statement as relayed by police, including a not very accurate description of the man who she said sold her the heroin. But at this stage, he said, prosecutors can rest on witnesses if what they say is plausible. Eisenberg said after the hearing that the evidence against Wilson is weak. I thought it was the states best effort to put on a case to try and show that Quadren Wilson sold something to someone on April 9, 2021, Eisenberg said. I still say this is a response 10 months later to the fact that two white police officers shot him five times. Eisenberg said he didnt know why prosecutors would wait 10 months to file this charge in rapid response to what happened on Feb. 3. The link to Wilson through the phone number provided by the woman is also weak, Eisenberg said, because people share phones all the time. Keith testified that the two phone numbers given to investigators by the woman are registered to someone in Kansas. McAndrew said it was plausible that someone involved in illegal activity would not use a phone registered in his own name. Wilson is being held in jail on $1,000 bail but also on a state Department of Corrections hold, while DOC pursues revocation of extended supervision Wilson is serving for two prior felony convictions. 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. JUNEAU A 45-year-old Milwaukee man was bound over for trial on Thursday for charges related to allegedly firing a gun at his girlfriend while he was driving through Dodge County on I-41. Daniea Lanier, currently housed in the Dodge County Jail, is charged with felony counts of second degree recklessly endangering safety, use or attempted force while intimidating a victim, possession of firearm by a convicted felon and a misdemeanor count of operating firearm while intoxicated. If convicted of all the charges, Lanier could face up to 30 years in prison. Lanier appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger who found enough evidence during his preliminary hearing to move the case along. According to the criminal complaint, a Dodge County deputy responded to a domestic incident complaint on Feb. 24 around 10:45 a.m. on I-41 and Highway 49 in the town of Lomira. The vehicle had been stopped by the Wisconsin State Patrol and Washington County Sheriffs Office on I-41 following a 911 call with no voice contact with the caller. Dispatch could hear a man saying he was going to kill the woman. The deputy interviewed the woman who said that the two had been dating for about two years and they were out for a drive. According to the complaint, she said that she began yelling at Lanier because of his driving habits and they started arguing. She said that he had hit her with a closed fist at one point and did so about five times. The woman said they were around Lomira when he had the gun out and was threatening to shoot her. At one point, the woman said Lanier shot at her but the bullet went in the glovebox. A bullet hole was seen on the glovebox door. A 9mm pistol, a small amount of marijuana and two liquor bottles were found in the vehicle. Lanier spoke to officers, but denied anything happening besides the argument and denied having a gun. Lanier submitted to a preliminary breathalyzer test which resulted in the reading of .105. A second reading had shown a result of .074, and was taken about an hour later. An arraignment is scheduled April 11. Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760. In the first such case in Wisconsin, a Platteville fish dealer has been convicted of selling Asian carp, a pervasive and destructive invasive species. Ping Li, 38, pleaded guilty last month in Grant County and Dane County circuit courts to two misdemeanors and 17 non-criminal violations, according to court records, and was fined more than $13,000. The violations included possession of illegal fish and using an unmarked van to transport fish as well as failure to maintain records of who caught the fish and where they were sold. Nature Conservancy buys 3,200 acres of Adams County forest for restoration, public use The largest tract -- more than 1,900 acres -- adjoins the Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area, a 6,600-acre preserve just east of Castle Rock Lake. The charges, filed in 2020, stemmed from a two-year investigation by Department of Natural Resources wardens, who used undercover work, surveillance and GPS trackers to crack the case. The types of carp involved in this case bighead, silver and grass are different from German or common carp, which have lived in Wisconsin since the mid-1800s. Lt. Robert Stroess, a DNR warden who heads trade enforcement for commercial fishing, said in a statement the species are on top of the states Least Wanted list because they destroy the habitats of native fish. Wisconsin and neighboring state laws require these invasive carp, which can survive for more than a day out of water, to be gutted or have the gill coverings severed to ensure they are dead. The laws around the Great Lakes states are in place to minimize the threat of these species finding their way into new waterways at the hands of humans, Stroess said. The laws serve as important protections for our native Wisconsin fish. The DNR began investigating Li, owner of Li Fish Farm LLC, based on a complaint that Asian Midway Foods in Madison was selling live carp. Judge: Wisconsin Natural Resources Board holdover subject to open records law Dane County Judge Everett Mitchell declined to dismiss the case, ruling that Prehn is in fact a government authority and his communications are subject to public records law. According to the complaint, Li illegally sold more than 9,000 pounds of carp much of it intact in 2018 alone. Stroess said his use of an unmarked van made it more difficult to identify it as a wholesale fish delivery vehicle. Invasive carp have been advancing north since escaping into the Mississippi River from southern fish farms in the 1970s. In some fisheries they account for more than 90% of the living organisms. Bighead carp are considered a threat to the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry. Silver carp, which can weigh up to 60 pounds, are known for leaping out of the water, creating a hazard for boaters. 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. Five candidates are vying for four seats on the River Valley School Board in the April 5 election. Only one race, for Area 6, is contested. (I) is for incumbent. The terms are for three years. Jess Hisel Age: 44 Address: 236 N Wood St., Spring Green Family: Married with three sons Job: Facilities associate director, UW-Madison Prior elected office: No response Other public service: No response Education: Associate degree in electronics, MATC; associate degree in aerospace engineering, bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, UW-Madison Sara Young (I) Age: 56 Address: 235 N. Albany St., Spring Green Family: Married with one son Job: Director of communications, American Players Theatre Prior elected office: River Valley School Board for seven years Other public service: Volunteer director for the River Valley High School musical Education: Bachelors degree in theater with a business emphasis, University of Northern Iowa Q&A Why are you the best candidate for this office? Hisel: I am a logical, free-thinking individual and I have the experience with finances, budget reconciliation, leadership, management, technical aptitude and facilities management. Young: I have seven years experience as an RVSD board member, and currently serve on the Budget/Employee Relations committee and as chair of the Curriculum and Instruction Committee. I bring to the board a wealth of experience in communications and strategic planning. I care deeply about the River Valley School District, and have a thorough understanding of the issues that need to be addressed over the next three years. What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it? Hisel: Budget reconciliation. We need to address the referendums, not just in River Valley, but across the state. This is creating hardships in the district and community. I will be taking this to our representatives, so they fund schools like they are required to by law. Young: River Valley has an operational referendum on the ballot, and it is critical that it passes. If it doesnt, the district will be forced to make cuts that will seriously curtail our effectiveness as a district. Beyond this, we must continue to deal with the ramifications of the pandemic. This includes adjusting protocols to match current conditions (for instance, decreasing infection rates), responding to student mental health and addressing teacher and staff burnout. What would you ask lawmakers to include in the next state budget to improve K-12 education in your district? Hisel: Proper funding for our special education. By law, Wisconsin is supposed to fund 40% in the state, they currently only fund roughly 14%. The federal government is even worse for special education funding (required 70% and only fund roughly 25%). This alone would solve a majority of referendums in the state. Secondly, more funding for the mental health of our students. For years, cuts have been made and we have lost relations with this generation, and they need help. Young: I would ask them to reform the school funding formula. Its out of date, and does not work for a rural district like River Valley. It forces us to budget by referendum. While there is value in making sure that taxpayers have a voice in school funding, having to repeatedly pass referendums is incredibly inefficient. It drives down morale, and shifts the administrations and boards focus from other important work that would improve the district. Wisconsin liberals on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and two other GOP congressmen are insurrectionists in violation of the U.S. Constitution for their words and actions in support of Donald Trump leading up to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The lawsuit, alleging a violation of the Disqualification Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, says Johnson, R-Oshkosh, and U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, and Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, conspired to undermine President Joe Bidens victory and sow public distrust of the outcome. That clause was enacted after the Civil War to prevent congressmen who had fought on the Confederate side from returning to Congress. It prohibits anyone from holding federal office who has taken an oath to protect the Constitution but has also engaged in insurrection against the United States or given aid or comfort to its enemies. Its unclear what would happen if a court ruled that a sitting member of Congress had violated the amendment. The lawsuit doesnt seek a specific remedy, but in a statement announcing its filing, the plaintiffs said the men are no longer qualified to seek reelection. Biden beat Trump by just under 21,000 votes in Wisconsin, an outcome that has withstood multiple lawsuits, recounts and reviews. Republicans who control the state Legislature have rejected calls from Trump and his backers to decertify Bidens win, a move that nonpartisan attorneys have said would be illegal. Johnson, Tiffany and Fitzgerald did not return messages sent to their spokespeople seeking reaction to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Milwaukee. Tiffany and Fitzgerald were among 121 House Republicans who voted to object to counting Bidens presidential electors from Arizona on Jan. 6, 2021. Tiffany and Fitzgerald also were among 138 Republicans who voted to object to Bidens Pennsylvania electors. Johnson was one of eight U.S. senators who signed an objection to counting Arizonas electors, but he ultimately voted to accept them after the Capitol riot. The lawsuit accuses the three Republicans of being part of a conspiracy theory and spreading their malicious falsehoods about a rigged election through regular and social media and at public appearances. It also notes Fitzgeralds role in reserving a room at the state Capitol for fake Republican electors to meet on Dec. 14, 2020, and cast their ballots for Trump, even though Biden had won Wisconsin and his electors were meeting that same day elsewhere in the building. The falsehoods of Johnson, Fitzgerald and Tiffany about the integrity of Wisconsins election procedures began even before citizens were allowed to cast their ballots in the 2020 Presidential Election and continued long after their lies were disproven, the lawsuit said. The Defendants, along with hundreds or even thousands of President Trumps surrogates, and most prominently President Trump himself, repeatedly proclaimed lies about the election and its results, and those lies increased in frequency and intensity as January 6, 2021 approached. The lawsuit was filed by 10 Wisconsin citizens and funded by the liberal Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC. It is similar to one rejected by a federal judge last week seeking to keep U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-North Carolina, from seeking reelection this fall. The case against Cawthorn alleged he wasnt eligible for the ballot because of his involvement in the rally that preceded the riot on the Capitol. A federal judge in Washington ruled on March 4 that North Carolinas candidate challenge process didnt apply to the 14th Amendments Disqualification Clause. Cawthorn, a fervent backer of Trump who voted against certifying Bidens presidential victory, says he never participated in an insurrection against the U.S., and the amendment didnt apply to him. Dr. Paul Rothman, the dean of Johns Hopkins medical school and the CEO of its health system, emailed his colleagues Thursday morning to announce his retirement, effective July 1. Rothman helmed Johns Hopkins Medicine for a decade and said he long envisioned myself as a ten-year dean/CEO. Advertisement Dr. Paul Rothman, shown in this file photo, is retiring after 10 years as dean of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun) A decade felt like the right time horizon to help advance the mission of [Johns Hopkins Medicine], Rothman wrote. That vision was crystallized by the COVID-19 pandemic, which demanded so much of our institution and our community. Two years later, I believe that we have navigated the worst of the pandemic, and it is time for a new leader to guide us forward. Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels and Bill Conway, chairman of the medical schools board of trustees, sent a joint email to the university community praising Rothmans tenure, especially his leadership and humility during the pandemic. They called Rothman a passionate scientist, dedicated investigator and deeply caring physician. Advertisement Rothman is a rheumatologist and molecular immunologist, according to his official Hopkins biography. He came to the university in 2012 after serving as the dean of the medical school at the University of Iowa. Rothman pointed to the Office of Well-Being and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as two important developments during his Hopkins tenure, but he said he was most proud of the response to the pandemic. From day one, we delivered on our promise to our patients and our community, and have cared for thousands of patients in our hospitals and clinics under extremely trying circumstances. We can all look forward to coming out of this pandemic with a renewed appreciation of what we mean to the world and to each other, Rothman wrote. And while challenges remain as we emerge from the depths of the pandemic, they are no match for the optimism and resolve of the extraordinary people of [Johns Hopkins Medicine]. You represent the very best that mankind has to offer. In a three-hour presentation earlier this month on his investigation into the November 2020 election, Michael Gableman, the conservative former state Supreme Court Justice and special counsel to Republican lawmakers, aired videos of interviews with several voters who appeared to be in no condition to have cast an absentee ballot. Seemingly confused and unable to answer simple questions, they nevertheless voted in 2020, Gableman said. Of eight identified such voters, seven of them lived in what one investigator called nursing homes, although two were actually living in assisted living facilities, and two were at facilities that provide both nursing and less-intensive care. Earlier that year, the Wisconsin Elections Commission told municipal clerks they were not required to send special election workers into nursing homes to assist with the election because of the pandemic. Gablemans clear insinuation was that someone not qualified to conduct an election improperly influenced these vulnerable voters or, worse, cast ballots on their behalf. And it wasnt just this handful of voters, Gableman said. In his report to the Legislature, Gableman claimed to have discovered that 100% of the registered voters in nursing homes in heavily Democratic Dane and Milwaukee counties, and in Racine County, home to the Democratic-leaning city of Racine, cast ballots in 2020. In Kenosha and Brown counties, home to the Democratic-leaning cities of Kenosha and Green Bay, the figures were 97% and 95% respectively. While the videos certainly raise questions about the fitness of some of those who voted from Wisconsin nursing homes, the Wisconsin State Journal could find no evidence to support the claim that turnout in nursing homes was anywhere close to what Gableman claims. Ron Heuer, president of the Wisconsin Voter Alliance, said he compiled the turnout numbers when he worked for Gableman from about Oct. 1 to mid-December. His Kewaunee County-based group touts itself as promoting and protecting the integrity of Wisconsins voting system and has unsuccessfully sued to overturn Wisconsins 2020 presidential election results. Heuer said he used the states voter database as of August 2021 to look at whether every registered voter at every nursing home in the five counties voted in the November 2020 election. As an example of his work, he provided the State Journal with a one-and-a-half page document that appears to show turnout rates as high as 213% for 31 facilities in Dane County, many of them not nursing homes. There are only 18 licensed nursing homes in Dane County, according to the state Department of Health Services, and the additional facilities he lists are community-based residential facilities, residential care apartment complexes types of assisted living or clinical laboratories, according to DHS. One of the facilities listed is now closed. Senior citizens have long been more likely to vote than the population at large. But after reviewing thousands of pages in the 2020 poll books from the 10 Dane County municipalities in which nursing homes are located, the State Journal could find only one where turnout was 100%: Nazareth Health and Rehab Center in Stoughton, where all 12 people listed as registered in the poll book had their ballots tallied. Turnout among all the others ranged from 42% to 91%. In the case of the facility with 91% turnout, Capitol Lakes in Downtown Madison, its likely that number includes mostly independent living residents along with nursing home residents because both types of voters registered at the facilitys main address, 333 W. Main St., according to Capitol Lakes executive director Tim Conroy. Even those turnout figures are inflated, since the state Elections Commission considers turnout to be the number of votes cast divided by the voting-age population, not the number of registered voters, since that number can change up to Election Day. Its not known how many voting-age residents lived at the nursing homes in 2020. The DHS list of nursing homes does not include all types of long-term care, which also includes various kinds of assisted living care, but the list provides a snapshot of one countys nursing facilities as defined by a state agency. Turnout figures compiled for city of Milwaukee nursing homes by city elections administrator Claire Woodall-Vogg also call into question the 100% turnout figure Gableman reported for all nursing homes in Milwaukee County. Woodall-Vogg found turnouts of between 36% and 97% for 32 city nursing homes. Gableman and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who appointed him, did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Only two incompetent Under state law, a court may appoint a guardian for an adult only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that because of an impairment, the individual is unable effectively to receive and evaluate information or to make or communicate decisions. The courts can bar those deemed incompetent from voting, but nursing home residents can retain their right to vote even if they are under the guardianship of a relative. Only two of the eight people shown in the videos Gableman presented to the Assembly elections committee on March 1 have been found incompetent by a court and are therefore ineligible to vote, said Erick Kaardal, an attorney for the conservative Thomas More Society who conducted the interviews in December, more than a year after the election. One of them, Sandra Klitzke, was deemed incompetent by an Outagamie County judge in 2000, Kaardal said. The guardianship order for the other, Wally Jonkowski, goes back to the 1970s due to brain injury, he said. The other six were all registered and allowed to vote according to the states voter database, he said, although their families maintain they were unaware of what they were doing. Kaardal said the families of the eight want us to get the story out about their relatives voting, but he and Heuer declined to provide the families names or contact information. Kaardal said Heuer had contacted three of the families, but none wanted to speak with a reporter. At Skaalen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton, where 84% of residents who were registered voters voted in November 2020, administrator Kristian Krentz said staff worked with the local clerks office to obtain ballots for residents who wanted to vote, then acted as witnesses or assistants if necessary. No residents found to be incompetent voted at Skaalen, he said. Everybody that we had (voting) was competent. Not really my thing Altogether, Gableman pointed to at least 13 instances of voting irregularities in nursing homes in seven counties, although he did not name the nursing homes where they allegedly occurred or the people involved, making it impossible to verify the claims. In one case, Gableman reported that a resident of a Dane County nursing home received an absentee ballot for the November 2020 election but hadnt requested one. The persons guardian intercepted the ballot and the person didnt vote, then told the facility that the resident wouldnt be voting again. Nevertheless, Gableman alleges, the resident voted again in the spring 2021 elections. In another Dane County case, a nursing home resident who had been adjudicated incompetent since 1972 voted in 2020, Gableman said. The report doesnt speculate on who might have requested the ballots in either case. Under state law, a person who is indefinitely confined due to age or infirmity may ask to become a permanent absentee voter, which allows them to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election. If the voter fails to return a ballot in one election, however, the clerk is supposed to notify the voter that they will no longer receive a ballot if they do not reapply for permanent absentee status within 30 days. Gableman points to other cases in which residents allegedly voted more than once or voted despite being found to be incompetent. Some degree of fraud is present in every election, but usually the numbers are far too small to have any effect on the outcome. After the 2020 election, election officials referred 31 cases of potential fraud to prosecutors in 12 of the states 72 counties. After reviewing them, prosecutors declined to bring charges in 26 of those cases. President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes in 2020. If Gableman found actual evidence of fraud, there is no evidence he or his investigators have referred their findings to prosecutors. District attorneys for five of the seven counties mentioned Brown, Dane, Milwaukee, Outagamie and Washington either said theyd received no voter fraud referrals related to the November 2020 election or no referrals related to nursing homes. Racine County DA Patricia Hanson, a Republican, declined comment for this story. In February, she declined to file charges against members of the Elections Commission or workers at the Ridgewood Care Center nursing home in Racine after the countys Republican sheriff, Christopher Schmaling, alleged the commissions instruction to clerks not to send special voting deputies into nursing homes amounted to voter fraud. But in a statement at the time, she appeared to endorse the notion that something illegal had occurred. It is appalling to me that an appointed, unelected group of volunteers has enough authority to change how some of our most vulnerable citizens access voting, Hanson wrote, referring to the commission. Residents who did not request ballots voted because someone else made a request for a ballot on their behalf and then voted on their behalf. If even one persons right to freely choose to vote or not to vote was diminished, then a travesty of justice has occurred. Kenosha County DA Michael Graveley did not respond to requests for comment. Asked if he planned to forward allegations of election fraud based on his interviews of voters to prosecutors, Kaardal said thats not really my thing, adding he was only trying to help the families involved. State Journal reporter Lucas Robinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story was updated on April 8, 2022, to clarify information about the videotaped interviews of voters. Seven were interviewed, and a relative of the eighth was interviewed after that voter had died. Dane County In his report on the 2020 election, former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman asserted, without providing proof, that 100% of registered voters in Dane County nursing homes cast absentee ballots that year. Here are the number of ballots the Wisconsin State Journal could confirm were cast at each nursing home that year, compared with the number of registered voters at each facility: Badger Prairie Health Care Center, 1100 E. Verona Ave., town of Verona: 32/39 (82%) Capitol Lakes Health Center, 333 W. Main St., Madison (includes independent living): 82/90 (91%) Crossroads Care Center of Sun Prairie, 41 Rickel Road, Sun Prairie: 5/12 (42%) Four Winds Manor, 303 S. Jefferson St., city of Verona: 13/22 (59%) Heartland Country Village, 634 Center St., Black Earth: 7/11 (64%) Ingleside Manor, 407 N. Eighth St., Mount Horeb: 16/32 (50%) Nazareth Health and Rehab Center, 814 Jackson St., Stoughton: 12/12 (100%) Oak Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 718 Jupiter Drive, Madison: 10/15 (67%) Oak Park Place of Nakoma,* 4327 Nakoma Road, Madison: 14/16 (88%) Oakwood Lutheran Homes Association, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison: 14/19 (74%) Oakwood Village East Health and Rehabilitation Center, Madison: 2/3 (67%) Oregon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 354 N. Main St., Oregon: 10/17 (59%) Skaalen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 400 N. Morris St., Stoughton: 41/49 (84%) SSM Health St. Mary's Care Center, 3401 Maple Grove Drive, Madison: 51/64 (80%) Sun Prairie Health Care Center,* 228 W. Main St., Sun Prairie: 17/25 (68%) The Bay at Belmont Health and Rehabilitation Center, 110 Belmont Road, Madison: 24/31 (77%) The Villa at Middleton Village, 6201 Elmwood Ave., Middleton: 8/15 (53%) Waunakee Manor Health Care Center,* 801 S. Klein Dr., Waunakee: 26/30 (87%) * May include assisted-living residents Research by the Wisconsin State Journal Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and a group of City Council members are tangling over the process used to propose a new permanent homeless mens shelter site on the Far East Side. Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi at a news conference Wednesday proposed to locate the shelter on a vacant, city-owned lot at 1902 Bartillon Drive between East Towne and Madison Area Technical College. They also announced the city will spend the coming months creating a temporary shelter at a city-owned, 31,500-square-foot building at 2002 Zeier Road near East Towne. But a group of five council members at a news conference Thursday blasted Rhodes-Conway for a lack of communication, collaboration and transparency in choosing and announcing the site. Still, council President Syed Abbas and Alds. Gary Halverson, Charles Myadze, Sheri Carter and Barbara Harrington-McKinney all voiced support for the Bartillon Drive location, as well creating a temporary shelter at the Zeier Road property. Abbas, whose 12th District includes the Bartillon Drive site, and Halverson, whose 17th District includes the Zeier Road property, both voiced disappointment that they hadnt been part of the selection and werent notified about the choice until shortly before the mayors news conference, or invited to the event. The issue here is not to oppose this, Abbas said. This is about our constituents and a lack of collaboration from the top. I expect the mayor to do better. Its extremely important to have robust communication. Rhodes-Conway said council members have had ample opportunity to weigh in on the proposed site and that the announcement is just the start of a long, open public process. She said the council has been in the loop on site options, and that feedback during closed discussion by the citys Finance Committee greatly influenced her decision on where to locate the permanent mens shelter. The city and county have been aggressively seeking a site for a permanent mens shelter ever since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of cramped, makeshift shelters in Downtown church basements in March 2020. The city created a temporary shelter with more space at the Warner Park Community Center on the North Side before moving the shelter to the citys former Fleet Services building at 200 N. First St., which the city will begin to repurpose into the Madison Public Market this fall. In the past two years, the city and county have proposed three permanent sites for the mens shelter: a two-story, 22,584-square-foot former day care center at 4111 East Towne Blvd., which failed because the seller pulled out of a tentative deal; the former big box store on Zeier Road, which met opposition; and now at 1902 Bartillon Drive. Halverson accuses Rhodes-Conway of now failing to adequately engage council members on announcements to propose shelter sites three times. We want to get this done, he said. This is about process. How did this happen again? This is unacceptable. This is a call for more transparency in the mayors office. Many constituents have questions, Abbas said, adding that he and Halverson will ensure a robust community engagement process to help ensure a good design, appropriate services and more. This is a 50-year decision, Halverson said. You dont get to make a decision without including residents. Rhodes-Conway will soon introduce a resolution to the City Council seeking approval of the site, directing the Engineering Division to choose architectural and engineering consultants, and directing the Community Development Division to start a process to pick an operator, who would help refine the design, budget and mix of services. The resolution will be considered by three city committees before returning to the council for final action on April 19, city community development director Jim OKeefe said. City staff, ideally with the participation of council members, also plan to schedule community meetings around both the Bartillon Drive and Zeier Road projects prior to that date, he said. I find it frankly surprising that alders are acting like they didnt know a long process lies ahead of us, Rhodes-Conway said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Dane County judge on Thursday ordered Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to produce deleted records related to the GOP-ordered review of the 2020 election. Circuit Court Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn ordered Vos to produce the deleted emails from his government accounts by March 23. She also told Vos attorney Ronald Stadler to investigate the possibility of producing deleted records from private email accounts or text messages records Stadler said he cannot produce. Vos, R-Rochester, said in a recent deposition he regularly deletes emails and text messages. If they cant be produced, I want an expert or somebody to explain why they cant be produced, Bailey-Rihn said. Theyre certainly relevant. The case is one of three records-related lawsuits filed by liberal watchdog group American Oversight against Vos, the Assembly and former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired by Vos last year to review the election at a cost of $676,000 to taxpayers. American Oversight has issued several requests for records from Vos, Gableman and other state officials seeking documents related to Gablemans ongoing review of the 2020 election. The groups attorney Christa Westerberg said those requests cover late May through mid-September of last year. Westerberg added that state officials have not yet responded to four other records requests issued in August and September of last year. Stadler said responses to those requests will be provided in the coming days. American Oversight has also asked to interview a former Vos employee who was in charge of the speakers emails for a period of time before leaving the office. Bailey-Rihn ordered Stadler to either have the employee sit for a deposition or find someone to answer questions on her behalf regarding the records. We need to start moving this along and wrapping this up, Bailey-Rihn said of the ongoing case. In a separate American Overisght case, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Frank Remington recently ordered the release of hundreds of pages of documents related to Gablemans review. Remington ordered Vos, Gableman and the Assembly to each pay $1,000 in damages to American Oversight and cover the groups legal fees costs that could very well fall on taxpayers. Remingtons ruling is likely to be appealed. Remington said the documents were much to-do about nothing and showed little evidence of a formal investigation. Despite that, and bipartisan calls for Gablemans review to conclude, Vos earlier this week signed a new contract extending the probe through April 30. The new contract maintains Gablemans existing budget, but does allow for the possibility of added funds to cover the costs of multiple lawsuits related to the probe, according to the agreement filed with the court. The contract also stipulates that Gableman consult with Vos after the lawsuits are concluded to determine if the review should end or if additional investigation is warranted. A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In the two weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine on the orders of Vladimir Putin, thousands have died, and the attacks reached a new level of horror when a Russian airstrike targeted a maternity and childrens hospital in the city of Mariupol Wednesday. As Ukrainians scramble to evacuate and find refuge in neighboring countries, Ukraine native Olena Belka of La Crosse is working tirelessly to bring her own family to the U.S., fearful for the lives of her siblings and their children. While the exact death toll is unknown, reports estimate some 600 to 800 civilians, at least 50 of them children, and 2,000 to 4,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed. When Belka was visiting family in Ukraine last month, residents were not anticipating an attack, with Belka saying officials stated, Do not worry about it. Belkas flight home had just landed when she learned the bombing had started. The Tribune talked to Belka the day after she arrived back in La Crosse, and now some 12 days later Belka says, We view this conflict completely differently being the second week into it. It is clearly a war against the Ukrainian people as the free European nation. And they fight for all of us with remarkable heroism. Belka interviewed with the Tribune this week, sharing her thoughts on government responses, local support, and her fight to get her relatives out of Ukraine her brothers, she says, are still in high spirit to resist but also very scared None of us believe anymore that the Russian government is rationalizing their actions at all. How has your view of the crisis in Ukraine changed since we last spoke? Belka: I am watching Russian news almost every day. They see this war as a defensive act, calling soldiers to become national heroes by killing so called Nazis among Ukrainians. (There is no) common sense Russians bombing suburbs and downtowns of the big cities where no military bases are present or despite the fact that President (Volodymyr) Zelensky is Jewish and gained 73% of all votes. Then suddenly threatening nuclear power? Our nation performs a great resistance but we dont know how long we can stand without help that President Zelensky (is requesting from) the U.S. and allies. What are Ukrainians supposed to do? (Must) we give up and let Putin take over our land because Ukraine is outside of the NATO bloc and has no real help? Wouldnt it be a green light to invade non-members of NATO such as Moldova, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and Switzerland? Would NATO refuse to help if tomorrow the Russian army invades Sweden or Finland? Would Finland withstand this aggression on its own like Ukraine now does? (The) message (that) we send Putin may just be what we receive. How do you feel about the response from the U.S. government? What actions would you like to see from President Biden or local legislators? Belka: We all, as Ukrainian Americans and many American born-citizens, are ready to accept our brothers and sisters as refugees. We have the ability to help them to learn English, provide them with shelter, food and jobs. Most of the Ukrainians have bachelors and master degrees and helping these people will (benefit) our economy and international politics. The U.S. cares and this is the message we should immediately send to the world. We are endlessly thankful to all European countries for opening borders to Ukrainians. But shame on us! I called two senators in Wisconsin and was told there is nothing they can do to bring refugees (here) even for those Ukrainian Americans who live and have businesses in the States. If the U.S. government doesnt acknowledge the refugees, it doesnt acknowledge the fact that Russia has declared war on a European country. Would you vote for leaders of the greatest nation who dont take responsibility for their actions and guarantees of peace in the war time? If Biden and the administration cant make those executive decisions to accept refugees, people will make them for the U.S government. How are your efforts to help your family come to the U.S. going? What obstacles are you facing? Belka: So far, we hit the wall. I spoke to an immigration officer from Milwaukee and I explained that I would like to take full responsibility for two families, provide them with housing and sponsor them so they dont burden the government (with those responsibilities). Unfortunately, the officer said with the current policies on this crisis it will take me from five to 10 years to reunite with my sisters and brothers. We dont have 10 years we have days that usually start with the bombing on Ukrainian citizens and cost them lives. Do you feel U.S. residents, and the La Crosse community, are showing support for Ukraine? Belka: (Its been the) greatest support I have ever experienced. I am being (flooded) with messages (about) How can we help your family? Recently I was invited by my Danish friend Lisbeth Reynertson to the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center (for a concert which was adapted in response to the crisis) and dedicated to Ukrainian music. I sent my family a video of the choir singing a song in the Ukrainian language right from the middle of the deep Midwest: La Crosse. I also keep in contact with (family) every single day and send them messages (from) people who they dont know, who speak a different language (English) and who deeply care about them. I want them to be inspired and stay alive. Belka requests anyone who is able to assist with bringing her family to the states, or direct her to resources, to email her at lemsbelka@gmail.com. Any help would be highly appreciated, Belka says. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. Lee Enterprises reelected three directors at its annual shareholders meeting Thursday, despite attempts by Alden Global Capital, a Wall Street hedge fund, to install its own directors through proxy votes in ongoing attempts to takeover the company. Chairman Mary Junck, CEO Kevin Mowbray and Lead Independent Director Herbert Moloney were retained with more than 70% of the vote each, with more than 75% of shareholders casting votes. Mowbray said the results are subject to official tabulation and certification by the Independent Inspector of Elections, which is expected to be completed in a few days. The results represent a resounding rejection of Alden Global Capitals campaign against Lee, the company said in a statement. Prior to the meeting, Lee sent an email to shareholders urging them to vote only for the boards proposed nominees and asking them to disregard any promotional materials sent to them by Alden. Citing pending litigation by Alden against Lee, the company said no proxies or votes in favor of Aldens director nominees would be recognized or tabulated at the annual meeting. The directors were ensured they would be reelected because Lee used a plurality standard in the elections. That meant that the directors only had to get one yes vote to get reelected more than any other candidate could receive because the directors were running unopposed. Alden tried to force the directors to have to win a majority of the votes to keep their seats, but a judge rejected that suggestion. Junck said after the meeting that no one from Alden was present at the annual meeting. Alden affiliates currently own about 6.3% of Lee stock. Our shareholders supported the candidates for reelection and importantly, the company is focused on driving our digital transformation strategy, delivering strong local journalism as well as providing value to all of our shareholders, Junck said. Mowbray said the companys Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy is succeeding, as evidenced by growth in digital-only subscribers. Weve made really good progress; our digital-only subscriber growth has exceeded the industry exceptionally for the last 12 quarters, beating both Gannett and the New York Times, Mowbray said. Our digital agency revenue growth is also industry-leading and that revenue is up about 45% to the prior year. We are really excited about our future. There is a lot of upside in our stock and weve got a very detailed five-year strategic plan that were right in the middle of executing, Mowbray said. Weve made good progress. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The parent company of a Madison-based investment group that claims to solicit money for UW-Madison alumni-connected ventures even though it isnt affiliated with the university settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission late last week for allegedly misleading investors, among other charges. New Hampshire-based Alumni Ventures Group, which has affiliate firms all over the U.S. including in Madison, has agreed to repay $4.7 million to affected funds, as well as a $700,000 penalty per the charges. The Groups CEO, Mike Collins, is also to pay a $100,000 penalty, according to the SECs March 4 order. The regulator found that the companys website and other marketing communications told investors that they would be charged industry standard management fees, typically a rate of 2% annually over 10 years with 20% carried interest. Instead, Alumni Ventures charged 20% up front which several local investors who the Wisconsin State Journal interviewed over the past week say is unconventional. Management fees are what keep a venture capital fund operational, and help pay salaries and other costs, explained John Neis, managing director of Madison-based Venture Investors, who has 38 years of experience in the venture capital sector. The SEC also found that the company allegedly comingled funds without informing investors. The SEC order lists three funds under the name Bascom Ventures, a Madison-based affiliate of the Group. Bascom, according to its website, has operated a total of five venture capital funds, which appear to have invested in businesses both in Madison and nationally for at least the past half decade. Its unclear how many of those ventures have connections to university alumni. Bascoms Twitter biography reads UW-Madison alumni making smart, simple investments in UW alumni-connected ventures, and its LinkedIn bio similarly states Bascom Ventures is a community of accredited UW-Madison alums who pool money into a VC fund to invest in UW-connected companies. A Wisconsin Alumni Association web page does say the company is not affiliated with the UW. Both the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association said in separate email statements they also have no affiliation with Bascom, declining to comment further. The name connects to what UW-Madison describes as the symbolic center of campus Bascom Hill and Bascom Hall, named after former UW President John Bascom. University spokesperson John Lucas said in an email that upon its launch, UW-Madison did work with Bascom Ventures to make its separation from campus more clear. It was conversations with (Bascoms) team to ensure their logo and imagery on their website didnt lead people to assume a campus affiliation, Lucas wrote, declining to comment on why UW-Madison didnt go further than that. The group may be using publicly available email lists to solicit (on) campus, and the ability to request these lists is open to anyone under state public records law, Lucas wrote. The companys investment portfolio includes a few Madison businesses (that it denotes as being from the Midwest on its website) such as Quiver Quantitative, a Madison-based alternative data startup launched by two UW-Madison graduates. Other investments include cultivated seafood startup Cultured Decadence (now UPSIDE Foods) as well as Janesville-based nuclear technology company SHINE Medical Technologies and recently closed music streaming startup Live Undiscovered Music, or LUM. Even more appear to be from Texas, California, New York and other U.S. locations. No UW-Madison affiliation is mentioned. AV is a different kind of venture capital firm built for bringing individual investors a simple way to access great investments which historically had been an exclusive, hard-to-access asset built for technical, institutional investors, Alumni Ventures said in an email statement Wednesday in response to the SEC order, and on behalf of Bascom. More than two years ago, AV quickly made its marketing materials more clear when regulators reached out with these disclosure questions. Since updating all operations to be compliant with this agreement in early 2020, more then 4,188 well-informed new investors have joined AV because they love the access we bring them to great deals and the simplicity of how we do it, the company added. That is pretty unusual Carrie Thome, who is the managing director for Madison-based NVNG Investment Advisors and the former WARF chief investment officer, said that in her yearslong career, she has not seen many examples of the SEC fining an investment fund for misleading investors on management fees in the way described in the SEC report. Of a firm charging 20% up front for management fees, that is pretty unusual, Thome said. The typical structure is that you pay on the committed amount while the investments are being made, she explained, adding, I hope (the order) doesnt set back the ecosystem that we have growing in Wisconsin and that ensuring trust is important for the venture capital sphere. Ken Johnson, also a WARF alumni and managing director of Madison-based Kegonsa Capital Partners, voiced a similar view to Thomes, calling the SECs $700,000 fine substantial. Editor's note: This story corrects a mischaracterization of the SEC settlement. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. Someday in the not-too-distant future, the term Latino vote will die out quietly. No more talk of sleeping giants. No more voting blocs that are assumed to be easy gets for any Democrat who says nice things about Latinos whenever Republicans dehumanize immigrants. Several prominent news stories in recent days have marveled at how the GOP is managing to attract the attention of Hispanic voters by funding community centers in Hispanic neighborhoods and financing the election campaigns of Latinos. In some cases, previously Democrat-identifying Hispanics switch their party. This isnt so surprising, really. Ive been covering the demographic story of Hispanics in America since the results of the 2010 Census spurred a million headlines about the coming demographic tsunami, which implied Latinos were going to cause white people to go extinct. Its more the other way around, from what I can see. Just ask any elementary school teacher in America, regardless of whether they teach in a rural, suburban or urban district Latinos are mixing in with other races. Across the K-12 school system and in colleges across the country, white, Asian, Black and Indigenous Latino-identifying young people with names such as Xochitl Smith, Kristie Ochoa, Brad Chavez and Rick Sanchez hint at a double identity. And many, many American men and women have traditional, white-sounding names who may (or may not) speak Spanish but who identify as Mexican American, Cuban American, etc. due to their immediate ancestry. Usually a group of people who all have one thing in common at least one ancestor from Latin America would be considered to have an affinity. But that only makes sense in the context of believing, as some truly do, that all Latinos are illegal immigrants, that they all speak Spanish, and that they are all poor and undereducated. Actually, the Latino population in this country represents a community-in-name-only with a wide range of educational levels, professional experiences, household incomes and varying degrees of attachment to Christian religions. Democratic powerbrokers often ignore Latino voters because they believe that Republican opponents could never appeal to Hispanics. Republicans, on the other hand, take nothing for granted. They know that they stand to do well with Latinos who are older (as in Generation X age and older), more closely linked to religious traditions, and Latinos who have higher-than-average household incomes. This is despite huge skepticism about what real commitments Republicans can make (and keep) in an effort to swing Latinos, who are very impressionable at this time. A December Wall Street Journal poll on congressional races found that 37% of Hispanic voters favored a Democrat candidate, 37% favored a Republican candidate, while 22% of respondents said they were still undecided. Its also true that lots of Latino voters cast their ballots for former President Donald Trump and other Republicans during the last election. The progressive data analysis firm Catalist wrote in a report on What Happened in 2020: Along with massive increases in turnout, Latino vote share as a whole swung towards Trump by 8 points in two-way vote share compared to 2016, though Biden-Harris still enjoyed solid majority (61%) support among this group. Some of the shift from 2016 appears to be a result of changing voting preferences among people who voted in both elections, and some may come from new voters who were more evenly split in their vote choice than previous Latino voters. Last month, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, was at a GOP-financed community center in a heavily immigrant and Latino Milwaukee neighborhood, trying to make nice by talking with actual Latinos about school vouchers, crime prevention and immigration policy. Johnson and all other high-visibility candidates need to do the same Latinos are now Wisconsins largest minority group. And theres no teasing out which ones are susceptible to a Republican fiscally conservative, socially liberal message. In a story about the rise of Republican Latino legislators, Texas Monthly described the appeal: Shared immigrant stories and opposition to Democratic Party policies that are unpopular in the region, combined with Trumpian rhetoric. I hate to say that I kinda get it. Democrats have paid little more than lip service to Latino-centric concerns about the economy, education and health care, much less immigration a contentious topic that doesnt define Latinos, but very much affects them and their families, even if theyre U.S.-born. And Democrats are, lets face it, a hot mess of internecine battles over high-minded liberal and progressive issues that seriously turn off working-class folks who are living through precarious times. Its difficult to estimate what percentage of Wisconsins approximately 190,000 registered Latino voters (they represent only 4% of all eligible voters) will turn out during the next midterm elections. Whats easy is noting, for the umpteenth time, that Latino votes are up for grabs. Every political party should be doing whatever it takes to welcome, court and win over this growing, eager and non-homogenous electorate. 1,000 families are still apart Kids in cages. Kids in cages. Kids in cages. There, I said it. I know a global pandemic is still going on, in addition to war in Ukraine and all sorts of other suffering. But we cannot forget that we still have an immigration crisis in the United States in which people, especially children, are still suffering. Democratic-leaning organizations seem to have some unspoken agreement to steer clear of openly criticizing Team Biden on immigration, but children are still lost, families are separated and cruel treatment remains at our border. It needs to end. Those of us who were waiting for leadership on the immigration front were disappointed during President Joe Bidens State of the Union address. He hit the usual beats: Provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, temporary status recipients, farmworkers and essential workers to help with the national labor shortages. Revise our laws so businesses have the workers they need and families dont wait decades to reunite, Biden said. Its not only the right thing to do its the economically smart thing to do. Ugh. Immigration advocacy groups began framing humanitarian issues as economic puzzles with built-in solutions because the thinking went, over a decade ago that using cold hard business facts about immigrants worth as human capital would get certain conservatives to re-imagine how immigration reform could pay off. Its a strategy that will never pay off big because so many legislators, in Washington and beyond, dont care about facts. They care only about promoting a boogeyman wedge issue that relies on demonizing immigrants. Pathway to citizenship and reform are the most vague and simplistic platitudes you can make on immigration. This is what the Biden administration calls leadership? Its true the Biden administration has already done much for immigrants and refugees. According to the National Immigration Forums Score Card: In its first year in office, the Biden administration has made hundreds of reforms to the immigration system. These changes have come in the form of executive orders, memoranda, updated guidelines, DOJ decisions, and signing legislation into law. In many cases, they have resulted in real, substantial progress toward a more just, humane immigration system that works for all Americans. Theres just so much left to be done. People who were brought to this country as children and got temporary legal status, as well as refugees with temporary protected status, are being herded into the shadows as program time limits run out. The immigration courts continue to be clogged due to case overload backlogs are staggering, and the immigration courts have been hobbled by COVID. These situations are bad enough. But according to the Immigration Forum, 1 million migrants were turned away last year at the border without any access to the very asylum our nations law guarantees to those who qualify. They say that refugee resettlement sits at record lows just as immigrant detention is increasing back to pre-pandemic highs. The forum also estimates that 1,000 families separated by the Trump administration have not yet been reunited. On that front, the nonprofit advocacy organization Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is calling on the White House to set explicit policy that parents and children not be separated unless its an exceptional case, such as human trafficking (which KIND and other experts call rare). Other organizations have views into our current immigration crisis: One year into the Biden administration, some of the most severe Trump-era policies that have decimated access to asylum commonly known as Title 42 and Remain in Mexico remain in force, said The International Rescue Committee, a nongovernmental organization, in a recent report. These measures effectively externalize asylum beyond U.S. borders, making U.S. territory unreachable to foreign nationals even if they are exercising their human right to seek asylum and require Mexico and other countries to carry increasingly challenging burdens to meet humanitarian needs. Rather than welcoming with dignity, asylum seekers rights continue to be violated by the U.S. Lastly, the International Organization for Migrations Missing Migrants Project estimates that over 650 migrants died at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021 a 24% jump from the previous high of 524 posted in 2019, prior to the pandemic, under then-President Donald Trump (And higher than during the Obama administration when, in 2016, a high of 412 was reported, representing a 58% change.) Children are still in detention without their parents. Many families are still separated. We must not forget them. Cepeda, of Madison, can be reached at ejc@estherjcepeda.com and @estherjcepeda. Francis Scott Corey, a retired telephone executive and marketing manager who was an an energetic volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Genesis Jobs, died of heart failure March 3 at Brightview Towson. The former Riderwood resident was 86. Dad approached life boldly. He was a man of strong faith, and was best known for the twinkle in his eye and his ever-present sense of humor, said his son F. Scott Corey Jr. Advertisement Born in Baltimore and raised in Stoneleigh, he was the son of Elmer F. Corey, a Towson dentist, and Margaret Leon, a homemaker. He began his lifelong affection for sailing as a young child, when he accompanied his parents and sister on the Chesapeake Bay. Advertisement He attended Stoneleigh Elementary School where he met his wife, Carol Doeller. At that time, she thought that Scott was big, bad, and generally annoying in their early school days, his son said. He was a 1953 Towson High School graduate. While there, he played lacrosse and was elected class president. At age 16, he became reacquainted with his elementary school classmate Carol and they began dating. They met at a party through a mutual friend and attended a PresbyterianYoung Life group led by the Rev. Murray Smoot, a clergyman who would remain a longtime family friend. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 24 Lois H. Feinblatt was a pioneering sex therapist who practiced with the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic for more than three decades and was a also a philanthropist. (handout) Mr. Corey earned a history degree at Dartmouth College, where he played lacrosse and joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. At Dartmouth, he was chosen by his professors to mark students exams, and he took diction lessons, his son said. He also joined the Navy ROTC program and entertained Carol on weekends when she visited from Wheaton College. He earned his bachelors degree and graduated from Dartmouth, was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy and married Carol at St. Stephens United Church of Christ on York Road all within one week in June 1957. He was later stationed in Newport, Norfolk and San Diego. Mr. Corey and his wife lived in San Diego, and when Carol became pregnant with their first child, Mr. Corey was assigned as an officer onboard an LST in Japan. Advertisement One day onboard, mail call brought him a photograph of his first child, said his son. After Mr. Corey served in the Navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant, he returned to Baltimore and took a job at the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co., which later became Bell Atlantic and Verizon. Over the years he served as a marketing manager, and, during union strikes, he was a temporary telephone operator and pay phone collector. His long career there allowed him to experience many aspects of the business, including human resources, his son said. Mr. Corey remained a sailing enthusiast and kept his boats at Gibson Island. He was instilled with love of sailing and the relaxation it brought. On board, from time to time, his mother would decide that dinner dishes did not need to be washed, and she would ceremoniously slip them overboard, his son said. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 61 Ron Galella, the celebrity photographer whose pursuit of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis resulted in a restraining order against him after he stalked her for years, died at age 91 on April 30, 2022, at his home in Montville, N.J., of congestive heart failure. (Carlo Allegri/AP) Mr. Corey honed his skills as a woodworker and sailed on the Chesapeake with his wife and their four children on a 20-foot sailboat, a 27-foot sailboat, and finally a 34-foot sailboat. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Mr. Corey had a sense of humor and throughout his life, he loved to play pranks. My father lived his quiet faith, his son said. He was a longtime congregant at Central Presbyterian Church in Towson. He filled various church roles and had been head of a building campaign, an adult Sunday school teacher and elder. After his retirement, Mr. Corey became a volunteer carpenter and helped build 22 homes at the Habitat for Humanity project in Sandtown-Winchester. He was also a tutor at the New Song Academy and did counseling at Genesis Jobs. [ Mary N. Nicki Humphries, former Baltimore City chief solicitor, dies ] Mr. Corey and his wife also sailed from Baltimore to the Florida Keys, the Dry Tortugas, the Bahamas and New England. In his later years, they moved from their home in Riderwood to the Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Timonium. He later moved to the Brightview community in Towson. A memorial service was held Thursday at Central Presbyterian Church. Advertisement Mr. Corey is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carol Doeller, a homemaker, volunteer and tutor; three daughters, Mary Kathryn Kate Demarest of Westminster, Deborah Somerville of Millers and Amy McCoy of Buffalo, New York; a son, F. Scott Corey Jr. of Hydes; a sister, Patricia Connelly of Pineville, North Carolina; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. RUPERT A preliminary hearing was reset for a Heyburn man charged with first degree murder in a sledgehammer death. Kalob W. Morrison, 33, faces additional charges of felony criminal conspiracy and three counts of felony unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Along with the murder charge he was charged with felony counts of failure to notify authorities of a death and evidence destruction, alteration or concealment. Morrison has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Morrison was charged after police said he and his brother Klee Morrison, of Littlefield, Arizona, lured Julio Lopez, 41, of Heyburn, to a residence Jan. 2 and bludgeoned him in the face with a hammer and shot him in the back of his head. His body was placed in his vehicle and driven to a location bordering Lincoln and Minidoka counties and burned, according to court records. Other evidence of the crime was later burned at the murder scene, records say. The preliminary hearing is set at 9 a.m. April 27 in Minidoka County Magistrate Court. A motion to seal the case also remains on the docket. The preliminary hearing is designed to allow a prosecutor to convince a judge that there is enough evidence in the case to move it to district court. Morrison appeared in court on Feb. 16 for a preliminary hearing sans a lawyer. Minidoka Magistrate Judge Doug Abenroth appointed a public defender for him, who later withdrew from the case. A conflict public defender, Daniel Brown, was then appointed to defend him. The Minidoka County Prosecutor Lance Stevenson has filed an amended complaint for the criminal conspiracy charges and notice of intent to seek a persistent violator enhancement penalty. The prosecutors office will not seek the death penalty in the case. A first-degree murder warrant will be issued for Klee Morrison, who is currently held on another matter in federal custody. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 BOISE As expected, Idaho Gov. Brad Little is running for reelection in the 2022 Republican primary election. Little, a 68-year-old Republican from Emmett, filed official declaration of candidacy forms on Friday. Little joins a field of five other GOP gubernatorial candidates who have filed declaration of candidacy forms, including: Bonner County Commissioner Steven Bradshaw Edward Humprheys Lisa Marie Ben Cannady Ashley Jackson Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin also filed to officially run for governor on Friday morning, according to a Facebook Live video she posted. Republicans Cody Usabel and Chris Hammond have also announced they will run in the Republican primary for the governors race. As of Thursday night, Marsing Democrat Stephen Heidt was the only Democratic candidate to file to run for governor. Two other Democrats have also announced gubernatorial campaigns, including Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad and Robert Dempsay. Neither had filed declaration of candidacy forms as of Thursday night. Independent Ammon Bundy, Libertarians Paul Sand and John Dionne, Jr., and Constitution Party candidate Chantyrose Davison have also filed declaration of candidacy forms to run for governor. Photo of Idaho Gov. Brad Little, first lady Teresa Little and Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney Idaho Gov. Brad Little, first lady Teresa Little and Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney pose for a photograph Friday after the governor filed paperwork to declare his candidacy. (Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun) The official filing period for political candidates to submit declaration of candidacy forms to appear on the 2022 ballots closes at 5 p.m. Friday. Even before his campaign became official, Little led the field of gubernatorial candidates in campaign fundraising, hauling in more than $1.4 million, the Idaho Capital Sun has previously reported. Littles next closest rival, McGeachin, reported raising $535,812. Idahos primary elections are scheduled for May 17. The winner of the Democratic and Republican primary elections advance to the general election in November. Idaho governors serve terms that last four years. Little is coming to the end of his first term in office. Brad Littles Idaho background Little is a rancher by background who entered government and politics like his father, David Little, who served in the Idaho Senate from 1975-1986. Brad Little served in the Idaho Senate from 2001 until 2009, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Butch Otter to serve as lieutenant governor. Little served as lieutenant governor until after he was elected Idahos 33rd governor in 2018. From the beginning of his first term in office, Little said education and early literacy were among his top priorities. His policy priorities for 2022 are similar to those from his first year in office in 2019 increasing state funding for teacher pay and for investing in and expanding the kindergarten through third grade literacy initiative. Little is also fond of reciting his mantra that taxes should be fair, simple, competitive and predictable. So far in the 2022 session, Little has succeeded on two of his biggest proposals the Idaho Legislature passing a $600 million income tax cut and rebate bill and passing House Bill 443, which sets up a fund to pay for public school teachers to join the states health and dental group insurance plans. Although Little has positioned himself as the pro-education candidate, his handling of the coronavirus pandemic also brought him into the public eye over the past two years. More than 4,800 Idahoans have died of COVID-19 since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Idaho in March 2020. As the states top elected official, Little often received public criticism from both sides politically. Those concerns often bubbled to the surface during his regular telephone calls with Idaho residents that AARP Idaho coordinated. Although he deferred to local control and never implemented a statewide mask mandate, some conservatives said Littles emergency and public health orders at the beginning of the pandmeic restricted too many freedoms and liberties. Meanwhile, some progressives said Little didnt act strongly enough to slow the spread of the virus. Over the past two years, McGeachin clashed with Little often. (In Idaho, the lieutenant governor and governor do not run for office together as part of a unified ticket, in the way candidates for president and vice president do.) McGeachin encouraged businesses to violate his stay-home public safety order from 2020. Then McGeachin issued executive orders twice in 2021 when Little left the state and McGeachin assumed the role of acting governor. One of McGeachins executive orders banned all mask mandates, another banned COVID-19 testing and vaccination at schools. Little repealed McGeachins executive orders almost immediately, and called them political stunts and misuses of power. McGeachin, who announced her own gubernatorial campaign much earlier in May 2021 used the opportunities to position herself to Littles right politically. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 At just 2 years old, Aidan Nichols Long went on his first overnight canoe trip. Adventures that fostered a love of nature and the outdoors would continue to play a central role in his life. Looking through a spotting scope, he saw his first grizzly bear when he was 4. At 5, he went on his first backpacking trip a visit to his home states Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. He loved all of that kind of stuff, said his dad, Ben Long, of Kalispell, Montana. I think that is why this scholarship is so special. It will help other kids get the most out of their lives and enjoy their lives as much as Aidan enjoyed his. Aidan died in his sleep last year at the age of 16. He was a wonderful boy, said his dad, who grew up in Moscow, graduated from the University of Idaho and worked as a reporter at the Daily Idahonian (now the Moscow-Pullman Daily News). He was a very healthy young man but he had a syndrome. He had intractable, unstoppable seizures that developed at about age 5 and got worse and worse the older he got. Aidan died of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Although the illness and efforts to mitigate it meant he spent a lot of time at hospitals and doctor offices, it was under the Big Sky of Montana and other western states that he found the most joy. His best times with us were the times he spent outside, Long said. Now his parents, Long and Karen Nichols, want to help other kids with similar challenges experience the great outdoors. The Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, with help from a $5,000 gift from the hunting and fishing media company Meateater, established the Aidan Long Outdoors For All Scholarship after his death. The fund has grown with additional donations and, later this spring, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers will begin giving awards to help kids who face physical or mental challenges spend time outside. We have enough money in the bank we can give away the interest every year in gifts to kids to get them better outfitted, Long said. A lot of these kids need specialized equipment and its really expensive. Applications are being accepted through March 30 and can be sent to admin@backcountryhunters.org. More information is available at bit.ly/3seLYz1. Long expects to award grants between $500 and $1,000. People interested in donating to the fund may do so at bit.ly/3IDrWnq. Nothing will ever bring him back, Long said. But its a reassuring way to honor his life. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ValleyStar Credit Union announces Mendy Shaffer as its interim chief financial officer, Robert Sparrow as its chief risk officer and Justin Barnes as its chief lending officer. Shaffers role is to identify and secure investment and financing opportunities. She came to ValleyStar in 2018 as the vice president of accounting. In her new role, Shaffer identify and secure investment and financing opportunities. She has a bachelors degree in business administration from Averett University and a master's degree in business administration from Radford University. She obtained American Bankers Association, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Banking Leadership designation through The Wharton School and attended the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Financial Management School and Southeast Region Credit Union School of Management. Her skill set will advance sustainable and scalable strategies in financial technology and capital growth for ValleyStar, stated Mike Warrell, CEO of ValleyStar Credit Union, in a press release. Sparrows role is to assess and mitigate risk. He joined ValleyStar in 2013 to lead compliance for the credit union and manage human resources. He has a bachelor's degree in business management and accounting from Hampton University. His licenses and certifications include Bank Secrecy Act Compliance Specialist and Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert. Robert has played an integral role in assessing risk and optimizing decisions to ensure our team and our members are at the center of all we do at ValleyStar,'' said Warrell. Barnes' new role has him working to diversify the ValleyStar lending portfolio. He started at ValleyStar in 2018. In his past role as VP of commercial lending, he grew the team to more than $160 million, adding multiple lenders in five new markets. He attended Virginia Western Community College and is a 2009 graduate of the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia. Barnes began his career in financial services in 1999. Under Justins leadership, ValleyStars commercial lending team saw tremendous growth,'' said Warrell. In 2020, ValleyStar expanded its lending services into Augusta County, where the commercial team contributed to almost a dozen new housing developments. The team earned a CUNA National Excellence in Lending Award for ValleyStars efforts in building a responsive and contactless program as an alternative to the national Paycheck Protection Program. Virginia Senate Democrats rejected four of Gov. Glenn Youngkins nominees for the Virginia Parole Board on Thursday in an escalation of an ongoing fight over appointments. Just retaliation, said Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, after the party-line vote on an appointment resolution that also included a nominee for the state Safety and Health Codes Board. When the General Assembly adjourns, possibly on Saturday, the parole board will have only one member, its chair Chadwick Dotson, a retired judge and former Wise County commonwealths attorney. Youngkin will appoint new members, but he will not be allowed to appoint his now-scuttled choices of Tracy Banks, a longtime lawyer and law professor from Charlottesville; Cheryl Nici-OConnell of Chesterfield County, a former Richmond police officer injured in a shooting in 1984; Montgomery County Sheriff Charles Partin; and Carmen Williams of Chesterfield. Williams was language access and immigration legal services manager for the Project of Empowerment of Survivors for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. State appointments have resulted in above-average partisan fighting in the legislature this year. Democrats rejected Youngkins choice of Andrew Wheeler, a former EPA director under President Donald Trump, to be Virginia secretary of natural resources. House Republicans last month rejected 11 of former Gov. Ralph Northams nominees, including three nominees to the state Board of Education and two to the State Air Pollution Control Board. Republicans have opted not to elect State Corporation Commission Judge Angela Navarro to a full term; she had been appointed by Northam to fill the unexpired term of a commissioner who left for a federal post. And then the Senate Democrats took their action on the parole board Thursday, with a vote that followed accusatory speeches from each side about who started the appointment fight. It wasnt us who escalated the war, OK? said Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax. Were not going to be walked all over, over and over again, and just take it, said Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria. Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, said Thursdays decision would be disappointing for the people involved, but it is more disappointing for the commonwealth. And he said it highlighted a continued effort by Democrats to not address the serious violations that occurred at the parole board. That relates to misconduct found in 2020 by a state watchdog agency, including violations of law and policy in the process the prior board used to release some people from prison. The parole board became a hot election issue last year, and Youngkin fired the entire Northam board on his first day in office. Youngkin issued a statement through his press secretary, Macaulay Porter: This is shocking. The Democrats are continuing to cover up a scandal of their own creation. The Democrat controlled parole board broke the law, put criminals ahead of victims, and tried to cover it all up. We will reform the parole board, expose those conspiring to hide this from public view, and stand up for victims rights. After the vote, Senate Republicans gathered at the statue of George Washington in the Capitol Rotunda for a caucus portrait. Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, watched from the sidelines because she quit the caucus in November 2019. Senate Democrats issued a news release saying the rejection of the parole board appointments was in response to Youngkins refusal to appoint the 11 Northam appointees that House Republicans removed last month. Democrats had warned Youngkin in a Feb. 18 letter: Unfortunately, unless you reappoint all eleven of these public servants there will be tremendous pressure to apply this precedent in turn to future Youngkin appointees. For the sake of the General Assembly as an institution, this is not a path we wish to take. Those of us who havent been personally touched by a mass shooting can only imagine the horrors that linger for years, haunting those who were there and survived as well as the loved ones of those who did not. But one neednt live through such terror to be empathetic toward those who have and to support proposals that ease the suffering and hurt survivors carry and help them move forward in life. State legislators this year considered a $10 million budget amendment to create the Virginia Mass Violence Care Fund. That good idea was passed over by budget writers but deserves consideration in future discussions. The fund would help survivors of mass shootings or other mass violence, and the families of victims, deal with long-term physical and mental health needs that insurance doesnt cover. Hampton Roads knows all too well how devastating a mass shooting can be. On May 31, 2019, a gunman killed 12 people and wounded four others at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center before he was killed by police. Survivors and relatives of victims were among those who attended a recent meeting of state lawmakers to urge them to approve the fund. But this isnt the only Virginia community to experience such tragedy. In 2007, a Virginia Tech student killed 32 classmates and instructors on the Blacksburg campus. Seventeen others were injured before the gunman killed himself. At the time, that massacre was the highest casualty mass shooting, since eclipsed by events in Las Vegas and Orlando. Who knows how many people might have died in February of this year at Bridgewater College in Virginias peaceful Shenandoah Valley if two campus policemen hadnt gone to investigate reports of a suspicious man on campus? The man who has been charged with murder in the deaths of those campus officers is a former student who has had mental health problems. Mass shootings get a lot of attention because they affect entire communities and are dramatic, horrific news events. Its a sad truth that gun violence is so pervasive in the United States today that ordinary shooting deaths, when only one or two people die and the violence doesnt happen at a public place or event, go largely unnoticed except by those directly involved. The proposed Mass Violence Care Fund for Virginia is a worthy idea that could help those already struggling and those who might be affected by any future mass shootings or other violence. While creating that fund, lets not forget that gun violence has terrible, long-lasting effects on many other people caught up in tragedies that dont make headlines. In Virginia, as across the United States, we need to step up efforts to prevent gun violence. We know some of the things we need to do; we just need to devote more energy and resources to the effort. Its important to bolster our mental health care programs and make them more accessible to anyone who might need help. We need to do more to recognize when someone is in an emotional crisis. Too often, only after someone resorts to violence do people come forward to say they knew there was a problem. We also need to take practical steps to keep guns out of the hands of those who there is reason to believe might be a danger to themselves or others. Every time theres another mass shooting, theres renewed talk about the need for gun control. Once the news moves on to other topics, the gun-control discussion usually fades. Gun control has become such a politicized issue that its difficult to get strong support even for what ought to be seen as common-sense reforms, such as red-flag laws temporarily barring people displaying dangerous tendencies from having access to firearms. Shooting deaths are tragic, whether theres one victim or many. Lets help the victims and survivors, certainly. And lets work to keep others from suffering such needless horrors. The Virginian-Pilot & Daily Press Editorial Board The Virginian-Pilot & Daily Press Editorial Board 2002 Spring childrens programming schedule, March to May Preschool Story Time: Mondays at 10 a.m. on the CLOSED Facebook group McDowell Library Children Services Juvenile Story Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. on the CLOSED Facebook group McDowell Library Children Services Bedtime Stories: Fridays at 7 p.m. on the CLOSED Facebook group McDowell LIbrary Children Services Take-and-Make Crafts: Third Friday of each month (both branches) at 10 a.m. Pick-up at the Circulation Desk or call to pick-up curbside. (while supplies last; no craft pick-up in May) More Info: Keep an eye out for books, songs, activities, bilingual books, felt board stories, science experiments and more on the CLOSED Facebook group McDowell Library Children Services Printing on-the-go offered at Marion Library Now you can send a print to the Marion library from your phone, computer, or tablet to printing@mcdowellpubliclibrary.org. Come to the Circulation Desk at the Marion Library and staff will release your prints. Cost is 25 cents per page. For more information, call 652-3858. To send a print to the Old Fort Library oldfortlibrary.mcdowell@gmail.com. For more information call 668-7111. Visit www.mcdowellpubliclibrary.org. Military records available The McDowell County Public Library is now offering a new online service for military personnel called Fold3. Fold3 provides convenient access to military records, including stories, photos and personal documents of the men and women who served. The records at Fold3 help you discover and share stories about these everyday heroes, forgotten soldiers, and the families who supported them. From the website, you can combine records found on the site with what you have in your own albums and shoeboxes to create an online memorial for someone who served. There are more than 470 million searchable records spanning hundreds of years including, but not limited to, the Revolutionary War, Civil War, War of 1812, Mexican-American and Early Indian wars, World Wars I and II, Korean and Vietnam conflicts, recent wars, international records and more. The platform also includes special sections from archives of African Americans, American Revolution, Native American, FBI case files, World War II and the Holocaust. The content for Fold3 comes from the U.S. National Archives & Records Administration, Center for Research Libraries, Allen County Public Library, Harris County Archives, Cuyahoga County archives, South Carolina archives and the U.K National Archives. New content is continually added to Fold3 Library Edition so users can find the most timely information about the people in their lives whose military service distinguishes them. Fold3 is perfect for historians, genealogists, researchers, enthusiasts, family historians, teachers, Veterans and their families and institutions. The Fold3 name comes from a traditional flag folding ceremony in which the third fold is made in honor and remembrance of veterans who served in defense of their country and to maintain peace throughout the world. To learn more, visit https://mcdowellpubliclibrary.org/genealogy. RALEIGH Theres always a cost to protecting property rights. No rational person has ever suggested otherwise. In free societies that place a high value on the individual right to own and control private property, its more expensive for governments to build roads or public facilities. Its harder to piece together parcels of land for redevelopment. And what your neighbors choose to do with their property may annoy you. These costs are well worth paying, however, because the alternative is a more stagnant and stultifying society. If youre unsure whether some future politician or bureaucrat might confiscate your property, or diminish its value through capricious regulation, youre less likely to invest significant resources it. Youre less likely to take chances. Youre less free to live as you choose. These are significant costs, as well. An underappreciated accomplishment over the past decade is that North Carolinas protection of property rights has gotten a lot stronger. Still, each leap forward drew passionate critics. When in 2012 the General Assembly essentially did away with forced annexation, critics predicted dire economic and financial consequences for cities and towns. When the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down the states nearly 30-year-old Map Act in 2016, critics predicted that having to compensate people in the path of future roads for government restrictions on the use of their land would make road-building inefficient and unwieldy. Neither objection held water, in my view. North Carolinas annexation and road-corridor regulations were wildly out of step with those of most other states, where somehow municipalities and highway departments managed to deliver their services without relying on unjust laws. Our latest leap forward in property-rights protections came in December. But neither state lawmakers nor state judges are responsible. It came from a federal court, in response to a case involving a homeless shelter in North Wilkesboro. The Catherine H. Barber Memorial Shelter opened its doors in the Wilkes County town more than three decades ago. When board members expressed a need for a larger space to accommodate the growing needs of the shelter, a local dentist and his wife stepped up to donate the two-story office building that had previously housed his practice. Barber Shelter officials were delighted until the local zoning board denied its application for a conditional-use permit, citing a potential loss of property value among neighboring parcels as well as an alleged threat to public health because of the shelters location on a busy highway. Rather than take the rejection on the chin, the Barber Shelter took the zoning board to court. Represented by the Institute for Justices Diana Simpson, the shelter argued that other, similarly situated businesses would have received permits to operate in the same location. U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Bell agreed, writing in his order that the board apparently believes incorrectly that it can say the magic words traffic and safety and this Court will rubber stamp the classification no matter the facts. Examining those facts, Bell concluded that North Wilkesboro intentionally treated the Shelter differently from other similarly situated uses, and there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment. While there are certainly circumstances in which courts should defer to the informed judgment of administrative agencies, he wrote, such deference cannot be an excuse for the Court to abdicate its duty to protect the constitutional rights of all people. To their credit, the town manager and North Wilkesboro Board of Commissioners decided not to appeal and will pay $180,000 in attorney fees. Indeed, Mayor Marc Hauser went out of his way to be supportive. The Catherine Barber shelter provides a much-needed service for the less fortunate, he said. Personally, I would like to see them expand their hours and offer more services. Heres wishing them all the best in their new facility. So the Barber Shelter is relocating as planned. And local officials in North Carolina and beyond got a clear message: infringing on property rights may be costly for you. John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member and author of the new novel Mountain Folk, a historical fantasy set during the American Revolution (MountainFolkBook.com). As a semi-respected small-town newspaper editor, regionally known humor columnist and former cigar-chomping, hooch-swilling, skirt-chasing, cholesterol-lowering-medication-taking, underpaid and overworked bureau chief of the fictional yet highly respected Monkey Action News Team, I dont use my journalistic status, real or imagined, to promote goods or services. I stopped after I gave a thumbs up to Cousin Juniors plumbing business and shortly thereafter he flooded the basement of the VFW hall, ruining 48 miniature American flags and a life-size cutout of Gen. George S. Patton. But, in the real world, I do make exceptions from time to time. Phil Lee, the rocking troubadour, the self-proclaimed Mighty King of Love, has a new album out and it is a dandy. Its called Phil Lee & Other Old Time Favorites. I recommend buying it with cold hard cash, a credit card or a handful of that cryptocurrency everyone is talking about. I can hear some of the skeptics now: Hes only promoting Phil Lees new album in hopes of accessing the backstage debauchery and plethora of gorgeous groupies that are a staple of any Phil Lee show. And my answer is, in the words of the late, great Hank Williams, mind your own business. Phil, a North Carolina boy, has been crisscrossing this great nation for decades, sometimes driving a truck, sometimes unleashing his wickedly clever songs on audiences large and small. He moved to the West Coast a few years ago. Instead of falling into the areas psychedelia or smooth Eagles-like output as some of us feared, he went back to his roots for the new one, back when he was part of the opening act for the farm report on WRAL-TV in Raleigh. Ill let Phil explain it: In 1968 (to the best of my recollection your honor) my Grandma Flossie wangled me a job on television playing drums for a guy who became a huge influence on my whole approach to show business Homer A. Briarhopper. His suits and his Howdy, neighbors wave and the big smile, just the way he engaged the audience and his style of playing to the audience, stuck with me. Every show was a couple of toe tappers, a few country favorites, a rocker or two for the kids, and always one for the sick and the shutins. He was always inclusive, everybody was welcome and there was literally something for everyone. Fun for the whole family! Unfortunately, I got away from all that for about 60 years, but I wanted to do an album for my mama before she kicked the bucket. Honestly though, it looks like theres a race for the finish at this point that I may win. My old time favorites on Phil Lee & Other Old Time Favorites include I Like Women, a reworking of an earlier gem called Daddys Jail and the gospel standard Just A Closer Walk With Thee, the song Harry Dean Stanton sings in the film Cool Hand Luke. Back to Phil: There are a couple of co-writes and a couple of traditional songs Ive always wanted to do...it was just songs I had written, songs that my mother was particularly fond of like Daddys Jail or Wheres the Family Today? a co-write with my old friend James Brown, may God rest his soul. These are mostly songs Id always meant to do but they were never right for the arty records I was doing. Its one of those records with no secret devil-worshipping messages, no FUs, just an album of tunes my mama and I like. There you have it. I say pick up a copy or digital download of Phil Lee & Other Old Time Favorites. I guarantee its better than Cousin Juniors plumbing skills. ** Get Phil Lee & Other Old Time Favorites here or visit https://philleeone.bandcamp.com/ Scott Hollifield is editor of The McDowell News in Marion, and a humor columnist. Contact him at rhollifield@mcdowellnews.com. Fall colors in the canopy of a 14-acre stand of old growth forest in the Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area shows a diversity of tree species in this small area sandwiched between fields and wetlands. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) The oak, beech and tulip poplar trees of School House Woods stand a mighty 10 stories tall, their branches interlaced in a canopy so high you must crane your neck to see them. Fallen trunks crisscross the ground far below, their roots dangling into the leaves that carpet the forest floor. In this enclave some say is 10,000 years old, tiny sprigs emerge from decaying bark. The 14-acre swath within the Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area in Queen Annes County, is one of natures rarest commodities: an old-growth forest a woodland that has never been altered by humans. Advertisement Joan Maloof stands next to a 140-foot tall Red Oak in a 14-acre stand of old growth forest in the Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area near Queenstown. Maloof, a former ecological studies professor, has spearheaded a nationwide campaign to preserve "old growth forests" through group of volunteers, the Old Growth Forest Network. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) Such forests have unique value, says Joan Maloof, a botanist, author and environmental activist from Berlin in Worcester County, as she gives a visitor a walking tour. They serve as filters for air and water, function as storehouses of genetic information, and represent living remnants of eons gone by. The problem is, humans have driven them to the verge of extinction. Of the old-growth forest that once covered the Eastern portions of North America, Maloof says, more than 99% has either been removed or radically altered, while about 96% has been decimated in the western portion of the continent. In Maryland, 2,300 of the states 2.8 million acres of forested land less than a tenth of 1% have been inventoried as old growth. And much of what been untouched, including School House Woods, has no legal protection against logging. Advertisement Joan Maloof stands next to a 140-foot red oak in a 14-acre stand of old- growth forest in the Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area near Queenstown. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) If anyone has successfully pushed back against such depletion, its Maloof. Her five books helped bring the crisis into the public eye. Her nonprofit Old-Growth Forest Network is going strong nationwide in its 10th year. And she succeeded last month in getting a bill introduced in the Maryland General Assembly that would ban the logging of old-growth forest on all state conservation land. Its chief sponsor, Democratic Del. Jim Gilchrist of Montgomery County, says the bills prospects are not clear. But Maloof, 65, says she wouldnt have made it this far without remaining as resilient as the forests she champions. Im an optimist, she says. Who could vote to support cutting down old-growth forests? I think it has a very good chance. Determined activist Virgin forests contain so many varying elements and are often so hard to distinguish and locate that you could spend a few years just defining old growth, says Tom Horton, an environmentalist, author and former Baltimore Sun reporter who has written extensively about them. Naturalists generally agree that an old-growth forest has lived at least 150 years free of significant human intervention. They also say the subject is so broad and variable that it takes an unusually determined activist to make inroads in preserving them. Maloof fits that description. Growing up in Delaware, her father was a chemical engineer who helped lead production of the pesticide DDT and had little sympathy for environmental causes. That didnt stop her from falling in love with plants, debating ecological questions with her father, and majoring in plant sciences at the University of Delaware. She studied local flora in college, worked in horticultural design and joined the faculty at Salisbury University, where she helped lead the creation of an environmental sciences department and made a lasting impression. Horton, an adjunct professor in the program, says a university administrator once told the faculty of a plan to cut down a tree to make room for a building. Maloof threatened to chain herself to the trunk and force him to cut her away first. Advertisement Shes a rather delicate looking lady, but I wouldnt want to go up against her, Horton says. He changed his mind. Joan Maloof stands next to old-growth oak and pine trees growing next to each other in a 14-acre stand of old-growth forest in the Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area near Queenstown. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) As a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, Maloof traveled to Colorado to study plant-pollinator interactions in beautiful wildflower fields that are completely natural. With that, she discovered her core interest an area of study she calls ecology minus humans. Back at Salisbury, she reasoned, what better places for investigating that idea than in ancient virgin forests? That was when she became aware there were fewer than 20 acres worth on Marylands entire Eastern Shore, and the closest School House Woods near Queenstown was 70 miles away. Alarmed at the scarcity, Maloof set out to research and write her first book, a call to arms titled Teaching the Trees, in 2005. So many readers wrote to ask where they could find an old-growth forest that she followed up with a second book, Among the Ancients, in 2011. For that one, she visited and wrote about one such forest in each of the 26 states east of the Mississippi. By then, Maloof says, she was starting to feel like a forest seeking its best nutrients and leaving the rest behind. At 54, she left a tenured professorship and started anew. I realized I could do more to help the trees as a writer than as a science teacher, she says. Advertisement Going national Drive to the Dans Mountain Wildlife Area in Allegany County and, using a map on the Old-Growth Forest Network website, you may find a Table Mountain pine that dates to 1678. Its the oldest specimen in a 180-acre old-growth forest. Or head into Garrett County to experience a rare 37-acre grove of hemlock in Swallow Falls State Park. Most of the other known old-growth sites on public land in Maryland also represent substantial drives from Baltimore: All but four of the 40 locations the Maryland Department of Natural Resources identified on 2,300 acres during a 2007 survey are in Western Maryland. Maloofs network includes old-growth or near-old growth spreads in Southern Maryland and on the lower Eastern Shore. Closer to Baltimore, the 625-acre Belt Woods Natural Environment Area near Largo is largely old growth. Baltimore City has at least two sites that probably qualify: Maloof says she believes Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park fits the definition, and the city Department of Recreation and Parks says Druid Hill Park contains some of the states oldest forest growth. Bob Leverett, a Massachusetts-based naturalist considered a pioneer in the study of old-growth forests, has been trying to save such sites in his part of the country since the early 1980s. Hes the executive director of the Native Tree Society, which documents trees worldwide. Leverett talks about how the accumulated biomass of old-growth forests serves as huge carbon sinks. Logging and planting new forests moves our clock back so far it will take at least 150 years to begin to replace their value. Meanwhile, climate change makes it extremely important to retain as much forest cover as we can. A relative handful of scientists have studied the problem for decades, Leverett says. But until Maloof came along, they were either academicians writing theses or activists focused on saving individual forests. Maloofs books explained the crisis in clear, even poetic, language, he said, communicating the problem to a broader audience. Advertisement Joan Maloof of the Old-Growth Forest Network, speaks during the formal induction of Henrys Woods in Jacobsburg State Park in Pennsylvania into the network. The 50-acre site is considered to be the only remaining old-growth forest in the Lehigh Valley. (Amy Shortell / The Morning Call) Her next endeavor made it a national movement. One reason she retired 11 years ago, Maloof says, was to identify and support nonprofit groups addressing the imperilment of old-growth forests on a national scale. There werent any, so she started one. Her idea was to identify at least one old-growth or near old-growth forest in every county in the nation in which forests can grow, ensure that they have public access and are legally safeguarded against logging, and build a network of people inspired to protect them. Maloof worked for a year to set up a board, network and locate potential donors, all without pay. Soon shed found enough supporters that she needed a volunteer treasurer, then a paid assistant. Little by little, it grew. Ten years later, the Old-Growth Forest Network includes at least one confirmed ancient forest in each of 148 counties in 28 states, including California, Oregon, Michigan, Florida, both Carolinas and New York. More than 300 county coordinators help promote those locations and look for others, six regional managers help develop policy, and there are more than 4,000 people on the mailing list. The network had a budget of more than $600,000 in 2021, funded almost entirely by charitable contributions. Its revenues support operations, as well as Maloofs travels to forest sites and the roughly two dozen lectures she gives per year. Theres a long way to go, of course. More than 2,300 of the nations 3,140 counties, or about 75%, boast the right conditions to host a forest. But Leverett says Maloof qualifies as a pioneer. Advertisement Her network really kind of exploded, and its still growing, he says. She has met with as much success as anyone could have imagined in this field. Seeking protection Of the hundreds of forests she has visited across the country, Maloof points to School House Woods as a favorite. Its diversity is unrivaled in the state, she says, as trees rarely seen in the same place oak, beech, cherry, sassafras, hollies and dogwoods exist side by side. Its also accessible to the public, with walking trails leading through a site with some of the most healthful air in Maryland. No one knows how it got its name or why it escaped clear-cutting. The absence of evidence of any logging activity means it has probably functioned as an ecosystem since the glaciers receded from North America some 10 millennia ago. Irreplaceable, says Maloof, one hand resting against the rough bark of a giant red oak. Visitors routinely suggest she add School House Woods to the network. But the complicated patchwork of laws governing the protection of old-growth forests leaves the site, like many others in Maryland, unprotected against logging. Those laws can be as difficult to disentangle as the ecosystems themselves. Hard-and-fast regulations at the federal level are few, and 42 states, including Maryland, lack statewide laws on the matter. Advertisement In Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources owns and manages over 500,000 acres of public lands and protected open space. The logging of old-growth forests is effectively prohibited in the roughly 230,000 acres Maryland classifies as state forest; the state prevents logging there to comply with the standards of the international Forest Stewardship Council. Its also barred in the nearly 66,000 acres the General Assembly defines as wildland terrain that overlays some of state forests. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > But a parcel must generally contain 500 or more acres to be considered for wildland status. Most known old-growth sites, including School House Woods, are too small to qualify. Fall colors in the canopy of a 14-acre stand of old growth forest in the Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area shows a diversity of tree species in this small area sandwiched between fields and wetlands. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) Maloof knows of no logging interests eyeing our poster forest, as she calls School House Woods, but she notes that such cutting already has happened in other states. Why wait until it becomes an issue? she says. It would cost almost nothing to guarantee its safety. She and a few friends have met regularly for years to map out possible strategies. Last month, one of the group, retired Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy director Jeff Horstman, crafted the state bill that would ban logging on state land of any forests the Department of Natural Resources or the Maryland Environmental Trust defines as old growth. Gilchrist and fellow Democratic delegates Linda Foley of Montgomery County and Brooke Lierman of Baltimore signed on, and witnesses spoke Feb. 25 in support of the legislation at a hearing. Advertisement Should it fail this year, Maloof says, she wont be discouraged. The mission will face setbacks, but she believes it will adjust to meet new conditions, becoming stronger and more resilient with time. I love that things seem to be working out this way, she says. It feels like a forest growing. The Saudi capital Riyadh will host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) March 27-30 with 180 countries expected in attendance, reports say. GEC, the kingdoms state-run news agency SPA reports, chose Riyadh to host the congress because, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the Kingdom ranked first out of 45 countries in the following categories: Good opportunities to start a business, ease of starting a business, business response to the COVID-19 pandemic and government response to the pandemic. The congress is titled Reboot, Rethink, Regenerate, and bring together investors, policymakers and community leaders. The attendees will discuss the economic challenges facing the global entrepreneurial environment, exchange experiences, seize investment opportunities and extract the lessons learned from the challenges of the pandemic. The speakers, more than 150, include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph. The summit will also feature an accompanying exhibition, workshops and innovation sections. Raymond Zondo, who headed South Africas commission of inquiry into state corruption under President Jacob Zuma (2009-2018), was appointed Thursday to head the countrys Constitutional Court. Zondo, already deputy president of the court, the countrys highest court, was promoted by Zumas successor, head of state Cyril Ramaphosa, after lengthy televised hearings in February of the four candidates for the post. The Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court is an advocate for the rights of all South Africans and bears responsibility for ensuring equal access to justice, President Ramaphosa said in a statement announcing the appointment of Justice Zondo. I am fully confident that Justice Zondo will discharge this responsibility with honor, he added. Zondo will take office on April 1, when the commission he chairs will prepare its fourth and final report. The Constitutional Court has never deviated from its uncompromising position that Zuma must comply with the Commission of Inquirys orders. When the former head of state refused to testify in July 2021, the Constitutional Court ordered him jailed for 15 months for contempt. Zuma was released on medical grounds in September after only two months in detention. The Constitutional Court is expected to consider other cases involving Zuma, as the three reports already released by the commission of inquiry chaired by Zondo have laid the legal groundwork for the prosecution. Noureddin Bongo Valentin, son of the presidential couple, is back in the news. Sacked last September from his prestigious post of general coordinator of presidential affairs, Noureddin Bongo Valentin had made himself discreet. A discretion that will end since he was appointed Wednesday, to a strategic position of the ruling party, the PDG led by his father. An appointment that comes one year before the next presidential election. Noureddin Bongo Valentin is no longer at the top of the State, but at the top of the PDG, the Gabonese Democratic Party which celebrates, this Saturday, its 54th anniversary but also its 54 years in power. Noureddin Bongo Valentin has been promoted to strategic advisor to the party president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is none other than his father. The young thirty-year-old arrives at the party with all his lieutenants who worked with him during the 19 months spent at the presidency of the Republic as Coordinator of Presidential Affairs. A position that made him one of the most influential personalities in power. At the time, the opposition denounced a plan for dynastic succession at the top of the state. A man was killed by an elephant in Tanzanias Ngorongoro Game Reserve, where the cohabitation of humans and wildlife has been a source of great controversy in recent months, local police said Thursday. The victim, a 45-year-old Maasai man, was killed Wednesday by an elephant that attacked a group of residents looking for firewood, Arusha regional police chief Justine Masejo said in a statement. The attack comes amid concerns about increasing human populations and activities in Ngorongoro, a crater in northern Tanzania that is world-renowned for its scenery and wildlife and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tanzanian authorities allow pastoralist communities, such as the Maasai, to live in the national parks and graze their livestock alongside the wildlife. But conflicts are increasing with animals, especially lions and elephants, which sometimes attack people and livestock or destroy crops. Last August, three children were killed by lions near Ngorongoro while searching for lost livestock. There has been a heated debate in the country for several months about the possible expulsion of the Maasai from this protected area. According to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the human population has grown from 8,000 in 1959 to over 100,000 last year and is threatening wildlife. Shepherds and local activists oppose any eviction of Maasai. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Australia said Friday it is buying extra vaccines to fight the potentially deadly, mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus, which has spread down the flood-hit east coast for the first time. Previously confined to the tropical north, Japanese encephalitis has travelled as far south as South Australia since late Februaryinfecting 17 people and leading to two confirmed deaths, according to state health authorities. More extreme rainfall events have brought greater numbers of mosquitos to eastern Australia, one scientist said, as the country battles higher temperatures blamed on climate change that mean the atmosphere holds more moisture. There is no specific treatment for the disease, which is spread only by mosquito bites. Fewer than one percent of people infected may develop a serious illness such as encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain tissues, Australia's federal health ministry said. Symptoms include neck stiffness, severe headache and coma, and "more rarely, permanent neurological complications or death", it warned. Australia's health and agriculture ministries said the government would invest Aus$69 million (US$51 million) on control measures including buying an additional 130,000 vaccine doses, bolstering the 15,000 now in stock, and improved surveillance. The vaccinesImojev produced by Sanofi-Aventis Australia and JEspect made by Seqirusare to be targeted at people working close to mosquitoes and to pigs, which are vulnerable to infection. Australian states confirming Japanese encephalitis infections included New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, which had never before reported locally acquired infections. Queensland, also impacted by the spread, had previously only reported one case. 'Wetter conditions' Japanese encephalitis is a common cause of viral brain infections in Asia, said New South Wales public health pathology director Dominic Dwyer. "It has not come by boat or plane like COVID-19, but probably by migratory birds visiting inland waterways and then mosquitoes, whose numbers have increased in eastern Australia with the wetter conditions, heavy rains and floods," he wrote in a report published in the Sydney Morning Herald. Australia's east coast is emerging from a two-week rain and flooding disaster that killed more than 20 people as it engulfed a string of towns and swept cars from the roads. Scientists say climate change is making Australia's floods, bushfires, cyclones and droughts more frequent and more intense. Pigs may amplify the presence of the Japanese encephalitis virus if infected animals are bitten again by mosquitoes, scientists say. Dwyer said it was not known if feral pigsof which there are millions across the countryhad a role in its spread. Australia's agriculture minister, David Littleproud, said mosquitoes were being trapped at all infected piggeries. "A national surveillance plan is being developed to identify and locate infected mosquitoes, birds, pigsincluding feral pigshorses, and humans," he said. He stressed that commercially produced pork meat was safe to consume. "There are no food safety concerns," Littleproud said. State governments advised people to try to avoid mosquito bites, including by covering exposed skin, using repellents, removing containers of water where they may breed, staying indoors at dawn and dusk, and steering clear of the insects in wetland and bush areas. Explore further How to mosquite-proof your property after a flood and cut your risk of disease 2022 AFP You may only worry about losing an hour of sleep when the clocks spring forward this Sunday, but the time change can also be dangerous for your health, an expert says. Research shows that the risk of stroke, heart attack and traffic accidents all increase in the days following the switch to daylight saving time, according to James Wyatt, a clinical sleep disorder specialist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "Among the sleep science community, there is no controversy: The consensus is that we should eliminate daylight saving time and stick with standard time permanently," Wyatt said in a university news release. Time changes affect your body's natural circadian rhythms, which help your brain signal that it's time to go to sleep and also control many other organ systems. "We have clocks throughout the body," Wyatt explained. "A special region in the hypothalamus regulates our circadian rhythms and acts as the master pacemaker, telling us, 'Here's daytime, so do this, now it's nighttime, do that.' Our organ systems have to change their function, depending on what time of day it is." For example, he explained, "Our gut digests more at night and less during the day, urine production reduces in the evening so we can sleep through the night more easily, our temperature is higher during the day than at night, and all of this is regulated by our circadian rhythm." Interruption of those rhythms by events such as time changes, traveling across time zones and working rotating shifts triggers a stress response in the body. "Many people plan to go to bed an hour early when the clocks change, but they rarely do," Wyatt said. "That means you've just lost an hour of sleep and your circadian rhythms are misaligned, which explains why we see an increase in accidents after daylight saving time begins." You can reduce the impact of the spring time change by planning a few days in advance, Wyatt suggested. "The simplest way to manage the springtime shift is to go to bed and get up 30 minutes early on the Friday immediately before the time change, [March 11]," he said. "Then, shift it 30 minutes earlier for the following night. By Sunday's time shift, you'll be back onto your regular schedule without suddenly losing an hour of sleep." Breaking up the one-hour time shift into two 30-minute shifts helps your body adjust to the new time schedule while reducing strain on your circadian clock. Explore further Daylight saving time is doing far more harm than good, according to sleep scientists More information: There's more on daylight saving time at the There's more on daylight saving time at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Celestine Tention's grandmother used to chase antacid tablets with ginger ale, one after another, day after day. Years passed before the pain was so bad that she had to get help, but by then there wasn't much doctors could do. Tention's grandmother moved from her home in Harlem to live with Tention's family, and they did their best to care for her. "We had to watch herliterally watch herdie from colon cancer," said Tention, 64, of Philadelphia. Tention thought back on her grandmother's experience when, getting older herself, she started having acid reflux. Reaching for the antacid bottle one day, she froze. "I said, wait a minute. History is not going to repeat itself," Tention recalled. That was eight years ago. She had some polyps removed during a colonoscopy, and her doctors determined that she should repeat the procedure every three years to make sure no cancer had developed. Colon cancer is among the few cancers that are preventable with routine screening, because early malignancies can be removed during a colonoscopy. Yet it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, behind lung cancer. New colon cancer cases have been steadily declining among older adults for decades, as a major push for early screening has helped catch problems early. But cases are rising among adults under age 50 who aren't being routinely screened. The startling trend prompted cancer agencies to recommend that routine screening begin at 45. But as with many aspects of the U.S. health care system, many people cannot find, much less pay for, the care they need. "Undoubtedly, colorectal screening and outcomes are health-equity issues," said Samir Gupta, a gastroenterologist and co-lead of the cancer control program at University of California-San Diego's Moores Cancer Center, who has researched the issue extensively. "Disparities are there by race and ethnicity, income level, education level, time in the U.S," Gupta said. "The biggest disparity is screening for uninsured or Medicaid populations vs. other populations" such as people with Medicare and employer-based private insurance. For reasons that are not entirely understood, Black people have a higher risk of developing colon cancer and higher death rates from the condition compared with white or Latino people. Compared with white men and women, colon cancer rates were 24% higher among Black men and 19% higher among Black women in 2019, according to a report by the American Cancer Society. All three groups get screened at about the same rate. Research shows that the more glaring gaps in colon cancer screening rates fall along income and insurance divisions, rather than racial lines. Up to 80% of people covered by Medicarethe federal insurance system for seniors and some disabled peopleor private health insurance are up-to-date on their colon cancer screening. But just 30% of people who are uninsured and 50% of people with Medicaid, the state-federal plan for low-income Americans, have had their routine screening, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to cover without cost-sharing any procedure deemed an essential preventive screening. More recently, federal lawmakers fixed a loophole that allowed insurers to charge patients if polyps were removed during the procedure. People who are uninsured foot the bill themselves. Part of the problem, doctors said, is that many people think a colonoscopy is the only way to screen for colon cancer. The procedure, done under sedation, involves using a small camera at the end of a flexible tube to scan the colon and large intestine for polypssmall growths of cells that can develop into cancer if not removed. Without insurance, a colonoscopy could cost anywhere from about $1,000 at an outpatient facility to more than $3,000 if done at a hospital. Anesthesia is $500 more. Lack of transportation, jobs that don't allow sick leavethe test requires time for preparation and recoveryand lack of information about the importance of cancer screening are more hurdles. "Historically, in this country, the main form of colorectal screening has been colonoscopyit's very effective, it's widely available, and it's been shown to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer," said Shivan Mehta, a gastroenterologist and associate chief innovation officer at Penn Medicine. "But there are other strategies," he said of the increasingly popular at-home tests to detect early possible signs of cancer. "We can solve a lot of these equity issues [with at-home tests] because you're not subject to all these other areas where things can fall off," Mehta said. Einstein Healthcare Network gastroenterologist Mark Goldberg has found success in bringing screening tests to people, rather than waiting for them to make an appointment. Goldberg and his colleagues routinely hand out at-home test kits at churches in Einstein's West Philadelphia neighborhood, where Goldberg said screening rates are especially low. "Our goal is to educate people so they can make an educated decisionwhich we feel is screening," he said. Holding test kit distribution at churches and other community gathering places also presents an opportunity for doctors to talk to people about the risks of colon cancer and dispel myths about colonoscopy, such as that it will hurt. Tention met Goldberg at her church, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Northwest Philadelphia. Too often, Tention said, "we listen to other people's experience or other people's lack of knowledge, and we take that as bible instead of doing our own research or talking to our own doctors." Part of the problem is finding doctors you feel comfortable talking to. Even Tention, who knew from her family's experience the importance of getting screened, didn't feel comfortable with the last gastroenterologist she'd seen. But she liked that the Einstein doctors had taken the time on a weekend to come to her church and answer questions. When the opportunity arises, Tention also tells people why they should get screened, though her encouragement is doused in tough love. "Anyone who would not get it done is a fool," she said. "It can save your life." 2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More than six million people have lost their lives to Covid-19. Friday marks two years to the day since the World Health Organization first described COVID-19 as a pandemic, shaking countries into action as the disease ripped around the planet. The once-in-a-century pandemic has turned the world upside down, claiming more than six million lives and infecting at least 450 million people. But the WHO voiced its frustration at people marking the second anniversary of March 11, 2020, insisting that the real alarm came six weeks earlierbut few people bothered to sit up and take notice. The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)the highest level of alarm in the global health regulationson January 30, 2020, when, outside of China, fewer than 100 cases and no deaths had been reported. But it was only when WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the worsening situation as a pandemic on March 11 that many countries seemed to wake up to the danger. The WHO is not marking the anniversaryand two years on is still irked that governments did not heed the original alert. "The world was possessed with the word pandemic," said WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan. "The warning in January was way more important than the announcement in March. "Do you want the warning to say you've just drowned, or would you like the warning to say the flood is coming?" World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus first called the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020. World 'well warned' Ryan said the PHEIC declaration fell on deaf ears. "People weren't listening. We were ringing the bell and people weren't acting," he told a live interaction on the WHO's social media channels on Thursday. "What I was most stunned by was the lack of response, the lack of urgency in relation to WHO's highest level of alert in international law, as agreed by all our member states. They agreed to this!" He said the declaration of a pandemic was simply stating the obvious once it had already happenedand insisted countries had plenty of advance notice. "There's a lot of people in the media and everywhere have this big argument, WHO declared a pandemic late. No!" said Ryan. "The world was well warned about the impending pandemic. "By March, I think there was such frustration that it was, 'OK, you want a pandemic, here's your pandemic'." By March 11, 2020, the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold, with more than 118,000 people having caught the disease in 114 countries, and 4,291 people having lost their lives, following a jump in deaths in Italy and Iran. Covid-19 has at times overwhelmed hospitals. 'Wrong anniversary' Tedros's use of the word came at around 5:30 pm during a press conference on COVID-19, which by this stage was already being held largely online via Zoom. He said it six times in quick successionand 10 times in all. "We're deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction," Tedros said. "We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic. Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly." Ryan was alongside him that day, as was Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead on COVID-19. Two years on, she said that this Friday, people would be marking the "wrong anniversary". "It is fundamentally incorrect," she insisted. "You hear the frustration in our voices because we still haven't corrected the narrative. "It will happen again! So when are we actually going to learn? "More than six million people have died, that we know of. I don't think we've even begun to grieve this, at a global level." 2022 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Germany's health minister pleaded with his compatriots Friday not to assume that the coronavirus pandemic is over as the country sees a steady rise in new cases, warning that it is still in a "critical" situation. Germany had seen COVID-19 cases decline last month, but official figures have now shown the infection rate increasing for nine consecutive days. Officials point to the spread of an even more contagious version of the omicron variant known as BA.2, which by this week accounted for half of cases in Germany, and to the relaxation of restrictions. On Friday, the national disease control center said more than 250,000 new cases had been reported in the past 24 hours, along with 249 deaths. The infection rate stood at 1,439 new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days. "We are in a situation that I would like to describe as critical," Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told reporters. "We have strongly rising case figures again. ... I keep reading that the omicron variant is a milder variant and that's only true to a limited extent." "We cannot be satisfied with a situation in which 200 to 250 people are dying every day and the prospect is that in a few weeks more people will die," Lauterbach said. "The situation is objectively much worse than the mood." He added that some people's belief that the country has put the pandemic behind it is a "misjudgement." Germany has been easing coronavirus restrictions and is due to lift most of them on March 20. The government has drawn up new rules that would allow state governments to require measures such as mask-wearing, testing in some situations and additional measures in virus "hot spots" after that. Masks would remain mandatory on long-distance trains and flights. Explore further Coronavirus pandemic not over, German health minister warns 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The lung biobank has over 100 samples of lung tissue from patients who had lung disease such as COVID-19, COPD an pulmonary fibrosis. Credit: Pete Comparoni | UK Photo A small black lump, about an inch or so in width, rests on the bottom of a sealed plastic container. It doesn't look like muchin fact, it doesn't look like anything. But this little black lump has untold potential, full of secrets for the researchers at Kentucky Research Alliance for Lung Disease (K-RALD) to discover about the pandemic that has ravaged the world for more than two years. This black lump is a sample of a lung from a COVID-19 patient. Specifically, it belonged to Dave Hoover, the first Kentuckian to receive a double lung transplant after contracting COVID-19. Hoover fell ill in February 2021, and after declining rapidly, he was transplanted two months later. He donated his lungs to researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, who added it to the K-RALD biobank of lung samples. "We've actually been collecting samples from transplant patients before COVID-19 hit," said Jamie Sturgill, Ph.D., assistant professor for Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics in the UK College of Medicine. "We have a clinical partnership with the hospital and the transplant team, so we already had the infrastructure in place for our biobank." In the K-RALD lab, there is a shelf lined with plastic containers, each containing a sample of a human lung. After Hoover, five other COVID-19 patients received lung transplants at the UK HealthCare Transplant Center and many donated their damaged lungs for research. Those samples, labeled by date and identification number, are almost black in color. By comparison, a healthy lung sample is light and spongy and floats in the preservation liquid. In the COVID-19 samples, the lung's intricate network of airways has collapsed from the fibrotic scarring, which is why it doesn't float. The rest of the samples are from patients who had other lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis. "Other universities who don't have pulmonary critical care biobanks like ours aren't really able to do this type of research," Sturgill said. "Because we already had this in place before COVID, we are actually able to compare on a molecular level what happens to a lung that is scarred from COVID to a lung that is scarred from another lung disease." These samples are a rare commodityaccording to Sturgill, very few researchers get the opportunity to touch a human lung. "It's not like blood donation," Sturgill says. "You really have to have coordination with a transplant center because that's the only time people are going to give up their lungs. We know how precious and critical these samples are." Credit: University of Kentucky When the pandemic started, scientists all over the world pooled their research and determined that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2 "receptor," is an entry point for the coronavirus to "hook" and infect a wide range of cells. K-RALD leaders Christopher Waters, Ph.D., and Peter Morris, M.D., along with UK Vice President for Research Lisa Cassis, Ph.D., pivoted their research to studying the ACE2 receptor, comparing Dave's lung to other samples in the biobank. "I was able to match other donors in the biobank in age, sex, race, ethnicity to Mr. Hoover to other samples in the biobank that were not COVID," said Sturgill. "We can see at the molecular level, there is a difference in the ACE2 function in the patient who had COVID versus the one who had fibrosis due to a non-infectious cause. We may be able to figure out some new pathways that would maybe prevent fibrotic changes due to the virus." According to Sturgill, this is one of the first studies to look at COVID lungs with a comparable fibrotic lung, owing to the availability of tissues samples from the UK Transplant Center and generous donors like Hoover. Given the collaboration with the research team and the clinician, researchers are also able to follow up with patients after their transplant to study their long-term outcomes. Patients who receive lung transplants are more likely to experience rejection than any other organ transplant patient. Rejection is the body's natural response to a foreign substance, such as bacteria or a virus. When fighting off pathogens, the immune system can inadvertently attack the new lung, too. Patients take medication to suppress their immune system to reduce the risk of rejection, but doing so leaves them vulnerable to infection. With the information from Hoover's sample and others in the biobank, researchers want to stop rejection before it starts. "Lungs are easily rejected organs," Sturgill said. "So, we're following up with patients post-transplant so we can understand the early markers of rejection to hopefully prevent it so that their lungs last longer." Researchers at K-RALD are involved in a number of clinical trials, consortiums and networks dedicated to improving the outcomes of patients with lung disease. They are looking for markers, trying new medications and developing new methods for identifying how diseases affect lung tissue on the molecular level. Their work is published and shared around the world, becoming part of a global collaboration dedicated to curing lung disease and improving not just a patient's outcome, but their quality of life. And it all starts with people who are willing to contribute to science, like Dave Hoover. "We've really been able to make great strides in pulmonary research because of the generous donations of our patients," said Sturgill. "I'm very thankful for that, and I tell each patient when they consent to the biobank that they're really helping us do research and understand more about diseases." Explore further Survival high with lung transplant for COVID-19-associated ARDS Leighann Truesdale, 17, recently spent more than 100 hours designing and planning a Little Free Pantry to help people in need in the Eldersburg region. Her vision comes to life this weekend, as the pantry is unveiled at 10 a.m., Saturday, during a ceremony at the library, 6400 West Hemlock Drive. Leighann Truesdale, 17, has created a Little Free Pantry outside the Eldersburg branch library as part of her work toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts. The pantry will take donations to help feed the Sykesville/Eldersburg community. Truesdale, of Sykesville, is an Ambassador with Girl Scout Troop 2946. (Dylan Slagle / Carroll County Times) Following the grand opening, the pantry will be open all day, every day, for anyone to use. Advertisement The LFP offers a service for the community to engage in, whether by donating or by partaking of the donations, said Nadine Rosendale, Eldersburg branch library manager. You never know when food assistance may become a need. Folks can donate at anytime by putting nonperishable items directly into the pantry and folks can take what they need at any time, as well. The Little Free Pantry movement a spin on the Little Free Library concept was launched as a grassroots effort by an Arkansas woman in 2016 to help with community food insecurity. Since then, thousands of the pantries, containing food, personal care, and other needed items, have been created around the United States. Advertisement A Girl Scout Ambassador who lives in Sykesville, Truesdale will submit the Little Free Pantry project to Girl Scouts of Central Maryland as part of her quest to achieve the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. To attain the Gold Award, a Girl Scout must address the root cause of an issue and make a lasting impact in her community. She is required to investigate the issue, create a plan of action, present it, take action and educate others to leave a lasting impact, according to Girl Scouts of the USA. The Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award offered in Girl Scouts, and is awarded to fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts annually. About 1 million Girl Scouts have earned the Gold Award or its equivalent since 1916, according to the organization. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Truesdale is a member of Girl Scout Troop 2946 and has now successfully completed the Gold Award requirements. After seeing my brother accomplish his Eagle Award [the highest award in Scouts BSA] a few years ago, I thought about trying to earn my Gold [Award], Truesdale said. My troop leader, Amy Landry ... gave me a lot of ideas to think about. The pantry was the one I felt the strongest about doing. Landry said Truesdale worked hard to secure donations for materials and identify community partners to make her project sustainable. In January, the project was supported by White Rock Independent Methodist Episcopal Church in Sykesville, which has committed to help Truesdale collect nonperishable foods to keep the pantry full. I am so excited for Leighann and so proud of her accomplishment. Every aspect of her project was well thought out and well organized, Landry said. LFP will offer an opportunity for each of us to help our neighbors by donating items and will help people facing hardships by giving them a place where they can stop at any time to pick up something they may need. Truesdale will graduate from Saint Johns Catholic Prep in Frederick in May and plans to attend the University of Alabama to study microbiology. She hopes that her food pantry will have a lasting effect on families in the Eldersburg and Sykesville communities. I am glad to be able to help the community [and] I am very excited to see it all put together and people being able to use it, Truesdale said. Advertisement To learn more about Truesdales journey to complete this project, visit her blog at https://medium.com/@ltruesdale0123. Credit: Nick Fewings on Unsplash As governments across Canada ease public health restrictions in the wake of an unprecedented omicron wave, many Canadians feel cautiously optimistic. But adjusting to a new normal with a virus that is still circulating can also spark feelings of fear and anxiety. UBC psychiatry professor Dr. Steven Taylor (he/him), author of "The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease," offers advice on how people can manage the complex feelings that come with this next phase of the pandemic. How are people responding differently to the easing of pandemic restrictions? Some people respond with little or no anxiety. They might feel a little apprehensive at first, such as when getting into an elevator crowded with maskless people, but the apprehension soon passes. Other people may take more time to adjust. They might prefer to continue wearing masks until they feel more comfortable. It's important to recognize that a pandemic doesn't end at the same time for everyone. We all have varying comfort levels and risk factors to consider. We need to be patient, accepting and compassionate of everyone taking things at a pace that is right for them. What does 'learning to live with COVID-19' look like? Learning to live with uncertainty is a big part of learning to live with COVID-19. Some people have difficulty tolerating uncertainties in their lives, leading them to feel anxious or worried. Fortunately, there are effective methods for improving your tolerance for uncertainty, including cognitive behavioral therapy, which is available in a variety of formats, including internet programs, phone apps and sessions with a therapist. What advice do you have for people who feel anxious returning to normal activities? Remember, you are not alone. A lot of people are anxious about returning to normal activities. Take your time, allowing yourself to return to former activities at your own pace. For most people, the anxiety will pass. But if it doesn't, and the anxiety is getting in the way of your life, you might benefit from seeing a mental health professional. What steps can at-risk individuals take to protect themselves? For some people, such as the elderly or those who are immunocompromised, it may still be quite dangerous for them to get COVID-19. Every person needs to consider their own personal risk and what it could mean to get infected. People at-risk for severe reactions to the coronavirus should talk with their doctor to decide how to best protect themselves. This might involve wearing a mask under some circumstances, along with other protective measures. Who should people talk to if they need support? During stressful times such as COVID-19, people can get support by talking with friends and family, and by talking with their doctor, who might arrange a referral to a mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor. Explore further Why you may be feeling anxious exiting lockdown Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Aled Edwards is of two minds about medicine's response to COVID-19. On one hand, he notes, we had life-saving vaccines and therapies less than a year after the discovery of SARS-CoV-2. On the other, more than six million, and possibly as many as 18 million people have died, and global access to advances that can prevent and treat severe disease remains highly inequitable. Edwards is a Temerty Health Nexus Chair in Innovation & Technology and professor of molecular genetics and medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also founder and CEO of the Structural Genomics Consortium, a public-private partnership dedicated to the discovery and sharing of new medicines. Edwards published a review paper with colleagues today in the journal Science about COVID-19 vaccines and therapies, and he recently spoke with writer Jim Oldfield, about how society could better prepare for future pandemics. You write that a foundation of basic and applied research, years in the making, enabled effective medicines for COVID-19. Can you explain that? Some folks are concerned about the novelty of the vaccines, but they were not invented from thin air. Already in 2019, thanks to decades of research on vaccine technology and coronaviruses, mRNA and adenoviral vaccines showed strong promise in models of other deadly coronaviruses. The main question was whether these technologies would work in people in the real world. And no one could know. Indeed, in early 2020, the WHO said if vaccines were 50 percent effective in people, we should be doing high-fives; nobody imagined efficacy like 90 percent. To give you sense of how it might have gone, we've been trying to make vaccines for HIV and hepatitis C since the 1990s and have been spectacularly unsuccessful. So, the COVID vaccines have been a great-news story, although of course we clearly need broader-spectrum vaccines that work against SARS-CoV-2 variants, and also against the next virus that might jump from animals to humans. You also write that in addition to scientific innovation, we need better vaccination implementation. Yes, we need to increase capacity to produce billions of doses for global demand, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. There are certainly technical challenges, but we should be able to overcome them either by reducing the quantity of active components in vaccines, by limiting the number of doses needed for immunity, or by using vaccine adjuvants or other methods. But the greater challenge is in the social and political realms; it's critical that we provide more equitable access to vaccines globally. We saw both in Canada and in other rich countries a very selfish, me-first approach to vaccine distribution. We should have had a discussion as Canadians and decided what fraction of the vaccines we purchased should stay in Canada or be given away to the less fortunate. We did not. Now we are left trying to convince Canadians to help others only because it's in our best interests, and not because it's the right thing to do. That argument really disappoints me. How can we shift our approach in Canada? We need a cultural change in how we view access to new medicines. Are they commercial assets that we leave to the private sector to develop and tacitly endorse the fact that this means they will be priced at levels unaffordable by most? Or is access to new medicines a right to which all should have fair access? Affluent countries like Canada lean more toward the asset view, because our economic systems are entangled in the development of medicines, and of course because we are rich. But if you're from a developing country, you lean toward them being a right. It's a hard question obviously, and you can't ignore that distribution may be better done by the private sector, and that money is a motivator. But I think we, particularly at public universities, should do our best to create a system in which access to medicines is the guiding principle. Indeed, greater equity is the driving principle behind open science, and it's what we've been trying to do at the SGC for two decades, first with drugs for neglected diseases and more recently with antivirals. And I'm convinced if given a choice, it's what many people at the university would want. You also say that addressing misinformation is crucial for pandemic planning. Well, social media has spread mis- and disinformation far and wide, and that has spurred vaccine hesitancy and undermined public health interventions. I've seen it in friends and family. Ironically, older generations have been less influenced by misinformation. I think it's because many of them remember polio and measles, for example. They've seen the power of vaccines with their own eyes and have no hesitation to get vaxxed. Look at Mitch McConnellhe had polio, and that fear will always be with himhe's pro-vaccine. But many young people have never seen these diseases and it's harder for some to imagine their danger. Early education programs on the science and history of vaccines would be a great start on this problem. And universities should take the lead on that. U of T in particular can play a role herewe've published more COVID-19 papers than any other Canadian university, and over 15 percent of them are in the social sciences and humanities. Misinformation is not a science problem per se, and it won't be solved by nerds like me in labs. Antiviral therapies have emerged as a potent way to halt COVID-19 progression. What did we do right with those? Both antiviral drugs and antibody drugs have been effective. When the pandemic hit, we saw huge efforts to repurpose drugs approved for other diseases that might work for COVID-19. Most repurposing efforts to identify antivirals failed, but those that succeeded started from drugs that act on other RNA virusesit is a good strategy to 'to fish where there are fish,' as we put it. So we must start casting our lines in this pool to finds drug starting points for the other 15 viruses of pandemic potentialand we should start now, while we have time. Our goal should be to identify oral, broad-spectrum antiviral pills likely to protect against these emerging pathogens. The science is there, it's whether there is a will. Fortunately, the Americans are beginning to invest heavily in the prospective development of new antivirals. Canada has not yet decided what it will do. As for antibody drugs, like the one discovered by the Canadian company AbCellera and developed by Eli Lilly, they offered one of the first treatments for COVID-19, in part due to their safety profile: it took just five months for the first monoclonal antibody to enter trials. There are more than 100 similar treatments in development. This approach shows a lot of promise, but cost and logistics are significant barrierscurrently they are too expensive for all but rich countries. Canada should think carefully about investing only in these products because currently this is an investment in medicines that will be available only to rich people. I do not think this is a good message to the world. We absolutely must develop a strategy that prioritizes fast, fair and global access. Indeed, as a university and as a country, we're at a key point. It's like the Robert Frost poem, 'The Road Not Taken.' Are we going to take the easy road, stay the course and contribute to the development of medicines that will likely never be available to all? Or take the hard road and do something different here at U of Tto prioritize the public good first and develop medicines with a priority on access? Taking the rough road flies against the current policy thinking of how drug discovery is 'supposed' to work, but there is a precedent for that at the University of Toronto, all the way back to insulin and diphtheria vaccines, where university scientists pushed for access over profit. Medicines for the public good is part of our past, and it could also be our future, if we're willing to risk walk-the-talk. Explore further Global vaccine equity key to ending COVID-19 pandemic More information: Aled M. Edwards et al, Stopping pandemics before they start: Lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2, Science (2022). Journal information: Science Aled M. Edwards et al, Stopping pandemics before they start: Lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abn1900 Sick people seeking lifesaving care in the United States could fall victim to a hidden part of Russia's war on Ukrainevicious cyberattacks aimed at sowing disruption, confusion and chaos as ground forces advance. Cybersecurity experts warn that attacks launched against Ukrainian institutions have the potential to spill over into America's health care systems, potentially endangering patients' lives. The cybersecurity program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week issued an analysis warning health care IT officials about two pieces of Russian malware that could wipe out hospital data vital to patient care. And since early December, the American Hospital Association has been warning about increased risk related to Russian cyberattacks, said John Riggi, the association's national adviser for cybersecurity and risk. "We were issuing advisories to the nation's hospitals and health system, saying the geopolitical tensions would certainly increase the risk of cyberattacks which would impact potentially U.S. health care," Riggi said. Such attacks have the potential to cost lives, by cutting doctors and nurses off from needed patient data and causing hospitals under attack to delay scheduled procedures and divert critically ill people to other facilities, Riggi explained. Nearly a quarter of health care organizations hit by a ransomware attack during the past two years said the attack resulted in increased patient death rates, according to a September 2021 report sponsored by the cybersecurity company Censinet. Further, about two in five (37%) said such attacks caused an increase in complications from medical procedures, while more than two-thirds (69%) said delays in procedures and tests have led to poor patient outcomes, the report says. "That is not a financial crime," Riggi said. "It is a threat-to-life crime, and the government needs to respond to such, including offensive operations against these foreign-based bad guys." Not if but when Even before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, cyberattacks had been considered the top technological threat facing U.S. health care. The nonprofit health care think tank ECRI recently listed cybersecurity attacks as the top health technology hazard for 2022. "All health care organizations are subject to cybersecurity incidents," the ECRI wrote. "The question is not whether a given facility will be attacked, but when." Health care systems face a constant barrage of phishing attacks, in which rigged e-mails are used to gain access to their computer networks, as well as internet-based onslaughts against IT security, said Lee Kim, a senior principal of cybersecurity and privacy for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). "The reality of cybersecurity today is that cyberattacks are really rampant, even in times where there isn't any kind of geopolitical conflict," Kim said. "They happen by the hundreds, if not thousands, every day." La Monte Yarborough, chief information security officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, agreed. "While events such as those occurring in Eastern Europe right now can indicate a heightened threat environment and the need for greater vigilance, bad actors will frequently leverage any event to launch cyberattacks," Yarborough said. "Bad actors capitalize on many types of events such as holidays, elections and geopolitical conflict." Delays in emergency care Ransomware attacksin which computer data is seized until a ransom is paidis "the most prevalent cybersecurity risk we've seen," Yarborough said, adding that such an attack "absolutely poses potential health risks to patients." In one of the worst ransomware incidents, about one-third of England's National Health Service trusts lost access to patient records and other important electronic systems in May 2017 after their computers became infected by WannaCry, as part of a global attack. And the University of Vermont Health Network lost access to electronic health records for nearly a month in October 2020 following a massive ransomware attack that forced doctors to, among other measures, reschedule chemotherapy sessions for cancer patients. Hospitals under these sort of attacks have to divert ambulances to other facilities, delaying critical care for stroke patients and heart attack victims. "It's intuitive that it certainly increases the risk of a negative outcome whenever there's a delay in urgent care," Riggi said. Hospital systems also are targeted by cybercriminals who want to steal data for financial gain, Riggi added. "Cybercriminals realized they could monetize health care records. They were very valuable, to be sold on the dark web," Riggi said. "We're the only sector that aggregates not only protected health information, but we have a vast quantity of personally identifiable information on patientsdate of birth, address, Social Security numbers," Riggi said. "We also have a vast aggregation of financial data, payment data, bank account numbers, credit card numbers. And then of course we do have vast quantities of medical research and innovation. "All of those data sets are uniquely valuable to cybercriminals," he continued. "Any one of those data sets could be individually targeted. But when you combine all of them together in one location, they become exponentially valuable." New malware threats The Russian attack on Ukraine presents an even deeper threat to the U.S. health care system, experts said. Shortly before the launch of the Russian invasion, malware that can completely wipe out a computer's data began popping up in Ukraine, according to the HHS cybersecurity report. The malware, HermeticWiper and WhisperGate, were only two out of a number of cyberattacks targeting Ukrainian institutions that occurred in January and February, the report said. Ukraine responded by creating its own crowdsourced "IT Army" to target Russian infrastructure. The problem is that once malicious programs are released into the wild, there's no telling where they will end up, Riggi said. In June 2017, Russian military intelligence attacked Ukraine with the NotPetya virus, which resembled a ransomware attack but was actually a program that completely wiped out data rather than locking it down. The attack spread beyond Ukraine and caused massive disruption to governments and businesses around the world, including U.S. health care. "What happened is we had major U.S. firms that had third- and fourth-party relationships in the Ukraine," Riggi said. "NotPetya, this digital virus, spread like a biological virus that then impacted a major U.S. pharmaceutical company." The virus also infected a popular medical transcription firm. NotPetya then spread from those companies to hospitals and health care systems, disrupting patient care across the United States, Riggi said. "We're concerned that a scenario like that could happen again," Riggi said. "We are also concerned that a mission-critical third part provider, which we rely upon for services to deliver care and operations, might be struck unintentionally and become collateral damage by a Russian cyberattack, which then disrupts patient care." Shoring up defenses Such an attack robs doctors of access to patients' electronic health records, but also could spill over into the computer systems that manage pathology labs, imaging systems, drug dispensing cabinets, drug infusion pumps and other important technology, Riggi said. There's also the chance that the battery of economic sanctions that have been unleashed on Russia could prompt a direct computer-based counterattack against the United States, given that the Kremlin has accused the U.S. of mounting an "economic war" on Moscow. Attacks might also come from countries allied with Russia, such as Belarus or China. "We shouldn't just simply be on the lookout for cyberattacks from Country X," Kim said. "If they've had a defense pact historically with other countries, you need to be on alert in terms of cyberattacks from allied countries as well." "It's worth noting that cybersecurity attacks on other sectors may impact health care," Yarborough added. "An attack on energy or transportation sectors, for example, could have a negative impact on the ability of health care organizations to provide care or transport individuals to health care facilities." In the face of this threat, security experts have been warning U.S. health care systems that they need to be on high alert. "Now is not the time to simply rely on faith that we'll be OK," Kim said. "Now is the time for health care organizations and all other stakeholders within the U.S. to ramp up their defenses and ensure that the foundation is strong against any kind of actor, whether it's nation-state, cybercriminal, [or] amateur script kiddies. I really do think it's time for us to raise our defense levels." "A strong, risk-based cybersecurity posture must assume that IT systems are always under threat of a cybersecurity attack," Yarborough said. "At HHS, we work internally to ensure that our systems and networks are protected from such attacks while working across the health care and public health sector to ensure everyone in the sector is aware of emerging threats." Malicious links Experts urge that health care systems inventory their data and routinely back it up, in the event of a successful attack. "Look at the critical assets within your organizations and the patients that you serve, and from that you can create a cyber-defense plan to protect what's most critical," Kim said. Security experts also urge that all health care employees be trained to see themselves as part of the cybersecurity team, so they might be more aware of phishing e-mails and other attempts to break into their institution's systems. "Phishing is indeed more often than not the way attackers are getting into our systems," Kim said. An HIMSS report noted that 45% of significant security incidents in 2021 were the result of a phishing attack, and that the initial point of compromise for their most significant security incident was phishing 71% of the time. "Basically, any end user could bring the organization to its knees by clicking on a malicious link in a phishing e-mail," Riggi said. Electronic health records and internet-connected medical devices have helped vastly improve patient care, Kim and Riggi said. Now health officials need to cement those gains by protecting vital computer systems against attack. "Even pre-pandemic, there has been a push to rely on the expanded use of medical technology in health care to improve patient outcomes and the efficient delivery of patient care," Riggi said. "Patient outcomes have been significantly improved, so all that is absolutely necessary. "However, it has created additional risk, for as we roll out network-connected and internet-connected devices and technologies and increase our reliance on cloud providers, that expands what we call the 'attack surface,'" Riggi added. "Basically more opportunities for the bad guys or foreign-based cyberhackers to penetrate our networks." More information: The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has more about The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has more about cybersecurity in health care Copyright 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Miami, Fla. Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), Floridas statewide youth-led movement to combat the tobacco and nicotine industries, announced the names of its new Youth Advocacy Board members. Saesha Wani of Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy and Kyle King of Miami Palmetto Senior High School were named Youth Advocacy Board Members. Youth Advocacy Board members assist in recruiting and maintaining members in SWAT, assist in planning and implementing SWAT activities and serve as the liaison between the state SWAT organization and their local SWAT membership by providing updates and recommendations as needed. The Youth Advocacy Board works in collaboration with the Florida Department of Healths Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida to help plan SWATs initiatives and goals and provides input on the states youth prevention efforts. SWAT aims to empower, educate, and equip Florida youth to stand up against Big Tobacco. Students work with county providers to support initiatives that educate their peers about tobacco and nicotine use, help protect youth from tobacco, and strengthen local policies, including those that protect youth from exposure to e-cigarette products. In 2021, 36.3% of Florida high school students reported having tried inhaled nicotine products[i]. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can alter the development of the brain, which doesnt stop developing until around the age of 25,[ii] and even e-cigarette products marketed as being nicotine-free have been found to contain traces of it. SWAT raises awareness about the dangers posed by e-cigarettes and nicotine products and aims to make them less acceptable and less accessible. Other teens elected to the Youth Advocacy Board are, from Region 1: Alyssa Wheeler; Devyn Langley, Shanae Kisi; Nataleigh Parham. Region 2: Natasha Counts; Isabela Baxter; Ivy Baxter; Mackenzie Donnelly. Region 3: Kamya Williams; Gunner Reynolds; Mahika Podarala; Bryan Amador. Region 4: Toni Maxwell; Isabela Velez; David Egues. "I am looking forward to working along with my peers to advocate for tobacco control and take action in our communities, said Saesha Wani. "I am grateful to work with so many talented youth minds to achieve our goals, said Kyle King. The family we have created here is astounding and I am excited for the world to see what we have next." Members of the SWAT Youth Advocacy Board will serve a term through June 30, 2022. [i] Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, 2021. (Accessed January 6, 2022) [ii] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults. A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2016. (Accessed January 6, 2022) About Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) SWAT is Floridas statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco and the e-cigarette industry. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future. To learn more about Students Working Against Tobacco, visit http://www.swatflorida.com/ or follow us on Instagram at @swatflorida. The Montana Repertory Theatres new educational outreach play, The Castle with a Thousand Lights, addresses friendship, communication, gentrification and reaching adulthood. It also has puppets, animation and jokes. IF YOU GO The Montana Repertory Theatre is presenting three performances of its educational outreach play, The Castle with a Thousands Lights, this weekend at the Zootown Arts Community Centers Show Room. The show times are 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 13. To buy tickets, go to griztix.com. The Rep is using a new pick what you pay model that allows patrons to choose their level of support based on need. Every year, the Rep, a professional company embedded in the University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance, tours an original script through schools around the state. This year, they reached out to Sam Myers, a playwright who took his first crack at writing a script for a younger audience with an educational angle. I thought it would make sense to write a play that spoke to the specific community who would be seeing it, Myers said. Having grown up in Wyoming, he was aware of the class inequality and rising housing stresses in small mountain towns and started thinking about a way into it that would be entertaining and fun. The plot centers on two friends, Toby and Melissa, whove been hanging out since fourth grade. Now in high school, tensions have arisen Tobys family is better off than Melissas. To try to bridge thus-far unspoken fracturing, Toby decides to tell her a story using puppets, a thing they used to do when they were younger. Melissa participates, and begins bending the story to address whats on her mind the financial pressures that gentrification in their small mountain town have created for her and her family. Tobys fairytale story, meanwhile, starts out somewhat innocent and gets funnier a magical warlock has taken up residence in a castle with a thousand lights that looms over a formerly idyllic mountain community and draining residents of their livelihoods and happiness, and Toby and Melissa set out to find a solution to their made-up and real problems. The tour is designed to give schools a theatrical experience, particularly in areas where they might not often see live drama. Were working under some pretty strict limitations but they force us to be creative in ways that can be super helpful, said Michael Legg, the Reps artistic director. It can't have more than two actors, and it can't have more of a set than will fit in the truck, Legg said. It also needs to work in cafeterias, gyms, libraries, community rooms and more. The schools confirmed so far are in Hamilton, Missoula, Plains, Philipsburg, Kalispell, Brady/Dutton, Choteau, Bainville and Wibaux, for students in fifth through 12th grade. The sole cast members are UM students David Miller and Rikky Johnson, who tell the story with only puppets, and animations courtesy of Media Arts students David Mattson and Paige Childers. Those are played on a flat-screen TV in Tobys basement, so viewers see animations of the fantasy world. Myers, a Brooklyn-based playwright whos from Wyoming, wrote the original script. Myers grew up in Riverton, a town of about 10,000 people east of the Wind River range. His father spent his career teaching theater at the Central Wyoming College, which was a classic theater, producing everything from Oklahoma! to Waiting for Godot. Myers roots also mean hes familiar with the stress that mountain towns are under. He did his own research and talked a lot with Legg about the issue. Myers said he was told the story has to have two actors but he could use any other theatrical devices he wanted as long as they were compact. He took the example of puppets as a challenge and they stayed in the story. They provide a way to tell a fantastical story thats playful and unreal but keep it grounded in reality, he said. That also gives various entry points for the story depending on the age of the audience members. Theres the hopefully delightful playfulness and the puppets and all the magic elements of it that you can experience at face value and just take as a very exciting adventure story, and then of course theres the more realistic human relationship part, Myers said. As the story progresses, Miller and Johnson get endless sight gags out of the puppets which are backpacks with puppet arms and legs that they can don backwards. Each puppet has a different costume that matches their character. Lara Berich, a UM assistant professor of theater costume design and technology, said the unusual design was born out of conversations about what kind of puppets would work and would require the audience to watch a non-human face interact for a long time." Miller, a freshman pre-BFA theater major, is from a military family and moved here from Great Falls. Johnson, a sophomore pursuing a BFA in acting, grew up in Florida and her family moved to Bozeman when she was 10. The production checked off three boxes traveling, acting and teaching and the material brought up an issue that's pressing. The varied roles include a wealthy aunt, a class resistance villager, and more that suit a former speech-and-debate aficionado. I really like playing lots of big characters and stuff, so I like that about it, Johnson said. But my favorite scene in the whole thing is when she tells him she's gonna move, I just think it's the one time the character gets to be fully vulnerable. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As many Americans are anxious about the ongoing war in Ukraine, the community of Gardiner banded together to raise money for the cause. The Wonderland Cafe & Lodge, a hotel and eatery on Main Street in Gardiner, does a weekly trivia night on Sundays during the off-season. A $2 entry fee is required for participation, with half that pot going to a local charity. The donation usually winds up being around $50 to $100. On Sunday, March 6, after announcing that the trivia would be Ukrainian themed and the money would go to Ukrainian charities, they raised $80,000. It started spiraling, said Stacey Joy, owner of the Wonderland. People were like Well now we have to step up and make a difference. The fundraising was initially the brain child of Sean Miller, who hosts the trivia nights. The trivia that night had a category that asked contestants to point out Ukrainian cities on a map, as well as questions about celebrities from the region. With the theme in mind, Joy asked some local people with Ukrainian ties to speak. Vitalii Kliukevych, who is from Ukraine and is currently manager of Cowboys Lodge and Grille just two blocks from the Wonderland, volunteered. So did Tanya Grabovska, another Ukrainian and part-owner of Cowboys. Victor Kaufman, the other part owner, also helped pull in donations. The cash came from a variety of places. Many trivia participants gave more than $2. Others in Gardiner donated, and money poured in on Venmo. Things really kicked into high gear when the matching started. Thomas Ajspur, a part-time Paradise Valley resident, is a semi-regular trivia participant. Hes also the CEO and founder of Enavate, a software company. Almost half of their employee base is Ukrainian. He offered to match any donations that came in Sunday night. Joy and the Wonderland agreed to do the same. Jolyn Music, who is the head financial officer of Highline Adventures, which owns the Super 8 and Travelodge hotels in Gardiner, also matched. Trivia night pulled in just shy of $20,000. The three matches pushed the number to $80,000. The influx of money came as a surprise. Nobody was more shocked than our trivia host [Miller], said Joy. With this much money on hand, its important that it goes to the right places, something Joy is very aware of. With Kliukevych and Grabovskas Ukrainian connections, they have an idea of who they want the money to go to. Grabovska is going to Ukraine next week to check on family. While shes there, she plans to make sure that the donations are, as Joy put it, used in the best way possible. Highline Adventures is donating their $20,000 to Razom, a Ukrainian nonprofit offering non-military support. Joy said that Ajspur and Enavate are working to get people safely out of Ukraine, through bordering countries Poland and Romania. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Rob Chaney has become managing editor of the Missoulian newspaper. Chaney joined the Missoulian as a staff reporter in 1997 covering local government and growth. He has also covered business, law enforcement, the University of Montana and public education, before becoming the science and outdoors beat reporter. In 2020, he received a Nieman Foundation fellowship to spend a year studying science journalism and the news industry at Harvard University. He served briefly as interim managing editor of the Missoulian at the end of 2020 before returning to his role as a staff writer. Rob Chaneys unmatched combination of journalistic skills and community ties makes him the perfect choice to lead the Missoulians newsroom, said David McCumber, Lee Enterprises local news director for the western United States. We are lucky to have Rob in this new role, building on his quarter-century of accomplishment at the Missoulian. As part of a statewide restructuring, Chaney will report to Jeff Welsch, who is the editor of all of Lees Montana newsrooms. Former Missoulian Executive Editor Jim Van Nostrand left the paper on Thursday. The change has not affected the rest of the Missoulians newsroom staffing or local reporting. The Missoulian has been my hometown newspaper my whole life, Chaney said. Its always strived to reflect and represent one of the most fascinating places on the planet. That mix of academic and tribal, industrial and recreational roots put Missoula on the leading edge of issues that are reshaping the planet. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 10 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. About 200 Missoulians packed Imagine Nation Brewing Wednesday evening to hear stories about Ukraine, raising over $9,000 to support the Ukrainian people. The event was hosted by Soft Landing Missoula, the International Rescue Committee, Montana World Affairs Council and Jeannette Rankin Peace Center. "When the organizations that put this on came together, we knew right away that there were people in our community that were incredibly affected by this conflict, this invasion," Soft Landing Executive Director Mary Poole said. "It was really important to us that we offer that space to hear directly from them." She pointed to Missoula's history of welcoming refugees, starting in the late 1900s. Now Missoula resettles and is home for refugees from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Congo, Iraq and Syria. "The work that we've done in this community and what we've built here together is going to create a path for anyone that is affected by such war to be welcome in Missoula, and that might include Ukrainian refugees eventually," Poole said. As of Friday morning, about $9,000 was raised for the World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit group that provides meals to people when disasters strike around the globe. Three speakers with ties to Ukraine and Russia opened the event sharing their stories and feelings about the invasion, along with information on how to best support Ukrainians seeking refuge. "It's not just a war. It's directly trying to eliminate Ukraine as a nation," Mykhailo Lytiuga said, adding that Ukrainians as an ethnicity are not going anywhere. Lytiuga moved to Montana from Ukraine in 2015, but still has two daughters who live there. Katya Bays moved to Missoula about seven years ago from Russia. "These past two weeks have been a kaleidoscope of emotions anger, fear, hopelessness and unbearable shame," Bays said, describing the shock she felt on the morning she woke up to the news that Russian troops had invaded Ukraine. She has family that lives in Russia. "This is not our choice. No one gave us a privilege to have a choice," Bays continued. "I just know (people in Russia) do not support this war." Sofia Skripka, a first-generation Ukrainian, will be hosting a Ukrainian cooking class later in the month with Soft Landing's United We Eat program. Proceeds will also go to the World Central Kitchen. UM Russian professor Ona Renner-Fahey noted many of her students were in the crowd, several of whom have studied in Ukraine and have ties to and friends in the country. The UM Russian program made a donation, too. Eamon Fahey, director of the International Rescue Committee in Missoula, anticipates that while Montana won't see any Ukrainian refugees in the immediate future, he said it's likely Ukrainians may be sent to Missoula for resettlement at some point down the road. "I encourage everyone to stay involved, to contribute to all of these fine organizations that do really important work," Fahey said. Clearwater Credit Union also donated $1,000. "I just want to say a huge thank you to Missoula," Poole said toward the end of the event. "When we have events, when we talk about these things, you come and you turn out and you show up and you give." Donations can still be made at donate.wck.org/inbc. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Carroll County government staff and the sheriffs office have formulated a countywide noise ordinance to update language in a 2005 law that largely addresses only noise from all-terrain vehicles. The next step is a public hearing to allow residents to comment and make suggestions. Advertisement In 2005, the Maryland Department of the Environments noise control program was defunded by action of the state legislature. As a result, noise complaints started to be referred to local governments. Carroll County officials formed a committee to formulate a noise control document, and, at the time, the noisiest offenders in Carroll County were all-terrain vehicles in residential areas. On Thursday county attorney Tim Burke discussed the 2005 noise ordinance, calling it wordy, voluminous and overly complex. Burke said the law is unworkable to address some of the things that are happening now. Advertisement The current law is directed primarily at noise created by ATVs, and it requires the use of certified decibel readers, which are expensive and must be calibrated and maintained every year, Burke said. Burke asked the board to repeal the current ordinance and replace it with another modeled on one from Anne Arundel County. The new Carroll County ordinance is much shorter and its enforcement is not tied to decibels. It would ban amplified music or sound that causes unreasonable noise in a residential area at any time. It also bans unreasonable noises from tools or other devices between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. We think itll work a lot better than the one we have now, Burke said. I dont anticipate its going to be anything more than another tool in the toolbox. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > The Carroll County Sheriffs Office has been working with county government staff on the new ordinance. This gives us the ability to enforce the noise ordinance, which in the past we didnt have the ability to do, said Capt. Mark DeBord. Weve had great success mediating issues in the community, and, based off our strategic plan model, thats our goal and objective. Burke said enforcement could come in the form of a civil citation. In the event of prolonged failure to abide by previous agreements or orders from the sheriffs office could lead to a criminal citation. Advertisement Weve been working on this for a while, and its not just about one singular venue. Weve actually had residents complain about their neighbors, said Commissioner Stephen Wantz, a Republican representing District 1. I just think [the new ordinance] is a better, commonsense approach to it. Commissioner Dennis Frazier, a District 3 Republican, agreed that a new ordinance is needed. Its unfortunate we need a new ordinance, but we do. I think weve all received complaints, he said. With the boards approval, the new noise ordinance will go to public hearing, allowing community members and business owners an opportunity to share input on it. The date of the hearing is yet to be determined. After the hearing, commissioners will either adopt the ordinance as is or make changes. The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a district courts dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a law halting the states practice of acquiring partial water rights when water is diverted from private land onto state land. A five-justice panel of the state high court this week upheld the April 13 decision of Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Michael McMahon, dismissing a lawsuit filed by the group Advocates for School Trust Lands and two Helena public school students over 2019s House Bill 286. The lawsuit was filed against the state of Montana, with several agricultural groups intervening on the states behalf. Advocates for School Trust Lands, a group focused on policy on trust lands in the West, filed a lawsuit in 2019 asking the court to find that HB 286 unconstitutionally restricted the state from obtaining full value from its trust lands. The new law curbed practice in which it administratively claimed a partial water right 141 times when water was diverted from private land onto leased state trust land. DNRC, citing the 1985 Montana Supreme Court decision Department of State Lands v. Pettibone, claimed that when water tapped from a water right on private land was diverted onto state trust land, the state is vested with a partial water right. Under the Supreme Court case, a water right diverted or developed on state school trust lands is a state water right and those interests cannot be eliminated without adequate compensation to the trust. HB 286 ordered DNRC to divest of those 141 water right claims. It further required that should the state attempt to claim similar rights that it do so through court rather than administratively. The lawsuit contended that the law harmed DNRCs ability to negotiate lease terms with respect to water rights. It also argued that forced divestment of valuable water rights diminished the value of trust lands, thus harming the trust beneficiaries, which are mainly schools. McMahon ruled the group failed to prove that water rights subject to HB 286 would cause state trust lands to be devalued, making those claims speculative. Supreme Court justices agreed, writing that it is unknown what effect the law and adjudication process will ultimately have on the value of state lands. Advocates argument that HB 286 reduces the value of the school trust lands is not, therefore, a definite and concrete injury but an anticipated one that depends on the occurrence of future events, the court writes. Justices also found that HB 286 provides a legally adequate process. Construing HB 286 by its plain language as a procedural mechanism preserves both Advocates rights and those of the water rights holders, the decision states. The Montana Stockgrowers Association, one of the intervenors in the case, applauded the decision. It is a significant victory for water right holders and state trust land lessees across the state, Jay Bodner, executive vice president, said in a statement. HB 286 recognizes the value state land lessees contribute to state trust lands. They manage the land, invest in infrastructure, and serve as stewards. Having a water right holders property taken from them with no due process is an authority the state does not have. Attorney Roy Andes, speaking on behalf of his client Advocates for School Trust Lands, said they were disappointed with the decision, but noted that the court "carefully avoided wading into the merits of the states constitutional duties to administer school trust lands as a trust. "The courts opinion was a model of superior scholarship and legal writing which painstakingly linked logical syllogisms to deal only with procedural issues, leaving the merits of the case for another day," Andes wrote in an email. "While ASTL disagrees with some core assumptions on which the court premised its logic, we deeply appreciate the carefulness of the courts work." Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Judge Jim Manley, who has presided over district court in Sanders and Lake counties since 2013, is set to retire in June. "It's time," the 72-year-old said in a phone interview Thursday. "I'm of that age and you know I just see a lot of judges go one term too many, and I want to do it while I still have my health." Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath issued a notice to Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday of the upcoming vacancy. The notice to the governor initiates the process for Gianforte to pick a new appointment for the bench in northwest Montana. Manley was an attorney for 38 years prior to taking the bench, primarily working cases in the courtroom in a career that included prosecuting criminals, defending them and civil work that took him outside of Lake County and around the state, with a few cases in Wyoming. Manley was appointed to the 20th Judicial District Court bench in 2013 by then-Gov. Steve Bullock. Manley said Bullock's appointment of a trial lawyer with a mix of experience was an outlier at the time; most judges were elected after a career in the prosecutor's office, where they had gathered some name recognition over the years. "My thinking was we needed a broader cross-section of judges in this state," Manley said. After some time wielding the gavel, Manley said he found the judgeship easier than being a civil attorney, although "judges will hate me for saying this," he joked. "It's very interesting," he said. "Plus, everybody laughs real loud at your jokes and acts like you're the smartest person in the room, even when you're not." But over the years, Manley said, the notion of becoming a judge appeared to be less appealing to the legal community. Caseloads have grown a great deal, although the state rarely funds new judges for the districts to handle the demand. Manley said he may not have run for re-election in 2020 had he found a young, capable attorney to take his place. Manley thinks the other hurdle to staffing the courts in Lake County is what he called the intense politicization of the judiciary. He referenced the ongoing conflict between state Republican officials and the judicial branch, as well as the changes lawmakers made to the judicial appointment process last year, which eliminated the vetting committee that once forwarded names to the governor for appointment. Under the new arrangement, the governor is able to select their appointment directly, as long as the applicant has three letters of support. The changes came about as Republicans accused the judicial branch of leaning Democratic. Much of the judiciary opposed eliminating the vetting committee. The GOP's majority's leadership in the state Senate said it would give Gianforte, a Republican, the opportunity to pick more conservative judges. "I think it's become for a lot of judges, and potential judges, unpleasant because it's become politicized and subject to so much criticism and partisanship," he said. "The Legislature and the attorney general and the governor have made it very clear that what they want is to change the judiciary so it's more like them, in other words more politicized and that's a really, really bad sign for the future. "What they need is a qualified, hard-working judge," he added. "Not someone who's politically certified." Gianforte has already appointed three judges, one of whom has ties to the governor, in Yellowstone, Gallatin and Cascade counties, under his new powers granted by the 2021 Legislature. Still, the governor has so far compiled localized vetting councils to carry out a similar function as the nominating committee lawmakers eliminated ahead of each appointment. Manley said Thursday the politics encroaching on the judiciary did not factor into his decision to retire. And despite his concerns, Manley said his appreciation for those who carry out the tasks of government in rural counties like his has only grown over his legal career, and he praised court security and election officials alike. "There are a lot of good people in these small, rural governments," he said. "So things are still working well, despite all the problems in the big world out there." The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on April 11. The applicants will be announced afterward and the public may submit letters of support or opposition through May 11. Applicants need three letters of support to be considered for the appointment. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. While the job market continues to rebound, the public sectors slower recovery is creating a roadblock for Black employment. In February, employers added 678,000 jobs, with the federal, state and local governments filing 24,000 new positions. But the number of state and local government jobs is still 695,000 positions short of its pre-pandemic level in February 2020. With nearly 1-in-5 Black workers in public sector and government jobs, that lag weighs on the Black unemployment rate, which last month stood at 6.6%, or double the white unemployment rate. The reduction in government jobs during the pandemic continues a long-tailed trend in the public sector, according to experts, and could lead to the widening of the racial wealth gap in the country if left unaddressed. When you see cuts to the public sector, thats a cut that will disproportionately affect the Black community, Kyle Moore, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute, told Yahoo Money. Wealth is so porous in the Black community, so those that do have wealth have to be called upon to support the community. Because there are so few safety nets, that contributes to the wealth gap. As students cross the street, a senior female crossing guard holds up her stop sign to traffic and protects the students. She waves to the students to keep walking. Public sector job loss started with Great Recession The Economic Policy Institute noted that the pandemic has caused a decrease of 1.4 million public sector jobs from February 2020 to February 2021. At the start of the COVID crisis in June 2020, 50% of public sector jobs in education and more than 1 in 10 education jobs were lost in 17 states. That created a great loss of public sector jobs for Black workers, especially Black women. As of 2019, 48% of Black women were employed in education or other public service jobs. Even though public sector job loss for Black workers has increased now, there is a precedent for the slowdown in public sector job growth overall. Professor Christian Weller from the University of Massachusetts, Boston told Yahoo Money that the decline started since the Great Recession. During that time, Black public sector workers were more likely to be unemployed and the Black/White wealth gap for women increased sixfold. Story continues Weller wrote about the importance of public sector jobs to Black workers in a Center for American Progress report. He noted that public sector jobs were part of the governments anti-discrimination efforts to bring more opportunities to Black workers starting in the 1960s. Public sector policies have gradually removed barriers to hiring and advancing Black workers. Public sector employment has posed fewer barriers for Black workers than is the case in the private sector, Weller said. Black workers gained access to middle-class with public sector jobs A United States Postal Service (USPS) worker delivers mail in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., August 17, 2020. (REUTERS/Carlo Allegri) Moore added that public sector jobs like ones in the post office were a consistent pathway to the middle class for many Black workers because it gave equal employment opportunities. We want to hear from you! Tell us your personal finance questions or concerns by emailing yahoomoney@yahooinc.com. The public sector is also more likely to be unionized, Weller noted, helping Black workers better save for their futures and build wealth. Unions also create transparent hiring and promotion procedures that benefit all workers. Job stability allows people to take a longer view of their financial future and improves their savings. Decent wages help people pay their bills and save for the future. Benefits reduce costs and provide retirement savings, both of which can help improve overall wealth, Weller said We find that Black workers especially benefit from unionized public sector employment in terms of having more wealth relative to their private sector counterparts. How can public sector jobs return for Black workers? People were able to apply for jobs at the U.S. post office in Garden Grove, CA on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The post office is holding job fairs as part of a 10-year plan started in 2020 by the USPS to improve operations, provide better service and improve delivery times. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) Moore believes public sector jobs will eventually return as long as the economy continues to recover. So long as we manage to contain the virus, there are no new variants, and workers have the protections they need to work safely, the labor market should continue to improve, said Moore. As workers find more stable employment, tax revenues should increase, meaning there will be more capacity to expand the public sector. Whether and to what extent that expansion happens depends on state and local policy priorities. But yes, there is the potential for growth in the public sector, added Moore, who also advocates for better wages, unions, and access to personal protective equipment during the pandemic. Federal funds from the American Rescue Plan can also help make up for losses in tax revenue and hire more workers, but that isnt a long-term solution to help Black public sector workers, Weller said. They can use stimulus money, but that is a temporary fix, Weller said. State and local governments will need to consider which revenue sources they can access to make more investments in necessary services. A longer-term solution, though, is still needed. The public sector can establish private-public partnerships with HBCUs and minority-serving institutions as well as businesses in communities of color to boost wealth and employment there, said Weller. YF Plus Ella Vincent is the personal finance reporter for Yahoo Money. Follow her on Twitter @bookgirlchicago. Read the latest personal finance news, trends, and tips from Yahoo Money. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn At Feast and Field, some of our favorite dishes have come from the minds of incredible female pioneers in todays culinary industry. We have been fortunate to travel the country, stepping inside the kitchens of exciting, daring and talented female chefs who are making waves and bringing about change in said industry. While we are always honored to tell the stories of those behind the food and drink of America, as an all-female staff, we feel especially lucky to be able to give another voice and lift these female chefs weve met along the way. In honor of Marchs Womens History Month and International Womens Day on March 8, Feast and Field is celebrating the chefs who have not only shared with us delicious recipes, but who have provided top-of-the-line tips and offered cooking inspiration for meals and gatherings big and small. Here are some of our favorite Feast and Field-featured female chefs who are doing their part in shaping this nations ever-evolving food scene. Elizabeth Johnson Sofia Tejeda Speaking of grapefruits, we also connected with Sofia Tejeda, a Texas-based pastry chef whose formal training at the Culinary Institute of America (and in some of the nations toughest kitchens!) eventually brought her to the Food Network. We have Tejeda to thank for these Grapefruit Honey Scones, Sparkling Grapefruit Granita and Grapefruit Cremes Brulees. Alekka Sweeney Robin Davis Continuing on the sweet train, we headed over to North Carolinas Maxie Bs bakery for Issue No. 9: Traditional Southern Baking. Were not the only ones to recognize the talent oozing out of Maxie Bs: The bakery experienced fame in 2011 when Southern Living touted founder and owner Robin Davis traditional cakes. Years later, Davis blessed us with a few delicious desserts, including her Blueberry Pie and Jam Crumble Bars that you dont have to wait until peak berry season to enjoy. P.S. Want to pipe a cake like a master baker? Check out our tutorial here. Laurel Burleson Because we cant ever get enough jam (see: Issue No. 13: Jams and Preserves), we traveled north to Wisconsin to try our hand at homemade jam with chef Laurel Burleson, owner of Ugly Apple Cafe, a food cart that was started as a way to address the (perfectly good) produce deemed to be cast-offs. This ugly fruit goes to waste every day in this country, but personally, we dont think theres anything ugly about these Strawberry Caprese Canapes with Strawberry-Basil Jam. Mary Goddard In one of Feast and Fields most ambitious trips yet, we were lucky enough to pull up a seat at Mary Goddards table in Sitka, Alaska. Mary, along with her husband Lucas, is the chef and blogger behind Forest Fresh Alaska, a forest-to-table cooking blog that helps readers unlock the potential of local food and ingredients. We couldnt think of anyone better to teach us a thing or two about cooking salmon for Issue No. 21: Wild Salmon. Be sure to give their Creamy-Coconut Salmon Chowder, Smoked Salmon Sushi Lollipops or their Simply Delicious Grilled Salmon a try. Lisa Shaw Lara Lyn Carter Jaynelle St. Jean Could this list be complete without killer pie? Jaynelle St. Jean, owner and founder of Pietisserie, boasts over 13,000 Instagram followers and has formed a cult following for her modern take on the beloved dessert. St. Jeans story of graduating from just a single pie window to a bakery with national interest is nothing short of inspiring. She gave us some insider secrets to her (beautiful) top-selling pies in Issue No. 36: Pie, including Ginger & Cardamom Apple and Black-Bottom Walnut and even gave us a tutorial on how to master a lattice pie crust. Alexandra Coppinger Kate Heller Rounding out our list is Kate Heller, owner of Leos Bread bakery in New Orleans, a somewhat new bakery which often finds itself on best of lists. (For a city so ingrained in cake culture, we think thats quite impressive!) Heller gave us three delicious rum-spiked desserts in Issue No. 49: Rum, including a few innovative ways to always be able to pull off Tiramisu. Thank you, Kate. And thank you, ladies! Ken Robinson, a retired professor from Wake Forest University, visited the Col. Alexander Erwin Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution on Feb. 17 at the Morganton Community House to share findings from a grant project he researched for the National Park Service at a Burke County historical site. Robinson, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Wake Forest and a Master of Arts in anthropology from University of Kentucky, explored the history of the Revolutionary Wars Battle of Cane Creek, which took place Sept. 12, 1780. He compiled his research, including an archaeological study of the area, into a report titled Battle at the Head of Cane Creek: Prelude to the Battle of Kings Mountain. He has worked as an archeologist on many National Park Service grants over the past 30 years, Robert Patton, chapter president, said. Mr. Robinsons presentation covered many types of maps and artifacts of the Cane Creek area bordering U.S. 64 near the intersection of N.C. 226 and on southward to Rutherfordton. The battle was fought between British Loyalists under the command of Maj. Patrick Ferguson and Patriot militiamen from Burke and Rutherford counties under the command of Col. Charles McDowell, Maj. Joseph McDowell and Col. Andrew Hampton, according to the report. Several soldiers on each side were wounded and killed, the report reads. The Loyalist force ultimately prevailed, forcing the Patriots to retreat into the mountains of western North Carolina. Patton described what the soldiers experienced. One record kept by a British soldier said they crossed Cane Creek 22 times before finding Col. Charles McDowells militia very near that intersection, he said. The militia struck from ambush and lost a couple of soldiers before retreating over the west ridge of Linville Gorge, Yellow Mountain and Roan Mountain to Sycamore Shoals in what was to become Tennessee. The archaeological field investigation, which took place over a parcel of land nearly 3-miles-long and 1-mile-wide, turned up more than 20 pieces of lead shot and fragments and a couple of period buttons. Robinson said the research team could not positively associate the artifacts with the battle, but they identified three possible battle locations. As a result of the research conducted, Robinson recommended the site be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Battle of Cane Creek is considered to be a prelude to the more famous Battle of Kings Mountain, because the militiamen engaged at Cane Creek went on to fight at Kings Mountain. The result was these brave men gathering at Col. Charles McDowells house and going to Kings Mountain and defeating Maj. Patrick Ferguson, Patton said. The Battle of Kings Mountain is considered to have turned the tide of the war in Americas favor. Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service, which was administered by the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and co-sponsored by the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. To learn more about the Battle of Cane Creek site, visit the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail page on the National Parks Service website at bit.ly/3IU4anj. Burke United Christian Ministries has taken a big step toward returning to pre-pandemic normality, thanks to a group of local churches. It has been two years since BUCM, which provides assistance to people in need, made the decision to postpone serving weekend meals to clients due to COVID-19, according to a press release from the ministry. Recently, however, some local churches decided to band together to provide the funds and volunteers needed to restart Saturday meals at the organizations soup kitchen. We are so proud of the collaborative spirit that is fostered through helping others at BUCM, Alice Horton, the groups executive director, said. What a blessing to have churches reaching out to us willing to help restart our Saturday meals. Grace Episcopal, Calvary Lutheran, First United Methodist, First Presbyterian and Summit Community churches have taken on one Saturday each month to make brunch at BUCM possible, Caroline Holbert, development coordinator for the group, said. This is not to mention all the countless groups and churches that make lunch happen each day during the week, Holbert said. She said BUCM would like to extend a special thank you to Calvary Lutheran for financially supporting the brunch meal for the rest of the year, and to Summit Church and The Community Foundation of Burke County for providing additional funds for food. Not to forget, (we thank) all of our supporting churches that continue to support BUCM financially, with their time, donations and resources, Holbert said. She said the Saturday brunch, which is served from 9:30-11:30 a.m., offers mostly breakfast-type items, such as biscuits, bacon and fruit. The soup kitchen has returned to serving meals in the dining room, but still has some COVID-19 safety protocols in place, such as social distancing for clients, (four people per table), gloves for volunteers and a plastic barrier over the serving area. Holbert elaborated on how big of an impact this effort will have on those who need it. Brunch at BUCM will provide our neighbors with 52 more hot meals a year, she said. That is an extra 52 days of encouraging social interaction, an extra 52 days of being out of the elements while eating, which means an extra 52 days to make a difference! The ministry served more than 40,000 meals in 2021 with help from the community, and hopes as the pandemic declines, that Sunday meals may make a return someday as well. Obstacles for restating Sunday meals include a need for more volunteers, concern for what a seven-day work week looks like for our staff, and many, if not all, of our church partners have other obligations on Sundays, which makes volunteering on Sundays more difficult for them, Holbert said. She encouraged people to consider becoming involved in BUCM to make a difference in peoples lives. As people, churches, and organizations become more comfortable with group volunteering, we look forward to offering more pre-COVID-19 services back to our neighbors, Holbert said. These services will need volunteers and financial support from our community. If you, your church or organization is interested in supporting BUCM through this transition, feel free to visit our website at bucm.net to learn more, or find out about ways to donate your time, talent and financial resources. She noted that the need for help is great. Burke County has 13,000 food-insecure people, Holbert said. By helping in this manner, you are able to serve your neighbor. If you or someone you know is in need of a hot meal, meals are served at BUCM from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Staff writer Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com. A new gun store in downtown Morganton is gearing up to open its doors to the public on Tuesday, March 15. When it opens, Overmountain Riffleman on South Sterling Street will feature a full line of rifles for hunting and target shooting, handguns for home defense and ammunition. In addition to the usual fare, the stores owner, Eli Fisher, said Overmountain Riffleman will also carry antique military weapons and collectibles. Were a gun shop that will sell the modern sporting arms, your shotguns, your hunting rifles, your ARs, he said. But we also specialize in military collectibles. Fisher believes his knowledge of military collectibles and antique guns will help his shop find a unique niche in the local marketplace. Theres not really a gun shop around here that specializes in military surplus and military antique arms, he said. Its something I have a big passion for, and I figured maybe theres a market for it. In addition to collectible antique firearms, the store also features other military collectibles such as helmets, hats, knives and satchels. Fisher said he has been collecting military antiques for 10 years, and along the way, has gained a lot of expertise identifying and appraising weapons and other military items. He said he plans to use that experience to offer appraisal services. I want to offer that, as well. If you inherit, for example, your grandfathers medals and you dont know what they are, you can bring them in and Ill tell you what they are, he said. Fisher said there are a lot of fakes being sold online and he wants to be able to help people tell the difference between legitimate items and knock offs. Fisher said he also plans to offer concealed carry classes and gun safety training to the public. He already has NRA certified instructor Bob Blankenship lined up to teach the concealed carry class and hopes to get the safety classes up and running within the next several weeks. I want to do a lot of safety courses, a lot of educational stuff because there is a lot of misinformation about guns out there, he said. Fisher said his location has plenty of space to house the classes and to add on in the future if that becomes necessary. He added that he currently lives in the buildings second floor apartment, and he has really enjoyed living downtown. Its been an adjustment living downtown, but I really like it, he said. Its nice being able to walk to restaurants and stuff, and then when summer comes, all the events will be going on, so Im really looking forward to that. One of Fishers goals with his store is to continue to promote the economic revitalization in Morganton, particularly downtown has seen in recent years. When I was in high school, there wasnt a whole lot going on downtown, Fisher said. Im very excited to be part of the revitalization of this downtown, which Im very fond of since I grew up here. He said he hopes to add to the revitalization by offering a place where collectors and enthusiasts can gather and connect with one another. Fisher said he is also working to get food trucks to park in front of the store on Saturdays. We have a couple places were talking to, one is on board so far, he said. Well put some tables and chairs outside because I know a lot of people like to hang around gun shops and talk. Even the stores name is a way for him to tie his store into the local community and its history. Overmountain Riffleman is a name that references the Overmountain Men who traveled through Burke County in 1780 on their way from Western North Carolina and East Tennessee to fight in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary war. The stores logo even reflects that history by prominently featuring the Kentucky Long Rifle, the gun most famously connected to the Overmountain Men. Overmountain Riffleman is located at 400 S. Sterling St., and will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when it officially opens on Tuesday, March 15. For more information, call the store at 828-838-8404. Jason Koon is a staff writer and can be reached at jkoon@morganton.com The John Carroll School in Bel Air received a $1.8 million grant from the John L. Stasiak Foundation, the largest first-time gift in the schools history. The grant will help fund the modernization of the schools science learning spaces. (Courtesy The John Carroll School) The John Carroll School has been awarded a $1,865,000 grant from The John L. Stasiak Foundation, the largest first-time gift in the schools history. The grant will help fund the modernization of the schools science learning spaces. Eight classrooms and laboratories will be fully renovated and re-purposed to provide state-of-the-art facilities and equipment that replicate university and professional experiences. Advertisement These new spaces will enable our faculty to expand the breadth of our challenging science curriculum and prepare our students to transition to college-level work while sparking their interests in the sciences, the school said in a statement. Plans call for reconfiguring work spaces and creating combination classroom/labs for integrated lecture and applied learning. Workspace furnishings will be mobile and reconfigurable to enable group learning. All cabinetry and storage will be upgraded to meet the requirements of current equipment and materials. Advertisement The installation of new fume hoods, plumbing, gas lines and safety equipment is included in the design, and new seating and desks will be added for students and faculty. The work areas are ergonomically designed and reflect best practice for college preparatory learning. John Carroll is deeply grateful to the Stasiak Foundation for its support, school President Stephen DiBiagio said. This transformative grant will allow us to increase overall lab space to meet the growing demand for STEM courses while ensuring that John Carroll students are able to work in state-of-the-art labs that mirror those on college campuses and in leading institutions nationwide. The John L. Stasiak Foundation was established by the late John Stasiak, a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. In the grant acknowledgment letter, foundation trustee Marianne Schmitt Hellauer wrote, Mr. John L. Stasiak was a most generous and caring man who took great pleasure in helping churches, schools and hospitals in the Baltimore area to be able to maintain their facilities in order to support their work. It is an honor for me to continue this work in his name and memory. Founded in 1964, The John Carroll School in Bel Air is the only coeducational, independent Catholic high school in northeastern Maryland. VALDESE It is time once again for the lucky leprechaun hunters to search downtown Valdese for the tricksters dressed in green. The second annual Lucky Leprechaun Hunt will take place Thursday in downtown Valdese along Main Street, from Italy Street to the Old Rock School. Those who are participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Hunt are encouraged to search high and low for more than 200 leprechauns lurking around town. If you are lucky enough to find one, bring him to the Old Rock School for a prize, said Morrissa Angi, director of community affairs and tourism for the town of Valdese. The school is at 400 Main St. W in Valdese and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tourism office will be ready to hand out pots of gold to the lucky hunters. We were so pleased with the successful turnout for last years Lucky Leprechaun Hunt, and couldnt wait to bring it back. Angi said. This is such a fun activity to get families out in the spring weather and enjoy all the charm of downtown Valdese. She encouraged Lucky Leprechaun participants to enjoy the variety of restaurants and shops in the downtown area as they hunt. Visitors and long-term residents alike may be surprised at the unique variety of boutiques and cuisine here in Valdese, Angi said. For information about the Lucky Leprechaun Hunt and the event calendar for Valdese, go to visitvaldese.com or call 828-879-2129. Vladimir Putins careless disregard for national sovereignty and human life does not surprise me. The former Soviet KGB officer would love to restore the Iron Curtain. He does not support democratic freedom and is continuing the Soviet-Communist penchant for repression and violence. I thought about saying Putin makes Nikita Khrushchev look good, but thats not true. Khrushchev ordered the devastating put down of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. At first, Khrushchev wanted a diplomatic solution in Hungary, but when the revolutionary leadership insisted on personal freedoms and a parliamentary government, he sent in the tanks. We saw what happened on TV. The Iron Curtain, a monument to the Warsaw Pact that forced free states under Soviet domination into a mutual defense organization, was saved from liberty. The Soviet Union undertook a de-Stalinization program after Josef Stalin died in 1953 to present a better portrait of the USSR to the world and the countries under its heel. Stalin, feared and reviled in his own country, killed more Russians with his brutal domestic purges than Adolf Hitler did in World War II. Putin is doing what comes naturally to Soviet despots. Soviet leaders served at the pleasure of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, but they were given the power of czars as long as they did not embarrass the committee as Khrushchev did with Cuba. The Prague Spring occurred in 1968 when the Czech government attempted to advance some liberties. For a short time, there was even freedom of the press. That was no more successful than the Hungarian Revolution. The Soviet Politburo the USSRs sham parliament that never opposed the Central Committee unanimously passed a resolution to provide help to the Communist Party and people of Czechoslovakia through military force. Well, now that righteous, violent retribution against the Czech government is official, here come the tanks. Leonid Brezhnev announced that the intervention would include the fraternal support of Bulgaria, East Germany, Poland and, yes, Hungary. Whereas the United States sent aid to Hungary, it ignored the Czech revolution. We were too busy confronting communism in Vietnam. Hungary and Czechoslovakia exemplify how the Soviet Union operated, and that spirit lives on in Vladimir Putin, blessed by the Russian hierarchy. Hes as ruthless as Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and the czarism the communist revolution was supposed to supplant. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, democracy flourished in most eastern European nations. There are despotic democracies, though. Belarus is one. Putin is feeding the Russian people outright lies about Ukraine and responding to Russian war protesters with the customary brutality of his Soviet heroes. Thats what happens when free speech collides with government policy and power is concentrated in one office. There are too many people who have too much to gain to eradicate outright lies. Thats a universal affliction, but in countries like Russia, you really can disappear or die for speaking out. The bottom line is that Putin and other USSR leftovers miss the old empire. They want it back regardless of the means or cost. Russia, at the time of this writing, has reportedly offered peace terms to Ukraine. The terms seem like that same ones offered to Eastern Bloc nations with the Warsaw Pact. We saw how that turned out. History is what it is and cannot be rewritten. There have been many nations that chose violence over peace. But this is not about those other nations. This is about Putins Place. Russia is filled with the graves of good people who despised violence and wanted to live in peace killed by their own rulers for the public good, internal harmony and security. A professor told me one time that history does not repeat itself. Try to sell that notion to the people of Ukraine. Reach Larry Clark at wryturlc@yahoo.com. Shortly after 2 a.m. on April 12, 2016, Lawrence Carlyle and his friend, Kody McCowen, got in a 1994 Mazda after drinking and headed east on Interstate 90 toward Butte. When they were just west of the Ramsay interchange, the driver didnt negotiate a turn, drifted left and overcorrected before traveling into the median. The Mazda slid sideways and rolled several times before coming to a rest. Both men were ejected. Two people who stopped told police that Carlyle said he was the driver, and one said Carlyle kept repeating, I killed my friend. McCowen had indeed been killed. He was 32. Carlyle was 59. Both were living in Anaconda at the time. On Thursday, nearly six years after the crash, District Court Judge Kurt Krueger gave Carlyle a seven-year suspended sentence for negligent homicide. Prosecutor Mike Clague had recommended it, and although defense attorney Josh Demers asked for a deferred sentence instead, neither believed prison time was warranted now. They said Carlyle had health problems, some tied to military service decades ago, and had taken responsibility for what happened. He hasnt forgotten that he lost his friend that night, Demers told the judge. Carlyle wasnt charged until April 2018 and wasnt arrested on the initial charge vehicular homicide while under the influence until January 2020 in Sanpete, Utah. Prosecutors say the investigation took a long time and after charges were filed, they lost track of Carlyles whereabouts in Utah for some time. The initial charge carried a maximum 30-year prison sentence. As part of a deal this past November, Carlyle pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of negligent homicide with a 20-year maximum. A no contest plea means the defendant does not admit guilt but does admit that a jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged facts were truthful. According to charging documents, Carlyle told two people who stopped at the crash site that he was the driver, and hospital records showed his blood-alcohol content at 0.132 percent. The legal limit is 0.08. Both men were not wearing seat belts and were ejected, and authorities said then that speed and alcohol were suspected in the crash. Investigators later determined the two men had been drinking in at least two area bars before the crash. Carlyle will still be on probation during the suspended sentence and could be sent to prison for years if he violates terms, but Clague said it was a reasonable sentence. Were asking you to give the defendant an opportunity to show that he can make amends for the actions that caused the death of Kody McCowen, Clague said. Demers said his client served his country honorably in the U.S. Marines and while stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina years ago, was among Marines who drank contaminated water at the base. He had health problems from that and they were exacerbated by injuries he sustained in the crash six years ago, Demers said, adding they were a reason prosecutors allowed Carlyle to plead no contest in the case. Its not because Mr. Carlyle is unwilling or isnt willing to accept guilt in this situation, Demers told the judge. He does feel guilt about what happened. He feels guilty that he allowed himself and Kody to get inebriated that night. He doesnt have any actual memory of driving the vehicle that night but he has incredible sadness still to this day about losing his friend. Judge Krueger said there was a senseless loss of life that night but said a suspended sentence was justified based on health reasons and because Carlyle had been sober in recent years. The latter was an indication he would comply with probation terms, Krueger said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 10 Angry 5 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Faking an illness to get out of work is one thing but doing it to dodge a court appearance can be downright criminal. Literally. See if you can follow along. Prosecutors say 49-year-old Sean Michael Kelledy of Butte claimed to have COVID-19 when he missed a Dec. 15 court hearing regarding prior criminal cases. District Judge Kurt Krueger said OK, but he wanted Kelledy to appear at a rescheduled hearing on Dec. 22 or have proof of his diagnosis. When that day came, a document from a Western Montana Clinic in Missoula was presented indicating Kelledy had been diagnosed with COVID on Dec. 13. Kelledy wasnt there but provided the document through his public defender. With that in hand, Krueger reset the hearing for Jan. 5. But prosecutors believed the document had been altered or fabricated so they prepared a subpoena for Kelledys medical records from the Missoula clinic. The response said Kelledy wasnt seen on Dec. 13 and has never sought any COVID related treatment there. Theres more to the story before and after the clinic response came in. The initial hearing on prior cases was on Dec. 1, with Kelledy, Public Defender Josh Demers and Prosecutor Ann Shea all appearing via Zoom. Demers said Kelledy was appearing by video from Spokane, Washington, but wanted to appear in person and needed time to get back to Montana. Being out-of-state by itself violated prior bond conditions, Shea said, and Kelledy had been charged with additional crimes in Spokane also bond violations. But Krueger said he could appear in person on Dec. 15. At the Jan. 5 hearing, after the alleged COVID ruse, counsel for both parties showed but once again, Kelledy did not. So Krueger issued a bench warrant and Kelledy was since arrested in Missoula. Only now he faces four new felony charges two counts of bail jumping and two counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence related to the COVID documents. Each carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Kelledy was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the new felony charges. He appeared via video, this time from the Butte jail, a stones throw from Kruegers courtroom. Bond this time is set at $200,000. Love 10 Funny 18 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Montanans value our relationships and our quality of life. Other than our families, there is no more trusted or important relationship than that between a patient and a doctor. Our doctors provide the calm and trusted care that allows us the ability to live, work and play in this place we all love so much. This is why access to quality health care and qualified doctors is often ranked as a top concern for Montanans. The existence of exceptionally qualified doctors in Montana is not assured over time. In fact, it can be very difficult to recruit and retain rural medical professionals. That is why Montana WWAMI, our states 50-year-old medical school partnership between Montana State University and the University of Washington School of Medicine, is so critical, and why March 18 is such an exciting day and should matter to all who call Montana home. Each year 30 Montana medical students are selected for the WA-WY-AK-MT-ID (WWAMI) decentralized, cooperative medical school partnership. Since 1972, Montana WWAMI has helped homegrown medical students match in top residency positions across the country, including right here in Montana, where the final required years of hands-on medical training happen for our future physicians. It takes a deep Montana work ethic and dedication for these students to complete the first stages of their education just to become eligible for residency positions. All of these future doctors must complete 18 months of rigorous scientific study and at least one year of clinical training clerkships focusing on family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, surgery and psychiatry. The last stages of their initial training involve clerkships in emergency medicine and neurology and then several elective rotations help the student explore programs and specialties that will define their careers in health care in Montana and beyond. For the Montana students who will finally complete this entire course in 2022, the finish line will come into view on March 18. After going through a complicated selection and interview process, Montanas medical students get the news of where they matched, as will every other medical student in the country. Montana WWAMI medical students have a lot riding on this big day and so do we. These are our kids, our students, and within a few years they will be our valued doctors. Nearly half of Montana students who complete medical school through Montana WWAMI stay to practice in the state. When combined with WWAMI graduates from surrounding states, more than 63% of physicians return to practice in primary care, psychiatry, surgery and other needed specialties in Montana. Because of the wise investment in WWAMI by the Montana Legislature a half-century ago, all Montanans have helped grow this next crop of medical professionals for our great state. Take pride in the fact that within a few years you and your family will be valuing the relationship you have with them and they will be working to help make your Montana life even better. Dr. Jay Erickson has practiced family medicine in the Flathead for 31 years. He serves as the Assistant Clinical Dean for Montana WWAMI, guiding curriculum, collaborating with the over 500 physician preceptors who teach Montana medical students, and working to advance graduate medical education in Montana. He practices in Whitefish. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ARCHIVED - Power outage protest in Murcia: March 15 Consumur has called for the people of Murcia to switch off the lights for one minute in a mass demonstration against skyrocketing energy bills In response to the continuous rise of energy bills in the Region of Murcia, the regional Association of Consumers and Network Users, Consumur, has launched a complaint campaign entitled Not another minute! (Ni un minuto mas!) which will kick off on Tuesday March 15, aptly chosen to coincide with World Consumer Rights Day. The consumer organisation has called on the people of Murcia to turn off their lights for one minute on this day, from 9.59pm until 10pm, as a collective demonstration against the exorbitant prices of electricity and the lack of supporting measures from the central government. The president of Consumur, Roberto Barcelo Vivancos, has called on all Murcianos to disconnect the electrical network during this time so that only the light of the moon and the stars will illuminate the Region, a move he hopes will open the eyes of our governments and even the powers of the European Union centralised in Brussels. You might also like: Brussels scrambles for solutions to electricity price crisis The new campaign will select a new theme every quarter, always using the Not another minute! slogan. This month, the electrical energy sector is the target, the objective being to highlight Murcias protest and revulsion at the ineffective policy that is being carried out, as well as the enrichment of large energy companies. Consumur wants, above all, to draw attention to the increasing energy poverty experienced by Murcian citizens, particularly those who are more economically and socially vulnerable. #NIUNMINUTOMAS!: CONSUMUR llama a la ciudadania a apagar la luz el proximo martes en protesta por los desorbitados precios y la inaccion del Gobierno https://t.co/01rqBqmCrm pic.twitter.com/vrJbPcYhmh CONSUMUR (@CONSUMUR) March 10, 2022 Image: Consumur Irish Whiskey Cask Scottish Oatmeal Stout, a beer celebrating Celtic culture, is now available in the U.S. Originally developed a decade ago by Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn to mark St. Patricks Day, this limited-edition beer hadnt been available in the U.S. until recently. Abroad, it received numerous international distinctions including Best in Class-Porters and Stouts at the Alberta Beverage Awards and Grand Gold at the Global Monde Selection Awards last year. Dougal Gunn Sharp, Founder, Innis & Gunn said: Ireland is known for its great stouts, and Scotland for its great whisky, and of course, both nations share Celtic culture, character and an innovative spirit. To celebrate this, we set out to turn convention on its head by brewing an incredible Scottish stout, then aging it using the best Irish Whiskey Casks. Our Irish Whiskey Cask Stout is brimming with Celtic attitude. Dont let the dark black color of the beer fool you, the stout is purposely matured for mellowness. The oats give it a slightly sweet creaminess and rounded mouthfeel according to beer industry magazine Brewbound. Described as warming and perfect for the winter months the beer is complex yet smooth, its bitterness balanced with a long, chocolatey finish. Read here for other ways to get your oats, or go inside with one of western Pennsylvanias last remaining estate-grown oat farms. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Paul Fallace hears the rumblings of passing trains every day in Perryman. But Saturday morning, the rumbling was much louder than normal. Thats because nearby, 20 coal cars of a freight train derailed. Advertisement Were lucky it was only coal, Fallace said. Not phosgene or methane. I dont know what happens if those had gotten squished or turned around and leaked. That would not have been good. Nearly a week later, mountains of coal are still piled near the tracks. Advertisement Its another risk that we were kind of living with, Fallace said. Theres so much industry squeezed in here. This is not the first environmental worry Perryman citizens have had to deal with. While many of those who live in the area support Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fallace said, some citizens hear the noise from tests performed there. Fallace said his house even shakes from them sometimes. And, the proposed Mitchell property development would bring five additional warehouses to an area overrun with truck traffic from the warehouses already there. Some Perryman residents have maintained that the overdevelopment of Perryman is an example of environmental racism. They would never do this in a more white area or a richer area, said Perryman resident Kate McDonald. According to census data, Perryman is about 63.5 percent white, and 24.3 percent Black/African American. Harford County, by comparison, is about 78.8 percent white and 14.8 percent Black/African American. Harford Countys median household income, $89,147, is also significantly higher than Perrymans: $56,830. One reason for this overdevelopment is that Perryman is unincorporated, according to Sacoby Wilson, an associate professor with the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Maryland, College Parks School of Public Health. I call it contamination without representation, Wilson said. So what happens is because of the embeddedness of racism, they become easy targets for disinvestment being overburdened, overdeveloped, and being dumped on. Advertisement Wilson said this problem is common in post-slavery and Black communities that are unincorporated. Thats a form of racism, Wilson said. Tamie Wainwright, a Perryman resident, is a descendant of slaves who lived on Spesutie Island near Perryman. She believes the county can get away with this development in Perryman because its minorities. When I grew up, Perryman I felt like this is where African Americans owned their homes, Wainwright said. Why would we want to lose history to a bunch of trucks and warehouses? Dennis O. Dorsey also grew up in Perryman and his father still lives there. He noted that the resistance to development there is not taken as seriously as it would be in a place like Bel Air. Its disappointing to see that theres so many warehouses there, said Dorsey, who now lives in Bel Air. Advertisement Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Vicki Jones, president of the Harford County NAACP, agrees that Perrymans needs and wants are not taken as seriously as other parts of the county because of their demographics and economics. This trend is continuing, Jones said, where the county is more focused on making this area into an industrial destination, and not looking at it as a residential area. According to data from the Protecting Perryman Peninsula coalition, Perryman has about 9.7 million square feet of warehouse space, compared to 1.6 million square feet in Havre de Grace and zero in Bel Air. Perryman also has far less county park acreage than other parts of the county: It has 198 acres of parkland, while Havre de Grace has 1,181 acres and Bel Air has 1,086 acres. If the Mitchell property development is approved, rolling fields and wooded wetlands will be lost to warehouses. Residents may be less likely to see a bald eagle flying overhead, or see the stars at night, which is already more difficult due to the bright lights at warehouses in the area. The night sky in this area is gone, said resident Glenn Dudderar. Residents also have other environmental concerns, including contamination of their drinking water, displacement of wildlife and increased air pollution. Already, warehouse construction has led to increased flooding in the area, according to resident Leigh Maddox. Advertisement If I have to go to every council meeting until the end of time, thats what theyre going to hear from me, McDonald said. Its just, its just so wrong. A patch of woods which includes at least one bald eagles' nest would be destroyed if the acres of farmland owned by the Mitchell family in Perryman along Canning House Road were turned into large warehouses if the proposed plan is approved. Residents of the area continue to fight and show their opposition to the project. Some existing farm buildings still sit on the property March 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Existing warehouses are visible looking across the field along Canning House Road in Perryman Thursday, March 10, 2022 where the proposed warehouses would be constructed. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Warehouses similar to the ones that are currently in use in the Perryman area would occupy the acres of farmland on the Mitchell farm in Perryman along Canning House Road if the proposed plan is approved. Residents of the area continue to fight and show their opposition to the project, March 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Acres of farmland owned on the Mitchell farm in Perryman along Canning House Road would be turned into large warehouses if the proposed plan is approved. Residents of the area continue to fight and show their opposition to the project. Some existing farm buildings still sit on the property March 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Acres of farmland owned by the Mitchell family in Perryman along Canning House Road would be turned into large warehouses if the proposed plan is approved. Residents of the area continue to fight and show their opposition to the project. Some existing farm buildings still sit on the property March 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Perryman resident Glenn Dudderar talks about his objections to the proposed warehouses as he stands along Canning House Road in Perryman where the warehouses will be built, Thursday, March 10, 2022 (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Perryman resident Leigh Maddox explains objections to the proposed warehouses while standing along Canning House Road in Perryman where the warehouses are proposed to be built, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) Longtime Perryman residents Norrrie Dudderar, left, and her husband, Glenn, talk about their concerns and objections to the proposed warehouses along Canning House Road in Perryman, Maryland as they stand outside the Perryman grocery store Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media) MUSCATINE On Thursday the Muscatine City Council reached a consensus to allow Kent Corporation to move ahead with its plans to renovate the former McKee Button Factory during the regular council meeting. During the regular meeting, the council discussed allowing Kent to move ahead with plans to reuse the building for office space. The plans are to initially transfer 53 employees to the building and also to create an additional 60 positions in the building for future growth. The building is expected to house about 115 office spaces. We are growing at Kent, Kent Corporation Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Enterprise Risk Rich Dwyer. We employ top talent and always want to enhance the quality of life through community engagement not just for our employees but for everyone in Muscatine. We have the good fortune of needing more space for our business. He commented that he had visited the council in 2019 to ask for city support of a new building next to the Kent Headquarters. The plans were put aside when the COVID-19 health crisis hit, while Kent was determining the impact the pandemic would have. Dwyer also said the building is one of 12 national historic sites in the state and Kent wants to preserve its historical significance. He said the company is working with the Iowa Historic Preservation Office on the renovation. The renovation is expected to cost about $20 million, with projected completion in Spring 2024. He also said Kent would continue working with local contractors and local suppliers when it could. He asked the council for an acre of city-owned land to be used for parking. Kent has agreed to abate the asbestos in the buildings on the land as part of the acquisition and to demolish the buildings as a swap for the land. The council later declared the land surplus so it could be deeded to Kent. Dwyer asked the city about tax increment financing (TIF) over 10 years, with the amount to be determined by the incremental assessed valuation that will be calculated by the county assessor. He said Kent hopes for a rebate of 50 to 75% of the project cost. TIF is a financial development program that returns tax money received due to increases in the assessed value of properties in an area to the city to be used for economic development. Kent plans to recognize the area of the building as the McKee Plaza in honor of the McKee family. City planner Andrew Fangman also discussed using TIF funding and sewer extension reserve funds to construct a lift station at Grandview and Highway 61 that is tied in very deeply with a new truck stop being built along Highway 61. The station will serve the south end of the Grandview corridor, including Loves Travel Stop. Fangman said the lift station would also allow for more growth at the southern end of Muscatine. Loves Travel Stops and Country Stores has a contract to purchase a portion of the land to construct a Loves Travel Stop at Highway 61 and Grandview on the northeastern corner. The business will include a country store, underground fuel tanks, fueling canopies for both passenger vehicles and semitrailers, and separate parking areas. The business would employ about 40 full-time positions. The business has asked for no financial assistance from the city at this point. Any infrastructure work needed on the site would be paid for by the company. Improvements to Mittman Road and the bypass are expected to support the volume and type of traffic the truck stop would generate. There would still be room for 50 semis and it would be operated 24/7. Fangman said a sanitary sewer is required in the area to be built. Loves plans to construct the lift station and dedicate it back to the city, with the city reimbursing Loves. The project will use about $500,000 from the sewer extension fund and the remaining amount would be paid with TIF. The remainder is between $800,000 and $1 million. To pay that, Loves would be rebated about 50% of its property tax payment over 20 years or until the agreed amount is reached. The council reached a consensus to move ahead with the plan. The next step is to draft a development agreement and return it to council. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 COLUMBUS JUNCTION A Columbus Junction man on federal probation faces at least 17 years in prison after being accused of breaking into and beating a Washington County man inside his home last month. Kevin Lee Harrison, 59, of Columbus Junction was being held in the Washington County jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. He has petitioned the district court for a bond reduction. A no-contact order has been issued between Harrison and the alleged victim. According to a criminal complaint, the man was inside his residence in Ainsworth on Feb. 4 when he heard a loud banging at the front door. He opened the door to find Harrison there with an unnamed woman. Harrison allegeldy angrily confronted the man, claiming he had provided alcohol to Harrisons adult brother earlier in the day, according to the complaint and affidavit filed by Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Stewart. Harrison then forced his way into the residence and allegedly punched the victim in the face, causing him to go to the ground and hit his head on the tile floor, court documents state. The man told authorities Harrison punched him several more times and hit him with kitchen bar stools while he was on the ground. The unnamed woman who accompanied Harrison to the home put herself between the two men in an attempt to stop Harrison from assaulting the man, who was bleeding profusely on the floor, according to the sheriff's office report. Deputies arrived to find blood on the walls and floor as well as a hole in a kitchen wall consistent with a portion of a bar stool that would have struck the wall while Harrison was using it to hit the man, court documents state. Questioned by authorities the next day, Harrison admitted to going to the victims house and punching him, saying the man hit him first and that he never entered the home, despite evidence of a bloody fight inside the home. The woman who accompanied Harrison to the residence also told authorities Harrison assaulted the man inside the home and that her sweatshirt had blood on it from the incident. She said Harrison was upset the man gave his brother alcohol, according to the complaint. The report also states Harrison is on federal probation for the manufacture of a controlled substance. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 WATERLOO -- First responders were called to a large structural fire Thursday evening at the construction site of the new Lost Island Theme Park attraction on the south side of East Shaulis Road. Waterloo Fire Rescue was dispatched at 7:47 p.m. to 2600 East Shaulis Road, across from the Isle Casino Hotel, and in five to 10 minutes, arrived on the scene of a fully engulfed queue building, where visitors would stand in line waiting for a ride, according to Battalion Chief Troy Luck. There wasnt a lot we could do to fight it, Luck said. It was fully involved. The blaze was easily seen from the street. Many cars pulled over and watched as it was still going strong at 8:20 p.m. Flames were still visible at 9:30 p.m. Most of it was put out by about 10 p.m., but smoldering continued into early Friday morning. "Nothing like a little theme park fire to bring traffic to a standstill," wrote Lost Island owner Eric Bertch in a Twitter post. No one was injured. The cause is under investigation, said Luck. Luck said the lost building, roughly 20 by 50 feet, was isolated in the northwest portion of the park; however, there was another distant structure, larger in size, that firefighters prioritized in their response but was not at major risk of catching fire. Luck said they found it difficult accessing the site, an ungraded construction zone without pavement, and creating a clear route. Fire hydrants were available though. And the theme park owner and his contractors were on scene to assist first responders. As of a few months ago, the attraction had been on track to open this summer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A startup spun off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is planning to dig the worlds deepest hole to show the potential of tapping into terawatts of renewable geothermal energy almost anywhere on Earth. Quaise Energy wants to drill down to depths of 20km, where the Earths crust has a temperature of around 500C. The company believes this heat could be accessed to create steam to turn turbines and generate electricity. We believe the solution to the planets energy problem has been beneath us all along, Quaise Energy states. Current geothermal plants are located in areas with pools of hot water reservoirs close to the surface, close to tectonic plate boundaries with volcanoes or areas which historically had volcanic activity. The worlds biggest generator of geothermal energy is the United States, but only 0.4% of its net energy production is from this source. But Quaise Energy claims at a depth of 20km, geothermal energy will be available anywhere on Earth, making it a solution any country could use. The company says the footprint of geothermal generation is a fraction that of other renewables, and it has the power density and scalability of fossil fuels. To go deeper than anyone before them, Quaise Energy had to develop a new approach. Currently, the deepest holes in the world are the Kola Well near Murmansk in Russia, and the Al Shaheen Oil Well in Qatar, both of which are over 12km deep. Quaise Energys ultra-deep drilling system is a gyrotron-powered drill using a combination of conventional drilling and millimetre-wave electromagnetic drilling. First, we use conventional rotary drilling to get to basement rock. Then, we switch to high-power millimetre waves to reach unprecedented depths, Quaise Energy said. The millimetre wave light beams are powered by electrons in a strong magnetic field. The company has so far secured $63 million in funding to pursue its venture. It aims to have its first full-scale hybrid drilling rig ready by 2024 and the first Super Hot Enhanced Geothermal System rated to 100MW of thermal energy from several wells completed two years later. By 2028, it envisions it will have its first fossil-fired power plant repowered with clean geothermal steam. Legal experts at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr have warned the South African Post Office (SAPO) that using employees pension or medical aid contributions to pay off other debts could have severe financial and criminal consequences for their boards directors. In December 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled that SAPO breached its obligation to pay a total of R800 million in retirement contributions to the Post Office Retirement Fund, going back to May 2020. The Fund had taken SAPO to court after it withheld retirement contributions to restructure its debt and prioritise other creditors. SAPO has struggled to pay its debt to an array of creditors since the Covid-19 pandemic started, including statutory creditors such as retirement fund, medical aid scheme, UIF and Sars. As of July 2020, only 55 of South Africas 1,416 post offices were operating profitably, with many closed due to unpaid rent or water and electricity bills. In that same month, SAPO incurred a net loss of R97 million, nearly triple the R34 million loss during the same period in 2019. For the year-to-date, its losses stood at R1.066 billion. Because it could not pay all of its creditors, SAPO resorted to intermittently withholding payments to the retirement fund and medical aid scheme to pay one or the other every month. The SCA found that SAPO was not entitled to use contributions to pay other creditors and said SAPOs financial woes pre-dated the Covid-19 pandemic, were foreseeable, avoidable, and caused by managerial failures. In their commentary on the ruling, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyrs Imraan Mohamed, Vivien Chaplin, and Tobie Jordaan highlighted that the company had effectively unlawfully appropriated its employees pensions for the payment of its operational expenses. SAPOs current position is yet another example of the endemic problem of poor governance of the countrys state-owned entities, whose directors often do not have a proper understanding of their fiduciary duties or proper financial management, the experts stated. The SAPO matter may be distinguishable from state-capture scenarios as highlighted in the Zondo Commission, as the employees funds were not siphoned by the board to line their own pockets. However, the consequences of the actions of the SAPO board are no less heinous than those involved in state capture, given SAPOs unlawful use of employees funds and the potential reckless trading by a custodian of taxpayers assets. No more bailouts Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyrs experts estimated that SAPOs debt was now well over R1 billion when including obligations to other creditors, which meant a further bailout would not make any commercial sense and should be scrutinised by the public if considered. SAPO has repeatedly told the government it would need further funding to complete its turnaround plan. According to the experts, directors duties at state-owned companies were entrenched in South African common law and codified and extended in the Companies Act, 71 of 2008. Directors are required to act in accordance with their fiduciary duties, with proper purpose and in the best interests of their companies, including a duty to exercise care, skill and diligence to promote company success through independent judgment, they explained. Failure to properly perform the duties of directors may render a director personally liable to pay monetary damages. Furthermore, directors can be declared delinquent or even face criminal sanction for reckless trading and contravention of the Companies Act. In addition, if the board determines that a company is in financial distress, the directors must either adopt a resolution to commence with business rescue or give written notice to each of the entitys creditors, employees, trade unions, and shareholders with the reasons for not entering voluntary business rescue. Failure to adhere to provisions as set out in the Companies Act could result in a director being held personally liable for all the debts of a company, the experts warned. If the directors are found to be reckless, they could also be held criminally liable. The experts also pointed out that the SCA had suggested the non-payment of the contributions constituted an unfair labour practice. If taken up successfully in litigation in line with the Labour Relations Act, it could worsen SAPOs existing financial woes. MyBroadband contacted the Post Office for feedback on Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyrs comments. The Post Office is studying the outcomes of the case and will issue a statement in due course, a spokesperson stated. Now read: South Africa could shelve plan for national cellular network Meta Platforms is temporarily allowing Facebook and Instagram posts calling for the deaths of Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as death to the Russian invaders. We still wont allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians, Meta said in a statement. Reuters reported that Meta is also temporarily allowing posts that call for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Citing internal emails to Facebook and Instagram content moderators, Reuters reported that calls for the leaders deaths would be allowed unless they contain other targets or have two indicators of credibility. Indicators of credibility include location and method. According to the report, violent speech targeting Russian prisoners of war is still not allowed. Reuters reported that Metas temporary policy changes on violent speech apply to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. In response to the article, Russias embassy in the United States demanded that the US government stop Metas extremist activities. Users of Facebook & Instagram did not give the owners of these platforms the right to determine the criteria of truth and pit nations against each other, it stated. Russia has blocked its citizens from accessing Facebook, saying that it discriminates against Russian media and information sources. However, Facebook said it refused to grant Russian state media an exemption from its policy to subject news content to fact-checking. Facebook later banned Russia state-backed media accounts from operating in the European Union. This was in anticipation of a ban by the European Union aiming to curtail propaganda during Russias invasion of Ukraine. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are restricting Russian state-owned media channels. Bloomberg reported that Twitter has started labelling content originating from Russian state media and will begin labelling state-backed media accounts from Belarus. Two American Canyon residents will go to state prison in connection with the sex trafficking of a teenage girl, according to the Napa County District Attorneys Office. Brandon Steffon Barrett, 27, and 26-year-old Tauzhanae Nasha Dowell were sentenced Tuesday in Napa County Superior Court after pleading no contest to several felonies, including pandering of a minor. Judge Elia Ortiz imposed a sentence of 16 years and four months on Barrett, and a term of seven years and four months on Dowell. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. In addition to pandering, Dowell was sentenced on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, firearm possession by a felon and resisting arrest. Dowell was sentenced for identity theft and criminal impersonation. Both defendants also will be required to register as sex offenders upon their release, according to Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero. District attorneys in San Francisco and Alameda, San Mateo and Sacramento counties deferred to Napa County, which led the probe into the sex work operation, he said in a news release Thursday afternoon. These criminals recruited a vulnerable child with false promises of affection and future wealth, he said in the statement. They asserted their dominance with the use of violence. The teen testified in court against Barrett and Dowell, and later said in court that she has returned to Georgia, reunited with her child and earned a community college degree, Gero added. The prison terms resulted from an investigation of human trafficking in Napa County that began in October 2018, Gero said in his statement. A detective with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau identified a female minor whom Dowell and Barrett had lured from Georgia to California as a sex worker, according to Gero. The defendants, working out of their American Canyon home, also recruited several adult women into sex work around Northern California, Gero said. Barrett was arrested on Jan. 17, 2019 after NSIB detectives investigating sex trafficking tracked him to an apartment in the 200 block of Reliant Way in American Canyon. Detectives tried to talk to him, but he instead fled back inside the apartment, where detectives learned three women were staying, the bureau reported at the time. Detectives and American Canyon police officers surrounded the area, and Barrett surrendered an hour later. A search of the apartment turned up ammunition, and Barrett was charged on counts of pimping and illegal ammunition possession. The women inside the apartment were offered protective orders against Barrett, NSIB said shortly after his arrest. Dowell was arrested on a Napa County warrant Jan. 21, 2020, according to Napa County jail booking records. As the first Black woman to be named head winemaker in Napa Valley, Victoria Coleman has been finetuning her style for over 15 years. Coleman wasnt born on a vineyard although she did recently help her aunt plant some vines in South Carolina and, frankly, she didnt even really grow up seeing wine on the kitchen table. I wasn't into wine at all, Coleman says of her introduction to the industry. I was actually dating someone that was working in wine I will have to come up with a better story than that one day, she jokes. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. In actuality, Colemans story is nothing to kid about. Seeking a change of pace following the death of her mother in 1998, Coleman left her home in Seattle and traded computers for grapes, and soon found herself enchanted by working in the vineyard. Soon thereafter, she decided she couldnt ever go back to a data-driven desk job. When the breakup occurred I did think, What do I do? Do I go back home? But I had been working here for a while, and I decided I was going to become a viticulturist and go to UC-Davis. And so she did. With some production assistant gigs and a vintage under her belt going into her first year with Daviss Department of Viticulture and Enology, Coleman felt like she had a leg up on some of her colleagues. This proved to be a blessing considering that she was simultaneously commuting from St. Helena and working at the winery, and she found herself diving deep into the viticulture bits of her studies. Despite her initial lacking interest, she has since worked under esteemed winemakers, including Michael Silacci and Mario Bazan, has interned at Chateau Mouton Rothschild in France, and has now even added a Chinese brand to her portfolio. In her current gig at Lobo Wines, she is the face of The Caves at Soda Canyon and has multiple vineyards she pulls fruit from. I was most comfortable in the vineyard, she said. I was at Stags Leap Cellars as a production assistant to Michael Silacci before he went to Opus One, and he is very viticulturally-oriented, so even though I was going through tastings and blending trials, and things like that, I was primarily in the vineyard. After school, Coleman began consulting, leaning on mentors like Silacci as she cranked out Cabs she could feel truly proud of. Her first vintage was in 2005 with Bazan, and since then, she has only fallen more and more in love with wine and the experimentation process. I made that 2005 vintage, it was a Cab from East Napa in the footsteps of Mt. George, and it was so good, she recalls. I was scared like, Can I do that again? because I didnt expect it to be so good. Since this 2005 vintage, Coleman has been able to build a sense of calm confidence, but she says this hasnt always been the case. Her first vintage with Lobo was in 2008 following her graduation from UC-Davis, and now, she makes the brands reds and rose. I think then, I didn't know what I was doing, she said. I have more control now. Her mentors tend to think otherwise, though. Victoria is the most understated and under-the-radar winemaker viticulturist I know, said Silacci. Her veil of calm belies an intense nurturing of the vineyard and of her wines [She] is thoughtful in her pursuit of perfection, and her quest to allow her wines tell the story of place. This poetic nature of Colemans work isnt lost on typical wine drinkers either, though, with those in and out of the industry expressing awe of her natural grasp over the cellar. What I think is kind of fascinating is that a lot of winemakers do pick at certain brix or with certain acids or whatever, and she has the bumpers of the numbers there, but it's all taste, said Chris Schreiner, sales manager for Lobo Wines. I think that resonates because a lot of the winemakers I've known before her are very about the Okay, these are the brix, these are the acids, we're picking in two days, where she's like, Well, let's see, and it's all about taste and how the skins feel And, it works. Unfortunately, being the first of anything comes with barriers, especially when you are a Black woman entering the winemaking world. While Coleman says she nowadays doesnt think about the fact that she was the first Black woman and frankly, person to pursue many of these opportunities in Napa, she recognizes that this has changed drastically since she landed in California over 20 years ago. There have been times where Ive been out, Ive walked into a room, and thought, Oh my God, what am I doing here? or its a sea of people that dont look like me, said Coleman. That has happened to me before and it hit me like a brick, but typically, because I have friends who are here now that are out in the tasting rooms, they have other experiences different than I because I have always been in the vineyard or the cellar. Similarly, she says that her current role has allowed her to get in front of more people to share her story rather than staying cooped up in the cellar although she wouldnt have any complaints and before the pandemic, was involved with events like the Oakland Wine Festival. Now, more so because I am here at the Caves, I am part of the face of the Caves to our clients here and whoever comes through, said Coleman. So now, I am more out there and visible, and I think with Lobo, I have become more visible because theyre very supportive of me trying to get the wine and get myself out in front of other people. Being in this position has allowed Coleman to reflect on her experience as a Black woman in wine, though, and she realizes now how the odds were stacked against her when she was pursuing her education. It was very cliquey at the time, and I was commuting because I was still here working, so I didn't move or have the study groups or those types of relationships, she said. I lived there for one quarter, and it was good That's when I could connect and study with people, but that was just one. So if I could have done that differently, I would have, but I couldn't because I had to pay for that So that was really hard. This isnt to deter others from pursuing a path in viticulture, though, as Coleman hopes to see more and more women and POC in positions throughout the industry. It would be nice to actually see someone in production, and actually take a path through UC Davis or even Washington State or any program like that, she said. There are people that are interested, and that's what I always wanted to do was get in front of my culture, because I know that there aren't many of us that were into wine, and I think it's more so apparent now. In the meantime, Coleman will keep up her impressive winemaking juggling act, and says she is looking forward to the potential of making a Chardonnay with the Lobo Wines brand. It's funny because I started out with Cab, and so I feel like when I am approached, it's only for Cab, but I've gotten a chance to work with Syrah here for Lobo and also Merlot, and now maybe Chardonnay, so they'll have at least people come look at me for other things other than Cab, she said. But I would like to go to Germany, that would be my first [choice] Riesling, for sure so that's what I would like to do to try to figure out how to do something like that. You can reach Sam Jones at 707-256-2221 and sjones@napanews.com. Pop the cork on Napa Valley wine! Discover the hidden stories of Napa Valley wine and the people behind it -- plus expert analysis from our columnists and more with our weekly email newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Pikeville, KY (41501) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 72F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Huawei to focus on modern storage solutions to spur financial institutions in Kenya Xinhua) 08:26, March 11, 2022 NAIROBI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecom firm, Huawei said Thursday it will focus on delivering modern storage solutions in order to boost financial institutions in Kenya. Andy Luo, solutions director of Eastern Africa Enterprise at Huawei told a technology forum in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the firm has launched its new proprietary Ocean Protect data storage system designed and fitted with algorithms and adaptable for variable data center sizes. "With financial services increasing rapidly, transaction volumes are soaring, requiring high data concurrency. The banking industry particularly has always needed high reliability infrastructure to prevent huge economic losses caused by data loss and service disruption," Luo said during the Huawei Africa Tour. The Chinese technology firm observed that its intelligent data infrastructure has been developed in anticipation of a future that will be characterized by more data, faster retrieval and sharing of information and a greater focus on data security. "Data is the new gold in the digital age, and now, primary storage is going to be done on flash-based technologies," Luo noted. He said that as the industry develops, it is important to consider how data can be safely stored on platforms, like the public or private cloud of an organization. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Maryland State Police have arrested a man accused of striking a state trooper with his vehicle Thursday morning in Harford County and then driving away. Advertisement The incident began around 9 a.m. when a Maryland state trooper who has served Maryland for 25 years assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection on the side of Mountain Road south of Interstate 95 in Joppa. The trooper was standing on the shoulder on the drivers side of the vehicle when she was hit by a black GMC Sierra pickup truck, according to news release from the police department. Advertisement A trooper helping with the inspection witnessed the incident and located the GMC Sierra pickup truck about a half mile away from the scene. The trooper conducted a traffic stop and arrested the driver, Lawrence Barnes, 68, of Joppa, for fleeing the scene of a crash that led to injury. Barnes is charged with failure to remain at the scene of an injury crash and was taken to the Bel Air Barrack for processing. He is facing felony charges, and points will be added to his license. The trooper who was struck has not been publicly named by police. She was transported by medevac helicopter to Shock Trauma in Baltimore and later released, according to the Maryland State Police. This case is still under investigation. American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington Gold is getting cheaper U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement International premiere of animated film about Armenian Genocide survivor Aurora to be held during famous festival Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation Pregnant Rihannas statue appears at Metropolitan Museum of Art (PHOTOS) Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone Champions League: Liverpool reach final Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing Villarreal win Liverpool 2-0 (first half) EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march Ararat-Armenia defeat Noravank Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO What habits contribute to gaining excess weight? 50 Cent announces concert in Yerevan Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan Sergio Busquets receives offers from MLS clubs Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance Scientists create most accurate 3D model of female anatomy in history Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions Popular TV series screenwriter lies for years about her terminal illness Alashkert and Urartu play draw Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia Antibiotics and childhood vaccinations: what you need to know? Thomas Muller extends his contract with Bayern Eurovision producer says Russians will not be able to vote Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS) Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality Garnik Cholakyan becomes gold medalist of World Youth Championship Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process COVID-19 situation in Armenia stabilizing: from now on, health ministry will publish data once a week Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities Bill Gates wants to marry his ex-wife Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume Pashinyan to Morawiecki: This year we mark 30th anniversary of Armenia-Poland diplomatic relations No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Ronaldo leads Premier League for home goals Met Gala 2022: Best carpet looks you shouldn't miss (PHOTOS) Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25% Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia Bloomberg: EU new gas partners Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television Artur Azaryan appointed as UEFA delegate for Real Madrid vs Man City match South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9 Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried Borrell speaks on possible disconnection from SWIFT of new Russian banks Scientists develop silicon nanochips to fight cancer cells Cyprus becomes first EU country with full 5G coverage Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations Kim Kardashian wears Marilyn Monroes historic dress to Met Gala Scotland champion to play in group stage instead of Zenit Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning Betis lose points Manchester United defeat Brentford (video) Atalanta escape defeat in final minutes (video) Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April Apple faces big fine Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has made its first attempt to launch a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine on ensuring safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has said, TASS reported. Earlier, the nuclear official met with the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia, Dmytro Kuleba and Sergey Lavrov in Turkey to discuss the issue. Grossi described his negotiations in Turkey as constructive. "My first goal was to establish direct dialogue at the very high level. () And this was achieved. We had the meetings, good meetings," Grossi said. "Both sides agree that this idea of ours is worth pursuing, that something needs to be done. They are both ready to work and to engage with the IAEA to materialize this into some agreed format," the nuclear official said, when asked whether any agreement on nuclear safety in Ukraine was reached. "This is my first achievement for now," he continued, adding that the work will continue in coming days. During the special military operation in Ukraine, Russias armed forces took control of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plants. The IAEA had said on its Twitter feed that it did not observe any critical breaches in the Chernobyl plant's safety system. In this regard, Grossi urged to ensure safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and prevent radioactive pollution. President Joe Biden has expressed his determination to continue US support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, and stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will never ever have superiority in that country, VOA reported. Putin will never ever have a victory in Ukraine, the US President said ahead of talks with Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez at the White House. Biden said he believes that the United States and the peoples of the world will continue to support the Ukrainian people, who are defending their country. He reminded that at present the US has already allocated a billion dollars to provide security assistance to Ukraine. And new defense supplies are being sent there right now, the US President said. He added that the sanctions imposed by the United States disrupt Russia's economy, and the Russian ruble has already lost half its value. The G7 countries are preparing to introduce a new package of sanctions against Russia in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was announced by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, The Times Hub reported. We are already working with the G7 on a new package of sanctions, the minister said, speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington. She, however, did not specify what measures they might be talking about. The head of the UK Foreign Office noted that these sanctions on Moscow are aimed at weakening the Russian economy. Truss added that, by their actions, the Western countries intend to deprive the Russian leadership of the opportunity to finance their war machine. The head of the UK Foreign Office expressed the opinion that the Russian economy has already seriously suffered as a result of G7 sanctions pressure. She called on other countries to join the measures being taken against Russia. President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has headed for Moscow on a working visit, and he is scheduled to hold talks there with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Sputnik Belarus news agency reported. As previously reported by the press service of the President of Belarus, the leaders of the two countries will discuss urgent matters of bilateral relations, the development of the union corporation, and economic cooperation under the pressure of sanctions. The situation in the region and in Ukraine is also on the agenda. At around 10:20am Friday, the Azerbaijani sideaccording to preliminary datafired two 120mm shellsfrom a grenade launcherat the school area of the village of Khnapat in the Askeran region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned about this from the Artsakh Police. The respective statement added that no one was injured. Separately, threats are being made to leave the village of Taghavard in the Martuni region. These calls are being made through loudspeakers and from the Azerbaijani military positions near the aforesaid village. The regional police departments are preparing materials on these incidents. American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington Gold is getting cheaper U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS) Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume Pashinyan to Morawiecki: This year we mark 30th anniversary of Armenia-Poland diplomatic relations No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25% Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia Bloomberg: EU new gas partners Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9 Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried Borrell speaks on possible disconnection from SWIFT of new Russian banks Cyprus becomes first EU country with full 5G coverage Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April Apple faces big fine Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square Poland wants the EU to set a clear date for stopping Russian oil imports Armenia FM meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Armenia FM meets with Director of USAID Samantha Power Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership Police beat reporters, obstruct their work in Yerevan European Commission may relieve Hungary, Slovakia of embargo on Russian oil purchase Resistance Movement to continue large-scale civil disobedience actions on 3 May in Yerevan and regions EU countries to continue to pay in euros or dollars for Russian gas Resistance Movement participants return to France Square Russian and Turkish defense ministers discuss current situation in Ukraine Ukrainian intelligence accuses Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan of helping Russia evade Western sanctions NEWS.am digest: Turkey says they have agreements with Armenia on border clarification Toivo Klaar informs about meeting of Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev in Brussels PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan Diplomat kidnapped in Haiti Hungarian president asks Orban to form new government Georgia PM hands over first part of questionnaire answers for accession to EU Resistance Movement participants march in central Yerevan Half of Japanese oppose change of peaceful constitution Resistance movement rally on France Square in Yerevan Blinken and Armenia FM sign memorandum on strategic cooperation in nuclear energy Another earthquake registered on Armenian-Georgian border FLYONE ARMENIA launches regular direct flights between Yerevan and Tbilisi Georgia abolishes requirement to wear masks in closed spaces One dollar drops below AMD 450, euro also falls in Armenia Georgia PM receives Justice Minister of Armenia The objective of the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities is the de-Armenianization of Artsakh. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan stated about this. According to him, this was also the case in the Soviet years when the authorities pursued a policy to worsen the lives of Armenians in Artsakh as much as possible, to expel them from Artsakh, and to populate Artsakh with Azerbaijanis. "After the first [Karabakh] war and the signing of the ceasefire [in 1994], we ensured our safety. But in parallel to that, the policy of Armenophobia intensified in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan occupied all spheres, penetrated schools. This policy has both ethnic and religious components. We witnessed it during the 2020 war when the Azerbaijanis killed and tortured the captured Armenians and destroyed the Christian heritage. After the war, Azerbaijan continued this policy. However, realizing that the international organizations see their policy, they made statements at the presidential level that the [aforesaid] incidents are not systematic. Thus, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to manipulate international organizations. "Our task is to show with facts that everything is systematic and is implemented from one center, headed by the president of Azerbaijan," Stepanyan added. YEREVAN. At 10:40am on Friday, the Armenia Police hotline received a call informing that a man was chasing his ex-wife. According to some other reports on the same incident, the aforesaid woman was seen near the school of Zovuni village in Kotayk Province, where an explosion was heard, the police informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The police officers who were dispatched to the scene found the dead bodies of Nelli N. (born in 1976) and Artak D. (born in 1976) near the abovementioned school. According to preliminary data, their death was the result of a hand grenade explosion. The circumstances behind this incident are being ascertained. The repair work of the natural gas pipeline that was damaged in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on Tuesday night has not started yet. Lusine Avanesyan, spokeswoman for the Artsakh President, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the Russian peacekeepers continue the respective negotiations with the Azerbaijani side. The Artsakhgaz company had informed Tuesday that the natural gas supply in Artsakh had been disrupted. It was noted that at around 1am an accident had occurred in the area of the Shushi and Zariflu settlements, as a result of which the aforesaid natural gas pipeline was damaged. It turned out that this natural gas pipeline was damaged in the area that is currently under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces. And the Azerbaijani army units are obstructing access to the accident site of this natural gas pipeline and the carrying out of repair work there. Last year, the Capital published an editorial entitled The Capital helped racism flourish in Annapolis. We can do better. This year the Baltimore Sun published an editorial that said, We are sorry. The newspapers published introspective reviews of their illicit coverage of the African-American community. The Baltimore Sun wrote, For decades, the Sun promoted policies that oppressed Black Marylanders. We are working to make amends. These gestures have not gone unnoticed. Advertisement On the last day of Black History Month and on the eve of Womens History Month, the Annapolis City Council unanimously passed a resolution, R-12-22 introduced by Alderwoman Sheila M. Finlayson. In part, here is what that resolution pledged: For the purpose of joining the Caucus of African American Leaders in condemning all acts of racism and the many forms of discrimination and intolerance that have deprived people of their human rights. Advertisement Many of you are reading about this resolution for the first time. Why? How could such a consequential resolution pass the City Council and the public not be made aware of it? Newspapers every day must make judgments on what will appear in print. What is the news of the day? Implicit bias can be as dangerous as explicit racism. Think about this in a historic context. The City of Annapolis has never before gone on record condemning racism. As readers know, I served three terms on the City Council and was the first civil rights director in the Office of the Maryland Attorney General. If this isnt a story worth reporting, I dont know what is. The Capital has undergone many changes. One of them is that it had an editorial board made up of members of the community. I remember when the Rev. Stephen A. Tillett and Jo Ann Scipio served on the editorial board. This editorial board and its community members were a great asset, I hope that the Capital will reinstate it. Now, as I end this commentary, I want to show you why it is important to remember that when people of color are marginalized all readers are less informed. If you ask people, who is the only president in the history of the United States to be condemned by the House of Representatives for making racist comments, they dont know. I am convinced that many didnt even know that it had occurred. Imagine, this historic event taking place and the vast majority of readers not knowing that? By the way, it was former President Donald Trump who was condemned on a bipartisan vote for making racist and disparaging comments about women of color. I wanted to make sure via this op-ed that the citizens of Annapolis Latinos, Asians, African Americans, Jews, Muslims, Christians, women, and whites know that, on Feb. 28, Mayor Gavin Buckley, alderwomen Elly Tierney, Karma ONeill, Rhonda Pindell Charles, and aldermen Dajuan Gay, Brooks Schandimier, Robert Savidge and Ross Arnett joined with alderwoman Finlayson in passing this resolution. We intend to ask the Anne Arundel County Council to do the same. Advertisement I thank the Baltimore Sun and Capital for their apologies, but, as the editorial writer said last year, we can do better and we are certainly going to hold you to that commitment. Carl Snowden is a longtime civil rights activist from Annapolis. Contact him at carl_snowden@hotmail.com. Artsakh should not be viewed as a territorial dispute. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said this in an interview. "We must be guided by the priority of the rights of the people of Artsakh, and take into account that the human rights agenda in the world presupposes the universality of human rights. The status of a territory cannot hinder the exercising of the universal rights of the inhabitants of that territory," the Artsakh ombudsman added. "We are trying to convey that to international organizations. We have invited [international organizations] to visit Artsakh during and after the war [in the fall of 2020]. Sadly, during and after the war, no organization took a clear position, did not show courage to visit Artsakh," the ombudsman said. He added that human rights organizations simply had to send fact-finding missionsat least to check the ombudsman's reports. "Sadly, that did not happen. Such indifference causes distrust and disappointment in the Artsakh society. But the work must continue, as Azerbaijan will try to fill the gapif it arises," Stepanyan said. A meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place in Ankara Thursday, and it lasted for more than four hours, Vestnik Kavkaza reports. The parties noted that with the signing of the "Shushi Declaration" and its ratification by the parliaments of the two countries, the Azerbaijan-Turkey fraternal and friendly relations have further developed. The parties exchanged views on the prospects of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in the post-conflict period, and noted the importance of the Zangezur corridor as well as of the opening of the Kars-Nakhchivan railway. During the meeting, the importance of Armenia's implementation of all the provisions enshrined in the trilateral statement was stressed, too. The parties touched also upon the Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation in the energy sphere. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia received a delegation led by Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Prime Minister's Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The Prime Minister highlighted the cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the OSCE for effectively promoting democratic reforms in our country. Nikol Pashinyan noted that many reforms have been carried out in the recent years to develop and strengthen democracy in Armenia, including in close cooperation with European partners, and that agenda remains one of the Government's priorities. The Prime Minister underlined the consistent steps taken in the fight against corruption, noting that our country has made significant progress in the reviews of reputable international organizations. The Prime Minister also highlighted the positive changes in the field of press freedom since 2018, noting that in recent years most of the media in Armenia, including television, are opposition-oriented. The Prime Minister added that the reforms in the field of press freedom are carried out taking into account the international practice, experience and standards. OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro noted that the steps taken by the Armenian government to strengthen democracy are encouraging and inspiring. Teresa Ribeiro stressed the importance of effective cooperation between the OSCE and the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the field of freedom of speech, including the introduction of new tools in the fight against misinformation. Ms. Ribeiro also noted that the OSCE is ready to facilitate the exchange of experience of journalists and the development of professional skills. The importance of close cooperation between the government and the civil society was also underlined. Former President of Moldova Igor Dodon in his Telegram channel called on the authorities of the republic to learn a lesson from the events in Ukraine. Dodon called on the Moldovan authorities to find a formula for the territorial reintegration of the country through dialogue on the basis of neutrality and said that the situation in the region could create real prerequisites for reaching this compromise. He noted that the adoption by the Parliament of Moldova of a law on the permanent neutrality of the republic would be a good signal for everyone. The politician also criticized Chisinau's application for EU membership, which was previously filed by Moldovan President Maia Sandu. In his opinion, such an act is a PR move of the ruling party. Maia Sandu signed the application for Moldova's accession to the European Union on March 3. She later stated that the Moldovan authorities would consider withdrawing the country from the CIS when Chisinau made sufficient progress on its way to the EU. Dodon warned Moldova against withdrawing from the CIS and pointed out the consequences of such a decision for the economy and population of the republic. Among such costs, he named the exclusion of the country from the free trade zone with the Commonwealth countries and the abolition of the visa-free regime with Russia. Negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, which are taking place in Vienna, should be put on hold due to external factors, said Josep Borrell, head of EU diplomacy. He tweeted about it, noting that the final text of the agreement is already ready. He added that, as the coordinator of the negotiations, he will continue to maintain contact with the participants of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program and with the United States to overcome the current difficulties and conclude a deal. Iran and the six international mediators (five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) concluded a JCPOA on the Iranian nuclear program in 2015. It provided for the restriction of Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international and unilateral anti-Iranian sanctions. With President Joe Biden, the United States expressed its willingness to reinstate the JCPOA. In 2021, seven rounds of negotiations with Iran on the restoration of the JCPOA were held in Vienna, the United States did not directly participate in them. The eighth round of negotiations is now underway in Vienna. The people who have been displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and currently live in Armenia are holding their new protest at Republic Square in Yerevan Friday. They demand that the Armenian government respond to the Azerbaijani military aggression in, and defend the peaceful population of, Artsakh. And speaking about the recent natural gas pipeline accident in Artsakh, one of the demonstrators noted that this move is terrorism which should not go unanswered, and stressed that they have petitioned to the Artsakh government as well to arrest the terrorists. Separately, Levon Hayryan, the chairman of "For Hadrut" NGO, told reporters that the situation in Artsakh is getting worse, whereas the government is not taking any steps in that regard. "We have already done a lot of protest. On March 16, we will 'attack' the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again. We had written a letter also to that organization. They relied to us in writing that the Migration Service deals with those issues. And from there they say that the issue is not under their jurisdiction, but of the ministry of social security. We have applied to get refugee status," Hayryan added. Anne Arundel and Howard county executives said their constituents health and quality of life have been negatively affected by changes to flight paths at BWI Marshall Airport. At a hearing Wednesday, they advocated for a bill that would create a commission to study the impact the airport has on neighboring areas. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Clarence Lam, Sarah Elfreth, Guy Guzzone, Katie Fry Hester and Ed Reilly, would create a Maryland Aviation Infrastructure Impacts Commission to study the health and environmental impacts of the airport. The Senate Finance Committee met Wednesday to discuss the proposed commission, which would be composed of residents from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties. Advertisement A Southwest Airlines flight flies over a home on Jones Road in Severn and lands at BWI Marshall Airport. (Paul W. Gillespie/Capital Gazette) County executives Steuart Pittman, of Anne Arundel County, and Calvin Ball, of Howard, said they were strongly in favor of the commission because residents living near the airport have found airplane noise is louder and their health and quality of life have been more severely affected since the implementation of the Federal Aviation Administrations Next Generation Air Transportation System in 2015. The Next Generation system was established at airports across the country in an attempt to cut down on delays and carbon emissions, but has led to planes flying closer to the ground, disrupting nearby neighborhoods. Advertisement As things like new runways are discussed, as changes are made at the airport, expansions, to not have some sort of a voice for the residents and not have an assured way that the state is going to hear the concerns, not only of the residents, but then the academics and the health professionals as well as hearing from the stakeholders, the airlines and everybody thats a part of the whole economy around BWI airport we need to have that voice, said Pittman, a Democrat. Pittman stressed that he and the residents of Anne Arundel County understand how beneficial the airport is to the countys economy and said he simply wanted his residents more involved in decision-making. We love having BWI airport in our county. This is not an anti-airport effort. This is really a community engagement effort, Pittman said. Ball agreed that Howard County residents are feeling the noise and environmental impacts and need a seat at the table in these discussions. As county executive, it is my goal to ensure that all of our residents are thriving and healthy and we will continue to aggressively advocate for those experiencing the declining quality of life due to the changing aviation patterns. Both Senate Bill 658 and its House [companion bill] have broad support among our Howard County delegation members, said Ball, a Democrat. We feel strongly that the community should have a voice. Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., a Democrat, did not testify at the hearing, but the county sent a letter to the committee in support of the bill. A Southwest Airlines flight flies over a home on Jones Road in Severn and lands at BWI Marshall Airport. (Paul W. Gillespie/Capital Gazette) A hearing on the House version of the bill was scheduled for Thursday. Senators on the committee said they thought the commission was an important effort but some questioned its capacity to make any substantial changes. Advertisement All the decisions are with the FAA, so Im not sure what this commission can do to affect the FAAs decision, said Sen. Pam Beidle, a Democrat who represents a district that includes the airport. The commission can study and get results, but how are they going to effect any change with the FAA? Breaking News Alerts As it happens When big news breaks in our area, be the first to know. > Annapolis resident Mary Reese from the DC Metroplex BWI Community Roundtable said that, while the FAA is the only party that can change flight patterns, there are smaller, but important steps the proposed commission could take to ease the noise pollution such as advocating for establishing nighttime quiet hours, caps on maximum noise levels and the number of operations, and noise-based landing fees. Reese lives 20 miles from the airport and says she hears noises from it almost constantly. Another Annapolis resident, Geoff Stagg, testified that the noise is simply unbearable. The airport noise has really come to affect the quality of my life, Stagg said. I cant tell you how bad it has become. I swear that at times theyre trying to land on my roof at 6 oclock in the morning, at 10 oclock at night. The Maryland Department of Transportation and Southwest Airlines both submitted letters opposing the bill, arguing in part that the BWI Roundtable already helps bring community concerns to the airport, rendering the commission redundant. I do want to make clear that the commission serves a different purpose than the roundtable, said Lam, a Democrat who represents District 12, which includes parts of Howard and Baltimore counties. The roundtable was created by the FAA, which, similar to the [Maryland Aviation Administration], has a dual hat in this role. The MAA and the FAA serve as both the regulator and the advocate for the industry and so it is challenging to be able to work through some of these more complex matters. Advertisement Lam added that the commission would not just look at flight noise but all sorts of health and environmental issues related to the airport that the state may not be aware of. Neither bill has been voted on yet, and its unclear whether either one will get a vote. This is not the first effort to study the airports impact since the Next Generation standards took effect. Two years ago, Sens. Lam, Beidle, Elfreth, Guzzone, Hester, Reilly and Charles Sydnor sponsored a bill to study the effects planes have on the human nervous system, hearing, breathing, animals that live near the landing zone, the Severn River and more. It also had a house companion bill. After they were passed by the General Assembly, Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, vetoed it. Russian and Belarusian presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko began talks in Moscow on Friday, BelTA news agency reported. The leaders plan to discuss topical issues of bilateral relations, the development of allied cooperation, and economic cooperation under sanctions pressure. The agenda also includes the situation in the region and in Ukraine. This is the second face-to-face meeting between the presidents of Russia and Belarus this year; the last time they met in Moscow in mid-February, they also had a number of phone conversations. Special attention was paid to the topic of Ukraine. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that all Western sanctions against Minsk and Moscow are illegitimate, and called it "disgusting," TASS reported. "We've always been under sanctions, but today they are more extensive, but we are used to the disgusting attitude of the West. Why disgusting, because it's all illegitimate, it's all illegal in violation of all international agreements," Lukashenko said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. He added that Western sanctions were a "time of opportunity" for Russia and Belarus. "Today it is not a question of whether we will survive the sanctions or not. Today, sanctions are a time of opportunity for us," he said. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that the CSTO and the EAEU countries should discuss the conditions of mutual trade to jointly resist the Western sanctions, RIA Novosti reported. "We should get together in the CSTO and EEU, ... Believe me, by adding these markets (to the common market of Belarus and Russia), in a month we will forget that we have these (Western,- ed.) sanctions," Lukashenko said Friday in Moscow during talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The Belarusian president suggested that Putin support his proposal that the leaders of the CSTO and the EEU meet at the negotiating table in Moscow to discuss mutual trade and joint economic policy in the face of sanctions. The United States mourns the death of the Armenian servicemember Hrach Manasaryan on March 7, the statement issued by the US Mission to the OSCE reads. The statement said that tragic and avoidable death underscored the need for greater restraint, for forces to distance themselves from each other in the contested border areas, and for intensified diplomatic engagement to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues. "We urge the parties to make progress on humanitarian issues such as the full release of all remaining detainees, sharing information to identify the fate of missing persons, humanitarian demining, and moving forward on investigations of alleged human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. The United States has contributed $5 million in humanitarian assistance this year to support conflict-affected populations in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The United States further remains committed to promoting a secure, stable, democratic, prosperous, and peaceful future for the South Caucasus." the statement reads. At around 12:40 pm on 7 March, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened targeted fire at Armenian combat positions on the western section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. As a result of the shelling two Armenian servicemen were wounded. Contract sergeant Hrach Manasaryan died on the way to hospital. Iran and Azerbaijan are ready to expand cooperation in the area of transit, Mehr reported. During his visit to Baku, Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Rostam Ghasemi said the main purpose of his visit was to discuss Azerbaijan's transit through Iran to Nakhijevan. He said it is hoped that the two countries will sign agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) at the 15th meeting of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission. "It is planned that Azerbaijani trucks will cross Iranian territory for transit towards Nakhijevan," he said. The roads and urban development minister also plans to hold talks with the Azerbaijani side to re-launch the Nakhijevan-Mashhad train. Improvement of cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan in road transportation and re-launch of Nakhijevan-Mashhad-Nakhijevan passenger trains will also be the main topic of discussion between the officials of the two countries. The implementation of several projects like Rasht-Astara railway will also be topics of discussion between the Iranian Minister of Roads and Azerbaijani officials. In addition, the officials of the two countries will also discuss the development of mutual cooperation in the field of shipbuilding, launching joint container lines, etc. The UK has imposed sanctions on nearly 400 Russian MPs, PA reports. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said 386 members of the Russian State Duma were banned from entering the UK and all their assets in the country would be frozen. "Were targeting those complicit in Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions," Truss said. Downing Street declined to say whether any of the politicians had any assets in the UK. TheCommittee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution calling for the immediate cancellation of the criminal record of a group of journalists, human rights activists and activists from Azerbaijan, said the head of the Monitoring Group of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, lawyer Khaled Agaliyev, Turan reports. The document was adopted at a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe dedicated to monitoring the execution of ECtHR judgments. The judgments of the ECtHR indicate that these applicants were persecuted for criticizing the authorities and that Article 18 of the European Convention was violated against them. This means that their persecution was politically motivated. The applicants were released early from prison, but did not receive rehabilitation, so having a criminal record restricts their rights. Therefore, the Committee of Ministers called on the Azerbaijani authorities to fully comply with the decisions of the ECtHR regarding these persons. Japan will freeze the assets of three Belarusian banks from April 10, the Finance Ministry said. The ministry announced that payments and capital transactions with three Minsk-based banks - Belagroprombank, Dabrabyt Bank and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus - would require government approvals, Reuters reported. To tighten sanctions, Tokyo intends to ban the export of 57 more items to Russia, to be expanded from the current list of items that can be diverted for military use. The Japanese government added 31 items, including semiconductors, communications equipment, sensors, radar and encryption devices, to its latest list on Friday. The new export restrictions will come into effect next Friday. Primary elections are awkward enough for candidates who, more often than not, share mostly similar politics, a political party and a history of working together. But when youre running against the spouse of someone you shared a gubernatorial ticket with? Advertisement This one probably has to be the most awkward, and Ill leave it at that, U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown said in an interview with the Maryland State Bar Association when asked about his primary opponent. Brown is running for attorney general against Katie Curran OMalley, a retired Baltimore District Court judge and his former political running mates wife. As of now, they are the only two Democrats running for the office. The candidate filing deadline is March 22; Jim Shalleck and Michael Peroutka are running for the Republican nomination. Advertisement Brown was lieutenant governor for eight years while Martin OMalley held the governorship, and OMalley endorsed Brown to replace him in Annapolis in the 2014 election. Gov. Larry Hogan beat Brown in a campaign in which Brown outspent him 4-to-1, mainly because of Hogans strict focus on economic issues. Katie OMalley, who spent two decades as a district court judge, is running for the same office her father, J. Joseph Curran Jr., held for 20 years. With Democratic Attorney General Brian Frosh stepping down after eight years in office, OMalley and Brown are vying for the nomination while campaigning on nearly identical platforms. [ Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh announces that he wont seek reelection ] Both candidates, in their interviews with the state bar association, said that, if elected, they would focus on criminal justice reform and police accountability, defending Marylands environmental resources and generally working to protect all of the states residents from con artists and predatory business practices. Both of them support legalizing recreational cannabis and have pledged to find ways to reduce gun violence in the state. Both said they would support expanded legal protections for tenants facing evictions, including providing attorneys at eviction hearings for tenants who need them. Theyve even raised nearly the same amount of money Brown reported total receipts of $646,984.92 to OMalleys $630,217.22, according to their most recent filings. But there are some differences between them. Both candidates want to see the attorney generals office be given the power to prosecute police misconduct (The Maryland General Assembly in 2021 charged the AGs office with investigating all instances in which a police officer kills someone.), but Brown thinks states attorneys should have first right of refusal on whether to prosecute. OMalley thinks its important to have the attorney general prosecuting police misconduct alone or in concert with a states attorneys office for transparency purposes. Advertisement Just to make sure that the public knows that its an independent investigation and is prosecuted independently of the police, she said. Rather than imposing stricter sentences for low-level gun crimes, Brown is in favor of creating special gun courts to handle those charges in a faster manner, something he says will deter people from more serious crimes. More important than the severity of the crime is the swiftness or speed of justice, Brown said. OMalley said she would leverage preexisting partnerships with state and federal agencies to better coordinate prosecutions. The Republicans Breaking News Alerts As it happens When big news breaks in our area, be the first to know. > Private attorney and former federal prosecutor Jim Shalleck is running against Michael Peroutka, a retired Anne Arundel County councilman and attorney who used to promote the idea that southern states should secede again. [ Former Anne Arundel councilman with Southern secessionist past joins race for Maryland attorney general ] Shallecks platform is centered around crime; the Montgomery County resident said he would push the attorney generals office to have a heavier hand in prosecuting violent crimes, especially in Baltimore City. Advertisement No plea bargaining, no deals, Shalleck previously said to The Sun. The attorney general does not prosecute general crimes, but Shalleck said in an interview with the state bar association he would push the legislature to carve out an exception. Typically, the attorney general is charged with defending the interests of Maryland and its residents, but Peroutka, also in an interview with the bar association, said he would opt not to litigate certain cases, such as ones dealing with same-sex marriage or abortion, depending on how they conflicted with his Christian worldview. There are two standards to determine if something is lawful, he said, not what a court says but whether it meets the constitutional limitations of government, and it has to be harmonious with Gods law. Maryland has not elected a Republican attorney general since 1952. The World Health Organization has strongly recommended that Ukraine's Ministry of Health safely destroy dangerous pathogens that could be housed in biolabs to prevent any potential leaks, according to CNN. WHO is also promoting biosecurity in laboratories, such as preventing the accidental or intentional release of pathogens. As part of this work, WHO has urged the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and other responsible authorities to destroy highly dangerous pathogens to prevent any potential leaks, the WHO said in a response to a CNN request. WHO regularly assists Member States in building their public health capacity, including by helping to improve the safety and security of laboratories that store samples of pathogens of public health concern, wrote WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic. Russian defense ministry presented a report on bilaboratories in Ukraine, which were funded by the United States. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the Russian Armed Forces had found evidence in documents from biolaboratories in Ukraine that the Pentagon funded research to create a covert spread mechanism for deadly pathogens. Canada imposed sanctions on five Russian citizens, including billionaire Roman Abramovich, and banned 32 Russian companies and state organizations from receiving defense equipment or supplies from Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Warsaw, Reuters reported. The move will not affect the operations of Russian steelmaker Evraz in Canada, of which Abramovich is the largest shareholder, Trudeau said at a news conference. "The sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchs like Abramovich are directed at them so that they cannot profit or benefit from economic activities in Canada or the hard work of Canadians working in companies that they have investments in," Trudeau said. On Monday, Canada imposed sanctions on 10 people close to the Russian leadership. European Union leaders have said they will continue to put pressure on Russia by drafting a new set of sanctions. Senior EU diplomat Josep Borrell said 27 officials attending the two-day summit near Paris would agree to provide an additional 500 million euros to Ukraine's military aid fund. Earlier, the EU agreed to spend 450 million euros on military supplies for Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the decision of EU leaders on the prospect of Ukraine's membership, UNIAN reported. "Yesterday a very important meeting of EU leaders took place, a long, substantive meeting. We know what all leaders said at this meeting, who spoke concretely, who supported us, who kept silent, and who tried to make the wording insufficient for Ukraine, for Europe and for our common freedom. How do we evaluate the decision taken? Very simply. It has to be tougher. This is not what we except," Zelenskyy said. He noted that the decision of yesterday's meeting of EU leaders now goes to the level of the European Commission. "For implementation, for specific procedures, the EU has to do more for us, for Ukraine and for itself. We expect it," he concluded. During the summit of EU leaders in Versailles, the participants did not agree on an accelerated procedure for accepting Ukraine. They agreed to support refugees from Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia and Belarus. EU states also pledged to support the reconstruction of a democratic Ukraine after the end of the war. The document noted that the European Commission should give an opinion on Ukraine's application for EU membership, and until then it plans to strengthen its partnership with Kiev. "Ukraine belongs to our European family," the statement said, DW reported. The European Commission's assessment could take a long time, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. Iran is ready to put the maximum amount of oil on the market, said Director General of the National Oil Company Mohsen Khodjastemehr, IRNA reports. European oil refiners are confident that Iran is a reliable energy supplier, and that is why the Europeans are trying to return to the Iranian oil market, he said. At the National Iranian Oil Company, we are ready for European companies, along with other companies, to meet their oil needs through Iran, he added. According to him, Iran is fully prepared to supply any oil the market wants. Russian and Turkish Defense Ministers Sergei Shoigu and Hulusi Akar discussed the situation in Ukraine. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, during the talks the current situation in Ukraine and the Middle East was discussed. The heads of defense departments paid special attention to issues related to the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors. He notes that the conversation took place at the initiative of the Turkish side. []:H(-3.7 20220311 18:25:55 : : :H(-3.7 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement. This announcement appears for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for securities of the Company. Lanzhou Zhuangyuan Pasture Co., Ltd.* (a joint stock limited liability company incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China) (Stock Code: 1533) MONTHLY UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 3.7 OF THE TAKEOVERS CODE This announcement is made by Lanzhou Zhuangyuan Pasture Co., Ltd.* ( ) (the Company) pursuant to Rule 3.7 of The Code on Takeovers and Mergers issued by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Reference is made to (i) the announcement of the Company dated 17 December 2021 (the Announcement) in relation to, among other things, the preliminary proposal of a possible repurchase of all the issued H shares in the share capital of the Company (the H Shares) by way of a voluntary cash offer (the Possible Share Buy-back) and if the Possible Share Buy-back becomes unconditional, the voluntary application for the withdrawal of listing of the H Shares from The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and (ii) the monthly update announcements of the Company dated 13 January 2022 and 11 February 2022. Unless otherwise specified herein, capitalised terms used herein shall have the same meaning as those used in the Announcement. PROGRESS OF THE POSSIBLE SHARE BUY-BACK As disclosed in the Announcement, in order for the Company to transfer its funds for, amongst others, financing the Possible Share Buy-back and the payment of professional fees and other expenses to its account(s) in Hong Kong, the Company will apply for the required registration with the relevant PRC regulatory authority and provide certain required information of the Possible Share Buy-back to such authority, and arrange for the transfer of funds. The Board wishes to update the Shareholders and potential investors that, as at the date of this announcement, the Company is in the process of preparing the matters related to the transfer of funds. MONTHLY UPDATES In compliance with Rule 3.7 of the Takeovers Code, monthly announcement(s) (including this announcement) setting out the progress of the Possible Share Buy-back will be made by the Company until an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 3.5 of the Takeovers Code, or of a decision not to proceed with an offer, is made. Further announcement(s) will be made by the Company as and when appropriate or required in accordance with the Listing Rules and/or the Takeovers Code (as the case may be). There is no assurance that the Possible Share Buy-back mentioned in this announcement will materialise or eventually be consummated and that the terms of the Possible Share Buy-back are subject to further consideration by the Company and discussion with its financial advisor. Shareholders and public investors are urged to exercise extreme caution when dealing in the securities of the Company. By order of the Board Lanzhou Zhuangyuan Pasture Co., Ltd. Yao Gexian Chairman of the Board Lanzhou, the PRC, 11 March 2022 As at the date of this announcement, the non-independent directors of the Company are Mr. Yao Gexian, Mr. Lian Enzhong, Mr. Zhang Yu, Mr. Yang Yi, Mr. Ma Hongfu and Ms. Zhang Qianyu; and the independent directors of the Company are Mr. Wang Haipeng, Mr. Zhang Yubao and Mr. Sun Jian. All the directors of the Company jointly and severally accept full responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in this announcement and confirm, having made all reasonable inquiries, that to the best of their knowledge, opinions expressed in this announcement have been arrived at after due and careful consideration and there are no other facts not contained in this announcement, the omission of which would make any statement in this announcement misleading. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited takeno responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy orcompleteness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising fromor in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.This announcement appears for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation oroffer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for securities of the Company.Lanzhou Zhuangyuan Pasture Co., Ltd.*(a joint stock limited liability company incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China)(Stock Code: 1533)MONTHLY UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TORULE 3.7 OF THE TAKEOVERS CODEThis announcement is made by Lanzhou Zhuangyuan Pasture Co., Ltd.* () (the Company) pursuant to Rule 3.7 of The Code on Takeovers and Mergers issued by theSecurities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.Reference is made to (i) the announcement of the Company dated 17 December 2021 (theAnnouncement) in relation to, among other things, the preliminary proposal of a possiblerepurchase of all the issued H shares in the share capital of the Company (the H Shares) by wayof a voluntary cash offer (the Possible Share Buy-back) and if the Possible Share Buy-backbecomes unconditional, the voluntary application for the withdrawal of listing of the H Sharesfrom The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and (ii) the monthly update announcements ofthe Company dated 13 January 2022 and 11 February 2022. Unless otherwise specified herein,capitalised terms used herein shall have the same meaning as those used in the Announcement.PROGRESS OF THE POSSIBLE SHARE BUY-BACKAs disclosed in the Announcement, in order for the Company to transfer its funds for, amongstothers, financing the Possible Share Buy-back and the payment of professional fees and otherexpenses to its account(s) in Hong Kong, the Company will apply for the required registration withthe relevant PRC regulatory authority and provide certain required information of the Possible ShareBuy-back to such authority, and arrange for the transfer of funds.The Board wishes to update the Shareholders and potential investors that, as at the date of thisannouncement, the Company is in the process of preparing the matters related to the transfer offunds.MONTHLY UPDATESIn compliance with Rule 3.7 of the Takeovers Code, monthly announcement(s) (including thisannouncement) setting out the progress of the Possible Share Buy-back will be made by theCompany until an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 3.5 of theTakeovers Code, or of a decision not to proceed with an offer, is made. Further announcement(s)will be made by the Company as and when appropriate or required in accordance with the ListingRules and/or the Takeovers Code (as the case may be).There is no assurance that the Possible Share Buy-back mentioned in this announcement willmaterialise or eventually be consummated and that the terms of the Possible Share Buy-backare subject to further consideration by the Company and discussion with its financial advisor.Shareholders and public investors are urged to exercise extreme caution when dealing in thesecurities of the Company.By order of the BoardLanzhou Zhuangyuan Pasture Co., Ltd.Yao GexianChairman of the BoardLanzhou, the PRC, 11 March 2022As at the date of this announcement, the non-independent directors of the Company are Mr. YaoGexian, Mr. Lian Enzhong, Mr. Zhang Yu, Mr. Yang Yi, Mr. Ma Hongfu and Ms. Zhang Qianyu;and the independent directors of the Company are Mr. Wang Haipeng, Mr. Zhang Yubao and Mr.Sun Jian.All the directors of the Company jointly and severally accept full responsibility for the accuracy ofinformation contained in this announcement and confirm, having made all reasonable inquiries, thatto the best of their knowledge, opinions expressed in this announcement have been arrived at afterdue and careful consideration and there are no other facts not contained in this announcement, theomission of which would make any statement in this announcement misleading. Did you know your ethnicity determines your overall sleep health? The team at the Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences (TSCS) Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is dedicated to raising awareness of sleep health and becoming a resource to stimulate, support, and evaluate high-priority research in circadian sciences with a particular focus on minority and low-income communities. March 1319 is recognized as Sleep Awareness Week by the National Sleep Foundation. During the week, the TSCS team will launch an annual campaign to spread knowledge of the impact of varying sleep disorders at a personal, societal, and public health level. Girardin Jean-Louis, professor of psychiatry and neurology and the director of the TSCS center, leads his staff in implementing stakeholder-engaged digital solutions to raise awareness of sleep health and to overcome barriers preventing residents in underserved communities from accessing available treatment for sleep disorders. On March 16, the team will host a virtual seminar to address sleep health equity. Unfortunately, communities where individuals are in most need of sleep health information are unaware of sleep problems and related deleterious outcomes on their overall health and quality of life, said Jean-Louis, who began examining sleep health in 2000. Today, he is a leading expert on sleep medicine and circadian sciences and is also focused on training the next generation of sleep and circadian sciences experts through sponsored training programs. The TSCS group hopes to advance the science as well as the practice of sleep through continual community-based research programs, such as a new research initiative launched in conjunction with the Universitys new Media and Innovation Laboratory led by associate professor Azizi Seixas, the associate director of the lab. This groundbreaking program utilizes patient worn and home-based sensors to study the link between poor sleep and serious health disorders, including heart disease and dementia. While many members of the community may be aware of some consequences of poor sleep, not seeking help for their condition can exacerbate serious health conditions. Though sleep clinicians and researchers have made great strides in understanding, treating, and managing sleep disorders, we have a long way to go, said Judite Blanc, TSCS research assistant professor. Register for the online event. Like corned beef, Guinness and Green River soda, Irish soda bread is one of those essential St. Patricks Day foods no celebrating Chicagoan can do without. And while it might seem like any old soda bread will do after tipping back a few green beers, turns out theres quite a variety available even when comparing grocery store options. We put five Irish soda breads to the taste test, including ready-made loaves from Jewel-Osco, Marianos and Costco. Curious as to whether the grocery store versions could stand up to some of the citys best bakeries, we also sampled soda bread from Wolfs Bakery, a South Side favorite since 1939, located in suburban Evergreen Park; and Roesers Bakery in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, a family-owned institution since 1911. [ Is this Chicagos best Irish soda bread? Century-old recipe beats out 100 competitors in Reillys Daughter contest ] Our taste testers came to the table with varying opinions on Irish soda bread. One bakes it frequently and likes to use lots of caraway seeds for a savory take; another cheerfully gobbles it up in March (and only in March) and prefers it sweet and coated with sugar; another said he didnt have much preference either way. Traditionally, Irish bakers will use buttermilk and baking soda, which react to produce gas that helps the dough rise quickly. Some incorporate cream of tartar, baking powder or other chemical raising agents. Many soak the raisins or currants in Irish or Scotch whisky. Its a quick bread of sorts, so theres no proofing involved, said John Roeser, fourth-generation owner of Roesers Bakery. Youre mixing the dough, making it into balls and putting it right in the oven. There are a multitude of bakeries in Chicagoland serving up fresh loaves of Irish soda bread for the next week or so Dinkels in the Lakeview neighborhood; the philanthropic Misericordia Heart of Mercy organizations Heart and Flour Bakery in West Rogers Park; and the Irish American Heritage Center in Irving Park are well known as first-rate producers of the St. Patricks Day bread of choice. But if youre in a rush and stopping by the grocery store on the way to a party or a family dinner, will a loaf of store-bought soda bread satisfy? Heres what our taste testers had to say about the five versions we tasted, from least favorite to our top pick. We tried each bread toasted and un-toasted, and had the option to spread some Kerrygold Irish butter on top. 5. Marianos Irish soda bread from Mariano's. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Offering sugar-crusted and plain options, Marianos had the sweetest bread of the bunch and the most photogenic. Even without the massive sugar crystals dotting the crust, this soda bread was almost as sweet as cake, one taster opined. Just needs frosting. The bread gave off an aroma with notes of vanilla, which furthered the cakelike vibes. We appreciated the small raisins, but the tight crumb made for a less pleasing texture than some other versions. The ingredients listed on the label of the one-pound loaf included soybean oil, baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate (for leavening), cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate (another leavening agent), sodium stearoyl lactylate (to increase volume and mixing ability of ingredients) and artificial flavor. $3.99 ($3.50 with a Marianos card). Locations vary, marianos.com Advertisement 4. Jewel-Osco Irish soda bread from Jewel-Osco. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Nothing in particular stood out when it came to the Irish soda bread from Jewel-Osco and not necessarily in a good way. Just kind of boring, said one taster. Another found the pre-sliced bread to be stodgy when un-toasted; still boring when toasted. The bread gave off a faintly sweet aroma to one taster, while another felt it evoked a flourlike scent. The raisins were more prominent than with the Marianos bread, but not overbearing. Weighing in at one ounce under a pound, this bread was made with a number of ingredients that required a Google search to identify, including leavening agents calcium sulfate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and monocalcium phosphate and palm wax. At least its not sweet, one concluded. $3.49 ($1.99 on sale). Locations vary, jewelosco.com Advertisement 3. Wolfs Bakery Irish soda bread from Wolf's Bakery. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Located near the Irish enclaves of Mount Greenwood, Beverly and the south suburbs, Wolfs Bakery packages its pre-sliced Irish soda bread in bags adorned with shamrocks. It was easily the flattest of the bunch which can be because it was left to rise naturally in the traditional method, instead of under a round tin or other container that would guide a loaf to loftier, rounder heights. For traditionalists, this is like grandmas soda bread, one taster said. She added that it smelled strongly of baking soda and had a dry texture. Another caught a buttery scent and lightly buttery flavor when tasting this bread, but disliked how the crumb disintegrated when eaten. All tasters preferred it toasted, with one suggesting it gave the bread more character. $5.25. 3241 W. 95th St. Evergreen Park; 708-422-7429; wolfsbakery.com Advertisement 2. Costco Irish soda bread from Costco. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) The heftiest of all the breads we tried, Costcos soda bread weighs in at 2 pounds. Branded as Nellie Duncan Irish Soda Bread, it appears to be made in New York, unlike the other local grocery store options. It also contained much simpler ingredients compared to its grocery counterparts: Nine ingredients include flour, water, sugar, soy oil, butter, milk, raisins, baking powder and salt. While tasters liked the rustic appearance of the bread, it seemed the least like the Irish soda bread we were accustomed to. This is more of a scone, said one taster, although she gave it points for having the right kind of Irish soda bread flavor. One taster abhorred this bread due to its big honking raisins, which she felt lent an unpleasantly chewy experience akin to too much fruit in her yogurt. Toasting lessened the offending texture, and butter went a long way to enhancing the flavor, another said. $5.99. Locations vary, costco.com Advertisement 1. Roesers Irish soda bread from Roeser's Bakery. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Ironically, the soda bread we were sweetest on wasnt sweet at all. Of the five versions we tried, Roesers was the only one with caraway, which was apparent as soon as we got a whiff. Its a totally different profile; by far the most complex, one taster said. Theres a slight sweetness, but not overbearing. Tastes fantastic toasted with butter. Like one of the Marianos options, Roesers also coats its bread in sugar, which made for a confusing flavor profile to one taster, who likened it to a mashup of soda and rye breads. She was unfamiliar with the caraway-infused take on Irish soda bread, but enjoyed it despite the conflicting flavors. Just like everything else, youre trying to find a good balance, Roeser said Thursday. I think its got the perfect amount of sweetness from the crystal sugar, but thats pretty much the only sweetness youre getting. And caraway is pretty synonymous with that region, so I feel as though you have to use the caraway. Roeser said the soda bread isnt the bakerys biggest seller in fact, theres been less demand for bread overall in recent years, he noted but they get a decent amount of sales around St. Patricks Day. The recipe dates back to at least when his father ran the bakery, but Roeser said its likely much older. Texturally pleasing and the most interesting of the bunch, Roesers was our clear winner but if you dont have time to make it to the bakery before St. Patricks Day, there are some apt substitutes at the ready at grocery stores nearby. $4. 3216 W. North Ave., 773-489-6900, roeserscakes.com Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Now is not the right time to lift flight ban: CE Now is not the right time to lift flight ban: CE New Delhi [India], March 10 (ANI/Target Media): Maneesh Media along with International University of Vedic Wellness unveiled a spectacular event to commemorate the International Women's Day celebration and the launch of Maneesh Media's new book, "India Calling 2022" on March 8th, 2022 at the Marriot in Hoffman Estates, IL. India Calling 2022 is a new book celebrating India's Prime Minister, Modiji's mother Heeraben Modi who is 102 years of age! This book also depicts the 113 magnificent foreign trips of the Indian Prime Minister Modiji and the outcome of those trips during his leadership The International Women's Day is celebrated across the world to honor the remarkable hard work and achievements of women in every field. This extraordinary event also acknowledged women's empowerment by honoring the significant efforts of women to make the world a better place to live in. A life of dignity is the birthright of every woman. Women's empowerment is key to advancing the development of every country. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and improved prospects for the next generation. Dr. Mrs. Santosh Kulshrestha Kumar - Founding Executive Director, of Metropolitan Asian Family Services, Universal Metro Asian Services, and International University of Vedic Wellness, along with Mr. Chandmal Kumawat - Chairman of Maneesh Media partnered and made possible this historic event. Dr. Mrs, Kumar was named as "Mother Theresa of Chicago" for her dedication to fulfilling the needs of the downtrodden and her selfless community service for more tha 40 years. Through her organizations, Dr. Mrs. Kumar has Established a proven successful multi, disciplinary pathway to the empowerment of Seniors Citizens over the past 30 years. Mrs. Kumar has provided a broad framework for collective action for senior citizens to nurture their innate talents, enrich their groundbreaking ideas and engage in innovative experiences which has become a global model. She has achieved this by providing critically needed services to multiethnic senior citizen population especially the Indian diaspora with employment opportunities, creating more than 5,000 jobs per year, homecare services to over 5,000 homebound seniors mostly Indian diaspora every year by integrating state of art technology with a human touch in this digital age. Her model of service is being replicated in several parts of the world including India. Mrs Santosh Kumar who established a global network and a functional platform, took painstaking efforts to propagate and promote Indias Prime Minister Modi New India in USA and India. Mrs Santosh Kumar motivated and sensitized the Indian Americans and the gatekeepers of minority communities in India to Prime Minister Modi's Vision for Development of all. Mrs Santosh Kumar is a beacon of hope and lighthouse of service and care to the vulnerable Indian American Senior Population during this COVID 19 Pandemic! Maneesh Media, whose slogan and punch line are 'Connecting Beyond Boundaries,' is located in Jaipur, Canada and the USA. The company was founded in 1999 in Jaipur, India, before it formed its base in New York, USA. Maneesh Media is a prestigious media company with a global presence, known for consistently releasing exclusive publications about successful Indians in India and abroad who have shown the courage to brave the stormy seas, venturing into the unknown in search of the calmer, more colorful, and soothing underwaters. Of the 46 coffee table books that Maneesh Media has presented to the world, two publications were released by Former US President Bill Clinton during his visit to India in the year 2000. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released two publications of Maneesh Media, one when he visited the US in 2014, and the other in 2016 when he visited Kenya. The event commenced with the lighting of the lamp by Dr. Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Mr. Neil Khot, Mr. Kishor Mehta, Acharya Rohit Joshi, Dr. Rakesh Asthana, Mr. Chandmal Kumawat and Ms. Marta Pereya. Roshita Pandey and Radhika Subramanian did a great job of compering. Dr. Mrs. Santosh Kumar began her welcoming speech by shedding light on the importance of women and encouraged every woman to stand for her rights. She soulfully thanked Mrs. Heeraben Modi for providing to the world such a treasure, Prime Minister Modiji! She greatly thanked Modiji for being an inspiration to all. She applauded Mrs. Kumawat for being the woman power behind her husband's success. Mr. Neil Khot, Mr. Kishor Mehta, Acharya Rohit Joshi, Dr. Rakesh Asthana, Mr. Chandmal Kumawat and Ms. Marta Pereya gave their speech as they applauded the woman around the world. Madhura Sane charmed the crowd with her mesmerizing patriotic dance performance. Her grace and dance techniques were a treat to watch. More than 50 women were recognized and honored as a mark of honor on Woman's Day for the outstanding work in their respective fields by presenting to them the book and Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav shawl. Following this lunch was served! This story is provided by Target Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Target Media) The United Arab Emirates had appeared to push the members of the Opec producer group to raise output, only for the UAE's energy minister to quash hopes. The oil price rose more than 5 pert cent, after a 17 per cent fall on Wednesday. "To suggest the oil market is confused would be an understatement," said analyst Stephen Innes. US President Joe Biden and other leaders have pledged to try to ease the price pressures for households. Officials from the US have been in talks with oil producers aimed at boosting supply. "We favour production increases and will be encouraging Opec to consider higher production levels," Ambassador Yousuf Al Otaiba said in a statement tweeted by the UAE Embassy in Washington, BBC reported. But Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said later that the Gulf state remained committed to the existing Opec monthly output agreement, which fixes how much crude is produced by member countries. Oil prices have jumped more than 30 per cent since February 24, when Russia launched military attack against Ukraine, touching $139 a barrel at one point this week. The oil price had fallen back to about $106 a barrel at one point on Wednesday, but by Thursday morning it was trading at around $116 per barrel. --IANS san/arm ( 251 Words) 2022-03-10-22:00:03 (IANS) New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI/India PR Distribution): Deep Nordic ApS, a Copenhagen, Denmark based technology company acquired a majority stake in AQFIT, an Indian tech startup based in Delhi. It is a fast-growing consumer brand in the smart wearable and audio industry. Deep Nordic ApS is developing advanced wearable technology products across the globe and in the Indian market; the bet has been placed on the outstanding AQFIT team. Deep Nordic ApS also plans to use India as a manufacturing base for local and international market products in the future. AQFiT fundamental values of "Originality, Quality, Experience, and Service" are reflected in each of its products. AQFiT is committed to developing gadgets that promote a healthy lifestyle and include unique designs to meet the needs of users all around the world. The company's research and development departments are cutting edge. This investment strengthens AQFiT's mission of contributing to a healthy future in which innovation and technology are in sync with human values. On commenting on this collaboration, Michael Bruun-Larsen Director, Deep Nordic Aps said "We are elated to share the great news with everyone, that we have partnered with AQFIT. Originating from Delhi, the AQFiT brand has proven itself viable and capable to grow fast in the wearable and audio segments in the Indian market, from talent alone. Over the next two years, Deep Nordic Aps acquired a majority stake in AQFiT, to support marketing, supply chain, and R&D in AQFIT, to become one of India's top three smart wearable companies. Deep Nordic ApS supports AQFiT's aim of assisting in the development of a healthy future in which innovation and technology are in harmony with human values. The strategic partnership will yield technology ahead of the market and state of art manufacturing infrastructure." Danish Ambassador to India, H.E. Freddy Svane "This investment is a prime example of strategic collaboration between Denmark technology expertise and Indian talent empowering health and smart living locally. There will be trade enhancement and efficient bilateral relations between the two countries. The strategic partnership will result in cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing facilities in India. India's start-up AQFIT will benefit immensely from technology advancement and foray into IoT and specialized wearable products." Manish Pengoriya - Co-Founder and Director said that "The strategic collaboration between the AQFIT & Deep Nordic will build a strong relationship between the two countries. The strategic partnership will also emphasize the made in India incentive announced by the Finance minister in the recent budget for smart wearable and audio products." Sanjeev Singh Co-founder and CEO of AQFIT said that "Our Customer First approach and Quality Offering was a key parameter for this investment and with this new collaboration we continue to build outstanding quality and technology-driven products to our customers across India and beyond. This collaboration further helps us to expand our distribution footprint across our channels, especially offline and Large Format Retail. Our team is quite excited about this collaboration. This story is provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/India PR Distribution) New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI/ Scroll Mantra): Vihaan Networks Ltd. (VNL), India's primary and only company to design and manufacture its own portfolio of end-to-end GSM, LTE & Broadband network solutions for commercial purposes, today announced the launch of their Border Intrusion Detection Sysytem for border protection globally. In addition, VNL also provides a wide range of solutions for tactical communications, wireless signal intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance solutions. VNL's intelligent solutions for border protection comprise a combination of multiple sensors that form an integrated, multi-layer security to deter, detect, delay and avert intrusions across the borders. Working closely with security agencies for several months, the company has ensured that their solutions are optimised for all kind of terrains and difficult weather conditions worldwide. Additionally, VNL's field-proven border intrusion detection solution also includes an integrated and omnipresent system, called Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS), a Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS), and a host of ISR solutions that enable authorities with real-time, remote monitoring and control over critical locations. This integrated real-time intrusion detection and surveillance solution aids forces in effectively monitoring a designated area without endangering human lives to provide all-weather surveillance. Speaking about the launch, Rajiv Mehrotra, Founder & Chairman, Shyam VNL said, "Critical assets like as borders, camps, and airbases are always at risk from approaching intruders, and there is no 'one-size-fits-all' border security system for the myriad complexities of climate, topography, and geographic location. The adverse weather and terrain always make observation, target recognition and round-the-clock monitoring more challenging. Hence, it is imperative for the armed forces and border security agencies to have access to tools that allow high-resolution, day-night surveillance in the toughest of conditions so that security breach is never a cause for alarm. VNL's Border Intrusion Detection System is a customisable integrated one-stop solution that functions as a force multiplier via secure and encrypted communications." VNL's border protection solutions are user-friendly and come with an intuitive display of sensors and alarms on digital/GIS maps, providing 'Slew to Cue' intrusion identification. Apart from these noteworthy features, the following advantages make VNL's solution more effective and adaptable: * Real-time, live monitoring and dissemination of intelligence with advanced Command and Control software * Intrusion localisation up to node level * Day-night operation; tamper alarm * Sensitivity adjustment; low false alarm rate * Secure, encrypted communication to share relevant data * Also runs on solar power for uninterrupted/continuous 24X7 power supply * Proprietary planning tool - RF and Sensor based Furthermore, all the data from VNL's multi-layer lock security system merges at an automated command and control centre, helping authorities monitor vulnerable perimeter choke points, track unwanted activity, and apprehend intruders. Command and control software integrates multiple sensor technologies on a single, centralized platform, accumulating complete piecemeal information and presenting relevant information on a standard display, thus delivering a common operating picture. VNL is the leading innovator in end-to-end design development and manufacturing of Mobile & Wireless Telecommunications Systems, Perimeter Intrusion Detection Solutions, Smart ISR, and Tactical Communications in India for mission-critical agencies and critical infrastructures. VNL is India's first and only company to design and manufacture its own portfolio of end-to-end GSM, LTE & Broadband network solutions for commercial purposes and a wide range of solutions for tactical communications, wireless signal intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance solutions. VNL's diverse communications portfolio of products includes rural networks, disaster management solutions, and tactical communication systems. Additionally, the company has also indigenously engineered, and designed answers for homeland security and enterprise connectivity needs across the world. Founded in 2004, VNL is part of Shyam, specialising in the design and manufacture of telecom equipment. Website: https://www.vnl.in/ This story is provided by Scroll Mantra. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ Scroll Mantra) New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and YES BANK Limited ("YES BANK"), on the completion of seventeen years of strategic bancassurance partnership, have reaffirmed a renewed commitment towards building next-generation customer experiences. Offering seamless integration of new-age technologies in the business ecosystem, the partners have realigned their focus on a robust digital-first delivery that aims to bring greater agility into the customers' financial protection journey. Key Business Statistics* Date of Partnership Commencement - 23rd February 2005 No. of Lives Protected - 3,42,358 New Business Premium (Till Date) - Rs. 3207 Crs. Claims Paid - Rs. 1,83 Crs. * (As on 31 Dec' 2021) In these seventeen years, the companies via a strong Pan-India presence across 1100 branches have sold approximately 4.2 lakh policies and offered a Sum Assured of Rs. 55,498 crore to policyholders and their families. The Max Life - YES BANK partnership offers new-age solutions like 'My Connect' and 'Video Marketing' for all life stages including, child, protection, retirement, and savings. Prashant Tripathy, MD and CEO, Max Life, said, "I would like to thank YES BANK for helping strengthen one of the industry's most successful relationships. Over the years, this enduring partnership has enabled us to protect the financial goals of more than three lakh customers and their families. We are confident that this association will provide an enhanced customer experience with best-in-class life insurance solutions. By leveraging technology, we will ensure seamless integration of digital across every customer touchpoint that will help accentuate business efficiencies." Rajan Pental, Global Head - Retail Banking, YES BANK, said, "Our long-standing partnership with Max Life Insurance has helped consistently deliver new and meaningful offerings that elevate the customer experience with streamlined processes, innovative enablers, and latest technology. Acknowledging this milestone in our journey, we will continue exploring opportunities towards creating holistic solutions that broaden the net of financial protection for our customers and in turn further strengthen our partnership in the years to come." Max Life Insurance Company Limited is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Services Limited and Axis Bank Limited. Max Financial Services Ltd. is a part of the Max Group, an Indian multi-business corporation. Max Life offers comprehensive protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions, through its multi-channel distribution including agency and third-party distribution partners. Max Life has built its operations over almost two decades through a need-based sales process, a customer-centric approach to engagement and service delivery and trained human capital. As per public disclosures and annual audited financials for FY20-21, Max Life has achieved a gross written premium of INR 19,018 crore. As of 31st March 2021, the Company had INR 90,407 crore of assets under management (AUM) and a Sum Assured in Force of INR 1,087,987 crore. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.maxlifeinsurance.com. YES BANK is a 'Full Service Commercial 'Bank' providing a complete range of products, services and technology driven digital offerings, catering to Retail, MSME as well as corporate clients. YES BANK operates its Investment banking, Merchant banking & Brokerage businesses through YES SECURITIES, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank. Headquartered in Mumbai, it has a Pan-India presence including an IBU at GIFT City, and a Representative Office in Abu Dhabi. For more information, please visit the Bank's website at www.yesbank.in. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): Today, the Catalyst Management Services - COVIDActionCollab (CAC), along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), celebrated the major milestone of reaching over 10 million people from vulnerable communities across 35 of India's states and union territories, with critical COVID-19 services since June 2020. At a virtual event, "Forward Together", organized to mark the achievement, Sangita Patel, Director - Health Office, USAID/India said, "The humanitarian crisis triggered by the pandemic has affected vulnerable and marginalized communities disproportionately. Support from the U.S. government and USAID has positively impacted the lives of millions of vulnerable people, strengthened systems of community networks to respond during health emergencies, supported local governments on their resilience preparedness efforts, and engaged the private sector for last mile delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. We are hopeful that these lessons and partnerships from COVID-19 programs will be leveraged to improve broader public health systems in India and other countries." CAC is addressing the impact of the pandemic and reaching vulnerable individuals by strengthening the capacity of local organizations, local governments, associations of healthcare providers, small retailers, and street vendors, and linking them with government and private sector resources. CAC also supports the VaxNow campaign, which is working to increase and ensure equity to COVID-19 vaccines for the most vulnerable and hard to reach populations. CAC has helped to generate awareness around vaccination, support the screening of non-communicable diseases, provide access to government-provided social protection schemes, and importantly, helped to strengthen COVID-19 supply chain management by sharing best practices and supporting the private sector to strengthen testing and vaccination within workplaces. With an India-wide network of over 350 organizations, CAC has benefitted 10 million beneficiaries, including sex workers, members of the transgender community, domestic workers, farmers, street vendors, and people with disabilities with access to vaccines, healthcare services, rations, and livelihood support during the COVID-19 pandemic. By engaging key private players like Big Basket, Vihara, Indian Society of Healthcare Professionals, Vaccine on Wheels, ACT Grants, Boston Consulting Group, CAC has been able to strengthen its network and magnify its efforts. "From the beginning of the pandemic, we, along with USAID and our 350 partners were able to meet some of the most pressing needs of vulnerable communities through our Comprehensive COVID-19 support package. We are extremely proud that our collective efforts could bring positive change to over 10 million lives. As India prepares itself for subsequent waves of COVID-19, the vulnerable groups will need continued and sustained support. By combining the grassroots knowledge of community-based organizations and the resources of private players, we look forward to reaching more communities through our programs. For the months ahead, our vision is to ensure that no one is left behind, expanding our initial purpose for COVID relief to encompass a range of other efforts targeted to help all vulnerable communities," said Shiv Kumar - Chief Integrator, COVIDActionCollab. The COVIDActionCollab (CAC) is an all-India collaborative, united to provide relief, recovery and build resilience among the most vulnerable communities. The collaborative consists of Organizations and Networks working together to support these communities during the period of crisis and enable them to secure their future. The collaborative is 350 partners strong collaborative and has over time been supported by 2000 volunteers. The Collaborative envisions a world where vulnerable communities are empowered to survive and thrive during a humanitarian crisis. CAC aims to achieve synergy among its partners at multiple levels in order to accelerate impact, in keeping with the needs of these communities. Catalyst Group, the incubator is facilitating the formation and operation of the collaborative driving its success along with eminent partners such as USAID and the Skoll Foundation. Website: covidactioncollab.org. USAID is the U.S. Government's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and helps countries progress along their development journey. In India, USAID is collaborating with the country's growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges. To learn more, please visit www.usaid.gov/india. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Maharashtra is set to become the first state in India to have a trillion-dollar economy, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, said while presenting the state's Budget for 2022-23. The state's revenue receipts for the financial year 2022-23 is pegged at Rs 4,03,427 crore, while revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 4,27,780 crore, resulting in a revenue deficit of Rs 24,353 crore. Presenting the budget in the state assembly, Pawar said Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to formulate an agricultural export policy. "Budget 2022-23 reflects Maharashtra's aspirations to achieve our goal of a one trillion dollar economy. With the practical implementation of 5 aspects, namely Agriculture, Health, Infrastructure, Transport and Industry, we will pave the way for a sustainable & prosperous Maharashtra," Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in a tweet. An outlay of Rs 115,215 crore is proposed for five focus areas - agriculture, health, infrastructure, transport and industry. Pawar said Rs 4 lakh crore will be provided for these sectors in the next three years. The government introduced an incentive grant of Rs 50,000 to 20 lakh farmers who repay their loans regularly. The estimated expenditure on this scheme is Rs 10,000 crore. Loan waiver of Land Development Bank Rs 964 crore for 34,788 farmers, Rs 275.40 crore dues of bank employees will be cleared, the minister said. He further announced that Rs 1000 crore will be provided in 3 years for a special action plan for soyabean and cotton crops. Moreover, the minister also announced hospitals for women in several districts and an allocation of Rs 100 crore for start-ups. The Finance Minister announced that Rs 100 crore will be allocated for Music University that will be established inside Kalina University in the name of late Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar. The budget has made provision for works of Shirdi, Ratnagiri, Amravati and Kolhapur Airport, and a new airport at Gadchiroli under consideration. There is also a provision of Rs 7500 crore for 10,000 km roads under Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase-II and 6550 km road improvement under Prime Minister's Village Road Scheme Phase-3. The government proposes to create nearly 1 lakh employment opportunities through 30,000 self-employment projects under Chief Minister Employment Generation Programme. (ANI) Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana on Thursday said the dream of fair and equitable society will come true when women, from all backgrounds, have a say and he strongly proposes reservation for girls in legal education. In his address on the occasion of 'International Day of Women Judges', he said there are numerous factors behind the under-representation of women in judiciary and the primary reason is deeply ingrained patriarchy in our society. "Now we are having 4 women judges in the Supreme Court which is the highest ever in its history. In near future, we shall be witnessing the first ever female Chief Justice of India. But, I think, we are still far away from ensuring at least 50 per cent representation of women in our judiciary," he said. "The recognition of 10th March as 'International Day of Women Judges' is an important step to create awareness and mobilise political will. I am a strong proponent of affirmative action. To enrich the pool of talent, I strongly propose reservation for girls in legal education. The data proves such a provision has yielded encouraging results in appointing women judicial officers at the district level." The Chief Justice emphasized that every woman's struggle and experience is unique to herself. "Growth in jurisprudence will occur only when our Bar and Benches have diverse voices. Diversity of experience brings in diversity in opinions," he added. He added that injustices faced by women are compounded by intersectional issues of socio-economic conditions. "Therefore, we need women from all classes and sections to find a place within the judicial system. The dream of fair and equitable society will come true when women, from all backgrounds have a say," he added. He emphasised that the legal profession still remains male dominated, with severe under-representation of women. "For the High Courts, we have recommended so far 192 candidates. Out of these, 37, that is 19 per cent were women. This is certainly an improvement over the percentage of incumbent women judges in High Courts which stands at 11.8 per cent," he said. He pointed out that the issues confronting women are no longer private affairs of women and one of the marks of a progressive nation is the condition of the female population. He added that the presence of women as judges and lawyers, will substantially improve the justice delivery system. "The presence of women on the Bench and in the Bar has more than a symbolic importance. They bring to the law a different perspective, one that is built upon their experience. They also have a more nuanced understanding of the differing impacts that certain laws may have on men and women," he said. The Chief Justice said a woman being a natural multi-tasker is bound to succeed in any given profession, but if she is dependent on only a few personal briefs which come her way, her appearance before the courts is minimised. "The bench will also not be in a position to recognise her. Hence, women should be given preference while making appointments as panel advocates which will pave their path to the bench. The need of the hour is sensitisation and emphasis on inclusivity," he added. "We are definitely in need of more women judges from rural background. The District Judiciary being the first point of contact, needs to be sensitive to the needs of women and children." --IANS ss/vd ( 579 Words) 2022-03-10-20:30:04 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the party's victory in four out of five states that went to polls will ensure that the BJP's lotus will bloom in the state Assembly elections, scheduled early next year. Participating in a function to celebrate BJP's victory in the five states, the Chief Minister said, "Our responsibility has increased. We have to work more actively to implement the welfare programmes announced in the State budget. I have already instructed the officials to prepare the files before the end of this month and get the work orders issued before the month of April. Implementation of all the programmes will be started without any delay and it is our responsibility to reach them to the common man." Bommai asked the party workers to take up publicity of the welfare programmes at booth level and help the people to avail the benefit of these programmes. "We have resolved to see the Lotus bloom and win the 2023 Assembly election by winning the hearts of the people through the public welfare programmes of our government and organisational strength of the BJP. We have taken a pledge to build a prosperous state by returning to power for the next 5 years. We will undertake a state tour with our senior leader BS Yediyurappa and central leaders to further strengthen the party in every part of the State. We are already on the job," he said and called upon the party workers to be ready to work hard to bring BJP to power again. "Congress has sunk in the rest of the country. It will sink in Karnataka too. Congress is fighting for survival. Congress has lost direction at the national and state level. It has lost its base all over the country. While BJP is fighting for a bright future for the country, Congress is fighting for existence. That is the difference. "BJP has won in 4 States. We will win in Gujarat in the coming days. The victory of BJP in Karnataka is as true as Sun rising in the East," Bommai said. Congress is offering Fridge, TV and other inducements for its party workers who enroll new members for the party in Siddaramaiah's constituency of Badami. The Congressmen are accustomed to give and take. Nothing works without that. They will grab 10 times more than what they offer now. They have reached such a sorry state, Bommai said. (ANI) For years James Gordon patrolled this cesspool we call a city. And then he moved to Gotham. Advertisement Jim Gordon, native of Chicago, resident of Gotham, longtime confidant of Batman, noir construct, huddled beneath a trench coat and bushy mustache, is around 45 years old. Or maybe 125 years old. Honestly, its hard to tell. According to the DC Database wiki, the man is 166 pounds and five-feet-eight-inches tall, but everything else about him has been mutable for decades. Sometimes he wears a snow-white flattop, and sometimes hes a redhead. Sometimes hes been married twice, and sometimes hes been married three times. Hes been murdered several times. He was Batman for a short time. He has kids one of whom is Batgirl, and the other of whom is a supervillain and psychopath. Sometimes Jim Gordon is the police commissioner, sometimes hes a beat cop. In the new movie The Batman, hes a lieutenant in the Gotham Police Department. Hes played by Jeffrey Wright the first time James Gordon has been Black. But next week? Who knows anymore? To put it mildly, superhero canons are fluid. Plus, there are a lot of character actors in the world. Jim Gordon has been embodied by Gary Oldman and voiced by Steppenwolfs Gary Cole. Hes been played by Lyle Talbot (in 1940s movie serials) and Pat Hingle (in Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher blockbusters), and in countless live-action and animated versions, by J.K. Simmons and Ted Knight, Bryan Cranston, Hector Elizondo and Tom Kenny (best known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants). Advertisement Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake and Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon in the Warner Bros. Pictures movie The Dark Knight Rises (2012). (Ron Phillips / Warner Bros.) There are, though, two lines on Jim Gordons resume that rarely change. He was a former cop in the Chicago Police Department. He was so exhausted and endangered by the intractable corruption of Illinois, he left for a safer big city Gotham. Hes also the longest-running supporting character in the 83-year-old history of Batman. Commissioner Gordon predates the Joker and Robin by a year. In fact, in the first panel of the very first Batman comic book (Detective Comics, issue number 37, 1939), we find Gordon entertaining his young socialite friend Bruce Wayne in his home. Hes a portrait of refinement, a touch Errol Flynn-esque, smoking a cigarette and wearing a pencil-thin mustache, complaining that this fellow they call the Bat-Man puzzles me! And so, Jim Gordon, not unlike Lois Lane before him (introduced a year earlier), would go on to spend decades as somehow both the savviest professional in town and somewhat uncertain about the secret identity of a superhero constantly in his presence. But that would change, too. "Detective Comics" ran for more than two years before it introduced a character named Bat-Man. Here are the first pages of Bat-Man's first comic in 1939. This Gordon, who appears in the first panel alongside Bruce Wayne, is the smoothest Gordon would ever look. As published here in "Batman Archives Vol. 1" by DC Comics (1990). (Christopher Borrelli) Jim Gordon was co-created by the original Batman creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger, though who contributed what to the Bat-verse would be a prickly subject for decades. (DC Comics didnt formally acknowledge Finger as the co-creator of Batman and Gordon and other characters until 2015.) Gordon was never intended as a minor foil. To the casual fan, hes that guy who flicks on the Bat Signal and pines from a rooftop; in the 1960s TV series, he was the guy who answered the Bat Phone. But across nearly a century of history, hes also the closest thing that Batman has to a supervisor, and at least in the comic books, the roots of the complicated, sometimes distrustful, generally codependent relationship between Commissioner Gordon and Batman would converge in Chicago. Specifically, in Frank Millers canon-shaping Batman: Year One books in the 1980s, later fleshed out in a brief prequel series in the 1990s, Gordon of Gotham. Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One," which started in 1987, was often closer to a Gordon story than a Dark Knight tale. It followed a young Bruce Wayne through his first steps as Batman, and Gordon's initial reaction to a superhero vigilante, as published here in a volume by DC in 2005. (Christopher Borrelli/Chicago Tribune) Depending whos telling his story, Gordon was a U.S. Marine, or broadly special forces; either way, he knows hand-to-hand combat. He fought in World War I. And Vietnam. After the war, he returned to Chicago and joined the CPD. For acts of selfless bravery, he became a local celebrity. He earned a reputation for incorruptibility, though among less moral colleagues, he was a Serpico-sized headache. While other cops were going to a bar in the Loop called the Nightstick (seriously), he was working. He exposed corruption in the CPD, but couldnt keep his big fat mouth shut: He went after Chicago City Council, and he found a little too much dirt. His CPD superiors gave him an option: Advertisement Look Jim, Gotham is so nice this time of year why not just transfer there? And so, once in Gotham, the fates of Jim Gordan and Batman were forever twined. You might even argue that Jim Gordon became to Batman what Nick Carraway is to Jay Gatsby, a middle-class observer of a dangerous man of vast wealth. You might also argue that hes the real protagonist of the Batman legend. You think you are following the story of Batman, but actually, this has always been Gordons story. Like stewards of many legends, hes frequently off-camera though always present. Hes the audience surrogate, the moral baseline in a world prone to extremes. Its Gordon who pokes through the pyrotechnics and flash and questions Batmans vigilantism and flinches at his rage. Yet its also Gordon who gains a degree of trust from Batman, and its Gordon who develops a precarious respect for the stranger who is doing his job. Gordon is the character in this story, time and again, who stands to lose the most from the relationship (then does). Hes like Alfred, Batmans loyal butler; though the real world meaning of Batman impacts Gordon in a way that rarely reaches the Gothic spires of Wayne Manor. Jeffrey Wright and Robert Pattinson in a scene from the Warner Bros. Pictures movie "The Batman." (Jonathan Olley/AP) In this new Batman movie, we see the Dark Knight as Gordon (and his fellow officers) sees him as a bizarre, unnerving presence, a quiet guy who arrives at crime scenes in a handmade bondage gear. Albeit, more committed to finding bad guys than the GPD. Theres even a moment when Gordon reminds us of the naivete of the superhero world. As they will countless times, Gordon and Batman enter a dark space, on guard. Gordon pulls his gun. Advertisement Batman growls, No guns. And Gordon replies, Thats your thing. Batman will not take a life. But its a creed that Gordon cannot afford. Right now, in The Joker, a new ongoing DC comic book series, Gordon is headed for retirement and hoping for some contentment after decades of frustration, so he decides to do the dirty work that Batman would never allow. He vows to assassinate the Joker, though the ongoing question has been, once he finds the Joker, will he do it? Batman has suffered at the hands of the Joker, but Gordon has lost his share, too. Hes been poisoned by the Joker, and tortured by the Joker, and even killed by the Joker. The Joker also murdered Gordons second wife. The Joker paralyzed his daughter. Not to mention, after Gordons first wife divorced him and moved back to Chicago with their son, that son would grow into a kind of Joker fanboy and one of his fathers worst foes. Gordon has his reasons. DC's new series "The Joker" (No. 13) which concludes this spring, is often more of a Gordon story, specifically about a retired Commissioner Gordon who gets drawn back into the hunt for the Joker. (DC Comics / HANDOUT) Its knowingly out of character. But theres contemporary calculus here: Jim Gordon is an idealist, though a keeper of laws who understands laws get enforced (and abused) by ordinary people. He arrives in Gotham just before the murder of Bruce Waynes father and mother; in some tellings, hes the first officer on the scene, the cop who comforts Bruce. When Bruce becomes Batman, they bond, with an understanding that Gordon works within the law. Batman does not. Yet they need each other; without their dance, nothing in Gotham works at all. No wonder Jim Gordon tends to look as frayed as an old-school Chicago archetype; he often resembles Da Bears fans from Saturday Night Live, minus da gut and kielbasa. Advertisement He looks older than his years. He has heart attacks. He smokes so much that, in the early 1990s, the American Heart Association ran ads in comic books showing Gordon in a hospital room, strapped to monitors, recovering from a stroke. He was a tough cop, and proud of it, the ad read. Eating right, exercise, vacations those things were for guys not so tough. Tobacco was part of it. One day, all the pain in the world collected in his heart and squeezed. Which would be a fitting epitaph. Here lies Jim Gordon, Chicagoan, father, police officer, workaholic, ally and Gotham punching bag. He cared too much. He died of a heart attack. And lung cancer. And from being crushed by debris when the Batcave collapsed. He died young. And old. He never knew who Batman was. Or he did and chose not say. You know plausible deniability. cborrelli@chicagotribune.com In the northeastern region, after Assam, the BJP, securing absolute majority on its own, retained power in Manipur for the second consecutive term by winning 32 seats in the 60-member assembly. According to the Election Commission's announcement, the ruling BJP managed 37.83 per cent votes this time against 21 seats and 36.3 per cent votes in 2017, when the party came to power in the northeastern state first time in alliance with the four National People's Party (NPP) MLAs, four Naga People's Front (NPF) members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member. The Bharatiya Janata Party's estranged ally Naga People's Front (NPF), which won five seats, has indicated its support to the saffron party led government. As per the Election Commission's results, BJP's another estranged ally NPP got seven seats, and Janata Dal (United) secured six, three independent candidates won their seats and the Kuki People's Alliance, a local party, won two seats. The main opposition Congress, which had become the single largest party in the 2017 assembly polls by securing 28 seats, won only five seats. The Congress had secured 35.5 per cent votes in 2017 polls, but managed only 16.83 per cent votes this time. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who won from his traditional seat Heingang for the record 5th time, told the media that the BJP would form the government with the support of the smaller parties. "In consultation with the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah) and national party president (J.P. Nadda), the strategies and decision to make a coalition government would be decided," the Chief Minister told the media after offering puja to Shri Shri Govindaji Temple accompanied by BJP's spokesperson Sambit Patra. BJP's estranged ally NPP, which had won four seats five years ago, won seven seats this time emerging the second largest party in Manipur. Headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the NPP is the dominating party in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. BJP with two MLAs is also the partner of the MDA government. This time, the BJP, NPP and NPF had contested the polls separately and had fielded candidates against each other. Among the notable candidates, former ministers and BJP nominees Thokchom Radheshyam Singh (Heirok), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi) won their seats. Former three time Chief Minister (2002-1917) and Congress veteran Okram Ibobi Singh (Thoubal), former speaker of the Manipur assembly Thokchom Lokeshwar Singh (Khundrakpam) and top Janata Dal (United) leader Khumukcham Joykisan Singh (Thangmeiband) are also won their seats. Besides several senior Congress leaders, Ibobi's son Okram Joy Singh lost his Langthabal seat to BJP candidate Karam Shyam. Deputy Chief Minister and senior NPP leader Yumnam Joykumar Singh lost his Uripok seat to BJP candidate Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh by a margin of 909 votes. --IANS sc/pgh ( 475 Words) 2022-03-10-22:38:05 (IANS) Hours after the results for the Assembly elections announced on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns over dynastic politics and also slammed those who raise questions on India's abilities and those who bring in religion and caste in every issue. The Prime Minister, while addressing the party cadre at the BJP headquarters here, came down heavily on people, who try to stop action against the corrupt. "There has been a conspiracy to stop action against corruption. Some people have the uncanny tendency of filing up their own treasure/chests. People of India are expecting from us (BJP) that our honest government will punish the corrupt. Should we not rise up to this expectation of the common people," Prime Minister Modi asked to a loud cheering party workers, who were assembled to celebrate the party's victory in four out of five Assembly elections. "If we take any actions against the corrupt, these people, their ecosystem raise doubts about the institutions that are investigating cases of corruption and find out ways and means to demean the institutions for investigations. They even raise questions on the judicial institutions," he added. The Prime Minister also drew attention towards "those people who bring religion, region and caste just when any action is taken against the corrupt, when the judiciary gives out a decision." "I want to appeal the honest people to think if such corrupt people, such mafia can be and should be outcasted from their society, their caste and thus, strengthen the society as a whole," he said. Prime Minister Modi asserted that "one of the reasons of BJP's massive win in Uttar Pradesh was a result of the development politics that has ensured corruption free reign." Earlier, the Prime Minister said, at a time when the common man is engaged in constructive work, "there are some who are busy downgrading that positive work." Without naming anyone, he said, "These people raised questions on our vaccination programme, largest in the world. Similarly, when there were hundreds of citizens stuck in Ukraine with their families anxiously waiting for their return, these very people tried to pin down the 'Operation Ganga' by colouring it with regionalism." In an opaque reference to Congress' leadership of Gandhi family, Prime Minister Modi reminded the party workers that he has often cautioned people about dynastic politics (parivarvaad). "I told the people how I am not against a particular family but it is the dynastic politics that have hindered the progress of our nation and people have reciprocated positively on the issue." "People of India will ensure the end of dynastic politics one day. And the results today are an indication towards the same," he asserted. --IANS niv/shs ( 462 Words) 2022-03-10-22:44:02 (IANS) Addressing the boisterous party worker after landslide victory in four of the five Assembly elections, BJP National President J.P. Nadda on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has altered the culture of elections in India. "PM Modi has changed the culture of politics. For decades, the politics was dominated by dynasts, by regionalism, sanskritikvaad (cultural dominance) etc., but today, it is the politics of development, of empowerment, empowerment of youth, women and farmers," Nadda said while addressing the party workers. Referring to the coalition of parties against the BJP, Nadda said, "I have always maintained that the voter knows how to safeguard his interest even if different leaders or parties join hands. Elections are not mathematics or arithmetic but it is chemistry." "And when I say chemistry, we should all remember that the poor people of India, those who have been exploited over the years, our mothers, our sisters, our youth, and our farmers. They all have a bond with Narendra Modi, just as a chemical bond. It is Modi's chemistry that prompted him to empower the poor masses and benefit the masses with his chemistry of development." He went on to list the multiple schemes that the Centre is running for "empowering the common masses" that then have resulted in votes at the time of elections. --IANS niv/shs ( 235 Words) 2022-03-10-23:08:05 (IANS) New research at the University of Missouri shows that using humour in the workplace is more challenging for women than men and can depend on a variety of factors, such as a woman's perceived status in the office and whether her humour is directed towards other women. The findings of the study were published in 'Journal of Managerial Psychology'. Christopher Robert, an MU associate professor who also is serving as the interim dean of the Trulaske College of Business, conducted a study to analyze how people react to men and women using humour in the workplace. The goal was to determine if a person's gender and status in the workplace would affect how others reacted to their humour. The researchers surveyed 92 college students after they read workplace scenarios in which men and women made humorous comments. Scenarios were adjusted so that the humorist, or the person making the humorous comment, was either a male or female, in a high or low-status position, and they also varied whether the target of the humour was a male or female. In addition, some scenarios included humour that was more friendly or "affiliative" while others included aggressive humour. The researchers then asked the participants to determine how "foolish" they perceived the humorists to be. One of the scenarios takes place at a meeting in which hospital personnel are discussing some of the challenges that resulted in patient death. A female nurse stutters while trying to share her ideas to address a problem and is interrupted by an employee attempting to make a humorous comment, poking fun at the fact that she can't find her words. In this instance, the researchers varied the status and gender of the person telling the joke. When high-status men, low-status men and high-status women made the aggressive humorous comment, they were perceived more positively, but when a low-status woman made the joke she was perceived as being more foolish. The researchers also analyzed how the gender of the target of the humorous comment affected how study participants viewed the person using humour. "Women who used humour directed toward a man were seen as positive," Robert said. "But when a high-status woman used humour directed toward a woman of lower status in the workplace, she was seen as negative and was judged as more foolish." Robert said these findings should remind people to hold off their immediate judgements about people based on their use of humour, and consider if these judgements are influenced by any preconceived notions about the identity of the individuals in question. "This research amplifies the fact that we even have inherent biases that influence how we view people who are using humour. If someone is questioning someone's sense of humour, they should ask themselves, 'Would I be making this same judgment if the person using the humour looked more like me?'" Robert said. (ANI) The results of five assembly polls came as a shock to the Congress which was hoping to do well to revive its prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and to fend off the emerging challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress to replace it as the fulcrum of anti-BJP politics in the country. The Congress was on the right side of "anti-incumbency" in Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur as it was the major opponent of the ruling BJP in these states. And in the electorally-crucial Uttar Pradesh, the party was hoping to turn the tide in the election effort led by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Congress leaders also strongly spoke against the farm laws which were eventually repealed by the Centre. The party was reduced to a historic low in Uttar Pradesh, making the task of its revival even more difficult if not impossible. The rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab is another worrying signal for Congress. The Congress finds it difficult to revive itself in a contest that has strong local players and the BJP, Delhi being the latest example. Now with AAP sweeping Punjab and top leaders of Congress including Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu losing their seats, the task of revival in Punjab will also be a big challenge. With their success in Punjab, AAP leaders are talking about the party being a "national force" and it emerging as a "national and natural replacement" of Congress. They also say that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "will be the principal challenger of the BJP" in the future. AAP leader Raghav Chadha has talked about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "being in bigger role of Prime Minister in 2024 if people give an opportunity". The Trinamool Congress leaders want to see West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in this role and she has talked about the need of broad opposition unity against the BJP. She has met leaders of Shiv Sena and NCP and has also interacted with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. There appears to be competition as also churning in opposition ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls and both AAP and Trinamool Congress are keen to be seen as the prime challengers of BJP, a role that Congress has been espousing so far. The BSP's decimation in the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh also points to the party's dwindling strength and polity in the state getting increasingly bipolar between the alliances led by BJP and Samajwadi Party. Congress will hold a meeting of its working committee soon to analyse the election results. Upset over the results, Congress G-23 leaders, who had written to Sonia Gandhi seeking widespread reforms including elections at various levels, are slated to meet in the next 48 hours. Party leader Shashi Tharoor, a member of G-23, on Thursday called for reforming the party's "organisational leadership in a manner that will reignite those ideas and inspire the people". "One thing is clear -- Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed," he said in a tweet. The Congress has to elect a president at the culmination of organisational elections this year and the poll outcome will cast a shadow on the process. It remains to be seen if suggestions continue to be made by a section of the party for Rahul Gandhi to again take up the role. Rahul Gandhi, who lost the Lok Sabha election from Amethi in 2019 and won from Wayanad, said on Thursday that the Congress will learn from the poll results "and keep working for the interests of the people of India". The Congress has seen some of its young promising leaders and even a few among the old guard leaving the party over the past several months. While BJP increased its vote share in Uttar Pradesh in this poll, the Congress vote share declined though it was fighting almost all 403 seats after a long gap. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gave 40 per cent tickets to women candidates and held nearly 200 rallies and roadshows in UP. The party also came up with a youth manifesto. The party won just two seats and 2.33 per cent votes compared to seven seats it won in 2017 when it had fought on 114 seats as part of an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. The Congress had got 6.25 per cent vote in the previous assembly election. Congress had won 28 seats with 11.65 per cent votes in 2012 assembly polls and 22 seats with 8.61 per cent votes in 2007. The Congress indicated on Thursday that the clashing ambitions of its leaders had hurt the party's prospects. Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said there was need to "seriously introspect, re-examine, re-think" whether the race for political positions "is undermining the position of the party to an extent where we end up helping the cause of our opposition and where we end up causing loss to the Congress party". He said this question needs to be answered "not only in Punjab, not only in Uttarakhand, not only in Goa, but across the country". Surjewala also talked of anti-incumbency in Punjab, which was ruled by Congress. "In Punjab, Congress presented a new leadership through Charanjit Singh Channi who is the son of the soil, but the entire anti-incumbency of 4.5 years under Captain Amarinder Singh could not be overcome and hence people voted for AAP for change," he said. In the results of five elections declared on Thursday, Congress won 18 seats in Punjab, 19 in Uttarakhand, 11 in Goa, and five seats in Manipur. Congress will face a tough test this year in assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The party has not been able to oust BJP from power for over two decades in Gujarat though it put up a spirited fight in the last polls. In Himachal Pradesh, BJP will seek to buck the pattern of alternate turns at power and replicate its victory in Uttarakhand. Apart from putting its house in order in the two states, Congress will also have to watch for challenges from a resurgent AAP. (ANI) The chief minister said that drone technology opens huge technology opportunities for youngsters. "First drone school in the state has been inaugurated in Gwalior. There's huge employment potential in this industry as drones can be used for various purposes," Chouhan told media persons here. In addition, Madhya Pradesh was also the first state in the country in advancing the use of drone technology at a big scale by organising drone meta in Gwalior in December last year. The programme was the biggest congregation of drone manufacturers, service providers, drone enthusiasts and user communities, especially students, farmers and common man of the city. The programme included drone exhibition, demonstration, drone spardha, industry-user interactions and launches. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to Dehradun class 11 student and appreciated his art and ideas after being impressed by his understanding of the issues of national interest at a young age, informed Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Friday. According to PMO, Anurag Ramola has been awarded the 2021 Prime Minister's National Children's Award for Art and Culture. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps on boosting the morale of the country's young generation, especially the students, by establishing periodic dialogues with them. Be it 'Mann Ki Baat', 'Pariksha Pe Charcha', or personal dialogues, Prime Minister Modi has always encouraged the youth by understanding their concerns and curiosity through various mediums. As part of this, the Prime Minister has once again appreciated the art and ideas of the 11th standard student of Dehradun, Anurag Ramola by replying to his letter," PMO said in a statement. Impressed by Anurag's thoughts, the Prime Minister wrote in the letter, "Your ideological maturity is reflected in your words in the letter and the theme chosen for the painting 'Amrit Mahotsav of India's Independence'. I am glad that you have developed an understanding of issues related to national interest since adolescence and you are aware of your role in the development of the country as a responsible citizen." While appreciating the contribution of all the countrymen in the making of a self-reliant India, PM Modi said, "In this Amrit Kaal of independence, the country is moving ahead with the power of collective strength and with the mantra of 'Sabka Prayas'. The contribution of our younger generation is going to be crucial in building a strong and prosperous India in the years to come." PM Modi also wished Anurag a successful future and expressed confidence that he would continue to move forward in life with creativity with well-deserved success. This painting has also been uploaded on the Narendra Modi app and the website of narendramodi.in to inspire Anurag. Anurag had earlier written a letter to the Prime Minister apprising him of his views on topics related to the national interest. Anurag in his letter wrote that he draws inspiration from the Prime Minister not to lose patience even in adversity, to move forward towards his goal with hard work and sincerity and to take everyone along with him. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice on an appeal moved by former JNU student Sharjeel Imam challenging a Special Court order that had passed an order of framing of charges under sedition and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against him. Imam's petition sought the court's direction to set aside the order passed by the Special Court on January 24 this year. The Bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anoop Kumar Mehndiratta on Friday sought a response from Delhi Police in the matter. The same court recently also sought a response from police on his bail petition in the same matter. Delhi's Karkardooma Court on January 24, ordered the framing of charges against Sharjeel Imam in FIR 22 relating to alleged inflammatory speeches. Charges framed against Imam are under sections relating to promoting enmity against two groups, inciting enmity and sedition. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat had passed the order. Sharjeel Imam is accused of making alleged inflammatory speeches at the Jamia area on December 13, 2019, and at Aligarh Muslim University on December 16 the same year. An FIR was lodged against Imam under charges of sedition and others of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The present FIR was filed under sections 124A, 153A, 153B and 505. The prosecutor informed the court that Imam had made attempts to provoke the crowd by stating that "public anger needs to be used in a productive manner." Sharjeel Imam, who came into the limelight for his viral video in December 2019, was booked as an accused in various cases relating to violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He was arrested in January 2020 in another case connected to sedition for his provocative speeches which had stoked controversy with his "cut off Assam from India" remark. More than 750 cases were registered over the northeast Delhi violence, in which at least 53 people were killed and several others were injured. So far, over 250 charge sheets have been filed in the riots related cases in which 1,153 accused have been charge-sheeted. (ANI) "Met fellow @BJP4Gujarat leaders and Karyakartas at the state BJP HQ. Discussed how our Party organisation can serve the people even more effectively and contribute towards national development," PM Modi tweeted. Earlier today, the Prime Minister held a roadshow from the airport to Kamalam (BJP's office). PM Modi's visit is significant as the state is slated to go to the polls later this year. The BJP registered a win in four of the five states barring Punjab that went to Assembly polls in February-March, the result of which came on March 10. In Uttar Pradesh, BJP and its allies won 255 seats out of 403 assembly constituencies. In Uttarakhand, the party secured 47 seats out of 70 seats. In Goa, BJP won 20 seats, out of 40, and got the support of independent candidates while in Manipur, the ruling BJP coalition bagged 31 seats out of 60 seats. On Saturday, the Prime Minister will dedicate the building of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to the nation at 11 AM. He will also deliver the first convocation address of the RRU as the Chief Guest. At around 6:30 PM, the Prime Minister will declare open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh and deliver an address on the occasion. (ANI) Los Tigres del Norte, the kings of Norteno, will be one of the acts not to miss at this year's Ruido Fest. (CORTESIA/CTMG) For its fifth anniversary edition, the Latin-music themed Ruido Fest has added more acts, booked a more diverse lineup and moved to a new location: Union Park. Situated on the Near West Side, Union Park of course has hosted a series of multi-day music events over the years, including Pitchfork and the North Coast Music Festival. Now Ruido, which begins its three-day run Friday, has pulled up its stakes from its original home in Pilsens Addams-Medill Park and migrated a few blocks north for its annual celebration of Latin music and culture. Advertisement Ruido means noise in English, and more than 50 acts, up from last years 40, will rock out on the festivals three main stages. Among the marquee names scheduled are Hombres G (Spain), Enanitos Verdes (Argentina); El Tri, El Gran Silencio, Inspector and Fobia (Mexico); Monsieur Perine and Diamante Electrico (Colombia), and Los Tigres del Norte (United States). Although Ruido started out as an alternative Latin fest, its organizers have widened the events focus to include other Latin genres. This is our most diverse and strongest lineup so far, said curator Eduardo Calvillo, one of four local promoters behind Ruido, including Metronome Chicago, Riot Fest Presents and Star Events. With El Tri performing its classic album Simplemente (1985), and Latin music icons Hombres G and Enanitos performing the last show on their (joint) world tour, theres definitely something for everyone. Advertisement Improving the concert-going experience propelled the move to Union Park. The park itself is larger and has more trees and pathways. Its easier to get around and more comfortable for patrons, said Max Wagner of Metronome Chicago. Unlike Addams-Medill, everyone knows how to get there and get home, he said. Access is easier. Theres the Ashland bus, and the Green and Pink L lines. Its super convenient. Im very confident that Union Park will be a good host. Back this year are a smaller fourth stage, the Toyota Music Den, and a DJ area, along with food vendors, information booths (for activist and non-profit groups), childrens activities, carnival rides and lucha libre (a theatrical style of wrestling popular in Mexico). Also returning for his fifth Ruido appearance is Mexican electro rocker Silverio, known for his showmanship and lucha libre-inspired outre attire. He has become our mascot, Calvillo said. Riot Fest has GWAR, we have Silverio. Powered by the Chicago Tribune and Ticketmaster Get tickets to Chicago-area peformances Theater Concerts Comedy Family The Chicago Tribune may earn a commission on tickets purchased through these links, at no additional cost to you. New this year will be live video feeds projected on screens. The video screens will make the experience smoother for everybody, Wagner said. At Ruido, we try to make sure bands start on time, the area is safe and clean, and there are no lines. Were trying to produce the best possible customer experience. Though this years lineup, with veteran groups such as Hombres G, might seem heavy on the golden age of Latin rock, that wasnt intentional. Weve been pursuing many of these artists for years, but either they werent touring or had visa problems, Calvillo said. In terms of programming, Ruido organizers try to keep the lineup eclectic and diverse. Over time, theyve added more acts representing norteno and other traditional Mexican genres, with iconic bands such as Intocable, Los Angeles Azules, and this year, the San Jose-based Los Tigres del Norte, regarded worldwide as the kings of norteno. Festivals like Ruido help to underscore the importance of experience of bands like Los Tigres, a band of brothers who left Mexico decades ago in search of a better future. Latinos are now a nation within the United States, and therefore to give voice and space to Latin music [is to allow this culture and memory of its traditions and customs to survive and be re-invented, said of Santiago Prieto, co-founder of Monsieur Perine, based in Bogota, but with a sound that mixes French jazz, salsa, cumbia and other Latin styles. Another Ruido programming goal is to increase the representation of female acts and local bands. Theres a big issue around the world with women not being equally represented in festivals, said Calvillo, who pointed out that Ruido draws more women patrons than most music festivals. So having more female acts in the lineup, that matters to our audience, Wagner said. This year, Ruido features Chilean rocker Francisca Valenzuela, founder of the traveling music festival known as Ruidosa. Since establishing that event in 2016, she and her team have worked with more than 150 women artists in the Latin music world. Its been amazing, she said. Ive postponed my own career to nurture this movement. Its important for us to realize that theres not just one way to be a woman in Latin music, as we help make the diversity of Latin voices more visible. Wagner added, Im really excited by the headliners, but also by our local artists. Were hoping to have a Chicago headliner someday. Thats one of our long-term goals. If were not trying to grow the scene here, then were not doing our job. Advertisement Laura Emerick is a freelance writer. onthetown@chicagotribune.com Twitter @chitribent When: Friday-Sunday Where: Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. Tickets: Single-day passes, $79 (other levels sold out). Remaining VIP single-day passes, $114 (in-and-out access); three-day passes, $169; VIP, $274; ruidofest.com [ MORE COVERAGE: Country LakeShake makes waves with an all-female lineup ] [ Scott Stapp is all better now, and there might even be a Creed comeback in his looming future ] [ Slow ticket sales. Thin lineups. Has the Chicago summer festival market hit overload? ] A day after Congress' humiliating performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections in five states, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Ashok Parashar on Friday took a dig at the grand old party and said that it has become a 'private limited firm'. Parashar further alleged that Congress 'looted Punjab' and used the money for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. "Congress has become a private limited firm, they looted Punjab and used the money for UP elections. People came to know that Congress is Akali Dal's B-team," said Ashok Parashar. The AAP MLA also assured that his party will work for the people, as they have been living in public and are aware of their issues. Another AAP MLA Gurdev Singh Dev Mann told ANI that the party's aim would be to make Punjab free of corruption and drug addiction through employment generation. "We have won and have a challenge as we have to fulfil the promises and hopes of the people of Punjab. We will work honestly and our aim would be to make Punjab free of corruption and drug addiction by providing employment in every house," said Mann. AAP leader and Punjab's Chief Minister-designate Bhagwant Mann will take the oath of office on March 16. He has invited Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the swearing-in ceremony. He will hold a roadshow in Amritsar on March 13 along with Delhi CM and the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal. The Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Legislative Party is set to meet on Friday at Chandigarh's Mohali club to elect their leader (Chief Minister), according to sources. The newly elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) will unanimously party's chief ministerial candidate for Punjab polls Bhagwant Mann as their leader. The AAP had a landslide win in the Punjab Assembly polls by winning 92 seats to form its government in the state with a three-fourth majority in the 117-member legislative assembly. Mann, who won from Dhuri assembly constituency in Sangrur district by a margin of 58,206 votes, yesterday had announced that the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr district, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Punjab witnessed a multi-cornered contest with key players being Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt) led by SS Dhindsa. Prominent faces in the state including Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu all lost to AAP candidates. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won 77 seats whereas Shiromani Akali Dal could win only 15 seats, BJP netted three and independent candidates won two seats. AAP had emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats. (ANI) Mandal has been asked to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation on March 14. On March 8, CBI sent a notice to the TMC leader asking him to appear in person before the agency on March 14 at 11 am. This is the fourth time that Mandal has been summoned in a cattle smuggling case. Earlier, CBI had issued notice to Mandal in January asking him to appear before the agency for questioning in the post-poll violence case. (ANI) Later in the day, UP CM Yogi Adityanath tendered his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow, a day after the BJP secured a majority in state Assembly elections. Yogi Adityanath, a monk-turned-politician, won his first-ever Assembly election by a margin of 1,03,390 from Gorakhpur Urban constituency, defeating Samajwadi Party candidate Subhawati Upendra Dutt Shukla, who secured 62,109 votes in the recently-concluded UP Assembly election. He will be the first chief minister in the last 37 years to return to power after completing a full term in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP has retained power in Uttar Pradesh by winning 255 out of 403 constituencies, securing a 41.29 per cent vote share. (ANI) Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Friday accused the Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of depriving the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) employees of Rs 13,000 crores. Her statement comes after Kejriwal held a press conference earlier in the day expressing disappointment at the postponement of municipal corporation elections in the national capital, stating that doing so "weakens the democratic system." Taking a dig at Kejriwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said he "chooses to empty the Nagar Nigam treasury." "Today Kejriwal held a presser (on MCD polls delay in Delhi) I want to ask him... Does he know that Nagar Nigam had sought reforms last year? Delhi government has purposely deprived MCD employees of Rs 13000 crores. Kejriwal chooses to empty the Nagar Nigam treasury," Irani said while addressing a press conference here today. The Union Minister also said that Kejriwal should deposit Rs 13,000 crores in MCD's bank account. "He stopped funds for sanitation workers, even stopped fund flow for parks' maintenance in Delhi," she alleged. Irani came down heavily on Kejriwal on his statement of an "AAP wave in Delhi" and said, "A leader who gets less votes than NOTA in Uttar Pradesh, lost deposit on 55/70 seats in Uttarakhand claims there's AAP wave." Kejriwal, earlier in the day, had questioned the BJP of not unifying the three corporations of the MCD. "People are questioning the move. Since seven-eight years, the BJP is in power at the Centre. If they wanted to unify the three MCDs, why didn't they do it? An hour before the announcement of the date of the MCD polls, they decided to unify them and thus delayed the polls. People are saying that this is just an excuse. BJP felt that it will drown in the AAP's wave in Delhi," the Delhi CM said. Earlier, State Election Commissioner SK Srivastava said that the Centre has deferred the announcement of polling dates for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election after the central government raised a few issues that are yet to be legally examined by the Election Commission. He also informed that the Centre was planning to introduce a bill in the budget session of Parliament to unify the three municipal corporations of Delhi. "As central government raised few issues that are yet to be legally examined by us, we will not be able to announce MCD election dates as of now. We will take some more days. We have to conduct the elections before May 18," Srivastava said. He further said that they were about to announce the dates, but now it will take another five to seven days to announce them. (ANI) Five robbers, all of them sharpshooters belonging to the notorious 'Sonu Dariyapur Gang' have been arrested in the national capital, said the police on Friday. According to DCP Central Shweta Chauhan, Central District anti-auto theft squad (AATS), on March 7, 2022, a complainant Manoj Kumar stated that he along with one Shivam was sent to get payment from Chandni Chowk, Delhi. They collected payment approx. 91 lakhs from the different parties from Kucha Ghasi Ram, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, said the police. "After receiving the payment, when they were enroute to the office, while they were crossing the Faiz Road red light of New Rohtak Road Delhi, some unknown persons came from behind. These unknown persons kicked the scooty and forcefully stopped them. After stopping the scooty, they threatened them by showing pistol and sprayed the pepper spray in their eyes and robbed the bag containing money," said the police. As per the police, keeping in view the gravity of the offence, a was constituted and tasked to work out the case under the overall supervision of ACP/OPS Yogesh Malhotra. The police further stated that a joint team of AATS and PS DBG Road started working on the case and collected the footage of nearby CCTV cameras. It was found that the robbers were a group of 5-6 persons and they were on three vehicles. All suspects had worn masks and hats to hide their identities. During CCTV footage analysis, it was found that one suspect was following the victims from Karol Bagh. The AATS team mounted the technical surveillance and after a lot of technically hard work, they managed to identify the main robber of the case as Narender alias Chhotu and Naseeb, a resident of Rohtak, who had been involved in a murder case. During the technical investigation, it was found that their mobile numbers were switched off and they were en route to Manali. Further after establishing their identity, the joint team of AATS and PS DBG road started chasing them on GT Road. After a chase of 300 kilometres, all the accused persons were apprehended from Rajpura, Punjab. On further interrogation, it was found that the accused persons had taken a flat on rent in Paschim vihar to execute the robbery. Further, it was found out that accused Narender, Vicky, Sagar and Naseeb have been previously involved in murders cases and they are active members of the "Sonu Dariyapur" gang. To get money to live a lavish lifestyle, they used to rob the businessmen of the Karol Bagh area, the police added. (ANI) Prime Minister Modi had dinner with his mother. Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister addressed Gujarat Panchayat Mahasammelan in Ahmedabad. Further, he held a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad and discussed the method for the party to "serve the people more efficiently". Prime Minister also held a roadshow from Gujarat airport to Kamalam (BJP's office). "I am humbled by the people's affection. This support and enthusiasm inspires us to work even harder in service of our citizens," he said. PM Modi's visit is significant as the state is slated to go to the polls later this year. The BJP registered a win in four of the five states barring Punjab that went to Assembly polls in February-March, the result of which came on March 10. In Uttar Pradesh, BJP and its allies won 255 seats out of 403 assembly constituencies. In Uttarakhand, the party secured 47 seats out of 70 seats. In Goa, BJP won 20 seats, out of 40, and got the support of independent candidates while in Manipur, the ruling BJP coalition bagged 31 seats out of 60 seats. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, the Government of Russia informed, "Alexander Novak spoke by telephone with Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs of India Hardeep Singh Puri." The Russian government also informed that the conversation was focused on bilateral cooperation in fuel, energy and education. (ANI) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that Ukraine had lost all communication with the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a day after the Russian-controlled site lost all external power supplies, IAEA reported on Thursday. The agency has also informed that they are aware of reports that power has now been restored to the site and it is looking for confirmation, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. Earlier, Ukraine authorities have reported to the IAEA that emergency diesel generators that were providing electricity to the Chernobyl NPP had subsequently lost communication which meant that the regulator could no longer provide updated information such as radiation monitoring, ventilation systems and normal lighting related to the site to the IAEA. Taking to Twitter, IAEA said, "If emergency power were lost, it would still be possible for #Chornobyl staff to monitor the water level and temperature of the spent fuel pool. They would do this under worsening radiation safety conditions and would not be able to follow operational radiation safety procedures." IAEA also informed that Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya NPP which is also under the control of Russian forces is not in a position to deliver the necessary spare parts, equipment and specialized personnel to carry out planned repairs. IAEA further revealed that the maintenance activities at Unit 1 had also been reduced to minimum levels. On March 3, Ukraine informed the IAEA that the Russian forces had taken the control of the site of the country's Zaporizhzhya NPP. Ukrainian counterparts informed the IAEA that the projectile had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant's reactor units, causing a localized fire that was later extinguished. (ANI) North Korea (DPRK) recently conducted two tests of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system that the United States condemns and considers a serious escalation, a senior US administration official said on Thursday. "After careful analysis, the US government has concluded that the DPRK's two ballistic missile tests on February 26 and March 4 of this year involved a relatively new intercontinental ballistic missile system... This is a serious escalation by the DPRK," Sputnik News Agency reported quoting an official. "But unlike the DPRK's three ICBM tests in 2017, neither of these launched demonstrated ICBM range or capability. These launches are likely intended to test elements of this new system before the DPRK conducts a launch at full-range, which they will potentially attempt to disguise as a fake launch." The US condemns North Korea's missile tests, the official added, and believes they violate UN Security Council resolutions. The official also said the tests needlessly raise tensions and risk destabilizing the regional security situation. (ANI) "President Biden held a telephone call today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. The presidents discussed their shared concern about Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a readout. The statement also reads that both the countries have reaffirmed their strong support for the government and people of Ukraine, underscored the need for an immediate cessation of Russian aggression, and also welcomed the coordinated international response to the crisis. "President Biden expressed appreciation for Turkey's efforts to support a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, as well as Turkey's recent engagements with regional leaders that help promote peace and stability," Statement added. Moreover, both the presidents also discussed the opportunities to strengthen the bilateral ties. (ANI) Louis Armstrong figures prominently in "Body and Soul: An American Bridge," a documentary on the cultures that intertwine in jazz. (Seventh Art Releasing) Its haunting melody has inspired more than 3,000 recordings, most notably saxophonist Coleman Hawkins 1939 masterpiece. Advertisement But what does Johnny Greens Body and Soul tell us about jazz, race and culture in America? Quite a bit, according to Body and Soul: An American Bridge, a documentary receiving its Chicago premiere 2 p.m. Sunday at Spertus Institute. The film, which opens Spertus Sunday Cinema series, traces the origins and ascendance of the widely loved song, but it also looks at the social and racial currents surrounding it. Advertisement And though director Robert Philipsons doc tries to compress too much information into a single hour, it sheds welcome light on its central concern: the ways in which African-Americans and Jews have interrelated through jazz. For composer Green was hardly the only Jew to pen a jazz standard. Take away the music of Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne and others, and a large chunk of the jazz repertory would be no more. Yet this music was born, in part, from the vocabulary of black jazz, meaning that African-American and Jewish musical cultures were intimately intertwined in the first half of the 20th century. One of the interesting things, when you look at the history of African-Americans and Jews in popular music, is there is this very seductive narrative of a natural kinship, says Jeffrey Melnick, a professor of American Studies at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, in the film. We usually trace this back to the time of slavery. As historians, we look at the ways that African-Americans took the story of Jews in bondage in Egypt and made it their own story and created songs that told that story. And thats a narrative that was very appealing to a lot of people in the early 20th century. Particularly appealing to Jews in the popular music business, who saw themselves as sort of natural allies with African-Americans, which made it possible for them to make music that was heard, and which was promoted, as black music. Or, to put it in other terms, the Jews of Tin Pan Alley and early Broadway naturally gravitated to the new, all-American sound, which was jazz. Berlins songs often bristled with the rhythms of ragtime; Gershwin works such as Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris brought jazz into the concert hall. Both these composers, and many peers, embraced the blue-note laments and swing-based rhythms of African-American music. Ultimately, the two musical cultures shared fundamental truths, which helps explain why visionary black musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and others could find so much meaning in songs written by Jews of Eastern European birth or heritage. And why those songwriters embraced the syntax of black music. When Jews talk about their natural kinship with African-Americans, adds Melnick in the film, one of the modes of describing that kinship was very often the idea that synagogue music shared a relationship with African-American blues. That it literally had to do with the writing and performance of certain musical notes. Usually it was more diffuse than that. It was this notion that Jews were good at getting suffering into music. Advertisement Though Body and Soul becomes a vehicle for telling this story in the film, in some ways composer Green was an outlier among great Jewish-American tunesmiths. For few of them went to college, let alone majored in economics at Harvard, as Green did. And while Berlin, Gershwin and others rose up from the tenements of Manhattans Lower East Side, Green grew up in material comfort on Long Island Sound. When the young Green told his father he wouldnt be following in his footsteps with a career on Wall Street, his father replied, There is no bum like a pretty good artist, and I think youre pretty good, Greens daughter, Babbie Green, recalls in the film. Nevertheless, Green went on to write several classic songs, including I Cover the Waterfront and Out of Nowhere. Jazz musician and scholar Loren Schoenberg argues that Louis Armstrong cut the first great recording of Body and Soul, no surprise as we find that Armstrong made the first version of most great jazz songs, Schoenberg says in the film. And implicit in his version are all the elements that became famous in the subsequent versions by Coleman Hawkins and other people. Armstrong indeed emerges as a leading figure in the documentary, and not only because of his genius as jazz improviser. For Armstrong considered Jewish culture fundamental to his start in life in New Orleans. Gifted but impoverished, the young Armstrong received support and nurturance from the Karnofskys, a Jewish immigrant family that survived as junk peddlers. As the Karnofskys made their rounds, they took young Armstrong with them, Armstrong blowing a tin horn to attract customers. Eventually, Morris Karnofsky, the familys elder, bought the trumpeter a cornet, helping to give jazz its first great soloist. The Jewish people have such a wonderful soul, wrote Armstrong in a memoir, as quoted in the film. When Mrs. Karnofsky would start singing those words to Russian Lullaby, we all would get our places and sing it. So soft and sweet. My first Jewish meal was at the age of seven. Every time we would come in late on the little wagon, and they would be having supper, they would fix a plate of food for me, saying youve worked, might as well eat here with us. Advertisement Armstrong would wear a Star of David pendant around his neck all his life, the man embodying the link between jazz and Jews since the dawn of the music. Body and Soul: An American Bridge, will screen at 2 p.m. Sunday at Spertus Institute, 610 S. Michigan Ave., with an appearance by trumpeter Orbert Davis; $8-$18. The Sunday Cinema series will continue with Mandala Beats, 2 p.m. Feb. 18; and On the Banks of the Tigris, 2 p.m. Feb. 25. 312-322-1773 or www.spertus.edu. Celebrating The Jazz Institute of Chicago will kick off a yearlong celebration of the late Chicago tenor saxophone legend Von Freemans forthcoming 95th birthday with a free performance featuring saxophonists Jarrard Harris, Roy McGrath and John Foster-Brooks at 7 p.m. Friday at Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive. Though reference works long listed Freemans birthday as Oct. 3, 1922, the Tribune proved in 2011 that Freeman was born Oct. 3, 1923. For more information on the Freeman homage, visit www.jazzinchicago.org or phone 312-427-1676. Howard Reich is a Tribune critic. Advertisement hreich@chicagotribune.com Twitter @howardreich [ RELATED: The Louis Armstrong tapes ] [ Cantor Mizrahi celebrates 25 years of Jewish music and jazz ] [ Benny Goodman's 100th birthday ] "Former Franklin County, Arkansas, Sheriff Anthony Boen, 51, was sentenced today to four years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release and a $4,800 fine for assaulting two individuals in his custody," the release said on Thursday. According to the release, in December of 2018 Boen struck a detainee multiple times in the head with a closed fist while the detainee was shackled to a bench inside the Franklin County Jail. This came just weeks after he slammed a detainee onto the floor and ripped his hair during an interrogation. Both detainees suffered bodily injury as a result of Boen's actions, the Justice Department said. When an investigation began, the release added, Boen pressured officers who witnessed the assaults to lie to investigators. He was also convicted of two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law after a six-day trial in August 2021, the release said. (ANI/Sputnik) "One of the main tasks for us today was the organization of humanitarian corridors: Sumy, Trostyanets, Krasnopillya, Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, Izyum. Within this day, we have already managed to evacuate almost 40,000 our people, to give them security in Poltava, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Lviv," Zelenskyy said in a video address on his Telegram channel. He said humanitarian aid, food and medicine were delivered. Mariupol and Volnovakha, however, remain completely blocked, CNN quoting Zelensky reported, adding that despite Ukrainian officials' best efforts to make the corridor work, "Russian troops did not cease fire." Regardless of this, Zelensky said he still decided to send a convoy of trucks carrying food, water and medicine. "But the invaders started a tank attack exactly in the area where this corridor was supposed to be. Corridor of life. For the people of Mariupol," the president said, CNN reported. Earlier on Thursday, local authorities in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol said Russian forces have begun dropping bombs on the "green corridor" designated to evacuate Mariupol residents, CNN reported. (ANI) Sputnik News Agency reported that the projectile was launched from the area close to the city of Sirsa in the Indian state of Haryana and was detected by the Pakistan air force near the city of Mian Channu in the Punjab province of Pakistan. "At 6:43 p.m. (13:43 GMT) a high-speed flying object was picked up inside Indian territory by air defence operations centre of Pakistan Air Force. From its initial course the object suddenly manoeuvred towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan's air space ultimately following near me at Mian Channu at 6:50 p.m. (13:50 GMT)," the Russian news agency quoting a spokesperson for the Pakistani armed forces who were speaking at a briefing reported. However, India has not yet responded to Pakistan's claims. (ANI) The nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to become US ambassador to India seems to be in trouble as a top Senate Republican has sought to put the matter on hold owing to a pending investigation regarding sexual harassment of his adviser. According to a document obtained by Politico, Republican Senator Charles Grassley asked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sought a delay of the nomination until the probe is concluded. "The United States owes it to the Republic of India to send them a qualified Ambassador that will represent the values of the United States," Grassley said in the documents sent to McConnell on Thursday to notify the Senate. "Mayor Garcetti may very well be fully qualified, but at this time, the Senate needs to look into these allegations further," he added. In January this year, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had confirmed the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be US ambassador to India. However, the nomination needed to be confirmed by a majority of the US Senate. Garcetti was among a series of ambassadors and other foreign affairs nominees approved. Although individual senators raised public objections to some of the nominees, none did to Garcetti's selection. During his appearance before the committee on December 14, Mayor Garcetti was questioned by lawmakers weighing his nomination to become the U.S. ambassador to India. Garcetti during his testimony he gave a statement followed by questions from lawmakers of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."Few nations are more vital to the future of American security and prosperity than India," Garcetti told the committee. (ANI) Toronto [Canada], March 11 (ANI/Sputnik): The allegations by the Canadian government that Russia is behind an attack on a hospital ward in the city of Mariupol is based on a fabrication permeated by Kyiv, the Russian Embassy in Ottawa said. "Russia unequivocally rejects [the] Canadian government's groundless accusations of having allegedly attacked a maternity hospital in Mariupol. Video and photo footage attempting to present a damaged hospital building as a result of a 'Russian airstrike' is nothing but a blatant lie. It is yet another outrageous provocation by the Kyiv regime. A climax of the fake news dissemination campaign," the Russian Embassy said in a statement on Thursday. The Russian Embassy condemned the story saying it was staged and noted that Canadian media has not made any attempt to independently verify the veracity of Kyiv's claims. Russia is conducting strikes in Ukraine with "surgical precision" and the Ukrainian troops and allied neo-Nazi battalions continue to use the civilian population as shields. Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Illia Kyva, who fled the country, also said he was confident that the story regarding the attack on the Mariupol maternity hospital was a false flag. "Ukraine is filled with lies and deception. The history of the tragedy in the hospital of Mariupol - another staging and fake," Kyva said on Telegram. Mariupol is the site of an intense battle where surrounded Ukrainian troops and neo-Nazi and other extremist battalions have dug in against advancing Russian and allied troops from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics. The latter has said are intending to end eight years of bloodshed in the area initiated by Ukrainian troops and assorted extremists. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics against the intensified attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation was solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and has emphasized the civilian population is not in danger. (ANI/Sputnik) Despite Ukraine providing military technology to China, Beijing seems more inclined towards Russia in the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine has supplied critical military technology to Beijing for years which is not available everywhere, including China's first aircraft carrier, technology for its naval antimissile radar, and advanced jet engines, American newspaper The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. As horrible as the war is, the opportunity is real. China's desire to be a solely powerful country in the world, and its dependence for arms on Russia, outweighs its relationship with Ukraine, and Beijing has publicly backed Moscow. Ukraine was disappointed with China's action. "There was this expectation that if we had Chinese enterprises and Chinese investment in Ukraine, that would prevent Russia from escalating," Sergiy Gerasymchuk, the deputy director of the Foreign Policy Council's Ukrainian Prism, a think tank in Ukraine, was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. Meanwhile, Ukraine has also made some changes in its policies in recent years, where policymakers increasingly view China as a "challenge" rather than as a strategic partner, said Yurii Poita of the Asia-Pacific section at the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies in Ukraine. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that Russia was his country's "most important strategic partner and abstained from a UN vote to condemn Russia's military operation in Ukraine. China's ironic statements are confusing the world. Once the country said that all the countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected and upheld, but when it was time to support Ukraine, China backed out and blamed the United States and NATO for the conflict. China and Ukraine's relationship is not built in the last few years but actually, it evolved at the time in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. But their relationship became stronger when the Tiananmen Square massacre took place in 1989, Beijing found Ukraine willing to sell certain advanced military technologies that Russia wouldn't sell to China for competitive reasons. Ukraine viewed China as a vast market opportunity for its defence suppliers and a regional counterbalance to Russia, The Washington Post said. But, Beijing and Kyiv's strategic partnership cooled after 2014, as Ukraine prioritized joining NATO in the aftermath of Russia's first military operation. As Ukraine sought to align more closely with the United States and E.U., it has pushed China to arms' length, including nixing a 2017 attempt by a Chinese company. While Ukraine was inclining towards western countries, Russia and China cemented a closer bond, leading to their joint declaration on February 4 that the relationship had "no limits." But China and Ukraine have not confirmed their military trade. "It's as if both sides are purposefully avoiding the military-industry cooperation and don't raise a word about military trade. But in actuality, China is the largest customer of Ukraine's military industry," according to The Washington Post citing a state-run Global Times article published in 2015. (ANI) Ankara [Turkey], March 11 (ANI/Sputnik): Turkish Pegasus Airlines decided to cancel all its flights to and from Russia from March 13 for two weeks amid financial sanctions imposed on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine. "Due to operational risks under these conditions, all our flights to and from Russian Federation have been temporarily suspended as of March 13, 2022 (including) until March 27, 2022," the company said in a statement, adding that such measures were forced due to sanctions on insurance, leasing and other operations on flights to and from Russia. According to the statement, all passengers on flights to the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Mineralnye Vody, Grozny, Makhachkala and Krasnodar between these dates can change tickets for free or receive a full refund. The newest wave of EU sanctions introduced against Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine banned the sale of aircraft and parts to Russian companies and obliged leasing companies to take back all leased planes from Russia. (ANI/Sputnik) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday said that the recent sanctions against Russia will hurt the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while calling for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the ongoing conflict. The Premier was addressing a press briefing at the conclusion of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, the highest legislative body of China. "The world economy today is already struggling (due to COVID-19 induced shocks), sanctions (against Russia) will hurt world economic recovery. It is in no one's interest," Li said Calling for a negotiated settlement to the conflict, Li said, "The current situation in Ukraine is indeed disconcerting. We believe that utmost efforts should be made (to encourage peace) and it is important to support Russia and Ukraine in carrying forward negotiations of ceasefire by overcoming difficulties." "We support and encourage all efforts that are conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis. The pressing task now is to prevent tensions from escalating or even getting out of control," he further said. The Chinese premier also hinted that China might be willing to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, and even Russia and the Western Countries, saying, "China is ready to make its own constructive methods in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity." On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed China's willingness to mediate in the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine. He said that China can work to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. "China is prepared to continue playing a constructive role to facilitate dialogue for peace and work alongside the international community," Wang Yi said. Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine continues to rage with significant loss of life and property and a humanitarian crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that around 40,000 people had been evacuated from a number of Ukrainian cities but accused Russian forces of targeting a humanitarian corridor in the city of Mariupol. Earlier, the Russian side had accused Ukrainian authorities of not allowing civilians to leave the besieged cities. The talks between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Turkey amid the third week of war between the two nations failed to yield any progress on a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors, Kuleba said on Thursday. (ANI) Aeon Group of Japan supports and nurture young people through Aeon 1% club scholarship. In the wake of Covid-19, a scholarship completion ceremony was held online for foreign students in Japan. "Congratulations on your graduation, Aeon Scholarship students! Through Aeon Scholarship, I hope you will cherish the network of friends who have grown up by encouraging and enhancing each other beyond the boundaries of universities and nationalities. I hope that you will work as a bridge between your country and Japan and contribute to the realization of world peace as a responsible leader for the future," said Yoshiki Mori, Aeon 1% club. Barata Tripramudya Onggo is a scholarship student hailing from Indonesia. He recently graduated from Chiba University after 2 years of scholarship. He completed his computer information processing as he has a dream to be an IT specialist. He will work as a computer specialist at a Japanese company. "I had my own dream when I first applied for this scholarship. Meeting new Aeon Scholarship students and listening to their dream accelerated my motivation. From my own experience, Japan is a very important place for me like my hometown. I made a lot of friends and connected with many people, and I think it has become a lifelong fortune. Before coming to Japan, it is important to first decide what you want to do. Also, I think you should think about what you want to do when you study in Japan," said Barata Tripramudya Onggo, a Scholarship student from Indonesia. Le Thanh from Vietnam also received Aeon 1% Club scholarship. She is working at Aeon Vietnam as an interpreter of Japanese and Vietnamese. "I want you to experience Japanese culture and life. I learnt a lot from that experience. At a time when I'm looking for a job, what I've learned and what I've experienced is helping me to understand the Japanese way of thinking, so I hope you'll experience various things," said Le Thanh, Former Scholarship student from Vietnam. Aeon 1% Club steadily grows up future leaders and proves to be a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world. (ANI) This information was revealed by China's National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center, Xinhua reported on Friday. Most of the cyberattacks came from the United States and their goal was to seize control over Chinese computers and use them for attacks against Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, the report said. Cyber-attacks aimed to target Russia in 87 per cent of cases, the report added. Russia launched a "military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, which it claimed was a response to calls from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk for protection against attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the "special operation" is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. A number of countries including the US, Canada, and Australia have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Russia, prompting many international businesses to leave the Russian market. (ANI) Noma Dumezweni, from left, Susan Heyward, Paul Thornley, Olivia Bond, Ben Wheelwright, Jamie Parker, Poppy Miller and Sam Clemmett in "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two" at the Lyric Theatre in New York. (Manuel Harlan photo) NEW YORK "Harry, there's never a perfect answer in this messy, emotional world," says the deceased Dumbledore, his portrait talking from the stage. "Perfection is beyond the reach of humankind, beyond the reach of magic. In every shining moment of happiness is that drop of poison: the knowledge that pain will come again." Yes, dear reader, it surely will. Better, then, to heed Professor Dumbledore and head to the theater. Advertisement As based on a story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, written by Thorne and directed by Tiffany with organic, still-magical movement by Steven Hoggett, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" opened Sunday night inside Broadway's gorgeously renovated Lyric Theatre, the second production of a peerless international rollout. It is, at once, a feast of epic theatricality in celebration of the imagination; an immersive coda to the most powerful literary brand of a generation; and a must-see, totally enveloping, thoroughly thrilling chance to experience the global power of shared storytelling at its most robust. But what's the real reason that people are fighting for costly tickets and clamoring to see the leading members of the original London cast perform two consecutive shows with a total running time of more than five hours? What are the real secrets of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two"? Advertisement No, they're not the plot points and revelations that the producers exhort the audience to keep secret, understandably trying to extend one of the great delights of this show, which is to watch diverse peoples from all over the world around you squirm and cry out with pleasurable surprise as they hear the answers to questions lingering from their youth, back when they still read books with flashlights under the covers. Back before phones killed so much familial feeling. Nor do those secrets involve the plethora of theatrical tricks within a show filled with Jamie Harrison's magic, which (remarkably) manages to be both extraordinary and old-fashioned theatrical fun for the Muggles. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 Theatre Marquee for the Broadway Opening Day performance of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two" at The Lyric Theatre on April 22, 2018 in New York City. (Walter McBride / WireImage) The real secrets are of the heart, and they are revealed by Dumbledore, deep in Part Two. They explain everything about why the Potter phenomenon is so intense, long-lasting and, incredibly for these times, still capable of rising above all the usual divisions of race, gender, class and economic circumstance. Most kids' literature for the past couple of generations has focused on telling children that they are safe. But as adults well know, even if they usually pretend otherwise, children are not safe in our world. Children learn this fast. By admitting the presence of danger the inevitability of pain the great J.K. Rowling signaled to the smart children of the world that she was willing to tell them the truth. And they loved her for it, and they only love her more as they have become adults, many with kids of their own. Of course, Dumbledore doesn't stop there. He comes with advice, Rowling's advice, this show's advice, on how to be a parent and how to be a kid, which, weirdly enough, involves most of the same stuff: "Be honest to those you love. Show them your pain. To suffer is as human as to breathe." It's all a version of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love." It's why we go to the theater, and it explains why "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" will be on Broadway for years, if not decades. Actually, Edward James Hyland's Dumbledore is just a minor character, really, in a next-generation sequel that begins with a 37-year-old Harry (Jamie Parker) and Ginny (Poppy Miller), along with their friends, Hermione (Noma Dumezweni) and Ron (Paul Thornley), and their frenemy Draco Malfoy (Alex Price), all sending their own kids off to Hogwarts, the parents fearing for the safety and happiness of their children, as parents do, and the kids worrying about how they will live up to their parents' expectations. The two boys at the core of the story Albus Potter (Sam Clemmett) and Scorpius Malfoy (Anthony Boyle) carry especially heavy burdens, which might explain why Albus is sorted by the all-knowing hat into Slytherin House and why his dad keeps having nightmares about his own youth, staring out at his childhood self. "Cursed Child" does not restrict itself, like the famous novels, to a single year of school. Time is more pliant now. Albus and Scorpius look for allies maybe Delphi Diggory (Jessie Fisher), will be one, maybe not. But they learn that parentage means everything and nothing. Any more plot than that will just spoil your experience. I saw "Cursed Child" prior to its opening in London and, in terms of the acting, the principal cast only has improved, especially the fabulous Boyle, whose emotional energy empowers the production, and Dumezweni, whose complexity and moral authority have only risen. This is very much a generous, ensemble experience, as of course were the films. Harry Potter does not fight alone. Inevitably, the New York audience felt slightly less engaged last Wednesday, a consequence of more being now known about the show than originally was the case. But the level of engagement still is astonishing when compared with any other show. Advertisement And all the things that make "Cursed Child" so theatrically remarkable are only intensified now. The list begins with how Tiffany, Hoggett and the designer Christine Jones carved out a theatrical playing space for the storytelling, something that interacts with what you have in your head and does not compete with the images of the movies. That is, Snape still looks like Snape, Dolores Umbridge like Dolores Umbridge, but when Albus and Scorpius stare out at the intimidating sight of Hogwarts, all Tiffany and his lighting designer, Neil Austin, choose to do is turn on the houselights. At that moment, you see Hogwarts inside your mind and you're struck by the great beauty of both the theater and the people inside, all thinking and feeling as one about the power and limits of love. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com Enjoy someone else's drama A great theater city deserves a great theater critic. Enter Chris Jones. Subscribe now and get 4 weeks of full access for only 99. Jessie Mueller stars in a Broadway 'Carousel' that reminds us life is all too short From 2017: Want Broadway 'Harry Potter' tickets? It's complicated Advertisement 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'Hello, Dolly!' in Broadway in Chicago's upcoming season Read all of the Tribunes recent Broadway reviews Showcase Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP) Pakistan's Opposition parties on Thursday, urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to adjudicate upon the foreign funding case against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) without any further delay alleging that Imran Khan's party was using delaying tactics to avoid the case, a media report said. The ECP heard the case on no less than 75 occasions and passed at least 21 orders directing the PTI to file documents and financial records, but there had been no response so far. The PTI sought written and/or oral adjournment on various pretexts to delay the case, The News International reported. A delegation of the joint opposition comprising representatives from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) among other parties called on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and submitted a letter demanding early conclusion of the foreign funding case pending since November 14, 2014, the report said. The opposition's letter says there is no doubt that the PTI's delaying tactics are meant to delay the final verdict, which is imminent, including that from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Now there is no moral or legal reason left to further delay the case. On January 4 this year, the ECP's scrutiny committee, formed in March 2018 to examine the PTI's foreign funding in one month, finally submitted its report after 95 hearings and nearly four years, the report said. The report, based on eight volumes of record requisitioned through the SBP, proves that the PTI leadership had committed gross violations of funding laws by allowing the collection of millions of dollars and billions of rupees without any source and details from foreigners, including Indian nationals and foreign companies, the report further said. The letter demands that the foreign funding case be concluded on March 15 and, if at all needed, the case be heard on a daily basis to ensure final judgement as soon as possible. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal alleged that the PTI and its chairman Imran Khan had committed the biggest political fraud in the form of foreign funding, the report said. Last month, it was reported how overseas members of the Imran Khan-led PTI have allegedly paid their annual party membership fee through stolen credit cards. The report had further asserted that the receipts of payments clearly reflected a sham payment method, as in some cases only a single person paid the membership fee on behalf of more than 70 workers. However, instead of raising any objection to such dubious transactions, the party's finance department not only accepted the payment but issued them the party's Member Coordinator numbers. The developments come at a time when Imran Khan is facing immense opposition in the country over his misgovernance. The principal Opposition parties in Pakistan have come together to bring a no-confidence motion in Pakistan's National Assembly, to oust Khan. (ANI) Indian students, who were stranded in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, arrived in the country on special flights earlier today. "Students from Sumy are returning today to India. Their evacuation was particularly challenging," Jaishankar said in a statement. The External Affairs Minister also thanked all those who facilitated the smooth operations of Operation Ganga. "Operation Ganga, undertaken at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered due to both leadership and commitment," Jaishankar said. He added "We are thankful to all those who facilitated its (Operation Ganga's) objectives. Our particular gratitude to the authorities in Ukraine and Russia as well as the Red Cross for the evacuation assistance. "Ukraine's neighbours- Romania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Moldova gave us exceptional support. My sincerest thanks to them," he further said. "We are grateful to NGOs, individual volunteers, corporates, our airlines and the Indian Air Force who worked so tirelessly in this exercise," the minister said. The external affairs minister also appreciated his cabinet colleagues Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri and V.K. Singh for their presence on the ground in the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. He lauded the Indian embassy in Ukraine and the MEA personnel for their dedicated efforts in a difficult conflict situation. India has evacuated over 20,000 of its citizens from war-hit Ukraine under Operation Ganga. Earlier today, more flights carrying many Indian students from the City of Sumy in North-Eastern Ukraine landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be making a statement in the second part of the Budget Session in Parliament on the rescue operation to evacuate Indian students from the war zone in Ukraine and what is India's stand vis-a-vis the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Central government launched Operation Ganga on February 24 to bring back stranded Indians stuck in Ukraine. Four central ministers Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia and General VK Singh were sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to coordinate the efforts for the rescue in various countries. So far, India has been able to rescue around 20,000 stranded citizens in more than 80 special evacuation flights. Through its Operations Ganga, India has also been able to rescue several citizens who hail from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. During the operation, buses and trains brought Indians to the western borders of Ukraine and they were flown back to India via locations like Bucharest, Budapest, Suceava, and Warsaw. The last batch of over 600 students who were evacuated from Sumy was brought back to India via Poland. The second part of the Budget Session will begin on March 14 and will go on till April 8. In recent months, this has been India's largest evacuation drive to bring back stranded Indians after operation Devi Shakti was launched by the Modi government in Afghanistan last year. (ANI) The 'India Out' campaign in the Maldives being led by former President Abdulla Yameen and his supporters might have to do with Yameen's affinity with China, a media report said. India and Maldives signed an agreement in February 2021 under which India was to develop the harbour of the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard at Sifvaru-Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF). Yameen and his supporters dubbed the agreement as a way through which Indian troops would be stationed in the Maldives and in the months to come launched the 'India Out' campaign on social media accusing the Solih regime of compromising the sovereignty of the country. The report in the Maldives Voice said that when the UTF agreement was signed, a handful of Yameen led online news portals released very controversial articles on their sites. Despite the government's declaration that the agreement holds no national threat as being alleged by these news sites, they continue to frame charges to gain the public's attention, the report said. Reports also date the activities relating to anti-India sentiment way back to when Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party (PPM) became President in 2013, the report further said. China and Maldives established good relations when Yameen was in power. The Yameen regime saw the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) funding numerous scholarships, seminars and exchange programs in the country. In fact, the Yameen regime saw Xi Jinping become the first-ever Chinese president to visit the Maldives in 2014. An estimated 1.3 billion dollars of loans were taken during Yameen's tenure from China that was used in building the island country's airport and the 'Sinmale Friendship Bridge,' the report said, adding that, the loans taken during his regime were estimated to be more than a quarter of Maldives GDP. Yameen was ousted from power in 2018, with Ibrahim Mohamed Solih becoming the new President. Small media websites are today being funded to direct a political campaign which clearly will benefit China in the long run if Yameen gains power again, the report claimed. The Solih regime has gone all out to nullify the anti-India campaign. A bill termed as 'Bill on combating actions affecting diplomatic ties established between the Maldives and Foreign countries' was recently submitted to the People's Majlis to stop actions that may adversely affect relations between New Delhi and Male. The Foreign Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maldives Abdul Gafoor Mohamed has said that it was not only India that was expressing concerns but other countries that have set up embassies in the Maldives have also raised concerns regarding the matter and have requested strengthened security. (ANI) The Chinese state-owned companies during implementation of the FDI in oil and gas project in Myanmar have illegally acquired land by violating existing laws. In a recent development, China through its state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and South East Asia Oil Pipeline Co. Ltd. (SEAOP) and South East Asia Gas Pipeline Co. Ltd. (SEAGP) implemented the 2.5 billion dollar largest FDI investment in Myanmar, namely the Myanmar China Oil and Gas Pipeline (MCOGP). The gas and oil pipeline started at Kyauk Phyu in Rakhine state and ended in Nam Kham, a northeast border town with China. The pipeline measured 30 meters in width for a distance of 793 km. The Myanmar-China Pipeline Watch Committee (MCPWC), the only civil society organization in Myanmar dedicated to monitoring the Myanmar-China Oil and Gas Pipeline Project, in its research found that a large-scale foreign direct investment project in the country's oil and gas sector generated environmental destruction and had a major social impact on the life and livelihood of Myanmar's farmers. The MCPWC had conducted field research in 100 villages and published a report in January 2016 explaining in detail issues of land use, corruption, damage to farmland and land compensation. The MCPWC also met and discussed with the Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation Committee of the Upper House of Parliament. This Committee categorically stated that "the pipeline has been constructed dividing the country". The matter was discussed in the Parliament of Myanmar in December 2016. The then deputy minister of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy revealed that CNPC had acquired the land by paying direct compensation to the farmers. The transfer of land should, however, had to be done through the Transfer of Immovable Property Restriction Act 1987; Foreign Investment Law (2012), and Farmland Law (2012). According to the foreign investment law, the Myanmar-China pipeline project has the right to lease the land for the pipeline route from the Myanmar government through the long-term land lease agreement. If the lands along the pipeline route are the agricultural lands owned by the Myanmar citizen farmers, according to the 1894 land confiscation law or Article 29 of the 2012 farmland law, the concerned ministry of the Myanmar government (at that time, Ministry of Energy) was the only government entity that was entitled to conduct land acquisition from the farmers. As per the law, after taking the necessary lands from the farmers, the ministry had to enter into a legal process to change the land title from the farmlands to the other lands, according to Article 30 of the 2012 Farmland Law, or the old law's Article 39. Only after the title of the lands were changed, the ministry and the project operator CNPC-SEAP Company had to make a land lease agreement according to the foreign investment law and bylaw. "Without implementing these steps, the MOEE allowed CNPC-SEAP to directly make an agreement with the Myanmar farmers, giving an excuse that it was because the company invested their money in the compensation and when signing these agreements, it used the term "on behalf of MOGE." Therefore, MCPWC analyzed that the agreements actually violated the above mentioned existing laws", said a document. Sources reveal that the Myanmar China Oil and Gas Pipeline project violated Myanmar's existing laws because the company officials who were Chinese from the China-owned CNPC-SEAP made a direct agreement with individual Myanmar farmers to procure farmlands for the project. The project violated Myanmar's existing laws because it was implemented on the ground without legally changing the land title in accordance with the law. The document said, "In the special cases in Kyaukpadaung and Ngaphe townships among the six townships where the research was conducted, the farmers do not receive any copies of the compensation agreement. Thus, the farmers did not know whether the amount of compensation that they received was the same amount as it was shown in the agreements". The report also examined that the CNPC took no responsibility for post-construction requirements, namely soil erosion among the pipeline resulting in damage to water resources and environmental destruction. In effect as the land of 30 meters in width starting from the Myanmar western border to the Chinese border was acquired by Beijing, the country has in effect been split into two, resulting in affecting Myanmar's security and national interests adversely. (ANI) According to the MFA data, 1165 armored vehicles of different types, 57 aircraft, 83 helicopters, 125 artillery pieces, and 58 MLRs were hit during the combat. Furthermore, the destroyed facilities also include 60 cisterns, 558 vehicles, 3 vessels, 7 UAVs, and 31 Russian anti-aircraft warfare systems. As per the latest update, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and six injured as Russia shoots missiles at a military airbase in Lutsk, western Ukraine, said The Kyiv Independent. 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) Pakistan has decided to impose a 10 percent regulatory duty on the import of petrol from China in a bid to plug the loophole created by the agreement between Pakistan and China in 2019 that abolished tariff on import of petrol and subsequently caused losses of over Pakistani Rs 40 billion. Under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) renegotiated in 2019, the Pakistan government had issued statutory regulatory orders on December 31, 2019, that abolished tariff on the import of petrol. The avoidance of taxes by the oil marketing companies has caused over Rs 40 billion losses in just a few months. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has prepared a summary for the cabinet approval for the 10 pc regulatory duty on import of petrol from China, reported The Express Tribune. A few months ago, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi unveiled this misuse of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. The import of petrol is subject to 10% customs duty but no levy is collected if petrol is imported from China under CPFTA. In the budget that was passed by the Pakistani government, the customs duty was doubled, from 5 pc to 10 pc. Consequently, this increased the prices of oil, a very important fuel. The government has already taken a hit of Rs 40 billion on its revenues during the current fiscal year due to the duty-free import from China. On the current import value, the monthly losses due to the misuse of FTA have increased to Rs 22 billion, said a senior FBR officer, reported the newspaper. (ANI) On Thursday, addressing a press conference about the law and order situation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said that the attacks on police personnel in several districts were reported, Dawn newspaper reported. Ali Saif said that two policemen were killed in Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat in attacks on polio teams. Besides, he said, two policemen lost their lives in Peshawar, three in Mardan, one in Hazara, four in Kohat and three in Bannu. Eight policemen were injured in the provincial capital, one in Mardan, three in Hazara, two in Bannu and 10 in Dera Ismail Khan, he added. Saif said that three facilitators of Koocha Risladar mosque attack were killed during an encounter in Khyber tribal district on Monday night, Dawn newspaper reported. He also said that during the first two months, a total of 438 cases of murder took place in the province. (ANI) The Kremlin said that it's "necessary" to ban Facebook and Instagram if they allowed calls for violence against Russia, reported Sputnik. Earlier in the day, Meta announced a concerning change in its company policy, giving a green light to calls for violence against Russian soldiers on its platforms in some countries amid Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders.' We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. The Sputnik news agency reported the US media giant is going to allow posts that call for death to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in a number of countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Poland. This decision comes a few days after Russia blocked access to Facebook and other social media platforms, saying that it had discriminated against Russian media and information resources. Media reports said that the Russian websites of BBC and Deutsche Welle, Twitter, and Apple and Google's app stores were all blocked. "In March 2022, a decision was made to block access to the Facebook network (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.) in the Russian Federation," the Russian media regulator statement had said. Meta president Nick Clegg said the company was doing "everything we can to restore our services". Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, which it claimed was a response to calls from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk for protection against attacks by Ukrainian troops. (ANI) According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the Russian delegation has made proposals to Ukraine in the form of a legal document during the latest round of talks between Russia and Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Russian MFA wrote, "During the latest round of talks in Belarus the Russian delegation made highly specific proposals, this time in the form of a legally binding draft document. The Ukrainian delegation said they would take them to Kyiv for discussion." The third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine took place on Monday. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators on Monday failed to achieve significant results during their third round of peace talks held in Belarus. Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said that there was some small progress in improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine. Podolyak, who is also an advisor to the head of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, said intensive consultations continued on the main political block of the settlement along with a ceasefire and security guarantees. "The third round of negotiations has ended. There are small positive subductions in improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors... Intensive consultations have continued on the basic political block of the regulations, along with a ceasefire and security guarantees," Podolyak tweeted. On February 24, Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics to defend themselves against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. (ANI) Chinese FM exchanges views on Ukraine issue with French, Italian counterparts Xinhua) 08:29, March 11, 2022 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanges views on the situation in Ukraine with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian via video link on March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine respectively with his French and Italian counterparts via video link. When meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Wang said the major consensus reached by Chinese, French and German leaders during a virtual summit held on Tuesday should be well implemented. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the summit. China's stance is consistent and clear, Wang said. "We would like to see an early ceasefire and cessation of fighting, which is also the common aspiration of the international community." Concerning the three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Wang said that although there remain obvious differences between the two sides, the differences will be reduced each time the two speak, the hope for peace will increase, and the goal of a ceasefire and cessation of fighting will be further advanced. China hopes that the international community will continue to encourage and support Russia-Ukraine negotiations and create the necessary environment and conditions for these negotiations, Wang said. Concerning the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Wang said that China has not only made great efforts to evacuate Chinese nationals, but has also played a positive role in evacuating citizens of other countries, especially students. "China has put forward a six-point proposal to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and is ready to step up communication with France and push the UN Security Council to reach a relevant consensus," he said. He noted that China always opposes long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. He said that in the case of weak global economic recovery, unlimited sanctions will undermine the stability of international industrial and supply chains, aggravate the food and energy crisis, and hurt people's livelihoods in all countries. For his part, Le Drian said that France supports efforts to promote peace and hopes that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will continue. France is ready to continue cooperation with China at the UN Security Council, and contribute to preventing a humanitarian crisis and promoting the diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine issue. During the meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Wang said that the Ukraine crisis is closely related to European security and stability, and China fully understands the great concern of European countries and is deeply grieved that the situation in Ukraine has reached its current state. "China is not a party involved, but as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will continue to make efforts to ease tensions and seek peace in our own way," he said. Wang stressed that behind the Ukraine crisis lies the issue of European security. He said European countries should conduct in-depth and comprehensive discussions with Russia on the basis of the agreement reached so far and in accordance with the principle of the indivisibility of security, so as to form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework and achieve lasting peace and stability in Europe. Di Maio said that Italy is paying close attention to China's six-point humanitarian proposal and stands ready to strengthen communication with China and make joint efforts to promote peace talks. The European security mechanism requires equal consultation among all parties to achieve win-win outcomes, the Italian foreign minister said. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanges views on the situation in Ukraine with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio via video link on March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Chicago Public Schools is asking for feedback on two proposals that would alter the selective enrollment admissions process in a way the district says would ensure low-income students have a better chance at snagging those coveted seats. Both district proposals would affect how seats are distributed within the tier system, which is rooted in the socioeconomic status of Chicagos neighborhoods. Advertisement Parents can weigh in at cpsengagement.com. If CPS settles on one proposal, the updated policy would be posted for public comment for 30 days. If approved by the Chicago Board of Education, the amended policy would take effect for entry in the 2023-24 school year. I have heard a lot of concerns on all ends of the spectrum for selective enrollment, and I just want to say that we are really looking forward to creating changes that will be moving our process to become more equitable, CPS policy program manager Ali Fendrick said Thursday in a virtual presentation to parents. I know its a touchy subject. There are a few amount of schools. Advertisement CPS has 28 selective enrollment elementary schools and 11 selective enrollment high schools. These schools allot 30% of their seats to students with the highest grades and scores on the district admissions test, regardless of their ZIP code or income level. The remaining 70% of seats are divided equally among high-achieving students within four residential tiers, which are determined by factors such as median income, percentage of families who own homes and percentage of single-parent homes in the students neighborhood. The district said it found selective enrollment schools are disproportionately white and Asian compared to other CPS schools because the vast majority of students who earned the first 30% of seats come from higher-income neighborhoods. In that 30% rank, 85% of elementary school seats and 73% of high school seats go to students in the top two socio-economic tiers, according to CPS. In one proposal, schools would continue to reserve 30% of seats for the high-performing students, but more seats would be allocated to students from the less-advantaged tiers. The second proposal would eliminate the 30% rank altogether and divide the seats equally among the four tiers. Most people that I have engaged about this policy and this specific part of the policy are in favor of removing the 30% rank, Fendrick said. Whitney Young Magnet High School, shown in 2020, is one of the selective enrollment high schools in Chicago Public Schools. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) At last months Board of Education meeting, board member Dwayne Truss noted that the point of selective enrollment schools was not to create mini Harvard, Ivy League schools. It was supposed to serve as a model to say, we want to make sure all of our high schools have these great resources and are given equitable resources. So that way, it doesnt make a difference (which school you attend). A parent will say, Hey, my neighborhood school got these great, wonderful things just like Jones (College Prep) or Whitney Young (Magnet High School), Truss said, referring to two selective enrollment high schools. So when we talk about that policy, families and people need to be educated about the history of it all and part of the history being that history of deep segregation here. Advertisement Of the 330,000 students enrolled across 600-plus CPS schools, nearly 47% identify as Latino, 36% Black, nearly 11% white and 4% Asian. In a Wednesday discussion hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said there will be a re-imagining of neighborhood schools to make sure high-quality programs are available across the district. He did not give details on these plans, but said more to come. Lauren Sartain was part of a team at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research that used CPS data to compare outcomes for students who attended selective enrollment high schools to those who attended nonselective, high-performing high schools. Really, on average, high-achieving students are going to do well no matter where they go. So whether or not the students went to a selective enrollment or another CPS school, they graduated from high school at really high rates. They enrolled in college at really high rates, said Sartain, now an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I bring this up because I hope at least that it takes some of the pressure off that families and students feel around getting an admission offer from a selective enrollment high school. Changes to pre-K enrollment also on the way During Thursdays virtual presentation, CPS also announced proposed changes to the prekindergarten application process, which is scheduled to open April 19. Children would be able to rank up to five schools they are interested in attending, instead of two. CPS would prioritize students in temporary living situations; students with individual education plans; siblings of students already enrolled; and students who live nearby the school. Advertisement For students who want to attend a magnet kindergarten, CPS is proposing prioritizing students within the attendance boundaries, siblings of students who already attend the school, children of staff members and prekindergarten students already enrolled in the school before relying on results of the citywide lottery. We did not have, for the longest time, attendance boundaries or requirements or even enrollment policies for pre-K, and so as a result of that, we noticed that only about 68% of our pre-K students remain in the same school for kindergarten as they did for pre-K, said Leslie McKinily, deputy chief of the Office of Early Childhood Education. We really heard a lot from families, as well as from building administrators, as well as chiefs, about building this pipeline from pre-K to kindergarten, really valuing the continuity of care between families starting in pre-K as early as 3 years old and staying within the same school up until theyre an eighth grader. Besides Jones and Whitney Young, the other selective enrollment high schools are Brooks, Hancock, Lane Tech, Lindblom, King, Northside, Payton, South Shore and Westinghouse. tswartz@tribpub.com The Mayor of Richmond City of California, Tom Butt on Thursday (local time) declared March 10 as the Tibetan Uprising Day. The move comes on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. Richmond City Council does hereby declare March 10, 2022, as Tibetan Uprising Day in the City of Richmond and invites community members to attend the virtual Tibetan flag-raising ceremony being held on March 9, 2022, at 10:00 am to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Tibetan uprising, read the proclamation of City of Richmond, signed by Mayor Butt. The City of Richmond is home to the Tibetan Association of Northern California's community centre and serves the third-largest Tibetan community in the United States, a vibrant community that has contributed to the diversity of our culture and tradition. The City has long supported the Tibetan people, having welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he visited the Tibetan Community Center in 2014 and has renamed a part of Huntington Avenue to Dalai Lama Avenue in honour of his 84th birthday, added Mayor Butt. The City of Richmond stands in solidarity with the Tibetan people and their just, peaceful, and non-violent movement to remind the world of the occupation, suppression, and degradation of culture, religion, land, and identity of the Tibetan people by China, said the proclamation. On March 10, 1959, the Tibetan people revolted against the brutal occupation of their homeland by the communist Chinese forces. For Tibetans in exile, March 10 every year marks the anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. In the 1959 Tibetan uprising, tens of thousands of Tibetans took to the streets of Lhasa, Tibet's capital, against the People's Republic of China's illegal invasion, occupation, suppression of human rights and freedom, and intentional marginalization of Tibetan language, culture, and identity. Moreover, the 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in China published by the United States Department of State asserts, "Significant human rights issues included: forced disappearances; torture; arbitrary detention; political prisoners; censorship and website blocking; substantial interference with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; severe restrictions on religious freedom; severe restrictions on freedom of movement; and restrictions on political participation," read the proclamation. In December of 2020, the United States Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Tibet Policy and Support Act, making it official policy that the Dalai Lama's succession is strictly a religious issue that only he and his followers can decide on, strengthening the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002. The Act also addressed water security and environmental destruction in Tibet, providing humanitarian assistance for Tibetans, and pushing China to negotiate with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan leaders without preconditions. (ANI) On the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day, a protest was held by Tibetans at various places in London including the Chinese Embassy with protestors raising their voice against China's illegal occupation of Tibet. The protestors carried placards with slogans "Tibet is not a part of China", "Tibetans demand freedom", "China stolen my land but not my voice Free Tibet" among others. To mark the Tibetan National Uprising Day, a series of events took place in London. A flag-raising ceremony at Town Hall, Woolwich Royal Borough of Greenwich was organized by the protestors. It was attended by Councillor Denise Hyland, the Mayor, and Councillor Danny Thorpe, the Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich; Sonam T Frasi, Representative of Dalai Lama from The Office of Tibet; Four Board Members of Greenwich Tibetan Association (GTA), of the Tibetan Community UK; and Tsering Passang representing both Tibetan Community in Britain (TCB) Council and Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities. Passang suggested the Mayor felicitate Dalai Lama with an award like a messenger of peace in an online event to create awareness among people about the Tibetan issue. Concurrently a protest took place at 10 Downing Street, White Hall, London. Tim Loughon MP, Chris Law MP, Kerry McCarthy MP, Sam Walton (CEO Free Tibet), and Druktar (former Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) Director) spoke on the Tibetan issues. After that protesters marched towards the Chinese Embassy. Numerous speakers including Councillor Rabina Khan from London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Tenzin Sangmo, an activist from Bristol gave a very powerful speech on the repression of Tibetans by the Chinese outside the Chinese Embassy. The event concluded after another small event at YMCA Indian Student Hostel, 41 Fitzroy Square, where Sonam Frasi (Office of Tibet), Tenzin Wangdu (Chair of Tibetan Community UK), Losel (university student), Rapga (university graduate), and a Free Tibet presentation spoke about the historical significance of the day. March 10 marks a very important day for Tibetan people all over the world. It was on this day in 1959 when the Tibetans revolted against the forcible occupation of their motherland by the Chinese Communist Party. The Tibetan Uprising in 1959 began as a spontaneous act of peaceful protest demonstrations against the Chinese in the capital Lhasa which later turned violent in which thousands of Tibetans were killed by the marauding soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). (ANI) Facing political challenge and discontent at home, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan appears to think that the United States is behind the Opposition's no-confidence motion (NCM) that aims to remove his government. Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), "is increasingly promoting a narrative that the international establishment, presumably the US, is behind the current move of the Opposition i.e. no-confidence motion (NCM)," writes Jan Achakzai in an op-ed in The News International (March 7, 2022). The writer, a politician from Balochistan and an ex-adviser to the Balochistan government on media and strategic communication asks, "Is it true and does the US still have such capability of affecting regime change in Pakistan? Khan has cut out his frequent pronouncements against the US and the West in the wake of his visit to Moscow last month, a day after Russia-Ukraine launched its military operations in Ukraine, observing that he had arrived amidst "a lot of excitement." He did meet President Vladimir Putin for a photo-op and a general discussion, but no bilateral talks, nor any of the planned agreements were signed. Khan faced a lot of flak at home and in the West, but justified the visit saying it was to "improve bilateral relations." He resumed his anti-West stance last week and criticised Western envoys in Islamabad for 'pressurising Pakistan" to condemn the Russian invasion in Ukraine. He insisted that Pakistan intends to stay 'neutral.' Analysts say it is easy to invoke popular anti-West sentiment in Pakistan, although its generals and politician alike have remained pro-West, and benefited from it immensely. Pakistan was a member of the erstwhile CENTO and SEATO military pacts. After facilitating the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, it was nominated "non-NATO ally" in the "fight against terrorism". But successive US administrations since 2001 have also accused Pakistan governments of "beating on both sides of the drum." This became more pronounced as Pakistan actively facilitated the return of the Taliban to Kabul last August for which the US had to conduct a hasty and chaotic evacuation. This factor bolstered the feeling in Washington that the Biden Admin may no longer need the active support of the PTI government in Afghanistan. Following this, the Biden administration, analysts say, has yet to figure out Pakistan's role post-withdrawal, and in the South Asian region. Achakzai recalls, "Then the infamous call was not made to PM by President Biden which left the PTI government bitter towards the US Admin. The PTI government boycotted the "Democracy Conference" called in and presided over by the Biden Admin. The government also failed to put forth any cogent reason for the boycott except linking the move with ostensibly balancing Chinese concerns. "It would have been better for the PTI government to join the Conference as a confident democratic polity and asserted its stance of any presumed US hypocrisy on democracy," he observes. The PTI government tried to balance by not joining condemnation of Russia and abstained in UNGA while making statements that implicitly disapprove invasion. It made the government appear on the wrong side of the US Admin-led international consensus, still. The perception of hard lean on Russia is the last thing the PTI government wants." Achakzai stresses that "the narrative of the US being behind the no-confidence motion is systematically being promoted to make the PM a political martyr for "defying the US" and is driven largely by a populist streak of the PTI. But the main factors behind the NCM are domestic." (ANI) Hanafi made these remarks in his meeting with a delegation from International Rescue Committee (IRC). Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Inamullah Samangani said, if the International Community assists the Afghan farmers in providing their alternative, the IEA is committed to making efforts in uprooting narcotics across Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. Meanwhile, the head of IRC in Afghanistan Vicki Aken said that delivering health services to deprived areas is a priority of the IRC and a suggestion has been made to the de facto authorities in this regard. Further, Deputy Director of the committee Zahra Wardak said, the committee is interested in not only working for Afghan women and children but also for the financial self-sufficiency of Afghan women, Khaama Press reported. Opium and other drugs are being sold in open markets in the southern provinces, TOLOnews reported. As per TOLOnews, the two provinces of Kandahar and Helmand have been recognized as one of the top poppy producers. 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) India and Canada held the fifth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) in New Delhi on Friday and relaunched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations to unlock the full potential of bilateral trade. The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development. The Ministers underlined the robust trade and economic relationship between India and Canada and resolved to further strengthen the bilateral ties and economic partnership. They expressed satisfaction over the strong recovery of bilateral trade in 2021 after the economic contraction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with bilateral trade in goods reaching USD 6.29 billion registering a growth rate of 12 per cent as compared to the previous year. Moreover, the Ministers emphasized the contribution of the services sector in furthering the bilateral relationship and noted the significant potential for increasing bilateral services trade. They appreciated the impressive growth of two-way foreign direct investment and its contribution to deepening economic and trade ties. Both welcomed various reforms and initiatives taken by both countries to improve the business ecosystem and make it investor-friendly. Both sides highlighted the existing trade complementarities between India and Canada and recognised the need to expand bilateral trade through unlocking the potential across priority and emerging sectors both in goods and services. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trade and commercial ties through enhanced partnerships and cooperation in identified areas such as agro-products, chemicals, footwear, textiles, automobiles, energy, electronics, minerals and metals, urban development, information technology and tourism. At the conclusion of the 5th India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment, a joint statement underlines the resolve of both countries to further strengthen their bilateral ties and economic partnership. The Ministers discussed a range of other bilateral trade issues during the meeting. India also noted its interest in recognition of traditional medicine including Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems. Canada noted its interest in market access for cherries and lumber. They acknowledged growing concerns about challenges to global supply chains. They emphasised enhancing cooperation in sectors such as critical and rare earth minerals for mutual benefit. Both sides discussed the potential for strengthening the cooperation in the public health sector given that India is a reliable partner for Canada in supplying quality and affordable pharmaceutical products, particularly generic medicines. The Ministers recognised the potential for expanding cooperation between India and Canada in tourism. India welcomed the recent announcement by Canada easing the COVID-19 testing regulations for travellers from India. Reaffirming their commitment to the rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open, and inclusive multilateral trading system embodied by the World Trade Organization, the Ministers agreed to work together to further strengthen it. The Ministers agreed to remain engaged to provide sustained momentum to building linkages and strengthening cooperation across sectors to harness the full potential of the trade and investment relationship between India and Canada. (ANI) Amid the Sixteenth day of war between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to discuss Ukraine and Western sanctions. Putin said that there had been some progress in Moscow's talks with Ukraine, but provided no details, reported Sputnik. "There are certain positive shifts, negotiators on our side tell me," Putin said in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, adding that talks continued "practically on a daily basis". Putin did not elaborate but said in the televised remarks that he would go into more detail with Lukashenko. Meanwhile, Lukashenko said that Ukraine planned to attack not only Donbas but also Belarus. The Belarusian leader said that he brought a map which shows from where Ukraine planned to attack Belarus, reported Sputnik. "And if six hours before the operation there had not been a preventive strike on the positions - four positions, I will now show the map, I brought it - they would have attacked our troops of Belarus and Russia ... we did not unleash this war, our conscience is clear. It's good that we started," Lukashenko said. "They were not only preparing to attack the Donbas, they lined up positions to strike at Belarus," Lukashenko added. Earlier, European Union on Wednesday announced new sanctions against Russia and Belarus targeting Russian leaders, oligarchs, their family members, and the maritime sector.The measures disconnected three Belarus banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system. The agreed measures will restrict the provision of SWIFT services to Belagroprombank, Bank Dabrabyt, and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, as well as their Belarusian subsidiaries.(ANI) Ottawa [Canada], March 11 (ANI/Sputnik): Canada is banning imports of oil products from Russia, the Canadian government announced on Friday. "Petroleum.3.5 (1) It is prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to import, purchase or acquire any good referred to in column 1 of Schedule 5, wherever situated, from Russia or from any person in Russia," the statement said. The ban "does not apply to goods if a contract for the import, purchase or acquisition of the good is entered into before the day on which this section comes into force," it added. (ANI/Sputnik) Some of the students were seen with the Indian Ambassador to Poland, Nagma Mohamed Mallick and other members of the Poland evacuation team at the Rzeszow airport. Taking to Twitter, the Indian Embassy in Warsaw wrote, "600 Indians evacuated from Sumy flew out in 3 special flights out of Poland- the last of the Op Ganga flights! Some of the students are seen here with Amb Mallick and other members of the Poland evacuation team at Rzeszow airport." External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday lauded authorities who facilitated the smooth conduct of Operation Ganga launched by the Government of India to bring back students from war-hit Ukraine. "Students from Sumy are returning today to India. Their evacuation was particularly challenging," Jaishankar said in a statement. The External Affairs Minister also thanked all those who facilitated the smooth operations of Operation Ganga. India has evacuated over 20,000 of its citizens from war-hit Ukraine under Operation Ganga. Earlier today, more flights carrying many Indian students from the City of Sumy in North-Eastern Ukraine landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. (ANI) Facing political challenge and discontent at home, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan's government is in hurry to "wrap up" no-trust move by the Opposition parties. The government and federal ministers on Thursday suggested that the matter should be wrapped up before the session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), reported The Express Tribune. The ministers have also asked National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to convene a session of the lower house of parliament for this purpose next week. They also suggested that voting should be held next week after three days of debate. According to the rules, an NA session has to be convened in 14 days after the submission of a requisition - which will be completed on March 22, reported The Express Tribune. On March 8, the united opposition front had submitted a requisition for a no-confidence motion against the chief executive of the country. The submission of the requisition was followed by a news conference by the top leadership of the opposition parties, including PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, JUI-F and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP leader Asif Zardari, who said that the days of the prime minister were numbered and that no rhetoric could save him anymore, reported The Express Tribune. At the news conference, the top guns of the opposition parties appeared confident that they would succeed in passing the no-trust motion against the premier, saying the opposition would surely bring the members and make sure that it had more than 172 members' support. Pakistan's main opposition parties have filed a no-confidence motion against the Pakistan PM on Tuesday in the National Assembly. (ANI) European Union on Friday (local time) said that it will table proposals by the end of May to phase out the dependency of European Nations on Russian gas, oil and coal by 2027. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in a tweet wrote, "By end of May we will propose to phase out our dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal by 2027. It will be backed by the necessary national and European resources. And we'll present options to optimise the electricity market design, so it better supports the green transition." The EU has also announced a Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) programme for Ukraine at this time of war. European Union on Friday (Local Time) disbursed EUR 300 million, the first payment of a EUR 1.2 billion package to support war-torn Ukraine. This is the initial part of the first EUR 600 million instalments under Ukraine's new EUR 1.2 billion emergency MFA programme. A further disbursement of EUR 300 million is expected to take place next week. The programme represents a concrete demonstration of the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine, an EU statement read. "The disbursement of funds has been fast-tracked to help enhance Ukraine's macroeconomic stability in the context of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion," said the EU statement.The disbursement comes following a swift adoption of the Commission's proposal for a new emergency programme by the Council and the European Parliament. On February 24, Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics to defend themselves against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. (ANI) The dyeing of the Chicago River commences, as seen from the 39th floor penthouse ballroom at the Royal Sonesta hotel, on March 12, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Chicagos St. Patricks Day Parade and the dyeing of the Chicago River will bring a crowd downtown Saturday after a two-year break due to the pandemic. And as people visit downtown for the daytime festivities, Irish pub employees are also preparing for what they say is their busiest day of the year after 24 months of uncertainty and restrictions. Advertisement The Chicago River will be dyed green for the 60th year at 10 a.m. Saturday, between Orleans Street and Columbus Drive, a wider area than in pre-pandemic years. The parade will start at 12:15 p.m. at East Balbo and South Columbus drives and move north on Columbus to East Monroe Street. Advertisement The parade will honor essential workers. It will feature more than 100 units, said Dave Adams, operations manager and parade coordinator at the citys Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Adams said he expects people will be eager to see the St. Patricks Day Parade after not having one for two years, calling it the unofficial start of spring and event season in Chicago. I think, you know, the public is itching to attend a parade, Adams said. I think its a Chicago tradition. Especially the river dyeing. Temperatures in the mid- to low-20s might be a factor in how many people attend the river dyeing or the parade, Adams said. But in pre-pandemic years, on a nicer weather day, about 50,000 people would attend the parade. Adams said some of the difficulty of this years planning was making sure they were going to have the event because they had to plan for city departments to have all the resources needed to ensure the parade is safe. That means departments had to plan for employees to work overtime on a Saturday, Adams said. The Office of Emergency Management, in a news release, said people should always be aware of their surroundings in large crowds and report suspicious activity. Chicago will have citywide deployments for the St. Patricks Day Weekend to ensure the safety and security of the public, according to the OEMC statement. OEMC will monitor weekend events and weather conditions citywide from the operations center and coordinate public safety resources with the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and city of Chicago infrastructure departments, the statement said. Advertisement As part of planning leading up to the parade, Adams said his team also looked at COVID-19 case numbers and saw they were pointing in the right direction. People will not be required to wear a mask or show proof of vaccine to attend the parade. On Thursday, the seven-day average case positivity rate, meaning the average number, over the previous seven days, of COVID-19 positive cases, was at 1.2%. Parade organizers were recommending people use public transit to get to the downtown festivities. Chicago Transit Authority will be offering $5 day passes and $15 three-day passes this weekend. Metra will also offer day passes at $7 or a weekend pass for $10. Adult Metra riders can also bring up to three children 11 and under on the train with them for free. As city officials prepare for large groups of people watching the river turn green and then the parade, nearby Irish pub managers have been preparing for the aftermath at-capacity restaurants with patrons eating corned beef and cabbage and drinking all day. Mat Haywood, bar manager at OCallaghans, is expecting a line out the door. He recalled being busy despite the parade being canceled in 2020, with people who had come for the parade deciding to still go out that night not knowing that everything would shut down a few days later. Advertisement He also recalled how his staff handled St. Patricks Day celebrations in 2021, with limited capacity, mask requirements and social distancing. We were like rock stars with all of the rules that we had to follow, Haywood said. They spray-painted shamrocks out the door to ensure people would social distance while waiting in line to go into the bar, Haywood said. The pub also staffed security counting the amount of people inside and ensuring people were staying seated at their tables and were wearing masks. So it was hard, you know, bartending and managing through the whole pandemic is was tricky, Haywood said. It was hard, was stressful. But we did it you know, were lucky that were still here. Kieran Ahern, general manager of Fado, said his staff has been ordering extra product for a couple weeks, slicing corned beef for a week and he had 60 kegs of Guinness delivered a few days ago. Advertisement Were delighted its back, Ahern said of the parade, adding that its the busiest day of the year for Fado, along with St. Patricks Day. Ahern moved to the U.S. from Limerick, Ireland, when he was 26, in 1997. After living in Florida two years, he moved to Chicago in 1999 and within days he got a job at Fado, where hes worked ever since, he said. After the pandemic shut down restaurants in 2020 then reduced capacity and added other safety requirements for businesses, it took Ahern about six months to hire back enough staff to keep the restaurant going once he could increase his customer capacity, he said. Expecting a much larger crowd than usual on Saturday, Ahern asked former employees to work a shift for the day and hes relying on his family to help him run the pub Saturday. Its truly a family affair for me, Ahern said. My dad and my brother are playing in the band thats playing some of the music. My wife is working the door. My son is behind the bar and my daughter is on the floor. My older daughter is food running. My daughters boyfriend is food running. So it is were truly kind of trying to pull everybody in that we can to just help out. The band his dad and brother are part of, Nappertandy, will be playing at the pub in the afternoon, and the Chicago Irish Band will play Saturday night. The two bands will also be playing on St. Patricks Day, Ahern said. Advertisement Although Ahern is expecting a lot of people, he said he thinks itll take a while for crowds to get back to what they were before the pandemic. I dont believe theres as many people coming into town for it as there would be in previous years just given you know, a lot of the uncertainty that existed, Ahern said. So I think it will take a year or two for it. To come back to kind of pre-pandemic levels. scasanova@chicagotribune.com Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (Local Time) held a meeting, via videoconference, with permanent members of the Security Council where they discussed weapon assistance in Donbass, NATO's military beef up in eastern flank and sending of mercenaries to Ukraine. Putin, regarding the mobilisation of mercenaries from all over the world and sending them to Ukraine said that if Russia sees that some volunteers would like to come and help the people in Donbass, especially without pay, then Russia should meet them halfway and help them relocate to the war zone. Putin also supported the decision to hand over military units in the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics. Further, upon military built-up of NATO countries in the eastern region, Putin asked the members to prepare a report on it separately. Putin stated the above after Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu shared issues for discussion and later asked for approval with the President. He said that firstly, Russia is receiving a huge number of requests from all manner of volunteers from different countries, who would like to come to the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics to take part in the "liberation movement." "The largest number of requests, over 16,000, has come from the Middle East. We believe that we should grant these requests, especially since the matter does not concern money but a genuine desire of these people. We know many of them; they helped us fight ISIS in the most difficult period, during the past 10 years. This is the first point," said Shoigu, reported Kremlin. Secondly, he also suggested turning the air defence systems such as man-portable SAMs, and anti-tank missile systems over to the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics to build up the combat ability of their militia. "We have seized a large number of Ukrainian weapons, such as tanks, armoured vehicles, all types of small arms, and artillery systems. There are also many Javelins and Stingers. We suggest transferring them to the Lugansk and Donetsk militias as well so that they can defend their republics more effectively," he added. Thirdly, he talked about the 'serious issue' of the west that is beefing up its forces near Russia's western borders. "New units are arriving every day, and they are deploying them at a time when absolutely nothing threatens them. Nevertheless, we believe that they want to take advantage of this situation and to saturate the area along the border with forces and resources to the maximum extent, and they will undoubtedly want to preserve this situation for a long time," he noted during the meeting, reported Kremlin. Taking part in the meeting were Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chair of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov. 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) The ECP served notices to PM Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and others for attending a public gathering in Lower Dir ahead of KP LG polls, reported ARY News. The election commission also issued notices to Speaker National Assembly (NA) Asad Qaiser, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, federal ministers including Murad Saeed, Pervez Khattak and the provincial minister Anwar Zeb Khan for visiting Lower Dir to attend the public gathering. The first phase of elections was held in 17 districts on December 19 and the second phase of KP LG polls will be held in the province on March 31. The president, prime minister, lawmakers and governors cannot visit the area after the announcement of the election schedule, the ECP said. The ECP had on January 20 announced the schedule and a code of conduct for the second phase of local government elections in 18 districts of the province, reported the news channel. The ECP has warned Prime Minister Imran Khan of legal action in case of any violation of its code of conduct under Sections 233 and 234 of the Election Act of Pakistan. (ANI) Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], March 12 (ANI/Xinhua): The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said at least 749 civilians have died as a result of acts of violence in the context of the conflict in northern Ethiopia. In a 110-page report published on Friday, the state-affiliated EHRC said it has found that all parties to the conflict have, to varying degrees, committed violations of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law. "The parties have caused civilian deaths, physical injuries, and property destruction by using civilians as human shields, conducting military operations from homes and in urban areas," the report said. The EHRC said that investigations for the latest Report on Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Afar and Amhara Regions of Ethiopia were conducted between September and December 2021. In areas covered by the investigation, the EHRC verified that at least 403 civilians have died and 309 have suffered minor to serious physical injuries as a result of heavy artillery, air raids and drone attacks by parties to the conflict in violation of international humanitarian law. "At least 346 other civilians have been subjected to unlawful and extra-judicial killings by parties to the conflict, mainly by Tigray Forces in parts of the stated regions," the report said. Forces of the Oromo Liberation Army, which the government calls "Shane," also committed targeted killings of government officials and their family members, and civilians they accused of supporting the government, the report said. The Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Amhara Special Forces, Fano (ethnic Amhara youth militia) and other militias also committed unlawful and extrajudicial killings and caused physical injuries to civilians they suspected of supporting Tigray Forces or "Shane," the report noted. "Tigray Forces committed widespread, cruel, and systematic sexual and gender-based violence, including gang rape against women of different ages... in parts of Afar and Amhara regions under their control," the report said. The investigation team conducted 427 confidential interviews and held 136 meetings and discussions with various government authorities, religious leaders and community elders and displaced people, covering over 50 locations in both regions, the EHRC said. (ANI/Xinhua) Europe will ban the export of luxury goods from the European Union to Russia, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. The European Union detailed on Friday afternoon some of the new sanctions it will impose on Russia in coming days, following an agreement by Group of Seven industrialized nations to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin, The Wall Street Journal reported. The European Commission President said that in addition to revoking Russia's benefits as a World Trade Organization member and fresh measures against Russian elites close to the Kremlin, the EU will ban the export of luxury goods to Russia. "Those who sustain Putin's war machine should no longer be able to enjoy their lavish lifestyle while bombs fall on innocent people in Ukraine," she said, according to The Wall Street Journal. The head of the European Commission also said that the EU would also prohibit the import of key goods in the iron and steel sector from Russia, which she said would deprive the Kremlin of billions of euros of export revenue. The EU will also propose a broad ban on EU investments into Russia's energy sector. That could cover all investments, technology transfers, financial and other services for energy exploration and production in oil and gas fields, he Wall Street Journal reported. Furthermore, the EU will also propose a broad ban on EU investments into Russia's energy sector. That could cover all investments, technology transfers, financial and other services for energy exploration and production in oil and gas fields. The announcement comes after EU leaders met Thursday and Friday in Versailles, France, and pledged to announce new sanctions. (ANI) Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday lashed out at Pakistani Prime minister Imran Khan and told him to "keep his fight political," after Pakistani PM verbally assaulted the opposition. He was speaking at the press conference organized by JUI-F chief along with PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Pakistani broadcaster Geo News reported on Friday. The PDM chief claimed to have the majority to overthrow the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government and also warned Pakistani PM that they have experience in dealing with such a situation. Meanwhile, citing the parliament incident where Islamabad police arrested two JUI-F MNAs along with several Ansar-ul-Islam workers, the PDM chief said that the episode was a "cruel and barbaric act" and the "worst incident in the history of the Parliament". "We will not allow Khan to derail the country from the path of economic development," he added. To counterattack Imran's allegation on Shahbaz for corruption, Shabaz questioned about the corrupt practices going within the Khan's house citing PM's sister Aleema Khan's properties outside Pakistan. "I warn you to keep your tongue in control, or we know how to control it," he was quoted as saying by Geo News. On the other hand, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticised PM Khan for referencing the army during his rally. Taking to Twitter, Zardari called him a loser and said, "Imran Khan's abusive language is the biggest proof he knows he's losing. Have you ever heard a winning captain abuse his opponents? No, losers do. His reference to the army in public jalsa while no confidence is pending is pathetic, desperate and will not work." The Election Commission of Pakistan issued a notice on Friday against Pakistani PM over alleged violation of the code of conduct as he attended a public gathering in Lower Dir ahead of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local government election and summoned him on March 14. (ANI) OKUMA, Japan (AP) Eleven years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was ravaged by a meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami, the plant now looks like a sprawling construction site. Most of the radioactive debris blasted by the hydrogen explosions has been cleared and the torn buildings have been fixed. During a recent visit by journalists from The Associated Press to see firsthand the cleanup of one of the worlds worst nuclear meltdowns, helmeted men wore regular work clothes and surgical masks, instead of previously required hazmat coveralls and full-face masks, as they dug near a recently reinforced oceanside seawall. Workers were preparing for the planned construction of an Olympic pool-sized shaft for use in a highly controversial plan set to begin in the spring of 2023 to gradually get rid of treated radioactive water now exceeding 1.3 million tons stored in 1,000 tanks so officials can make room for other facilities needed for the plant's decommissioning. Despite the progress, massive amounts of radioactive melted fuel remain inside of the reactors. There's worry about the fuel because so much about its condition is still unknown, even to officials in charge of the cleanup. Nearly 900 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and its removal is an unprecedented challenge involving 10 times the amount of damaged fuel removed in the Three Mile Island cleanup following its 1979 partial core melt. The government has set a decommissioning roadmap aiming for completion in 29 years. The challenge of removing melted fuel from the reactors is so daunting that some experts now say that setting a completion target is impossible, especially as officials still don't have any idea about where to store the waste. Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman Toyoshi Fuketa said recently that extra time would be needed to determine where and how the highly radioactive waste removed from the reactors should be stored. Story continues Japan has no final storage plans even for the highly radioactive waste that comes out of normal reactors. Twenty-four of the country's 60 reactors are designated for decommissioning, mostly because of the high cost needed to meet safety standards set up in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake caused a tsunami 17 meters (56 feet) high that slammed into the coastal plant, destroying its power supply and cooling systems, causing reactors No. 1, 2 and 3 to melt and spewing massive amounts of radiation. Three other reactors were offline and survived, though a fourth building suffered hydrogen explosions. The spreading radiation caused some 160,000 residents to evacuate. Parts of the surrounding neighborhood are still uninhabitable. The melted cores in Units 1, 2 and 3 largely fell to the bottom of their primary containment vessels, together with control rods and other equipment, some possibly penetrating or mixing with the concrete foundation, making the cleanup extremely difficult. Probes of the melted fuel must rely on remote-controlled robots carrying equipment such as cameras and dosimeters which measure radiation because radiation levels in those areas are still fatally high for humans. In February, a remote-operated submersible robot entered the Unit 1 primary containment vessel, its first internal probe since a failed 2017 attempt. It captured limited images of what are believed to be mounds of melted fuel rising from the concrete floor. Probes have moved ahead at Unit 2, where TEPCO plans to send in an extendable robotic arm later this year to collect melted fuel samples. TEPCO Chief Decommissioning Officer Akira Ono said in a recent online interview that robotic probes at Unit 1 and 2 this year are a major step forward in the decades-long cleanup. It's like we have finally come to the starting line," Ono said. Before, we didnt even know which way we were supposed to go." Ono said the Unit 2 melted fuel test removal will start from a granule or two, all of which will be sent for lab analysis, meaning a storage facility won't be necessary until larger amounts are hauled out. Even a tiny amount would provide valuable data for research and development of fuel and debris removal technology for all three reactors, he said. Hideyuki Ban, the co-founder of the Citizens Nuclear Information Center who previously served on government nuclear safety panels, proposes the underground burial of solidified treated water for stable long-term storage, while entombing the three reactors for several decades like Chernobyl and waiting for radioactivity to decrease for better safety and access for workers instead of rushing the cleanup. Since the disaster, contaminated cooling water has constantly escaped from the damaged primary containment vessels into the reactor building basements, where it mixes with groundwater and rainwater that seep in. The water is pumped up and treated, partly recycled as cooling water, with the remainder stored in 1,000 huge tanks crowding the plant. The tanks will be full at 1.37 million tons by next spring, TEPCO says. The government has announced plans to release the water after treatment and dilution to well below the legally releasable levels through a planned undersea tunnel at a site about 1 kilometer offshore. The plan has faced fierce opposition from local residents, especially fishermen concerned about further damage to the areas reputation. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. Scientists say the health impact from consuming tritium through the food chain could be greater than drinking it in water, and further studies are needed. At one of the water treatment facilities where radiation levels are much higher, a team of workers in full protective gear handled a container filled with highly radioactive slurry. It had been filtered from the contaminated water that's been continuously leaking from the damaged reactors and pumped up from their basements since the disaster. Large amounts of slurry and solid radioactive waste also accumulate in the plant. Radiation levels have fallen significantly after decontamination since the disaster, and full protection gear is only needed in limited areas, including in and around the reactor buildings. On a recent visit, AP journalists used cotton gloves, goggles, a head cover and surgical masks to tour low-radiation areas. Additional protection, including hazmat coveralls and double rubber gloves, was required when the journalists entered the Unit 5 primary containment vessel and stood on the grating of the pedestal, a structure beneath the defueled core, where officials explained the concept of using robotic probes in No. 1 and 2 reactors. TEPCO has emptied spent fuel from the No. 3 and No. 4 reactor pools, but removal at the No. 1 and 2 reactors has been delayed several years because of high radiation and contaminated debris, posing concerns of a spent fuel meltdown in case another major quake caused water loss and overheating. Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa says the Fukushima Daiichi plant must be safely and fully decommissioned to make our hometown a safe and livable place again." Izawa said he wants the government to wipe out the (regions) negative image by tackling the safe cleanup, which is a prerequisite for the town's reconstruction. Mar. 11NEW BOSTON Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that his Office was contacted on Thursday, March 10, 2022, by the New Boston Police Department in reference to a juvenile rape complaint. Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel with the Scioto County Sheriff's Office, also assigned to the Special Victims Unit, responded to the New Boston Police Department to conduct the investigation. Det. Sgt. Conkel interviewed the victim, a 13-year-old female. Det. Sgt. Conkel then responded to 3817 Apt. B Stanton Ave., New Boston, Ohio and located the suspect, 19-year-old Marcus Alexander Legg. Legg was detained for questioning and taken to the Scioto County Sheriff's Office for an interview. Evidence of the crime was collected from the scene and will be sent to BCI&I for analysis. Legg was charged with (2) counts of Rape, a felony of the 1st degree and (1) count of Unlawful Sexual Conduct, a felony of the 4th degree. Legg will be arraigned in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Friday, March 11th at 8am. He is currently housed in the Scioto County Jail with a bond of $205,000. Additional charges are possible and the case will be heard by the Scioto County Grand Jury on a future date. Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that the quick arrest was the result of the New Boston Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff's Office working jointly with the Scioto County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Crime Unit. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091. Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea FC, next to his superyacht Eclipse. Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA/Ali Balli/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Abramovich's two superyachts are moving eastward after he was sanctioned. It's unclear where Solaris and Eclipse, worth a total of more than $1 billion, are sailing. Abramovich's assets were frozen on Thursday as a part of UK sanctions. Two superyachts belonging to Roman Abramovich are heading east after the UK hit the billionaire Russian oligarch with sanctions on Thursday. Among the sanctions imposed on Abramovich, the UK government said, was the freezing of his assets, meaning his yachts and private jets are at risk of seizure. Abramovich's 460-foot vessel, Solaris, was just off the east coast of Italy on Friday, according to the ship-tracking site MarineTraffic. It had left a shipyard in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday, where it had been docked since late 2021 for repairs, Reuters reported. It's unclear where Solaris is sailing. MarineTraffic says the destination of its port isn't recognized. Solaris has a price tag of $600 million, according to SuperYacht Fan. Meanwhile, Abramovich's 533-foot yacht, Eclipse, has been cruising eastward from St. Martin in the Caribbean since February 21, MarineTraffic data shows. The boat, which costs $700 million according to SuperYacht Fan, was near the west coast of Africa on Friday, MarineTraffic said. There is also no destination port for Eclipse listed on MarineTraffic's website, so it's unclear where the superyacht is going to dock next. After the invasion of Ukraine, sanctioned Russian oligarchs such as Abramovich have sought to move their yachts and private jets across the world in an attempt to protect their assets. Abramovich, who Bloomberg estimates has a net worth of $13.7 billion, is the owner of Chelsea FC. He had announced last week that he was selling the club, but the UK's sanctions mean he can't go ahead with the sale. Read the original article on Business Insider A photo from the active shooter scene Friday morning on Interstate 71 northbound shows a bullet hole in the hood of a Columbus police cruiser that allegedly came from the gunman firing on the cruiser. The multiple bullet holes in the windshield are believed to have been fired by the officer inside, who had driven up on the gunman fleeing on foot and was suddenly shot at by the suspect, then returned fire from inside the cruiser as other officers ran on foot toward the shooting using the cruiser as a shield. A shooter standing on Interstate 71 northbound and firing at vehicles Friday morning near the Gemini Place interchange striking at least three vehicles was shot by Columbus police after he opened fire on them, police spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said. The incident began shortly at 9:56 a.m. when a young man or older teenager driving a 2014 Gray Ford Fusion went off the left side of I-71 northbound north of East Powell Road and the Gemini Place/IKEA Way exit in Delaware County and struck a cable barrier in the median, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. The male driver exited the vehicle and started randomly shooting at vehicles on the interstate with a handgun, Fuqua said. A female also exited the vehicle and was in the grass media. At least three vehicles were struck by gunfire from the suspect, but there were no reported injuries to motorists, Fuqua said. One of the vehicles hit on southbound I-71 was a transport van carrying two members of the Madison High School wrestling team and two coaches who were traveling to the state wrestling meet at Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center. Video shows man firing at Columbus police Columbus police and the Delaware County and Franklin County sheriff's offices all started receiving calls from motorists about the shooting at 9:57 a.m., Fuqua said. When Columbus police officers arrived at the scene, the male suspect in a black hoodie started walking away, then running north on the interstate from police, heading to the left shoulder of the northbound lane. As one officer drove toward the gunman with the door of his police cruiser open, a video posted on Twitter taken by a female passenger inside the vehicle of a couple traveling southbound on I-71 shows the suspect suddenly turn and fire multiple times at the cruiser, striking it at least once in the hood. The officer returns fire from inside the cruiser through his windshield as other officers on foot run toward the shooting using the cruiser as a shield, the video shows. Story continues "Oh my god," the male driver says on the video of the gunfire exchange that had erupted just across the grassy median on the northbound side of the interstate. The suspect is seen turning and running as the Twitter video ends, but ODOT video shows him veering back across the interstate to the right berm, where Fuqua said the suspect was struck by gunfire from at least one Columbus officer and went down. 911 call describes scene of man being 'highly aggressive' Officers rendered aid to the suspect until medics arrived. The suspect was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in downtown Columbus, where he was initially listed in critical condition but has since been upgraded to sable condition, according to the highway patrol. One Columbus police officer was taken to a local hospital to be examined for a non-gunshot-related injury, Fuqua said. That officer is believed to have been in the cruiser that was fired upon and who returned fire. A female inside the vehicle the man exited along the side of I-71 was taken for questioning. No motive for the shooting spree was immediately known, Fuqua said. An Ohio Department of Transportation worker watching the incident unfold on the agency's OHGO traffic cameras called the Delaware County 911 center and said a person was walking back and forth across all three lanes of traffic on I-71 northbound and was visibly "highly aggressive" towards a second person in the Ford Fusion. The ODOT worker said the man had gotten out of a car that appeared to be wrecked in the center median. The worker said he could see Columbus police pulling up to the scene and stopping traffic going northbound on the highway. At least six cruisers were on the scene within five minutes, according to the call. "I think they're trying to talk to the individual but he doesn't want to listen," the worker said as he was watching the cameras. The Ohio Highway Patrol said the same Ford Fusion involved in the I-71 shooting matched the description of the vehicle involved in a hit-skip crash today at 9:37 a.m. on Interstate 70 westbound near mile post 87 in Franklin County. There were no injuries reported from that crash, and both incidents remain under investigation. Prosecutor plans to file attempted murder charge against suspect Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel said her office is planning to file an attempted murder charge against the suspect, who once released from the hospital will be transferred to the Delaware County jail. Fuqua said body cameras on the officers involved and police cruiser cameras were activated during the incident. That video footage will be among the evidence reviewed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which, by policy, investigates all Columbus police officer-involved shooting incidents. I-71 northbound was closed from Interstate 270 north to north of the Gemini Place/IKEA Way interchange for several hours. I-71 south was initially closed from Route 36/37 south to the Gemini Place exit because of the shooting incident, causing traffic back-ups for several miles in Delaware County. The interstate was later reopened to one lane, then both lanes. Closings of the I-270 eastbound and westbound ramps to northbound I-71 also created congestion for a while on that interstate. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other law enforcement agency vehicles sit along I-71 northbound (right) where a gunman firing randomly hit at least three vehicles Friday morning before he was shot by at least one Columbus police officer. The incident began after the Ohio Highway Patrol says the suspect crashed the 2014 Gray Ford Fusion into a median cable, got out of the car and started shooting at passing vehicles with a handgun. Jeff Simpson, who just assumed the role of president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, representing Columbus police officers, said officers did what they are supposed to do, protect the public. The incident, he said, involved "someone making a very bad decision being on a freeway ... Shooting at police, expect to be shot." The area where the shooting occurred while located in Delaware County, is within Columbus police jurisdiction. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: I-71 shooting: Delays after Columbus police shoot gunman Ari and Bini's story began on the spin-off "90 Day Fiance: The Other Way." TLC TLC's "90 Day Fiance" season nine premieres April 17 and follows the love stories of seven couples. Franchise fans will recognize one pair of lovebirds from a "90 Day Fiance" spinoff. Meet this season's engaged couples who'll have 90 days to figure out whether their love can last. Emily and Kobe Kobe and Emily. TLC. Emily, 29, left a small town in Kansas to teach English in Xi'an, China. During a fateful night of clubbing, she met 34-year-old Kobe, who is originally from Cameroon, a country in west-central Africa. After a one-night stand, they were engaged in two weeks. When she discovered she was pregnant, Emily went back home to Kansas. Kobe was meant to follow, but the pandemic delayed his visa-approval process for two years. The new season will follow Kobe finally going to meet his son with Emily in-person for the first time when he heads to Kansas to be with his new family. Ari and Bini Ari and Bini's story began on the spin-off "90 Day Fiance: The Other Way." TLC Franchise fans first met Ari, 30, and Bini, 31, on the "90 Day Fiance" spinoff "90 Day Fiance: The Other Way." The couple met in Bini's native Ethiopia, and Ari became pregnant. She decided to move to Ethiopia from New Jersey to raise their son, Avi. Ari and Bini have had a rollercoaster relationship, and when baby Avi needed surgery, Ari returned home to the US so he could get the help he needed and decided she wanted to stay there permanently. Now, Bini is moving to the US to see if this is the sacrifice that will make their relationship last forever. Kara and Guillermo Kara and Guillermo. TLC Guillermo, 23, was a Venezuelan native living in the Dominican Republic when he met Kara, 29, who was there on a work trip. When she returned, they kept in touch, but their relationship got serious when her job later permanently relocated her to the country. She moved in with Guillermo, and the couple quickly got engaged. Kara moved back home to Charlottesville, Virginia, during the pandemic and Guillermo's visa has been approved so he can join her. But Kara's partying and Guillermo's insecurities might be too much for the couple to withstand. Story continues Shaeeda and Bilal Shaeeda and Bilal. TLC Shaeeda, 37, and Bilal, 42, met online and Bilal proposed marriage after spending a week together in person. Shaeeda is moving from Trinidad and Tobago, where she lives with her parents, to be with Bilal, a divorced father of two, in Kansas City, Missouri. But the couple has different goals in life that might prevent them from marrying. Bilal doesn't want more kids and Shaeeda wants to start a family. Shaeeda also objects to the prenup that her fiance wants her to sign. Miona and Jibri Miona and Jibri. TLC Miona, 23, caught Jibri's eye from the stage when the 28-year-old was performing with his band in North Serbia. The rest is basically history the couple got engaged while traveling the world together. Miona was excited to move to the US and begin a life with Jibri in Los Angeles. But he's recently moved home to be with his family in Rapid City, South Dakota. He lives a quainter life there than Miona was expecting to live in LA. The new season will follow the two as they find out whether their love can survive small-town life. Yvette and Mohamed Mohamed and Yvette. TLC Mohamed, 25, and Yvette, 48, met online and bonded over their love of fitness. They got engaged when Yvette traveled to Egypt to meet Mohamed in person. But now that Mohamed is moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be with Yvette, their differences might be too much for them to ignore. Yvette is 23 years older than her fiance and has a son with a disability, while Mohamed is not used to women being as independent as Yvette is because of his culture. Patrick and Thais Patrick and Thais. TLC Patrick, 31, was visiting family in Brazil when he decided to look for a woman to teach him Portuguese on a dating app. Thais, 25, was a match, and Patrick won her heart after several trips back to the country, expensive gifts, and a proposal. Thais is giving up a lavish lifestyle in Brazil to live with Patrick in Austin, Texas. "90 Day Fiance" season nine premieres Sunday, April 17 at 8 p.m. ET. Read the original article on Insider In what appears to be a record civil judgment under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, a jury Thursday awarded the family of a woman strangled on the West Side in 2015 $3 million, according to the attorney for the womans estate. Horrific, just horrific facts, attorney Richard Dvorak said Friday of the homicide that left 49-year-old Vanessa Taylor, a mother of five, dead allegedly at the hands of her live-in boyfriend. Advertisement It took a Daley Center jury about two hours to come back with a verdict in the case, which contended Chicago police officers violated the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 by not fully investigating the abuse of Taylor, who had visible injuries the day before James E. Thomas allegedly strangled her with a USB cord, said Dvorak. Had the officers just done their duties under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, shed be alive today, Dvorak said. Advertisement Vanessa Taylor, 49, of the Lawndale neighborhood, was strangled in June 2015, and her boyfriend, James E. Thomas, was charged with her murder. (Family photo) The case unfolded on the night of June 28, 2015, when Taylor and one of her sons called police just before 9 p.m., saying Thomas was acting erratically. Officers who responded to Taylors apartment in the 4300 block of West Flournoy Street in the Lawndale neighborhood observed Thomas making Molotov cocktails. Thomas later severed the gas lines in the kitchen, forcing police to evacuate the building, Cook County prosecutors said at the time. Thomas wielded a sword and a knife when officers confronted him but police used a Taser to subdue him, and he was taken to Stroger Hospital for a mental evaluation, according to the lawsuit and Dvorak. The lawsuit also alleged Thomas battered Taylor sometime before the first confrontation with police, giving her a visible black eye that one officer inquired about. The bruise happened two days earlier when Thomas was also engaged in making Molotov cocktails and when Taylor tried to stop him, he punched her in the eye, Dvorak said. The officers took Thomas to Stroger, and they dont just leave Vanessa with her son, instead they have her come to Stroger, said Dvorak. Police then left the hospital where a doctor and three other staffers saw the bruise and never followed up. The doctor said he had incomplete information because the cops didnt stick around to tell them what happened, Dvorak said. Advertisement A few hours later, Thomas was released with Taylor but at 1:11 a.m. on June 30, other 911 call came in with Taylor just screaming, Dvorak said. It lasted about a minute but dispatchers couldnt find out where she was. Then, about 45 minutes later, another son started getting disturbing notifications on his moms Facebook page. Basically, Thomas went on the victims Facebook page, and put in messages like: I had to kill her and that she was part of the Chicago mob, Dvorak said. Officers then found Taylor inside the apartment, strangled. The Cook County medical examiners office ruled she died from asphyxiation and ligature strangulation. Thomas was later arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault to a police officer, and in 2016 a lawsuit was filed. He was never found fit to stand trial, according to Dvorak. Dvorak said police had mandatory duties under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act that they failed to fulfill that night. They seized the knives and Samurai sword but that was the only thing they did. Advertisement The police had many options, Dvorak said, including arresting Thomas and making sure an order of protection was filed. Taking him to a mental health evaluation doesnt get them off the hook, Dvorak said. They didnt arrest him. They didnt get an order of protection. They didnt do anything to protect her. As a result she died, Dvorak said. They didnt do their job and she died. Taylor was an amazing woman, Dvorak said. She grew up in Chicago, earned a bachelors degree and had five children. We are satisfied the jury agreed with that, said Dvorak. The family can have some sort of justice. Advertisement Late Friday afternoon, Kristen Cabanban, a spokeswoman for the citys legal department, said they had no comment. rsobol@chicagotribune.com A line of voters loops through the parking lot of the Montgomery County Courthouse as they wait to vote absentee in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday morning October 27, 2020. The Alabama House of Representatives have approved a bill that would bar local elections officials from accepting financial donations from individuals or nonprofits for election administration. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, passed the House on a 72 to 28 vote. It goes to the Senate. Allen, a Republican candidate for Secretary of State, argued that the bill would provide a firewall ensuring the security of elections. Democrats said it would hurt underfunded communities abilities to manage voting sites and hire poll workers. They need more money, said Rep. Kenyatte Hassell, D-Montgomery. Thats why they reached out to these private entities, to use those funds. So now theyre going to struggle to the point of, "we cannot reach voters to bring in, to get them their new address, or to be aware of the new precincts. Education: Alabama Senate committee approves bill banning 'divisive concepts' from classrooms Permitless carry: Controversial permitless gun carry bill signed by Gov. Kay Ivey Allens bill would ban election officials from accepting or receiving funds from individuals or nonprofits to pay poll workers; election expenses, or training for registrars and poll workers. Officials who did so would be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $3,000. We dont need influence from outside money coming into probate judges offices, Allen said. Private companies should not help purchase our voting equipment. Allen said voter education and outreach efforts by nonprofits would still be allowed. Several nonprofits provided grants to local communities to assist with the conduct of the 2020 election. One nonprofit that received $350 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg provided grants for election administration to 2,500 local governments in 2020, including seven counties in Alabama. A conversation with Rev. Jesse Jackson: Reflecting on decades of civil rights activism Story continues Hassell and other Democrats said that money was crucial to maintaining the infrastructure needed for people to cast ballots. A nonprofit led by actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded grants for elections to locations around the country. One grant went to fund COVID-safe portable voting sites in Perry County. It helped my clerk tremendously, being able to have what she needed in a poor county to do what needed to be done, said Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma. Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama House approves ban on private money for election expenses In this image taken from footage provided by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service, a Ukrainian soldiers use a launcher with US Javelin missiles during military exercises in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP Defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon manufacture weapons that are heading to Ukraine. At least 19 members of Congress or their spouses hold stock in these companies. Some lawmakers sit on congressional committees that regulate defense policy. Some members of Congress stand to personally profit off Russia's war on Ukraine. At least 19 federal lawmakers or their spouses hold stock in Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin, which manufacture the weapons Western allies are sending Ukraine to fight Russian invaders, according to an Insider analysis of federal financial records. The stock holdings by members of Congress come as the US is preparing to send billions of dollars in defense aid to Ukraine. Both companies' stock especially that of Lockheed Martin have risen since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Among the weapons the US and NATO members have dispatched to Ukraine are the so-called "fire and forget" Javelin and Stinger missiles that troops carry on their shoulders during battle. The joint Raytheon/Lockheed Martin-made Javelin missile is touted as "the world's premier shoulder-fired anti-armor system" capable of destroying battle tanks. Raytheon's Stinger missiles are designed to shoot down helicopters and other low-flying aircraft. Raytheon advertises the Stinger as "rapidly deployed by ground troops" and credited with "more than 270 fixed- and rotary-wing intercepts." Among those investing in the defense contractors is Republican Rep. John Rutherford of Florida who purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of Raytheon stock on February 24 the day Russia invaded Ukraine. Rutherford sits on the House Appropriations Committee that's in charge of federal government spending. In that role he serves on the subcommittee for Homeland Security as well as the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies subcommittee. "What we're seeing in Ukraine is the tragic consequence of an evil & aggressive dictatorship," Rutherford tweeted on February 24. "Putin invaded a sovereign nation for no legitimate reason, & he must be held accountable. The U.S. and our allies must impose the maximum possible sanctions & leave nothing off the table." Story continues Rutherford's office did not return Insider's requests for comment. Rutherford's office previously said the congressman's stocks are managed by a third party. Another Republican, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, bought between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin shares on February 22. Two days after her purchase, Greene wrote in a Twitter thread: "War is big business to our leaders." In a statement to Insider, Greene said her investment advisor made the purchase and noted it was only one among several other new purchases. But her critics seized on the trade as emblematic of what they consider an endemic problem in Congress: lawmakers personally buying and selling stock in ways that could conflict with their official responsibilities and position of public trust. "Add this to the list of why members of Congress should never be allowed to trade stocks," quipped Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota on Twitter, sharing a subtweet that showed Greene's financial disclosure document. Rep. Lois Frankel, Democrat of Florida Rep. Lois Frankel, Democrat of Florida, holds stock in health insurance company Cigna.Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty Images Some members long held stock in the companies, others traded recently Other federal lawmakers have traded stock in the defense contractors in recent weeks. Republican Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee and her husband made three separate Raytheon trades worth up to $15,000 and Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida sold up to $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock but retained shares in the company. All trades happened in January close to when the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States permitted Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to dispatch the Javelin and Stinger missiles to Ukraine. Representatives for Frankel and Harshbarger did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Harshbarger has previously violated the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, by reporting trades made by her financial advisor past a federally mandated deadline. More than a dozen other members of Congress or their families hold similar investments at a time when President Joe Biden approved a $350 million Ukraine military aid package last week. The US government is also poised to deliver another $6.5 billion for defense purposes in Ukraine as part of a new spending package heading to the president's desk. CNN reported that the US and other NATO members have so far sent Ukraine 17,000 anti-tank missiles and 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. Most lawmakers who hold shares in Raytheon and Lockheed Martin did not reply to Insider's request for comment. The list includes: Sen. John Hickenlooper , a Democrat of Colorado, held between $100,001 and $250,000 in Raytheon shares, according to his most recent annual disclosure. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse , a Democrat of Rhode Island, held $15,001 to $50,000 in Lockheed Martin stock. He also held between $50,001 and $100,000 in stock in United Technologies, which was acquired by Raytheon. Thomas Daffron, a former longtime Hill chief of staff and the husband of Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, held between $15,000 and $50,000 in stock United Technologies, which was acquired by Raytheon. Annie Clark, Collins' spokeswoman, said he first acquired United Technologies at least as far back as 2014, before the Raytheon acquisition. "Tom Daffron has no involvement in the purchase or sale of any of the stocks in his diversified portfolio," she said. "These investment decisions are made solely by a third-party advisor." Clark also added that the senator herself does not own any stocks. Abigail Perlman Blunt, a lobbyist for Kraft Heinz who is also the wife of retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri , held between $100,001 and $250,000 in Lockheed Martin shares. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito , a Republican of West Virginia, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock, her annual disclosures indicate. Her husband, Charlie Capito, who previously worked in finance, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in United Technologies, now acquired by Raytheon. Sen. Gary Peters , a Democrat of Michigan, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon stock. Peters chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as well as the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Martha Stacy, the wife of Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon stocks and between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stocks. Carper serves on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. His spokeswoman, Rachel Levitan, said the couple has "always been careful to ensure that their financial investments are handled separately by a financial advisor who makes decisions and transactions independently." She added that Carper "fully supports ongoing conversations in Congress on how to strengthen the legislation and improve transparency and accountability for our elected officials." John Axne, the husband of Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa who operates a digital design firm, sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin shares twice in February but still appears to hold stock in the company. Axne previously violated the STOCK Act through failing to properly report trades. Rep. Kevin Hern , a Republican of Oklahoma who built his wealth through McDonald's franchises, traded both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin stock throughout 2021. He most recently purchased shares of between $1,001 and $15,000 in both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in December, documents show. Representatives for Hern, who has past STOCK Act violations, didn't reply to Insider's most recent inquiry but previously said a financial advisor manages the trades and that Hern "does not have any input or control over stock purchases." Rep. Fred Upton , a Republican of Michigan who is retiring after his term ends in 2022, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon shares. Rep. Steve Cohen , a Democrat of Tennessee, held between $15,001 to $50,000 in Raytheon stock. Rep. John Curtis , a Republican of Utah, purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon shares in June 2021. He also held Lockheed Martin stock but public disclosures appear to show that he sold it in November 2021. His office did not reply to questions over whether he still held shares in the company. Rep. David Price , a Democrat of North Carolina, held between $15,001 and $50,000 in United Technologies which was then acquired by Raytheon. Rep. Dwight Evans , a Democrat of Pennsylvania, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in United Technologies which was acquired by Raytheon stock and in May 2021 he purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock. Margaret Kirkpatrick, who is married to Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and retired from her role as general counsel for NW Natural Gas, held up to $15,000 in Raytheon shares as part of her retirement portfolio. Additional members of Congress appear to have shed their shares in recent months. They include Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee's Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. Documents appear to show Wittman sold his shares in Lockheed Martin in January of this year. His office did not respond to Insider's most recent inquiry but previously said that a financial advisor has "all control" of his investments. Insider previously reported that Wittman was among at least 15 lawmakers who both invest in the stock of defense contractors and hold powerful positions on a pair of House and Senate committees that control US military policy. Together, these 15 lawmakers' defense contractor investments were worth up to nearly $1 million at the end of 2020. Another lawmaker who appears to have sold stock in defense contractors this year was Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican of Alabama. It wasn't immediately clear from available financial filings whether he still retained any stock in the companies. His office didn't respond to Insider's request for comment on whether he still holds the shares but previously said outside advisors manage the senator's investments. Tuberville, who sits on the armed services committee, violated the federal STOCK Act last year by disclosing nearly 130 stock trades weeks or months late. Tuberville isn't alone in violating the STOCK Act more than 1 in 10 members of Congress have done so, Insider's Conflicted Congress investigation found. In March alone, Insider found Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, Republican Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, and Whitehouse to each be in violation of the STOCK Act's disclosure provisions. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat of Virginia, introduced the bipartisan TRUST in Congress Act, which would require all members of Congress put certain investment assets in a blind trust. Win McNamee/Getty Images Congress is considering a stock trading ban No law prohibits lawmakers from sitting on congressional committees, writing legislation, or voting on bills that might affect them financially. But momentum is growing for banning lawmakers from trading stocks altogether. A House hearing was set for March 16 to explore the matter, although it didn't take place as scheduled because Committee on House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren contracted COVID-19. A new date hasn't yet been set. Numerous federal policymakers have defense contractors in their states and districts, who call up lawmakers as the defense spending bills are being drafted to warn that people will lose jobs if defense funding decreases. The latest spending bill making its way through Congress represents another victory for the industry as it includes $782 billion in defense spending, a 5.6% increase over last year. Government watchdog organizations say investments like those in defense contractors muddle lawmakers' decision making abilities and reduce public trust in government officials. Political action committees linked to defense contractors are among the largest political donors in the United States. Defense contractors likewise spend millions of dollars lobbying the federal government to prod elected officials, shape policy, and win lucrative government contracts. During 2021, Raytheon spent nearly $15.4 million on federal lobbying efforts while Lockheed Martin spent more than $14.4 million, according to federal records compiled by nonpartisan research organization OpenSecrets. "This is a case study in why there is a lot of concern around congressional stock trading," said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, government affairs manager at the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight. The investments indicate that war isn't only profitable for defense contractors "but members of congress who invest," he added. POGO supports a ban on members' trading individual stocks. "The easiest way to clear all this up and make the scandal not exist is to have clear, straightforward restrictions and have them apply to everybody," Hedtler-Gaudette said. This article was originally published March 11, 2022, and updated to include new information about members of Congress purchasing defense contractor stock. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainians protested against the Russian occupation in Kherson on March 5, 2022. Twitter An Ukrainian protester in the occupied city of Kherson said Russian armed forces are scared. The port city was the first major city to fall to Russia last Wednesday. Since the invasion, scores of demonstrators have taken to Kherson's streets in protest. A Ukrainian protester in the occupied city of Kherson said Russian forces are "really scared" of demonstrators who have taken to the streets since the city was invaded last week. In a promotional video posted to YouTube on Wednesday, an unnamed man in the city of Kherson described the Ukrainian response to Russian tanks in the city center. The video, titled "Kherson is Ukraine," was posted by Kherson Now, a video channel that publishes "socially relevant events and stories of Kherson," according to the channel. "The people are ready to pull together, and even if it is necessary to arm themselves and drive the enemy out of our land," the man said in the video. Kherson, a key southern city along the Black Sea, was the first major city to fall to Russia on March 2. Home to nearly 300,000 people, the strategic port was besieged by Russian troops and tanks following days of fighting in the area that left approximately 300 Ukrainians dead, according to government officials. Since the city was seized last week, hundreds of Ukrainians have taken to the streets to protest the Russian occupation. Over the weekend, the city's mayor estimated that nearly 2,000 people attended a protest in Liberty Square, according to The New York Times. Video clips included in the Kherson Now video show scores of people draped in Ukrainian flags chanting and standing defiant against Russian troops. "They are afraid of us so they put up fortifications," the narrator said, gesturing to a line of tanks parked some yards away from the crowd of demonstrators. "When I was there, I was talking to the soldiers, they were really scared," he added. The man said the Russian troops threatened to shoot if protesters stormed the administration. Story continues A separate video reviewed by Insider showed Russian troops attempting to disperse crowds by firing into the air during a previous demonstration. "They really know that people can't be stopped," the man in the Kherson Now video said. Still, he added, Ukrainian people are afraid themselves as well. "Do not believe anyone who says we are not afraid of assault rifles that shot at us," he said. "We are not afraid of provocations... we are afraid." But despite that fear, he said Ukrainians are prepared to fight. "We are ready for absolutely any scenarios and will resist any Russian scenarios," he said. Ukraine's military high command said on Wednesday that more than 400 protesters in Kherson had been detained by Russia's National Guard, according to Reuters. Read the original article on Business Insider Ashley Judd. Stephen Lovekin/BEI/Shutterstock Ashley Judd spoke recently about her "catastrophic" accident in the Congo rainforest last year. The actor said when she arrived at the hospital in South Africa, her leg "didn't have a pulse." Judd said if she had been transported to a European hospital, she would have "bled to death." In a new interview with podcast host Kate Roberts, Ashley Judd reflected on her "catastrophic" accident in the Congo last year. The actor shattered her leg in four places and suffered nerve damage after tripping over a fallen tree during a trip to the Congolese rainforest in February 2021 where she was researching the endangered bonobo apes. Speaking to Roberts on her podcast Sex, Body & Soul, Judd said, "I don't know how the mind and the body and the soul come together to manage to endure the unendurable." "I bit a stick, I screamed, I howled, I convulsed," she said. "I never did pass out I wished that I could." The actor previously recounted her accident in an Instagram Live with The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof while recovering in a South African ICU. She told Kristof that her headlamp "wasn't working properly," which caused her to trip over a fallen tree. "As I was breaking my leg, I knew it was being broken," she said. "What was next was an incredibly harrowing 55 hours." This led to her laying on the rainforest floor for five hours, the actor said, with a "badly misshapen leg" and in severe pain. Now, Judd went into more detail with Roberts on just how lucky she was and how close to death she may have been. "I was in hospital in South Africa about nine days," Judd explained. "And then I was medevaced to Tennessee. But when I got to South Africa my leg didn't have a pulse and I was hemorrhaging, and if I had been medevaced to Europe, I would've bled to death." Ashley Judd. JP Yim/Getty Images She told Roberts that the pain was endurable because "as animalistic as I was, my mind was pretty skilled." Story continues "It showed me that all the work I've done in the development of my meditation process and how hard I've tried to heal, that that really was with me throughout those 55 hours," she continued. Judd said there was "a certain grace that stayed" with her and despite not having painkillers or any relief from the pain, she "was able to say please and thank you and may I have a drink of water, and I didn't make it anybody else's fault, and I didn't take it out on the people around me." "I just had no expectations, and I knew that I could only do it one breath at a time," she said. You can listen to Judd's full conversation with Roberts on her podcast Sex, Body & Soul here (the conversation starts around the 40-minute mark). Read the original article on Insider Mar. 11The Atlanta Hawks announced Thursday plans to celebrate a special Hispanic Heritage Night on Sunday, March 13 when the team hosts Indiana at State Farm Arena. The night will celebrate the rich culture of NBA fans and players across Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities through various in-game elements, music, dance, food and an exciting night of Hawks basketball. To add to the evening, the starting lineups will be announced in Spanish. As part of the celebration, singer Christna Quinones will perform the U.S. national anthem prior to tipoff. Quinones is an Atlanta-born Pop and R&B artist known for making music that reflects the attitude of today's millennial female. Her musical sound has evolved through time in her career, which was inspired by her personal experiences and Hispanic roots. Other special performances include Los Mariachis, a traditional mariachi band and Karen y Ricardo, a Salsa Dance Duo who will perform during a timeout. Special food selections will be offered throughout the concourse, including a nacho stand at the portable cart, located just outside of Section 116 and nachos and tacos, which will be available at the south end of Section 103. "We are proud to celebrate the rich history and cultural traditions of the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American communities during Sunday's game," said Camye Mackey, EVP, Chief People, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. "Through these themed nights, we celebrate our differences and educate each other through the power of sports." State Farm will host Hispanic Organization Promoting Education (HoPe) as a special Good Neighbor guest for the night. HoPe is a 501c3 non-profit organization building a sense of belonging for high school students to thrive and succeed through leadership, education and community service. iHeart's 'Z105.7. #1 Para Hits de Hoy!' will provide special in game moments, with Orlando Mix announcing the starting lineup and Karla, from The Enrique Santos Morning Show, to host Name That Tune. The Hawks' Hispanic Heritage Night is part of the league's 16th annual Noches EneBeA (eh-nay-bay-ah) Latin Nights program. The program includes celebratory warmup shirts and merchandise, team community activities and in-arena elements at select games throughout the month of March. For more information about the Hawks Hispanic Heritage Night and to secure tickets, visit Hawks.com/promotions. St. Patricks Day is next week, but the fun gets started early in Chicago. Dyeing the Chicago River green a 60-year tradition and the downtown parade a 65-year tradition return for the first time since 2019. Both events, which were canceled the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, take place Saturday. (A lucky few, however, stumbled upon a surprise river dyeing last year.) The city is expecting an influx of people to celebrate the events, so heres what you need to know if you plan to experience them in person. Advertisement [ You feel like youre king for a day: How a crew of family members dyes the Chicago River green for St. Patricks Day ] Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 24 The Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day as seen from the LondonHouse rooftop patio, on Saturday, March 16, 2019 in Chicago. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) 10 a.m., Saturday: Chicago River dyeing begins A tradition celebrating its 60th year in 2022, the Chicago River is dyed green the Saturday before each St. Patricks Day unless the holiday falls on a Saturday. [ City, bar owners, prepare for crowds as St. Patricks Day Parade returns downtown Saturday after two years of cancellations ] The dyeing process stretches from Orleans Street almost three quarters of a mile east to Columbus Drive. Its a much wider area than pre-COVID years. Advertisement Watching from home? Tune into WMAQ-Ch. 5s livestream. [ 20 St. Patricks Day specials at Chicago-area restaurants, bars primed for Irish revelry ] Date: Saturday, March 12 Saturday, March 12 Start time: 10 a.m. (It takes about 45 minutes for the river to turn completely green.) 10 a.m. (It takes about 45 minutes for the river to turn completely green.) Bridges: Closed to spectators during river dyeing. The bridges at Orleans Street and Columbus and LaSalle drives, however, will remain open to vehicles and pedestrians. Closed to spectators during river dyeing. The bridges at Orleans Street and Columbus and LaSalle drives, however, will remain open to vehicles and pedestrians. Chicago Riverwalk: Closes at 11 p.m. Friday, March 11, and will reopen at 6 a.m. Sunday, March 13. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 18 With the Marina City buildings rising in 1962, the 50,000 strong St. Patrick's Day extravaganza is led by Illinois Atty. Gen. William G. Clark (second from left), Mayor Richard J. Daley, Lord Mayor Robert Briscoe of Dublin and Stephen M. Bailey. (Chicago Tribune archive) 12:15 p.m., Saturday: Downtown St. Patricks Day Parade begins There is about a two-hour gap between when dyeing of the Chicago River is completed and the parade which is in its 65th year begins. Date: Saturday, March 12 Saturday, March 12 Start time: 12:15 p.m. 12:15 p.m. Stepping off from: The corner of Columbus and Balbo drives and heading north on Columbus about a half mile to Monroe Street. The corner of Columbus and Balbo drives and heading north on Columbus about a half mile to Monroe Street. Entry: Starting at 10 a.m., spectators can only access the parade route via Jackson Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive. Starting at 10 a.m., spectators can only access the parade route via Jackson Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive. Security: All bags and purses will be checked at entrances to the parade route. No alcohol, coolers, open beverages, CamelBaks or personal water bottles are allowed. Watching from home? Tune into WLS-Ch.7s livestream. Getting downtown Due to expected large crowds and street closures, organizers say plan extra time to travel to these events and consider using public transportation. Masks must be worn on public transportation even if riders are vaccinated per federal mandate. [ Nonalcoholic Guinness 0 is here just in time for St. Patricks Day. We take a taste and make a tweak. ] Chicago Transit Authority Check out transitchicago.com for bus and rail fare information, route schedules and maps. Rail lines: Road closures causing bus reroutes: Advertisement Chicago River dyeing (9-10 a.m.): Wacker Drive will be closed from Orleans Street east to Columbus Drive. Buses will be rerouted to turn north or south of the Chicago River. Wacker Drive will be closed from Orleans Street east to Columbus Drive. Buses will be rerouted to turn north or south of the Chicago River. St. Patricks Day Parade (12:30-3 p.m.): Columbus Drive will be closed from Monroe Street south to Roosevelt Road. Unlimited ride passes are available for one day ($5) or three days ($15) and can be purchased through the Ventra app. Metra Six Metra lines connect to Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center. One connects to LaSalle Street Station: Plan to buy tickets in advance using the Ventra app. Conductors will be checking tickets before boarding at downtown stations. Metra offers two weekend-pass options. Unlimited rides on Saturday or Sunday are $7. Up to three children age 11 and under can ride free with each fare-paying adult. A weekend pass includes unlimited rides for $10, available only in the Ventra app. Check metra.com for route schedules and maps. Alcohol is banned on all Metra trains on Saturday. Bicycles are also not permitted March 12. Parking Parking can be purchased in advance through SpotHero or Millennium Garages. Advertisement Other parades taking place in the city this weekend In fiscal year 2019, more than 86% of juveniles in Franklin County transferred to the adult court system were Black. Most people are aware that kids can be tried as an adult. But is it a good idea to require it or should we entrust our juvenile court judges to determine what is appropriate in each case? From the Dispatch archive: Fewer juveniles being bound over to adult court Research tells us requiring bindover is not best practice. Ohio law now has the chance to catch up to the science through recently introduced House Bill 500, which ends mandatory bind over. You may ask, What is bindover? There are two ways kids can be tried as an adult. The first way is through a process called mandatory bindover. If a prosecutor charges a child with a certain crime, and probable cause is found, the case automatically transfers to adult court, where a finding of guilt could lead to a sentence in adult prison. This process does not afford the juvenile court judge any discretion to consider individualized characteristics of the child or whether the child could be successful in the juvenile justice system. More: What's the right age for juvenile criminals to be considered adults? Advocates and some states push it past 20. Timothy Young has been the Ohio Public Defender since 2008, after serving as a county public defender for 14 years. He served as vice chair on the Criminal Justice Recodification Committee, and as a member of the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission and the Task Force on Access to Justice. The second way is through a process called discretionary bindover. This process allows the juvenile court to make an informed and individualized determination as to the childs culpability, development, and ability to be rehabilitated in juvenile justice system. If the juvenile judge decides the child can be successfully rehabilitated, they can keep the case in the juvenile court system. More: 'Rooting for her': Black women judges in Ohio on nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson There are many reasons to end mandatory bindover, all of which are supported by research. In fact, 10 other states, including our neighbor, Kentucky, have eliminated mandatory bindover. First, keeping children in the juvenile court system benefits all Ohioans. Children bound over to adult court are 34% more likely to reoffend than children who commit similar offenses but are kept in juvenile court. Story continues From the Dispatch archive: Should teens who commit crimes with guns be tried as adults? Second, the human brain is not fully developed until approximately age 25, and the last functions that develop are decision making and judgment. Children lack the full ability to control their behavior and understand the long-term implications of their actions. More: The ununited state of juvenile justice in America It also means that the adult prison environment is extremely dangerous for children. Nationally, children that are sent to adult prison are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted and 36 times more likely to commit suicide. Ohio cannot accept these kinds of statistics. Third, charging decisions by prosecutors often results in mandatory bindover disproportionately impacting children of color. The Campaign for Youth Justices 2020 report listed Ohio as one of the worst states for racial disparities in bindovers. In Fiscal Year 2019, 90.4% of the children Cuyahoga County transferred to the adult court system were Black. In Franklin County, 86.7% of the boundover children were Black. This is not just a problem in Ohios largest counties. Of the 209 children in Ohio that were transferred to adult court in Fiscal Year 2019, 170 (or 81.3%) were Black. More: Despite declining arrests and detention, racial disparity among juvenile offenders remains House Bill 500 does not bar the possibility of trying a child as an adult, but rather, ends the mandatory component. If it passes, juvenile judges will have the discretion to make decisions in each case while taking into account the individual circumstances of each child. By eliminating mandatory bindover, the decision to bind kids over to adult court would remain in the hands of juvenile judges, who are the most qualified and experienced people to decide what happens in these cases. The Ohio General Assembly should promptly pass House Bill 500. Timothy Young has been the Ohio Public Defender since 2008, after serving as a county public defender for 14 years. He served as vice chair on the Criminal Justice Recodification Committee, and as a member of the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission and the Task Force on Access to Justice. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What can be done to keep minors out of adult courts and prisons? If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission. Bella Hadid supports Ukraine in a massive way. More from Footwear News The model shared a photoset on Instagram Wednesday that showed the influencer posing in an eye-catching look while announcing that shell be donating all of her earnings from Paris Fashion Week to organizations that are providing help, refuge and medical aid to those in need on the ground in Ukraine as the country defends itself against military conflicts with Russia. The fashion industry, political leaders and the public have condemned Russias attacks and voiced support for Ukraine. Hadid went with an oversized blue and yellow color-blocked short sleeve T-shirt. Under it, she wore a black turtleneck sweater that added contrast to her vibrant top. While on the lower half, she went with black Balenciaga jeans that incorporated extreme distressing on the knees and had billowing hems that covered her shoes. Hadid accessorized with a gray headband and silver earrings for a simple appearance. To finish off everything, she put on a pair of square-toe boots that featured black leather uppers and chunky soles. Hadid has a chic and cutting-edge clothing taste that she displays on both her Instagram feed and streetwear pics alike. Lately, weve seen Hadid wear a one-shoulder sweater dress paired with tights and punk-rock combat boots while in Paris. Also, she has shown her affinity for mixing patterns and sporty footwear wearing a multicolored plaid shirt with a brown striped knee-length skirt and black Adidas Samba sneakers. Story continues Hadid is one of the most prominent models in the fashion industry and has held campaigns with brands such as Nike, Alexander Wang, Michael Kors, Balmain and Giuseppe Zanotti. She has also opened and walked in runway shows for brands like Off-White, Marc Jacobs, Khaite and Rodarte. Click through the gallery to see Hadids street style evolution. Pop on a pair of black square-toe boots for a streamlined look. Charles David Tommi Over the Knee Boot To Buy: Charles David Tommi Over The Knee B, $200. Credit: Courtesy of Nordstrom Courtesy of Nordstrom To Buy: Aldo Lillie Boot, $180. Credit: Courtesy of Bloomingdale's Courtesy of Bloomingdale's To Buy: Aqua Womens Juno Leather Square Toe Booties, $148. Launch Gallery: Bella Hadid's Street Style Evolution Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Friday urged the rejection of four shareholder proposals recommending that it replace Warren Buffett as chairman, report on its plans to handle climate risk and reduce greenhouse gases, and improve diversity. The company, run by Buffett since 1965, also said the 91-year-old received $373,204 in compensation for 2021, down from $380,328 a year earlier, comprising his usual $100,000 salary plus personal and home security. Though Buffett's salary is low for a chief executive officer of a major company, his 16.2% Berkshire stake comprises most of his $117.9 billion net worth, which Forbes magazine said makes him the world's fifth-richest person. Berkshire disclosed Buffett's pay and recommendations on shareholder proposals in its annual proxy filing, ahead of the Omaha, Nebraska-based company's April 30 annual meeting. It also said Vice Chairmen Greg Abel and Ajit Jain, who respectively oversee Berkshire's non-insurance and insurance operations, were in 2021 each awarded $19 million for a third straight year. Buffett sets their pay. Berkshire has said Abel would become CEO and Buffett's son Howard Buffett would become non-executive chairman if Warren Buffett could not continue in those roles. One shareholder proposal, from the National Legal and Policy Center, said those roles are "greatly diminished" because Buffett holds both, weakening governance, and an independent director should become chairman. According to the filing, Berkshire's directors agree that is a good idea, but only after Buffett is no longer CEO. In urging rejections of the environmental proposals, Berkshire said many operating units already make disclosures concerning climate risks, and its insurance operations appropriately manage risks from greenhouse gases. It also said its operating businesses have committed to diversity, equity and inclusion without needing direction from Buffett. Story continues Berkshire's dozens of business units include Geico car insurance, the BNSF railroad, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Brooks running and See's candies, among others. Buffett controls 32.1% of Berkshire's voting power. Shareholder proposals he opposes normally fail by big margins. Berkshire's share price is up 9% this year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 is down 12%. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis) Ukrainians wait to border buses after crossing the border into Poland (AFP via Getty Images) More than 2.3 million refugees have left Ukraine in the two weeks since Russia invaded its neighbour a number that officials have said could rise to 4 million within a matter of days. UN figures reveal that Poland has welcomed over 1.4 million refugees, while other European countries have taken in more than 250,000. Efforts from the US meanwhile have been nominal with so few Ukrainians taking refuge in the country that the numbers arent even tallied in the UNs database. In recent days, Joe Bidens administration has made several statements pledging support for Ukrainian refugees but is yet to back them up with concrete action in terms of immigration policies. On Thursday, Polands President Andrzej Duda called on the US to speed up the processing of Ukrainian refugees who have relatives already living in the US. Speaking alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at a press conference in Warsaw, he warned that without more help from Western allies this will end up in a refugee disaster. Ms Harris said the US would support Poland with its burden and unveiled more financial support for refugees but remained evasive around whether the US will accept Ukrainians who evacuated from their country. The United States is absolutely prepared to do what we can and what we must to support Poland, in terms of the burden that they have taken on, she said. When pressed around whether the US would make a specific allocation for Ukrainian refugees, the vice president laughed nervously and refused to commit either way, brushing off the question with: A friend in need is a friend indeed. The same day, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki claimed that the best way the US can help the refugee crisis is by funding the neighbouring countries taking in Ukrainian evacuees, saying that the vast, vast, vast majority of refugees want to stay in Europe. The vast, vast, vast majority of refugees we believe will want to stay in neighbouring countries in Europe where many of them have family, many of them have worked, many of them have friends and others that is our assessment, she said at her press conference. Story continues Despite these claims, reports have emerged of Ukrainians wanting to join family members already living in the US but being refused entry by US officials. Heres how the US can do more to support Ukrainian refugees: Reunite Ukrainians with relatives in the US With around 350,000 Ukrainian immigrants currently live in the US, according to US Census estimates, for some Ukrainian refugees their closest family members and support networks are based in America. Maryna Seifi, a Ukrainian-American living in California, told CBSthat she flew to Poland to meet her two teenage relatives, 19 and 16, as they escaped from Odesa and crossed the Ukrainian border. She said that they all reunited in PrzemyAl and went to the US Embassy where they were told that the two teens were not allowed to fly to the US. They have no sympathy, no understanding. Even when I say Im an American citizen that wants to take my kids, she said. The US State Department currently has no exceptions for Ukrainians wanting to join their family members in America, with Ukrainians only being considered for US resettlement if the countries they have fled to are deemed to be unsafe. As Poland is not, families like Ms Seifis are unable to stay together. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a press conference with the Polish President in Warsaw (AFP via Getty Images) Greg Siskind, an immigration lawyer and founder of Siskind Susser Immigration Lawyers, told The Independent that it has been extremely frustrating for US citizens and permanent residents who are trying to bring their Ukrainian relatives to their homes in America. There has been no communication from the State Department and no accommodations for them, he said. All the US has said is that Ukrainians are now stateless so they can be processed in other consulates. Ukrainians would need to get a visa appointment at the consulate and, at the moment, there are backlogs for many months. The big problem is the consular system is so broken that most still havent resumed routine operations after Covid, he said. Set up a special parole program President Biden has the power to provide an instant solution to this problem by setting up a special parole program that would allow Ukrainian refugees with close family members in the US to enter the country on a temporary basis, Mr Siskind told The Independent. It would be an aggressive use of section 212D parole authority to the president where the president has the authority to let anyone into the US without a visa for urgent humanitarian or public policy reasons, he said. Biden can do that himself immediately. He could announce that today just for family members. Mr Siskind said that such a move would fit with the USs immigration policies around family reunification. A key part of US immigration policy is to reunite immigrant families, he said. So there is no need to even prove a humanitarian aspect - it would be a super easy, fast application process as they would only have to demonstrate that they have close family members in the US. Port parole An even quicker way to welcome Ukrainians into the US would be through port parole. This would reduce the influx of applications and therefore the lengthy delays in waiting for a visa appointment by allowing refugees to skip that step and board an evacuation flight to the US. Once at a US airport, or another port of entry, Customs Border and Protection (CBP) officers would then make a determination on the spot whether to grant access. For Ukrainians with family members already in the US, Mr Siskind said that this could be a question of airport officers simply checking their documents for evidence of their relationships to their family members. Refugees from Ukraine arrive into Karlskrona, Sweden, from Poland (TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Ima) Extend Temporary Protected Status Last week, the Biden administration announced it was granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians fleeing from the war. Under the move, Ukrainians without legal documentation can stay and work legally in the US for 18 months. Around 75,000 people will be shielded from deportation back to the war zone because of this rule so long as they apply by 28 August. However, TPS only applies to Ukrainians who were already in the US by 1 March, denying access to the more than one million mostly women and children who have evacuated from the country since then and the thousands that continue to cross the Ukrainian border each day. This would echo the support from the European Commission which has granted a Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) to Ukrainians, allowing them to stay and work in EU countries if they left the country from 24 February onwards. People on TPS also cant necessarily convert their status into US citizenship or permanent residency. After the 18-month period, the US can extend the TPS for longer and has done so for many countries. For now though, the president could also redesignate TPS eligibility to change the date so that it applies to aaUkrainian nationals arriving into the US after 1 March. Other than the TPS, the only action taken by the US to make it easier for Ukrainian refugees to enter the country has been the launch of a trying to be nice memo from the USCIS, said Mr Siskind, such as forgiving things like missing deadlines on application processes. Reviving the Lautenberg program One thing that could also have an immediate impact would be to allow Ukrainians who have applied under the Lautenberg program to travel to America while their applications are still processing. The Lautenberg Program allows members of certain religious minority groups such as Jews and Evangelical Christians from the former Soviet Union to apply to be reunited with family members already in the US. Mr Siskind said the program was initially set up to enable around a million people to move out of the former Soviet Union countries, with notable immigrants who moved to the US through the programme including Google cofounder Sergey Brin. While it still exists today, it is rarely used. Reviving the program could make a difference, said Mr Siskind. It could be a way for people who are Jewish and of other religions to come to the US. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says most Ukrainians want to stay in Europe (Getty Images) Welcome Ukrainians working for US employees overseas Over the last two weeks, Mr Siskind said he has heard of several US tech companies who either directly or indirectly employed staff in Ukraine seeking ways to get these team members into America where they can continue with their work for the company. The Ukrainian mother who was killed alongside her two children while trying to escape from Irpin into Kyiv this week was identified as a Silicon Valley employee. (Independent) Tatiana Perebeinis, her son Nikita and daughter Alise were targeted by a Russian mortar blast as they tried to dash across a bridge. A photo showing the bodies of the family members lying in the road sent shockwaves around the world and has become one of the most harrowing images of Russias aggression on innocent civilians. Ms Perebeinis worked for Silicon Valley tech startup SE Ranking as its chief accountant. US employers have been trying to figure out how they can get people like them to the US where they can continue to work, said Mr Siskind. The president can also use a parole program to admit people to the US to continue with their employment focusing on the public policy around labour shortage and helping US companies that are losing critical workers. In the short-term, not only does this help Ukrainian refugees flee from the war zone. But it can also help the US in the midst of its labour shortage and, in the long-term, it could pave the way for permanent residency for Ukrainian workers in the US. Increase the cap on refugees The Biden administration has capped the number of refugees the US will accept in the 2022 budget year to 125,000 not including the 76,000 Afghan refugees who arrived following the countrys withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. While this is far higher than the record low of 15,000 set under Donald Trump, the US can increase the cap further to support its European allies in welcoming in some of the more than two million Ukrainians who have left their country in the last two weeks. Open up the ESTA to Ukrainians Non-US citizens travelling to the US typically must first get a visa or travel authorisation. One of the quickest, simplest ways to get authorisation to travel is to apply for an ESTA with Customs Border and Protection (CBP). The process is automated, typically takes just 72 hours to approve and costs $14 so an increase in applicants from Ukraine should not result in lengthy delays. However, Ukraine is not on the list of countries on this Visa Waiver Program because the visa denial rate for Ukrainians is far higher than the 3 per cent cutoff to be added to the list. To get around this, the Biden administration could open up the ESTA to Ukrainians. A refugee holding a small dog gives a sip of tea to a toddler after fleeing from Ukraine (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Create a special refugee program for Ukrainians The Biden administration can also create a refugee program for Ukrainians evacuating the country. However, Mr Siskind said that setting up a refugee program is a big endeavour that would take time to set up. It is also more difficult to be granted asylum or refugee status, as this requires people proving that they are facing persecution, he said. Not just that a place is generally dangerous but that you are singled out by a group, he said. Supporting Russian refugees As well as providing better support for Ukrainian refugees, calls are growing for the US to also support refugees fleeing Russia. Journalists from independent news outlets have fled the country as President Vladimir Putin cracks down on media freedom. Some experts have suggested that Russian soldiers many of whom reportedly didnt know they were being sent into combat and had been told Ukrainians would welcome them could also be looking for a chance to defect and gain asylum overseas. Dont assume Russian soldiers and officers like what they are doing, tweeted Duke University economist Timur Kuran. Some we cant know many, because preference falsification is inherently invisible must be willing to break ranks, if only they have options. Let EU and NATO countries offer asylum to Russian military defectors. Mr Siskind said that a program to fast track refugee status for defecting soldiers would be popular with the US public and Ukrainians - as it would hurt the Russian military amid its assault on Ukraine. 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. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page. HOUSTON The war in Europe and skyrocketing energy prices are forcing the oil and gas industry and the Biden administration into a relationship of convenience one that may be fleeting as they pursue diverging, long-term energy agendas. Russias invasion of Ukraine and the retaliatory financial sanctions the United States and Europe have implemented against Moscow have caused chaos in global commodity markets. Oil prices have whipsawed, shooting up to $130 a barrel earlier in the week only to drop back down to $111 on Friday. Gasoline prices, which the Biden administration has been fighting a losing battle against for months, hit a record high of $4.33 a gallon on Friday. Fossil fuel industry executives are wary of the Biden administration's long-term intentions despite the support they are receiving from administration officials urging them to ramp up oil and natural gas production right now to combat surging prices. On top of the short-term support for renewed drilling, the industry said it needs quicker permit turnarounds and acknowledgment that oil and gas production should continue in the long term while the clean energy industry takes root. [U.S.] energy policy is, How do we get reelected? Charif Souki, a pioneer of the liquefied natural gas industry and current executive chair at Tellurian LNG, said in an interview. It's all about the price at the pump. Biden officials, for their part, have said that they support the industry that is forecast to add an additional 900,000 barrels of oil per day to overall production this year and on track to become the worlds largest exporter of LNG. But these officials are also steadfast about their long-term focus on advancing clean energy projects to better insulate against both future price shocks and climate change. I envision this particular situation as a fire in the kitchen, said Vinai Thummalapally, acting director and chief operating officer of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which helps finance energy projects overseas. We will extinguish it. It will be extinguished. We need to move on with dealing with the rest of what the house is dealing with in terms of all the priorities. Story continues Amos Hochstein, the White House special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs, echoed that point. The administration knows that more oil and gas are needed to calm markets, but the country has to ensure that as we move to renewables and green and clean technologies, we are not developing a new dependency that is repeating the mistakes of the 20th century, Hochstein said during the conference. Hochstein and officials from the White House, State Department, Department of Energy and other agencies fanned out to meet with some of the 6,000 attendees at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston to calm nerves about wild swings in the oil markets and the administration's responses to the crunch in global energy supplies. White House Climate Adviser John Kerry, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, plus a host of subordinates all met with executives during the week. Jack Fusco, chief executive of LNG exporter Cheniere Energy, said in an interview after talking with White House officials that the Biden team was focused on clean energy, but they acknowledged the need for more gas in the short term. The conversations have been fruitful. Helpful," he said. "They asked about the availability of supply, how they can help, how much more [gas] we can put through to Europe. Freeport LNG Chief Executive Michael Smith, said more than two-thirds of the gas that left its Texas facilities was heading to Europe. He talked to Kerry on Monday and fielded calls from other administration officials during the week. It was mostly about pricing, Smith told reporters. In an example of the intricate maneuvers typical of the global oil market, the White House could loosen sanctions on Venezuelan crude oil, allowing exports to hit the market. Those barrels would likely be purchased by China, freeing up other crude supplies for the wider market. But global supply routes are now enshrouded in the fog of war, one industry executive said in an interview. Industry executives have given their own mixed messages. Some have said the United States has plenty of oil and gas to replace the cargoes of Russian crude that traders are avoiding while sanctions are in place. Others lamented that their production and shipping capacity are maxed out and unlikely to see additional capacity for months, if not years. Amin Nasser, head of Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabia oil company, blamed the price shock on governing officials around the world ignoring the advice of energy industry experts and sending mixed signals on trying to move away from fossil fuels while also wanting to keep current energy prices low. The global energy crisis has been hit by the tragic situation unfolding in Ukraine, Nasser said at the conference. It has exposed the limitations of current energy policies and is a bleak reminder of the impact that geopolitics can have on fragile energy transition plans. ... Mixed signals have only added to the chaos. Company executives and analysts have pointed out that an industry that in recent years laid off workers and lost its luster on Wall Street is in no position to dramatically increase production to meet the situation. Theres also an insecurity that current oil prices will speed development of solar, wind and other renewable fuel projects in the United States and Europe and force developing countries to revert to building coal-fired power plants amid soaring natural gas prices. And there's a fear that a cold winter later this year could tighten the markets up even more, especially if buyers in Asia bid up the price of oil and LNG and draw cargoes away from Europe. Some industry officials and lawmakers in energy states have blamed the administration's pause on oil and gas lease sales for the higher prices. But a senior executive at one LNG company said that the overall industry was in danger of overplaying its hand by blaming the government for any problems with fossil fuel production, and that what it really wanted from the Biden administration amid the chaos was hugs. I would still say that the Biden administration is lagging in understanding the scale of the potential supply crunch, said the person, who requested anonymity to speak frankly. They are still more focused on 2050 than they are on the winter of 2022. Granholm gave the industry a metaphorical embrace on Wednesday, garnering two rounds of applause for a ballroom full of oil and gas executives. "In this moment of crisis, we need more supply, Granholm said, later promising to focus on shortening the amount of time it takes to process permits. But the dichotomy could be seen earlier in the day. Granholm met privately with oil ministers and top corporate brass from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Canada, all countries that could boost oil supplies to help calm markets. Also invited was an executive from Chevron, a company that still operates in Venezuela as the Biden administration considers sourcing supply from that country. But the meeting was advertised as a Net-Zero Producers Forum to work on cutting global carbon emissions and a department spokesperson declined to elaborate on what was discussed. Top officials at the Department of Homeland Security have been planning to tell Mexico that the Covid-inspired Title 42 policy that allows border agents to expel migrants and asylum-seekers without a court hearing may expire as soon as April, driving an influx of migrants and straining resources. DHS officials warned that without the special public health measure, the agency will need to go back to old protocol to process illegal immigrants, who could apply for asylum and argue their case to remain in the U.S., according to documents obtained by BuzzFeed News. The return to those standard practices could seriously strain border resources and create a migrant surge, the draft document noted. Department officials seemed to recognize the unprecedented number of border crossers this year, which they called historically and unseasonably high. DHS officials are also monitoring the Haitians who have received temporary protected status in Mexico who could later decide to come to the U.S. September saw a Haitian-migrant crisis in which thousands of border-crossers converged on the Del Rio bridge in Texas, setting up encampments and overwhelming agents and detention centers. Title 42 was used to turn away thousands of Haitians, although thousands of others were able to gain entry into the interior. As of September, migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border were at a 21-year high. The Biden administration has confronted multiple legal challenges to Title 42, from the ACLU and other groups, which was imposed under the Trump administration at the height of Covid-19 and has been renewed by the CDC a few times. In April 2021, the Biden administration was considering creating a formal system that would allow exceptions to be made for certain vulnerable asylum-seekers from the public health measure, BuzzFeed reported at the time. While the Biden DHS has promised a humanitarian approach to immigration, scrapping many of the policies of its predecessor, it kept Title 42 to help it manage the situation at the border, which had been spiraling out of control for many months with record apprehensions. Nearly 1.7 million arrests were made at the southern border in fiscal year 2021, and hundreds of thousands of those were released into the U.S. Story continues A DHS spokesperson told Buzzfeed in a statement that unless significant changes are made to Title 42, the agency will continue to expel single adults and families encountered at the Southwest border, where appropriate. Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a lower courts ruling allowing the government to continue invoking Title 42. More from National Review President Joe Biden. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Biden said Russia "would pay a severe price if it used chemical weapons" in Ukraine. Russia's foreign ministry says the US and Ukraine are the real culprits preparing for such an attack. Moscow's claims fit a pattern of the Kremlin's justification for chemical attacks. President Joe Biden on Friday vowed that Russia would "pay a severe price" if it used chemical weapons in its war against Ukraine, a warning that came as other Western leaders expressed fear that such an attack could soon happen. "I'm not going to speak about the intelligence, but Russia would pay a severe price if it used chemical weapons," Biden said in response to a reporter's question after remarks at the White House. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and top White House officials have called out Russia for seeking to concoct a narrative that the US and Ukraine are scheming to use chemical weapons. Western officials pointed out that Russia previously provided cover for or defended its chemical attacks with similar rationales. "They start saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stored by their opponents or by the Americans," Johnson told Sky News on Thursday. "And so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have as a sort of a maskirovka, a fake story ready to go." The Kremlin has denied any suggestion that it's preparing a chemical-weapons attack. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry continued Friday to accused Ukraine and the US of gearing up for such an attack. "Radical Ukrainian groups under the control of the representatives of American special services have prepared several potential scenarios of the use of toxic chemicals in order to carry out various types of provocations," the ministry said in a statement. Russia was supposed to have destroyed its chemical-weapons stockpile. During the Cold War, the US and Russia amassed the world's largest stockpiles of some of the most brutal weapons. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two former adversaries worked together to eliminate their arsenals. Story continues The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons certified in 2017 that Russia had destroyed its declared stockpile that once reached a staggering 40,000 metric tons of chemical agents like mustard gas, VX, and sarin. The latter two nerve agents disrupt the human body's nervous system, which can lead to permanent damage or death. The US and experts believe that Russia still maintains a small secretive stockpile. "The United States assesses that Russia maintains an offensive BW (bioweapons) program and is in violation of its obligations under Articles I and II of the BWC (Biological Weapons Convention)," the State Department wrote in its 2021 edition of its annual report on arms control and compliance. The US has said that Russia's failure to comply with the convention that it signed in 1975 "has been of concern for many years." The 2018 poisoning of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in London offered evidence that Russia maintained a chemical-weapons program. The United Kingdom said it assessed the Kremlin ordered the attack and used Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent, as the poison of choice. Daryl G. Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, said Russia's continuing program made it "possible" for the Kremlin to stage an attack just as the West feared it might. He said the war in Ukraine was already brutal but the deployment of chemical weapons would make for a ghastly scene. "These are weapons of potentially mass and clearly indiscriminate destruction," Kimball said in an interview. "Any death is horrendous, but nerve agents, choking agents, blistering agents they produce acute suffering in the victim. A bullet can kill very quickly, but chemical weapons produce partially difficult deaths and injuries." Biden's warning came as he announced that the West would expand its crippling sanctions on the Russian economy by banding together to deprive Moscow of its favored trade status, a way nations ensure smooth trade relationships with minimal or no barriers like tariffs or import controls. The president also said the US was banning the exportation of luxury goods to Russia and the importation of key Russian goods like seafood, diamonds, and vodka. Read the original article on Business Insider Director of Pixar's "Turning Red" Domee Shi. (Cayce Clifford / For The Times) Director Domee Shi is excited as she discusses one of her favorite scenes from her first feature: when Meilin Lee, her 13-year-old protagonist, goes down her lusty drawing spiral under her bed with her sketchbook. After regarding a mindless doodle of a boy she had drawn in the corner of her homework, Mei suddenly gets up from her desk, rolls under her bed and starts frantically drawing picture after picture of her neighborhood crush. The spell is broken only by a knock on her door by her mother. It's just one of the glimpses into the world of nerdy tween girls that Shi was thrilled to bring to life for "Turning Red," the 25th feature from Pixar animation and the first directed solely by a woman. It launches Friday on Disney+. I haven't seen that before in a lot of movies, but it is an experience that, if you talk to any female artists, they have had, said Shi, who recalls during a recent video call having secret sketchbooks of her own while she was growing up . I just want people to discover that girls can be as weird and pervy and strange as boys can be with this movie. Turning Red follows Mei (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) as she wakes up one morning to discover that because of a secret family quirk, she has turned into a large red panda. The transformation is not permanent but is triggered when she feels intense emotions. That would be an inconvenience for any teenager, but Mei is also blessed with an overprotective mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), who has no problem embarrassing her in front of her peers. She'll even show Meis secret mer-teen drawings to the exact cute boy who inspired them. I like to think that Mei, in all of her innocence, doesn't know how to draw the lower half of a boy, said Shi, who insists that a lot of tween girls have a mermaid phase. So she draws [him with] a mermaid tail, because it's easier to imagine. Although Walt Disney Studios as a whole has started producing more inclusive animated features, including Moana (2016), Coco (2017), Soul (2020), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) and Encanto (2021), a story centered on a modern teenage girl is a first for the historically boy-centric Pixar. Story continues As she was wrapping up work on her Academy Award-winning 2018 short Bao at Pixar, Shi knew she wanted her next film to be a girls coming-of-age story. The Chinese Canadian director describes Turning Red as the most personal and the weirdest of the feature film ideas she pitched to the studio. I pitched it as a girl going through magical puberty, said Shi. Although elements of the story and even the mechanics of Meis transformation evolved over the course of the production, it was always going to be a girl going through magical puberty and uncontrollably poofing into this giant, red, hormonal creature. Set in and around Torontos Chinatown in 2002, Turning Red is a celebration of teenage girls, their experiences and their interests. This meant channeling Shis own teen interests, including anime and boy bands. Below, she discusses how four key influences helped shape the unique expression of "Turning Red." "I just want people to discover that girls can be as weird and pervy and strange as boys can be with this movie," Shi said. (Cayce Clifford / For The Times) That anime look Anime was a huge inspiration for the look of this movie, for the animation style, said Shi, who grew up watching shows such as Sailor Moon, Pokemon and Fruits Basket. Ive always loved how colorful and expressive anime is. How they really exaggerate facial features and character reactions, and you really feel what the characters are feeling at any given moment. It felt like the perfect style to draw from to make us feel what Mei is feeling, because she feels so many big emotions in the story, Shi added. We really wanted the world to feel how Mei sees the world. The challenge for Turning Red was in combining elements of Japanese anime, which is visually more stylized and graphic and generally two dimensional with Pixars more Western, three-dimensional CG style. But it was a challenge that everyone on the crew was really excited to explore. Anime fans will recognize some of the most obvious elements present in "Turning Red," including how characters eyes grow and twinkle when theyre excited, as well as the color palette of the film's world Its also reflected in certain camera angles, the lighting and in the characters' movements. The colors of Sailor Moon and magical girl anime, we were hugely inspired by that, said Shi. There's just something so romantic and dreamy about those color palettes of those anime from the 90s that I really wanted to capture in the movie. Magical transformations Beyond specific scenes, the anime influence is also reflected in the way that Mei and her best friends, like the teen warriors of Sailor Moon, have their own signature colors. Shi cites titles such as Ranma 1/2 and Fruits Basket two series where teens are cursed to transform between human and animal forms with specific triggers as inspiration for the transformation rules and mechanics in Turning Red. I've always loved how fast and loose a lot of anime play with magical transformation, said Shi. They don't really explain too much of the rules of the magic. And everyone kind of just accepts it. We really borrowed that for our movie. But anime is not the only inspiration behind Meis story. Coming-of-age titles Shi remembers watching during her tween and teen years include Disney Channel originals such as The Thirteenth Year (about a teen boy who learns he is part mermaid), The Luck of the Irish (about a teen boy who learns he is part leprechaun) and Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (about a teen girl who learns she is the reincarnation of a powerful warrior). I guess the Disney Channel was my biggest creative inspiration for making this movie, Shi laughed while recalling that even A Goofy Movie, one of her favorites, is a story about the tension between an adolescent and their parent. Family ties In Turning Red, Mei is caught between her love for her parents and family and her love for her friends and interests her parents dont quite understand. Although Bao was also a story about a mother and child, Shi felt she still had more to explore about the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship. The director recognizes that the story could have easily fallen into the more typical pattern of the parent being a militant obstacle for the kid who wants to break free and become their true self. But that wasnt the story I wanted to tell, said Shi. It didnt feel like my story, or the story of a lot of immigrant and Asian kids, who are caught in this struggle between really, truly loving their family and their parents and wanting to honor them and wanting to be good for them. But at the same time, growing up in this environment, in this culture, that's turning them into different people [who] are naturally moving away from their family. Because of this, it was important to establish early in the film that as much as Mei loves her friends, she also genuinely loves hanging out with her mother. In making this film, Shi wanted to show kids that things could get messy and that thats OK. There's always going to be this push and pull between these two worlds that you're going to deal with for the rest of your life, said Shi. But thats OK, [and] youre not alone in feeling this way. (Cayce Clifford / For The Times) Boy bands Besides friends and secret crushes, the root of the growing tension between Mei and Ming is Meis love for the boy band 4*Town. According to Shi, the band originally started off as just a joke in a scene highlighting how Ming didnt understand Mei. But the bands role grew over time, complete with original songs written by Billie Eilish and Finneas OConnell. It just felt right that Meis ultimate goal in the movie was not to save the world but to go to her first concert with her best friends, said Shi. That felt so 13 and so character specific and perfect. This specificity of Meis story is one of Turning Reds greatest strengths. And Shi, one of Pixar's few feature directors of Asian decent, hopes it signals a shift in the types of stories told in films to come. We are, hopefully, with this movie redefining what universal stories look like and who gets to tell them too, said Shi. The more stories where you see people of different ethnicities, from different backgrounds, go on journeys, make mistakes, fall in love, get hurt, all that stuff, it just proves that we are here and we're human, and we deserve to have our stories told. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's lower house in the early hours of Friday passed a bill changing the calculation of the ICMS state tax levied on fuel, as it aims to curb price hikes after global oil quotes soared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bill -- which comprises gasoline, ethanol, diesel, biodiesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices -- will now go to the president's office so that President Jair Bolsonaro can sign it into law. Governors, however, are expected to file a case before the country's Supreme Court seeking to block the move, which would ultimately reduce state tax revenues. Piaui Governor Wellington Dias, who leads a nationwide forum of governors, said the bill is unconstitutional and would bring losses for the people. According to the text, the ICMS would now have a simplified taxation regime, being charged only once through the entire supply chain and with uniformity across the country. A council comprising state secretaries would be required to meet to set the uniform tax rate. Bolsonaro has often blamed state taxes for high fuel prices as the country grapples with double-digit annual inflation -- a stance that governors rebuff. The lower house's approval came only a few hours after Brazil's Senate passed the same bill, with members of Congress rushing to respond to a new fuel price hike announced by state-run oil company Petrobras. Petrobras said on Thursday it would raise gasoline prices at the refinery gate by 18.8%, while diesel prices are set to jump 24.9% and LPG prices will rise 16%, shrugging off intense pressure for it to abandon its efforts to track global markets with its domestic fuel prices. Lower House Speaker Arthur Lira said he was shocked by Petrobras' move. "It was a slap in the face of a country that is fighting to return to growth," Lira said on Twitter. Piaui's Dias said "it is proven" that state taxes are not to blame for surging fuel prices, adding that such a burden is related to Petrobras' pricing policy. (Reporting by Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo and Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; Writing by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Susan Fenton and Jonathan Oatis) LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is searching out the helicopters and jets belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarchs and has asked the Isle of Man to deregister Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich's personal helicopter, a transport ministry source said on Friday. Abramovich was among seven more oligarchs put under British sanctions on Thursday, meaning his assets, mainly property, private jets and helicopters will be frozen, with no financial transaction being able to take place in relation to them. The action also puts on ice Abramovich's plans to sell Premier League club Chelsea, effectively placing the current European champions under government control. The team can carry on playing but the government says it is open to selling the club so long as Abramovich himself did not benefit. An ally of transport minister Grant Shapps said: "Grant has ordered his officials to gather intelligence on suspect aircraft, including their ownership and flight plans." "If we find they belong to persons on the sanctions list or people resident in Russia they will be grounded. He's calling time on the oligarchs' flying gin palaces." The source said the minister was asking the Isle of Man, a self-governing territory under British sovereignty, to deregister Abramovich's personal helicopter, which is currently carrying the registration M-HELI. The Isle of Man has been a popular place for owners of private jets to register because, experts say, registration on the island allowed imports to avoid any sales tax. The luxury Airbus Helicopter EC-155 flew out of Stansted bound for Cannes on March 3, following the departure of his customised Boeing 767, which the source said was nicknamed "The Bandit", from Stansted a few days earlier, en route for Switzerland. It is not clear where Abramovich is. The Isle of Man, which maintains its own aviation register, has already deregistered eight Russian-linked aircraft. Story continues Britain said on Wednesday it had impounded a plane connected to a Russian billionaire close to Abramovich under the new aviation sanctions which give authorities the power to detain any Russian aircraft and to ban exports of aviation or space-related goods to Russia. The source said that investigation was continuing. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Members of the Chicago Plumbers Union Local 130 dye the Chicago River green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 13, 2021, in Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot sanctioned the famous river dyeing to proceed Saturday, but the Riverwalk was closed to minimize the number of people gathering due to COVID-19. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) Bundle up, Chicago. After a two-year hiatus, St. Patricks Day celebrations are scheduled to return in full force on Saturday, and below average temperatures dont have to mean youre in for a day of bad luck. Whether planning to brave the cold or just looking to snack on some Irish soda bread at home, there are a number of ways to celebrate the holiday in Chicago and the suburbs. Advertisement Dyeing the Chicago River green a 60-year tradition and the downtown parade a 65-year tradition return for the first time since 2019. The dyeing process stretches from Orleans Street almost three quarters of a mile east to Columbus Drive. Its a much wider area than pre-COVID years. Advertisement Members of Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day early on March 13, 2021. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) There is about a two-hour gap between when dyeing of the Chicago River is completed and the parade begins. The parade starts at the corner of Columbus and Balbo drives and heads north on Columbus about a half mile to Monroe Street. You can watch the dyeing via WMAQ-Ch. 5s livestream and the parade via WLS-Ch.7s livestream. >>> Read more here Area bars and restaurants are getting into the fun, providing everything from classic Irish fare and bottomless green beer to outdoor bashes with a view of the spectacle. Make sure to book a spot soon or youll be out of luck. Buffalo Creek Brewing The brewery opens at 10 a.m. Saturday to serve free green eggs and hash, which you can enjoy alongside green beer or a pint of their Burning Red Irish ale. The fun continues throughout the day with acoustic music from James & Friends at 1 p.m. and Jim Green at 6 p.m., and the Billy Bricks pizza truck arriving at 5 p.m. 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, 847-821-6140, buffalocreekbrewing.com The Full Shilling Head to the oldest Irish bar in Wrigleyville on Saturday to drink your fill of domestic drafts, Stoli vodka drinks, Guinness and mimosas for $15 from 9 a.m. to noon or $20 from 1-4 p.m. 3724 N. Clark St., 773-248-3330, fullshillingpub.com >>> Read more here Like corned beef, Guinness and Green River soda, Irish soda bread is one of those essential St. Patricks Day foods no celebrating Chicagoan can do without. Advertisement And while it might seem like any old soda bread will do after tipping back a few green beers, turns out theres quite a variety available even when comparing grocery store options. We put five Irish soda breads to the taste test, including ready-made loaves from Jewel-Osco, Marianos and Costco. If youre in a rush and stopping by the grocery store on the way to a party or a family dinner, will a loaf of store-bought soda bread satisfy? >>> Read more here In recent weeks, the legendary Irish brewery, which plans to open a Chicago brewpub in 2023, has introduced nonalcoholic Guinness 0 to the United States. After developing an appreciation for nonalcoholic beer while navigating my first Dry January quite contentedly it turned out I was eager to try Guinness 0. Nonalcoholic beer has blossomed into an interesting piece of the beer industry; a nonalcoholic version of the worlds most legendary dry Irish stout sounded awfully intriguing. >>> Read more here Advertisement St. Patricks Day in the Lake County area will feature corned beef and cabbage, Irish dancers and bagpipers, parades, live music and lots of green as far as the eye can see. >>> Read more here Traditional Irish music, parades, 5K races and green as far as the eye can see abound as St. Patricks Day approaches. Around this time of year, everyone is a little bit Irish. >>> Read more here Celebrate the luck of the Irish with your four-legged friend. The Forest Preserve District of Will County will host a St. Patricks Day-themed party with our favorite furry friends. Bring your dog in their best green attire, take pictures and make new friends at the dog park. >>> Read more here Advertisement The Crown Point St. Patricks Day Parade is the only lighted, nighttime parade in northwest Indiana and includes Irish festivities and pipes and drums bagpipe players leading the parade. In addition to the parade, the city of Crown Point also hosts a drive-thru corned beef and cabbage dinner from 2-4 p.m. at the Crown Point Fire Department, 126 N. East St. The to-go meals include corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, bread, a dessert and a beverage. >>> Read more here The Starstreak missile uses three dart-like projectiles allowing multiple hits on the target - Eddie Mulholland for the Telegraph Britain is set to send the worlds most advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary has announced. Ben Wallace on Wednesday told MPs he is looking at providing the Starstreak High-Velocity Missile systems to the Ukrainians, stepping up the UKs military assistance to Kyiv. Designed to destroy fighter jets and helicopters, Starstreak is the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile in the world, travelling at over Mach 3. The missile uses three dart-like projectiles allowing multiple hits on the target. It can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from armoured vehicles. Earlier versions of the system, which is made by defence firm Thales in Belfast, were deployed on top of tower blocks for the 2012 London Olympics, a move which caused some concern among residents. As it was, no missiles were fired during the Olympic games. The missile can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from armoured vehicles - PA The system relies on its immense speed to defeat aircraft manoeuvring around a battlefield. 'Defensive' lethal aid Military officials hope the missile, described as defensive lethal aid by Mr Wallace, will help Ukraine gain control of the skies and further erode Russias fighter jet and helicopter fleets. Once fired, the missile carrying the three darts uses a small charge to blast it clear of the launch tube. This motor cuts out before the missile has left the tube to prevent injury to the operator. At about four metres from the soldier firing the weapon, a second booster fires to accelerate the missile rapidly to over Mach 3. The missile homes in on the target aiming for two laser beams painted on the aircraft by the launch unit. All the soldier firing the weapon has to do is keep the target in the sights. Three times the speed of sound Military officials hope the missile will help Ukraine gain control of the skies - PA The target aircraft has no time to hide behind buildings or outrun the missile, which travels at more than three times the speed of sound. Approaching the target, the three darts, known as hitiles, separate from the missile and coast towards the aircraft. Story continues The kinetic energy generated by travelling at such speed will destroy most targets, but to ensure complete destruction each dart contains a delayed initiation 0.9kg blast fragmentation warhead that explodes inside the aircraft.Addressing the Commons, Mr Wallace explained the rationale for the potential donation of such missiles. As the conflict intensifies, the Russians are changing their tactics, so the Ukrainians need to, too, he said. We can all see the horrific devastation inflicted on civilian areas by Russian artillery and airstrikes, which have been indiscriminate and murderous. It is therefore vital that Ukraine maintains its ability to fly and to suppress Russian air attack, he added. Highlighting that the international community has already given man-portable air defence missiles, he said the Ukrainian forces capability needs strengthening. Following requests for further help from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Wallace said providing Starstreak will allow the Ukrainian forces to better defend their skies. He sought to characterise the weapon supplies as defensive and tactical in nature, so as to avoid handing Vladimir Putin an excuse to refer again to the potential use of nuclear weapons. Everything we do is bound by the decision to supply defensive systems and [is] calibrated not to escalate to a strategic level, the Defence Secretary said. However, in another sign that London is stepping up the level of support it is prepared to give, he announced that Britain is about to dispatch a small consignment of Javelin missiles to Ukraine. The US and Estonia have already been supplying Kyiv with the infrared-guided anti-tank munitions. Ukraine has been sent a variety of arms that target tanks by the West, including Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank weapons from the Netherlands, and AT4 anti-missile launchers from Sweden. Mr Wallace updated the Commons on other lethal assistance the UK has provided to the Ukrainians in the 14 days since the Russian assault commenced. This includes 1,615 next-generation light anti-weapons known as NLAWs, on top of 2,000 of the missiles that were sent before Moscow invaded. The Defence Secretary highlighted that body armour, helmets, boots, ear defenders, ration packs, range-finders and communications equipment had also been donated to Ukraine. We shall also be increasing supplies of rations, medical equipment, and other non-lethal military aid, he said. Britain was the first European nation to supply lethal aid to Kyiv, he said, adding that the UK has also invested in building Ukrainian military capacity since 2015, alongside the US, Canada and Sweden. Falafel Kitchen will join the lineup at Budd Dairy Food Hall on March 14. Next week, Budd Dairy Food Hall will welcome Middle Eastern restaurant Falafel Kitchen as the latest vendor to its rotating Hatch kitchen. The concept is owned by Katy Ailabouni, whose family owns Mazah Mediterranean Eatery at 1453 Grandview Ave. The restaurant will open at Budd Dairy on March 14 and feature Levantine and Middle Eastern cuisine, especially dishes centered around falafel street food, including pita pockets and salads, house-made pickles, and other made-from-scratch menu items. The menu is also primarily vegan. Levantine cuisine comes from the area of the world known as the Levant, which is centered in the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia and includes Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria and parts of Iraq and Turkey. Falafel Kitchen will serve Levantine menu options centered around falafel. Falafel Kitchen is a sister concept of Mazah Mediterranean Eatery that opened at North Market Bridge Park in January 2021. The newer restaurant includes the same family recipes, just with a smaller, targeted menu. "We're still doing what we do best, cooking and feeding people," said Ailabouni. Ailabouni said in addition to Mazah, her mother's restaurant, her grandparents also had a restaurant in Columbus back in the 1980s, called Sinbad's. By launching this concept, she's following in her family's footsteps and honoring their culture. "For us, food is a part of our culture," she said. "So if there's one way for me to be more connected to who I am, it's with the food that I'm making and also seeing people enjoy the food that I grew up with." Budd Dairy is also looking for future applicants for its rotating Hatch kitchen. The food hall has noticed many potential applicants are hesitant to apply because they assume they need to be well-established as a restaurant, which is not the case. "We encourage people to apply who simply have a dream, even if it is just one signature item for which [they're] known," said Jeremy Hughes, general manager of Budd Dairy Food Hall, in a statement. "Maybe its a dad who's known around his neighborhood for a unique burger recipe or a small business owner who sells their own bottled hot sauce. We look forward to helping them grow their passion." Story continues More: Food halls proliferate in Columbus, offering budding restaurateurs rewards, and risk As a small business owner, Ailabouni said that despite the challenges, she feels it's worth it at the end of the day. "My small business is pretty much falafels because I want to bring that feeling and that joy that I found growing up with that to other people," she said, sharing her excitement seeing young children try falafel for the first time. "And so being able to spread that with my small business is kind of a dream." tmoorman@dispatch.com @TaijuanNichole This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Falafel Kitchen to open in Budd Dairy Food Hall on March 14 President Vladimir Putin has tried to restrict free speech, abortion and gay rights. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated Press) The news makes for a sickening split screen. We see the ravages of Russias war on Ukraine, where its as if the black-and-white scenes of carnage and fleeing refugees in World War II Europe scenes consigned to history books, we thought have been updated in horrific, real-time color. Vladimir Putins heinous war has united the Ukrainian people. Then theres the coverage of the figurative war here in America, a culture war waged by Republicans against women, minority groups, LGBTQ people, educators, public health officials and just about anyone not of a right-wing mindset. This needless conflict divides us, for Republicans political gain. Such domestic battles are a luxury of peace and prosperity. Im reminded of conservatives culture wars amid the good times at the turn of the century, before 9/11 made a mockery of the invented threats and brought Americans together against a real one. For a time. The juxtaposition with the real war in Ukraine isnt all thats maddening about the political wars of choice in state capitals. Its also that the culture warriors claim to be fighting for freedom. Yet freedom to these mostly white, male conservatives often comes at the expense of others who dont look or think like them. Even as Ukrainians suffer bombings of hospitals, a maternity center, apartments and schools, our bloodless war proceeds on its several fronts: Against womens constitutional right to abortion before a fetus viability. Against teachers rights to speak freely about race and gender. Against transgender youth and their parents. Against public health officials dealing with a once-a-century pandemic thats killed nearly a million Americans. On abortion rights, Republican-led states arent even waiting for the conservative U.S. Supreme Court to turn back the clock a half-century. Theyre rushing either to ban abortions at 15 weeks gestation, significantly before a fetus is viable (the latest bill just went to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign), or to go further and copy Texas plainly unconstitutional law that ended nearly all abortions in that state, home to 7 million women of reproductive age. Story continues Texas devilishly wrote its law to avert federal court review, dangling cash bounties to spur citizens to sue anyone who even unknowingly helps a woman whos more than six weeks pregnant get an abortion. Under the legal threat, clinics ceased most services. Predictably, Texans are traveling elsewhere. At least 5,500 women sought help in six neighboring states in just the first three months after the law took effect in September. Now comes a Republican lawmaker in Missouri, inspired by Texas law, whos concocted a way to stop women in her state from going to Illinois or Kansas to exercise their reproductive rights: Attack womens freedom to travel, too! The bill, the brainchild of state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, is now before the Missouri House. It would invite anyone to sue a person who helps a Missourian get an abortion out of state, whether thats a hotline operator making appointments or a doctor providing the service. Its another patently unconstitutional gambit, but one that could have a chilling effect if clinics in the neighboring states want to avoid legal battles. Texas Republicans, meanwhile, continued their pioneering ways in the culture war by opening a new offensive, against transgender kids and their families. Gov. Greg Abbott, acting late last month on a nonbinding legal opinion from Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton, directed state officials to investigate parents for abuse if they help a child medically transition to the gender with which the youth identifies. The Texans sprung this plan just as the Journal of the American Medical Assn. reported that gender-affirming medical care made teenagers 60% less likely to suffer depression and 73% less likely to be suicidal. By this week, Texas had opened investigations of at least five families. What a blatant invasion of personal liberty from the state that unironically advertises Dont mess with Texas. As if transgender kids and their parents dont deal with enough stigma, bullying and even the threat of violence. Yet copy-cat Idaho aims to one-up Texas: Its state House voted Tuesday to make it a felony for a doctor to help transgender children. A record 147 bills against transgender people were introduced in 34 states last year, according to the pro-LGBTQ Human Rights Campaign, including successful measures to bar transgender girls from womens sports. LGBTQ issues more broadly are the target along with racial justice and history of a raft of so-called parental rights bills to restrict what teachers can say or assign in classrooms from pre-K through college. This week Floridas legislature sent its Dont Say Gay bill to DeSantis, as well as a separate measure limiting what teachers and employers can say about race and diversity. Georgias Republican lawmakers are moving to ban the teaching of what they vaguely call divisive concepts about race. PEN America, which keeps a monthly roundup, says theres no recent parallel to the number of book bans and educational gag orders. The organization laments a willingness, and even eagerness, to bring the weight and power of government to bear on controlling classroom speech. In Russia, Putin is cracking down further on speech, too, just as hes moved against gay rights and abortion. If Republicans in this country truly stood for freedom, their domestic agenda wouldnt have so much in common with his. @jackiekcalmes This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Fang Zheng / iStock.com As the Biden Administration recently banned all Russian imports of gas, oil, and energy, gas prices could continue to rise here in the states. Even though Russian oil accounts for only 3% of U.S. crude oil imports, demand for Russian oil in other countries is also driving up prices in the U.S. See: How Much Does the President Control Gas Prices? A History of Gas Prices: Do You Remember How Little You Once Paid? As gas prices reach record highs of $4.3 per gallon, according to Reuters, Americans may be looking for cheaper ways to fill up. If you are a member of a warehouse club like Costco, you may be tempted to take advantage of their lower-than-average fuel prices. But is the price too good to be true? This week in Santa Clara, California where gas prices sit well above the national average at $5.45 per gallon Costco is charging club members $4.82 per gallon, according to SiliconValley.com. How can retailers like Costco and Walmart offer such low prices for gas? Simple: Warehouse clubs have the volume and financial prowess to sell gas at rock-bottom prices (and razor-thin margins) as a way of luring customers in to buy other merchandise. Whats more, membership sales make up 75% of the stores profit. Costco, for instance, is banks on customers signing up for a membership card to get cheap gas. Then, once consumers have the membership, they are likely to look for ways to save money on everything from groceries to electronics. Explore: Newsom Proposes California Gas Rebate to Combat Rising Prices at the Pump Learn: Could Surging Gas Prices Lead to Higher EV Sales? Heres What You Should Know Most gas stations are independently owned, meaning they arent big enough to order huge volumes at discounts the way wholesale clubs like Costco, BJs and Sams Club can. The wholesale clubs arent making much profit off gas. But they are betting that consumers will seek out their low gas prices, then enter their stores and spend money on other things. Story continues Thats a pretty good bet when gas prices are as high as they are now. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Cheap Gas: Why Does Costco Have Lower Prices Than Other Stations? BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday the Ukraine situation was "disconcerting" and that it is important to support Russia and Ukraine in ceasefire talks. Speaking at a news conference at the close of the annual parliamentary session, Li did not directly answer Reuters' questions about whether China will refrain from condemning Russia no matter what that country does, or whether China is prepared to provide further economic and financial support for Russia as it faces sanctions. China and Russia have forged an increasingly close partnership, and China has refused to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine or call it an invasion. Beijing has repeatedly expressed its opposition to what it describes as illegal sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, and has called for a negotiated solution to the crisis. (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Writing by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Raju Gopalakrishnan) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks from the podium at the opening session of the National Peoples Congress at the Great Hall of the People on 5 March 2022 in Beijing, China (Getty Images) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday the Ukraine situation was "disconcerting" and offered help in playing a positive role to support the ceasefire talks between the two countries. Speaking at a news conference at the close of an annual parliamentary session, the leader, however, refused to criticise Russia. We support and encourage all efforts that are conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis, he said. The pressing task now is to prevent tension from escalating or even getting out of control. Mr Li, who is responsible for overseeing the economy of the country, added: China calls for exercising utmost restraint and preventing a massive humanitarian crisis. China, which has largely sided with Russia and have so far refused to refer to it as a war or invasion, is accused by Washington of aiding Russian disinformation efforts against Ukraine, including the development of biological weapons in the war-torn country. The premier said that the sanctions imposed on Russia will hurt the economic recovery of the world still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, reported Nikkei Asia. It is in no ones interest. China is ready to make its own constructive efforts in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity, Mr Li said. Repeating Chinas assertion that it follows an independent foreign policy of peace, Mr Li said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected. The purposes and principles of the UN charter should be observed and the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, he said. On that basis, China makes its own assessment and will work with the international community to play a positive role for the early return of peace. Commenting on Chinas ties with the US, Mr Li said that he hopes the two sides can properly manage differences, adding that the two countries should cooperate to tackle global challenges. Additional reporting from the wire Christian Eriksen marked his full debut for Brentford last weekend (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire) Christian Eriksen is fit enough to return to the international scene, according to Brentford manager Thomas Frank. The 30-year-old marked his full debut for the Bees with an impressive display away to Norwich last weekend to continue his comeback following a cardiac arrest in the summer. Eriksen will start again at home to Burnley on Saturday and, with Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand set to name his squad for the friendlies against Holland and Serbia next week, all eyes will be on Eriksen if the playmaker is included. Frank said: Of course it is up to Kasper to decide. Fitness-wise? He is ready. He played 90 actually 98 minutes against Norwich, hopefully he plays 90 against Burnley and 90 against Leicester, then that is a very good number of minutes. It is not like he has never played football before or tried anything. He is a very experienced player and person but I think that is a conversation for Christian and Kasper to have together. Brenfords new number 21 made his mark at Carrow Road with his corner flicked on to create the opener for Ivan Toney. Toney celebrated with the travelling fans to further show there is no bad blood after the forward was filmed in January using unacceptable language about the club. He apologised and further made up for his misdemeanour with two second-half penalties against Norwich to become the first Brentford player to score a Premier League hat-trick. I dont think he could have timed it much better with scoring and then being right in the corner with the Brentford fans. I think that was clever from him, Frank added with a smile. Ivan has been here one one year and eight months. First year he broke the (goalscoring) record in the Championship, became our top scorer and we got promoted. He scored in the semi, the final. Pretty decent! In the Premier League now he has scored nine goals and two assists with a disrupted season. I think Ivan has done fantastic for this club and I agree that every player has a responsibility to be as perfect as possible, but every individual is just a human being and everyone is trying their best to do the best as a human being. I think Ivan is doing that. Story continues I will say that every Brentford fan should be extremely happy and privileged to have a player like Ivan representing Brentford. With six goals in his last five matches, Toney could soon be an international. England boss Gareth Southgate admitted in October to being very impressed with the former Newcastle striker back and will name his squad for the friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast next week. It is not for me to pick the team. Maybe I am slightly biased. I dont know how Gareth thinks but on the quality, I think Ivan has some of the qualities that could make him an England striker one day, Frank insisted. Also I think it would have been even better if it was a consistent-performed season. That is just part of convincing a coach, whether it is me or Gareth, a very consistent season and performing well puts more plus points on your account. That could have helped and then we come into different types. What types do you want as manager of a national team? Then the form and injury level of other strikers and I dont know how well they have done. For me Ivan has done well but there is another level for him to reach. When he reaches that, I think it will be easy for the England manager to pick him. The Daily Beast Claudio Peri/Pool/ReutersROMESince the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper.I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow, he told Corriere D Attorney Thomas White and Pablo Neal in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court on Friday. Neal was sentenced to 10 years to life for three charges of rape with victims under 10-years-old. If ever released from prison, Neal will register as a Tier III sex offender for life. COSHOCTON A Coshocton man was sentenced Friday in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court for sex crimes. Pablo T. Neal, 43, was indicted in September with three counts of rape, first-degree felonies, involving two girls from incidents spanning January 2018 to August 2019. One juvenile was between 7- and 8-years-old at the time and the other was between 8- and 9-years-old, according to the indictment. Neal entered guilty pleas to three amended counts on Jan. 7. While the charges are still first-degree felonies for rape, specified language regarding the victims being less than 10-years-old was removed. Pablo T. Neal sentenced to 10 years to life per charge, will need to register as a Tier III sex offender if released There was only one sentence that could be issued for each charge, per Ohio Revised Code, which was 10 years to life in prison. Judge Robert Batchelor gave Neal 10 years to life for each charge, to be served concurrently. Neal was granted nine days of credit for local incarceration. If Neal is ever released from prison, he will need to register as a Tier III sex offender for life. Neither attorney Thomas White of Millersburg nor Neal made any statements on Neal's behalf prior to sentencing. The victims nor any family members were present in the courtroom. Assistant Prosecutor Christie Thornsley said the family consented to the plea deal as they wanted the matter resolved and did not want to put the children through a trial. Batchelor said he understood that reasoning and it can often be the case in such matters. "The state was able to put together enough evidence to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, but, here again, we have parents who are trying to protect their children when they believed they failed to do that before," Batchelor said. "It's parents who don't want their little girls to sit on that witness stand and have to undergo any further trauma associated with this case. Enough damage has been done." Story continues Reading from the pre-sentence investigation, Batchelor said the rapes came to light more than a year after the fact when one of the victims refused to enter a restaurant with family because Neal was inside. This led to questioning from the parents and eventual investigation by the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office. llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com @llhayhurst 740-295-3417 This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton man receives 10 years to life in prison on rape charges LONDON (AP) London police acted unlawfully when they used coronavirus restrictions to prevent a vigil in memory of a murdered woman, a court ruled Friday in a victory for the event's organizers and the right to protest. The protest vigil was called after Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old London woman, was abducted and murdered in March 2021 by an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer as she walked home at night. The crime shocked the country, angered many women and raised questions about a police force that unknowingly harbored a murderer in its ranks. Police officer Wayne Couzens pleaded guilty to Everards murder and was sentenced in September to life in prison with no chance of parole. The group Reclaim These Streets attempted to organize a socially distanced vigil on the citys Clapham Common, near where Everard was abducted. But the four main organizers canceled it after police told them they faced fines of 10,000 pounds ($13,000) each and possible prosecution for violating coronavirus restrictions. A spontaneous vigil went ahead, attended by hundreds of people including Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Prince William, who laid flowers. Police later moved in to disperse participants, arresting some. Images of women scuffling with police and being led away in handcuffs sparked wide criticism. The four vigil organizers took the police to court, arguing the forces decisions before the event breached their human rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Two High Court judges agreed, ruling Friday that by telling organizers the protest would be unlawful, police interfered with the claimants rights because each (statement) had a chilling effect and made at least some causal contribution to the decision to cancel the vigil. The judges said the police force failed to perform its legal duty to consider whether the claimants might have a reasonable excuse for holding the gathering. Theodora Middleton, a lawyer for the organizers, called the court ruling a victory for women and said it set a powerful precedent for protest rights. The police force said it would consider whether to appeal. Police handling of the Everard case was one of a string of controversies that have undermined public confidence in the force and led the head of the Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Cressida Dick, to announce her resignation last month. A suburban Chicago man who was convicted of a hate crime two decades ago is running to unseat Cook Countys first openly gay board member, Democratic Commissioner Kevin Morrison. Kevin Ake, 60, of Elk Grove Village, turned in his signatures Monday to run as a Republican for the County Boards 15th District in the June 28 primary. Advertisement In 2002, Ake was found guilty of a felony hate crime, court records show. Ake is also treasurer of the Elk Grove Township Republicans, its chairman confirmed Wednesday. The Tribune reported at the time that Ake, identified then as a tax accountant with the Moody Bible Institute, left more than 100 phone calls harassing a lesbian Lakeview YMCA director about her sexual orientation after he was denied permission to host a Bible study there. Ake was sentenced to 14 days in jail and 2 years of probation, which he was allowed to complete early, according to records. Advertisement I strongly condemn harassment of any kind, Morrison said in a statement. As Commissioner, my focus has always been directed at representing the diverse communities of the 15th District, and I am proud of what we have accomplished these past three years. Voters in our District have made it clear that they support leaders who will fight for an inclusive and welcoming Cook County, and I look forward to earning their vote once again. Kevin Ake files his nominating petitions Monday to run in the June 28 Republican primary for Cook County Board 15th District commissioner. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Transcripts of Akes voicemails to the director in March 2001, included in the court records, show him repeatedly berating her for holding a leadership position at a YMCA as a woman, a lesbian and, according to him, a non-Christian. He calls homosexuality an abomination. Im gunna (sic) come after you with all that I have through my heavenly Father, Ake said, according to court records. You better watch out Im coming. The holy spirit is coming after you. In a phone interview Tuesday, Ake downplayed his hate crime conviction, though he did not deny mentioning the YMCA leaders sexual orientation in his many calls to her. I left a bunch of messages on the executive directors answering machine, Ake said. They blew it out of proportion and charged me with the felony hate crime. Ake, who state records show has an active accounting license, told the Tribune this week that he was persecuted for attempting to bring Christianity to the YMCA and disparaged the Cook County prosecutor on his case as a hall of fame homosexual. When asked whether he was sorry for his actions back then, he said, No, Im not. He later added that he was persecuted by a homosexual, and then I served my 14 days. And that was 20 years ago. Advertisement Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Russell Nowak, the Elk Grove Township GOP committeeman, said he did not know about Akes criminal history when Ake joined as treasurer of the townships party a month ago. But Nowak also said he does not dig into anybodys past. What they did years ago shouldnt matter, Nowak said. Thats all Im trying to say. You know what I mean? People have done stupid stuff when you were younger, you know? On Friday, Illinois Democratic Party executive director Abby Witt and Cook County Democratic Party executive director Jacob Kaplan released a joint statement calling on Ake to withdraw his candidacy and for the Cook County and Illinois Republicans to denounce him. Hate and homophobia have absolutely no place in the politics of Cook County or the State of Illinois, Witt and Kaplan wrote. It is extremely disturbing to learn of Mr. Akes background and candidacy, as well as the Elk Grove Township Republican Partys dismissive attitude towards his hateful past. Morrison, a Democrat from Mount Prospect, made history as the first openly gay member of the Cook County Board when he defeated incumbent and former state GOP Chairman Timothy Schneider in 2018. Morrison filed nominating petitions Monday for another term. Advertisement Besides Ake, Republican Chuck Cerniglia of Hoffman Estates has also submitted petitions to run in the 15th District. Cerniglia could not be reached for comment. As of Thursday afternoon, no one else had filed paperwork to challenge Morrison in the Democratic primary in the 15th District, which covers all or parts of Elgin, Barrington, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and surrounding areas. An Illinois law generally prohibits convicted felons from holding municipal elected offices; thats the reason former 11th Ward Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson was ousted from the Chicago City Council last month after being found guilty of tax fraud. But Akes record wont likely impede him from running for the seat or assuming office if he wins, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections said. Ake said his views on homosexuality are based on his religious beliefs and that he is a 100% born-again Christian. I got nothing to hide, and I still feel like Im a viable candidate, Ake said. ayin@chicagotribune.com The slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout in New York hospitals and nursing homes is raising concerns about ongoing efforts to expand inoculations into other segments of the population. The COVID-19 vaccination launches in New York and nationally were reflected in data released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the roughly 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines distributed across the country by Saturday morning, only 4.2 million people, or 32%, had received the first of two shots required. That fell far short of the federal governments goal of getting the initial shot into arms of 20 million Americans in December. In New York, 774,075 doses had reached the state by Saturday and just 236,941 doses, or nearly 31%, had been administered. That is a per capita vaccination rate of 1,218 people per 100,000, and many other states worked at a similar pace. In contrast, some of the top-performing states included Vermont, at 2,480 people per 100,000, and Connecticut, at 2,040 people per 100,000, as well as some other less populous states, such as Maine and South Dakota, the CDC data show. Environmental Technician Maria Bueno-Ferreira receives the COVID-19 vaccination from pharmacist Seema Jaipal at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack. Gov. Andrew Cuomo cited New Yorks rising coronavirus infections and delays in vaccinations while announcing a use it or lose it vaccine policy Monday for hospitals, which now face a $100,000 fine if they fail to use their current COVID-19 vaccine inventory by the end of the week. State officials will also begin aiding the federal government program handling nursing home vaccinations, which had reached about 47% of nursing home residents so far, Cuomo said, adding the new goal is 85% of nursing home residents in New York by the end of this week. I want to get needles in the arms, and I want to get that done as quickly as possible, Cuomo said during a press briefing. Meanwhile, some doctors and advocates expressed concerns that early vaccination failures will hinder access for other groups on the COVID-19 front-lines, as well as elderly New Yorkers most vulnerable to the respiratory disease. Story continues If we cant do it for our providers, whats going to happen when we...go to our over (age) 75 population? said Dr. Eric Levene, a Westchester County pediatrician who said his medical group, Allied Physicians, struggled to obtain information from state officials about getting its workers unaffiliated with hospitals inoculated. There was not a clear signal as to where to sign up; there was a lot of what I like to call back-alley communication, he said, referring to doctors sharing leads through social media about hospitals offering shots to outpatient health care workers beginning this week. Lisa Newcomb, executive director of Empire State Association of Assisted Living, said revelations about thousands of vaccine doses languishing in hospitals refrigerators underscored anxiety and confusion inside adult care homes, which had been left in the dark for weeks about when to expect access to the potentially life-saving immunizations. If there is concern that theres vaccines that are not getting used, then well take them, said Newcomb, whose group represents more than 300 adult care facilities statewide. State officials last week indicated that assisted living residents would begin receiving vaccinations on Jan. 11, but some facilities will not gain access until February, Newcomb said. "Everybody is deserving of the vaccine, but our residents are the most vulnerable," she added. On Tuesday, state officials also revealed new details about efforts to speed up immunizations, including the announcement that dozens of COVID vaccine clinics run by county health departments will be opening in coming days. So far, 46 local health departments have received doses of COVID-19 vaccines and plan to begin inoculating health care workers and other groups on the pandemic front lines in coming days and weeks, according to the governor's office and county officials. Where will New Yorkers get COVID vaccinations Pharmacist Christin Picinic prepares a syringe of the Pfizer vaccine at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. Some key unanswered questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in New York involve plans for opening vaccination sites outside of hospital settings. For example, county health departments are part of 636 sites statewide that have been activated thus far in order to get COVID-19 vaccine shots into arms, Cuomo said Tuesday. The other sites include 244 federally qualified health centers, 213 hospital-related locales, and 133 urgent care facilities. Medical offices and retail sites, including pharmacies that have been doing COVID-19 testing, would also be approved to provide shots in upcoming stages of the vaccination effort, which will span 3,762 sites statewide, according to statistics provided by the governor's office. State officials also plan to set up drive-thru vaccination stations at SUNY and CUNY campuses, as well the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan, although the timetable remains unclear. Further, state officials have declined to provide many details about which medical offices have been approved and when they will begin offering shots. One of those providers that applied was Levene, who asserted the lack of government transparency about opening up vaccination sites outside hospitals could further delay efforts to speed up vaccinations. These hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID patients and so they have to pull staff to handle the vaccinations, he said, adding there needs to be a better system. Cuomo on Monday said the state has plans to begin opening drive-through vaccination sites, as well as vaccine clinics at convention centers, field hospitals and other public facilities in the future. Vaccination sites at churches, community centers and public housing locations will also be added to promote access in communities of color, Cuomo added, but did not provide further specifics, such as the timetable involved. In the meantime, Levene said state officials should start inoculations at medical offices as part of a dire push to vaccinate between 70% to 90% of New Yorkers, which experts say is needed to achieve enough herd immunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to do more vaccination sites and Im hereand I can do 30 to 50 (shots) a day and Im willing to do it on weekends, he said. More: New York threatens fines if hospitals don't speed up COVID vaccine rollout More: More contagious U.K. coronavirus strain found in New York. Here's where Who's next in the COVID vaccination line in NY Vials of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in the Bronx, N.Y. Dec. 21, 2020. The home, which began vaccinating their residents on Monday, received enough doses of the Pfizer vaccine to vaccinate all 600 of its residents, which it plans to do over the next three days. The initial wave of vaccinations in New York exclusively involved hospital workers directly caring for COVID-19 patients as well as nursing home staff and residents most vulnerable to the respiratory disease. It has since expanded into EMS workers, coroners, medical examiners and some funeral workers, and this week added ambulatory care, or outpatient, health care workers as well as some public health workers, including those providing COVID-19 tests. Experts anticipate it could take six to nine months to distribute enough COVID-19 vaccines to provide access to everyone who wants one. As for the early vaccination missteps, Cuomo and federal officials attributed the delays in December to a mix of factors, including the logistical challenges involved in storing and shipping the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at ultra-cold temperatures. The holiday season and surging coronavirus infections in December also strained hospital staffs tasked with giving the initial shots within their networks, federal officials said last week. "While we're trying to control COVID with one hand, we're trying to defeat it with the other and a vaccine is the weapon that will win the war," Cuomo said Monday. More: New York investigates Kiryas Joel health network over COVID-19 vaccine fraud More: NY COVID tracker: The latest daily coronavirus case, hospitalization numbers in New York USA TODAY contributed to this report. David Robinson is the state health care reporter for the USA TODAY Network New York. He can be reached at drobinson@gannett.com and followed on Twitter: @DrobinsonLoHud This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Slow COVID vaccine rollout in NY raises concerns about next steps The 2022 Critics Choice Awards will be taking place this Sunday (13 March). The annual awards show honours the best in TV and film and is presented by the Critics Choice Association, an organisation made up of more than 535 entertainment journalists and media critics from the US and Canada. While last years awards show was presented virtually, this year it will return with an in-person event, with celebrations divided between Los Angeles and London. Below is everything we know about the 27th Critics Choice Awards, from hosts to presenters and venues. Whos hosting the show? This year welcomes Nicole Byer (Nailed It!) and Taye Diggs (Private Practice) as hosts. Where is it taking place? The main ceremony will happen at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, before a party at the Savoy Hotel in London, Who are the presenters? Theres long list of guest presenters, including Ava DuVernay, Carey Mulligan, Jamie Dornan, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Kristen Wiig, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mandy Moore, Zoey Deutch, Joel McHale, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, J.K. Simmons, Ray Romano, Ken Jeong, and Alan Kim. The list continues with Angelica Ross, Annie Mumolo, Dominique Jackson, Dylan OBrien, Hailie Sahar, Indya Moore, Jacob Bertrand, Jung Ho-yeon, Kaci Walfall, Lee Jung-jae, Maria Bakalova, Mayim Bialik, Nasim Pedrad, Park Hae-soo, Ralph Macchio, Robin Thede, LA Rams Coach Sean McVay and Veronika Khomyn, Shawn Hatosy, Sonequa Martin-Green, and more. TJ Miller and William Shatner (REUTERS) Who are some of the nominees? The films Belfast and West Side Story have earned 11 nominations each, followed closely by Dune and Power of the Dog, with 10 nominations each. In TV, Succession leads the competition with eight nominations, Mare of Easttown and Evil each have five, and Ted Lasso, The Good Fight, Only Murders in the Building, WandaVision, and This Is Us all have four nominations. For unscripted shows, The Kelly Clarkson Show and Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen are competing for Best Talk Show. Story continues Who are receiving special awards? Issa Rae will present the SeeHer Award to Halle Berry, and Jimmy Kimmel will honour Billy Crystal with the Lifetime Achievement Award. When and where will the show be streamed? The Critics Choice Awards will be aired on The CW and TBS on Sunday (13 March) at 7pm ET. The Alamance County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help during their investigation into a shooting that occurred Sunday evening on a nature trail near Graham. FILE-- Gun Crime Scene On Sunday, March 6, around 5:15 p.m., the Sheriff's Office got a report of a man found along a nature trail suffering from a gunshot wound. Two people running on the trail, located in the 1300 block of Townbranch Road in Graham, found the man in a wooded area near the Alamance Christian School baseball field and reported his injuries. The victim was treated on scene and transported for further care. Deputies are now asking for the public's help during the investigation. Anyone who may have seen or heard something or may have information are asked to call 911 or the Sheriffs Office at 336-570-6300. You may also contact CrimeStoppers at 336-229-7100 or p3tips.com. If youre not a subscriber, please support local journalism and consider a subscription to The Times-News. Elizabeth Pattman is the trending topics reporter for the Times-News in Burlington, covering business, COVID-19 and all things trending. Contact Elizabeth (she/her) at epattman@gannett.com. I'm also available on social media @EPattmanTN on Twitter or @burlingtontimesnews on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Times-News: Alamance Sherriff's office asking for public's help during trail shooting investigation Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the media and community members on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The governor held a roundtable in Doral Friday to criticize Biden sending a delegation to Venezuela amid rising gas prices. Gov. Ron DeSantis convened a roundtable of Venezuelan American leaders Friday to criticize President Joe Biden's decision to approach oil-rich Venezuela, long a foe of the United States, amid rising gas prices. The oppressive policies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have drawn sharp criticism from U.S. leaders, triggered sanctions and resulted in a highly adversarial relationship, but with gas prices topping $4 a gallon, Biden sent a delegation to the country recently. More criticism from DeSantis: Florida's Ron DeSantis attacks Disney over company's lobbying against 'Don't Say Gay' bill In case you missed it: Calling it 'COVID theater' DeSantis asks high school students to remove masks at event To go in hat in hand and legitimizing Nicholas Maduro, who's been responsible for a lot of atrocities we are here to speak out about that," DeSantis said. Biden's delegation discussed the energy sanctions and Americans who are being jailed in the country. The decision to approach Venezuela has drawn significant bipartisan criticism. The issue is especially sensitive in Florida, which has a large number of Venezuelan immigrants. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said buying oil from Venezuela would "only finance Maduros illegitimate grip on power and perpetuate his horrific crimes against the Venezuelan people." Rubio's Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Val Demings, also voiced concerns. How high can it go?: Will gas prices soar higher with Biden ban on Russian oil? More: Amid a tough 2022 election landscape, Florida Democrats oppose oil buy from Caracas I am deeply skeptical of the new talks in Venezuela," Demings said, adding: "We have multiple strong actions that we can take right now to bring down (gas) costs without enriching corrupt and murderous dictators like Nicolas Maduro." The governor's roundtable was held in Doral, the heart of the Venezuelan community in Florida, and included individuals representing groups such as the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce and Independent Venezuelan American Citizens. Follow Herald-Tribune Political Editor Zac Anderson on Twitter at @zacjanderson. He can be reached at zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gov. Ron DeSantis criticizes President Joe Biden over Venezuela policy U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) in Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. in 2021. (Tom Williams/Pool via Reuters) The Department of Homeland Security told Congress this week that it will provide it with an inspector general report on Operation Whistle Pig, a sprawling leak investigation conducted by a secretive unit at Customs and Border Protection that regularly used the countrys most sensitive databases to investigate the finances, travel and personal connections of journalists, congressional members and staff and other Americans not suspected of any crime. Yahoo News reporting on Operation Whistle Pig prompted swift outrage from civil liberties groups and resulted in the launch of four congressional probes and an internal CBP review. For months, the committees with oversight jurisdiction over CBP have requested copies of the inspector general report. DHS has blocked or stalled congressional efforts to obtain the report. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has been requesting this report for years. The efforts by members of Congress to obtain the report escalated in recent days and weeks, stalling the Senate confirmation of Ken Wainstein as head of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, a division of the DHS. On Tuesday, an agreement to provide Congress with the inspector general report broke the stalemate, congressional sources told Yahoo News. The Senate agreed to confirm Wainstein on the condition that he agreed to hand over the report and other long-delayed information requested by Congress. We have a commitment to get the Whistle Pig IG report within 30 days, Keith Chu, a spokesperson for Wyden told Yahoo News. This was a condition of supporting Wainstein. Neither the DHS nor CBP responded to Yahoo News multiple requests for comment. The Office of Inspector General at the DHS also did not respond to requests for comment. The report in question details the findings of a two-year probe into allegations involving Jeffrey Rambo, a border patrol agent working at CBPs Counter Network Division, and referred him, his supervisor and a colleague for criminal prosecution. Citing the lack of policies and procedures governing the divisions work, the Justice Department declined to prosecute them. All three remain in their jobs. Story continues Jeffrey Rambo, right, in his San Diego coffee shop, Storymakers Coffee Roasters. (Sandy Huffaker for Yahoo News) After Yahoo News initial reporting, CBP said it was conducting a review of the division. A review is underway to ensure that the activities in question during the prior administration remain an isolated incident and that proper safeguards are in place to prevent an incident like this from taking place in the future, Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for CBP, told Yahoo News. A CBP official told Yahoo News in December that the National Targeting Center, home to the Counter Network Division, put in place a number of safeguards, including safeguards on First Amendment protections. The ongoing review is meant to assess and ensure that those policies and practices respect the dignity of every individual; protect against discrimination; safeguard privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties; and increase transparency and accountability. CBP has declined to provide any update on its review. In the weeks that followed Yahoo News initial Dec. 11 report, CBP and the DHS provided tepid statements referencing their support of the First Amendment. DHS said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had promulgated policies in support of First Amendment activities but provided Yahoo News with no additional information on what exactly that means. A month later, Yahoo News reported that this same CBP division was monitoring right-wing groups and American protesters. This prompted more outrage from current and former DHS officials who had worked with the same unit and as well as from civil liberties groups who questioned the authority under which CBP had strayed wildly from its mission safeguarding the countrys borders to spy on Americans. Border Patrol agents hold a news conference prior to a media tour of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary facility near the Donna International Bridge in Donna, Texas in 2021. (Eric Gay/AP) Rambos supervisor, Dan White, who was referred for criminal prosecution but never charged, told investigators that CBPs Counter Network Division regularly used terrorism watch lists and other databases to ascertain the personal connections of journalists. We are pushing the limits and so there is no norm, there are no guidelines, White told investigators. We are the ones making the guidelines. In June 2017, under direction from White and other supervisors, Rambo launched Operation Whistle Pig, a sprawling leak investigation into journalist Ali Watkins and her relationship with Senate aide James Wolfe. While the Justice Department and the FBI have strict guidelines for investigations involving members of the media, CBP does not. Rambo, his supervisor and colleagues and at least three outside contractors provided the FBI with detailed records on at least 20 national security reporters, according to an FBI counterespionage memo included in the inspector general report. Disney CEO Bob Chapek apologized to staff Friday following a disastrous week that saw his company engulfed in the political firestorm surrounding Floridas Dont Say Gay bill. In an internal memo that the company later tweeted from its verified account, Chapek also announced that Disney would pause all of its political donations in Florida to ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was, he wrote. It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights. You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry. Elsewhere in the memo, Chapek vowed to continue to engage with the LGBTQ+ community in the weeks ahead to better understand the issues at stake. I missed the mark in this case, he added, but am an ally you can count on and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility, and opportunity you deserve. Chapeks remarks were a marked difference from sentiments he had expressed earlier this week. In a nearly 1,000-word memo sent to staff on Monday, the CEO touted Disneys support of LGBTQ causes but insisted the company maintain a neutral stance on Floridas Parental Rights in Education legislation, better known as the Dont Say Gay bill. Bob Chapek's initial remarks on Florida's As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds, he wrote, acknowledging that Disney had contributed to both Republican and Democrat legislators who have subsequently taken positions on both sides of the legislation. His comments struck a sour note among many fans, who accused Disney of hypocrisy given the companys recent strides toward more LGBTQ-inclusive content in movies and TV series as well as at its theme parks around the world. Staff at Pixar Animation Studios a Disney subsidiary reacted by alleging their owners had demanded edits for nearly every moment of overtly gay affection that had been planned for its feature films. Story continues By Wednesday, Chapek appeared eager to reverse course, saying Disney had been opposed to the bill from the outset and pledging a $5 million donation to LGBTQ rights groups. This announcement, however, also backfired when the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBTQ advocacy organization and one of the groups to which Chapek planned to contribute, said it would reject Disneys donation until the company took more meaningful action toward combating the Dont Say Gay bill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to sign the bill, which has been passed by the states legislature. The legislation will restrict how gender identity and sexuality are discussed in public school classrooms, particularly at the elementary level. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... The Philippine government is reportedly willing to open the country to American troops should the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine escalate into a fight with U.S. involvement. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte cited the countrys 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. in a recent meeting in Manila, according to Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez, Manilas envoy to Washington, on Thursday. Under the treaty, the U.S. and the Philippines must come to the aid of the other should an attack ensue. While Duterte spent the early years of his presidency openly criticizing U.S. policies, American officials have reportedly given their assurance that they would honor their treaty should Filipino forces ever come under attack. Romualdez said Duterte expressed concern over the current crisis and its impact on the international economy. The Philippines is one of the countries that has condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The Southeast Asian nation also voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution urging Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Duterte, who has maintained close relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping throughout his presidency, is nearing the end of his six-year term in June. According to Romualdez, however, Duterte does not support Russias invasion of Ukraine. He says if [the U.S. is] asking for the support of the Philippines, its very clear that, of course, if push comes to shove, the Philippines will be ready to be part of the effort, especially if this Ukrainian crisis spills over to the Asian region, Romualdez told journalists in Manila. Give them the assurance that if ever needed, the Philippines is ready to offer whatever facilities or whatever things that the United States will need being a major our number one ally. While Duterte did not discuss which facilities would be open for American forces, Romualdez mentioned the freeports of Clark and Subic Bay, two areas where former American air and naval bases thrived until their closure in 1992. Dutertes message comes as ambassadors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to meet with U.S. national security officials at the White House this week. Romualdez said their meeting will focus on discussions about the sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Russia earlier this month. Featured Image via Inquirer.net Story continues Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chill Asian Man Gives Away Pack of Toilet Paper at Costco in U.K. CDC Instagram Sparks Outrage Again After Using Asian Dishes in Takeout Food Warning STUDY: If More Americans Wore Masks Like Asians, COVID-19 Infections Would Plummet Uyghur Model Allegedly Goes From Making $1,440 a Day to Being Chained to a Bed in Chinese 'Reeducation Camp' Emilio Delgado, who played the Sesame Street character Luis the handyman, has died at the age of 81. Delgado passed away in his Manhattan home Thursday due to multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, which he had been battling since December 2020, his wife Carole Delgado told The New York Times. "We are saddened by the news of Emilio's passing. Emilio was an immense talent who brought so much joy and smiles to his fans. He will be missed by many and we know his legacy will live on. Our thoughts are with his loved ones, including his wife, Carole," his rep Robert Attermann, CEO of A3 Artists Agency, said in a statement to Changing America. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. For 44 years, Delgado played Sesame Street's beloved owner of the Fix-It Shop, where he could fix anything from giant toasters and broken cookie jars to dented trash can lids. Luis owned and ran the Fix-It Shop alone for years but was eventually joined by Maria, played by Sonia Manzano. The pair eventually started dating and married on the show during the late 80s. Delgado was born in 1940 in Calexico, Calif. and had family that lived just across the U.S. Mexico border in Mexicali, his wife told The New York Times. "He really lived biculturally," Carole told the publication. "Because he was an American citizen, he would walk to Calexico every day for school. It wasn't the border politics of today." His family later moved to Glendale, where during his teenage years he discovered his passions for music and theater and eventually went on to enroll in CalArts, according to a statement from the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that runs Sesame Street. During Sesame Street's off-season, Delgado would work in the stage and other television shows like Quincy, Hawaii Five-O, Falcon Crest, House of Cards, The Michael J. Fox Show as well as Law & Order. Delgado, a music lover, was also part of a band called Pink Martini which performed at The Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall. Story continues Delgado was a trailblazing Mexican-American actor who helped pave the way to reform Latino representation in television by playing Luis. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio even designated October 15, 2019 "Emilio Delgado Day" in honor of Delgado's legacy. "There really wasn't any representation of actual people," Delgado said during a 2021 interview on the YouTube series "Famous Cast Words," according to PBS. "Most of the roles that I went out for were either for bandits or gang members." READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESIGNS IN MISSOURI UN CALLS FOR US, OTHERS TO END 'IMPUNITY' FOR POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE RACIAL CONTROVERSY ERUPTS AROUND ROYALS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE PRINCIPAL ESCORTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AFTER DELIVERING FIERY SPEECH A week before a hip replacement surgery, on a February weekend, Crystal Dyer is walking up the steps of a trolley for an hourslong tour of Chicago that begins on the West Side. She sits among dozens of youths and their relatives, ready to showcase the beauty and wonder the city has to offer, starting with the Austin, Garfield Park and Lawndale areas. The youths are a mix of ages: some Girl Scouts in high school, while others are in elementary school. Before boarding the trolley, the young people partake in craftwork creating a scarf of their own design, reminiscent of traditional Kente cloth. Art supplies and cloth are provided on a number of tables in a room in Gone Again Travel & Tours, Dyers travel agency in the Austin neighborhood. Volunteers, many of whom are retirees, assist the kids as they come ready for the tour. Advertisement The activity and tour is part of Dyers goal to give youths opportunities to offer them engaging events through her agency and her nonprofit, Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures, or CAYTA. Given her ability to customize excursions as a travel agent, she designs tours in the same vein for young people, be it a college tour, a trade school tour, or the popular Chi-town Soul Trolley Black Restaurant & History Tour that she started last summer. The whole birth of CAYTA is about getting the kids out of their heads and into the world, so they can learn and grow, Dyer said. In that, we found kids that had never seen the Chicago River. We take certain things for granted. But if the parent is working all the time, when does the parent get to take the youth to the theater, to explore these different things? This is the life that I was able to share with my own kids, grandkids, so I said lets bring this to the community, so these kids can have options because thats all its about, options. Advertisement CAYTA opened in 2016 as a result of Dyers 18-year-old grandson, Devin, being killed in the Austin neighborhood in 2011. That weighed on me, Dyer said. When my grandson got murdered, four or five blocks from here, I thought to myself, Ive got to help these kids. I was working my travel business full time. And then I got that spark: What did you do that helped your children? It was through travel taking them on excursions on buses and they learned different things that I incorporated into their everyday life, just going all around the city doing things. As they progressed, we started going to other places around the country. And when my grandchildren were born, I would take them all over to different things thats how Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures was born. I could take that same outreach, the same love and I could give it to the entire community get them off the block. Dyer gives to the community with the help from volunteers, who Dyer refers to as her pied pipers. They spread the word about CAYTA, give their time to CAYTA events and raise funds for the program to make sure the activities remain free for those youths and their families to enjoy. (Dyer charges adults a fee for the trolley tours, but youths ride for free. With many single moms and low-income people in the area, Dyer doesnt want to put another burden on them.) Dyer wants to take young people to Ghana in August, an effort that also requires fundraising and donations. Sonya Watts-Davis, CAYTAs executive director, is doing all she can to spread the word about the programs work and the need for funds. She wants to have a South Side and a North Side CAYTA. We need funds so we can spread this all around the city and the surrounding suburbs, she said. The more people hear about what were doing, then other people can partner with us to do things. Dyer wants to send 180 youths, ages 14 to 23, to Ghana by 2024. She estimates it will cost $5,000 per person for a 14-day visit. (Trips can also be won in a contest that runs through September 2022.) The big goal is to take every child to Ghana but we take little steps along the way with so many other activities like trolley rides or going to museums to spend a day studying African art and African history, said volunteer Rosmarie Rodriguez. Jeanette Tivonaw Johnson, a CAYTA volunteer, went to Ghana with her granddaughter in 2019. Johnson said the experience led her granddaughter to consider architecture as a possible career path. Johnson said she cried when she heard the high schooler was taking architecture classes. Advertisement That was never a conversation prior to going, Johnson said. When you go to the motherland, that spirit, that energy just shifts for you. It was her exposure there she saw what could be; she saw there was a need. Johnson said volunteering on the West Side has given her a whole other view of what a community is. Girl Scout Troop 20368 members Ireland Lavin, 12, and Kai'lee Robinson, 11, talk while on the Chi-Town Soul Trolley Black Restaurant & History Tour on Feb. 19, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) When we started the food trolleys, focusing on and highlighting our Black restaurants in our communities, I was floored because it wasnt the traditional restaurants, Johnson said. We were talking about restaurants of young people who have graduated, got their degrees and they chose to come back to Austin to establish their restaurants. The stories behind them started when they were little kids. It was a food desert. They didnt have this or that. Theyre coming back to Austin to actually make those things happen. You think theres no hope, but thats not true. There is so much going on, (parents) are scared to send the kids out to those places that they dont know, Watts-Davis said. And thats why we invite the parents too because its a holistic approach. We have to be involved as a whole to build and be able to address these issues. The parent needs some help. Were here with something that can help the family, thats what this is about. We want to help the family be able to know that wow, I finally got some support. If we dont do something now to make a difference, then were going to lose. Prentiss Harris of Chubby's Char House talks with attendees of the Chi-Town Soul Trolley Black Restaurant & History Tour, parked outside Chubby's Char House on Feb. 19, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) On that given Saturday, the trolley riders started their trip with a stop at Chubbys Char House, where everyone received a free hot dog, fries and drink from the owner, Prentiss Harris, who said he opened his business in Austin because he wanted to be an example to young people of color that they can do what they dream, and help the community in the process. The trolley traveled to Lake Michigan with a guide offering tidbits of Chicago history along the way. Girl Scout cookies were sold en route and enjoyed by the group. Tour attendees learned the answers to such questions as: What iconic Austin shoe shine shop has been serving its customers for half a century and has been written up in The New York Times? (The Shoe Shine King.) And what hospital in Austin has its first Black CEO and what is his name? (Loretto Hospital and George N. Miller Jr.) Advertisement Post office worker Yolanda Jennings sat alongside her daughter Taniyah Lee, 7, that weekend. She said the pair would probably be coloring and playing with dolls if she had not opted to join the trolley tour. Often working 16-hour days, Jennings said its hard to get out into the community for events with her child that arent related to the Park District. She was free that Saturday due to a leg injury. Alonda Bardney, 17, from West Humboldt Park was on the trolley; her interest was piqued by the idea of learning more about Black-owned businesses and foods along the tour. Soon to be graduating from Steinmetz College Prep, shes looking forward to a family graduation trip to Jamaica before she focuses on a career in veterinary medicine. Dyer calls CAYTA an anti-violence program in the area, one that also brings other cultures to the neighborhood. When she started the trolley tours, she said many white people from out of state reached out to her to book a seat. This is what they told me: They always wanted to come into the inner city, but they didnt know how and when they saw my tour, that made them feel safe they could come in, learn about the history of the community, and eat the foods in the community, Dyer said. Dyer said booking for summer tours will begin in May. All are welcome, she said. Advertisement Another CAYTA purpose is to bring support to the community, show the pride therein. I want them to learn we come from different places, but we dont have to be mad at each other, Dyer said. This isnt about a trip to Africa, this is about being a better person at home, so you can make better choices. If somebody stepped on your foot, you arent pulling out a gun and trying to shoot them. Thats what the CAYTA program is all about. Its about creating better citizens, helping them with whatever they need, their mental health. Im giving to help kids make better decisions. Let them see the options so they can make a better decision than to make that split-second decision where they take someones life or their own gets taken. More information on CAYTA can be found at caytaworld.org. drockett@chicagotribune.com Fawn Fire suspect Alexandra Souverneva appears in Shasta County Superior Court on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The Bay Area woman whos charged with starting the Fawn Fire north of Redding last fall was back in Shasta County Superior Court on Thursday morning. Gregg Cohen, the attorney for 31-year-old Alexandra Souverneva, agreed shes been restored to competency, but told the court he now wants her reevaluated to see if shes competent to stand trial. In December, Souverneva was placed into the custody of the California Department of State Hospitals so she could undergo competency training. She is no longer in custody and appeared in court Thursday from the audience. The Shasta County District Attorneys Office previously said the goal of the training is to "restore a defendant to competency to stand trial." Judge Adam Ryan on Thursday granted Cohens request for the supplemental evaluation. One of Souvernevas previous psychologists was assigned to do the report and a hearing was set for April 7 to consider it. She (Souverneva) was previously declared incompetent by the court. When that happens, the court suspends criminal proceedings and shes supposed to be restored to competency in a kind of a state-approved competency-based program, Cohen said outside court. Cohen said theres a penal code provision that allows him to give his opinion that his client is once again competent or she is functioning as a competent individual who can stand trial. So, with that the court agreed to have her reevaluated by one of the psychologists who evaluated her previously. That report is coming back April 7, Cohen said. I expect that report to say that she is, in fact, competent and criminal proceedings can be reinstated. Souverneva, who was previously listed as from Palo Alto, pleaded not guilty Sept. 24 to charges of starting the 8,578-acre Fawn Fire about 10 miles north of Redding. Alexandra Souverneva, left, appears with her attorney, Gregg Cohen, during her court appearance on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Shasta County Superior Court. Souverneva is charged with arson in a forestland with an enhancement of allegedly committing an arson during a state of emergency, the DA's office has said. Story continues When the Fawn Fire started Sept. 22, it received the highest firefighting priority in the nation by the National Interagency Fire Center due to extremely dry conditions, the "extreme fire behavior" and its threat to both the community and the thousands of homes in the Redding area. The blaze destroyed 185 buildings and injured three firefighters before it was contained Oct. 2. The morning the Fawn Fire started, an employee of the J.F. Shea Quarry in Mountain Gate reported seeing a woman trespassing on the company's property, according to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigative report. The woman, later identified as Souverneva, allegedly ignored warnings that she was not allowed on the property and continued walking into the trees and brush in the area, the report said. When asked by officers why she was on the quarry property, she allegedly told them she had been hiking and was trying to get to Canada, according to the report. Along the way, she said she became thirsty and found a puddle of water that she believed was bear urine, according to the report. Souverneva told officers she unsuccessfully tried to filter the water with a teabag, according to the narrative. She then attempted to make a fire to boil the water but found it was "too wet for the fire to start," the report says. According to the report, "she said she drank the water anyway and then continued walking uphill from the creek bed," where she saw smoke and airplanes "dropping pink stuff." After that, Souverneva got stuck in the brush and ultimately contacted fire department personnel to help her, the report says. When she was contacted by Cal Fire officer Matt Alexander, he asked Souverneva to empty her pockets and fanny pack, which contained CO2 cartridges, a cigarette lighter and an item "containing a green, leafy substance she admitted to smoking that day," according to the officer's filing. Record Searchlight reporter Michele Chandler contributed to this report. Mike Chapman is an award-winning reporter and photographer for the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif. His newspaper career spans Yreka and Eureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Wash. Support local journalism by subscribing today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: New evaluation ordered for woman suspected of starting Fawn Fire Fox News Former President Donald Trump was justly criticized last month for lauding Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine as genius and very savvy. Fast forward a few weeks, and Trump was presented with the perfect opportunity to issue some stern words for the authoritarian leader. Yet, as was the case many times during his time in office, he decided not to. Calling into Sean Hannitys show on Thursday, Trump took up most of the hour talking about everything from the UFC to gas prices. At one point, Hannity honed in on the war in Eastern Europe, in particular Trumps relationship with the man who launched it. When you got criticized for saying that Vladimir Putin is smartweve had many conversations, and you have often quoted to me Sun Tzu, The Art of War. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Hannity said. The Fox News host then asked Trump directly: Is that how you viewed Vladimir? Did you view Vladimir Putin and people like President Xi and Kim Jong Un and the Iranian mullahs as enemies that you needed to keep close? I got along with these people. I got along with them well, Trump answered. That doesnt mean they are good people. That doesnt mean anything other than the fact that I understood them, and perhaps they understood me. Maybe they understood me even better, thats OK, because they knew there would be a big penalty. Hannity, who has suggested assassinating Putin, pressed the issue. I want to understand your thinking, though, and the thinking is: We got along, but you knew that they were looking out for their interests at all times, Hannity said, to which Trump responded: 100 percent. And you understood that they were capable of evil things, Hannity continued, giving Trump an easy way to describe Putins actslike the alleged bombing of a maternity and childrens hospital this weekas evil, without applying the label to the man himself. Putin is for Russia, and you see what happened. And that is all because they didnt respect our leader, Trump replied instead, referring to President Biden. He then regurgitated one of his most common claims about U.S.-Russian relations: Story continues Look, there was nobodyand Putin will tell you this, if he was telling the truth, and I am sure he has told it to all of his inner sanctumnobody was tougher on Russia than me. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. By Jennifer Rigby and Jonathan Landay (Reuters) -The World Health Organization advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the country's public health laboratories to prevent "any potential spills" that would spread disease among the population, the agency told Reuters. Like many other countries, Ukraine has public health laboratories researching how to mitigate the threats of dangerous diseases affecting both animals and humans including, most recently, COVID-19. Its labs have received support from the United States, the European Union and the WHO. Biosecurity experts say Russia's movement of troops into Ukraine and bombardment of its cities have raised the risk of an escape of disease-causing pathogens, should any of those facilities be damaged. In response to questions from Reuters about its work with Ukraine ahead of and during Russia's invasion, the WHO said in an email on Thursday that it has collaborated with Ukrainian public health labs for several years to promote security practices that help prevent "accidental or deliberate release of pathogens." "As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills," the WHO, a United Nations agency, said. The WHO would not say when it had made the recommendation nor did it provide specifics about the kinds of pathogens or toxins housed in Ukraine's laboratories. The agency also did not answer questions about whether its recommendations were followed. Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and at their embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Ukraine's laboratory capabilities have been at the center of a growing information war since Russia began moving troops into Ukraine two weeks ago. On Friday, Russia called a meeting of the 15-member U.N. Security Council to reassert, without providing evidence, a longstanding claim that Ukraine ran biological weapons laboratories with U.S. Defense Department support. Story continues The accusation has been repeatedly denied by Ukraine and the United States, where government officials warn Russia may use it as a pretext to deploy its own chemical or biological weapons. Izumi Nakamitsu, the U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, told the Security Council on Friday that the United Nations is "not aware" of any biological weapons program in Ukraine, which joined an international ban on such arms, as has Russia and the United States along with 180 other countries. U.N. officials have also said the WHO, in its work with Ukraine, is not aware of any activity in the country that would violate international treaties "including on chemical weapons or biological weapons. The WHO statement to Reuters referred solely to public health laboratories. The agency said it encourages all parties to cooperate in "the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed." It offered to help wherever possible with technical guidance and coordination. (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Howard Goller) Jonathan Pollock stands at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, according to an arrest affidavit from an FBI agent. The Polk County Sheriffs Office has more than a third of a million followers of its Facebook page, and the agency regularly posts seeking public help in finding suspects, either those sought for local crimes or as an assist to another law-enforcement agency. Such posts typically receive mostly positive responses along the lines of, Go get em, Grady, in reference to Sheriff Grady Judd. The response was different Friday when the PCSO posted about Jonathan Pollock, a North Lakeland resident facing multiple charges in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Federal authorities say he assaulted three police officers during the riot. The Sheriff's Office post said the FBI had requested that the agency spread information about Pollock, 21, who hadnt yet been found and arrested as of Friday. Pollocks sister, Olivia Pollock, and three friends have already been arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including assaulting officers. Olivia Pollock's arrest: North Lakeland woman is third Polk County resident charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot Related: Brother and friend of arrested North Lakeland woman also charged with assaulting officers in Capitol riot The post went up in late morning and by the late afternoon had drawn nearly 2,500 comments. The overwhelming majority were negative, with many criticizing the FBI, dismissing the Jan. 6 insurrection as a peaceful protest or even suggesting that Pollock deserves praise and should be aided in eluding arrest. Pray they nerver (never) find him, commented Lynn Olson of Auburndale. I wont share this for nothing! wrote Andrew Ciresi, whose location could not be determined. Matter of fact I would hide him as if he was a Jew in the 1930s!! Jan. 6 remains a political flashpoint Facebook comments, of course, do not represent a scientific survey. And it cannot be inferred that 80% or more of Polk County residents oppose arresting Pollock. (Many followers of the PCSO live outside the county.) Story continues But the comments show that the Jan. 6 riot has become thoroughly politicized and that many who normally express support for law enforcement condemn the FBI and dismiss official and media accounts of what happened that day, despite the trove of video and photo evidence showing supporters of former President Donald Trump clashing with officers protecting the Capitol. The Sheriffs Offices post included photos, some taken from the FBIs arrest affidavit, showing Pollock in tactical gear at the Capitol. The post also shared a link to a news release from the Department of Justice detailing Pollocks alleged crimes. 'It's a political move': Relatives defend Lakeland siblings accused in U.S. Capitol riot More reactions: Why did this quiet Florida town produce 4 Capitol riot suspects? Locals share different opinions According to the FBI, Pollock assaulted three police officers, pulling one down a set of steps, kneeing and punching another in the face, and punching and pushing a third by the neck, the post said. It shared contact information for sharing tips with the FBI (800-225-5324 or tips.fbi.gov). Many commenters said they usually support the Sheriffs Office but disagreed with the pursuit of Pollock. (Locations are included for those who list them in their Facebook profiles.) FIRST POST I CANT AGREE WITH, wrote Matt Solomon. I pray you never find him. And if you continue to push the lefts agenda we will simply vote you out of office. Ain't helping you find anybody from the peaceful protest from January, wrote Bryan Batton. And unless you've seen the footage and can clearly tell who it is, you shouldn't either. Just stop with this crap, wrote Julie Nixon. Nobody's helping y'all find these people. How about y'all go arrested actual criminals like pedophiles. John Bolton of Lakeland used a familiar phrase to discourage assistance in Pollocks arrest: "Snitches get stitches in this case, Bolton wrote. Good luck getting Polk County to turn on this guy, added Lauren Schwarz. Jake Tebo wrote: If he was living with me I wouldnt say. Jonathan Pollock of Lakeland grapples with a police officer outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to an FBI affidavit. 'Don't you have something better to do' Though more negative comments were directed at the FBI for its pursuit of Pollock, a significant number criticized the Sheriffs Office or Judd by name for assisting the agency. Shame on you Grady, was the comment from an account attributed to Connie N Aaron Holmes of Auburndale. Grady, don't you have something better to do, wrote Mark Richards of Cape Coral. Don't go woke on us! Many of those commenting dismissed the FBIs allegations against Pollock through comparisons either to the rioting and unrest that occurred in some cities last summer amid racial justice protests following George Floyds death or to the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt during the attack on the Capitol. Babbitt was among a group of rioters who broke into the Capitol and were attempting to enter a corridor just outside the House chamber. A U.S. Capitol Police officer shot Babbitt as she tried to scale a door while others beat against its glass panes. Shouldnt they be looking into who shot Ashley Babbitt, commented Janice Kane. Prioritize. The Department of Justice determined that the shooting was justified. Corrine Montoni: Lakeland woman charged in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol remains free on bond More: PCSO: Polk deputy arrested, accused of making written threats related to U.S. Capitol riot Kevin Mullen of Lakeland offered a comment typical of many responses to the Sheriffs Offices post. What about all the violence, rioting, looting, burning that happened but that's okay because nobody is wanted for that, Mullen wrote. Are they looking for all the rioters that burned down peoples businesses and stole everything they could? added Kenny Devane of Fort Meade. No theyre not! Law-enforcement officers made many arrests in Portland and other cities after violence erupted during last years demonstrations. Comments made it clear that suspicion of the FBI, a frequent target of Trumps attacks, is widespread. Are you serious, wrote Martha McCall Henderson in response another comment. I doubt this man did anything. The FBI is working hard to help the democrats cheat face it. The FBI lies a lot, wrote Jennaca Combs. Wouldnt be surprised if they are lying about this guy. 'Show us the evidence' Others asked if the FBI or the Sheriffs Office has evidence to support the charges against Pollock. You wanna show us evidence of this alleged assault of three police officers? wrote Dylan Hazlewood of South Carolina. Otherwise, we ain't helping you round up more political prisoners to be held without bail in solitary confinement without access to their attorney for months on end over something the cabal up there knew was coming but then allowed (and from some points of view, even encouraged) to happen for political points. The Department of Justice released a 53-page arrest affidavit containing many photos taken from police officers' body cameras during the riot. It includes several of a man identified as Jonathan Pollock grappling with police officers. The FBI agent who submitted the affidavit said Pollock and other suspects were identified through driver's license and other photos and by people who knew them. It doesnt appear that the agency has released video of Pollock allegedly assaulting officers. This image taken from video shot on Jan. 6 shows Jonathan Pollock of Lakeland attacking a police officer outside the U.S. Capitol, according to an FBI affidavit. The responses included quite a few statements of conspiracy theories suggesting the Jan. 6 attack was actually orchestrated by government officials and not carried out by Trump supporters. Many made reference to Antifa, a loose collection of far-left groups, though the vast majority of the more than 500 arrested so far including Olivia Pollock and the other local residents have been identified as Trump supporters. I can't believe people are buying into to this fake insurrection, wrote Michelle Hagan of Kissimmee. There is a reason they will not release the video footage. The whole thing was a set-up by (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi, (Sen. Chuck) Schumer and the FBl. Riot? You mean when they opened the doors and watched everyone enter? wrote Kristy Stan of Sarasota. 'I'll buy him a beer' Other comments suggested sympathy and even admiration for Pollock. Seems like a hero! wrote JP Pineiro. Looks like you should give him a medal rather then (than) arrest him, wrote John Ross. Wes Barnes of Texas declared: Ill buy him a beer. Not all of those responding to the post expressed support for Pollock. Reading these comments I have to say, most of you pick and choose what to be angry about when it comes to law enforcement being harmed, wrote Marshall Welch of Tampa. You cant support law enforcement one moment and then be okay with officers getting hurt at the capitol because you agreed with the riot for whatever reason. Hes guilty of treason, added Ann Sonis. Hope they find him. A spokeswoman for the FBIs Tampa office could not be reached Friday. Carrie Horstman, a spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriffs Office, said it is not unusual to see negative reactions to posts on the agencys Facebook page. We were asked by the FBI to post that theyre looking for a fugitive with a warrant in our county, just as we get asked by other law enforcement agencies (most recently, a homicide suspect from Highlands County), Horstman said by email. Weve never had a post that didnt generate negative comments people have differing opinions, and they often express them. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Capitol riot: PCSO's request for help finding suspect draws angry comments Social media apps. Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Meta is temporarily changing its hate speech policy so Facebook and Instagram users in some countries can call for violence against Russian soldiers, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Reuters reports. In a statement to Reuters, a Meta spokesperson said the social media company is making allowances "for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules, like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders.' We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians." In an email to content moderators, Meta said that posts calling for the death of Putin or Lukashenko can be made by users in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, but cannot contain "other targets or have two indicators of credibility, such as the location or method," Reuters reports. Another email to content moderators says posts containing calls for violence against Russians can only stay up if it is clear users are talking about the invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reports. This temporary policy change applies to users in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia. You may also like Kremlin publishes list of countries it has deemed 'unfriendly' toward Russia More Russian troops were killed in Ukraine in 2 weeks than U.S. troops in entire Iraq War, U.S. estimates Poland MiG-29 deal flew to the brink of a disastrous war Facebook is changing a rule that prohibits users from calling for violence in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The change, which was first reported by Reuters, allows people in Ukraine and a handful of other countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of the Ukraine invasion. People in Ukraine, Poland and Russia are also permitted to call for death to Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement that the company was "temporarily allowing some posts that in the past would have been taken down under the companys rules prohibiting inciting violence. He added that the company wont allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians. The company will also take down specific credible threats against Putin and Lukashenko, according to a memo reported by Reuters. As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as death to the Russian invaders, Stone said. We still wont allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians. Russia has responded to the rule changing, saying that Washington must stop the "extremist activities" of Meta, Reuters has reported. The change underscores just how much social media platforms are rushing to adapt their content policies amid Russias invasion of Ukraine. Facebook has already taken several steps to limit the influence of Russian state media outlets and took down a network of fake accounts boosting pro-Russia propaganda. The Russian government has responded by banning Facebook. Update 3/10/2022 2:20 AM ET: The article has been updated with Russia's response to Meta's new rule, reported by Reuters. The claim: Quebec provincial police force removed identification at a Freedom Convoy protest In February, social media users accused a Canadian provincial police force of dodging accountability after several prominent online figures shared claims that officers at the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa had removed identification badges from their uniforms. The claims were based on a video of officers from the Surete du Quebec, Quebec's provincial police force, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a line to prevent protesters from advancing. The Ontario Provincial Police had called the Surete for reinforcements after failed attempts to quell the protests, which began as a trucker-led demonstration against cross-border vaccine restrictions and grew into a dayslong occupation of Ottawa. Quebec riot police hold a line. pic.twitter.com/d7CJAuiEm4 a Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 19, 2022 One Feb. 20 Instagram post of the video from body armor company Hoplite Armor racked up over 24,000 views in less than three weeks. "Justin Trudeau's SQ (Quebec provincial police service) officers removed their identifying names and badge numbers from their uniforms in Ottawa," text above the video reads in the post. In its caption of the video, Hoplite Armor condemned the company that had sold the supposedly anonymous uniforms. "If companies refused to sell gear to these thugs theyd have nothing to oppress you with," the page wrote. "Sadly, I stand alone in that." Contrary to this and other posts, which totaled hundreds of thousands of views, the officers didn't remove any IDs. Names and badge numbers were on the officers' helmets. USA TODAY reached out to Hoplite Armor and others who shared the post for comment. Story continues Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Police ID numbers were on officers' helmets The video that accompanied the claims of police misconduct at the Freedom Convoy is authentic, but it doesn't show police without identification. It was first posted by Sean O'Shea, a reporter for Canadian television outlet Global News, on Feb. 19. He captioned the tweet "Quebec police hold a line." Conservative influencer Ian Miles Cheong reposted the video on his Twitter page that day. "The police are making themselves unaccountable to the very laws theyre supposed to enforce in their suppression of a peaceful protest," he wrote. Police detain a demonstrator participating in a protest organized by truck drivers opposing vaccine mandates on Feb. 19, 2022, in Ottawa, Ontario. The drivers have used vehicles to form a blockade that has blocked several streets near Parliament Hill. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act in an attempt to try to put an end to the demonstration that has nearly paralyzed a portion of downtown Ottawa for three weeks. His tweet, which over 11,000 users shared on Twitter, became the basis for the dozens of reposts of the video. At first glance, this video seems to corroborate the claim. No badges are visible on the SQ's dark green riot gear. However, the officers' badge identification numbers can be seen in large white print on their black helmets. Photos from Canadian news outlets similarly show the officers wearing the numbers on their helmets. These badge numbers are unique, Lt. Benoit Richard, a spokesperson for the Quebec Surete, wrote in an email to USA TODAY. Richard said citizens who provide the badge number to a police board will be provided with the officers' names. "Badge numbers refer to only one individual," he wrote. "The officers name can be found by any official instance if needed. For example, a citizen could file a complaint to a police board with the officers badge number." Richard said the officers typically wear badges on their uniforms, not their helmets, but "moveable parts of the uniform are not worn during protests for security reasons." Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the Quebec provincial police force removed identification at a Freedom Convoy protest. The officers' identification is found on their helmets when they are wearing riot gear, a spokesperson for the police force told USA TODAY. The original version of the video that accompanied the claim shows the badge numbers displayed in large white print on officers' helmets. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim police removed IDs at Ottawa trucker protest Revelers hoping to get lucky with another warm Saturday could instead find themselves huddled over the green Chicago River in high temperatures 20 degrees below normal, according to the National Weather Service. A cold front is expected to tank temperatures, with windchills between 5 and 15 degrees below zero at sunrise Saturday, weather service meteorologist Matt Friedlein said. Advertisement Its expected to get warmer throughout the duration of any morning bar crawls, peaking in the mid-20s early Saturday afternoon, Friedlein said. But thats still 20 degrees below normal for mid-March, he said. St. Patricks Day is next week, but Chicago is holding its celebrations including the annual dyeing of the river Saturday. Advertisement Members of Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 13, 2021. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) The cold front comes after a storm moved across Illinois Thursday night. The storm brought about 0.5 to 1 inch of snow to the northern metro area, and 2 to 4 inches in the south suburbs, according to the National Weather Service. Areas with the most snow included Kankakee County, at 4.3 inches, and parts of Lake County, Indiana, with 5 inches measured in Hobart, Friedlein said. This morning's commute will be messy for those south of I-80 and in NW Indiana. We see a couple of more chances for light snow over the next few days with temperatures plummeting on Saturday before warming up nicely on Sunday. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/2DaTWG29kR NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) March 11, 2022 Illinois State Police in Chicago responded Thursday night to 10 crashes in which someone was injured and 31 crashes that damaged property, state police said. The storm followed a pattern of others last month, in which relatively more snow fell over central and southern Illinois than farther north. Thats somewhat atypical over the course of a season, meteorologist Friedlein said. Far northern Illinois and far southern Wisconsin theres been a hole there where theres less snow, Friedlein said. There is another chance for snow Saturday night, he said. Its not expected to stick for long, as highs on Sunday are forecast in the 50s. But with wind gusts expected up to 30 miles per hour Sunday, itll still have a little bit of nip in the air, Friedlein said. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress approved $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine on Thursday as part of a $1.5 trillion spending bill that funds U.S. government operations through Sept. 30. President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law on Friday. Here is a summary of the 2,700-page bill: UKRAINE AID The bill includes $13.6 billion for ammunition and other military supplies for Ukraine to fight the invasion by Russia, as well as humanitarian support. NO COVID AID The legislation does not include $15.6 billion requested by Biden to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as his fellow Democrats could not agree on how it would be distributed. Democrats are expected to continue efforts to approve this aid, which would be used for research and vaccine stockpiles. INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY The package includes spending increases for roads, bridges and other elements of Biden's signature $1 trillion infrastructure package. Congress approved the package back in November 2021, but much of the money could not actually go out the door until the broader spending bill was passed. U.S. MILITARY The bill increases U.S. defense spending to $782 billion, a 5.6% increase over current levels. DOMESTIC SPENDING The bill boosts spending on nondefense programs by 6.7% to $730 billion. It includes substantial increases for scientific research into climate change and diseases like cancer and diabetes, as well as antipoverty food and housing programs. It also includes the largest increases in more than a decade for college tuition and aid to schools that serve low-income children, according to Democrats. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT The bill also includes a renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, which provides services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. VISA REFORM The legislation resurrects the EB-5 visa program, which provides residency permits to foreigners who invest in high-poverty areas. The program expired last year amid concerns about fraud. It now includes reforms meant to prevent abuses. (Reporting by Andy Sullivan; editing by Jonathan Oatis) A Florida Black man who worked at Dunkin has reached a plea deal with Tampa prosecutors to resolve charges resulting from his fatal altercation with a customer last year. Before he was fatally assaulted, the victim used a racial slur against the defendant, a term the state attorneys office considered, the most aggressive and offensive term in the English language. Corey Pujols, 27, is facing a manslaughter charge after punching a man who called him a racial slur at a Tampa Dunkin Donuts earlier this month. Photo: Tampa Police Department According to CBS News, Corey Pujols plea deal reduced his manslaughter charge to felony battery and afforded him a sentence of two years of house arrest, followed by three years probation. On Monday, March 8, Judge Christine Marlewski additionally ordered the 27-year-old to complete 200 hours of community service and attend an anger management course as a reckoning for the May 4, 2021, incident that resulted in the death of Vonelle Cook, a 77-year-old white man that called Pujols the n-word. Grayson Kamm, a spokesman for Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren, stated that there were two of the primary factors considered when crafting the plea deal for Pujols. He said that they were the aggressive approach the victim took toward the defendant and everyone working with the defendant and that the victim repeatedly used possibly the most aggressive and offensive term in the English language. The day of the confrontation, Cook was dissatisfied with the service at the drive-thru window as he tried to order coffee at the Dunkin on 410 S 50th St. in Tampas Palm River area. He decided to go into the restaurant and complained loudly about the business poor service. Pujols, an employee on shift, asked the man to leave but he did not. He also asked a co-worker to call 911. Instead, Cook continued to blast the workers and interjected the racial epithet into his tirade. Pujols abandoned his station behind the counter and approached the man, asking him to stop using the word. Defiantly, Cook said the N-word again. Pujols responded by punching the white man in the face, connecting with his jaw, causing him to fall and hit his head on the floor. Story continues Crime Online reported that police and rescue crews were called to the store, and upon arrival found Cook unconscious and bleeding from his head. Three days later, Cook died from injuries sustained from the encounter. A Florida autopsy confirmed the mans death was a result of a fractured skull and brain contusions caused by blunt trauma to the head. The employee was originally arrested and charged with assault, but the charge was elevated to manslaughter once Cook died. The prosecution also noted that it decided to reduce the charge in the arrangement, by examining a totality of the circumstances, including Pujols background, the fact he didnt have a criminal history and that he did not mean to cause the mans death when he punched him. Before his death, Cook was required to register as a sex offender after police raided his home in 2006 and found a camera in his bedroom, a collection of homemade videos and DVDs, and nude pictures of men and underaged boys. Cook was arrested and convicted of ten separate sex crimes, including unlawful sex with minors, possessing child porn, and lewd, lascivious sexual battery with a victim between 12-15 years old in 2008. The prosecution accused him of using candy, video games, and comic books to lure boys into his home, make them create pornographic videos, including one where he filmed himself performing a sexual act on a teenager. He was released from prison in 2011. The story of Carla Walker, how technology solved her 1974 murder and the conviction of her killer will be featured in an episode of Forensic Files II on Sunday. Carla was 17 years old when Glen McCurley kidnapped, raped and strangled her in 1974. Her family waited for answers for decades until DNA technology and a dogged police investigation led to the conviction of McCurley. In August, McCurley pleaded guilty to the capital murder of Carla and was sentenced to life in prison. Jim Walker keeps photographs of his sister, Carla Walker, who was murdered when he was 12 years old in 1974. The episode airs March 13 at 9 p.m. and features Assistant Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Kim DAvignon, according to the episode description. DAvignon will explain how a team of detectives, forensic scientists and Tarrant County district attorney officials solved the 46-year-old murder case and convicted McCurley. Carlas boyfriend at the time of her murder, Rodney McCoy, recently appeared in a Dateline episode about her murder, titled After The Dance. In the episode, which aired in January, McCoy talked about the night he saw his high school sweetheart for the last time. The trailer for Forensic Files II does not indicate whether McCoy will appear in the episode about Carla. At McCurleys trial in August, McCoy was the first witness to testify. He described the way Carla always made him smile, and how the two started dating in high school. He also told the courtroom in detail about the seconds that changed his life when Carla was kidnapped right in front of him. On Feb. 16, 1974, McCoy and Carla attended the Western Hills High School Valentines Day Dance a night that should have been a quintessential teenage memory. Carla wore a powder blue dress and the flowered corsage McCoy had pinned to the fabric. After the dance, Carla and McCoy parked in the Ridglea Bowl parking lot so she could use the bathroom. In his moms 1969 LTV, they started to kiss. Carla leaned against the passenger side door, her purse behind her head, and McCoy leaned over top of her. Suddenly, the passenger door yanked open. Story continues The Last Dance. How new DNA technology helped Assistant Tarrant County Criminal DA Kim D'Avignon's team solve the forty-six year old murder of Carla Walker. Click here to see the Forensic Files trailor https://t.co/WIVrEvFxPf. pic.twitter.com/59RZcfeTrZ Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) March 9, 2022 McCurley was on the other side of the door. As McCoy and Carla fell from the car, McCurley beat McCoy over the head with a .22 Ruger pistol. McCoy, blood running down his face, could not tell if Carla was pulled from the car, but knew she suddenly was not in the seat next to him. McCurley pointed the pistol at McCoy and pulled the trigger three times. The gun did not go off. Bleeding and losing consciousness, McCoy saw the abductor start to pull Carla away. Carla turned her face to me and I can visualize it and said, Rodney go get dad. Go get my dad, McCoy said at the trial. Those were the last words I heard from Carla. Carlas body was found three days later in a culvert near Benbrook Lake. She had been raped, beaten and strangled. Carlas brother, Jim Walker, was also interviewed on the Dateline episode. Jim spent the 47 years after his sisters murder seeking answers. He lived in the house that he and his siblings grew up in walking through the same front door McCoy pounded on the night Carla was taken. For years, he held onto the possibility that someone might knock on his door at 3 a.m. and confess to his sisters death. Carla Walker investigation Fort Worth police Detectives Leah Wagner and Jeff Bennett also spoke with NBCs Dateline for the episode. Wagner and Bennett worked tirelessly on Carlas case and utilized forensic genealogy and new DNA extraction technology to zero in on McCurley as Carlas killer. The process cost tens of thousands of dollars, and Wagner and Bennett coordinated funds for the testing themselves through donations from the producers of The DNA of Murder, who ran an episode about Carla on the Oxygen show. Bennett also created the FWPD Cold Case Support Group, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to solving Fort Worths unsolved murders. Donations can be made at the nonprofits website at fwpdcoldcasesupport.org. McCurley was interviewed by police in the 1974 investigation of Carlas murder. When McCurley beat McCoy with his .22 Ruger, the guns magazine was dislodged and fell into the parking lot. The magazine was one of the few pieces of evidence police had to go on at the time, and they tracked sales of Rugers in the area. McCurley was one of those buyers. On April 3 of that year, according to an affidavit, he told detectives his Ruger had been stolen six weeks before, around the same time of Carlas murder. He also explained his wife was out of town and that he was not working the night of Feb. 16 or at any time on Feb. 17. He was not questioned again by police until nearly 50 years later. From 2018 to 2020, renewed interest in the case lead to a breakthrough. In 2018, a North Richland Hills resident who goes by Vincent Strange aired an episode about Carla on his podcast, Gone Cold. The episode inspired Dianne Kuykendall and Kathleen Barnett, friends of the Walker family, to pitch Carlas story to producers for Paul Holes the DNA of Murder detective. Wagner and Bennett, who had recently reopened Carlas case and been interviewing dozens of witnesses and friends, struck their deal with Holes to pay for the advanced DNA testing. A DNA profile was created and analyzed by Othram, a forensic genealogy lab based in a Houston suburb, and the Serological Research Institute out of Richmond, California. The DNA profile was eventually matched to a DNA sample police obtained from McCurley first from a McDonalds straw pulled from McCurleys trash and then from a direct DNA sample that McCurley consented to. McCurley was arrested on Sept. 21, 2020, at his Fort Worth home. McCurley lived near the Walkers house his sons went to the same school Carla attended, and Jim Walker attended Western Hills High School at the same time one of McCurleys sons did. Video confession During the trial, McCurley initially pleaded not guilty to the murder. That changed on Aug. 24, the day after Tarrant County prosecutors showed footage of McCurleys interview with detectives Wagner and Bennett, in which he confessed to killing the 17-year-old. For the first hour of the three-hour interview, McCurley denied knowing Carla or having anything to do with her murder. However, when detectives confronted him about the DNA evidence, he eventually confessed. He told the Fort Worth detectives that he just got carried away when he strangled and killed Carla. Glen McCurley enters the courtroom for the first day of his capital murder trial on Friday, August 20, 2021, at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth. In the video interview, McCurley told detectives he was drinking whiskey and beers that Saturday night and driving around the town. At first, he claimed he saved Carla from McCoy and the two had consensual sex. He later admitted this was not true. I took advantage of her, I guess, McCurley said during the interview. I choked her to death, I guess. I didnt beat her up and all that kind of crap. He told detectives he got scared that she would tell on me. Im guilty, he says in the interview. I guess for what happened to that little girl. Are you guilty of raping her and killing her? Wagner asks in the interview. I guess, he says. The next day, minutes after day three of the trial began, McCurley told his attorneys he wanted to change his plea to guilty. The judge sentenced him immediately and the trial ended. After McCurley was sentenced, the courtroom was filled with people hugging one another and wiping their eyes. Jim Walker, right, hugs Kathleen Barnett after Glen McCurley was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his sister, Carla Walker, on Tuesday, August 24 2021. McCurley has originally pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty. When asked how he felt after the trial, Jim Walker said, Peaceful. Peaceful. Peaceful. Were glad and happy, and I feel happy for our community, he said. I feel sadness for the McCurleys that are survivors of this. But overall, I feel peaceful. Cindy Stone, Carlas sister, said at the time the reality of McCurleys guilty plea had not sunk in yet. She stood by the elevators after the trial, clutching a gold-framed photo of Carla. But what I do feel is relief, she said. A former Philadelphia corrections officer from Bensalem is accused of trafficking guns on social media, including to people who could not legally possess them, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said Friday. Amanda Barr, 37, is charged with unlawful sale or transfer of a firearm and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, which are felonies, as well as misdemeanors of making false statements to authorities. As of Friday afternoon, Barr remained in Montgomery County Prison on $500,000 bail. Man charged in gun trafficking: DA: Philly man bought guns in Bucks, then illegally sold them in the region Woman accused of straw purchasing: Feds: Philly woman straw-purchased nearly 20 guns in Warminster For subscribers: Detectives investigated ex-CB West teacher in 2016 and 2021. Here's why one yielded charges and the other didn't County Detectives said an investigation began after two firearms registered to Barr were found at crime scenes in Philadelphia. Barr had purchased seven firearms between December 2018 and March 2019, charging documents state. Most of the weapons were purchased at a convention center in Montgomery County, and one was purchased in Philadelphia, police said. One of the weapons registered to Barr was recovered after a shooting in Philadelphia in December 2020, according to police. A man was charged in the shooting, and police said he was not legally allowed to possess a firearm. Another weapon was found during a traffic stop in February 2021, court documents state. The weapon was found concealed in the pants of the driver, who also was not legally allowed to have the weapon, according to police allegations. Barr had reported two of her weapons stolen, however neither of those handguns had been used in either incident, police said. In addition, the other five weapons were no longer in her possession, charging documents state. Investigators spoke to Barr about the weapons in February 2021, and she claimed she legally sold the weapons; however, she had no paperwork to show that, according to authorities. Story continues Investigators determined she used social media to illegally sell the weapons for $500 to $600 each, court documents allege. She would meet the buyers after coordinating the sale online, police said. Barr resigned from her position as a corrections officer shortly after speaking to detectives in February 2021, the DA's office said. She did not have an attorney listed for her Friday. Her preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 29. County Detectives and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Bensalem police, Philadelphia Police and the FBI assisted as well. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem woman, former Philly corrections officer, charged with gun trafficking WASHINGTON Congressional Republicans today are lining up to support military aid to Ukraine just two years after backing then-President Donald Trumps extortion scheme against that country, apparently in acknowledgment that their earlier choices could come back to haunt them in this autumns midterms. I have zero problems with this phone call. Theres no quid pro quo here, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Sept. 29, 2019, defending Trumps attempt to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into smearing Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic challenger Trump most feared, by withholding military aid to Ukraine. This type of diplomacy is hard to watch but nonetheless has existed and hardly rises to an impeachable offense, said South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds on Nov. 7, 2019. In recent days, those same Republicans and many others have come around to urge Trumps successor, Democrat Joe Biden, to provide more military assistance to Ukraine in the face of Russian dictator Vladimir Putins invasion. Vladimir Putin is a cold, calculating killer. We must continue to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country, Rounds wrote on Twitter on Feb. 25. I have never seen a leader rise to the occasion more than President @ZelenskyyUa has done, Graham added a day later. You can see by the mad scramble to support Zelenskyy and Ukraine that they are afraid of the consequences of their past miscreance, said Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute. Back in 2019, Trump, his personal lawyer and allies in his administration pushed for Zelenskyy, a former comedian and political novice, to announce an investigation into Biden and to search for evidence that Ukraine had worked to elect Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, proof of which supposedly existed on a computer hidden somewhere in that country. That false story, according to U.S. officials, was concocted by Russian intelligence in an attempt to deflect attention from their own successful work to put Trump into the White House in that election, Story continues Trump, nevertheless, demanded Ukraine act on the Russian conspiracy theory and held up $391 million in congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine. In a now-infamous phone call with Zelenskyy, Trump asked him for a favor, which led to a whistleblower complaint that sparked Trumps first impeachment. Among 197 Republicans in the House and 53 in the Senate, only one Utah Sen. Mitt Romney voted that Trump had abused his power and should be removed from office because of it. Some argued that while Trumps call with Zelenskyy might have been improper, it did not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. Others, like Maines Susan Collins, said that the House impeachment vote by itself would be enough to chasten Trump and dissuade him from such behavior in the future. The president has been impeached. Thats a pretty big lesson, she said. Trump, though, was not at all chastened. In fact, the morning after the Senate voted not to remove him from office, he held a raucous celebration in the White House itself. It was evil, it was corrupt, it was dirty cops, it was leakers and liars, he said as dozens of GOP lawmakers whooped and cheered in the East Room. Two years later, Trump is out of office, having lost his reelection and failed in his attempt to overthrow the republic to remain in power. Five thousand miles to the east, Zelenskyy has become a global hero for his leadership against Putins aggression. Its dangerous to judge anything in the moment, but Trumps fawning comments about Putin, disdain for NATO and strong-arming of Zelenskyy may be a heavy burden for Republicans moving forward, said David Axelrod, the Democratic consultant behind former President Barack Obamas 2008 victory. You can see by the mad scramble to support Zelenskyy and Ukraine that they are afraid of the consequences of their past miscreance.Norm Ornstein, American Enterprise Institute Its unclear exactly how much Republicans support for Trump and indirectly, for Putin in late 2019 and early 2020 will matter in November 2022 as the GOP tries to take control of both chambers of Congress. Neil Newhouse, a prominent Republican pollster, estimates the potential effect at nada. There is very little chance that legislators votes against Trumps impeachment regarding Ukraine will impact a single vote in the 22 election, he said. Its ancient history to most voters and of little relevance to the current conflict. Voters vote on the issues that are affecting their lives today, and never on what happened in the previous administration, added Rick Tyler, a GOP consultant who worked on Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs 2016 presidential campaign. Amanda Carpenter, a former Cruz aide in his Senate office, said tying candidates to Trumps pro-Putin, anti-Ukraine scheme could work but would require considerable effort from Democrats. Are Democrats going to make that a top campaign issue? I dont see them making the impeachment vote a priority, she said. This is a moment where we need unity on supporting Ukraine and things are too volatile now to predict how it will play in 2022. She added that some Republicans vocal criticism of Ukraine and Zelenskyy today, such as recent remarks by North Carolina congressman Madison Cawthorn, could prove damaging in specific instances. Stuff like this on an individual level, that is so clearly out of step with mainstream opinion, could be an issue in certain races, she said. AEIs Ornstein agreed. My guess is that the issue will be muddied enough, and the tribal impulse strong enough that it wont matter for House members. The Senate could be a little different. It might be that this is an issue that could have an impact at the margins on Ron Johnson, for example, he said of the Wisconsin Republican seeking reelection. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, for one, hopes Congress and the country can unite on helping Ukraine now and not try to relitigate things like Trumps Ukraine impeachment. We cant live in the past, said Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the chamber. The past is the past. I think we are where we are. Igor Bobic contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... WASHINGTON (AP) Republican U.S. senators are imploring the Biden administration to reverse course and allow the transfer of Poland's MiG fighter jets to the Ukrainians to fight the Russian invasion, a sign the Defense Department's rejection of the offer may be running into steep resistance on Capitol Hill. Forty GOP senators signed onto a letter from Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Mitt Romney of Utah urging President Joe Biden to answer the plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who told lawmakers over the weekend that if the U.S. could not help with a no-fly zone over his skies, it could at least send more planes for his people to defend against the attack from Russia. Enough talk. People are dying, Romney said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Send them the planes they need. The groundswell of Republican opposition to the Pentagons rejection of Polands offer has apparently caught the attention of the highest ranks of the administration senators said Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was reaching out in calls to Capitol Hill. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said it's hard to see the destruction especially the Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital and be opposed to providing the Ukrainians "with these essential aircraft. The Biden administration had initially indicated that the Soviet-era planes now in NATO ally Poland could be transferred to help provide air support as Ukraine battles Russia's assault. But the Pentagon on Wednesday slammed the door on a surprise offer from Poland to instead transfer the planes to NATO by handing them off at a U.S. base in Germany. The Pentagon said the planes are not the most effective weaponry and the Polish plan could run a high risk of escalating the war. The GOP senators rejected the administration's arguments, saying the U.S. needs to stand by its commitments and provide Zelenskyy what he needs to defend Ukraine, as ordinary people take up arms in what many around the world have viewed as a heroic effort to save their country. Story continues "We implore you to act without delay to provide urgently needed airpower that will bolster the ability of the Ukrainian armed forces to defend their country and help save civilian lives, the senators wrote. The Republican senators dismissed the Pentagon's concern that transferring the planes through NATO would be viewed by Russia as provocative at a time when the U.S. is already sending anti-aircraft missiles and other military support to the Ukrainians. The senators also argued that the logistical problems the administration has raised against replacing Poland's MiGs with U.S. F-16s, which have been promised elsewhere, could be handled in other ways, perhaps with other surplus aircraft in U.S. storage. While some on and off Capitol Hill have argued that lethal drones and anti-aircraft missiles could be more effective in the fight against Russian airpower, some of the GOP senators argued for an all-of-the-above approach. Mostly the senators were hopeful if not confident that if they applied pressure to the White House it would reverse course. That has happened repeatedly in recent weeks, as lawmakers pushed the White House to take a tougher stand than the Biden administration first appeared willing to take. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky criticized the Biden administration for moving too slowly to send military help to Ukraine. Congress on Thursday gave final approval to a $13.6 billion package of military and humanitarian assistance. This administration has been a step behind every step of the way, McConnell said. The Ukrainians need airplanes, they need equipment to fight with, McConnell said. They need this assistance and they need it right now. Senators pointed to the bipartisan push from Congress for sanctions on Russia, an end to the Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline and a ban on Russian oil imports as examples of policy decisions where the White House did a 180-degree turn, as Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, put it at the news conference. Every hour that goes by that we are not stepping up with our aid, whether it's legal or otherwise, we have Ukrainians dying, Ernst said. We need to provide everything we can. A protester holds a giant Ukrainian flag during a protest in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Krakow, Poland. Filip Radwanski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Russia's war with Ukraine has taken a toll across the global economy, including in tech. Startup founders have posted online that they are halting their operations in Russia. Many VCs are also organizing large donation drives to help Ukrainians who have fled. For startups and the venture capitalists who fund them, the conflict in Ukraine can feel close to home. Ukraine has around 200,000 IT workers, and many of them work for US companies. Two weeks ago, when Russia's military assault began, some startups called for the evacuation of their employees in Ukraine. But after the Ukrainian government banned men ages 18 to 64 from leaving the country, those firms looked for ways to support refugees and show that they do not support the war. Some are reexamining their Russian operations. Tech giants like Airbnb have suspended business in Russia and Belarus, while others like Meta, Twitter, and Instagram were forced to shut down by the Russian government. Insider rounded up some of the key initiatives being led by US startups and their investors to increase pressure on Russia and offer support to the Ukrainian people. Here are some of the tech firms sending aid to Ukraine. A protester in London holds a sign during the demonstration at Trafalgar Square to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images GeoZilla The San Francisco location-services startup, GeoZilla, wants to reunite families by providing its geo-locator app services for free to anyone based in Ukraine. This also applies to relatives in other countries wanting to locate family in Ukraine. The team recently lost GeoZilla's accountant and her two children to an attack outside of Kyiv. "Her husband managed to track her and learned of the death as the geo-locator pinned her as being in a hospital," Joanne Sawicki, GeoZilla's public relations advisor, told Insider. The team has 25 colleagues remaining in Ukraine and is now in the process of organizing an evacuation. Grammarly The AI startup and San Francisco-based unicorn Grammarly will offer free services in Ukraine and will donate all of its net revenue totaling over $5 million earned from Russia and Belarus since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 to causes supporting Ukraine, a representative told Insider. Story continues One Way Ventures Semyon Dukach, managing partner and founder of One Way Ventures, and his wife Natasha, set up Cash for Refugees. The donations are given to refugees, cash in hand, once they've crossed out of Ukraine. "This allows them the freedom to meet their own basic needs with a sense of agency," he told Insider in an email shortly before heading back to the Ukrainian-Romanian border. Natasha was born in Ukraine and Semyon was a refugee from the Soviet Union as a child in 1979. Social Capital The CEO of Social Capital, Chamath Palihapitiya, tweeted that he sponsored a plane full of humanitarian relief supplies through Flexport, a US-based shipping company that is working with organizations such as UNICEF and Project Hope to determine what is needed most and where. True Global Ventures True Global Ventures, donated $200,000 to the crypto-currency project made by blockchain activists, Unchain Ukraine. "True Global Ventures is standing firm on its anti-war position and promoting the humanitarian side of the world," the firm wrote in a blog post. 2048 Ventures The founder and managing partner of 2048 Ventures, Alex Iskold, was born in Ukraine and left at the age of 19. "I still have family and many close friends there," he told Insider. So when Russia invaded Ukraine, Iskold was devastated. "I don't remember feeling like this. Having emotions like this," he said in a tweet. "I am shaken and at the same time I am more inspired than ever." Inspired by the resilience shown within his native country, Iskold started the $1K Project, a fund focused on giving money directly to families. As of Wednesday, he's received over 10,000 families asking for support from the fund. Venture capitalists Dan Teran, the cofounder and managing partner at Gutter Capital; Dan Abelon, partner at Two Sigma Ventures; and Fred Wilson, managing partner at Union Square Ventures, have supported families with their personal funds through Iskold's project. Front Front, the San Francisco email startup, is now offering its service for free to organizations supporting those involved in the Ukrainian crisis. Organizations that handle a large volume of email and could benefit from Front's software can direct message Mathilde Collin, its cofounder and CEO, on Twitter. The offer came in response to Ukrainian embassies and volunteer organizations being overwhelmed with requests, Collin said on Twitter. And these are the tech firms pulling out of Russia. Police officers detain a demonstrator with a poster that reads, "I'm against the war," in Moscow, Russia. AP Photo/Denis Kaminev Grammarly Grammarly, which was founded by three Ukrainians, has announced that it is halting all business operations in Russia and Belarus indefinitely. Bitmovin The video processing and streaming company Bitmovin, which hosts media companies such as the BBC and The New York Times, has also shuttered its operations in Russia. "We don't believe we can stand in solidarity with Ukraine and our Ukrainian colleagues while conducting business there," said Stefan Lederer, the CEO and cofounder of Bitmovin. Reddit The social media site, Reddit, has banned all links to Russia's state-sponsored news outlets, RT and Sputnik. "The conflict in Ukraine has been shocking and upsetting," reads a statement released by Reddit. It has designated Ukrainian and Russian translators to assist teams to monitor forums around the conflict and won't accept government or private advertisements from Russia. Not all tech firms with Russian operations are leaving. Russian police and National Guard servicemen patrol Red Square in Moscow in October 2021. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images The web infrastructure startup Cloudflare made the decision to remain in Russia. In a recent blog post, the company's CEO, Matthew Prince, said that stopping their services in Russia would be a mistake. This came in response to cybersecurity startup, SOC Prime's call for companies to collectively act against Russian cyber-attacks. "Terminating service would do little to harm the Russian government," Prince wrote. "But would both limit access to information outside the country, and make significantly more vulnerable those who have used us to shield themselves as they have criticized the government." Read the original article on Business Insider Russia's Hermitage museum is seeking the return from Italy of a painting by Pablo Picasso it loaned, a Rome museum confirmed Thursday. The Hermitage, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, has also reportedly requested the return of other paintings on loan in Italy. The Italian media is casting this as a response to Italy's criticism of Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis. An official at Rome's Fondazione Alda Fendi said that The Hermitage has requested the return of "Young Woman," a Picasso work from 1909. The painting, which had never been exhibited in Italy before, was due to be on display until May 15. The official did not say how the foundation would respond to the request. According to Italian media reports, the Hermitage has also made similar requests for other paintings it has on loan in Italy, most notably the exhibition at Milan's Gallerie d'Italia called "Grand Tour: Dream of Italy from Venice to Pompeii." Set to run until March 27, the exhibition has been jointly organized with The Hermitage. Holly Willoughby attends Annabel's 4th anniversary party. (Getty Images) Holly Willoughby swapped out her usual floral dresses for a glam sequin look as she partied with Londons fashion set on Thursday evening. The This Morning host went all out in 70s glam for the Studio 54 theme when she attended the Annabel's 4th anniversary party in Mayfair. Willoughby, 41, stunned in a maxi, multi-coloured sequin dress by Attico, fully committing to the dress code for the celebration. The designer dress thigh-high split allowed the TV presenter to show off her equally glamorous Terry de Havilland peep-toe platform heels, which were also covered in sequins. Read More: Holly Willoughby urges fans to celebrate 'wonderful women in your life' in IWD video The mum-of-three paired the blue, purple, green, pink and gold dress with a bright orange feathery shawl thrown over one shoulder, and finished off the outfit with large Elton John-style bejewelled sunglasses and a Rixo shell bag. Holly Willoughby stunned in a 70s style sequinned halterneck dress. (Getty Images) Joined by her husband Dan Baldwin, Willoughby kept her signature blonde hair in its usual flawless waved bob, and added some colour to her make-up, with a pale blue eyeshadow. TV producer Baldwin didnt hold back either on adhering to the dress code, in a beige knee-length coat with fluffy cuffs and collar, which he wore over an all-black ensemble. Read More: Holly Willoughby returns to 'This Morning' in glam pink dress Annabel's is one of the most exclusive members' clubs in the UK frequented by celebrities, aristocrats and royalty. The Mayfair hotspot welcomed celebrities from Penny Lancaster to Naomi Campbell for the glam 70s themed night, in honour of the iconic New York club, Studio 54. Models Lancaster, 50, and Campbell, 51, showed off their fashion chops with equally glam outfits for the occasion. Lancaster opted for a sparkling silver mini dress and white thigh-high boots as she joined her husband Rod Stewart, and Campbell slipped into a flowing black and gold diaphanous dress as attendees partied into the night for the star-studded bash. Watch more: Holly Willoughby admits she doesn't wear pants to bed The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening Roughly two years after the coronavirus pandemic forced white-collar workers around the country to adjust to working from home, some lawmakers and businesses are eager to finally bring them back to the office. Its time for America to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again with people, President Biden said during his State of the Union address earlier this month while citing the significant decline in daily COVID cases over the past several weeks. New York City Mayor Eric Adams put it more bluntly a few days later, saying, You can't stay home in your pajamas all day. Some of the countrys biggest companies have recently unveiled plans that will require employees to work from the office at least some of the time. Apple and Alphabet , Googles parent company, will mandate in-person work three days a week starting next month. The federal government has also accelerated its push to transition most of its workforce from remote work. This enthusiasm for a return to the office is not shared by the majority of workers. A number of recent polls show that a majority of teleworkers prefer to work from home some or all of the time, and as many as 30 percent say they would be extremely likely to look for a new job if their employer required them to come into the office every day. As much attention as the debate over returning to the office gets, it only affects a small minority of workers. Last month, only about 13% of the U.S. workforce worked from home because of the coronavirus , according to the Department of Labor. Everyone else either worked in person as many have done throughout the pandemic or worked remotely for other reasons. Why theres debate Optimism about the course of the pandemic has made the push to return to the office possible. But even beyond the enduring debate over whether its safe to gather workers in the same building, there is real disagreement over whether it makes sense to ask and in some cases, force white-collar workers to give up the work-from-home arrangements theyve known for the past two years. Story continues Advocates argue that in-person work has enormous benefits for companies and individual employees, both in terms of productivity and mental health, that may have been forgotten after so much time away from the office. Some also make the case that many workers who are against returning are wary of what office life used to be, even though most employers have taken major strides to incorporate some of the benefits of the work-from-home era like flexible schedules, hybrid work and greater respect for employees personal needs into their new in-office setup. Others say bringing workers back into urban financial centers will have major economic benefits for small businesses in those areas and be a significant step toward establishing a post-pandemic normal that the country desperately needs. Opponents say too many executives are prioritizing abstract concepts like camaraderie and normalcy over measurable burdens that being forced to come to the office imposes on workers, including lost time, the cost of commuting, disruption to child care and increased risk from COVID. Some economists also argue that companies have a strong interest in letting their employees decide which work setup suits them best. The tight labor market, they say, means that executives who overplay their hands could see a large share of their staff leave for new jobs where employers are more willing to accommodate them. Perspectives Supporters The benefits of in-person collaboration are real On the one hand, the pandemic has taught many of us that there are a lot of jobs that simply don't require being in an office. At the same time, there are real benefits to having everyone togethereven if not all the time. For example, teams develop relationships differently when they're together in person, compared to only connecting online. There are plenty of situations where that difference matters enough to a company that they want to get people together. Jason Aten, Inc. Society will suffer if workers remain isolated at home forever The in-person meetings may not matter, but the chitchat, lunches and happy hours do. Even the commute that we griped about had the value of keeping us in touch with our cities. We need to figure out how to maintain these structures before we throw out all our pre-pandemic work habits and hunker down in our home offices. Paula Marantz Cohen, Wall Street Journal Small businesses desperately need workers to come back Activity in central business districts will pick updining, takeout, services and retail sales to workers there, janitorial and guard services, etcetera. By how much, we don't know. Erica Groshen, economist, to U.S. News & World Report The drawbacks of work from home are underappreciated What we dont talk about as much is the fallout from so much WFH. Beyond isolation and burnout, collaboration suffers, and younger workers and new hires arent able to get the same level of mentoring and training theyd gain from an in-person experience. Those of us who have to take care of young children or older relatives while working from home are also carrying a heavier mental load, even as children and relatives may have benefited from our unexpected presence. Shirley Leung, Boston Globe Companies have learned how to make in-office work more purposeful than in the past If we give workers a beneficial reason to come to the office, aside from escaping kids and spouses at home, they will come. This includes onboarding new hires, learning corporate culture, mentoring, collaboration meetings and brainstorming. No longer will everyone want to commute simply to isolate and have managers presumptuously assume that hours in the office equals productivity and effort. Norm Miller, economist, to San Diego Union Tribune Opponents Its unfair to force workers to start commuting again with gas prices so high The future of the workplace is a debate worth having, but not in the middle of a gas crisis. Just think, the next time youre sitting [in] your daily Zoom meeting, reminding your boss to unmute, with your car parked in the driveway, youll also be sending a message to Vladimir Putin: Take your gas and shove it! Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer The idea that remote workers are less productive is a myth While there are undoubtedly economic knock-on effects, the mass COVID experiment in working from home wasnt the drag on productivity that pajama critics like New Yorks mayor seem to envision. This is something we know how to do and have generally done quite well. Brooke Sutherland, Bloomberg Workers shouldnt have to sacrifice to serve the presidents political interests Bidens eat-your-peas-and-get-back-to-the-office appeal was part of his campaign to highlight his administrations COVID successes. And theres certainly a logic to showing off that success through the spectacle of crowded downtowns, full restaurants, and a return to the rhythms of pre-pandemic life. But many Americans find restoring those rhythms distasteful, after getting hours of their life back daily through working from home. David Dayen, American Prospect It makes no sense to return to a system that wasnt working in the first place The past two years were not an aberration to overcome but an accelerator of positive change that moved companies toward a flexible future, leaving behind cubicle farms and corner offices to gather dust in a museum right next to the fax machine. Keith Ferrazzi and Kian Gohar, Fortune Workers will abandon companies that dont allow them flexibility With a shrinking workforce and an increasing war for talent, employers who dont provide flexibility will be the losers. Libby Sander, Conversation Return-to-the-office plans risk making class divisions even more severe A two-tier system is emerging in which highly paid professionals have more options than ever, while middle-income workers often are ordered back to full-time on-site work and might have little choice but to quit. And the pattern already is having disastrous economic consequences for these workers and their families. Joan C. Williams, Politico Is there a topic youd like to see covered in The 360? Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is considering offering a fourth coronavirus vaccine shot later this year, a newspaper reported on Friday, while a government spokesman said a decision would be made based on the severity of the pandemic. The Yomiuri daily said if a decision was made to give a fourth shot they would likely be vaccines supplied by Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc, and they could be offered this summer. Israel's health ministry said in January a fourth vaccine dose, or a second booster, for people over 60 made them three times more resistant to serious illness and twice as resistant to infection. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, asked about the Yomiuri report, told reporters the government would have to consider the pandemic situation both at home and abroad. February was Japan's deadliest month of the two-year pandemic as the Omicron variant swept through the country while many among the vulnerable elderly population had yet to receive a booster. The booster campaign has finally gained steam, reaching 1 million shots on some days and covering about 28% of the population. Health experts warn that new variants could emerge, leading to another wave of infections. Japan has arranged to buy 93 million Moderna doses and 130 million Pfizer shots this year. In addition, the government contracted to buy 150 million doses of the Novavax Inc vaccine, which is now under regulatory review and would be made domestically by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Japan's Shionogi & Co Ltd is also developing a vaccine candidate, releasing interim results this month showing it was comparable to Pfizer's shot in effectiveness as a booster. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, Rocky Swift, Elaine Lies. Editing by Chris Reese, Robert Birsel) For nearly two months, New Jersey politicos have obsessively watched the case of Sean Caddle, a Democratic political operative who pleaded guilty earlier this year to hiring hit men to murder an associate and is cooperating with federal investigators. Now, a newly-unearthed document obtained by POLITICO shows that before anyone knew of the federal murder-for-hire plea, state investigators were examining payments Caddle allegedly made to a man who has since become the top staffer to New Jerseys Senate president, the second highest-ranking elected official in state government after the governor. There is no evidence the payments have anything to do with Caddles murder-for-hire plea. But the document a legal demand from the state Attorney Generals Office to Caddle and his consulting firm reveals that a corruption investigation by state authorities into several super PACs and nonprofits associated with Caddle and other New Jersey Democrats cast a wider net and went on far longer than was previously known. The legal demand, dated Sept. 28, 2021, demands Caddle identify the purpose of a dozen payments totaling $46,000 it says his firm, Arkady, made to Democratic operative Antonio Teixeira and his late wife, Marlenes, between May 2015 and September 2017. Teixeira, whos often referred to in political circles as Tony Tex, was chief of staff to state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) at the time of the alleged payments. During the tail end of the time period, he also served as chair of the Democratic Party in Elizabeth New Jerseys fourth largest city and still is. In 2018, Teixeira became chief of staff to state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), now the president of the state Senate. Its the first time Im hearing about those subpoenas or any of that stuff. So Im really not going to make a comment, Teixeira said when reached by phone on Thursday. The state Attorney Generals Office declined to comment. Caddles attorney, Ed Jacobs, did not respond to a phone call seeking comment. Story continues There is no reason to believe Scutari is or was a target of the Attorney Generals investigation. State investigators could not have known he would become Senate president at the time they issued the subpoena, as the position only opened up after the shocking November election loss of former Senate President Steve Sweeney. Scutari did not respond to a phone call and text message seeking comment. Lesniak dismissed the inquiry into his former chief of staffs payments as well as questions about the Committee for Economic Growth and Social Justice, a super PAC he had close ties to when it spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in New Jersey in 2013 and 2014. Its no big deal. So what? Its not a lot of money, Lesniak said in a phone interview Thursday. They found nothing there. Ive never been questioned. Ive never been subpoenaed. What are they looking for? Lesniak said. People drop dimes on me all the time but theyve never found anything because Ive never done anything wrong. And you can quote me on that. POLITICO detailed most of the super PACs and nonprofits mentioned in the subpoena in articles published in 2017 and 2018. Caddle pleaded guilty in January to hiring two men with long rap sheets, George Bratsenis and Bomani Africa, for the 2014 murder of Michael Galdieri, a former associate and son of a late state senator. Africa pleaded guilty in January but Bratsenis, who remains jailed on a Connecticut bank robbery charge, has not yet entered a plea. Africa admitted to his role in the stabbing death of Galdieri, whose Jersey City apartment was set on fire. The fact prosecutors have agreed to allow Caddle to remain on home confinement while awaiting sentencing has touched off intense speculation about the extent of his cooperation with federal authorities and left many New Jersey political insiders assuming a major corruption scandal is brewing. Four of the organizations mentioned in the September legal demand to Caddle were super PACs he was involved in: A Better Elizabeth, Perth Amboy and You, Partnership Orange and the Committee for Economic Growth and Social Justice. All four were involved in local elections in several New Jersey towns. The document also seeks information on three nonprofits Caddle and another man, Gianni Donates, formed that channeled money into some of those super PACs, effectively hiding the true source of the donations: Better New Jersey, National Progressive Organization and Communities United National. Super PACs are required to disclose their donors, but non-profit 501(c)(4) organizations are not. Donates did not respond to a text and phone call seeking comment. POLITICO reported in 2019 that state investigators sent subpoenas to Elizabeths school board and the Perth Amboy city government seeking information on proposals, bid awards and contract payments and other information for about a dozen companies and organizations, mostly public contractors. The Elizabeth Board of Education hired Michael Critchley, one of New Jersey's most prominent defense attorneys, to respond to the subpoena and paid his firm more than $100,000. Critchley said in February that he wrapped up work on the subpoena in the spring of 2020, and Union County political insiders believed the investigation ended then. The legal demand shows state authorities were still probing the groups a year-and-a-half later. The Committee for Economic Growth and Social Justice is closely tied to Lesniak, an early adopter of the use of super PACs for local races, a practice that has since become more common across the country. The group, which was mainly active in 2013 and 2014, helped Lesniaks allies win seats on the Elizabeth Board of Education a prime source of political patronage that had been run by a rival political machine with whom Lesniak often feuded. Federal campaign finance records show one super PAC paid Caddles firm more than $600,000, mostly for canvassing. Its not clear whether the state investigation is ongoing. Its possible Caddles federal case stalled it. The legal demand was issued just one month before Caddle signed his murder-for-hire plea deal with federal prosecutors. NJ Advance Media reported that at Caddles January plea hearing, which had not been advertised to the press, his attorney said Caddle was a cooperating witness in an undisclosed undercover federal investigation. Get your sweet tooth ready, folks, because Im serving up no-bake sweet treats! Our first stop on the dessert train is cookie dough bars with a double dose of chocolate, inside and out then were headed to the Sunshine State with a frozen Key lime pie bark thats delightful, zesty and oh-so-refreshing. Prime your taste buds and kitchen skills, because its dessert oclock and these goodies are filled with wholesome ingredients you can feel good about. Joy Bauer's cookie dough bars. (Joy Bauer) Dough my goodness, these cookie dough bars are heavenly. If you're like me and love to sneak spoonfuls of raw cookie dough while baking, this is the perfect dessert for you. It provides a similar addictive flavor and texture, plus the bars are gluten-free and easily made vegan with dairy-free chocolate chips. Im telling you every bite is 100% safe and 100% delicious. A definite win-win. While the cashew butter provides the most cookie-dough-like flavor, you can easily swap in peanut butter for a PB-forward experience (never a bad thing). No crumb will be left behind! Get the recipe here. Key Lime Pie Bark by Joy Bauer This Key lime pie bark is sublime! Studded with lime zest and crushed graham crackers, this frozen treat is making its way into the limelight (sorry, couldnt resist). The star of the bark: 2% Greek yogurt it freezes better than non-fat and offers protein and creaminess for a perfectly chilled and smooth treat. You can break the pieces into whatever size you like; you're the boss of your bark. A pie-fect blend of sweet and tart, this recipe is sure to have you singing "lime yours" for days (shoutout to Jason Mraz). For more tasty recipes, check out Joy's cookbook "Joy Bauer's Superfood!" and follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. CHICAGO Thursday evening, his right fist raised in defiance, Jussie Smollett walked out of Judge James Linns courtroom and into a monthslong stretch of Cook County custody. While Linn sentenced the former Empire actor to 150 days in jail, it seems likely he will be eligible for good-behavior credit, which would cut his custody sentence in half. Still, his attorneys expressed shock that he was given jail time at all. Anyone who is a lover of justice and fairness should be appalled by this, his attorney Nenye Uche told reporters, saying that as a Black man he was personally offended by the sentence. How much? Soon they will be asking for the guillotine. Smolletts attorneys requested that he be put in protective custody, records show, and Judge James Linn signed an order recommending that placement. Smollett is being housed in his own cell, which is monitored by security cameras and an officer with a body-worn camera who is stationed at the entrance of the cell, according to a statement Friday from the Cook County Sheriffs Office. He is entitled substantial time out of his cell to use the phone, interact with staff and watch TV; during that time, other detainees will not be present with him in the common areas. These protocols are routinely used for individuals ordered into protective custody who may potentially be at risk of harm due to the nature of their charges, their profession, or their noteworthy status, the statement read. Smollett was convicted of low-level felonies in December when a jury found that he had lied to police about being the victim of a hate crime attack. Prosecutors argued at sentencing that he denigrated real victims of hate crimes when he staged a phony assault on himself involving racial slurs, homophobic epithets and a noose. Smollett was sentenced to 30 months of probation, with the first 150 days to be served in Cook County Jail. In addition, he must pay a $25,000 fine as well as $120,106 in restitution the amount of restitution the city sought to pay for its overtime costs investigating the case, minus the $10,000 Smollett forfeited to the city when his first case was dropped. Story continues Smollett declined to speak before sentencing, but after Linn handed down his decision, Smollett surprised the whole courtroom by standing up to proclaim his innocence. If I did this, then it means I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years, and the fears of the LGBT community, he said. Your honor, I respect you, and I respect the jury, but I did not do this. And I am not suicidal, and if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. In response to Smolletts comments and his attorneys prior remarks about COVID-19 at the jail, a sheriffs office statement Thursday evening noted that like all individuals ordered into custody at the Jail, Mr. Smollett will be given a comprehensive medical, mental health, and security assessment and will be placed in appropriate housing. Smollett will be tested for COVID-19 upon intake, which is the jails protocol, the statement noted. As of Thursday there were 12 jail detainees who were positive for COVID at the jail, all of whom were identified during the intake process Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the citys Law Department said Friday the office would reconsider its options regarding the civil suit they filed against Smollett seeking to recoup the overtime costs the city paid to police. In a letter filed with the court, a Law Department attorney along with Chicago police Superintendent David Brown strongly hinted that the suit would be dropped if Smollett were sentenced to pay the $130,106 in restitution. Even before Smolletts adamant remarks, his hourslong sentencing hearing was bombastic even by Cook Countys blustery standards. Linn called the actor a charlatan, claiming he wanted to throw himself a pity party and grab attention by staging the fake hate crime. The fact that Smollett and his family have been deeply committed to social-justice issues made it all the more shocking that Smollett tried to exploit those sentiments, Linn said. You were so invested in issues of social justice and you knew this was a sore spot for everybody in this country, you know this was a country slowly trying to heal, he said. You took some scabs off some healing wounds and you ripped them apart for one reason: you wanted to make yourself more famous. Uche told reporters after court that Linn himself has given more lenient sentences to other defendants with Class 4 felonies. And besides, he said, Thursdays sentencing was round two of punishment. Smollett had already forfeited his $10,000 bond as part of an agreement that Cook County prosecutors would drop his initial charges. So regardless of where anyone stands, in where they feel or how they feel about Jussie, the question is, isnt that beating a dead horse? Isnt that going too far? Uche said. One of Smolletts attorneys, Shay Allen, told reporters that Smolletts sentence was a travesty. For Judge Linn to chastise Jussie that way, and speak about the Black community and speak about the LGBTQ-plus community in a way that was so demeaning, and then give him a jail sentence on a Class 4 felony .... Ive never, never ever seen such a harsh sentence on a Class 4 felony. Dan Webb, the prosecutor appointed to investigate the Smollett matter after Judge Michael Toomin ruled Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs recusal was improper and the initial case was all void, said they were extraordinarily pleased with the sentence. Webb also pushed back on Foxxs characterization in a Sun-Times op-ed that Smolletts second case was a kangaroo prosecution. The Cook County States Attorneys office dismissed the entire indictment with no punishment whatsoever, no jail time, no restitution, no criminal fine, no probation, no deferred prosecution, Webb said. Smollett was allowed to go free and basically give the finger to the city of Chicago, and Judge Toomin decided that the handling of that case was so inappropriate that a special prosecutor needed to be appointed. Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez represented the two star witnesses against Smollett, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundario. Much was made at trial of Olabinjos felony conviction, but he tried to better himself afterward, she noted, and urged Smollett to do the same. We can only hope to convey that message to Mr. Smollett. Dont let this mistake define you. It doesnt have to. Make something good from this. Embattled actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months' probation Thursday for falsely reporting to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in 2019. "You're just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime," Cook County Circuit Judge James Linn told Smollett while announcing the sentence in Chicago. Smollett responded by repeating, "I am not suicidal!" He said he was innocent and that "if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself," referring to jail. Smollett, 39, the former star of "Empire," was found guilty by a Chicago jury in December of five counts of felony disorderly conduct. He was found not guilty of the sixth charge, aggravated battery. The charges stemmed from a January 2019 report in which Smollett, who is Black and gay, alleged that he had been brutally assaulted in Chicagos Streeterville neighborhood. He said two men punched and kicked him, used racist and homophobic slurs, threw a chemical in his face and wrapped a noose around his neck. The police investigation led to the arrests of Olabingo Osundairo and his brother Abimbola, who worked on the set of "Empire." They were eventually released, and Smollett was arrested Feb. 21, 2019, after authorities accused him of recruiting the brothers to stage the attack. Police said at the time that Smollett orchestrated the phony incident to advance his career, a claim he denies. Linn excoriated Smollett at Thursdays sentencing, saying he fabricated the tale for the attention. Linn said the false claim hurt genuine victims of hate crimes and that Smollett tried to exploit the real past and current injustices in the U.S. "You took some scabs off some healing wounds, and you ripped them apart for one reason: You wanted to make yourself more famous," Linn said. "And for a while, it worked. Everybody was talking about you." Story continues Smolletts attorneys said they would appeal. Linn refused requests to stay the sentence, or put it on hold, while an appeal is pursued. Im not staying this. This happens right here, right now, Linn said. Smollett raised his fist as he was being led out of court by law enforcement, saying: I am not suicidal. And I am innocent. I could have said that I was guilty a long time ago. Siblings of Smollett said they were disappointed with the sentence, and some took exception to the judges comments. "I did not expect him to be completely lenient and listen. But at the same time, he shamed my brother," said Smolletts older brother, Jojo Smollett. "He spoke about his arrogance. He doesnt know the struggles my brother is encountering. He doesnt know anything that hes dealing with." Before sentencing, Smollett's legal team had pushed for either a new trial or a not guilty verdict, alleging that his constitutional rights were violated when the court prevented his lawyers from actively participating in the jury selection process. In court documents, the team wrote that the court "made numerous trial errors leading up to the trial and during the pendency of the trial." His lawyers argued that they were not allowed to ask questions of the potential jurors, preventing them from discovering any possible biases or questionable impartiality toward Smollett given the cases high profile. Linn said Thursday that whatever sentence he could hand down would pale in comparison to the damage Smollett did to himself and his career. Your very name has become an adverb for lying, Linn said. And I cannot imagine what can be worse than that. Smollett was also ordered to pay around $120,100 in restitution to the city of Chicago and was fined $25,000, the maximum allowed. Gloria Rodriguez, an attorney for the Osundairo brothers, issued a statement after the sentencing. "The Honorable Judge Linn found the Osundairo Brothers not to be criminally connected to Mr. Smolletts crime in any way, and for anyone continuing to state otherwise simply does not understand the laws or facts in this case," she said. "Nevertheless, the Osundairo Brothers regret their role in the case and hope that the sentence today brings closure to the affected people of Chicago. They look forward to telling their story in detail in the very near future." Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot praised the decision in a scalding statement Thursday night, saying Smolletts conviction and sentencing send a clear message that false claims and allegations will not be tolerated. The malicious and wholly fabricated claim made by Mr. Smollett resulted in over 1500 hours of police work that cost the City over $130,000 in police overtime, she continued. The City feels vindicated in todays ruling that he is being held accountable and that we will appropriately receive restitution for his actions. China has provided 3 billion yuan (about 475.4 million U.S. dollars) from the central government budget to shore up weak links in social welfare and ensure people's well-being, the country's top economic planner said Thursday. The funds will be used to support 261 projects related to child welfare, assistance for the homeless, rehabilitation and care for people with disabilities, as well as veteran services, basic funeral services and mental health welfare, said the National Development and Reform Commission. In recent years, more government investment has been directed towards projects aimed at improving people's well-being, according to the commission. It also noted that this year's central government investment into the projects addressing weak links in social welfare is 200 million yuan more than in 2021, which helps optimize services for special groups. Jussie Smollett Brian Cassella-Pool/Getty Images Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor who was convicted of staging a fake hate crime against himself, is headed to jail. A judge sentenced the actor to 30 months probation Thursday after he was convicted of lying to police about being the victim of a hate crime. He was ordered to spend 150 days of his sentence in county jail starting immediately. Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago, and he received a fine of $25,000, the maximum. In January 2019, Smollett claimed he was attacked by two men in Chicago, who yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him. But police later alleged Smollett staged the attack himself, and prosecutors said he paid the two men to help him orchestrate the hoax. "You're just a charlatan pretending to be the victim of a hate crime," Judge James Linn told Smollett Thursday. "And that's shameful." Smollett has long maintained his innocence and said under oath during his trial that "there was no hoax." Linn said he took into account some "real serious aggravating factors," including "the pain" Smollett "caused to real victims of hate crimes" and his testimony denying the hoax. "You committed hour upon hour upon hour of pure perjury," the judge said, also telling Smollett his "very name has become an adverb for lying." After the sentence was announced, Smollett began repeatedly yelling that he's innocent and suggested he was concerned about being killed in jail. "I am not suicidal," Smollett said, raising his voice. "I am innocent, and I am not suicidal. If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years, and the fears of the LGBTQ community." Smollett added, "If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that." You may also like Kremlin publishes list of countries it has deemed 'unfriendly' toward Russia More Russian troops were killed in Ukraine in 2 weeks than U.S. troops in entire Iraq War, U.S. estimates Poland MiG-29 deal flew to the brink of a disastrous war Mar. 11Federal funding to expand electric vehicle infrastructure across interstate highways and offer $2.5 billion in related grants may have an impact in Berks, according to PennDOT officials. Under a federal infrastructure plan signed into law in November, Pennsylvania will receive $171 million over five years to create an uninterrupted network of rapid charging ports across the state's interstate highways. To accomplish that goal and be designated EV ready, interstate highways must be outfitted with charging stations near every exit and highway intersection, and no more than 50 miles apart, according to federal criteria. PennDOT said efforts to build out "alternative fuel corridors" since 2016 have led to 692 interstate highways miles receiving EV ready status, and 1,081 miles with plans for EV expansion still pending, according to a press release last month. Plans to further the state's EV network buildup using the newly allocated funds are in the works and should be submitted this summer, said Jan Huzvar, PennDOT deputy communications director. Huzvar said one highway slated for EV upgrading is Interstate 78, which passes through northern Berks County. In addition, the federal infrastructure bill offers local municipalities, school districts, planning organizations and more the opportunity to apply for $2.5 billion in EV-related grants. The grants provide funding for installing, operating, and maintaining EV infrastructure, as well as for initiatives like electrifying school bus fleets and funding EV battery manufacturing and recycling programs. Those funds will be prioritized for investment in traditionally underserved communities, which could mean additional funding for Berks municipalities, Huzvar said. Huzvar said PennDOT's newly adopted EV equity principles are focused on making EVs more affordable and accessible in low-income and other underserved areas. PennDOT has already provided funding for four EV charging stations installed for private workplace use in Berks, and similar projects are in the works, according to Huzvar. Story continues Other state and local government programs have provided funding for several public-use charging stations. A plan to build 16 charging stations on campus at Albright College received grants from the state Department of Environmental Protection's Alternative Fuel Incentive Program, and the Berks County Community Foundation's Met-Ed Sustainable Energy Fund. Those grants covered $95,000 of the installation's total cost of about $170,000. The charging stations should be ready for use in March, according to Albright officials. In addition, an EV Level 2 charging station was installed last October outside the Muhlenberg Township building. That station was entirely funded by the state's PA Driving Forward EV Charging Rebate Program. Berks has about a dozen of the state's 1,082 charging stations, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center. PennDOT officials noted the number of electronic vehicles registered in the state has more than doubled since 2019, from about 9,700 to 23,000. More than 60 major corporations have signed an open letter calling on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to recant comments made late last month which equate gender-affirming care for transgender or nonbinary youth to "child abuse," along with an order for state agencies to investigate reports of gender-affirming care as such. Companies including Apple and Google on Friday in an open letter published in the Dallas Morning News demanded Abbott and other conservative leaders "abandon efforts to write discrimination into law and policy." "The recent attempt to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age appropriate healthcare in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies," the letter reads. "This policy creates fear for employees and their families, especially those with transgender children, who might now be faced with choosing to provide the best possible medical care for their children but risk having those children removed by child protective services for doing so." Abbott, in response to an opinion published by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in February, issued a directive for state agencies to investigate reports of minors receiving gender-affirming care as child abuse, warning that parties who fail to report would face "criminal penalties." America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Both Paxton's and Abbott's statements have been condemned by the White House, and a number of Texas district attorneys have already said they will not prosecute the families of transgender or nonbinary youth. But the order has still had consequences for the state's trans and nonbinary communities, and Texas Children's Hospital, the nation's largest pediatric hospital, this week paused gender-affirming treatments to "safeguard" its staff and the families of patients because of Abbott's order. Story continues A lawsuit has also been filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas and Lambda Legal on behalf of a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) employee whose 16-year-old daughter is transgender. In that case, a temporary restraining order, which was unsuccessfully challenged, was granted to block the state from investigating the teen's parents. Paxton this week announced that he would be suing the Biden administration after the Department of Health and Human Services issued federal protections for gender-affirming care for minors. In a statement on Friday, the Human Rights Campaign, which organized the open letter, called Abbott's actions "hateful" and "harmful" to children. "There is no other way to say it-this is a frightening time for Texas families. Texas state leaders are forcing parents of transgender kids to decide between abandoning their lives, quitting their jobs, and leaving the state or fostering a safe, inclusive environment for their child," HRC Interim President Joni Madison said. "These businesses recognize this unfair ultimatum and are advocating for their LGBTQ+ employees, customers, and their families." "The Human Rights Campaign is grateful for these companies supporting transgender youth as we hold Governor Abbott accountable and extremist politicians who are attacking trans kids across the country," she added. In another open letter organized by the HRC earlier this month, thousands of parents denounced legislation targeting LGBTQ+ youth nationwide. READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA FLORIDA'S 'DON'T SAY GAY BILL' HEADS TO DESANTIS'S DESK DISNEY CEO ADDRESSES SILENCE ON FLORIDA 'DON'T SAY GAY' BILL HERE'S HOW BIDEN HAS TACKLED STUDENT LOAN DEBT SO FAR COLORADO WILL START ACCEPTING CRYPTOCURRENCY FOR TAX PAYMENTS HHS SECRETARY CALLS TEXAS ORDER TO TREAT GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AS CHILD ABUSE 'UNCONSCIONABLE' WASHINGTON President Joe Biden has vowed to impose swift sanctions on Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, and the House took a rare bipartisan step Wednesday by voting to write the president's proposed ban on Russian oil and energy products into law. The Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act was approved a day after Biden said he would sign an executive order banning the imports from Russia. It passed overwhelmingly 414 to 17 and now heads to the Senate. Fifteen Republicans and two Democrats made up the nay votes, at a time when a Quinnipiac University poll that suggests a majority of Americans, 71%-22%, support a ban on Russian oil even if it translates to higher prices at the pump. Another YouGov poll found 3 out of every 5 U.S. adults support the decision while 17% don't. Two House members, Reps. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, did not vote. Gas prices are displayed at a Brooklyn gas station on March 08, 2022 in New York City. Gas prices are at record highs around the country as the Russian invasion of Ukraine causes global oil markets to surge. American President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports into America. Who are the 17 House members who voted against the ban on Russian oil and why? Here's a hint: Not necessarily for the same reason. More: House votes to ban imports of Russian oil and energy products in retaliation for Ukraine invasion More: Congress comes to deal on bill banning Russian oil; Ukraine claims killing Russian general in battle: March 7 recap Who are the Republicans? Chip Roy and Louie Gohmert of Texas Dan Bishop and Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina Lauren Boebert of Colorado Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee Matt Gaetz and Bill Posey of Florida Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs of Arizona Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin Clay Higgins of Louisiana Thomas Massie of Kentucky Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin GOP House members who voted against the bill some of the most conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill shared a common refrain: that it weakens America's oil and gas industry while enabling the Democrats' climate change agenda. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, posted a lengthy Twitter thread Thursday explaining his nay vote. Story continues Texas Rep. Chip Roy on March 17, 2021, in Washington, D.C. "Last night, after Democrats blocked a sensible approach to impose a strict Russian energy import ban, sever normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, & unleash American energy to change the balance of power, I voted no on the subsequent, so-called Russian oil ban bill," Roy wrote. The Texas Republican argued the bill is "full of loopholes," empowers competitors Iran and Venezuela and gives cover to Democrats "to advance their radical climate agenda in the guise of punishing Putin without actually punishing Putin." In a video posted to Twitter, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said he called for a ban on Russian oil imports for over a month with the goal of promoting American energy independence. "This administration is not doing that," Biggs said. "They're going to stop importing oil and gas but they're not going to unleash the power of America's oil and gas industry which would then not just make us free of Russia but we'd be energy independent and be able to actually export natural gas and oil, like were were under (former) President Trump." Other Republicans who voted against the bill parroted similar messages. Cawthorn Wednesday called the ban "nothing more than virtue signaling by House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and House Dems." Higgins also called the bill "too weak" in a Wednesday Twitter thread. "It allows Russian oil and gas imports to continue for another 45 days and doesnt include any provisions to support American energy production. We need swift, immediate action to hold Russia accountable and reestablish American energy independence," Higgins wrote. Boebert in a statement slammed the bill supported by Pelosi, D-Calif., as too weak and promoted her own bill, introduced Wednesday, for aid and emergency energy assistance to Ukraine. Anyone who actually reads the bill like I did would understand that Nancy Pelosis so-called Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act is filled with waivers to allow Russian oil and gas to continue to flow," Boebert said. "Rather than vote for this fake messaging bill, I've submitted legislation to actually ban Russian oil and gas imports and accelerate American energy production. Pelosi's bill accomplishes neither. Who are the Democrats? Reps. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., two of the most progressive members of Congress were the only two Democrats to join Republicans in voting against the ban. Omar said in a statement that she opposed banning Russian oil and energy product imports because the law has no expiration or conditions for lifting the ban. She referenced the Jackson-Vanik Amendment of 1974 when Congress passed significant trade restrictions on Russia that was not repealed until 2012. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-MN, addresses a march to defund the Minneapolis Police Department on June 6, 2020. "I have serious concerns that the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act will become yet another clear example where a policy stays on the books well past its utility because the political will to lift it has never materialized." Omar also warned the ban may lead to an increase in domestic oil production: "Yet another reason why we must move to a green economy that is proven to be the most reliable and cost efficient," she wrote. In a statement released Thursday, Bush said she supports "sanctions that target the murderous Putin regime, Russian oligarchs, and corporate fossil fuel executives profiting off human suffering." But she said she voted against a ban without a clear process for deescalation. The Missouri congresswoman shared Omar's concerns about more dangerous oil drilling. "I also have deep concerns that the push for a statutory ban is being used to justify even more dangerous drilling at home and increased imports from other authoritarian governments like Saudi Arabia," Bush said, echoing a point a number of conservative Republicans made about the distaste for buying oil from other undemocratic regimes. "This approach categorically makes our communities less safe, does nothing to jumpstart our transition to renewable energy, and further burdens regular, everyday people already financially strained by the ongoing pandemic and economic crisis." Reach out to Chelsey Cox on Twitter at @therealco. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine: 17 House members voted against the ban on Russian oil imports A Laurens County daycare owner was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and charged with multiple felonies, including child abuse. Sharon Mills, 49, Rockledge, owns the Roseland Child Care Center at 703 Central Drive in East Dublin. She was arrested by the GBI last week and booked into the Laurens County jail. Mills was charged with one count of cruelty to children in the first degree, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of influencing a witness and one count of giving false statements/writings . Mills was arrested on March 4 and booked into the Laurens County jail. According to reports, on March 2, East Dublin Police Department Chief Bill Luecke requested GBI assistance with an investigation into allegations of child abuse at the Roseland Child Care Center. This request from Luecke came after a report was made by a mother of a child who reportedly had visible injuries after being at the center. An investigation is underway. The East Dublin Police Department encourages anyone with information to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Eastman at 478-374-6988 or the East Dublin Police Department at 478-272-6883. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. UC Berkeley is facing a court order to slash in-person fall enrollment by more than 2,600 students, but California lawmakers are racing to pass a legislative solution. (Josh Edelson / For The Times) California legislators are fast-tracking a rescue effort to help UC Berkeley avoid slashing its in-person fall class by more than 2,600 students to meet a court-ordered enrollment freeze, just as the university prepares to release admission decisions this month. Under legislation introduced Friday, the state's public colleges and universities would be given 18 months to complete any court-ordered environmental review before being subject to a mandatory reduction or freeze in campus population. If passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the legislation would take effect immediately and retroactively allowing UC Berkeley to proceed with its original plans to enroll more than 5,000 first-year California students, according to state Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), who leads the Assembly Budget Committee involved in the legislation's development. In a joint statement Friday, Ting and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said the legislation struck the right balance between preserving California's environmental protections and supporting college enrollment needed to increase the state's educated workforce and keep the economy growing. "We believe this addresses concerns from both sides and allows us to continue educating deserving students," the legislators said. "When our legislation passes and allows the law to be applied retroactively, UC Berkeley will be able to resume its enrollment plan, which was disrupted by a misguided court order. The legislative efforts came after the University of California failed to persuade an appellate court and the California Supreme Court to stay a lower court order imposing the enrollment freeze. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman ordered the freeze in August, agreeing with a community group called Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods that the university had failed to thoroughly review the impact of enrollment growth on housing, homelessness and noise in the area. Story continues Assembly Bill 168 and Senate Bill 118, introduced by the budget committees in each house, also would remove the requirement in state law to consider the impact of enrollment increases in the environmental review of a campus' long-range development plan. The legislation explicitly declares that enrollment by itself is not a "project," like a building, subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act an appellate court ruled that it was. Rather, public colleges and universities would be required to consider the impact of "campus population," which would include staff and faculty, giving them flexibility to shield students from any court-ordered reductions in size. Under the legislation, courts would be authorized to halt a campus from increasing its population beyond projections in its most recent long-range development plan only if the campus failed to certify an environmental review within 18 months of a legal order to do so. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), who heads the Senate Budget Committee, said several ideas to fix the problem were vetted, including setting a fall enrollment target for Berkeley above the court-ordered level. But that ran into issues over the autonomy of the UC and judicial systems, she said, and would not address the broader possibility that the court ruling on enrollment could potentially be used to force reductions in the California State University and California Community Colleges systems. So she came up with the plan to eliminate enrollment as a separate factor for environmental review under state law, since students are not the "sole environmental pollutant" among campus activities. "As budget chair, I've been overseeing budgets that have increased funding to California's higher education segments for this purpose of increasing enrollment for the last three years," she said. "It is our objective to expand the opportunity for California students to get benefit from our public higher ed, and we wanted to make sure that we didn't have a statute that was contrary to that objective." Phil Bokovoy, president of Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods, said he was "agnostic" on the idea to give universities more time to complete court-ordered environmental reviews, so long as they were thorough. He questioned whether the period of 18 months, which would extend over two admission years, was too long and worried that UC Berkeley might "game the system" by trying to get extensions. But he said those were issues for elected representatives to address. "The Legislature can do what they like," he said. The prospect of one of the nation's most applied-to universities slashing what was initially feared would be one-third of its incoming fall class 3,050 seats set thousands of students and families on edge. Berkeley drew 128,192 first-year applications and 19,345 transfer applications for fall 2022. Last year, its admission rate was 14.5%. In a typical year, the campus admits 21,000 first-year and transfer students and enrolls about 9,500 of them. In recent weeks, Berkeley has gone into overdrive rejiggering its enrollment plans to find as many spaces as possible for students under the court order. The campus announced last week that it would enroll about 5,370 first-year California students both in person and online this fall, an increase of about 500 over last year. They would make up about 90% of all freshmen, compared with 70% last year. Among them, 4,370 would be enrolled on campus, while 1,000 would spend fall semester in remote classes and move to in-person instruction for spring semester, beginning in January 2023. California transfer students would number 1,964 for on-campus enrollment for fall. Among 650 students who would be deferred until spring, the vast majority would be transfer students from California community colleges. Campus officials had lamented that such contingency plans would deprive deserving students of the rich on-campus experience that they worked so hard to earn. Students dance during a social event for Black students on Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley in February 2020. (Peter DaSilva / For The Times) Olufemi Ogundele, UC Berkeleys assistant vice chancellor and director of undergraduate admissions, said he was "heartbroken" by the loss of opportunity to so many students especially after they showed such grit in maintaining stellar academic performances while navigating the challenges of the pandemic. Ting noted, however, that UC brought the crisis on itself with two "major missteps." First, he said, UC Berkeley badly underestimated its projected enrollment in its long-range development plan. In 2005, the university projected it would enroll 33,450 students by 2020, but it had already exceeded that level by about 30% by 2017 giving Bokovoys group grounds to ask the court to order a review of the environmental impact of more than 11,000 additional students. Berkeley conducted the review, finding no significant impact. That prompted the neighborhood group and the city of Berkeley to demand a redo, arguing in a 2019 lawsuit that the campus review was inadequate and the conclusion wrong. In August, Seligman ruled in their favor, ordering Berkeley to perform a more thorough analysis and freeze enrollment at 2020-21 levels until it was completed. "If the university had accurately identified their population growth, they probably wouldn't be in the situation," Ting said. Then, the assemblyman said, UC failed to ask for a stay of the enrollment freeze at the same time it appealed the lower court ruling last October. UC did not do so until January, saying in court papers it had mistakenly believed the stay would automatically occur. Ting said those missteps were more to blame for the enrollment snafu than any flaw in the state's environmental review process. "I don't see this as a flaw within the process," Ting said. "I really see it as lawyers who really didn't quite do their jobs for the university. But from that, I don't think that 5,000 students should suffer because the university lawyers didn't do a good job." UC has acknowledged the mistakes, saying in court papers that it regretted the delay but argued it was an "excusable error." In a statement, UC Berkeley expressed gratitude for the legislative efforts to affirm the university's responsibility under state environmental laws "while ensuring that current and prospective students arent harmed because of uncertainty around current policy." The campus said it will be prepared to adjust its enrollment plans if the law changes. Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) said he was "very confident" that the legislation will pass and enable UC Berkeley to fully enroll all students as planned this fall. The legislation would give $50,000 to UC in order to make it related to the budget and thus able to take effect immediately. Newsom's office declined to comment on the proposals, but the governor wrote an amicus letter last month urging the high court to stay the enrollment freeze. McCarty said adding more campus housing is the long-term solution to statewide conflicts over the impact of enrollment growth on neighborhoods. He has championed legislation to help campuses do so, including the states first substantial contribution to student-housing projects last year, amounting to $2 billion through 2023-24 for the UC, Cal State and community college systems. This year, McCarty is proposing a $5-billion zero-interest revolving loan fund for UC and Cal State, which he estimates could help the systems construct as many as 25,000 more campus beds by reaping huge savings in debt service for housing projects. UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, for instance, has said such a fund could generate savings of $2.1 million for every $100 million borrowed, which could provide 1,000 needy California students more financial aid and lower housing costs to as much as 38% below market rate. "These are the real remedies to address the acute housing shortage at coveted UC and CSU campuses," McCarty said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CAIRO (Reuters) - At least 17 people were killed and dozens wounded in the Jebel Moon area of Darfur on Thursday in a militia attack, activists said. It comes after a similar attack killed 16 people earlier this week and just months after the area was rocked by violence late last year. Four villages were burned down in the attack, said the Coordinating Committee for Refugees and Displaced People in a statement. Aid groups have noted a sharp uptick in violence and displacement in Darfur following a peace agreement signed in October 2020. (Reporting by Nafisa El Tahir; Editing by Alex Richardson) Former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas is changing his plea, according to Reuters. Parnas will plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in connection to his work for Fraud Guarantee. Giuliani was reportedly retained for hundreds of thousands of dollars by the same company. Lev Parnas, the former Rudy Giuliani associate, will plead guilty to conspiracy charges after previously pleading not guilty, according to Reuters. Prosecutors accused Parnas and his co-defendant, David Correia, of misleading investors and withdrawing donations to Fraud Guarantee for personal use as well as political donations. The donations reached more than $2 million. In November 2020, Parnas pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charges, which also involve alleged wire fraud. He requested a change-of-plea hearing from US District Judge Paul Oetken in Manhattan on Thursday, Reuters reported. Parnas, along with another former Giuliani associate, Igor Fruman, were also entangled in an illegal straw donation scheme seeking to disguise $1 million in campaign donations. Fruman and Lev Parnas were running interference for Andrey Muraviev, a Russian businessman, who was trying to get into the US marijuana industry. In January, Fruman was sentenced to one year in prison for helping a foreign national donate to US politicians. Parnas and Fruman are both Ukrainian-born businessmen with connections to former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was pardoned by the former president in December 2020. Manafort also received secret payments from former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. In October 2021, Parnas was convicted on six campaign finance-related charges in the same case involving Fruman and Correia. Read the original article on Business Insider Its been 10 years since a cadre of writers and creative minds smuggled forbidden Chicano history and other books from Texas into Arizona to defy a ban on Mexican American studies. The 2010 Arizona ban was struck down as racist after a nearly decadelong court fight. But a new, wider attack on the history of Latinos and Black people, teachings about racism and discrimination and LGBTQ identity has emerged in its place in other states, including in Texas. In response, the Latino activists who led the widely popular Librotraficante (book smuggler) book and literary caravans through Texas and Arizona are relaunching and upping their game. Tony Diaz, a Houston writer, activist and professor and a founder of the Librotraficante caravans, said the latest attempt by states to pull books from shelves, ban teaching on race and censor LGBTQ literature is an update on the attack on ethnic studies in Arizona. We cant respond to this current attack with the same approach we used 10 years ago because, clearly, the folks that want to erase our history and culture have studied the success of the Librotraficante movement, the ethnic studies movement, the Black Lives Matter movement, Diaz told NBC News. Tony Diaz. (Liana Lopez) Theyve created this attack on intellectual freedom to dodge some of the tools weve created so we have to up our game, he said. Diaz and others planned to launch the movements reboot and next chapter at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Librotraficante caravans Saturday in Houston. If the suppression werent occurring, wed just have a birthday party, right? he said. The Librotraficante movement came about after Arizona passed a law prohibiting the overthrow of the United States government and resentment toward a race or class of people or advocating ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals. Book titles banned at the time included The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros; Drown by Junot Diaz, and Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, considered the godfather of Chicano literature. Story continues A federal judge deemed that racism and political gain were behind the Arizona ban when it was finally overturned. The latest campaign against race and ethnic and LGBTQ studies is a reaction to the victories that followed the Arizona case, Diaz said. Some of these include: The Mexican American studies curriculum returned to Tucsons school district and has flourished. In Texas, Diaz and others prevented a similar ban from taking root in the state as Arizona was adopting its law; kept the state from adopting a racist textbook, and won approval of Mexican American studies as an elective in 2018 and African American studies in 2020. Texas current state poet laureate is Lupe Mendez, who helped smuggle books to Arizona in Librotraficante caravans. Last year, California made ethnic studies a graduation requirement. The Republican campaigns have proliferated following those advances and a national reckoning with racism following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on communities of color. For example, Tennessee enacted a law that allows the state to withhold funding from schools whose teachers teach about the impact of the legacy of racism in the country. Among other things, the law prohibits "promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government," as the 2010 Arizona law did. In Diaz's home state, Texas officials have targeted more than 800 books in local schools, many of them books with LGBTQ and gender identity themes, including several by Latino authors. The list includes books on systemic racism, Black Lives Matter, police violence, violence against Native Americans, abortion, sex education and Latino culture, such as the 2010 book Quinceaneara by Ilan Stavans, exploring the origins, history and traditions of the traditional 15th birthday celebration of Latinas. Texas latest law also prohibits schools from requiring an understanding of the 1619 Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times project on slavery and Black Americans. Diaz believes state officials have targeted the LGBTQ community after encountering the blowback in Texas from the Librotraficante movement and others. The latest campaigns and book bans have been targeting the academic discipline known as critical race theory, or CRT, which is generally found in graduate and law school level studies, not in K-12, where the bans are focused. Critics say schools are teaching children that white people are inherently racist, while opponents of some of the new laws and campaigns say critical race theory is being used as an excuse to shut down teaching about race and histories of nonwhite communities or from nonwhite perspectives. Diaz said the newest laws have intimidated teachers and parents and tried to overwhelm opponents. But we cant let their approach dictate our tactics, he said. If we know our history, our culture, our stories, our voices, were rich and were powerful, he said. Because of the expansion of the campaigns into communities beyond Latinos, Diaz said the newest Librotraficante movement has brought in new allies and supporters. Advances in social media since 2010 will also be instrumental in creating a response that reaches wider than the six-city Librotraficante caravan stops in Arizona and Texas, he said. Diaz said this time, the plan is to create and strengthen literary chapters around the country modeled after Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, a community of Latino writers that has promoted Latino literature and literacy for nearly 25 years and that conceived the book smuggling caravans to Arizona. Those groups would hold events and help distribute and provide the literature, history and ideas in communities that are being denied in schools and libraries. Mendez, the Texas poet laureate, recounted the Librotraficante caravans in a Texas Observer article in January and criticized the newest GOP "culture war." Now, 10 years later, Im still a Librotraficante," he wrote. "And Im ready to do it all over again. The Librotraficante activists also created underground libraries at its caravan stops, in places such as community centers. There are plans to replenish them and create more, Diaz said. The intent is to create what Diaz called cultural capital in the community. Family libraries and oral history are how many people of color have passed on their culture and history, which is what I say is part of our community cultural capital, he said. One thing we were saying as Librotraficantes, once you read the book, they cant ban it," Diaz said. "Once you read the book, they cant take it from you. We become walking testaments to our history and culture." Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Documents to be put to vote at China's annual legislative session Xinhua) 08:32, March 11, 2022 Li Zhanshu, an executive chairman of the presidium of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the third meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The presidium for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, has decided to put a raft of documents to vote at the session's closing meeting on Friday. Li Zhanshu, an executive chairman of the presidium, presided over the third and fourth meetings of the presidium held Thursday. Two meetings of the presidium's executive chairpersons were also held. Both were chaired by Li, also chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. Following are the documents: -- draft resolution on the government work report; -- draft resolution on the implementation of the 2021 plan and on the 2022 plan for national economic and social development; -- draft resolution on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2021 and on the central and local budgets for 2022; -- draft resolution on the work report of the NPC Standing Committee; -- draft resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Court; -- draft resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate; -- draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments; -- draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election; -- draft method for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to elect deputies to the 14th NPC; -- draft method for the Macao SAR to elect deputies to the 14th NPC. At its third meeting, the presidium also approved a report on proposals put forward by NPC deputies during the annual session this year. Li Zhanshu, an executive chairman of the presidium of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the fourth meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) You are here: China The following is the schedule for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday. -- The fifth session of the 13th NPC will hold its closing meeting. -- Premier Li Keqiang will meet the press after the closing meeting. By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte was sworn in on Friday as a member of the Riflemen's Union, a paramilitary volunteer force that supports the police and the army and has seen a surge in applications since Russia invaded Ukraine. Over 2,000 applications to join the force have been received since the conflict began, bringing total numbers to 12,000, about a third of them women, the Union said?. Members of the union receive limited military training within their units and volunteer to help the police or the military as needed in certain functions. Simonyte was one of several hundred who took the oath on Friday in front of parliament, on the anniversary of Lithuania becoming the first Soviet republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union, in 1990. "I see that many people feel restless now," she said. "Volunteering, for instance with the Riflemen's Union, is one good activity to turn to." The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, once ruled from Moscow but now part of NATO and the European Union, have received troop deployments from their Western partners to help protect them, and NATO's eastern border, against any threat from Russia and its close ally Belarus. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Kevin Liffey) PIERRE Hundreds of millions worth of special projects and initiatives in the budget Gov. Kristi Noem proposed back in December made it into the stack of budget bills that now sit on her desk. But as the dust settles on a Legislative session filled with spats between the executive branch and members of Republican leaders in the state House, its clear South Dakotas 97th gathering of elected officials at the state Capitol proved rocky for the governors office. Not uncommon, Noem got the bulk of what she wanted in the budget: $200 million for workforce housing, $600 million for water projects and 6% raises for teachers, community support providers and state workers. More: State budget: Legislature snubs Gov. Kristi Noem, bridles power to spend federal stimulus But other key legislation coming from Second Floor, as capitol insiders commonly refer to the executive branch, didnt. And it wasnt just budgetary. From camping and shooting ranges to critical race theory, vaccine mandates and prisons, lawmakers were anything but a rubberstamp this year. Heres a look at a few proposals that came up short. Low resolution copy of a map illustrating the 175 proposed campsites and accompanying road system Gov. Kristi Noem hopes to construct in Custer State Park. The proposed project is estimated to cost $9.9 million. Changes to Custer State Park A plan to build 176 campsites along Wildlife Loop Road became a high-profile hiccup for the Noem administration early in the session. The $10-million plan brought a chorus of public opposition to Capitol inboxes and voicemails. And even a late change to cut the scope and price of the project by half and relocate it off the wildlife loop couldnt get it past the committee stage of the legislative process in either chamber. More: Gov. Kristi Noem not pleased with workforce housing initiative that finally earned lawmaker approval Women dressed in orange shirts file back into the medium-security housing unit within the South Dakota Women's Prison. The state has the fourth-highest rate of incarceration of women in the nation. New womens prison still out of reach South Dakota has major criminal justice and corrections expenses ahead, with the governor cautioning lawmakers to brace for as much as $600 million in new prison facilities necessary. But lawmakers want more time before giving the go ahead to start building. And instead of signing off on a request for $38 million from the Department of Corrections to construction a womens work release prison in Rapid City, lawmakers opted to grant just $3.8 million for the land the new facility will be built on. Story continues Rapid City shooting range The House of Representatives earned a hat-trick in shooting down Black Hills-area projects when they killed a $5 million request to fund a 175-bay shooting range on 400 acres of state-owned land near Rapid City. The proposal had opposition from nearby landowners and saw repeated deaths, being killed at the committee level in both chambers before being killed twice on the floor of the House of Representatives. A conference committee Wednesday also blocked the request from being added to an unrelated bill. Vaccine mandates It wasnt just spending requests that proved challenging for the governors office to get passed. A proposal from the governor to codify an individuals right to seek a religious or medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccines went down in the this last week of session, after clearing the Senate earlier in the session. Thats because after the House modified her bill to include more broad language, which would also have forced private employers honor ideological exemptions from the COVID-19 shot, a conference committee opted to not pass any new law related to vaccine mandates this year. Former Speaker of the House Steven Haugaard congratulates current speaker Spencer Gosch before he is sworn in on Tuesday, January 12, in the House of Representatives at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: From camping to prisons, lawmakers put own mark on Gov. Noem's agenda (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Lorraine Kelly has explained what was in the suspicious package addressed to her that shut down ITV. On Thursday (10 March), viewers were left confused as This Morning went off air and was replaced by a recorded compilation episode. Police then evacuated the channels television studios in White City, as well as two nearby tube stations, placing a cordon around the building that prevented staff from accessing the building. On Friday (11 March), Kelly spoke about the incident on Good Morning Britain, addressing reports of a bomb threat. Presenter Ben Shephard said: Lorraine, were you responsible for the evacuation? with Kelly replying: Oh yes I heard about this. Shephard asked Kelly if the item was a pair of suspicious underwear, to which the Lorraine host said: No it wasnt. So it was, apparently, so I am told, apparently somebody had sent... somebody from a film company had sent me a wee present, and it had a battery in it. And when they x-rayed it, it looked a little suspicious. She continued: But it was all fine and it was all dandy. Speaking of the evacuation, GMB co-host Kate Garraway said that it is lovely to know people care about you and are looking after you, isnt it. Shephard quipped: I heard the crew from ITV This Morning were thrilled to bits. It meant they all got to go outside for a couple of hours. Following the evacuation, a spokesperson for ITV said: Due to a suspected security alert, the building which ITV daytime broadcast from was safely evacuated. Lorraine Kelly clarified reports she was source of a bomb threat at ITV (Getty Images) The issue has been resolved and staff have returned to the building following the all-clear from the police. We apologise for the interruption to the schedule and we have now returned to normal programming. The Metropolitan Police said they were called shortly after 11am on Thursday when a suspicious package was found at Wood Lane in White City. The area was evacuated as a precaution and White City and Wood Lane tube stations were temporarily closed, the force said in a statement. The incident was stood down shortly before 12.49hrs. An investigation is ongoing. They later said the item had been classed as non-suspicious. MILLBURN, NJ An estimated 1,800 people from North Jersey and New York City came to Millburn this past Saturday to celebrate the Lunar New Year Festival, a first-time local event to celebrate the Year of the Tiger, organized by the Millburn Short Hills Chinese Association and Millburn Institute of Talent. For three hours, crowds on Millburn Avenue enjoyed traditional performances, sampled the cuisine, observed a calligraphy demonstration, and participated in game and crafts. The organizers explained, "The year of the Tiger represents courage and bravery and is the zodiac sign of people born in the Lunar calendar of 2022 and every 12th year in the future. Lunar New Year is typically celebrated by countries within East and Southeast Asia. However, the celebration in Millburn was widely attended by people of all ethnicities and races." They added, "It was great to see so many different cultures embracing the Lunar New Year and showing excitement to learn more about Asian culture." One of the most anticipated segments of the day was the Dragon dance, traditionally performed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune and blessings to the community. Millburn High School seniors Aaron Chan, Alex Chen, Kevin Liang, and Josh Hemingson performed the Lion dance for a packed crowd and then stayed well after the show to take pictures with eager attendees. The organizers of the event worked since December to set up the first-time event. It was originally planned for Jan. 30, a day right before the Lunar New Year, and was pushed out to March 5 due to the COVID surge. The organizers are hoping for an even bigger event next year, they said. Hey, Millburn/Short Hills! You can sign up for a free 6 a.m. Patch email newsletter for your town or another NJ community by clicking here. You can sign up for breaking news alerts here. You'll get an email asking for your preferences: https://patch.com/subscribe This article originally appeared on the Millburn-Short Hills Patch Sara Turner stood inside the Daytona Beach Police Department on Thursday and, through tears, expressed her relief that police had arrested the man accused of killing her mother and stepfather as they headed home on bicycles Sunday from Bike Week. Jean Robert Macean, 32, was arrested Thursday in Orlando and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said at the press conference. There are still a lot of unknowns, including a motive for the attack that left Terry Aultman, 48, and Brenda Aultman, 55, dead early Sunday morning at the corner of Riverview Boulevard and North Wild Olive Avenue. Jean R. Macean Previous coverage of the double homicide in Daytona Beach: For Sara Turner it was like a horrible dream. I didn't prepare to say anything, because this is a nightmare that I never expected could ever happen. This isnt real. It doesn't feel real, she said. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, right, comforts Sara Turner, during a press conference announcing the capture of a suspect in the murder of Turner's mother and stepfather Terry and Brenda Aultman on Thursday, March 10, 2022. "I lost my best friend, my mother was the most amazing caring, giving, loving selfless person in the world. And to top it off, she was as funny as could be, and so was her husband. They were both wonderful and happy and loving, Turner said. They didn't deserve what happened to them and I just want to thank every single one of you for all the work you put in to help get this person off the street, she said as she turned to look back at the officers standing behind her. I'm sorry, this is not a person, a monster, get this monster off of the streets so that nobody else would get hurt or have to deal with the pain and the destruction this has caused so many people's lives that knew them, Turner said. Terry and Brenda Aultman were killed early Sunday morning as they rode their bicycles home apparently after attending Bike Week events on Main Street, Daytona Beach Police said. I just thank you guys so much and I really don't know what else to say, but please just keep our family in your thoughts and prayers and that'll be, that'll be it. Thank you. Story continues Macean will have his first appearance before a judge in Orlando on Friday. Police said the couple suffered multiple stab wounds and lacerations. The murders shocked a community and frightened residents who worried about running into the killer on the street. Young said he wanted to tell residents that everyone could relax some now that the perpetrator was in jail. Sara Turner, daughter of Brenda Aultman, speaks at a press conference at Daytona Beach Police headquarters in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young stands to her left. But the main purpose for this press conference today is to inform the residents of this city and the visitors of this city, that the suspect responsible for committing these heinous crimes is in custody, in hopes that everyone can now breathe a sigh of relief, Young said. Jean Macean being interviewed in Orlando Young said detectives in Orlando were interviewing Macean, but he did not have information yet about what they learned. Young said Macean had made a statement. Young also said he could not share some details about the investigation; while he said some evidence was recovered, he could not be more specific. Young thanked his team of detectives and police officers for working hard on the case. He also thanked other agencies for their help: the U.S. Marshals Service, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Young said that Brenda and Terry Aultman had done all they could to keep themselves safe. They werent drinking and driving. They rode their bicycles to Bike Week on Main Street. They stuck together as a couple. "And yet and still, they were attacked and they were murdered. And this is just a reminder of just the evil that exists in our society today, Young said. Young said he still believed the attack was random and investigators haven't determined a motive. At this point in time, we still do not have a motive so its still a random, senseless act of violence that should have never occurred, Young said. What do we know about Jean Macean? Young said Macean arrived by bus on Saturday in Daytona Beach and departed on Sunday by unknown means. He said he could not comment on Maceans mental health history, but said Macean had a minimal criminal history of one felony arrest and two misdemeanor arrests, all drug-related. Young said he did not have a timeline for when Macean would be returned to Volusia County. Macean was arrested about 11 a.m. Thursday in Orlando, according to a press release. Macean was arrested less than 24 hours after Daytona Beach Police offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to arrest in the Aultmans' murders. Police will make a determination on the reward once they finish reviewing the tips, a press release stated. In response to a question about what moved Macean from person of interest to being charged and arrested in the killings, Young referred to video. Reviewing all of that surveillance video, it kind of painted a picture for us to where we were able to determine that he was our suspect, Young said. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Jean Macean arrested in Daytona Florida stabbings, police seek motive A man has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of a Florida couple who were riding their bicycles home, Daytona Beach chief of police Jakari Young announced Thursday. Young told reporters last week that the attack was "probably one of the most vicious and gruesome" he's witnessed in 20 years. The suspect was identified as Jean R. Macean. There was no word on how investigators found him or what police think prompted the attack. Im pleased to announce that we have arrested the man responsible for the murders of Brenda Aultman and Terry Aultman. Our thanks to @USMarshalsHQ, @OrangeCoSheriff and @OrlandoPolice for helping us bring Jean R. Macean into custody. More details shortly @DaytonaBchPD pic.twitter.com/uQZwMN9r4x Chief Jakari Young (@ChiefJakari) March 10, 2022 Police on Monday said they found two bodies on the side of the road "covered in blood and with multiple stab wounds and lacerations to their bodies." Police identified the victims of the attack as 48-year-old Terry Aultman and 55-year-old Brenda Aultman. Investigators said witnesses found the man lying face-down and the woman lying face-up in the grass next to a sidewalk. Police said both victims had their throats slashed. Two bicycles that were discovered near the bodies are being processed for evidence, authorities said. Investigators said the Aultmans were riding their bicycles home after participating in Bike Week festivities when they were attacked. Police were offering a $50,000 reward for anyone with information regarding the attack. Stephen Smith contributed reporting. Mental health mobile response teams offer alternative to police in Aurora, Colorado Investigations underway into potential war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine Jussie Smollett sentenced to probation and 150 days in jail for hate crime hoax Ronaldo will return against Tottenham (Manchester United via Getty Images) Ralf Rangnick says Cristiano Ronaldo will return for what the Manchester United interim manager admits is a must-win match against Tottenham in the top-four race. This has been another difficult week around Old Trafford after Premier League leaders Manchester City dished out a humbling 4-1 derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday a match Ronaldo missed through injury. United started well enough against their neighbours only to fall away embarrassingly in a meek second-half display, which has led to external criticism and plenty of introspection. The loss leaves the fifth-placed Red Devils a point behind Arsenal who have three games in hand in the final Champions League berth, heightening the importance of seventh-placed Spurs trip to Old Trafford on Saturday evening. We are fully aware about the importance of tomorrows game and at the same time the game on Tuesday (against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League), Rangnick said The most important game is the game tomorrow against Tottenham. We have to win that game. We are fully aware of that. We had a good week of training, the players are also fully aware about the importance of the game. The focus is there, the togetherness was there in the training sessions. The commitment of Uniteds players was questioned in the wake of the City loss, as well as togetherness on and off the field. The most important game is the game tomorrow against Tottenham. We have to win that game. We are fully aware of that. Ralf Rangnick Star man Ronaldos decision to reportedly fly back to Portugal after suffering a hip flexor issue rather than stay in Manchester to support his team-mates underlined that as a potential issue, but Rangnick downplayed it. Well, I dont know, I havent asked him if hes happy at Manchester and at this club, Rangnick said. For me, its important that hes fit again and that he resumed training yesterday. We will see with which formation and with which line-up we are going to play the game tomorrow. Story continues Asked to clarify whether he and the club were aware of Ronaldo reportedly going to Portugal, the interim boss said: No, because it doesnt make sense to look back on what was happening in the last six or seven days. For me, its important what is happening today and tomorrow. For me, it doesnt make sense at all to go through all this again. (Whats) important is that he and Edi (Cavani) are both back in training and theyre both available for tomorrow. Ronaldo and Cavanis return will be a boost to Uniteds blunt frontline, while at the back they will be able to call upon Raphael Varane after he missed the City clash with Covid-19. Luke Shaw remains absent as he was still testing positive for Covid as of Thursday while Scott McTominay is a major doubt for Tottenhams visit. (PA Archive) With regard to players, we will still miss out on Luke Shaw, Rangnick added. Scotty is a question mark. He had some problems with his calf so we have to wait and see until today after training. But right now I think its more likely he will not be available because if we risk him tomorrow he will more likely be out for the game on Tuesday again. Thats why I tend with some muscular issues, even more so if its the calf muscle, to be careful. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The mayor of a town in one of Mexico's most troubled states was shot dead on Thursday near a soccer field just weeks after the government sent the armed forces to restore order in the area, authorities said. Federal authorities and officials in the western state of Michoacan condemned the killing of Cesar Arturo Valencia Caballero, mayor of Aguililla, a municipality which Mexican media said had fallen under the control of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) before the army moved in last month. Valencia was shot three times while driving home from city hall, authorities said, adding that forensics had found bullet shells at the scene. The Michoacan attorney general's office said in a statement it was investigating the homicide. It did not name suspects and gave no further details. According to the U.S. government, Aguililla is where CJNG leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera was born. Oseguera is among the most wanted men in Mexico's criminal underworld. The CJNG is one of the most powerful gangs in the country and for years has waged brutal turf wars with rivals for control of trafficking routes in Michoacan on the Pacific coast. (Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and Kylie Madry; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Kenneth Maxwell) A deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) proposed building a collaborative innovation mechanism for China's cosmetics industry so that companies, universities and research institutes can work together to make technological breakthroughs. Zhang Zhao'an, deputy head of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said the cosmetics industry has been developing rapidly in China as people pay more and more attention to their own image. He said China has become the world's second largest cosmetics consumer market behind only the United States, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.7% from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile, the sector is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 11% during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). However, Zhang pointed out that the cosmetics industry in China still faces some underlying problems such as a lack of key technologies and high-end brands. For example, during the past seven years, only two Chinese researchers have won the Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Prize among the several awards sponsored by the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists, he explained. In addition, only three Chinese brands Pechoin, Rejoice and Chando were among the top 50 most valuable cosmetics companies in 2021, according to a report by leading independent brand consultancy Brand Finance. Therefore, Zhang called for cutting-edge cosmetics technologies to be included into national science and technology research programs and additional support for basic research in botany, organic chemistry, dermatology, and other related fields. With facilities and financial support from the government, China's cosmetics companies need to jointly establish a collaborative mechanism to integrate resources, pool wisdom and facilitate innovation, he said, adding that the Oriental Beauty Valley in Shanghai can provide a basis for such a mechanism. "The Oriental Beauty Valley, which is China's largest cosmetics and health industrial hub, is promoting the integration and innovation of biotechnology and cosmetics technology as well as building a full-link service platform covering basic application fields such as raw material R&D and efficacy evaluation," Zhang said. "For those reasons, I suggest that the valley serve as a pilot district for conducting industry-wide technological innovation." Almost 4,000 brands from both home and abroad are based in the valley, generating a total output value of 70 billion yuan, with this figure expected to exceed 100 billion yuan by the end of 2023. Zhang also suggested developing a "China Cosmetics Industry Index" and "China Cosmetics Innovation Award" on the basis of the annual Oriental Beauty Valley International Cosmetics Conference to reflect the progress in cosmetics innovation and help leading brands increase their influence. Mike Flynn at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando (REUTERS) Former national security adviser Mike Flynn has joined a growing list of Donald Trump allies in refusing to answer questions from the select committee investigating the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. Mr Flynn, who is held up by a hero among many on the Trumpist right and played a key role in the stop the steal movement after the 2020 election, cited the Fifth Amendments protection against self-incrimination as he sat before the committee on Thursday. According to his lawyer, his legal team advised him to do so. General Michael Flynn appeared before the January 6th Committee today in compliance with their subpoena, said his attorney in a statement, and, on advice of counsel, exercised his 5th amendment right to decline to answer the Committees questions. This privilege protects all Americans, not just General Flynn. According to the Supreme Court, no implication of guilt could be drawn from [ones] invocation of his Fifth Amendment privilege because one of the basic functions of the [Fifth Amendment] privilege is to protect the innocent who otherwise might be ensnared by ambiguous circumstances. Mr Flynn last year tried to sue the 6 January committee to stop it from obtaining his phone records from the period leading up to the riot. His lawsuit was dismissed by a judge the day after he filed it. Mr Flynn was infamously pardoned by Mr Trump after he admitted to lying to the FBI during the investigation into the Trump campaigns Russian connections. Since he came under law enforcement investigation, he has become an icon for many conspiracy theorists, including a tendency among QAnon adherents who believe he is spearheading the fight against the deep state cabal of cannibalistic paedophiles. After Mr Trump lost the 2020 election, Mr Flynn joined the loud and chaotic campaign to have the result overturned on baseless grounds of fraud. He went further than many Trump allies in suggesting that Mr Trump invoke martial law to seize voting machines and then oversee a re-run of the vote. This culminated in a widely reported Oval Office meeting in December 2020 in which Mr Flynn and kraken attorney Sidney Powell clashed with the presidents more realistic aides over the twos suggestions, which included installing the erratic Ms Powell as a special counsel assigned to investigate the non-existent fraud that she falsely claimed would explain Mr Bidens victory. Since the end of the Trump presidency, Mr Flynn has made a string of extreme comments in public, endorsing the idea of a Myanmar-style military coup in the US and joking about assassinating somebody in Washington DC. Mar. 10The state of Minnesota on Thursday embarked on a path to divest itself from Russia, furthering sanctions against the country for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced a plan to direct the state board that manages public employee pensions to sell off what are estimated to be $52 million in investments in companies with business operations in Russia over the course of the next 15 months. In addition, the lawmakers proposed codifying in law an executive order last week by Gov. Tim Walz ending all state contracts with Russian companies. "We can't allow a single cent from our state to line the pockets of oligarchs and despots who sanction the murder of innocent citizens," said Rep. Sydney Jordan, DFL-Minneapolis, whose district includes the northeast Minneapolis neighborhoods that make up the epicenter of the state's estimated 17,000 residents who are either Ukrainian or of Ukrainian descent. GRADUAL DIVESTITURE The divestiture would be similar to strategies in the process of being adopted by other states since the Feb. 24 invasion and is modeled after similar sanctions the state has taken against Iran and Sudan in recent years. Divestitures are generally done gradually to reduce the potential for shock to an investment portfolio. It appears likely the bill, which has widespread support, will take at least a week perhaps several before it could be voted on and sent to Walz, who supports the idea. To put the $52 million in Russian investments in context, the State Board of Investment manages assets with a total market value of $135.7 billion, as of Dec. 31. Jordan said she planned to amend the proposed legislation to add Belarus the Russia-allied nation from which the Russian army has staged many of its attacks to the sanctions. UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY SUPPORTS The sanctions are supported by leaders of the Ukrainian community, several of whom spoke Thursday, describing a sense of helplessness over their family and friends living there. Story continues Luda Anastazievsky, who moved to Minnesota in 1990 from Mariupol a city currently under a brutal siege of Russian bombardment spoke of how she can "barely function" at times. She's been unable to contact her relatives in the city, which no longer has power, heat or communications. "Every moment, when I tend to my daily chores, I think of them," Anastazievsky said. "I take a shower and I think, 'They haven't had water for one week by now.' I fall asleep in my warm bed wondering, 'How will they survive without heat?' and whether they'll be able to sleep knowing bombs could fall any moment. I make breakfast and wonder if they're cooking outside in the cold over an open fire. That's why this bill is very important to me: Russia has to be stopped." Anastazievsky has worked as a Minneapolis public school teacher for decades, so she has pension money in the state-managed funds that the divestiture bill targets. She she couldn't bear the idea of any part Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime benefiting from any part of her nest egg. Anastazievsky, who also serves as chair of the Minnesota Ukrainian American Advocacy Committee, has been among several local Ukrainian and Jewish leaders who have met with Walz to push several other possible ways for the state to aid Ukrainians. Among the ideas, she said: welcoming Ukrainian refugees to the state, purchasing medicine for citizens there, and sending body armor. INVASION CREATES UNITY At a news conference Thursday that included senior lawmakers of both parties and both the House and Senate, several lawmakers commented on how rare it is these days for such clear bipartisan agreement an unforeseen effect of the decision by Putin to invade that has been reflected across the nation's political spectrum, as well as western European and trans-Atlantic alliances. Indeed, several local Ukrainians on Thursday said that sudden unity has been reflected in the local community as well. As Ukrainian nationalism grew inside portions of the former Soviet republic, members of the diaspora that had settled across the world including Minnesota here weren't all unified in their own feelings. "Several years ago, there was kind of a rift," said Dina Mikhailenko, who emigrated here from Kyiv with her husband Igor and some of their their family in the early 1990s. "Some people, if they watched Russian TV, they got a different story. Maybe they thought Ukraine was the aggressor in Donbas (where Russian-backed separatists declared attempted to break away from Ukraine in 2014)." The way immigrants identify themselves has always been nuanced, especially among the older generations, since under the Soviet Union, only the Russian language was taught in schools and religious practices were discouraged, if not outlawed. Many called themselves "Russian." A large portion of the local population of immigrants are Jewish, although the degree to which they practiced the religion varies, while another large portion is Christian. All those division fell apart when Russia invaded, a number of members of the local community have said. "I always said I'm Russian but I'm also a Jew," Mikhailenko chuckled. "I never thought I would say 'I'm Ukrainian.' But now we all say it proudly." Russian citizens have been at the center of their government's propaganda campaign to twist the events of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in a way that makes Russia look like the hero and Ukraine look like the aggressor. Even before the war began, the government and state-run media in Russia were showing a distorted view of reality by painting a false narrative of the Ukrainian government. Russians have been told falsely that Ukraine's government is full of neo-Nazis, that Ukraine was creating nuclear weapons to attack Russia and that Russia needed to intervene to save the Ukrainian people. Russian officials have used the phrasing "special military operation" to downplay the invasion. And the Russian media is hiding images of casualties and destroyed cities in Ukraine. Russian military officials are showing state-manufactured videos of the conflict with authorities handing out aid and helping refugees. Bret Schafer, senior fellow and head of the information manipulation team at Alliance for Securing Democracy, told The Hill in an email that a Russian living "exclusively in the bubble of state media coverage" would see Russia as being "engaged in essentially a limited humanitarian operation to liberate Ukraine from Neo-Nazis." "In short, the image you would have watching state propaganda is that the war is going to plan and that victory is imminent," he added. Reliable information in Russia is hard to find as the government has enacted measures to retaliate against any news outlet that tries to publish information contrary to what the government is saying. It has blocked social media platforms and removed internet posts that contradict its message. "One thing we all should be watching closely is whether Moscow's crackdown chases Big Tech out of Russia. That could make it harder for citizens to organize and access non-government information," said Jessica Brandt, policy director for the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative at the Brookings Institution. Story continues Russia's propaganda campaign appears to have swayed a majority of citizens, though there is also a generational divide. A survey conducted between Feb. 28 and March 1 found 58 percent of Russians supported the war while 23 percent opposed the invasion, The Washington Post reported. Among those aged 18 to 29, however, just 29 percent backed the war. People 66 and older were much more likely to support the war. Younger people, not coincidentally, get more of their information from social media while older people are more likely to watch the news on television. One student from a top university in Moscow who spoke to The Hill about how the war is being seen in the country said older people in Russia often see real news about the war as being "fake." "Many of my fellow students have told me that when they had shown real photos and videos to their parents or grandparents they simply brushed it off as if it was some Ukrainian propaganda," said the 17-year-old, who is not Russian. The Hill is not identifying the names of students it spoke to in Moscow for their own safety. The students also requested the name of their university be withheld. An 18-year-old studying at the same university in Moscow told The Hill it is hard to judge how well the propaganda campaign is working since major independent media sources have been uprooted. When speaking on the effectiveness of the propaganda campaign, the 18-year-old, who is from a country in the region, said, "I like to believe that it is not [effective], that Russians simply do not care deeply enough about it to question the government - but more and more, I realize that this looks like wishful thinking on my part." The 18-year-old said another reason the campaign is more effective for older generations is because of what the generations are comparing Russia to. "Older people have lived most of their lives in the Soviet Union; for many of them, the stability, tranquility, and prosperity of Soviet ties were undermined by [former Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev's liberal reforms, and the '90s were a time of such chaos that most Russians gladly accepted Putin's concentration of power," he said. While the younger generation "tends to compare life in Russia not to what used to be in the past as older citizens do, but with other countries." Although there is a strong generational divide for support of the war, a rising section of young people have stood firmly by Russia's side. Atlantic Council's lead Baltics researcher Nika Aleksejeva told The Hill a young person's opinion about the war could have less to do with access to social media and more so what predetermined opinions they have before logging online. "Regarding the younger generation, who are using social media and other information technologies, it's mainly about their ideologies," Aleksejeva said. Aleksejeva described the "Z movement" in Russia that has caught on among pro-war individuals and the younger generation. The movement takes on a "Russian nationalistic worldview" that focuses on "Russian superiority" and defending the Ukraine conflict by portraying Russia as "historically being one of the only liberators from fascists." The image of Russia as the liberators has been a recurring theme Russians have seen from the state. "A recurring message in the state's propaganda campaign is that the West is being hypocritical: the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 based on what turned out to be false pretexts, and NATO regularly intervened in other countries without authorization from the U.N. According to the Kremlin, this makes Russia and the West morally equivalent," the 18-year-old student said. Although a majority of Russians stand behind the Kremlin, the fact that more than 1-in-4 Russians in the poll are against the war despite efforts to limit information shows a powerful message of the efforts from anti-war Russians. Another student studying in Moscow, who is Russian, told The Hill that famous musicians, actors and other celebrities have spoken out against the war. The student said that while information on the internet can lead people to oppose Putin, it does not guarantee they will no longer trust the Kremlin. Vera Zakem, a non-resident senior associate for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Hill another factor that could turn people against the Russian government are close friends and family who may be against the war. Apart from getting information from the news or social media, citizens will rely on "trusted networks" of close friends and family. "If you have a segment of the population that is protesting the war, and they are likely going to spread those narratives with their trusted circles of friends and family," Zakem said. "I think that's part of the reason why you see those numbers." In the past two weeks, more than 13,000 Russians have been detained in anti-war demonstrations, according to OVD-Info, a protest monitoring group. The efforts to sway opinions of Russian citizens will continue to be difficult as the Russian government clamps down on information while some individuals are too disconnected from politics to question it. "Tens of millions either sincerely believe the government or are too uninterested in politics to care about the veracity of the state media's statements," the 18-year-old in Moscow told The Hill. "The former may find it very difficult to orient themselves in this chaotic flood of (dis)information." As the conflict continues, the Russian student said "it's really important to remember that Putin is not Russia. A lot of people didn't vote for him, a lot of people hate him and his actions and support Ukrainian people. "A lot of people in Russia are scared by these events [sanctions against Russia], hate war, but they can't do anything. And I think they should be somehow supported not isolated." For 46 years from 1882 to 1928 this magnificent, red brick and white marble structure occupied 10 Broad St. in downtown Utica. It was built by the federal government for $500,000 to house its courts, custom house and offices in the area. Its main entrances faced Broad Street (shown here in 1904) and its rear area faced Catherine Street. It was razed in 1928 to make room for the citys main post office. Today, it is the Alexander Pirnie Federal Building (named for a former congressman from New Hartford) and its occupants include the offices of the Social Security Administration and the courtroom of U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd. Since 1789, there have been only four federal judges from Oneida County: U.S. District Judge Alfred C. Cox from 1882-1902 and U.S. circuit judge from 1902 to 1917; U.S. District Judge Stephen W. Brennan from 1942 to 1968; U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Cardamone from 1981 to 2008, and U.S. Magistrate Hurd from 1991 to 1999 and currently the U.S. district judge since 1999. He is the areas only federal judge to come from Rome. 1778, 244 years ago Martha Washington left her home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, in 1775 and traveled by stagecoach over bumpy, muddy and sometimes frozen roads to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be with husband George, who had been called by the Continental Congress to be commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental army. She again joined him in 1776 in Philadelphia when the American colonies declared its independence from Great Britain. She was with him in 1777 in New York City and the army camp in Morristown, New Jersey, as the Revolutionary War raged on. And now she is with him at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where his tattered army is struggling to survive the winter. During the summer months, Martha always returned to Mount Vernon to oversee the planting and care for the mansion and grounds. But at years end, she always journeyed to wherever her husband was. When she arrived at Valley Forge, she was shocked by her husbands condition. She told a friend, The general is well, but much worn with fatigue and anxiety. So, she decided to help. One observer later wrote: I never in my life knew a woman so busy from early morning until late at night as Lady Washington providing comforts for the sick soldiers. She and the wives of other officers knitted socks, patched garments and made shirts for the poor soldiers when material could be procured. Every fair day she might be seen with basket in hand going among the keenest and most needy sufferers and giving all the comforts to them in her power. 1922, 100 years ago Irish celebration Members of the Sons of St. Patrick have their annual banquet in Baggs Hotel in Utica and adopt a resolution giving hearty approval to the Irish Free State treaty that allows southern Ireland to become a self-governing country. Meanwhile, Uticas Irish population celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Utica Hibernian Benevolent Association. When its 60 charter members first met in Baggs Hotel in 1822, they elected John Queal as president and John Devereux as vice president. Story continues 1947, 75 years ago Curling champions Utica Rink No. 2, skipped by Dr. James Farrell, wins the Stockton Cup at a three-day bonspiel in Brookline, Massachusetts. Other members are Ken Hurd, Jack Calder and Proc Eldred. 1972, 50 years ago Volunteers honored Utica Community Action honors its outstanding volunteers at a meeting in the Cornhill Neighborhood Center. They are: Harold McLeod, Susie Bailey, Ed Hill and David Adams. Pat Kelly, player-coach for the Clinton Comets professional team in the Eastern Hockey League for seven seasons, signs a contract that calls for dual duties as general manager and coach. He replaces manager Wren Blair. Vincent DeIorio resigns as chairman of the Oneida County Republican Party to run for Congress. The GOP now has three candidates to succeed Rep. Alexander Pirnie, of New Hartford, who has decided not to run for re-election. DeIorio joins candidates Utica Assemblyman John T. Buckley and Sherwood Boehlert, Pirnies executive assistant. 1997, 25 years ago Outstanding women The Utica YWCA honors 10 area women at its ninth annual salute to outstanding women program. They are: Doris Wightman Latimer, of Rome, on the boards of Arc of Oneida and Lewis Counties and Rome Hospital; Jane Dominque, of Utica, executive director of the Thea Bowman House; Mary E. Breslow, of Utica, acting coordinator of the Sister Barbara Ginter Health Care Ministry; Susan (Bunny) Doolittle, teacher in the Barneveld area and owner of Doolittle Services Inc. and Wild Bird Crossing; Brigitte Garrison, vice principal of Ilion Junior-Senior High School; Susan Nackley Mojave, former reporter and producer at WUTR-TV; Cathy Newell, president and chief executive officer of Mohawk Ltd. In Chadwicks; Jennifer Ann Gerlach, senior biology major at Utica College; Eleanor Walsh Wertimer, acting president of the Greater Utica United Way, and Kristy Spetz, a senior at Westmoreland High School; Edward Welsh is elected president of the board of the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Foundation. Mike Misiaszek is vice president and Ambrose Byrne is secretary-treasurer. 2012, 10 years ago MWPAI director Anna Tobin DAmbrosio is the new director and chief curator at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Museum of Art. She has been with the Institute for 20 years and replaces Executive Director Paul D. Schweizer. DAmbrosio has a bachelors degree from the College of the Holy Cross and earned a masters degree at the Cooperstown Graduate Program. (Today she is president and chief executive officer of the Institute.) Trivia quiz John Quincy Adams, sixth U.S. president from 1825 to 1829, got in trouble with the American people when he (a) appointed his brother, Edward, as secretary of state, (b) borrowed $55 million from Russia, (c) married a woman who had been divorced or (d) installed a billiard table in the White House. (Answer will appear here next week.) Answer to last weeks question: Millard Fillmore, 13th president from 1850 to 1853, is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1411 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, New York. Fillmore was born in 1800 in Summerhill, Cayuga County, New York. This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Mohawk Valley History: Utica YWCA honors 10 women Mar. 10SANTA FE A growing, bipartisan collection of New Mexico legislators expressed support Thursday for calling themselves into session through an emergency procedure a move that would allow an override attempt on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's veto of a $50 million spending bill. If enough lawmakers agree, it would be just the second "extraordinary session," as the state Constitution calls it, in New Mexico history and would represent a political rebuke of Lujan Grisham. But convening such a session requires support from three-fifths of each chamber of the Legislature, a difficult barrier to clear. Democrats in the House and Senate are set to meet privately as soon as Friday to debate whether to pursue an extraordinary session. They hold a majority in both chambers. The clash between lawmakers and the Democratic governor erupted after she rejected a supplemental spending bill that included $50 million for projects and programs picked by individual legislators. Each member got a certain amount of money to allocate in the proposal, Senate Bill 48, a companion measure to the main state budget. Lujan Grisham vetoed the bill Wednesday, describing it as an unacceptable way to make spending decisions with public money. Supplemental spending bills sometimes called "junior" budget bills tend to surface in years when the state is flush with cash, as in recent years. Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike have in the past questioned the merits of allowing members to dole out money largely at their own discretion. But this year's bill passed without a single dissenting vote, and lawmakers quickly expressed outrage at seeing it rejected by the governor. Democratic Rep. Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo said the bill gave legislators a chance to deliver resources to overlooked programs and parts of the state. Road safety and educational curriculum, he said, were among his priorities. "To have it all just vetoed by our governor is extremely unfortunate," Lente said. "It essentially just mutes the community voices that are most in need." Story continues He said he supports an extraordinary session. In her veto message this week, Lujan Grisham said the supplemental spending bill circumvented the usual vetting for state spending and that some of the money was allocated to projects that aren't fully funded, meaning they wouldn't move forward and the money might be wasted. Nora Meyers Sackett, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the state's main budget a measure she signed into law makes responsible investments that reflect state priorities. "The governor's responsibility is to ensure that New Mexico's investments directly and meaningfully benefit New Mexicans while maintaining fiscal responsibility, given the once-in-a-generation revenue we have available," Sackett said. "Fiscal responsibility and delivering for New Mexicans in a consequential way means ensuring programs are funded properly with consistent and recurring appropriations." 'Picking a fight' The spending bill vetoed by the governor would have authorized about $25.2 million in one-time spending and another $25.2 million in ongoing spending. The money would have gone to a wide-ranging set of programs and priorities picked by lawmakers. Among the proposed items were law enforcement equipment, efforts to help homeless animals, student speech and debate clubs, medical equipment, meals on wheels for homebound residents, and public safety programs. The spending is far smaller than what's outlined in the main state budget, House Bill 2, which authorizes about $8.5 billion for spending on education, health care and other purposes. Lawmakers hadn't taken up a supplemental spending bill like the kind vetoed this week in 10 years before 2019, when an oil and gas boom filled state coffers. Some lawmakers questioned bringing it back, including former Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat who said it wasn't a "responsible vehicle" for public spending. Fred Nathan, executive director of the nonpartisan group Think New Mexico, said junior spending bills aren't an effective way to allocate taxpayer dollars, even if some of the money goes to worthy projects. "Appropriations should be made through a public planning and vetting process, rather than 112 individual legislators each coming up with projects in secret without planning, coordination, or accountability," he said Thursday. But junior bills are generally popular among lawmakers. Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, said the "governor erased funding for important local programs, projects and facilities that communities throughout the state desperately need." Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, said the veto "was an unnecessary affront to the legislative process." "It was picking a fight that she didn't need to pick," he said of the governor's veto. House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, said veto overrides led by the governor's own party are rare. "We typically only see actions like this when dealing with a lame duck Governor who no longer holds sway over their political party," he said. Rep. Roger Montoya, D-Velarde, said the governor's "disregard for the work me and my colleagues have done to fulfill our duties and responsibilities to our communities is deeply troubling." Sackett pushed back on criticism that the main budget failed to address priorities that made it instead into the smaller budget bill. The budget package approved by Lujan Grisham includes $24 million for initiatives that will help food banks, $15 million to double a Native American education fund and $10 million to help people without homes, she said.. "The governor agrees that those kinds of programs are priorities," Sackett said, "which is why they are funded in the budget." Next steps Lawmakers have scheduled confidential caucus meetings starting Friday to discuss how to proceed. Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said she and other Senate Democrats would decide together whether to support an extraordinary session. But lawmakers and the governor, she said, already have plenty to be proud of, including passage of teacher raises and a crime package. "The session was a huge success," she said, "and I don't want to lose track of that." Under the Constitution, the governor is empowered to call special sessions and determine what bills or topics may be considered. But the constitution also allows three-fifths of each chamber to certify that there's an emergency "in the affairs of the state of New Mexico" and bring the Legislature into an extraordinary session. The only such session in state history came in 2002, when lawmakers met during a budget standoff with then-Gov. Gary Johnson. They promptly voted to override Johnson's veto of that year's budget bill. During Lujan Grisham's tenure, the Legislature has not launched any veto override attempts. Dan Boyd of the Journal Capitol Bureau contributed to this article. WASHINGTON, D.C. National Democratic leaders have drafted a proposal that could significantly reshape the partys presidential nominating process and put an end to Iowas prized first-in-the-nation caucuses a tradition that has shaped presidential politics and boosted Iowas place in the American spotlight for the last half-century. A draft resolution, obtained and corroborated by the Des Moines Register, would set new criteria for early-voting states that favor primaries over caucuses and diversity over tradition. If the proposal advances, it would upend the party's presidential nominating calendar by requiring states to apply to hold their nominating contests before the rest of the country and expanding the number of early voting states to as many as five. Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which currently lead off the process, would not necessarily be given preferential consideration over other states that apply. The Democratic National Committee is holding its annual winter meetings in Washington, D.C., this week, and the panel that sets the nominating calendar, the Rules and Bylaws Committee, is scheduled to take up the issue Friday evening. Friday update: 'Status quo is not an option', Democrats discuss changes to calendar that could leave Iowa caucuses out It will be a broad discussion not reaching, as far as I expect, any final conclusions, Committee Co-Chair James Roosevelt Jr. told the Register. The conversation follows disastrous 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses in which technological and logistical failures coalesced, preventing the party from declaring a timely winner. The caucuses ugly conclusion undermined more than a years worth of organizing and campaigning that preceded it, stoking renewed calls to move the nation toward primaries and replace Iowa as the first state to cast its presidential preferences. Iowa and national Democrats remain at odds over which division of the party was most at fault. An audit commissioned by the Iowa Democratic Party found the national Democratic Party aggressively interjected itself into the 2020 caucuses, slowing and complicating the process on caucus night. DNC staff members declined to be interviewed for that audit. Story continues More: Iowa caucus 2020: Inside the Iowa Democratic Party's 'boiler room,' where 'hell' preceded the results catastrophe What would change under draft proposal? Currently, the DNCs rules say that no state can hold a presidential primary or caucus before the first Tuesday in March. Iowa has long been exempted from that practice, holding its contest up to 29 days before other states. Iowa is followed by New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which also are exempted as part of the early window of voting. Under the draft proposal, all four states and any others interested in jumping before the rest would need to seek new waivers to hold an early nominating contest. Up to five states would receive waivers, though the proposal does not say whether the states would all vote on the same day or whether their votes would be staggered as they are now. If the resolution passes, it wouldn't prevent Iowa from applying for a waiver; nor would it directly eliminate caucuses. However, it would make the ability to run (a) fair, transparent and inclusive primary one of its core considerations in the waiver process. Iowa is required by state law to hold presidential caucuses. Other considerations would be a states diversity, including ethnic, geographic (and) union representation, as well as the states general election competitiveness. Ninety percent of Iowas population is white, and a Republican, former President Donald Trump, carried the state by 8 percentage points in 2020. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 6.5% of Iowans are members of unions. Mo Elleithee, a member of the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee, outlined those same priorities during the groups January meeting. "Three of the four current early window states satisfy at least two of those criteria," he said then. "One does not satisfy any of them, at least in recent years." Though Elleithee did not directly name Iowa, the subtext of his comments was clear. More: Why is Iowa first? A brief history of the state's caucuses According to the draft proposal, the DNC's rules committee would outline the application rules and procedures for state parties by April 15, 2022, and it would give them at least 28 days to complete and submit applications to win a place at the start of the calendar. A subset of state parties would be invited to make public presentations to the committee. The proposal also calls for the committee to hold at least three virtual public hearings so party members could share their views on the primary process. The committee would announce the results of its evaluation within six weeks of the application deadline. The draft resolution states that the committee will execute this process in the most transparent, open and fair manner feasible and commits to providing adequate, clear and timely notice on major milestones and requirements. Caucuses have been core to Iowa's political identity Iowa has been the first state to weigh in on presidential contenders ever since it convened a series of living room meetings across the state in January 1972. The status is more than symbolic. Standing alone as the first arbiter of presidential aspirants ensures presidential candidates of every persuasion travel to the state in droves, trying to woo supporters. For a solid year, Iowa becomes the center of the political universe, and Iowans who often withhold their coveted support until the final hours of the contest become the most influential people in politics. Only after Iowans have winnowed the field do candidates move on to New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina and beyond. More: Who won previous Democratic, Republican Iowa caucuses? See 2020, 2016 and earlier caucus results Its unclear how Iowa Democrats will respond if the resolution advances. Some state party members have said its time for the state to let go of its hold on the process, while others say they can fight to hold first-in-the-nation caucuses even without the DNCs blessing. The Iowa Republican and Democratic parties have long worked in tandem to hold their separate nominating contests on the same night. Iowa Republicans have been vocal supporters of their Democratic counterparts when it comes to the caucuses. But they've also made clear they intend to hold their first-in-the-nation caucuses in 2024, even if Iowa Democrats do not. Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann was appointed to lead the Republican National Committee panel overseeing the GOP's calendar review. He told the Des Moines Register in February that the committee considered possible modifications to the party's presidential nominating process but it will not recommend changes to Iowa's caucuses or to the early nominating calendar. "I strongly believe that the continued health of Iowa's first-in-the-nation status is linked to both of our parties being able to start our presidential nominating process right here in Iowa," Kaufmann said in February. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Will DNC plan end Iowa caucuses' first place in presidential calendar? Editors note: The story has been updated with correct information from CPD regarding where the off-duty officer was working. A Columbus police officer has been placed on administrative leave after shooting an armed man early Friday morning, the Columbus Police Department announced in a press release. The officer was identified as Ryan Vardman by Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Vardman was working security at a nearby Chevron station with another off-duty officer when he encountered the suspect exchanging gunfire with another person around 2:30 a.m., police said. The officer told him to drop his weapon and when the suspect did not, the officer fired. Alonzo Carter, 32, was pronounced dead at 3:25 a.m. at The Flame, a gentlemans club previously known as Club Fetish at 4505 Armour Road, confirmed Bryan. A semi-automatic handgun was found on Carters body, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In 2017, Vardman hit and killed a murder suspect after a chase on Cussetta Road. The Columbus Police Department and GBI are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting on Friday morning. Carters family released a statement via Columbus attorney Jennifer Dunlap stating, Alonzo was a caring father, a brother, a son and a friend to many. His death at the hands of an undercover law enforcement officer is devastating. It continues to say the family is pursuing additional information and requesting cell phone footage or details be sent to clubshootinginformation@gmail.com. They request no footage be distributed online. An unidentified woman on the scene was also shot and transported to Columbus Piedmont Regional Hospital. Her status is unknown, Bryan said, and about 40 shell casings littered the parking lot. The Columbus Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are currently investigating an officer-involved shooting at a nightclub on Armour Rd., on March 11, 2022. GBI is currently investigating the incident, which is standard in police shootings. This is the second officer-involved shooting in Columbus this week and the fifth this year. On Monday, an officer fired into a car during a suspected theft and two people were wounded. Anyone with information about the fatal shooting can contact GBIs Columbus Investigative Office at (706) 565-7888 or submit an anonymous tip at 1-800-597-8477 or online. This story will be updated as more information is released. Offshore wind is finally taking off in the United States. But fishing interests around the country are throwing one last obstacle in the industry's way. The Biden administration has ambitious plans to open up vast swaths of coastline in order to generate 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. Energy companies are stepping up: Six leases off the New Jersey and New York coasts sold for $4.3 billion last month, the most lucrative wind lease sale in U.S. history. But the wind industry and federal and state agencies still haven't managed to placate the fishing industry, which is lobbying against offshore wind proposals around the country over concerns the turbines could interfere with fishing routes. The resistance could complicate President Joe Biden's timeline. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management wants to review at least 16 offshore wind plans for potential approval in the next three years, up from two total approvals since the agency was created in 2011. Oregon officials are asking BOEM to delay a planned lease sale next year over concerns about its potential impacts on commercial fishing. I think that timeline is just completely unrealistic, Kaety Jacobson, a county commissioner in Oregon, said at a BOEM hearing last month. I think you could extend out your timeline a year from that and still be able to make your 2030 timeline goal. Meeting that goal cant just be at the backs of the community and the environment. And a group of Northeast governors wrote to Biden last spring to request greater attention be paid to the cumulative effects of offshore wind energy on the oceans other legitimate interests like fishing. The Biden administration has made concessions such as shrinking the size of lease areas and proposing payments to compensate fishers for reduced activity. BOEM is planning to release draft guidance on payments as soon as this month, which could include estimates of how much money the agency wants wind companies to pay. Story continues Fishing groups are hesitant and view the payments as akin to giving up on their industry. You have individually operated fishing businesses going up against multinational energy companies, said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermens Association. It is truly a David and Goliath issue. Here we are for centuries keeping the coastal communities alive, and you just feel like you are going to be stamped out. We are scared. Seafood suppliers are concerned, too. Wholesalers and fishing groups joined forces in a lawsuit filed by a right-wing law firm last year against Vineyard Wind, arguing they would be "economically ruined" by the project. A host of concerns Industry advocates are worried about losing access to fishing territory and being squeezed into smaller areas, which would lead to localized overfishing, said Tom Dameron, a former commercial fisherman who is now the government relations and fishery liaison for Surfside Foods, a New Jersey clam company. Fisheries from scallops to squid, fluke and clams could be affected. BOEM acknowledged as much in its approval of the country's first large-scale offshore project, 62 wind turbines off Martha's Vineyard. All fishing and transit would need to avoid certain zones during construction of Vineyard Wind 1, said Tracey Moriarty, a BOEM spokesperson, and certain vessels towing fishing gear may need to avoid certain areas entirely during operation. While the fishing industry claims that all 75,000 acres of the project area could be abandoned by commercial fisheries due to difficulties with navigation, BOEM said the project would likely only reduce the area's revenue by $14 million, out of $479 million annually on average. BOEM said that it expected major adverse impacts to fishers from the much-smaller South Fork wind project located off Rhode Island, the second to receive federal approval. Analysis published by Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Management Council put the losses between $11 million and $18 million. BOEM carefully considers multiple ocean uses as part of its decision-making processes and works with lessees and fishermen to not only avoid or reduce potential impacts to the fishing industry from offshore wind energy development, but to ensure that both industries can co-exist and even thrive, Moriarty said in a statement. BOEM strives to avoid the siting of offshore wind facilities in areas that are high-value fishing areas. The projected losses are prompting broad recognition of the need for some kind of a federal fishery compensation plan as a final backstop for when impacts cant be avoided. Clean power groups, utilities, fishery management councils and state agencies are all on board to varying degrees. But while the fishing industry wants the federal government to require impact fees if fishing areas are disturbed, it's still holding out for limiting the turbines in the most productive fishing grounds, said Annie Hawkins, the executive director of the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, a group of fishing interests that sued the Interior Department in January over its approval of Vineyard Wind. In lieu of a standardized compensation formula to pay fishermen for losses, states and the fishing industry thus far have largely had to work directly with the relevant wind company. Both the Vineyard Wind and South Fork projects include compensation plans, but RODA has called them "insufficient. Fisheries have slowed some things down and they have had an impact and there have been changes made, but I think most fishermen would argue its nowhere near close enough to what they would want to see to not be worried about the impacts, said Julia Beaty, a fishery management specialist at the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The frustration goes both ways, with fishing interests getting concessions of their own. Andrew Doba, a spokesperson for Vineyard Wind, pointed to the fact that five different New England offshore wind leaseholders agreed to adopt a uniform turbine layout to address fishing and transit concerns a decision that cut the areas potential energy production by 30 percent. The New York Bight wind area was cut 72 percent from the initial area outlined in 2018 to the sites actually leased last month, and BOEM reduced the number of leases in the area from eight to six. The agency also cut more than 1 million acres for wind areas off Massachusetts. A law passed in Maine last year bans offshore development in state waters in order to protect commercial lobster harvesting. Wind companies point to other obstacles that the fishing industry has had to contend with, including labor and workforce challenges and existing fishing regulations. They also point out that new turbines are taller and more efficient than before, meaning fewer will be needed to generate the same amount of electricity. Will offshore wind be another thing that fishing needs to coexist with? Yes. But so is climate change," said Claire Richer, the federal affairs director at the American Clean Power Association. We need to do something about climate change. And offshore wind is a really important piece to decarbonize and meet state clean energy goals. By Shariq Khan BENGALURU (Reuters) -Oil prices settled higher on Friday but posted their steepest weekly decline since November, as traders assessed potential improvements to the supply outlook that has been disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Crude prices have soared since the invasion, which Moscow calls a "special military operation." This week, futures benchmarks hit their highest levels since 2008, then pulled back sharply as some producing countries signalled they may boost supply. On Friday, supply concerns grew when talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal faced the threat of collapse after a last-minute Russian demand forced world powers to pause negotiations. Brent crude futures rose $3.34, or 3.1%, on Friday, settling at $112.67 a barrel, after hitting a session low of $107.13. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $3.31, or 3.1%, to settle at $109.33 a barrel, off the session low of $104.48. "Iran talks on hold is one factor supporting markets," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that "market participants will now closely track Russian export data to get a sense how much (supply) is disrupted." U.S. President Joe Biden said the G7 industrialized nations will revoke Russia's "most favored nation" trade status, and announced a U.S. ban on Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The United States banned Russian oil this week. Next week, Staunovo said, the focus will shift to oil market reports from the International Energy Administration (IEA) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Both have indicated the market should be oversupplied this year. U.S. rig data from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co showed drillers added 13 oil and natural gas rigs, bringing the total to 663, the ninth increase in 10 weeks. The data is an early indicator of future output. U.S. government officials have called on domestic and global producers to ramp up output. Story continues Brent, which rose over 20% last week, was down 4.8% this week after hitting $139.13 on Monday. U.S. crude recorded a weekly drop of 5.7% after touching a high of $130.50 on Monday. Both contracts last touched these price peaks in 2008. This week, the Russia-Ukraine conflict pushed the United States and many Western oil firms to stop buying Russian oil. There was talk of potential supply additions from Iran, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. "We have a close eye on the pressure valves that will absorb the supply shock," said UBS head of economics Norbert Ruecker. In the near term, supply gaps are unlikely to be filled by extra output from members of the OPEC and allies, together called OPEC+, given Russia is part of the grouping, Commonwealth Bank analyst Vivek Dhar said. Some OPEC+ producers, including Angola and Nigeria, have struggled to meet production targets, limiting the group's ability to offset Russian supply losses. (Reporting by Shariq Khan, Additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla, Sonali Paul and Mohi Narayan; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio) Wallbox Major oil producers fear surging prices will speed up the transition to EVs, Iraq's oil minister told the NYT. Oil prices have been surging, with Brent crude futures steadying above $100 on Friday. Volatility remains high after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, over which the US and UK have banned Russian oil, gas, and coal imports. As the price of oil surges, some of its biggest producers are worried consumers will turn to electric vehicles instead. Iraq's oil minister, Ihsan Abdul Jabbar, told The New York Times on Wednesday that the OPEC member and other oil producers in the Middle East are concerned about this possibility. "We are happy in the short term, but not happy if this lasts," Abdul Jabbar said. Oil prices have been climbing following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Brent crude futures up 3.8% at $113.50 a barrel Friday morning. Brent saw price swings of 30% this week, which was its most volatile in two years. President Joe Biden banned imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal this week, targeting an area left out of the US' first round of retaliatory sanctions. The US imported 8.5 million barrels per day of crude and refined products like gasoline and heating oil in 2021, according to the Energy Information Administration. Of these, roughly 672,000 barrels, or about 8%, were from Russia. The ban could drive gas prices to new heights and widen the gap that already exists between supply and demand. Russia is the world's third-largest oil producer and has the world's biggest reserves of natural gas. The secretary general of OPEC said this week that there's "no capacity in the world" that could replace the 7 million barrels of oil Russia produces per day. Read the original article on Business Insider As we enter the energy war phase of the global crisis triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine, Americans will be asked to make greater sacrifices and the government will be required to do more to maintain the political will needed to defeat Vladimir Putin and support Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Joe Biden took important steps toward that goal Tuesday when he announced the United States would, like a number of allies, stop buying Russian energy products. He described why he was taking the step and the measures his administration would take to reduce the harm done to American consumers. He also resonantly noted that when people are asked to pay more at the pump, they should see it as dealing with Putin's price hike. Russia is attacking freedom The presidents arguments were well-framed and crisply made. But as the war likely drags on, it also will be necessary that Biden, his Cabinet and, if they are fair-minded and have the nation's interests at heart, his opponents continue to rally the public to make sacrifices against Russia. As of March 8, 2022, the average national price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.17, according to AAA. The previous high was $4.11 in 2008. That will include measures to make price hikes more tolerable for the most economically vulnerable Americans. Our leaders must drive home the point that Russia has not just attacked Ukraine. Russia is attacking democracy, attacking freedom and attacking the international order so many Americans have fought to defend. Americans support it...for now: How long will voters support Biden when Russia oil ban hits gas prices If Russia goes unchecked, the consequences will be enormous. NATO countries that Putin has targeted as part of his twisted vision of a Russian empire will be next. Not only are they allies, but should he threaten them, we will be obligated to defend them. Not only will that put the members of the American military at risk, it will raise the possibility of nuclear conflict. It will put the whole world at risk. Our leaders need to make this clear. The fight for Ukraine is not a fight for some distant place and people. Story continues Ukrainians are fighting for America It is, for us, our values, for what we hold dear. History has shown that if we fail to stand up to aggressors, catastrophe is the inevitable result. Further, it must be repeated, while the sacrifices we will be forced to make may be a hardship for many, they will be relatively small ones compared with the burdens being borne by the men, women and children of Ukraine in this battle. And while they fight for their country, they are also fighting for us. A rally outside the White House on March 6, 2022, to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Further, our allies in Europe are more dependent on Russian oil and gas and business with Russia than we are. Their countries might have to care for as many as 5 million refugees. Their countries are where the next fight will take place. Their countries are bearing an even greater cost for aiding and defending Ukraine. Rex Huppke: Absurd trucker convoy jamming up the Capital Beltway has me rooting for higher gas prices Our leaders must communicate clearly and simply that for Putin, curtailing energy supplies to the West is a weapon. He expects us not to have the will or the resolve to accept the burdens that this situation requires of us. But he is underestimating America's ability to lead and our alliance's ability to be unified and to stand firm. He does not believe we can remain united. He believes the political divisiveness in the United States that he cultivated will weaken us. Making a clear call on Russia's threat Our leaders must make a clear call for unity. This is a moment we should rise above politics. We cannot expect the most selfish and shortsighted of politicians or media commentators to do so. War Crimes: Thermobaric weapons. Targeting hospitals. Case against Putin as a war criminal is strong. But Biden and his team, who have handled this crisis so masterfully so far, must reach out to reasonable voices from the other party and seek the kind of support and spirit of common interests that have served us so well in moments like this in the past. The administration must use all the tools at its disposal to minimize the sting of sacrifice at home, seeking new sources of oil and gas, promoting greater energy diversity, and perhaps creating tax breaks and incentives to help consumers through this time. Now is a moment to step up, to make the modest sacrifices being asked of us, to be prepared to make them for as long as it takes to turn back the monster in the Kremlin, restore security to Europe and bring justice to the brave people of Ukraine. While our leaders have a role to play here, so do each of us. Let's make it our shared goal to accept the responsibility this moment demands of us and set this debate above the normal political brawling so common in public life today. David Rothkopf is a member of the USA TODAY Board of Contributors, host of "Deep State Radio," and CEO of TRG Media and podcasting company specializing in public policy issues. Follow him on Twitter: @djrothkopf You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Gas prices are how Americans can count the cost of freedom Avril Haines, Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence speaks to the Senate Intelligence Committee during a hearing examining worldwide threats on Thursday, March 10, 2022. It's Thursday, welcome to Overnight Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup. Senators on Thursday grilled the Biden administration's top intelligence officials on a wide range of issues regarding Russia's attack on Ukraine. We'll share the most pressing topics and what the officials said, plus new details on North Korea's latest missile launches and the findings of a just-wrapped investigation into a deadly 2020 terror attack on U.S. forces in Kenya. For The Hill, I'm Ellen Mitchell. Write me with tips at emitchell@thehill.com. Let's get to it. Russia chemical attack fears dominate W Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, speaks to the Senate Intelligence Committee during a hearing examining worldwide threats on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Senators on Thursday pressed intelligence officials over the U.S. response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as fears mount that Moscow is preparing a chemical weapons attack and risking a nuclear conflict. Lawmakers further grilled intelligence officials over what steps the U.S. can take to deter Putin, including increasing American military and air assistance to help Ukrainians repel Russian forces amid increasing civilian casualties. Information as a weapon: CIA Director William Burns said intelligence leaders "take very seriously" the threat of a chemical weapons attack in Ukraine and said the decision to declassify and release intelligence previewing Putin's likely moves has served to deter action and unify a global response. "I am convinced that our efforts at selective declassification to preempt those kind of false flag efforts and the creation of false narratives have been so important," Burns said, speaking during an annual hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee worldwide threats hearing. "This is one information war that I think Putin is losing." A false narrative: Russian officials, amplified by state-backed media, are pushing a narrative - roundly rejected by U.S. officials - that biomedical research labs in Ukraine supported by the U.S. are part of a more sinister plot surrounding dangerous weapons development. Story continues "Let me be clear, we do not assess that Ukraine is pursuing either biological weapons or nuclear weapons, which have been some of the propaganda that Russia is putting out," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told lawmakers. Concerning warnings: Haines added that the intelligence community is "very concerned" and is monitoring "everything that may be going on with respect to Russia's strategic nuclear forces" but had not assessed any significant changes that would indicate potential use of nuclear weapons. "It's nothing unprecedented," she said of what they are observing. The White House has said that Putin's warnings about Ukrainian biological weapons may in fact be a signal that Russia may deploy such weapons of mass destruction, as it has done in previous conflicts. Read the full story here. Senators grill intel chiefs over fighter jets Sen. T Cotton (R-Ark.) questions Attorney General M Garland during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. Also at the hearing, Republican senators grilled intelligence officials for not supporting Poland's plan to send fighter jets to Ukraine, claiming the United States was bowing to threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) blasted U.S. officials for "failing to help Poland," which on Tuesday offered to send MiG-29 fighter jets to a base in Germany for deployment to Ukraine, with the U.S. then providing fighter jets to Poland to resupply its military. The White House ultimately rejected that proposal, warning it could be viewed as an escalatory action in Putin's eyes that could trigger a larger conflict between NATO and Russia. An 'escalation ladder': Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, repeated to lawmakers Thursday that there was an "escalation ladder" and Putin would view the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine as an escalation. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the committee the decision to nix the transfer of the fighter jets was also based on the perception of Putin. "It's whether or not they perceive us as being in conflict with them," Haines said. "We're in a very challenging position right now where we are obviously providing enormous amounts of support to Ukraine ... but at the same time, trying not to escalate the conflict into a full-on NATO or U.S. war with Russia." Read the rest of the story here. US: N. Korea launches a 'serious escalation' North Korea tested a "relatively new" intercontinental ballistic missile system in February and earlier this month, a senior Biden administration official said Thursday, describing the tests as a "serious escalation" by Pyongyang which last tested such a missile in 2017. "After careful analysis, the U.S. government has concluded that the DPRK's two ballistic missile tests on Feb. 26 and March 4 of this year involved a relatively new intercontinental ballistic missile system that the DPRK is developing," the official told reporters on Thursday, referring to North Korea by its official name. A 'serious escalation': "This is a serious escalation by the DPRK, but unlike the DPRK's three ICBM tests in 2017, neither of these launches demonstrated ICBM range or capability," the official said. Previously: South Korea's military previously reported the missile tests as they happened. In both cases, South Korea said the missiles were launched into the sea and flew less than 200 miles while reaching altitudes of less than 400 miles. A new system: The Biden administration believes that the launches were meant to test elements of the new system before a full-range launch is conducted, the senior official said Thursday, warning that North Korea could disguise a future launch as a space launch. The US response: In response to the missile tests, the Treasury Department is expected to announce new actions on Friday that would prevent North Korea from obtaining foreign technologies to advance its weapons program. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command also said earlier this week it was ordering intensified intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities in the Yellow Sea and "enhanced readiness" of ballistic missile defense forces in the Indo-Pacific in response to recent North Korean ballistic missile launches. Read the full story here. SIGN UP NOW Don't miss a beat! Get on the list for NotedDC, The Hill's new insider take on the heartbeat of politics and policy, coming soon. Probe: Multiple failures led to deadly attack Faults in intelligence-sharing, security and leadership paved the way for the deadly attack on Kenyan airbase used by U.S. troops in January 2020, a new Pentagon investigation finds, though the probe points to no single shortcoming. An investigation by U.S. Africa Command (Africom) and a separate independent review found that on Jan. 5, 2020 a well-prepared, "ruthless and determined enemy force" of 30 to 40 al-Shabab militants conducted the attack against U.S. forces and assets at Manda Bay, officials said. A few short minutes after the attack began, U.S. Army Spc. Henry Mayfield and two U.S. contractors, Bruce Triplett and Dustin Harrison, were killed, while six contractor-operated civilian aircraft were damaged in the incident. The issues: "We were not as prepared at Manda Bay as we needed to be," Africom head Gen. Stephen Townsend said via video at the Pentagon. Townsend said the investigation found four factors that contributed to the deadly outcome, including "inadequate focus on potential threats," shortcomings in intelligence-sharing, deficiencies in preparing security forces in charge of guarding the base and poor command unity. "Certain senior officers contributed to the inadequate force protection posture at Mandalay Bay, and to some extent, allowed a climate of complacency and poor understanding of the threat," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox, who assisted in the independent review. How it unfolded: On Thursday, multiple defense officials detailed the attack's timeline of events, which began when two U.S. service members, Mayfield and a colleague, were driving a truck to clear the base's runway when they saw thermal images of what was first thought to be hyenas. The two realized too late they had instead identified al-Shabab fighters hiding in the vegetation, officials said. Mayfield was killed after a rocket-propelled grenade hit the vehicle and exploded, though his colleague was able to escape. The two defense contractors, Triplett and Harrison, were killed when militants attacked their plane that was taking off and it caught fire. The significance: The attack on the base, situated on the coast and near the Somali border, was largely overshadowed at the time as it came two days after the U.S. drone strike ordered by then-President Trump that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. But the incident marked the most U.S. military-related deaths in Africa since the October 2017 ambush in Niger where four soldiers were killed. Read the rest here. ON TAP FOR TOMORROW U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith will speak at a Washington Post Live event on "World Stage: Ukraine," at 11 a.m. The Homeland Security and Defense Forum will hold an event on "Celebrating Women in Homeland Security," at 12 p.m. The Institute for Corean-American Studies will hold its virtual winter symposium on "The Ukraine Crisis, Indo-Pacific, Northeast Asia and U.S. National Security," at 7 p.m. WHAT WE'RE READING That's it for today! Check out The Hill's defense and national security pages for the latest coverage. See you Friday. PATERSON City officials refused to make public two video recordings from body cameras worn by Paterson police officers on the night 41-year-old Felix DeJesus went missing after an alleged encounter with city cops. In responding to a public records request from Paterson Press, the city on Wednesday said it would not release the two videos because they are part of a confidential Police Department Internal Affairs investigation. Members of DeJesus family said they also have been unable to get copies of the videos from city officials. DeJesus has been missing since Feb. 2, the family said. If they didnt do anything wrong, Giovanni DeJesus, brother of the missing man, said about the officers, why cant we get the footage? Felix DeJesus, 41, was reported missing by his family on Feb. 3. DeJesus made that plea during Tuesday nights Paterson City Council meeting. He also complained that authorities have not revealed the two officers names. Why are they still working? he asked. Municipal police officials referred questions about the case to the Passaic County Prosecutors Office, which took control of Patersons IA division last April after the FBI arrested two city cops in an unrelated matter. The missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Felix DeJesus is ongoing, said Peter Foy, senior assistant prosecutor in charge of the public integrity unit. Schools and COVID: Paterson schools removing partitions but will keep mask mandates City Hall: Paterson council rejects $5.7M Sayegh plan for parks revitalization Neither the Prosecutors Office nor Paterson police have officially confirmed that DeJesus interacted with officers just before his disappearance. But three members of the missing Haledon mans family said IA investigators and other witnesses have told them DeJesus was taken by two cops from a Union Avenue bodega on the night of Feb. 2 after he was involved in a disturbance with a woman shopping in the store. Eric De Jesus speaks to the media at the intersection of Preakness Ave. and Front St. The Paterson intersection was the last location where his brother, Felix Joel De Jesus was seen. Members of the Paterson Police Department were the last known people to see Felix on February 2. Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Family members said witnesses at the bodega told them the officers handcuffed DeJesus and took him away in their patrol vehicle. Family members said IA investigators told them the officers dropped off DeJesus several blocks away, at the corner of Preakness Avenue and Front Street, near the Passaic River. Story continues Why didnt they take him someplace safe? said DeJesus sister-in-law, Crystal Garcia, during Tuesdays council meeting. Five sources familiar with the details of the case including three law enforcement officers confirmed the familys account. Foy has said DeJesus was not arrested or charged with any crime on Feb. 2. City officials cited the New Jersey attorney generals policy on IA confidentiality in partially denying Paterson Press request for body camera video from the night in question. The attorney general's policy cited by the city listed four situations in which IA investigation records could be released. Under two of those scenarios, the policy said, accused officers could get IA records if the officers were facing administrative charges or the target of a lawsuit. Otherwise, the policy said, IA records would be released only at the request of the county prosecutor or attorney general, or under a court order. In response to Paterson Press records request, the city said it had six video recordings for Feb. 2 during the hours when DeJesus family says he encountered the cops. The recordings were from cameras worn by two officers assigned to unit No. 111, which multiple police sources said was the patrol vehicle that responded to the call about the disturbance at the bodega. The city released two videos one from each cops body camera involving a separate and unrelated call for police assistance on that same night. The city said two other videos could not be made public because they involved a juvenile case and that the fifth and sixth videos would not be released because of the IA probe. Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Missing Haledon NJ man: Paterson wont release police bodycam footage People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on March 5, 2022. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images North Korea has recently been testing a new intercontinental missile system, the US said. Pyongyang is likely preparing for a full-range test in the future, a Pentagon official said. North Korea claims that the test-firings were for cameras it wants to install on a satellite. The Pentagon warned on Thursday that North Korea recently launched two ballistic missiles with the potential to strike other continents, and that Pyongyang is likely planning a full-range test soon. North Korea carried out the two launches on February 26 and March 4, said Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby. He said the test firings were "potentially disguised as a space launch" by North Korea, recalling the ruling party's claims on February 28 that the reported launches were to test cameras for a spy satellite. He added that the weapons system was initially unveiled to the North Korean public during the ruling party's 75th anniversary parade on October 10, 2021. Multiple media outlets, including Reuters, CNN, and The Financial Times, cited a senior Biden administration official on Thursday saying the new system is a "serious escalation" in North Korea's military capabilities. Kirby said the tests "did not demonstrate ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile] range" but were likely conducted in preparation for a full-range test in the future. The new missiles were found to be larger than the ones launched by North Korea in 2017, when it tested a system said to have enough range to reach the US, The Associated Press reported, "The United States strongly condemns these launches, which are a brazen violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, needlessly raise tensions, and risk destabilizing the security situation in the region," Kirby's statement read. The US, he added, would continue to be "committed to a diplomatic approach." However, Kirby noted the US had put reconnaissance teams and missile defense forces in the Indo-Pacific region on "enhanced readiness," the statement continued. Story continues "Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad," Kirby said in his Thursday statement. On Friday, the South Korean Ministry of Unification called for an "immediate halt of activities that create security instability and heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and within its territory," according to Korean news outlet YTN. North Korea's most recent launch marks the ninth time it has conducted a major weapons test since the start of the year, with a record number of launches in January, according to Reuters. Read the original article on Business Insider BAY COUNTY After raging for a week, incinerating thousands of acres and creating statewide chaos, there is no denying the Bertha Swamp Road Fire is enormous, but just how big is it? As of Friday morning, the Bay County, Florida Emergency Services Facebook page reported that the blaze covered 33,141 acres and was only 40% contained. This means it spans almost 52 square miles. For comparison, the cities of Lynn Haven and Panama City are about 54 square miles combined, according to information from Lynn Haven Mayor Jesse Nelson and Caitlin Lawrence, Panama City spokeswoman. "It's amazing to put into perspective how big an area that is," said Greg Brudnicki, mayor of Panama City. "It's nothing like we've ever had here before." 'A living, breathing beast': Bertha Swamp Road Fire sees minimal growth Wednesday night How to help the families: Magnolia Hills residents organize fundraiser for 2 families who lost homes to wildfires The Bertha Swamp Road Fire is one of three ongoing wildfires in Bay County that make up what the Florida Forest Service now refers to as the Chipola Complex. The other two are the Adkins Avenue Fire and the Star Avenue Fire both of which the Facebook post states were 95% contained Friday morning. The Adkins fire was 875 acres, while the Star Avenue fire was 197 acres. In Bay County, only two homes were destroyed by the fires. About a dozen more were damaged. "What's really amazing is the fact that we only had two houses totally burned down, and houses all around them (were kept safe)," Brudnicki said. The largest active wildfire in Florida, the Bertha Swamp Road Fire is so large that it threatens Bay, Calhoun and Gulf counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to reimburse both Bay and Calhoun counties, through a fire management mitigation grant, up to 75% of the costs of fighting the fire. Robert Carroll, Bay County Commission chairman, agreed that the size of the Bertha Swamp Road Fire is astonishing, noting that it was "one of the largest fires" that most local first responders have ever seen. "To think that it encompasses those two cities combined is staggering," Carroll said. "If you take (U.S.) 77, it basically dead-ends in The Cove ... and goes all the way north until you get to the Dupont Bridge. ... That's a lot of area." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bertha Swamp Fire the size of Panama City, Lynn Haven in Bay County Related story: Body of child found in Merced residence during search for missing girl, police say Merced police are looking for a missing 8-year-old girl who was last seen in the area about a month ago. Merced police were notified Sophia Mason was missing by officers from the Hayward Police Department. Both agencies are conducting an investigation to find the child. She has family in Hayward, and they are the ones who originally reported her missing, said Merced police Detective Sgt. Kalvin Haygood. Mason was last seen on Feb. 10 in the Merced area.. The Hayward Police Department was able to take the mother of the child into custody, and the child was not with her, Haygood said. According to Det. Haygood, the mother is still in the custody of Hayward police. Its not clear if the girl is with another family member or if the mother is trying to keep the girl from being taken by police. She might be trying to conceal the child from law enforcement to prevent the child from being taken into custody by child protective services, Haygood said. Haygood added that child and her mother live in Merced with the mothers boyfriend. Police also contacted the boyfriend, who also didnt know where the girl is. Mason and her mother are known to frequent Hayward and cities in Southern California. Anyone with information about the missing girl can call Detective John Pinnegar at 209-388-7712 or write to pinnegarj@cityofmerced.org. Tips are confidential and you can remain anonymous. DARWIN, Australia (AP) A police officer was acquitted on Friday on all charges after shooting dead an Indigenous Australian in a case that was highlighted during protests following American George Floyds murder in custody. Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, denied murdering Kumanjayi Walker after the 19-year-old stabbed the police officer with scissors on Nov. 9, 2019. Rolfe also pleaded not guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to the two alternative charges of manslaughter and violent act causing death. A jury on Friday also acquitted him of those offences. Rolfe could have become the first Australian police officer to be convicted of killing a member of Australias Indigenous population, who are overrepresented in the country's prisons. Outside court, Rolfe said the jury had made the right decision. A lot of people are hurting today Kumanjayis family and his community and it did not need to get to this point, so I am going to leave this space for them, Rolfe said. Walker died after Rolfe shot him three times in the Outback Indigenous community of Yuendumu. Walkers death was protested at rallies around Australia that followed the death in police custody of Floyd, a Black man, in the United States in May 2020. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for Floyds murder. A disoriented driver spooked by an ordinary traffic detail, ran a red light, slammed into several cars and threatened a woman with a pair of kitchen knives before being shot and killed Friday morning by a Miami-Dade police officer, police said. The shooting death was at least the fourth time a local police officer has fired his weapon in less than a month. The first two deadly shootings were by Miami police. A Miami Gardens officer got into a shootout on a busy roadway Wednesday, but no one was injured. Fridays fatal encounter in Miami Lakes was unprompted, police said. The man was never approached by an officer or told to pull over and police never turned on sirens or chased him before he was gunned down in a strip mall parking lot. There was a pedestrian within a few feet [of the suspect] and the sergeant tried to de-escalate the situation, said Interim Miami-Dade Police Director George Perez, at the scene. From what Ive seen, there was not a pursuit and there was never a chance to pull him over. Police had not named the dead man by early Friday afternoon. They said he was a Latin male in his 30s. They also did not name the police officer. Perez said the officer was a 20-year veteran who was supervising the motorcycle patrol units seat-belt detail Friday morning. A law enforcement source familiar with the incident said the sergeant who fired his weapon was shot in the back more than a decade ago during a call to service in Cutler Ridge. Several law enforcement sources later identified the officer as Sgt. Chad Murphy. In 2003, Murphy was shot in the back by a homeowner who claimed he saw two silhouetted figures in his yard, one of them holding a shotgun, before he fired. The officers, who returned fire but missed targets, said they were searching for a vandal. Murphy was injured, but survived because he wore a protective vest. Murphy, who was not injured during Fridays encounter in Miami Lakes, will be placed on administrative leave for a few days and offered counseling. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting. Story continues Police said Fridays incident started during a very typical morning rush hour seatbelt traffic initiative on Northwest 67th Avenue near the Palmetto Expressway. During the enforcement, motorcycle cops on the sidewalk walk out to the street and observe through windows if drivers were wearing seatbelts. If not, an officer knocks on a window and gives a warning or in some cases asks a driver to pull over to ticket them, Perez said. But, the interim director said, a man driving a Honda shot by police sped off in traffic, crashing into cars and running a red light long before an officer even had a chance to peek into his window. It happened so quickly, Perez said, that the only thing the officer at the scene could do was radio ahead about the driver who had sped off. Not long after, Murphy spotted him turning west onto Northwest 186th Street and tried following him. Perez said he never got on his loudspeaker or turned on his lights or siren. But before Murphy could stop him, the driver turned into a strip mall, hit another vehicle and was headed towards a Dennys when he hit a pole and came to a stop. Police said they identified at least five cars he hit. By then, Perez said, Murphy had pulled up on his motorcycle and the man had jumped out of his Honda. Perez said Murphy was still on his bike when he reached for his gun after seeing the man with a pair of kitchen knives get too close to a woman in the parking lot. Then the officer fired, striking the man. It wasnt clear if Murphy even got off his motorcycle before firing. Perez said the sergeant tried to resuscitate the man before he was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Murphy, Perez said, was wearing a body camera that is set up to automatically turn on when his gun is taken from its holster. The mall where the shooting happened is not far from the Country Club of Miami and American Senior High, which was briefly placed on lockdown. Stedman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Murphy had no choice but to draw his weapon and discharge. No officer ever wants to take the life of somebody, said Stahl. The earlier police shootings: On Feb. 14, a Miami police officer killed 70-year-old Lazaro Vargas-Yera in his home during a domestic violence call and after he found the mans wife severely injured inside the home. Police said there was an exchange of gunfire. Another man was killed by Miami police on Tuesday afternoon just outside of Miami Northwestern Senior High after a traffic stop. Police said an officer spotted a weapon in the vehicle and the two men struggled before he was shot. On Wednesday, an officer and a group suspected of shooting two kids while they were in a classroom, got into a shootout on a busy Miami Gardens roadway. Miraculously, no one was injured. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine respectively with his French and Italian counterparts via video link. When meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Wang said the major consensus reached by Chinese, French and German leaders during a virtual summit held on Tuesday should be well implemented. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the summit. China's stance is consistent and clear, Wang said. "We would like to see an early ceasefire and cessation of fighting, which is also the common aspiration of the international community." Concerning the three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Wang said that although there remain obvious differences between the two sides, the differences will be reduced each time the two speak, the hope for peace will increase, and the goal of a ceasefire and cessation of fighting will be further advanced. China hopes that the international community will continue to encourage and support Russia-Ukraine negotiations and create the necessary environment and conditions for these negotiations, Wang said. Concerning the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Wang said that China has not only made great efforts to evacuate Chinese nationals, but has also played a positive role in evacuating citizens of other countries, especially students. "China has put forward a six-point proposal to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and is ready to step up communication with France and push the UN Security Council to reach a relevant consensus," he said. He noted that China always opposes long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. He said that in the case of weak global economic recovery, unlimited sanctions will undermine the stability of international industrial and supply chains, aggravate the food and energy crisis, and hurt people's livelihoods in all countries. For his part, Le Drian said that France supports efforts to promote peace and hopes that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will continue. France is ready to continue cooperation with China at the UN Security Council, and contribute to preventing a humanitarian crisis and promoting the diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine issue. During the meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Wang said that the Ukraine crisis is closely related to European security and stability, and China fully understands the great concern of European countries and is deeply grieved that the situation in Ukraine has reached its current state. "China is not a party involved, but as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will continue to make efforts to ease tensions and seek peace in our own way," he said. Wang stressed that behind the Ukraine crisis lies the issue of European security. He said European countries should conduct in-depth and comprehensive discussions with Russia on the basis of the agreement reached so far and in accordance with the principle of the indivisibility of security, so as to form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework and achieve lasting peace and stability in Europe. Di Maio said that Italy is paying close attention to China's six-point humanitarian proposal and stands ready to strengthen communication with China and make joint efforts to promote peace talks. The European security mechanism requires equal consultation among all parties to achieve win-win outcomes, the Italian foreign minister said. LAKELAND A day after his brother and sister were indicted on charges that could yield long prison sentences, Gabriel Pollock stood behind the counter at Rapture Guns and Knives in North Lakeland, relaxed and grinning. Pollock said he considers Olivia Pollock and Jonathan Pollock victims of politics after they were charged with assaulting law-enforcement offers during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, among other offenses. Olivia Pollock pleaded not guilty Thursday in a virtual court appearance, while authorities had not yet found and arrested Jonathan Pollock as of Friday afternoon. I do feel like it is a political move thats being perpetrated, which its sad, Gabriel Pollock said. Its not how the country should be run. Gabriel Pollack, owner of Rapture Guns and Knives in North Lakeland, talks about his brother and sister, Olivia and Jonathan Pollock, who are facing federal charges in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Olivia was arrested June 30. Jonathan has not been located and arrested yet, according to authorities. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia has also charged three associates Joshua Doolin, 22, of Lakeland; Joseph Hutchinson III, 25, of Lakeland; and Michael Perkins, 37, of Plant City. More: Brother and friend of arrested North Lakeland woman also charged with assaulting officers in Capitol riot More: North Lakeland woman is third Polk County resident charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot Olivia Pollock, 30, lives on a cluster of connected tracts in the Kathleen area owned by various relatives, some of whom have resided there for decades. When approached at the property Friday morning, she declined an interview request and asked a reporter and photographer to leave. Bumper stickers supporting former President Donald Trump could be seen on vehicles parked at the property. A permanent, homemade sign on one of the family lots also declared loyalty to Trump and proclaimed, We stand for freedom and our flag. We only kneel for Almighty God. A smaller sign, recently added, said: Free the Jan. 6 political prisoners. Gabriel Pollock, also 30 but not Olivias twin, owns the gun store, where he said Jonathan Pollock and Hutchinson previously worked. A sign outside the entrance announced, Yes, we are open. Story continues One of the Pollock homes that was raided by the FBI amid its investigation into the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Gabriel Pollock posted on Facebook on June 30 the day of Olivias arrest that the business was closed until further notice. We would appreciate prayers for my family at this time, the post read. Thank you for understanding. That post drew nearly 30 comments, most of them offering prayers or simply showing an emoji of clasped hands. The store reopened Wednesday, according to a subsequent post. Ive been hearing, from customers, overwhelming support for them, Gabriel Pollock said. The community is really stepping up to, you know, just share their love and support. With everything going on in the country, I think people are pretty fed up with the way the countrys being taken away from the people. More: Lakeland man arrested in connection to Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol More: Defense options limited for Lakeland woman accused in Jan. 6 riot More: PCSO: Polk deputy arrested, accused of making written threats related to U.S. Capitol riot A 53-page arrest affidavit unsealed Thursday describes in great detail the alleged actions of the Pollocks, Doolin, Hutchinson and Perkins outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The report, prepared by an FBI agent based in Lakeland, draws upon photos and videos from the riot, many taken from body cameras worn by law-enforcement officers. The affidavit alleges that the four men all assaulted officers while pushing their way toward the Capitol amid a mob of Trump supporters. The report says Olivia Pollock punched at one officer, elbowed another in the chest and tried to wrest a baton away from another. Is Gabriel Pollock worried about the fates of his brother and sister? A Trump campaign sign outside a property owned by members of the Pollack family on in North Lakeland has an addition: "Free the Jan. 6 Political Prisoners." Two members of the family have been charged with participating in violence on officers trying to protect the Capitol from rioters on Jan. 6. I heard the charges, you know, and I dont see how they can justify the theyre trying to get her for 11 years, he said. When did getting hit over the head with a baton justify 11 years in prison? So its excessive. The Ledger asked the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington for the potential sentences each of the five is facing but didnt get a response by Friday afternoon. Gabriel Pollock said he didnt know where Jonathan might be. He could be anywhere, he said. He was working a couple of jobs out of town, the last I heard. I dont know. A team led by FBI agents arrested Olivia Pollock at her familys home early on June 30. Gabriel Pollock condemned the methods the authorities used that day. North Lakeland siblings Olivia Pollock, left, and Jonathan Pollock, were charged with assaulting officers in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. When in America did you need three armored personnel carriers with 40 fully armored U.S. Marshals to arrest a young lady? he said. They had over 100 FBI agents and local community cops on my mom and dads property for one young lady. So, really, its sad that the FBI has resorted to these tactics. Its sickening that thats what the country has gone to, something that they could have done over the phone. The arrest affidavit makes it clear the FBI knew the family owned a gun store. Assault-style weapons were displayed on a wall behind the counter Friday morning. Andrea Aprea, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Tampa, said the agency doesnt provide details on specific tactics used in making arrests. As with any FBI investigation, all necessary safeguards are taken to ensure public safety, Aprea said by email. Gabriel Pollock said his sister Christiana Bull lives in a trailer on the family property with her three daughters, ages 1, 3 and 4. He said they were at home when the FBI raided the property on June 30. My sister called me; she thought everybody was dead, Pollock said. They threw 30-something flash bangs into my mom and dads house and the local buildings, so she woke up. They were throwing flash-bangs under her trailer, and she has three little girls. Pollock said FBI agents confiscated electronic devices, including Olivias cell phone. He said she almost missed her virtual court hearing Thursday because she couldnt be reached without her phone to get the details. Pollock said he was perplexed that an evidence report left at his parents home showed the agents also took his fathers Trump flag. I was like so you vote for the wrong person in this country now, and youre hauled off to jail, Pollock said. That is sad for a country that we promote freedom. Robert Bull, Christianas husband, also defended his relatives. He said Doolin is a cousin of Olivia and Jonathan Pollock. This image taken from video shot on Jan. 6 shows Jonathan Pollock of Lakeland attacking a police officer outside the U.S. Capitol, according to an FBI affidavit. Bull, 31, emphasized that the Pollocks are churchgoing people. "Im not sure if theyre (authorities), like, against Christian families or something or what the governments doing about it," he said, "but it is wrong because they definitely went about it thinking there was some type of armed and dangerous (resident), but no ones dangerous. That family, Ive been married into the family for seven years, and it is a very upstanding family in the North Lakeland community. I mean you could go around and you could probably talk to anybody around about that family, and they will have nothing but good things to say about the family. Bull expressed concern for the safety of Jonathan Pollock, who is being sought by authorities. He said a warrant listed him as armed and dangerous. Hes 22 years old and he is not extremely dangerous, and hes not armed, Bull said. So theyre literally putting a death sentence on him by putting that out and publicizing that to any new cops, to any cops, like, pretty much if you see him you better take him down because hes armed and extremely dangerous, which hes not. Some family members attend Kathleen Baptist Church, though Bull said Olivia and Jonathan do not attend regularly. A sign for the church was displayed Friday on the family property. Lead Pastor Mike Heath spoke of the Pollocks as a valued and influential part of the church family. Heath said Wednesday that he had seen cruel posts about the family on social media since reports of Olivia Pollocks arrest. To be honest, it is disappointing that they have been hurt the way theyve been hurt, Heath said. It bothers me, you know. Theres a lot of half truths and untruths and things that people are saying that they obviously dont know this family well to say, so it just disappointments me that people are making allegations and saying the hurtful things theyre saying when they dont even know the family well enough to know if the things theyre saying are grounded in truth at all. Heath said he hadnt seen the specific charges against the Kathleen residents, but he offered support for them. It would be like you, if you and your wife had gone to D.C. like they did, and going there to pray for the president and to pray for our country, and just because you were there, now youre caught up in all of this kind of stuff, he said. And if our government spent their time looking at our enemies as much as theyre looking at innocent people, we would be in a much stronger posture than we are right now. Jonathan Pollock stands at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, according to an arrest affidavit from an FBI agent. Heath said he isnt concerned that the churchs reputation could be tarnished by association with the Pollock family. I know what truth is, and thats where I like to stand, he said. So Im not worried about people saying disparaging things, if they feel so inclined. You and I were created by the same holy God, and when you stand for truth God protects and he defends and he clears and he provides. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Relatives defend Lakeland-area siblings accused in U.S. Capitol riot Mr Philp said that Russian claims that Ukrain was preparing to use chemical weapons were "totally untrue". - State Emergency Service of Ukrai/AFP via Getty Images/State Emergency Service of Ukrai/AFP via Getty Images Liz Truss has announced that 386 Russian politicians have been sanctioned following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. All are members of the Russian Duma, the lower house of the country's parliament, and voted to recognise the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as "independent". The UK has banned them from travelling to the UK, as well as from accessing assets held in Britain or doing business in the country. Ms Truss said: "We're targeting those complicit in Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions. "Together with our allies, we stand firmly beside our Ukrainian friends. We will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, defensive weapons and diplomatic work to isolate Russia internationally." It comes a day after a 15bn sanctions hit on oligarchs, including Roman Abramovich. 04:06 PM That's all for today Today the Foreign Secretary announced the latest in a round of sanctions as the UK continued to crack down on those close to the Putin regime and its war in Ukraine. The sanctions consisted of 386 members of the Russian Duma, of which Roman Abramovich was elected to in 1999, where he represented an impoverished region of the east of the country. All assets in the UK will now be frozen but Downing Street declined to say whether any of the members actually held any in Britain, making the effectiveness of the move unknown. Meanwhile Evgeny Lebedev, who was made a Lord in 2020, has reassured the public that he is not a spy, despite his father serving as a KGB agent. Story continues 03:44 PM How Russias weakened forces are reposturing for an assault on Kyiv Earlier today the Ministry of Defence shared its assessment that Russia is likely to "re-posture" its forces for a renewed offensive, but how will this work? After two weeks of war, what are the chances of Vladimir Putins exhausted troops laying siege to the Ukrainian capital? Our Defence and Security Editor, Dominic Nicholls, has the full story. Kyiv matters. It is the political, historic and cultural centre of Ukraine. It stands as a beacon of resistance against the Russian onslaught. Soldiers carry the coffin of a deceased soldier at a cemetery in Kyiv on Friday - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency 03:31 PM Cochrane's Scotland: Humiliated but undaunted, Douglas Ross poised to resume his attack on Boris Johnson But there are signs of temporary rapprochement between the two during the Ukraine crisis, writes Alan Cochrane: Its difficult not to have at least a scintilla of sympathy for Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, over backing down on his forthright demands for Boris Johnson to resign. However, I know quite a few Tories who reckon that any humiliation he now suffers is entirely self-inflicted because of his rush to demand the Prime Ministers head over Partygate. When the row over what Boris did or didnt say over which Downing Street party he did or didnt attend first erupted, I wrote that things would be difficult for Ross to carry on as leader of the Scottish party if Boris didnt resign. A clever sub-editor summed it up much better with a headline that stated that Ross would have to stick or twist. You can read the full piece here. Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross reacts during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images 03:18 PM Russia bans Instagram Instagram has been restricted in Russia after posts "containing calls to commit violent acts against citizens of the Russian Federation" were published, Russian authorities said. The state's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor will be restricting access following reports of calls for violence against Russians. 03:10 PM 'Having a Russian name doesn't mean I'm not a British citizen' Lord Lebedev has said that his treatment shouldn't decend into "Russiaphobia". "At the moment many with Russian roots are under scrutiny, including myself, he said. "I understand the reason for this as it is inevitable when events of such magnitude occur and the world order as we have known it in recent decades suddenly gets torn up. "I may have a Russian name but that makes me no less a committed or proud British citizen than anyone else in this country of ours. "Being Russian does not automatically make one an enemy of the state, and it is crucial we do not descend into Russiaphobia, like any other phobia, bigotry or discrimination." 03:05 PM UK and Ireland leaders to meet over the weekend Irish premier Micheal Martin is to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the weekend as part of a programme of events to mark St Patrick's Day. The leaders will discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine as well as the Northern Ireland Protocol. Following his trip to the UK, Mr Martin will travel to Washington DC where he will meet US president Joe Biden. 02:49 PM Former Home Secretary 'baffled' by current refugee delays Amber Rudd told Times Radio that she is "baffled as to why this has taken the Home Office so long to come in and support the Ukrainian refugees". She added that we need a "totally different" and "completely new" refugee and immigration scheme to react to the invasion of Ukraine, and that ultimately that on these sorts of decisions, "the Home Secretary can recommend but it is a Number 10 decision". 02:31 PM My father was a spy, but I'm not, says Lebedev Evgeny Lebedev has said he is "not some agent of Russia" after allegations surfaced that a security services assessment saying the newspaper owner posed a national security risk was withdrawn after Boris Johnson intervened. In a statement to his Evening Standard website, Lord Lebedev said "accusations are coming from credible media outfits who are posing incredible questions to me so I feel I have no option but to respond". "But I am not a security risk to this country, which I love. My father a long time ago was a foreign intelligence agent of the KGB, but I am not some agent of Russia," the crossbench peer wrote. 02:11 PM Ukraine-Russia lunchtime briefing Ukraine has accused Russian forces of hitting a psychiatric hospital near the eastern town of Izyum in another apparent attack on civilian targets. Here are the key developments this morning, and you can follow the latest news in our liveblog and listen to the latest episode of our daily Ukraine podcast. Ukraine has accused Russian forces of hitting a psychiatric hospital near the town of Izyum, but thankfully there were no casualties. President Vladimir Putin said there had been "certain positive shifts" in Moscow's talks with Ukraine on Friday, but provided no details. A Russian soldier stopped a Ukrainian priest from approaching the boobytrapped body of a mayor who had been killed by invading troops. A pregnant Ukrainian woman pulled from the rubble of a bombed Mariupol maternity hospital has given birth, acccording to reports. Watch the video below for some incredible moments of hope and survival captured on camera. - including one couple who did not let the invasion (and joining the army) get in the way of their wedding plans. 01:50 PM Charities call on Liz Truss to restore women and girls development budget A letter to the Foreign Secretary, signed by charities and NGOs, including Bond, has called on Ms Truss to restore cuts made to the aid budget for women and girls. It comes after the the International Development Select Committee revealed leaked foreign office doccuments which showed the department knew its previous cuts would harm women and girls the most. "The equalities impact assessment showed that reductions to VAWG, SRHR and funding for womens rights organisations would reduce services available to women and girls who are subject to sexual violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH) and rollback hard warn gains on gender equality and women and girls rights," it said. 01:31 PM 'We should have protected you' Delivering the final apology to victims of historical institutional abuse, Sinn Fein finance minister Conor Murphy said survivors had had to wait too long for an apology. "The apology we offer you is unconditional. We should have protected you and we did not. We are sorry. "You were harmed by those who should have cared for you. We are sorry. "You told the truth, yet you were not believed. We are sorry. "We are responsible. And we are so very, very sorry." 01:17 PM Everard vigil response 'eroded trust in police' In a statement following the ruling, the Mayor of London said he welcomes the High Court's judgment on the vigil. Mr Khan said: "The murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met officer damaged the confidence of Londoners in the police. In the wake of such a horrendous crime, the policing of the vigil in her memory eroded trust in the police further. "I was very clear with the Met at the time, that the scenes we saw at the vigil were unacceptable. I welcome today's judgment. 01:11 PM Ireland sends medical supplies to Ukraine The Republic of Ireland has sent 4,000 blood bags and 50,000 medical masks to Ukraine, as part of an effort to support the health service of the war-torn country. Four thousand blood bags were donated by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and sent to Ukraine on Monday from a supplier in Poland, while 10,000 bio-protection suits, as well as 50,000 medical-grade masks and more than 2,500 litres of disinfectant were dispatched today. 12:55 PM DUP minister apologises to victims failed by the state Michelle McIlveen, the DUP education minister, has said that victims of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland were failed by the state. "Delivering the first in a series of ministerial apologies to victims and survivors at Stormont, Ms McIlveen said: "Today, we say that we are sorry. "Whilst in the care of the state you were made vulnerable - we did not ensure all our residential homes were filled with love and safety." 12:46 PM First Insulate Britain protesters charged Seventy-four people have been charged in relation to Insulate Britain protests which blocked the M25 motorway and roads near the Port of Dover, Kent Police said. The incidents took place in September and October 2021. It is believed to be the first time criminal proceedings have been launched in relation to Insulate Britain activists. 12:40 PM Downing Street promises robust international response against chemical weapons Downing Street has warned of a "robust" response against Russia if the Kremlin uses chemical weapons in Ukraine. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "The international community has always responded robustly following the use of chemical weapons, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals and try and look into the future, but you've seen what the Prime Minister's said and we continue to call for Russia not to use chemical weapons." 12:25 PM Fewer than 1,500 visas issued Baroness Williams of Trafford, a Home Office minister, said 1,305 visas for Ukrainian refugees had been issued as of Thursday morning, adding to peers on Friday: "Those figures are going up rapidly and that is a good thing." Lord Ricketts, who served as the head of the diplomatic service and also as the UK national security adviser, earlier stressed the need for close UK-EU co-operation to keep citizens safe and to ensure there are effective arrangements for refugees to come to the UK. The independent crossbench peer told the House of Lords: "These objectives are intrinsically linked. That's been shown by the tensions with the French authorities over recent days over what I regard as wholly inadequate arrangements that have been made in and around Calais for the reception of desperate Ukrainian families. "Given the number of traumatised Ukrainian citizens who are now leaving the country, this flow of refugees is bound to continue for months, conceivably years, and we really do need to be working well with our EU partners if we're going to avoid damaging the climate of confidence, which is so important for good law enforcement and judicial co-operation." Ukrainian civilians accommodate in a dormitory after leaving Ukraine due to Russian attacks in Calais - Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency 12:01 PM Deafening vibrations mean Armys 5.5bn Ajax tanks may never get back on track Problems with the Armys vibrating Ajax tanks may never be resolved, a report from the Whitehall spending watchdog has warned, writes Dominic Nicholls, our Defence Editor: In a scathing report, the National Audit Office (NAO) said that the 5.5 billion project was flawed from the start, and that the Ministry of Defence failed to understand the scale and complexity of the work it was undertaking. It added that delays to the programme, which is already more than four years behind schedule, could now jeopardise plans to restructure the Army around a new generation of digitally enabled armoured fighting vehicles. Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: A series of failures have led to delays and unresolved safety issues that will have a significant impact on the Armys ability to use the vehicles. Ministers publicly acknowledged last year that the programme was in trouble. They included problems with excessive noise and vibration, which have left dozens of troops needing urgent hearing assessments after taking part in trials on the vehicles. You can read the full story here. The Ajax tanks are more than four years behind schedule and have been plagued with safety problems - Richard P Walton 11:43 AM Latest pictures from Ukraine The mother of a deceased Ukrainian soldier embraces the priest during the funeral at a cemetery in Kyiv - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Ukrainians who fled the war in their country take refuge in the main hall of an athletic complex in the Moldovan capital Kishinev - MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP A woman covers herself with a blanket near a damaged fire truck after shelling in Mariupol - AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka A Ukrainian soldier who gave the name Artur stands beside the burnt out Russian Tigr fighting vehicle that his unit say he first attacked - Scott Peterson/Getty Images 11:25 AM UK sanctions further Russians Liz Truss has sanctioned 386 members of the Russian Duma for their support for the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, the Foreign Office has said. Foreign Secretary said: "Were targeting those complicit in Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. "We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions. "Together with our allies, we stand firmly beside our Ukrainian friends. We will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, defensive weapons and diplomatic work to isolate Russia internationally." 11:21 AM Met considers appealing High Court decision Louisa Rolfe, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner said: "We are considering the judgment very carefully before deciding whether to appeal the court's decision. "Consideration of an appeal is in no way indicative that the Met do not consider such protections to be of the utmost importance." 11:13 AM Government to provide online lessons for refugees Online classroom Oak National will roll out translated versions of its lessons in Ukrainian and Russian for newly-arrived refugee pupils. Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary told the Association of School and College Leaders: "We have a team that's ready and already making plans for a capacity of 100,000 Ukrainian children that will come in to take places now." "To support schools' efforts, I asked the Oak National academy to roll out an auto-translate function across all 10,000 of its online lessons," he said. "And I can share with you today that they have delivered on this, meaning that Ukrainian children arriving in the United Kingdom can access education in their native language." 10:58 AM 'We were angry that women still weren't safe and we were tired of the burden to stay safe always weighing on our shoulders' In a statement outside the Royal Courts of Justice on behalf of the four women who organised the vigil, their solicitor Theodora Middleton said: "Today's judgment is a victory for women. "Last March, women's voices were silenced. Today's judgment conclusively shows that the police were wrong to silence us. "The decisions and actions by the Met Police in the run-up to the planned vigil for Sarah Everard last year were unlawful and the judgment sets a powerful precedent for protest rights. "We came together one year and one day ago to organise a vigil on Clapham Common because Sarah Everard went missing from our neighbourhood. We felt sad and afraid. "We were angry that women still weren't safe and we were tired of the burden to stay safe always weighing on our shoulders." 10:46 AM Breaking - Met breached rights of Everard vigil organisers The Metropolitan Police breached the rights of organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard with its handling of the planned event, High Court judges have ruled. More to follow. 10:43 AM Former MP to stand trial for embezzlement next month The trial of a former SNP MP accused of embezzling more than 25,000 from two pro-independence groups will start next month. Ex-MP Natalie McGarry did not appear at a short hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday where Sheriff Tom Hughes said her trial would begin on April 4. The 40-year-old has previously entered not guilty pleas to the charges she faces. McGarry is accused of misappropriating 21,000 for her own use in her role as treasurer of the Women for Independence group between April 26 2013 and November 30 2015. 10:35 AM Veterans minister calls on ex-service personnel not to join war in Ukraine Leo Docherty said: "We know that Russias illegal invasion has rightly brought out strong feelings of support for the Ukrainian people. "Veterans always step up in times of need, but they must channel their skills, experience and passion into legal routes of support for Ukraine and not engage in the conflict. "There are many ways that we all can support the people of Ukraine, including through donating money to charity." 10:20 AM Putins red (lipstick) army Led by Maria Zakharova, a steely group of media-savvy mouthpieces have become the presidents weapon of choice in his propaganda war, writes Ed Cumming: On Thursday, Europe and America woke up to perhaps the most distressing images to emerge from Russias invasion of Ukraine. Heavily pregnant women, and new mothers clutching babies, were escorted from the blackened ruins of a maternity hospital in Mariupol that had been destroyed by an airstrike, in which three people were killed. They were the sort of unforgettable photographs that can come to define a war. Proof, if it were needed, that Russia is waging war not on the army, but on Ukraine itself. One woman was apparently unmoved, however: Maria Zakharova, director of the information and press department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Putins inscrutable spokesman. Asked about the attack in a press briefing, she went on the offensive. This is information terrorism, she said, claiming that Ukrainian reports about the airstrike were fake. This followed her earlier claims that Ukraine was developing biological weapons. You can read his full piece here. Maria Zakharova is merely the most prominent soldier in the clone army that has taken on the job of lying for the Putin regime 10:06 AM Scottish tory leader defends decision to back Boris Douglas Ross has defended his decision to withdraw his demand for Boris Johnson to resign over the partygate saga. Mr Ross said "anything else just seems trivial" compared with the war in Ukraine, saying he would support the Government in its efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against the Russian invasion. 09:49 AM New record for fuel prices Fuel prices have hit a new record high. Figures from data firm Experian Catalist show the average cost of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Thursday was 161.1p, up from 159.6p on Wednesday. The average cost of a litre of diesel reached a new high of 170.1p on Thursday, up from 167.4p on Wednesday. 09:43 AM Labour has a woman problem, says Harriet Harman Harriet Harman, the former Labour deputy leader has said that the party has a "woman problem" because it has never elected a female leader. In an interview with Sky News she said: "We've certainly got a woman problem in terms of never having a woman leader, which is downright embarrassing," "Next time we do need a woman leader." Ms Harman was joined in parliament by her trade unionist husband in 2010 but on 7 January he died suddenly of a heart attack aged 73. - Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images 09:35 AM Refugee numbers continue to rise The UN has announced there are now 2.5 million refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees tweeted: "The number of refugees from Ukraine - tragically - has reached today 2.5 million. "We also estimate that about two million people are displaced inside Ukraine. "Millions forced to leave their homes by this senseless war." 09:23 AM Ukraine-Russia morning briefing Good morning. The British public are set to be asked to take in tens of thousands of refugees from Ukraine as the Russian invasion intensifies. On Thursday night, Russian forces were reported to have struck Lutsk military airfield in Volyn while residents of Kyiv were woken to the sound of air raid sirens. Here's what you missed overnight and you can follow the latest news in our liveblog and listen to the latest episode of our daily Ukraine podcast. The World Health Organisation has advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the country's public health laboratories to prevent "any potential spills". Civilian targets came under Russian shelling in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The council of the European Union on Thursday night "acknowledged the European aspirations" of Ukraine as EU leaders agreed to support the country's application to join the bloc. Ukrainian authorities have claimed that Russian forces bombed a nuclear research facility on Thursday night. A young girl who charmed the world after a video went viral of her performing the song Let It Go from Disneys Frozen in a bomb shelter has reportedly made it to safety. You can read all about the main developments from Ukraine here. 09:12 AM Spring Statement could give cost of living help On the cost of living crisis and what action the Government may be taking, Chris Philp told Times Radio: "Clearly, both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the business secretary are very carefully studying the implications of what is happening in Eastern Europe on cost of living. "I know the energy secretary is looking at what we can do to address any energy price issue. That work is underway, as we speak. And as you said, the Chancellor's Spring Statement is coming up shortly. He'll be looking at this very closely as well. I don't want to preempt the results of either of those two things." 08:56 AM Will the cabinet welcome refugees into their homes? When asked if he or any member of the cabinet would open their doors to refugees, Chris Philp would not comment. Once the details are published in the very near future everybody will have a look at that and see if their personal circumstances allow them to, and Im sure the British public will look at that," he told Sky News 08:38 AM Abramovich will not profit from Chelsea sale When asked if a suitable buyer can be found, whether the Government will let Chelsea be sold, Mr Philp said: Yes. As the licence conditions are written today, the sale would not be allowed. "However if a buyer emerged, then it would be open for that buyer or that football club to approach the Government and ask for the licence conditions to be varied in a way that would allow the sale to take place. No proposal would be accepted which saw the proceeds of any sale ending up in an unrestricted bank account owned by Abramovich, he cant benefit from the proceeds of any sale." 08:25 AM Government urged to cut VAT for fuel Simon Williams, fuel spokesman for the RAC, told BBC Radio 4 on Friday: "We know from our long-term research that eight in 10 drivers would struggle to be without their car, so having access to a car in a pandemic has also become more important, and so it's really quite tough now." "The cost of filling up is over 88 for petrol and 92 for diesel," he said, adding that the pandemic had already caused prices to rise. He said the RAC is calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to take action, adding: "One thing he could do is reduce VAT on petrol and diesel. "At the moment, just the VAT, which is of course called a tax on a tax, is bringing 26 pence per litre so, bringing that back to 15% would instantly cut it by about six pence per litre." 08:19 AM Some things are more important than football Chris Philp, the technology minister, said: "I just say respectfully to the Chelsea fans, I know he's done a lot for the club, but the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and what the Russian regime are doing to civilians - shelling maternity hospitals and shooting civilians who are fleeing down humanitarian corridors - and that is more important than football." 08:09 AM MoD update - Russia set to change tactics Sharing its daily update on the situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence said that "Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days. This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv." Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 11 March 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/9SIvyYxJxe #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/6agVnIHuZn Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 11, 2022 08:08 AM High gas prices are leading to vegetable shortages The National Farmers Union (NFU) has warned of a "very, very serious situation" as production of certain crops plummet due to rising gas prices. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, NFU president Minette Batters said:"I think the impact is being felt most harshly, if you like, in the protected crop sectors, so that's aubergines, peppers, cucumbers. "We're already seeing massive contraction because, for these businesses, really 50% of their costs are reliant on the price of gas." Ms Batters said farmers have been "talking about going from 80 million cucumbers to 35 million, 100 million peppers to 15 million. Minette Batters said: "It's a very, very serious situation in that sector and this situation isn't going to go away any time soon, so it's about planning the future." - PA /Andrew Matthews 07:52 AM If Russia came for Croydon, I'd be fighting in the streets The digital minister said that Ukrainian citizens and soldiers had every right to defend their homeland, to defend their cities and their towns, to defend their hospitals against this aggression by Russia. To be honest, if somebody was attacking Croydon, the place I represent, if somebody was bombing Croydon university hospital, I tell you what, I would be in the streets defending my hospital, Id be in the streets defending my town and my neighbours, as the Ukrainians are quite rightly doing. 07:46 AM Putin is lying to his own people, minister says Chris Philp said that Russia blocking social media websites was part of its disinformation campaign to lie to the Russian people, because if they realised the full extent of the atrocities being committed by Putin in their name, they would be extremely angry," he told Sky News. Thats why Putin is trying to hide that from his own population." 07:45 AM Good morning Chris Philp, the digital minister, is on the morning round speaking about Ukraine, following government sanctions on Roman Abramovich, and the opening up of a new route for refugees. Elsewhere in Westminster the House of Commons is not sitting, but the House of Lords is holding three debates on law enforcement after brexit, the electoral system, and digital technology. (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday some progress had been made in Moscow's talks with Ukraine, while the Kremlin said the conflict would end when the West took action to address Moscow concerns. At a Kremlin meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said Western sanctions would not hinder Russian development and that Russia would end up stronger. He then said Ukrainian negotiations were taking place practically every day. "There are certain positive shifts, negotiators on our side tell me," Putin said. "I will talk about all of this later." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukraine's Dmytro Kuleba met in Turkey on Thursday in the highest-level talks since the conflict began. No breakthrough was made. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands, displaced more than 2 million people, and raised fears of a wider confrontation between Russia and the United States. U.S. intelligence agents say Russia has been surprised by the strength of Ukrainian resistance and by the severity of the economic sanctions imposed by the West. Russia has so far shown no sign that it is changing course. Lukashenko told Putin that both of them were from Soviet generations which had endured sanctions and that the Soviet Union had developed well. "You are right," Putin said. The Soviet Union lived all the time under sanctions but it developed and made colossal achievements." 'LET'S HOPE' The Kremlin said on Friday the conflict in Ukraine would end when the West took action over Russia's repeatedly raised concerns about the killing of civilians in eastern Ukraine and NATO enlargement eastwards. "We need to find a resolution to these two questions. Russia formulated concrete demands to Ukraine to resolve those questions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Asked by reporters how the crisis could end, Peskov set out Russia's position and said he believed that Ukraine was discussing Moscow's demands with the United States and European Union countries. Story continues "Let's hope. That needs to be done. Then it will all end." Russian officials do not use the word "invasion" and say Western media have failed to report on what they cast as the "genocide" of Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine. The West has repeatedly dismissed such concerns. Putin says the "special military operation" in Ukraine is essential to ensure Russian security after the United States enlarged the membership of NATO up to Russia's borders and supported pro-Western leaders in Kyiv. Ukraine says it is fighting for its existence while the United States, and its European and Asian allies have condemned the Russian invasion. China has called for calm. (Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Angus MacSwan) DOHA, Qatar (AP) On the sidelines of a summit in Turkey, Qatar acted as host for a face-to-face meeting on Friday between the Taliban-appointed foreign minister and an American diplomat for Afghanistan, according to reports from Qatar. Qatars Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke first with U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West. Video footage released by Qatar shows the Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, walking into the room where West was with Sheikh Mohammed. The footage then shows the three men all sitting together. During the meeting, they reviewed the security and political developments in Afghanistan, and ways of coordination and cooperation to achieve stability for the Afghan people and avoid any humanitarian crisis, the Qatari statement said. The meeting in the city of in Antalya, Turkey, came during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, almost seven months after U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country in mid-August. (Getty Images) Rafael Nadal has called for players to be hit with tougher punishments if they are found to have violated conduct rules after Alexander Zverev was handed a suspended eight-week ban for his on-court outburst in Mexico last month. Zverev, the world number three, has been allowed to return the court and is set to play in the ATP Masters Series in Indian Wells this week, but any further incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct or verbal abuse will see the ban come into effect. The German was thrown out of the Mexico Open last month after he attacked the chair of umpire Alessandro Germani with his racket at the end of a doubles match but the ATPs ruling, which followed an investigation into the incident, was criticised. Serena Williams said she would probably be in jail if she had attacked an umpires chair in the manner of Zverev while Mats Wilander suggest a three to six month ban would have been appropriate. Speaking ahead of the tournament in Indian Wells, Nadal said that he was glad Zverev was hit with a lengthier punishment due to his relationship with the 23-year-old, but admitted stricter punishments were needed to protect the sport. Its so difficult to talk in my position because from one point of view, I have a good relationship with Sascha [Zverev], Nadal said. I like him and I practice with him very often. I wish him all the very best and he knows that he was wrong, honestly, and he recognised that very early. So thats a positive thing in his side, in my opinion. On the other hand if were not able to control and create a rule or a way to penalise this type of attitudes a little bit in a stronger way, then we as a players, we feel stronger and stronger all the time. We need to be a positive example, especially for the kids watching us. So from one side, I dont want a penalisation for Sascha because I like him and I have very good relationship with him. In the other hand Id like to see something harder for this kind of attitudes, not only him, I mean in general terms because this protects the sport and protects the referees. Zverev has since called the incident the worst moment of his life. It still is embarrassing for me now, the Tokyo Olympics gold medal winner said. Walking around the locker room, its not a nice feeling. But we all do mistakes. Im also a human being, and I can guarantee you I will never act this way again in my life. It was definitely the worst moment of my life. Manchester United will be happy to welcome back Raphael Varane (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire) Raphael Varane is set to make a welcome return on Saturday for a Manchester United team who have conceded twice as often in his absence. Having missed the 4-1 derby defeat to Manchester City following a positive coronavirus test, the France international has been back in training this week and is in line to be available against Tottenham. Here, the PA news agency looks at Uniteds defensive record and Varanes influence. Case against the defence Manchester Uniteds Bruno Fernandes, left, and Harry Maguire, right, look dejected after conceding against Burnley (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire) Uniteds backline has come under scrutiny throughout this season, with 38 goals conceded in the league and 10 games still remaining. On 21 occasions they have gone a full Premier League season without reaching that mark, including 10 years running from 2002-03 to 2011-12 while even in the 42-game seasons in the rebranded competitions first three years they conceded 31, 38 and 28. Their average of 1.36 goals conceded per league game has them on course to concede over 50 for only the second time in a Premier League season 51.6, so rounding up to 52 and coming in just short of 2018-19s nadir of 54. Sorely missed Varane missed the heavy defeats to City, Watford, Liverpool and Leicester and across all competitions this season, United have conceded almost twice as many goals without him on the field. In the 1,877 minutes Varane has played, including stoppage time, in all competitions United have conceded only 17 goals, equating to 0.82 per 90 minutes. That compares to 1.60 per 90 when he is absent, with 33 in 1,855 minutes. The former Real Madrid centre-back has been present for only five of their nine clean sheets but of the 27 times they have conceded zero or one goal, he has featured in 18 of those games. Strength of opposition is one mitigating factor. Varane has played in only one out of six meetings with Uniteds fellow members of the Premier Leagues big six- against Spurs in October and also missed games against West Ham, Atalanta and Villarreal. Nevertheless, Varanes influence is clear and captain Harry Maguire has come in for particular criticism this season while Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones have been unable to shore up a troublesome defence the latter pair are without a clean sheet in nine combined appearances. WEYMOUTH Teckla "Tillie" Hajjar really didn't want to leave this life. On Sept. 12, she danced at the wedding of her grandson Tony Hajjar and stayed up late. The next day, she began feeling unwell but rallied more than once. There was a hospital stay, weeks in a rehab center and in November, a return to the home she shared with her son, Philip, and daughter-in-law, Zako, for the past six years. As Tillie Hajjar turns 100 on Aug. 18, 2020, she is being celebrated as a community treasure in Weymouth where she and her family ran a Lebanese American restaurant and other businesses for 67 years. When the end was near, she needed time to say goodbye and give her blessings and advice on the benefits of wearing bright colors and being happy. Most importantly, she needed to connect with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins and friends. As the New Year came, many dropped by to share their favorite stories. When she died on March 1 at age 101, Zako said, "she went first-class to heaven," the journey eased by visions of her parents and others already there. Charm at 95:Tillie Hajjar on the job at age 95 Diminutive & Dynamic:Tillie Hajjar turns 100 with a joyful song This past Monday, it was time for others to remember her effervescent life and say goodbye at her wake at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home. Hajjar came to this country from Lebanon at age 17, embraced the American dream and started several businesses with her late husband, Antoon. She thrived on her connections with people for more than 101 years. "She was an institution, a gracious lady," said 74-year-old Meg Morton, of Braintree, who would see Hajjar every Sunday at St. Albert the Great Church in North Weymouth. "What a brave woman to have come to this country not speaking the language and to go on and establish several businesses." Friends and family come to the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in Weymouth on Monday March 7, 2022, to pay their respects to Tillie Hajjar who passed at age 101. Hajjar was well known in Weymouth as the matriarch of the Hajjar family who owned Hajjar's Restaurant. A Weymouth institution A teenage Hajjar arrived in Quincy in 1938, newly wed, homesick and speaking no English. She taught herself to speak the language when she became friendly with her neighbors in a Quincy apartment building. She and her late husband started out in the family ice business, followed by a series of enterprises, as they raised six sons. Three are still living. Story continues The Hajjar family had a bowling alley, then a roller skating rink Hajjar ran for 30 years, then a health club for 11 years and finally a restaurant for another 20. When it opened in 1996, it was called Hajjar's Lebanese Cuisine, then Hajjar's Restaurant and later Hajjar's Bar and Grille. Tillie Hajjar in 2000 when she was 80 and was cooking at Hajjar's Restaurant in Weymouth on a daily basis. Hajjar, who was 75, was the cook. She made kibbi, hummus, meat and spinach pies. She always dressed up and, after her kitchen work was done, she would emerge to socialize with the customers. Even when she worked long hours into her 80s, she took breaks to mingle and she loved to dance. Customers recall how she would come out on the dance floor and exhort the men to get up and dance. She often said working kept her young and happy. Philip Hajjar with his mom, Tillie, in a family photo on view at a wake for Tillie Hajjar, at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in Weymouth on Monday, March 7, 2022.. Tillie, who passed at age 101, was well known in Weymouth as the matriarch of the Hajjar family who owned Hajjar's Restaurant. Remembering 'a wonderful lady' Over four hours this week, more than 300 people lined up to pay their respects. As they passed by Hajjar's open casket, some had a surprise. Hajjar's red hair was back, perfectly tinted in the same "copper penny" color she had used until the last two years. "They did a beautiful job and she would be so happy to see that," Zako said. Her husband, Philip, agreed. Delighting the customers: Hajjar makes the rounds at Hajjar's Bar and Grille Former air base: Federal government auctioning off 51 acres at Union Point against Weymouth mayor's wishes Among the first to arrive was a family who drove down from North Reading. Jack Sweeny, 64; his wife, Karen; their son, Daniel, 21; and Karen's mother, Patricia Sorensen, 87, of Quincy, shared fond memories. "I've known her for years," Sorensen said. "We met when my husband and I decided to go their restaurant one Sunday for breakfast. My husband just loved her." Friend and longtime customer, Patricia Sorensen, 87, of Quincy pays her respects at a wake for Tillie Hajjar on Monday March 7, 2022, at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in Weymouth. Hajjar who passed at age 101, was well known in Weymouth as the matriarch of the Hajjar family who owned Hajjar's Restaurant. "She was just fantastic, a wonderful lady, always on her feet," Jack Sweeney said. "Our kids called her 'Nana Hajjar.' " Daniel recalled how, as a child, he would watch in wonder as Hajjar swept from table to table at Hajjar's Restaurant on Route 53, sitting down with the customers at each one, "and for 20 minutes, not just a few. I don't think I've ever met anybody who loved life as much." A friend looks at a family photo at a wake for Tillie Hajjar, at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in Weymouth on Monday, March 7, 2022.. Tillie, who passed at age 101, was well known in Weymouth as the matriarch of the Hajjar family who owned Hajjar's Restaurant. On a wall inside the funeral home, near a slide show of photographs from Hajjar's life, she smiled down from a newly done portrait. The family asked Hajjar's great-granddaughter Juliana Amendolare, 18, of Rockland to create it in her honor. She used colored pencils, quicker than paints, to draw Hajjar with the phrase "Women of The Year." "She was always the most fabulous, sparkly, most friendliest woman," Amendolare said. "And she always said, 'If you love people, they will love you back,' and people always gave it back to her." Tillie Hajjar's great-granddaughter Juliana Amendolare, 18, of Rockland drew the colored pencil portrait behind her, on display at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in Weymouth, at a wake for Tillie, who passed March 1 at age 101. Tillie was well known in Weymouth as the matriarch of the Hajjar family who owned Hajjar's Restaurant and other businesses. Monday, March 7, 2022 "So many people knew who she was and she impacted so many." The portrait was done in the style of a magazine cover, she said, "because Hajjar she loved the attention and was proud of her (civic) awards. She is wearing rose-tinted lenses because she always had an optimistic and wonderful view of life. And her coffee cup is half full, because for her, the cup was never half empty." Hajjar's secret: A lifetime of community connections 'It's a good balance': A first look at Weymouth's Jackson Square zoning changes Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer. Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth's Tillie Hajjar, 101, loved people, food and dancing Flash Three reports newly published by different research teams from different countries have revealed more evidence that some zoonotic origins were behind the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which caused the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The studies were conducted by groups of scientists from the United States, Britain, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and also China. Though all reports are preprints and have not completed peer review at a journal, the conclusions have gained spotlight, given the researchers' background as renowned immunologists and virologists. Their major findings include that lineage A and lineage B of SARS-CoV-2, which caused the early outbreaks, are genetically too different from one another, thus the coronavirus must have evolved in non-human animals and the two lineages spread to humans separately. One report was released on Feb. 25 by researchers in China working with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other institutes after an analysis of over 1,000 samples collected from the environment and the animals within Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, in early 2020, while the other two were published on Feb. 26 by the U.S.-led international teams. The international teams studied the data and information collected by the World Health Organization and other authority channels, as well as the early features shown in the spreading of the virus. Michael Worobey, a virologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson and a co-author on the papers released by the international teams, told the Nature magazine that his thinking on the origins of COVID-19 has shifted. He once kept an open mind about whether the pandemic stemmed from a laboratory. As more evidence has come to light supporting a zoonotic origin story, it's extremely improbable that two distinct lineages of SARS-CoV-2 could have been derived from a laboratory, Worobey said. Kristian Andersen, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, and an author of the two reports by the international teams, also confirmed that the two preprints provide the strongest evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic began from "live animals" instead of laboratories. After posting on Twitter one report entitled "SARS-CoV-2 emergence very likely resulted from at least two zoonotic events," Andersen tweeted that the scientists need "more and better data" to approach the origin as there are still questions such as "What animals? Farmed or wild? Connectedness?" and "Future risk?" needed to be answered. In spite of some clamor hyping up lab-leak hypothesis, more and more studies have proved that the COVID-19 origin tracing is a serious issue needed to be dealt with through the collaboration of global scientists on basis of scientific attitude and principles. ASHEVILLE - Local restaurants and breweries are on a mission to feed Ukraine refugees and residents with the help of the Asheville community. Benevolent Spirits: WCK Feeds Ukrainians campaign, headed by Katie Button Restaurants, launched March 9 and will run through March 15. The fundraiser is benefiting the World Central Kitchen, an international organization that responds to global crises by going to the front lines and providing food to those in need. For this Benevolent Spirits fundraiser, we're partnering with World Central Kitchen. They are always one of the first organizations to the frontlines in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises, Mary Palles Byers, director of brand marketing for KBR, said via email. Currently, WCK is serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home, as well as those who remain in the country. We're happy to join forces with over two dozen Asheville establishments to support their efforts. A food truck distributes meals to Ukrainian refugees at the border with Poland Benevolent Spirits: WCK Feed Ukrainians is a way for local businesses and community members to offer support to Ukraine as the Russian invasion endures. Participating businesses will donate the proceeds from sales of a featured beverage to the organization that has been on the front lines since Russias initial attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24. Hot, nourishing meals are being served at border crossings to individuals who are fleeing the country, according to WCK. Distribution began at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in South Poland and has extended to eight border crossings and to Romania, Moldova and Hungary. Moscow Mule no more: Asheville restaurants respond to Russia-Ukraine war Also, WCK teams have partnered with Ukrainian restaurants to prepare meals for people who remain in Odessa, Lviv, and Kyiv. In 2017, KBR founded Benevolent Spirits to provide immediate assistance for those in need by assembling local restaurants, bars and breweries for the cause. More than $17,000 was reported to be raised for ASAPs Farmer Relief Fund after Tropical Storm Fred in 2017. Story continues For Benevolent Spirits: WCK Feeds Ukrainians, more than 25 local businesses have agreed to donate all the proceeds of one of their beverages garnered during the campaign to the WCK. Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse will donate proceeds from its Stand with Ukraine cocktail to the Benevolent Spirits campaign, benefiting World Central Kitchen, through March 15. Katie Button Restaurants Curate Bar de Tapas and La Bodega by Curate will donate proceeds of its Sangria Rojo. Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse has created the Stand with Ukraine cocktail, made with Gordons Gin, Becherovka and lemon and Tamayokucha-infused honey. Posana has selected The Empress, a cocktail made with Empress gin, Lillet Blanc, dry curacao, absinthe and lemon juice. Haywood Common is offering the Benevolent Bell cocktail made with vodka, bell pepper honey syrup, lemon and dandelion bitters. Chai Pani will donate sales of its Tamarind Margarita. And Buxton Hall BBQ has chosen its Easy Peasy as the featured cocktail for the cause. In addition, donations may be made directly to World Central Kitchen at wck.org/benevolentspirits. For more about WCKs relief efforts, visit wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine. Local restaurants participating in Benevolent Spirits: WCK Feeds Ukrainians Archetype Brewing Bhramari Brewing Company Biscuit Head Bouchon Burial Beer Co.- South Slope and Forestry Camp taprooms Buxton Hall BBQ Chai Pani Chestnut Copper Crown Curate Haywood Common Highland Brewing Isis Restaurant & Music Hall Karen Donatelli Bakery and Cafe Kornerstone Bistro La Bodega by Curate Limones Restaurant Packs Tavern Posana RendezVous Sunny Point Cafe The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village The Corner Kitchen The Lobster Trap Twisted Laurel - Downtown Asheville Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: How to support Ukraine refugees, residents at Asheville restaurants LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - The commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces said on Friday Russia had launched 328 cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities, towns and villages since the start of its invasion on Feb. 24. "This bloody crime of (Russian president) Putin's regime is a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law," General Valeriy Zaluzhny said in an online post. Russia has denied targeting civilians during what it calls its special operation in Ukraine. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Writing by Alessandra Prentice, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Russia has moved to ban Instagram, as well as designating Meta an extremist organisation. The new restrictions come shortly after Meta which owns Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook announced that it would be breaking with existing policy and allowing users to call for the death of Russian armed forces. The designation for the technology giant came from the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Russian Federation, according to a report from Interfax. In accordance with the Federal Law On Countering Extremist Activity, the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Russian Federation sent an application to the court to recognize Meta Platforms Inc. as an extremist organization and ban its activities in the territory of the Russian Federation, the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Russian Federation said today. WhatsApp will not be affected by measures against Meta, since it is a means of communication not posting information, a source told state-owned agency RIA Novosti, contradicting initial reports. The Russian government had already taken action against Facebook - banning it in the country - but Instagram and WhatsApp are much more popular services, especially for young people, and so had, until now, postponed action against those platforms. I mean hugely significant -- WhatsApp is the most popular messenger in Russia, it takes up nearly 60% of all messenger internet traffic. We are talking tens of millions of people having limited access to comms, and for a lot of them VPNs are not familiar tech. Mary Ilyushina (@maryilyushina) March 11, 2022 Reports also state that Meta is looking to walk back its recent policy change that would allow calls for violence against the Russian military. In light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, we made a temporary exception for those affected by war, to express sentiments toward invading armed forces such as death to the Russian invaders, Meta said in a statement. Story continues This change is primarily directed towards countries involved in the conflict and neighbouring European countries, but only with specific regard to the invasion. Meta said it would continue to remove hate speech directed at Russians in general, and from territories outside of the immediate conflict. Controversially, however, these temporary measures also allowed for praise of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, which has admitted to recruiting neo-Nazis and is currently being armed in the fight against Russia. For the time being, we are making a narrow exception for praise of the Azov Regiment strictly in the context of defending Ukraine, or in their role as part of the Ukraine National Guard. But we are continuing to ban all hate speech, hate symbolism, praise of violence, generic praise, support, or representation of the Azov Regiment, and any other content that violates our community standards, Meta told The Independent. To bypass national restrictions, Russian citizens have been using VPNs at an astonishing rate. Reports indicate that downloads for the top VPN software in Russia from an average of 16,000 per day to over 700,000 daily downloads since 24 February. The Independent has reached out to Meta and Roskomnadzor for more information. President Joe Biden on Friday called for a removal of normal trade relations with Russia, allowing for new tariffs on Russian imports in yet another effort to ratchet up sanctions over Moscows intensifying invasion of Ukraine. Biden said the move will be another crushing blow to Russias economy. "The free world is coming together to confront (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," he said. "Were going to continue to squeeze Putin." Biden's proposal, which would require congressional approval, would put Moscow's trade relationship with the U.S. in the same category as North Korea and Cuba. The country was the United States' 26th largest goods trading partner as of 2019, according to the U.S. Trade Representative, with nearly $6 billion in exports and about $22 billion in imports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Friday said the U.S. House will vote next week on a bill revoking normal trade relations with Russia. The change has support from both Democrats and Republicans. But the White House asked lawmakers earlier this week to wait until Biden could coordinate with allies. European Union and G7 allies are also expected to act as the toll on Ukrainians continues to mount. Among the most recent attacks is an airstrike on a maternity hospital that killed at least three people, including a child. Russian leaders have denied bombing the hospital. The moves came as Russia expanded its attacks on Ukrainian cities to include new targets in Western Ukraine, moving its convoy north of Kyiv and continuing its siege in Mariupol. The targets included airports and parts of Ukraine's military infrastructure. Fighting also intensified closer to Kyiv, with apartment buildings hit about 45 miles away in the town of Baryshivka and a school damaged by a missile strike in Dnipro. The crisis in Mariupol has sparked humanitarian concerns with the mayor of the southern city saying they are going through an "armageddon" with constant bombings, including in civilian areas. Story continues Mayor Vadym Boichenko said Russian forces are surrounding the city, trapping residents in the warzone without food or running water. Doctors Without Borders said their teams on the ground are seeing families without enough food, water and medicine living in crowded conditions as they hide from explosions in the area. "There is hardly any safe place and the sound of gunfire, shelling and aerial bombardment is ever present," Kate White, an emergency manager for the organization said. Mariupol officials said Friday that 1,582 people had been killed in the 12 days since the siege began. Quick links: Stay updated on Ukraine: Once a day, we'll email you the latest news. Sign up here. Tracking the latest: Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine Full coverage: Updates, analysis, commentary on Ukraine Latest developments: Interpol is restricting Russias ability to input information directly into the global police organizations vast network, deciding that communications must first be checked by the general secretariat in France. The French Foreign Ministry said Friday that the beefed-up surveillance measures follow multiple suspicions of attempted fraudulent use of the Interpol system in recent days, but it did not elaborate. Ukraine told the International Atomic Energy Agency that technicians have started repairing damaged power lines at the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant in an effort to restore power supplies, the U.N. nuclear agency said. YouTube announced it has started blocking access globally to channels associated with Russian state-funded media. The World Health Organization said Friday it verified 29 attacks on health care facilities, workers and ambulances in Ukraine, which have killed 12 people and injured 34. The U.N. human rights office confirmed 564 civilian fatalities and 982 civilian injuries in the conflict, which is likely an undercount, the office said. The U.K. on Friday expanded its economic sanctions against Russia, targeting the 386 Russian lawmakers who recognized two regions of eastern Ukraine as independent. Russias media regulator said Friday it was restricting access to Instagram. The regulator last week banned access to Facebook, which is owned by the same parent company, Meta. Congress passed $13.6 billion in humanitarian aid money for Ukraine and allies as part of a larger spending package that received bipartisan support in the Senate on Thursday. The U.N. refugee agency says more than 2.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country, over 1.4 million of them through Poland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Thursday that about 100,000 people have fled over the last two days through evacuation corridors. Ukrainian officials accuse Russian forces of kidnapping Melitopol mayor The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol - which was seized by Russian forces late last month - was abducted Friday, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "They have transitioned into a new stage of terror, in which they try to physically liquidate representatives of Ukraines lawful local authorities, Zelenskyy said in a video posted Friday. The mayor, Ivan Fedorov, was seen being led across a square by armed men in a video posted by Ukraine's presidential office on Telegram. The prosecutors office of the Luhansk Peoples Republic, a Moscow-backed rebel region in eastern Ukraine, said there was a case against Federov for "terrorist activities." "The fact of the abduction of the Mayor of Melitopol, along with hundreds of other facts of war crimes by Russian occupiers on the Ukrainian soil, are being carefully documented by law enforcement agencies. The perpetrators of this and other crimes will be brought to the strictest responsibility," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Facebook. State Department: Russia recruiting Syrian mercenaries shows Putin miscalculated The State Departments chief spokesman, Ned Price, said Friday that Russias reported efforts to recruit Syrian mercenaries and other foreign fighters to help with Moscows assault on Ukraine would be a dangerous escalation of the conflict and a sign of how flawed Russias military planning has been. If true, this would represent an even further escalation in Russia's unjustified, unprovoked, premeditated aggression against Ukraine, Price said at a press briefing. This also speaks, I think, to the fundamental miscalculations that Putin has made in deciding to invade Ukraine. A senior Defense Department official said Monday that Russia had started recruiting Syrian mercenaries to fight in Ukraine but did not give estimates on the scale of that effort. Price would not comment when asked if the U.S. had seen evidence that Syrians or other foreign fighters were heeding Russias call. That is not something I could speak to from here, Price said. Deirdre Shesgreen Ukraine officials: Russian shelling damaged cancer hospital Russian shelling in the southern city of Mykolaiv caused windows to blow out in a cancer hospital, according to Ukrainian officials. Several residential buildings were also damaged from the shelling, officials said, as Russian forces have attempted to circle the city. Maksim Beznosenko, head doctor at the cancer hospital, said there were no fatalities, but several hundred patients were inside the hospital at the time of the shelling. The news came two days after Russian forces bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol, killing three, including a child. Journalists walk along a deserted street of Mykolaiv on March 11. DOJ probing Russian oligarchs to cut off funding for Russia's 'war machine' The newly established enforcement unit, known as KleptoCapture, is poised to bring a raft of potential criminal charges against known aiders and abettors to Russian oligarchs, including money laundering and fraud charges to cut off funding to the Russian war machine, a senior Justice official said Friday. Outlining the task forces mission, the official said authorities will target actors who stick their heads in the sand, as the wealthy allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin attempt to sidestep a sweeping set of sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russias unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The facilitators, the official said, have often been key to erecting layers of sham corporations used to disguise the accumulation and movement of assets. The landscape of assets includes real estate, bank accounts, private aircraft and yachts. All of that is on the table, the official said. Kevin Johnson US says Russia spreading disinformation in UN Security Council meeting The United States' ambassador to the United Nations on Friday accused Russia of using the Security Council for "lying and spreading disinformation" about the use of chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield also said Russia may be planning a false-flag operation to "fabricate allegations about chemical or biological weapons to justify its own violent attacks against the Ukrainian people." Russia requested the U.N. Security Council meeting Friday after its claims of U.S. "military biological activities" in Ukraine, which U.S. and Ukrainian officials said were false accusations. The U.N.'s disarmament chief, Izumi Nakamitsu, also told the Security Council she was aware of the recent allegations but was not aware of any biological weapons programs. Biden stopping imports of Russian vodka, exports of US luxury goods to Russia Russians wont have access to high-end watches and luxury vehicles from the United States and Americans wont be able to buy caviar, diamonds and vodka imported from Russia under an executive order President Joe Biden signed Friday. Those are some of the additional sanctions Biden announced while backing congressional efforts to revoke normal trade relations with Russia, which would allow for new tariffs on Russian imports. Biden said the actions intended to squeeze the Russian economy over Moscows invasion of Ukraine are the latest steps we're taking, but they're not the last steps. The new actions include: Ending the exportation of luxury goods frequently purchased by Russian elites, covering a value of nearly $550 million in annual exports. Prohibiting the import of goods from signature sectors of Russias economy, including seafood, alcohol and diamonds. That will deny Russia more than $1 billion in export revenue, according to the White House. Working with the G7 to deny Russia the ability to borrow from leading multinational institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Expanding the list of elite Russians and their families being sanctioned to include executives of banks and Russian legislators. Allowing the U.S. to extend the previously announced ban on investments in Russian energy to include other sectors of the economy. Russian offensive targets western Ukraine Russian airstrikes Friday hit near airports in western Ukraine, including one at Lutsk airfield that left two Ukrainian servicemen dead and six people wounded, according to the head of the surrounding Volyn region, Yuriy Pohulyayko. Air raid alerts were also sent residents in Ivano-Frankivsk seeking shelters, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv said. The eastern city of Dnipro was also targeted for the first time. One person was killed as three strikes hit early Friday, Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Heraschenko said. The strikes came after Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian city Mariupol as civilians face increasingly dire conditions with scarce food, fuel, and electricity. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday the country had "reached a strategic turning point," but did not clarify what he meant. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there are certain positive developments in talks between the two countries. Harris: High gas prices are 'price to pay for democracy' Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday said the rise in inflation and gas prices are a price to pay for democracy, as recent energy sanctions on Russia are causing prices to rise globally. Gotta stand with your friends, Harris said when asked how long Americans should brace for the high prices. And as everybody knows, even in your personal life, being loyal to those friendships, based on common principles and values, sometimes it's difficult. Often it ain't easy, but that's what the friendship is about, based on shared values. President Joe Biden earlier this week announced a ban on U.S. import of all Russian energy products. Biden during remarks Tuesday said that while the move would deal a "powerful blow to Putin's war machine," Americans will likely see gas prices rising. Gas prices have reached all-time highs, with the national average at $4.33, according to AAA. Harris comments came after a bilateral meeting with Romania President Klaus Iohannis, where the two discussed concerns in the eastern flank over Russias war with Ukraine and the United States commitment to protecting NATO countries. During the press conference, Harris noted that the United States in recent weeks sent a 1,000 member striker squadron to stand in defense of our commitment to the NATO Alliance and the eastern flank. She said the new striker squadron brings the total force of 2,000 American troops in the region. Harris was also asked whether she believes that Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine, to which she responded: "I'll say it again, we are clear that any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime. Period." Downtown Kyiv hospital braces for carnage doctors fear will come As Russian troops accumulate on the outskirts of Kyiv, Dr. Vitaliy Krylyuk said an uneasy calm has settled at the city's largest downtown hospital. Doctors at the Kyiv Hospital of Emergency Medicine are tending to conventional injuries such as car crashes and gunshot wounds. But Krylyuk, who spoked with USA TODAY over a video call, fears things will soon worsen if Russian missiles target the city or enemy troops close on the heart of Ukraines capital. The biggest problem we need to think about is a mass casualty situation, said Krylyuk, who serves at the Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center of Emergency and Disaster Medicine, a division of Ukraines Ministry of Health. Weve never had a mass casualty situation. We know this theoretically, not practically. Emergency planners have sought to address gaps that would emerge if the number of people with life-threatening wounds outstripped the hospital's capacity to care for them. They sought to figure out which hospital entrance to direct ambulances to quickly get patients to hospital beds. Government planners have drafted documents on how to prioritize patients, ensure patients can breathe, secure blood transfusions or notify family members if a loved one is killed or wounded. Ken Alltucker Satellite photos show 40-mile Russian military convoy on the move The 40-mile Russian military convoy that had been stalled outside Kyiv amid reports of food and fuel shortages moved into the forest and towns, new satellite images showed. The line of vehicles, tanks and artillery was outside the Ukrainian capital but had been stalled for days before the new movement. The images from Maxar Technologies showed armored units near the Antonov Airport and vehicles in forests with towed howitzers in position to open fire, Maxar reported. Jack Watling, a research fellow at a British defense think-tank, the Royal United Services Institute, said it appeared the convoy was moving west around the city toward the south as Russian forces likely aim for a "siege rather than assault" in Kyiv. The British defense ministry said Russian troops were likely trying to "reset and re-posture" with new operations in Kyiv probable. Jewish orphanage evacuates 300 children in Ukraine On a night two weeks ago in southwest Ukraine, children inside a Jewish orphanage felt the ground shake and watched lights eerily flicker. Bombs were falling just a mile from their home, shattering their safe world and sending them fleeing into the darkness. The children, most in their pajamas and without shoes, rushed out of the orphanage and squeezed onto buses to make their way to the Moldova border as the Russian military launched its invasion of Ukraine. The journey, which eventually took the children to Romania, left them in tears and confusion: Where would they call home now? Read more. Gabriela Miranda State Department vows to hold Russians responsible for war crimes The United States has seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks by Russians on Ukrainian civilians that would qualify as a war crime under international law, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday. That could include the recent assault on the maternity and childrens hospital complex that killed 3 people as well as strikes on schools, residential buildings, public buses and ambulances, he said. Price said the U.S. will do everything possible to hold accountable every Russian political leader, military commander, and service member who participates in a war crime. Criminal prosecutions are one possibility, he added. The U.S. has the ability to conduct its own in-depth investigations and will support the appropriate international investigations, Price said. Maureen Groppe What to know about Brittney Griner, WNBA star detained in Russia News broke last week that WNBA star Brittney Griner had been detained by Russian authorities and was facing drug-smuggling charges. Like many WNBA stars, Griner has played overseas in the offseason to earn as much as four times the salary she gets playing for the Phoenix Mercury. She was returning to her team in Russia, UMMC Ekaterinburg, when she was allegedly found with vape cartridges in her carry-on luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. The Russian Customs Service said the cartridges contained oil derived from cannabis, which could lead to a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Friends, family and U.S. officials are trying to get Griner out of Russia, but diplomatic relations between the countries are said to be nearly non-existent since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is unknown if Griner's stature as a well-known international sports figure from the U.S. will help or hurt her situation. At a State Department press briefing on Friday, spokesman Ned Price did not directly answer a question about whether U.S. diplomats stationed in Moscow have had access to Griner. We've been working very diligently on this case, Price said, adding that U.S. officials have been in close touch with people around Griner and are providing all forms of appropriate support. Read more. Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY; Jenna Ortiz, Dana Scott, and Emily Horos, Arizona Republic Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: Biden seeks end of Russia's preferential trade status Instagram will soon be inaccessible in Russia, according to regulator Roskomnadzor. The latest ban is in response to Facebook "temporarily" changing its rules to allows for calls for violence against Russian soldiers and Vladimir Putin. Though Facebook has been restricted in the country for more than a week, the ban didnt extend to Instagram. State news agency TASS reported earlier that Russian lawmakers had called for that to change, though, in response to the company's updated policy. The state prosecutor also reportedly asked for Facebook-owner Meta to be labeled an "extremist organization" and the Russian government opened a criminal investigation into the company, according to CNBC. Now, the state regulator Roskomnadzor says that it will move to cut off access to the photo sharing app on March 14th. Messages are circulating on the Instagram social network encouraging and provoking violent acts against Russians, in connection with which the Russian Prosecutor General's Office demanded that Roskomnadzor restrict access to this social network, Roskomnadzor posted on its Telegram account. Roskomnadzor decided to complete the procedure for imposing restrictions on access to Instagram at 00:00 on March 14, providing users with an additional 48 hours of transition period. Facebook didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. A company spokesperson said Thursday that it had changed its rules around violent speech in order to allow for more forms of political expression. Responding to reports that the Russian government is considering designating Meta as an extremist organization for its policies in support of speech: pic.twitter.com/Y8sUbZDSML Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) March 11, 2022 In a statement, Meta's President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg didn't address the impending ban of Instagram, but did address the recent rule change, calling it "a temporary decision taken in extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances." Story continues "The fact is, if we applied our standard content policies without any adjustments we would now be removing content from ordinary Ukrainians expressing their resistance and fury at the invading military forces, which would rightly be viewed as unacceptable," Clegg wrote. "There is no change at all in our policies on hate speech as far as the Russian people are concerned." Update 3/11 6:50pm ET: Instagram's top executive, Adam Mosseri, also weighed in on the ban, calling it "wrong" to cut off 80 million users in the country. By Marc Frank VARADERO (Reuters) - When planeloads of Russian tourists left Cuba this week, their vacations interrupted by war in Ukraine, it marked a sad day in the resort town of Varadero, a visible sign the conflict will rattle the island nation's fragile economy. Varadero, a finger of white sand extending out into the blue Caribbean sea, has long been a magnet for Russians fleeing the northern winter. In 2021, with much of the world hunkered down amid the coronavirus pandemic, visitors from Russia soared to 40% of total arrivals in Cuba, according to government figures. Varadero's beaches, usually teeming with tourists at this time of year, are suddenly quiet, said Yanet Costafreda, who sells trinkets to tourists along the palm-fringed streets. "The Russians were the main market that we had in the last ... two years," Costafreda said in an interview. "I am worried because we see that the future is uncertain." At least 8,000 Russian holidaymakers scrambled last week to find flights home from Cuba after many Western nations closed airspace to Russian aircraft in solidarity with Ukraine. Most Russia-Cuba flights have been scrapped until further notice. Related video: Women in Cuba defy taboos with tattoos The predicament means Cuba will struggle to meet its goal of 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2022, explained Paolo Spadoni, an expert on the Cuban economy at Augusta University in Georgia. The island's communist-led government hopes for 4% growth in 2022, spurred primarily by a big jump in tourism. "Losing the Russian market in 2022 ... will have quite a significant negative effect for the Cuban economy, for the Cuban tourism industry in particular," Spadoni said. Russians had been expected to account for as many as 20% of foreign tourists in 2022, Spadoni said, but the total will fall far short of that target if the Ukraine conflict grinds on. Other tourism operators Reuters spoke with said they hoped an uptick in visitors from Canada and Europe would help take up the slack. Story continues The stumbling tourist industry, a vital source of foreign exchange in Cuba, has left Cuba with shortages of food and medicines to inputs for agriculture and industry. Tourism has already suffered for years after former U.S. President Donald Trump ended cruise ship dockings and restricted flights to the island. (Reporting by Marc Frank, Mario Fuentes and Nelson Gonzalez; Editing by Dave Sherwood and Richard Chang) Flash Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (1st L) meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (1st R) in the presence of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (C) in Antalya, Turkey, March 10, 2022. (Turkish Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, agreed on continuing negotiations over the conflict but failed to make progress in declaring a ceasefire during their meeting in Turkey on Thursday. The tripartite meeting, held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, in the presence of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, was the first high-level meeting between Moscow and Kiev since Russia's special military operation in Ukraine started on Feb. 24. Ready to continue negotiations Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Kuleba said that he is ready to meet with Lavrov again in the same format with Turkey as a mediator, whereas Lavrov said that Russia wants to continue talks with Ukraine within the current format in Belarus. "We had come here not to replace track of negotiations taking place in Belarus. We will not create a parallel track. If there is added value, we are ready to discuss it in different formats," Lavrov told reporters. "Everyone is well aware that President (Vladimir) Putin never refuses contacts. We only want these contacts to be organized not for their own sake, but in order to fix some specific agreements," Lavrov said. The Russian top diplomat said that the discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart were mostly focused on the "efforts of our friends in Turkey regarding issues related to the humanitarian field," referring to Ankara's mediation efforts. He also warned that the West was behaving dangerously in reaction to the situation in Ukraine, adding that Russia's military operation there was going on in accordance with the plan. At a separate press conference, Cavusoglu said that Turkey is ready to continue its "efforts for diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine" and has played a role of "facilitator" during the meeting, adding that both the Ukrainian and Russian sides are not opposed to further meetings in principle. Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held three rounds of peace talks in Belarus since last week, though the negotiations ended without a significant breakthrough. No deal on ceasefire Kuleba noted the failure to make progress in declaring a ceasefire. Turkey stressed that humanitarian corridors in Ukraine should be kept open without any obstacles, Cavusoglu said after the meeting. On Thursday, Ukraine continued evacuating civilians from conflict-torn cities and towns through seven humanitarian corridors in northern, north-central, eastern, and southern Ukraine, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported, citing Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. On Wednesday, more than 40,000 civilians were evacuated from Ukraine in one day. Meanwhile, Ukraine's state-run energy company Ukrenergo on Thursday also called for a ceasefire to allow repair teams to enter and restore power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. "We have everything ready to immediately repair the lines and resume power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that has been disconnected from power for more than one day. Just stop shelling and give a pass to our repair teams," Ukrenergo said in a statement on Facebook. Earlier on Thursday, the Belarusian news outlet BelTA said on Telegram that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed specialists to ensure power supply to the Chernobyl plant, though Ukrenergo later reported that Ukraine needs no assistance from Belarus in repairing the plant. Protest signs by the Russian embassy in London on February 27, 2022. Richard Baker Experts believe Putin's once-feared military may have overreached in Ukraine. Faced with trying to take large cities, Putin has only bad choices involving mass casualties. One expert said Russia probably can't capture Kyiv, but could still flatten it. This hasn't been the war Vladimir Putin hoped. Two weeks after Russia's authoritarian president ordered an invasion, Ukraine continues to hold its largest cities. Russian armored vehicles and tanks are being picked off by US-made missiles and Turkish drones, as demoralized Russian troops desert, or pillage supermarkets for food. Russia's until recently vaunted Aerospace Forces is, at best, MIA. Ukrainians are defiant. But there are growing signs that Europe's biggest land war since 1945 is entering a much more deadly phase as battle nears major cities. Russian forces appear to be regrouping amid an attempt to get a stranglehold on the country's capitol of Kyiv. Experts increasingly believe Putin's military, once regarded as among the world's most powerful, in fact lacks the troop strength and combat effectiveness to seize and control Kyiv, one of Europe's largest cities, let alone the entire country against the strong resistance Ukraine is mounting. That leaves Russia's strongman with fraught options: Retreat, suffer heavy losses in urban fighting, or resort to total destruction. "I'm highly skeptical of them actually being able to secure Kyiv," Jeffrey Edmonds, an expert on the Russian military with the Arlington, Va.-based research organization CNA, told Insider. "They can level it, which is what their preferred technique is. It remains to be seen if they try to actually control the city street by street or if they just level it in the hopes that the Ukrainians give up." The US estimates that 2,000 to 4,000 Russian troops have died so far roughly equal to the total number of US troops killed in its 20-year war in Afghanistan. Story continues If Russia continues its invasion, Putin faces the prospect of a deadly quagmire similar to the invasion of Afghanistan that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Or he risks inflicting mass casualties on the Ukrainians with whom he's pledged fraternity, calling them and Russians "one people." Russia's currency is cratering amid a global backlash, as its top officials show few signs of backing off. They insist the invasion of Ukraine on three sides is a "special military operation" and have banned Russian media from calling it a war. In this bind, the specter of European cities bombed beyond comprehension, clouds of chemical weapons or the blast of a tactical nuke, are no longer unthinkable, albeit unlikely. Ukraine destroyed Russian tanks that had bunched up on the outskirts of Kyiv, a battle captured by an overhead drone. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine 'They tried to win quickly and cheaply' After its months-long military build-up of over 160,000 troops, Russia's initial offensive was perplexing. Troops moved in small groups rather than in combat formations which could have effectively seized territory and defended themselves. Russian air support was non-existent, and little artillery was coordinated to aid their advance. Troops outran their own logistics support. Russia used main roads to advance and created its own miles-long traffic jam. This invasion force seemed focused on a lightning strike to take the country's largest cities and kill or capture its elected leader, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. From embattled Kyiv, Zelenskyy has rallied his nation and much of the world to his cause. "I don't think they can control the entire country, what I think they're trying to do is control certain key objectives like Kyiv and Kharkiv, Mariupol," Edmonds said in a Wednesday phone interview. "That seems to be the overarching plan here is to seize the center of gravity, which is Kyiv. Replace the political structure and have the rest of the resistance fall apart." But Russian stumbles and a resolute Ukrainian force parried that lightning strike. "The Russian failure is driven by the fact that they're attempting to conduct a full-scale invasion without the mil operation that it would require, thinking they can avoid most of the fighting," Michael Kofman, an Russian military expert also at CNA, said on Twitter after the first four days of war. In another tweet he said that "It seems they tried to win quickly and cheaply via 'thunder runs.'" That effort, which he called "shambolic," has continued as Russia's numerically superior force tries to encircle the capital. One drone video shows a gaggle of Russian tanks on an avenue on Kyiv's outskirts that get attacked. Rob Lee, a former Marine and senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said on Twitter that Russian troops displayed "very poor tactics" by inadvertently bunching so many tanks within range of Ukrainian indirect fire like tanks and artillery. Ben Wallace The ensuing battle of Kyiv is likely to reveal the Russian military's true colors. Russian soldiers who enter the capital will face an entrenched and well armed enemy without the air power they need. Tanks will be crippled, crews captured. Infantry and fighting vehicles will need to coordinate their movements in a way that have not done yet in this war if they hope to defeat ambushes, evade snipers and thwart petrol bombs from multiple directions in a dense cityscape like Kyiv. When asked about Russia's chances here, Edmonds, the military expert, recalled his days as a US Army tanker at the outset of the Iraq war. "Think about Iraq, we hardly used tanks at all. I drove around the city in a Humvee without doors in 2003, and then we went into up-armored things. The idea being, you flood the city. Tanks didn't have much of a role there." Fighting well in a city requires not only coordination, command and control, and air power, but also a lot of practice via the kind of urban war games that Russia hasn't routinely done. Edmonds said they mostly train to fight NATO, and in open spaces. And even a highly trained force still runs the risk of heavy casualties, a point made by another Western veteran closely following the conflict. "That's the big challenge for the Russians, coming into the city," Ben Wallace, the UK defense secretary who is a British Army veteran, said in an interview with "BBC Breakfast" that aired on March 2. "That's where everyone from civilians throwing Molotov cocktails to soldiers with anti-tank weapons can inflict very serious damage onto armed forces. "I was a former soldier we always accepted [that] the casualty rates in cities and urban areas was very, very high." Which brings us to Option B. Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on Feb. 26. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images 'Putin is not going to reverse anything' Experts use a one-word shorthand to describe it: Grozny. In 1999, Putin was the head of the FSB security agency, plucked from relative obscurity to lead Russia. He launched an offensive to recapture the breakaway region of Chechnya, whose fierce fighters had fought Russian forces to a standstill a few years before. Russia heavily outnumbered the Chechen fighters but largely chose to fire on the Chechen capital of Grozny rather than enter it and face these defenders. Russia pummeled the city with missiles, thermobaric weapons, bombs and artillery. One cruise missile struck a central market and killed 140, according to an account by Geoffrey York, a Globe and Mail correspondent who reported from Grozny. After four months, Russian forces captured the smoldering city and ended the siege. An estimated 25,000 civilians were killed. Years later, the UN called Grozny the most destroyed city on Earth. William Burns In Ukraine, the world has started to see elements of what could become total warfare. Russia struck a maternity hospital. Its troops shelled apartment buildings and residential areas. A family fleeing for safety was killed in a mortar strike. Evidence is mounting that Russia has moved the weaponry it needs to indiscriminately attack Kyiv, a city of almost three million before Russia's invasion. They include cluster bombs capable of maiming civilians across wide areas. There are also thermobaric warheads, useful at killing troops in fortified bunkers, which unleash blast waves that are longer and much more deadly than conventional explosives. CIA Director William Burns said Putin had planned to seize Kyiv within two days. But his forces were unable even to encircle it in two weeks, causing Burns to describe Russia as "largely ineffective" against the ferocity and heroism of Ukraine's defenders. "I think Putin is angry and frustrated right now," Burns told the House Select Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. "He's likely to double down and try to grind down the Ukrainian military with no regard for civilian casualties." But the biggest challenge, Burns continued, is that "he has no sustainable political endgame in the face of what is going to be fierce resistance from Ukrainians." There are even claims that Russia may resort to chemical weapons, as a pressing debate grows about whether Putin could eventually turn to a tactical nuclear weapon to force Ukrainians to submit. (When Insider brought up this possibility with Edmonds, he replied: "Non-zero chance, man.") In Kyiv, Putin's attackers are nearing a city intricately connected to its own culture. Kyiv spawned the thriving civilization of the Kievan Rus from which both modern Russian and Ukraine trace their lineage. Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral, with its distinctive 13 golden cupolas, is a UNESCO heritage site that's stood for over 1,000 years. The area that would become Moscow was still a forest while Kyiv was a bustling city, as the US embassy in Kyiv recently noted in a trolling tweet. But Putin, experts and officials alike worry, has put his chips all-in. "Putin is not going to reverse anything," Edmonds said. "He's going to keep throwing what he can at this in an attempt to get his political objectives, which I don't think he can get. "That's why this thing ends poorly." Read the original article on Business Insider A tank destroyed on Thursday during fighting near Kyiv. AP Photo/Felipe Dan Satellite photos show the 40-mile Russian convoy of vehicles, tanks, and artillery outside of Kyiv has split up and been redeployed, The Associated Press reports. The images were taken late Thursday morning by Maxar Technologies, and show armored units near the Antonov Airport and several vehicles in forests north of Kyiv. The convoy had been stalled for several days, with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speculating the delay was caused by "logistics and sustainment challenges" and "resistance from the Ukrainians," while others blamed cheap Chinese tires. But the Pentagon said Thursday that the column has moved recently, with the lead vehicles now about 9 miles from Kyiv's center, from 12 miles in previous days. In the last few days, Russian forces have been making little progress on the ground, Western officials said, but they are still able to bomb places like Mariupol from the air. Mariupol, a southern port city, is under siege, and in the last 10 days, at least 1,300 people have died there, Ukrainian officials said. Residents are without water and power, and local Red Cross official Sacha Volkov told AP that there isn't any food left in grocery stores or pharmacies, because hungry people broke in several days ago to take what was on the shelves. Volkov also said people are stealing gasoline from cars and getting vegetables from a black market. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday accused Russian forces of attacking civilians in an area of Mariupol that was supposed to have a humanitarian corridor. "They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it," Zelensky said in his nightly address. Russian leaders, he added, will "definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes." You may also like Kremlin publishes list of countries it has deemed 'unfriendly' toward Russia More Russian troops were killed in Ukraine in 2 weeks than U.S. troops in entire Iraq War, U.S. estimates Poland MiG-29 deal flew to the brink of a disastrous war A South Carolina Forestry Commission employee has been arrested on arson charges connected to a string of suspicious wildfires, according to the Berkeley County Sheriffs Department and the state Forestry Commission. Brad Chance, 52, of St. Stephen in Berkeley County, was arrested Thursday afternoon after a joint investigation by the department and the Forestry Commission. He is charged with three counts of willfully burning lands of another. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, or a maximum $5,000 fine. The burned lands were in northern Berkeley County near the Francis Marion National Forest. Chance is a forestry technician who worked for the agency in Berkeley and Charleston counties, the press release said. He has worked for the agency since February 2021. The Forestry Commission has suspended Chance without pay pending the investigation, the press release said. Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is seen during a press conference following the weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. The Senate passed a massive bill to fund the government and provide new Ukraine-related aid, sending the 2,741-page bill to President Biden's desk. Senators voted 68-31 on the bill, which includes $1.5 trillion in government funding and $13.6 billion in aid tied to Ukraine. The bill moved at lightning speed through Congress, passing the House less than 24 hours after it was unveiled early Wednesday morning. The Senate's vote comes less than two days after the bill was introduced. The Senate also passed by voice vote a days-long continuing resolution to buy time to get the massive legislation, which funds the government through the end of September, to Biden's desk, after which he's expected to sign it. "It's been a very productive and very bipartisan week in the Senate," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. "This bipartisan funding package is a significant and far-reaching win for the American people and I'm glad the Senate moved as quickly today as I hoped we would. To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle I say bravo, a job well done," Schumer added. All of the 31 "no" votes came from Republicans. But top GOP leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), backed the bill. Passage of the legislation comes after months of negotiations between the House and Senate Appropriations committees and congressional leaders. The 2022 fiscal year started on Oct. 1, 2021, but lawmakers averted a government shutdown by passing a stopgap measure hours before a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government and kicked the can two more times. The two-day sprint to pass the sprawling funding measure wasn't without drama. Senate conservatives fumed over being pushed to quickly vote on a bill that they didn't have time to read. "There are a lot of people in my conference who are very upset - you can include me in that number - that once again we're being asked to vote on legislation that we haven't had a reasonable opportunity to read. There are a lot of people upset - I'm among that number - that we can't seem to get amendments," said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). Story continues Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, acknowledged that "the process stinks." And senators haggled behind the scenes for much of Thursday as they tried to untangle GOP sticking points that could have slowed down the government funding and Ukraine aid. Because the Senate was so close to an end-of-day Friday deadline to avoid a government shutdown, they needed buy-in from all 100 senators to speed up passage of the sweeping bill as well as the short-term bill. That enabled any one senator to threaten to spark a temporary shutdown unless they got a vote on a priority. In the end, three GOP senators got amendment votes: Sen. Mike Lee (Utah), Mike Braun (Ind.) and Kennedy. Lee wanted to defund Biden administration vaccine mandates for medical workers, military personnel, federal employees and federal contractors. Braun wanted to strip out earmarks in the bill. Kennedy wanted to provide $2.5 billion in disaster relief for Louisiana. But any changes to the sweeping legislation would have required it to be passed a second time by the House, which has left town for the week. Each of the three amendment votes failed. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also got a procedural vote on a stand-alone resolution to block an arms sale to Egypt, which failed as well. Even as leadership appeared to have cleared agreements with Lee, Braun and Kennedy, the bill got stuck in limbo for roughly two hours amid a last-minute snag involving Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). Several senators and aides say Sullivan's sticking point was that he wanted a change made to the language of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization, which was included in the funding bill. "There had been some very last-minute edits that he had wanted to try to include," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) about Sullivan's concern with the VAWA language. Sullivan and a spokesman said that the hold up was tied to the GOP senator wanting to do his "due diligence" on the massive bill. In the end, as part of a deal with Sullivan, the Senate passed a bill from the senator on Thursday night creating a fishery advisory committee. "There were some things around that, those provisions, that he had concerns about and wanted," Thune said, referring to Sullivan's VAWA concerns. "But I think in the end he was able to get something that mattered to him," Thune added, describing it as a "win-win." Conservative senators also tried to separate the Ukraine aid into a stand-alone bill, with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) accusing Schumer of holding it "hostage" to the larger funding bill. "The Senate has done nothing to get the aid they so desperately need approved and on its way. Why? Because Sen. Chuck Schumer is holding it hostage ... to include in the omnibus," Scott said. But Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) blocked Scott's attempt to get a vote on a stand-alone Ukraine aid bill, arguing that it would slow down Ukraine aid funding. Because the House is out of town, the funding would be held up until they came back next week and voted on it. The deal on Ukraine funding includes roughly $6.5 billion for the Department of Defense, including more than $3 billion to bolster U.S. European Command and $3.5 billion to backfill equipment that the United States has sent to Ukraine. It also includes nearly $4 billion for the State Department, including more money for humanitarian assistance programs, and nearly $2.8 billion for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Leadership hoped that linking the Ukraine assistance to the government funding bill would help speed up the package's passage and guarantee broad bipartisan support. "I think that's going to add a sense of urgency ... there's no question about it," Thune said. The agreement also initially included $15 billion in coronavirus relief money, which would be paid for by repurposing previously passed COVID-19 money including aid for state and local governments. But the provision was dropped by House Democratic leaders after a revolt from their own members, who opposed taking away money from their states. Democrats are vowing to try to find a path forward for the funds, but a stand-alone bill to provide the coronavirus money wouldn't be able to get enough support among Senate Republicans to pass unless lawmakers can agree on how to pay for it. The White House had initially wanted it to be emergency money, meaning it wouldn't be paid for. "I think sometimes you know take a win. The left in the House is walking away from a 'yes,' " Thune said. Updated March 11 at 10:45 a.m. The U.S. Capitol building. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images The Senate on Thursday night passed a $1.5 trillion government funding bill, averting a shutdown that would have started Friday night. The bill, which funds the government through the end of September, passed with a vote of 68-31. It was approved by the House on Wednesday night, and is now on its way to President Biden's desk for his signature. The package includes $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, which will be used for the deployment of U.S. troops and equipment to Europe and to help refugees. "The Ukrainian people are fighting for their lives and fighting for the survival of their young democracy," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said before the vote. "Congress has a moral obligation to stand behind them as they resist the evils of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and his campaign of carnage." You may also like Kremlin publishes list of countries it has deemed 'unfriendly' toward Russia More Russian troops were killed in Ukraine in 2 weeks than U.S. troops in entire Iraq War, U.S. estimates Poland MiG-29 deal flew to the brink of a disastrous war Flash Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. The goal of the two-day summit, the first during France's six-month presidency of the European Union (EU), is to "show, and continue to construct and reinforce the unity of Europe," Macron said. "We need to prepare ourselves with all the scenarios," he emphasized, referring to Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine. Faced with rising fuel prices, Europe should not be dependent on Russia for gas, he said. It should also be able to supply its own markets, and defend itself independently. "France depends less than others on gas...but Europe depends on gas, and 40 percent is Russian gas," he said. Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that "this is a defining moment for Europe." At the summit, heads of state and government will discuss how to boost European defence capacities, she said. Europe also needs massive investment in renewables in order to remove its energy dependency, she added. During the talks, leaders are also expected to tackle issues related to the accession of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to the EU. Sidney Powell. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Smartmatic says it's continuing its legal claims against conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell. They were dismissed in New York on jurisdictional grounds, but Smartmatic has a backup lawsuit in Washington, DC. The judge overseeing the DC lawsuit allowed similar claims from Dominion to proceed to discovery. Smartmatic is still pursuing its legal claims against conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell, a company spokesperson told Insider, even after a judge threw out part of the company's lawsuit against the former lawyer for President Donald Trump. "We've already filed a lawsuit in DC and asked to stay the proceedings until the New York court ruled," a representative for Smartmatic told Insider. "We're either going to proceed in DC or appeal the New York decision." On Wednesday, New York State Supreme Court Judge David B. Cohen tossed out the portions of a wide-ranging, $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit that Smartmatic filed against Powell, fellow 2020 election conspiracy theorist Rudy Giuliani, Fox News, and several Fox News hosts. He denied the claims against Powell, in particular, on jurisdictional grounds, ruling that her false claims about Smartmatic rigging the election weren't sufficiently tied to the state of New York. (Cohen still upheld several of Smartmatic's claims against Giuliani and Fox News; Fox News says it plans to appeal the ruling.) But in November, Smartmatic filed a backup lawsuit against Powell in federal court in Washington, DC. In court filings, the company expressly told the judge it was a way to stake a claim against Powell in case the New York state judge dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds. The Smartmatic spokesperson said the company is still weighing whether to appeal the decision in New York or continue proceedings in DC. Dominion Voting Systems, a rival election technology company, has also filed its own lawsuit against Powell in federal court in DC. Like Smartmatic, it's suing Powell over her false conspiracy theories claiming the company manipulated votes in the 2020 presidential election in favor of now-President Joe Biden and at the expense of then-President Donald Trump. Powell made some of her claims in several failed lawsuits seeking to undo election results. Story continues In August, the judge overseeing Dominion's lawsuit rejected Powell's motion to dismiss it. In his ruling, he wrote that Powell may have fabricated sections of exhibits and that one "expert" she cited in her lawsuits was clearly a conspiracy theorist. "That expert has also publicly claimed that George Soros, President George H.W. Bush's father, the Muslim Brotherhood, and 'leftists' helped form the 'Deep State' in Nazi Germany in the 1930s which would have been a remarkable feat for Soros, who was born in 1930," he wrote. The same judge, Carl J. Nichols, was assigned to oversee Smartmatic's lawsuit. Powell didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Academy Award-nominee Will Smith talks with CBS News' Gayle King about his childhood, thoughts of suicide, forgiving his father, his film "King Richard," and more in a revealing, emotional interview for "CBS Sunday Morning," to be broadcast March 13 on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. Smith, 53, is a global superstar who sells millions of albums and toplines blockbuster films. In his book, "Will," Smith tells his life story, warts and all, including the impact on him of seeing his father beat his mother, when he was just 9 years old. "And I didn't do anything," Smith said. "But as a little boy, Will, what are you supposed to do?" King asked. "The child mind doesn't work like that," he replied. "I expected to be a superhero." Click on the video player to watch a preview clip: "My suffering helped me to become who I am."Global superstar Will Smith, nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "King Richard," sits down with "@CBSMornings" co-host @GayleKing to talk about his inspiring life's journey from suffering to success pic.twitter.com/OKhvuyB9dq CBS Sunday Morning (@CBSSunday) March 11, 2022 Smith told King, co-host of "CBS Mornings," that when his parents separated, he considered taking his own life. "That was the, the only time in my life that I considered suicide," he said. "And, you know it just was, it was my fault. You know, I don't know how kids do that in their mind, but you know, it was, it was somehow my fault." Smith said he made peace with his father when his dad was dying in 2016. "And you know, in that, in those last moments with my father when I was able to forgive my father I had a shocking realization that I was able to forgive myself my father dying started a new phase of my life," Smith said. Story continues He also says his suffering helped make him the man he is today: "I thank God for my suffering, you know? My suffering helped me to become who I am. My suffering helped me to build the life and the family and helped me to find the truth that I base my life on today." In a wide-ranging interview, Smith also talked with King about his work on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"; his Oscar-nominated film, "King Richard"; his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith; and what he'd like to do next. The Emmy Award-winning "Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app [beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET] and on Paramount+, and is available on cbs.com and cbsnews.com. Be sure to follow us at cbssundaymorning.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. For more info: "King Richard" now playing in theatres and available On Demand"Will" by Will Smith with Mark Manson (Penguin), in Hardcover, Large Print Trade Paperback, Spanish Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon and IndieboundFollow Will Smith on Twitter and Instagram Boy has uncombable hair syndrome What is NATO? Dancer shows you can learn something new at any age Mar. 11A Cobb grand jury has opened an investigation into purchasing decisions made by the Cobb County Board of Education, according to an attorney within the Cobb District Attorney's Office. In a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, school district administration in late 2020 recommended the purchase of ultraviolet sanitizing lights and "aqueous ozone" hand-sanitizing stations. The $12 million purchase was approved by the school board that December. In March 2021, the district canceled its contract with ProTek Life, the manufacturer of the ultraviolet lights, citing a malfunction at one of the schools in which they had been installed. Shortly thereafter, the district attorney's office said it was opening an "initial inquiry" into the school district's business practices. When reached Thursday afternoon, board members Randy Scamihorn and Leroy "Tre" Hutchins and board Chairman David Chastain said they were unaware of any grand jury investigation. "Grand jury proceedings are secret, and we are not privy to them. We respect the privacy and sanctity of the grand jury process and are mindful that tampering with that process from within or without can be considered a crime," district spokeswoman Nan Kiel said in an emailed statement Thursday. "At all times and as communicated to the District Attorney's office, Cobb County School District stands ready to provide any information they request and cooperate with any process." According to an attorney within the DA's office, who requested anonymity to speak about an ongoing investigation, the Cobb grand jury impaneled in January has "started the initial stages of an investigation" into purchasing decisions made by the school board. Those decisions include the purchase of ProTek's ultraviolet sanitizing lights and other purchases over $50,000, according to the source. Grand juries can conduct optional, civil investigations of certain government organizations, including school boards, according to a grand jury handbook prepared by the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia. An investigation does not mean the school board will ultimately be found to have committed any wrongdoing. Story continues A November report from Cognia, the school district's accreditor, claimed the district had no "consistent and formal process" for making purchasing decisions. Cognia CEO Mark Elgart has since disavowed that report, saying it was the flawed product of volunteer work. "Given the Team did not identify an instance in which the School District did not follow its own policies and procedures, it is unclear why the Team recommended an 'improvement priority'" in adherence to its spending policies, Elgart recently wrote in a letter to the school district. That letter now serves as the official report summarizing the findings from a "special review" Cognia conducted last year after receiving complaints from board Democrats and dozens of members in the Cobb community. Board members reached Thursday said they had seen news reports last year regarding the DA's investigation. But they were unaware of any investigations that may have been opened since. "I don't know anything since that article a year ago," Hutchins told the MDJ on Thursday. "Absolutely not," Scamihorn said when asked whether he had been told of a grand jury investigation. "I'm on the record of being open and welcoming of ... any agency that is appropriate to look into what we do. Because we're a government agency ourselves. So come on down." Saying he hadn't heard of an investigation either, Chastain said, whether an investigation had been opened or not, Cobb County School District is "still a great school system, with higher than average test scores, higher than average graduation rates and we're accredited." Mar. 10St. Andrew's Catholic School held a town hall meeting Tuesday night to inform those interested about the school's desire to expand. Reasons for the expansion include an increased need for classroom space to accommodate additional classes, a need for a storm shelter and a need for a music room that is ADA compliant and that all students may use. The school needs a storm shelter. The lack of space has led to nontraditional spaces being used to teach students which has led to distractions and noise during class time. The school's library and kitchen are also lacking and the classrooms need more electrical outlets. The school needs a more secure entrance as well, according to Principal Chris Whitehair. Whitehair went over the history of the school before talking about the reasons the school is looking to expand. Part of the reason the school would like to expand is the second preschool class it has added. "We've been able to add a four-year-old all-day preschool class, which really helps with funding because those parents have to pay daycare anyway," she said. "Having them here, we can offer that and charge comparable with what daycare would be. So that really helps with our funding and we want to keep that class going." Enrollment is high enough at the Catholic school for every grade level to have its own class. While the school had been combining first and second grade classes at one point in time due to enrollment, that is no longer the case. So there's a need for more space at the school. Fire code does not allow kindergarten classes to attend music classes in the actual music classroom which is in the basement. The music room is also not ADA compliant. If the expansion project takes place, the new music room will also double as a tornado shelter. The school also struggles with noise, interruptions, and privacy issues when trying to test students. "There's no way to test our kids in this building," Whitehair said. "We take them over to the parish hall sometimes for testing. As you can imagine, it's not ideal to teach children's speech up on the stage when there's things going on like recess in here. It's really loud and distracting." Story continues She spoke about the school's mission providing Catholic education to children. According to Whitehair, they are "very frugal" with a total operational cost per year of about $516,000 per year and a yearly cost per student of about $4,900. She compared this with operational costs for the Diocese of Salina with a total operational cost of $17,560,623 per year and a yearly cost of 7,507.85 per student. Maria Kutina of HTK Architects of Kansas City spoke during the town hall as well. "Education has changed drastically and continues to change," she said, implying the shape of the school needed to change with it. She showed attendees examples of what the school would like to add, including the music room/storm shelter and the preschool classrooms. Kutina went over several options for attendees. "This is all still being developed," she said. More detail on the project will be released when officials know more about the possible cost and budget for the expansion. This expansion is still in the planning stages. The school is currently doing a study, talking to families and parishioners about the project. Betty Johnson of HTK spoke about the feasibility study, which she said would likely take about two to four months to complete. Some of the costs of the expansion might be covered by donations. Hank Royer, who attended the meeting, said the parish was about to receive a large bequest from a recently deceased parishioner which he suggested could if the parish approved be used to help with the school's expansion. "Before the end of the month, we will be making a gift to St. Andrew's of $173,000 and that would cover one of the three, if the church parish will go along with that," he said. "You could do some of this stuff right now and then have your fundraising on the expansion, the way I'm looking at it. You've got the lighting already done, you said. So you could get some of this stuff so the kids don't have to wait until 2023 to have the benefits of it." The UF Health Jacksonville trauma center dates back nearly 40 years and needs more space to serve patients. The proposed 2022-23 state budget contains $80 million for building a new trauma center that would be named after Leon Haley Jr., who was CEO of the medical center until his death last July. The proposed state budget contains $80 million to build a new trauma center for UF Health Jacksonville that would be named in honor of the late Leon Haley Jr., who was CEO at the hospital until his death last summer in a watercraft accident. Russ Armistead, who came out of retirement to return as CEO of UF Health Jacksonville after Haley's death, called it a "watershed event" for the hospital. "We just as a safety net hospital have never had the financial resources, and frankly wouldnt have the resources, to build something like this," he said. "Its a huge deal for the city and the region." The final round of budget talks this week finalized adding the $80 million to the proposed 2022-23 budget that state lawmakers will vote on Monday. "That was one of Dr. Haley's dreams, to build a new place," said state Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach. Family pride: Mark Woods: For son of late UF Health CEO Leon Haley, a Super Bowl of tears and joy Dr. Leon L. Haley Jr: UF Health Jacksonville CEO Leon Haley killed in personal watercraft accident in South Florida More: UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley Jr. led area's COVID-19 response State Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast, and state Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, carried the requests through the Senate and House respectively. State Sen. Audrey Gibson D-Jacksonville, also submitted a request for the funding. Such member-sponsored projects typically end up being a few million dollars at the most, so the $80 million figure stands out as a large expenditure. Armistead recalled that in his first tour as CEO, he tried unsuccessfully to get $10 million from the state Legislature back in 2014 for a new trauma center. "It was a desperate need then, and the need has gotten worse," he said. He and Bean said Haley's legacy helped generate backing from lawmakers. Armistead said when he got a call that said the proposed budget would have $80 million in it, "My comment was, Dr. Haley continues to give to the community. Theres no other way to describe this." Story continues He was such an inspirational community leader, as well as the medical center leader," Armistead said ."There were just a lot of people who, when you mentioned the name Leon Haley, they got it. They knew who he was." The UF Health Jacksonville Leon L. Haley, Jr. M.D. Trauma Center will be built on the medical center's Eighth Street campus off Interstate 95 north of downtown. The hospital said in a statemen it will be a "catalyst for downtown renewal and will benefit the community for decades to come." "At almost 40 years old, this city-owned facility needs critical updates to keep pace with new technology and contemporary medicine," UF Health said in the statement. If the $80 million appropriation makes it through the vetting that Gov. Ron DeSantis gives the budget with his line-item veto pen, it would add an infusion of state dollars on top of an ongoing campaign by the city of Jacksonville to upgrade city-owned buildings at the medical center. The city has been making annual contributions through its budget. This year's support is $20 million, which is the third year in a five-year program that would total $115 million for building maintenance and upgrades. Armistead said the the current trauma center and emergency room are so heavily used that it's not possible to renovate that space. Instead, a new building will be constructed nearby. Armistead said the ballpark figure for the entire project is around $90 million, with about $80 million of it for a 65,000 square foot building and the remaining $10 million for equipment. The Level 1 designation for the trauma center puts UF Health Jacksonville in the ranks of hospitals able to provide the highest level of emergency care in life-and-death situations. The closest other Level 1 trauma centers are in Gainesville to the south and Savannah, Ga. to the north. The emergency department serves about 125,000 patients per year, according to a Senate fact sheet on the appropriations request. It draws patients from Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and other surrounding counties. Leon Haley Jr. served as CEO of UF Health Jacksonville until his death last summer. He worked closely with the city of Jacksonville for a multi-year program of maintenance and upgrades to the city-owned buildings at the Eighth Street campus. Bean said the regional impact gave the project an "extra boost" and lawmakers also wanted to honor Haley, who died last July in a watercraft accident in South Florida. In addition to the work Haley was doing for UF Health Jacksonville, Haley was a high-profile leader in Northeast Florida's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "I've never seen the delegation come together like they did on that project," Bean said of the trauma center. "I think you had a man in Dr. Haley whose presence was something special. The day before he died, he was still walking around vaccinating employees. He was just this incredible guy." Haley joined UF Health Jacksonville as dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville in January 2017. He was named the hospital's first Black chief executive officer the following year. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida Legislature backs $80 million for UF Health Jacksonville This is an excerpt from Please Like Me, BuzzFeed News newsletter about how influencers are battling for your attention. You can sign up here. Internet culture experts have often noted that the comment section of a TikTok video might be its greatest comedic asset. Its like the damp, dark underside of a post but instead of growing fungus, it grows trends. Because you cant share a video or photo in the comments of a TikTok, some of the most popular responses contain references to slang and other verbal memes. One such comment-driven TikTok trend is the suffix -ussy added to the end of a word. It first appeared on Gay Twitter at least five years ago and found new life in the comments of TikTok posts. In early March, MEL Magazine declared it peak -ussy. Though suffixes have been around since the dawn of the language, adding a slang suffix to the end of an existing word has become a trend in itself. Take the suffix -core, which has become something like an antidote to TikToks rapid introduction of weird little visual aesthetics. It comes from the French word coeur, meaning heart, but first appeared in English in the 1930s with hard core. Decades later, we got normcore. Now, we have cottagecore, goblincore, and 157 others approved by the Aesthetics Wiki. You might also have seen -pilled around, which branched off from the term redpilled a well-known concept from the Matrix movie franchise that was later co-opted by white supremacists, incels, and alt-right supporters of Donald Trump in 2016. Now, you can be pilled by anything that has affected your worldview, from Twilight-pilled to crypto-pilled. More vaguely, suffixes like -ification, -ify, and -ization are used to conceptualize things we dont have a name for yet. Even mainstream media sites use words like meme-ification and yassify and merch-ization. They denote that something is happening something involving the root of the word but there isn't a word to describe that something yet. Story continues In the 1970s, inspired by the ubiquity of Watergate, it became popular to slap -gate at the end of a word to describe an unfolding scandal. Suffixes such as -licious (bootylicious) and -worthy (cringeworthy, Instagram-worthy) also originated decades ago but have spread so widely even beyond American English and maintained such staying power that academics have studied their impact. These suffix trends, both old and new, are memorable and easy to use. You dont have to think too hard to create the meme or decipher it. But all these prevalent nonsense suffixes probably could not have caught on if it werent for social media. Sylvia Sierra, a linguist and assistant professor of communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University, told BuzzFeed News that this kind of creative language play is pervasive on the internet. Adding trendy suffixes to the ends of existing words is appealing for both content creators and audiences online, she said. It's definitely a pattern we easily recognize and appreciate, which makes it easy to play around with and for people to feel like they are in on the joke. Though many of the suffixes that fall under this trend arent brand new, theyve never been used like this before. Much of the joy in suffix-ify-ing a word now comes from the absurdity of smashing two words together that never would have met in organic conversation. Thats a welcome respite from the issues of appropriation and plagiarism that frequently sour TikToks ecosystem. In pursuit of virality, TikTok encourages imitation. Though a meme in its most basic form is just an internet inside joke remixed over and over again until it's unbearable, taking someone elses idea and repackaging it to your taste is especially encouraged on TikTok. Copy someones video format, use their sound, or mimic their dance moves and you might be rewarded with likes and views. This concept has made its way to language. Modern slang isnt just fixating on certain words and using them in a sentence as much as possible. Its altering the meaning of root words to meme the building blocks of language so that it becomes unique to our Very Online times. In other words, weve all been slang-pilled to use internet-core language. Its the meme-ification of English, and I will personally be putting my whole Kels-ussy into it. ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has advised its citizens to leave Russia, the foreign ministry said in a travel advisory on its website on Friday. "The (foreign ministry) recommends that Swiss nationals whose presence in Russia is not urgently required leave the country temporarily and by their own means. The decision to leave the country is an individual decision," it said. (Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Alex Richardson) Flash Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua] The Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday that U.S.-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine worked on establishing a mechanism "for the covert transmission of deadly pathogens." Experts of the Russian Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops found evidence that bio-materials taken in Ukraine were transferred to foreign countries, as instructed by the United States, the ministry said. A U.S. project, which was carried out in Ukraine, studied the transfer of pathogens "by wild birds migrating between Ukraine and Russia and other neighboring countries," the ministry said. "According to the documents, the U.S. side planned to organize work on pathogens of birds, bats and reptiles in Ukraine in 2022," the ministry said, adding that America was studying how they could further transfer the African swine fever and anthrax. Experiments with samples of coronaviruses found in bats were also carried out in biological laboratories that were created and funded in Ukraine, it added. The ministry said it will show another set of documents received from Ukrainian employees of the biological laboratories and present the results of assessment in the near future. On Tuesday, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland testified before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Ukraine, admitting "Ukraine has biological research facilities." "We are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach," she said. In 2020, the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, was one of the first major events to be canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Travel plans were upended, venues were shuttered and many businesses took a hit. Now, after going entirely virtual last year, festival organizers and local business owners say they are ready, and excited, to welcome thousands back to Austin for the event, which kicks off Friday in person for the first time in three years. There will also be an online component to the festival, making it a hybrid event. People are anxious, but peoples expectations are healthy, said Stephen Sternschein, managing partner at Heard Presents, an event promotion and marketing company based in Austin. Everyone is just pent up, ready to let their hair down and figure out how to have more fun. In 2019 alone, the event which features film screenings, concerts and panels with appearances from celebrities, business leaders and innovators drew more than 417,000 visitors from 106 countries, according to reports released by SXSW. It raked in a record-breaking $355.9 million for the citys economy. This year, while the total number of visitors may end up being lower, festival organizers still expect large crowds. Its hard to predict what the final numbers will be, but one way or another, it is going to be a healthy turnout, Hugh Forrest, SXSW chief programming officer, said. There will be a lot of people at various panel sessions, presentations, films and music festivals. 'Busiest week of the year' With thousands of attendees each year, SXSW, also known as South By, is usually considered the most profitable event for Austins hospitality industry. Before the pandemic, South By accounted for up to 50 percent of annual income for venues, bars and restaurants, said Cody Cowan, executive director of Red River Cultural District, a nonprofit organization that represents a cultural hot spot neighborhood in the heart of the city. Story continues Jeff Mettler, partner of popular restaurant Home Slice Pizza, described the conference as "the busiest week of the year for Austin." On an average week, Home Slice sells about 2,500 pizza pies and more than 4,000 individual slices. During SXSW week, the local pizza joint typically produces almost double that amount, churning out over 3,500 pies and 10,000 slices. But production has not ramped up to that scale since 2019, when SXSW was last held in person, Mettler said. "The past two years were devastating for us, both in revenue and in morale, and for every business in the hospitality industry," he said. Mettler is hopeful that 2022 will finally see numbers that match the way it was before the pandemic. "We're going to have all hands on deck," Mettler said. "We're increasing our orders of supplies, from beverages to dough to paper goods, and we're doing it more proactively than in the past because of supply chain issues." "Everyones feeling optimistic and excited to have that level of human interaction and connection once again because thats who we are it's an essential part of our business," he said. Preparing for people, parties and profit This year's SXSW won't be without some changes, of course, including added safety measures made in the aftermath of the pandemic. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Covid-19 levels have dropped significantly enough that more than 90 percent of people in the U.S. can go without masks. SXSW is requiring attendees to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test in order to enter the event and to maintain credentials. A testing center will also be available at the Austin Convention Center. "We are putting the finishing touches on the first in-person SXSW in three years," a March 3 tweet from the festival read. "Its almost surreal that its actually happening, and its no lie that we cant wait to see you all." Local businesses are also preparing for an influx of visitors. Sternschein's business operates three music venues Empire Control Room, Empire Garage and The Parish which are typically packed with thousands of people during SXSW. They bring in 30 percent of the company's annual income, Sternschein said. This year, he said he expects to match those numbers, if not exceed them, because the pandemic forced other venues to close down creating a shortage of rental spaces and driving demand up for his businesses. "Most of us can agree that more money is better, and everyone wants the biggest party," Sternschein said. "But the takeaway is that we're getting together to have a party, to hang out and to me, that fruit is so much sweeter." Meanwhile, when asked how many pies and slices he expects to make during this year's event, Mettler said production numbers are looking closer to those in 2019. "We're preparing for the best, and we're preparing to welcome people both old and new to walk through our doors," he said. "It's going to be a lot of pizza." By Nate Raymond (Reuters) -Texas's high court on Friday effectively ended a challenge by clinics to a state law that banned most abortions in Texas by ruling that state officials including those tasked with doctor licensing have no role in enforcing the law. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that only private citizens, not state officials, can enforce the law known as SB8 by suing anyone who performs or assists a woman in obtaining an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. The conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court in December allowed the case to partly move forward against only those same licensing officials and not others, while leaving the ban in place. Suing officials would have allowed the clinics to overcome a novel feature of the law that has frustrated their ability to challenge it in federal court by placing enforcement in the hands of private citizens, rather than the state officials. The clinics sought an injunction barring the officials from enforcing the law, which took effect Sept. 1 and bans abortions after cardiac activity is detected in the embryo. Citizens can be awarded at least $10,000 for successful lawsuits. The clinics contend the law is unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that made abortion legal nationwide, and that the U.S. Supreme Court with its 6-3 conservative majority is now weighing rolling back or overturning in a Mississippi case. After the Supreme Court's December ruling, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asked the Republican-dominated Texas Supreme Court to consider whether those licensing officials could indirectly enforce the law by taking disciplinary actions against violators. Justice Jeffrey Boyd, writing for the unanimous nine-member court, on Friday said the answer was no. "Texas law does not grant the state-agency executives named as defendants in this case any authority to enforce the Acts requirements." While the case now will return to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, abortion rights groups said the ruling meant their high-profile case would now be thrown out. Other challenges to the law remain pending. "With this ruling, the sliver of this case that we were left with is gone," Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented the clinics, said in a statement. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in BostonEditing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot) Ghost of Kyiv (General staff of Ukraines armed forces) A picture purported to be of a fighter pilot apparently responsible for shooting down multiple Russian jets has been shared by Ukraines armed forces. The image shows a pilot - who has become known as the 'Ghost of Kyiv' - with their visor and oxygen mask sat in the cockpit of a MiG-29 fighter jet, pointing at the missiles loaded on the bottom of the wings. It is captioned with the words: "Hello, occupier, Im coming for your soul! Reports of the "Ghost" have spread since Vladimir Putin began invading Ukraine two weeks ago. It is said the single fighter pilot is responsible for downing 10 Russian aircraft, an incredible feat by one person. Ukrainian forces shoots down a Russian attack helicopter as Russian attacks continue on Ukraine (Getty) The French Air Force patrol the airspace over Poland, as the West refuses to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine over fears of a wider conflict (Getty) The existence of the Ghost is disputed, with many arguing they are simply a myth or used as a term to describe the whole of the Ukrainian Airforce. Whether real or fake, the rumour has bolstered the fighting spirit of a country which has so far been subjected to brutal attacks on heavily populated cities. The invasion has caused the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War Two - with over 2.5 million refugees fleeing Ukraine to neighbouring countries. Click on this image to see all Yahoo News UK's latest content on the Ukraine crisis Ukraine's ability to keep flying air force jets is a visible demonstration of the country's resilience in the face of attack and has been a morale booster, both to its own military and Ukraine's people, experts have said. Russia had by far the superior air force at the start of the invasion, but has yet to achieve control over the skies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for a no-fly zone.(Getty) Ukrainian armed forces have regularly posted pictures and videos of downed Russian aircraft, claiming to have downed 57 planes so far. However, their alleged success in shooting down planes has not stop the constant bombardment of cities across the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked his Western allies for a no-fly zone to be enforced over his country - calls which have so far been denied. Since then, in an apparent attempt at compromise, Zelenskyy has also called on the US to provide more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself. Story continues Calls for support were once again renewed on Wednesday after Russia was accused of bombing a maternity hospital in Mariupol, which Ukrainian authorities said killed three people including a child. A heavily pregnant woman is rescued after the bombing in the besieged city of Mariupol (AP) Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv lies in tatters after coming under attack from Russian forces (Getty) Speaking on Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said bringing in the no-fly zone would cause direct conflict between Russia and Nato. Johnson said that while Vladimir Putin had abandoned all norms of civilised behaviour, conflict with Russia was something he was determined to avoid. Speaking on Sky News Beth Rigby Interviews, he acknowledged that some of his conversations with Mr Zelensky had been deeply upsetting as the Ukrainian leader appealed for more help. Whats happened in Mariupol in that maternity hospital really shows that Putin is prepared just to reject, to abandon, all norms of civilised behaviour, he said. Watch: Boris Johnson says it is "deeply unsettling" to refuse Ukraine's calls for a no-fly zone The difficulty is that there is a line beyond which, quite frankly, the UK and Nato would be deemed to be in conflict direct conflict with Russia. Its agonising. Its absolutely agonising. And Ive had this conversation at least a couple of times now with Volodymyr, but I think the difficulty is that it will require me to order RAF jets, UK pilots into the air with a mission to shoot down Russian fast jets. I think weve got to be realistic theres a line that is very difficult to cross. It comes amid reports that Russia is "re-posturing" for a renewed attack after failing to take control of Ukraine after coming up against fierce resistance. Mar. 11JOHNSTOWN, Pa. Andy Stager walked into St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Southmont on Thursday not long after he had discussed war with his 17-year-old daughter. "She said, 'Dad, since I've been alive, for as long as I've been able to understand, there has been wars going on,' " he said. " 'Why? I see the news of hospital bombs, children dying, and a country that at the beginning of the year was just like any other. Now, 2 million people are in exodus, not knowing how they are going to, and there's a faction that doesn't care.' " Stager had no clear answer for his daughter. "It's difficult to talk to that 17-year-old and make sense of this when I can't make sense of it," he said. Stager was one of 13 people whom gathered for a 6 p.m. prayer vigil for Ukraine at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, 334 Southmont Blvd. The Rev. Doug Blakelock knelt on the floor in front of the altar, his congregants kneeling in pews behind him. The prayers they offered included for people in Ukraine and Russia who don't want war, for those who go to render aid, for peace to those who have loved ones in danger and gratitude for people who have opened their homes to refugees. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has killed at least 549 civilians, including 41 children, the United Nations said. An additional 957 or more civilians have been injured, and more than 2 million people have fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the U.N. "It's encouraging to pray with other people," St. Matthew's parishioner Marion Kush said after the vigil, "and it's an opportunity to stand against evil, the drive for power and control." Blakelock has a son in the U.S. military. He said two days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, his son called him to say he's being sent somewhere and won't be able to be contacted for 45 days. "I don't know where he is," he said after the vigil. Story continues Blakelock choked back tears at one point as he led prayers. "I was thinking of a priest in our diocese who still has family in Ukraine," he said. "He is a first-generation immigrant to the United States, and his parents fought in one of the revolutions in Ukraine, and knowing the innocent civilians who have been attacked and the children who have died, I was thinking of them." Gathering for prayer has a real impact, said congregant Dayle Eckenrode. "Prayer allows God's power to work in us, to move us to action," she said, noting the church's financial support of Ukraine through the Anglican Relief and Development Fund. In addition, she was glad to hear Johnstown is set to open its doors to refugees. Civic organization Vision Together 2025 has received a $100,000 grant from a private donor at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies to build capacity to welcome Ukrainian immigrants to the Johnstown area. At St. Matthew's, prayer vigils will continue to be held at 6 p.m. Thursdays during Lent. "Prayer conquers armies, and we believe that," Blakelock said. "We wield the greatest power in the world." A cluster of Russian Embassy Twitter accounts are sowing misinformation as the countrys bloody invasion of neighboring Ukraine escalates, but they might not get away with it for long. On Thursday, Twitter took action against one particularly egregious tweet claiming that a pregnant victim fleeing the site of a hospital bombing in Mariupol was an actor in some very realistic makeup. The account belongs to the Russian Embassy in London, which has been actively disseminating false information about ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine. Responding to a photo of a pregnant woman in the aftermath of the attack, @RussianEmbassy tweeted "... She has some very realistic make-up. She is also doing well with her beauty blogs. Plus she could not be in the maternity house at the time of the strike, as it has long been taken by the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion who told all the staff to clear the place." The false claims appear to have originated in Russian-language Telegram channels, which accused a Ukrainian blogger present at the hospital of playing the part of two different pregnant women at the scene of the bombing. Russia continues to deny and distort its military aggression in Ukraine, often with lies that are easily debunked. But that information still bounces around the misinformation ecosystem, picking up steam and fueling the next even more outlandish claims. On Twitter, the Russian Embassy in London has had at least three tweets removed in the last 24 hours for violating the platforms rules. Still, a pinned tweet at the top of the embassy's feed accuses Ukraine of exterminating the people of two eastern regions of the country where the local leadership is backed by the Russian regime. The language of extermination echoes Russian President Vladimir Putins misleading justification for declaring war on Ukraine. What is happening in the Donbas today is genocide, Putin declared last month, laying false groundwork for the invasion. TechCrunch reached out to Twitter with questions about how the company draws the line on Russian disinformation around the invasion. Story continues Its not Russias first time using its virtual embassy presence to sow its own narrative. The Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab has studied how the Russian government uses a full-spectrum blend of official and unofficial accounts to amplify its distorted messaging online. Some of the channels it uses are overt and official; others are covert and claim to be independent, senior fellow Ben Nimmo wrote. They all work together to create the appearance of multiple voices and points of view, masking a coordinated approach. On Thursday, Twitter took more decisive action against at least one other prominent disinformation source, suspending @asbmilitary, an account playing an active role in spreading the false conspiracy theory that the U.S. holds biological weapons labs in Ukraine. The Biden administration has expressed concern that the influx of bioweapon-related misinformation may presage a Russian chemical weapon attack in the country. By Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday Ukraine was at a "strategic turning point" in the war as Russian forces bombarded cities across the country and appeared to be regrouping for a possible assault on Kyiv, with satellite images showing them firing artillery as they closed in on the capital. The governor of the Kharkiv region, on the Russian border, said a psychiatric hospital had been hit, and the mayor of the city of Kharkiv said about 50 schools there had been destroyed. Russia also carried out air strikes deeper into western Ukraine, far from the battlefields in the north, east and south where ground combat has raged. In the besieged southern city of Mariupol, the city council said at least 1,582 civilians had been killed as a result of Russian shelling and a 12-day blockade that has left hundreds of thousands trapped with no food, water, heat or power. Russia's defence ministry said the Black Sea port was now completely surrounded and Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberately preventing civilians getting out and humanitarian convoys getting in. A new effort to evacuate civilians along a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol appeared to have failed, with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk saying Russian shelling prevented them from leaving. "The situation is critical," Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Vadym Denysenko said. Western countries meanwhile took more economic steps to try to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his assault. President Joe Biden, who this week banned U.S. imports of Russian oil, said the G7 industrialised nations would revoke Russia's "most favoured nation" trade status. He also announced a U.S. ban on imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. Washington later sanctioned more oligarchs and elites, including board members of Russian banks, in addition to a dozen lawmakers. Story continues European Union leaders said they were ready to impose harsher sanctions on Russia and might give Ukraine more funds for arms. But they rejected Ukraine's request to join the bloc. At a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said there were "certain positive shifts" in talks with Kyiv, but did not elaborate. GEARING UP With the Russian assault in its third week, Zelenskiy, who has rallied his people with a series of addresses from Kyiv, said Ukraine had "already reached a strategic turning point". "It is impossible to say how many days we still have (ahead of us) to free Ukrainian land. But we can say we will do it," he said. "We are already moving towards our goal, our victory." Russia's main force has been stalled north of Kyiv, having failed in what Western analysts say was an initial plan for a lightning assault. But images taken on Friday and released by private U.S. satellite firm Maxar showed Russian forces were continuing to deploy closer to Kyiv and firing artillery toward residential areas, according to the company's analysis. Multiple homes and buildings were on fire and widespread damage was seen throughout the town of Moschun, northwest of Kyiv, Maxar said. Reuters could not independently verify the images. Britain's defence ministry said Russia appeared to be gearing up for a new offensive in coming days that would probably include Kyiv. However, the Russian ground forces were still making only limited progress, hampered by logistical problems and Ukrainian resistance, it said in its intelligence update. The Ukrainian general staff said Russian forces were regrouping after taking heavy losses. Ukrainian troops had pushed some back to "unfavourable positions" near the Belarus border, it said. Kyiv's mayor, former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, said the capital had enough essential supplies to last a couple of weeks. Supply lines remained open. 'WRONG ASSUMPTIONS' Ukrainian authorities said a psychiatric hospital near the eastern town of Izyum had been hit. Emergency services said no one was hurt, but Kharkiv governor Oleh Synegubov called the attack a war crime. Reuters could not verify the report. Moscow denies it has been targeting civilians in what it calls a "special operation" to disarm and "de-Nazify" Ukraine. Ukraine and its allies say this was a baseless pretext for Russia's invasion of the democratic country of 44 million. Air strikes near a kindergarten in the central city of Dnipro killed at least one person on Friday, emergency services said. The mayor of Lutsk said four people were killed and six wounded in an attack on an airfield - a rare strike so far into western Ukraine. A U.S. official said such attacks were aimed at preventing western bases from being used by Ukraine's air force. Britain's defense intelligence ministry said Russian air and missile forces struck the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk in the past 24 hours. In Kharkiv, hundreds were sheltering in metro stations. Nastya, a young girl lying on a makeshift bed on the floor of a train carriage, said she had been there for over a week, unable to move around much and ill with a virus. "I'm scared for my home, for the homes of my friends, very scared for the whole country, and scared for myself of course," she said. Moscow said its separatist allies in the southeast had captured the town of Volnovakha, north of Mariupol. But Mathieu Boulegue, an expert at London's Chatham House think tank, said Moscow might not have sufficient troops to achieve its goals. "You can't invade a country on a one-on-one ratio (of troops). Nobody has done it, which means that either something was wrong or they had very wrong assumptions," he told Reuters. In a nighttime video address, Zelenskiy accused Russia of abducting the mayor of Melitopol, a captured city in southeastern Ukraine, calling it a "new stage of terror." Russia has not commented on the fate of Mayor Ivan Fedorov. Zelenskiy said 7,144 people were evacuated from four cities on Friday, a sharply lower number than each of the two previous days. He accused Russian troops of refusing to allow civilians out of Mariupol and vowed to try to deliver food and medicines there on Saturday. Ukraine also raised the prospect of Moscow's ally Belarus entering the war, accusing Russia of staging "false flag" air attacks on Belarus from Ukraine to provide an excuse. Belarus has served as a staging post for Russian forces before and after the Feb. 24 invasion. The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment. Putin and Lukashenko agreed Moscow would supply its smaller neighbour with up-to-date military equipment, the official Belarus Belta news agency said. NO EU MEMBERSHIP Away from the battlefields, EU leaders meeting near Paris agreed to spend more on defence and cut reliance on Russian energy supplies by 2027. But they declined Ukraine's call for a speedy admission to the EU. Western countries have moved to isolate Russia from the global financial system. The Russian rouble ended a third week of hefty losses, stripped of a third of its value in Moscow exchanges since Russia invaded Ukraine. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. economy was strong - though inflation was a problem - and acknowledged there would be spillovers from sanctions against Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that on Saturday the bloc would suspend Moscow's privileged trade and economic treatment; crack down on its use of crypto-assets; and ban the import of iron and steel goods from Russia as well as the export of luxury goods in the other direction. (Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Kevin Liffey and Daniel Wallis) TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's ambassador urged Israel on Friday to step up its support for Ukraine by sanctioning Moscow, accepting more Ukrainian refugees and sending defence equipment. Israel has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and sent humanitarian aid, but has maintained contacts with Moscow, with which it coordinates strikes in Syria and which has influence in international nuclear talks with Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 5 and has also spoken several times with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in an effort to mediate between the sides. In a briefing, Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk told reporters in Tel Aviv that Israel did not have "exclusivity" in the mediation process, adding: "Saying that 'we are mediators, that's why we have to be neutral to both parties' - that's not the name of the game." "What we expect from Israel at the moment, the government, (is) to join the sanctions of their allies, including but not only the U.S. and European Union," he said, speaking in English. Zelenskiy, who is due to address Israel's parliament at some point, "roughly understands the current position of the Israeli government" but not its reluctance to send defence equipment, Korniychuk added. Ukraine says it has asked Israel specifically for defensive weapons. He said he had asked Israel to accept more refugees "without limitations" in a meeting with Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked this week. Israel said on Tuesday it was ready to take in up to 5,000 Ukrainian refugees and allow 20,000 other Ukrainians who arrived prior to the fighting to remain temporarily. (Reporting by Rami Amichay; Writing by Henriette Chacar; Editing by Kevin Liffey) HOLLAND Watching the Russian invasion of his home country from Holland, Mich., all Eugene Tritenichenko wants is for the war to end, but the Ukraine native worries that is not possible anytime soon. "Both Russia and Ukraine are stubborn nations. They're going to fight to the death," Tritenichenko said. Tritenichenko and wife Nina left Ukraine in the 1990s after finishing their university education in Kyiv. Tritenichenko, now a senior engineer with Volta Power Systems, said the funding for the sciences dried up after the fall of the Soviet Union, so he went first to South Korea and then to Arizona and California to find work in battery science, finally moving to Holland to work at Johnson Controls in 2009. Nina Tritenichenko is an accordion player and music teacher. More: Ukraine conflict: Local agency helping shelter Ukrainians More: Tips for talking to kids about Ukraine More: Ukraine, Russian sanctions major focus of Biden State of the Union address Ukrainians back home have lived for years with fighting and tension in the eastern part of the country, the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts on the border with Russia where pro-Russian Ukrainians have been fighting the Ukrainian government, but Tritenichenko was shocked when the Russian army invaded his country Feb. 24. "No one expected the full-scale invasion," Tritenichenko said. "But what's interesting is nobody expected that Ukraine would be such a tough country to conquer. Putin was thinking that the eastern part of the country would welcome him and he would take over the rest of the country in a few days." Nina and Eugene Tritenichenko, originally from Ukraine, live in Holland, Mich. The relationship between east and west in Ukraine is complicated, with the western part of the country historically favoring the independence of Ukraine and closer relationships with the West, while the eastern part of the country, the industrial heartland, has more predominately Russian-speaking people and closer ties to Russia. But Russia's invasion brought together a divided country, he said. Story continues "I talk to a lot of different people (in Ukraine)," Tritenichenko said."Some were nationalistic, some were neutral, some were pro-Russia. The invasion united all those people. Now, the majority fight for Ukraine and are opposed to Russia." Tritenichenko described a "spirit of independence" in the people of western Ukraine, who fought against both German invaders and the Soviet Union during World War II to try to establish Ukraine as an independent country. "There was resistance in the west to Stalin's takeover that lasted through the 1950s, and that spirit of independence remained in some people for a long time," Tritenichenko said. Back home, family members in a suburb of Kyiv are hiding in a cellar about twice a day at the sound of air raids. Morale, nationalism and opposition to Russia's invasion has driven ordinary citizens to sign up to fight, with weapons handed out to citizens from the Ukrainian government. According to a poll from the Ukrainian firm Gradus Research, 82 percent of Ukrainians believe they can beat the Russian army, even though most military analysts say the Russian army is much stronger. It's "horrible, terrible," Tritenichenko said. "If Russia won't retreat there's going to be a long fight." He doesn't think either side will give in to demands. Russia has said it will stop the invasion if Ukraine ceases military operations, promises to remain neutral and not join the European Union or NATO and recognizes Crimea as part of Russia and the Donbas region as independent. So far, several attempts at ceasefire talks in the first two weeks of the conflict have failed. "Ukraine will fight to the last man," he said. Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ukrainian in Holland: 'Ukraine will fight to the last man' A Ukrainian man was waiting anxiously to hear from his family members, who were evacuating their town near Kyiv, when he saw their bodies in a photo on Twitter, he told The New York Times in an interview. Images circulated around the world show four people lying bloodied and motionless on the pavement in Irpin, Ukraine, after they were fired on by Russian troops. Three of them were Serhiy Perebyinis loved ones: his wife, Tatiana, his 18-year-old son, Mykyta, and 9-year-old daughter, Alisa. The fourth was Anatoly Berezhnyi, a 26-year-old church volunteer who was helping the family, according to the Times. I recognized the luggage and that is how I knew, Perebyinis told the newspaper. Times photographer Lynsey Addario captured a widely viewed image of the four civilians that appeared on the papers front page. Perebyinis, a computer programmer, was not with his family because he was caring for his mother in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, he told The Washington Post. He said his two dogs had also died. I lost everyone and lost the meaning of life, he told the Post, calling what happened to his family a war crime. Ukrainian servicemen help a woman carrying a small dog across the Irpin River on an improvised path while assisting people fleeing the town on Saturday. (Photo: via Associated Press) Tatiana Perebyinis was the chief accountant for a software company headquartered in London, SE Ranking. The company said Monday it was devastated to learn of her death. There are no words to describe our grief or to mend our pain, the company said, adding that it was crucial to them that the family did not become statistics. Her family became the victim of the unprovoked fire on civilians, which under any law is a crime against humanity, the statement read. On Sunday, as residents of Irpin were trying to flee the area, Russian forces fired mortar shells on the city, including a bridge being used by evacuees, killing at least eight people, including Perebyinis family. Video from the moment of the strike shows a Ukrainian soldier standing outside a building before a sudden blast. As the debris and dust clear, soldiers can be seen running to a number of bodies on the ground. Someone is heard screaming for a medic, and a dog can be heard barking and howling. Story continues Serhiy Perebyinis family and other civilians were killed by a Russian strike on Sunday. (Photo: via Associated Press) Ukraine has accused Russia of indiscriminately shelling heavily populated areas and violating agreements on humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians. On Wednesday, at least three people, including a child, were killed after a Russian airstrike on a hospital in the city of Mariupol, the city council said. At least 549 civilians have been reported killed in the Russian invasion, though the real figure is likely higher, according to the United Nations. Perebyinis told the Times he felt it was important that his family members deaths were recorded on camera. The whole world should know what is happening here, he said. Read his story in The New York Times. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... STORY: I have family and friends in the USA and theyre ready to support me. Actually they asked me to leave Ukraine in this situation, said Maria alongside her children, ages 6, 12 and 14. A lawyer from the Center for Gender and Refugees Studies in San Francisco assisted the family on the Mexican side of Tijuana before they could cross the border. Weve been notified they will let her in today, I hope every family gets this opportunity, said Blain Bookie. Over 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine so far, according to the latest U.N. tally, around half of them children. Vice President Kamala Harris met Friday with Romanias president as she continued her mission to bolster NATO allies as Russia presses ahead with its invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The U.S. wants to reassure jittery allies like President Klaus Iohannis that it will help them cope with millions of refugees fleeing the escalating conflict and bolster their defenses against Russian saber-rattling. I am here to reaffirm our commitment to this partnership, Harris said. Your visit is strength and living proof of our strong partnership, Iohannis replied. The talks come on the heels of the veeps visit to Poland where she met with Ukrainian refugees and vowed to held authorities cope with the flood of millions of displaced people that will likely get much in the days and weeks ahead. Romania has so far taken in fewer than 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war, a far cry from the million-plus that have sought refuge in Poland, which is closer to most major Ukrainian cities. Other countries on NATOs eastern flank, including Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia, have also welcomed tens of thousands of refugees. Harris said the U.S. was absolutely prepared to support those who understand the moral obligation we should feel to help people who are fleeing harm and seeking refuge. Russia has stepped up its aerial bombardment campaign on cities across Ukraine, a development that will likely send millions more fleeing to relative safety outside the country. By Christoph Steitz and Tom Sims FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Volkswagen AG, Europe's top carmaker, doubled its operating profit in 2021 but warned that Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its impact on supply chains could hit business this year in unforeseen ways. Carmakers are scrambling to find alternative sources of vital parts made in Ukraine, including wire harnesses, from as far afield as China and Mexico, as Russia's invasion halts assembly lines and breaks complex supply chains. "The conflict ... has an impact on the entire global economy, on raw materials, on supply chains and therefore on our company," Volkswagen finance chief Arno Antlitz told journalists on Friday after publishing preliminary 2021 results. "The impact of this cannot be conclusively assessed at this point in time," he said, adding the group was currently working on tapping other suppliers in Eastern Europe and North Africa to obtain wire harnesses. Volkswagen said there was a risk that the latest developments in the war in Ukraine will have a negative impact on its business. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation." The company still proposed to raise its annual dividend by more than half to 7.50 euros per ordinary share and 7.56 euros per preferred share for 2021, after operating profit doubled to 19.3 billion euros ($21.1 billion) last year. The doubling of operating profit in 2021 was thanks to higher prices and a more favorable product mix, Volkswagen said, adding it expects an operating margin on sales of 7.0%-8.5% in 2022, compared with 7.7% in 2021. Sales are forecast to rise 8%-13% in 2022, compared with a 12.3% increase to 250 billion euros in 2021. "However, this guidance is subject to the further development of the war in Ukraine and in particular the impact on the group's supply chains and the global economy as a whole," the company said. ($1 = 0.9162 euro) (Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Tom Sims in FrankfurtEditing by Matthew Lewis) A Ukrainian police officer helps people as artillery echoes nearby while fleeing Irpin in the outskirts of Kyiv The mayor of Poland's capital, Warsaw, is calling for help as the city has been overwhelmed by Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. "We are dealing with the greatest migration crisis in the history of Europe since World War II. ... The situation is getting more and more difficult every day," Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski said Friday, The Associated Press reported. He stated 300,000 Ukrainian refugees have come to the city as Poland has been a top destination for those escaping the conflict. Poland's Border Guard agency said 1.5 million refugees have made it to Poland. In total, more than 2.5 million individuals have left Ukraine since Feb. 24 when the invasion began. Volunteers have been working to provide humanitarian aid to refugees in the city, but the mayor said this is only a temporary fix as the citizens will have to go back to their jobs soon, according to the AP. Trzakskowski listed psychologists as one of the positions that have been volunteering, especially as new arrivals are those who have seen the destructions and bombings of Ukraine first-hand. "This is a completely different kind of refugee. They are afraid of everything. They sit in their jackets. Children are scared, they don't want to play, their mothers have such empty eyes," Dorota Zawadzka, a child psychologist who has been volunteering, stated, the AP noted. The international community has been providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its citizens as some countries have lifted visa requirements so refugees can more easily flee. Poland has been used for people who plan to stay there until the war is over and for those who just need a transit point to get to another country in Europe. Americas ambassador to the U.N. has accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine, the strongest language yet from Washington even as senior administration officials debate how the U.S. will hold Moscow accountable for its invasion. Amid searing video of cities coming under attack and a mounting civilian death toll, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, went further than other U.S. officials when she was asked if Russias actions represented a violation of the laws of war. Were working with others in the international community to document the crimes that Russia is committing against the Ukrainian people. They constitute war crimes; there are attacks on civilians that cannot be justified ... in any way whatsoever, the ambassador told the BBC on Thursday. Her unequivocal comments came as Biden administration officials are holding internal deliberations about the potential ramifications of war crimes investigations against Russia, and what role the U.S. should play in those international efforts, according to current and former officials and human rights advocates with knowledge of the discussions. Administration officials are wrestling with a number of questions, including whether an indictment against Russian President Vladimir Putin would close the door on any potential diplomacy to stop or de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine. Officials said that would not affect decisions about what evidence to hand over to investigating bodies. But some Western officials say if Putin faced charges of war crimes or believed the U.S. was intent on toppling his regime, the Russian president could conclude there was no point in negotiations and might resort to more drastic measures. Image: U.N. Security Council Discusses Humanitarian Crisis In Ukraine (Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images) The administration is also weighing to what degree the U.S. should be at the forefront of any accusations against Russia, given that the United States is not part of the International Criminal Court and has said it does not recognize the ICCs jurisdiction over U.S. citizens. Russia also does not recognize the courts jurisdiction over its citizens, and withdrew its membership in 2016. Some administration officials also believe any accusation against Russia would be more powerful if done with the U.S. as part of a broad collective of countries, not alone. Story continues On Friday, when asked by a Romanian journalist if Russia had committed war crimes, Vice President Kamala Harris said, "I think Ive said it before and Ill say it again: We are clear that any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime. Period." A day earlier, while in Poland, she had endorsed the idea of a war crimes investigation. But Biden administration officials want to avoid setting any precedent that could later ensnare U.S. troops in a future case before the court, former U.S. officials and human rights activists said. The White House said the administration is collecting information of possible war crimes, and it is providing funds to Ukrainian civil society groups that are trying to gather and preserve evidence of potential atrocities, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said. The U.S. is supporting the important work of human rights documenters in Ukraine, the spokesperson said, adding: We support accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions where appropriate. Last week, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv accused Russian forces of committing a war crime in an assault and takeover of a nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia. It is a war crime to attack a nuclear power plant, the embassy tweeted. But soon after State Department officials sent an urgent message to U.S. embassies in Europe telling them not to retweet the post, according to an internal message obtained by NBC News. If you have retweeted it un-re-tweet it ASAP, said the internal message. A State Department spokesperson later said the U.S. was still assessing the circumstances of the operation and stressed the intentional targeting of civilians or civilian objects, including nuclear power plants, is a war crime. Regardless of the legality this action was the height of irresponsibility, and the Kremlin must cease operations around nuclear infrastructure, the spokesperson said. The episode captured the Biden administrations caution as it tries to navigate the war crimes issue. After a request by an unprecedented 39 governments, the International Criminal Court in The Hague last month launched an investigation into possible war crimes in the conflict in Ukraine. In past war crimes cases before the ICC and other tribunals, U.S. and Western intelligence agencies have sometimes provided intercepts or other intelligence that helped prosecutors prove senior figures ordered attacks on civilians. In Ukraine, its possible the U.S. could choose to pass intelligence material to the ICC or to other governments, which could then share that information with investigators at the court, administration officials said. Until Thursday, Britain and some other NATO allies had used more strident language than the United States in describing Russias conduct of the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson a week ago accused Moscow of barbaric acts and said he believed Russia had committed war crimes. Given the U.S. governments long-running reservations about the ICCs authority, and concerns about leaving open a pathway for diplomacy, the United States may choose to let European and other governments serve as the public face of efforts to prosecute alleged Russian war crimes, some human rights experts and former officials said. The U.S. will absolutely not be at the forefront and if they are supporting the court, they will do so quietly, said one human rights advocate familiar with the administrations discussions who was not authorized to speak on the record. David Bosco, an associate professor of international relations at Indiana University, agreed. Theyre going to be playing a careful game in their approach to the ICC, Bosco said. The administration could let allies take the lead in terms of cooperation and information provision and the U.S. would stay to the extent it can in the background. The court was set up in The Hague in 1998 and past U.S. administrations have cooperated with the ICC on a case-by-case basis. But when the court opened a preliminary investigation into possible crimes by U.S. intelligence officers in Afghanistan, the Trump administration condemned the court and imposed sanctions on two officials in the prosecutors office. President Joe Biden removed the sanctions against the ICC and the new chief prosecutor for the court, Karim Khan, said in September that the role of U.S. personnel would be deprioritized in the Afghanistan investigation. The State Department on Thursday acknowledged U.S. concerns about the ICCs jurisdiction, but left open the possibility the administration would support the courts work related to the war in Ukraine. So our concerns over the ICC assertion of jurisdiction in some areas, those do remain, but we recognize the meaningful role that the ICC can play in promoting accountability for atrocities and weve supported and will continue to support the ICCs efforts in certain cases, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters. The intense level of public attention to the war and the bipartisan outrage over Russias invasion could make it difficult for the administration to cooperate with the ICC discreetly, said Todd Buchwald, former U.S. ambassador for global criminal justice. The political situation is such that they are going to get asked questions. What are they going to say? Its hard to avoid answering the question, Buchwald said. I dont think they will be able to do it in an unacknowledged kind of way. Apart from the ICCs investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine, the U.N. has set up a commission of inquiry, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has established an expert panel to gather evidence of war crime allegations. The Biden administration supported both moves. In addition, human rights organizations in and outside of Ukraine are seeking to collect and preserve evidence that could be used for an eventual war crimes prosecution. Human Rights Watch and other rights groups say Russian shelling attacks on fleeing civilians and residential areas may have violated the laws of war. Russia has been accused of using cluster munitions in the bombardment of residential areas in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Human rights groups say the weapons are indiscriminate and the Russians use of cluster munitions in a populated area could be considered a war crime. Russia has denied attacking civilians, accused Ukraine of bombarding its own citizens, alleged without evidence that actors posed as wounded civilians at a maternity hospital, and denied it attacked Ukrainian forces defending the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia. War crimes investigations and trials often take years to come together, and sometimes fail to secure a conviction. In the case of Ukraine, events have moved at an unprecedented pace. After dozens of governments formally requested action, the ICC launched a war crimes investigation just weeks into the conflict. Still, legal experts said proving in court that a military unit has intentionally targeted civilians, or recklessly bombarded them, is a difficult task. The White House and Group of 7 announced fresh sanctions against Russia Friday as part of an ongoing push to deter the country from continuing its invasion of Ukraine. For the first time, these sanctions will include crypto-specific guidance. Concern over whether Russian oligarchs or the government could use cryptocurrencies to avoid the financial hit imposed by a broad-ranging sanctions regime have grown in recent days, with U.S. lawmakers and European officials all expressing concern over the potential. Officials with the U.S. Treasury Department and industry participants have said this is an unlikely possibility. Friday's announcement by the White House seems to focus more on reiterating for crypto companies that they should comply with sanctions rather than addressing any usage of such sanctions so far. "The Department of the Treasury, through new guidance, will continue to make clear that Treasurys expansive actions against Russia require all U.S. persons to comply with sanctions regulations regardless of whether a transaction is denominated in traditional fiat currency or virtual currency," according to a fact sheet published Friday. "Treasury is closely monitoring any efforts to circumvent or violate Russia-related sanctions, including through the use of virtual currency, and is committed to using its broad enforcement authorities to act against violations and to promote compliance." Treasury spokespeople did not immediately return a request for comment on what the guidance will say or when it will be published. G7 weighs in A joint G7 statement also published by the White House specified that this guidance will target the Russian government as well as its proxies, in addition to the oligarchs who are already on multiple sanctions lists. "We commit to taking measures to better detect and interdict any illicit activity, and we will impose costs on illicit Russian actors using digital assets to enhance and transfer their wealth, consistent with our national processes," the joint statement said. Story continues Ari Redbord, head of legal and government affairs at TRM Labs, told CoinDesk earlier this week that crypto may not serve well as a sanctions-evasion tool for a number of reasons, including liquidity concerns. "It's hard" to move billions of dollars worth of crypto, Redbord noted. It's possible some oligarchs might turn to crypto, but that may not be their first choice. Redbord, who was with the U.S. Treasury Department prior to joining TRM, said crypto could be part of the sanctions-evasion playbook, but oligarchs already have a complex set of tools they might turn to first to preserve their wealth, including the use of shell companies and purchasing high-end art. A senior administration official similarly said they did not see crypto as being a "viable workaround" for the Russian central bank or its economy during a press briefing previewing a sweeping executive order on digital assets. Friday's news comes days after U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced she was drafting a bill to prevent Russian oligarchs or President Vladimir Putin from using crypto to evade sanctions. Warren has been at the forefront of calls to tamp down this potential illicit activity. The Russian government and general prosecutor's office are considering a proposal to nationalize the assets of foreign companies that are suspending operations or pulling out of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported Thursday. The report included a list of nearly 60 companies, including McDonald's, Apple, IKEA, Microsoft, IBM, and Porsche. "All of these businesses have offices, buildings, factories, storefronts in Russia" that could be "forcibly taken by the state," BBC News reports. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki publicly warned the Kremlin last Thursday that "any lawless decision by Russia to seize the assets of these companies will ultimately result in even more economic pain for Russia." She said nationalizing foreign assets would squander any trust Russia has built up since it scared off all foreign investors in the Bolshevik Revolution. Earlier this week, Russia effectively legalized patent theft, issuing a decree that patent protections will not be enforced for anyone affiliated with its list of "unfriendly" countries. President Biden, meanwhile, is expected to announce on Friday the removal of Russia's "most favored nation" trade status, in concert with the European Union and G-7 nations. That will allow the U.S. and its allies to slap tariffs on any Russian imports not already blocked by mounting sanctions. Fitch on Wednesday joined the other two major credit rating agencies and downgraded Russia's sovereign credit to junk status, warning of an "imminent" default on Russia's sovereign debt. "The downgrades are signals to investors to steer clear of Russia," but a default "could have far more sweeping consequences, sending lenders scurrying for financial high ground and fleeing developing international markets that rely on risk-tolerant investors," The Washington Post reports. A default would also create "tremendous economic hardship for ordinary" Russians. Story continues "Over the very short term, Russia is a pariah," said George Ball, chairman of Houston-based financial services firm Sanders Morris Harris. "Whether it's their oil, their economy or their sovereign debt, nobody wants to touch it. ... People who have assets in Russia or deposits in Russia are toast for now and for some time ahead. They can't get their hands on money or securities or goods or services. They are outcast and they will over the shorter term freeze to death." You may also like Kremlin publishes list of countries it has deemed 'unfriendly' toward Russia More Russian troops were killed in Ukraine in 2 weeks than U.S. troops in entire Iraq War, U.S. estimates Poland MiG-29 deal flew to the brink of a disastrous war Mila Kunis is opening up about the emotional toll recent events in Ukraine have taken on her. In a candid interview with Maria Shriver, the actress and activist spoke at length about the newfound pride shes gained as a Ukrainian immigrant herself, why shes making it a point to tell her kids theyre half Ukrainian and half American and why its important for Americans to separate the Russian people from those in power. I was born in Ukraine. I came to the States in 1991 and we were the last of my family to migrate, Kunis explains, adding that she was about 8 years old at the time. "I very much have always felt like an American, she continued, saying that growing up, People were like, 'Oh, you're so Eastern European.' I was like, 'I'm so LA! What do you mean? Like, my whole life I was like I am LA through and through. That all changed when Russia invaded Ukraine last month an event Kunis says has changed how she embraces her Ukrainian identity. [Russias invasion] happens and I can't express or explain what came over me, but all of a sudden I was like, 'Oh my God, I feel like a part of my heart just got ripped out, she explained. It was the weirdest feeling. That mindset extended to how she's explaining the situation with her children, daughter Wyatt, 7, and son Dimitri, 5, both of whom she shares with Ashton Kutcher. It doesnt take away from who I am as a person but it just adds an entire different layer, she explains. "I turned to my kids and I was like, 'You are half Ukrainian, half American!' Like, I literally was like, 'Look, you! And my kids were like, 'Yeah mom, I get it.' And I was like, 'No! You are Ukrainian and American.' I was like, 'You are half Iowa, half Ukraine.' And they're like, 'Okay, I get it. It's been irrelevant to me that I come from Ukraine. It never mattered, she explained of her upbringing. So much so that I've always said I'm Russian. Like I've always been, 'I'm from Russia' for a multitude of reasons. One of them being when I came to the States and I would tell people Im from from Ukraine, the first question Id get was Where is Ukraine? And then Id have to explain Ukraine and where it is on the map But if I was like, Im from Russia people were like, Oh we know that country. So I was like great Ill just tell people from Russia. Story continues Hell no! Im from Ukraine. Everythings changed, she says now. It is a sense of pride, and its not taking away from loving where I live now and everything that this country has given me. As far as Kuniss message to the American people, one of the biggest points she wanted get across was to implore people to understand the difference between the Russian people and the Russian leaders. "I don't think that we need to consider the people of Russia an enemy, she explained. I do really want to emphasize that. I don't think that that's being said enough in the press. I think that there's now, 'If you're not with us, you're against us' mentality. And I don't want people to conflate the two problems that are happening. I don't think it's the people of Russia I do encourage people to look at it from the perspective of, 'It's the people in power, not the people themselves. "I also don't want people to get discouraged and conflate different issues in the world, and I don't want people to compare, she added. I think that one thing that's happening a little bit that I've noticed is people are like, 'Why is everybody paying attention to this problem, but nobody paid attention to all these other issues that have been happening?' And I don't want people to conflate. Like everyone, she concluded. People just [need] to focus on what is at hand right now and right now this issue can get incredibly catastrophic for the rest of the world, not just for that part of the world, and I don't want people to lose sight of that." Kunis and Kutcher have been putting their money and time where their mouth is. The couple recently hit a big milestone in their fundraising effort for Ukraine, raising $20 million in less than a week just shy of $10 million from their original goal of $30 million, which they're confident they'll achieve sooner rather than later. "Our goal's $30 [million] and we're gonna get there," Kutcher said in an update this week. "But we do want to say thank you to the 56,000 of you who were able to donate and supported us. Whether it was the $5, $10, $1000, whatever it was, means so much to us because it does bring in a community and a sense of belonging and an ability to help," Kunis added. Their funds benefits Flexport and Airbnb, two organizations who are "actively on the ground providing immediate help to those who need it most," Kunis said. "There have been over 1 million children this is just children that are in refugee status right now," Kutcher added. "Every bit we can do helps and we appreciate you." Millie Knight came ninth in the giant slalom on Friday (REUTERS) Millie Knight was relieved to banish her super-G demons when the Winter Paralympic pressure was off with a valiant giant slalom display at Beijing 2022. The visually impaired skiing star, 23, has endured a rollercoaster of emotions this week but took major pride from finishing ninth in Fridays giant slalom. Knight got her Games off to a flyer with a brilliant bronze in the downhill but was heartbroken after coming fourth in Sunday and Mondays super-G and Super Combined. Those near misses marked two of her best shots of a medal, with the Canterbury speedster admitting she struggles for pace in the more technically-challenging slalom disciplines. Knight, who goes again in the conventional slalom event on Saturday, said: That was really good giant slalom is our weakest discipline and we knew we had nothing to lose. There was no pressure of a medal so all we had to do was just give everything out there. I came through the finish line smiling and it was very good. The pressure was completely off - it was great. Its been a tale of two halves this week. The downhill was absolutely unbelievable - to come away from the Games with a medal was far beyond my expectations. The super-G was heart-breaking and really took something out of me but putting in the performance in the slalom was brilliant. We just want to take some time to enjoy where we are and properly see everything. Taking the pressure off takes the blinkers off as well, so its been good. Knights build-up to the Games was marred by a series of four concussions that almost derailed her Beijing dream. Millie Knight, along with guide Brett Wild, will compete in her final skiing event of Beijing 2022 on Saturday (Getty Images) A particularly severe incident in Leogang, Austria, last February left her place in the team on a knife-edge but a searing World Championship in Lillehammer fired her back into contention. She soared to Super Combined glory alongside guide Brett Wild and took that momentum firmly with her by banking bronze despite struggling with a knee injury on the very first morning in Beijing. Story continues Those pair of super-G and Super Combined setbacks then followed but back at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre on Friday, Knight stopped the clock in 2min 11.33sec to grab a valiant top-ten finish. And ahead of her final run in Beijing this weekend, she added: I sustained a bit of a knee jury just before the downhill training runs, which was pretty sore today. But I cant use it as an excuse - being able to push through that is really cool. Id like to say it didnt hinder me. The conditions were amazing today it was great. No-one does more to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes than National Lottery players, who raise more than 30 million each week for good causes including grassroots and elite sport. Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtag: #TNLAthletes A woman was shot to death near the Raymond Detention Center Friday afternoon, said Sheriff Tyree Jones. Three sheriff's deputies were involved in the shooting on County Farm Road between the jail and the Work Center, Jones said in an interview with WLBT. "There were shots fired," he said. "There was an exchange of fire between the deputies and this armed female." The deputies were not injured, Jones said. Investigators are trying to understand why the woman was at the jail, he said. As of Friday afternoon, the woman has not yet been identified. Update: the shooting at RDC involved at least three deputies and an unidentified female. The female is deceased. Both RDC and the Work Center along with all detainees are secure. Neither facility was compromised and the shooting occurred on County Farm Rd. TyreeJonesSheriff (@TyreeSheriff) March 11, 2022 The Raymond Detention Center and the Work Center were secured and neither facility was compromised, Jones said. The jail and work center are both located on County Farm Road. Jones said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which handles all officer-involved shootings in the state, will investigate. "MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence," the Department of Public Safety, which includes MBI, said in a statement. "Upon completing their investigation, agents will share their findings wit the local district attorney's office." More: MBI investigating after Madison County sheriff's deputy shoots, kills man Reporter Mina Corpuz can be reached by email at mcorpuz@gannett.com. You can follow her on Twitter @mlcorpuz. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: State to investigate death, shooting involving Hinds County deputies Flexibility key in assessing low-carbon transition By HOU LIQIANG (China Daily) 08:38, March 11, 2022 Workers inspect a solar thermal power station in Hami, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in November 2021. CAI ZENGLE/FOR CHINA DAILY China is on track to reform how it assesses progress in its low-carbon transition, as the country forges ahead with ambitious climate targets, according to this year's Government Work Report. The decision was made amid uncertainties partly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and will help ensure the country's energy security, said Wang Yi, a senior national legislator. Premier Li Keqiang, while delivering the work report at the opening of this year's session of the 13th National People's Congress on Saturday in Beijing, said the central government will exercise "appropriate flexibility" within the framework of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) when assessing energy intensity, or energy consumption per unit of GDP. He also emphasized that newly added renewable energy, as well as coal, petroleum and natural gas consumed as raw materials, will be excluded from the total amount of energy consumption, a policy that was previously announced after the annual Central Economic Work Conference late last year. The government focuses on energy intensity and total energy consumption when assessing progress in promoting low-carbon transition. Aside from general national goals stipulated in the national five-year plans, there are also annual targets, with specific tasks set for each provincial-level region. Wang, a member of the NPC Standing Committee and the NPC's Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, said the flexibility that Premier Li noted means that, with no letting up on five-year goals, the annual tasks of national and regional levels may not be as compulsory as they previously were. The adjustment is being made because of downward economic pressures at home and abroad that were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a complicated geopolitical situation, he said. The country's energy security is also a major concern for the change. The country plans to reduce energy intensity by a total of 13.5 percent from 2021 to 2025. The annual target for last year was around 3 percent. Amid the complicated economic situation last year, the country managed to decrease the density by about 2.7 percent, Wang said. It was not easy for the country to achieve that, as many regions had to resort to power rationing to meet their specific targets, and this disturbed some people's daily lives and affected the supply chain during the recovery from COVID-19. He said the flexibility will help avoid a power crunch and strike a balance between economic growth and the country's energy security. Premier Li also vowed to shift the government's focus on low-carbon transition assessment to the total amount and intensity of carbon emissions. China will "improve policy incentives for reducing pollution and carbon emissions and policy constraints on such emissions", Li said. Wang said the shift is a necessary measure to sustain China's economic growth, with support from renewable energy, and realize its targets of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. The country has yet to see its economic growth decouple from energy consumption. The consumption will continue to increase with the country's economic development, he said, adding that per capita energy consumption in China only stood at about 3.7 metric tons of standard coal in 2021, compared with more than 5 tons in many developed nations. The shift will result in a win-win scenario for economic growth and carbon emissions control. Regarding newly added energy, Wang said that as long as such energy types are not fossil fuels, they will not only help address the increase in power demand but also reduce emissions. Previously, renewable energy was also included in the cap for total energy consumption, and "this makes reforms necessary", he said. Premier Li has vowed a series of measures to further promote renewable energy development this year. "We will advance the planning and construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power bases with supporting power sources that are adjustable, and boost the capacity of power grids to absorb electricity generated from renewable energy sources," Li said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The York Daily Record/Sunday News and a coalition of four other news organizations in Pennsylvania on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against York County Clerk of Courts Dan Byrnes, alleging that his policies and customs of redacting court records and delaying and denying access to documents violate the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions. "The American system of justice is founded on principles of openness and transparency," the lawsuit states. "Contemporaneous access to criminal case files ensures that the public learns about important cases while they are still newsworthy, promotes accuracy in reporting, safeguards the fairness and legitimacy of criminal proceedings, and fosters meaningful public debate aboutand greater understanding ofthe criminal justice system." "In York County, Pennsylvania, the publics presumptive constitutional right of access to judicial records in criminal cases is routinely violated," the complaint later continues. York County Clerk of Courts Dan Byrnes. In a statement, Byrnes wrote that his office "flatly rejects the unfounded claims made in this frivolous lawsuit." "The Clerks office has balanced the needs of the press and public with the privacy rights of individuals including victims involved in criminal cases," Byrnes said. "During my tenure the Clerk of Courts Office has actually expanded free public access to the public, especially to those facing a financial barrier to information." "This offices decisions on these matters are in accordance with criteria set by the courts and guidance provided by state agencies," he added. Related: York County clerk of courts effectively cuts off free public access to criminal records The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg and seeks declarations that Byrnes policies and customs violate the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions as well as preliminary and permanent injunctions barring him from redacting court records and delaying and denying access to these documents. The York Dispatch, Spotlight PA, WITF and LNP are also plaintiffs in the case. Story continues Paula Knudsen Burke, a Pennsylvania-based attorney with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, is representing the news organizations at no cost. Journalists from news organizations across the state regularly rely on court records to produce timely and comprehensive reporting about whats happening in the judicial system, Burke said in a statement. When that access is improperly delayed, limited or denied, its not only unconstitutional, but it also makes it more difficult or even impossible to provide the reporting that hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians depend on to better understand public safety and how their local courts are operating. Sasha Dudding, E.W. Scripps legal fellow at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of Press, is also working on the case. Read: What's contained in the 2 York homicide cases that were sealed? We now have the records. In an interview, Dudding said the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has heard from reporters all over Pennsylvania who are experiencing similar issues with access to court records. Court records, she said, enable reporting that gives people information about what the courts and law enforcement are doing as well as how public money is being spent. But this isnt just about reporters trying to get documents, Dudding said. I mean, all sorts of people rely on access to court records, from students to researchers, genealogists, family members of people involved in court cases. This is a right of access that the Constitution of Pennsylvania and the U.S. guarantee for everyone, she added. And that right of access really is used by everyone. Next, Dudding said, the attorneys will seek preliminary injunctive relief. Byrnes, she said, will have an opportunity to respond. The court will eventually issue a ruling. We do hope that it sends a message to elected court officials throughout the state that there are consequences when they deny constitutionally guaranteed access to court records to the people that they represent, Dudding said. We hope that other court officials see this case and act accordingly. The Ronald Reagan Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg is pictured in this file photo from Oct. 13, 2020. Check out: York County goes to court to block release of C-SAU 'Senior Team Leader' Joseph Garcia's CV In the past, the York County Clerk of Courts Office had a public computer on which people could view court records in criminal cases at no cost using a software called Laserfiche. Though that computer was later removed, individuals could still use terminals in the Court Self-Help Center in the York County Judicial Center to look these records. On Feb. 10, 2021, Byrnes emailed several reporters and editors in York County and stated that his office would start charging them for copies of court records effective March 1, 2021. Byrnes was charging 65 cents per page, the lawsuit states, though the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Public Access Policy set a cap of 25 cents per page. Thats along with assessing a flat $17 CD-ROM fee for electronic copies of court records. The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press sent a letter to Byrnes asking him to lower his fees on March 31, 2021. Next, Byrnes disabled Laserfiche on the computers in the Court Self-Help Center, which meant that members of the public and press could no longer electronically view court records, the lawsuit outlines. The York County Clerk of Courts Office does not keep paper files. On April 22, 2021, Byrnes responded to the letter and reported that he had updated the fees. He stated that he still had work to do to "create a mechanism so that your client can view any public documents at no charge while protecting privileged information," according to the lawsuit. Following additional conversations, Byrnes, the lawsuit states, set up two ways through which the public and press could access court records at no cost. But Byrnes office is making improper, extrajudicial redactions to court records and denying contemporaneous access to documents that the public and press are entitled to under the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions, the lawsuit alleges. Thats in addition to impounding certain cases, the lawsuit asserts, and entirely denying access to some court records. In Pennsylvania, the lawsuit states, parties and their attorneys have the sole responsibility for making sure that filings comply with confidentiality requirements. The clerk of courts is not authorized to redact confidential information, the lawsuit asserts. And if parties do not follow the conditions, that "shall not affect access to case records that are otherwise accessible." Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 30, 2021, the lawsuit states, reporters asked for 42 court records from the York County Clerk of Courts Office. Heres how long it took for the press to receive them: Same day: Six. One day later: 13. Two days later: 17. No access: Six. Most of the court records 32 of 42 were redacted, according to the lawsuit. Also of interest: North York must turn over audit of now-defunct Liberty Vol. Fire Co. No. 1, judge rules "Whether this is happening because of confusion and misunderstanding or through a deliberate effort to block access to public records, it is a shame that taxpayers' dollars will be spent to defend Mr. Byrnes' improper management of his office," said Randy Parker, executive editor of the York Daily Record, in a statement. "This is a simple matter: The public has a right to public records and one bureaucrat cannot subvert the laws of this state." Byrnes, a Republican, was elected as York County clerk of courts in 2019. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked as a project manager for a steel fabrication company. The clerk of courts is elected to four-year terms. The York County Clerk of Courts Office's budget for 2022 is $2.68 million. Byrnes' salary is $89,234.71. His mother, Susan Byrnes, founded the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center on South George Street in York and is a former York County president commissioner. Dylan Segelbaum is the courthouse reporter at the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Contact him at dsegelbaum@ydr.com, by phone at 717-916-3981 or on Twitter @dylan_segelbaum. Read the complaint Check out the exhibits This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York Daily Record sues Clerk of Courts Dan Byrnes for public records Cava, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain, is opening soon in the former Zoe's Kitchen location. We opened our first restaurant in Virginia in 2012 and today we serve our vibrant Mediterranean cuisine in more than 30 locations throughout the state," Cava's co-founder and chief concept officer Ted Xenohristos told The News & Advance. "We are thrilled to bring CAVA to the Lynchburg area this spring and look forward to welcoming the community to sharing a meal with us. Cava will open at 3901 Old Forest Road, Suite G701. Cava acquired Zoe's Kitchen in 2018. Lynchburg's Zoe's Kitchen closed at the beginning of the month. Rachael Smith The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Charlottesville-based Three Notchd Brewing Company announced in a March 10 news release it has acquired the former Wild Wolf Brewing Company site in Nelson County. Sitting on 13 acres at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this picturesque property gives Three Notchd Brewing a major outpost in an area known for beer tourism, further deepening the brands connection to their home state of Virginia, the company said in the release. Three Notchd Brewing will invest heavily in renovations at the location at 2461 Rockfish Valley Highway in Nellysford, including connecting to public water treatment facilities. In addition to creating beautiful beers, the team will use this facility to expand the brands new line of [non-alcoholic] beverages, officially launch the Three Notchd Distilling Company, and give room for Ready-to-Drink cocktail experimentation, the news release states. The company hopes to open the new site this fall. Wild Wolf Brewing Company, founded in 2010 by Mary Wolf and her son, Danny, closed Jan. 30. Three Notchd Brewing Company, founded in 2013, runs five other locations in Virginia: in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, Richmond and Virginia Beach. From staff reports A jury began hearing evidence Thursday in the trial of a Lynchburg teenager accused of first-degree murder and robbery in a city mans shooting death in December 2019. Devon Corleogne Bailey, 17, is charged with killing Darius Saunders Jr., 31, and also is on trial for two counts of using a firearm in commission of a felony. Saunders was found dead in the doorway of a one-room apartment at 621 Gum St. A forensic pathologist testified in Lynchburg Circuit Court on Thursday that Saunders died from a gunshot wound to the torso. The shot entered Saunders mid-chest area, fractured multiple ribs and injured his heart, liver and intestines, and a projectile from a revolver was recovered during the autopsy and turned in to investigators, according to the pathologists testimony. Commonwealths Attorney Bethany Harrison said Lynchburg police responded to the White Rock Hill area the night of Dec. 28, 2019, for a report of a gunfight and a person needing help. An officer found Bailey with an injured right arm and the defendant said someone tried to rob him and he shot him, Harrison said. Bailey was in the White Rock Hill neighborhood that night to buy marijuana, Harrison said. Investigators found a trail of blood from where Bailey was located on Maple Street to a duplex on Gum Street, Harrison said. Saunders body was discovered in the house with a bag of just more than 27 grams of marijuana nearby, she said. This wasnt merely Devon Bailey showing up to buy some weed, Harrison said. He had something else in mind. A.38 revolver that fired two shots was found during the investigation, she said. Bailey was going to sell a gun to Dakota Daquan Scott, who also faces charges in connection with the case, shortly before the shooting, according to Harrison. Scott walked away after meeting with Bailey, heard a shot and saw Bailey running down the street with a bag containing a PlayStation, Harrison said. He wanted to hit a lick, Harrison said of Bailey, referring to a robbery term. This victim was not a soft target. In the course of this robbery [Bailey] killed Darius Saunders. He was robbing Saunders and used a firearm to do so. Jim Childress, Baileys attorney, told jurors his client was a 15-year-old at the time who wanted to buy weed and unfortunately had a firearm when a scuffle broke out with Saunders. Devon was a victim of an attempted robbery, Childress said. He started to fight this guy who was fighting him. Childress showed jurors a photo of Bailey hospitalized with a wound to his arm. Saunders, who was referred to as Heavy by a few witnesses, was a larger man on top of Bailey during the struggle, Childress said. Bailey fired twice real quick, the fatal shot and another where the shell casing was found in the apartment; in the course of events Bailey unintentionally shot himself, Childress said. He said Scott has given inconsistent statements during the investigation. Body camera footage of officers responding to Maple Street showed Bailey with his injured arm wrapped in a hoodie telling law enforcement: It wasnt my gun, sir. Bailey said he was in a gunfight, had been robbed and he was defending himself, the first officer on the scene testified. Detective N.K. Olsson testified he investigated the path of blood from where Bailey was on Maple Street to the house on Gum Street. He processed the crime scene, including recovering the firearm and a pair of shell casings fired, and testified he did not recover a backpack or see a PlayStation. Harrison said there is no evidence Bailey, dressed in a gray suit and purple tie in court Thursday, knew Saunders prior to the encounter. Scott last month pleaded no contest in Lynchburg Circuit Court to one count each of robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, attempted receipt of a stolen firearm and conspiracy to commit robbery and is scheduled for sentencing June 22, court records show. He previously was charged with felony homicide but no indictment was presented on that count, according to court records. Scott testified Bailey told him that night I need a lick of weed and he referred the defendant to Saunders, his friend he knew who sold the drug. After he saw Bailey had been shot he called police and did not think at the time the encounter between the two would turn violent, according to his testimony Thursday. Bailey was messaging Mario Antwan Smith the day before the shooting about a robbery, according to evidence previously introduced in a court proceeding prior to Baileys trial. The two talked about guns to point at a future victim and having a gun and marijuana to sell. Smith pleaded no contest to one count of robbery and was sentenced in April 2021 to a year and a half in jail, according to court records. Harrison will call more witnesses when the trial resumes Friday. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As education has become one of the top priorities for many leaders around Virginia, Lynchburg city officials are weighing options for the future of its education task force created in 2019. Lynchburg City Council has deliberated twice since the new year on the need for the citys education task force to continue. At its Tuesday meeting, council decided to push the decision down the road again, until its March 22 joint meeting with the school system. The task force, officially ratified June 13, 2019, was created to study enrollment trends, facilities, practices in education, collaboration opportunities and finances for LCS. According to Mayor MaryJane Dolan, the task force worked for roughly six months before having to pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael Gillette, task force chair and former mayor of Lynchburg, read a letter during this weeks meeting, effectively asking council for guidance. Gillette told council he could have the task force up and running again within a month, but he also said how quickly we do our work is entirely dependent on you. Its not dependent on us. We will not be what slows this effort down. We were ready to go back to work over a year ago and well be ready as soon as you tell us that we should. Gillette said while some of the chairs of the committees have changed, he would be ready to call them to get to work at the green light of council. Currently, Gillette serves as chair alongside Vice Chair Gloria Preston. The city council representatives on the task force are Vice Mayor Beau Wright and at-large representative Randy Nelson. The school board representatives are School Board Chair James Coleman and District 3 representative Dr. Atul Gupta. The task force has been waiting for direction from the governing bodies of Lynchburg as to their path forward for months. According to Coleman, who spoke at the meeting, the school board already has voted to continue forward with the task force, pushing the issue to city council. I am of the opinion that March 22 might be a good place ... that might be a good place to hash this out, Coleman said about the upcoming joint meeting between the LCS board and city council. Council faces four different options with the future of the task force. It could vote to reconvene the task force immediately, or vote to disband it. It also has the option of rewriting the charter for the task force with a different scope of responsibilities. Or, it could vote to reconstitute the task force with new people and a very specific scope of duties, mostly based on the upcoming facilities assessment thats due back March 22 as well. I am not sure the task force, as currently scoped, is the appropriate vehicle given the moment, Wright said, which is why I seconded the call for additional discussion and a meeting with the school board. Wrights concerns are about the task force being the vehicle to get things done in the city while there are two bodies, city council and the school board, that are supposed to address the issues of the task force. Nelson, the other task force member on city council, believes there is no harm in reconvening the committee, at least until the facilities study comes back. Lynchburg City Council and the school board do not need to be acting without the insights that the task force can provide for them, Nelson said, and in the last hour of discussing this, I have not heard one single good reason as to why any member of city council would not want and need and have to hear a report from the task force. It only helps us. At-large City Councilor Treney Tweedy, who served six years on the Lynchburg City School Board, said council is kicking the can down the road by moving the discussions again. The school board tends to not want to be a political body, Tweedy said, but this becomes political. So I would say the school board ... punted to those responsible politically. And so I think the school board did a creative punt. Lets put those in charge of being in the hot seat in this community for education in the responsibility seat of how to go forward. She later expressed her opinion there isnt a need for a task force going forward. The issue of the task force will come back to both bodies at their joint meeting scheduled for March 22 at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. The two sides also will discuss the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget at the meeting. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RICHMOND In late December, the Virginia Department of Health announced a new COVID-19 testing program for unvaccinated students to help them remain in schools despite being exposed to coronavirus in a school setting. But, about a month later, the VDH ceased contact tracing, meaning school systems do not have to inform students if they are exposed to the virus in a school setting. When introduced, the Virginia test-to-stay model recommended eligible students, either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated students, take a rapid antigen test every day for five consecutive days (excluding weekends and holidays) after being informed they were exposed and considered a close contact. If the daily test was negative, the student was allowed to come to school instead of quarantining. The test-to-stay program still is in existence, but now it is up to a students discretion to receive the free test kits. Test-to-stay is a strategy that allows students who are close contacts of individuals with COVID-19 to remain in the classroom instead of quarantining at home, Gauri Raval, physician consultant to the VDH COVID-19 taskforce school support unit, said in an interview. The reasoning for not expanding the program to vaccinated students is because since they have received the vaccine and remain asymptomatic, they are not recommended to quarantine upon being exposed, Ravel said. While participating school systems report how many students have taken part in the test-to-stay program, the VDH did not collect student quarantine data prior to the start of the testing program. We cannot determine the change in the number of students having to quarantine at home as a result of Test to Stay, Raval said. It also remains unclear how the test-to-stay program is curbing student quarantine numbers because contact tracing no longer is required in K-12 schools. Its hard to measure the success of the program because the VDH has not reported any results on what the testing looks like in a school system or even a single school, said Elizabeth Prom-Wormley, a VCU professor in the epidemiology department. In fairness to them [VDH], this is a lot of work it is a highly intensive resource endeavor, she said. Given the test-to-stay strategy is focused on those who are unvaccinated, at this point, Prom-Wormley doesnt know if its a truly effective strategy as its not being implemented to everyone, meaning including those who are vaccinated. The rollout was probably a little bit late, with what was happening with omicron, Prom-Wormley said. Unfortunately youre always running a race against the virus and whats happening with the virus. By the end of last year, daily coronavirus cases escalated because of the omicron variant. If theres a silver lining, we use this time now that were coming off of omicron to gather ourselves, reflect, prepare and fortify ourselves for the next variant, its possible that we might be able to double down on this approach for the next time and really do a good job, Prom-Wormley said. Not only cant VDH determine if student quarantines are down thanks to the test-to-stay program, neither can school systems in the Richmond area. In late January, the Chesterfield County Public School district began receiving test kits from the state health department. The district first received 4,536 test kits that were divided equally among schools, with the priority going to unvaccinated students. Due to demand, Chesterfield received an additional 3,672 kits. When asked if Chesterfield has seen a drop in student quarantines since implementing the program, schools spokesperson Shawn Smith said in an email, there are several factors to consider and movement in quarantine numbers cannot definitively be correlated to one particular action. Chesterfield employees can request separate at-home tests from the district. Since implementing the test-to-stay program in early February, only 16 Henrico County Public Schools students have participated as of March 8, according to a schools spokesperson. So far, the district has received 4,800 test kits and may request more if the stockpile runs out. A separate supply of home test kits is available to all school employees, who can request a test every week. Richmond Public Schools implemented its test-to-stay program in mid-January. Questions regarding the number of tests, cost of the program and student quarantine rates were directed to a FOIA request. Families whose children attend Hanover County Public Schools are able to request a take-home COVID-19 test from their school nurse while supplies last. The district has an ample amount of tests currently, schools spokesperson Chris Whitley said. The school district, in partnership with BetterMed Urgent Care, provides employees with free rapid tests upon request. RICHMOND School superintendents across Virginia on March 10 criticized recent efforts by Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration to target divisive concepts and equity initiatives in the states schools, saying the administrations work could set public education in Virginia back many years. In a blunt letter representing the views of all 133 state superintendents, the school leaders challenged a recent report by Youngkin education officials that criticized ongoing efforts to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in education as discriminatory, and that sought to downplay the role of systemic racism in fostering those disparities. They also protested not being consulted before the administration moved to remove nearly every diversity and equity-focused resource on the education departments website. Division superintendents disagree with your assumption that discriminatory and divisive concepts have become widespread in Virginia school divisions without your having involved educators in formulating that position or without having provided evidence to support that position, reads the letter, which the Virginia Association of School Superintendents sent Thursday morning to state Superintendent Jillian Balow. Balow said in a statement: The letter fails to reflect the good faith efforts of which the Secretary and I joined the conversation, a reference to Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera. The specific requests listed in the letter are actions that the Secretary and I offered to the superintendents as a way to keep open productive channels of communication that could lead to partnership and ensure we are serving all students in Virginia. The letter illustrates a rift between the states school division leaders and the new Youngkin administration. Superintendents said they were not consulted or offered an early look before the state released the report or scrapped the resources. Moving forward, they asked for mutual respect from the administration. The letter comes two weeks after the Youngkin administration published an interim report on signs of inherently divisive concepts and Critical Race Theory in the states initiatives and resources. Youngkin, who campaigned heavily on reforming the way schools teach students about race, directed the audit in the first executive order he signed on Jan. 15, the day he was inaugurated. The memo describes affirmative action policies in schools as discriminatory, suggests that historic discrimination in education might not be to blame for disparate outcomes among students of color, and rejects the idea that white people may unwittingly benefit from systemic racism and discrimination. The report made the case that schools have unduly emphasized equitable outcomes over equal opportunity. The memo defended the scrapping of EdEquityVA, a state initiative that promoted equity and diversity through resources for school districts. That included an entire website dedicated to increasing cultural competency among Virginia teachers, and a suggested readings list that includes historian and MacArthur Fellow Ibram X. Kendi. In the March 10 letter, school leaders said the work that Youngkin officials scrapped involved many quality educators over a number of years and was meant to provide support for the success of children in underserved communities and in select population groups. The school leaders also took issue with the emphasis on equal opportunity over equitable outcomes. They said focusing on equal opportunities without considering the factors that could impact student achievement among students of color or those in low-income families could set public education in Virginia back many years. Division superintendents disagree with your using equitable outcomes as the basis for determining what divisive concepts are and unilaterally suggesting that this approach is discriminatory, the letter reads. Quality education in Virginia has to be more than providing opportunities and hoping for the best. Virginias accountability system relies heavily on student outcomes, not opportunities. The superintendents also said, A tip line for parents to report divisive content to the Governor impedes positive relationships; therefore, the tip line needs to be terminated. Ben Kiser, the executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, said the associations members are hoping for a constructive relationship with the administration, but are generally dissatisfied with how the administration has derided Virginia schools. Youngkin rode into office on promises to restore excellence to education in Virginia. We take issue with that perspective and generalization, said Kiser, arguing that Virginia schools generally enjoy high rankings among other states. U.S. News and World Report, for example, ranks Virginia as 10th in the nation, a ranking based on standardized test scores, graduation rates and preschool enrollment. Kiser said he spoke to Balow on March 10 about the letter, and that she seemed receptive. I suggested that we use this point in time as a reset and start working collaboratively, Kiser said. In six weeks, Balow is scheduled to release a final report on divisive concepts, per Youngkins executive order. In the letter, the school leaders urged Balow to quickly establish a work group including a diverse group of superintendents from across the state, including superintendents of color. They said the agenda for the work group must include clarity on the administrations understanding of equity, opportunity, and access. Richmond Times-Dispatch staff writer Michael Martz contributed to this report. P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter LP The election of new officers, the naming of committee chairs and the announcement of new programs and guest speakers for the upcoming season were at the top of the list when Chapter LP of the P.E.O. Sisterhood met at 1 on Tuesday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 600 Bluffs St. Members were warmly greeted and served refreshments by co-hostesses Darlene Schwarzkopf and Monica Sciortino. Duly elected president and officers for Chapter LP for 2022 and 2023 are: Beverly Fletcher, president, who will be joined at the helm by Vice President Sciortino; Karen Behrens, treasurer and Carol Collins, recording secretary. Other officers elected to serve include: Debra Ebke, corresponding secretary; Chaplin and Alternate Katie Wright and Darlene Schwarzkopt; Assuming the position of guard will be Pauline Larsen. Sciortino was appointed to represent the chapter at the P.E.O. Iowa State Convention in May. Eighteen committees and appointed Chairs were announced and circulated in a printed format among whom were two chapter representatives appointed to serve on the board of directors of Reciprocity. They are: Cheryl Punteney, president, and Karen Behrens. Reciprocity is a clearing house for eight P.E.O. Chapters in Council Bluffs and Treynor. A thematic program series was announced for the upcoming season as Celebrating the City of Council Bluffs in its 176th Birthday Year. Highlighting each meeting will be distinguished guest speakers to discuss and illustrate periods of historical interest in the life of the developing city -- of special interest to native Iowans. Members of Chapter LP will meet again on Tuesday afternoon, March 22 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church for the installation of new officers. Southbound Interstate 29 at Ninth Avenue is expected to be closed to traffic on Tuesday, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. The move begins the next phase of interstate reconstruction in Council Bluffs. Several closures and detours will be in place to prepare for this traffic shift, the department said. On Sunday night, the Ninth Avenue ramp to southbound I-29 will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow workers to restripe pavement. On Monday night, southbound I-29 will close between 16th Street and Ninth Avenue from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow workers to set up the new traffic configuration, the department said. The 25th Street, Avenue G, eastbound I-480 and Ninth Avenue ramps will also be closed. Starting Tuesday morning, southbound I-29 will be closed at Ninth Avenue for approximately eight months. All southbound traffic will be shifted to the Southbound Frontage Road. Traffic not destined for Council Bluffs should use detour routes. Local traffic will be detoured at Ninth Avenue through the intersection, according to the department. The DOT said it is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29 and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metro area as part of the Council Bluffs Interstate Improvement Program. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate, the department said. For more information or to sign up for alerts, go to CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov. Contact the program office at 712-216-3339 or email info@CouncilBluffsInterstate.com. The Iowa DOT reminded motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts. The latest traveler information is available at 511ia.org, by calling 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide). Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. A Chair of Moroccan Hebrew Law will be established at the University Mohammed V in Rabat to promote research on Moroccan Hebrew law. The convention establishing the Chair was signed in Essaouira, during a ceremony marked by the presence of Advisor to the King and President-Founder of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, Andre Azoulay. With the creation of the Chair on Hebrew Law in Morocco, Essaouira has another first to its credit, which now vividly embodies the centrality of diversity at the highest level of our university courses, said Andre Azoulay. The Royal Advisor praised the emblematic voluntarism of the prestigious Mohammed V University of Rabat which, in partnership with the Hebrew Law Research Center of Bayt Dakira, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Essaouira-Mogador Association, chose to carry on the baptismal fronts a Chair which will be a milestone in history. With the creation of the Chair on Hebrew Law in Morocco, Essaouira has achieved another milestone that embodies the centrality of diversity at the highest level of our university curricula, he said surveying the initiatives made since the launch, nearly two years ago, of school curricula that were reviewed and corrected to teach our children the richness, depth and legitimacy of all civilizations that, over the millennia, have nourished and determined the uniqueness of our society. The Chair is meant to promote research in the field of Hebrew law in Morocco, to be a platform of exchange and debate on relations and dialogue between Islam and Judaism as well as an archives center on the subject matter. It will also enhance the Moroccan experience of rabbinical jurisdictions both in their organization and in their jurisprudential production. This chair also seeks to contribute to setting up training courses in Hebrew law in Morocco, to conceive and implement research programs by national and foreign researchers (doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows), to organize doctoral supervision workshops, to program and oversee scientific meetings and to establish any institutional cooperation in relation with its missions. Under the terms of the two-year binding convention, the parties are committed to appoint, as honorary chairperson of the Chair, a personality known for his or her commitment to peace, tolerance and interreligious dialogue, and a director of the Chair who will oversee the coordination of its bodies and the monitoring of its programs and activities. A Steering Council will also be appointed to contribute to the strategic orientation of the Chair, to the evaluation of its general activity and to its outreach. It will be composed of representatives of the University and the Hebrew Research Center of Bayt Dakira, as well as an academic team of the Chair, which includes researchers and experts in Hebrew law and interreligious dialogue. It will be responsible for developing the Chairs research programs and coordinating its scientific activities. Any organization or institution wishing to support the Chairs projects and activities are welcome as partners. Under the convention, the Chair will grant annual scholarships to deserving Moroccan doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows, will facilitate researchers participation in national and international scientific events, and cover the costs of publishing research work carried out within the framework of the Chair. The convention was signed by President of Mohammed V University Mohammed Rhachi; President of Moroccos Hebrew La Research Center of Bayt Dakira Abdellah Ouzitane; and President of Essaouira-Mogador Association Tarik Ottmani. European Union Commissioner for Neighborhood & Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has welcomed the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco for a lasting and peaceful resolution of the Sahara regional conflict. We welcome the positive, serious and credible efforts made by Morocco for the resolution of the Sahara issue, said Mr. Varhelyi at a joint press conference held Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan Foreign minister Nasser Bourita. The European Union supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, added the European Commissioner, stressing the need to advance the UN-led political process to achieve a just, realistic, pragmatic, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara conflict. We encourage ALL parties to continue on this path, in a spirit of realism and compromise and in accordance with the UN resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council on the Sahara, underlined Commissioner Varhelyi The European Commissioner also commended the leading role of King Mohammed VI in the implementation of a large-scale program of national reforms. We commend the leading role of HM King Mohammed VI in the implementation of an ambitious national reform program which is fully in line with our economic and investment plan, he said. The European official highlighted the depth of the Morocco-EU partnership which concerns a range of priorities, including the development of the African continent, security, the fight against terrorism, but also all the major global issues which must be faced together. He added that during his talks with Moroccan officials, the two sides reaffirmed the shared interest to ensure regional prosperity, stability and security. The EU Commission also expressed gratefulness to Morocco for its persistent endeavors in the area of irregular migration, underlining that the EU is ready to contribute on its part to facilitate this endeavor because, he said, we are both convinced that irregular migration is a source of instability and vulnerability for the region. After their talks and joint press conference, Varhelyi and Bourita inked the document launching LINK UP AFRICA, a landmark project in EU-Morocco partnership. This project is based on the priority given by Morocco and the EU to the development of cooperation with Africa by relying on a triangular Morocco-EU cooperation approach for the benefit of African States. Mauritanian Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal started Thursday a working visit to Morocco, during which he will co-chair with the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, the eighth session of the Moroccan-Mauritanian High Joint Commission. The eighth session of the Moroccan-Mauritanian High Joint Commission, to be held Friday, will open new prospects for the consolidation of cooperation between Morocco and Mauritania, and provides the opportunity to establish fruitful partnerships in many areas. The session will highlight by the signing of twelve cooperation agreements covering sixteen sectors, including trade development, investment, agriculture, education, youth and training. Preparations for the session began on Wednesday in Rabat, with the participation of a number of ministerial representatives from both countries. Libyan authorities have arrested six Tunisian fishermen in Libyan waters after they departed from Al Ketf port, Webdo Tunis reports. The move, the media reveals, came public after a man in Jebeniana, in the Sfax governorate in Tunisia, Thursday called on local and Libyan authorities to secure the release of his son who is among the arrestees. The men were reportedly arrested after leaving the Libyan local port Al Ketf. This is the second action against Tunisian fishermen in Libya in two years. In May 2020, a group of Libyan armed men seized two Tunisian fishing boats with 25 men onboard in Tunisian waters. The war in Ukraine will not affect Moroccos wheat supply but will have an impact on prices, said government spokesman Mustapha Baitas. Morocco has a diversified wheat basket with Russia and Ukraine representing 25% and 11% of Moroccan supplies respectively, he said. Morocco does not import hard wheat from the two Black Sea markets, he said. Head of Moroccan millers federation told Medias24 that soft wheat stockpiles cover 5 months. Morocco subsidizes the price of wheat delivered to industrial millers at a standard piece of 270 DH, the difference is paid by the state budget through the compensation fund. Separately, the minister attributed the soaring tomato prices to the huge demand on the Moroccan produce at the international market and to brokers. On Thursday, several cabinet members held a meeting to discuss the national economic and financial situation, examine the potential impacts of the Ukrainian crisis on the Moroccan economy and propose solutions to economic operators to deal with the current situation. The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and of Economy and Finance, Bank Al-Maghrib (Central Bank), Tamwilcom, the Exchange Office and the presidents of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Professional Group of Moroccan Banks (GPBM). After serving for 42 years in education, Lake School Principal Chris Vieyra decided to retire at the end of this school year. On Thursday, she was honored by teachers from Lake, Cody and Washington elementary schools as a surprise organized by Cody Principal Tami Eshleman. The teachers, who were at Lake School for professional development, brought books to donate to the Court Appointed Special Advocates program for children of Lincoln County. Each of the books will have a sticker indicating it was given in honor of Chris Vieyra. This was a total surprise to me, Vieyra said. Its hard to put into words. I feel like I have gained so much more from the people and the students Ive worked with over the years than Ive ever given them. She said her career has been the best 42 years of her life. Its overwhelming, Vieyra said. You dont do what you do for this kind of stuff, the accolades. You do it because you love kids. Deirdre Nichelson, CASA executive director, was on hand to accept the books. The books are a big deal, Nichelson said, because lots of times when the children come into the system, CASA will do whats called Operation Suitcase. Through various grants, the program provides the children with necessities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, clothing and school supplies. It doesnt include personal items such as books, Nichelson said. For them to have their own brand new book thats just for them is just a big deal. The books offers a way for a foster parent and a child to read together and discuss the book, Nichelson said. I just wanted to honor Chris for her years of service and her heart for children, Eshleman said. Also, I think as schools we need to partner with our community agencies that help support our students outside of the classroom. The former Sears building at 304 E. Fifth St. in historic downtown North Platte features a new look. Venue304 offers a space that can host conventions, meetings, weddings and receptions in a convenient location. Owner Alan Hirschfeld purchased the Walker-Rhoads building at 304 E. Fifth St. in 1998-99 from his cousins. His grandfather Edward Walker owned the construction company that built the original building. After sitting unused for several years other than the annual Crowns and Gowns event, the building has been remodeled and will offer a space that can seat up to 300 people. Its nice to have a big, open space that can hold large gatherings in town, said Abbie Pack, manager of Hirschfelds Prom Shoppe. Weve lost a lot of convention centers over the last few years for a lot of different reasons. She said North Platte lacks spaces that can accommodate the types of events she hopes will bring revenue into the community. I think its great to have it downtown, Pack said. Its in a good part of downtown where theres a lot going on at the Fox Theatre, right around the corner at the Espresso Shop and also fun restaurants. Pack said the space was designed to give people the freedom to set it up as they would like. There is a bar setup that can serve other functions. Inside the entrance is a counter area that can serve for check-in or as a second bar or a gift table. We tried to leave it very open and clean for people to be able to put their own touches on it to cater to their particular type of event, Pack said. This space isnt just all about weddings or just all about meetings or one certain thing. We really want it to be a space that can be used by anybody for any type of event. A couple of smaller rooms offer breakout spaces for meetings or a bridal changing suite. It is one of my favorite rooms, Pack said. Its a great addition to the main floor. She said the smaller room may be rented on its own as well, but Pack said they are still working through the process. We havent made any firm decisions on anything yet because we want to see what people need and go from there, Pack said. Were really trying to be open-minded to what the possibilities are. Another area that Pack is working on will offer a unique setting for any number of events. One cool thing we dont have done yet, but Im real excited about it, is the garage space, Pack said. On the west side (Bailey Street) are three large garage doors. Were going to turn that into an outdoor patio, Pack said. If someone is having a wedding, people can come sit out here and the garage doors will go up. You could have your wedding ceremony in here and have your reception inside. The garage space should be completed by the end of May in time for warmer weather. Were not going to do a whole lot with it because we want to leave it with that garage feeling, Pack said. People will be able to rent the garage space separately for a birthday party or other small event. There is a also a warming or catering kitchen with coolers and stainless steel sinks. A room, or flex space, off the front of the kitchen can be used for a buffet line. Tables and chairs are available as well. To make this a nicer space, we got real wood cross-back chairs rather than folding chairs or metal chairs, Pack said. Just something that was a little more unique and special. Venue304 is booking events for 2022 and 2023. Information is available on the Venue304 Facebook page or at venue304.com or by calling 308-534-8700. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. A street damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/Shutterstoc On Friday at the White House, President Biden said that Russia would pay a severe price if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine a possibility his administration has been warning about for days. Biden made the statement amid a rising tide of Russian and Chinese misinformation surrounding unsubstantiated claims from the Russian government that the U.S. is running biological-weapons labs in Ukraine. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki rejected that idea, saying that Russia has a history of inventing outright lies to obscure its own intentions. Previously, Psaki had invoked Russias history of chemical attacks in Syria and on internal opposition figures and warned that the bioweapon-lab claims were part of a possible pretext for chemical or biological attacks by Russia. A spokesperson for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the Russian claim, while the United Nations said that they are unaware of any activity which is inconsistent with its international treaty obligations, including on chemical weapons or biological weapons. The bioweapon-lab allegation is not new to this war: In 2020, the State Department under President Trump issued a denial similar to Psakis. That year, the American Embassy in Ukraine said that the US Department of Defenses Biological Threat Reduction Program works with the Ukrainian government to consolidate and secure pathogens and toxins of security concern in Ukrainian government facilities, while allowing for peaceful research and vaccine development. But a lack of evidence has not stopped the idea from catching on outside of Russia. Since the Ukraine invasion, Chinese officials and state media have also repeated the bioweapons line, including at a Foreign Ministry press conference this week marking a new level of coordination between the countries on disinformation. I cant think of another active propaganda campaign by Russia that has gotten this level of boost from China, Bret Schafer, a disinformation tracker for the Alliance for Securing Democracy, told the New York Times. I havent seen this volume around something like this. The idea has also been accepted among some American conservatives, including Donald Trump Jr. and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. In a Fox News segment this week, Tucker Carlson suggested the U.S. could be engaging in a disinformation campaign by claiming the other guy was mounting a disinformation campaign. Western intelligence officials remain worried about what this all means for Russias battlefield plans. Weve seen Russia use these weapons before in fields of conflict, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told CNN on Thursday. We should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false-flag operation using them, Jen Psaki said earlier this week. When asked if chemical-weapons use would result in the deployment of U.S. troops in Ukraine, she replied, We dont have any intention to do that. The book was silly; the consequences were severe. Photo: Dover Publications An assistant principal in Mississippi is out of a job after reading a childrens book to second-graders over Zoom. Toby Price told PEN America that the book, I Need a New Butt, by Dawn McMillan, is fun and silly. In an email interview, he told the advocacy group that I firmly believe reluctant readers need to be allowed to see that books can be fun and silly. Once they see books can be fun, theyll stick around to discover all the other wonderful things books can be. The Hinds County School District disagreed. Officials placed Price on administrative leave about an hour after the event, the Washington Post reported. Two days later, he was fired. A termination letter provides some insight into the school districts reasoning. In it, superintendent Delesicia Martin accused Price of reading inappropriate words like fart, and said that the book included equally inappropriate imagery, like an illustration of the protagonists naked butt. Your actions showed a lack of professionalism and impaired judgment, Martin wrote. Based on these incidents, the district can no longer trust you to complete your job responsibilities. Price, who has special-needs children, is now trying to raise money to fund an attorney and pay for medications. Prices situation is extreme, but it may soon become common. The educator finds himself on the business end of a nationwide assault on academic freedom in public schools. From the teaching of critical race theory to LGBT content in classrooms, conservatives are training their attention and movement man power on education, to the detriment of teachers like Price. Shortly after Tennessee legislators passed a bill banning the teaching of critical race theory, a school district in the eastern region of the state fired teacher Matthew Hawn for presenting lessons on racism in his contemporary-issues course. At a hearing, a local school official criticized Hawn for assigning an essay by Ta-Nehisi Coates, saying that maybe a more conservative stance would have been an appropriate alternative. Martin, in Mississippi, didnt cite politics in her termination of Price. Yet it remains true that educators across the country are facing a form of scrutiny that transcends simple transparency. Educators were frequent targets of the right, well before activists like Christopher Rufo manufactured a panic over the way schools teach students about racism or LGBT issues. Now it appears that educators have little room to introduce students to a full range of ideas and concepts a critical part of any well-rounded education. If Prices fun, silly book proved too spicy for Hinds County, educators elsewhere must be on notice. Thats bad for students and teachers alike. Prices story may not be over. Hes entitled to a hearing, and on Friday, news of his firing had begun to generate significant outrage on social media. But if Hawns case says anything about the headwinds educators now face, Price may have a difficult time winning back his job. His livelihood is at stake, and all over a childrens book about butts. For a hot minute in 2021, Larry Elder looked like a potential Republican governor of California. He wont make the mistake of running again. Photo: Ashley Landis/AP/Shutterstock It was a strategic decision that made a lot of sense at the time. In 2021, Californias Republican Party, which was sinking into chronic minority status, went for broke on recalling Democratic governor Gavin Newsom instead of focusing their resources on the 2022 midterm election, in which they might normally expect to make gains. They had what looked like a perfect-storm opportunity to go after Newsom: a low-turnout recall election where Republicans who loathed the governor as an embodiment of San Franciscos progressive elite would go to the polls en masse, smiting him as Democrats snoozed. COVID-19, and Newsoms huge gaffe in getting himself photographed violating his own regulations, made small-business owners and parents upset about lockdown policies potential recall supporters. The pandemic also led the courts to give recall-petition organizers plenty of extra time to gather signatures. Multiple Republican leaders including former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer, 2018 Republican candidate John Cox, celebrity athlete and reality star Caitlyn Jenner, and veteran radio gabber Larry Elder signed up to run as replacement candidates, and for a while it looked like Newsom was in big trouble. But in the end, Democrats woke up and rallied behind Newsom, whose anti-recall campaign successfully made the vote a referendum on Republican extremism rather than his own missteps. It certainly helped that California sent mail ballots with a prepaid return envelope to every registered voter; voting to save Newsoms bacon was very easy. In the end, 62 percent of voters rejected the recall bid in the balloting that concluded on September 14, 2021. The identification of Republicans with former president Donald Trump was underlined when Larry Elder, who came out on top in the ultimately irrelevant replacement contest, claimed voter fraud without a shred of evidence even before the voting ended. So an election that was supposed to create a breakthrough for Republicans and a springboard into 2022 instead left the California GOP defeated, leaderless, and closely tied to a MAGA movement that is about as vibrant in California as the Democratic Socialists are in North Dakota. And its looking like the party wont put up much of a fight against a second full term for Newsom. As Politico reports, the politicians who flooded the replacement ballot in 2021 are one by one taking themselves out of a doomed 2022 gubernatorial contest: Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconers camp confirmed to POLITICO on Thursday that Faulconer would not contest Newsoms reelection push this year. With that, every high-profile Republican who ran to replace Newsom in last years recall has bowed out of the 2022 contest Conservative talk show and top replacement candidate vote-getter host Larry Elder removed himself from the running months ago, and businessperson John Cox Newsoms 2018 opponent did the same more recently. Assemblymember Kevin Kiley is running for Congress. Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner has not sought a second act in California politics. It looks like the field to challenge Newsom is mostly composed of anonymous schmoes who could struggle to survive a top-two primary and make it to the general election. (With Republicans scattered, a progressive protest candidate could be able to win enough votes to earn the right to be trounced by Newsom in November). A weak top-of-the-ballot presence in 2022 could damage Republican hopes of denting the Democratic supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, or to defending the U.S. House gains they made in 2020. Could a national midterm wave lift California Republicans to a position where they can exceed their low expectations for 2022? Perhaps. Though its worth remembering that the GOPs long losing streak in statewide elections began in 2010, which was nationally the best Republican election since 1946. That year Republicans had the insanely well-financed Meg Whitman running for governor and future presidential candidate Carly Fiorina running for the U.S. Senate, and they both lost big. They have nothing like that kind of high-life talent available to them for 2022 and may miss yet another great opportunity. A woman walks past billboards bearing images of Vladimir Putin with the messages Russia does not start wars, it ends them and We will aim for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine on March 4 in Simferopol, Crimea. Photo: Stringer/AFP via Getty Images When Senator Lindsey Graham suggested last week that someone should assassinate Vladimir Putin as a means of resolving the international crisis over Russias invasion of Ukraine, he was rightly raked over the coals for making such a breathtakingly irresponsible statement. The last thing the world needs right now is to make Putin even more paranoid than he already is. Indeed, the Biden administration has taken pains not to appear to endorse regime change in Moscow. Secretary of State Antony Blinken navigated that question carefully in an interview on Sunday: For us, its not about regime change. Thats the Russian people have to decide who they want to lead them. Yet beneath Grahams recklessness, his ill-conceived tweet reflects a fantasy that has surely crossed everyones mind in recent days: Wouldnt it be nice if Putin would just disappear? After all, if the Russian president somehow vanished from the earth tomorrow, peace in Ukraine would suddenly look a lot more achievable. In the bigger picture, Putins absence would clear a path for Russia to pivot away from his aggressive, neo-imperialist campaign of revenge against the postCold War world order. Unfortunately for Ukraine and Russia, Putin seems to have no intention of changing course, no matter how badly the war is going for him. Until Monday, statements from Putin and his top officials repeatedly indicated that he was unwilling to talk peace under any conditions except the total surrender and capitulation of Ukraine or, in Putins parlance, demilitarization and denazification. The Kremlin on Monday softened its tone somewhat, saying Russia would stop the assault if Ukraine ceases its military action (whatever that means in the context of a country under siege), recognizes Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and the separatist pseudo-states in Donetsk and Luhansk, and amends its constitution to declare that it will never join any alliance (i.e., NATO). This new list of demands may seem like a step-down and may even be a sign that Putin is afraid of losing this war, but it remains a threat, not an offer: Cede territory we captured by force (and make it easy for us to take more of your territory later), or the carnage will continue. The effort to frame this as a reasonable compromise is likely a ploy to make Kyiv reject the deal (which it has) and use that as justification for further escalation. It should be clear to Putin by now that the Ukrainians will absolutely not allow him to turn their country back into a Russian vassal state, no matter how much damage the invasion does. Yet it is hard to see him pulling his forces out of Ukraine without his desired pound of flesh. As the unstoppable force of Putins intransigence meets the immovable object of the Ukrainian peoples resolve, the outcome will be an endless stream of bloodshed and destruction. In this context, it is understandable to wish for a world in which Putin is out of the picture though, for several reasons, it would be better if that happened through a less violent means than assassination. And its not wrong to point out that its up to the Russian people themselves to make that happen. This raises three key questions: First, is there (or will there be) enough anti-Putin sentiment in Russia to make that possible? Second, who in Russia actually has the ability to topple the president, and would they actually do it? And finally, what can the U.S. and NATO do to nudge Russia toward a post-Putin era without explicitly advocating regime change? Under Putin, Russia has become what political scientists call a personalist dictatorship, wherein power is concentrated primarily or exclusively in one individual. This means there are no real mechanisms for other arms of the Russian state to veto Putins decisions or take away his ability to make them. Putins closest associates and advisers are either fanatically loyal or cowed into submission, and he doesnt hear the word no from them often. This makes it extremely difficult to influence his decisions through outside pressure, much less to sideline him. At the same time, it underscores how different things could be in Moscow if he were no longer in power. One potential route to Putins overthrow would be a popular uprising, but the most apparent obstacle to that is his widespread popularity. While its hard to know what to make of public-opinion polling in an authoritarian police state, the independent Levada Center put his level of public support at 71 percent in February before the invasion began. The impact of the war and the international response to it have yet to be captured fully in surveys. However, large segments of the Russian population appear to be either affirmatively pro Putin, checked out politically, or afraid to express a negative opinion about the government. Despite increasingly draconian laws making it more difficult and dangerous to protest, thousands of Russians have been taking to the streets to demonstrate against the war in Ukraine (which they are no longer legally allowed to call a war at all). On Sunday, more than 4,600 people were detained at demonstrations in at least 65 Russian cities, and more than 13,000 protesters have been detained nationwide since the war began, according to the rights group OVD-Info. Antiwar activism is heavily repressed in Russia, but many Russians are trying to make their voices heard. In addition to public protests, online petitions have circulated, groups of professionals have issued open letters against the war (and been fired for it), and even micro-schisms in the Russian Orthodox church are happening. Today, anti-war protests are being held throughout Russia. Keep in mind every single protester you see risks a 15-year sentence for speaking out today. A snapshot: MOSCOW:https://t.co/amuXOjil2q Eva Hartog (@EvaHartog) March 6, 2022 250 people, including journalists, detained at today's anti-what-can't-be-named-in-Russia, protest in Novosibirsk, Siberia. The courage Russian protesters are showing is beyond inspirationProtesting war in despite the threat of 15 yrs imprisonment.pic.twitter.com/zLraeCDFlI Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) March 6, 2022 Unfortunately, most Russians are able to see this war only through the lens of state propaganda. The surreal alternate reality they see on television is one in which Ukraine is run by drug-addicted neo-Nazis who are committing genocide against Russian speakers, seek to arm Ukraine with nuclear and biological weapons, and are pawns in an American-led scheme to threaten Russia with nuclear war. According to the propaganda, Russia is not bombing or shelling any Ukrainian civilians; instead, they are being killed by their own Nazi government in false-flag operations or being used as human shields. Also, Ukrainian soldiers dont actually want to fight Russia and have been surrendering en masse. Anything you see that contradicts this narrative is fake news and disinformation doctored up by the pro-Nazi West. This is what Russian pro-war news reports look like: Apocalyptic music, lists of liberated cities, the latest on Ukrainian attacks, pro-war rallies in Moscow, and tears from grateful residents in Ukraines east. A stunning projection of a parallel reality. pic.twitter.com/qZvgOuPHAB Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) March 7, 2022 Meanwhile, the Kremlin has launched an unprecedented crackdown on any information that contradicts the official narrative on the war. It has blocked access to Facebook, forced independent Russian media outlets to close, and passed a law that makes spreading fake information about the military punishable by up to a 15-year prison sentence. That law prompted most foreign media organizations to suspend their operations in Russia and an overnight exodus of journalists from the country. Russians who arent actively looking for alternatives to the governments narrative may not encounter them at all. There is some cause for hope, in that the Kremlins obsession with choking off antiwar sentiment belies a real fear that the truth will out. Even if only from exile, independent journalists continue to report facts and try to overcome Putins fire wall of bullshit. Western governments and companies should do everything they can to help those messages get through. To that end, President Joe Biden and his administration have been working diligently and thoughtfully to speak directly to the Russian people and support the domestic antiwar movement while, again, treading carefully to avoid the appearance of promoting regime change. Meanwhile, the decisions by media platforms like Netflix and TikTok to suspend their services in Russia in response to the new fake news law, though understandably motivated by concerns for the safety of their users and employees, may do more harm than good if this means Russians have fewer ways to access independent information. The other, perhaps more straightforward path to Putins downfall from within would be a sort of palace coup by Russias ruling elites: either its business leaders and/or the political-military Establishment. One rationale behind the economic sanctions levied against Russia is that they will diminish the fortunes of the countrys elite businessmen. The hope was that if sanctions could turn the Russian oligarchy against Putin, it might use its influence to push him out or at least force him to abandon the war. The sanctions are hitting Russian elites hard, and at least a few of them have publicly broken ranks with Putin. Unfortunately, the oligarchs dont have as much influence over the Russian state as they used to: At this point, they are much more dependent on Putin than he is on them. They retain the wealth they plundered in the aftermath of the Soviet Unions collapse because Putin has let them, with the understanding that he could make it all go away. Russian political leaders have been even more reluctant to contradict the party line, though that doesnt mean they arent anxious in private. According to Russian journalist Farida Rustamova, the mood in the corridors of power is not at all happy. Many are in a state of near-paralysis. It seems most officials outside the small circle closest to Putin were blindsided by his decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and are now very worried about the consequences. They also did not foresee the severity of the sanctions the U.S. and European countries have imposed and were not prepared for the devastating impact they have had on the Russian economy. But like the oligarchs, these politicians may not have much power to push Putin aside even if they wanted to. Rustamovas sources say the only people who even knew about the plan to invade were defense minister Sergei Shoigu, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov, and a select few intelligence officials. One source, whom Rustamova describes as a good acquaintance of Putins, suggested these men are pushing Putins buttons, if not pulling his strings. Putin now seriously believes what Shoigu and Gerasimov are telling him: about how quickly theyll take Kyiv, that the Ukrainians are blowing themselves up, that Zelenskyy is a coke addict, the source told her. Herein lies the obstacle to an elite uprising against Putin: He has concentrated power tightly within a brain trust of mostly ex-KGB types like himself, many of whom are drinking from the same pitcher of imperial revisionist Kool-Aid. The prime minister and other cabinet members whose roles would make them highly influential in most governments arent part of the inner circle. For Putin to step down, either his inner circle would need to persuade him or a broader group of elites would need to come together and arrange for the hasty retirement of the entire Putin gang. Still, just because an internal ouster of Putin seems unlikely or difficult, that doesnt mean it shouldnt be gently encouraged. To that end, the U.S., E.U., and NATO should all be making plans for how to deal with a post-Putin Russia and those plans should be made as attractive as possible to Russians. Let them know that if their government ceases its aggression against Ukraine and abandons its bellicose posture, the country will be welcomed back into the European and international communities. If Russia continues along the course Putin has set, however, it will remain a pariah state, cut off from the global economy and totally dependent on China just to stay afloat. Continue to emphasize that the hardship they are facing is a direct consequence of Putins choices and that the world has no quarrel with Russia qua Russia. As long as Putin remains in power, of course, diplomatic efforts to end the war and mitigate its humanitarian costs must be directed at him and his government. At some point, though, it may be worthwhile to start talking past him as well, or at least indicate that we are prepared to do so. Russian military and political figures outside Putins inner circle should get the message that Ukraine and its supporters in the West are prepared to talk peace with a good-faith partner in Moscow. If their current leadership doesnt fit that description, well, thats a problem that can be solved. The Food Bank of East Alabama and the Auburn Housing Authority joined forces to combat hunger during spring break, and they had a secret weapon: a refrigerated van provided by the city through COVID-19 relief money. When the two organizations passed out 100 food boxes late last week at the Boykin Community Center, it was the food banks first chance to use its newly purchased refrigerated van to deliver cold and frozen foods to those in need. The 2021 Ram ProMaster was purchased through funding from the City of Auburn, courtesy of the CARES Act. In preparation for spring break, each household received one 40-pound box of assorted food staples such as can goods and cereal. And thanks to the new van, they were able to choose from a selection of frozen meat ranging from chicken to ground beef to pork. Food was provided by Feeding America, local grocery stores and donors in the area. We needed this, said Amanda Saspree, 36, who has two children. Its a struggle right now, and we have to make this food stretch for a while. Im so blessed that they can lend us a helping hand. A.J. Harris, director of public relations and compliance for the Auburn Housing Authority, said the department noticed that some children go hungry during breaks from school. Some kids in the program dont receive food every day and rely on meals at school, but when school is closed, its difficult for them, Harris said. A lot of them suffer in silence, and something had to be done about it. The Food Bank of East Alabama became a willing partner. Its not a small challenge; this is a significant challenge, said Martha Henk, executive director of Food Bank of East Alabama. Hunger is a huge problem in our community, and its unfortunate when children are plagued with the thought of having to figure out where their next meal is going to come from. According to 2021 data from Feeding America, 16,475 children in East Alabama suffered from food insecurity, including about 5,760 children in Lee County. The food bank established Spring Break Blitz, a program designed to provide food relief to families across seven East Alabama counties during spring break. It reached out to the public housing program, and the two entities began working together to plan the food drive. They enlisted the help of local volunteers and Auburn High School Key Club members to pack food boxes. Penelope Bennett, 37, said her family of four has experienced financial challenges during COVID-19, and the uncertainty of the pandemic has led her to seek food assistance, which she calls a lifesaver. When money is tight, Ill let the kids eat, and Ill take the leftovers, or Ill let them have the whole meal, and I will eat some chips or something, she said. I know that in a few years, we may not need as much help from the government and things will be better, but right now we need it. Harris said the Housing Authority plans to work together with the food bank during future school breaks. In the meantime, people are encouraged to visit the food pantry located inside the Boykin Community Center on Tuesdays from 8-10 a.m. and Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. in Auburn. Staff Writer Brad Hundt came to the Observer-Reporter in 1998 after stints at newspapers in Georgia and Michigan. He serves as editorial page editor, and has covered the arts and entertainment and worked as a municipal beat reporter. Thank you for Reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn Universitys EAGLES have a new nest to call home. The College of Education programdesigned to give students with intellectual disabilities a complete college experience while helping them achieve their employment and independent living goalsrecently opened a completely renovated facility that will help its students soar to new heights. Equipped with classrooms, a technology center, staff office space, a conference room, lobby and even a kitchen, the programs new 3,200-square-foot home in Foy Hall offers staff and students numerous resources to utilize to streamline operations and maximize the programs success. A comprehensive transition program, or CTP, EAGLES, or Education to Accomplish Growth in Life Experiences for Success, has grown to a total of 20 students in 2022 and will welcome nine freshmen in the fall. Part of the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling, or SERC, EAGLES is a non-degree program focusing on academic enrichment, the teaching of personal and social skills, independent living skills, health and wellness enhancement and integrated work experiences. EAGLES students are immersed in all aspects of Auburn campus life and now have a new state-of-the-art facility to enjoy. Our students absolutely love it, and we couldnt be happier with the way it turned out, said Betty Patten, EAGLES program director and assistant clinical professor. Its so nice here, and the atmosphere is more conducive to collaborative partnerships. Several of our staff members have stated that they cant believe this is where we get to work! This facility will help us achieve our goals and better serve the amazing students we have the pleasure of working with here at Auburn University. The facility renovation was part of the universitys ongoing construction projects approved by the Auburn Board of Trustees in 2021 and represents the latest step in the programs evolution since it began in 2018. With the support of Tyler Hand and Whitney Brock from Auburn Facilities Management and Ricky Causy from Rabren General Contractors, the renovation took place from November through early February and was a team effort among a number of Auburn constituents and partners. It took the hard work of so many people to get this done, and I cant thank them all enough for coming together to provide this amazing nest for our EAGLES, Patten said. This truly shows the investment from leadership to create a space that represents the work we do and the students we serve. We truly feel supported by everyone across campus and by the Auburn Family, and we are ready to help our EAGLES soar. The new space will allow EAGLES staff to conduct classes and meetings, conduct day-to-day business, teach an array of skills to the students through 17 program courses and train Warmhearted Individual Nurturing Great Success, or WINGS, peer mentors to help propel the program onward and upward. The facility serves as a boost for a program that continues to make a difference in the lives of Auburn students. I am very impressed by our EAGLES new nest, and I believe it is a facility that can help take our program to the next level, said College of Education Dean Jeffrey Fairbrother, who attended the facilitys grand opening along with City of Auburn Mayor Ron Anders and Auburn Board of Trustees member Sarah Newton on Feb. 23. This is the result of an impassioned collaboration among our EAGLES staffheaded by Dr. Betty PattenAuburn senior leadership, Auburn Facilities Management, area construction visionaries and multiple constituents from across campus. I am excited to see our EAGLES continue to flourish and thrive during their time at Auburn, and now they have the resources to fly higher than ever before. EAGLES students have been excited to utilize the nests resources and look forward to it enhancing their experience at Auburn. We can all come together, do class together, bond with each other and have a good time with each other, EAGLES second-year student Sadie Weldon from Mobile, Alabama, told WTVM-TV the week of the grand opening. Ive met new people, and the community here has been amazing. I love the classes that Im taking. I just love it here. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Prepare now or pay the price, a leading cyber security expert recommends. Though cyber hasnt become a dimension during Russias invasion of Ukraine, it might, and critical infrastructure, including power grids, telecommunications, water and financial services could be Russian targets in the U.S. This is an imminent national and economic security issue, said Frank Cilluffo, director of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University. One cannot assess the cyber threat in isolation of the broader geopolitical landscape. The fact that weve ratcheted up sanctions, financially and through Russian oil imports, and if were genuinely able to cut the Russian government and their oligarchs from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), that will have significant economic implications to Russia, but also increases the cyber threat to the U.S. homeland. If I can prognosticate on where this might be going, Europe is on the front lines for some of the initial cyber activity right now. In terms of Russian capabilities, we cant pat ourselves on the back and take a victory lap because we havent seen any significant cyberattacks against the West. These capabilities can be brought to bear in the future. Not to belittle the situation and refer to it as a game, but were in the early innings. Russia is no stranger to cyberattacks, said Cilluffo, who recently served as a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the Department of Homeland Securitys Advisory Council. The first-known, international, intensive cyberattack against another nation was a large-scale distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack perpetrated by Russia against Estonia back in 2007, aimed at online government services, banks and news organizations, he said. Then look at Russias invasion of Georgia in 2008, where it disrupted communications as a prelude to kinetic and physical attacks. They did the same in Crimea in 2014. Ukraine was dealt a cyber blow on Dec. 23, 2015as Russian cyber operatives knocked out the nations power grid for up to six hours. Was this a test? Ukraine, in 2015, was a practice field for Russian activity, said Cilluffo, whose opinion piece, U.S. is running out of time to prepare for a Russian cyber attack, was published Tuesday by Fox News. I believe some of this was to test their cyber capabilities and refine their tactics, techniques, procedures that can be brought to the United States. Who are Russias cyber warriors? Its difficult to know whos the puppet and whos the master, Cilluffo said. Russia has many bad actors engaged in this space. Russia has turned to criminal organizations as proxies in the past to do Mother Russias bidding. These criminals are incredibly sophisticated and behind many ransomware attacks. Therefore, preparation is vitaland ground zeroCilluffo said, is protecting the nations power grid. Without power, nothing else is up and running, Cilluffo said. Keep in mind, most of our critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, and clearly the time to marry our capabilities from government and industry should be priority one, two and three as we prepare for a cyber blowback. Whats our best defense mechanism? Technologymuch of which is already in placepeople, and collaboration between the public and private sectors. We have defense mechanisms built in to fend off attacks, so theres much capability there, said Cilluffo, who added China, North Korea and Iran to the list of potential cyber bad actors. Regardless of our capabilities, we still have significant vulnerabilities we need to backfill. No matter how good our technology is, and its getting better, well never be 100 percent secure. Cilluffo also considers the national cyber security workforce shortage as a national security issue. Great universities, such as Auburn, are playing vital roles in ameliorating that risk, but weve got a long way to go, he said. We recognize the call to action. We have an opportunity and responsibility, K through 12, to arm and educate young students with cyber training and become the next generation of cyber warriors and defenders. Cyber warfare is going to be with us for a very long time. Moving forward, every form of conflict will have a cyber dimension. I want to be sure we have the most capable cyber warriors and that our cyber defenders can minimalize the impact or consequences of bad cyber actors which, unfortunately, are growing in number by the day. https://www.yahoo.com/news/captured-russian-soldiers-dead-sent-144033819.html it's a lose-lose for the soldiers. i cant imagine being in that position, choosing between myself (and probably my family) and an innocent stranger. it's a lose-lose for the soldiers. i cant imagine being in that position, choosing between myself (and probably my family) and an innocent stranger. Reply Thread Link This is heartbreaking Reply Parent Thread Link reading some of the stories from Russian soldiers, particularly the young ones, have been really heartbreaking. It's such a devastating situation all around. Reply Parent Thread Link Bruh that clip of the mom confronting the military guy has my blood boiling. How dare he tone police her and then try to silence her with that bullshit "cant comment and criticise while the 'operation is ongoing'"??? AND HE PROUDLY SAYS HIS KID IS STUDYING? Their government has 0 regard for its own people. Idk how any Russian can watch that and feel proud. Reply Parent Thread Link You can just see/hear the script this man had been reading from. Jfc Reply Parent Thread Link dear god Reply Parent Thread Link 15 Republicans, including Boebert, Massie, Cawthorn, Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gohmert, Gosar, and Chip Roy; and 2 Democrats, Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar In esteemed company there, Reps Bush and Omar. I know both of them probably really think they were doing something with those 'no' votes, but like... hm. Anyway, I got a WaPo notification that the Senate passed a bill that included $14 bill in aid to Ukraine. I hope that helps. I am an ONTD so I only read the headline, so idk. But I hope some of that money is earmarked for helping refuges that are coming to the US and also those that remain in Ukraine's neighboring countries. Reply Thread Link I legitimately want to know how Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar think we can get Putin to stop invading without supplying Ukraine with weapons. Reply Parent Thread Link I doubt they have any clue. They just took this vote as like... ~making a point~. Which... k. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, deeply unimpressed here with the both of them. Reply Parent Thread Link I keep having this issue, because I don't understand that idea that you MUST be what they call "a pacifist" to be a leftist. I am from an european country with a socialist government and I consider myself pretty radical in that aspect, AND STILL believe we must help Ukranians and stop Putin, providing help by any means necessary for all our sakes. A politician here I used to really admire keeps saying we need to fight Putin with "precision diplomacy". What does that even mean? How do they believe Hitler was stopped? I cant... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lol the bill covers both military aid plus humanitarian aid Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder how good or bad of a thing it is that the miles long convoy dispersed. Reply Thread Link The experts think the convoy is repositioning for attack around Kyiv. We'll see how it goes for those bastards. Reply Parent Thread Link ugh really? i will delete my comment lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah that seems to be what they're trying. ... i'm not convinced they'll be super successful Reply Parent Thread Expand Link saying that she believes Russia has committed war crimes No shit, really?! I hate that Putin can commit a million war crimes and everyone else has to walk around on eggshells like "is murdering children and bombing hospitals a war crime? IDK, maybe. Might have committed a war crime when they bombed a martenity hospital but we still don't know." Because those rules that he just made up guarantee he's always right and everyone else is wrong and he can do whatever. Reply Thread Link starting a war in itself should be considered a war crime Reply Parent Thread Link ya it is odd in the year 2021 it still isn't... and should also apply internally (like countries' civil wars.. and i get the slippery slope with that but at this point idgaf) Reply Parent Thread Link Most colonial countries have participated in that or worse so in govt at least it's not in their best interest to take war crimes seriously beyond talking i don't mean it in a "oh well everyone does it so its fine" bc it is obviously horrific. just in terms of actually going after him, no country has a leg to stand on. it's depressing Edited at 2022-03-11 11:37 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I was watching CNN on the treadmill (as has become my habit) and the footage out of Mariupol was awful. And it seems like theyre really needing food and medical supplies there. Fuck. I wish there was some way to get that that humanitarian relief. Reply Thread Link I would like you to meet Polina Kovaleva. Polina is a 26-year-old glamorous Russian girl from London. She lives in a huge apartment in Kensington and loves to party, her instagram feed looks like a non-stop holiday. Thats not unheard of, but there is one small detail(THREAD) pic.twitter.com/6OsVGjPxQQ Maria Pevchikh (@pevchikh) March 10, 2022 The part about Putin and all of his too guys having two wives is so weird Not sure if this was posted here before butThe part about Putin and all of his too guys having two wives is so weird Reply Thread Link Ugh gross. And so hypocritical as fuck. Reply Parent Thread Link He had/has a mistress and impregnated her multiple times. I think he's just with her full time now since he's not with his wife anymore. Reply Parent Thread Link This stuff is kind of uncomfortable, since there are people in the replies going after random women who have the same names. Reply Parent Thread Link Kabaeva is apparently hiding in Switzerland with their (her and Putin's) kids. They all should be expelled back to Russia tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link Switzerland would never. As long as they get to launder these peoples dirty blood money, theyre good. Reply Parent Thread Link UK should go after her money but they probably won't. Reply Parent Thread Link Russia claimed the US used chemical weapons in Ukraine and im just like . Like they really want to drag us into this more. Reply Thread Link putin is ITCHING for a fight with us Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah I can tell hes foaming at the mouth to be directly involved in a conflict with the US. Thats why Zelenskys continuous plea to have a no fly zone be declared puts me on edge. I do get why hes doing it and I feel awful and like a self centered idiot for saying that. Here I am typing from home and hes not only in the war zone but a target to be taken out. Reply Parent Thread Link He knows Biden and the US won't do a thing no matter what. They won't come. He's doing this to make a point and make the US look untrusty. Reply Parent Thread Link I dont think so. He knows you guys would obliterate his ass. Hes just showing the world he can bomb newborn babies and nobody will come to stop it. Reply Parent Thread Link Russia claiming this so that they can use chemical weapons and then be like "they did it first!" (even though we didn't). Reply Parent Thread Link also equating biomedical research with bioweapon research. unless russia is trying to say that all the conspiracy theories about their closest ally are true, they need to stop this depraved shit. Reply Parent Thread Link It took a minute to load this and i was like omg i missed the end Reply Thread Link A historic night at Versailles. After five hours of heated discussions EU leaders said yes to Ukrainian eurointegration. The process started. Now it is up to us and Ukrainians to accomplish it fast. Heroic Ukrainian nation deserves to know that they are welcome in EU. Gitanas Nauseda (@GitanasNauseda) March 11, 2022 Reply Thread Link Great news Reply Parent Thread Link YES !!! Reply Parent Thread Link The EU doing something honorable for once. Reply Parent Thread Link But it won't happen quickly, so it will take a decade probably. Reply Parent Thread Link I hate how right you are, but I'm (naively?) hoping for the best. Sigh. Reply Parent Thread Link fuckin finally! Reply Parent Thread Link kamala please save my ontd Reply Thread Link I have this sense of dread like no matter what any of our governments do or don't do it's still going to end up fucked in the end. Reply Thread Link It'll be a long recovery for Ukraine regardless. Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I feel like I'm losing time to just sitting in a daze of fear recently. Reply Parent Thread Link You and me both. Reply Parent Thread Link Rep. Omars Statement on Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act: pic.twitter.com/qhcyySTGQS Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) March 10, 2022 Representative Omar released a statement about her Nay vote today. Reply Thread Link i own a hybrid and support moving away from fossil fuel but this statement feels very, idk. I guess she hasnt seen that Biden is also set to announce that he, along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, will move to revoke most favored nation trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine Reply Parent Thread Link Her statement leads me to think she believes those kinds of sanctions and downgrades hurt the Russian people more than anything else either way. So perhaps even knowing that wouldn't have changed her vote. I would rather she and Bush had abstained, at worst. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Her concerns seem like the kinds of things that can be addressed next year or the year after or the year after. The lack of a sunset date doesn't seem that urgent. Really if you find yourself in the company of Marjorie Taylor Greene Paul Gosar and Madison Cawthorn maybe sit out that vote, especially if it is as she states Biden can do it anyway. Although it is better to have Congress on board. Edited at 2022-03-11 05:21 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My statement on the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act pic.twitter.com/ehNb4LIMbi Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) March 10, 2022 And here is Representative Bush's statement Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Both of these replies are such nothing burgers. Voting yes and then putting out a statement saying this is all well and good but we need to do more would have had the same effect WITHOUT the shocking move of voting against humanitarian aid to people who are being slaughtered as we speak. Its honestly staggering to me theyd choose such nebulous, vague reasons to say no and invite this kind of scrutiny and backlash. Both on a human and a political level, this was a bad move. Super cute of them to take a stand vote to make room for political grandstanding cause they know the bill will pass so they dont have to make hard choices, but like people are fucking dying. I guess at least they got to feel like they kept their hands clean cause it was a lost cause anyways. Dont like that at ALL. Edited at 2022-03-11 06:12 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link thank you for continuing to make these posts OP. I truly appreciate it. Reply Thread Link https://itch.io/b/1316/bundle-for-ukraine I believe it's straight dls to your computer (I'm on Xbox so I haven't gotten it.) Eta I hope it's ok to include this OP - I will delete if it's not cool. Ty Edited at 2022-03-11 05:52 am (UTC) Another way to support Ukraine is through this itch.io games bundle - the gaming podcasters I've followed for years have talked about it and other bundles and they are legit.I believe it's straight dls to your computer (I'm on Xbox so I haven't gotten it.)Eta I hope it's ok to include this OP - I will delete if it's not cool. Ty Reply Thread Link Of course and thank you! Reply Parent Thread Link Ty OP! Reply Parent Thread Link Sorry I'm being a pain - the first few posts talk about some of the great games in the bundle. The OP who runs that reddit is legit - lbabinz helped two ppl I know irl get Playstation 5's. Reply Parent Thread Link itch.io did a similar bundle for BLM in 2020. it's a great way to get people to donate. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link There is a game in there called Thirsty Sword Lesbians. I mean...I'm in. Reply Parent Thread Link I read interesting interview today with Czech journalist who still lives in Moscow and has been for 15 years and he said that the sanctions mostly hurt only the upper middle class but the rest of country not so much. Over 70% of people support war in Ukraine because propaganda and nostalgia for what used to be (this is imo the main reason for why this is happening) is just too strong. I see this in Slovakia sometimes too and I believe it must be thousand times stronger over there. The "life used to be so good back during communism when state took care of us" which you often hear from really old folks. So I wonder if most of Russian population will just get used to west-free world and think it's for the best. I think younger people will feel the hit the most. Reply Thread Link the russians i know are not in russia so they protest loudly but are the elites in russia seeing this? and everyone is getting arrested for protesting from inside russia, include grandmas and grandpas, but are russians in russia seeing that? i do see the "this is not their war" type comments refering to ordinary russians in russia. then you read the articles (anecdotal evidence based) where ukrainians or russians in ukraine call their relatives in russia or belarus and they are met with flat out no sympathy and no belief from their relatives. and then there are putin's approval ratings growing after the war and all those 'za p*****' videos, and the low numbers of protests in the country (which while we can point at the huge punishments they will receive, when you compare this with the numbers of death and destruction...) and we talk about all the dumb mistakes the russian govt and military and intelligence services have made in their lead up to the invasion (videos made days in advance about purported ukrainian attacks etc) and how good it is that the world is financially punishing russians (only hurting the upper middle class as you said) but we don't talk internationally about how internally the propaganda machine seems to be working and how the sanctions are probably going to be a net positive for putin's elites visa vis "the western enemies and their allies". the only thing even semi clear is everyone outside of russia and everyone inside russia have been seeing two different events and ukrainians and residents of ukraine are the ones taking the brunt. it is hard to fathom. *i also get a lot of my news from czech and slovak sources (not czech or slovak though). Reply Parent Thread Link I agree with you and I truly do not fault Russians for this. But only about 30% of Russians have passport. They have been groomed for decades in believing that the past was something that it wasn't. This happened to Germans as well after WWII but they learned and accepted new real possibilities of their nation in the modern world and Russia never had this learning period. So the belief that they were hurt because USSR fell apart is still present and the propaganda has been leaning into it way too much. Plus older people are not tech-savvy to have VPNs and look for sources of articles, they get their info from what is on TV which is just propaganda. So I think many of them simply believe it is for the best and those who don't are put god knows where, if they speak up. Another thing is the belief many conservative politicians have which is that west is weak because it is too PC, too lenient, too soft. They legit think the conservatives carry values and old is good. "Men used to be strong and now they pain their nails" type of mindset. Well shit they are strong even now as we can see. I think that this is also why P**** thought that West won't go so hard with sanctions, that Germany will stay out of it because of business and that UK which is not in EU anymore won't interfere much. They thought that bringing the old world would be possible but the thing is that people were scared of USSR only because it was a cruel regime with nuclear weapons. So I do not believe for one second that change in Russia will come from within even tho that is the only way to really change things. I worry they will isolate so much and focus on relationships with similarly oppressive countries that it will kill any chance of change. (this is only my understanding of things and obviously i am in no position to claim everybody thinks like this, it is only how i see things living in Eastern Europe all my life) Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe I am too cynical, but "pausing political donations" definitely sounds like waiting for all this to blow over in the news before resuming political donations. :/ Reply Thread Link Yep. Just like the companies who said theyd stop donating to Congresspeople who were involved with 1/6 and have already started back up again. Reply Parent Thread Link Also; He's just stopping in *Florida*. Not Georgia, where MCU movies are filled and have their own shitty laws. Reply Parent Thread Link Georgia is working on a similar bill to Floridas too smh Reply Parent Thread Link Respectfully, well Duh. Reply Parent Thread Link Go fuck yourself, Bob. Reply Thread Link "Pausing political donations" = waiting for people to move on to something else. What a fucking joke. Reply Thread Link it was just...such a BAD response that the entire board should just kick his ass out. Reply Thread Link cool story, you should still rot Reply Thread Link "...but am an ally you can count on..." NO, no you are not. Reply Thread Link Damage has already been done. Not just for his reputation, but for the livelihood of LGBT folks in florida Reply Thread Link Too late. You said the quiet part out loud. Twice. Fuck off. Reply Thread Link Get fucked, Bob Reply Thread Link "an ally you can count on" lol. Actions speak louder than words, asshole. Reply Thread Link How did I just KNOW he would look like this?!! Reply Thread Link Lex Luthor Edited at 2022-03-11 10:16 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link nothing is more legit than lex luthor predicting all the worst white guys* would be bald *patrick stewart gets a pass but we're watching Reply Parent Thread Expand Link My husband was describing him to me before I saw a photo and he was like "basically he looks like Kingpin," and he was right. Reply Parent Thread Link CACKLING Reply Parent Thread Link I love how NOBODY is falling for this. The Investor's meeting was so funny with how many shareholders showed up and chewed him out. Disney has had nothing but rising profits but bad PR since he took the CEO position. Reply Thread Link I had to listen to that shareholder's meeting twice to summarize it to different people. His responses were very neutral to both sides. He neither denied or agreed with anything and I was like, you cannot do that. I mean, christ, someone's daughter legit had her piece read outloud by her father and he gave her the most shittiest answer which was - thanks for being a cast member, we care! Reply Parent Thread Link I have a feeling if we went back and listened to previous meetings with Iger or even what's his face, Defunctland's favorite guy, we'd have more concrete fluff messages. This dude didn't even do that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Rich people have really been working my last nerve this week. Reply Thread Link Didn't you know we just need to get off our fucking asses and work? Reply Parent Thread Link he looks like homophobia incarnate Reply Thread Link Auto Parts Seller Fined $1.2 Million for 33 Safety, Health Violations OSHA investigated the company following a crushed hand incident in Camden, New Jersey. An auto parts seller is looking at a $1.2 million fine for 33 workplace safety and health violations following an incident at the facility that left one employee injured. On Sept. 9, 2021, OSHA initiative inspection of My Auto Store after a vehicle lift crushed a workers hang in Camden, New Jersey. The agency determined that the company failed to have safeguards in place to protective employees from an accidental machine start up. While inspecting the facility, OSHA found and identified 33 workplace safety and health violationsincluding willful, repeat and serious citationsresulting in proposed penalties totaling $1,260,275. A press release published by OSHA lists the violations found at the facility, including willfully failing to develop and use lockout/tagout and machine guarding procedures, failing to keep an emergency egress clear, not protesting employees from being caught in automobile lifts and many more. "By disregarding required safety protections, My Auto Store contributed to a workers serious and life-altering injury. If this company had complied with basic workplace safety standards and implemented safety programs, this incident could have been prevented," said OSHA Regional Administrator Richard Mendelson in New York in a press release. "OSHA has extensive resources available to help employers recognize and minimize hazards, and ensure their employees are properly protected." To learn more about OSHAs standards on controlling hazardous energy, or lockout/tagout, visit this resource. Canada is looking for ways to increase pipeline flows of crude oil to its southern neighbor, Canadian natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson told Reuters in an interview. "We are looking at whether our pipeline network is fully utilized," Wilkinson said, adding that Ottawa was also looking to raise crude oil exports to Europe "incrementally". "Both our liquids and natural gas systems are at or near capacity but we're exploring options that may be taken to provide more energy to the U.S. and Europe. That includes using export facilities on the Gulf Coast for crude and natural gas," Wilkinson explained. Canada's oil exports to the United States hit a record level earlier this year, with a lot of the crude going to the Gulf Coast and, from there, to non-North American markets. In 2021, according to cargo-tracking data, the rate of Canadian crude oil exports from the Gulf Coast reached more than 180,000 bpd, up from some 70,000 bpd in the two previous years. Oil production from the oil sands is also running at a record 3.5 million bpd, but pipeline constraints remain. Most of the oil Canadian producers export to the U.S.some 4 million bpd in totalpasses through the Enbridge Mainline pipeline system, and the remainder, around 590,000 bpd, flows through the Keystone pipeline. Boosting pipeline capacity may be on the table, but, according to the Reuters report, not all Canadian oil producers may be willing to spend on production growth at a time when both the U.S. and the Canadian government are following an anti-fossil fuel political course. For pipeline operators, the situation is uncertain, too. Reuters quoted Enbridge as saying it was in talks with Ottawa on how to alleviate the energy crisis in the United States but without providing any specifics. Boosting exports by rail has also been discussed as an option, but, according to experts, no amount of increase in Canadian oil exports to the U.S. would be able to fully replace Russian oil imports. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The global oil market could take five to ten years to replace all the 10 million barrels per day of oil that Russia currently produces, Ryan Sitton, a former member of the Texas Railroad Commission, told Russian outlet Sputnik. "We're talking five, ten years away before that would even be possible to replace all ten million barrels," said Sitton, who was member of the Texas commission responsible for regulating the oil industry in the largest oil-producing U.S. state. "How long before the rest of the world can make the ten million barrels of oil that Russia produces? The answer is it is so far off it can't be done," Sitton told Sputnik. Right now, China is likely the only option for Russia to sell its oil. "China is in a really good position because China now as Russia's sole customer can almost command whatever prices they want to pay for that oil because there are no other buyers," according to Sitton. Due to the Russian war in Ukraine, consumers will be paying much higher prices for gasoline after the U.S. ban on all energy imports from Russia and the European traders and buyers steering clear of increasingly toxic Russian crude. In the United States, gasoline prices could exceed $5 per gallon on a national average and even rise close to $6 a gallon, Sitton told Sputnik. As of March 11, the national average per gallon of regular gasoline was $4.331, according to AAA data. A new survey from AAA showed on Thursday that $4.00 gasoline is the tipping point for most Americans. More than half, or 59 percent of Americans polled, said they would make changes to their driving habits or lifestyle if the cost of gas rose to $4 per gallon. If gas were to reach $5.00, which it has in the Western part of the country, three-quarters said they would need to adjust their lifestyle to offset the spike at the pump, AAA's survey found. In the two weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the national average had jumped by $0.70 as of March 9, according to AAA. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Swiss banking major Credit Suisse plans to slash its exposure to the fossil fuel industry by half by 2030. The bank said, as quoted by Reuters, it had already reduced its exposure to the industry by 41 percent between 2020 and 2021, and currently had some $2.6 billion in loans outstanding with oil, gas, and coal producers. Global lenders have been in a race to offload their fossil fuel business as they come under increasingly intense pressure to turn their backs on oil and gas from activist investors, environmentalists, and governments. In response to that pressure, banks have been pressuring their clients to become greener, too. Citi, for instance, announced it would drop some clients unless they set themselves emission reduction targets that correspond to the banks own targets. At the end of the day, that will mean there are some choices as to which clients we will be serving and which ones we wont be, Citis chief executive Jane Fraser said in December last year, after announcing the bank would spend $1 trillion on funding the energy transition. One-size-fits-all wont work for that. Despite accusations of investing billions in oil, gas, and coal, most Western banks have actually been decreasing their exposure to the sector since the Paris Agreement. Among them, according to a 2021 overview by CNBC, were Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. Meanwhile, activist investors are ramping up the pressure. For Credit Suisse, its latest dose came from a group of shareholders, including Europes largest asset manager, French Amundi. The group, which collectively manages $2.4 trillion, called on the bank to set for itself stricter climate change targets, including by cutting its exposure to fossil fuels. The Swiss bank reported that it had already reduced its exposure to coal by 39 percent to $640 million as of the end of last year, and would cut its exposure to oil and gas by 25 percent from 2020 levels to $9.8 billion. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The number of total active drilling rigs in the United States rose by 13 this week as WTI trades near $109 per barrel. The total rig count rose to 663 this week, while U.S. producers continue to prioritize fiscal discipline over risky investments to boost oil production. Baker Hughes reported this week that the total active rig figureoil, gas, and miscellaneousis 261 rigs higher than the rig count this time in 2021. Oil rigs rose by 8 to 527, while gas rigs were up by 5 to 135. Miscellaneous rigs stayed the same at 1. While drilling activity has picked up in the United States over the last few months, U.S. productiona corollary to drilling rigs but with months of laghas not. U.S. weekly production of crude oil stayed the same for the fifth week in a row at 11.6 million bpd, according to the latest Energy Information Administration for the week ending March 4. The rig count in the Permian Basin rose by 6 this week, bringing the total rig count in the Permian basin to 316. Primary Vision's Frac Spread Count, which tracks the number of completion crews finishing off previously drilled wells, shows that the frac spread fell by 10 to 280 in the week ending March 4th. At 12:25 p.m. EST, oil prices were trending up on the day after falling on Thursday when the UAE suggested that it would support an OPEC production increase. The UAE later watered down its statement saying that it fully supported the OPEC alliance. Prices also received upward pressure from the Iran nuclear deal that was suspended on Fridaystripping away some of the hope that the market was holding onto regarding increased oil production from Iran. At that time, WTI was trading at $109.10 per barrelup 2.91% on the day but down $3 per barrel on the week. The Brent benchmark traded at $112 per barrel at that time, up 2.42% on the day but down nearly $2 per barrel on the week. Prices began to ease after the data release. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: With WTI at over $107 per barrel, and Brent at $111, energy stocks are setting record highs and buybacks are in the air. Bloomberg reports that a minimum of 21 major North American energy companies engaged in stock buybacks in Q4 2021, and that buybacks continue to gain significant momentum as Russias invasion of Ukraine escalates. In total, analysts expected big oil to conclude $38 billion in share buybacks this year, and possibly more, with all seven oil supermajors pursuing the return to shareholders based on bumper profits. That would be more than at any time since 2008. The momentum started even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Devon Energy a prime example. Devons Q4 2021 earnings report on February 15th showed a complete reversal from a $2.5-billion loss in 2020 to a $2.8-billion profit in 2021. That led to a 45% dividend raise and some $600 million in buybacks, compared to only $38 million in buybacks for 2021, CNBC reports. Earlier this month, Chevron said it would increase buybacks, with a plan to buyback between $5 and $10 billion in stock per year, up from a range of $3-$5 billion previously. Most recently, Occidental Petroleum announced a $3-billion buyback earlier this month. American oil and gas companies have been refraining from ramping up production; instead, opting to return cash to shareholders, with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm saying on Wednesday that, In this moment of crisis we need more supply. Right now we need oil and gas production to rise to meet current demand." Capital discipline today for oil companies is basically no [production] growth, Occidental Petroleum Chief Executive Vicki Hollub noted at a Houston conference on Wednesday. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The talks about the United States and Iran returning to the 2015 nuclear deal that would allow the Islamic Republic to legitimately export its oil have been paused "due to external factors," a top EU official said on Friday. The suspension of the talks comes at a time when the oil market desperately needs more oilincluding the Iranian barrelsafter Russia's invasion of Ukraine roiled markets, rendering a large part of Russian oil now unsellable in Europe due to traders and buyers "self-sanctioning." The Russian war in Ukraine has also complicated the final-stage talks about reviving the nuclear deal, considering the high tension between Russia and the United States and its European allies, all of which are part of those talks, although the U.S. is not directly talking to Iran. "A pause in #ViennaTalks is needed, due to external factors. A final text is essentially ready and on the table. As coordinator, I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all #JCPOA participants and the U.S. to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement," Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, tweeted on Friday. A deal on Iran was reportedly "imminent" as of last week, but it is now muddled with the Russian war in Ukraine. As part of the negotiations for reviving the 2015 agreement, Moscow has reportedly made last-minute demands that the sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine do not impede its trade with Iran. As of Thursday, both the U.S. and Iran signaled there were hard issues remaining to be solved. Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, tweeted on Thursday: "US approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties. Absent US political decision, the talks get knottier by the hour." In the absence of a speedy Iranian deal, the oil market could see a large deficit and spiking volatile oil prices in the short term due to Russia's struggles to sell its oil. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia will have to shut in some of its oil production as it will not be able to sell all the volumes displaced from European markets to other regions, with Russian crude production falling and staying depressed for at least the next three years, Standard Chartered said in a note on Thursday. Russia's invasion of Ukraine was met with a severe sanctions response from the U.S., the EU, and the UK. The Western allies kicked several Russian banks out of the international SWIFT system, and although direct sanctions on Russia's oil and gas were not immediately imposed, trade in Russian commodities has become toxic for many global players. "Because of the banking sanctions we've estimated about 70% of Russian crude oil exports can't be touched. That's about 3.8 million bpd," Amrita Sen, Director of Research at Energy Aspects, told CNBC last week. Earlier this week, the U.S. banned imports of Russian oil, LNG, and coal, which is likely to worsen Russia's struggles to sell its cargoes as buyers will avoid Russian crude even more than they have been doing so far, traders and analysts say. Although the U.S. ban will directly hit only a small amount of Russian oil exports, the indirect hit could be much higher because a growing number of traders and buyers will be shunning Russian crude due to "self-sanctioning" and reputational risks. Related: Russias Invasion Leaves Global Coal Markets In Turmoil According to Standard Chartered, "We expect continuing consumer reluctance to buy from Russia and shortages of capital, equipment and technology to continue to depress Russian output over at least the next three years." The bank sees Russian oil production dropping by as much as 1.612 million barrels per day annually in 2022 and by a further 217,000 bpd in 2023, with the year-over-year decline peaking at 2.306 million bpd in Q2 2022. Russia's struggles to place its oil on the market will result in a large global supply deficit, which can only be realistically filled by those OPEC members with spare capacity, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Standard Chartered analysts said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Several Russia-owned tankers have been idle at sea for more than a week along European and North American coasts as countries have either banned imports of Russian oil or Russian vessels docking at their ports, all this while many traders and buyers refuse to deal with Russian crude. As many as nine mid-sized vessels, Aframaxes, owned by Russian state tanker fleet operator Sovcomflot have been idle around North America and Europe for over a week, while a typical idle time for a tanker is a day or two, Bloomberg reported on Friday, quoting ship-tracking data it has compiled. Many Western countries and companies are not risking touching Russia-linked crude shipped by Sovcomflot, which is majority held by the Russian government. Sovcomflot, with a total fleet of 110 tankers, owns 52 Aframaxes, which makes it the worlds largest owner of those type of vessels, according to data from Clarksons Research Services cited by Bloomberg. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several countries banned Russian ships from their ports and waters. Canada and the UK were the first. On March 1, Canada prohibited Russian ships and fishing vessels from entering Canadian ports and internal waters. The UK banned on the same day from it ports any vessels owned or operated by anyone connected to Russia and said that authorities would also gain new powers to detain Russian vessels. Two days after the Canadian ban, two Sovcomflot-owned oil tankers rerouted from their destinations in Canada. In the UK, port workers at a terminal on the River Mersey, from where oil is pumped to Stanlow Oil Refinery, refused last week to unload Russian oil from a Germany-flagged ship. While Sovcomflots tankers in the Pacific do not appear to be idling like the ones near Europe or North America, the problem for the Russian tanker owner could become much worse from now on, considering that a growing number of traders and buyers in Europe will likely be shunning Russia-related crude due to self-sanctioning and reputational risks. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: An unnamed party attacked a Saudi refinery in Riyadh with a drone and caused a small fire, the Saudi energy ministry said, as quoted by Reuters. The attack was cut short and did not affect the operation of the refinery, officials also said. The party responsible for the attack has not been named. "The refinery's operations and supplies of petroleum and its derivatives were not affected," the statement said. "These repeated acts of sabotage and terrorism on vital installations and civilian structures ... do not just target the Kingdom but aim to undermine the security and stability of global energy supplies," the energy ministry also said. A separate report by the Saudi Press Agency spoke about an attack by Houthi rebels from Yemen on "civilians and civilian objects in Jazan City, a Saudi oil industry hub. Reuters noted in its report that the Houthis had not announced any attacks against Saudi Arabia in the last few days. Saudi oil facilities are a top target for the Houthis, which Saudi Arabia is trying to oust from Yemen after they removed the Saudi-affiliated government of the country in 2014 and have since then assumed power in most of Yemen. The Yemeni war, which has resulted in the worst humanitarian crisis in modern times, is widely seen as a proxy war between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. While the Saudi forces intercept most of the drones and missiles the Houthis launch at targets in the Kingdom, some do get through. The most notable one so far was an attack that took place two years ago and took off 5 percent of the global daily oil supply offline as the missiles hit an oil field and a processing plant. While the Houthi rebels took responsibility for the attack, the Saudis and their U.S. partners blamed Iran, which backs the Houthis. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: North Sea oil and gas fields cannot in the short term fill the gap that Russia is leaving in the UK and global supply of crude, because expanding production would take years, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday. Alongside the U.S. ban on imports of Russian energy, the UK said on Tuesday that it would "phase out imports of Russian oil in response to Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine by the end of the year." Russian imports account for 8 percent of total UK oil demand, with the highest share in diesel, the UK government said. "The UK is a significant producer of oil and oil products, plus we hold significant reserves. Beyond Russia, the vast majority of our imports come from reliable partners such as the US, Netherlands and the Gulf. We'll work with them this year to secure further supplies," UK Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said. Responding to ideas that North Sea oil production needs to be increased to offset the Russian supply, First Minister Sturgeon said in Parliament today, as carried by Herald Scotland: "Even if we were to put to one side the environmental considerations, given the timescales and the practicalities involved, it's not credible to suggest that the short-term solution to this lies in increasing North Sea production." "Existing fields in the North Sea are not currently operating under capacity. Expanding existing fields is possible but that would take months if not years and new fields take years if not decades to plan and develop," Sturgeon added. A day before Russia invaded Ukraine, the UK's Energy Minister Greg Hands said that there was a future for more domestic UK oil and gas supply, and Britain would continue to grant new licenses for oil and gas development projects in the North Sea. Despite the net-zero pledge, the current UK government continues to see the UK North Sea oil and gas industry as vital to energy security. But authorities have recently proposed that new project developments pass a so-called net-zero compatibility test. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A sharp increase in U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to alleviate a tight supply market in Europe has come under fire for its environmental effects. As a result, the boost in exports has slowed down, Reuters has reported, citing unnamed sources from Washington and the energy industry. Europe has become the biggest market for U.S. liquefied natural gas over the past three months after gas prices on the spot market rose to record highs, making U.S. LNG competitive for European buyers. Prices have continued to break records, especially after the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, and U.S. LNG has continued to flow at record rates, even sparking concern that the available LNG import and storage space in Europe would soon be unable to handle the flows. Yet, at the same time, environmentalists have voiced concern about the environmental footprint of these exports. Earlier this month, a coalition of as many as 120 progressive non-governmental organizations called on the six largest U.S. banks to stop financing the expansion of LNG export facilities and the construction of new ones. Now, according to the Reuters sources, the White House had shelved an interagency review on how to boost LNG exports to Europe further. The decision followed opinions expressed by some in the administration, who said such a move would go against the White House energy agenda, which has prioritized the reduction of fossil fuel use. Currently, the European Union gets about 40 percent of the natural gas it consumes from Russia but it wants to cut this dependence by as much as two-thirds by the end of this year. U.S. LNGand LNG from other sourcesis a key element in its urgently revived gas supply diversification push. The U.S., for its part, has been exporting more than half of its LNG to Europe amid favorable market conditions, and LNG producers are planning a major ramp-up in export capacity. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: This weekend, longtime Omaha actor and director Kathy Tyree will do something shes never done before. Shell walk onstage at the Omaha Healing Arts Center in the Old Market, receive a sealed envelope, open it and perform the unfamiliar script she finds inside without one rehearsal, a director or any knowledge of what the show is about. The play she will perform on Sunday afternoon, White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour, marks the return of SNAP! Productions after a long break due to loss of a lease and a global pandemic. We wanted to get our name back out there, said Todd Brooks, president of the theater companys board of directors. It has been about two years since weve done anything. Brooks said the board chose this show after he received an email about it. I was intrigued by the premise and that its something we dont normally do, he said. He said three people associated with SNAP! know what the play is about so they wouldnt be caught unaware by potentially controversial material. The playwright lives in a country where they may be persecuted for their writing. The script is very experimental, very avant-garde and requires no staging, scenery or props, Brooks said. Just a chair and an actor. Multiple theaters across the nation may be doing the show around the same time. Tyree was to get a two-page letter about 48 hours before curtain detailing general information such as suggested apparel, he said. But it doesnt contain any clues about the scripts content. Brooks hopes the event will put the SNAP! name back in front of the public. The theater company, still without a permanent home, will stage a full-blown production a comic political thriller in July. He said the SNAP! board has continued to meet and look for a new home during the theater companys hiatus. It has a new artistic director, Daena Schweiger, since previous director Michal Simpson took a job with the refurbished Benson Theatre during the break. In addition to getting back onstage, SNAP! plans to ramp up its work in education and diversity. Brooks said the company is working with national theater groups to plan a theatrical diversity seminar. In the meantime, Tyree is preparing the best she can for Sundays show. She agreed to do it because she knew Schweiger, who approached her about the role, was not going to put me in a weird position. She said theres not a lot you can do in the days and hours before a program of this sort. You get a lot of rest, wear your really good reading glasses and dress modestly but look nice so in case youre horrible, at least you look good, she said. Ive already told myself to give myself grace if I stumble over a word or line. When its time to act, she said, she might be a little nervous but not scared. She believes the crowd will be rooting for her. I will do some deep breathing before I go out there, she said. Ill give the audience a good look so I am connected with everyone, and just go for it and see what happens. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Reeling from a psychotic break and diagnosed depression, Jacob Muhle thought the only solution was to kill himself and the method he chose was suicide by cop. After researching mass shootings, Muhle, who at the time was 21, first headed to a school in an attempt to target a populated site. But the date was March 17, 2020 mere days after Nebraska had reported its first case of community spread of COVID-19. The day before, officials with the Omaha, Millard, Papillion-La Vista and Bellevue school districts announced schools would close indefinitely to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. No one was at the school Muhle had selected. So Muhle headed for the next-busiest site nearby, a Hy-Vee Supermarket near 180th and Q Streets. Chaos ensued as Muhle began firing outside the store. After Muhle entered the store, a 50-year-old Omaha man tackled him. An off-duty Omaha deputy police chief then wrestled Muhles gun away from him. No one was struck by gunfire, thanks to the actions of Omahan Tom Wenzl and Deputy Omaha Police Chief Scott Gray but also, Muhles attorney argued, because Muhle didnt actually intend to hurt anyone. Douglas County District Judge Kimberly Miller Pankonin said Thursday that she wasnt sure about that. The court was disturbed by the fact that you had gone to a school prior to this and luckily the one time you can say for the pandemic the school was closed, she said. You pose a very high threat to harm society, to harm yourself. And I cannot find anything to think that this would not happen again. In January, Muhle pleaded guilty to six felonies, including shooting a gun at an occupied vehicle, terroristic threats, attempted assault and firearm use. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed five additional felonies. The charges he pleaded to carried a punishment of anywhere from 11 to 176 years in prison. Thursday, the judge sentenced Muhle, now 23, to 42 to 64 years. Muhle will serve 26 years in prison before he is eligible for parole and must be discharged after 37 years, counting mandatory minimums and the states good-time law that cuts sentences in half. Muhle already has spent nearly two years behind bars. Muhle declined an opportunity to address the court. Assistant Douglas County Public Defender Leslie Cavanaugh said a psychologist who evaluated Muhle after he was arrested diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder, for which he had never been treated. That, a depression diagnosis and fear of losing his job led him to a desperation that put him in a tailspin, Cavanaugh said. Cavanaugh said she had discussed with Muhle the option of pursuing an insanity defense, but Muhle rejected that idea. He wanted to take responsibility for what he could for his actions, Cavanaugh said. I just ask the court and the victims to look at Mr. Muhle with some mercy in their hearts and some understanding about this situation. I dont think Mr. Muhle had any intent to harm anybody or shoot anybody, honestly, I tell you, but I know it didnt look that way from the victims viewpoint. After hearing Cavanaughs comments, Wenzl told the judge he could tell that Muhle just wanted to die that day. Wenzl started to weep as he asked the judge for leniency for Muhle. I ask that you show some empathy toward the situation, Wenzl said. I lay awake nights thinking about him. Muhle had shot into two vehicles in the Hy-Vee pharmacy drive-thru one with a father and a daughter inside and another driven by a grandmother who later said she was thankful her grandson wasnt with her, as he usually was. Muhle then went inside the store, shot toward Wenzl and hit a security camera. Gray had his gun drawn when Wenzl tackled Muhle. Muhle put the gun to his head but then lowered it, and Gray wrestled it away. Amy Jacobsen, a deputy Douglas County attorney, recalled listening to the 911 calls and referenced two that stood out one from the grandmother in the car and the other from a pharmacy worker who reported that seven people were hiding in the pharmacy. Both callers, she said, were in fear for their lives. I think safety of the public does demand prison time, Jacobsen said. We could have had a lot of dead people in this circumstance, not just Mr. Muhle, but a lot of other people. Gray, who broke his hand in the scuffle with Muhle, said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon that it was a sad situation. I just hope that he gets treatment, some help and maybe someday hell be able to return to society in a better way, Gray said. Wenzl said that after he tackled Muhle, Muhle kept repeating, Youre no hero. In court, a week shy of two years later, Wenzl said, Im his hero, damn it. Wenzl said he plans to send Muhle his address and give him the option to write him. Wenzl said he may even visit Muhle. Wenzl said he has children who are Muhles age and knows the importance of taking care of ones mental health. This is all about mental illness. Youve got avenues where you can go and get free mental health, Wenzl said. We all have issues ... if someone tells you, Im perfectly perfect ... No way. Because at some point in time, everybody has fought something. 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. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 In a novel approach to address racial inequity and inspire interest in mathematics for Black Omaha high school students, a Chicago-based entrepreneur will pay them to pass a calculus test. Known as the Alpha Mission Calculus Awards, the program is open to Black students at Omaha high schools in grades 10, 11 and 12. Participants sign up to learn calculus, take a test and earn $1,000 if they pass. The money is not a scholarship students can spend it any way they wish. Philanthropists, nonprofits and politicians have spent decades attempting to address Omahas long history of racial inequity. Entrepreneur Robert Blackwell Jr. thinks that empowering young people to put effort into a subject as difficult as calculus could be a part of the solution. Blackwell, who is Black, is the CEO of IT consulting firm EKI Digital and the founder of Alpha Mission, an organization working to strengthen Black business communities through partnerships and mentoring. Ive benefited from a lot of great mentorship, Blackwell said. I think all of us owe it to those who came before us to do something for those who are going to come after us. Omaha was selected for the initiative because of the citys history of inequity, and because of what Blackwell sees as a potential for real progress. Blackwell befriended Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts at a Republican Governors Association meeting and the two discussed ways to strengthen the states relationship with the Black community. I told him that the way to mend that relationship is to focus on economics, Blackwell said. Omaha is big enough and small enough to be impactful in this area, and there are a lot of people with good will. Economic inequality is stark in Omaha. A recent report from the Omaha Economic Development Corporation indicates that Black Omahans experience significantly higher rates of poverty than any other group: nearly 44% of Black households have incomes at or below $24,999. Blackwell got the calculus competition idea from a young man he met at a university speaking engagement. When the student asked for a meeting, Blackwell obliged. While talking, he learned that the student had spent a summer teaching himself calculus after a subpar math teacher left him confused. I remember thinking that anybody who has the desire who is willing to put in the work to teach themselves calculus is going to be somebody, Blackwell said. Inspired by the story, Blackwell gave the student an analytics project and promised him $1,000 if he liked what he saw. He did, and the man ended up working for Blackwell for years. After that success, Blackwell sought to find a way to bring the same opportunity to Black students in similar situations. One such student is Arianna Hill, 16, a junior at Omaha North High School. Hill is looking toward a future in health care, and she was immediately interested in the contest. I think its really important to have opportunities like this, Hill said. Its an easy and inclusive way to get people in our community to realize how important STEM and math subjects are. And the thousand dollars draws people in. Hill is currently taking precalculus but is ready to challenge herself to learn calculus on top of that. She and the other students will attend monthly tutoring sessions until October, but will be able to take the test earlier if they feel ready. If Hill succeeds, she said she will save the money. Blackwell said this will be the first of many annual calculus competitions. He sees it not only as a way to get Black students interested in math, but also as a way to build a community. The most important thing for these kids is to find out that somebody loves and cares for them outside of their mother and father, he said. Thats what a community is about: knowing that people are there who care about you and your outcomes. Eight students are currently registered to participate, and registration closes on March 15. Interested students can register by submitting their information on the Contact Us page on the Alpha Mission website. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen has turned down another opportunity to debate his opponents, and his campaign signaled theres little chance Nebraskans will see him on a debate stage. The decision has rankled two of his primary opponents. Pillen sparked the latest debate drama when he turned down an invitation from central Nebraska-based NTV News. News Director Matt Weesner said NTV reached out to candidates a few weeks ago and has not yet set a date for the debate. He said Pillen declined the invitation by sending out a press release Wednesday. Pillen didnt directly contact organizers, according to NTV. In the press release, the Pillen campaign downplayed the importance of debates and emphasized Pillens direct engagement with voters, including stops in all 93 counties with nearly 300 public events. The campaign also noted that Pillen has participated in several forums and that hes teaming up with the Nebraska Farm Bureau, which endorsed him, for 30 town hall meetings. A key difference between forums and debates is that debate rules generally allow candidates to respond to their opponents, and theyre often moderated by professional journalists. Our strategy has long centered on meeting with Republican voters face to face, listening to their concerns and answering their questions, Pillen campaign manager Kenny Zoeller said in the press release. That focus is only intensifying in the final nine weeks before voters head to the polls. Pillens campaign said debates served as political theater a chance for the mainstream media to pit Republican candidates against each other and hijack the agenda from Republican voters. His take on debates puts Pillen in stark contrast with other candidates. Along with Pillen, a hog producer and University of Nebraska regent, NTV invited fellow Republicans Theresa Thibodeau, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom and Falls City businessman Charles W. Herbster to participate. Lindstrom and Thibodeau committed, and Herbster has expressed interest. Jim Pillen is disingenuous and afraid, Thibodeaus campaign said in a statement. The real story is simple: Jim Pillen will not debate because he fears Nebraska voters. Pillen knows that he is an unqualified candidate with a minimal understanding of fundamental issues. The campaign also took shots at Pillens record and accused him of hiding behind Gov. Pete Ricketts, who has endorsed Pillen. If Jim Pillen will not publicly debate the issues with the Republican candidates for governor, he should withdraw from the race, Thibodeaus campaign said. In a statement, Herbsters campaign lauded forums and debates as opportunities for voters to see each candidate on the same stage together, talking about issues important to Nebraska voters. Voters get to see how candidates perform in a less controlled and manipulated environment when the heat is on, it reads. During a debate, candidates do not have time to consult staff on answers; they need to react in the moment and give genuine responses. The statement included a list of forums and debates Herbster has committed to and a challenge to Pillen to stand up with the other candidates in front of everyday Nebraskans and answer their questions. Lindstroms campaign didnt make any direct appeals to Pillen when asked for comment. Senator Lindstrom has always prioritized debates and forums and looks forward to participating in the first debate on March 24th and participating in the NTV Central NE Debate in April once that date has been finalized, campaign manager Tori Mahoney said. Pillen along with Herbster first caught criticism in February for failing to commit to a debate planned by KMTV and The World-Herald. While Lindstrom and Thibodeau accepted the invitation, KMTV never heard back from Herbster or Pillen. After a phone call, Pillens campaign still never followed up. Herbsters campaign said the date wouldnt work and, when asked for alternative dates, cited a busy schedule and never followed up. Organizers put the event on hold, and Thibodeau condemned her opponents. Since then, Herbster, Lindstrom and Thibodeau have agreed to participate in a debate March 24 hosted by Nebraska Public Media. So has Republican candidate Breland Ridenour, an Omaha information technology manager. Pillen declined, citing a scheduling conflict with a campaign event. At the time, Pillens campaign said hed consider participating in a future debate. Pillens campaign also disclosed this week that it declined an invitation from Nebraska Sunrise News, a recently launched news website whose leadership includes State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln. Publisher Fletcher Reel said that the outlet had been trying to plan a debate with the top three candidates (based on fundraising and polling): Herbster, Pillen and Lindstrom. Herbster and Lindstrom agreed, he said, but Pillens campaign didnt respond, at first, and ultimately declined. Pillens campaign alleged in its statement that correspondence about the Sunrise News debate indicates that the Herbster campaign attempted to exclude Thibodeau and Ridenour. However, Reel said that is categorically false, and that criteria for the debate was set by the outlet. Its no longer holding the debate, Reel said, because it wouldnt be inclusive of the top candidates. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LINCOLN Nebraskans got one step closer Friday to being able to carry concealed weapons without a permit. State lawmakers advanced Legislative Bill 773 on a 35-9 vote. The vote came after a 36-9 vote to cut off the two-day filibuster mounted by opponents. That was three more votes than needed. State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, who introduced the bill, breathed a sigh of relief at getting it through the first round of consideration. He said the debate had been long and painful, both for the Legislature and personally. He has been undergoing chemotherapy during the session and is awaiting back surgery. But he also observed that the measure would have to clear two more rounds of debate and potentially two more filibusters before it could become law. This is not to the finish line, he said. The question is: Can we hold 33 votes to get to the finish line? Under LB 773, which was co-sponsored by a majority of state senators, Nebraska adults who are not otherwise banned from having guns would no longer have to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Measures like this are sometimes called constitutional carry in reference to some gun rights advocates belief that the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to carry concealed guns without a permit. On Thursday, Alabama became the 22nd state with such a law when Gov. Kay Ivey signed a constitutional carry bill into law. Three other states have passed legislation this year that is awaiting a governors signature. Currently in Nebraska, getting a concealed-carry permit requires passing a criminal background check, paying a $100 fee and taking an eight- to 16-hour gun safety class. LB 773 would allow people to still get concealed-carry permits, which Brewer said they may want to do to carry a gun across state lines or potentially expedite a background check for purchasing a gun. Supporters of the bill cast the issue as one of letting Nebraskans fully exercise their Second Amendment rights and argued that the bill has strong support among Nebraskans. Brewer warned opponents they would pay a price at election time for voting against the bill. Theres a lot of gun owners out there, he said. Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk said the bill would not loosen restrictions on gun ownership or change laws governing where concealed weapons can be prohibited, such as schools. Nor would it allow people to carry a concealed weapon while drinking or using drugs. The bill would require a person carrying a concealed weapon to announce its presence during encounters with law enforcement or emergency services personnel. People without concealed-carry permits would have to carry identification and show it upon request by those authorities. If you vote for this bill, you will find that nothing bad is going to happen, Flood said. You are not voting for something that will make Nebraska less safe. Opponents, who represent urban districts, said they have heard from numerous Nebraskans who dont want to see the permit and training requirements eliminated. Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln said rural and urban Nebraskans have very different perspectives on the issue, even those who have concealed carry permits. As a non-gun owner, he said it does not make him feel safer to be among more people with guns. Some opponents pointed to concerns raised by law enforcement agencies. The Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln police union, Police Chiefs Association of Nebraska and the Police Officers Association of Nebraska all oppose LB 773. The Omaha Police Officers Association and Omaha Police Department have agreed to stop fighting the bill and adopt a neutral position if lawmakers adopt a compromise amendment worked out with Brewer. The amendment will be considered during second-round debate. But some senators expressed concerns about the compromise, saying it would carve out Omaha residents for different treatment and would add new criminal charges to the books. How they voted Heres how Nebraska lawmakers voted on ending the filibuster against Legislative Bill 773. The bill would allow Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Yes (36): Aguilar, Albrecht, Arch, Blood, Bostelman, Brandt, Brewer, Briese, Clements, Day, Dorn, Erdman, Flood, Friesen, Geist, Gragert, Halloran, B. Hansen, Hilgers, Hilkemann, Hughes, Jacobson, Kolterman, Lindstrom, Linehan, Lowe, McCollister, McDonnell, Moser, Murman, Pahls, Sanders, Slama, Stinner, Wayne, Williams No (9): Bostar, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, DeBoer, M. Hansen, Lathrop, Morfeld, Pansing Brooks, Vargas Abstain (3): McKinney, Walz, Wishart Absent (1): Hunt Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LINCOLN Rex Schroder freed up his day, strapped a handgun on his hip and headed to the Nebraska Capitol on Thursday for a legislative debate over expanding who could legally carry concealed weapons in the state. The Palmyra man, who is a candidate for secretary of state, said he spent the day talking with lawmakers and listening to arguments about Legislative Bill 773. He was among a small group of gun rights supporters who showed up for the day-long debate. Were just here giving support, Schroder said. Its just our way of being in the process. Nebraska law allows people to carry visible weapons in the Capitol, as Schroder did, although they cannot be taken into the legislative chamber. Concealed weapons are barred from the building. Lawmakers adjourned without reaching a vote on LB 773, as opponents mounted a filibuster. A motion to cut off the filibuster is expected Friday morning, after about two more hours of debate. The motion needs 33 votes to succeed. State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the bills sponsor, started off by acknowledging that opponents may succeed in stopping the measure this year. But he said it has been his priority since first getting elected to the Legislature and he promised it would remain so. Understand, we will come back, he said. We will do it again. Thursdays debate ranged from the finer points of constitutional law to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with time spent on the benefits of gun training, the concerns of law enforcement officials and lawmakers personal experiences with guns and violence. Under LB 773, Nebraska adults who are not otherwise banned from having guns would no longer have to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Proposals like this are sometimes called constitutional carry in reference to some gun rights advocates belief that the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to carry concealed guns without a permit. Brewer said 21 states have such laws in place and four have passed legislation this year that is awaiting a governors signature. He argued that Nebraska should become the 26th state. In Nebraska, getting a concealed carry permit requires passing a criminal background check, paying a $100 fee and taking an eight- to 16-hour gun safety class. Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln argued for those requirements to remain in place, calling them reasonable restrictions on the constitutional right to bear arms. Rights are not unlimited, even constitutional rights, he said. He offered an amendment to leave the requirements in place but eliminate the permit fee. He said the proposal addresses concerns that the cost of current requirements prevents some people from getting concealed carry permits. Morfeld said the amendment was an attempt to reach a compromise. But there appeared to be no takers on the other side. Brewer already worked out a compromise amendment with the Omaha Police Officers Association and Omaha Police Department. Both groups have agreed to stop fighting the bill and adopt a neutral position if lawmakers adopt the amendment. Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha objected to Brewers compromise, saying it would set different requirements for Omaha residents compared to the rest of the state and would allow Omaha police to continue targeting Black residents. The compromise did not alter opposition to LB 773 from the Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Police Officers Association, the Police Chiefs Association of Nebraska and the Police Officers Association of Nebraska. Brewer said the National Rifle Association also opposes the compromise, because it would leave a registration requirement in place for Omaha residents. He said he agreed to that provision because he believes the result would benefit people in the rest of Nebraska and leave Omaha residents no worse off than they are now when it comes to gun restrictions. Under the compromise, Omaha would have to issue registrations to anyone allowed by state law to own a gun. The amendment also would make it a crime to carry a concealed handgun while committing any of a lengthy list of offenses. The list ranges from murder to unauthorized graffiti and includes violations of city or village ordinances, as well as state laws. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LINCOLN Even under a tight deadline, Nebraska lawmakers are optimistic that the Legislature will have enough time to consider a rental assistance bill, including a potential override vote should Gov. Pete Ricketts decide to veto it. Legislative Bill 1073 would force the governor to apply for $120 million in federal rental assistance, which Ricketts has repeatedly said he is uninterested in seeking. The Legislature must pass the bill before March 30 in order to meet the federal deadline. LB 1073 cleared the first of three rounds of debate Wednesday on a 29-7 vote. Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln said he is committed to getting it through debates in time for the deadline, and even in time to vote on a potential veto override. Hilgers said the bill will likely be debated again next week. It is unclear whether Ricketts would veto LB 1073 if it passed. A spokesperson for the Governors Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment Wednesday and Thursday. Ricketts has openly opposed seeking additional aid, arguing that Nebraska doesnt need the money. In a column published Tuesday, Ricketts said that the COVID-19 pandemic emergency was over. Ricketts noted that Nebraska still has about $30 million of unused federal funding from the first round of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The state received about $200 million in 2021, with $158 million allocated for rural counties, and about $42 million to Douglas and Lancaster Counties. Ricketts said state officials transferred $85 million of the $158 million to better serve residents in Omaha and Lincoln. If we didnt need $158 million during the height of the pandemic, why would we need $120 million now that the emergency has passed? Ricketts said in the column. Ricketts did not state in the column if he would veto the bill. Instead, he urged Nebraskans to contact their state senator to voice their opinion on the additional federal aid. State Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln said he would be disappointed if Ricketts vetoes the bill, but he hopes the governor wouldnt do that if the bill receives strong support from the Legislature. He said he is optimistic that the Legislature could pass a veto override, which would take 30 votes. Lawmakers have repeatedly requested that Ricketts seek the aid. Last week, members of the Appropriations Committee signed a letter asking the governor to reconsider his decision. During Wednesdays debate, however, some lawmakers echoed Ricketts resistance. Senators argued that there wasnt a need for the aid, and that the funding would hurt Nebraska taxpayers. Other senators argued the exact opposite, They said the funding would help taxpayers and that there was a continued need for rental assistance even as the states COVID-19 cases dwindle. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON In an industry that cares for the deceased and their loved ones, the pandemic has caused an eye-opening boom. Just talk to Tim Ruestman, funeral director with Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home, 1104 N. Main St. in Bloomington, and hell tell you its been a struggle. Hes seen tired and drained faces on his employees. Ruestman told The Pantagraph his funeral home served 40% more clients in 2021. He also said hes seen more changes in the past two years than in the first part of his career. That means more cremations and more nontraditional services, he said, but thats kind of our lives are changing that way, and the funeral should reflect the peoples lives. Theyve also upgraded technology, including audiovisual capabilities, as many of their operations have gone virtual. You got to think outside the box, Ruestman said, noting lining up dates for visitations and services isnt what it used to be. Neither are no two deaths the same, he said. New endings As the oldest continually running funeral home in the Twin Cities, Kibler-Brady-Ruestman has held several names since 1872. An advertisement in a 1946 edition of The Pantagraph acclaims friends have built the organization, which at the time was named Flinspach-Kurth. But the funeral services field was not spared from major changes prompted by the pandemic. Ruestman said they were immediately placed under capacity and attendance restrictions, which were enforced by their licensing. Most have since been lifted. But not everyone fell in line. Ruestman said as member of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's disciplinary board for Funeral Directors and Embalmers, they found certain directors throughout Illinois who didnt follow the rules and held big gatherings when not allowed by the state. It put an adverse effect on competition, he said, noting when he turned down fully-opened services for some, he could find which other director allowed them by reading the newspaper obituary section. At the Ruestman home, they made simple changes, like placing signs that state a smile versus a hug accomplishes the same thing. And theres more hand sanitizer around. Matt Baskerville, vice president for the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and spokesman for its national counterpart, said changes like these are here to stay. He said a funeral he directed for a local educator brought 80 to church services, but over 330 tuned into the live video stream. Baskerville believes COVID heightened both awareness of and appreciation for the need of funeral services and celebrations of life. Oftentimes I think with so many instances in life, when were told we cant have something, we realize how much we need it, he said. Misty Porter, manager for Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington, agreed that more cremations are happening, as people postponed services in hopes of having more people attend later. She said her cemetery isnt seeing a jump in burials. Last year, there were 93 people buried in their plots. Thats only one higher than the yearly count in 1971, and numbers have remained steady throughout those years, she said. Since their cemetery holds large, open spaces, Porter said they didnt make too many changes because of COVID. People were spaced out farther, she said. If the situation involved COVID, Porter said people would individually visit the viewing area by the carload. Still, only one or two services were done in this "roadside" style, she said. Ruestman said staff have taken extra precautions for themselves from contracting the virus. He explained that as an airborne virus, COVID could linger in residual air in the deceaseds lungs, and then be expelled when the body is transferred from a bed to a cot. A funeral director that wasnt doing due diligence could get infected that way, he said. A light in loss Theres simply no silver bullet that snuffs out all of someones grief in a time of loss. Ruestman said some people struggle to find words to share with others at a visitation. He continued: I'd just say whatever youre comfortable with, but dont say too much. He advised that your presence alone is enough. Ruestman tells young directors theyre going to be dealing with people on one of the worst days of their lives. He said if they can get them through to the service and do things properly, theyve met their goal. You're not going to take the grief away, he tells aspiring directors. If there were magical words that can make people feel better, they would be sold for millions and millions of dollars. An earlier version of this article listed the wrong title for Matt Baskerville, who is a spokesman for the National Funeral Director's Association. This version has been corrected. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Central Catholic High School will change its governance to a president-principal model, with current Principal Sean Foster moving into the president role July 1. The school is looking for a new principal, it said in a press release on Friday. The majority of Catholic high schools in the U.S. use a president-principal model, separating the chief executive role in things like development and strategic planning from the education leadership role of the principal. The move is in line with the school's strategic plan and was largely possible because of recent growth in donations and the school's Foundation, the news release said. Donations have quadrupled over the past five years and the foundation's funds have almost doubled from $3.8 million to more than $7 million. Foster was named principal in March 2014, Pantagraph archives say. He succeeded Joy Allen, who was principal for 23 years. The Diocese of Peoria supports the school's changes, the release stated, adding the school has reached a stage where separating the responsibilities makes the most sense. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Registration for Bloomington District 87's summer school programs open March 16 for general and special education students, district officials announced. Akin to last years expanded program, the district will work with several community partners, adding Illinois Wesleyan University to the list this year, to supplement students experiences, Assistant Superintendent Diane Wolf said in a presentation to the school board Wednesday. All of our summer programs are 'Rise Up' programs, so if a student is completing second grade, they will go into the third-grade cohort, Wolf said. The program planned June 9-30 is designed this way so that we can start getting them used to the upcoming year. The extended school year program, which is for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade special education students whose individualized education plan includes this, also will be held June 9-30 at Oakland Elementary. The general education summer program for elementary students will bring first- and second-graders to Irving Elementary from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and third-, fourth- and fifth-graders to Oakland Elementary from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They will work with District 87 teachers in the mornings and pre-service teachers from Illinois State University and other community partners in the afternoons. Junior high students will get to sleep in, Wolf said, noting their program spans from noon to 5 p.m. and will focus on academics, social-emotional learning, team building and leadership. The summer program for high school students is focused on credit recovery, which helps to keep students on track to graduate. Families whose students participate in summer school will have no costs, and transportation will be provided. Elementary and high school students will be provided with lunch, and junior high students will be given an afternoon snack. Bilingual and English as a Second Language support will also be provided at every level. Ready 4K The board also saw a presentation from Illinois Aware grant coordinator Leslie Blockman, who said a program called Ready 4K will launch at Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education on March 25. Ready 4K is a program developed by educational researchers that uses text messaging to communicate and partner with families to increase their engagement, Blockman said. We all know the home to school connection is vital, especially at Sarah Raymond, given the age of these students, she said. The program sends texts to parents and guardians three times a week with age-differentiated insights, activities and learning extensions to inform and motivate, activate and reinforce, encourage and extend, Blockman said. In one example of a Monday inform and motivate fact, Ready 4K could send When kids learn how to take on jobs and finish them, they grow more independent. Giving kids helping jobs at home builds this important skill. Blockman said studies have shown Ready 4K can lead to two to three months of additional growth over the course of the school year. Sarah Raymond will be the first school in Illinois to roll out this program, which is free for families, though they can opt out by responding with Stop. This program comes as part of the Illinois Aware grant, a five-year grant awarded to District 87 two years ago that focuses on behavioral, mental and social health of students, Wolf said. Reduction in force In other business, three teachers at Bloomington District 87 were included in the annual reduction of force resolution approved Wednesday by the school board. The board considers the reduction of force each spring to meet requirements for adequate notification of employees facing layoffs. Superintendent Barry Reilly said these are three honorable reductions in force. Two of the teachers were hired after Jan. 1, which doesnt give us a whole lot of time to evaluate employees, Reilly said. The third teacher is a probationary teacher who is on the list because of uncertainty of state and federal grant funding for special programs they were employed for. According to the resolution, as these are considered honorable reductions in force, they do not reflect adversely upon the performance of the three teachers. The overall effect to the district, this is a very low number. We want to keep people if we can at all possible cost, Reilly said. The resolution passed over dissent from board member Fitzgerald Samedy. Last year, three teachers were part of the reduction in force. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON The Bloomington Police Department on Friday said their preliminary investigation suggests that a Texas man fatally shot his son and spouse Tuesday in southeast Bloomington before ending his own life. In a statement posted Friday afternoon to Facebook, BPD Chief Jamal Simington described the double-homicide of Brittney C. Harmon, 32, and Matthias E. Clemons, 6, as a "worst-case scenario of domestic violence." The report said Lawrence D. Clemons III, 35, shot himself after killing Harmon and Clemons, his spouse and son, around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in an apartment in the 1000 block of Four Seasons Road. Said Simington: "I am saddened by the loss of life in our community, and even more disheartened that our community lost a 6-year-old child. Domestic violence is a serious issue in our community and the nation. As a community, we need to do our best to support victims and survivors of domestic violence, in any way we can." The chief said the case was difficult for police officers, dispatchers, criminal investigators and detectives, and gave praise for Bloomington Fire Department medics for their professionalism and resilience. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victims," Simington continued. The chief advised anyone who knows of someone experiencing domestic violence or abuse to contact their local police department or domestic violence organization. Locally, those people can go to www.findhelp22.org. BPD continues to investigate, in coordination with the McLean County Coroner's Office. Anyone with information should call Det. Jeff Engle at 309-434-2371 or email him at JEngle@cityblm.org. People can also provide information to Det. Tyrel Klein by calling 309-434-2366 or emailing Tklein@cityblm.org. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT Lake Criminal Court jurors found a man guilty late Thursday of knocking out a girlfriend's tooth, killing her months later, and setting her and her car on fire in 2018 in Gary. Hugh Scott Jr., 37, didn't testify during his four-day trial this week before Lake Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas on charges of murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and arson. The jury found him guilty on all counts. He was accused of punching 39-year-old Davita Ward on March 22, 2018, and killing her June 16, 2018. Ward's body was found "burned beyond recognition" June 17, 2018, in the backseat of her car in the 2400 block of Noble Street in Gary. A forensic pathologist testified Ward was alive when she and her car were lit on fire, but she died a short time later from a gunshot to the top of her head. The jury heard testimony and evidence linked to Hugh's abuse of Ward in March and June 2018 following ruling last year by Cappas that the series of events were part of "a continuous string of domestic violence." In his order, the judge denied Scott's motion to be tried separately in each of the cases. Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe said in her closing arguments that Facebook messages between Ward and Scott showed they had a volatile dating relationship. Ward went to a dentist for a root canal in March 2018. When she returned for the second part of the procedure, she told staff her temporary tooth had been knocked out by an "abusive boyfriend" who punched her in the face, Dafoe said. Facebook messages showed Ward confronted Scott about the abuse, and he apologized and promised it wouldn't happen again. In the days before Ward was killed, the messages showed Scott was losing his temper because Ward wouldn't meet up with him, Dafoe said. Scott accused Ward of cheating on him and gave her an ultimatum by threatening to end their relationship. Later, he showed up at her home despite her messages telling him not to be there, Dafoe said. Scott wouldn't stop messaging Ward when he knew she was at work, but the messages stopped after Ward went missing, the deputy prosecutor said. "He knew where she was," Dafoe said. "He solidified the breakup." Dafoe said the evidence showed Scott likely thought he had killed Ward, so he put her in the backseat of her car and drove her to an abandoned area. She accused Scott of pouring gasoline in the car and panicking when Ward woke up after he started the fire. Scott likely burned his legs when he moved closer to the car to shoot Ward and his pants caught fire, she said. Jurors watched a video Thursday of detectives' interview with Scott, who claimed he was burned as a result of a mishap with a grill, lighter fluid and fireworks. He couldn't recall the exact date he was burned. Dafoe showed the jury a photograph of Scott, whose legs didn't appear to be burned, taken the day before Ward's homicide. He sought medical treatment for the burns days after the homicide. Defense attorney Lemuel Stigler said Scott could have been confused when talking to detectives about what specific day he suffered burns to his legs. The defense attorney told the jury Dafoe and Deputy Prosecutor Veronica Gonzalez presented no physical evidence connecting Scott to Ward's homicide. Ward's DNA wasn't found in Scott's home when police executed a search warrant there, nor was any lighter fluid or gasoline, he said. Dafoe told the jury Scott's home was searched three years after Ward's homicide, so police weren't likely to find Ward's DNA there. Stigler said DNA analysis can be performed on "ancient bones" and accused prosecutors of saying "in a roundabout way" their investigators searched Scott's home "just to jack around" Scott's grandmother. Prosecutors didn't present evidence showing Scott's leg injuries weren't consistent with burns from lighter fluid, he said. Stigler also questioned the forensic pathologist's conclusion that Ward was still alive when the fire started. Ward had some soot in her throat, but authorities failed to send her blood for analysis to determine how much carbon monoxide she had inhaled before death, Stigler said. "The packaging for the transport wasn't good," he said. "It leaked out. No such tests were performed." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Two brothers, 17 and 22, were charged Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a WGN security guard who was a mother of two, according to officials and the news station. About 3 p.m. Monday, Salena Claybourne, 35, was headed home from work and was in her vehicle after pumping gas at her regular station in the 6700 block of South Jeffery Boulevard in the Jackson Park Highlands neighborhood when a man who wanted to steal her vehicle shot her after seeing her security jacket, prosecutors said at a bond hearing Wednesday. Claybourne was shot in the left shoulder and face and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she later died, Chicago police said. Claybourne was pronounced dead at 3:35 p.m. Monday due to multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Her death was ruled a homicide. Dameonte Watson, 17, was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking while his brother Gregory Watson, 22, of the Oakland neighborhood, was also charged with first-degree murder, police said. Dameonte appeared in court Wednesday before Cook County Judge Barbara Dawkins, who ordered that he be held without bail. Prosecutors said the brothers did not know Claybourne. After she finished pumping gas, Claybourne got back into her vehicle, and another vehicle pulled up beside her on the other side of the island, Assistant States Attorney James Murphy said in court. What unfolded was captured on surveillance video and witnessed by the gas station manager, who knew Claybourne was a regular customer. The brothers got out of that vehicle, and the older brother, who was wearing all black and a ski mask, went up to Claybourne as the younger brother, also wearing all black but with bright red underwear, went up to the passenger side, Murphy said. The video shows the older brother leaned toward Claybournes drivers side and shot her in the face and shoulder within seconds, Murphy said. The manager of the gas station was in his vehicle when the shooting occurred, Murphy said. After the shooting, the manager saw the brothers run toward Jeffery Boulevard and the car they were in drove off without them. The manager gave police descriptions of the men, including the red clothing, to help identify them. Detectives recovered two handguns from the area that the brothers ran after watching part of their route on private surveillance video, Murphy said. They found that two shell casings found at the scene were fired from one of the recovered guns. The older brother told police that he and his brother wanted Claybournes car, but when he flashed his gun, he saw security on her jacket, Murphy said. This victim, who was coming home from work, was just trying to pump her gas, just trying to fill up her tank, and was in the process of leaving when these two defendants, two brothers, saw the opportunity and approached in order to hijack her vehicle, Murphy said. An attorney representing Dameonte Watson asserted that he was identified only by his red underwear and not by his face. He lives with his grandmother in Chicago, is suffering from a jaw injury and had invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, the attorney said. Gregory Watson is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday, police said. WGN said Claybournes family set up a GoFundMe to help her family. My name is Donna, and I have just lost my baby girl. My daughter was a beautiful person in and out and could put a smile on anyones face. She also has two daughters that are 15 years old and 14 years old that are grieving. We just found out that she didnt have any insurance, the GoFundMe said. Please help my family and I give her the homegoing that she deserves. The rest of these funds will go out to her daughters. Please help us through this very trying time. Police Superintendent David Brown, at a news conference Wednesday, offered condolences to Claybournes family. We are grieving with this family, and we are doing everything we can to hopefully bring some small measure of closure to the family with this arrest, he said. But again, the deepest condolences to the family is really our utmost concern right now. Make sure that we do all we can bring the criminal justice system down to bear on these offenders to send not only a message for these offenders but to others that would commit violent crime in this city. Chicago Tribunes Sarah Freishtat contributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ELK GROVE VILLAGE - A suburban Chicago man who was convicted of a hate crime two decades ago is running to unseat Cook Countys first openly gay board member, Democratic Commissioner Kevin Morrison. Kevin Ake, 60, of Elk Grove Village, turned in his signatures Monday to run as a Republican for the County Boards 15th District in the June 28 primary. In 2002, Ake was found guilty of a felony hate crime, court records show. Ake is also treasurer of the Elk Grove Township Republicans, its chairman confirmed Wednesday. The Tribune reported at the time that Ake, identified then as a tax accountant with the Moody Bible Institute, left more than 100 phone calls harassing a lesbian Lakeview YMCA director about her sexual orientation after he was denied permission to host a Bible study there. Ake was sentenced to 14 days in jail and 2 years of probation, which he was allowed to complete early, according to records. I strongly condemn harassment of any kind, Morrison said in a statement. As Commissioner, my focus has always been directed at representing the diverse communities of the 15th District, and I am proud of what we have accomplished these past three years. Voters in our District have made it clear that they support leaders who will fight for an inclusive and welcoming Cook County, and I look forward to earning their vote once again. Transcripts of Akes voicemails to the director in March 2001, included in the court records, show him repeatedly berating her for holding a leadership position at a YMCA as a woman, a lesbian and, according to him, a non-Christian. He calls homosexuality an abomination. Im gunna (sic) come after you with all that I have through my heavenly Father, Ake said, according to court records. You better watch out Im coming. The holy spirit is coming after you. In a phone interview Tuesday, Ake downplayed his hate crime conviction, though he did not deny mentioning the YMCA leaders sexual orientation in his many calls to her. I left a bunch of messages on the executive directors answering machine, Ake said. They blew it out of proportion and charged me with the felony hate crime. Ake, who state records show has an active accounting license, told the Tribune this week that he was persecuted for attempting to bring Christianity to the YMCA and disparaged the Cook County prosecutor on his case as a hall of fame homosexual. When asked whether he was sorry for his actions back then, he said, No, Im not. He later added that he was persecuted by a homosexual, and then I served my 14 days. And that was 20 years ago. Russell Nowak, the Elk Grove Township GOP committeeman, said he did not know about Akes criminal history when Ake joined as treasurer of the townships party a month ago. But Nowak also said he does not dig into anybodys past. What they did years ago shouldnt matter, Nowak said. Thats all Im trying to say. You know what I mean? People have done stupid stuff when you were younger, you know? Morrison, a Democrat from Mount Prospect, made history as the first openly gay member of the Cook County Board when he defeated incumbent and former state GOP Chairman Timothy Schneider in 2018. Morrison filed nominating petitions Monday for another term. Besides Ake, Republican Chuck Cerniglia of Hoffman Estates has also submitted petitions to run in the 15th District. Cerniglia could not be reached for comment. As of Thursday afternoon, no one else had filed paperwork to challenge Morrison in the Democratic primary in the 15th District, which covers all or parts of Elgin, Barrington, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and surrounding areas. An Illinois law generally prohibits convicted felons from holding municipal elected offices; thats the reason former 11th Ward Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson was ousted from the Chicago City Council last month after being found guilty of tax fraud. But Akes record wont likely impede him from running for the seat or assuming office if he wins, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections said. Ake said his views on homosexuality are based on his religious beliefs and that he is a 100% born-again Christian. I got nothing to hide, and I still feel like Im a viable candidate, Ake said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago March 11, 1922: All Normal schools, including ISNU, U High and Metcalf, are closed for a weeks vacation. They will reopen March 20. Homeward-bound college students packed the Normal depot, where trains picked up young passengers headed for Joliet and Chicago. 75 years ago March 11, 1947: George McNear, president of the TP&W Railroad, was shotgunned to death in Peoria last night. He was killed as he walked in his neighborhood. McNear was a focal point in the labor strife that had beset the TP&W for some time. Labor denied any involvement in the crime. 50 years ago March 11, 1972: Robert Stufflebeam was found innocent of armed violence, burglary and aggravated assault. The case stems from a January 1971 burglary. A key prosecution witness refused to testify. Stufflebeam went free and witness Aaron Patrick went to jail for his refusal. 25 years ago March 11, 1997: Normal will build a shelter along Constitution Trail and name it in memory of Ron Allers. He was Normals building commissioner and died of leukemia Jan. 17. Allers loved to build, and his family expressed pleasure with Normals commitment to the shelter. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Team, Benito Owusu-Bio has on Friday, 11th March 2022 led a delegation from the Ministry and other State officials to commiserate with the Chiefs and people of Appiatse as they bury 7 out of the 13 victims who died from the explosion at Appiatse, which occurred on Thursday, 20th January 2022. Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, at the burial ceremony, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio Bio extended the condolences of the government and the Ministry to the bereaved families. "We are here on behalf of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and my Sector Minister who are on an equally important official duty in Dubai, to sympathize with you in this hard time. They send their heartfelt condolences to the Chiefs, people and all the bereaved families. We know this is hard but do take heart". He bemoaned the sad and sudden situation saying "This is sad and we hope and pray this doesn't reoccur but as we cry and mourn the dead, we also have to keep in mind that there are others alive who need to be sheltered as soon as possible and we are committed to do this within the shortest possible time" Hon. Benito who attended the burial ceremony in the company of some members of the Reconstruction Committee and a representative from the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr. Samuel Akuaku announced that within a period of 12 months the new Appiatse Commmunity promised by the government will be reconstructed into a Green, sustainable and model community. Hon. Benito on behalf of the Ministry and it's agencies donated an amount of 30,000 Ghana Cedis to support the Burial and funeral rites as well as the bereaved families. The seven victims laid in the state during the burial ceremony were, Ekua Nyame 80 years old, Isaac Benyin (45), Isaac Anane (35), Emmanuel Quainoo (29), Justice Kwesi Takwa(21), Michael Afriyie (19) and a fifteen months old baby, Ella Baidoo. According to the disaster relief committee, 4 out of the other 6 victims of the total 13were laid to rest last weekend while the remaining two namely Emmanuel Awingura (24) and Eric Gyimah (24) will be given a private burial by their families in their respective birth homes in the coming days. Representatives from the bereaved families were given the opportunity to read out tributes in turns and pay their last respects to the deceased. The Chief of Appiatse, Nana Atta Kwadwo Bremebi expressed his profound gratitude to the President of the Republic, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and all other stakeholders for all efforts towards the rebuilding Appiatse and for sympathizing with them. He also urged his people to support the project and remain patient as government zooms into the third phase of the project. The mass burial ceremony which took place at the explosion site in Appiatse, a suburb of Bogoso in the Western Region also had in attendance the Board Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, Hon. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, MCE for Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, Dr. Isaac Dasmani, The MP for Prestea Huni-Valley Constituency, Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe and other mourners from home and abroad. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, has indicated that work on La General Hospital will commence on Monday March 14, 2022. According to him, the redevelopment project which President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut sod for in the third quarter of 2020 could not start because the government was faced with difficulties. President Akufo-Addo cuts sod for La General Hospital redevelopment The inability of the government to commence the construction project was attributed to the global pandemic which ravaged the economies of the world. He stated that Sinosure, the Chinese Company mandated to insure the loan to be secured for the project halted the process to review their policy on Africa. This was occasioned by a request from Africa to the Chinese Government to restructure their Africa debt financing policy due to the impact of COVID-19. Sinosure therefore put on hold their insurance processes on all Chinese projects in Africa, he disclosed. Mr Agyemang Manu who doubles as Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central Constituency, mentioned that the company on October 20, 2021 finally gave the green light for the loan to be insured and negotiations for value for money were subsequently concluded to enable the project commence. He also noted contrary to the observation observations made by the National Democratic Congress Caucus of Parliament when they inspected the site that, the government had started some activities on the project including fencing, side offices, roads for the conveyance of construction equipment. However, the actual building projecting which will start on Monday, according to him, will not stop until it is completed in 30 months. Background The La General Hospital which was built in the 1960s. It was the second largest facility after the Greater Accra Regional hospital in its catchment area and served a population of more than 150,000 persons. The Hospital was initially built as a Polyclinic but had undergone several renovations and also seen a lot of expansions to cater for the ever-growing patient numbers. The most prominent expansion was the construction of the 5-storey multi-purpose hospital block. It was built in the 1990s. However, the structure had developed structural cracks which required urgent Government attention to forestall any major disaster. The La General Hospital occupied a total land area of about 4-acres and operated from 5 different structures which were not linked directly by any covered walkways as a result of the piecemeal development. This situation had broken the functional flow required in a modern hospital for proper patient care. As a result, there were no properly defined areas for staff and visitors. The 5-storey block however housed the core of the Hospitals functional areas like the OPD, Wards, Surgical rooms and Administration but developed structural cracks which put the lives of patients and staff at serious risk. Following a report by the Hospitals administration in 2015 of serious structural problems, the Ministrys technical team together with external civil and structural Engineers undertook a full study of the building and came out with their findings as contained in the attached structural integrity report. The following recommendation were therefore made by the team: Evacuate the entire hospital and distribute patients amongst the adjoining hospitals at Teshie, Adabraka and the Greater Accra regional Hospital Demolish the unsafe 5-storey structure and all other structures not fit-for-purpose Redevelop the site into an ultra-modern facility commensurate to the land value and fit for purpose. Demolition The Ministry on the back of the recommendation proceeded to demolish the existing facility. Even though this action was premised on the structural integrity report, according to the government they proceeded to do the demolishing when they were sure of the availability of funds to commence and complete the project. However, it is worth noting that the recommendation to demolish was not hinged on Governments ability to raise funds to build a new one but purely on sound engineering advice. Essentially, irrespective of when Government intended to reconstruct the facility, the report recommended its demolition to avoid any catastrophic event. Outlook The hospital is expected to complement the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge in Accra and serve people living in Osu, La and Teshie as well as those living along the coast of Accra. When completed, it will transform the capacity of the facility into a 160-bed facility. Ancillaries including an outpatient department, inpatient wards, maternity and neonatal services, will be added. The new structure will also have surgical unit with four (4) theatres, accident and emergency department, public health department, pharmacy unit, laboratory, administration, imaging area with CT Scan, X-ray room, ultrasound, flouroscopy, mammography units; physiotherapy unit, and a mortuary. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanas Attorney General, Mr Godfred Dame has asked the Tema High Court to refuse the bail application of #FixTheCountry Movement convener Oliver Barker-Vormawor because the youth activist, who is standing trial for treason felony after threatening a coup on social media in connection with the e-levy, has been uncooperative with the investigators. The Minister of Justice, in a document to the court on Thursday, 10 March 2022 said the Cambridge PhD student, who has been in detention for about a month, is a flight risk. The lawyer was reportedly rushed to the hospital recently after taking ill and put in a bail application through his lawyers. According to Mr Dame, Mr Barker-Vormawor has defied some court orders issued against him with regard to the investigation, thus, must not be granted bail. He said in addition to refusing the investigators access to his mobile phone as ordered by the court, the accused person has also refused to disclose his place of abode in Ghana for a search to be conducted, despite the court having granted a warrant for that purpose. For those reasons, the AG argues that it would be untenable to grant Mr Barker-Vormawor bail. That, having regard to the nature of the offence and the punishment which conviction will entail, the applicant, a person with no fixed place of abode in Ghana is not likely to appear to stand trial if granted bail, Mr Dame said. The court could not hear the bail application on Thursday since the lawyers of the accused person said they had just received the AGs document. The case has been adjourned to Monday, 14 March 2022. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Role models are recognised as crucial factors to achieve zero gender bias and gender equality. For women, if they can see themselves represented, nothing can stop them from breaking the glass ceiling. This year, the theme of International Womens Day is #BreakingTheBias to promote a world free of stereotyping and discrimination. This can only be impactful if the groundbreaking achievements of strong women role models across the globe are acknowledged and celebrated to give others the courage to follow in their footsteps. We are celebrating our true role models at Bolt the first women who joined Bolts Women in Tech internship program last year. The tech space is predominantly male-dominated, with women increasingly being offered limited opportunities. According to Adeva IT, in 2018, women held only 25% of all jobs in the tech industry, although they make up almost half of the workforce. As part of efforts to create equal opportunity, Bolt the ride-hailing app, launched an initiative to help women across Africa fast-track their careers in the tech world. In Ghana, Keziah Odoi, Rabiatu Ahmed and Sharon Darko were successful interns who could join different teams across Operations and Marketing and Public Relations at Bolt. Among these interns, Sharon was assigned to the Operations Department, where she seized the opportunity to improve her professional developmental skills and a year on, she continues to work at Bolt Ghana as a full-time intern. She describes her experience saying, I would not change a single thing. So much about my professional skills has improved, and I have realised I work better in a team-orientated environment while simultaneously having responsibility for individual tasks. Ms Darko believes that the current experience is preparing her for the operational aspects of the tech start-up she dreams of launching in the future. Keziah, who now works in the field of engineering, said, the knowledge I acquired in marketing combined with my software engineering skills has given me the capacity to work on and develop projects that in the future will solve problems in society. Rabiatu, who finds herself working in Public Relations, expressed her gratitude to Bolt, saying, my experience at Bolt Ghana was great and impactful and helped me achieve some level of growth which has seen me take up top-level tasks and responsibilities in my current line of work. All three ladies continue to be unanimous about the usefulness of their Women in Tech Internship experience and are hopeful that this foundation will help propel them to greater heights as they advance in their careers. They also hope that their story will inspire those who come after them to soar higher and reach beyond the sky to achieve heights that will continue to break the bias. For more information about the #Drive4WITech follow our Instagram page! Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Mahama criticised a Supreme Court ruling that a Deputy Speaker presiding over proceedings in Parliament has the right to vote on matters and also be counted as part of the quorum for decision making in Parliament. In a post shared across his official social media handles, Mr Mahama said the unanimous ruling was "Shocking but not surprising". He added that the ruling had set "a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future". Ruling The court gave the decision yesterday after it dismissed a writ by a law lecturer, Justice Abdulai, who was challenging the decision of Mr Owusu to be counted as part of the quorum to pass the budget. The unanimous decision was given by Justices Jones Dotse, Nene Amegather, Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Clemence Honyenuga and Yonny Kulendi. The court did not give its reasons for the decision but said the reasons would be filed by Friday at the Courts registry [March 11, 2022]. Justice Abdulais case The plaintiff was of the view that the 1992 Constitution does not allow a person presiding over proceedings in Parliament to have an original or casting vote, or to be part of a quorum. In support of his case, he relies on Article 102 of the 1992 Constitution which provides that a quorum of Parliament, apart from the person presiding, shall be one-third of all Members of Parliament, and Article 104 (1) which provides that matters in Parliament shall be determined by votes of majority members present and voting, with at least half of all members of Parliament present. He also cites Article 104 (2) of the 1992 Constitution which stipulates that: The Speaker shall have neither original nor casting vote. It is the case of Mr Abdulai that the First or Second Deputy Speakers of Parliament, when presiding, have the same authority and mandate just like the Right Honourable Speaker, and therefore cannot vote or be part of the quorum. A-Gs case The A-G disagreed with the plaintiff and argues that the quorum in Parliament formed under Article 102 is different from the quorum formed under Article 104 of the 1992 Constitution. It is the case of Mr Dame that the quorum under Article 102 is for the conduct of business in Parliament, and that is why Article 102 provides that it should be one-third of members. Given that Parliament presently is made up of 275 members, the quorum under Article 102 for the conduct of its business is 92 MPs, the A-G submitted. According to the A-G, based on the clear provision of Article 102, any person presiding, either the Speaker or Deputy Speakers, is precluded from being part of that quorum. On the other hand, the A-G is of the view that the quorum under Article 104 (1) which deals with the determination of matters through voting in Parliament requires at least half of all MPs, and such a quorum is not the same as the one in Article 102. Mr Dame contends that unlike Article 102 which precludes a person presiding from being part of the quorum, Article 104 (2) specifically precludes The Speaker. The A-G, therefore, holds the position that only the person elected as The Speaker of Parliament is barred from forming part of the quorum under Article 104 when presiding, and not Deputy Speakers who preside over proceedings. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed utter shock at the various interpretations and controversies arising as a result of the Supreme Court ruling regarding the right of the Deputy Speakers of Parliament to vote during parliamentary proceedings. The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, gave a verdict on the dispute about whether or not the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, when sitting in for the Speaker, can also exercise his right to vote as a Member of Parliament. This contentious matter before the House resulted in the members on both sides trading blows when the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, acting as Speaker, in November last year decided to hand over to the Second Deputy Speaker in order to join a quorum and cast his vote on the 2022 budget by the Akufo-Addo government. Court Ruling A seven member panel of the Supreme Court, adjudicating the case, by a unanimous decision settled this dispute ruling that a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can as well "vote and take part in the decision of parliament". The action by Mr Osei-Owusu, in counting himself as an MP, enabled the Majority in Parliament to form the right quorum under Article 104(1) to pass the budget. By this ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed and legitimized the approval of the 2022 Budget passed in the absence of the NDC Minority Caucus on November 30, 2021. President Akufo-Addo Speaks Up The President, in an interview on Citi TV, opened up on his position on the Supreme Court ruling following attempts by some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to shoot it down. Former President John Mahama, in a post shared across his official social media handles and cited by Graphic Online, described the ruling as "shocking but not surprising", adding the Apex Court has set "a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future". Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George passing a comment on it also said in a tweet; "The sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!'' But to President Akufo-Addo, the Supreme Court ruling is as clear as crystal. He strongly held that the Deputy Speakers are not the Speaker of Parliament, so they can exercise their parliamentary voting right as Members of Parliament. Simplifying the issue to the general public, the President said; ''Our Speaker is expressly not a member of the Assembly, that's why he doesn't have the right to vote. In fact, he is really not even to participate in the deliberations of the House. He is the referee making sure that the debate is conducted properly and the rules of procedure or the orders of the House are complied with. That's his role.'' He continued; ''That is not the case with the Deputy of Speaker and that matter is transparent on the face of our constitution. Indeed, even the Presiding members of our district Assemblies, they have the right to vote. Look at the district Assembly law because they are members of the Assembly and once you are a member of the Assembly, you are representing certain constituencies.'' His Excellency Nana Addo emphasized that ''if you are denied the right to vote, [it will mean] it is tantamount to denying the right of the people you represent to have a say in the decision of the Assembly. That will not be right. So, I couldn't understand all this furore and controversy artificially generated''. ''We are being told that the decision of the court amounts to judicial interference in the work of Parliament. I'm not quite sure that the people who are saying have actually taken the time to read the constitution of our country. It says so in black and white. ''The legislative power of Parliament [that is vested] that is of the State which is vested in Parliament is subject to the provisions of the constitution. All organs of the Ghanaian State including me as the Head of Executive, we are all subject to the teachings of the constitution. There is nobody in the Ghanaian State that is above the fundamental law of the land'', he added. The President asserted that any defiance to the court ruling will ''lead to the very matter that we have striven so long to avoid; the concentration [of power] of unregulated power in our State. We don't want that. We've had that experience before and we brought about this constitution in order not to allow that to reoccur''. ''...I'm astonished about how much public energy has been wasted, I say so with the greatest of respect, been wasted in an area on an issue where there is so much clarity and I'm happy that the court...the Supreme Court, when it is declaring the meaning of the constitution and it does so unanimously. That is the most emphatic way in which the court can pronounce!'', he expressed his shock. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged young people not to allow the allure of politics to blind their level of nationalism love for Ghana. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said as young adults, our highest aspirations must be to the benefit of Ghana. The words of the national anthem and pledge, she indicated, must resonate with our spirit as a people. Speaking at the Independence Day Parade organised by the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to mark the 65th anniversary of Ghanas independence at the Accra High School at North Ridge in Accra, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings stated that: As you grow older, you will find yourselves in situations where you might align one way or the other with one political party or the other, but let us remember that at the end of the day, it is about Ghana and everything that we do must be about ensuring that we are meeting our highest aspirations as a people. The Klottey Korle Parliamentarian said the education that we seek should not teach us only to read and write but also imbibe in us the values and principles that bind us together as a nation, so that when we say we are Ghanaians, we all know what that means. It is not only about the Ghana flag and it is not only about singing the national anthem, but there is an identity that we have as a nation. So when you are reciting the national pledge and the national anthem, let it not be empty words! Let these words resonate with your spirit. Let it have meaning to you because these are the things that guide you to become responsible adults and citizens to lead this country into a better future, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stated. Touching on leadership the first daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, said the anniversary parade highlights what positive leadership is about. She said in order to keep your lines straight you have to look at someone as a benchmark for where you position yourself. And nation building is no different. Even if you have a good leader and the rest of the contingent does not align itself correctly in place and time, it becomes disorganized. In other words, the sense of individual responsibility is important as it contributes to the success or otherwise of the collective, the Klottey Korle MP said. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings urged Ghanaian youth to be committed to their country and get involved in nation-building, counseling that they should take inspiration from the song, Arise Ghana youth for your country. Parade contingents comprised of cadet corps and schools from across the municipality. Present were the MCE, District Director of Education, Heads of Security agencies, staff of the schools, Assemblymen, Chiefs and a Queenmother amongst others. Source: asaaseradio.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin has encouraged the applicant on the voting rights case at the Supreme Court to go for a review following the 7-0 unanimous ruling last Wednesday by the Supreme Court that Deputy Speakers can vote. In a statement, Mr Bagbin said the Supreme Court decision, "is to say the least, not only an absurdity but a reckless incursion into the remit of Parliament." He stated: "the trend of unanimity is equally troubling. It doesnt help explore and expand our legal jurisprudence." "The Presidents [Akufo-Addo] comment is myopic and unfortunate. It only goes to worsen the schism between the Executive and Parliament." he added. Below is a copy of the statement Message from Hon Alban S.K. Bagbin Good morning comrades. I have resisted the temptation of making a comment on the judgment of the Supreme Court on the issue of the voting rights of Deputy Speakers when presiding. But the unfortunate and myopic comment of the President has compelled me to let it out. The SC decision, is to say the least, not only an absurdity but a reckless incursion into the remit of Parliament. The trend of unanimity is equally troubling. It doesnt help explore and expand our legal jurisprudence. The Presidents comment is myopic and unfortunate. It only goes to worsen the schism between the Executive and Parliament. The impartiality of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or Presiding Officer has been tresusured and fought for by this country throughout our democratic development. Mr. President, the issue being discussed is not about Parliament being above the law. Everyone knows that Parliament is not above the law. The Executive and the Judiciary are equally not above the law. The issue being discussed is the political question doctrine. It took centuries to detail out the strands of this doctrine and the principles are settled as to when and how this closed book could be opened. Please, I encourage the Plaintiff to go for a review. By Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin. Speaker of Parliament Republic of Ghana. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Supreme Court by a unanimous decision settled this contentious issue ruling on Wednesday that a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can as well "vote and take part in the decision of parliament". The landmark ruling was given after private legal practitioner, Justice Abdulai, filed a case against the Attorney-General to contest the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusus decision to count himself during a vote to approve the 2022 budget. The apex court also struck down Order 109(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament as unconstitutional. The seven member panel that adjudicated the case comprised Justices Jones Dotse, Nene Amegatcher, Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Clemence Honyenuga and Emmanuel Kulendi. Presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, the court also struck down Order 109(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament as unconstitutional. A lawyer and law lecturer, Justice Abdullai filed a case against the Attorney General calling on the Supreme Court to interpret Articles 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution and declare the action of Mr Osei Owusu as unconstitutional. He had also wanted the Supreme Court to declare the whole proceedings in Parliament on November 30, 2021, which led to the passage of the 2022 budget as unconstitutional insisting the Deputy Speaker should not have counted himself as an MP when he presided over proceedings. However, the Attorney-General (A-G), Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, in a defence on behalf of the state, argued that there is no express provision in the 1992 Constitution that stopped a Deputy Speaker presiding over proceedings from voting or counting himself as part of MPs present in order to form the right quorum. Read a copy of the entire ruling below: Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A branching Acropora yongei coral. This 40x magnified image was captured using a handheld digital microscope. Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego / Angus Thies. Researchers at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered a novel molecular process that corals use to control the subcellular environment of the algae that live inside them. A specialized protein controls the fluctuating day-to-night transfer of nitrogen and carbon dioxide through the coral's cellular membranes to the algae. The process is important because the coral and algae live in a mutually beneficial relationship called symbiosis. Although the team expected to find the protein, they could not have predicted the day-night changes in the intracellular areas they observed. "We show that the interface between the animal hosts and the plants that live inside them is a dynamically controlled microenvironment," said Angus Thies, a doctoral student who works in the laboratory of Scripps Oceanography marine physiologist Martin Tresguerres. Thies and his co-authors, who include scientists at the University of Manitoba in Canada, describe the first direct observations of the cellular interface between corals and their symbiotic algae in the March 11 issue of Science Advances. The study was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through a grant to Tresguerres and a fellowship to Thies. Until recently, the findings reported in Science Advances would have been nearly impossible to obtain. Tresguerres's group already had invested years in pioneering how best to prepare corals for microscopy science. What clinched the achievement, though, was the team's acquisition of an apparatus known as a laser confocal super-resolution system that was funded by the Arthur M. and Kate E. Tode Research Endowment in Marine Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. This system permitted the team to image the coral membrane that surrounds the algae at a resolution more than double that of the lab's previous microscope. The new system can isolate features only 120 nanometers apart. A human hair, by comparison, is 90,000 nanometers thick. "Decades of studies show that corals seem to regulate how much nitrogen they give to their algae," Tresguerres said. But if the algae receive too much nitrogen, they may grow and multiply too quickly, disrupting the symbiosis. "Just like humans, coral health and disease can be tracked to the cellular level. When things go right on the cellular level, the coral thrives. And when things go wrong, it usually leads to malfunction or disease, potentially including 'bleaching.' What we call the symbiosis interface might be the most important interface, the most important membrane, on the entire reef," Tresguerres said. Symbioses form important biological interactions in many living systems. For example, humans have a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria that fill our digestive tract. But there's a difference. "In humans, bacteria live outside our cells; for example, in the inside of our intestines and on our skin. But in corals, these algae live inside cells of the host animal itself," Thies said. "It's a very tight space. It's like having a roommate forever and you hope it's a really good roommate. You want to keep everyone as happy as possible." Left: Super-resolution confocal image of a coral host cell and its intracellular symbiotic alga. Right: 3D rendering using Imaris software which allows better visualization of the cellular patterns. Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego At first glance, corals might look like colorful rocks that sprout pretty little polyps. "They are, in fact, among the most important animals on Earth," Thies said. Approximately one billion people rely on coral reef ecosystems either directly or indirectly for their food and yet scientists know very little about how corals function at the cellular level. The Science Advances study identified a cellular mechanism that mediates nitrogen delivery to the symbiotic algae during normal conditions. This is a significant finding because, to understand what happens when a process goes wrong, scientists first need to establish how it works in healthy corals. But how is this process altered by climate change or pollution? "Perhaps, under certain conditions of climate change, this mechanism is disrupted and can lead to bleaching because the algae do not have enough or they have too much nitrogen," Tresguerres said. "That opens the door for a lot of research, both by us and also other labs." Thies, who received his undergraduate degree in marine biology at UC San Diego in 2017, began working on this project as an undergraduate student in Tresguerres's laboratory. He has continued the project as an NSF Graduate Fellow and a Scripps Oceanography Doctoral Scholar Fellow. "Corals are not easy organisms to work with," Thies said. "Corals require a lot of aquarium care because they're complicated symbiotic animals. Sometimes, they're hard to keep happy." But a team of six UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students did exactly that, earning an acknowledgment in the Science Advances paper for their efforts. Although the Tresguerres lab studies many different organisms, what they find in one organism often appears in another one no matter how distantly related. Even though corals, sharks, and algae may share some of the same enzymeshighly specialized proteins, each organism puts them to different uses. Even two separate coral species that dwell at the same depth might employ quite different adaptations. Proteins and enzymes serve as cellular building blocks that Tresguerres compared to LEGO bricks. In a coral, many enzymes support symbiosis. Similar enzymes in an Osedax worm, which feeds on whale carcasses, help the worm eat through bone. And in shark and stingray gills, similar enzymes are involved in maintaining blood acidity within healthy levels. "I find Evolution fascinating, especially at the cellular level," Tresguerres said. "The proteins are the same, but then they partner with other proteins or they're in different cellular compartments and put in a wildly different function." Besides Thies and Tresguerres, the research team included Alex R. Quijada-Rodriguez, Haonan Zhouyao, and Prof. Dirk Weihrauch of the University of Manitoba, Canada. Explore further Proton pump found to regulate blood pH in stingrays More information: Angus Thies et al, A Rhesus channel in the coral symbiosome membrane suggests a novel mechanism to regulate NH3 and CO2 delivery to algal symbionts, Science Advances (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm0303 Journal information: Science Advances Angus Thies et al, A Rhesus channel in the coral symbiosome membrane suggests a novel mechanism to regulate NH3 and CO2 delivery to algal symbionts,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm0303 In this Jan. 2018 photo provided by the Pilgrim Hall Museum, Dr. Fred Hocker, Director of Research, Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden, examines Sparrow-hawk timbers at Pilgrim Hall Museum, in Plymouth, Mass. The timbers were sampled in 2018 and analyzed over the course of several years. Credit: Marie Pelletier/Pilgrim Hall Museum photo via AP In 1626, a ship foundered in stormy seas and wrecked on Cape Cod, where the passengers were aided by the local Indigenous population and the Pilgrims in nearby Plymouth. Now the most in-depth scientific analysis of timbers found more than 150 years ago has provided the best evidence yet that they belonged to the ill-fated vessel known as the Sparrow-Hawk. The results of an international, multiyear study on the remains of the ship were published Friday in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. "I am just over the top about this news," said Donna Curtin, executive director of the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, which has been in possession of 109 timbers from the Sparrow-Hawk since 1889. The timbers have long been assumed to be from the roughly 40-foot (12-meter) Sparrow-Hawkthe oldest known shipwreck of English Colonial Americabased largely on where they were found, but there always remained some uncertainty. "Historical narratives get distorted over time," Curtin said. Historians do know that a small ship bound for Jamestown, Virginia, with a pair of English merchants and several Irish servants on board was driven ashore by a storm in 1626 in what today is the town of Orleans, based on the written accounts of Plymouth Colony Gov. William Bradford. This 1865 photo provided by the Pilgrim Hall Museum, shows Leander Cosby, of Orleans, Mass., right, standing with remains of the 1626 shipwreck Sparrow-hawk, on the Boston Common, in Boston. Cosby was an early visitor to the wreck site when it was uncovered in the 1860s, and helped excavate and preserve the vessel. Credit: Josiah Johnson Hawes/Pilgrim Hall Museum via AP "Ther was a ship, with many passengers in her and sundrie goods, bound for Virginia," Bradford wrote, going on to describe how the vessel had been at sea for six weeks, how the captain had become sick with scurvy, and they had run out of water and beer. As for the passengers, "The cheefe amongst these people was one Mr. Fells and Mr. Sibsie, which had many servants belonging unto them, many of them being Irish," he wrote. They are the first documented Irish colonists in New England, although as indentured servants they had little choice, and didn't stay permanently, Curtin noted. The passengers were initially aided by members of the Nauset tribe, who spoke English, then taken in by the Pilgrims for nearly a year before they eventually found passage on other boats to Virginia to farm tobacco. The unrepairable vessel, meanwhile, was buried by shifting sands and lost until 1863, when a storm uncovered the remarkably well-preserved wreckage that was presumed to be the same ship described by Bradford because of where it was found. This 2007 photo provided by the Pilgrim Hall Museum, shows collection of 109 surviving timbers from the 1626 shipwreck of the Sparrow-hawk at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, in Plymouth, Mass. Credit: Stephen C. O'Neill/Pilgrim Hall Museum photo via AP Although the original name of the ship remains unknown, it has been referred to since the 1860s as the Sparrow-Hawk. The wreck has long been one of the museum's most intriguing artifacts, Curtin said. It has been studied and scrutinized by generations of maritime experts, but had never before gone through such a detailed analysis. The study was led by Calvin Mires, a maritime archeologist and researcher with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts; Aiofe Daly, an associate professor at the Saxo Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Fred Hocker, the director of research at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. They used wiggle-match dating, a form of radiocarbon analysis, and dendrochronology, the study of tree ring growth, to narrow down roughly when the Sparrow-Hawk was built. The wiggle-match dating indicated that the wood used to make the boat was harvested between 1556 and 1646, according to the study. This March 2021 photo provided by the Pilgrim Hall Museum, shows a fragile pump-box from the 1626 shipwreck Sparrow-hawk, in Plymouth, Mass. The pump-box was examined by scientists in assessing probable date for the vessel but was too delicate to sample. Credit: Donna Curtin/Pilgrim Hall Museum via AP The rings on a tree are like the "fingerprint based on the climate of the region in which the tree grew," Daly said. The ring patterns of the Sparrow-Hawk's wood matched tree-ring chronologies from 17th century southern England, according to the study. The same techniques were used to study the Vasa, a Swedish warship that went down on its maiden voyage in 1628, just two years after the Sparrow-Hawk wrecked. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that this is the Sparrow-Hawk," Curtin said. "But we can say with much more confidence than ever before that what we have is compatible with the story in Gov. Bradford's journal." Another clue that the Sparrow-Hawk is from the early 17th century is the oak and elm from which it is constructed, said the Vasa Museum's Hocker, who specializes in the history of shipbuilding. "That combination of woods is a traditional combination of materials in shipbuilding in England in that era," he said. "Everything I looked at just screamed 17th century to me." In this 2018 photo provided by the Pilgrim Hall Museum, Aoife Daly, Associate Professor, Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, extracts a core from an age-hardened Sparrow-hawk timber for analysis. The timbers were sampled in 2018 and analyzed over the course of several years. Credit: Marie Pelletier/Pilgrim Hall Museum photo via AP Although they have been exhibited publicly in the past, the Sparrow-Hawk's remains are currently in storage at the Plymouth museum. More scientific study is planned, and Curtin would like to use digital modeling to construct a 3D image of the ship, with the goal of putting it back on public display in 2026, the 400th anniversary of the wreck. Explore further In Sweden, wreck could be sistership to iconic vessel 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Passing a tipping point is less critical in the large lake than in the small one. A new model reveals this will be the case in many large, heterogeneous systems. Credit: TiPES/HP The consequences of crossing a tipping point might often be much more subtle and less severe than generally assumed. That is the conclusion of a mathematical analysis of tipping in large, spatially heterogeneous systems, which natural systems like ice sheets, lakes, and forests often are. The study by dr. Robbin Bastiaansen et al. from Utrecht University, The Netherlands is published in Environmental Research Letters. In most scientific works on tipping points in the Earth system, as well as in public discussions, it is often assumed that tipping leads to catastrophic and irreversible changes for the whole system. But in the paper, titled "Fragmented tipping in a spatially heterogeneous world," the researchers argue that such a view is based on simplistic modeling. The real world is heterogeneous The authors reveal that when spatial heterogeneity is added to the simulations, the severity of hitting a tipping point seems to strongly depend on the spatial size and heterogeneity of the system. This means that in large, heterogeneous, systems tipping might often instead lead to minor, stepwise, and even reversible changes. Many climate sub-systems, such as ocean current systems, ice sheets, and large biotopes like rain forests, are indeed large and spatially heterogeneous. The finding can be illustrated with a pair of lakes of different sizes. In a small pond, there is only little variation (little heterogeneity) within the system and consequently, nutrient pollution can induce tipping in which excessive growth of algae makes the full pond turbid. In a larger lake, however, tipping might not involve the whole lake. Parts of the lake might avoid turbidity because of the sheer size of the system which makes it more heterogeneous. Passing a tipping point is, therefore, less critical in the large lake than in the small one. Indeed, the heterogeneity also makes tipping more easily reversible in the large system. In small lakes, restoration via an improvement of the nutrient balance is often very difficult as the system is trapped in a turbid state. In larger lakes, however, even the removal of small amounts of nutrients can immediately lead to an expansion of the clear parts of the lake. Moreover, because species may survive in the clear parts of the lake and later reinhabit the turbid areas as they once again might clear up, also the impact of tipping on the ecosystem can be much less severe if parts of the system maintain their original state. Still worried Generally, the study from Bastiaansen et al. informs us that what comes after the crossing of a climate tipping point is still very much an open question. The study, however, does not make Bastiaansen think we should simply relax about climate tipping. "I am still worried about tipping points. Because I can imagine critical things might happen especially as climate change persists. But I am not as worried that once we cross a tipping point, everything is going to hell immediately. I think it is going to be much more subtle than the kind of narrative that has been painted in some papers about planetary boundaries: that once we cross over one tipping point everything just collapses simultaneously. I don't think that is the case," concludes Robbin Bastiaansen. Explore further Climate change tipping points may be too simple a concept More information: Robbin Bastiaansen et al, Fragmented tipping in a spatially heterogeneous world, Environmental Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters Robbin Bastiaansen et al, Fragmented tipping in a spatially heterogeneous world,(2022). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac59a8 A 45 day-old American crocodile hatchling inside a plastic container is weighed at the Huachipa Zoo, Peru, on March 10, 2022. A Lima zoo announced Thursday the birth in captivity of four American crocodiles, an endangered species, after a successful artificial incubation. The crocodile hatchlings were born in mid-January after 78 days of incubation from the eggs of a pair of adult crocodiles that live in the Huachipa Zoological Park, east of Lima. "We have now shown these crocodile pups that were just born 45 days ago at the zoo," Jose Flores, head of the zoo's reptile area, told AFP. "Any birth of any species that is threatened and (in) danger of extinction must be considered an achievement," he stressed. The hatchlings live in a special fish tank, measure 26 centimeters (10.2 inches) and weigh between 70 and 90 grams (0.15 to 0.19 lbs) each. They have the traditional olive green color of the species and protruding eyes. They feed on small pieces of chicken and fish. In Peru, they are known as "Tumbes crocodiles" because their natural habitat is the mangroves of Tumbes, on the border with Ecuador. "This species, in Peru, is in danger of extinction mainly due to the destruction of its natural habitat," explained Flores, 39. The small reptiles belong to the Crocodylus Acutus species and are the only ones that survived from the 25 eggs that the mother incubated. A 45-day-old American crocodile hatchling is measured during its periodic control at the Huachipa Zoo, Peru, on March 10, 2022. The zoo announced the birth in captivity of four American crocodiles, an endangered species, after a successful period of 78 days of artificial incubation from the eggs of a pair of adult crocodiles that live in the park. At 195 kilograms (430 lbs), the father crocodile is five meters (yards) long while the mother is 2.5 meters long and weighs 85 kilos. They are both 20 years old. This species is found in the southern United States, Mexico and Venezuela, but in countries such as Peru and Ecuador it is critically endangered. Relentless hunting for their skins reduced numbers dramatically in the 1960s. There are now restrictions controlling the trade in crocodiles and their skins. Explore further Rare crocodile eggs hatched at Cambodian conservation center 2022 AFP Researchers Kyle Capistrant-Fossa, Susan Brawley and Ladd Johnson conducting field research in Acadia National Park. Credit: Susan Brawley Algae such as rockweeds are a fundamental part of marine ecosystems, providing habitat and food to many other marine organisms while also providing ecosystem services. Algae produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis, so oxygenation of the water and atmosphere is one such ecosystem service. In turn, algae depend on bacteria to maintain their normal shapes and health. New sequencing methods are illuminating the relationships between marine bacteria and marine algae, as demonstrated in research by 15 scientists from countries across the North Atlantic. Principal investigators Susan Brawley, a professor at the UMaine School of Marine Sciences, and Hilary Morrison, a senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, led a team of researchers in a sweeping study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the bacteria associated with the foundational intertidal rockweed Fucus vesiculosus. The results were published in the Journal of Phycology. The researchers found that the bacterial communities on this brown alga were similar between eastern and western shores of the North Atlantic at similar latitudes, but varied along a north to south gradient across the host biogeographic rangeGreenland to North Carolina on western shores, and Norway to Spain in the eastern Atlantic. The researchers also observed the disappearance of the alga from areas of the North Carolina coast where it had long been abundant, emphasizing the pressing need to understand the bacterial-host interactions and particular bacterial communities associated with the host alga in southern regions experiencing host retreat as marine ecosystems are altered by climate change. "Our research showed that the structure of bacterial communities on this rockweed depends upon both current and past environments, including the changing biogeographic ranges of Fucus vesiculosus related to past glacial cycles," says Brawley. "Some of these bacteria are vital to Fucus algae. By searching for ones that are common across algal tissues over this large study with 16 field sites across the North Atlantic, we can narrow our search for the ones that determine whether this macroalga can persist on the shore." Previous research has shown that bacteria are so essential to the host's structure that algae can literally fall apart if given an antibiotic treatment to remove the bacteria. The researchers hoped to find which of the bacteria were important to Fucus vesiculosus. After sequencing the bacterial communities at a portion of one of the genes that supports bacterial protein synthesis, they classified the bacteria from genus to ecotype by a marker gene analysis technique called Minimum Entropy Decomposition, which is now widely used by microbiologists. This results in each different type of bacterium being assigned a different Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) ID. "This is like a molecular fishing expedition that can narrow our search for those bacteria that may be most important to the alga," Brawley says. "Finding bacteria that are tissue-specific suggests, but doesn't prove, that they might be particularly important to the function of the tissue and the persistence of the alga. We have isolated pure cultures of some of these bacteria and are studying their genomes, relative growth rates and competition with each other." For example, the study uncovered many unrecognized members of the bacterial genus Granulosicoccus through their association with particular tissuesfrom the holdfast that binds the alga to a surface, to the reproductive organs, to the main photosynthetic tissue. The research also revealed distinctive levels of different environmental factors that correlated with particular Granulosicoccus' associations with Fucus at northern, central and/or southern latitudes, and showed how these Granulosicoccus relate to bacteria in this genus found on other kinds of marine life like sponges, coral, and red and green algae. Researchers collecting Fucus samples in Uummannaq, Greenland. Credit: Leigh Stearns "Before you can understand how and why, you have to understand who," Brawley says. "This is a very rich source of who is where." There were some unintended discoveries as part of the field research, as well. Over the course of the project's years of field research, the scientists observed the local extinction of Fucus vesiculosus at a site in Beaufort, North Carolina, where it had long been abundant. The site was considered the southernmost range of F. vesiculosus when the study started in 2015; it had disappeared by late 2016. Temperature sensors the researchers had at the site suggested that stress from warmer air and seawater temperatures, combined with tropical storms during its autumn reproductive season, could explain its disappearance and failure to reappear through 2021. "We don't know where the southern edge of the U.S. range is now," Brawley says. "We are interested as marine biologists to know how vulnerable organisms are on the shore to climate change. Our ongoing research is exploring possible effects of the bacteria on the Fucus through physiological and genomic studies. We want to know whether some bacteria are protective and whether the structure of the bacterial community on the host has been perturbed by climate change." Brawley isn't the only researcher on the project with connections to UMaine. Authors Kyle Capistrant-Fossa and Charlotte Quigley are recent UMaine M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, respectively. Ester Serrao, another author on the study, received her Ph.D. from UMaine in 1996 and is now a professor and Pew Foundation Marine Fellow at the University of Algarve in Portugal. Leigh Stearns, also a Ph.D. graduate of the University of Maine in geology and climate science, collected Fucus at its northern range in Uummannaq, Greenland, during her ongoing glaciology research there as a professor of geology at the University of Kansas. Brawley pointed out how rich on scientific and human levels it has been to have a team of researchers spanning disciplines and seven home countries. The Journal of Phycology wrote a highlight on the article's research and used a photograph taken in Acadia National Park at one of the study's 16 North Atlantic field sites on the December cover. The researchers have also compared the bacterial communities on two other species of brown algae on the coast of MaineFucus spiralis, found in the high intertidal zone, and Fucus distichus in the low intertidal zoneto see how their bacterial communities compare to those of mid-zoned Fucus vesiculosus further north and south of Maine. For example, the scientists are testing whether bacterial community structure of the high zone F. spiralis on the Maine shore might resemble bacterial communities on F. vesiculosus at warmer locations like North Carolina, Delaware and Spain more than those on F. vesiculosus in the mid intertidal zone of Maine shores. Brawley noted that the published and ongoing studies "suggest how much the community structure of the bacteria on Fucus vesiculosus changes on yearly, seasonal, and latitudinal scales, and contributes to understanding how sensitive the microbiome of F. vesiculosus is to the changing environment." Explore further Sugar turns brown algae into good carbon stores More information: Kyle A. CapistrantFossa et al, The microbiome of the habitatforming brown alga Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyceae) has similar crossAtlantic structure that reflects past and present drivers 1, Journal of Phycology (2021). Journal information: Journal of Phycology Kyle A. CapistrantFossa et al, The microbiome of the habitatforming brown alga Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyceae) has similar crossAtlantic structure that reflects past and present drivers 1,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13194 Credit: Farmers for Climate Action Empty supermarket shelves still shock Australians, who have become accustomed to being able to buy the food they want. But we can expect to see more empty shelves, more often, in coming decades. Climate change means extreme events such as floods, bushfires and droughts will become more frequent and severe. Those events will disrupt food supply chains, as people along Australia's sodden east coast have seen again in recent weeks. Australia certainly isn't at risk of running out of food. It produces far more food than it consumes, with around 70% of farm production exported. What is at risk is Australia's ability to distribute it. I was commissioned to prepare a new report on the impact of climate change on food supply, for for Farmers for Climate Action a constituent body of the National Farmers Federation with about 7,000 members. Farmers for Climate Action is not otherwise politically aligned. My methodology included a review of research in this area, interviews with more than a dozen farmers, farmer representative bodies, and other participants in the food supply chain, and a survey of media reporting of recent instances of food shortages. Among the issues identified were the impact of drought, diseases and stress on livestock, the loss of food due to hotter weather, and shorter shelf lives. An unexpected finding was the degree to which everyone involved in the supply chain is affected by uncertainty caused by climate change. It is making future weather highly unpredictable, making planning harder for both farms and in transport networks. Unpredictability makes ensuring supplies hard A further impact is on lending and insurance, where unpredictability means higher costs for financial productsif they can be obtained at all. Some farmers reported that they were unable to insure due to climate risks. All these costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher food prices. There are also opportunities. Supply chains might become shorter to strengthen resilience and deliver fresher produce to consumers. Farm businesses and food processors are already moving to electrification to manage the risks of relying on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saving money in the process. For businesses supplying food to export markets, a low-carbon supply chain will be a competitive advantage. In some cases, carbon-friendly production and transport will be a price of entry, without which markets won't be available at all. The report identifies four responses to climate change: risk management, resilience, adaptation, and mitigation (reducing the impact of climate change). All are needed. Even if Australia meets its Paris targets for climate change, there will be impacts to which the food supply chain will need to adapt. Even good risk management might not be enough Most farmers and businesses in the supply chain are good risk managers. But extreme weather events are increasing the base level of risk they have to deal with. The greater the risk, the more likely it is that risk management plans will be overwhelmed. If climate change continues unabated, this will become a certainty. Governments have a role in strengthening or building alternatives to key supply lines and helping fill gaps in the market where private investment is insufficient due to uncertainty. Governments also have an important risk management role in helping address gaps in data and information on climate impacts, to allow businesses to plan more effectively. Many industry bodies consulted were keen to see more research on the impacts of different projected levels of warming. What farmers want is information and leadership But the bottom line is that if climate change continues, adaptation will not be enough, a point clearly made by the three vice chairs of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change when launching its latest report. The window for taking effective action on climate change is rapidly narrowing. Farmers and processors are taking positive steps for themselves. For example, the Australian red meat industry has a target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, well ahead of the government's target of 2050. Overwhelmingly, the farmers and farmer bodies consulted for the report wanted the Australian government to take the lead, providing clear guidance and direction on urgent climate action. Farmers for Climate Action has responded by calling for deep emissions cuts this decade, to help avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Explore further Five things the latest IPCC report tells us about climate change and health This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. New studies find more evidence supporting natural origin of SARS-CoV-2 Xinhua) 08:40, March 11, 2022 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Three reports newly published by different research teams from different countries have revealed more evidence that some zoonotic origins were behind the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which caused the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The studies were conducted by groups of scientists from the United States, Britain, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and also China. Though all reports are preprints and have not completed peer review at a journal, the conclusions have gained spotlight, given the researchers' background as renowned immunologists and virologists. Their major findings include that lineage A and lineage B of SARS-CoV-2, which caused the early outbreaks, are genetically too different from one another, thus the coronavirus must have evolved in non-human animals and the two lineages spread to humans separately. One report was released on Feb. 25 by researchers in China working with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other institutes after an analysis of over 1,000 samples collected from the environment and the animals within Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, in early 2020, while the other two were published on Feb. 26 by the U.S.-led international teams. The international teams studied the data and information collected by the World Health Organization and other authority channels, as well as the early features shown in the spreading of the virus. Michael Worobey, a virologist at the University of Arizona in Tucson and a co-author on the papers released by the international teams, told the Nature magazine that his thinking on the origins of COVID-19 has shifted. He once kept an open mind about whether the pandemic stemmed from a laboratory. As more evidence has come to light supporting a zoonotic origin story, it's extremely improbable that two distinct lineages of SARS-CoV-2 could have been derived from a laboratory, Worobey said. Kristian Andersen, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, and an author of the two reports by the international teams, also confirmed that the two preprints provide the strongest evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic began from "live animals" instead of laboratories. After posting on Twitter one report entitled "SARS-CoV-2 emergence very likely resulted from at least two zoonotic events," Andersen tweeted that the scientists need "more and better data" to approach the origin as there are still questions such as "What animals? Farmed or wild? Connectedness?" and "Future risk?" needed to be answered. In spite of some clamor hyping up lab-leak hypothesis, more and more studies have proved that the COVID-19 origin tracing is a serious issue needed to be dealt with through the collaboration of global scientists on basis of scientific attitude and principles. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) A look at the grand Palace Museum of China through foreign diplomats photography. Located in the center of Beijing, the Palace Museum, historically and artistically one of the most comprehensive museums in China, is located on the original site of the Forbidden City, a palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The sundial was an important instrument to keep track of time in ancient China. Western clocks and watches began to enter the Chinese royal palace in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and to date, there are more than 1,000 Western timepieces collected at the Palace Museum of China. The past and the present, East and Westall intertwined to bear witness of time. These sentences come from captions at the photography exhibition titled As We Encounter in Light: The Palace Museum through Diplomats Eyes. The first caption is for a close-up photo of a sundial, and the second goes with a photo depicting Douglas Noble, the UNICEF deputy representative to China and the photographer of the first exhibit, looking at his watch in front of the sundial. The exhibition was held from October 12, 2021 to February 12, 2022 at the Palace of Prolonging Happiness (Yanxi Gong) in Beijings iconic Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum. Taken by foreign diplomats, the photographs show great examples of history, and also share fun stories inside the walls of the world-famous tourist attraction. The Palace Museum through the lenses of foreign diplomats takes on a different look. Many Perspectives Time is eternal in the world we live in, said Douglas Noble, describing what inspired him to take the photos on display. My initial thought was to compare the ancient timepieces here with modern ones. As the UNICEF deputy representative to China, Noble believes that education is foremost for children and teenagers. The Palace Museum is such a good place to learn more about art, history, and archeology, he said, explaining why it is his favorite historical setting in China. Bruno Abreu, a member from the Brazilian Embassy in China, echoed Nobles sentiments. In 2019, while he was visiting the Palace Museum with his wife, his camera accidentally captured an interesting moment with a tourist guide. He was like a warrior to me at that moment, leading his group, with their backpacks, flags and headphones. They all looked so proud that they were there visiting, said Abreu. He captioned his entry in the photo exhibition Proud, because he also felt proud the first time he visited the Palace Museum. Like most foreign diplomats, Fernando Lugris, ambassador of Uruguay to China, has visited the Forbidden City many times. During his six years in Beijing, he has found each visit brings a different experience. What surprises me most is that I can always discover something new every time I came here, he said. Lugris likes taking pictures of the Palace Museums magnificent buildings, and is deeply impressed by the maintenance work there. People are doing such a good job restoring and preserving the ancient buildings. I am really in awe. Guo Xinyue, a staff worker from the Palace Museums digital and information department, is the curator of the exhibition, quite familiar with the photographs on display. We found that as each photographer became familiar with the Forbidden City, they began to express themselves from different perspectives. Their choice of the views and photography techniques is undoubtedly influenced by their own culture, and even their mood, and as a result, in everyones eyes, the Forbidden City is different. Other participating photographers were Natthira Krasaesarn of the Thai embassy who walked into the Forbidden City and captured her first glimpse of the Forbidden City in Frame, and Marc Op De Weerdt of the Belgian embassy who photographed the Boundless Forbidden City. The Palace Museum shows its unique charm through various lenses of the diplomats to China. Even more interesting is the location of the exhibition, the Palace of Prolonging Happiness. The palace was built in the 18th year (1420) of the Yongle reign in the Ming Dynasty, and destroyed by a fire in the 25th year (1845) of the Daoguang reign in the Qing Dynasty. In the first year (1909) of the Xuantong reign, the present building was built on the original site, which was called Lingzhao Xuan. The Western-style building has tiles from Germany and several beams from Great Britain. As the exhibition hall of the current photography exhibition, it is once again acting as a bridge connecting Eastern and Western cultures. Pictures taken by foreign diplomats at the exhibition show both the grand history and unique stories of the Palace Museum. Facilitating Cultural Exchanges According to Yuan Hong, a staff worker from the Palace Museums international exchanges department, the Palace Museum has held activities connected to diplomats every year since 2012, in line with its own various themed exhibitions. For example, during the special exhibition about peony-related relics in 2016, diplomats were invited to visit the Palace Museum. During the Spring Festival of 2019, diplomats were also invited to attend the exhibitions on Chinese New Year customs, folk culture, and time-honored homegrown brands. In 2020, at a cultural salon held in the Palace Museum for diplomats, Wang Xudong, director of the museum, gave a lecture on cultural exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations using the Dunhuang Museum and the Palace Museum as examples. Previously I thought the [museum] restorers must be old, but when I entered the restoration room, I saw several young faces, said Kuzina Anna, director of the culture department of the Russian embassy in China, after visiting the Palace Museum. She applauded the young generation who were devoted to restoring and preserving cultural relics in the museum. Szonja Buslig, counselor of the Hungarian embassy in China, is an archaeologist. When visiting the bronze restoration room, she said, Chinas methods and standards of cultural relics restoration are not quite the same as ours, which is very inspiring. She hoped that more Chinese cultural relics would be on display in Hungary, and that the two countries would carry out more cultural exchanges. The invitation of foreign diplomats to take and contribute photos about the Forbidden City for exhibition received positive responses. Diplomats applied enthusiastically to be part of the exhibition on June 17 when we invited them to the museum for shooting. On that day alone, there were more than 70 diplomats participating, and later, more than 200 pictures were submitted to us, said Yuan Hong. Such activities not only provide the diplomats with more opportunities to express themselves and have deeper reflections and understanding of traditional Chinese culture, but also enable us to better understand their views on us, thus can promote cultural communication and mutual learning. Promoting Chinese Culture Globally During the past 10 years, the activities of inviting diplomats into the Palace Museum have greatly enhanced the interaction and communication between the Palace Museum and embassies and international organizations in China, promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries. According to Yuan Hong, during the preparation and organizing of the exhibition Across the Silk Road: Gupta Sculptures and Their Chinese Counterparts during 400-700 AD, Shri Vijay Gokhale, then Indian ambassador to China, and his colleagues all paid close attention. They not only closely followed the progress of the preparation work, but also helped to communicate with relevant Indian departments involved in the exhibition, providing great assistance for its success. In addition, Gokhale also promoted the exhibition on various bilateral occasions. Moreover, the Palace Museum has cooperated with the Grimaldi Forum of Monaco to hold two exhibitions, one on the emperors of Chinas Qing Dynasty, and the other about the 700-year history of Monacos House of Grimaldi by exploring its art and artifacts. During the preparation of the two exhibitions, Catherine Fautrier, then ambassador of Monaco to China, inspected and coordinated the exhibitions in person, and helped with the entry and exit procedures for endangered items among the exhibits. Thanks to the efforts of Fautrier and her coworkers, both exhibitions were successfully. Prince Albert II of Monaco participated in the opening of the two exhibitions, creating a memorable moment in the history of friendly exchanges between the two countries. Today, diplomats to China have become new voices to promote Chinese culture internationally. In 2021, diplomats and journalists from ASEAN member states including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam attended a field trip under the theme of jointly building the 21st century maritime silk road. It was the seventh time the field trip was held. After taking a look at the unique landforms of the ancient Silk Road corridor in Gansu Province, Dewi Avilia, first secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in China said, Gansu is so beautiful that it is like traveling back to the golden age of the ancient Silk Road. Yuan Hong said that in recent years, foreign embassies in China have initiated, assisted with and participated in more and more cultural cooperation projects. [These include] the exchange exhibitions with Greece in 2018 and the exchange exhibitions with Portugal in 2018-2019, in which embassies played an important role, he said. In the future, the Palace Museum plans to launch more colorful activities for foreign diplomats in China to provide them with the opportunity to experience the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Researchers work in the MEC hutch of SLACs LCLS Far Experiment Hall. The MEC optical laser system creates extreme temperatures and pressures in materials and the LCLS X-ray laser beam captures the materials response. Credit: Matt Beardsley/SLAC. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's decades of leadership in developing high-energy lasers is being tapped to provide a key component of a major upgrade to SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Over the next several years, LLNL's Advanced Photon Technologies (APT) program will design and construct one of the world's most powerful petawatt (quadrillion-watt) laser systems for installation in an upgraded Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) experimental facility at LCLS, funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Science-Fusion Energy Sciences program. The new laser will pair with the LCLS X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) to advance the understanding of high-energy density (HED) physics, plasma physics, fusion energy, laser-plasma interactions, astrophysics, planetary science and other physical phenomena. The existing MEC facility uses optical lasers coupled to X-ray laser pulses from LCLS to probe the characteristics of matter at extreme temperatures and pressures. MEC experiments have produced groundbreaking science, such as the first observations of "diamond rain" under conditions thought to exist deep inside giant icy planets like Uranus and Neptune. The MEC-Upgrade (MEC-U) is motivated in part by increasing calls for the United States to re-establish world-class leadership in high-power laser technology, such as in the 2018 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine report, "Opportunities in Intense Ultrafast Lasers: Reaching for The Brightest Light." SLAC is partnering with LLNL and the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) to design and construct the MEC-U facility in a new underground cavern. LLNL's rep-rated laser (RRL), able to fire at up to 10 Hz (10 pulses per second), and a high-energy kilojoule laser developed by LLE will feed into two new experimental areas containing a target chamber and a suite of dedicated diagnostics tailored for HED science. The LCLS, part of SLAC's two-mile-long linear particle accelerator in Menlo Park, Calif., is capable of delivering 120 X-ray pulses a second, each one lasting a few femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second). A concurrent upgrade dubbed LCLS-II will deliver a million pulses a second in an almost continuous X-ray beam that, on average, will be 10,000 times brighter and will double the X-ray energy previously attainable. "The new high-power lasers being designed by Livermore and Rochester are world-leading in their own right," said Alan Fry, the MEC-U project director. "Coupling them to LCLS dramatically increases their scientific utility and the combination will be an unprecedented capability." Conceptual design for the new MEC-U cavern at the end of the LCLS XFEL. The facility will include space for LLEs kilojoule (kJ) laser, LLNLs 10-Hz rep-rated petawatt/long-pulse laser system, a main target chamber, and a multi-purpose second interaction site downstream of the main target chamber. Credit: Gilliss Dyer/SLAC. "With the 10-Hz petawatt laser that we're building, along with LLE's long-pulse compression laser and the upgraded LCLS capabilities, the LCLS and its MEC-U facility will become the U.S. flagship for high-repetition-rate, laser-driven HED experiments," said Vincent Tang, NIF & Photon Science program director for High Energy Density and Photon Systems. "Marrying the latest and the best ultrafast laser technologies with the LCLS beamline at the MEC-U facility will give the United States a fundamentally new high-throughput HED capability for discovery science and national security research," Tang added. "We will be able to rapidly increase our understanding of plasmas and materials at extreme pressures and temperatures, while advancing our ability to operate HED technologies and systems at a repetition rate and scale relevant to important future applications like inertial fusion energy." The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has expressed interest in partnering with the Office of Science to augment the upgrade with additional high-energy long-pulse laser capabilities to further support NNSA's science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program. Among the goals would be to improve scientists' ability to predict the performance of next-generation, stewardship-relevant materials in extreme environments; study the microphysics of inertial confinement fusion; and enable the study of larger volumes of high-atomic-number materials than previously possible. HAPLS supercharged Tom Spinka, project manager and chief scientist for LLNL's RRL, said that it will be a simplified and more energetic version of the High-Repetition-Rate Advanced Petawatt Laser System (HAPLS), designed and developed by the APT Program from 2014 to 2018. HAPLS, the world's first all-diode-pumped petawatt laser, is now a key component of the European Union's Extreme Light Infrastructure Beamlines facility in the Czech Republic (see "Advanced Laser Promises Exciting Applications"). "The RRL will build on the groundbreaking work that was done on HAPLS," Spinka said. "It will pair the direct chirped-pulse amplification technique used in NIF's flashlamp-pumped neodymium-doped glass Advanced Radiographic Capability with the HAPLS diode-pumped glass pump laser technology in a refined architecture developed through LLNL's Laboratory Directed Research and Development program. "This architecture, originally dubbed the Scalable High-power Advanced Radiographic Capability, or SHARC, eliminates the lossy second (titanium-doped sapphire) stage of the HAPLS laser system," Spinka said, "ultimately delivering about five times higher energy than HAPLS at the same peak power and repetition rate." LLNL's RRL for the MEC-U facility will be developed in parallel with performance ramping of the HAPLS (now known as L3-HAPLS) laser at ELI-Beamlines to its full design specifications. It also will leverage additional advanced laser technologies being developed by APT, including a new high-energy Faraday rotator developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Electro-Optics Technologies Inc. Rendering of the design for the LLNL petawatt laser to be installed in the MEC-U facility. Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Enabling new physics "MEC-U is a core part of NIF&PS's strategy for developing next-generation high-average-power ultrafast lasers and enabling high rep-rate HED science," Tang said. "The new physics the MEC-U enables is broad-ranging and highly applicable to LLNL missions. It is an exciting opportunity for LLNL and the community." "Not only are we working with some of the leading laser laboratories in the world," Fry added, "but we're also working with world experts in experimental science, high-energy-density science, and the operation of DOE Office of Science user facilities, where scientists from all over the world can come to do experiments." Access to the facility will be facilitated in part by LaserNetUS, a research network that is boosting access to high-intensity laser facilities at labs and universities across the country. MEC-U was approved by DOE's Office of Science last fall to move from the conceptual design phase to preliminary design, with construction expected to start in approximately two years. The APT RRL team is led by Tang as the senior team lead; Spinka as project manager and chief scientist; Robert Plummer as project engineer; and Brendan Reagan as laser architect. Explore further LLNL-developed Petawatt Laser Installed at ELI Beamlines JumboDBG pipeline. Credit: Nature Biotechnology (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01220-6 An international team led by researchers at University of California San Diego's Department of Computer Science and Engineering has shown that a new genome assembly algorithm, called the La Jolla Assembler (LJA), vastly improves large genomes reconstruction, the process by which DNA snippets are arranged into complete genomes, which is an essential aspect of genomic sequencing. In addition, LJA significantly reduces error rates and boosts the ability to scale complete human genome assembly. This will make it easier to conduct large populations studies, in which thousands or millions of people are sequenced and their genomes compared to better understand the genetic factors that contribute to disease. The study was published this week in the journal Nature Biotechnology. "We used LJA to completely reconstruct almost half of the chromosomes in the human genome in a completely automatic fashion," said Pavel Pevzner, the Ronald R. Taylor Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and senior author on the paper. "This reduced assembly errors five-fold compared to other assembly algorithms utilizing long, high-fidelity (HiFi) reads. The accuracy of this approach will bring important benefits, particularly for large population studies of complex and poorly studied regions of the human genome, such as centromeres or antibody-generating loci." Genome assemblers are computational tools that reconstruct genomes based on a collection of shorter sequences (reads). For many years, researchers relied almost exclusively on short read technologies, which generate reads up to 300 nucleotides. These provided crucial genomic information but left gaps in genomic sequencesmany in biomedically important regions. As a result, the Human Genome Project, completed two decades ago, left thousands of unassembled regionsunexplored DNA that could have clinical and scientific significance. "This incomplete human genome assembly produced a revolution in biology and medicine 20 years ago," said Anton Bankevich, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and first author on the paper. "However, the missing pieces of the genome may hold many more secrets." More recently, scientists have begun adopting long, HiFi reads (greater than 10,000 nucleotides), which have helped them sequence complete human and other genomes. The first complete human genome, generated by the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium last year, was an important milestone. However, this feat required intensive manual work and would be virtually impossible to scale to hundreds, let alone millions, of genomes. To automate the process and increase speed and accuracy, Pevzner's team adopted a computational approach called de Bruijn graphs, which helped them assemble millions of reads into complete genomes. Originally an obscure mathematical approach invented by Dutch mathematician Nicolaas de Bruijn, this technique has become a sequencing workhorse, modeling a genome as a complex road network that connects various cities (short genomic fragments) and finding ways to traverse the network while using each road. In a way, this was history repeating itself. More than 20 years ago, Pevzner and colleagues used de Bruijn graphs to make sense of short reads. "Although it looks like simply applying this 20-year old technique to HiFi reads would lead to excellent human genome assemblies, all previously developed algorithmic ideas fall apart when faced with constructing the enormously complex de Bruijn graph of the human genome," said Andrey Bzikadze, a graduate student in the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program at UC San Diego and co-author on the paper. "Reusing old methods would require a prohibitive amount of computer memory, making them impossible to implement." LJA solves this problem, reducing the data footprint as well as assembly errors. It sets the stage for improved speed and accuracy in large population studies, in which scientists will need to assemble millions of genomes to identify the gene sequences that confer good health or cause disease. "Assembling a single genome is not enough to drive biological discovery," said Pevzner. "It is by comparing different genomes that scientists can understand their functions and associations with diseases. That is why we need to scale genome assembly efforts and create algorithms that produce the same quality of genome assembly as the T2T human genome but can do it automatically." Explore further Scientists can now assemble entire genomes on their personal computers in minutes More information: Anton Bankevich et al, Multiplex de Bruijn graphs enable genome assembly from long, high-fidelity reads, Nature Biotechnology (2022). Journal information: Nature Biotechnology Anton Bankevich et al, Multiplex de Bruijn graphs enable genome assembly from long, high-fidelity reads,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01220-6 Lava flows down from the crater of Mount Merapi seen from Cangkringan village in Sleman, Yogyakarta, early Friday, March 11, 2022. Indonesia's Mount Merapi continued eruption Friday, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on its slopes because of the dangers on the country's most active volcano. Credit: AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi Indonesia's Mount Merapi continued to erupt Friday, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on the slopes of the country's most active volcano. The volcano on the densely populated island of Java unleashed clouds of hot ash shortly before midnight Wednesday into early morning Thursday and fast-moving pyroclastic flowsa mixture of rock, lava and gastraveled up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) down its slopes. It was Mount Merapi's biggest lava flow since authorities raised its danger level in November 2020, said Hanik Humaida, the head of Yogyakarta's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center. Dozens of light eruptions continued during the day Thursday with a river of lava and searing gas clouds flowing 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) down its slopes. No casualties were reported. About 253 people were evacuated to temporary shelters but they returned to the volcano's fertile slopes after the activity subsided, Humaida said. The volcano eruption on Friday spewed a column of hot clouds rising 100 meters (yards) into the air with avalanches of incandescent lava at least 15 times, according to the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center. Using seismic and other data, the agency estimated the lava spread less then 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the crater. Eko Budi Lelono, who heads Indonesia's Geology and Volcanology Research Agency, said residents living on Merapi's slopes were advised to stay 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) away from the crater's mouth and should be aware of the danger posed by lava. He said the lava dome just below Merapi's southwest rim and the lava dome in the crater both have been active since last year. The volume was estimated at 1.5 million cubic meters in the southwest rim dome and 3.2 million cubic meters in the crater before partially collapsing in the past two days, sending pyroclastic flows traveling fast down the southwest flank. Lava flows down from the crater of Mount Merapi seen from Cangkringan village in Sleman, Yogyakarta, early Friday, March 11, 2022. Indonesia's Mount Merapi continued eruption Friday, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on its slopes because of the dangers on the country's most active volcano. Credit: AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi "We estimate the potential danger is not more than 7 kilometers," Humaida said. Authorities have closed at least five tourism attractions located within the danger zone of 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the crater and halted mining activities along the volcano's rivers, Humaida said. Activities out of the danger zone remained open. Mount Merapi is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently. The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center did not raise Merapi's alert status, which already was at the second-highest of four levels since it began erupting last November. The 2,968-meter (9,737-foot) peak is near Yogyakarta, an ancient city of several hundred thousand people embedded in a large metro area. The city is also a center of Javanese culture and a seat of royal dynasties going back centuries. Merapi's last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and caused the evacuation of 20,000 villagers. Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity because it sits along the "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean. Its last major eruption was in December, when Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Java island, erupted with fury and left 48 people dead and 36 missing in villages that were buried in layers of mud. Several of the injured had serious burns, and the eruption damaged 5,200 houses and buildings. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Curtin University Drones have become ubiquitous in recent years. From recently discovering the Endurance to participating in wars, drones have made history in more ways than one. Now, they have a new job title to add to their resumemeteorite hunter. A team from Curtin University in Australia came up with this new use case for a drone and recently reported on their first successful new meteorite find. Using an observational system called the Desert Fireball Network (DFN), the team tracked down and found a recent meteorite in just four days. The first piece of the puzzle of finding the meteorite was the DFN, a series of observatories that tracks meteorites, or "shooting stars," as they are commonly called, as they enter Earth's atmosphere. Two DFN observatories, one at Mundrabilla station, and one at O'Malley siding, picked up a fireball as it entered Earth's atmosphere for 3.1 seconds on April 1, 2021. Unfortunately, the two observatories were relatively far away from the eventual landfall of the meteorite (149 km and 471 km, respectively). This distance led to some uncertainty in the exact landfall area, but they were able to limit the potential area to search to a manageable 5.1 km2. That is still a lot of area to cover, and using a typical meteorite search technique of having groups of volunteers spread out to look for it would likely have been untenable. So the group at Curtin turned to a drone and AI algorithm to help in the process. They had developed and trained a neural network algorithm, a type of AI, to search for fallen meteorites. Using pictures of known meteorites in similar environments, they trained the algorithm on what to look for. Then they released a drone to collect images to feed into the algorithm. Meteorite hunter Seamus Anderson and his drone that helped him find a newly crashed rock. Credit: Seamus Anderson / Curtin University That process took about three days for a DJI M300 with a mounted camera to cover the entire survey area. Luckily, the Outback of Western Australia is relatively open, making it each to spot unique rocks such as meteorites. And spot it they did. The algorithm, which breaks down images from the drone into 125 x 125 pixel tiles and then analyzes those tiles to look for potential meteorites, found the meteorite they were looking for in an image from the first day. Video discussing a strewn field the type of field that meteorite hunters typically have to hunt for their quarry in. Credit: Meteorite Men Science Channel But that result was just one of several that passed the threshold of being interesting to look at. So after scanning the area for three days with a drone, the research team went out to find the meteorite themselves on foot. To focus their search, they concentrated on areas that the algorithm had returned an item of interest. And there, they found the 70 g meteorite pristinely in the sand. What's more, the space rock's final resting place was only 50 m from the originally suggested flight path calculated by DFN's observational network. The drone image that held the hidden meteorite now highlighted by a convenient yellow square. The shadow of the drone itself can be seen on the left of the image. Credit: Anderson et al. These results bode well for the future work of a combination of fireball tracking and drone surveillance. But, the Outback actually offers a relatively easy environment to perform such a search. Other areas, such as suburban settings or forests, could pose a challenge to this melding of modern technology. For now, though, the team from Curtin University, and meteorite hunters everywhere, can rejoice in the success of what is sure to be the first of many drone-assisted search missions. Explore further Desert Fireball Network scientists find two meteorites in two weeks More information: Seamus L. Anderson et al, Successful Recovery of an Observed Meteorite Fall Using Drones and Machine Learning. arXiv:2203.01466v1 [astro-ph.EP], Seamus L. Anderson et al, Successful Recovery of an Observed Meteorite Fall Using Drones and Machine Learning. arXiv:2203.01466v1 [astro-ph.EP], doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2203.01466 The government of Mexico said Thursday it succeeded in getting a pre-Hispanic artifact removed from a planned Vienna auction, part of an effort to win the return of archaeological treasures that has largely been unsuccessful so far. The Setdart Gallery in Barcelona, Spain, apparently auctioned off 35 colonial-era artifacts from Mexico on Thursday, and the Carlo Bonte Auctions in Bruges, Belgium, is soon set to offer three Mexican artifacts. The Ader auction house in Paris is scheduled to sell 74 archaeological artifacts, including ceramics and carvings, on March 18. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has mounted a campaign trying to stop such sales, and has asked other governments to return pieces from the Aztec, Maya, Olmec and other cultures. So the government proudly announced Thursday that Vienna's Galerie Zacke had agreed to remove from an auction Friday a carved stone yoke, or collar, from a Gulf coast culture. The piece was produced between 1,000 and 1,500 years ago, and the ceremonial, U-shaped collar is similar to pieces carved by the Olmecs. The government also said that Zacke had agreed to get in touch with the owner to see about returning it to Mexico, "in a gesture of empathy and corporate responsibility." Austria has drawn the wrath of Lopez Obrador before, for refusing to return a headdress that was reputedly once owned by one of the last Aztec emperors. The semicircle of green feathers from the Quetzal bird and other species is more than one yard (meter) wide and is currently at the museum of ethnology in Vienna. Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, gave the feathered headdress as a gift to Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes in 1519, though Mexican officials concede that Montezuma probably never personally wore it. Mexico has been particularly upset about auctions of antiquities in France, a country that has been loath to stop such sales. In February, Lopez Obrador complained that French auction houses had gone so far as to send Mexico's archaeological institute photos of relics, asking if they were genuine so they could sell them for more money. Lopez Obrador said he issued orders for the government National Institute of Anthropology and History, known by its Spanish initials as the INAH, to stop responding to such requests. "They, the organizations that auction these pieces off, are so brazen they ask the INAH for information. They send photos so the INAH can tell them if these are authentic or fakes," Lopez Obrador said. The president also took a dig at the French government, which has not intervened in a series of such auctions in recent years. Lopez Obrador said the French should be more like the Italian government, which has made a point of identifying and returning ancient artifacts. "It is very regrettable that the French government hasn't passed legislation on this, as has been the case in Italy," Lopez Obrador said. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. An imagined scene from the end of the Cretaceous Period, more than 66 million years ago, has the newly identified softshell turtle Hutchemys walkerorum dwelling alongside iconic species from the Age of the Dinosaurs. Credit: Sergey Krasovskiy Anewly described softshell turtle that lived in North Dakota 66.5 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period, just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, is one of the earliest known species of the genus, according to new research shared in the journal Cretaceous Research. Hutchemys walkerorum lived during a period when large and well-known dinosaurs also roamed Earth, including Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. The find adds important information to scientists' understanding of softshell turtles more broadly, including the potential effects of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, which took place in this same time period, on their evolution. Steven Jasinski, who recently completed his Ph.D. in Penn's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the School of Arts & Sciences, led the research, collaborating with advisor Peter Dodson of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Penn Arts & Sciences. The research team included Andrew Heckert and Ciara Sailar of Appalachian State University and Asher Lichtig and Spencer Lucas of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Hutchemys walkerorum belongs to a particular group of softshell turtles in the Trionychidae family called plastomenines. These turtles are similar to the softshell turtles that exist today, although the plastron of plastomenine turtlesthe bones covering their stomach and abdominal areaare more strongly sutured together and often larger and more robust than in other softshell turtles. Plastomenines lived during the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, around 80 million to 50 million years ago. Members of this group first appear in the fossil record during the Late Cretaceous, and a single species continues into the Eocene Epoch, 50 million years ago, but they are at their peak diversity before and after the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. "Until recently we didn't understand these softshell turtles very well," says Jasinski. "However, we are starting to get more information on this extinct group of turtles and further understanding their evolution, including how they dealt with the mass extinction." The fossil specimen of the new species, a partial carapacethe bones that cover the back and what people think of as a turtle's "shell"was discovered in 1975 in southwestern North Dakota. A field crew from Appalachian State University led by Frank K. McKinney and John E. Callahan collected the specimen, along with a specimen of Triceratops, that summer. The fossil turtle specimen remained at Appalachian State until 2013, when Heckert discussed it with Jasinski, a master's student at East Tennessee State University at the time. Research started in earnest around that time and continued as Jasinski was at Penn for his doctoral studies. Based on the structure of the specimen, he and colleagues determined this fossil belonged to a genus of turtles from the American West known as Hutchemys. Hutchemys walkerorum represents one of the rare occurrences of these turtles prior to the mass extinction event that brought the Age of Dinosaurs to an end. It also represents the easternmost occurrence of the genus during the Cretaceous Period. "With this study we gain further insight into winners and losers during the cataclysm that ended the Age of Dinosaurs," says Dodson. "The mighty dinosaurs fell, and the lowly turtle survived." A phylogenetic analysis, comparing the new species with other known trionychids, or softshell turtles, gave the scientists a better understanding of the group's evolutionary relationships. Their analysis placed Hutchemys walkerorum with other known species of Hutchemys and several other turtles in a distinct group of derived plastomenines, which they named Plastomenini. In addition, the researchers found a group of early trionychids, placing them in a newly established subfamily, Kuhnemydinae. Kuhnemydines are fossil species from Asia, and the team's analysis suggests the family Trionychidae originated in Asia before migrating to North America sometime in the Late Cretaceous. The researchers' investigations also led them to another new classification in the Trionychidae family, a subfamily they named Chitrainae. This group encompasses modern softshell turtles, including the narrow-headed and giant softshell turtles found in southern Asia. The species name walkerorum honors Greg and Susan Walker, whose philanthropy created The Greg and Susan Walker Endowment in 2006. Under the terms of that gift, students in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science (EES) may apply for funds to undertake research projects for which no other source of support is immediately available. "The Greg and Susan Walker Endowment awards research support, typically for projects costing up to $5,000, in response to proposals submitted to the endowment through the Department of Earth and Environmental Science," says Robert Giegengack, professor emeritus. "The professors and advisors who approve the endowment do an awesome job in helping the students thrive," says Joan Buccilli, an administrator in the EES department who assists students seeking support. "However, I really do feel I have the best job, getting to navigate through their awards with them and getting to see firsthand how excited they are and what they have accomplished." Jasinski was awarded Walker Research Grant funds for this project as well as others describing new species of dinosaurs, turtles, dogs, and investigations of dinosaurs and carnivorous mammals. "The Walkers' generous support helped me get the most out of my time while at Penn," says Jasinski, "and I know they were vital to the research of other students as well. This was one of the major reasons we wanted to name this new species in their honor." Hermann Pfefferkorn, professor emeritus, says, "Research funds like the one established by the Walkers allow both undergrad and graduate students to pursue research that is not funded by the grants of their professors. This means that their creativity can bear fruits very early in their career. In this way they learn to be scientists in their own right." Explore further Turtle species in Eastern Europe survived the event that killed the dinosaurs More information: Steven E. Jasinski et al, A softshell turtle (Testudines: Trionychidae: Plastomeninae) from the uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation, North Dakota, USA, with implications for the evolutionary relationships of plastomenines and other trionychids, Cretaceous Research (2022). Journal information: Cretaceous Research Steven E. Jasinski et al, A softshell turtle (Testudines: Trionychidae: Plastomeninae) from the uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation, North Dakota, USA, with implications for the evolutionary relationships of plastomenines and other trionychids,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105172 This image shows the Taq enzyme in its open configuration waiting for a new chemical base to arrive so it can try to fit it to a DNA chain. Credit: Max Strul / UCI and Lorena Beese laboratory / Duke University In a paper published today in Sciences Advances, researchers in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine revealed new details about a key enzyme that makes DNA sequencing possible. The finding is a leap forward into the era of personalized medicine when doctors will be able to design treatments based on the genomes of individual patients. "Enzymes make life possible by catalyzing chemical transformations that otherwise would just take too long for an organism," said Greg Weiss, UCI professor of chemistry and a co-corresponding author of the new study. "One of the transformations we're really interested in is essential for all life on the planetit's the process by which DNA is copied and repaired." The molecule the UCI-led team studied is an enzyme called Taq, a name derived from the microorganism it was first discovered in, Thermos aquaticus. Taq replicates DNA. Polymerase chain reaction, the technique with thousands of uses from forensics to PCR tests to detect COVID-19, takes advantage of Taq. The UCI-led team found that Taq, as it helps make new copies of DNA, behaves completely unlike what scientists previously thought. Instead of behaving like a well-oiled, efficient machine continuously churning out DNA copies, the enzyme, Weiss explained, acts like an indiscriminate shopper who cruises the aisles of a store, throwing everything they see into the shopping cart. "Instead of carefully selecting each piece to add to the DNA chain, the enzyme grabs dozens of misfits for each piece added successfully," said Weiss. "Like a shopper checking items off a shopping list, the enzyme tests each part against the DNA sequence it's trying to replicate." It's well-known that Taq rejects any wrong items that land into its proverbial shopping cartthat rejection is the key, after all, to successfully duplicating a DNA sequence. What's surprising in the new work is just how frequently Taq rejects correct bases. "It's the equivalent of a shopper grabbing half a dozen identical cans of tomatoes, putting them in the cart, and testing all of them when only one can is needed." The take-home message: Taq is much, much less efficient at doing its job than it could be. The find is a leap toward revolutionizing medical care, explained Philip Collins, a professor in the UCI Department of Physics & Astronomy who's a co-corresponding author of the new research. That's because if scientists understand how Taq functions, then they can better understand just how accurate a person's sequenced genome truly is. "Every single person has a slightly different genome," said Collins, "with different mutations in different places. Some of those are responsible for diseases, and others are responsible for absolutely nothing. To really get at whether these differences are important or healthcarefor properly prescribing medicinesyou need to know the differences accurately." "Scientists don't know how these enzymes achieve their accuracy," said Collins, whose lab created the nano-scale devices for studying Taq's behavior. "How do you guarantee to a patient that you've accurately sequenced their DNA when it's different from the accepted human genome? Does the patient really have a rare mutation," asks Collins, "or did the enzyme simply make a mistake?" "This work could be used to develop improved versions of Taq that waste less time while making copies of DNA," Weiss said. The impacts of the work don't stop at medicine; every scientific field that relies on accurate DNA sequencing stands to benefit from a better understanding of how Taq works. In interpreting evolutionary histories using ancient DNA, for example, scientists rely on assumptions about how DNA changes over time, and those assumptions rely on accurate genetic sequencing. "We've entered the century of genomic data," said Collins. "At the beginning of the century we unraveled the human genome for the very first time, and we're starting to understand organisms and species and human history with this newfound information from genomics, but that genomic information is only useful if it's accurate." Co-authors on this study include Mackenzie Turvey, Ph.D., a former UCI graduate student in physics & astronomy, and Kristin Gabriel, Ph.D., a former UCI graduate student in molecular biology & biochemistry. Explore further New, highly accurate algorithm scales ability to assemble complete genomes More information: Mackenzie W. Turvey et al, Single-molecule Taq DNA polymerase dynamics, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Mackenzie W. Turvey et al, Single-molecule Taq DNA polymerase dynamics,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl3522 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Social media influencers are some of the most powerful celebrities of the internet era, and verificationthe blue check mark that indicates the account has been vetted and the user's identity has been confirmedis one of the most highly sought-after tools of the trade. New research from Maine Business School at the University of Maine shows that verification isn't always a positive, as social media consumers associate verification more with celebrity than credibility and are much less likely to trust product endorsements from verified accounts if the content is inconsistent with the influencer's brand. The study, published in February in the Journal of Consumer Behavior, was conducted in two parts. For the first part of the study, the researchers recruited 223 participants ages 18 to 57 for the study from Amazon Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourcing marketplace run by the multinational technology company. Participants were asked how often they used Instagram and how familiar they were with the concept of Instagram verification. Then, participants were asked to rate various social media users on a scale from one to seven on three variables: authenticity, celebrity and credibility. For the second part of the study, the researchers recruited 450 participants aged 18 to 42 from Amazon Mechanical Turk. The participants were presented with either a fitness or beauty influencer accountone showed a woman in a push-up position, the other showed a woman smilingthat were either verified or unverified and advertised a product. The participants were again asked to rate them on a scale from one to seven on various factors that were eventually consolidated into ratings for attractiveness, trustworthiness, credibility and celebrity. In addition to rating the influencers, the participants were asked to rate how well the advertisement "fit" with the account and how likely they were to buy the product. The results showed that not only do consumers associate verification more with celebrity than authenticity or credibility, but because of that, they are less likely to trust a verified social media influencer if they are advertising a brand that is inconsistent with their usual messaging. Even when the brand seems suited to the social media influencer, consumers do not trust verified accounts more than their unverified counterparts. "The demand for verification is so great that one can buy the verified badge through a 'black market' made possible by third-parties. I wanted to understand why verification is so desirable and consequently, if it's presence would produce advertising benefits. The results yield surprising and important implications because verification can harm trust. Endorser trust has been shown to influence many crucial facets, including intent to purchase. The research shines a much-needed light on a symbol that should be far more carefully consideredby both the influencer and the advertising partner," says Jazlyn Dumas, principal investigator of the study, who completed the research for her University of Maine Honors College capstone thesis project. The study was funded through the UMaine Center for Undergraduate Research's Artificial Intelligence Scholarship and Charlie Slavin Research Grant. Dumas now works as a marketing and social media specialist for the Marden's Surplus and Salvage corporate headquarters in Winslow, Maine. Billions of dollars are spent on social media endorsement partnerships every year, particularly with verified influencers. The results of the studies indicate to marketing researchers and managers that if they are going to spend money to partner with verified influencerswho often come at a premium costthey should carefully consider the content that they aim to promote. "One of the unique aspects of this research is the fact that currently advertisers are paying a premium for verified influencers. Through multiple studies we found that, on the consumers' side, verification can negatively impact brand perception. In fact, our findings suggest that it might serve advertisers better to pay less for partnerships with unverified influencers who are more closely aligned with their brand identity," says Rusty Stough, assistant professor of marketing at the Maine Business School. Explore further Celebrities vs influencers: New research determines a winner More information: Jazlyn Elizabeth Dumas et al, When influencers are not very influential: The negative effects of social media verification, Journal of Consumer Behaviour (2022). Jazlyn Elizabeth Dumas et al, When influencers are not very influential: The negative effects of social media verification,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/cb.2039 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Marking two years since the current pandemic spread across the globe, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) today released The Vitality of Forests, a new report synthesizing a mounting body of evidence that documents how human health depends on forests. This is one of the first reports that details the escalating risks to human health associated with forest loss and degradation, including the emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases. The findings strongly argue that the conservation, protection and restoration of the world's forests are undeniably critical to safeguarding and promoting human health. "Forests deliver critical benefits to people, nature and climate," said Kerry Cesareo, senior vice president for forests at WWF. "They are habitats for wildlife, capture and store carbon, and protect our water supply. This report now outlines another compelling reason to safeguard forests: They are indispensable to human health. We can use these findings as a road map for collaboration across the health and environment sectors to help resolve public health issues ranging from emerging infectious diseases to mental well-being." The report finds that forests play a vital role in supporting human health across several dimensionsinfectious diseases; noncommunicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and mental health issues; nutrition and food security; and physical hazards. For example, the authors detail how deforestation drives the emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens, infectious diseases that pass from animals to humans. These account for most of the recent epidemics, including COVID-19, the Zika virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the H1N1 flu, and the Ebola virus. By shrinking and fragmenting forests, the report says, deforestation can concentrate interactions between animals and the diseases they carry, resulting in more opportunities for disease transmission among animal species and people. The report also emphasizes the active role forests play in safeguarding human health. Exposure to forests lowers cardiovascular disease risks and stress hormones. Forests are essential to both local and global food security; can help lessen the impacts of natural hazards, including heat waves, floods and landslides; and clean polluted air and water. Additionally, forests help mitigate climate change and its associated health effects. "We found that public health and forests are entwinedat the local, regional and global leveland that across each of nature's contributions to human health, forest conservation, protection and management can improve our lives," said Craig Beatty, manager of forest strategy and research at WWF and one of the report's primary authors. "And when we consider the public health challenges we face in our communities, counties and countries, we should examine the very real health implications of how we're treating our forestsand how they're treating us." With this in mind, the report presents a framework to understand the public health value of forests and outlines numerous actions to safeguard the vitality of forests and promote long-term human well-being. These include protecting forests and avoiding forest conversion; improving forest management on working lands; taking a diversified approach to forest restoration; creating urban forests; and fostering a learning exchange between the conservation and health fields. Explore further Do forests lead to more or fewer clouds? It depends More information: The Vitality of Forests report can be found here: The Vitality of Forests report can be found here: www.worldwildlife.org/publicat sts-and-human-health Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new study examined the impact of COVID-19 and George Floyd's death on police work in the Tempe, Arizona, police department. The study examined weekly trends in crime and officer activities, as well as footage from body-worn cameras. The impact of the pandemic and Floyd's death was mixed and varied by type of crime, with the pandemic having a larger impact than Floyd's death, the study concluded. The study, by researchers at Arizona State University (ASU), appears in Justice Quarterly, a publication of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. "The killing of George Floyd and of other Black Americans by the police spurred unprecedented scrutiny of the police, protests, and calls for defunding," says Michael D. White, professor of criminology and criminal justice at ASU and lead author of the study. "These occurred against the backdrop of the pandemic, which police responded to in myriad ways, and both the killings and the pandemic coincided with a large increase in violent crime." The study used interrupted time series analyses to investigate weekly trends from 2017 to 2021 in several areas of policing in Tempe, including calls for service, reported crime, officer proactivity (deterring criminal activity by showing police presence), traffic accidents, arrests, and use of force. The study also examined randomly selected footage from body-worn cameras from approximately 475 incidents. Data were compared from three time periods: before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and during the week following Floyd's death. The researchers treated the global pandemic and George Floyd's death as events with discrete and different start dates. Among the study's findings: The impact of the pandemic and Floyd's death on crime was mixed: All reported crime dropped immediately and significantly after the onset of COVID-19, with the decline lasting five months, well after Floyd's death. Crimes against property and society and burglaries declined, purportedly as a result of the pandemic and stay-at-home orders, but those effects lasted less than a month, ending weeks before Floyd's death. Crimes against people, assaults, robbery, and domestic violence were not affected by the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on other measures of police activity was consistent: The pandemic altered every aspect of police activity. Citizen-initiated calls for service declined 22% and officer-initiated calls fell 11%. Arrests dropped 46% and traffic accidents fell 56%. The impact of Floyd's death was different: Following Floyd's death, citizen calls for service and traffic accidents declined. Officer proactivity also declined precipitously (by 43%). Use of force spiked in the weeks following the start of the pandemic and continued to rise in the fall of 2020, suggesting a possible interactive effect between the pandemic and Floyd's death. Body-worn camera footage highlighted the consistency in how officers handled citizen encounters before and after both events. Overall, while Floyd's death had an independent impact on some measures of crime and police activity, the study concluded that the pandemic had a larger impact. "The study's findings highlight the localized effects of these events," conclude White and his coauthors. "This study tells the story of one city, but it has implications for policy beyond Tempe." Among the study's limitations are that it examined just one police department, so the extent to which its findings are generalizable to other jurisdictions is unknown. Also limiting are the shortcomings of administrative police data used by the study and problems with body-worn cameras (e.g., officers' failure to record encounters, obstructed views). Explore further More guns, pandemic stress and a police legitimacy crisis created perfect conditions for homicide spike in 2020 More information: Michael D. White et al, Investigating the Impacts of a Global Pandemic and George Floyd's Death on Crime and Other Features of Police Work, Justice Quarterly (2022). Journal information: Justice Quarterly Michael D. White et al, Investigating the Impacts of a Global Pandemic and George Floyd's Death on Crime and Other Features of Police Work,(2022). DOI: 10.1080/07418825.2021.2022740 Provided by Crime and Justice Research Alliance Three years ago, Isabelle Brivian watched other children rush to school as she stayed at home taking care of her brothers. Now, because of the regular meals provided at the school by a Chinese school feeding program, parents are motivated to enroll and keep their children in school. The young girl can finally join the cohort of pupils in Mathare, a slum neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenyas capital. The program, named Free Lunch for Children, was jointly started by Deng Fei, a Chinese philanthropist, the Chinese Red Cross, and the Social Welfare Foundation of China in March 2017. The program covered 1,103 pupils from five primary schools in Mathare on a daily basis during its initial days. Since then, it has evolved to include over 6,000 students from 23 schools in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Malawi and Uganda. Teachers agree that food delivery reduces absenteeism. The participating students academic performance is improving, and their dropout rates are decreasing. The programs benefits also extend to low-income homes, since parents have less stress to cope with when it comes to their childrens nutrition. In fact, Brivian no longer asks for food when she returns home from school. Poor nutrition is a serious issue on the African continent. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in its annual report, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021, that more than a third of the worlds 768 million undernourished people, or 282 million, reside in Africa. This accounts for 21 percent of the African population, more than twice the undernourished group of any other region. On the eve of the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021, the African Union Development Agency facilitated an African Common Position. The five recommended paths to promote fair and affordable access to food prioritize nutrition and school feeding. The task is daunting for the Chinese program in this aspect, as its coverage has been expanding. Beneficiaries of the Lunch for Children school meal program in Kenya. An Effective Device Since its inception in 2011, the Free Lunch for Children program initiated by Deng has been implemented in 1,555 schools across China, raising RMB 833 million (US $131.3 million) to assist over 380,000 children by September 2021. It also partially contributed to the establishment of a national nutrition improvement program for rural students in October 2011. The government has since invested around RMB 16 billion (US $2.5 billion) in it every year. Public welfare knows no borders, Deng said. His program has been expanded to Africa based on this principle. Yin Binbin was entrusted with the projects implementation. The young Chinese volunteer co-founded the Dream Building Service Association, an NGO created in Kenya in 2014, focusing on youth education, undernourishment reduction among children, and poverty relief. Through his organizations efforts, three schools in Mathare were restored between 2014 and 2018. Funds for the school feeding program come from individual donors as well as Chinese organizations and foundations. The initiators have also registered a foundation in the United States for overseas fundraising operations. All of the participating schools have set up profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to publish information on a regular basis. In addition to this, teachers and students share meals together, a measure taken to ensure cohesiveness and quality. Local farmers are contracted to provide rice, beans, wheat, dairy products, and other ingredients for the school meals. This helps combat hunger while also allowing the farmers involved to have a stable source of income. Parents are also encouraged to participate in monitoring and assessment, as well as the purchase of some required products, in order to ensure the projects long-term viability. New Challenges According to FAO research, food insecurity and malnutrition have worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing containment measures. In 2020, about 46 million more individuals in Africa were impacted by hunger than in the previous year. With many schools closed as a result of lockdown, program teams chose to keep serving meals to pupils. Typically, participating children are required to collect and eat their meals on-site. Nevertheless, adjustments were made after school closures caused by COVID-19. Between July and November 2020, a total of 5,361 food packages, each weighing 7 kg, were provided to eight Mathare schools. The program resumed to provide meals on-site in the area in October 2020, with the reopening of schools. Despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, plans have been formulated to ensure the normal operation of the program. If conditions permit, the program is likely to provide meals in 50 schools by 2022, with an estimated annual expenditure of RMB 5 million (US $786,500), which could reach RMB 10 million by 2023, covering 100 schools. Yet the funding shortage is a severe challenge. According to the programs observer Shi Zhihong, a scholar at the Center for Sudanese Studies of Yangzhou University, the project relies too much on donations from foundations and NGOs, which account for 75 percent of the RMB 5.64 million (US $888,900) raised in China, as of November 2020, while the public, especially corporate donations are limited. However, due to the pandemic, donations from foundations have decreased significantly, and the rest of the funding can only provide meals to 3,640 students and teachers from 10 school in Mathare, worth about RMB 1 million (US $157,600). Therefore, Shi called for more active participation of Chinese chambers of business and enterprises, as well as philanthropic groups. Chinese students and employees from Confucius Institutes in Africa are also invited to join the volunteer team. Li Anshan, professor emeritus at Peking University and President of the Chinese Society of African Historical Studies, agrees that the program is a good opportunity for Chinese living in Africa to support the local community. The Chinese program began somewhat late and is currently on a tiny scale in comparison to school feeding programs undertaken by international organizations such as the UN. However, it benefits from a stable, efficient and sustainable operational model, according to Shi, who believes that the project will reach its full potential in the near future. Graphical abstract. Credit: Nano Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c03841 Two-dimensional (2D) materials possess extraordinary properties. They usually consist of atomic layers that are only a few nanometers thick and are particularly good at conducting heat and electricity, for instance. To the astonishment of many scientists, it recently became known that 2D materials can also exist on the basis of certain metal oxides. These oxides are of great interest in areas such as nanoelectronics applications. A German-American research team, led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), has now succeeded in predicting twenty-eight representatives of this new class of materials by using data-driven methods. There is a substantial difference between conventional 2D materials such as graphene and the novel materials that can be synthesized from metal oxides such as ilmenite and chromite. The latter do not form weak interactionswhat are known as van der Waals forcesin their crystal structure, but instead form stronger ionic bonds that point in all directions. For this reason, only a few experiments have so far succeeded in detaching novel 2D materials from 3D material blocks. The results of the study can now lead to success in further experiments of this type. Using theoretical methods, the scientists predict which compounds are actually worthwhile for experimental research. "With our data driven method, we built upon the first available information from the initial experiments. From this information, we developed structural prototypes and then ran them through a huge materials database as a filter criterion," explains the leader of the study, Dr. Rico Friedrich from the HZDR Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research. "The main challenge was figuring out why these materials form 2D systems so easily with particular oxides. From this information, we were able to develop a valid generalized search criterion and could systematically characterize the identified candidates according to their properties." For this purpose, the researchers primarily applied what is known as "density functional theory," a practical computational method for electronic structures that is widely used in quantum chemistry and in condensed matter physics. They collaborated with several German high-performance data centers for the necessary computing stages. A decisive factor was determining the exfoliation energy: this defines how much energy must be expended to remove a 2D layer from the surface of a material. Materials database with approximately 3.5 million entries The study also utilized the AFLOW materials database (Automatic Flow for Materials Discovery). It has been under development for more than twenty years by Prof. Stefano Curtarolo from Duke University (U.S.), who also contributed as author of the study. AFLOW is regarded as one of the largest materials science databases and classifies approximately 3.5 million compounds with more than 700 million calculated material properties. Together with the associated software, the database ultimately provided the researchers with not only the chemical composition of twenty-eight 2D-capable materials, but also enabled them to study their properties, which are remarkable in electronic and magnetic as well as topological respects. According to Rico Friedrich, their specific magnetic surface structures could make them particularly attractive for spintronic applications, such as for data storage in computers and smartphones. "I'm certain that we can find additional 2D materials of this kind," says the Dresden physicist, casting a glance into the future. "With enough candidates, perhaps even a dedicated database could be created entirely specialized in this new class of materials." The HZDR scientists remain in close contact with colleagues from a subject-related collaborative research center (Sonderforschungsbereich) at the TU Dresden as well as with the leading research group for synthesizing novel 2D systems in the United States. Together with both partners, they plan to pursue further study of the most promising compounds. Explore further Progress and prospects in magnetic topological materials More information: Rico Friedrich et al, Data-Driven Quest for Two-Dimensional Non-van der Waals Materials, Nano Letters (2022). Journal information: Nano Letters Rico Friedrich et al, Data-Driven Quest for Two-Dimensional Non-van der Waals Materials,(2022). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c03841 U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, at a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday requested that the FBI release all documents related to Shahed Hussain, the owner of the limousine that was in a fatal crash in Schoharie County on Oct. 6, 2018. Hussain was an FBI informant, she said. Stefanik also requested documents related to his companies and any documents and correspondence related to the investigation and trial of the 2018 accident involving Prestige Limousine. She said if the documents are not released, she will attempt to subpoena them. Theres a litany of answers that need to come forward, Stefanik said in a telephone interview later on Tuesday. In other regional politics news: Trump tax cuts U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, voted against President Donald Trumps signature tax law in 2017. Now, she wants to permanently extend it. Absolutely thats going to be very, very important, Stefanik said in a nationally televised interview on March 1. Stefanik was responding to Fox Business commentator Larry Kudlow, who asked if she supports making the Trump tax cuts permanent. Many of the provisions of the tax law are set to expire in 2025. In 2017, Stefanik said she voted against the tax law because it eliminated the federal income tax deduction for state property taxes, a change that disproportionately affected New York residents. She said in a telephone interview with The Post-Star on March 2 that the high property taxes in New York are a symptom of poor fiscal policies at the state level. Veterans organizations State Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon, on Wednesday announced she has introduced legislation to establish a $10 million state fund for veterans organizations that have experienced financial difficulty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations such as American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts could apply for grants of up to $50,000 each to pay rent, mortgages, maintenance and other business expenses such as insurance premiums and administrative costs. Our veterans services organizations provide such important support and services to our veterans and our communities as a whole. Many of these organizations have struggled financially throughout the pandemic, particularly since many of their traditional fundraising activities were shut down. This bill would help them get back on their feet so they can continue to provide critical support and fellowship for our community heroes, Jordan said in a news release. The legislation, S8504, had four co-sponsors, all Republicans, as of Thursday. Fire departments State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, on Wednesday announced that legislation he introduced to allow fire departments to bill for ambulance transportation has passed the Senate. Currently, only emergency medical squads and police departments can bill for ambulance transport. Our local fire departments routinely provide ambulance services through the year and should be reimbursed for these services, Stec said in a news release. Music at the Capitol State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, posted on Facebook that he and Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Horicon, welcomed the Chamber Winds, Brass Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble music groups from the Queensbury Union Free School District to perform at the state Capitol. They sounded fantastic, he said. Castelli endorsements Democratic congressional candidate Matt Castelli on Wednesday announced that county Democratic chairs in all 18 counties of the new 21st Congressional District have endorsed his candidacy. Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official from the town of Saratoga, is one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville. The others are Matt Purtorti, a lawyer from Whitehall, and Ezra Watson, a technician from Wilton. Recall State Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Horicon, is the lone Assembly member, at this point, calling for a recall election process in New York. Simpson, on Feb. 1, 2021, introduced legislation to hold a statewide referendum on adding a new article to the state Constitution to establish a recall election for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and comptroller. Nine other states have recall election procedures for statewide elected officials, Simpson wrote in a justification for the legislation. By extending this right to New Yorkers, we will be providing them with a mechanism to remove officials who have betrayed the public trust, he wrote. The legislation, A04898, had no co-sponsors as of Thursday. State Sen. James Tedisco, R-Glenville, is the lone sponsor of Senate companion legislation. Maury Thompson covered local government and politics for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He continues to follow regional politics as a freelance writer. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 GREENWICH A month after the fire that destroyed the landmark Wilmarth Building, the buildings former occupants and the community are adjusting to the new reality. Im doing, said real estate broker Penny Spiezio. Her business, PennyDot Realty, lost its Greenwich office in the blaze. Trying to find another location in Greenwich has been more difficult than I expected. A fast-moving blaze broke out at the building at 128 Main St. just after noon on Feb. 6. Within hours, the 1892 landmark was rubble, displacing seven residents, four businesses, damaging an antiques business next door, and disrupting power and telecommunications in the village. John M. Fox, who had been visiting one of the residents, was arrested and charged with setting the blaze. He is in custody without bail at the Washington County Jail. PennyDots main office is in Cambridge, and Spiezio said the bulk of the businesss records were there. However, she had just opened some new files in the Greenwich area and that information hadnt yet been transferred. The greater loss was that the Greenwich office was displaying a local artists watercolors of the doors of Greenwich, Spiezio said. The paintings were on loan. Its stuff like that that you just cant replace, Spiezio said. But everyone got out. Thats the important thing. Spiezio said shes been offered space elsewhere in the village, but none of it has the window visibility the business needs. The Wilmarth Building was in the heart of downtown, across the street from a busy bank and right next to the main intersection. Im still on the hunt, Spiezio said. This isnt the first time Spiezio has been burned out. Her childhood home burned on Valentines Day in 1977 or 1978, she said, almost 45 years to the day of the Wilmarth fire. Its ironic, Spiezio said, but you pick up and move on. Photo history lost Photographer Clifford Oliver, whose photography studio was on the second floor, had just been recognized by the town of Greenwich for his accomplishments as a local historian and volunteer. A Greenwich resident for 31 years, he is well-known locally for his commercial and fine art photography, as well as his research into local African American history and portrayal of African American figures like Solomon Northup. Oliver said he lost 50 years of work, camera equipment, a vintage camera collection and a vintage hat collection. He described being at the scene of the fire and realizing that some of the ashes blowing along the street were his photographs. Oliver had been digitizing family photos for a client in Saratoga Springs. I lost his 50s and 60s photos, Oliver said. It was the hardest phone call I ever had to make. He said, Dont worry about it. A month later, things are going shockingly good, Oliver said. I feel guilty, feeling so good. This community has come to my aid more than I ever could have imagined. A GoFundMe account for Oliver was established within days of the fire. As of March 3, it had raised $37,312. Oliver has a new studio at 28 Main St., another historic building with an abolitionist history, he said. Its a bigger space and a lot more rent, he said, laughing. I havent had a chance to count what Ive lost, Oliver said. Hes replaced the equipment he uses almost daily, but Im still turning up things I lost, he said. Oliver didnt use cloud services for data storage, but CPA Judith Klingebiel, whose office was on the Wilmarth Buildings first floor, suggested he check there anyway to see if any of his lost works had survived online. Indeed, some had. What a surprise! Oliver said. The Greenwich Free Library and local historian Joseph Cutshall-King are doing a cloud search with the goal of creating a digital collection for him, Oliver said. Im so happy to be back in business because for a while there I thought I was done, Oliver said. It would have taken something like this to make me quit. I thought Id retire, but now I dont have to. The lesson he learned, Oliver said, is to keep up your insurance. Its not a one-time thing. A lot of people to thank One of the first firefighters on the scene was a good friend of Klingebiel. He broke into her office and retrieved the computers before the flames forced fire crews to evacuate the building. We had just replaced two computers the previous year and we were continuing customers of StoredTech, an IT company in Queensbury, Klingebiel said. We emailed them from the fire. They answered right away. Klingebiel met with StoredTech staff the next day. She was able to set up her business at her home while she obtained new office furniture and a new location. We were up and running at 73 Main St., across from Wallies, by the end of the week, Klingebiel said. All the paper files were lost, but we were able to reconstruct things pretty well, she said. Everything really came together, said Klingebiel, who is also the accountant for the Greater Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. It was kind of miraculous. Its not easy, thats for sure, but I have a lot of people to thank. The fourth business in the building was Simply Divine, a hair salon. No information on the business was available online. Unlike the other three businesses, Simply Divine wasnt a member of the chamber of commerce. Chamber Managing Director Kelly Stephen Eustis said he reached out to the owner but had no response. Help from fundraisers The buildings residents were able to find other housing soon after the fire. Two GoFundMe fundraisers for their benefit had raised a total of $3,325 as of March 3. The Greater Greenwich Chamber of Commerce had its own fundraiser at www.battenkillstrong.org, its charitable website. The appeal brought in around $27,000, Eustis said. Donors could give through the website, send checks to the chamber, or donate to an account set up at Trustco Bank. Well over half of the donations were made through Trustco, Eustis said. Because the bank didnt collect information on the donors, we dont know who made them. The fundraiser ended Feb. 28. The chambers board of directors were to meet the week of March 6 to decide how distribute the money and send out checks, Eustis said. The chamber received many offers of food, clothing and household necessities for the residents, and office space, office equipment, and services for the businesses, Eustis said. Its amazing to see the amount of support that was offered by the community, he said. As a mark of its appreciation to the first responders, the chambers Whipple City Festival committee has proposed making First Responders the theme of the festivals parade on June 17, and that evenings live music and festivities to be First Responder Appreciation night, Eustis said. The town came together and responded to this disaster in such a wonderful way for the tenants and businesses right from the very beginning, said Greenwich Town Supervisor Jim Nolan. More than 80 firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical technicians were on the scene that night, he said. It was rather miraculous that firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings, Nolan said. The former Glens Falls National Bank building to the immediate north, now the office of accounting firm Levy Breaks LLC, was almost unscathed. Greenwich Hardware Antiques, which adjoined the Wilmarth Building to the south, received water and smoke damage. The business remains closed as the owners, Wayne and Maureen Edsforth, deal with the fires aftermath. Looking ahead The rubble is totally cleared out now, Nolan said, leaving only the Wilmarth Buildings cellar hole. Theres talk of what will happen to that space. The owner, Marta Ward, said in a letter to one of the local newspapers that she would donate the property to the village for parking. Some people would like to see a new building with modern apartments and commercial space behind a period-appropriate facade, Nolan said. Its a shame in a historical district to turn it into a parking lot, he said, adding that hes seen such reconstructions elsewhere. Grants, tax breaks and payments in lieu of taxes might make reconstruction feasible as long as the spaces could be rented, Nolan said. One lesson from the fire was that firefighters drained 165,000 gallons, one-third to one-half of the villages water tank capacity, in addition to the water they pumped from the Batten Kill, Nolan said. According to what he was told by Leo Flynn, head of the villages Department of Public Works, it would take three weeks of pumping from the villages wells to return the tank to a normal water level. Residents were asked to conserve water and expect low pressure until then. It did demonstrate that with a major fire, the village water system can be greatly affected. The village will have to think about capacity, Nolan said. Greenwich Village Mayor Pam Fuller did not respond to phone calls asking for comment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The changes were prompted by a review from the state Pinelands Commission that determined that growing marijuana was being categorized as an industrial use, creating new restrictions on where certain marijuana businesses can operate. The new redevelopment zone will be reviewed by the township Planning Board, council and the Pinelands Commission again. Certain marijuana businesses will be allowed in a tract south of the White Horse Pike. The zone still prohibits marijuana businesses from opening within 1,000 feet of a school. Mayor Anthony Coppola stressed that, as in many other municipalities in New Jersey, no property owner would be able to develop a marijuana business by right, but would instead have to receive an endorsement from the council and the relevant licenses from the state. Councilman Tom Bassford said he wanted the township to use its authority in entering into redevelopment agreements to regulate odors coming from marijuana facilities. The Blue Heron Pines Homeowners Association has previously raised concerns about a proposed marijuana processing-and-development plant off Aloe Street. Township officials said they had found applicants proposing to open a marijuana business had been generally less prepared than other people interested in becoming business owners in the township, and believed the additional oversight was appropriate. Convoy asking for end to mandates rolls out from Galloway Township GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP The trucking protest movement against mask and vaccine mandates that sta New Jerseys marijuana industry is set to enter a new phase Tuesday, when the state will begin accepting license applications for marijuana retailers. It began accepting applications for marijuana cultivators and manufacturers Dec. 15. In other business, council introduced a $28.1 million 2022 budget that will keep the local tax rate stable for the eighth year in a row, which officials called a reflection of a fiscal stability that has gradually improved over the past decade. Township Manager Chris Johansen said Tuesday the COVID-19 pandemic and the staggered delivery of federal aid have made for a fluid budgeting process. It was kind of a crazy year. Youll see a lot of flux in this budget, Johansen said. Youre going to see some fluctuation between revenues and expenses. Local revenues will be bolstered by a new $422,000 shared-service agreement with Absecon. The township is still waiting to see how much money will be allocated to it this year from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion federal pandemic relief package that was signed into law last year. Galloway received $1.8 million from the plan last year. There is set to be a $43,000 decrease in the local-purpose tax levy. Overall, the local-purpose property tax rate will decrease slightly, to 61.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, not including property taxes levied by the local school districts or the county. Some of the changes within the budget would be an increase of $350,000 in salaries and wages, owing to the hiring of two police officers and a public works officer, as well as scheduled wage growth. Other expenditures, including from energy, insurance and professional fees, are set to grow by about $582,000. The township also is spending more on debt service, to reduce its long-term debt obligations. Coppola said attracting development and ratable properties has fortified the township against economic downturns, while enabling the township to reduce debt and avoid property tax increases. He specifically pointed to attracting new warehousing and shipping facilities for e-commerce businesses. Township officials recently unveiled plans for an Amazon short-distance delivery station to be built at Aloe Street and Genoa Avenue. Coppola said the township was on pace to be debt free by the end of 2023. Were going to run not only a budget thats fair to our employees, but thats fair to the taxpayers, and I think thats the most important part, he said. Also at Tuesdays meeting, Rich Barber was sworn in as police chief. His promotion comes after the retirement of former Chief Donna Higbee, who ended her over-six-year tenure last month. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The funds are coming from settlements between Johnson & Johnson and three other companies over their role in the addiction crisis, Murphy and acting state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said during a visit and roundtable discussion at Behavioral Crossroads off Delilah Road. The funds will be used on opioid treatment, recovery, prevention, first-responder support programs and research. Murphy and Platkin said the money would not be used to plug budget holes and would not supplant any current funding. The funds, Murphy said, will be split between the state and affected municipalities. We have to stay at this, he said. Johnson & Johnson, drug wholesaler AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson, a medical tech and pharmaceutical distribution firm, announced the settlement plan last year, but the deal was contingent on getting participation from a critical mass of state and local governments. Murphy said he and his administration are relieved to see the money being made available for helping rebuild the lives that have been destroyed. Opioids were responsible for just over 3,000 deaths in New Jersey last year, or nearly eight deaths per day, Murphy said. Its an increase from 2020 and 2019, he said, but New Jersey has not seen spikes as large as those in other states of opioid-related deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot realistically manage it to zero, Murphy said of opioid addiction. Lawsuits against the four companies are playing out across the country. They are expected to provide a significant boost to efforts aimed at reversing the crisis in places that have been devastated by opioid addiction, including many parts of rural America. Murphy said most of the money will be used to help harm-reduction services outside of hospitals. While larger facilities can offer resources for drug addiction, Murphy said most experts agree that separate facilities and agencies provide the best model states and their communities can use. Typically, the harm reduction centers that work the most are the ones in the communities that sort of are located where the need is, Murphy said. Thats sort of the model instead of putting it inside of another institution. Lawmakers statewide have for years worked to address the opioid crisis, sending large sums of funds to addiction-related organizations. Fighting the epidemic remains and always be a bipartisan effort, said Republican state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, who was joined by his colleague, Assemblywoman Claire Swift, R-Atlantic. Polistina said he remains committed to providing opioid resources in Atlantic County, insisting that lawmakers must work together across the aisle because the crisis has affected people of all political affiliations and personal backgrounds. New Jersey is the state of opportunity, and thats what we want for everybody, Polistina said. I think everybodys got to understand that this epidemic sacks opportunities just like that. Opportunities to defeat addiction have grown statewide. Doing so remains one of the key goals of Valerie Miekle, assistant commissioner of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Cape May County reports spike in overdose deaths MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Cape May County has been seeing an uptick in fatal overdoses since Decembe Over the past few years, Miekle said, New Jerseys resources for addiction services have grown, with 47 licensed programs available statewide. Its a priority for Miekles teams to continue expanding accessibility by tearing down barriers that impede access to treatment. We are being innovative when it comes to addressing this crisis, from finding ways to close the treatment gap experienced by Black residents through cultural competency training for opioid treatment providers to helping our mental health programs treat individuals with a co-occurring substance use disorder. Our shared goal, always, is to save lives, Mielke said in a statement Friday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When researching his new book, what surprised Neil Dahlstrom the most wasn't what actually happened in the early 1900s competition between John Deere, Ford and International Harvesters, but what almost did. The large tractor factory that nearly got built in East Moline, but never did. Rumors ultimately unfounded that Henry Ford was going to buy John Deere in 1919. The what-ifs of which companies decided to stick with tractor production and which didn't. Dahlstrom dives into what led to these near-different paths and more in "Tractor Wars," his recently released book about the origin of the tractor as it is known today told through the histories of John Deere, Ford and International Harvester. "I think we find these decisions can have a big impact for 100-plus years," Dahlstrom said. "So it can be a little daunting, but also it's pretty exhilarating to think that those decisions have such an impact." Dahlstrom's research for the book began before he even knew he wanted to write it. As the Branded Properties & Heritage Manager at Deere, Dahlstrom already had a lot of knowledge about the company. He started finding interesting facts while researching for Deere's 100th anniversary that weren't useful for his work at the time, but they stuck with him. "We were doing a lot of research, and I would find some things and squirrel it away for later, with intentions of going back to it, which I did,," Dahlstrom said. "It was probably late 2018, 2019, when I really started kind of digging into some peripheral stories and thinking yeah, there might actually be a book in this." While he started in the Deere collections, Dahlstrom branched out for the majority of his information-gathering. He worked with the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute to find historical industry information, as well as newspaper and other archives. Through the editing process Dahlstrom ended up cutting around a third of the book's content. While "Tractor Wars" is nonfiction, Dahlstrom said he developed a narrative story line and tried not to get bogged down with facts readers might not be able to easily follow. "My goal is to make a readable book," he said. "I wasn't writing an encyclopedia and I wasn't trying to write a book that included every single fact that I've ever found, which is difficult to do." The book goes through the transition from horses to tractors and the industry competition, and ends with Ford's tractor being removed from the market in 1928. There's plenty more to be told, Dahlstrom said, and he's planning to write more about the era and what came later. Since the book's release, Dahlstrom has received letters from readers who enjoyed the story. There's a sense of nostalgia for people, he said, as the Quad-Cities is deeply entwined with Deere. He's excited to schedule book signings and discussions, to learn more about people's personal connections to the story. "You see where local history impacts national history and world history in a book like this, but I think there's also names and places that people are going to recognize," Dahlstrom said. "So for me growing up in the Quad-Cities, that's really exciting to just be able to kind of contribute something and to help tell the story of the Quad Cities, which I think is really important and really impactful." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Davenport nursing home that has been hit with more than $190,000 in fines in recent years is now facing additional penalties for more than three dozen regulatory violations. State inspectors allege that last month they verified 20 separate complaints against The Ivy at Davenport, including a staff member tormenting a resident by taking her doll, taunting her with it, and then posting to social media a video recording of her actions. The inspectors cited the home for 33 federal regulatory violations related to resident abuse and inadequate resident care, as well as six state regulatory violations such as failing to screen employees for histories of abuse or criminal conduct. The state has imposed $1,500 in fines against the home, while holding in suspension $14,500 in other fines. Additional federal penalties may also be imposed. The Ivy at Davenport, 800 E. Rusholme St., currently has a one-star overall rating the lowest possible score from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. State inspectors were at the home last month in response to 21 separate complaints, 20 of which were verified. According to the inspectors report, a female resident of the home who suffers from heart failure, diabetes and dementia had a collection of baby dolls with which she interacted. In January, a certified nursing assistant at the home posted a video on social media of her holding one of the womans dolls in a taunting manner. The worker was later fired. A nurse at the home told inspectors she watched as the aide took the doll from the resident to torment her, which left the resident crying. Last summer, the same resident was found weeping on the floor asking a fellow resident, Why did you do that? The other resident allegedly admitted she had pushed the woman to the floor. Although both incidents were categorized as abuse, they were not reported to the state as required. A nurse aide reportedly told inspectors that when she reported for work each day, she frequently saw residents sitting or lying in urine and feces. The home also was cited for failing to properly assess sores and wounds, noting that one resident with an injured toe was left with exposed bone. The toe became gangrenous and the tip of it then fell off. The inspectors reviewed 18 resident files and found that in 10 cases, residents required assistance for daily living but were denied assistance with bathing, toileting, incontinence care or grooming. Residents complained to inspectors of not getting a bath or shower for up to two weeks, with one resident saying the staff usually just gives them a washcloth to wash their own face and hands. The inspectors also identified dozens of instances in which unqualified workers were dispensing medication to residents and reported several incidents in which residents were injured because of inadequate accident prevention. One resident was on his way back to the facility after seeing a doctor and was seated in a wheelchair inside a van when the driver braked suddenly. The unsecured wheelchair rolled forward, and the resident fell to the floor of the van, with the wheelchair landing on him. According to inspectors, the man later wrote about the incident: I tried to brace my fall and hurt my left wrist. Also, my neck hurts and my right ankle where I have had surgery. My right leg has scratches on it caused by my fall. I did not get help off the floor, instead I did it myself. I was not strapped in for the rest of the way back here. Inspectors reviewed five personnel files and found that in all five cases, the home had failed to make the legally required background checks before the workers began their employment. In reviewing six incidents in which residents were transferred to a hospital, the inspectors determined that in half of those cases, the home had failed to notify the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman as required. The inspectors also noted that the staff wasnt hanging residents clean clothes and was instead tossing the garments onto closet floors. The facility is operated by Ivy Healthcare Group, which is based in Surfside, Fla. In January, that company was cited for 25 federal regulatory violations at its Silver Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Marion, Iowa. In that case, inspectors alleged the home was so short-staffed the residents had not received food or medicine as scheduled. Asked about the states findings at the Davenport home, Ivy Healthcares president and CEO, Ryan Coane, said: Ivy HealthCares top priority is our residents health and well-being. We stand committed to our core values. Coane said Ivy Healthcare was working 24/7 on monitoring and caring for all our residents, adding that the work of the Davenport facilitys direct-care workers and the love they have for every resident at the center is unsurpassable. The findings of inspectors at the Davenport home are published in a 167-page report citing the home for dozens of violations related to residents rights, including: failure to provide a safe, clean, homelike environment; failure to self-report regulatory violations; failure to provide adequate notice of resident transfers and discharges; failure to properly develop or implement resident care plans; failure to provide services that meet professional standards; and failure to meet quality-of-care standards. Also: failure to treat or prevent bed sores; failure to maintain residents nutritional and hydration needs; failure to maintain a medication error rate of 5% of less; failure to properly store or label drugs; failure to provide food that is nutritious and palatable; failure to meet infection prevention and control standards; failure to meet federal guidelines by informing residents of COVID-19 vaccine benefits and risks; failure to provide call lights for all residents; and a failure to develop or implement policies that pertain to resident abuse. Between June 2020 and the most recent inspection, The Ivy at Davenport has been fined $273,330 by federal officials. Because the home didnt appeal some of the governments findings, those fines were eventually reduced to $192,664. Reach Iowa Capitol Dispatch at https://iowacapitaldispatch.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 6 Angry 23 SANAA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi militia on Friday claimed responsibility for a cross-border attack on a Saudi oil refinery. "Details of our military attack against Saudi Arabia would be broadcast later in the day," Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. Late on Thursday, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported that an oil refinery in the Saudi capital Riyadh was attacked in the morning by a bomb-laden drone. The report gave no further details. The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has recently intensified cross-border drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates which is part of the Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government army. Most of such attacks were reportedly intercepted. The escalation came after the militia lost several strategic districts in the oil-rich provinces of Shabwa and Marib in central Yemen. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in 2015 to support the Yemeni government. A steady flurry of snow had just started to fall Thursday when Craig West walked up to his fellow members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 388 and Local 1191 standing on the picket line outside Eaton-Cobham Mission Systems. The horns of passing vehicles blared. Men and women of the union cheered and waved their now-familiar black-and-white signs. The strike was in Day 21 and West said despite the union's rejection of the company's second offer on March 4 and news of contract and permanent replacement employees training at the Davenport site his union was determined to "stay strong." West was on the line just hours after an Eaton representative confirmed Kevin McKeown, senior vice president and general manager of the Eaton-Cobham site in Davenport, wrote a two-page letter to members of Local 388 and Local 1191. Dated March 4 the same day 97% of union members rejected Eaton's latest contract offer McKeown said Eaton and the union " reached tentative agreements on health insurance, retirement benefits, and flexibility for you. Although the parties again did not reach a tentative agreement on general wage increases, the parties remained close." McKeown then explained striking workers permanently replaced will not automatically be rehired after the strike and would " eligible for reinstatement only when a vacancy exists " McKeown concluded the letter with an explanation of how striking workers could cross the picket line. Katie Kennedy, Eaton Aerospace senior manager of global communications and marketing, confirmed the details of McKeown's letter. "Eaton sent a letter to employees represented by the union last week informing them we would begin hiring permanent replacement workers," Kennedy said in an email. "We believe the workforce should have the information necessary to make informed decisions and that we have a responsibility to communicate directly with our employees to keep them updated. We are still in the process of hiring permanent replacements." West said he thinks every union members knows " there will be some pressure." "What we know is we are not replaceable," West said. "You can see it on our picket lines. Our morale is high. We are skilled workers who have trained hard and worked hard. We deserve what we're asking for." John Herrig, directing business representative for District 6 of the IAMAW, declined to comment. Earlier this week he said the union had "no comment" on Eaton's decision to train contract workers. Herrig said the union and Eaton had reached an agreement to meet March 15, but "now it appears the company is unwilling to meet face-to-face until March 22." More than 400 Eaton-Cobham union employees represented by IAMAW Local 388 and Machinist Union Local 1191 hit the picket line just after midnight on Friday, Feb. 18 after more than 98% of the membership voted down a proposed three-year contract from the company. Eaton, a multinational power management company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, announced June 1 it had completed its purchase of Cobham Mission Systems, described as a leading manufacturer of air-to-air refueling, life-support, fuel inerting, space propulsion and missile actuation systems, primarily for defense markets. Cobham has a workforce of approximately 2,000 people and manufacturing facilities in the United States and United Kingdom. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Marilyn Andress has lugged tires, wash machines and building materials out of an Illinois prairie that other people used as an illegal dump site. A former Chicago man was recently sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a firearms charge stemming from a fight at a downtown Davenport bar. Rodney Raphael Fluckes, 47, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court after pleading guilty in November to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fluckes was arrested after police were sent to respond to a fight that broke out in a pub in downtown Davenport in November of 2015, according to court documents. Officers outside the pub saw Fluckes carrying a loaded, 9mm pistol that was previously reported as stolen, according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa. Previous felony convictions prohibit Fluckes from having firearms, according to court records. Upon completion of his sentence, Fluckes must also serve three years of supervised release and he must also pay $100 to the Crime Victims Fund. The Davenport Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Lisa Dockery was silent Monday morning as her snow shovel scraped the walkway in front of her half of the duplex she rents on West 46th Street. A 20-year resident of the neighborhood, Dockery considered some of the questions raised in the wake of the Feb. 28 shooting of Corey Martin in GD Xpress, a combination gas station and liquor store on the corner of West 46th and West Pine streets. "There's a lot of traffic on both streets now," Dockery said as she ducked into her one-car garage to store the shovel and find some shelter from the morning's chilling wind gusts. "The traffic, I think, comes from the cheap gas. But I don't know if there is anything that could have been done to prevent the killing of that kid. Twenty-three? I don't care who you are, you're still a kid at 23. I guess I don't know the answer." Davenport Alderman Robby Ortiz posed the same question to the city's police chief, Paul Sikorski, at Wednesday night's city council meeting. "The owner in question here is there anything, in your opinion, that he could have done to prevent this horrific thing sad thing that happened?" Ortiz asked Sikorski. "No. Not at all," Sikorski replied. Aldermen voted 8-2, with Ortiz and Ward 1 Alderman Rick Dunn opposed, to table for two council cycles about a month a decision on whether to renew the convenience store's liquor license. The decision to delay a vote on the license, however, does not affect GD Xpress' ability to sell alcohol. And should the council vote to revoke the liquor license, it could be overruled by Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, which regulates liquor licenses and investigates complaints. Aldermen want more information In making the motion to table a decision, Ward 8 Alderwoman Judith Lee, who represents the area that includes the gas station and convenience store, said she wanted more information from Davenport police about the fatal shooting. Lee said she felt it was her "responsibility to take some kind of appropriate action." "We need to recognize that a homicide occurred there, and support the Davenport Police Department's investigation into that," Lee said. Ward 2 Alderwoman Maria Dickmann said she supported Lee's motion because of complaints she's received over the years from residents who live across the street from the business. Ward 1 Alderman Rick Dunn questioned what the council hoped to gain from postponing the vote on the business's liquor license. "I know we're looking for more information, but I don't believe we're going to get more information," Dunn said. "It was an unfortunate incident, yes. But I guess by tabling this, what more information are we trying to get here before we make a decision?" Ward 6 Alderman Ben Jobgen said he would likely vote for the liquor license when it came around, but said he didn't see any problem in seeking more information. Reached by phone Thursday morning, GD Xpress owner Jasveer Saini expressed sympathy for Martin's family and friends, saying "this tragedy is the last thing we want to see." Saini said he hoped the members of the city council wouldn't vote to suspend the business' liquor license, adding that he felt GD Xpress was being held to an unfair standard when other businesses or establishments haven't been punished when violence happens on or near their property. "There was about 20 calls in a year, and we deal with thousands of people every day," Saini said, referring to police calls for service to GD Xpress. According to Saini neither the person who died nor the alleged shooter was purchasing alcohol. "So I don't know what this has to do with the liquor license," Saini said. Sikorski, the Davenport police chief, declined to comment on details of the shooting as Martin's death is still under investigation, including whether anyone involved was purchasing alcohol. Saini added that GD Xpress has seen fewer customers in the last few weeks since the shooting and discussion by aldermen about delaying renewal of the business's liquor license. "People are calling, 'Are you still selling liquor?'" Saini said. "People see the news, and they drive somewhere else. Not everyone knows what tables means, and they assume we don't sell alcohol anymore." Calls for service Davenport police prepared a report for city council members on calls for service to GD Xpress, which Sikorski said were "not alarmingly more than any other place." "In looking at these, I haven't seen any trends that are alarming that I can see that are business-related," Sikorski said. "Certainly, when you have violent crime or drug overdoses or things like that at the establishment, it raises concern. It raises concern for all of us." Sikorski, though, noted business owner Jasveer Saini has cooperated with police in their investigations into crimes committed at, near or surrounding the business. "They have, when we asked for something, they seemingly drop what they're doing and assist us," Sikorski said, including for the ongoing investigation into Martin's death. The Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus requested a list of police calls for service over the last 12 months to the address of GD Xpress and five other convenience stores located within about a 2-mile radius of the business. GD Xpress logged 26 calls for service over the 12-month period from March 7, 2021, to March 7, 2022, including three calls for reported weapons/firearms and one call related to suspected drug activity. Casey's at 1691 W. 53rd St. logged 54 calls for service over the same period, including two weapons/firearms calls. Kwik Star at 1650 W. Kimberly had 106 total calls, including two for weapons and firearms. Four calls were for reported drug activity and five calls were for reported assaults. Not all calls for service are founded or substantiated. A more detailed report spanning three years given to aldermen by the Davenport Police Department provided short descriptions for calls to service to GD Xpress. Among those calls documented by the department: Police last year found a woman passed out in the bathroom of the business, allegedly because of a drug overdose. Officers were called on a separate occasion for suspected drug activity because a man came out of the bathroom at GD Xpress and passed out A weapons call in 2021 included a subject who "got mad that another patron took 'his' pump," according to the report. A person last year also called 911 claiming someone flashed a gun at them while they were at the gas station and convenience store. Video footage of the reported incident was inconclusive. In 2020, a caller reported someone approached them while pumping gas, started a verbal argument and displayed a gun In 2019, a caller reported 40 to 50 people fighting in the parking lot of the business. A responding officer reported 20 people fighting at the business. Neighbors say guns, not liquor, a concern Dockery, who lives on West 46th Street near GD Xpress, said Davenport police have knocked on her door three times in the past few years. All of the investigators' questions related to gun crimes. She weighed the role the sale of liquor at GD Xpress could play in the gun violence. "Honestly, I don't see how selling liquor over there has much to do with people shooting, people killing each other," Dockery said. "I don't think people sit in the parking lot and get drunk and decide to shoot guns. And I don't think people are meeting up there to shoot at each other. That really doesn't make sense." Three of Dockery's neighbors agreed with her assessment. They said guns, not liquor, are their concern. "I feel like I hear gunshots around here fairly regularly," Dockery said. "It's not an everyday thing, but it is noticeable. And guns are on the news every night in Davenport. Guns must be everywhere and kids must have no problem getting them, because there are plenty of shootings all over town. "It's really kind of funny, standing here talking about taking a liquor license from a business and ignoring the fact one kid shot another kid and it seems like no one asks where he got the gun to do that." Demetrius Ray Howard Jr. of Davenport is accused of shooting Martin to death after they fought in the gas station, according to Scott County court records. Howard, 23, is being held without bond on suspicion of first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A criminal complaint that is part of the court record accuses Howard of chasing Martin as he tried to flee, which was caught on security cameras. "I didn't hear the shots that night," Dockery said, but witnessed police covering the body. "Then you hear it's a couple of kids and you think about the lives ruined by all this shooting. "I lost it. I felt sick all that night. The next day I took a candle over there. I guess I was just trying to do something after something so terrible." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tom Loewy Follow Tom Loewy 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 WHAT'S NEW: Board members approved 12-month contracts for fuel from Woodhull Oil costing $2.77 per gallon for unleaded fuel. Diesel fuel will cost the district $3.09 for the regular blend and $3.12 for winter blend for the next 12 months. District residents may also get a break on registration fees come fall; chief school business official Tim Gronski is recommending fees remain flat. "I think our community has seen enough price increases at the gas pump," said Gronski. The board is expected to finalize various prices next month. Cost of the S.A.F.E. after-school program is anticipated to rise 25 percent as the district has commonly done every third year. Unless breakfast and lunch fees are waived for another year which the administration termed "doubtful," cafeteria prices are expected to go up 20 cents across the board to meet the prices that federal officials want districts to reach. Pleasant Valley High School was locked down late Friday morning after administrators received a tip about a threat that has since been found to be unsubstantiated. The tip was received about 10:40 a.m. via Crime Stoppers' P3 app, according to a news release from the Pleasant Valley Community School District. The tip stated there could be a potentially threatening situation at the high school. The school was put in "soft lock down," according to the release. That means students and employees remain in their rooms until told to leave. The school resource officer, other Scott County Sheriff's Office deputies, and school administrators investigated the tip and deemed it to be false. The contents of the tip were not provided, but the district said its nature required that it be taken seriously. The district and the sheriff's office are working to identify the person who submitted the tip. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Multiple law enforcement agencies across the state late Thursday afternoon were still looking for several people who were inside four stolen BMW SUVs and led police on a miles-long pursuit that included the people carjacking a woman with a child in New Lenox earlier in the day. No one was injured during the ordeal, which began when at least four vehicles were stolen from the Peoria or Springfield area and Illinois State Police troopers and Grundy County sheriffs officers responded to eastbound I-80 near Morris when the stolen SUVs were seen speeding down the interstate, according to a statement from the State Police. An Illinois Department of Conservation police officer clocked one of the stolen SUVs at 153 mph near I-39 and I-80, and Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley said his department became involved when the cars were seen speeding down I-39. Sheriffs deputies set up spike strips at mile marker 111 on I-80 about 7:30 a.m. and shortly after that, the strips halted three of the four vehicles, but their occupants jumped out and got into the fourth SUV and sped away, according to Briley. Around 8 a.m., that SUV came to a stop on I-80 east of I-355 at the edge of southwest suburban New Lenox, and six suspects got out and fled from the vehicle, ran through backyards, and came upon a woman taking her child out of a car in a driveway on Regan Road near Edmonds Avenue, New Lenox police Chief Louis Alessandrini said. The woman was held at gunpoint, and the suspects got into her GMC Yukon Denali and drove off. There were no injuries to the woman or the child. The stolen Yukon Denali was later found unoccupied in south suburban Markham about 9 a.m., Alessandrini said. The four stolen BMW SUVs were recovered but nobody was in custody early Thursday evening. Illinois State Police Trooper Josh Korando said all agencies involved have their own investigations ongoing at this time, including the sheriffs office and New Lenox police. Its still pretty early in the investigation, Briley said. Were dealing with multiple different agencies and multiple different crimes, so were still trying to piece it all together. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES Democrats are taking steps in an effort to flip political control of two Eastern Iowa Congressional districts. The campaign arm of U.S. House Democrats on Thursday announced it has placed two Iowa candidates, Liz Mathis and Christina Bohannan, in its program set up to help Democrats win U.S. House races against Republican incumbents. Mathis, an Iowa state senator and nonprofit leader from Hiawatha, is running in the new 2nd Congressional District. She is to face Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents what is now Iowas 1st District. Bohannan is a state legislator, attorney and law professor from Iowa City who is running in the new 1st Congressional District. She is expected to face Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is in her first term in what is now Iowas 2nd District. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program helps candidates with campaign infrastructure, fundraising and voter engagement, the committee said in a news release. Candidates in the program are provided organizational and fundraising support and other resources from the DCCC, the committee said. Liz Mathis has spent over a decade fighting for Iowans in the state Senate. Now shes continuing that record of service and problem-solving leadership by running to be a champion for (the new 2nd District) in Congress, DCCC spokesperson Elena Kuhn said in a news release. In a separate release, Democrats noted Miller-Meeks won a congressional seat in 2020 by six votes and that the composition of the new 1st District will help Bohannans campaign. Christina Bohannan has spent her time in public office fighting for working families, looking out for seniors, pushing for more investment in public schools, and helping Iowa families and small businesses recover from COVID-19, Kuhn said in the release. REYNOLDS FILES: Shortly after the campaign event at which she officially announced she would seek re-election as Iowas governor, Republican Kim Reynolds filed her nomination papers with more than 16,000 signatures with the Iowa Secretary of State. This strong grassroots response reflects our message resonating in all 99 counties, Reynolds said in a news release. I am excited to get back on the campaign trail and beyond grateful for the support Iowans have shown me across the state. Reynolds, Iowas first female governor since 2017, likely will face Democratic challenger and Des Moines businesswoman Deidre DeJear. The Libertarian Party of Iowa candidate is Rick Stewart. FINKENAUER FILES: Abby Finkenauer, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, filed more than 5,000 nominating signatures with the Iowa Secretary of States office, putting her on the 2022 ballot. Finkenauer, a former congresswoman and state legislator from Cedar Rapids, is one of four Democrats vying for the partys nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. The other Democratic candidates are Mike Franken, a U.S. Navy veteran from Sioux City; Minden physician Glenn Hurst; and Burlington veterans advocate Bob Krause. Grassley also faces a primary challenge from Sioux City state legislator and attorney Jim Carlin. Finkenauer said she is proud her campaign not only collected its needed signatures, but helped other, down-ballot campaigns do the same. Yes, this race is about beating Chuck Grassley, fighting for the future of Iowa and also our democracy while were at it, but its also about leading the state and making sure that we are lifting up other campaigns across the state as well, Finkenauer said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TRADE MISSION: Commodity group leaders and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recently visited Mexico in an effort to increase exports of manufactured products and agriculture goods. Leading trade missions such as this opens doors for Iowa agriculture, deepens important relationships and allows us to explore new market opportunities for Iowa, said Naig, a Republican running for re-election. Mexico continues to be a critically important export destination for Iowa agriculture as our farmers remain focused on delivering quality, consistent and affordable products to customers around the world. Iowa companies exported $3.1 billion in goods to Mexico in 2021. Mexico is Iowas third-largest export destination overall and the second-leading export market for corn, pork and soybeans. Iowa exported $824 million in corn, $451 million in pork and $350 million in soybeans to Mexico in 2021. In addition, Mexico is Iowas largest destination for animal feed and sugars. In 2021, Mexico imported $324 million in animal feed and $203 million in sugars from Iowa. Mission participants included members of the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, protein industry representatives and Iowa Economic Development Authority staff. JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSIONS: The Iowa House and Senate took up similar legislation making changes to the judicial nominating process for district court judges. However, the key difference could be a sticking point. The Senate approved Senate File 2132 that would change the makeup of the commissions that nominate district-level judges. It would remove a judge as chair of the commission, and replace that person with an individual appointed by the governor. It was approved on a party-line 32-15 vote. Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, said the proposal weakens the concept of a fair and independent judiciary. Sen. Julian Garrett, R-Indianola, said judges as chairs have too much influence on the commissions, and said sometimes the judges chairing the commissions act inappropriately. He cited a recent example in Fort Dodge, where a judge was accused of favoring a candidate and presenting misleading information about another. House File 2481 passed on a nearly party-line vote after it was amended to remove the language the Senate approved. It would increase the number of people recommended for appointment to the bench from three to five to give the governor more options, Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, said. It also would allow judges from a county contiguous to a judicial district where there is an opening to apply for the judgeship, which Holt said could increase the number of applicants. Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, said she was hell no on the bill until the language giving the governor more control of the judicial nominating process was removed. However, she voted against the House bill, which was approved 58-33 with one Democratic vote. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES Having crossed the midway point in whats scheduled to be a 100-day session, Iowa lawmakers are digging into the time-consuming budget process. Majority Republican budget proposals for public safety, courts, agriculture and natural resources in fiscal year 2023 were approved on party-line votes Thursday. The budgets are part of an $8.27 billion general fund budget proposed by House Republicans, which amount to a less than a 1 percent increase from the current $8.1 billion budget. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.2 billion, a 3.5 percent increase. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said he expects more activity on the budget process after the House and Senate approve the priorities identified by Republicans and Reynolds. He hopes to move more budgets next week, with the possibility of them being approved by the full Appropriations Committee and eligible for floor debate. The bigger tax conversation has happened, Grassley said, referring to legislation that will phase in income tax cuts to a flat rate of 3.9 percent. So now, with that out of the way, we have a lot more attention being focused on the budgets, he said. That's what is really going to start being the center of attention here in the House. In action Thursday, the House Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations subcommittee unanimously approved a $416 million budget, with an additional $14.3 million for capital projects. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $54 million budget. The Justice Systems Appropriations subcommittee approved a $633.8 million spending plan, with a $12.7 million increase for several departments. Those include a $7.1 million increase and another 36 full-time-equivalent employees for Corrections, which has seen its funding grow by nearly $29 million since fiscal 2021. The proposed budget includes $3.1 million for the Department of Public Safety, which will increase funding for the Iowa State Patrol by $2 million to $71.5 million, according to the Legislative Services Agency. The subcommittee also approved $200.6 million for the Judicial Branch from various sources. Thats a $7.1 million increase that includes $1.4 million for four more district associate judges, said Chairman Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, who has chaired the budget committee for 12 years. Democrats can always make improvements, Rep. Brian Meyer of Des Moines, the ranking Democrat on the Justice Systems Appropriations subcommittee said. Democrats, he said, might be able to support the budgets after further review. The budgets follow presentations by departments to the House appropriations subcommittees, which started early in the legislative session. Noting the lack of those presentations to Senate budget subcommittees and the lack of joint House-Senate committee meetings, Democrat Meyer thanked Republican Worthan for those briefings, which give legislators the opportunity to discuss priorities. Erin Murphy of the Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 YAOUNDE, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon said on Friday that its armed forces have arrested "several" separatist fighters in the restive Anglophone region of Northwest. The arrests were made during an operation to flush out separatists from their hiding places after investigations revealed that they were planning to attack "several" gendarmerie brigades in the region, according to the army. "A preventive operation led to the arrest of several separatist terrorists and the seizure of various materials," the army said. Armed separatists have been clashing with government forces in the region since 2017 to create an "independent" nation in the country's Anglophone regions of Southwest and Northwest. On Thursday, local officials said troops have been deployed to Esu, a locality of the region, after suspected separatist fighters attacked a convoy, killing a prominent traditional leader and his wife. Closing arguments could be heard in a 2018 manslaughter trial Friday or Monday. Judge Jeff Connolly advised jurors Thursday afternoon of the possibility before breaking for the day and after the defense took over witness testimony. Maxton Pfeiffer, 21, faces first-degree manslaughter charges and up to life in prison in the death of 19-year-old Ty Scott, who was shot in a Keystone house in June 2018 when he was 18. He died at the scene. During the fourth day of the trial, prosecutors questioned a former South Dakota forensic examiner who now works in Texas, a pathologist and a Pennington County Sheriff's Office investigator. During testimony, prosecutors showed photos of Scott's autopsy. Dr. Donald Habbe, who performed the autopsy, said he found that a bullet entered Scott's right arm, went into his chest striking his heart and lungs, exited his chest and entered his left arm where it stopped. Kent Pryzmus said he was the lead investigator in the case and interviewed Pfeiffer. The interview was played in court. During the interview, Pfeiffer said he was at the apartment for about 10 minutes when he shot Scott. Pfeiffer said his friends were watching YouTube videos and passing around a .38-caliber revolver that was empty. He said one of his friends made "pop shots" at him. Pfeiffer said he went to a counter where he found a .45-caliber semiautomatic, a magazine and a round. He said he unloaded the magazine from the gun and placed it on the bed, emptied the barrel and swept the room with the gun landing on Scott. He said he doesn't remember pulling the trigger. In the interview, Pfeiffer told investigators there were no arguments and no one was fighting, they were just "messing around." Prosecutors also showed six videos made by law enforcement of the semiautomatic functioning properly. The Journal previously reported Pfeiffer was arrested near the scene two hours after police learned about the incident. Pfeiffer made one of the initial 911 calls saying he shot Scott in the shoulder and that his friend was "bleeding seriously." The trial continues Friday morning. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Two state senators' last-minute attempt to fund a Game, Fish & Parks shooting range in rural Meade County failed Wednesday in a conference committee. Sen. John Wiik, R-Big Stone City, submitted an amendment to fund $2.5 million to build the shooting range. The original intent of the bill, HB1166, was to appropriate $665,400 for road improvements leading to Palisades State Park in Minnehaha County. Wiik's amendment would have attached the shooting range funding to the unrelated road bill. During the Wednesday conference committee of three senators and three representatives, the amendment was only supported by Wiik and Sen. David Johnson, R-Rapid City. The other four members of the committee Sen. Marsha Symens, R-Dell Rapids, and Reps. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, Oren Lesmeister, D-Parade, and Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids voted against it. Phone calls by the Journal to Wiik and Johnson's offices at the state Capitol in Pierre on Friday were not immediately returned. Wiik and Johnson's push to use state general funds for GF&P's shooting range was the fourth time the attempt failed during the legislative session. The original shooting range bill, HB1049, was killed Jan. 25 by the House Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee. Johnson resurrected the funding request on Feb. 1 as SB175, which saw initial success in the state Senate, passing 28-7 on Feb. 22. However, the bill met resistance in the House Appropriations Committee. On March 3, the House Appropriations Committee voted to kill Johnson's bill, but it was successfully smoked out of committee to be heard before the full House of Representatives. The House voted Monday on the shooting range funding bill and while it received a vote of 39-30, the legislation failed to reach the two-thirds necessary to pass. A motion to reconsider the funding bill also failed. GF&P agreed March 3 to purchase 400 acres of ranch land in rural Meade County, approximately 10 miles north of Rapid City to build a 175-bay shooting range. They were seeking $2.5 million from the state's general fund and a $2.5 million authorization to use "other funds" to build the range. The total cost of the range is projected to be $12 million to $14 million. Secretary Kevin Robling testified March 2 that GF&P will build the range with or without funding from the state, but development would be scaled down and potentially delayed if the state funding is not approved. The Meade County land for the GF&P shooting range was first sought by Rapid City businessman Jim Scull, who told the Journal that the realization of building a new range near Rapid City was years in the making. Scull initiated a purchase agreement for the property and then transferred the agreement to the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The foundation held the deed to the land with the expectation that GF&P would purchase the property by April of this year. Supporters of the range said it is a needed amenity for West River residents. However, the shooting range met opposition from area ranchers and landowners. Members of the House of Representatives also opposed using the state's general fund for the range, after Robling's testimony that GF&P would build the facility anyway. Editor's note: This story was updated on Mar. 14, 2022 to correct Rep. Oren Lesmeister's political party affiliation. Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A couple hopes land they have donated for a park will preserve wooded land near downtown Rapid City. Phillip and Yvonne Weger have gifted 14.9 acres of land to Rapid City to become the future Highland Park. The land is within walking distance of the new KC Lofts Apartments, South Dakota Mines and the eastern corridor of the downtown. Phillip moved to Rapid City in 1984 after taking summer vacations here. A favorite memory is the walks he took with his dog along Skyline Drive. By donating the land with the intent of it becoming a park, the Wegers want to protect if from development and allow others to enjoy it as they have in the past. Agriculture is the main income source for South Dakota. Tourism is second. People come to the Black Hills to see its beauty. Thats what attracts tourism, he said. It makes me ill that the Hills are being developed. People dont come here to see subdivisions and strip malls and convenience stores. The Wegers now divide their time between their homes in Rapid City and in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. The Wegers initially began trying to transform the land into a park themselves. I was able to purchase the property and stop further development, Phillip said. What I wanted to do is stop development. Im sort of anti-development. Creating a park themselves on their acreage proved too time-consuming and daunting. The couple hired Rapid City landscape architecture firm Wyss Associates, Inc. to develop a master plan for turning the land into Highland Park. The master plan proposes amenities that includes a trail about a mile long, benches, a restroom and picnic shelters. Pat Wyss, president of Wyss Associates, Inc., said the master plan envisions a park similar to Skyline Wilderness Area. The land is a nice wooded open area, he said. This would be primarily a neighborhood park with a couple of parking spaces. Its primarily where you would walk and hike and bike to it. It will be an important open space in that neighborhood, Wyss said. The master plan also proposes walking trail loops with educational features to highlight petrified wood and historic artifacts the Wegers have amassed. Phillip Weger collected railroad paraphernalia, antique agricultural equipment and other artifacts, along with petrified wood. Those collections are included with donation of the land, Wyss said, and the master plan includes an interpretive area that looks at the history of this area. My acquisitions exceeded my ability to continue to develop the park. I didnt have time to work on the acres, Phillip Weger said. I just gave the land to the city and they can develop it using Pats master plan if they so choose. The timeline of developing Highland Park will be determined by the city parks department, Wyss said. Rapid City Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Biegler said the city doesnt have a timeline yet of when the land might be developed into a park. One of the beautiful things about this property is that it is adjacent to another 12-1/2 acres that the city owns on that hillside where there are some water reservoirs, Biegler said. So, in essence, this could become quite a large neighborhood park facility by combining the two parcels. The Highland Park master plan developed by Wyss Associates, Inc., doesnt include the 12-1/2 acres owned by the city. In terms of trails and that sort of thing, thats something we would be looking at when it comes time to do any improvements up there, Biegler said. We dont have a date for when wed be doing any of the development up there. It will probably be as funding becomes available. The (Wegers land) was just accepted (by the city). We have to sit down internally and plan that out, he said. I think everybody realized it was a generous donation and certainly opens up a possibility for a park centrally located in the middle of downtown where its easily accessible to the residential area in Signal Heights and also the downtown area, and with all the growth happening downtown, both residential and business growth, I can see there would be a lot more individuals taking advantage of the trail system up there, Biegler said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 10 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 The first "talk" of a constructing a road over the Sapphire Mountains to connect the Bitter Root Valley to the east began in the mid 1890s. But, for many years, talk was all that happened. By 1919, Butte and Anaconda were still a slow and expensive distance from the vegetable and fruit producers of the Bitterroot Valley. A serious proposal for a new road from Hamilton to Anaconda had been proposed in 1916. However, America's entry into World War I delayed any progress towards building this cheaper route (compared to rail transportation). By 1919, there was a renewed effort for the Skalkaho Road. At that time, there was a general feeling that previous efforts had floundered due to a lack of federal funding and because previous proponents had tried to push the project along too quickly. This time around, proper planning would done, along with lining up the needed funding. The Skalkaho Pass Road was estimated to cost a little over $100,000 in 1919. Senator James Gnose of Anaconda initiated a bill for the construction of that road. The legislation was passed that same year and subsequently signed by Governor Stewart. The bill authorized the counties of Ravalli and Granite to raise money to help pay for their portions of the road. Voluntary contributions from Hamilton citizens yielded $7,200. Ravalli County Commissioners authorized another $10,000. Road advocates hoped that the state highway commission would come up with an additional $25,000. It was expected the entire operation would benefit from a portion of the federal appropriation of $50 million for state highways. Several years earlier, a route had been surveyed by the U.S. Forest Reserve. But the 1919 proposal for a 32-mile road was 10 miles shorter than what had been surveyed by the USFS. A new detailed survey began in June 1919 under the direction of S. W. Hoffman of Hamilton. Due to wrangling over the exact route and a lack of funding, actual road work got bogged down for the next two years. In May 1920, Ravalli County voters approved bonds totaling $100,000 for construction (bonds purchased by Mrs. Marcus Daly). It was expected the new road would be open for travel in the fall of 1922 (that didn't happen). In August of 1921, bids were let for both the 19-mile section to be built by the state and the 13 mile portion to be constructed by the Forest Service. The estimated cost for the entire road had increased to $320,000. An August 1923 report contained an expected road opening date of October 1st (once again, that didn't happen). A barbecue was held to finally celebrate the official opening of Skalkaho Road in July 1924. The 2,500 people (along with 300 cars) who attended the festivities were entertained by the Hamilton Community Band and listened to speeches delivered by local and state dignitaries. Not much has changed over the intervening decades. Skalkaho Road (also known as Montana Highway 38) remains a twisty and at times dangerous, mostly gravel road. Open only during fair-weather months, it is not recommended for use by vans, motorhomes, or motorcycles. Even so, it remains one of Montana's most scenic routes that includes the small, but still eye-catching, Skalkaho Falls. Plus, if gem hunting is in your wheelhouse, you can stop at Gem Sapphire Mountain, located about 40 miles from Hamilton. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Senate erupted into a shouting match Thursday over how to pass funding for Ukraine as a few Republicans, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, attempted to carve the aid out of a must-pass spending bill due for a vote soon. The debate livestreamed from the Senate floor turned heated when Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who earlier shepherded the defense package through committee, warned that what conservative lawmakers were attempting would push the Ukraine aid into the next week, not as Florida Sen. Rick Scott said, Send this to the presidents desk today. At issue is a $13.5 billion aid package for Ukraine, which includes $625 billion in defense spending. The aid package was tucked into a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through September. The omnibus bill was a must pass by midnight Friday, to keep the federal government from shutting down, something that hasnt happened since the record shutdown of 2019. But late Thursday, omnibus passed, complete with the Ukraine aid package to counter the Russian Federation's invasion, which has killed thousands and forced over 2 million people to flee. The Senate approved the bill 68-31, with Tester voting for the bill and Daines voting against. Earlier in the day, led by Sen. Scott, nine Republicans who were opposed to the omnibus spending bill, including Daines and Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, launched a plan to put the aid package to a stand-alone vote. What I'm asking is to pass the exact text, the exact text that both Democrats and Republicans have already agreed to, Scott said. We can send this to the President's desk today. But Scotts take was incorrect. No bill passes the Senate and heads straight to the president without also passing the House of Representatives. And the House had already gone home for the week, having passed the omnibus bill Thursday, with the Ukraine aid package included. The fast track to the president was for the Senate to pass the omnibus bill Thursday. The House is not in the session, Tester fired back, in a blast best described as the Big Sandy edition of Schoolhouse Rock. To say that we're going to pass this and presto chango that goes right to presidents desk, that's not how the process works, Sen. Scott, that's not how the process works. The good Senator from Florida is blocking this bill, or wed be voting on it right now, Tester said. You want to talk politics. Thats what this is about, politics. Tester said. You can be unhappy with the omnibus bill, but the matter has been negotiated over the last year by Democrats and Republicans. And that's where we're at today. "We need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about Ukraine, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about feeding hungry people in this country, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about child care, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about housing, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about the high cost of gasoline, we need to pass this bill. And if you're concerned about the threat that China has to this country, we need to pass this bill. Enough excuses, lets get the job done. The federal government has been running on borrowed time since the end of September 2021, with short-term funding approved through continuing resolutions. But congressional leaders had agreed back in December that by midnight March 11, there would be a bill passed to fund the government through the end of the federal fiscal year, which is in September. Several Republicans objected to the size of the omnibus. Lummis produced a bill of special projects written into the bill by House lawmakers who last year brought back member-directed spending. Better known as earmarks, member-directed spending gave lawmakers the ability, for the first time since 2009, to direct spending on particular projects rather than allowing government agencies to do the choosing. After banning the practice for years, this omnibus contains around $10 billion in earmarks for pet projects around the country. Here's the book of earmarks. Look how thick this is, Lummis said, waiving a thick stack of pages. Its printed on both sides in about a four-point font. You almost have to have a looking glass to see what it says here, 4,000 earmarks after we've gotten away from this. I'm sympathetic to the argument that earmarks are a more direct way of addressing problems around the country, but historically they've been used as a way for leadership to whip votes on bad legislation and a way to fund unnecessary pet projects to curry favor back home. Lummis said adding the Ukraine aid package to the omnibus bill was a cynical way to assure the spending passed over the objections of opposing lawmakers. We should have a standalone vote on the aid for the people of Ukraine. This issue is entirely separate from the omnibus spending bill that Congress is considering and should be recognized as such on the Senate floor, Lummis said. Anything less does a disservice to the people we're trying to help and to the American people we serve. Lummis reiterated Scotts assurance the Ukraine aid package advance to the president without House approval. I want to be very, very clear on what this move would mean, Tester responded. If we don't pass the rest of the omnibus, the Pentagon is going to shut down that night on Friday, OK? Now all our eyes are on Ukraine as they well should be. But don't forget for a second that China is a pacing threat in this world. We're going to shut the Pentagon down on Friday? I don't think that's a smart move. As soon as the effort to carve out the Ukraine aid package for a separate vote failed, Daines emailed the following statement. Im disappointed to see my colleagues across the aisle choose politics over reason and block my bill that would have provided $14 billion in assistance to Ukraine in response to Russias ongoing invasion, Daines said. He outlined the provisions in the standalone bill, which were the same terms as the aid in Ukraine. Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Montana Republican voted against the omnibus bill and by extension the aid package for Ukraine. Wednesday evening, Rosendale sent an email explaining his vote. This years omnibus spending package is just another wish list fulfilled for the Radical Left to expand the size of the federal government while ignoring the needs and priorities of Americans, said Representative Rosendale. It is far past time to rein in federal spending and start paying off our national debt, and the American taxpayer deserves a government that is fiscally responsible and prioritizes their needs. This article will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Yellowstone County judge offered little indication on whether hell block four new Republican voting laws passed last year, as the state and a coalition of groups challenging the new laws gave more than two hours of oral arguments during a Thursday morning hearing. At issue are a series of new restrictions on voting passed by Montanas GOP-dominated Legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. Republicans have argued the new restrictions including tighter voter ID requirements, limits on ballot collection practices and an end to Election Day voter registration were needed to reinforce the state's election security. Multiple groups responded with three lawsuits that collectively took aim at the four new laws. The complaints were consolidated under a single case in December, with Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen as the sole defendant. The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the four laws unconstitutional, but Thursdays hearing only addressed whether Judge Michael Moses should grant injunctions to temporarily block enforcement of the laws while the larger case plays out. One of those laws, House Bill 176, ended the states long-standing policy of allowing people to register to vote on Election Day. Representing the Montana Democratic Party, the first group to file a complaint challenging Republican-backed voting laws passed last year, was Matthew Gordon of the Seattle-based firm Perkins Coie. Noting that Election Day in Montana is by far the most popular day for people to register to vote, he argued that ending it would have an outsized impact on voters living on Indian reservations, young people and those with disabilities all of whom are more likely to take advantage of the convenience of registering and casting a ballot at the same time. Jacobsens defense of the law has echoed the arguments advanced by Republicans who supported House Bill 176 that it eases the burden on election officials on what is already their busiest work day. Maybe for big cities its not an issue, you can just hire more staff, but the Legislature regulates for the whole, and most counties in Montana are very small, said Dale Schowengerdt with the Crowley Fleck law firm, one of the private attorneys representing Jacobsen. Gordon pushed back on that argument by citing a recent survey that found 1 in 5 election administrators plan to leave their jobs before the 2024 election. Theyre not saying theyre leaving the job because of Election Day registration, or the normal burdens that attend administering elections, he said. What they say, as the most common reason given, is that there are politicians out there attacking a system that they know to be fair and honest. A trio of organizations that promote civic engagement among young adults also sued the state last year to challenge the Election Day registration law and a series of changes to Montanas voter ID law, which notably removed student ID from the list of acceptable photo identification needed to vote and cast a ballot. Student IDs, unlike in-state driver's licenses, state photo IDs and concealed-carry permits, are now relegated to a secondary form of photo ID, which must be paired with additional documentation proving the voters address. Photo ID issued by another state was also downgraded to secondary status, which Rylee Sommers-Flanagan, an attorney representing the youth groups, argued is clearly aimed at college students, who are more likely to have recently become Montana residents. Schowengerdt echoed previous arguments advanced by Republicans when he later noted that government-issued photo IDs are required for many other instances, like boarding a plane or cashing a check. This is not an unusual requirement, Schowengerdt said. Its not a heavy burden to comply with. Its recognized that its required in so many other contexts, Im a little surprised its even that controversial. The youth groups are also asking the court to block a portion of House Bill 506, which prevents ballots from being mailed out to new voters in advance of their 18th birthdays. Voters who fall in that category, the plaintiffs argue, effectively have a reduced opportunity to vote compared with older voters who enjoy a longer period of time to cast their absentee ballots. Certainly there is a general sense from the Legislature, particularly in this last session, of a disregard for the value and importance of youth voting in Montana, Sommers-Flanagan said. More broadly, Jacobsen has failed to present any evidence showing how the new laws would advance the states interest of preventing voter fraud, said Alex Rate, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana. The ACLU is representing four Native American tribes in Montana, along with a pair of indigenous rights groups. Those plaintiffs, like those in the other two cases, are challenging the law ending Election Day registration, along with House Bill 530, which prohibits people from collecting and submitting other peoples voted ballots if they are receiving any financial compensation for doing so. Republicans, who mostly supported the measure, have said it enhances election security by minimizing the risk of ballot tampering, while opponents have criticized it and similar proposals as attempts to suppress the votes of more liberal-leaning voters, including those living on Indian reservations and college campuses. In determining whether to temporarily block the new voting laws, Moses will first have to decide what level of legal scrutiny to apply to the laws. The plaintiffs have argued that a 2020 case challenging an earlier law that restricted ballot-collection activities indicates that the laws should be evaluated under strict scrutiny meaning the state would have a higher bar to clear in defending the election laws. Some Republicans in the state have spread unfounded allegations that the 2020 elections were marred by widespread voter fraud, or that the general election was somehow stolen. No evidence substantiating those theories has emerged to date, and while Jacobsen has referred to voters lack of confidence in the electoral system, she has refused to publicly contradict those claims. A cynic might argue that by spreading disinformation about rampant fraud (and) stolen elections, the crisis of confidence, if there is one, is self-made, Rate said. The same cynic might argue that these new theories are merely pretexts for ever more voter restrictions. Moses asked few questions during the course of the hearing, and at the end simply thanked the two sides and noted that he has a lot of work left yet to do as he weighs the competing arguments. He offered no timeline for when he might rule on the preliminary injunction requests. While the laws have already been effective for local elections around the state, this year would be the first in which they impact a federal election. Montanas primary election is June 7. Mail-in ballots will be sent out May 13. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Richmond police officer was sentenced Friday to serve one year behind bars for fatally shooting his fiancees dog in what a prosecutor called a senseless and violent act against a helpless animal. Following a sentencing hearing in Powhatan County Circuit Court, Judge Paul Cella sentenced Richard R. Chinappi III, 27, to five years in prison with four years suspended on his conviction of felony animal cruelty. The judge sentenced Chinappi to an additional six months in jail with six months suspended for giving police a false report about how the dog was killed. Chinappi, who was off-duty at the time of the Oct. 19 incident, falsely claimed that he accidentally killed the dog a 27-pound beagle-hound mix named Lola while trying to stop a bear attack at his Powhatan home. He lived there with his now-former fiancee, who owned the dog. Its a very serious thing to kill an animal for no particular reason, Cella said in remarks from the bench. The judge also noted that it was a shame that someone with a prior good record, referring to Chinappi, suddenly finds himself with a felony charge. Powhatan Commonwealths Attorney Richard Cox told the court that Chinappis actions were so egregious that it required an active term of incarceration. A large number of people in this community consider their pets as family members, said Cox, noting that Chinappis former fiancee will never get over what happened. Its had a ripple effect ... and its going to stick with her forever, the prosecutor said. It was a simple act of cruelty and then the cover-up afterwards. When given a chance to speak, Chinappi apologized for his behavior. I didnt mean to do it, he told the judge. I loved that dog. Chinappi said there were some things he should have done but didnt do, apparently referring to a problem with alcohol. His attorney, Mark Bong, informed the court that his client has been undergoing substance abuse treatment. Chinappi was admitted into a program at The Farley Center, a rehab center in Williamsburg, on Nov. 10. Bong also submitted to the court a number of letters written in support of Chinappi, from people who had heartfelt, good things to say about the officer and veteran. The attorney also noted that as an officer, Chinappi was exposed to intense situations, and repeated exposures to societal ills can overlap into our lives. According to a summary of facts, the Powhatan Sheriffs Office received a call from the father of Chinappis fiancee about an alleged bear attack at the home she shared with Chinappi. Upon arrival, officers located Chinappi, who showed signs of intoxication. Inside the house, they discovered blood spatter on the kitchen island pantry and refrigerator, along with blood smeared on the floor, which appeared to be semi-cleaned up. They also found bloody Clorox wipes and a bottle of Clorox bleach. In a police interview, Chinappi initially reported he was in the bathroom when he heard footsteps coming from the back deck. He said that when his dog began barking and acting crazy, he soon realized a bear had entered the house. He said he grabbed a shotgun he kept in the bathroom and fired at the bear. When asked what happened to the dog, Chinappi said the bear carried it off. He claimed the bear wandered inside through a back door he left open while grilling steaks the prior evening. However, deputies could find no evidence such as footprints or markings suggesting a bear had been inside or even near the home. They did, however, find signs a weapon had been fired inside the house. After a sheriffs supervisor pressed Chinappi, insisting his version of events didnt add up, Chinappi changed his story, saying he accidentally shot the dog while firing at the bear. He said the one shotgun blast he fired went through the bear and struck the dog. Chinappi said he buried the dog in the woods near his house. Deputies recovered the remains, and a necropsy conducted by a veterinarian determined the dog had been shot at close range. After the October incident, Chinappi was charged in early January with sending a threatening or profane message by phone to his former fiancee and causing her phone to ring with the intent to annoy her, both misdemeanors. He is scheduled to appear on those charges March 30 in Powhatan Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Chinappi has already surrendered his law enforcement certification in a letter to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. In a statement, Richmond police said Chinappi, who was hired in October 2016, remains on leave without pay. But in light of Fridays sentencing, the department said it is very close to concluding its internal investigation of Chinappis actions and corresponding administrative process. Grooms attend a mass wedding ceremony in Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, on March 10, 2022. The mass wedding ceremony was held here on Thursday, a local source said. (Photo by Arghand/Xinhua) Vehicles decorated with flowers are seen during a mass wedding ceremony in Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, on March 10, 2022. The mass wedding ceremony was held here on Thursday, a local source said. (Photo by Arghand/Xinhua) People attend a mass wedding ceremony in Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, on March 10, 2022. The mass wedding ceremony was held here on Thursday, a local source said. (Photo by Arghand/Xinhua) Clarification: A letter from a group representing the state's school superintendents that criticized efforts by Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration to target "divisive concepts" and equity initiatives was crafted by the group's board and does not necessarily reflect a consensus of the 133 superintendents, according to its executive director. School superintendents across Virginia on Thursday criticized recent efforts by Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration to target divisive concepts and equity initiatives in the states schools, saying the administrations work could set public education in Virginia back many years. In a blunt letter representing the views of state superintendents, the school leaders challenged a recent report by Youngkin education officials that criticized ongoing efforts to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in education as discriminatory, and that sought to downplay the role of systemic racism in fostering those disparities. They also protested not being consulted before the administration moved to remove nearly every diversity and equity-focused resource on the education departments website. Division superintendents disagree with your assumption that discriminatory and divisive concepts have become widespread in Virginia school divisions without your having involved educators in formulating that position or without having provided evidence to support that position, reads the letter, which the Virginia Association of School Superintendents sent Thursday morning to state Superintendent Jillian Balow. (The letter says it was written "on behalf of the 133 public school division superintendents," but the group's executive director later said the group's board crafted it and that the letter does not necessarily reflect a consensus of the 133 superintendents.) Balow said in a statement: The letter fails to reflect the good faith efforts of which the Secretary and I joined the conversation, a reference to Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera. The specific requests listed in the letter are actions that the Secretary and I offered to the superintendents as a way to keep open productive channels of communication that could lead to partnership and ensure we are serving all students in Virginia. The letter illustrates a rift between the states school division leaders and the new Youngkin administration. Superintendents said they were not consulted or offered an early look before the state released the report or scrapped the resources. Moving forward, they asked for mutual respect from the administration. The letter comes two weeks after the Youngkin administration published an interim report on signs of inherently divisive concepts and Critical Race Theory in the states initiatives and resources. Youngkin, who campaigned heavily on reforming the way schools teach students about race, directed the audit in the first executive order he signed on Jan. 15, the day he was inaugurated. The memo describes affirmative action policies in schools as discriminatory, suggests that historic discrimination in education might not be to blame for disparate outcomes among students of color, and rejects the idea that white people may unwittingly benefit from systemic racism and discrimination. The report made the case that schools have unduly emphasized equitable outcomes over equal opportunity. The memo defended the scrapping of EdEquityVA, a state initiative that promoted equity and diversity through resources for school districts. That included an entire website dedicated to increasing cultural competency among Virginia teachers, and a suggested readings list that includes historian and MacArthur Fellow Ibram X. Kendi. In the Thursday letter, school leaders said the work that Youngkin officials scrapped involved many quality educators over a number of years and was meant to provide support for the success of children in underserved communities and in select population groups. The school leaders also took issue with the emphasis on equal opportunity over equitable outcomes. They said focusing on equal opportunities without considering the factors that could impact student achievement among students of color or those in low-income families could set public education in Virginia back many years. Division superintendents disagree with your using equitable outcomes as the basis for determining what divisive concepts are and unilaterally suggesting that this approach is discriminatory, the letter reads. Quality education in Virginia has to be more than providing opportunities and hoping for the best. Virginias accountability system relies heavily on student outcomes, not opportunities. The superintendents also said, A tip line for parents to report divisive content to the Governor impedes positive relationships; therefore, the tip line needs to be terminated. Ben Kiser, the executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, said the associations members are hoping for a constructive relationship with the administration, but are generally dissatisfied with how the administration has derided Virginia schools. Youngkin rode into office on promises to restore excellence to education in Virginia. We take issue with that perspective and generalization, said Kiser, arguing that Virginia schools generally enjoy high rankings among other states. U.S. News and World Report, for example, ranks Virginia as 10th in the nation, a ranking based on standardized test scores, graduation rates and preschool enrollment. Kiser said he spoke to Balow on Thursday about the letter, and that she seemed receptive. I suggested that we use this point in time as a reset and start working collaboratively, Kiser said. In six weeks, Balow is scheduled to release a final report on divisive concepts, per Youngkins executive order. In the letter, the school leaders urged Balow to quickly establish a work group including a diverse group of superintendents from across the state, including superintendents of color. They said the agenda for the work group must include clarity on the administrations understanding of equity, opportunity, and access. mleonor@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6254 Twitter: @MelLeonor_ Staff writer Michael Martz contributed to this report. Unable to come to a resolution on the state budget, Virginia House and Senate leaders say they expect to adjourn the regular session of the General Assembly on Saturday, giving negotiators more time to bridge their differences in anticipation of a special session. Senate Democrats Friday afternoon made clear to Republicans that their caucus would not vote to extend the session past the constitutions prescribed 60 days. That could spell trouble for Gov. Glenn Youngkin, whose hands would be tied from making certain appointments if lawmakers then decide not to adjourn the special session. Separating the GOP-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate is a $3 billion gap on how much money they will have to spend in the two-year budget that will take effect July 1. Weve got some ground to cover not a lot, but there are differences. Were going to sine die, and then well come back at another time, House Appropriations Chair Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, said Friday afternoon, using a Latin term for final adjournment. Senate Finance Chair Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, said earlier Friday: Were still at loggerheads over the tax issues. Knight said Friday evening that House and Senate budget negotiators had not yet met on Friday, and had not met on Thursday. The House budget includes almost $5.5 billion in tax cuts and rebates, but the Senate continues to insist on deferring the centerpiece of the governors tax plan the doubling of the standard deduction for income tax filers until a joint subcommittee completes a comprehensive study of Virginia tax policy in the coming year. Doubling the standard deduction would reduce state revenues by $2 billion over two years. The Senate has agreed to partial repeal of the 2.5% sales tax on groceries, but has balked at eliminating the 1% that goes directly to local governments and has approved a less generous tax exemption for military retirement income than the House. It also has approved smaller tax rebates this year than the House and rejected a 12-month rollback in the gas tax as meaningless to soaring prices at the pump. House and Senate budget leaders have not yet announced plans for completing negotiations on the budget, but its already too late to produce an agreement in time for adoption on Saturday under House rules that require at least 48 hours for members to review the spending plan. Republicans who control the House and have a narrow disadvantage in the Senate generally support the Republican governors tax cut package, but Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, has sided with Howell in delaying action on major tax cuts without a comprehensive study. Hanger said Friday that a general consensus seems to be developing to adopt a more thoughtful approach to finalizing the budget rather than a rushed process. Knight, meanwhile, described the differences by saying: They want to spend, and we want to give money back to Virginia taxpayers. Knight said he hopes negotiators can bridge their differences and come back in a matter of weeks to a special session called by Youngkin. A special session that doesnt adjourn a somewhat regular occurrence could spell trouble for Youngkin as he tries to fill two vacancies on the Supreme Court of Virginia and one vacancy on the State Corporation Commission. Any appointments Youngkin makes would need to be taken up by the legislature within 30 days; if they are not, Youngkins picks would be barred from serving in those roles. Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said Democrats would strive to keep our options open when it comes to appointments. Surovell criticized Youngkin and House Republicans decision to reject 11 of former Gov. Ralph Northams appointees earlier in the session, including members of the board of education, and the regulatory boards and rule of issues related to air and water quality. They politicized a long tradition of board appointments, Surovell said. Senate Democrats on Thursday rejected four of Youngkins picks for the Virginia Parole Board. *** Meanwhile, Virginias revenues dipped last month, but Youngkins confidence remains high that the state will have plenty of money this year to pay for tax cuts and new spending in the budget now pending in a deeply divided General Assembly. Youngkin said in an interview on Friday that despite a 1.2% decline in February compared with the same month a year ago, the state remains on track to finish the fiscal year on June 30 with at least an additional $1.25 billion in revenues under the revenue forecast he announced last month. We have a strong revenue forecast that can fund tax cuts ... and this is the time to get it done, he said. The latest state revenue numbers arent likely to change the budget debate. Revenues fell by $19 million in February, or 1.2%, over the same month a year ago, but Youngkin discounted the comparison because of what he called anomalies in last years results. The states tax collections remain 13.6% ahead for the first eight months of the fiscal year that began July 1. He said last years numbers were abnormally high by $125 million to $150 million because of a delay in conforming state and federal tax codes that suppressed the number of income tax refunds. He said that income taxes withheld from pay checks also were abnormally high the previous February. Youngkin said he remains cautious about collections of non-withholding income taxes paid by investors on stock gains and self-employed professionals in the last four months of the fiscal year, with the stock market highly volatile because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the soaring cost of oil and gasoline. But he said he is highly confident in the revenues that pay most of the cost of state government taxes on payroll income, corporate income and consumer sales, which he called really strong underpinnings to support his forecast for a $27.9 billion general fund budget in this fiscal year. Asked whether the dip in February revenues would affect that outlook, Youngkin replied, Not at all. Not in the least. Michael Martz Follow Michael Martz 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 federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a man who contended that he, and at least 1,000 others, were unlawfully banned from a Roanoke Walmart. Jeremiah Henderson had claimed that the Roanoke Police Department did not have authority to issue a letter instructing him not to return to the Walmart at Valley View Mall after a 2018 altercation. Asserting that at least 1,000 people had been treated the same way, Henderson asked a federal judge to invalidate all of the police actions, called trespass bar letters, dating back to at least 1997. Although the police department was the designated enforcer of trespassing laws at Walmart, Henderson claimed that it did not receive the required authorization from the proper corporate entity of the retail giant. His lawsuit against the city of Roanoke was dismissed in December 2020 by U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen, who ruled that Henderson failed to state a claim that his constitutional rights were violated. Henderson appealed, and on Wednesday the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Cullens decision. The court actions do not affect anyone else who might have been improperly banned from Walmart, according to Gary Bowman, a Roanoke attorney who represented Henderson. On Oct. 15, 2018, Henderson who at the time was in his late 70s and suffering from several health conditions was leaving Walmart when a sales associate asked to see his receipt for a recent purchase. Henderson refused, and the police were called. In a flap that followed, Henderson reached toward the arm of another Walmart employee and was then placed in handcuffs by Roanoke police officer Austin McClain, according to court filings. At the time, Walmart officials said they did not want to file charges, and Henderson was released after McClain gave him a trespass bar letter at the request of the store. Two days later, Henderson filed a complaint with the Roanoke Police Department, stating that McClain had been aggressive, inappropriate, biased and prejudiced. McClain then returned to the Walmart and again asked if employees wanted to file charges. At the police officers urging, Henderson was charged with assault and battery. That charge was later dismissed by a general district court judge. In addition to suing the city of Roanoke over the trespass bar letter, Henderson filed a federal lawsuit that accused McClain of excessive force and malicious prosecution. Cullen dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the officer had probable cause and used only the amount of force necessary. In a separate opinion Wednesday, the 4th Circuit upheld Cullens ruling in that case as well. 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. FERRUM These days, family is the first thing people ask Roman Bohdan about. Is my family safe? Thats, in most cases, the first question, Bohdan said. Bohdan is an assistant professor of business at Ferrum College. He has lived in the U.S. since 2014, but comes from Lviv in western Ukraine, a country currently being invaded by its eastern neighbor, Russia. Russian forces havent reached Lviv yet, but Bohdan said he has been making daily calls to his mother, who still lives there. Theyve decided to stay until its not safe. They dont want to be refugees, Bohdan said. ...For the younger generation its easier to adapt and start from the beginning, but for them its very difficult. ... I was asking my mom to just leave but I realized its not that easy. Bohdan said he moved to New Orleans eight years ago, where he earned his doctorate in financial economics. He came to Virginia four years ago to teach at Ferrum College. Hes not the only Ferrum College staff member from near Ukraine, but Mariya Dzhyoyeva, assistant professor of modern languages at Ferrum College, is much newer to the area, having come to Virginia from Toronto four months ago. I was born and grew up in Crimea where I have completed a Ph.D. in Russian linguistics. Later, I studied Spanish in the U.S. and Canada and completed a Ph.D. in Latin American literature at the University of Toronto, Dzhyoyeva said in an email to the The Roanoke Times and Franklin News-Post on Wednesday. She said she identifies as Ukrainian-Canadian. Im proud of the courageous fight that Ukraine is putting up and of everything Canada is doing to help, Dzhyoyeva said. ...While most know that Crimea is a predominantly Russian-speaking region, many outside the peninsula dont realize that it has a very unique and well-defined regional identity that I cannot categorize as either Russian or Ukrainian. ... Despite growing up as a Russian speaker and majoring in Russian, I have never seen Russia as ancestral home or identified with its culture. Thats part of what Dzhyoyeva wants people in the U.S. to know about the invasion of Ukraine. I want them to know that discrimination against Russian-speaking population that was used as an excuse for the invasion is a total and utter myth. As a Russian-speaking person who grew up, studied, and worked in Crimea under Ukraine, I can say that I have never, not once, experienced any sort of discrimination or limitations based on my first language or culture I identified with, Dzhyoyeva said. Rather, Dzhyoyeva said, Russia has been a cultural transgressor. The unique mix of cultures, from ancient Greek to medieval Italian to Turkish, Ukrainian, Tartar, and Russian was appreciated and supported by Ukraine and has been completely erased by Russia after the 2014 invasion [of Crimea], Dzhyoyeva said. Russia has also claimed the invasion is necessary to fight Nazis in Ukraine. Bohdan attributed the effectiveness of that claim to the brainwashing of the Russian population and said its a necessary excuse to garner support for the war against Ukraine. Russians would never go and fight against Ukrainians because many of them have family, some connections, Bohdan said. Dzhyoyevas perspective on the role of propaganda is further informed by having watched Russia invade Crimea in 2014. Despite the disinformation campaign that Russia has waged against Ukraine since the invasion of Crimea, at least two things became abundantly clear. One, alleged ukrainization has been replaced by real russification in its worst, primitive, chauvinistic form that completely disregards all moral norms. Two, international sanctions may not stop Russia. The saying that emerged in Crimea in the days following the Russian takeover, Even if stones fall from the sky, that will not matter. We are with Russia, tells us everything we need to know about the level of influence that the state-sponsored propaganda exercises over ordinary citizens. Although there have been reports of multiple arrests of protesters within Russia, this is nowhere near to being enough to reverse the authoritarian machine, Dzhyoyeva said. Bohdan believes economic sanctions imposed by the U.S., United Kingdom, European Union and others will help weaken support for the war, though. Most of the Russias middle and high classes have property outside. Some even have dual citizenship. If they cant use that they will become very angry, Bohdan said. More importantly, the inner circle near Putin those oligarchs, billionaires if they cannot access their money outside, they will not be happy. Bohdan also spoke about closing the airspace above Ukraine. Theres been shelling and bombs. Russia cannot conquer on land so they do air raids, Bohdan said. Bohdan believes that, and a little military help, would go a long way. He said there are many people who would fight, but the country lacks the resources to do so. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Roanoke nonprofit Restoration Housing is beginning construction on its third project in the historic Belmont neighborhood. The 2,700-square-foot house at 920 Stewart Ave. S.E., is described as an example of Victorian architecture of the early 20th century. It has been vacant for several years and is in a severe state of disrepair. Restoration efforts will include repairing all historic material such as original wooden siding, exterior trim, porch details, wooden flooring, interior trim, wooden doors, and original windows. New plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems, in addition to custom cabinets, new appliances, in-unit washers and dryers, and granite countertops also will be installed. Roanoke contractor TBS Construction is performing the renovation with Jeff Wood Designs providing schematic and construction drawings. This is the sixth rehabilitation overhaul for Restoration Housing, which began in 2014. The completed rehab will offer high-quality housing at affordable rental rates for two families with limited incomes. Restoration Housing keeps the rents affordable through grants and fundraising efforts that fully subsidize construction costs. The organization received federal HOME block grant funds from the city of Roanoke, which account for a large portion of the grant funding, in 2021. Other construction sources were obtained through local foundations and the use of Historic Tax Credits. Our organization is proud to begin our third project in Southeast Roanoke and to continue in our efforts to re-invest in this beautiful and historic section of Roanoke, Isabel Thornton, executive director, said in an announcement about the program. We have long believed that this neighborhood is a tremendous resource to the broader Roanoke community. Many homes are already quite affordable here but with their older age, repair costs can be prohibitive. This is why its helpful for us, as a nonprofit, to make use of our unique resources for this important work. Restoration Housings first two projects were in the West End neighborhood, and the third project is the Villa Heights Recreation Center in Northwest Roanoke that provides affordable rental space for nonprofit organizations seeking to expand services in low- to moderate income neighborhoods. The fourth and fifth projects are down the street from 920 Stewart. Know something that needs to be preserved? The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation is seeking nominations for its annual list of significant Roanoke Valley historic, natural, and cultural sites that are in eminent danger of being lost due to deferred maintenance, demolition, or incompatible development. Nomination forms, which are due by March 21, are available at https://roanokepreservation.org/endangered-sites. For additional information or questions, please contact Judy Harrison by calling 540-343-8691 or by email to Judith.Harrison.66@gmail.com. North Cross School honors distinguished graduate Dr. Linda Valleroy, a 1968 graduate, recently received the 2022 Distinguished Alumna Award at North Cross School. The annual award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field, and in doing so, have brought distinction and honor to North Cross School. Valleroy, who works for the U.S. Center for Disease Control, also is the first recipient of both the North Cross Distinguished Alumni Award and the North Cross Alumni Service Award, which she received in 2009. Valleroy accepted her award virtually in February when she was the keynote speaker during North Cross Upper Schools annual symposium. Valleroy has been with the CDC for 30 years, focusing on controlling and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States and internationally. Her work has mostly been spent in epidemiology and public health, because she was smitten with epidemiology and entranced by the idea of helping people prevent disease through science and public health measures. Valleroy had a Congressional Science Fellowship and served as a scientific advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives. Shes also held fellowships with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the U. S. Agency for International Development. After graduating from North Cross School, Valleroy earned a bachelors degree in sociology and anthropology from Swarthmore College. Shes also had teaching and research assignments at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned both a masters degree and a doctorate in biological anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. Event to benefit St. Vincents Home Services Rosies Gaming Emporium and Holiday Inn Tanglewood are sponsoring Casino Night, a charity fundraising event to benefit programs at St. Vincents Home Services. St. Vincents Homes mission is to meet the needs of individuals with unique learning challenges. Originally an orphanage built by St. Andrews Catholic Church in 1893, St. Vincents Home grew into a school that was designed to meet the educational needs of the orphans, and later merged to become the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center. Adult and family services were established later. The March 26 event will be at Holiday Inn Tanglewood, 4468 Starkey Road, from 6 until 10 p.m. The $50 Admission includes a finger food and a dessert buffet, a beverage ticket, live DJ, live jazz band, and $10,000 in playing chips. An open bar also will be available. Proceeds will support SVHs Adult Services (including Katies Place and The HUB), Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center, and Family Services all programs geared toward accomplishing goals associated with meaningful employment, social relationships, enjoyable hobbies and independence. Because adults with unique learning challenges usually do not have funding sources after completing high school, they are often staying home, disengaged with their community and unemployed, said SVH CEO Angie Leonard. SVH Services depends on fundraisers, like Casino Night, to provide the financial resources for these wonderful men and women who do become contributing active members of our community with our help, she said. Individual tickets may be purchased through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/casino-night-to-benefit-svh-services-tickets-216421631927. For questions or more information, contact Teri Nance at (540) 366-7399 or teri.nance@svhservices.org. To learn more about SVH Services visit www.svhservices.org. Contact JoAnne Poindexter at joanne.poindexter @roanoke.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Franklin Countys prosecutor has been tapped for a new role in the courtroom with state lawmakers voting this week to appoint him to a general district court judgeship. A.J. Dudley, a county native whos served as commonwealths attorney since 2016, is set to join the bench of the 22nd Judicial District effective May 1. That district court serves Franklin County, Pittsylvania County and Danville. Dudley will be succeeding Judge George Jones, a jurist for 28 years, who is retiring. In a statement, Dudley, 52, said it will be difficult to depart from the prosecutors office, which he said had a strong, close-knit team, but he was looking forward to serving the community in this new capacity. Being chosen by the General Assembly is a humbling moment, and I thank them for this honor and opportunity, he said. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude to the citizens of Franklin County for their faith in me since 2016, and will always consider this position to be a highlight of my legal career, he added of his two terms as elected prosecutor. The details of the transition plan for the prosecutors office are expected to be announced later. In nominating Dudley for the judicial vacancy, local lawmakers cited his breadth of experience, both as a prosecutor and as a private practice attorney who handled civil cases, family law and criminal defense work. We have a great candidate before you, Del. Les Adams, R-Chatham, said earlier this week when the delegation introduced Dudley to a panel of other legislators for an interview. Adams is an attorney and vice chair of the House of Delegates courts committee. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, also an attorney, said Dudley had built a well-rounded career. And except for getting his butt kicked around in the general district court by me all the time, he has done a totally wonderful job, he joked in a recording of the proceedings. Speaking later, Stanley said legislators knew Dudley would serve his community well. Judge George Jones was a great judge and hard to replace, he said. But our local delegation believed strongly that A.J. Dudley possesses the legal experience gained from his diverse legal career that is necessary to fill the shoes of our retiring Judge Jones. Dudley told the panel that during his law school years at George Mason University he volunteered in the office of a D.C. judge and later clerked for a federal jurist in Virginia. Both of those judges showed me what the system can do to help people, he said, adding he hoped to follow their examples and harness his range of experience for those who come to be heard by the court. Dudleys appointment to the bench was approved by the full General Assembly during floor votes Wednesday, according to online legislative records. Allen Dudley, his father, served in the House of Delegates from 1993 until 2009. In the same round of votes, Franklin County attorney David Furrow was named to a judgeship in juvenile and domestic relations court. Furrow, an attorney for over four decades, is a well-respected lawyer with a deep well of experience, Stanley said during this weeks judicial interviews. He is going to be fantastic, compassionate and caring, Stanley said. Furrow, whose career included 11 years as a law partner with Dudley, told legislators he has always worked to help others and hoped to continue that on the bench. His appointment is also set to take effect May 1. Both appointments are for six-year terms. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Roanoke soldier who died in action almost 77 years ago in the South Pacific during World War II was never forgotten and will be returning home soon. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Thursday that the remains of Army Air Force Pfc. Edward Hewitt Benson Jr. have been identified. Its amazing to me, his son, retired Marine Col. Jim Benson, said via telephone from his South Carolina home. Edward Benson, known as Pete, was 22 years old and assigned to the 1562nd Army Air Force Base Unit on Biak Island, part of the modern-day Republic of Indonesia. He and 39 other service members were killed March 22, 1945, during a Japanese air raid. American forces seized the small coral island north of New Guinea in May 1944, effectively neutralizing enemy military air force bases there, and establishing their own airfields in bomber range of the Japanese-held Philippines. Benson was assigned to the motor pool, and apparently died inside a structure perhaps a barracks or mess hall that was bombed or strafed during a surprise air attack, his son said. Of the 40 killed in action on that day, three, including Benson, could not be identified or accounted for. In time, the other casualties were conclusively identified. Pete Benson was born in Roanoke, attended Jefferson High School and worked for Norfolk & Western Railway before entering the service along with a group of his buddies in October 1942. He had been overseas for five months, according to a March 30, 1945, article in The Roanoke Times announcing his death, along with reports about six other local servicemen. That notice said he was survived by his wife and a son, who lived on Third Street Southwest in Roanoke, in addition to his mother and three sisters. Jim Benson, now 79, doesnt remember his father, and has only photos taken during one of his fathers furloughs of them together in Roanoke for connection. I know he was a solid and good citizen, he said. The younger Benson also grew up in Roanoke and enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam, rising through the ranks and making a 26-year career of his own military service. In the mid-1970s, he visited the memorial where his fathers name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines. His decades-long, determined pursuit to solve the mystery of his fathers death led him through dense military bureaucracy, spurred by the emotional connection and guided by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, tasked with bringing closure to military families by identifying fallen soldiers remains. DPAA has a laboratory at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for analysis of disinterred bodies or fragments of soldiers killed in combat during 20th century wars. While Jim Benson negotiated a paper trail, forensic science advanced, too. To identify Bensons remains, DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence and DNA analysis, the agency said. Jim Benson said he and other family members submitted DNA samples as part of the process. Then waited, for years, with sporadic contact from investigators. Then he got the call out of the blue that confirmed his father had been IDed. Its closure, he said. Its a remarkable piece of history. The family will return to its Roanoke roots in May along with Bensons remains, which will be buried in a family plot at Evergreen Cemetery. At the military cemetery in Manila, a medallion will be placed on the memorial wall to indicate Pete Benson is missing no longer. He looks like my older son, Pete Bensons granddaughter, Catherine Benson, said Thursday. Its almost chilling how similar they are. The Russian government is reportedly considering seizing and nationalizing the assets of foreign companies exiting Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. Seen as retaliation for Western sanctions and the exodus of hundreds of international businesses, the move is more egotistical than pragmatic as it would have little economic impact at this point. In a meeting with government officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin could find legally viable ways to seize international firms, according to The Moscow Times. The government would push to introduce external management and then transfer these enterprises to those who actually want to work. There are enough legal and market instruments for this, Putin was quoted as saying. The Russian Ministry of Economy said it could take temporary control of such businesses where foreign ownership exceeds 25%. In a statement, Russias ruling party, United Russia, said the first step towards this has already been taken with the approval of such measures by the governments commission that assesses the laws to be proposed to the Russian parliament. According to the proposed bill, the external management of the international companies in question would initially last for three months. After that, the government would put the businesses up for auction. However, according to the partys statement, companies from unfriendly nations would be able to prevent the nationalization process if they chose to relaunch operations in Russia. On top of formal sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the European Union, major Western businesses and brands have taken steps to suspend, or have already suspended operations in Russia, with Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Pepsi shutting down operations earlier this week. Other companies like Apple, H&M, IKEA, Ford and many others either paused sales, imposed restrictions or closed stores in Russia last month. According to the latest data compiled by the Yale School of Management, more than 340 companies have left Russia or cut operations. Due to mounting pressure and criticism at home, even those companies that are still operating in Russia might be forced to follow suit as this conflict has now become a matter of ESG (environmental, social and good governance) investing. However, none of the Western businesses that left the country, or are planning to, produce goods there, and the supply chains of products to Russia have already been interrupted, though some assets that will be left behind have value. The retaliation will go further than this, too. According to a Guardian report, the Russian government is reportedly planning to seize $10 billion in planes leased by foreign companies to Russian state-owned airline Aeroflot. In another retaliatory move, the Kremlin said yesterday it would ban the export of over 200 products, including electronic goods and telecoms equipment, which follows a decree issued earlier this week that would allow Russian entities to steal Western patents. The Kremlin also has a ban on wheat and agricultural products to the Eurasian Economic Union, Forbes reports. Russias retaliation and the escalation of its attack on Ukraine were met with further sanctions from the Biden administration on Friday, which banned imports of Russian alcohol and seafood, which will have a huge impact on the countrys vodka and caviar sales. Ukraine itself has also passed a law allowing it to seize property owned by the Russian government or its citizens without any compensation. SYDNEY, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Since record-breaking storms and floods first inundated eastern Australia late last month, 49-year-old volunteer rescue worker Col Britton's days have begun in the early hours of the morning and stretched deep into the night. The deluges, described as a "one-in-a-1,000-year" event, have lashed large parts of the states of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) with teams of rescue workers tirelessly retrieving people from the rooftops of submerged homes, or out of cars caught in flash floods or simply clinging to life in the swirling waters. Despite every effort, tens of thousands of residents have been displaced, homes destroyed, roads and bridges collapsed, and more than 20 people have perished in the surging waters with more missing. Since the disaster began, Britton, a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and otherwise full-time teacher, like many others, has taken time off work and risked his safety to protect and support his community in Hawkesbury region northwest of Sydney. "Just neighbors helping out neighbors, is pretty standard in most places. We've got people constantly dropping in to see if they can help in any way or dropping off food supplies or things like that, so it's all been pretty busy," Britton told Xinhua. Britton has mainly been involved in boat rescues and supply drop-offs to people who have had their homes surrounded by flood waters and in many cases have had their electricity cut off. "Most people are resilient and know they're going to have to be flooded in for a week," he said. "But this is sort of like a bit of a double whammy, (the water level) goes up and comes down but not enough, and then goes up again," said Britton, noting that unlike previous floods which last days rather than weeks, people are beginning to run out of supplies. He described one instance where he was running low on fuel while heading back to base after delivering emergency medical aid to a stranded household. "We got called to say that we were the only available boat on the water. We had to turn around and go back towards Leets Vale (along the Hawkesbury River) for an emergency evacuation." To make it back to the evacuation center, Britton and his fellow workers had to rely on fuel donated by local residents. As of Friday, NSW SES has issued more than 60 evacuation orders, many of them for communities along the Hawkesbury River -- due to its abundance of waterways and low-lying basins and valleys. Mel Steer, one such resident forced to evacuate, has been left exhausted, devastated and ready to move. "Last year we were promised we would never see a flood like we had, and here we are 12 months later. So, there is just an ultimate feeling of disappointment in the community," Steer told local broadcaster ABC News on Wednesday. Steer and her partner were two among thousands of residents who have been displaced in recent weeks. "My partner and I, we are done. We love Hawkesbury so much but we can't live here anymore," she added. And despite evacuation orders many residents have refused to leave their homes, which Britton described as a major challenge as a rescue worker. "Despite knowing what's happening to the river, they refuse to leave and then conditions get adverse, that's when they call to get help ... then it can take nine or 10 hours to get down through the river system." He said the response from those he has delivered supplies to or done welfare checks on have been "all happy smiles", painting a picture of community resilience and mutual aid. "Having fuel for their generators and having fuel for their bellies. That generally makes them (impacted residents) pretty happy." And behind the tireless SES workers are communities keen to help the helpers. "One young girl, she's fantastic, from the Royal Fire Service. I got back at 10:30 last night, freezing cold, she'd already heated up dinner then brought a nice big bloated bowl of sticky date pudding and caramel sauce." " " Ukrainian-Americans in New York City gathered to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to demand a no-fly zone be established. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russian airstrikes began devastating Ukraine's cities, killing scores of civilians in the process. That led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to call upon the U.S. and its NATO allies, who already were supplying Ukrainian defenders with both Stinger and Patriot missiles and other assistance, to go a step further. Zelensky repeatedly called upon them to use their air forces to prevent Russian aircraft from entering Ukraine's airspace. "We repeat every day: 'close the sky over Ukraine!'" Zelensky implored in a video. "Close for all Russian missiles, Russian combat aircraft, for all these terrorists. Make a humanitarian air zone." Advertisement What Zelensky sought is something called a no-fly zone, known in global security lingo as an NFZ, a concept invented in the early 1990s. In a no-fly zone, a military power or alliance stops an attack on another nation by making its airspace off-limits to the aggressor. A no-fly zone doesn't necessarily have to cover an entire country. Instead, it might only cover a portion where the fighting is occurring. But either way, a no-fly zone must be enforced by the threat of force. The nation or nations imposing the no-fly zone must deploy surveillance aircraft to monitor the airspace, as well as fighters to deter and if necessary shoot down any hostile aircraft that enter the space. Additionally, creating an effective no-fly zone may also require destroying or disabling any ground-based anti-aircraft systems that the aggressor country possesses, so that they can't be used to attack the aircraft enforcing the ban [sources: Brooke-Holland and Butchard; Ramzy]. No-fly zones have only been utilized three times in history in parts of Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War; in Bosnia in 1992; and Libya in 2011 [source: Brooke-Holland and Butchard]. Those crises were situations in which the U.S. and NATO used their superior air power to stymie authoritarian rulers of less powerful countries from brutally suppressing rebellions and terrorizing civilian populations. But in Ukraine, the U.S. and NATO have so far resisted imposing a no-fly zone out of concerns that it would draw them into an armed showdown with Russia, whose increasingly irrational leader, Vladimir Putin, might resort to using nuclear weapons [source: CNN]. In this article, we'll look at what it requires to impose a no-fly zone, and whether no-fly zones are effective at their intended goal. But first, let's discuss when, where and why no-fly zones are needed. FLORENCE, S.C. Allen University came prepared to celebrate, complete with a band, as President and CEO Dr. Ernest McNealey and Florence One Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard OMalley signed memorandums of understanding Friday to link the two organizations. The memorandum aims to increase accessibility to college-level arts and science programming, provide professional mentorship and engaging enrichment and acceleration programming for students districtwide, according to a media advisory from Florence One Schools. To mark the event, Allen University brought its Band of Gold, which filled the third floor of the annex with music. Alumni from both organizations as well as Florence School District Four students filled the room. There is nothing more valuable in our country than public schools. Public schools made the country what it is today, McNealey said during the signing ceremony at McClenaghan Administrative Annex. What has allowed us to become the greatest society in the world so far is public education. The document outlines areas of cooperation between Allen University and Florence One Schools in developing and delivering programming, access, and exposure to college and professional opportunities that can positively impact the Florence area students. Today is a historical day for Florence One School District and The Allen University. As we embark upon this new partnership were excited about the future opportunities this partnership will bring, not only to the city of Florence but throughout the State of South Carolina, said Dub Taylor, vice president for institutional advancement at Allen University. We are Florence One Schools, setting a new vision for where our school district is going, where our community is going, said OMalley at the ceremony. Were trying to set forth what they can achieve in this world. This partnership begins that partnership of expanding their opportunities here in Florence. I think this partnership will model how other school districts can partner with higher ed institutions, like Allen, to set paths for opportunities for all our studetns as they embark upon this new world were living in today. Florence One Schools has a rich history. Home to the likes of distinguished graduates Nickelodeon Vice President Marva Smalls and S.C. Department of Education honoree Dr. Allie Brooks, Florence One Schools exemplifies the talent that lies in our state, said McNealey. Positive changes are taking place throughout Florence One Schools, and this partnership with Allen University is another example of the changes which are designed to open doors to new academic opportunities and experiences for our students, said OMalley. Through this partnership we look forward to paving the way for many of our students to enter college and to take advantage of the resources that will be provided. We come hoping to share the good fortune we have as a university and the constituents who support us. we look forward to having students from Florence participate in our summer skills programs, McNealey said. The university president also talked of a summer arts camp that is in development that may, or may not, be available to students this summer. He also talked about educational opportunities the agreement will open up for staff at Florence One Schools as well as members of their families. We believe in what you do here and were pleased to have an opportunity to join you, McNealey said. FLORENCE, S.C. Donald Trump's Front Row Joes have arrived in Florence ahead of Saturday's Save America rally. Front Row Joes member Rick Frazier from Saint Marys, Ohio, said he arrived Sunday to attend his 55th rally featuring Trump. Frazier said another member of the Front Row Joes, Richard Snowden, who will arrive Friday, has attended over 75 rallies featuring Trump. The Front Row Joes are a group of people who travel to attend as many Trump rallies as they can. The group was started by Randall Thoms of Minnesota during Trump's first run for president. Frazier said he is a member of the group because he supports Trump's policies and his America First agenda. "Prior to retiring, I worked in an engineering department as a pipefitter," Frazier said. "We worked in a military plant. I was transferred from one plant to another to tear out the military equipment... Had Trump not been in office, I would not have been able to retire. All that business would have been gone." He added under Trump, new equipment was being installed, not removed. "I just believe in the policies [Trump made and proposed] and I believe in America First," Frazier said. He said he was impressed with the manners of people in Florence. Frazier said people in Florence were really sweet and say 'thank you' when helping someone in a drive-thru. Frazier also said some people have stopped by the campsite to ask what they were camping for. Jane Kizer of Greenville arrived Thursday for the rally. She said she was attending the rally because Trump is a historical president. "He is somebody who has made his promises and kept them," Kizer continued. "He's not a politician; he is for the people." She said the Trump rally isn't her first time through Florence. She said she had traveled through the city to get to the beach. Florence sits near two major roads leading to Myrtle Beach (S.C. 327 and U.S. 76). "It's a nice city," she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Who wants to be Mayor? Ruxx First two episodes of the eight-episode series are now streaming on HBO Max worldwide. Future episodes will debut weekly Earlier this week, streaming service HBO Max launched in 15 European countries, including Romania, which is showcased in a new series produced by HBO Europe. Cristian Mungui (4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days) serves as one of the executive producers; Vera Ion wrote all eight episodes, the first two of which debuted this week. Raluca Aprodu stars as Ruxana, who is second in command at a firm that is intent on developing a new mall in downtown Bucharest, Romania. Her boss, Moscu (Serban Pavlu), has determined that backing a strong mayoral candidate will lead to his being able to obtain building permits in the country's largest city, which is already full to the brim with cultural institutions, long-established industries, financial firms, and nearly two million people. Rux enjoys a close friendship with her younger sister, Cristina (Madalina Craiu), host of a popular daytime television show who loves getting into trouble, yet yearns to become a respected journalist. Their parents are staunchly traditional and thus disapproving of their daughters' modern careers, especially their father, which is why Rux has hesitated to tell them that she is planning an imminent move to the U.S. to be with her longtime boyfriend. Intent on leaving her homeland forever, Rux's plans change when she learns that her father has a serious health condition. The complications continue the next day when her boss' hand-chosen mayoral candidate suddenly decides to switch political parties. On the spur of the moment, Rux suggests that her boss' wife, a retired (and retiring), if glamorous, former champion ice skater, could be just what they -- and the city -- most need. The first two episodes also involve a continuing romance between Cristina and her former husband; he manages a large indoor mall, where one of his young employees holds the former ice skater responsible for a past tragedy. It all adds up to a bushel of trouble brewing in the beautiful city of Bucharest. The show has laid down a lot of trouble for its eight-episode run, to the point that I can't see an easy route to resolve all the plot threads. Perhaps that's intentional, laying the groundwork for future seasons that could more fully explore the individual plot threads. Even in these first two episodes, though, there are strong nods toward rampant misogyny in the business world that has been institutionalized, and I can't believe that it won't be explored further. The clash between the old, conservative ways and the new, modern methods of doing business, covering the news, and running for political office are also indicators that the show will get into further, ongoing changes to the world order in Romania. For now, although it's somewhat melodramatic, Ruxx strikes me as a well-made and well-mounted production that has much promise, driven by Raluca Aprodu's quietly confident performance as a modern Romanian woman I want to know better. Note for viewers in the U.S.: HBO Max makes English-language subtitles available as closed captions, but doesn't make that terribly obvious in its format and layout. Press 'pause' and look for the icon in the lower-right on television monitors. Now Streaming covers international and indie genre films and TV shows that are available on legal streaming services. Highlighting some disparities identified in recent "Dealing in Lives" report on federal life sentences for drug offenses | Main | "Orange Is the News Blackout: The First Amendment and Media Access to Jails" March 10, 2022 Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail, years of probation, $120,106 in restitution and $25,000 fine for faking attack In this post a few months ago, I asked "Is Jussie Smollett likely to get probation after convictions on five low-level state felony counts of disorderly conduct?". As this new AP article reports, we now know the answer to this question is "nope." Here are some details: Jussie Smollett loudly maintained his innocence Thursday after a judge sentenced the former Empire actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. Cook County Judge James Linn ordered that Smolletts county jail sentence begin immediately following the hearing. Smollett didnt make a statement when offered the opportunity earlier in the afternoon but maintained that he was innocent after Linn issued his sentencing decision. He also insisted that he was not suicidal, suggesting that if anything happens in jail, he did not take his own life.... The judge also sentenced Smollett to 30 months of felony probation and ordered that he pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago and a $25,000 fine. Smolletts dramatic reaction capped an hourslong sentencing hearing. Special prosecutor Dan Webb asked Linn to include an appropriate amount of prison time when sentencing the actor for his conviction. Smolletts attorneys asked the judge to limit the sentence to community service, arguing that he had already been punished by the criminal justice system and damage to his career. Family members echoed those comments.... Several supporters spoke about worries that Smollett would be at risk in prison, specifically mentioning his race, sexual orientation and his familys Jewish heritage. Linn said he did consider those requests for mercy, along with Smolletts prior work and financial support of social justice organizations. But Linn also excoriated Smollett as a narcissist and pronounced himself astounded by his actions given the actors multiracial family background and ties to social justice work. For you now to sit here, convicted of hoaxing, hate crimes ... the hypocrisy is just astounding, Linn said.... Smollett faced up to three years in prison for each of the five felony counts of disorderly conduct the charge filed for lying to police of which he was convicted. He was acquitted on a sixth count. But because Smollett does not have an extensive criminal history and the conviction is for a low-level nonviolent crime, experts did not expect him to be sent to prison. Thursdays sentencing could be the final chapter in a criminal case, subject to appeal, that made international headlines when Smollett, who is Black and gay, reported to police that two men wearing ski masks beat him, and hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him on a dark Chicago street and ran off. In December, Smollett was convicted in a trial that included the testimony of two brothers who told jurors Smollett paid them to carry out the attack, gave them money for the ski masks and rope, instructed them to fashion the rope into a noose. Prosecutors said he told them what racist and homophobic slurs to shout, and to yell that Smollett was in MAGA Country, a reference to the campaign slogan of Donald Trumps presidential campaign. March 10, 2022 at 09:04 PM | Permalink Comments Quite the man, Mr. Smollett. If any one individual personifies the race huckstering, identity obsessed, crybully sickness with which our culture is afflicted, Smollett is the guy. I wrote my assessment pretty much at the same time Doug was writing his, https://www.crimeandconsequences.blog/?p=6048 Posted by: Bill Otis | Mar 10, 2022 9:13:24 PM Wonder what the sentence would have been with a plea, or at least without doubling down with testimony the jury necessarily concluded was false. Posted by: Jason | Mar 10, 2022 11:21:18 PM Jason -- I suspect the sentence would have been considerably less if Smollett had at any point come within shouting distance of telling the truth. But psychologically he can't afford to do that, because he builds his whole persona on being the Aggrieved Minority Victim. That was the reason for the staged "attack," the pointing the finger at "MAGA Country," and continuing the charade all the way through today. When (the Left's) demand for racism exceeds the supply, you just get a guy like Smollett to make it up. Posted by: Bill Otis | Mar 10, 2022 11:48:19 PM Juicy would have gotten a much stiffer sentence had I been the judge. He is a Grade A a-hole. What is amazing is that Kim Foxx tried to help him out. Posted by: Federalist | Mar 11, 2022 8:59:58 AM There is a typo in the headline. The number of probative years is missing. Posted by: Anon | Mar 11, 2022 11:48:56 AM 30 MONTHS of probation Posted by: USPO | Mar 11, 2022 4:48:07 PM I think that at the time it was given, the sentence was about right. Smollett is a nonviolent offender. He did considerable damage. But that damage did not include physical injury to anyone. Therefore, a sentence of months, less than a year, was appropriate. When Smollett doubled down on his claim of innocence after being sentenced, it became time for a gut check. Am I really certain he is guilty? In this case, the answer is yes. That certainty, combined with his doubling down, and effectively repeating the crime, is a reason to give him a bit more time. Maybe another month. Posted by: William C Jockusch | Mar 14, 2022 9:01:46 AM Post a comment "Orange Is the News Blackout: The First Amendment and Media Access to Jails" | Main | "Card Carrying Sex Offenders" March 11, 2022 North Carolina Gov, following recommendation of state Juvenile Sentence Review Board, commutes sentence of three convicted of murder as teens As detailed in this North Carolina Gov press release, "Governor Cooper has commuted the sentences of three people who were convicted for crimes committed when they were teenagers. The commutations follow an intensive review of their cases, including the length of their sentences, their records in prison, and their readiness to succeed outside of prison." Here is more from the press release (with links from the original): The commutations are the first recommended to the Governor by the Juvenile Sentence Review Board which he established by Executive Order last year. The commutation applications were thoroughly reviewed by the Office of Executive Clemency, the Office of the General Counsel and the Governor. These commutations end prison sentences on time served. The creation of the Review Board followed the change in North Carolina law which raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction to include 16- and 17-year-olds, making North Carolina the last state in the nation to do so. Studies of brain development and psychology show fundamental differences between juvenile and adult minds and behavior, and state and federal law treat children differently from adults for the purpose of sentencing. The Review Board was also part of a series of recommendations from the Governors Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC) that has worked to rectify racial disparities in the criminal justice system. More than 80 percent of people committed to North Carolina prisons for crimes they committed as juveniles are people of color. North Carolina law continues to change to recognize that science is even more clear about immature brain development and decision making in younger people, Cooper said. As people become adults, they can change, turn their lives around, and engage as productive members of society. The three people whose sentences were commuted are: April Leigh Barber, 46, who has served 30 years in prison for her role at age 15 in the murders of her grandparents, Lillie and Aaron Barber, in Wilkes County. While incarcerated, Ms. Barber has been consistently employed and has participated in significant programming, including earning her G.E.D. and paralegal certificate. Link to commutation. Joshua McKay, 37, who has served 20 years in prison for the murder at age 17 of Mary Catherine Young in Richmond County. While incarcerated, Mr. McKay has been consistently employed, including as a carpenter and welder. Mr. McKays projected release date absent this commutation would have been in November 2022. Link to commutation. Anthony Willis, 42, who has served 26 years in prison for the murder at age 16 of Benjamin Franklin Miller in Cumberland County. While incarcerated, Mr. Willis has been consistently employed and has completed five college degrees. Link to commutation. The three people will be subject to post-release supervision by Community Corrections at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to help them succeed and avoid missteps when they return to their communities. Most of the individuals who enter prisons will return to their communities one day. Providing high quality, evidenced based treatment and programming is a top priority for our prison system, said Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie Buffaloe. These commutations should inspire individuals who are incarcerated to use all available resources to better themselves and prepare for a successful return to society. The Review Board continues to review petitions from those who were incarcerated for crimes committed as juveniles, and looks at many factors in its review, including rehabilitation and maturity demonstrated by the individual, record of education or other work while incarcerated, record of good behavior or infractions, input from the victim or members of the victims family, and more. March 11, 2022 at 10:11 AM | Permalink Comments Twenty years isnt enough for a home invasion murder. Cooper deserves a lot of calumny for this, and owns any future victimization . Posted by: Federalist | Mar 11, 2022 12:50:08 PM LOL Federalist. You should try reading. McKay was scheduled for release in November of this year. He literally let him out 8 months early. But I guess in your world he "deserves a lot of calumny . . ., and owns any future victimization." Posted by: whatever | Mar 11, 2022 3:13:51 PM Scheduled for release doesnt mean will be released. Its just not enough time, and he should serve every day Posted by: Federalist | Mar 11, 2022 4:03:52 PM I will never understand people who hold the belief that an increase in the severity of punishments will significantly reduce acts of violence, crimes of moral turpitude, addictions, immorality, etc. While those on the right campaign for stiffer penalties, there is no empirical data that shows that their approach is at all effective. IN FACT, studies show that the longer the sentence, the higher the rate of recidivism. (https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1152/Wsipp_Recidivism-The-Effect-of-Incarceration-and-Length-of-Time-Served_Full-Report.pdf) While certainly a wrongdoer needs incapacitation for a period of time, and a message sent to society that there is a penalty for criminal acts, in the end, increasing the severity of punishment alone is a failing formula. While there is no fool-proof 100% cure for all wrongdoers, the vast majority of young people in need of rehabilitation respond positively to honest and effective efforts to enable them to live productive lives, once their punishment has been satisfied. Some, but not many, prison programs are a positive step in the right direction. However, many such programs are nothing more than "window dressing" designed to promote the questionable magnanimity of prison wardens, politicians and the like. Post-punishment, one needs a support system, employment opportunities, further educational opportunities, etc. In the end, we must put more effective efforts into "enabling man to do right" as opposed to increases in "disabling man to do wrong". We do more than enough in the latter, and not nearly enough in the former. Posted by: drud cnslr | Mar 11, 2022 4:12:03 PM More studies on this issue: Fifty studies dating from 1958 involving 336,052 offenders produced 325 correlations between recidivism and (a) length of time in prison and recidivism or (b) serving a prison sentence vs. receiving a community-based sanction. The data was analysed using quantitative methods (i.e., meta-analysis) to determine whether prison reduced criminal behaviour or recidivism. The results were as follows: under both of the above conditions, prison produced slight increases in recidivism. Secondly, there was some tendency for lower risk offenders to be more negatively affected by the prison experience. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/ffcts-prsn-sntncs-rcdvsm/index-en.aspx Posted by: drud cnslr | Mar 11, 2022 4:36:18 PM Post a comment 10% 1.2% 1.33% 3%12% 57% 27% 510.4 62 10% 8844.4 6% 6 810 15% 4% 62 Twitter 5% 8844.4 102 2.45 68.66% B.Duck 2021 5% THE HENLEY II3.8 LYOS23 1088 20 I7393 4.18 Women play a huge role in the content we create at Feast and Field, and many of the brands we cover here were created by women who wanted to make a difference in the American culinary landscape. Here are six savvy entrepreneurs selling items we love. Genevieve Brazelton One of our all-time favorite profiles on Feast and Field, Brazelton is a woman on a mission. She started her craft bitters business, The Bitter Housewife, when she couldnt find any products that catered to her and her circle of well-educated, food-savvy female friends who loved whiskey, wine and talking about it. With its tongue-in-cheek name and unpretentious philosophy, The Bitter Housewife has succeeded in its mission to bring bitters to a wider audience. Now based in Portland, Oregon, the award-winning business offers seven flavors (including grapefruit, lime coriander and barrel-aged), and is working on more. In 2019, the company launched a line of zero-proof, zero-sugar canned Bitters & Soda drinks, which come in four flavors (aromatic, orange, grapefruit and cardamom) and can be enjoyed on their own for a nonalcoholic sipper or used as a mixer. Shop Bitter Housewife Products here. Kiki Aranita Aranita has quite the story. The former owner of beloved Philadelphia brick-and-mortar restaurant, Poi Dog, Aranita made a pandemic pivot and scaled up production of three signature sauces after closing her popular restaurant that served Hawaiian fare. (Side note: If you ever ate at Poi Dogs former Philadelphia storefront or its food truck, youve definitely tried Aranitas famous sauces, which are sweet, savory and incredibly delicious, depending on which one you try!) Aranitas amazing dishes and sauces propelled Poi Dog to receive two Best of Philly awards in 2014 and 2017. When the pandemic forced her to close her brick-and-mortar businesses, Aranita set her sights on her award-winning sauces, now sold nationwide. And, yes, she plans to continue developing new lines of sauces. Lucky us. Shop Poi Dog products here. Lily Leedom In 2018, Lily Leedom founded SalterieOne, an artisan sea salt company inspired by and sourced from Duxbury Bay, a pristine water source near her familys Massachusetts home. Leedom launched SalterieOne when her search for high-quality, domestically made, handcrafted sea salt yielded nothing worth tasting. Her thriving business now sells more than 20 sea salt-based products, including classic sea salts, innovative blends and delicious gift sets. Check out next weeks issue for more about Leedom and SalterieOne. Shop Salterie One products here. Maude Burns When Maude Burns moved to upstate New York to be with her husband, she brought a suitcase full of beauty products. He, on the other hand, had used bar soap all his life for face, hair and body. When she arrived, he realized the shower shelf had more to offer when it came to grooming, but there werent any products that spoke to him, a modern guy with straightforward taste. Burns, with her background in the NYC beauty industry, saw the opportunity to create a mens grooming brand designed for the stylish man who still knows how to get his hands dirty. Gentleman Farmer, a grooming brand dedicated to high-quality, clean and mindfully created products for values-driven men, was born. In developing the line, the couple knew it had to fit with their values using honest and organic ingredients and prioritizing sustainable packaging. As gentleman implies, the Gentleman Farmer is kind to others and the planet, which is why sustainable development and giving back are at the core of what they do. Shop Gentleman Farmer products here. Clare Stoner Fehsenfeld Stoner Fehsenfeld and her husband Matt are the founders of The Quince and Apple Company, a handcrafted line of artisan preserves, pickles, syrups and nuts located in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin. What started as a preserve-making side project for the couple is now a booming business focusing on gourmet jams, cocktail simple syrups,hand-packed pickles, and spiced and candied nuts. Since launching in 2019, the business has grown and reserves now make up half the companys sales, with 25% from nuts, 15% from syrups and 10% froma new pickle line launched in 2021. Clare, a trained musician, ensures the growth process represents the brands ideals. We wanted to create a healthy and mindful place for us to work, and for our employees to work, when we got big enough, Clare says. Thats our purpose: to create a good place for our employees and great food that people like. Shop Quince and Apple products here. Kiahna Malloy Dynamic and inspirational, Malloy is the brains (and palate) behind Kreme & Krumbs, a small but growing artisanal ice cream company in Bloomfield, New Jersey. She makes all the ice cream from scratch in small batches from the finest ingredients, sourced both locally and nationally, and Malloy is planning to open new location in Montclair, New Jersey, this spring. Launched in 2017, the Kreme & Krumbs menu offers an always-changing roster of bold flavors: strawberry with a jam swirl, raspberry vanilla chip, salted vanilla and caramel, milk and kookies, chocolate deluxe (made with Valrhona chocolate) and bourbon pecan spiked with real bourbon. Malloy has novel ice cream flavors, such as Jersey Turnpike, her spin on rocky road and the addictive Krumb Stick, an ice cream drumstick crumbled into a vanilla base. Kreme & Krumbs is also known for Malloys unique take on ice cream sandwiches called kremewiches. Instead of a cookie, Malloy sandwiches ice cream between two dainty slices of cake, small enough to eat one-handed. Popular flavors include the adorably packaged red velvet cake with vanilla bean cream cheese ice cream and confetti cake with sprinkles and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Shop Kreme and Krumbs products here. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SYDNEY, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A new report delivered by the University of Sydney Business School and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has shown the unique role Asian businesses play in expanding Australia's business links in Asia. The "Asian Business in Australia Research Report" released on Thursday, compiled the results of surveys of 72 Asian Australian businesses across Australia. It found that over half of the businesses had foreign suppliers, and 29 percent had partnerships in research and development with overseas organizations. "A new generation of Asian-Australian entrepreneurs are looking for opportunities in their ancestral countries and pioneering transnational collaboration in areas such as manufacturing, digitalization and e-commerce," read the report. The report noted that overall Australia is more integrated with Asian economies, mainly China, Japan, India and South Korea, and that Asian businesses had better capacity to engage these markets. A total of 44 percent of the businesses included in the report said they increased their number of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with just 10 percent nationally, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The report also found that Asian-owned businesses had more resilient supply chains during the pandemic, as they were able to quickly diversify suppliers. One third of respondents reported increasing the number of suppliers or changing to suppliers from other countries to avoid shortages in the pandemic. Dr. Sandy Chong, founder of Verity Consulting in the Australian state of Queensland, said businesses need to understand the Asia-Pacific region to succeed in Australia. "I think trade and education are pathways to peace and prosperity, particularly trade. The need for people to understand cultures, demographics, and languages of others are essential," said Chong. ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) The Maryland House voted Thursday to prohibit the declawing of cats unless it's necessary for a therapeutic purpose. Maryland would become the second state in the nation to ban the practice. New York banned it in 2019. And now Delaware is also getting in on the issue as a bill introduced in that state's House would prohibit cat owners from declawing their pets. The Maryland Senate passed a bill earlier in the legislative session. Each chamber would still need to approve the measure passed by the other to send the legislation to Gov. Larry Hogan. Supporters of the ban say declawing hurts the cat and leaves it unable to defend itself. The Maryland measure bans declawing, unless it addresses a medical condition that compromises the health or well-being of a cat. Veterinarians would not be able to declaw cats for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, or for convenience in handling. Veterinarians would face a fine of up to $5,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for a second offense, in addition to suspension or revocation of a license. The bill also prohibits any person, other than a veterinary practitioner performing a declawing procedure. Some Delaware lawmakers are also itching to ensure that cats can keep scratching. A bill introduced in the Delaware House on Thursday would prohibit cat owners from declawing their pets except for therapeutic purposes. That definition means addressing a physical or medical condition that compromises the health or well-being of a cat. It does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, or reasons of convenience, like protecting your furniture. It also does not include addressing or preventing potential medical problems in humans, such as cat-scratch fever. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY -- This may sound crazy, but we could really use a snowstorm this month. Sure, sure, March is a time when we start anticipating warmer spring days and rain instead of snow. But consider that Sioux City's snowfall this winter has been historically low, and, though subsoil moisture levels aren't in bad shape, some snowpack that slowly melts and soaks into ground that's beginning to thaw would be extremely beneficial. "Any moisture that we can get moving forward, so be it," said Justin Glisan, Iowa's state climatologist. Sioux City just experienced its third least-snowy meteorological winter, which is December-February, in records dating back to 1896 with 3.9 inches. Add the 0.3 inches of snow that fell in November, and the 4.2 inches are the second lowest on record for that four-month period. February saw 0.8 inches of snow, tying for the fifth lowest total ever for that month. Totals in December and January just missed the top 10 for lowest snowfall in their respective months. To put it in perspective, Sioux City averages nearly 30 inches of snow each year. We saw 36.3 inches last winter. Here's guessing that most area residents aren't complaining about a winter in which there's been little use for snowblowers and snow shovels. As the person who oversees Sioux City's $1.6 million snow removal budget, street superintendent Ed Pickens isn't complaining. Every fall, he orders 5,000 tons of salt to mix with sand to spread on the city's streets during snowy and icy conditions. The bulk of it comes by Jan. 1, and the city gets the rest later in the winter. Pickens hasn't had to bother getting that last 1,000 tons this winter. "We've got quite a bit of it left," he said. The city's stockpile remains huge, with probably only about 35% of it used thus far. Overtime paid to city workers working around the clock when it snows is at 20% of average. Add in fewer expenses for maintenance and repair of trucks and plows, and Pickens' budget is sitting pretty with thousands of dollars in savings this winter. "I'm hoping we can get through the rest of March and April without any more to-do," Pickens said. But he knows Mother Nature could still do a lot of damage to his budget. Of the 10 heaviest snowfalls in Sioux City's recorded history, five of them occurred in March or April. A record 20 inches fell on April 10, 1913. More recently, the second-heaviest snowfall of 18.4 inches occurred on March 15, 2004. As long as spring rains fall, there's no need for a March or April snowstorm to provide moisture, said Joel DeJong, an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomist based in Le Mars. The area saw some nice rains late in the fall that recharged soil moisture across much of Northwest Iowa to levels near or above average, an improvement over soil conditions a year ago. With the ground still frozen fairly deep, a March snowstorm wouldn't do as much good anyway, DeJong said, because the melting snow wouldn't be able to soak very far into the ground, and most of it would run off. But if this winter's dry weather pattern were to continue, then farmers will see problems. "Once that ground thaws, we need some spring rains," DeJong said. Glisan said there's no need to worry -- yet. "The lack of snowpack doesn't necessarily portend dry conditions (continuing into the spring)," he said. The winter months typically are Iowa's driest, with precipitation totals increasing from March to June, the state's wettest month. But it's also been a warmer winter in western Iowa, Glisan said, and the lack of snowpack means the ground is beginning to thaw earlier than usual. A late-season snow could alleviate dry conditions that have led to numerous grass fires across Siouxland in recent weeks. Glisan laughed, saying he's not hoping for a snowstorm in coming weeks, but it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Just try convincing anyone of that if faced with the possibility of white Easter. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- A Milford, Iowa, man has pleaded not guilty of inappropriately touching a 15-year-old girl numerous times while he was a bus driver for the Okoboji Community School District. Steven Titterington, 71, entered his written plea Friday in Dickinson County District Court to single counts of third-degree sexual abuse, sexual exploitation by a school employee and child endangerment. According to court documents, Titterington inappropriately touched the girl on multiple occasions over and under her clothing without her consent on a school bus in October and November. The Dickinson County Sheriff's Office began an investigation after receiving a report of indecent contact with a child. Titterington was arrested Feb. 18. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- A Remsen, Iowa, woman has pleaded not guilty of stealing more than $10,000 from a dependent adult who was unable to make his own decisions. Samantha Hagemann, 43, entered her written plea Wednesday in Sioux County District Court to charges of first-degree theft and forgery. A habitual offender enhancement has been added to each charge, increasing the potential prison sentence to 15 years on each count. According to court documents, Hagemann obtained money from May through November through ATM withdrawals, transactions at businesses and checks from the victim, who was a resident in a Hull, Iowa, nursing home. Knowing the victim could not make decisions for himself, Hagemann continued to withdraw money from his account and went to the nursing home to collect checks, written out to her, from the victim. Court documents said that a third party would fill the checks out for the victim, and in at least one instance Hagemann changed the amount of the check to a different total. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. Matthew Sandoval, 28, pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Leonard Strand sentenced him to 234 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Sandoval conspired with others from 2016 through June to sell at least 40 pounds of meth in the Sioux City area. The meth was received in several shipments that were mailed to him through the U.S. Postal Service. SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has pleaded guilty in federal court of sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. Juan Pablo-Hernandez, 44, entered his plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. According to court documents, Pablo-Hernandez had sex with the girl on two occasions between July 15 and Sept. 15 in an apartment in the 1600 block of Douglas Street. During an interview with police, Pablo-Hernandez admitted to having sex and other sexual contact with the girl. Pablo-Hernandez was arrested Sept. 24 and charged in Woodbury County District Court with two counts each of second-degree sexual abuse, indecent contact with a child and lascivious acts with a child. The case was dismissed after Pablo-Hernandez was indicted in federal court in November. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OMAHA -- Kozee Decorah's family wanted to see Jonathan Rooney receive the maximum prison sentence for the young woman's death. The sentence handed down Friday may have fallen short of that, but Decorah's family found some peace knowing that Rooney would serve 25 years in prison and would be held accountable for the May 16, 2020 slaying and burning of Decorah's body near a remote cabin on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. "We're OK with that," said Leila BigJohn, a family friend who accompanied several of Decorah's family members from their home in Wisconsin. "I think they understand that nothing will bring her back, that nothing will make it OK. "I think they got some closure today." A federal jury in December found Rooney, 27, of Winnebago, Nebraska, guilty of voluntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice by destruction of evidence. He had been charged with second-degree murder, but at the conclusion of the eight-day trial in federal court in Omaha, jurors convicted him of the lesser charge, sparing him the possibility of life in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines, which take several factors into account, suggested a prison sentence of 11-14 years, but the U.S. Probation Office recommended that Rooney be sentenced to the maximum of 35 years, a sentence that family members asked U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter Jr. to apply. In a letter read to the court, Angelina Sanchez, Decorah's niece, said her large family remains devastated by the death of the 22-year-old Decorah, who had three children with Rooney. "To this day, we still struggle. We struggle with our emotions dealing with the fact she is gone," Sanchez said in the statement, read in court by BigJohn. "He took a beautiful soul from us. He should never have such beauty and love again." Conservation officers found Rooney sleeping naked with the couple's 4-month-old son four hours after Decorah had called Winnebago Police to tell them they needed help after their vehicle got stuck on a muddy road. Just before midnight, officers noticed a fire, leading them to the cabin, where an outhouse was on fire. When awakened, Rooney told officers he didn't know where Decorah was. During an interview, Rooney said he and Decorah found the cabin and started a fire in the grill to dry his clothes. An argument began after Decorah asked him if he had been drinking or using drugs. He said Decorah hit him with something, and he pushed her out of the cabin, shut the door and went to sleep. The next thing he was aware of, he said, the officers were waking him up. Officers observed a blood smear on Rooney's arm, scratches on his shoulder and an injury on his cheek. When officers extinguished the fire, they found human remains burned so completely, only a skull, a few broken bones and some internal organs remained. Dental records determined the remains were Decorah's, but an autopsy could not determine if she suffered trauma before her body was burned. "To say that he tried to get away with this is an understatement," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lecia Wright said in asking for the maximum sentence. "This was essentially extreme, it was unusually heinous. It was cruel, it was degrading." Rooney declined to speak when offered the chance before he was sentenced. His attorney, assistant federal public defender Kelly Steenbock, said a maximum sentence would be excessive, essentially punishing Rooney for second-degree murder, a crime for which jurors could not find him guilty. "We ask the court not to hold Mr. Rooney to the standard he was acquitted of," Steenbock said. "The fact he covered up the crime does not make it worth twice the sentence called for under the law." Calling Decorah's manner of death unforgivable, Rossiter said the sentencing range called for under the guidelines was not a sufficient punishment. "I am most astounded and disturbed by the manner of the disposal of the mother of your children," Rossiter said. But, the maximum sentence was not appropriate either, Rossiter said before announcing a sentence that fell between the one suggested in the guidelines and the maximum. Rooney showed no emotion upon hearing his sentence, though members of his family sobbed softly upon hearing it. As he was led out of the courtroom, he glanced back at them, smiled and nodded in their direction. He can appeal his sentence. Outside the courtroom, BigJohn said Decorah's family members were not concerned Rooney did not offer a statement during the hearing. They choose to focus on Decorah's children, who are in the custody of Rooney's mother, and remember a young woman whose life was cut short. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 6 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. SIOUX CITY -- A fire that damaged a painting and decorating business in Sioux City's Riverside neighborhood Thursday night is being investigated as accidental in nature. At 6:24 p.m., firefighters were called to a green Morton building, 3601 Sioux River Road. Sioux City Fire Rescue Captain Ryan Collins said Friday that Irwin Painting & Decorating occupies half of the building and that the rest of the space is used for personal storage. No one was inside the building at the time of the fire and no injuries occurred as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The owners primarily paint and finish wood trim and doors inside the structure, according to Collins. "The fire happened on a wall that separates the two occupancies," he said. "The fire was limited in scope, meaning that it was contained to that wall area. It did not extend up into the attic or any other spaces within the occupancy." Collins said a UPS driver on Sioux River Road saw smoke coming from the eaves of the building and reported the fire. He said a second 911 call was made by a neighbor a few seconds later. As the sun set and darkness fell, flames and smoke billowed from the building's west side. Firefighters pulled hose lines through large garage doors into the structure, deployed an ariel ladder over the roof, and removed large pieces of metal from the building's interior. At one point, an RV and SUV were driven out of one of the garage doors. "The majority of the fire was put out with just our tank water, the water that we carry on the engines themselves," Collins said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY -- In honor of Women's History Month, the Sioux City Public Museum is once again showcasing the accomplishments of local women. The March History at High Noon features "Women in the Newspapers" at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday. Presenter Haley Aguirre, archival records clerk, highlights some of Sioux City's most prominent and pioneering women in print media. Learn the stories of the women who made first made feminine voices heard in the Society pages, the women who broke glass ceilings to report "men's" news, and Sioux City women who made a name for themselves in newspapers across the country. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunches to the free presentation at the museum, 607 Fourth St. Also showing is the exhibit, A Century of Service: Mary J. Treglia Community House & Junior League of Sioux City 1921-2021 through March 27. The histories of the Mary J. Treglia Community House and the Junior League of Sioux City are closely related. The Sioux City Community House opened on April 7, 1921, as a settlement house modeled after London's Toynbee Hall and Chicago's Hull House. Designed to help immigrants transition to new lives as American citizens, the Community House provided educational opportunities, advocacy and material assistance to the people it served. The women who founded the Junior League of Sioux City held their first meeting on April 11, 1921. As a local chapter of the national organization, the intent was to coordinate their individual volunteer activities to make them more effective. Many of these same women were heavily involved in the founding of the Community House and it remained a focus of the Junior League's volunteer efforts for many years. Additional stories about women making a difference will be told throughout the month via the Museum's social media channels. Protective masks/face coverings are encouraged for those who have not received the COVID-19 vaccination. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY -- SkyWest Airlines, the sole airline providing flights to the Sioux Gateway Airport, announced Thursday its intent to pull out of the market as early as this summer due to a shortage of pilots. But the federal government will require the airline to maintain service in Sioux City until a replacement carrier is found. The airline said a shortage of pilots is prompting the company to discontinue service at 29 airports. SkyWest, which flies connecting routes for United Airlines, currently offers one flight per day each to Chicago and Denver. The Utah-based airline signaled its intent to discontinue flights at 29 airports, including Sioux Gateway. Because Skywest's flights at Sioux City are federally subsidized under the Essential Air Service program, the airline must continue to serve the market until federal government select a replacement carrier, Assistant City Manager Mike Collett said Thursday evening. "If you remember when American put in their notice during the COVID pandemic in 2020, it went through the same process. And then American ended up staying seven or eight months after that," Collett said of American Airlines. "Each individual event really depends on how long it lasts. In theory it lasts 90 days but it could last longer." American announced its intent to pull out of the Sioux City market in the summer of 2020, after passenger volumes took a nosedive with the onset of the pandemic. In April of 2020, a mere 261 people boarded flights at Sioux Gateway -- a tiny fraction of the 3,917 passengers who boarded flights in April of 2019. Collett said he believes another airline will want to bid for Sioux City's routes. In its announcement, SkyWest cited a "pilot staffing imbalance across the industry" as the reason for its decision. The airline said its ground staff at the 29 airports "will be offered various options, including transfers within the company." Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TIRANA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government is to set up a national board to control speculation on oil prices in the country, Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced. The announcement came during a meeting with representatives of major oil suppliers in Albania on Friday. The government will set up the National Board on the Management of Fuel to directly intervene in freezing profit margins and calling for price transparency, in an effort to curb any speculation on fuel prices as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. A Normative Act will be passed to define the framework of obligations and limited rights of fuel suppliers for a two-month period. This will be renewable according to the development of the war in Ukraine. The National Board on the Management of Fuel will include representatives from the Finance and Economy Ministry, Infrastructure and Energy Ministry, the Directorate of Tax and Customs, the head of the Competition Authority, and representatives of major oil suppliers in the country. Rama emphasized that all gas stations across the country will be banned from selling fuel at different prices to those approved by the Board. Gas station owners have been warned that their licenses will be revoked if they are caught trading oil at higher prices. For a third consecutive day, Albanian citizens across the country have taken to the streets to protest against high prices, including the price of fuel. They called on the government to intervene and lower some of the taxes included in the price of fuel. On Friday, the price of fuel in the country varied from 223 to 245 Albanian lek (from 1.99 to 2.19 U.S. dollars) per liter for diesel and gasoline respectively. On Tuesday, the price of fuel on retail markets in Albania reached a record high of 269 Albanian lek per liter. (1 U.S. dollar=111.9 lek) Firefighters pulled hose lines through large garage doors into the structure, deployed an ariel ladder over the roof, and removed large pieces of metal from the building. At one point, an RV and SUV were driven out of one of the garage doors. SKOPJE, March 11 (Xinhua) -- To prevent potential shortages and protect domestic consumers, the government of North Macedonia decided on Friday to ban for 10 days (until March 20) the export of cereals, such as wheat, corn and sunflower seeds and oil, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi told a press conference here. According to the minister, this "is a preventive measure to avoid bigger disruptions to the market." Its aim is to "protect the citizens amid a pandemic and while facing one of the largest economic crises in recent times." Bekteshi underlined that the government remains fully committed to minimizing the negative effects of the current crisis. He stressed that the citizens should not be concerned as the country had sufficient food reserves to meet domestic needs. On Wednesday, the government of North Macedonia approved 26 measures and recommendations worth a total of 400 million euros (436.7 million U.S. dollars) to alleviate the consequences of the economic crisis and the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The measures include a preferential zero-percent value added tax (VAT) rate for basic food products and a 10 percent decrease in VAT diesel, unleaded fuel and gas oil. With raw emotions erupting on the floor of the Legislature during a morning of intense debate, state senators voted Friday to free Sen. Tom Brewer's "constitutional carry" gun rights bill from a filibuster and sent it on the way to second-round consideration. The bill advanced on a 35-9 vote following a 36-9 vote to end debate. Thirty-three votes were required to break the filibuster that threatened to trap the bill and eliminate it from this session's agenda. The action represented a big step forward for gun rights advocates and a huge victory for Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, who shepherded the bill through a gauntlet of opposition mounted by senators from Lincoln and Omaha. "We live in a place much different outside of Lincoln," Brewer told his metropolitan colleagues, suggesting that on occasion undermanned law enforcement in rural areas could welcome the assistance of law-abiding citizens in "protecting themselves and their families." The bill (LB773) would allow people to carry a concealed handgun in Nebraska without paying for a $100 permit. How they voted A bill (LB773) to allow people to carry a concealed handgun in Nebraska without paying for a $100 permit advanced 35-9 to the second round on Friday. Voting yes (35): Aguilar, Albrecht, Arch, Blood, Bostelman, Brandt, Brewer, Briese, Clements, Day, Dorn, Erdman, Flood, Friesen, Geist, Gragert, Halloran, Hansen, B., Hilgers, Hilkemann, Hughes, Jacobson, Kolterman, Lindstrom, Linehan, Lowe, McDonnell, Moser, Murman, Pahls, Sanders, Slama, Stinner, Wayne, Williams Voting no (9): Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., DeBoer, Hansen, M., Lathrop, Morfeld, Pansing Brooks, Vargas Present, not voting (4): McCollister, McKinney, Walz, Wishart Excused, not voting (1): Hunt But Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, who proposed a compromise that would eliminate current fees charged for both permitting and required training for people who carry a concealed handgun, said the bill would also "remove training and background requirements (and) that is a bridge too far." "I want to be sure that gun owners have the requisite training they need," he said. Brewer said the bill does not remove the background check requirement that concealed-carry gunowners still would need to clear. Noting the opposition expressed to the bill by Lincoln senators, Brewer asked "have we forgotten the chaos in Lincoln?" that erupted during Black Lives Matter protests near the state Capitol in 2020. All of the nine votes to maintain the filibuster and in opposition to the bill itself were cast by senators from Lincoln and metropolitan Omaha. The proposal is opposed by the Lincoln Police Department. During the intense debate, Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha strode angrily out of the chamber after her shouted demands for a point of order were ignored during remarks by Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling personally criticizing her. "Wow!" Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln said following that eruption, which grew out of an earlier exchange between Cavanaugh and Brewer prompted by the Omaha senator's expressed concerns about allowing people who might be armed into the gallery overlooking the floor during Thursday's debate. "This is ridiculous," Pansing Brooks said. "That (criticism of Cavanaugh) should have been stopped. It was not kind," she said, "and it embarrassed our state, our colleague and our friend." Friday's debate often turned angry and confrontational, prompting Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha to remark on the changes in the Legislature he has experienced since he returned as a senator in 2019 after being term-limited out in 2015 following two consecutive terms that began in 2007. Lathrop, who decided not to seek re-election this year, said "I've been lied to in the last four years," declaring that "lying has become a tool" in the Legislature now. "This culture has changed," he said, and it reflects the national political culture now. "The culture has gone to hell," he said. "Everything's decided before I get to the floor. This is choreographed now." Responding to Lathrop's remarks and his approaching departure, Brewer said: "You have been a true professional. I do hate to see you leave. We are lesser for it." Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk said Friday's decision for senators could be simply stated: "Where are you on gun rights?" Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen has turned down another opportunity to debate his opponents, and his campaign signaled theres little chance Nebraskans will see him on a debate stage. The decision has rankled two of his primary opponents. Pillen sparked the latest debate drama when he turned down an invitation from central Nebraska-based NTV News. News Director Matt Weesner said NTV reached out to candidates a few weeks ago and has not yet set a date for the debate. He said Pillen declined the invitation by sending out a news release Wednesday. Pillen didnt directly contact organizers, according to NTV. In the release, the Pillen campaign downplayed the importance of debates and emphasized Pillens direct engagement with voters, including stops in all 93 counties with nearly 300 public events. The campaign also noted that Pillen has participated in several forums and that hes teaming with the Nebraska Farm Bureau, which endorsed him, for 30 town hall meetings. A key difference between forums and debates is that debate rules generally allow candidates to respond to their opponents, and theyre often moderated by professional journalists. Our strategy has long centered on meeting with Republican voters face-to-face, listening to their concerns and answering their questions, Pillen campaign manager Kenny Zoeller said in the release. That focus is only intensifying in the final nine weeks before voters head to the polls. Pillens campaign said debates served as political theater a chance for the mainstream media to pit Republican candidates against each other and hijack the agenda from Republican voters. His take on debates puts Pillen in stark contrast with other candidates. Along with Pillen, a hog producer and University of Nebraska regent, NTV invited fellow Republicans Theresa Thibodeau, state Sen. Brett Lindstrom and Falls City businessman Charles W. Herbster to participate. Lindstrom and Thibodeau committed, and Herbster has expressed interest. Jim Pillen is disingenuous and afraid, Thibodeaus campaign said in a statement. The real story is simple: Jim Pillen will not debate because he fears Nebraska voters. Pillen knows that he is an unqualified candidate with a minimal understanding of fundamental issues. The campaign also took shots at Pillens record and accused him of hiding behind Gov. Pete Ricketts, who has endorsed Pillen. If Jim Pillen will not publicly debate the issues with the Republican candidates for governor, he should withdraw from the race, Thibodeaus campaign said. In a statement, Herbsters campaign lauded forums and debates as opportunities for voters to see each candidate on the same stage together, talking about issues important to Nebraska voters. Voters get to see how candidates perform in a less-controlled and manipulated environment when the heat is on, it reads. During a debate, candidates do not have time to consult staff on answers; they need to react in the moment and give genuine responses. The statement included a list of forums and debates Herbster has committed to and a challenge to Pillen to stand up with the other candidates in front of everyday Nebraskans and answer their questions. Lindstroms campaign didnt make any direct appeals to Pillen when asked for comment. Senator Lindstrom has always prioritized debates and forums and looks forward to participating in the first debate on March 24 and participating in the NTV Central NE Debate in April once that date has been finalized, campaign manager Tori Mahoney said. Pillen along with Herbster first caught criticism in February for failing to commit to a debate planned by KMTV and the Omaha World-Herald. While Lindstrom and Thibodeau accepted the invitation, KMTV never heard back from Herbster or Pillen. After a phone call, Pillens campaign never followed up. Herbsters campaign said the date wouldnt work and, when asked for alternative dates, cited a busy schedule and never followed up. Organizers put the event on hold, and Thibodeau condemned her opponents. Since then, Herbster, Lindstrom and Thibodeau have agreed to participate in a debate March 24 hosted by Nebraska Public Media. So has Republican candidate Breland Ridenour, an Omaha information technology manager. Pillen declined, citing a scheduling conflict with a campaign event. At the time, Pillens campaign said hed consider participating in a future debate. Pillens campaign also disclosed this week that it declined an invitation from Nebraska Sunrise News, a recently launched news website whose leadership includes state Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln. Publisher Fletcher Reel said that the outlet had been trying to plan a debate with the top three candidates (based on fundraising and polling): Herbster, Pillen and Lindstrom. Herbster and Lindstrom agreed, he said, but Pillens campaign didnt respond, at first, and ultimately declined. Pillens campaign alleged in its statement that correspondence about the Sunrise News debate indicates that the Herbster campaign attempted to exclude Thibodeau and Ridenour. However, Reel said that is categorically false, and that criteria for the debate was set by the outlet. Its no longer holding the debate, Reel said, because it wouldnt be inclusive of the top candidates. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 JOHANNESBURG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States has a lot to account for human rights violations at home and abroad, but the country just took advantage of its discourse power to hide its poor records on human rights, a South African youth leader has written. "The general global discourse power is skewed towards the West and is overwhelmingly aligned with the U.S.," wrote Buyile Matiwane, deputy-president of the South African Students Congress, in an opinion piece published on South Africa's Independent Online news website on Thursday. The current general discourse on human rights is based on the West's bias and confusion, making it impossible to accurately and objectively assess other countries' commitment to human rights and civil liberties, Matiwane said, noting that the one-sided and limited coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is one of the latest blatant examples. The international community must first examine the U.S. human rights records to determine whether the country should have "so much power and authority on issues relating to human rights," Matiwane wrote. While facing deep-rooted problems at home such as gun violence, racial inequality, and immigration crisis, which were even worsened after the outbreak of COVID-19, the United States has also created human rights crises in other countries, he wrote. "Americans must first fix what has gone wrong at home and rethink how they deal with the rest of the world," the author quoted Stephen Walt, an international relations professor at Harvard University, as saying. DES MOINES -- Having crossed the midway point in whats scheduled to be a 100-day session, Iowa lawmakers are digging into the time-consuming budget process. Majority Republican budget proposals for public safety, courts, agriculture and natural resources in fiscal year 2023 were approved on party-line votes Thursday. The budgets are part of an $8.27 billion general fund budget proposed by House Republicans, which amount to a less than a 1 percent increase from the current $8.1 billion budget. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.2 billion, a 3.5 percent increase. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said he expects more activity on the budget process after the House and Senate approve the priorities identified by Republicans and Reynolds. He hopes to move more budgets next week, with the possibility of them being approved by the full Appropriations Committee and eligible for floor debate. The bigger tax conversation has happened, Grassley said, referring to legislation that will phase in income tax cuts to a flat rate of 3.9 percent. So now, with that out of the way, we have a lot more attention being focused on the budgets, he said. That's what is really going to start being the center of attention here in the House. In action Thursday, the House Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations subcommittee unanimously approved a $416 million budget, with an additional $14.3 million for capital projects. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $54 million budget. The Justice Systems Appropriations subcommittee approved a $633.8 million spending plan, with a $12.7 million increase for several departments. Those include a $7.1 million increase and another 36 full-time-equivalent employees for Corrections, which has seen its funding grow by nearly $29 million since fiscal 2021. The proposed budget includes $3.1 million for the Department of Public Safety, which will increase funding for the Iowa State Patrol by $2 million to $71.5 million, according to the Legislative Services Agency. The subcommittee also approved $200.6 million for the Judicial Branch from various sources. Thats a $7.1 million increase that includes $1.4 million for four more district associate judges, said Chairman Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, who has chaired the budget committee for 12 years. Democrats can always make improvements, Rep. Brian Meyer of Des Moines, the ranking Democrat on the Justice Systems Appropriations subcommittee said. Democrats, he said, might be able to support the budgets after further review. The budgets follow presentations by departments to the House appropriations subcommittees, which started early in the legislative session. Noting the lack of those presentations to Senate budget subcommittees and the lack of joint House-Senate committee meetings, Democrat Meyer thanked Republican Worthan for those briefings, which give legislators the opportunity to discuss priorities. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I had a history professor in college who always warned, Youre comparing apples and bowling balls. Thats what private school voucher advocates are doing when they compare private to public schools. Both play a role in educating students, but they are very different, and its an apple and bowling ball comparison. Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed a new entitlement program for Iowa private schools. Heres how her voucher proposal would work. Two groups of students would be eligible to receive a voucher. Those qualifying include students whose family income is less than or equal to 400% of the Iowa poverty guidelines, and students with individual Education Improvement Plans (IEPs). Under this plan, the number of students receiving vouchers is capped at 10,000 and the voucher amount would be 70% or $5,359 of the current public-school cost per pupil of $7,629. If all 10,00 vouchers were used, the public schools will lose $53,590,000. To appease rural lawmakers into passing her plan, theres another part to this bill. The remaining 30% or $2,270 of the cost per pupil goes to small schools of 500 students or less. So, schools with enrollment over 500, like, Sioux City Community Schools, could lose twice. Governor Reynolds claims shes all about transparency, yet she continues to use four myths to sell her new entitlement. Myth 1: The funding should follow the student. Having fewer students in a public school doesnt automatically mean costs goes down. There are still students who need lights, heat, teachers, supplies, transportation, etc. Most of the students will remain in public schools. They shouldnt be shortchanged because some students choose a private school. Myth 2: Private schools and public schools should compete because competition is healthy. Competition is healthy, but not when the playing field is tilted in favor of one competitor. Public schools have no control over the raw material they get. All students are accepted. Private schools may accept or reject any student based on private criteria. Thats what private means. If after accepting a student, a private school finds, because of discipline or disability, the student doesnt fit, a school may choose to permanently remove a student. The only alternatives for those parents are to find another private school miles away, home school, or enroll the student in public school. Public schools must provide educational opportunities for all students, even those with discipline problems or disabilities, Myth 3: Vouchers will assure parents of children with disabilities and those at or below the poverty line have school choice. Currently the average tuition in Iowa for a private high school is $9,033. Under the Reynolds plan, the voucher amount is $5,349. Private schools accepting vouchers will not be required to cap their tuition at $5,349. Private schools will also not be required to accept special education students. Myth 4: Private schools will be available in rural Iowa. When the bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he replied, Because thats where the money is. Private schools need to go where the students are. That means the urban and suburban areas. Rural Iowa could become education deserts with an underfunded public school and no private school within driving distance. Private schools serve a distinct purpose. They are private primarily for two reasons. They dont want to be tied down by government regulations, and parents want their religious values reenforced at school. Theres nothing wrong with those ideas, if the schools arent financed with public dollars robed from the underfunded public schools. Iowa doesnt need a new private school entitlement program that will never end and will continue to grow. Bruce Lear, of Sioux City, has been connected to public schools for 38 years. He taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association regional director for 27 years until retiring. Love 12 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 4 U.S. District Judge Steven Douglas Merryday has effectively stopped the federal government from deploying a $1.8 billion warship and its 300-person crew, the Justice Department confirmed in a hearing at a federal courthouse in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday. The Navy will not deploy the ship, a guided-missile destroyer, until it can reassign the commanding officer, who refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But Merryday, a George H.W. Bush nominee, is blocking the officers reassignment, claiming the move would violate his religious freedom. Advertisement Thursdays evidentiary hearing allowed the Justice Department to make its case that Merrydays order is directly interfering with military readiness. But the judge did not appear persuaded by the governments arguments. It seems that Merryday will continue to threaten national security by seizing control of key naval operations until the Supreme Court steps in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The commanding officer at the heart of this case was granted anonymity by the court, so Ill call him John Doe. As an active-duty member of the Navy, Doe is subject to the armed forces COVID-19 vaccine mandate, issued by the commander in chief, President Joe Biden. Doe claims, however, that his religious beliefs prevent him from getting the shot. When the Navy rejected Does request for a religious exemption, he filed a lawsuit alleging a violation of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Although he is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, Doerepresented by the far-right Liberty Counselfiled the suit in the Tampa Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. This court is something of a hotbed of litigation against COVID regulations; in 2021, Merryday himself blocked a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order limiting cruise ship operations due to the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Merryday did not just shield Doe from the vaccine; he also ordered the Navy to retain him as commanding officer of a warship. It was no surprise, then, when Merryday ruled in Does favor. But the judge did not just shield Doe from the vaccine; he also ordered the Navy to retain Doe as commanding officer of a warship and deploy him without regard to his vaccination status. Merrydays sweeping restraining order created immediate problems, because Does superiors no longer trust him. They testified under oath that Doe refused to get tested for COVID-19 despite showing classic symptoms, then recklessly exposed dozens of his crew to the virus. They also attested he had intentionally deceived his superiors, defied lawful orders, and demonstrated a pattern of disobedience. Advertisement As Capt. Frank Brandon told the court: I cannot trust him to look after the welfare of his sailors, and I cannot trust him to be honest with me. In my judgment, allowing him to remain in command of a Navy warship would be reckless. Merryday suggested that these accusations were mere retaliation against Does religious beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Justice Department attorney Amy Powell laid out the disastrous consequences of the judges previous orders. An entire guided-missile destroyer, she explained, is effectively sidelined because of Merrydays ruling: The Navy simply will not deploy it as long as Doe remains its commanding officer. After reiterating the reasons that Does superiors and subordinates dont trust him, Powell explained the medical risks: Unvaccinated individuals are at far higher risk of serious illness; if Doe contracted COVID, his incapacitation would undermine naval operations and potentially cause an outbreak among the crew. A serious case of COVID requires a level of medical care thats not available on the warship, which doesnt even have a physician. Moreover, many of the nations allies require American service members to get vaccinated before stepping foot on their soil. These rules would bar Doe from leaving the ship at foreign ports. And all these risks heighten the possibility of mission failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doe took the stand next. A tall white man with dark hair, he appeared confident but slightly indignant. (He did, indeed, look triumphantly fit and slim and strong, as Merryday previously described him.) Liberty Counsels Roger Gannam began direct examination, asking Doe about the governments claim that his objections to the vaccine pose a threat to good order. Doe, clearly prepared for this question, launched into a long narrative about the terms dark history. The military delayed racial integration to preserve good order, he said. It also justified discrimination against women and gay people as necessary for good order. Now history is repeating itself as the commander in chief cites good order as a justification for mandatory vaccination. Advertisement Choking up, Doe testified that hundreds of thousands of service members were negatively affected by the mandate. But his own objection, Doe argued, has not affected good order on the ship. Doe said that his oath is to protect the Constitution, not to follow unconstitutional orders. He rejected the governments concern that he could not disembark alongside his subordinates at foreign nations ports due to his unvaccinated status, insisting: Other nations cannot tell our ship what to do. And he complained that the Navys diversity and inclusion trainings emphasize race, ethnicity, and gender, but fail to protect religion. He was here, he said, to challenge that failure. Advertisement Advertisement On cross-examination, Does demeanor shifted significantly. He became evasive and combative as Powell poked holes in his prior testimony. Powell pointed out that Does executive officer lost trust in him after he allegedly failed to give proper notice before traveling to a high-risk area while on leave. Though Doe believes the allegations of his executive officer to be a mere misunderstanding, Powells questions emphasized the growing sense of distrustincluding atypical supervision and questioning from superior officers. Of particular concern was the leave Doe was taking to attend the hearing. Powells questioning suggested that superior officers feel increasingly misled by Does ambiguous communication, whereas Doe chalked up any ambiguity to a lack of context and a desire to insulate his subordinates from personal matters in the interest of good order. Advertisement Throughout the proceeding, Merryday remained relatively quiet and relaxedand maskless. (Although the courts mask mandate ended on Monday, he reminded the audience: Masks were always discretionary in my court.) He seemed thankful for Does testimony, as though it vindicated his earlier orders. And he showed evident interest when Doe said his superiors had punished him for taking leave to testify in this case. (This uncorroborated theory bolsters Merrydays prior suggestion that Navy officers fabricated Does disobedience as a pretext to remove him from command.) The judge said nothing on Thursday to indicate that he will reconsider his restraining order forcing the Navy to keep Doe in command of the warship. Advertisement Advertisement Multiple admirals and captains have testified that, because the Navy may need to deploy this ship very soonespecially in light of the current conflict in EuropeMerrydays orders present a direct threat to national security. Merryday obviously does not believe them, but we may soon find out if the Supreme Court does. A closely related case out of Texas is pending before SCOTUS right now, giving the justices an opportunity to remind conservative judges that they do not, in fact, run the armed forces. Until that happens, Justice Department attorneys will continue to waste time and energy pleading with judges like Merryday to stop overruling lawful military orders issued by the commander in chief. Additional reporting by Matthew Kelly. Like many, I was surprised by Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine, and to not limit his activities to the countrys separatist regions. If Putins invasion had been planned for some time, he certainly didnt choose the best time of year to invade Ukraine. The forecast for the next few days is unusually cold, but in much of the countryas will soon be the case farther northit is currently the time of rasputitsa or rasputitsia ( in Russian). Advertisement One Russian dictionary defines rasputitsa as a time [of year] when dirt roads are difficult to traverse or indeed impossible to do so; the condition of roads at this time [of year]. I have not only spent many a number of springs and falls in Russia but, as someone living on the Canadian prairies, am familiar with the equivalent here. In the spring, melting snow and rain often make dirt roads and fields impassible until they dry out; in the fall, the rains before the snow have the same effect. Strangely enough, the onset of colder temperatures typically makes the going easier, when the ground is frozenbefore there is really deep snow, which hampers mobility again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The timing of Putins invasion is particularly odd for someone who seems to place so much stock on historical precedent, given the impact the rasputitsa has had on past foreign invasions of Russia and the Soviet Union. During Napoleon Bonapartes invasion of Russia in 1812, the spring rasputitsa was not an issue for the French advance, because Napoleonin some ways wiselywaited until the summer to launch his invasion. I write in some ways, because waiting until the summer does not give armies invading Russia a lot of time before the fall to defeat Russian forces in the vast territory over which they are forced to operate. The fall rasputitsa undoubtedly complicated the initial phases of the retreat of Napoleons Grande Armee from Russia, at a time when man and beast struggled in the mud of unpaved roads. Advertisement Advertisement The impact of the rasputitsa is perhaps more celebrated in the case of Nazi Germanys invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Although the invasion was supposed to have begun in May, a wet spring and the need to send German troops to Yugoslavia in the face of a coup there meant that Operation Barbarossathe invasion of the Soviet Unionwas delayed until late June. Although the dust on the many unpaved roads in the summer caused its own problems, far more detrimental for German mobility was the fall rasputitsa. Advertisement Advertisement By the beginning of October 1941, German forces had not only reached Leningrad and captured Kyiv, but were ready for a last desperate lunge to seize Moscow before the winter. On Oct. 2, 1941, Germanys Operation Typhoonand what the Soviet Union called the Moscow Strategic Defensive Operationbegan. What is more commonly known as the Battle of Moscow initially went well for German forces. Large numbers of Soviet troops who were blocking the most direct route to Moscow from the eastern side of Smolensk were quickly encircled by German armored forcesa blow to the Red Army, although dealing with the troops caught in the encirclement would be a time-consuming task for the German infantry. Although the Red Army was able to throw some fresh troops in the path of the advancing German army, during mid- to late October, the road to Moscow looked as open as German forces could have reasonably hoped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That German forces didnt reach Moscow in late 1941something that Napoleon managed to do back in 1812owed much to stubborn Soviet resistance both in front of and behind German lines, as well as logistical difficulties that were hampering the German advance even in the relatively favorable conditions of early fall. Those logistical difficulties would be compounded when the rain came. Advertisement Advertisement Photographs of German vehicles and horses and carts stuck in deep Russian mud are staple fare in books about the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Sometimes horses were mired up to their chests in mud, and both horsedrawn and wheeled vehicles struggled to make any progress, either on- or offroad. Of course, the mud hampered Soviet forces as well, but the Red Army had fallen back on its supply lines, so supplies had much less distance to cover to get to the Red Army forces than to the Germans. Advertisement What is perhaps less well publicized than the problems that the mud caused for the German advance is that General Mudas the rasputitsa has sometimes been described in the Westdidnt just help the Soviet Union but has, historically, been something of a free agent. On Aug. 28, 1939, for example, Time magazine published an article entitled Nationalism and General Mud Are on the Polish Side, in expectation of a foreign invasion of Poland. But in the event, Hitlers and Stalins invasions took place before the rasputitsa could hamper the Soviet forces coming from the east. Advertisement Back on the Eastern Front during World War II, having defeated German forces at the gates of Moscow by the beginning of December 1941, the Red Army itself would go onto the offensive with the aim of nothing less than the total defeat of the invaders. A Soviet counteroffensive near Moscow began during the weekend of Dec. 57, 1941, and soon snowballed into offensive operations across the whole of the Eastern Frontfrom Leningrad, on the Baltic Sea, all the way down to Rostov, on the Don River near the Black Sea. Although deep snow hampered this Soviet counteroffensive during the winter months, the death knell for the Soviet offensives was the spring thaw, and the return of the rasputitsa. Much like their German counterparts only months before, by the spring of 1942 Soviet units were at reduced strength, tired, and operating at the end of extended supply lines back to friendly territory. The rasputitsa was in many ways the last nail in the coffin for Soviet offensive operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the war on the Eastern Front progressed, the Red Army got better at conducting offensive operations during seasons that were far from conducive for them. The rasputitsa remained a hindrance, but by 1944, when the last of Soviet territory was liberated, the Red Army had become quite adept at mitigating the problem of the mud. In some parts of the Soviet Union, Red Army forces could lay long corduroy roads made with logs across marsh and swamp, thanks to the wood provided by forested terrain. By 1944, in places where these ad hoc roads could not be built, the Red Army had far more trucks with good cross-country capabilities thanks to the United States. U.S.-supplied Studebakers and other trucks had much better cross-country mobility than the Soviet trucks that were all the Red Army had in 1941. Advertisement Advertisement Todays Russian army is an army built on experience of what is called, in Russia, the Great Patriotic Warincluding the experience of keeping an army moving during the rasputitsa. It helps that today, there are far more paved roads across the former Soviet Unionincluding Ukrainethan there were in early 1942. The current Russian army also has, proportionally, far more all-wheel-drive trucks than its Soviet predecessor had in early 1942 to resupply front-line troops with tanks and tracked or all-wheel-drive armored personnel carriers. That being said, at a certain point the mud can still become a problem for a modern army. It doesnt take that much traffic to turn a passable-but-wet dirt road into a quagmire, and sticking to paved roads is not an option when the enemy has them well covered with anti-tank and other weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Even today, launching an offensive during the period of rasputitsa is far from ideal. That Vladimir Putin chose to do so suggests his invasion of Ukraine was not as premeditated as some Western observers have chosen to think, that he was overconfident about the likelihood of Russian success, or both. With the Russian army facing much stiffer resistance from Ukrainian forces than expected, the mud is an additional factor that, in some instances, is no doubt slowing the Russian advance down. Though the forecast for Ukraine for the next couple of days is cold, the rasputitsa is, inevitably, coming. If we are to make parallels between the predicament of Russian troops today and German forces back during the rasputitsa of the fall of 1941, we might not focus on the mud. The most significant similarity is a lack of the necessary logistical preparations for the military operations being carried out. At the beginning of the invasion, Putins Russian forces clearly lacked the logistical support for the war they had begun to wage. General Mud is, apparently, helping Ukraine now, and may pitch in more in the coming weeks, but his abilities are finite, and he cannot be relied upon to play his part in the longer term. The initial United States response to Russias invasion of Ukraine has been marked by an unusual level of unanimity in public opinion. According to an Economist/YouGov poll, Americans view Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky favorably by a 6017 margin and believe by a 7011 margin that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ordering the commission of war crimes. According to the Navigator group, Putin has a net favorability rating of negative 79 even among Republicans. How could this happen, given that only two years ago the mainstream Republican position was that the Ukrainian government was corruptly involved in supporting the Biden family (or something) and framing Russia for the theft of Hillary Clintons emails? And that until just two weeks ago the right-wing media were praising Putin for defending heterosexuality and free speech? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. One could speculate: Regular Republicans, particularly older ones, may not have paid close enough attention to the ins and outs of Trumps misconduct, and the right-wing intellectual rationalizations thereof, to realize that Russia was supposed to be on their side now. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, for instance, apparently thinks the countrys government is still communistas did 52 percent of Republicans in an Economist/YouGov poll that concluded March 1. Another 18 percent said it was socialist. (Forty-four percent of Democrats said communist and 10 percent said socialist. The correct answer, I guess, would be authoritarian-capitalist with significant input from government-backed organized crime figures?) The right-wing echo chamber is such that many of its figures had actually convinced themselves that the purported Russian threat to Ukraine was being concocted for some arcane, corrupt reason by the Biden administration and the liberal media, leaving them flat-footed and temporarily embarrassed when an invasion actually took place. Advertisement Advertisement There are a number of Republicans who still have some influence within the party, like Karl Rove and Lindsey Graham, who came up during the heady days of shipping U.S.-made weapons to anyone who would promise to use them against the Soviets, up to and including the literal Osama bin Laden. They are aware that Russias economic system is not communist but are still genuinely excited about the idea of someone trying to kill Russian guys. Advertisement Ukraine is unmistakably an underdog in this conflict, while Russia is unmistakably the aggressor, and TV news reporting, even on Fox, has highlighted Russias attacks on civilians. But there are cracks in this structure. Mega-MAGA Republican North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn told donors over the weekend that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies. (I have no idea what he means by the ideologies part, nor have I been able to find outmy best guess is that Ukraine is presumed to be woke because Putin has criticized gender fluidity and cancel culture and the GOPs newer members assume that everyone else is as motivated by cultural rage as they are, rather than by economic and security interests.) Tucker Carlson, meanwhile, has been airing a theory, previously circulated by a QAnon social media account and the conspiracy site Infowars, that the U.S. has been working with Ukraine to develop biological weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Republican leaders in Congress, probably for the reasons outlined above, have tried to keep these kinds of theories from gaining ground in their caucus. Will they continue to be successful? Let me answer that question with a series of other questions: Have they been successful in convincing their voters not to elect people who say things on Facebook about how the Rothschild family may have started a wildfire in California using a space laser? Were they successful in convincing their voters to take the COVID vaccine? Did they convince their voters not to believe in QAnon theories about Democratic pedophilia and cannibalism? Did they convince their voters not to believe that Venezuela, Cuba, and likely China rigged the election for Joe Biden? No, and in fact that last claim was made at Republican National Committee headquarters. Past results do not always predict future performance, but they often do, and in this case they predict that some sizable number of Republican voters, media figures, and elected officials will decide that they support the bombing of Ukraine because liberals dont want them to. Once that decision is made, the consensus that Zelensky is the hero and Putin is the monster will sink into the same slurry of conspiracy theories that swallows everything else. This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech. MOSCOWFrom the West, it may seem that not many Russians have taken to the streets to protest against the special military operation in Ukraine. But activists here are taking enormous risks by protesting at all. The most common punishment for participating in an unauthorized rally (all rallies are unauthorized; the government is using the pandemic as an excuse to deny requests for any demonstrations) is a fine of up to 20,000 rubles or about $170, which is an average month salary in some Russian regions. Protesters can also be placed in administrative detention for up to 15 days. Since Feb. 24, the day the fighting in Ukraine began, more than 13,000 protesters have been arrested; about 30 of them now face criminal charges, with maximum prison sentence of up to five years, according to OVD-Info, a protest-monitoring group.* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Criticizing Russias actions became even more risky on March 4, when Vladimir Putin signed a bunch of laws that punish people for spreading false news about the military operation in Ukraine (including calling it a war) with up to 15 years of prison. Two days later, more than 100 protesters were charged with discrediting the Russian military for posters reading No to war or Yes to peace. They currently face fines of up to $500; if they take to the street with No to war banners again, they might be imprisoned for up to three years. The newest trend is detaining activists even before a protest happens. In St. Petersburg, police falsely accuse activists of bomb threat calls. It gives officers the reason to raid their apartments and detain them. Some of activists have to spend up to 48 hours in a temporary detention facility, says Dmitry Piskunov, a lawyer with OVD-Info. Advertisement Advertisement Apart from penalties, peaceful protesters should be prepared to get beaten by police: At least 30 people, according to the human rights group Apologia Protesta, have said they experienced physical abuse on Sunday. Demonstrators also face bullying and sexual humiliation. On Sunday, audios secretly recorded by protesters made headlines for showing torture in a Moscow police department: Officers were beating young women, pouring water over them, throwing their phones against the wall, and threatening to rape them while saying that Putin is on their side and they would get rewarded for murdering them. Protesters future might also be at risk: According to the newspaper Kommersant, St. Petersburg State University, one of the well-known Russian universities, is about to dismiss students who took to streets. Advertisement Advertisement Despite these attempts to frighten people into staying home, protests are becoming more and more massive. It is very brave of demonstrators, says Piskunov. Advertisement Advertisement Slate asked Russians who have been detained recently on charges of participating in unauthorized rallies to share their stories, which I have translated. (We are not sharing their names to protect their safety.) A 30-year-old marketer from Moscow was arrested twice in the past two weeks, but she continues to participate in demonstrations. She says: On Feb. 24, my colleagues and I were reading news all day long and couldnt work. People turned off their cameras at Zoom meetings from time to time to cry. In the evening I grabbed a poster reading: Yes, this poster wont help, save, or support anyone, but I dont know what else I can do. I came to Tverskaya Street in the center of Moscow. I was on the phone with my friend, having a mental breakdown and crying very loud when I showed my poster. Three minutes later, police detained me. Officers issued the same protocols [documents outlining the reason why people have been detained] to all detainees delivered to the police office with me (even to those who were just on their way to the pharmacy or McDonalds when they were arrested). It was said in a paper that I took part in an unauthorized rally. I didnt agree, saying that it was a single-person protest, which doesnt need to be authorized, according to law. My second arrest happened three days later, on Feb. 27. I was a part of a marching crowd. At some point people even chanted. I didnt chant, though. Our way forward happened to be blocked by police officers. We asked if we could go through, and they answered that we should go inside an avtozak [a police bus] instead. That time it was mentioned in a protocol that on top of taking part in an unauthorized rally, I was chanting No to war. Regarding my experience in the police office, I can tell that policemen become aggressive and get into the mode I will destroy you quickly once you decline to follow their procedures, including those that are unnecessary and illegal, like taking fingerprints. In my opinion, lawyers should not advise detainees to insist on their rights when they are locked inside police office and are under pressure. I still havent had court hearings for both arrests. But I continue to express my opinion in the streets, because sitting at home without action would drive me crazy. I also realize that it is easier for me to participate in protests than for many others: I dont have a husband, children, or even a cat. And I have supportive parents. I understand people who cant go to the streets to speak out because they have families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Moscow journalist who asked to remain anonymous was arrested for a single protest on March 3: I am a Russian citizen and I have a right to my opinion. On March 3, I wrote Peace to the world on a poster, and I came with it to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the center of Moscow. I stood there for five minutes, and I actually was surprised that I wasnt detained the moment I unfolded the poster. Then at least three police officers came up to me and asked me to follow them to their vehicle. They didn`t explain the reason. In the bus I asked one policeman whether he was against the peace (and my poster). He answered that he has an opinion but he wouldnt share it with me. Then he told me that single-person protests are illegal, but I insisted that he was wrong. He asked me to name the specific article of the Constitution, where it is mentioned. I didnt know its number, and I dont have to. I just know that I have this right. He told me to learn the laws and ended the conversation. I was provided with a lawyer by OVD-Info, which I contacted as soon as I was detained, and she helped me to fill in the papers. The protocol said that my single-person protest was similar to other single-person protests lately, so it is considered as a part of organized protest. My lawyer said to me that it is illegal to interpret single-person protests this way. Now I am at risk of a fine of 20,000 rubles [about $170] just for expressing my opinion. I really dont get what is my crime. I was born in Russia, I pay taxes here, I have a right to speak out. I saw horrible videos of brutal arrests. Thankfully, I was not beaten or bullied, but I still dont understand why I was detained for the opinion, which cannot be considered harmful in any way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since most protesters dont chant or carry posters and they look from the side like people who peacefully walk in a street, it is common for police to detain not only real demonstrators, but also residents who were passing by with no intention to protest. One of them, a 24-year-old resident of St. Peterburg, suffered a head injury after being beaten by police on Sunday. (He provided Slate the picture of his head with stitches closing the wound). He says: I met with friends at a bar to celebrate a job promotion. We were heading to the bar when three police cars popped out of nowhere. Everybody in the street started to run away. I did the same. Two policemen caught me and pressed me to the ground, and two other policemen joined them. So, four officers were beating me with their legs and rubber hoses. They hit me on my head and body. I have a big bruise on my left leg now, a wound on my head, and my lower back hurts. Policemen lifted me up, and I followed them to the avtozak without resistance. Other detainees who were already in the vehicle helped me. We were delivered to the police office, and half an hour later the ambulance arrived. Doctors told policemen that they wanted to take me to the hospital. Then the officer talked to me in private and offered two options. He encouraged me to sign a paper saying that I dont have any complaints about the police and promised to release me without any charges. If I did not, according to the officer, the police would escort me to the hospital and bring me back to the police office after the medical procedures; then I could have been punished on charges of participating in an unauthorized protest. I dont take part in any protests, though. I chose the first option, because I wanted everything to end shortly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chances to be found not guilty by the courts are close to zero. Protesters who got fined have said the judge even didnt look at them during the hearing. Meanwhile authorities continue ignoring violations of law by police. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin, said in a statement on Feb. 25 that single protests are allowed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs denies that police stop people at rallies and force them to unlock their phones to show their messages on social media and photo galleries, despite the video evidence. In the meantime, legislators are working hard on how to frighten people even more and prevent them from taking to the streets at all. Some members of Parliament have even introduced a law that would send arrested protesters to Donbas to fight against Ukrainians. I think it seems unlikely to pass. But a lot of unlikely things have happened recently. Correction, March 11, 2022: Due to an editing error, this article originally misstated the number of protesters arrested in Russia since fighting began in Ukraine on Feb. 24. It is more than 13,000, not more than 130,000. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. The office is in touch with compatriotic organisations around the globe. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slovaks living abroad who contributed to the development of their community will be eligible for Slovak citizenship without the condition of being residents in Slovakia. This is one of the novelties that the amended Citizenship Act offers, concerning holders of the Slovak Living Abroad certificate. People who have significantly contributed to their communities thus have an advantage ahead of all the other certificate holders, who need to meet the condition of at least three-year residence in Slovakia before they are granted citizenship. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Milan Jan Pilip (Source: TASR) According to the amendment to the Citizenship Act, granting citizenship to holders of Slovak Living Abroad certificates with the contribution to the development of the community will be based on the statement of the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad. The Slovak Spectator spoke with the chair of the office, MILAN JAN PILIP, about how they will assess the applications. The law should become effective as of April 1. The amended Citizenship Act reads that there will be a new category of people with easier access to Slovak citizenship. These are holders of the status of Slovak Living Abroad, who significantly contributed to the development of their community abroad. Based on the law, the Interior Ministry will decide on granting citizenship based on the statement from your office. How will it work? Our office issues the certificate to those who prove that they have Slovak ancestry and national awareness. A Vietnamese Slovak, Ukraine and nature as an inspiration. The "Third Century of Bicycles" exhibition in the Slovak Technical Museum - Museum of Transport in Bratislava on March 9, 2022. (Source: Dano Veselsky/TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled We celebrated the International Womens Day earlier in the week, which is why you can find an old poster marking the day and a profile interview with a Vietnamese Slovak in this weeks roundup. We also touch on Ukraine through the lenses of culture, but lets start off with travel tips: Using this app, you can find the best places to take nice pictures of Nitra. Enjoy your weekend in the spa town of Trencianske Teplice. If you want to hike, head to the Orava region and visit this new lookout tower on Machy Hill. For history buffs, how about visiting Beckov Castle? Visitors at Beckov Castle, Trencin Region, on March 6, 2022. (Source: Radovan Stoklasa/TASR) UKRAINE Vova destroys the enemy A massive wooden table stands in the middle of a large military tent, and that is pretty much it. Vova, destroy the enemy! But be careful, a good enemy is hard to find! mentors Lenin and Stalin tell a Russian matryoshka puppet with a portrait of Vladimir Putin in the play Putin Skis (2010), created by the Czech theatre Lisen. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Spectators watched it at Nova Cvernovka in Bratislava early in the week. However, what would be a satire a few weeks ago is reality today. The play is inspired by Anna Politkovskayas books. The Russian journalist who had long criticised Putin and his regime was murdered in 2006. The production reflects on many defects of the regime, moving from a comic portrayal of events to a strong theatrical reportage. For example, the audience could hear the testimonies of the survivors of the Moscow terrorist attacks or watch the extinguishing of candles, which symbolise the lost lives of journalists. video //www.youtube.com/embed/yJFJfWQktTc Other Ukraine-related news: The Museum of Ukrainian Culture in Svidnik, eastern Slovakia, will present the life and work of the great Ukrainian writer Taras Shevchenko at 14:00 on March 17. During the event, the museum will also present the works of Ukrainian writers living in Slovakia. Slovak bands will play a charitable concert at A4 in Bratislava to support Ukrainian families. The gig is held at 16:00 on March 13. Admission: 10. Radio Devin played Beethovens Symphony No. 9, the EUs anthem, alongside other 57 classical music radio stations around Europe on March 10 to call for peace in Ukraine. The piece underlines the idea of brotherhood and peace. The Slovak Philharmonic played Anton Bruckners Symphony no. 8 c mol, WAB 108 on March 10 to support Ukraine. The 1892 symphony is sometimes referred to as Apocalyptic. DISPLAY Nature as an inspiration What does the femur have in common with the Eiffel Tower? What connection can be found between the dandelion and a parachute? The "Bionics Nature Was First to Discover It" exhibition takes place at a Martin museum until May. (Source: PxHere) The Andrej Kmet Museum in Martin, where Bionics Nature Was First to Discover It exhibition takes place until early May, offers answers to the questions above. Bionics is a scientific discipline that uses knowledge from the world of biology to solve problems in technology. In 1586, the Englishman Mathew Baker was so inspired by the body shape of cod and mackerel that he managed to improve the speed and agility of battleships. In addition to many interesting facts, including what animal inspired people to create photovoltaic cells of solar panels or wristwatches with a built-in alarm clock, visitors can find a submarine model, a shark-skin swimsuit, an airplane model, or an old catapult model at the museum. What animal do you find so captivating that it would help you invent an item that could possibly be patented? A 1961 poster created by Jaroslav Pecka on the occasion of the International Women's Day, which reads "with women of the whole world for peace". (Source: Slovak National Gallery) Artist: Erna Masarovicova, the first Slovak female sculptor, created two public space artworks of iron in Kosice. ANIMAL Cranes are here Senianske rybniky, ponds in eastern Slovakia, are currently a home to thousands of common cranes. The species is a rare nesting bird in the country. An important migration route of cranes to the north runs across eastern Slovakia, the SOS/BirdLife organisation said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. Many are heading to Finland after the winter spent in the south of Europe and northern Africa. The organisation even found a crane that was 20 years old. The birds give loud trumpeting calls. The first common crane recorded in Slovakia this year arrived in early February. Common cranes make a stop in eastern Slovakia on the way to northern Europe. (Source: Roman Hanc/TASR) Zoo: After eight years, a baby pygmy hippopotamus was born at the Bratislava Zoo on March 7. WEEKEND READ I often imagined I didnt live in Slovakia, but in Vietnam On a Monday, when her classmates returned to school after the weekend, they shared what adventures they had experienced in the Bratislava woods, asking Trang Pham Thi Thu about hers. Youve never been to the woods? they asked bewilderingly. In Vietnam, theres no forest, just a jungle, Pham Thi Thu, who goes by the name of Niki, had to explain. She was eight years old when her family moved from northern Vietnam to Bratislava in the early nineties. After several years spent in the UK and Vietnam, she has returned to the Slovak capital. Here, Pham Thi Thu raises her child with her Vietnamese husband. Niki and her daughter, whose first name is officially Slovak, eat in a traditional Slovak restaurant. (Source: Courtesy of Trang Pham Thi Thu) Dive into the story of Pham Thi Thu who talks about her childhood, Slovakia, Vietnam, and why the ethnic minority status would matter to the Vietnamese community in Slovakia. That is it for now. Have a restful weekend! - Peter Do you have any tips? You can reach Peter at peter.dlhopolec@spectator.sk It took just one week to create a fully functional information point for people fleeing Ukraine. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled From the moment Vladimir Putins troops invaded Ukraine on February 24, organisations that provide humanitarian assistance in Slovakia, Ukraines direct neighbour, have been in crisis mode. Collection points for food, clothing and medical supplies for refugees have been inundated with donations across the country while more and more NGOs are setting up tents by the Slovak-Ukrainian border to help those who cross into Slovakia on foot or by car. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Since the outbreak of the war, some 2 million people are estimated to have fled Ukraine, while around 165,000 have come to Slovakia as of the morning of March 10. Some are staying in Slovakia, with relatives and friends or relying on help from the state, NGOs and volunteers, although most are estimated to continue further west. Related article: Related article: Volunteer at the border: Coordination shortage, uncertainty is the worst for refugees Read more At Bratislavas main train station, Hlavna Stanica, people travelling from Ukraine by train the first few days after the invasion were stranded. There was no one there to provide them with information on the city, accommodation or transport. As soon as she realised this, Human Rights League Director Zuzana Stevulova sprung into action. She called the office of Bratislava Mayor Matus Vallo the following Monday to ask for its help in establishing an information point for refugees arriving by train. Eleven days after the initial call, the Hlavna Stanica information point is fully functional and manned by dozens of volunteers and coordinators clad in orange vests and bilingual name tags. Stevulova, who provides free legal assistance at the info point, says its a miracle that it came together so quickly. We came here the other day with just two small tables because we couldnt imagine how much help would be needed, but straight away, we worked past midnight and we realised it was important to work here together. How it works Sci-tech innovation set to stabilize, bolster nation's industrial economy 08:41, March 11, 2022 By Ma Si ( China Daily China's intensified efforts to pursue innovation-driven development. [LI MIN/CHINA DAILY] Upgrades and initiatives aim to achieve high-quality development. Ma Si reports. China's intensified efforts to pursue innovation-driven development and cultivate competitive small and medium-sized enterprises will help further stabilize supply chains and boost the nation's sprawling industrial economy, officials and experts said. The government has pledged to promote scientific and technological innovation to upgrade industry, eliminate supply bottlenecks and achieve high-quality development through innovation, according to the 2022 Government Work Report. It said China will make a big push to boost the core competitiveness of manufacturing, promote the stable performance of industry, ensure the supply of raw materials and key spare parts, and launch initiatives. These factors will allow leading businesses to fully play their part in safeguarding the stability and security of industry and supply chains. This year, China will enhance the policy of granting additional tax breaks for research and development costs, raising the deduction coverage for small and medium sci-tech enterprises from 75 percent to 100 percent. Tax breaks will also be granted to businesses that invest in basic research, while policies will be improved on the accelerated depreciation of equipment and tools, and on preferential corporate income tax for new-tech and high-tech enterprises. According to the report, the government will launch a number of industrial foundation reengineering projects, help upgrade traditional industries, accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing clusters and launch a national program to foster clusters of strategic emerging industries. It will also nurture specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products. The moves come after the country's manufacturing output exceeded 31 trillion yuan ($5 trillion) last yearthe highest figure globally for the 12th consecutive yearwhich accounted for more than 27 percent of national GDP. During the two sessions, Xiao Yaqing, minister of industry and information technology, who oversees the top industry regulator, said that despite challenges, China's industrial economy continued the trend of stabilization and recovery in the first two months of this year, with industry chains and supply chains becoming more resilient. According to Xiao, the nation's manufacturing sector has become more technology-driven, thus speeding up digitalization and green transformation and reflecting the fact that China's industrial structure has been further optimized and upgraded. Various levels of growth have also been seen in crucial sectors such as containers and computer chips. Last year, the sales revenue of China's integrated circuit industry exceeded 1 trillion yuan for the first time, with year-on-year growth of 18 percent, according to estimates by the China Semiconductor Industry Association. Core competitiveness Despite that growth, Xiao said last month: "We are also clearly aware that there are still many problems. For example, the core competitiveness of the manufacturing sector is not strong, the quality of the supply system urgently needs to be improved and there are still many risks to the security and stability of industry and supply chains." He also warned that domestic development faces the triple pressures of shrinking demand, supply shocks and weakening expectations amid the current external environment, which has become more complex, severe and uncertain. In such a context, the ministry pledged measuressuch as strengthening the resilience of industry chains, boosting the new information infrastructure and helping small and medium-sized enterprisesin an attempt to bolster the nation's sprawling industrial economy. Li Yizhong, president of the China Federation of Industrial Economics, an industry association in Beijing, said that to remove hindrances to industrial upgrading and development, the industrial foundations need to be consolidated and weak links need to be strengthened. "We need to work harder to enhance technological innovation and emergency responses, as well as speed up breakthroughs on key technologies, such as high-end chips and fundamental software," said Li, who is a former minister of industry and information technology. More efforts are also needed to boost investment in digital infrastructure such as fifth-generation cellular wireless technology, aka 5G, and semiconductor manufacturing plants, he said. "Previously, we embraced the foundry model in semiconductorsthat is, we do chip design, testing and packaging but leave chip production and manufacturing to others," Li said. "As a result, now we don't have the capability to manufacture high-end chips, which makes the domestic semiconductor sector vulnerable to possible sanctions from other countries. That is a weak link in the semiconductor industry that we must strengthen." According to Li, deeper integration of the digital and real economies is also needed to stabilize supply chains, while internet companies and industrial enterprises should work more closely. Creative centers Eager to fuel the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector, the ministry said that more national manufacturing innovation centers will be set up to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies. By the end of last year, 21 such centers had been established nationwide, covering areas including semiconductors, new energy vehicles and intelligent sensors. To build a modern industrial system, experts called for more efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises, which will help enhance the resilience of industry chains and boost the innovation and vitality of the industrial economy. Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO of Lenovo Group, said SMEs are not only an indispensable part of the industry and supply chains, but also an important source of innovation, and they make a significant contribution to employment. However, in the digital transformation process, many SMEs face challenges, such as weak digital tools and a lack of funds and talent. Meanwhile, some are confused about how to embrace digitalization, said Yang, who is also a deputy to the National People's Congress. A digital transformation acceleration platform could be built to provide digital evaluation consulting, training and funding solutions for SMEs, while more efforts are needed to develop an index system to better gauge the level of digitalization at SMEs in order to offer more targeted help, he added. According to Yang, established companies such as Lenovo should play a bigger part in driving the joint innovation and development of SMEs in both the upstreams and downstreams of industry and supply chains. He said Lenovo has built a digital management platform with its domestic SME suppliers to help them achieve digital transformation, and it has also supported local competitive SMEs via venture capital investment and by purchasing their technologies and components. 'Little giants' Keeping the crucial position of SMEs in mind, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology aims to help cultivate about 3,000 "little giant" companies this year, which will focus on a market niche and master key technologies with a strong innovation capacity. The plan is part of the ministry's broader push to trigger creativity across SMEs and foster a better business environment for them. China aims to cultivate 1 million innovative SMEs by 2025, according to a government guideline on the development of SMEs during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). "For China, innovation capabilities and well-rounded supply chains have played an increasingly prominent role during the country's economic development," said Li Chao, chief economist at Zheshang Securities. "The 'little giant' companies, which are able to fill certain weak spots for the country, will help improve the industry and supply chains and enable China to become a manufacturing powerhouse." A research note published last year by investment bank China International Capital Corp said the average revenue growth rate of listed Chinese "little giant" companies had outperformed that of nonfinancial and nonpetrochemical companies listed in the A-share market. They will likely become future "hidden champions" like those (comparable companies) in Germany, and may even make a big contribution to industrial growth, it said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Bratislavas boroughs are checking the shelters in their districts. The war in Ukraine has raised interest in bomb shelters. The picture shows the entrance to the music club Subclub (formerly U.Club) located in an anti-nuclear bunker under Bratislava Castle. (Source: SME - Marko Erd) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Russias invasion of Ukraine has served as a sharp reminder to hospitals, municipalities and the national government to check the state of their civil protection shelters. Since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, most of these have remained little changed since they were first constructed in the 1950s and 60s, and now contain obsolete ventilation systems and electricity supplies. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement You know very well that civil protection has been the very last thing to receive attention for the past 30 years, said Interior Minister Roman Mikulec (OLaNO), as quoted by the Sme daily. The ministrys plans from 2015, i.e. after the annexation of Crimea by Russia, even indicated that construction of new shelters would be inefficient and unnecessarily expensive. In addition, the state further reduced the already limited number of shelters. By selling or leasing them to private individuals so that it did not need to take care of them, it rendered some of them effectively unusable as protection shelters. Although Slovakia registers more than 312,000 protective shelters, with a theoretical capacity of more than 7.5 million people, more than 99 percent are simple structures such as cellars or garages. The most effective shelters, which are airtight and capable of withstanding bombs, or nuclear, chemical or biological attack, number 1,587 in Slovakia. They can hold a maximum of 288,000 people, Sme wrote. Music club, gym or warehouse Many shelters today serve very different purposes, as gyms or music venues. There is a still functional anti-nuclear bunker on the Danube embankment, under Bratislava Castle. In recent times it has housed a music club, which first opened in 1993 under the name U.Club and was commonly known as Ucko. It became popular mostly because of its focus on electronic music, techno and drumnbass. A shelter at the Zelezna Studnicka recreational area, where the State Defence Council was supposed to hide during communism, is, in theory, also maintained. It is intended to serve politicians and civil servants. Tenants of active shelters are obliged to return them to their original condition for emergency use within 12 hours. However, when reporting on the subject in the past, journalists have had difficulty contacting tenants for several days. It is not at all clear that tenants would be able to fulfil their responsibilities, the daily wrote. Russias invasion as a wake-up call If Bratislavas borough of Petrzalka were an independent city, it would be the third largest in Slovakia, with more than 100,000 inhabitants. However, it is not known exactly how many public shelters it has. We are completing a list of them and we will publish it on the [district's official] website, said Maria Halaskova, spokesperson for Pertzalka, told Sme. In the past, it was assumed that people in Petrzalka could, in the event of a crisis, hide in the underground metro. One problem: the metro was never built. (Instead, the borough's single tram line is currently being extended, but it includes no tunnels.) Later, the Petrzalka borough said that there are 24 potential underground shelters with a capacity of 25,000 places on its territory. There are more shelters in private ownership. The borough notes that crisis plans assume that as many people as possible would be evacuated from Bratislava, the SITA newswire reported, although it not specified where they would go. Other boroughs, as well as the city council, are verifying the condition of their shelters. The Old Town should have 120 of them, half of which are in private hands. Nove Mesto borough has 35 shelters. The Interior Ministry has not published a list of shelters. It claims that if a threat requires it, people will receive relevant information via local radio, text messages, or television and radio broadcasts, Sme wrote. Turkish Air Company Pegasus Suspends Russia Flights for 2 Weeks Turkish Pegasus Airlines decided to cancel all its flights to and from Russia from 13 March for two weeks amid financial sanctions imposed on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine. "Due to operational risks under these conditions, all our flights to and from Russian Federation have been temporarily suspended as of March 13, 2022 (including) until March 27, 2022", the company said in a statement, adding that such measures were forced due to sanctions on insurance, leasing, and other operations on flights to and from Russia. According to the statement, all passengers on flights to the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Mineralnye Vody, Grozny, Makhachkala, and Krasnodar between these dates can change their tickets for free or receive a full refund. https://sputniknews.com/20220311/baby-lets-do-it-in-microgravity-nasa-says-it-is-considering-studying-sex-in-space-1093782852.html Baby, Lets Do It in Microgravity! NASA Says It is Considering Studying Sex in Space Baby, Lets Do It in Microgravity! NASA Says It is Considering Studying Sex in Space Looking back at the numerous missions, one might say humanity has already conquered space. Weve been to the Moon, sent rovers to Mars, collected samples from... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T15:05+0000 2022-03-11T15:05+0000 2022-03-11T15:05+0000 science technology space sex space exploration nasa /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107012/46/1070124610_0:179:3032:1885_1920x0_80_0_0_8ea4435be3c922b8f227fbfb8d42e64d.jpg NASA has said it is considering studying sex in space. Speaking to Mic, the agencys spokesperson said that at the moment, NASA is focused on mitigating the five hazards of human spaceflight and researching ways to help crews work together and remain emotionally prepared during their journey. However, he noted that the agency would take the appropriate steps when it becomes necessary to conduct research on humans' reproductive health during space missions.This may be interpreted as a U-turn, as NASA and other space agencies have previously avoided discussing the subject.The spokesperson also said that NASA has in the past conducted studies on the subject, but these didnt involve humans, but instead focused on fruit flies, worms, snails, jellyfish, fish, frogs, chicken (bird) eggs, and rodents.Why Is This Important?Technological progress has reached such a high level that travelling to Mars and colonising other planets no longer seems to be the plot of a sci-fi movie. SpaceX is now working on its next-generation spaceship, which could simplify space travel and make it less expensive. The company plans to send humans to Mars before 2030.NASA, in its turn, plans to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024 and then establish a human presence there.Scientists have for decades studied how space missions affect human health blood flow, muscles, skeletal strength but there have been no comprehensive studies on sex and the reproductive system.It is known that cosmic radiation can have detrimental effects on an individuals DNA and potentially lead to cancer, nerve degeneration, and radiation sickness. The risk of developing a disease increases with the duration of a space mission and will grow significantly when space agencies send astronauts to other planets. According to NASA, a one-way trip to Mars would take about nine months.Health experts have noted that a good sex life is vital for physical and mental health. Late last year, a group of Canadian researchers called on space agencies worldwide to embrace a new discipline of study space sexology: the scientific study of extraterrestrial intimacy and sexuality.The bottom line is, we dont have answers as to whether our organs will work the same way in space as they do on Earth, let alone what will happen if an astronaut gets pregnant during a space mission. Physicist and astronomer John Millis believes male arousal would be "challenging in space though it could still technically be possible". Female astronauts could experience serious problems too. space Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev science, technology, space, sex, space exploration, nasa https://sputniknews.com/20220311/biden-revokes-russias-most-favored-nation-trade-status-for-us-eu-g7-countries-1093783692.html Biden: US, Allies to Revoke Russia's 'Most Favored Nation' Trade Status Biden: US, Allies to Revoke Russia's 'Most Favored Nation' Trade Status Removal from the list of "most favored nations" in effect means that Russia will no longer enjoy permanent normal trade relations with the West, and the... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T15:33+0000 2022-03-11T15:33+0000 2022-03-11T17:24+0000 us joe biden trade russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093784161_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_34223a46dad04e2ee5d05a4f3399767e.jpg US President Joe Biden announced on Friday that America, along with the European Union and G7 countries, will boot Russia off the list of so-called "most favored nations" for trade.The American president said that the US and G7 partners will ensure that Russia cannot obtain financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. He also noted that the US authorities will be allowed to ban future investments in any sector of the Russian economy. According to the US president, the sanctions that have already been imposed on Moscow are "crushing" the Russian economy - and there are more to come.Biden also announced that Washington will work to ban vodka, seafood and diamonds being imported from Russia. The US will also ban the export of its luxury goods to Russia. Among other goods that are likely to have higher tariffs for import slapped on them are uranium, rhodium, palladium, and silver bullion.Furthermore, the US president said Russia will "pay a severe price" should it use chemical weapons in Ukraine. Biden also revealed that he spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and "told him - as I have each and every time Ive spoken to him - that the United States stands with Ukraine [...] as they bravely fight to defend their country and they are doing that."The decision to end normal trade relations with Moscow comes in the wake of a number of anti-Russian sanctions which were imposed on Moscow by the West after the Kremlin launched a military operation in Ukraine. In early March, Canada revoked the "most favored nation" status in trade for Russia and Belarus.Countries that have the "most favored nation" status are required to treat each other equally. About 180 countries have this status; among those which don't are Cuba and North Korea.Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on 24 February, with the intention of "demilitarising and de-Nazifying" the neighbouring country. Moscow emphasised that the Russian armed forces are only targeting military infrastructure and will not pose a threat to civilians.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 us, joe biden, trade, russia https://sputniknews.com/20220311/bill-gates-warns-against-investing-in-bitcoin-if-you-are-not-on-forbes-list-watch-out-1093785898.html Bill Gates Warns Against Investing in Bitcoin: If You Are Not on Forbes List, Watch Out Bill Gates Warns Against Investing in Bitcoin: If You Are Not on Forbes List, Watch Out In 2008, a person going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto published an article in which he described the concept of Bitcoin. His idea was met with scepticism and laughter. Fast forward to 2022, and Bitcoin is the most expensive cryptocurrency, with major companies accepting it as payment. 2022-03-11T16:27+0000 2022-03-11T16:27+0000 2022-03-11T16:28+0000 business bill gates bitcoin cryptocurrency /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/08/1083096736_0:0:3639:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_2790525e9809bb52366e5cdbbe2d2a83.jpg Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned individuals against investing in Bitcoin unless their names are on the list of Forbes richest individuals. He pointed to the cryptocurrencys high volatility and decentralised system, saying the value of Bitcoin could be swayed by something as simple as a tweet by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.Elon Musk, the worlds wealthiest individual, is a big fan of cryptocurrencies and often posts about them on social media. There were instances, when the tech entrepreneurs tweets resulted in a surge of their value.This is not the first time Bill Gates has spoken negatively about Bitcoin. Previously, the entrepreneur has lamented the cryptocurrency allegedly damaging the environment."Bitcoin uses more electricity per transaction than any other method known to mankind. So its not like a great climate thing", he said.Gates, who is said to have donated $50 billion to philanthropic causes since 1994, has in recent years focused his attention on climate change, which he considers the biggest problem facing humanity.At the same time, the Microsoft co-founder has spoken highly of cryptocurrencies, stressing that "digital money is a good thing" when it comes to funding poorer countries. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev business, bill gates, bitcoin, cryptocurrency https://sputniknews.com/20220311/china-faced-cyberattack-from-us-soil-to-target-russia-chinese-state-media-reports-1093770502.html China Faced Cyberattack From US Soil to Target Russia, Chinese State Media Reports China Faced Cyberattack From US Soil to Target Russia, Chinese State Media Reports Earlier this week, Beijing condemned Washington's actions regarding the situation in Ukraine. China accused the White House of spreading lies and said that... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T10:45+0000 2022-03-11T10:45+0000 2022-03-11T10:45+0000 china united states russia ukraine cyber attack cyber security vladimir putin volodymyr zelensky /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/1c/1090280496_0:50:960:590_1920x0_80_0_0_8743a8d11784273ec1e50276944bf953.jpg China has faced "continuous" cyberattacks from US addresses designed to seize control of Chinese computers in order to then target Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, the state-run news agency Xinhua has reported, citing the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Centre of China (CNCERT/CC).According to the outlet, Beijing has experienced cyberattacks since February. Aside from US addresses, a few attacks came from European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, CNCERT/CC said.Relations between Washington and Beijing have soured in recent years, with cybersecurity being one of several issues causing friction between the two nations. The White House has accused the Chinese leadership of carrying out a global espionage programme via its tech companies such as Huawei and TikTok. Chinese authorities have rejected the accusations, which they described as smears and political suppression. The news of cyberattacks comes amid tensions between Beijing and Washington over Russia's special operation in Ukraine, which the Kremlin said is aimed at denazifying Kiev and protecting the residents of the two breakaway regions, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR). Both republics requested help from Moscow amid escalated attacks from Kiev and ordered the evacuation of the civilian population to Russia.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia's special operation an "invasion" and has rejected statements made by President Vladimir Putin that Nazis are present in Ukraine. Western nations have sided with Ukraine and imposed the harshest sanctions to date on Moscow. The punitive measures targeted banks, businesses as well as individuals, who the West said are reportedly close to President Putin.China has not directly expressed support for the special operation conducted by Moscow, but said that the West should pay attention to Russia's security concerns over "NATO's eastward enlargement for a long time". At the same time, Beijing said that the alliance is partly to blame for the situation in Ukraine.Since Russia discovered US-funded biolabs in Ukraine allegedly capable of developing biological weapons, Beijing has demanded answers from the White House.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus china ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 china, united states, russia, ukraine, cyber attack, cyber security, vladimir putin, volodymyr zelensky https://sputniknews.com/20220311/could-the-decision-to-ban-russian-oil--gas-doom-the-biden-presidency-1093771223.html Could the Decision to Ban Russian Oil & Gas Doom the Biden Presidency? Could the Decision to Ban Russian Oil & Gas Doom the Biden Presidency? Amid the US banning imports of Russian oil and gas, reports have emerged suggesting that Washington is considering relaxing sanctions against Venezuela in... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T11:49+0000 2022-03-11T11:49+0000 2022-03-11T11:49+0000 us russia opinion joe biden venezuela oil /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093774617_0:0:3114:1753_1920x0_80_0_0_22b348ad789bc91b99196d58af88c8f3.jpg Announcing the American ban on Russian oil and gas, US President Joe Biden said that this decision will mark the moment "the American people deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine". Yet, according to many energy experts, the American people might have to deal with the harsh consequences of the move first - and so might the Biden administration.Red Wave in November?Dr Gal Luft, co-director of the US-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, believes that the crackdown on Russian oil could "mark the beginning of the end of the Biden presidency". Since it does not seem like the administration has a clear plan on how to replace the imports from Russia - a country that provides 10 percent of the world's oil supply - the bold decision has caused a spike in fuel prices just before the summer driving season.The ban is likely to hurt all Americans, who are highly dependent on driving and long commutes - and the pain that awaits them at the gas pump may be reflected in the midterm elections.He points out that, if Republicans hold a majority in either one or both houses of Congress, Biden will not be able to implement the remainder of his domestic agenda and 2023-2024 will be years of legislative paralysis, possibly paving the way for a GOP candidate to return to the White House.To hold back the rising fuel prices, Biden could give up the environmental regulations hampering domestic oil supply, such as opening more public lands for exploration and production, approving pipeline construction, suspending the Renewable Fuel Standard, and reducing the gasoline tax. That, however, would be a blow to his climate agenda - an agenda that now appears to be rattling the oil industry and with this sink the American economy, which has already weathered a major health crisis in the form of the coronavirus pandemic.Venezuela to the Rescue...or Not?There have been speculations about Washington being ready to bury the hatchet with Venezuela amid the growing tensions between the US and Russia that led to Biden's import ban. Caracas is, as acknowledged by the White House, "a large, very large producer of oil". Yet, due to the American sanctions from 2014 to 2020, Venezuela lost 98.6% of all foreign exchange earnings, with the allocations of PdVSA (Venezuela's state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela) to the country's central bank plummeting more than 99%.Now, according to reports by Bloomberg, Washington appears ready to relax the economic restrictions on Venezuela amid the Russian oil ban. This intention was not confirmed by the White House, with press secretary Jen Psaki assuring reporters that "currently" there are no discussions underway about imports of Venezuelan oil.Many observers, however, refuse to rule out this possibility.Gal Luft calls America's reported turn to Venezuela and Iran for oil "a spectacle" and "no less than a national humiliation", given the eagerness that Washington displayed for years to "punish, starve and isolate those countries".How Will the Russian Oil Ban Affect the Global Picture?With the global economy (and oil industry in particular) hardly out of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Biden's decision to ban Russian oil and gas seems even more risky.A capacity hike by oil producers would be something that the United States could wish for, but it is unlikely that OPEC+ exporters would go for it, he continues. "Most OPEC+ countries are not happy with the developments in Eastern Europe and feel the war was avoidable. The rich oil producers in the Persian Gulf know that an energy crisis breeds food crisis and that bread riots in the Middle East and North and Sub-Saharan Africa could lead to an Arab Spring II - regional instability, refugee crisis, and civil wars", the analyst explains.He also predicts that the energy crisis will lead to a competition between Europe and Asia over energy resources - a contest that Asia will win because Asian countries will agree to pay more in the bidding war. https://sputniknews.com/20220309/us-ban-on-russian-oil-will-have-terrible-impact-on-market---top-turkish-energy-official-1093706774.html venezuela Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko us, russia, opinion, joe biden, venezuela, oil https://sputniknews.com/20220311/florida-senate-approves-bill-banning-critical-race-theory-gender-identity-classes-prompting-guilt-1093777381.html Florida Senate Approves Bill Banning Critical Race Theory, Gender Identity Classes Prompting 'Guilt' Florida Senate Approves Bill Banning Critical Race Theory, Gender Identity Classes Prompting 'Guilt' The legislation is part of Governor Ron DeSantis' "Stop WOKE Act", which seeks to prevent "Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees". The law might affect not only... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T13:04+0000 2022-03-11T13:04+0000 2022-03-11T13:04+0000 us critical race theory gender issue florida /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093778503_0:0:3113:1751_1920x0_80_0_0_22d09d98eb663e76c452582a9bbe4a6b.jpg The Florida state Senate has passed the Individual Freedom Bill, which prohibits lessons on gender identity and racial topics in cases where they may cause "guilt". The bill was passed with 24 Senators voting in favour and 15 opposing. The legislation will now land on Governor Ron DeSantis' desk and will go into effect once he signs it.What Has Changed?The bill will make several changes to statutory language in Florida, removing the words "gender" and "ethnicity" replacing them with "sex" and "colour". The legislation also will broaden the official understanding of the term "discrimination" it will be applied to those cases when a person is deliberately made "uncomfortable" over historic actions committed by their race, gender, or nationality.The Individual Freedom Bill includes changes to other aspects of education. Now, Florida schools must teach its students about the history of slavery and racial segregation in their country in an "age-appropriate manner". Teachers are also banned from trying to "indoctrinate" their students to take a "particular point of view".Businesses Can Be Affected TooThe new legislation fits with Ron DeSantis' mission to stop "Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees" (which was shortened into an acronym "WOKE" in his "Stop WOKE Act"). And like the name suggests, it will affect not just schools and other educational institutions, but businesses as well.Many US companies have adopted a practice of organising various trainings for their employees in recent years from sexual harassment (exclusively for males) to racial discrimination (for white Americans) and other bias trainings. Now, workers who are usually mandated to attend these sessions, may sue their employers if they find the training disturbing for example, because it preaches critical race theory.The latter suggests that the US suffers from systemic and institutional racism. Despite remaining marginal for years in academic circles, it was suddenly included in school programmes in several states following the BLM protests of 2020 to the great displeasure of numerous parents, who consider the claim of systemic racism among the white population outrageous.The Individual Freedom Bill was opposed by Florida Democrats, who insisted that it was legislation "in search of a problem that we don't have". Senator Audrey Gibson recalled that teaching critical race theory has been banned by the state's Department of Education for some time now.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus florida Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg us, critical race theory, gender issue, florida https://sputniknews.com/20220311/indian-journalist-exposes-wests-hoax-report-of-russia-inflicted-damage-to-civilian-infra-in-kiev-1093771067.html Indian Journalist Exposes West's Hoax Report of Russia-Inflicted Damage to Civilian Infra in Kiev Indian Journalist Exposes West's Hoax Report of Russia-Inflicted Damage to Civilian Infra in Kiev Ukraine has said hundreds of civilians have died due to shelling in non-military areas by the Russian military, a claim countered by Moscow. Russias President... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T13:00+0000 2022-03-11T13:00+0000 2022-03-11T15:20+0000 ukraine donbass lpr dpr kiev russia india nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093483794_0:160:3073:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_2a17612df7ae6e8966a04e43b7fbc155.jpg Indian journalist Rajesh Pawar, part of a team of 100 journalists from 70 countries who visited Kiev, has categorically rubbished claims made by the Ukrainian authorities about the destruction as a result of shelling by the Russian Armed Forces."The amount of propaganda that has been used in this conflict has never happened after the Second World War. A few days back, reports were claiming Russia had used a vacuum bomb in Ukraine, which was proven to be false", Pawar stated, while reporting live for the India Today news channel.Pawar further explained that the Ukrainian authorities had organised a tour of Kiev in which 100 foreign journalists were included. He also did not find any evidence of civilian property damage during his visit to Mariupol, contradicting Western media reports about shelling in civilian areas.For days, Ukrainian authorities have been claiming that Russian forces are not allowing civilians to flee to safer places. Russia insists that it is not targeting civilians in the military operations that were initiated at the request of the people of Donbass. ukraine donbass kiev india Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, donbass, lpr, dpr, kiev, russia, india, nato https://sputniknews.com/20220311/iran-nuclear-deal-suspended-tehran-says-as-eu-negotiator-cites-external-factors-prompting-pause-1093786362.html Iran Nuclear Deal Suspended, Tehran Says as EU Negotiator Cites 'External Factors' Prompting Pause Iran Nuclear Deal Suspended, Tehran Says as EU Negotiator Cites 'External Factors' Prompting Pause MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) held in Vienna are suspended to resolve remaining issues, Iranian Foreign... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T16:48+0000 2022-03-11T16:48+0000 2022-03-11T16:48+0000 iran iran nuclear deal eu europe /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/12/1082662088_0:164:3059:1884_1920x0_80_0_0_b2aa4e2320f92bb362003c18f4e98fa1.jpg At the same time, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for a suspension of the JCPOA talks on 11 March, citing "external factors". He noted that the text was "essentially ready and on the table", but did not elaborate on what prompted the hiccup to its approval and signing by the parties to the original deal.Borrell further said that he and his team would continue to be in touch with all participants of the talks as well as the US, whose interests the EU represents in the negotiations. Nor did the EU foreign policy chief elaborate on what specific "external factors" affected the JCPOA talks.Negotiations on restoring the Iran nuclear deal have been ongoing since 2021, but had until recently shown little success. The US accused Tehran of pushing unrealistic demands, while Iran said it wouldn't agree to anything less than a reliable and lasting lifting of all sanctions.The statements by Khatibzadeh and Borrell indicate progress being made towards reaching a deal that is expected to allow Iran to once again trade with other countries, including selling its energy resources. Coincidentally, the apparent breakthrough in the negotiations takes place amid promises by the EU to ditch Russian gas and oil over the situation in Ukraine and the US ban on Russian energy resources. iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg iran, iran nuclear deal, eu, europe https://sputniknews.com/20220311/japan-bans-ponytails-on-schoolgirls-for-fear-of-sexually-arousing-male-peers-media-says-1093775909.html Japan Bans Ponytails on Schoolgirls For Fear Of Sexually Arousing Male Peers, Media Says Japan Bans Ponytails on Schoolgirls For Fear Of Sexually Arousing Male Peers, Media Says To say the Asian country has the strictest school rules in the world is no exaggeration. School pupils are only permitted straight, black hair. Those whose hair doesnt "adhere" to the rules, must submit proof that it is natural and not deliberately dyed or curled. 2022-03-11T13:30+0000 2022-03-11T13:30+0000 2022-03-11T13:31+0000 asia & pacific japan rules schoolgirl /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093775819_0:140:3001:1828_1920x0_80_0_0_e598333bd7fce2c2e60502bb3d471fe4.jpg Schools in Japan are banning girls from wearing ponytails as this style could sexually excite the schoolboys in their classes, 'Vice' reported, citing former middle school teacher, Motoki Sugiyama. The former teacher told the Canadian/American lifestyle magazine that he worked at five different schools in Shizuoka prefecture over 11 years and each of them banned the alluring hairstyle.He said school leaders told him that a ponytail is prohibited because it exposes the nape of the neck, something officials deem would get schoolboys too excited.Sugiyama said he had made it his personal mission to get the school rules repealed. He has a channel on social media, which stages talks about Japans educational system. No One Should Stand OutJapan has long been condemned by critics who believe its school rules (such as all-white underwear to prevent it from being visible) are too draconian. Local media has reported that some teachers checked on school pupils by pulling girls bra straps up or by entering a changing room where girls were dressing.Other rules dictate the acceptable colour of socks, the shape of eyebrows and hairstyles. Students are told to have straight black hair and pupils whose hair deviates from this standard curly or of a different tint have to submit evidence that their hair has not been tampered with.The number of rules and the rigour with which they are applied vary from school to school: last year, a court in the city of Osaka awarded a young woman $3,000 for emotional distress after teachers demanded she dye her hair because it was not black enough. That same year, a mixed-race pupil accused officials at her school of racism after her photo in the yearbook was edited so that her hair looked black.The strict regulations stem from the so-called philosophy of buraku kosoku, which was adopted by Japan in second half of the 19th century. According to Asao Naito, an associate professor of sociology from Meiji University, the purpose of this rigid discipline is so that no one individual should stand out. This is reportedly done to eradicate distractions and keep pupils focused on their studies.Sugiyama stressed that the rules are irrational and have no purpose, pointing out that schools which ponytails are often perfectly happy to allow girls to have a bob hairstyle which exposes as much of the neck as a ponytail. Naito recalls how 40 years ago, when he was in elementary and middle school, rules forbade the wearing of long skirts, which typically were used by sukeban (delinquent girls). For that reason, long skirts were banned and made shorter. But now, schools dont allow short skirts and are lengthening them, he said.In some cases, parents have managed to persuade school officials to repeal the regulations, but the majority of educational institutions still require pupils to dress according to the rules. According to 'Japan Today', 58 percent of schools in Nagasaki prefecture still require individuals to wear white underwear. japan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev asia & pacific, japan, rules, schoolgirl https://sputniknews.com/20220311/jussie-smollet-sentenced-to-30-months-felony-probation-for-hate-crime-hoax-1093758089.html 'Clout-Chaser' Jussie Smollett Sentenced to 150 Days in Jail for Orchestrating Hate Crime Hoax 'Clout-Chaser' Jussie Smollett Sentenced to 150 Days in Jail for Orchestrating Hate Crime Hoax In December, Smollett, known for his role in the television series "Empire", was found guilty of staging an assault by two men and filing a false police... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T00:38+0000 2022-03-11T00:38+0000 2022-03-12T04:29+0000 jussie smollett hoax sentence us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093761587_0:0:2889:1625_1920x0_80_0_0_f7483a37c50f2030c767af30e4d7ae80.jpg Actor Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 30 months felony probation and $120,000 restitution to the city of Chicago for staging a hate crime attack against himself. The judge ordered Smollett to spend the first 150 days of his sentence in the Cook County Jail."You're just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that's shameful", the judge said.The original incident occurred in January 2019, when Smollett purported he was attacked by two criminals who accompanied their actions with homophobic and racist insults, presenting the image of a hate crime. A month later, police arrested the two suspects, who turned out to be Smollett's personal trainer and an extra on the "Empire" television series. Both men told authorities that they were paid to commence the attack by Smollett.Smollet has repeatedly denied his guilt. Nevertheless, the actor was found guilty on 12 December 2021, on five of the six counts of felony disorderly conduct a Class 4 felony which is punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. According to investigators, the actor initiated the attack in order to draw positive publicity and profit financially from it.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus https://sputniknews.com/20211211/trump-slams-smolletts-hoax-attack-as-hate-crime-in-reverse-says-if-republican-hed-be-in-jail-1091439198.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Alexandra Kashirina Alexandra Kashirina News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Alexandra Kashirina jussie smollett, hoax, sentence, us Critical Part of Freedom of Expression is Context of Speech: Meta on Its Policies Amid Situation in Ukraine "A critical part of ensuring free expression and human rights online is to have content policies and enforcement that recognize the context in which speech is shared", said the board, which reviews Meta's approach to content moderation. Earlier it was reported that Meta, parent company of the world's largest social networks Facebook and Instagram, is planning to allow publication of calls for violence against Russian soldiers in light of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. The media giant is going to allow posts that call for death to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in a number of countries, including Russia, Ukraine, and Poland, Reuters said on Thursday in a report, citing internal company emails. Calls for violence against Russian soldiers will be considered permissible by the company, but not against prisoners of war, the report said. Meta will also allow for praise of the right-wing Azov Battalion, which is normally prohibited, the report added. https://sputniknews.com/20220311/lukashenko-says-ukraine-planned-to-attack-belarus-1093779071.html Lukashenko Says Ukraine Planned to Attack Belarus Lukashenko Says Ukraine Planned to Attack Belarus Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that Ukraine planned to attack not only Donbass but also Belarus. 2022-03-11T13:10+0000 2022-03-11T13:10+0000 2022-03-11T13:10+0000 russia belarus alexander lukashenko vladimir putin ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102088/79/1020887924_0:0:3000:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_4322f233e53d82a83ae8458529190bfb.jpg Commenting on the sanctions imposed on both Moscow and Minsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the USSR had lived under sanctions but still succeeded.Russia and Belarus faced sanctions after Moscow launched a special military operation in Ukraine. The step was taken amid escalating attacks by Kiev's forces in Donbass, which prompted the mass evacuation of civilians and made the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics appeal to Russia for help. President Putin stressed that the op was started to stop the bloodshed in Donbass and aims to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine.The Russian forces have been targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons: the MoD stated that a total of 3,213 Ukrainian military objects have been eliminated since the beginning of the operation.The list of destroyed Ukrainian vehicles includes "98 aircraft, 118 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,041 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 113 multiple launch rocket systems, 389 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 843 units of special military vehicles", according to an official statement. belarus ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, belarus, alexander lukashenko, vladimir putin, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20220311/made-in-india-boeing-airbus-parts-can-be-exported-to-russia-averting-sanctions-aviation-expert-1093754109.html Made in India Boeing, Airbus Parts Can Be Exported to Russia Averting Sanctions: Aviation Expert Made in India Boeing, Airbus Parts Can Be Exported to Russia Averting Sanctions: Aviation Expert Boeing and Airbus have stopped sending spare parts to Russia, prompting Russian airlines to source these items from third countries. 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T14:49+0000 2022-03-11T14:49+0000 2022-03-11T14:49+0000 aeroflot europe us boeing airbus russia india sanction ukraine airlines /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107866/14/1078661490_0:136:3161:1914_1920x0_80_0_0_67d2ff412a7805c023183c48a8baaf55.jpg Hundreds of Indian firms producing aeronautical spare parts of Western-origin commercial aircraft may rescue Russian airlines facing a crisis due to the US-led "economic war", an aviation expert says.Airplane manufacturers Boeing and Airbus have announced the suspension of parts, maintenance, and technical support for Russian airlines, as well as major operations in Moscow, following Russia launching a special military operation in Ukraine.Vardhan says that Indian manufacturers are supplying spare parts for Boeing and Airbus aircraft to several countries under contractual arrangements."Indian manufacturers are bound to adhere to the contractual agreement, which sometimes also specifies the countries to which they can supply and where they can't. If Russia comes under the open market, which I think it would, then Boeing or Airbus cannot impose restrictions", Vardhan, former CEO of state-owned airline Vayudoot, underlined.Over 275 Indian suppliers manufacture critical systems and components, including aerostructures, wire harnesses, composites, forgings, avionics mission systems, and ground support equipment, for some of Boeing's most advanced commercial aircraft.Similarly, airlines using Airbus aircraft are sourcing components and services from more than 45 Indian suppliers.If Airbus and Boeing can impose restrictions in changed circumstances, Vardhan responded that the contractual agreement would not be altered in such a drastic manner. However, Indian firms cannot divert directly imported components to third parties.On Thursday, Valery Kudinov, a Rosaviatsia official responsible for maintaining airplane airworthiness, said that Russia would look for opportunities to source components from countries like Turkey and India.Airbus and Boeing's airplanes account for almost two-thirds of the Russian fleet. It is estimated that Russian airlines have 332 Boeing manufactured planes and 304 Airbus aircraft. Russia's aviation industry, dominated by Aeroflot airlines, accounted for about 6% of flights worldwide last year. india ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg aeroflot, europe, us, boeing, airbus, russia, india, sanction, ukraine, airlines, aircraft . 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You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. https://sputniknews.com/20220311/nato-chief-turkey-is-informed-alliance-expects-all-members-to-impose-sanctions-against-russia-1093770086.html NATO Chief: Turkey Is Informed Alliance Expects All Members to Impose Sanctions Against Russia NATO Chief: Turkey Is Informed Alliance Expects All Members to Impose Sanctions Against Russia Shortly after Russia launched a special military operation to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine, the US and its Western allies imposed packages of strict... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T09:36+0000 2022-03-11T09:36+0000 2022-03-11T10:43+0000 russia ukraine nato turkey sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093770763_0:201:3113:1952_1920x0_80_0_0_7f17b273ad5f2209a2e114e3631b99be.jpg NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Turkey has been informed that the alliance expects all members to impose sanctions on Russia amid Moscow's ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin has since said that his country is not planning to impose sanctions against Russia at the moment as Ankara wants to maintain a dialogue of trust with Moscow.The statement follows EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell saying on Thursday that the bloc had reached the limit of its capabilities to impose financial sanctions on Russia. Referring to a possible ban on Russian gas and oil - a measure that was earlier taken by the US - Borrell said that it would be much more difficult for the EU to do than for Washington.Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden announced an embargo on all imports of Russian oil and gas, which prompted further spikes in global energy prices.West Sanctions Russia Over Its Special Op in Ukraine Moscow's special military operation to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" Ukraine was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 February, following a request by the DPR and LPR for help amid intensifying attacks by the Ukrainian Army. Russia's Defence Ministry has repeatedly underlined that the country's armed forces are only targeting Ukraine's military infrastructure with high-precision weapons and that Ukrainian civilians are not in danger.In response, the United States, the United Kingdom, members of the European Union, and several other countries imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia. Some of them closed their airspace to all Russian flights, sanctioned a number of Russian banks and officialsDmitry Birichevsky, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's economic cooperation department, for his part, pledged that Moscow would work out targeted trade and financial restrictions to Western sanctions introduced after the beginning of Russia's special operation in Ukraine.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus ukraine turkey Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg russia, ukraine, nato, turkey, sanctions https://sputniknews.com/20220311/no-plans-for-offensive-on-donbass-docs-show-48-boost-in-kievs-defence-industry-output-in-2022-1093771712.html No Plans for Offensive on Donbass? Docs Show 48% Boost in Kiev's Defence Industry Output in 2022 No Plans for Offensive on Donbass? Docs Show 48% Boost in Kiev's Defence Industry Output in 2022 Over the past 8 years, Kiev has routinely delayed the implementation of the Minsk accords and outright suggested scrapping them for good, while Moscow has... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T10:45+0000 2022-03-11T10:45+0000 2022-03-11T11:56+0000 situation in ukraine ukraine dpr lpr military & intelligence /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093771941_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d1108ab415793938fde96d4323e955b9.jpg Kiev's war machine has been working tirelessly since at least 2014, trying to compensate for over a decade of stagnation and give the new nationalist-minded authorities that came to power after a Western-backed coup a chance to subdue the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics by force. Fast forward eight years, and the country's main defence contractor, Ukroboronprom, suddenly underwent a miraculous transformation, turning into a joint-stock company between June and October 2021, with the latter starting to openly report its successes in producing military hardware under new transparency requirements right on its website.Up to 48% Growth in Defence Industry Production VolumesAccording to newly published transparency information, in the first three quarters of 2021 Ukroboronprom reported 27.4% growth in production volumes compared to the previous year. Information from January 2022, in turn, said that total year-by-year growth reached 24% in 2021 compared to 2020.The company accelerated production rates even further in 2022, reporting a 48% increase in production volumes in January compared to the same month in 2021.Ukroboronprom's data also revealed progress made by specific sub branches. Namely, 15 enterprises working in the field of high-precision weapons and ammunition produced 34% more wares, such as precision missiles and shells, in 2021 compared to the previous year. The firm's aviation enterprises showed a 36% increase in production output. These companies build airplanes for both civilian and military use three An-178 cargo planes were set to be built for the Ukrainian military by the end of the year.Ukroboronprom's production level for armoured vehicles and main battle tanks remained on the same level as in 2020. At the same time, the concern focused on the modernisation of Ukraine's main battle tank, the T-64BV.These logs indicate the acceleration of Kiev's preparations for military activities although its goal was never revealed. Yet, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned during a press conference in Antalya, Turkey on 10 March that Kiev had been planning an offensive against the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as early as March 2022.'Cooperation' With US, Foreign CompaniesThe Ukrainian defence giant was not working on big military contracts alone it cooperated with several foreign companies. The Croatian firm ISKRA and Turkish company Hidrodinamik are helping the Kherson State Plant "Pallada", owned by Ukroboronprom, to build a new floating dock for repairing Ukrainian warships.Ukroboronprom additionally signed an agreement for cooperation with the France-based Thales Group, which develops aerospace, defence, transportation, and security products.The agreement was inked soon after a meeting between Director of Ukroboronprom Yuriy Husyev and French Ambassador Etienne de Ponsen in January 2022.One of post-coup Kiev's key allies, the US, also did not remain on the sidelines in helping Ukraine militarise even as it repeatedly refused to follow the roadmap for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Donbass the Minsk agreements signed in 2015. Ukroboronprom signed a cooperation agreement with the US Institute for Defence Analyses (IDA) in November 2021 so that the latter could help Ukraine's defence companies to undergo reorganisation and corporatisation, as well as provide strategic analysis for the industry.And in February 2022, Ukroboronprom's Director Yuriy Husyev met with US Charge d'Affairs in Ukraine Christina Quinn in the American Embassy. The two discussed the "next steps in cooperation", strategic partnership, military-technical cooperation, and defence, as per the February digest by the company.The last available data from the Ukrainian defence contractor, dated 15 February, nine days before the start of the Russian operation, said that over the past year Ukroboronprom had built, upgraded, and repaired 3,300 units of various military vehicles such as tanks, helicopters, jets, and armoured vehicles. The document does not reveal the purpose for such exorbitant military output.Over the past eight years, Kiev has not come any closer to implementing the Minsk agreements. Instead, it focused on building up the nation's military might, both internally and with the help of allies in the West, as well as constantly violating the Minsk agreements themselves by shelling the DPR and LPR with forbidden 120mm mortar shells.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg ukraine, dpr, lpr, military & intelligence https://sputniknews.com/20220311/not-quite-a-dinosaur-scientists-closer-to-resurrecting-extinct-christmas-island-rat-1093780773.html Not Quite a Dinosaur: Scientists Closer to Resurrecting Extinct Christmas Island Rat Not Quite a Dinosaur: Scientists Closer to Resurrecting Extinct Christmas Island Rat Scientists remain at loggerheads over de-extinction, which is nothing more than the process of generating an organism that either resembles or looks exactly... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T13:59+0000 2022-03-11T13:59+0000 2022-03-11T13:59+0000 copenhagen scientists genes genome animal study researchers /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093769369_7:45:1242:740_1920x0_80_0_0_5fa5d2068a797316a8741d3a6358a6c0.jpg Resurrecting prehistoric species, such as dinosaurs and mammoths, in a process called de-extinction may certainly blow ordinary people's mind, but what about more recently extinct creatures? A team of palaeontologists is currently working to resurrect the Christmas Island rat, which was wiped out from its isle home in the Indian Ocean more than a century ago.In a study published by the journal Current Biology, the researchers explained that they had managed to sequence the extinct rat's DNA and map it to some of the animal's closest living relatives, such as the Norway brown rat.The study revealed that although the scientists have already recovered 95% of the animal's genome, the missing 5% may considerably complicate the de-extinction process.Tom Gilbert, a geneticist at the University of Copenhagen and a co-author of the research, stressed that he was "interested in how easy or hard will de-extinction by [DNA] editing be".He added that in the study, the researchers also "computationally came up with an idea of what we think might go wrong" in the course of de-extinction.Touching upon the missing 5% related to the animal's olfaction, Gilbert made it clear that "with current technology, it may be completely impossible to ever recover the full sequence, and therefore it is impossible to ever generate a perfect replica of the Christmas Island rat".Gilbert also said that hefty sums of money spent on de-extinction may be put to better use on existing conservation programmes for living species."I think its a fascinating idea in technology, but one has to wonder if that's the best use of money as opposed to keeping the things alive that are still here", he claimed.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus copenhagen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg copenhagen, scientists, genes, genome, animal, study, researchers https://sputniknews.com/20220311/owaisi-mayawati-contributed-to-it-ex-ally-shiv-sena-takes-a-swipe-at-bjps-poll-win-1093777108.html 'Owaisi, Mayawati Contributed to It': Ex-Ally Shiv Sena Takes a Swipe at BJP's Poll Win 'Owaisi, Mayawati Contributed to It': Ex-Ally Shiv Sena Takes a Swipe at BJP's Poll Win The party Shiv Sena broke its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 after the Maharashtra state assembly polls. Since then, the... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T13:54+0000 2022-03-11T13:54+0000 2022-03-11T13:58+0000 india india bharatiya janata party (bjp) uttar pradesh punjab congress congress indian national congress politics politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093781239_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8479e1ba59bad4ade22e08bf6584e210.jpg A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party registered a thumping victory in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) the party's former ally Shiv Sena took a swipe at it. Shiv Sena on Friday remarked that it was Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi who actually contributed to the BJP's triumph in UP.Talking to the media, Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson and parliamentarian Sanjay Raut said: "The BJP achieved a great victory. Uttar Pradesh was their state, still, [Samajwadi Party chief] Akhilesh Yadav's seats have increased three times, from 42 to over 125"."Mayawati and Owaisi have contributed to the BJP's win, so they must be given the Padma Vibhushan [India's second-highest civilian award], Bharat Ratna [the highest civilian award]", he noted. Talking about the BJP's victory in four of the five state assembly elections, Raut said: "The BJP has won in four states, we don't have anything to be upset about. We join them in this moment of happiness".But he joked, reminding media persons that despite its victory in four states, the saffron party's (BJP) state chief candidate lost in Uttarakhand, both deputy state chiefs lost in Goa, and a deputy state chief lost in Uttar Pradesh too.Raut also took a jab at the BJP's dismal performance in Punjab, saying that the party was rejected completely in the state. "The prime minister, home minister, defence minister, everyone campaigned tremendously in Punjab, why did you lose in Punjab? Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa were yours already, which is fine. But, you have lost more in Punjab as compared to Congress and Shiv Sena in Uttar Pradesh", the Shiv Sena parliamentarian said.In the politically significant state of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP and its allies won a total of 273 of the 403 seats available.The BJP won 255 on its own while its main opposition, the Samajwadi Party, managed to grab 111 seats.Mayawati's BSP received a vote share of 12.8 percent, winning just one seat while the Owaisi-led AIMIM failed to open its account in this election and its vote share stood at a 0.49 percent.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus india uttar pradesh punjab Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rahul Trivedi https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926121_0:-1:627:627_100x100_80_0_0_d882e1a63f627c25b7a534fb8b8234d7.jpg Rahul Trivedi https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926121_0:-1:627:627_100x100_80_0_0_d882e1a63f627c25b7a534fb8b8234d7.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rahul Trivedi https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926121_0:-1:627:627_100x100_80_0_0_d882e1a63f627c25b7a534fb8b8234d7.jpg india, india, bharatiya janata party (bjp), uttar pradesh, punjab, congress, congress, indian national congress, politics, politics, politics, politics, elections, elections, elections https://sputniknews.com/20220311/pentagon-official-calls-ukraine-case-study-for-taiwan-says-should-be-as-prickly-as-possible-1093789334.html Pentagon Official Calls Ukraine Case Study for Taiwan, Says Should be As Prickly as Possible Pentagon Official Calls Ukraine Case Study for Taiwan, Says Should be As Prickly as Possible According to a November 2021 count by Sputnik, in the four years Donald Trump was a US president, from 2017 to 2021, Washington sold Taipei some $18.3 billion... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T19:51+0000 2022-03-11T19:51+0000 2022-03-11T19:52+0000 taiwan us china pentagon asymmetrical response /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/1a/1080884427_0:86:1061:682_1920x0_80_0_0_4378a538a6f0a3e35397642c65a0edea.png A senior Pentagon official heading US President Joe Bidens National Defense Strategy planning has told US lawmakers that future plans for defending Taiwan should include lessons drawn from Ukrainian resistance to Russias special military operation, including an emphasis on guerrilla tactics.Typically speaking, asymmetric warfare, or irregular warfare, refers to insurgent or guerrilla tactics, by which a smaller, scattered and more mobile force defends territory against a larger invading force. In the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the massive law passed in December 2021 that funds the Pentagon budget, Congress defined defensive asymmetric capabilities as the capabilities necessary to defend Taiwan against conventional external threats, including coastal defense missiles, naval mines, anti-aircraft capabilities, cyber defenses, and special operations forces.While the US has long supplied the government in Taiwan with weapons of war, the pace of armament sales rapidly accelerated after 2017. Between 2017 and 2021, the US sold Taiwan $18.3 billion in weaponry - a trend Biden has continued since taking office in January 2021. In November 2021, a group of Republican senators proposed a Taiwan Deterrence Act to create a $2 billion-per-year funnel of weapons into the small island nation off the east coast of Asia.The government of Taiwan formally calls itself the Republic of China, and is all that remains of the republican government that ruled all of China from the abdication of the last Chinese emperor in 1912 until the communist victory in the civil war in 1949. While the Communist Party of China set up the Peoples Republic of China on the mainland, it was unable at the time to invade Taiwan. Both governments claim to be the sole legitimate government of all of China.After the Kremlin launched its special military operation in Ukraine in late February, US officials raised fears that a Chinese move against Taiwan could be next. There have been no reports of preparations for such an operation by Beijing, however. If it did happen there are doubts that the US could stop Beijing from asserting sovereignty over the island - or if the US would make the attempt.Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi said to reporters during a meeting of the National People's Congress that the situations in Ukraine and Taiwan were totally different."The scheme to use Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail and Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland," he asserted. us china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 taiwan, us, china, pentagon, asymmetrical response https://sputniknews.com/20220311/putin-agrees-to-idea-of-sending-volunteers-to-ukraine-1093768892.html Putin Agrees to Idea of Sending Foreign Volunteers to Ukraine Putin Agrees to Idea of Sending Foreign Volunteers to Ukraine Russian forces, as well as the militias of Donbass continue to advance amid the special military operation in Ukraine. President Putin stated that the goal of the operation is to ensure the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine. 2022-03-11T08:22+0000 2022-03-11T08:22+0000 2022-03-11T10:53+0000 russia ukraine donbass dpr lpr vladimir putin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/19/1093372207_0:0:3002:1690_1920x0_80_0_0_d018b671d32ad6e21d1376c629f1b45a.jpg The Russian president stated that volunteers who want to help Russia in Ukraine should be assisted in reaching the area of combat operations.Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu noted that there is a vast number of people who want to help the DPR and LPR in the special operation - over 16,000, with many of them coming from the Middle East.Commenting on the statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov underlined that the minister specifically meant foreign volunteers, and that he has no information about any plans to attract Russian citizens.At the same time, Putin stressed that the Kiev regime's "western sponsors" are actively gathering mercenaries and do not even try to conceal their activity, blatantly neglecting the norms of international law.The preisdent also approved an idea put forward by Shoigu, suggesting that western-made weapons (small arms, tanks, anti-tank guided missiles and man-portable air-defence systems) seized in Ukraine should be transferred to the troops of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.Meanwhile, Shoigu noted that the West is boosting its military presence near Russian territory.The news comes as Russian forces and the Donbass militias are advancing in Ukraine amid the special military operation, launched on 24 February. Moscow noted that the operation was started in order to protect the people of Donbass, who were suffering from attacks by Kiev's forces, and noted that the goal of the operation is the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.The Russian forces have been targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons: the MoD stated that a total of 3,213 Ukrainian military objects have been eliminated since the beginning of the operation.The list of destroyed Ukrainian vehicles includes "98 aircraft, 118 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,041 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 113 multiple launch rocket systems, 389 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 843 units of special military vehicles", according to an official statement. ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg russia, ukraine, donbass, dpr, lpr, vladimir putin https://sputniknews.com/20220311/returning-to-the-scene-of-crime-hillary--bill-clinton-back-in-politics-amid-ukraine-crisis-1093784492.html Returning to the 'Scene of Crime'? Hillary & Bill Clinton Back in Politics Amid Ukraine Crisis Returning to the 'Scene of Crime'? Hillary & Bill Clinton Back in Politics Amid Ukraine Crisis It is hardly a coincidence that Hillary and Bill Clinton have resumed their political activity amid the current crisis in Eastern European given the role they... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T15:52+0000 2022-03-11T15:52+0000 2022-03-11T15:52+0000 us world opinion russia ukraine hillary clinton donald trump bill clinton nato expansion nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104983/15/1049831589_0:240:3134:2003_1920x0_80_0_0_4272666b0dc766335ed8195a49a16dfe.jpg Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughed and said "no" when asked whether she is considering throwing her hat in the ring in 2024 by MSNBC on Tuesday. Still, observers from both sides of the US political aisle are continuing to speculate about a possible presidential bid by the ex-secretary of state.Hillary and Bill's announcement of the revival of the Clinton Foundation's Global Initiative, a fundraising vehicle said to cope with urgent international issues, has added to the fuss. Bloomberg notes that 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". Following Clinton's defeat, the Clinton Foundation received just $16.3 million in contributions in 2020, down from its 2016 peak of $62.9 million, prompting suspicions that it was used for apparent pay-to-play schemes. Meanwhile, the Global Initiative's gathering is scheduled for September 2022, apparently signalling the Clintons' return to politics, observers believe."Clearly, Hillary Clinton has decided to run for president again and aims to use 'her' foundation and its supposed good works as a platform to raise financial and other support for another expensive political campaign", says Charles Ortel, a Wall Street analyst, who has been investigating the Clinton Foundation for the last several years.According to Ortel, the Clinton Foundation as well as the Clinton Global Initiative have not been lawfully organised and managed and were largely used as an enrichment tool in influence peddling schemes.Special Counsel Durham's ProbeThe announcement of a new Clinton Global Initiative gathering also coincided with a series of bombshell revelations by Special Counsel John Durham, who is looking into the origins of the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation. Durham's court filings indicate that Hillary Clinton campaign operatives played a significant role in peddling and, apparently, creating the Trump-Russia "collusion" story, which eventually turned out to be a big nothing burger. According to Ortel, Hillary Clinton had a motive for trying to dump Trump: apparently, she feared that her influence peddling schemes as well as potential financial machinations could come to light under Trump. Indeed, the former US president repeatedly vowed to put her behind bars during his 2015/2016 election campaign.Earlier, the US mainstream media reported that Durham had widened the scope of his probe by looking into the FBI's investigations into the Clintons' charity. Two Clinton Foundation whistleblowers, Larry Doyle and John Moynihan, who delivered testimony before the US Congress on the charity in 2018, confirmed that the special counsel had communicated with them.However, as Hillary and Bill Clinton have returned to the US political stage, US mainstream media launched an attack on Special Counsel Durham's disclosures, claiming that "there is no there there."The Clintons' Role in the Ukraine CrisisMeanwhile, Hillary Clinton subjected former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party to harsh criticism, claiming on MSNBC on 25 February that they were responsible for the unfolding Ukrainian crisis and "enabling" the Russian special operation by "giving aid and comfort" to Vladimir Putin.According to Ortel, Hillary Clinton has once again resorted to blame shifting, since one of the root causes of the current Ukraine crisis is NATO's post-Cold War eastward expansion which, according to then-Senator Joe Biden's 1997 notion, tremendously irritated and threatened Russia.Bill Clinton actively lobbied for the inclusion of three former Warsaw Pact members Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic into NATO at the 1999 Washington summit, despite 50 prominent foreign policy experts warning the US president in June 1997 that the expansion of NATO would eventually "unsettle European stability". US career diplomat with expertise in Russia affairs and incumbent CIA Director William Burns noted in his memoir that Bill Clinton's move was "premature at best, and needlessly provocative at worst"."Moreover, when countries in the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact were at their weakest, leading donors to both established political parties pushed hard to snap up state-owned properties at fire-sale prices, enriching themselves and creating oligarchs in the process", says Ortel. "The globalist push, incorporating naked contempt for national laws, was well advanced by 2013".2014 'Euromaidan' Coup in UkraineIn March 2013, Hillary and Bill Clinton participated in the Yalta European Strategy conference along with other global leaders in Crimea hosted by Ukrainian oligarch Victor Pinchuk, one of the Clintons' longtime donors. They were calling for bringing Ukraine into the EU orbit and ridiculed Russia's opposition to it, even though Ukraine's Declaration of Sovereignty affirmed the country's permanent non-aligned status.In February 2014, the US-backed Ukrainian opposition and neo-Nazi elements carried out a coup d'etat and ousted democratically elected President Victor Yanukovich after the latter rejected a pending EU association agreement and leaned towards an economic union with Russia. US Democratic and Republican politicians openly signalled their support for the regime change in Ukraine, with then-Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland discussing in detail the composition of the post-coup interim government with Geoffrey Pyatt, then-US ambassador to Ukraine.So, it was the Clintons and Obama who sowed the seeds of destruction in Ukraine, resulting in the ascendance to power of radical nationalist elements in Ukraine, which had been harshly lambasted by the US mainstream media and the European Parliament before and immediately after the 2014 February regime change, according to the analyst.Lets stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova us, world, opinion, russia, ukraine, hillary clinton, donald trump, bill clinton, nato expansion, nato, spying, john durham , coup d'etat, euromaidan, victor pinchuk https://sputniknews.com/20220311/russia-demands-that-us-stop-extremist-activities-by-meta-as-company-okays-calls-for-violence-1093765133.html Russia Demands That US Stop 'Extremist Activities' by Meta as Company Okays Calls for Violence Russia Demands That US Stop 'Extremist Activities' by Meta as Company Okays Calls for Violence The media giant is reportedly going to allow death threat-related posts against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T06:09+0000 2022-03-11T06:09+0000 2022-03-11T06:29+0000 russia ukraine us embassy meta facebook instagram violence speech special operation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093765086_0:222:2853:1826_1920x0_80_0_0_606e06dbf2172771a21a62af617d6d33.jpg The Russian Embassy in the US has condemned a move by Meta to allow Facebook and Instagram in some countries to call for violence against Russian soldiers amid Moscow's ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.The Russian diplomats described the company's actions as yet more "evidence of the information war without rules declared on our country", adding that "media corporations have become soldiers of the propaganda machine of the Western establishment".This comes after Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that as a result of what he dubbed "the Russian invasion of Ukraine", Meta has "temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate" its rules "like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders'".Stone added that the company "won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians".Reuters has since cited internal company emails as saying that aside from greenlighting hate speech in a number of countries, Meta will also allow posts "that call for death to Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko".Calls for violence against Russian soldiers will be considered permissible by the company, but not against prisoners of war, the Reuters report claimed, adding that Meta will also allow praise of Ukraine's neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, something that is normally prohibited. In 2016, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) officially accused Azov Battalion members of war crimes, including kidnapping, torture, and mass looting.Meta's temporary change to its hate speech policy reportedly applies to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.Russia's Special Op in Ukraine On 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation, which aims to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine, is only targeting the country's military infrastructure and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.In response, the US and its allies rolled out packages of sanctions against Moscow, prompting many international businesses to leave the Russian market. President Putin underscored that the sanctions can be likened to a declaration of war on Russia.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg russia, ukraine, us, embassy, meta, facebook, instagram, violence, speech, special operation https://sputniknews.com/20220311/russian-embassy-in-canada-calls-allegations-of-mariupol-hospital-attack-blatant-lie-1093763070.html Russian Embassy in Canada Calls Allegations of Mariupol Hospital Attack 'Blatant Lie' Russian Embassy in Canada Calls Allegations of Mariupol Hospital Attack 'Blatant Lie' TORONTO (Sputnik) - The allegations by the Canadian government that Russia is behind an attack on a hospital ward in the city of Mariupol is based on a... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T02:12+0000 2022-03-11T02:12+0000 2022-03-11T05:21+0000 world russian embassy in canada mariupol "fake news" ukraine crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/05/1093613695_0:245:3072:1973_1920x0_80_0_0_1cb72b371dacfec0727fec8037d47cdf.jpg The Russian Embassy condemned the story saying it was staged and noted that Canadian media has not made an attempt to independently verify the veracity of Kiev's claims.Russia is conducting strikes in Ukraine with "surgical precision" and Ukrainian troops and allied neo-Nazi battalions continue to use the civilian population as shields.Ukrainian opposition lawmaker Illia Kyva, who fled the country, also said he was confident that the story regarding the attack on the Mariupol maternity hospital was a false-flag.Mariupol is the site of an intense battle where surrounded Ukrainian troops and neo-Nazi and other extremist battalions have dug in against advancing Russian and allied troops from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The latter have said they intend to end the eight years of bloodshed in the area initiated by Ukrainian troops and assorted extremists.On 24 February, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics against intensified attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the operation was solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and has emphasised the civilian population is not in danger.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus https://sputniknews.com/20220310/instagram-users-accuse-ukrainian-model-of-fake-photoshoot-in-mariupol-maternity-hospital-1093751508.html mariupol Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 world, russian embassy in canada, mariupol, "fake news", ukraine crisis https://sputniknews.com/20220311/russian-german-school-in-berlin-set-ablaze-1093781575.html Russian-German School in Berlin Set Ablaze Russian-German School in Berlin Set Ablaze BERLIN (Sputnik) - Unknown people started fire at the gym entrance of the Lomonosov Russian-German bilingual school in Berlin overnight Friday, the Berlin... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T13:58+0000 2022-03-11T13:58+0000 2022-03-11T13:58+0000 germany russia police /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093781499_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_ee114ad6c2548c9d9f6ae6e6903d25c4.jpg "After unknown people set fire to the entrance of a gym in Marzahn this morning, the police department of state security is now investigating at the Berlin Criminal Police Office. An attentive passer-by called the fire brigade and the police to the Allee der Kosmonauten at around 3.20 a.m. [02:20 GMT] when he noticed smoke in the gym of the German-Russian school," the police said.The police initially tried to put out the blaze, but the fire department had to join in to prevent the fire from spreading, according to the statement.The network of Lomonosov bilingual private schools has been operating in Berlin since 2006. They offer primary and secondary education in Russian and German.Russian premises abroad have been subjected to occasional assaults after the government launched an operation in Ukraine on February 24. The special military operation was in response to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in countering the aggression of Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only. germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 germany, russia, police https://sputniknews.com/20220311/russian-lives-matter-too-1093760503.html Russian Lives Matter Too Russian Lives Matter Too On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Daesh* appointing a new leader, and Russia withdrawing from the... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T07:11+0000 2022-03-11T07:11+0000 2022-03-11T07:11+0000 us the backstory radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0a/1093760478_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_c86c96b08943f5c0d11e80c3783e11a5.jpg Russian Lives Matter Too On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including ISIS appointing a new leader, and Russia withdrawing from the Council of Europe. GUESTIgor Lopatonok - Producer of Ukraine on Fire | Ukraine On Fire, Corporate Propaganda, and Russia's Red Line on Nuclear WeaponsJohn Kiriakou - Former CIA Officer, Author, and Co-Host of Political Misfits | Greece Focused on the Ukraine Situation, US State Department Lies, and US Worries about a Russian Chemical Weapons Attack in UkraineIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Igor Lopatonok about his films censored in America, the 2014 Maidan, and the radical elements in Ukraine's government. Igor talked about the lack of prosecutions for the 2014 murders in the Maidan and Ukraine previously building nuclear weapons. Igor spoke on the censorship in the EU and President Zelensky in hiding.In the second hour, Lee spoke with John Kiriakou about the CIA, US - funded Biolabs, and President Zelensky upset with NATO. John discussed the goal of US sanctions on Russia and assets of billionaire Russians seized. John talked about the ethnic Greeks living in Ukraine and the Azov Battalion not allowing these Greeks to leave Ukraine.We'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.*Daesh (ISIS/ISIL/IS) - a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries. us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png us, the backstory, , radio https://sputniknews.com/20220311/russias-un-envoy-calls-on-eu-to-consider-real-threat-of-biological-agents-spreading-from-ukraine-1093786620.html Russia's UN Envoy Calls on EU to Consider Real Threat of Biological Agents Spreading From Ukraine Russia's UN Envoy Calls on EU to Consider Real Threat of Biological Agents Spreading From Ukraine The Russian Defence Ministry earlier presented evidence that Kiev had ordered several bio laboratories, funded by the US, to destroy pathogens that they were... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T16:47+0000 2022-03-11T16:47+0000 2022-03-11T18:04+0000 russia europe /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093787176_0:0:3108:1748_1920x0_80_0_0_876f2f941070cb0c7c8c770fabdb4852.jpg Russias envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has warned members of the Security Council that dangerous pathogens could escape the boundaries of Ukraine and spread across Europe, calling on the EU to consider this grim possibility. He added that Russia warned the international community of the threat of terrorists stealing biomaterials from the Ukrainian laboratories.Nebenzia further noted that the US refuses to allow an international audit of the bio laboratories it has been sponsoring in Ukraine. The envoy suggested that this can only mean they have something to hide. The diplomat stated that the Russian Defence Ministry had obtained documents proving the existence of a network of 30 laboratories working on modifying pathogens of the plague, anthrax, tularaemia, cholera, and other deadly diseases. Nebenzia added that this work was being conducted under the guidance of the Pentagon, specifically the Defence Threat Reduction Agency.The Russian Defence Ministry said that it had obtained evidence of Kiev planning to make biological weapons that would target specific ethnic groups. They said that according to the materials, which they recovered during the special operation in Ukraine, the laboratories had studied the migration of birds between the two countries as a possible spreader of a biological weapon.The Russian Defence Ministry said that it had obtained evidence of Kiev planning to make biological weapons that would target specific ethnic groups. They said that according to the materials, which they recovered during the special operation in Ukraine, the laboratories had studied the migration of birds between the two countries as a possible spreader of a biological weapon.Lets stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg russia, europe https://sputniknews.com/20220311/scottish-nationalists-invent-ukrainian-tartan-in-sartorial-solidarity-stunt-1093789163.html Scottish Nationalists Invent 'Ukrainian Tartan' in Sartorial Solidarity Stunt Scottish Nationalists Invent 'Ukrainian Tartan' in Sartorial Solidarity Stunt Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backed calls for a NATO 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine this week, despite warnings from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T20:08+0000 2022-03-11T20:08+0000 2022-03-11T21:16+0000 situation in ukraine scotland scottish nationalist party (snp) angus robertson ukraine nicola sturgeon /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093788955_0:0:3165:1781_1920x0_80_0_0_00f0519aafa1e7c9e36a18f04138cdf7.jpg The Scottish National Party (SNP) has found a new way to show its solidarity with Ukraine in tartan form.Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson tweeted on Friday an image of what he suggested was a new weave of the traditional textile, saying it combined the colours of the Ukrainian flag with the Scottish saltire of St Andrew."Ukraine forever" Robertson proclaimed of the woolen token in opposition to Russia's 'de-Nazification' campaign.Conservative MP Michael Fabricant urged Robertson to "persuade your Westminster colleagues to wear it," pledging that if their Parliamentary leader Ian Blackford dons a kilt sewn from it at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions, "I'll cheer him instead of groan!"On Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader and the nation's First Minister, joined calls for NATO to impose a 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine which could turn the US-dominated alliance into direct conflict with Russia.Sturgeon previously supported attempts by separatists in Spain's Cataluna region to organise an independence referendum. Her predecessor, Alex Salmond, opposed the 1999 NATO bombing campaign against Serbia in support of Kosovar separatists, and until the current conflict presented a talk show on Russia's state-owned RT TV from its London studios.Robertson was born in Wimbledon, south-west London, to a Scottish father and a German mother whose tongue he speaks fluently. He joined the SNP at 15 with the assistance of Charlie Reid of the Scottish nationalist folk group The Proclaimers.The pro-independence MSP represented the UK Parliamentary seat of Moray in Westminster from 2001 to 2017, and was simultaneously the SNP spokesman on both defence and foreign affairs from 2001 to 2015. Robertson lost his seat to current Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross at the 2017 snap general election.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus https://sputniknews.com/20220307/jk-rowling-slams-scotlands-proposed-gender-recognition-law-as-harming-most-vulnerable-women-1093653543.html scotland ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png scotland, scottish nationalist party (snp), angus robertson, ukraine, nicola sturgeon https://sputniknews.com/20220311/sweden-seeks-to-up-defence-allotments-to-2-of-gdp-amid-warnings-of-possible-attack-1093766314.html Sweden Seeks to Up Defence Allotments to 2% of GDP Amid Warnings of Possible Attack Sweden Seeks to Up Defence Allotments to 2% of GDP Amid Warnings of Possible Attack Sweden's plans to boost its defence budget to levels unseen in decades have been compared to massive Cold War-era defence investments in the 1950s. 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T06:55+0000 2022-03-11T06:55+0000 2022-03-11T08:20+0000 news military & intelligence russia sweden ukraine cold war /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107424/44/1074244411_0:71:1280:791_1920x0_80_0_0_dad29f348430185a56a6740a834d5a11.jpg The Swedish government plans to greatly strengthen the country's defence and increase the nation's defence budget to 2 percent of its GDP.The increase entails an annual cost of SEK 108 billion ($11.1 billion) versus the current defence budget of SEK 66 billion ($6.8 billion), which corresponds to 1.26 percent of Sweden's GDP.The Swedish defence budget has amounted to less than 2 percent of GDP since the late 1990s. According to Hultqvist, building it back up will take "many many years". No exact schedule has been provided so far."We want to implement this in a systematic and realistic and feasible way. We must get the maximum out of every krona we go in with", Hultqvist said.Given the investment, more young people will need to do military service, Magdalena Andersson said.Following a brief experiment of deactivating the military draft in 2010, Sweden resumed conscription, as it experienced personnel issues. Crimea's peaceful reunification with Russia, which Sweden and the West in general view as annexation, was cited as one of the reasons.Sweden's Supreme Commander Micael Byden said the military would welcome new budget allocations , but refused to set any time limits, instead stressing that every krona must have an effect.At the same time, the armed forces made an assessment that an armed attack on Sweden cannot be ruled out and asked citizens for help in identifying any sabotage or intelligence operations on Swedish soil. The Navy additionally asked inhabitants of the Stockholm archipelago to keep an eye out for periscopes and unnatural waves, as well as film observations and report any suspicious findings, the newspaper Expressen reported.This echoes the lengthy and painfully unsuccessful hunt for a "Russian submarine" Sweden conducted in the Stockholm archipelago in 2014, when the Swedish Navy mobilised amid a media panic. Several years later, a subsequent investigation established that the "submarine" appeared to be a faulty weather buoy.Sweden's defence plans have been made public amid Moscow's operation to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine and protect the inhabitants of the People's Republics of Donbass, which Sweden portrays as "invasion". The special operation was launched by Moscow after Ukrainian attacks in Donbass prompted mass evacuations of civilians, forcing Donetsk and Lugansk to appeal to Russia for aid, with Moscow stressing emphatically that it harbours no occupation plans.Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus sweden ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov news, military & intelligence, russia, sweden, ukraine, cold war https://sputniknews.com/20220311/us-tried-to-fund-bio-labs-in-ukraine-as-early-as-2005-records-show-1093786051.html US Tried to Fund Biolabs in Ukraine as Early as 2005, Records Show US Tried to Fund Biolabs in Ukraine as Early as 2005, Records Show Moscow has unveiled evidence that Kiev ordered several bio laboratories, which received US funding, to destroy samples of dangerous pathogens. Russia's Defence... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T17:28+0000 2022-03-11T17:28+0000 2022-03-12T04:26+0000 us ukraine biological weapon laboratories /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/14/1082944076_0:51:960:591_1920x0_80_0_0_8ee75d08fe32304a80d390dae7b63936.jpg The US government has been dodging questions for some time about the fact that it funded biolabs in Ukraine, until Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland admitted on 8 March that Washington did provide assistance to these laboratories (but still avoided confirming accusations by Russia that Kiev developed biological weapons there). It is not clear what took the US so long especially since it knew perfectly well about at least one such lab for more than a decade.Thanks to the work of the US Armed Forces' Counterproliferation Centre, a media clipping was preserved from 17 June 2010, telling how then-US Senator Richard Lugar "applauded the opening of the Interim Central Reference Laboratory (ICRL) in Odessa, Ukraine". According to the article, originally published by BioPrepWatch.com (and preserved only in web archives and the Counterproliferation Centre clippings), the facility was a level-3 bio-safety lab meaning it was equipped to handle the most dangerous pathogens on Earth, such as anthrax and Q fever. It was specifically designed to research these pathogens, the article said citing the late senator.Moreover, talks about establishing the ICRL in Ukraine date back even further to 2005, according to an archived Nunn-Lugar Report edition from August of that year. Back then, Lugar and (at that time) fellow Senator Barack Obama were coordinating efforts with Ukrainian authorities to study and help to prevent the spread of avian flu. Coincidentally, avian flu was one of the pathogens that Kiev's laboratories were studying in the context of the potential spread of dangerous pathogens via bird migration from Ukraine to Russia, Russian Defence Ministry findings suggested.Eventually, Ukraine signed an agreement with the US under the NunnLugar Act, which sought to remove weapons of mass destruction from the former Soviet states, and agreed to the construction of a modern laboratory for handling and studying dangerous pathogens on its territory.Despite eventually admitting the presence of the US-funded bio laboratories in Ukraine, Victoria Nuland did not consider Russia's accusations about experiments on modifying dangerous pathogens and turning them into biological weapons. At the same time, she said Washington was "quite concerned" with the prospect of the Russian military seizing these laboratories during their special operation on Ukrainian territory.CIA Director William Burns claimed that Ukraine conducts no research on dangerous pathogens that could be used in biological weapons. He dismissed the Russian military's statements as "propaganda" and a possible pretext for "false flag operations". The World Health Organisation, in turn, called on Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in its laboratories citing the need to prevent "accidental or deliberate release".Let's stay in touch no matter what! Follow our Telegram channel to get all the latest news: https://t.me/sputniknewsus ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg us, ukraine, biological weapon, laboratories https://sputniknews.com/20220311/watch-russian-drone-eliminate-stronghold-of-ukrainian-radicals-1093768440.html Watch Russian Drone Eliminate Stronghold of Ukrainian Radicals Watch Russian Drone Eliminate Stronghold of Ukrainian Radicals A video demonstrates an UAV targeting a stand-alone building in unnamed settlement, and then destroying it with a single shot. 2022-03-11T10:17+0000 2022-03-11T10:17+0000 2022-03-11T10:17+0000 russia ukraine drone /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0b/1093768498_8:0:1059:591_1920x0_80_0_0_94d2fc626d53c3794cb11881f6b10bb1.png The Russian Defence Ministry has issued a video showing a Forpost UAV destroying a base belonging to Ukrainian radicals with a high precision weapon.The strike comes as part of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, which was launched in February. The Russian MoD has repeatedly stressed that only military objects are targeted, and noted that a total of 3,213 objects belonging to the Ukrainian military have been disabled since the operation began. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg russia, ukraine, drone https://sputniknews.com/20220311/western-sanctions-wont-disrupt-essential-medicines-to-russia-says-indian-pharma-export-body-1093782299.html Western Sanctions Won't Disrupt Essential Medicines to Russia, Says Indian Pharma Export Body Western Sanctions Won't Disrupt Essential Medicines to Russia, Says Indian Pharma Export Body Several multinational companies have withdrawn their exposure to the Russian market after the "economic war" launched by US and European nations against Russia... 11.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-11T17:12+0000 2022-03-11T17:12+0000 2022-03-11T17:12+0000 india russia europe eu us big pharma pharmaceuticals medicine drugs us sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106306/74/1063067457_0:100:1921:1180_1920x0_80_0_0_49de81726d1fd434786a682352161596.jpg Western sanctions have so far focused on Russia's financial institutions without targeting the medical sector.However, Russia's federal medical regulator Roszdravnadzor and a national association of pharmacies admitted that there has been a shortage of insulin because of "urgent consumer demand."Western markets are fulfilling Russia's primary requirement of medicine and medical equipment.Sputnik spoke with Ravi Uday Bhaskar, Director General of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India - a unit set up by India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry - about the impact of western sanctions on pharma exports.Sputnik: How much exposure do Indian pharmaceuticals have in the Russian and CIS markets? Do you foresee any disruption in business with Russia?Ravi Uday Bhaskar: In the past financial year, we exported $590.8 million of pharma products representing 6.95 percent growth. Russia is the fourth-largest export destination for India's pharma industry. Our exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was $1.178 billion representing a 30 percent annual rise in 2021. We also witnessed a massive 40 percent jump in demand for Indian medicines in Ukraine last year.Indian pharmaceutical firms have operated in Russia for a long time. Most pharma companies spend lots of money getting registration and market authorisation for supply to Russia and other parts of this region. That's why we cannot stop our exports to Russia in a drastic manner.Sputnik: Russia's pharma market is worth around $20 billion, and European firms meet a large part of the demand for medicines and medical equipment. How will you proceed with your businesses in the shadow of western sanctions?Ravi Uday Bhaskar: Sanctions do not apply to medicines and agriculture. So, even discontinuation of supply in the shadow of western sanctions may not have a serious impact because Russia possesses its own capabilities to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as formulations. In fact, Russia's domestic market is good, and they are capable of getting things done.Sputnik: China is a major supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) which are the raw materials for medicine. If Beijing tries to fill the void in the Russian market created by European countries ceasing to supply medicines, do you fear any disruption in the supply of basic materials?Ravi Uday Bhaskar: I do not think so. China is one of the most prominent suppliers of APIs, intermediates, and basic chemicals. That's why it will not have any serious effect on supply of raw materials from China. Europe also imports APIs and other raw materials from China. Ukraine may face problems with raw materials but Russia will not face any disruption as it has good relations with China. And Russia itself is capable of tackling challenges resulting from western sanctions.Sputnik: What kind of assistance do you expect from the Indian government in the present situation?Ravi Uday Bhaskar: Logistics may be one of the issues, but it is not in the government's control. Once our products go to Russia through Europe, it's a problem. They may need to take an alternative route to Russia via China, but this may also face problems.However, we can assure you that it is not going to be a problem for Russia as of now although we could face problems in CIS markets, and we may not experience much export growth in this region because of logistic issues.Sputnik: What are the chance for advancement or progress in capturing the Russian market amid the ongoing tensions?Ravi Uday Bhaskar: Our exports to Russia hover around $500 to $600 million a year and although demand in the Russian market is about $14 to $15 billion annually. So, there are opportunities, but these opportunities are not confined to India alone. Our pharmaceutical firms do not have so many compliance issues in Russia which means rapid advancement would be easier for us than for other nations. But we have to wait a bit longer to understand the exact situation. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg india, russia, europe, eu, us, big pharma, pharmaceuticals, medicine, drugs, us sanctions, ukraine, economic warfare LINCOLN Whether its a reptile wrapped around a wrist or a cool splash in the Middle Loup River, Adventure Camp about the Environment (ACE) has something to offer this summer. Nebraskas Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are now accepting registrations for ACE Camp June 26-29, at the State 4-H Youth Camp near Halsey. Nebraskas 23 NRDs encourage middle school students interested in the outdoors to sign up for this educational, action-packed camp. To qualify, students should have completed sixth, seventh or eighth grade in the 2021-2022 school year. The four-day adventure camp provides students an opportunity to dive into different hands-on activities with a natural resources focus. Sessions educate youth on Nebraskas water resources, wildlife, soil, trees, range and grasslands, technology and more. ACE Camp gets students outdoors to explore the world around them. Campers also have the opportunity to tube the river, experience archery, zip line and much more. Expect students to have a better awareness of possible careers in natural resources by learning from professionals working to conserve them every day. Fees and registration are $235/camper. The North Platte NRD provides four scholarships. Submit a 200-word paragraph on why you would like to attend the camp to ashepperd@npnrd.org or 100547 Airport Road, Scottsbluff. For more information about scholarships and camp registration forms, contact Amanda Shepperd at (308)632-2749. For more information about ACE Camp, visit the Upper Loup NRD website. Registration deadline is June 10, space is limited, so campers are encouraged to register early. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The Scottsbluff City Council voted unanimously Monday to give a positive and a negative recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for two Scottsbluff business owners liquor license applications. Council members held two public hearings regarding liquor licenses for X-Treme Fun, LLC and Grass Retail, LLC at Mondays meeting. Following the hearings, the council offered mixed recommendations to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. The council opened its first public hearing at 6:04 p.m. and heard testimonies from Amber Brannan, owner of X-Treme Fun, LLC and Scottsbluff Police Chief Kevin Spencer. Its a bowling fun center along with laser tag and concessions, Brannan said. Spencer informed the council following the police departments extensive background check to determine if the applicant is fit, willing and able to have a liquor license. In Ambers case, we found nothing to disqualify her, Spencer said. She did appear before the Liquor License Advisory Board and she seems to have a good plan in place. The Liquor License investigatory board is recommending that you give a positive recommendation to the liquor commission. Council member Jordan Colwell questioned to what extent Craig Brannan would be involved in the business, since the liquor license application listed him, but his name was crossed out. Amber said he is currently working on it. However, Spencer noted they have confusion on the matter, but through his research, there is nothing to disqualify Craig from obtaining a liquor license either. Colwell also questioned Brannan about how she plans to keep the on sale liquor away from minors who come to the fun center. We have set people who will walk around and monitor periodically to do some checks, she told the council. Im going to be taking the class thats offered as well as some of the staff and checking IDs for anybody who looks under 40. Brannan said the alcohol will be locked up in one area and she will have sole possession of the access key, unless she is out. In such instances, her manager will have the key. X-Treme Fun, LLCs Class C liquor license application also permits for off sale, meaning packaged liquor that can be taken off the premises. Council member Angela Scanlan questioned how the sale of alcohol fit into the business plan and if there would be a bar or lounge area. Not necessarily, Brannan said. We feel like bowling and beer kind of goes together. Parents want to have fun, too. But there isnt a designed area just yet where theres a lounge. Adults will be able to take their drinks with them along with their kids pizza and soda to the bowling lane. Im excited about your business going in there, but I just want to make sure we cross all of our Ts, Colwell said. Video cameras and surveillance do you have that set up? Security cameras will be set up inside, with one recording the liquor closet and outside cameras at the entrances. X-Treme Fun, LLC is located at 1702 17th Ave. in the former Valley Bowl building. The anticipated hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Brannans will sublease the building from Kuldip Singh doing business as Cheema Investments, LLC according to an addendum included in the council packet. The rent payments are $1,500 a month, totaling $54,000. That lease agreement and addendum expire July 1, 2024. The council motioned to offer a positive recommendation to the liquor control commission. The council held another public hearing to consider making a recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for a Class D liquor license for Grass Retail, LLC doing business as Shortstop. The business is located at 2002 Ave. I and was previously Cheemas Gas & Liquor, owned by Singh. According to packet information, Cheemas Gas & Liquor sold for $250,000. Applicants Craig and Nikki Grass were not present for the hearing. Craig and Nikki Grass have purchased Cheemas and they did appear before the liquor committee a few weeks ago and there was a lot questions, Spencer told the council. This is a very unusual situation. Spencer said he worked with the Nebraska State Patrol and Russ Knight, the chairman of the liquor committee on the investigation. None of them had seen a situation like this before. Usually when we get a liquor license application, we get a copy of the inventory when its being purchased, Spencer said. That didnt happen this time. An unusual circumstance occurred when Craig Grass applied for a temporary operating permit and turned in the inventory list with that application, which was denied. While both applicants have a criminal history, none of that disqualifies either applicant from obtaining a liquor license since the convictions were several years ago Spencer said. The premise has cameras installed and an intrusion alarm for after hours. Given the questions on the inventory and confusion in the application, the City of Scottsbluff Liquor License Holders Investigatory Board decided to take no action. Since that meeting, they received the inventory list that the council could review. Prior to the councils decision, Spencer informed the council according to the liquor commission it sounds like there will be a show of cause hearing in Lincoln, but nothing is definite. The council motioned to offer a negative recommendation for Shortstop to the liquor commission. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After going a week of watching and reading about the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, local businessman Hod Kosman, director and chairman of Platte Valley Bank, decided it was time to do something about it. It was so hard every day to go home and listen to and see the devastation, the lack of hope, the danger that was going on in Ukraine, he said. I asked the Oregon Trail (Community) Foundation (OTCF) if they would serve as a humanitarian conduit to take tax deductible donations and get them to Ukraine. That was the easy part. The hard part, he said, was finding a way to get those funds to the Ukrainian refugees and people who needed them most. Kosman decided to reach out to the office of Victoria Spartz, an Indiana congresswoman with Ukrainian heritage, to see if she knew how he could get the funds to Ukraine. He ended up talking to her chief of staff, who directed him to a site of a plethora of NGOs that were currently providing aid to the humanitarian crisis in Eastern Europe. Thats where he came across Airlink. Airlink serves all of those countries, serves dozens of NGOs, and you cant serve the people if you cant get the service providers and the whatever it is food, water, medical aid, whatever to the sites, and that is what Airlink does, Kosman said, and thats what drew me to them because they affected everyone in every country that is serving the refugees of Ukraine. Kosman talked with Steve Smith, president of Airlink, and then pointed him to chat with Sandra Walter, the director of development. Kosman, Walter, Cathy McDaniel of OTCF and Rick Tuggle, with OTCF and Riverstone Bank, put together a campaign, Lend Your Heart to Ukraine, for local giving toward Airlinks efforts in aiding the Ukrainian refugees. They officially launched the campaign at a press conference Thursday, March 10, where they kicked off the giving with over $25,000. We were able to do lots of different things, just responding to crisis within our community with the COVID food fund, we had an irrigation canal collapse, and for those things were able to respond and its different that its not here, McDaniel, executive director of OTCF, said, but we certainly have seen the heart of our community, and we were really excited to see where this goes. During the press conference, Walter spoke about what Airlink does and explained how they use donated funds to support humanitarian efforts in the U.S. and around the world. We exist to remove the cost of transportation and logistics as a barrier for relief organizations transporting aid and responders into disasters and other humanitarian crises, she said. According to their press kit, in 2021 alone, Airlink helped 7.86 million people and 56 different NGOs. It sent 1,137 responders, 767,000 pounds of supplies and provided $2.7 million in transportation relief for humanitarian efforts in 38 different countries. Airlink partners with over 130 different NGOs. Currently, 25 of them are activated and responding to the crisis in and around Ukraine, Walter said. When you donate towards the work that Airlink does, not only are donating to the people of Ukraine, and anybody who is benefiting from this disaster response that were doing around the world, but youre also ensuring that the relief organizations who have expertise can get their expertise there regardless of the fundraising that theyre able to do with the budgets that they have. With the conflict only two weeks old, Walter said that Airlink will use the first two to three months getting a kind of baseline of aid to the area, and then anticipate the need to last anywhere from six to nine months to two years. Just because the crisis ends which please, please it will end sooner rather than later there will still be millions of people who will need aid and support, and our humanitarian partners will continue to support them, Walter said at the press conference. And so, as long as they have requests and they have needs, we will continue to work to fulfill them thanks to the support from the people like folks in your community. McDaniel said that this is the first fund through OTCF that isnt for a local campaign or cause. However, knowing this community, she and Kosman were convinced that people will want to help out. How can you not? McDaniel said. Its something thats so prevalent in the media right now, and it is so heartbreaking. And, I feel if we can help we should; I feel like everybody in the country should do that. And so, were really just a mechanism. Its people showing their heart to us lending your heart to Ukraine. Thats what we want to do. Kosman added, (We) just had to do something as a community because thats who we are. Both Riverstone Bank and Platte Valley Bank will have opportunities at their locations to donate to the fund. Donations can also be made online at otcf.org or via the QR Code thats been placed on signage. Donations to the OTCF Ukraine Relief Fund are tax deductible and will be given to Airlink to support its efforts. Airlink has requested only monetary donations in order maximize the amount and type of aid needed at specific times. Its about sending whats needed when its needed where its needed, Walter said. Find Airlink on social media to keep up with their efforts. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SkyWest Airlines announced Thursday its intent to stop Essential Air Service (EAS) from 29 airports, including the Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff. This will mean the Utah-based carriers twice-daily flights from Scottsbluff to Denver would cease by 2023 at the latest. The airport will have to find a new carrier. I follow them (SkyWest) pretty closely, and when they started cutting services to bigger places, I thought itd trickle down, Western Nebraska Regionals airport director Raul Aguallo told the Star-Herald. A statement from SkyWest cited pilot shortages as the main reason for the cancellations. Aguallo said the national pilot shortage was exasperated during the coronavirus pandemic, and it was the reason a former airline which worked with the airport ceased operations. From an airports perspective, Aguallo said, there wasnt much that could be done. With the March 10 announcement, the airline filed a 90-day notice of intent to terminate Essential Air Services, or federally-subsidized flights. That would put the expiration of flights at June 10. However, Aguallo said the U.S. Department of Transportation would likely give SkyWest a holding order, requiring them to honor existing contracts. Western Nebraska Regionals contract with SkyWest lasts for the rest of 2022. Aguallo said the public didnt have to be concerned if they have flights scheduled during that timeframe. With confidence, we can assure them to make their travel plans, he said, adding that passengers to the airport wont notice many changes during the transition. The airlines statement said its plans could be adjusted if the pilot staffing issue improves more quickly than anticipated. We appreciate our partnerships and the support of the community, and we are committed to delivering a solid, reliable product through this transition, SkyWests statement read in part. Our ground staff in Scottsbluff will be offered various options, including transfers within the company. Customers booked beyond the service date will be contacted to make alternate arrangements. SkyWest started offering flights from Scottsbluff to Denver in 2018, when they boarded 13,000 passengers. Numbers surged to 16,000 in 2019, then dipped due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they rose to nearly 13,000 again in 2021. Aguallo said he was anticipating this year to hit similar numbers. We are going to be proactive and start looking for a new carrier immediately, he said. ...Im just going to continue business as usual and start looking. He said he was waiting on information from his consulting firm before taking the next steps and thanked the public for their confidence in the airports service. SkyWest also dropped EAS service from North Platte and Kearney in addition to various airports in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Are we merely floating through space on a rock in which powerful forces dominate us and leave us powerless to pursue our destiny? Do our thoughts matter? Do our actions matter? Do our words matter? Do our intentions matter? Are we just a number? Do we have any responsibility for the events that happen all around us? Do we affect people around us and the decisions they make? Do we affect the decisions of people in our proximity with whom weve never had any interaction at all, people weve never met? Have you ever heard of The Maharishi Effect? The Maharishi Effect was first observed scientifically in the early 1970s. Since then, hundreds of scientific studies have been conducted in over 200 universities in more than 30 countries worldwide. The results from dozens of these studies are published in many peer-reviewed scientific journals. The Maharishi Effect got its name from the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who developed a popularized form of meditation called Transcendental Meditation known today as TM. TM has been described as religious by some and non-religious by others. The Maharishi became famous in the west for hanging out with The Beatles and other celebrities. Before we get too deep, although I have practiced a couple of different meditation forms, I have never practiced TM, nor am I promoting it. My chief interest is in the power of human consciousness, and my studies have led me to this topic which I must admit; I find it fascinating. Simply put, The Maharishi Effect happens when a group of people comes together to practice group meditation; during the window of time the meditation transpires, crime, violence, and hospitalization rates decline by 16-25%. One well-known scientific study on The Maharishi Effect took place in Washington D.C. from June 7th to July 31st, 1993, with up to 4000 TM practitioners. In a city with about 1.5 Million, this was far less than 1% of the population of D.C. A 27-member Project Review Board comprising independent scientists and leading citizens approved the research protocol and monitored the research process. The head of the study Dr. John Hagelin, who I must credit for providing much of the information in this article, hypothesized that there would be a 20% reduction in crime due to meditation. Before the study began, the Chief of Police reportedly said, It would take a foot of snow in June to reduce the crime rate by 20%. but he allowed his department to participate in the experiment by collecting and analyzing the data. The crime dropped by an astonishing 23.3%. The study was published in Social Indicators Research in June of 1999. There were similar experiments conducted during the Israel-Lebanon war in the 1980s. The study found that when the number of meditators was largest, violence between both sides reduced by about 80%. The study was published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution in December 1988. The study was so groundbreaking that researchers performed seven more experiments to examine the effects of group meditation on the Israel-Lebanon war over the next two years. The studies revealed that when the size of the group reached a certain threshold, there was a significant reduction in violence. They also found that people in the vicinity of such a meditating group experienced physiological changes, increased coherence, reduced plasma cortisol, increased blood levels of serotonin, biochemical changes, and neurophysiological changes, almost as if they were meditating themselves. When taken together, the likelihood that reductions in violence were coincidental was less than one part in 10 million million million. What did the Maharishi say about this? We know, if we drop a stone in a pond, the ripples begin to move, and they move over the whole pond, reaching all the extremities. One slight stir in any part of the pond stirs the entire pond. It influences the entire field of water and its surroundings. Similarly, by every thought, word, and action, every individual sets forth influence in their surroundings, and that influence is not restricted to any boundaries. It goes on and reaches every level of creation. Next time you feel helpless and insignificant, I hope this helps you understand that you have great power over your surroundings, maybe more than any of us can even comprehend. Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell said that deputies found approximately 8,000 ecstasy pills disguised as candy after an attempted traffic stop turned into a chase Thursday morning. Oseas Ivan Munoz, 31, of Charlotte, is facing numerous felony charges, Campbell said in a news release. Oseas was charged with trafficking MDMA (ecstasy) by transportation and possession, possession with intent to sell/deliver MDMA, possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana, fleeing to elude, maintaining a vehicle for sale or use of controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as well as misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. A magistrate set bond at $850,000. Campbell said members of the Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) team were on Interstate 77 working drug interdiction and attempted to stop a 2011 GMC Yukon with a South Carolina license plate near the 62 mile marker for a traffic violation. The vehicle did not stop and continued north on I-77 before existing onto East Memorial Highway, Campbell said. Deputies pursued the vehicle which eventually crashed into the woods on Jericho Road, he said. The driver was taken into custody without incident, Campbell said. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of five pounds of 2,142.88 grams of ecstasy pills, he said. The approximately 8,000 pills were disguised as candy in various shapes and colors, Campbell said. He described the pills as dangerous. He said the street value of the pills was more than $287,860. Campbell said the search also revealed a firearm, marijuana and $3,215 in cash. Munoz is a convicted felon and is not legally permitted to possess a firearm, Campbell said. Munoz has been convicted of attempted murder and felony possession of a weapon during a violent crime and misdemeanor assault with intent to kill. During the arrest process, Campbell said, it was learned that Munoz was wanted in South Carolina for felony selling a controlled substance. A Kings Mountain woman faces multiple felony charges after her arrest on drug counts twice in Iredell County over the past few weeks, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said. April Lynn Humphries, 42, was arrested Tuesday by narcotics investigators and members of the sheriffs offices Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team. She also was arrested Feb. 22 on six counts: felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule IV substance (clonazepam), felony maintaining a vehicle for the use and sale of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of a Schedule IV substance (alprazolam), misdemeanor possession of a Schedule IV substance (diazepam), and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. After that arrest, a subsequent narcotics investigation resulted in the purchase of almost 1 ounces, a trafficking quantity, of crystal methamphetamine from her, Campbell said in a news release. Investigators also obtained information that Humphries was going to be at a convenience store off Interstate 77 on Tuesday and should be in possession of additional narcotics, Campbell said. When deputies meet her there, they found more than two-thirds of an ounce of crystal methamphetamine. Humphries was charged with felony trafficking by selling crystal methamphetamine, felony trafficking by transportation crystal methamphetamine, felony trafficking by possession of crystal methamphetamine, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver crystal methamphetamine, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver crystal methamphetamine, felony maintain a vehicle for the use and sale of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities also discovered that she faces outstanding trafficking methamphetamine arrest warrants from Cleveland County. Humphries was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center, where a magistrate set bond at $1.5 million. Humphries history includes felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor larceny, shoplifting/concealment of goods, and solicit for prostitution. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The General Federation of Womens Club of North Carolina (GFWC of NC) Statesville Womans Club recently held its March meeting at the historic clubhouse with guest speaker Suzanne Wegmiller, executive director of Crosby Scholars. She shared that the program was started in 2015 as a free college prep program. Club members also wrote notes of encouragement and congratulations to graduating seniors who participate in the Crosby Scholars program. The club is currently taking orders for the Blooms for a Cause annual geranium sale that will be held April 23 from 8 a.m. to noon. Early ordering is encouraged in order to get color preferences. Some geraniums may be available the day of the sale. COVID-19 precautions will be followed. This event will also be a drive-thru and pick-up or by delivery drop off. These North Carolina geraniums are available in: pink, red, salmon, violet and white for $5 per plant or $36 for a flat (eight plants per flat, mixed colors qualify). There will also be hanging baskets (pink, red or white) for $20 each. Ordering and delivery is available by contacting geranium sale chair Frankie at 704-873-5023 for more information. Proceeds will benefit those in need through club and community projects. The club will host a coffee and conversation social get-together Tuesday, at Panera Bread, 964 Glenway Drive, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and anyone interested in learning more about the club is welcome. To learn about renting the GFWC of NC Statesville Womans Clubhouse for a meeting or event, email Statesvillewomansclub@gmail.com, or call 704-761-8208. For details on joining the GFWC of NC Statesville Womans Club, contact membership chair Stephanie Gill at 704-657-5008. CHICAGO (AP) Prosecutors on Thursday played covertly recorded audio for jurors in which a man charged in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer specifically mentions abducting the Democrat. In the mid-July 2020 recording in Wisconsin, Barry Croft Jr. describes the possibility of using explosives to rain down fire on law enforcement with a team standing by" to grab Whitmer. Four members of anti-government groups are facing trial this week on federal charges accusing them in a chilling plot to abduct Michigan's Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, in 2020. Jury selection began Tuesday in a trial that could last more than a month in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Six men were initially charged but two pleaded guilty before trial. The remaining defendants include Adam Fox, described by prosecutors as the plots ringleader. He and co-defendant Barry Croft Jr. were affiliated with the Three Percenter far-right anti-government movement. Prosecutors say the other two defendants, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta, were members of the Wolverine Watchmen, a self-styled militia with similar views. Find more about the case and live updates here: Items About Areas That Could Break Out Into War March 11, 2022: Mozambique is a small coastal nation in southeast Africa, north of South Africa and south of Tanzania, that has become the most recent scene of Islamic terrorism developing and disrupting both the local economy and massive foreign investments to build a lucrative natural gas industry to supply local and export customers. In less than two years the violence has increased to the point where most of the foreign natural gas operations have been shut down and neighboring countries have organized a peacekeeping force to restore order until local security forces are reformed and upgraded to do it themselves. To avoid losing the natural gas operations, Rwanda and SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) organized a force of 3,000 troops to keep the peace in Cabo Delgado province, where the natural gas and ISIL were located and showed results by the end of 2021. Rwandan troops provided security for the actual natural gas operations while the larger SADC force went after ISIL and provided security for the entire province by saturating portions of the province where ISIL was most active. The presence of armed and trained opponents forced ISIL to change tactics. During January and February there was an increase in ISIL violence, mainly in the form of roadside bombs and raids on towns and villages for supplies and to intimidate the locals. Over 12,000 civilians fled their homes because of this. The AU (African Union) and SADC are also sending economic aid to assist the population of Cabo Delgado which has seen ISILs violence damage the local economy. With this military and economic aid comes suggestions that the Mozambique government consider reforms in how Mozambique and Cabo Delgado province are governed. The national and provincial leaders grew rich from the natural gas projects while most of the Cabo Delgado population, who expected to see some economic benefits from the huge natural gas development effort got nothing but trouble. The economic boom never helped most of the population and paved the way for some local support for the Islamic terrorists. The foreign companies investing all the money in the natural gas program are willing to help, if Mozambique does something about the corruption that is a problem for everyone in Cabo Delgado, and an opportunity for ISIL. The new security efforts have not eliminated ISIL but forced them to be less conspicuous. Some of the newly arrived ISIL gunmen moved to neighboring Niassa province or across the international border into Tanzania. It will be easier to get more peacekeepers if Mozambique cooperates and does something about the corrupt provincial government. If Mozambique does not act, and act effectively, Cabo Delgado province could turn into the perpetual mayhem present in eastern Congo, where decades of misrule and violence has killed millions and turned the many large and lucrative local mining operations into money-makers for the foreign firms that run them without giving much back to the locals or Congo in general. Cabo Delgado province may not be as bad as the several eastern Congo provinces, but it will result in losses for the Mozambique government as well as the people living in the province. Some of the ISIL men in Cabo Delgado province got their start in eastern Congo. That means chronic mess in Cabo Delgado province means problems for neighboring countries. Cabo Delgado violence has not been as deadly as what is going on in eastern Congo but there have still been nearly 4,000 killed in the province since 2017. President Nyusi appeared to make the right moves, by firing six ministers, including those in charge of finance and natural resources. Nyusi apparently fired some of these ministers for getting caught because he replaced them with another bunch of cronies known more for being friends of the president than good at their new jobs. This sort of thing does not end well for locals, the foreign firms doing the work and the overall national financial situation. Corrupt officials get away with a lot of money although in the last two decades this sort of massive corruption has become harder to get away with. A lot of Congolese and Nigerian corrupt officials have been identified and their misbehavior described. This has led to Western nations, where the stolen cash often ends up, prosecuting the corrupt officials and seizing a lot of their wealth and sending it back to where it was stolen. Some of that gets stolen again because the most successful thieves have learned how to use effective and expensive lawyers as well as imaginative bribes and intimidation of local critics and prosecutors. The corrupt practices have become more difficult to get away with but there is a large pool of clever locals willing to steal rather than serve. This is a costly curse throughout Africa. Mozambique was about to become wealthy because of offshore natural gas fields up north in Cabo Delgado province . Developing the extraction and export facilities for natural gas is expensive, complex and time consuming. Back in the 1990s Mozambique granted oil exploration contracts for foreign firms to look for natural gas or oil deposits offshore. This is a standard practice that involves various qualified firms to bid on the process. The foreign firms offer their services in deals that work by having the exploration firm pay for the cost of exploration in return for a percentage ownership for the consortium that ultimately develops and extracts the oil and natural gas. These deals occur in stages, with the needed foreign investment growing larger as it proceeds. New technology indicates where new deposits may be and in the 1990s that made Mozambique a serious candidate for possibly having large offshore oil and natural gas resources. The companies initially involved in the exploration often sell portions of their ownership in newly discovered deposits to other firms with more financial and technical resources or simply to spread the risk as the costs start escalating. The local government retains majority ownership and is responsible for maintaining order so the work can continue. The main natural gas operation is now managed by French firm Total, which is handling the construction and operation of the offshore natural gas fields and the onshore LNG (liquid Natural Gas) facilities and port for loading the very cold, but now liquid and concentrated, natural gas into special tankers that carry 13 million tons of LNG a year to foreign markets. A second, smaller (3.4 million tons a year) effort called Coral South, and operated by Italian firm Eni, took a different, more expensive, approach and used a floating LNG production and loading platform. The Eni effort was not disrupted by the recent violence in Cabo Delgado province and will begin LNG exports on schedule in 2022. Other firms, like South African SASOL, are handing local pipelines for overland export, mainly to South Africa but also to other neighboring countries as well as within Mozambique. The presence of large offshore deposits was confirmed sixteen years ago and, after 2010, natural gas related activity began to show up in northern Mozambique. This meant more business for local firms and jobs for people in the area. That attracted the attention of criminal gangs in Mozambique and throughout East Africa. The current Mozambique government is something of a political gang itself, which is common in Africa and many other parts of the world. Local expectations soon exceeded reality and the local politicians and gangsters took advantage of it. They were joined by Islamic terrorists from other parts of East Africa where there are larger Moslem populations. In Africa, there tend to be fewer Moslems the further south you go and eventually the majorities are Christian or ancient local religions. Mozambique, with 30 million people, is 20 percent Moslem and 60 percent Christian. To the north, Tanzania, with 56 million people, is 35 percent Moslem. You dont encounter a Moslem majority nation until you reach Somalia, which is currently the source of most of the Islamic terrorist activity in East Africa. For that reason it was Somali Islamic terrorists who were attracted to northern Mozambique and played a role in creating some of the local Islamic terrorist groups. Some of these new groups borrowed names from existing Somali groups like al Shabaab for the new Mozambique terror groups. The Somalis included local chapters of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). In Somalia the Islamic terrorists are almost all locals and are taking a beating from AU peacekeepers, the new Somali army and local militias. Over the last decade a growing number of veteran Somali Islamic terrorists have left Somali looking for a less lethal environment for themselves and their families. Some showed up in northern Mozambique and spoke or preached in favor of Islamic terrorism but did not try to organize new groups because these exiles would be quickly identified, arrested or killed and end up in prison or in some other nation. This has been a common pattern for three decades and what made it easy for Islamic terrorism to develop quickly in Mozambique once there was something valuable enough to steal in the name of defending Islam. In Mozambique the new Islamic terror groups contain a few foreign Islamic terrorists who, under the right conditions, are able to attract lots of local Moslem recruits desperate for a job and an opportunity to defend Islam by killing Christians and plundering their possessions. The core of these new Islamic terror groups are local Moslem gangsters who were already active in profitable activities like smuggling, especially drugs, and extortion. The foreigners, mainly from Somalia, bring with them knowledge of how to plan and carry out terror attacks and publicize them. The publicity is important because it causes local terror and international attention. This attracts cash donations from wealthy individuals or Islamic Charities that exist mainly to funnel donations to Islamic terror groups. Opportunities for this sort of development increase when major foreign investments come to an otherwise poor area. The existing criminal gangs in northern Mozambique included former Moslem members of the local security forces as well as relationships with current members of local police, border guards and politicians, all of whom are out to make as much money as they can any way they can. The foreign firms are familiar with this sort of thing and were assured by the Mozambique government that it would be taken care of. It wasnt because the Mozambique government is one of the more corrupt and incompetent in the region. Since 2019 the Mozambique government has been warned by French firm Total that the violence could become so severe that Total would have to invoke the Force Majeure (problems that prevent a project from continuing) clause that is standard for projects like this. This is what happened in April 2021 and forced the government to get serious about dealing with the chaos up north, nearly all of it in Cabo Delgado province, the only province in Mozambique with a Moslem majority as well as the valuable offshore natural gas fields. Total told the government that the current Force Majeure would last until it was safe to resume operations. That might take up to a year or more. Currently Total believes first LNG exports will not take place until 2025, a year later than the original timetable. The sooner the exports begin the sooner everyone gets paid, especially Total which has borrowed nearly $20 billion to develop the LNG export capability. The violence can be reduced to tolerable levels so the Force Majeure can be lifted, and that is what forced the national government to accept foreign peacekeepers. Nearly all these peacekeepers are from neighboring countries with a few from further away to supply air support, training and logistics. The foreign contributors can also include those willing to donate cash. That is a tricky business, especially in Africa, where local governments cannot be trusted to apply foreign cash as intended because most of it gets diverted or stolen. Thats why regional organizations, like the AU (African Union) and SADC have come to handle these operations. The AU includes 51 member nations and has major peacekeeper operations in Mali and Somalia, but this will be the first one for SADC. Of the 16 member nations in SADC, South Africa is the most populous and has the largest economy and most effective armed forces. South Africa will contribute about 75 percent of the 2,000 peacekeepers in the initial force. The Islamic terrorists in Cabo Delgado province have grown from a few hundred five years ago to more than 3,000 in 2020. The Mozambique government was unable to deal with this because the tiny Mozambique military could only put a few thousand soldiers in Cabo Delgado province . The soldiers were poorly trained and led. At first the government turned to foreign mercenaries in the form of Russian and South African military contractors whose main job was to keep the onshore Total facilities and their foreign workers safe. First came the several hundred Russian Wagner Group men who arrived in August 2019 and, while they had some success in halting the Islamic terrorist threat to the LNG facilities, the Russians suffered heavier casualties than anticipated and Wagner left in early 2020 after spending about eight months in Mozambique. They were succeeded by a smaller contingent of operatives from DAG (Dyck Advisory Group). DAG was not exactly military contractors, but specialized in demining and anti-poaching operations as well as providing experienced helicopter crews to assist with these jobs. Most DAG personnel were former military. The founder of DAG was from a European family that had settled in Rhodesia. Lionel Dyck got along well with white and black Africans, including the black Rhodesian and South African rebels who came to power in the 1990s. He had a similar relationship with the Mozambique government leaders. Despite the success of DAG in northern Mozambique, DAG did not renew its one-year contract and left in April 2021. At that point neighbors of Mozambique were forming a joint peacekeeping force like the ones that are still used in Mali and Somalia. Mozambique leaders feared that the growing Islamic terrorist violence could lead to another long civil war. Mozambique has been suffering wars or threats of war since the 1960s. Mozambique is a largely coastal country north of South Africa and south of Tanzania. Most of the coastline runs parallel to the large island of Madagascar. The current population of 30 million is a lot larger, and less prosperous, than the six million living there in 1950. For over a thousand years Mozambique has, like many other parts of East Africa, consisted of coastal cities that prospered by serving as a marketplace where people from the interior could obtain all manner of foreign goods. Mozambique was part of a vast trading network that used dependable seasonal winds to allow ships to move goods from East Africa to the Persian Gulf, India and Indonesia. In the 1500s Portugal, using new technologies (cannon and superior sailing ships) created the borders for Mozambique, which explains why the country consists largely of coast and interior areas reachable via rivers. What ended Portuguese rule was an anti-colonial rebellion that lasted from the early 1960s, when other European colonizers were voluntarily departing, until 1975 when Portugal finally officially got rid of its colonies. This meant nearly 300,000 Portuguese settlers and officials left Mozambique, taking with them a major portion of the new nations technical personnel and skilled administrators. Newly independent Mozambique elected a government that lasted two years before a fifteen-year long civil war began. This civil war was far more damaging than the shorter, and less successful anti-colonial war. The civil war killed over a million people and drove more than 20 percent of the population from their homes for months or years. Nearly two million of those refugees fled the country. Mozambique never recovered from all the violence it has suffered since the 1960s. The rebellion against the Portuguese colonial government left about 60,000 dead, 94 percent of them rebels and civilians. The rebels were never a real threat to the colonial government. After Mozambique became independent in 1975, its first government was socialist and run by politicians who wanted to establish a communist police state for the greater good. This triggered a civil war in 1977 that killed over a million people, most of them civilians, before it ended in 1992. With the collapse of European communist governments and the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991, the Mozambique communists agreed to restore democracy. Some tensions between communists and democrats remained and there were brief outbursts violence in 2013 and 2018. A 2019 agreement eliminated most of that tension just as a new threat, from Islamic terrorists, was becoming a major threat. The civil war was mainly about politics and tribal alliances. Religion was not a major factor because more than four centuries of Portuguese rule had left the population mostly (60 percent) Christian, with about 20 percent animist (ancient local religions) or not religious at all. About twenty percent were Moslem, mostly in the north, where at least $100 billion worth of natural gas was found, which the government expected would yield $5 billion a year for at least 25 years. Thats a lot for a country with an annual GDP of $14 billion. Most of the LNG income would go to the government as Mozambique becomes one of the largest natural gas producers in the world. That will make some people in Mozambique very rich and that is what the current Moslem-led rebellion in the north is all about. In 2019 some of the Ansar al-Sunna (alternative name for al Shabaab) factions pledged allegiance to ISIL, which is normal in situations like this. The violence in northern Mozambique is all about whether corrupt Moslem politicians or corrupt Christian politicians gain control of the natural gas. An Islamic terrorist victory is unlikely as the Mozambique Moslems are vastly outnumbered. The Islamic rebels say they are out to eliminate corruption. All Islamic rebels say that and none ever deliver. That has been demonstrated many times in the last few decades and Moslems have noticed. What got the Islamic terrorist violence escalating was an August 2020 attack by several hundred Islamic terrorist gunmen that seized the northern Mozambique port town of Mocimboa da Praia. This was the third time the Islamic terrorists had attacked this town. A 2017 attack was repulsed but an attack in March 2020 briefly succeeded. The August attack worked because the army garrison withdrew after several days because the troops had run out of ammunition. The army said it would retake the town but that never happened. The Islamic terrorists were ejected from the town in August 2021 with the help of SADC peacekeepers. Mozambique has always been poor, with a per capita GDP of under $500. The military has 15,000 personnel, 80 percent of them in the army, which is organized into ten light infantry battalions and some support units. The air force and navy are much smaller and have few operational aircraft and ships. The army received a lot of weapons from Russia starting in 1975 until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. China has since been selling Mozambique some weapons and ammo but most of the military gear is elderly and often unusable. Running out of ammunition is not unlikely here, especially with the corruption associated with the government budget. While the port town of 30,000 is not itself very important, the nearby natural gas fields are. Thats why the government hired several hundred Russian military contractors (experienced veterans, often with combat experience) to safeguard the natural gas facilities. These Russians have clashed with the Islamic terrorists but the main job of the Wagner force was protecting the natural gas operations. The new Islamic terrorist groups have been particularly active since 2017, carrying out several hundred operations, mostly in Cabo Delgado province. This has left nearly 4.000 dead and nearly a million driven from their homes, often temporarily, to avoid the fighting. Most of the dead are civilians. The four factions that comprise the Islamic terrorist coalition finance themselves via smuggling, extortion and outright theft. The defeat of army garrisons provided the Islamic terrorists with a lot of abandoned military gear, including some weapons. The Islamic terrorists are better organized than the army and do not run out of ammunition. The SADC peacekeepers made a big difference once they became active in July 2021. Islamic terrorists were driven out of key towns and areas they had controlled for a year. Several key Islamic terrorist leaders were located and killed. In October SADC agreed to extend the original three-month term of service to a full year. This is more an act of optimism rather than an expectation of lasting change in Mozambique. The national government is as corrupt and untrustworthy as ever. Without changes at the top, the LNG wealth becomes more a curse than benefit. This is what happened in Nigeria where audits revealed that nearly a trillion dollars in oil income in the last have-century was stolen and left Nigerians worse off than they were before the oil money came rolling in. Residents of Cabo Delgado province were led to believe that the natural gas would bring quick benefits like more jobs, roads and other infrastructure. That was not the case. The foreign companies developing the offshore natural gas deposits have had to borrow billions to build the facilities to extract the oil and get it to foreign markets. Many of the new jobs went to foreigners who had skills none of the locals possessed. Too many of the unskilled jobs for locals went to friends or family of politicians and government officials. In other words, Cabo Delgado residents were angry about their continued poverty despite all the money being spent on the new oil facilities, which are near the port town of Mocimboa da Praia. This pattern is not unique in Africa, where most nations with oil or natural gas or any valuable exportable raw material see most of the export income stolen by corrupt politicians. This is the rule, not the exception in Africa. Corruption in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. Corruption and misuse of government funds are the main reasons Mozambique is such a wreck economically. The global aspect of this can be seen in the international surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. For 2021 Mozambique ranked 147th out of 180 nations. In 2019 it was 146th out of 180 nations and 158th in 2018. The most corrupt nations (usually Yemen/15, Syria/14, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/12) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (New Zealand and Denmark) are both 88. The current Mozambique score is 26, compared to 25 in 2020 and 31 or 30 for every year back to 2012. South Africa is one of the twenty least corrupt nations and most other neighbors score as much less corrupt than Mozambique. The Mozambique corruption score has gotten worse since 2012 when it was 31. All that corruption and fifteen years of civil war sharply reduced the living conditions in most of Mozambique. The extent of this can be measured compared to the rest of the world. The effectiveness of governments and the societies they represent is rated each year in the Human Development Index. The UN has compiled these ratings for 29 years. The index ranks all the world nations in terms of how well they do in terms of life expectancy, education and income. In 2019 Mozambique was 180 out of 189 nations. Most of the bottom ten have problems with Islamic terrorists, which usually includes an ISIL faction or two. Africa is currently home to six major ISIL factions. These are currently present in Egypt, Libya, Somalia, Nigeria. Mali, and Mozambique. There are smaller ISIL factions in other African countries, some so small that they regularly cease to exist because of heavy casualties and are sometimes revived with reinforcements from a larger ISIL faction in a nearby country. The Mozambique ISIL affiliation was not universally accepted by all members of the Mozambique Islamic terrorist coalition. That sort of response is not unusual and sometimes leads to the demise or reduction in the size of an ISIL faction and weakening of all Islamic terror groups in the area. The Mozambique Islamic terrorists have a major disadvantage; its religious affiliation means it can only depend on about ten percent of the Mozambique population for support. Many Moslems do not support al Shabaab or local Islamic terrorists because the experience of the last few decades has made it clear that Islamic terror groups tend to kill more Moslems than non-Moslems. All that wont eliminate the possibility of Mozambique Islamic terrorists damaging the natural gas facilities and limiting exports. That is also very unpopular nationwide because so many people see a chance to get a piece of the natural gas income. In other words, its not a war coming to Mozambique but rather another malignant side-effect of the culture of corruption that prevails in the country. San Francisco, March 11 (IANS) In a rare exception amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Meta is allowing posts with violent speech toward Russian soldiers on Facebook and Instagram in specific countries, including calls for harm or even death of Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. As per The Verge, according to internal emails sent to Meta moderators, the company said such posts with violent speech will be allowed as long as they don't contain threats toward others or "indicators of credibility" like saying where or how the act will take place. Facebook and Instagram have instituted a temporary change in policy that allows users in some countries to post content that's usually forbidden. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders'. We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," a Meta spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report late on Thursday. The New York Times said this temporary policy applies to people using the service from Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. According to Vice, Facebook moderators received similar temporary instructions about "death to Khamanei" content and "cited a spokesperson saying that Facebook had made that particular exception in certain earlier cases as well". The Facebook community standards regarding hate speech and violence and incitement have continued to receive updates since the company started publishing them publicly in 2018. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close CLATSOP COUNTY A Longview man driving a commercial truck on U.S. Route 26 died in a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning. Oregon State Police report Joseph Arient, 46, died around 9 a.m. Thursday at the Clatsop County scene after his white Peterbilt truck, traveling westbound, left the roadway, struck a tree and rolled on its side near milepost 8. The company Builders Supply owns the vehicle, which was towing a flatbed trailer filled with trusses, police say. U.S. Route 26 was reduced to one lane for more than six hours as a result of the crash, report police. The Hamlet Volunteer Fire Department in Clatsop County and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted police. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 11 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Burglary, assault Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Wednesday arrested Bradley Wade Armstrong, 53, of Kelso, on suspicion of residential burglary, fourth-degree assault and harassment. Fugitive from justice Longview police Wednesday arrested Colin Drew Dittmer, 22, of La Grande, Oregon, on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice. Theft Longview police Wednesday arrested Anna Marie Leslie, 55, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree theft, criminal impersonation, leading organized crime and attempted second-degree theft. Possession of a stolen vehicle Kelso police Wednesday arrested Amey Francis Markel, 48, of unknown residence, on suspicion of third-degree theft and possession of a stolen vehicle. Harassment Longview police Thursday arrested Sterling Wayne McCoy, 53, of Longview, on suspicion of felony harassment. Burglary Longview police Thursday arrested Grace Lynn Bentley, 41, of Longview, on suspicion of residential burglary, unlawful imprisonment and obstructing a public servant. Malicious mischief Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Friday arrested Tyler Robert Daggy, 38, of Kelso, on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief. Burglary Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Thursday arrested Zach J. Schriber, 28, of Kelso, on suspicion of residential burglary and resisting arrest. Possession of a stolen vehicle Woodland police Friday arrested Robert Troy Shoemaker, 48, of Eugene, Oregon, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, making a false statement and being a fugitive from justice. Drugs Longview police Thursday arrested Aron Edward Vough, 33, of Longview, on suspicion of two felony drug offenses. Taking a vehicle without permission Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Thursday arrested Heather Marie Wimp, 33, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree taking a vehicle without permission. Vandalism/malicious mischief 1500 block of Minor Road, Kelso. Thursday. Appears someone lit the port-a-potty on fire overnight. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RAINIER The Rainier School District released a letter Thursday asking students and staff to respect each others decisions to wear optional face coverings after the statewide indoor mask mandate ends this weekend. Oregon, Washington and California announced Feb. 28 each state will end its mask mandate at the same time: 11:59 p.m. Friday. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown originally said the mandate would end March 19. The decision affects places like businesses and public schools. Monday is the first school day when masks will no longer be required inside Rainier school buildings or transportation vehicles, reports the district. The letter states the district is eager for the changes, but opinions of those who disagree should be respected. While we are excited to see decisions being shifted to local control, it is important to remember that not all members of our community share in this excitement, the letter states. The letter, signed by District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick, includes three exceptions to optional masks. Masks will be required when students are being treated by the district nurse, when symptoms begin during the school day and when staff are in close proximity to others for extended time, says the letter. Face coverings are still required at medical facilities, including the school nurses office, the district reports. Isolating and testing The Oregon Department of Education released new guidelines March 2, axing requirements for contact tracing and quarantining after positive COVID-19 results for the general population starting Saturday. The states new guidelines strongly advise people with COVID-19 to isolate for five days and wear a mask for another five days after the isolation period. The Oregon Health Authority says isolation separates people with a contagious disease from those who are healthy, whereas quarantining separates people exposed to a contagious disease, and could become sick, from those who have not been exposed. The districts letter states students with primary COVID-19 symptoms, like coughing, shortness of breath and a temperature of 100.4 F or higher should stay home from school. The district says staff can test for COVID-19 at schools, but students under 15 years old will require parent permission. Kits to administer COVID-19 tests at home will be used in most cases if symptoms arise during the school day, the letter states. Staff and volunteers still are required by the state to be vaccinated, the district reports. 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. Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler said she helped secure $918,000 worth of federal funding to monitor sediment in the Lower Cowlitz River and prevent flooding. The appropriation will support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging and other flood prevention work on the Lower Cowlitz River. After the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the Corps was tasked with monitoring and controlling sediment that fills the riverbed. The sediment funds are part of the $1.5 trillion federal spending bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night. The federal appropriations package currently is waiting for approval by the Senate. Herrera Beutler, who represents Southwest Washingtons Third District, met with Cowlitz County commissioners Dennis Weber and John Jabusch along with two Longview residents at Riverside Park on Feb. 25 to discuss sediment monitoring on the Cowlitz River. Jabusch said around a dozen large sandbars had popped up along the river, including one near Castle Rock High School that has partially changed the channel flow. The local residents shared their worries about the damage that could be caused by a severe flood on the river. Ive heard these same sentiments echoed by countless folks in Cowlitz County, which is why its so important the federal government lives up to its responsibility to mitigate the risk of flooding caused by the buildup of sediment in the river, Herrera Beutler said in a statement Thursday. In addition to the flood prevention funds, Herrera Beutler touted $1.5 million she helped secure in the funding bill to equip the Vancouver Police Department with officer body cameras and patrol vehicle cameras. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The supplemental state capital budget approved by the Legislature this year will provide at least an additional $1.7 million for projects in Cowlitz County. The local project funds are a small piece of the $1.5 billion in new money legislators added to the capital budget during this years session. Unlike the state transportation budget and transportation funding package, which have seen contentious and highly partisan debates, the capital budget sailed through the Senate and the House of Representatives with unanimous support. Funding for specific projects in the county primarily comes from the Department of Commerce Local and Community Projects fund. The Legislature approved $53.3 million for the fund, including seven efforts in Cowlitz County: $515,000 to the Woodland Community Library for a new building project $309,000 for a restroom in Longviews Vandercook Park $273,000 to the Longview Senior Center for roof improvements $258,000 to Community House on Broadway for electrical upgrades at its emergency shelter $206,000 to the Stratford Apartments in Longview for veteran housing $155,000 for a trailhead restroom and new structure in Castle Rock $33,000 to fix the elevator at Kelsos Rister Stadium The largest funded project in District 19 is the $2.3 million being provided for a veteran resource center and housing in Raymond. The Wahkiakum School District will receive $515,000 from the states Distressed Schools fund to make accessibility and security improvements. District 19 Rep. Joel McEntire is the assistant ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee, which led the negotiations for the supplemental spending. More funding eventually could reach the county from the larger statewide projects included in the new capital budget $300 million for rapid housing acquisition to create shelters and transitional housing, including $60 million specifically for permanent supportive housing programs. The new appropriations also will provide $120 million for local infrastructure grants provided by the Public Works Board, $100 million for broadband infrastructure grants and $100 million to retrofit schools that are at high risk for severe earthquake damage. The supplemental budget also modified the requirements for Cowlitz River dredging funds. The amended budget requires the Office of Financial Management to contract with Cowlitz County to acquire land and rights of way that can be dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This change does not affect the amount of money appropriated for the project. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Leslie Slapes long-awaited full production of The Harder Courage, a tragedy inspired by true events in local history, will have its Washington premiere March 11-27 at Stageworks Northwest Theatre in downtown Longview. Slape, a Rainier resident, is the playwright and the director. She began researching and developing the play in 2012, and local actors Scott Clark and Michael Cheney have read aloud every new scene and draft along the way. I was thrilled to be asked, said Clark, who plays gentle Cowlitz County Sheriff Ben Holmes. Thrilled, actually To be a part of it, finished Cheney, who plays the wisecracking Robert Day. Its a cool process. We were able to help develop these characters. And its based on history of the area. We see how things were back then. We present a piece of history that local people dont know yet, said Clark. We all know the history of R.A. Long. Getting another piece of history, 140 years removed, is pretty cool. Set primarily in Kalama when it was the Cowlitz County seat, the play tells the story behind the countys first hanging on June 3, 1892. It explores themes of war, PTSD, capital punishment, vigilante justice, family, friendship, and the healing power of story. Sheriff Ben Holmes known for his kindness, honesty, and unruffled, quiet demeanor was serving his fourth two-year term as sheriff when news broke in early October 1891 that thered been a murder at one of the logging camps along the north fork of the Lewis River (near present-day Lake Merwin). The victim was 24-year-old Clint Beebe, son of Charley Beebe and nephew of Foss Beebe, owners of Woodlands first sawmill. The suspect was Robert Day, a former Confederate soldier and a squatter on unsurveyed land on the north fork of the Lewis. Day loves spinning exaggerated tales about himself, but now he finds hes the subject of other peoples tall tales as rumors fly thick and fast that hes a dangerous desperado who has murdered many others. During the eight months of Days incarceration from arrest to execution, Ben saves Roberts life a couple of times, and the two men form a bond. They share stories, laughs and secrets. Ultimately, when they know they cannot escape the fact Ben must hang Robert, the friends help each other face the worst day of their lives. The Harder Courage was a 2018 finalist at the Ashland New Plays Festival and was workshopped in 2019 at Theatre33 at Willamette University in Salem. The 2018 version can be heard on a podcast on the ANPFs website. Others in the cast are Scarlett Clark (Scotts wife) as Susan Holmes; Jennifer Cheney (Mikes wife) as Elizabeth Day; Adam Wolfer as the voice of Judge Nathaniel Bloomfield; Ethan Feider as a logger, deputy and the voice of the bailiff; and Joshua Warwick as a logger. Feider also is assistant director. Jacob Rohrbach is stage manager. Scenic design and construction is by Max Slape. Jennifer Cheney is light designer. Costumes are by Jennifer Cheney and Sam Wickert. Sound design is by Jim Johnston and Rohrbach. Posters and programs were designed by Janeene Niemi, who also is the artistic director of Stageworks. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Add Amazon.com Inc. to the list of companies that have been outmaneuvered by Mukesh Ambanis juggernaut. Add Amazon.com Inc. to the list of companies that have been outmaneuvered by Mukesh Ambanis juggernaut. Not only has he jolted the U.S. giant in the fight to dominate Indias retail sector, he now holds all the cards in a $3.4 billion dogfight to buy a local cash-strapped retailer. Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd. in late-February quietly began poaching employees and taking over rental leases of hundreds of stores once run by Future Retail Ltd. and Future Lifestyle Fashions Ltd., even as Amazon furiously tried to block formal acquisitions through lawsuits and arbitration across India and Singapore. Ambanis bloodless coup forced Amazon to seek settlement on the bitter dispute and alarmed Futures investors and lenders wary of asset-stripping. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: We did not expect Reliance Group to take such drastic actions, without even discussing the matter with us, Future Retails Chief Financial Officer Chandra Prakash Toshniwal wrote in a March 2 letter to Reliances retail units. Please confirm that there will not be any reduction in consideration payable. Another letter, dated March 5 -- Bloomberg has copies of both the letters -- sent by Future Lifestyle expressed concerns and shock and requested Reliance not to undertake such actions that may be viewed seriously by the Lenders, who have charge on all current and fixed assets of the company. Banks may cut off Futures credit lines, crippling whats left of an already cash-starved retailer, the letter said. The Kishore Biyani-led Future Group got caught in the tussle between two large corporations after Amazon objected to Reliances August 2020 offer to buy Future Retails stores and warehouses for 247.1 billion rupees ($3.4 billion). The American e-commerce giant said the deal violated its 2019 agreement with another Future Group firm as it bled out Future Retail, which has missed debt obligations and faces bankruptcy risk. Future Retail said in an exchange filing late Wednesday it has received termination notices on sub-leases for 342 large and and 493 small stores from the Reliance group. These stores contributed as much as 65% of revenues but are currently not operational for stock and inventory reconciliation. Separately, Future Lifestyle has received termination notices for 112 sub-leased properties from Reliance entities that were bringing in a similar proportion of revenues. Future Group ran Indias biggest retail grocery chain before the pandemic struck, making it a juicy target for two of the worlds richest men -- Ambani and Amazons Jeff Bezos -- as they jostle for control of the only billion-plus consumer market where foreign firms can compete. Representatives for Reliance, Amazon and the Future Group didnt immediately respond to emailed queries seeking comments on the letters. The fate of Future Group investors, including Blackstone Inc. and L Catterton, and lenders now hang in balance as Reliance, Future and Amazon hammer out an out-of-court settlement by March 15, when they need to report progress to Indias Supreme Court. Reliances tactical win offers it the master key, giving it the strongest position at the negotiation table, according to Nirmal Gangwal, Mumbai-based founder of financial advisory firm Brescon & Allied Partners LLP. Amazon is the latest player to witness how the Reliance conglomerate muscles in and eventually dominates nearly every sector it gets into -- petrochemicals, crude oil refining, consumer retail, telecom, digital services and, more recently, green energy. Tacit Takeover Last week, Amazon sought to bury a nearly two-year-old legal spat, five days after local media reported Reliances tacit takeover of stores by signing new lease agreements with landlords owning Futures stores and sending job offers to 30,000 workers from the Future Group. Amazons disbelief at the turn of events came through during court hearing last week. The American e-tailers lawyer Gopal Subramanium said Future Group told them the deal with Reliance will take six months or more to close. It has hardly been 48 hours and people are taking over shops, he said. But the drawn-out litigation hurt Future Group the most. The two Future firms owe 300 billion rupees in total debt, on the back of dwindling cash flows and operations. Reliance will honor the definitive agreement they signed in the past, a person close to the development said, who did not want to be identified as the matter is private. It has also extended the period for closing the transaction by six months to Sept. 30. Treading Carefully Another person familiar with the developments said Future Group was treading carefully as it doesnt want to unsettle Reliance right now. That tone of measured caution, bordering on desperation, comes through in the letters sent by Future firms. We have always acted with full transparency and have considered Reliance Group as a partner, Future Retail said in the letter, adding that it was hopeful of closing the transaction soon. We would, therefore, request that you do not take any actions against us. Alphabet Inc's YouTube and Google Play store are suspending all payment-based services in Russia, including subscription. Alphabet Inc's YouTube and Google Play store are suspending all payment-based services in Russia, including subscriptions, as Western sanctions start to pose banking challenges in the country. Google and YouTube had recently stopped selling online advertising in Russia following similar pauses by Twitter Inc and Snap Inc after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. "As a follow-up, we're now extending this pause to all our monetization features, including YouTube Premium, Channel Memberships, Super Chat and Merchandise, for viewers in Russia," YouTube said in a statement on Thursday. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: YouTube channels in Russia will still be able to generate revenue from viewers outside of Russia through ads and paid features, which include Super Chat and merchandise sales. Free apps on Google Play also remain available in Russia, according to a company support website. Dutch internet providers block Sputnik News, RT websites (ANI): In response to Russian military operation in Ukraine, Dutch internet providers on Tuesday have blocked the websites of Sputnik and RT as part of EU sanctions. Three providers - VodafoneZiggo, T-Mobile and KPN - have enacted the blocking today, reported Sputnik. The NOS broadcaster reported that the websites of Sputnik and RT are among the six Russian media outlets blocked by the Netherlands. On 2 March, the EU banned the operation of Sputnik news websites and the broadcasting of the RT TV channel. Prior to that, Instagram and Meta restricted access to Sputnik and RT across the EU. Also, Google said it blocked YouTube channels related to RT and Sputnik. All these measures have been taken in response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which was started by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24. Today, the Huawei nova 9 SE is finally launched in Malaysia and it starts at a price of RM1099 only. The pre-order is now live until 18 March 2022 at HUAWEI Official Website , HUAWEI Experience Store , HUAWEI Official Store on Shopee , and HUAWEI Flagship Store on Lazada . Consumers can also head to the nearest HUAWEI Experience Store to experience the new nova 9 SE. For every purchase of the nova 9 SE, each customer can bring home a free pair of Freelace wireless earphones and other Huawei Mobile Services promotions. These freebies are a total of RM560 are based on a first-come-first-serve basis. Moreover, there's also a social contest for the public but we will get to that later. In terms of tech specs, one of the highlights that Huawei Malaysia wants to promote is the camera setup. The nova 9 SE features a 108MP (main) + 8MP (ultrawide) + 2MP (depth) + 2MP + 2MP (macro) quad rear camera with AI capabilities. Meanwhile, the 16MP wide-angle AI Beauty front camera is hanging out on the top centre of the 6.78-inch FullView Display design with 1.05mm slim bezels. Continuing vlogging trend for the nova series, Huawei Malaysia is also promoting its camera software features like the Dual-View Video. A staple feature in the lineup, it allows users to use the front and back camera for video recording at the same time. Plus, users can use the One-Click Video Compilation as an instant video editing tool or the Petal Clip app for advanced editing tools. Finally, the other highlight is the 4000mAh battery that supports a 66W Huawei SuperCharge. Huawei Malaysia said that it takes is only 16 minutes to charge the phone up to 60% or even 36 minutes to be fully charged. Below are the rest of the tech specs of the nova 9 SE: Snapdragon 680 chipset 8GB of RAM 128GB of storage 90Hz refresh rate EMUI 12 OS Crystal Blue, Pearl White, and Midnight Black As for the social contest, Huawei Malaysia is organising a Capture your best moment with HUAWEI nova 9 SE Art Deco". From 12th March to 19th March 2022, you can visit any of the three locations at East Coast Mall at Kuantan; Queensbay Mall at Penang, or Sunway Pyramid at Selangor and capture a video or photo with the nova logo structure. After that, you can post the photo or video on Instagram and tag @huaweimobilemy and follow Instagram @huaweimobilemy to enter the contest. That said, remember to set your profile publicly and include the hashtag #HUAWEInova9se and #BeInspiredBenova in the caption. Once you're done, head over to any of the Huawei Experience Store to show them your post and redeem a gift. This is a first-come-first-serve only. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 8, 2022. Companies critical to U.S. national interests will have to report when they're hacked or they pay ransomware. The new rules approved by Congress are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration and Congress to shore up the nation's cyberdefenses after a series of high-profile digital espionage campaigns and disruptive ransomware attacks. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File Companies critical to U.S. national interests will now have to report when they're hacked or they pay ransomware, according to new rules approved by Congress. The rules are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration and Congress to shore up the nation's cyberdefenses after a series of high-profile digital espionage campaigns and disruptive ransomware attacks. The reporting will give the federal government much greater visibility into hacking efforts that target private companies, which often have skipped going to the FBI or other agencies for help. "It's clear we must take bold action to improve our online defenses," Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat who leads the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and wrote the legislation, said in a statement on Friday. The reporting requirement legislation was approved by the House and the Senate on Thursday and is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden soon. It requires any entity that's considered part of the nation's critical infrastructure, which includes the finance, transportation and energy sectors, to report any "substantial cyber incident" to the government within three days and any ransomware payment made within 24 hours. Ransomware attacks, in which criminals hack targets and hold their data hostage through encryption until ransoms have been paid, have flourished in recent years. Attacks last year on the world's largest meat-packing company and the biggest U.S. fuel pipelinewhich led to days of gas station shortages on the East Coasthave underscored how gangs of extortionist hackers can disrupt the economy and put lives and livelihoods at risk. State hackers from Russia and China have had continued success hacking into and spying on U.S. targets, including critical infrastructure targets. The most notable was Russia's SolarWinds cyberespionage campaign, which was discovered at the end of 2020. FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks at a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington Nov. 8, 2021. Companies critical to U.S. national interests will have to report when they're hacked or they pay ransomware. The new rules approved by Congress are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration and Congress to shore up the nation's cyberdefenses after a series of high-profile digital espionage campaigns and disruptive ransomware attacks. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File Experts and government officials worry that Russia's war in Ukraine has increased the threat of cyberattacks against U.S. targets, by either state or proxy actors. Many ransomware operators live and work in Russia. "As our nation rightly supports Ukraine during Russia's illegal unjustifiable assault, I am concerned the threat of Russian cyber and ransomware attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure will increase," said Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio. The legislation designates the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as the lead agency to receive notices of hacks and ransomware payments. That caused concern at the FBI, which had openly campaigned for tweaks to the bill in an unusually public disagreement over legislation endorsed overall by the White House. "We want one call to be a call to us all," FBI Director Christopher Wray said last week at a cyber event at the University of Kansas. "What's needed is not a whole bunch of different reporting but real-time access by all the people who need to have it to the same report. So that's what we're talking aboutnot multiple reporting chains but multiple access, multiple contemporaneous action, to the information." The FBI also has expressed concern that liability protections that would cover companies that report a breach to CISA would not extend to reporting a breach to the FBI, an issue the bureau believes could unnecessarily complicate law enforcement efforts to respond to hacks and to aid victims. Lawmakers who helped write the bill have pushed back against the FBI, saying the bureau's concerns about being notified of hacks and liability concerns were adequately addressed in the final version of it. The new rules also empower CISA to subpoena companies that fail to report hacks or ransomware payments, and those that fail to comply with a subpoena could be referred to the Justice Department for investigation. Explore further A sign of ransomware growth: Gangs now arbitrate disputes 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A LNG tanker docked at an offloading facility in the Netherlands. Europe is counting on liquefied natural gas (LNG) to help reduce its heavy dependence on Russian energy in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission this week set a target of slashing Russian gas imports by two thirds by the end of the year. Russia supplies 40 percent of the EU's gas needs, with Italy and Germany especially dependent. Here are five things to know about LNG: Tanker transport After its extraction, natural gas is cooled down to minus 162 degrees Celsius (minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit) to turn it into its liquefied form. Natural gas takes up 600 times less room as a liquid than in its gaseous state, making it easier to transport it in tanker ships. On arrival at port, LNG is converted back into gas in terminals before it goes into national energy grids. It can also be transported by tanker trucks in its liquefied form to be taken to industrial zones. From Papua New Guinea to Trinidad LNG offers more options in terms of suppliers as it can be imported by sea from countries that are not connected to pipelines. Some of the alternatives invoked for Europe include the United States, Australia and Qatar. They are among some 20 countries that export LNG, a group that includes countries as far afield as the Pacific island of Papua New Guinea as well as Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Russia also ships LNG. Trade in LNG increased by six percent last year, pushed up by higher demand from China and South Korea, according to Shell's annual LNG outlook. Tight market In a 10-point plan to reduce the EU's reliance on Russian gas, the International Energy Agency said the bloc could "theoretically" increase its near-term imports of LNG by some 60 billion cubic metres. The European Commission sees potential for 50 billion cubic metres. But the IEA warned that all importers "are fishing in the same pool for supply, so (in the absence of weather-related or other factors that limit import demand in other regions) this would mean exceptionally tight LNG markets and very high prices". A maximum of 35 billion cubic metres of LNG is expected to be added to the market this year, said Vincent Demoury, secretary general of the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers. "It's possible that China will get around half of it, which would leave less than 20 billion cubic metres for the European market," Demoury said. "Unfortunately you cannot ask (LNG) to perform miracles in the short term," he said. New terminals Poland and Lithuania have built LNG terminals. Germany, which lacks terminals, said this month it would build one on its North Sea coast to reduce it dependence on Russian gas. 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. But building terminals can take two to three years. One option is to use ships known as a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) to convert LNG into gas. But it can still take 12 to 18 months to put them into service, said Demoury. Europe also needs to improve its land connectivity to transport regasified LNG. Spain, for instance, has six terminals for regasifying and storing LNG, Europe's largest network. But there are only two pipelines between Spain and neighbouring France which have little capacity. Environmental impact The industry boasts that LNG offers a cleaner alternative to coal for electricity production and oil for the propulsion of ships. But environmental groups are not fans of LNG. "Replacing one fossil fuel and Russian dependency with another would prove a dead end for Europe in the medium term," said the Climate Action Network on the sidelines of an EU summit that ends Friday. Lorette Philippot, private finance campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said the LNG sector impacts climate because it is energy-intensive, increases upstream production and emits harmful methane gases. Explore further Liquefied gas proving to be a natural for energy firms 2022 AFP Offshore wind farms have become an important source of electricity in Europe. Credit: Shutterstock Offshore wind is playing an important role in Europe's shift to renewables. Australia's excellent offshore resources now look like they are going to contribute to our own energy transition. Last week, the Victorian government announced ambitious targets for offshore wind capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW) by 2032, 4GW by 2035, and 9GW by 2040. If this is all built, it will produce somewhere in the region of 40 terawatt hours (TWh) of power, close to all electricity used via the NEM in Australia's second most populous state. Offshore wind offers another excellent renewable option as we decarbonize electricity. But more needs to be done to turn these plans into enormous turbines off our coast. We need to streamline regulations, introduce more targets, fund research and begin building a supply chain. Policy targets are key Victoria's groundbreaking announcement comes after federal government support for Australia's energy transition through the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021. It provides a broad framework to enable offshore renewable energy developments in Australia, and gives greater certainty to offshore wind backers. Where should offshore wind be built? Key locations are off the Gippsland coast, as well as the coasts of the Hunter and Illawarra regions and off Tasmania's north-west, according to the draft 2022 Integrated System Plan issued by Australia's energy market operator. At least 12 projects are in the early stages of development. So what do we need to make this a reality? In our recent working paper, we asked experts from industry, government and the research community which policies they believe are needed to get offshore wind up and running. We surveyed experts across the region, from Northeast Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia. We found the experts shared strong support for the use of policy targets. Why? Because policy targets help provide the certainty of an ongoing pipeline for windfarm developers. Other state governments could follow Victoria and use targets to kickstart the offshore wind industry. Targets alone will not be enough. Our experts singled out streamlined regulation as important. Some European nations have moved to coordinate offshore wind siting, consultation, and project development processes. Japan is now looking to adopt this approach. At present, developers looking to build offshore wind in Australia will need to navigate different agencies due to separate state and federal responsibilities. Coordination will help provide greater regulatory certainty, combined with careful consultation with local communities. Expert support for policies to accelerate offshore wind development, separated by turbines mounted on the seabed and tethered floating turbines. Floating turbine tech has to develop further Most of the world's offshore turbines sit on fixed foundations in waters less than 60 meters deep. Some of Australia's best offshore wind resources are located in deeper water. That means we'll need to use floating turbines, which sit on surface platforms tethered by cable to the seafloor. This technology isn't as developed as fixed foundation turbines. As this technology matures and becomes cheaper, it will open up more areas. How can we speed this up? According to the experts we surveyed, we can make costs fall faster through government-backed research and development, as well as supporting commercialization of newer technologies and processes. The Victorian government expects local supply chains for this offshore wind rollout will emerge and become a boon to the economy. But why keep this to ourselves? An effective local supply chain would be well placed for the wider Asia Pacific offshore wind market, forecast to grow very strongly this decade. We are only at the beginning of offshore wind Last year's federal legislation saw Australia join nations in our region including Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea and China in establishing policy frameworks to support offshore wind power deployment. It's unusual to see federal and state governments seeing eye to eye on renewables. But that's what we're starting to see with offshore wind. Last year's federal legislation has had positive spin-off effects clearly seen in Victoria's new vision for the sector. Victoria's government believes its mooted offshore wind pipeline will be a major source of new jobs, throughout the project development, construction, and operations phases. Cost projections for offshore wind. Credit: CSIRO Gencost 2021 Some of these jobs will be in coal regions such as in the Latrobe Valley, which are beginning to transition away from coal mines and coal power stations. As you might expect, planning, building and running offshore wind farms is complex, requiring coordinating with other users of ocean resources, measuring wind resources, assessing the potential environmental impact, developing necessary port infrastructure, and securing a connection to the electricity grid. This means that while federal legislation and state government announcements are vital first steps, they are just the beginning of building the policy framework and supply chains to support a substantial offshore wind industry in Australia. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Europe's thriving offshore wind market shows us this electricity source is more than capable of competing against other electricity generation sources without subsidies. Offshore wind could also provide renewable electricity to produce hydrogen. What are the next steps? Australia has offshore wind projects already in early development, with the Star of the South off Gippsland the most advanced. If this goes ahead, this 2.2GW project could supply up to 20% of Victoria's electricity needs. In Western Australia, a 3GW offshore wind farm has just been proposed. The project's backers suggest this would be enough to enough to generate up to 11 TWh of power annually, offsetting around six million tons of CO 2 emissions each year. Costs are expected to fall and keep falling, if global deployment of offshore wind increases in line with net zero emissions targets, according to CSIRO projections. It is excellent news that offshore wind has begun to gather real momentum. Now is the time to consider measures such as regulatory streamlining, more policy targets to de-risk investments, and investments in research and development. If we get these in place, offshore wind could become an important part of the energy transition in Australiaand help Australian companies compete internationally for a share of this ballooning new market. Explore further US to hold largest-ever offshore wind farm auction next month This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Imperial College London A new approach to producing realistic expressions of pain on robotic patients could help to reduce error and bias during physical examination. A team led by researchers at Imperial College London has developed a way to generate more accurate expressions of pain on the face of medical training robots during physical examination of painful areas. Findings, published today in Scientific Reports, suggest this could help teach trainee doctors to use clues hidden in patient facial expressions to minimize the force necessary for physical examinations. The technique could also help to detect and correct early signs of bias in medical students by exposing them to a wider variety of patient identities. Study author Sibylle Rerolle, from Imperial's Dyson School of Design Engineering, said: "Improving the accuracy of facial expressions of pain on these robots is a key step in improving the quality of physical examination training for medical students." Understanding facial expressions: About the findings In the study, undergraduate students were asked to perform a physical examination on the abdomen of a robotic patient. Data about the force applied to the abdomen was used to trigger changes in six different regions of the robotic faceknown as MorphFaceto replicate pain-related facial expressions. This method revealed the order in which different regions of a robotic face, known as facial activation units (AUs), must trigger to produce the most accurate expression of pain. The study also determined the most appropriate speed and magnitude of AU activation. The researchers found that the most realistic facial expressions happened when the upper face AUs (around the eyes) were activated first, followed by the lower face AUs (around the mouth). In particular, a longer delay in activation of the Jaw Drop AU produced the most natural results. The paper also found that how participants perceived the pain of the robotic patient was dependent on the gender and ethnic differences between the participant and the patient, and that these perception biases affected the force applied during physical examination. For example, White participants perceived shorter delay facial expressions as most realistic on White robotic faces, whereas Asian participants perceived longer delays to be more realistic. This perception bias affected the force applied by White and Asian participants to different White robotic patients during examination, because participants applied more consistent force when they believed that the robot was showing realistic expressions of pain. The MorphFace replicates pain expression when the 'abdomen' is pressed. Credit: Imperial College London The importance of diversity in medical training simulators When doctors conduct physical examination of painful areas, the feedback of patient facial expressions is important. However, many current medical training simulators cannot display real-time facial expressions relating to pain and include a limited number of patient identities in terms of ethnicity and gender. The researchers say these limitations could cause medical students to develop biased practices, with studies already highlighting racial bias in the ability to recognize facial expressions of pain. "Previous studies attempting to model facial expressions of pain relied on randomly generated facial expressions shown to participants on a screen," said lead author Jacob Tan, also of the Dyson School of Design Engineering. "This is the first time that participants were asked to perform the physical action which caused the simulated pain, allowing us to create dynamic simulation models." Participants were asked to rate the appropriateness of the facial expressions from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree," and the researchers used these responses to find the most realistic order of AU activation. Sixteen participants were involved in the study, made up of a mix of males and females of Asian and White ethnicities. Each participant performed 50 examination trials on each of four robotic patient identitiesBlack female, Black male, White female, White male. Co-author Thilina Lalitharatne, from the Dyson School of Design Engineering, said: "Underlying biases could lead doctors to misinterpret the discomfort of patientsincreasing the risk of mistreatment, negatively impacting doctor-patient trust, and even causing mortality. "In the future, a robot-assisted approach could be used to train medical students to normalize their perceptions of pain expressed by patients of different ethnicity and gender." Next steps Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara, the director of Morph Lab, urged caution in assuming these results apply to other participant-patient interactions that are beyond the scope of the study. He said: "Further studies including a broader range of participant and patient identities, such as Black participants, would help to establish whether these underlying biases are seen across a greater ranger of doctor-patient interactions. "Current research in our lab is looking to determine the viability of these new robotic-based teaching techniques and, in the future, we hope to be able to significantly reduce underlying biases in medical students in under an hour of training." Explore further Facial recognition taken to the next level in virtual reality More information: Yongxuan Tan et al, Simulating dynamic facial expressions of pain from visuo-haptic interactions with a robotic patient, Scientific Reports (2022). Journal information: Scientific Reports Yongxuan Tan et al, Simulating dynamic facial expressions of pain from visuo-haptic interactions with a robotic patient,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08115-1 Tanks storing treated radioactive water after it was used to cool the melted fuel are seen at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The government has announced plans to release the water after treatment and dilution to well below the legally releasable levels through a planned undersea tunnel at a site about 1 kilometer offshore. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Eleven years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was ravaged by a meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami, the plant now looks like a sprawling construction site. Most of the radioactive debris blasted by the hydrogen explosions has been cleared and the torn buildings have been fixed. During a recent visit by journalists from The Associated Press to see firsthand the cleanup of one of the world's worst nuclear meltdowns, helmeted men wore regular work clothes and surgical masks, instead of previously required hazmat coveralls and full-face masks, as they dug near a recently reinforced oceanside seawall. Workers were preparing for the planned construction of an Olympic pool-sized shaft for use in a highly controversial plan set to begin in the spring of 2023 to gradually get rid of treated radioactive waternow exceeding 1.3 million tons stored in 1,000 tanksso officials can make room for other facilities needed for the plant's decommissioning. Despite the progress, massive amounts of radioactive melted fuel remain inside of the reactors. There's worry about the fuel because so much about its condition is still unknown, even to officials in charge of the cleanup. Nearly 900 tons of melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors, and its removal is an unprecedented challenge involving 10 times the amount of damaged fuel removed in the Three Mile Island cleanup following its 1979 partial core melt. Men in hazmat suits work inside a facility with equipment to remove radioactive materials from contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The government has announced plans to release the water after treatment and dilution to well below the legally releasable levels through a planned undersea tunnel at a site about 1 kilometer offshore. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae The government has set a decommissioning roadmap aiming for completion in 29 years. The challenge of removing melted fuel from the reactors is so daunting that some experts now say that setting a completion target is impossible, especially as officials still don't have any idea about where to store the waste. Nuclear Regulation Authority Chairman Toyoshi Fuketa said recently that extra time would be needed to determine where and how the highly radioactive waste removed from the reactors should be stored. Japan has no final storage plans even for the highly radioactive waste that comes out of normal reactors. Twenty-four of the country's 60 reactors are designated for decommissioning, mostly because of the high cost needed to meet safety standards set up in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake caused a tsunami 17 meters (56 feet) high that slammed into the coastal plant, destroying its power supply and cooling systems, causing reactors No. 1, 2 and 3 to melt and spewing massive amounts of radiation. Three other reactors were offline and survived, though a fourth building suffered hydrogen explosions. Men in hazmat suits work inside a facility with equipment to remove radioactive materials from contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The government has announced plans to release the water after treatment and dilution to well below the legally releasable levels through a planned undersea tunnel at a site about 1 kilometer offshore. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae The spreading radiation caused some 160,000 residents to evacuate. Parts of the surrounding neighborhood are still uninhabitable. The melted cores in Units 1, 2 and 3 largely fell to the bottom of their primary containment vessels, together with control rods and other equipment, some possibly penetrating or mixing with the concrete foundation, making the cleanup extremely difficult. Probes of the melted fuel must rely on remote-controlled robots carrying equipment such as cameras and dosimeterswhich measure radiationbecause radiation levels in those areas are still fatally high for humans. In February, a remote-operated submersible robot entered the Unit 1 primary containment vessel, its first internal probe since a failed 2017 attempt. It captured limited images of what are believed to be mounds of melted fuel rising from the concrete floor. Workers walk around a construction site for a planned shaft at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Futaba town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The shaft is designed to store treated radioactive water to be diluted with seawater to releasable levels. The Japanese government and TEPCO officials say they plan to gradually start discharging the water in the spring 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Probes have moved ahead at Unit 2, where TEPCO plans to send in an extendable robotic arm later this year to collect melted fuel samples. TEPCO Chief Decommissioning Officer Akira Ono said in a recent online interview that robotic probes at Unit 1 and 2 this year are a major "step forward" in the decades-long cleanup. "It's like we have finally come to the starting line," Ono said. "Before, we didn't even know which way we were supposed to go." Ono said the Unit 2 melted fuel test removal will start from a granule or two, all of which will be sent for lab analysis, meaning a storage facility won't be necessary until larger amounts are hauled out. Even a tiny amount would provide valuable data for research and development of fuel and debris removal technology for all three reactors, he said. Hideyuki Ban, the co-founder of the Citizens' Nuclear Information Center who previously served on government nuclear safety panels, proposes the underground burial of solidified treated water for stable long-term storage, while entombing the three reactors for several decadeslike Chernobyland waiting for radioactivity to decrease for better safety and access for workers instead of rushing the cleanup. One of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) employees speaks as they take AP journalists to the area under the Unit 5 reactor pressure vessel, which survived the earthquake-triggered tsunami in 2011, at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by TEPCO, in Futaba town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The government has set a decommissioning roadmap aiming for completion in 29 years. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Since the disaster, contaminated cooling water has constantly escaped from the damaged primary containment vessels into the reactor building basements, where it mixes with groundwater and rainwater that seep in. The water is pumped up and treated, partly recycled as cooling water, with the remainder stored in 1,000 huge tanks crowding the plant. The tanks will be full at 1.37 million tons by next spring, TEPCO says. The government has announced plans to release the water after treatment and dilution to well below the legally releasable levels through a planned undersea tunnel at a site about 1 kilometer offshore. The plan has faced fierce opposition from local residents, especially fishermen concerned about further damage to the area's reputation. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. This photo shows the damaged Unit 1 reactor, back, and the exhaust stack shared with the Unit 1 and 2 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The government has set a decommissioning roadmap aiming for completion in 29 years. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Scientists say the health impact from consuming tritium through the food chain could be greater than drinking it in water, and further studies are needed. At one of the water treatment facilities where radiation levels are much higher, a team of workers in full protective gear handled a container filled with highly radioactive slurry. It had been filtered from the contaminated water that's been continuously leaking from the damaged reactors and pumped up from their basements since the disaster. Large amounts of slurry and solid radioactive waste also accumulate in the plant. Radiation levels have fallen significantly after decontamination since the disaster, and full protection gear is only needed in limited areas, including in and around the reactor buildings. On a recent visit, AP journalists used cotton gloves, goggles, a head cover and surgical masks to tour low-radiation areas. A worker helps direct a truck driver as he stands near tanks, background, that will be used to store treated radioactive water after it was used to cool down melted fuel at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. Treated radioactive water is stored in tanks at the power station. The government has announced plans to release the water after treatment and dilution to well below the legally releasable levels through a planned undersea tunnel at a site about 1 kilometer offshore. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae One of the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) employees holds a radiation counter as they take AP journalists to the area under the Unit 5 reactor pressure vessel, which survived the earthquake-triggered tsunami in 2011, at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by TEPCO, in Futaba town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. The government has set a decommissioning roadmap aiming for completion in 29 years. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Lab technicians demonstrate a part of a process to measure levels of tritium in water samples at one of the two laboratories at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae A lab technician uses a pair of smart glasses as she demonstrates a part of a process to measure levels of tritium in water samples at one of the two laboratories at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant sits in coastal towns of both Okuma and Futaba, as seen from the Ukedo fishing port in Namie town, northeastern Japan, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Eleven years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was ravaged by a meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami, the plant now looks like a sprawling construction site. Most of the radioactive debris blasted by the hydrogen explosions has been cleared and the torn buildings have been fixed. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae A lab technician wearing a pair of smart glasses demonstrates a part of a process to measure levels of tritium in water samples at one of the two laboratories at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae A lab technician wearing a pair of smart glasses demonstrates a part of a process to measure levels of tritium in water samples at one of the two laboratories at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae A lab technician wears a pair of smart glasses as he demonstrates a part of a process to measure levels of tritium in water samples at one of the two laboratories at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, Thursday, March 3, 2022. TEPCO and government officials say tritium, which is not harmful in small amounts, is inseparable from the water, but all other 63 radioactive isotopes selected for treatment can be reduced to safe levels, tested and further diluted by seawater before release. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant sits in coastal towns of both Okuma and Futaba, as seen from the Ukedo fishing port in Namie town, northeastern Japan, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Eleven years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was ravaged by a meltdown following a massive earthquake and tsunami, the plant now looks like a sprawling construction site. Most of the radioactive debris blasted by the hydrogen explosions has been cleared and the torn buildings have been fixed. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa speaks during a news conference in Iwaki, Japan, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Izawa says the Fukushima Daiichi plant must be safely and fully decommissioned "to make our hometown a safe and livable place again." Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae In this image made from video provided by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer, president of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, speaks during an online interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Ono said in a recent online interview that robotic probes at Unit 1 and 2 this year are a major "step forward" in the decades-long cleanup. Credit: TEPCO via AP Additional protection, including hazmat coveralls and double rubber gloves, was required when the journalists entered the Unit 5 primary containment vessel and stood on the grating of the pedestal, a structure beneath the defueled core, where officials explained the concept of using robotic probes in No. 1 and 2 reactors. TEPCO has emptied spent fuel from the No. 3 and No. 4 reactor pools, but removal at the No. 1 and 2 reactors has been delayed several years because of high radiation and contaminated debris, posing concerns of a spent fuel meltdown in case another major quake caused water loss and overheating. Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa says the Fukushima Daiichi plant must be safely and fully decommissioned "to make our hometown a safe and livable place again." Izawa said he wants the government to "wipe out the (region's) negative image" by tackling the safe cleanup, which is a prerequisite for the town's reconstruction. Explore further Robot photos appear to show melted fuel at Fukushima reactor 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Former Sen. David Perdue and his wife Bonnie didnt have to wait long in line Monday to cast their ballots for the May 24 primary, which will determine who will receive the Republican nomination for the race to serve as Georgias next governor. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. KYIV, Ukraine As Russian troops advanced from the north, this capital with its defiant president and citizen militias armed with rifles and homemade bombs was preparing a robust defense Thursday as talks to end the war stalled and relentless shelling battered coastal towns in the south. Across Kyiv, major road and bridge junctions were blocked with streetcars, buses and garbage trucks. Near the ring road that surrounds the city, trucks with rocket launchers parked in fields and released a fusillade toward Russian forces position to the northwest. And as Russian troops pressed on outside the city, residents of Kyivs suburbs were feeling the strain. Weve seen more civilians. Sometimes soldiers too, but much more civilians, said Vladimir Andriiets, deputy director of the main hospital in Bovary, 15 miles northwest of Kyivs center. Bullet wounds, shrapnel wounds; the ones weve seen are very severe, because many of them we see an appendage amputated. Andriiets looked weary. Though the area around the hospital seemed quiet, fighting was slowly approaching the suburb a change reflected in patients admitted in the last three days. While the clashes and efforts to evacuate more people continued, there were no breakthroughs for an end to the hostilities as Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers met Thursday in Antalya, Turkey, for the two countries highest-level talks since the war began two weeks ago. After negotiations lasting about an hour and a half, the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers emerged still far apart in their views of a conflict that has killed hundreds, possibly thousands, of people. Although there was discussion of humanitarian issues, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said there was no progress on Kyivs key demand of an immediate cease-fire. We cant stop the war if the country that started the attack has no willingness to do that, Kuleba said, adding that Moscow continued vainly to seek a surrender from Ukraine. Kuleba noted that the encircled southern port city of Mariupol remained under constant shelling and bombing from Russian forces, in violation of repeated agreements to allow civilians safe passage out. Mariupol officials Thursday said three people, including a child, died when a maternity hospital was hit the day before, an assault whose brutality sparked outrage around the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a war crime. In Warsaw, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday condemned Russias bombing of the hospital and said the attack should be investigated as a potential war crime. Absolutely there should be an investigation, Harris said during a joint news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Belweder Palace in Warsaw. Just limited to what we have seen: pregnant women going for health care being injured by I dont know a missile, a bomb in an unprovoked, unjustified war. The toll from the hospital added to the more than 1,200 people killed in Mariupol alone in the wars first nine days, according to the citys deputy mayor a number that far eclipses the figure issued for all of Ukraine by the United Nations, which acknowledges its tally to be an undercount. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov brushed aside criticism over the deadly strike on the hospital, calling the accusation of an atrocity another of Ukraines pathetic cries. He alleged that the facility had become a base for radical Ukrainian fighters, that women and children had been moved out and that Ukraine was using civilians as human shields. Sticking to Moscows narrative of the invasion that began Feb. 24, Lavrov insisted that Russia did not attack Ukraine but rather launched a special military operation he refused to call it a war because Ukraine presented a direct threat to his country. Ukraine is being made into an anti-Russian state through Western manipulation and intimidation, Lavrov said. He reiterated Moscows demand for the de-militarization and de-Nazification of a country whose army is a small fraction of the size of Russias and whose president is Jewish. Although some observers had speculated that Thursdays foreign ministers meeting could pave the way for direct talks between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, such a summit seems a distant prospect. Lavrov said the two leaders would meet only if it could achieve added value beyond ongoing negotiations at lower levels. Far from the diplomatic wrangling in Turkey, officials in some of Ukraines most war-battered cities struggled to move their people to safety. Ukrainian authorities said evacuation routes from seven cities had been agreed on Thursday with the Russian side, but it was unclear whether fighting had actually halted in those so-called humanitarian corridors. Only three of six routes Wednesday were able to operate, Zelenskyy said. Heavily besieged Mariupol, whose plight has captured international attention, was once again on the evacuation list. After stalling for many days, Russian troops moved about 3 miles closer to Kyiv, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday afternoon at a Pentagon briefing. They are now about 12 miles north of the city center, the official added, and the city of Chernihiv is now isolated and seeing heavy fighting. The U.S. continues to provide security assistance to Ukraine, with another shipment arriving in the next 24 hours. The Pentagon continues to observe increased use of long-range fires, bombardment, missile launches as Russia attempts to gain ground after delays, the senior defense official said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said his city had turned into a fortress ahead of the Russian invasion. Every street, every house ... is being fortified, he said. Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands. For Ukrainians on the outskirts of Kyiv, there were small victories: A skirmish about 20 miles to the northeast on Thursday saw a column of Russian armored vehicles try to breach the citys defenses near a bridge on the main highway between Kyiv and Chernihiv. By midmorning, Ukrainian soldiers were showing off a Russian armored personnel carrier whose occupants had run away, a Ukrainian commander said. The vehicle sat on the side of the highway, its dull-green metal glinting in the cold morning sun. Beside it were strewn the Russian soldiers belongings: sleeping bags, toiletries and, oddly, a Canon printer. But in Brovary, Andriiets, the hospital deputy director, said fear of bombardment was forcing them to move patients to the basement two to three times a day. He walked to the bed of Vasil Seychuk, a 40-year-old firefighter who had been in his house walking toward the basement when a shell slammed into it Wednesday afternoon. Part of his right thumb was gone, and his right ankle lay swathed in a large, blood-stained bandage. You can fit an apple in the wound there, said Oxana, his wife. In the same room was Vitaly, a soldier who like most of the military personnel interviewed gave only his first name for reasons of safety. His nickname meant bulletproof, a moniker he appeared to earn, walking around the room and talking with an energy not seen in others on the floor. But then he revealed what was left of his arm: A piece of shrapnel had sliced it a little beyond the elbow, the result of a hail of artillery on his position in Hoholiv, a town 10 miles east of Brovary. Andriiets looked at it morosely, looking for the words in English before he said Traumatic amputation. Vitaly laughed. I became 2 kilos lighter, he said. In the northwest suburbs of Kyiv, Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed in the streets and parks of Irpin. On Thursday afternoon, a drive through revealed a mostly empty town; even the stream of refugees was largely gone. A few pensioners and volunteers delivering aid and running shelters were the soldiers only company. One woman, Tamara Ashtonova, said hello to a volunteer. She had no plans to leave; a recent hip operation meant she could not walk long distances. For now, the front line had moved back to Irpins northern edge, to the bridge connecting it to Bucha, the town to the north and the site of repeated confrontations between the two sides. It was now quiet, but that didnt stop Vladimir Korotya, a commander from Bucha, from ducking low and running out from the side of the road to an excavator parked in the middle of the road. My wife and family reached Poland today, he said, a big grin on his face. Today Im happy. In Mariupol, Deputy Mayor Sergei Orlov said Thursday morning that Russian shelling had forced fleeing people to turn back to dire living conditions he likened in an interview with the BBC to those of ancient times, without heat, water or sanitation. In a city where two weeks ago residents gathered in cafes and restaurants and moved around freely, people were now collecting snow in subfreezing temperatures to melt for drinking water and scrounging for firewood to cook what food they had left. Orlov said 1,207 people in Mariupol were killed in the first nine days of the war, some of whom were recently interred in a mass grave for lack of opportunity or resources to accord them more dignified burials. Because it has been hard to recover bodies, Orlov fears the real number of dead could be three times that figure. Of the enemys ultimate goal, now I think his final aim is to have Ukraine without Ukrainians, Orlov said. Hes not fighting with (the) Ukrainian army and Ukrainian troops; hes fighting with civil society, with all Ukraine as a nation. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that the humanitarian situation in Mariupol has become increasingly dire and desperate. In an interview posted on the organizations website, Sasha Volkov, a Red Cross representative, said that all shops and pharmacies were looted four to five days ago and people were running out of food and medical supplies. Some people still have food but Im not sure for how long it will last, Volkov said. People started to attack each other for food. People started to ruin someones car to take the gasoline out. Law enforcement officers shot and killed a gunman Thursday afternoon in South Brazos County. Upon a search of the Stokes Circle property, two more deceased bodies were found. According to a statement from the Brazos County Sheriffs Office, a call came in around 3:30 p.m. about a disturbance with a weapon. Deputies arrived on the scene alongside a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. An individual brandishing a gun was confronted, and despite efforts to deescalate the situation, the individual did not comply with commands and was shot dead. A large contingent of officers, including the Brazos County SWAT team, responded to the area. During a search of the property, two additional individuals were found dead at the scene. No further information on the deceased was available Thursday night. No officers were injured. The Brazos County Sheriffs Office, the Brazos County District Attorneys Office and the Texas Rangers are working together to investigate the incident. The Sheriffs Office said more details will be released as they are discovered. An 18-year-old Bryan man was arrested on multiple charges after being accused of crashing a stolen car following a police pursuit on Wednesday. Authorities said in an arrest report that a Bryan police officer spotted a stolen vehicle just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, but the driver sped off and the officer discontinued the pursuit after deeming it unsafe because of the amount of traffic in the area. Officials said the vehicle crashed into another vehicle a short time later before crashing into an electrical utility box. Witnesses told officers that the driver and a passenger ran away from the crashed vehicle, the report states. Officers eventually found two people hiding in thick brush in a wooded area nearby. The driver of the car was identified as Gregory Carl Chambers III. Chambers was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, causing an accident involving damage to a vehicle and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. He had warrants for two other charges, according to court records. His bail was set at $76,000. Chambers has been arrested five times since September, according to court records. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is asking residents to think twice before purchasing a fishing or hunting license online this year. There has been an uptick in recent years of websites selling fraudulent licenses or, in some cases, providing no license at all after obtaining valuable information such as credit card numbers. DWR recently reported they are taking appropriate action against these websites as they come to their attention. To purchase a license online, DWR has only two official websites that should be used. Fishing and hunting licenses can be purchased online at gooutdoorsvirginia.com and dwr.virginia.gov. They can also be purchased through the Go Outdoors Virginia mobile app or at a local vendor. Sgt. James Slaughter with the DWR said the increase in fraudulent websites has increased in recent years as the purchase of licenses has moved online. He said residents should do their due diligence when purchasing a license online and be sure to go only to the approved websites. Slaughter also asked residents to be careful when receiving any emails to renew a license asking to click on a link in the email or asking for money. "That's not the way we typically do business," he said. Slaughter said residents can easily sign in at one of the official DWR websites to confirm the status of a license and if it does need to be renewed. If anyone is unsure if they are going to the right website or if they get an email about a hunting or fishing license renewal they are unsure about, he encouraged them to call customer service at 1-866-721-6911 or by email at customerservice@dwr.virginia.gov. In addition to hunting and fishing licenses, Slaughter said there have also been reports of fraudulent emails from scammers concerning boat registration and titling. "There are a lot of entry points they can try to utilize," he said. The DWR has a list of websites that are not affiliated in any way with the department that advertise hunting and fishing licenses. That list includes: vafishinglicense.com, fishinglicense.org, fishandgamelicenses.org, recreationallicenses.org, licenses.org, hunting-license.org, vafishingdwr.com and vahuntingwildlife.com. Anyone with questions or wanting to report a fraudulent website can contact DWR at 804-367-1000 or by email at dwrweb@dwr.virginia.gov. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Grand Island Young Professionals helped to meet an ongoing need for blood donations with their annual blood drive Thursday. American Red Cross blood supplies remain vulnerable after a nationwide shortage resulting from the pandemic, said regional communications director Josh Murray. We are in a better place than we were a few weeks ago, but there are still concerns, Murray told The Independent. Events like the blood drive today absolutely help. At this time, every donation is important. Every donation has the potential to save up to three lives, so todays drive will make an impact that will help patients in need. More than 20 units were collected Thursday, with each of the days donors providing one unit each. Thursdays blood drive was the sixth yearly event for the Young Professionals, said coordinator and GIACC Vice President Courtney Glock. Every year the Young Professionals look for philanthropic or volunteer opportunities to get involved in the community and show they are taking on leadership roles and really trying to engage with all the organizations and nonprofits that the Grand Island community hosts, she said. The programs members recruit donors and create awareness of the benefits of and need for donations, and did check-ins at the event, which was held at GIACCs 309 W. Second St. office. American Red Cross looks to us every year and this year more so than ever, as theyre in dire need of donors. Its the lowest theyve had in decades. The Grand Island community, as well as statewide and nationwide, are in extreme shortage of blood donors, Glock said. People who need transfusions, cancer patients, people who have been infected and others are among those in need of the donations, and among various blood types. We look to the community to come out and support the Young Professionals in our endeavors to help recruit and retain donors, and also to build awareness on the importance of it and why our communities needs it, Glock said. This year, Young Professionals opened up the event to the general community. The response was overwhelming, said Glock. We had a very good turnout, just shy of full capacity, she said. We have a few open spots left to fill, but we know those who were able to come in and donate blood today are making such an impact on our community. The blood and platelets received today are going to a fantastic cause, and were happy to be a part of it. It is an experience the programs members enjoy. Many of our members are donors themselves and have donated blood, Glock said. Maybe its become routine. They dont necessarily think about donating blood. They just get the call and go do it. Amy Ummel, an American Red Cross Mid-South Chapter phlebotomist, said such blood drives are important, as they do save lives. Ummel finds serving at such community events and helping Red Cross in its mission to be personally satisfying, as well. I feel accomplished, she said. It feels like, when you go home, its satisfying to know youve touched somebodys life every day you show up for work, and you actually saved someones life. While American Red Cross actively hosts events at local high schools, Young Professionals is able to connect the nonprofit with the communitys business community. They welcome us into their businesses and have these small blood drives. It turns them into the larger ones, Ummel said. It gets the job done. The response Thursday was heartening, Ummel said. We have been busy. Its been steady and we have a full schedule throughout the day, she said. Its been very good. Schedule an appointment to donate by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majesty's Trade Commissioner to North America, is flanked by David Lehman, state Economic Development Commissioner, left, and Andrew Mais, state Insurance Commissioner, at a signing ceremony in Hartford Thursday for an agreement to ease the entry of start-up insurance companies in Connecticut, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Hartford Connecticut and the United Kingdom, amicable rivals in the insurance business, agreed Thursday to a cooperative arrangement intended to ease the way for tech firms looking to expand in each others markets. The so-called InsurTech Corridor is seen as a way for participating U.S. and UK companies to increase their knowledge of markets, connect with business development and investment opportunities and make trans-Atlantic connections to accelerate business growth. Advertisement [ Information tech company plans expansion in Hartford, aiming to hire 180 ] We look forward to new ideas cross-pollinating across the Atlantic, state Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais said at a ceremony signing a memorandum establishing the relationship. The agreement, touted as the first state level financial services agreement between the two countries, had its start in 2019 with a U.S.-UK financial innovation partnership, said Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majestys Trade Commissioner to North America. Advertisement As the home to one of the oldest and largest insurance industries in the United States, Connecticut is a perfect fit for the UK, she said. And as a strong supporter of innovation globally we believe the UK is the right partner for Connecticut. John Warburton, founder of Konsileo, a commercial insurance and risk management company in London, said British insurers really want to come to the U.S, seeing it as the most attractive destination for their expansion plans. Connecticut, which is competitive with New York, is an intrinsically attractive destination in a general sense, he said. The cooperative agreement is intended to help British insurers navigate their way through a web of state regulations and overcome challenges making contact with investors and other businesses, Warburton said. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > America is a big place. Its a scary place from an insurance regulation point of view because youve got 50 different insurance jurisdictions, he said. Challenges that UK insurers face when they look to operate in the U.S. include determining the best market and regulatory steps and learning about networks of brokers and carriers, Warburton said. These are the barriers this initiative addresses, he said. InsureTech is a growing segment of the insurance industry that includes startups selling niche insurance products and relying on data and digital technology. Connecticuts financial activities sector, which comprises the finance and insurance sector and real estate and rental and leasing businesses, employed 118,500 workers in December, according to the state Department of Labor. Its down 3.6% from early 2020 before COVID-19 shut businesses. Advertisement Employment in the sector fell more steeply, 18.6%, from a pre-recession peak in 2007, partly brought on by corporate mergers that pared workforces and headquarter exits to other states. Job losses also followed the advent of digital technology disrupting insurance that the industry is now trying to harness by drawing more startups to Connecticut. The agreement is the first step in developing an online platform of free resources for interested companies. The platform will launch this year. Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com. Sometimes the zaniest ideas turn into the most incredible experiences. That was certainly the case Sunday when Jay Leno came to town. When Jim Lind, former owner of Jim Lind Standard, found out that Leno would be performing at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on March 6 for a one-night show, his mind started racing faster than a Ferrari. Knowing that Leno owns an impressive car collection of nearly 150 highly coveted and expensive vehicles, loves tinkering with his classic cars and motorcycles, and hosts the hit CNBC television series, Jay Lenos Garage set Linds own wheels in motion. He and his brothers Pat, Tim and Tom had just finished buffing and polishing their own car collection, housed in a museum of sorts dubbed The Motors, that showcases the Lind familys love for fast cars, classic frames and a bit of their own family history. Lind contacted the Gallagher Bluedorn and presented his zany idea: Lets partner to raise funds for the performing arts centers building project by inviting Jay Leno to stop by the Lind Brothers own labor of automotive love and mingle with campaign donors. Leno was not only excited to check out The Motors but thrilled to participate in a fundraising effort for the Cedar Valley. The Lunch with Leno event Sunday afternoon could only accommodate the first 50 lucky ticket buyers and quickly sold out. Although Cedar Valley car enthusiasts gathered at The Motors mainly to lunch with Leno, the talk was not all torque. The event also raised $35,000 for the Gallagher Bluedorns capital building campaign. The Gallagher Bluedorns expansion project is approaching its $15 million goal and will add 15,000 square feet of new and renovated event space, upgrades to the facilitys interior and exterior, and improvements to seating. These upgrades will elevate the Gallagher Bluedorn to a state-of- the-art facility to continue providing world-class performing arts for the Cedar Valley and the state of Iowa. This event was truly a team effort, explained Pat Lind. This place was The Motors and still is The Motors, and by welcoming Jay Leno, our friends and family, and even a new generation, to a place so filled with what we love most is such an honor. And raising $35,000 for the Gallagher Bluedorn campaign is the icing on the cake. The history of The Motors is a poignant story of four boys from Waterloo whose passion for building go-karts and motor bikes morphed into selling, fixing and racing fast cars. Following a stint in Vietnam, brother Tim opened a Standard Oil Service Station on East Ridgeway. He acquired his competition license and began a highly successful racing career. When Tom finished college after his time in the Army he returned home joining brothers Pat, Tim and Jim to establish Lind Bros. Motors and obtain a Lotus franchise. After adding Jensen-Jensen Healey-TVR autos it was time to open a dealership on Washington Street. The distributor for Jensen Healey wanted a race team to represent their brand. Based on Tims success driving brother Pat Linds Austin Healey Sprite they were selected to represent Jensen Healey on the circuit. In 1974 they were awarded a Peugeot franchise, moved the dealership once more, and continued doing what they loved best until family obligations and other ventures sent them all in different directions. Over this past year the Lind brothers have uncovered old auto parts, catalogs and signage from their own basements and garages to fill the newly renovated Motors with classic cars and unforgettable memories of days gone by. All their hard work culminating with Sundays zany-inspired event just goes to show how much the Lind brothers believe in the adage, Life is fast, so why drive slow. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe JEFFERSON COUNTY The identity of 1993 murder victim Ina Jane Doe has been discovered, authorities said during a news conference Friday, March 11. Ina Jane Doe as been identified as Susan Lund of Clarksville, Tennessee, with the help of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and Redgrave Research Forensic Services of Massachusetts. The almost 30-year-old cold case is set to reopen with cooperation between the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Clarksville police. The Southern will release a more in-depth story with additional case details later today. Anyone with information about Lund or this investigation can contact Detective Captain Bobby Wallace at the Sheriffs Office 618-244-8004 or Crimestoppers at 618-242-TIPS (8477). Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The identity of 1993 murder victim Ina Jane Doe has been discovered and the investigation into her death will be reopened, authorities revealed during a Friday news conference. Ina Jane Doe has been identified as Susan Lund of Clarksville, Tennessee, with the help of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and Redgrave Research Forensic Services of Massachusetts. Lunds decapitated head was found Jan. 27, 1993, on the side of a wooded roadway within Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park near Ina. However, her identity was unknown at the time. Now her family, including her three children who were six, four and two at the time of her disappearance, has received some peace, one of Lunds other sisters, Pamela Reyes, said. I'm just speaking on behalf of her three children, Reyes said. They just really want people to know that they're grateful to find out that they weren't abandoned by their mother. She didn't leave her kids, not willingly. For her six-year-old, her only son, it was really important for him to come to grips that his mom didn't abandon him. Lund went missing on Dec. 24, 1992, after leaving her family home to walk to a nearby grocery store, Anthony Redgrave, co-founder and lead forensic genetic genealogist of Redgrave Research Forensic Services, said at the news conference. Soon after her husband reported her missing, an investigation into her whereabouts pursued to no avail and ultimately closed. Lunds siblings and the rest of her family didnt know until four days later she was missing. They have been looking for her ever since. I talked to her last on Dec. 24, Reyes said. Im probably the last person to speak with her in the family. We were making plans to talk, and I was trying to make plans to come down and visit her. Its just like we were celebrating Christmas and then all this. It's never been the same. We've always had a piece of our family missing. Her head was originally found by two girls ages 10 and 12 who were running through the park, according to an Associated Press newspaper clipping obtained by The Southern from January 1993. Her remains were dumped on a peninsula that extends into Rend Lake, the story read. At the time the remains, lated identified as Lund, was estimated to be 30 to 50 years old at the time of her death, and she had likely died two to three days prior to discovery, police said. The police described her as having long reddish hair and a pin-shaped mole in her left ear. Shed had extensive dental work, including a silverpoint filling, and she had possibly worn braces at some point, police said. The case eventually went cold until recently when Dr. Amy Michael with the University of New Hampshire reached out to the sheriffs office to offer some DNA and bone re-analysis of the unknown victim at the time, Michael said during the news conference. Through bone re-analysis, Michael and her team were able to determine that Lunds was likely not as asymmetrical as previously thought. The initial anthropological report and academic paper published in 1996 stressed a hypothesis of the remains now identified as Lund having torticollis or wryneck syndrome, displayed in the original suspected image of Lund through great asymmetry, Redgrave said. Because of Michaels hypothesis, new forensic art was prepared by sketch artist Carl Koppelman to reflect updated findings. One image is without eye makeup and the other is with eye makeup, police said. The news release posted on Facebook garnered hundreds of comments with people comparing the new forensic images with images of other missing persons. The DNA re-analysis started in February 2020 and Redgrave Research Forensic Services of Massachusetts was able to quickly find some potential matches and locate Lunds family. Police then retrieved a DNA sample from one of Lunds suspected siblings on March 6, and it came back as a match, Redgrave said. We found that this couple had several children, including Susan Lund, and she did not have a documented death date and there was no evidence of an address or proof of life activity after 1993, Redgrave said. They (the samples) were found to share 2,599.5 Centimorgans with each other, which you can see is 100% consistent with the values shared with the full sibling. Now with Lunds identity confirmed, her family is mourning the news while simultaneously happy to know where she ended up. I cried most of the day. We had been looking on and off, when we could, to find her. She was just very kind-hearted, very not judgmental and down to earth. Just a really sweet person the whole time and everyone ... really loved her. Then I was angry. I was angry because shes been there for 29 years. But were relieved now. However, the circumstances surrounding Lunds death have not been solved. The almost 30-year-old cold case is set to reopen with cooperation between the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Clarksville police. The sheriff's office extends its sincerest condolences to the family of Susan Lund, Sheriff Jeff Bullard Sr. said. Unfortunately, in most homicide investigations, victim identification is done very quickly and we can move forward following up every lead and determining victimology to try to ascertain the truth as to what happened to the victim. That has taken much longer now, but that doesn't stop our mission. Our mission is still to find the truth about what happened to Susan. Anyone with information about Lund or this case can contact Detective Captain Bobby Wallace at the Sheriffs Office (618)244-8004 or Crimestoppers at 618-242-TIPS (8477). Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PERRY COUNTY Two people were airlifted to a St. Louis hospital following a Thursday crash. David Marsh, 58 of Freeman Spur, was traveling westbound on Illinois Route 154 with Michael Wiley, 51 of Freeman Spur, at approximately 10:10 a.m., according to the Perry County Sheriffs Office. About three-quarters of a mile west of Titmouse road Marsh left the roadway for an unknown reason and struck a tree with his vehicle. The vehicle then caught fire and the two people fled the car, police said. When police and the Tamaroa Fire Department arrived the two were airlifted to a St. Louis hospital with major injuries. The incident is still being investigated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HERON POND Anne Parmley of Metropolis and Karen Frailey of Simpson soaked up the warm March sun as they crossed the bridge spanning the confluence of Dutchmans Creek and the Cache River. The bridge marks the beginning of the trail to Heron Pond, a part of the Cache River State Natural Area. Heron Pond is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in Southern Illinois, but this morning woodpeckers and kinglets were among the target species. After crossing the river, the two women canned the treetops, framed spectacularly by clear azure skies. Initially, they relied on their eyes in the search for woodpeckers because the rushing water drowned out the chattering of woodpeckers and the calls of other songbirds. However, it wasnt long before the bright red heads and bleached-white wings of red-headed woodpeckers in flight were clearly visible. Parmley, a Michigan native who now calls Metropolis home, has been a regular visitor to Heron Pond for about 20 years. I think its just a nice walk, the boardwalk, the warblers in the spring, she said. The wildflowers too, we have Jacob Ladders that come up. And, in August, about the first or second week of August the spider lilies are in bloom. We always make a trip, two or three times during the week to catch them in bloom. Its pretty much a good place all year round. I like it in the spring with the prothonotary warbler come back. In the summer time you can usually count on a Kentucky warbler. And although the walk to Heron Pond is a short one, signs at the site say it is three-quarters of a mile, the winding path along the Cache River is loaded with natural treasures. The bird-voiced tree frogs, youll find them in the cypress trees in April and early May, Frailey said. And salamanders are thick as thieves out here. You can find all kinds of salamanders. The turtles on the river. Several times during the leisurely stroll to the boardwalk, Frailey stopped to point out unique plants. And, just prior to stepping on the boardwalk a downy woodpecker was spotted hammering away at the base of a cypress tree. There is no question that the boardwalk is the centerpiece of the Heron Pond experience. The boardwalk takes visitors deep into the swamp where they can get a close-up view of nature, whether it is prothonotary or yellow-throated warblers in the summer, woodpeckers in the fall and winter, cottonmouths in the summer or barred owls year-round. In the summer, a mat of duckweed on the water and the soft foliage of cypress and tupelo trees create an insulating layer of green that surrounds you. The only thing comparable to me that are the boardwalks in Florida, like the Corkscrew Swamp where they have the really long boardwalks, Frailey said. Any time of the year, you can come down here any time of the day and have an adventure. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also maintains a boardwalk at Section 8 Woods on Route 37 near the Cache River Wetlands Center. However, Heron Pond is more of a wilderness experience. That's a tupelo dominated area and because you have the highway going by you dont have the solitude, Frailey said. If you can come out here on a weekday morning, or at dusk, its just so cool, especially once the frogs are out and the owls. The sounds are amazing. No matter how many times youve been here, you always discover something new. Heron Pond is located south of Vienna. It is west of Route 45, north of Belknap Road. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The coronavirus pandemic changed much on college campuses. Some students adapted well and even excelled. One is Jaliah Robinson, editor of The Panther, Claflin Universitys student newspaper. On Friday, Robinsons work during 2021 was recognized with her receiving the South Carolina Press Association Collegiate Divisions highest individual honor, S.C. Collegiate Journalist of the Year for colleges and universities with under 5,000 enrollment. Robinson becomes the sixth Panther journalist to win the award in the past eight years, an unprecedented run. During 2021, Robinson, from Little River, put her skills to good use on a de facto COVID beat, as well as in producing other work for The Panther and outlets such as Edisto River Review, Oprah Daily and Womans Day. And the collegiate journalistic efforts by the junior mass communications major and Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College student with a 4.0 GPR went even further: Editorial intern, Claflin October 2019-May 2021, In Touch, In Tune, In Vision Honors College Newsletter. Editor. Responsible for writing content delivered to over 250 Honors College scholars. Freelance journalist, Hearst Magazine, January-June 2021. Interviewed a community elder about life experiences and lessons for the Black History Month project, Project Tell Me. Culture Magazine editor, Claflin August 2021-present. Assign, edit, format and create content for Claflins Mass Communications Department magazine. Member: National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Student Government Association, social media specialist, Claflin 2021-22. Communicate the messages and goals of SGA to the student body through social media posts, flyers, slogans and monthly reports. Judges praised the Panther editor: Robinson takes First Place for the quality, quantity and diversity of work samples entered in this portfolio. She tackled hard news -- public safety matters, policing, and growth and development issues on campus and in her community. She wrote several articles about the impact of COVID-19 on everything from homecoming to the return to on-campus learning. Robinson is the embodiment of a good community news reporter. In the nomination, she said she considers herself a bridge between her peers and situations that affect us. She also showcased strong feature writing skills through profiles Judges also enjoyed reading her poetry, fiction and non-fiction creative writing samples. Additionally, Robinson is recognized for her academic excellence, heart for community service and involvement on campus." After Claflin, Robinson plans to pursue a masters in publishing at Boston University and then a career as a magazine or book editor. The other Claflin journalists winning the award are: 2020 -- Marcus Hamilton 2018 Olanma Hazel Mang 2017 Bradley Harris 2015 Andres Waters 2014 Princess Williams Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NORWAY The Town of Norway will be having a Black History Parade this Saturday, March 12, according to the Facebook live meeting of Norway Town Council Monday evening, March 7. The time has now been set at 2 p.m. with lineup at 1 p.m. Mayor Tracie Clemons said, This is basically an ending of what we have done in February for the 28 days of that month with our trailblazers who were posted on the Facebook page. Each day in February, a different Norway native, African American trailblazer was posted on the Norway Facebook page, as previously reported in The T&D. The full listing can be explored via this link: https://www.facebook.com/Town-of-Norway-SC-1013716612050884. Clemons stated that participants in the parade will be requested to wear traditional African attire in honor of Black History Month and other citizens may as well. The participants will be numbered and in the order they appeared on the Facebook page. For more information on lining up, contact Norway Town Hall. Later in the month of March, citizens will want to choose carefully what days they pick to do business with the town. Clemons proposed that the Norway Town Hall be shut down for four days for the 2014 audit for the town clerks to get data entry done for it. According to the proposed resolution, the Norway Town Hall will be shut down from Monday, March 21 through Thursday, March 24. They will reopen on the 25th. Mayor Clemons said, "The clerks will still process any payments dropped off in the dropbox." Councilman Gregg Covington made a motion to approve this resolution, it was seconded, and accepted. Council went into executive session about 19 minutes into the main meeting to discuss usage of the American Rescue Act funds and the DPU Water Bill Account. No decisions about usage of those funds or the account were made upon return from the session. Upon return to open session, Police Chief Edgar Williams stated there was one civil dispute dating back to December 2021 and that was the only incident report generated by the department recently. He said there were 25 traffic citations and no warrants during the past month. Clemons, earlier in the meeting, before the executive session, said $2,400 of American Rescue Act funds have been spent for the Norway Police Department. Clemons next gave a water and sewer report. All parameters are in compliance at the wastewater treatment plant as per DHEC, Clemons said. She said the new pumps have arrived and have been installed. She also said they have ordered some bar screens and hope that they will stop the clogging issues with the sewer system which have been discussed in previous articles in The Times and Democrat. She asked that citizens still not flush down thick paper and other items in their toilets. The easement survey is complete for the latest water line project, Clemons added in her report. She said they are double-checking that survey via a second assessor. After the executive session, no discussion of usage of the ARA funds happened, but a resolution to adhere to ARA guidelines was passed by council. Clemons explained, If a town received less than $10 million (during COVID-19), they can view it as a loss in their general fund and pull funds from the ARA under guidelines from it. A resolution to adhere to the guidelines of the ARA was proposed, seconded and passed. The town also passed a resolution for strategic goals for 2022. The number one thing is to get these audits done, Clemons said, referring to one of the goals. Other goals included developing a water system improvement plan, improving communication and training with public safety, improving pride/awareness in the Town of Norway, purchasing software for Public Works to have data mapping while in the field, and exploring a potential noise ordinance. A full listing and prioritization can be obtained from Norway Town Hall. Norwegian Vendors Day will resume on Saturday, April 2. Contact Norway Town Hall for more information. The Easter Egg Hunt will be at Norway Park on Good Friday, April 15 (sponsored by town hall and Three Crosses Ministry). For more information, contact Norway Town Hall. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Black, Hispanic and American Indian residents were missed at higher rates than a decade ago during the 2020 census, according to a report released Thursday that evaluated how well the once-a-decade head count tallied every U.S. resident. Even though the 2020 census missed an unexpectedly small percentage of the total U.S. population given the unprecedented challenges it faced, the increase in undercounts among some minority groups prompted an outcry from civil rights leaders who blamed political interference by the Trump administration, which tried unsuccessfully to add a citizenship question to the census form and cut field operations short. Advertisement These numbers are devastating. Once again, we see an overcount of white Americans and an undercount of Black and Hispanic Americans, National Urban League CEO Marc Morial said on a call with reporters. I want to express in the strongest possible terms our outrage. The results of U.S. Census Bureaus Post-Enumeration Survey showed that most racial and ethnic minorities were overlooked at statistically significant higher rates than a decade ago, with the Asian population being an exception. The survey measures whether certain populations were undercounted or overrepresented in the census. Overcounts take place, for example, if someone owns a vacation home and is counted there as well as at a permanent home address. Advertisement The Black population in the 2020 census had a net undercount of 3.3%, while it was almost 5% for Hispanics and 5.6% for American Indians and Native Alaskans living on reservations. Those identifying as some other race had a net undercount of 4.3%. The non-Hispanic white population had a net overcount of 1.6%, and Asians had a net overcount of 2.6%, according to one of the reports. In the 2010 census, by comparison, the Black population had a net undercount of more than 2%, while it was 1.5% for the Hispanic population. There was almost a 4.9% undercount for American Indian and Alaskan Natives living on reservations, and it was 1.6% for people identifying as some other race and 0.08% for Asians. The non-Hispanic white population had a net overcount of 0.8%. The 2020 census missed 0.24% of the entire U.S. population, a rate that wasnt statistically significant, while it missed 0.01% in the 2010 census. The Post-Enumeration Survey also showed that very young children ages 0 to 4 were undercounted by 2.79% in 2020, compared with 0.72% in 2010, and renters had a net undercount of almost 1.5% in 2020 compared with almost 1.1% in 2010. The census figures help determine the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending each year as well as how many congressional seats each state gets. Any undercounts in various populations can shortchange the amount of funding and political representation they get over the next decade. In the years leading up to the 2020 census, advocates worried that a failed attempt by the Trump administration to add a citizenship question to the census questionnaire would scare off Hispanics and immigrants from participating, whether they were in the country legally or not. The Trump administration also unsuccessfully tried to get the Census Bureau to to exclude people in the country illegally from numbers used for divvying up congressional seats among the states and cut short the schedule for field operations that had been extended because of the pandemic. During a conference call Thursday, Census Bureau Director Robert Santos said many Latino communities throughout the U.S. suffered during the pandemic from joblessness and housing insecurity, and that played a role in the undercount. But he added that the Trump administrations actions also may have had an impact. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > Im personally not surprised to see the results we see today, said Santos, who was sworn into the position at the beginning of the year. Advertisement Arturo Vargas, CEO of NALEO Educational Fund, said he had never seen such a large undercount in the Hispanic population during 35 years of following the census. As you can imagine, we are just terribly I cant even find the word right now upset about the extent of the Latino undercount, Vargas said on the conference call. About 70% of Native Americans live on reservations. James Tucker, the chairman of a Census Bureau advisory committee, estimated the undercount translates to at least 100,000 Native Americans on reservations not counted and more than a $300 million loss in federal funding for Indian Country annually. The substantial resources and efforts that tribes and national and local organizers made to get a complete count in Indian Country made a difference, Tucker said. Without those efforts, the undercount undoubtedly would have been much greater than it was. The pandemic disrupted census operations and schedules, and it made residents wary of opening their doors to answer questions from census takers. Wildfires in the West and hurricanes in the Gulf Coast during the door-knocking phase of the head count sent residents fleeing from their homes. Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona contributed to this report. The U.S. House has approved a $1.5 trillion spending package that includes millions for local colleges and projects. Congressman James Clyburn called the package a significant accomplishment for President Joe Biden. It marks another bipartisan, bicameral package and ensures the government continues to function and provides necessary resources to build a better America, Clyburn said. I am especially pleased community projects are funded through this package to cut through red tape and directly address locally identified needs, he said. The U.S. Senate is also expected to approve the spending package, according to the Associated Press. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham also noted the impact on South Carolina projects, including the $19.8 million set aside for the Lake Marion Regional Water Agencys Orangeburg/Berkeley reach. Funding will help provide water to the U.S. Highway 176 corridor in Orangeburg County and Berkeley County in the Camp Hall area. These are some of the critical infrastructure projects across our state, Graham said. I was proud to request and receive funding for these projects. I believe it is important that elected officials have a say in how taxpayer money is spent and not rely on bureaucrats in Washington to protect South Carolinas interests. Clyburn also noted the water project and others, including: Claflin University: $3 million to rehabilitate the S.H. Kress building on Memorial Plaza in downtown Orangeburg and turn it into the Claflin University Downtown Community Center. It will house the Claflin University Center for Social Justice, Pathway from Prison program, young professionals studio housing and a business incubator site. South Carolina State University: $1 million for a Small Business Research and Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. The money will be used to implement a research and entrepreneurial training program to enhance small business sustainability and strengthen the survival rate for small businesses in the Orangeburg community. Denmark Technical College: $3 million for the renovation of two campus industrial buildings, the replacement of wastewater lift stations on campus, the replacement of building doors throughout the campus to support ADA compliance. Greater St. George Wastewater Project: $3 million for construction of three new water pumps and a new force main to extend wastewater infrastructure to an area not currently served by a public utility. Clyburn said the package also includes additional funding for key priorities like broadband, health care, transportation, housing, historic preservation, and the 10-20-30 initiative to target resources to communities in need. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The day after the Beijing Winter Olympic games concluded, Vladimir Putin reneged on his assurances the Russian military would not invade Ukraine. He sent troops into the Ukrainian Donbass Region. Three days later, Feb 24, Russia conducted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The world was shocked at the brazen naked aggression and brutality against civilians and most nations spoke out in condemnation. Shockingly, the Chinese Communist Party not only refused to condemn the invasion but sought to further Putins Hitlerian explanations for aggression. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying claimed: We have stated Chinas principled position on the Ukraine issue. There is a complex historical background and context on this issue. The current situation is the result of the interplay of various factors. ... If all parties had done more to promote peace, showed more respect and accommodation for each others security concerns ... She refused to criticize Russia, but instead put blame on the United States. Though Vladimir Putin started planning the invasion of Ukraine shortly after the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle, this invasion was enabled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Putins continuation, despite crippling sanctions, is also explained by the CCP. Let me explain. First, its important to understand that a number of Western elites, including those in the media, have been the target of a CCP strategy called elite capture. Award-winning author and journalist Peter Schweizer explained the CCP thinking on this: "If we can capture them with sweetheart deals, with other benefits, we can effectively lobotomize the United States by making them unresponsive to our threats." In his book Red Handed, Schweizer provides detailed evidence of the ways the CCP has compromised many American elites. As an example, Joe Biden never once called out CCP duplicity with Russia during his State of the Union speech. Schweizer devotes part of his book to the ways in which the Biden family has been part of the elite capture by the CCP. The hidden truth is that China has attached itself to Russia in a way seldom seen between great powers in history, and that now includes the Ukraine invasion. From an economist article penned a few weeks before the Ukraine invasion: When President Xi Jinping welcomes Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader he calls his best friend, to a planned summit just before the Beijing Winter Olympics open on February 4th, powerful interests will bind the two men. China has capital to invest, technology to sell and an ever-growing appetite for oil, gas and other commodities. Russias economy, though ailing, complements Chinas, offering natural resources that can be supplied via pipelines and railways which are in happy contrast with maritime supply routes immune to blockade by foreign navies. ... Both see a world order being reshaped ... creating chances to test and divide the democratic West. Chinese and Russian diplomats and propaganda organs relay and amplify parallel narratives about the benefits of iron-fisted order over American-style dysfunction." A number of senior Western officials have noted the danger of this alliance and its targeting of the Western liberal order. Liz Truss, UK foreign secretary, described the relationship as one emboldened in a way we havent seen since the Cold War." Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin, described the solid Chinese support of Vladimir Putins actions against Western interests: The Chinese support all of Putins narrative to blame the West for provoking Russia. I see no change in the Chinese views on Russia. They remain in a de facto alliance against the West at this point. Experts note that Chinas Belt and Road initiative (BRI) has shackled a number of nations through economic compromise to follow CCP bidding. China and BRI countries provide assurance to Putin he can overcome American and European sanctions. It is not surprising that during Putins Feb. 4 special visit with Chinese Premier Xi in Beijing, both nations issued a 5,000-word statement about their alliance. They described their partnership having no limits and they would be establishing their own global order with authentic democracy." Around the time of the visit, either Xi or other Chinese officials asked Putin to hold off his invasion of Ukraine until after the Olympics. According to the New York Times, A Western intelligence report said senior Chinese officials told senior Russian officials in early February not to invade Ukraine before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. China denies it, but as the invasion happened literally the day after the Olympics concluded, this denial has the credibility of Bagdad Bob. What we do know is that Putin is not stupid and would have known the West would sanction him in a draconian manner. He would only have risked these sanctions if he knew China and BRI nations had his back. Unfortunately, they do have his back as we are seeing. Putins invasion of Ukraine would not have happened, and could not continue, without the help of the CCP. Its time for America and Western allies to put rightful blame on not just Russia, but the CCP, and demand China stop enabling Putin to risk a nuclear holocaust. Righteousness exalts a Nation (Proverbs 14:34). Its time we demand righteousness of our leadership in confronting the CCP over their role in naked aggression. Bill Connor, a retired Army Infantry colonel, author and Orangeburg attorney, has deployed multiple times to the Middle East. Connor was the senior U.S. military adviser to Afghan forces in Helmand Province, where he received the Bronze Star. A Citadel graduate with a JD from USC, he is also a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army War College, earning his of strategic studies. He is the author of the book "Articles from War. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Send us your news, photos, and videos and let us know what's going on! Submit Here (TBTCO) - Thi truong chung khoan Viet Nam co ban van giu nhip on inh trong quy au nam nay, tuy nhien, thi truong chiu ap luc ieu chinh kha manh ke tu cuoi thang 3 en nay do tac ong tu cac yeu to ngoai bien va cac vu viec sai pham mang tinh on le cua mot so ca nhan, to chuc. Theo cac chuyen gia, nhung tac ong en tam ly ngan han cua nha au tu la kho tranh khoi, nhung ay la co hoi e huong dong tien i ung huong, giup thi truong gan uc, khoi trong e phat trien ben vung. Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Wyoming will soon offer mining companies a new way to fund cleanup work. House Bill 45, an unusually well-received addition to the states current reclamation bonding options, would allow companies mining coal, trona, bentonite and uranium to contribute reclamation dollars directly into state trusts, rather than paying high premiums for surety bonds financed through third-party insurers. Many Wyoming coal producers relied historically on self-bonding, which fell out of favor after a series of bankruptcies put reclamation funds in jeopardy. Switching to surety bonding reduced but didnt eliminate risk. So the state came up with an alternative. Its a good bill, and its a great concept, said Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association. If (companies) want to go all in and do their full bond with that, thats awesome. If they want to use 20% and use sureties for the other 80%, they can do that, too. Its just another tool to help them cover the bonding obligations. Mine restoration reform unites conservationists and coal industry Lawmakers are contemplating changes to a system designed to ensure money exists to pay for cleanup work at coal mines. The bill has garnered unusually broad support. Backers of the new bonding option which include industry, environmental groups, state regulators and most of the Legislature hope itll lessen the financial strain on coal companies while ensuring the state has cash on hand for reclamation. House Bill 45 passed unanimously, first in the House of Representatives, then in the Senate, where it was amended to lower participating companies minimum annual contribution from 5% to 1% of total bonding obligations. The amended bill was approved again in the House, this time by a vote of 38-17, and signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Mark Gordon. Now that the framework for direct, cash-based bonding has made it through the Legislature, it will move to the Department of Environmental Quality for rule-making. Those rules must then be approved by the Environmental Quality Council. And once the rules are in place, the deposits can start rolling in. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local funding for youth diversion cut during the pandemic will be restored thanks to an amendment added to Wyomings budget for the next two years. Community juvenile service boards are set to receive $2.5 million through the Department of Family Services during that time. Wyoming consistently has one of the highest rates of juvenile incarceration in the U.S., and the majority of kids detained are there for non-violent offenses. The boards and their programs help divert kids away from detention centers or facilities like the Boys and Girls schools. The county-level boards are typically made up of community members, attorneys, nonprofit leaders, law enforcement and other local experts. They can direct kids with criminal offenses to diversion and restorative justice programs, provide mentoring and connect them with other services. It costs a lot to detain a kid, said Dr. Narina Nunez, a psychology professor at the University of Wyoming who sits on the State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice. It costs a small portion of that to keep them in the community and offer services there. According to a 2010 report from the ACLU, it costs more than $32,000 a year to place a child in court-ordered detention. There were around 15 boards operating before budget cuts two years ago. They dont receive any federal money, so several boards stopped meeting. The budget amendment allocates $250,000 immediately after signing to buoy the counties still operating their programs. The rest of the money is set to be made available in July to keep those going and reestablish the board that shut down. Keeping the kids in their communities where they still have a support system helps reduce recidivism and helps get them back on the right track, said Dr. Narina Nunez, a psychology professor at the University of Wyoming who sits on the State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice. Theres lots of research now that shows that kids who are detained so when we send kids to the Boys School or the Girls School that it really does damage them, Nunez said. Theres lots of bad outcomes. Taking kids out of the community for a certain period of time really just sets them back in terms of their social development, their academic development. Kids coming out of detention dont have the skills and community ties to land on their feet, Nunez said. And many smaller, more rural counties around the state often lack those local resources without the funding through the service boards, said Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne. To receive the funding, counties have to collect some baseline data about program participants and recidivism that gets reported to the state. A more comprehensive bill signed into law Tuesday will also task the Department of Family Services with collecting and reporting data on juvenile cases, incarceration and recidivism. When we lost this money, we lost what little data collection we had, Nunez said. So its going to be hard to figure out what the problem is ... communities are seeing an uptick in juvenile problems again, but the problem is they dont have anything to give them. Each chamber of the Legislature proposed differing amounts to be allocated to the boards. Zwonitzers amendment sought $3 million for the program, while an amendment brought by Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, proposed $1.2 million. Speaking on the House floor in February, Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, said that in 2020, she saw the program in Laramie County return a recidivism rate of 0% among 129 participants. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Senate erupted into a shouting match Thursday over how to pass funding for Ukraine as a few Republicans including Sen. Cynthia Lummis attempted to carve the aid out of a must-pass spending bill due for a vote soon. The debate livestreamed from the Senate floor turned heated when Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who earlier shepherded the defense package through committee, warned that what conservative lawmakers were attempting would push the Ukraine aid into the next week, not as Florida Sen. Rick Scott said, send this to the presidents desk today. At issue is a $13.5 billion aid package for Ukraine, which includes $6.5 billion in defense spending. The aid package was tucked into a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through Thursday. The omnibus bill was a must pass by midnight Friday, to keep the federal government from shutting down, something that hasnt happened since the record shutdown of 2019. But late Thursday, the emergency package of military and humanitarian aid for the besieged country and its European allies easily won final congressional approval, hitching a ride on a government-wide spending bill thats five months late but loaded with political prizes for both parties. With Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion killing thousands and forcing over 2 million others to flee, the Senate approved the overall $1.5 trillion overall legislation by a 68-31 bipartisan margin. Earlier in the evening, led by Sen. Scott, nine Republicans who were opposed to the omnibus spending bill, including Lummis and Montana Sen. Steve Daines, launched a plan to put the aid package to a stand-alone vote. What Im asking is to pass the exact text, the exact text that both Democrats and Republicans have already agreed to, Scott said. We can send this to the Presidents desk today. But Scotts take was incorrect. No bill passes the Senate and heads straight to the president without also passing the House of Representatives. And the House had already gone home for the week, having passed the omnibus bill Thursday, with the Ukraine aid package included. The fast track to the president was for the Senate to pass the omnibus bill Thursday. The House is not in the session, Tester fired back, in a blast best described as the Big Sandy edition of Schoolhouse Rock. To say that were going to pass this and presto chango that goes right to presidents desk, thats not how the process works, Sen. Scott, thats not how the process works. The good senator from Florida is blocking this bill, or wed be voting on it right now, Tester said. You want to talk politics. Thats what this is about, politics. Tester said. You can be unhappy with the omnibus bill, but the matter has been negotiated over the last year by Democrats and Republicans. And thats where were at today. We need to pass this bill. If youre concerned about Ukraine, we need to pass this bill. If youre concerned about feeding hungry people in this country, we need to pass this bill. If youre concerned about child care, we need to pass this bill. If youre concerned about housing, we need to pass this bill. If youre concerned about the high cost of gasoline, we need to pass this bill. And if youre concerned about the threat that China has to this country, we need to pass this bill. Enough excuses, lets get the job done. The federal government has been running on borrowed time since the end of September, with short-term funding approved through continuing resolutions. But congressional leaders had agreed back in December that by midnight March 11, there would be a bill passed to fund the government through the end of the federal fiscal year, which is in September. Several Republicans objected to the size of the omnibus. Lummis produced a bill of special projects written into the bill by House lawmakers who last year brought back member-directed spending. Better known as earmarks, member-directed spending gave lawmakers the ability, for the first time since 2009, to direct spending on particular projects rather than allowing government agencies to do the choosing. After banning the practice for years, this omnibus contains around $10 billion in earmarks for pet projects around the country. Heres the book of earmarks. Look how thick this is, Lummis said, waiving a thick stack of pages. Its printed on both sides in about a four-point font. You almost have to have a looking glass to see what it says here, 4,000 earmarks after weve gotten away from this. Im sympathetic to the argument that earmarks are a more direct way of addressing problems around the country, but historically theyve been used as a way for leadership to whip votes on bad legislation and a way to fund unnecessary pet projects to curry favor back home. Lummis said adding the Ukraine aid package to the omnibus bill was a cynical way to assure the spending passed over the objections of opposing lawmakers. We should have a standalone vote on the aid for the people of Ukraine. This issue is entirely separate from the omnibus spending bill that Congress is considering and should be recognized as such on the Senate floor, Lummis said. Anything less does a disservice to the people were trying to help and to the American people we serve. Lummis reiterated Scotts assurance the Ukraine aid package advance to the president without House approval. I want to be very, very clear on what this move would mean, Tester responded. If we dont pass the rest of the omnibus, the Pentagon is going to shut down that night on Friday, OK? Now all our eyes are on Ukraine as they well should be. But dont forget for a second that China is a pacing threat in this world. Were going to shut the Pentagon down on Friday? I dont think thats a smart move. As soon as the effort to carve out the Ukraine aid package for a separate vote failed, Daines emailed the following statement. Im disappointed to see my colleagues across the aisle choose politics over reason and block my bill that would have provided $14 billion in assistance to Ukraine in response to Russias ongoing invasion, Daines said. He outlined the provisions in the standalone bill, which were the same terms as the aid in Ukraine. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The Wyoming Legislature passed on Thursday an abortion ban trigger bill, joining 12 other statehouses across the country that have put in place similar legislation. The measure still requires the signature of Gov. Mark Gordon. House Bill 92 easily cleared the Senate with a 24 to 5 vote. One senator was excused. Sen. Drew Perkins, R-Casper, and Sen. Fred Baldwin, R-Kemmerer, changed their votes from aye to nay. The bill will be enacted if the Supreme Court overturns its decision on Roe v. Wade. That possibility has become more likely as the high court has moved to the right. The new legislation, if ever enacted, would severely restrict abortions, providing exceptions only when carrying a child to term would pose severe health risks for the mother or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Previously, the bill did not allow exceptions for circumstances involving rape or incest. An amendment by Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, providing for these exceptions passed by a close vote Wednesday. A nearly identical amendment proposed by Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, failed in the House last week. Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, proposed to delete Cases amendment on Thursday but ultimately withdrew his amendment. Even if the Supreme Court changes its decision, a new ruling on Roe v. Wade may not be cut and dry. Several legislators pointed out this potential ambiguity as a concern. The vagueness will kill us because, Mr. President, we dont know what the Supreme Court decision will say, Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, said. A statement from the ACLU also said that House Bill 92 provides no definition of what the Legislature considers a final decision of the Supreme Court. Regardless of how the Court rules in any of the currently pending abortion cases, it is without doubt that the fundamental rights at issue in Roe as they relate to abortion will not cease to be litigated on federal and state levels, the statement said. Case has also argued against the bill on the grounds that it would involve the state in individuals private medical decisions. Make no mistake, this bill tells women what they have to do with their bodies, its a form of bondage, Mr. President, to have the state be in control of these very intimate, personal, private decisions, he told his colleagues. And all were saying is that the Supreme Court is going to magically take over and be the basis for Wyoming law. Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, suggested on Wednesday waiting to see how the Supreme Court rules on the case before putting in place an abortion ban. This, she said, would allow the Legislature to analyze the decision and establish a clear effective date. (The bill states that an abortion ban will be enacted five days after the date that the governor certifies to the secretary of state that the Supreme Court of the United States has overruled Roe v. Wade in a manner that would authorize the bills abortion ban.) An adopted amendment by Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, resolved some of Ellis other concerns related to the enactment of the bill. Ellis said on Wednesday that she was really uncomfortable with language in the bill implying that the attorney general would be given authority to impose the legislation. The language of the amendment reasserts the governors authority in enacting the bill. The ACLU said in its statement that this clarification, however, does nothing to address concerns about the ambiguity of putting in place such legislation when a Supreme Court decision may be unclear. The organization also said in a statement after the bills approval that the new legislation improperly delegates legislative power to the executive branch. In assigning the executive branch the responsibility of enacting law based upon future hypothetical case outcomes, House Bill 92 is creating a codified, inflexible mandate that lacks clarity, said ACLU of Wyoming campaigns director Libby Skarin. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ukrainian soldiers and emergency employees work at the side of the maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Civilians trapped inside Mariupol desperately scrounged for food and fuel as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the port city Thursday, while satellite photos showed that a massive Kremlin convoy that had been mired outside the Ukrainian capital split up and fanned out into towns and forests near Kyiv. International condemnation escalated over an airstrike in Mariupol a day earlier that killed three people at a maternity hospital, with Western and Ukrainian officials calling the attack a war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian refusal to permit evacuations from the port city amounted to outright terror. Advertisement Meanwhile, the highest-level talks held since the invasion began two weeks ago yielded no progress, the number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and Kyiv braced for an onslaught, its mayor boasting that the capital had become practically a fortress protected by armed civilians. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed that 40-mile (64-kilometer) convoy of vehicles, tanks and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported, with artillery pieces in firing positions nearby. Advertisement The convoy had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the frigid city, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents of the southern seaport of 430,000 have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Nighttime temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor. On Thursday, firefighters tried to free a boy trapped in the rubble. One grasped the boys hand. His eyes blinked, but he was otherwise still. It was not clear if he survived. Nearby, at a mangled truck, a woman wrapped in a blue blanket shuddered at the sound of an explosion. Grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied days ago by people breaking in to get supplies, according to a local official with the Red Cross, Sacha Volkov. A black market is operating for vegetables, meat is unavailable, and people are stealing gasoline from cars, Volkov said. Places protected from bombings are hard to find, with basements reserved for women and children, he said. Residents, Volkov said, are turning on one another: People started to attack each other for food. The local fire department and the citys State Technical University were bombed. Advertisement An exhausted-looking Aleksander Ivanov pulled a cart loaded with bags down an empty street flanked by damaged buildings. I dont have a home anymore. Thats why Im moving, he said. It doesnt exist anymore. It was hit, by a mortar. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. They want to destroy the people of Mariupol. They want to make them starve, Vereshchuk said. Its a war crime. All told, some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Advertisement You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes, Zelenskyy said in a video address. And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens everyone whom you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. We will overcome them, he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create certain challenges. In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people half the population of the metropolitan area have left the capital. Every street, every house is being fortified, he said. Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands. On Thursday, a 14-year-old girl named Katya was recovering at the Brovary Central District Hospital on the outskirts of Kyiv after her family was ambushed as they tried to flee the area. She was shot in the hand when their car was raked with gunfire from a roadside forest, said her mother, who identified herself only as Nina. Advertisement The girls father, who drove frantically from the ambush on blown-out tires, underwent surgery. His wife said he had been shot in the head and had two fingers blown off. Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Putins forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraines cities. Early in the day, the Mariupol city council posted a video showing a convoy it said was bringing in food and medicine. But as night fell, it was unclear if those buses had reached the city. A child was among those killed in the hospital airstrike Wednesday. Seventeen people were also wounded, including women waiting to give birth, doctors, and children buried in the rubble. Images of the attack, with pregnant women covered in dust and blood, dominated news reports in many countries. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack a shameful and immoral act of war. Britains Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, it is a war crime. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraines neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities. Advertisement Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as pathetic shrieks from Russias enemies, and denied Ukraine had even been invaded. Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held talks in a Turkish resort in their first meeting since the invasion. The two sides discussed a 24-hour cease-fire but made no progress, Kuleba said. He said Russia still wanted Ukraine to surrender but insisted that will not happen. Lavrov said Russia is ready for more negotiations, but he showed no sign of softening Moscows demands. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > Russia has alleged that Western-looking, U.S.-backed Ukraine poses a threat to its security. Western officials suspect Putin wants to install a government friendly to Moscow in Kyiv as part of an effort to draw the former Soviet state back into its orbit. In Vienna, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said it had scheduled inspections of Ukraines nuclear facilities. Rafael Grossi would give no details on how or when the inspections would take place. Advertisement Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors at four power plants across the country, plus the closed plant in Chernobyl, scene of a 1986 nuclear disaster. Fighting around Chernobyl and another plant have raised global fears of another disaster. In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, 91-year-old Alevtina Shernina sat wrapped in a blanket, an electric heater at her feet, as cold air blew in through a damaged window. She survived the brutal World War II siege of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. Her daughter-in-law Natalia said she was angry that Shernina began her life in Leningrad under the siege as a girl who was starving, who lived in cold and hunger, and shes ending her life in similar circumstances. There were fascists there and there are fascists here who came and bombed our buildings and windows, she said. Associated Press journalists Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and Felipe Dana and Andrew Drake in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed along with other reporters around the world. The Wyoming Senate voted Thursday to remove Sen. Anthony Bouchard from his committee assignments, accusing him of "using intimidating tactics against members of the Senate and members of the public." The vote was 19-10 with one excused. Senate President Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, said the motion to remove Bouchard's assignments was based on a continued pattern of disorderly conduct and unbecoming behavior in addition to filming used as a threatening measure. "All this impugns the integrity of the legislative body, which leads to a lack of respect for the Senate and the House," Dockstader said. Being removed from committees will strip the lawmaker of much of his legislative power. This year, he served on Senate committees governing health and agriculture. He was also a member of the management audit committee and select committee on legislative facilities. Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, has a reputation for a brash, confrontational style. He has criticized legislative colleagues in the past, including Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, who was running the Senate at the time of Thursday's vote. The vote to strip Bouchard of his committee assignments was tied to an incident from earlier this week as well as a long pattern of bad behavior over multiple years, Hicks said. Bouchard was defiant in comments immediately prior to the vote. "I don't think we understand free speech in this chamber if this is where we're at right now," he said, before calling for the vote. In reference to the filming, Bouchard said he had told "hospital lobbyists" that video was coming "on their COVID fear tactics." He said those lobbyists complained to Senate leadership. The video Bouchard was referencing was something from a public committee meeting that was already being streamed online. All Bouchard was going to do, he said, was take a portion of that footage where he felt the lobbyists were using "fear tactics." "What I was going to do is cut a video of several committees where they've used fear tactics against legislation," Bouchard said. "That's all it is. I don't know why people are afraid of things that are already online. That's my intention. And I'm still gonna do it. I'll do it. It's going to go online." Politics in Wyoming have become increasingly uncivil in recent years, observers say. Hicks and Senate Floor Leader Ogden Driskill linked that trend to Bouchard's entrance in the Legislature. "Decorum would be much different in the Legislature today, there's not a doubt in the world," Driskill said. It's not that one lawmaker can have that large of an effect on a 30-person body, Hicks said, but rather Bouchard's ways of politicking have brought others along with him after they feel "empowered" by his tactics. "It starts with an individual," Hicks said. Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, a more moderate Republican, voted against kicking Bouchard off his committees. "I want a little more due process," Case said. "I don't doubt the allegations. I'm just saying that it's kind of a lack of transparency possibly. It's a dangerous situation where you remove people [because] you're annoyed with their opinions and positions. Might have been better to have a committee do the investigation, make a report ,then act on that." Bouchard is one of three Republicans running to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney in the August GOP primary. Last year, his campaign was rocked by his admission that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18 and living in Florida. Love 16 Funny 3 Wow 6 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Russias invasion of the Ukraine has brought devastation or death to hundreds of thousands of people. Whenever and however the brutal war ends, millions of Ukrainians will be displaced, as well as Russians vocally opposed to the war who fear President Vladimir Putins retaliation. Between the invasions beginning and March 6, more than 13,000 anti-war protesters were arrested. Russias crackdown on dissenters includes blocking access to Facebook and Twitter which could disseminate anti-war news that Putin wants hushed up. In early March, Putin signed legislation under which people suspected of spreading fake news about Russian forces could face up to 15 years in prison. The U.N. Refugee agency reported that 2 million Ukrainians have fled their country, mostly to Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. But the news agency Reuters found that, at the U.S.-Mexico border, a growing number of Russian and Ukrainian nationals have been encountered. In Mexico, the migrants buy throwaway vehicles and drive across the border into the United States to seek asylum. Assuming the Russian invasion continues, tens of thousands more displaced Eastern Europeans could eventually reach the U.S. to make their asylum claims. Illegal entry attempts could increase as visas become increasingly difficult to obtain. A Miami immigration lawyer fluent in Russian, Andrey Plaksin, said he is overwhelmed with calls and emails inquiring about the visa process and their availability. One option that might help Eastern Europeans get to the U.S. would be if they applied for a nonimmigrant tourist or work visa, assuming they could find a U.S. consular post open and accepting appointments. Once inside the U.S., they would face minimal chance of deportation. Almost immediately after the invasion began, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas granted Ukrainians living in the U.S. before March 1 temporary protected status for 18 months, protecting them from deportation for that period. Historically, TPS is quasi-automatically rolled over in 18-month increments for periods as long as two decades. By an overwhelming margin, Americans and Congress wants to help Ukrainian citizens and other countries that Putin may be determined to destroy. Eight in ten voters are following the Ukraine crisis closely, and 70 percent favor strong sanctions against Russia. But with the Russia-Ukraine war coming just weeks after the U.S. airlift that took Afghan nationals to overseas U.S. military bases and the American homeland, and with the illegal immigration invasion ongoing, many question how the country can environmentally sustain itself. Projecting Bidens first year immigration totals over his four-year term about 2 million illegal immigrants, 650,000 got aways, 1 million-plus lawful permanent residents and tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees and the U.S. will have about 8 million illegal immigrants that Customs and Border Protection processed, and roughly 2.5 million got aways now in the interior, safe from deportation. The Afghan resettlement is over, but a Ukrainian surge could surpass those numbers. To the existing totals, remember that demographers must include the roughly 3.1 family members that lawfully present immigrants, including refugees/asylees, will petition to be admitted to the country, as well as the families that theyll start or add to once in the U.S. Despite the Biden administrations ballyhoo about a future green America, hes ignored the huge carbon footprint that thousands of new immigrants will make as housing, roads, schools and hospitals are built to accommodate the needs of them and their offspring. Fifty years ago, the Rockefeller Commission Report, Population and the American Future, was submitted to Congress. The report urged population stabilization at the 1972 level, 211 million. Instead, population has soared to the current 334 million, and is projected to reach about 400 million by mid-century. Be mindful that these totals are pre-Bidens expansive open borders and resettlement policies. Fewer people would relieve, at least in part, many of Americas social ailments, including most obviously sprawl and overcrowding. Yet stable populations obvious benefits have escaped every presidential administration, Republican and Democrat, since Richard Nixon. A half-century of disregard for population growth has had no noticeable benefits for most Americans. For the donor class elite, however, growth is good for them. Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi @pfirdc.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Community banks and credit unions are part of the backbone of Wyomings communities. They are the places where people keep their savings, where small businesses get loans and where young families realize their dream of home ownership. Unfortunately, our community banks and credit unions today are subject to one-size-fits-all regulations that are more suited to Wall Street banks. The regulations are designed to keep consumers safe, but often focus on financial risks that are only faced by the largest banks in the country. We need an appropriately focused regulatory regime for our community banks and credit unions that keeps your money safe, encourages lending and keeps money laundering out of our financial system. We must remember that community banks and credit unions bear the brunt of new regulations since, unlike the Wall Street banks, our local bankers do not have an army of compliance staff to call upon. I went to Washington to be all Wyoming, all the time and I am keeping my promise. Thats why I joined my colleagues Senator Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, and Senator Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, to introduce the Taking Account of Institutions with Low Operation Risk (TAILOR) Act. The TAILOR Act would require federal banking regulators to consider a community bank or credit unions business model, risk profile, and size when regulating it. This would simplify the federal rules that are currently straining dozens of banks in Wyoming. If the TAILOR Act becomes law, it would require federal banking regulators to tailor rules and supervision for Wyomings community banks and credit unions to meet the realities of what our banks are and what they do, instead of forcing them to comply with the same set of rules and regulations that govern big banks in New York and elsewhere. Additionally, the TAILOR Act would cut down on regulatory paperwork that banks have to fill out and require federal banking regulators to carefully study the modernization of bank regulations to account for changing bank business models and technology. These requirements would apply not only to future regulations but also to any regulations that the federal government has put in place over the past seven years. I am proud to serve the people of Wyoming. But that means serving not only the people, but also the industries and businesses of the Cowboy State. I have used my position on the Senate Banking Committee to do just that, most recently fighting the Biden administrations efforts to force banks like ours to comply with job-destroying and anti-American energy policies. Recently, I questioned one of President Bidens nominees to the Federal Reserve, Lael Brainard, about whether she would try to impose environmental rules on our banks, and I was happy to hear she unequivocally said she would not. I will continue fighting for our community banks and credit unions, through legislation and through my committee assignments. Like them, I am here to serve the people of Wyoming, all the time. Cynthia Lummis is the junior U.S. senator for Wyoming. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SMALL business owners in three Caribbean countries will get the opportunity to showcase how their enterprises are transforming their communities, and themselves, due to support from the social enterprise, Nudge Caribbean. The opportunity comes tomorrow, at an event called Nudge Now, which is being organised by Nudge Caribbean, which was founded by Anya Ayoung-Chee, design strategist and social entrepreneur, and Julie Avey, Massy Groups senior vice president of People and Culture. Many people are struggling during this Covid-19 pandemic as prices increase, while many are Advisory: Schedule for NPC annual session on March 11 Xinhua) 08:47, March 11, 2022 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The following is the schedule for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday. -- The fifth session of the 13th NPC will hold its closing meeting. -- Premier Li Keqiang will meet the press after the closing meeting. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) The business leader of New Britains Little Poland section said Thursday that a prominent local restaurant has been threatened for helping raise humanitarian aid for Ukrainians. Attorney Adrian Baron said he received an anonymous, handwritten card several days ago, and that the same person appears to have sent a card warning the Belvedere restaurants owners to stop holding pro-Ukraine fundraisers. Advertisement I got this crazy card in the mail calling me a dummy, then the Belvedere got one threatening to burn the restaurant down, said Baron, president of the Polonia Business Association and organizer of the popular Little Poland Festival. Belvedere restaurant owner Ela Konferowicz said she intends to report the threat to city police when she returns to the United States this weekend. Advertisement Im in Poland right now. When I go back on Saturday, we will be going to the police, she said by phone Thursday afternoon. Police and the mayors office are both aware of the issue, though police have not yet received a complaint. Konferowiczs restaurant hosted a fundraiser on Friday night for Maidan United, a Hartford-based nonprofit thats providing Ukrainian humanitarian relief. She traveled to Poland with Sophia Dumansky, head of the organization, to distribute medical supplies and other aid to refugees. Its a mess, believe me, she said Thursday. There are very long lines at the (United States) embassy. Some people have to wait until September to get visas, she said. So many people are coming to the train station in Warsaw. My cousin is taking some people to his house to give them food we are doing what we can. Baron said that while she was away, the restaurant got an unsigned, threatening card in the mail. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Like the one hed received at his law office a couple of days earlier, it was handwritten in marker and postmarked in Hartford, Baron said. Both were ordinary Christmas cards sent loose without envelopes, but stamped. Baron said he didnt report the one sent to him because there was no threat, just insults aimed at him because of his work with Little Polands pro-Ukraine campaign. State Rep. Peter Tercyak, with microphone, at a fundraiser Friday night for Ukrainian humanitarian relief. Alongside him, attorney Adrian Baron holds a plaque. The fundraiser was at the Belvedere restaurant in New Britain's Little Poland section. (Courtesy of Adrian Baron) Mine said, roughly translated, you dummy, why do you help the Ukrainian murderers? " Baron said. The card to the Belvedere said well burn you down if you keep doing this. Advertisement Little Poland store owners have raised the Ukrainian flag and unofficially renamed the neighborhood Little Ukraine for the month of March. The Belvedere, which hosted Polish President Andrzej Duda for a dinner during his 2019 visit to New Britain, is among the businesses that enthusiastically approved the temporary name change. Its fundraiser Friday night featured state Rep. Peter Tercyak and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and the restaurant donated half of the proceeds to Ukrainian relief efforts. The Polish community here has been almost 100 percent behind Ukraine. Polish people have a long history with Russia, Baron said. A lot of people in New Britain came here in the 80s in the Solidarity Movement. Youll see the Ukrainian flag over some of the stores here. I even have Russian clients whove expressed absolute remorse for whats happening they say its a reflection of Putin, not of the Russian people. And so it has come to pass. One week after the island-wide blackout of February 16, we told you in this space that, from among the best authority available, there would be, there could be no one to blame for what happened. We told you that the determination had already been made as to what happened, how and why, and that nobody could have been held responsible for that. It was a warning against the natural national tendency to go for blood. Loud had been the shouts of sabotage, the result of worker discontentment, and a clamour for heads to roll. If you are looking for Jack Armitage this weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books, just search for a man beneath an orange cap. There wont be many. Armitage received the cap when he volunteered for Tucsons first festival in 2009 and is one of the few who have helped stage the event every year since. A guy stopped me at the last book festival and asked where he could buy the hat, Jack said. I had to tell him nowhere. Theyre collectors items now! Since Day One of Year One, the festival has been powered by a small army of local volunteers. About 200 work on the event year-round. More than 1,100 come forward to help on festival weekend. Volunteers provide a wide range of tasks, from long-range planning to campus cleanup. Volunteers recruit the authors, nurture the sponsors and manage the 200 exhibitors who will blanket the universitys East Mall. Volunteers give rides to authors from the airport to their hotels. Volunteers staff the information centers and serve as campus guides. Volunteers manage traffic flow at all 31 author venues across campus. It really is Tucsons Festival of Books, said Armitages wife, Ceil Matson. So many people are involved, I think all of us feel ownership of it. I think all of us are proud of it. Like Jack, Ceil has volunteered at every book fest since 2009. She has an orange cap, too. We first started hearing about the festival in 2008, when they were getting ready for the first one in 2009, Matson said. From what we were hearing, it sounded like it would be a very big deal in our pretty small town. When they put out a call for volunteers in the newspaper, we thought it would be a fun thing to be part of. It was a novel experiment, launching a huge national event without a single paid staff member. It was a spectacular success. More than 50,000 people attended the first festival in March of 2009, and it has been growing ever since. By 2019, it was one of the five largest literary events in the United States. It featured 330 presenting authors. Enjoying perfect weather two weeks after a rare local snowstorm, more than 135,000 people flocked to the university over the two-day weekend. The festival was canceled at the last minute two years ago because of the emerging pandemic. With COVID-19 still part of everyday life, last years event was virtual with authors presentations streamed online. Tucsons book festival has come roaring back to life this weekend. Strolling the campus last week to browse the UA Bookstore and see some of the newly erected exhibitor areas, Ceil and Jack laughed about some of their experiences there. J.A. Jance asked me to carry her lunch to the table one year, Jack recalled. They also began making plans for the weekend ahead. Both are readers. Ceil spent her bookstore time in the fiction stacks. Jack headed to mystery. As we can, we both try to drop in on author sessions at the festival, Ceil said. It doesnt even matter who is presenting. Theyre all super interesting. Who knows who you might meet? At this weekends festival, Matson will be monitoring a section of author venues. Her husband will be managing an author book-signing area. By Monday their feet will hurt but they will feel good about what they have done. Its such an amazing event, such a great thing for Tucson. We feel great just being part of it, Ceil said. FOOTNOTES The festival was entirely volunteer-driven through its first five years. In the summer of 2013, Marcy Euler now president of the Pima College Foundation became the events first executive director. The executive director today is Melanie Morgan. Volunteers still do much of the heavy lifting for each years festival. There are 16 committees of community volunteers who work year-round on various elements of the event. They are coordinated by a steering committee that is co-chaired by you guessed it volunteers. Steering Committee Co-Chair Lindy Mullinax: The festival has always attracted amazingly talented, incredibly successful people who love having the latitude to do the things they do best. Its why they keep coming back I think. The Tucson Festival of Books is a 5013 nonprofit organization that raises money for literacy efforts in Tucson. Since its inception, more than $2 million has gone to local organizations dedicated to improving local literacy. Correspondents Tim Mak of NPR and Jacob Soboroff of NBC were forced to cancel plans to attend the book festival this week. Both are needed at work. They are covering the war in Ukraine. There are always last-minute adjustments to the festivals author presentation schedule. With 265 authors, stuff happens. Mullinax said the festivals website and app are updated daily if you would like to check the status of your favorite authors, tucsonfestivalofbooks.org. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Legals 0005230866-01 "El Rio is currently soliciting proposals for Medical Equipment from Medical Supply Vendors and/or Manufactures to furnish and deliver to the University Clinic. Submittal Deadline: June 10, 2022, at 5:00pm AZ Time for details, see website at https://www.elrio.org/ about-elrio/rfps/." Published May 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005243181-01 ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ENTITY INFORMATION ENTITY NAME: LONE SAGUARO FINE CARPENTRY LLC ENTITY ID: 23362296 ENTITY TYPE: Domestic LLC EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/18/2022 CHARACTER OF BUSINESS: Any legal purpose MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE: Member-Managed PERIOD OF DURATION: Perpetual PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: N/A STATUTORY AGENT INFORMATION STATUTORY AGENT NAME: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 MAILING ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS 10780 S Piety Hill Dr., VAIL, AZ 85641 PRINCIPALS Member: Andrew Emmanuel Muliett - 10780 S Piety Hill Dr., VAIL, AZ, USA --Date of Taking Office: ORGANIZERS Legalzoom.com, Inc.: 101 N Brand Blvd, 11th Floor, GLENDALE, CA, 91203, USA, SIGNATURES Organizer: By: Cheyenne Moseley, Asst. Secretary of Legalzoom.com, Inc., A Delaware Corporation - 04/18/2022 Published May 4, 5 and 6, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005223486-01 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA, PIMA COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of JOSEPH ALLAN SCHINDLER, Deceased. No. PB2022-0609. NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION Notice is given to all creditors of the Estate: 1. Janet Rae Brockway has been appointed as Personal Representative of the Estate. 2. Claims against the Estate must be presented within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or be forever barred. 3. Claims must be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to the Personal Representative, Janet Brockway at 3329 23rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407. Published April 20, 27, & May 4, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005243447-01 THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT The National Guard Bureau (NGB) invites public comment on the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) For Off-base Drinking Water Response Action to support a non-time critical removal action of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Morris Air National Guard Base, Tucson International Airport, Arizona. The EE/CA documents the evaluation of alternatives and selection of the proposed remedy by the NGB to conduct a Non-Time Critical Removal Action (NTCRA) in response to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (two (2) subsets of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)), above the Environmental Protection Agency's lifetime Health Advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion, both individually or combined, in two (2) off-base private residential drinking water wells. The drinking water wells are downgradient of Morris Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Tucson, Arizona. PFOS/PFOA present in groundwater in the vicinity of the base is attributable to human action, including past firefighting and training activities by the Arizona Air National Guard. In response, the ANG is temporarily providing bottled water to the impacted well owners, and proposes a final remedy of connecting both properties to municipal drinking water. The municipal connections will ensure safe drinking water is provided to the properties. A Public Comment Period on the EE/CA non-time critical removal action will begin on May 4, 2022 and will end on June 2, 2022. Written comments related to the ANG actions presented in the EE/CA should be sent to the ANG Environmental Restoration Senior Program Manager, Mr. Keith Freihofer (address provided below) by June 2, 2022. The ANG will respond to Public Comments, and they will be included with the EE/CA and/or Action Memorandum. The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) For Off-base Drinking Water Response Action is available on the Base webpage provided below. Document is available at: https://www.162wing.ang.af.mil/ News/Article/3013218/\ For more information, contact: Keith Freihofer at 3501 Fetchet Avenue, Joint Base Andrews, MD, 20762-5157, keith.freihofer.1@us.af.mil or by telephone at 240-612-8762. Published May 4 & 5, 2022 Arizona Daily Star 0005233595-01 Your Name: Gena Arostequi Your Address: 475 W Duane Street Your City, State, ZIP: Benson, AZ 85602 Your Telephone No: 520-255-0973 Representing Self, Without an Attorney IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA COCHISE COUNTY Case No. GC202200047 NOTICE OF HEARING (Appointment of Guardian) DAVID THORN Judge/Commissioner In the Matter of the Guardianship of: Chloe Madison Camargo Minor(s) NOTICE IS GIVEN that the court will consider the Petition for Appointment of Gena Arostequi Guardian(s) of Minor(s) on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the hour of: 1:30 pm at the court designated above, the address of which is: COCHISE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISON 3 4 LEDGE AVENUE, BISBEE, AZ /s/Gena Arostequi Petitioner's Signature Date 4/15/22 THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED. ESTE ES UN AVISO LEGAL. SUS DERECHAS PODRIAN SER AFECTADAS. Published April 27 and May 4, 11, 2022 Arizona Daily Star Pets 0005238651-01 GOLDENDOODLE PUPPIES, white, 2M, 10-weeks, vet checked, 1st shots and 2nd-worming, $1200 each. 520-975-1869 0005241811-01 Havapoo Puppies $900, 16 weeks, Males, Happy, loving, playful slittle31722@gmail.com 360-831-1966 0005239621-01 Yorkshire Terrier. Male 10 wks. Registered. First shot. Parents under 5 lbs. $1500. Marana, Az. ekhand@msn.com (208)989-3367 Rentals 0005205250-01 EARN FREE RENT! Furnished Studio Apartments w/FREE utilities & FREE cable. Stay Where You're Appreciated! Call Now: 520-214-5046 0005205367-01 EARN FREE RENT! Stay Where You're Appreciated! Furnished Studio Apartments w/FREE utilities & FREE cable. Call Now: 520-441-8279 The University of Arizona wants to raise undergraduate tuition by 2% for in-state students and 5.6% for out-of-state students. The Arizona Board of Regents will vote on the proposal at its meeting in Tucson next month, and if it passes, the increase will apply only to students who enter during or after the 2022-23 academic year. The UA has not raised tuition for in-state undergraduates since 2019. According to a UA news release Friday, 99% of current students wont see the increase because the universitys Guaranteed Tuition Program freezes current tuition rates and fees for four consecutive years starting the year of a students enrollment. The incoming students who would see the increases next year would also be guaranteed to pay those rates for the next four years. Additionally, the UA also wants to increase mandatory fees by $175 per year for the health and recreation fee and $135 per year for the student services fee. The Recreation Center program fee may increase annually based on the consumer price index, and the Arizona Financial Aid Trust fee will increase based on an approved tuition increase. The fee increase, the news release explained, will help the UA create long-term financial sustainability of student dining services, expand efforts to fight food insecurity, meet growing demand for mental health and health care services, and keep up with an increasing minimum wage. Last fall, Tucson voters approved a ballot measure to increase the local minimum wage, which will increase to $13 an hour in April, to $15 an hour by January 2025. We have worked with students, faculty and staff to create a tuition plan focused on investments that allow the university to tackle the next set of societal challenges and also prepare students to pursue their goals after graduation, UA President Robert Robbins said Friday. It is a priority to keep tuition increases low. Tuition and fee increases are one small piece of institutional funding for our priorities, which also include operational efficiencies, investment income and resources for auxiliaries, as outlined under our strategic plan. Under the proposed tuition increase plan, incoming resident undergraduate students would pay $11,525 in tuition, and new nonresident undergraduate students would pay $37,827. All resident graduate students would pay $12,348, a 2% increase in tuition, and nonresident graduate students would pay $32,290, the same tuition as last year. Students in the UAs medical programs will also see increases if the board approves. College of Medicine-Tucson and College of Medicine-Phoenix resident tuition would increase 4.3% and nonresident tuition would increase 1% for first- through fourth-year students. The College of Veterinary Medicines tuition would increase 3% for resident and nonresident first- through third-year students. Arizona Onlines tuition prices are set by each individual degree program, and the current range of $300 to $1,360 per credit will not change for undergraduate students. The range for graduate students, however, would increase by 9% or $478 to $1,250 per credit to accommodate changes in the masters for entry to the profession of nursing degree program. Before the final vote on the proposed tuition increases, the regents will hold a virtual public hearing at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 28, to discuss the tuition recommendations made by the UA as well as those made by Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Kathryn Palmer covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at kpalmer@tucson.com or her new phone number, 520-496-9010. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Roman Stanislavskyy, a Ukrainian-born Connecticut resident, is calling on American leaders to do more than just levy sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Seamus McAvoy) The idea came to Roman Stanislavskyy last Saturday, while he and his countrymen rallied in front of the Ukrainian American Club in Southport. Stanislavskyys friends and family members in Ukraine had told him citizens needed more bulletproof vests as the country enters its third week of conflict following Russias Feb. 24 invasion. At the rally, attended by local police, Stanislavskyy realized they might be able to help. Advertisement He reached out to local police departments, asking if they had vests to spare that could be shipped overseas. The answer was yes: Greenwich police could send as many as 200 vests and a dozen helmets to Ukraine, a spokesperson said; Stanislavskyy said other Fairfield County departments are joining in the effort. Advertisement For Stanislavskyy, who believes the United States and other countries should be doing more to support Ukraine, the collection and shipment of vests is the kind of outside-the-box thinking that he thinks could make a real difference. It just shows you that on every level, we can somehow help those people who are in need, who are fighting the way, who are fighting for freedom, Stanislavskyy. Stanislavskyy was born in 1982 in Zolochiv, a small city about an hour away from Lviv, now the largest city in western Ukraine but at the time firmly under Soviet control. He vividly remembers the day in 1991 when, sitting in a classroom that faced the town hall, he watched as the flag of the Soviet Union was lowered and replaced by that chosen for an independent Ukraine. At 17, Stanislavskyy left his home country for Connecticut to study at St. Basil College, a seminary in Stamford for Ukrainian Catholics. Its a country of great opportunities, and Connecticut is a state thats always busy, he said. Though initially on his own, Stanislavskyy says he quickly built a second family among the Ukrainian community in Connecticut. It was at a Ukrainian social event that he met his wife, Olena, and the couple now lives in Stratford with their two children, 16 and 14. Stanislavskyy works as an electric field operations manager for Eversource, the company hes been with for 15 years. Roman Stanislavskyy and his wife, Olena, stand outside the iconic Zolochiv Castle in Zolochiv, Ukraine. (Courtesy Photo) Roman and Olena Stanislavskyy, pictured here at their wedding, still have many relatives living in Ukraine. (Courtesy Photo) Despite leaving Ukraine more than two decades ago, Stanislavskyy has kept his home close to his heart. His mother splits time between Ukraine and the U.S., and keeps in touch with family and friends overseas by phone and text. Advertisement For them, the invasion was a shock. Some have fled to Poland, but his cousins family is staying put, not wanting to be separated. Several of his friends, many of them Catholic bishops, live in Kyiv, Ukraines capital, and Kharkiv, the second-largest city. Both cities have been devastated by airstrikes and shelling since Russias invasion, which the United Nations estimates has displaced more than 2 million people. Nobody is safe, Stanislavskyy said. In response, the United States and European countries have levied sweeping economic sanctions in an effort to squeeze the Russian economy and put pressure on President Vladimir Putin, including an American ban on imported Russian oil. Prior to Russias invasion, Ukrainian-Americans organized rallies in Hartford and around the country to call attention to the imminent conflict. In Connecticut, residents like Stanislavskyy and Deanna Humennyj, a postpartum nurse at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, have taken it upon themselves to appeal to law enforcement and medical leaders for support. Advertisement Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > But the sanctions have also raised concerns over oil prices, with fuel prices surging to record highs and prompting calls to lower the gas tax. Stanislavskyy is sympathetic to those concerns, but asked for perspective. At the end of the war, politicians will get their ammo back. Rich people will invest and get their money back, Stanislavskyy said. But Ukrainian mothers, who sent their kids to fight the war, they will be looking for the graves where their sons lie. If we all stand united, we will minimize the cost the Ukrainian people are paying. We will have less people dying, he said. How will the war play out, and how will it end? Stanislavskyy says he would ask the question a different way: How many more innocent people will have to die? We cant just be lighting up the Empire State Building, or raising the Ukranian flag at city hall. We have to act, Stanislavskyy said. Advertisement Seamus McAvoy may be reached at smcavoy@courant.com MARIUPOL, Ukraine Civilians trapped inside Mariupol desperately scrounged for food and fuel as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the port city Thursday, while satellite photos showed that a massive Kremlin convoy that had been mired outside the Ukrainian capital split up and fanned out into towns and forests near Kyiv. International condemnation escalated over an airstrike in Mariupol a day earlier that killed three people at a maternity hospital, with Western and Ukrainian officials calling the attack a war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian refusal to permit evacuations from the port city amounted to "outright terror." Meanwhile, the highest-level talks held since the invasion began two weeks ago yielded no progress, the number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and Kyiv braced for an onslaught, its mayor boasting that the capital had become practically a fortress protected by armed civilians. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed that a 40-mile convoy of vehicles, tanks and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported, with artillery pieces in firing positions nearby. The convoy had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the frigid city, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Nighttime temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. "They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor. Grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied days ago by people breaking in to get supplies, according to a local official with the Red Cross, Sacha Volkov. A black market is operating for vegetables, meat is unavailable, and people are stealing gasoline from cars, Volkov said. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. "They want to destroy the people of Mariupol. They want to make them starve," Vereshchuk said. "It's a war crime." All told, some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. "You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes," Zelenskyy said in a video address. "And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens everyone whom you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children." Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. "We will overcome them," he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create "certain challenges." In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people half the population of the metropolitan area have left the capital. "Every street, every house is being fortified," he said. "Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands." Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Putin's forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraine's cities. French President Emmanuel Macron called the hospital attack "a shameful and immoral act of war." Britain's Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, "it is a war crime." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraine's neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, "The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as "pathetic shrieks" from Russia's enemies, and denied Ukraine had even been invaded. Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held talks in a Turkish resort in their first meeting since the invasion. The two sides discussed a 24-hour cease-fire but made no progress, Kuleba said. He said Russia still wanted Ukraine to surrender but insisted that will not happen. Lavrov said Russia is ready for more negotiations, but he showed no sign of softening Moscow's demands. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. SCOTTSDALE Would you like to breathe out of your nose or your mouth? Robert Sutz asked. Either is fine, replied Werner Salinger, a survivor of Nazi atrocities. Sutz considered this for a moment, then reached for a plaster bandage, dunked it in water and laid it over Salingers lips. The Scottsdale artist continued applying the casting material until only Salingers bright blue eyes could be seen. Forty-one minutes later, Sutz ran his fingers beneath the molds hardened edges and peeled it away from Salingers face, now preserved in a life mask. Over the past 30 years, about 200 other Holocaust survivors, liberators and righteous gentiles many of whom have since died have sat in Sutzs chair and had their faces preserved. It was cold, but I dont mind cold, and it was wet, Salinger said, laughing. It wasnt hurtful in any way; it was just another experience. Sutz will spend the next month or so painting Salingers mask to look lifelike hence the name life mask. Along with casting their faces, Sutz captures his subjects stories on video and paints scenes they recall from the Holocaust the genocide of an estimated 6 million people in Adolf Hitlers Final Solution from 1941 to 1945. Salingers story goes back to Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, in 1938. On Nov. 9 and 10, Nazis torched and vandalized thousands of Jewish synagogues, homes, schools and businesses across Germany. About 100 people were killed and 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. I remember very vividly the broken glass I could see it from our apartment across the street and the smoke from the burning synagogue was just a block away, said Salinger, 89. It was a very vivid memory for me; I was 6 years old. Roughly two months later, on Jan. 12, 1939, his family fled to the U.S. Im doing this really for my parents, Salinger said. They would be very proud to know of my involvement today. Sutz, who is 92, said his inspiration for creating life masks comes from his father, President Abraham Lincoln and film director Steven Spielberg. His father, who was Jewish, was born in Bialystok, Poland, but moved to Chicago when he was 12. Years later, when Hitler began his rise to power, Sutzs father returned to Bialystok to warn his family and attempt to persuade them to move to the U.S., but they refused. They thought that Hitler was a crazy man and that people arent going to pay attention to him, Sutz recalled. So Sutzs father packed up and returned to the U.S. without them. The rest of his family later died in concentration camps. Many years later, shortly after Sutzs 13th birthday, he visited an exhibit where a life mask of Abraham Lincoln was on display. I got the chills because I felt his presence. It was something that really excited me, Sutz said. I told myself at an early age that I would like to learn how to make life masks. He eventually began making masks of family members, but it wasnt until the 1990s that Sutz found a deeper purpose for creating life masks. He came across an article in the Chicago Times recruiting people to join the visual history project run by Spielbergs Shoah Foundation. Sutz was accepted into the group and went through a three-day training on how to interview Holocaust survivors. Sutz then connected the dots and began making life masks of Holocaust survivors, liberators and righteous gentiles, as he puts it. Some of the first life masks in Sutzs Holocaust collection came from doing these interviews. Its a funny thing, Im doing this now and Spielberg is unaware of what Im doing, but he kind of introduced me to survivors, Sutz said. For nearly 20 years, Sutz took the masks on a traveling exhibit across the country, but eventually it became too difficult. Now, about 200 masks are in his art studio east of Old Town Scottsdale. Sutz recently found a new home for his collection with the Arizona Jewish Historical Society although it wont be on display for at least a couple of years. The society plans to build a museum to educate people about genocides throughout history. This would give people a place to go here locally to learn about the Holocaust (and) learn about other atrocities, as well, said Lawrence Bell, director of Arizona Jewish Historical Society. So far, the society has raised $5 million toward its goal of $15 million to build the museum. Bell said the goal is to finish fundraising in 2023 and then maybe build it in 2024. Sutzs life masks, along with some of his other Holocaust artwork, will be featured. I think the total grouping will just be awesome reminders that in one way shape or form these people went through some tough times, Salinger said of the mask collection. Sutz plans to keep creating life masks for as long as he can. I want to keep doing what Im doing, he said. I just hope I can stay well enough to do more. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Dried blood, dust and grime found encrusted on 21 out of 25 dialysis stations at the Fresenius Kidney Care East Tucson dialysis clinic. Improperly disinfected dialysis stations and catheter hubs, which provide access to a patients bloodstream, identified repeatedly at DaVita Desert Mountain Dialysis Center in Scottsdale. Failure to follow a doctors treatment orders for two separate patients, leading to the potential for increased mortality at Fresenius Kidney Care Central Phoenix. Since 2019, nearly three-quarters of Arizonas 130 outpatient dialysis clinics were cited for lapses in protocols designed to keep patients safe, an AZCIR analysis of state inspection data shows. Some facilities are repeat offenders, with recurring infection control and safety violations dating back years. Such deficiencies are concerning at dialysis clinics because treatment requires a port with direct access to a persons bloodstream, making patients particularly vulnerable to life-threatening infections as they typically visit a clinic three times a week for four hours at a time. End-stage renal disease, often the result of chronic kidney disease from diabetes, congenital kidney issues or hypertension, means a persons kidneys no longer function well enough to filter waste and fluid from blood on their own. For these patients, treatment is a matter of life or death: A kidney transplant or ongoing dialysis treatment is needed for survival. Your life changes in a blink of an eye, and I think that can be really traumatic, former dialysis patient Sachi Kuwahara said of transitioning to the treatment. This stress, she said, makes it hard for patients to proactively approach problems they may see at a clinic. The Arizona Department of Health Services, the agency responsible for inspecting dialysis clinics, said it has done its part to consistently inspect and issue citations, at times levying fines up to $30,000 for repeat problems. But records obtained by AZCIR show that dialysis companies can negotiate those fines down by an order of magnitude, at times by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Records also reveal that the size of the fine does not always match the severity of the citation. Fines of between $250 and $1,250 were levied against clinics in seven instances after actual harm to patients occurred. The nationwide medical staffing and supply shortages from COVID-19 have also reached dialysis clinics, further compounding the risks to patients. Experts are calling the lack of resources critical as the now 2-year-old pandemic is straining the outpatient dialysis system. The lack of dialysis care in the state right now during the pandemic is a significant issue, said Colby Bower, the former assistant director of public health licensing services at the Arizona Department of Health Services, who left the agency in early 2022. Hospitals are having to keep patients longer because they cant get them into an outpatient dialysis center because they have no staff. Mark Canavan, a 48-year-old from Surprise who has been on dialysis in Arizona since 2019, said he has noticed a change in his care since the pandemic started. The process of going to outpatient dialysis even before the pandemic brought about profound exhaustion, stress and extreme medical risks, he said. Now, its gotten worse. There is no question that there has been a deleterious effect on myself and my fellow patients, Canavan said. Despite the almost heroic efforts of dialysis staff at his clinic, he said he fears the level of care that we once received may never return. Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S., or roughly 15% of the population. Nationwide, nearly 500,000 people require dialysis multiple times a week. People 65 and older make up the largest proportion of those with kidney disease, and research shows the condition disproportionately impacts people of color: Black people are almost four times as likely to have kidney failure as white people in the U.S., and about 14% of Hispanic people in the U.S. suffer from some form of chronic kidney disease. In Arizona, there are more than 17,000 people with end-stage renal disease, with roughly 60% of them seeking treatment among the states 130 Medicare-certified outpatient clinics. While dialysis patients tend to follow the states demographic breakdown, Native American patients are disproportionately represented when compared to their share of the states population. Kuwahara, the former dialysis patient who moved to Arizona in 2017 to have a better chance for a kidney transplant, experienced first-hand the challenges patients can face in Arizona clinics. The risks and stress of dialysis are something she has dealt with since she was young. Kuwahara was born with a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which damages the kidneys ability to filter waste from blood and can cause kidney failure. When I was born, one of my kidneys was already not functioning, and then the other one was barely functioning. And at the age of 6, my kidneys completely failed, she said. She had her first kidney transplant from a cadaver at age 9, but she needed another transplant 23 years later. Kuwahara said she immediately noticed a difference in treatment protocols at Phoenix clinics after moving here from California. First, she said, a clinic doctor took her off medication that was helping her. After switching facilities, she said a tech at that clinic wasnt really following the safety protocol after she noticed him letting the tip of the needle touch other surfaces which she felt was an infection risk. Her next clinic, though, made 2018 the hardest year of my life in terms of being on dialysis. At U.S. Renal Care Northeast Phoenix, Kuwahara said she encountered issues from staff not changing their gloves between patients to ignoring machine safety alarms during treatments. Staffers were also condescending and verbally abusive to her, she said. One staff member would make fun of me when they were putting the needles in, because she looked away, Kuwahara said. She filed complaints with the clinic administrator and the End Stage Renal Disease Network, which coordinates between facilities and the federal government. A representative from U.S. Renal Care said over email that officials were unable to provide specific comment on this persons alleged experience in 2018 and are committed to patient safety and high quality care. According to ADHS records, U.S. Renal Care Northeast Phoenix received citations for infection control problems, among other issues, during state inspections in December 2019 and February 2021. Back and forth fine negotiations Dialysis centers must be certified by the state and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ADHS conducts the related inspections in Arizona. If deficiencies are found, ADHS requires a plan of correction from the facility. Citations can also lead to a recommended fine, with a maximum penalty of up to $500 per violation for each day it occurs. An AZCIR review of enforcement action referrals showed that fines were recommended at 31 facilities from January 2019 through January 2022. In four separate instances involving clinics owned by DaVita Kidney Care and Fresenius Medical Care, multibillion-dollar companies that combined operate more than 85% of Arizonas outpatient dialysis clinics, the fines were negotiated down to far lower amounts than inspectors initially recommended. At Fresenius Kidney Care Arcadia in Phoenix, for example, inspectors recommended fines totaling $219,500 in March 2020, or $500 per day for 439 days, for a catheter infection control violation. The same violation was found during inspections in 2016, 2017, 2018 and again in 2020. In correspondence obtained by AZCIR, lawyers representing the Arcadia clinic challenged the recommended fine in a 12-page letter to ADHS. The case was settled in March 2021, when the company agreed to pay a $30,000 fine, according to the state licensing database. The most recent federal inspection of the facility didnt find any violations. DaVita Tucson East Dialysis had an infection control fine reduced to $20,000 from $193,000 in 2021. In Scottsdale, the DaVita Desert Mountain Dialysis Center had a $217,050 fine reduced to $6,000 for infection control and other violations in 2022. DaVita Power Road Dialysis in Mesa also had a recommended fine reduced from $83,750 to $5,000 this year, after inspectors found improperly disinfected catheters. Arizona Department of Health Services spokesperson Steve Elliott did not provide specific answers to repeated questions about how and why fines are reduced, instead writing in an emailed statement that Settlements are negotiated, and the amount can come down from the recommendation through that back and forth. Some dialysis clinics are fined smaller dollar amounts for issues that may be serious but have not been linked directly to patient harm or involved repeat violations, according to former ADHS licensing director Bower. But AZCIRs review of enforcement action referrals from the past three years indicates that patients have experienced direct health impacts from violations that included fines as low as $250. Seven clinics were cited for infractions that were classified in the third tier of a four-tier severity category, meaning actual harm occurred to patients as a direct result of deficient care. DaVita Brookwood Dialysis Center, a clinic in Glendale, was fined $500 in 2019 because problems were found with blood flow rate and oxygen levels during treatments that led to a patient feeling shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and cardiac symptoms in 17 instances, for example. When asked why this fine was $500 when actual patient harm occurred on 17 separate occasions, ADHS spokesperson Elliott wrote: The $500 per occurrence (not per day) maximum fine applies to actual patient harm. For your background, reports of a patient being uncomfortable do not constitute patient harm. DaVita is committed to resolving items identified by the state and to working with them on better communications around the survey process going forward, company spokesperson Courtney Culpepper wrote in an emailed statement. Culpepper did not address specific deficiencies found or fines levied by state inspectors. Fresenius Kidney Care spokesperson Brad Puffer also declined to comment on specific fines, instead writing in an emailed statement, While our quality standards often exceed the hundreds of state and federal requirements, we work hard to take corrective action when any issue is identified. Patient choice limited Of the 130 Medicare-certified outpatient dialysis clinics scattered throughout Arizona, about 75% are concentrated in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, giving patients limited choices if they live outside Arizonas dense urban cores. When Sachi Kuwahara wanted to change to a new clinic after her experience at U.S. Renal Care Northeast Phoenix, she said it wasnt easy. A lot of the clinics are full and they have a waiting list, she said, even before the pandemic. Paul Conway, chair of policy and global affairs at the American Association of Kidney Patients, a kidney patient education and advocacy group, said decision-making in dialysis care has largely been centered around facilities and doctors for more than four decades. He said the idea of patients choosing the facility is a relatively new idea one supported by his group. But patient surveys indicate they can also be limited by location and access to transportation. For patients, it also can be difficult to figure out which facility to choose, or to know if the treatment provided is safe or effective. State and federal rating systems have substantial differences, including databases that show a variety of safety and quality metrics. I dont think theres an effort to hide the ball, Conway said, but there hasnt been a proactive effort to make data available to patients and families, either. The culture thats present in a facility, that is the determinant, the driver of patient safety, said Dr. Alan Kliger, a professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and the chair of the American Society of Nephrologys Excellence in Patient Care initiative. While health department inspections are important, he said, it is vital that dialysis companies do what we call a root cause analysis of clinic issues rather than just pointing blame at an individual. Kliger said it is important to look at all factors involved, such as questioning whether there is an appropriate amount of staff, sufficient training and testing, and quality of leadership, for example. Large dialysis companies are aware of this process, he added, but my experience has been some, I think, do a better job at it than others. In order to address concerns about issues with dialysis and kidney disease in Arizona, ADHS has worked since 2013 to gather national and state-level stakeholders once a year at a conference called the ADVICE Collaborative. This multidisciplinary gathering of dialysis and other end-stage renal disease health-care providers is meant to share and gain knowledge on best practices in the areas of patient engagement, emergency preparedness and infection prevention. Feedback from this collaborative has been consistently positive and that it has been recognized nationally by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a best practice, ADHS spokesperson Elliott said in a statement. They should get a lot of credit for that, Conway said about Arizonas collaborative conference. I wish every state would do what Arizona has tried to do and has done for the past several years. Pandemic adds risk, shortages In addition to COVID-19 posing a serious risk to immunocompromised patients who receive treatment in a congregate setting, fallout from the pandemic has caused critical supply and staffing shortages in dialysis clinics across the U.S. About 15,000 more dialysis patients died in 2020 than is typical, according to the United States Renal Data System. Experts think this is likely because of COVID-19. Weve actually seen a decline in the total number of patients in the United States on dialysis. Dialysis patient mortality rates have been very high, said Dr. Paul Palevsky, a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and president of the National Kidney Foundation. This is the first time patient numbers have declined in the 50-year history of the Medicare-funded end-stage renal disease program, he said. A January 2022 joint news release from the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology points out that COVID-19 continues to run rampant through dialysis facilities, and there are staff and supply shortages that have resulted in dialysis facility closures and backlogs in moving patients among dialysis, hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities. Its high intensity, high risk, and you have to be self-aware, Conway said about dialysis treatment at outpatient clinics. The risks to patients have been particularly high since the start of the pandemic, he added, in part because our concern has been that those people at the point of care have not been fully resourced. Current dialysis patient Mark Canavan said he looked into changing facilities from his Fresenius clinic in the West Valley over the past year, but he couldnt even get a tour of other facilities because they didnt have space, he said. He said he has noticed too many patients for not enough staff, unforgiving schedules, condensed operating hours and perhaps most ridiculous of all being required to work while being demonstrably ill at his current clinic. He is concerned more than ever about the safety of his fragile bloodstream access port, which has ruptured more than once, a complication that is considered a medical emergency because it can result in severe, difficult to stop bleeding. A recently published survey in the Nephrology Nursing Journal conducted during the pandemic shows 62% of respondents feel burned out from work. More than one-quarter of nephrology nurses surveyed agreed that the size of their workload caused them to miss an important change in a patients condition. In his 50 years as a nephrologist, Kliger said he has never seen such a severe staffing crisis in dialysis. Currently, he is the co-chair of the COVID-19 response group for the American Society of Nephrology. He said staff numbers are down 25% to 40% in some places. And why are they down? In part, because people have left the profession and part its because after two years, people say I cant stand it anymore. Clinics have been left to reduce hours and close clinics in order to concentrate patients where there is enough staff, he added. Nonprofit dialysis provider Dialysis Clinic, Inc, which has four clinics in Arizona, wrote in an emailed statement that it has experienced some staffing challenges but has been able to meet patient needs using traveling nurses and managers filling in. DaVita spokesperson Courtney Culpepper wrote in an email that staffing challenges and supply disruptions are impacting all providers, but care has been continually accessible across Arizona. Brad Puffer, Fresenius spokesperson, referred AZCIR to a company statement that said the company has pulled in regional National Guard members where needed and accelerated local hiring efforts to solve these issues. Kuwahara no longer needs to seek ongoing dialysis treatments: She got a new kidney in December 2019, right before the pandemic swept the globe. She has decided to change careers moving forward, based in large part after her experience with a hard-to-reach social worker at U.S. Renal Care Northeast Phoenix. She is now finishing prerequisite courses for a degree in social work so she can become a dialysis clinic social worker herself. Clinics have social workers to help patients cope with the stress of dialysis and connect them with programs that could help them outside of the dialysis chair, like free rides and dental examinations. Your physical health and your mental health are intertwined, and for a lot of patients, going into dialysis can be extremely hard, she said, so her next goal is to help them navigate that world. This is something that I really want to do. About AZCIR The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is an independent, nonprofit media organization dedicated to statewide accountability journalism in Arizona. AZCIRs mission is to produce, foster and promote investigative journalism through original and collaborative reporting, often using data, and by training the next generation of investigative journalists. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: I find myself breaking out in tears all through the day. For those who know me well, Im not one who cries easily. My heart is broken. Ive been in contact with many I know who live in Ukraine. I feel so helpless living so far away. Im so grateful for so many of you who are praying and have opened your heart to the people of Ukraine. Our family served as missionaries in a city called Kherson, Ukraine. CNN put a correspondent in Kherson so Ive watched the invasion of my city on television. Both of my children have an amazing tattoo of Ukraine, as they spent some of their childhood there. Kherson (the same size as Tucson) is the first major city on the main road out of Russian-annexed Crimea. It has the main bridge across the Dnieper River from Crimea to Ukraine so its a strategic point. It appears that the Russians now control Kherson. We went to Kherson when it was part of the Soviet Union. We helped start churches. We saw thousands come to faith. We helped start Tavriski Christian Institute in 1997 which is training church leaders in Ukraine and Muslim Central Asia. We watched Ukraine declare independence in August 1991 and were there when the Soviet Union broke up. Heres what I want you to know. Ukrainians are the most peaceful people I know. Let me be clear. There are good and bad people in every culture and society. There are really good Russians. But Ukrainian culture as a whole loves peace and cherishes freedom. Before this week, I would tell people that Ukraine was the freest country in the world! Ukrainian and Russian languages are similar but different (like Portuguese and Spanish). But even the language tells us about the culture. Ukrainian is much softer than the guttural sounds of Russian. It reflects the softness of the people who love to be hospitable and cherish relationships. Ukrainians are loyal and very spiritual. To this day, my best and closest friends are Ukrainian. Ukraines independence has lasted 31 years. Now get this. That is the longest Ukraine has ever had independence. Ukraine has no natural borders to protect it (the name Ukraine means borderland). It has been conquered and ruled by the Mongols, Poles, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and now an attempt by the Russian Federation. Ukrainians love their freedom and independence and they wont stand for Russian occupation. Look at their recent history to keep their independence from Russia: Orange Revolution: Winter 2004-2005 The nation protested and overthrew a rigged election that put the Russian-backed Victor Yanukovych in power. The Orange Revolution removed Yanukovych. Maidan Revolution: 2013-2014 The Russian-backed Yanukovych was reelected but ousted through a violent revolt. This was because Yanukovych refused to sign agreements that would bring Ukraine into the European network. The Ukrainian people rejected Yanukovychs attempt to deepen ties with Russia. His massive corruption was exposed. Yanukovych is now in exile in Russia. Crimea annexed: 2014 Putin decided to get even and advance his plans to control Ukraine. Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula that was part of Ukraine. Russian Instigation of the Donbas region: 2014 to present Russia instigated and armed a militia in the breakaway area of eastern Ukraine that borders Russia, commonly called the Donbas region. This was the pretext for the current invasion. The cost of lives and property is immense. But there is another cost as well. Its close to my heart. In 1997, we established the Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI). We were to celebrate its 25th anniversary this fall. It is the first Christian college in Ukraine that has received state accreditation. TCI is sponsoring Christian training for pastors and leaders in Central Asian countries where believers there are under constant persecution. TCI professors and teachers can go to these restricted places because they hold Ukrainian passports. TCI is helping support church planting movements in Muslim countries where few can go. Today, TCI has been evacuated. The TCI property is right on the Dnieper River and is just a mile or so from the main Turupinski Bridge. This bridge is the main way to cross the river from Crimea to the rest of Ukraine. Twenty helicopters of Russian special forces landed right by TCI. They burned and cleared all the cattails and brush from the river to make sure they can protect the bridge so their tanks and military support can cross the river. Russian snipers are controlling the bridge currently. Will TCI students and staff ever be able to return? Will TCI have to become remote and relocate? The future is unknown for TCI and 40 million Ukrainians. Russia also invaded the south of Ukraine to get water. Their first main target was the hydroelectric dam in Kahovka (some 40 miles from Kherson). They needed to open up a water canal that is the main source of freshwater for the entire Crimean Peninsula. When Putin illegally invaded Crimea and took it from Ukraine, the Ukrainians cut off their water supply in response. Yes, in some ways there are two Ukraines. Western Ukraine (basically from the Dnieper River west) is predominantly Ukrainian-speaking. Eastern Ukraine is predominantly Russian speaking however, almost all can speak and understand each others language. But even eastern Ukraine is split also. Many who speak Russian identify culturally as Ukrainian and love their country. There are those who speak Russian who watch only Russian propaganda television and side with the Russian Federation. Thats why there have been the breakaway regions (instigated by Russian operatives). In general, theres been peace between Ukrainian and Russian-speaking Ukrainians, until the Russian operatives began their work of disunity. When Putin invaded Crimea in 2014, he sent Russian operatives into Kherson. They were driven out by a united city. Part of the unity in that city developed through the faith community. For decades, the Protestant churches and the Orthodox churches have worked for unity. Every Sunday, leaders, and congregants would meet in the central square where the statue of Lenin used to stand. They would pray together for their city and country. So what can you and I do? We can pray. Like believers for the last 2,000 years who have faced persecution, it seems so little. But do we really believe in a God who is greater than an invading army? I do. Im praying daily that Putin repents and surrenders to Jesus. Im praying for the Russian and Belarusian people to stand up and revolt against this tyranny. Im praying the Russian oligarchs will take a stand against Putin (even if only for selfish reasons). Im praying for a miracle of resilience on the part of the Ukrainian people. Im praying that the West fully support and supply the Ukrainian people. Im praying that the believers still in Ukraine will stand strong in their faith as they love and serve all and be a witness to the life-giving Jesus. Im praying for peace as other bad actors in the world might be tempted to use this to further aggression in other parts of the world. Pray for peace. Pray that in the midst of chaos and conflict that the kingdom and influence of God will advance. Many of you have asked how you can help financially. Weve been able to set up a way to get the funds into Ukraine! The funds you give will go to help Ukrainian refugees and the churches and Christians who remain in Ukraine to serve their people and advance the love of Christ. You can give at https://pantano.church/give/. Select the Ukraine fund. Im now in daily contact with Ukrainians (thank God for the internet) and we have ways to ensure that help gets to those who need it. Thank you for your love, prayer and support. Please keep praying. Im confident that God will not ignore the prayers of tens of thousands of believers. Glen Elliott is the lead pastor at Pantano Christian Church. He was raised in Arizona and has lived in Tucson for 22 years. Glen Elliott is the lead pastor at Pantano Christian Church. He was raised in Arizona and has lived in Tucson for 22 years. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Tyler Fenton has added to his restaurant portfolio with Bata, which just opened Wednesday, March 9, in downtowns Warehouse Arts District. Bata takes up 6,000 square feet of the historic 1930s warehouse at 35 E. Toole Ave. that had once housed a plumbing supply company before being converted to office and retail space in the 1980s, Fenton said last week. It is the third restaurant for Fenton and his sibling partners Zach and Courtney, who also own the 10-year-old downtown pizzeria Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink in the former Reilly Funeral Home at 101 E. Pennington St. and a second Reilly location at 7262 N. Oracle Road, which they launched last August. Bata was a long time coming. Fenton said he had originally planned to open as a multi-concept eatery in summer 2020, but the pandemic put those plans on hold. Once the city started reopening in the summer of 2020, Fenton switched gears. Fenton said renovating the warehouse space, which takes up less than half of the 14,000-square-foot building managed by the familys Fenton Investment Company, was a multimillion-dollar reimagining. They kept the original wood and metal bow truss ceilings, left the exposed brick and polished the concrete floors. The dining room can seat up to 90 on two- to six-seat wooden tables. Theres also a long cushioned bench seat set up against a shou sugi ban soffit made from heavily charred wood similar to the way it was done in 18th century Japan. Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up The restaurants name also has Japanese origins, shorthand, Fenton said, for Japanese style grilling called robata. No, were not a Japanese restaurant, Fenton, Batas executive chef, was quick to clarify, although he will draw from Japanese and other international cooking techniques in a menu that will focus on fire. All of the dishes on the menu will be touched by fire in ways subtle a beef tartare garnished with a fermented and flame-dried green onion powder and not so subtle grilled pork belly served with a sauce whose ingredients are burned in the fireplace. Even desserts are charred in tasteful ways, from its smoked chocolate mousse mille-fuille to the embered caramel on the koji ice cream. Much of that will be done in the wood-fired hearth in the open kitchen, where they will grill meats butchered from whole animals in house and vegetables sourced from local farmers. Fenton said 90% of the restaurants foods will come from within 400 miles of the restaurant he wanted to be able to include San Diego, a favorite vacation spot and go-to for fresh seafood. Given how we are sourcing and using whole animal, the menu is going to change daily, not in a way that Poca Cosas was rewritten every day, but kind of micro tweaks, Fenton said, referring to downtowns legendary Cafe Poca Cosa, which closed in 2020. A pig only has so much of each cut so a dish might be made with pork belly one day and it evolves to pork shoulder the next. More than half of Batas small-plate menu is dedicated to vegetables from the honeynut squash dressed in a sauce that combines the seeds and skin with smoked butter to charred brussels sprouts with black apple and salsa seca. Bata is open for dinner service only, from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Fenton said he plans to open a bar in the basement of the building similar to the Tough Luck Club in the basement of Reilly's downtown. He hopes to open Bar Bata in May. Tom Gilbert Chief Photographer I joined the Tulsa World in 1988 after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma. I lived in Saudi Arabia before graduating from Broken Arrow High School. I'm married to Karen Gilbert and have three grown children. Phone: 918-581-8349 Follow Tom Gilbert 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 Tulsas American Solera is opening a second location in Edmonds Icehouse Project. The Icehouse Project is a historic mixed-use development with local restaurants, outdoor seating, edible landscaping and an urban farm in downtown Edmond. American Soleras second location will include a brewery and taproom. Brewmaster Chase Healey and his wife, Erica, founded the brewery. We are excited to expand beyond Tulsa and into the central part of the state, said Erica Healey. A taproom is a key component of experiencing a brand. The environment is equally important to us as the beer itself, and the Icehouse Project provides the perfect family-friendly vibe we were looking for. American Solera was named the best new brewery in the United States and second in the world by the RateBeer Best awards in 2017. Featured video: Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hundreds of shoppers filtered through rows of vendors selling novelty art and clothing earlier this year at High Bazaar, a Hamden festival where a gift of a marijuana product often accompanied the items they purchased. But the High Bazaar parties are on hold for now, after the town of Hamden claimed permitting violations. And while a hearing in that civil case is scheduled for later this week, the state legislature is considering a bill that would outlaw such gifting. Advertisement House Bill 5329 would impose up to a $10,000 fine and a year of jail time on violators. Supporters of the legislation said it would help keep sales in the market regulated, although some hemp and cannabis advocates were wary that it would re-criminalize marijuana. The bill also includes provisions to cap the number of equity joint ventures for producers and to outlaw billboard advertising. Equity joint ventures allow partnerships between social equity applicants and other cannabis businesses. Advertisement We appreciate that gifting will go on between people in the privacy of their homes, said state Rep. Mike DAgostino, a Democrat who represents Hamden. An event thats organized, that rents space and is really a market just violates the entire intent of the statute that we put in place last year. DAgostino chairs the General Law Committee, which heard public comments on the bill Tuesday. Cannabis Gifts The Hottest 2020 Trend? Cannabis gifting is a practice thats been used in Washington, D.C., where recreational marijuana sales arent allowed but possession of less than 2 ounces has been decriminalized. Vendors sell consumers a product such as a T-shirt, and a cannabis product is included as a gift. Douglas Moore, a Connecticut resident who has no arms or legs, told the committee that gifting from friends or family is one of the ways he gets his medical marijuana. Hes opted for a medical marijuana card rather than taking pills for the rest of his life, he said. For me to actually be a normal person like all of yall, I need this gift, Moore said. Lou Rinaldi, another patient who advocates for programmatic changes including the addition of a patient ombudsman, said theres an ever-growing number of Connecticut cannabis patients who use gifting as their primary means of obtaining their medicine. Theres been a direct correlation between increasing patient education and rising concerns about the safety of the programs medical cannabis products, Rinaldi said. Changes to the allowable levels of mold and yeast in medical products left patients worried about the safety of the products late last year. The state Department of Consumer Protection is in the process of officially changing regulations. Advertisement DAgostino reassured Rinaldi, Moore and other patients that the bill wasnt intended to allow the arrest of people who give marijuana to friends or family its targeted at retail operations, he said. Bill language specifies that no person is allowed to gift, sell or transfer cannabis to another person in exchange for a charitable donation, as part of a giveaway, or at any location other than those authorized to sell cannabis where items other than cannabis are for sale and that requires club membership for admission. State Rep. Vincent Candelora, the House Republican leader, spoke in support of the bill, citing a lack of regulation for gifted cannabis. This glaring gap in our laws was recently exploited by local groups looking to take advantage of the lack of regulatory enforcement, Candelora said in written testimony. 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. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File) (Jessica Hill/AP) Several who testified also mentioned the lack of tax revenue on gifted products, a problem that Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and an industry critic, said is common with gifting. Consumers also often wind up overpaying for the products associated with the gifts, Sabet added. These policies ultimately price out legal sellers and allow the underground marijuana market to continue operating, he said in an emailed statement. Advertisement Billboard advertising The bill also includes provisions that would outlaw billboard advertising for cannabis products, which people from the industry opposed. Supporters, including Candelora, said the move would protect minors from exposure to cannabis advertising. State policy already includes provisions against cannabis advertising that targets minors. Benjamin Zachs, chief operating officer for dispensary Fine Fettle, said the move would harm business revenues. This will stunt significant revenue potential for media companies and billboard companies that the state should want to thrive versus perish, the companys written testimony read. Equity joint ventures The bill also includes language that says a producer shall commit to create two equity joint ventures to be approved by the Social Equity Council, a suggestion from the council itself. Advertisement The joint ventures are partnerships between a business entity and a licensed medical marijuana producer or medical marijuana dispensary that is at least 50% owned by a social equity applicant. Social equity status is determined by income and residency requirements. Its one of several measures designed to ensure those who were disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs benefit from the emerging market. Joint ventures arent subject to the lottery system that most recreational licensees need to go through. Andrea Comer, deputy commissioner for the Department of Consumer Protection and a Social Equity Council member, said the intention was to cap social equity ventures at two. The change was based on feedback from the public and legislators, she added. State Rep. Juan Candeloria, D-New Haven, questioned whether the language was sufficient to achieve its goal and ensure large multi-state operators that already have several joint equity ventures dont get two additional ventures. A lot of the current producers and the dispensaries are out of state, Candeloria said. Our intention was to ensure that equity applicants from our state have the opportunity to conduct cannabis businesses. Advertisement In this file photo, a Formulation and Research and Development Chemist at Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions displays a marijuana bud being used by the company to develop medicines in 2017. MARK MIRKO. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Courant file photo) Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Multi-state operators have already shown interest in Connecticuts budding cannabis market. In the fall, Verano Holdings Corp., which operates in at least 12 states, acquired Willow Brook Wellness, Caring Nature and Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions, Inc., one of four licensed cannabis producers in the state. And in March, multi-state company Greenrose Acquisition Corp announced that it would acquire production facility Theraplant, in Watertown. The cap would aim to ensure Connecticut social equity applicants and businesses profit from the market. Several hemp farmers also spoke to the issue, asking that they be allowed to participate in the recreational market. With the current law as it stands, more than 99% of all recreational marijuana in the state of Connecticut will eventually be produced by large Multi-State Operators who are headquartered in other locations, said Brant Smith, of Hemp House Farms in Cheshire. The farming community of Connecticut; who live, work, and pay taxes here, will be effectively shut out of this new industry. Advertisement Ginny Monk is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (https://ctmirror.org/ ). Copyright 2022 The Connecticut Mirror. A state appellate court upheld the conviction and sentence on Thursday of an Owasso man a jury had found guilty of sexually abusing a minor. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals found no wrongdoing by the judge who handled Thomas Joseph Riddles case and reaffirmed its decision regarding the constitutionality of the statute under which he was convicted. A Tulsa County jury convicted Riddle, 40, in February 2020 of sexual abuse of a child under 12 years of age. Riddle was arrested after a then 9-year-old girl told authorities in April 2019 that Riddle had sexually abused her multiple times in 2018 at an Owasso residence. At his sentencing, District Judge Tracy Priddy suspended 10 years of Riddles jury-recommended 25-year prison term and fined him $500. Riddle claimed that he was denied the right to a fair trial in part when Priddy excluded certain cross-examination. But the appellate court ruled that no limit was unjustly imposed. We find the limitations imposed here were reasonable given the minimal relevance of the testimony, the likelihood of confusion of the issues, and the danger of unfair prejudice, the court wrote in its opinion. The court also rejected the assertion by Riddle that the child sexual abuse statute is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. The court, in dismissing that claim, pointed to a 2019 ruling it made regarding the constitutionality of the statute. 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. Police say a 73-year-old woman shot her sleeping husband, after thinking about it for several days, over a financial concern. Firefighters responded around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday after Linda Burton, 73, called to report that her husband had no pulse. The man was found alive with two bullet wounds that were not self-inflicted, according to a Tulsa Police Department social media post. Burton reportedly told detectives she shot her 70-year-old husband upon several days thought because she believed he had hacked her bank account. She said she retrieved her husbands .380-caliber pistol and fired it at the back of his head while he slept, but his ensuing struggle to grab the gun resulted in a second shot through his hand into his torso, police reported. He reportedly spoke about his wife pejoratively to paramedics while en route to a hospital, where he was in critical condition, according to the post about Burtons arrest. Burton is jailed on complaints of shooting with intent to kill and domestic assault and battery with a deadly weapon, with bail set at $75,000. CLAREMORE Another area school district is rescinding its mask policy. Citing declining COVID-19 case numbers, Claremore Public Schools Board of Education members voted unanimously Thursday evening to suspend the districts mask requirement. Based on the information we went over (from the Oklahoma State Department of Health), I believe we are in the endemic phase of COVID-19, Superintendent Bryan Frazier said. When we created the policy, it had a specific duration to it. I believe it is most appropriate to end it based on current numbers and local case loads. As amended in December, Claremores mask policy was scheduled to sunset at the end of the 2021-22 school year unless extended by the school board. Over the course of the last 13 days, Claremore has had 13 reported cases of COVID among its staff and students. By comparison, the district had 127 students test positive within the first month of this school year. Friday is a snow day for Claremore students. The district is out for spring break starting Monday. When questioned by board member Shane Huey, Frazier confirmed Thursday night that the district could reinstate the mask policy if case numbers start to climb after students and staff return from spring break. I hate to say it, but weve sort of been down this road before, Frazier said. We can transition quickly if, God forbid, we come back from spring break and theres a new variant or an outbreak. We would bring this back to the board immediately. Claremore is the third Tulsa-area district to relax its mask requirement in less than two weeks. On Feb. 28, Tulsa Public Schools announced that masks would be strongly encouraged rather than expected at its sites, while Union Public Schools board voted unanimously Monday night to suspend that districts mask mandate. Featured video: Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OWASSO A push to rename the Owasso post office after a fallen veteran is one step closer to becoming a reality. U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe and James Lankford introduced legislation on Thursday to rename the local facility the Technical Sergeant Marshal Roberts Post Office. Under Senate Bill 3804, the building, located at 1233 N. Cedar St., would serve as an honor for Roberts, a 28-year-old Oklahoma Air National Guardsman from Owasso who was killed while deployed overseas in March 2020. Naming a post office to honor Technical Sergeant Roberts heroic actions and dutiful patriotism in his hometown of Owasso will serve as a reminder to his family, friends and service members of the ultimate sacrifice he gave on behalf of our grateful nation, Inhofe and Lankford said in a press release. The Oklahoma Republicans efforts come more than a month after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the same measure under HR 1298, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Hern and co-sponsored by Reps. Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, Markwayne Mullin and Stephanie Bice. We owe him (Marshal) a debt of gratitude we can never repay, Hern said previously. Renaming the Owasso post office in his honor will ensure the community he loved and served will always remember his selfless bravery and bring his legacy to future generations. The campaign to rename the post office pays homage to Roberts sacrifice, which came in the line of indirect enemy fire while stationed at Camp Taji in Iraq on March 11, 2020. Serving with the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, Roberts was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve about 20 miles north of Baghdad when his unit was hit with a rocket attack. The engagement claimed Roberts life and that of another American soldier, along with a United Kingdom service member and two Iraqi Security Forces members. Fourteen others were wounded, including Oklahomas Tech. Sgt. Ariel E. White. Since his death, Roberts name has lived on through the inspirational efforts of others. The Oklahoma Air National Guard in March 2021, for example, dedicated a facility at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base in his remembrance. Eight months later, a 4-mile stretch of Oklahoma 20 between Owasso and Claremore adopted the fallen soldiers name. SB 3804 still would have to pass the U.S. Senate and be signed by the president before the post office could be renamed. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GLENPOOL A greenhouse grower, Ben Neal said he's among a kind of exodus from Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry as he has listed his cannabis businesses for sale. On the day Republican lawmakers announced legislative priorities for medical marijuana, several cannabis business leaders did not want to speak on the record. Neal, hesitant himself at first, told the Tulsa World he is just one of many struggling to stay afloat as the state's legal program has evolved. "The price (for cannabis) has come down, and the expense to grow has gone up," Neal said, noting how much oversight has been added already. "And you're thinking, 'Are things going to be better in one year?' And honestly, I don't think so." In a news conference Monday, the GOP working group on medical marijuana discussed legislation needed to fix problems across the state that are going on 4 years old. Working group member Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, cited specific language in the 2018 state question that legalized medical marijuana in Oklahoma as helping bad actors proliferate. That has been one of the biggest contributors to the straw man, out-of-state, out-of-country ownership in our grow operations in the state of Oklahoma, he said. But changing the State Question 788 rule that nonresidents may have an ownership stake under 25% was not among the priorities listed by the House Republican working group. Among the bills listed Monday by Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, was a proposal that would require data reporting from utilities on licensees' electricity and water usage. Other states with legal cannabis have similar systems, said Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City. Combined with the upcoming implementation of a seed-to-sale tracking system, information on utility usage could help inspectors identify discrepancies that might indicate diversion from a grower, Marti said. The electrical and water data is whats going to make seed-to-sale work and allow us to find whos consuming our utilities and who falls outside the standard deviation of what they should be growing based on what theyre using, he said. Neal, founder of Sage Farms, said it may be challenging to develop such a baseline, noting that every grow operation is different. If every facility was the exact same the exact same efficiency, the exact same lights, dehumidifiers, heat and air then, sure, you could say It takes this much energy to grow this many plants, Neal said. Noting that the number of changes being proposed for the industry makes for quite an expensive plan, Marti said one of the proposals would be a revenue-generator by increasing some license fees. A substitute for House Bill 2179 by Echols would create eight tiers for indoor, greenhouse and outdoor grow operations. The bigger the operation, the greater the license fee, starting at $2,500. The fee for an operator seeking to license a 2.2 million-square-foot outdoor grow would be about $150,000. For a 20,000-square-foot greenhouse grow, it would be about $16,000 for the OMMA license. A similar size indoor grow would have to pay $60,000 for a license. When you talk to legitimate growers, there is nothing more offensive to them than having to compete against those who are breaking the law right now, Echols said. Enforcement is at the heart of the issue, he said, so another proposal would add local partners working in tandem with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and other state agencies to weed out illegal operators. HB 3530 would carve $5 million per year from state tax revenue on marijuana sales to fund grants for county sheriff's offices. Were funding the sheriff, so the sheriffs going to be out there. Were going to have at least one inspection annually, so you wont be able to hide from us anymore, Marti said. Fetgatter, saying he has talked to more than 200 medical marijuana business owners, said legitimate businesses shouldn't be concerned with the proposals. "They see these bills as a way that they can stop having to compete with the black market, so theyre more than happy to have these bills implemented and follow those rules," he said. The problem in the state of Oklahoma is we legalized marijuana and we still have people who want to break the laws. Echols, who said the working group had support from the Senate on the slate of proposals, noted that only a fraction of medical marijuana bills were included in the list of priorities. Others are not dead yet, said Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita, including some proposals that have drawn concerns. HB 3208 by Cornwell would impose a moratorium on new business licenses until oversight agencies get everyone in compliance. Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action founder Jed Green said putting new licenses on hiatus would stifle businesses and possibly also create an unforeseen burden on the state oversight agency. "A moratorium could create a rush on license applications by speculators and set OMMA back in their efforts to catch up, which they are finally doing, Green said Monday. From outside the House working group, Rep. Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow, has proposed HB 4287, which would prohibit dispensaries from having deli-style sales but would require prepackaging of products. Thats a debacle, Green said of the bill heading to the House floor. Thats a bad one. Earlier proposals that sought to mandate prepackaged medical marijuana met with patient pushback, he said. Davis bill, as written, would limit patients ability to purchase less than 3.5 grams of cannabis flower at a dispensary. Changes and other evolving oversight have Neal ready to throw in the towel and return to his roots: a farm-to-table delivery service for fresh produce. He joked that his setup for medical marijuana, with its many security compliance measures, would probably stay the same. "We'll have the safest tomatoes in Oklahoma," he said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gubernatorial appointees on the Oklahoma State Board of Education took an unprecedented action on Thursday and intervened in the state's process of having professional educators and subject matter experts create academic standards for public schools. In this instance, proposed new health education and physical education standards required by the recent passage of two new state laws were on the table. Rather than approve or disapprove the proposed standards, four board members voted to keep in place existing health and P.E. standards and add only the expert committees proposed objectives dealing with mental health. After the meeting, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said: Frankly, when people ask why teachers are demoralized, it is because of disrespect, and this is an example of that. This leaves us with a giant mess. The four members who voted for the move were Brian Bobek, newly appointed and seated board member Sarah Lepak, Jennifer Monies and Trent Smith. Two other board members, Estela Hernandez and Carlisha Williams Bradley, were absent. Hofmeister, who serves as chair of the board, elected not to cast a vote at all after saying she thought the board was mistaken about the practical implications of its actions. Hofmeister had cautioned the board that in effect, they would be voting to keep in place old, vague, out-of-date academic standards for health and P.E. rather than adopting a new, comprehensive set of academic standards in keeping with changes in state law intended to improve the overall health of Oklahomas children. She also said teachers would not be able to be adequately prepared. Im sure the Legislature will have some questions, too, Hofmeister said, referring to the Legislatures upcoming final review process for the academic standards. Bobek, who made the motion that passed, said he felt the board had inadequate time to consider the proposal, but Hofmeister responded by saying the vote had already been delayed once and that the new academic standards are required to be sent to the Legislature with adequate time remaining for its final review. Bobek said he believed the boards action would comply with the changes in state law and that the board would have adequate time to revisit the issue if necessary before the 2023-24 academic year, when the new standards must be taught. At issue are updates to academic standards required by two new laws from the last legislative session, which were both signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The first, House Bill 1568 or Marias Law, was authored by Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, to help Oklahoma students better understand mental health issues and how they can affect their overall well-being. It directed the state education board, in consultation with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, to revise the Oklahoma Academic Standards for health and P.E. so that students could be educated about mental health and be encouraged to seek treatment when necessary. It also allows school districts to enter into agreements with nonprofits or other community partners to assist in providing mental health education if necessary. The second law at issue is the Health Education Act, authored by Haste and Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, requiring health education on the importance of proper nutrition and exercise, mental health and wellness, substance abuse awareness, coping skills for understanding and managing trauma, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and responsible decision-making. Oklahoma is one of only two or three states without a mandate for health education in its public schools. Contacted by the Tulsa World on Thursday, Haste said he had no idea there were any questions or concerns about the academic standards updates related to his sponsored legislation. Whether anyone agrees or disagrees with a decision, the important thing is there are checks and balances. The Legislature has our job. The Department of Education has its job. Our bill was specifically to update the standards, Haste said. With anything that comes over that were involved in, we review it. When its our turn to look at, we will look at it and do our appropriate due diligence on it. At the same Thursday meeting, the State Board of Education approved new academic standards for math and world languages proposed by professional educators and subject matter experts, without objection. Hofmeister didnt cast votes in those two instances, either. Asked after the meeting why she hadnt voted, Hofmeister said the boards contract attorney, Travis Jett, had made her aware late Wednesday that the board intended to go its own way on academic standards, and she simply didnt want to be a party to it. It is always the discretion of the chair to participate or not. My predecessor used that (discretion) from time to time, and Gov. Stitt at CLO (Commissioners of the Land Office) meetings has had his name not called (for select votes) through prior arrangement, Hofmeister said. I was told there were going to be some potential changes, and while not wanting to create disharmony on the board by voting no on what they were trying to do, I was not willing to undermine those teachers and experts on the standards committees. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Senate on Thursday passed six anti-abortion measures, two of which would effectively ban the procedure in the state. A third would let voters decide whether "personhood" begins at conception and ban abortion. The Legislature's upper chamber spent six hours explaining, debating and questioning the measures. Political figures, philosophers, religion and a wife were quoted to bolster positions. Senate Bill 1503, by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, passed by a vote of 33-11 and now heads to the House for consideration. The measure is modeled after a Texas bill that the U.S. Supreme Court allowed to go into effect. Many Texas women have sought abortions in other states, including in Oklahoma, as a result of the law there, which effectively bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Daniels' SB 1503 would do the same. Also as in the Texas law, it would allow third parties to sue for up to $10,000 abortion providers and anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion. Suits could be brought for up to six years after the abortion. The woman receiving the abortion would not be subject to the civil action. The measure would make an exception for a medical emergency. Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, voted against the bill, saying it did not go far enough. Hamilton quoted his wife as telling him the difference between heaven and hell is the difference between right and almost right. Sen. Jake Merrick, R-Yukon, also voted against the measure, saying he believes that life begins at fertilization. Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, called the measure reckless, saying it created a surveillant state where neighbors would be watching neighbors. What has been absent from this conversation are a womans fundamental rights of privacy, bodily integrity and self-determination, said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. Daniels said the threat of civil action had deterred abortions in Texas and saved lives. Lets not let perfect be the enemy of good, Daniels said. If this bill saves lives, why would we not want to save some even when I cant save all? The chamber also passed Senate Bill 1553, by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, by a vote of 32-11. The measure also heads to the House. It would prohibit an abortion after 30 days since the probable beginning of a pregnant womans last menstrual period. The measure would require a woman who is raped or the victim of incest to carry the child, but it would provide an exception to save the life of the mother. Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, said the measure would require a 14-year-old girl who was raped by her uncle to carry the baby, adding that it was unconscionable not to carve out some protections. But Hamilton advocated the complete abolition of abortion. We let ourselves down when we tell ourselves this is the best we can do, he said. It is not. We can and we should eliminate abortion. The Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 17, by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, by a vote of 36-9. It also now heads to the House. The measure would ask voters to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to say life begins at conception. It would also ban abortion-inducing drugs but would allow an exception to protect the life of the mother. The people of Oklahoma are ready to end abortion, Bullard said, adding that he believes the measure will pass if it goes on the ballot. This Senate Joint Resolution is a political stunt, Kirt said. This is a stunt to put abortion literally on the ballot. For years, abortion has been a campaign tool to divide people to make them look away from other bad policies. Hamilton called the resolution risky, saying it assumes the measure will pass based on polling numbers. He said the measure is putting to a vote a basic human right. Rights are not subject to a majority vote, Hamilton said. This sets a dangerous precedent. Bullard asked his colleagues which one of them would give up their current position and exchange it with a baby in the womb fixing to have their limbs torn off. Not one of us. Also, not one person would trade their current position to sit in a womb and be scorched by a chemical, Bullard said. Oklahoma lawmakers have a history of passing unconstitutional abortion laws. With recent changes on the U.S. Supreme Court, some believe the landmark Roe v. Wade case, which legalized abortion, will fall or be changed. They cite as an indicator the high courts refusal to put the Texas law on hold while it is appealed. Featured video: Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OKLAHOMA CITY In some ways, the past week has been a scramble for T.W. Shannon. But its also a moment on which the former Oklahoma speaker of the House of Representatives has been waiting for eight years. Since 2014, I knew there was another race in me, said Shannon, who announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate during a news conference at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon. This will be Shannons second try for the Senate. Both times have been under somewhat unusual and similar circumstances. Eight years ago, Shannon gave up the speakers chair to enter the Republican primary to replace Sen. Tom Coburn, who had submitted his resignation in February, effective the following January. Shannon wound up losing to then-Congressman James Lankford in a runoff. The circumstances are similar this time. Sen. Jim Inhofe resigned last month, effective next January, allowing the state to conduct a special election series concurrent with the regular election calendar. But while that aspect of the election is the same, Shannon said that, politically, there is a completely different dynamic. Part of that different dynamic is former President Donald Trump. Such is Trumps perceived effect on Republican voters that just about every GOP candidate invokes his name and the America First slogan he retrieved from the scrap pile of catchy phrases with disreputable histories. Shannon did the same. He told the audience of supporters and campaign workers he talked to Trump and Trump associate Kelly Anne Conway on Wednesday. Later, Shannon called Conway a consultant to his campaign; Stephanie Alexander, an Oklahoma City consultant who held high-ranking positions in Trumps campaigns, is also on Shannons team. The America First Agenda, Shannon said, is a must. But when asked how he plans to differentiate his Trump connections from those of the other GOP candidates claiming ties to the former president, Shannon changed directions. All I know is you have to run your own campaign, he said. You have to listen. People around the country are hurting. Shannon, 44, joins a field that already includes 2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin, former Inhofe chief of staff Luke Holland and state Sen. Nathan Dahm. Others, including 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern, are considering the short-season campaign leading to the June 28 GOP primary and a possible August runoff. No Democrat or other non-Republican candidate has surfaced. Shannon gained at least one-high profile endorsement on Thursday Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby. I support him 100%, said Anoatubby, who attended the announcement. Were excited about it. He has all the capability and background to do the job. Although Shannon is known as Oklahomas first and only Black speaker of the House, he may be more popular and have more influence with the Chickasaws and other American Indians. Shannon is a Chickasaw citizen and has been chief executive officer of the Chickasaws wholly owned bank. In his announcement speech, Shannon laid down a traditional Republican marker that transcends Trump: defense of capitalism and free enterprise. The real reason Im running for the Senate is the importance of capitalism, he said. There is a generation of citizens who believe it is a cruel, racist system that benefits only a few. There is a narrative that if you look like me and youre born in America, the system does not work for you, he said. Thats a lie. Featured video: Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Initial jobless claims in the state declined about 8% last week when compared to adjusted totals from the prior seven-day-period, according to a government report. The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that 1,316 initial claims for unemployment benefits were filed the week ending Saturday in Oklahoma. Thats an 8.5% decline from the prior seven-day period, when an upwardly revised 1,439 first-time claims were filed. Claim totals from the week ending Feb. 26 were initially reported to be 1,220 before being revised this week. The four-week moving average of initial claims declined from 1,625 the week ending Feb. 26 to 1,524 claims the following week. The four-week moving average of initial claims hs declined five consecutive weeks. Likewise, continued claims, those filed after at least one week of unemployment, declined 8.6% to 10,902 the week ending Feb. 26. Labor Department officials revised the claims total for the week ending Feb. 19 from 10,743 to 11,929. The four-week moving average of continued claims also declined from 12,461 the week ending Feb. 19 to 12,015 the following week. Commenting on adjusted filing numbers, a state official with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission noted the continued decline in claims. For the second consecutive week, Oklahoma has seen declines in our already historically low unemployment numbers, said Shelley Zumwalt, OESC executive director, in a statement. These numbers highlight the incredible work done by Oklahomas administration to grow and strengthen our states workforce. Zumwalt touted the agencys efforts to find work for Oklahomans through the U.S. Department of Labors Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program. OESC identifies eligible claimants who are likely to exhaust benefits, veterans, or claimants who previously worked in a declining industry, Zumwalt said. Our staff takes an individual yet holistic approach to connect each claimant with a variety of resources and support to best match them with careers. Meanwhile, among neighboring states, initial jobless claims were mixed with Arkansas, New Mexico and Texas posting increases, while Colorado, Kansas and Missouri saw declines in weekly totals when compared to the prior week. Nationally, initial jobless claims increased by 11,000 to 227,000 for the week ending Saturday. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy speaking about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine in Hartford on Friday, Mar. 11, 2022. (Eliza Fawcett) As Russian forces continued to inflict a devastating toll on Ukraine, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy urged the Biden administration on Friday to take additional measures to support the country and its citizens, including by raising the nations annual refugee admissions cap. How are we going to show our generosity as a country by making sure that Ukrainian families that are fleeing violence can find shelter in the United States? Murphy said during a press briefing at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. ...America has to do more than just send money to Ukraine, send money to Poland, send money to Moldova. We have to be willing to take Ukrainian families here in the United States. Advertisement Murphy, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the Biden administration to expand the United States capacity to accept Ukrainian refugees, including by raising the refugee admissions cap for fiscal year 2023 or by offering permanent or temporary humanitarian parole to Ukrainians seeking refuge. In addition to imposing economic sanctions on Russia, the White House has recently begun to roll out aid efforts for Ukraine. Last week, the Biden administration announced that it would grant temporary protected status, a form of humanitarian relief, to Ukrainians who had been living in the United States without legal documentation on or before March 1. On Thursday evening, the Senate sent a $1.5 trillion spending bill which includes $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine to President Joe Biden for his signature. Advertisement [ Connecticut residents stand with Ukraine at a rally at the state Capitol; Putin must be deterred, Blumenthal says ] But Murphy emphasized that America must do more for the Ukrainian people and clear a path for those seeking refuge. What we are watching is unconscionable, he said. What we are seeing is war crimes in Ukraine today. Its not surprising because we watched [Russian President] Vladimir Putin perpetuate war crimes in Chechnya and Syria and now hes doing it to the Ukrainian people. Murphy has called for the expansion of Americas refugee resettlement capacity in the past, including last spring, after he visited a detention facility at the U.S. Mexico border, and this past fall, amid the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Susan Schnitzer, the president and CEO of the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, noted that the organization has resettled nearly 230 Afghan refugees in Connecticut and is ready to assist Ukrainians. She urged Congress to ensure that there are systems in place to enable Ukrainian resettlement efforts. If weve learned anything through this most recent crisis with Afghanistan, we can resettle larger numbers than we have in the past, she said. The state of Connecticut has the systems in place to welcome people, to make sure people have safe homes, to make sure people find employment, learn English, get the schooling that they need. Alexander Kuzma, the chief development officer of the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation and a leader of Connecticuts Ukrainian-American community, speaking alongside Sen. Chris Murphy in Hartford on Friday, Mar. 11, 2022. (Eliza Fawcett) Alexander Kuzma, the chief development officer of the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation and a leader of Connecticuts Ukrainian-American community, who also spoke at the press conference, reported that the universitys campus in Lviv has essentially become a refugee camp. Our dormitories, our fitness center, have now been converted into temporary emergency housing for people that are coming from the areas that have been bombed out by Putins war criminals, he said. The university is also sending humanitarian supplies, including medicine and body armor, into eastern Ukraine, Kuzma said. Several of the universitys students have joined the frontlines of the conflict; an alumnus was killed on Thursday. Advertisement Kuzma urged Congress to seriously consider what it will take to end the conflict in Ukraine and argued that U.S. airstrikes might be necessary. In response, Murphy agreed that economic sanctions are not enough to halt Russias advance, but noted that the U.S. has trained with Ukrainian military forces in recent years and that America can continue to support Ukraine by delivering arms and supplies. Right now, I dont think the people of Connecticut would support a declaration of war against Russia, he said, And I support President Bidens decision to try to stay out of a direct confrontation between the two worlds nuclear superpowers, which could end in millions of people dead. Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com. If youre over the age of 40, you likely remember the dread of nuclear war. As children, baby boomers practiced duck and cover in school. Their parents fretted over Nikita Khruschevs saber-rattling during the Cuban missile crisis. Generation X kids watched The Day After on network television, a movie that portrayed nuclear war and its aftermath. Younger generations dont share these memories. So when Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted that nuclear war was on the table, most millennial and Gen Z Americans were thrust into a new awareness of nuclear peril. So what would a nuclear attack look like here at home? Among Russias 6,200 or so nuclear weapons are nearly 1,600 strategic weapons the large city killers, as opposed to the much smaller battlefield nuclear devices mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles. The U.S. has had weapons in the 15 megaton range, while Russia (then the Soviet Union) tested a massive 50 megaton weapon dubbed the tsar bomba, or emperor bomb. By contrast, the weapons dropped on Japan in World War II were 15 to 21 kilotons devastating, but much smaller than modern nuclear devices. Whats commonly mounted on todays ICBMs measure at or near 1 megaton. Based on information gathered from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, government documents and other sources, here is one scenario of how a large-scale nuclear attack might unfold for us in Tulsa. Tens of thousands of feet above the country, this first salvo of a nuclear attack is launched: a high-altitude airburst, with the detonation delivering a powerful electromagnetic pulse. Every nuclear weapon releases an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, which fries unprotected electrical systems. Phones go dead. Computers cease functioning. Anything running with computer technology cars, radios, televisions is affected. We dont feel this blast, but we might see it in the sky a sudden, bright flash before our electronic world goes dark. The second phase of the attack starts somewhere deep inside Russias interior. A single SS-27 missile ignites its engines, rising slowly, a fiery plume pushing the rockets 100,000-pound mass into the air. It quickly accelerates to supersonic speeds, reaching more than 16,000 mph before its warhead is released. The warhead with the explosive power of a million tons of TNT hits 2,000 mph upon re-entering the Earths atmosphere. Its journey from launch site to target is a mere 30 minutes. Ten thousand feet above the city, the weapon detonates with a blinding flash. The resulting fireball is 15 million degrees, hotter than the suns core. The fireball vaporizes anything within three-quarters of a mile of ground zero. All of the skyscrapers, bridges, apartment blocks, stadiums and other structures within the Inner Dispersal Loop are gone. No living thing within a mile of the detonation survives. Energy released by the explosion creates a massive blast wave. Close to ground zero, brick, concrete and stone buildings are heavily damaged or even flattened. Farther away, the strongest structures survive, but lesser buildings houses, apartments, shopping centers and smaller offices are destroyed or heavily damaged as far away as the outskirts of Sand Springs to the west, 36th Street North on the citys north side, the Tulsa County fairgrounds to the east and the Interstate 44 bridge over the Arkansas River to the south. Lighter damage, mostly in the form of broken windows and blown-open doors, extends as far as Jenks, Owasso, Broken Arrow and Sand Springs. All this damage takes place within seconds as a mushroom cloud begins its ascent, reaching altitudes of more than 60,000 feet. Heat generated by the bomb brings its own devastation. Flammable building materials, vehicles and more ignite. As the fires coalesce, a firestorm erupts, then intensifies as the blazes suck in oxygen from miles around. The fires create their own winds, and the cycle of burning destruction continues until the materials that fuel it are consumed. The explosion reveals another horror thermal radiation. Anyone within seven miles of ground zero would suffer third-degree burns, provided they werent underground or otherwise sheltered. As bad as all this is, the attack isnt over. One last warhead is on its way, this one striking the ground at Tulsa International Airport. The earth absorbs much of the energy from this explosion, which turns the airports airstrips into a giant crater. Powerful blast waves and thermal flashes ensue, though smaller in scale than the initial explosion. But the job is done: the airport is unusable for any potential military purposes. The ground impact has other, more immediate hazards. While much of the fallout radioactive particles that are launched into the atmosphere, then fall back to the ground from the first blast is high in the air, fallout from the airport attack settles closer to the bomb site. Radioactive particles picked up by prevailing winds blanket suburban and rural communities downwind, contaminating water supplies in much of northeastern Oklahoma. The attack instantly kills more than 20,000 people. Tens of thousands more suffer severe injuries. Flying debris and collapsing buildings result in broken bones, head trauma, lacerations, internal injuries and more. High radiation and fires leave tens of thousands with severe burns. Those exposed to the explosions light flash many times brighter than the sun suffer temporary or even permanent blindness. And in the coming hours, radiation sickness vomiting, hair loss, internal bleeding and so on sets in for thousands more. In this mass casualty environment, one of Tulsas hospitals is gone. Two more are heavily damaged or destroyed. Others on the citys outskirts are intact, but none have power. Only the most basic forms of medical treatment are available, and even then, there are too few people to administer it, and not nearly enough supplies. Thousands more soon die due to a lack of medical attention for their immediate injuries, or they succumb to infections and radiation sickness. In a full-scale attack, this is a scene that visits scores or even hundreds of communities across the country. Oklahoma City suffers a similar fate as Tulsa. Altus, Lawton and Enid, each with military bases, are also targeted. Stricken communities need extraordinary help, but none is coming. In the weeks, months and years to come, the aftermath of a nuclear exchange brings other disasters that threaten supplies of food and clean water worldwide. Its hard to say what happens from there, but many experts predict, at best, a difficult existence for survivors. At worst, its all she wrote for our species. This is the reality of nuclear war. We knew this during the Cold War, and though the anxiety over a nuclear holocaust has been on the wane for three decades, the threat still lurks in missile silos in North Korea and at launch sites in India, Pakistan and Israel. And, of course, in the U.S., Russia, China and Europe. I hope no one is crazy enough to consider nuclear war as a viable option. Its a conflict that cant be won and should never be fought. But as weve been reminded in recent days, its still a danger that we face. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Across the world, girls are more likely than boys to blame academic failure on a lack of talent, according to a large study on gender stereotypes published Wednesday. Paradoxically, the idea that males are inherently more brilliant was most entrenched in countries that are more egalitarian. Such stereotypes have been explored in the past, but the new work, published in the journal Science Advances, has the advantage of encompassing 500,000 students across the world, making it possible to compare between countries. It used data from the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a study conducted every three years to learn more about the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in math, reading, and sciences. The 2018 survey included the sentence: "When I am failing, I am afraid that I might not have enough talent." The result: in 71 of the 72 countries studied, even when performance was equal, girls were more inclined to attribute their failures to a lack of talent than boys, who were likelier to blame external factors. The sole exception was Saudi Arabia. Contrary to what one may expect, the differences were most pronounced in wealthy nations. Within wealthy OECD countries, 61 percent of girls said they agreed with the statement, compared to 47 percent of boys - a difference of 14 percent. In non-OECD countries, the gap was still present, but the difference was just eight percent. The difference was also greater among higher-performing students compared to those of average performance. Glass ceiling "We have no perfect explanation" for this paradox, study co-author Thomas Breda, of CNRS and the Paris School of Economics, told AFP. But the apparent oddity has been observed before, for example in terms of self-confidence, and of boys being more likely to study sciences and math. It shows, according to Breda, that "as countries develop, gender norms do not disappear, but reconfigure themselves." One hypothesis is that countries with more freedom ultimately leave more room for individuals to fall back into old stereotypes. These countries are also very focused on individual success, and so place a greater premium on the notion of talent itself. In societies that don't assign as much value on talent, there's less room for people to apply stereotypes. The researchers further showed that there is a strong correlation between the idea of being less talented and three other indicators studied as part of the PISA survey. The less talented that girls believe they are compared to boys, the less confidence they have, the less they enjoy competition, and the less willing they are to work in male-dominated occupations such as information and communication technology. The three indicators are often cited as reasons that may contribute to the existence of the glass ceiling stopping women from accessing the highest positions. Taken together the result "suggests that the glass ceiling is unlikely to disappear as countries develop or become more gender-egalitarian," the authors said in the paper. A proposed solution: "Stop thinking in terms of innate talent," said Breda. "Success comes from learning through trial and error. If we deconstruct the concept of pure talent, we will also deconstruct the idea that girls are less naturally endowed with talent than boys." Ho Chi Minh City residents flocked to gas stations to fill up their vehicle on Thursday night, fearing fuel prices would soar the next day. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance are expected to adjust fuel prices at 3:00 pm on Friday, as per a new government decree on petroleum pricing that took effect on January 2. Accordingly, the two ministries will make changes to fuel prices three times a month - on the first, 11th, and 21st, or in 10-day cycles. Previously, prices were adjusted in 15-day cycles. The past six times since January 2, adjustments saw fuel prices sky-rocket. People buy gasoline at a filling station in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 10, 2022. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre Now, many people fear the newest adjustment will follow the trend, and many residents in Ho Chi Minh City rushed to gas stations to fill their vehicle tanks before Fridays change. People waited five to ten minutes for their turn at gas stations on Nguyen Thi Thap Street in District 7, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh and Dien Bien Phu Streets in Binh Thanh District, and Tran Nao Street in Thu Duc City. An employee at a gas station in District 7 said the wave of panic buying increased from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. People buy gasoline at a filling station in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 10, 2022. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre People wanted to fill their tanks in advance, as they fear a price increase, the employee said. "The station was busy all evening." It used to cost just VND50,000 [US$2.2] to fill my vehicle tank, said Tran Minh Tam, who earns a living as a rideshare driver. "Now it costs VND80,000 [$3.5]. "It could go even higher tomorrow. As gasoline prices surge, many rideshare drivers like me have had to think about finding new jobs. People buy gasoline at a filling station in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 10, 2022. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre "I dont know what else I can do so I have to accept it. "Today, I was told that gas prices would increase tomorrow so I will fill my vehicle tank in advance. "It will help a bit. A representative of a fuel wholesaler in Ho Chi Minh City explained that fear that gasoline prices will increase in alignment with global rates has prompted people to fill their tanks ahead of the price adjustment session. The representative added that gas prices may hit and even surpass VND30,000 ($1.3) per liter on Friday unless the governments stabilization fund is disbursed. People buy gasoline at a filling station in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, March 10, 2022. Photo: Ngoc Hien / Tuoi Tre People buy gasoline at a filling station in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, March 10, 2022. Photo: Ngoc Hien / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A large number of pine trees at a forest in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, have been chopped down and burned, with authorities stating that the culprits were trying to encroach on forestry land. The management board of Lam Ha Forest in the namesake district confirmed on Thursday that many pine trees had been destroyed over the past few months. The culprits chopped down the trees to encroach on land for forestry and occasionally set the forest on fire to erase any sign of their illegal logging, the board continued. Trees in the forest are used for the production of paper at Tan Mai Company, it added. The forest section is destroyed in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre The most recent deforestation took place at around 11:00 pm on February 26. Authorities in Nam Ban Town, Lam Ha District, in coordination with Tan Mai Company, tried to apprehend the suspects, but they managed to flee the scene as some of them were in charge of keeping watch. Officers found an excavator at the scene, along with 41 felled pine trees. The trunks of these pine trees were cut into small logs and brought to a coffee plantation about 20 meters from the scene. Pine trees are felled at Lam Ha Forest in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre After authorities took the excavator out of the forest, the culprits returned to the location at around 4:00 am on February 27 to burn the pine logs. Competent authorities later concluded that the deforestation had affected more than 1,300 square meters of the forest. They also discovered a new trail that leads to the affected forest section. Two similar cases also occurred at the forest section in January and February, affecting nearly 100 pine trees, which were about 20 years old, in an area of more than 1,400 square meters. A new trail leading to the affected forest section. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Ministry of Health has approved the importation of Evusheld, a drug developed by AstraZeneca to fight against COVID-19 infection by combining two long-acting monoclonal antibodies. The ministrys Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) has confirmed the licensing of the drug, which is the worlds first monoclonal antibody licensed to produce prophylactic medicine for COVID-19 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2021. Evusheld, which is administered intramuscularly, has been approved by the FDA for conditional use for adults and adolescents aged at least 12 years and weighing 40 kilograms or more. The medication, which needs to be preserved at minus eight to minus two degrees Celsius, has proven prevention efficacy for at least six months against the coronavirus, including the Omicron variant, the DAV said. Evusheld was developed from a mixed solution of two monoclonal antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab to prevent COVID-19 as well as severe disease progression in high-risk groups, including people with immunodeficiency, or those who are unqualified for vaccination. The human body will have the necessary amount of antibodies to protect against COVID-19, with up to 83 percent efficacy, just a few hours after Evusheld injection. No cases of severe illness or death were recorded during the follow-up period of six months post-injection in the PROVENT study by AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world remain at serious risk for COVID-19 because their immune systems do not generate a sufficient immune response, even after receiving all recommended doses of vaccine, Myron J. Levin, professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the U.S. and principal investigator on the last-stage trial of the drug, was quoted as saying on AstraZeneca's website. Evusheld is an easily administered new option that provides long-lasting protection that could help them return to their everyday lives." Dr. Ngo Quy Chau, president of the Vietnam Respiratory Society, said that many people with immunodeficiency, cancer, autoimmune arthritis, organ transplant or systemic diseases, among others are worried that their bodies fail to produce sufficient antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination. These people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and most of them live in anxiety while isolating themselves from society, Dr. Chau said. Monoclonal antibody therapies such as Evusheld will provide an extra layer of defense to increase protection for the high-risk group, while minimizing the risk of severe progression, hospitalization, and death, the doctor added. The first Evusheld shipment to Vietnam is expected to arrive at the end of this month, and the drug will reportedly be used first at the facilities of Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The coming batch is based on a contract for 20,000 doses signed with AstraZeneca by the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company on November 2, 2021, according to VnExpress. Since the pandemic erupted in Vietnam in early 2020, the Southeast Asian country has documented 5,260,495 COVID-19 infections, with 2,908,365 recoveries and 41,157 fatalities, the health ministry reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Cue the ukelele? Karl Stefanovic profiles Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in Sundays 60 Minutes. Frozen As Vladimir Putin continues to bombard Ukraine, the West has decided to strike the tyrant where it hurts. Governments around the world have determined that his Achilles heel is his hip pocket. Crippling economic sanctions have not only been imposed on Russia itself, but also the inner circle of multi-billionaire oligarchs who supposedly protect Putins power. Their superyachts and mansions, dotted around the playgrounds of the rich and famous, have been seized, and their bank accounts frozen. Its a tactic that appears to be working, with the Presidents pals now doing the unthinkable and turning on their leader. Reporter: Tom Steinfort Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Sheree Gibson The Second Coming Not everyone thinks Vladimir Putin is a dangerous megalomaniac. No less than former US President Donald Trump says the man responsible for so much death and destruction in Ukraine is a genius. Of course Trump has made a career out of being unorthodox, and it seems the more unpredictable he is, the more his supporters love him. So much so that Trump is seriously considering another tilt at the White House. And as Liam Bartlett discovered in a bruising encounter with one of Trumps loudest defenders, if he wins the Presidential race in 2024 the world will become a very different place. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Thea Dikeos Albo Thered be little argument from most fair-minded Australians that federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is a nice enough bloke. But where the discussion might heat up is over whether he has the ticker to take on the top job. Until now it has been difficult to tell because Albanese and his teams main strategy to win the soon-to-be-called election seems to be to let the increasingly unpopular Scott Morrison lose it. In all likelihood, being a small target is a smart ploy. But on 60 Minutes, Karl Stefanovic attempts to entice the real Albo out from the shadows. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic Producer: Lisa Brown 8:50pm Sunday on Nine. Former Chase host Andrew OKeefe has formally entered pleas of not guilty to assault and choke charges laid after he allegedly attacked a woman in January. OKeefe appeared via video link in Sydneys Central Local Court today. He entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, including intentionally choking a person without consent, three counts of common assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In the weeks after the arrest police laid a further charge after they found OKeefe with 1.5g of marijuana. He has pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a prohibited drug and is yet to be sentenced. Earlier this week a bail application was rejected in the NSW Supreme Court. The court was told has battled addictions to cocaine and ice, had wanted bail so he could attend a mental health rehabilitation facility, but the court was not satisfied with the three weeks proposed. His lawyer today requested a hearing date for a magistrate to probe the assault and choking allegations, set at July 18. OKeefe will also return to court for another hearing in June after he pleaded not guilty to breaching an apprehended violence order. Source: news.com.au Is SAS Australia the bluest show ever on television? Probably In the first episode this season, Seven censors were forced to bleep over the F word a total of 124 times. Thats a lot of f***ing language in a 7:30pm timeslot. The show is Rated M: The use of coarse language is permitted but aggressive or strong coarse language should be infrequent overall. But the bleeps would mean the coarse language was not broadcast. Its hard to think of another show that would come close to so many bleeps as SAS Australia. Gordon Ramsay was very liberal with the word, and The Block uses plenty of bleeps (including from a 7pm PG slot), but I doubt it has half this number. Seven has even gotten into the very blue mood with a first-ever press release that dropped the C*** word when quoting an argument between Locky Gilbert and Paul Fenech. Is it all too much for Sevens broad audience? Maybe. Every night the show is on a 7TWO episode of Doc Martin or Foyles War will float to the top of the multichannel heap. But the uncensored editions, available in all their blue glory, are available on 7Plus where the network is seeing a big lift in BVOD numbers. It returns 7:30pm Monday and Tuesday, f*** it. Former Empire star Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to five months in jail for concocting a hate crime hoax. After Smollett alleged two men attacked him late one night by his Chicago apartment, with anti-gay and racist slurs and a noose, he was later convicted on five out of six charges of disorderly conduct. Judge James Linn also ordered Smollett to pay $120,000 restitution to the city of Chicago, plus a $25,000 fine, and to serve 30 months of probation. The charges carried a maximum of three years in prison. Youve turned your life upside down by your misconduct and shenanigans. Youve destroyed your life as you knew it, Linn said. You wanted to get the attention and you were so invested in issues of social justice, and you knew this was a sore spot for everybody in this country You were throwing a national pity party for yourself. Linn also called him a charlatan, and said the crime had exposed a side of his personality that is profoundly arrogant and selfish and narcissistic. Youve turned yourself from riches to rags, Linn said. Your very name has become an adverb for lying. Once Linn issued the sentence, Smollett emphatically stated several times that he was not suicidal and suggested that if he were found dead, it would not be by his own hand. After the sentence was announced, Smollett stood up and said, I am innocent and I am not suicidal. Smollett continued to shout as he was led out of the courtroom and remanded to custody. If I did this it means I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans for over 400 years in this country, and the fears of the LGBT community, Smollett said. If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that. Smolletts attorneys asked that the jail term be stayed, but Linn denied the request. Smollett was written out of the final season of Empire after the hoax was uncovered. Source: Variety Tyler, TX (75702) Today Cloudy in the morning with isolated thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Lincoln, NE (68508) Today Cloudy early with showers for the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain. Low 49F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. By Lindsey Roth Was black death real? my 9-year-old daughter asks one day after school. I tell her yes. It was in her book of fairy tales, she explains. What nightmarish fairy tales did she stumble upon? I make a mental note to better monitor her Kindle downloads. Later, we choose a bedtime book - without fairy tales - to read with her little brother. She interrupts with her ruminations. Its scary to think about black death. Her brother quickly becomes frightened too. I reassure them that this happened centuries ago, before modern medicine. I know a little about bubonic plague from college, and so I tell them a bacteria called Yersinia pestis is the cause. We can now stop it with antibiotics. WaitYou can still get it? my daughter wails. Crap. I am just making things worse. Well, yes, but scarcely anyone does. Its spread through rat fleas. They live on rodents, not people. My son is eyeing our dog with suspicion. I tell him dogs dont carry rat fleas, and our dog hasnt got fleas anyway. It does not matter; he is now convinced the dog is a reservoir of black death. A while later, my daughter tiptoes into the darkened room where I sit with my almost sleeping son. Kids died in their sleep, she whispers. I ask my husband if he will keep her company. She thinks she is going to succumb to bubonic plague tonight, I say. He accepts this as a normal explanation and heads to her room. Through the wall, I hear him tell her, There are much bigger things to worry about. Like what? she cries. I dont have my phone, so I send him a telepathic message not to give a direct answer. He gets it, thank God. We are in the midst of a pandemic, but her young mind has so far failed to make the connection. In a culture that feeds us bad news before our morning coffee, we find ourselves teetering on a balance beam between providing reassurances and answering our kids questions truthfully. Then we are ambushed by worries like medieval pestilence, of all things. Id sometimes like to secure my children inside a fat roll of bubble wrap to keep the world from clobbering them, but I remind myself that loves swathe is more enduring. Well be right here, we tell them. It shouldnt be enough, but it is. We all sleep soundly and wake plague-free. After breakfast, the kids head out again to learn about the world. They will find more of its suffering, but we will always share its love with them upon return. It is both the least and the most we can do. Lindsey Roth Lindsey Roth was pretty sure that she was headed for a career as an author after writing a book about flying in first grade. Through her childhood years, she also thought about going into politics and then considered the more pragmatic profession of engineering. What actually happened was that she majored in biology at Saint Marys College in Indiana and then went to vet school at Purdue. After graduation, she moved to Dayton with her husband and started practicing veterinary medicine. They have two wonderful children, ages 9 and 7. She volunteers for the nature education program at their school. Lindsey married an engineer instead of becoming one, and her dream of becoming president faded in middle school; but she never abandoned that first-grade dream. Kids and work keep her busy these days, but for writing, there is always a moment or two to spare. File: Resident stands on marshy shore of a river polluted by oil spills at B-Dere, Ogoniland in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, on 23 August 2021 (AFP via Getty Images) Millions of people, including those from vulnerable and marginalised groups, are at the mercy of extremely contaminated sacrifice zones across the planet, a UN expert has warned. Sacrifice zones are places where residents suffer devastating physical and mental health consequences and human rights violations from living in pollution hotspots and heavily contaminated areas, David Boyd, the special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, explained. Vulnerable people across the world are, thus, facing a disproportionate burden of health, human rights and environmental consequences from such zones, explained Mr Boyd in a report presented on Thursday to the UN human rights council. Earlier, during the Cold War era, the phrase was used to describe areas with high and lasting levels of radiation from nuclear experiments conducted by countries such as the US, UK, and the Soviet Union, rendering these places uninhabitable. Now, such zones are the result of the ongoing, man-made climate crisis, according to Mr Boyd. He said unabated greenhouse gas emissions are causing different parts of the planet to continue to become uninhabitable because of extreme weather events or slow-onset disasters, including drought and rising sea levels. Living in these places is linked to a high prevalence of physical health problems such as respiratory illness, cancer, heart disease, strokes, reproductive health problems, as well as mental health problems, because people and communities residing in such areas feel exploited. The most heavily polluting and hazardous facilities, including open-pit mines, smelters, petroleum refineries, chemical plants, coal-fired power stations, oil- and gas fields, steel plants, garbage dumps and hazardous waste incinerators, as well as clusters of these facilities, tend to be located in close proximity to poor and marginalised communities, Mr Boyd noted. File: A boy walks past the flame from gas flares near Port Harcourt in the Niger delta region of Nigeria (Reuters) Citing various studies, the report said pollution and toxic substances led to at least 9 million premature deaths double the number of deaths inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic during its first 18 months. Story continues One in six deaths in the world involves diseases caused by pollution, three times more than deaths from Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined and 15 times more than from all wars, murders and other forms of violence, the UN expert noted. The report warned that the toxification of planet Earth is intensifying, adding that more than 750,000 workers die annually due to exposure to toxic substances, including particulate matter, asbestos, arsenic and diesel exhaust, on the job. Production of chemicals doubled between 2000 and 2017 and is expected to double again by 2030 and triple by 2050, Mr Boyd said, adding that this would lead to worsening health and environmental impacts unless ambitious, urgent, and worldwide collaborative action is taken by all stakeholders and in all countries. Citing examples of such sacrifice zones, he said Chemical Valley, in Sarnia, Ontario in Canada is one of the most notorious pollution hotspots in Canada where disturbing health effects on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation people have been documented. File: In this aerial photo taken on 4 October 2019, children (left) stand near a polluted sewage drain canal covered in garbage in a low-income neighborhood in New Delhi (AFP via Getty Images) Over 40 large petrochemical, polymer, oil-refining and chemical facilities, as well as a coal-fired power plant, are in close proximity to the indigenous people in the region with the community enduring some of the worst air quality in Canada. Physical and psychological health problems are common, including high rates of miscarriages, childhood asthma, and cancer, Mr Boyd added. In the US, he said Black communities such as Mossville, St Gabriel, St James Parish and St John the Baptist Parish, located in Louisianas Cancer Alley, home to more than 150 refineries and petrochemical plants, including the worlds largest producer of Styrofoam. Cancer Alley contains 7 of the 10 United States census tracts with the highest risk of cancer from air pollution. In 2020, air concentrations of cancer-causing chloroprene in St John the Baptist Parish were 8,000 times higher than the acceptable level established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, he added. In the African continent, the report said 95 per cent of children in Kabwe, Zambia suffer from elevated blood lead levels caused by lead mining and smelting, with the region named as one of the most polluted places on Earth. In Nigeria, Mr Boyd noted that people in the Niger Delta have lived with oil pollution and gas flaring for decades with the average life expectancy of its residents only 40 years, compared to 55 years for Nigeria as a whole. The majority of the worlds most polluted cities are in China and India, the report noted, adding that residents in Chinas Bayan Obo and the nearby city of Baotou have elevated levels of rare earth minerals lanthanum, cerium and neodymium in their blood, urine, and hair. In New Delhi, thick smog provoked a weeks-long closure of all schools in November 2021, with levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 20 times higher than the maximum daily limit recommended by WHO, the report noted. Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous & widespread disruptions in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world. Explore #ClimateReport @IPCC_CH https://t.co/ATfNRrubjn pic.twitter.com/3oZJraeqZb ipbes (@IPBES) March 9, 2022 The UN expert called for all states across the world to establish monitoring programmes, assess major sources of exposure and provide the public with accurate, accessible information about risks to health. Mr Boyd also called for all states to assess the potential environmental, social, health, cultural and human rights impacts of all plans, policies, projects and proposals that could foreseeably result in exposure to pollution or toxic substances. He stressed the need for all states to provide strong protection for environmental human rights defenders, vigilantly protect defenders from intimidation, criminalisation and violence and diligently investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of these crimes. A zero-pollution, non-toxic environment must be more than a slick slogan. It must be the vision that inspires Governments, businesses and citizens to make the systemic and transformative changes required to create a new generation of rights-based environmental laws, fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals and achieve a cleaner, greener, healthier future for all, the UN expert said. Todays environmental injustices must be rectified, and tomorrows prevented, he added. Roman Abramovichs superyachts are on the move as vessels owned by Russian elite sail away from sanctions A high-stakes game of cat and mouse is playing out in the high-seas as yachts owned by sanctioned Russian billionaires try to evade seizure. Under severe sanctions announced by the US and Europe, members of the Russian elite who have aided Putin in his invasion of Ukraine have been warned they will have assets frozen and property blocked from use. Solaris, a superyacht owned by Roman Abramovich, yesterday hit by UK sanctions, slipped out of Barcelona port on Wednesday afternoon where it was being maintained, and headed southeast. According to ship traffic data from Marine Traffic, the 430 million vessel was most recently tracked off the coast of Sicily as it joined a scramble of Russian-owned vessels hastily leaving European ports. Amore Vero: French authorities have seized an 88-metre yacht linked to Russian oligarch Igor Sechin (www.sale.ruyachts.com) The 458-ft yacht has several swimming pools, a helipad and an outdoor beach club. Its not even his biggest boat, an accolade that goes to the 533ft Eclipse which has a gym, a nightclub and can accommodate 62 guests and 50 crew. The Eclipse is also on the move, from the Caribbean island of St Maarten towards international waters. Last week French authorities announced they had seized an 88-metre luxury yacht Amore Vero linked to Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, who has been sanctioned by the UK, EU and US, in the port of La Ciotat. In Italy other Russian-owned yachts, were impounded in the countrys northern ports, while there were also claims Germany had seized the Dilbar, a 450m superyacht owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov who has also been sanctioned by all three blocs. The super-sized Dilbar includes a 25-metre swimming pool that holds an incredible 180 m of water, the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht. Authorities in the port city of Hamburg denied it had been confiscated, but Forbes has reported that its crew were fired due to US and EU sanctions. Dilbar: a 450m superyacht owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov which has the largest pool ever to have been installed on a yacht (REUTERS) Meanwhile a Ukrainian mechanic in Mallorca decided to take matters in his own hands and tried to sink the 157ft Lady Anastasia, a yacht owned by the CEO of a Russian arms exporter, Alexander Mikheev, in retaliation for the invasion. Mikheev is not currently on any sanctions list. Story continues Many oligarchs yachts are thought to have already set sail for safer places like the Carribean. Other safe spots include the Maldives, an Indian Ocean island nation with no extradition treaty with the United States. With port authorities on the lookout for luxury yacht flight risks, an army of social media users are getting involved in the search, using Marine Traffic to track vessels owned by those on the sanctions list. There is even a hashtag: # YachtWatch. The data shows that Titan, a 76m superyacht owned by billionaire Alexander Abramov, arrived in the Maldives last week from Turkey. Like Mikheev, Abramov does not appear on the sanctions list. The Titan: a 76m superyacht owned by steel magnate Alexander Abramov is in the Maldives (REUTERS) The UK authorities have not yet seized any vessels, but a Dutch cargo ship was turned away from Poole and Portsmouth this week due to concerns it might be carrying Russian-owned yachts. Ben McInnes, harbour master at Portsmouth International Port said it had received a last-minute request to receive the ship on Wednesday afternoon. We had been made aware that the ship had not been allowed in to Poole, as there were questions raised whether the cargo of yachts aboard were Russian owned. On this basis, the Deo Velonte was not allowed in to Portsmouth, in line with UK legislation. According to Marine Traffic, the cargo ship then docked at Cuxhaven in Germany, though it is unclear if the cargo was unloaded. Graceful: Putins yacht left Germany two weeks ago for Kaliningrad (REUTERS) The US president, Joe Biden, said last week the US was actively working to seize oligarchs assets including superyachts, luxury apartments and private jets, warning: We are coming for your ill-begotten gains. As for what is believed to be Putins own yacht, Graceful, it left Germany two weeks ago and is now safely back in the Russian port of Kaliningrad. By Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Russian, Ukrainian and Belarussian weapons makers will not take part in Malaysia's biennial arms show Defence Services Asia (DSA) this month amid the war in Ukraine, the fair's organiser said on Friday. The event, hosted by the Malaysian government, had received notice from the countries that they would be unable to attend, its executive director Nadzeem Abdul Rahman told Reuters, declining to elaborate on specifics for their withdrawal. He said it was "not easy" for them to take part, after strict sanctions were imposed by the United States and European Union on Russia and its ally Belarus following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a "special operation". "The reasons are fairly obvious - there are no flights here out of Ukraine, while Russia could be facing some issues with making financial transactions and payment for services," Nadzeem said by phone. The DSA will run for four days from March 28. The previous edition in 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. Malaysia has previously said it has no immediate intention of imposing sanctions against Moscow, though authorities last week blocked a Russian-flagged tanker targeted by U.S. sanctions from entering a Malaysian port. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty) By Steve Holland and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden on Friday took new steps along with U.S. allies to punish Russia economically over its invasion of Ukraine, targeting trade and shutting down development funds while also announcing a ban on imports of Russian seafood, vodka and diamonds. Biden also criticized voices in the United States clamoring for an active U.S. military presence in Ukraine or American backing of a "no-fly zone" to protect Ukrainians from Russian forces. "The idea that we're gonna send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews ...that's called World War Three, OK? Let's get it straight here, guys," Biden told Democrats in Philadelphia. "We will defend every inch of NATO territory, every single inch," including NATO members bordering Russia, Biden said. "Granted, if we respond it is World War Three, but we have a sacred obligation on NATO territory ... although we will not fight the Third World War in Ukraine." Biden said the economic moves collectively will deliver "another crushing blow" to Russia's economy, already weighed down by global sanctions that have cratered the rouble and forced the stock market to close. Biden again put the blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Putin is an aggressor. Putin is the aggressor. And Putin must pay a price," Biden said at the White House, noting he had earlier spoke by phone to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. At the White House, Biden joined fellow Group of Seven leaders in calling for revoking Russia's "most favored nation" trade status, which would allow G7 nations to increase tariffs and set quotas on Russian products. The U.S. Congress would need to pass legislation to revoke the trade status, and lawmakers recently have been moving in that direction. "We remain resolved to isolate Russia further from our economies and the international financial system," the G7 said in a statement. Story continues Trade made up about 46% of Russia's economy in 2020, much of that with China or linked to energy exports that European nations depend on for heat and electricity, making it unclear how deeply these moves will impact Russia's economy. Biden also banned the U.S. import of Russian vodka, seafood and diamonds. He warned that Russia would pay a "severe price" should it use chemical weapons against Ukraine. The United States has expressed fears that Russia could be paving the way for a chemical weapons attack, without citing evidence. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told reporters on Air Force One that if Russia is targeting civilians in Ukraine "that would be a war crime." Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation." Biden said the United States would add new names to a list of Russian oligarchs who are sanctioned, and ban the export of luxury goods to Russia. In a separate statement, the White House said Biden would ban U.S. investment in Russia beyond the energy sector, and that G7 nations would move to block Russia from funds from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. "Those are the latest steps we're taking but they're not the last steps we're taking." Biden said. The coordinated moves by the United States, Britain and other allies come on top of a host of unprecedented sanctions, export controls and banking restrictions aimed at pressuring Putin to end the largest war in Europe since World War Two. Russia on Thursday banned the export of telecom, medical, auto, agricultural, electrical and tech equipment, as well as some forestry products, in retaliation. The United States is expanding sanctions on Russia to include executives of sanctioned banks and Russian banker Yuri Kovalchuk, as well as Russian lawmakers. "Russia cannot grossly violate international law and expect to benefit from being part of the international economic order," the White House said in a statement. CAVIAR, HEAVY METALS Stripping Russia of its favored nation status paves the way for the United States and its allies to impose tariffs on a wide range of Russian goods. Russia is among the world's top exporters of oil, natural gas, copper, aluminum, palladium and other important commodities, and accounted for 1.9% of global trade in 2020. China is its biggest export destination. In the United States, removing Russia's "Permanent Normal Trade Relations" status would require congressional action but lawmakers in both chambers - and on both sides of the political aisle - have signaled their support. The White House will work with lawmakers on legislation to revoke Russia's status, administration sources said. In 2019, Russia was the 26th-largest goods trading partner of the United States, with some $28 billion exchanged between the two countries, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office. The ban on U.S. luxury exports to Russia and Belarus - including high-end watches, vehicles, clothes, alcohol and jewelry - takes effect immediately, the Commerce Department said in a separate statement as part of the effort to further isolate Moscow and its allies. A person familiar with the move said Biden's administration planned to ban the export to oligarchs of everything from cashmere and cosmetics to track suits, snow mobiles and sails. The United States imported $1.2 billion in Russian fish and shellfish in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, including sturgeon black caviar. America that year also imported from Russia $275 million worth of diamonds, and about $21 million in alcoholic beverages, according the Census Bureau. Top U.S. imports from Russia included mineral fuels, precious metal and stone, iron and steel, fertilizers and inorganic chemicals, all goods that could face higher tariffs once Congress acts to revoke Russia's favored nation trade status. (Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Philadelphia, Jason Lange, David Morgan and Alexandra Alper in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Bengalaru; Editing by Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell and Will Dunham) Ireland is facing an increased threat from cyber attacks since the invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Affairs Minister has warned. The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee heard from Simon Coveney on Thursday, who said the Irish Government was taking precautions against potential cyber attacks. His appearance comes amid the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, with Ireland poised to potentially take in tens of thousands of refugees. Taoiseach Micheal Martin was in Versailles in France on Thursday for an informal meeting of the European Council. Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking ahead of the meeting he said investment in defence and security across Europe would be discussed as well as economic resilience and energy dependency. He described a very grave situation across Europe because of the war. Earlier Mr Coveney told TDs and senators: There is an increased cyber threat in our assessment. And we are taking the the appropriate precautions in relation to that in terms of a heightened sense of awareness and concern in that space, Mr Coveney told TDs and senators. The Foreign Affairs minister, responding to a question from Fine Gael TD David Stanton, also indicated that Ireland is currently preparing to send defence equipment to Ukraine. The country has already signed up to an EU-wide fund to provide arms and equipment to Ukraine, although Ireland as a militarily neutral nation has already committed to providing non-lethal equipment only. Mr Coveney said: Were also looking to see what actual gear we can provide as well. Were making some decisions on that actually shortly having looked at what we have that is spare and available. And youd be surprised theres not as much as you might think. But there is some military defence equipment that I think would be useful and were making decisions on that actually as we speak today. And well get it to Ukraine as quickly as we can. Mr Coveney began his brief appearance at the committee by condemning the unconscionable attack on a maternity and childrens hospital in Mariupol. Story continues This event speaks directly to the need for international pressure to be brought to bear, so that this senseless conflict can be halted, he told politicians. That is an outrageous act of aggression that cannot go unchecked and we will, as I believe many other countries will as well, ensure there is accountability through all the legal mechanisms available and the legal entities available globally, to to respond to atrocities like that. However, Mr Coveney was less than certain about the likelihood of Vladimir Putin appearing before the International Criminal Court (ICC) to answer for alleged war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. The ICC has already announced that an investigation has begun into the situation in Ukraine and any possible war crimes. Im a big supporter of the ICC. So is Ireland. But there are lots of powerful countries who arent and so its really important that this process has begun and in terms of gathering of information and evidence and so on. Whether it will actually result in a prosecution of a President Putin remains to be seen, he said. Mr Coveney did not rule out the possibility of further sanctions being imposed on Russia by the EU. The key priority now is the rapid and effective implementation of all of sanctions agreed to date. Discussions will also continue at EU level on possible additional sanctions, he said. The implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for all of us in Europe, are profound. Every part of Government is working intensely, he said. Stressing that Ireland is playing a key role in the global moves to resist Russian aggression in Europe, he said that it was vital that civilians are protected as the conflict continues. Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney (Brian Lawless/PA) Whatever is agreed, or not agreed on humanitarian corridors or other measures civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. This applies both to those who choose to leave and those who choose to remain. It is a core obligation under international humanitarian law. Mr Coveney also said that around 45 Irish citizens remain in Ukraine, while 157 have left the country. He added that the country remains a welcoming place to Russian and Belarusians and had no issue with the citizens of either country. He went on: The Russian and Belarusian communities in Ireland are part of the fabric of this nation and it is important that we continue to show them that they are welcome here, just as we will for the many Ukrainians now seeking refuge here with us in Ireland. Mr Coveney was also quizzed on reports that the Irish ambassador to Russia, Brian McElduff, was summoned by the Russian authorities in Moscow. In terms of of our ambassador in Moscow, Im not going to go into conversations that have happened between the ambassador and authorities in Moscow apart from to say its not that unusual when theres tension, for our ambassador abroad to be called in by a foreign office in another country. Its happened in Israel many times, he said. He was asked in, after the incident in the Russian embassy here in Dublin, which was an unfortunate incident actually, because its distracted away from some of the core messages that we need to be delivering. But that was not an unexpected conversation. And Im not overly surprised by it at all. Mr Coveney repeatedly expressed his admiration for the proactive response of the EU and the warm welcome Ukrainian refugees have received. The generosity of the response has just been breathtaking as far as Im concerned. I mean, the most difficult issue, politically, in the European Union for the last 10 years has been migration. We couldnt agree on anything in terms of how to deal with migration, how to burden share in the EU, how countries in northern and western Europe could support countries in the south that were being impacted by significant numbers of migrants and asylum seekers coming from North Africa and the Middle East and so on. And within the space of 48 hours, the EU effectively signed off on a temporary protection mechanism, which essentially allowed an unlimited number of Ukrainians to come into the EU, anywhere in the EU, and effectively be treated as EU citizens. The response from countries that are highly sensitive politically, to migration, generally, like Hungary, Slovakia and Poland in particular over the last number of years, have just set all of that aside, he said. After four and a half years and nearly two weeks of testimony, the jury found Dabrett Black guilty of capital murder for the murder of Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Damon Allen who he shot with a hunting rifle on Thanksgiving Day in 2017 after being pulled over for a traffic stop. Black was sentenced to life in prison without parole and has 30 days to appeal the decision. Before the final verdict was read at the Brazos County Courthouse in Bryan, the defense and prosecution had the opportunity to present their closing statements to the jury. Freestone County District Attorney Brian Evans reminded the jury of several testimonies such as DPS trooper Matthew Poole, who had pulled up to the scene where Allens body lay in a pool of blood with Blacks name on Allens patrol car computer; and that of Texas Ranger Jason Bobo, who discussed the evidence and the fatal shot that pierced through Allens drivers side window; and Magnolia Police Sgt. Stephen Tucker, who stopped Black in Waller County. Evans said Black is someone who was afraid of consequences, who didnt want to go back to jail over outstanding warrants, who calculated what his answers would be and when asked by a Texas Ranger if he had another gun upon his arrest said that if he had another gun hed come out shooting. Whos the victim in this case? Is it Dabrett Black? Absolutely not its Damon Allen, its Kasey Allen, Damons mom and dad, sister, his kids, those are the victims in this trial, Evans said. Everywhere Dabrett Black goes he creates victims. Defense Attorney Suzanne Anderson asked the jury to remember that there are two sides to the story. Anderson said Black was from a poor family but relatively happy, he looked out for his friends and even avoided trouble. He joined the military where he served three tours as a truck driver in Iraq and was in constant danger from mortars, IEDs and insurgents. During his service career Black watched a friend lose his legs to an IED and suffered a head injury from a collision caused by the driver of a heavy equipment transporter, Anderson said. Anderson said Black suffers from PTSD, hypervigilance, a traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia, which multiple expert witnesses testified to. After his military service concluded, Anderson said Black saw over 50 specialists in a 15-month period without any successful treatment. Blacks paranoia even caused him to believe he had a chip planted in his head that the government used to keep him under constant surveillance, Anderson said. Black felt threatened when he saw Pooles vehicle heading in his direction during the traffic stop, Anderson said. When Dabrett choose to fight on November 23, 2017, he was listening to his schizophrenia, he was listening to his TBI, he was listening to his PTSD and all of those told him that he needed to survive and on November 23, 2017, that was the condition of his mind, Anderson said. A victims impact panel was held after Black was sentenced where Allens children shared a few words. Allens son told Black hes had to watch his mother cry on a daily basis and his sister had nightmares for the first year after their fathers death, but despite his heinous and unnecessary action he no longer hates him. Allens daughter told Black everything went downhill after her fathers death, but she no longer hates him. Evans said nothing will bring Allen back, but he thinks the conclusion of the trial will bring resolution to everyone involved such as law enforcement, the family and the Freestone County community. Every case that involves capital murder involves a tremendous loss to both families the defendant or defendants as well as the family of the victim or victims, prosecutor Lisa Tanner said. This was compounded greatly because of the military aspect of it. I feel terrible for (Blacks) family, but that doesnt change what we have to do as a society and what we can and cannot accept as a society. Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley said he felt a sense of relief once the verdict was read and is proud of the work prosecutors and all of the law enforcement officers and agencies that assisted in the case. Shipley thanked the Brazos County jurors, the sheriffs office and their deputies, jailers and courthouse personnel. What I cant fathom is the families overwhelming feelings and emotions at this time. Over four long years later, the justice system did its job, Shipley said. We let the judge do his job, let the lawyers do their jobs, let the jurors do what theyre appointed to do. The verdict is guilty, and Im proud for the family that has endured so much. Neither Allens family nor Blacks defense team chose to comment afterward. Lenten fish fry: St. Joseph St. Joseph Catholic Parish will have its Lenten fish fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m., or until sold out, every Friday through April 8 at 9656 Elk Road in Elk. Plates cost $12 and are available for dine-in or to-go. Lenten fish fry: Westphalia Westphalia Knights of Columbus Council No. 13902 will have a drive-thru shrimp and fish fry from 3:30 to 7:15 p.m., or until sold out, Friday in the drive-thru lane behind the Westphalia Parish Hall, 3000 State Highway 320 in Westphalia. Plates cost $12 and are available to-go only. Lenten fish fry: KOC 1358 The Knights of Columbus Council No. 1358 will have a fish fry from 5 to 8 p.m. every Friday during Lent, except Good Friday, at 5515 Sanger Ave. Plates cost $10 and are available for dine-in or to-go. For information call, 254-744-9771. Waco Calligraphy Guild Waco Calligraphy Guild will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 800 N. New Road. Amy Taylor will present a program on stamp carving. Participants will learn about basic tools and supplies needed, then carve some basic shapes. For more information, call 254-848-4165. Waco Aglow at courthouse Waco Aglow will meet to pray at 10 a.m. Saturday at the McLennan County Courthouse, 501 Washington Ave. For more information, call 254-495-7872. Dr Pepper convention The 37th annual Dr Pepper Collectors Convention & Swap Meet will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Brazos Room of the Waco Hilton, 113 S. University Parks Drive. The event is free to the public and will offer an opportunity to obtain Dr Pepper collectibles from dealers from around the country. There will also be a silent auction. Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com. Two years since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 situation a pandemic on March 11, 2020, only a high vaccination rate will stop the cycle that keeps generating new variants, health experts said. The newest strain of the virus considered a variant of concern by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is BA.2, a subvariant of the omicron strain that burned through McLennan County, causing infections at an unprecedented pace and killing more than 100 residents since it took over in December. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, BA.2 made up 6.4% of cases statewide in the week of Feb. 20 to Feb. 26, the most recent available. That is up from 4.9%, 2% and 1% in the preceding three weeks. The subvariant is considered more transmissible than the omicron variant, but it is too early to tell if it will pose a similar threat, said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, co-director of the Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and professor at Baylor University. The scientific community is divided, because (COVID-19 cases) did go up, Hotez said. Its sort of unpredictable, because BA.2 is causing cases to go up in the United Kingdom and Denmark, but not elsewhere. Hotez said his bigger concern is that a new variant will emerge and begin spreading rapidly in summer, repeating the cycle Texas went through in 2020 and again in last year with the delta variant. Were closing in on 90,000 deaths in Texas from COVID-19, and I would imagine that until we get better vaccination coverage, we could easily hit 100,000 deaths in Texas, he said. The delta variant was first detected in India, and omicron was first found in South Africa and Botswana, all countries with low vaccination rates, he said. As long as we fail to vaccinate the worlds low- and middle-income countries, were going to spin up new variants, Hotez said. Hotez said Texas Childrens Hospital developed a low-cost vaccine specifically for lower income countries with the intention of breaking that deadly cycle, but deadly misinformation, conspiracy theories and wide distrust of scientists and doctors in Texas also pose significant dangers. We dont think of that, but as a social force its as deadly as nuclear proliferation or cyberattacks or global terrorism, he said. 'Self-immolation' He said about 30,000 COVID-19 deaths in Texas occurred after vaccines became available to the general public, making up more than a third of the total. About 54% of residents age 5 or older in McLennan County are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19, compared to 64% statewide and 69% nationwide. I dont know what youd call that anymore, Hotez said. Its not even misinformation or disinformation, its a form of self-immolation thats been so awful. Hotez is working on a book about the anti-vaccination movement and misinformation throughout the pandemic with the working title Anti-Science Kills, delving into misinformation in general. He became personally familiar with an element of the movement as he started receiving hate mail and death threats after becoming a regular on COVID-19 panels and in COVID-19 press coverage. He said those messengers are often anti-Semitic, homing on the fact he is Jewish. One memorable message claimed an army of patriots would hunt him down. Hotez said the growth of the anti-vaccination movement over the last decade in Texas is now haunting the state in the form of low vaccine uptake, and he is particularly worried this pandemic will lay the groundwork for more widespread vaccine refusal, even for now-rare childhood diseases. The trend of open hostility toward health care workers, plus overall burnout after two years on the front lines, is also driving workers out of the field at an alarming rate, he said. How were going to address keeping the health care workforce robust is going to be really problematic, he said. Weve lost so many nurses and other health care professionals, so how we train that next generation is going to be important as well. Hotez said at this stage in the pandemic, the booster-shot rate is the true measure of how many people in a population have meaningful immunity against the virus. Were seeing that protection against omicron after two doses wanes really quickly, he said. So theres a lot of warm water for the hurricane to pass through still. Cases low locally In McLennan County, just 46,686 residents have received a booster dose, compared to the 129,509 considered fully vaccinated. Though concern over another variant looms, cases have been on the decline locally since a peak in mid- to late January, and the countys rolling 7-day average for new cases per day has been fewer than 20 for the past week. During this slower moment in the pandemic, the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District is in the process of hiring two more health educators and an adult immunization coordinator to support the vaccination effort, along with a new spokesperson, Sarah Coleman, to replace Kelly Craine, who retired in January. Director LaShonda Malrey-Horne said the new positions were funded by COVID-19 relief money the department received. While we have been in a lull in vaccine uptake, were hoping to see the efforts from this new staff really impact uptake, Malrey-Horne said. Since Feb. 1, only 2,320 residents of the county have been added to the fully vaccinated tally of 129,509. In the first 10 days of March, only 372 have been added. According to covidwaco.com, vaccine uptake in Waco is lowest in the 76704, 76705, 76706, 76707 and 76708 ZIP codes, which are largely majority-minority ZIP codes and rural areas. Malrey-Horne said the surge in delta variant cases coincided with an increase in vaccine doses per week, and the omicron variant brought a brief increase in the pace of vaccination as well, but younger adults and children still lag behind older adults in vaccine uptake, which is especially dangerous because of how quickly the virus can spread through workplaces and classrooms. In the initial phases of the pandemic it was impacting seniors really hard, Malrey-Horne said. Well, now we need to double back and make sure we get young adults vaccinated, and anyone over the age of 5. She said the health district will also focus more heavily on contacting and scheduling people for second doses and booster shots. Building protections The health district plans to use some federal relief money to assess health disparities in McLennan County, finding the groups most heavily affected, focusing on education and building in protections for the next pandemic. She said that effort will start with listening sessions throughout Waco where public health workers will collect firsthand accounts of what the pandemic did to local families. Malrey-Horne said Texas Department of State Health Services officials have told the health districts epidemiology team that as of now, the state agency has no reason to believe the new subvariant BA.2 has come to McLennan County. For now, the most pressing issue for the local staff is the same burnout health care workers throughout the country are struggling with, she said. Its been a long two years, and weve all had to work differently, Malrey-Horne said. Everybody from our environmental health team to our WIC teams to the HIV group, so were working at trying to make sure we take care of ourselves. She said some of the changes made to adapt to the pandemic have made the department more efficient and will stay in place. The WIC staff, which administers the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, now works out of a van parked outside that ended up saving parents time and increasing the number of people served each day. Malrey-Horne said the pandemic also thrust health departments statewide into the spotlight, increasing the number of people who know how to find them and access their regular services. Waco Mayor Dillon Meek said there are other pandemic-related changes the city will keep going forward. While preventive measures like plastic wrap around playgrounds were short-lived, a small business loan program created by the city and public education strategies developed on the fly for the pandemic will likely be fixtures, along with a vaccine ambassador program the health district used to reach people who were on the fence about getting the shot, Meek said. I think the city really worked together to learn from one another about the best course of action that we need to take in different spheres, and tried to balance all the different concerns like health and safety, hospital capacity, our local economy, financial security and mental health, Meek said. And that made for really hard decision points along the way, particularly early on when there was so little we knew about it. Im just so proud of our city working together. He said he tried to urge residents to do the same and listen to their own doctors, or other experts they trust, when it came to questions of whether to get vaccinated. I think trust is earned with trustworthy behavior and time, Meek said. And our city has worked so hard to build trust in our community. I know its fragile, but that is something that I think that weve tried to maintain, and well keep trying to do. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MARIUPOL, Ukraine Civilians trapped inside Mariupol desperately scrounged for food and fuel as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the port city Thursday, while satellite photos showed that a massive Kremlin convoy that had been mired outside the Ukrainian capital split up and fanned out into towns and forests near Kyiv. International condemnation escalated over an airstrike in Mariupol a day earlier that killed three people at a maternity hospital, with Western and Ukrainian officials calling the attack a war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian refusal to permit evacuations from the port city amounted to "outright terror." Meanwhile, the highest-level talks held since the invasion began two weeks ago yielded no progress, the number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and Kyiv braced for an onslaught, its mayor boasting that the capital had become practically a fortress protected by armed civilians. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed that a 40-mile convoy of vehicles, tanks and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported, with artillery pieces in firing positions nearby. The convoy had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the frigid city, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Nighttime temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. "They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor. Grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied days ago by people breaking in to get supplies, according to a local official with the Red Cross, Sacha Volkov. A black market is operating for vegetables, meat is unavailable, and people are stealing gasoline from cars, Volkov said. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. "They want to destroy the people of Mariupol. They want to make them starve," Vereshchuk said. "It's a war crime." All told, some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. "You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes," Zelenskyy said in a video address. "And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens everyone whom you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children." Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. "We will overcome them," he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create "certain challenges." In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people half the population of the metropolitan area have left the capital. "Every street, every house is being fortified," he said. "Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands." Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Putin's forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraine's cities. French President Emmanuel Macron called the hospital attack "a shameful and immoral act of war." Britain's Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, "it is a war crime." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraine's neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, "The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as "pathetic shrieks" from Russia's enemies, and denied Ukraine had even been invaded. Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held talks in a Turkish resort in their first meeting since the invasion. The two sides discussed a 24-hour cease-fire but made no progress, Kuleba said. He said Russia still wanted Ukraine to surrender but insisted that will not happen. Lavrov said Russia is ready for more negotiations, but he showed no sign of softening Moscow's demands. As heartbreaking and unimaginable images, videos and reports flood out of war-torn Ukraine, comparisons to World War II Europe are impossible to avoid. Thousands of families sleeping underground in subway stations, cramming onto outbound trains, air-raid sirens the new normal, beautiful buildings that once lit up a cosmopolitan city now shelled and hollowed out. More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine because of Vladimir Putins deadly invasion. According to the United Nations, its the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the Nazis tried to take over the continent. It was hard not to see this coming. Putin, if youve spent any time monitoring his activities in Syria over the past several years, is capable of truly grim and ghoulish violence, even against the most vulnerable. That war has seen the death of tens of thousands of children, thanks in no small part to Putins assistance. Having covered other wars and humanitarian crises, theres something else I know without question: This war in Ukraine, and the refugee crisis it is already creating, will take a disproportionate toll on women. This week, as we think about what International Womens Day means, its hard not to think about the superficiality of these monikers. Sure, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women sounds great, but millions of women in Ukraine are hiding in bunkers, taking up arms to defend their country, fleeing with their children, displaced in countries with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many will die. Over the course of numerous humanitarian and refugee crises like the one unfolding in Ukraine, report after report has shown that women are hit hardest, and in ways men often are not. A U.N. Global Humanitarian Overview released in 2019 showed that these conflicts exacerbate gender inequalities, particularly against women and girls. At least one in five women refugees has experienced sexual violence, including unwanted pregnancies, child marriage and other deleterious effects. In many conflict settings, sexual violence is being employed as a tactic of war, a horrific reality seen most prominently among the 700,000 Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh, where women were systematically raped by Myanmar Armed Forces and local militias. In Syria, where there are more Syrians displaced and living outside of Syrian than inside, girls and young women survive child marriage, sexual assault, family violence all of which is harder to monitor and stop among refugee populations. Even when women can stay in their home country and survive the worst of the military assault, many still feel like prisoners. One Syrian girl told the U.N. Populations Fund that life quickly became an open-air prison after the war. Suddenly we were told not to leave our houses because we might get harassed, raped or kidnapped. In Afghanistan, 80% of the Afghans forced to flee Taliban takeover were women and children, according to the U.N. While Afghanistan had U.S. and NATO troops keeping the Taliban at bay, life expectancy of Afghan women grew by 10 years. Maternal death rates were cut in half. More than half of the girls attended primary school. Under Taliban rule, there are reports of women being whipped in public, girls are no longer taught in the same classes as boys, and they are now under the rule of a ministry for the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice. Its also widely evidenced that girls in conflict settings like war zones and refugee camps are more likely to be out of school than boys. School-related gender-based violence in conflict situations rises. School-aged girls are often used as bargaining chips. Remember the 200 Nigerian school girls kidnapped in April of 2014. War takes a toll on everyone. The future that awaits Ukrainian refugees the vast majority of whom are women and children is uncertain to say the least. Refugee camps, as vital and lifesaving as they can be, are not good, long-term solutions for women and girls in particular. And for those who stay for what may be months of war in Ukraine, or what may become Russian-held Ukraine, the future is potentially even more grim for women and girls. Just ask those who stayed in Syria, as the bombing and airstrikes continue, 11 years later. This illegal invasion of a sovereign nation is already an immense tragedy, and it will only get worse, especially for women and girls. On International Womens Day, its hard to celebrate. Instead, we fear for what lies ahead. S.E. Cupp is the host of S.E. Cupp Unfiltered on CNN. A political commentator and longtime conservative, she is author of Losing Our Religion: The Liberal Medias Attack on Christianity and co-author of Why Youre Wrong About the Right: Behind the Myths. 10/9c The Reagan family dinner carries a bit more symbolic weight this week, when the enduring dynastic police drama marks its milestone 250th episode. Its not a happy time for Commissioner Frank (Tom Selleck) and his staff, guilt-ridden when a detective they worked with at 1PP is shot after Frank transferred her out of the team. Daughter Erin (Bridget Moynahan) has her own issues, suspecting an ulterior motive when Anthony (Steven Schirripa) is promoted to DA Special Investigative Unit supervisor. Sounds like there will be a lot to discuss as the Reagans break bread at Sunday dinner. Series Premiere Samuel L. Jackson is mesmerizing as the title character in Walter Mosleys six-part adaptation of his 2010 novel. Ptolemy is first seen as an old man living in a fearful haze of dementia, surrounded by filth and ghosts of a turbulent past. An experimental drug restores his memories, bringing back Ptolemys swagger and a desire to make a difference by solving the murder of his great-nephew. Dominique Fishback provides emotional support as the caregiver who comes to admire the new/old Ptolemy, although they both know this reprieve of lucidity will be short-lived. (See the full review.) Season Finale The fourth season of the frenetic Emmy-winning period comedy closes with two jam-packed episodes that take pioneering stand-up comic Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) all the way to Carnegie Hall. Not as a headlineryetbut give it time. Along the way, there will be a family emergency, an unexpected twist when magician Alfie (Gideon Glick) takes the stage, a gig with political implications, a tryst or two and a climactic wake-up call that leaves us hopeful for Midges prospects in the fifth and final season. Movie Premiere Directed by Shawn Levy (Free Guy) and starring Ryan Reynolds in an emotional time-travel fantasy adventure in which a pilot flies back to his past, teaming with his younger self (Walker Scobell) and reuniting with his late father (Mark Ruffalo) to save the future. Look out also for the premiere of Pixars animated Turning Red (streaming on Disney+). It is a whimsical parable of puberty in which 13-year-old Mei (Rosalie Chang) turns into a giant red panda whenever her adolescent anxiety overwhelms her, which is often. Billie Eilish and FINNEAS wrote three songs for the score. Special 9/8c Diane Sawyer returns to the newsmagazine with a follow-up nearly a quarter-century after her exclusive interview with Rio DiAngelo, a member of the Heavens Gate cult who left before the 1997 mass suicide that claimed 39 lives. Sawyer interviews DiAngelo again in a two-hour special The Cult Next Door that includes never-seen tapes and audio recordings of cult leader Marshall Applewhite and his followers, who believed a UFO would carry them to a higher plane of existence. Two survivors of the cult also share their story for the first time. More true crime on Dateline NBC (9/8c, NBC): Reporter Andrea Canning reports on the mystery surrounding Sarm Heslop, a British woman who disappeared from her boyfriends luxury yacht in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2021. Inside Friday TV: NORTH PLATTE -- SkyWest Airlines said Thursday it intends to drop federally subsidized air service to 29 U.S. airports, including those in North Platte, Scottsbluff and Kearney. The St. George, Utah, carrier blamed an ongoing lack of pilots due to COVID-19 in filing a 90-day notice of intent to terminate Essential Air Service with the U.S. Department of Transportation. That period would expire June 10, although North Platte Airport Manager Sam Seafeldt said the Department of Transportation is expected to order SkyWest to keep up its service while it seeks a new air carrier. Customers should know theres no immediate change in flight schedules, Seafeldt said. Thursdays notice marks the very beginning of a long process. But I personally was surprised by this. I thought we could do more adjustments to the schedule and other options. Im basically disappointed. SkyWest had announced last month that it would temporarily drop two of its 12 weekly round-trip flights for the same reason cited in its Thursday notice. Although SkyWest Airlines would prefer to continue providing scheduled air service to these cities, the pilot staffing challenges across the airline industry preclude us from doing so, the carriers notice said. SkyWest took over North Plattes essential air service on Feb. 1, 2018, flying 50-seat jets as United Express between Lee Bird Field and Denver International Airport. Its service was a near-immediate success, with regional passengers regularly filling its planes after more than three decades of rocky service from a succession of subsidized carriers. Though SkyWests boardings fell after COVID-19 arrived in March 2020, were at pre-pandemic levels again, Seafeldt said. SkyWest officials said over and over (that) its not about any specific community, he said. This is purely their pilot shortage, and theyre not able to keep going with essential air service routes. Besides the three Nebraska cities, SkyWests notice included plans to drop essential air service to various airports in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its third week Thursday. A Russian forces moved on Kyiv. U.S. aid seems assured. A U.S. basketball star remains jailed in Russia. Get the latest. WATERLOO A New York man has been arrested after he allegedly went to banks in Waterloo and Cedar Falls and tried to withdraw money using fake IDs. And police said he is wanted in two other states for a similar scheme. Vincent Herman Herbert, 60, of Bronx, New York, was arrested Wednesday for second-degree theft and two counts of identity theft. Bond was set at $12,000. Authorities allege Herbert had a fraudulent Tennessee drivers license under a different name when he entered Regions Bank at 224 W. Ridgeway Ave., Waterloo, around noon. He withdrew $5,000 from the persons bank account and left, according to court records. Herbert later showed up at the Regions Bank at 4417 University Ave. in Cedar Falls and used a different fake ID in the name of another Tennessee man in an attempt to withdraw money from an account, police said. Bank officials became suspicious and called police, and officers were able to determine his true identity. When he was detained, Herbert didnt have the money from the earlier withdrawal, court records state. Police said Herbert has arrest warrants in Indiana and Florida for similar identity theft crimes. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TAMA A federal jury has found a Tama man guilty of having sex with a girl. Jurors convicted Stephen Christopher Albert, 50, of sexual abuse by threat and force and one count of sexual abuse of a minor in a verdict handed down Tuesday following three days of trial. Authorities allege that from the summer of 2012 to October 2016, Albert sexually assaulted a girl on the Meskwaki Settlement. The sexual assaults took place in various homes on the settlement as well as at Alberts place of employment, according to prosecutors. Tama police arrested Albert in April 2021. Albert faces a possible life sentence, and sentencing will be at later date. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Emily K. Nydle and was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department, the Tama City Police Department and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court records show that Albert pleaded to related state charges connected to the abuse in 2021 and was sentenced to up to five years in prison. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO The city will ban parking on a street that has become a free-for-all for tractor-trailers, though some worry it will lead to more parking on side streets. Greyhound Drive, which has in recent years served as the overflow of semi parking from nearby Loves Travel Stop, will no longer allow parking on either side at any time, the City Council decided unanimously on Monday. The parking, which clogs the street, has become a safety issue, according to Sandie Greco, the citys traffic operations director, who noted trucks park there all hours of the day and night. There is a visibility concern for vehicles and trucks safety turning onto Greyhound from driveways and intersecting streets, she wrote in a council memo. The council unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance to ban parking along both sides of Greyhound Drive in September, but declined to waive the second and third readings, which would immediately have put the ordinance on the books. Council members said they preferred to wait and work with Loves as well as developer Harold Youngblut, who owns land in the area. The council passed the second and third readings Monday night, adopting the ordinance and putting it into immediate effect. Im great with semis not being able to park there because, No. 1, safety issues, and No. 2, the trash, Youngblut told the council. But Councilor Dave Boesen worried truckers needing someplace close to stop for the night would instead make use of side streets like Athens and Cyclone Drive. Those streets are a lot narrower than Greyhound, Boesen said. I think were going to move the problem. Greco noted a plan to address the problem on side streets would be brought back to council in the near future, without elaborating. In other business, the council: Unanimously approved the sale of property for $1 and a $250,000 development agreement with Top Notch Tile and Construction to construct a 4,800 square-foot building along the east side of the newly constructed Warp Drive. The agreement specifies the potential future construction of another 7,200 square-foot building in Phase 2, as well as the option to construct two other commercial buildings of 4,800 and 7,200 square feet each in a third and fourth phase. Per the agreement, Top Notch must begin construction of Phase 1 within six months and complete it within 14 months, and must reach a minimum actual value of $250,000. In exchange for completing Phase 2 within 12 months, the city will provide 50% tax rebates for the first five years above and beyond that $250,000 value. Phase 3 and 4, if built, could also be eligible for rebates, said Planning Director Noel Anderson. The business, owned by Justin Schmitz of Waterloo, will be the first along Warp Drive, adding to the Waterloo Air and Rail Park, which has 400 acres and access to the Canadian National rail line and the Waterloo Regional Airport. Heard a preliminary plan about expanding the riding area for electric scooters to include areas north of Franklin Street. The scooters, owned and operated by national companies Bird and Helbiz and allowed in Waterloo since last June, have been something fun to do downtown, said Jessica Rucker, director of Main Street Waterloo. Theres more to the scooters, though, Rucker said, noting for some, they are necessary transportation. In discussions with stakeholders, Rucker identified areas of the Walnut Neighborhood where scooters would be allowed. Two plans were devised one that would add an area bordered by East Fourth, Dane and Clay streets, and another that would expand even further to East Fourth, Newell and east of Highway 63. The larger option would really connect Sullivan Park to downtown, especially with the Veterans Way project, Rucker said, noting she was in conversations with the two scooter companies. Councilor Nia Wilder, a frequent scooter rider last summer, said she would appreciate being able to cross Franklin and travel further. But she and others also worried about riders crossing the train tracks near the rail yard, wondering whether the companies could force riders off the scooters to walk them across the tracks instead. Itll be a good question to find out, Mayor Quentin Hart said. We cant be the only place with railroad tracks. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO A Thursday night fire that engulfed a queue building at the Lost Island Theme Park wont delay the parks 2022 opening, according to the parks owners. The fire destroyed a partially enclosed building designed to shelter patrons while they wait in line for the Yuta Falls log flume. It will delay the opening of the flume ride in particular, but the rest of the park was undamaged by the fire, so it will have no impact on our expected opening date, said Eric Bertch, a spokesman for the Bertch family, which is building the park on Shaulis Road across the existing Lost Island Water Park. The park is on track to open in May, Bertch said. The cause of the fire hasnt been determined and is under investigation by the city fire marshal. Bertch noted that the building had electrical service and contained kerosene heaters that were in use to cure concrete plaster work that was recently poured. Concrete doesnt dry real well when its 20 degrees or below. We are speculating that it was probably the temporary heaters that caught something, Bertch said. The structure was one of several queue buildings that will contain murals and storyline elements. The fire damaged a flume ride control panel and loading platform that already had been installed. That will result in a delay while a replacement is found. But Bertch said the fire could have been worse. There was a lot of panic on the way here, and when we recognized which building it was, it was kind of a relief. If we had to choose a building to catch fire, of all the buildings in the park this would have best one for it to happen to, Bertch said. He said there was little likelihood of fire spreading to other structures, and the interior of the queue building hadnt been finished. Our crew will begin immediately inspecting and cleaning the site. Were working to secure and expedite both the building materials and the ride components from the European manufacturer, the family said in a prepared statement. We want to thank all the first responders who arrived, difficult as it was to get to the fire. Passersby apparently spotted the flames, and Waterloo Fire Rescue was dispatched at 7:47 p.m. and arrived to a fully engulfed building, according to Battalion Chief Troy Luck. There wasnt a lot we could do to fight it, Luck said. It was fully involved. The blaze was easily seen from the road. Many cars pulled over and watched as it was still going strong at 8:20 p.m. Flames were still visible at 9:30 p.m. Most of it was put out by about 10 p.m., but it continued to smolder into early Friday morning. Nothing like a little theme park fire to bring traffic to a standstill, Bertch wrote in a Twitter post Thursday night. No one was injured. The cause is under investigation, said Luck. Luck said the lost building, roughly 20 by 50 feet, was isolated in the northwest portion of the park; however, there was another distant structure, larger in size, that firefighters prioritized in their response but was not at major risk of catching fire. Luck said they found it difficult accessing the site, an ungraded construction zone without pavement, and creating a clear route. Fire hydrants were available though. And the theme park owner and his contractors were on scene to assist first responders. (Staff writer Jeff Reinitz contributed to this report) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Wellspring Living is the name given to the newest building on the Friendship Village campus. The recently opened $45 million assisted living facility, built by Larson Construction of Independence, is part of a revitalization project in the retirement community. The original Friendship Village building was 50-plus years old. This new facility provides a place to live that matches the level of great care our residents have always received, said Friendship Village President and CEO Lisa Gates. It was part of a two-prong approach. Village Terrace, an independent living facility, went up first, and the 60,000-square-feet skilled nursing facility was being built at the same time. The project started in 2019 and has been developed in several phases to avoid displacing residents during the process. Wellspring Living is meant to evoke the idea that this is a place where you can live the best years of your life, given the beauty of the building, the amenities and the care, Gates explained. Executive Vice President of Health Services Sherry Turner said the name was inspired by biblical teachings of continual or abundant supply. Thats how we view our quality of care. Turner said it was time for something new and fresh to replace the outdated nursing home idea, something that is homelike, and this facility answers that completely. This is their home. Theyre living in a beautiful home. It makes residents feel valued, like they arent stuck in a nursing home. Stepping inside the front door, Wellspring Living welcomes residents and visitors into a stylishly refined environment. Stacked stone pillars hug a seating area in the center of the lobby. A quartet of celery-green upholstered wing chairs, accented by folk art-themed pillows, are gathered facing a stacked stone fireplace hearth which is set against crisp white board-and-batten panels. A abstract painting in gentle tones hangs above the mantel. Hubs radiate off this central area. There are four neighborhoods on two floors with 18 residents in each neighborhood. While those spaces have their own names like Progressive Way and Family Plaza, amenities are identical in each, including private apartments for residents and several suites with adjoining doorways for couples. Bariatric rooms, Hydroworx pool and recreation areas are additional benefits. In each neighborhood, a communal living area with fireplace invites residents out of their rooms to chat, play games or simply relax. Vintage objects are arranged on shelves for visual interest, and beautiful photographs and paintings, some by area residents, hang on walls. A dining room and kitchen completes the open-concept floor plan. Meals are prepared and catered from the main kitchen, said Ellie Uhlenhopp, nursing home administrator. Residents get a menu with options to choose from that are served in the dining area, and at any time residents can request a hamburger, grilled cheese sandwich, chicken strips or other snack which gives them independence like they would have in their own kitchen at home, she explained. In addition, there are private rooms in each neighborhood where family members can gather for visits or stay during end-of-life events. Each neighborhood has a hub where a nurse and aides are stationed each day and night to assist residents, said Uhlenhopp. With just 18 residents in each neighborhood, it encourages them to find shared interests or hobbies, like three or four women who like to get together and quilt. It encourages them to build relationships and come together as a family, Turner said. Staff is part of that, too. They become part of the family because we try to have the same staff caring for the same people as much as possible. Wellspring Living is connected to the Village Terrace independent living building via a hallway and by a connecting bridge to Village Place on Ninth Street. If someone is living at Village Terrace, they can easily visit their spouse in the assisted living facility, for example. Gates said family-like living situations like Wellspring Living also alleviate residents feelings of loneliness and isolation. Part of our mission statement is to be family-focused and to inspire, connect and honor people on their retirement journey. Thats important, and supports the fact that great care is always given, she explained. Friends of Faith Retirement Homes Inc. opened Friendship Village at Park Lane and West Ninth Street in 1968. That original Friendship Village building will be torn down beginning in May. The area will be landscaped as part of the Friendship Village master plan, which also includes completing the capital campaign for the health center, Hydroworx pool and furnishing apartments at Wellspring Living. We are one-third of the way through the campaign, having raised $450,000 toward the $1.25 million goal, Gates said. This project did not impact other Friendship Village living facilities, including Village Place, Landmark Commons, Lakeview Lodge, Lakeview Landing or Rosewood Estate. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The friends were out catfishing when they came across the vehicle. They fear the man could have gotten hypothermia, or perished if his vehicle had reached the well-known Sans Souci Island wing dam. Shortly after the campaign event at which she officially announced she would seek re-election as Iowas governor, Republican Kim Reynolds filed her nomination papers with more than 16,000 signatures with the Iowa Secretary of State. This strong grassroots response reflects our message resonating in all 99 counties, Reynolds said in a news release. I am excited to get back on the campaign trail and beyond grateful for the support Iowans have shown me across the state. Reynolds, Iowas first female governor since 2017, likely will face Democratic challenger and Des Moines businesswoman Deidre DeJear. The Libertarian Party of Iowa candidate is Rick Stewart. FINKENAUER FILES: Abby Finkenauer, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, filed more than 5,000 nominating signatures with the Iowa Secretary of States office, putting her on the 2022 ballot. Finkenauer, a former congresswoman and state legislator from Cedar Rapids, is one of four Democrats vying for the partys nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. The other Democratic candidates are Mike Franken, a U.S. Navy veteran from Sioux City; Minden physician Glenn Hurst; and Burlington veterans advocate Bob Krause. Grassley also faces a primary challenge from Sioux City state legislator and attorney Jim Carlin. Finkenauer said she is proud her campaign not only collected its needed signatures, but helped other, down-ballot campaigns do the same. Yes, this race is about beating Chuck Grassley, fighting for the future of Iowa and also our democracy while were at it, but its also about leading the state and making sure that we are lifting up other campaigns across the state as well, Finkenauer said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES Having crossed the midway point in whats scheduled to be a 100-day session, Iowa lawmakers are digging into the time-consuming budget process. Majority Republican budget proposals for public safety, courts, agriculture and natural resources in fiscal year 2023 were approved on party-line votes Thursday. The budgets are part of an $8.27 billion general fund budget proposed by House Republicans, which amount to a less than a 1% increase from the current $8.1 billion budget. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.2 billion, a 3.5% increase. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said he expects more activity on the budget process after the House and Senate approve the priorities identified by Republicans and Reynolds. He hopes to move more budgets next week, with the possibility of them being approved by the full Appropriations Committee and eligible for floor debate. The bigger tax conversation has happened, Grassley said, referring to legislation that will phase in income tax cuts to a flat rate of 3.9%. So now, with that out of the way, we have a lot more attention being focused on the budgets, he said. Thats what is really going to start being the center of attention here in the House. In action Thursday, the House Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations subcommittee unanimously approved a $416 million budget, with an additional $14.3 million for capital projects. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $54 million budget. The Justice Systems Appropriations subcommittee approved a $633.8 million spending plan, with a $12.7 million increase for several departments. Those include a $7.1 million increase and another 36 full-time-equivalent employees for Corrections, which has seen its funding grow by nearly $29 million since fiscal 2021. The proposed budget includes $3.1 million for the Department of Public Safety, which will increase funding for the Iowa State Patrol by $2 million to $71.5 million, according to the Legislative Services Agency. The subcommittee also approved $200.6 million for the Judicial Branch from various sources. Thats a $7.1 million increase that includes $1.4 million for four more district associate judges, said Chairman Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, who has chaired the budget committee for 12 years. Democrats can always make improvements, Rep. Brian Meyer of Des Moines, the ranking Democrat on the Justice Systems Appropriations subcommittee said. Democrats, he said, might be able to support the budgets after further review. The budgets follow presentations by departments to the House appropriations subcommittees, which started early in the legislative session. Noting the lack of those presentations to Senate budget subcommittees and the lack of joint House-Senate committee meetings, Democrat Meyer thanked Republican Worthan for those briefings, which give legislators the opportunity to discuss priorities. Erin Murphy of the Courier Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Susie, a Virginia Beach woman competing in season 26 of "The Bachelor" on ABC. (Courtesy of ABC/Ricky Middlesworth) Theyre hot. Theyre cold. Then theyre hot again. Such is life for bachelor Clayton Echard and Poquoson native Susie Evans. Advertisement Bachelor viewers saw women who were previously eliminated confront Echard during Monday nights tell-all. On Tuesday, viewers caught up with the final three, Susie, Gabby and Rachel. Clayton Echard. (Pamela Littky/ABC) During Tuesdays fantasy suites episode, the finalists joined Echard in Iceland for solo dates and the possibility of each having a nightcap with him. Advertisement Echard first went on dates with Rachel and Gabby, opting for nightcaps with each woman during the week. While waiting for her date, Susie wondered what went down between Echard and the women, questioning whether he felt the same way for them as he did for her. Echard having sex with other women was a dealbreaker for Susie. If tonight goes well for Rachel, like, obviously they would be like, sharing intimate time together and like that would be a really tough pill to swallow, she said during a confessional interview. Im hoping that he takes physical intimacy as seriously as I do. Its something that I only do with people that I have some sort of commitment with. Both dates ended with Echard snuggling and kissing Gabby and Rachel, leaving viewers to assume hed sealed the deal with both. For Susies date, the pair headed to a spa, running from a cold room to a warmer spot. Were just going from hot to cold, hot to cold, Susie said in a confessional interview. Maybe this is like my relationship with Clayton. But the date rejuvenated Susie. Over dinner, the pair reflected on their relationship, including their time in Hvar, Croatia. I do feel as though Im falling in love with you, she told him at the time. Advertisement That conversation ended in a long, sensual kiss, but not their chat in Iceland. Susie asked Echard if he had been intimate with the other women and if he had similar feelings for them. Since the show is known for ending in engagements, Susie told him it would be impossible for them to get married if he had. Echard became teary-eyed and peeved. He said that he had, but asked her to understand. You did say to explore the relationships, he said. Yes, I have slept with someone else here, and, yes, Ive expressed feelings towards someone else that Im falling in love. He said he cared most about her and that if hed known about her stance on sex he wouldnt have slept with the women. Echard asked for forgiveness and proposed spending more time together that night presumably in the fantasy suite to talk. But alas, a confused, crying Susie walked away. The reaction seemed to trigger Echard, who has struggled with relationships and transparency in the past. Advertisement This is exactly what I was afraid of, he said. I dont believe in anything anymore. He later talked to the shows host, Jesse Palmer, wondering why Susie didnt express her feelings about physical intimacy sooner. Susie invited him to talk and acknowledged that she couldve been more vocal earlier. Still, she couldnt see herself spending the night with him. In my eyes, you just invalidated everything that we had, he said. I would think you would work through something like this. He also raised his voice. Susie said she knew she was going home. I dont agree with it at all, how you went about this, he said. I think its b.s. Were done. Im done. Were not getting anything else out of what were saying anymore. Im sorry that I even raised my voice. This is out of character for me. I really did love you. To have this ripped from me is why youre seeing what you seeing right now. Advertisement Echard said nothing would change his mind, though she persisted as he walked her to the car. I genuinely want you to know that this was real for me, she said. Im genuinely so sorry for the pain that Ive caused you. Every ounce of this has been real. Susie and representatives from ABC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Tuesday night and in the days after the episode aired, fans went in on Echard. Some called him a gaslighter. Others came to his rescue. Not yall making me defend Clayton on International Womens Day, wrote one Twitter follower. He didnt gaslight her. Hes not a dog for sleeping with Gabby and Rachel. This is the show. While I would feel the same as Susie, I also wouldnt go on The Bachelor. Not yall making me defend Clayton on International Womens Day. He didnt gaslight her. Hes not a dog for sleeping with Gabby and Rachel. This is the show. While I would feel the same as Susie, I also wouldnt go on The Bachelor #TheBachelor Faith Noster (@fiestyfaith) March 9, 2022 Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Another tweeted a lesson on the meaning of the word gaslight to manipulate someone psychologically into questioning their sanity. Advertisement Please stop misusing the word, the user said. Clayton should have talked to her in a different tone, yes. but it wasnt gaslighting. This doesnt mean this is the last well see of Susie. Word is that Susie, the 28-year-old wedding videographer and beauty queen, could return. She could also end up the next Bachelorette, an offshoot of this reality show. Will she find her way back to Clayton? Watch The Bachelor two-night finale 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday to find out. Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form En espanol Staff Sgt. Angela Lowe hadnt seen her former military canine, Szultan, in four years when she received a message from his current handler asking if she would be interested in taking him in once he retired. For some of these dogs, if theyre dog-aggressive or food-aggressive, it makes it difficult, because some people cant take that home, said Lowe. And I was a little concerned that he would get euthanized. A unique bond As Szultans first handler, Lowe had a special relationship with the canine. He started out very temperamental, wanting to do tasks his own way and even leaving people bruised. Training him for service required a tremendous amount of work. I did make a deal with Szultan. I was like, Hey, look, man. I know youre grumpy. I need you to not bite me. Please. Ill respect you. You respect me. And we will figure this out together, said Lowe. After we did that, we started meshing. I was super proud of him. I absolutely could trust him one hundred percent. Unfortunately, due to the physical demands of training military dogs, Lowes body endured a lot of stress. She started to have problems with her hands and would often drop the dogs leashes. After undergoing two spine surgeries, Lowe was forced to medically retire from the Air Force. Leaving Szultan was really hard for me. You have your pets at home, and of course you love them, but its different, she said. Its indescribable how bonded you are to your dog. I dont think Ill ever have a love for a career like I did with working dogs. After retiring from the military, Lowe thought about Szultan frequently, often wondering how he was doing. She messaged other service members to ask about him. But after a couple of years, she lost touch with them and moved to Pittsburgh to continue her education. Blake Callahan/Getty Images En espanol If youre preparing to travel in the next few months, you may need to have more health-related information on hand than usual, since some destinations continue to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. But there are other health documents that are extremely useful for you to have access to when youre away from home, in case you become ill or have any sort of medical emergency. Its always better to be prepared, says Scott Keyes, founder of Scotts Cheap Flights, an email subscription service for flight deals. During your vacation, while youre actually there, you want to enjoy it as much as possible. Documentation, including insurance information, is easier to manage in the digital age thanks to email, websites and mobile apps, notes David O. Freedman, M.D., professor emeritus of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He recommends emailing all of your health information to yourself, as well as to a relative or friend but also bringing paper copies, in case youre in a situation where you cant easily access the internet. Here are six types of health information travelers may need, depending on their destination and medical condition. 1. COVID-19 vaccination card While some U.S. cities have required proof of vaccination to participate in activities like indoor dining, those rules are rapidly being dropped as the recent COVID-19 surge abates. But many countries and the major cruise lines still require proof and/or a negative COVID-19 test. At least two cruise companies Grand Circle Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises require passengers to show their original paper vaccination card Rules vary, but generally travelers must carry either their paper vaccination card, a digital image of the card or be able to access the information through a website or app. Some U.S. states and some countries offer digital health passports that generate a QR code to show as proof. Other apps, including those offered by Apple, CLEAR, IBM and SMART, help users manage all their health information. Consider protecting your paper card inside an inexpensive plastic sleeve or case, suggests Vicki Sowards, director of clinical resources for Passport Health, a Phoenix-based provider of travel medical services. You can laminate the card, although then you cant add more immunizations, she notes. Carrying a paper and digital vaccination record is especially important internationally, says Sarah Fazendin, owner of Videre Travel in Denver. The rules and regulations are changing all the time, she explains. Its hard to predict what will happen two weeks from now. 2. Proof of other vaccinations Americans traveling to certain countries may want to carry the yellow paper card (no digital version exists) recording the vaccinations, theyve had for hepatitis, for example, typhoid or yellow fever that are recommended in other parts of the world. The Destinations page on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) website provides recommended vaccinations and health notices by country. While you dont generally have to show official proof of those vaccinations, you do for certain diseases in certain countries. Tanzania, for instance, requires proof of vaccination for yellow fever. 3. COVID-19 test results Some countries and cruise lines require that travelers show a negative COVID-19 test. Even the United States requires it for reentry into the country, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status. Showing an image or email is usually sufficient, says Keyes, though he recommends carrying a print copy as a backup. Lets say youre taking a taxi to the airport and you forget to charge your phone and cant access email or your photos, he says. Id rather have it just in case. If you have access to a printer in your hotel, take the 30 seconds to print it out and stuff it in your bag. Getty Images En espanol After roughly two years, many companies that switched to working fully remote during the COVID-19 pandemic are now asking employees to return to the office. Companies ranging from Microsoft and Google to American Express and Citigroup have announced their plans to welcome employees back to their (in-office) desks either full or part time. But heading back to the office is going to require some adjustments for many employees. If youre returning to the office on either a full-time or hybrid schedule, here are 10 ways to prepare yourself for the change. 1. Get to know your company's COVID policies Your office likely has undergone a number of changes since the pandemic began, says Stefanie Heiter, founder and CEO of Bridging Distance, a workplace consultancy. From how your desks are arranged to allow for social distancing to the equipment youll use for meetings in the conference room, its important to talk to your managers or human resources (HR) department to get a sense of what will be different now. Youll also want to determine whether youre going back to the office full time or whether youll adopt a hybrid schedule. Some companies are being more flexible about the latter, as nearly 6 in 10 workers would look for a new job if forced to go back to the office full time, according to a FlexJobs poll. 2. Check on your physical fitness Some folks used the pandemic as an opportunity to embrace health and fitness. And others used it as an opportunity to embrace sweatpants and Netflix. Either way, commuting to and being in the office all day is going to require some physical endurance that you may not have maintained at home, says longevity expert Michael Clinton, author of Roar Into the Second Half of Your Life. Of course, its important to check with your physician before starting any exercise regimen. But think about the walking and physical strength youll need for your job and commute and think about what youll need to do get ready for your days. 3. Remember what you put in your pockets or purse Wallet. Glasses. Mask. Keys. Lip balm. Company ID. Phone. Its time to get used to going through your personal checklist again to be sure you have what you need to get through your day, Heiter says. Get reacquainted with your essentials, how you carry them, and how you ensure you havent forgotten anything. What may have been a habit a year or two ago may now require some attentiveness. While youre at it, Clinton suggests thinking about the habits youve adopted while working from home to keep your household running smoothly and how those things will get done when you go back to working in the office. Chores like throwing in a load of laundry or two during the day, using a break for meal prep or even tidying up on your lunch hour were easier to do when you were home all the time. Now you need a new plan to keep the house in order. 4. Try on your work wardrobe After two years in the closet, your wardrobe may need a bit of an update, Clinton says. The idea of a work wardrobe has changed dramatically, he says. Check office policies about attire. Then, try on the clothes you plan to wear to ensure they fit comfortably, and purchase some new items if necessary. Woodstock, Ga. An annual rattlesnake roundup in south Georgia recently changed the format of this months event to celebrate living snakes without skinning and butchering them, earning plaudits from animal rights activists. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. They also show the huge divide in how they are seen by some, with the Georgia festival heralded by animal advocates and the Texas roundup shamed. Advertisement A few rattlesnake roundups still persist, the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said in a statement full of scorn for the Texas festival, which is notorious for openly killing and skinning western diamondback rattlesnakes by the hundreds in front of crowds. Plans for the Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Roundup this weekend in the Texas town of Sweetwater are full-scale ahead, with snakes set to be skinned and others milked of their venom. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. The town of 11,000 is expected to swell to around 30,000 during the festival that runs Friday through Sunday, said Dennis Cumbie, one of the organizers. Advertisement Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. Its very much part of our culture. FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skin rattlesnakes at the Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup, March 13, 2015, in Sweetwater, Texas. Animal rights activists praised an annual rattlesnake roundup in south Georgia that recently changed the format of this months event to celebrate living snakes without skinning and butchering them. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend, Saturday March 12, 2022 in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. (Courtney Sacco/Odessa American via AP, File) (Courtney Sacco/AP) The same is true in the south Alabama town of Opp, where an annual rattlesnake festival that has drawn thousands for nearly six decades opens March 25. While organizers say the snake hunters who bring in big rattlers get rid of nuisance reptiles, opponents say Eastern diamondback snakes are declining in population. Sweetwater has held its rattlesnake roundup for more than six decades, and what we have figured out over 64 years is that were not damaging the population of the snakes whatsoever, Cumbie said. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Exact attendance figures are unknown because many people such as children are admitted free, but Ive heard anywhere from 7,000 to 15,000, said longtime volunteer Jeffrey Cox, who has been helping to organize the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup for the past four decades. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox said. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. Now, as director of the Sweetwater and Nolan County Chamber of Commerce, Hunt fields calls from people in England, Germany and other parts of the world inquiring about the festival and making plans to visit. Advertisement This does put us on the map, she said. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place. Hunters gather the snakes theres a contest for those capturing the largest ones and theyre brought to the Nolan County Coliseum, where multiple parts of the snakes are harvested, Cumbie said. Hes the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. The snakes skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Theres literally no waste, he said. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot. There is an intense, closely guarded diplomatic effort by a core team of Biden energy and national security officials to raise global oil production amid surging gas prices. The two main targets of the effort, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. loading......... Malibu, CA, Mar 11, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a Discussion with Claudia Tornquist, CEO of Kodiak Copper Corp ( CVE:KDK )( OTCMKTS:KDKCF )( FRA:5DD1 ) as the company extends the Central Gate Zone East and at Depth in British Columbia, Canada.Kodiak reported drill results from the 100% owned MPD copper-gold porphyry project in southern British Columbia. Results from five additional holes drilled in 2021 at the Gate Zone are presented in this release. Drilling continues to intersect significant copper-gold grades over substantial intervals, defining a broad mineralized envelope surrounding a higher-grade central zone.New drill results have now extended the higher-grade central zone at Gate further to the east and to depth. The Gate Zone porphyry target remains open to extension in multiple directions.To listen to the interview, please visit:About Kodiak Copper Corp.Kodiak Copper Corp. (CVE:KDK) (OTCMKTS:KDKCF) is focused on its portfolio of 100% owned copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA.The Company's most advanced asset is the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Trough in southern British Columbia, Canada, where in 2020 the Company made a high-grade discovery at the Gate Zone, which is part of a zoned, copper-gold enriched envelope of significant size.Kodiak also holds the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project in Arizona, USA, near the world-class Bagdad mine. Both of Kodiak's porphyry projects have been historically drilled and present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits.The Company's Kahuna diamond project in Nunavut, Canada, hosts a high-grade, near surface inferred diamond resource and numerous kimberlite pipe targets. Kodiak is considering strategic options for the Kahuna project. The City Council has passed a resolution directing city officials to the extent advisable to petition to reopen and renegotiate the Court Approved Settlement Agreement laying out the reforms of the Albuquerque Police Department. The resolution, which passed in an 8-to-1 vote, says a petition should address recommendations in a memo released by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland last fall, including putting a cap on how much an independent monitor overseeing court-mandated reforms can be paid and assessing ending the monitorship after five years. Garlands recommendations are meant for future consent decrees, not ones that are already underway like the one in Albuquerque. However, the administration says its still deciding next steps. City attorneys would not answer questions about the process to renegotiate the agreement and what factors are being considered. Instead a city spokeswoman referred questions to APD. I can reiterate that we have been working on related issues with the DOJ and the monitor, said Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesman. We anticipate taking some actions in the coming weeks to improve the reform process and ensure it reflects what is best for Albuquerque. Addressing councilors, Police Chief Harold Medina said he had been assured by the monitor that the next report on APDs progress would be different than recent ones that were harshly critical of the departments progress. He said he wanted to wait to see what the next report looks like and if the city has gained momentum before trying to renegotiate the agreement. The next report is expected in May. I want to keep all options on the table, Medina said. I want the support of the council as I have the support of the mayors office and the administration in the fact that if we have to move in the direction of asking for modification or movements in this process that we are all united as one city moving forward. Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn was the only member to vote against the resolution. Councilor Pat Davis said he is supporting the resolution but not because he wants the city to kick the DOJ out of town. I think its important to recognize the goal posts havent changed, but there are some ways we can improve our relationship, Davis said. I appreciate this is the way to do that. Councilor Dan Lewis, who sponsored the resolution, told the Journal he would like the city to act as soon as possible to renegotiate the settlement agreement. Also on Monday, city councilors unanimously passed an ordinance making changes to the Civilian Police Oversight Agency. Those include clarifying reporting requirements and the duties and expectations of the board and agency so they can be as effective as possible, said Councilor Brook Bassan in a phone interview Thursday. However, she stressed that she doesnt consider it a final product and more edits might need to be made in the future. (The board members) were fine tooth combing everything that came through. The amount of time that takes is clearly problematic, which is why were behind on so much, Bassan said. She said she had wanted to change the ordinance so the CPOA would only investigate complaints against sworn personnel, but the Court Approved Settlement Agreement isnt specific so making that change could bring the city out of compliance with that requirement. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board kicked off three days of deliberations on Thursday for new regulations of ozone pollution in the oil and gas industry. Ground-level ozone causes smog and acts like a sunburn to the lungs, according to the American Lung Association. The state Environment Department's proposal would target ozone pollution by increasing inspections and requiring operators to find and fix leaks. Board member and oil and gas scientist Amanda Trujillo Davis encouraged the panel to adopt language that allows flexibility for the state's broad spectrum of energy companies to comply with the proposed rules. We're looking at everything from a two-person company operating 80 stripper wells to a major, large oil and gas company, Trujillo Davis said. Board chair Phoebe Suina also cautioned against any rule language that could restrict operators from using new and developing technologies to reduce emissions. The board agreed that the rule would apply to oil and gas production and processing sites in Chaves, Rio Arriba, Dona Ana, Eddy, Lea, Sandoval, San Juan and Valencia counties. Industry groups had argued that Chaves and Rio Arriba counties do not meet the federal ozone pollution standards. State modeling shows that industry sites in those counties contribute to ozone levels in nearby areas. The rule should address air pollution that crosses political boundaries, said board member and former Environmental Protection Agency regulator William Honker. I think NMED acknowledges that unfortunately airsheds are not like watersheds, he said. You don't know exactly where the air's going to go. Environment Department rules would complement the state's recent ban of routine venting and flaring of natural gas. NMED had originally proposed that all oil and gas equipment have a scannable tag to track compliance monitoring and emissions data. Industry testimony about the complex, burdensome costs of those tags prompted the department to remove the proposal and instead push for operators to maintain a database. Emissions data could also be certified by in-house engineers or outside consultants, instead of only professional engineers. I think it was great for the department to accommodate smaller businesses who can't afford to hire a professional engineer, said board member Karen Garcia. The board faces an April 25 deadline to vote on the proposal and will continue deliberations on Friday and Saturday. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A growing, bipartisan collection of New Mexico legislators expressed support Thursday for calling themselves into session through an emergency procedure a move that would allow an override attempt on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams veto of a $50 million spending bill. If enough lawmakers agree, it would be just the second extraordinary session, as the state constitution calls it, in New Mexico history and would represent a political rebuke of Lujan Grisham. But convening such a session requires support from three-fifths of each chamber of the Legislature, a difficult barrier to clear. Democrats in the House and Senate are set to meet privately as soon as Friday to debate whether to pursue an extraordinary session. They hold a majority in both chambers. The clash between lawmakers and the Democratic governor erupted after she rejected a supplemental spending bill that included $50 million for projects and programs picked by individual legislators. Each member got a certain amount of money to allocate in the proposal, Senate Bill 48, a companion measure to the main state budget. Lujan Grisham vetoed the bill Wednesday, describing it as an unacceptable way to make spending decisions with public money. Supplemental spending bills sometimes called junior budget bills tend to surface in years when the state is flush with cash, as in recent years. Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike have in the past questioned the merits of allowing members to dole out money largely at their own discretion. But this years bill passed without a single dissenting vote, and lawmakers quickly expressed outrage at seeing it rejected by the governor. Democratic Rep. Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo said the bill gave legislators a chance to deliver resources to overlooked programs and parts of the state. Road safety and educational curriculum, he said, were among his priorities. To have it all just vetoed by our governor is extremely unfortunate, Lente said. It essentially just mutes the community voices that are most in need. He said he supports an extraordinary session. In her veto message this week, Lujan Grisham said the supplemental spending bill circumvented the usual vetting for state spending and that some of the money was allocated to projects that arent fully funded, meaning they wouldnt move forward and the money might be wasted. Nora Meyers Sackett, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the states main budget a measure she signed into law makes responsible investments that reflect state priorities. The governors responsibility is to ensure that New Mexicos investments directly and meaningfully benefit New Mexicans while maintaining fiscal responsibility, given the once-in-a-generation revenue we have available, Sackett said. Fiscal responsibility and delivering for New Mexicans in a consequential way means ensuring programs are funded properly with consistent and recurring appropriations. Picking a fight The spending bill vetoed by the governor would have authorized about $25.2 million in one-time spending and another $25.2 million in ongoing spending. The money would have gone to a wide-ranging set of programs and priorities picked by lawmakers. Among the proposed items were law enforcement equipment, efforts to help homeless animals, student speech and debate clubs, medical equipment, meals on wheels for homebound residents and public safety programs. The spending is far smaller than whats outlined in the main state budget, House Bill 2, which authorizes about $8.5 billion for spending on education, health care and other purposes. Lawmakers hadnt taken up a supplemental spending bill like the kind vetoed this week in 10 years before 2019, when an oil and gas boom filled state coffers. Some lawmakers questioned bringing it back, including former Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat who said it wasnt a responsible vehicle for public spending. Fred Nathan, executive director of the nonpartisan group Think New Mexico, said junior spending bills arent an effective way to allocate taxpayer dollars, even if some of the money goes to worthy projects. Appropriations should be made through a public planning and vetting process, rather than 112 individual legislators each coming up with projects in secret without planning, coordination or accountability, he said Thursday. But junior bills are generally popular among lawmakers. Each House member this year had $360,000 to allocate and each senator had $600,000. Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, said the governor erased funding for important local programs, projects and facilities that communities throughout the state desperately need. Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, said the veto was an unnecessary affront to the legislative process. It was picking a fight that she didnt need to pick, he said of the governors veto. House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, said veto overrides led by the governors own party are rare. We typically only see actions like this when dealing with a lame duck governor who no longer holds sway over their political party, he said. Rep. Roger Montoya, D-Velarde, said the governors disregard for the work me and my colleagues have done to fulfill our duties and responsibilities to our communities is deeply troubling. Sackett pushed back on criticism that the main budget failed to address priorities that made it instead into the smaller budget bill. The budget package approved by Lujan Grisham includes $24 million for initiatives that will help food banks, $15 million to double a Native American education fund and $10 million to help people without homes, she said. The governor agrees that those kinds of programs are priorities, Sackett said, which is why they are funded in the budget. Next steps Lawmakers have scheduled confidential caucus meetings starting Friday to discuss how to proceed. Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said she and other Senate Democrats would decide together whether to support an extraordinary session. But lawmakers and the governor, she said, already have plenty to be proud of, including passage of teacher raises and a crime package. The session was a huge success, she said, and I dont want to lose track of that. Under the constitution, the governor is empowered to call special sessions and determine what bills or topics may be considered. But the constitution also allows three-fifths of each chamber to certify that theres an emergency in the affairs of the state of New Mexico and bring the Legislature into an extraordinary session. The only such session in state history came in 2002, when lawmakers met during a budget standoff with then-Gov. Gary Johnson. They promptly voted to override Johnsons veto of that years budget bill. During Lujan Grishams tenure, the Legislature has not launched any veto override attempts. Dan Boyd of the Journal Capitol Bureau contributed to this report. Detectives are investigating after a man was found dead Thursday afternoon inside an apartment off East Central. Albuquerque police Lt. Ray Del Greco said the man did not die of natural causes but a cause of death has not been determined. He said police were waiting for a search warrant to investigate further. Del Greco said officers responded around 2:30 p.m. to reports of a dead person inside an apartment near Central and Wyoming NE. Officers made entry into the apartment and found a dog inside with the dead man, who had not been seen fro some time. Del Greco said homicide detectives are investigating the incident as an unattended death until they investigate further. SANTA FE, N.M. A federal judge on Thursday sought to evaluate the mental health of a woman charged with kidnapping, firearms and terrorism-related counts nearly four years after authorities arrested her and four other adults from an extended family at a squalid New Mexico compound and recovered the remains of a 3-year-old boy. Courtroom deliberations about Haitian national Jany Leveilles mental health took place in Albuquerque at a hearing closed from public view, on the request of her lawyers, to consider whether she understand the criminal charges against her, which she has denied. No updates were provided by the court. An FBI agent previously testified in a preliminary hearing that Leveilles two teenage sons told authorities they were trained on how to use firearms and defensive tactics by adult relatives at the compound near the tiny community of Amalia not far from the Colorado state line. The teens also reportedly said the training was taking place in preparation to launch attacks, linked to a future religious resurrection, against government institutions including federal law enforcement and schools, the agent testified. A grand jury indictment alleges Leveille and her partner instructed people at the compound to be prepared to engage in jihad and die as martyrs, and that one more relative was invited to bring money and firearms. Defense attorneys have said their clients would not be facing terrorism-related charges if they were not Muslim. The deliberations about Leveilles mental competency took place more than three years after sheriffs officials and state agents raided the ramshackle encampment in the remote desert surrounded by berms of used tires with an adjacent firing range. They were searching for a sickly 3-year-old who had been reported missing by his mother in Georgia. Sheriffs deputies and state agents initially found 11 hungry children and a small arsenal of ammunition and guns. After days of searching, they recovered the decomposed remains of the 3-year-old in an underground tunnel. Mental health concerns about Leveille and three other defendants have contributed to the delay in preparations for their trials, along with disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Leveilles lawyer, Aric Elsenheimer, declined comment on Thursday. But the lawyer for Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, Leveilles partner and the father of the deceased child, said her clients right to a speedy trial has been violated because he has been incarcerated since his arrest in August 2018, Our client is innocent of the charges that have been filed against him and the law presumes his innocence, said the lawyer, Erlinda Johnson. We are looking for to our day in court and the day that we actually proceed to trial. Prosecutors for the case at the U.S. attorneys office declined to comment on recent developments, though they opposed the motion to prevent members of the public from attending Leveilles competency hearing. She has been described in court documents as a leader of the group of extended family members who settled at the compound in late 2017, including her six children. Leveille has resided in the U.S. for more than 20 years after overstaying her nonimmigrant visitor visa, authorities have said. She was arrested with four other adult defendants in the raid, days before the childs body was recovered. All except the deceased boys father are charged in the childs kidnapping. U.S. law generally does not allow authorities to charge parents with kidnapping their own children, except in international cases. Authorities said the deceased child, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, suffered from untreated disabilities as Leveille and Siraj Ibn Wahhaj performed daily prayer rituals over him even as he cried and foamed at the mouth. Authorities also said Leveille believed medication suppressed the groups Muslim beliefs. Forensic specialists determined the child died several months prior to the recovery of his body. The FBI agent who interviewed Leveilles two teenage sons also testified that Leveille expected Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj to be resurrected and provide instruction to get rid of institutions that involve teachers, law enforcement and banks. Leveille is charged with possessing a firearm while living in the country illegally, while the other suspects have been accused of conspiring to provide her with firearms and ammunition. A brother of Leveille, living in Haiti, has said the group sought to retreat from mainstream U.S. society and that its use of firearms has been misconstrued. All five defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and providing material support to each other as potential terrorists by crossing state lines with firearms and training at the New Mexico compound. The defendants have denied all charges. Albuquerque-based Chief U.S. District Court Judge William Johnson on Wednesday approved a request from Leveilles lawyer to close public access to the mental competency hearing for Leveille, saying it involves details of medical treatment and sensitive personal and psychological matters. The defendants interest in keeping these medical and personal matters private and confidential outweigh the publics interest in having an open hearing, the judge wrote. Johnson initially ordered Leveille hospitalized in October 2019 for mental health treatment for up to four months in response to concerns about mental illness. China welcomes positive step of Russia-Ukraine ministers' talks toward goal of peace By Yang Sheng and Xu Yelu (Global Times) 08:54, March 11, 2022 The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers held talks in Antalya, Turkey on Thursday, their first meeting since the military conflict between the two countries started, though the meeting failed to reach meaningful consensus, an analyst said high-ranking negotiations between the two sides are a positive signal, and the majority of the international community, including China, will welcome and encourage relevant parties to continue to make diplomatic efforts. According to press conferences held by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba after the trilateral meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the talks didn't conclude with a significant breakthrough. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine, a delicate issue that was one of Russia's stated reasons for taking special military operations against Ukraine, AFP reported on Tuesday. Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow at the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday that the latest talks in Turkey are at least a clear signal for peace, because if the previous lower-level talks saw no progress, the two sides wouldn't have agreed to fly to Turkey for a meeting, and it could be a response to the demand for talks among the international community. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a virtual meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio that the Russia-Ukraine higher-level engagement and consultation is a positive step forward to peace. "The international community should encourage Russia and Ukraine to insist on the direction of negotiations, and to make continuous efforts toward the goal of peace." Unlike the Crimea crisis in 2014, major European countries like France and Germany cannot play a meaningful role to mediate the conflict this time, but Turkey has some special advantages, experts said. Turkey is the best example for Ukraine to understand how to deal with the EU and NATO, experts said. Turkey has campaigned to join the EU for decades. It applied for membership as early as 1987, became a candidate in 1999, and began formal negotiations in 2005, followed by more than a decade of seesaw battles. "Turkey's overall strength is better than Ukraine's, honestly speaking. If Turkey can hardly join the EU, why does Ukraine bother making so much effort for this goal?" Wang Yiwei, director of the institute of international affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Thursday. Ukraine now knows what NATO and the EU really think. So Zelensky said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine. "This is already new progress and is conducive to the outcome of the negotiations." Wang said. As the West continues to impose more sanctions on Russia, it has already caused great losses to both European countries and Russia. To continue the confrontation would be a disaster for the entire Western world. Russia is now showing little sign of suffering, but the European countries are struggling, analysts noted. Russia seems well-prepared for the situation as it started to reduce dependency on the West in terms of its economy and trade after the Crimea crisis in 2014, and it even actively decoupled from the West to minimize the damage, Cui noted. But Western countries, especially European ones, are so dependent on Russia for energy that it would be expensive to switch to other sources. It's much more than a matter of years to find a replacement, Wang said. Some observers believe that the US is the biggest winner in the current situation, however, the interests of many American companies are also bundled up with Europe, and it is the US' own interests that will eventually be hurt if the conflict extends, Wang said. Europe has now realized that either sanctions or the dismemberment of Russia will be highly detrimental to European security and interests, analysts said. China's role will come to the fore if Russia and Ukraine finally reach an agreement. China has close strategic ties with Russia, has deep cooperation with Ukraine, and has broad common interests with Europe, so it would be appropriate for China to connect and support different parties for post-conflict reconstruction and heal economic damage, and to help the EU and Russia to build a new security mechanism that is dominated by Europeans, Wang noted. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Norfolk A 23-year-old man was shot at while driving on I-64 in Norfolk Friday morning, according to Virginia State Police. The man was driving a Nissan Rogue around 3:25 a.m., near the intersection of I-64 and 4th View Street, when the car was shot, police said. Advertisement The man sustained injuries that are not life-threatening, police said. I-64 was shut down this morning for 45 minutes as police searched for possible evidence. Advertisement Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to call 757-424-6800 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov. Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com Moira, a 9 week old Labrador puppy sniffs the camera after dropping her stick during a Guiding Eyes for the Blind foundation class at Talbot Community Center, in Easton, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. This exercise helps a puppy with the "leave it" command. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Pilots To The Rescue's Natalie Kelley holds and kisses Quincy an 8 week old Labrador puppy, as they arrive at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Quince of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy program, will be handed off to her volunteer "Puppy Raiser." Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Volunteer puppy raiser Suzette Galyean works with 5-month-old German Shepard puppy Thunder during a Guiding Eyes for the Blind big puppy class at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, in Bowie, Md., Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Kenji, a 13-week-old German Shepard puppy, looks to his Puppy Raiser Cindy Tait during a Guiding Eyes for the Blind foundation class at Talbot Community Center, in Easton, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Moira, an 8 week old Labrador puppy, gives lots of puppy kisses to her Guiding Eyes for the Blind volunteer "Puppy Raiser" Debbie Roschli, at they meet on the tarmac moments after Moira arrived at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Roschli will raise Moira for a year as part of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy program that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Pierre, an 8-week-old German Shepard puppy, sleeps soundly after the flight and tarmac greet with his volunteer Puppy Raiser at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Pierre is in Guiding Eyes for the Blind program that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Guiding Eyes for the Blind volunteer "Puppy Raiser" Debbie Roschli, plays with Moira, an 8 week old Labrador puppy, on the tarmac at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Roschli will raise Moira for a year as part of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy program that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Brahms, left, and three other Labrador retriever puppies wait with their volunteer "Puppy Raisers" to board a flight at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. The puppies have completed this stage of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind program and must leave their "Puppy Raisers," and journey back to the Guiding Eyes headquarters for formal training to become guide dogs. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Moira, an 8 week old Labrador puppy, zooms to the end of her leash held by Guiding Eyes for the Blind volunteer "Puppy Raiser" Debbie Roschli, as they play on the tarmac moments after Moira arrived at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Roschli will raise Moira for a year as part of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy program that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Grand, left, is awarded the Guiding Eyes Puppy Olympics 2022 gold medal and Kenji is awarded silver at the end of their Guiding Eyes for the Blind foundation class at Talbot Community Center, in Easton, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. This game helps puppies become comfortable having something placed over their heads. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Volunteer "Puppy Raisers" from left, Lynette Gebhardt, Debbie Dugan, Leigh Goetzke and Debbie Roschli, attempt to wrangle their puppies on the tarmac for a photo at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. They will raise the puppies for a year for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy program that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Pilots To The Rescue "Top Dog" Michael Schneider gets puppy kisses from Moira, an 8 week old Labrador puppy, as they arrive at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Moira, part of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy program, will be handed off to her volunteer "Puppy Raiser." Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs to people with vision loss and vision impairment at no cost to the recipient. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Pete, an 8-week-old German Shepard puppy, and Gin Owens, practice the free feeding command during a Guiding Eyes for the Blind foundation puppy class at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, in Bowie, Md., on Valentine's day, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. This command teaches a puppy to wait for food. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Kenji, a 13-week-old German Shepard puppy, looks up at puppy raiser Cindy Tait after she dressed him in rain boots during a Guiding Eyes for the Blind foundation class at Talbot Community Center, in Easton, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. This exercise helps a puppy get comfortable being handled. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Brahms is walked by volunteer puppy raiser Chris Bohmer to board a Pilots to the Rescue flight at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 Brahms has completed this stage of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind program and must leave Bohmer his "Puppy Raiser" and journey back to the Guiding Eyes headquarters for formal training to become a guide dog. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Queenie, an eight week old Labrador puppy, yawns in a warm sweater before the start of her Guiding Eyes for the Blind foundation class with volunteer puppy raiser Debbie Dugan at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, in Bowie, Md., Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Denali, a young Labrador retriever, waits with volunteer puppy raiser Carolyn Schaefer to board a Pilots to the Rescue flight at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Delani has completed this stage of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind program and must leave Schaefer his "Puppy Raiser" and journey back to the Guiding Eyes headquarters for formal training to become a guide dog. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Prev 1 of 17 Next FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) Wiggles, kisses, and puppy breath. The five 8-week-old Labrador retriever and German shepherd puppies were open-hearted balls of fluff when they first arrived at Tipton Airport in Fort Meade earlier this month. Now, they are on a path to greatness potentially as guide dogs that will transform the lives of people with vision loss and vision impairment. The furry faithful-friends-to-be traveled aboard a Pilots To The Rescue flight from the Guiding Eyes for the Blind headquarters in Yorktown Heights, New York, where they were born and spent the first two months of their lives with their moms and siblings. Although the young canines have been bred for health and temperament, it will require the expertise of the volunteer Puppy Raisers here to transform the excitable, wiggly youngsters into well-trained, well-mannered and well-socialized dogs. The process will involve 14 to 16 months of weekly classes and evaluations. Training starts with the basics: name recognition, manners and commands such as sit and down. More complex commands are then taught before the puppies are introduced to the world by the raisers and the raisers families. Cindy Tait, a regional manager for Guiding Eyes for the Blinds Puppy Program, and others keep a watchful eye on the training and help with bumps along the way. Once a solid, loving foundation is in place, puppies must leave their raisers and return to the Guiding Eyes training center for formal guide dog training. Formal training is where, ultimately, the dogs demonstrate whether they will become a guide for the blind, a different kind of service dog, or someones pet. Denali is one of four bigger puppies placed aboard a return flight to Guiding Eyes the day the new recruits arrived. Tait got tears in her eyes as she watched Puppy Raiser Carolyn Schaefer say goodbye to the yellow lab and walk him to the plane. This is the hard part, Tait said. But she said knowing a guide dog has the power to help people softens the blow. Puppy raisers come back over and over. Tait has raised Roxanne, Katrina, Velour, Gus, Mystic, Oregon, Kelby, Tad, Eagle, Winnie, and now Kenji, her 11th guide dog puppy. BUCHAREST, Romania U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that Washingtons dedication to the collective defense of NATO is ironclad as she visited allied Romania, which has experienced a flood of refugees from neighboring Ukraine amid Russias invasion there. We take seriously, and are prepared to act on, the words we speak when we say, An attack on one is an attack against all,' Harris said during a news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. Harris also thanked Romania, a Balkan country of 19 million residents, for welcoming tens of thousands of displaced people from Ukraine as of earlier this week. The Ukrainian refugee crisis is expected to only become more challenging in the days and weeks ahead, and Harris said the Romanian people have been extraordinary in the generosity and the courage you have shown in this moment. She warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of engaging in serious diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine. And she reiterated that Americans should be prepared to endure higher gas prices as the U.S. and its allies punish Russia, a major global oil supplier, with economic sanctions for the invasion. There is a price to pay for democracy. Gotta stand with your friends, Harris said, adding that sometimes its difficult, often it aint easy. Iohannis said he would increase his countrys defense spending from 2% to 2.5% of its gross domestic product, or GDP, the latest example of European nations investing more in national security amid Russian aggression. He also said that NATO needs to fundamentally rethink its approach to its eastern flank, and he spoke with Harris about enhancing the alliances presence there. NATO will act without hesitation to defend each and every allied state, including, obviously, Romania, Iohannis said. It is a scenario that all of us want to avoid. Harris talks in Bucharest with Iohannis came after she spent Thursday in Poland, which has already welcomed some 1.5 million Ukrainians since the invasion began last month. She met in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Ukrainian refugees and others in hopes of getting a fuller picture of the unfolding humanitarian crisis. Harris told Iohannis soon after arriving in Bucharest that she sought to reaffirm our commitment to this partnership and also to the NATO alliance as a whole. The southeastern European country of Romania had taken in more than 84,000 displaced people as of Tuesday, according to United Nations data. Other countries on NATOs eastern flank, including Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia, have also welcomed tens of thousands of refugees. Harris said the U.S. was absolutely prepared to support those who understand the moral obligation we should feel to help people who are fleeing harm and seeking refuge; the burden we should all be prepared to take on to support those people who are fleeing their home when they dont want to leave. Duda, in a press conference with Harris, said Polish leaders are aware that the problem is growing and that this problem is increasing. We have to somehow handle it, and we do not have the experience, he said. Overall, more than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, and the number of displaced people continues to grow daily. The United Nations warns that up to 5 million people could flee Ukraine. That would make it the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. Duda said he had asked Harris to relay to President Joe Biden that Poland would like to see expedited visa procedures for Ukrainians who have family living in the United States so that they could resettle in the U.S. at least temporarily. Harris said most refugees who have fled Ukraine prefer to remain in Europe. Earlier this month, the administration offered humanitarian relief to Ukrainians in the United States, which could protect thousands from being deported to their war-torn homeland. Ukrainians already in the U.S. would be able to stay in the U.S. for up to 18 months under the federal program known as Temporary Protected Status. The Pentagon announced last month it was deploying a Stryker squadron of about 1,000 additional soldiers to Romania, a NATO member, as the Biden administration looks to bolster the military alliances presence on NATOs eastern flank. U.S. officials remain concerned about Romanias vulnerability in the midst of Russian activity in the Black Sea. Before departing Warsaw for Romania on Friday, Harris met with U.S. and Polish troops. We stand as partners, Harris told the troops. We work together, we train together, we form friendships that are based on solidarity, mutual values and shared principles. ___ Megerian reported from Washington. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Negotiations aimed at restoring Irans tattered nuclear deal with world powers went on what its European hosts described as a pause on Friday, after Russia demanded relief from sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine. Diplomats offered no timetable for when the monthslong talks in Vienna would resume. Negotiators even on Friday maintained that a roadmap was near for how the United States could rejoin the accord it unilaterally withdrew from in 2018, and for Iran to again limit its rapidly advancing nuclear program. While Josep Borrell, the European Unions foreign policy chief, only referred to external factors forcing the pausing, it appeared the Russian demand caused the disruption. The real issue for this pause here is what Russia has thrown on the table, which is essentially a grenade in the middle of the negotiations, said Henry Rome, deputy head of research at the Eurasia Group who has been following the talks. Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he wanted guarantees at least at the level of the secretary of state that the U.S. sanctions would not affect Moscows relationship with Tehran. While American officials sought to describe the demand as not related to the Vienna talks, matters swiftly stalled Friday with a tweet from Borrell. A pause in (hashtag)ViennaTalks is needed, due to external factors. A final text is essentially ready and on the table, Borrell wrote. As coordinator, I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all (hashtag)JCPOA participants and the U.S. to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement. The JCPOA, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the formal name of the 2015 deal that saw Iran limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. EU negotiator Enrique Mora met Friday with Iranian officials before telling journalists that we are almost there with the talks. Almost everything is done, Mora said. We are almost at the limit of negotiating footnotes. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the pause could be a momentum for resolving any remaining issue ahead of restoring the deal. Successful conclusion of talks will be the main focus of all, he wrote on Twitter. No external factor will affect our joint will to go forward for a collective agreement. Khatibzadeh did not identify the external issue Iran has been careful in the waning days of the talks not to upset Russia, which it views as an ally against the U.S. Iran also partnered with Russia in Syria to support Syrian President Bashar Assad. But historic distrust between the nations remains over Russias invasion of Iran during World War II and refusing to leave afterward. A report by Irans state-run IRNA news agency, quoting an anonymous source it described as close to Tehrans negotiators, also suggested Russias demands caused the pause. There are some issues such as the issues between Russia and the United States, which, of course, will be unrelated to the issue of Irans talks and that need to be resolved between the U.S. and Russia, IRNA quoted the source as saying. However, Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, speaking to journalists outside of the Vienna hotel where the talks took place, insisted: Im not aware of any impasse. Contacts will continue, he said. The conclusion of the deal does not depend on Russia only. Chinese Ambassador Wang Qun said negotiators regret the pause and added, as we know, negotiation cannot be conducted in a political vacuum. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was key for the negotiation that there are no attempts from outside to undo the success of these talks. For me it is very clear that it is also the job of powers such as Russia or China that they support these results constructively, Scholz said. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Friday that negotiators are still working through a number, a very small number, but still a number of what are undoubtedly difficult issues. But he also warned America had no intention of offering Russia anything new or specific as it relates to the (Ukraine) sanctions. There will need to be decisions made in places like Tehran and Moscow, Price told reporters. And if that political will is there, if that seriousness of purpose is there, we remain confident that we can achieve a mutual return to compliance in fairly short order. However, British negotiator Stephanie Al-Qaq struck a more somber note, warning Friday on Twitter that the external factors must be resolved in next few days or agreement likely to unravel. The 2015 nuclear deal saw Iran put advanced centrifuges into storage under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency, while keeping its enrichment at 3.67% purity and its stockpile at only 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of uranium. It also halted enrichment at its underground Fordo nuclear facility. As of Feb. 19, the IAEA says Irans stockpile of all enriched uranium was nearly 3,200 kilograms (7,055 pounds). Some has been enriched up to 60% purity a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Meanwhile, Iran has stopped the IAEA from accessing its surveillance camera footage and has resumed enrichment at Fordo. That has worried nuclear nonproliferation experts. While Iran insists its program is peaceful, the IAEA and Western governments say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003. Having Iran able to sell its crude oil and natural gas on the global market could also push down energy prices. Americans now pay the highest-ever prices at the pump for gasoline, fueled by Russias war on Ukraine. Negotiators likely could find other places for Irans excess uranium to go than Russia and make other changes to the deal, Rome said. However, it remains unclear how long this pause could last. I think the longer the pause, the greater the risk that the talks enter a kind of zombie state where there is neither a breakthrough nor a breakdown, but Iran continues with its nuclear advancements, he said. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington, Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. An 18-year-old Las Cruces man who was hailed as a hero for helping thwart a 2020 attempted kidnapping and assault has died in a motorcycle crash, police said. Canaan Bower was killed Wednesday when his motorcycle collided with a car making a turn, police said Thursday in a statement. Bower was a 16-year-old high school wrestler when he body-slammed a man who allegedly punched a woman at a bus stop and demanded she turn over her three children to him. Bower intervened and held the man for sheriffs deputies. The March 25, 2020 incident drew national attention, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. Bower was selected as the USA Wrestling Athlete of the week, in recognition of his bravery, and the New Mexico State Senate proclaimed him as a hero. Bower was recognized by Dona Ana County with a proclamation, honoring his courage, bravery and heroism, and naming that day as the Canaan Bower day of Valor. His mother, Kara Garrett Bower, said on social media that the family was overwhelmed with sadness. Canaan lived life to the fullest, and loved with his whole heart. He will be forever missed, she said. JACKSON, Miss. Relatives of Emmett Till joined with supporters Friday in asking authorities to reverse their decision to close an investigation of the Black teenagers 1955 lynching and instead prosecute a white woman at the center of the case from the very beginning. Authorities have known for decades that Carolyn Bryant Donham, now in her 80s and living in North Carolina, played a key role in Tills slaying, and they need to act immediately to bring her to justice before time runs out, said Deborah Watts, a cousin of Till. Time is not on our side, Watts, who lives in Minnesota and heads the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, said during a news conference that included a saxophone serenade of a civil rights anthem at the Mississippi Capitol. Relatives presented Mississippi authorities with a petition signed by about 250,000 people seeking a renewed probe of the killing, which came to demonstrate the depth of racial hatred in the South to the world. Other petition drives continue. Michelle Williams, chief of staff for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, cast doubt on the possibility of a renewed investigation. In a statement, she said the Justice Department had worked with a local district attorneys office in a re-examination that ended in December. This is a tragic and horrible crime, but the FBI, which has far greater resources than our office, has investigated this matter twice and determined that there is nothing more to prosecute, Williams said. The Justice Department announced in December it was ending its renewed investigation into the killing of Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago who was abducted, tortured and killed after witnesses said he whistled at Donham, then known as Carolyn Bryant, at a family store where she worked in rural Money, Mississippi. Federal officials had reopened the investigation after a 2017 book quoted Donham as saying she lied when she claimed Till accosted her. Relatives have publicly denied that Donham recanted her allegations, and Donham told the FBI she had never changed her story, the Justice Department said. The Justice Department also said historian Timothy B. Tyson, author of The Blood of Emmett Till, was unable to produce recordings or transcripts to substantiate his account of Donham allegedly admitting to lying about her encounter with the teen. The FBI investigation included a talk with one of Tills cousins, the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., who previously told The Associated Press in an interview that he heard Till whistle at the woman, but the teen did nothing to warrant being killed. Donhams then-husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother J.W. Milam, were tried on murder charges about a month after Till was killed, but an all-white Mississippi jury acquitted them. Months later, they confessed in a paid interview with Look magazine. The Justice Department found Bryant and Milam were not the only people involved, however, and estimates on the number of people who might have played a role in Tills killing range from from a half-dozen to more than 14. Although its unlikely a governor would have a role in deciding whether to reopen an investigation, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves was asked during a Friday news conference about Tills family seeking justice for the teenagers lynching. The lynching of any teenager is of significance and certainly something that we as a society should do anything in our power to make sure that we bring anyone that committed that crime, or any other, to justice, said Reeves, a Republican. On Monday, Congress gave final approval to legislation that for the first time would make lynching a federal hate crime, sending the bill to President Joe Biden. Years in the making, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act is among some 200 bills that have been introduced over the past century that have tried to ban lynching in the U.S. ___ Reeves reported from Birmingham, Alabama. Instagram Celebrity The judge calls out the 'Empire' star's 'selfish and narcissistic' traits in sentencing him to 150 days in jail as part of an overall sentence of 30 months probation. Mar 11, 2022 AceShowbiz - Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to jail time for his elaborate hate crime hoax. As soon as he learned of his sentence, he went off on the judge, maintaining his innocence and telling him if he dies in prison it's not suicide. "I am not suicidal. I am innocent," he yelled, pulling off his mask just as deputies prepared to take him to the Cook County Jail. "If I did this then it means I stuck my fist in the fears of black Americans in this country of over 400 years in this country and the years of the LGBT communityif anything happens to me when I'm in there, I did not do it to myself and you must all know that. I respect you your honor and your decision." On Thursday, March 10, Cook County Judge James Linn handed down an overall sentence of 30 months probation, $120,106 in restitution to the Windy City, and a further $25,000 fine. Smollett will spend the first 150 days of his probation in the Cook County Jail. Smollett faced up to three years in prison for each of the five felony counts, but his lack of a previous criminal record mostly contributed to his lenient sentence. In his statement, the borderline angry judge told the 39-year-old, "Let me tell you Mr. Smollett, I know that there is nothing that I will do here today that can come close to the damage you've already done to your own life." He added, "You've turned your life upside down by your misconduct and shenanigans, you've destroyed your life as you knew it, and there's nothing that any sentencing judge could do to you that can compare to the damage you've already caused yourself." Judge Linn called out Smollett's "selfish and narcissistic" traits, saying, "There are giving sides to youbut there is another side to you that is selfish and narcissistic. And this bad side of you came out here. I believe you did damage to actual hate crime victims." He added, "These are people who have a difficult time coming forwardthey way not want to come forward due to mistrust." As for motive, Judge Linn determined that the crimes where not money motivated, but rather, for fame and attention. "You wanted to make yourself more famous. Why would you betray social justice issues which you care so much about? I believe that you did real damage to hate crime victims," the judge stated. "I find that your extreme premeditation is an aggravating factor in this caseyou've turned yourself to riches to ragsyour very name has become an adverb for lying." "You're just a charlatan, pretending to be the victim of a hate crime. You committed hour upon hour of pure perjury. We've talked about this for two years - I do believe that at the end of the day, Mr. Smollett received a fair trial," Judge Linn also said. In an attempt to get a reduced sentence, Smollet's 92-year old grandmother Molly Smollett and ex-"Empire" musical director Rich Daniels took the stand. She called him a "justice warrior," who has been steeped in social activism for years. Instagram Movie The 'Bodak Yellow' raptress allegedly feels her schedule being 'overextended' which leads her to back away from her role just days before the production is set to start in New York. Mar 11, 2022 AceShowbiz - Paramount Players has reportedly shut down "Assisted Living" production. The film studio allegedly decided to pull the plug on its comedy film after Cardi B dropped out of her leading role. On Thursday, March 10, Deadline reported that Paramount Players canceled the project one week before the production was set to start in New York. The decision came after the 29-year-old hip-hop star backed away from her role due to her schedule being "overextended." Other cast and crew were told the film has at least temporarily been scratched. The outlet further noted that when a star pulls out of a movie this late, the exit often is followed by legal action. However, sources claimed that "the hope is to put the pieces back together later this year." Thembi Banks, who produced "Love Life", "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Work in Progress", is set to make her feature directorial debut with "Assisted Living", which is written by "This Is Us" writer Kay Oyegun. The production budget of the comedy film is reportedly around $30 million. The film originally followed Cardi as Amber, a low-level criminal falsely accused of a crime. Amber has to stay free long enough to prove her innocence and holes up at her grandmother's retirement home. In January last year, Cardi confirmed her involvement in "Assisted Living". At the time, the "WAP" femcee took to her Twitter account to retweet @hosthetics' post that read, "WAP = working at Paramount." Cardi recently starred as Leysa, a woman who shares history with Vin Diesel's street racer character, in "F9". The musician is also set to reprise her role in "Fast and Furious 10", which is scheduled for release in 2023. Cardi, who also had a small role as Diamond in "Hustlers", is currently busy with her upcoming second album that's set to be released this year. On March 9, the raptress admitted in a Twitter post that her "next single is super pressure." Instagram Celebrity Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Bernice King has joined others who slam the Duke of Cambridge's controversial statement regarding the Ukraine-Russia war. Mar 11, 2022 AceShowbiz - Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Bernice King weighed in on Prince William's controversial statement regarding the Ukraine-Russia war. Joining others, King criticized the Duke of Cambridge for referring to war in Europe as "very alien." Calling it a "horrific comment," King wrote on Twitter, "European people ran roughshod over the continent of Africa, pillaging communities, raping women, enslaving human beings, colonizing for profit and power, stealing resources, causing generational devastation." She added, "And European nations continue to harm Africa." It was initially reported that during a Ukrainian community event, William suggested Britains were more used to seeing conflict in Africa and Asia. However, ITV released footage of his full comments, and it didn't appear that he referenced the two continents. After the new footage surfaced, King said in a separate tweet, "I believe that we have a great deal of work to do globally to eradicate what my father called the Triple Evils of Militarism, Racism and Poverty. I believe that language matters in that work. And that it is harmful for a global figure to express war as 'alien to Europe.' " Bernice King blasted Prince William over his controversial comment on Ukraine. Prince William faced backlash for the comment he made when paying a visit to a Ukrainian Cultural Centre in London to meet volunteers on Wednesday, March 9 alongside his wife Kate Middleton. "Britons were more used to seeing conflict in Africa and Asia," Prince William said, adding, "It's very alien to see this in Europe. We are all behind you." He also said that he wanted to do more to help. "We feel so useless," he added. William also revealed that his three children have been asking about the war. "Ours have been coming home asking all about it," he shared. "They are obviously talking about it with their friends at school." Additionally, he claimed that he tried to be "careful" with his words when discussing the conflict in Ukraine. Instagram Celebrity The 'WAP' hitmaker reacts to a viral video that captures a fight involving middle school students and their substitute teacher during which chairs are thrown. Mar 11, 2022 AceShowbiz - Cardi B might not be the best student at school, but she knew better how to respect teachers. The Grammy Award-winning artist has spoken up to condemn a student's violent outburst toward a teacher in Texas. On Thursday, March 10, the Bronx femcee reacted to a video which captured a student throwing a chair at a teacher in class. Finding it upsetting, she wrote on Twitter, "Disgusting this generation is really lost." The 29-year-old then compared students in the video to herself and her friends at school. "I went to school wit a lot of gangstas and no matter what they never put their hands on a teacher," so she claimed, before remining them, "Kids this is not respected,not cool,not funny,not tough,not gangsta .it's giving y'all p***y." Many agreed with Cardi, as one follower replied, "Children be really acting super entitled lately." Another echoed Cardi's sentiment, "I'd never heard of a student putting hands on a teacher till this current generation where so many parents allow their kids to run wild. " Another user chimed in, "You ain't never lied, ever since I graduated witch was last year I feel like kids in school gotten way worse especially when it comes to being disrespectful to these teachers." A fourth added, "I am really disgusted and sad to be a part of this generation, this not being respectful and not giving a f**k for human life s**t needs to stop!!!!" Someone else blames "the schoolnsystem for allowing the parents to dictate what they do all because they might donate funds to the school. Paddling was a HUGE help back in school when we was in school, true enough some officials took it too far, but get rid of them , don't get rid of paddling." Another person, meanwhile, opined, "The only time I 'disrespect' a teacher is when they disrespect me... personally idc what age you are respect goes both ways (I'm not saying the kids aren't wrong) and you don't get respect from me just because you're an adult." The video in question captured a fight between middle school students and their substitute teacher which took place on Wednesday at DeSoto West Middle School outside Dallas. In the clip, one of the students hurled a chair toward the teacher's face, prompting the teacher to throw two chairs in retaliation. The teacher then went back to his desk. He was seen bleeding and wiping blood off his face while another student was filming it. A representative for DeSoto Independent School District has confirmed to WFAA that the teacher was attacked first. He was treated for his injuries at the school by paramedics. "The district makes clear that it does not condone or tolerate the behavior that took place in the incident and that all parties will be held accountable to the full extent of the districts ability to address the matter," the school district said late Wednesday. The school district assured it will "more consistently enforce student discipline guidelines," adding that it will work with police to prevent any further incidents. "The actions of those featured in the video are not reflective of the larger body of students and staff of DeSoto ISD," the district added. "It is important to note that unauthorized filming within the school setting and the posting of such content online are violations of the DeSoto ISD Student Code of Conduct which could result in disciplinary action in accordance with district guidelines." DeSoto Police, meanwhile, stated it was aware of the videos, and "all sides of the incident" are being investigated. WENN/Avalon Celebrity In an Instagram post, the 25-year-old runway model credits Argentine model Mica Arganaraz and 'my amazing sis' Gigi who also donate all their earnings from Fashion Week to Ukraine. Mar 11, 2022 AceShowbiz - Bella Hadid is joining her sister Gigi Hadid in doing a good deed for the people of Ukraine. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, March 9, Bella revealed that she will also donate the money she earns during Fashion Week to provide aid to Ukraine. Alongside a picture of her during the fashion event, Bella expressed what she felt about the Ukraine-Russia war. "To watch my Ukrainian friends and colleagues working hard here in Europe, so close but so far from their families/friends/homes in Ukraine who are experiencing one of many brutal occupations and invasions happening right now in the world is a very emotional and humbling experience for me," she wrote. She added, "We rarely have control of our work schedules and this week has really shown me the strength and perseverance of the people around me who are going through pure terror." "To hear their stories and emotions first hand is devastating and I wholeheartedly stand with them in support. I stand along side every person that has been affected by this war and the innocent people who's lives have been changed forever from the hands of 'power,' " she continued. In the post, the 25-year-old runway model credited Argentine model Mica Arganaraz and "my amazing sis" Gigi for the action. "I will be donating all of my earnings from this Fashion Week directly to organizations that are providing help, refuge and medical aide to those in need on the ground in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support our Palestinian people and land," Bella said. Gigi, meanwhile, announced that she pledges to donate her earnings from 2022 fashion shows to Ukraine on March 6. The 26-year-old catwalk beauty wrote on Instagram, "Having a set Fashion Month schedule has meant that my colleagues and I often present new fashion collections during heartbreaking and traumatic times in history. We don't have control over most of our work schedules, but we would like to walk 'for' something." "Following in the footsteps of my friend @micarganaraz, I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine," Gigi vowed. The former Victoria's Secret Angel went on to add that she'll donate her earnings to "support those experiencing the same in Palestine" as well. Lubbock, TX (79409) Today Cloudy skies. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Axis Bank, Indias third-largest private sector bank and also a strong advocate of cybersecurity has recently launched the #InnChoroSeSawadhaan film, a digital campaign on cyber awareness & fraud protection in partnership with the Gujarat Police. The purpose of the campaign is to create awareness among people on the latest modus operandi adopted by fraudsters to digitally dupe people of their hard-earned money. The launch ceremony was attended by dignitaries from both Axis Bank and Gujarat Police Department. The Gujarat Police Department was represented by Mr. Sanjay Srivastava (IPS), Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ajay Chaudhary, JCP (Admin & Headquarter), Mr. Amit Vasava, DCP Cyber Crime, while Axis Bank was represented by Mr. Lalit Chopra, EVP & Regional Branch Banking Head West 2, Ms. Neepa Shah, VP & Cluster Head and Ms. Mili Singhal, VP & Business Head Salary West 2 along with Mr. Harsh Uprety and Ms. Prasanna Ramdas. Commenting on the launch, Anoop Manohar, Chief Marketing Officer, Axis Bank said, At Axis Bank, we have always considered the safety and security of our customers as the utmost priority. As customer custodians, we believe that it is our duty to spread awareness and to ensure that they are not only cognizant of various types of online frauds, but are also aware of several measures that can help prevent them from becoming victims of such fraud. Were delighted to partner with the Gujarat Police Department to spread this message amongst the customers. Dentsu Impact, in association with Ozone - a leading Indian brand in the digital locks and safes segment, has launched the Ab Chalegi Finger Key campaign. The campaign metaphorically demonstrates the connection between Ozones digital lock and electronic voting wherein one can open a lock using one finger and simultaneously vote for a better future. Conceptualized and executed by Dentsu Impact, a dentsuMB Company & the creative agency from Dentsu India, the 360-degree campaign includes print, radio, digital & OOH. Further, the brand has also launched an IP (Intellectual Property) in association with the prominent news channels NDTV and ABP. The multi-episode program on the news channels nudges the voters to make the right choice for themselves and society. It also includes an exclusive anthem to help attract mass appeal and celebrity endorsements along with on-ground interviews with audiences and debates. With this campaign, the brand has interestingly used the Indian elections as a platform and transformed it into one of the hottest debating arenas. It is pertinent to note here that the current campaign follows closely in the wake of the brands Guccha Singh Campaign, a runaway hit, urging people to move from a Chabiyoun Ka Guccha (a bunch of keys) to the new age digital locks with multiple access mode that gives unmatched security with utmost ease. Abhishek Aggarwal, President, Ozone Overseas said, At Ozone, our prime focus is to provide solutions that are high-tech, safe, and hassle-free for the consumer. Through this campaign, we aim to sensitize people that by exercising the power of their finger they can choose the right government for better security and progress just like with a swipe of their fingers they can secure their valuables. We are consistently working towards enhancing the customer experience by altering the traditional usage of keys with our digital key that effortlessly eliminates the breach of security system, allowing the consumer more control and efficiency, he further added. Ujjwal Anand, Executive Vice President, Dentsu Impact commented, Elections give that one chance to the voters to exercise their rights for a safe, secure and brighter future. Using the power of the voting finger, they can make changes that really matter. Is baar kiski chalegi, is baar kaun ayega, satta kisko milegi are all turn of phrases that we get to hear particularly around the election frenzy. We decided to give a spin to these phrases and hinge our campaign articulation around the verbiage. And so Ab Chalegi Finger Key! Mayank Khattar, Executive Creative Director, Dentsu Impact said, While in the earlier campaign the mascot we created was around a popular face and larger than life Chabiyoun Ka Guccha, this campaign takes the engagement to a different space, by tapping into the culture of elections and voting in India; the finger as a voting tool, readily recognizable, took centre stage. We used the finger as a symbol of power in peoples hands. The overall tonality of the campaign has been thought-provoking, urging people of states where the elections are being conducted, to acknowledge and exercise their voting rights and choose a better, progressive future. Just like our digital locks that take the security of our homes and valuables to a different level that too with five access modes, giving the control in peoples hands. The instant connection of the people with empowering index finger is striking. Maruti Suzuki India launches a unique awareness campaign Learn the expert way for Maruti Suzuki Driving School (MSDS). The campaign highlights the new-age, tech-enabled and exciting learning experiences which MSDS provides for new learners. Pioneering in facilitating driving skills among car drivers, Maruti Suzuki Driving School has been imparting hands on practical knowledge and experience for over 15 years now. MSDS provides scientifically and holistically designed courses which are fuelled by tech enabled learning like driving simulator, modern digital courses and professional trainer guidance. Maruti Suzuki Driving School, Indias leading organized driving training school, has successfully trained more than 1.6 million applicants in safe driving. MSDS was created with the core endeavour of making Indian roads safer, it has introduced global standards for quality driving training. MSDS has persistently set benchmarks through its advanced training methodology that includes state-of-the-art driving simulators, and carefully designed practical & theoretical courses. The courses offered by MSDS are specifically personalised in-line with the requirement of every applicant. Highlights of the campaign: Campaign Title Learn the expert way The structure of the integrated campaign is targeted to reach out to the audience through: Digital, Radio and OOH Deep dive into the creative ads: Testimonial-led digital films: Six films are curated to highlight MSDS offerings in the testimonial-led approach. Three films depict student testimonies and other three highlight instructor/trainer testimonies Deep dive into OOH ads: Ensuring the reach to the audience via outdoor presence in the vicinity of MSDS showrooms; A 2-week activity with 100 spots in 18 potential cities Deep dive into Radio ads: Creating awareness through high frequency presence on radio 3 different radio spots highlighting the value proposition of Maruti Suzuki Driving School State-of-the-art Driving Simulator Scientifically Designed Curriculum Trainer Expertise Presence on radio will be for 3 weeks of high decibel campaign across 6 top cities (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR) for maximum outreach. Media is not just a reliable tool for information but also brings about a positive change/makes a difference for the better. News18 Lokmat recently proved the point loud and clear by being the catalyst in bringing about the much-required reforms through its latest initiative, Yamacha Highway. We all know how roads and highway networks are a mark of pride and achievement as it acts as a catalyst for development and progress of every geographical region. Sadly, the concerned roadway network has been a witness to one of the largest number of accidents and fatalities that are often disastrous. The death ratio has been increasing day by day due to severe injuries due to these frequent accidents. Studies and research have shown that road accidents are mostly due to reckless driving, poorly constructed roads and roadblocks. Armed with the domain understanding that road transport is the essential and most dangerous mode of transport News18 Lokmat had aired their safety awareness series titled Yamacha Highway. It was an initiative to reduce the number of accidents and incidents by identifying the loopholes and black spots, and maintain a sense of social commitment. Correspondents of the channel extensively covered various black spots on the highways of Pune, Baramati, Junnar, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Nagpur, Buldana, Nashik and districts which have the highest number of accidents. The idea of this one-month-long series was also to reintroduce and inform people to adhere to road safety norms. After the news series on accidents in the Navale Bridge area, which was caused due to Punes black spot, the officials admitted that there was a mistake in the design of the bridge and informed that they would submit DPR or Detailed Project Report again. Later, based on this series in Junnar, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil inspected the problem and demanded the central government to repair the black spots immediately. The New18 Lokmat drive has made an impact amongst the citizens and also awakened the administration to look after road safety. Ashutosh Patil, Editor of News18 Lokmat, informed that in view of the growing mass base of awareness among the people, the channel will continue to air issue based news series every month with an aim to spread awareness and bring about a solution. After all, its time! The Walt Disney Company has announced the closure of the release of theatrical films in Russia, after news of its unwarranted invasion of Ukraine, according to a company release. It is reviewing the rest of its businesses in Russia. In view of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the uncompromising violence imposed there, we have decided to cease all our business operations in Russia, including Disney Cruise Line activities, product and content licensing, linear channels, National Geographic magazine, local content productions and tours, said a Disney spokesperson. The company added that some of the business undertakings in Russia will cease straight away. Others activities will take a certain amount of time to be stopped completely due to complications in contractual norms. He also added that the company will be devoted to helping its employees who are in Russia and they will continue to remain employed. Besides, it will provide necessary assistance and aid to the refugees by working with its NGO partners. The Goafest Organising Committee today announced that Times Network has come on board as Presenting Sponsors of Goafest 2022, the apex industry event that celebrates milestones in the Indian media and advertising industry. Goafest will be held on May 5, 6 and 7, 2022 at the Grand Hyatt, Goa. Speaking about partnering with Goafest 2022, MK Anand, MD & CEO, Times Network, said, We are truly excited that after a gap of a couple of years Goafest is coming back. And Im sure it will be the biggest yet, considering the fact that most of us have been restrained by the pandemic all this while and are literally straining at the leash to be let out. I am particularly looking forward to the event as Times Network is once again returning as Presenting Sponsor of this most awaited Advertising Festival in South Asia. Prasanth Kumar, Vice President, AAAI and CEO South Asia, GroupM Media, added here, It is wonderful to have Times Network as presenting sponsor yet again. Goafest is a platform, where great work is reflected and thought leadership is demonstrated. Having such an opportunity to be inspired and learn is incredibly valuable to all of us. We look forward to having yet another wonderful Goafest. Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman, Goafest 2022 Organising Committee, said, Times Network has been associated with almost every edition of Goafest from its inception, in some way or the other. It is our pleasure to welcome back Times Network as Presenting Sponsor in the 15th year of the festival. Delegate registrations and Abby Award entries are open. For details log on www.goafest.com. The Federal Council Bern, 11.03.2022 - Around 12 million people are dependent on emergency aid because of Russia's ongoing military intervention in Ukraine. At its meeting of 11 March, the Federal Council decided to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine and the wider region to CHF 80 million. With this contribution, Switzerland is expressing its solidarity with Ukrainians in need. About 12 million people are currently dependent on emergency aid as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Many lack access to electricity, water, food and other basic necessities. Millions have been forced to flee their homes but remain in Ukraine. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns that over two million people have already fled to neighbouring countries more than half of them to Poland. The vast majority of those displaced are women and children, as able-bodied men are obliged to remain behind in Ukraine to defend their country. In their latest appeals for support, the UN and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement put the funding needs for Ukraine and neighbouring countries at just under USD 2 billion over the next three months. Switzerland responded swiftly to the war in Ukraine with humanitarian aid. Switzerland's humanitarian support package currently involves three elements: sending relief supplies, deploying Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) specialists and providing financial support to humanitarian organisations. To date, Switzerland has sent over 500 tonnes of relief supplies to Ukraine, Poland and Moldova. Switzerland's support package for the initial phase of the aid operation amounts to CHF 8 million. Major increase in financial aid In response to the refugee crisis, the Federal Council decided at its meeting of 11 March to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine to a total of CHF 80 million. With this contribution, Switzerland is expressing its solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their time of need. A quarter of this sum will be used to help Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries. Three quarters are earmarked to help those who have remained in Ukraine. The funds will go to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies, international and local NGOs and projects implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Ukraine. The FDFA is contributing CHF 21 million from existing credits; the Federal Department of Justice and Police CHF 6 million. The remaining CHF 53 million are additional funds and will be submitted to parliamentary approval. Address for enquiries For further information: FDFA Communication Tel. +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service +41 460 55 55 kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html The Federal Council Bern, 11.03.2022 - At its 11 March 2022 meeting, the Federal Council approved the procurement plan for COVID-19 vaccines for 2023. The main goal is to ensure the supply for members of the public under all pandemic scenarios. Seven million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech and seven million doses of Moderna vaccine will be procured for 2023, with options for an additional seven million doses of each. The Federal Council has also decided to provide the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) with a further ten million francs in funding. The Federal Council is applying to Parliament for a supplementary credit for the procurement of COVID-19 drugs. For 2023, in addition to the seven million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine already purchased, the Federal Council has decided to also procure seven million doses from Moderna. At the same time, Switzerland has options to be exercised only if needed to procure a further seven million vaccine doses from each provider. In addition to this, a maximum of one million doses will be acquired from another vaccine manufacturer as an alternative to the mRNA vaccines. The Federal Councils strategy minimises the risk of a vaccine shortage in 2023. Under the terms of the relevant contracts, Switzerland always has access to the latest available vaccine variants from the respective manufacturer (subject to the relevant authorisation by Swissmedic). Surplus vaccine, procured but not required in Switzerland, is to be sold on or transferred, as has been done in the past. This ensures the efficient management of vaccines. Vaccines reliably prevent a severe course of disease and reduce the overload on healthcare structures. They are an effective means of managing the pandemic. Concrete vaccination recommendations will be determined based on the epidemiological situation in each case. Support for research Switzerland has granted a further ten million francs in funding to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI). In the current pandemic, the CEPI has proven to be a leading organisation in the research and development of vaccines against pandemics and epidemics. Already in April 2020, the federal government provided the CEPI with ten million francs in funding. COVID-19 drugs for 2022 and 2023 In addition, the Federal Council is applying to Parliament for a supplementary credit to procure further COVID-19 drugs. It is currently assumed that drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients will again be required in autumn and winter 2022/23. The goal is to secure sufficient COVID-19 drugs, especially for patients at risk. The drugs are being procured by the Armed Forces Pharmacy, part of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), in cooperation with the Federal Office of Public Health. Address for enquiries Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Communications, media@bag.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Office of Public Health http://www.bag.admin.ch Thousands of Indian students in Ukraine have been caught in the crossfire following Russias attack on that country and a fourth-year medical student from Karnataka lost his life in the shelling in Kharkiv city. The fact that so many Indians are studying in Ukraine has come as a surprise to many. But this is not a new development. Every year, a sizeable number of Indian students, especially medical aspirants, go to countries like Ukraine, Armenia, Russia and China to study undergraduate medical courses. They go to these places despite the fact that a foreign medical degree will not give them the license to treat patients in India unless they pass the tough Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) here. We spoke to a few senior doctors associated with medical colleges about this trend of opting for foreign universities to study medicine. LACK OF SEATS Dr CV Rao, former vice-chancellor of NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, and director of Gitam Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR), says, Most middle class families want their children to be doctors for two reasons its a highly prestigious profession and secondly, doctors can set up independent clinics for a livelihood. But the number of medical aspirants in India runs into several lakhs while avail able medical seats are barely a lakh. Also, there is a gross disparity between the affordable fees in government medical colleges and the exorbitant fees demanded by private medical colleges. While the former charge just a few thousand rupees per year, the latter charge anything from lakhs to a crore of rupees because there is no cap on fees. Why Ukraine is a favoured... He commends Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for reserving around 50% seats in private colleges with fees on par with gov ernment medical colleges. Pointing out that B category open seats constitute 35% seats and cost over Rs 60 lakh for a five-and a-half-year course and C Category seats for NRIs can cost upto Rs 1 crore, he says, Middle class students without reservation cannot afford the B or C category seats. But without any long term plan or preparation, they can study in Ukraine, Russia or something noteworthy In China, most medical colleges have 450-500 seats, whereas each Indian medical college can accommodate just 150-200 students per year, Dr. Rao noted. Stressing the need for affordable medical education in India, he said, The government needs to increase the number of seats in medical colleges and provide good infrastructure. Fees charged by private medical colleges should be capped at real istic rates. The government should also encourage and facili tate the setting up of private medical colleges without too many regulations like being attached to 300-bed hospitals. THE DEMAND-SUPPLY GAP IS A DETERRENT FOR MERITORIOUS STUDENTS Dr P V Sudhakar, former principal of Andhra Medical College and head of the department of plastic surgery at Government King George Hospital, Vizag, says, There are around 542 medical colleges apart from 64 stand-alone PG institutes recognized by the Medical Council of India. Each medical college has 100-250 UG seats. That means approximately one lakh medical seats, while the MBBS aspirants per year are around ten times more. Besides, 50% seats are reserved for ST/SC/OBCs etc. Chances of a general category candidate securing a seat come down drastically automatically." Pointing out that only a handful of such students can get seats in government medical colleges where the fees are affordable, he said the remaining meritorious students are left with no option but to study abroad in countries like Ukraine, Russia, Philippines and China where medical education is far cheaper and there is no system of reservation. The standard of medical education in India is quite high and the MCI has identified certain institutes in the world which are recognized in India provided the medicos pass the FMGE after they return to the country, adds Dr Sudhakar. LOW FEES AND COST OF LIVING ATTRACT INDIAN MEDICAL ASPIRANTS Dr Sunil Bidayat, vice-president, medical administration, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, Hyderabad (also a 2002 alumni of Kharkiv Medical College and University in Ukraine) says, I studied medicine in Kharkiv, Ukraine, over two decades ago, and even then there were several Indian students there, mostly from Punjab and Delhi. Around 60 % were from North India and the rest from the Southern states. The ratio of girl students and boy students was almost equal. There was no entrance examination for admission in government-run medical institutes in Ukraine, whereas in India, competition for limited seats is very stiff and even passing an entrance test would not guarantee a desired seat. The cost of education in Ukraine is one-third of that in Indian private medical colleges and the cost of living is low too. Giving details, he says, We had the choice of English as the medium of instruction and faced no racial discrimination. The locals and foreigners all study together. The people are friendly and have an open culture and the Ukrainian govern ment is welcoming towards Asians. He, however, notes that after his return to India, he had to pass the tough FMGE before he could register himself as a practising doctor. The Federal Council Bern, 11.03.2022 - The Federal Council is planning to expand its toolkit to strengthen the stability of the financial sector. At its meeting on 11 March 2022, it defined key parameters for a "public liquidity backstop", which would allow the Confederation and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to bolster the liquidity of a systemically important bank that is in the process of resolution. The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) is to prepare a consultation draft by mid-2023. The 2007-2009 global financial crisis showed the significance of liquidity for the stability of systemically important banks, and for the entire economy. In order to strengthen systemically important banks' crisis resilience and reduce the risk of economic turmoil, the Swiss legislator is opting for increased capital and liquidity requirements and an improved ability to restructure or liquidate (too-big-to-fail regulations). For resolution to be successful, there needs to be a credible and practicable resolution plan, sufficient loss absorption by creditors (bail-in capacity) so that the bank can be recapitalised in the event of impending insolvency, and sufficient liquidity. The revised and increased liquidity requirements for systemically important banks, which are due to enter into force on 1 July 2022, should ensure that affected institutions have sufficient liquidity in a wide range of possible crisis situations. This will make them more resilient compared to non-systemically important banks, as required by the Banking Act. However, even with higher liquidity requirements, situations are conceivable in which a systemically important bank's liquid assets are not enough to perform successful resolution. Already now, the SNB provides second-line additional liquidity in the form of emergency liquidity assistance (ELA). Confidence-building measure In the future, in order to increase market participants' confidence in the ability of a recapitalised and solvent systemically important bank to survive, it is planned to provide a third line of temporary additional liquidity via a public liquidity backstop. This is a public measure designed to provide rapid and subsidiary liquidity to a systemically important bank domiciled in Switzerland in the event that this should be necessary for successful resolution. The public liquidity backstop helps to ensure existing or new market participants' willingness to maintain or engage in business relations with the affected bank. Its existence therefore has a preventive effect, before liquidity assistance is even needed. This tool should not be confused with a state bailout of a systemically important bank. Internationally, a public liquidity backstop is part of the standard crisis toolkit. It increases the chances of a systemically important bank's resolution being successful, and would put Switzerland's systemically important banks on an equal footing with their foreign competitors. According to the key parameters defined by the Federal Council today, the public liquidity backstop is to be anchored in law. Liquidity assistance for a systemically important bank would be provided by the SNB in the form of a state-guaranteed loan. Moreover, the backstop should have privileged creditor status in bankruptcy, in order to avoid potential losses for the Confederation, and should be predicated on a loss-recovery and sanctioning mechanism. The Federal Council has instructed the FDF to prepare a consultation draft by mid-2023. Address for enquiries Sarah Pfaffli, FFA Communications +41 58 469 18 34, kommunikation@efv.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Finance Administration http://www.efv.admin.ch State Secretariat for International Financial Matters http://www.sif.admin.ch Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. It's that time of the year again. Agri-View offers a list of available agricultural scholarships. BLACKDUCK, Minn. After a D4 drought in 2021, cattle producers in north central Minnesota are worried about the uncertainty of rain in 2022. The Climate Prediction Center says drought removal is likely in Beltrami County by the end of March. Thats good news, but producers are studying up and preparing for drought conditions just in case as well as how to continue their operations in 2022. The drought took a high toll, said Rachel Gray. At Little Timber Farms, the vast majority of her purchased F1 black baldy heifers were trucked to Boyum Custom Feeding in Chatfield, Minn., for development. There wasnt enough feed to keep them up north through the winter. We have been grazing rotationally here for 25 years, and we have pastures that had been rested the year before, she said. We were able to graze into August with supplementation, but we were not going to beat the drought. It was just too extreme and too unusual for this area. A couple of workshops are planned for early March to talk about the drought and its aftermath, because producers are looking for good ideas or practices they can adopt. Rachel is a new executive member on the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association. She hopes the group can offer grazing workshops throughout the state to help producers learn more about grazing lands and its advantages. The drought continues to affect Little Timber Farms because hay and straw supplies are limited, and January/February were extra cold. Our cattle are eating extra, so we are taking inventory and double-checking that we have enough to get through spring, she said. We are making sure our hay storage is what it needs to be and thinking about how long we want to leave the cattle in Chatfield vs. bringing them home. Ideally, they would have been home by now, she added. She made a trip to Chatfield on Feb. 25 to finish bangs shots on a couple hundred heifers. Back on Feb. 7, she had traveled to Chatfield to vaccinate the first 246 head. Both of her trips to Chatfield in February involved driving over 700 miles in a day. Her reasoning for such quick trips was she wanted to get home for the Zehnder Waage Partnership calvings. With most of the livestock housed in Chatfield, Rachel and her crew had earlier built a veterinary/observation room in the calving barn. This was where she wanted to be. The first of 29 Zehnder Waage Partnership calves was born on Feb. 14, and Rachel was there. The last came in on Feb. 28. Rachel was there. The observation room was well worth the time, effort, and money, she said, adding that she slept in the observation room for two weeks. The F1 black baldy heifers were AI bred to the Zehnder Waage Charolais bull Warroad. She had wondered if the Hereford/Angus/Charolais cross would result in a heterosis punch that would result in big calves. That didnt happen. The first calves born were about 65-70 pounds, and the later calves were about 85 pounds. Anxious to see how the heifers performed, Rachel kept track of each calving. The longest heifer to calve took 1 hour and 2 minutes. The calves were trying to get up within 5-8 minutes of hitting the straw, and most were trying to nurse by 18 minutes. Most of the calves were latched on by 22 minutes. The calves were vigorous, and the heifers were great moms, she said. Getting this data is something Ive wanted to know, and finally I had a chance to get the data. Rachel added that her freezer beef program started for 2022. Little Timber Farms delivered 10 head for slaughtering and butchering at Meyers Meats in Nevis, Minn. We double-checked with customers to make sure they had their freezers ready, and were ready for their beef in two weeks, she said. We are excited about that. As March continues, Rachel will make decisions about when to truck the heifers back to Little Timber Farms. Its always staying one step ahead, she said. Im thinking about bringing cattle back, taking inventory of the feed, and making sure our lots and pastures are ready. Farm & Ranch Guide Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from Farm & Ranch Guide. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OWATONNA, Minn. Farm succession is not an easy topic, so fortunately there are professionals who help with planning and carrying out your wishes. At a minimum, everyone 18 and over needs a Power of Attorney and a Health Care Directive in case a disability occurs, recommends Leah Gilbert, Esq., of Gilbert Legal, PLLC, in Waconia, Minn. For long-time farmers, partners, and their families, planning for disability or death becomes more complicated. Farm succession planning is something that needs to be completed and needs updating from time to time. Every situation is different, said Gilbert during a recent phone interview. There are no cookie-cutter plans that are going to work in estate planning, especially for farmers. Working with farmers on succession planning often requires identifying the farmers goals. Many farming families have put blood, sweat, and tears into building their operation, some through multiple generations. Its more than just passing down assets to the next generation, it also includes their values, Gilbert said. In many situations, it is not just about the farm, Gilbert said. Its how we keep peace in the family, minimize conflict, or how we keep holidays happy. Successfully passing on a farming operation to the next generation is a difficult task, though. Some farmers who are nearing retirement still have parents living who control the land and operation. Others have no heirs that want to farm. Sometimes what people want may not be feasible or practical based on the situation, the assets, and family dynamics, she warns. There should be an individual approach to estate planning there are no two families with the same goals, and there are many different options available to create the right plan for the family. Tax laws, she said, change constantly, and thats part of why a farmer needs a good team a qualified attorney, accountant, and financial advisor that are all on the same page. Farmers can think about their family in many cases thats always changing, too. Gilbert asks her clients some tough questions: What is your exit plan? Who will take over the operation if you are no longer able to farm? At what point are you willing to transition the farming operation? What are your retirement plans? How will you fund your retirement? How do you feel about taxes? If you have a farming heir, what about the non-farming heirs? Is your plan in writing? Does anyone know of your plan? When was the last time it was reviewed? Does your successor know they are part of the plan? When talking with a succession attorney, its important to be honest about family dynamics. If the plan requires multiple people to work together or own assets jointly and they dont get along its not going to work well or have the intended result. As far as the planning, my client is the one that needs to be involved with the decision of who gets what, how much, and how often, she said. The good news is that in many situations, you have options. The bad news is that you have options. This is your plan, and you are going to have to make some decisions. If your decision is to not make any decisions, then were going to the default, which may mean unintended beneficiaries such as spouses, the government, long-term care costs, or non-farming members owning farming assets. Sometimes that works out great, and other times, it means were selling everything, she added. While it may be difficult to talk about many of these topics, completing a succession plan is a great gift to your family and those involved. Your efforts to put together a well-thought-out succession plan will make a significant difference in your heirs lives. Farm & Ranch Guide Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from Farm & Ranch Guide. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. During the 2022 Northern Corn and Soybean Expo on Monday, Feb. 21, North Dakota State University (NDSU) announced a new endowed professorship to help ensure that soybean breeding research continues to thrive in North Dakota. The Ted Helms Endowed Professorship at NDSU was announced by Greg Lardy, NDSU vice president for Agricultural Affairs, together with soybean farmer and 1973 NDSU graduate Joel Thorsrud of Hillsboro, N.D., and Ted Helms, a retired NDSU soybean breeder. An endowed professorship is a gift thats given to the university, Lardy said. The proceeds sit in an endowment and the earnings from the endowment then go to fund specific areas of activity. In this case, efforts to enhance soybean breeding. The professor thats awarded that professorship could use it to pay for graduate students, postdoc scientists, other materials in the laboratory they might need, as well as any expenses that may be associated with the soybean breeding program, he added. One year after the North Dakota Soybean Council was established, the council worked with NDSU in 1986 to begin funding the NDSU soybean breeding program, which included the opportunity to hire Helms, who came to NDSU from Iowa. Helms varieties have enabled North Dakota soybean farmers to thrive in spite of the regions shorter growing season and extreme climate settings. At the time of his arrival, North Dakota farmers were planting only about a half-million acres of soybeans, and those acres were mostly concentrated in the southeastern corner of the state. In honor of Helms, Joel Thorsrud established a legacy gift to endow the soybean breeding position at NDSU. As a 1973 NDSU alumnus, Thorsrud wanted to make a legacy gift to support NDSU agriculture and the soybean breeding program, and after meeting with the universitys agriculture leadership, he learned that the most impactful gift he could make was to endow a professorship. I saw how very important it was to develop these varieties that did well in North Dakota, Thorsrud said through a recent NDSU press release. My association with NDSU and agriculture is very strong, so I thought that certainly a portion of my estate should go towards agriculture and NDSU. I saw the different needs and the NDSU soybean breeding program was number one, he continued. Their number one need was my number one desire and that was for the soybean breeding program to grow. NDSU has some wonderful ways that we can support farmers and the research that is needed to keep farmers productive and profitable. Lardy says endowed professorships are a great tool to help universities attract and retain top quality talent. The competition for scientific talent is fierce out there, and this endowed professorship is going to be a great way to help support the soybean breeding program in the future, he said. Helms work as NDSUs soybean breeder for 33 years has made it possible for soybeans to grow from a minor crop to the production of over seven million acres in North Dakota last year. Ted was a longtime soybean breeder here and he developed about 40 varieties of soybeans that were released over the course of his career, Lardy said. Thanks to his breeding program and its focus on early-maturing varieties that would fit in our northern climate, hes one of the reasons weve got the ability in North Dakota to produce soybeans in every corner of the state. Farm & Ranch Guide Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from Farm & Ranch Guide. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Directors from the Nebraska Pork Producers Association gather at the Great Plains Culinary Institute in Lincoln with chef Brandon Harpster, center, for a carcass fabrication demonstration during their annual meeting. Pictured is Mike Wisnieski of Omaha, left, John Csukker of Shelby, board president Shana Beattie of Sumner, Kyle Baade of Plymouth, Jared Lierman of Beemer, Connor Livingston of Fairbury, Ryan Priester of Humphrey, Chad Johnson of Norfolk and Mark Wright of Fremont. To reap a bountiful soybean harvest in the fall, farmers are being warned to use extra caution when handling soybean seed this spring due to fragility. As with nearly everything else in agriculture, you can blame it on the weather. Vitamin E is very important for gestating ewe and newborn lamb health. An antioxidant, Vitamin E is essential for preventing or repairing cell damage. Fresh grass is a good source of Vitamin E, but thats not available when lambs are born before May. At the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, ewes in the 40-head teaching flock are given a shot of Vitamin E subcutaneously four weeks ahead of lambing. Newborn lambs also receive a shot of Vitamin E subcutaneously shortly after birth. In addition, lambs receive Vitamin E orally as part of a get up and go product such as Baby Lamb Strength Oral; Survive! Fast-acting Energy and Vitamin E; or a similar product. Our lambs receive two injections in the lambing jug (ewe/lamb pen after birth), said Kyle Rozeboom, senior lecturer at the University of Minnesota and sheep production management and researcher. Our lambs get a shot of penicillin for general health, and it helps a little bit for tetanus, and they get the Vitamin E shot. We also dip their navels, or some people spray to cover the navel with iodine. Built on the work of the late Dr. Kennedy of Pipestone Veterinary Service, Premier 1 offers Baby Lamb Strength Oral for a 10-fold increase in blood level Vitamin E. The product also serves as a rapid energy source for lambs, according to the premier1supplies.com website. Todays product is an all-natural nutritional supplement that contains vitamins A, D3 and E, as well as high energy fat. Premier 1 Small Ruminant Nutritionist Dan Morrical, Ph.D., suggests that sheep producers look carefully at various methods for ensuring sufficient levels of Vitamin E and selenium. Morrical prefers to feed trace minerals year- round, although every producer needs to determine what works best for them. The primary reason for supplementing Vitamin E is to prevent white muscle disease in lambs. A form of muscular dystrophy, white muscle disease causes wasting of the skeleton and muscles of lambs. Look for an arched back and lambs that cant walk properly. Rozeboom says that flocks raised on soils with below-average selenium face the added challenge of selenium deficiency that can interfere with Vitamin E availability in lambs. A lot of times, products are manufactured with both selenium and Vitamin E to prevent white muscle disease. Selenium deficiency in sheep can also reduce conception rates and increase stillborns. In addition to hay, grain, and water, the flock at the university receives sheep mineral year-round. About 4 weeks ahead of their due date, ewes receive a booster annual vaccination to fight of clostridium perfringens Types C & D plus Tetanus Toxoid (C/D&T). Its very important that the ewes get this vaccine because baby lambs are very prone to clostridial diseases when they are young, said Rozeboom. Hopefully youll get some passive colostrum immunity to the lamb. That will hold the lamb over until they are 30-40 days of age and ready to get their C/D&T vaccine. Lambs receive another C/D&T vaccine about four weeks after the first. When the ewes are getting their C/D&T booster, Rozeboom says thats also a good time to give that injection of Vitamin E to the ewes or a Vitamin E/Selenium combination injection. Ewes also need deworming ahead of lambing but work with your veterinarian for the best plan to avoid anaphylactic shock. Once we get that lamb on the ground, its very important we give them a chance to live, said Rozeboom. At the University of Minnesota, each newborn lamb receives 20 milligrams of colostrum per pound as soon as possible, hopefully from its ewe. Colostrum replacements and/or supplements are also available for lambs if problems occur, and the ewe cant provide colostrum. Then, each lamb receives an injection of penicillin and an injection of Vitamin E, as well as Baby Lamb Strength or a similar product given orally to the lamb. Once lambs are 7-10 days old, they have access to a balanced creep feed with trace minerals. Its amazing how important adequate trace minerals are to the health of an animal, Rozeboom said. More research is coming out every day about a proper and good mineral program. Another perspective Longtime sheep expert Mike Caskey was working with the Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program when Kennedy recognized the importance of Vitamin E. We were having problems with white muscle because we tend to be a little selenium deficient in this region, said Caskey in a phone interview. Those producers lambing in March or later, we had lambs that were deficient, and had levels too low in selenium and/or Vitamin E. White muscle was more of a problem for sheep producers before Kennedys research on this. Many areas have selenium deficiency in the soil. Anytime we are feeding roughages that are older than 7-9 months, then the Vitamin E levels drop low, and we run out of Vitamin E in the ewes system and in the lambs. None of the sheep trace mineral products had enough selenium and/or Vitamin E when Kennedy began his research. With advances in knowledge, sheep producers now can purchase and feed sheep trace mineral salt that is fortified or enhanced with selenium or has enhanced selenium levels that are much higher in selenium and prevent that deficiency. Our only shortage for white muscle today would be Vitamin E, said Caskey. We would much rather correct that before the lambs are born than trying to rescue lambs at birth. Sheep trace mineral salt that is fortified or enhanced with selenium or has enhanced selenium levels is made specifically for sheep. If a producer buys trace mineral salt at the farm store, its not going to have the higher levels of selenium in it, he said. At least three companies have those products specifically designed for sheep. He tends to think of Baby Lamb Strength as a product to give weak lambs for quick energy. It could be a tool to help alleviate a Vitamin E deficiency, but there are other ways to help lambs that are at risk of white muscle disease through feeding ewes trace minerals and vitamins. If we are doing a good job, we shouldnt have to rescue lambs at birth from being deficient in vitamins or selenium, he said. If we are feeding sheep trace minerals with selenium to the ewes year around, the lambs arent going to be deficient. If ewes are eating older and/or low-quality roughages and dont have access to Vitamin E, the vitamin can be fed as a sheep trace mineral salt supplement in the last month of gestation. We want a lamb that is born with plenty of Vitamin E and selenium so its just not an issue, Caskey said. Its not just about the age of the roughage, but also corn stalks or corn sileage those feeds dont have Vitamin E in them, as well. Producers who are new to sheep production or have ewes at risk will want to educate themselves about the need for Vitamin E and selenium. Never feed cattle mineral that contains copper to sheep as it can be toxic. For more information see Goat and Sheep Birthing and Animal Health, a youtube.com series from the University of Minnesota. Have a question about sheep or goats? Visit https://www.premier1supplies.com/pages/sheep-advice to ask Dan Morrical, Ph.D., Premier 1 Small Ruminant Nutritionist, or Dr. Larry Goelz, DVM, Windy Ridge Veterinary Clinic. Kyle Rozeboom can answer questions via email at rozeboom@umn.edu. Minnesota Farm Guide Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Minnesota Farm Guide. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHOTEAU, Mont. As Montana farmers go out to prepare their fields for spring seeding, could precision ag tools help with critical farm decisions that could save money on high input costs or grow more bushels on the same amount of inputs? Doug Weist, farmer and owner of Farm Tech, LLC, a precision ag hardware and service business based in Choteau, talked about what is new and coming in precision ag and how farmers can get a start using it at Montanas Next Gen Conference. Precision ag is doing the right thing in the right place at the right time in the right amount, and maximizing margin does not necessarily mean growing the most bushels for yield, Weist said. Weist, 41, grew up on the family farm in north central Montana and studied molecular plant biology at Montana State University (MSU). While attending MSU, Weist worked at WestBred as a technician. After graduating, he took a position at CHS in precision ag in 2004, where he worked for five years leading the precision ag program. Afterward, Weist had an opportunity to work for an American farm management company. I worked in Ukraine for four months in 2009, came back, and started Farm Tech, said Weist, who has been practicing precision ag for the last 20 years. With planting, theres quite a bit of technology available for farmers to use, including variable rate, section control, auto depth, auto raise and scales just to name a few. In Montana, not many farmers are using variable rate yet, but many have the capability on their equipment and are not taking advantage of it, he said. How do we use precision ag tools to plant and spray? Moving forward from the seeder, we can add auto steer to the tractor, which can add up to 15 percent savings in overlap, he said. You can variable rate each tank of nutrients and seed based on a map, and different sections can be turned on and off as the seeder crosses places that have already been applied. Farmers can put auto depth on any implement, including seeders, to deal with varying conditions and the implement will adjust itself according to changing field conditions. In addition, there are tech tools to track the tractors fuel usage, engine load, temperatures and keep track of servicing intervals. Corn planters have a lot more technology than a broad acre air seeder, and the ultimate one is reporting that seeding information directly to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) right from the field. We can do most of what the planters can do, including auto reporting, Weist explained. After the crop is in the ground, what precision ag tools are available to assist farmers during the growing season? Farmers can run individual nozzle control and have turn compensation technologies. For better coverage, you have boom height control and drift control, which are pretty popular, he said. It doesnt take a lot of technology to properly time your nutrients, Weist pointed out. Some of the low-tech tools that are available to farmers during the growing season include paying attention to weather events by looking out your window, always scouting, and always walking your fields. Farmers know their fields better than anybody. They are going to know a problem before even technology, so just be out there and be with it at the very least, he said. More advanced digital tools like satellite imagery and lasers can help with crop scouting. The most user-friendly digital tools are lasers (called CropSpecs) mounted on the application equipment that are always on, constantly scanning to identify crop health problems and create a nice map of the field when completed, Weist said. With harvest, there are a few tools that have been available for quite a while: autosteer, yield mapping, grain carts to weigh the crop, task sharing with high quality yield maps and auto yield reporting to crop insurance. Yield mapping has been around for decades, and most combines have that now, he said. Weighing is hit or miss, depending on whether or not guys have grain carts in the fields, but load cells and autolog can be added to any grain cart to make capturing all the weights effortless. In addition, multiple combines can now share yield data in real time between machines. Yield maps are more high quality today mainly because of good algorithms and sectional control on the mapping, Weist said. Auto yield reporting straight from the field directly to crop insurance that is brand new and coming on pretty strong. One of the big changes in how farmers use tech tools is zoning breaking the field up into zones. Today, we are starting to understand that field variability on a different level. We are using non-invasive type sensors, looking at independent soil physical characteristics that are not affected by management or seasonal changes coupled with soil sampling data, he said. Those long-term soil-type characteristics are really what we are after in that soil now, and we couple that with soil sampling data to generate a high resolution map of any nutrient we sample for. Weist pointed to a traditional zone map with soil test results that was used in the past, broken up into 11 management zones. On the right, there were several nutrients and soil characteristics listed, such as phosphate, pH, potassium, organic matter and micronutrients, and farmers could see it varied dramatically. We would then use that information to create a prescription map with nutrients by zone, but it was divided by those lines we established, he said. Currently, FarmTech is using a high-definition Soil Optix scanner for zone mapping and they typically do one scan every 10 years, with soil sampling done every five crop cycles. It is non-invasive and measures gamma radiation. Every element decays differently and this sensor can pick that up. It is independent of management practices and what we get is a map of every nutrient sampled, he said. Weist pointed to a 2020 yield map and compared it to data generated from the Soil Optix sensor. Much of the color change was due to elevation the lower yields were often on hilltops with less available nutrients to grow a healthy crop. Within the same map, the colors ranged from areas of red weak-yielding production areas to areas of green, which indicated good yielding production areas. The pH level can be seen throughout the map, and it is not straight, chopped lines. It is more like a grid sample, but a higher resolution with less physical soil sampling, Weist said. Higher organic matter is seen in the higher producing green areas. A potassium map looks a lot different than your phosphorus map and there could be problems growing a crop in those areas. So, we would load the map into your air seeder, and it could handle those bins independently at the same time, he said. While many farmers apply all their fertilizer up front, Farm Tech often recommends a split N approach. During application with the sprayer, the farmer would likely apply more N or whatever nutrient was lacking to the red areas and less in the green areas. With that, a farmer could save money on fertilizer, applying only what was needed for more efficiency and better production. Remote sensing is a diagnostic tool for in-season assessment of crop health and for identifying variability and has become almost free. Farmers still have to make the decision from the information. This has been a problem in the industry since I studied this in college. There is not a magic AI button that would make the decision for the farmer, Weist said. It is technology that is coming, but it is still a downfall to remote sensing. With remote sensing, it is looking at data about the growing plant and how it is responding to applications up to a specific point in the growing season. We arent looking at a true color photo. We are using different wavelengths of light like infrared red and red edge and we are doing it from various platforms, he explained. Technology with a satellite has changed dramatically, and basically, satellites cover the earth every 2-5 days with different satellite platforms. They are not super high resolution, but they are very good for Montanas agriculture, Weist said. When we get into row crops and specialty crops, we need higher resolution technology. Because Montana farms are large-scale agriculture with not that much cloud cover, satellite technology works well. Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones have not helped large scale agriculture, he said. Weist says terrestrial drones can provide huge benefits with seeding, weeding and spraying, and those types of drones are the wave of the future. Certain sensor platforms are interesting. Hyperspectral can look at all the wavelengths and thermal is great for crop canopy, he said. Rather than UAVs, Farm Tech has been selling CropSpecs, cab-mounted precision ag laser technology, for remote sensing. There are a couple of different companies producing different versions of them. This technology hasnt caught on like I expected it would nearly a decade ago. CropSpec is a cab-mounted laser, with one on each side of the cab of the tractor or sprayer or other implement. The lasers are essentially scanning the crop, doing a crop health assessment, he said. Weist pointed to a tractor and sprayers that had CropSpecs mounted on them and were working on fields in Montana. Some options allow farmers to apply variable rate fertilizer on-the-go in real time, which saves money on precise applications. The fertilizer rate was higher where the crop was not progressing well, and farmers could back off in areas that had a good, healthy crop growing, he said. At the very least, you get a nice image of crop health that you can go back and use. It is very cool and useful technology. With satellites, many companies offer a free service with cloud capabilities, which are a good option for Montana growers. More advanced services cost a few dollars more per acre, and producers could try it out on a small acreage. Soil sensors are another good option for collecting data about the soil, but the price is high. Real-time soil sensors are placed in the soil and compile and communicate data back wirelessly to a phone or computer. The sensors that are highly advanced can calculate nutrient levels, soil moisture levels, temperature and humidity and determine irrigation scheduling, Weist said. This is going to be groundbreaking once the price comes down. The Prairie Star Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from The Prairie Star. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Embassy officials stated that this would be the last such arrangement as over 23,000 Indian students and nationals have been evacuated in the last 13 days. (PTI Image used for representational purposes) Hyderabad: It will be the end of 13 days of ordeal for 694 Indian students, including some Telugus, when they arrive in Delhi Friday morning after having been evacuated from Sumy in war-hit Ukraine. The Indian embassy arranged three flights to bring them home. Embassy officials stated that this would be the last such arrangement as over 23,000 Indian students and nationals have been evacuated in the last 13 days. Meanwhile, on reaching Poland, the students were treated to Indian dishes. Medico Mohammed Mahtab, who has coordinated the evacuation from Sumy, said that they had spent 12 days without food and water. We had to share bread slices with five others living in hostels. We spent sleepless nights inside the hostels as Russian forces kept bombing the area, he said. Another student, Raoof Abullah, said that they are now in a jubilant mood as they will be with their folks on Friday. We had lost all hopes of reaching India as the situation kept worsening. All Indian students were evacuated from the western region of Ukraine days after the war broke out. But, Sumy city was occupied by Russian armed forces and there was no movement of citizens. Thankfully, it is the end of the torture, he said. The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed the folly, peril, and incoherence of 21st Century Globalism. Unlike the economic globalism of the 19th and early 20th centuries that focused on the concept of free trade of goods for goods, this iteration can be characterized by allegiance to irrational environmentalism and the creation of elitist global institutions determined to mold mankind and impose regimentation on countries and their populations to ostensibly save the planet. The operational underpinning of 21st Century Globalism is the extortion and intimidation of nations throughout the planet to acquiesce to radical green policies whose true objective is not to save the planet but the elimination of national identity and de facto global governance by unaccountable institutions. The populations of many countries (such as the United States and much of Europe) have accordingly been coerced into altering their traditional national lifestyles and have marginalized their manufacturing and energy bases by voluntarily becoming reliant on other nations for basic goods and energy. The Ukraine War has revealed the insanity of naive voluntary dependence on manufactured products and/or natural resources from despotic countries, such as Russia, Iran, and China, who are jointly and clandestinely setting up their own version of autocratic globalism. YouTube screengrab These authoritarian nations are openly and single-mindedly pursuing regional and global hegemony while ignoring the edicts and green policies of global institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Economic Forum (WEF) as well as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The unfathomable level of hypocrisy and naivete of the leaders of these global organizations and the nations who promote them is breathtaking. They have long believed that dependence upon despotic nations will not only transform them into bastions of democracy but also into being reliable trading partners that would bow at the altar of environmentalism and never do what the global elites are in essence are doing -- extorting or intimidating other nations for political gain. In reality, as it has been for the entirety of human history, megalomaniacal authoritarians and dictators are inevitably emboldened to believe that dependence so marginalizes the dependent that they will cower in the face of naked aggression and meekly acquiesce to any demands. More often than not this tactic has been overwhelmingly successful. Beginning in 2000 much of Europe and in particular, Germany, gradually succumbed to the siren song of radical environmentalism and the elimination of fossil fuels. In 2011 Germany decided to phase out the coal-burning plants that generated 50% of their electrical needs, close all 26 of its nuclear plants that generated over 35% of their electrical needs, and depend on unreliable renewables and natural gas from Russia. Other European countries followed suit in buying virtually all their oil and natural gas from Russia. Eleven years later, Putin was sufficiently emboldened to invade Ukraine because he thought, based on the lack of any substantive European response in 2014 to his illegal occupation of Crimea (reminiscent of Hitlers illegal occupation of the Rhineland in 1936), there would be little pushback from the European countries. He was convinced that they would be easily intimidated, in particular Germany, due to their dependence on Russian oil and gas. Further, he believed that the United States, because of its feckless left-wing leadership, obsession with a radical green agenda, and drastic and deliberate diminution of its fossil fuel production, would not commit to crippling sanctions or substantially arm and logistically support the Ukrainians prior to any military incursion by Russia. The invasion of Ukraine is the bitter fruit of radical environmentalism and 21st Century Globalism. While Putin may have been obsessed with reconstituting the old Russian empire and marginalizing NATO, he would not have undertaken military action if his potential European adversaries had not deliberately derogated and compromised themselves. After all, the combined annual GDP of the European Union ($16.2 Trillion) is ten times greater than Russia's ($1.6 Trillion), and its population is nearly three times larger. China, Russias partner in the new axis of evil, is thumbing its nose at these same woke global institutions, as they are planning to build 43 new coal-fired plants this year, they have reneged on previous commitments to cut carbon emissions by 2030, and have entered into a long-term agreement to import vast quantities oil and gas from Russia. Confident in their status as the manufacturer to the world, a status the United States foolishly surrendered in the 1990s, China is no longer concealing its determination to annex, by military action, if necessary, Taiwan. As Xi Jinping like Putin believes far too many nations are so dependent upon products that China manufactures as well as their financial clout that these nations, in particular the United States, can be easily cowed and will not militarily or financially contest any takeover. The United States can, in fact, be easily intimidated, as the agendas of the globalists and the agenda of the American left, which now controls the Democrat party and thus the corridors of power in Washington, grow increasingly intertwined. The globalists want to dismantle traditional Western societies and institutions; so does the American left. Globalists want to dictate economic growth and policies through carbon control and climate change fear-mongering; so does the American left. Globalists want to effectively eliminate private property and replace it with communal property; so does the American left. Globalists are determined to control the world banking system and institute arbitrary parameters to finance corporations and governments; so is the American left. Globalists have allied themselves with like-minded major multinational corporations to promote censorship and global governance; so has the American left. The globalists want to transform the world through global inclusivity, aggressive sustainability and racial and gender equity; so does the American left. Globalism in the 19th and early 20th century, with its emphasis on government within a nation getting out of the way and promoting the freedom to innovate, trade, and associate freely with others, brought about wealth and liberal democracy throughout the world. On the other hand, 21st Century Globalism is about control, rules, central planning, coercion, and dependence -- which spawns poverty, societal upheaval, the unleashing of authoritarianism, and inevitable military conflict. This scenario now playing out in Ukraine. We humans are a strange lot capable of brilliant perception, yet more likely to clumsily walk straight into a brick wall for not looking directly ahead. History repeats; it rhymes; it mocks. We choose to ignore it at our peril, yet we often do. So here we are once again within spitting distance of seeing another great war unfold (because WWI and II weren't devastating enough) as the U.S.-led West spars with Russia and China, and I can't help but wonder if the movers and shakers of the planet have mindlessly set to work digging their own graves. Global wars tend to establish prominent markers separating human history as it was from what it became. Societies change. New ideas take hold. Economies transform. And rebellions always rise against the old, established orders that delivered misery and carnage on such a grand scale. American Independence: While England and France were duking it out for global domination during the Seven Years' War in the mid-eighteenth century, the American colonies were forging a national identity fighting side by side in the French and Indian War (which had started two years earlier). When the Brits later came calling on their "obedient" American subjects to pony up for new tax revenues needed to pay off debts accrued from nearly a decade of conflict against their steely-eyed froggy foes, colonists long accustomed to governing themselves without much Crown interference started speaking passionately about ideas of "liberty" and "independence" and "patriotism." No global war, no Stamp Act. No colonial cries of "no taxation without representation," then no Declaration of Independence defending "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Unintended consequences can be a kick in the rear for the status quo, eh? While England lost most of North America, the French aristocracy fared far worse. By bankrolling the Americans' War for Independence, King Louis XVI put his nation on a path toward bankruptcy, the French Revolution, and the notorious Reign of Terror. In the process, he lost his own head in Revolution Square. A war between the two great superpowers of the eighteenth century left one humiliatingly defeated by its American colonies and the other decapitated from power quite literally! No Seven Years' War, then no War for American Independence the following decade. Two global powers went to war, and American freedom won the day. Fall of the Empires: World War I was no kinder to global powers. What started as an exercise in one-upmanship between third cousins Kaiser Wilhelm II and Tsar Nicholas II following the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and spiraled into an unparalleled slaughter as treaty alliances kicked into high gear, ultimately ended up taking down most of Europe's aristocratic dynasties by the time the bloody ordeal ended. Do you think the early twentieth century's "elite" would have boisterously pressed their peasants to defend their countries' honor on the red poppy battlefields of Europe had those bluebloods understood that doing so would end up backfiring so spectacularly that four great empires the German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian would end up being wiped from the map? Had the Hohenzollerns, Habsburgs, Ottomans, and Romanovs known what lay ahead should they indulge in tit-for-tat brinkmanship on the European continent, they would have quietly given Ol' Franz a state funeral and moved on. Instead, their impulse to treat the world as a chessboard collapsed what was left of the feudal system and razed Europe's monarchies. In their stead, a new middle class unbeholden to hereditary titles and caste expectations rose from the ashes of the Great War. National identities were chiseled from the breakup of kingdoms. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand stepped out from the shadow of their "mother country." The United States emerged as a global player. Communism transformed Russia into the Soviet Union. And from the early discussions outlined in the Balfour Declaration, the eventual statehood of Israel took root. An ascendant United States of America and an indebted European continent swept up in vast social change beyond the control of "elites"? The loss of the Russian monarchy to a bunch of murdering crackpots? The return of a Jewish state? This is not what the foo-foo royals of Europe had in mind when they rode gallantly off to war, but it is what they had coming. Rise of National Self-Determination: If WWI proved that a hereditary aristocracy could no longer limit the growing self-awareness of an independent and empowered middle class, WWII and the half-century Cold War that followed proved that empire and conquest eventually lose out to national self-determination and the desire to be free. Hitler, Hirohito, Mussolini, and Stalin divided the world among themselves in pursuit of global domination, but instead, they ignited nationalist movements seeking independence and liberation around the world. Between 1492 and 1914, European empires had conquered 84% of the planet. After the destruction of WWII and the debilitating financial bankruptcies that swept through Europe, empire-building came to an end. Having forged national identities from the fires of war, European and Japanese colonies from Africa to South America sought recognition as new states. Two hundred million people across thirteen modern nation-states emerged from Imperial Japan's surrender. India won its independence from Britain in 1947. Israel declared statehood. And after a half-century of Soviet control that prolonged the agonies of WWII for tens of millions of people, the collapse of the USSR and the fall of the Iron Curtain brought independence for countries across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic states. Between the end of WWII and the conclusion of Cold War hostilities, around a hundred independent nations came into existence. A handful of twentieth-century empire-builders set out to conquer the world, and they unwittingly unleashed the greatest drive for national self-determination in world history. So let me ask: is it more likely that the European Union will transform its members into a single generic melting pot, or that those nation-states will rebel against the empire-builders of Europe once again? Is it more likely that the citizens of the United States will quietly submit as the federal government continues accruing unchecked powers for itself, or that some number of the fifty states will begin defending their sovereignty? Are we really observing the opening gambits in the next prolonged Cold War among NATO, Russia, and China? Or are we witnessing what happens throughout history when great powers stubbornly chase glory and world domination before their hegemony ultimately crumbles? There are certain historical lessons that are so clear that it is astonishing to see them ignored time and time again. Never invade Russia in the dead of winter. Never get involved in a land war in Asia. And never sleepwalk into a global war, if you aren't prepared for global revolution to follow. However this lethal battle among Great Reset Western internationalism, Chinese communism, and Russian expansionism plays out, the old power structures will inevitably set in motion their own demise. It can't be said enough: the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go awry. What comes next once they do? Well, that's what we get to decide. Image via Public Domain Pictures. Several incidents of food poisoning in hostels and of students falling sick are being reported from erstwhile Adilabad district. (DC file photo) ADILABAD: Several incidents of food poisoning in hostels and of students falling sick are being reported from erstwhile Adilabad district. Unhygienic conditions in the kitchen and mess and use of substandard ingredients, as well as the use of polluted water in food preparations, are cited as the main reasons. Parents are worried this will affect the health of the students and that they might lose their concentration in studies. Following such incidents, some students have opted to go back to their homes and parents are taking their children home for a few days. Lack of supervision in the preparation of food and on the quality of vegetables and non-vegetarian items being used in preparations is a major cause of food poisoning, parents say. Some students of IIIT Basar fell sick after taking food in which, midway through the meals, they found a dead frog and a cockroach. The institution has formed a three-member committee to look into the lapses and come out with suggestions to improve the cooking conditions in the hostel. More than 8,000 students are studying at the Basar IIIT. As many as 60 girl students of Adilabad Rural Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya( KGBV) had fallen sick after having their breakfast. They developed loose motion and vomiting, signs of food poisoning. It was found during an inspection by the authorities that the cooking was done under unhygienic conditions. There is both inefficiency and attempts at siphoning off of the money by the agencies involved in the running of the mess. This resulted in the serving of poor quality food to students and incidents of food poisoning. Basar IIIT has been in the news for serving poor quality food to students as students repeatedly lodged complaints to the authorities but in vain. This apart, government schools and hostels have remained closed for many months due to the Covid pandemic and this disrupted the mess systems. The number of admissions has increased in government residential schools. After the pandemic, most parents were unable to afford the high fee at private schools and took admissions for their children in government institutions. As a result, there is no proper accommodation for students at the residential schools. Some of these are run from private buildings. I read J.B. Shurks well-written March 8th article Why Should Deplorables Fight for Those Who Hate Them? with some interest. My answer to his question is that I dont think conservatives will. The reality is that the military has evolved leftward over the last 30 years. Ever since the 90s, when my wife and I were on active duty, we witnessed the slow morphing of the US Army from a Conservativeand, yes, a male entityinto a much more liberal culture. By then I had been in the military for a decade. Officers and NCOs were commonly investigated for doing things like enforcing normal army regulations and then accused of racism or sexism for doing so. This was a way for the soldier being corrected to avoid being held accountable for breaking regs. It could be over something with dire consequences or for something as trivial as a uniform violation. We also witnessed the early stages of the transition from a conservative-dominated volunteer army to that of a growing liberal and anti-Christian mindset that did not value the Constitution or live by some of the classic principles of duty, honor, and mission first. Single parents and female troops with multiple kids become more common, which in and of itself is not a bad thing, but clearly put additional strains on the soldier parent(s) and the overall budget required to sustain the army. I remember hearing about a Christian rock concert on base being canceled for beingwellChristian. It was replaced by an atheist-themed concert. Some of the more elite units were still able to recruit professionally-minded troopsfrom both conservative and liberal backgroundsbut these units make up a relatively smaller portion of the force. There was a clear distinction between the conservative combat arms troops and the much more liberal support troops who outnumbered them by something like 7 to 1. I remember talking to some of my peers in Special Forces (the Green Berets) about the long-term outlook of these trends. We debated with our more liberal brothers, who merely felt the government should be more active in our society, but they had no desire to see it take over our society. Conservative and liberal alike regularly counted ourselves lucky not to be in the big army with all its social engineering. More than once, we discussed how the trend might eventually affect the Second Amendment. We considered what might happen if the federal government ordered the military to start going after the guns of civilians. I can only speak for our view of the army at the time (and probably the US Marine Corps), but we all agreed that most of the military would likely consider it an unlawful order and not carry it out. Believe it or not, our military is expected to obey orders unless they are unlawful, which is a tricky decision under the best of circumstances. All orders are presumed lawful, and disobedience is at the soldiers peril. If a soldier believes the order to be unlawful and refuses it, but ultimately finds out that it was perfectly lawful, that soldier is held accountable for it. If the soldier obeys and it was unlawful, the consequences could also be severe. Image: The Navys gay flight crew. Twitter screen grab. Our general conclusion was that, in the early to mid-1990s, the Second Amendment was safe, but that in the coming decade or so, if the military continued its path to liberalization, we would likely have a military made up of troops willing to carry out an order to confiscate weapons. It was a scary thought then, and I fear the possibility is even greater now. My wife and I left the army in 1996, so I have no idea what happened after that, but I saw no evidence that the trend was changing. I will mention that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may have slowed things a bit given the realities of those battlefields, which would be about the only good strategic outcome of those wars that I can think of. I am at least the 3rd generation to serve our country and my wife served believing she owed this country as an immigrant from a place that taught her all about oppression. We have three fine sons, none of whom we want to serve in the army, which as a second-generation paratrooper saddens my heart. At the same time, we debate whether the real service to our country might simply mean being a Conservative in the military when it is highly discouraged by our government and culture. My oldest son even decided to apply to West Point (his mothers alma mater) until the forced COVID vaccinations of our troops were ordered. The vaccine mandate and the intensive focus on wokeness (gender and race training) seem intended to cull more conservative recruits from the ranks. Not to mention they risk unit cohesion and take time away from training that makes our troops effective and keeps them alive. All I can say at this point is that it doesnt look to me like we can count on conservatives joining any fight for the current government and what liberals think this country stands for. We might get lots of kids from conservative backgrounds in the lower enlisted ranksespecially those who have nowhere else to go (like me when I enlisted), but our officers are mostly coming from ROTC at very woke, Liberal colleges. So, the trend continues and our traditionally conservative military culture continues to die out. President Joe Biden marked International Women's Day recently by suggesting that women cannot "live up to their full God-given potential" without unfettered abortion. Biden issued a statement recognizing the observance that read: "Every person deserves the chance to live up to their full God-given potential, without regard for gender or other factors. Yet too often, in too many places, women and girls face obstacles that limit their possibilities and undermine their participation in economic, political, and social life." The president claimed he has strived to make gender equity a cornerstone of his administration, noting that he "launched a whole-of-government effort to protect reproductive rights." "Reproductive rights" is a popular euphemism for abortion i.e., the opposite of reproduction. President Sniff and Grope Biden has launched an all-out assault on babies from his very first weeks in office. He repealed the Mexico City Policy, which barred foreign aid from going to organizations involved with abortion. Weeks later, he created a White House Gender Policy Council, which has among its goals the promotion of abortion at home and abroad. He also rescinded the Trump administration's block on funding abortionists through the Title X family planning program. As is usually the case nowadays, Biden's assertion that women can't "live up to their full God-given potential" without being free to have an abortion or two is the opposite of the truth. Women are not forced to have children. They are not forced to have sexual intercourse without the crime of rape. But they alone have the God-given potential to give birth to a baby. (Though "progressives" are lamely contesting even that now.) What is certain is that babies can't live up to their God-given potential if they are aborted. Far too often, say about 43,000,000 times a year globally, this is the "limiting factor" keeping them from being all that they could be...because they are not allowed to be. Oh, and if everyone celebrating Women's Day had been the victim of "reproductive rights" i.e., had been aborted none of them would have been around to celebrate Women's Day. I am so damn sick of euphemisms, bald-faced lies, emotional coercion, and evil being called good and good being termed evil. All of us have "reproductive rights." Babies need "rights to a life that others engendered but now wish to extinguish." It is not babies, but the notion that we can replace God that needs to be aborted. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab. Horror at the death and destruction inflicted on Ukraine by Russia's invasion is a normal and healthy reaction. So is anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched and continues the warfare. But with saturation-level war propaganda (some true, some not) dominating the media, many are tempted to enhance their own standing by virtue-signaling their hatred. Virtue-signaling in a moment of mass frenzied hatred can have unanticipated longer-term consequences. Jacob Fraden writes today of the absurd boycotting of the music of Russian composers like Tchaikovsky and the cruel treatment of musicians and artists who, in his words, "had the misfortune to come from the USSR or Russia." The world of tech has joined in the frenzy, with two prominent companies discarding their previous policies in order to join the herd. In what may prove to be a costly decision, Gabriel Weinberg, founder and CEO of search engine DuckDuckGo, discarded his company's anti-censorship policy toward search engine listings: Like so many others I am sickened by Russias invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine At DuckDuckGo, we've been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation. Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022 Like many people (DuckDuckGo claims a hundred million users), I had turned toward it in order to avoid Google's bias that ranked conservative sources as "disinformation" and the like, only to find that the thumb on the scale has migrated over to DuckDuckGo. And I have plenty of company in my dismay and anger at the alternative. NicheGamer summarizes some of the blowback: "The replies on this are quite amazing. Can you see how swiftly most of your user base has been put off by this announcement?," wrote one user in reply to the policy changes. "Loyal long time supporters are talking about abandoning the service. Please reconsider your stance on this. It's a dangerous slippery slope for all of us." Another user said "This is not the way bro. We no longer trust anyone to decide for us what is 'misinformation.' Let us make our own calls about that." In the original announcement, Weinberg said DuckDuckGo's mission has always been "to make simple privacy protection accessible to all" and that "privacy is a human right and transcends politics." However, when confronted by users upset at the new "disinformation" policies noting this is not the point of the search engine at all, Weinberg noted they never committed to anything outside a guarantee to privacy and not being tracked. "The whole point of DuckDuckGo is privacy," Weinberg said. "The whole point of the search engine is to show more relevant content over less relevant content, and that is what we continue to do." If you look at the replies to Weinberg's original tweets, many users are unhappy with the new policy changes, which mirror similar "disinformation" policies on Facebook, Twitter, and other tech platforms. In response to the policy changes and its founder seemingly refusing to listen to any concerns from users, many have already begun switching to other alternatives that guarantee both privacy and unaltered search results. Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, already are notorious for shadowbanning and other biased practices, but both sites had held to a policy of not allowing calls for violence. Not any longer, as Reuters first reported in an exclusive: Meta Platforms (FB.O) will allow Facebook and Instagram users in some countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of the Ukraine invasion, according to internal emails seen by Reuters on Thursday, in a temporary change to its hate speech policy. The social media company is also temporarily allowing some posts that call for death to Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, according to internal emails to its content moderators. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders.' We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. The calls for the leaders' deaths will be allowed unless they contain other targets or have two indicators of credibility, such as the location or method, one email said, in a recent change to the company's rules on violence and incitement. Both companies may call these moves temporary, but principles once discarded are no longer principles, but rather practices subject to change at the whim of management. The larger point is that opposition to Russia's invasion is fine, maybe even virtuous. But hatred poisons the hater. I suspect that DDG will regret its decision. Facebook now is on record endorsing hatred and violence and will find that will come to bite it, too. It's getting to be a pattern with Democrats. A statehouse passes an extremely popular commonsense bill with voters, and Democrats immediately brand it with extremist distortions and say it's something it's not. We saw this with voter rights bills, dubbed "Jim Crow 2.0" by the left. We saw it with measures opposing mask and vaccine mandates, dubbed "people will die" laws on the left. We see it with antiillegal immigration bills, dubbed racist, and with the branding of parents protesting objectionable policies and failure to protect vulnerable students from sexual predators by school boards as "terrorists." The histrionics of the left are getting pretty baroque now, and they're also entirely predictable. Case in point: Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, expected to be signed by Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, states this: The two bills in the state legislature, HB 1557 and SB 1834, state that a school district "may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students." Democrats have branded it with the catchy slogan "don't say gay," which is found nowhere in the bill. The bill clearly permits age-appropriate discussion for students if there's a need to use the word "gay" or explain it, but that's unimportant to the hysterical opponents on the left. The left is on a tear: "This would erase LGBTQ+ history and culture from lesson plans and it sends a chilling message to LGBTQ+ young people and communities," said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, the executive director of the national LGBTQ youth advocacy group GLSEN. Apparently, this activist believes that if five-year-olds or seven-year-olds still learning their ABCs aren't studying and thinking about the Stonewall Riots or the life of Harvey Milk at that tender age, they'll be scarred for life. There's also the health angle to the hysteria: "We have to create a learning environment where they feel safe and healthy, or it's not an effective learning environment," said Heather Wilkie of the Zebra Coalition, a Central Florida LGBTQ advocacy group. "When you have laws like this, that directly attack our kids for who they are, it prevents them from learning," she said. "It prevents them from being able to be healthy." How exactly does refraining from talking sex with five-year-olds harm their health? Actually, it's the opposite. Any kid having engaging in homosexual sexual activity (or any other kind, or actual sex) at age 5, 6, 7, or 8 needs to be removed from whatever setting he's in for his own protection. That's way outside the scope of the bill. No kid should be talking about or having sex, period. There's absolutely no need for a stranger within the educational community to talk to such kids about sex which ultimately in some cases can be talking dirty, to very young elementary school children, and priming them for sex, which is indistinguishable from what child-molesters grooming their targets do. Kids do not think about these things because it's in their nature not to, and to shove it in front of them whether they want it or not robs them of their innocence. But that's not an issue for Joe Biden, who, down in the polls and grossly unpopular for his mishandling of the economy, has found himself a new charge to lead: I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are. I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve. https://t.co/OcAIMeVpHL President Biden (@POTUS) February 8, 2022 It's par for the course for him, same as his branding electoral integrity measures "Jim Crow 2.0." White House spokesweasel Jen Psaki added her own false spin: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "Well, I think that you have seen the president speak passionately about his view that a bill like this a bill that would discriminate against families, against kids, put these kids in a position of not getting the support they need at a time where that's exactly what they need is discriminatory. It's a form of bullying. It is horrific. I mean, the president has spoken to that. "In terms of his views and comments from 25 years ago, I think the most important question now is: Why are Florida leaders deciding they need to discriminate against kids who are members of the LGBTQI community? What prompts them to do that? Is it meanness? Is it wanting to make kids have more difficult times in school, in their communities? I would pose that question to them, and we can talk about it more tomorrow if you get an answer," she said. There's not so much as a hint of discrimination in that Florida bill, which simply prohibits any stranger under color of educational authority talking sexual matters, of any kind gay, straight, or something else to five-year-olds. It says nothing about troubled kids not getting the support they need. It just wants to stop the grooming rackets and other distortions that are coming from the LGTB communities, encouraging small kids to obsess about sex, such as this: If the kingdom of heaven is like a pride parade, God, just send me to hell Yall government schools are goofy pic.twitter.com/vqSgDdTpp1 CCG Austin (@realAwstin1776) March 9, 2022 Or this, according to Fox News: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's husband, Chasten, leads children in a modified pledge of allegiance to the rainbow flag at what he described as a "not-so-typical gay camp" in a viral social media video. On Wednesday night, the Log Cabin Republicans in Richmond, Virginia, posted a video showing Pete Buttigieg's husband Chasten, leading an LGBTQ youth group in a pledge of allegiance to the rainbow pride flag rather than to an American flag. Chasten had the children repeat after him as they each held their right hand over their hearts. "I pledge my heart to the rainbow of the not-so-typical gay camp. One camp, full of pride, indivisible, with affirmation and equal rights for all." And don't forget the drag queen story hour for toddlers. The press is doing its part for that, too: If your family hasn't participated in Drag Queen Story Hour, it is basically what it sounds like - drag queens reading to children and telling them stories in libraries, businesses and other public spaces to inspire creativity and teach them it's okay to be different. This weekend's event will be hosted on Zoom. Mary Elise Chenoweth, a mom and advocate for the LGBT community, founded the Raleigh chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour in 2019. The event soon was named a WRAL Voters' Choice Award winner for best family-friendly event. It all comes down to sex priming to normalize some very unhealthy behaviors that kids may not be inclined to find attractive unless their teachers tell them it is. The Guardian ran this one, and I can't tell if the Guardian columnist, Arwa Madawi, is serious or not: People take things very seriously these days, so I should probably state for the record that I am obviously joking about the whole gay pills in the water thing. As a card-carrying member of the International Society for the Advancement of Homosexual Lifestyles (ISAHL), I can assure you that the Gay Agenda explicitly prohibits the use of bioweapons. No, we focus solely on mind control techniques. A little bit of brainwashing, subliminal messaging during the ad breaks, that sort of thing. What she was referring to is the curious poll numbers coming out about Millennials and younger-than-Millennials, suggesting that very high numbers of them now identify as LGBT. According to Newsweek: Thirty percent of Millennials identify as LGBTQ, according to a soon-to-be released study that is based on scientific polling data. Among Christians the numbers were lower but only slightly, with just under 30 percent of Millennial Christians identifying as LGBTQ. The portion of the population that describes itself as gay has varied over the years, from 10 percent, based on research by Alfred Kinsey and widely promoted by the National Gay Task Force in 1977, to less than 6 percent in a recent Gallup poll. The pollster who worked on the new study, George Barna, attributes the unusually high number he found to social and news media coverage that makes it "safe and cool" for young Americans to identify as LGBTQ whether or not it represents their actual sexual orientation. "It's a subset of a larger issue, that this is a generation where three out of four are searching for meaning. This is a group that doesn't have a reason to get out of bed in the morning," Barna says. "Therefore, the LGBTQ identity gives them comfort. A lot of this generation claim to be moving in that direction, but there's a big difference between claiming the identity and living the lifestyle." There's also this from Gallup: WASHINGTON, D.C. The percentage of U.S. adults who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual has increased to a new high of 7.1%, which is double the percentage from 2012, when Gallup first measured it. Gay agenda activists, who aren't the same as ordinary gay people, are crowing about it as if it were increased sales figures. To the rest of us, it doesn't make sense. Gay people exist, and they typically number about 3% of the population. Most people accept that and know to treat their gay neighbors and relatives with respect, which is a human right. But polls like this show that something else is going on: either human nature has changed, or some kind of educational effort, targeting the youngest of children, is more widespread than previously known, and going on longer. That's likely what's at the root of the Florida law: the normalization of sexual deviations, which exposes children to grooming, pedophilia, bodily mutilation, and loss of innocence. Nobody should be talking gay or any sexual matters to children, and many gay parents agree with that strongly. That's common sense. To brand this persecution of gay people is nonsense nothing in the bill says gay people are not to be treated with respect, no matter what the age of the child to be taught. It's just the same dishonest histrionics we've seen from Democrats, propagated by powerful lobbies with rice bowls at stake. Ron DeSantis is opposing this, and all it's doing is raising his national stature. Joe Biden's at the forefront, and his dishonesty is obvious which is why he's going down in the polls. Image: Twitter screen shot. Teddy Roosevelt once defined American foreign policy as "speak softly and carry a big stick." Foreign policy today is to export liberal democracy globally by force. The Europeans gobbled up liberal democracy in the postwar era and refined it well...for them. Nations outside Europe are not so keen on it. They look at America and say, "We don't want the kind of ideologies that are ruining your nation to ruin our nation." With its tribalism, massive debt, massive taxes, vote-buying under the guise of the welfare system, transgender rights, teaching 3rd- and 4th-graders about anal penetration as an alternative lifestyle, and the mountain of other problems, liberalism, as it has been redefined by American Marxists, is not an export product. So instead of backing off and regrouping and thinking of more practical diplomatic means of exporting their American left-wing liberal democracy to the world, they try to buy them off using the International Monetary Fund, and when nations won't join the IMF banking cabal, they say, "Do it or we will make you." Hence what is happening now in Ukraine. These American leftists told Russia that Ukraine was going to be considered for NATO membership, a direct assault on Russian hegemony in the region. This forced Putin into a corner and a war. The United States would never accept the violation of the Monroe Doctrine and allow Russian alliances in Mexico or Canada. We didn't accept it in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. So American foreign policy, in this case, is deployed through NATO and boils down to a bunch of left-wing thugs who control our military might saying, "Do what we tell you, or we will send black helicopters and shiny airplanes that can't be seen on radar, and we will drop bombs on you." This didn't start under the drone-king Obama. It started under Jimmy Carter and was carried on through every presidency since, because the leftist Deep State existing inside the United States State Department doesn't leave when a new president arrives. Welcome to American-style liberal democracy. Image: Pixabay. When I was growing up during the late fifties and early sixties, there were lots of news stories about politics, war, crime, even an occasional article about a new dance craze. Juvenile delinquency was in its embryonic stage, with crime stories about teenagers with switchblade knives and membership in small neighborhood groups who wore apparel signifying what gangs they belonged to. There weren't any semi-automatic weapons available, so gang members might construct homemade pistols, known as "zip guns," which were made with rubber bands wrapped around a wooden frame, with a coat hanger or a car aerial attached. The rubber bands provided the tensile strength to push the improvised hammer against a single pellet, sending it, very inaccurately, toward an intended target. Possession of one of those primitive devices could get the youthful offender a year in a detention facility. However, now that we live in the enlightened age of liberal policies toward criminals, and contempt for their victims, modern-day teens are equipped with high-velocity guns containing twelve or more cartridges in a magazine. Cops aren't allowed to use stop-and-frisk techniques to disarm them because it might injure the sensibility of the little hoodlums. Illegal guns are used thousands of times in cities across the country, and those arrested for using, or carrying, are often released before the weapon stops emitting smoke. When there were more reasonable people in charge, there was something called a "three-time loser." That meant that if you were found guilty of felonies for a third time, you would be imprisoned for enough years to make a point about recidivism. Not anymore! Reading about felons walking the streets after being convicted 10, 20, even 30 times has become commonplace. How many times should someone be convicted of serious crimes before he's labeled a menace to society? Moreover, when one of those menaces gets killed during a police incident, it's more than an even bet that the cop will be the one going to prison. Concomitant with the breakdown in law and order is the complete deterioration of what used to be cultural norms based on biology and other recognized sciences. Nah, we can't allow thousands of years of knowledge in the fields of human experience to interfere with the most bizarre notions of left-wing orthodoxy. As a result, we have countenanced an era in which every grotesque fantasy must be treated with tolerance, even acceptance, lest the "intolerant" be savaged by those who support those absurd incongruities. Disseminating the idea that men can get pregnant is just one of those absurdities. Attempts at reasonable discourse regarding the subject on social media will open you up to vicious displays of vulgarity and accusations of some sort of "ism." In Texas, a man running for a seat in the Legislature was excoriated in a classroom for objecting to having his son turned into his daughter by his estranged wife. A room filled with obnoxious, screeching, spitting, middle fingerwaving incorrigibles greeted the embattled candidate. Everything has been turned upside-down in this age of cultural decay. This is what happens when an affluent society has become used to having all its basic needs fully satisfied. That's when people begin to conjure up problems that, during a saner time in our history, would have resulted in psychological counseling for those who believe they were born into the wrong body. Au contraire! We must never use logic and reasoning on issues that the left has determined should be catered to, and even paid for, by those who believe in the natural order of things. Although I've been admonished many times, on social platforms, to refrain from declaring that men can't give birth, I've asked my admonishers to contradict me with proof of paternal childbirth. As of this date, I've never had anyone disprove my allegation. Image: Rachel Gleaves via Pixy. Imagine Vladimir Putin in a bobsled. He is hurtling down an icy hill with nominal brakes and an uncertain end to his ride. It gets worse every moment, yet he cannot really control his speed, and he cannot get out of the icy tunnel his bobsled is hurtling down. He is trapped by his own ambitions and is oblivious to the world except for his forward, shaky vision in his bobsled. Vlad's wild ride is not getting any better. His goggles are icing up... But back to reality. In addition to economic and fiscal sanctions imposed by the United States government, other nations are also involved. The sanctions appear to be working and slowly strangling the Russian economy. Surprisingly, many powerful private corporations have temporarily ceased operations in Russia, including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Coke, Pepsi, Starbucks, and McDonald's, to name a few. However, whom does that affect the most? The Russian people, most of whom did not support the invasion of Ukraine, need the work and are the real consumers. With a global economy, perhaps the economic impact of pulling every lever, private industry included, can drive change with the Russian people, including its leaders. How about the Russian tourist industry? Down the toilet, which impacts millions of people. Also in peril are the oil and gas industries, which make up the bulk of the Russian economy. This crunch could be for the short term but with dark clouds ahead for the future. Does Vladimir Putin really care? He's alleged to have billions in assets and may be the wealthiest man in the world. Plus he is the head of state, with the military presently at his command and control. The Russian people are protesting Putin's use of the military in Ukraine, killing many civilians in urban and rural areas. The military is stretched and stalled and has demonstrated they are not a force to be feared or reckoned with as previously thought. The ragtag Ukrainian forces are holding their own, despite being outgunned, outnumbered, and in constant need of supplies. Vladimir Putin now knows he greatly underestimated the will of the Ukrainian people and the supportive will of the Western world in this needless land-grab to put a large chunk of land and people back into the former USSR. And Putin had no idea that his adversary, President Zelensky of Ukraine, would be so much of a unifier of strength and resolve for his people. The only real problem currently is Vladimir Putin. I don't believe he is crazy, as many individuals have voiced. I believe he simply screwed up. He is a proud man, and he now must find a way out without losing his perceived honor and pride. Is this possible? Can his speeding bobsled avoid destruction and come to a halt without throwing him out? The United States, Western countries, and Ukraine can only wait and see if and when Vladimir Putin comes to his senses. Until then, we should continue to support the Ukrainian people in material and spiritual ways. Image: G20 Argentina via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. On March 8, 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a historic virtual address to the members of the British House of Commons for which he received a lengthy standing ovation. He compared Ukrainians fighting today to save their country to the British standing alone more than 80 years ago against the Nazis. The speech consciously drew on the famous speech of the new prime minister, Winston Churchill, on June 4, 1940, that even though large parts of Europe had fallen into the grip of the Third Reich, "we shall fight on the beaches, on the landing grounds, in the fields, in the streets, in the hills, we shall never surrender." Zelensky similarly declared, "We will not give up, and we will not lose. We will fight to the end, at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets." Ukraine, Zelensky said, is "fighting a war that we didn't start and we didn't want." The parallel with Churchill is evident in a number of ways. Most striking is the impact of the speeches on the assessment of the orator. It ought to be remembered that Churchill, up to that point a controversial figure even in his own political party, denigrated for his alleged undesirable qualities, reckless, selfish, arrogant, bullying, became not only the hero of Britain but an inspiration to the civilized world. In similar fashion, Zelensky, the previous TV sitcom actor and virtuoso dancer, previously viewed as a lightweight political novice, is playing the role of his life. But it is one without guile. He has been seen in a series of video updates, wearing olive military-style clothes, speaking directly and clearly to the population with a calming presence. If his speeches are not as eloquent as Churchill's they are equally passionate. Churchill declared, "Give us the tools, and we will finish the job." Zelensky has called for more ammunition, not an escape route for himself. Zelensky has announced that the enemy has designated him as target number one, and his family as target number two. Indeed, he has survived a number of assassination attempts by the Kremlin-backed ruthless Wagner group and Chechen special forces. There are many unintended consequences of the fighting in Ukraine, but four factors may be indicated. First, in spite of the language used about it, the fighting is not a war between belligerents. It is purely unprovoked, one-sided aggression launched by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin based on absurd untruths of the need to "de-Nazify" a democratic country headed by a Jew. It is a truth almost universally acknowledged that Putin is not only an autocrat, but also an imperialist, callous, arrogant, and cruel, who has embarked on a path of evil, interested in his own power as well as that of the Russian state. The crucial factor for him was the collapse of the Soviet Union, "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." In general, he wants to make Russia a great power as in historic times. But his immediate aim is the elimination of Ukraine as a real country, and to make it part of a greater Russia. Putin is scarcely an ideologist, but his outlook is linked to the view that Russia has a mission to unite the Orthodox people, whether they are Russian, Belarusian, or Ukrainian. The second factor is crucial, indeed fundamental, to the international community. Putin's aggression increases every day in ferocity and in a relentless fashion. A moral low was reached with the direct strike by Russian rockets on March 8, 2022, causing colossal damage to a children's hospital and pediatric unit in the town of Mariupol in southern Ukraine, a scene with badly wounded patients and nurses, children trapped under rubble, and pregnant women carried out on stretchers. This atrocity was an act of terror 3,000 babies were left without access to food or medicine, and residents of the city were forced to bury the dead in mass graves. A third factor is that Russia has, with a few exceptions, become an international pariah, shown in diplomatic terms and in social and economic behavior. Diplomatically, this was dramatically shown with the walkout of delegates on March 8, 2022, at the conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, the second such demonstration, when the Russian ambassador began speaking. Russia is being excluded from a considerable part of the world economic system. Pizza Hut has left the country, and even more important for the hungry, McDonald's has closed all of its 850 restaurants, including the very large, very popular one in Red Square. The fourth factor is that Ukraine is defending civilization as well as itself. Important as Zelensky is as the defender of his country, and embodying the spirit of his people, he is even more significant as the contemporary conscience of the world, akin to the role of Emile Zola in the Dreyfus affair. Zelensky, though grateful for help has been critical of Western countries for a number of reasons, not agreeing to a no-fly zone, or supply of planes he wants and thinks vital, but he is aware that this Western reluctance is due to the fact that it does not want to take any action that might trigger a world war. The world should recognize that Zelensky, like Churchill eighty years ago, is the symbol of western civilization. Image: Presidential Administration of Ukraine. Ram Charan to shoot for back to back Projects:- Mega Powerstar Ram Charan is done with the shoot of RRR and the film releases on March 25th. He also played a crucial role in Megastar Chiranjeevi's Acharya and the film is heading for a theatrical release on April 29th. Both these projects are carrying terrific expectations and Ram Charan is on a break after he completed the latest schedule of Shankar's next film. Ram Charan and his wife Upasana are holidaying in Finland and Ram Charan will participate in the promotions of RRR from Monday. Ram Charan also signed a periodic film in the direction of Jersey fame Gautam Tinnanuri. The movie was announced recently and UV Creations, NVR Cinemas will produce the film jointly. As per the latest news, the shoot of the film commences from July. Ram Charan will shoot for Shankar and Gautam's projects simultaneously this year. There are talks that both these projects will be completed this year and will release next year. Gautam is done with the scriptwork and the makers are finalizing the leading lady and other actors. Anirudh scores the music and background score for this untitled film. Rating: 2 out of 5 (2/5) Director: Radha Krishna Kumar Cast: Prabhas, Pooja Hegde Banner: T-Series Films, UV Creations Producer: Bhushan Kumar (Hindi), Vamsi, Pramod, Praseedha (Telugu) Music: S. Thaman, Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara Release Dt : Mar, 11 2022 Radhe Shyam Story Radhe Shyam is a poetic tale and is set in 1976 in Europe. The film is all about the battle between love and destiny. Vikramaditya (Prabhas) is a palmist of Indian origin and he flies to Europe. He meets several bigwigs and predicts things well about their future. Vikramaditya meets Dr Prerna (Pooja Hegde) and falls in love. Prerna suffers from a health issue but Vikramaditya assures her a long life. The rest of Radhe Shyam is all about the predictions of Vikramaditya and his love for Prerna. Watch the film to know about the real story. Radhe Shyam Analysis The first half of Radhe Shyam is packed with romance and the visuals are spectacular. Each and every frame looks poetic and sounds like a perfect painting. But the first half is slow-paced and lacks commercial ingredients. It's high time for Prabhas to shed his weight and work on his looks. He looks pale and out of shape. The makers have spent a bomb on his corrections Most of the film is shot in special sets which look rich and remind us about the vintage Europe. Some of the exterior shots are canned in real locations of Italy and Europe. The train episode is decent and the interval episode is shot well. The first half of Radhe Shyam is pretty decent. The second half of Radhe Shyam is a huge disappointment. The film offers nothing new and the narration happens on a snail pace. The songs are shot well and the cinematography work, background score stand out. The most hyped climax portion shot lavishly on a ship is a huge disappointment. The pre-climax episodes too are boring and the second half of Radhe Shyam is a huge let down. The love story is also not well narrated and it lacks the needed emotional connect. The production values are grand enough. Performance Prabhas has to work on his looks immediately. The actor looks out of shape and lacks sharpness. Some of the episodes make it clear to the audience that they are digitally corrected. The actor does his part well and his voice modulation should have been better. Pooja Hegde looks gorgeous on screen and does her part well. She looks like a princess and nails it with her performance. All the other actors like Jagapathi Babu, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree and Priyadarshi have crisp roles and they are of less prominence. All the other actors did their parts well. Radhe Shyam is a film that lacks an interesting script and plot. The movie is set in Europe and is visually fantastic. The technical aspects are the major highlights of the film. The screenplay and dialogues also make no impact. The music by Justin Prabhakaran is good and Thaman dominates the show with his background score. Manoj Paramahamsa's cinematography work stands out and is a treat. The film takes you to the vintage mood. The production values by UV Creations are grand enough. Radha Krishna Kumar should have worked on the script well. The narration is pale and boring and it happens on a slow pace. Radhe Shyam Final Word Radhe Shyam is a film that is laced with grand production values and technical aspects. An interesting plot and some gripping narration would have done wonders. Stills from this movie Videos & Trailers PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* Frank Buck is the author of the books Get Organized! and Get Organized Digitally! "Global Gurus Top 30" named him No. 1 in the Time Management category for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Dr. Buck speaks throughout the United States and internationally about organization and time management. You can reach him through his website: FrankBuck.org. Follow him on Twitter @DrFrankBuck. MADRID - The Spanish Church has recorded in two years 506 reports of possible sexual abuse committed inside the institution, the Spanish episcopal conference (Cee) has said. The alleged abuse cases were notified to offices set up, over the past two years, for this issue, according to a statement released by the organization. The reports denounce alleged abuse cases that occurred over the course of 80 years. A few weeks ago Cee said it hired a legal firm for an independent investigation on abuse cases inside the Spanish Church. The Spanish Parliament on Thursday gave a green light to the institution of a commission of inquiry entrusted to the institution of the civic defender. Spain commemorates 2004 Atocha attacks Ceremony in Madrid pays homage to 193 victims (ANSAmed) - MADRID, MARCH 11 - Several ceremonies to pay homage to the victims of terrorism were ongoing or scheduled on Friday in Madrid to mark the 18th anniversary of the terror attacks of Atocha - the most painful massacre in recent Spanish history, on March 11, 2004. That day, in just a few minutes, bombs exploded on four train of Madrid's local train network, all in a range of a few kilometers around the station of Atocha, one of the most emblematic locations of downtown Madrid. In total, as a consequence of these attacks attributed to jihadists, 192 people died. Moreover, a few weeks later, a policeman was killed during an operation to capture suspected attackers, who later committed suicide. Friday's anniversary coincides with European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism: Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez was scheduled to attend a commemoration event in Paris, where he is taking part in a summit of EU leaders.(ANSAmed). TEL AVIV - Since the start of the war in Ukraine, a reported 6,200 people with a Ukrainian passport have arrived in Israel, according to official data. The minister for immigration, Pnina Tamano-Shata, said they include 2,000 Jewish refugees who can benefit from the Law of Return under which they will become citizens of Israel and will have the right to financial aid. An additional 1,000 Ukrainian Jews will reportedly arrive next week. However, the newspaper Haaretz said that non-Jews were treated with "humiliations and unworthy conditions" when they arrived at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. Haaretz said these passengers had to wait for a long time. Refugees reportedly spend the night on matrasses on the floor with just enough food and warm drinks. According to public radio, they should be transferred starting on Friday to hotels previously used for Covid patients. Meanwhile Israel is preparing to receive some 50,000 Jewish migrants from Ukraine and Russia. The national security council has warned that housing for them will have to be arranged quickly. In parallel, the government has established a quota of 5,000 non-Jewish Ukrainian citizens who will be allowed to settle in Israel until the state of emergency continues in the country. Interior Minister Ayalet Shaked said that an additional 20,000 non-Jewish Ukrainians who are already in Israel, mostly for work, will be allowed to remain until the situation goes back to normal. An increasing number of Russian Jews are also planning to move to Israel. The Jewish Agency of Israel - which is in charge of the logistical organization of immigration - has estimated that some 20,000 applications have been filed by Russians. Berkeley Group said that it is recouping the booming cost of building homes by selling them more expensively. The business said that it was on track to meet guidance, but was facing rising costs. But like many of its peers in the building sector, the company has been able to offset spiralling costs because house prices are booming. According to the latest figures from Halifax, the price of an average house in the UK grew by nearly 11% in the year to February, reaching 278,123. Berkeley has continued to trade robustly since its half year, with the value of underlying sales reservations remaining slightly ahead of pre-pandemic levels, the business said. Cancellations are at normal rates and sales pricing is sufficiently ahead of business plan to absorb construction cost increases. Earnings are still on track to meet guidance in the year ending April 30, the business said, and it is still confident of the guidance for the following three years. Forward sales are expected to be above the 1.7 billion level they were at in late October, while net cash is expected to have jumped 54 million to 900 million in the same period. It added: Berkeley continues to focus on the investment programme in place to bring its portfolio of long-term brownfield sites into production, underpinning future delivery and earnings, and sustaining some 28,000 UK jobs directly and indirectly throughout its supply chain. Shares had risen 2.3% in the early afternoon on Friday. The builder said it had refinanced its bank facilities since October. The old facilities were for 750 million and were due to expire in November next year. It now has an 800 million facility set to expire February 2027, with the ability to extend by up to two years. A corporate exodus from Russia in response to its military invasion of Ukraine has seen more than 300 U.S. and multinational companies sever business ties with the country and the list is growing by the minute. But even as many flee, a number of big-name firms have remained mum. Among them are U.S. consumer favorites including Subway and Mondelez (MDLZ). Hotel giant Marriott (MAR) can also be found on the docket of corporations that have not suspended or reduced their exposure to Russias market. Since President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine began on Feb. 24 which has so far led to 2 million refugees and more than 1,000 civilian casualties recorded by the United Nations around 330 companies have withdrawn from Russia in protest of the Kremlin as of March 10, according to a list compiled by Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his research team. Still, 39 continue to operate in the country despite mounting pressure to take action. Dunkin Donuts operates 20 locations in Russia, according to a company spokesperson. Subway has 446 franchise locations in the country. American multinational food and beverage maker Mondelez the parent of brands like Oreo, Ritz, and Chips Ahoy! has an even bigger footprint in the country that it has yet to give up. Mondelez generates about 3.5% of its revenue from Russia, or about $1 billion. Walnut Creek, California, United States - October 09, 2018: Facade with logo at night at Marriott hotel in downtown Walnut Creek, California, October 9, 2018 Meanwhile, Marriott International racks in 4.3% of its revenue, or about $440 million, from Russian operations, per Sonnenfelds data. The list remains fluid, but U.S. publicly-traded companies that have failed to cease business in Russia include cosmetics company Coty Inc. (COTY), pharmaceutical company AbbVie (ABBV), and cloud computing company Citrix (CTXS). After mounting pressure, Burger King, which has more than 800 franchise locations across Russia according to Sonnenfelds research, became the latest fast-food restaurateur to halt all corporate support to the Russian market in response to the war, its parent company Restaurant Brands International (QSR) said Thursday. The company joins other fast food peers that have arrived late to the party but heeded to criticism, including McDonald's Corporation (MCD), Starbucks (SBUX), Coca-Cola (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP). We serve millions of Russian customers each day who count on McDonalds, McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a statement Tuesday. At the same time, our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine. According to new MKM Partners research note, McDonald's suspending operations in Russia will cost the company $50 million a month. Sonnenfelds list can be found here and is updated every hour to reflect new announcements from companies in real time. When this list was first published on Feb. 28, only several dozen companies had announced their departure, he said on the website. The complete, current list of companies, compiled by Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his research team at the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, that have curtailed operations in Russia as well as those that remain, as of March 10. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of locations that Dunkin has in Russia. Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn Straight from the ranch hands mouth. Jefferson White finally shut down rumors that his character, Jimmy Hurdstrom, will not be in season 5 of Yellowstone. Read article Im in season 5. Jimmys in season 5, the actor, 34, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, March 8, while promoting the Yellowstone season 4 DVD. Thats great. Im really looking forward to that. I didnt know necessarily what Jimmys future was. I still dont know exactly what Jimmys future holds. While White knows that he will reprise his role in the upcoming season of the Paramount Network drama, he is not aware of specific story line details yet. Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for SAG Awards Ive really given up on trying to guess. What Taylor Sheridan, the shows creator I think one of the best writers in television now or ever, definitely comes up with is always so much better than what I could come up with, he added. So Im really excited that Jimmys journey continues, and I have no idea where it leads and Im just kind of ready to try to hold on. Read article Jimmy left the Duttons ranch during season 4 to work on the 6666 Ranch in Texas. He got engaged to Emily (Kathryn Kelly) and received his boss John Duttons (Kevin Costner) blessing to settle down at the southern ranch. Fans assumed that the relocation meant Whites time on Yellowstone concluded in season 4, and speculation ramped up that he would appear on the upcoming spinoff 6666. Cam McLeod/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock However, the Blindspot alum told Us he is not sure whether he will be involved in the latest expansion of the franchise. We dont know anything. Listen, I certainly dont know anything, he explained. I think its very funny. People keep expecting me to know whats going on, and nobody would tell Jimmy anything, right? Like, it feels like another way in which me and Jimmy are similar is that nobody tells me anything. So, I would be incredibly excited to go back to work in Montana. I would be incredibly thrilled to go back to work in Texas. If I was suddenly unemployed, I would be neither excited or thrilled, but Id get through it. I could go back to washing dishes in Iowa. Read article White went on to tease whether the choices Jimmy made in season 4 of Yellowstone will work out for him. When Jimmy drives away off into the sunset, Im proud of him for making a decision for what he wants for him and Emily. I think thats a beautiful thing, he said. Also, the uncertainty that that represents is a scary thing. Hes in this real transition moment for the first time in his life. Hes being offered the opportunity to make his own decisions. And then the sort of flip side of that is to take accountability for those decisions. The consequences of those decisions Jimmy cant blame anyone for but himself, so fingers crossed it goes well for him. We all have these moments where we step out into the unknown, we make the difficult decision to step away from familiarity and safety and security into the unknown. I hope that it goes well for old Jimmy. Season 4 of Yellowstone is available now on DVD and Blu-ray. With reporting by Leanne Stanton President Joe Biden pleasantly surprised the cryptocurrency market by issuing a comprehensive (yet vague) executive order that will inform how the government will oversee the booming industry. So what happens next? The U.S. Treasury is leading or participating in most of the studies, which range on average from 60-180 days. Now that the guideposts have been drawn, how officials in Washington are thinking, and how that translates into crypto policy, is very much an open question. One report the agency is tasked with leading relates to the future of payments and money. An issue which the administration is expected to study aggressively is the issuance of a central banking digital currency (CBDC). The biggest questions involve how a digital dollar will interact with stablecoins and other privately issued digital assets, how those relate to the strategic position of the U.S. dollar broadly, and the relationship between digital and fiat assets. According to senior administration officials, CBDCs will be examined for use as real-time payments or whether there could be another option. The Feds forthcoming real-time payment system, FedNow, will enable consumers and businesses to send payments instantly starting in 2023, and could be a potential test case. Adoption of US CBDC could fundamentally alter the role of both central and commercial banking.Lisa Ledbetter, partner, Reed Smiths Financial Industry Group Officials are thinking through what needs a CBDC will fulfill when FedNow is out, and real time payments through that system are more possible. You could see stablecoins develop more rapidly and broadly if theres adequacy of disclosure, certification of the claims and an audit function, said Chris Giancarlo, former Commodities Futures Exchange Commission Chair. One future might be retail payments are done through commercially operated stablecoins and wholesale through the FedNow payment system, said Giancarlo, also the co-founder of the Digital Dollar Project, which has explored the link between societal values and CBDCs. As other countries like China promote their own digital currencies, Giancarlo has been pushing for the U.S. to lead the way in CBDCs. I dont think the U.S. is a first mover in terms of deploying [a CBDC], but we dont want the U.S. not to be a first mover in exploring the technology, Giancarlo told Yahoo Finance. Its like 5G. China is developing a digital yuan not just for domestic use but also to export it. For every country that wants to get off the dollar, China will export to them the basic core CBDC technology, he argued. It will be CBDC in a box provided to you by the Peoples Bank of China, he says. If youre Cuba, Ecuador, Venezuela, it will be something you import from China. The question of CBDCs Photo taken on July 15, 2021 shows the U.S. Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Thursday that he was "legitimately undecided" on the benefits and costs of issuing a U.S. central bank digital currency CBDC. "I think our obligation is to explore both the technology and the policy issues over the next couple of years. That's what we're going to do so that we're in a position to make an informed recommendation," Powell said during a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee when asked to clarify his position on the CBDC. (Photo by Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty Images) The other big question that needs to be answered, say officials, is the interoperability of a U.S. CBDC with international counterparts, and how that would be structured. Officials say there are also some private projects or multi central bank projects to look at clearing of CBDCs and interoperability of CBDCs. Bidens executive order encourages the executive branch to take the lead on that potential outcome. If the U.S. pursues a CBDC, officials are taking into account that a U.S. token would interact seamlessly with the global system, given that the U.S. dollar is the premier reserve currency and central to the global financial system. "Adoption of US CBDC could fundamentally alter the role of both central and commercial banking," said Lisa Ledbetter, partner Reed Smiths Financial Industry Group. "Weighing all of the factors in the EO is a policy and practical balancing act. A US CBDC would have international consequences making it imperative that the private sector, foreign central banks and other stakeholders have a seat at the table," said Ledbetter, who's worked at Freddie Mac, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Treasury. Yet theres no telling what a digital dollar could resemble at the end of the process. The Federal Reserve is also being asked to build on its research paper on the pros and cons of a CBDC, reflecting how the presidents order placed the highest urgency on such an instrument. If the administration decides a digital dollar is in the nations interest, officials will then determine whether legislation should be imposed. The Justice Department has been tasked with looking into whether legislation is required to move forward with a CBDC. "Since the Fed is already engaged in experiments relating to digital currencies and a hypothetical CBDC, I would expect to see the results of that testing make their way into the EO research and next steps," Ledbetter told Yahoo Finance. Risks and solutions As the crypto industry has exploded in growth, the administration is looking very carefully at risks to investors, consumers and financial stability from cryptocurrencies. The EO tasks the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), created after the 2008 financial crisis to monitor risks to the financial system, with studying what systemic risks digital assets pose to the financial system. The Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets (PWG) has already tasked FSOC with looking into systemic risks of stablecoins. Administration officials say they will examine crypto as a whole through a prism similar to the PWGs report on stablecoins. That report raised the risks of runs on stablecoins, the operational stability of the stablecoin issuance model, and the risks coming from consolidation of power and commercial businesses. Officials say that FSOC could go through a similar exercise to identify risks and solutions. But an official familiar with the matter told Yahoo Finance it was unclear whether FSOC would get too granular about systemic risk which may be best left to a regulator, or legislation. Once the reports are completed, the government will have collaborated across agencies to come up with a consensus to decide whether, in certain cases, it needs to hand off a set of recommendations for Congress to write legislation around or if agencies will write new rules under their authorities. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube President Biden, flanked by, from left, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, meets at the White House with Colombian President Ivan Duque on March 10, 2022. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press) President Biden announced Thursday that he will name Colombia as a major non-NATO ally, a significant recognition as the United States tries to undercut Russian President Vladimir Putin's influence in Latin America after his invasion of Ukraine. The special status has been given to only two other Latin American nations Argentina and Brazil and signals a very close relationship between the United States and countries not part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The designation provides Colombia with certain trade benefits and boosts opportunities for security cooperation between the two countries including Colombia's potential eligibility to purchase depleted uranium ammunition, according to the State Department. It also comes as the Biden administration weighs lifting sanctions on Colombia's oil-rich neighbor Venezuela, in an effort to make up for any gap left by the U.S. ban on Russian energy imports a move Colombia strongly opposes. Ahead of a 45-minute meeting with Colombian President Ivan Duque at the White House, Biden said the recognition signals the "unique and close relationship" between the countries and said the South American nation is the "linchpin" of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. "Colombia is a keystone to our shared efforts to build a hemisphere as prosperous, secure and democratic," Biden said. Duque, whose term ends in August, later thanked Biden and said the designation recognizes "the principles and values that we have shared." Colombian President Ivan Duque speaks during his meeting with President Biden in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 10, 2022. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press) Colombia has long been a close ally for both Democratic and Republican administrations; it is championed as a relatively stable and prosperous nation in a region with numerous corrupt or pro-Russia leaders. At the United Nations General Assembly vote calling on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, Nicaragua and Cuba abstained. Venezuela did not vote because it has fallen behind on member dues. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said his country would remain neutral but denigrated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose wartime leadership has drawn international acclaim. At the White House, Duque was much more forceful in strongly condemning Putin, saying that the invasion of Ukraine "has been a very horrifying moment for the world" and that "nothing justifies the bloodbath." We also have to say that in the times we are facing, we have made a strong stand against the brutal, unjustified attack from Russia to Ukraine," Duque told reporters after his meeting. Duque's conservative government has also been especially useful to Washington as a counterbalance to Venezuela. Colombia has been a haven for American diplomats who have either been withdrawn or expelled from Caracas, and for Venezuelan politicians opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, who consolidated power after a 2018 election widely condemned as fraudulent. Duque has objected to the possibility that the Biden administration would lift punitive sanctions on Venezuela, which is sitting on one of the worlds largest oil reserves. If youve just banned oil from what they call the Russian dictator, its difficult to explain why are you going to be buying oil from the Venezuelan dictator, Colombia's minister of energy and mining, Diego Mesa Puyo, told the Financial Times. During their meeting, the presidents discussed topics including COVID-19 and migration. Colombia bore the brunt of a mass exodus of refugees from Venezuela following its economic collapse after the 2018 presidential election and won praise in many circles for accommodating the new arrivals, a move that also helped reduce their flow northward to the United States. In February, Duque was applauded internationally after granting more than 1.8 million Venezuelans temporary protected status for a decade. At the White House, the presidents said they would work toward a regional declaration on migration and protection at the Summit of the Americas, which is expected to take place in June in Los Angeles. Times staff writer Andrea Castillo contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. William Sadleir, right, attends a 2019 screening of "Serenity" in New York City. (Paul Bruinooge / Patrick McMullan Co.) A Beverly Hills resident and former chief executive of Aviron Pictures has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges after he pocketed nearly $1 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans meant to help businesses pay workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, prosecutors said. William Sadleir, 67, agreed to plead guilty to one count each of bank fraud and money laundering and is scheduled to formally enter the pleas next week, according to an announcement Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California. He has already pleaded guilty in a separate federal fraud case in New York for misappropriating more than $25 million that was invested in Aviron, prosecutors said. In the California case, Sadleir filed applications that fraudulently sought more than $1.7 million in PPP loans for three Aviron companies that had already shut down, prosecutors said. Such loans were guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration and designed to be forgiven for companies that spent most of the money on payroll costs and avoided cutting jobs. "According to court documents, Sadleir obtained the loans for three Aviron entities by falsely representing that the funds would be used to support payroll expenses for 33 employees at each company, when in fact the entities were no longer operational," prosecutors said. The loans were funded May 1, 2020, and within days, Sadleir transferred nearly $1 million to his personal checking account, prosecutors said. He spent "a substantial amount" of the loans on utility bills, mortgage expenses and his personal attorney, among other things, according to his plea agreement. Sadleir did not use any of the loans to pay employees, prosecutors said. "Following the discovery of the fraudulent loan applications, federal agents seized $308,058 of fraudulent loan proceeds from an Aviron account, and Sadleir returned $1,122,090 to the bank that funded the loans," prosecutors said. The Small Business Administration suffered losses of $282,566, and Sadleir agreed to pay full restitution as part of his plea agreement, prosecutors said. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison, prosecutors said, adding that they've agreed to recommend that his sentence should run concurrently with a sentence to be imposed in his pending case in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Sadleir is scheduled to be sentenced May 10 in the New York case for misappropriating investments in Aviron, prosecutors said. In that case, Sadleir pleaded guilty in January to two counts of wire fraud connected to his participation in two schemes related to investments made by a New York-based fund to Aviron Pictures LLC and its entities, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. "William Sadleir used his talent for selling stories to con a New York investment fund out of over $30 million using a fake company, fake documents, and even a fake identity," said U.S. Atty. Damian Williams. "In a brazen plot that could be ripped from one of the films he distributed, Sadleir even made up a character that he named 'Amanda Stevens,' and masqueraded as her in an effort to get away with his fraud. We called a wrap on Sadleirs scheming, and he now faces significant time in federal prison." Sadleir's attorney in the California case, Adam Olin, declined to comment for this story. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. HOBART, Ind. (AP) A northwestern Indiana father has pleaded guilty in the 2017 fatal shooting of his 9-year-old daughter as he warned his two sons never to play with a handgun. Eric Hummel, 38, entered his plea Thursday to reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent charges, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported. Hummel, of Hobart, could face up to 8 1/2 years in prison at his June 9 sentencing. Court records have shown that Hummel said that he was showing the 9 mm semi-automatic handgun to his sons and telling them to never play with it because it can kill someone when he accidentally shot and killed his daughter, Olivia. Authorities said he inadvertently shot Olivia in the forehead as she walked into the room. He sobbed while reporting the shooting during a 911 call, telling the dispatcher, This cant be real. Hummel told the 911 dispatcher he didnt realize the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger. The girl died about 30 minutes later at a hospital. Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are putting up "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials. The attack began Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation." Russian forces moving from neighboring Belarus toward Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, have advanced closer to the city center in recent days despite the resistance, coming within about 9 miles as of Friday. Russia has been met by sanctions from the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting the Russian economy as well as Putin himself. For previous coverage please click here. Latest Developments Mar 14, 9:56 PM Latest talks with Russia went 'pretty good,' will continue tomorrow, Zelenskyy says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy updated the status of negotiations with Russia in his latest address Monday, saying the latest talks went "pretty good" and will continue tomorrow. Zelenskyy also addressed Russian troops, telling them they would be treated "decently" should they surrender. "On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance -- chance to survive," Zelenskyy said. "You surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people are supposed to be treated. As people, decently." PHOTO: A police car parked at closed Red Square with the St. Basil's Cathedral in the background in Moscow, Russia, March 13, 2022. (AP) Zelenskyy also thanked the producer at a Russian state news channel who appeared on camera behind an anchor and held up an anti-war sign. She was later arrested. "I am grateful to those Russians who do not stop trying to convey the truth," he said. "To those who fight disinformation and tell the truth, real facts to their friends and loved ones. And personally to the woman who entered the studio of Channel One with a poster against the war." -ABC News' Matt Foster Mar 14, 8:25 PM Former US ambassador to Ukraine: 'Theres no path to victory for Russia' Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, doubted Russias ability to win the war it started, "because the Ukrainian people will continue to resist." "Ukrainians are never going to turn back to Russia at this point -- never," she told ABC News. "Not after he has invaded them and destroyed their families and destroyed their livelihoods and destroyed their homes. It is appalling what he has done, all in the name of allegedly protecting people in Ukraine. " While Yovanovitch said she does not believe a ceasefire is currently on Russian President Vladimir Putin's agenda, "Its important to keep the lines of communication open." "It's important to keep on talking, at least hopefully to get humanitarian corridors set up so that people can, you know, can leave cities that are no longer habitable because of the barbaric aggressiveness of Russia," said Yovanovitch, who served as ambassador to Ukraine under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, between 2016 and 2019. "There is no path to victory for Russia because the Ukrainian people will continue to resist." Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, speaks to @ABCNewsLive about the war in Ukraine. https://t.co/wobotUOmg4pic.twitter.com/4ZUZhFTUi4 ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) March 14, 2022 Yovanovitch also said she believes that Trump was dismissive of Ukraine during his presidency, adding that his praise of Putin "emboldened" the Russian leader. "There's no question that President Trump's actions and his statements presumably emboldened Putin, and I think that Putin was getting what he needed from President Trump in terms of while our official policy was very strong with regard to supporting Ukraine," she said. -ABC News' Penelope Lopez Mar 14, 8:13 PM UN to allocate $40 million for Ukraine relief The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has allocated $40 million "to ramp up aid agencies' efforts to reach the most vulnerable people," it announced in a press release Monday. "These funds are critical to get operations off the ground immediately," U.N. OCHA chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement. "In the early days of our response, fast and flexible funding can make all the difference." The U.N. is also deploying staff to get food and medicines closer to those in need, according to the release. PHOTO: A satellite image shows a color infrared view of fires burning near Fontanna street, in eastern Mariupol, Ukraine, March 14, 2022. (Maxar Technologies via Reuters) Griffiths described Mariupol, the eastern city being heavily bombed by Russia with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped inside, as the "center of hell" in an interview with CNN on Monday. "The most important priority is to get civilians out," Griffiths said. -ABC News' Matt Foster Mar 14, 6:20 PM International Court of Justice ruling on Russia expected Wednesday The International Court of Justice will soon issue a ruling on allegations brought against Russia by Ukraine. Ukraine had launched a case against Russia at the United Nations' highest court, located in Hague, The Netherlands, accusing Moscow of planning genocide. PRESS RELEASE: the #ICJ will deliver its Order in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (#Ukraine v. #Russia) this Wednesday, 16 March, at 4 p.m. (The Hague) https://t.co/RmzeTuRbrepic.twitter.com/GKG93WTDAK CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) March 14, 2022 Ukraine also asked the court to intervene to halt the invasion and to order Russia to pay reparations. The court will deliver the ruling at 11 a.m. EST on Wednesday, the U.N. announced in a press release. -ABC News' Matt Foster Mar 14, 5:34 PM 'Patients first, Pfizer CEO says of continuing *to send* supplies to Russia Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on Monday defended the companys decision to continue supplying medicine to Russia, saying patients first. The pharmaceutical company announced Monday that it would donate all profits from sales in Russia to Ukraine. Despite the hefty sanctions placed on Russia by countries around the world, Bourla said at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin that a humanitarian exemption to continue operations in Russia applies. Always with sanctions, medicines are excluded, he said, citing other previous instances, including Iran. We debated a lot what needs to be done, and we felt its so foundational in our principles that patients should come first that we cannot stop the flow of our medicines to Russia. Bourla emphasized that medicine is not comparable to goods such as the latest smartphone, saying that treatments for conditions such as lung and metastatic breast cancer cant stop. However, Pfizer is not "continuing business as usual" in Russia, Bourla said. Though we will maintain the flow of the medicines, we will not make money out of it -- all the profits of the Russian subsidiary going forward effective immediately will be donated to causes to alleviate the pain that the invasion is causing to Ukrainians. -ABC News' Sasha Pezenik Mar 14, 3:56 PM Fox News correspondent injured while reporting in Ukraine Fox News State Department correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while newsgathering near Kyiv on Monday, according to Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media. The circumstances were not immediately clear but Scott said Hall was hospitalized. "Please keep Ben and his family in your prayers," Scott said in a statement. Shaun Tandon, president of the State Department Correspondents Association, said in a statement, "We know Ben for his warmth, good humor and utmost professionalism. We wish Ben a quick recovery and call for utmost efforts to protect journalists who are providing an invaluable service through their coverage in Ukraine. Mar 14, 3:39 PM US warns China: No country will 'get away with' aiding Russia While the State Department has declined to confirm reports that Russia has reached out to China for aid, State Department spokesman Ned Price is warning China that the U.S. is watching for any country that may come to Russia's defense. PHOTO: A police car parked at closed Red Square with the St. Basil's Cathedral in the background in Moscow, Russia, March 13, 2022. (AP) The U.S. delegation "raised directly and very clearly our concerns about the PRC's [People's Republic of China's] support for Russia in the wake of the invasion and the implications that any such support would have for the PRC's relationship not only with us, but for its relationships around the world," Price said. The U.S. is "watching very closely the extent to which the PRC or any other country for that matter provides any form of support -- whether that's material support, whether that's economic support, whether that's financial support for Russia," he added. He declined to say whether the U.S. and its allies are drawing up sanctions in case China provides strong support to Russia in violation of Western sanctions. But he said, "Any country that would seek to, attempt to bail Russia out of this economic, financial morass will be met with consequences. We will ensure that no country is able to get away with such a thing." During a United Nations Security Council briefing Monday, China appeared to align itself more closely with the Kremlin. The final solution to the crisis in Ukraine is to take seriously and respect the reasonable security concerns of all states, said Zhang Jun, China's U.N. representative, repeating Chinas assertion that Russia is reacting to legitimate threats to national security posed by Ukraine. PHOTO: China's Ambassador to the U.N. Zhang Jun addresses the United Nations Security Council, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, March 14, 2022. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) He continued, The Cold War was over long ago. Cold War mentality based on bloc confrontation should be completely rejected. Sticking to hegemony mentality and provoking bloc confrontation will only bring the world disasters and exacerbate turmoil and division." He also slammed the use of sanctions by the U.S. and it allies, arguing that these economic punishments would not solve the conflict, but create more international strife. -ABC News' Conor Finnegan and Shannon Crawford Mar 14, 3:16 PM Mariupol residents evacuate during lull in violence There was a lull in attacks by Russian forces on the coastal Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Monday, allowing the first mass civilian evacuation from the city, according to Petro Andrushenko, an adviser to the mayor. About 160 cars fled the city Monday, carrying what's estimated to be hundreds of civilians, he said. Heavy shelling and air bombardments impeded previous efforts to get civilians out and to allow for humanitarian supplies to be brought in. The Mariupol City Council reported Sunday that 2,187 residents had been killed since the start of the invasion. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereschuk said last week that the city was "beyond a humanitarian disaster," with most roads destroyed, little communication with the outside and no power, gas or heat. PHOTO: Anastasia Erashova cries as she hugs the one remaining living child of her three children in a corridor of a hospital in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, March 11, 2022. Anastasia's other two children were killed during the shelling of Mariupol. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) PHOTO: A fire burns in an apartment building after it was hit by the shelling of a residential district in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) -ABC News' Patrick Reevell Mar 14, 2:46 PM Russian violence getting 'increasingly indiscriminate': US official The Russian military is trying to subdue population centers "using more and more long-range fires, which are increasingly indiscriminate in terms of what they're hitting," a senior U.S. defense official warned Monday. PHOTO: An elderly woman hugs a fireman after being evacuated from an apartment building hit by shelling in the Obolon district of Kyiv in Ukraine, March 14, 2022. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/AFP via Getty Images) Russia has now launched more than 900 missiles against Ukraine, according to the official. But the official said "almost all of Russia's advances remain stalled." The Russians closest to Kyiv are still near Hostomel Airport, about 9 miles from the city center. Some troops are moving in behind those advance forces, "but not at a great pace," the official said. PHOTO: Rescuers work next to a residential building damaged by shelling, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this handout picture released March 14, 2022. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/via Reuters) The coastal city of Mariupol remains isolated and under heavy bombardment, with Russian forces to the north and east, though Ukrainians are continuing to fight back, the official said. Significant fighting continues over Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine, with Russians relying more and more on long-range missile attacks, the official said. The official said the U.S. is seeing a new line of advance, with 50 to 60 vehicles moving from the southwest of Kharkiv down toward the town of Izyum. "The assessment is that they are trying to block off the Donbass area and to prevent the flow westward of any Ukrainian armed forces that would be in the eastern part of the country, prevent[ing] them from coming to the assistance of other Ukrainian defenders near Kyiv," the official said. -ABC News' Matt Seyler Mar 14, 12:45 PM Pfizer still delivering medicine to Russia but donating profits to Ukraine Pfizer said it won't stop delivering medicine to Russia, but will donate all profits from Russia to humanitarian support for Ukraine. Pfizer also said it won't hold new trials in Russia and will stop recruiting new patients for its ongoing trials in the country. Additionally, Pfizer said it "will cease all planned investments with local suppliers intended to build manufacturing capacity in the country." -ABC News' Christine Theodorou Click here to read the rest of the blog. Police and military officers stand at a drone crash site, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zagreb ZAGREB (Reuters) -A Soviet-era reconnaissance drone flying across Hungary from Ukraine crashed near the Croatian capital of Zagreb, leaving a big hole in the ground, the Croatian government said on Friday. No deaths or injuries were reported. An explosion was heard near Lake Jarun in Zagreb at around 11 p.m. on Thursday, Croatian media reported. Two parachutes were found and several vehicles had been damaged, police said. The drone, flying at 1,300 metres, came from Hungary and crashed seven minutes after entering Croatia's air space, the government said. Both Hungary and Croatia are NATO members. Hungary's Defence Ministry said in a reply to Reuters questions that the Tupolev TU-141 drone was detected by radar in Hungarian airspace. It had been detected over Ukraine and then it entered Hungary via Romanian air space. "Under continuous monitoring and controls from the time when it entered Hungary, it left Hungarian air space," the ministry said, adding that there was a similar event on Friday in the northeast of Hungary when Gripen fighter jets belonging to Hungary checked but found no trace of any flying objects. "Due to the Ukraine military conflict it is especially important that we handle such events calmly," it added. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said that according to preliminary information the drone originally came from Ukraine and crashed once it had run out of fuel. "We estimate that this was an incident and it was not (military action) directed against Croatia," Milanovic said. Defence Minister Mario Banozic declined to comment on details. "This was a very serious incident. We will have to investigate it thoroughly," Banozic told press conference. He said it was unclear whether the drone belonged to Russia or Ukraine. He also declined to say from where the drone could have originated. "The investigation will reveal further details," he said. Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks ago. Russian forces bearing down on the capital Kyiv were regrouping northwest of the city, satellite pictures showed, and Britain said Moscow could now be planning an assault within days. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Hungary was closely cooperating with Croatia and other NATO allies. "Our authorities are examining what happened, as according to present data, the air space of several NATO members including Hungary was affected by the drone's flight." (Reporting by Antonio Bronic and Krisztina Than; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Nick Macfie) Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results Emporia, KS (66801) Today Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. High 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Thundershowers following a period of rain early. Low 53F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch. Feature Your News Online $25.00 / for 30 days Highlight your business' news for just $25! We'll feature your content on our News From Local Business section & our Marketplace front page to give it maximum exposure for the next 30 days. MILTON, Ga. Milton Human Resources Director Sam Trager says the city was able to hire nearly as many employees as it lost in 2021, a period known as the Great Resignation. According to data issued by the U.S. Department of Labor March 9, nearly 4.2 million people quit their jobs in January. This comes off a year in which almost 48 million people quit their jobs. A new Pew Research Center survey found that low pay, a lack of opportunities for advancement and feeling disrespected at work are the top reasons why Americans quit their jobs in 2021. The survey also reported that those who quit and are now employed elsewhere are more likely than not to say their current job has better pay, more opportunities for advancement and more work-life balance and flexibility. Trager told the Milton City Council March 7 that while workers were resigning in records numbers around the country in 2021, Milton had a retention rate of 86%, compared to the national average of 81%. Overall, Trager said the city lost 23 full-time employees in 2021. Six left with less than a year of experience. However, during that same year, the city filled 21 positions. Trager said the city currently has nine vacant positions and one police officer who is in the final stage of the hiring process. One of the open positions is for a Community Development Manager after Courtney Spriggs left the position in February. According to LinkedIn, Spriggs worked for the city for seven years, starting in 2014 when she began as a public outreach coordinator. The city states the Community Outreach manager develops and implements events and programs that engage, involve and connect Milton citizens. The position also requires the promotion of volunteerism and building a strong sense of place, community and belonging in Milton. The positions starting pay is $64,230. At the meeting March 9, Trager said the city has been posting several job openings on sites like Indeed, which has led to a good stream of resumes. Additionally, Trager said the city completed a wage survey at the end of the last fiscal year and moved up the citys pay scale to remain competitive with surrounding cities. This year, Trager said Human Resources plans to conduct more Diversity Equity and Inclusion training, employee engagement surveys and enhance the citys wellness programs. For more information or to apply for the Community Outreach manager position, visit cityofmilton.us. Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! China congratulates Yoon Suk-yeol on election as ROK president Xinhua) 09:09, March 11, 2022 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China congratulates Yoon Suk-yeol on his election as the new president of the Republic of Korea (ROK), foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday. China and the ROK are neighbors that cannot be moved away and important cooperative partners that cannot be separated from each other, Zhao said at a daily press briefing after Yoon won the ROK's presidential election held on Wednesday. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, Zhao said, adding the rapid development of bilateral relations over the past 30 years has brought tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples, and made positive contributions to regional peace and development. "We are ready to make joint efforts with the ROK to take the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to promote the sound and stable development of bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples," he said. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. Member of European Parliament Lars Patrick Berg supports the calls to send a fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabakh to look at the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh. "I fully support an independent commission of enquiry, led by UNESCO, to investigate and determine the full extent of cultural vandalism in Artsakh. I am also sure that this mission will expose the wanton destruction of Armenian churches, monuments, artifacts and memorial stones, the so-called Khachkars. What we are witnessing is the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh, which clearly violates the rulings of the International Court of Justice. An independent mission led by UNESCO must finally be given unhindered access to Artsakh to prevent the further destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh. And we should not allow the Azerbaijani authorities to endlessly delay and obstruct such a mission", the MEP said in his remarks during the European Parliaments debate of a resolution about the destruction of the cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabakh. YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Member of the US House of Representatives Judy Chu is confident that despite the ongoing attacks and violence of Azerbaijan against the Armenian people, the spirit of Armenians could not be defeated. She made a statement on the 30th anniversary of the Baku and Sumgait pogroms, which runs as follows: Madam Speaker, as the Representative of America's largest and oldest Armenian population, I rise today to commemorate the Baku and Sumgait Pogroms and to reaffirm that the US stands on the side of democracy and peace--and that means standing with the Armenian people. Over 30 years ago, as the lines of the Soviet Union were fading, the people of Artsakh were united and voted for greater independence from Azerbaijan. But this peaceful movement for self-determination was followed by premeditated and government-sponsored attacks. Over the next two years, the Armenian population of Artsakh was repeatedly victim to brutal and racially motivated pogroms. Hundreds were murdered, and thousands were displaced in Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad. These pogroms were a direct assault on the right of self-determination in Artsakh, and it is an assault that is continuing today. In the fall of 2020, as the world was struggling to contain the corona virus pandemic, Azerbaijan launched yet another war of aggression against the peaceful people of Artsakh, destroying homes and villages and once again displacing thousands. This violence is unacceptable, which is why I immediately called for a cease fire and have called for an end to U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. We must also ensure the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people are being met, which is something I have pushed Samantha Power, the Administrator of USAID, to help us do. Having had the privilege of visiting Artsakh in October 2019, I've seen the pride of the people there and I know how strong they are. That is why I know that, just as their spirit could not be defeated after the Sumgait and Baku pogroms, it will not be defeated today. I am proud to stand with the Armenian people in their fight for democracy and human rights and stand united in rejecting the violence from Azerbaijan that has destroyed too many lives. YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. IDBank and Idram have summed up the next program of The Power of One Dram" initiativeThe entire amount of "one drams" gathered during January and February - AMD 9,808,684 was transferred to the "City of Smiles" charitable foundation. This is another support of IDBank and Idram to children with life-threatening diseases. During January and February, the companies directed the one drams gathered to the healthcare sector. We strongly care about the health of children and urge our customers to make even more active payments through the Idram system. Let me remind you that customers do not pay a single penny more: "one drams" are provided by IDBank and Idram for each payment made by customers, said Idram director ArsenKdenyan. The companies also announced the name of the next beneficiary. In March and April, the next program of "The Power of One Dram" initiative will be aimed at "My Forest Armenia" environmental non-profit organization. The gathered amount will be directed to the solution of the most important and vital issue from the point of view of the ecology of our state and our whole planet in general. "My Forest Armenia" was founded in 2019 with the aim of increasing the forest cover of Armenia through tree planting and care measures. During the 2.5 years of its activity, the organization has afforested about 150 hectares, planting more than 385,000 trees in Lori and Tavush. "It is good when people plant individual trees, but when millions of trees are put together and become a forest, their power is multiplied, because forests are incredibly complex systems that help fight against desertification and degradation of Armenia's lands, increase water resources, preserve biodiversity and so much more," said Andre Gumuchdjian, the organization's founder. According to him, this year the organization will plant more than 400,000 trees, using only endemic species of Armenia - oak, pine, wild pear, ash, maple, and a number of shrub species as they are important to ensure a rich ecosystem. According to Tatevik Vardevanyan, head of Communications unit at IDBank, the environment is one of the key areas of IDBank and Idram's corporate social responsibility programs. "Now we have an excellent opportunity to contribute to the solution of a vital problem with our customers and users. "Forests are the lungs of our planet, and the creation and restoration of forests must always be in the center of our attention," says Tatevik Vardevanyan. If you want to become a goodwill ambassador of "The Power of One Dram", all you need to do is to make a payment through the Idram&IDBankapplication, Idram.am and IDBanking.am online platforms and terminals of both companies. With Idram&IDBank application, it is possible to make payments in more than 8300 points of sale, in 750 online stores, as well as for all the services available in the system. COMPANIES ARE CONTROLLED BY CBA YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro, the Prime Ministers Office said in a press release. During the meeting the Prime Minister attached importance to the cooperation between the Armenian Government and the OSCE with the purpose of effectively advancing the democratic reforms in Armenia. PM Pashinyan noted that during the recent years numerous reforms were implemented in Armenia, also in close cooperation with European partners, with the purpose of developing and strengthening democracy in Armenia, and this agenda remains among the priorities of the Armenian Government. The Prime Minister noted the consistent steps in the fight against corruption and said that Armenia recorded significant progress in the rankings of reputed international organizations. The PM also attached importance to the positive changes in the freedom of the media sector after 2018 and noted that during the recent years the majority of the mass media in Armenia, including televised media, have opposition stance. The PM added that reforms in the freedom of the media sector are implemented taking into account international experience and standards. OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro said that the Armenian Governments steps in strengthening democracy are inspiring and appreciated. Ribeiro emphasized the importance of effective cooperation between OSCE and the Armenian Government in the area of freedom of speech, including with the purpose of introducing new tools in fighting disinformation. Ribeiro noted that the OSCE is ready to contribute to the process of exchange of experience and development of professional skills of journalists. The importance of close cooperation between the government and the civil society was underscored. Emporia, KS (66801) Today Cloudy with occasional rain in the afternoon. High 59F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Thundershowers following a period of rain early. Low 53F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan received on March 11 Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Lila Pieters Yahia and her delegation, the ministry said in a news release. In the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian military operations, Minister Tigran Khachatryan presented the impact on the Armenian economy. He highlighted and appreciated the continuous close cooperation with the UN and its specialized agencies aimed at strengthening the economy and effectively implementing the sustainable development goals in Armenia. Lila Pieters Yahia stated that Armenia is not only a part of the United Nations family, but also a very active member. She said the United Nations is ready to provide its further anti-crisis support to Armenia to resist the current new economic situation. YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia may soon apply to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship to initiate peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, Vahan Hunanyan, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, said in response to the question of ARMENPRESS. Question - Armenia has repeatedly stated its readiness to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and reciprocal statements have also been made by Azerbaijan. Are concrete steps being undertaken in this regard? Answer - The signing of the agreement should be surely preceded by a negotiation process. Since mutual statements have not yet developed into a concrete negotiation process, as the two countries do not have rich experience of direct negotiations, Armenia will probably soon apply to the mediatos - the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to initiate the peace negotiations with Azerbaijan. The issue is currently being elaborated. YEREVAN, 11 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani side continues to violate the ceasefire in the direction of Khramort, Parukh and Khnapat villages of Askeran region, using mortars and large-caliber firearms, ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh informed. "It is obvious that the regular attempts of targetting the civilian population and shelling the villages with mortars are aimed primarily at causing panic in the society. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh is following the developments and will regularly provide information on the situation," the statement said. At the same time, the Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs urges all media outlets to follow only official information. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia welcomes and deeply appreciates the almost unanimous adoption of the resolution on the Destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, which expresses the resolute position of our partners in the European Parliament; Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS. -Mr. Hovhannisyan, the resolution "On the destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh" was debated in the European Parliament on March 10. It was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 635 votes in favor, 2 against and 42 abstentions. Please, present the highlights of this resolution of the European Parliament -First of all, I would like to note that during the debate-discussion preceding the vote on the resolution, the MPs expressed deep concern over the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage by Azerbaijan and stressed the inadmissibility of the so-called "Albanization" policy pursued by Azerbaijan. The resolution not only refers to the specific facts of the shelling of the Armenian churches during the hostilities in 2020 and the policy of annihilation of the Armenian trace in the territories fallen under the control of Azerbaijan after the establishment of the ceasefire regime, the changing of historical and cultural monuments, but also the irretrievable destruction of religious and cultural heritage in Nakhijevan. The resolution calls on Azerbaijan to undertake the necessary steps towards preventing the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage and cases of vandalism, towards punishment of perpetrators of such acts. Reference is also made to the decision of the Azerbaijani side to establish a working group for the "Albanization" of Armenian cultural monuments and the statement of the Ministry of Culture of that country on this regard. The importance of ensuring unimpeded access of the UNESCO fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and territories fallen under the Azerbaijani control is emphasized, urging Azerbaijan to adhere to its international obligations. Almost all the fractions of the European Parliament were actively engaged in the drafting process, the elaboration of a broad consensus on the issue among them ensured the adoption of such a resolution with a large majority of votes, which was an exceptional phenomenon for the voting in European Parliament in recent years. -How would you assess this resolution, what significance does it have? - We welcome and deeply appreciate the almost unanimous adoption of this resolution, which expresses the resolute position of our partners in the European Parliament and can be an important step for deep the attention of the international community to the issue of preserving the Armenian cultural heritage, and for our efforts aimed at the raising the issue of the destruction, desecration and changing of historical monuments through the latters active support. Once the Congress goes down, effectively speaking, it is hard to think of any regional party being able to stand up enough to give a fight The BJPs spectacular results in these Assembly elections -- barring in Punjab, where it has never really had any serious influence -- will possibly go down as a special landmark for the party, and a reference point for India. More than any preceding Lok Sabha or state election, it wakes us to the fact that the present ruling party is set to dismiss all comers -- regional and national opponents -- with a wave of the hand in something like two-thirds of the country. In a multi-hued, diverse country, this is the closest that a party like the BJP can come to the analogous Congress system, which dominated Indian politics across regions for a quarter century or more after Independence. This means that the psychological appeasement of the countrys majority religious community - another name for majority communalism - now appears to have entered the election chessboard as a stable factor that is likely to dominate politics and society over the long term, edging the secular parties - the Left-liberal with a socialist tint, or plain caste-oriented ones - to the margins, even if they were to rid themselves of the dynastic tag. It is a moot point whether the stability element and the strongly pro-BJP results owe in considerable measure, even if not fundamentally, to the personality of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is evidently more loved than disliked, though the latter quotient is far from insubstantial. At least that is what the recent election results seem to suggest. Barring Punjab, in UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur - where the elections were held - the BJP was the ruling party. Resentments against it ran high even in the reckoning of pro-BJP observers. This was especially the case in Uttar Pradesh, which truly offered what looked like a hateful and a hated regime. And yet, the results tell a story that seemed far from real. Or, is it that the tale of the election result is only too real. It tells of the fact that voters in Mr Modis New India think more 80-20 that CM Yogi Adityanath spoke of in an election speech, without inhibition or a sense of public morality alluding to the Hindu-Muslim population ratio, than of the miseries of everyday life encapsulated in rampaging unemployment, runaway prices, deplorable public health services, thousands of (Hindu) corpses floating on the holy Ganga during the high point of the Covid-19 pandemic, and millions of angry farmers, and attacks on dalits and minority communities. Eighty-twenty has trumped everything in its path. The BJPs political, intellectual and ideological rivals and opponents totted up resentments among the public, which is what people do in a democratic system. But this appears to have left only a sideways impact on the poll results (other than in Punjab, where the communal factor was absent), not amounting to much. Majority communalism may well have long-term drivers that are not discernible in the general analysis. Its also likely to be organically linked to aspects of our societal structures, economy and culture -- not unlike the situation in Turkey, where the rise, first, of Recep Tayyip Erdogans AKP Party in a slow and stumbling way, and then in full-fledged and compelling fashion under his outright leadership. In Turkey, the reigning motif was of armed forces-guided secularism. This penetrated society in the Muslim but European parts of the country and was reflected in politics, commerce and economics. But Anatolia, the Asiatic part where sits Ankara, the capital, simmered with discontents in a reaction to the secularists. The class structure of rural and semi-rural areas had no stable cultural or business structure links with the Europeanised north of the country. The rise of the fundamentalist AKP at the grassroots is partly explained by this. The difference between Turkey and India is also great, and that makes Mr Modis electoral successes all the more noteworthy. Turkey is hardly as diverse as India in its religious or class makeup and the takeover by an idea may not be as complex a venture there as in India. Even so, will the situation change in Turkey after its current leader? In the same way, will the scenario in India change once its current leader is no longer at the helm? On this will depend how far-reaching or shallow is the penetration of the majority communal appeal at an extended societal level, which is the precursor to political and electoral preferences being decisively influenced. But Thursdays election results portend far-reaching trends. The foremost of these is the impact on the fortunes of the Congress. In that party are ideologically secular and modernist leaders who are also politically experienced and have played a long innings administering the country. But even if they come to the fore upon the jettisoning of the dynastic elements, or through voluntary self-abnegation by the Gandhis, it is hard to see how much of a challenge they can pose to the BJP -- both politically and ideologically. Two, once the Congress goes down, effectively speaking, it is hard to think of any regional party being able to stand up enough to give a fight. The Samajwadi Party under Akhilesh Yadav put up a brave show in UP but it was far from adequate. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress was impressive. But would that be the case if it was an Opposition party? Thats a question that cant be wished away. If the BJP meets real resistance above the Vindhyas, its likely to be in Bihar (where a regional party can show the way if it combines effectively with others), Punjab and Kashmir. The Muslims in UP and the BJP must now come to terms with each other The exit polls earlier this week had prepared us for the score line on Thursday, though some of the details are sure to vary. The main task is therefore to interpret the continued success of the BJP in four of the five Assembly elections, especially in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a telling comment in the last phase of the election campaign in the state when he said that there was a pro-incumbency trend in the country. Perhaps, he had in mind the electoral outcomes in West Bengal and Kerala as well. The outrage among liberals over the BJPs victory in Uttar Pradesh must be moderated because it is not just the sway of the BJPs anti-Muslim Hindutva rhetoric that gave the party its winning numbers. Hindutva remains an important plank, and it is the clinching factor as in the case of Jats in western UP. In eastern UP, the Ram temple in Ayodhya surely had its impact as also the spruced-up Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. More important, what helped the BJP to get past the Samajwadi Party was the coalition of the non-Yadav Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and partly that of the dalits. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati had given a push to the BJP indirectly. The Muslim vote has not helped the Samajwadi Party much in the face of the BJPs caste coalition, which included the upper castes, the OBCs and dalits. It gives the impression of a communally polarised scenario. But one cant press the point too far. The BJP would want the Muslim vote too, and it wants to be seen as a benign party that will patronise and protect Muslims as the Congress, SP and BSP had done earlier. It is for the different sections of the Muslim community -- there is no monolith here -- to decide their strategy. Conservative and reactionary elements among the Muslims will now negotiate with the BJP, and the BJP is not averse to the prospect. Organisations like Jamiat-ul-Ulema are already dealing with the BJP and RSS. Muslim liberals and socialists will remain arraigned against the BJP along with the Hindu liberals and socialists. Though the BJP has relentlessly and shamelessly labelled the Opposition parties as pro-Muslim and thus anti-Hindu, the SP and the Congress had played into the BJPs hands by distancing themselves from the Muslim question. The Muslims in UP and the BJP must now come to terms with each other. Punjab has shown the way out of the communal problem as it has voted for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which moved away from the plank of Sikh politics and brought in a new political perspective of governance. The AAPs success shows that people are willing to opt for a new party when one is presented to them. The Akali Dal has proved itself to be a spent force, and the Congress is as jaded as the Akalis. The BJP perhaps sees itself as party of the future, but it has Hindutva baggage. The AAP has stolen the show because it moved beyond the traditional community-based calculations. The AAPs victory is in many ways the victory of the politics of governance, away from community and caste. It is necessary to remember that the AAP is not the traditional liberal party with secular values. It is a traditional conservative party which cunningly mixes Hinduism and nationalism, sometimes as blatantly as the BJP. It will be a mistake to interpret the election outcome in Punjab as the victory of liberal secular values as against the conservative, communal ones. India is now squarely in the zone of conservative politics, and that includes West Bengal. In the smaller states of Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, the BJP is in a winning position but it is not the solve victor. It must share the political space with the Congress in Uttarakhand and in Goa, and with the regional parties in Manipur. It means that overarching ideologies do not matter in these smaller states, and local questions retain significance. Looking at the result of the Assembly elections in these five states, it is possible to say that the health of the polity is robust. The BJP, despite its victories, in not the sole repository of power in these states and in the country as a whole. The BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will stay true to their habit of trumpeting their big and small victories as the dominating force in the country, but the party, though a big player, is not the only one. While the victory in UP reaffirms the BJPs dominance in the heartland, it does not have a monopoly of power even in the Hindi heartland. It shares political space with the Janata Dal (United) of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar, and with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The BJPs electoral victories in these elections do not lend credence to the claim of its critics and supporters that Indian politics has turned saffron. The granular picture shows that there are many parties jostling with each other in the political space, even of the Hindi heartland. The hawks in the BJP are sure to crow after the victory in UP that the BJP is India and India is the BJP. And the liberals, like the chorus in a Greek tragedy, are sure to lament the saffron triumph. That will be misleading. India remains a politically complex country, and homogenous hegemony of Hindutva does not fit the bill. The victory in UP in 2022 can be seen as a precursor to a BJP victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, but if the UP numbers are any indication, the BJP will have to content itself with a limited victory. Of course, for Mr Modi and his party, victory matters more than any margins. But a BJP victory in UP in 2022 and in the Lok Sabha in 2024 does not itself guarantee good governance. The BJP under Mr Modi is yet to establish its credentials on the governance front, despite the loud claims to the contrary by all and sundry in the party. Tough talk is not the same as good governance. Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath are only good at tough talk. The fair question to ask is why then do people vote for the BJP? The adage of a good democracy is that you choose the best of the worst. The beneficiary is the BJP. Today's headlines: Japan holds prayer service to commemorate the 2011 Fukushima disaster; The Pentagon accuses North Korea of prepareing an intercontinental missile test; The Philippines is ready to give US bases for Ukriane war effort; After European sanctions, Belarus looks to Asia for its wood industry; A drone attack targets a Saudi refinery. CHINA-BANGLADESH-INDIA Delhi has expressed concern over the agreement between Beijing and Dhaka that will allow the Chinese to build a complex in Bangladesh for the repair and maintenance of Chinese missiles sold to the local government in 2011. The official announcement of the deal was postponed due to the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. While Bangladesh is a traditional ally of India, it has become a significant buyer of Chinese arms in recent years. JAPAN Prayers were held across the country today to remember the victims of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the Fukushima area, causing the worst nuclear accident in history after Chernobyl. The tragedy of 11 March 2011 left 18,500 people dead and missing. NORTH KOREA The North Korean missile launches on 26 February and 4 March were not part of the development of a recognition satellite, as Pyongyang claimed, but preliminary experiments for the imminent test of an intercontinental missile. according to the Pentagon. North Korea's last such launch was in 2017. PHILIPPINES The Philippine ambassador to Washington said his country is ready to open its bases to US forces if the war in Ukraine spreads to Asia. The US and the Philippines are linked by a defence treaty that President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly opposed at the beginning of his term (now expiring). BELARUS-ASIA Minsk plans to direct the production of wood products towards the Asian market instead of the European one, now blocked by sanctions. The Belarusian government says it will not "put on straitjackets". In 2021, local wood trade with the EU reached a volume of $ 3.2 billion. KAZAKHSTAN-RUSSIA Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi made it clear that "Russia has no claim on our national territories". This is his comment on the claims of Russian communist leader Gennadij Zjuganov that the northern regions of Kazakhstan should return to Russia. For Tleuberdi, these are just "the opinions of an opposition figure". SAUDI ARABIA A refinery near the Saudi capital Riyadh was attacked yesterday with a drone. According to the local press, the attack did not affect oil supplies. The authorities have not yet stated who was probably responsible, but the country has suffered several sabotage attacks of this kind by the Houthi, pro-Iranian rebels who control parts of Yemen. by Stefano Vecchia The Bishops' Conference backs an executive order signed by Duterte protecting people fleeing the conflict in Europe. Meanwhile, discontent is growing among Filipinos over the governments failure to condemn Moscow in the name of its policy of neutrality. Concerns are fuelled by the dispute with China over maritime borders. Manila (AsiaNews) The Philippine Church is taking action in the name of international solidarity in order to welcome refugees from the conflict in Ukraine. Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of Balanga, vice president of the Commission for migrants and itinerant people of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), expressed the Church's support for concrete steps to welcome refugees. This follows a recent appeal by the CBCP to the warrying parties to lay down their weapons and start talks to end the suffering of the Ukrainian population and launched specific prayer initiatives, Speaking to Radio Veritas, Bishop Santos cited Executive Order 163 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte to protect Ukrainian asylum seekers as our gift to the whole world, which the CBCP and the Stella Maris Center are ready to support. Meanwhile, two more authoritative voices have joined the call for the country to play a more incisive role in this emergency. Former Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio urged the government to join the international pressure on Moscow. In his view, a policy of mutual defence with other states to allow a balance of forces is the only antidote that a weak state can use against the invasion or annexation by a powerful neighbouring state. The reference here is to China with which the Philippines has a long dispute over internal seas. Richard Heydarian, geopolitics expert and government adviser, spoke of Manila's deplorable case of toxic neutrality in connection with President Rodrigo Dutertes policy of neutrality and hostility towards closer strategic relations with the United States, the Philippines traditional ally. Within the country, many are calling for greater involvement based on a moral stance vis-a-vis the invasion and urging the authorities to undertake humanitarian initiatives within the country itself, which in the past took in large numbers of refugees from Indochina. This position is gaining ground among the countrys political forces and in civil society as more and more people are interested in the fate of Filipinos in Ukraine and the hardships the Ukrainian people face today. According to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, 199 Filipinos have been evacuated from Ukraine so far, but others remain in the European country or are on their way to safety. by Giorgio Bernardelli Hindu nationalists win the crucial Uttar Pradesh state election, but the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party crushes Punjabs hitherto dominant parties. As the crisis of the Congress party gets worse, observers wonder who will he be the real challenger of the BJP in 2024. Milan (AsiaNews) By winning back the key state of Uttar Pradesh, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undoubtedly won this years round of elections in five states. The election results, which were released yesterday, marked another major victory, but that of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, Common Man Party), which is by led Arvind Kejriwal, who started an anti-corruption campaign ten years ago and has served as chief minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi since 2015. With a population of 28 million, Punjab is the heartland of Indias Sikh community. As a major farming state, it has seen mass protests by farmers opposed to liberalisation of agricultural markets by Prime Minister Modis government. Following protests and convoys of tractors converging on Delhi, the policy was scraped only a few months ago. Politics in Punjab was dominated by the Indian National Congress, the countrys de facto ruling party under Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a centre-right party that has been very influential among Sikhs since the 1920s. Both Congress and the SAD got crushed in last months state election, which saw the AAP take 92 out of 117 seats in the state assembly, something unprecedented in the history of Punjab. The hitherto governing Congress was reduced to 18 seats (59 fewer than in outgoing assembly). In turn, the Sikh-centric party elected only three members, just one more than the BJP which has always been marginal in Punjab. The Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a new party created by farmers unions in the wake of the protest movement failed to take any seat. Its most prominent leader, Balbir Singh Rajewal, received only 4,676 votes against the 57,557 for the AAP candidate. The AAPs victory is also due to its decision to present Bhagwant Mann to be the states chief minister. Elected twice to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, Mann, 48, is another example of a well-known actor and comedian who jumped into the political arena. For the AAP, he proved to be the ideal choice to harness the anti-system sentiments of many voters. In January, as many as 93 per cent of AAP voters picked him as the ideal government leader, making him even more popular than AAP national leader Arvind Kejriwal. Following the Punjab election, people are now wondering who would be the best leader to take on Narendra Modi in the next Union (federal) elections, scheduled for 2024. The defeat of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh showed the limits of regional parties and the notion that they can really be a bulwark against the BJP. A regional party worked last year in West Bengal with the victory of Mamata Banerjee, who was able to beat back the assault by Hindu nationalists, but the proposition does not appear to work everywhere. One of the problems associated with regional parties is the need accommodate competing local leaders and potentates. What this round of elections is further confirm he deep crisis of Congress, with the leadership of the Gandhi clan now openly questioned. Out of 690 seats up for grabs in five states, only 55 went to the party that claims to be the main alternative to Narendra Modi. Now it governs alone in only in two states: Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Still, it is not all gloom and doom for Congress. in Uttarakhand it gained more votes and seats, but not enough to take power. Thus, many observers of Indian politics wonder if Kejriwal is the only alternative to the BJPs populist nationalism. As of yesterday, the AAP is no longer a Delhi exception and the next two years will tell if Kejriwal can really lead those Indians opposed Modi. INDIAN MANDALA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO INDIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY FRIDAY IN YOUR E-MAIL? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. by Mathias Hariyadi Raised by a music teacher, he touched the lives of dozens of kids by teaching them how to play an instrument. Almost all the organists who now accompany the liturgies in Indonesia have been his students. Jakarta (AsiaNews) Fr Antonius Soetanto, the most important composer of liturgical music in Indonesia, has died at the age of 84 earlier this month. Following a stroke, the Jesuit priest left his pastoral work at St Servatius Church in Kampung Sawah, Bekasi (West Java), and moved to Emmaus House, a home to retired clergymen. In the 1970s he studied composition at the Nederlands Instituut voor Katholieke Kerkmuziek (Dutch Institute for Catholic Church Music) in Utrecht, where in graduated with a degree in music and conducting in 1977. After he went home, he took final vows in 1982 and then started teaching music to children at the St Francis Xavier parish church in Tanjung Priok, north of the capital. What would the Catholic Church in Indonesia be like if Fr Soetanto had not taught music to dozens of kids, wonders A. Kunarwoko. His legacy includes liturgical compositions that are always sung during the weekly Mass. The organists who today accompany the liturgy in Indonesia are almost all former students of the musician priest. AsiaNews spoke to a former student who was part of the Ascencio choir. My life changed when Fr Soetanto asked me to join the Ascencio Choir, said Lucy Naidu from the United States. My father died when I was two and my mother was forced to work late into the night. I spent most of my time at home alone, but then I received Fr Soetantos support to learn how to play the organ from scratch. The priest used to say: I taught you music and how to play an instrument for free. Then it will be your turn to spread your talents to others. Abandoned by his parents when the Dutch tried to retake the country militarily, Soetanto was raised by Soekono Darmobroto, a teacher and musician at St Joseph's Gedangan church in Semarang. He learnt to play the violin and then, when he was a young seminarian at Mertoyudan minor seminary in Magelang, he started teaching music to other future priests as well. Fr Soetanto made me appreciate a variety of music, from classical to hard rock by Led Zeppellin, said Jimmy S. Harianto, a former seminarian and journalist with the daily Kompas. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1959, studied philosophy in Poona, India, and theology in Yogyakarta, where he was ordained priest on 6 December 1961. After pastoral work in Tanjung Priok, Fr Soetanto taught liturgical music at the Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia until 2000. Three years later he was moved to St Servatius Church in Kampung Sawah. Trial chamber verdict reversed over alleged procedural errors. The appeals judges ruled "unanimously" against the defendants in absentia Hassan Habib Merhi and Hussein Oneissi. Mobile phone network used to coordinate the attack, dubbed the "Green Network",identified. Beirut (AsiaNews) - The appeals chamber of the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), based in The Hague, yesterday reversed the verdict of the trial chamber, condemning two members of the Shiite group Hezbollah for their "direct involvement" in the attack on February 14, 2005. The explosion of a car bomb in Beirut had caused the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 other people, including nine bodyguards, who were in the area at the time of the explosion in broad daylight. His death caused deep sorrow in the country, prompting tens of thousands of citizens to take to the streets to demonstrate and demand the withdrawal of Syrian troops who had been present in the land of the cedars for almost 30 years. From the outset, suspicions about who ordered the attacks and who armed the Hezbollah-linked attackers were focused on Damascus, while the Shiite movement has always rejected all charges, accusing Israel and its secret services. The UN appeals judges say errors were made in the first instance that influenced the trial process, which ended with the acquittal of the two defendants, who were also tried yesterday in absentia, overturning "with a unanimous vote" the previous sentence. The defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, complicity in the attack, complicity in international murder and attempted international murder. The judiciary then issued new arrest warrants against Hassan Habib Merhi and Hussein Oneissi, while a third man from the "Party of God", Salim Jamil Ayyash, had already been convicted in 2020. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon was established in 2007, two years after Hariri's death, following a cooperation agreement between the Lebanese government and the United Nations and was the first international court to identify individuals responsible for a terrorist attack. The judges focused their investigations on a number of Lebanese citizens, all members of Hezbollah; however, no evidence has emerged in recent years that directly implicates the Shiite movement's top leadership in the assassination of the former Sunni prime minister, who according to several experts was preparing to take over the country's government. The judges also reconstructed the presence of a network of mobile phones, dubbed the "Green Network", which would have been used by the attackers to coordinate the attacks. A fourth defendant, senior Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, was a defendant in the case but was killed in Syria in 2016. In addition, shortly after the attacks, Merhi and Oneissi personally oversaw the dissemination of a series of fake videos, blaming Hariri's death on a Palestinian who was allegedly acting under the mandate of a fictitious Sunni extremist group, and arranging for the videos to be delivered to al-Jazeera, thus amplifying the fake-news campaign. by Emanuele Scimia In his latest speech at the end of the "Two Sessions", Chinas incumbent premier is open to working with the United States to overcome the global economic crisis caused by the pandemic. For Beijing, striking a deal with Washington is better than a tactical "quasi-alliance" with Moscow. Confrontation with Washington is not paying off at a difficult time for the Chinese economy. Rome (AsiaNews) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held a press conference in which he expressed hope that China and the United States would engage in cooperation, not confrontation. The Chinese leader spoke at the end of the Two Sessions (Lianghui) of the National Peoples Congress and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, which function as rubber stamps for Chinese Communist Party decisions. According to Li, differences between China and the United States can be overcome while their relationship is moving forward despite ups and downs. The Chinese premier noted that the volume of trade between the two countries rose by 30 per cent to US$ 750 billion last year while the US trade deficit increased. To further trade, the US should reduce export restrictions, he said. Lis conciliatory approach to the United States suggests that despite the much vaunted "quasi-alliance" or "unlimited friendship" with Putin's Russia, Chinas basic goal is to find a way to coexist with the United States on the world stage. On the crisis in Ukraine, Li maintained Chinas official line and refrained from using the word "invasion" to describe Moscows armed operation against Ukraine. Beijing is struggling to keep its tactical partnership with Russia while defending the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state like Ukraine. For those calling on China to intervene diplomatically to end the war, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi yesterday said that his government hoped for a quick ceasefire, stressing, however, that Ukraine is a European crisis. This suggests that Beijing will not intervene directly in the dispute, but will support pacification efforts between the main players, and act more as a mentor than as a mediator or facilitator. For its part, the US Treasury Department reported that China was not rushing to help Russia circumvent or mitigate the effects of Western sanctions. The Chinese are showing caution in doing business with Russia at present. In fact, Russian state media have reported that Beijing refused to supply Russian airliners with spare parts to replace supplies from Boeing and Airbus halted by sanctions. With respect to the economy, China has set a GDP growth target of 5.5 per cent for this year, a level difficult to achieve according to various experts given that consumer spending has not picked up, as Li himself admitted. Meanwhile, China is still struggling to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. Today health authorities reported more than a thousand new cases, the highest figure since the first months of the pandemic in early 2020. Like mainland China, Hong Kong too has seen a jump in cases, forcing the postponement to May of this months election for the post of chief executive. In his press conference, Li announced tax cuts worth 2.5 trillion yuan (US$ 395 billion) for small and medium-sized businesses, the hardest hit by the global health crisis, and 100 per cent tax rebate for investments in research and development. The Chinese premier mentioned that 16 million new workers are expected to enter the workforce this year, including 10.7 million university graduates. Some 200 million Chinese have part-time jobs and are in need of social protection, a significant fact taking into account the aging population, which will boost retirement spending. Li made it clear that the Russian-Ukrainian war and Western sanctions against Russia threaten the global post-pandemic recovery. The reality is that despite the strategic advantage of having the US involved in Europe against Russia, and not deployed in the Western Pacific (especially Taiwan), short- and medium-term economic losses remain painful for China. by Vladimir Rozanskij The Kremlin is seeking to strengthen its control of the CSTO, the political-military bloc that incorporates several former Soviet republics. Putin wants a right of "coordination". The member states have not yet ratified the changes demanded by Russia. In Kazakhstan, part of the population is asking to leave the alliance. Moscow (AsiaNews) - In recent days, in the midst of the "special" military operation in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented a ratification of an amendment to the statute of the CST (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) to the State Duma. A sort of Eurasian NATO, it brings together with Russia several former Soviet republics, mainly in Central Asia. The Russian leader proposes to introduce the concept of the Alliance's 'coordinating country', to be decided by its Council, and to create 'Csto peacekeeping forces' to participate in UN peacekeeping missions. In the current context, the proposal seems paradoxical, both because of Russia's obvious predominance over other countries, which should be celebrated with the title of 'coordinator', and because of its propensity for peace missions, while it is precisely Russia that imposes itself on the world as the prince of warmongers. The CSTO members approved the changes at their meeting in Dushanbe on 16 September. Well before the January unrest in Kazakhstan, with the mobilisation of allies to crush the uprisings, and Russia's war against Ukraine and the entire West. So far none of the member countries have ratified the new protocol. Shortly before violating Ukraine's borders, the UN held a session on 16 February at the suggestion of Russia, the rotating president of the Security Council, to evaluate cooperation with the Csto. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had expressed his approval of the Eurasian alliance's ability to prevent and contain conflicts, referring in particular to the situation in Taliban-held Afghanistan. TheCSTO has had observer status at the UN since 2004, and a cooperation agreement was signed in 2010. Kazakhstan began discussing amendments in December, but the January riots postponed ratification until a later date. The other members of the CSTO, apart from Russia, are Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which sent a total of 2,500 soldiers to Kazakhstan to contain the riots, with a mission that lasted the space of a weekend between 13 and 18 January. The CSTO appeared on that occasion to be a military parade to reaffirm Russian control over the other countries, arousing protests in various sectors of the Kazakh population, which after the invasion of Ukraine is demanding an exit from the Alliance and also from the Eurasian Economic Union, also dominated by Moscow. The new "coordinating" role would not impose any rights on the other members, who decide to participate in military missions on a voluntary basis, but only the right to represent everyone before the UN and agree on the organisational part of the missions themselves. Kazakh military expert Ermek Seytbattalov believes that the reason for the changes actually lies in the very limits of the CSTO structure, which is unable to take important decisions due to the requirement of unanimity, hence the need to legitimise a strong state as 'coordinator'. It appears evident that Russia is trying to prepare a counter-Nato at its own disposal and without the Chinese presence, in order to make the present conflict stable as a confrontation between political-military systems in imitation of the twentieth-century "cold war", always assuming that the present war is able to cool down. The Armenian or Kyrgyz armies certainly cannot be compared to the Russian one, yet, as Seytbattalov states, "in Ukraine Russia has shown great strategic, tactical and operational weaknesses, and the other CSTO countries are perplexed by its claims". Russia's international reputation collapsed after the invasion of Ukraine, and it is not excluded that the coordination of the CSTO could be entrusted to Kazakhstan or one of the other countries, however under the control of Moscow. Other countries, such as Uzbekistan, Hungary and Azerbaijan, have also been involved in various initiatives of the Eurasian Alliance, which is open to the entry of other members from all over the world. Jamal Deibes is the patriarchal vicar for Jordan, while Rafic Nahra is the vicar for Israel. The former directed schools in Palestine, while the Lebanese priest is a great knowledge of the Jewish world. Patriarch Pizzaballa said that their mandate is to teach, govern and sanctify. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has two new bishops. The Latin primate of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa made the announcement in a letter posted on patriarchates website. With gratitude and joy, I announce to you that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has designated Fr. Jamal Deibes and Fr. Rafic Nahra as Auxiliary Bishops for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Strengthened by the fullness of priestly ministry both Bishops-elect will continue their respective missions as Patriarchal Vicar for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Patriarchal Vicar for Israel. Speaking about them, the patriarch noted that both were born and raised here in the East, [where they] have exercised priestly ministry for many years and have now been called from the very bosom of the Mother Church to be Successors of the Apostles with the mandate to teach, govern and sanctify the People of God. Bishop Rafic Nahra, patriarchal vicar for Israel since 2021, was born on 27 January 1959 in Ismailia, Egypt, to Lebanese parents who had emigrated to that country for work. He grew up in Lebanon. When he was 20, in 1979 he began his studies in Paris, where he graduated in Engineering from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees and practiced his chosen profession for two years. In 1987, he entered the seminary in Paris, then moved to Rome where he obtained a Bachelor degree in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and subsequently a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. In 2004 he obtained a Masters in Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and subsequently a doctorate in Judeo-Arab literature (2011-2016). Ordained on 27 June 1992 and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Paris, he held various positions in the French capital before going to the Holy Land as a fidei donum priest and studying highly topical issues such as relations between Christians and Jews, capitalising on the teachings of then Archbishop Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris (Jewish by descent). In recent years he has worked and embraced Christian migrants and asylum seekers Filipinos, Indians, Eritreans, Sudanese who today represent a significant component of Israels Christian community. Appointed patriarchal vicar in Jordan in July 2021, Bishop Jamal Khader was born on 3 July 1964 in Zababdeh (Palestine). He entered the seminary in Beit Jala after elementary school, and continued his studies until he completed a Bachelor Degree before being his ordination as a priest on 8 July 1988. He took his first steps as a priest (and teacher) in Jordan before moving to Rome to complete his education earning a doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at Gregorian University in 1998. Back in the Holy Land he served as rector of the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala and as chairperson of the Department in Religious Studies at Bethlehem University and dean of the Faculty of Arts. He was also pastor at the Holy family parish in Ramallah and director of the schools of the Latin Patriarchate in Palestine. Here earthly Jerusalem and heavenly Jerusalem join in prayer and celebration for these brothers of ours who have been elevated to episcopal dignity, said Patriarch Pizzaballa. In the name of the whole Latin Patriarchate, I wish all the best to the bishops-elect and through the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine, I invoke upon them the blessing of Almighty God. Last year, speaking to AsiaNews on Israels Remembrance Day, Bishop Rafic Nahra related the tragic consequences of COVID-19 among the survivors of the Shoah, with at least 900 of them dying from the virus. He noted how dependent we are on each other. The Shoah as well as the human and social devastation caused by the pandemic are a warning that invites us to to look after one's neighbour and not abandon them at times of difficulty. Athens, TX (75751) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms, especially in the evening. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. It was succeeded by the F10 , which brought a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, and that recipe has been maintained for the current one, the F90, which has been around since 2017.Now, it may not show its age yet, but BMWs M Division has started working on its successor anyway. Weve already seen it testing in the open at the beginning of the year, and more recently, a prototype was snapped in Sweden, being driven on a snowy road.The mandatory Hybrid Test Vehicle stickers stand out like a sore thumb, and if you zoom in on the left front fender, you will see a disguised charging port. This tells us that it packs a plug-in hybrid assembly , with rumors stating that it might be a twin-turbo V8, assisted by an electric motor. In the XM, it should develop 750 hp and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque combined, and if it retains those numbers, then the new M5 will be significantly more powerful than the 626 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) M5 CS.Sporting an evolutionary design, the next-gen M5 will have smaller headlights and a grille that wont be that big compared to the one of its predecessor, or so it seems anyway. The distance between the axles looks about the same, so expect similar interior space. It will still feature quad exhaust pipes, yet the bumper, diffuser, and taillights on the latest scooped tester were not the final production parts.With the new 5 Series believed to be presented in roughly one year, accompanied by the zero-emission i5 , the executive super sedan is understood to debut sometime in 2024. In all likelihood, this will make it a 2025 model by the time it arrives in North America. CVT The Metaverse showroom, which opens on March 22, is called Acura of Decentraland. Once there, fans can immerse themselves into a virtual world revolving around the next-generation Integra and the Acura brand Not only will you be able to go on a tour of the virtual showroom, but youll also explore the new 2023 Integras key vehicle features, browse the new Integra wearable collection (also created in collaboration with the same NFT artist), play an exclusive racing game, or simply enjoying one of the many other interactive rooms and activities.Its important to note that visitors are not required to own NFTs in order to enter the Acura of Decentraland digital showroom, which will open in conjunction with the first-ever metaverse fashion week.As for that Integra NFT, after you claim it, youll have to wait to take delivery of your 2023 Integra for it to upgrade into a unique NFT, which by the way will feature surreal textures and colors. Each NFT will be a unique artistic representation of the next-gen Integra.The latter was revealed recently, with highlights including its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit, producing 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. You can get the 2023 Integra with either a standardautomatic transmission or a segment-exclusive six-speed manual gearbox, featuring short-throw, close-ratio mechanics, as well as automatic rev matching.Production on the 2023 Integra will begin soon in Marysville, Ohio on the same production line as the Acura TLX. This also marks the first time an Integra is built in America. kWh WLTP HP Based on a platform derived from the CMF-A vehicle architecture of the Renault Kwid for the Indian market, the Spring costs 19,600 euros back home in Romania. Subtracting 10,000 euros covered by the government for going electric, we get 9,600 euros, which is circa 10,500 freedom eagles.Thats seriously affordable, but on the other hand, you dont get much in return either. As far as equipment is concerned, standard goodies include a 7.0-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, manual air conditioning, and a 27.4-battery pack that powers a front-mounted electric motor. Good for 45 metric ponies, the motor develops only 31 horsepower if you press the ECO button on the instrument panel. That way, thedriving range improves by up to 10 percent (Dacia quotes up to 230 kilometers or 143 miles).Corners have been cut in terms of suspension componentry as well. A twist-beam rear axle with helical springs opens the list, followed by a pseudo MacPherson setup in the front. The biggest difference over the conventional MacPherson setup is the lower wishbone that enables the automaker to yank out the anti-roll bar from in order to reduce weight and production costs.Knowing these details, does it come as a surprise the Spring leans so much in the slalom test? The car in the featured video also rocks very cheap tires, namely Linglong Green-Max-050s that measure 165/70 by 14 inches.Our friends at km77.com note moderate body roll, but it leans more than other cars in the segment. The Spring finished the slalom in 27.9 seconds, which makes it slower than the Maxus Euniq 5 minivan and three EVs from European manufacturers: the BMW iX, Mercedes EQS, and Cupra Born. SUV ADAS EV Back in January, Henrik Fiskers re-established American electric vehicle automaker again showed the delayed Ocean fully electricin Las Vegas. It did not come alone at CES , as the vehicle rocked the worlds first digital radar for a production vehicle, among otherimprovements via a multitude of high-tech sensors.A bit later, Fiskers Ocean SUV did the logical thing and crossed the Atlantic just in time for the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and its European debut . Now, production has been rescheduled for November, ahead of the first deliveries. Hopefully, it will make the mark, this time.But that is not all, as earlier this month Henrik Fisker showed the advanced SolarSky solar roof (also doubles as a regular sunroof) in action. However, we already know of one Fisker Ocean enthusiast that does not care a CGI moment about it. And quickly discarded the gimmick.The virtual artist better known as SRK Designs on social media has seemingly fallen in love withand pickup transformations as of late. So, now he mixed them both, logically. And in the process, created the Fisker Ocean Pickup, dubbed the most radical electric truck out there. Probably not from the design standpoint, as one should not forget about the edgy Tesla Cybertruck.Although, who knows, maybe there is a chance Fisker comes out first with a pickup truck, judging by the Cybertruck delays... Alas, we are not here to talk about the latter. Instead, let us witness the Fisker Ocean SUV to electric pickup truck transformation. By way of the CGI experts usual behind-the-scenes making-of process, of course.Then, after watching the morphing from luxury electric SUV to fashionable zero-emission pickup truck, there is just one more question left. Did the pixel master succeed in his self-appointed most radical mission? AMG 6x6 You see, Ford has a Bronco for everyone. From the Base to the Raptor, and from the Badlands to the Everglades, you could get yours with a plethora of equipment installed straight from the factory. And wherever the Blue Oval wont deliver, there are numerous tuners out there that would gladly take your money in return for fitting it with more bits and pieces.Giving it an extra axle at the rear is now possible too, with Apocalypse ticking this box with their very own proposal. Its dubbed the Dark Horse, and it is as real as they come, being much longer than the normal Bronco, sporting an open bed behind the cockpit, and bringing some off-road goodies, such as the steel bumpers, LED light bar, winch, and fender flares to keep those panels shiny as long as possible.Now, unfortunately, the company behind the conversion has only said a few things about the project on social media, and they havent talked about the power, how much it costs to turn your Bronco into the Dark Horse, and so on. However, if you dig the pictured one and have the finances to back it up, then you could buy it, as it will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jacksons Palm Beach, Florida, event, on April 7-9.This isnt Apocalypses only six-wheel drive beast , as their portfolio already includes some insane machines like the Hellfire, Doomsday, Sinister 6, and Warlord. Pricing varies from $155,000 for the first three, when had with a turbodiesel, and $250,000 for the latter, and that makes them affordable in comparison with the Mercedes-Benz G 63, which is a seven-digit affair nowadays. kW If you havent experienced Ferrari-Maserati of Orlando, it is a theme park for people like us. Onofrio Triarsi and his family dominate the Italian marketplace throughout the Southeast, and it allowed them to bring a Roma of every color to The Amelia 2022. Their chief transporter Melvin and I have worked together for almost 15 years, so this was a prime opportunity to experience this new offering before the test drives began.In order to preface this experience, the Roma is now the entry level coupe from Maranello. Alongside the Portofino M, it replaces the California that had been in production since 2007. The Cali shared a basic structure with the Maserati GranTurismo of the same era, which is truly obsolete by all measures after 15 years. These cars were the end of an era, the last to be styled by Pininfarina with bodies built by Scaglietti. Thanks to high strength aluminum castings, the body of the Roma is 200 kg (441 lb) lighter than the Portofino M, upon which it is based, making for an enjoyable experience.Given a blank check by the late Sergio Marchionne, engineers were happy to not worry about real rear seats. The Roma is a true 2+2 with much more comfort and competence than its predecessors. Their new styling language is known as La Nuova Dolce Vita, a popular post-modern ethos that was popular in Rome during the '60s. Inspired by the 250 GTO, it is arguably the best looking Ferrari since Pininfarinas final masterpiece, the F12 Berlinetta.Although it would be nice to have a naturally aspirated base model, their twin turbo 3.9 offers 612 horsepower and 456(561 lb-ft). While those are impressive numbers, there are a few seconds of lag between the gas pedal and the rear tires. Some things never change. The impressive antics involve the Magna (Getrag) 8-speed dual clutch. Shared with the SF90 , It anticipates your mood to provide the best gear for any situation.After a few laps of my island, the Romas crisp turn-in and competent chassis made me forget about how shaky the Portofino can be over broken pavement. All five of their test drive cars were equipped with the optional MagneRide, which makes us curious as to why this car has options. Magnetic Ride Control has been standard equipment for Cadillac since 2002, so why would Ferrari make customers pay more for it? It comes down to price.A base model 2021 Roma stickers for $218,670 without any options. Although it is a bargain for what you get, offering several flavors of the same model is more expensive in the modern era. Were thankful for the amazing standard equipment, namely the touchscreen. Their Human Machine Interface works with the manettino to offer a truly customizable experience, and it has been needed for two decades.It does everything you would expect from a Ferrari, but it needs a few finishing touches in order to represent the ancient city. The audio system seems to be pulled from the Fiat-Chrysler parts bin. Cockpit insulation is decent, but it sounds like active noise cancellation is working even with the radio off. Because many parts are finished by hand, it will never have the fit & finish offered by the Japanese or German luxury brands.For the aspiring hypercar owner, the Roma is a necessary steppingstone up the ladder of Ferraris customer list, so I would definitely drive the wheels off of it as a perfect daily driver. It does everything you could ask for without the stigma often associated with mid-engine supercars. A big thanks to Ferrari-Maserati of Central Florida for this opportunity, so stay with us for a tour of their new campus in Orlando! Man steals a yacht and crashes into the dock in Newport Beach ???? pic.twitter.com/0uiK7El19I IG: FooCommunity (@FooCommunity) March 10, 2022 Newport Beach Harbor became an unplanned bumper boat course when a man allegedly stole a yacht on Thursday, March 10. The man reportedly stole the 65-ft yacht from a yacht broker in Newport Harbor at around 10:10 a.m. But sailing such a vessel wasn't exactly his strong point and he crashed into at least two other boats, Orange County Sheriffs shared.A video of the collision has hit the Internet, showing the yacht plowing into the dock near Lido Island Bridge and into two other parker boats.According to the harbormaster, the keys were left in the ignition as the yacht that got stolen was undergoing maintenance.An eyewitness, Tyler Van Twist, who works in the area, told ABC7 : "The engines were so loud and we were like, 'There's no way that a boat is going that fast in the harbor right now,'" he said. "He jumped on this yacht, he put it in reverse, he kept doing 360s in the harbor, so we were filming and we go, 'This guy's going to hit something.'"Police arrested the man, whose name is Joel Siam, while he was still wearing a lifejacket. Word is that, before trying to sail away with the yacht, he tried to steal a Rolls-Royce along the Pacific Coast Highway, but he failed that too. Then he jumped in the boat.Witnesses shared with NBC Los Angeles that one of the boats he hit had just been restored. Meanwhile, the 65-ft yacht he stole had only been purchased last August for a charter business.One person was injured during the failed theft attempt and treated for minor injuries. The alleged thief has been arrested on suspicion of grand theft of a boat and possession of a stolen boat. He is now held in custody on $3 million bail. AMG Back in February 2021, Mercedes-Benz AG started investigating the fastening parameters of the airbag control unit. This review indicated parameters not according to specifications were used, which is exactly what one would expect of the automaker that promises excellence but offers third-rate quality control. Merc immediately rectified those parameters, then analyzed the documentation for the fastening nuts in slightly greater detail.In parallel, a plant action was implemented to rework potentially affected vehicles. The company had also started monitoring vehicles in the field to detect any irregularities potentially related to the unsecured airbag control unit. No cases were detected worldwide. Come February 2022, which is a whole year since the German automaker became aware of the issue, Mercedes-Benz AG finally relented because there is a potential safety risk.Based on production records, only the S 580 4Matic is affected. More precisely, 14 units produced between December 2nd, 2020 and February 19th, 2021. To be notified on May 3rd, owners of the full-size luxobarge will be instructed to bring their cars in to retorque the nuts in question. Im also curious why they chose May rather than April, but hey, owning an expensive car doesnt necessarily translate to stellar after-sales services.The seventh-generation Sonderklasse in S 580 4Matic flavor is currently available from $117k before destination charge for the base trim level. The sporty-lookingLine and more luxurious Executive Line retail at $122k and $129k. As opposed to the straight-six S 500 4Matic, the numerically higher model is rocking a V8 with 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) of torque delivered from 2,000 through 4,000 rpm. Its safe to say that Mercedes now has the slimmest cars on the grid, which really makes you wonder how on Earth are they going to get enough air to the engine for cooling purposes. Well, the solution appears to be a double series of vents, and while there doesnt seem to be anything fishy going on, that hasnt stopped rival executives from questioning the design.Red Bulls Christian Horner has reportedly suggested that Mercedes new sidepods were against the spirit of the regulations, as per Motorsport , but again, nobody is saying theyre illegal at this point.This is a very novel approach, said F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds (the main architect of the 2022 regulations). I like to see novel interpretations. I have to say its not one that Id expected to see. And Im still really impressed at how theyre getting the air through to cool the car, but they obviously are.I think it will have got their rivals sort of going back to the rulebook with their red pencil and seeing just what theyve done.One particularly clever bit of kit is the intercooler, which Symonds believes comes from Reaction Engines in Oxfordshire, the same folks who are doing this sort of air breathing rocket motor, and the sort of spin-off from that has been this really extremely efficient heat exchanger technology.Basically, the new Mercedes-AMG W13 F1 car is using rocket technology to cool its insanely powerful turbocharged hybrid engine. It looks like the shipyard has been hitting milestone after milestone. Recently, Oceanco announced that it is dipping its toes into the NFT world with a collection of superyacht NFTs . Now, it revealed to the world that its hotly-anticipated Project Y720 has finally hit the water.The first construction phase took place at Oceanco's adjunct facility in Zwijndrecht. Located in the western Netherlands, the 28-acre site was acquired by Oceanco in 2019, according to Boat International . It includes facilities dedicated to construction, outfitting, paint, and sandblasting.After work on the new vessel was completed in Zwijndrecht, Project Y720 headed to Alblasserdam (where Oceanco's headquarters are located) for the outfitting phase. For now, details are still kept under the wraps by the Dutch shipyard.What we know is that the yacht features a wide beam that measures 52 feet (16 meters). In addition, it features an elegant design with a "classically proportioned profile." Both the exterior and its interior spaces were drawn by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design.Glass surfaces were used on the main deck, bridge, and upper decks, including large windows that wrap the floating mansion. The shipyard says the owner was actively involved in the design process and made the Project Y720 a "very special yacht."The yacht has been designed with cutting-edge environmental systems that "exceed current regulations." It has a propulsion system developed by Lateral Naval Architects, which allows it to navigate across the water at an impressive speed of 20 knots (23 mph/ 37 kph).The Wright Maritime Group was in charge of the project, working as the owner's representative during the construction. More details are expected to follow when Project Y720 makes its official debut. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. HP Although its researching the potential of electric propulsion systems and of hydrogen fuel cells for future green aviation, the aerospace giant believes that gas turbines will still continue to be the main pillar in aviation propulsion, but ones that are compatible with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The UltraFan engine will be able to save 25% more fuel, a big step from the first-generation Trent engines.The UF001 demonstrator, boasting a fan diameter of 140 inches/355.6 cm (Rolls-Royce says its the world;s biggest), is currently being assembled in Derby, UK, and will conduct its first test later this year. The company also announced that for its first test, the UF001 will run on 100% SAF.But before that, the record-setting PGB has just been sent to the UK from Dahlewitz, Germany, so that the engine demonstrator can be fully assembled.The PGB can deliver even more power than a grid of Formula 1 cars. During the test carried out in 2021, it reached 87,000, which would be enough to power a town the size of the Bath British city (29 km).Thats mainly because of the gearboxs innovative planetary design, with each planet capable of holding the force of a Trent XWB engine. Also, Rolls-Royce explained that the UltraFan PGB would allow the engine to be more efficient at different thrust levels due to the fact that the rear turbine can run at high speed, while the front fan runs at a lower speed.The groundbreaking UltraFan engine can be adapted for both narrowbody and widebody aircraft, bringing a new level of sustainability to air travel. SUV If you want a vehicle that is almost guaranteed to reach 200,000 miles or more, your best bet would be a truck-based SUV with a Toyota badge, according to a study by iSeeCars. The car search engine analyzed almost 15 million pre-owned vehicles sold in 2021 and figured out the percentage of cars with at least 200,000 miles on the odometer for each model.The analysis shows which models are the most likely to reach and surpass 200,000 miles. This is especially useful to people looking to buy a reliable vehicle to get the most out of their investment. With record-high used car prices today, you want to make sure you dont spend your hard-earned money on a lemon.We are not surprised to see in this list many Toyotas, as the Japanese brand is a reliability legend . Toyota Land Cruiser and Toyota Sequoia are light-years ahead of the pack, with 18.2% and 14,2% of vehicles well beyond the 200,000 miles mark. The Land Cruiser is almost three times more likely to reach 200,000 that the third in line, the Chevrolet Suburban (6.6%).Five American full-sized SUVs make it into the top 15, with four of them being built by GM. The Chevrolet Suburban (6.6%), GMC Yukon XL (5.2%), Chevrolet Tahoe (4.4%), and GMC Yukon (3.7%) share the platform and many common parts, explaining why they are so close in terms of reliability. Ford also has an entry with Expedition (4.5%), another truck-basedWhile people in the market for a full-sized SUV are well served, it is harder to find a reliable sedan. Toyota Avalon (3.9%) is the only one on the list, with a close relative Prius (3.9%) as a more compact alternative. Also, there are two minivans, although they ranked lower on the list Honda Odyssey (3.2%) and Toyota Sienna (3.2%). The latter is also available with all-wheel drive, greatly expanding the capabilities.If you think that the percentages are not that great, it helps to know that only 1.2% of all vehicles in the analysis made it to 200,000 miles. The percentage is higher in the case of pick-up trucks, with an average of 2.2% reaching the milestone. In terms of brands, the most reliable are Toyota (2.3%), Honda (1.9%), GMC (1.8%), Chevrolet (1.6%), and Ford (1.5%). If you're curious what are your vehicle's chances to reach 200,000 without major problems, head to iSeeCars.com and look it up. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The chair of one of the most prominent 9/11 family coalitions has written to President Biden raising concerns about potential renewed U.S. engagement with Saudi Arabia, Axios has learned. Why it matters: 9/11 Families United chair Terry Strada wants Biden to uphold his campaign pledge to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah," after Axios reported this week the president's advisers are discussing a possible trip to convince the Kingdom to pump more oil. "We share Americans' 'pain at the pump,' and we recognize there are a number of important issues between our two countries, but any dialogue must include our years-long quest for justice and accountability," Strada wrote. "No reset of our nations relationship with Saudi Arabia can be successful without proper reconciliation for the attacks on September 11, 2001." The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The push to repair relations with the Saudis triggered outrage from progressives and activists. They continue to demand Biden hold Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The letter from Strada, who lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks, opens a new front in the pressure campaign to halt any movement toward warmer ties with Saudi Arabia. 9/11 Families United represents 3,000 family members who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. The big picture: Biden moved last September to declassify thousands of pages of documents related to the FBI's investigation of the 9/11 attacks, fulfilling a years-long request from victims' families and raising tensions with Saudi Arabia. While most of the hijackers were Saudi nationals, the Saudi government has long denied any involvement in the plot, and investigators have never established direct ties with the ruling royal family. Documents declassified by the Biden administration, however, have detailed new information about support provided to two hijackers by U.S.-based Saudi nationals with diplomatic credentials. Strada writes that evidence laid out in nearly 3,000 pages of declassified documents "confirms our long-held beliefs regarding Saudi Arabias deep involvement in the murders of our loved ones." Flashback: Strada helped champion the push to pass the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. That landmark law allowed families of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government. The legislation plagued former President Obama, who vetoed the bill only to be overridden by a two-thirds majority in Congress. Read the full letter. Re-created from Brennan Center for Justice; Chart: Axios Visuals Election officials worry about politicians interfering with their jobs, as well as new colleagues who embrace theories about widespread election fraud, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Why it matters: It's been nearly a year and half since the 2020 election, but baseless allegations of fraud from former President Trump and associates are still fueling anxiety. Brennan found that one in five election workers they're likely to leave their jobs before 2024. By the numbers: One out of every six local officials interviewed said they'd been threatened because of their job, whether over the phone, in person or through social media, the survey of nearly 600 officials found. More than one in three said they're "very worried" about interference by political leaders over how they and other election officials do their jobs in future elections. Just 13% said they'd been "very worried" before 2020. The majority said social media has made their jobs "somewhat" if not "a lot" more difficult and dangerous. Between the lines: Half of the officials interviewed said they're at least "somewhat concerned" about new colleagues who might believe there was widespread fraud in 2020. More than a quarter were "very concerned" about it. The concern comes as more than 20 people who've questioned 2020's election results have launched campaigns for Secretary of State and other top state election positions; some of them have been backed by Trump. Benenson Strategy Group conducted 596 interviews from Jan. 31-Feb. 14, 2022, among local election officials across the country, and of all political affiliations. The margin of error for the dataset is +/- 3.95%. The Georgian government submitted its application for European Union membership last week two years ahead of schedule, as domestic support for Ukraine galvanized calls to look West. Why it matters: Leaders in the Republic of Georgia hope that the shockwaves caused by Russia's invasion will spur reluctant EU members to admit longtime aspirants like Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. "In making this historic decision, Georgia stands firmly beside Ukraine and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations amid the unprovoked Russian military invasion of the country," the Georgian Embassy in Washington, D.C., said in a statement. Flashback: Russia invaded Georgia in August 2008 in a five-day war that saw Russian-backed separatists in two Georgian regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, break off and form self-governed regions. In a strange twist, that invasion like the current war in Ukraine began just as the Olympics concluded in Beijing. Russia faced few repercussions after the Russo-Georgian War, which some analysts say empowered Moscow to annex Crimea in 2014. Background: As a former Soviet republic that sits geographically on the divide between Europe and Asia, Georgia has come to view its identity through its Christian heritage and ties to ancient Greek civilization, which in the widely held view of many Georgians makes the country a part of Europe. We are not only old Europeans, we are the very first Europeans, and therefore Georgia holds [a] special place in European civilization, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, known for his strong pro-West and pro-NATO stance, said during his 2004 inauguration. Georgia signed an association agreement with the EU in 2014, and it planned to submit its EU membership application in 2024. Yes, but: Some EU member states doubt that Georgia can meet the bloc's standards on issues like anti-corruption and clean elections, and they worry that pressure would grow to admit other prospective members. While the Baltic states have supported Georgia's bid for EU membership, Germany and France have been more skeptical. State of play: Allegations of democratic backsliding under the ruling Georgian Dream party have also jeopardized the country's relationship with the EU. Last year, Georgian Dream drew criticism from EU and U.S. officials when it withdrew from an EU-brokered agreement aimed at resolving a political crisis after opposition parties challenged the results of the October 2020 election. Georgia then declined a loan offered by the EU, signaling a shift away from the bloc. Russia's invasion of Ukraine "obviously influenced" Georgia's decision to submit its application for EU membership two years earlier than expected, former Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli told Axios. Tens of thousands of people were out demonstrating in Georgia's major cities to support Ukraine, said Khidasheli, and many Georgians also signed online petitions urging the government to submit the EU application. What to watch: Georgia's path to EU membership is far from secured, but Khidasheli said that EU members might support Georgia as a way to stand up to Russia. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, denounced Russia's claims that the U.S. is housing biological or chemical weapons facilities in Ukraine at a U.N. Security Council meeting Friday. Why it matters: The U.S. said the claims, which have also been pushed by China, are false and are being perpetuated to either justify Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine or to prep a chemical or biological false-flag attack against Ukraine. The Department of Defense said Thursday that Russia and China's claims were "false," saying there are five biological research laboratories in Kyiv that focus on "diagnostics, therapeutics, treatments, prevention and vaccines" and not on chemical or biological weapons. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky also denounced the claims, saying that "no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land." What they're saying: "Russia asked the Security Council for today's meeting for the sole purpose of lying and spreading disinformation, and that is exactly what you have heard from the Russian PR this morning," Thomas-Greenfield said. "I will say this once: Ukraine does not have a biological weapons program. There are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories supported by the United States, not near Russia's border or anywhere," she added. "So, here are the facts. Ukraine owns and operates its own public health laboratory infrastructure. These facilities make it possible to detect and diagnose diseases like COVID-19 which benefit us all. The United States has assisted Ukraine to do this safely and securely." Izumi Nakamitsu, a U.N. official, said Friday at the U.N. that he is not aware of any chemical or biological weapon programs in Ukraine. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had warned in a series of tweets Wednesday that Russia may be preparing to "use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine," after Moscow claimed the U.S. was housing biological weapons in the country. Victoria Nuland, the Department of State's under secretary for political affairs, told Senators during a Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday that Ukraine has biological research facilities and the U.S. is concerned about Russian forces gaining control of them. "Ukraine has biological research facilities, which, in fact, we are now quite concerned that Russian troops, Russian forces may be seeking to gain control of," Nuland said. "We are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach," adding that if a biological or chemical weapon incident or attack occurs inside Ukraine, Russia will be responsible. The big picture: Russia has used chemical weapons in civilian and conflict zones. Russian operatives deployed a nerve agent in Salisbury, United Kingdom, in an attack on a former Russian spy in 2018, and the Kremlin poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a nerve agent during a failed assassination plot in 2020. The Russian-backed Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has used sarin gas against its own people, and the U.S. has claimed that Russia conducted a disinformation campaign in an attempt to cover up those attacks. Go deeper ... CIA director: Putin's "propaganda bubble" is failing in Ukraine With Russia's economy collapsing, its stock market cryogenically frozen and its bonds near default, global investors are set to endure major losses. Why it matters: For decades, Russian investments were a cornerstone of so-called "emerging market" investing, the financial world's marketing rubric that helped encourage the free-flowing global investments that helped define the post-Cold War era. Russia was a star of the "BRICS" a rubric coined by Goldman Sachs analysts that stood for the fast-growing emerging market economies that were investor favorites over the last two decades. BRICS = Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. State of play: It's difficult to estimate how widespread the losses might be. Goldman analysts estimate that there are roughly $70 billion worth of Russian government bonds held by foreigners. A report from the Brookings Institution released last month said there were roughly $200 billion worth of Russian stocks owned by foreigners including $68 billion in the U.S. Driving the news: In recent days, major financial players have disclosed or had the press disclose for them exposures to such investments that may cause billions in losses in the case of broad-based Russian debt defaults. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has lost roughly $17 billion on Russian securities as a result of the invasion, the FT reported on Friday. Bond-trading giant Pimco could lose up to $2.6 billion if Russia fails to make its sovereign debt payments, after the asset manager bet big against a default, the FT reports. Italy's second largest bank, Unicredit, said it could lose $8 billion if it has to fully write off that is, value as worthless its Russia business. French banking giant BNP Paribas said it has a combined $3 billion in exposure to Russia and Ukraine. Germany's Deutsche Bank is exposed to about $3 billion. Credit Suisse acknowledged $1.7 billion in exposure. Yes, but: More losses are almost sure to come. French bank Societe Generale has said that at the end of 2021, it had roughly 18 billion (nearly $20 billion) worth of exposure. Last week, Citibank said it had a nearly $10 billion total exposure to Russia. The intrigue: Those are just the losses we can obviously see coming. But violent market moves triggered by the Russian invasion and the massive sanctions in response have generated steep, and more unexpected, losses elsewhere. In China, an astounding surge in the price of nickel in part due to worries about access to supplies from Russia, a top producer of the metal rocked the empire of Xiang Guangda, the billionaire founder of one of China's largest producers of stainless steel, Tsingshan Holding Group. Meanwhile: Western corporations will incur losses on foreign direct investments that is, business investments in Russia as they rush to exit the market. Goldman yesterday become one of the latest to announce plans to to leave the country. Russia is considering plans to seize and potentially nationalize assets of the companies that quit the country. The bottom line: What a mess. The country's economic meltdown along with its brutal invasion of Ukraine that has put it in a similar box to North Korea will likely be seen by historians as the end of the most recent chapter of financial globalization. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect breaking news about BlackRocks Russia-related losses. The massive convoy of Russian military vehicles that was slowly heading toward Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, appears to have largely dispersed and redeployed elsewhere, new satellite images show. Driving the news: The convoy was previously estimated to stretch for 40 miles. It massed outside Kyiv last week. But U.S. and U.K. officials said it had "stalled" due to fuel and food shortages, amid reports Ukrainian fighter jets have been striking the vehicles. A satellite image of the Russian convoy north of Kyiv on Feb. 28, when analysts estimated that it stretched for about 40 miles. Photo: Maxar Technologies Between the lines: Maxar Technologies captured satellite images that capture armored units maneuvering in and through the surrounding towns northwest of Kyiv, near Antonov Airport. Elements of the convoy further north appear to have repositioned and been deployed in forests and along tree lines near the town of Lubyanka, with towed artillery howitzers in firing positions nearby, according to Maxar. What they're saying: A U.S. defense official told AP in recent days some vehicles "were seen moving off the road into the tree line," but they couldn't tell whether the Russian military column had broken up. The U.K. Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence update Thursday that the convoy "has made little progress in over a week and is suffering continued losses at the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces." But it added on Friday that it expected Russian forces to "reset and re-posture," ready for a fresh assault in the coming days, with an attack on Kyiv likely. The bottom line: "It remains highly unlikely that Russia has successfully achieved the objectives outlined in its pre-invasion plan," the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its Friday intelligence. "Russian ground forces continue to make limited progress. Logistical issues that have hampered the Russian advance persist, as does strong Ukrainian resistance," it said. Editor's note: This article has been updated with more comment from the U.K. Defense Ministry. Ukrainian officials reported Russian airstrikes on Friday near airports in the western cities of Ivano-Frankiivsk and Lutsk and more bombings in the eastern city of Dnipro, where at least one civilian was reported killed. The big picture: Ukrainian officials say it's the first time Dnipro has been attacked, as Russia's military appears to be widening its assault to more cities. Ukrainian lawmaker Inna Sovsun tweeted Friday it shows there's "no safe city" in Ukraine. State of play: The barrage on Kharkiv continued Friday. Kharkiv's mayor told Reuters "48 schools have been destroyed" in the city as of Friday. The Ukrainian government said Russia's military had struck the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology for the second time in less than a week. In Kyiv, air raid sirens blared across the capital on Friday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address Thursday that Russian forces had "destroyed the building of the main department of the State Emergency Service in the Donetsk" region. "Right next to this building was the place where Mariupol residents were to gather for evacuation," Zelensky added. "This is outright terror. Blatant terror. From experienced terrorists." Meanwhile, civilians were prevented from leaving the besieged port city of Mariupol and also Volnovakha, in the Donetsk region of southeastern Ukraine, because "Russian troops did not cease fire," according to Zelensky. Between the lines: The U.K. Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update Friday that Russian forces continued to make little progress in the face of Ukrainian resistance and "logistical issues." "Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days," the Defense Ministry said. "This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv." Go deeper: June 4 marks the 30th anniversary of Seyyed Ali Khamenei's reign as Irans Supreme Leader, making him one of the longest-serving autocrats in the modern Middle East. Why it matters: Khameneis rule has seen increased tension with and distrust of the West, proxy warfare across the region, troubled relationships with a series of presidents, and escalating protests. Iran has only grown more authoritarian under Khamenei, making it unlikely the country will change course either at home or abroad. Background: The Islamic Republic's political system was conceived by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the 1979 revolution. It centers on the concept of the Guardianship of the Jurist, also known as the Supreme Leader, Iran's most powerful political, religious and military figure. Khamenei, who previously served as president of the Islamic Republic, assumed this role under highly contentious circumstances in June 1989, following Khomeini's death. With the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other hardliners, Khamenei has governed by deflecting blame, balancing factions, centralizing control and suppressing opposition. Whats next: Khamenei will turn 80 in July, and predictions of his potential replacement and succession challenges have been plentiful. Although the Iranian constitution provides for a body called the Assembly of Experts to select the next leader, the conventional wisdom holds that this process may well be ignored during a power vacuum. Rather than defaulting to another hardline cleric, some envision a clerical council, a military dictatorship or even a disruptive, potentially revolutionary transition. The bottom line: The Islamic Republic and the institution of Supreme Leader are now as much products of Khameneis reframing as of Khomeinis founding. Whoever succeeds him, Khamenei will have made a lasting impact on Iran. Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba discussed the possibility of a meeting between their two presidents during talks on Thursday, but otherwise failed to come to an agreement on a ceasefire. Why it matters: The talks in Turkey marked the highest-level negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian government since the invasion began, but ended in disappointment. Russia again falsely accused Ukraine of being the aggressor and said the attack will continue until Kyiv agrees to its list of demands. State of play: Kuleba said his top priority during the 1.5-hour talks was establishing a humanitarian corridor for Mariupol, a port city in southern Ukraine where Russian forces destroyed a maternity ward and children's hospital on Wednesday as part of a brutal, week-long siege. Kuleba said Lavrov was "not in a position to commit" to a humanitarian corridor, suggesting the Russian foreign minister was not empowered to make any decision without consulting Moscow. "Russia is not in a position at this point to establish a ceasefire. They seek a surrender from Ukraine. This is not what they're going to get. Ukraine is strong, Ukraine is fighting," Kuleba said. "Ukraine made Russia's initial plans fail. We are seeking a diplomatic solution to this war. But we will not surrender." The big picture: Putin has failed in his strategic objectives of swiftly capturing Kyiv and forcing the Ukrainian government to capitulate. As frustrations build, Russian forces have increasingly turned to attacking civilians with indiscriminate shelling. Russia is demanding neutrality for Ukraine, recognition of Crimea as Russian, and recognition of the pro-Moscow separatist territories in eastern Ukraine as independent. Zelensky has indicated that Ukraine would be open to discussing neutrality, but is opposed to any agreement that sacrifices the country's territorial integrity. "Ukraine exists in a security vacuum. If a similar system of security guarantees, as envisaged by the NATO charter, would be granted to Ukraine by permanent members of the UN security council, including Russia, also Turkey, we are ready to discuss it," Kuleba said. Between the lines: In a sign of the parallel universes in which the two sides are operating, Lavrov claimed at one point, "We are not planning to attack other countries. We didn't attack Ukraine in the first place." The Karabakh police said the Azerbaijani side targeted three villages bordering the Aghdam district east of Karabakh, using mortars and heavy machine guns. Nobody was hurt as a result. One of those villages, Khnapat, was reportedly shelled throughout the day. A local farmer, Barsegh Avanesian, had to run for safety when a mortar shell exploded near his pomegranate grove in the morning. It landed about 300 meters from me, Avanesian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Another one exploded five minutes later. The shelling interrupted classes in Khnapats school and kindergarten. Children attending them were evacuated by their parents, according to the school principal, Lyudmila Mosiyan. We started classed as usual at 9 oclock in the morning, said Mosiyan. We heard the first explosions at around 10 a.m. We took the children down to the bomb shelter right after hearing the powerful sound of a second explosion. Then the parents came by car and escorted the students to their homes in an organized way. Also shelled, according to the local authorities, was the neighboring village of Khramort and adjacent farmland, the focal point of Azerbaijani gunfire reported over the past week. Russian peacekeeping troops set up two mobile observations posts there on Thursday in a bid to prevent further shelling. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has denied targeting civilians. It has accused Armenian forces of firing at its troops deployed in the Aghdam district. Karabakh leaders maintain that Baku stepped up truce violations late last week as part of its efforts to spread panic among Karabakh Armenians and depopulate the disputed territory. They have linked the shelling to an apparent explosion that knocked out on Monday night the sole pipeline supplying natural gas to Karabakh from Armenia. Karabakh households, schools and other essential facilities remained without gas for the fourth consecutive day. The authorities in Stepanakert said that Azerbaijani troops are still not allowing Karabakh utility workers and Russian peacekeepers to approach the site of the pipeline accident. Citing the resulting lack of heating in Karabakhs schools and kindergartens, the authorities decided on Friday to suspend classes there for a week. Meanwhile, Armenia continued to react very cautiously to what is one of the most serious escalations of tensions in and around Karabakh since the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. Amid reports of continuing ceasefire violations there, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Yerevans stated readiness to negotiate a peace treaty with Baku. The ministry spokesman, Vahan Hunanian, said in the evening that it will probably ask the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to organize Armenian-Azerbaijani talks for that purpose. Azerbaijan has been pressing for such a treaty ever since its victory in the 2020 war. Azerbaijani leaders say that it must commit Armenia to recognizing Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm seems to complicate the situation after President Joe Biden stated that we could do nothing regarding the rising gas prices. This scenario comes as normal with the mixed-up messaging in the government. The Democrat Energy Secretary later beseech oil companies to produce more. Ironically, the president made it hard for oil companies to pump more oil, blaming himself for anti-policies. Increase Demand for Domestic Oil The administration has once again confounded everyone by saying something that contradicts the previous statement, opposed to what the president, which is to add more barrels to lessen how much per gallon, reported the Blaze. According to sources, she begged for more oil pumped to have more fuel and push down gas prices from an all-time high. Fox Business reported this as typical of the current administration, per Fox Business. The situation in Ukraine caused a series of gas price hikes as the Russian went into Donbas and Lugansk. This sent a domino effect that affected the US badly. In several press conferences, several Biden officials went out to give their statements to the press that what Granholm said won't work. They added it has almost no effect to lessen the price per gallon. She went on the record and told hundreds of energy execs at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Texas. Stressing that these oil producers need to add more barrels to the ones available now. Remarking the crisis is here, and it is needed more than ever. Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm connected the crisis to drive her point to the audience, who may have reservations about the situation, indicating they would drag their feet now. Read Also: Joe Biden Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is the 46th President of the United States? It would be American families on edge, and added to it is the higher cost of fuel that drives the price of everything up. Overall, Granholm's speech was a far different tone from others who said nothing couldn't be done. However, her public address might cause eyebrows rising in the Oval Office. This divergent view gave a stark contrast saying there is no hope to alleviate the suffering of the consumers. Keystone Pipeline Would Not Affect Oil Prices Last Tuesday, the president had a press meet and said simplistically that everything went up because of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The gas price goes up, and nothing could be done to stop it. He often broke the bad news whenever it allegedly suited the Democrat's purpose, and only the government could help. Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh spoke as well and told the press that higher prices were inevitable and that was it; accept what was happening. He then slipped in about shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline to slam the argument shut, cited NPR. On a program inclined towards Democrats, he said that the Keystone did not affect the market last Wednesday on MSNBC. Singh made arguments to dispel the talk about the pipelines and the high gas prices; in effect, he calls it moot. Brian Deese, the White House Director, defended the president's claims on another network inclined to the administration of CNBC. He repeated that the spurned New Green deal was the answer, and many allege the Dems want gas to be expensive. The words of Energy Sec. Granholm contrasted with the administration creating an impression the Biden administration might want this oil crisis. Related Article: Donald Trump Aims at Joe Biden's Failure To Embargo Oil, Gas as Proof of Incompetency @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Click here to read the full article. Emilio Delgado, the actor best known for his beloved role as Fix-It-Shop owner Luis Rodriguez on Sesame Street, has died, his representative confirmed to Variety. He was 81. We are saddened by the news of Emilios passing, Robert Attermann, CEO of A3 Artists Agency, said in a statement. Emilio was an immense talent who brought so much joy and smiles to his fans. He will be missed by many and we know his legacy will live on. Our thoughts are with his loved ones, including his wife, Carole. A Mexican American born in California and raised in Mexico, Delgado got his start as an actor in the late 60s working in summer stock theater. His first ever screen credit was in the Mexican soap opera Cancion de la Raza. In 1970, he enrolled as a student in the California Institute of the Arts. The summer before his second year at the school, he interviewed with Jon Stone, the head producer and writer of Sesame Street, and was hired as a new cast member for the third season. Delgados casting was part of an initiative to improve the Spanish-language segments of the show, bringing more Latino cast members onto the program. As the kind-hearted shop owner Luis, Delgado would star in Sesame Street for 44 years from 1971 to 2015, and is credited in 428 episodes. In addition to the neighborhoods iconic muppets like Big Bird and Elmo, his most frequent scene partner was Sonia Manzano, who portrayed Luis girlfriend Maria on the groundbreaking childrens show. The two characters got married in an episode that aired in 1988, and welcomed their daughter Gabi to Sesame Street a year later. On the show, Delgado frequently led Spanish-language learning and Hispanic cultural lessons, and often sang and performed guitar during musical segments. Delgado stoped appearing regularly in Sesame Street episodes after his contract wasnt renewed due to a 2016 re-tooling of the series from the production company. He made one final appearance on the show in 2017, in the episode Having a Ball, and continued to represent the series along with his long-time co-stars at public events. In 2019, he appeared in the Sesame Streets 50th Anniversary Celebration special. In 2021, he was interviewed in the Sesame Street retrospective documentary Street Gang, which looked at the early years of the celebrated program. In interviews with the filmmakers, Delgado discussed the impact Sesame Street had on his life and the importance the character had in challenging common portrayals of Latino men on television. It was very difficult, in that time, to find meaningful work as Latino actors, Delgado said in the film. I dont remember ever reading for any kind of a positive character. The only roles that I could find were gang members or drug addicts. I realized I had gotten a role on television that was a role of a Latino, Mexican-American, who was like a regular person. He was part of the neighborhood, he had his own business. It was a role that hadnt been shown before. When Sesame Street wasnt taping, Delgado continued to make appearances in television. Notable guest spots he had included Hawaii Five-O, Quincy M.E., Law & Order, Cupid, House of Cards and The Get Down. He also had a recurring role as a news editor in the Emmy-winning drama series Lou Grant. In 2018, he provided voiceovers for the popular video game Red Dead Redemption 2. He also starred in theater productions in Los Angeles and New York, including a 2020 modern adaptation of Don Quixote, Quixote Nuevo, that was written by Octavio Solis and premiered at the Alley Theatre. At the time of his death, Delgado served on the board of directors at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, an LGBTQ+ safe space and community activism center dedicated to honoring the civil rights pioneer Bayard Rustin. Delgado is survived by his wife Carole and his two children. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Kim Brent / The Enterprise The SAFE-D Board of Directors, at their annual meeting, announced that Billy Ted Smith of Jasper County ESD No.1 is the new president of the association, according to a press release. The Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts is a statewide association that started in 2001 with the goal of helping men and women who serve the Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) of the state to improve the protection that they provide to the residents of their district. ESDs provide fire, emergency medical response or both to their constituents. More than 41 million people live in an ESD which is a population greater than 41 of the nations 50 states. Last Thursday night, Jasper City Council members Anderson Land Jr. and DeMarcus Holmes called for a special called business meeting to allow citizens the opportunity to ask questions and give comments about the city providing internet broadband service as a utility. However, when it was time to call the meeting to order ,Land and Holmes were the only two members of the Council that were present. Mayor Randy Sayers, council members Michael Danie, David Shultz and Laura Golden were absent and there was no explanation as to why all four were absent. Without a quorum, Land and Holmes wanted to proceed in a town hall style meeting to gauge the public's concerns and questions. But the council members were informed by Jasper City Secretary Karen Pumphery that due to the circumstances the meeting could not be called to order. The agenda from the meeting did not include questions and answers for the public. With no quorum, council could not continue the meeting. Land and Holmes wanted to move the meeting outside, and still allow citizens to speak. But Jasper Chief of Police Gerald Hall offered to allow people to use the Municipal Court in the police station for the meeting. Once the meeting began, both Land and Holmes said that they were not completely opposed to the idea of Jasper becoming an internet broadband provider. But they were both concerned about the process that the City Council used to move forward with this project. Some who spoke were in complete opposition to the idea, bringing up that there are currently commercial companies that are providing these services to the city. Kramer Services Group out of Wisconsin has already been paid $450,000 to do a feasibility study on Jasper's capability of building its own broadband internet network and design the system that the city could build. Recently the city accepted a $15.8 million dollar bid from the very same Kramer Services Group to build the broadband system. It is unclear if the city has signed the contract with the company at this time. Another point of contention on the project goes back to another item that Land has been championing. The funds that are returns on investments from the citys electrical power generation from Lake Sam Rayburn. Land was unsuccessful on several occasions to have these funds returned to the citys electric customers through City Council votes. Gaining no ground on the matter, Land began a petition drive to have the citizens vote on the use of these funds, and to cap all city owner utility costs at 10% over actual cost to produce. The connection between the two is that these funds would be used to pay for the broadband system to be constructed. The petition was successful, and the item will be on the ballot in May for citizens to register their opinion. In another late development on Friday afternoon, the Jasper Broadband Information website (https://www.jaspertxbroadband.info/.) Daniel promise dwould have answers to citizens questions and allow people to ask questions if they had any was online. The four highlighted areas about the broadband project are Why, Project Details, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and Broadband Info and each section has an Ask A Question option. Questions remain about the mayor and three council members not attending the Thursday night meeting, but it does look like people now have a direct place to get information and to ask questions about the Broadband project as it moves forward. This issue will likely still be a matter of great debate and its future is still in question among the council and residents. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Approximately 500 geocaching fans from across the state and beyond are heading to Conroe for the 20th Annual Texas Challenge & Geocaching Festival. According to Patricia Maldonado, event coordinator for the 20th Annual Texas Challenge & Geocaching Festival, geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System GPS receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called geocaches or caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. Its a type of scavenger hunt that takes us to interesting places and hides, she said. On YourConroeNews.com: Library system one of the top places to hide a geocache The hobby has been in existence since the year 2000 and has gained in popularity over the years and there are many geocache locations across Conroe. Every year, a different region of Texas hosts this mega event. This year, the Southeast Texas region of geocachers chose Conroe for their statewide event. Because of Conroes many interesting landmarks and historical designations, local cachers wanted to host Challenge to highlight Conroe, she said. The main event is set for March 19 at the Lone Star Convention Center from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., where teams from all over the state (and beyond) will compete for the coveted prize - The Golden Ammo Can. Maldonado said a favorite type of container is an ammo can because it is durable and has enough space for trinkets that geocachers leave behind or trade. The Southeast Texas Team captured the crown in 2021 and they hope to defend their title at this event. Satellite events start on Tuesday and end on Sunday, March 20, where the teams will do something for the local environment by creating tree seedlings for the Jones State Forest on FM 1488. On HoustonChronicle.com: Georgia town launches "The Walking Dead" geocache She said its a week of events, contests, geocaching and exploring the Conroes history, fun, food and other sites. The event is free and anyone whod like to learn more about geocaching is invited. The Southeast Texas group covers a territory as far north as Huntsville and as far south as Galveston. Madonado lives in Sugar Land. She first learned about geocaching with her daughters Girl Scout troop. They visited Brazos Bend State Park and a ranger showed them how to geocache. I was hooked. The girls liked it for a bit, but then they moved on, she said. I didnt though. For me its a great way to get outdoors and see things that are off the beaten path. Sometimes the containers you find are very creative and there are little gadgets and puzzles you have to figure out to get into it. She said there are so many elements to geocaching. Geocaching can explore the environment, education, geography, historical aspects and more. She explained there are also Geotours which highlight an area of interest that can be historical, geographical or otherwise. Conroe already has one established Geotour. For this 20th anniversary challenge, Maldonado is putting together a Lab Adventure, another type of geocache which take you to interesting places. These can have a story line to go with them as well. Maldonado is working on a story line that follows the adventures of Bonnie and Clyde in Conroe as they were in town in the 1930s to visit Clydes Barrow relatives. For the 20th anniversary challenge, 112 caches will be placed around Conroe. The team to find the most geocaches wins the 2022 Golden Ammo Can and bragging rights for the next year. For more information, visit https://coord.info/GC9BJ95. shernandez@hcnonline.com A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted a teen on a first-degree murder charge. Omar I Lara, 14, was indicted in connection with the killing of 25-year-old Juan Antonio Borrego on Sept. 25. Both Lara and Borrego were Beaumont residents. On that day, court documents said Beaumont Police Department officers received a call shortly before 8 a.m. from the area of Crockett Street and Avenue C for an abandoned vehicle with blood inside. According to previous Enterprise reporting, the vehicle was covered in a significant amount of blood and there was evidence of gunfire. Related: Beaumont homicide victim identified The unoccupied vehicle was registered to Borrego, who police were unable to reach. The investigation led police place Borrego would hang out on Goliad Street in Beaumont, the documents said. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Omar Lara was responsible for shooting and killing Juan Borrego, the documents said. Related: Community gathers to remember last homicide victim of 2021 After agreeing to talk with detectives, Lara provided details about the location of Borregos abandoned car and body. His body was found later near Fourth and Crockett streets in downtown Beaumont. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Members of Sam Houston State Universitys College of Osteopathic Medicine gathered over a buffet filled with Southeast Texas fare Wednesday night for a welcome reception with physicians and administrators at Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas. Baptist is one of three area hospitals to host SHSU-COMs inaugural class of students embarking on their first year of clinical rotation. It was SHSU-COMs second event in the area following last springs introductory session held at Christus of Southeast Texas and will be followed by another for preceptors at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas. Wednesdays event aimed to thank physicians whod already agreed to act as preceptors to SHSUs medical students and recruit additional doctors to participate as they observe colleagues in this role of teacher and mentor to medical students, said Bridget Johnson, the Southeast Texas Regional Clinical Coordinator for SHSU-COM. Among the 30 Baptist-affiliated doctors that signed up is Dr. Nikki Hancock, who spearheaded Baptists residency program that started in July 2021. Shes one of the most enthusiastic program directors Ive ever met, said Dr. Stephen McKernan, associate dean of clinical education at SHSU-COM. I spent a lot off time in academia before coming here (to Baptist). So, I saw the possibilities of bringing academia into the hospital. Now, we have the residency program and were adding students in the fall. The residents are really excited, too, Hancock said. She added that the six students so far registered for Baptist will get the full range of experience in internal medicine while assisting their doctor mentors in a broad spectrum of duties, including working with patients. Students are always wanting to help and learn, said Hancock, which is an added benefit for doctors and even patients, who can get an extra dose of attention from a larger medical team. We always ask patients if theyre okay with students seeing them or observing treatment, and we find that most of them really like that. Patients like that theyre helping the next generation of doctors that will help other patients in the future, McKernan said. Building future generations of medical professionals, particularly in rural areas or those experiencing a shortage of physicians, is essential to SHSU-COMs mission in creating the student/hospital mentor program. Seventy-five third-year medical students will be the first to help implement that mission in five regions throughout the area, 18 of which will come to Southeast Texas hospitals. They will complete eight core rotations including surgery, pediatrics, womens health, psychiatry and rural health care in addition to four elective rotations. We are tremendously grateful for the commitment of Sam Houston State University and the Texas State System in addressing the physician shortage in one of the most medically-underserved regions in Texas, said Todd Senters, associate vice-president of operations at Baptist. Through partnerships with regional hospitals like Baptist, SHSU-COM believes they can make a difference in the healthcare disparity. This is kind of a different approach to medical education, McKernan said, because the broader goal is not just getting students into hospitals and areas that need doctors but getting them to come back to those areas to practice. Students remember how theyre treated as students and residents, and theyll really think about going back to those places, he said, adding, that because these students will be here a full year, theyll really get to become part of the community. They can build ties, which make areas like Southeast Texas attractive to these future doctors and hopefully will alleviate the physician shortage down the line. SHSU-COM is working with Lamar University through the Joint Admissions Medical program to create a kind-of pipeline to medical school for interested Lamar students, an initiative made easier because both schools are in the same state collegiate system. McKernan called the preceptor program start, exciting despite the nerves that come with seeing the very first class go out. But this is really a good group. Theyre socially responsible, diverse and they really want to make a difference. Many already do community outreach and research, and we hope thats something they continue while theyre here. This is what weve been working toward. kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com A new COVID-19 variant has been discovered, which is a hybrid of the Delta and Omicron types, dubbed "Deltacron." The novel COVID-19 combination has been found in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark, according to the World Health Organization. According to a recent article due to be published on the research site MedRxiv, it's also been discovered in the United States. New COVID-19 Variant The Omicron variation makes up every single sequenced COVID-19 in the United States, with the original BA.1 variant accounting for 88 percent of instances and the BA.2 'stealth' variant accounting for 12%, according to USA Today. While it is too early for the general public to be concerned, this maybe the next threat lying around the corner. The number of cases per day in the United States is presently 37,524 per day, down 36% in the last week and almost 95% when the variety peaked at about 800,000 per day in mid-January. The combination of Delta and Omicron genetic material resulted in two infections involving separate forms of deltacron, according to the researchers. Twenty additional infections had both the Delta and Omicron variants, with one instance having all three. According to the research team, which included the University of Washington Medical Center and testing company Thermo Fisher Scientific, the San Mateo, California-based lab Helix, which works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track COVID-19, sequenced 29,719 positive COVID-19 samples collected from November 22 to February 13 from across the United States. Viruses that cause COVID-19, such as the SARS-CoV-2 strain, can alter and evolve. For example, the delta variation was generated by mutations that resulted in a variant that made people more infectious sooner. The omicron form was shown to be more infectious and to reinfect some people who had previously been infected with COVID-19. Mutations usually occur in a steady stream until one gets powerful enough to create a new variation. Many distinct mutations occurred in this example, maybe as a result of the delta's continuing presence within the omicron wave. While the public may not need to be concerned about this latest variation, researchers may learn from it, as per Daily Mail. Read Also: COVID-19 Death Toll: Global Deaths Nearing 6 Million Mark, Almost 1 Million From the US COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Will be Required in Fall A new study adds to the growing body of evidence that trained dogs can assist screen crowds for persons sick with the coronavirus. Nearly 400 individuals gave sweat samples as part of conventional PCR tests at two community screening clinics in Paris. Overall, PCR results showed that 78 persons with symptoms and 31 people without symptoms were positive. According to a paper published on MedRxiv on Tuesday ahead of peer review, when given sweat samples to sniff, the canines were 97 percent accurate in detecting infected patients and 100 percent accurate in detecting infection in asymptomatic patients. They were also 91 percent accurate in identifying infected participants and 94 percent successful in ruling out infection in persons who had no symptoms. The CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, told NBC News on Monday that she expects COVID-19 would become a seasonal virus, similar to the flu, producing modest outbreaks during the cooler autumn and winter months before staying dormant for the rest of the year. She also does not anticipate a significant COVID-19 rise this summer. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former director of the Food and Drug Administration, said last week that he expects a peaceful summer until the virus returns this autumn. Last month, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said he expects the next COVID-19 booster shot to be required in the fall, implying there is a risk for the virus to resurface during that time. While officials are hopeful that this can be avoided this time, with nearly 90% of American adults have received one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and more than 95 million Americans boosted, CDC officials say they are not resting on their laurels, Business World Online reported Related Article: Australia: Experts Warn About Possible COVID-19 Mutation Due to Drug Treatments @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Anime: Ghibli Fest Will Be North Americas 8 Month Long Ghibli Film Festival 4 Minute Read Advertisement Studio Ghibli is bringing some of their biggest films back to North American theaters for Ghibli Fest, an 8-month-long festival. Ghibli Fest, the eight-month-long festival will feature a number of the studios classics. Of course, this isnt a film festival in the classic sense. The schedule will be much more relaxed and spread out, featuring one movie per month for the duration. But this means that fans will have plenty of time and multiple chances to catch their favorites, or all of the movies, on the big screen again. For its 25th anniversary, Ghibli Fest will be featuring Princess Mononoke on April 3rd, 4th, and 6th. On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigamis curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime. Princess Mononoke is easily one of the best anime films of all time. Between timeless themes of nature and understanding and a huge cast of deeply interesting characters, you can watch Princess Mononoke a dozen times and find a new thing to love every time. Ponyo will be in theaters May 15th, 16th, and 18th. A five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him. Advertisement Ponyo is adorable, and that may scare some people off. It doesnt look like it will have the same heft and impact as other Ghibli films. But with critical and fan acclaim, Ponyo won the 2009 Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year and managed to be the fifth highest grossing anime film of all time. Its great and if you havent seen it yet Ghibli Fest is your chance. Of course, if you have seen it, Ghibli Fest is your chance to see it again. For its 20th anniversary, The Cat Returns will be showing on June 26th and 27th. Subscribe to our newsletter! Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to life. In classic Ghibli fashion, The Cat Returns feels like a fairy tale from beginning to end. Its fun and strange with some of the best animation and design for cat-people I have ever seen. Kiki will be delivering joy to your theater on July 31st and August 1st and 3rd. Advertisement A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. You know Kikis Delivery Service. The only Ghibli film possibly more iconic than Kiki is Totoro. This 1989 classic is proof that sometimes a movie can just highlight nice people being nice and still be great. Only Yesterday will be showing Austin 28th and 29th. A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo. This is one of Studio Ghiblis lesser known and less popular Films. Unlike some of the other offerings, its a realistic drama written for adults. It did pretty well in 1991 when it came out, but if you, like me, have managed to miss this one all these years, Ghibli Fest has us covered. Howls Moving Castle will be in theaters September 25th, 26th, and 28th. When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle. Advertisement Howls is my favorite Ghibli film and one of the few times when a movie is just as good as the book its based on. Its also one of the more popular offerings the studio has put out, so I bet Ghibli Fest tickets for this one will sell themselves. Spirited Away will be playing on October 30th, and November 1st and 2nd. During her familys move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts. Spirited Away is having a moment. Its always been popular, winning multiple awards including an Oscar. But now there is also a breathtakingly gorgeous live action stage production bringing it back into our hearts and minds. Ghibli Fest will end on a high note with this all time favorite. If youd like to get tickets to any of these showings for Ghibli Fest or find participating theater near you, visit the official Ghibli Fest website. Will you be seeing any of these films on the big screen for Ghibli Fest? Which Ghibli movie is your favorite? Have you seen all of the movies included in the festival? Let us know in the comments! Ja Ne, Adventurers! Latest News From BoLS: Advertisement Read the Comments (0) Arif Budi Satrio, chairman of the Sukoharjo chapter of the Indonesian Medical Doctors Association, speaks to reporters in Central Java, March 11, 2022. Indonesias medical association is expressing disbelief and demanding that police explain what led counter-terrorism officers to gun down a Central Java doctor suspected of belonging to Jemaah Islamiyah, a militant group blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings. Police said they shot and killed Sunardi, a physician who was known among colleagues for his charitable work, in Sukoharjo regency on Wednesday night after he allegedly drove recklessly to evade arrest, endangering officers. I will ask the police. I will go to the police station to talk to them and ask for clarification, Arif Budi Satrio, chairman of the local branch of the Indonesian Medical Doctors Association (IDI), told reporters on Friday. There should be no association between the medical profession and terrorism because the two things are extremely contradictory, he said. Meanwhile, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Ahmad Ramadhan said the officers in Densus 88, a police anti-terrorism unit, had followed standard procedures and were forced to shoot. Sunardi, he said, held several key positions within Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), including deputy for proselytization and information, as well as adviser to the emir (leader). Ramadhan said Sunardi was in charge of the Hilal Ahmar Society Indonesia (HASI), which the United Nations Security Council has identified as the "ostensibly humanitarian wing of Jemaah Islamiyah" that allegedly raised funds for the group and helped send members overseas. The action taken by Densus 88 was in accordance with procedure. The action was taken because S.U. was deemed to be endangering public lives and those of the police officers, Ramadhan told a news conference on Friday, using Sunardis initials even though he was identified by only one name. Ramadhan said officers had stopped Sunardis pickup truck and identified themselves properly, but he drove recklessly in an apparent attempt to hurt officers who had jumped onto the back of the vehicle. Two officers were injured and treated at a hospital. We need to clarify that SU had been designated a suspect. His involvement was clear, Ramadhan said. Extremely regrettable But Trisno Raharjo, the head of the Legal and Human Rights Council at Muhammadiyah, Indonesias second largest Islamic organization, called for police to conduct an internal investigation. If its true that he resisted, they should have used non-lethal force and not killed him, Trisno told BenarNews. This is extremely regrettable. These kind of things will cause more problems. To prevent a public uproar, an open, transparent and sincere investigation must be carried out, whoever is involved. Whether or not the family demands it, an investigation must be conducted by police, he said. Abdul Muti, secretary general of Muhammadiyah, echoed that call. The law must be enforced on anyone. If any Densus members violated procedures, they should be punished according to the law, he said in a statement. Sunardis death trended on Twitter on Friday, with more than 43,000 accounts using the hashtag #prayfordoktersunardi (pray for Doctor Sunardi). Family spokesman Endro Sudarsono said relatives did not believe that Dr. Sunardi was involved in terrorism. The police did not notify them about the shooting, Endro alleged. The family has confirmed that they only received documents related to his death from the hospital. There were no other documents, he said. Endro said several lawyers offered to assist the family if they decided to seek justice and press charges. Indonesian authorities have blamed JI, the Southeast Asian affiliate of al-Qaeda, for carrying out a series of deadly attacks in the country in the early 2000s. These included the October 2002 bombings on two nightclubs on Bali Island that killed 202 people Indonesias deadliest terrorist attack to date. JI was outlawed in 2008 and has not staged a major attack since 2011, according to authorities. Australian Army 3rd Brigade soldiers participate in joint military exercises with U.S. troops at Langham Beach Queensland, northeast Australia, July 13, 2017. Australia will expand its active defense personnel by about a third by 2040 to keep Australians safe, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, even as Beijing has urged Canberra to stop hyping the China threat. Morrison told reporters on Thursday that the number of personnel will increase by 18,500 to 80,000 by 2040, at an estimated cost of 38 billion Australian dollars (U.S. $28 billion). Australia annual defense budget is about $44.6 billion (U.S. $32.85 billion). This is a significant investment in our future force, Morrison said of the plans, describing it as the biggest peacetime increase in defense forces in Australian history. The prime minister said there was never a more important time as the Australian people are facing an increasingly uncertain global environment. ADF personnel will be increased in every state and territory with a particular focus on capabilities associated with our trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS), as well as air, sea, land, space and cyber, Morrison said. Australia recently joined AUKUS and restarted the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, to deal with new challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Under AUKUS, Washington and London will help Canberra build nuclear-powered submarines using advanced technology. China has denounced the pact, seen as an effort to counter Chinas growing influence in the region, and called it extremely irresponsible. A Lowy Institute poll in 2021 shows that a majority of Australians (63 percent) see China as more of a security threat to Australia than an economic partner. In 2018, 82 percent of Australians saw China as more of an economic partner, the institute said. In an interview with the Australian broadcaster ABC aired last weekend, Defense Minister Peter Dutton revealed that Australia might acquire nuclear submarines earlier than 2040 the expected timeline. He said the details on design and construction of the submarines are to be announced within a couple of months, possibly even before federal elections in May. Taiwan question The minister indicated that Australia may send weapons to Taiwan in response to any future Chinese military aggression against the island amid the Ukrainian crisis. I think we do whatever we can to deter China from acts of aggression in our region, Dutton said during the interview. We would take interest in any of those conflicts or the threat of conflict that serve our national interest, he said. Beijing, which regards self-governing Taiwan as part of China, responded angrily on Thursday. Senior Col. Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, said Duttons remarks fully exposed his Cold War mentality and ideological bias. The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China which brooks no outside interference, and Australia has no business making irresponsible remarks, Tan said, adding: We urge certain senior Australian military and political officials to stop exaggerating and hyping the China threat. Anyone who makes troubles on the Taiwan question will suffer the worst consequences in the end, the Chinese military spokesman said. Analysts, however, said a Chinese attack on Taiwan is not imminent, despite speculation that Beijing could be emboldened with the West preoccupied by the Russian assault on Ukraine. I dont see China moving deliberately to attack either Taiwan or a South China Sea target during this crisis, at least in its current stage, said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst on security and defense at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Theyll watch how the U.S. in particular responds to the Russian actions, and also international responses, and calibrate their approach to Taiwan accordingly. If the Ukraine conflict escalates to a wider war between NATO and Russia, China may decide that then is the time to make decisive moves, the Australian analyst said. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas joined the "People's Convoy" on Thursday as the U.S. extension of the Canadian "Freedom Convoy" entered its fourth day of protesting as they continued to oppose the government's COVID-19 mandates. The lawmaker shared video and photographs on social media that showed him riding shotgun in one tractor-trailer. He could be seen waving to fellow protesters who also attended the convoy and continued to express his gratitude to people who showed up, praising them for "standing up" for freedom. People's Convoy In a statement, Cruz gave appreciation to every trucker who was standing up for the freedom of every man, woman, and child in the United States. In a later post, he also praised the People's Convoy for speaking out against government tyrants who he said should not be forcing people to make private health care decisions. On Tuesday, several members of the People's Convoy met with Cruz and Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin at the Capital. During the meeting, they voiced out their opposition to the government's COVID-19 mandates and other issues relating to the coronavirus pandemic, as per Fox News. While outside the Capitol as the rest of the convoy circled the Beltway, Cruz said that the government's policies were cruel and immoral, saying that lawmakers should let people live their lives. Organizers of the convoy have gathered support by saying that mandates were an infringement on their freedoms. Read Also: Deltacron COVID-19 Variant Detected in US, Europe: Should People Be Concerned? In front of a crowd at the Hagerstown Speedway, the group's organizer, Brian Brase, said that there was no way the government would ignore a senator riding in the lead truck of the convoy. He said that Cruz's actions were basically an endorsement of what they were doing. According to the Washington Post, Maryland and Virginia law enforcement authorities said that there have been no major incidents stemming from the People's Convoy's circling of the Beltway. The only incidents reported were some minor congestion. On Thursday, the Maryland State Police issued a warning to one pickup driver for impeding the flow of traffic on southbound Interstate 270 in Montgomery County. Opposing COVID-19 Mandates Before the convoy, the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning, prompting members of the National Guard to be deployed, along with hundreds of city police officers. The convoy's organizers said they will continue protesting until all of the mandates have been lifted. The protesters usually begin their movement in the mornings, except for Wednesday, due to forecasts of rain and snow. Hundreds of vehicles could be seen leaving the speedway amid a chorus of honks. The convoy heads down Interstate 70 and makes a lap or two around the 64-mile Capital Beltway at the legal speed limit around midday. The vehicles then return to the speedway in the evening, which has since become a combination tent revival and tailgate party. Attendees have set up a communal food station, a barber, vendors selling pro-Trump merchandise, huge stacks of boxes, containing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine books, people in costumes, and livestreamers all around the area, the New York Times reported. Related Article: US Extends Nationwide Mask Mandate on Planes, Mass Transit Until Mid-April; CDC Prepares New Rules @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Rain likely. High 57F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. United States President Joe Biden has called for a migration reform that will utilize a regional framework to "dramatically expand" pathways amid Democratic pressure regarding the situation in the southern border of the country. Lawmakers are also increasingly urging the president to remove a public health order that prevents migrants from entering the country. They cited the nationwide easing of pandemic-era restrictions and the presence of refugees from Ukraine fleeing Russia's aggression as some of the reasons to end the program. Migration Reform The calls are the latest discussions in what has since become a significant point of contention between the White House and top Democrats and immigrations groups over Title 42. Former United States President Donald Trump was the one that put the policy in place that Biden has maintained despite his original commitment to overhauling the country's immigration system. In a call with interviewers on Thursday, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez said that as the United States recovers from the coronavirus pandemic lawmakers should already be restoring access to legal and lifesaving asylum at the borders, as per Miami Herald. Biden's plan of a regional framework is set to be signed along with several other countries and includes provisions that will help expand migration pathways. The U.S. president said that the challenges in hemisphere migration cannot be solved by any one nation or any one border. The Democrat's administration has fallen back into a "root causes" approach in its attempt to tackle the issues at the southern border. The process places the responsibility of surging migrants on factors such as poverty, violence, and climate change in Central America. Read Also: VP Kamala Harris' Poland Visit Proves US Commitment to NATO as Washington Sends Missiles to Warsaw Amid Russian Invasion of Ukraine According to Fox News, despite Biden's unusual approach, the number of migrants coming into the country continues to remain high. In January, the border numbers significantly outstripped any data from the prior year, which suggests a similar rise could be seen in summer. The situation also comes after more than 100 House Democrats sent a letter to the Biden administration on Thursday. The document detailed their calls on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to suspend detention expansion, phase out private for-profit facilities, and conduct a review of all ICE detention facilities. End to Detention Expansion Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Raul Grijalva, and Jason Crow lead the movement and wrote in the letter that after the White House Executive Order that ended privately operated prisons, several members of Congress urged Biden to expand the order to include ICE detention. However, the lawmakers argued that the ICE was moving in the opposite direction from the order. The letter cites a Sept. 29, 2021 contract to detain up to 1,875 immigrants. The lawmakers also expressed their concerns that the private prison company, CoreCivic, is potentially looking to ICE to take over an expiring U.S. Marshals Services contract with the West Tennessee Detention Facility. The Democrats said in the letter that the facilities all have a long-documented history of "substandard conditions and abuse." They argued that such actions were being taken at the expense of American taxpayers and without justification for the resulting increase, Newsweek reported. Related Article: Republican Sen. Ted Cruz Joins 'People's Convoy' in Fourth Day of Protest Decrying COVID-19 Mandates @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Raised in Pittsfield, Luke Massery now leads the music ministry at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Strongsville, Ohio. His work to help reintroduce forms of ancient music and text to the Catholic Mass has won him accolades from music directors across the country. Will Winn applies labels to bottles of 413 Farmhouse Ale American Whiskey, which is being made at Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Sheffield. On Saturday, the distillery will donate 50 percent of its proceeds to humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. Business writer Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224. NORTH ADAMS Masks no longer are required in the citys schools. In a narrow vote Thursday, the School Committee approved a new policy that says masks are strongly recommended for those who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised, and required in school health offices and for those returning from a quarantine. Last week, the district registered 11 cases of COVID-19; so far this week, there have been six cases, Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee at its meeting Thursday. It seems to be pretty limited and sporadic. And its not all in one school, she said, adding that there is not evidence of community spread in the schools. After the state announced that masking no longer is required in schools, many districts around Berkshire County have made masking optional. In North Adams, the new policy passed on a 3-2 vote. Tara Jacobs and Josh Vallieres said they were hesitant to go mask-optional and voted against the policy. Were not out of this completely, Jacobs said. And I understand. I feel it, too. I want to take off the mask and I want to run around and hug my friends again. ... I question if were responding to the pressure of the desire to be normal before we actually are normal. We dont have zero cases for an extended length of time. Jacobs also said she was concerned about low student vaccination rates. In self-reported data, 51 percent of all students in seventh through 12th grade said that they were vaccinated, Malkas said last week. Across all elementary schools, 26 percent of students reported that they were vaccinated. But, the response rate to the recent elementary school survey was low 37 percent of students responded, Malkas said. About 90 percent of all staff are vaccinated, according to Malkas. Committee member David Sookey said he understands why some were apprehensive about the new policy but said he feels that the schools need to move forward. Everybody has their own accountability at this point, and we cant keep, I guess, being the father bear, mother bear above everybody, he said. I think we somehow need to start getting back to whatever the normal is, said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee. That being said, I hope that people remember that people may just choose to wear a mask and thats part of their wardrobe now, and to be kind about it and be respectful about it. 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. In summer 2019, the Berkshire Natural Resources Council acquired preserved land west of State Road (Route 41) in Richmond called Hollow Fields. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the site became especially popular with those eager for outdoor relief from the indoor isolation forced by the pandemics impact. But, a group of neighbors complained of intrusion and disturbance of their privacy. Pittsfield Public Schools has announced that Taconic High School teams will be known as the Thunder. The school will being working on a new logo. PITTSFIELD If approved by a bankruptcy judge, a national company that boasts of capturing value from waste will take over and decommission a Pittsfield incinerator that has been a city landmark for two generations. Filings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court identify Casella Waste Management of Massachusetts as the company poised to pay $1 million to buy the Hubbard Avenue plant, whose smokestacks, visible across the citys east side, long have concerned environmentalists. In February, a letter to employees from Richard Fish, Community Eco Powers president and CEO, confirmed that a prospective new owner intended to dismantle the incinerator, which, in 2021, burned 80,000 tons of trash from Pittsfield and Berkshire County. In a letter of intent included in a recent bankruptcy court filing, a Casella executive says that if the sale is allowed, it would halt trash incineration in Pittsfield and transform the site into a transfer station. From there, the executive said, trash would be trucked to landfills, possibly including four owned by Casella in New York state. Closing the incinerator would force Pittsfield and other customers to renegotiate how to dispose of trash, having lost the option to have those costs tempered by the use of waste to generate energy. Casella already holds a contract to collect trash in Pittsfield. Quote Im disappointed that were losing this facility, but its a reality now. Linda Tyer, Pittsfield mayor Im disappointed that were losing this facility, but its a reality now, Mayor Linda Tyer said Thursday. She planned to meet Friday with Stephen N. Pagnotta, the city solicitor, and Ricardo Morales, the commission of public utilities, to review next steps. So we can really get a handle on all of this, she said. This is not going to happen overnight. She acknowledged that the cost of disposing of municipal waste could rise. Lawyers for Community Eco Power still must persuade U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Elizabeth D. Katz to allow the sale to Casella, a unit of Casella Waste Systems Inc. At the time of last years bankruptcy filing, the company appeared to be working to resolve its debt load and keep the plant operating. The proposed sale changes that and would end a 40-year run as an incinerator, now one of the oldest in the U.S. As of June, the company employed 21 people. The proposed sale would include the 5.8-acre 500 Hubbard Ave. plants property, improvements, fixtures and equipment, along with its permits and licenses. In filings, the company argues that a sale offers the best way to pay creditors, though the sale amount is far short of stated debts. Alterna Capital Solutions LLC was owed $1,391,000 at the time of the June 25 bankruptcy petition; SDI Inc. is owed $5,395,000. Both of those creditors stand first in line to be paid, ahead of unsecured creditors. Edmond R. Coletta, a Casella vice president and treasurer, said in the letter of intent that his company has experience from the 2013 decommissioning of a waste-to-energy plant in Biddeford, Maine. He said the companys transition plan for the Pittsfield site is striving to minimize disruption of service to existing customers and communities. Instead of being burned to generate electricity and steam, the 240 tons of trash collected daily at the site would be trucked to Casella-owned or other landfills. The company says it has the capacity in its landfills in New York communities of Morrisonville, Lowman, Stanley and Angelica to take all that the Pittsfield plant no longer would burn. For Casella, the transaction means that instead of just being paid to move Pittsfields trash, it would be paid to dispose of it. The company operates in 40 states. Community Eco Power bought the plant in May 2019, along with another in Agawam, from Covanta Energy Corp. It was built in 1981 by the Vicon Corp. At the time, the North Carolina company said that though older, the plants had life left that could produce profit if well-run. That appears to have been incorrect. Last June, a lawyer for Eco Power cited high maintenance costs that compelled the company to borrow beyond its ability to cover costs. In Pittsfield, tipping fees produced 71 percent of Eco Powers revenue, according to court papers, with the rest coming from the sale of electricity to the grid and steam to other businesses, including Crane Co. Among its debts, Eco Powers court filings list $1,340,000 from a second Paycheck Protection Program loan. The company says an earlier PPP loan was forgiven and it expects the second will be forgiven as well, but it remains a liability on the books. RTHK: Russia regroups, Ukraine says another hospital hit Russian forces bearing down on Kyiv are regrouping northwest of the Ukrainian capital, satellite pictures showed, as Britain said on Friday that Moscow could be planning an assault on the city within days. Ukraine accused Russian forces of hitting a psychiatric hospital near the eastern Ukrainian town of Izyum. There was no immediate comment from Moscow, while emergency services said no one was hurt as the patients were already sheltering in the basement. Russia continues to pound Ukraine's cities, but its main attack force has been stalled on roads north of Kyiv for weeks. New images released by the private US satellite firm Maxar, however, show armoured units manoeuvring in and through towns close to an airport at Hostomel on Kyiv's northwest outskirts. Other elements have repositioned near the small settlement of Lubyanka just to the north, with artillery howitzers set up in firing positions, Maxar said. "Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days," Britain's Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update. "This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv." The British update said Russian ground forces were still making only limited progress, hampered by persistent logistical issues and Ukrainian resistance. Ukraine said Russian forces were regrouping after taking heavy losses. In an overnight statement on the battlefield situation, the Ukrainian general staff said it had pushed Russian forces back to "unfavourable positions" in the Polyskiy district, an area which is near the Belarus border and to the rear of the main Russian column heading towards Kyiv. Oleh Synegubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said 330 people had been at the psychiatric hospital when it was hit: "This is a war crime against civilians, genocide against the Ukrainian nation," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. For a seventh straight day, Russia announced plans to cease fire to allow civilians to leave Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of people are trapped with no food, water, heat or power. Ukraine said it would try yet again to mount an evacuation from the city: "We hope it will work today," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. All previous attempts to reach Mariupol have failed with both sides accusing each other of failing to observe ceasefires. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. U.S. urged not to harm China's legitimate interests in handling ties with Russia Xinhua) 09:11, March 11, 2022 BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday the United States should not undermine China's legitimate rights and interests in handling with ties with Russia, otherwise China will make firm and resolute responses. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily press briefing, in response to a query about recent claims by a few countries including the United States which said China has not made concrete measures to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine, nor has it coordinated with the West to impose sanctions on Russia. "For those accusing China of 'looking on unconcerned' on the Ukraine issue, they should first ask themselves what role they have played in the crisis?" Zhao asked. On the Ukraine issue, Zhao said China has always adopted an objective and fair attitude, made judgments independently based on the merits of the matter itself, and played a constructive role in promoting peace talks. "We hope the relevant sides can keep calm and restrained and encourage and support all diplomatic efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, so as to jointly help cool down the situation," the spokesperson added. Zhao said it has been proven by practice that sanctions will not solve problems, on the contrary, they will lead to new problems. They will not only result in two or multiple economic losers but also disturb the process of a political settlement, which is "not constructive at all," Zhao added. In handling ties with Russia, Zhao said the U.S. side should not impose the so-called sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction on Chinese enterprises and individuals, or damage China's legitimate rights and interests, otherwise China will make firm and resolute responses. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) United States President Joe Biden has seen a minor popularity increase after experiencing an extended period of dwindling poll numbers, giving Democrats a glimmer of hope that they could retain the majority of the House after the midterm elections. For the past few years, Biden has come to the Democratic National Committee to express regret, similar to how he did back in 2007 after he called former President Barack Obama "articulate" and "clean." Hoping for a reset, he once again took the stage on Thursday, telling a ballroom full of DNC members that Democrats are in the strongest position they have been in months. Biden's Popularity However, some see Biden's remarks as wishful thinking, even with an improved position in the polls, arguing that the Democratic party is set to lose the House during the midterms. But in recent days, the president's poll numbers have seen minor adjustments, generally for the better. The shift in Biden's popularity comes after his State of the Union address and the United States' continued rallying behind his handling of the Russia-Ukraine war. Even some skeptic Democrats are slowly feeling optimistic that the Democrat's bounce-back could last, as per Politico. Furthermore, Biden warned of the possibility of Republicans taking control of Congress and encouraged Democrats to use the same work ethic, enthusiasm, and energy that they had during the 2020 elections during the upcoming midterms. The president said that if they fail, it would become a "sad, sad two years" of Republicans being in control. Read Also: Biden Urges Migration Reform Amid Democratic Pressure To Ease Tensions at Southern Border The U.S. president also praised Democrats' record and said that it was something they could be proud of and use when campaigning for the midterm elections. He said that they should use the message that resonates "Build a better America" and that they should sell it with confidence, clarity, conviction, and repetition. According to The Hill, Biden cited the situation in Ukraine as one issue that Democrats can run on, touting the unity of NATO and the United States against Russia's continued invasion of its European neighbor. He argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to "divide Democrats and Republicans." Shifting Views on Leaders Since the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine roughly two weeks ago, America's perceptions of Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have significantly changed. On Thursday, a new Economist/YouGov Poll was released, showing Zelensky being held in high regard while Putin was seen as "weak" and "threatening." According to a news release, in the last couple of weeks, the number of American citizens who see Zelensky in a good light has doubled. The analysis included 1,500 adults and was conducted between Mar. 5 and Mar. 8. It also found that roughly 60% of Americans viewed the Ukrainian president as either "very favorable" or "somewhat favorable" with only 17% saying he was "unfavorable. The numbers come in stark contrast to the data revealed by a previous poll conducted between Feb. 19 and Feb. 22 before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At the time, only 30% of Americans viewed Zelensky favorably and more than half of the people asked did not have an opinion on the leader, Newsweek reported. Related Article: VP Kamala Harris' Poland Visit Proves US Commitment to NATO as Washington Sends Missiles to Warsaw Amid Russian Invasion of Ukraine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Despite the impending weather, a community discussion set up by the Williamstown Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Mount Greylock High School. Leaders throughout history have used religion, culture and history to justify all sorts of mischief and mayhem, and theyre trying today in both the U.S. and Russia. Invoking God or tradition doesnt make those goals right. Starbucks employees and supporters react Dec. 9, 2021, as votes are read during a viewing of their union election in Buffalo, N.Y. Starbucks workers at the Buffalo store voted to unionize, a first for the 50-year-old coffee retailer in the U.S. and the latest sign that the labor movement is stirring after decades of decline. A bill that advanced in the Mass. House would prohibit photo-taking of crime victims by first responders Members of the Ollie's Law Coalition rally outside the Statehouse on Thursday before meeting with lawmakers. According to a complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday, five state troopers allege their agency violates the state Paid Family and Medical Leave Act by penalizing them for taking time off during times of need. By the class-action lawsuit, troopers who used the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act to take time off for the birth of a child have lost seniority, affecting their shift selections, employment locations, vacations, and retirement, in violation of state legislation approved last year. Massachusetts Police Allegedly Violates PFML Act Trooper Tamar Bucci was put to rest on the day the lawsuit was filed. She died at Stoneham after being struck by a truck while on duty. The charges come as the agency works to expand the number of female and minority troopers to better reflect the communities they serve. In 2020, 88 percent of sworn members were Caucasian, and 95 percent were men. Minorities made up 12% of the population, while women made up just 5%. "It is outrageous that the Baker Administration would punish Troopers for taking constitutionally allowed time off to attend to urgent medical, familial, or personal matters," the troopers' union, the State Police Association of Massachusetts, said in a statement, WCVB reported. The seniority of a trooper is determined by their rank in the academy's graduating class. However, when troops take paid family or medical leave, they are demoted to the bottom of the seniority scale. One of the plaintiffs, Serena Trodella, gave birth to her first child on October 4, 2021. Her seniority went from 112th in her class to 240th, the very lowest, on the first day of her absence. According to Atty. Matthew Patton of Lichten & Liss-Riordan, the State Police broke the law by refusing to allow troopers to pay to their retirement plan while on leave, and their vacation time is not tallied against their years of service for pension reasons. Read Also: Broken Sessho-seki Stone Once Housed Spirit of Malevolent Demon According to Legendary Japanese Lore State Police Policy Forbids Troopers To Speak to Media The rule could also violate the troopers' contract, which specifies that leave taken for family or medical reasons shall be "credited as time for purposes of seniority." David Procopio, a spokesperson for the State Police, declined to comment on the case. The paid leave law, which went into effect in January 2021, permits pregnant employees to earn up to $1,084.31 per week for up to 20 weeks. Others can often take up to 12 weeks off to care for a relative or connect with a newborn. Employees' "advancement, seniority, length-of-service credit, or other employment benefits" should not be affected by taking a vacation, according to the legislation. Another complainant, Trooper Cynthia Pham, is pregnant and expecting her second child on March 24. According to the lawsuit, she intends to take a leave of absence, which will reduce her seniority from 203 to 240, as per The Boston Globe via MSN. Last year, Joao Christian Barros, the only male complainant in the case, planned to take time off to care for his newborn baby, but he opted against it after learning that he would lose his seniority. Although it is against State Police protocol for troopers to speak to the media, one trooper who just went on maternity leave consented to be quoted if she could stay anonymous. "To be able to bond with your child and not have to worry about being able to pay your bills and if your job will be there in the same manner before you took leave," she said, "the law's goal is to allow you to bond with your child without having to worry about being able to pay your bills and if your job will be there in the same manner before you took leave." The four female plaintiffs have also filed complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination for sex discrimination. Colonel Michael Halpin, Special Counsel to the State Police, stated in response to two of the MCAD complaints that the agency follows all state laws and union contracts, according to Boston. Related Article: North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn Charged with Driving with Revoked License; His 3rd Traffic Offense in 6 Months @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Spearfish, SD (57783) Today A few showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 52F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 39F. Winds light and variable. One of the mysteries of the Christian faith is the nature of God, because there is a picture painted of Him as three-in-one. The Trinity refers to the idea that God is three separate, unique identities that are also one being. These identities are The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The last one in that list is perhaps the most mysterious, but the one that guides Christians in their daily lives. People often pray to the Father and the Son, but sometimes feel hesitant to pray to the Holy Spirit. The Bible makes it clear the Holy Spirit is a part of prayer, with it guiding believers and even providing a method of communication between someone and God when they just cannot articulate their needs and pain in prayer. Invoking the Spirit in prayer is acceptable, especially when asking for help in something for which the Bible says the Holy Spirit is there to help. Who (or What) Is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God, an element of His character that touches the daily lives of those who love Him. The first mention of the Spirit is in Genesis; The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). Before anything was created, God existed in perfect unity with Himself: Father, Son, and Spirit, together. After the Fall, the Spirit stayed in Heaven, but it would descend on certain individuals, selected to do the Lords work, or who had a particularly close relationship to God. It is described by Jesus as the Helper, or the Comforter, whose presence is with the Church until He returns, and as a seal on Christians so they are marked as one of Jesus flock. Some of these individuals included: Joshua So the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him (Numbers 27:18). Othniel But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died (Judges 3:9-11). David And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah (1 Samuel 16:12b-13). During the time before the Lord Jesus came to earth, the Spirit would rest with certain individuals, but not everyone, and it could leave them if they hardened their hearts or sinned greatly against the Lord. The most prominent example of the Spirit descending upon and then departing from someone was Saul - the first king of Israel. When the prophet Samuel first anoints Saul, ...the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them (1 Samuel 10:10b). Despite being powerfully used by God, Saul grows increasingly worldly. He disobeys the command to eliminate all the Amalekites, including their livestock, and finally, Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14a). The Holy Spirit also dispensed gifts in the Old Testament. When the Hebrew people were making a Tabernacle for God, the Spirit endowed Bezaleel with wisdom and knowledge for crafting. Today, the Holy Spirit still dispenses gifts ranging from the practical, such as administration and teaching, to gifts like speaking in tongues and discernment. Can We Pray to the Holy Spirit? The Lords Prayer is considered the model prayer by many Christians, and the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. However, many Christians pray in the name of Jesus, something that is not present in the Lords prayer either. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is a part of prayer; the Apostle Paul wrote, Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26). Knowing the Spirit is interceding when prayers are inadequate is comforting. The Spirit is also the source of sanctification. It is what convicts believers of their sins, revealing even the most suppressed evil, and what cultivates godly character traits; And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezekiel 36:26-27). It is not sinful to ask the Holy Spirit to help with something that is under its domain during prayer. It indwells each believer to sanctify, convict, and prepare Christians for eternity in Heaven, and calling on it for help in those matters through prayer is appropriate. 3 Prayers to the Holy Spirit A Prayer for Understanding O Lord, I thank you that You are full of wisdom, and that You want to share that wisdom with us. Holy Spirit, I am in a complicated situation right now. I need understanding and discernment to navigate it in a manner that does not hurt those around me, maintains my testimony, and glorifies God. Fill me with the divine discernment that only comes from the Lord, so that I can navigate these rough waters. Guide me and help me to understand those who are not in agreement with me, so that I can see them the way the Lord sees them. Help me to know what is right, and to stand in the right. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. A Prayer for Strength O Lord, I am weak, and need your help to do what is right. I am assailed on all sides by temptation, and my flesh is easily corrupted. You give strength to the weary and power to the weak. Holy Spirit, help me to feel Your presence, and fill me with the power to walk away from the things that are trying to pull me away from the path of righteousness. I need to feel Your presence, and I need Your power to say no. Spirit, guide me and lead me along the straight path and through the narrow gate. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. A Prayer for Increased Godliness O Lord, Without you, I am wicked sinner, who thinks no good thought and does no good deed. I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to seal me as the guarantee of my inheritance until I acquire possession of it, to the praise of the glory of God. Holy Spirit, please increase godly character in me. Make me more like my Lord and Savior through conviction and sanctification. Find in me and remove sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, enmity, jealousy, wrath, envy, and any other sin that consumes my heart. Instead, fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want less of me, and more of my God, and I need your guidance Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. While the Holy Spirit is difficult to understand, it is the way God abides and guides. The Holy Spirit is an active part of a Christians life, as long as they do not suppress it. It serves as the believers conscience, and to blaspheme it and ignore it is to bring condemnation upon oneself. Relying on the Spirit is a path toward righteousness, and reaching out in prayer for that guidance is a way to stay connected to God. Sources Hernandez, David Diga. Encountering the Holy Spirit in Every Book of the Bible. Destiny Image, Inc., 2018. Montague, George. Holy Spirit Make Me Your Home. Frederick: The Word Among Us Press, 2008. Smith, Gordon. Welcome, Holy Spirit. Westmont: Intervarsity Press, 2021. Related articles The Holy Spirit Is Here to Help When You Need It What Does It Mean to Pray in the Holy Spirit? 6 Ways the Holy Spirit Transforms Our Lives Photo credit: Unsplash/Naassom Azevedo Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry. Should Christians Drink Wine or Alcohol? In Ephesians 5:18, Paul urges Christians to not get drunk on wine, leading to excess or reckless living. Paul, at first glance to Bible readers, may be giving more moral instruction to the people of God, and for sure, there is a moral dimension to his teaching there. Children of God are not to drink in excess because, as in Pauls day and our own, being drunk lowers inhibitions and resistance to sin that leads to many dark consequences. Even so, there is a turn in the apostles words here. If he were following the positive or negative substitution pattern that he presented previously in Ephesians, then we would expect him to say in Ephesians 5:18, Do not get drunk on wine, but abstain from intoxication. Instead, Paul says, Do not get drunk on wine. Instead be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Pauls language of filling is significant in Ephesians. At the end of chapter one in Ephesians 1:23, Paul says that the church is Christs body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. In Ephesians 3, Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know all the dimensions of the love of Christ so they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). In Ephesians 4, Bible readers discover that Jesus ascended higher than the heavens, to fill the whole universe (Ephesians 4:10) and put his gifts in the church that they might, become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Christians are urged to put away wine that holds them under its influence and instead be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Apostle is encouraging the people of God to be filled with the Spirit, who fills up everything with the purpose of renewing and redeeming the universe for His glory. Paul is urging the people of God to recognize that they have the privilege of reflecting the light of Jesus and to live in the light of the Son. Christians are to be the light of Jesus, both reflecting Him and shining the light of His presence that is our life. Paul encourages Christians with these truths so they can be filled with the radiance of Christ and His being and power since they have His identity and bear witness to these truths to others in the world. Photo credit: Getty Images/Prostock-Studio I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). This verse in Galatians falls into the category of what I call a power verse. These are simply verses that are well-known and often quoted. I would make the case that if you have been in church for a while, you have heard this verse quoted before at some point in your life. Whether you have heard it before or if this is your first time reading it, how do we interpret this verse? What does it mean to be crucified with Christ? Clearly, we cant be nailed to the cross with Jesus, so this obviously means something else. Lets figure it out. What Is the Context of Galatians 2? To fully understand what it means to be crucified with Christ, it is important to look at the full context of Galatians, and especially what Paul is addressing in this chapter. The Galatian church had been infiltrated by a group known as the Judaizers. These people were teaching a mixture of law and grace as the basis for salvation. The Judaizers taught that a Gentile had to convert to Judaism especially when it comes to circumcision and honoring the Sabbath before they could become a Christian. Conversion and adherence to Mosaic law was necessary before conversion to Christ could happen. This word Judaizer is found in Galatians 2:14 and it means one who lives as a Jew or who follows the manners and customs of a Jew. The reason why this is a problem is because it takes away the emphasis of salvation by grace alone. In chapter two, Peter spent time fellowshipping with his uncircumcised Gentile believers until this group of Judaizers came around. When they were showed up, he distanced himself from his Gentile brothers and sisters, causing Paul to address Peters hypocrisy. In calling out this hypocrisy, Paul then proceeds to let them know that no one is justified by works of the law but only by faith in Christ. This background and context lead into what it means to be crucified with Christ. What Does it Mean to Be Crucified with Christ? The first thing we know about this verse is that it does not mean you have to physically die with Christ. That is not necessary for your salvation. If we are not physically dying, then what are we being crucified to or for? Allow me to address this in two ways to help potentially clarify what it means to be crucified with Christ. When I look at this verse, you can connect it to what he said before this verse and what he said after. 1. Crucified to the Requirements of the Law Being crucified to the requirements of the law connects this verse to what Paul said before it. Prior to these verses Paul makes an argument against justification by the law. Here are some of the things he said to give you some context. We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:15-16). For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God (Galatians 2:19). In these verses Paul tells us he has died to the law, to the requirements of the law, and to being justified by keeping the law. How did he do that? By being crucified with Christ. By being crucified with Christ he no longer had to fulfill the law as a means for trying to obtain salvation, because Christ did it for him. For this reason, he could kill or crucify his desire or need to keep the law as a means of gaining justification. In his response to the teaching of the Judaizers Paul was saying since you have been justified in Christ, then justification by the law is dead to you. 2. Crucified to Self Being crucified to self leads you into what comes after. To be crucified with Christ also means you have crucified your desires, your will, your purpose, your life with Christ. This is in alignment with Jesus instruction in Matthew 16:24, to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. Being crucified with Christ is not just dying to the requirements of the law, it is also dying to your self and your desires. Which leads me to ask why is this important? The answer points us to the second phrase in this verse. What Does Paul Mean That "Christ Now Lives in Me"? Lets put these two phrases together so we can look a little closer at it. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. This second part of the statement is only possible because of the first part. If a person does not crucify their own will and desires, then Christ cannot fully live in them. You could consider this a battle for who will sit in the control room of your life. There is only one throne in your heart and life, and only one person can sit on it. When you die to yourself or are crucified with Christ, then you give Christ permission to fully live through you. If you choose not to do this, then God cannot live out the full expression of Christ in your life. For him to do that you must first step out of the way, which is another example of what it means to be crucified with Christ. What Would This Look Like in Our Everyday Lives? How then do you take this understanding of what it means to be crucified with Christ and make it practical to your everyday life? For this to really take root and shape in your life, it is important to note this requires surrender. Here is what is also necessary: While Christ died once for all to be the eternal sacrifice for sin, we must die daily to the whims of our own will and desire. This requires not just surrender once, but every day. This surrender requires a commitment to do what God says in his word, even when everything in the fabric of your nature wants to go in a different direction. Let me give you some examples to make the picture clearer. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19). Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:31-32). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). I think you are getting the picture. Honestly it is simple to understand, sometimes harder to do. If Christ is living in you, then your life will reflect him. That means his character takes shape in your life because you have crucified yourself and are allowing him to live in you and through you. I think Galatians 5:24 sums up what this looks like. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. When you think about what it means to be crucified with Christ, let me sum it up for you in this manner. Our salvation is because of Christ, and we live everyday in Christ. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, the question of salvation is settled once and for all in your life. From that point forward we must still be crucified with Christ so that his life will be seen in us. As John the Baptist said, he must increase, and I must decrease (John 3:30). When that truth settles into your heart, then you understand what it means to be crucified with Christ. Photo credit: Getty Images/ijeab BOISE - Idaho Governor Brad Little has submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove grizzly bears in the Lower 48 United States from the Endangered Species Act. Bureaucratic gridlock is keeping healthy grizzly populations on the threatened species list unnecessarily," said Governor Little. "When theres no exit for healthy grizzly populations from the Endangered Species Act, its time to demand a reset. For decades, Idaho, our sister states, tribes, local governments and especially our rural communities have invested considerable resources in this effort, and they have shouldered much of the burden of rebuilding grizzly bear populations. The Idaho Fish & Game agrees with Governor Little, saying that delisting is an important, and long overdue, recognition of these major roles Idaho and its neighboring states Montana, Wyoming and Washington have played in grizzly bear recovery. According to the IDFG, the population of Grizzlies has grown from a few hundred back in 1975, to currently over 2,000 bears across the four states. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 1993 grizzly bear recovery plan for the Lower 48 outlined a phased strategy that allowed individual populations to be delisted from the Endangered Species Act as each met recovery goals while work continued on other populations. Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area have met federal recovery criteria for two decades, since 2002. However, the Idaho Fish & Game says a combination of court cases and federal administrative changes to delisting procedures have tied the process in knots and have continued to move the delisting goal line. Recent court decisions have led Idaho to conclude that how the bears were listed nationwide back in 1975 is now standing in the way of sensible conservation and delisting. We have repeatedly shown through this process we can reach a goal line, but a flawed delisting process fails to recognize our successes, Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever said. To see the delisting petition, click HERE. BOISE - Reinforcing Idahos already strong support for the democratic nation of Ukraine against Russian aggression, Idaho Governor Brad Little has proclaimed Thursday, March 10 as Solidarity for Ukraine Day in the State of Idaho. In the proclamation, Governor Little said that Idaho stands with the people of Ukraine and their right to self-determination, freedom, and democracy. Ukraine was invaded by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022. The proclamation of 'Solidarity for Ukraine Day' can be read by clicking HERE. Governor Brad Little is urging all those in the State of Idaho to support and promote this observance. FRUITLAND - Since March 11, the Idaho Department of Correction has been looking for a South Idaho Correctional Institution resident who walked away from her work release job in the community. As of Monday morning, according to the Idaho Department of Correction searchable database, she is still listed as a fugitive. Kristina A. Brewster, IDOC #115789, allegedly stole a vehicle and fled from her worksite in the 600 block of Northwest 21st Street in Fruitland about 12:30 a.m. on March 11. 33-year-old Brewster, is white, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 125 pounds with brown eyes, with brown hair. She was last seen wearing a white sweatshirt, blue jeans and brown boots. The vehicle she is suspected of stealing is a dark grey 2016 Toyota Corolla. Brewsters criminal record in Idaho includes convictions for forgery in Nez Perce and Ada counties. She had been eligible for parole since Nov. 9, 2019. Her sentence was to be discharged on July 28, 2024. In 2014, Brewster was a resident of Clarkston. People with information about Brewsters whereabouts can submit a tip online at this link, or call 9-1-1. Yoon Suk-yeol, a conservative former prosecutor, is on track to become South Korea's next president after beating his liberal opponent in the country's presidential election on Thursday. South Korea's New President: Yoon Suk-yeol By a razor-thin margin, the 61-year-old defeated Lee Jae-myung. The results were the closest in the country's democratic history, with the final vote total split by less than 1%. These elections were highly contentious and marred by scandals, but they also had a high turnout, with almost 77 percent of the eligible people voting. According to political commentators, these elections were the most unpleasant in terms of the way they were fought, with a greater emphasis on mudslinging and personal verbal assaults than on criticism of programs and goals. President Moon Jae-in appointed Yoon as the prosecutor general of South Korea from 2019 to 2021. He also played a key part in former President Park Geun-Hye as South Korea's lead prosecutor. His participation into the contest was late last year, and he only became well-known during the political campaigns, according to Indian Express. Foreign Policy Under Newly Elected President Yoon Suk-yeol, in comparison to President Moon Jae-in, is more hawkish when it comes to foreign policy. Unlike President Moon, Yoon Suk-yeol favors tough sanctions on North Korea, which are by US foreign policy, even though Washington is Seoul's most important diplomatic friend. Yoon Suk-yeol has even advocated for the creation of military technologies capable of preemptive attacks against North Korea. Moon Jae-policy's toward North Korea had been deemed a "total failure" by Yoon. Yoon added in a written interview with The Washington Post that he thought it was "regrettable" that South Korea lagged behind Western nations, Japan, and Australia in imposing economic penalties in response to the Russian invasion. "do our best to meet the expectations and demands of the international society," he stated. When Moon met with President Biden last year, the two leaders stated their aims for widening the scope of the US-South Korean partnership beyond North Korean concerns, which many observers welcomed as a positive step toward South Korea being more powerful in the world stage. Now it will be up to Yoon to put those pledges into concrete policy, according to Miyeon Oh, head of the Atlantic Council's Asia Security Initiative in Washington, according to Washington Post via MSN. Read Also: VP Kamala Harris' Poland Visit Proves US Commitment to NATO as Washington Sends Missiles to Warsaw Amid Russian Invasion of Ukraine Yoon Suk-yeol Vows to Take a Harder Line with North Korea Resuming it is one of several engagement attempts that look to be on pause, for the time being, owing to Pyongyang's more aggressive measures and Yoon's pledge to take a tougher stance towards the North. Yoon's triumph might be the final nail in the coffin for outgoing President Moon Jae-program in's of dialogue with North Korea, which stalled throughout his term. Yoon, a former prosecutor with little experience in international affairs, has promised a tough military posture and stated that pre-emptive attacks may be the only way to stop North Korea's new hypersonic missiles from being launched. The team of the president-elect said he will try to reopen discussions with North Korea, but only if it takes tangible steps to denuclearize. They also want to improve military deterrence, notably by boosting ties with the United States. Regardless matter who inhabits the South's presidential Blue House during Yoon's administration, analysts and campaign aides believe North Korea already looks set on a road toward escalation, at least in the short term, Japan Times reported. Related Article: Russia Suggests North Korea Resume Nuclear Weapon Program; Creating Fear of Potential World War III in Europe @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Bill O'Reilly Two Border Patrol agents were killed Thursday while chasing suspected illegal alien drug smugglers southwest of Phoenix. During the chase, the truck the agents were riding in was hit by a freight train, instantly killing 39-year-old Hector Clark and 34-year-old Edward Rojas. Obviously, the border situation in Arizona remains very dangerous. And it's not just illegal aliens and drugs that are plaguing Arizona. The border situation is now impacting the public schools there. As you may know, the state has ordered schools in Tucson to stop teaching ethnic classes because of alleged bias against America. That order has led to some protests. The cultural aspect of the border controversy centers on textbooks and teaching material. On May 10 at a school board meeting in Tucson, a woman read from the works of Rodolfo Gonzalez, a radical anti-American guy who is being used by some teachers: (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My land is lost and stolen. My culture has been raped. Poverty and city living under the colonial system of the Anglo has castrated our people's culture. One note, especially to those young Chicanos: Hard drugs and drug culture is an invention of the gringo because he has no culture. We have to destroy capitalism, and we have to help five-sixths of the world to destroy capitalism in order to equal all people's lives. (END VIDEO CLIP) That's the kind of material students as young as 9 years old are being subjected to in the Tucson area. So you can see why the state is concerned and also why Arizona is passing laws to help confront the situation. On the alien front, a new state law gives the police power to demand proof of citizenship from people they stop. In response, the Obama administration has sued the state of Arizona over that law and the whole thing is heading toward the Supreme Court. But for now, the chaos continues in Arizona. As "The Factor" reported earlier this week, 445,000 people were apprehended on the Southern border in 2010. And for every illegal person caught, it is estimated that four or five get through. And a number of these people are criminals, drug dealers, thieves, you name it. Over the decades, hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent trying to control the Southern border, and it is still not secure. Troubling, to say the least. And that's "The Memo." Pinheads & Patriots According to TMZ, CBS is replacing Charlie Sheen with the actor Ashton Kutcher on the sitcom "Two and a Half Men." Now, we don't really care, and we wish Mr. Kutcher the best. But if you do care, you can vote on BillOReilly.com. Is the replacement a pinheaded move or a patriotic one? Thursday night we showed you the TSA at Kansas City International Airport patting down an eight-month-old baby. Eighty-four percent of you say that move was pinheaded; just 16 percent believe it's patriotic. You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" and "Pinheads & Patriots" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com. Transcript Show Name: O'Reilly Factor Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com History will most likely state that after 9/11, America overreacted to the al Qaeda threat by invading Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously. That put a tremendous strain on the U.S. military and the treasury. While both campaigns accomplished some short-term goals -- like removing the tyrant Hussein and the vicious Taliban -- long term they did not diminish the jihad. That is the truth. But now the Obama administration is underplaying the threat from the jihad. It seems disengaged on that front. Last night Martha MacCallum asked a State Department spokesperson why the administration will not say the words "Islamic terrorism." The Kelly File last night: MARTHA MACCALLUM, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Why is that so hard to say? MARIE HARF, STATE DEPARTMENT : Well, it's not hard to say, but it's not the only kind of extremism we face. ((EDIT)) So we're gonna focus on all the different kinds of extremism with a heavy focus on people who do this in the name of Islam. We would say falsely in the name of Islam, but there are other forms of extremism. MACCALLUM: Well let me ask you this, tell me, what other forms of extremism are particularly troubling and compelling to you right now? HARF: Well, look, there are people out there who want to kill other people in the name of a variety of causes. Martha's question was simple and clear. Marie Harf could not answer it, as usual. It is clear to any fair-minded American that there is something amiss with the president's view of the radical Muslim threat. Talking Points does not believe Mr. Obama should have necessarily attended the anti-terror rally in Paris over the weekend, but surely he should have sent someone in his stead. JON STEWART, THE DAILY SHOW HOST: How could Obama not be there? Look how many world leaders he could have bowed down to and apologized. He missed an opportunity. How could the U.S. not be there? When representatives of such beacons of freedom and lack of censorship -- as journalist-punishing Russia was there. So now we have the perception that President Obama doesn't much care about defeating jihad. That's probably not true, but certainly he is not a terror warrior. In fact, Secretary of State John Kerry just announced the administration will redirect $250 million to Pakistan, which has helped the jihad dramatically by providing terrorists sanctuary -- and still keeps the man who helped the U.S.A. get bin Laden in prison. So Pakistan will continue to receive almost a billion dollars from the USA this year alone. That country should not get a dime until Dr. Afridi is released from prison and U.S. Special Forces are allowed to engage terrorists on Pakistani soil. Now in case the president needs to be reminded about the jihad, there is new video out today of the massacre in Paris. GUNMAN SHOUTING IN ARABIC: "We have avenged the Prophet Mohammad, we have avenged the Prophet Mohammad, we have avenged the Prophet Mohammad. (indistinct) Al Qaeda Yemen." ((GUNSHOTS)) Once again Talking Points will state Muslim-generated terrorism is the biggest threat to the world today. President Obama seems disengaged on that front and continues to make unforced errors. The president needs to wise up fast. And that's the memo. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com On March 3rd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address Congress about Iran and terrorism in general. The Speaker of the House John Boehner invited Mr. Netanyahu but did not tell the president until the last minute. CHRIS WALLACE, HOST OF FOX NEWS SUNDAY: To make you get a sense of really how, forgive me, wicked this whole thing is, Secretary of State John Kerry met with the Israeli Ambassador to the United States for two hours on Tuesday, and Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador, according to the State Department, never mentioned the fact that Netanyahu was in negotiations and finally agreed, to come to Washington. ((EDIT)) I have to say Im shocked. Chris Wallace believes the Netanyahu move is designed to embarrass the president and many other Americans feel the same way. But Talking Points dissents. I want to hear what Netanyahu has to say, and I hope President Obama rebuts his remarks publicly if they are false or misleading. The Israeli intelligence agency the Mossad is one of the best in the world, so Mr. Netanyahu has information about Iran. He and his nation are directly threatened by terrorism and Iran, thus they have to be deeply involved in what's going on. Thus, it's important for all Americans to know what Benjamin Netanyahu is thinking. Now the bigger picture. Americans are in danger from Islamic terrorists and from the nation of Iran. Some estimates say Iran is within two months of being able to put together the key components of a nuclear weapon. President Obama believes he is making progress in a nuke deal with Iran. But the current negotiations have been going on for 14 months and have been extended twice. The next deadline is the end of June. Some in Congress want to impose sanctions right now. Those sanctions would be dormant until June 30 and kick in only if Iran doesn't seal the deal. Talking Points has said that would be a mistake. Yes, severe sanctions would have to be imposed if the deal fails and President Obama has said he would do that. But the U.S. Congress should give Iran no excuse to walk away. If there is no deal by the end of June, then Congress can unleash hell and President Obama will have no choice but to go along with it. Again, we might get into a shooting war with Iran. That is possible and if it happens, the world has to know that America did everything possible to make a nuke deal. So let's put the saber rattling aside for five months, no antagonism. That's the sane position. That being said, many Americans have no confidence that President Obama will ever confront Islamic terrorism: TOM BROKAW, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: ISIL or any of the other jihadist groups can reconstitute themselves on a moment's note, move in and destabilize a government and behead a Japanese journalist, and cause great chaos in the world and then disappear again into the hills. We don't seem to have a plan for dealing with that kind of warfare and it's been going on for a long time. Correct. It has been going on for a long time and we have no coordinated strategy to defeat the jihad. We know where the killers are, and they sit there committing atrocities all day long. In fact, some might surmise that the White House is actually afraid of the Muslim world. DENIS MCDONOUGH, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: What we simply do not believe, Chuck, is that they should somehow be seen as representatives of Islam. They are not. It's one of the world's great religions. The overwhelming majority of Muslims do not abide by this hateful ideology. And so we decided not to give them any kind of belief that somehow they deserve that title. That's right. We don't want to offend anyone in the Muslim world, which has done very little to fight the jihad. The reason the White House gets away with this kind of nonsense is that the American public by and large doesn't care to know what's going on. The Iran issue is under-covered, and people do not pay attention in general to complicated situations: YOUNG WOMAN: I have enough things going on in my life, I dont have time to worry about whats going on in Iran. I barely have enough time to know whats going on in America. MAN: Is the Iran thing on my radar, is it a concern to me? No, not at all. YOUNG MAN: Would I be concerned if Iran got a nuclear bomb. (sort of chuckling) No, not right now. Other people who are worse have them. So we are fine. MAN: I dont think people really think about it. There is a blizzard going on, I think people have other things on their minds. One of the reasons America was hit so hard in 2001 is that we were unprepared. Our intelligence services underestimated al Qaeda, and our immigration authorities were asleep. Well here's the truth: in 2015 immigration authorities are still asleep, anyone can get into this country. And while our intelligence certainly has improved, public interest in terrorism overseas and the dangerous Iranian situation is almost nonexistent. Instead, American citizens are fixated on personal matters, including an obsession with the Internet. The jihadists know this. They know they can do pretty much anything, and America and the West will not respond. ISIS does not fear the USA, and certainly Iran is pushing us to the wall. Sadly, the president does not seem to be very engaged: JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The president didn't spend but a few seconds talking about the threat, the terrorist threat that we as Americans face. This problem is growing all over the world. And you know, the president is trying to act like it's not there. But it is there. And it's going to be a threat to our homeland if we don't address it in a bigger way. Speaker Boehner is correct, and again, his invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is not out of line. President Obama should be able to counter whatever Netanyahu says with an effective strategy. Note the words "should be able." So let Netanyahu speak his mind, let him spell out the danger he sees to the world. That will be instructive, and maybe some Americans will finally pay attention. Probably not. And that's the memo. Bill joined Glenn Beck Friday to analyze the weeks biggest stories, beginning with the painful rise in gas prices, which the Biden team refers to as the Putin Price Hike. Bill was shocked by the administrations deceit. If you believe that Putins responsible, he declared, then you are just a moron or youre dishonest. Bill also pleaded with the administration to promote domestic drilling, especially in Alaska. The duo also debated rumors that the US was engaged in dangerous biological research in Ukraine. Bill and Beck vehemently disagreed as to whether the reports are credible or a ridiculous conspiracy theory. On a related subject, Bill predicted that the USA and the world will go on a war footing if Vladimir Putin uses biological weapons. Bill concluded the segment with a lamentation: We are at a low point in this country in in government credibility. The Biden administration apparently doesn't understand that every time it misleads the American people, it loses credibility. Now, there is a controversy over some bio lab that is located in Ukraine and financed, the story goes, by the USA. And Russians may capture that lab. Is the report true? Impossible to know. But even though Jen Psaki denies it, some media people are running with the report, and so are Putin's propagandists. Communist China is even promoting the story condemning the Biden administration. Fox News reporter, Jennifer Griffin, is debunking the situation saying the lab is a cleanup operation for old hazards. But, again, it's not possible to really know the truth here. Jennifer is relying on Pentagon information. What is verifiably true is that whatever the Biden administration says will not be widely believed because of the President's overt deceit on oil prices. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Some people I know were upset by the State of the Union address last night, believing that Barack Obama is not doing the right thing for the country. But to me the president is consistent. His liberal view of the world was on full display. So my question is, what did you expect? Simply put, President Obama believes the federal government should give stuff to people who don't have very much and take stuff from the affluent and business. That is the core liberal tenet in this country and it will never change. Also, it is clear the president does not want to confront Islamic terrorism in a major way. He only devoted two minutes to it last night. BARACK OBAMA: We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we've done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies. The president once again talking about terrorists, not Islamic terrorists. He refuses to define the issue that way. Also, ISIS is firmly entrenched in Syria and Iraq and expanding in other places. They are murdering people daily. If you think we are winning that situation, you're nuts. OBAMA: Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. Arab nations? Give us a break, Mr. President. Just five of them are opposing ISIS in a meaningful way. Once again, the Obama administration has no strategy to defeat the jihad. America simply reacts to whatever the terrorists do and laments. Mark my words, this is a dangerous strategy. It's only a matter of time until we get hit. Now on the home front, the reason Barack Obama remains fairly popular in this country is that many Americans feel they are not treated fairly. Certainly the minority communities believe that, and some white Americans are frustrated with their standing as well. Money is tight, good jobs are hard to get, and we Americans want a lot of material things. The problem is we don't have much money. Wages have fallen significantly during President Obama's tenure. He will tell you that's because he inherited a terrible recession, but I will tell you the wage situation is due to the expansion of high tech in the marketplace where machines replace people and the high cost of doing business in the USA. Obamacare has constricted hiring, federal regulations make it more difficult for businesses to start up, and high taxation drains profit. Remember, the USA has the highest corporate tax in the world and President Obama wants more. The result: fewer good jobs and plenty of applicants to fill them. That means lower salaries. Yes, the economy is getting better, but that doesn't mean more money for workers. Only business expansion where employers need workers will drive salaries higher. President Obama doesn't seem to understand that, and that is why when he says he is looking out for the folks it rings kind of hollow. The president's entitlement jihad cannot replace upward mobility created by private sector jobs. Bottom line: it's easy to give a speech saying things are great. All presidents do that. The truth is we are not defeating the Islamic jihad and America is not creating enough good paying jobs to drive wages higher. And that's the memo. Roanna Williams, the chief creative officer of Net#work BBDO, has been recognised and honoured for the role she plays in the South African advertising space by being named as the first woman to be chairperson of the Creative Circle. Roanna Williams, newly appointed chairperson of the Creative Circle Chairperson of the Creative Circle The Creative Circle is a non-profit organisation that has been dedicated to promoting creativity as a business resource and maintaining high levels of creativity in the advertising industry for 30 years. It seeks to inspire the transformation of product, people and perception through the power of creativity.Williams, a highly-respected creative thinker and accomplished illustrator and artist, has worked at many of South Africas top agencies. Her appointment at Net#work BBDO coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, which, she freely admits, was a challenging time for the industry.Despite the restrictions of the pandemic and lockdown, Williams and her team were inspired to come up with the #Meltdown campaign, in which they melted all of the awards Net#work BBDO had won in 27 years and moulded them into pendants.They presented the Hashtag pendants to the 670 past and present employees of the agency to pay tribute to the role they played in the agency since 1994. Williams believes it was a necessary and important act in recognising and celebrating achievement and the people behind the work, and marking new beginnings.We treasure the awards we win because they are milestones in marking the quality and effectiveness of the work we produce for our clients, said Williams. But as much as we celebrate the awards, so should we value and recognise who helped us win them, and what having a symbol of that work will mean to them.That, said Williams, is why she was particularly honoured to be named to serve as chairperson of the Creative Circle for the next two years.Agencies and the advertising industry are fuelled by the extraordinary creativity and dedication of the people in it. Ideas can be born from one incredible spark of inspiration or hours of brainstorming. The process of bringing that spark, the idea, to fruition involves teams of talented individuals dedicated towards the quality of the work and serving the client.The Creative Circle endorses international awards shows that will earn agency entrants ranking points, thus levelling the playing fields for small, medium and large agencies, allowing them to compete by standardising the points for international awards shows.Rankings are calculated on points allocated per win in each award show: Loeries, One Show, D&AD, Cannes and CC Ad of the Year (Made up of Creative Circle Ad of the Month). The points are combined to find and award the Agency of the Year and regional Agency of the Year.As chairperson of the Creative Circle, Id like to further transform the perception of creativity in South Africa and the importance of the people in our industry, says Williams. After seven years of strong growth under the Momentum Consult name, the business felt that the time was ripe to change their face to reposition themselves more aggressively in the financial advice space. With this move, Consult is the first endorsed brand of Momentum, yet it offers products from a range of providers - not only Momentum. Marjorie Van den Heever, Head of Marketing, Brand & Communications at Consult Can you tell why the need for a rebrand, when the brand was already performing well? A brand evolution strategy presents us with a great opportunity to reposition ourselves in the advice market while it also allows us to better engage with our existing clients and to connect and attract new audiences. Can you elaborate on the new look and feel? To this effect, we morphed into an endorsed brand of Momentum Consult by Momentum - allowing us the opportunity to carve our own space in advice market, to provide our clients with truly objective advice while still being proudly anchored in our heritage. What sort of research did you do when redesigning the brand? What is the ultimate objective with the new rebrand? What important considerations should other brands take when in the process of rebranding? Were there any other companies involved in the branding? How were they involved? We chat with Marjorie Van den Heever, Head of Marketing, Brand & Communications at Consult, to find out more about the rebrand...Consult (formerly Momentum Consult) has been in existence since 2014 and although considered as an established brand, we have evolved and grown into a significant advisory firm during this time. Not only did our business and its objectives evolve over the past eight years, so did our environment, our financial advisers and their practices, as well as our clients.Rebranding when things are performing well is nothing new; just look at Coca-Cola, Levis, Starbucks and Apple.Our new brand presents us with a significant opportunity to reposition ourselves in the financial advice space as advisory business that truly partners with our clients on their financial journey, thereby giving them certainty and peace of mind to embrace the future with confidence.Before we discuss our new corporate identity, I would like us to pause at our name and logo.To consult means to seek information of advice from someone, especially an expert or professional.When it comes to managing their hard-earned money and seeking financial advice, clients want to consult with the best in the business - a professional and trusted financial adviser who is willing to partner with them on their financial journey. And our new name encapsulates exactly this, to the tee. Consult is also a verb and creates a strong call-to-actionPreviously known as Momentum Consult, our business was pretty much perceived as a distribution arm of the Momentum business. In a world where clients demand objective advice and solutions from multiple product providers to solve their bespoke and complex financial needs, our previous name didnt suit our growth objectives and positioning in the advice industry anymore.When it comes to our exciting new corporate identity, we really wanted to emotionally connect with our clients. Our strong travel or journey theme is universal; it reinforces our philosophy of partnering with clients on their financial journey and it supports our slogan of Lets journey together.Our primary colour palette of grey, white and a dash of red is quite basic, but when integrated into our new logo it sends a very clear, strong and simplistic message to the market - and differentiates us from our competitors. Less in our case is definitely more!Our marketing material, digital platforms and promotional material also display our strong secondary colour template to ensure that clients experience some of our personality and vibrant culture.Changing a brand is not an overnight project and a lot of thought and research went into it. As the first brand endorsed by Momentum, we first had to consider Consult within the broader brand architecture. Once the principles and parameters were in place, we moved on to the logo design phase of the project, which was done by Superunion.Other considerations were our name and current positioning in the market, a review of our competitors from a strategic brand positioning and creative side, the look and feel of our logo and corporate identity, and whether we deemed Consult as universal enough to span across the whole business, so that there wouldnt be a need for a sub-brand at a future date.Our brand project officially kicked off in Q3 2020 when we commenced with a strategic review of our brand, followed by the review of the brand architecture. Shortly thereafter, we were presented with some options in the creative proposal after some deliberation, a lot of thinking and more discussion, we reached consensus and presented our plans to the Board in May 2021.We then spent a few months planning, designing and fine tuning and the rest as they say is history! We officially introduced our brand to the market in October 2021.Our vision is to become the preferred provider of comprehensive financial planning and advice solutions to clients and their businesses across South Africa. The ultimate objective is to entrench Consult in the minds of clients and to ensure that we are top of mind when it comes to trustworthy and objective financial planning and advice.Yes, competition is rife, but I believe that by consistently telling the story, emotionally connecting with our clients and reinforcing our new identity at every given opportunity, we will be able to lay a solid foundation. Our aim is that eventually, our brand will become synonymous with quality financial advice.Never underestimate the importance of change management always remember to take everyone in the business with you on the journey. Although most rebranding projects are done in a phased approach, one has to move swiftly and implement quickly in order to keep the momentum (excuse the pun!)A new brand is more than a logo or a flashy new corporate identity its what you breathe when you enter a business and it's what you feel when you interact with people in the business. Your culture has to be aligned to your brand message to ensure that you deliver on your promise to a client.Fancy fonts and bright colours are not a replacement for bad company culture or ineffective processes. Delivering on a promise to a client is what drives corporate culture, which in turn leads to a successful brand.We are very fortunate at Consult as a client-inspired business our brand, our culture and our business processes have all been aligned to ensure the long-term financial success of our clients.Superunion assisted us with the design of our new logo. Our new corporate identity was developed by a team of designers that we consider part of the Consult marketing team. A federal district court has rejected a lawsuit filed by Marjorie Taylor Greene and two other Republican members of the House of Representatives against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi over penalties for not wearing masks during a vote. Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ralph Norman of South Carolina joined Greene of Georgia in suing Pelosi, claiming that the policy mandating face masks infringed on their right to free expression and that the $500 penalties they received were in violation of the Constitution's 27th Amendment. Republicans' Lawsuit Against Pelosi Fails To Pass the Court The complaint was rejected on Wednesday by Judge Reggie B. Walton of the District Court for the District of Columbia, who determined that the House mask policy did not violate their right to free expression in a 47-page order. Walton also determined that the fines did not violate the 27th Amendment's prohibition on wage reductions for members of Congress taking effect until after the following election. In May 2021, Massie, Greene, and Norman went to a vote in the House without wearing masks, breaking a policy put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, they filed a lawsuit against Pelosi, a Democrat. They also sued the sergeant-at-arms and the House's main administrative officer. "The withdrawal of penalties from plaintiffs' wages according to House Resolution 38 does not violate the Twenty-Seventh Amendment, and hence the Twenty-Seventh Amendment does not limit the House's jurisdiction to establish the mask policy or House Resolution 38," the court said, Newsweek via MSN reported. Judge Walton also dismissed their victimhood allegation that they were discriminated against because of what they called "contrary viewpoint-based symbolic communication." Judge Walton also dismissed their allegation that current scientific data show that wearing a face mask does not affect slowing or stopping the spread of COVID-19. Their main argument was that the 27th Amendment made it unlawful for them to be penalized, which they argued was equivalent to a pay cut. That argument was likewise dismissed by the judge, according to The New Civil Rights Movement. Read Also: Energy Sec. Granholm Begs Oil Companies To Produce More After Gas Prices Skyrockets, Sows Confusion in the Government's Stand Pelosi Recently Fires Back at Boebert, Greene House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has retaliated against Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene for interrupting President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. Pelosi was queried about the pair's behavior during her weekly news conference by a reporter who compared them to South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican who earned notoriety after yelling "You lie!" " at one of former President Barack Obama's congressional speeches. Wilson, who currently represents South Carolina's 2nd District in Congress, was the subject of a House vote of censure in the days following his interruption of then-President Barack Obama. The two Republican congresswomen were chastised by their colleagues for interrupting Vice President Joe Biden's speech to a joint session of Congress. But it was Ms. Boebert who received shouts and screams of "shame" as she angrily heckled Biden as he recounted his eldest son, Beau Biden's, death from brain cancer, which may have been caused by burn pits he experienced while serving as an Army National Guard officer in Iraq, as per Independent. Related Article: US Congress Approves $1.5 Trillion Spending Plan, Including Ukraine Aid, COVID-19 Relief @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In February, the Duke of York agreed to pay Virginia Giuffre an unknown sum as a way out of the explosive case in which he was accused of rape and sexual assault. Giuffre has received an undisclosed cash settlement from Prince Andrew, and the case was ended by Judge Lewis Kaplan soon before 10 p.m., UK time on Tuesday. Giuffre said she was smuggled to the Duke of York at the age of 17 by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was a juvenile under US law. All charges were categorically refuted by Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew Sex Abuse Case Dismissed According to a court filing, plaintiff Virginia L. Giuffre and defendant Prince Andrew, Duke of York, have agreed to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice. Each party is responsible for its costs. The funds have finally been transferred, and court documents reveal the end of what was expected to be a disastrous trial for the British monarchy's prestige. All of the allegations raised against Prince Andrew have been repeatedly debunked. Prince Andrew's relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has caused the Royal Family a lot of grief in recent years, Newsweek via MSN reported. However, Virginia Giuffre's civil court struggle against the Duke in August 2021 reignited interest in Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein, refocusing attention on the Queen's second son once more. Prince Andrew expressed contrition for his affiliation with Epstein in a statement published in court filings after his civil lawsuit was settled last month, he and committed to helping sex trafficking victims. Read Also: Kelly Clarkson Divorce Settlement: How Much Will Clarkson Pay Brandon Blackstock for Spousal, Child Support? Royal Family Helps Prince Andrew to Pay Settlement Prince Andrew has not disclosed the amount he has now paid Giuffre, however it is thought to be in the region of 12 million ($15.6 million). According to the report, Prince Charles financed the majority of the costs, with Queen Elizabeth II contributing as well. Since things stand, Prince Andrew's return to royal responsibilities is unlikely to happen anytime soon, as the Royal Family appeared to take considerable measures to distance itself from Andrew earlier this year amid his legal difficulties. The Duke of York's military associations and Royal patronages have been restored to the Queen with the assent and cooperation of the Queen, the Palace said in January. The Duke of York will continue to avoid governmental service and will defend himself as a private person in this matter. Prince Andrew is also expected to stop using his birthright HRH title, in addition to losing his royal patronages. He continued, "He is only 61, but it is impossible to see how he could have any future," as per Express. Meanwhile, the Queen has formally wished her youngest son Prince Edward, who is 58 today, a happy birthday. The Royal Family's Twitter account shared a photo of Edward smiling with the remark: "Wishing The Earl of Wessex a very Happy Birthday!". The message contained an emoji of a birthday cake. Unlike his older brother Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex are members of the Royal Family who work for the Queen and carry out engagements on her behalf. There were no tributes on social media to commemorate Prince Andrew's 62nd birthday last month, according to Mirror. Related Article: Royal Expert: Prince Harry Regularly Contacts Prince Charles But Relationship With Prince William Remains in Rift After a Year of Oprah Interview @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner (OHCHR) for Human Rights expressed that it is "gravely concerned" about the increasing number of deaths and suffering in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling an "immediate end" to the war in Eastern Europe. OHCHR Spokesperson Liz Throssell said in a statement that Russian forces use "explosive weapons with wide-area effects" like rockets, missiles, and airstrikes within populated areas resulting in death and injuries among civilians per CNN. Since the war began more than two weeks ago, the OHCHR recorded 549 civilian deaths and 957 injuries, with hundreds of hospitals and schools destroyed. Russian airstrikes destroyed two schools and many apartment blocks in Chernihiv on March 3, killing 47 civilians. While a Russian airstrike destroyed a Mariupol hospital on March 9, hurting at least 17 civilians, she stated."Civilian casualties are rising daily, as is general human suffering. We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called area bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes," Throssell said in a statement published on its website. The OHCHR spokesperson also noted her concerns on reported "arbitrary arrests and detention" of Ukrainians who spoke and held peaceful protests against Russia's aggression on their country. Russian Forces Mercilessly Attack Ukrainians Kharkiv mayor describes "merciless shelling" and freezing conditionsKharkiv City Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that civilians are suffering from freezing temperatures in "all 16 days of the war the Russian army has been mercilessly shelling Kharkiv with airstrikes. "But we are holding up, and we will win," he said. There were also several apartment blocks wrecked, and heating systems of more than 400 houses were damaged. He added that a lot of apartment blocks have been destroyed and that the heating system cannot be restored in more than 400 houses. The mayor urged those affected residents to move to "metro stations, shelter, schools, and kindergartens" for heating. According to the State Emergency Service, a residential home for the disabled near Izium was damaged by an airstrike. There were no reported injuries among the 30 employees and 300 patients, most of whom are elderly. Read Also: Deltacron COVID-19 Variant Detected in US, Europe: Should People Be Concerned? Russia Accused of Nuclear Terrorism The attack is thought to have occurred at the city's Institute of Physics and Technology in a new assault following weeks of bombardment in the area. The explosion sparked large flames in the air at the building, according to dramatic footage published online. According to the Ukrainian Parliament, the incident also set a fire at a neighboring hostel, which firefighters eventually put out. According to Anton Gerashchenko, a Ukrainian Interior Ministry consultant, a projectile hit a facility containing equipment that, if destroyed, may spew radioactive radiation. The President's office, on the other hand, claims that background radiation has remained unchanged. According to a tweet from the parliament's official website, though fighting near the Institute of Physics and Technology is still ongoing. Ukraine's Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security tweeted: "In Kharkiv, eyewitnesses report a fire in the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology building. The institution mentioned in its tweet that the building houses "an equipment" that "can lead to radioactive pollution of the environment" if it sustains damage. A Ukrainian media reported that the fire broke at around 8:20 pm as air raid sirens were heard around the city. According to news site Pravda.com.ua., civilians reported the "sounds of explosions" and gunfire. Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: UK Freezes Assets of 7 Russian Oligarchs To "Ramp Up the Pressure" on Vladimir Putin @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Paycom Software Inc., a top provider of cloud-based human capital management software, has been recognized by InHerSight, a workplace culture and review site specifically geared toward women, as one of the best companies for women to work for in the United States right now. Paycom hits best workplace lists again Currently, Paycom is a top workplace in Oklahoma for the ninth consecutive year. The only company in Oklahoma to be recognized, Paycom was also listed among the large companies, those with over 500 employees, of top workplaces in the U.S. According to a recent CNBC interview with Paycom founder and CEO Chad Richison, women accounted for approximately half of Paycom's workforce. Nearly 4 out of every 5 members of the managerial staff at Paycom are women. "One part of what makes Paycom a great place to work for women is the support we give to new parents as well as assistance in balancing work and family matters by providing paid parental leave for bonding or caring for a newborn or adopted child," said Jennifer Kraszewski, vice president of human resources at Paycom. "I'm thrilled with the growth of this program and what we can offer to all our working parents." Additional Benefits for the Women of Paycom There are also benefits that provide 24-hour support throughout fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, adoption, surrogacy, becoming a new parent and returning to work after a significant time away. The company offers deals on child care through a platform that delivers regular child supervision, periodic child care and backup care options from caretakers of the employee's choice. Along with $1 health care, employees at Paycom are also entitled to subsidized catered lunches with a nutritional option each day, as well as free access to the company's fully equipped fitness center, where online and in-person classes are available. Paycom prides itself on its diversity, inclusion and belonging initiatives; is inclusive of all members of its community; and is hiring for many positions across its growing workforce. About Comparably Comparably's annual best companies for women rankings are based on more than 15 million ratings from current female employees across 70,000 companies. For this survey, employees responded to survey questions about career growth, compensation, benefits and other topics for each organization. Based on ratings, the data from Comparably is dynamic. This list is full of high-performing companies in terms of employee satisfaction. As stated above, companies on this list are rated based on 16 factors, including salary satisfaction, career growth, work environment, participation of women in leadership and learning opportunities. The 50 companies that were given top honors alongside Paycom included IBM, Experian, Adobe, HubSpot, Microsoft, Uber and Instacart. About Paycom Paycom provides user-friendly HR and payroll technology to enhance the entire employee life cycle, all in a single software. From onboarding and benefits enrollment to talent management and more, Paycom streamlines processes, drives efficiencies, increases data integrity and gives employees power over their own HR information through a self-service app. Named one of the Fastest-Growing Companies in the world by Fortune and best employers in the U.S. by Top Workplaces, Paycom is at the forefront of the digital transformation in the American workplace. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Peloton bikes can now be rented for a limited time only as the company tests a new pricing model. Those interested to try renting a staionary bike should take note that rentals will be available for a limited time only. It should likewise be noted that only select Peloton stores are participating. The move is seen as a way to help entice customers towards the brand as many have described the prices of the stationary bikes and subscription classes as too expensive. The new, limited-time rental model is just one of the many changes that will be implemeted by the company as it deals with stocks plummeting and replacing former CEO John Foley. Peloton Bikes Can Now Be Rented for a Limited Time Peloton is testing a new pricing model and is finally letting customers rent their bikes starting Friday, Mar. 11. However, this will be available for a limited time only for now, according to a report by Business Insider, which cites another report done by The Wall Street Journal. Per the Business Insider, "the option to rent could draw new users who might have previously avoided Peloton because of the steep prices of the bike." The report also adds that the new rental model might even entice new customers as the rentals can be cancelled anytime with no extra charge. Those interested to rent Peloton bikes must pay a fee ranging from $60 to $100 a month. The fee is inclusive of a stationary bike as well as subscription to the company's exercise classes. According to the reports, rental bikes will be available in Peloton stores of the following states: Denver Florida Minnesota Texas An Answer to Peloton's Steep Prices? Many have found Peloton's prices to be too steep for their liking and the new rental model is seen as a way to help attract customers to the brand. According to the Business Insider report, the cheapest stationary bike of the company, the Peloton Bike, is currently priced at $1,495. Peloton's Bike+, on the other hand, will cost the customer $2,495. Access to exercise classes costs $39 per month. Read Also: Peloton Treadmill 'Just Run' Feature, 'Tread Lock' Upgrades: How to Run Without $40 Subscription Upcoming Changes The new rental model is just one of the changes that Peloton will be witnessing. Per a report by CNN, Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy told The Wall Street Journal "that the experiment could attract new customers who may be turned off by the product's high price - and hopefully turn around Peloton's fortunes." It should be noted that the company's stocks dropped 34% in November, according to the Business Insider. CNN, meanwhile, reports that Peloton laid off around 2,800 employees in January. Other changes that can be expected include "overhauling Peloton's digital interface and the content it provides," per CNN. McCarthy is also said to be considering making changes to the company executives as well as introducing what is being described as "simpler" bikes. Related Article: Peloton to Restructure? Company to Replace CEO, Cut Jobs, and Appoint New Board Members Hana Financial Group's chairman nominee Ham Young-joo / Courtesy of Hana Financial Group By Lee Min-hyung Hana Financial Group's chairman-nominee Ham Young-joo has overcome obstacles on his way to becoming the group's next leader as a local court acquitted him regarding the bank's recruitment processes. On Friday, the Seoul Western District Court found Ham not guilty of charges that he unfairly influenced Hana Bank's recruitment processes. The ruling enabled him get one step closer to becoming the next leader of Hana by replacing incumbent Chairman Kim Jung-tai, creating a clear path for him to possibly be promoted to the top post of the nation's third largest financial holding firm. Previously, Ham was indicted on charges of allegedly manipulating scores in the recruitment examination of Hana Bank by allegedly engaging in the recruitment process in 2015 and 2016. He was also charged with violating the gender equality law by setting the proportion of males and females at a ratio of 4 to 1 when hiring new employees in 2013 and 2016. However, Ham has strongly rejected the charges. The lender argued that Hana Bank, as a private entity, can take various factors into account when hiring new employees. There is no rule that says the bank has to hire only those with high examination scores. The bank also refuted the gender-related charge, stressing that the different gender ratio in its hiring was a reflection of the internal manpower supply and demand situation. Ham has never taken part in any corrupt acts during the recruitment process, the lender said. Meanwhile, Ham is set to take office on March 25, after seeking approval during its regular shareholders' meeting. The incumbent leader will also retire after ending his decade-long career at the top post of the banking group. Last month, Ham, 66, was recommended as the sole candidate to be Hana's next chairman. He will lead the group for three years after possibly winning approval from shareholders later this month. He currently serves as vice chairman of the group and is in charge of its environment, social and corporate governance-related businesses. Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Bradford, PA (16701) Today Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 43F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. The owners of a longtime Brandon-based eating disorder clinic have decided to close their local facility, leaving a gap in services available in Westman. Advertisement Advertise With Us The owners of a longtime Brandon-based eating disorder clinic have decided to close their local facility, leaving a gap in services available in Westman. Now, local patients will have to travel the extra distance to Kelowna, B.C. to access Westwind Counsellings private services. Westwind first opened its doors in Brandon in 1998. Located at 1605 Victoria Ave., the facility opened a second location in Kelowna last summer with hopes to continue operating both locations. Tresa Clemmensen, co-director of Westwind Counselling, who has worked for the facility since 2003, said over the last six months, there was uncertainty in the demand of needing two facilities ahead of their decision. "Its time we have decided to amalgamate the two centres and offer it out of the Kelowna location, which seems to have a higher increased demand than the Brandon location," Clemmensen said. The private counselling service, which specializes in the long-term treatment and recovery from eating disorders, allows clients to stay at their facility for inpatient care typically up to three months at a time depending on the clients recovery goal. In a 2020 report from the Sun, the counselling service was charging its clientele upwards of $20,000 for a three-month stay at its Westman facility. According to Statistics Canada, the median income of Manitoba residents in 2019 was $37,200. For some, its a service that may not be financially feasible based on those totals. Clemmensen said based on their clientele from across Canada, the United States and other parts of the world, having access to the international airport in Kelowna provided a greater ease of access to the B.C. facility over Brandon. She said the building conditions of their Victoria Avenue location, which will continue to treat their remaining patients before closing, was of no concern. Westwinds decision to close the Brandon facility leaves one less option for people in western Manitoba to access an important health-care service. Clemmensen said she does not see Westwinds departure from Brandon as a void to fill as the majority of their clientele have the means to fly to Kelowna for their services. "We have a client from Manitoba whos staying at our Kelowna location even though the Manitoba location has been opened," Clemmensen said. "Our highest clientele often would come from Alberta, B.C., and Ontario. Most clients are having to travel out of province for certain care." As an alternative to their private service, Clemmensen said Westman residents looking for eating disorder treatments could still access the Womens Health Clinic or Health Sciences Centre eating disorder program in Winnipeg, which offers a comprehensive assessment, day treatment and outpatient treatment with access to inpatient treatment for adolescence and adults. However, both of these options would require a trip to Winnipeg, which may be a challenge to commute for residents of western Manitoba. Jamie Brown, a program co-ordinator for the Womens Resource Centre in Brandon, works alongside a team of specialists who provide support for women and children experiencing challenges with trauma and mental health. Brown said her organization has made some referrals to HSC for people experiencing difficulties with eating disorders and the mental health challenges surrounding that condition. Brown said her organization should be the first step for people to reach out to in order to make that connection with other agencies who can provide care. "When youre working with folks who have experienced trauma in lots of different ways, that can manifest in an eating disorder," Brown said. "There arent a lot of resources [for that] in our community here." Clemmensen said clients from Manitoba can still get specialized care from the online programs Westwind Counselling has offered to its patients over the last two years based on the nature of the pandemic. Since opening the Kelowna location last July, she said Westwind has seen higher demand in clients looking to access their service in B.C. Prairie Mountain Health had not been directly informed about the closure of the Westwind facility in Brandon, a spokesperson told the Sun in an email Thursday. Prairie Mountain Health does not have a program that is "specialized" for eating disorders. "Many of our services in PMH across programs support people with eating disorders on an ongoing basis," the spokesperson said. jbernacki@brandonsun.com Twitter: @JosephBernacki President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a local virtual asset conference in Seoul, Jan. 20. Joint Press Corps-Yonhap Exchanges request Yoon to allow corporate investment in crypto market By Lee Min-hyung Korea's cryptocurrency market will boom under President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol as the incoming administration is widely expected to adopt a deregulatory stance by easing taxation on crypto trading and allowing an initial coin offering (ICO), officials said Friday. Yoon made a series of campaign pledges which center on easing tight regulations introduced by the incumbent administration. First and foremost, he pledged to reduce taxation on crypto gains. Last year, the Ministry of Economy and Finance planned to impose tougher crypto income taxes on those whose gains exceed 2.5 million won ($2,225) beginning from 2022. The plan, however, hit a snag amid fierce political opposition. One key reason behind the backlash was that the standard was too tight compared to taxes on profits from stock investments. Stock investors are required to pay income taxes only when their gains top 50 million won. This led the government to delay the plan to 2023. However, Yoon's election win has significantly lowered the chances of the taxation plan being realized, as he promised to change the standard to be on a par with that of the local stock market. Other noteworthy pledges by Yoon include the establishment of a basic law on digital assets. This consists of tightening the monitoring of illegal crypto trading and widening insurance policies to tackle lingering concerns over hacking and system errors. "We hope the incoming administration builds an environment where companies can also invest in cryptocurrencies," an official at a local cryptocurrency exchange said. "For now, banks do not issue any accounts for companies to do so due to the regulatory stance of the government. But with Yoon sharing a set of pledges to deregulate the market, we expect him to help allow more capital to flow into the market and not just from retail investors, but corporations as well." The crypto market is upbeat about the possible deregulation of the concept of the ICO under Yoon's presidency. The idea is similar to that of an initial public offering in the stock market. Any firm that wants to raise money will launch an ICO by creating a new coin. However, the procedure is blocked in Korea for the time being due to the government's concerns over high investment risks. Nonetheless, Yoon plans to allow the ICO concept in phases after enabling an initial exchange offering (IEO). As crypto exchanges supervise the sale of coins through the IEO, the process guarantees more security, according to the President-elect. "As crypto exchanges serve as trading agents, the IEO comes with fewer risks than the ICO," Yoon said while announcing his crypto market pledges in January. Another official from the industry also said the stance, in itself, would help drive the growth of the overall ecosystem. "Even if it takes much more time until crypto trading is fully institutionalized, such a vision is definitely an optimistic sign for the industry," the official said. "The crypto market has been faced with multiple hurdles due to regulation for the past few years, during which, overseas crypto markets have achieved outstanding growth. We expect him to listen to the voices of the industry in a more market-friendly manner for Korea's leap forward in the industry." Despite Yoon's rise to the presidency, major bitcoin prices did not show any drastic upward movements. At 2:20 p.m., Friday, the Bitcoin was traded at around 48.01 million won, down 1.52 percent from the previous day, according to data from Bithumb. Its unclear if any of the ghost guns allegedly being manufactured in Brandon were sold, but police say they could become a more significant issue in the province. Advertisement Advertise With Us SUBMITTED Collage of photos containing items allegedly seized by police at a residence on Pacific Avenue. Its unclear if any of the "ghost guns" allegedly being manufactured in Brandon were sold, but police say they could become a more significant issue in the province. On Wednesday afternoon, police announced they had executed a search warrant at a Pacific Avenue residence where a 3D printer was allegedly found actively printing part of a ghost gun. Officers also allegedly found three 3D-printed lower receivers of Glock pistols, 9mm bullet casings, numerous gun parts, a high-capacity 9mm magazine and other weapons parts. The guns lack any serial numbers or identifying markings that a legally purchased gun would have, according to police, making them difficult to trace. Brandon police public information officer Sgt. Kirby Sararas said on Thursday police are still working to determine if any guns had been sold by the accused, but police have never seized one in the city. "This could potentially become a significant issue in Manitoba and elsewhere as 3D printers are now more affordable and more readily available to the average person than they had been previously," she said in an email. Dayne Parrott-Jones, 18, is facing numerous charges, including three counts of manufacturing a restricted firearm, two counts of manufacturing a prohibited device, possessing a loaded restricted handgun, possessing a restricted handgun and possessing a restricted device. The search warrants came out of a police investigation into DDos attacks Parrott-Jones was also allegedly carrying out. The investigation included the FBI. Police in Texas carried out a search warrant at the same time as police in Brandon. Sararas said ghost guns were not found during the Texas search warrant. Parrott-Jones is next scheduled to appear in court later in March. Tuesday wasnt the first time police in Manitoba had seized ghost guns. In June 2020, the Winnipeg Police Services firearms investigation unit allegedly found gun parts for an AR-15 being made using a 3D printer at a residence in the citys Westwood neighbourhood. At the time, police said it was the first time ghost guns had been found in the province. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ OTTAWA - Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has warned that Russian forces are targeting Ukrainians' food supply, including their stores of grain. Advertisement Advertise With Us Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Agriculture Minister says Russian forces are targeting the Ukrainians' food supply, including their stores of grain.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle OTTAWA - Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has warned that Russian forces are targeting Ukrainians' food supply, including their stores of grain. Bibeau, who attended an emergency meeting of G7 agriculture ministers on Friday, said Ukraine's minister told them Russian forces are hitting grain silos, ports and the infrastructure needed to gather and distribute the harvest, as well as food storage facilities. In an interview after the G7 meeting, Bibeau said Russia's attempt to disrupt Ukraine's food supply was "shocking" and a further sign that Russian targets are not just military as claimed by President Vladimir Putin. "What I was particularly alarmed about was the fact that Russia is really targeting agricultural infrastructure, silos, grain elevators, the port itself being a major part of it," she said. Bibeau said this was having a "direct impact on their capacity to produce food for their own population to feed their population." She said Ukraine's agriculture minister told the G7 meeting that the embattled nation's farmers face severe challenges to harvest this year's crops. Not only are farmers and many farm workers fighting the Russians, but Ukraine's military has also commandeered stores of fuel for farm machinery, such as combine harvesters. "All the diesel that they had in storage for farms has been provided for military vehicles," she said. "They are running out of diesel." She said Canada, a major donor through the World Food Program, was funnelling food aid to Ukraine. "It is extremely challenging to say the least critical and we are trying to see as friends how we can help, how we can help through the World Food Program." But she warned that Canada and the U.S. had a weak harvest last year because of a drought, so stocks of grain were lower than usual. Bibeau added that this year, Canadian farmers could face shortages of fertilizer, which it usually buys from Russia. She said this could affect this year's harvest, although Canadian farmers were trying to find alternatives. The minister cautioned that consumers should expect a spike in the cost of bread and pasta following a rise in wheat prices after Russia's invasion. Vegetable oil, another big Ukrainian export, could also be in short supply. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat and sunflower oil, and many countries in the developing world, including Lebanon and Bangladesh, rely on its wheat for staple foods, including bread. Shipping companies have also been refusing to carry Russian grain on principle since it invaded Ukraine and because their insurance premiums have gone up dramatically since the start of the war, said Arif Husain, chief economist at the World Food Program. Julie Marshall, Canadian spokeswoman for the World Food Program, said world food prices are at an all-time high and the crisis in Ukraine is hitting "hunger hot spots" hard. "The consequences of the Ukraine conflict are having a global impact, triggering a wave of collateral hunger that is spreading across the world," she said. "The Middle East and North Africa is particularly vulnerable to higher food prices because it imports large quantities of food. Lebanon imports more than 50 per cent of its wheat from Ukraine. For Yemen, the proportion is 22 per cent. In Tunisia, it is 42 per cent." Sophia Murphy, executive director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a non-profit organization promoting sustainable agriculture, said: "The dramatic rise in food, fertilizer and fuel prices worldwide triggered by the war is a stark reminder of how quickly food security outlooks can change." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022. On Sunday, March 13, the Branson Regional Arts Council will be hosting open auditions for their upcoming production of Little Woman-The Musical at the Historic Owen Theatre in Downtown Brasnon. ReFRESH Worship "Cry Out" featuring Naomi Raine | CR8 Agency / TRIBL Records Cry Out by Refresh Worship is a simple song of prophetic-spontaneous worship by ReFresh Worship led by Naomi Raine of the Fresh Start Christian Center (Mt. Vernon, NY). Pastor G. Morris Coleman serves as the Senior Pastor of Fresh Start Christian Center. Cry Out is a song of celebration and triumph that encourages believers to remember the goodness of God despite the challenges in the world. Refresh Worship consists of six to sixteen diverse millennials who call Fresh Start Christian Center their home church. Follow ReFRESH Worship on social media using the handle: @RefreshWorship. About TRIBL Records TRIBL Records is the new premiere leading home for Christian and Gospel music celebrating multiple Billboard Music Award, American Music Award, Stellar Award, and Dove Award wins. Founded in 2020 by Tony Brown, Jonathan Jay, Norman Gyamfi, Stephanie Valcarcel, and Mary Sirois, the ground-breaking recording company is home to GRAMMY nominated Maverick City Music, GRAMMY nominated JJ Hairston, TRIBL (artist collective) and, Refresh Worship, Naomi Raine, and Maryanne MJ George. Boasting over 1M subscribers on YouTube and across its various social channels the company delivers thought-provoking, innovative, and trailblazing content notably the best in the inspirational genre. TRIBLs roster spans multiple genres including Christian & Gospel, Latin, R&B, and Pop. Harrisonburg, VA (22807) Today Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 78F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Under court rules, the Sacklers were not allowed to respond to the victims, who were selected by lawyers for creditors in the case. Some victims spoke from a law office in New York; others were at their homes or offices around the country. Jannette Adams told of her late husband, Dr Thomas Adams, who was a physician and church deacon in Mississippi and a missionary in Africa and Haiti. He became addicted to opioids after pharmaceutical representatives pitched them, she said. After a terrible decline, he died in 2015. Im angry, Im pissed, but I move on, Adams said. Because our society lost a person who could have made so many more contributions. ... You took so much from us, but we plan to, through our faith in God, move forward. Scum of the earth Kristy Nelson played for the Sacklers a tense recording of a 911 call in which she summoned police to her home the day her son Bryan died of an opioid overdose. The dispatcher asked whether his skin had gone blue; she said it was white. She said she replays the call in her mind daily. Thursday was Richard Sacklers 77th birthday, according to public records. Later this month, Nelson said, she and her husband will visit the cemetery on what would have been Bryans 34th birthday. I understand todays your birthday, Richard, how will you be celebrating? she said. I guarantee it wont be in the cemetery. ... You have truly benefitted from the death of children. You are scum of the earth. Her words echoed a 2001 email from Richard Sackler, made public during lawsuits over OxyContin, in which he referred to people with addiction as scum of the earth. Pill Man, made by a victim from his opioid prescription pill bottles, outside the US Department of Justice in December. Credit:AP Jenny Scully, a nurse in New York, gave birth in 2014 while on OxyContin and other opioids prescribed years earlier when she was dealing with both breast cancer and injuries from an accident. She was told her baby would be healthy, Scully said, but the little girl has had a lifetime of physical, developmental and emotional difficulties. You have destroyed so many lives, she said, pulling her daughter into view. Take a good look at this beautiful little girl you robbed of the person she could have been. The forum was unconventional for the White Plains, New York, courtroom of Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain, who on Wednesday gave tentative approval to key elements of a plan to settle thousands of lawsuits against the company. Other drugmakers and wholesalers and even a consulting company have also been settling lawsuits over the opioid crisis, which has been linked two more than 500,000 deaths in the US over the past two decades. But Purdues case stands out because it was an early player with OxyContin and is privately owned. When you created OxyContin, you created so much loss for so many people.Im outraged that you havent owned up to the crisis that youve created. OxyContin victims mother Kay Scarpone The settlement is estimated to be worth at least $US10 billion ($13.6 billion) over time. It calls for the Sacklers to contribute $US5.5 billion to $US6 billion over 17 years to fight the opioid crisis. Thats an increase of more than $US1 billion over a previous version rejected by another judge on appeal. Most of the money would be used for efforts to combat the crisis, but $US750 million would go directly to victims or their survivors. The overall settlement, which still requires actions by multiple courts to take effect, provides more than $US150 million for Native American tribes and over $US100 million for medical monitoring and payments for children born in opioid withdrawal. The plan also calls for family members to give up ownership of the company, so it can become a new entity, Knoa Pharma, with its profits dedicated to stemming the epidemic. In exchange, Sackler family members would get protection from lawsuits over opioids. No apology The family also agreed not to oppose any efforts to remove the Sackler name from cultural and educational institutions they have supported and to make public a larger cache of company documents. Purdue Pharma starting selling OxyContin, a pioneering extended-release prescription painkiller, in 1996. At the same time, Purdue and other drug companies funded efforts to get doctors and other prescribers to think differently about opioids suggesting they be used for some pain conditions for which the potent drugs were previously considered off limits. Over the decades, there were waves of fatal overdoses, first associated with prescription drugs and then, as prescriptions became harder to obtain and some drugs became harder to manipulate for a quick high, from heroin. More recently, fentanyl and similar drugs have become the biggest killer. Purdue has twice pleaded guilty to criminal charges, but no Sacklers have been charged with crimes. There are no indications any such charges are forthcoming, although seven US senators last month asked the US Department of Justice to consider charges. Loading The Sacklers have never unequivocally apologised. Last week, they released a statement saying in part, while the families have acted lawfully in all respects, they sincerely regret that OxyContin, a prescription medicine that continues to help people suffering from chronic pain, unexpectedly became part of an opioid crisis that has brought grief and loss to far too many families and communities. Following the hearing, a spokesperson for Mortimer Sacklers descendants said the family would not make a statement; a representative of Raymond Sacklers side of the family did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The family of the other brother, Arthur, sold its share of Stamford, Connecticut-based Purdue before OxyContin was developed. Theres a key principle of economics thats not widely realised. Economists believe anything that looks like a duck and quacks like a duck must be a duck. Q: When is something that isnt government spending still government spending? A: when its a tax break. A government can impose taxes and spend the proceeds on achieving some objective say, helping the retired with their living expenses or it can achieve the same objective by charging those people less tax than theyd otherwise pay. xxx Credit:Joe Benke Whichever way the government chooses to do it, the effect on the budget balance is the same. And the effect on the people the governments trying to help should be the same. The only difference is that the two ways of assisting people appear on opposite sides of the budget. One adds to government spending while the other subtracts from government tax revenue. But, reason economists, this is a distinction without a difference. In principle, it doesnt really matter. As the West piles sanctions on Russia spanning energy, banks and individuals, Vladimir Putin faces the grim task of saving an already weak economy from slipping into recession. The country was hit with sanctions following the seizure of Crimea in 2014. However, this time the sanctions are of a different order: most of the countrys banks have been cut off from the global financial system, sending the rouble plummeting by one third and foreign businesses scrambling to escape the country. Russian imports are already down 40 per cent. Some retaliation was swift: when the UK banned Russian flights from its airspace, Russia did the same with British Airways. Vladimir Putin has a few options up his sleeve to retaliate against Western sanctions. Credit:AP As the situation intensifies, more large-scale counter measures could be on the way in Putins fight against economic sanctions. Here are some of his options. The shock deaths of cricketer Shane Warne and Senator Kimberley Kitching should serve as a wake-up call to Australians about the prevalence of heart disease, doctors say, as a study shows COVID-19 may increase the risk for what was already one of the nations biggest killers. Modelling released by the Heart Foundation late last year found at least 27,000 Australians were likely to have missed their heart health checks during the coronavirus pandemic. The foundation warned this could potentially lead to a rise in preventable heart disease deaths in the next five years. Gemma Figtree, professor of medicine at Sydney University, said the pandemic had also led to weight gain and worsened mental health, which were closely linked to cardiovascular risk. Labor senator Kimberley Kitching died on Thursday from a suspected heart attack. Shane Warne died in Thailand on March 4. Both were 52. China to carry out phase-4 lunar exploration missions before 2030 09:21, March 11, 2022 By Feng Hua ( People's Daily Building on the glorious aerospace achievements made in the recent years, China still has a number of big moves to make in space in the coming years. A Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-5 spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern island province of Hainan, Nov 24, 2020. (People's Daily Online/Qiu Xinsheng) The fourth phase of the country's lunar exploration program has been approved at the end of 2021 and entered implementation stage, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program. The fourth phase of the program will be carried out in three steps, namely the Chang'e-6, -7, and -8 missions before 2030, according to Wu, who's also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body. The major goal of the phase-4 lunar program is to carry out scientific exploration at the lunar south pole in pursuit of building a basic structure of a lunar research station in the region, Wu introduced. Speaking on the sidelines of the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, he explained that China selects the lunar south pole as the location of the lunar research station because polar day/night phenomenon takes place in the north and south poles of the moon, just like it does on Earth. He said there may be more than 180 consecutive days of light on the moon's south pole, which would ensure lasting scientific exploration activities. A model of Chang'e-4 spacecraft. (People's Daily Online/Long Wei) Besides, scientists are also expecting to find traces of ice in the south pole of the moon. A special craft will fly from the landing site to a nearby crater for investigation and sampling, Wu said. Landing in the lunar south pole would be challenging as the landing area there is only 1/10 of the size of that in the mid- and low-latitudes, Wu noted. Chang'e-6 will attempt to retrieve samples from lunar pole regions and return them to earth, and Chang'e-7 will land on the lunar south pole to conduct scientific explorations and look for traces of ice. Chang'e-8, working in collaboration with Chang'e-7, will scout how to exploit lunar resources, carry out wide-range, full-scale and long-term observation of Earth, and verify key technologies to be applied in the construction of the lunar research station. It is reported that Chang'e-6 and Chang'e-7 are expected to be launched around 2025. Lunar soil samples are on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing, May 26, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu) Following Tianwen-1, China's first mission to Mars conducted last year, the country will keep launching relevant missions such as Tianwen-2, Tianwen-3 and Tianwen-4, Wu disclosed. Besides, the country will launch an asteroid probe during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and strive to make breakthroughs in key technologies such as near-Earth asteroid sampling, Mars sample-return, and Jupiter exploration, the academician said. According to him, China will also carry out feasibility studies on solar system margin exploration and other major projects. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Students take a course to prepare for the civil service exam at an educational institution in Noryangjin, Seoul, in this file photo. Yonhap Public sector's conservative culture turns off young job seekers By Dong Sun-hwa The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a huge blow to the job market in Korea, with numerous companies reducing job openings in order to stay afloat. According to a recent survey conducted by the Federation of Korean Industries, more than 42.1 percent of the top 500 companies in Korea said they have not mapped out recruitment plans for the first half of this year, while 7.9 percent said they have no hiring plans. The two major reasons are due to the global health crisis and a lack of what they view as suitable talent. From a common-sense standpoint, more job seekers should flock to Noryangjin in western Seoul, a region packed with civil service exam crammers, to gain jobs in the government which provide employment stability and a fair working environment. However, a growing number of young people in Korea are losing interest in getting public sector jobs, as evidenced by a steady decline in the competition ratio for the civil service exam. Data from the Ministry of Personnel Management (MPM) show that 165,524 people applied for this year's civil service exam, resulting in a competition rate of 29.2: 1, down from 35:1 in 2021 and 37.2:1 in 2020. The competition ratio had soared to 39.2:1 in 2019, 41:1 in 2018. Pension reform critical factor Although the popularity of another exam for higher-level civil service positions has not waned as much as that of the test for entry-level public servants, experts still believe that the craze for public service jobs is cooling down in Korea, with the so-called MZ generation favoring high-paying and more challenging jobs. The MZ generation is a term used to refer to Millennials (born between 1981 and 1995) and Generation Z (born between 1996 and 2005). "Public service positions had long been one of the most-coveted jobs among young Koreans mainly because they could receive a sizable pension after retirement," Seol Dong-hoon, a professor of sociology at Jeonbuk National University, told The Korea Times. "But following the 2015 pension reforms, they can no longer enjoy the same benefit as their predecessors." The pension reform in 2015 raised the eligibility age for the civil servant pension from 60 to 65 and increased the proportion of contributions from 7 percent of their salary to 9 percent. At the same time, payment rates decreased from 1.9 percent to 1.7 percent. "Given that the annual salary of a civil servant is often smaller than that of other jobs, a decrease in the amount of pension is a critical hit for them," Seol explained. "It does make sense for jobseekers to prefer landing a job at large private companies that pay them more in a shorter period of time, although many of them lack job stability." Noryangjin in Seoul is an area filled with civil service exam cram schools. Yonhap The MPM's data reveal that the average annual salary of an entry-level public worker was about 20 million won ($16,000) as of 2020. But in the same year, the salary of an employee at a large private company, who graduated from a four-year college, was more than 33 million won, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Against this backdrop, large private firms were picked as the most sought-after workplaces among Koreans aged between 13 and 34, according to a survey of 36,000 people conducted by Statistics Korea in 2021. This was the first time since 2006 that civil service jobs fell from first place in the annual survey on job preferences. "Many of my friends gave up preparing for the civil service exams," said a woman in her mid-20s, who once thought about taking one of the tests. She ended up getting a job at a startup located in Seoul. "It requires a lot of money and time to get ready for the test, but we cannot earn that much even if we pass it. I think many people my age also place self-development above stability. In my case, I want to run challenging and inspirational projects at open-minded companies, rather than performing repetitive tasks as a civil servant and falling into a rut." She added that she wonders if the waning popularity of public servants is a positive sign. "In my eyes, it looks like the number of quality jobs is decreasing, forcing young people to choose between bad and worse." Turned off by stuffy work environment gettyimagesbank It seems that the MZ generation is also turned off by the conservative nature of the public sector. "Public servants face a lot of restrictions when they work, as their actions can have a huge impact on private organizations," a civil servant surnamed Choi, whose career spans more than three decades, told The Korea Times. "Thus, they often do not attempt to lead from the front, so that they would not be held liable for any faults. And people of the older generation are still dominating the public sector, so they frequently clash with young people, who have different perspectives and ideas. The former often criticizes the latter for taking less responsibility at work, while the latter complains that their seniors are way too old-fashioned." Choi revealed that a legion of public workers, who passed the civil service exams after years of test-preparation, still chooses to quit their job only after a few months or years, because they feel this type of job is not a good fit for them. "People of the older generation used to endure hardships in their workplaces without leaving, but the so-called MZ generation is different," she said. "They do not tolerate it. Instead, they search for career alternatives." Echoing this sentiment, Professor Seol elaborated, "Since this behavior is seen in many other industry sectors, it can be thought of as one of the traits of the MZ generation." According to the Government Employee Pension Service, 5,961 public servants aged 18 to 35 left their jobs in 2020, which is a remarkable increase from 4,375 in 2017. Local pollster Next Research also revealed that more than 40 percent of 380 public workers, who took part in its survey, said they are currently working with "incommunicable" bosses who never listen to them. Broken work-life balance People who passed the written test of a civil service exam wait for their interview. Korea Times file A former elite soldier has told the Federal Court that he doubted whether Ben Roberts-Smith should have been awarded the Victoria Cross, Australias highest military honour, and he told a lot of people the war veteran was a bully. Person 43, a former Special Air Service soldier who was medically discharged from the Defence Force in 2017, gave evidence in Mr Roberts-Smiths defamation case in Sydney on Friday that the only witnesses to the acts for which his former comrade was awarded the Victoria Cross in January 2011 were members of Mr Roberts-Smiths own team. Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court in Sydney last month. Credit:James Alcock He believed this cast doubt on the award, which was conferred on Mr Roberts-Smith for his actions in a 2010 battle in Tizak, Afghanistan, during which the SAS came under fire from Taliban machine gunners. The process by which Mr Roberts-Smith was considered for the award was conducted in secrecy, without involvement of the rest of the [SAS] troop, Person 43 said. He had expressed the view that it is in doubt and there should have been more investigation before awarding it. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Peter Cosgrove was 27 years old when Cyclone Tracy flattened Darwin on Christmas morning in 1974. Within days of the disaster, the government began loading shell shocked survivors onto aircraft and flying them to cities across Australia. They crouched in the aisles of the planes, and sat on each others laps. The young soldier, who already had a military cross from Vietnam and would go on to be governor-general, met their buses at a barracks on Sydneys south head, where they could finally shower, eat, and sleep. They were destitute and devastated, Sir Peter remembers. Psychologically traumatised. They were absolutely down and out, tired beyond belief having left everything they owned, which was either blown away or saturated and ruined by the torrential rain. No one outside Darwin knew about the cyclone until Christmas afternoon, as communications were wiped out. But as soon as contact was made, the newly formed National Emergency Operations Centre swung into action, sending navy ships and organising the biggest air evacuation in Australian history - more than 30,000 people - which was under way within two days. Then-prime minister Gough Whitlam flew from Europe to tour the city on December 29. Children look on as people inspect the damage from Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin in 1974. Credit:Rick Stevens Sir Peter was one of the first soldiers sent to Darwin to begin the cleanup. He remembers flying over the city and seeing complete devastation. It reminded me of aerial images of those Japanese cities in the war [Hiroshima and Nagasaki], he said. Seven weeks later, we were [replaced by more soldiers]. Wed been working flat out. As we were flying out of the place in a charter jet and looked out of the window again, I couldnt see any difference. As residents of the Northern Rivers region sifted through their sodden houses this week, angry that help, particularly from the Australian Defence Force, did not come sooner, some wondered whether their experience was Australias version of Hurricane Katrina. That storm hit the east coast of the United States in 2005 and led to a flooding catastrophe in New Orleans that exposed a litany of failures by government, including an inability to get food and water to evacuation centres. But some, including Lismores mayor Steve Krieg, looked back further to Cyclone Tracy, noting not only the governments faster response in the immediate aftermath of Darwins crisis 50 years ago, but also what it did next. Advertisement Tracy produced stronger and longer cyclonic winds than anyone thought possible. It killed 71 people. Sixty per cent of houses in Darwin were beyond repair. The federal government - which owned many of them - knew the city had to be sturdier, so it commissioned scientists to develop more rigorous building codes. The changes were radical, but the national dismay at Darwins devastation reduced opposition. Those codes have spared countless buildings across northern Australia from storms as strong as Tracy. A report in the Herald from December 29, 1974. Credit: The question Australia is facing is whether, some 50 years later, the country is still capable of such a bold response. The Northern Rivers region floods regularly; residents are used to it. Its the most flood-affected community in the nation, says Ballina mayor Sharon Cadwallader. In heavy rain, water flows down hills into creeks and rivers, then spreads across the floodplain. Until now, the worst on record in Lismore was in 1954, when the water reached 12.27 metres. This year was 14.40 metres. It was described as unprecedented and unimaginable, yet Lismores 2014 Floodplain Risk Management Plan envisaged worse. It predicted a probable maximum flood (PMF) level - or worst-case scenario - of 16 metres. Given climate change, the plan said, that was likely an underestimate. Premier Dominic Perrottet, who has spent much of the past week visiting the region and speaking to victims, described the Northern Rivers floods as a one in 1000-year event. Politicians fondness for that type of statistic annoys Yetta Gurtner from the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University. I cant tell you how frustrated I get, she says. They are statistical measures theyre used by planners and insurance. [A one-in-100 year event is] one in 100 chances in any given year. You have a 3.65 per cent chance of it happening [each year]. People are getting a false perception. They think they wont see another in their lifetime. Loading They almost certainly will. Natural disasters have increased five-fold over the past 50 years, and the worst of them have featured water. A United Nations report found the deadliest events around the world over that period were droughts, storms and floods, while the costliest were storms and floods. More water vapour in the atmosphere exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, which Sydney saw this week. Between 1970 and 2021, 45 per cent of almost 1500 disasters in the south-west Pacific - including Australia - have involved floods, and 71 per cent of deaths were in storms. Advertisement Water began rising in northern NSW on the night of Sunday, February 27. Within two days, thousands of people who live within the 200-kilometre stretch from Grafton to Murwillumbah were affected. Along the Old Pacific Highway and up to Lismore, entire communities were underwater. Mostly, neighbours saved each other. Desperate people relied on family or makeshift evacuation centres. Some, tired of sleeping on the floor among hundreds of others with limited resources, returned to stay in their mouldy homes. Some had nothing but the clothes they wore when they fled. Its hard to explain whats going on to friends in Sydney, says David Glendenning, a local GP. The supermarkets are gone. Theres no Kmart, no Bunnings. No mechanics - you cant get a tyre fixed. The postal distribution warehouse is gone. The two things were dealing with now, is the mental health and trauma for the whole town. Gail and Bill Ferrier have lived in their Woodburn home since 1973. They returned to sleep at the flooded property after a few nights in the evacuation centre. A volunteer said they had to leave this week as mould was beginning to grow. Like many in the area, they dont have flood insurance. Credit:Janie Barrett After a week, homes were still sodden. Communication was not yet fully restored, and many people did not know if or when help was coming. Most had not yet seen anyone in uniform. Food and water came from volunteers who spent days driving around the Northern Rivers or from restaurants that shut their kitchens to feed their neighbours. Even local emergency personnel on the ground were unsure about how relief was being co-ordinated at the top. A sense of abandonment has festered. Residents are deeply distressed. Were going through the five stages of grief now, says Cadwallader. People are getting angry. The initial shock is starting to wear off. They need support through this whole process, with the grieving, the dislocation. There is still confusion over why the response was so slow. The role of a new government agency, Resilience NSW - set up after Black Summer - was unclear. Many say the army took too long to arrive, but there is still a question over whether that was due to delays on the state side in requesting soldiers for specific tasks - which it must do, as without invitation its invasion - or the federal side in sending them (there was no such problem during Tracy; the Commonwealth all but ran Darwin). Many are also asking whether the states existing emergency services are adequate, if it took surfers on jetskis and recreational boaters to rescue people. But emergency management experts warn expectations of government authorities in a disaster can be unrealistic. Its difficult, for example, to summon dozens of extra rescue boats to a flood-hit area quickly, especially if there are other floods nearby, such as in Brisbane. Its impossible to have the resources on hand for every particular event, says Associate Professor Michael Eburn, an expert on legal aspects of emergency response at the Australian National University. In a disaster, theres a limit to what emergency services can do. By definition, what makes a disaster a disaster is were overwhelmed. Advertisement Waves of destruction: the shops along the main street of Woodburn. Credit:Janie Barrett Dr Gurtner agrees. First responders are the community supported by the emergency services that are available, she says. We have an unrealistic expectation that well have communications, that well have electricity back in three days. She says education and preparation are not given enough attention. Residents of vulnerable areas - and thats a significant proportion of Australias coast - should, for example, have a transistor radio, with spare batteries. They should have stores of water and food to last them weeks. They should have a pre-packed bag to grab quickly, and keep valuables - particularly photos - in waterproof containers. Loading And, in a disaster, they should be prepared to muck in. They did just that this week in the Northern Rivers, when community volunteers organised around 400 evacuations and airdrops using at least 15 privately-funded helicopters, and did tens of thousands of rescues with tinnies and four-wheel drives, locals volunteers said. Volunteers are probably our greatest resource in a response and recovery capacity, Gurtner says. No matter how big a government is, youre never going to have sufficient people on standby twiddling their thumbs. More effort should be made to prepare communities for their role, says Andrew Gissing from Risk Frontiers. Local authorities should work with local groups and businesses, so that when disaster does strike, those people are prepared. For example, if boaters are a de-facto rescue force, they could be trained in how to deal with live powerlines in floodwaters, and supplied with government-funded equipment, so next time they can do it more safely. Governments could pre-negotiate emergency contracts with private helicopter and aircraft companies. It would be great to recognise the role of community in disaster management more, that they do have a defined role, that they are funded to deliver disaster management approaches, Gissing says. Its all about the relationships you build before an event. Advertisement Another big question is the role of the military. Defence Force personnel are being called to disaster recovery more frequently. They helped in the Black Summer bushfires, the COVID-19 response, and now in the floods. They are a trained and easily summoned labour force, but shovelling mud is a distraction from their main job, which is to defend Australias sovereignty. Roger and Robyne Wood in the community radio station they run in Woodburn. Roger says the weeks disaster was beyond government. No one should blame anyone. Except those that dont believe in climate change. This is climate change. And theres tens of thousands of people with nowhere to live. Credit:Janie Barrett Some argue a new military capability is required. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has suggested a semi-civilian unit that is trained in disaster response. Former ADF chief Chris Barrie suggested rewarding volunteer service with a lifetime tax deduction. Sir Peter thinks states should develop, and the Commonwealth fund, a civilian emergency-response force akin to the Army Reserve. They would be trained in disaster relief skills, which they would hone at weekly meetings and at regular camps. They would, like army reservists, be paid for their time. Importantly, they would be on standby to mobilise immediately. They are trained because they are going to take on hazardous work, they are skilled, equipped, and they are readily available at a drop of the hat, he says. The other issue facing flood-ravaged communities, and the governments that serve them, is what happens next. Its just five years since the last bad floods in the Northern Rivers. More will come. The decisions made after Cyclone Tracy saved countless buildings across northern Australia. Now, few people die when category 5 cyclones hit populated areas. But theres a difference between wind and water; the latter is harder to repel. Unless you move houses, its hard to completely mitigate the risk, says Matthew Mason, from the school of civil engineering at the University of Queensland, who wrote a paper on lessons from Tracy for the now-defunct National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. Sir Peter Cosgrove surveys damage after Cyclone Larry in Queensland in 2006. Credit:AAP Advertisement Dodging victims exposes PM Raging is not only what the Morrison government does, its also Scott Morrisons own style of reaction (PMs fatal flaw floats to surface, March 11). Whether on the floor of the Parliament or responding to a journalist, Morrison is all bullying, blustering and hectoring. Its unattractive, unacceptable and boorish. Attack can be done skilfully and quietly: Paul Keating destroyed cant, hypocrisy and stupidity with mocking humour. His weapon was the surgical scalpel, Morrisons is the blunt axe. Morrisons hiding from flood victims seems to suggest he is very aware of his inability to be a nice, empathetic bloke. Trevor Somerville, Illawong Mr Morrison, three years ago, you believed God sent you a miracle. Unfortunately, you took that miracle for granted and wasted your opportunity to be a strong, wise, proactive leader. Following your belief systems reasoning further, it now appears that Gods wrath is raining down upon you as a result. This year, presuming God is still doing miracles, another one will be a lot harder to come by. Pam Timms, Suffolk Park It is clear from Waleed Alys article that Scott Morrisons fatal flaw is that he is a reactive prime minister who is incapable of planning and so, while staggering from one disaster to another, learns nothing from the experience. Whether it be building quarantine facilities or coping with climate change, there has been a lack of serious planning, so when the inevitable disasters occur, Morrison can only blame someone else or apologise. Peter Nash, Fairlight What has been clearly shown by the NSW and federal governments reaction to the floods is the message behind the Coalitions mantra of small government: Fend for yourself. Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba Seven to one shot To your correspondents slightly selective defence of the cattle industry (Letters, March 11) I would add that it takes about seven units of plant protein to produce one unit of animal protein. Rod Hughes, Epping Much has been written about where to place meat and plant-based products on supermarket shelves. Its obvious: on either side of the Soylent Green. John Bailey, Canterbury Do make this a race Pleasing to know the federal government will purchase an additional 130,000 vaccines for Japanese encephalitis (Billions spent to fight flu, COVID and encephalitis, March 11). Surely, this time we are at the head of the queue. Simon Staines, Mudgee Tracking back An integrated tramway system for Sydney (Two become one? Integration on the line, March 11)? Who would have thought? Well, the NSW government did, in the late 19th century, developing a system with almost 300km of track, and standardised rolling stock, a far cry from what we have now. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills Jungle manoeuvres Thanks to the deluge, the grass at my place is so high that this morning I got lost while searching for my Herald (Letters, March 11). George Manojlovic, Mangerton EVs could drive renewal in manufacturing sector Your correspondents (Letters, March 11) raising the prospects of an electric vehicle industry in Australia is wishful thinking under this government. That would mean the government doing something pre-emptive, a word that is unknown in the conservative lexicon. The Coalition has done nothing at all, of any note, since it has been in office, so why would it start now? Its a shame because the prospects these days for manufacturing are much better than they were before everything was sent elsewhere. Cars these days are made robotically in large part, and a robotic installation in Australia, once up and running, would cost basically the same here, as in say, China. Labour costs would, of course, be higher. However, with the size of the buildings required, the roof carrying capacity for solar-produced energy may cover the cost of the power for the factory (for free). Australia is crying out for new industry. Stewart Copper, Maroubra Your correspondents wonder why the federal government isnt promoting the use of EVs. Simple: it hasnt worked out an electorally palatable way to tax them yet. Adrian Connelly, Springwood Ive got a great start-up business idea for Mike Cannon-Brookes: build an Australian electric car. Ill even waive my commission. Paul Mangioni, Darlinghurst Explain, envoy There seem to be increasing calls to expel the Russian ambassador. In my view, instead, the government should summon him daily to the office of the Prime Minister and ask him to explain the latest atrocity in Ukraine. Paul Hewson, Clontarf (Qld) Peace Corp to the rescue One way to increase the ADF (Better pay and conditions needed in $38b ADF recruitment drive: experts, March 11) would be to change its name to the Peace Corp, as with former US president John F Kennedys organisation. What a waste of personnel and hardware, with 60,000 people exercising their ability to kill people between fighting American wars. These people should be deployed to infrastructure projects and natural disasters and into our Pacific neighbours, as there will assuredly be plenty of disasters coming their way. It would be very popular for the young as a way of earning and learning without the fear of bullets. Steve Johnson, Elizabeth Beach Shameful neglect Sadly, one comes to expect that in the midst of troubled times, our news will be filled with opinions from politicians and their minions ducking and weaving, blaming and finger-pointing and promising the world to assure us that things will be better next time. Then I read the clear and hard-hitting account by Dr Cam Hollows (I saw the flood destruction first-hand, where was our government?, March 11) of his experiences assisting in flood-ravaged Coraki. That our fellow citizens are left to fend for themselves in the way described is shameful. That in the face of such shame, many of our politicians seem more interested in PR photoshoot stunts and blame-shifting is depressing. However, we can all take comfort and pride in our fellow citizens who simply roll up their sleeves and get on with fixing things. Thank you, Cam. Peter Robertson, Stanmore Thank you, Cam Hollows, for your wonderful and selfless aid. Yes, we all need to ask where government taxation is going if it cant be used more broadly for natural disasters. Remember that individual and other withholding taxes comprise close to 46 per cent of total estimated Commonwealth revenue of $513.7 billion in 2019-2020 (Budget Review 2019-2020 Index). We all want to help, but the government cannot abrogate its responsibilities at such times of community need. Natalie Mabbitt, Randwick Where do our taxes go? This idea that governments should only ever provide the bare minimum and any substantial help should be provided by volunteers and others in the community is nothing new. For years now the Smith Family has been running ads urging us to help children living in poverty. Is preventing poverty and other forms of hardship not what we pay our taxes for? The governments supporters seem to be those who prefer to pay as little as they can get away with, which leaves them plenty in their pocket so they can help out in an emergency. But these things are happening more frequently. When does an occasional emergency become a regular occurrence? David Rush, Lawson History for sale Your correspondent (Letters, March 11) wrote, We do not trample on human graves. True, the pyramids are difficult to trample on so we only loot them, and the bodies become scientific curiosities. Human history comes a poor second when theres global prestige at stake or a sneaky dollar to be made. David Gordon, Cranebrook Redback reminder It seems its not only funnel-web spiders that have been affected by weather-induced homelessness (Prepare to call the swat team as mosquitoes, snakes and spiders multiply, March 11). Never have I seen a redback spider in my house or anywhere around our busy outside living areas. However, I have in the past couple of weeks seen one crawling about in my dishwasher, another suspended over the outdoor setting table, and worse, crawling across my shoulder when sitting out on the deck. I regrettably had to kill them out of concern for my young grandchildren. Given the unimaginable clean-up flood victims face, the redbacks remind us its time for a big outdoor clean-up, and the relative simplicity of that task should be something for which we must be very grateful. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville Whitlam to the rescue Your correspondent (Letters, March 11) is spot-on: Gough Whitlam was a statesman, and remains a much misunderstood prime minister. I believe the use of the ADF is warranted in situations like the latest floods. It is excellent training for the ADF to have to respond within a day to supply people on the ground and to provide pontoons, temporary bridges, radio and satellite communications, helicopters and transport. Scott Morrison has failed us again. Bruce Welch, Marrickville Your correspondent clearly shows the contrast between Whitlams immediate and effective use of the ADF after Cyclone Tracy in 1974, and Scott Morrisons delayed and chaotic response now. Contrast also, Whitlams belief that the role of government should be to reduce fear, not raise it, by introducing policies that would reduce the fear of unemployment, the fear of being unable to afford health care, and the fear of educational disadvantage, to mention just a few. Morrison has created fear and heightened division within Australia, economically, politically, environmentally, sexually and even religiously; and internationally with his bumbling diplomacy and hostile war rhetoric. All done for perceived political advantage, his only goal appearing to be re-election, at any cost. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl Postscript Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In 2004, former Australian diplomat in Moscow Bobo Lo met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time. It was just three days after Russias biggest tragedy in peacetime the horrific Beslan school siege by Chechen terrorists that left 186 children dead, some of them on their first day of school. I was expecting him to cancel, of course, says Lo, now a fellow at the Lowy Institute. Instead, he went ahead with this five-hour meeting. Los first impression of Putin was much like the Western caricature the cold-blooded KGB officer, the calculating chess player. I thought he was a master manipulator, says Lo. He seemed to play emotions like notes on a piano. So, hed crack a joke, then hed be angry, then conciliatory, then firm, then soft. Credit: But, having met Putin many more times since, that opinion has changed. Putin is less calculated, less cautious than he once was, Lo says. Hes become more paranoid and more punitive, and that makes him more dangerous. In declaring war on Ukraine, the Russian leaders naked emotion showed, his voice shaking with anger moments before the first missiles fell on Ukrainian cities. Hes obsessed with Ukraine, its his unfinished business, his blind spot, Lo says. Not bringing it back [into the fold] away from the West is the great failure of his presidency. It goes to his core. Experts warn that now Putin has gone all-in, he has few limits left. He cannot lose, says Lo. So, how far might Putin go? Is Ukraine the start of a deeper push into Europe? And could Putins war leave him vulnerable at home? Advertisement Why did Putin invade? Although Western analysts have long tried to divine the thoughts of Putin, most were still shocked by the scale of the invasion he unleashed on February 24. (Germanys spy chief was reportedly caught unawares in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, and had to be extracted in a special operation.) The months-long build-up of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border was not a bluff, after all, but the full-scale pincer assault Western intelligence had uncovered hitting not just the east and the south where Russia has been seizing territory since 2014, but the north too. Putin has justified the attack through a fiction of Ukrainian aggression and a fascist regime in need of removal (Ukraines government is democratically elected and headed by Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish). But Putin is also trying to rewrite history. Ukraine is part of Russia, he claims, an invention of the Soviet Unions founder, Lenin. He sees Kyiv, in particular, as a key prize the birthplace of both Ukrainian and Russian cultures and the seat of the Ukrainian government he wants to overthrow. This kind of mythological thinking, as Ukrainian expert Professor Marko Pavlyshyn calls it Putins Slavophile vision for a unified empire of Russian speakers, Orthodox and friendly to an autocrat speaks to the Presidents admiration not just for past Soviet dictators, such as Stalin, but of Russias former tsars. Even the Soviets acknowledged other nationalities in their republics, says Pavlyshyn. There may also be a religious dimension to Putins aggression, making his motives harder to discern by Western analysts. Putin, who remembers the Soviet Unions collapse in 1991 as a catastrophe, wants to restore Russias standing as a world power, extending his sphere of influence in eastern Europe to keep a buffer between Russia and the West. He questions why NATO, which formed after World War II to contain the USSR, has continued to expand since the Soviet Union broke apart. In 2008, he warned that talk of Ukraine and Georgia joining NATO was a red line, and later sent troops into both countries to seize territory. Before the latest invasion of Ukraine, he demanded that NATO not only disavow talk of Ukraine ever joining its alliance but pull back its forces from eastern Europe, effectively rewriting old boundaries agreed in 1997. Advertisement Time is a factor too. As Putin nears his 70th birthday, after more than 22 years in power, experts say his mind has increasingly turned to his legacy. When it comes to Ukraine, all his plans have always been thwarted, says Pavlyshyn. Putin must have thought he had picked the right moment to invade, when he considered the US and its allies weak and distracted, says Lo. There was the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan, the focus on China, new leadership in parts of Europe, and a pandemic. Instead, it has been Ukraines President Zelensky, the TV comedian turned extraordinary wartime leader who has rallied his people to fight and drawn Europes attention to the Kremlins imperialist ambitions, sparking not just tougher sanctions on Russia but a drastic arming up in nearby NATO countries. There may be a religious dimension to Putins aggression too, making his motives harder to discern by Western analysts. In 2018, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church split from the Russian Orthodox Church an organisation close to Putin in what could be interpreted as yet another attack on Russia, according to US intelligence scholar John Schindler. Kyiv has been called the Jerusalem of Russias Orthodoxy, where it began. People flee Kyiv on March 8. Credit:AP Has Putin miscalculated? Most experts think so, but that doesnt mean he will call off the invasion. Lo notes that Putin had good cause to underestimate the Western reaction. In 2014, when he seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, he didnt face sanctions until MH17 was shot down during fighting in the east, and since then, he has managed to fortify his economy, to some extent, against foreign financial penalties. Advertisement While some commentators have accused the West of antagonising Putin by bringing more ex-Soviet republics into NATO, Lo sees the invasion as a story of Putins hubris, not his insecurity. This is not the action of a man feeling weakness. This is a man feeling supremely good about his chances, he says. What the Ukrainians have done is create a different reality where Europeans have finally had to confront the problem of Russia. Bobo Lo More damning, says Pavlyshyn, is the apparent failure of Russian intelligence that led Putin to underestimate Ukraine. It [suggests] this mythology is something he actually believes in, and his advisers are afraid to challenge that view. When Putin announced the attack, Pavlyshyn recalls the fear that gripped him in Australia for his parents homeland. But in a way Id been caught up in the mythology too, of the Russian conventional war machine as enormous, extremely well-led, practically invincible, after such successful campaigns in Georgia and Syria. Thats now unravelling before our eyes. He points to widespread accounts of soldiers stranded without fuel or food, or surrendering. Ukraines army, meanwhile, is vastly outgunned by Russia, but it has also grown since fighting began in the east in 2014. Ukrainians have held off Russian advances on key cities with remarkable success, even as Russia steps up more destructive bombing raids. This has embarrassed the West into enforcing much tougher sanctions than ever before, says Lo, such as kicking out some Russian institutions from SWIFT, the payment system connecting the worlds banks, and even banning Russian oil and gas imports. None of that would have happened, especially not so fast, if Ukraine had folded quickly like everyone expected. [The West] would have just had to, quote unquote, be pragmatic and deal with the Russian occupation. What the Ukrainians have done is create a different reality where Europeans have finally had to confront the problem of Russia. Finland and Sweden, for instance, are now reportedly contemplating NATO membership, and even the famously neutral Switzerland has slapped sanctions on Russia. Germany has not only called off the major Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia and reversed its previous refusal to send weapons to Ukraine, but has also drastically ramped up its defence budget departing from a major plank of German foreign and defence policy since World War II, says Lo. Meanwhile, many Russian soldiers were expecting to be welcomed as liberators by Ukrainians, Pavlyshyn says. But instead, whole towns are coming out to stand down tanks or berate troops. Some people are even taking down streets signs and putting up signs reading go f--- yourself. Advertisement Ukraine, a country with its own distinct history, has been close to Russia in the past, Pavlyshyn says, but that changed with the seizure of Crimea and now, under invasion, the brotherhood Putin speaks of is evaporating fast. The view of Russia as the enemy is now almost universal. Putin accuses Lenin of having created Ukraine, but he has created Ukraine [today]. Hes created a unified country attached to every part of its own territory, and its people. Im not sure he understands, but I think that is possibly his most impressive achievement. How far might Putin go in Ukraine? Putin, who has already been accused of war crimes in Ukraine, may look to capitalise on wins in the south by forging a channel between his forces in the east and the southern base of Crimea. The size of Kyiv makes it a difficult city to take, and its historical significance to both Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church means he may be more reluctant to bomb it into submission than other key cities. Loading But I think there are no limits for Putin now, Lo says. He cannot afford to lose, there is no draw option here. Even a so-called peace agreement that gives Ukrainians something of what they still hold would be considered a loss, however its spun in the Russian media as Putin the Merciful. Even if he achieves a partial victory, it wont be enough. Since losings the absolute worst outcome for him, all the stuff we would regard as intolerable, genocidal even, he [may] think of as legitimate. Pavlyshyn no longer thinks Ukraines military can be defeated quickly but agrees that Putin will not pull back without a win, and Zelensky will not cede Ukrainian territory. Unless there is a kind of palace revolt [against Putin] which seems unlikely, then the only thing is to offer him some kind of way out which can be spun, not as a military defeat but [as] the achievement of peace in our time or whatever. Advertisement Australians who are close household contacts of a positive COVID-19 case may no longer have to isolate under a new system being considered by national cabinet, as political leaders prepare for an expected winter flu and coronavirus spike. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has been asked to provide urgent advice to national cabinet on the transition away from quarantine for close contacts, which the federal government wants to happen as soon as possible. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was prepared for the worst-case scenario with regards to flu and COVID. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Federal and state leaders, who met on Friday to endorse their winter preparedness plan, discussed changes to COVID-19 testing, with voluntary self-isolation to replace routine PCR testing for healthy people with mild coronavirus symptoms, pending AHPPC endorsement. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was prepared for the worst-case scenario with regards to flu and COVID. Controversy has focused on a detention unit cell block built to replace the torturous underground cells, which were known as Boggo Roads black hole. Loading Now, 12 months after a development application from property developer Stockwell was approved by Brisbane City Council, agreement has been reached to retain the detention unit cell block. That means people visiting the planned upmarket retail and medical complex will get a glimpse of how Brisbanes worst inmates were treated at their worst moments. Boggo Road Prison historian, author and tour guide Jack Sim said the detention cells were a physical reminder of a very turbulent chapter in Queenslands history. The Queensland government closed the black hole, and they built what they called the DU, the detention units, Mr Sim said. And that is what still survives there today. It cost $250,000 to build these above-ground, solitary, detention cells with stainless-steel toilets. It had a mini cell and an outer cell where the prisoner could pace around outside, inside the wire cell. But at least they were outdoors. Boggo Road Prison historian Jack Sim outside one of the detention unit cells at Boggo Road Prison which will now be protected. It gives an insight into a very turbulent part of Queenslands history. Credit:Tony Moore Seven detention unit cells were built, all overseen by a guard tower (shots were fired during at least one prison breakout in the 1980s). The isolation cell, the fronts of six isolation cells, the walkway past the detention unit cellblock, the walls, stairs and guard tower will be protected by Stockwell. The developer will build a two-storey mixed-use retail and office centre onto the wall beside the Ecosciences precinct, but incorporate the detention unit into their plan because the walls join in part. Inside one detention unit cell which will now be protected at Boggo Road Prison. Credit:Tony Moore Mr Sim is concerned the popular Boggo Road Prison tours he has run for a decade will close for 12 months while the development proceeds. He hopes they will return and the detention unit can be included in tours. What is remarkable about it is the whole complex is still intact. It might only link to the last few years of Boggo Road, but it gives a real palpable sense of the seriousness of the jail at that time, he said. We were talking about a prison that was largely out of control and officers were really struggling. I dont want to put the officers down they were doing the best they could, but the reality was Boggo Road had become a basket case. Stockwells Boggo Road Village development manager Matt Cole said they listened to community feedback after a previous application by Leightons was rejected. The previous scheme proposed significant changes and significant demolition and really took away a lot of the heritage elements, Mr Cole said. The Stockwell development does not physically include the Boggo Road Prison, but the company will preserve the detention unit cell block which can be viewed and walked through from their development, he said. There are seven isolation cells in the ground floor detention unit. There will be a full isolation cell that will be retained and the front half of the other six cells, Mr Cole said. So when you are walking past it will look like all the cells are retained and there will be some form of interpretation image behind the doors of the chopped-off ones that will show an image of what the cell would have looked like behind it, he said. All the structures and the wall connecting the cells to the walkway and the guard tower will be preserved. The new Stockwells mixed use development adjoins the heritage-listed Boggo Road Prison and will preserve the 1980s-era detention unit cell block on the Ecosciences side of the prison, Credit:Stockwells So if you were member of the public and that area is opened up eventually the intention is that you will be able to look in there, and it would appear like it is still a complete isolation cell area. Stockwell is working with heritage architect Ruth Woods and the Department of Environment and Science heritage team to fine-tune interpretation signs and images for the detention unit section. London: The chair of federal Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee says China wants Australia to be a vassal state like Belarus is to Russia. Warning that any of us could be on the receiving end of very traditional forms of hard power as we were in the 20th century, Liberal Senator James Paterson said that if Putin does overthrow Ukraines government, it could inspire similar expansionism in Australias backyard. Senator James Paterson has been in the United States and United Kingdom meeting Intelligence agencies and figures. Credit:Sarah Baker Senator Paterson made his remarks in a speech to the Henry Jackson Society think tank in London following a two-week visit to meet intelligence figures in the United States and Britain. He urged British MPs to follow Australias example in combatting foreign interference and pushing back in the so-called grey zone areas where foreign powers use a range of non-military methods to try to undermine another country. Zelensky said the mayor of the southern port city of Melitopol was kidnapped, equating it to the actions of ISIS terrorists. They have transitioned into a new stage of terror, in which they try to physically liquidate representatives of Ukraines lawful local authorities, Zelensky said in a video address. Kirill Timoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraines presidential office, posted a video that he said shows armed men carrying mayor Ivan Fedorov across a square. Russian forces captured Melitopol, with a population of 150,000, on February 26. The prosecutors office of the Luhansk Peoples Republic, a Moscow-backed rebel region in eastern Ukraine, accused Fedorov on its website of terrorist activities. Russia sweeps through the south, struggles in the north So far, the Russians have made the biggest advances on cities in the east and south including in Mariupol, the heavily bombarded seaport where civilians scrounged for food and fuel amid a harrowing 12-day siege while struggling in the north and around Kyiv. An explosion is seen in an apartment building after Russians army tank fires in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Friday. Credit:Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Mariupols council released a statement saying that at least 1582 civilians had so far been killed during Russias shelling and a 12-day blockade of the city. We will never forget and will never forgive this crime against humanity, the council said. Loading Efforts to isolate Russia economically stepped up, with the United States imposing new sanctions on senior Kremlin officials and Russian oligarchs and the European Union set to strip Russia of its privileged trade status, following the US announcement early on Saturday AEDT, which would add hefty tariffs to luxury goods such as caviar, diamonds and vodka. The free world is coming together to confront [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, US President Joe Biden said. Putin brushed off the sanctions, according to a readout from the Kremlin of a Friday meeting with his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. The Soviet Union did live the entire time under the conditions of sanctions; it developed and achieved colossal successes, he was reported as saying. A strategic turning point With the Russian assault in its third week, Zelensky, who has rallied his people with a series of addresses from Kyiv, said Ukraine had already reached a strategic turning point. This multispectral satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows destroyed homes, impact craters and fires in town of Moschun, Ukraine on Friday, March 11, Ukraine time. Credit:Maxar Technologies It is impossible to say how many days we still have [ahead of us] to free Ukrainian land. But we can say we will do it, he said. We are already moving towards our goal, our victory. Russias main attack force has been stalled on roads north of the capital, having failed in what Western analysts say was an initial plan for a lightning assault. But fresh images released by private US satellite firm Maxar showed Russian forces were edging closer to Kyiv and actively shelling homes, according to the companys analysis. Homes and buildings were on fire and impact craters were seen throughout the town of Moschun, north-west of Kyiv, Maxar said. Kyivs mayor, former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, said the capital had enough essential supplies to last a couple of weeks. Supply lines remained open for now. The governor of the Kharkiv region said a psychiatric hospital had been hit and the mayor of Kharkiv said about 50 schools had been destroyed. The southern port city of Mykolayiv endured heavy bombardment through the night, according to the regional governor, as Ukrainian forces fought back a Russian advance. A cancer hospital was hit but its head doctor Maksim Beznosenko told AP nobody was killed. Separately, the UN human rights office said it had received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions in populated areas in Ukraine, adding that indiscriminate use of such weapons might amount to war crimes. While Moscow denies targeting civilians, Ukrainian government officials were pessimistic about the prospects of evacuating women and children from the port city after repeated attempts had to be abandoned when Russian troops fired shells at those trying to escape. A total of 7144 people were evacuated from four Ukrainian cities on Friday, Ukraine time, Zelensky said, a sharply lower number than managed to leave in each of the two previous days. Mariupol maternity hospital victim gives birth A pregnant woman who was photographed fleeing the maternity hospital in Mariupol in her pyjamas, beauty blogger Mariana Vishegirskaya, has given birth to a girl after surviving a Russian attack on the building. Both mother and child are healthy, but remain trapped in Mariupol. Mariana Vishegirskayas husband Yuri cradles his new daughter as her mother rests after a caesarian delivery. Credit:AP Taken to another hospital, Vishegirskaya and another woman who escaped the bombing have since given birth, their babies delivered to the sound of shellfire. A strike hit their new refuge too. Loading Facing worldwide condemnation, Russian officials made several false claims that the hospital had been taken over by far-right Ukrainian forces to use as a base and emptied of patients and nurses. Nuclear plant warnings The United States also accused Russia of violating nuclear safety principles, saying it was concerned by continued Russian firing on nuclear facilities in Ukraine but added that there were no signs yet of any radiological release. We are monitoring reports of damage to a research facility in Kharkiv. Near-term safety risk is low, but the continued Russian firing on nuclear facilities must cease, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Twitter on Friday. The United States and governments all over the world will work to identify and freeze the assets Russian elites and their family members hold in our respective jurisdictions - their yachts, luxury apartments, money, and other ill-gotten gains, according to the White House in a March 3 statement. Yacht watchers have already witnessed a number of seizures. Italian financial police seized the superyacht Lena and another named Lady M, belonging respectively to Russian oligarchs Gennady Timchenko and Alexei Mordashov, according to the Associated Press. VesselFinder showed both on its maps recently, docked in Italian ports. An Italian police car parked in front of Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashovs yacht Lady M. Credit:AP Late last week, the French Finance Ministry announced on Twitter it had seized a 281-foot-long super yacht worth $US120 million that belonged to Russian oligarch Igor Sechin, the CEO of oil giant Rosneft. Called the Amore Vero, that ships recent locations were not as easy to find on tracking sites. Yachts are often not required by law to share their location, but they do so for safety. However, they can turn off their automated tracking system if they want to sail under the radar. The Russian-owned megayachts have become a clear object that people can focus their anger and attention on, yacht tracking fans say. Theres a symbolic power that the yacht holds in the Wests campaign to rein in the power of Vladimir Putin and his global kleptocracy, said Oliver Houston, a political campaigner and writer from London. Houston has been active on the #YachtWatch trend on Twitter. If the rich owners are losing their prized possessions, they might be incentivised to put pressure on Putin to back out of Ukraine, Houston figures. Loading The practice of tracking billionaires jets is hardly new - hobbyists, reporters and observers have long followed executives and government leaders movements by tracking their private planes. In 2017, a federal investigation probed then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchins trip on a political contributors plane. (It was found to be legal.) And while Amazon searched for a second headquarter city in 2018, journalists tracked where founder Jeff Bezoss jet travelled to try to find clues. (Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Nineteen-year-old college student Jack Sweeney, who gained fame this year for demanding Elon Musk pay him $US50,000 to shut down an account that tracked the billionaires private jet, has turned his attention and massive Twitter following to the oligarchs property. (Musk offered the University of Central Florida student $US5,000, which Sweeney declined.) He runs the @RussiaYachts Twitter account, which has shared some locations of the vessels, along with a list of several superyachts and their billionaire owners. Sweeney also created a Twitter account that shares automated updates of oligarchs jets movements. He started tracking the oligarchs property after getting a flood of messages from people who knew about his flight-tracking prowess. Its a way to make the locations more transparent, even when their owners are trying to fly (or sail) under the radar. They think theyre hidden but theyre not, necessarily, he said. Private jets are less flashy than the megayachts, at least on the outside, but theyre still an object of fascination online. Some are very recognisable. Some have custom paint jobs, said Jon Ostrower, editor-in-chief of the Air Current, a news site reporting on the aerospace industry. [Russian billionaire] Roman Abramovich has an aircraft that hes always maintained called the Bandit, a 767 painted all white except for this black stripe over the cockpit windows. It was sharp. Loading On Twitter, college student Sweeney uses data from ADS-B Exchange, an open-source company that publishes a map of flight movements around the world. Founder Dan Streufert said pretty much any plane flying around the globe has a transponder that broadcasts the planes unique ID and its position, for safety reasons such as avoiding collisions. ADS-B Exchange relies on crowdsourced data - aviation and radio hobbyists have receivers that collect data from the flights transponders, which the company then plots onto a map. The system isnt without its gaps. Areas without participating receivers will show fewer flights, and military planes can turn off their transponders, making some areas - such as Crimea - appear as though they have empty skies. Streufert said he understands peoples fascination with the massive jets. Not many people have their own private fleets, after all. It can help hold not only [the oligarchs] accountable, but also the countries they fly into, because some countries are saying they are going to seize assets, he said. Yachts can sometimes be more difficult to track, especially if they are not near a port. MarineTraffic, a website that publishes data about ships whereabouts, uses a network of receivers on land as well as satellites to track the boats positions no matter where they are. The company has about 6.5 million unique users each month, ranging from hobbyists to shipping and banking industry professionals who use the data to keep track of assets, said the companys media and communications leader, Georgios Hatzimanolis. Since the invasion in Ukraine began, MarineTraffic has seen a huge spike in interest, he said, a level not seen since a massive ship got stuck in the Suez Canal one year ago. The much-memed plight of the stuck containership Ever Given was monitored on marine tracking sites like MarineTraffic and VesselFinder, where it was often represented by a giant rectangle wedged diagonally in the Suez Canal. Loading People are also monitoring villas and other lavish properties that belong to Russias elite, looking up online listings and satellite images as well as searching public property records while waiting to see if they are seized by local governments. Still, the yacht is a particularly powerful symbol - not only of their power, but also of our power to be sure that we are hitting them where it hurts, #YachtWatch user Houston said. Washington Post President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol attends a ceremony to disband his presidential election team at the National Assembly Library in Seoul, March 10. AP-Yonhap North Korea's state media reported Friday that conservative opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was elected as South Korea's president in the first coverage of the news by Pyongyang since the election. "Yoon Suk-yeol, a candidate of the conservative opposition 'People Power Party,' won by a narrow margin in the 20th 'presidential election' held in South Korea on March 9," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a one paragraph report. Yoon was elected president earlier Thursday with the smallest-ever 0.73 percentage-point gap over liberal Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung. (Yonhap) Singapore-based company Cialfo co-founded by a 32-year-old Indian, Rohan Pasari said it has secured a further $20 million in funding as part of a Series B extension, led by US-based investment firm Tiger Global. The follows Januarys announcement of a $40 million round co-led by global investment firm Square Peg and Australian-headquartered SEEK Investments, taking the round size to $60 million. This brings the total raised to date to $77 million, including the initial $15 million in Series A funding in February 2021. Cialfo said it is a digital transformation leader in higher education committed to increasing access for millions of students worldwide. This latest funding will help the company to achieve this mission by increasing its investment in strategic markets like India, including special scholarships for students. A $20 million target was initially set for the Series B round, and the team managed to triple this figure as demand for international student mobility and virtual college recruitment soared during the pandemic. "Our full focus remains on evolving in a way that positively impacts our students, schools, and ultimately, society, with speed and at scale," said Cialfo CEO and Co-Founder, Rohan Pasari. "This funding will help us to do just that. It naturally also will allow us to invest in continuous product development so we can deliver even more personalized and practical support to our community of students, counselors and universities. Importantly, growing our operations in critical markets." Cialfo began its India operations in 2019 and has already enrolled over 300 high schools and 60 universities from the country as members. More than 56,000 Indian high school students are utilizing its platform every year to secure undergraduate college admissions. The company said it is a market leader in the segment, with over 60 per cent of all Indian high schools that use a college-application platform being Cialfo customers. A short-term surge in spending, brought on by Covid-19, is expected to recalibrate to a longer-term integration of digital technologies by schools from K12 to universities, and to drive higher adoption rates of hybrid education experiences in the years ahead. According to Research and Markets, the global education technology sector is experiencing a digital transformation with a predicted growth of up to 130 per cent by 2027 which is expected to benefit people across a wide range of socio-economic and geographic backgrounds. Among the first movers in virtual student engagement, and a specialist in Asian markets, Cialfo said it is well-positioned to capture this opportunity. Its platform currently connects over 270,000 high school students, their counselors, and families with over 1,000 colleges in 50 countries. The firm said it had achieved trusted partner status with globally recognized universities such as Imperial College London in the UK, The University of Chicago in the United States, and IE University in Spain. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently visited the country's satellite test site on the country's west coast, according to Pyongyang's state media, March 11. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the country's satellite test site on the west coast and called for its modernization, Pyongyang's state media said Friday. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced his visit to the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, as Seoul and Washington jointly concluded Pyongyang's recent purported "reconnaissance satellite" development tests were those of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. Kim's inspection came amid concerns that the North could engage in further provocative acts namely an ICBM test under the disguise of a satellite launch following its veiled threat in January to lift its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and ICBM tests. "He learned about and evaluated the present state of the ground, and advanced the task to modernize it on an expansion basis so that various rockets could be launched to carry multi-purpose satellites, including a military reconnaissance satellite, in the future," the KCNA reported in an English-language news article. India and China on Friday held another round of high-level military dialogue to resolve the 22-month-long standoff in certain remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, two months after the last round of such talks failed to yield any significant outcome in resolving the row. The 15th round of Corps-Commander level talks began at around 10 am at the Chushul-Moldo border point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the dialogue said. It is learnt that India pressed for early disengagement of troops in remaining friction points including resolution of pending issues in Depsang Bulge and Demchok. The main focus of the talks was the completion of the stalled disengagement process in the Hot Springs (Patrolling Point-15) areas, the people cited above said. The Indian delegation at the talks is being led by Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps. The 14th round of talks had taken place on January 12 and it did not result in any significant headway in resolving the row in remaining friction points. "The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest," a joint statement issued after the 14th round of talks said. The Chinese delegation at the talks was to be headed by Maj Gen Yang Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang Military District. It is learnt that the talks continued till evening. The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector. (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.) Indian students, who were stuck in beleaguered Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, said it was a miracle to survive the war and they were now relieved to have finally reached Delhi on Friday morning. Dheeraj Kumar, a sixth year medical student in Sumy State University, said he was pleased to see his parents at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here. We have gone through unprecedented challenges in Sumy. It was a terrible experience to survive the war for 13 days. To me, it looks like a miracle to have returned alive to my country, Kumar told PTI as he touched the feet of his parents, who had arrived from Himachal Pradesh's Chamba to receive their son. Kumar also thanked the Indian government and the embassies in and Poland for helping in their evacuation and safe return to India. Our government supported us a lot. They did everything to bring us back. I am relieved to be back here, Kumar said. Covering hundreds of miles across using multiple means of transport, the students were evacuated from the war-hit east European country after their two weeks of excruciating stay in beleaguered Sumy. After having endured a strenuous journey to escape the war-hit region, they were evacuated in the second attempt from Sumy, which has been witnessing a heavy shelling and intense gunfire ever since the Russian offensive on began last month. Another medical student in Sumy, Mahima Rathi, a native of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, said they had to run to the bunkers every time the sirens blew. Whenever the siren blew, we had to take shelter in bunkers. We were all very terrified as we never knew whether we will be able to survive and return safely. We are now at ease after returning to India, Rathi said. An Air India flight from Poland's Rzeszow, carrying 240 students evacuated from Sumy, landed in Delhi on Friday morning. The aircraft took off from Rzeszow around 11.30 pm (IST) on Thursday and landed in Delhi at 5.45 am on Friday, officials said. India has sent three flights to Poland to bring back a big last group of 600 students evacuated from Sumy. Another aircraft is expected to land in Delhi around 8.40 am, officials said. The Indian government is carrying out a challenging evacuation exercise under Operation Ganga to help stranded Indians leave Ukraine. The operation to evacuate the 600 students from Sumy began on Tuesday morning. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh reached 10,40,563 on Friday after the detection of 81 cases, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,733, a health department official said. According to the official, the positivity rate reduced to 0.1 per cent from 0.2 per cent on Thursday. The recovery count stood at 10,29,080 after 179 people were discharged during the day, leaving the state with an active tally of 750, he added. Bhopal and Indore, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 10 and 14 cases, respectively, in the past 24 hours, he said. With 48,097 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,83,99,160, the official added. A government release said 11,42,46,021 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 37,178 on Friday. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,40,563, new cases 81, death toll 10,733, recoveries 10,29,080, active cases 750, number of tests so far 2,83,99,160. (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 cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 179.89 crore on Friday, the Union said. More than 16 lakh (16,14,169) vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm. The ministry also said that over 2.11 crore (2,11,43,851) precaution doses for the identified categories of beneficiaries -- healthcare workers, frontline workers and those over 60 years -- for vaccination have been administered so far. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, it said. Cumulatively, 55,31,72,096 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to individuals in the 18-44 age group and 45,41,16,901 second doses have been given in the same age group since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive, according to ministry data. It said that in total, 96,68,47,920 first doses have been administered and 81,09,55,531 second doses have been given. India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed 179.89 crore (179,89,47,302) today, the ministry said. In the 15-18 age group, 5,57,89,422 first doses and 3,32,98,378 second doses have been administered. More than 2,11,43,851 precaution doses have been administered to the identified categories of beneficiaries. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2 last year. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1 last year. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be inoculated from May 1 last year. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from January 3 for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years. India began administering precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers, frontline workers including personnel deployed for election duty and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10 amid the country witnessing a spike in coronavirus infections fuelled by its Omicron variant. (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 Friday summoned India's Charge d'Affaires here and conveyed its strong protest over the alleged unprovoked violation of its airspace by an Indian missile and sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident that could have resulted in a serious aviation accident. The Indian diplomat who was summoned to the Foreign Office was told about the alleged violation of its airspace by an Indian-origin super-sonic flying object which entered into from Suratgarh in India at 6:43 PM (local time) on March 9, the Foreign Office said in a statement. The object later fell on the ground near Mian Chunnu city in Pakistan's Punjab province at around 6:50 PM on the same day, causing damage to civilian property. In New Delhi, India's on Friday said a technical malfunction in the course of a routine maintenance led to the accidental firing of a missile on March 9. The ministry said the missile landed in an area of and noted that the "incident is deeply regrettable". The said the Government of India has taken a serious view of the incident and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry into it. In Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also voiced concern over the incident. In a statement, Qureshi alleged that India had endangered innocent lives by violating Pakistan's airspace as flights of Saudi and Qatar airlines, as well as domestic flights, could have been hit. He said Pakistan would decide its next step after receiving India's explanation, adding that envoys of P-5 countries (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) will be called to the Foreign Office and briefed about the incident. "India will have to be answerable for this," he said. Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia, who addressed a press conference on Thursday, said that at the time the projectile was picked up by the Pakistani military, there were two active airway routes and several commercial airlines were in the area. "If you look at the speed and height of the projectile, it was 40,000 feet high, and the airlines were between 35,000 to 42,000 feet. This could have been very detrimental to the safety of passengers." The projectile travelled 124 kilometres inside Pakistani territory in three minutes and 44 seconds, he added. The FO also said the flight path of the flying object endangered several domestic/international flights within the Pakistani airspace and could have resulted in a serious aviation accident as well as civilian casualties, it said. The Indian Cd'A was told to convey to the Government of India Pakistan's strong condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistani airspace in contravention of the established international norms and aviation safety protocols, the FO said. Pakistan also asked India for a thorough and transparent investigation of the incident, the outcome of which must be shared with it. Moreover, the Government of India is cautioned to be mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence and take effective measures to avoid the recurrence of such violations in future, said the FO. Separately, spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar said that on March 9, a hi-speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by the Air Defence Operations Center of the Pakistan Air Force. Pakistan strongly protests this flagrant violation and cautions against recurrence of any such incident in future, he said. Pakistan Air Force continuously monitored the complete flight path of the flying object from its point of origin Sirsa in India till its point of impact near Mian Channu and initiated requisite tactical actions in accordance with standard operating procedures, he said. Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship. The relationship deteriorated further after India announced withdrawing the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August, 2019. India's move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad. It also snapped all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services. India has said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a two-day visit to Gujarat, met his nonagenarian mother Hiraba on Friday night. Modi visited his younger brother Pankaj Modi's house in Vrindavan society in Raysan area on the outskirts of Gandhinagar after completing his engagements for the day. Modi's mother lives with his younger brother. The prime minister reached there around 9 pm, had dinner with her and took her blessings, a release said. The party also released a photo of Modi having dinner with Hiraba. The prime minister always makes it a point to visit his mother whenever he comes to Ahmedabad. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Friday appointed its ex-judge AK Sikri as chairperson of the High Powered Committee (HPC), which would consider the cumulative and independent impact of the Chardham project on the entire Himalayan valley. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant accepted the resignation of Professor Ravi Chopra as chairperson of the committee after he wrote a letter in January wishing to relinquish his post. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre said that since Justice (retd) Sikri has already been appointed by this court as chairperson of the oversight committee to look after environmental concerns and other issues related to the Chardham project, it would be better if he is appointed as Chairperson. The bench agreed to the suggestion and appointed Justice (retd) Sikri. Chopra was appointed as chairperson of the HPC by the top court on August 8, 2019. On December 14, last year, the top court had allowed double lane widening of the strategic project in Uttarakhand, observing that the country's security concerns may change over time and the recent past has thrown serious national security challenges. The court in the exercise of judicial review cannot second guess the infrastructural needs of the armed forces," the top court had said while setting up an oversight committee headed by Justice (retd) Sikri to report to it directly on the ambitious 900-km project, which goes up to the border with China. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming at the People Power Party headquarters in Seoul, March 11. Yonhap President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday he is certain South Korea-China relations will develop further during a meeting with Beijing's top envoy to Seoul. Yoon made the remark in the meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming two days after his election, noting China is South Korea's largest trading partner and South Korea is China's third-largest. "I'm certain South Korea-China relations will develop further," he said at the People Power Party headquarters, recalling this year marks 30 years since the two countries' establishment of diplomatic ties. "The establishment of diplomatic relations was of great help to our two countries' people in many ways. It also helped economic development." In a congratulatory message read by Xing, Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned the importance of the anniversary and called South Korea a "close neighbor and important cooperation partner." "Together with the South Korean side, the Chinese side is willing to firmly defend the original intentions of our establishment of diplomatic ties and deepen our friendly cooperation to promote the stable and long-term development of the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership relationship and bring welfare to the two nations and our peoples," Xi said. The ambassador added he has served as a diplomat four times in South Korea and twice in North Korea, making him "inseparable" from the South. "I am willing to work with good intentions," he said. Yoon was elected on a platform of deepening South Korea's alliance with the United States and "retooling" ties with China. During the presidential campaign, he said "most South Koreans, especially young people, do not like China" despite the outgoing Moon Jae-in administration's pro-China policies. "Chinese people don't like our people very much, either," he said at the time. (Yonhap) The on Friday turned down the bail applications filed by Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. Justice Manoj Ohri pronounced the order after hearing the submissions by Michel's counsel Aljo K. Joseph, CBI's counsel D.P. Singh and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju for the ED. A detailed order copy is expected to be made available later in the day. Michel, a British citizen, was extradited to India on December 5, 2018 from the UAE. On his arrival in India, he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and days later, arrested by the financial probe agency, the Enforcement Directorate. Since then, he has been lodged in judicial custody at Tihar Jail. Various courts have rejected the bail petition of Michel in a number of occasions. Michel had recently sought bail in connection with the cases registered against him by the CBI and the ED on the grounds that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concluded his detention was arbitrary. In his petition, James had argued that his extradition from the UAE to India was a quid pro quo for Indian authorities sending back Dubai's Princess Latifa. On September 19, 2020 the CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet against 15 accused, including Michel and accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena, in connection with the alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The CBI had earlier filed a charge sheet in this case on September 1, 2017 against then IAF chief S.P. Tyagi and 11 other accused. On January 1, 2014, India cancelled the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and on charges of paying kickbacks amounting to Rs 423 crore. --IANS jw/dpb (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.) Stressing that has not criticised India's position on Ukraine, the German Ambassador to India, Walter J. Lindner told IANS that the German government has not put any pressure on India or any other country to take sides on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. "Every country has the right to decide its position," he added. He however stressed that no country has the right to invade a neighbouring one with a massive army, impose its will, change borders and cause death and destruction. "The world cannot be expected to take it lying down," he said. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Lindner asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spun a false narrative and used it as an excuse to invade . "The question of NATO membership for was not even on the table. By the way, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, most East European countries wanted to join the European Union and NATO out of their free will. It is not that NATO was forcing them to. Putin cannot mould history as per his will and expect no repercussions by invading a sovereign country in this day and age. Also, attacking another country cannot be a way to solve a border dispute." Optimistic that the harsh sanctions imposed on were bound to affect it deeply, the ambassador said that considering is the powerhouse in Europe and a major Russian energy consumer, its participation gives the sanctions more teeth. "We decreased our dependence on Russian oil and gas several years back when Putin annexed Crimea. Now, Nord Stream 2 has been stopped and by the end of the year, energy imports from there will be further decreased. Yes, this would mean looking at alternate sources and also investing more in renewable sources of energy." Considering the fact that has been decommissioning nuclear plants at a rapid pace after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan (2011), the ambassador said that the same had to be done in order to ensure that such a disaster did not take place in Germany. "As I said before, we would be focussing on renewable energy and other sources for our energy needs." Talk to him about the refugee crisis and the willingness of many countries to take in fleeing Europeans, much unlike Syrian refugees, and he pointed out, "For most European countries, this is a war happening very close. Also, let us not forget that Germany took in a huge number of refugees from Syria." --IANS sukant/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance Minister on Friday invited Canadian pension funds to invest in the National Monetization Pipeline and National Infrastructure Pipeline. The finance minister exchanged views on cooperation for promoting bilateral investment and trade during a meeting with Mary Ng, Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export, Small Business & Economic Development. "FM @nsitharaman complimented Canada for housing some of the largest and most successful pension funds globally and welcomed the investments from Canada into India, including in National Monetization Pipeline #NMP and National Infrastructure Pipeline #NIP," the said in a tweet. (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 nearly 10-month wait, the post of chairman of Indias insurance regulator has been filled. The government has appointed Debasish Panda, former secretary, Department of Financial Services, to the top position of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) for three years. After S C Khuntia demitted the chairmans office in May 2021, the insurance regulator functioned without a chief. Part of this period coincided with the devastating second wave of the Covid pandemic, which resulted in a flurry of claims for both life and non-life insurers. Also, the initial public offering of insurance behemoth LIC was given the go-ahead by the regulator sans a chairman at the top. The insurance industry has come out relatively unscathed from Covid, according to industry experts. And, with the pandemic giving a huge boost to awareness around insurance, it is, arguably, an inflection point for Indias insurance sector, they believe. India remains one of the most underpenetrated markets for insurance globally. Amid all this, the new chairmans task is cut out. Experts are of the opinion that Pandas priority would be to chart out a long-term roadmap through which Indias insurance penetration can be improved substantially. Twenty years after Indias insurance sector was opened up, unshackling the control of state-owned companies, as many as 50 private players have set up shop. But Indias insurance penetration needle has moved little. The overall insurance penetration has increased from 2.71 per cent in 2001-02 to just 4.20 per cent as of 2020-21. Life insurance penetration has increased from 2.15 per cent to 3.2 per cent during the period, while non-life insurance penetration has moved up by just 44 basis points to stand at 1 per cent as of 2020-21. The general insurance penetration is very low. I think creating awareness and ensuring that people are well protected should be the biggest focus area. India needs protection through insurance for the organised uplift of the country, said Rakesh Jain, CEO, Reliance General Insurance. Insurance penetration levels in India remain low and, in the post-pandemic world, there is a need for to pivot its attention to development versus regulation, according to Sandeep Ghosh, former financial services consulting leader at EY. Besides shallow penetration, the insurance industry has been complaining about the high GST rate (18 per cent) for premia. While there have been several calls from the industry to the government for a relook at GST on premia, there has not been much development at this front. Further, there is a need for a regulator for hospitals, according to general insurers. They allege that hospitals have increased their rates exorbitantly since the pandemic, forcing insurers to foot exorbitant bills. Recently, T L Alamelu, member-non-life, Irdai, raised the issue and said in the absence of any regulator for hospitals, the insurance regulator may be asked to perform the role. There is an urgent requirement for a regulator of hospitals, in the absence of which health costs are shooting up recklessly. This, in turn, is going to make insurance very expensive, Jain said. Also, the failing health of the three public sector general insurance companies requires urgent attention, industry experts said. The three PSU general insurance companies are bleeding. Fresh capital infusion is required, said Nilesh Sathe, former member, . There is also a need to engage with the industry regularly to understand its pain points. Now since Covid is under control, the new chairman should personally meet industry leaders and take their suggestions to take the insurance industry to a higher level, Sathe said. Also, there have been calls from life insurers that the premia charged for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana should be looked at. The rates need to be increased because insurance companies are bleeding, said a private life insurance executive. India and Canada are set to resume negotiations to finalise a trade pact to strengthen economic ties between both countries. Towards this, an interim trade deal will be finalised, which will be followed by a full-fledged agreement (FTA) or a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). India and Canada have been negotiating since 2010, with the latest round of negotiations held in August, 2017. An interim or an early progress trade agreement (EPTA) will include discussions on goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary, and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and dispute settlement. Canada and India agreed to promote and protect bilateral investment, including through the intensification of negotiations toward a bilateral investment Agreement, while considering options to achieve this goal alongside CEPA, a joint statement released by both countries said on Friday. The announcement comes in the backdrop of the fifth ministerial dialogue on trade and investment (MDTI) that was chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Mary Ng, Canadian minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, is the co-chair of MDTI. The two nations have decided to strengthen trade and commercial ties through enhanced partnerships and cooperation in identified areas such as agro-products, chemicals, footwear, textiles, automobiles, energy, electronics, minerals and metals, urban development, information technology, and tourism. They will also enhance cooperation in sectors, such as pharmaceuticals and critical and rare earth minerals as well as in areas like tourism, urban infrastructure, renewable energy and mining. Both countries agreed to undertake intensified work with respect to the recognition of Canadas systems approach to pest risk management in pulses and market access for Indian agriculture goods such as sweet corn, baby corn and banana, among others. Canada expressed interest in market access for cherries and agreed to expedite facilitating Indian organic export products in Canada. The ministers highlighted the existing trade complementarities between India and Canada and emphasised that the trade agreement would help in expanding bilateral trade in goods and services through unlocking the potential across sectors, an official statement said. They also noted the role of strong people-to-people ties between the two countries, including movement of professionals and skilled workers, students, and business travellers, in strengthening the bilateral economic partnership, the statement said. Total bilateral trade between the two countries, including goods and services, crossed $11 billion. During April 2021-January 2022, Indian exports to Canada increased to $3 billion, up almost by a fourth as compared to a year ago. Major Indian exports to Canada include drugs and pharmaceutical products, iron & steel products, marine products, cotton fabrics & readymade garments and chemicals, while key Canadian exports to India comprise pulses, fertilisers, coal, and crude petroleum, etc. Looking to tap the potential of the information technology sector in the post-COVID era, Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Friday proposed to set up a new IT park, four IT corridors and 20 satellite IT hubs in the southern state while presenting the for 2022-23. The new IT park would be set up in Kannur district and the international airport there is expected to accelerate the growth of the sector in the northern district, he said. The proposed IT Corridors would be set up parallel to the National Highway-66, which is being expanded to four lanes, and they would begin from the existing IT parks including Technopark, the pioneer IT hub in the state capital here, the minister explained. A total of Rs 100 crore was set aside through Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB) for the expansion of the IT parks and Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for land acquisition in the sector, Balagopal added. In the first complete of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government, the minister also set aside Rs 2,000 crore to regulate the increasing price hike in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the possible hike in the price of petroleum products. Besides, Rs 100 crore has been allocated for setting up a medical tech innovation hub in the state capital, Rs 200 crore earmarked for the development of universities, and Rs 300 crore budgeted for skill parks. (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 Kerala Government on Friday said it would provide necessary assistance to the state students repatriated from war-torn Ukraine to recover their lost certificates and valuables and continue their studies. Special efforts would be taken under the leadership of NORKA, the state government's Non-Resident Keralite welfare agency, to coordinate these activities and an amount of Rs 10 crore is being earmarked for this purpose, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said while presenting the Budget for 2022-23. "Those who have lost certificates and other valuable documents should be able to recover them and continue their studies. The state government will provide necessary assistance," he said. Special intervention by the central government is required to facilitate the resumption of studies of students returning home due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he added. As many as 3,123 people have been safely brought to the home state using various flights, including 15 chartered flights, the minister said adding that the data bank of Malayalee students studying abroad would be prepared by NORKA department soon. Meanwhile, the maiden complete budget of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government also proposed to set up a Centre for Latin American Studies in the University of Kerala because of the "great influence" of that country on the socio-political, cultural and agricultural spheres of the southern state. "Latin American crops have been cultivated here since the arrival of Portuguese in Kerala. Due to geographical similarities, crops and farming are also suitable for Kerala. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate plans that will utilise the potential of Kerala and Latin America," Balagopal explained. Such comparative studies and research would be encouraged under the guidance of the new centre and the relationship with Latin America needs to be strengthened through projects, including student exchange programme. "An amount of Rs 2 crore is earmarked in the budget for the study, research and follow up projects of the Latin American Centre," the minister added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The announcements made by the Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh governments for restoring old in their respective states have kindled the hopes of the government employees in . The Himachal Pradesh Government has also taken steps to constitute a committee to set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for restoring the old pension scheme. P. Fredric Engels, state Coordinator of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) abolishing movement told IANS: "The new pension scheme is totally against the interest of the government employees. By reviving the old pension scheme, the government will not lose anything." He said that in Tamil Nadu, some beneficial provisions in the CPS were not implemented. "The CPS in does not offer gratuity on superannuation, and if a government employee dies while in service, the family pension is not granted under the new pension scheme," he further said. G. Venkatesan, leader of the movement against CPS told IANS: "As the government has not signed an agreement with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA- a regulatory body under the Union government), it would be easy to revive the old pension scheme." He said that Rajasthan even after signing an agreement with PFRDA has revived the old pension scheme and hence Tamil Nadu will not face any problems reviving the old pension scheme. It is to be noted that according to a policy note of the Finance Department for 2021-2022, more than 5.88 lakh employees recruited in Tamil Nadu on or after April 1, 2003, are enrolled under the CPS known as the New Pension Scheme. --IANS aal/svn (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.) RBI bars from acquiring customers, calls for IT audit The (RBI) has barred from onboarding new customers with immediate effect due to certain supervisory concerns. The banking regulator said the bank has been directed to appoint an IT audit firm to conduct a comprehensive System Audit of its IT system. Read more here Govt appoints ex-financial services secretary Debasish Panda as chief The government on Friday appointed former financial services secretary Debasish Panda as chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Panda's appointment as chairperson of the insurance regulator initially for a period of three years from the assumption of charge, sources said. Read more here AAP's to take oath as Punjab Chief Minister on Wednesday will take oath as the chief minister of Punjab on March 16 at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of iconic freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, party sources said on Friday after he met the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. On March 13, the party will take out a roadshow in Amritsar. Both the events will be attended by Kejriwal, the sources said. Read more here Putin says Russia to welcome volunteers from Middle East to fight Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light on Friday to bring in thousands of fighters from the Middle East to fight against Ukraine. At a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said there were 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East who were ready to come to fight with Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. Read more here Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi / AP-Yonhap Japan's top diplomat said Friday that his government will hold discussions with the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration on Tokyo's push to designate a former gold mine linked with wartime atrocities as a World Heritage Site next year. Tokyo has been staging the diplomatically controversial campaign despite strong protests from Seoul. As many as 2,000 Koreans were forced into hard labor at the mine before and during World War II when their country was under Japan's brutal colonial rule. "(We) will have discussions with related countries, including South Korea, in a cool-headed and courteous manner so that the great value of the Sado Mine as a cultural heritage can be evaluated by UNESCO," Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press briefing in response to a question on whether the upcoming change of government in South Korea would have an impact on Tokyo's efforts. Yoon was elected earlier this week, and he is slated to take office in May. The Japanese government submitted a letter of recommendation for the Sado Mine to UNESCO, Feb. 1, in which the history of forced labor there was excluded. (Yonhap) Five women were elected to the 60-member Assembly in the 2022 polls, the highest-ever in the electoral history of the state, where 10,57,336 women voters (52 per cent) outnumbered the male electorate of 9,90,833. S.S Olish (Chandel), former Minister Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi), Sagolshem Kebi Devi (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa), all BJP, and Irengbam Nalini Devi (Oinam seat) and Pukhrambam Sumati Devi of National People's Party (NPP) won their seats, defeating their male rivals. Firebrand women leader and JD-U candidate Thounaojam Brinda, who was the Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), also contested the elections from the Yaiskul constituency but came third, bagging 4,574 votes (18.93 per cent). In all, 17 women candidates, or 6.42 per cent of the total 265 contenders, from various parties, were in this fray - again the highest. They included four from the Congress, three each from the ruling BJP and NPP, two of the Nationalist Congress Party, one each from the Communist Party of India, Janata Dal-United and a local party and two are independent aspirants. In 2017 Assembly polls, 11 women candidates had contested but only two had won, down from three in the 2012 elections. In 2017, firebrand rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu drew the attention of every one when she contested the polls on behalf of the People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance party breaking her 16 year-long fast against the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, but lost. has had less than 10 women legislators and just one women MP - Kim Gangte in the 12th Lok Sabha - since 1972 when it became a full-fledged state. It was only in 1990 that the state saw its first woman legislator, Hangmila Shaiza (wife of Yangmasho Shaiza, the fourth Chief Minister of Manipur) from Ukhrul Assembly constituency. Various organisations, researchers, and political analysts said that political parties and leaders are always talking about the significant role of women in the Manipuri society but they nominate a negligible number of women in the elections, especially in the parliamentary and . Imphal-based writer and political commentator Iboyaima Laithangbam said: "Unless women become a part of the policy making bodies, their actual empowerment is not possible. By allowing fewer numbers of women to contest the elections, the political parties are depriving the women from the equal rights' terms." "In the economy, women are playing a very crucial role. Since the British period, the unique 'Ima Keithel' has become a symbol of women's empowerment and independence. Ima Keithel is not only a simple marketplace or trading centre, but these are apex hubs for campaigns on various societal issues and institutions against anti-social activities," Laithangbam told IANS. The century old and world's largest all-women run market 'Ima Keithal' or the 'Mother's Market', located in Imphal and other smaller all-women markets functioning in different parts of the northeastern state boost the local economy to a large extent and are a source of livelihood for thousands of women. Political analyst and retired Associate Professor of Manipur University, Dr Chinglen Maisnam, said that women are always being treated as non-entities in the Manipuri society and the men dominate all aspects including governance. "Muscle power and money power dominated Manipur politics leading to the insignificant women's participation in the state politics and electoral fray. Gender bias is very strong in the mindset of most leaders of the political parties," Maisnam told IANS. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Members of "Women in Korea" (WIR), a female leadership group of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pose for a photo during an event celebrating International Women's Day under the theme of "Break the Bias" at the residence of the German Ambassador to Korea in Seoul, March 8. Nine WIR group female executive mentors and mentees from companies received certificates of appreciation in recognition for their commitment to the WIR mentorship program and their inspiring and encouraging effect on women in Korea. Courtesy of KGCCI As the world mark International Women's Day this week, UN High Commissioner for Michelle Bachelet has underlined the need to empower women in Afghanistan, saying that they are "not passive bystanders" and should contribute to the future of their country. Delivering a statement on Women's Rights in Afghanistan, Bachelet said women of this country are often portrayed in the international fora and media as victims. "In fact, Afghan women have - in the face of war, extreme poverty and unspeakable violence and discrimination - been working tirelessly to protect and provide for their families and communities," she said. The UN rights chief stated how Afghan women have been attacked for speaking up, and excluded from positions of power and decision-making. "They are not passive bystanders." For this to find peace and progress, Bachelet argued that Afghan women should be active agents for change and be given the space to lead peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development processes. "Girls should be able to go to school and university and be empowered to contribute robustly to the future of their country. Women should be visibly represented in the police force, in courts of law, in government and in the private sector - indeed in every sphere of civic and public life," she said. Condemning all forms of violence against women, she said they have the equal right to demonstrate peacefully without fear of reprisal. Taliban rule has had a devastating impact on Afghan women and girls, according to several media reports. Since taking control in August last year, the Taliban have imposed rights-violating policies that have created huge barriers to women's and girls' health and education, curtailed freedom of movement, and deprived many of earned income. On Tuesday, the UN in expressed solidarity with Afghan women and girls as they face the consequences of multiple crises, combined with entrenched gender inequality and discrimination. The UN Mission in a statement said that women in are disproportionately impacted by a legacy of conflict, in addition to drought and the collapsing economy, which has plunged millions in Afghanistan into debt and humanitarian need. "What we are witnessing today in Afghanistan is a crisis of catastrophic proportions. Everyone in the country is affected by the current crises, but the situation for women and girls is particularly concerning as their rights and access to opportunities have become increasingly challenged," said Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General's Special Representative (SRSG) for Afghanistan. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is experiencing its most significant Covid-19 outbreak since the early days of the pandemic, igniting a flurry of new restrictions and mitigation measures as the countrys zero-tolerance approach to the virus is challenged like never before. Domestic infections topped 1,000 for the first time since the peak of the original Wuhan outbreak on Friday, a tally that has ballooned from just over 300 cases a day in less than a week. The country responded by locking down a city of 9 million people in the northeast and ordering the construction of makeshift hospitals there and in the eastern port city of Qingdao. An outbreak of the omicron variant in saw schools in there shuttered again, while officials are said to be looking at diverting all flights away from the financial center to ease pressure on quarantine hotels. isolates all virus cases, including those in the community, as part of its Covid Zero policy. In a move that may signal Beijing is expecting a further spike in cases, authorities said they would allow the use of rapid antigen tests for the first time late Friday. While used widely in other parts of the world, rapid tests were previously restricted in . The Covid Zero strategy has helped keep the second-largest economy largely virus-free for much of the pandemic. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to step down this year (PTI) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is at the helm of managing the country's economy for a decade, said that he will be stepping down this year, setting in motion the once-in-a-decade sweeping leadership change in the Communist country. Barring President Xi Jinping, who has emerged as the most powerful Chinese leader after the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) founder Mao Zedong, the rest of the leadership of the party and the government is expected to undergo a change. This is my last year as a Premier, Li, 66, the second ranking leader of the CPC after Xi, said in a matter of fact voice while answering a question on the economy. At the end of his last press conference, Li left with a wave and a simple thank you, everybody without leaving any farewell message. Pakistan inducts Chinese J-10C fighter jets into PAF (PTI) Pakistan on Friday formally inducted the multirole J-10C fighter jets, acquired from its all-weather ally China, into its air force to improve the country's combat capabilities. Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed a ceremony held at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Minhas Kamra in Attock district of Punjab to induct the new jets. Unfortunately, efforts are being made to create an imbalance in the region and to address this, a big addition has been made today to our defence system, he said, apparently referring to India's acquisition of Rafale fighter jets from France. Khan described it as a big movement for Pakistan after about 40 years when F-16 provided by the US were inducted into the PAF. Didi to put HK listing on hold on cyber probe (Reuters) Didi Global has suspended preparations for its planned Hong Kong listing after failing to appease Chinese regulators demands that it overhaul its systems for handling sensitive user data, said people in the know. The Cyberspace Administration of China informed Didi executives their proposals to prevent security and data leaks had fallen short, the people said. Its main apps, removed from local app stores last year, will remain suspended for the time being, said one of the people. The company and its bankers have halted work on the Hong Kong listing by way of introduction originally slated for around the summer of this year, the people said. In addition to dealing with the CAC review, Didi is also working to finalise its fourth-quarter results as required for a listing prospectus, they said. Under the new emergency Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) programme, on Friday (Local Time) disbursed EUR 300 million, the first payment of a EUR 1.2 billion package to support war-torn . This is the initial part of the first EUR 600 million instalments under Ukraine's new EUR 1.2 billion emergency MFA programme. A further disbursement of EUR 300 million is expected to take place next week. The programme represents a concrete demonstration of the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine, the statement read. "The disbursement of funds has been fast-tracked to help enhance Ukraine's macroeconomic stability in the context of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion," said the EU statement. The disbursement comes following a swift adoption of the Commission's proposal for a new emergency programme by the Council and the European Parliament. The remaining funds (EUR 600 million) will be disbursed later in the year, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the EU and . In parallel to implementing the emergency MFA programme, the Commission is preparing an additional MFA programme to further support in the longer term, as announced by President von der Leyen at the end of January. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said that the war by Russian President Vladimir Putin war is exerting "brutal military and economic pressure on the brave people of Ukraine." Taking to Twitter she wrote, "Europe stands firmly by their side. Today we disbursed EUR 300 million in emergency Macro-Financial Assistance to Ukraine. This is the 1st payment of a EUR 1.2 billion package. So more will come." On February 24, launched a special operation in Ukraine in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics to defend themselves against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. (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 Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has succeeded in establishing a direct dialogue on nuclear security between Russia and Ukraine at a high level, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Thursday. On Thursday, Grossi held meetings with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine, as well as delegations from both countries in Antalya, Turkey. "My first goal was to establish a direct dialogue at a very high level. That is very important to pass the key messages of the action and what is being proposed. And this was achieved. We had good meetings, not easy ones, but serious meetings talking into the substance of the issues we would like to do... Both sides agree that this initiative of ours is worth perusing and something needs to be done and they are both ready to work and to engage to the IAEA to materialize this in some agreed format," Grossi said after returning to Vienna from Antalya. When asked about whether or not he had secured guarantees that both sides would abstain from using weapons at or near nuclear facilities, he answered negatively, explaining that they did not discuss what would be included in the agreed framework. "We are presenting some ideas, we are going to be discussing and there is a high probability of a meeting very soon," Grossi added. Ukraine informed the IAEA on Wednesday that the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant had been disconnected from the electricity grid. However, it would not have a critical impact on safety at the site as the cooling of spent nuclear fuel is still maintained thanks to reserve diesel generators. According to the agency, eight of Ukraine's 15 reactors are still operating despite the ongoing hostilities and some of them are falling under the control of the Russian forces. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the left photo, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by phone at the People Power Party headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Right is Japanese Prime Minister Kishida during a press conference in Tokyo, March 4. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) was immersed in a flurry of diplomatic activity with the United States, China and Japan on his second day after winning the presidential election. He had a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, followed by courtesy visits from the Chinese ambassador to Korea and charge d'affaires at the United States Embassy in Seoul, Friday. According to Kim Eun-hye, a spokesperson for Yoon, the President-elect had a phone conversation with Kishida for about 15 minutes on Friday morning. After sending condolences to the 11th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Yoon proposed to improve and strengthen bilateral ties as well as the trilateral relations between Korea, Japan and the U.S. "Korea and Japan have many challenges to cooperate in the future such as security issues in Northeast Asia and economic prosperity, so we should work together to promote friendly cooperation between the two countries," Yoon was quoted as saying during the call with Kishida. Yoon and Kishida also exchanged ideas about North Korean issues including missile provocations, denuclearization and the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea. Kishida expressed hope that under Yoon's leadership, Korea-Japan ties can improve. According to Japanese media, Yoon and Kishida agreed to meet in person as soon as possible. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the Islamic republic will not give up on its regional presence and peaceful nuclear program, the two factors that contribute to national power. Addressing a meeting with the members of Iran's Assembly of Experts, Khamenei said regional presence increases the country's strategic depth and national power while scientific nuclear progress is tied to the country's ability to meet its needs in the near future, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the leader's office. Thus, to be able to maintain the country's independence in the future, none of those two must be forgone, said the top leader. He stressed that acquiescing to the excessive demands of the US or any other country in the hope of not being sanctioned is a big mistake and a blow to the country's political power. He said there is nothing more naive and amateurish than the proposal to reduce the country's defence capabilities. He noted that the enemies have placed on their agenda targeting Iran's elites and intellectuals in order to deceive the people through them, adding that the world's arrogant powers have waged the biggest soft war against the nation. --IANS int/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 1 million children have now fled as war continues to ravage the country, said on Thursday. Most have fled with their families to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Romania. "The number of children on the move is staggering, an indication of how desperate the situation for children and families in has become," said Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan. "Children are leaving everything they know behind in search of safety. This is heart-breaking." So far, six trucks carrying nearly 70 tons of supplies have arrived to . The supplies include personal protection equipment and medical, surgical and obstetric kits. Working with partners, said that it will be delivering medical supplies to 22 hospitals in 5 different conflict-affected areas of Ukraine, to benefit 20,000 children and mothers. In a press statement, the UN agency renewed its call for safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach populations in need, and for the safe passage of civilians to reach the services and protection to which they are entitled. "Across the border, three trucks were dispatched from Copenhagen - UNICEF's warehouse and the largest humanitarian hub in the world - carrying essential supplies, such as early childhood development, recreational and hygiene kits. These supplies have now arrived in Poland," the UNICEF said. Additional supplies are on their way from Copenhagen and from Turkey, and are due to arrive in the coming days, it added. To assist children and families on the move from Ukraine to Moldova, Poland, Romania and Belarus, UNICEF has set up "Blue Dots," one-stop safe spaces that provide key information to traveling families and the ability to identify unaccompanied and separated children and ensure their protection. Furthermore, UNICEF appealed for USD 349 million to prevent deterioration of the welfare of children in Ukraine and neighbouring countries and to enable the effective provision of critical life-saving support. This includes USD 276 million for immediate needs within Ukraine and USD 73 million in neighbouring countries. "We're doing everything we can to help the children and families in need but the war must end. Peace is the only sustainable solution," Khan 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.) Reacting to Russia's allegations that biological weapons were made in Ukrainian laboratories, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that "no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed" in his country. In his latest video address posted on Facebook on Friday morning, Zelensky said: "I am the President of an adequate country, an adequate nation. And the father of two children. And no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land. "The whole world knows that. You know that. And if do something like that against us, it will get the most severe sanctions response." Responding further to Russia's claims that "recently found documents" showed components of biological weapons were made in Ukrainian laboratories with funding from the US Department of Defense, the President said that "this makes me really worried, because we've been repeatedly convinced: if you want to know Russia's plans, look at what accuses others of (doing)". "What are these allegations of preparing chemical attacks? Have you decided to carry out 'de-chemicalisation' of Using ammonia? Using phosphorus? What else have you prepared for us?" he questioned which has continued to wage its war against for 16 days now. In its latest allegation, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed on Thursday that the US was helping to develop biological weapons and use virus-carrying birds that migrate through Russia, the BBC reported. The Ministry, however did not provide any evidence to support the claim. Earlier, Russia had claimed that more than 30 laboratories in Lviv, Kharkiv and Poltava were working with dangerous infectious agents as part of a US-led military biological programme. Meanwhile, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, requested the world body to convene an emergency Security Council meeting on Friday to "discuss the military biological activities of the US on the territory of Ukraine". The US has called the allegations "preposterous", with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki saying in a tweet on Wednesday that it is the "kind of disinformation operation we've seen repeatedly from the Russians over the years in Ukraine and in other countries, which have been debunked". She said "we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them. It's a clear pattern". While testifying to the US Senate Intelligence Committee earlier on Thursday, CIA Director William Burns described Russia's accusations as "false flag efforts in the creation of false narratives". --IANS 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.) European Union leaders on Thursday condemned the "unspeakable suffering" Russia was inflicting on Ukraine but at a summit in France they refused Kyiv's appeal for rapid accession to the bloc and differed over the reach of sanctions against Moscow. The Russian invasion - the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two - has upended Europe's security order and spurred EU capitals into rethinking what the bloc should stand for, its economic, defence and energy policies. The EU was swift in imposing sweeping sanctions and offering political and humanitarian support to Ukraine, as well as some arms supplies, in the days after Russia attacked on Feb.24. However, cracks have appeared in the bloc's united front, from its reaction to Kyiv's demand for an accelerated membership of the wealthy club to how fast it can wean itself off Russian fossil fuels and how best to shape an economic response. "Nobody entered the European Union overnight," Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said as talks among the 27 national leaders ended at wee hours on Friday. The leaders chairman, Charles Michel said in a show of sympathy and moral support: "Ukraine belongs to the European family." But others made clear Ukraine would not be allowed to join hastily, something Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has sought and which has some support from Ukraine's neighbours on the EU's eastern flank. "There is no fast-track process," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a prominent opponent of EU enlargement, while adding the bloc would continue deepening ties with Kyiv. Nor could the door to accession be closed, said French President Emmanuel Macron. "Can we open a membership procedure with a country at war? I don't think so. Can we shut the door and say: 'never'? It would be unfair. Can we forget about the balance points in that region? Let's be cautious." Joining the EU is a process that usually takes years and requires meeting strict criteria from economic stability to rooting out corruption to respecting liberal human rights. RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS Russia's invasion, which Moscow calls a special military operation, has shattered Europe's post-war security order that emerged from the ashes of World War Two and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. More than 2 million people have fled the country, thousands of civilians have been killed, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's troops laid siege to several Ukrainian cities. "It is a war crime," Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, told the leaders. Some EU leaders pushed for tougher sanctions that would hit Russia's oil and gas industries even if that meant repercussions for those European nations reliant on Russian fossil fuels. Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, whose country shares a border with Russia, said cutting off Russian oil and gas would be the most effective way to get Putin to the negotiating table. "We should go much further and much faster," Karins said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not comment on whether the bloc should ban Russian oil imports, which Berlin has ruled out so far. Russia supplies about a third of Germany's gas and crude requirements. But the EU should stop using Russian fossil fuels by 2027, von der Leyen said, adding she would propose a roadmap for that in mid-May. The leaders resume at 0900 GMT on Friday to consider policy to tackle defence and energy spending related to the war in Ukraine. Divisions have emerged over the possibility of a new joint EU debt issuance, advocated by countries like France and Italy but opposed by Germany, the Netherlands and others. "The war in Ukraine is an immense trauma... But it is also most definitely something which is going to lead us to completely redefine the structure of Europe," said Macron. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Michel Rose, Juliette Jabkhiro, Richard Lough, Philip Blenkinsop, Marine Strauss, Andreas Rinke, Sabine Siebold and Benoit van Overstraeten; Writing by Gabriela Baczynska and Richard Lough; Editing by Gareth Jones and Rosalba O'Brien) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Biden administration says two North Korean missile launches in recent weeks were test firings of a powerful new long-range ICBM and warned Thursday that a full-range test could soon follow. The tests were of a missile reportedly larger than an ICBM launched in 2017 that was assessed to be capable of reaching the United States. American missile defense and reconnaissance forces in the Pacific have been placed in a state of "enhanced readiness" in preparation for a full-range test, a senior administration official said Thursday. The official outlined the U.S. intelligence assessment of the recent launches on the condition of anonymity. has claimed the March 4 and February 26 launches were merely to test cameras to be installed on a future spy satellite. Multiple UN Security Council resolutions prohibit from firing ICBMs, and the U.S. will announce a new round of sanctions on Friday meant to make it more difficult for the country to access technology needed for its weapons programs, the official said. The 2017 launch was part of a series of tests that prompted then-President Donald Trump to threaten North Korea's leaders with "fire and fury" and brought the two countries to the brink of more serious conflict. The new missile was first revealed to the public in 2020 during celebrations marking the 75th birthday of North Korea's Communist Party in Pyongyang. It appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile that is larger than any of the North's known ICBMs. The U.S. official who commented on Thursday did not estimate the maximum range. Last week's launch was North Korea's ninth round of weapons tests already this year as it uses a break in diplomacy to expand its military capabilities while attempting to pressure the Biden administration for concessions. Since taking office last year, the Biden administration has reached out multiple times to North Korea in an effort to bring it back to the negotiating table after three rounds of Trump meetings with leader Kim Jong-un aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula brought no appreciable change in the North Korean posture. The official said Thursday that North Korea still has not responded to any U.S. request. Biden has expressed openness to meeting with Kim if denuclearization would be on the table. The US official said the American intelligence assessment was generated and shared in consultation with allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan. Last week, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the March 4 missile was fired from an area near the North Korean capital and flew about 270 kilometers eastward at a maximum altitude of 560 kilometers before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The American decision to publicly share intelligence about North Korea's launches and a potential future launch is reminiscent of US efforts to publicly call out Russia's preparations for war in Ukraine in the weeks before the actual Russian invasion last month. (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.) clawed back some losses on Friday but were on track for their biggest weekly drops since November after see-sawing on fears of escalating bans on Russian oil versus efforts to bring more supply to market from other major producers. futures inched up 11 cents to $109.44 a barrel at 0149 GMT after dropping 1.6% in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 46 cents, or 0.4%, to $106.48 a barrel, following a 2.5% decline on Thursday. In a week of volatile trading marked by talk of Russian oil embargoes then potential supply additions from Iran, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates while fighting escalated in Ukraine, Brent was on track for a weekly fall of about 7% after hitting a 14-year high of $139.13. U.S. crude was headed for a drop of around 8% after touching a high of $130.50. Prices eased this week after it became clear the European Union, heavily reliant on Russian energy, would not join the United States and Britain in banning Russian oil. Russia, the world's second largest crude exporter behind Saudi Arabia, exports about 3 million barrels per day of crude to Europe's OECD countries. "The oil market is not prepared to face such a supply shock as inventories stand at a multi-year low level," ANZ Research analysts said in a report. In the near term, supply gaps are unlikely to be filled by extra output from members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, together called OPEC+, given that Russia is part of the grouping, Commonwealth Bank analyst Vivek Dhar said. "They're really tied politically by the structure," he said. In addition, some OPEC+ producers, including Angola and Nigeria, have struggled to meet their production targets, further limiting the group's ability to offset Russian supply losses. Commonwealth Bank forecasts Brent will average $110 in the second and third quarters of this year, but sees prices potentially climbing as high as $150 in the short term. "All of it is very uncertain. It's been very difficult to come out with a view," Dhar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's premier on Friday called the situation in grave and offered Beijing's help in playing a positive role for peace while continuing to refuse to criticise . told reporters at an annual news conference that we support and encourage all efforts that are conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis. The pressing task now is to prevent tension from escalating or even getting out of control," Li said. has largely sided with in the conflict, which it has refused to refer to as a war or invasion. The US accuses Beijing of helping spread false news and disinformation coming out of Moscow. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is at the helm of managing the country's economy for a decade, said that he will be stepping down this year, setting in motion the once-in-a-decade sweeping leadership change in the Communist country. Barring President Xi Jinping, who has emerged as the most powerful Chinese leader after the ruling Communist Party of (CPC) founder Mao Zedong, the rest of the leadership of the party and the government is expected to undergo a change. This is my last year as a Premier, Li, 66, the second ranking leader of the CPC after Xi, said in a matter of fact voice while answering a question on the economy. At the end of his last press conference, Li left with a wave and a simple thank you, everybody without leaving any farewell message. Li, who was groomed into various leadership positions by the previous President Hu Jintao, had settled for the second rank in the party as 68-year-old Xi emerged victorious in the race for the leadership in the CPC Party Congress in 2012. While Xi was the Vice President in the previous regime, Li was the Vice Premier. But since his emergence as the General Secretary of the party, Xi moved up at a breakneck speed, consolidating his power base after Hu handed over the powerful position of Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the Chinese military. Since then, Xi, commencing his tenure as President, head of the party and the military, strengthened his leadership position first with his sweeping anti-corruption campaign in which over a million officials, including several top generals of the military, were punished. As Xi consolidated his power, emerging in the process as a core leader on par with Mao, Premier Li, known for his simple life-style and outspoken manner in his official work, mostly confined himself to the management of the economy, hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which faced severe headwinds with declining growth in the last 10 years. Under Li's watch, China's economy more than doubled from 51.9 trillion yuan (USD 8.5 trillion) in 2012 to 114.4 trillion yuan (USD 17.7 trillion) in 2021. After the once-every-five-years Party Congress is expected to be held later this year, will have a new leadership at all levels, including a new Foreign Minister, replacing the incumbent Wang Yi, who is also China's Special Representative on the India- Boundary issue. Xi is widely expected to continue in power for an unprecedented third term and may have a lifelong tenure like Mao. All Xi's predecessors retired after two five-year-terms, adhering to the norm set by Mao's successor Deng Xiaoping to avert one leader domination and to facilitate a new generation of leaders to lead the party. Li, who joined the CPC in May 1976, is a graduate of Peking University's Law Department where he earned a Bachelor of Law degree, and of the university's School of Economics where he completed an in-service graduate program in economics and was awarded a Doctor of Economics degree, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. He earlier served as Governor Henan province later as Vice Premier. He is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the 19th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Premier of the State Council, and Secretary of its Leading Party Members Group. (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 Ukrainian ambassador to Japan, Sergiy Korsunsky, said on Friday it was possible Russian President would be willing to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine in the face of its determined resistance against the Russian invasion. "We will fight until the end, we are not going to live in a Russia-managed state." Korsunsky told Reuters in an interview. "There is no reason to believe that he (Putin) can threaten us, as he thinks, to the state that we will overthrow our government and we will embrace Russia after what they have done to us. No way. Therefore he may use nuclear weapons." Late last month, Putin ordered his military command to put Russia's deterrence forces - which include nuclear arms - on high alert, citing what he called aggressive statements by NATO leaders and Western economic sanctions against Moscow. Putin has not directly threatened to use nuclear arms. But while announcing the military operation in Ukraine last month, he said after referring to Russia's powerful nuclear arsenal: "Whoever tries to hinder us... should know that Russia's response will be immediate. And it will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history." Korsunsky said that Ukraine was relying on its allies to help avoid any kind of escalation. "We try to work with our partners, major nuclear powers who know how to monitor the situation on nuclear weapons, and which can help us not to allow this to happen," he said. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation. It says it wants to "demilitarise" and "denazify" its pro-Western neighbour and prevent Kyiv from joining NATO. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seoul's reduced late night subway schedule will begin to be normalized from next week, as social distancing rules have been eased despite the prolonged pandemic, the city government said Friday. Seoul subway trains have been running on a schedule down by up to 20 percent after 10 p.m. since Dec. 24 as part of efforts to stem the fast spread of COVID-19. Lines 2, 5 to 9 and Ui LRT will be normalized Monday, followed by Line 4, March 19, and Line 3 from April, according to the city government, after antivirus curfews on restaurants, cafes and other multiuse facilities were pushed back by an hour to 11 p.m. The capital's bus schedules, which had also been scaled back in December, were already normalized this week. According to the city government, the number of subway and bus users fell by 50.9 percent and 39.3 percent, respectively, in the first week of February compared with the last week of October before the schedule was reduced. The number recovered to about an 85 percent level from before the schedule reduction after the government pushed back business curfews on multiuse facilities from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Feb. 19. "The city government will keep monitoring the congestion level of subway trains and introduce antivirus measures to create a safe public transport environment," Baek Ho, a senior official at Seoul's transportation system, said. (Yonhap) Russian President gave the green light on Friday to bring in thousands of fighters from the to fight against Ukraine. At a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said there were 16,000 volunteers in the who were ready to come to fight with Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. "If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbass, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone," Putin said. Shoigu also proposed that Western-made Javelin and Stinger missiles that were captured by the Russian army in Ukraine should be handed over to Donbass forces. "As to the delivery of arms, especially Western-made ones which have fallen into the hands of the Russian army - of course I support the possibility of giving these to the military units of the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics," Putin said. "Please do this," he told Shoigu. invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 soon after Putin recognised the breakaway territories as independent states, in an action condemned internationally as illegal. says its "special military operation" in Ukraine was a forced response to what it calls genocide by Ukraine against Russian-speakers in the east of the country - a pretext rejected by Kyiv and the West as baseless war propaganda. Shoigu said the Russian military planned to strengthen its Western border after what he said was an increase in Western military units on Russia's border. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Mark Trevelyan LONDON (Reuters) - opened a criminal case against Facebook's parent Meta Platforms on Friday and moved to designate it as an "extremist organisation" after the social network changed its hate speech rules to allow users to call for violence against Russians in the context of the war with Ukraine. "A criminal case has been initiated ... in connection with illegal calls for murder and violence against citizens of the Russian Federation by employees of the American company Meta, which owns the social networks and Instagram," Russia's Investigative Committee said. The committee reports directly to President Vladimir Putin. It was not immediately clear what the consequences of the criminal case might be. No comment was immediately available from Meta in response to a Reuters request. Two weeks into Russia's war in Ukraine, a Meta spokesperson said on Thursday the company had temporarily eased its rules for political speech, allowing posts such as "death to the Russian invaders," although it would not allow calls for violence against Russian civilians. Meta said the temporary change aimed to allow for forms of political expression that would normally violate its rules. Its oversight board said on Friday that it was closely following the war in Ukraine, and how Meta is responding. INFORMATION WARS has for more than a year been striving to curb the influence of U.S. tech giants including Alphabet Inc's Google and Twitter, repeatedly fining them for allowing what it deems to be illegal content. But the invasion of Ukraine - met by a storm of condemnation and unprecedented sanctions - has sharply raised the stakes in the information war. provide an opportunity for dissent against Putin's line - loyally followed by the tightly controlled state media - that Moscow was forced to launch its "special military operation" to defend Russian-speakers in Ukraine against genocide and to demilitarise and "denazify" the country. The Investigative Committee said the move could violate articles of the Russian criminal law against public calls for extremist activities. "Such actions of the (Meta) company's management not only form an idea that terrorist activity is permissible, but are aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards the citizens of the Russian Federation," the state prosecutor's office said. It said it had applied to a court to recognise Meta as an extremist organisation and prohibit its activities in . Internal Meta emails seen by Reuters showed the U.S. company had temporarily allowed posts that call for the death of Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. "We hope it is not true because if it is true then it will mean that there will have to be the most decisive measures to end the activities of this company," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The United Nations human rights office said the potential change in policy was "concerning." Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, all of which are popular in Russia. Last week, Russia said it was banning Facebook in the country in response to what it said were restrictions of access to Russian media on the platform. The statement from the prosecutor's office said the state communications regulator would now also restrict access to Instagram. Instagram is a favoured tool of jailed Putin opponent Alexei Navalny, who used it in a message posted via his lawyers and supporters on Friday to call for Russians to join protests against the Ukraine war and "mad maniac Putin" this weekend. . WhatsApp will not be affected by the legal moves, Russia's RIA news agency cited a source as saying, as the messaging app is considered a means of communication not a way to post information. (Editing by Susan Fenton and Mark Potter) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President-elect Yoon Suk-Yeol had the first phone conversation with US President on March 10. This is the first phone call between leaders since his election. The People Power Party (PPP) announced that US President Biden called president-elect Yoon and had a conversation to congratulate him on his election for about 20 minutes. Yoon said in an acceptance speech held at the National Assembly Library on the 10th, "President Biden said he expects to meet soon and discuss further development of Korea-U.S. relations." According to Yoon's campaign team, president Biden congratulated the victory for Yoon on Korea's 20th presidential election and said he looks forward to working together to deepen cooperation on key global challenges, including climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chains. "President-elect Yoon also expressed his gratitude and respect to President Biden for the contribution of the US government to lead global cooperation against Russia's invasion of Ukraine," said Yoon's campaign team staff. "President Biden said that has also played an important role in the Ukraine Crisis." At the phone conversation, Yoon reportedly stressed the need for a stronger Korea-U.S alliance to respond to North Korea and called for President Biden to pay more attention to issues on the Korean Peninsula. In response, President Biden said the US is closely monitoring the situation in North Korea and it is also considering North Korea's recent ballistic missile provocations as a threat to the US President Biden reportedly stressed the importance of close coordination on North Korea between three countries, the US, South Korea, and Japan. It is also reported that President Biden proposed that Yoon visit the White House in the US after the swearing-in and Yoon said he appreciates the invitation and hopes to visit the US soon. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) will begin talks with the Monetary Fund (IMF) next month on a plan to help the crisis-hit country, including assistance with debt restructuring and managing its foreign exchange shortage, three sources said on Friday. Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will travel to Washington D.C. in mid-April to present Sri Lanka's proposal to senior officials, two sources with knowledge of the ongoing discussions told Reuters. "We are taking our proposal and a plan," one of the sources said, declining to be named since the discussions are confidential. "The government is serious about fixing things." is facing its worst financial crisis in years. With foreign exchange reserves standing at a paltry $2.31 billion, the country is struggling to pay for critical imports including fuel, food and medicines. The island nation has to repay about $4 billion in foreign debt this year, including a $1 billion sovereign bond maturing in July. The move to approach the for help comes after months of resistance from Sri Lanka's government and central bank, despite calls from opposition leaders and experts to seek a bailout package. "We will discuss options based on our plans," the source said. Sri Lanka's finance ministry and the did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is banning imports of oil products from Russia, the Canadian government announced on Friday. "Petroleum.3.5 (1) It is prohibited for any person in and any Canadian outside to import, purchase or acquire any good referred to in column 1 of Schedule 5, wherever situated, from Russia or from any person in Russia," the statement said. The ban "does not apply to goods if a contract for the import, purchase or acquisition of the good is entered into before the day on which this section comes into force," it added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko on Friday said the Ukrainian city is being shelled by Russian forces every 30 minutes. In a social media post, the Mayor acknowledged that the the last few days have been particularly difficult for the city as Russian forces were "ruthlessly and purposely shelling residential buildings" in the strategic port city. "Today, they cynically fired on the State Emergency Services. Every 30 minutes, aircraft flew over the city, working residential areas and killing civilians: the elderly, women and children." He also accused of disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid from Zaporizhzhya to Mariupol, adding that the forces attacked convoys and the 'green corridor' for civilian evacuations. According to preliminary estimates by Mariupol's city council, about 1,300 civilians have died thus far in the 10 days that it has been blockaded. In a video address on Thursday, Iryna Vereschuk, Minister of the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, said no evacuation could take place from the humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhya due to constant shelling by Russian forces, the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper reported. Calling the situation in Mariupol a "humanitarian catastrophe", the Minister said that has constantly hampered the planned evacuation of civilians from the strategic port city. "The worst situation is in Mariupol-Zaporizhzhya. No one has been evacuated. Not a single drop of water has reached people who are exhausted from thirst. 300,000 people today are suffering from lack of water, cold and hunger. The aggressor's revenge is not allowing us to save them," Vereschuk said. She also claimed that currently there was only one road from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhya, via Orikhiv and Polohy, as all have been destroyed or mined. On Wednesday, Mariupol witnessed one of the worst attacks since started its war on February 24 when a children and maternity hospital was shelled, killing three people and injuring 17 . --IANS 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.) Ukraines two leading suppliers of neon, which produce about half the worlds supply of the key ingredient for making chips, have halted their operations as Moscow has sharpened its attack on the country, threatening to raise prices and aggravate the semiconductor shortage. Some 45 per cent-54 per cent of the worlds semiconductor grade neon, critical for the lasers used to make chips, comes from two Ukrainian companies, Ingas and Cryoin, according to Reuters calculations based on figures from the firms and market research firm Techcet. Global neon consumption for chip production reached about 540 metric tons last year, Techcet estimates. Both firms have shuttered their operations, according to company representatives contacted by Reuters, as Russian troops have escalated their attacks on cities throughout Ukraine, killing civilians and destroying key infrastructure. The stoppage casts a cloud over the worldwide output of chips, already in short supply after the coronavirus pandemic drove up demand for cell phones, laptops and later cars, forcing some firms to scale back production. While estimates vary widely about the amount of neon stocks chipmakers keep on hand, production could take a hit if the conflict drags on, according to Angelo Zino, an analyst at CFRA. "If stockpiles are depleted by April and chipmakers don't have orders locked up in other regions of the world, it likely means further constraints for the broader supply chain and inability to manufacture the end-product for many key customers," he said. Before the invasion, Ingas produced 15,000 to 20,000 cubic meters of neon per month for customers in Taiwan, Korea, China, the United States and Germany, with about 75% going to the chip industry, Nikolay Avdzhy, the company's chief commercial officer, said in an email to Reuters. The company is based in Mariupol, which has been under siege by Russian forces. On Wednesday, Russian forces destroyed a maternity hospital there, in what Kyiv and Western allies called a war crime. Moscow said the hospital was no longer functioning and had been occupied by Ukrainian fighters. "Civilians are suffering," Avdzhy said by email last Friday, noting that the company's marketing officer could not respond because he had no internet or phone access. Cryoin, which produced roughly 10,000 to 15,000 cubic meters of neon per month, and is located in Odessa, halted operations on Feb. 24 when the attacks began to keep employees safe, according to business development director Larissa Bondarenko. Bondarenko said the company would be unable to fill orders for 13,000 cubic meter of neon in March unless the violence stopped. She said the company could weather at least three months with the plant closed, but warned that if equipment were damaged, that would prove a bigger drag on company finances and make it harder to restart operations quickly. She also said she was unsure the company could access additional raw materials for making neon. Taiwan's Ministry, in a statement to Reuters, said Taiwanese firms had already made advanced preparations and had "safety stocks" of neon, so it did not see any problems in the supply chain in the near term. Taiwan's central bank made similar comments earlier on Friday. Ukrainian neon is a byproduct of Russian steel manufacturing. The gas, which is also used in laser eye surgery, is produced in China as well, but Chinese prices are rising steadily. Bondarenko says prices, already under pressure after the pandemic, had climbed by up to 500% from December. According to a Chinese media report that cited Chinese commodity market information provider biiinfo.com, the price of neon gas (99.9% content) in China has quadrupled from 400 yuan/cubic meter in October last year to more than 1,600 yuan/cubic meter in late February. Neon prices rose 600% in the run-up to Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, according to the U.S. Trade Commission. Companies elsewhere could initiate neon production but it would take nine months to two years to ramp up, according to Richard Barnett, chief marketing officer of Supplyframe, which provides market intelligence to companies across the global electronics sectors. But CFRA's Angelo Zino noted that companies may be unwilling to invest in that process if the supply crunch is seen as temporary. Mayor of Kiev Vitaliy Klitschko said that the Ukrainian capital has become a "fortress" being defended by armed civilians, while half of the city's entire population have left amid the looming threat of a Russian invasion. "The key goal of the Russians is to capture Kiev, to surround Kiev, to take it in a ring, then to attack and overthrow the government. Their plans are not being realised, thanks to our guys in Bucha, Vorzel, Irpen and Gostomel, where fierce fighting is taking place... Our guys are thwarting all plans to surround Kiev," the Mayor said in a video address on Thursday night. According to the latest estimates, every second Kiev citizen has left, he said, adding that under 2 million residents are now living in the Ukrainian capital. Nevertheless, Kiev has now become a "fortress", Klitschko was quoted as saying in the video by the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper. The Mayor also reaffirmed that authorities in Kiev continue to ensure the livelihood of the city. "The utility services are working. Warm, water, light, internet in the capital is. Most pharmacies and grocery stores operate. "The city provides passenger transport. Kiev rescuers meet people at the railway station. And those who want to leave Kiev are sent by trains to Western Ukraine," he added. Klitschko further noted that musicians and other professionals have joined the territorial defence, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. "There has never been such a spirit! Everyone says, 'nothing will happen, we will not surrender our city'. I can repeat these words: the city stood, the people will stand. They won't give up. And the enemy won't pass." The Mayor's remarks came as a senior US defence official said that Russian forces have moved about 5 km closer to Kiev in the past 24 hours, which means the troops were now just 15 km from the city centre, the BBC reported. --IANS 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.) The main entrance that leads to Cheong Wa Dae at the foot of Mount. Bukak / Korea Times file By Ko Dong-hwan President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has been mulling over whether to relocate the country's presidential office to Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, to keep a promise he made during the presidential campaign, according to his party, March 10. Citing a source familiar with the matter, local daily Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that relocating the top office is the first task among the campaign pledges he made as a presidential candidate. If the plan works out, the incoming president and his family are most likely to live in the prime minister's current residence in Samcheong-dong in Seoul's Jongno District. The prime minister's office will then move to Sejong city, an administrative metropolis that was completed in 2013 in South Chungcheong Province. According to media reports, Yoon's new office will likely move into the Government Complex Seoul building next to Gwanghwamun Square. During the campaign, Yoon said the current presidential office situated at the foot of Mount Bukak will be repurposed as an open public space. The relocation plan, however, involves complicated security and budgetary issues that need to be resolved. The source said the new team will waste no time in executing the plan by installing a special committee for this purpose under the Presidential Transition Committee followed by receiving and reviewing opinions from members of the public. Before being elected, Yoon repeatedly pledged to open "the new Gwanghwamun era" if he becomes president by moving Cheong Wa Dae which houses the residence of the country's leader and his or her family members, as well as the presidential office near Gwanghwamun, a large public square facing Gyeongbokgung Palace which has been a popular place for demonstrations and protests in the country's modern history. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol talks to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at People Power Party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, March 11. Courtesy of People Power Party The United States has asked to provide "unhindered and unsupervised" access to all areas of to human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, during her visit in May this year. Bachelet announced this week that she is set to visit in May, including a trip to Xinjiang, after reaching an agreement with Beijing. "The United States is aware of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet's announcement of her intent to visit . We call upon the People's Republic of (PRC) to ensure that her visit is accorded unhindered and unsupervised access to all areas of and to private meetings with a diverse range of Uyghur individuals and civil society groups," said Sheba Crocker, US Permanent Representative to the . In a statement, Crocker said that any credible visit should include access to the locations where atrocities and human rights violations and abuses, including forced labor, and should be followed by a timely, candid, and complete report on the visit's findings. "Any access limitations imposed on the High Commissioner or her Office, or interference with their activities or reporting, would severely undermine the credibility of her visit and support the propaganda that denies the abuses occurring in Xinjiang," she added. On Tuesday, some 200 rights groups demanded that Bachelet's office release its long-postponed report on the rights situation in China's Xinjiang province. "The release of the report without further delay is essential - to send a message to victims and perpetrators alike that no state, no matter how powerful, is above international law or the robust independent scrutiny of your office," the 192 groups, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty, wrote in an open letter. HRW executive director Kenneth Roth said that rights groups have become increasingly concerned that the UN human rights office has still not published its long-awaited report on Xinjiang. "It defies credibility to believe that China will allow meaningful unfettered access that will enable human rights defenders, or victims and their families, to speak to the High Commissioner safely, unsupervised and without fear of reprisal. Today's announcement of a planned visit by the High Commissioner should not provide an excuse for her to avoid publishing her report on Xinjiang abuses without further delay, as she has repeatedly promised," he said. Meanwhile, China has welcomed the UN rights chief's visit without commenting on the modalities of the visit. (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 United States, together with the Group of Seven nations and the European Union, will move on Friday to revoke Russia's "most favored nation" status over its invasion of Ukraine, multiple people familiar with the situation told Reuters. President Joe Biden will announce the plans at the White House at 10:15 a.m. EST (1515 GMT), said one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity. The White House said Biden would announce "actions to continue to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine", but gave no details. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation". Stripping Russia of its favored nation status paves the way for the United States and its allies to impose tariffs on a wide range of Russian goods, which would further ratchet up pressure on an economy that is already heading into a "deep recession." The coordinated moves by Washington, London and other allies come on top of a raft of unprecedented sanctions, export controls and banking restrictions aimed at pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the largest war in Europe since World War Two. Each country must implement the change in Russia's trading status based on its own national processes, two of the people said. In the United States, removing Russia's "Permanent Normal Trade Relations" (PNTR) status will require an act of Congress, but lawmakers in both houses - and on both sides of the political aisle - have already signalled their support, two officials said. "President Biden and the administration appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Congress and its calls for the revocation of PNTR," one of the officials said, adding that the White House would work with lawmakers on legislation to revoke Russia's status. Unprecedented, sweeping sanctions slapped on Russia's banks and elites, along with export controls on a raft of technologies, have already caused the Russian economy to crater, and the International Monetary Fund is now predicting that it will plunge into a "deep recession" this year. In 2019, Russia was the 26th largest goods trading partner of the United States, with some $28 billion exchanged between the two countries, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office. Top imports from Russia included mineral fuels, precious metal and stone, iron and steel, fertilizers and inorganic chemicals, all goods that could face higher tariffs once Congress acts to revoke Russia's favored nation trade status. Biden on Tuesday had imposed an immediate ban on Russian oil and energy imports. Some U.S. governors have already ordered government-run liquor stores to stop selling Russian-made vodka and distilled spirits in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Michael Perry) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top U.S. intelligence officials admitted Thursday that they underestimated Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia's invasion, a mistake for intelligence agencies that have otherwise been lauded for accurately predicting Russian President Vladimir Putin's intention to launch a war. My view was that, based on a variety of factors, that the Ukrainians were not as ready as I thought they should be, said Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Therefore, I questioned their will to fight. That was a bad assessment on my part because they have fought bravely and honorably and are doing the right thing. The White House has faced Republican criticism that it isn't providing enough weapons or intelligence to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Biden administration is currently opposed to a Polish plan to donate old Russian-made warplanes to Ukraine, out of concern that Putin may view that as an escalation by the U.S. or NATO. Berrier testified alongside other top officials before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Generally, U.S. intelligence agencies have won praise from lawmakers of both political parties for their handling of the Ukraine crisis. Much of the hearing focused on the unprecedented U.S. campaign to declassify intelligence about alleged attempts by Russia to create a fake pretext for its invasion. Even though Putin ordered the invasion anyway, lawmakers say the campaign helped develop support for sanctions that have crippled Russia's economy and pushed previously reluctant Western countries to give military aid to Ukraine. But just as Putin appeared to have misjudged his army's ability to subdue Ukraine's much smaller armed forces, so did the U.S., said Berrier, who leads the Pentagon's primary intelligence arm. We made some assumptions about his assumptions, which proved to be very, very flawed, said Berrier. I think assessing will, morale, and a will to fight is a very difficult analytical task. We had different inputs from different organizations and we at least from my perspective as the director I did not do as well as I could have. Berrier's admission follows another misjudgment in Afghanistan, whose U.S-backed government collapsed far more quickly to the Taliban than Washington expected. Officials believed the Afghan forces long trained and funded by the U.S. could hold out for potentially months after the American withdrawal. Instead, lacking U.S. air power and intelligence support, the Afghan forces gave up many cities without a fight last summer. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said that Putin had underestimated the resistance he would face from the Ukrainians. But Haines added: We did not do as well in terms of predicting the military challenges that he has encountered with his own military. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who questioned Berrier and Haines, noted that assessing a foreign military's will to fight was particularly difficult. But these mistakes had potentially real-world policy implications about the willingness of the president or other NATO leaders to provide weapons that they thought might have fallen into the hands of Russians in a matter of hours, he said. Cotton and several other Republicans on the intelligence committee criticized the Biden administration's current refusal to support a Polish plan to donate Russian-made warplanes to Ukraine. Biden administration officials have warned that Putin might view that as an escalation of the conflict. They say planes would go beyond the weapons the Pentagon and Western allies have already given Ukraine, including anti-tank systems and surface-to-air missiles to shoot down Russian aircraft. Asked if the White House was pressuring analysts to assess that the transfer of planes would be seen as escalatory, Haines responded that objectivity was a core ethic of intelligence. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) firm expects to go public in the next couple of years and is looking to make its core business of test preparation profitable in the next 12 months, a top company official said on Friday. Group co-founder and CEO Gaurav Munjal also said the company is looking to expand its Relevel division -- which is a test platform for private jobs -- to global . "In the next couple of years, we want to do an IPO," he said on the sidelines of launching the company's first experiential centre, Store, here. He said the company is looking to make its core business of test prep profitable in the next 12 months. "In the next 12 months, we are eyeing profitability in our core business, which is the test prep business. We are on track to achieve it. We have started working towards it. In the next 12 months our test prep business will be profitable. "Relevel is something that we want to build in India and globally. We will continue to invest in the expansion and growth of Relevel. This is the broader strategy," Munjal said. The company plans to double down on more distribution channels for the test prep business. He also said the company's business has grown by about 60 per cent year-to-date. "We are 60 per cent up without opening these stores. Last year also we grew by 60 per cent. This is just the right time when people are embracing online education. When we will go for an IPO, we will have a multi-product strategy," Munjal said. He added that the PrepLadder vertical of the company has been profitable since the last three months. Valued at USD 3.44 billion, Unacademy claims to have 7.7 lakh active subscribers. Talking about Unacademy Stores, Munjal said the company is planning to open the centres in three more cities -- Kota, Jaipur and Lucknow -- and further expansion will depend on the response of students. He said the centre will not function as learning centres but will help students and their parents learn about online education and facilities provided by Unacademy. (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.) settled about 2% lower on Thursday after a volatile session, a day after its biggest daily dive in two years, as pledged to fulfil contractual obligations and some traders said supply disruption concerns were overdone. Since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, oil have been the most volatile in two years. On Wednesday, global benchmark Brent crude posted its biggest daily decline since April, 2020. Two days earlier, it hit a 14-year high at over $139 a barrel. Brent futures fell $1.81, or 1.6%, to settle at $109.33 a barrel after gaining as much as 6.5% earlier in the session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $2.68, or 2.5%, to settle at $106.02 a barrel, giving up over 5.7% of intraday gains. The market extended losses post-settlement with Brent down to $109.09 and WTI down to $105.79 at 4:55 p.m. ET (2155 GMT). "I think some of the 'war angst' is coming out of the market," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York. "We rejected $130 twice this week. People are beginning to ask if there really is too much of a supply problem. There's still plenty of Russian supply," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting that the country, a major producer which supplies a third of Europe's gas and 7% of global oil, would continue to meet its contractual obligations on supplies. However, oil from the world's second-largest crude exporter is being shunned over its invasion of Ukraine, and many are uncertain where replacement supply will come from. Comments from United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials sent conflicting signals, adding to the volatility. On Wednesday, Brent slumped 13% after the UAE's ambassador to Washington said the No. 3 OPEC producer would encourage the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to consider higher output. UAE Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei backtracked on the ambassador's statement and said the OPEC member is committed to existing agreements with the group to boost output by only 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month. While the UAE and Saudi Arabia have spare capacity, some other producers in the OPEC+ alliance are struggling to meet output targets because of infrastructure underinvestment in recent years. The United States made moves to ease sanctions on Venezuelan oil and efforts to seal a nuclear deal with Tehran, which could lead to increased oil supply. The market also anticipates further stockpile releases coordinated by the International Energy Agency and growing U.S. output. "With some goodwill, co-ordination and luck, the supply shock can greatly be mitigated but probably not neutralised," PVM oil market analyst Tamas Varga said. Still, traders refused to call the oil rally over. Some said the recent slump could be due partly to profit-taking, noting oil remained up over 15% since the Ukraine invasion. "We will probably have more speculation and some people who want to sell to take advantage, but we're just in new territory here," said Thomas Saal, senior vice president for energy at StoneX Financial Inc. "The pattern does not look like we are at the top yet. Just when you think we are, the market finds new energy to go higher," he said. (Reporting by Shariq Khan, additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla, Sonali Paul and Mohi Narayan; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) (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.) Equity indices traded sideways with small gains in early afternoon trade. Banks and pharma stocks were in demand. The Nifty hovered above 16,600 level. At 12:29 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 190.15 points or 0.34% at 55,654.31. The Nifty 50 index gained 53.6 points or 0.32% at 16,648.85. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.09% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.66%. The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 2,061 shares rose and 1,144 shares fell. A total of 129 shares were unchanged. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 0.91% to 25.3475. The Nifty 24 February 2022 futures were trading at 16,630, at a premium of 13.25 points as compared with the spot at 16,616.75. The Nifty option chain for 31 March 2022 expiry showed maximum Call OI at 18,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI contracts were seen at 16,000 strike price. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Auto index declined 0.82% to 9,937.1, snapping its three day winning run. The auto index saw profit taking after rising 5.68% in three days. Tata Motors (down 1.97%), Tube Investments of India (down 1.89%), Maruti Suzuki India (down 1.41%), Eicher Motors (down 1.2%) and Ashok Leyland (down 1.13%) were the top losers. Among the other losers were Bosch (down 0.86%), Mahindra & Mahindra (down 0.66%), Cummins India (down 0.47%) and Bajaj Auto (down 0.46%). Stocks in Spotlight: Titan Company rose 0.51%. The company said that its wholly-owned subsidiary TCL North America Inc. (TCLNA) has signed a stock purchase agreement with Great Heights Inc., USA (Great Heights). The agreement is for subscription of shares with voting preferred stock in the capital stock of Great Heights, which would result in TCLNA holding up to 17.5% voting rights in Great Heights. Great Heights, is a Delaware Corporation mainly engaged in retailing of LGD Jewellery through its brand 'Clean Origin'. The company had recorded gross revenue of $25 million in 2021. Shipping Corporation of India fell 1.08%. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India sold 93.50 lakh equity shares or 2.007% stake of Shipping Corporation between 12 March 2021 to 9 March 2022. Post transaction, LIC decreased its shareholding in Shipping Corp to 6.032% from 8.04% held earlier. The deal was executed as market sale. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The product will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc. in the US market. Strides Pharma Science announced that its step-down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global, Singapore, has received approval for Colchicine tablets USP, 0.6 mg from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA). The product is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the Reference Listed Drug (RLD), Colcrys tablets, 0.6 mg, of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (Takeda). Colchicine tablets are used for the treatment and prevention of gout. It reduces inflammation which causes pain, swelling and other symptoms of gout. Colchicine tablets are indicated in adults and children four years or older for treatment of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). According to IQVIA MAT January 2022 data, the US market for Colchicine tablets USP, 0.6 mg is approximately $85 million. The product will be manufactured at the company's facility at Bengaluru and will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc. in the US market. The company has 271 cumulative ANDA filings with USFDA of which 245 ANDAs have been approved and 26 are pending approval. Strides Pharma Science is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bengaluru, India. On a consolidated basis, Strides Pharma Science reported a net loss of Rs 126.66 crore in Q3 FY22 as compared to a net profit of Rs 35.16 crore in Q3 FY21. Net sales declined 4.5% to Rs 794.39 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21. Shares of Strides Pharma Science were up 0.68% at Rs 331.75 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman, Narendra Goenka has stated that Indian apparel industry is very well aware of the alarming fact that without sustainable supply chains, the fashion industry will become less and less viable. Sustainability is now counted as one of the major pillars of apparel export business and a growth tool. India offers to the world a complete value chain solution from farm to fashion giving us a competitive edge towards efficient implementation and monitoring of the sustainability throughout the supply chain through triple bottom line (TBL) approach involving three pillars of sustainability that are economic, social, and environmental. India has recently launched Project SU. RE which stands for 'Sustainable Resolution' - a firm commitment from the industry to move towards fashion that contributes to a clean environment. Indian brands have pledged to source/ utilize a substantial portion of their total consumption using sustainable raw materials and processes, by the year 2025. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahn Cheol-soo, left, the leader of the minor People's Party, answers questions from reporters at the People Power Party headquarters, Friday, after his luncheon with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol there. Yonhap By Kang Hyun-kyung President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the minor center-right People's Party, had lunch on Friday, a day after Yoon won the election. Their first one-on-one meeting after the election lasted over two hours at the People Power Party's headquarters in Seoul. Ahn said he and Yoon exchanged ideas about state affairs. Tata Steel Long Products (TSLP) and Tata Steel (TSL) have on 10 March 2022, executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with MMTC, NMDC, MECON, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha, Odisha Mining Corporation, President of India, Government of Odisha, Neelachal Ispat Nigam (NINL) for acquisition of 93.71% equity shares in NINL. The acquisition provides an inorganic growth opportunity for TSLP to grow in the long products business and leverage the captive iron ore mines of NINL. The total consideration of Rs 12,100 crore reflects the enterprise value, from which the liabilities shall be settled and the balance shall be paid for acquisition of 93.71% equity shares in NINL. NINL was incorporated on 27 March 1982 to set-up an integrated steel plant to undertake manufacturing and sale of steel products. NINL initially set up a 1.1 MTPA blast furnace in 2002 to produce pig iron. Subsequently, other supporting facilities like sinter plant, coke oven plant, power plant, etc. were commissioned. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Titan Company said that its wholly-owned subsidiary TCL North America Inc. (TCLNA) has signed a stock purchase agreement with Great Heights Inc., USA (Great Heights). The agreement is for subscription of shares with voting preferred stock in the capital stock of Great Heights, which would result in TCLNA holding up to 17.5% voting rights in Great Heights. Great Heights, is a Delaware Corporation mainly engaged in retailing of LGD Jewellery through its brand 'Clean Origin'. The company had recorded gross revenue of $25 million in 2021. This investment of $20 million in Great Heights by TCLNA is a strategic investment that will provide Titan a ring-side view of the lab grown diamond (LGD) and direct to consumer (D2C) sectors. Titan Company is engaged in making and selling watches, jewellery, eyewear and others. The company reported a standalone net profit of Rs 987 crore in Q3 FY22 as against a net profit of Rs 419 crore Q3 FY21, recording a growth of 136% on YoY basis. The total income for the quarter was Rs 9,570 crore, registering a growth of 31% as compared to Rs 7,324 crore in Q3 FY21. The scrip rose 0.63% to currently trade at Rs 2482.60 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The (AAP) has decided to launch a massive membership drive in the southern states to build on the momentum of its stupendous victory in the Assembly polls. The party will start its membership drive in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep, senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti said on Friday. "After the thunderous victory of the party in Punjab, people from the southern regions have started showing interest in the of our party. We are receiving an unprecedented response from southern India," he told reporters. "Seeing the mood of the people and taking into account the response that our teams in the southern states have been receiving, we have decided to kick off membership campaigns throughout the region," he added. Bharti said the membership drive will be carried out by the party's local teams. "These campaigns will actively penetrate deep into Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep," he said. "I call upon all those who feel the need to bring a change in Indian to join the AAP and be a part of the revolution," he said. The AAP leader said his party has also decided to take out foot marches across the southern states in phases. "This sequence will begin on April 14 on Dr B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary with our first foot march in Telangana. We will cover each and every assembly constituency of the region. Through these foot marches, we will take the of Kejriwal ji and the ideals of Babasaheb and Bhagat Singh to every resident of the region," said Bharti. "We will highlight the difference that the AAP has made in the lives of all those who live in Delhi," he said. The AAP has its units in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar. The party had contested the assembly polls in Karnataka and Telengana in 2018 as part of its efforts to make inroads into south India but could not open its account. (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.) Virtually decimated in the assembly elections, the now faces a dual challenge -- an existential crisis and retaining its position as the leader of the opposition camp after the AAP's spectacular victory in Punjab. Political analysts say the road to the 2024 polls for the is going to get tougher as it is a party that is "in the ICU" and cannot be revived with quick-fix solutions. The (AAP) Thursday stormed to power in Punjab, bagging a record 92 of the 117 seats by decimating the and the SAD-BSP combine. The Congress, meanwhile, also suffered a crushing defeat in the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa. The AAP's Punjab win has brought it at par with the Congress in terms of leading state governments. The Congress is now left in power only in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on its own and is a junior player in the coalition governments in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Murmurs of discontent and talk of "change" have already begun in the Congress camp with some group of 23 leaders, who wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi seeking an organisational overhaul, voicing concern over the massive electoral defeat. The Congress' electoral drubbing and the AAP's phenomenal success in Punjab has also had ripples in the opposition ranks and while earlier, the Congress had been clutching on to the position of the leader of the opposition camp, it now finds itself facing threats from parties such as the AAP and the Trinamool Congress that are likely to become more assertive going forward. Asked about what the AAP's victory means for the opposition camp and its pecking order, Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "Firstly, the AAP victory is spectacular and it needs to be commended. At the same time, any opposition party which is giving a tough fight to the BJP should be supported." "Whether it is going to be a challenge for the Congress party or not it is for the Congress to introspect...Opposition has to be strengthened," the Rajya Sabha member told PTI. Asserting that opposition forces need to align together to give a tough fight to the BJP, Chaturvedi said the AAP has managed to speak on issues of governance and that is why they have managed to convince the people of Punjab. Any opposition party which is strengthened or can be strengthened should be welcomed, she added. "Opposition will only be strengthened with a more empowered opposition party. Punjab results have shown that people are looking for a change and people are looking for an opposition party which can talk on governance issues," Chaturvedi said. Sanjay Kumar, Co-Director of Lokniti, a Research Programme at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said the AAP's rise was a "big threat" to the Congress' position as leader of the opposition camp. "The Congress should realise that in whichever state the AAP makes inroads, it makes heavy inroads...They made inroads in Delhi and Punjab largely at the expense of the Congress. The Congress should feel threatened by the way AAP is making inroads in different states. Its next target is going to be Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh," Kumar told PTI. On whether the Congress' existential crisis has become graver with the AAP's Punjab triumph, he answered in the affirmative and said that if the Kejriwal-led party will make inroads at the cost of the Congress then it is the Congress which needs to be worried about. Using medical analogy to describe the state of the Congress, Kumar said, "If there is a fracture in the arm one goes to an orthopaedic, if there is some other ailment, you go to a specific doctor but if the patient is very critical, he is in ICU he is attended by all kinds of expert doctors. The Congress seems to be in ICU now," Kumar said. "It is not as if its arm or leg got fractured which needs to be attended to or something quickly can be done to revive the party. Congress is in ICU and it needs to do a lot of things. No one shortcut can help the Congress revival in the country," he said. Rasheed Kidwai, the author of '24, Akbar Road' and 'Sonia: A Biography', said the AAP's rise is a "real threat" to the Congress' position in the opposition camp. "How big is the threat varies from state to state. For instance, if AAP is not able to make much inroads in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, still the presence of a third party will provide a platform to all the disgruntled Congress leaders," he said. The Congress' existential crisis is compounded by the AAP emerging as an option for the opposition camp, Kidwai said. A non-Congress leader from the opposition camp, on condition of anonymity, said the Congress needs to realise that either it strengthens itself as an organisation to have that place in the opposition or it will have to standby and support those parties which have that capacity to be able to pull off an election. "For example in Goa they did not align with others and went alone which hampered opposition unity and the votes got divided," the leader said. The calls for change and action have also been raised from within the Congress camp. "All of us who believe in @INCIndia are hurting from the results of the recent assembly elections. It is time to reaffirm the idea of India that the Congress has stood for and the positive agenda it offers the nation...And to reform our organisational leadership in a manner that will reignite those ideas and inspire the people," senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said after the latest election debacle of the Congress. "One thing is clear -- Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said in a tweet. (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.) Wasting no time on savouring the victory a day after the election results gave four states out of five to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prime Minister hit the road in on a two-day visit. is the next state to go to the polls at the end of the year. The PM effectively launched the partys election campaign from Ahmedabad. It was an impromptu decision and the state unit of the BJP got little time to organise the trip. But even so, the roads were choked as riding in an open car festooned with garlands, Modi waved to people as his roadshow began from the airport to Kamalam, BJPs state headquarters in Gandhinagar. Kamalam is around 10 km from the airport. Modi also addressed a rally of over 100,000 elected representatives of panchayat bodies. He will attend the Khel Mahakumbh 2022 on Saturday at Sardar Patel Stadium in Navrangpura and be the chief guest at the convocation at the Rashtriya Raksha university. Slogans of Jai Shree Ram, Bharat Mata Ki Jai were heard being chanted as the roadshow made it way to the BJP headquarters. A huge rangoli on the floor was a good likeness of the PM offering arghya, dressed in saffron, in the fashion of saints and sanyasis. Modi told panchayat heads at a packed venue that villages have been successful in checking the spread of coronavirus. I congratulate the village heads for their efforts. I also congratulate the farmers of the country for ensuring that food supplies were not hit during the pandemic. The prime minister invoked Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel during his address. is the land of Bapu and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Bapu always talked about rural development, self-reliant villages. Today, as we are marking Amrit Mahotsav, we must fulfil Bapus dream of Grameen Vikas, the PM said. He did not refer to Morarji Desai, the only prime minister from Gujarat before he came to office. ALSO READ: Prime Minister Modi on two-day visit to Gujarat, meets his mother A robust panchayat raj infrastructure is key to fulfilling the dream of Gram Swaraj. All the panchayat members and sarpanchs are working towards achieving the objective, the PM added. Panchayat elections were held in 2021 in Gujarat and though officially fought on non-party lines, was won by a majority of candidates who are members of the BJP. The BJP won a clear majority in all the 31 district panchayats as well as in 196 of 231 taluka panchayats and 74 of 81 municipalities. The Congress, the main opposition party in the state, won a clear majority in only one municipality and 18 taluka panchayats, while AIMIM and AAP made their presence felt. The Congress lost even in the panchayats where it was in power. Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the AAP was gearing up to fight the along the same pattern as it had organised itself in Punjab. The Delhi and now Punjab model would be replicated in Gujarat as well, he said. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 11 (ANI/PRNewswire): Anand Rathi Investment Services (Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers Limited), one of the leading full-service broker in India with a pan India presence has launched their digital campaign 'Simple hai, to Sahi Hai' for their newly revamped Trading app 'TradeMobi'. Conceptualised and written by the marketing team of Anand Rathi, the campaign tries to spell out the extremely quirky concept of 'Simple hai, to Sahi Hai' to gain mindshare amongst the Gen Z Investors of India. Today with hundreds of trading apps and thousands of features and data points, Investing can seem extremely complex to new-age Investors and with this campaign 'Simple hai, to Sahi Hai', we are reaching out to the new-age investors and informing as well as assuring them that there is a simply to use trading app called TradeMobi and all the features in it are hand-crafted to deliver ease of use. The campaign is a series of three short duration relatable videos. Continuing with the company's Digital first marketing strategy, this campaign will be concentrated around prominent social media platforms and the digital universe at large. Speaking on the campaign, Devang Mehta, Head of Marketing, Anand Rathi Group, said, "With 25+ years of experience in Capital Markets, Anand Rathi has carved a niche for itself and has good brand recall with Ultra HNI, HNIs and seasoned Investors. With this campaign, we plan to create similar niche and brand reach amongst this new age, ever dynamic investors. To convey the strength of our app which is 'Simplicity', we curated this series of quirky, fun to watch, short and easily snackable digital video ads. All the ads show a real life scenario and a real life relatable character that likes complicating things in regular life, but when it comes to Investing, they are very sure that they need something simple and hence they use TradeMobi app." Tuhin & Neel, Film & Creative Directors, Band-Stand Videos, said, "we are extremely happy to have bagged this campaign. The brief was crystal clear where we were mandated to convey simplicity of the app in a humorous genre. Right from actors, attire, surroundings, props and music, each factor was thoughtfully curated to add humour to the ads. With this successful campaign, we are looking forward to working on more campaigns with Anand Rathi." Links to the ads:" a) Delivery:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ1O-zLjbTg & feature=youtu.be) b) Raasta: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOQ1jQEOC5E & feature=youtu.be) c) Classroom: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zkumMCZ0hs) Anand Rathi Investment Services is the Broking & Distribution arm of the Anand Rathi Group. Present pan Indian at 370+ cities with 1100+ outlets catering to 4+ Lakh Investors. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We Are China Highlights from Premier Li's news conference Chinadaily.com.cn) 10:22, March 11, 2022 Premier Li Keqiang meets the press after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress on March 11. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier Li Keqiang met the press on Friday morning after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. The premier took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters via video link. Here are the highlights. On macro economy - 5.5% growth target reflects steady progress, high-quality growth - Current development plans based on long-term view - China to increase government spending for stable growth On Ukraine conflict - China concerned about Ukraine situation, committed to independent foreign policy of peace - China supports all attempts at peace, urges de-escalation - China will work with the intl community to promote peace in Ukraine - China to continue providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine - Utmost efforts should be made to support Russia, Ukraine in carrying forward ceasefire negotiations - China calls for exercising utmost restraint, preventing massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine On financial policy - Fee and tax reduction most direct, fair and effective measure to help businesses - Li highlights 2.5 trillion yuan in tax cuts and refunds - China will give priority to small and micro enterprises in its tax rebates to help them navigate difficulties - Central government's transfer payments to local governments will reach 9.8 trillion yuan this year On Hong Kong - Central government fully supports Hong Kong in fighting COVID outbreak (Read more) - Central authorities understand, support HKSAR government decision to delay chief executive election - China steadfast in implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong On employment - China preferably would create over 13 million new urban jobs this year, which is more than its target of 11 million - Li stresses market approaches to creating jobs amid record number of urban job seekers On COVID-19 - China's anti-COVID policy to continue to be based on science and actual situation On business environment - China streamlines administration, delegates power to improve business environment - 150 million market entities in China, mostly privately held On China-US relations - China and Us should continue dialogue - China-US cooperation mutually beneficial, also benefits world - China, US should cooperate to tackle global challenges - China, US economic competition should be healthy, fair On Taiwan - Mainland committed to One-China principle, 1992 Consensus, and national reunification - Mainland to continue sharing development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots On government work - COVID and economic impact largest challenge for the current-term government, which has responded in full force - Government has focused on stable economic growth, meeting people's needs On people's livelihoods - lncreases in incomes and GDP basically in step - Purpose of economic growth is always to ensure and improve livelihoods - China to scale up support for compulsory education in rural, remote areas - On common prosperity - Common prosperity needs common effort, China committed to opening to world - Chinese economy deeply integrated with world, still offers great investment potential - China will ensure Chinese, foreign companies to compete on fair, equal footing - China will unswervingly expand opening-up regardless of changes in international situation (Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu) People line up to cast ballots for the March 9 presidential election inside Chonnam National University in Gwangju during the early voting period on March 4. Newsis Despite Lee's 8 percent early-voting lead, Yoon wins as Election Day voters cast ballots in favor of the conservative candidate By Ko Dong-hwan The March 9 presidential election presented an interesting phenomenon: a huge gap between the public opinions revealed in early voting and on Election Day. Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was comfortably ahead of Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) by almost 8 percentage points. However, it was Yoon who became the winner as voters on Election Day gave him sufficient support to push him back into the lead. Early voters and Election Day voters were found to have different and opposing leanings. The former group, according to the National Election Commission (NEC), mostly consisted of Lee's staunch supporters in the Jeolla provinces. They were also mostly in their 30s and 40s and felt a sense of urgency to cast their votes before Election Day. "Early voters (in every election) are often those who had already made up their minds," Professor Yoo Sung-jin at Ewha Womans University told The Korea Times. "And such supporters appear to have been more concentrated behind the DPK than the PPP in this election." But those who appeared at polling stations days later on the main voting day had different motives and goals. Ballot-counting by the NEC showed that people in their 60s displayed the most highly concentrated support for Yoon. The majority of the main day voters were also from the conservative-friendly Gyeongsang provinces and swing voters who delayed deciding on who to vote for until that day. "People in their 60s and older, unlike younger age groups, don't like to hurry with casting their ballots so more of them cast their ballots on the main voting day," Yoo said. "Shy voters and residents in Gyeongsang provinces also seem to have gathered before polling stations more heavily on that day." While Yoon beat Lee by a slim margin of 247,077 votes, the early voting period saw some questionable scenes that made some voters suspicious of the NEC. Workers at several polling stations in Seoul, Busan and Daegu collected in plastic bags, cardboard boxes and other unofficial containers ballots from those who tested positive for COVID-19 rather than having them cast their votes directly in designated ballot boxes. Some voters raised complaints at the scene concerning how the officials were managing their ballots. At a designated ballot-counting place in a gymnasium in Incheon's Bupyeong District, election commission workers count ballots for the March 9 presidential election, March 10. Newsis New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI/ATK): At the Jaipur Literature Festival, BluOne Ink (Publishers) will have the rare honour of having two of its eminent authors, Drs Pariksith Singh and Makarand R. Paranjape, participate in engaging conversations. Dr Paranjape will be releasing his latest book, Identity's Last Secret, and will discuss it at length with Dr Singh on March 10. On March 14, Dr Singh will be in conversation with Malashri Lal, discussing his recently released book Sri Aurobindo & the Literary Renaissance of India. Dr Paranjape, himself an author of books on Sri Aurobindo, has praised Dr Singh's effort in the past by saying that despite hundreds of books being published on this subject recently, none are this comprehensive. The eight sections in the book cover a vast array of topics and highlight the genius of Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo's impact goes beyond the realm of philosophy and literature and extends to Indian politics as well. For example, Sri Aurobindo aggressively propagated the Swaraj movement, a turning point in the Indian independence struggle. There he gave a clarion call that fighting for absolute Swaraj was essential and petitioning the British would not bring results. Interestingly, Sri Aurobindo and the Literary Renaissance of India was written when the pandemic was at its peak. The author, Dr Pariksith, was suffering from the Coronavirus himself, a trying time for his family and him. When we asked him how he accomplished this feat, he said that reading and writing about Sri Aurobindo alleviated the physical and mental pain he was going through. Dr Pariksith also told us that his book makes Sri Aurobindo accessible to the younger generation. He believes that it is essential to become spiritual beings ourselves to awaken the spirituality and higher consciousness from within. Quoting the Mother, when someone asked her about how one can transform India, Dr Pariksith said her simple reply was by finding one's own heart and psyche and living through it. Incidentally, Dr Singh will also be launching his latest poetry book, Swayam Se Parichay, at the festival. His last poetry book, Chutti Ke Din, was released by Rajasthan's Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot and garnered a lot of praise. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the new Michigan State University Extension District 6 Director, Eric Karbowski has been going anywhere and everywhere within the district to introduce himself. The district he oversees includes Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Mecosta, Missaukee, Osceola, Wexford counties. Recently, he was at the Wexford County Board of Commissioners meeting to introduce himself to the board. On Thursday, Preston Breitmeyer, right, was recognized by F/Lt. Travis House, left, of the Cadillac Post for his help in the arrest of several people involved in thefts of catalytic converters in northwest Michigan. Local authorities have tightened movement restrictions and added more Covid-19 testing for residents of the capital during the five-day Labor Day holiday. Restaurant dining was suspended from Sunday to Wednesday, while three more rounds of nucleic acid tests are to be conducted in 12 districts from Tuesday to Thursday. A growing number of public venues have closed in the city, including exhibitions at the Palace Museum. The capital reported 62 local cases Monday May 03, 2022 04:07 PM Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: 2nd Look at Local Housing Markets in February A brief excerpt: Important on Houston Market From the Houston Association of REALTORS (HAR): February Is a Strong Month for Houston Home Sales (Sales up sharply due partially to the freeze in February 2021) Home sales scored double-digit gains in February, but part of the strong showing was because the statistics compared to last February, when that deadly Texas freeze halted real estate activity for days, and in some cases, even longer. Undistorted by the weather factor were the continued squeeze on inventory, which returned to its all-time low, and pricing, which due to limited supply and ongoing consumer demand, soared to record highs. emphasis added And a table of February sales. Sales in these areas were down 2.0% YoY, Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA). Note: The Houston market was up 25.6% year-over-year due to the freeze in February 2021. Notes for all tables: 1) New additions to table in BOLD. 2) Northwest (Seattle), North Texas (Dallas), and Santa Clara (San Jose), Jacksonville, Source: Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS 3) Totals do not include Atlanta, and Denver (included in state totals). There is much more in the article. You can subscribe at https://calculatedrisk.substack.com/ President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps By Nam Hyun-woo President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party (PPP) has been stressing bipartisan efforts to achieve national unity after winning Wednesday's election as the results of voting underscored a deep national divide. Despite his efforts, it will be an uphill battle for Yoon to receive parliamentary support as the National Assembly is still dominated by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) which holds a majority of the seats in parliament. During a press conference on Thursday, Yoon said the opposition party's majority at the Assembly is "a very natural situation in a democratic country." He added that the situation is not an obstacle, but "an opportunity for Korea's democracy to make a leap forward." He also said during a ceremony marking the end of his campaign that he will "closely cooperate with the DPK" because both parties share a common goal of "serving the people." Yoon's comments came amid a tough road seen ahead of the president-elect in managing state affairs and implementing his election pledges. Currently, the DPK dominates the Assembly with 172 out of 300 seats. That means the party alone can pass almost all bills, except a few, such as a revision of the Constitution which requires the approval of two thirds of all lawmakers. The PPP clinched four more seats during by-elections which took place on the sideline of Wednesday's election and decided to merge with the center-right People's Party to win three more seats. But the main conservative party's total seats will remain only at 113 seats. Lawmakers approve a bill during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in this Feb. 21 file photo. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun This will seriously limit President-elect Yoon in pursuing innovative measures that require Assembly approval, such as making and revising bills, organizing the Cabinet and setting the country's budget. This situation could continue for at least two more years, because the next general election is scheduled to take place in April 2024. The most imminent challenge is appointing a prime minister. The President needs the Assembly's approval to appoint a prime minister. Yoon asked for cooperation between parties in running state affairs and DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung also wished Yoon's success as the President. But the DPK is anticipated to give Yoon a hard time in appointing a prime minister as the largest party will not want to lose control. Chances are also high for Yoon to face difficulties in appointing ministers. Proactive efforts needed to improve ties with neighboring nations President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol expressed hope for stronger coordination with the United States and Japan on Korean Peninsula issues, according to Yoon's conservative People Power Party (PPP) Friday. The party said Yoon made the statement in his phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida two days after he won the presidential election. While congratulating Yoon on his election victory, Kishida also revealed hopes for improved relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Kishida said during a press meeting in Tokyo that healthy bilateral relations are important for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world. He cited the need for communication between the leaders, saying, "I will think about bilateral relations positively." We welcome such a development as it means a positive sign for better relations between the two countries which have been at their lowest ebb under the Moon Jae-in administration. On Thursday, Yoon also had a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden only five hours after his election win. "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea to congratulate him on his election," the White House said in a press release. "Together, they affirmed the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is the linchpin for peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," it noted. "The two also committed to maintain close coordination on addressing the threats posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear and missile programs," according to White House. Biden affirmed the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea. During his campaigning, Yoon emphasized the need to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and beef up mutual trust between South Korea and the U.S. Given the positive reactions from the U.S. and Japan, expectations are growing over Seoul's improved relations with the two countries. In yet another positive development, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Yoon highlighting the importance of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Beijing. He described South Korea as a close and important cooperation partner, in the message read by Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming during a meeting at PPP headquarters. "Together with South Korea, China is willing to firmly defend the original intentions of our setup of diplomatic ties and solidify the cooperative bilateral relations toward promoting welfare of the peoples of the two countries," Xi said. We welcome the recent "positive" developments surrounding the Korean Peninsula, spurred on by the election of Yoon as the nation's next head of state. What is worrying, however, is North Korea's recent missile launches, apparently in preparations for test-firing of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM). The international order is rapidly being realigned toward a new Cold War, prompting the need to map out new strategies to cope with the grave security challenges currently facing the world. Authorities need to come up with detailed and pragmatic diplomatic strategies. Most importantly, we should strengthen the alliance with the U.S. and Japan. President-elect Yoon should exercise wisdom to tackle the new Cold War era through close alliances on the one hand and pursue balanced diplomacy in relations with the U.S. and China on the other. NCSOFT's headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province / Yonhap Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund has increased its stake in NCSOFT to become the second-largest shareholder, according to a regulatory filing Friday. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired an additional 563,566 shares of the major South Korean online and mobile game developer for around 290 billion won ($240 million) through six transactions between February 9 and 16. PIF now holds 2,032,411 shares of NCSOFT, with a 9.26 percent stake, trailing behind CEO Kim Taek-jin with 11.9 percent. Its shareholding also surpasses local mobile game publisher Netmarble's 8.9 percent and the state pension fund, National Pension Service's 8.4 percent. PIF announced the purchase is a simple investment and it will only exercise basic rights based on stock holdings, and not be involved in management. Earlier, PIF also acquired additional shares of another local gaming giant Nexon listed in Tokyo to increase its stake to 7.09 percent. (Yonhap) Avwatch, a Plymouth, Mass.-based company under the umbrella of Technology Service Corporation, has set up shop in a hangar at the Michael J. Smith Field Airport in Beaufort with the help of a grant awarded to the Carteret County-Beaufort Airport Authority. (Elise Clouser photo) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and consider subscribing for only $7 per month to get access to more articles and news as it happens. LOAD CATTLE FOR TRIP: Twenty-one registered Hereford were shipped from Manning Tuesday to Spain. The consignors are, from left, top picture, Sam, Les and Gene Wiese, Manning; Dale Dudley, the manager of Kenyon Farms, Tama; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kenyon, West Des Moines; Phil Higgins, Earlham; G The Disney Companys tight control over Pixars output wont be a surprise to anyone who understands the inner workings of studio animation, but it is stunning to hear the criticism publicly aired by employees. The most damaging line of the letter might be the following, which highlights the extent to which the content of Pixar films is filtered through Disney corporate and out of the studios control: We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were. Pixar employees issued their letter amidst the worst public relations crisis for the Walt Disney Company since Bob Chapek took over as CEO two years ago. The crisis is largely one of Chapeks own making and was elevated to a new level after Chapek issued a ham-fisted defense of Disneys approach to the Dont Say Gay bill by claiming that the best way to affect change was through the inspiring content we produce. The Pixar employees reference that internal studio memo and claim that they arent even allowed to create the inspiring content that Chapek touted as the foundation of Disneys response. Chapek has since tried to buy his way out of the crisis by pledging $5 million from Disney to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, however, that too backfired after the group refused the donation until meaningful action is taken to combat Floridas new law. Beyond their criticism of Disneys creative interference in Pixars films, the studio employees lay out a series of actions that they want the Walt Disney Company to take in the wake of the Florida bills passage. The text of the letter, which was first reported online by journalist Judd Legum of the newsletter Popular Information, is published below in full: Photo: The Canadian Press Chief Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre is shown at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa on Nov. 26, 2021. Eyre says protecting the country's Arctic region is a key priority for the armed forces, warning that Russia has reoccupied abandoned Cold War bases in its Far North.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand Canada's defence chief says protecting the country's Arctic region is a key priority for the Armed Forces, warning that Russia has reoccupied abandoned Cold War bases in its Far North. Gen. Wayne Eyre says defending NATO's northern flank is a key area of concern for the Canadian military. Eyre says the threat of a Russian incursion into Canada's Arctic from the North is very low at the moment, but it could not be ruled out in the decades to come. Speaking at a defence conference in Ottawa, he says Canada's Arctic is potentially vulnerable because of its sparse population and lack of infrastructure. He says showing that Canada's military can fight and operate in extreme conditions at the furthest reaches of its territory acts as a deterrent and may make an aggressor think twice. Eyre says Russia's naked aggression toward Ukraine has given NATO new energy, but Putin's recklessness has made the world a much more dangerous place. Photo: Vancouver Police Department Vancouver police say an employee of a Tim Hortons in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside was assaulted by a customer in October 2021. Vancouver police say they have arrested a woman who allegedly threw coffee on a Tim Hortons employee in Vancouver. On Oct. 20, 2021, around 10 a.m., a woman entered the Tim Hortons near Pender and Abbott streets and ordered a coffee, explains a news release. Surveillance footage shows the female employee handing the woman a cup of hot coffee, which the suspect then threw back in her face. Police believe the incident was unprovoked. We understand how traumatizing it is when people become victims of random and unprovoked attacks, said VPD Sgt Steve Addison. When these incidents happen, we do everything we can to fully investigate, gather evidence, and identify the people responsible. The VPD appealed to the public for information about the assault last fall. With evidence collected during the investigation and civilian tips, officers were able to identify and arrest the suspect in Vancouver on March 4. Megan Russell, 27, has been arrested and charged with assault with a weapon. Photo: The Canadian Press Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner Beatrice Fihn in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mindaugas Kulbis Belarus's exiled opposition leader says ordinary Belarusians are actively resisting the invasion of Ukraine, disrupting railway supplies to Russian forces and warning Ukrainians about movements of Russian aircraft. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said other Belarusians have travelled to Ukraine to help defend Kyiv against a Russian assault. Tsikhanouskaya told a defence conference in Ottawa that most Belarusians do not support the invasion of Ukraine, saying "antiwar sentiment in Belarus is on the rise." The leader, who gained a standing ovation after addressing the conference via video link, said it was important to distinguish between Alexander Lukashenko's Kremlin-controlled regime and the Belarusian people who have no way to influence his policies. She said Ukraine's bold resistance to the Kremlin was inspiring the Belarusian resistance to Lukashenko, saying "the fate of Belarusia and Ukraine is interconnected." Tsikhanouskaya claimed a first-round victory over Lukashenko in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election after she stood in the place of her husband, who had been detained. She was repeatedly threatened, forced to go abroad into hiding, and several members of her campaign arrested during the campaign. She disputed the eventual election of Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She called on Canada and other Western countries to introduce tougher sanctions on Belarus including on its state banks, warning that Russia is using Belarusian banks to circumvent sanctions on its own institutions. This is a "huge loophole," she said. She also called for Belarus to be removed from the SWIFT banking system, the messaging system used by financial institutions, Tsikhanouskaya said the war is "a fight between democracy and autocracy" with the future of the whole of Europe at stake. She said Putin is seeking to restore the Russian empire and widen its sphere of influence. She warned that dictators must be stopped or they would seek to blackmail other countries in the future, saying Putin's threats about the use of nuclear weapons were extremely concerning for her region. Lukashenko has allowed Belarus to be a staging post for Putin's invasion of Ukraine, letting Russian troops amass along the border. Pawel Herczynski, managing director for EU Security and Defence Policy, told the Conference of Defence Associations Institute event that Putin had counted on the West being "impotent" and divided but he failed, with the EU introducing sanctions that bite and supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine. "This is the first time ever that the EU will provide lethal military equipment to a country under attack," he said. He did not rule out the EU introducing even tougher sanctions, including a ban on the import of Russian oil and gas, saying "our tool kit is not empty." But EU countries are heavily reliant on exports of Russian oil and gas and he said this was an issue that all 27 member states must agree on. "We are willing to step up our sanctions even further," he said. The top EU official said the European Union was in close contact with China, which he said is "a very important part of the solution." Earlier at the conference, the vice-chief of Canada's defence staff said the Armed Forces are embarking on a digital recruitment drive to build up numbers. Lieutenant-general Frances Allen said a priority was to build back Armed Forces capacity and to do that it was addressing "many flaws" with the recruiting process. She said recruitment will be more digitally based and designed to quickly engage with people who have expressed an interest in the Armed Forces. She said there was existing work on retaining members. Allen said a culture change is ongoing, which will allow people in the military to "be their best" without feeling they are "an outsider" or "an other." The conference also heard how the military was looking at the "warrior identity" within the military. It was working on a raft of measures to make it more accessible to women, including improving child care and parental leave. Rebecca Patterson, chief of staff for professional conduct and culture, said "today's warrior is a professional at arms" and that culture change included a focus on reporting wrongdoing. HMM container ship / Courtesy of HMM By Kim Hyun-bin The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has played a key role in significantly expanding trade and investments between the two countries, a report showed. In fact, the pact, which went into effect in 2012, increased bilateral trade volume by 67.8 percent in the past decade. The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) published a report titled, "Korea U.S. FTA 10-year evaluation and tasks," to mark the 10th anniversary of bilateral trade pact, Friday. Trade between the two countries increased 67.8 percent over the past decade to $169.1 billion in 2021 from $100.8 billion in 2011 before the FTA took effect. U.S. goods accounted for 13.4 percent of all products imported into Korea in 2021, up from 9.3 percent in 2011 and making the U.S. become Korea's second-largest trading partner. During the same period, Korea's proportion of U.S. trade rose to 3.5 percent from 2.7 percent in 2011, making Korea the sixth-largest trading partner of the U.S. Exports were led by automobiles, components, petroleum products, rechargeable batteries, refrigerators, and synthetic resins. Korea's trade surplus surged to $22.7 billion in 2021 from $11.6 billion before the FTA took effect. After the Korea-US FTA, mutual investments became more active. The U.S. is Korea's biggest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for 22.3 percent of total FDI here. In addition, the U.S. is the largest overseas investment destination for Korean companies, accounting for 25.2 percent of Korea's foreign investments. Recently, Korean investments in the U.S. increased significantly, mainly in rechargeable batteries, semiconductors, and electric vehicles. The Korea-US FTA was evaluated to have played a pivotal role in strengthening cooperation in the supply chains of the two countries. Several joint ventures were inked between Korean battery producers and U.S. automakers, and Korean companies have secured a competitive advantage over competitors by securing major customers in North America, while U.S. automakers have established a cooperative relationship in which they receive stable battery supplies. "Korea has grown into a major supply chain partner of the U.S. based on closer economic cooperation through the Korea-US FTA and expansion of trade and investment," KITA said. "As the supply chain reorganization based on trust is more emphasized in the face of a supply chain crisis, the supply chain cooperation between the two countries is intensifying, centering on core industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and pharmaceuticals." Photo: The Canadian Press Statistics Canada says the economy added 337,000 jobs in February, more than offsetting the loss of 200,000 jobs in January as the unemployment rate fell below pre-pandemic levels. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 per cent in February compared with 6.5 per cent in the first month of the year. That is the lowest it's been since it was 5.7 per cent in February 2020 just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate would have been 7.4 per cent last month had it included in calculations people who wanted a job but did not look for one. In British Columbia, the jobless rate was pegged at 4.9 per cent, down from 5.1 per cent in January. In Kelowna, it was 7.1 per cent, down from 7.2 per cent. The majority of the decline in the ranks of Canada's unemployed came from people called back to work in February after a temporary layoff one month earlier as provinces tightened restriction to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. Eight provinces saw job increases as restrictions eased, although Alberta and New Brunswick stayed flat. Gains in February were notable in sectors hardest hit by public health restrictions, including accommodation and food services that was up by 114,000 jobs. Statistics Canada also says the proportion of the working age population with a job rose in February to 61.8 per cent, marking the first time that rate returned to its pre-pandemic levels. Overall, the agency says that the labour force in February was 1.9 per cent, or 369,100 jobs, above levels recorded in February 2020. The February jobs report suggests the labour market is at, or very close to, full employment, says Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce warns that is going to make it difficult to fill the nearly one million job vacancies across the country. Leah Nord, the chamber's senior director of workforce strategies, says the general policy response from governments to acute labour shortages has been underwhelming. Re. Developers lobbying gov't (Castanet, March 11) Canadian Horizons is now lobbying the provincial government to get approval for a housing development on (Penticton's) Naramata Bench. Housing Minister David Eby says local communities are not allowing developers to move forward with much-needed housing. He and the NDP government have already over-stepped in making decisions that have been disastrous to our province. Our beautiful province and valley are already suffering mismanagement of developers, who only have profits in mind. Canadian Horizons is not concerned about a lack of housing, it is only interested in its profit margins. The government needs to back off in making decisions in areas it does not understand. The local community has spoken and has a far better understanding of what a nightmare this housing project would be to the local environment. The Penticton and area do not need more interference from (B.C. Premier John) Horgan and his cohorts regarding housing. Penticton, Naramata and the area are well-equipped and informed as to what will, or will not, work in the area. Maybe Canadian Horizons should consider building its housing project in the burned out town of Lytton. The NDP (government) have lost all credibility. British Columbia has suffered long enough under this disastrous government. Wilma Van Vliet, Penticton Photo: Facebook The family of a Black man who was shot and killed by a white Kansas City police officer in 2020 is suing the officer and the Board of Police Commissioners for at least $10 million. The federal lawsuit filed Thursday by Donnie Sanders' family accuses the officer, Blayne Newton, of using excessive force when he shot Sanders on March 12, 2020. It also accuses the board, which oversees the Kansas City Police Department, of not properly training or disciplining officers in the use of deadly force, The Kansas City Star reported. The Police Department did not immediately respond to a request Friday for comment on the lawsuit. Sanders' death is one of the prominent cases in Kansas City involving Black people cited by civil rights activists when pushing for changes to the Police Department. Newton shot Sanders, 47, three times after he followed Sanders vehicle into an alley. Sanders parked the vehicle and ran, with Newton chasing him, police have said. Police dashcam video records Newton yelling commands at Sanders to stop and show his hands but the video does not capture the shooting. Kansas City police were not wearing body cameras at the time but have since begun doing so. Newton told investigators he believed he saw a gun in Sanders hand. No weapon was found; investigators said Sanders had only a cellphone in his jacket pocket. Two witnesses reported they saw Newton walking backward while yelling commands as Sanders approached with his arm extended. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, citing an investigation by Kansas City police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, determined last year that the witnesses' statements collaborated Newton's account that he shot Sanders because he was afraid for his life. Newton was not charged and returned to work as a patrol officer. He underwent another review after witnesses said he put his knee on the back of a Black woman who was on the ground during an arrest another case that sparked protests. Photo: The Canadian Press Pumpjacks are shown pumping crude oil near Halkirk, Alta., on June 20, 2007. An oil and gas labour shortage is one of the factors that could prevent Canada from moving quickly to address energy demand in the wake of U.S. sanctions against Russia.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal An oil and gas labour shortage is one of the factors that could prevent Canada from moving quickly to address energy demand in the wake of U.S. sanctions against Russia. Industry experts say Canada has the capacity to export an additional 200,000 to 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the U.S. The U.S. is facing a shortfall of approximately 700,000 barrels per day after President Joe Biden banned imports of Russian petroleum products earlier this week. But members of Canada's oil and gas industry says their ability to ramp up production will be hampered by a lack of workers. Many oil and gas workers left the industry entirely over the course of a seven-year downturn in energy prices. Now that prices are soaring, companies are trying to entice workers back to the sector. But industry insiders say finding enough people to bring on additional rigs in the short-term won't be easy. Photo: The Canadian Press Ensaf Haidar, wife of blogger Raif Badawi, arrives for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Sherbrooke, Que., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. Haidar, who lives with the couple's children in Sherbrooke, Que., tweeted Friday that Badawi had been released from prison. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson After a decade in a Saudi prison, blogger and activist Raif Badawi was released Friday, his Quebec-based wife confirmed, but questions remain about when he will be permitted to join his family in Canada. Ensaf Haidar, who lives with the couple's three children in Sherbrooke, Que., tweeted that Badawi "is free." "#Raifisfree After 10 years in prison," she wrote on Twitter. Badawi's supporters and family had been calling for Badawi's release since his sentence expired on Feb. 28. Evelyne Abitbol, a spokesperson for the family, said it wasn't clear what conditions remain for him. "Raif is released from the prison walls but we have no indication as to the rest of the sentence," Abitbol said in an email. "It is now up to the Canadian government to grant him safe passage or a travel document so that he can come and join his family here in Quebec." Last month, Montreal-based human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler, who represents Badawi internationally, said the release from prison had been expected sometime in March. Cotler, a former federal justice minister and founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, had warned that while his prison sentence was at an end, Badawi still faced a 10-year travel ban, a media ban and a punitive fine that was handed down at the time of sentencing. "Were talking about a kind of prison without walls where hes deprived of travel for the next 10 years," Cotler said at the time. That would be continuing the punishment outside of prison that he was having inside prison the severe pain of being deprived of being with his wife and children. Badawi was jailed in 2012 and sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a fine of one million Saudi riyal about $340,000 for criticizing the country's clerics in his writings. He received 50 lashes in January 2015 during a public flogging, but he is not believed to have been whipped since. Badawis sentence has drawn widespread international condemnation, and numerous organizations, governments and advocacy groups have called for his release over the years. Cotler said Badawi's writings call for a more open Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also personally advocated for a more moderate Islam. In a letter addressed to the crown prince earlier this week, before word of his release, Cotler called for Badawi to be allowed to reunite with his family in Canada. "Mr. Badawi was convicted for founding a website for peaceful, open dialogue," Cotler wrote. "He poses no security concerns whatsoever. His only wish is to reunite with his family over 10,000 kilometres away so that he may live out his days as a devoted husband and father." Last year, both the House of Commons and Senate voted in favour of the immigration minister using his discretionary power to grant Badawi Canadian citizenship, but that hasn't happened yet. Bloc Quebecois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, who tabled that motion in 2021, said he jumped for joy at the news when Haidar, a Bloc candidate in the last election, called him before it was made public. "You have to look at what Ensaf has done: she never let go. She has been fighting this fight for 10 years," Brunelle-Duceppe said in a phone interview. "It's the fight of a lifetime, I think. Today he is free. It's thanks to his fight too." Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly tweeted that "Canada is relieved to hear news that Raif Badawi has been released." Quebec Premier Francois Legault also welcomed the news. "At last!" Legault wrote on Twitter. "I keep thinking about the children who will finally be reunited with their father." Photo: Associated Press Children, fleeing from Ukraine, play in a shelter designed for women and children at the train station in Przemysl, Poland on March 3. With millions of Ukrainians fleeing their country from the Russian invasion, Premier John Horgan says thousands, or even tens of thousands, could make their way to British Columbia. Horgan spoke at a press conference Friday after meeting with members of the Ukrainian community in the province earlier in the day. He said the province is working to set up a 1-800 number for British Columbians who are looking to donate to the effort, or provide support in other ways. Quite frankly, the modestly sized Ukrainian organizations [in B.C.], whether they be in our major centres or in regional hubs, are overwhelmed by the generosity and good wishes of British Columbians and we need to manage that, Horgan said. We ask for patience from the broader public as we put together infrastructure to accept the benevolence and generosity of British Columbians towards the courageous and gracious people of Ukraine. The United Nations says 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24. With thousands of refugees expected to make their way to B.C. in the coming months, Horgan said finding housing for them will be the number one challenge. We don't know how many people will be coming. Canada has the third largest population of Ukrainians on the globe, he noted, behind only Ukraine and Russia. Housing is the number one challenge, we know this in our domestic activity, much less opening up our doors to newcomers. I know in the community of faith that I'm attached to, people are renovating their basements as quickly as they can, to prepare a suite, or they're emptying out rooms that have been filled with boxes to make sure there is a space for people if it's needed. Horgan said his government is looking at options to house a possible wave of refugees, like using vacant off-season ski hill accommodation and off-season student housing. He noted that many fleeing Ukrainians may try and stay in Europe to be closer to their homeland, but Canada is a desirable location for the Ukrainian community to come to because of the support systems they'd have when they arrive with community. To date, Ukraine's neighbour Poland has taken in the bulk of refugees. Horgan spoke with other premiers earlier in the week about organizing a Canada-wide response to the possible influx or refugees, which would require increasing childcare and school spaces, and providing services like trauma counselling. There's a long, long list of needs that we're assembling right now and preparing for, but until we know who's coming, it's really hard to pinpoint just where we're going to focus our attention, Horgan said. People internationally, people from across Canada, coming to British Columbian to settle puts extraordinary pressure on our infrastructure our schools, our hospitals, our housing stock. All of those issues need to be addressed. With Ukraine calling on most men in the country to stay and fight, Horgan said he expects mostly women and children to arrive in B.C. "Talking to the community who have eyes and ears back home is the best way for us to be well prepared," Horgan said. Back in 2015 and 2016, Canada welcomed more than 25,000 Syrian refugees during the peak of that country's civil war. The Alshahoud family were some of the first of the Syrian refugees to settle in Kelowna during that time, and Mohammad Alshahoud says there are at least 75 to 80 Syrian families who have now settled in the Okanagan. Members of the WGC 2022 National Organizing Committee attend a meeting at COEX, Seoul, Jan. 23. Korea Times file By Lee Kyung-min The World Gas Conference Daegu 2022 scheduled for May is bracing itself for the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and the escalating Russia-Ukraine war, event organizers said Friday. According to the Daegu Metropolitan Office, the international event to be held in Daegu from May 23 to 27, has received only 200 registration requests, as of Friday, only 5 percent of the initially expected attendance of 4,800. "Many participating firms seem hesitant to register early," said a Daegu Metropolitan Office official who coordinates the event with the WGC 2022 National Organizing Committee associated with Korea Gas Corp. "The numbers are low, mostly because of the raging Omicron variant. But we still have about two months left, so we expect the registration rate to pick up as we near the event." An official of the committee said the latest announcement on the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and self-quarantine will help increase participation in the weeks to come. "Self-quarantine measures will be lifted for foreigners flying in. The health authorities' measures are expected to ease concerns of event participants," he said. The escalating war between Russia and Ukraine remains a sticking point, a risk that can be amplified to affect non-Russian firms as well. Russia's state-owned gas giant Gazprom and an independent natural gas producer Novatek were expected to bring a combined 100 officials to Daegu, but their attendance is not guaranteed. "They are an important participant of the event. But we do have others coming from Europe, most of whom are willing to come," the committee official said. "Other countries not being able to come due to a new round of probable international sanctions is a possibility we are closely monitoring." The visa issues could hit a possible roadblock in the weeks to come, brought on by intensifying sanctions against Russia and will also need to be closely monitored, he added. "The war is now escalating, but chances of de-escalation are not non-existent. We do not have an adversary relationship with Russia, so we will not unilaterally deny Russian participants' visit requests. No major disruptions are expected since the sanctions have not gone as far as an outright entry ban." The event was initially scheduled for June of last year, but has since been postponed due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. Over 10,000 people with 110 companies from 90 countries were to come to Korea. More than 500 speakers were expected to come and present 95 sessions across a five-day program, covering a range of strategic, commercial and technical topics facing the gas industry. A number of committees under the International Gas Union planned to share their global network and knowledge in providing technical industry insight. Areas of interest include exploration, production, storage, transmission, distribution, utilization, sustainability, strategy, marketing, liquefied natural gas marketing, communications and research and development (R&D) and innovation. "We will continue to work for a successful event in May, despite challenges from the ongoing health crisis and the military conflict in Europe," the committee official said. Indonesian cement and clinker exports rise to record levels in 2021 11 March 2022 Indonesia is rapidly expanding its cement and clinker export activities, with YoY volumes climbing by 25.2 per cent to reach a record 11.610Mt in 2021. By year end, cement exports grew by 46.6 per cent to 1.609Mt, while clinker volumes expanded by 22.3 per cent to 10.001Mt. Bangladesh and the Philippines were major clinker destinations, while cement destinations included Mauritius and the Maldives. Published under reg reg Subscription Subscribe to International Cement Review 12 issues of the leading cement industry magazine, your choice of complimentary handbook, plus unlimited access to CemNet.com News, Articles and HD Videos. High energy prices shut down Cementos Portland Valderrivas kilns ICR Newsroom By 11 March 2022 Spain-based Cementos Portland Valderrivas has shut down all kilns at its seven main plants (Morata de Tajuna, Monjos, Vallcarca, Alcala de Guadaira, Venta de Banos, Mataporquera and Olazagutia), according to CE Noticias Financieras.The company attributes the temporary shutdown to the high price of electricity, which was further aggravated by the Russian invasion into Ukraine. Cementos Portland Valderrivas has informed its workers that it will not restart activity at the plants until the price of electricity falls below EUR200/MW (US$219.43/MW). On 10 March the electricity price stood at EUR370/MW. However, union sources have called upon the government to address the issue of high electricity prices in Spain, which they see as a structural problem and no longer a temporary issue. Published under Buena Vista, CO (81211) Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High around 50F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 30F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines produced at Hankook Korus Pharm's factory in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, are seen in this July 2021 file photo. Joint Press Corps By Park Jae-hyuk GL Rapha, one of the Korean manufacturers of Russia's Sputnik V and one-shot Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccines, has reaffirmed that it will continue producing and exporting the vaccines. The move contrasts with Huons Global, which decided recently to halt production of the Russian vaccines in Korea. "We will continue the project as planned," a GL Rapha spokesman said Friday. "We received a good manufacturing practices (GMP) certificate from Russia and produced the vaccines for commercial use, so there is no reason for us to stop the project." In 2020, GL Rapha signed an agreement with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the country's sovereign wealth fund, to export the Sputnik vaccines being produced at the factory of its subsidiary, Hankook Korus Pharm, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The Korean firm also organized a consortium with several other local drug manufacturers for the project. GL Rapha expects the vaccines to remain exempt from international sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, given that the U.S. Treasury Department issued general licenses to authorize transactions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the company dismissed concerns about getting paid for its production, saying that it can consider various alternatives to receiving money through Russian banks. Its exports of 5 million doses of vaccines stored in Korea, however, have been delayed due to the ongoing crisis. "We will issue a press release, once we begin exporting the vaccines," its spokesman said. "We have continued talking with our Russian partner." Huons Global, on the other hand, announced on Thursday that a consortium led by the company decided to stop producing the Russian coronavirus vaccines in light of the international situation. "We apologize to those who encouraged our consortium," the company said in a statement. "Please understand that it was a difficult decision made after plenty of deliberation." Humedix, a subsidiary of Huons Global, spent 10 billion won ($8.1 million) to build a production line for the Sputnik vaccine vials. The company plans to use the facility to manufacture other pharmaceutical products. In Germany, the state of Bavaria decided to stop the production of Sputnik V vaccines, citing the sanctions against Russia. Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Soeder told the state's parliament last month that the vaccine's production will be blocked, even if it is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). RDIF, which markets the vaccines, claimed that a number of large Western pharmaceutical companies lobbied U.S. authorities to impose restrictions on the vaccine. Although it has denied involvement in any political activities, the sovereign wealth fund has been widely viewed as the main source of money for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Chatham, VA (24531) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. All nine members of the County Commission have asked local judges to reinstate the inmate litter pickup program. Their letter says: Honorable Hamilton County Judges and Staff: Please accept this letter as an official request to reinstate the inmate litter cleanup program in Hamilton County. Litter is a growing problem and weve noticed a big change since the state ended the inmate clean-up program that utilized prison inmates to pick up trash along our roads. Commissioners are formally requesting that program be re-instated. We are asking for your immediate attention to the increasing problems of roadside trash across our area. The persistent accumulation of litter along our roadways has gone unchecked and grown to critical proportions in many spots. Citizens are feeling a growing sense of stress, anxiety and hopelessness seeing our once beautiful streets tarnished by enormous amounts of trash. This accumulation of garbage also presents an ecological hazard as it is washed into our creeks and waterways. Throughout our areas there have been small group efforts to remove trash as best we can and citizens are happy to continue these efforts. However, students and other untrained citizens can only do so much, especially along the higher traffic areas that are seeing some of the worst accumulation of garbage Please reinstate much needed assistance to combat this ever growing problem, truly effecting Hamilton Countys citizens quality of life. Very truly yours, Randy Fairbanks Warren Mackey Sabrena Smedley, Chairman D.C. (Chip) Baker Katherlyn Geter Tim Boyd, Pro Tempore Greg Martin David Sharpe Steve Highlander The $1.5 trillion spending bill approved by Congress includes another $85.5 million toward a new Federal Courthouse in Chattanooga. The $85.5 million would be short of the $94.6 million government officials recently said was necessary to complete the project. However, the office of Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said the General Services Administration "has submitted a draft resolution to begin design and construction of the courthouse to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. We expect a markup to occur sometime in later March or in April so work can begin on the courthouse." Congress in 2021 approved an initial $94.5 million for the Chattanooga Federal Courthouse. The General Services Administration in January launched a search for a site for the new Chattanooga Federal Courthouse. The Fleischmann office said, "There is still not a set location for the new courthouse. Mayor Tim Kelly and other local officials are in the process of choosing a specific site." A new Federal Courthouse that is about to open in Nashville cost $194 million. It will consist of approximately 275,000 square feet with eight courtrooms, 11 judges chambers on six tenant floors and a basement level with structured parking. The new facility will provide workspace for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Probation, the U.S. Attorneys office, GSA and U.S. Senate offices. The Chattanooga courthouse will be smaller at 186,000 square feet. The General Services Administration said it was looking for a site between two to five acres. Federal officials say the current courthouse on Georgia Avenue across from Miller Park no longer meets the judiciarys requirements, "but the process will take time and is subject to congressional authorization and availability of funds." The GSA also said it would be determining the best use and reuse opportunities for the current courthouse. Known as the Joel Solomon Building, it was the final creation of famed Chattanooga architect R.H. Hunt when it was built in the 1930s. Many pushing the woke agenda are getting booted off school boards from Loudon County, Va. to San Francisco, Ca. Now more than ever, as early voting nears, we should carefully examine each candidate for school board here in Hamilton County. Candidates must define Critical Race Theory. We hear CRT isnt taught here. If someone cant define it, how can they say it isnt taught in Hamilton County classrooms? As a result of the quarantine and at-home learning, parents discovered what was being taught in some classrooms. In states like Virginia, parents were surprised when they questioned the use of books that they considered inappropriate. Many were told parents dont need to be telling schools what to teach in these matters. So what do our school board candidates think about parents objecting to controversial books students are asked to read? For that matter, what do candidates think justifies using books in schools containing graphic language or explicit sexual situations? Every Hamilton County citizen is a stakeholder in the education of our students. Most still expect the focus of American schools to be on producing a literate, well trained workforce able to compete in the 21st Century job market. They dont expect schools to produce Marxist youth confused about bathrooms and pronouns who are trotted out to rallies for pornography and profanity. Do your homework. School board races are no longer non-partisan. So examine what a candidates political party endorses. Then Google a candidates name with keywords like progressive, social justice, CRT, socialism or controversial books in schools. Attend candidate forums and ask questions. Finally, tell others what you have learned. This is not the time to be complacent. It might surprise you what candidates once said on social media compared to what they say now that they want your vote. Ralph Miller A Hamilton County Sheriffs Office deputy was in his patrol vehicle near the 5470 block of Hixson Pike when it was struck at speed by an intoxicated driver early Friday at approximately 12:30 a.m. Emergency Services, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and HCSO Traffic Units responded to the scene. The driver of the offending vehicle was arrested for DUI by Tennessee State Troopers. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were unable to be driven from the scene. The HCSO deputy involved in the accident was not injured. This incident highlights the dangers of people choosing to drive under the influence. We are grateful this deputy was not seriously injured or killed and that no other citizen was injured by this drivers actions. Once again, I want to stress the importance of making wise decisions by choosing a designated driver or utilizing a ride/share service rather than driving impaired, said Chief Deputy Austin Garrett. The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office and QCHC, the contract medical provider at the Silverdale Detention Center, announced the appointment of Dr. Moses Benaiah Benavides, a renowned family and emergency medicine physician to the staff of medical professionals at the Silverdale Detention Center. The HCSO also announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art medical unit at the Silverdale Detention Center. Dr. Benavides will be the attending physician on staff with QCHC at the Silverdale Detention Center overseeing the day to day medical needs of the inmates housed within the facility. Due to his training in both family and emergency medicine, he will be able to assess, treat, and respond to a variety of medical conditions and emergencies at the Silverdale Detention Center. We are very fortunate to have a physician of Dr. Benavides caliber join our team at the Silverdale Detention Center, said Sheriff Jim Hammond. I have known Doctor Benavides for many years through missions and professional circles and I am thankful for the experience and training he brings to our operations. Dr. Benavides has worked in hospitals and emergency rooms all over the world as both a licensed physician and medical missionary. In the United States, he has held positions at many medical facilities and hospitals including, but not limited to, Lauderdale Community Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Oscar G. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare Systems Twelve Clans Unity Hospital in Winnebago, Ne., and Tohono Oodham National Healthcare Hospital in Sells, Az. In addition to his work in the United States, he is very active in the field of medical missions and has performed surgeries and procedures throughout the world including China, India, Columbia, Cuba, and numerous countries within Central and South America. With his background in emergency medicine, Dr. Benavides will be able to perform many procedures at the Silverdale Detention Center that would have previously required visits to local emergency rooms and hospitals. The HCSO recently completed renovations on a new medical unit at the Silverdale Detention Center in association with QCHC that will help address the growing medical needs of the inmate population. Together, Dr. Benavides and the new medical unit at Silverdale will increase the ability to serve the needs of the inmates and save taxpayer funds by reducing unnecessary trips to local hospitals and emergency rooms. Currently, the HCSO contracts medical services for the inmates with Quality Correctional Health Care (QCHC) based in Birmingham, Alabama. QCHC, a physician owned company and founded by Dr. Johnny Bates, is one of the nations leading correctional based healthcare providers serving corrections institutions on the federal, state, and local level throughout the United States. After Decca Records turned The Beatles down for a recording contract, the band auditioned for one of EMIs finest producers, George Martin, then known for making comedy records. After a rough audition, Martin recognized their spark. Since then, many have called Martin the fifth Beatle. However, before he died in 2016, Martin revealed he had a huge regret when it came to The Beatles. The Beatles and their producer, George Martin | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Beatles producer, George Martin, revealed his biggest regret before he died According to Yahoo!, Martin revealed his biggest regret in life before he died. He made a huge mistake signing away the rights to any royalties of songs by The Beatles. My only regret with the Beatles is that I was wrongly advised and signed away my royalties to their records about half a penny per title but, with them, that would have been an enormous amount, Martin said in a 2007 interview with Mark Ellen which appeared in The Times. However, Martin said he was happy and that none of it mattered. He continued, But Ive got all the money I could want. People think Im a multimillionaire and Im not. I tend to look at people and think, Are you a good human being? Thats what impresses me most rather than what theyve achieved. Were a bit short on people like that at the moment people who do good things and spread love for each other. We get an awful lot of people who are selfish. I think Margaret Thatcher started it, the greed thing, people just wanting more and more. And weve lost our morals to some extent. And the church has weakened. People dont believe in anything apart from money and success. I know its easy for me to say as Ive had some success, but I really believe family and love are more important than anything. Amore Solum Opus Est indeed! RELATED: What Happened With George Harrisons Photographer Lawsuit That Was Hinted in The Beatles: Get Back? Martin wasnt the only one who regretted The Beatles catalog The famous producer wasnt the only one who regrets signing away The Beatles catalog. In their early years, The Beatles themselves signed a bad deal with their publisher, Dick James. Down the line, they lost ownership of everything. In 1963, James entered the music publishing world, and he was hungry to be The Beatles publisher. To wow the bands manager, Brian Epstein, he organized the groups first TV performance on Thank Your Lucky Stars. Then, James earned the rights to Please Please Me. He suggested he and Epstein start a separate company called Northern Songs, which would house the entire Beatles catalog. Epstein and The Beatles signed the necessary contracts not really knowing what it was at all about, Paul said (per Beatles Bible). We said to them, Can we have our own company? They said, Yeah. We said, Our own? They said, Yeah, you can. Youre great. This is what were going to do now. So we really thought that meant 100 percent owned. But of course, it turned out to be 49 percent to me and John and Brian, and 51 percent to Dick James and Charles Silver, Paul explained. James and Silver actually owned 25 percent each, while John and Paul had 20 percent each, and Epstein 10 percent. So, essentially, James made way more money off The Beatles songs. In 1969, The Beatles lost complete control of the rights to their catalog when James sold his share of Northern Songs without offering John and Paul the chance to buy him out. Years later, the catalog ended up in the hands of Michael Jackson. However, Paul recently got the entire catalog back. RELATED: Sting Says Hes a Musician Because of The Beatles: I Wish Id Written a Hundred McCartney Songs The producer almost turned The Beatles down Song catalogs aside, Martin might have had another regret in his life. Can you imagine what he would have thought if he never signed The Beatles? He was very close to denying them a recording contract in 1962. While The Beatles were in the middle of their residency in Hamburg, Germany, Epstein told them hed gotten them a recording contract with EMI Records and that they needed to come home. However, that was a lie. Epstein had only gotten The Beatles an audition with Martin. Martin was already doubtful of the bands chances. I wasnt too impressed with the tape Brian Epstein had played me, he told Desert Island Discs in 1996. There was something there but I couldnt find out whether it was worthwhile or not. What I said to Brian was, If you want me to judge them on what youre playing me, Im sorry, Ill have to turn you down. He was so disappointed. I felt really sorry for him, actually because he was such an earnest young man. So I gave him a lifeline. I said, If you want to bring them down from Liverpool, Ill give them an hour in the studio.' After some hiccups, some serious conversations, and a famous quip from George Harrison, it was clear that The Beatles had something. Martin just didnt know what it was. He quickly fell in love with the four boys from Liverpool, though. Fans were about to fall in love too. RELATED: How Many People Tuned in to Watch The Beatles Perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964? Starzs BMF focuses on Demetrius Big Meech Flenory (Demetrius Lil Meech Flenory Jr.) and Terry Southwest T Flenorys (DaVinchi) and the formation of their drug organization BMF. Set in the 1980s in Detroit, the series follows the teen brothers as they become two of the biggest drug dealers in the country. Though the Flenorys launched their business as teens in Southwest Detroit, they would eventually expand their business elsewhere. Now Lil Meech who portrays his father on the series says the show could run for 10 seasons. Demetrius Lil Meech Flenory Jr. as Demetrius Big Meech Flenory in BMF | Starz RELATED: BMF: Who Is Eminems Character White Boy Rick? Demetrius Flenory Jr. learned a lot about himself by portraying his father on BMF When it came time to bring the story of BMF to the small-screen, executive producer Curtis 50 Cent Jackson knew that Lil Meech could portray his father. However, he had no acting experience. As a result, 50 Cent put Lil Meech in acting class for two years. In the end, the 21-year-olds hard work allowed him to nail his audition and win the role. Portraying his father has also allowed Lil Meech to learn a great deal about himself. I learned a lot about myself; I learned that I had a lot of my dads traits without even me knowing, he told The Observer. My family members were telling me that they see him in me. Some of my family members got to come on set and actually get to watch us in action, and they were just in awe, tearing up. It was a beautiful moment, so I believe that everybody loves it and loves how theyre being played and love the whole story within itself. Demetrius Flenory Jr. says the show could run for 10 seasons Southwest T and Big Meech were sent to prison before Lil Meech started Kindergarten. His mother then moved him to Miami where he went to private school. Though he knew his father the Euphoria actor had no idea who Big Meech really was. I really didnt understand until I started my teenage years, Meech explained to Hot New Hip-Hop. Im hearing the rappers say his name in songs and Im going out and Im just running into all type of different people and they tellin me what my dad did for them. Because my family still wasnt telling me as I grew up, like, Your daddy is Big Meech.' Now that the show is uncovering so much of the familys history, Lil Meech says there is still so much story to tell. Theres so many things that people need to see, he told PopSugar. I feel like BMF could be like The Sopranos and go 10 seasons or more. BMF Season 2 will begin filming in Atlanta soon BMF was renewed for a second season just as the first season debuted on Starz in September 2021. Now the cast and crew are slated to begin production of season 2 in Atlanta. Though the series is set in Detroit, the first season was also mostly filmed down south due to Georgias film incentives. Fans of Big Meech and Southwest T will also know that they eventually took their business from Motor City to Atlanta, so the location actually works out perfectly. Lil Meech hinted at what fans can expect from season 2. Well, I cant spoil it, but I can tell you, [its about] elevation, he told PopSugar. Big Meech and his mind, even at 15, 16 [years old], he thought like a grown man . . . He always wanted to take over the world. And to a regular person it [might] sound crazy, but he did everything he said he was going to do. RELATED: What Does 50 Cents New Starz Show BMF Stand For? Frank Sinatra was a prominent figure in Las Vegas history, so much so that casinos would give him free chips when he visited. When management changed, and his perks ended, Sinatra was not happy. According to one of his friends, the star threw a fit when he could not have the casino privileges afforded to him as they were before. The management was forced to react, much to the excitement of the nearby crowd. Frank Sinatra | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack spent a lot of time in Las Vegas The Rat Pack was formed in Las Vegas after a particularly debaucherous weekend. Sinatra flew out several friends and by the fourth day, the group showed the impact of late-night parties. According to the book Bogart: In Search of My Father, they all looked like hell. Lauren Bacall, who was married to Rat Pack leader Humphrey Bogart, told the group, You look like a goddamn rat pack. The name stuck, as did the groups influence on Las Vegas. Sinatra, in particular, had an impact on changing Las Vegas into a glamorous place. Frank wouldnt go out after dark without a sport jacket on, let alone perform out of a tuxedo, former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt-Bono told Smithsonian Magazine. He was the spark that changed Vegas from a dusty Western town into something glamorous. He once got into a fight at a casino over chips Sinatra often received preferential treatment in Las Vegas. After one point, however, these perks ran out. They used to give Frank $50,000 worth of gambling chips and let him keep all the money, wrote Sinatras friend Paul Anka in the book My Way, per the Daily Mail. But in the late Sixties, when the billionaire Howard Hughes started buying up all the casinos, this perk came to an abrupt halt. According to Anka, many of the casinos were mafia-run. They were happy that Hughes took control because it brought focus off them. When Sinatra tried to complain, they waved him away. The next night, Frank was still steaming, Anka wrote. Suddenly, he stood on the blackjack table in the middle of the Sands casino, ranting: This place was sand when they built it and itll be sand when Im f***ing done with it. Eventually, the casino manager, who Anka claimed was a mobster, came to calm Sinatra. He tried to reason with Sinatra, but it did not work. Frank was having a full-blown tantrum, Anka wrote. He threw a chair at a security guard and scalded Cohen with boiling hot coffee. Cohen punched Frank in the mouth, scattering his tooth caps all over the floor. The entire town applauded Cohen fuelled by too much drink, Franks behavior had been getting more and more abusive. Per The New York Times, the fight was brief. Frank Sinatra was punched so hard he lost two teeth and got a bruised lip in a one-punch fight, the paper reported in 1967. Frank Sinatra reportedly tried to have the casino manager killed In the aftermath of the fight, Sinatra was still angry. He reportedly told contacts in the mafia that he wanted the casino manager killed. But not even the king of Vegas could go around threatening a high-ranking mobster, Anka wrote. Frank was warned never to go near him again. 2. Sinatra, a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award-winning #Italian restaurant, also located inside Encore in Las Vegas. #Sinatra will showcase many of Frank's personal favorites, like spaghetti and clams, or ossobuco. pic.twitter.com/GwnLFGRlYl Encore Boston Harbor (@EncoreResortBH) October 11, 2018 Even after all this, Sinatra has a restaurant in a Las Vegas casino to this day. RELATED: Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brandos Feud May Have Ended in Abduction Julian Lennon was 17 years old when his father, John Lennon, was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in 1980. That night, Julian was 3,000 miles away in North Wales. He woke up and had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach like something terrible was going to happen. Little did he know that fans were already flocking to Johns apartment building in New York City to pay tribute to the legend. Julian Lennon after his father John Lennon died | PA/PA Images via Getty Images Julian Lennon had a feeling that something bad happened the night John died Speaking on Larry King Live, Julian explained where he was when he heard his father died. He knew something terrible had happened before he even found out. I was actually in my bed, I was with my mother in North Wales, Julian told King. She was actually with Maureen Starkey, Ringos ex-wife, in London, who was a dear best friend, and I was actually in North Wales at the time. And literally, I heard a noise and the chimney fell in. You know when you just have that gut feeling that somethings wrong, somethings really wrong? And I went downstairs, and all the curtains were closed, and I thought, This is just too bizarre. But who knew what it was at the time. Then I opened the curtain, press outside everywhere, and my step-father had been told not to tell me until Mum arrived. But I just said, Whats going on? You gotta tell me. My first concern at that point was to make sure that Mum was OK, more than anything. That was the first love of her life. So, shed known him much longer than Id ever known him. And was much more closer than Id ever been. So, it was all about looking after her, and it has been ever since. RELATED: Paul McCartney Said a Revisionism Happened After John Lennon Died Which Put Him Down One of Julians last memories of John involves a road trip to Florida and Aerosmiths Dream On In 2014, Julian spoke with Goldmine Magazines Jeb Wright about his album, Everything Changes. While explaining Steven Tylers involvement on the record, Julian revealed one of his last memories of John. Ive got to say, in fact, one of the last times I was with dad was in Florida, driving on the way down to Florida I must have been about 13 at the time, Julian said. All we heard was American radio on the drive down. One of the bands that came up time and time again was Aerosmith and Dream On. Even at that age, many, many moons ago now, I was a huge fan of Aerosmith and Steven Tyler. Thankfully, Julian had one last memorable moment with his father. After everything in their relationship, at least Julian had that to hold on to when he heard John died. RELATED: Paul McCartney Still Gets Emotional About His Song to John Lennon, Dear Friend The ex-Beatle planned to return to the U.K. Unfortunately, Julian never got to have much of a relationship with John. However, they could have. According to many sources, John planned to return to the U.K. His first wife, Cynthia, told NPRs Fresh Air, I think he found his space. I dont think he found the complete satisfaction in life because I think he was always searching, always looking for it, always wanting something new. I mean, he was due to come back to England near the end, just before he died. So he was constantly changing and looking for new quests. But whatever he did, it was totally honest and wholehearted. According to the Daily Express, Johns Aunt Mimi said a similar thing. She wrote a letter to an Express journalist saying shed spoken to her nephew about his plans the night before he died. John called his aunt, who raised him, every week. He phoned the night before, witty, funny, bubbling over with excitement, coming over very soon. Couldnt wait to see me. So Im glad of that, Mimi wrote in her letter. So, whatever John had planned to do in the U.K., he would have been closer to Julian. However, there are always a lot of ifs in a situation like this. RELATED: John Lennon Flirted With Ronnie Spector the First Time They Met: Okay, I Guess I Lost on That One! A man walks with a bicycle in front of a building damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 10. AP-Yonhap Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the port city of Mariupol, Thursday, while satellite photos showed that a massive Kremlin convoy that had been mired outside the Ukrainian capital split up and fanned out into towns and forests near Kyiv, with artillery pieces moved into firing positions. International condemnation escalated over an airstrike in Mariupol a day earlier that killed three people at a maternity hospital. Western and Ukrainian officials called the attack a war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian refusal to permit evacuations from the port city amounted to ''outright terror.'' Meanwhile, the highest-level talks held since the invasion began two weeks ago yielded no progress, the number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and Kyiv braced for an onslaught, its mayor boasting that the capital had become practically a fortress protected by armed civilians. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed that 40-mile (64-kilometer) convoy of vehicles, tanks and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported, with towed howitzers nearby in position to open fire. The convoy had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire as civilians trapped inside the city desperately scrounged for food and fuel. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the frigid city, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents of the southern seaport of 430,000 have no heat or phone services, and many have no electricity. Nighttime temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. ''They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it,'' Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor. On Thursday, firefighters tried to free a boy trapped in the rubble. One grasped the boy's hand. His eyes blinked, but he was otherwise still. It was not clear if he survived. Nearby, at a mangled truck, a woman wrapped in a blue blanket shuddered at the sound of an explosion. Grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied days ago by people breaking in to get supplies, according to a local official with the Red Cross, Sacha Volkov. A black market is operating for vegetables, meat is unavailable, and people are stealing gasoline from cars, Volkov said. Places protected from bombing are hard to find, with basements reserved for women and children, he said. Residents, Volkov said, are turning on one another: ''People started to attack each other for food.'' The local fire department and the city's State Technical University were also bombed. An exhausted-looking Aleksander Ivanov pulled a cart loaded with bags down an empty street flanked by damaged buildings. ''I don't have a home anymore. That's why I'm moving,'' he said. ''It doesn't exist anymore. It was hit, by a mortar.'' Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. ''They want to destroy the people of Mariupol. They want to make them starve,'' Vereshchuk said. ''It's a war crime.'' All told, some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Ukraine's president says Ukraine is on course for victory 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine: UN US Senate gives final approval to Ukraine aid, huge budget bill ''You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes,'' Zelenskyy said in a video address. ''And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens everyone whom you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children.'' A Ukrainian serviceman takes a photograph of a damaged church after shelling in a residential district in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 10. AP-Yonhap Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. "We will overcome them," he said in a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions had created ''certain challenges.'' In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people half the population of the metropolitan area have left the capital. ''Every street, every house is being fortified,'' he said. ''Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.'' On Thursday, a 14-year-old girl named Katya was recovering at the Brovary Central District Hospital on the outskirts of Kyiv after her family was ambushed as they tried to flee the area. She was shot in the hand when their car was raked with gunfire from a roadside forest, said her mother, who identified herself only as Nina. The girl's father, who drove frantically from the ambush on blown-out tires, underwent surgery. His wife said he had been shot in the head and had two fingers blown off. Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Putin's forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraine's cities. Early in the day, Mariupol City Council posted a video showing a convoy it said was bringing in food and medicine. But as night fell, it was unclear if those buses had reached the city. A child was among those killed in the hospital airstrike Wednesday. Seventeen people were also wounded, including women waiting to give birth, doctors, and children buried in the rubble. Images of the attack, with pregnant women covered in dust and blood, dominated news reports in many countries. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack ''a shameful and immoral act of war.'' Britain's Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, ''it is a war crime.'' U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraine's neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, ''The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities.'' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as ''pathetic shrieks'' from Russia's enemies, and denied Ukraine had even been invaded. Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held talks in a Turkish resort in their first meeting since the invasion. The two sides discussed a 24-hour cease-fire but made no progress, Kuleba said. He said Russia still wanted Ukraine to surrender but insisted that will not happen. Lavrov said Russia is ready for more negotiations, but he showed no sign of softening Moscow's demands. Russia has alleged that Western-looking, U.S.-backed Ukraine poses a threat to its security. Western officials suspect Putin wants to install a government friendly to Moscow in Kyiv as part of an effort to draw the former Soviet state back into its orbit. In Vienna, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said it had scheduled inspections of Ukraine's nuclear facilities. However, Rafael Grossi would give no details on how or when the inspections would take place. Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors in four power plants across the country, plus the closed plant in Chernobyl, scene of a 1986 nuclear disaster. Fighting around Chernobyl and another plant have raised global fears of another disaster. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, 91-year-old Alevtina Shernina sat wrapped in a blanket, an electric heater at her feet, as cold air blew in through a damaged window. She survived the brutal World War II siege of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. Her daughter-in-law Natalia said she was angry that Shernina ''began her life in Leningrad under the siege as a girl who was starving, who lived in cold and hunger, and she's ending her life'' in similar circumstances. One of The Rolling Stones most famous songs is Honky Tonk Women. Keith Richards explained why The Rolling Stones wrote the song when they were in South America. Subsequently, he said the song had a special ability to make fans dance. The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and others | Robert Altman/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Rolling Stones Keith Richards revealed what he thought about South America According to the book Keith Richards on Keith Richards: Interviews and Encounters, Richards discussed his feelings on South America in a 1971 interview. He said Sao Paulo, Brazil, is an incredible place. Which is, in the south, as fast as New York, as speedy as that in tropical conditions, it pours down rain for 10 minutes then the sun comes out and its a hundred and twenty, and the place starts to steam, he said. Millions of people rushing about all for Coca Cola. He compared the music scene in Sao Paulo with the music scene in New York City. Its just like New York, he opined. Lot of good guitar players down there. All over South America, it must be the most widely played instrument. The Rolling Stones Keith Richards | Robert Altman/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images RELATED: The Rolling Stones Keith Richards Speculated Why There Arent Many Covers of Elvis Presleys Heartbreak Hotel Keith Richards revealed The Rolling Stones wrote Honky Tonk Women because they went to a cowboy ranch Richards revealed what The Rolling Stones did on a trip to South America. Went to a ranch and wrote Honky Tonk Women because it was into a cowboy thing, he recalled. All these spades are fantastic cowboys. Beautiful ponies and quarter horses. Miles from anywhere. Just like being in Arizona or something. Richards said Honky Tonk Women was able to make fans dance. Weve never known why, he noted. Theres always been a few songs that do that. If they werent dancing by then, youd know you werent getting it on. The guitar is in open tuning on that, I learned that particular tuning off Ry Cooder. RELATED: The Chuck Berry Song That Inspired the Rolling Stones (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction The way fans in the United States and the United Kingdom reacted to Honky Tonk Women Honky Tonk Women became a massive hit for The Rolling Stones. For four weeks, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song stayed on the chart for 15 weeks in total. The Rolling Stones released a country version of Honky Tonk Women called Country Honk on the seminal album Let It Bleed. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 44 weeks. Honky Tonk Women was a huge hit in the United Kingdom as well. According to The Official Charts Company, the track was No. 1 for five of its 17 weeks on the U.K. chart. Meanwhile, Let It Bleed was No. 1 for one week. It lasted on the chart for 29 weeks altogether. Honky Tonk Women is a classic Rolling Stones track and it might not exist without some South American cowboys. RELATED: The Lord of the Rings: Why The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger Didnt Play Frodo in the 1978 Film The first Komi Cant Communicate episodes introduced anime fans to the cute and quiet Komi-san and Tadano Hitohito. The adorable romance anime captured viewers hearts as the titular hero tried to overcome her social anxiety to make 100 friends. When the first season ended, fans worried if Komi Cant Communicate had gotten canceled. Luckily, Netflix announced the Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 release date and even teased new characters debuting in the anime. Heres when the show returns with the next chapter. Tadano and Komi-san from Komi Cant Communicate | Netflix When is the Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 release date? Netflix announced the Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 release date for Spring 2022. News broke that Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 episode 1 would broadcast in Japan on April 6, 2022 (or April 7 due to the programming block starting at 12 am JST). KOMI CANT COMMUNICATE SEASON 2 ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL 2022!! pic.twitter.com/22Ohvdt0sL Namaka (Only W's) (@1Namaka1) December 22, 2021 However, the April 6, 2022 date only refers to the Japanese release of the romance anime. Assuming that Netflix will also acquire the international broadcasting right for season 2, the anime is expected to return to the streaming giant two weeks after the domestic premiere the same as the first season, HITC reported. Even after the show lands on Netflix, it will likely only be the Komi Cant Communicate subbed version at first. Those waiting for an English dub of Komi Cant Communicate have to wait a bit longer to catch one of the top romance anime in recent years. Where can you watch Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 on its release date? While many shows like My Dress-Up Darling joined the Crunchyroll lineup after Funimation merged with the anime streaming service, fans want to know where they can watch Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 on its release date in their country. The red streaming service has you covered. Fans can catch new episodes of Komi Cant Communicate on Netflix. NEWS: Komi Can't Communicate Anime Season 2 Visual Arrives Along with Date and More MORE: https://t.co/gXmzp7XwIn pic.twitter.com/bc0Wh1LY0u Crunchyroll #AnimeNextLevel (@Crunchyroll) March 4, 2022 Netflix subscriptions range from a basic plan ($9.99), a standard plan ($15.99), and a premium plan ($19.99). Regardless of your subscription plan, Netflix users can use the streaming service to catch new episodes when they go up. And besides new episodes, the anime has some new faces joining Komi-san, Tadano, Najimi, and the rest of the Komi Cant Communicate characters. The new anime episodes bring a new character to the show The first anime season adapted the first six volumes of the Komi Cant Communicate manga by Tomohito Oda. However, Japanese fans know the anime and manga by the title Komi-san wa, Komyusho Desu. The anime rearranged some events, but with a total of 24 volumes as of 2022, it has plenty of material to work with. And fans could guess what would come next on the Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 release date. An image of a fellow student of Komi-san, Tadano, and Najimi made its way around Twitter. Other students might confuse the stern-looking Katai Makoto for a delinquent. However, he actually has similar troubles to Komi Shouko when it comes to communicating. The new season has plenty in store for the socially anxious students. While Komi has already made plenty of progress, fans cant wait to see what comes next. The Komi Cant Communicate Season 2 release date is April 2022. RELATED: Crunchyroll Absorbs Funimation Content to Create Worlds Largest Anime Library Since Christine Brown and Kody Browns divorce, has there been any update on the building situation on Coyote Pass? Well, according to their son, Paedon Brown, the Sister Wives stars havent even begun construction on their new homes. Robyn, Meri, Kody, Christine, and Janelle Brown, Sister Wives | TLC The Browns plans for Coyote Pass In Sister Wives Season 13, which aired in 2019, fans watched as Kody Brown uprooted his four wives and 18 children and moved them to Flagstaff, Arizona. The sister wives went from living in homes on the same cul-de-sac in Las Vegas, Nevada, to four very separate houses in Flagstaff. Coyote Pass, Sister Wives | TLC According to Radar Online, a source claims that the Browns spent $820,000 on the 12-acre Coyote Pass property in 2018. Kodys ultimate dream was to build one all-inclusive dream home on Coyote Pass for his wives to live in together. However, his four wives quickly shot down the idea. The land had been split up into four plots. That was before Kody decided he wanted his own lot. In Touch confirmed that as of February 2022, there havent been any building permits approved for building, which means that no construction on the houses has begun yet. In February, Paedon replied to a comment on his TikTok account, which immediately shut down any rumors that construction had begun on Coyote Pass. The fan commented on Paedons video about construction: Any chance this is the famous Coyote Pass and dad is finally building? Paedon replied, Zero chance. On March 8, he went live on TikTok (@paedonbrown), revealing some interesting new details about the family. Among other things, he told fans that there had not been any building happening on Coyote Pass. Why is building on Coyote Pass taking so long? There are likely many reasons why the Brown family hasnt built on their land yet. As documented in Sister Wives Season 16, the coronavirus (COVID-1) pandemic caused the family to delay working on the plots. Kody Brown, Janelle Brown, and Robyn Brown, Sister Wives | TLC Also, Christines decision to leave her marriage to Kody may have disrupted the familys building plans. Its even possible that she sold her plot on the property to afford to start over in Utah. Financial issues could be another possible reason why theres been such a delay building on their Coyote Pass property. Since the pandemic, the Brown family has requested at least two loans on their Flagstaff home. According to documents obtained by The Sun, Kody and Robyn owe $548,250 in just those loans as of November 2021. Regardless of the reasoning behind the delay, Sister Wives fans are shocked that its been over four years that the property has remained empty. Will Kody, Robyn, Meri, and Janelle ever move onto Coyote Pass? Fans will have to wait for Sister Wives Season 17 to find out. RELATED: Sister Wives: Is Robyn Brown Foreshadowing Kody Choosing One Wife? BTS Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul concerts are being held on March 10, March 12, and March 13. As with past Permission to Dance On Stage concerts, each setlist for Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul will vary a bit. Here are the songs Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook of BTS performed during the first concert for Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul. BTS | Big Hit Music BTS performed over 20 songs for the first day of Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook first kicked off their Permission to Dance On Stage concert series with an online concert in October 2021. The band then put on Permission to Dance On Stage LA at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Nov. 27, Nov. 28, Dec. 1, and Dec. 2, 2021. Each of those previous concerts from the Permission to Dance On Stage series featured slightly different setlists, and the first day of Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul was no exception. Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul Day 1 setlist: ON Burning Up (Fire) Dope DNA Blue & Grey Black Swan Blood Sweat & Tears Fake Love Life Goes On Boy With Luv Dynamite Butter Telepathy Outro: Wings Stay So What IDOL HOME Airplane pt. 2 Baepsae Dis-ease Permission to Dance RELATED: Review: BTS Reclaim Their Future With Permission to Dance On Stage LA Show Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul are BTS first in-person concerts in South Korea since 2019 Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul are the bands first concerts in South Korea with an in-person audience since Love Yourself: Speak Yourself [The Final] in 2019. Because of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, BTS planned 2020 Map of the Soul Tour was canceled. For most of 2020 and 2021, BTS put on different virtual concerts for ARMY. Permission to Dance On Stage LA at the end of 2021 marked BTS first in-person concerts since 2019, and the band was able to bring the concert series to Seoul Olympic Stadium for in-person shows. According to Variety, Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul faced several alterations in order to comply with COVID protocols. Attendance was limited to 15,000 attendees per night, as opposed to the 70,000 person capacity of the stadium. RELATED: BTS: How to Buy Tickets for the Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul Livestreams There are two more shows for Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul In addition to having an in-person audience, the first day of Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul was streamed online for fans to watch. The second day of Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul will have fans attending in person once again, and the concert will also be broadcast in movie theaters. To watch the concert in movie theaters, BTS fans can buy tickets at BTSPTDLIVECINEMAS.COM. The final Permission to Dance On Stage Seoul concert will take place on May 13, and it will also be streamed online. Tickets for the livestream on May 13 can be purchased on Weverse Shop. RELATED: BTS Make a Brief Appearance in Janet Jacksons Documentary How Did the Artists Meet? Mike Pence travels to Ukraine border, assures refugees that Americans are standing with them in prayer Former Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Ukraine with several Americans who are working to help thousands who are now displaced amid the country's war with Russia. Pence and his wife, former second lady Karen Pence, were at the Poland-Ukraine border Thursday where they met with leaders of the Christian charitable organization Samaritans Purse that is setting up a field hospital near the Ukrainian border to treat those who have suffered injuries. The Vice President elaborated on his trip in a Twitter thread, writing: @KarenPence and I visited the Ukraine border today with [Edward Graham] and @SamaritansPurse to meet with Ukrainian women and children seeking refuge from war. 2.4 million refugees have already flared Ukraine and nearly 400,000 have already come through the Korczowa border crossing. .@KarenPence and I visited the Ukraine border today with @EdwardG1911 and @SamaritansPurse to meet with Ukrainian women and children seeking refuge from war. 2.4 million refugees have already fled Ukraine and nearly 400,000 have already come through the Korczowa border crossing. pic.twitter.com/tFZcC4X7mA Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) March 10, 2022 The impact of the Russian invasion on these families is heartbreaking and the need for support is great, added Pence, who encouraged his followers to pray and contribute to Samaritans Purse and other charitable organizations. Lets stand together as one with the people of Ukraine. In Poland, Pence delivered a message to the Ukrainian people, informing them that Americans are standing with them in prayer, Samaritans Purse added in an update posted on its website. He also expressed gratitude for the efforts of numerous volunteers: I appreciate that Samaritans Purse is always on the frontlines in help with Jesus name. Where there is suffering, you are there. The Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritans Purse, thanked the former vice president and his wife for visiting with the volunteers and Ukrainians who were forced to flee their homes. In addition to thanking the Pences for visiting. He also shared a conversation he overheard between Pence and one evacuee. One Ukrainian told Vice President @Mike_Pence what an encouragement their visit was and the former Vice President responded, No, you are the ones who inspire and encourage us. He assured them of our continued prayers and support," Graham wrote on Twitter. I want to thank former Vice President @Mike_Pence and his wife @KarenPence for coming to Ukraine to visit our @SamaritansPurse team there and meet many refugees crossing the border into Poland. pic.twitter.com/TO5skJU8yl Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) March 10, 2022 Graham reflected further on the Pences visit to Ukraine in a statement shared with The Christian Post: I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Pence. Im grateful for their support of the Ukrainian people and that they took the time to encourage our staff who are serving on the ground. We need to continue to pray for Ukraine and pray for peace. The head of Samaritan's Purse also provided an update on the organization's plans to open a field hospital in Ukraine, which he discussed in an interview with CP earlier this week. We have been able to open our clinic at the train station in Lviv and plan to have the field hospital open this [weekend]. We are sending a 747 cargo planeload of supplies today. My son [Edward Graham] is also on the ground there w/ our team. Pences trip to Ukraine comes as his successor, Vice President Kamala Harris, has also traveled to Eastern Europe. In Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, Harris announced that the U.S. government would provide $53 million in new humanitarian assistance to support innocent civilians affected by Russias unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The additional aid builds upon the $54 million the U.S. set aside two weeks ago to provide critically needed health supplies, food assistance, high thermal blankets, and other relief. Harris will travel to Bucharest, Romania, later this week. In a tweet posted Wednesday, she described her overseas trip as part of an effort to demonstrate unity with our NATO Allies and provide support to the people of Ukraine in response to [Russian President Vladimir] Putins invasion of Ukraine. I am en route to Warsaw, Poland and later this week to Bucharest, Romania. This trip comes at an important moment as the United States continues to demonstrate unity with our NATO Allies and provide support to the people of Ukraine in response to Putins invasion of Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 9, 2022 The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has had consequences for Americans at home. President Joe Biden announced a ban on importing Russian oil Tuesday as gas prices have reached a record high, escalating since last year due to his administration's energy policies. While Pence praised the move to ban Russian oil from U.S. soil as a good first step, he encouraged the Biden administration to unleash American energy and answer this crisis with American strength. New World Health Organization guidance calls for abortion to be fully decriminalized The World Health Organization has released a 200-page document calling for the full decriminalization of abortion worldwide, which it describes as lifesaving care. The WHO published an updated Abortion care guideline Wednesday, replacing guidance from 2012. In a statement, Craig Lissner, WHOs acting director for sexual and reproductive health and research, asserted that [b]eing able to obtain safe abortion is a crucial part of health care. Nearly every death and injury that results from unsafe abortion is entirely preventable, he stated. Thats why we recommend women and girls can access abortion and family planning services when they need them. The new guidance condemns efforts by governments to restrict abortions. Dr. Bela Ganatra, the head of WHOs Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Unit, said that Abortion care needs to respect the decisions and needs of women and girls, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and without stigma or judgment. No one should be exposed to abuse or harms like being reported to the police or put in jail because they have sought or provided abortion care, she stated. The evidence is clear if you want to prevent unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, you need to provide women and girls with a comprehensive package of sexuality education, accurate family planning information and services, and access to quality abortion care. An entire chapter of the new guidance features recommendations for abortion regulation, which proclaims that Abortion should be fully decriminalized, calling for the removal of barriers that hinder access to and timely provision of quality abortion care. Examples of such barriers listed include gestational age limits, mandatory waiting periods, third-party authorization requirements and provider restrictions. "Treaty monitoring bodies have called for the decriminalization of abortion in all circumstances," three guideline document reads. While abortion is legal in the United States, many states have enacted laws that WHO would classify as barriers to abortion access. Several states have made efforts to ban abortion once a heartbeat can be detected. Most notably, Texas has a ban on abortions as early as six weeks gestation. Texas law has so far not been struck down by courts at the state and federal levels. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to rule whether Mississippis 15-week abortion ban violates the U.S. Constitution. A ruling in favor of the state of Mississippi, which is seeking to uphold the ban, would weaken the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The WHO guidance also recommends "using telemedicine approaches as an alternative to in-person interactions for provision of medical abortion." WHO relied on abortion advocacy groups when formulating its updated abortion guidance. The list of external experts and WHO staff involved in guideline development includes Laura Castleman of Planned Parenthood Michigan, Dhammika Perera of Marie Stopes International, Karthik Srinivasan of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and Christina Zampas of the Center for Reproductive Rights. Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the U.S., while Marie Stopes International is a pro-abortion advocacy group based in the United Kingdom. "As governments in countries such as the United States and Poland act to further restrict abortion access, the WHO guideline provides concrete, evidence-based proof that access to abortion is fundamental to ensuring health as well as a human right and should be more, not less, accessible," Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup said in a statement. WHOs advocacy against abortion restrictions reflect a push to make abortion an international human right. WHOs abortion care guidelines include a reference to the United Nations Global Strategy for Womens, Childrens and Adolescents Health, which includes evidence-based interventions for abortion and post-abortion care as one effective way to help individuals thrive and communities transform. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which declared there is no international right to abortion. In addition to the U.S., 31 other countries signed the document. Shortly after taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden issued a Memorandum on Protecting Womens Health at Home and Abroad, which indicated that his administration would withdraw co-sponsorship and signature from the Geneva Consensus Declaration. Last November, the U.S. State Department included a sub-section on reproductive rights in its annual human rights report, highlighting foreign countries laws and programs regarding abortion and contraception. Pro-life advocates called the inclusion of reproductive rights in the human rights report inappropriate. Last week, the World Health Organization faced criticism for sending out a tweet recognizing World Birth Defects Day. The Twitter thread listed Down syndrome as one of the most common severe birth defects, prompting backlash from pro-life activists and parents of children with Down syndrome. Today is World #BirthDefects Day! Most birth defects can be prevented and treated with access to quality maternal and newborn care. Yet, every year, they cause the deaths of close to 250,000 babies ???? within just 1 month of birth. ????https://t.co/gqvpXik1glpic.twitter.com/aJqzdiuucP World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 3, 2022 Rachel Campos Duffy, a Fox News contributor and the mother of nine children including a daughter with Down syndrome, took to Twitter to ask why the U.S. continues to support discredited, China-run #WHO. She insisted that Down Syndrome is NOT a birth defect. Its a chromosomal variation. Why do we financially support discredited, China-run #WHO. Down Syndrome is NOT a birth defect. Its a chromosomal variation. My baby w/ Downs is as human & valuable as any of my other kids. These comments lead to discrimination & abortion. Celebrate, dont eliminate differences https://t.co/eQuyhiP7z0pic.twitter.com/AAVOTw8DBM Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) March 6, 2022 My baby w/ Downs is as human & valuable as any of my other kids, she wrote. These comments lead to discrimination & abortion. Celebrate, dont eliminate differences. Kurt Kondrich, whose daughter Chloe has Down syndrome, shared her response to the WHOs characterization of Down syndrome on Twitter. Her reply read, I am Chloe Emmanuelle Kondrich and I am NOT a severe birth defect. In 2020 and 2021, contributions from the U.S. accounted for nearly one-quarter of all contributions to WHO, with net contributions over the two-year period amounting to more than $230 million. In response to the criticism, WHO edited a Facebook post that initially looked identical to the tweet announcing March 3 as World Birth Defects Day. The tweet, which remains unedited, still maintains that Most birth defects can be prevented and treated with access to quality maternal and newborn care and every year, they cause the deaths of close to 250,000 babies within just 1 month of birth. The revised Facebook post changes the word most to some. WHO has edited its original post which, in conflating two distinct messages, unintentionally implied that Down syndrome was preventable through antenatal and newborn care, the Facebook post reads. We sincerely apologize for any offence caused by our statement to people living with Down syndrome and their families. WHO commits to providing continued support for all those affected by Down syndrome, including appropriate healthcare, access to specialized services and respectful treatment. We appreciate your feedback on our post and will endeavour to ensure that our channels share information on Down syndrome moving forward, that respects the needs and desires of those affected. Plane crash survivors return to church for the first time, give testimony: 'God saved my life' A father and daughter who survived a plane crash last year have returned to their church for the first time since the accident, giving their testimony before the congregation and meeting the first responders who rescued them. Pennsylvania pilot Christopher White, 58, and his 13-year-old daughter Angela were involved in a plane crash last November during a snowstorm while on a recreational flight around the Poconos. The Cessna 150 crash in Luzerne County resulted in severe injuries for both, including a shattered spine for the daughter and broken bones for the father. The White family gave their testimonies on Sunday before the congregation of Christian Life Assembly near Stroudsburg, with Christopher White saying that it was a miracle from the Lord that they survived. Most pilots get into that, and they get confused, they get twisted upside down, and its fatal. I flew into the snowstorm, and I was like wow, Im snow-blinded, and my instant reaction was not panic, but I shut off the landing lights because they were shining lights into the snow, he recounted. I focused on the attitude indicator, which is what we are trained to do, and I saw that the plane was level. And honestly, I dont know what happened. I could have probably flown out of it, but I dont know what else happened. The next thing I remember is [being] crushed in this airplane, dead silent and cold. Christopher White recalled blacking out a few times after the plane crashed. Then, he woke up to a light flashing in his face from the rescue crew. He said he blacked out again as he was stretchered to an ambulance. He suffered several broken bones, a concussion and other injuries. God saved my life, Christopher White said. The way the plane crashed, the way the branches from the trees grabbed the airplane, the wings got folded back from the energy and they absorbed the speed of the airplane. If you ever see a head-on collision with a car, this front end is smashed in. The planes nose was not smashed in. Had that happened, we would be having a funeral, and we would be looking down from above. But this is rejoicing. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, Angela White, is known for being an outdoorsy teenager who waterskied and cycled. She suffered a right-side skull fracture, second-degree burns due to severe frostbite, and shattered vertebrae. Her injuries have resulted in her developing scoliosis. Her chances of walking again are unlikely. The plane crashed in the middle of state game lands in Bear Creek Township among the woods, swamps, hills, rocks and boulders in frigid weather. Not knowing if anyone would rescue them, the Whites endured temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit for hours, according to local news outlet WBRE. Search crews eventually found the two after tracking their iPad, according to Sharon White, the mother and wife of the survivors. After being rescued, the two received medical attention. Angela White was treated for her burns in a hospital, and medical professionals surgically removed her shattered vertebrae and replaced them with a cage. As soon as we thought something was wrong, the word went out and the prayer went out, said Sharon White. On the night of the crash, the mother, whos served as a teacher for 25 years, said that even before she knew that the two had crashed, she was unexpectedly having trouble concentrating on preparing her class lessons. She began to worship God in response. [One Christian song] says: I speak Jesus over my family, over the darkness, over every enemy, Sharon White said. And Im singing and worshiping, and the plane is going down, and I had no idea. Around 9 p.m. that night, when the father and daughter still had not returned home, Sharon White remembers sending her husband a text message, but he did not respond. The mother assumed that her husbands cell phone had died and she continued to wait for a response that never came. She said that by 9:30 p.m., she recalled thinking that something must be wrong. At that point, she called the police. Jesus hears and He is actively involved when you call on His name There is power in the name of Jesus not just for special situations, Sharon White said. The rescue team that saved Angela and Christopher White attended the church service. They joined the family on stage to share their thoughts on the ordeal. This is a huge event for us. My whole team didnt give up. They kept searching. They would not give up until we found them, said Chief James Serafin of the Bear Creek Volunteer Hose Company, who helped coordinate the search and rescue. Im very proud of that. And we can proudly see them sitting here today. Floyd Young, a firefighter and paramedic affiliated with Bear Creek Fire Rescue, said he was thrilled to see the Whites again. I now know why they lived with people like you praying for them, Young said to the church crowd. Sgt. John G. Richards, a trooper for the Pennsylvania State Police who assisted with the rescue, said: I didnt find them. God found them. Those two are the face of this accident. They deserve the credit. They kept each other alive that night, Richards told the church. Richards said that where the plane had crashed, he did not think that he and the rescue team would have found the two survivors until the next day. Richards recalled telling the members of the fire department to take your crews and go home. However, the members of the fire department refused to stop the search. Craig Johnson, the churchs head pastor, expressed gratitude to the rescue crew. You guys are Gods hands and feet extended. You go to places that no one else can get to and youre with people at some of the lowest points and the most tragic points, and I just want you to know that we will cover you in prayer and we are so thankful for you guys, he said. Johnson announced that on March 19, he and his team will work to tear off the backside of the Whites house to expand it by adding 12 feet by 48 feet, to create a more handicap-accessible home. Im praying two things over this: that we bless the White family, that they feel every time they walk in their house, they know they got a church family and they got a community that loves [them]. And we know God is going to continue to do great things in and through this story, Johnson said. A GoFundMe account established to help support Angela White's medical bills has raised over $27,000. Texas Supreme Court deals major blow to lawsuit challenging heartbeat abortion ban Texas highest court has recommended that a lawsuit against the states law banning abortion as early as six weeks gestation should be dismissed because state officials are not enforcing the pro-life measure. The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday in the case of Whole Womans Health et al. v. Jackson et al. that officials at state medical licensing boards cannot enforce the law, which bans nearly all abortions after an unborn babys heartbeat can be detected, which is usually around six weeks into a pregnancy. Since the law allows for private citizens to enforce the ban instead, the decision by the states highest court effectively defeats the lawsuit brought by pro-choice groups. Texas Right to Life, a pro-life group that supports the heartbeat abortion ban, celebrated the Texas Supreme Courts opinion in a statement telling supporters that the ruling was a big victory. We have said from the beginning that abortionists lawsuit should be dismissed, the lobbying group stated. The Legislature clearly never intended state agencies to participate in enforcing the Texas Heartbeat Act, and the Supreme Court of Texas agreed. This is not the final step in the journey, as the case will now return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, but it affirms a positive path forward for the historic law. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which helped to bring the litigation against the law, concludes that the lawsuit is effectively dead. Among the legal attempts to stop the Texas law, the abortion-rights group contends this lawsuit was once the most promising. But now, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that the lawsuit cant proceed against the Texas Medical Board and state licensing officials, the only remaining defendants. Although the case will return to the 5th Circuit, the CRC said in a statement that it expects the challenge will be thrown out in light of Fridays ruling. This ruling comes after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed most of the case in December 2021, allowing only a small part of the case to move forward in lower court, the CRC statement explains. Todays ruling will result in dismissal of the remaining portion of the challenge to the 6-week ban, meaning S.B. 8 will likely remain in effect for the foreseeable future. CRC President and CEO Nancy Northup said the ruling shows that [w]e are in a moment of crisis not only for reproductive rights but for our justice system and the rule of law. With this ruling, the sliver of this case that we were left with is gone, Northup said. An unconstitutional ban on abortion after six weeks continues unchecked in the state of Texas. The courts have allowed Texas to nullify a constitutional right. We will continue to do everything in our power to right this wrong. Last May, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 into law, which prohibits most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, generally around six weeks into a pregnancy. The law is enforced through private citizens who receive financial incentives to sue abortion providers or anyone else in Texas who helps a woman get an illegal abortion. The law has survived multiple legal challenges, with the U.S. Supreme Court allowing the law to take effect last summer and also refusing to block the legislation last December. According to data from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the number of abortions in the state the month the law took effect dropped by about 60% compared to the month before. In its statement, Texas Right to Life said it is grateful that the Texas Heartbeat Act will continue saving thousands of lives, and were hopeful that the judiciary will soon pave the way to protect all preborn children by overturning Roe v. Wade. Pastor Steven Furtick criticized for praising teen sons song about sex, guns and money Elevation Church Pastor Steven Furtick and his wife, Holly, have received criticism for celebrating a music project produced by their teenage son Elijah Furtick, which celebrates guns, sex and designer clothes. Sixteen-year-old Elijah Furtick, who goes by the stage name dothedash!, recently released a series of songs under a project titled Teen Machine. A 30-second introduction to the songs said they are a genuine reflection of some dimension of the authors experience or personality. However, the video noted that a majority of the lyrics reflect experiences that are fictitious, exaggerated, tongue-in-cheek or otherwise wildly inaccurate. In the music video for one of the songs called No Hook! Elijah Furtick references oral sex, drinking Hennessy and his bro keeping a gun. In a post celebrating his son on Facebook last Wednesday, Furtick said he was inspired. You already know how proud I am of you. But today on the release of TEEN MACHINE I want you to know that you inspire me, the North Carolina megachurch pastor wrote, explaining how hard his son had worked to create the music. Believing in your own voice, lyrics and melodies enough to hit record and make your own project. This is the part that inspired me the most, Furtick wrote. Because even with autotune, letting your voice be heard, even by your own ears, is intimidating. Most people cant even stand to hear their voice for 10 seconds on an old video on their phone. But you had the courage to conceptualize and execute an entire project - every 808, mix, & melody, you meticulously curated and created, selected and perfected. Holly Furtick also celebrated the work of her son on Instagram, noting in a comment that she is so proud of this project. The project drew reactions from Furticks critics online. Pastor Keith Bell, an associate pastor and jail minister affiliated with Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, quoted 1 Timothy 3 to suggest that the older Furtick isnt running his own household well. 1 Timothy 3 says that one of the qualifications of a pastor are that... He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity, but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God? Bell asked in a Facebook post. Ruslan KD, a San Diego-based hip-hop artist and follower of Jesus known for his positive, spiritually-minded productions, raised particular concern about the song No Hook! He also cited the same Scripture referenced by Bell. I dont blame him [Elijah]. Hes a kid. This is not his fault. This was cosigned by his mom. He posted it, and the mom was like, yeah! endorsing it, Ruslan said in a reaction video on YouTube. Its not a good look to be flexing about money and about jewelry when your dad is a pastor and there is nothing authentic about this, he continued. The No. 1 value in this ecosystem of hip-hop is authenticity and being congruent. So when you have a song thats literally all hyperbolic nonsense of stuff that hes not living, this is bad for his career, Ruslan added. Ruslan said that he reached out to Pastor Furtick, Holly Furtick and Elijah Furtick to voice his concern with the videos, but Furtick blocked him on social media. CP reached out to Elevation Church on Tuesday, asking the Furticks to respond to the criticisms. An official said Pastor Furtick has no further comment at this time. Refugees fleeing war in neighboring Ukraine gather at the Medyka border crossing, Poland, March 10. AP-Yonhap Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded two weeks ago, and another two million have been internally displaced by the war, the United Nations said Friday. The UN Refugee Agency's chief Filippo Grandi blamed the mass displacement on what he called a "senseless war" that began on February 24. "The number of refugees from Ukraine, tragically, has reached today 2.5 million," Grandi tweeted. "We also estimate that about two million people are displaced inside Ukraine. Millions forced to leave their homes by this senseless war." Paul Dillon, spokesman for the UN's International Organization for Migration, said the 2.5 million people who had fled Ukraine included 116,000 nationals from other countries. The UNHCR had been working on the estimate that four million people may eventually seek to leave Ukraine as the war continues. But the agency said that given the scale of the exodus in less than three weeks, it would be no surprise if that figure was exceeded. War refugees from Ukraine stay at the help point at the Main Railway Station in Wroclaw, Poland, March 10. EPA-Yonhap Christian millennials give 3 times more money to charity than non-religious counterparts: study A new survey reveals that Christian young adults are three times more likely than their non-Christian counterparts to give money to both religious and non-religious charities. A survey published by LifeWay Research Wednesday asked 905 young adults between the ages of 25 and 40 years old (millennials) about their money management habits. The respondents in the study, conducted in partnership with the Christian financial institution AdelFi, between Jan. 1822, included a subset of 495 Christians. In a statement announcing the survey's results, LifeWay Research CEO Scott McConnell explained that AdelFi was interested in understanding what differences exist in how younger Christians handle their money compared to non-Christians. Based on the results of the study, McConnell concluded that Christians are much more active in donating their finances and no less active in trying to do good with their spending. One would expect Christians to give more than non-Christians to churches and religious organizations, but they are also more likely to donate to 3 out of 4 other types of recipients, he added. While overall the financial generosity of Christian young adults is very noticeable, there remains a large group who dont practice their belief in the need to give to a local church. LifeWay Research indicated that the typical Christian young adult donates more than three times as much as non-Christians over a year ($1,820 vs. $556). Additionally, Christian young adults were more likely to give to a local church (37%) than their non-Christian peers (8%). While 28% of Christian young adults donate to religious organizations, 11% of non-Christians do the same. As McConnell indicated, the disparities in charitable giving rates between Christian and non-Christian young adults extended beyond churches and religious organizations. Nearly half (47%) of Christian young adults surveyed reported donating no money to individuals or families in need. In comparison, most non-Christian young adults (62%) told pollsters that they did not give any money to individuals or families in need. While majorities of both Christian and non-Christian young adults estimated giving $0 to GoFundMe campaigns, a higher share of non-Christian young adults (80%) declined to contribute to the crowdfunding platform than Christians (73%). The percentage of non-Christians who did not donate to non-religious charities or educational organizations (80%) exceeded the proportion of Christians (71%) who did not contribute to such groups. When measuring total donations overall, Christian young adults were more likely (45%) than non-Christian young adults (30%) to say they donated to any kind of charity, religious or non-religious. Participants in the survey also weighed in on how they spent their money. A majority (59%) of Christian young adults said they tried to purchase from companies that act in ways that honor Christ. Most Christians (56%) cited tithing to their local church as a biblical commandment that still applies today. The overwhelming majority of Christian young adults (69%) thought they had an obligation to be good stewards of their finances. McConnell was not surprised by this statistic: Most people want to be financially responsible, and most Christian young adults see this as a responsibility that comes with their faith. However, a smaller share of Christian young adults (48%) believe Christians have a responsibility to do business with companies that are owned or operated by Christians. Forty-four percent of Christians answered in the affirmative when asked if their religious faith influenced their financial decisions. Just 10% of Christians listed religious leaders as having an influence on their financial decisions. Reacting to the role their faith plays in the financial decisions of Christian young adults, McConnell said, Young adults are very conscious about trying to make a difference in society with their purchases, adding, Christian young adults are no exception. According to McConnell, Most of them approach spending decisions with a desire to honor Christ and to be good stewards of their finances all while seeking to do business with companies that help others. The study had a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points and a 95% confidence interval. The results mirror the findings of previous surveys. A 2012 study from the Chronicle of Philanthropy found that the least religious states gave significantly less money to charity than the most religious states in the U.S. Similarly, Arthur Brooks of the American Enterprise Institute determined that church attendance was one of the most essential forces behind American charity in his book Who Really Cares. However, a 2015 study by the academic periodical Current Biology suggested that children raised in non-religious households were more likely than those raised in religious homes to practice charity. Scientist Tom Trinko pushed back on the findings of that analysis, contending that the study confuses non-religious with atheist and is therefore misleading. Pro-life nun sues DC over vaccine mandate for healthcare workers A high-profile nun is suing the District of Columbia over its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, saying the requirement would force her to violate sincerely held religious beliefs. Sister Dierdre Dede Byrne, a pro-life Catholic nun and practicing physician who works for a ministry providing free medical services to the poor, filed a lawsuit against the city, Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Health Department Director LaQuandra Nesbitt for not granting a religious exemption from the citys COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The conservative law firm Thomas More Society is representing Byrne in the litigation filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Wednesday. All three COVID-19 vaccines approved in the United States have been tested, developed, or produced with cell lines derived from abortions, something to which Sister Dierdre has deep and sincere religious opposition, Thomas More Society Special Counsel Christopher Ferrara said in a statement. The complaint contends its not necessary for Byrne to receive the coronavirus vaccine because she has contracted coronavirus and developed natural immunity, as confirmed by T-cell testing. They believe that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect Sister Dierdres fundamental right to the free exercise of her religion. Ferrara said the complaint seeks to prevent a senseless bar on the practice of medicine by a religious sister who has devoted her career in the District of Columbia to healing the sick who cannot afford quality medical care. Byrne first submitted a request for a religious exemption from the vaccine mandate nearly six months ago, shortly after the district rolled out the vaccination requirement for healthcare workers as an emergency rule. During that time, Byrne practiced medicine without vaccination and without objection from any hospitals or clinics where she served. The D.C. Department of Health rejected Byrnes request in an unsigned letter sent via email on Feb. 26, informing her that You must immediately fulfill the requirement to receive at least one (1) dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (i.e., Moderna or Pfizer) or the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and upload that information to the D.C. Health Vaccine Portal. The letter, included as an exhibit in Byrnes complaint, stressed that failure to do so could prohibit you from renewing your license or result in disciplinary action including revocation or suspension of your license, registration or certificate. In a video, Ferrara said that those who need Byrnes medical services would be deprived of those services unless an injunction is granted. The lawyer maintained that judicial relief is urgent because that order denying her religious exemption request will become final on March 18. Byrne has spoken publicly about her opposition to abortion multiple times in the past year and a half. Speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention, she described the unborn as the largest marginalized group in the world. She characterized the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the most anti-life presidential ticket ever. Addressing a conference hosted by the pro-life group Heartbeat International last year, Byrne condemned abortion as the greatest inhumanity. She stressed the importance of praying for politicians who are wanting to make the abortion pill over the counter so people will be able to take it like bubble gum or Tylenol. According to Byrne, their soul is in a mortal state. The lawsuit comes after Washington, D.C. relaxed many of its coronavirus restrictions and mandates, including the requirement that those seeking entry into most businesses in the district provide proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test and the mask mandate for school students. A Feb. 14 document highlighting adjustments to the Mitigation Measures for COVID-19, including removing the vaccine mandate for entry into private businesses, indicated that the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers would remain in effect. D.C. and its top public officials are also facing a lawsuit filed on behalf of parents with children attending D.C. Catholic schools seeking nominal damages for the harms caused to their children by the citys school mask mandate that was lifted this week. There has been much litigation in the last year surrounding vaccine mandates nationwide. Many including healthcare workers and military service members have sued after being denied religious exemptions to vaccine mandates. There was much debate in Catholic circles over the morality of COVID-19 vaccines. As some military service members sued for exemptions to the Department of Defenses vaccine mandate, the Roman Catholic Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy P. Broglio said last year that members of the Armed Forces should be exempt if the vaccine goes against the sanctity of his or her conscience. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were tested using an abortion-derived cell line. That type of a link has been for centuries considered remote material cooperation with evil and is never sinful, Broglio wrote. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed, tested, and is produced, with abortion-derived cell lines. That vaccine is, therefore, more problematic. If it were the only vaccine available, it would be morally permissible. In December 2020, the Catholic Churchs Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement saying it was morally acceptable for Catholics to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Texas megachurch Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas argued last year that there is no credible religious argument against the vaccines. Christians who are troubled by the use of a fetal cell line for the testing of the vaccines would also have to abstain from the use of Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, and other products that used the same cell line if they are sincere in their objection, Jeffress said in an interview with The Associated Press. Tavistock gender clinic 'not safe' for children, NHS report finds A London clinic known for recommending puberty blockers for children suffering from gender dysphoria and encouraging teenagers to undergo surgeries to remove their genitals or breasts was found to be operating outside of NHS safeguards following an investigation. The Tavistock clinic, run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, England's lone specialist clinic for children and youths who are confused about their gender, was found to be performing services that are "not safe or viable," such as prescribing opposite-sex hormones to children as young as 10, which can lead to early onset of osteoporosis and other ailments. In a report released this week, Dr. Hilary Cass, a retired pediatrician who was commissioned by NHS England to investigate services at the clinic, said services administered to children and young people had somehow escaped the NHS normal quality controls, The Times reported. Findings in the report validate whistleblowers who have warned that the clinic does not follow prescribed safeguards and clinical standards. The Tavistock clinic made headlines in 2018 after Dr. David Bell, a psychiatrist, released a detailed whistleblower report about the experimental procedures that were being performed on children. The report said clinicians were fast-tracking young adults into medicalized gender transitions without fully exploring the contributing factors that led to their psychological distress. From about 50 referrals in 2009, the number of referrals the clinic received increased to 2,500 in 2020, mostly from females who started suffering gender identity issues in their early teens, with a further 4,600 young people on the waiting list, according to the Times. Cass report said, Because the specialist service has evolved rapidly and organically in response to demand, the clinical approach and overall service design has not been subjected to some of the normal quality controls that are typically applied when new or innovative treatments are introduced. About a third of referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), a clinic within the Tavistock facility, have autism or other types of neurodiversity, and looked after children in local authority homes or foster care have an over-representation, the newspaper added. Cass also said in the report that GIDS has not consistently collected data about service users and their outcomes cannot justify the approach to treatment. Many senior staff at the clinic have left due to disagreements with the leadership over the best way to treat vulnerable young people with complex histories. Responding to the report, Kate Grimes, a retired hospital manager, was quoted as saying that she felt relief that finally the NHS is looking at this seriously. Relief for the patients currently being harmed. Relief for the staff who have felt unable to speak out. In December 2020, the high court ruled against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, saying minors aged 16 and younger are not capable of giving informed consent to experimental practices such as puberty-suppressing drugs and cross-sex hormones in pursuit of changing their physical appearance to look more like the opposite sex. The court also held that the clinics record-keeping was substandard, and it hadn't adequately maintained data regarding how many patients were being treated who are autistic. Those findings mirrored the concerns Bell had previously raised in his 2018 review, which was first set in motion when 10 members of the GIDS staff spoke to him about their own alarm at what they saw happening. However, last September, the court of appeal overturned the judgment that children younger than age 16 were unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs, according to The Guardian. In Bells 2018 review, one of the concerned staffers recounted how an 8-year-old child was referred to an endocrinologist for the experimental drugs. Another staffer reportedly told him: I could not go on like this I could not live with myself given the poor treatment the children were obtaining. Yet when he submitted the report, the Trust was not receptive. Instead, they were defensive. I believed I was doing the right thing, he said of his efforts to document the unscrupulous practices at the time. I never doubted that, and most of my colleagues in the adult department supported me, so when I went up to my floor at the Tavistock, I could be oblivious and get on with my work. The real betrayal wasnt of me personally, but of the Trusts duty to whistleblowers and to its wider mission. The institution, however, tried to squelch his voice, he said. They did this by telling media outlets that Bells claims were historical and that the clinic was following proper protocols, the Guardian reported. The tactics they used were sinister, he added. After he submitted his 2018 review, the clinic removed a book, for which he had written the introduction, from its library. The clinic also sent a GIDS staffer to spy on him when he spoke at a conference in Manchester about de-transition the process formerly trans-identified individuals go through to return to their birth sex. Bell was eventually told that he was not allowed to speak publicly or write about anything not connected to his employment within the NHS. Biden bans Russian oil imports amid pleas from Rick Warren, others Following calls from an influential megachurch pastor and other public figures to ban the importation of Russian oil in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that would do just that as gas prices in the United States reach record highs. The White House announced Tuesday that President Joe Biden would sign an executive order banning Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal to the United States. According to a White House fact sheet on the executive order, the Biden administration has already committed to releasing more than 90 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve this fiscal year, with an emergency sale of 30 million barrels just announced last week. The White House pushed back on the idea that federal policies are not limiting the production of oil and gas even though the president signed an executive order on his first day in office revoking the March 2019 Permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline because it would not serve the national interest. After issuing an executive order pulling the plug on the importing of Russian oil, the White House insisted that U.S. oil and gas production is approaching record highs, while thousands of drilling permits on federal lands go unused. Additionally, the White House pointed to a clean energy future as a way to avoid high gas prices, citing reduced dependency on oil as the only way to eliminate Putins and every other oil producing countrys ability to use oil as an economic weapon. Based on the White Houses line of thinking, an energy-independent U.S. means reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. The White Houses actions follow criticism of American reliance on Russian oil from several public figures. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch in California, took to social media last week to express his outrage over the U.S.s continued purchase of oil from Russia. Everyday that the U.S. continues to buy 600,000 more barrels of Russian oil A DAY, we are funding the murder of Ukraine. Appalling. Indefensible. Stop it now, he wrote on social media. Everyday that the U.S. continues to buy 600,000 barrels of Russian oil A DAY, we are funding the murder of Ukraine. Appalling. Indefensible. Stop it now. Rick Warren (@RickWarren) March 2, 2022 Warren posted similar statements on both Twitter and Facebook. AFP Fact Check, the fact-checking arm of Agence France-Presse, subjected Warrens post to a fact check, insisting that the figures fluctuate monthly, but U.S. average daily imports of Russian crude were less than 200,000 in 2021. According to AFP Fact Check, The average daily total for that year only surpasses 600,000 when refined products are included. A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, released Monday, found that over 70% of Americans support a ban on importing Russian oil into the U.S. even if it meant higher gas prices. While Warren identified the import of oil from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine as a cause for concern, he did not explicitly offer a solution to the problem. Other public figures have offered a remedy that they believe would accomplish the goal of banning Russian oil from the U.S. while keeping gas prices low for U.S. consumers. Elon Musk, the founder of the electric car company Tesla, took to Twitter Friday to proclaim that we need to increase oil & gas output immediately. Additionally, Musk noted that this would negatively affect Tesla, but sustainable energy solutions cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian oil & gas exports. Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil & gas output immediately. Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022 In a video, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, praised the administration for cutting off Russian oil while suggesting that the U.S. should take advantage of its own natural resources rather than relying on other countries for energy. We import about 200,000 barrels of Russian oil a day and we can easily replace that by just producing 200,000 barrels a day more of our own oil. We can easily do that very quickly. We dont need oil from Russia. We dont need oil from Iran. We dont need oil from Venezuela. I am glad Biden finally cut off the oil from #Russia Now replace it with American oil pic.twitter.com/6SUfb465QD Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 8, 2022 Rubios remarks follow a report from The Washington Post published over the weekend asserting that high-level administration officials met with Venezuela, another nation that has faced sanctions from the U.S. due to authoritarian behavior, about possibly lifting sanctions on Venezuelan oil to allow the communist country to export its oil here and help replace the oil deficit caused by the absence of Russian oil. Critics of the Biden administration attribute the energy policy under his administration and other Western governments to the emboldening and empowering of Russia that gave it the resources to invade Ukraine in the first place. Michael Shellenberger, the author of Apocalypse Never, unveiled a lengthy Twitter thread Thursday featuring data showing that 15 years ago Europe exported more national gas than Russia does today. Now, Russia exports 3x more gas than Europe produces. Why? Because climate activists, partly funded by Russia, blocked fracking. Shellenberger shared an op-ed from The Wall Street Journal highlighting how Russia engaged actively with so-called nongovernmental organizations working against shale gas to maintain dependence on imported Russian gas. GasBuddy, a website designed to help Americans find cheap gas, reported Monday that the average price of gasoline in the U.S. reached a record high of $4.104 per gallon, eclipsing the previous record of $4.103 per gallon set in 2008. Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, predicted that The high prices are likely to stick around for not days or weeks, like they did in 2008, but months. Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail, must pay over $120K in restitution for hate crime hoax Jussie Smollett, who in 2019 falsely claimed to be the victim of a hate crime, was sentenced to 30 months of felony probation, which will include 150 days in jail and must pay restitution. In a sentence handed down on Thursday, the Empire actor was given 30 months of felony probation, including 150 days in jail, as well as being ordered to pay over $120,000 in restitution and a $25,000 fine, reported CNN. Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this, said Smollett, as reported by CNN. I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that. Cook County Judge James Linn, who gave the sentence, spoke to Smollett directly, saying that he believed the actor had a side of you that has this arrogance, and selfishness and narcissism that's just disgraceful. You're not a victim of a racial hate crime, you're not a victim of a homophobic hate crime. You're just a charlatan pretending to be a victim of a hate crime, and that's shameful, Linn added. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement saying that the sentence should send a clear message to everyone in the City of Chicago that false claims and allegations will not be tolerated. The malicious and wholly fabricated claim made by Mr. Smollett resulted in over 1500 hours of police work that cost the City over $130,000 in police overtime, stated Lightfoot, as quoted by the New York Post. The City feels vindicated in todays ruling that he is being held accountable and that we will appropriately receive restitution for his actions. In January 2019, Smollett claimed that two men assaulted him in Chicago, shouting homophobic and racist slurs at the openly gay, African American actor while also showing support for then President Donald Trump. However, as police conducted their investigation, they concluded that Smollett had actually fabricated the incident, and in February 2019 arrested the actor. During the trial, two brothers testified that Smollett had paid them $3,500 to attack him in front of a surveillance camera, even telling them what slurs to utter when doing so. Last December, Smollett was found guilty on five of six counts centered on him lying to police and detectives about being the victim of a hate crime and a victim of battery. He was found not guilty on the sixth count, which was falsely telling a second detective that he was a victim of aggravated battery. Nenye Uche, an attorney for Smollett, maintained after the verdict was given last December that his client was wrongfully convicted due to the influence of news media. Unfortunately we were facing an uphill battle where Jussie was already tried and convicted in the media and then we had to somehow get the jury to forget or unsee all the news stories that they had been hearing that were negative for the last three years, said Uche, as reported by the Associated Press. Anguished moms detail how gender ideology in schools threatens parents' rights, led to suicide WASHINGTON Mothers fighting back against gender ideology indoctrination in the public school system detailed the devastating harms it has had on their children and families. During a panel discussion at the Heritage Foundation Monday, scholar Jay Richards hosted three mothers who have been at the forefront of resisting this ideological push in the education system. Though their experiences were different, the mothers January Littlejohn of Florida, Abigail Martinez of California, and Nicole Solas from Rhode Island spoke of how school officials undermined their ability to parent and concealed from them what their children were being taught in the classroom. Solas, a mother of two who's also a senior fellow with Independent Womens Forum, said the teachers union in her state sued her because she had filed public records requests seeking information about the teaching of gender theory and critical race theory in schools. When Solas asked questions about how these theories were being taught, she was told that undefined common practices were being used. One such common practice was that educators were told not to refer to students as boys and girls or other gendered terms, and the values of gender identity were taught in the curriculum at an age-appropriate level. Unconvinced in light of the nebulous responses she received, Solas probed deeper and found that the school had, in 2017, a transgender and gender-expansive nondiscrimination policy. Under the banner of nondiscrimination, they are assisting students to transition genders and they do it without parental consent. And in the policy, they are very clear that parents are not included in this. This exclusion of parents is because parents are supposedly not safe with their children on this issue. But what safe means was also left undefined, she said. After realizing how much the school could do behind her back, Solas ultimately decided to remove her 5-year-old daughter from the school. She was particularly concerned about the indoctrination of students starting at a young age. The school had point teams in which a team of school officials would create a customized gender plan for students in each grade. Believing this to be illegal, Solas emailed the schools lawyers and cited Pierce v. Society Sisters, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling about legal parental consent. But then, of course, we got stonewalled, she said, adding that the teachers union is suing her. Solas subsequently filed an information request inquiring how many students were being secretly transitioned while at school without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The school replied that it could not provide that information because it was private. I just want the number. Is it 10? Is it 100? What is it? Solas recalled asking school administrators before they denied her request, citing student privacy and confidentiality. Solas said administrators also told her the information was "not in the publics interest. In her remarks, Littlejohn, a mother of three and a mental health counselor by training, noted that COVID-19 shutdowns exacerbated the already struggling mental health of many youths, and her daughter was no exception. Her daughter became confused about her sex soon after several girls in her friend group all suddenly started identifying as transgender. Littlejohn disclosed to the school that her daughter had been struggling and they had sought counseling for her. She mentioned that while they were not affirming the trans identity at home, they felt like they could not stop her from using a nickname while at school. What she didn't know at the time was that the teacher to whom she had disclosed this personal information was also an LGBT advocate. Behind her back, Littlejohn said the school initiated a meeting with her daughter to discuss which restroom she would prefer to use. School officials summarily told her that her daughter was protected under their nondiscrimination policy, and thus, they would not disclose to her parents what was discussed at that meeting. To say I was shocked was an understatement, the Florida mother said. After much back-and-forth communication, the Littlejohns learned that the school had socially transitioned their daughter. They had completed a six-page plan behind closed doors, with three school officials that included the vice principal, the guidance counselor, and a social worker I had never met, she said. In those six pages were questions about which restroom her daughter preferred to use, which sex she preferred to room with on overnight trips, and even asked which name the school should use when they spoke to her parents. Littlejohn ultimately discovered that teachers were referring to her daughter by a different name, while at the same time deceiving her and her husband by continuing to use their daughter's birth name in their communications with the school. They took away my ability to protect my daughter when they did this, she asserted. When parents are excluded from decisions about their child's health and well-being at school, it sends the message to their children that their parents input or authority is no longer needed. Littlejohn emphasized that similar policies and practices have been implemented in school districts nationwide. The Littlejohns have since filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, the superintendent and the assistant superintendent. These types of parental [rights] violations must stop," she declared. "We have to hold schools accountable when they break the law. The third mother to share her story did so publicly for the first time. Her harrowing account led many in the audience to burst out in tears. Martinez, who has lived in California since she was 18, when her family left El Salvador for opportunities in the U.S., recounted how LGBT activists at her daughters school, the medical establishment, and social services undermined her at every turn. All of these systems, she said, worked against her as she tried to help her daughter overcome her mental distress. Choking back tears, Martinez described how her daughter, Yaeli, started struggling with depression in the seventh and eighth grades. Schoolmates had been bullying her and telling her that she was ugly. When her daughter told her that she felt like she was a boy, the school counselor was involved, DCFS was involved, LGBT was in there, too, trying to help [with] the transition of my daughter. Martinez said she was accused of not opening her eyes and not knowing that her daughter had always been male. But she knew that wasnt true because her daughter had always been a girly-girl, was very artistic, and would like to dress up as a princess. The school principal made things worse, she said. School officials told social services that her daughter would be better off out of the house. Yaeli was removed from her mother's custody when she was 16, and was summarily placed in the state foster care system. Her daughter then started going by the name Andrew. I tried my best to get her back, going to court every single month. I never missed a court date because I wanted my daughter back, she said. When I went to court, I asked the judge to please let my daughter have a psych evaluation, she continued. But since her daughter's social worker said she needed to be affirmed as transgender, the judge denied Martinezs request. What hurt me the most was that I was told not to talk about God, she said. Talking about God, a social worker warned her, was going to make him feel uncomfortable, she said, as the social worker referred to her daughter as male. Because hes in danger of committing suicide. Martinez's voice faltered as she recalled how heartbreak she felt hearing her daughters voice changing due to the effects of testosterone. In September 2019, her daughter took her own life by standing on railroad tracks where an oncoming train struck her and killed her. Martinez learned that her daughter's body had been severed due to the impact, leaving police to recover parts of her daughters shattered body from the train tracks. Losing a child is so painful it hurts to breathe, she said in agony. I dont want this to happen to any other family, she said, wiping tears from her eyes. Following the panel, Richards added that Martinezs daughter, Yaeli, had been told that if parental custody was removed, the state would then pay for experimental transgender medical services, such as cross-sex hormones, which she later obtained at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, the location for one of the largest pediatric gender clinics in the country. Is it biblical to honor our nation? Richard John Neuhaus, founder of the journal on religion and public life First Things, once wrote, When I meet God, I expect to meet him as an American. The line got him in a good bit of trouble back then, but today hed almost certainly be accused of being a Christian nationalist. Nationalism of any stripe has gotten a bad name recently, but especially so-called Christian nationalism. How should Christians think about nations and national loyalty? The first use of the Hebrew word for nation appears in Genesis 10, in a listing of nations that descended from Noahs sons. Its notable that this comes before the Tower of Babel, recorded in Genesis 11, where God created more nations by confusing the languages and scattering people across the Earth. Nations, it seems, were part of Gods plan for humanity before the rebellion at Babel. And, even in that story, the dividing into tongues and scattering of the people is described more as an act of mercy than of judgment, to prevent humans from doing all that was possible as one people. Then in Genesis 12, God tells Abram that his descendants would become a great nation, and that, through them, all the nations of the world would be blessed. The Old Testament frequently refers to the Jewish people as a nation, while also using the same word to describe the other kingdoms and empires around them. In the New Testament, ethne, the Greek word for nation, most famously appears in Jesus instructions to make disciples of all nations, which is a fulfillment of Gods original promise to Abraham. Also interesting in the New Testament, language about nations seems to exclude empire. Though ethne can be translated either as people group or nation, the two are related. Historically, the word nation referred to a relatively homogenous group, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically. Each kingdom of the ancient world mostly consisted of people of a single nation. Thus, ethne can refer to a people group within an empire, but not to empires themselves because they contain multiple nations. Nations also seem to be present after the Second Coming of Christ, according to biblical descriptions. For example, Micah 4:2 says: "Many nations shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." And in Revelation 21:24, we are told that by the light [of God and of the Lamb] will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it [the New Jerusalem]. So, it seems that something of the nations will survive into eternity. Of course, because human beings are fallen, everything humans build is susceptible to sin, including nations. Just as sins characterize our lives as individuals, so also can certain sins dominate nations, corrupting their cultures. And, just as we must be cleansed of sin to enter the Kingdom, so must nations be cleansed from sins if they have any place in the New Heavens and New Earth. A fascinating illustration of this is found in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Their high views of ancient northern European culture show up in their stories of Narnia and Middle Earth. However, though they believed virtue could be found, they also recognized the evils of Norse paganism. Thus, they argued for a recovery of northernness, cleansed of its paganism and Christianized by the Gospel. Exactly what the cleansing of nations entails isnt clear, but the result is beautifully described in Revelation 7, where a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages will join together in worshipping the Lamb. This passage confirms that, at least to some degree, our nationality will accompany us into eternity. Rather than homogenizing us, Gods Kingdom will be a glorious mosaic of people of different races, ethnicities, and nations. This makes sense given that God delighted in the diversity of His creation. In other words, according to these texts, when Father Neuhaus died in 2009, he did, in fact, meet God as an American. Of course, all good loves, including love of spouse, child, family, community, or culture, can be disordered and even idolatrous. Nationalism becomes idolatry whenever love of nation devolves into an excessive or uncritical devotion, is confused with the Kingdom of God, justifies evil, or engages in a partiality that treats citizens of other nations as less worthy of love, justice, or charity. However, the idea that nations should be defined, self-governing, and the immediate object of Christian stewardship is not idolatry. Another way to say this is that Christians are called to be good stewards of the nations they are in. Our nations are, after all, the most obvious aspect of the time and place in which God has placed us. At the same time, great harm is done whenever Christians attempt to build empires. The reason is simple: Jesus is the only one who rules over all nations, and no one on earth has the right to usurp His authority. Originally published at BreakPoint. The Ukrainian crisis: A catastrophic failure of leadership I am sure your heart aches, as does mine, as we see the pictures and hear the accounts of the terrible suffering of the Ukrainian people as they languish under the savage and barbaric attacks being made upon them by the Russian invaders. No informed observer is surprised that Russia is breaking all the rules of the Geneva Convention in their unrestrained bombardment of civilians producing medieval visions of death and starvation among the civilian population. This is nothing new for the Russians. In Syria, the Russians bombed 54 hospitals (four in one day). The U.N. concluded these bombings were intentional. At least 18 hospitals in Ukraine have been bombed already, with more sure to come. Now, the specter of biological and chemical weapons has risen to the fore, along with Putins threat to use tactical, low-yield nuclear weapons. These gruesome prospects have come to the fore because Putins plans have gone seriously astray. Like all dictators, Putin could not comprehend how tenaciously and bravely free men and women will fight to defend their freedom. Consequently, Putin never expected the Ukrainians would defend their precious, hard-won freedoms so valiantly. I recognize the Spirit of 1776 when I see it, and the Ukrainians are proving that freedom is not just an American, but a universal, ideal of the human heart. As Putin becomes more desperate, he will be more and more tempted to become even more savage in his escalations. The Russians have floated the idea that the Ukrainians may use biological or chemical weapons. The accusation is typical of the Russians, accusing their adversaries of doing things they themselves are preparing to do. The Russians used chemical and biological agents in Syria. This time they are using the excuse that there are at least two Soviet-era biological and chemical weapons labs that the U.S. has been working to clean up and close since the 2005 erection of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Agency. Our intelligence community is well aware, however, that the Russians have well-developed biochemical, germ warfare capabilities and have no moral compunction about using them. Putin has already unleashed his private hit squads (named the Wagner group, named after Hitlers favorite composer, Richard Wagner) to assassinate President Zelensky and other political figures in Ukraines government. American intelligence has also discovered Russian plans to conduct public, firing-squad executions once they have secured Ukrainian cities. The tragic thing is that this was all so preventable. Sixty-two percent of Americans believe that if President Trump were still president, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine. Putin feared Trumps strength, whereas he holds Bidens invertebrate weakness in disdain. The last straw was Bidens ignominious surrender and withdrawal from Afghanistan. President Bidens weakness ultimately did prove to be more temptation than Putin could withstand. If we had reinforced Ukraine with the weapons we should have a year ago as Trump attempted to do (Trumps last shipment in January 2021, was held up by the Biden Administration until last month), we would not be where we are today. President Bidens weakness is illustrated by his apparent fear of what Putin might do. As one Congressman put it, it appears that Putin is living rent free in Bidens head. Putin has succeeded in bluffing N.A.T.O. and the U.S., with much hand-wringing about how Putin will react if we provide more assistance to Ukraine. He should be worrying about what we might do, not the other way around. Without that concern, deterrence has lost its credibility. I believe too many commentators have missed a major point about this conflict. Russia is not concerned about Ukraine or N.A.T.O. being a threat to Russia. N.A.T.O. is a defensive alliance. I believe the big threat Ukraine posed, and poses, to Russia is freedom and democracy. As Ukraine has rapidly developed into a self-governing, freedom-loving country, it poses a mortal threat to Putins dictatorship. The Russians and the Ukrainians are kissing cousins culturally, much like Canadians and Americans. Many Russians, looking at Ukraines flourishing democracy on their doorstep, have been asking themselves, if they can do it, why cant we? And that is a mortal threat to everything Putin holds dear. Much is at stake in the Ukraine. The holiday for history is over, and the West must deal with this crisis by keeping Ukraine free or face far more dire consequences in the future. I fervently wish I had more confidence in President Bidens leadership. His going hat-in-hand to the Venezuelan thugs, or the Iranian mullahs for oil is not comforting. Reportedly, the Iranians have sent out hit squads to assassinate former Trump administration officials like John Bolton and we are negotiating with Iran with Russia as the powerbroker in the talks? Unbelievable! And oh, by the way, if President Biden had not canceled the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office, it would have been completed by the end of this year and would be delivering approximately 900,000 barrels of oil a day to the ports and refineries on the Gulf Coast, making the U.S. a net exporter of oil, as it was, in the last year of the Trump administration. American self-sufficiency in oil hamstrings the Russians in very important ways. That fact seems to have completely eluded the President and his administration. I should have confidence in this team of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod? I pray for them, as God has commanded me to do, but I have no confidence in their wisdom or courage. The American people deserve better. Alas, there are only quadrennial do-overs in American presidential elections. I confess that I fear for our country when I remember that the Old Testament teaches us that great political and moral leadership in a country are a sign of Gods blessing. Their absence are a sign of His judgment. When evil is called good Last week, three news stories threw into sharp relief the ambitions of the sexual revolutionaries who govern the United States. First, there was the predictable outrage from the usual elites concerning Floridas Parental Right in Education Bill, which would significantly restrict the teaching of LGBTQ+ ideology to schoolchildren. Second, it emerged that Washington State has a policy preventing teachers from revealing a childs gender transition to parents. And third, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki condemned a directive from Texas governor Greg Abbott that calls on state agencies to protect Texas minors by investigating cases of children receiving abusive gender-transitioning procedures. Each story reveals a particular aspect of the current sexual revolution. The criticism of Florida shows just how deeply the progressive elites have imbibed the notion of expressive individualism. Actress Kerry Washington condemned the Florida law, declaring that Children deserve to be who they want to be. To be their true selves. That such a statement makes sense to her and presumably to many of her 5.5 million Twitter followers testifies to how the notion of authenticity, tied to a sexualized notion of childhood, is now unquestioned orthodoxy in our culture. Washington States policy is a reminder of how deeply government agencies have bought into trans ideology, and how they are using it to drive a wedge between parents and children. By the states own philosophy, the child is the gender he or she claims to be. So the state holds that the child defines who he truly is, but that the child's parents have no right to know. That is disturbing in the extreme. As to the Biden administrations attitude toward the Texas directive, the president and his entourage seem to believe it is inappropriate, and indeed morally disgusting, to investigate institutions involved in gender transition to see if they conform to current Texas law. Psaki said that Abbott's guidance was designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most. Our administration believes that loving and caring for trans kids apparently means enabling them to do irreparable damage to their bodies at an age when they have no idea what the consequences will be later in life. The lobbyists have so perverted the narrative, and the current administration has so enabled that perversion, that yes, evil is called good and good is called evil. In short, there is a clear push to grant LGBTQ+ ideology a favored legal and cultural status that enforces it without compromise. It also labels any and all dissent as morally evil. You dont have to be an Old Testament prophet to see where this is all heading, or at least where those in power hope it is heading. Taken together, these three news stories point to the comprehensive destabilizing of society at which the revolution aims. The family must be dismantled; biology must fall to gender ideology; dissenters must be discredited and vilified. None of this is surprising. President Biden, no doubt drawing upon years of careful reading in the field of gender theory, portentously pronounced early in 2020 that transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time. There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights. And it would seem that Bidens administration and its state-level counterparts look set to be as good as their leaders word. If you are a parent who wishes to stop your young daughter, swept up in the trans craze, from having her breasts removed, you should expect no help from those in power. If you are a legislator who wants to make sure gender transition clinics operate within the law, you should expect to be labeled a vicious bigot. And if you dont want your elementary-school-aged child learning about sex from a stranger (who has also been given the right to know more about who your child believes he is than you do), then it is not too far-fetched to think that you might find yourself talking to child protective services at some point. In light of the moral disaster over which President Biden seems happy to preside, it would be helpful if those evangelical leaders covered favorably in the New York Times were to use their privileged access to expose this evil nonsense in its pages. That might be more useful than dissenting from people who dont have the cultural cachet to land an interview with the Gray Lady, fretting about who may or may not win the 2024 election, and generally being preoccupied with the pointless work of speaking truth to those without power. Such things really serve no purpose beyond bolstering Biden World and the evil, child-harming, family-destroying sexual revolution it is so vigorously promoting. Thats why such forms of dissent receive positive treatment in the New York Times. Dissenting from our cultural and political elites views on top surgery for minors? Well, I have a hunch that that might be quite a different matter. Originally published at First Things. Will the music go silent in Kiev? Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the [20th] century was the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today Putin is moving hard to reclaim, as he would it see it, an important part of Russia neighboring Ukraine. Thus, the fallout from the Communist atheists disastrous takeover of Russia in 1917 continues to this day. Now the world is witnessing the incredible human suffering caused by Putins evil ambitions, as he follows in Lenins and Stalins footsteps. How this story will end is unknown. But there is an angle that ought to be considered. There are millions of devout Christians in Ukraine, and they are fiercely committed to their independence. To get a better understanding of the Ukrainian people, I spoke at length with Roger McMurrin. Though now retired, he and his wife, Diane, pioneered a work in Ukraine that continues to this day. It is called Music Mission Kiev, which they officially founded in 1994. In many ways, Russia began in Kiev in circa 780 AD when the Vikings came. By the 1200s, Kiev had a population of 50,000 in contrast with London at 20,000 and Berlin at 10,000, according to McMurrin. He even points out that the Russian Orthodox Church, which was born in Kiev, decided to build a monastery in a forest faraway and thus Moscow was born. McMurrin was a music conductor of large church choirs, including the well-known Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in the 1970s and 1980s when Dr. D. James Kennedy was the senior pastor. My wife sang in that choir and always appreciated Rogers musical genius. In the early 1990s, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when religious freedom was allowed in Russia and Ukraine, Roger and Diane got to visit there and even came up with the idea to re-introduce sacred music to be performed by professional Ukrainian musicians many of whom were out of work. The first piece Roger had them perform was Handels Messiah, which had not been heard in at least 70 years there. It was a major success. Thus was born, Music Mission Kiev, the home of the Kiev (actually, Kyiv) Symphony Orchestra and Chorus which has gone on many tours in the region and even in the U.S. Diane McMurrin has written the fascinating story of their work in Ukraine and Gods call on their lives to work among the Ukrainians in her 1998 book, The Splendor of His Music. The Music Mission Kiev website notes that their organization began performing sacred masterpieces of classical music in 1993 [pieces, which] were banned under Communist rule. Roger told me that that included almost 65 great Christian Classics works such as Haydens Creation, Bachs St. Johns Passion and St. Matthews Passion, Beethovens Hallelujah, Mozarts Ave Verum,Schuberts Ave Maria,etc. Roger and his team were even able to perform many sacred works by classic Russian composers again, works not heard since the Bolsheviks started taking over Russia beginning in 1917. That includes Rimsky-Korsakovs Russian Easter Overture. Even the famous 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky has some church-based musical themes in the original version which were altered during the days of the Soviet Union, with its anti-Christian purging of anything church-related. When Roger and his team first started in the early 1990s, everybody they hired, including the musicians, were atheists and agnostics. Roger told me the Ukrainian people they encountered in general were unbelievers, and their lives were desperate and depressed. Men died at the average age of 56 (largely through alcohol and tobacco use), and the average lifespan for the women was 75. Although their ministry was focused on classical music, very soon after starting, they began weekly feeding of widows. At last count, Music Mission Kiev feeds about 550 widows a week. Through the work of various Christian ministries throughout Ukraine, including Music Mission Kiev, Roger said that today there are millions of Christians there. And now comes Putins invasion. The Music Mission Kiev website says: It is a nightmare from hell is how our staff and friends in Kyiv are describing the situation even after the fighting stops, we know there is a refugee crisis coming. Estimates are there will be close to 4 million refugees and 12 million people in Ukraine in dire need of humanitarian aid. Roger McMurrin added that the history of Ukraine is filled with foreign invasions. Through the centuries, they were ruled by the Mongols, the Tatars, the Ottomans, the Swedes, and, of course, Russia beginning around 1919 (with an interval during World War 2 under Nazi Rule), until the Soviet Union imploded in 1991. He said that the Ukrainians are brave. They love their country, and they will fight to the end. Perhaps Putin has bitten off more than he can chew in this invasion. The Ukrainian people are resolved to stand up against this tyranny. Pray for them in this hour of crisis. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Premier Li Keqiang arrive for the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 10. Reuters-Yonhap China's Premier Li Keqiang confirmed Friday that he plans to step down after his current term expires next March. The No. 2 in the hierarchy of China's ruling Communist Party, Li has been premier since 2013, and is constitutionally limited to two terms. "This is the last year I will be premier," Li told a news conference. President Xi Jinping is expected to secure a precedent-breaking third term as party chief at a party meeting this autumn to elect leaders for the next five years. In 2015, China revised its constitution to drop a limit of two terms for those holding the post of president. Party leaders can choose the next premier. (Reuters) JK Rowling warns Scotland's gender identity bill will 'harm the most vulnerable women in society' Famed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is condemning a proposed bill in Scotland law that would amend the process for people to legally change their gender, warning that it will harm the most vulnerable women in society. Rowling, described by critics as a Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF), took to Twitter over the weekend to weigh in on proposed changes to Scotlands Gender Recognition Reform Bill. The Gender Recognition Reform Bill, introduced last Wednesday, outlines the process to get a gender recognition certificate, which legally recognises that a persons gender is not the gender they were assigned at birth, but is their acquired gender. The bill would require the Registrar General for Scotland to grant a Gender Recognition Certificate to any resident of Scotland who is aged at least 16 and has lived in the acquired gender throughout the period of three months ending with the day on which the application is made. The document makes no references to hormone or surgical treatments and/or the biological differences between men and women. The bill amends who can apply for a GRC, how to make an application and the grounds on which an application is to be granted. The legislation introduces different types of gender recognition certificates that can be used in different circumstances: full certificates and interim certificates. It also establishes a policy regulating appeals and reviews of decisions to grant (or not grant) GRCs and a process for the revocation of a GRC and offences in connection with false information being provided in an application. The bill overview on the Scottish Parliaments website describes the current system for obtaining a gender recognition certificate as intrusive and laments that the process can take a long time. The Scottish government has cited both factors as having a negative impact on applicants. The Scottish government expressed concern about the fact that current rules require a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and supporting evidence with the application and that 16 and 17 year olds are not currently allowed to apply for a GRC, which the Government believes is a further negative impact on trans young people. The revisions will mitigate what the Scottish government views as deficiencies in the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. Angie Harris, a self-described leftie and radical feminist from Melbourne, Australia, warned of the bills implications in a tweet shared by Rowling. There is self ID in my city, Harris stated. Men are self identifying in to female sexual assault recovery services. Say no, and they take you to the Human Rights Tribunal. Women self exclude. Groups implode. No more services for our most vulnerable women. Rowling retweeted Harris tweet, expressing concern that the law [First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon is] trying to pass in Scotland will harm the most vulnerable women in society: those seeking help after male violence/rape and incarcerated women. According to Rowling, [s]tatistics show that imprisoned women are already far more likely to have been previously abused. For example, the Correctional Association of New York reported in 2013 that women in prison were twice as likely as those in the general public to report a history of physical or sexual abuse. In 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice reported that "Between 6% and 14% of male offenders and between 23% and 37% of female offenders reported they had been physically or sexually abused before age 18." Exactly this. The law @NicolaSturgeon's trying to pass in Scotland will harm the most vulnerable women in society: those seeking help after male violence/rape and incarcerated women. Statistics show that imprisoned women are already far more likely to have been previously abused. https://t.co/LPN8cx1Vf4 J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 5, 2022 Rowlings tweet about the Gender Recognition Reform Bill is not the first time the author of the popular childrens book series has weighed in on legislation related to the contentious issue of gender. In 2020, Rowling wrote an essay warning that similar legislation proposed in the United Kingdom would allow a man who intends to have no surgery and take no hormones to secure himself a Gender Recognition Certificate and be a woman in the sight of the law. At around the same time, Rowling took issue with a piece in Devex magazine that included the phrase people who menstruate in the headline. Im sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? she quipped, referring to the word woman. Her advocacy speaking out against the effort to erode woman as a political and biological class has caused the author to experience backlash from LGBT activists. Last year, organizers of a book festival in New Zealand canceled a Harry Potter-themed quiz initially scheduled to be part of the celebration over fears that it would cause distress to the trans-identified community. Rowling has indicated that she would refuse to bow down from her positions in the face of criticism. I stand alongside the brave men and women, gay, straight and trans, whore standing up for freedom of speech and thought, and for the rights and safety of some of the most vulnerable in our society: young gay kids, fragile teenagers, and women whore reliant on and wish to retain their single sex spaces, she wrote in a 2020 essay. Baptists give thousands of Ukrainian refugees outlets to rest, plan for their uncertain futures WARSAW Tetyana had a job, a home, friends, a life, and a grown daughter who was just starting hers. Then the explosions started near Kyiv, Ukraine. For 48 hours, me and my daughter were lying on the floor waiting for death, she said. In the last moment, we decided to pack quickly our most needed things and just flee Kyiv. The war started on Feb. 24, and on the 26th at 1 p.m., we left Kyiv. They drove until they encountered a 31-mile long line of cars waiting to get into Poland. There, they abandoned their car and boarded a bus. At 2 a.m., on Feb. 27, we finally crossed the border," she detailed. Poles welcomed them as they have hundreds of thousands of others. By Gods direction through Polish Baptist volunteers, Tetyana and her daughter ended up at the Baptist seminary in Warsaw. Marek Glodek, president of the Baptist Union of Poland, and Mateuz Wichary, vice president of the union, work at the seminary and have been crucial in leading the efforts of welcoming people from Ukraine to the seminary and Polish Baptist churches. God has placed Ukrainians in our churches over the past 10 years, and they are instrumental in this effort, Wichary said. When the fleeing Ukrainians arrive in our churches and can talk with, relate to and begin to process what happened with people who know their language, culture and customs, it helps them switch from fear toward comfort. After a long pause, Tetyana added: Im thankful to God because Im Orthodox. I pray every day. And yesterday, we had Baptist church service here, and I cried all the time when we prayed and worshipped God. People are so good to us. Im thankful to God that He provided a place for us here. Because me and my daughter thought that we would sleep on the streets when we arrived in Warsaw. In many ways, Baptists in the region, like the Polish, are the face of the faith in the crisis as Christians connected to the Baptist World Alliance around the globe line up behind them to support ministry to those impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Texas Baptist Men, a Dallas-based nonprofit primarily known for its disaster relief ministry around the world, is one of the groups that is responding to this crisis. Through significant funding, it is supporting four shelters in churches in Poland and Ukraine. A TBM team is currently on the field meeting specialized needs and providing logistical support to the Poles. The eyes of the world are on Ukraine, said Mickey Lenamon, TBM executive director/CEO. In the middle of everything thats going on, Baptists from around the globe have come together to meet needs and share the love of Christ to people during their most difficult days. We are honored to be part of that. The Polish are incredible. Their faith is inspiring. They serve around the clock and never seem to tire. God is truly working through Polish Baptist churches. According to the Baptist World Alliance, Ukrainian Baptists have cared for more than 45,000 people through shelters and aid stations. Hungarian Baptist Aid is also serving in the region. Polish Baptists have served thousands more. Many of the refugees, like Tetyana and her daughter, arent sure where they will go next. Through a texting group of their friends, they understand their old neighborhood is filled with landmines. Returning is becoming less likely as the Russian onslaught continues. But at least they have a safe place to stay with people who care about them and a God who has a plan for their lives. We have been here for three days now, Tetyana said. Now, we are trying to calm down and think about the future. A 500-year-old folio from the Shah Tahmasp Shahnama one of the finest illustrated manuscripts ever made The miniature painting on this Persian folio is attributed to Aqa Mirak, described by his peer Dust Muhammad as the genius of the age, the prodigy of our era and the artist who made the most valuable Islamic painting ever sold at auction Roughly halfway into his 52-year reign, Shah Tahmasp (1514-1576) of Iran dismissed almost all the artists, poets and musicians who had helped bring about a cultural flowering at the start of it. This was because of a growing sense that the arts were at odds with religion. Tahmasp duly signed the Edict of Sincere Repentance in 1556. One of the few artists retained in the royal atelier after that was Aqa Mirak, a figure described by his peer, the miniature painter and art historian Dust Muhammad, as the genius of the age, the prodigy of our era. Mirak also received praise from several other contemporaries, but it was Muhammad who expressed it most memorably, hailing his God-given might and the way he but picks up his brush [to produce] pictures of unparalleled delight. On 31 March 2022, one of the artists classic works was offered in the Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Oriental Rugs and Carpets sale in London. The work (below) is a folio from the Shah Tahmasp Shahnama, widely regarded as one of the finest illustrated manuscripts ever made. Comprising 759 folios of text, more than 250 of which feature paintings, the manuscript is named after Tahmasp because it was completed under his rule. It had been commissioned by his father the previous ruler, Shah Ismail a few years before his death, and took around two decades to finish. If that seems a long time, its worth bearing in mind what exactly was being created: the most lavishly illustrated copy yet of the Iranian national epic, the Shahnama. The poem contains 50,000 rhyming couplets and tells the history of all Persias rulers, from the countrys ancient mythical beginnings through to its conquest by the Arabs in the mid-7th century AD. The Shahnama, or Book of Kings, was composed by the poet Abul Qasim Firdawsi in 1010 and went on to become a great source of national pride. It also served as a primer for subsequent shahs about correct conduct and how to rule. New copies of the epic (often illustrated ones) were commissioned by monarch after monarch, as a way for each to present himself as rightful heir to the rulers of yore. In the case of Ismail there was added significance, given that in 1501 he had founded a new dynasty, the Safavids, the first indigenous Persian dynasty since the Sasanians. (It was the Sasanians who fell to Arab invaders in the mid-7th century, with rulers of Mongol and Turkic descent also assuming power in the centuries thereafter.) When it came to the Shah Tahmasp Shahnama, no expense was spared by Ismail or Tahmasp. Several artists worked on the manuscript, with three outstanding figures given overall control at different times: Sultan Muhammad, Mir Musavvir and, finally, Aqa Mirak, who oversaw roughly the final third of the project. Open a larger version of this image A detail from the folio, showing Rustams brother, Zawara, observing the unfolding scene With a little help from an assistant, Mirak personally painted the folio coming to auction. Dating from around 1530, it depicts one of the poems heroes, the legendary warrior Rustam, in a mountainous landscape. Rustam can be seen sitting while holding a cup of wine and spit-roasting an onager (a type of wild ass). A large boulder has also just been hurled at him down a mountainside by his adversary, Bahman. The latter was so wary of Rustams strength that he wished to avoid meeting him in direct combat. Open a larger version of this image Another detail, showing Bahman looking down upon his enemy, Rustam, after hurling a rock at him According to the text at the top of the page, our fearless warrior neer moved nor laid aside the onager. He waited till the stone was close to him, then with a kick dispatched it far away. His brother and fellow warrior, Zawara, depicted with his horse in the pictures top right, watches on in wonderment at Rustams coolness. The boulder scene was a favourite among Shahnama illustrators, and another version of it dating from the Timurid era almost a century earlier, and pictured below also appears in the Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds sale. Rustam, who is said to have lived to the age of 500, features in numerous episodes in the Shahnama. He personified loyalty to the Persian throne and spent his long life serving and advising different kings. (Rustam is accompanied on many adventures by his horse, Rakhsh, a once-wild stallion that only he had had the speed and strength to tame.) Open a larger version of this image Rustam kicks aside a boulder, Timurid Shiraz, Iran, circa 1440-50. Painting 4 x 4 in (11.9 x 11.4 cm); text panel 7 x 4 in (18.6 x 12.3 cm); folio 11 x 7 in (28.8 x 19.3 cm). Sold for 11,970 on 31 March 2022 at Christies in London Miraks painting on this folio is a masterclass in compositional invention. It is structured along an invisible diagonal line. This connects the green mound where Rakhsh stands, in the foreground on the bottom right; the central figure of Rustam; the rocky peak of the mountain; and Bahman, who has scaled it, in the pictures top left. The two enemies are forever frozen in the moment, looking at each other directly along this line. Incidentally, its not just Bahman who appears to threaten Rustam. The mountain does, too seeming almost to rear up, curl over and point at our hero. Also worthy of note is Miraks command of space. There is no visual overload, as in certain folio paintings. All the people and objects including flora are spread out and given their own area of influence. The artist included fewer flowers than his contemporaries, which allows each red flower-head to glow brilliantly in its own space. Not long after its completion, the Shah Tahmasp Shahnama was presented to the Ottoman sultan, Selim II, in Istanbul, to mark his accession, having been sent to him with a convoy of 34 camels. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe We had an etching press behind our kitchen and I suggested that Paula might like to have a go making prints with Paula Rego Artist Paul Coldwell looks back on his decade-long collaboration with Rego in the 1980s and 1990s, when he printed some of her best-known works, including Nursery Rhymes, The Childrens Crusade and the powerful Abortion series Control, repression and animal passion are among the dark themes of the Portuguese-born painter Paula Rego. Her psychologically charged artworks often depict women in moments of emotional or physical struggle, revealing complex stories about the sinister side of family and sexual relationships. Born in Lisbon in 1935, Rego came to London in the early 1950s and soon began studying at the Slade School of Art. There she met Victor Willing, a fellow student who later became her husband. Willings diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in the late 1960s and his death in 1988 had a profound effect on her artistic practice. It opened a whole corridor into the darkness and I followed it, she said in 2001. Paula considers printmaking as important as painting. Each print is a painting in miniature, and anyone who owns one has something very special Paul Coldwell In 1987 Rego was invited to create a charity print for the Royal College of Art. She asked her friend, the artist and printmaker Paul Coldwell, to help her. The resulting image was the disquieting Young Predators, a shadowy aquatint depicting two oversized girls, one of them riding a large dog. Rego described it as the Goddess Diana out on the pull. The process was a revelation. Through print, Rego could explore the dynamic potential of storytelling and convey her fabulist world. The success of Young Predators was the start of an intense working relationship between Coldwell and Rego, which lasted for a decade. Their next collaboration was on 31 prints for Marlborough Graphics, in which she brought the full spectrum of her imagination to English nursery rhymes. Rego took inspiration from Francisco de Goyas Caprichos (80 etchings he made after his recovery from a severe illness), conjuring up a cast of wicked-eyed rams, monstrous dolls and feral children taunting the innocent with merciless glee. We didn't have the right equipment to begin with, so aquatint had to be shaken through tights, which is why early prints are slightly mottled Paul Coldwell Other pictures from fairytales followed, together with illustrations for the novels Peter Pan and Jane Eyre. Unlike other artists, who use prints as preliminary sketches, Paula considers printmaking to be just as important as painting, says Coldwell. Each print is a painting in miniature, and anyone who owns one has something very special. Six lots by Rego are offered in Christies online Prints and Multiples sale, from 10 to 24 March. Below, Coldwell, Professor of Fine Art at the University of the Arts London, recalls his time as Regos printmaker and guides us through her most spellbinding pictures. Getting started I first met Paula through my wife, the artist Charlotte Hodes, who had been Paulas student at the Slade. We had recently set up an etching press behind our kitchen in Hackney, and I suggested that Paula might like to have a go at printing. We didnt have the right equipment to begin with, so aquatint had to be shaken through tights, which is why early prints are slightly mottled. I was learning on the job, but that seemed to suit Paula fine. She would turn up early on a Saturday morning with cakes and croissants and the copper plates she had drawn on the night before, and we worked intensively until about 7pm. It all felt quite raw and spontaneous. It wasnt like an established printers family life was going on around us. Open a larger version of this image Paula Rego (b. 1935), Jack and Jill, from: Nursery Rhymes. Plate 323 x 215 mm. Sheet 525 x 380 mm. Sold for 2,142 on 24 March 2022 at Christies Online Open a larger version of this image Paula Rego (b. 1935), How Many Miles to Babylon, from: Nursery Rhymes. Plate 322 x 211 mm. Sheet 520 x 383 mm. Sold for 4,410 on 24 March 2022 at Christies Online How Many Miles to Babylon and Jack and Jill How Many Miles to Babylon was such a difficult print to get right. It is from the Nursery Rhymes series, and I think it is one of her most lyrical images. The contrasts are very stark. All those intense white patches surrounded by black really tested me. It was a difficult time for Paula, too: Victor had just died, and she was grieving his loss. Each project we did together required 100 per cent concentration on my part. After a while, you start to live your life vicariously through Paulas images, which can be quite disturbing. Jack and Jill harks back to Regos fascination with Victorian fairy stories. You can see similarities between Jills tumble down the cliff and Lewis Carrolls Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Theres great animation in the image. Open a larger version of this image Paula Rego (b. 1935), Mist I, from: Pendle Witches. Plate 358 x 595 mm. Sheet 675 x 525 mm. Estimate: 3,024 on 24 March 2022 at Christies Online Mist I Pendle Witches is a series of poems by Blake Morrison, illustrated by Paula. These prints are much more complex, and Paula was doing a lot more work in the studio before bringing the plate to me. Mist I has Paulas favourite starry skies. You can see that the aquatint is quite coarse, which brings out the stars and the dots. Those starry skies appear in later prints, especially in her illustrations for Yves Bonnefoys poems. I remember discussing the work endlessly with Paula. She would pin the print up so she could get a long-distance view of it. Most artists tend to look at prints very closely, as if you are looking at them in a book, but Paula cared about whether you could see them from across the room, as if you were in a gallery. They were always independent works in their own right. Execution and Lost Girl Paula is fascinated by the Childrens Crusade, and you can see why. This story of a medieval child who leads a group of kids off to fight the infidels is quite extraordinary. Nearly all the children were killed or kidnapped and ended up in prostitution. Paula doesnt sentimentalise the event. You can see the children are totally in control. I think the Childrens Crusade series [which includes both Lost Girl and Execution] is very beautiful; the prints are all hand-coloured like old Victorian childrens illustrations. Lost Girl is quite rare in terms of her overall work, because it is predominantly dry point [drawing directly on a coated metal plate with a needle]. The series is important because it marks a change in her practice, from drawing from her imagination to using life models. By this time her studio had become a theatre, with props and costumes a place where ideas were explored and where she got people to pose, and gradually the story was drawn out that way. Open a larger version of this image Paula Rego (b. 1935), Untitled (The Abortion Series). Plates 197 x 295 mm. Sheets 379 x 480 mm (and similar) Untitled, from the Abortion series Prints can function as a way of changing consciousness, and here Paula is putting print to the service of social change. This series [a set of eight] is very different from Paulas other prints, because she had already made paintings devoted to the theme of abortion. The prints were there to disseminate her ideas to a wider audience. The works were triggered by a referendum to allow abortion in Portugal. Paula has always been interested in how prints get to places that paintings dont. She is very inspired by artists like William Hogarth, James Gillray and Honore Daumier artists who operate between fine art and social illustration. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe The prints are quite stripped down in terms of texture. They are surprisingly light in tone which gives them a more disturbing quality. These are tragedies being conducted while the lights are on. It is a very troubling set and Paula has spoken subsequently about having had an abortion herself. What is interesting for me is that the women come through. They are not asking for your pity; you come away with a sense of their bravery and stoicism. VIEW press/Corbis via Getty Images Luxe-loving locals will soon be able to shop Gucci's inventory of high-end wearables without having to travel outside of San Antonio. The company confirms to MySA that The Shops at La Cantera will soon house a Gucci store. The $1.5 million project is in the early stages, but a representative for the brand tells MySA Gucci is eyeing an early fall opening. Gucci was not able to disclose further details. Brookfield Properties, the parent company of the outdoor mall, was not immediately available to comment on the new tenant. It's unclear what part of the mall the Gucci store will open in. Cryptocurrencies have experienced tremendous volatility since the beginning of the year, dragging crypto-related stocks down in price. However, President Bidens executive order this week to examine the risks and scope of cryptocurrencies could renew investors attention on crypto-related stocks. Wall Street analysts are bullish on Riot Blockchain (RIOT) and CleanSpark (CLSK). So, these stocks could be good additions to ones watchlist. Lets discuss. Cryptocurrencies have been exhibiting significant volatility since the beginning of the year. The Feds forthcoming interest rate increases, and multi-year-high inflation are the primary reasons behind this volatility. Furthermore, the Russia-Ukraine war has also fostered volatility in cryptocurrencies. This, along with the stock market sell-offs, has led to many crypto-related stocks suffering a downtrend. Last year was a breakout year for cryptocurrencies, which experienced significant volatility and delivered strong returns. Popular cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), steered several investors to massive profits. Due to the growing popularity and acceptability of cryptocurrencies, President Biden this week signed an executive order to examine the risks and benefits of cryptocurrencies. The order has called on Federal agencies to take a unified approach in regulating and overseeing digital assets. While the near-term prospects for digital currencies look uncertain, the executive order could renew investors attention on crypto stocks. Indeed, Wall Street analysts are bullish on crypto stocks Riot Blockchain, Inc. (RIOT) and CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK). So, it could be wise to add these stocks to ones watchlist. Riot Blockchain, Inc. (RIOT) RIOT is involved in cryptocurrency mining and the overall blockchain system through various investments. The Castle Rock, Colo.-based company has deployed approximately 8,000 application-specific integrated circuit miners at its cryptocurrency mining facility in Oklahoma. In addition, its subsidiary Tess Inc. seeks to develop a blockchain-based escrow service for wholesale telecom carriers. On Dec. 1, 2021, RIOT announced that it had acquired Ferrie Franzmann Industries, LLC (ESS Metron) for roughly $50 million. ESS Metron designs and produces highly engineered electrical equipment solutions that are highly useful for deploying bitcoin mining operations at scale. This acquisition is vital for RIOT because it will likely complement its ongoing infrastructure expansion to 700 MW and significantly improve its internal engineering capabilities. RIOTs total revenue for its fiscal third quarter, ended Sept.30, 2021, increased 2,532.3% year-over-year to $64.80 million. The companys mining revenue grew 2,099% year-over-year to $53.60 million. In addition, its adjusted EBITDA came in at $37.57 million compared to a $0.40 million loss in the year-ago period. Analysts expect RIOTs EPS and revenue for its fiscal year 2021 to increase 233.3% and 1,644.5%, respectively, year-over-year to $0.40 and $210.75 million. The stock surpassed the Streets EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. And over the past year, the stock has declined 70.7% in price to close the last trading session at $16.51. However, Wall Street analysts expect the stock to hit $44.75 in the near term, indicating a potential 171% upside. CleanSpark, Inc. (CLSK) CLSK in Woods Cross, Utah, provides bitcoin mining and energy technology solutions worldwide. The company provides software and technology solutions that are focused on solving modern energy challenges. It operates in the Digital Currency Mining and Energy segments. The Digital Currency Mining segment mines for bitcoin, while the Energy segment provides engineering, design and software, custom hardware, and other solutions for microgrids and distributed energy systems to military, commercial, and residential customers. On Oct. 12, 2021, CLSK announced the purchase of 4,500 units of Antminer S19 bitcoin mining machine, partially funded through its bitcoin holdings. According to CLSK, its sustainable bitcoin mining capacity will increase by a computing power of 450 PH/S, equivalent to its current capacity, after the new machines are operational. New mining machines should help the company increase its revenues. CEO of CLSK Zach Bradford said, By making a conscious effort to reinvest in additional production, we are taking a market-based approach to our mining operations and maximizing value for our shareholders. For its fiscal first quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2021, CLSKs revenues increased 1,726.8% year-over-year to $41.24 million. The companys adjusted EBITDA came in at $24.10 million, compared to a $2.74 million adjusted EBITDA loss in the year-ago period. Also, its net income came in at $14.48 million, compared to a $7.16 million net loss in the year-ago period. For its fiscal year 2022, CLSKs EPS and revenue are expected to increase 277.3% and 269.5%, respectively, year-over-year to $1.33 and $182.65 million. And over the past year, the stock has gained 58.8% in price to close the last trading session at $11.09. However, Wall Street analysts expect the stock to hit $23 in the near term, indicating a potential 107.4% upside. RIOT shares were trading at $15.87 per share on Friday morning, down $0.64 (-3.88%). Year-to-date, RIOT has declined -28.93%, versus a -10.34% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period. About the Author: Dipanjan Banchur Since he was in grade school, Dipanjan was interested in the stock market. This led to him obtaining a masters degree in Finance and Accounting. Currently, as an investment analyst and financial journalist, Dipanjan has a strong interest in reading and analyzing emerging trends in financial markets. More... The post Wall Street is Bullish on These 2 Crypto Stocks: CleanSpark and Riot Blockchain appeared first on StockNews.com Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Its a reach, of course, to recall a melody popular with the free world in 1942. Somehow, I do, and Googling the title revealed lyrics tucked away in a five-year-olds memory rekindled 80 years later. World War II was in its early years. Adults were understandably concerned that atrocities might reach our shores. Bravery, courage and sacrifice came quickly into play, and military leaders knew that the heartbreak and sheer terror of war would not end soon. It was a song of hope, its message seized as welcome light to penetrate the darkness of the times. A few readers--grayest of hair and longest of tooth--may recall Vaughn Monroes rendition of the song, When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World. ***** Freedom prevailed following the world conflict that raged until 1945. Thankfully, the atomic bomb tilted the outcome our way. There was literal darkness during the war. In England--as well as several other countries--lights were extinguished to hinder nighttime aerial raids. Millions hunkered down, hopeful that their prayers, sacrifices and bravery would somehow prevail. It would be a good thing to revisit the words of this song, the message of which is sorely needed by the world today. At the forefront of our prayers are the brave people of Ukraine who are doggedly resisting the onslaught orchestrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin to smite them from their homeland. ***** The Ukrainians are paying a great price, spilling much blood to maintain the democracy they have come to greatly value. Surely, they are worthy of our support, and surely their resolve and fortitude will cause most countries of the world to condemn war crimes that are inhumane by any measure. We are stirred from our complacency, wondering if we in America would be willing to dig in and defend our homeland. The Ukrainians are rallying behind President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose bravery inspires not only his people, but also freedom-lovers around the globe. ***** Zelenskyys resolve brings to mind Dr. Guy D. Newman, who was my college president in the 1950s. In stirring chapel addresses, he warned of communism becoming the greatest threat to democracy. Few days pass but that I think of the short poem he quoted during a 1957 chapel address. (I quoted it in this space recently, but again, the anonymous piece seems to fit.) No one escapes when freedom fails. The best folks rot in filthy jails. And those who scream appease, appease, are hanged by those they tried to please.. ***** Again, Ive taken a side trail. Digression may be attributed to senility, but likely can be traced to conditions dating back to our youth. My original intent was to identify an old song that might be helpful to Ukrainians today. Assuming it unlikely that very many folks will take the time to Google the song, please allow me to revisit the lyrics: When the lights go on again all over the world, And the boys are home again all over the world. And rain or snow is all that may fall from the skies above, A kiss won't mean "goodbye" but "hello to love." When the lights go on again all over the world, And the ships will sail again all over the world. Then we'll have time for things like wedding rings, And free hearts will sing, when the lights go on again All over the world. **** What a nostalgic trip in recounting a song from pre-school years! For our family, even primitive television was still 15 years away, so we welcomed sounds booming from a large wooden cabinet housing the radio. At times, we stared at it, bewildered by its technology. It gave us President Franklin Delano Roosevelts fireside chats, Kate Smiths patriotic renditions and even goofy songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Hearing that lively tune at mealtime, wed sometimes spill our food. And those frozen radio dinners were expensive. ****** Dr. Newbury, a longtime university president, continues to write weekly and speak throughout Texas. First flocks of migratory birds arrive in E China's Nanchang for the warm season People's Daily Online) 10:33, March 11, 2022 Some egrets, among the first seasonal arrivals of migratory birds in the area, busy themselves building nests in the Xiangshan Forest Park located in the Xinjian district of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. (People's Daily Online/Shi Yu) The first flock of migratory birds has arrived in Xiangshan Forest Park in the Xinjian district of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. They were seen building nests on March 9, in preparation for the breeding season. According to a ranger from the forest park, the birds are great egrets migrating northward from the waters of Southeast Asia, and will remain here for a period of five months. As the weather gets warmer, more and more migratory birds will travel here for the summer. Located near Poyang Lake, Xiangshan Forest Park boasts a sound ecological environment and abundant food for migratory birds. From March to July every year, flocks of birds travel here to breed, making the lakeside a well-known kingdom of egrets. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) A visitor who lost his beloved offers one-minute silent prayer at 14:46 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, norther Japan, March 11, marking the 11th anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami devastating Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. EPA-Yonhap Japan on Friday paid tribute to the victims and renewed searches for those still missing from a massive earthquake and tsunami 11 years ago that also triggered a nuclear disaster in Fukushima where tens of thousands still cannot return home. Some residents in the tsunami-hit northern prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi walked down to the coast or their memorable places to pray for their loved ones who were killed or washed away. At 2:46 p.m., the moment a magnitude 9.0 quake struck on March 11, 2011, triggering a massive tsunami, the people observed a moment of silence. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami that slammed into the coastal Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant destroyed its power and cooling functions, triggering meltdowns in three of its six reactors. At a ceremony held by the Fukushima prefecture, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida offered his prayer for the tsunami and quake victims and renewed his pledge to support the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Fukushima. ''Recovery from the nuclear disaster requires long-term response,'' he said, pledging that the government will provide support to improve the living environment for returning residents and to revitalize local industries. Kishida traveled to Fukushima despite the government's discontinuation of the state ceremony after the 10th anniversary last year. In Natori, in the Miyagi prefecture, residents released colorful balloons carrying messages for their lost loved ones after the 2:46 p.m. moment of silence. In Minamisoma, a Fukushima town where about 500 people were killed by the tsunami, uniformed police officers wearing rubber boots went down the coast and dug through the beach to search for the remains of the missing. Searches had been delayed in many parts of the Fukushima coast because of the radiation. The areas contaminated with radioactive fallout and designated as unsafe for living initially covered 12% of the prefectural land, but after decontamination efforts, the no-go zone was reduced to just 2.4%. The government has also pushed safety campaigns to send former residents home, triggering concerns about possible cutbacks on support for voluntary evacuees. At peak time, more than 160,000 people evacuated in and outside of Fukushima. About 33,000 of them are still unable to return home. Many of the evacuees have already resettled elsewhere, and many of the affected towns have seen their population shrink significantly over the past decade, Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori said in his recent online speech. In Futaba town, home to the Fukushima nuclear plant, a tiny area near its train station opened for registered residents to live on a trial basis before its full opening in June, but few of the town's population of about 5,600 have returned so far. Men in hazmat suits work inside a facility with equipment to remove radioactive materials from contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, in Okuma town, northeastern Japan, March 3. AP-Yonhap British singer-songwriter Dua Lipa is just like us: She loves a dive bar. While in Houston on tour this week, Lipa visited Poison Girl, a Montrose cocktail bar that's a favorite for late-night party-goers. There she posted a series of photos on Instagram with the caption "has a special affinity for a dive bar." The social media posts show Lipa, who's performing at the Toyota Center on March 12, posing in front of Poison Girl's pinball and arcade machines and enjoying the photobooth in a see-through, full-body star-patterned number. Poison Girl's pink facade on Westheimer is well-known by locals. The bar specializes in whiskey of all kinds, serves killer cocktails and has a lively patio in the back. During her stop, Lipa also visited the Rothko Chapel in Montrose, according to a photo posted on the institution's Instagram account, where she was seen posing with Thuy M. Tran, the chapel's director of advancement, and Will Davison, manager of communications and visitor engagement. Poison Girl reposted Lipa's photos on Instagram. We reached out for comment, including on what she ordered. The request was not returned at press time, but her post of the bar's sign declaring "I Cold Beer" might be a hint. This story will be updated with more details should they come in. In the meantime, Lipa has one more night left in Houston before her show on Saturday. Will she visit another dive bar, perhaps the equally great Grand Prize in Montrose? Anvil Bar & Refuge down the street from Poison Girl? Or will she spring for one of our swankier establishments, such as Bar No. 3, the new cocktail bar inside the uber-fancy La Colombe d'Or hotel? Either way, we hope Lipa will let us know on her Instagram stories so we can join the party. It began with a basic news you can use feature from National Public Radio. Titled 5 ways to cope with the stressful news cycle, producer Andee Tagles piece, published in late February, offered tips on how to cope with anxiety caused by news consumption in tense times. Among Tagles tips: Do something that feels good for your body and helps you get out of your head. Also: The kitchen is a safe space for a lot of us. Maybe this is the weekend that you finally re-create Grandpas famous lasagna or maybe just lose yourself in some kitchen organization. Tagles simple self-help counsel quickly ignited social media scorn, seemingly touching a nerve among numerous commentators. National Reviews Dan McLaughlin tweeted that the piece indicated that NPR employees really do not envision their audience as grown adults. Im all for mental health awareness and therapeutic care, tweeted Daily Beast editor Anthony Fisher, before ultimately dismissing Tagles article as a lifestyle guide for narcissists. The piece and its condemnation raise issues involving research about the mental and psychological toll of everyday news consumption thats gone largely unnoticed by the public over the last few years. Recent surveys and research on the subject have only occasionally been publicized in the general press. The COVID-19 global pandemic and the doomsday news reports it sparked - attracted a bit more attention to this research. Yet the mental and psychological toll of news consumption remains largely unknown to the general news consumer. Even if the research isnt widely known, the emotions felt by what one Northwestern University Medical School article called headline stress disorder probably exist for a certain unknown proportion of news consumers. After all, if these feelings didnt exist for at least some of their listening audience, NPR would never have published that piece. Nor would Fox News have published a similar article to help its viewers cope. News threatens mental stability The idea that more news, delivered faster through new and addicting technologies, can cause psychological and medical harm has a long history in the United States. Media scholars like Daniel Czitrom and Jeffrey Sconce have noted how contemporaneous research linked the emergence and prevalence of neurasthenia to the rapid proliferation of telegraphic news in the late 19th century. Neurasthenia is defined by Merriam-Webster as a condition that is characterized especially by physical and mental exhaustion usually with accompanying symptoms (such as headache and irritability). Early 19th-century scientific exploration in neurology and psychiatry suggested that too much news consumption might lead to nervous exhaustion and other maladies. In my own research into social psychology and radio listening, I noticed the same medical descriptions recurring in the 1920s, once radio became widespread. News reports chronicled how radio listening and radio news consumption seemed to threaten some peoples mental stability. One front-page New York Times article in 1923 noted that a woman in Minnesota was divorcing her husband on the then-novel grounds that he suffered from radio mania. The wife felt her husband paid more attention to his radio apparatus than to her or their home, which had apparently alienated his affection from her. Similar reports of addiction, mania and psychological entanglement spawned by new media emerged again as television proliferated in the American home in the 1950s, and again with the proliferation of the Internet. The public discussion of psychological addiction and mental harm caused by new technologies, and the ensuing moral panics they spawn, appears periodically as new communication technologies emerge. But, historically, adjustment and integration of new media occurs over time, and disorders such as neurasthenia and radio mania are largely forgotten. Anxious about frightening news Headline stress disorder might sound ridiculous to some, but research does show that reading the news can make certain subsets of news consumers develop measurable emotional effects. There are numerous studies looking into this phenomenon. In general, they find some people, under certain conditions, can be vulnerable to potentially harmful and diagnosable levels of anxiety if exposed to certain types of news reports. The problem for researchers is isolating the exact subset of news consumers this happens to, and describing precisely the effect that occurs in response to specific identified news subjects and methods of news consumption. It is not only probable, but even likely, that many people are made more anxious by the widespread distribution of frightening news. And if a news consumer has a diagnosed anxiety disorder, depression, or other identified mental health challenge, the likelihood that obviously distressing news reports would amplify and inflame such underlying issues seems almost certain. Just because popular culture manages to pathologize much of everyday behavior doesnt mean identified problems arent real, as those skewering the NPR story implied. We all eat; but some of us eat far too much. When that occurs, everyday behavior is transformed into actions that can threaten health and survival. Likewise, most of us strive to stay informed, but its likely that in certain situations, for certain people, staying informed when the news is particularly frightening can threaten their mental health. Therefore, the question is not whether the problem is real, but how research might quantify and describe its true prevalence, and how to address the problem. And thats precisely why the NPR article caused such a stir. Many people who consume news without problem couldnt fathom why others might benefit from learning how to cope with headline stress disorder. In reality, the criticism aimed at NPR says nothing about those who find our current run of bad news particularly anxiety-provoking. It does say a lot about the lack of empathy from those who would scoff at the idea. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/is-headline-stress-disorder-real-yes-but-those-who-thrive-on-the-news-often-lose-sight-of-it-178251. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) BIG RAPIDS Three teams of Ferris State University students have been selected among 55 teams representing 38 universities advancing as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge. The Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition that prepares the next generation of building professionals to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables. Finalist teams are set to compete in the Solar Decathlon competition event, April 22-24, 2022, at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. There will be virtual participation available for students who are unable to travel to the in-person competition. Up to 10 teams per division were selected as finalists, with divisions spanning the following building types: new housing. retrofit housing, attached housing, multifamily building, office building, and education building. Cylee Weining, one of the Ferris team leaders and a third-year engineering student, said the opportunity to participate is unique and educational. As third-year architecture students, we decided to take part in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon to gain real-world experience, Weining said. Competing in the competition will provide us with valuable experiences to implement in future projects when employed after graduation. As participants, we have chosen either to focus our Solar Decathlon project on new construction or an existing building or home. Throughout the competition, we will transform our chosen building or home into an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, net zero project, she added. As a leader, I get to conduct all the behind-the-scenes planning of the project. I make sure everyone in the team is working towards a unified project. Members of Weinings team include Adrianna Georg, Alex Garber, Makenna Karst, and Ashleigh Armstrong. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, the Solar Decathlon has challenged more than 25,000 students to create efficient, affordable buildings powered by renewables while promoting student innovation, STEM education, and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry. This year, all three Ferris teams were selected as finalists in their category. First-place winners of the competition will be chosen in each division, with one grand winner selected in each of the residential and commercial categories. Ferris has only committed to the design challenge and currently has made no plans to continue with the build challenge as that is outside of the timeframe for the majority of the universitys participants. Nathan Seaman, another leader for one of the Ferris teams, said the competition will allow Ferris students to showcase their knowledge. This competition has been an opportunity to learn, network, grow, and experience a deeper level of design than we've been shown before, Seaman said. The ultimate goal for our team is to be selected as the winner within the new housing category and to be able to represent Ferris and ourselves on an international scale, but being able to produce a design that pairs comfort and consideration to be healthy for the occupants and the surrounding environment will also be a huge accomplishment for us. It allows us a chance to develop a fully-realized design without a strict program and expectations as to what we produce, he added. Of course, there are requirements and deliverables that we have to create, but it is very much open-ended. It gives us a different take on architecture because we aren't designing only for a grade in a course, but in a competitive environment where being unique is more manageable. REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE According to the USDA, buildings account for 75% of electricity use, 40% of total energy use, and 35% of carbon emissions in the United States. The Solar Decathlon supports a key strategy for tackling climate challenges: developing a workforce that is equipped to design and construct a low-carbon building stock and deliver an equitable clean energy future. Weining said continued research and efforts to improve renewable energy are vital. Prioritizing research into renewable energy sources is important as fossil fuels are ruining our environment, Weining said. Educating others on renewable resources will encourage more individuals to participate in the net zero world initiative. To prioritize education on renewable energy jobs Ferris state educates students in an environmental systems class. Personally, I have learned so much about the importance of renewable energy throughout this course that I will use throughout my lifetime, she added. Students on Seamans team include Haley Wildfong, Cory Hoffmann, Dana Duff, and Natalie Denbesten. Seaman explained that preparation for the competition has entailed hard work and long hours. Our team has weekly meetings where we talk about design solutions and progress in developing all the building systems in a cohesive manner, Seaman said. We attend check-ins with the Department of Energy and have been doing lots of individual research into the specifics of different building systems and construction laws. Since 2002, the Solar Decathlon has involved more than 790 collegiate teams, who pursued a multidisciplinary approach to study the requirements for designing and building zero energy apartments, houses, schools, and office buildings. Seaman said his teams ultimate goal is to be selected as the winner within the new housing category and to be able to represent Ferris and their team on an international scale. Being able to produce a design that pairs comfort and consideration to be healthy for the occupants and the surrounding environment will also be a huge accomplishment for the team. Within the architectural and facility management program at Ferris, the focus is very heavily centered on not only renewable energy but on passive design to reduce the amount of energy needed in the first place and being conscientious about how design decisions are being made, Seaman said. Research into renewable energy is more important now than it has ever been in looking outside of the United States and searching for ways to make a lifestyle, such as in our case, the suburban lifestyle a sustainable option. We're finding solutions that are not only viable but over time more affordable and rewarding than the current systems that exist, he added. Only by pushing boundaries and utilizing ingenuity can we build a future we would like to experience. For more information on the Solar Decathlon and its participating university teams, visit the competitions official website at www.solardecathlon.gov. Jack Shepherds remarkable life reflects the grand spirit and determination of Sam Houston, which spirit launched Houston to heights of renown. Lets explore a bit of Shepherds equally courageous life as we wait to see him in action depicting Sam Houston in a festival in Montgomery on April 9. Shepherds life rang with adventure and intrigue from the moment of his birth in a bedroom in Kaufman County, East Texas. As the birth process began, Jacks father, a sharecropper, quickly gave horse to his wagon to speed for the doctor. Upon his return, he recorded the birth in his living room, which became the place of official record. The drama of that occurrence lies in the location of that living room which room was in Van Zandt County, not Kaufman. Yes, the house overlaid two different counties Perhaps it was this incident that motivated Jack to initially seek to pursue a medical career. However, finding that medicine did not fit his spirit, he became an accountant instead, initially in the service of Dresser Industries, a major drilling company in Dallas. The company transferred him to Houston where he did accounting for rock bits drilling in oil field work. While in Houston he became enamored of the George Mitchell phenomena to play a part in Mitchells founding of the Woodlands. Along the way, while in his forties, Jack built a motorized hand glider, a vehicle capable of launching him to heights above the great forest. It was such a flight which landed him in the midst of the great forest trees. The impact knocked off his glasses, which he never recovered. Nor did this unfortunate episode spoil his lust for adventure. Even in the midst of two heart attacks, Jack obtained a pilots license to own first a 152 then a 172 Cessna aircraft. His fertile mind seeking yet further excitement, he took to building models of air craft, a hobby which saw him build thirty-five features in historical order beginning with a 1783 hot air balloon through the craft of the Wright Brothers and much beyond. Until Hurricane Ike destroyed it, Jacks collection was on review in the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston. It was his relative retirement, to spend his final twenty- two years of business in an antique store called Antique Emporium, that sparked his interest in history. The interest blossomed when he inherited a Civil War era pistol, a May 1854 Cap and Ball Muzzle Loader. To witness the yet grand spirit of the remarkable Jack Shepherd in action, please plan to attend the conference labeled Celebrating Togetherness: The Texas Republic and the Cradle of Texas Road on April 9 in Montgomery. The first section, from noon to 3 p.m., will be in the downtown community center to be followed immediately by Jack as a feature of a companion event at Fernland. Both events will be under the sponsorship of the Montgomery Historical Society and the Henderson Yoakum Chapter Sons of the Republic of Texas, SRT. For further details, please call 936 577 4926 or 936 727 8274. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website at ladowntownnews.com/site/privacy.html By clicking to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. SPRINGFIELD River and rail improvements are needed in Alton to aid development, according to Illinois Senate testimony Thursday in Springfield. Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau President/CEO Cory Jobe told Illinois Senators that a Mississippi River cruise port in Alton, along with high speed rail, is critical to economic development in the Riverbend. "We must quit thinking of our waterways as only highways for commodities and freight," Jobe said. "The cruise ship industry is poised and ready to ramp up cruise experiences on Illinois waterways. Three cruise lines plan to visit Alton this year: American Cruise Lines (ACL), American Queen Voyages and Viking Cruise Lines. Combined, ACL and American Queen Voyages expect to spend 30 weeks in the Riverbend, bringing up to 400 visitors to Alton, according to a report by Great Rivers & Routes. The group's study states river cruises through the port of Alton have a $4.1 million economic impact. A turnaround port, where one group of passengers disembarks the vessel to travel home and a new group of passengers board, typically has a $5.6 million impact, it states. The group noted river cruise passengers have several activities available in Alton, including a history tour, a tour of the National Great Rivers Museum and Melvin Price Locks and Dam, a tour of the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, shopping in Altons Historic Downtown Business District, gaming at the Argosy Casino Alton and day trips to Grafton. A partner report by the tourism group states a considerable investment has been made over the last 30 years in recognizing the "natural capital" of the region and its contribution to the local and regional economy. Great Rivers & Routes is seeking to update its 2007 Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan to account for new attractions and develop a robust strategy identifying and prioritizing projects involving the Mississippi River and outdoor recreation. They want to strengthen the region's brand as an outdoor recreation destination while establishing Alton as a regional innovation center and hub "that emerges as a preferred relocation destination." Jobe told state lawmakers Thursday that developing outdoor recreational opportunities goes hand-in-hand with attracting travelers. Great Rivers & Routes is working with partners and service providers, he said, to activate a regional plan that will "better utilize the region's natural resources, open spaces and byways." An overall effort, he said, needs to be bent toward growing the Riverbend's hospitality and tourism sector while making the area a preferred relocation destination that attracts and retains young families, retirees, displaced workers and start-ups. These changes will then put the region in a tremendous position for future, beneficial development, Jobe said. According to Jobe, the region has key tourism drivers that cant be replicated anywhere else: the confluence of the Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers and two national byways, the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway and Route 66. Becoming a gateway and regional hub for outdoor recreation is key to Altons continued growth and economic health," said Alton Mayor David Goins. "I am excited to work with mayors along the byway to embrace transformational change for our region and (the state of Illinois." NEW YORK Emilio Delgado, the actor who for more than four decades played Luis the handyman on the beloved childrens television show Sesame Street, died Thursday at his home in Manhattan. He was 81. The cause was multiple myeloma, which Delgado had been battling since December 2020, his wife, Carole Delgado, said. Over a span of 44 years on Sesame Street, Delgados character was the owner of The Fix-It Shop, where he repaired any objects that needed fixing, such as picture frames or giant toasters. Luis was joined in the shop by Maria, played by Sonia Manzano. After an on-screen courtship, the characters married in a widely viewed episode of the program in 1988. The marriage of Maria and Luis was cause for celebration among the children who were learning numbers and letters and about worldly concepts such as death and diversity from Sesame Street. Parents dressed their children in their fancy clothes for viewing parties. Mothers cried as the ceremony unfolded. The union, which followed five months of hugging, serenading and pizza-sharing, was also a way to teach young children about love. The two characters were friends and partners at the shop for 10 years, but their feelings started to change when they cared for a sick kitten. Since kids see love in terms of physical things like kissing, hugging, giving flowers, we showed Maria and Luis doing a lot of that, said Manzano, who also wrote for the show, told The New York Times in 1988. We wanted to show a couple who are nice to each other and have fun together, she said. Delgado had a long road to the show that would define his career. After beating doors in Hollywood for nine years, he got a call one day to audition for the show because it wanted a more diverse cast, Delgado said in a 2011 interview for the public television show Up Close with Patsy Smullin. He joined the cast in 1971, two years after the program premiered. I was so excited, but as an actor I knew it was a job, he said. Maybe it would last a year, maybe two years. Maybe not even that long. But it was great. I had a job on television, on a major television show. The program allowed Delgado to show off his singing in addition to acting. In the 2011 interview, Delgado said that music was his life. He would later perform with the band Pink Martini at venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall. His love for music developed as a child in Mexico. I just remember just going to sleep to the sound of mariachis, he said. Emilio Delgado was born May 8, 1940, in Calexico, a California border town, to Emilio Delgado and Carmen Rodriguez Delgado. He had family he would live with across the border in Mexicali, Carole Delgado said. He really lived biculturally, she said, noting that he lived with grandparents and extended family in Mexico. Because he was an American citizen, he would walk to Calexico every day for school. It wasnt the border politics of today. As a teenager, he moved to Glendale, California, where he explored his passion for music and theater. Delgado served six years in the California National Guard in the 1960s before attending California Institute of the Arts, where he was a student in the institutions first theater class in 1970. When Delgado wasnt performing on Sesame Street, two Sesame Street feature films and many live appearances, he acted in numerous popular shows, including Hawaii Five-O, Falcon Crest, House of Cards, The Michael J. Fox Show and Lou Grant. In 2018, Delgado began starring in Quixote Nuevo, Octavio Solis re-imagining of Don Quixote," performing at the California Shakespeare Theater, Bostons Hartford Stage and Houstons Alley Theatre, his family said. In addition to his wife, Delgado is survived by a daughter, Lauren Delgado; a son, Aram Delgado; and four siblings: Cesar Delgado, Edward Delgado, Martha Ledesma and Norma Vizcaino. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City declared Oct. 15, 2019, Emilio Delgado Day at a celebration to honor Hispanic heritage. At a time when if you saw diversity on television it often was with stereotypes and not the good kind of stereotypes, de Blasio said, Emilio was one of the people who broke the mold, created a positive role model, for everyone, but particularly for children who didnt get to see or hear people who looked like them and spoke like them. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The state agency representing the interests of utility ratepayers is calling for an investigation amid claims that Connecticuts two largest public utility companies sued customers for unpaid bills during the height of the pandemic. The state Office of Consumer Counsel on Friday filed a petition with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, requesting an investigation into Eversource Energy and Avangrid. The OCC said it obtained information showing that at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the utility companies sued consumers for nonpayment and sought and received wage garnishment in court. Tricia Modifica, an Eversource Energy spokesperson, said company officials are reviewing the OCCs petition. We just received the petition from the OCC and are reviewing it. We have and continue to empathize with customers struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and have fully complied with the PURAs directives in this area, said Modifica, whose company owns Eversource, Yankee Gas Services and Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut. In addition to imposing a moratorium on service disconnections, out of an abundance of caution, we voluntarily suspended all new legal collections beginning March 13, 2020, which have not restarted. We look forward to fully participating in this review and providing additional information to PURA related to this matter. Gage Frank, a spokesperson for Avangrid, said the companys subsidiaries were some of the first utility companies in the region to suspend turn-offs due to nonpayment at the start of the pandemic. Avangrid is the corporate parent for United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas. As the pandemic continued, we helped customers take advantage of the numerous products, government assistance and services designed to help them pay for their energy use in a flexible and customer-friendly manner, Frank said. This includes options such as interest-free pandemic payment plans, suspension of late payment charges, and referrals to assistance programs. Currently, Avangrid is reviewing the petition submitted by the Consumer Counsel and will await further action from PURA. In March 2020, Attorney General William Tong filed an emergency petition, ordering electric, natural gas and water supplies to not shut off utilities for customers who hadnt paid their bills. The OCC said these utilities actions were contradictory to the intent of PURAs multiple orders seeking to assist vulnerable and low-income consumers during the unprecedented financial challenges that COVID-19 inflicted upon the people of Connecticut. Interim Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman said she is deeply disturbed by the accusations. Coleman said several state agencies and others worked diligently over the course of the pandemic to ensure that consumers facing financial hardship receive the assistance they need to keep the lights on and the heat running. To learn that our utilities, and to the greatest extent United Illuminating, were pursuing judgments against consumers in court during the COVID-19 state of emergency rather than directing them to the many assistance and relief programs available during this time is shocking, she continued. I welcome a full investigation into this matter. Some of the best years of my life I miss those people. Good times and memories, but I have moved on. Not my best days, but I have made peace with them. Glad to be away from those people I dont miss the high school experience. Vote View Results EDWARDSVILLE Chief Circuit Judge William A. Mudge on Friday announced that he is retiring at the end of his term Dec. 4. Voters will select a new circuit judge in the November 2022 election. Associate Judge Ryan Jumper on Friday announced he will seek to fill the vacancy. A life-long Edwardsville resident, Mudge has more than 25 years of public service as both a judge and prosecutor, including eight years as Madison County States Attorney. It is time for someone else to have an opportunity to serve and for me to move on to a new chapter in my career, Mudge said in a written statement. I am grateful to the citizens of Madison and Bond counties for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve them fairly and impartially. A circuit judge in the Third Judicial Circuit since 2010, Mudge was elected Chief Circuit Judge in 2019. Prior to that he served eight years as Madison County States Attorney. Mudge received his law degree in 1985 from the Saint Louis University School of Law. He began his career as an assistant states attorney, then became a partner in the Edwardsville-based law firm of Lucco, Brown and Mudge. My professional career has been incredibly rewarding, Mudge said in a written statement. I was privileged to be a law partner with Bill Lucco and Joe Brown two of the best human beings and lawyers anyone could have been lucky enough to be associated with. They, along with my step-father Jim Gorman, were my mentors. It could not get any better than that. In 2002 Mudge succeeded the late state Sen. Bill Haine as Madison County States Attorney after Haines appointment to fill the unexpired term of the late Sen. Evelyn Bowles. My years as Madison Countys States Attorney were fulfilling, Mudge said. The office enjoyed a record-setting run of trial success during those years due to the talented men and women who worked with me. It was a great place for lawyers to obtain trial experience and grow professionally, and many of them have risen to be respected as some of the best judges, lawyers and prosecutors in Southern Illinois, he added. Im proud to have worked with all of them. He was elected a circuit judge in 2010. My years as a circuit judge in the Third Judicial Circuit could not have been more rewarding, Mudge said. Some of the most highly regarded lawyers from here and around the country, representing all walks of life, tried a wide variety of civil cases in my courtroom. I have been honored to wear the robe and administer justice fairly and impartially for them and the people of Madison and Bond counties, he said. It has also been an honor and privilege to serve alongside my fellow associate and circuit judges as well as with our dependable bailiffs, clerks and staff. They are hard-working public servants and are dedicated to the pursuit of justice. In addition to his role as chief circuit judge, he is a past chair of the U.S. Senate Judicial Nominating Commission for the Southern District of Illinois, and served on the board of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority in Chicago. Mudge currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the Madison County Child Advocacy Center, a position he has held since its inception in 2003. Jumper has been an associate judge since 2018 and presides over the probate, chancery and small claims divisions. Prior to joining the bench Jumper was an attorney for The Lance Callis Law firm in Granite City and Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis. He is a 2005 graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Ive spent my career both in private practice and on the bench working with principled friends from all backgrounds and know that whatever their politics, people depend on a fair and independent judiciary to secure their most sacred rights, he said in a released statement. It has been 50 years since Clayton Williams was first appointed an associate judge in Madison County. Since that time there has not been a single Black circuit judge or countywide officeholder, Jumper said. Although my candidacy is historic, Im not running just to be the first Black anything. Im running because the Third Circuit needs good, smart people who care about and invest in this county to join its leadership. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Springboard Center is warning West Texas parents and educators that teen deaths from fentanyl nationwide of tripled in two years, according to a report by the nonprofit Families Against Fentanyl. This correlates with recent activity in the Permian Basin and is exacerbated by fentanyl traces being found mixed in with drugs like marijuana, cocaine, pills and others. The opioid crisis in America is right here in West Texas, says Mark Alexander, executive director at Springboard, It threatens not just adults but our kids. Its in our schools. We need to be prepared. With overdoses on the rise, many are calling for schools to have a supply of a specific opioid-overdose-fighting drug called naloxone. The drug counteracts the effects of an overdose, preventing further damage before paramedics arrive to render aid. Its a safe, effective drug that can save lives. Schools have the choice of having it on hand, just in case, Alexander explained. When its life and death, and its your child, I think most parents would agree it should be available. Fentanyl is a fast-acting, potent, drug thats more addictive than other opioids on the market. Its easy and cheap to manufacture. Overdosing from fentanyl can lead to irreversible damage within seconds, death within minutes. It is currently unknown how many schools nationwide carry naloxone for emergencies. Only seven states Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Tennessee, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, require schools to have a supply. The Springboard Center urges parents to reach out to their childs school district to start the conversation about carrying the potentially life-saving drug. The Family Resiliency Center of Odessa is supplying, to schools who request naloxone, both training and proper use, as well as the vials themselves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,365 teens ages 13 to 19 died from fentanyl overdoses in the year ending in May 2021. -- Online: springboardcenter.org Don't forget that almost everyone in the U.S. will spring forward this Sunday, March 13, as we move into daylight saving time. Yes. The one where you lose an hour of sleep. The spring forward will happen at midnight automatically for most devices that update times based on the internet, such as laptops, computers, and smartphones. You will have to set time an hour ahead manually on clocks that aren't connected to the internet. RELATED: La Madeleine offering freebie coffee deal for daylight saving time This is a system that's been used by the U.S. for over a century, but ther's been recent pushback in state legislation to stick to either standard time or DST, according to a recent report from the National Conference of State Legislatures. ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images Since 2015, there have been about 350 bills and resolutions filed into every state legislature in the U.S. In the last four years, only 18 states have enacted or passed those resolutions, according to the NCSL report. However, none of those have had any significant impact until 2018 when Florida enacted legislation to permanently observe DST if federal law allows it. The Texas legislature introduced two bills last year, House Bill 1405 and Senate Bill 471, proposing the Lone Star State permanently observes either DST or standard time. Neither passed. DST has been observed by the U.S. since 1918 with the creation of the Standard Time Act to aid the Interstate Commerce Commission, the organization that monitored railroad transportation, according to the Bureau of Transportation. It was abolished by the federal government under President Woodrow Wilson after World War I, where it was then observed inconsistently on a state-by-state basis. It didn't become a federal policy until 1966 under the Uniform Time Act. Now DST is monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and we switch to DST every second Sunday of March and then standard time every first Sunday in November. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Plainview City Council opted to let voters decide whether Plainview becomes a sanctuary city for the unborn. The motion, made by Councilman Larry Williams and seconded by Councilman Evan Weiss, passed 5-1 with Councilwoman Susan Blackerby voting against. Councilwomen Nelda VanHoose and Teressa King were absent. The vote came after a presentation of an outline of a proposed ordinance presented by a group of local citizens. In a nutshell, the ordinance would outlaw abortion in Plainview. The citizen group was tasked with first gathering enough signatures in support of a petition to bring the ordinance before the council. As she presented the petition item to Council Tuesday night, City Secretary Belinda Hinojosa explained that the group had gathered 1,453 signatures and turned the petition in to her on Feb. 10. Of the 10,720 registered local voters, the group needed 1,072 valid signatures. Upon review, 1,108 of the gathered signatures were verified allowing the item to move forward. The council chamber was packed Tuesday with many supporters of the proposed ordinance which defines abortion as the act of using any means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant. It also states that life begins at conception. The group of citizens spent much of January gathering the necessary signatures. The council voted unanimously (6-0) to accept the verification of the signatures on the petition. The motion to accept was made by Williams and Councilwoman Norma Juarez seconded. Following that item, the council moved forward regarding the consideration of either accepting the ordinance for a vote amongst the council or adding it to a ballot for voters to decide. They voted 5-1 in favor of the latter. The item drew four public comments before the vote with each speaker essentially stating their support for the council to take action. Speakers included Phillip Hamilton (an Olton resident) and Taylor Lassiter, both local pastors, Kerry McCormick, a Plainview resident, and Mark Lee Dickson, director of Right To Life East Texas who came in from Longview. The decision you guys have before you today is pretty simple, said Dickson, a pro-life activist whos aided similar efforts to pass ordinances like this in communities across the state. Hes been heavily involved in aiding the Plainview citizens group since the beginning. Prior to the public comments, Starnes set a limit of five speakers for and five against the proposed ordinance as well as a two minute limit for each. Lassiter shared a scripture after voicing his support for the council to take immediate action. Id like to speak in favor of passing this resolution, he said. Dickson used his time to call out the councils statements regarding placing the issue on the May ballots. He claimed it was too late per the Texas Secretary of States website. He also claimed Starnes couldnt limit the number of speakers per the Texas Open Meetings Act. City Manager Jeffrey Snyder told the Herald Wednesday afternoon that the city had been misinformed and could not place the proposal on the May ballots. He confirmed it would be up for election in November. Starnes also told The Herald Thursday that the council will revisit the item to make that change, likely at their next meeting which is scheduled for March 22 with a work session set for March 17. He also noted that additional speakers would have been accommodated had there been more than the four that spoke up regarding the ordinance. Beyond the imposition of limits and confusion regarding ballot dates, Dickson also expressed his displeasure in waiting to enact the proposed ordinance. City councils across Texas have said that this ordinance, we do not want babies to be murdered within our city, Dickson said. Does that really take an election to do that? Council members seemed to be in agreement with each other during their commentary period on the item on Tuesday. This is hard, Williams said. If the Supreme Court cant get it right, it makes it difficult for the city council of a city this size to get it. The Lord and Savior that I worship did not give me the dominion over the citizens of Plainview. When I was hired to do this job, I never wanted to be an authoritarian. Thats the only reason I think this goes to the ballot. I know where my hearts at. I know where my minds at. But I think we allow the citizens to make this choice. Councilwomen Norma Juarez and Lorie Rodriguez agreed with him. Personally, I would want Plainview to be a sanctuary city because those are my beliefs but I also, as a woman, would want to take the responsibility of being more careful before even considering having an abortion, Rodriguez added. During the meeting, Starnes said he felt there are many good and bad pieces to the proposal and described some as unnecessary, intrusive and unenforceable making it a waste of time to for the council to pass the item. Too many elements of this ordinance are currently unenforceable based on aspects that we cannot control such as the Supreme Court, the Texas State Supreme Court, the Texas Legislature. Who can control them? Starnes said. To date, 40 cities in Texas have passed similar ordinances banning abortion within their city limits, including nearby communities like Abernathy, Lubbock and Nazareth. On Wednesday, Dickson said Plainview will join the city of San Angelo in placing the abortion ban on the ballot in November. He also mentioned at least two others have meetings scheduled this month noting they could possibly see similar proposals on their own ballots this year. My personal convictions aside, I represent a constituency, Blackerby said on Tuesday. Thats people that believe both ways. I just dont think that it is up to me as a representative of my constituency to make that decision for them. Thats why I think its important that it goes before the public. That being said, I also want to say that I just really feel that there is an issue with trying to legislate morality. I just dont feel thats something that is for us to judge. I think thats something between an individual and their god. I feel that when we delve into those kinds of things, that we are making judgements that are not up to us to make. The Mary McCoy Baines Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met on Wednesday, February 9, at the Plainview Country Club. Speaker was Dr. Rebekah Crowe, history professor at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. She spoke about the subject of a book she is writingEmma Meharg, the first woman Texas Secretary of State. Born in Tennessee, Emma Grigsby moved with her family to Italy, Texas, in 1873. She attended public schools and graduated in 1895 from Southwestern Normal College. She married Samuel Meharg in 1902 and moved with him that same year to Plainview, where he was the first public school principal for the community. Emma taught school in Italy and Plainview. The couple had two children. When it comes to the politics of governance, there is one axiom that even the most committed partisans mostly abide: Dont give yourself power that you wouldnt give to your enemies. Post-Jan. 6, 2021, Republicans are acknowledging the problem with allowing a vice president to obstruct the counting of electoral votes in Congress. All they have to do is close their eyes for two seconds and imagine Kamala Harris doing in 2025 what former President Donald Trump instructed Vice President Mike Pence, to do in January 2021. As Pence, who has been called a stone-cold coward by Steve Bannon for refusing to go along with Trumps election-flipping scheme, recently put it: Under the Constitution, I had no right to change the outcome of our election. And Kamala Harris will have no right to overturn the election when we beat them in 2024. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) echoed the sentiment on Face the Nation: Well, if President Trump runs for re-election, I believe he would defeat Joe Biden, and I dont want Kamala Harris to have the power as vice president to overturn that election. Our democracy will be in a safer place if Republicans and Democrats successfully work together to protect voters from radicals in Congress who think they can cancel millions of votes on a whim. In recent years, theres been a worrisome trend of using the Electoral Count Act to lodge unmerited complaints by both Democrats and Republicans. Since George W. Bush was elected in 2000, a handful of fringe Democrats have used it, unsuccessfully, to challenge every Republican presidential victory. Democratic former Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings objected in January 2001, citing overwhelming evidence of official misconduct, deliberate fraud, and an attempt to suppress voter turnout. California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters said Floridas electoral votes were fraudulent. With no senators joining their objections, then-Vice President Al Gore overruled them. (Whatever you think of Al Gore, please note that the man was so committed to democracy that he graciously presided over the certification of his own defeat.). In January 2005, California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Ohio Democratic Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones objected to Ohios votes. They delayed the counting of votes with a laundry list of complaints about voting issues, the Iraq War, and a flawed system. Thirty-one members of Congress supported their failed effort. After the 2016 election, Democrats lodged objections about malfunctioning voting machines, Russian interference, and other unproven allegations. Then-Vice President Joe Biden rejected them all. But what if he hadnt? Thats the legal gray area thats always existed in the Electoral Count Act that Congress must put into the black and white letters of the law. Republicans have another reason to be eager to work with Democrats on this issue. If the Democrats had it their way, many of them would get rid of the Electoral College altogether and elect presidents by popular vote. The polling is slightly on their side, too. If Republicans need another partisan argument about the need for Electoral College Reform, it is this: Fix it, or the Democrats will nix it. And, absent the Electoral College, Republicans might kiss their White House aspirations goodbye. Republicans have lost the popular vote in all but one election since 1992. So, how can we fix the Electoral Count Act? First, the role of the vice president in counting Electoral College votes must be specified and limited. Second, the threshold for members of Congress to raise objections should be higher. It should take more than one member of Congress and one senator to raise a challenge, stop the counting of votes, and force the House and the Senate to debate. Third, nip future schemes to send fake electors to Washington in the bud. Make it clear that once electors are appointed, they cannot be replaced later as means of altering the states election results. Finally, rewrite the law to provide legal guidance to resolve legitimate disputes. And the Senate working group should examine other adjacent issues, such as protecting election workers and officials from harassment and threats. Congress should have a keen interest in reform. The branchs constitutional role is not to select and reject Electoral College votes, but to legislate. If Congress wants to prevent another Jan. 6, it must do its job and exercise its legislative powers to reform the Electoral Count Act so bad actors cant find any gray areas to exploit again. On Wednesday 9 March, South Koreans went to the polls to decide who will rule over them from the Blue House for the next five years. Yoon Suk-yeol of the hard-right conservative People Power Party (PPP) won out in the end, with a campaign based on reactionary, misogynistic demagogy. This result exposes the complete inability of the liberals to defend the interests of workers, women and the oppressed. The South Korean workers must prepare an independent class fight against the new government, and the capitalist system it represents. Return of the conservative right This years general election was dominated by rivalry between the two main bourgeois parties in South Korea. Despite the vitriolic rhetoric that both sides hurled against one another, and the more open chauvinism of the PPP, there is little fundamental difference between the two candidates and their parties. In the end, Yoon Suk-yeol of the PPP garnered 48.49 percent of the vote, narrowly beating the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate, Lee Jae-myung, who garnered 47.8 percent of the vote. The PPP also swept the board in the concurrent parliamentary by-elections, winning 4 out of 5 of the contests. The People Power Party is the latest iteration of the conservative political bloc that has frequently changed its name over the years. It was founded by politicians who served in the former right-wing military dictatorships in South Korea. It strongly favours alignment with US imperialism, and is deeply tied to the oligarchic corporations in South Korea known as the Chaebols. Among the former presidents belonging to this party are the former CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Lee Myung-bak, and the daughter of the notorious military strongman Park Chung hee, Park Geun-hye. The latters presidency was toppled by a 2017 mass uprising against corruption with heavy trade union involvement. After being deposed from power, the PPP returned with an unlikely champion for their cause: Yoon Suk-yeol. Less than a year ago, Yoon was serving as the Prosecutor General for the Democratic Party administration of Moon Jae-in, and he even prosecuted two of the former conservative presidents. But a subsequent falling out between Yoon and Moon led Yoon to resign and run as the candidate for the main opposition party, the PPP. Yoon is himself embroiled in a corruption scandal that involves his mother-in-law. He is also known to be deeply associated with superstitious shamans. In this campaign, Yoon leaned on extreme reactionary rhetoric to consolidate his support base. Aside from open support for cutting taxes and deregulation, and calling for workers to toil 120 hours per week, Yoon also demagogically whipped up chauvinism and stirred up the basest reactionary attitudes in society, claiming that structural sexism no longer exists in South Korea, and that feminism is the cause for the countrys declining birthrate. He also promised to abolish the ministry of gender equality. Additionally, during his campaign, Yoon also joined many PPP politicians in the social media campaign # (myulgong), which stands for Exterminate Communists, fanning the tired trope that the bourgeois liberal DPK are in fact communists in league with the North. There is no doubt that his administration will be a zealous enforcer of the will of the Chaebols. Through him, the South Korean ruling class is getting ready to launch a fierce assault on the labour movement and the oppressed. However, Yoons success was not so much a victory for the reactionary sentiments that he peddled. Rather, he rode to power on the back of massive disappointment in the DPK, which promised progress and change. The failure of the DPK is an indictment of the bankruptcy of bourgeois liberalism. This needs to be clearly recognised so that the Korean working class can take a class independent political fight to Yoon and the PPP. Failure of the liberals The DPK with Moon Jae-in came to power on the back of a mass struggle in 2016 that toppled the previous conservative government of Park Geun-hye. Moons supposedly progressive administration won a further mandate from voters in 2020, where they achieved the biggest majority in the national assembly for any party since South Koreas transition to bourgeois democracy in 1987. Nevertheless, the DPK changed absolutely nothing for the better, despite their mandate. South Koreas already eye-watering income inequality continued to increase after Moon Jae-in took office with the slogan for a fairer society. The wealthiest 10 percent of South Koreans had an average monthly income of around 13 million South Korean won ($10.5k USD) over 10 times greater than the poorest 10 percent of the population. Working conditions remain extremely poor in South Korea. In this 10th-largest economy in the world, workers endure the second-longest working hours for an OECD country, at 163.6 hours per month. Workplaces remain extremely unsafe, with an average of 2.4 workers dying every day in industrial accidents in Korean workplaces. South Koreas housing crisis is a particularly pressing issue that strikes a nerve for many young people. It too remained completely unresolved under the DPK. The failure was so stark that Moon even apologised for not pushing for a large expansion of the housing supply much earlier. This apology is completely meaningless, not only because of Moons inaction, but also because Moons own officials have been implicated in abusing insider information to buy land, which pushes up housing costs for ordinary residents. Another factor is the Moon administrations handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that deeply hurt the working class. While South Korea fared better in suppressing the spread of the virus in comparison to the shambolic performance of the West, working-class people had to endure draconian restrictions that tended to change arbitrarily, while receiving very little support to endure the lockdowns. At the same time, trade union mobilisations were severely repressed in the name of pandemic control. Even in the face of a rancorously anti-women Yoon campaign, the DPKs pro-feminist posturing was utterly hypocritical. As of 2020, three years into Moons administration, the gender pay gap in South Korea remains at a whopping 38 percent. But the problem of the oppression of women goes far beyond pay. As a representative from the Korean Womens Hotline explained: since 2018, there has been absolutely no improvement to the already extreme oppression that women face, ranging from employment and income inequality, to violence, assault, sexual exploitation and more. The root of the oppression women suffer is class society. Today, the capitalist class relies on the division of the working class along gender lines in order to cut across the class struggle. The capitalist DPK is fundamentally incapable of improving the lot of women, despite their feminist credentials, because they defend capitalism. Their words of sympathy for the plight of Koreans facing double oppression as workers, and as women, ring hollow. The PPP, by contrast, is more than happy to stir from the bottom and bolster its support among the most backward layers of society at the DPKs expense. More than this, since Moon took office, a string of high profile DPK politicians were implicated in sexual assault allegations against their female subordinates. Accomplices in the covering up sexual crimes still occupy high positions in government and in the DPKs campaign this year, as Song from Korean Womens HotLine pointed out. This disgusting hypocrisy is clearly visible for all to see. It is no wonder that prior to the election, approval for the DPK government under Moon Jae-in fell to 43 percent, a far cry from the 81 percent that he enjoyed when he was elected. Lee's posturing towards the right only signalled his willingness to represent the very same political status quo that he howled against in the past / Image: Lee Jae myung, official Facebook Another aspect of the DPKs failure is the personal role of their candidate, Lee Jae-myung, hitherto the governor of Gyeonggi province that surrounds the Seoul Metropolitan area. Lee was considered to be a lightning bolt candidate who rose to prominence with his left-leaning rhetoric, such as his calls for the break up of the Chaebols and the implementation of a universal basic income. Some have called him South Koreas Bernie Sanders, while rivals within his own party used to consider him a dangerous populist. However, as we explained before Lees eventual nomination as the DPK presidential nominee, his loyalty to this bourgeois party and his failure to offer a socialist alternative to the crisis in South Korea would eventually push him to the right towards accommodation with the political establishment, as we have seen since he won the nomination. In the campaign, Lee ditched his characteristic criticisms of South Koreas oligarchic Chaebols. Instead, he became a candidate of national unity, stressing the importance of integration of conflicting ideals and even promising to launch a young cabinet regardless of party faction or age. This posturing towards the right only signalled Lees willingness to represent the very same political status quo that he howled against in the past. Lees rightward lurch took place in lockstep with President Moons own capitulation to the conservative right, above all his pardoning of Park Geun-hye, whom the masses had toppled earlier. Again, this was all in the name of national unity. In effect, the DPK wants the South Korean working class to submit to their ruling-class oppressors. Even the liberal-leaning journal Hankyoreh admitted that Lee failed to differentiate himself from the existing establishment: Lee also failed to make it clear to voters how a Lee presidency would differ from Moons Lee appealed to voters by promising to make his government different from Moons but failed to shore up enough support as a result of the many personal controversies he was embroiled in. As neither of the candidates and their parties represent the working class, no genuine class-based demands were put forward. Despite the high turnout, there are less illusions in either of the candidates than we have seen in the past, and more voters voted against one or other party. As Hankyoreh observed: The fact that the two major parties, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, did not show any innovation or vision throughout the campaign but instead focused more on mudslinging and division also contributed to the fact that voters did not show up in overwhelming numbers to support to either of them. This is an important refutation of the ideas that the victory of the PPP reveals a general and inexorable shift to the right in South Korean society. On the contrary, Lees former popularity showed the desire for a genuine alternative, which has been disappointed with his betrayal and the reactionary policies of the DPK. In fact, neither of the two main bourgeois parties are especially popular. There is a vacuum in South Korean politics that has yet to be filled with a genuine working-class alternative. Workers alternative needed The stark lack of enthusiasm for both parties is reflected in the poll that Channel A conducted on 1 December 2021, where more than 50 percent of respondents indicated that they dislike both Lee Jae-Myung and Yoon Suk-yeol. Earlier in April, a survey conducted by Seoul National University showed that six out of 10 Koreans more than 58 percent of the population are in a state of chronic anger primarily due to the immorality and corruption of political parties. More tellingly, another survey conducted by Ipsos and the Policy Institute at Kings College London showed that 91 percent of South Koreans consider there to be a conflict between the rich and poor in society. These figures show that anger against the ruling class and the entire capitalist establishment is oozing from every pore of South Korean society. It is not hard to see why Squid Game, a television show with class struggle as its central theme, could become such a runaway success in the country. Not to mention the major strike that broke out last year, in which many participants dressed up as characters from the show. Yet in the absence of a genuine class alternative that offers the path of a bold fight back against the capitalist system, this years election descended into a choice between two evils. Many workers and youth probably found this to be an extremely difficult choice to make, given that both candidates represent the rotten status quo that can only get worse. KCTU has to transform its militancy on the industrial front into a struggle on the political front through the establishment of a political party with a mass base / Image: KCTU, official Facebook But it cannot be ignored that, in such a political vacuum, a layer of desperate youth could temporarily swing towards reactionary ideas. Surveys showed that PPPs support among men in their 20s has increased significantly. Whereas in 2017, only 7 percent of men in this age group supported Liberty Korea, the PPPs predecessor, in 2022 44 percent of them supported the PPP. In the face of a deeply hypocritical liberal government and a rapidly deteriorating living situation, some confused youth will reach in any direction for solutions, including to the right. But the experience of the conservative right in government will soon burst any illusions they may have. The only force that can puncture the lies, hypocrisy and divisive lies of the ruling class and bring clarity in this situation is the working class. To this end, South Koreas labour movement holds extraordinary potential. In recent years, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) grew tremendously through their militant mobilisation during the struggle against the Park government in 2017, and in militant industrial struggles since then. They defiantly launched a nationwide strike action and protest against all of the capitalist political parties last October, despite severe repression from the DPK government. This class independent banner is an excellent start. The incoming Yoon administration will be a ferocious enforcer of the Chaebols interests and will waste no time in launching attacks against the working class. Yoon has never hid this part of the agenda in his campaign, and the DPK, though still having a majority in parliament, will do nothing substantial to stop him. However, in the context of enormous discontent against the existing society, such an attack from the PPP will only produce an angry backlash from the masses, and they will need an organised leadership to win this fight against the capitalist class. This is why the KCTU has to transform its militancy on the industrial front into a struggle on the political front through the establishment of a political party with a mass base. They are the only mass organisation of the working class that can build a genuine socialist political alternative for the Korean masses. Namely, this means expropriating the Chaebols, expelling US imperialism and establishing a genuine workers democracy. If these ideas are not raised in the political front through a mass working class party, then the labour movement still effectively cedes the initiatives to the bourgeois parties that will continue to attack the workers. The KCTU must draw in an even broader layer of the Korean working class and youth by genuinely championing their class interests. In this process, the unions must strenuously resist all forms of chauvinist division and reaction, answering with a programme of united class struggle to end the hellish conditions of Korean workers. Though the open, brutal face of the Korean capitalist class has won this election, the Korean working class is far from defeated. To genuinely spread the above ideas among the masses and lead them to victory, a Marxist revolutionary organisation needs to be built. We of the international Marxist Tendency urge any class conscious youth and worker militants to join us in this task. There is no time to waste. A Texas judge will decide whether to block the enforcement of Gov. Greg Abbott's, R, directive and Attorney General Ken Paxton's, R, legal opinion labeling gender-affirming medical care for transgender children as child abuse. In addition to directly investigating families over gender-affirming medical care, Texas has also called for "members of the general public" to report the parents of transgender children suspected of seeking such care. Texas's targeting of LGBTQ communities, especially trans people, comes amid a torrent of similar efforts, including in Alabama, Iowa, Idaho and Indiana. The Human Rights Campaign is tracking "147 anti-LGBTQ bills across the country, including 73 explicitly anti-trans bills." In Texas, however, anti-transgender lawmakers are swimming against a tide of history that predates European colonization. This history of Texas is in no small measure a transgender Indigenous history. It is also a rich and inclusive historical narrative unlike anything learned by generations of Texas schoolchildren. This history is critical to recognizing the colonial antecedents of anti-trans violence and their connection to anti-trans lawmaking and violence today. In the centuries before European colonialism upended life in Texas, Native Americans lived in societies that included children with fluid gender identities. They were neither male nor female, but both. Throughout the Southwest, Indigenous children with fluid gender identities were nurtured and grew to become important members of kinship communities. In West Texas, Apache communities included individuals known as Nde'isdzan, which means "man-woman." Farther south, the Karankawa, whose homeland abutted the coastline at Galveston Bay, embraced people referred to as Monaguia, a term for a transgender person who was assigned a male identity. All along the Gulf Coast, gender-fluid people occupied important roles as knowledge keepers, medicine people and spiritual leaders. In the 1560s, the French artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues claimed that he saw Native American men dressed in female clothing and performing work he assumed was female labor. He described these people as "hermaphrodites" - a dismissive and offensive term that did a disservice to the important social responsibilities they performed. According to Le Moyne, these individuals tended to the burial needs of recently deceased warriors. Throughout eastern North America, funerary rites carried enormous religious significance. Only spiritual leaders possessing highly specialized skills and knowledge carried out such rites. This is what Le Moyne observed - spiritual leaders, who we today would recognize as transgender, performing a sacred responsibility. Many Indigenous communities considered it a sign of a healthy society for such people to carry out these roles, to mediate between the worlds of the living and the dead and to help community members bridge disagreements or overcome social challenges. While tribal nations coined their own terms for people who took on transgender roles and identities, today the umbrella term Two-Spirit is often invoked to refer to Native American people who embody male and female spirits or adopt a gendered identity different from that assigned at birth. But colonialism became a direct threat to transgender people in Texas. In the early 1500s, the Cuchendado people of southwestern Texas lived in tightly knit communities. They hunted, grew crops, shared spiritual knowledge and cared for each other. Their communities included cis and trans people. By the late 1520s, an ominous change loomed on the horizon. The regional trade networks that connected the Cuchendado to the outside world started bringing news of violent intruders. One of those intruders was the Spaniard Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. In 1527, Cabeza de Vaca led Spanish conquistadors on an invasion through the Caribbean and the mainland Americas. Starting at Santo Domingo in Hispaniola, Cabeza de Vaca and his men moved quickly to Cuba before arriving on the Gulf Coast of mainland North America. When he reached southwestern Texas, he wrote of seeing "a devilish thing." Perhaps it was his Catholic sensibilities, his machismo or his view of Native people as "savages," but Cabeza de Vaca was appalled by what he saw. Unable to conceal his disgust, he wrote that Cuchendado men "go about dressed as women, and do women's tasks." Such people, Cabeza de Vaca surmised, were "impotent, effeminate men." His description of "effeminate men" was the product of European cultural and legal invention. Spaniards of his era often referred to "effeminate men" as bardaxa or bardaje, terms derived from the Persian barda and used to describe a captive, enslaved person or sodomite. In 16th-century Spain, male effeminacy - which included male-male sexual activity - was viewed as a sign of weakness. There was nothing natural about the theological precepts and legal structures of such rigid ideas about gender and sexuality. They were creations of the church and state. But they did serve a purpose: to naturalize hierarchies of gender and sexual power and disempowerment. For Spaniards like Cabeza de Vaca then, the sight of cross-dressing men solidified a general impression of Native Americans as "savages" who were an affront to the Christian "civilization." The Spanish were determined to remove these obstacles to their power throughout the Americas - whether by the Bible or the sword. The legal mechanism that the Spanish used to terrorize Native people was known as the Requerimiento (or "Requirement"). Written by the Council of Castile and first issued in 1513, the Requerimiento demanded that Indigenous people renounce their religious beliefs, accept Catholicism and submit to Spanish rule. Failure to comply invited the possibility of enslavement, war or death. In time, the Spanish, like other European colonizers, devised a multitude of strategies to sever gender-fluid people from their Indigenous communities - from the proselytizing of Christian missionaries and coerced labor to violent dispossession. The human cost of such practices was manifold: the loss of tribal knowledge, the death of elders and fractured kinship ties. The early years of European colonialism in North America laid the foundations for centuries of transphobia to come. Those foundations grew into open hostility and prejudice by the 19th century. Some White Americans went so far as to express genocidal attitudes. The American painter and travel writer George Catlin said as much when reflecting on his travels through the American West in the 1830s. Referring to the fluid gender conventions of the Sauk and Fox people, Catlin wrote that he wished such traditions "might be extinguished before it be more fully recorded." Catlin's desire to willfully erase cultures that he found distasteful reflected a broader self-deception among White Americans at this time: a determination to convince themselves of the "manifest destiny" of the "White man's republic" and the inevitable "doom" of Native Americans. Yet in Texas, a rich transgender history persisted even after colonization. That history began in Native American communities. It also continues to unfold today. Indeed, a long list of talented transgender people hail from Texas. Reed Erickson, born Rita Alma Erickson in El Paso in 1917, became a billionaire philanthropist and used his position as a prominent transgender man to educate Americans on transgender issues. Phyllis Randolph Frye overcame transphobia to become one of the country's first openly transgender judges. And Monica Roberts, an African American transgender journalist and activist, devoted her career to exposing violence against Houston's transgender community. These and countless other stories warrant our attention. Recognizing the lives of dignity and accomplishment of trans Texans also helps us see how moral panics and hysteria about transgender people isn't new. It's as old as European colonialism in North America. In 17th-century New England, colonists fretted about Native Americans altering their physical appearance. During subsequent centuries, public officials displayed a determination to order society along a male-female binary by passing laws against impersonation and cross-dressing. Throughout the 20th century, states including Texas enforced these cross-dressing laws. By the 1970s, and with evangelical Christianity becoming an increasingly influential force in conservative politics, a renewed series of moral panics harnessed centuries of transphobia. Conservative politicians and social activists deployed nebulous terms such as "Christian values," or "traditional values," to express their sense of political grievance by vilifying trans people. These efforts continue to harm trans people, who experience homelessness and violence at disproportionate rates. But despite the persistence of anti-trans activism, it is not succeeding. Today, Texas has the largest transgender population in the country behind California. Transgender people are, in other words, everywhere and going nowhere. They live full lives despite elected officials and other groups vilifying them. Importantly, transgender people in Texas are part of long and diverse history - a history that's not yet finished. - - - Gregory D. Smithers is professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University, a British Academy global professor, based with the Treatied Spaces Research Cluster at University of Hull and the author of "Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in Native America." Iceland is already regarded as one of the most sought out travel destinations in the world, and with good reason. Also known as the Land of Fire and Ice, the small Nordic country packs a big punch in the arena of nature: roaring waterfalls, sparkling icy lagoons and stunning black-sand beaches are just a few features of Icelands otherworldly landscape. While the midnight sun entices most travelers to pack their bags for a summer trip to Iceland, were here to advocate for an off-season, wintry trip instead. Some might be turned off by the prospect of having only a few hours of daylight, but those hours often treat visitors to a full golden hour display for the better part of an afternoon. Gloomier days usually come with a side of snow, which brings its own magic into the mix. When full darkness falls, the adventurous can chase the aurora borealis into Thingvellir National Park for a chance to see a dazzling night sky display. Trips to Iceland in the colder months also invite travelers to step outside of their comfort zones, as most of the activities during this time of year actually push you out the door and into the wild, whether for a daring ice cave excursion or hiking atop a glacier. The capital city of Reykjavik is also worth the trip even if you never left (though you certainly should). A surprisingly vibrant, albeit small, downtown is stuffed with cozy cafes, photo-worthy landmarks like the towering Hallgrimskirkja, lively bars and inspiring art galleries. Hotels span from budget-friendly hostels to the new Reykjavik Edition the citys first five-star hotel. Part of the Tolt bar, a tucked away cocktail haven at the Reykjavik Edition. Photo courtesy of Reykjavik Edition Where to Stay Positioned right next to the striking Harpa concert hall, the Edition signals a luxe shift for Reykjavik, and welcomes a new kind of traveler seeking both world-class comforts and one-of-a-kind adventure. Those who have stayed at any of famed hotelier Ian Schragers Edition properties know that the brand exudes a sleek style that incorporates elements of its surroundings. In this particular case, beds of moss curve around the driveway, the Northern Lights dance on one of the lobby walls, and a totem sculpture made of stacked, columnar basalt slate sourced from the south of Iceland greets visitors as they enter the property. In Iceland, youre getting to see things you wont see anywhere else, says Schrager. More so than any other place in the world, its a real opportunity to get in touch with earth and nature and were proud to further expand the Edition brand in an incredible place with an incredibly exciting hotel that gives you a true sense of place. Sky Lagoons Cave Bar. Austa Somvichian-Clausen Where to Dine The dining scene in Iceland is notorious for setting you back a pretty penny a small island means tons of imports. The culinary options in Reykjavik only continue to improve, though, and many of the best spots in town are worth your kronur. The international culinary community has also begun to pick up on the fact that Nordic cuisine is vastly underrated and uniquely delicious. A growing collection of cookbooks that includes North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland and Slippurinn: Recipes and Stories from Iceland shows a growing recognition of Icelandic fare. The countrys ingredients are on full display at the Editions signature restaurant, Tides, whose kitchen is now helmed by Gunnar Karl Gislason the chef behind Dill, Reykjaviks much-celebrated New Nordic Michelin-starred restaurant. Expect local proteins like Arctic char and reindeer on the menu, accompanied by the flavors of currants, pine and Icelandic wasabi. Wandering around town, youll run into iconic Icelandic hot dog stall Bjarins Beztu Pylsur, where you can grab a dog with creamy remoulade sauce and crunchy onions tucked into the bun. Bakeries like Brau & Co. peddle fresh and oozy cinnamon buns, and quality lattes can be found at Reykjavik Roasters and charming cat cafe Kattakaffihusi. Perfect for warming your hands and bellies during a chilly Icelandic afternoon. When it comes time for a cocktail, wed head to the stylish Mat Bar for tapas and something to sip on, or duck into the Editions snug speakeasy, Tolt. Named after the unique fifth gait Icelandic horses are best known for, Tolt offers cocktails featuring Icelandic spirits and flavors, and cozy banquette seating lit by a fireplace. Snowmobiling in Iceland. Austa Somvichian-Clausen What to Do After youve gotten the lay of the land in downtown Reykjavik, its time to set out on an adventure. Everyone has heard of (and most likely seen photos of) the Golden Circle by now the popular driving route that brings travelers past the gushing Gullfoss waterfall, the spouting Geysir, Thingvellir National Park and other natural wonders. While well-trodden, these attractions are still definitely worth a visit if this is your first time in the country. Another iconic Icelandic landmark is the Blue Lagoon, whose silica-rich milky waters attract travelers year-round. Giving the popular man-made lagoon a run for its money, though, is the newly opened Sky Lagoon. A quick 15-minute drive from downtown, Sky Lagoon is a fully immersive spa experience that isnt yet inundated with tourists. Before you arrive, book yourself a Sky Pass, which provides you with access to the lagoon and its seven-step wellness ritual, as well as a private room to change and shower. After a quick initial rinse, youll step into what feels like a natural ravine full of steaming, warm water, leading to a wide open pool complete with a waterfall, views of the ocean and a swim-up bar hidden in a rocky cave. The ritual as they call it is found inside a grass-topped spa just off the main pool, where you dip into a shockingly cold pool and warm up in a sauna with ocean views. Those also interested in an excursion off the beaten path should look into booking with a well-trusted company like Southcoast Adventure, whose winter offerings include snowmobiling across the highlands, venturing into an ice cave, glacier hiking and more. If you plan on booking a full-day or multi-day excursion, your best option for accommodations is Hotel Ranga an idyllic countryside retreat located at the base of a volcano in South Iceland. There, guest rooms and themed suites offer comfort as well as the best accessibility to the Northern Lights during the winter months. After a full day of sending it in the snow-capped countryside, the hotels geothermal outdoor hot tubs offer a warm respite. Travelers Note: As with any type of travel during this time, we suggest checking out the most up-to-date requirements and restrictions prior to booking. For more travel news, tips and inspo, sign up for InsideHook's weekly travel newsletter, The Journey. The post The Case for the Off-Season Visit to the Land of Fire and Ice appeared first on InsideHook. Gusty winds behind Friday's cold front could prove problematic for the Bayou City. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in League City issued a wind advisory for Houston and its surrounding communities that started at 9 a.m. Friday and lasts at least through noon Saturday. Communities near the Gulf Coast could have the advisory extended Saturday as winds there take longer to die down. Already on Friday in Houston, instruments have recorded gusts up to 30 mph at Bush Intercontinental Airport and 28 mph at Hobby Airport as of 3:30 p.m. In College Station, a weather station at Kyle Field measured a gust of 39 mph. For reference, a tropical storm is designated when sustained winds reach 39 mph. The city's power infrastructure appears to be taking the beating well. CenterPoint Energy only reports about 200 customers without power as of 3:30 p.m. Friday, a typical number of folks without power as a result of planned outages or routine maintenance. The wind will make Friday night's cold even colder, with wind-chill temperatures plummeting into the teens. The actual temperature will likely drop just below freezing after midnight. Other than high winds, Houston also has a 70 percent chance of rain to worry about between now and Saturday. Breezy conditions and chances of rain will diminish throughout the day Saturday as slightly warmer temperatures settle in. By Saturday night looking into Sunday, temperatures will bottom out slightly above freezing and warm into the 60s by Sunday afternoon coupled with sunny skies. The chance of rain returns Monday but temperatures will hover between the 50s and 70s through mid-week, according to meteorologists. In alignment with the companys core pillar of empowerment and equality, Canon unveils its Women in Sales initiative to offer yearlong internship and mentorship opportunities to women; the Women in Sales opportunity is an exclusive offering for women residing in Central and North Africa, Middle-East and Turkey regions. Canon Central and North Africa announced, today, the launch of its Women in Sales program that further fortifies the companys commitment, dedication and support towards gender equality and empowerment of women, in celebration of Womens Month 2022. Centered on the companys core philosophy of Kyosei, the initiative will invite women from Central and North Africa, Middle-East and Turkey to advance their careers in sales by participating in a yearlong internship program with the company. Furthermore, fifty percent of the participants will also be given an opportunity to become full-time employees with the company, thus paving the path for their professional careers. Women Empowerment Key Ingredient for Economic and Social Growth Our constant endeavor at Canon has always been to educate and empower the communities we operate in, we achieve this through different initiatives and programs that are rolled out on a consistent basis, thus contributing towards our end goal of advancing the world we live in. Gender equality and empowerment of women are key ingredients to create an inclusive society as well as to attain economic growth. The contribution of women towards Canons growth has been immense and this is evident in the 25% female representation in Sales in our CCNA region. The Women in Sales initiative is a brilliant platform for women who want to kick-start their careers in sales, receive invaluable mentorship from industry experts along with the possibility of becoming a full-time employee with Canon. Similar to our other empowerment initiatives, the Women in Sales program aims to create an enabling working environment for women by providing them the right set of tools required for professional success and satisfaction, commented Veronica Juul-Nyholm, the human resource director at the company. Holistic Development and Growth The women-only initiative is being rolled out in different locations simultaneously across Central and North Africa, Middle-East, Turkey and has specifically created, developed and implemented for this region. The program will offer several modules including blended learnings to participants to enhance their skill set and knowledge in sales. Additionally, the yearlong internship will be dissected into two parts namely the training program along with on-the-job experience. Each participant will also be assigned a mentor thus ensuring support and guidance for every woman participating in the program. The company envisions raising female representation in Sales Management roles to a minimum of 35% and is optimistic that the Women in Sales endeavor will sustain this vision. The program kick-stared in February 2022 with ten women participants being selected from the different parts of the region namely Rahaf Alharbi, Ruba Moafa and Fatima Alamer from Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Sila Ucar, Billur Konukcu and Senab Bayram from Istanbul Turkey, Ajuma Gabriel from Lagos Nigeria, Hind Abdoudaime from Casablanca Morocco, Scholarstica Ochieng from Nairobi Kenya and Shahnaz Bhandari from Dubai UAE. The first phase of the program will focus on education, the second phase will involve execution and the third phase will include certification and on-boarding of successful participants into full-time Canon employees. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Local Sexual battery victim and patient of HCA Florida Citrus Hospital sues facility fredhiers / Fred Hiers Chronicle Reporter HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, formerly Citrus Memorial Hospital The female victim of sexual battery by a male nurse while a patient at HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, formerly Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, is suing the hospital, claiming the facility was negligent in its care, created an environment where sexual battery could flourish, abetted the nurse who raped her, and inflected emotional pain when staff belittled her after the crime. Citrus County Sheriff's Office BONILLA In relation to the lawsuit against the hospital, which is operated by Hospital Corporation of America, the nurse in question, Hiram Bonilla, was convicted in January of sexual battery, and lewd or lascivious molestation of an elderly or disabled person. That person is the plaintiff in this lawsuit. The victim is seeking damages in excess of $30,000. She is referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe to protect her identity In the lawsuit, the attorney for the victim said that on Jan. 5, 2021, Jane Doe went to the Inverness hospital with a medical problem and she was admitted. Attorney Gregory Roe, of Palm Harbor, said Bonilla entered the womans room at about 10 p.m. and taped a bed pad over the rooms window, injected her with morphine and sexually assaulted her. In the lawsuit, Roe said Bonilla left and re-entered the victims room as many as 28 times from 10 p.m. Jan. 5 to about 2:30 a.m. Jan. 6, and that he sexually assaulted her each time he came into the patients room. Citrus County Sheriff's Office BONILLA Roe said in the lawsuit that hospital staff learned about the assault at about 2 a.m. Jan. 6, but failed to call the Citrus County Sheriffs Office to report it until about 8:07 a.m. Roe said the victim had telephoned her therapist and told her what was happening and the therapist, in turn, notified the hospital immediately that morning at about 2 a.m. Roe said that during those six hours before contacting law enforcement the hospital: Told Bonilla of the patients allegations and told him to leave the hospital. Hospital officials interviewed witnesses who were working on the patients floor and planted the false narrative concocted by HCA nurse Hiram Bonilla into the minds of the witnesses. Allowed its staff to angrily come into the victims room and verbally assault and berate her for reporting the attack. Allowed its staff to laugh and make light of the victims allegations outside her door and loud enough for the victim and neighboring patients to hear. Violated the patients privacy under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Moved the victim to another room and then cleaned the room where the crime occurred, destroying much of the physical evidence. The lawsuit claims that once law enforcement arrived, the hospital interjected itself into the investigation by having four hospital representatives sit in on the initial interview. Roe told the Chronicle it wasnt the hospitals place to investigate the patients allegations, but rather immediately contact law enforcement. Roe said the hospitals motive was simple: money. Theyre trying to protect their financial interest, he told the Chronicle. Hospital officials were not legally entitled to investigate the crime themselves, get involved in the deputys initial interview, interview the victim and witnesses or disclose the patients medical information. He said the hospital was obligated to safeguard the patients room because there had been a crime committed there. Roe said the hospital acted the way it did to minimize the allegations to create a she said, he said scenario and reduce any financial settlement the hospital might have to pay. The lawyer said he continues to request information related to the crime and the hospitals role in trying to cover it up. He said he will provide the State Attorneys Office with what he finds. These people need to be prosecuted, Roe said of the hospital staff involved. This is wrong. The lawsuit also claims that the hospital has a history of patients being sexually abused, the most recent being by another Citrus Memorial Hospital nurse in September 2020. That nurse pleaded no contest to sexual battery at the HCA hospital. He was adjudicated guilty and is now serving a five-year sentence in state prison. The nurses victim is also now suing HCA Florida Citrus Hospital. The Jane Doe lawsuit filed this month claimed the hospital had a history of punishing employees and other hospital contractors when reporting sexual misconduct at the HCA hospital. The lawsuit said that hospital officials knew that punishment would result in an environment of sexual misconduct. The lawsuit claims that after Bonilla sexually battered the patient, the hospital conspired with him by: Interviewing Bonilla and telling him about the allegations before the hospital contacted law enforcement. Instructed Bonilla to leave knowing he lived in Pasco County, outside the jurisdiction of local law enforcement. Informing witnesses of Bonillas denial. Removing the victim from the room and then cleaning it Intimidating the victim and confining her to a room where she was afraid Bonilla or his friends would return to harm her. The lawsuit has five counts: Premises liability, negligent supervision and security, aiding and abetting/accessory after the fact, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment, and negligent hiring. The health of our patients is our highest priority, and we do not tolerate behavior that jeopardizes their safety and wellbeing, said Katie Myers, spokeswoman for HCA Florida Citrus. At the time of the disturbing event in January 2021 the individual responsible was immediately terminated, Myers said, noting hospital officials assisted local law enforcement in their investigation and notified the appropriate regulatory agencies. We appreciate the work of local authorities that led to his conviction, she said. Our hearts go out to the victim, and we know this is a difficult time for her and her family. We disagree with the additional allegations in this complaint, and we will defend ourselves through the legal process. Florida, US (34429) Today Mostly sunny early. Increasing clouds with showers this afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 90F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Le gouvernement a decide de presenter au parlement le National Flag, Arms, Anthem and Other Symbols of Mauritius Bill a la rentree parlementaire. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the National Flag, Arms, Anthem and Other Symbols of Mauritius Bill into the National Assembly. The object of the Bill is to consolidate and update the laws with regard to the national symbols of Mauritius, such as the Arms of Mauritius, the National Flag of Mauritius and the Seal of Mauritius. The opportunity is being taken to give legal effect to the National Anthem of Mauritius (Motherland), to the National Flower of Mauritius (Trochetia boutoniana) and to declare the Kestrel bird (Falco punctatus), as the National Bird of Mauritius. The Bill provides for better protection and use of the national symbols of Mauritius. IRCC has processed more FSWP applicants in the last 2.5 months than it did in all of 2021. Canadas Express Entry backlog has declined by nearly 24,000 persons since December IRCC has processed more FSWP applicants in the last 2.5 months than it did in all of 2021. Canadas Express Entry backlog has declined by nearly 24,000 persons since December IRCC has processed more FSWP applicants in the last 2.5 months than it did in all of 2021. Canadas Express Entry backlog has declined by nearly 24,000 persons since December IRCC has processed more FSWP applicants in the last 2.5 months than it did in all of 2021. Shelby Thevenot Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canadas economic class immigration backlog stands at 231,187 people waiting on decisions for their applications, according to February 28 data provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). At the beginning of February 2022, the economic class inventory stood at 230,573 persons, meaning the inventory grew by 614 persons. While it may seem that little progress was made last month, a closer look suggests that gains are being made, particularly among the Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker Program inventories. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Economic class inventory is down overall, but TR2PR program inventory is slowing progress The number of economic class applicants in the backlog is down by 24,400 since the end of October. These gains were slowed down by increases under other economic class pathways. There were some gains in non-Express Entry PNP streams as well as the Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR2PR) program. The number of base Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants in IRCCs inventory grew by 4,685. Base PNPs are paper-based, meaning it takes longer to process applicants, compared to enhanced PNP streams, which are aligned with Express Entry and hence typically enjoy faster processing times since applications are submitted electronically. The TR2PR program, which has been closed to applications since November, experienced an increase of 14,153 people between the middle of December 2021 and the end of February 2022. CIC News has reached out to IRCC for an explanation as to why the TR2PR program has experienced such a significant increase even after the program has closed. One possibility is IRCC has recently begun to review such TR2PR program applications, and hence, only now have they been counted towards the departments inventory. Persons (Feb.28) Persons (Feb.1) Persons (Dec.15) Persons (Oct.27) Economic Class 231,187 230,573 234,770 255,587 IRCC making major progress on CEC and FSWP inventories Express Entry-managed program inventories are down across the board. Express Entry has enjoyed the largest improvement among all economic class pathways, decreasing by 23,748 persons since December. The Express Entry inventory stood at 119,389 persons in December but fell to 95,641 persons by the end of February. In February alone, the Canadian Experience Class inventory fell by 3,051 persons while the Federal Skilled Worker Program inventory fell by 4,314 persons. Future immigrants are watching these numbers closely as Express Entry draws have been paused for all but PNP candidates. The backlog in applications has pushed up processing times well beyond the standard of six months, although IRCCs website continues to report the processing standard is six months. Internal IRCC documents indicate that the department wants to reduce its inventory enough so that the processing standard can be met, then resume Express Entry draws for candidates in other programs. Between December 15, 2021 and February 28, 2022 the number of Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants waiting on decisions has decreased by 12,587. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) inventory has gone down by 9,092. This means in two and a half months, IRCC processed more FSWP applicants than it did in all of 2021. In the second half of 2021, IRCC processed about 600 FSWP applicants per month, but recent figures suggest a nearly eight-fold increase in the number of FSWP applicants now being processed per month. IRCC slowed down FSWP processing last year so it could transition as many in-Canada immigration applicants, mainly through the CEC, to permanent resident status. The reason is the department felt this approach would help it achieve its goal of landing over 400,000 immigrants in 2021, a goal which it ultimately achieved, as it broke Canadas annual immigration record. Assuming IRCC continues its current processing rates, the CEC backlog would fall to zero by the summer, while the FSWP backlog would be gone by the end of the year. In February, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser indicated that Express Entry draws for skilled workers will resume in the near future. However, no firm date has been given. In December, the total Canadian immigration backlog was around 1.8 million across all lines of business including permanent residence, temporary residence, citizenship, and visitors. IRCC has seen its application inventory increase during the pandemic as it has tried to manage the immigration system amid a challenging operating environment. CIC News is awaiting a data request submitted to IRCC earlier this week for an update on the departments application inventory across all of its lines of business. Under its new Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024, Canada is looking to welcome nearly 432,000 new immigrants this year, and over 450,000 new immigrants by 2024. Higher immigration targets along with IRCCs modernization efforts should see the immigration backlog gradually decline from the highs seen during the peak of the pandemic. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Economic class backlog Immigration category Persons as of Dec. 15, 2021 Persons as of Feb. 28, 2022 Agri-Food Pilot Program 747 653 Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs 2,998 2,577 Canadian Experience Class (EE) 24,675 12,088 Canadian Experience Class (No EE) 55 84 Caring For Children Program 12,539 16,316 Federal Self Employed 4,999 5,181 Federal Skilled Workers (C-50) 223 197 Federal Skilled Workers (EE) 54,529 45,437 Federal Skilled Workers (Pre C-50) 24 23 High Medical Needs Program 29 15 Live-in Caregiver Program 1,780 1,328 Provincial/Territorial Nominees (EE) 39,325 37,484 Provincial/Territorial Nominees (No EE) 27,421 32,106 Quebec Entrepreneur 462 416 Quebec Investor 14,610 13,845 Quebec Self Employed 85 89 Quebec Skilled Workers 27,048 26,217 Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot 992 897 Skilled Trades (EE) 805 632 Skilled Trades (No EE) 9 3 Start-up Business 1,264 1,295 TR to PR 20,151 34,304 Total Economic Class 234,770 231,187 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Wilkes Barre, PA (18701) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. You will receive 5-day a week delivery of the Citizen Tribune newspaper to your home or business, plus full, ad-free access to CitizenTribune.com as well as full access to the Electronic Edition of the newspaper. ONLY $13.99 per month for the first 3 months! Only $16.00 per month after promotional period. Or ONLY $169.99 for a full year Only $192.00 per year after promotional period. Orange and the German Development Cooperation inaugurated on the 10th march 2022 an Orange Digital Center in the Redland Tower at Ankorondrano, a digital ecosystem entirely dedicated to the development of digital skills and innovation, attended by the highest political and administrative authorities from Madagascar, Representatives of Germany and France in Madagascar, members of Orange Madagascar board and Orange Group Executive Committee led by its Chairman and CEO Stephane Richard. Following in the footsteps of Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mali, Cote dIvoire, Cameroon, Egypt and Jordan, it is in Antananarivo, that this 9th Orange Digital Center is inaugurated. Spread over 800 sq. m, it brings together four strategic programs of the Orange group, namely; a coding school, a solidarity FabLab one of the Orange Foundations digital manufacturing workshops, installed at the University of Antananarivo -, and an Orange Fab start-up accelerator, supported by Orange Ventures Africa, the investment fund. All of the programs are provided free-of charge and open to everyone. They range from digital training for young people, 90% of which are practical, start-up acceleration, and guidance for project bearers and investment. Working as a network, the Orange Digital Centers allow experiences and expertise to be shared between countries and offer a simple and inclusive approach to improve young peoples employability, encourage innovative entrepreneurship and promote the local digital ecosystem. Officially inaugurated today, the Orange Digital Center in Madagascar has been operational since October 19, 2021 and has already hosted several training sessions and digital events. In addition, Orange Madagascar, in partnership with some universities in Madagascar agreed to establish two Orange Digital Center Club, extensions of the coding school within the University of Fianarantsoa and the University of Antsiranana, thus complementing the education system to give as many people as possible access to new technologies and support them in putting these technologies to use them to their full extent. Orange and the German Development Cooperation are working together as part of a development partnership within the develoPPP program, which the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The goal is to fulfil their shared vision, fostering youth employability while supporting sustainable growth and the countrys digital transformation. The programme is also working to advance gender equality and inclusion by promoting access for women and girls to ICT jobs. Through digital technology, this programme focuses on the following sustainable development goals in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: (SDG 4) quality education, (SDG 5) gender equality, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, (SDG 9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, (SDG 10) reduced inequalities and (SDG 17) partnerships for goals. Stephane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange, says: Orange acts as a responsible company across its activities. This sense of responsibility is a central value that has been placed at the heart of the Groups strategic plan, Engage 2025. To promote digital services as a vector for inclusion and to ensure they are available to the widest possible audience, we aim to open an Orange Digital Center in every country in which we are present by 2025. This ambition clearly demonstrates our determination to harness the positive power of digital innovation. Alioune Ndiaye, Chairman and CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, says: I am very proud to inaugurate the 9th Orange Digital Center today in Madagascar, which is part of a network of 32 Orange Digital Centers that will be deployed not only, in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Europe. The objective is to democratize access to digital technology to young people with or without qualifications giving them access to the latest technological skills to strengthen their employability and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. Anja Heuft , Acting Country Director for Madagascar, Maurice, Seychelles & Comores says: As an implementing agency of the German government, we, GIZ, are enthusiastic to contribute and accompany the digital transformation in Madagascar with inaugurating the Orange Digital Center today here in Antananarivo. Creating a hub for digital competences, innovative ideas and creative exchange, ultimately improving the employability of youth holds an enormous potential for Madagascar and the future development of its economy and people in the long term. We are happy to scale our joint experiences of the already existing ODC and start another digital success story in Madagascar Frederic Debord, CEO of Orange Madagascar : Orange Madagascars commitment to digital inclusion is a reality. As a partner in digital transformation, we are a major player in the socio-economic development of the country through innovative ecosystems and specific schemes to develop entrepreneurship. Thus, the Orange Digital Center and the 2 Orange Digital Centers Club soon installed in universities in the regions of Fianarantsoa and Antsiranana brings together all the necessary skills to give as many people possible access to new technologies and support in using them to their full extent. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele The Labour Party has appointed Barbara Keeley as shadow minister for arts and civil society, three months after Rachael Maskell resigned. Maskell resigned from the shadow ministerial team in December so that she could vote against laws requiring NHS staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Since then, Labour has been without a shadow minister. Jeff Smith, who is part of Lucy Powells team shadowing the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has been speaking on behalf of the party during the two bits of relevant legislation that made their way through Parliament his year. Keeley said she was delighted with the new job. Charities are a valued and vital part of our national life, working to improve communities, offer people opportunities, and bring our nation together, she added. She criticised the government over its treatment of charities during the pandemic and said she looks forward to working with the sector. Throughout the pandemic, civil society went above and beyond to support the response to Covid but after a decade of Conservative government neglect, the social sector has been pared back and pushed out, while being left to pick up the pieces of the damage this has caused. Labour wants to see a thriving third sector that works to support our public services helping people whom statutory bodies find hard to reach. Civil society are key partners in delivering preventative public services and in creating a better, more prosperous Britain where workers, families and the sector are secure. I look forward to working together to achieve these aims. Who is Barbara Keeley? Keeley has been an MP since 2005 and now represents the Worsley and Eccles South constituency. Since spring 2020 she has sat on the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee During Jeremy Corbyns leadership of the Labour Party she three shadow minister roles, including shadow minister for mental health and social care. Before that she was parliamentary private secretary to the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls. She also spent a year as a shadow communities and local government minister. When Labour was in government, she was deputy leader of the House of Commons, until the 2010 election. She held other junior government roles including being a parliamentary private secretary to the minister for women and equality, Harriet Harman. Prior to becoming an MP she was a local councillor and worked as an adviser on community regeneration projects across Greater Manchester and as an adviser to a national charity for carers. On her website she says: I support the work of the Trussell Trust foodbank on Cleggs Lane in Little Hulton and I volunteer at foodbank collections at Tesco Walkden whenever I can. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Two days ago, Russian forces bombed a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, killing at least three people, one of them a child, and trapping others under the rubble. Yesterday, the Twitter account of Russias embassy in the UK claimed that photos showing victims of the attack actually depicted actors, including a popular Ukrainian beauty blogger, with fake injuriesa textbook example of the crisis actor conspiracy that will be familiar to followers of far-right discourse in the US. Russian state media and government officials amplified similar claims, though other officials, confusingly, said that the facts werent clear yet. Twitter eventually took down the embassys tweet, citing a violation of its policies around the denial of violent events. Facebook took similar action against a post on its platform. Russia has pumped out industrial quantities of war propaganda since it invaded Ukraine, and this was not the first time that Western social-media companies had moved to block it: Twitter and Facebook previously took steps to limit the spread of posts by state-aligned Russian media outlets; Google booted Russian state media outlets from its News service, while Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok said that they would all block access to the state broadcasters RT and Sputnik in Europe. The latter moves followed a comprehensive European Union ban on the broadcasters, not just on member states airwaves but via social media and search engines, too. (RTs French affiliate is currently challenging the ban at a European court.) The EU ban had the effect of knocking RT off the air in Brexited Britain as well. TV providers in the US and Canada removed the channel from their bundles. Last week, RT America said that it would cease production and lay off most of its staff. Related: Russias diminishing information access The deplatforming sparked a debate in Western countries as to whether it was the sort of thing that democracies should be doing, with one European journalists group warning that stifling media of any description is a slippery slope. It also sparked a debate as to the effectiveness of Russian war propaganda, and the demand for ita crucial part of the calculus when discussing curbs on its supply. The Washington Posts Jason Rezaian drew on his experience as a target of Iranian state disinformation (he was jailed in the country for over a year) to argue that exposure to propaganda can inadvertently help reveal the truth of how an adversary is thinking. He also noted that RT didnt reach that many people in the West anyway. Nieman Labs Joshua Benton reported that the channels online reach in Europe appears to be low and that it has had to pay cable providers to carry it in the US; it appears to do better at attracting engagement on social media, but these metrics can be easy to misinterpret, not to mention manipulate. (One 2020 study found that RTs Twitter followers are far more likely to be bots than the average user.) State media, of course, is only one arm of Russias propaganda apparatus; the Mariupol crisis-actor lie and others have been spread online by official and very unofficial accounts alike. But the success of Russias international information war around the invasion has also been questioned in more sweeping ways. Disinformation experts told The Atlantics Charlie Warzel this week that, so far at least, Russias online propaganda and influence apparatus is not nearly as sophisticated or effective with non-Russian audiences as many thought. Theres a lot to unpack here, andas always with the spread of disinformationwe cant reach many clean conclusions. In addition to being hard to accurately gauge, the size of the Western appetite for Russian propaganda is only one part of the equation; as Benton put it, RT doesnt need a huge audience to be influentialonly the right one. Nor is this solely a Western question, of course: Chinese state media has so far consistently amplified Kremlin propaganda, including by aggregating directly from RT, and Russia has also pushed disinformation into Africa and across the Spanish-speaking world. Then there is the crucial matter of Russia itself. If the primary audience for Putins war propaganda is domestic, then that sphere, too, is home to its own murky, yet crucial, debate around the targeting of disinformation and its intended recipients. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Since before the invasion began, Putins regime has blanketed Russias airwaves with blatant lies about crisis actors, false flags, and Ukrainianand broader Westernaggression and Nazism, all while obliterating the last vestiges of the countrys free press. One common school of thought among Western commentators has held that this domestic propaganda push is destined to fail, at least in the long run: the economic pain of Western sanctions, the argument often goes, will ultimately prove more potent than Putins lies, while younger Russians, in particular, have grown too accustomed to the open exchange of ideas online to be denied it now, and are already using VPNs and other tools to circumvent government blocks. As Politicos Jack Shafer put it in one such column, Putin mistakenly thinks its 1955 and that media suppression can douse inconvenient information. The Daily Beasts Julia Davis wrote yesterday that the truth of the war already appears to be slipping through state-media cracks, with some guests warning of the economic pain and calling for the war to end. But here, too, the picture is crowded and unclear. When MSNBCs Ali Velshi put it to Ian Bremmer, of the Eurasia Group, that Russians would eventually be hit so hard in the pocket as to make Putins war propaganda untenable, Bremmer predicted that most people would not see things this way. The majority of the population is overwhelmingly fed information through state media, and thats television, its newspapers; its not digital, Bremmer said. The level of support from Putin has historically been exceptionally strong among this group, and its going to continue to be. Polling recently conducted by a Russian opposition grouping found that of the nearly sixty percent of respondents who said they support the war, a strong majority also trust official media. Older Russians, who grew up without independent media, were most likely to be supportive. Seeking some clarity, I put this debate to Ann Cooper, who covered the waning days of the Soviet Union for NPR and has since studied Russian media. In a 2020 report for Harvards Shorenstein Center, Cooper cited surveys showing a growing age gap in state TV viewership, though Denis Volkov, of the Levada Center research group, cautioned that media-consumption habits in Russia were changing very slowly. From todays standpoint, the future for Russia looks bleaker than it did two years ago, not least for independent news outlets. Cooper told me that she doesnt think consumers of online news are suddenly going to switch on state TV and change their perspective. Conversely, however, she also referred me to a point that Irina Borogan, a Russian journalist, made to the Committee to Protect Journalists last week: that propaganda will always stick with the people who want to hear it and dont care to verify what they are hearing, and that there are a lot of these people. Russia, ultimately, is a huge country and its society is not a monolith; if recent reports out of the country have given contradictory impressions of public sentimentwith thousands of Russians protesting in the streets while others have reportedly rejected even their own relatives accounts of life under bombardment in Ukraineits because they can obviously all be true at once. Thanks to Putins media clampdown and mass arrests, anti-war sentiment and truth-telling are both increasingly perilous. Indeed, it seems to me that Putin is not trying to convince the entire Russian populace of his lies as much as solidifying his legitimacy with his supporters while silencing his critics. As the war goes on, its vital that we try to understand what his propagandists are saying, who theyre trying to say it to, and to what endas therein will lie key clues as to his intentions and domestic standing. Nor should we assume that Russian news consumers will eventually reject lies in response to rational cues. Thats not how propaganda works anywhere. Back on the international stage, its not clear that the Putin regime cares all that much about believability as it lies its way through attack after attack; we might be dealing, here, more with talking points, even cruel trolling. Yesterday, MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle asked Jack Crosbie, a journalist who was recently on the ground in Ukraine, about Russias Mariupol lies. Crosbie noted that the Kremlin seems mostly to be trying to assert some form of plausible deniability. It doesnt matter to their aims whether or not people believe that theyre doing this or not, Crosbie said. The violence is the goal. The fear is the goal. The terror is the goal. And theyre extraordinarily effective at creating those conditions, which we can all see. Below, more on Russia and its war: Taking flight: Teen Vogues Fortesa Latifi spoke with Grigori, a pseudonymous Russian photojournalist who traveled to Ukraine to document the war but said that his Russian passport made him feel unsafe. I easily had all the chances to be persecuted as a traitor to the nation. I realized it was time to leave Kyiv when we saw the news and footage of the government giving ammunition and rifles to every local who wanted it, Grigori said. He is now working on a new media project in Lithuania and trying to move his parents to Europe, too, since he fears for their safety in Russia. Teen Vogues Fortesa Latifi spoke with Grigori, a pseudonymous Russian photojournalist who traveled to Ukraine to document the war but said that his Russian passport made him feel unsafe. I easily had all the chances to be persecuted as a traitor to the nation. I realized it was time to leave Kyiv when we saw the news and footage of the government giving ammunition and rifles to every local who wanted it, Grigori said. He is now working on a new media project in Lithuania and trying to move his parents to Europe, too, since he fears for their safety in Russia. On Facebook: Yesterday, Reuters published a story with the headline, Facebook and Instagram to temporarily allow calls for violence against Russians. As CNNs Brian Stelter notes, this was misleading; the platforms have actually, in the words of a spokesperson, made a temporary exception allowing those affected by war to express violent sentiments toward invading armed forces such as death to the Russian invaders. The platforms continue to prohibit calls for violence against Russians outside of the narrow context of the current invasion. (Reuters updated its headline.) Yesterday, Reuters published a story with the headline, Facebook and Instagram to temporarily allow calls for violence against Russians. As CNNs Brian Stelter notes, this was misleading; the platforms have actually, in the words of a spokesperson, made a temporary exception allowing those affected by war to express violent sentiments toward invading armed forces such as death to the Russian invaders. The platforms continue to prohibit calls for violence against Russians outside of the narrow context of the current invasion. (Reuters updated its headline.) MythTok: The Atlantics Kaitlyn Tiffany pushed back on the narrative, recently popular among US news organizations, that Russias invasion of Ukraine is the first TikTok war. The web incentivizes quickly assembled narrativesideas you can prove with a fistful of linksand each new war of the internet age has thus been dutifully described as the first of its kind, the first to be associated with the latest trend in digital media, Tiffany writes. This is sort of tasteless, but also, because we live in a time during which media formats are iterating faster and faster, a little arbitrary. The Atlantics Kaitlyn Tiffany pushed back on the narrative, recently popular among US news organizations, that Russias invasion of Ukraine is the first TikTok war. The web incentivizes quickly assembled narrativesideas you can prove with a fistful of linksand each new war of the internet age has thus been dutifully described as the first of its kind, the first to be associated with the latest trend in digital media, Tiffany writes. This is sort of tasteless, but also, because we live in a time during which media formats are iterating faster and faster, a little arbitrary. A correction: On Wednesday, Prince William was roundly criticized after he was reported as saying that it feels very alien to witness war in Europe, unlike in Asia and Africa. Video of the remarks later showed that while William did say that war in Europe feels alien, he did not make the Asia and Africa comparison, leading numerous news organizations to issue corrections, including the British wire service that first reported it. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Australia pressured Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. Is America next? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Aircraft lessor BOC Aviation Ltd 2588.HK believes a deadline giving lessors just over two weeks left to end contracts with Russian carriers due to sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine is unrealistic, a senior executive said on Thursday. The EU and UK sanctions set, effectively, a deadline of 28 March for termination of aircraft leases, which is frankly an unrealistic timetable for a fleet of approximately 500 aircraft leased into Russia by operating lessors, Chief Operating Officer David Walton told analysts, according to an earnings call transcript. However, he added BOC Aviation would comply with the sanctions and was discussing logistics for the recovery of its planes with customers. Russia published a draft law on Thursday that could prevent its airlines returning leased aircraft, raising the stakes in a showdown with Western finance over $10 billion of jets. BOC Aviation said its 18 planes leased to Russian airlines had a book value of $935 million and could also be affected by insurance policy cancellations after Russias invasion of Ukraine. The international aviation insurance markets are progressively canceling certain elements of insurance policies in relation to aircraft located in Russia or leased to Russian airlines, the lessor said in its financial results. This is a complex and rapidly developing situation that we are monitoring closely. BOC Aviation, which has 4.8% of its assets by book value leased to Russian airlines, is among the first leasing firms to publicly confirm upheaval in the aviation insurance market. The resulting flood of claims and potential writedowns could trigger a lengthy contest between lessors and insurers over liability, according to experts. BOC Aviation Chief Executive Robert Martin said Russian rental payments had been fully up to date as of the end of February. Russias domestic aviation market was one of the strongest performers globally during the pandemic. With just two days left in the 2022 Florida legislative session, a comprehensive property insurance reform bill appears to be dead. But lawmakers were said to be looking for ways to fold some of the main provisions into other bills as the clock winds down. Senate Bill 1728 would have made many changes that insurers have asked for, including steps to stem losses from roof claims, solicitation by roofers, and excessive litigation. Most significantly, it would have allowed more policies to cover only the actual cash value, or depreciated value, of roofs, and would have allowed policies to have a 2% roof-only deductible. The bill, by state Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, passed the Senate last week but stalled in a House committee, effectively dooming it for this year, according to lobbyists and news reports. As of Wednesday, House and Senate members were said to be be considering adding more of SB 1728s provisions into whats been called the omnibus insurance bill, SB 468, sponsored by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville. That piece of legislation, which already covered a wide range of minor changes to insurance and workers compensation matters, passed the Senate in February. It was amended on the House floor on Tuesday, then approved by the full House late Wednesday by a vote of 94-23. But the amendment to SB 468 did not include the roof-replacement provisions that were a key ingredient of Boyds bill, and its uncertain if lawmakers will consider adding it to other bills today or Friday. Theres still a path forward, Kyle Ulrich, president of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, said Wednesday afternoon. Its up to the legislative leadership now. A staff member for Boyd said Wednesday evening that it wasnt clear if the reforms would make it this year. Were closely monitoring things, said Jack Rogers, legislative assistant to Boyd. The amendment to SB 468, would, among other changes, force more policyholders to switch from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to other carriers, part of an effort to stem the rapid growth of Citizens and avoid huge costs to the state if multiple catastrophes strike Florida. The amendment, offered by Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, would set up a schedule thats more severe than what other bills have proposed: If private insurers make homeowner take-out offers with premiums that are only slightly higher than Citizens for comparable coverage, the policyholder would no longer be eligible for renewal with Citizens. The schedule ranges from 4% higher premiums in 2023 to 20% higher in 2027 and thereafter. Insurance groups are still hopeful that a last-minute deal can be brokered to add roof and other provisions to other bills still pending. I have to believe theyre going to try and figure something out, said B.G. Murphy, director of government affairs for FAIA. Nothings dead until the hanky drops. MOBILE, Ala. (AP) Storms that moved across the Deep South early Wednesday knocked down trees and caused other scattered damage in Alabama before prompting tornado warnings in Georgia. No injuries or deaths were reported from the storm system, which also kicked up tornado watches for a tim across dozens of counties in south Georgia, northern Florida and the southeastern corner of Alabama. West of Mobile, part of the roof of Joe Clarkes house was ripped off moments after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. We got in the hallway and it was over. It lasted 10 seconds, Clarke told WKRG-TV. You hear the rush, the wind, stuff hitting the windows. By the time we got into the living area, my wife was calling her mom. It was over. The Storm Prediction Center said there also were reports of damage along the Georgia line in Barbour County, where trees were knocked down and at least one home was reported hit. Images shared on social media showed a truck overturned and twisted metal at a business in Clayton, where John Earl Marshall said he covered his head as trees fell around his home and trash cans flew. The main thing is I am glad God is in charge. Because if it wouldnt have been for him I know I would have been gone, Marshall told WSFA-TV. The National Weather Service on Wednesday said a survey team confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down, packing winds between 90 and 100 mph (145-160 kph). Forecasters issued multiple tornado warnings in the Florida Panhandle and southwestern Georgia as the storms moved eastward. The storms moved across parts of the Panhandle where hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate over the weekend because of wildfires around Panama City, Florida. It remained unclear whether the area would get enough rain to douse the blazes, though fire officials said it would help. The storms were associated with a cold front moving across the Southeast, forecasters said. Light snow is possible as far south as southern Mississippi on Saturday, according to the weather service. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Claremore, OK (74018) Today Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 63F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Beachwood, OH (44122) Today A few showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 43F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. A screenshot of the video a Chester County couple uploaded to YouTube showing their overnight stay inside a Target store. A couple was charged with criminal trespass, which is a felony of the third degree, after allegedly spending most of a night in a Target store after the doors were locked and all employees had left. The couple were alone and allegedly wandered the store in West Whiteland, Chester County, from 9:40 p.m. Feb. 20 to the next morning at 2:56 a.m., when someone leaving the store tripped a fire door alarm. Advertisement Charlotte Fischer, 24, and Johnson Larose, 25, admitted to building and hiding in a fort made with store boxes within the Target at 201 W. Lincoln Highway, Exton. They filmed themselves with cell phones and posted their adventure on their YouTube site, Saucy and Honey. The almost half-hour long episode was mostly filmed inside the Target and is called 24 Hour Overnight Challenge in Target (Caught?!?) Advertisement Charlotte Fischer, 24, and Johnson Larose, 25, admitted to building and hiding in a fort inside a Target store near Exton, Pa. They filmed themselves with cell phones and posted their adventure on their YouTube channel, Saucy and Honey. West Whiteland Detective Scott Pezick said that Fischer and Larose did it for the views. They admitted ahead of time that they were trespassing and may be arrested, Pezick said, during a Friday phone interview. They knew what they were doing. There was always the possibility of getting caught. Its not a smart thing, but thats what they were after attention, he said. Its not my world. According to the affidavit of probable cause issued by West Whiteland Police, the couples YouTube page states that they perform pranks, challenges, traveling and more. The police affidavit reads that the couple told their viewers they were risking trespassing charges and mentioned getting arrested. Fischer tells the internet audience to not attempt what we attempt at home. We are adventurers. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > The couple seemed spooked by the darkened mannequins and the music that played all night through store loudspeakers, while the lights were turned off. They said that there were a lot of weird noises, during the early morning hours. Advertisement Its the creepiest thing that they turn off all the lights and not the music, Fischer said. I didnt come here for a scare, I came her for a good time. Police say the pair did not steal anything. The couple likely made their getaway in a white Tesla that police had spotted at the Target. Pezick said that he had never witnessed a crime quite like this one. Pezick said that Fischer and Larose likely wont do time, but probably will be tasked with performing community service. They are free on $25,000 unsecured bail and face a March 24 hearing. A spokesperson for Target confirmed that Target is aware of the situation and is working with the West Whiteland Police Department and will provide whatever is needed for the investigation, and said the couple is banned from all Target stores in Pennsylvania. What has US done with bat coronavirus in Ukraine? World deserves explanation (Global Times) 15:47, March 11, 2022 White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on June 8, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) The Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday announced that US-funded biological labs in Ukraine were conducting experiments with bat coronavirus samples. There is no smoke without fire. Some netizens commented that the Americans seem to have a special preference for making vampire-themed movies, and the prototype of the vampire comes from bat. The Americans' experiments with bat coronavirus have cultural origins. Discussions about US bio labs in Ukraine are turning heated. Earlier, the Kremlin revealed evidence that the US was involved in biological weapons research in Ukrainian labs. It also said that Ukraine had destroyed samples of various pathogens. On Tuesday, Victoria Nuland, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs of the US, told a congressional hearing that Ukraine has biological research facilities and that "we are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of the Russian forces." Nonetheless, the US backtracked soon. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released eight continuous tweets, which not only accused Russia of making false claims about US biological weapons labs in Ukraine, but also blamed China of endorsing this propaganda. US media outlet Bloomberg ran an article titled "China Pushes Conspiracy Theory About US Labs in Ukraine." The accusation against China came after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged the US "to give a full account of its biological military activities at home and abroad and subject itself to multilateral verification." The seemingly contradictory statements from different US officials only made the US' denial of its bio labs in Ukraine dubious. Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that during the US' foreign policymaking process, it is common that different departments hold different narratives, and such difference enables people to know the truth of the lie the US is trying to hide. The more the US contradicts itself, the more reasons the world has to question it. US officials and media accused China of pushing conspiracy, but it is the US that is the No.1 player of conspiracy. In 2020, the Trump administration and conservative US media made the conspiracy theory of COVID-19 escaping from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology. The hype of the lab leak theory has been an integral part of the US' overall China containment strategy. With the revelation that US-funded biological labs in Ukraine were conducting experiments with bat coronavirus samples, the US owes the world an explanation. Regarding US bio labs across the world, many questions remain to be answered. The international community has no idea whether the US' 336 overseas bio labs and the labs on its soil such as Fort Detrick conform to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), while what is conducted inside these bio labs involves human security. Why has the US been standing alone in obstructing the establishment of a BWC verification mechanism and refusing verification of its biological facilities at home and abroad for the past two decades? Remember that the US is the only country left that owns chemical weapons in the world, and its destruction of these weapons has been delayed twice. These have all led to a deeper concern from the international community. Labeling international concern simply as disinformation can only be seen as a way for the US to divert attention and shirk responsibility. The US should clarify its bio experiments within and outside its borders, receive verification and destroy its stockpiled chemical weapons as soon as possible. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Jay Brew and his wife, Dr. Mary Ellen Williams, have listed this home E. Market Street on Airbnb, prompting neighbors and Bethlehem officials to wonder if its time to regulate the home-sharing industry. (AMY HERZOG/THE MORNING CALL ) Airbnb owners at the center of Bethlehems fight to regulate Airbnbs in the city have withdrawn an appeal to the zoning hearing board, effectively closing the door on a years-long battle between the owners and the city. But the withdrawal leaves in question the citys ability to shut down Airbnbs in some parts of Bethlehem. Advertisement The property owners, married couple Mary Ellen Williams and Jay Brew, initially appealed a citation the city issued against them last summer for renting out a home on Airbnb in the citys historic district. But at a March 9 zoning hearing, board chair Bill Fitzpatrick announced Brew and Williams had withdrawn their appeal, ending the years-long conflict. Advertisement [ READ MORE: Bethlehem is again looking to crack down on Airbnbs. Will the city be successful this time? ] Brew told The Morning Call that he chose to withdraw the appeal because he had sold all of his Airbnb properties in the residential neighborhood of the historic district, so there was no reason for even having the meeting. He added that he was happy to have resolved the ongoing saga with the city. Brew and Williams have since moved from Bethlehem to Bath. Conflict between the owners and and the city began in 2017 when city council passed an ordinance regulating Airbnbs. The ordinance required property owners to live on the property they rent out, limited them to renting out up to two bedrooms for up to 30 days, and outlined inspection and licensing requirements for owners. Brew and Williams previously operated four Airbnb properties in Bethlehem. Their website called the rentals Lehigh Valleys only 5-star accommodations. First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings > Brew and Williams sued the city over the ordinance. A Northampton County judge initially ruled in Brew and Williams favor, and said the city needed to address Airbnbs via an amendment to the citys zoning ordinance, not a standalone law. City council considered and ultimately rejected a zoning amendment in 2020, with some council members fearing the amendment unfairly punished Airbnb owners. Deputy director of community and economic development Alicia Miller Karner said the city was waiting for the hearing boards ruling on the appeal to determine whether the city was within its rights to issue the violation. But because the appeal has been withdrawn, the city is left in limbo, unsure of its ability to shut down Airbnbs in some parts of the city. Karner has said the city is looking to allow Airbnbs only in areas of the city zoned for commercial or industrial use, and only under special circumstances in high-density residential districts. Advertisement We will regroup and figure that out, Karner said. Bethlehem zoning officer Craig Peiffer said the city has issued violations against other Airbnb owners, which means another property owner could appeal the violation and re-hash the conflict once again. Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 and liweber@mcall.com. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in millions of Ukrainians fleeing their homes in search of refuge. HIAS has been aiding Ukrainian refugees, having sent a humanitarian assessment team to Poland on Feb. 28. The team determined the primary needs of Ukrainians to be housing, cash and other basic support. US Together, a partner of HIAS, is an Ohio-based foundation that aids in the resettlement of refugees throughout the state. Maria Teverovsky, director of development at US Together in Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, and Lyudmila Pinchuk, senior case manager at US Together in Cleveland, detailed the efforts and plans of US Together in response to the crisis in Ukraine. We actually started advocating to try to move refugees who are already approved to travel before the war started, Teverovsky said. Unfortunately, that didnt happen. Teverovsky said that there are two groups of immigrants. The first are those who have been able to flee to bordering countries such as Hungary, Moldova and Poland. The second are those who are approved to travel to the United States per the Lautenberg Amendment, which grants refugee status to minority religious groups such as Jewish people. Seventy-three cases in Cleveland, 74 in Columbus, have (been granted) refugee status and can travel, Teverovsky said. Unfortunately, they are stuck in Ukraine and US Together, especially Nadia Kasvin who is our founder and director, started advocating (that) the Biden administration moves them very quickly out of (Ukraine). Despite the obstacles preventing refugees from entering the United States, Pinchuk said that the community response, specifically in Cleveland, has been favorable. Here in Cleveland, people of the community are helping in different ways, Pinchuk said, adding that many have been donating clothes, food, medicine and first aid kits and that people are sorting these items 24/7 at churches and other places. The community has been really united with this, Pinchuk said. HNTRESS, a clothing brand created by Beachwood resident Lauren Tatarchuk, recently donated over 120 cowl sweaters to the Ukrainian war effort amid Russias full-scale invasion of the country. Launched in September 2021, HNTRESS sells machine washable, hooded and sleeveless cowl neck sweaters that are available in four colors forest moss, silver fox, earth and midnight. Tatarchuk, 30, created the brand as a way to cope with a chronic illness she battled for half of her life, seeking to inspire strength and resiliency in every wearer, she told the Cleveland Jewish News in a December 2021 interview. In addition to her clothing donation, which was received by the Ukrainian Church of Evangelic Faith in Parma, Tatarchuk told the CJN March 10 that she also plans to donate 50% of HNTRESS sales in March to the effort. The donation will also be received by the COEF through its donation page at coefyouth.com/ukraine-aid.html, which is also accepting donations from the community. If needed, she also plans to donate a portion of her April sales, she said. I was so excited to send those sweaters, she said. I wish I couldve sent my whole inventory over. It took everything in me not to do that. This has been such a motivating factor for me. If I wasnt a small business and every penny didnt count, I wouldve sent everything I had. Tatarchuks family immigrated to the United States from Kyiv, Ukraine in 1989 and settled in Cleveland for a better life, she said. We still have family there, hiding out, said Tatarchuk, who attends Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike with her husband, Tal Tamir. I really felt for those people, not even just my family. Theyve been through so much in general. My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. Even if I didnt have family there, it is my ancestral home. Those are my people. This has been closer to home than anything has been. She said the courage of the Ukrainian community has inspired her too, which aligns with the reason she created HNTRESS in the first place. While watching the movie The Hunger Games and seeing main character Katniss Everdeens fierce dedication to those she loves, Tatarchuk took cues from Katniss wardrobe in creating HNTRESS. These civilians are fighting back, she said. Its the most courageous thing Ive ever seen. Im hoping (my donation) is a drop of water in an ocean. People left their homes with only the clothes on their back and its so cold over there. So, Im hoping this helps them find comfort and strength from within to go on. In less than a week, $5,700 was raised for the Ukrainian Emergency Relief Fund by Temple Bnai Abraham of Elyria, a Reform congregation with fewer than 50 members. The fund was established by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, which will receive all proceeds and use accordingly. The congregation, responding to a request from its board of trustees and rabbi, saw contributions to help the Ukraine come in almost immediately from the vast majority of member families, according to a March 7 news release. Our members are very giving and I am so very proud of them, David Steigman, co-president of Temple Bnai Abraham, said in the release. This was an amazing feat for such a small congregation. Rabbi Lauren Werber told the congregation, We need to open our hearts to the Ukrainian people, according to the release. Tradition teaches us that, when we are unable to promote peace, we must at least limit suffering. Right now, we have the opportunity and obligation to do so. Alice Stuedemann, 89 of Camanche, formerly of Clinton, passed away April 30th at Mercy One Hospital. Visitation and services are being planned for Monday, May 9th at St. John Lutheran Church. Pape Funeral Home is assisting the family. March 28 update: Police on Monday said Oliveira turned himself in with his attorney, James Heidecker, at district court in Bethlehem Township. He was arraigned by District Judge Sandra McClure and sent to Northampton County Jail under $200,000 bail. Bethlehem Township police have a nationwide warrant out for a local man accused of sexual offenses involving a minor. Advertisement Dominick Oliveira, 47, is wanted on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault and other offenses, police said in a Wednesday news release. Oliveira, who police said has a criminal assault history, is known to frequent the Bethlehem and Allentown areas and drive a white 2007 Dodge Sprinter or silver 1999 Honda Accord, both with Pennsylvania license plates. Advertisement Anyone who has seen Oliveira or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or police investigator Ed Fox at 610-419-9646 or email efox@bethlehemtwp.com. Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Shopee has become a staple in the lives of millions of Filipinos because of the value and variety the platform offers, the innovative features on the platform, and even its catchy jingles sung by prominent Brand Ambassadors. Besides these, another reason why Filipinos love Shopee is because of its highly anticipated year-end shopping campaigns, which have become a key part of the shopping calendar. This year however, the platform decided to launch its first mega sale of the year in the first quarter of 2022. So why did Shopee Philippines decide to coin a brand new mega sale, usually reserved for the year-end? "We are committed to observing how our consumers' habits change to determine ways we can better suit their needs. And among the many trends we noticed was that most shoppers no longer wait until the end of the year to reward themselves by purchasing items they love," said Martin Yu, Shopee Philippines Director "We also noticed a general shift in the motivations behind a user's purchase, not just in Shopee, but globally. From simply stocking up on essentials, consumers are beginning to redirect their purchasing power towards products that improve their well-being. And this is precisely why we decided to launch the Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day. To provide shoppers with the opportunity to take care of themselves and find ways to usher in their happiness even in March." Generate the "year-end" joy in March Guided by these insights and consumer demands, Shopee proceeded to launch the first-ever 3.15 Consumer Day to encourage more users to celebrate themselves regardless of the time of year and to continue providing them with different ways to do so. From March 3 to 15, Shopee users can look forward to exclusive discounts and deals such as Free Shipping vouchers, 1 Deals, and 10% off daily to enable users to save more as they care for themselves. Besides these are exciting deals with ShopeePay, Shopee's all- in-one e-wallet. As digital services become more significant in the lives of Filipino consumers, ShopeePay continues to offer a wide range of features that make embracing the cashless lifestyle easier and more convenient. Consumers who shop, buy load, and pay bills with ShopeePay can enjoy exclusive perks and rewards such as free shipping, 1 Deals, discounts, cashback, and more. In addition, ShopeePay offers free cash-ins and bank transfers in real time. Verified ShopeePay users can instantly send money to any bank account or to any ShopeePay user for free, 24/7. Moving forward, ShopeePay will continue to launch features and partner with more merchants from various sectors to offer hassle-free digital transactions to more Filipinos. Providing an engaging experience beyond shopping Photo from Shopee More than value-adding promos and rewards for its consumers, Shopee also develops features that allow users to have fun, unwind, and even win prizes while using the app. In time for 3.15, the brand launched Shopee Pets, the 6th addition to its popular in-app games. "More and more, we see how our users maximize our app in order to enjoy and entertain themselves during their free time. In fact, during our 12.12 sale, we were able to record over 300 million game plays on Shopee Prizes across the region," said Yu. Shopee Pets joins a list of other fun in-app games such as Pera Panalo, Shopee Candy, Shopee Farm, Shopee Bubble, and Shopee Claw that have become favorites amongst shoppers on the platform. Adding to the fun that comes with 3.15, Shopee welcomes Filipino superstar and Primetime Queen Marian Rivera as its newest brand ambassador. Marian will star in a brand new Shopee commercial for 3.15 Consumer and appear in the 3.15 TV Special happening at 5pm on Tuesday, March 15. Helping others celebrate themselves and others around them Another way consumers are able to feel good about themselves during their purchase journey is when the items they buy can also make a difference in the lives of others. As a brand that believes in the power of technology to better the lives of the underserved, Shopee also provides its users with the power to impact fellow Filipinos through numerous in-app campaigns and initiatives that help uplift different sectors and underserved communities. Among these are virtual trade fairs in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry wherein users can support local businesses by purchasing Pinoy products featured in the Shopee app. Initiatives such as these are met with huge success. Last year's #TatakPinoy virtual trade fairs for example, paved the way for 400 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow their business through tremendous support from Shopee users. This March, Shopee will launch the first #TatakPinoy Trade Fair for the year to introduce even more MSMEs which users can support. There are also plenty of local products and shops on Shopee that users can support this 3.15. Shopee also utilizes its platform to allow users to donate to partner charities. Just recently, Shopee rallied its users to take part in a meaningful cause, helping Filipinos who were affected by Typhoon Odette. Through the combined efforts, donations from users went over PHP 1 million in just a couple of weeks. Shopee matched this donation to raise a total of PHP 2 Million to further support the affected communities. Yu ends, "Our users are at the core of everything we do, and we are committed to supporting their needs in the best possible way, especially this 3.15 Consumer Day, which also takes place on World Consumer Rights Day. We will continue to celebrate all the users we serve with exciting deals, promos, and opportunities to make a difference." For more information about Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day, visit https://shopee.ph/m/consumer-day. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar clarified Friday that he only made up a supposed clue on who will likely be endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of the elections. Andanar told CNN Philippines' The Source that when he blurted out in a previous interview that Duterte will endorse a candidate with the letter "O," it was something that was said out of instinct simply because almost all the candidates have that letter in their names. "Again, that was one of the fast-talk questions. I didn't know the questions ahead of time, I had to trust my instincts, which letter I should mention," Andanar said. "That wasn't from the President, that was only from me." "Because obviously if I say 'O' there's a number of candidates that have the letter O in their names," he noted. In the same interview with Politiko, Andanar was also asked to give a letter in the name of a candidate who would less likely get Duterte's endorsement. He answered "U." "When I said 'U', it was an answer based on my instinct, parang kakaunti lang yung tao sa mundo na may U ang pangalan. I had to choose, 'yun pala may dalawa (kandidato)," he noted. [Translation: When I said 'U' it was an answer based on my instinct, because it seemed like only a few people had U in their names. I had to choose, but I realized there are two candidates with that letter.] Andanar referred to presidential hopefuls Sen. Manny Pacquiao and labor leader Leody de Guzman. "But to Ka Leody and Manny Pacquiao that was just me commenting, that wasn't the President," he clarified. The other candidates vying for the top post are ex-presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, Jose Montemayor Jr., former defense chief Norberto Gonzales, Faisal Mangondato, Sen. Ping Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, and Vice President Leni Robredo. Duterte has kept mum on who he will endorse to the highest post, but he has expressed support for his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who is running for vice president. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) Only new applications for merit scholarships in the tertiary level were affected from lack of funds, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said on Friday . Ang hindi nalagyan o nagkulang yung pondo ay ang tinatawag naming merit scholarships. Ito ang financial assistance based on grades, said CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera in an interview with CNN Philippines. [Translation: The funds fell short for what we call merit scholarships. These refer to financial assistance based on grades.] De Vera said funding for these scholarships can only cater to current grantees. About 5,000 to 10,000 slots nationwide are assigned for merit scholarships per year depending on the annual budget, he added. CHED will continue to accept applications for other financial assistance programs like the tertiary education subsidy and Tulong Dunong, said De Vera. The tertiary education subsidy program has over 500,000 slots per year, while Tulong Dunong has more than 200,000, he added. Under the 2022 spending program, CHED was given 1.82 billion for the provision of aid and incentives, scholarships, and grants through its student financial assistance programs. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) College students returning to limited face-to-face classes must be registered with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp or any medical insurance covering expenses for COVID-19, Malacanang announced on Friday. In his briefing, Acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Kristian Ablan cited Resolution 164 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases which requires medical insurance coverage for students returning to in-person classes. "HEIs (higher education institutions) shall ensure that students who will participate in the conduct of limited face-to-face classes are registered with PhilHealth or with equivalent medical insurance which covers medical expenses related to COVID-19 , as either direct or indirect contributor," a portion of the resolution read. The IATF resolution also said students above 21 years old may enroll in PhilHealth as indigent members, with the basis that the student has no visible means of income. Those below 21 may be classified as dependents of their parents or legal guardians. The resolution cited as basis section H of the joint memorandum circular no. 2021-004 of the Commission on Education and the Department of Health which stated guidelines on the implementation of limited face-to-face classes for all programs of higher education institutions. "In case of a violation of this provision and it is shown that a student gets infected by COVID-19 brought about by his or her participation in the limited face-to-face classes, the HEI shall facilitate the necessary medical treatment/procedures for the affected student/s," the provision read. Classrooms under Alert Level 1 are now allowed 100% seating capacity. Only fully vaccinated teaching, non-teaching personnel and students will be allowed to enter the premises. Schools are authorized to choose applicable learning modalities, as long as there will be continuity of flexible learning subject to conditions. They may also take a self-assessment checklist on their self-reopening capability and get technical assistance from their respective localities, the local IATF, and CHED. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) In-person end-of-school-year rites will be allowed in schools in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Friday. In a virtual briefing, education officials said these institutions can decide whether they will hold limited face-to-face graduation or recognition rites. Pwede po na maging hybrid face-to-face, pwede rin virtual depende doon sa kalagayan ng kinalalagyan ng mga paaralan nila at sa konsultasyon sa mga magulang at LGUs, DepEd Assistant Secretary Alma Torio explained. [Translation: They can be hybrid face-to-face, they can be virtual depending on the situation in the areas of the schools, as well as the consultations with parents and LGUs.] Public schools will end the school year on June 24. The DepEd said end-of-school-year rites should be held any day from June 27 to July 2. But for schools that will have to extend the year due to previous class suspensions, the ceremonies can be done later from July 4 to 9 or July 11 to 16. Schools are reminded to strictly follow minimum health protocols. Expenses shall be charged to the schools operating budget. No DepEd official or personnel shall be allowed to collect any kind of contribution or graduation fee, moving up or even during recognition rites, Torio said. The agency also reminded school officials that invited guests should not be allowed to campaign for any political party or candidate. The distribution of election-related materials will be prohibited as well. This is the first time that in-person end-of-school-year rites will be allowed in basic education level schools since the pandemic struck in 2020. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) Environment advocates staged a protest on Friday calling on the government to abandon its nuclear plans after President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order to include nuclear power in the country's energy mix. "It's abhorrent how [Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi], and his principal, President Duterte, have relentlessly pursued nuclear deals even up to their last few months in power," Greenpeace Campaigner Khevin Yu said in a statement. "When they could have doubled their efforts to ensure renewable energy gets a better foothold in the country's future energy direction." Greenpeace urged the President to revoke Executive Order 164 which allowed the adoption of a National Position for a Nuclear Energy Program. The activists wore hazmat suits, carried barrels, and waved a banner which nicknamed the Department of Energy, the "Department of Dangerous and Dirty Energy." The protest took place on the anniversary of the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, where an earthquake and tsunami killed thousands and pushed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into a meltdown. Nuclear power Nuclear power as used in other countries is regarded as a low-emitting energy source compared to burning fossil fuels. In fact, electricity from nuclear power "does not contribute to direct GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions," according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report in 2014, which studied energy systems. But the concern is the emissions that will result from the building of infrastructure needed to churn out nuclear energy. These emissions will stem from the mining of uranium, and the exhaustion of resources in the construction of reactors using steel and concrete. "The entire nuclear power plant life cycle contributes significantly to climate change, and these facilities take an average of 10 years to build," Greenpeace said. The group cited the IPCC report which said global temperatures will rise by 1.5C by 2030. However, the same IPCC pointed out that the lifecycle or overall emissions for nuclear plants are more or less similar to that of facilities for renewables such as solar power. Their potential yields in reducing greenhouse gas emissions are also similar. "Renewable heat and power generation and nuclear energy can bring more significant reductions in GHG emissions," the IPCC said. "Nuclear power has been in use for several decades. With low levels of lifecycle GHG emissions...nuclear power contributes to emissions reduction today and potentially in the future," the report added. The DOE has conducted a feasibility study on the viability of introducing nuclear power in the country's energy mix. Senate Committee on Energy chairman Sherwin Gatchalian said the government should make this study public to see how the benefits of the energy source were weighed against the risks. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez believes there is no need yet to declare a state of economic emergency as the government readies measures to mitigate the impact of soaring oil prices. "At the moment, we don't think na kailangan na 'yun. Right now, we've outlined some moves that we can make immediately," he told CNN Philippines' The Exchange on Friday. House Ways and Means Committee chairman Joey Salceda earlier floated the idea, given the oil crisis caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine. Salceda said pursuing such a move would allow the government to immediately tap calamity funds and help ease the financial suffering of Filipinos. However, Lopez said top government officials had a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte to identify economic measures needed to "facilitate the buildup of supply of these basic commodities" - such as food, oil, and coal supply. "We're promoting local productions, particularly agriculture products, making sure LGUs (local government units) can build up their stocks and they can buy directly from farmers, producers," Lopez said. "One of our proposals na in-outline to President Duterte ay ang paggamit ng Strategic Investment Priority Plan, wherein agriculture technology, renewable energy, all these sectors will be promoted as we invite more investors in the country. Ibig sabihin may tax support, fiscal incentive support 'yung mga areas na 'yan," he said. [Translation: One of our proposals outlined to President Duterte is the use of the Strategic Investment Priority Plan, wherein agriculture technology, renewable energy - all these sectors will be promoted as we invite more investors in the country. That means there is tax support, fiscal incentive support in those areas.] As consumers expect the oil price increases to spill over into the market, the DTI official said he does not see an immediate impact on basic goods. "Sa production, hindi pa kaagad 'yung impact niyan. Kapag tumagal ito [Russia-Ukraine war], talagang tatama 'yan sa costing ng ating mga bilihin," he said. [Translation: In production, the impact is not immediate. If this lasts, that will really hit the cost of our goods.] He assured the public that the DTI is monitoring manufacturers' requests for price adjustments. So far, Lopez said the department has received only one request from the Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines. "From our end, we also take the view of consumers also. Ite-temper natin 'yung price requests (We will temper the price requests)," he added. The National Economic and Development Authority earlier said one of the immediate solutions the government can take is to place the entire country under the most relaxed COVID-19 alert level. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) The Food and Drug Administration has approved the emergency use authorization for Pfizer's oral antiviral COVID-19 drug Paxlovid, the agency's officer-in-charge Oscar Gutierrez said on Friday. This is the second oral COVID-19 treatment approved by the drug regulatory agency, following the EUAs granted to different brands of molnupiravir. "EUA po iyon, so dalawa na ang oral antiviral treatment natin against COVID-19: Paxlovid and molnupiravir," he said in the government-hosted Laging Handa briefing. [Translation: That is emergency use authorization. We now have two oral antiviral treatments against COVID-19: Paxlovid and molnupiravir. On the FDA website, Paxlovid is advised for adult patients with mild to moderate symptoms who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19. The Department of Health has been in talks with Pfizer to procure Paxlovid tablets. Paxlovid, which combines two antiviral drugs nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, is the first antiviral drug approved by the US FDA to treat COVID-19 in high-risk individuals. According to Pfizers latest study, this drug is able to cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% if given to high-risk adults within a few days of their first symptoms. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) - The government sees losses of up to 117.4 billion - or 0.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) - if the excise tax on fuel will be suspended, the Department of Budget and Management said Friday. "Eventually if we maintain our disbursement program, it will result in a bigger deficit," Budget Usec. Rolando Toledo said during the Malacanang briefing. "The Development Budget Coordination Committee and economic managers strongly oppose the proposal to suspend the imposition of fuel taxes because it will translate to significant foregone revenues," he added. "And this will be detrimental to our recovery." Citing similar figures, the Department of Finance also opposed the suspension, noting a potential slowdown in the country's economic growth. READ: DOF: Suspending fuel excise taxes will significantly affect revenues, economic growth But in an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source earlier in the day, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the Duterte administration is "not averse" to proposals seeking to suspend excise taxes amid soaring oil prices, but is rather finding a balance that will benefit all sides. "No. The government is not averse to that. It's been discussed during the Talk to the People of the President and there were recommendations as well," he said. "It is really just a matter of balancing act," Andanar added, noting that government agencies also source their funds from excise taxes. President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to call for a special session to allow lawmakers to pass measures that will alleviate the impact of increasing prices. Congress is currently on break and will resume sessions on May 23, two weeks after the elections. "When it is needed, then the President will do that," Andanar said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) With two months left before over 60 million Filipinos vote for the country's next leaders, Google recently launched a Search Trends page for topics and searches related to elections in the Philippines. Among many other features, it shows how much a presidential and vice presidential candidate is being searched on Google compared to their opponents. Under their names, it will show where the interest is coming from per region and other related topics and questions being searched by netizens. It also shows if the interest in them is going up or down in the past days. Google News Initiative said this tool helps put political trends into perspective. It, however, stressed that Google Trends is not a substitute for polling data. "Crucially, it is important to recognize that Google Trends is not a substitute for polling data. Search interest has no bearing on voter intention Google users may search for a party or politician for any number of reasons, without intending to vote for them. Trends data is indicative only of what Google users want to know more about," it said. The dashboard showed that that presidential candidate Leni Robredo and VP bet Sara Duterte are the most searched aspirants in the past week, as of Friday morning. The page also includes data on the top policy issues searched in each part of the country, such as education, drugs, economy, tourism, agriculture, and poverty, among others. Google previously announced it will not accept election-related advertisements for the 2022 national polls from Feb. 8 to May 9. Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija (CNN Philippines, March 11) Manila Mayor Isko Moreno took a veiled swipe at two of his rivals in the presidential race Vice President Leni Robredo and former senator Bongbong Marcos on the second day of his visit to Nueva Ecija. At a press conference in Cabanatuan City, Moreno was asked about the revelation of Marcos' wife Liza that her husband decided to run for president after watching the movie Ant-Man. "Ant-Man, 'yan ba yung sa Marvel? Ang storya niyan, from magnanakaw to hero? Kasi parang napanood ko yan nung araw. Good luck, wala akong masabi e!" [Translation: Ant-Man, the Marvel film? That's the one where a thief became a hero? I've watched that before. Good luck! I have nothing to say about it!] Moreno then reiterated that he and his running mate Dr. Willie Ong ran for the top two posts to have a bigger platform to serve the public. "Hindi makukuha ng electric fan ang problema ng bayan," Moreno said apparently alluding to Marcos' use of pinwheels and windmills in his campaign ads. [Translation: You can't solve the country's problems by turning on the electric fan.] Moreno also reacted sharply to the term "laylayan ng lipunan" (fringes of society), which was used by Robredo in 2016 to refer to the less fortunate. "Ano yung tawag sa ating mga mahihirap, laylayan ng lipunan? Hindi kami laylayan. Mahirap po kami. Kaya ang tawag niyo sa amin laylayan kasi mababa tingin niyo sa amin. Alam niyo bakit? Ganyan niyo kami tingnan," Moreno said. [Translation: What do you call the poor? People who live on the fringes of society? We're not part of it. We're just poor. You call us people in the fringes because you think low of us. Because that's how you see us.] After the press conference, Moreno, Ong, and senatorial bets Samira Gutoc, John Castriciones, Carl Balita, and Jopet Sison went on a motorcade in the cities of Cabanatuan, Munoz, and San Jose. They made a stopover in the town of Talavera to visit "Iskorinderia" an eatery named after Moreno. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) Vice presidential candidate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan denounced the police arrest of a number of campaign volunteers in Cavite who support his tandem with Vice President Leni Robredo. Kinukondena ko ang mga bulok at lumang taktika ng panunupil sa ating mga katropa, he said in a statement on Friday. [Translation: I condemn the rotten and old tactic of repression against our supporters.] He called on the Philippine National Police not to use politics to suppress the peaceful campaigns and even vowed to provide legal assistance to Jonathan Mercado, spokesperson of Teatro Kabataan Mula sa Nayon, who was among those arrested. On Thursday, Anakpawis Party-list said 12 of its members were arrested in Bacoor and Silang, Cavite. PNP Bacoor earlier told CNN Philippines that there were arrests made in the area with seven in custody, but that police were not aware the individuals were affiliated with Anakpawis. The group pointed out that the arrests came after politicians including presidential bet Sen. Ping Lacson red-tagged Robredo-Pangilinan's volunteers. That is the propaganda they are trying to spread. I hope the public and campaign volunteers will not believe them so easily, Lacson said in a statement, adding that the arrests were drug-related. Bacoor police also earlier said the arrests were made during an anti-drug buy-bust operation. Lacson stood by his claim that there were members of the Communist Party of the Philippines who attended one of Robredos rallies. Robredo's camp has denied Lacson's allegations, with her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez saying 'this blatant and persistent red-tagging, masked as 'concern' is a new low," and urging supporters to "call out the lies." Robredo's ally, senatorial candidate Sonny Trillanes, a former soldier, also said Lacson's intelligence information is wrong and the source he is citing "is a fraud." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) The government will start the distribution of fuel subsidies to public utility vehicles (PUV) drivers and operators on March 15, with each beneficiary to get P6,500, a transport official said Friday. "Starting Tuesday po, we'll start distributing to the beneficiaries na po," Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) executive director Tina Cassion told members of the media in a Viber message. The guidelines on the distribution of the assistance will also be released next week, she said. The Department of Budget and Management said Thursday that the 2.5 billion has already been released to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). More than 377,000 beneficiaries in the sector will receive the subsidy. Qualified PUV drivers are those operating jeepneys, mini buses, UV express, taxis, and tricycles. Drivers of transport network vehicle service (TNVS) and motorcycle taxis, as well as delivery services nationwide are also covered by the program. Meanwhile, Grab Philippines also said it has created an assistance fund worth 25 million for its partner drivers. That fund would "be utilized in the form of performance-based incentives and other partner support programs," it said in a statement. Aside from this, Grab said it will extend its zero-interest loan support on fuel purchasing through Grab Finance Shell Fuel Card for its select drivers and delivery partners. The company said these are intended to help its partners "overcome the adverse impacts of natural calamities and ongoing macroeconomic conditions." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) San Beda University, which supported President Rodrigo Duterte's presidential run in 2016, has endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo for the May 2022 presidential election. The university also endorsed Robredo's running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, for vice president instead of presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. More than 300 past and present San Beda educators, non-teaching employees, and service personnel from San Beda's branches in Mendiola, Alabang and Taytay signed the statement of support for the Leni-Kiko tandem. They said their support for Robredo and Pangilinan is part of their "fervent resolve to be vanguards of truth, justice, integrity and peace as members of the Bedan community." Among those who signed the statement released on Thursday were Joffree Alajar, former chair of Accountancy Department and head of Alumni Office; Marvin Reyes, Prefect of Student Activities; and Raf Dolor, former head of the Philosophy Department. The Bedan personnel said they reached their decision "after long discernment on the character, platforms, and track records of all the candidates." They also said the clarion call of Robredo-Pangilinans "Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat" shows the inclusive governance they will uphold if they win the May 9 polls. "Their standing records of good governance and exemplary public service moved us to support leaders who have a strong sense of transformative and ethical leadership, accountability, transparency and integrity which we need in these trying times," the statement said. (CNN) -- When Denmark became the first liberal democracy to tell Syrian refugees to return to their war-torn home in 2019, Russian jets were still dropping missiles in Syria, in an effort to help President Bashar al-Assad's regime regain control of the country. Ukraine is now being pummelled by the same Russian military, forcing more than 2.2 million people to flee to neighboring countries, according to the United Nations. But instead of being met by xenophobia, detention centers and threats of repatriation in the European Union, Ukrainian refugees are being welcomed by European nations like Denmark with open arms. "When there is war in Europe and a European neighbor is exposed to what we see in Ukraine, there is not the slightest doubt in my mind: We must help as best we can ... by welcoming Ukrainians on Danish soil," said Mattias Tesfaye, the Danish minister for foreign affairs and integration, soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. The Danish government is drafting legislation that will suspend asylum rules for Ukrainians, Rasmus Stoklund, the foreign affairs spokesperson for Denmark's ruling Social Democratic Party, told CNN. "They won't be part of the asylum system," Stocklund told CNN. Instead the proposed law will make it easier for Ukrainians to receive residency permits "so they can quickly start in school, on an education or in a job," according to a statement by the Danish immigration and integration ministry. This would be in line with the European Union granting temporary protection for Ukrainians, allowing them to enter the bloc without a visa and to choose which country to go to. Those eligible would be given protected status -- similar to that of a refugee -- in any EU country for a one-year period, which may be reviewed in future. This is a stark contrast with the EU's asylum rules where refugees must ask for asylum in the first member state they entered. Efforts by the EU to reform this system and help to equitably resettle asylum-seekers around the bloc have been unsuccessful. But critics are accusing the Danish government of hypocrisy, since it is currently urging Syrian refugees originating from Damascus and its surrounding countryside to return there, despite the ongoing civil war and the regime's brutal reputation. While fighting has subsided considerably in the region around Damascus, activists say the Danish government is actively putting Syrians in harm's way. In a statement to CNN, the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs said all refugees were treated the same. "Regardless of the law on temporary residence permits for persons expelled from Ukraine, all persons applying for asylum in Denmark have the same rights in the Danish asylum system." It added that about 30,000 Syrians who have been granted a residence permit in Denmark since 2014 still live in the country. But Michala Clante Bendixen, the head of Refugees Welcome Denmark, which advocates for a streamlined asylum system, said the disparity in treatment suggests the government places a higher value on White lives. Bendixen said the 2015 migrant crisis had shown that: "If people arrive from Afghanistan or Syria, they will be met with suspicion, they will be called migrants until they [gain] refugee [status]. But now we immediately call Ukrainians refugees. What's the difference? "It's so disappointing and so terrible that people are so limited in their empathy with other human beings in the world," she added. Punitive policies Syrian-born siblings Dania and Hussam, who integrated fully into Danish society after arriving in the country as refugees in 2015, have been caught in Denmark's anti-immigrant dragnet, say campaigners. The pair, now in their 20s and fluent Danish speakers, have spent the past year in limbo, after Danish authorities decided not to extend their father's residency permit, which their own visas are linked to. They are appealing the decision. Last year, the siblings told CNN they feared that if they had to return to Syria, they could be punished for "turning our backs" on the regime. Hussam also risks being conscripted into the Syrian army, he said. An estimated 600 of the more than 35,000 Syrian refugees who traveled to Denmark have been stripped of their residency status by immigration authorities, Bendixen says. While the Danish government cannot repatriate Syrians as it does not have diplomatic relations with Syria, it aims to compel them to leave by making Denmark as inhospitable a place as possible to live in, and covering their travel costs to return, say asylum experts. In 2021, Tesfaye, the Danish minister for immigration and integration, defended the policy in a statement to CNN, saying that "Denmark has been open and honest from day one" that residence permits for Syrian refugees are "temporary, and that the permit can be revoked if the need for protection ceases to exist. "The approach of the Danish government is to provide protection to those in need of it, but when the conditions in their home country have improved, former refugees should return to the home country and reestablish their life there," Tesfaye added. Those who have exhausted all legal avenues to appeal their lost residency status face being sent to deportation facilities, which Bendixen describes as open-air prisons designed to break people down. The centers are partially open, which means that occupants are able to move in and out freely, but they have to check in every evening, have no income, and no right to work or study. One such center is around four miles from the nearest bus stop, making practically impossible for anyone to leave. The move is just one of a number of policies by Danish authorities that appear to target the country's non-White immigrant community, critics say. In 2019, the government began to control where immigrants lived by forcing social and ethnic change in 15 low-income housing estates across the country. Authorities described them as "hard ghettos," and are defined by Danish regulations partly according to the races of residents. And as Syrians braved treacherous journeys to reach the safety of Europe, a so-called jewelry bill was rolled out in 2016, allowing the government to take certain assets from asylum-seekers to contribute to the country's welfare state. "We might as well be honest about the fact that we would rather help Ukrainian refugees than Somalians and Palestinians," The former Liberal Party immigration minister Inger Stojberg, whose party pushed through the so-called jewelry bill, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. "No one dares to say it like it is: It's because the Ukrainians are more like us and because they are primarily Christians." Stoklund, foreign affairs spokesperson for the ruling Social Democratic Party, told CNN the jewelry law will not apply to Ukrainians as they will not be part of the asylum system if the draft legislation is approved. That opt-out is "unfair," according to Bendixen, especially considering the financial burden other non-European refugees face in trying to reach safety. "Ukrainians can just travel as tourists into Europe," since they have enjoyed visa-free status in the EU since 2017. "They don't need human smugglers," she explained. "They don't need to risk their lives on small sinking boats or in the desert to travel safely to Europe ... they will not have to go through the asylum system -- which is very slow and can easily take a year before you get your case decided." Despite this, descriptions of Ukrainian refugees from politicians and in the media could not be more different to the chaotic response to the 2015 migrant crisis driven largely by the Syrian civil war. "Part of the answer has to do with identity," wrote migration and asylum expert Lamis Abdelaaty on Twitter. "Ukrainians are seen as White, Christian. Syrians, Afghans, and others are not perceived this way. People sympathize with refugees who they think share their race, religion, etc." "But identity is not the whole story," said Abdelaaty, an assistant professor at Syracuse University in the US state of New York. "There is a foreign policy dimension to this too. It matters that Ukrainians are fleeing a Russian invasion. Welcoming them is another way for European countries to condemn Putin and to powerfully signal which side of the conflict they are on." The 2015 migrant crisis saw an estimated 1 million asylum-seekers enter Europe. They were greeted by a skeptical press, a rise in anti-migrant policymaking -- as seen in Denmark -- and a rise in support for far-right parties, following a series of ISIS terrorist attacks over the following year. "And, now, suddenly, even more people are arriving in two weeks and everybody's like: 'Oh, yeah, we can handle it and we have lots of space and they should be welcome,'" Bendixen said. As Russian airstrikes become more indiscriminate, the United Nations said Tuesday that the outflow of Ukrainian refugees hit 2 million as mainly women, children, and the elderly seek refuge from the unprovoked aggression. Those numbers are expected to swell as attacks intensify on a number of key cities and towns. The response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows that countries like Denmark can take in refugees with compassion. The color of a refugee's skin, or their religion, should not have any bearing on that response, activists say. This story was first published on CNN.com "Denmark opens its arms to Ukrainians, while trying to send Syrian refugees home". Columbia, SC (29201) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. CAIRO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Egypt signed on Thursday a five-billion-U.S. dollar memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy company, to build a green ammonia project in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The project will be implemented in two phases, with production starting in 2025, Egypt's government spokesman Nader Saad said in a government statement. Egypt has distinct capabilities to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia, which qualifies the North African country as a global power in these two fields, Saad added. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said many international companies seek to implement green hydrogen projects in Egypt, which has promising opportunities with the government's endeavors to prioritize the green economy, according to the government statement. To continue "demanding justice" and remember the three-year "murderversary of Osaze Osagie, State College's 3/20 Coalition announced it will hold seven days of action this coming week titled "3 Cops, 3 Years & 3 Shots." Osagie was a 29-year-old Black man who was killed by a State College police officer on March 20, 2019 when three officers arrived at his apartment to serve a mental health warrant. Osagie, who had autism and a history of schizophrenia, allegedly ran at the officers with a knife. After an unsuccessful attempt to deploy a Taser on him, he was allegedly shot by Officer M. Jordan Pieniazek. The three officers involved in the shooting have not been charged. Sylvester Osagie, Osaze's father, filed a lawsuit in November 2020 against the borough of State College, and Judge Matthew W. Brann of the U.S. Middle District Court of Pennsylvania set a long-term trial date in 2022. Beginning this Monday, March 14, Reflect & Respect will take place at 6 p.m. in State College's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza. On Tuesday, March 15, Draw for Justice will occur from 6-8 p.m. at 3 Dots Downtown. There will be a Zoom event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16 titled Youth and Mental Health: From the Lens of Blackness." Then on Thursday, March 17, Osaze Art Show" will be offered from 5-7 p.m. at the Schlow Centre Region Library. Friday, March 18 will include a "'Black Tea' Show Movie Night" at 6:30 p.m. Websters Bookstore Cafe. Lastly, on Saturday, March 19, the week will end with a Complacency Kills protest at 1 p.m. at State College's Allen Street Gates. The 3/20 Coalition encouraged State College community members to mark these special events" on their calendars. MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE State College police responds to Boalsburg vehicle crash that left pedestrian dead The State College Police Department responded to a motor vehicle crash on Wednesday at the i A Port Matilda man who allegedly raped four Penn State students between 2010 and 2017 pleaded guilty to charges brought against him on Thursday, according to court documents. Jeffrey Fields, 37, was arrested July 21, 2020, when the State College Police Department and Pennsylvania State Crime Lab found DNA evidence linking him to the alleged assaults. Fields pleaded guilty to 17 of the 19 charges brought against him, and he's being held in the Centre County Correctional Facility without bail, court documents said. The first alleged assault happened Aug. 22, 2010 after a 22-year-old woman reported she was raped near Apple Alley in State College. On Jan. 28, 2011, a 19-year-old woman reported she was raped in the Fraternity Row area. Then on April 3, 2011, a 20-year-old woman reported she was raped in the area of Fairmount Avenue and South Burrowes Street. The last alleged assault occurred on July 16, 2017, when a 19-year-old woman reported she was raped in the area of West Prospect Avenue and South Atherton Street. Fields is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on March 17, and the charges were initially filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Donald Hahn. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE ARVADA, CO - OCTOBER 26: The Colorado Supreme Court, including left to right, justices Carlos A. Samour Jr., Richard L. Gabriel, and Monica M. Marquez, hear two cases at Pomona High School before an audience of students on October 26, 2021 in Arvada, Colorado. The visit to the high school is part of the Colorado judicial branchs Courts in the Community outreach program. (Photo By Kathryn Scott) Five months ago, volunteer firefighter Darcy Stallings was responding to a reported fire when he crashed into the back of a semi-truck, dying at the scene. After his death, it was revealed that the blaze he was responding to was a controlled burn, not an emergency. The family of 34-year-old Stallings said he would not have died on Oct. 21 if the controlled burn was reported to the local fire department ahead of time. If she would have just taken a few seconds to call in, our son would still be here today to enjoy his family, his wife, his 5-year-old son Owen and his 1-year-old daughter Keiley, said Susan Stallings, mother of the fallen firefighter, referring to the person who made the controlled burn. She added: It saddens me to think of another person risking their life responding to another controlled burn that will not be called in. Now, Colorado lawmakers are trying to prevent this kind of situation from happening again through House Bill 1132. If enacted, the bill would require all controlled burns on private property to be reported to local fire departments and allow fire departments to reschedule or supervise the burns. The bill is called Darcys Last Call Act in honor of Stallings, who was a nine-year veteran of the Yuma Volunteer Fire Department. As Darcys older sister, I grew up looking after him and protecting him, said Libbie Schuetz, Stallings sister. That night, I couldnt protect Darcy. But I hope this bill can protect future service men and women from risking their lives responding to controlled burns. The bill would also provide $185,000 in annual funding for a new mobile driver simulator unit to train firefighters throughout the state on how to safely drive while responding to emergency calls. Stallings was driving his personal pickup truck which is common for volunteer firefighters during the fatal collision. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control currently has one mobile driver simulator unit. Last year, 25 departments used the unit to train more than 600 firefighters, said Mike Morgan, director of the division. This year, Morgan estimates they will only be able to respond to 45% of the training requests because of weather limitations and the time and staffing needed to transport the unit and lead the training course. Theres a great need, Morgan said. What we see when we look at reducing the impacts of fires, regardless of what the cause is, is the need to train our firefighters. The bill is supported by the Yuma Volunteer Fire Department, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association, Colorado State Firefighters Association, Colorado Firefighter Training Officers Association and Colorado Professional Fire Fighters, among other organizations. The House Energy and Environment Committee unanimously approved the bill Thursday. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, who said his family has known Stallings family for years. This is one step to make sure that a family never has this experience again, Holtorf said. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Li Zhanshu, an executive chairman of the presidium of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presides over the third meeting of executive chairpersons of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form As the Cubs were beating the Braves 6-3 Wednesday night Steve left to see the game with his mom and dad, Reva and Harold, brother Ron and baby niece Elizabeth Henney. He left behind to run the store his wife Kathleen (Knight), Amelia (27), Nathan (24) and his beloved cat Lewis Black. His sis Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 63F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers late at night. Low 47F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Tomorrow Rain. High 56F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. 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OG_TYPE=website OG_TITLE=Learn Chinese Online, How to learn Chinese, with Audio and Video, Chinese Podcasts, HSK Chinese Test practice OG_DESCRIPTION=How to learn Chinese online with an audio and video Chinese podcast. The best way to learn chinese is to listen to our Chinese podcast and study for the HSK test using our practice exams. Test your chinese pronunciation with our Chinese pronunciation tests. THEME-COLOR=#663399 CERTIFICATO_PAESE=US CERTIFICATO_O='Cloudflare CERTIFICATO_CN=Cloudflare Inc ECC CA-3 HTML5_SECTION=SI HTML5_FOOTER=SI CSS_INSTYLE=SI HTML5=SI IMG_PNG=23 IMG_JPG=46 NUM_USOCLASSI=91 NUM_DIV=59 NUM_IMG=11 HD_TRANSFER-ENCODING=chunked HD_CONNECTION=keep-alive HD_AGE=86400 HD_VARY=Accept-Encoding HD_CONTENT-TYPE=text/html Congratulations, com-if.us got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Com-if.us scored 96 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 22 Feb 2019, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the com-if homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the com-if homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the com-if homepage on Twitter + the total number of com-if followers (if com-if has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the com-if homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the com-if homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if com-if has a Facebook fan page). Basic Information PAGE TITLE Important! DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER nginx (PHP/7.2.9) OPERATIVE SYSTEM The language of com-if.us as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for com-if.us by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. 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 description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Misebooks.110mb.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 14 Apr 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. 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Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Najma Minhas, an editor of the Global Village Space, a digital media outlet in Pakistan, said to deal with the Ukraine crisis, the West should realize that it cannot solve an issue through military means, but through talks and negotiations. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Minhas said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) going eastwards towards the Russian border is seen by Russia as crossing the red line. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Sue B. Donnelly, 87, of Crossville, passed away at her home on April 26, 2022. She was born on May 18, 1934, in Crossville, Tennessee, daughter of the late James T. Brandon and Clara (Hamby) Brandon. Sue was the owner of Boats and Harbors and of the Baptist Faith. She is survived by her chil I've already been to some live sporting events. Yes, I plan on attending several events. I may go to one or two. I like sports but I doubt it. I'm not into sports. Vote View Results Chinese drone producer DJI Global has been accused of limiting the capabilities of its AeroScope technology for the Ukrainian army, giving a significant air reconnaissance edge to Russian invaders amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The unconfirmed claims were made by a Twitter user on March 10. Volodymyr Shymanskyy, co-founder of Blynk IoT Platform, made the claims on Twitter. He said his information comes from its working group within the Ukrainian Forces. A DJI spokesperson in the U.S. rebuffed the accusations, stating that a technical problem is responsible for some systems malfunctioning in Ukraine. Use of AeroScope technology in Russia-Ukraine conflict In a tweet, Shymanskyy said that DJI Aeroscope is proprietary hardware that allows the tracking of movement of any DJI drone in the range of 10 kilometers, a range that can be extended up to 50 kilometers with supplementary DJI-made antennae. Shymanskyy made these claims: AeroScope technology allows one to see the exact position of drone operators as well as the personal details they used when registering with DJI. The Ukrainian military uses various models of DJI drones in their reconnaissance activities. DJI is the largest drone maker in the world. Russians are using the AeroScope hardware to track the drone operators positions to target their artillery/rocket fire. In other words, Russians use DJI technology to kill Ukrainian drone operators, the tweet read The Ukrainian army reports that the AeroScope technology is effectively turned off for Ukrainian operators. In fact, while Russians have the technical capabilities to track Ukrainian DJI drone operators, the Ukrainian army cannot do the same. Based on the above information, he accuses DJI of helping Russia: This, in turn, means that the largest Chinese drone manufacturing company secretly supports the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine, by providing access to all its technology capacities to Russians and turning them off remotely for Ukrainians. On March 11, Shymanskyy Tweeted that the issue is not new, and that the same thing occurred in 2016 when the Russians entered regions in Ukraine. In a Facebook post cited by Shymanskyy, Taras Troiak, chairman of the Ukrainian Federation of UAV owners, outlined how to use the drones without being tracked. DJIs geofencing restrictions designed for notification, not enforcement In response, DJI North America Corporate Communication Director Adam Lisberg stated that reports are false. We are aware of problems with some AeroScope units in Ukraine; they may be connected to prolonged loss of power/internet. But there is no deliberate action to downgrade AeroScope there. Lisberg also stated that DJIs geofencing restrictions for Ukraine and the rest of the world are designed for notification, not enforcement. DJIs GEO System delineates where it is safe to fly, where flight may raise concerns, and where flight is restricted, read a post on the firms official website. GEO zones that prohibit flight are implemented around locations such as airports, power plants, and prisons. They are also implemented temporarily around major stadium events, forest fires, or other emergency situations. Certain GEO zones dont prohibit flight but do trigger warnings that inform users of potential risks, it continued. By default, GEO limits flights into or taking off within zones that raise safety or security concerns. If a flight within one of these locations has been authorized, GEO allows users with verified DJI accounts to temporarily unlock or self-authorize their flights, and this unlock function is not available for sensitive national-security locations. The GEO system is advisory only. Each user is responsible for checking official sources and determining what laws or regulations might apply to his or her flight. In some instances, DJI has selected widely recommended general parameters without making any determination of whether this guidance matches regulations that may apply specifically to you. CSO continues to investigate this story and will provide further detail when possible. By Cynthia Hubert Sacramento State students who graduated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic entered a job market decimated by building closures, budget uncertainties, and fear about the future. In deference to a rapidly spreading viral illness that in early 2020 shuttered businesses across the globe, employers abruptly canceled projects and plans. Recent graduates saw job prospects and internships vanish. Two years later, the landscape is much more welcoming. Seniors graduating this year, recent graduates, and undergraduates looking for internships have many more opportunities, said Melissa Repa, who directs Sac States Career Center. Its a really exciting time. The online jobs board Handshake, which Sac State students use to search for opportunities, helps tell the story. Employers posted about 24,000 jobs targeting Sac State students on Handshake during the past three months, compared to 24,000 in all of 2020, Repa said. On March 1, the campus hosted a virtual career fair featuring more than 140 companies, nearly double the number that participated in spring 2020. To say that we are overwhelmed by employer demand in the Career Center is an understatement, Repa said. Its been a 180-degree turnaround. Prospects coming out of career fairs, such as this one at Sac State in 2019, continue to improve with a booming job market. (Sacramento State/Jessica Vernone) Employers plan to hire 26.6% more new graduates in fall 2022 than they did in fall 2021, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook. That marks significant improvement from fall 2021, when fewer grads found work than in the same part of 2020. Its also better than the modest 5.8% increase 2020 enjoyed over 2019. Statistics in 2020-2021, during peak COVID-19 disruptions, were down sharply from pre-pandemic 2019. Nearly 60% of employers plan to increase hiring this year, the report indicates. In March 2020, when Sac State sent most of the campus community home to work, learn, and teach to prevent spread of the virus, graduating students faced a bleak jobs outlook. It was really hard for people to find hope, said Ariya Bhutani, who at the time was studying for her masters degree in Counseling. She saw few immediate opportunities to land a job in her field. Now when I go on Handshake, Im seeing hundreds of possibilities, said Bhutani, who is completing an internship at the Career Center and is set to graduate in May. Opportunities abound in many careers, including science and technology, health, social work, nursing, and marketing, Repa said. Employers are having a tougher time filling all of these jobs, so salaries are more competitive and there is room for negotiation, she said. Students can ask themselves, Which job is the best fit for me? Internships also have rebounded, surveys by Sac States Community Engagement Center show. Psychology Professor Casey Knifsend, a CEC faculty associate, surveyed area companies that have standing academic internships or service-learning agreements with the University. Many of our students became essential workers during a very difficult time period. Now that economic conditions are improving, these students have a lot to give to their future employers. - Career Center director Melissa Repa All 37 companies polled in February said they could envision roles for students this year, compared with 64% of surveyed companies saying so in December 2020. Internships, whether paid or unpaid, provide valuable work experience and often lead to permanent positions, said CEC Director J. Ann Moylan. During her 20 years of overseeing service learning and academic internships, I found it typical for students to have jobs offered to them by the very organization for which they had worked as an intern or service learner, Moylan said. The opportunities are essential elements of career preparation, and are aligned with the Universitys Anchor University Initiative, she noted. PowerSchool, an education technology company based in Folsom, is among the companies recruiting Sac State students this year. Sac State is a valuable resource for connecting with the kinds of individuals PowerSchool is looking for, said Dawn LaPlante, the companys vice president for Talent. About 5 percent of current PowerSchool employees are Sac State alums, she said. LaPlante said recent graduates have much stronger job opportunities available today than in the previous two years. One positive effect of the pandemic is that companies, including PowerSchool, have found success in remote work, she said. Workers no longer have to be located in or near physical office locations, LaPlante said. This provides greater flexibility for recent graduates to work in locations of their choosing, close to family, friends, and areas of interest. Two years ago, graduating students had to scrap or reassess their career plans as the pandemic continued and most students isolated at home. Sac States Career Center urged students looking for jobs to get more creative in their approaches to finding work, Repa said. They had to pivot, use their entrepreneurial skills, leverage their networks, and retool, she said. Counselors urged students to learn new skills and sharpen existing ones by taking online courses, volunteering, accepting remote internships, and working at jobs outside of their career paths. Those activities helped them build their resumes, maintain their work ethic and improve communication and other skills. Many of our students became essential workers during a very difficult time period, Repa said. Now that economic conditions are improving, these students have a lot to give to their future employers. Addison Calkins, who earned her masters degree in School Psychology from Sac State in 2019, secured a job in Arizona after the pandemic took hold and many California school districts imposed hiring freezes. She now works as a school psychologist in Tucson. When I graduated, I remember a few districts had job openings, Calkins said. But several of them had hiring freezes and either were not hiring or did not post positions until the summer, rather than early in 2020 or in the spring, which is more typical for school districts. Calkins said she loves her work in Arizona but would consider returning to California if she and her husband, a graduate student at the University of Arizona, found good jobs in the state. Both my husband and I are California natives, so given the opportunity, we would be excited about moving back, she said. Sac State graduates this spring and fall should find an enticing market for their skills, Repa said. After a lost couple of years, its a great time to be a college graduate, she said. Its a great time to be looking for work and leveraging that Sac State education, because it definitely is in demand. Share This Story email copy url url copied! Related Topics: Student Success 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Eva Bermudez Zimmerman on Thursday announced she will be running for the 30th District seat in the Connecticut State Senate. The Democrat will face 107th District state Rep. Stephen Harding, who announced his candidacy for the seat following news last month that the Republican who held the seat would not seek reelection. Zimmerman, who served a term on the Newtown Legislative Council, previously ran for lieutenant governor in 2018 and state legislature in 2016. I look forward to building coalitions among our diverse residents for smart, bottom-up policies that address our needs, said Zimmerman in a prepared statement. And I really look forward to taking those ideas to Hartford and making our voices heard. I wont be shy. Harding, a Republican, has served his district since winning a special election in February 2015. He is the ranking member of the Environment Committee and serves on the Judiciary and Government Administration and Elections committees. I really want to make sure that the interests of the constituency in this district is properly represented in Hartford, Harding said of his decision to run. I believe that Connecticut is really at a crossroads, we can really move this state forward in a positive direction with good fiscal responsibility, with smart economic decisions for our state, and I want to be a part of that, he added. Zimmerman said she is a longtime champion for children and families, who advocates for better pay and benefits for workers as well. I have been fighting for working families my whole life. Now, when our health care is threatened by corporate hospitals, the quality of our childrens education is pressured by unequal access to online learning tools, and our environment is in crisis, I will stand up for our communities and find solutions that benefit all of us, Zimmerman said. Zimmerman was previously awarded Latina of the Year by the Connecticut State Legislature after she helped enroll more than 15,000 people in the states health care exchange during the first three years of the Affordable Care Act. She said if elected, she wants to tackle issues of health care, education, the environment and economic development. For Harding, affordability is a key focus in his bid for the senate seat, calling it, one of the most critical issues, if not the most critical issue we are going to be facing in this campaign. How can it not be? Harding said. When you are seeing gas prices at nearly $5 a gallon, you are seeing grocery bills at a 10 or 15 percent bump from what it was a year ago these are the types of issues that are impacting the men and women and the families of the district. We need to address that head on as a state and ensure that we are not going to have any further tax increases that, frankly, the population cannot afford, he added. The campaign announcements from the candidates come after Sen. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, announced last month he would not seek reelection in November for his 30th District seat. Miner, the chief deputy Senate Republican leader, first took office in the 66th District in the state House of Representatives in 2001. He served eight terms before being elected to the 30th District. Zimmerman attended a regional magnet school in Hartford growing up. She graduated high school early and went to Brazil through a humanitarian service project. Before graduating from the University of Puerto Rico as a political science major, Zimmerman worked as a field organizer for Connecticut Public Interest Research Group to help reduce carbon emissions and create more environmentally sustainable policies. She went on to work as an aide in the office of New York Congressman Charles Rangel, where she oversaw issues involving labor relations, lead abatement and Puerto Rican affairs. More recently, Zimmerman has fought for a $15 minimum wage, a state Dreamers bill, environmental justice and womens rights. I am proud to call Connecticut home and even prouder of what our district has to offer, she said. I am committed to advancing policies that benefit all the citizens here and that optimize those qualities that make the northwest corner so special. A practicing attorney, Harding graduated from Albertus Magnus College and holds a law degree from New York Law School in Manhattan. Before being elected to the state legislature, he served the town of Brookfield in various capacities. He has served on both the Zoning Board of Appeals and Brookfield Board of Education, where he chaired the Boards Policy Subcommittee. He said his experience in Hartford has taught him to become more practical in navigating the legislative process from a bi-partisan perspective, adding that he is proud of his work in helping to pass caps on the state budget in 2017, legislation that led to the availability of a rainy day fund over $3 billion. Amid times of heightened partisanship, Harding said he has worked hard to gain support from both parties during his time in office. Some of the closest friends I have in Hartford and some of the closest friends I have in my life and in the district are Democrats, said Harding, who grew up in the 30th district and lives in Brookfield with his wife, Kelly, two children, Piper and Carter, and their golden retriever, Kennedy. I dont see a reason as to why we cant work together and why we cant have friends and maybe have a different opinion. The state representative pointed to success working, across the aisle on many issues, and highlighted his role as a ranking member on the Environment Committee, where he helped implement a boat stamp program to increase funding for the agencies tasked with overseeing local lakes and protecting them against invasive species. We are seeing issues with [species of] milfoil, we are seeing issues with zebra mussels, and the lake authorities that oversee these lakes and the many individuals that enjoy them recreationally all year round, really are focused on trying to preserve the health of these lakes, Harding said. The 30th District consists of 18 towns: Brookfield, New Milford, Torrington, Winchester/Winsted, Sherman, New Fairfield, Canaan, North Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Salisbury, Sharon, Warren, Washington and Bethlehem. A bill that would require long-term care facilities to check if prospective residents have a criminal history or are on the sex offender registry before they are admitted drew some heated opposition Wednesday from organizations representing providers and an advocate for abolishing the sex offender registry. The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Saud Anwar, whose district includes East Windsor, home of the Fresh River Healthcare nursing home. Last May, Miguel Lopez, a convicted rapist and a registered sex offender in Massachusetts with a warrant out for his arrest at the time, allegedly locked a female employee in his room at the nursing home and tried to force her to perform oral sex. Fresh River officials sent Lopez back to Massachusetts the same day that the incident occurred. He was eventually arrested on a warrant by East Windsor police and charged with attempted first-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint. He is being held on $300,000 bail. His next court appearance is March 29. Lopez wasnt known to local police at the time he was admitted to Fresh River Healthcare because of a loophole in Connecticuts sex offender laws, which do not require nursing home operators to inform state police when they admit a registered sex offender from another state into one of their facilities. The law currently places the burden on sex offenders themselves to register, but Anwar wants to hold the nursing home providers more accountable by requiring them to determine if any potential resident is a registered sex offender by seeking a criminal background check through the state Department of Public Health. The bill would bar long-term care facilities from admitting people with a disqualifying offense without a waiver. Disqualifying offenses range from assault, rape and kidnapping to burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing. Mag Morelli, president of LeadingAge Connecticut, an association representing not-for-profit provider organizations serving older adults, told the Public Health Committee during Wednesdays public hearing that from an implementation perspective, this proposal raises numerous concerns. It appears that the facility will be barred from admitting an applicant until it receives notification of the background check from DPH. It is unclear how long an available bed might need to be held open for the duration of a background check, Morelli said. Moreover, many applicants on waiting lists will need to be re-checked each time a bed becomes available given that a prior background check only remains effective for one month. While there are exceptions for short term rehab admissions, or for conditional admissions of 60 days or less, these situations will be affected by the discharge and eviction limitations discussed above, Morelli said. She suggested that the committee convene a work group to evaluate and address the concerns that led to the bill being raised rather than pass the proposal. Others in opposition to the bill said that legislators were overreacting to an isolated incident and that the legislation as proposed would punish more people than it would help. The proposal is extremely overbroad and would potentially disqualify anyone, including a vulnerable or elderly person, from admission to a long-term care facility, nursing home, or an assisted living facility because they were convicted sometime in their life of certain offenses, even if such conviction occurred decades before, said Deborah Del Prete Sullivan, legal counsel for the Office of the Chief Public Defender. Sullivan said that crimes for which a person could be denied admission include breach of peace, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. While serious violent offenses are included in the list of disqualifying offenses, there is no look-back in the proposal, Sullivan said. As a result, a person convicted of a felony while in their late teens or twenties would not be admitted even if 10, 20, 30 or more years had passed since the conviction. At one point, Anwar and Cindy Prizio, executive director One Standard of Justice, an advocate for restorative justice practices and a critic of the sex offender registry, got into a heated argument about the bill after she called it a public policy disaster in the making during her testimony. Please dont allow one sensational crime to turn good intentions into bad policy, Prizio said. We all want to protect our vulnerable populations. OSJ stands ready to provide help to the committee in developing an effective solution. Prizio said theres no need to create a new bill every time there is an isolated high-profile incident and that the bill is unfair to a class of people who already have had their rights sucked dry by the system. Anwar responded that his bill is simply protect nursing home employees who had no idea a registered sex offender had been admitted to their facility. This provides a safety net for the people who work in long-term care facilities, Anwar said. There is a risk assessment that will need to be done, and that doesnt mean someone still cant be admitted to a facility, but just that the people who work there will know who they are taking care of. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When I was a student at Immaculate High School in Danbury, I spent the summer of 2017 teaching English in Ghana, and was criticized by my woke comrades on the left for this expedition, which I consider a pilgrimage. Having graduated from The New School in December, I returned home to Newtown in January after a 6,000-mile trek across the Trans-Siberian railway, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, another pilgrimage, to make up for a lost study abroad semester due to COVID. On the three-day stretch from Yekaterinburg to Irkutsk, I shared a train compartment with three Russian soldiers in their 20s, like me. They spoke no English. They were fans of the same rap music I listened to in high school as I drove around Danbury, songs I hadnt heard in years that seemed to just be getting traction there. They fed me homemade vodka, and I treated them to Greek salads dressed with soy sauce from the dining car. They made gay jokes, and I laughed with them, because they didnt know me. This secret gave me such power over them. On the second day of the invasion of Ukraine, I wrote to them on WhatsApp. We are doing well so far, we are serving, writes Andrei, the redhead (Ive changed names to protect their privacy). In Vladivostok, we are waiting for the order. My instinct turns to the sea, and I ask him about the order. Will it be 100 bucks? Borrow, nothing to eat. I tell my friend I am American. We do not support this war. We dont support it either, he replies quickly, but since we serve, we have to follow orders. This is a soldier who told me he hated Putin straight to my face, via Yandex translator. It is true that many who serve under Putins closed fist dont want to, and it is true that his troops are starving. They are sent to kill their brothers, for food. In St. Petersburg, my bus was stopped by riot police to allow the presidential Aurus Senat limousine to pass. A small Russian flag stood at attention on the hood. Putin ordered a summit with the Commonwealth of Independent States, hosting distinguished guests, including the leaders of Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Noticeably, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, did not get the invite. My friend Pyotr is three years younger. I approached him outside a pub near the State Hermitage and asked if I was allowed to walk on the frozen canals, which I was not. He tells me Putin is like a ghost, wears a cloak of mystery, and the topic of which church he was baptized in is a nuclear-grade debate. I give him a wooden nickel from my wallet, carved with the headdress of a Native American and the inscription, Beware of imitations. In Moscow, I got my coat back after 10 minutes of hell. It contains my passport, my migration papers, 25,000 rubles, my Chase debit card, and a New York metro card. Yaroslav, a new pen pal from the bar on New Years who saved my items from getting stolen, writes, I was born under Putin and I will die under him. Hes 25. His dream is to play electric guitar and come to America. Bro, they dont tell us anything, people have gone crazy and are withdrawing cash from the banks, no one wants war, all people in Russia dont understand why such a decision was made to attack! At times it seems that we live in North Korea. Lina, an older woman who teaches Russian literature at the university in Irkutsk, has a different view. She sends me links to propaganda. She tells me many people in Siberia are nostalgic for communism, when they were employed. Her words resonate the most, for underneath her confusion, she declares herself a pacifist, saying: Creative people are always interested in people of any culture, and their attitude comes from love and friendship, understanding and sympathy, leads to fair conclusions. People of art have their own world, different from the world of racial arrogance and imperial ambitions. Of the Russian citizens I dared to talk politics with over drinks, they all said the same: that they hate Trump, but they think hes funny, and while they barely knew of a man named Biden, they loved Obama. If I am to be criticized for my pilgrimage to Russia, my defense is that I wanted to draw my own conclusions, and Im a more conscious man because of it. Seeing the enemy through my own eyes, not FOXs or CNNs, has shown me that at home and in Russia, it is the oligarch class that seeks to capitalize on human life, latch onto the means of production by way of militarism and censorship, leaving the rest of us to fight for our homes and what to eat. The answer is not to isolate ourselves from the world at large, but to unite as pilgrims against our common enemy, and to use the tools at our disposal to amplify Ukrainian voices, and communicate our values of autonomy, peace, and the curiosity to understand. Newtown resident A.J. Vitiello is a recent graduate of The New School. As President Joe Biden decided this week to no longer purchase oil from Russia, one of the worlds top energy suppliers, gas prices have continued to soar, giving momentum to proposals to alleviate the pain Connecticut motorists are feeling at the pump, including suspending gas taxes and a gas tax holiday. Gas prices in Connecticut hit a record-high Wednesday with AAA reporting the average price of a gallon was $4.41. Republicans in the General Assembly plan to hold a press conference Thursday at the state Capitol to discuss their ideas, which are expected to include suspending or lowering the states 26.4 cents-per-gallon state gross receipts tax on gas. Gov. Ned Lamont said at an event in Greenwich this week that he is working with the legislature on temporary relief ideas like a gas tax holiday, a rebate for state taxpayers and other ways to make it a little bit easier for the people of Connecticut to power through another complicated time. Lamont said he supports the move by Biden to cut off Russian oil imports to increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin to end the war with Ukraine, which is expected to drive up gas prices even more. Youre not serious about sanctioning Russia unless youre sanctioning oil and gas, Lamont said. Its something the president had to do and Im glad he did it. At the national level, calls are increasing to suspend the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax through the end of the year a proposal U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, pushed for this week. Bob Stefanowski, GOP candidate for governor in Connecticut, called for a complete suspension of all state gas taxes through the end of the year in a statement released Wednesday, but did not include details on how the state would make up for the lost revenue. The governors mid-term budget projects revenue from state motor vehicle taxes to be $480.3 million in fiscal year 2022. Lamont backs the idea to suspended the federal tax, but has indicated his opposition to temporarily cease the state tax given that money is used to fund transportation projects in Connecticut. Some people think, Oh, you dont need to pay for transportation because Joe Bidens giving you all the transportation money you need, which is absolutely false, Lamont said at an event in East Hartford last week, referring to the federal infrastructure bill signed by Biden last year. Connecticut is expected to get nearly $6 billion in revenue under the law. Much of the funding under the infrastructure bill requires a state match, which Connecticut needs to set money aside for, Lamont said. Mark Boughton, the governors tax commissioner, said that amounts to tens of millions of dollars. We are going to have to set reserves aside for our state match, Boughton said. Most of these programs have an 80-20 or 90-10 match. Boughton said its not true that as gas prices increase, the state brings in more revenue given the gross receipts tax on gas is capped at $3 per gallon. We dont necessarily reap any more benefit, he said. Staff writer Ken Borsuk contributed to this story. julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com LVIV, Ukraine, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Amid the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian farmers have been assisting in accommodating evacuees and offering humanitarian aid. Fortunately, the conflict has not impacted their ability to grow crops in Ukraine's highly fertile chernozem soil, or black soil, which covers more than half of the arable land in the country, often referred to as the breadbasket of Europe. "We're very sorry for the situation, and it's distressful especially for me -- the husband of my daughter is a soldier," said Nadja-Halyna Romaniuk, head of the Yablunivka village, some 60 km east of Lviv in western Ukraine. Romaniuk, who also has a son, said the military conflict has brought great changes to her family. Her son, a worker in Kiev, left the capital together with 11 acquaintances last week, and Romaniuk's country cottage has since become a shelter for them all. She is not the only one sheltering the evacuees these days. The cottage of Romaniuk's mother has been accommodating six people. In addition to taking care of those who had to leave their homes, the villagers have been preparing extra food, as well as collecting and sending humanitarian aid to those in need. Ukraine and Russia have agreed to set up six humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, Ukrainian media reported on Wednesday. Volunteers were spotted evacuating dozens of people from villages near Kiev under a temporary ceasefire. Lviv, a safe haven for now, has seen the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people seeking safety. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy said the city had reached the limits of its capacity to help evacuees from the fighting. In Yablunivka, a layer of white snow covered the chernozem, which is rich in organic matter and is ideal for growing cereals and raising livestock. Ukraine, the second largest country by area in Europe, has one of the largest chernozem areas in the world, and is thus a major exporter of wheat, barley, rapeseed and other crops. Romaniuk and her husband own one and a half hectares of grazing and arable land, where they grow potatoes and crops. They also raise a horse, some pigs and chickens. For Romaniuk's family, farming activities have not been impacted so far, but with a deep sigh she said she did not know what the future will bring if the conflict further escalates. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, failed to make progress on a ceasefire but agreed to continue negotiations over the conflict during their meeting in Turkey on Thursday. WESTPORT A program to help students with mental health disorders has had a positive impact, with students showing an improvement in grades, behavioral problems and overall attendance, officials said. Assistant Superintendent Michael Rizzo, said that Westport has long been committed to students wellbeing. He said the new Effective School Solutions program has been beneficial to not only the students mental health at Staples, but the schools finances by offering services so students dont have to be placed out of district. We know and we have discussed at length the increasing mental health needs of our students, Rizzo said. Anxiety, depression, mood disorders, school refusal and many other issues present themselves daily and impact the ability of our students to function in school to learn and to live their lives. He said this existed before the pandemic but COVID has exacerbated it. The district added the ESS program in the fall in an effort to address the growing mental health crisis and to address the added pressure of the pandemic. The deal is year-by-year and only at the high school, however, Rizzo said the intention is to stick with the program in the new fiscal year. He said the district is also looking at whether the program might be appropriate at the middle school level. I think it is something we have to consider, Rizzo said. We are seeing students younger and younger with more significant needs. ESS officials said the mental health crisis facing students has been rising over the years. The population of students with significant mental health disorders has increased by 76 percent since 2011, according to the recent ESS presentation to the Board of Education. One in five students struggle with a mental health disorder and rates of suicidal ideation has increased for those 11 to 21 years old by 45 to 60 percent compared to when the pandemic was just starting, according to the presentation. Studies show that quarantine significantly increased rates of anxiety and depression among children, said Cheryl Planten, executive clinical director for ESS. The program lets the district provide services to students who previously would have been sent out of district. Four Westport students previously serviced outside of district, at an estimated cost of $80,000 each, are now being educated at Staples High School. Three other students who would have likely been placed out of district this year, have also stayed in Westport. With the seven students staying put, the district saved nearly $560,000 in out-of-district expenses, double the $280,000 fee the district paid to bring in Effective School Solutions. Within the programs 15 students, 75 percent have better grades, 92 percent have a decrease in school discipline, and 92 percent have improved attendance, according to the presentation. The ESS program in Westport School District is making a critical impact on mental health outcomes for the district, while also creating a cost savings for district financial health, Allison Whitman, a regional director for ESS, said. ESS was founded in 2009 in New Jersey and has since spread to nine states and nearly 100 school districts. Its offerings are split into a multi-tiered system of support for students and teachers. Tier 3 is intensive in school clinical support with wraparound services, which ESS handles. There are check-ins, group therapy, family sessions and support provided throughout the school day. Tier 2 is less intensive. Tier 1 involves awareness and prevention, which is handled by Staples staff. Were so pleased with ESS being here, Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas said. It is certainly looked at as a resource and everything that you are see here, we are feeling. Certainly, in reaching our students. This really helps all of our students. serenity.bishop@hearstmediact.com 99 cent introductory offer Includes everything we offer online for 24-7 news. This option allows you to read unlimited stories at ctnewsonline.com, and access our e-Edition (digital replicate of the daily newspaper). $7.99 per month after the introductory offer. This service comes with a complimentary CT Select Card allowing for local discounts. Rates are subject to change. BRIDGEPORT A city police officer, who allegedly misused a nationwide police database, has been suspended with pay. Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia on Thursday afternoon issued a memo stating that Sgt. John Klesyk had been placed on administrative status with pay until he completes State of Connecticut mandated training. The notice comes just days after the Bridgeport Guardians, the organization that represents minority officers within the Police Department, asked city officials to remove Klesyk from the citys internal investigation unit. In their complaint, the group states that Klesyk used the national database for his personal use. It was unclear what training Klesyk was ordered to complete and city officials declined to comment. Chiefs office has nothing further to state other than the notice speaks for itself, said city spokesperson Rowena White, in an email. In a March 3 memo Garcia stated that Klesyk, second in command of the OIA, was found in violation of four regulations of the Police Department including disobeying the rules regarding using the departments NCIC/COLLECT database. The use of the nationwide database for personal reasons is a felony. Klesyk has not been charged with any crime. The memo states that for violating these regulations Klesyk received a loss of five holidays. The Guardians subsequently sent a letter to the mayor and the Board of Police Commission demanding Klesyk be pulled from his role in the Office of Internal Affairs pending further investigation. Due to the seriousness of his actions, and while being an investigator for the Office of Internal Affairs, (he) has violated the code of ethics, and code of conduct while committing a felony crime under the law. Therefore, it would be contradictory for Sergeant Klesyk to investigate officers for alleged police misconduct, states the complaint sent by the Guardians. The Guardians complaint states that Lt. Adam Rozum, the newly appointed head of OIA, initiated an investigation of Klesyks alleged use of the database and immediately notified Garcia. Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia, initiated the investigation but never took the appropriate steps by having Sergeant Klesyk placed on administrative status or leave during this process, the complaint states. As a result, Sergeant Klesyk was allowed to maintain his position in the Office of Internal Affairs to investigate other officers facing alleged police misconduct while facing his own discipline. The complaint claims that Garcia took swift action to discipline Klesyk to prevent him from having to go before the police commission. It states that Klesyk worked under Garcia when she was the commander of Internal Affairs for over 10 years. The complaint also states that Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia has purposely caused a double jeopardy standard by quickly rendering discipline without the mayor and Board of Police Commissioners being aware of this incident and felony law violations within days. Due to Acting Chief Garcias swift actions, has prevented Sergeant Klesyk from facing further discipline upon review by the mayor and Board of Police Commissioners or an outside neutral investigative firm. Bathsheba Mchuza, founder and sales officer for Uyogaplus project, shows the growing of mushroom during a workshop on "Applications of Juncao Technology and its Contribution to the Achievement of Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals in Tanzania" in Kinondoni District, outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 10, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Participants in a workshop held in Tanzania's capital Dar es Salaam wore broad smiles as they were exposed to the wonders of a Chinese Juncao technology saying the technology spelled a bright future for mushroom growers and livestock keepers in the country. Juncao, which in Chinese literally means "mushroom" and "grass", can be used, as its name suggests, to grow edible and medicinal mushrooms, as livestock feed or as a green barrier to control soil erosion and stop desertification. The Juncao technology has been developed by the National Engineering Research Center for Juncao Technology of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) of China. The technology has a multi-faceted approach of cultivating mushrooms for food and medicinal purposes while at the same time addressing soil erosion for maintaining the volume of arable land, and also supporting livestock feed development. On the third day of the workshop on "Applications of Juncao Technology and its Contribution to the Achievement of Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals in Tanzania" organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), the participants visited Uyogaplus, a mushroom farm at Mabwepande in Kinondoni district on the outskirts of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. The Uyogaplus project is an intensive program of health and economic empowerment of women and youth through mushroom production in Tanzania. "We have been producing mushrooms by using sawdust, banana leaves, and other supplements which are very expensive. We are now in the process of adopting Juncao grass as a substitute for sawdust," said Bathsheba Mchuza, founder and sales officer for Uyogaplus project. Uyogaplus has established a nursery for cultivating Juncao grass for growing mushrooms, said the 25-year-old female university graduate, adding that the Juncao grass seedlings were planted in February 2021 after they were supplied by the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) based in Morogoro region that introduced the technology to the project. "By using Juncao grass to cultivate mushrooms the future looks brighter," Mchuza told the participants of the four-day workshop that brought together national policy makers, academicians, researchers, farmers, livestock keepers and experts from FAFU and the UN. Mchuza is among 5,000 mushroom growers in Tanzania who are producing 1,000 tons of mushrooms annually. Elly Ligate, a senior lecturer, researcher and national Juncao technological consultant at the SUA, with over five years of experience in Juncao technology projects in Tanzania, said the Juncao technology is being championed by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in Tanzania mainland and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock in Zanzibar, adding that farmers and local government authorities in the country have widely accepted the technology. "I see good opportunities as far as Juncao technology is concerned. This technology is comprehensive as it involves production of grass and mushrooms. The Juncao grass is very important in our country in eliminating challenges of shortage of fodder," Ligate, an ecologist, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the workshop. "The second challenge that we want to address is environmental degradation. If we provide grass to livestock keepers it will improve carrying capacity and minimize the pressure on the land. In that case, management of the land will be a little easy," said Ligate, a PhD graduate at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University of China (FUFA) where he also learnt about the Juncao technology. Asimwe Rwiguza, director of Grazing Land and Animal Feed Resources in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said intensification of high forage producing species such as Juncao grass is a useful strategy to ensure sustainable pasture production in order to feed the existing and ever-increasing number of livestock throughout the year. Rwiguza said the Juncao technology is expected to conserve the environment through sustainable livestock production, especially in semi-arid areas of the country where animal pastures are limited and land degradation is high. Lin Zhanxi, inventor of Juncao technology, and chief scientist and director of the National Engineering Research Center for Juncao Technology of the FAFU of China, said on a video conference that Juncao technology is helping in adapting and mitigating challenges posed by climate change. Yuan Lin, the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy, said during the past two decades, this handy and practical technology has taken root in more than 100 countries. Participants visits Uyogaplus Farm during a workshop on "Applications of Juncao Technology and its Contribution to the Achievement of Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals in Tanzania" in Kinondoni District, outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 10, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) Elly Ligate, a senior lecturer, researcher and national Juncao technological consultant at Sokoine University of Agriculture, shows the Juncao grass during a workshop on "Applications of Juncao Technology and its Contribution to the Achievement of Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals in Tanzania" in Kinondoni District, outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 10, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) Netflix Director of Consumer Insights Nikkia Reveillac discusses egoless leadership during the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Conference Wednesday in Los Angeles. Nikkia Reveillac believes in egoless leadership. That can come in many different forms, but Netflixs director of consumer insights believes that getting the best out of a workplace starts with leaders checking their egos at the door. A transformational leader who leads without ego brings about the highest levels of performance; builds relationships rooted in trust, credibility, and confidence; and cultivates healthy, collaborative, and psychologically safe work environments. Being an egoless leader is about putting people at the center of ones desire to deliver results, says Reveillac, speaking Wednesday at the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council Conference in Los Angeles. It seems intuitive, but so many of us get it wrong. Too much ego can be exceedingly detrimental to good leadership. Signs of ego-full leadership include micromanagement, manipulation, excessive control, aggression, impatience, and gaslighting. House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. on Tuesday introduced legislation that would allow all federal credit unions to add underserved areas to their fields of membership. H.R. 7003 would expand the definition of an underserved area to include any area that is more than ten miles from the nearest branch of a financial institution. In addition, the bill would exempt all business loans made by credit unions in underserved areas from the credit union business lending cap. House Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., is a cosponsor of the bill. Credit union trade groups said they were pleased the bill had been introduced in the House. UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene on Friday to discuss the United States' alleged military biological research in Ukraine at Russia's request. Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, tweeted this request on Thursday. Russia has been holding that there is a network of biolabs in Ukraine working on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense and forming part of its biological weapons program. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it had received documentation from employees at Ukrainian biolabs, which confirmed an urgent destruction of dangerous pathogens. On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine worked on establishing a mechanism "for the covert transmission of deadly pathogens." The United States has dismissed Russia's accusation as "laughable," suggesting that Russia may be laying the groundwork to use a chemical or biological weapon. However, on Tuesday, while testifying before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Ukraine, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland admitted "Ukraine has biological research facilities." Also on Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on the United States to release details of its biological laboratories in Ukraine and urged relevant parties to ensure their safety. "In particular, the United States, as the party that knows the laboratories best, should release relevant specific information as soon as possible, including what viruses are stored and the research that has been carried out," spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the press via video link after the closing 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 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- An increase of around 5.5 percent on the basis of over 110-trillion-yuan (about 17.4 trillion U.S. dollars) GDP in China today would generate the amount of output equivalent to the size of a medium economy, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday. From a worldwide perspective, it is a hard problem for such a big economy to maintain medium-high growth, Li told a press conference after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. China accomplished major goals and tasks on economic and social development last year, laying a solid foundation for this year, according to the premier. The economy faces new downward pressure and challenges this year. To achieve the growth target, the country needs relevant supporting fiscal policies, he said. CHONGLI, Zhangjiakou, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Liu Mengtao, 20, has become the first Chinese Para biathlete to win three medals (two golds and a bronze) at a Winter Paralympic Games, after claiming the men's individual sitting title at Beijing 2022 here on Friday. Having taken the sprint bronze on March 5 and the middle distance gold on March 8, Paralympic debutant Liu finished first in the 12.5km race in 38 minutes and 29.4 seconds without missing a single shot in the four rounds of prone shooting. "The race wasn't easy. Haven't you seen my face when I was on the track, twisted and in pain? I mean it's 12.5 kilometers. And the snow was pretty slow today," said Liu Mengtao, who took up the sport in 2016. "I could have shot faster today. Miss one shot and you get a one-minute penalty, so I'd rather lie there for a few more seconds to make sure I don't miss the shot," Liu added. "It's good to see the national flag and hear the national anthem," he noted. "I still have a cross-country race coming tomorrow." 22-year-old Taras Rad from Ukraine, who was the gold medalist in the race at PyeongChang 2018, settled for silver this time in 39:13.9, also with a clean sheet of shooting. Rad had also finished second in the sprint and third in the middle distance at Beijing 2022. "This race was very important for me because this was my last biathlon race (at Beijing 2022). Of course, I had hopes that it could be gold, but silver is OK too. I am happy for this result and want to thank the whole team who is supporting me," said Rad. 24-year-old Liu Zixu, who had grabbed the first-ever Paralympic individual gold for China in the men's sprint sitting on March 5, took the bronze in 39:35.5 with one shot missing. "My energy level has dropped from previous races. My stamina used to be pretty good. I'm not sure whether it's the snow today or something else, (but) I wasn't in my best form today," said Liu Zixu. "I have finished all my races at Beijing 2022. Now I feel happy and relaxed," he added. A total of 20 biathletes from China, Ukraine, Canada, Kazakhstan, Germany, South Korea, Britain, and the United States attended the men's individual sitting race on Friday. Sunbury, PA (17801) Today Cloudy with showers. High 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. How I chuckled this week when I saw pictures of that Mercedes-Benz taxi, stuck at a rakish angle on a dirt track in the middle of Saddleworth Moor in North-West England after its driver had been led astray by his satnav. What sort of idiot, I wondered, would carry on slavishly following his navigation system when it was so clearly leading him the wrong way, into terrain passable only by a lunar exploration vehicle or a tank? Hardly had I snorted my contempt, however, than I realised that I knew all too well the answer to the question I had just posed. A Mercedes-Benz taxi got stuck on a track in the middle of Saddleworth Moor after the driver was led astray by his satnav Oh dear. The shameful truth, as my wife will be annoyingly eager to confirm, is that I'm precisely that sort of idiot myself. What's more, I believe I have an inkling of how that poor taxi driver's embarrassing plight arose. This is because I, too, am the proud owner of a Mercedes-Benz not a top-of-the-range limousine, mind you, but one of those nifty little A-class hatchbacks, which recently overtook rivals to become one of the bestselling cars in the UK. Flaw I bought it three years ago, as a retirement gift to myself, and I love it with all my heart. It's a love, I'm sorry to say, that is not altogether shared by Mrs U, who finds the seats uncomfortable and the chassis too low-slung to negotiate London speed-bumps without constantly scraping its bottom. She is also less than impressed by the car's miraculously sophisticated electronics. To list just a couple of its amazing features, it can park itself automatically, turning the steering wheel, applying the accelerator and brakes and changing from reverse to first gear without any intervention from the driver. Mrs U has never even tried that. There's also an emergency SOS button, which will put you in immediate touch with a helpful Mercedes staffer as my wife found to her dismay the other day, when our grandson pressed it as she was struggling to fit his car seat (like so many other four-year-olds, that boy just can't see a button without pushing it). Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of my Merc, however, is the sheer beauty and clarity of its wide-screen built-in satnav. I've never seen a system more brilliantly designed to show the driver exactly which exit he should take from the roundabout, or how far ahead to expect congestion or traffic lights. Since that grim eight-hour drive to York, I've acquired a portable satnav, which I prop on the dashboard of my beloved Merc Just one little problem, and if you're anything like Mrs U, you will argue that it's a pretty serious flaw in a satnav: it doesn't seem to have the faintest idea of the best way to get from A to B. Indeed, I have a theory that the whiz-kids who programmed the Mercedes-Benz navigation system were working on maps of the UK smuggled into Germany by the Special Operations Executive during World War II, with a view to misleading a potential Nazi invasion force. Whatever the truth, I've lost count of the number of times over the past three years when I've ended up miles from my intended destination, simply because I was foolish enough to follow the Merc satnav's superbly clear directions. But for reasons that may not seem entirely coherent to you, I carried on putting my faith in that hopeless system. After all, what was the point of spending a small fortune on a car with a beautifully designed built-in satnav if I paid no attention to its guidance? It wasn't until last October, when I drove the family to York for my darling niece Olivia's wedding, that I finally learned to stop trusting it. Now, as most of us know very well, the way to get from London to York is to zip up the M1, and you're practically there. Certainly, that's the route I would have taken in the old days, when I had nothing to guide me but the AA road atlas. It was also the way Mrs U urged me to go when we set off for the wedding. Agonising But the Merc's satnav had other ideas, directing me away from the M1 towards A-roads and B-roads, with occasional short-cuts through housing estates. 'Ignore it,' said my wife. But I assured her there must be a good reason why it was telling me to avoid the conventional route. The motorway was probably jammed solid with traffic, I said. The Merc's system was programmed to take these things into account. To cut an interminable story short, we arrived in York after an exhausting eight-hour drive by the scenic route, having taken in almost every town centre and road works on the way . . . only to learn that other guests who had driven from London, without the benefit of a Mercedes satnav system, had completed the journey in little more than half the time. To be fair to Mrs U, she spoke not a word of reproof during those agonising eight hours of our ordeal. She just smiled quietly, in that chilling way women have of screaming, without actually emitting a sound: 'I TOLD YOU SO, YOU BLITHERING IDIOT!' Enough to say that if the unfortunate taxi-driver was relying on his Merc's built-in satnav, it doesn't surprise me in the least that he got stuck in a dirt track on Saddleworth Moor. Now, as most of us know very well, the way to get from London to York is to zip up the M1, and you're practically there. Certainly, that's the route I would have taken in the old days, when I had nothing to guide me but the AA road atlas All of which brings me to a great mystery: why is it that a mighty car company like Mercedes-Benz, which produces some of the most sophisticated technology in the world, is incapable of producing a satnav that knows the way from A to B? And why, if its in-house whiz-kids can't manage it, doesn't Mercedes simply buy a licence to the necessary software from a firm that knows what it's doing? (Before other car companies start feeling smug, I should point out that a friend with a Mitsubishi tells me that his built-in satnav is rubbish, too not a patch, he says, on apps such as Google, TomTom or Waze.) Dangerous But perhaps there's a deeper mystery behind all this. Why is it, I wonder, that so many people like me, who pride ourselves on having a modicum of common sense, are so ready to put our faith in computers when it should be clear to the meanest intelligence that they're utterly unworthy of our trust? I'm thinking of the news, published this week, that eight offenders sentenced in Scotland to life behind bars were allowed temporary release because of a computer glitch which had miscalculated 1,317 risk assessments. Did nobody think it mighty odd that eight obviously dangerous lifers were being let out on the say-so of an electronic device? Or take the truly terrible scandal of the Post Office's wrongful prosecution of more than 700 sub-postmasters and postmistresses, many of whose lives were utterly destroyed after they were falsely accused of theft, false accounting or fraud because of a faulty computer program. Why, in the name of all that's sacred, did nobody at the Post Office stop and say: 'Hang on! It simply defies common sense that so very many of these once-trusted people should be suddenly on the take, all at once. There must be something very wrong with our new software'? But then again, why did I go on trusting my car's satnav, after those countless times it had led me astray? I have no answer to that. I can only say that I've finally learned my lesson. Since that grim eight-hour drive to York, I've acquired a portable satnav, which I prop on the dashboard of my beloved Merc and I advise that taxi driver to do the same. It may not be as beautiful or as clear as the version that came with the car. But as Mrs U will be quick to tell you, with that infuriating I-told-you-so smile of hers, the great thing is it seems to know the way. Here in Britain, the woke brigade tied itself in knots discussing trans issues and single sex loos while two Labour frontbenchers pathetically refused to define what it is to be a woman. In Ukraine, meanwhile, 37-year-old fitness instructor and IT teacher Tetiana put on her lippy, donned combat fatigues, grabbed her Kalashnikov and prepared to fight for her country as the only female member of the Bratstvo Battalion. Also joining the militia in Kyiv and taking up arms was 20-year-old student Tanya, pictured, who said simply it is my duty to be here now. On International Womens Day this week, the no-nonsense bravery of the women in Ukraine could not have been in greater contrast to the earnest hand-wringing and agonising of the sisterhood over here. Pictures in the Mail of Tetiana and Tanya just two among countless female fighters in the country did make me wonder how many British women would actually pick up an AK-47 to defend our nation. Also joining the militia in Kyiv and taking up arms was 20-year-old student Tanya, pictured, who said simply it is my duty to be here now On International Womens Day this week, the no-nonsense bravery of the women in Ukraine could not have been in greater contrast to the earnest hand-wringing and agonising of the sisterhood over here. Pictured: Iryna Sergeyeva, Ukraine's first female volunteer fighter Despite decades of feminist progression, my fear is that when push came to shove, our high-minded feminists would forget their notions of equality and leave it to the men. They are only too happy to boast of equal rights but theyd baulk at brandishing a combat weapon. Perhaps Im wrong. Maybe wed rediscover the spirit of heroines such as Elizabeth I and Boudicca. I certainly hope I would, not least because I was taught in the Aussie outback to shoot by my dad when I was ten years old. Its not as if Tetiana and Tanya are ashamed of being feminine either. They look as if they are no strangers to Botox, lip fillers or hair extensions. But crucially, they represent the epitome of strong women. And could not be more different from our own tedious collection of armchair warriors who bore on daily about womens rights but are too scared even to say what being a woman means. Like millions, I got a warning that my dual energy bill will increase by 1,500. EDF added: These are difficult times, but you can depend upon us. Yes, to fleece all householders. Lily's gone flat out for the curvy look Since playing Pamela Anderson in the raunchy TV series Pam & Tommy, our darling girl-next-door Lily James has been channelling not so much Pams cleverness but her cleavage, appearing in an endless series of bosom-crushing outfits. Shes now unrecognisable from her role in the 2019 movie Yesterday when she played the adorable, and rather more demure, Ellie. Lily James is now unrecognisable from her role in the 2019 movie Yesterday when she played the adorable, and rather more demure, Ellie. Is Wills ghosting the BBC? Im puzzled that Prince William, President of BAFTA, has pulled out of tomorrow nights glittering awards ceremony to be broadcast on the BBC, due to diary constraints which precluded him from attending in person. Surely, every royals diary is decided many months in advance. My guess is that after the Beebs appallingly biased The Princes And The Press series, presented by their bejewelled star Amol Rajan and accusing the Cambridges of briefing against the Sussexes, William decided on a no-show, except by video. Is this a sign of the royals ghosting the republican Beeb? If so, its not a moment too soon. The BBCs hit show McMafia is not getting a second series. James Nortons role as Alex, the clean-living son of Russian gangsters who gets sucked into their criminal underworld, is deemed inappropriate in these times. Nortons chances of playing James Bond are now sub-zero. Although maybe the footie-loving star could re-emerge playing Roman Abramovich in the inevitable movie. 007 not on for Norton The BBCs hit show McMafia is not getting a second series. James Nortons role as Alex, the clean-living son of Russian gangsters who gets sucked into their criminal underworld, is deemed inappropriate in these times. Nortons chances of playing James Bond are now sub-zero. Although maybe the footie-loving star could re-emerge playing Roman Abramovich in the inevitable movie. 'It wouldn't be a good look!' McMafia has reportedly been AXED after the BBC decided a crime drama about a 'dodgy Russian family' would be 'awkward' amid the Ukraine crisis Westminster Wars How typical of our grandstanding MPs that the Commons was packed when President Zelensky pleaded for more aid and arms to battle Putin. Yet the next day during the crucial debate when Defence Secretary Ben Wallace called for anti-aircraft missiles to be sent to Ukraine, there was barely a handful. Michael Gove asks Brits to give a spare room to Ukraine refugees, for a minimum of six months. Perhaps as hes now single and living in a 25million grace-and-favour home complete with a ballroom, two dining rooms and a three-bedroom apartment, he could lead by example. Mr Zelensky was given a standing ovation by MPs both before and after his speech in which he compared Ukraine's fight against Russia to Britain's World War Two struggle against Nazi Germany Oh dear. Diving darling Tom Daley was caught cavorting naked after having his pants pulled down at a French disco. Minders covered his modesty, but not before 3.4 million Instagram followers saw it. Lets hope husband Justin didnt. Budgie smugglers were invented for a reason, Tom. For two years, the Countess of Wessex plain Sophie to her army of admirers had spoken a couple of times a month on the phone to Edna Farley as part of the Check In and Chat campaign against loneliness. This week, she finally met and hugged Edna on her 90th birthday. Both were in tears with the emotion of the occasion. Theres a salutary lesson here for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex that its the quiet, unsung gestures of kindness that mean the most. Or perhaps Megs is saving her private acts of compassion for her next Oprah interview. 6m reasons for NHS rethink The chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, says he agonises from his position of white, male, middle-class privilege over how he can make our health service an effective anti-racist organisation. One might have thought his mind would be occupied instead by how to cut waiting lists of 6.1 million people, whatever their ethnicity. Of all the monstrous images emerging from the Ukraine war, one of the most sickening must be Putin shaking hands with Maria Lvova-Belova, his Commissioner for Childrens Rights, discussing their plans for Russia to adopt Ukraine orphans whose parents were killed by his own soldiers. Vladimir Putin met with his 'children's rights commissioner' Maria Lvova-Belova in Moscow on Wednesday Ahead of his one-off show in Melbourne, Australia, 48-year-old Robbie Williams says hes terrified by his friend Shane Warnes death aged 52 because the same could happen to him. This is hardly the time for a diva moment, Robbie the death of a dear friend and father of three bereft children is not actually about you. As research reveals men can no longer do DIY, a thought struck as Handy Mandy tried not to get electrocuted while up a ladder changing bulbs. The last man who did this in my house was my dad, circa 1985. Apparently, most of us prefer to use emojis in our messaging rather than articulate our thoughts. Which is handy, as my favourite emoji is a sunflower, Ukraines national flower. Actor Jonathan Bailey, who plays Bridgertons philandering Viscount Anthony, says hes proud hes come out as gay despite being warned it could destroy his career. He says he wants to be able to hold his partners hand in public and put my own face on Tinder! Surely he is speaking hypothetically, because why would he even consider the flesh-market dating app if he has a partner? A mum-of-three has left thousands impressed with her incredible DIY cabinet that was made with recycled materials. Sandra from Victoria, Australia, was given a free eight cube unit from Kmart that costs $37 in-store and was compelled to transform it into a designer-inspired piece. To begin her cabinet up-cycle she first attached panels of plywood onto either side of the Kmart unit simply using nails and a hammer. A mum-of-three has left thousands impressed with her incredible DIY apothecary-inspired cabinet that was made with recycled materials Next she hammered timber into the top and base of the unit to act as a trim and connected hinges to the cabinet doors that were made from scrap MDF board. The mum then painted the wooden exterior black and allowed the paint to dry in between coats before attaching the faux individual drawers onto the MDF. To create the faux drawers she cut scrap wood into 120 by 120 squares and stuck them on with wood glue, then painted them black to match. Sandra then screwed individual handles from Amazon onto each panel to create the illusion of drawers and lined the cabinet interior with scrap material. Sandra then screwed individual handles from Amazon onto each panel to create the illusion of drawers and lined the cabinet interior with scrap material. To finish the DIY project she added a cabinet top with clamps and wood glue then decorated with her favourite decor pieces and a plant. Sandra even made the wooden centre-piece bowl by hot glueing old curtain rings and macrame rings together. The mum-of-three even made her very own wooden centre-piece bowl by hot glueing old curtain rings and macrame rings together The mum-of-three shared her stylish cabinet on Facebook to receive almost 5000 likes and hundreds of comments from fellow DIY fans The mum-of-three shared her stylish cabinet on Facebook to receive almost 5000 likes and hundreds of comments from fellow DIY fans. 'Well, isnt that genius. Ive used cube units in all sorts of ways but this takes the cake! Well done! Its awesome,' an impressed user wrote. 'Oh my god, that looks like something you would buy from an expensive shop. It looks amazing,' another wrote. For anyone who has worked in retail, hospitality, or other customer-facing jobs, it is no shock to hear that the general public can sometimes be a nightmare to deal with. Nature World Today has picked out some of the worst of these instances from around the world, where a disgruntled employee has taken a photo of the incident and shared it for the world to see online. For instance, one very cheeky customer asked a grocer if they could return an overripe mango, after it had been cut in half and partly sliced - and then put back together with sticky tape. A customer assistant in a clothing shop, which also sells underwear and lingerie, went to clear out the changing rooms to find a well-worn bra, which the store doesn't even stock, only to realise a customer had swapped her old underwear for the brand new one. In the US in particular, it is good etiquette to leave a tip for the server after they have provided you with the service for your meal. But some immature customers decided they wanted to make a joke of the situation, and super hard for the server to get their tip back, by putting notes into a glass full of ice water, surrounding the faced-down glass with ketchup. Here, FEMAIL picks some of the most shocking things customer-facing workers have faced in their day-to-day jobs... One very cheeky customer asked a grocer if they could return an overripe mango, after it had been cut in half and partly sliced - and then put back together with sticky tape A bra-ss neck! A customer assistant went to clear out the changing rooms to find a well-worn bra, after a shopper pilfered the one on sale and left her own behind It's good manners and good practice to clean up after you've eaten, whether that's out at a restaurant or at home on your own dining table, but this fast food worker in the US was faced with a disgusting pile of tissue covered in fizzy drink that went all over the floor too In the US in particular, it is good etiquette to leave a tip for the server after they have provided you with the service for your meal. But some immature customers decided they wanted to make a joke of the situation, and super hard for the server to get their tip back, by putting notes into a glass full of ice water, surrounding the faced-down glass with ketchup Demands for those in customer service aren't too much of a surprise, as they are expected to go above and beyond for those they are helping. But one woman, Isabel Zawtun, from Toronto, Canada, who worked in retail, was asked by a customer to pick her up from her Botox appointment so she can shop in the mall Taking the p***! Anyone would be shocked to walk down the kitchen utensils aisle of a shop, like this one in the US, to see and smell urine in a glass jug This restaurant manager was faced with a pie-loving customer, who was so unsatisfied with his pie from another restaurant, that he demanded a replacement - despite the fact that the companies have nothing to do with each other What is a 'real job', to this customer?! This waiter called Breanna in California couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the customer only gave a $1.33 tip on a $133.54 bill - only to be given career advice and told their job isn't a real one Busy retail periods can cause absolute mayhem for employees of the shops, especially clothing and shoe shops like this one during sales - customers can be scavengers when it comes to finding the best deal. But causing a mess like this is crazy When this waiter in the US opened up a $100 bill after the customers on their table had already left, they realise they had been duped - and opened up a 'Get Paid Daily' leaflet that was in the same colours as the US currency This woman, as someone owning a restaurant, would have experienced some pretty bad hospitality stories - but this takes the cake. The Australian was faced with a man who believed he didn't need to pay because of 'religious grounds'... After being faced with this sign and a lock on the doors of shelves stocked with ice cream, this customer went to ask staff members why she can't grab an ice cream to buy for herself - only to be told that the freezer had to be locked because people lick the desserts and put it back on the shelves This waitress from Iowa, called Taelor, was shocked to find her customer gave no tip - but not just because they didn't like the service, but because the server didn't look 'normal' enough to them Advertisement When it comes to architecture, the variety of buildings we see on our streets is what makes the world such a rich and interesting place - but some are definitely more unusual than others. Amazing images, taken by people from around the world and collated into a gallery by Bored Panda, reveal some of the most bizarre constructions you'll ever see. Among some of the strangest edifices are a multi-storey creation in Bogota that looks just like a giant chest of drawers, so it's perhaps not surprising that curious customers who step in side will find themselves in a furniture shop. Another image shows a building in Milan looks like it is being opened up, thanks to a giant zipper down the side, which was added to celebrate Fashion Week several years ago. And in Hyderabad, India the architects behind The National Fisheries Development Board building took things very literally and created an office block that resembles a giant fish. It may look like a giant chest of drawers, but this amazing creation in Bogota, Colombia, is actually a furniture shop Feline like learning! Going to school every day would have been way more fun if they were all shaped like cats, like this kindergarten in Germany Fishy business! Whoever designed The National Fisheries Development Board in Hyderabad, India, obviously wanted to keep the structure on brand The zipper on the side of a classic building in Milan was actually created as an art installation and advertisement by British artist Alex Chinneck for the city's fashion week in 2019 Fancy popping in for a cuppa? If you're going to build a tea museum, what better building to house it in, than one shaped like a giant teapot, like the Meitan Tea Museum in Guizhou, China The residents of this apartment block in Turin get to enjoy nature on their very own doorsteps, with 150 trees growing inside the building Known as the 'basket building', this bizarre structure in Newark, Ohio, was originally built as the home of lifestyle and basket brand the Longaberger Company back in 1997 The Upside-Down House of Trassenheide, was the first of its kind in Germany. It wasn't the last though, and there are now several more of the arty projects in the country Created by a renowned architect, Les Espaces d'Abraxas in France, was designed in 1978, and comprises a large complex with almost 600 apartments Classic architecture with a twist: these pyramids in Spain have been artfully and carefully constructed, so they are upside down This modern cabin-style dwelling in Norway makes the most of the natural landscape, juxtaposing it with this impressive glass-encased stairway Jenna Bush Hager broke down in tears while having another emotional reading with famed medium Tyler Henry, six years after he successfully predicted the birth of her son. The 'Hollywood Medium' star connected the former first daughter with her late grandparents and answered her question about whether or not she will have a fourth child during their discussion, which aired on the Today show on Thursday. Since 2018, she has lost her paternal grandparents, former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush; her maternal grandmother, Jenna Hawkins Welch; and her father-in-law, former Lt. Gov. John H. Hager. 'I feel like when we talk about grandpa on dad's side, there's just a repeated emphasis on knowing that, "I had permission to go," and I need to kind of validate that,' Henry told Bush Hager, 40, of her grandfather. Scroll down for video Jenna Bush Hager, 40, had an emotional reading with Hollywood Medium star Tyler Henry that aired on the Today show on Thursday Bush Hager cried as the medium connected her with her paternal grandparents, her maternal grandmother, and her father-in-law, who all passed away within two years of each other Henry also opened up about her children and whether or not she would have another baby 'He feels like he was holding on,' he continued. 'Any time I'm getting a feeling of holding on, it usually means that someone was waiting, and I really feel like your dad's dad was waiting. 'There's this aspect of like, "I'm going to time my passing," is the way that I would describe it.' 'He wanted to go to Maine,' Bush Hager said. 'In charge all the way to the end, right?' Henry responded. The 41st president passed away on November 30, 2018, at age 94 less than eight months after the death of his beloved wife. Henry assured Bush Hager that her grandfather didn't suffer, but he felt a 'strong emphasis' on the throat and 'not being able to fully swallow' or 'reduced eating.' Henry told Bush Hager that her paternal grandfather, former President George H.W. Bush (pictured), had timed his passing when he died in November 2018 at age 94 Bush died less than eight months after the death of his beloved wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush (pictured together in 2017) In the final years of his life, Bush had battled vascular Parkinson's disease, which can affect the muscles used for speech, chewing, and swallowing. As for the former first lady, Henry said he kept seeing a sentimental Christmas ornament. Bush Hager confirmed that she has an ornament that was given to her by her maternal grandmother. The medium began to sweat when Bush Hager asked about her namesake grandmother, Jenna Hawkins Welch, the mother of former First Lady Laura Bush. 'The stronger the reading, generally the more I sweat,' he explained. 'I feel like she would want your mother to know she didn't need the send-off, whereas your grandfather on your dad's side, there's a feeling of send-off.' Welch passed away at her home in Midland, Texas, in 2019 at age 99. Most recently, Bush Hager and her husband, Henry Hager, mourned the loss of his father, who died in 2020 at age 83. 'I feel like she would want your mother to know she didn't need the send-off,' Henry said of her grandmother, Jenna Hawkins Welch, the mother of former First Lady Laura Bush (pictured) Henry also spoke of Bush Hager's late father-in-law, John Hager, who died in 1983. She was laughing through her tears after he noted he 'might have been known as a bit of a snorer' 'I feel like he, in life, might have been known as a bit of a snorer. Someone who snores,' Henry said of her father-in-law, prompting Bush Hager to laugh through her tears. The medium noted that one of John Hager's two sons has closure but the other 'not so much.' It's unclear if he was speaking of her husband or his brother. 'I feel like somebody still has his ties,' he added. 'Yeah, Henry wears one of his ties,' Bush Hager shared. Bush Hager has three children Mila, eight, Poppy, six, and Hal, two and Henry also predicted that one of her daughters will be a writer. That was likely exciting news for the mom, who is an author herself. The book lover has her own monthly book club, Read with Jenna, with the Today show. When Bush Hager asked if she was going to have a fourth child, he told her: 'I'm just not seeing [any]' Henry also predicted that one of her two daughters will be an author, though he wasn't sure if it would be Mila, eight, (left) or Poppy, six (right) Last month it was announced that she had signed a first-look development deal with Universal Studio Group. 'I'm seeing literacy, writing, books, all that,' Henry said. 'So I don't know whose going to be the author of the two, but there is [going to be one].' At the end of her reading with Henry, Bush Hager jokingly asked: 'Am I going to have another baby?' 'I hope if you want some that you do, but I'm just not seeing [any],' he responded. 'That's good,' she said. 'I think three feels good.' Henry previously foresaw that Bush Hager would have a baby boy while speaking to her late maternal grandfather, Harold Welch, during their first reading in 2016. In 2016, Henry successfully predicted that Bush Hager would have a son, three years before she announced she was expecting a baby boy During her first reading with Henry, she cried as he spoke to her late maternal grandfather, Harold Welch, who died in 1995 Bush Hager revealed she had wanted to name her future son Harold after her grandfather (pictured), but she never had a boy. She welcomed her son Henry Harold 'Hal' Hager in 2019 'As far as children go, he's referencing that there is going to be a little boy that will be born,' he told the mom, who was crying tears of joy. 'So I'm going to have a baby boy?' she asked. Bush Hager revealed that she wanted to name her future son Harold after her grandfather, who had died in 1995. 'We've always thought if we had a boy, we were going to name him after him,' she shared. 'But we haven't had a boy yet.' Three years later, Bush Hager learned she was pregnant and expecting a baby boy. The pregnancy was a complete surprise for the mom who had experienced fertility issues and wasn't trying to get pregnant. 'We had some fertility issues with Poppy so we just you know it was a date night!' she said on the Today show at the time, adding with a laugh: 'Sorry mom!' A mother-of-two who thought she met her dream man has revealed how he turned out to be a 'Tinder Swindler' - and conned her out of her life savings and cost her her job. Sunita Brittain, 51, a teaching assistant from Doncaster, was convinced 'Michael Anderson' was the love of her life - and fell for him after meeting online in January this year. He told her he was the owner of a multi-million pound global engineering company and cryptocurrency analyst, and when he claimed to be in trouble she handed over her life savings to help, and started threatening her when she refused to send more money. When they met, the pair exchanged thousands of messages and photos, and he even told her he loved her and wanted to spend his life with her - even though they had never seen each other in person. Michael also claimed to be a successful businessman and multi-millionaire working as a global engineer and cryptocurrency analyst. However, echoing the hit Netflix show 'The Tinder Swindler', the man calling himself 'Michael Anderson' started asking Sunita for money. Sunita Brittain, 51, (pictured) from Doncaster, has revealed how she was conned out of her life savings by a man she met online The mother-of-two was convinced the man she met online was the love of her life - but he ended up conning her out of her life savings. This is one of the images he sent her - it's unclear if this is Michael Anderson, or an image he used for the scam He said he needed 9,000 to get him out of a jail in Northern Cyprus following an 'accident' at his engineering project out there. The couple spent so long on the phone, while Michael pleaded for the cash, that she even lost a job as a teaching assistant for keeping her phone on her during work. But Sunita was convinced she should help Michael, and sent the money to an account he claimed was operated by lawyer, who would buy Michael plane tickets. However, Sunita soon realised something was amiss and called her bank and told them she feared she had been scammed - and they told her they had frozen the account. 'Michael' then began ringing her making threats, harassing her and told her he would find out where she lived. Sunita said: 'My story parallels with the Tinder Swindler, it is crazy. I was so vulnerable, I had just come out of a loveless marriage, was going through a divorce and was just craving some kind of attention to make me feel wanted again. 'He started talking to me in a very intimate way and made me feel like the only woman in the whole world. 'He was telling me things that you imagine in a fairytale, with that happily ever after ending.' She met the man on the Facebook dating site 'Facebook Dating ' on January 9. 'Michael Anderson', who was an alleged owner of a multi-million pound global engineering company and cryptocurrency analyst, initiated a conversation with Sunita. Michael swiftly asked for her number, and the pair exchanged thousands of messages on WhatsApp, with Michael initiating 'heavy conversations'. Michael told Sunita he was born on the exact same day as her, and was adopted - like her - by his parents from Zurich. On January 13, Sunita and Michael chatted on the phone for the first time and she was convinced of her fraudster's feelings According to Sunita, 'Michael Anderson' made her feel 'like the only woman in the whole world'. This is one of the images he sent her - it's unclear if this is Michael Anderson, or an image he used for the scam He told her he was a successful businessman and multi-millionaire, but ended up conning her out of her life savings (It's unclear if this is Michael Anderson, or an image he used for the scam) Sunita, whose children are 13 and 11 years old, said there were a few red flags that she admits 'dismissing' because of her feelings for Michael. One was his refusal to show his face on video call. 'I found it strange why he never wanted to Facetime', she admitted. 'He said he was camera shy the one time I tried, the image from his side was blurry and he looked about 20 years older than his pictures.' Michael conjured up his elaborate ruse on the 17 January, when he told Sunita he had to go immediately to one of his engineering projects out in Northern Cyprus. Sunita said: 'Michael told me he had to rush out there as there had been a 'tragic accident' and he had to provide a huge pay-out of 160,000 to one of the families. 'Three days later, he told me the Cyprus Police are holding him in custody. He continued to say how much he loved me and how we will be together when this is all over. 'He called himself "The King" and me "The Queen" and told me how much he felt the connection of great love.' Mr Anderson instructed Sunita to make three separate bank transfers to his lawyer, from his offshore bank account. Sunita logged on to his fake account on HorizoGlobal where she could see Michael had over 7million in his bank. Sunita met the man on a Facebook dating site, but their 'heavy conversations' soon moved over to WhatsApp, where they spoke regularly He told her to transfer three separate transactions to his lawyer two of 60,000 and one of 40,000 which got rejected. 'I could see the money in his account going down, it was so realistic and didn't even cross my mind that it was a fake website,' she said. 'He kept telling me the lines were down and there was no Wifi, so I had to keep transferring the money in instalments because he was unable to do it himself. On January 26, Sunita received a fake email from 'HorizoGlobal' saying Mr Anderson cannot transfer any more money because of 'security reasons'. The email was claimed Michael's assets had been frozen until he could attend a face-to-face in their Head Office based in Los Angeles Sunita said: 'I got calls from Michael and he was starting to stress out saying he would have to sell his bitcoin and borrow money off his lawyer. 'He told me to send the bank my ID and lie saying I was his finance. He said he would rather pay the compensation rather than lose his trading business license and needed to buy flights to come home back to me. 'He started guilt-tripping me, begging me to help him saying he would pay me back.' The man has been compared to the infamous 'Tinder Swindler' - Shimon Heyada Hayut, 31, from Israel (pictured) who was the subject of a recent Netflix documentary That was the moment Sunita made the transaction of 9,000 to Mr David Gana's bank account Mr Anderson's alleged 'lawyer' - in Coventry. Michael sent Sunita screenshots of his flights back to Doncaster on January 28, where she was planning to pick him up from before going straight to LA on the Sunday so they could 'prove Michael's identity for his offshore bank account'. Sunita said: 'My suitcase was packed and I was so excited. 'I couldn't get hold of Michael all afternoon, and suddenly I received a call from one of his "lawyers" saying Michael was arrested by police officials on his flight home for tax evasion, his phone had been taken away and he was stuck in Police Custody. 'I rung my best friend, telling her about everything that happened and how I was supposed to be going to America. She asked me how much I had given him so I told her. 'That is when she said, "Sunita. Wake up. You've been scammed you have kids to think of, he could've killed you". 'She could tell right away and that is when the penny dropped and I knew that I had been scammed. 'The whole thing may seem desperate but when you're on your own, these scammers play with your mind and people don't understand that. 'When you isolate yourself from people, you can be blind-sided by somebody getting into your head.' Sunita immediately notified her bank, who froze her account and got in contact with the Action Fraud Police Unit. Michael has since been harassing Sunita, phoning her to 'unfreeze her bank account'. 'He suddenly turned nasty and started threatening me that he would find out where I live' Sunita said. 'He's been calling me on different numbers and shouting, it's terrifying and just horrific. 'On February 1, I opened my blinds and saw a suspicious van parked right outside my house so I immediately called the police. 'I have two children and no where else to go and just want to stop this from happening to anyone else.' The Prince of Wales has met winners of a children's competition for new stamp designs based on heroes of the pandemic. The winning eight designs, chosen from more than 600,000 entries, feature NHS workers, a scientist, a delivery driver and Captain Sir Tom Moore. Charles, 73, welcomed the winners and their parents to a reception at Clarence House on Thursday where he spoke to each child about their design. The heir to the throne also presented them with certificates marking the fact it was a Guinness world record for the largest postage stamp design competition. According to Royal Mail's chief executive Simon Thompson, the designs 'captured the resilience and determination of the British people'. Seven-year-old Isabella Grover (pictured) is handed a winner's certificate by Prince Charles, while the pair discussed their mutual love of rainbows Among the winning designs of the competition, which had a 'Pandemic Heroes' theme, was this image of Captain Tom Moore, by 11-year-old Shachow Ali Connie Stuart, aged 14, created this stamp, which shows an NHS worker wearing a mask, emblazoned with the words 'saving lives' The Prince of Wales met seven of the eight winners (pictured) of a stamp design competition at a Clarence House reception on Thursday Speaking to 15-year-old Jessica Roberts, from Flintshire, Charles praised her design and joked that the event was an 'excuse to miss school'. Talking to her about the art she is doing at school, Charles said: 'You should pass that with flying colours.' Charles also remarked: 'Thank God people still send letters.' Speaking after meeting the prince, Jessica said she plans to use one of her stamps on a letter to her aunt in New Zealand. Reflecting on meeting Charles, she said: 'I thought it was going to be a lot more nerve-wracking but it was actually really nice.' Alfie Craddock, aged 12, also earned one of the winner's spots, with his design featuring a medic and thanking the NHS The winning designs all represented the competition's 'Pandemic Hero' theme, featuring front line workers and other notable figures Jessica Roberts, aged 15, created this stamp, which depicts frontline workers doing their jobs amid the pandemic During the Clarence House reception, Prince Charles met the winners of the competition and discussed their designs with them Meanwhile, Charles received a thank you card from seven-year-old Isabella Grover which featured a rainbow similar to the one on her stamp design. She told Charles that she really likes rainbows and he replied: 'I agree, so do I.' Afterwards, Isabella's father Edward said Charles made everyone feel at ease, adding that he was genuinely interested. Her mother Clare said: 'He's very charming.' The children and their parents were served tea with postage stamp-inspired biscuits after meeting Charles. Entries from across the UK celebrated heroes, including NHS workers, parents, carers, cleaning staff, teachers, supermarket staff, public transport employees and delivery drivers. Ishan Baines, aged seven, (pictured), meets the heir to the throne during the special event 14-year-old Rafi Valle Martin opted to depict a hospital cleaner in his design, cleverly incorporating a rainbow into the drawing The Prince of Wales meets meets Shachow Ali, aged 11, at the event at Clarence House While meeting Jessica Roberts, aged 15, (pictured) Charles joked the reception was a good excuse to miss school Also depicted were many volunteers who have helped in their local communities or raised money for charity. Judges including retired teachers selected 120 regional finalists before a panel including the Prime Minister and Baroness Floella Benjamin picked 24 regional winners. The final eight winning designs were personally selected by Charles, with the finished stamps approved by the Queen. Simon Thompson, Royal Mail chief executive, said: 'As we approach the second anniversary of the first lockdown, it's fitting that the nation's children have taken the lead in celebrating the heroes of the pandemic. According to Royal Mail's chief executive Simon Thompson, the designs 'captured the resilience and determination of the British people'. This one was by Logan Pearson, aged 11 Logan Pearson, aged 11, looked happy to be meeting the royal, who had personally approved the competition's eight winning entries Alfie Craddock, aged 12 (pictured) discussed his entry with Prince Charles; the royal appeared enthusiastic as he looked at the image During the reception at Clarence House, attendees were treated to shortbread and jam biscuits in the shape of a stamp 'They have captured the resilience and determination of the British people in eight drawings.' A special postmark will feature on stamped mail delivered to addresses nationwide. Every winner will have their name included on their own congratulatory postmark over the coming weeks. The stamps will be available to pre-order from Friday and available on general sale from March 23. A registered nurse is shining a harsh spotlight on how poorly nurses are paid in the US after Target announced that it would start raising pay to up to $24 per hour. Riley, 24, who goes by @thatnurseriley on TikTok, shared a video last week of a news headline declaring that Target is raising its starting pay to up to $24, more than three times the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. That information was enough for Riley to pretend she was quitting nursing altogether to seek out a job at Target, suggesting that she either makes less than $24 per hour or makes close enough to that wage that it would be worthwhile to quit her high-pressure job to work in retail. Taking off her stethoscope and walking out of frame, R iley captioned the video: '@target where should I send my resume?' A registered nurse is shining a harsh spotlight on how poorly nurses are paid in the US after Target announced that it would start raising pay to up to $24 per hour Riley, 24, mimed quitting her job and joked about applying to Target when she saw an article about the wages Her video has clearly resonated on TikTok, where it's been viewed 2.2 million times. 'Yuuuup. Medical field better start paying our worth or they can catch us all at Target and McDonald's,' wrote one. 'More than what I make... bye medical field,' wrote another. 'I was just telling my coworkers... we are in healthcare around covid patients risking our health and we don't even get paid 24/hr,' said one more. However, some commenters have pointed out that the $24 per hour wage isn't for all Target employees. According to NPR, Target announced earlier this month that it already pays employees a starting wage of $15 per hour, but it would begin offering a range of starting wages from $15 to $24, dependent on the job and location. However, some commenters have pointed out that the $24 per hour wage isn't for all Target employees But though skeptics insist Target's announcement is just a publicity stunt and that few people will actually make $24 nurses and some other medical professionals think the point still stands. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the 2020 median pay for registered nurses in the US was $75,330 per year, or $36.22 per hour. But figures vary from state to state, and median pay means the middle amount of pay not the average. According to Nurse.org, nurses received the lowest pay in Alabama, earning an average of $60,230 per year or $28.96 per hour. Not much better is South Dakota's $60,960 annual salary, Mississippi's $61,250, or Iowa's $62,570. It is significantly worse in Puerto Rico, where the average salary is just $35,450. Nurses are paid best in California, earning an average of $120,560 per year, and Hawaii, earning $104,830. Her video has clearly resonated on TikTok, where it's been viewed 2.2 million times In fact, problems surrounding nurse pay have come to a head during the pandemic, contributing to a meteoric rise in travel nursing, where nurses employed by a third-party company are contracted out to hospitals with staffing shortages. When nurses have demanded higher wages and been turned down by their employers, many have quit and taken up travel nursing instead, which can pay as much as three times what they were making before. According to the Washington Post, travel nursing had a 35 per cent spike in 2020, and a further 40 per cent spike in 2021. Bloomberg reports that travel nurses previously represented three to four per cent of all nurses. They now make up eight to ten per cent. But hospitals are complaining that travel nurse agencies are 'exploiting' the pandemic, cutting into their own profits and they've even asked Congress to investigate. For 33 years, I presented a programme called Woman's Hour. The last words I spoke as I closed my final performance were these: 'There's no such thing as a stereotypical woman, but there is one thing we all share our sex.' I never doubted for a second that the word woman can only be applied to someone born female, as biologically determined by the XX chromosome. The biology that runs throughout the system of the girl and the woman cannot be changed, so a woman is an adult human female, a girl is a young human female and that is that. On International Women's Day this week, Labour's Shadow Minister for Women Anneliese Dodds found herself struggling to answer the question 'What is a woman?' Its meaning, she said, depends on the context. No, it doesn't, Anneliese. Its meaning is perfectly clear Why then do female politicians, who owe their place in the corridors of power thanks to the efforts of thousands of women who campaigned for their rights, appear unable to define what and who they are? On International Women's Day this week, Labour's Shadow Minister for Women Anneliese Dodds found herself struggling to answer the question 'What is a woman?' Its meaning, she said, depends on the context. No, it doesn't, Anneliese. Its meaning is perfectly clear. Then there's Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has declared herself a feminist, but appears to ignore the howls of protest from women at her support of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. This Bill would allow a man to change his gender simply by stating that he is a woman, rather than the current rules that require a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. His gender, note, not his sex, enabling him to become not a woman, but a trans woman two very different things. Even Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary, has dodged the question of her own sex. She doesn't want to go 'down the rabbit hole of defining what a woman is'. Rabbit hole? Who do these women think they are in their powerful political roles? Are they living in a wonderland where women who feel that hard-won rights are being eroded will still vote for them? Why have so many of the women on Labour's frontbench made such complete fools of themselves by pretending it's hard to define a woman? Have they been ordered to deny and insult their own sex in order to avoid being seen as anti-trans? And how do they define themselves? Are they not women? I am honestly at a loss. All of them are younger than me. Have they not experienced what I and so many others suffered for decades, struggling to make life more equal for women? Even Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary, has dodged the question of her own sex. She doesn't want to go 'down the rabbit hole of defining what a woman is'. Rabbit hole? Who do these women think they are in their powerful political roles? Then there's Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has declared herself a feminist, but appears to ignore the howls of protest from women at her support of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill Are they ignorant of the fact that before 1918 none of them would have even had the right to vote? Have they not read the history of the suffrage movement and the cruelty of imprisonment and force-feeding suffered by the women who fought on their behalf? Are they unaware of their parliamentary predecessors who knew perfectly well what a woman was? Do they not know how the first female MP to take her seat in the house, Nancy Astor, said she knew it was almost as difficult for some male MPs to accept her as it was for her to come into the Chamber? Do they not think Barbara Castle would be ashamed of them? It was she who worked to introduce the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts. She knew what a woman was and how our sex disadvantaged us. Do they not know how Labour MP Clare Short was barracked in the House for her objection to women's bare breasts being shown in a national newspaper, The Sun, or how the men in Parliament rubbished efforts to end rape in marriage or protect women from domestic violence? What is the point of having women in Parliament if they don't know what a woman is and what is needed to advance the interests of their own sex? I can't believe that they are unaware of the gender pay gap that continues to disadvantage women. A figure of 40 per cent was quoted in some quarters this week. It's not a gender pay gap, it's a sex pay gap. The ones who come off worst are invariably women. It's your sex, not your gender, that creates the disadvantage. What about the lowest paid in the hardest and least envied jobs the carers and the cleaners nearly all women, living in women's bodies and undervalued as a result? Are they ignorant of the fact that before 1918 none of them would have even had the right to vote? Have they not read the history of the suffrage movement and the cruelty of imprisonment and force-feeding suffered by the women who fought on their behalf? I've lived for 72 years as a woman and from the start I've known what that meant. A mother disappointed that she'd had a girl, not a boy. Memories of her telling me how the midwives had said, 'Ah you've got a sweet little girl' and not the 'Oh, a big strong boy,' she had hoped for. As an only child, having to satisfy her need for a successful and ambitious child (boy) and insistence that a girl should cook, clean, marry, give her grandchildren. At university, the tutor who never wanted to hear an essay composed by a girl and the older men who wouldn't take no for an answer. At work, the married men whose wandering hands were never kept at their sides. Being known as one of the 'Newsnight wives' during my two-year stint presenting the news programme. We two female presenters were invariably secondary to the men. And equal pay! I found one male BBC colleague, performing a similar role to mine, had been paid nearly twice as much as me for years and on and on. Politicians, come on! Know your own sex and support the 50 per cent of the world's population that shares it. Don't be afraid of who you are, and recognise how many of us depend on you for fair and equal treatment. Be fair to those with gender dysphoria, but remember if a man or woman has transitioned, they are a trans woman or a trans man. They will often need medical treatment that suits their sex, not their gender, and must respect single sex spaces in sport, in prisons, in hospital, in toilets and in refuges. Be clear in your own minds that sex is what you are, gender is how you present yourself. Don't be afraid to be clear about what a woman is. It's you, Anneliese, Nicola and Yvette. And refusing to acknowledge that is a betrayal of the millions who are now in danger of being erased. ...And the other writers NOT afraid to stand up Sarah Vine Mail columnist I am tempted to say that a woman is someone who picks up a lot of wet towels and knows where the sellotape is kept. A woman is whatever she wants to be doctor, writer, explorer, mother, war correspondent, politician. But she is also something else: one half of the biological equation that ensures the survival of the human race and of the vast majority of life forms on this planet. Whether she chooses to have children or not is entirely down to individual preference; but the fact remains that only a woman can menstruate, only a woman has ovaries and a womb, only a woman can give birth to new life. This is our one undeniable superpower, the one thing that makes us indispensable and the one thing they must never take away. Julie Burchill Writer A woman is someone who grew up as a girl. Who was approached by grown men for sex from the age of 12, even (especially) in her school uniform. A woman cannot opt out or in to being a woman when it suits them. We are the sum of our parts not just some of our parts. Liz Jones Mail columnist She is someone who talks. Non-stop. We gossip and bitch and dissect. Take a man to see the new Batman, as I've just done, and he'll mumble: 'Um, I enjoyed it.' Whereas a woman will analyse everything from the costumes to Robert Pattinson's eyebrows. Go for dinner with another woman and we barely come up for air. We giggle, too. We're funnier than men and completely and utterly merciless. ANNE-MARIE TREVELYAN Secretary of State for International Trade and Conservative MP This is one of the most enigmatic questions you can ask in the current universe. In my experience we are the ones who get on with it: problem-solvers, listeners, carers, cooks, builders, furniture movers. Oh, and, in our spare time, entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, MPs and even Secretaries of State! ALLEGRA McEVEDY Chef and broadcaster A woman is the complete circus: juggling, dancing, team-building, putting on an epic show and all while caring what people think. What she does makes others' jaws drop, but she doesn't shout about it, she just gets on with it. DIANA THOMAS Writer There are billions of women and some of us like me are trans. We are born this way. We did not choose our identity, only how to express it. We are daughters, sisters, friends, neighbours, workmates, wives but not threats. And all we ask is to be women, just like you. AMANDA PLATELL Mail columnist A woman is a grown-up girl born from a female's womb. She enters this world with two X chromosomes. She has a womb and ovaries and develops breasts, designed to succour her own children. She has periods for most of her life, then she has the menopause. She is not born with a penis. CLAUDIA CONNELL Mail writer What defines a woman is our interest in others. Introduce me to a new person and I'll know quickly how old she is, her marital status and who does her hair. Men are mostly only interested in themselves. DOROTHY BYRNE President of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University A woman is a troublemaker who never does what a man tells her to do. And I believe a woman is a person who self-identifies as a woman. JULIE BINDEL Writer and campaigner She is a human with two X chromosomes and a subordinate position in relation to men. There is nothing natural about our oppression and inequality which is why some women, like me, are feminists and challenge patriarchy. Women have female bodies; we menstruate, give birth and go through the menopause. Being female has its consequences, and is often fraught with difficulty. It is neither a costume nor an identity, but a material reality. Many young women see the end of their 20s as a time to take stock. If they are childless, they may begin to hear the tick of a biological clock as their thoughts turn to marriage and a settled family life surrounded by children. But Rebekah Hall, 28, simply cant imagine anything worse. Sometimes when I am out with my mother and sister, they will stop to coo over a newborn in a pram. But I have absolutely no interest in babies. I dont want to look at them or pick them up. And I certainly dont want to have one of my own. I never will. This may sound cold, but Rebekah is defiant. Motherhood is not for her. And so certain is she of her position that, last year, she took the drastic step of being permanently sterilised in an operation carried out by the NHS. I feel liberated now that the risk of getting pregnant by accident has been removed completely, she says. Its like a dark cloud that has hung over me since I was a teenager has been lifted. Its wonderful. Yet sterilisation is mired in controversy, with many questioning the wisdom of performing the procedure on young women who may live to regret the decision. According to the most recent figures published by NHS Digital, nearly 13,000 women had the operation in the years 2018-2019. Of those, 2,000 were aged just 25-29 although many of those already had children. Motherhood is not for school cook Rebekah Hall, 28, (above). And so certain is she of her position that, last year, she took the drastic step of being permanently sterilised - in an operation carried out by the NHS Guidelines from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) suggest that regret after the operation is a major problem in younger patients. Dr Sarah Gatiss says: Research has found regret is particularly common if women are sterilised before the age of 30, if they are childless, or if there is conflict between a woman and her partner. Additionally, the NHS does not routinely offer reversal operations in case a woman regrets a sterilisation. There are several ways a woman can be sterilised. The surgeon can apply clips or rings on the fallopian tubes to block them, or the tubes themselves can be tied, cut and a small piece removed. If these methods dont work, the tubes may be completely removed in an operation called bilateral salpingectomy, which is permanent and irreversible. But despite medics doubts, there is a growing movement among some younger childless women who are certain they will never change their minds and want to be sterilised. Rebekah, who works as a school cook, is one of them. Before her operation a clip sterilisation she fought for over a decade to, as she puts it, take control of her own body. The decision was purely personal. Ive never once felt maternal. Friends at school would talk about getting married, being a bride and having a family, and I never understood it. Before her operation a clip sterilisation she fought for over a decade to, as she puts it, take control of her own body. Pictured: Rebekah Hall as a baby Nothing in Rebekahs conventional family upbringing her mother was a nurse while her father worked as a paramedic would easily explain this choice. She recalls growing up in a happy home with lots of children coming in and out. I have one sister, who is four years younger, and we had lots of family friends that we classed as cousins because we were so close. Yet from very early on, she knew she didnt want something similar. I never enjoyed playing with dolls or playing families like my sister. My mum and dad noticed, but they never really commented on it. Theyve always just wanted me to be happy. In an age when parenthood is marked by increasingly extravagant celebrations from a lavish baby shower to themed, no-expense spared parties for a childs first birthday Rebekah is decidedly unusual. She rejects the growing sentimentality that surrounds having children, saying it simply never interested her. Its not just the idea of childbirth and pregnancy I dont like, she says. The responsibility of bringing up another human being is huge and I knew I never wanted it. I value my freedom too much to give it up. Is that so very wrong? Rebekah feels the decision should be hers alone. Yet others point out the cost to the NHS having the operation privately would have cost about 3,000 - although other contraception methods might add up to a larger bill for the health service over time. And concerned doctors also emphasise the inevitable impact of such a choice on those around her. Rebekah claims that was never a problem. My family never once tried to sway me or say: Youll change your mind. They have always been fully behind me, and so has my partner Sean, whos 30. Weve never had to have a big conversation about it, because weve always known each others feelings. 'Dont get me wrong, we are delighted when friends announce their own pregnancies, and Sean and I love being Auntie and Uncle, but we can never imagine having children of our own. Rebekah feels the decision should be hers alone. Yet others point out the cost to the NHS having the operation privately would have cost about 3,000 - although other contraception methods might add up to a larger bill for the health service over time. And concerned doctors also emphasise the inevitable impact of such a choice on those around her My mother-in-law has mentioned this means Seans name ends with him because hes an only child but its only ever said in a light-hearted way. My own parents happily refer to my cats as the grandchildren. The fact that Rebekah works at a school has confused some friends. They find it odd that I work around children, but just because I dont want my own, doesnt mean that I cant care for other peoples. Rebekah feels it was a friends accidental pregnancy when they were teenagers that solidified her own aversion to motherhood. I actually felt something close to disgust that a baby could take over my body, grow inside me and then force me to give birth, she says. The idea terrified me. Such was her fear that shortly after her friends baby was born, Rebekah, then 17, approached her GP for the first time about being sterilised. He didnt take me seriously at all. He said: Youre too young, youll change your mind and wouldnt even refer me to a consultant. I left feeling so despondent but also so angry. It really lit a fire in me. I knew I would never want children. So why was no one listening to what I wanted? As she was not even old enough to vote or buy alcohol, some will say the doctors reservations were justified. And they might point out that there are other effective, long-lasting ways to prevent pregnancy, such as the hormonal implant or the coil. But after going on the Pill at 19, Rebekah felt unhappy about what she saw as pumping her body full of synthetic hormones. Guidelines from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) suggest that regret after the sterilisation operation is a major problem in younger patients. [File image] She felt determined to fight to be sterilised and never have to worry about pregnancy again. She is, perhaps, fortunate in her partner. Sean and I have known each other since nursery school, so hes always known my feelings about having a baby and, luckily, he feels the same, she says. I recognise that many men do want children at some point, but he says he really doesnt. And if Sean has a change of heart? Rebekah says she has considered that possibility. He knows that if he ever changed his mind, it wouldnt be with me, she insists. She has been utterly convinced, since that first doctors visit, that this is the right course for her. Each rejection only made her more determined. By the age of 20, Id made it my mission to get this operation. At every GP appointment whether it was for a cough or contraception Id ask about sterilisation and, each time, theyd give me a flat No. Of course, I was young and I can understand why doctors might be hesitant to refer young women for sterilisation. It is not an operation that can be reversed easily or with much success and they dont want to be sued. But surely, with the correct psychological tests and statements from family, partner or friends, they should take women more seriously. I was always happy to sign a disclaimer saying it was my decision and wouldnt sue. It angers me that women cant have autonomy over their bodies. But Rebekah, who says she was never offered counselling for her decision, simply kept meeting with refusals from GPs to refer her to a consultant. So she decided the time had come to take more direct action. I asked for written statements from my mum, dad, aunt, boyfriend, sister and best friend, who all agreed Id never had any inkling of maternal feelings. I sent them to three consultants two NHS and one private. 'I was even considering taking out a loan for the operation to be done privately. One of them never even replied but the first to reply was a male NHS consultant who asked me to visit him. I took my mother and my partner to the appointment, for back-up. Despite us all saying I was happy to go ahead, he said it was an age thing and insisted I would change my mind. Again, I was so angry. How could these people make medical decisions for me when I knew my own body? By 2020, Rebekah says she was verging on depression, feeling she was being denied control of her future. Still on the Pill and not wanting the hassle of other forms of contraception such as condoms, she despaired of anything being done. While there is no absolute age threshold on sterilisation for men or women, according to the NHS most doctors are unlikely to support such a decision unless patients are over 30 and parents already. Sean could see how upset I was and asked what else we could do to take away this risk, she says. What is frustrating is that it would probably be much easier for him, as a man, to have a vasectomy than it would for me to have my tubes tied. He did offer. But Rebekah was reluctant to put her partner through an operation for her sake. And, remarkably, she had decided that only having the procedure herself would mean she was completely free from her worries about becoming pregnant. I told him I was going to get this operation, whatever it took. While there is no absolute age threshold on sterilisation for men or women, according to the NHS most doctors are unlikely to support such a decision unless patients are over 30 - and parents already. The third NHS consultant Rebekah had contacted replied to her letter and, as it turned out, she happened to be a parent at the school where Rebekah works. They chatted informally about her feelings beforehand and had a proper consultation in early 2020. This was the first female doctor Id spoken to about it and, finally, I felt like I was really being listened to, she says. I am not sure men understand as much and perhaps my treatment was sexist. I dont know. But I always felt that if Sean had been asking for a vasectomy, he wouldnt have been turned away so many times. I fully explained my feelings and, in turn, she explained all the implications of surgery. It is 99 per cent effective and she was willing to do it on the NHS but if I did change my mind and I wanted it reversed which could only have a small chance of success then I would have to get it done privately and it would cost thousands. 'But I knew I wasnt going to change my mind and by the second consultation in March 2020, I was signing a waiver form. Last April, Rebekah went into the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, where she had keyhole surgery under anaesthetic. Because of Covid regulations I had to go into hospital on my own, but I was so ready for it that I really wasnt that nervous, she says. I was just going to lie back, be put to sleep and it would all be over. The surgeon made three small incisions in my belly button and lower abdomen. My fallopian tubes had clips put on them and that was it I was sterilised. 'Waking up in the recovery room I was so groggy but remember saying Have you done it? and when the nurses said: Yes, its all done, I burst into tears of relief. It felt like Id been given the freedom to live my life as I choose. She was home with Sean the following day and, after two weeks off to recover, she was back at work. Today, Rebekah has absolutely no regrets. My best friend has just announced she is pregnant and we couldnt be more thrilled for her. Meanwhile, Im free to tootle along with my life and do as I please without the worry of contraception or getting pregnant. I have Sean, my cats Elara and Corvus, and two fish tanks Im happier than ever. My periods have settled back to normal after coming off the Pill and I feel calmer and happier. Im still furious that it takes a woman nearly a decade for medical professionals to listen to her. Some women wont have the strength for the fight I undertook and Im really grateful to have had the support of my friends and family. I was desperate at times and it really shouldnt have to be that way for any woman. He has 12 Guinness world records to his name and has dazzled Simon Cowell and Heidi Klum on America's Got Talent. Now dancing dog Daiquiri will wow Crufts judges as he takes to the ring at the world's biggest dog show this weekend. The blue merle Australian shepherd is pictured practising for tomorrow's freestyle heelwork to music competition at the Birmingham event. Despite a tortuous 36-hour, 7,000-mile journey from his home in Alberta, Canada, to the UK via Amsterdam, owner Jennifer Fraser is confident he will add another title to his collection. Daiquiri, six, has already scooped trophies in Italy, the US and Canada. His signature move involves jumping through a series of hoops, each smaller than the last. Mrs Fraser, 42, said: 'I have faith in him 100 per cent. I know he will be fantastic. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but I can teach Daiquiri things in minutes.' While living in Italy, the pair started busking together by accident. Despite a tortuous 36-hour, 7,000-mile journey from his home in Alberta, Canada, to the UK via Amsterdam, owner Jennifer Fraser is confident dancing dog Daiquiri will add another title to his collection Daiquiri, six, has already scooped trophies in Italy, the US and Canada. His signature move involves jumping through a series of hoops, each smaller than the last The blue merle Australian shepherd is pictured practising for tomorrow's freestyle heelwork to music competition at the Birmingham event She was putting Daiquiri through his paces while waiting with her childrens' hats and backpacks outside a museum when somebody put five euros in a hat. She added: 'I decided to put together a trick routine. In less than three weeks, I was making 170-250 an hour just on the streets playing with my dog.' Yesterday, after a practice session near the Airbnb he is staying in, Daiquiri was taken to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre to acclimatise to the venue, as dozens of fellow four-legged competitors were arriving. They included Old English sheepdogs being wheeled around in cages, a Newfoundland called Joe who sported his own personalised neckerchief, a lapdog in pink protective boots and a pair of poodles in leopard print coats. More than 20,000 dogs will take part in this year's show, culminating in the Best in Show award on Sunday evening. Daiquiri featured in season 15 of America's Got Talent (above), broadcast in 2020, where he dazzled judges Simon Cowell and Heidi Klum Crufts, which was founded in Islington, North London, in 1891 by Charles Cruft, was cancelled last year due to Covid. Pictured: An advert for Cruft's Dog Show held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, 1907 Crufts, which was founded in Islington, North London, in 1891 by Charles Cruft, was cancelled last year due to Covid. Daiquiri featured in season 15 of America's Got Talent, broadcast in 2020. His Guinness world records include the most clothes retrieved from a washing line by a dog in one minute (18) and the most consecutive items caught by a dog without dropping any (11). Around 30 Russian breeders and 51 dogs have been banned from this year's Crufts due to the country's invasion of Ukraine, after organiser The Kennel Club said it shared the world's 'dismay'. And now meet Daiquiri's fierce (and very furry) competition... Rounded up: Old English sheepdogs in line competing on the first day of Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham An Old English Sheepdog is groomed on the first day of Crufts 2022 Solidarity: Three French bulldogs don the Ukrainian colours at Crufts show in Birmingham Foodies will soon be able to get their hands on a DIY burger box and follow a cooking tutorial to create delicious gourmet fast food at home. Sydney burger chains Super Nash Brothers and Burger Head have teamed up to bring back their highly-requested burger boxes and cook-alongs from Saturday March 17 for a limited time. Each box contains everything you need to make your own indulgent gourmet burger and you can follow along as chefs from Burger Head and Super Nash Bros walk you through how to make them via a live online tutorial. Sydney burger chains Super Nash Brothers and Burger Head have teamed up to create DIY burger boxes and a live cook-along so foodies can create gourmet fast food in their own homes Each box contains everything you need to make your own indulgent burgers and you can follow along with chefs from Burger Head and Super Nash Bros as they walk you through how to make them Burger Head sold 1,200 of their DIY boxes in just two hours for their last live cook-along and with fellow Sydney foodies Super Nash Bros now on board, they are expected to move fast this time around as well. The boxes have all the ingredients you need to make either the 'Super Nash Sando' and 'OG Oklahoma Smash Burger' as well as an instruction card, sauces and seasoning packs. The 'Super Nash Sando' has seasoned chicken thigh, sweet and spicy pickles, shredded iceberg lettuce in a soft garlic milk bun and the 'OG Oklahoma Smash Burger' has a double smash patty with caramelised onion, American hi-melt cheese, dill pickles, and mustard mayonnaise. Burger Head co-owners Joshua De Luca and Timothy Rosenstrauss will host an online cook-along and share their secret tips and tricks to level-up your burger game at home. Burger Head sold 1200 of their DIY boxes in just two hours for their last live cook-along and with fellow Sydney foodies Super Nash Bros now on board, they are expected to move fast this time around as well In the cook-along Burger Head co-owners will take you through how to make their 'OG Oklahoma Smash Burger' then the team at Super Nash Bros will guide you through their 'Super Nash Sando' The team from Super Nash Bros will then will lead home chefs through the steps to make their signature 'sando' with some American culinary trivia along the way. The boxes are $35 each and will be on sale from March 17 at 9am until March 24 at 2pm for burger lovers across Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong and Melbourne. Each box also includes chips and the option to add on beers. They will be delivered on Monday March 28 and the live cook-long will start at 6pm on the Burger Head Facebook page. An Australian yoga teacher known for posting incredible travel and exercise-related content on her Instagram has explained how her ribs often 'slip' out of place, leaving her in excruciating pain. Sjana Elise Earp, who has 1.4million subscribers on the sharing platform, posted a video on Thursday showing how she does a very common yoga pose on the beach to stretch her obliques and spine. But instead of drawing attention to how good it felt, which she would normally do, the Queensland-based teacher said she is struggling with a condition known as rib subluxation. Sjana Elise Earp, who has 1.4million subscribers on the sharing platform, posted a video on Thursday showing how she does a very common yoga pose on the beach to stretch her obliques and spine It's a quasi dislocation of the region that can be caused by anything which stretches the rib or puts pressure on the sternum. 'I have an issue with my ribs... they have a mind of their own and sometimes like to sub-dislocate,' she wrote. 'When they do, it's the most excruciatingly painful experience and I'm literally brought to the earth unable to move or even breathe properly (as the rib sits on my lungs). It's a quasi dislocation of the region that can be caused by anything which stretches the rib or puts pressure on the sternum What is a rib subluxation? It's a quasi dislocation of the region that can be caused by anything which stretches the rib or puts pressure on the sternum. Unfortunately there is no simple cure to the rare phenomenon and Sjana's primary treatment, according to Heathline, would be to rest, ice it and avoid strenuous activity. Advertisement 'It happened moments after this video a few days ago, and I was able to make it onto my back and then had to lay there completely still for three hours (I got really bad sunburn and heat stroke) and thankfully my neighbours could eventually come help me.' Sjana explained that it used to happen to her once or twice a year but is now almost once a month - and takes a fortnight to recover from. 'This time however it hasn't popped itself back in, even after going to the chiropractor,' she said. 'Does this happen to anyone else? And if so, what do you do to pop it back in? Sjana explained that it used to happen to her once or twice a year but is now almost once a month - and takes a fortnight to recover from 'Usually the only thing that helps is laying on these little yoga balls I have. And they helped so much this time, but didn't pop it back in.' Seeking answers, Sjana's followers were only too keen to help out the yogi. 'I have had it happen skateboarding before. I've never had a go to easy fix but I did find laying on an inversion table eased the discomfort and eventually it would pop back in out of the blue,' one man responded. 'The muscles around your ribs there (serratus posterior, latissimus, and abdominals) need a good massage! That's probably why the balls feel so good! Find a neuromuscular therapist. They can help work the tissue and stretch or strengthen the proper muscles to help recover and prevent future subluxations,' one woman added. Unfortunately there is no simple cure to the rare phenomenon and Sjana's primary treatment, according to Heathline, would be to rest, ice it and avoid strenuous activity. A parade of adorable pooches hit the streets of Birmingham today as Crufts returned for the event's second day. Canines were seen arriving wearing an array of stylish outfits including onesies with fashionable prints, rainbow coats and an adorable knitted bonnet. Among the early arrivals was an adorable long haired dachshund, two greyhounds donning multicoloured outfits and a pair of poodles dressed in some very trendy black and gold ensembles. Owners and pets and will see canines from around the world will compete in agility and obedience competitions over the next three days with one being named best in show on Sunday. Poodles stepped out in Birmingham in chain-print onesies with furr cuffs as day two of Crufts got underway Canines ready to walk the catwalk arrived wearing an array of stylish outfits, including this pair of greyhounds donning rainbow coats An adorable pair of Greyhounds donned matching rainbow coats as they arrived at the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre One dog donned an adorable knitted bonnet as they arrived for the second day of the Crufts Dog Show Rocking a stylish head scarf, an Afghan hound arrived for the second day of the event at the NEC in Birmingham Looking incredibly stylish, one Afghan hound rocked a white and red monochrome headscarf paired with blue and black booties Owners and their dogs arrive for the Terrier and Hound day at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham today One hound arrived at the event wearing a space-themed onesie featuring multicoloured stars and planets Three pooches donned matching rainbow striped onesies as they arrived at the second day of Crufts 2022 One excited pooch stood up on his hind legs while donning a rainbow onesie at the prestigious event today Ready to strike a paws! A pair of adorable bichon frise dogs looked delighted to attend the second day of the prestigious event, held at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) One fashionable Afghan Hound donned black booties paired with a glittery knitted ensemble complete with black netting and tassels Three Wire Haired Dachshunds arrived on the second day of the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham this morning A group of terriers were among the arrivals at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham for Crufts Welcoming over 20,000 dogs of all shapes and sizes under one roof, Crufts 2022 began on Thursday and will culminate with the prestigious Best in Show on Sunday. The official launch of the event at the NEC in Birmingham comes after being cancelled in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. With around 200 breeds vying for the Best in Show title, this year's event will see a record-breaking 16 hours broadcast for dog-lovers across the UK on Channel 4 and More4. Alongside the ever popular fast-paced agility and flyball competitions, Crufts 2022 will feature competitions such as The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award, celebrating dogs who have helped their owners. One early arrival hoping to bag Best in Show was seen donning a burgundy coat and a purple scarf decorated with white stars This Greyhound donned a blue and purple tartan outfit as they arrived at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre today A pair of Greyhounds donned bright pink coats with purple collars as they arrived at the dog event today Dogs arrive on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham this morning Owners walked their dogs as they arrived on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre Owners were seen walking three Greyhounds wearing matching purple jackets ahead of the event today One owner was seen pushing a cage as her Dachshund trotted along beside her on the second day of Crufts One dog was seen travelling to the event venue in style as another adorable pooch trotted along behind him ahead of competing at the second day of Crufts 2022 One poodle was seen staring up at their owner ahead of competing in the second day of Crufts 2022 A group of bichon frise dogs were seen arriving on the second day of the renowned dog show this morning With around 200 breeds vying for the Best in Show title - including this adorable long haired dachshund - this year's event will see a record-breaking 16 hours broadcast for dog-lovers across the UK Among the early arrivals was a group of terriers and one Chinese crested dog wearing a very stylish purple onesie One owner was seen walking his group of Greyhounds wearing matching burgundy coats ahead of the second day of Crufts 2022 Owners were seen transporting their pooches in mobile carriers as they arrived at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) today Two hounds donned matching brown coats decorated with multicoloured spots as they arrived at the event A group of Basset Hound's arrived on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham Two poodles arrived alongside their owner on the second day of the prestigious dog event in Birmingham today Parson Russell Terrier's arrived on the second day of Crufts 2022 donning purple velour onesies Arriving at Crufts 2022 was a Greyhound donning a coat decorated with a leopard print collar An Old English Sheepdog arrives on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham Crufts returns this year after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and a group of terriers were seen on their way to the event One stylish Afghan Hound arrived at the dog event donning a knitted bonnet and bright yellow booties Donning a brown bonnet and yellow shoes, an Afghan Hound arrives on the second day of the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham An Old English Sheepdog donned a red scarf around their neck as they arrived for the Terrier and Hound day at the National Exhibition Centre Two Greyhounds donned bright pink and space-themed, multicoloured coats as they arrived at the event A Basset Hound walks with his owner as they arrive on the second day of the Crufts Dog Show A Basset Hound and English Mastiff are seen arriving on the second day of the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham A pair of Bedlington Terrier's arrived on the second day of Crufts for the Terrier and Hound day Dogs arriving for the second day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre wearing colourful jackets Meanwhile the Scruffts Family Crossbreed of the Year competition will see breeds compete against each other in teams to prove who is the 'goodest dog'. The show will see various breeds returning from near extinction or competing for the first time - with 19 Harriers vying for the 'top dog' Best in Show crown for the first time since 1898. The Harrier is an ancient, medium-sized, British scenthound breed, like a small Foxhound, but larger than a Beagle. This specialist breed was recognised by The Kennel Club in 2020, after Harriers had all but disappeared in the UK in the 1920s. In 2021, a revival year for the breed, The Kennel Club registered 38 Harrier puppies and there are 19 competing at Crufts 2022 for the Best in Show crown for the first time in over 120 years. Meanwhile the Smooth Faced Pyrenean Sheepdog will compete for the Best in Show title at Crufts for the first time ever, after being recognised as the 222nd breed by The Kennel Club last year. There are just two competing for Best in Show at Crufts 2022. A group of greyhounds arrived at the prestigious event wearing adorable blue coats decorated with white stars Owners were seen transporting their pooches to the event at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on the second day of Crufts 2022 One early arrival hoping to bag Best in Show was seen donning a burgundy coat and a purple scarf decorated with white stars One adorable Afghan hound arrived at the event today, which was postponed for two years due to Covid, wearing a glittery knitted bonnet An excited group of greyhounds rushed towards the event venue ahead of competing at Crufts 2022 Two pooches arrived at the second day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Owners and their dogs arrive arrive on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre Dogs arrive on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham this morning A group of dogs wearing matching blue coats decorated with stars arrive on the second day of Crufts 2022 with their owners Greyhounds donning colourful jackets arrive on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre A trio of dogs wearing matching blue coats decorated with stars arrive on the second day of Crufts 2022 Dogs arrive in a cage on the second day of Crufts 2022 at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham A favourite of Crufts TV presenter Clare Balding, the Hungarian Pumi is also newcomer to the UK, recognised by The Kennel Club in 2015 and first seen at Crufts in 2016 in various import breed classes and activities, like agility. For Crufts 2022, the 31 Hungarian Pumis competing will have their own breed classes for the first time and will be vying for the Best in Show title. Yesterday's launch also saw Paralympics presenter Sophie Morgan take her place as host for Crufts on Channel 4. Speaking at the launch earlier this week, Sophie commented: 'I'm so happy Crufts is back! Every dog has its day at this amazing event and these three breeds making history are among them. 'I can't wait for the show to officially begin on Thursday and to be a part of it, and meet lots more dogs!' An 11-year-old boy who braved the 600-mile journey from southeastern Ukraine to the Slovakian border by himself has spoken for the first time since being reunited with his siblings in Bratislava. Hassan crossed the country with only a plastic bag, passport, and telephone number scribbled on his hand, in a story that has won the hearts of people from around the world. His mother Julia Pisecka, a widow, remained in their hometown of Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops struck a nuclear power plant last week, to continue caring for her elderly and immobile mother who is unable to flee. On reaching the border, Hassan's 'smile, fearlessness and determination' won over officials who helped him cross into Slovakia. They contacted his family in the country using the phone number and a note that was tied to his waist. Speaking on Good Morning Britain via video link, Hassan and his four older siblings spoke of their joy at being reunited. In a poignant moment, the boy said he 'isn't thinking about the future' and is happy to be 'safe'. Hassan crossed the country with only a plastic bag, passport, and telephone number scribbled on his hand, in a story that has won the hearts of people from around the world Speaking on Good Morning Britain via video link, Hassan and his four older siblings spoke of their joy at being reunited in Bratislava after his journey Their mother Julia Pisecka, pictured, a widow, remained in their hometown of Zaporizhzhia, where Russian troops struck a nuclear power plant last week, to continue caring for her elderly and immobile mother who is unable to flee Hassan braved the 600-mile journey from southeastern Ukraine to the Slovakian border by himself. Above, a map illustrating the 11-year-old's journey across the country 'He says the most important is to be in the place where he has family,' his older sister said, translating Hassan's words. 'He likes this city because it's safe. He doesn't know about the future because he doesn't know about the situation in Ukraine. He is not thinking about the future, he just wants to be with us.' Hassan's story garnered global attention after it emerged he made the lengthy journey unaccompanied, with little in the way of personal possessions. He took a number of trains travelling west across to the Slovakian border, where he was spotted by officials who were struck by his 'smile, fearlessness and determination, worthy of a true hero'. They helped him reach the other side, where relatives were phoned and came to collect him. It is unclear when Hassan's siblings left for Slovakia but they confirmed their worried mother remains in the warzone in Ukraine. In a poignant moment during the Good Morning Britain interview, the boy said he 'isn't thinking about the future' and is just 'happy to be safe' Hassan's story garnered global attention after it emerged he made the lengthy journey unaccompanied, with little in the way of personal possessions He took a number of trains travelling west across to the Slovakian border, where he was spotted by officials who were struck by his 'smile, fearlessness and determination, worthy of a true hero'. Above, the phone number written on his hand Officials helped him reach the other side, where relatives were phoned and came to collect him Asked about the scariest part of his journey, Hassan said it was travelling in a crowded train carriage surrounded by strangers. 'The train was very, very full, there were 300 people in one carriage,' his sister translated. 'The kids and the people were sitting in the hall and everyone was talking in foreign languages and he wasn't understanding so that was the scariest [part of the journey] for him.' The siblings told how they had been worried for their youngest brother as he set out on his journey, noting that before the war he hadn't even wanted to spend a night away at summer camp because he had been too afraid. His sibling said: 'I wasn't believing it because he's the youngest in our family and he can't even make tea by himself so I was very, very worried when he was going to cross the border by himself. He doesn't even visit summer camp because he can't leave us.' Asked about the scariest part of his journey, Hassan said it was travelling in a crowded train carriage surrounded by strangers. Pictured, Hassan being helped by volunteers One of Hassan's older brothers said the family are 'very, very happy' because 'nothing happened to him, he is healthy' and added jokingly: 'And now I can tease him'. The children said their thoughts are with their mother, saying: 'Everyone who was with her her whole life we all left her all in oen moment. For her it was the most difficult for her than for us. She is so happy that Hassan is with us.' Her eldest son added: 'We think about our mother and we miss our mother.' Concerned mother Julia explained the situation in a video shared hours after Hassan reached safety. 'I am a widow and I have more children. I want to thank the Slovak customs and volunteers who took care of my son and helped him cross the border,' she said in the clip posted by the Police of the Slovak Republic. 'I am grateful you have saved my child's life. Next to my town is a nuclear power plant that the Russians are shooting at. 'I couldn't leave my mother, she can't move on her own. People with a big heart live in your small country.' Hassan's story was originally shared on social media by the Slovakia Interior Ministry. A Facebook post read: 'Volunteers took care of him, took him warm and provided him with food and drink, which they packed for the next trip. 'He won them all over with his smile, fearlessness and determination, worthy of a true hero. 'Thanks to the number on the hand and a piece of paper in the waist, we managed to contact relatives who came for him later and the whole story ended well.' In another post, the country's interior minister wrote: 'Little Hassan is only 11 years old, but in his way he has shown huge determination, courage and fearlessness that sometimes adults don't have. Strikes: Hassan is from Zaporizhzhia, where Russian forces struck a nuclear power plant, above 'I am really very sorry for him and all the other children and their families who have to flee their country because of what is happening in Ukraine.' Roman Mikulec added that Slovakia is 'ready to help' those fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'You will find security with us and if you ask for temporary protection, you will be provided with health care, social security, food, accommodation, education and job opportunities,' he wrote on Facebook. 'The fact that you ask for temporary protection in Slovakia does not mean that you will not be able to travel to other EU countries.' Russian troops had attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is the largest in Europe and creates around 20 per cent of Ukraine's electricity, in the early hours of last Friday. CCTV capturing 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. ADDIS ABABA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Sugar Corporation (ESC) disclosed Friday the Chinese-built Tana Bales No. 1 sugar factory it owns has started production. In a press statement, the ESC said the sugar factory, which was built by the China CAMC Engineering Corporation Limited (CAMCE), started producing white sugar Thursday after several months of preparatory work. The Tana Bales No. 1 sugar factory project in the East African country's northern Amhara region started construction in 2012, with a planned completion date of around 18 months, but the construction didn't proceed smoothly as expected. By the end of 2017, only about 60 percent of the project was completed. CAMCE, a company that belongs to China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), took over the sugar project in September 2019 and started construction. The ESC also disclosed that Tana Beles No. 1 sugar factory is expected to produce 20,000 metric tons of sugar by the end of the current Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2021/2022, which will end on July 7. The Tana Beles No. 1 sugar project is expected to crush about 12,000 metric tons of sugar cane and produce around 1,000 metric tons of sugar daily. The sugar project has also an installed capacity of 45 megawatts (MW) of electric energy, contributing to Ethiopia's blueprint for raising the country's electrification coverage from around 60 percent currently to 100 percent by 2025. Dr Sandra Lee left fans squirming after removing an unfortunately placed lipoma which fans said looked like a 'third testicle' on Dr Pimple Popper. In the latest episode of the reality show, which aired in the US on Wednesday and will be broadcast in the UK next week, assistant pastor Jeremy visited the doctor with a lump hanging from his groin region. He explained the mass had started as a small lump five years ago, but had tripled in size over the past three years, making it difficult to sit down and causing pain in his hip and back. Upon further inspection Dr Lee discovered the mass was in fact a harmless lipoma - a soft, fatty lump which grows underneath the skin and doesn't usually need treatment. Dr Sandra Lee left fans squirming after removing an unfortunately placed lipoma which fans said looked like a 'third testicle' on Dr Pimple Popper Ahead of the episode airing in the US, Dr Lee took to Instagram to tease fans, sharing a picture of the mass (pictured) with the caption: 'Tonight (its not what you think) on TLC a NEW episode of Dr Pimple Popper' 'It started as a bump about five years ago but the last three years it has over tripled in size', said Jeremy, from California, as he arrived in the clinic. 'Because it's there I can't sit straight, so then it causes my hip and my back to hurt.' After explaining his issue, Dr Lee said: 'Jeremy is a sweet guy, but a bump in this part for anyone would be difficult'. 'So I have to really make sure that he can maintain his modesty but show me what's going on so that I can see what can be done.' Jeremy appeared on the reality show because he was worried about the mass, which appeared five years ago but had rapidly increase din size over the last five years He explained the mass had tripled in size over the past three years, making it difficult to sit down and causing pain in his hip and back Jeremy visited the doctor with a lump hanging from his groin region, which the doctor explained was pedunculated, because it was hanging off a 'little stalk' WHAT IS A LIPOMA? Lipomas are non-cancerous lumps caused by an overgrowth of fat cells. They can form anywhere on the body, but are most common on the neck, shoulders, abdomen and back. They are usually just under the skin, shaped like a dome and soft to touch. They occur in about one in every 1,000 people in the US. and about one in 100 people in the UK. Doctors are unsure of what causes lipomas, but believe it may be due to an inherited faulty gene or physical trauma. Most do not cause any pain unless they are deep in the body and press on nerves or organs. If a lipoma affects the bowels, it may cause constipation and nausea. Most lipomas do not need removing, but surgery may be necessary if the growth is large, causing symptoms or unsightly. Source: Cleveland Clinic Advertisement Following an examination, the doctor revealed the mass was a lipoma, which are slow-growing fatty lumps located between your skin and the underlying muscle layer which aren't usually painful. Dr Lee explained the mass was pedunculated, because it was hanging off a 'little stalk' and that she had seen similar lumps on male clients previously. 'I've seen a bump similar to this before in this kind of area', she said. 'What is it with men that they like to grow bumps to this large size in this area?' Ahead of the surgery, the doctor was concerned about bleeding in the sensitive area and wanted to ensure she could stitch up Jeremy tightly so the wound would not open up after the operation. Following an examination, the doctor revealed the mass was a lipoma, which are slow-growing fatty lumps located between your skin and the underlying muscle layer Ahead of the surgery, the doctor was concerned about bleeding in the sensitive area and wanted to ensure she could stitch up Jeremy tightly so the wound would not open up after the operation Dr Lee began by splitting the mass into two halves because of its large size before draining all the puss from the lump and stitching Jeremy back up Dr Lee removed the lipoma and Jeremy is pictured before and after having the fatty lump removed from his groin area Dr Lee began by splitting the mass into two halves because of its large size before draining all the puss from the lump and stitching Jeremy back up. Ahead of the episode airing in the US, Dr Lee took to Instagram to tease fans, sharing a picture of the mass with the caption: 'Tonight (its not what you think) on TLC a NEW episode of Dr Pimple Popper'. The post received thousands of likes and comments from shocked fans, with one writing: 'What did y'all think this was at first? I thought it was a ball-sack'. 'Oh my god my jaw dropped', said another very surprised fan. 'My eyes bulged out of my head as I scrolled by', wrote a third. Dr Pimple Popper airs on TLC on Wednesdays in the US Queen Letizia of Spain nailed springtime glamour today as she attended Madrid Fashion Week in a clean white flowing dress with towering red shoes Queen Letizia of Spain nailed springtime glamour today as she attended Madrid Fashion Week in a clean white ensemble with towering red shoes. The mother-of-two, 49, looked elegant in a the flowing number that was cinched at the waist and wrapped around her legs with a double split in the front. She added a flowing arm with a scoop neck to the top of the dress, and wore her brunette hair down and flowing as she commanded attention at the fashion event. Queen Letizia of Spain nailed springtime glamour today as she attended Madrid Fashion Week in a clean white ensemble with towering red shoes The mother-of-two, 49, looked elegant in a the flowing number that was cinched at the waist and wrapped around her legs with a double split in the front The monarch added a red crocodile print-style show and matching handbag and finished the look off with her wedding ring. Keeping jewellery to a minimum, the style star let her statement dress steal the show, adding just a small gold hoop to complement the look. A supporter of the fashion industry, Letizia was seen looking through racks and chatting to designers who showcased their collections. She was without her husband King Felipe VI, 54 who returned to duty two weeks ago after testing positive for Covid-19 early last month. The monarch added a red crocodile print-style show and matching handbag and finished the look off with her wedding ring A supporter of the fashion industry, Letizia was seen looking through racks and chatting to designers who showcased their collections Spanish Queen Letizia arriving to 75 edition to Pasarela Cibeles Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid 2022 in Madrid Letizia met Felipe VI at a dinner party in 2002, and the pair enjoyed an instant connection, leading to their royal wedding in May 2004 The royal often uses her clothes to make a statement, last week she sent a supportive message to the people of Ukraine as she sported one of the country's traditional blouses to chair an event for the Mutua Madrilena Foundation in Madrid. Her folk blouse, known as the 'vyshyvanka' is a national Ukrainian embroidered shirt. Letizia met Felipe VI at a dinner party in 2002, and the pair enjoyed an instant connection, leading to their royal wedding in May 2004. The former newsreader is the granddaughter of a taxi driver and the eldest daughter of Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez, a journalist, and first wife Maria de la Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez, a nurse and hospital union representative. She attended public high school and did a degree at the Complutense University of Madrid. She later gained an MA in Audiovisual Journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism. Letizia stays covid safe in a face mask as she chatted with designers. The royal often uses her clothes to make a statement Spanish Queen Letizia arriving to 75 edition to Pasarela Cibeles Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Madrid King Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son, now King Felipe VI. Earlier this week, the style star was joined by her husband King Felipe at the Inauguration of the Tour of Talent and proclamation of the Princess of Girona Foundation's Arts and Literature Award at La Termica Cultural Centre and Edgar Neville Auditorium in Malaga. For the outing, she paired her midi dress with a small white clutch bag and sophisticated navy stilettos, opting for simple gold earrings. The monarch opted for understated make-up with peachy tones and a sparkling bronze eyeshadow. Meanwhile, Felipe wore a sauve light grey suit contrasting with a vibrant pink tie and burgundy loafers with tassel detail. The annual Tour of Talent started on 3 March, in Malaga, to promote a movement for the future of young people in Spain, and generate a community of opportunities that connect, activate and enhance their talent. The Queen is seeking a 'proactive and flexible' helicopter pilot to join her team of 'high flyers' within the royal household. The role, which is based in Odiham near Hampshire, means joining The Queens Helicopter Flight, a small team of pilots and ground support staff who fly the royals across the UK. The salary package is described online as 'competitive' and the role includes the planning and safe execution of flights. The new role comes after Her Majesty, 95, reportedly urged Prince William to stop flying helicopters with his family because she is 'terrified' that disaster could strike. The Queen is seeking a 'proactive and flexible' helicopter pilot to join her team of 'high flyers' within the royal household The advert reads: 'The Queens Helicopter Flight (TQHF) consists of a small team of pilots and ground support, providing the highest standard of helicopter service to Members of the Royal Family on official engagements. 'You will be responsible for the planning and safe execution of flights in accordance with TQHF Operations Manual.' Upon joining the team, the applicant will take on the role of 'Co-Pilot or Pilot in Command' and will operate a Sikorsky S76 C++ helicopter. The advert goes on: 'In addition to your flying duties you will undertake management tasks and other administrative duties, supporting the Director of Flight Operations. The new role comes after Her Majesty, 95, reportedly urged Prince William to stop flying helicopters with his family because she is 'terrified' that disaster could strike Meanwhile applicants must have 'extensive flying experience' and be a 'natural collaborator' with 'excellent communication skills and confidence liaising with a wide range of people'. They should also have 'high levels of attention to detail and time management skills' as well as being 'driven to operate consistently to the highest standard.' The description continues: 'Your initiative and problem-solving skills mean that you can think ahead and act proactively.' It comes after reports the Queen has had 'several conversations' with William, 39, asking him to 'stop flying himself, particularly in bad weather' amid fears an accident could threaten the line of succession. Prince William is a competent pilot who has flown with the Royal Air Force, serving as search a rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey in North Wales, and the East Anglia Air Ambulance Unofficial rules usually prevent senior royals from flying together but the regulations have been relaxed since William's children were born, allowing for the young family to spend more time together. William, Kate and their children George, eight, Charlotte, six, and Louis, three, split their time between Kensington Palace in London and Anmer Court in Norfolk, and regularly fly the 115miles between the two homes. William is second in line to the throne behind his father Charles, the Prince of Wales, while is son George is third in the order of succession. A source close to the Queen told the Sun: 'Her Majesty has told close friends and courtiers that she would like William to stop flying himself, particularly in bad weather, as helicopters are not the safest form of transport. The family (pictured together in 2017) have flown together, often with a pilot and crew but sometimes with William at the controls, since they asked for permission to do so after the birth of Prince George in 2013 'It keeps the Queen awake at night and she is understandably very worried. 'She knows William is a capable pilot but does not think it is worth the risk for all five of them to carry on flying together and can't imagine what would happen. It would spark a constitutional crisis. 'The Queen has told William she is worried that, however good he is as a pilot, bad weather and accidents can strike at any time. 'The Queen is delighted in the way William and Kate have risen to the challenge in recent years and knows the monarchy is safe in their hands. 'She thinks the future is bright with them at the helm after Charles but if something happened to him and the family it doesn't bear thinking about.' The family have flown together, often with a pilot and crew but sometimes with William at the controls, since they asked for permission to do so after the birth of Prince George in 2013. The family are thought to be looking for a home in Windsor, to avoid the need for regular helicopter trips. As the pandemic subsides, loneliness has become the new affliction spreading through the Big Apple. According to a citywide health survey, more than half of residents reported 'feeling lonely' sometimes, with more than two thirds saying they felt socially isolated in the past four weeks. Dr Dave Chokshi, the commissioner of the city's Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, penned an op-ed for CNBC declaring this an 'epidemic of loneliness'. While the pandemic exacerbated the issue, he notes that loneliness has long been an unaddressed problem for Americans. A recent survey found that 57% of New Yorkers feel lonely and 67% have felt socially isolated within the past four weeks. Pictured: New Yorkers walk around Herald Square in New York City 'The truth is, loneliness has been hiding in plain sight for years in America,' Chokshi wrote. 'Rigorous scientific studies on the negative health effects of loneliness and social isolation exist yet public health action has remained uneven.' He warns that in America's longing to get back to normal in a post-pandemic world, the lonely should not be ignored or left behind. Dr Dave Chokshi (pictured), commissioner of NYC's s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, said that loneliness should not be ignored as the world returns to 'normal', post-pandemic life Covid had a disastrous impact on the mental health of Americans. New York City, the often bustling 'City the Never Sleeps', was subject to strict lockdown measures when the pandemic first arrived years ago. Iconic locations like Times Square were empty during peak hours as stores and restaurants were closed and residents stayed home fearing the virus. The rate of anxiety and depression among U.S. adults quadrupled during the first year of the pandemic, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found. School closures and other disruptions to life caused by the pandemic have been blamed for an uptick in youth mental health issues as well. These factor exacerbated an issue that was in 'the shadows' as many already were isolated before the pandemic arrived in early 2020. He recommends a few fixes that his city, and others around the country could potentially implement to help those dealing with loneliness. 'First, we must reduce barriers to care by meeting people where they are, in the neighborhoods they live in not just expect them to come to where providers happen to be,' he wrote. He also believes that regular neighborhood and community events can get people out of apartments and into social settings where they can meet new people and form bonds with others. Chokshi believes that community events that bring people together over their similarities can play a role in solving the loneliness-crisis that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Pictured: Young New Yorkers walk through the city on March 7 'Public health must work together with residents to plan programs which improve social connections,' he wrote. 'Communities deserve to have a voice in what they need and want, and city agencies then help provide the resources, with community partners.' He cites 'parent cafes' in Harlem, that bring together people in the area to bond over a common life situation. Chokshi also says that just general public education can be a valuable tool, and reminding people that they are not alone and that resources exist through subway and television advertisements could be enough to help some. Finally, he mentions some structural issues that could contribute to the city's mental health crisis. 'Our work must acknowledge the structural underpinnings of so much stress and trauma in our society,' he writes. 'The most at risk of loneliness are people in marginalized communities, because unequal access to food, housing, education and health care impacts a sense of belonging.' The flu shot used during the 2021 to 2022 virus season was a poor match and did little to prevent circulation, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report finds. Researchers found that the vaccine only reduced the number of mild influenza by 16 percent, which they do not consider statistically significant. The flu strain that struck America this year was of the H3N2 strain, one of the more dangerous versions of the virus, and the shot was not tailored to the specific version of the virus that ended up emerging. Experts had warned of a brutal flu season this year for months leading up to it, after the virus had trouble circulating the previous season leaving many without antibodies to combat it. Many Americans did get their flu shots, which health officials recommend to prevent the virus, but they did little to actually protect them from infection. The CDC finds that the 2021-22 iteration of the flu vaccine did little to protect people against infection from the virus, though flu season was still not as brutal as expected. Pictured: A woman in Lakewood, California, receives her flu shot on October 14 'This interim estimate of 202122 influenza VE suggests that influenza vaccination did not significantly reduce the risk of outpatient medically attended illness with influenza A viruses that have predominated so far this season,' CDC researchers wrote in the study. Data for the study, which was published Thursday afternoon, was gathered from 3,600 patients across seven states. In total, 41 percent of people in the study who tested positive for the flu were vaccinated and 50 percent of those who tested negative were unvaccinated. After adjustments, the researchers calculated a 16 percent level of infection risk for people who were vaccinated. The believed efficacy of the vaccine was 40 to 60 percent at preventing infections from the virus. Experts at the University of Pennsylvania raised concerns about the shots late last year. A pre-print study found that the antibodies provided to the body by the vaccine where not effective against the H3N2 strain circulating at the time. The CDC also notes in the study that vaccine coverage this flu season was worse than in previous years. 'Influenza vaccination coverage is lower so far this season in certain groups, including some groups who are at high risk for severe influenza or complications from influenza, such as persons who are pregnant, infants, and preschool-aged children, as well as persons from racial and ethnic minority groups,' researchers wrote. The version of the virus is also one of the more worrying ones, with it being fast mutating and more able to cause hospitalization and death in the vulnerable populations. While the vaccine did little to prevent infection, experts are still confident that it was effective at preventing the worst symptoms of the virus. This is similar to the COVID-19 vaccines, which were still effective at preventing hospitalization and death even after the immunity against infection began to wane. Experts predicted that this flu season would be brutal, as the virus would come roaring back after being wiped out by Covid last year. It was described as 'mild' though, even despite a lower vaccination rate and many people leaving behind things like masks and social distancing as fear of Covid began to wane as well. Experts are not sure why the flu season they expected did not materialize, but it is clear that the vaccines did not play as much of a role as expected. Advertisement Cancer diagnosis and treatment times in England have reached all-time lows, with the NHS recording its worst-ever performance in eight out of nine of its standards in January. The figures come just a month after Health Secretary Sajid Javid promised to launch a 'national war on cancer', in an attempt to improve Britain's lagging survival rates for the disease. Now official data shows one in four suspected cancer patients did not get to see a consultant within the crucial two weeks of an urgent referral from their GP, a total of 50,723 patients. With just 75 per cent of patients seen within this time, it marks the lowest share since data was first collected in October 2009. NHS guidelines state 93 per cent of patients should see a specialist after an urgent referral. Additionally, only 62 per cent of patients diagnosed with cancer had started treatment within two months of their original referral in January another record low. It means 5,161 people with potentially worsening cancer in England were still waiting to start treatment. The NHS benchmark is for 85 per cent of cancer patients to start treatment within two months of their referral and while January's figure is a record worst, the health service has struggled to hit this for years. Rapid diagnosis and treatment for cancer, in the form of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery, is a key factor in improving survival outcomes for patients with the disease. The latest figures show that the NHS recorded six other new lows for cancer performance in January including targets for specific cancers and for patients to have surgery to remove tumours. Mr Javid has said he will set out a 10-year cancer plan later this year to turn the NHS' cancer record around, with the UK lagging behind other major European nations like France and Sweden in survival rates by up to a decade. NHS cancer diagnosis and treatment targets have spiralled to record lows in the vast majority of metrics and with one exception, which has no target, all are below the health service's operation standard. NHS plans to SCRAP target of seeing suspected cancer patients within two weeks NHS England's two week target for suspected cancer patients to see a specialist could be scrapped under new plans. It could be replaced with a new 'faster diagnostics standard', where patients who have been urgently referred should be diagnosed in 28 days or have the disease ruled out. Health chiefs said the current two-week goal sets no expectation of when patients should be given the all-clear or told they have cancer. The NHS said the proposals, which comes just a month after Sajid Javid declared a 'national war on cancer' in a bid to improve Britain's survival rate for the disease, are based on recommendations of an independent taskforce. Cancer Research UK claimed it should lead to improvements in diagnosis times but called for a plan to boost the workforce. However, Breast Cancer Now admitted it was disappointed that NHS England had watered down the ambitions of the Independent Cancer Taskforce (ICT) report. 'The ICT recommended the ambition should be for 95 per cent of people to be diagnosed with cancer, or have cancer ruled out within 28 days of urgent referral by 2020,' said Baroness Delyth Morgan, of Breast Cancer Now. 'We're deeply concerned NHS England has significantly lowered its ambition for rapid diagnosis by setting the target for the new Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) at 75 per cent by March 2024.' Other new proposed cancer targets include for patients who receive a cancer diagnosis to start treatment within nine weeks from the date of their initial referral, dubbed a 62-day referral to treatment standard. Patients must start first treatment within a month of a decision to treat them, the guidelines say. The latest NHS cancer treatment statistics recorded the worst ever level of cancer referrals. Some 202,816 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in January but only 75 per cent had their first consultant appointment within two weeks, the lowest percentage in records going back to October 2009. Advertisement NHS England has also recently released consultation on proposed new cancer targets which would see the two week target for suspected cancer patients to see a specialist scrapped in favour of a diagnostic standard where they should be diagnosed in 28 days or have the disease ruled out. In further signs of the mammoth backlog of care facing patients in England, the latest data also revealed NHS waiting lists for routine operations hit yet another record high of 6.1million. Macmillan Cancer Support director of advocacy, Eve Byrne, said yet another round of worst-ever records was 'deeply troubling' for cancer patients in England. She added that any new Government measures or targets to improving cancer care in England will fail without a plan to increase the workforce. The poor performance data comes as NHS England currently runs a consultation on ditching the two week target for suspected cancer patients to see a specialist. It will instead be replaced with a new 'faster diagnostics standard', where 75 per cent patients who have been urgently referred should be diagnosed in 28 days or have the disease ruled out by March 2024. But the latest data shows NHS England, which already records this data, only managed to have 63.8 per cent of suspected cancer patients diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days in January. Data on this metric only goes back to April 2021 so there are no comparable figures for January 2021, but this is the lowest percentage recorded so far. Other cancer metrics also fared poorly with an NHS performance target for breast cancer also recording a worst ever low. Fewer than half of the roughly 10,000 suspected breast cancer patients (49.4 per cent) in England were seen by consultant within two weeks of a GP referral. The NHS standard is to have 93 per cent of such patients seen within a fortnight. A target to have cancer patients start treatment for their disease within a month of a decision to undergo treatment also declined in January. Only 89.6 per cent of the about 25,000 patients in this group commenced their cancer treatment within that timeframe, the lowest ever proportionally. The NHS standard is to have 96 per cent of these patients starting treatment within a month. This cancer care performance metric is further broken down into three targets depending on the type of treatment a patient undergoes. These are anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy), radiotherapy where cancer is hit by radiation, and surgery where cancerous tissue is removed. In January, all three failed to meet their NHS standard, and in fact recorded new lows. Surgery targets were missed by the greatest margin, with only 79 per cent of patients, 1,000 people, getting an operation for their cancer within a month. The NHS's standard is 94 per cent. The NHS aims for 98 per cent of anti-cancer drug patients and 94 per cent of radiotherapy patients to be treated within a month but only managed to start treatment for 96.6 and 91.5 per cent, respectively, within this time frame. Another NHS cancer treatment metric, for patients with the disease to start treatment within two months following an upgrade in priority from their consultant also recorded a record low of just 76 per cent. While the NHS has no operational standard for this metric, the 76 per cent figure is a drastic fall from a high of 94.7 per cent recorded in April 2011. A two-month target to get cancer patients who were identified through a national screening service, such as the home bowel cancer screening sent to the over 60s, to start treatment also failed to be met. NHS data shows only 65.4 per cent of patients managed to meet this deadline, the target is 90 per cent. However this wasn't a record low, with only 13.3 per cent of patients meeting the target in June 2020 during the Covid pandemic. A spokesperson for NHS England defended its record on cancer treatment saying nine in ten patients over the past two years had started treatment within a month despite referrals being at record levels for more than 10 months. 'NHS staff are continuing to work incredibly hard to care for as many people as possible so as ever, it is crucial that anyone who is concerned about their health comes forward so that we can help you with the best options for your needs,' they said. Data from NHS England shows one in nine people in the country were waiting for routine treatment such as joint replacement and cataract surgery or diagnostic tests as of the end of January NHS will PAY for a taxi and hotel to send long haulers for surgery at less busy or private hospitals in other parts of country The NHS will pay for patients in England stuck on waiting lists to be sent to less busy hospitals in other parts of the country under radical new plans. They will be offered appointments in places where queues aren't as long or referred to private hospitals with their transport and accommodation fees covered. Health Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled the move as part of a series of reforms to slash the record queues for routine operations that have amassed during the pandemic. Mr Javid said the NHS will be soon be 'proactively' contacting all patients who have been waiting for two years or more by the end of this month to discuss alternative places to get their care. The offer will be expanded to everyone who has waited more than 18 months by the end of this year, with a view to offering it wider in the future. Patients will be offered treatments in parts of the country where queues aren't as long at other NHS trusts, or referred to private facilities for taxpayer-funded care. Speaking at the Royal College of Physicians in London this week, Mr Javid said: 'It could be the trust next door, it could be a trust that's further away and if it is your transport costs, accommodation, and other incidental costs will be covered. 'It could be independent sector, this is something the very best systems are already doing but I want it to become standard.' Mr Javid also said that the Government cannot keep throwing money at the NHS without reforming it, and highlighted the health service's budget is the same size as the GDP of Greece. Despite his libertarian background, Mr Javid also shot down the suggestion that the US' healthcare system was more free than the UK's. He said it was 'not freedom for the millions of people who can't afford it'. Advertisement Other NHS data shows an additional 30,000 people were on the list for routine operations such as hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery in January compared to December. The 6.1m toll is 2m higher than when the pandemic hit, when NHS elective care was effectively frozen for months. Mr Javid has come under increasing pressure to get a handle on the crisis, with charities warning that millions of Brits are living in pain while waiting for their surgeries. The number of people waiting over a year to get elective surgeries increased to 311,528 in January, up from around only 1,400 before Covid hit. NHS England has defended its January performance, saying it had delivered 280,000 more diagnostic tests and checks in the month compared to the same time in 2021 despite ongoing staffing pressures. The NHS's national medical director, Professor Stephen Powis said staff were determined to address the Covid backlogs that had 'inevitably built up' during the pandemic. But he added that it could not happen 'overnight'. Both the Government and NHS England have vowed to eliminate all waits of more than a year by March 2025 as part of their pandemic recovery plan. The health service will get an extra 12billion a year from April, funded by the 1.25 per cent hike to national insurance. Almost 24,000 have been waiting at least two years for treatment, up from 20,065 in December, and over nine times the 2,608 who were waiting in April 2021. These patients will be contacted by the end of the month to be offered alternative appointments in places where queues aren't as long or in private hospitals. Their transport and accommodation fees will be covered. Health charities slammed the figures, with some warning that it demonstrates the pressure the health service is under as Covid hospitalisation numbers begin to creep up again. The Royal College of Surgeons' vice president, Tim Mitchell, said: 'If someone is left waiting years for a planned hip or knee operation, for example, it's not surprising they will now be struggling to walk or work.' Charity Versus Arthritis also slammed the data, saying it represented thousands of people living in agony while waiting in limbo for procedures. 'Behind the waiting times statistics are people with arthritis living in agony and distress, slipping further away from a life free from pain, being able to work, and having some semblance of independence,' the charity's head of policy and public affairs Tracey Loftis said. Labour's shadow health and social care secretary said the situation patients faced was 'unacceptable'. 'Record numbers of patients are forced to wait unacceptable lengths of time, including 24,000 who have been waiting for treatment since before the pandemic began,' Wes Streeting said. As well as record long waiting lists, January also saw the lowest ever level of cancer referrals made within two weeks and A&E performance dived again. A&E performance also hit a record low in February, with only 73.3 per cent of patients seen within the four-hour target. This is down from 74.3 per cent in January and 83.9 per cent in February last year, and equals the lowest percentage since records began in November 2010. The target, to get 95 per cent of patients admitted, treated or discharged within four hours has not been met since 2015. Queues for routine operations are expected to peak in 2024 at around 10.7million in the most pessimistic scenario, modelling from the NHS shows. It is because the health service expects many patients who missed operations to now come forward for care Advertisement The COVID-19 pandemic is showing signs of soon coming to an end as the world marks two years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global pandemic. Some officials are saying that more vaccine shots may be needed in the future even after the world returns to 'normal'. Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, told CNBC's Squawk Box Friday morning that his firm plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the needs for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose soon. He cites data showing that vaccine protection wanes against Omicron after only three or four months. It is clear that there is a need In the environment of Omicron to boost the immune response, he said. The immune protection against Omicron is very good after three doses when it comes against hospitalization or deaths. Not as good, but pretty good also, against infection... it doesn't last a lot. After three, four, months it starts waning.' This comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has been very cautious during the pandemic, only considers two percent of Americans to live in an area of 'high' Covid risk. Slide me The CDC dropped the number of Americans living in an area of 'high' Covid risk from 10% last week (left) to only 2% this week (right) Pfizer is the leading manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States and much of the rest of the world. The jab has been used over 327 million times since it first became available in December 2020. It is also the only shot available for minors in the U.S., authorized for children as young as five years old. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (pictured) said Friday morning that his firm has notified the FDA that a fourth COVID-19 jab may be needed The New York City-based company received full authorization for its Covid booster shot in September. Months later, the vaccine-resistant Omicron variant was detected by South African health officials in late November, surging demand for the additional doses to protect from the new threat. Bourla now reveals that the immunity provided by the boosters against Omicron is only worthwhile for a few months, creating the need for future doses. As of 10:30 am EST Friday morning, Pfizer's stock price has increased 1.65 percent to $50.01. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel has hinted at the need for a fourth dose in the future as well. He told Squawk Box last month that after a relatively calm spring and summer seasons, Americans will likely need a fourth dose ahead of the typical flu season that starts this fall. 'We believe there's a high probability that we're moving into an endemic setting,' Bancel told CNBC's Squawk Box in February. 'We should still be cautious because as we've seen with Delta, which came after alpha and was more virulent, [it] is always possible to get the more virulent variant of course.' Moderna approved a $926 MILLION golden parachute for its CEO at the end of 2021 Stephane Bancel's 'change-in-control' package was approved at the end of last year by the Massachusetts-based company's board of directors, CNBC reported. Most of the golden parachute - $922.5 million, to be exact - is in the form of stock, which has yo-yoed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rest includes a cash payment of $1.5 million and a bonus of $2.5 million. Bancel, 49, who is already worth a reported $4.3 billion, would only get the money if the company is sold or merged and he loses his job in the process. Last year, he earned a combined $18.2 million, a 41 percent increase from 2020. The French-born executive's last known address is a three-bedroom, 1,537-square-foot apartment in Boston worth an estimated $1.2 million, according to Zillow. Things have changed a lot for Moderna since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. It went from losing $747 million that year to making $12.2 billion in 2021, largely from sales of its two-dose vaccine, its only commercially available product. Advertisement Repeated Covid shots are likely necessary to control the virus going forward and comfortably live alongside it in an endemic setting. Even Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, and Dr Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA chief who now sits on the board of Pfizer, have joined the chorus of experts and officials saying a fourth dose will likely be on the way. The prospect of repeated Covid shots is also a financial boon for the two firms, though. The companies project a combined $51 billion in revenue from vaccine sales in 2022, and this figure would rise even higher if governments around the world begin purchase orders for yet another shot. Both companies have been criticized for business practices that value profit over saving lives during the pandemic, and for keeping a stranglehold on their control of the jabs. Alex Maitland, a senior advisor for Oxfam, a UK-based anti-poverty non-profit, told DailyMail.com last week that the companies are valuing selling repeated vaccine doses to the developed world instead of making them available in countries in Africa where there are lower vaccination rates - but lower profit margins as well. The WHO has long been a critic of the companies' practices as well. The organization has asked for the companies to move away from repeatedly rolling out boosters, and to instead invest in developing technology for longer lasting jabs that are more resistant to future Covid variants. Pfizer has stood by its patent of its mRNA vaccine - which is a joint project with the German company BioNTech - and Bourla has been a vocal opponent of IP waivers, even calling the prospect dangerous. Moderna has been more liberal with their patent, saying it would not enforce it in the developing world. Neither company is doing much to provide the vaccine overseas, though, instead focusing efforts in developed countries like the U.S. where residents are looking beyond Covid for the most part. The CDC updated its Covid risk figures Thursday night, reducing the share of Americans still under and indoor mask recommendation to only two percent, down from ten percent the week before and 95 percent under the system the agency previously used to calculate risk levels. New figures now value hospitalizations strongly, as the CDC has accepted that infections are likely inevitable, even among the vaccinated. As long as case numbers are not translating into increased strain on the health care system, officials do not worry as much anymore. The U.S. is currently averaging 32,000 people hospitalized with Covid every day, a 44 percent drop over the past two weeks. This figure is not quite reliable, though, as it included all people hospitalized while infected, even if they are being treated for another condition. Cases and deaths are on the way down too, though, as the Omicron surge is in the rear view mirror and Americans prepare for a return to normal. American is recording 36,956 daily infections, a 35 percent drop over the past week and a 95 percent drop from the mid-January peak of 800,000 cases per day. Deaths are down 20 percent over the past week, with 1,315 people dying of the virus daily. In response to falling cases and deaths nationwide, every single state has now either removed its mask mandate or plans to do so in the near future. Hawaii became the final state to do so earlier this week when officials set a March 26 date to lift the state's mask mandate. Covid could come roaring back, though. Across the pond, the UK is suffering a resurgence of Covid cases after two consecutive months of declining cases. The nation has suffered a 63 percent jump in cases over the past week and an 11 percent increase in hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed data Friday showing that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could reduce infections among children aged five to 11 years old by nearly a third - data that conflicts reports from New York State last month. A CDC study primarily including children from Arizona found that the shot could drop infection of the Omicron variant rates 31 percent among the youngest vaccine-eligible cohort. Researchers also found that the jab was 87 percent effective against the Delta variant and 59 percent against Omicron in children 12 to 17. The data comes weeks after New York state health officials revealed data showing the Pfizer jab was only 12 percent effective for children aged five to 11, deeming the shot as providing little to no protection. A CDC study finds that the Pfizer Covid vaccine was 31% effective at preventing infection from Omicron in children aged five to 11. A much larger New York study found that the jab was ineffective for the age group. Pictured: A young girl in Arcadia, California, receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot Covid has not shown much of an ability to harm children over the last two years, with half of cases asymptomatic and minors making up 0.1% of virus deaths. Pictured: A young girl walks in New York City while wearing a mask 'This study provides evidence that receipt of two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective in preventing both asymptomatic and symptomatic [COVID-19] infection with the Omicron variant among children and adolescents aged 515 years,' researchers wrote. 'All eligible children and adolescents should remain up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.' Data for the study was gathered from 1,052 children aged five to 11 and 312 aged 12 to 17. A majority of the 1,300 total participants were from Arizona, with half coming from Tucson. Participants were also gathered from Miami, Florida, Temple, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah. Data was gathered from July 2021 to February 2022, meaning it included the period where the Delta variant became dominant in the U.S. as the 12 to 17 age group became eligible for the shot. Participants were regular tested for Covid, even if they were not reporting any symptoms in an attempt to find asymptomatic infections. While the shot was still not as effective as hoped against Omicron, it did show an ability to prevent infections. At the end of February, New York state published pre-print data of over 1.1 million children, 365,000 of such were in the five to 11 age group. It found that the shot could only reduce risk of infection by 12 percent, which was considered to be insignificant by the researchers. In both studies, a significantly lower vaccine effectiveness was found between the older and younger cohorts, with the shot seemingly working better for older children. One major difference between the study groups is the dosage of the vaccine. While children aged 12 and older receive a 30 microgram shot, it is only ten micrograms for the five to 11 age group. There was also a stark difference found between 11 and 12 year old's - the cut off of where the vaccine dosage changes - implying the smaller doses are not as effective. Pfizer has run into a similar issue with its dosage in children aged six months to four years old. For that age group, the jab has been shrunk to three micrograms, though initial trials showed that three and four year old's had little immune response to the smaller jab. The company has since introduced a third jab into vaccine trials, and a submission for FDA approval for the shot has been halted as that data is gathered. Pfizer is in a bind, though. The company wants to rollout shots for younger age groups, and has even been pushed by regulators to submit an application before data from the third dose came in. Adding millions of young children to the expanded vaccine eligibility would also make the New York City-based company a nice sum of cash as well. By having the only shot available to people under the age of 18 in America, it has effectively cornered an extremely profitable market. The mRNA technology used in the vaccine has now presented it a problem, though. Pfizer has lowered dosages in younger age groups to help lesson the risk of vaccine recipients developing myocarditis. The CDC has warned that recipients of shots distributed by Pfizer and Moderna - which also has an mRNA Covid jab - carry a risk of developing rare heart inflammation. This risk is especially present in young males. While this has not caused as much trouble for Pfizer's shot as it has Moderna's - which has had its use restricted in some Nordic countries over heart inflammation concerns - the company has had to tinker with dosage levels to avoid an increased risk in younger people. The CDC reports that children only account less than 0.1 percent of Covid deaths in the U.S. since the pandemic first began. The agency did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com inquiry about its response to the issued guidance. A study from the University of Utah last year found that 50 percent of pediatric Covid cases are asymptomatic. The study was performed before the more-mild Omicron variant emerged, meaning the risk for children to even feel symptoms is likely lower now. Children may also be less likely to spread the virus when infected, with a German study finding that they release as little as only 25 percent of virus particles as adults do. Data revealed by New York state officials at the end of last month also found that the shot was only 12 percent effective at preventing Covid infection for children aged five to 11. BOOK OF THE WEEK PATIENT ZERO: A CURIOUS HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S WORST DISEASES by Lydia Kang, MD and Nate Pedersen (Workman 18.99, 400pp) Heres a book to chill you to the marrow and keep you awake tonight, that probably shouldnt be read on a full stomach and certainly not without a glass of something agreeable within easy reach. Only last night, over dinner with friends, I was able to explain, having just read about it, why the Black Death was called the Black Death. Its because your extremities became gangrenous, went black and finally dropped off. What about one particular extremity, said a guest, crossing his legs nervously. UK-based writer Marcus Berkmann analyses Linda Kang, MD and Nate Peterson's new book about how Mother Nature will try to kill us all off (file image) I dont know about that one, I said. They didnt say in the book. Well they should have done, said our guest, already fearing the worst. Within minutes he was taking his temperature and feeling for buboes. Thanks for ruining my dinner party, said my beloved. Any time, said I. In fact, Patient Zero itself is something of a misnomer, because more often than not there isnt one, or not one that anyone would now be able to find, anyway. When Aids was running riot in the 1980s, a Canadian flight attendant called Gaetan Dugas copped the blame. He was handsome and gay and he had a voracious sexual appetite, sleeping with literally hundreds of men a year before Aids killed him in 1984. The New York Post called him The Man Who Gave Us Aids. But he couldnt have been because people had fallen ill from the disease in the 1960s and 1970s, before Gaetan became sexually active. Eventually, geneticists worked out the point at which the disease passed from chimps to humans, probably from the bloody results of hunting a chimp and butchering it, with some chimp blood likely entering a cut on the hunter. When do you think? In or around 1908. So no patient zero. Just chimp zero. Theyre all here. Ebola. Yellow fever. Typhus. Measles. Leprosy. Syphilis. Polio. Hepatitis C. Cholera. The 1918 Flu Epidemic. Even rabies. And, of course, Covid-19. One has to marvel at the extraordinary lengths that Mother Nature will go to in order to try to kill us, or just make us incredibly poorly. Viruses, bacteria, the hideous malformed prions of mad cow disease: the methodology is never less than brutal and the effects are often terrifying. Books like this are why men of a certain age (possibly my age) never go to the doctor, for fear they will tell you that you have something appalling and incurable. What strikes you while reading this book is how long it took medical science to work out what was wrong with people and how many wrong turnings it often took before finding the right answer. The book to speculates that Mad Cow disease may not be over. Pictured: Former agriculture minister John Gummer and daughter in 1990 showing British beef was safe When yellow fever, now known to be spread by the bite of a particular type of mosquito, struck Memphis, Tennessee, in 1878, they thought it was spread by bad air, and could be treated with cold baths, glasses of brandy and quinine enemas (dont ask). It was called yellow fever because jaundice made sufferers skin turn yellow, although the black vomit (made up of stomach contents, acid and blood) that issued forth at some speed from their mouths was arguably a more horrible symptom. Delirium, internal haemorrhaging, bleeding from the nose, gums and womb were all part of the package. The kidneys would cease to work, and the inability to produce urine heralded death. Between 20 and 50 per cent of the seriously infected would die, although if you survived you had the benefit of lifelong immunity from the disease. A big if, though. A widow named Mrs Flack died of it, along with all seven of her children aged between three and 28. Mad cow disease: gone and forgotten? Not quite. The most recent death in the U.S. from variant CJD (as the human equivalent was known) was in 2012. Hed previously lived in countries that imported beef from Britain during the at-risk years, write the authors, chilling my blood. PATIENT ZERO: A CURIOUS HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S WORST DISEASES by Lydia Kang, MD and Nate Pedersen (Workman 18.99, 400pp The prions mutated proteins that are all but indestructible often take their time manifesting themselves. In some cases were talking a few years, in others, 50... What we do know is that once the prion is replicating at high rates and brain tissue turns spongy, the symptoms start appearing. Thus, the UKs mad cow problem may not be over, as thousands of people could be harbouring a prion that isnt ready to make itself known yet. When I think of all the hamburgers I have eaten over the years... In between the disease-specific chapters are a number of interesting essays on peripheral historical issues. How Mosquitoes Defeated Napoleon is one such. (Yellow fever killed most of the troops he sent over to Haiti to quell a local rebellion.) Whipping The Plague tells of the Brotherhood Of The Cross, a group of religious zealots who believed that the best way to stop yourself catching the plague was to flagellate yourself with knotted scourges while chanting prayers of repentance. Unfortunately, it didnt work and Pope Clement VI condemned the movement in 1349. One of the best essays, entitled Biblical Plague: A Historical Outbreak Investigation, suggests that the ten plagues of Egypt locusts, boils, pestilence of livestock and so on might actually have happened, and explains how. So this is a detailed history of disease as well as a description of some of their worst outbreaks. The levels of scholarship and the authors refusal to let their readers off lightly are both admirable. My mother, who is 90 and has a well-thumbed medical encyclopaedia on her shelf, will love this book. I look forward to her ringing me up after she has read it to tell me she has Ebola, Lassa fever and a nasty case of legionnaires disease, all of them caught on the 134 bus... SOUNDINGS by Doreen Cunningham (Virago 18.99, 308pp) What do you do if youre a struggling single mother so short of money that you can no longer pay your mortgage? For journalist Doreen Cunningham, the answer was to borrow 10,000 from the bank and take her toddler halfway across the world to follow the migration of grey whales. Cunningham has been mesmerised by whales since she first read the Bible story of Jonah and the big fish. Her particular passion is for grey whales, which do something truly extraordinary: each year they travel up to 12,000 miles from Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, undertaking probably the longest migration of any mammal, with the mothers and calves sticking together for the entire journey. Doreen Cunningham has penned a book revealing what happened after she left her career in London to follow the migration of grey whales across the world with her toddler (file image) Fretting constantly about whether she is a good enough mother, Cunningham wants to show two-year-old Max that, like the whales, It is possible to do anything, overcome anything, with just the two of us. At times their long trek by plane, train, bus and boat becomes an ordeal. At sea, she is terrified Max will fall overboard and furious there are no toddler-sized lifejackets on board. Other passengers on the whale-watching boats are not as charmed by her exuberant child as she is and, after a particularly bad day on the water, Cunningham wails that she has failed to see what a stupid idea this journey was in the first place. Im reeling with so much failure that my legs are unsteady. In the warm waters of Mexico, they get their first close encounter with a grey whale. Five feet of whale head is sticking straight up towards the sky . . . theres a downward curved mouth big as a slide, close enough to touch. Mother and son watch, enchanted, as the whale and her newborn calves frolic by the boat. Several months later, at the other end of their migration, the whales are far more elusive in the icy Arctic water and she is in despair, until they finally spot dozens breaking through the water. She concludes exultantly: It was worth having no hope, so I could experience being given it back. SOUNDINGS by Doreen Cunningham (Virago 18.99, 308pp) The most successful element of the book is Cunninghams compelling account of the time she spent in a whale-hunting community in Alaska. Although a vegetarian, pickled maktak whale skin and blubber became her favourite snack. She learned how to look out for roaming bears, took part in a whale hunt (unsuccessful, to her relief) and fell in love with Billy, a handsome, hard-drinking local. Ultimately she had to decide whether to stay Billy suggested she could find work as a secretary or return to her high-flying BBC career in London. Inevitably, she left, although she imagined that well know each other when we are old. When she learned he had died of a heart attack, she was distraught. Mixing scientific research, folklore and a fair dollop of mysticism, Soundings succeeds in capturing the majesty and mystery of grey whales. At times Cunninghams writing veers dangerously close to self-indulgence theres rather too much about sleepless nights and the number of nappy changes on the journey but by the end of it, you cheer on her new-found tranquillity and self-confidence. Whales, she reflects, travel to the end of the earth for themselves and their young... when I was desperate, they helped me rewrite our story. BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Germany increased to 252,836 on Friday, exceeding last Friday's figure by 35,000, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said on Friday. The country's seven-day COVID-19 incidence rate also increased to 1,439 per 100,000 inhabitants on Friday. On Thursday, the country reported a new all-time high of 262,752 cases. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the situation in the country was critical. "We cannot be satisfied when 200 to 250 people die each day," he told journalists on Friday. "Without mandatory vaccination, we will not get the pandemic under control in the autumn," Lauterbach warned. "We will be facing exactly the same situation in the autumn as we are now, if not worse." As of Thursday, at least 48 million people, or 57.7 percent of the population, had received a booster dose in Germany, while 19.6 million people are not vaccinated, according to official figures. Due to less severe cases associated with the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Germany's federal and state governments have agreed to successively relax most COVID-19 measures by March 20. However, basic protection measures, such as a face mask mandate in certain areas, will remain in force. The relaxation of COVID-19 measures remains controversial in Germany, according to a Politbarometer survey published by broadcaster ZDF on Friday. Half of the country's citizens agree with the decision, while almost as many remain opposed. UK shale gas stocks IGas Energy PLC and Egdon Resources PLC saw their prices rise this week as the government rethinks its position on fracking, which could see domestic gas resources unlocked to ease dependence on Russian imports. Cuadrilla, a privately held company, has led the UK shale gas sector which had largely stalled in recent years as projects failed to secure planning and regulatory approval. The projects, located mostly in the Northwest of England, advanced sufficiently for the company and the British Geological Society to envisage decades' worth of supply but did not advance enough for the gas to be tested commercially. While Cuadrilla had the most advanced projects London Stock Exchange-listed IGas and Egdon amassed material prospective acreage across Cheshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire. Igas was up 47 per cent on the week and Egdon 36 per cent. Shale issues: Cuadrilla has led the UK shale gas sector which had largely stalled in recent years as projects failed to secure planning and regulatory approval (Pictured: Two Cuadrilla workers) Meanwhile, investors also showed renewed interest in tidal power company SIMEC Atlantis Energy, the company behind the MeyGen free-stream tidal power project. The company's shares climbed by more than a third this week. As investors looked to unearth stocks that might benefit from the UK's attempts to reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies, there was also some bargain hunting going on among those Russia-focused stocks that got hammered in the backlash to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Among those on the rebound is Amur Minerals Corporation, which is focused on base metal projects in the far east of Russia. The company's shares rallied by 34 per cent this week. The company has previously indicated that sanctions against Russia will not have any effect on its business. Before hostilities started in Ukraine, the shares were riding high on expectations that the company would sell its Irosta Trading subsidiary, which owns the company's principal asset, the Kun-Manie nickel-copper sulphide project in far-east Russia. PetroNeft Resources PLC, up by a third this week, was another stock with interests in Russia on the comeback trail. Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC's shares ballooned as it returned strong results from its mining and artificial intelligence (AI) operations. Shares were up 60 per cent this week as the group filed a patent application for a new qubit-based algorithm for Bitcoin mining. In combination with the ASIC miner, the technology is expected to increase the hashing speed compared to other ASIC miners announced by competitors. Harvest Minerals Ltd told investors that accumulated sales orders in 2022 to date totalled 30,161 tonnes, which marks a 1,070 pc increase over the fertiliser producer's internal forecasts. It represents a 35 per cent increase compared to the whole of 2021, and is 20 per cent of the overall sales target for 2022, which was set at 150,000 tonnes. Drop: Parsley Box shares shares were trading at 21p on Friday, down 21 per cent on the week and a far cry from the 200p at which the company's shares floated less than a year ago Now, the company said it is advancing plans to increase its capacity to 200,000 tonnes. Harvest's shares rose 30 per cent this week. A contract win for one of its subsidiaries sent shares in PipeHawk PLC 28 per cent higher. The contract was awarded by Ventive Limited for the second phase of the project to manufacture a groundbreaking 'green energy' product to provide domestic heating and hot water. The product builds on air source heat pump and heat recovery technology in conjunction with a thermal battery to provide an efficient solution that can be considered a direct replacement for a conventional gas or oil-fired heating system, which are planned to be phased out as the UK moves towards 'Net Zero'. It was a bad week for Gfinity, which lost 45 per cent of its value after a profit warning. Its half-year results showed the e-sports company making progress on its path towards profitability but the company revealed that there has been a slower than anticipated return to live e-sports events which has had an impact on short term revenue and profits. Meanwhile, ongoing discussions around a material partnership in the betting sector, which the directors still expect to complete, is now unlikely to deliver the impact on current fiscal year revenues that originally been anticipated. As a result, the company now expects full-year revenue will be below market expectations but the directors remain confident the long-term prospects and the future pathway to profitability in 2023 and beyond remain unchanged. SRT Marine Systems PLC slumped by 20 per cent to 32.75p after it raised 4.9million through a placing of shares at 30p a pop. The provider of integrated maritime surveillance systems and digital navigation safety transceivers wants the money to boost working capital to accelerate multiple multiple system project implementations. Also lower after raising funds was Parsley Box Group PLC, the meal deliveries group. It raised 5.9million through the issue of shares at 20p. The shares were trading at 21p on Friday, down 21 per cent on the week and a far cry from the 200p at which the company's shares floated less than a year ago. The funds raised will be used to target new customers, develop an 'online customer journey' tailored to its demographic (that probably just means very large fonts on the website) and develop a membership programme to start a customer community. City regulators were last night blasted for refusing to expel Russian companies from the stock exchange even after one was accused of providing the steel that built Vladimir Putins tanks. Politicians and other critics said the very presence of dozens of Russian firms on the London market threatened to undermine the Governments response to the war on Ukraine. It came as shares in steel giant Evraz were suspended after the UK sanctioned oligarch Roman Abramovich, the groups biggest investor. Controlling force: Shares in steel giant Evraz were suspended after the UK sanctioned oligarch Roman Abramovich, the groups biggest investor However, this does not amount to a full expulsion from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is effectively a temporary disruption to business-as-usual. In a set of highly damaging claims, the Foreign Office said Abramovich has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and is the controlling force of FTSE 100-listed Evraz. And Evraz itself, officials said, potentially supplies steel to the Russian military, which may have been used in the production of the tanks lurking on the outskirts of Kyiv. But the LSE and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have still refused to take measures to boot out Evraz and the 36 other companies that have had their shares suspended over the Ukraine crisis. And a string of businesses such as Polymetal and Petropavlovsk which claim they are not Russian are still trading as normal. Sam Armstrong, of foreign affairs think-tank the Henry Jackson Society, said: The FCA have dragged their feet on this issue for too long. 'It is neither morally right not prudentially responsible to allow the trading of shares of firms so closely tied to the Russian state. 'Evraz is inextricably linked to a sanctioned oligarch and a failure to act would demonstrate that regulators simply lack the powers or wherewithal to defend the UKs national interests. UK chiefs refuse to quit Three British directors have refused to stand down from the board of Evraz including a former aide to Prince Charles. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, there were four Britons at the steel and mining company. Last Friday, James Rutherford became the only one so far to take a moral stand against Putins regime. Of those remaining, Sir Michael Peat, Prince Charles ex-aide and the Queens former treasurer, is the best known. He has been with the company since 2011. Peat has earned 1.9million from Evraz in a decade. He is standing down at the end of this month once part of Evrazs business has been split into a separate firm a process that started long before the war with Ukraine but has refused calls to leave early. Ex-Ford Motor Company executive Stephen Odell who made 105,000 from Evraz last year and former Deloitte director Deborah Gudgeon have also stayed. The LSEs powers are limited to being able to suspend shares and it is the FCA that determines which companies are listed. They are included on what is called the regulators Official List. The Mail understands the FCA does not even have plans to take any measures against Russian firms that go beyond those imposed by the Foreign Office which so far has not made any direct mention of the LSE. Sources said it was too early to speculate what would happen next but that it was not a decision for the FCA to make. But critics slammed the watchdogs inaction. Financier and campaigner Bill Browder said: I believe that all Russian companies should be delisted from the London Stock Exchange immediately. 'As we all work to economically isolate Putin, we cant leave any gaps. It makes no sense if all major Western companies are pulling out of Russia but the LSE continues to list Russian companies. Its no longer a business issue but a security issue. The lack of action on LSE-listed firms comes in the wake of an international boycott of Russia by Western firms. Roger Barker, director of policy and corporate governance at the Institute of Directors (IoD), said: Although Russian issuers would normally be welcome participants in UK capital markets, their continued involvement could be construed as undermining public policy aimed at persuading the Russian government to pull back from its current actions in Ukraine. Marks & Spencer chief executive Steve Rowe is standing down after nearly 40 years at the retailer he joined at 15. The 54-year-old started work at the company in 1983 and took the top job six years ago when he launched a radical transformation alongside chairman Archie Norman. But in an unusually timed announcement yesterday afternoon, M&S said he would step down in May. Stepping down: Steve Rowe (pictured) joined M&S in 1983 and took the top job six years ago when he launched a radical transformation alongside chairman Archie Norman And in the same week as International Womens Day, it appeared to appoint its first female boss, saying Katie Bickerstaffe would become co-chief executive. But it drew criticism for naming Stuart Machin chief executive, with sources stressing the 51-year-old would be ultimately in charge of the business. Gwen Rhys, chief executive of Women in the City, which champions women in business, said words matter. She said: I strongly suspect they knew they wouldnt get away with calling a man co-chief executive and it seems they werent quite brave enough to put their faith in Bickerstaffe. I just hope its not the co-chief executive who takes the hits whilst the chief executive takes the glory for successes. I wonder, too, what the pay, bonus and benefits gap looks like between the two roles. Rowe followed in his fathers footsteps, joining M&S aged 15, packing knitwear on Saturdays. He rose through the ranks to become chief executive and held the post for six years. Under his watch the 138-year-old retailer embarked on a radical transformation as it attempted to rebound from years of declining sales. Alongside Norman, Rowe slimmed down M&Ss clothing department. He also saw M&S launch a joint venture with Ocado to sell its food and drink online. His turnaround plan was disrupted by Covid-induced lockdowns and M&S swung to its first ever annual loss in 2020. But Rowe said the pandemic was an inflection point, allowing him to make drastic changes to adapt to online shopping. And he said in November the hard yards of his turnaround were showing results, hailing the beginning of the end of the firms long-term troubles. Rowe has won praise as chief executive for knowing the company inside out, having worked in stores and across M&S management. Shore Capital retail analyst Clive Black said Rowe inherited a mess and will leave the business in better shape. Black said: I am delighted he is leaving a business on the up as it has taken a lot of sorting out, heavy lifting and hard yards. He has spent all his working life at M&S and seen through the major change program. Last year was a major inflection point for it and I am delighted he is leaving behind a business which is on the up. Change at the top: Stuart Machin with Katie Bickerstaffe who joined M&S in 2020 having served as chief executive of Dixons Carphone Rowe will step down when M&S announces its annual results in May, and leave the company a year later. He said: It has been an enormous privilege to lead the business I love and have spent almost all my career working for. Leaving will be in many ways very difficult for me but I feel that after six hard years it is the right time to pass on the baton. Bickerstaffe joined M&S in 2020 having served as chief executive of Dixons Carphone. She oversees clothing and home and has played a key role driving online growth through the Brands at M&S strategy. The retailers 40 guest brands attract new customers to the website and encourage people to shop more often. It features clothing from Fat Face and Joules. And M&S has announced a slew of partnerships recently including teaming up with skincare and make-up brand Clinique and taking a 25 per cent stake in trendy womenswear brand Nobodys Child. Machin is chief operating officer and managing director of its food arm, and joined M&S in 2018. AJ Bell financial analyst Danni Hewson said the incoming team will have to work hard to ensure M&Ss sparkle continues. She said: Something has finally clicked. You can feel it when you walk into a store or browse the website and Stuart Machin and Katie Bickerstaffe will need to work hard and work fast to prove theyve got a little magic of their own. Low levels of overseas business travel and tourists coming to Britain has kept Heathrow's passenger numbers at just over half of pre-pandemic volumes. Only 2.9 million people transited through Britain's largest airport in February, compared to 5.4 million in the month before the World Health Organisation declared the Covid-19 outbreak to be a pandemic. This was despite the United States Government lifting a 20-month international travel ban on non-US residents and citizens flying to the country, leading to an elevenfold year-on-year surge in North American traffic. Weak demand: Only 2.9 million people transited through London Heathrow Airport in February At the same time, traveller numbers on Middle Eastern and European Union routes climbed by over 600 per cent, while the amount of transported cargo rose modestly to within just seven percentage points of its pre-pandemic levels. But the total quantity of commercial aeroplanes either taking off or landing at the British Airways hub was more than 40 per cent down on 2020 levels at 20,074. Flight bookings continue to be significantly affected by strict testing and quarantine rules in multiple countries, even as vaccination programmes have enabled countries to loosen lockdown restrictions. Business travel remains particularly suppressed as companies have cut back expenditure on flights and instead resorted, in large part, to videoconferencing meetings and hybrid working practices. More recently, the emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, which is more contagious though less deadly than previous variants, has made many people reluctant to book foreign holidays. On top of this, Heathrow noted that demand is expected to be impacted in the near term by rising fuel prices, worries about new coronavirus variants, and concerns among American travellers about Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Flying away: The total quantity of commercial aeroplanes either taking off or landing at the British Airways hub was more than 40 per cent down on 2020 levels at 20,074 Yet it said demand among Britons for foreign vacations has been 'recovering strongly' and is forecasting bookings during the height of the summer holidays could reach as much as 85 per cent of pre-pandemic volumes. This is anticipated to put some capacity strain on airlines, airports and handlers, so to cope with this, the West London airport is hiring 12,000 extra people and reopening Terminal 4 sometime before July. However, it expressed concern that the Border Force agency would be unable to ratchet up its capabilities to meet the predicted rebound in passengers. The international airport will also be waiting for a decision from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on how much it would be allowed to charge air carriers for using the airport over the next five years. From the start of 2022, the cap on the amount the airport was allowed to charge airlines on a price per passenger basis was raised from 19.60 to 30.19, a figure below what Heathrow had wanted. About six weeks before this, the boss of British Airways' parent company IAG warned that his firm could reduce the number of flights it operates at the airport in the event of increasing customer levies. Raising such fees would help Heathrow slash the very high financial losses it has posted since the pandemic began, yet airlines like IAG have also made substantial annual losses, so any hike could imperil their revival. Heathrow's chief executive John Holland-Kaye remarked: 'Aviation's recovery remains overshadowed by war and Covid uncertainty. 'But we need to ensure we are geared up to meet peak potential demand this summer and are relying on the CAA to make a fair financial settlement that incentivises investment to maintain passenger service and encourages airlines and Heathrow to work together to grow passenger numbers.' An evil child molesting ex-cop dismissed his innocent victims with a callous 'f*** them' just moments before he was convicted of abusing the youngsters over a decade-long reign of terror. Robert John Wotton, 53, was found guilty of a series of sex attacks on two girls and a boy, all aged under 10 at the time, dating back to 2007. The boy, now aged 13, can still only sleep in a locked room with all the lights on and a knife by his bedside. But burly Wotton showed no remorse when he was confronted by the father of one of the children as he entered court to face trial. When he was asked if he had a message for his victims, the former NSW Police Acting Sergeant replied bluntly: 'Yeah - f*** them.' Child molesting ex-cop Robert John Wotton (pictured) dismissed his victims with a callous 'f*** them' moments before he was convicted of abusing the children over a 10 year period Robert John Wotton, 53, (pictured) was found guilty of a series of child sex attacks on two girls and a boy, all aged under 10 at the time, which dated back to 2007 Judge Siobhan Herbert found Wotton guilty on seven of 12 charges of indecent assault after a no-jury trial at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on January 28. His wife, Virginia Wotton, chose to stand by her husband and appeared as a character witness for the defence after refusing to appear for the prosecution. Relatives told Daily Mail Australia how twisted Wotton - who was in the police force from 1990 to 1998 - would spend months grooming both the children and their parents. He would build up the trust of the youngsters and adults before taking them aside, often at large gatherings, and assaulting them. Wotton also used his wife's infertility as a weapon to prey on the children. 'He's sick,' said the father of one of the children. 'He played on the maternal side of things because they couldn't have kids of their own. 'He groomed everyone in the family. We were none the wiser. I hope they throw away the key when they lock him up.' Wotton repeatedly attacked one girl and a boy when they were aged between seven and nine, and a second girl when she was seven or eight in a series of indecent assaults in Sydney between 2007 and 2017. Robert John Wotton (pictured) would build up the trust of the youngsters and adults before taking them aside, often at large gatherings, and assaulting them The court heard Wotton had twice faced similar charges in the 90s, but had got off scot-free after both trials ended in hung juries. But evidence from the alleged victim in that case - the daughter of a former friend - was used against Wotton in the latest trial. The court heard appalling alleged details of the disgusting attacks on her at Wotton's hands, including one which allegedly involved a pet dog. The girl - who was aged 8 at the time - told Wotton she didn't like it but the court was told Wotton insisted it was 'normal and natural' and she would 'get used to it'. 'But if you don't, I'll still get to your parents,' he told her, the court heard. 'I can hurt your brothers and sisters. 'And whatever I do to them, no-one will do anything because I'm a cop.' Relatives have revealed how twisted Robert John Wotton (pictured) - who was with the police from 1990 to 1998 - would spend months grooming both the children and their parents The father of one of the latest victims revealed how Wotton would pay children 50c to touch his genitals or allow him to touch theirs, often while adults were close. 'He was very charismatic and convincing,' the father told Daily Mail Australia. 'He was a former policeman and we trusted him. 'But he was cunning. He played the long game. He would start chatting to the kids in a group then over a period of months he would focus on one particular child. 'Eventually he would just disappear with that child and take them to the toilet where he would molest them while the family was distracted at a gathering nearby. 'That's the bravado he had. He just couldn't help himself. He thought he was invincible.' The court heard appalling alleged details of the disgusting attacks on a girl by Robert John Wotton (pictured), including one which allegedly involved a pet dog The father went to police with his suspicions in 2008, but officers said there was insufficient evidence to charge him, and Wotton was allowed to carry on. 'He'd come over to our house and all of a sudden he'd be gone, and he'd be in my daughter's room,' said the father. 'We kept her away from him after that.' Finally one victim burst into tears at school and revealed the horrific attacks to a friend, sparking a full investigation which lead to Wotton's arrest and conviction. 'He's had a terrible impact on these children,' said the father who cannot be named for legal reasons. 'He's wrecked lives. 'The victims are all in counselling and my brother was in tears when he found out. He was so angry because he felt he hadn't protected his kids. The father of one of the latest victims revealed how Robert John Wotton would pay the children 50c to touch his genitals or allow him to touch theirs, often while adults were close by 'He was sat in his car outside Wotton's home with a steel bar wanting justice, but ultimately managed to restrain himself - but this has devastated us. 'It's just heartbreaking. There's a lot of sadness, a lot of anger on multiple levels.' Wotton's not guilty plea to five more charges of further sex attacks in Whalan, in Sydney's west, on one child dating back to 2004 was accepted. He was remanded in custody at Silverwater jail without bail ahead of sentencing at Parramatta District Court on April 8. The father added: 'We hope our story might help other families. 'If you've got someone like this, taking your kids away to one side, just be cautious. Where there's smoke, there could be fire.' The teenager charged over the fiery crash on Sydney Harbour Bridge is a former private Catholic schoolboy. Christopher Walker, 19, was pulled from the wreckage of an allegedly carjacked Toyota Kluger moments after it careered head-on into a van and exploded in a dramatic fireball. Police released a picture of his distinctive hand tattoo in a bid to identify the Queenslander before he appeared in court from his hospital bed. The teenager's distraught father Chris Walker believes a long-running family feud may have triggered a breakdown in his son before the devastating accident. 'He's a beautiful, brilliant boy who will change the world,' Mr Walker, of Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane, told Daily Mail Australia. 'He's a good kid. He's a very good kid. The teenager charged over the fiery crash on Sydney Harbour Bridge is a former private catholic schoolboy Christopher Walker, 19, was pulled from the wreckage of a carjacked Toyota Kluger moments after it careered head-on into a van and exploded in a dramatic fireball 'If you ever want a right hand man, that's my young man Christopher. Anything like this is completely out of character for him.' Police allege the Kluger had been stolen from Sydney's CBD moments before it was caught on dashcam footage racing across the bridge at high speed and slamming into oncoming traffic. Monday morning's rush hour was brought to a standstill as a 27-year-old tradie was cut free from his van, with two other cars also wrecked in the smash and strewn across the highway. Mr Walker, a car dealer, said his son had only been in Sydney for two weeks before the accident and had yet to explain what had happened. But he insisted: 'He's really remorseful. He's just worrying, not for himself, but for the others who were impacted.' Police had to release a picture of his distinctive hand tattoo to try to identify him before he appeared in court from his hospital bedside A 27-year-old van driver had to be cut free and Monday morning's rush hour was brought to a standstill with two other cars also wrecked in the smash and strewn across the highway The former Clairvaux MacKillop College pupil had travelled down to Sydney against his family's wishes with a relative, and had not been in touch since arriving. But his parents haven't got a clue what he's allegedly been up to while he's been in Sydney. 'We had no idea where he was or what he was doing,' said Mr Walker. 'I tried to stop him from going but there was nothing I could do. 'The first I knew of the accident was when I saw some stuff in the newspaper and thought, "Jeez, that's not good." Then we got a phone call from police.' Even the picture of the elaborate tattoo art on his son's hand did not raise the alarm with his parents as the teen had only got the inkwork after arriving in Sydney. 'That is very new,' he revealed. 'We didn't know about it.' Mr Walker has since spoken to his son in hospital but failed to get many answers. 'He has no memory of it,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I don't know what happened to him. Chris has never been one to use drugs. Never. 'He actually got into fights at school against drugs. He got into a punch up in the toilet block at Clairvaux MacKillop because some kid was smoking marijuana in there. 'He hated it, absolutely hated it. But if he has [taken drugs], or something's gone wrong with him that's a reflection on others. 'Maybe it was drugs, maybe he just had a mental breakdown because of the family feud ... and because of me because I was so distraught about it all.' The long-running row between the relatives is believed to date back 12 years to a family battle over the will of a third brother. Mr Walker said the emotional pressures created by the family tensions may have been a factor in the accident, but he also blamed police. 'The police have one job - keep my son safe, that's their job and they didn't do it,' he blasted. 'The police force do their best but how the hell does this stuff happen without some sort of corruption in society to allow people to get away with importing drugs?' Police allege the Kluger had been stolen from Sydney's CBD moments before it was caught on dashcam footage racing across the bridge at high speed and slamming into oncoming traffic The devastated family is now waiting for further updates from their son after being unable to get any information from authorities. 'He's in a very bad way in hospital and that's all I know,' said his father. 'I can't get much out of him but I know he's not going to be a paraplegic or a quadraplegic and I know that he's not burnt.' Walker was treated for suspected head injuries and remains under police guard at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Devastated father Chris Walker (pictured) is now waiting for further updates from his son after being unable to get any information from authorities He was charged on Wednesday with assault with intent to take/drive a motor vehicle, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and negligent driving. He appeared at Central Local Court in a bedside hearing later that afternoon. The teenager did not apply for bail, which was formally refused, and will next appear in Central Local Court on March 23. His father added: 'He's got no-one there with him - no girlfriend or partner and we've not heard anything from the relative he went down there with. 'He must be lonely and scared right now. I would be - even at my age, I would be as well.' Advertisement Covid's true global death toll could be three times higher than official records show, a study suggests. Scientists estimate more than 18million people died from the virus between January 2020 and December 2021, despite the global death toll sitting at 5.9m at that time. The study, published in The Lancet, looked at excess deaths during the pandemic the difference between all deaths and the number expected based on previous years before Covid. Looking at excess deaths is thought to be a more consistent way to measure pandemic death tolls because it accounts for a lack of testing and undiagnosed cases. Although experts have made several attempts to estimate excess deaths from Covid, many have been limited by the availability of data. The new study provides the first peer-reviewed estimates of excess deaths direct and indirect due to the pandemic globally and for 191 countries and territories. For the UK it indicates the death toll was more or less as official records suggest (between 163,000 and 174,000), putting close to the average in the league table. South Asia had the highest number of estimated excess deaths from Covid with 5.3million excess deaths, followed by North Africa and the Middle East (1.7million), and Eastern Europe (1.4 million). At the country level, the highest number of estimated excess deaths occurred in India (4.1 million) and the US and Russia, both with 1.1 million. Along with Mexico (798,000), Brazil (792,000), Indonesia (736,000), and Pakistan (664,000), these countries may have accounted for more than half of global excess deaths caused by the pandemic over the 24-month period, the study suggests. Map shows: How many more excess deaths there were estimated by the study than were reported in official numbers in countries across the world. Orange indicates excess deaths were actually 20 times or more higher than reported Graph shows: The rate of excess deaths per million people in countries across the world. South Asia had significantly higher excess deaths than anywhere else Graph shows: The ten countries with the highest confirmed death rates per million people in the world compared to the UK and US Graph shows: The ten countries with the highest confirmed death totals in the world. Experts said correct death toll figures are vital to help guide public policy Covid now less deadly than flu in England Covid is now less deadly than the flu in England thanks to Omicron's milder nature and sky-high immunity rates, MailOnline analysis suggests. Government figures indicate the virus had a mortality rate of around 0.2 per cent before the ultra-transmissible strain erupted onto the scene. But this has since plunged seven-fold to as little as 0.03 per cent, meaning it kills effectively just one in every 3,300 people who get infected. For comparison, seasonal influenza's infection-fatality rate (IFR) sits between 0.01 and 0.05 per cent, suggesting that the two viruses now pose a similar threat. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert from the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline it meant that Covid could actually be even less deadly than the flu. Although, he warned another variant could reverse the progress. Infections have been on the rise in the UK for a week straight, with the country now averaging 50,000 cases per day compared to around 35,000 on Freedom Day in late February. Hospitalisations have also been rising and in the South West of England have now eclipsed levels at the height of the Omicron wave. Ministers are understood to not yet be concerned by the spike, given that two-thirds of over-12s have already had their booster vaccine. Fourth jabs are set to be rolled out to over-75s, care home residents and people with weakened immune systems who are most vulnerable to the virus later this month. Dr Raghib Ali, an epidemiologist at Cambridge University who advised No10 throughout the Omicron wave, said it was 'unlikely' that there would be a 'large' spike in hospitalisations or deaths. Advertisement Lead author Dr Haidong Wang, of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at Washington University, said: 'Understanding the true death toll from the pandemic is vital for effective public health decision-making. 'Studies from several countries, including Sweden and the Netherlands, suggest Covid was the direct cause of most excess deaths, but we currently don't have enough evidence for most locations. 'Further research will help to reveal how many deaths were caused directly by Covid, and how many occurred as an indirect result of the pandemic.' Researchers collected weekly or monthly data on deaths from all causes in 2021, 2020, and up to 11 previous years for 74 countries and 266 states and provinces through searches of government websites, the World Mortality Database, Human Mortality Database, and European Statistical Office. The data were used in models to estimate excess death due to the pandemic, including for locations with no weekly or monthly reporting of death data. The excess death rate is estimated to be 120 deaths per 100,000 population globally, and 21 countries were estimated to have rates of more than 300 excess deaths per 100,000 population. According to the research, rates of excess death are estimated to have varied significantly by country and region. The highest estimated excess deaths were in Andean Latin America - 512 deaths per 100,000 population; Eastern Europe - 345 deaths per 100,000; Central Europe - 316 deaths per 100,000; Southern sub-Saharan Africa - 309 deaths per 100,000; and Central Latin America - 274 deaths per 100,000. Outside these regions several locations are estimated to have had similarly high rates, including Lebanon, Armenia, Tunisia, Libya, several regions in Italy, and several states in the southern US. However, in stark contrast some countries were estimated to have had fewer deaths than expected based on trends in prior years. They included Iceland with 48 fewer deaths per 100,000; Australia - 38 fewer deaths per 100,000; and Singapore with 16 fewer deaths per 100,000. Researchers suggest the large differences between excess deaths and official records may be because of under-diagnosis due to a lack of testing and issues with death data being reported. They say it is crucial to distinguish between deaths caused directly by Covid and those that occurred as an indirect result of the pandemic. Evidence from initial studies suggests a significant proportion of excess deaths are a direct result of coronavirus. However, deaths may also have occurred indirectly from causes such as suicide or drug use due to behavioural changes or lack of access to healthcare and other essential services. As data from more countries becomes available, it will be possible to get a better idea of how many deaths were due directly to Covid, and how many occurred as an indirect result. The authors acknowledge a number of limitations to their study, including that a statistical model was used to predict excess deaths for countries that did not report weekly or monthly data. The U.S. Senate approved legislation providing $1.5 trillion to fund the federal government through September 30 and to allocate $13.6 billion to aid Ukraine. The 2,700-page bill passed in a bipartisan 68-31 vote on Thursday, one day after the House of Representatives approved the package. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, averting agency shutdowns ahead of the midnight Friday deadline when existing U.S. government funds expire. The aid for Ukraine is designed to finance $6.5 billion for ammunition and other military supplies, as well as more than $7 billion for humanitarian support. 'We're keeping our promises to support Ukraine as they fight for their lives against the evil Vladimir Putin,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, referring to Russia's president who has orchestrated a massive attack against its neighbor. The legislation's passage follows months of negotiations over the federal government's funding and therefore policy priorities. It also comes as lawmakers jostle to show support of Ukraine in its battle against Russian forces, with Democrats and Republicans saying the Biden administration must do more to help Kyiv. The 2,700-page bill passed in the Senate with a bipartisan 68-31 vote, one day after the House of Representatives approved the package President Joe Biden, pictured Thursday, is expected to sign the funding bill ahead the Friday deadline Congress also voted to provide nearly $14 billion to the Ukraine to support its fight against the Kremlin after Russia invaded and continues to devastate the country The government funding bill that passed excludes $15.6 billion in COVID-19 pandemic relief that the Biden administration had said was necessary. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had urge Congress on Thursday to provide the additional funds in the budget, saying: 'Without additional resources from Congress, the results are dire.' She said that part of the funding was to help ensure free testing, and that in April, 'free testing and treatments for tens of millions of Americans without health insurance will end. In May, America's supply of monoclonal antibodies will run out.' On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that this Ukraine aid package likely would be followed by additional measures to help Kyiv battle Russia and rebuild from the destruction brought by Moscow's attacks. On Thursday, ahead of the vote, Republican senators called for the Biden administration to send Ukraine the fighter jets the country's President Volodymyr Zelensky had requested. The Biden administration has argued that providing combat aircraft, even if they were being supplied by Poland, would dangerously escalate the conflict. Biden is also expected to revoke Russia's 'most favored nation' trade status in a joint announcement with the G7 and European Union leaders on Friday. The revoked status, if passed by Congress, would clear the way for increased tariffs on Russian imports in the US and around the world. The 'most favored nation' trade status applies to members of the World Trade Organization and allows countries with the status to trade freely and fairly amongst each other. Despite the $782 billion defense portion of the spending bill being designed to entice Republicans, more GOP lawmakers voted against it than Democrats Besides providing money for ammunition and other military supplies and humanitarian aid for Ukrainians, the legislation funds regular U.S. military programs and an array of non-defense operations through Sept. 30, including money for infrastructure projects authorized by an earlier bipartisan package. Senator Richard Shelby, the senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded the spending bill for increasing defense spending by nearly $42 billion over last year to total $782 billion. Without passage of this legislation by midnight Friday, federal agencies would have had to begin laying off workers and suspending government programs deemed non-essential. The Senate also passed a stop-gap bill extending existing federal funding through Tuesday so that congressional clerks have the time they need to process the sprawling 'omnibus' legislation -- a chore that could go beyond Friday's midnight deadline. That ensures no interruption in government services before Biden receives the omnibus bill from Congress for signing into law. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the passage of the Ukraine aid spending would allow the US to support the fight against the 'evil Vladimir Putin' The US is expected to impose more economic blows to punish Russia over its invasion of the Ukraine in late February. Pictured, Russian troops patrolling an area in Ukraine What does 'energy independence' mean? Both Democrats and Republican lawmakers are calling for a path to American energy independence, though they have different ideas about how to get it done. To be 'energy independent' means to export more oil, gas and coal than is imported each year. In theory it could also describe a nation that exclusively exists on its own fuel sources -- though with a vast number of global transit lines and how natural resources are distributed around the country, the latter definition is near impossible to achieve in the US. Americans consumed roughly 20 million barrels of liquid fuel per day in 2021, according to the Energy Information Administration. The United States exported an average 8,632 barrels of crude oil and petroleum per day last year. And as of February 25, the EIA stated there were 580 million barrels in the strategic reserve. However even if the US were to produce more oil than it buys -- as was the case in 2020 -- it would still be far costlier and more cumbersome for energy companies to sell that oil in parts of the country. For example, the Wall Street Journal points out that oil companies shipped about 3 million barrels per day out of the US Gulf Coast. Pipelines from the Gulf Coast lead to the southwestern Permian Basin and the crude oil storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma that's home to 14% of total US oil storage. Thanks to the 1920 Jones Act, US companies are limited in the size of ships they can use to transport goods between domestic ports. That effectively makes it costlier for oil to be shipped from there to the East and West Coasts, for example, which have more direct access to overseas markets. Advertisement Earlier this week, the House also approved a bill that banned imports of Russian oil in a rare show of bipartisanship, lawmakers on both sides approved the measure 414-17, with just 15 Republicans voting against it, as well as Squad members Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar. The bill, which is in the Senate, goes further than just banning oil. It encourages a review of Russia's status in the World Trade Organization and calls for strengthening the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those it sees as violating human rights, freeze their assets and ban them from entering the country. It comes after many in Congress had pushed for weeks for a ban on Russian oil - with some seeing it as a way to punish Russian officials for alleged human rights violations. But the Biden administration had been reluctant to act out of fear of increasing already record-high gas prices throughout the country. On Tuesday, the president changed course - announcing from the White House that the U.S. would indeed ban Russian oil. Biden said the ban would 'deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine' after a vast number of sanctions targeting Russia's financial institutions and top officials were already levied in coordination with other western governments. Oil imported from Russia amounts to less than 10 percent of the United States' oil imports, whereas many European countries rely on Russia's supply. As of Wednesday, the average price of regular gasoline in the U.S. was $4.25 a gallon, setting an all-time record for the second day in a row, according to AAA. That is an increase of 16 percent from just one week prior, and 22.5 percent higher from last month as Russia continues to bomb cities and towns in Ukraine - where residents are seeking shelter in underground tunnels. The president admitted that the ban would impact American drivers as well, saying: 'The decision today is not without cost here at home. Putin's war is already hurting American families at the gas pump. 'Since Putin began his military buildup on Ukrainian borders, just since then, the price of the gas at the pump in America went up 75 cents.' 'And with this action it's going to go up further. I'm going to do everything I can to minimize Putin's price hike here at home,' he said, explaining that he made the decision in consultation with European allies - though they may not join the US in the oil ban. 'We're moving forward this ban understanding that many of our European allies and partners may not be in a position to join us,' Biden said. 'The United States produces far more oil domestically than all of the European countries combined. In fact, we're a net exporter of energy. So we can take this step when others cannot.' In fact, data from the Energy Information Administration show the US shifted to being a net importer of petroleum in 2021, and projected the same for 2022 last month. US oil production peaked under the Trump administration in 2019, before falling 8 percent the next year. The US is now the world's top oil producer, with much of its imported oil coming from Canada. The European Union is also aiming to cut its reliance on Russian gas by nearly 80 percent by the end of this year and the United Kingdom is expected to ban Russian oil. Advertisement The 2020 U.S. census undercounted the population by 782,000 people as 18.8 million residents were miscounted, with black people, Latinos and Native Americans going underreported, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The census had reported that the total U.S. population in 2020 was 323.2 million, up 5 percent from 2010, but the real population is closer to 323.9 million. The census count of the Latino population was likely 5 percent too low, more than three times the undercount estimated for the 2010 census, the bureau said on Thursday. More than 3 percent of black people were not included, while Native Americans and Native Alaskans on reservations were undercounted by more than 5 percent, both worse than in 2010. The census, once again, overcounted white people, this time by 1.64 percent, double the rate from 2010. Asians were also overcounted by 2.62 percent in 2020. Along with undercounting minorities, the census also undercounted kids, with 5.4 percent of children ages up to four not being included. The 2020 census faced several challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration's efforts to add a citizenship question and end the count earlier than usual. The census is chronically plagued by errors, and the 2020 tally continues a trend of undercounting minority groups while overcounting white Americans. The U.S. Census bureau undercounted the national population by 18.8 million people According to the bureau, Black people, Native Americans and Latinos have been undercounted by greater numbers than in 2010, while white people and Asians have been overcounted, leading to an error in total population According to the census breakdown, 10,850,000 people were excluded from the count and 7,167,000 were miscounted in the 2020 census The once-a-decade national population count is used to draw both U.S. congressional and state legislative seats in each state, as well as to help distribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds for everything from public housing and Medicare to highway construction. Thursday's report from the Census Bureau relied on statistical analyses to test the accuracy of the census results. The agency said part of the inaccuracies was caused by the pandemic, which forced the bureau to suspend its door-to-door operations temporarily and may have made some households more reluctant to speak to interviewers. Wild fires in the West and hurricanes in the East also uprooted much of the census count efforts, as did former President Donald Trump's call to end the census count four weeks early, a decision that faced many lawsuits to extend the count to its normal deadline, which would have been the end of October. Demographics experts have also said an ultimately unsuccessful effort by Trump to ask census respondents whether they were U.S. citizens may have dissuaded Latino populations from responding. Arturo Vargas, chief executive of the NALEO Educational Fund, a Latino advocacy group, blamed Trump for the error and said it represented a 'major step backward' and questioned whether the data was 'fit for use.' 'I lay this at the feet of Donald Trump and [former commerce secretary] Wilbur Ross and their efforts to disrupt the census and make it as difficult as possible for Latinos to participate,' Vargas told The Washington Post. 'I said from the beginning when the first numbers were released that I smelled smoke, and today we learned that the 2020 Census was a five-alarm fire.' The census count excluded many people from every race and counted people more than once Census Bureau Director Robert Santos (above) acknowledged the errors in the count by said he still stood by the agency's work Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, which had sued the government to extend the count in 2020, also called the results a tragedy. 'These numbers are devastating,' he told The Post. 'The warnings we gave, the concerns that we raised, were absolutely true, and today we find ourselves with a census that is neither complete nor accurate.' Timothy Kennel, assistant division chief for statistical methods, defended the agency's report at a virtual news conference on Thursday. 'The 2020 Census continued to undercount some race and ethnic groups while overcounting others,' he said. 'Even with the limitations, the 2020 census data are fit for many uses and decision-making.' Census Bureau Director Robert Santos acknowledged the errors in the count but said he still stood by the agency's work. 'We remain proud of the job we accomplished in the face of immense challenges,' Santos said in a statement. 'And we are ready to work with the stakeholders and the public to fully leverage this enormously valuable resource.' The census results published last year showed an increasingly diverse nation, with the non-Hispanic white population declining for the first time in history. The data released on Thursday included only national estimates. A more detailed state-level analysis is expected this summer. Advertisement As millions of Ukrainians flee their war-torn country, thousands of dogs, cats and other animals are left in rescue shelters with their devoted and courageous caretakers who refuse to leave them behind. Animal welfare veteran Laura Simpson, who is the founder of Harmony Fund, an American based non-profit dedicated to helping the most desperate of animals across the globe, has been providing extensive care to Ukrainian rescue shelters for years. 'We know these shelters and the people who run them, they are all like family and now more than ever they need our help,' Simpson told DailyMail.com. 'I have spoken with several shelter owners and of course they are scared, but they won't abandon their animals. I have seen so much heart in Ukraine. These animal rescuers are their own distinct breed and they will never give up.' Marina Dilly is the founder of Shelter Friend located in Dnipro and home to some 650 dogs and 200 cats, plus additional animals being brought in almost every day. 'Our city is empty now, no vet hospital. They shut down. There is nothing,' she said. Thousands of dogs, cats and other animals are in rescue shelters throughout war-torn Ukraine. Their devoted and courageous caretakers have refused to leave the animals behind Marina Dilly is the founder of Shelter Friend located in Dnipro and home to some 650 dogs and 200 cats, plus additional animals being brought in almost every day 'Our city is empty now, no vet hospital. They shut down. There is nothing,' Marina tells DailyMail.com from her shelter in Ukraine Despite the lack of food and supplies, Shelter Friend continues to take in animals that have either been brought in from veterinary hospitals that were forced to shut down because of the war or left behind by those who fled the country 'There is no dry dog food available and rice is rationed,' Dilly told DailyMail.com. 'There is a big shortage of cat food. It is not possible to get food or material items to the shelter. We have enough food for a few days, but if nobody helps us and if NATO does not close the sky over Ukraine, I am afraid these dogs will have little chance for survival'. Empty food bins are seen in stores throughout Ukraine Animal welfare veteran Laura Simpson who is the founder of Harmony Fund, an American based non-profit, has been providing extensive care to the Ukrainian shelters for years 'There is no dry dog food available and rice is rationed,' Dilly told DailyMail.com. 'There is a big shortage of cat food. It is not possible to get food or material items to the shelter. We have enough food for a few days, but if nobody helps us and if NATO does not close the sky over Ukraine, I am afraid these dogs will have little chance for survival.' Shelter Friend, which opened its doors ten years ago, has been a safe haven for the abused, hungry, disabled and left behind. Dilly calls them the 'forgotten souls' and has no plans on leaving them behind. 'There are just four of us looking after the animals, but we are not leaving. We will stay here with the animals.' Despite the lack of food and supplies, Shelter Friend continues to take in animals that have either been brought in from vet hospitals that were forced to shut down because of the war or left behind by those who fled the country. 'We just brought in two injured dogs that had been abandoned and we are now helping them,' she said. Prior to the invasion, many of the dogs were in the process of being adopted, but that came to an immediate halt. 'There are so many families in other countries waiting for their new pets, but I have no way of bringing them to the border,' Dilly explained. 'We can't move animals now because roads are blocked, borders are packed and it is too dangerous.' Alexandra Levitska is the founder of Shelter Ugolyok, which has three different locations throughout the Ukraine, including the country's only rescue sanctuary for farm animals located near Kherson in the south of the country near the Black Sea. Her farm animal shelter is the largest of its kind in the world with hundreds of horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, geese and even ostriches. Alexandra refers to this shelter as her home shelter. The other shelters include the eastern sanctuary near Dnipro and the southern sanctuary near Nikolaev. Alexandra Levitska (pictured) is the founder of Shelter Ugolyok, which has three different locations throughout the Ukraine, including the country's only rescue sanctuary for farm animals near Kherson Levitska's daughter is seen with one of their donkeys on the farm. 'I have been staying in the basement of my home with my daughter, my dogs and many cats that are mostly hiding because of the loud sounds of sirens and bombing,' she said Levitska's farm animal shelter is the largest of its kind in the world with hundreds of horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, geese and ostriches Levitska said supplies for the animals and food for horses and other farm animals are becoming less available and more expensive Ducks are seen swimming in an inflatable baby pool on Levitska's farm as the war continues in Ukraine and their safety is in jeopardy Some refugees like this woman who crossed into Moldova, took their pets with them when they were forced to flee their homes, but thousands of other pets were abandoned as Putin's army invaded One of the women who help out on Levitska's shelter farm is seen being shown affection by the rescue dogs 'I must remain optimistic and stay strong for my daughter and for all of the animals. I am so appreciative of the many people supporting us and thankful,' Levitska told DailyMail.com Levitska refers to this shelter in Kherson as her home shelter. The other shelters include the eastern sanctuary near Dnipro and the southern sanctuary near Nikolaev Despite the growing danger, she said the caretakers at all three facilities have remained in place doing what they can to ensure the safety and well being of the animals. 'Puppies were just brought to our eastern shelter in need of food and care. And another dog was brought in,' Levitska said 'I have been staying in the basement of my home with my daughter, my dogs and many cats that are mostly hiding because of the loud sounds of sirens and bombing. It is of course very scary, but I must remain optimistic and stay strong for my daughter and for all of the animals. I am so appreciative of the many people supporting us and thankful,' Levitska told DailyMail.com. Levitska, who also takes care of her young daughter with autism, said supplies and food are becoming less available and more expensive. Despite the growing danger, she said the caretakers at all three facilities have remained in place doing what they can to ensure the safety and well being of the animals. 'Puppies were just brought to our eastern shelter in need of food and care. And another dog was brought in. This scared boy was brought to our shelter and now has a safe place to eat and live.' Claire Mallet now operates her rescue shelter Claire's Shelter with no electricity, which was cut off throughout the city of Poltava in Central Ukraine Relocating her 200 plus cats and dogs is not an option, and for Claire she now only gets a mere three hours of sleep and awakens to the sounds of sirens and explosions 'I am holding on for the animals, but it is very dangerous and I am alone with them,' Mallet told DailyMail.com. 'We desperately need food and medicine, but the stores are running out of everything. I found some canned goods, but it won't last for long' Prior to the invasion, many of the animals were in the process of being adopted but that came to an immediate halt Gostomel Shelter is home to over 700 animals. Its director Maria Vronska told DailyMail.com that the shelter has been shelled three times, shattering windows and even killing some of the animals 'There are dead animals. The team is alive. I can't say I'm safe. It is as dangerous here as in Kharkiv. All bridges are destroyed. There are no roads,' said Vronska. 'There is one road left and we hope not to destroy it. There is some water and food at the moment, but we don't know what to do next' 'I am holding on for the animals, but it is very dangerous and I am alone with them,' Claire Mallet whose shelter is in Poltava in Central Ukraine told DailyMail.com Claire Mallet now operates her rescue shelter Claire's Shelter with no electricity, which was cut off throughout the city of Poltava in Central Ukraine. Relocating her 200 plus cats and dogs is not an option, and for Claire she now gets a mere three hours of sleep and awakens to the sounds of sirens and explosions. 'I am holding on for the animals, but it is very dangerous and I am alone with them,' Mallet told DailyMail.com. 'We desperately need food and medicine, but the stores are running out of everything. I found some canned goods, but it won't last for long.' If nobody helps us and if NATO does not close the sky over Ukraine, I am afraid these dogs will have little chance for survival Shelter founder Marina Dilly After two hours of searching for food, Claire described how she was able to find some paste and canned foods despite the long lines and empty shelves at local shops. She's still in need of medicine and warm blankets, and accepts donations which can be made via her Facebook page Claire Mallet. Gostomel Shelter is home to over 700 animals. Its director Maria Vronska told DailyMail.com that the shelter has been shelled three times since the Russian invasion began, shattering windows and even killing some of the animals. 'There are dead animals. The team is alive. I can't say I'm safe,' she said. 'It is as dangerous here as in Kharkiv. All bridges are destroyed. There are no roads,' said Vronska. 'There is one road left and we hope not to destroy it. There is some water and food at the moment, but we don't know what to do next.' 'There are a total of four people working at the shelter and the damages exceed $30,000. If there is an opportunity to ask people to help financially, it will be a great aid. We need volunteers who are ready to come and work here.' After two hours of searching for food, Claire Mallet described how she was able to find some paste and canned foods despite the long lines and empty shelves at local shops. She's still in need of medicine and warm blankets The Harmony Fund has been working tirelessly on a relief convoy with Fundatia Sky, an animal shelter in Romania, to bring several trucks full of food for not just dogs and cats, but for horses, cows, pigs and other animals Simpson wants animal lovers to be smart when it comes to donating money to rescue organizations. 'With disasters, come scams. I have over 25 years experience in animal welfare, so I can vouch for the places that are the real deal' To help with efforts to help the animals of the shelters in Ukraine, please visit: https://harmonyfund.org The Harmony Fund has been working tirelessly on a relief convoy with Fundatia Sky, an animal shelter in Romania, to bring several trucks full of food for not just dogs and cats, but for horses, cows, pigs and other animals. 'The farm animals are so often overlooked. We're looking to deliver goods to one major shelter and then hopefully make it possible for rescuers in the surrounding area to come and pick up food for their animals,' said Simpson. 'A vet will accompany the convoy and be available to treat animals and provide medicines. This will take place as soon as safe passage can be made hopefully as early as next week. I'm expecting the cost of this aid to be very significant, but I believe it will be the difference between life and death for many animals.' Simpson wants animal lovers to be smart when it comes to donating money to rescue organizations. 'With disasters, come scams. I have over 25 years experience in animal welfare, so I can vouch for the places that are the real deal.' TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The sabotage and psychological operations of the United States in lifting its anti-Iran sanctions delayed the Vienna talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal to yield an agreement, Tasnim news agency reported on Friday, citing an Iranian source close to the negotiations. "The main issue in the Vienna talks is the (U.S.) sanctions on individuals, companies, and institutions that play an effective role in Iran's economic benefit," the source was quoted as saying. From the beginning of the talks, Iran has been calling for removing those individuals, companies, and institutions from the so-called "red list," and the American side has repeatedly used delaying tactics and links the removal to issues beyond the nuclear talks, he said. The informed source added that "there will be no agreement without the lifting of these sanctions" and Iran has announced this to the United States and to the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, which is formally known as the JCPOA. "The United States knows that it needs an agreement more than any other party to the JCPOA, therefore, these sabotage and psychological operations will be more to their detriment," the source noted. Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and major parties to the deal, in a bid to restore the 2015 nuclear deal from which former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew unilaterally in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran. Two YouTubers were arrested while participating in a bizarre social media challenge last month when they hid inside a Target overnight. Johnson Larose, 25, and Charlotte Fischer, 24, known on YouTube as 'Saucy and Honey,' filmed themselves hiding in the Exton, Pennsylvania, store on February 21 for their '24-Hour Overnight Challenge in Target.' The pair, which has 17,700 followers, were arrested and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing and conspiracy. They were released on $25,000 unsecured bail and are banned from visiting any Target stores in Pennsylvania, according to their bail conditions, Fox4 News reported. 'I mean, no regrets just living life and having fun, it's kind of sad that all of this came out of it, we were expecting a fine, nothing crazy,' Fischer said. The couple filmed themselves roaming the empty store aisles in near darkness, dancing, hiding inside a makeshift fort behind boxes of products as the store closed, and hiding from overnight crew members later in the evening. The video had garnered nearly 4,500 views as of Thursday evening. Scroll down for video Charlotte Fischer, 24, pictured, was charged with trespassing after breaking into a Target after hours for a YouTube challenge She and Johnson Larose, 25, pictured, filmed the video for their YouTube channel 'Saucy and Honey' Surveillance video footage showing Johnson Larose, 25, and 24-year-old Charlotte Fischer inside the Pennsylvania Target after-hours last month Larose and Fischer danced inside the store, which was closed at the time they filmed their YouTube video Police did arrive after being dispatched to the store when the pair accidentally activated an alarm while leaving through an emergency exit around 3 a.m. While the responding officers searched the building, they ultimately did not find anything and left the store without making any arrests, as they couple had left the store by the time authorities arrived. Authorities said they returned to the store around 8 a.m. after it opened the next morning and resumed filming their video. They were caught when store workers reviewed surveillance video footage after they tripped an alarm while exiting the store. Fischer inside a makeshift fort behind boxes of products as the store closed They also hid from overnight crew members later in the evening. Pictured: Fischer in their YouTube video The pair could be seen on surveillance video wandering the store aimlessly during their YouTube social media challenge video Fischer, pictured posing alongside a mannequin inside the Target after the store had closed Police said Target employees found surveillance video the next day showing a man and a woman, identified as Larose and Fischer, wandering around the store with their phones out, according to Fox4 News. Police did note that the pair did not steal anything while inside the closed store. 'It became a little bit bigger of an investigation, trying to find out what they were doing, was there something criminal?' West Whiteland Township Police Detective Scott Pezick said. Cops eventually caught up with the two after identifying them via the surveillance video. The couple told authorities that they were filming the after-hours video for their YouTube channel. Police said Target employees found surveillance video the next day showing a man and a woman, identified as Larose and Fischer, wandering around the store with their phones out Pictured: the couple as they leave court, where they were charged with with third-degree criminal trespassing and conspiracy. They were released on $25,000 unsecured bail 'When you go to burglary call you have a heightened sense of awareness. Suddenly, you see somebody in there or maybe they get spooked and run, our officers are well-trained, but its not a great situation for anybody,' Detective Pezick said. 'They weren't out to harm anybody, but we want to make sure this doesnt happen again.' Their next court hearing is scheduled for March 24. The '24 Hour Fort challenge,' also known as the '24 hour challenge' or 'Overnight challenge,' is a challenge which originated in 2016 and reached the peak of its popularity in 2018. During the challenge, participants must reach a location or venue before it closes for the evening and trespass on the property by hiding in a 'fort'. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley is requesting a hold on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's nomination to become President Joe Biden's ambassador to India. Grassley's office is talking to whistleblowers and is investigating whether Garcetti lied to Congress when he denied knowing about sexual harassment and assault allegations against his top adviser. Politico first reported the hold on Thursday, with Grassley asking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to stall the nomination while the probe takes place. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley (left) is requesting a hold on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's (right) nomination to become President Joe Biden's ambassador to India 'The United States owes it to the Republic of India to send them a qualified Ambassador that will represent the values of the United States,' Grassley said to McConnell in documents obtained by Politico, which were sent to the GOP leader informing him of the hold request. 'Mayor Garcetti may very well be fully qualified, but at this time, the Senate needs to look into these allegations further,' Grassley added. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in January to send Garcetti's nomination to the Senate floor. Grassley is the ranking member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, which isn't overseeing the Garcetti nomination. Even so, the Iowa Republican has aides that are able to do investigative work. 'We were connected with one whistleblower, and since our initial conversations, we've been able to learn more from additional sources which seem to corroborate that the mayor was aware of this activity,' one aide told Politico. Grassley told McConnell his staff had spoken to people who 'have not previously spoken to the Foreign Relations Comittee, and are presenting new allegations that must be fully investigated.' In December, during his confirmation hearings, the Los Angeles mayor answered only one question - from Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen - on allegations made by both men and women, including LAPD Officer Matthew Garza, who was part of Garcetti's security detail, and former aide Naomi Seligman, against Garcetti's political adviser and confidant Rick Jacobs. Jacobs has denied the claims. Shaheen said she was concerned about the allegations against Jacobs and also that the mayor 'did not respond to those allegations in a way that would have stopped the behavior.' 'I never witnessed, nor was it brought to my attention, the behavior that's been alleged. ... If it had been, I would have immediately taken action to stop that,' Garcetti said in response. To further appease her, Garcetti said sexual harassment and assault would be one of his key issues if confirmed for the ambassadorship. After Garcetti's nomination was voted out of committee, Seligman told Los Angeles Magazine she was disappointed in Senate Democrats. Naomi Seligman (left), a former aide in the Los Angeles Mayor's office, tore into 'pathetic' Senate Democrats for voting to move Garcetti's nomination forward despite allegations he ignored bad behavior from his ex-adviser Rick Jacobs (right) 'I've been a women's advocate and a loyal Democrat my entire life, and I feel really abandoned by the party I love,' Seligman said. She's accused Jacobs of 'pulling me into him' as he kissed her on the lips 'for some long, uncomfortable period of time.' Garza has filed a lawsuit against Jacobs. Politico identified one of the individuals who spoke to Grassley's office as former Garcetti aide Suzi Emmerling, who said in a deposition for Garza's lawsuit that the mayor knew 'how bad Rick is.' Emmerling said in her testimony that she'd spoken to a number of people about Jacobs' behavior, including a prominent journalist she didn't name. That reporter told her Jacobs was 'doing all of these things right in front of the mayor' and they had 'never seen a staffer behave that way in front of a principal.' While the newest version of Covid-19 will increase your chances of infection and put extra pressure on the hospital system, experts say Australians have little to fear - provided they are boosted. BA.2, a highly-transmissible sub-variant of Omicron, is driving the number of new infections back up to levels not seen since January and they are expected to quickly double. New infections for New South Wales rose to 16,288 on Thursday and although they dropped back to 14,034 on Friday, health officials expect them to climb back to 30,000 by early April. Wet and humid conditions in eastern Australia are likely to have contributed to the increased spread because the virus thrives in humidity and because people group together indoors during rain. Despite the fresh worries over the latest Covid variant, Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett told Daily Mail Australia early data doesn't show it's any more deadly. 'From all accounts it does spread more easily, but there is no indication that BA.2 is more severe, although a few more cases means more people in hospital purely because of the larger case numbers,' Ms Bennett said. The key message people need to hear ahead of winter, she said, is that booster vaccines reduce the risk of getting sick - both mild and severe Covid-19 - and of dying. Wet and humid conditions in eastern Australia are likely to have contributed to the increased Covid spread because the virus thrives in humidity and because people group together indoors during rain While the newest version of Covid-19 will increase your chances of infection and put extra pressure on the hospital system, experts say Australians have little to fear - provided they are boosted The basics on BA.2 and other Covid-19 variants BA.2 is part of the growing family of Omicron Coronavirus variants. It is a version of Omicron that has surged recently but it is not new. It was first detected way back in November 2021. There have also been also BA.1 BA.3 and B.1.1.529 strains of Omicron. BA.2 is understood to be more contagious than these but not deadlier. There have been over 10 main variants of Covid-19 but hundreds or even thousands of sub-variants. Delta, the strain many believe to have been the deadliest, had more than 200 sub-variants. The main Covid strains still designated 'variants of concern' are: Alpha: earliest sample documented sample from the UK in September 2020 Beta: South Africa, May 2020 Gamma: Brazil, November 2020 Delta: India, October 2020 Omicron: several countries November 2021 Advertisement 'We know this because we've seen the data from other countries where both Omicron variants have been carefully tracked, such as Denmark,' she said. It is likely that Australian data on the effectiveness of vaccines also covers BA.2 because the strain has been around as long as the first Omicron strain, BA.1. It was first detected in November last year. Public health data from overseas shows having a booster shot reduces the risk of being admitted to hospital with Covid by around 80 per cent and cuts the risk of dying by 88 per cent, Ms Bennett said. A booster reduces the risk of getting any Covid symptoms by between 40 and 60 per cent, depending on the combination of three shots you have had. At a population level, higher levels of boosters are also likely to reduce the asymptomatic infection. 'The benefit of booster shots is every bit of helps - it helps you personally and it helps keep the virus in check in the community.' So far 94.7 per cent of Australians over the age of 16 are considered 'fully vaccinated' - which still means they have had at least two jabs. Over 12 million Australians, or 65.1 per cent of those eligible have received 'more than two doses'. Ms Bennett says the emergence of BA.2 makes wearing a mask indoors in busy areas, such as shopping centres, a sensible thing to do. 'It's definitely a reminder. But we don't need new rules,' she said. 'The vast majority of people in my local shopping centre are wearing masks inside and I'm pleased to see that because there is a bit more risk. 'Popping on a mask in around other people indoors is a good idea, so is hygiene and a bit of social distancing - especially if you are vulnerable or if you are not boosted. UNSW modelling has revealed cases will double within the next four to six weeks with a massive surge already recorded in NSW and Victoria Epidemiologist Catherine Bennett says wearing a mask in areas where there are a lot of people is a sensible thing to do but we don't need rules to enforce it because most people have learned how to stay safe First detected in the Philippines in November, BA.2 is now believed to be the dominant strain of Covid in Australia and could account for 90 per cent of our local cases by the end of March. Based on case data from several countries BA.2 is believed to be around 25 to 30 per cent more infectious than the first Omicron strain. James Wood, a mathematician in UNSWs School of Public Health who does modelling for NSW Health, claimed 90 per cent of the state's cases will be BA.2 by the end of March, Nine newspapers reported. He also said new daily infections would reach 'the 20,000 to 30,000 range in early April... and then likely start to come down again in May'. Ms Bennett says this means we are more likely to at least come across it in our normal daily lives, especially with few restriction in society today. 'You probably will encounter the virus if you havent already,' she says. 'Instead of coming across it once every few times you go out, it'll be twice. 'It means you dont have time to wait for the booster, its the best way of avoiding putting up with illness.' The World health Organisation says infection data from South Africa, the UK and Denmark suggest there is no difference between the severity of Omicron's BA.1 and BA.2. Ms Bennett said the weather in eastern Australia has probably contributed to the increased number of Omicron cases. Booster shots have stalled in recent weeks, with about 65 per cent of people aged over 16 having received a third shot The federal government will launch a new Covid plan as it prepares for cases to double, a new variant to emerge and a deadly flu season to run rampant in winter 'The humidity can change the dynamics of transmission,' she said. 'A virus is more easily spread if airborne in humid environment because the humidity keeps some virus particles in air for longer. 'They remain moist enough they can stay in the air and viable and lead to more aerosol spread potentially whereas in very dry conditions it might dry out and drop out of the air.' The federal government is set to launch a new Covid plan and spend $2.1billion as it prepares for cases to double, yet another new variant to emerge and a deadly flu season this winter. The winter plan was requested by national cabinet to ensure the country and health systems are prepared for spikes in respiratory illnesses and will be a major topic of discussion at Friday's meeting. Sam Elliott has been spotted in public for the first time since he caused outrage by tearing into Oscar-nominated cowboy movie Power of the Dog. The dry-witted actor, 77, sarcastically claimed to have no knowledge of the movie when approached by DailyMail.com while running errands Wednesday. 'What are you talking about?' Sam said when asked about his thoughts on the film. 'I don't know anything about it.' The veteran actor has come under fire for comparing the movie's ranch workers to Chippendales dancers who 'wear bowties and not much else.' In a foul mouthed tirade on Marc Maron's WTF Podcast last week he added, 'That's what all these f***ing cowboys in that movie looked like. They're all running around in chaps and no shirts. There's all these allusions to homosexuality throughout the f***ing movie.' DailyMail.com spotted Sam Elliott running errands in his first sighting since bashing the film Power of the Dog The actor, 77, sarcastically claimed to have no knowledge of the movie when approached by DailyMail.com 'What are you talking about?' Sam said while asked about his thoughts on the film. 'I don't know anything about it' For his outing Wednesday, Sam, who stars in Yellowstone spinoff 1883, wore a grey top, jeans and sneakers and carried envelopes Sam is under fire for comparing the movie's ranch workers to Chippendales dancers who 'wear bowties and not much else' For his outing Wednesday, Sam, who stars in Yellowstone spinoff 1883, wore a grey top, jeans and sneakers and carried envelopes. In the interview at the center of the controversy, Sam went on to question the suitability of the movie's director Jane Campion, asking how a 'woman from down there [New Zealand] can 'know about the American West.' In response, the lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch has hit back and described the comments as 'very odd'. Cumberbatch, 45, who stars as a repressed gay cowboy in the film, branded Sam's comments a 'very odd reaction' to the movie and noted there is still 'a massive intolerance in the world at large towards homosexuality.' 'I'm trying very hard not to say anything about a very odd reaction that happened the other day on a radio podcast over here,' Cumberbatch said during BAFTA's Film Sessions on Friday. 'Without meaning to stir over the ashes of that [] someone really took offense to I haven't heard it so it's unfair for me to comment in detail on it to the West being portrayed in this way,' Cumberbatch continued. Elliott said his main gripe stemmed from the implications that the character Phil Burbank was a closeted gay man and that the movie over-critiqued the masculine image of the west. The Oscar nominated film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, above, playing a closeted gay man. Elliot said Cumberbatch spent too much of the movie shirtless and wearing chaps Elliott, pictured here in the Yellowstone prequel 1883, said he took personal offense to The Power of the Dog's critique of the West through the film's main character, a repressed gay man 'The myth is that they were these macho men out there with the cattle,' Elliott said. 'I just came from Texas where I was hanging out with families not men but families. Big, long, extended, multiple-generation families that made their livings... and their lives were all about being about cowboys. 'And boy, when I f**king saw that [movie], I thought, 'What the f**k,'' he said. 'Where's the western in this western?' He added that he was also angry that Cumberbatch's character never seemed to remove his chaps. 'Every f**cking time he would walk in from somewhere he never was on a horse he'd walk in to the f**cking house, storm up the f**cking stairs, go lay in his bed, in his chaps and play the banjo.' Ellliott, however, did call Campion a 'brilliant' filmmaker and said he just did not agree with her direction in The Power of the Dog. Campion (pictured with the film's leads Benedict Cumberbatch and Kristen Durst at the U.S. screening) said she encouraged all the 'leather and ropes and chaps.' The movie centers around Cumberbatch's Phil Burbank's repressed gay feelings as he torments his new sister-in-law (Kristen Durst) and her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) at their Montana Ranch Campion, 67, said she 'encouraged' the homosexual fetishes and 'gear' seen in the movie when asked if she 'ever worried about overdoing' it. 'Too much leather and ropes and chaps? I encouraged it,' she told the Guardian in an interview published on March 4. She also said she knew parts were 'quite eroticized,' including a scene where Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is hiding a rope Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) had given him under his bed. The Power of the Dog follows Cumberbatch's character Phil Burbank, a menacing rancher whose brother (Jesse Plemons) surprisingly gets married to a woman (Kirsten Dunst) who moves onto their ranch with her son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). The film centers around Burbank's anger over his repressed feelings as he torments his new sister-in-law and her son at their Montana ranch until he learns to love his family. It was filmed in New Zealand because Campion wanted to direct it close to her native country. The film leads all contenders with 12 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Director for Jane Campion and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch. The defense lawyer for one of the Guantanamo Bay detainees awaiting trial for 9/11-related terror charges has asked to resign from the case, citing a military review of her 'performance and conduct.' Cheryl Bormann, a Chicago-based lawyer who specializes in death penalty cases, has since 2011 represented a Yemeni detainee, Walid bin Attash - accused of training the 9/11 hijackers. Bormann has now applied to leave the case, saying that a Military Commissions Defense Organization investigation into her work means it is impossible for her to continue to represent bin Attash. It was unclear what the issues were with her 'performance and conduct' and when the request was made, The New York Times, which first reported the news, said the issues were 'recently.' Bin Attash is one of five men due to go on trial for the attacks, in a long-anticipated case that still has no date to begin. He will be tried alongside Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the 58-year-old Pakistani militant described as the ringleader of the plot. Cheryl Bormann is pictured in Chicago in 2011, when she was appointed to the case. She has now asked to be recused from the case because she is under investigation - she did not specify what for Bormann's client, Walid bin Attash, 44, was born in Yemen and grew up in Saudi Arabia. He became one of Osama bin Laden's bodyguards and is accused of training the 9/11 hijackers Attash is one of 38 prisoners currently held at Guantanamo Bay. Since 2002, roughly 780 detainees have been held at the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now, 38 remain In August 2019, a trial date was set for January 2021, but that was soon abandoned. On the 20th anniversary of the attacks, last year, some reports said the trial could begin in April. Colonel Matthew McCall is presiding over the trial Bormann's request potentially throws that date into jeopardy. The next hearing has been rescheduled for March 21. Colonel Matthew McCall, who is presiding over the case, has given lawyers and prosecutors until next week to file pleadings on whether he should release Bormann from the case. Bormann worked as part of the Cook County public defender's homicide task force until Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011. She then joined the war court bar, and has not shied away from using blunt terms in the case. She has referred to prosecutors as working for 'the government that wants to kill him.' She also raised eyebrows by, in her first court appearance in Guantanamo in 2012, wearing a head scarf and a black abaya, a traditional robe worn by women in Saudi Arabia, where bin Attash grew up. Bormann is pictured in 2012, wearing a head scarf and abaya in court - to the anger of some of the victims' families Bormann is seen speaking to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of 9/11, in April 2014 Victims' families complained that it was a sign of submission to the terrorists' ideology, but she said it was a sign of respect. Bormann is not alone in representing bin Attash, but she is the only one on the team who counts as 'learned counsel,' meaning she has experience in death penalty trials. The other lawyers on her team - three civilians and two members of the military - do not have her experience. If Bormann does leave the case, it will likely cause significant delays because there are no back-up learned counsels waiting in the wings. When the learned counsel for another defendant, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, left the case in 2020 due to a heart condition, it took several months to hire and obtain security clearance for his replacement. The lawyer then requested 30 months to prepare. His request was never acted on, because the court then closed due to the pandemic. Since 2002, roughly 780 detainees have been held at the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Now, 38 remain. Of the 38, 12 have been charged with war crimes in the military commissions system; 10 are awaiting trial and two have been convicted. Seven detainees are held in indefinite law-of-war detention and are neither facing tribunal charges nor being recommended for release. And 19 are held in law-of-war detention but have been recommended for transfer with security arrangements to another country. President Joe Biden has released two detainees so far - most recently on Monday, when Mohammad Ahmad al-Qahtani was flown back to Saudi Arabia. The man who killed Australian teacher Shanae Brooke Edwards in Georgia has been found guilty over her horrific murder. Georgian citizen Rafael Mursakulov had claimed the 'devil awoke' inside of him when he brutally murdered the Melbourne 'free spirit' teacher, 31. On Wednesday, he was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison on-the-spot by Tbilisi City Court. Tributes for the kind and adventurous Shanae Brooke Edwards have flooded social media since her alleged murder on July 30 The much-loved 'free spirit' was on a call to a friend in the US while trekking when she was heard shouting 'take your hands off me' - before the call cut out Ms Brooke Edwards' final Instagram post, of her on a motorbike on July 29, was captioned 'Joy' Mursakulov had pleaded guilty to robbing the Australian, but denied he intended to murder her. Ms Brooke Edwards was found with stab wounds near a narrow pedestrian trail in Mtatsminda Park in the eastern European country's capital of Tbilisi on July 31, a day after she went for a hike and never returned. Detectives from Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Mursakulov in September. Ms Brooke Edwards' brother Tyson Edwards flew to Georgia to watch the guilty verdict handed down. His family had requested a life sentence for the accused. Before being taken to jail, Mursakulov apologised to Mr Edwards, declaring he 'wasnt that kind of person' and ' just got into that situation', it was reported by Georgian media. It is the second time Mursakulov has tried to explain his devilish actions. Last month, he addressed Ms Brooke Edwards' family and his country as his trial drew to an end. 'I apologise to this country, to the people, to the family of that person,' Mursakulov said in his native tongue. 'This is a loss that you can not make up for. Just forgive me. No matter what the verdict is, I will not vote, I will not appeal, I will stand up to the end, I apologise.' Ms Brooke Edwards had been on the phone to a friend in the United States and was heard shouting when she was attacked. Mursakulov's lawyers had attempted to convince the court he was mentally ill when he attempted to rob the beloved teacher. Georgian citizen Rafael Mursakulov claimed he has no memory of killing Shanae Brooke Edwards. He apologised for his actions last month (pictured) Butprosecutor Giorgi Kobuladze demanded Mursakulov be found guilty of premeditated murder. 'The accused stabbed Shanai Brook 13 times, five of them in the neck, which confirms the intent to kill. She was then stabbed with a knife, after which she was brutally killed. Then he hid the victim's body,' Mr Kobuladze reportedly told the court. Georgian detectives further claimed Mursakulov had told his brother and sister-in-law about about what allegedly happened after the robbery and threatened to kill their son if they said anything about the crime. The court heard Mursakulov claimed he could not recall in detail how or why he killed Ms Brooke Edwards. It was a claim refuted by prosecutors, who claimed although the killer had traces of psychotropic drugs in his system, knew what he was doing the time of the savage murder. Georgian police arrested Rafael Mursakulov after an investigation that went for near on 40 days The body of Shanae Brooke Edwards was found discarded under bushes in the shadow of a popular amusement park after a robbery went wrong Shanae Brooke Edwards had travelled the world. She was killed after going for a hike The court heard Mursakulov intended to burn Ms Brooke Edwards' corpse and had dragged her body to the edge of a gorge and covered it with leaves. 'He can not perceive how it happened. He has some mental problems, which does not exclude his admission,' Mr Kobuladze said. 'He himself can not describe in detail what caused all this. His explanation was that at that moment the greatest devil awoke in him, (which he) could not overcome.' The trial heard evidence from other witnesses who claimed the accused also attempted to pursue them in the vicinity of Mtatsminda Park, Georgian media reported. Prosecutors had called on the court to impose a higher than usual sentence against the alleged killer. Mursakulov faced between 16 to 20 years or life in prison for the premeditated murder and attempting to cover up the crime. The death of Ms Brooke Edwards sent shockwaves throughout the Tbilisi community and Australia. Police had created a composite sketch of the likely offender after interviewing 200 people, including friends, co-workers, neighbours and fellow hikers who were at Mtatsminda Park the day she was allegedly murdered. After checking their whereabouts at the time of murder, police closed in on the killer. Searchers found this old and rusty shovel in the bushes in the area where Ms Brooke Edwards went missing. The ferris wheel attraction in Mtatsminda Park would have been in view of Shanae Brooke Edwards when she was allegedly murdered Police in Georgia search for Shanae Brooke Edwards in Mtatsminda Park. Her body was found a day after she went missing LAST MOMENTS CAPTURED ON CCTV CCTV footage of Ms Brooke Edwards captured her final moments alive as she took off on her fateful hiking trip on July 30. Dressed in tight black yoga pants and a dark top, she was last seen leaving the Church of Mikhail of Tver for a hike up along Mtatsminda. Images clearly captured her carrying a green bag, which reportedly remains missing. It is understood Ms Brooke Edwards' mobile phone was found dumped in nearby bushland close to where her body had been found a day after she went missing. Police sources have told local media that contrary to earlier reports, no signs of sexual assault were found on her body. Advertisement 'As a result of complex and multifaceted investigative activities, the circle of the supposed offenders was reduced to a minimum, whereas, as a result of genetic examination report the identity of the offender was unequivocally confirmed,' detectives claimed at the time. Word of Mursakulov's arrest over the killing was welcomed by terrified locals, who had set up a social media page to help protect women following Ms Brook Edwards' murder. Shocked citizens had already set up a memorial to the murdered school teacher, with locals laying flowers at the site. The body of Ms Brooke Edwards was found discarded under bushes in the shadow of a popular amusement park. In the months since the horrific alleged murder, reports Ms Brooke Edwards had been raped have been revealed to be false. As have reports of a supposed photofit of a young blonde male being passed around by detectives in the days following the crime. A GoFundMe page was created to help the family of Ms Brooke Edwards return her body back to Australia had raised more than $20,000 in donations. However, the Georgian government later stepped in and announced it would cover the transportation expenses of her body to Australia. Shanae Brooke Edwards was killed in Georgia after going for a hike A young Shanae Brooke Edwards (right) with her family Shanae Brooke Edwards and her brother Tyson in happier times Prominent right-wing figures including Pauline Hanson and Andrew Bolt have paid tribute to Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching who suddenly died aged 52 of a suspected heart attack while driving. Senator Hanson, who went to Afghanistan with Senator Kitching on a 10-day trip to visit Australian troops in 2018, broke down in tears on TV last night while discussing her friend. 'She was a unique person. I had a lot of time for Kimberley. I'm very sad and very shocked by her passing,' she told Sky News host Paul Murray before sobbing and saying 'sorry'. Senator Hanson (left) went to Afghanistan with Senator Kitching (right) on a 10-day trip to visit Australian troops in 2018 'We actually went to Afghanistan together it was just the two of us, we had a lot of fun together. 'She always had a smile on her face, she was never nasty to anyone.' Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt was also emotional as he praised Senator Kitching who died after pulling over while driving in suburban Melbourne on Thursday afternoon. 'I'm devastated, I'm shocked. We've been friends for 30 years and she was just at my home for lunch on Friday with her husband Andrew,' he said on Sky News. 'This is someone who had guts who was so important in Australian politics. This is a politician who would defy her own party to fight for the right things.' Nationals Senator Matt Canavan also penned a touching tribute, writing on Twitter: 'I am so so sad to hear of the passing of my colleague and friend, Kimberley Kitching. 'Kimberley was always so much fun to be around, never took herself too seriously and was always up for a laugh. Canberra can be a lonely place sometimes but it was less so with Kimberley around.' Senator Kitching's close friend Bill Shorten cried on morning radio as he revealed she was under 'great stress' in the face of a move to kick her out of the senate. The Victorian senator and fierce China critic was from the right faction of Labor and faced a tough preselection fight for a winnable spot on the senate ticket for the upcoming election. 'She was under great stress. Preselection is never easy,' Mr Shorten told ABC Radio National in an emotional interview. 'I'm not a coroner. I can't tell you why this woman at 52 was taken from us but I have no doubt that the stress of politics and the machinations in the back rooms had its toll. 'She's a very strong person. She could give as good as she could get. But you take all that home with you.' During her maiden speech to parliament, Senator Kitching spoke about her hope to represent everyday Australian people. She is pictured with former opposition leader Bill Shorten Senator Kitching is pictured with Labor Senator Kristina Keneally Mr Shorten was audibly emotional in the interview, with his voice breaking up several times. Taking lengthy pauses to compose himself, Mr Shorten explained: 'It wasn't clear what was going to happen to her ongoing role in politics and it's stressful. 'There were machinations and arguments going on. 'We have a woman who's 52 who's pulled over by the side of the road and died unexpectedly. That's shocking an terrible.' Mr Shorten said he got a call from Senator Kitching's husband yesterday afternoon to say that she had passed. He and wife Chloe rushed to a suburban street in Strathmore, Melbourne - where Senator Kitching had pulled over on the side of the road while having a heart attack at the wheel - and waited for the undertaker's van to arrive. Senator Kitching had a thyroid condition which caused her to lose weight in recent months. The day before her death the Labor Right had reportedly refused to re-endorse her preselection. Mr Shorten discussed the move to kick her out of the Senate on the Today show. 'I have no doubt that some of the stress of politics, the machinations behind the scenes, some of the attacks you get - even from within your own ranks... contributed to her early passing. It's terrible,' he said. Mr Shorten urged viewers to check their health. 'Bad things can happen to good people and just get your heart checked out. Just get your heart checked out,' he said. Senator Kitching held doubts about Anthony Albanese's leadership. She was also a fierce China critic who teamed up with Liberal MPs Andrew Hastie and James Paterson to form an anti-Beijing club called the Wolverines. Her death has shocked politicians from all parties and sparked touching tributes from Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson. On Thursday night Mr Albanese gave a heartfelt response to Senator Kitching's tragic passing, saying: 'The Labor family is in shock tonight at the tragic news that our friend and colleague Senator has died suddenly in Melbourne. 'My sincere condolences to her family. Kimberley will be missed by us all.' The former lawyer, policy adviser, Melbourne City councillor and union official was elected to Parliament in 2016 Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching has died of a suspected heart attack Victorian premier Daniel Andrews wrote: 'Terrible news tonight about Senator Kimberley Kitching. My thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison also shared a few words. 'Deeply saddened at the news Victorian Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching passed away suddenly today, aged just 52,' he said. 'Our deepest condolences go to her family, friends and colleagues.' Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce referred to Senator Kitching as a 'dear friend' in his response to the news. 'I am deeply, genuinely and so terribly upset to hear the tragic news about a dear person and dear friend, Senator Kimberley Kitching.' 'She was a beautiful woman and this is a tragic loss. 'I know she is with our Lord, and I offer my sincerest and deepest condolences to her family,' he added. Labor leader Anthony Albanese announced Kitching's tragic passing on Twitter Prime Minster Scott Morrison said he was 'deeply saddened' to hear about Senator Kitching's passing, while Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce referred to her as a 'dear friend' in his response The former lawyer, policy adviser, Melbourne City councillor and union official was elected to Parliament in 2016. During her maiden speech to parliament, Senator Kitching spoke about her hope to represent everyday Australian people. 'As a former Queenslander who grew up swimming, a proud holder of a bronze medallion, who continues to enjoy swimming in Victoria's chillier waters, I am daunted yet delighted to be thrown in the deep end right here and now,' she said. 'I am mindful and deeply humbled that only 591 Australians have ever served in the Senate,' she said. 'I am mindful that so much that is great about this nation comes from rising to meet challenges.' She made a bid for Labor pre-selection for two electorates in the 2013 Australian federal election but was unsuccessful. Pictured with Dean Jones In 2016, Senator Kitching won pre-selection to fill Stephen Conroy's seat following his resignation Senator Kitching was born in Brisbane in 1970 and moved to Melbourne in 1995. She made a bid for Labor pre-selection for two electorates in the 2013 Australian federal election but was unsuccessful. In 2016, Senator Kitching won pre-selection to fill Stephen Conroy's seat following his resignation. Mr Albanese, who is from the Labor Left, opposed her bid to enter politics but after the 2019 election he promoted her to the frontbench as shadow ministry as Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability. Senator Kitching broke the story of former AusPost boss Christine Holgate handing out luxury watches as bonuses to her staff by quizzing the CEO during a senate estimates hearing. Kimberley Kitching (pictured seond right) and Anthony Albanese (pictured left) are pictured with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and other Labor collegues in 2018 More heavy rain and floods could soon batter the east coast of Australia amid warnings the devastating La Nina weather pattern will last for months. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a strong likelihood south-east Queensland and the entire coast of NSW will experience a wetter than normal Autumn. Both regions have at least a 70 per cent chance of recording higher than average rainfall between March and May. South-eastern NSW and eastern Victoria have the highest chances with the likelihood at 80 per cent. Higher than average rainfall is expected to continue along the east coast and extend up the north coast of Queensland between April and June. More heavy rain and floods could soon batter the east coast of Australia amid warnings the devastating La Nina weather pattern will last for months (pictured, Lismore in northeastern NSW) The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a strong likelihood south-east Queensland and the entire coast of NSW will experience a wetter than normal Autumn Weatherzone meteorologist Duncan Tippins told Daily Mail Australia the weather pattern had begun to ease over the Pacific Ocean La Nina has been blamed for the prolonged months of downpour with the wet weather system already leading to a record year of rain, flash flooding and evacuations across NSW and Queensland. Weatherzone meteorologist Duncan Tippins told Daily Mail Australia the weather pattern had begun to ease over the Pacific Ocean. He warned it was still strong enough to bring higher than average rainfall, which could lead to the risk of added floods, over the next month and a half. 'It's hard to be definitive,' he said. 'What we can say is certainly the catchments and most, if not all the rivers, across eastern Australia are already wet. 'That does increase the chances of further flooding and further rainfall events.' Mr Tippins remained optimistic the flooding would be less severe compared to the past week. 'One of the climate drivers besides La Nina was the southern annular mode,' he said. 'It describes how strong westerly winds are around the ocean. 'When it is positive it leads to higher chances of higher rainfall. That has since returned back to normal.' Bureau of Meteorology Andrew Watkins said lingering floodwaters across NSW and Queensland would increase the chance of higher rainfall over the coming weeks. South-east Queensland, the coast of NSW, Victoria and Hobart have at least a 70 per cent chance of recording higher than average rainfall between March and May Queensland will the highest chance of experiencing above average rainfall between April and June 'Just having so much moisture in the landscape means that over land as well as over the sea there is water that can evaporate, of course, and fall again as rain,' he told The Guardian. 'La Nina will play influence on the weather through the autumn, but we also have warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures around northern Australia at the moment, and that'll play some role as well.' University of Sydney climate expert Nandini Ramesh told the ABC residents in some parts of Sydney may not see the sun in months. 'Forecasts for the La Nina event say that it's going to persist until May. But then the wintertime [after that] is when we get most of our rain,' Dr Ramesh said. People whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the unprecedented flood crisis in NSW will benefit from a half a billion dollar support package. Premier Dominic Perrottet, who has spent most of the week with flood-affected residents in the Northern Rivers, announced the $551 million housing support package in the town Goonellebah on Thursday. 'We're announcing a package that will approximately support 25,000 households in relation to housing support,' he said. People whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the unprecedented flood crisis in NSW will benefit from a half a billion dollar support package Premier Dominic Perrottet, who has spent most of the week with flood-affected residents in the Northern Rivers, announced the $551 million housing support package in the town Goonellebah on Thursday The federal government is funding half the package. The package will provide 16 weeks rent support ranging from $6000 to more than $18,000 per household. Of the 9200 homes assessed so far, 5500 are damaged and 2834 are uninhabitable, Mr Perrottet said. There are 1234 people living in emergency accommodation in the Northern Rivers. 'We want people out of evacuation centres,' Mr Perrottet said. The government will also provide support for pod dwellings and mobile motor homes while people rebuild. Mr Perrottet said $90 million would be allocated for the mammoth clean-up, saying it would take months. After more than two weeks of devastating rain that inflicted widespread damage along the state's coast, the sun finally emerged on Thursday. Residents in some flood-hit areas previously subject to evacuation orders have been told they can begin returning to their homes. But not all will be habitable, as the slow recovery pushes on, with more than 4000 tonnes of debris collected in one day alone. A boy aged 14 has been charged with the murder of a man stabbed to death outside a supermarket. Ian Kirwan, 53, was knifed in front of horrified shoppers outside an Asda in Redditch, Worcestershire on Tuesday. Witnesses said the married software engineer was attacked after accidentally bumping into a gang of youths. He died at the scene from a stab wound despite the best efforts of medics. West Mercia Police have confirmed it had charged a 14-year-old male with Mr Kirwans murder. The youth, who cannot be identified, is due to appear in court in on Friday morning. GV of the scene in Redditch where police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a 53-year-old man at the Asda supermarket on Jinnah road Witnesses said the software engineer was attacked after accidentally bumping into youths Pictured: West Mercia Police and forensics officers at an Asda in Redditch A spokesman said: A 14-year-old male has been charged with murder and remanded in custody to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Friday 11 March. The charge relates to an incident on Jinnah Road on Tuesday 8 March that led to the death of 53-year-old Ian Kirwan from Redditch. The force confirmed another three youths were arrested in connection with the incident, bringing the total arrested to 11. Three youths, including the 14-year-old charged with murder, remain in custody. One youth has been released on bail. Seven youths have been released with no further action. Mr Kirwans heartbroken family said they were shell-shocked by his death. They told how he overcame a stroke and had harboured hopes of becoming a dad with wife Lyndsey Blythe. The force confirmed another three youths were arrested in connection with the incident, bringing the total arrested to 11 Mr Kirwans heartbroken family said they were shell-shocked by his death A family member, who asked not to be named, said: Ian was the most fantastic, wonderful guy. He was caring, considerate he would go out of his way for anyone. His life has been lost due to some idiots with a knife. If anything good comes from this, it is young people putting down their knives. There is no need for young people to carry knives. Because when young people carry knives, something senseless like this happens. Due to a senseless act by these individuals a loving, caring husband has been taken away from his family. He was a wonderful, intelligent, amazing, thoughtful, caring and supportive man. He was the most amazing person. The youth will appear at Kidderminster magistrates court on Friday. An Australian couple have finally been able to meet their surrogate baby after she was born prematurely in war-torn Ukraine. Chefs Jessica Van Nooten and Kevin Middleton, from Melbourne, were united with their baby girl Alba, who was born 10 weeks early on February 22 in Odesa, in southern Ukraine - just two days before Russia invaded. The couple had suffered 15 failed rounds of IVF over a seven-year period and a miscarriage before they decided to get help from a surrogacy agency in Ukraine. Upon hearing the news their baby had been born, they immediately booked flights to be with her. Chefs Jessica Van Nooten and Kevin Middleton, from Melbourne, have finally been united with their baby girl Alba, who was born 10 weeks early on February 22 in Odesa, in southern Ukraine Ms Van Nooten and her husband Mr Middleton had their flight cancelled to Ukraine from Dubai and were forced to travel through Poland instead But the sudden conflict with Russia halted their plans. Ms Van Nooten and Mr Middleton, who have been together for 20 years, were at Dubai Airport when they found out their connecting flight to Ukraine was cancelled. They booked a last minute trip to Poland and managed to travel to Moldova, which is about a three-hour drive from where little Alba is in Odesa. Heartwarming photos of the couple show them caressing Alba's head, as she remains under care in the neonatal intensive care unit. 'Meeting her was the best day of their lives, and they are soaking up every precious moment with Alba,' close friends of the couple said. 'She has a long road ahead of her, so please continue to keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.' The couple's next step is waiting until Alba is in a stable enough condition to leave Ukraine. Last week an Instagram page set up by friends to update followers on Alba's condition, announced she'd suffered bleeding on the brain and lungs. Little Alba remains under care in the neonatal intensive care unit but her parents are able to see her now Jessica Van Nooten and Kevin Middleton (pictured) have been together for 20 years and have suffered 15 failed IVF rounds 'We were advised it was a small bleed and the doctors are monitoring her closely,' they said. 'While this was not the update we had hoped for, these types of complications are not uncommon for babies born at her gestation.' As Alba was born so prematurely, she will need to be cared for NICU for several more weeks. Ms Van Nooten and Mr Middleton will now work to have their daughter transferred to another hospital in a neighbouring country. Ms Van Nooten had sent her embryos overseas in May 2021 before the surrogate fell pregnant in September. Alba (pictured) is hooked up to machines in Odesa, southern Ukraine. A charity page has been set up to raise money to bring her home to Australia safely Alba (pictured) was born 10 weeks' early in the Ukraine - two days before Russia invaded Australians had been warned not to enter Ukraine before the couple arrived due to the rising tensions with Russia. Daily Mail Australia understands staff at Alba's hospital had put up medical signs on the roof of the neonatal intensive care ward, hoping that would be enough to deter Russian soldiers from dropping bombs on medical facilities. A fundraiser set up to help raise the money to bring the family home safely has raised more than $60,000. Commercial surrogacy is illegal in Australia. In NSW, Queensland and the ACT, it's illegal for parents to pay for an overseas surrogate. Overseas surrogacy is legal in Victoria. Russia has been targeting the strategic city of Mykolaiv, close to the southern port of Odesa. Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky said on Sunday Russian troops were planning an attack on the city, saying any assault on Odesa would be a 'historical crime'. THE Nelson Chamisa-led opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) yesterday said its campaign rally at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera will go ahead as scheduled today despite initial attempts by the police to block it. Police had stopped the rally after the opposition proposed to conduct a mini car rally in the town ahead of the event. CCC lawyers Jeremiah Bhamu and Obey Shava from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, approached the High Court challenging the police decision. Justice Lucy Mungwari then ruled that the rally could go on as long as the CCC addressed all the internal remedies that the police had demanded from them. Go and resolve the internal remedies which were brought to your attention by the police and after resolving them you can proceed with your rally, Justice Mungwari ruled. CCC interim organising secretary Amos Chibaya accused police of trying to block the rally on flimsy grounds. He also said the police had blocked the partys rallies in Binga and Tsholotsho. Police were giving us excuses such as that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is scheduled to visit the same areas almost at the same time as the CCC planned rallies, which would result in police getting outstretched, Chibaya said. We proceeded with the roadshow today (yesterday) in Marondera and we have done all the preparations for the rally. They cannot stop us from campaigning, he said. Chibaya said there were also attempts to block CCC rallies in Beitbridge on Sunday and Binga on Tuesday. In Binga, police stopped the March 15 rally, saying Mnangagwa was due to visit Hwange on March 17, which is in the same province. CCC parliamentary candidate for Binga North Prince Dubeko Sibanda yesterday spent the day at the court challenging the police ban. Initially, we had applied that the Binga rally takes place on March 3, but police told us that Mnangagwa was set to visit Binga on the 5th, of which the dates were near each other. We then applied for the 15th, but they are now telling us stories saying that Mnangagwa will visit Hwange on the 17th and, therefore, police does not have enough manpower to monitor the Binga rally, Sibanda said. He said police, however, granted the CCC party permission to hold the March 14 rally scheduled for Tsholotsho. It is surprising because Tsholotsho is in the same province as Hwange and the same police officers that will be deployed at Mnangagwas event in Hwange are the same police officers that will be deployed at our rally in Tsholotsho (14th) and Binga on the 15th, Sibanda said. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he would check with his counterparts in the provinces. Newsday Facebook has been accused of censorship after removing controversial yet lawful statements originally made by leading politicians. An experiment by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch used dummy accounts of fictitious ordinary citizens to post copies of the politicians' comments on the social media platform. They included Boris Johnson's 2018 comment that Muslim women wearing burkas look 'like letterboxes', which was taken down for 'harassment and bullying'. Meanwhile, the suggestion by Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner that police should 'shoot terrorists and ask questions second' was removed for 'violence and incitement'. Facebook has been accused of censorship after removing controversial, but legal, posts by leading politicians (file photo) Among the posts removed was Boris Johnson's (pictured) 2018 comment that Muslim women wearing burkas look 'like letterboxes', which was taken down for 'harassment and bullying' Big Brother Watch said that while both were 'unpleasant' and rightly criticised at the time, this alone was 'not a legitimate basis for censorship'. The removal only highlighted the 'chilling threat to free speech' forthcoming internet legislation is likely to pose, it said. The Online Safety Bill, which is expected to be published in the coming days, will impose a duty of care on tech giants to protect users against illegal or harmful content. Regulator Ofcom will have the power to penalise any breaches with fines of up to 10 per cent of their annual global turnover or even block the sites from being used in the UK. But there has been widespread concern among free speech supporters over the proposed requirement for tech firms to curb 'harmful' content even if it is not illegal. Words they took down SHOOTING TERRORISTS 'On things like law and order I am quite hardline. I am like shoot your terrorists and ask questions second' Angela Rayner, February 2022. Posted on Facebook by 'Tony Charleston' THREAT TO JOURNALIST 'Be seen within a mile of my daughters and I will nail your balls to the floor using your own front teeth. Do you get that?' Nadine Dorries, 2013. Posted on Facebook by 'Vanessa Bargery' WOMEN IN BURKAS 'It is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letterboxes' Boris Johnson, 2018. Posted on Facebook by 'Alex Johnson' Advertisement Tory MPs and peers last week warned that the vague definition will ultimately lead to overzealous social media firms censoring content that does not conform to its 'woke' prejudices or algorithms. Yesterday, Big Brother Watch said its experiment 'clearly demonstrates that such controversial yet lawful speech is destined for unprecedented censorship' under the Bill. Other comments tested included those originally made by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, who is the minister leading the Online Safety Bill, to a journalist in 2013. After he doorstepped her to ask about her daughter's taxpayer-funded job, she tweeted: 'Be seen within a mile of my daughters and I will nail your balls to the floor.' The Tory MP recently defended the comment, saying she 'would expect any mother' to have done the same and that it was 'totally appropriate'. But when it was posted by a dummy account it was removed by Facebook for breaching its 'community standards on violence and incitement'. When Big Brother Watch appealed against the removal of the quotes by the Prime Minister and Mrs Rayner, which had been posted by a dummy account, Facebook upheld its decision. Mark Johnson, of Big Brother Watch, said: 'Social media companies are already doing serious damage to free speech in the UK. 'The new Bill is a censor's charter that would make this situation worse and threatens to cause a free-speech crisis in this country.' A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman said: 'Our new laws will put a responsibility on these companies to protect peoples right to free expression, access to journalism and content of democratic importance online. 'Nothing in the Online Safety Bill will stop adults posting or accessing legal content, and safeguards for freedom of expression have been built in throughout the Bills framework.' Facebook declined to comment. Advertisement Russians were given a glimpse of the truth about the war on Ukraine last night as guests on one of the country's most-popular state TV broadcasts risked the wrath of Vladimir Putin to denounce the invasion as 'worse' than the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan which helped bring down the Soviet Union. Semyond Bagdasarov, an academic, used an appearance on Russia 1's prime time talk show 'An Evening with Vladimir Soloviev' - a man referred to as Putin's propagandist-in-chief - to call on the Russian president to end the attack, while warning allies like China and India could soon turn their backs on Moscow. 'Do we need to get into another Afghanistan, but even worse? There are more people and they're more advanced in their weapon handling', he said, 'We don't need that. Enough already.' He then added: 'If this picture starts to transform into an absolute humanitarian disaster, even our close allies like China and India will be forced to distance themselves from us. 'This public opinion, with which they're saturating the entire world, can play out badly for us... Ending this operation will stabilise things within the country.' Karen Shakhnazarov, a filmmaker and state pundit, also sought to bust the Kremlin's narrative that it is conducting a limited 'special operation' in the Donbass region by referencing attacks on the capital of Kyiv - which is located hundreds of miles away. 'I have a hard time imagining taking cities such as Kyiv. I can't imagine how that would look,' he said, even as Putin's troops close in on the capital and launch attacks into the outskirts. The pair spoke out despite the Russian government last week passing laws that threaten 15 years in jail for anyone publishing 'fake news' about the war - though the definition of 'fake' is set by the Russian government itself, meaning any an all criticism of the Kremlin's actions is likely to be classed as such. Almost all independent media in Russia have closed down since the bill became law, fearing a crackdown on dissent. It means citizens looking for information on the war are forced to turn to state-controlled media, which has been pumping out disinformation about it being a 'special military operation' to 'de-Nazify' Ukraine. It came as... Russian troops in Ukraine have been issued gas masks as chemical warfare equipment is seized from captured troops amid warnings from the West that Putin will launch a gas attack A 40-mile Russian 'death convoy' that had been stalled to the north of Kyiv has begun moving towards the capital, satellite images reveal, with rocket artillery taking up firing positions as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of the city enters its early stages Another two million people are set to flee Ukraine within days raising pressure on Britain to welcome more refugees The Government will unveil a hotline and webpage where individuals, charities, businesses and community groups will be able to offer rooms to those escaping the conflict Karen Shakhnazarov (left) and Semyon Bagdasarov (right) appeared on a Russian prime time show, appearing to challenge the state's narrative, in the programme hosted by Putin's 'propagandist-in-chief' Vladimir Soloviev A destroyed Russian tank is seen after battles on a main road near Brovary, north of Kyiv, March 10, 2022 Pictured, the air defence units of the Ukrainian Forces shot down another Russian Su-25 attack aircraft, in Volnovakha as the conflict continues Guests on Russian state television have called the Ukraine war 'even worse than Afghanistan' in the 1980s Residents evacuate the city of Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 10, 2022 Putin attends a videoconference meeting with Government members at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 10, 2022 Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 1000 Advertisement The information war escalated on Thursday, with Moscow shifting its stance over the bombing of a hospital in the city of Mariupol with a mix of statements on Thursday that veered between aggressive denials and a call by the Kremlin to establish clear facts. Volodymyr Zelensky said three people including a child had been killed in the bombing on Wednesday, and rejected Russian assertions there had been no patients there. 'Like always, they lie confidently,' said Zelensky, who has accused Moscow of waging genocide in the war it launched two weeks ago. In the face of worldwide condemnation there were rare signs of inconsistency in the response from Russian officials, who since the start of Moscow's invasion on February 24 have stuck tightly to the same narrative for what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked for comment in the immediate aftermath, told Reuters on Wednesday: 'Russian forces do not fire on civilian targets.' On Thursday he said the Kremlin would look into the incident. Other Russian officials took a more aggressive line, rejecting the hospital bombing as fake news. 'This is information terrorism,' foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. The Defence Ministry later denied having bombed the hospital, accusing Ukraine of staging the incident. It said Russian forces at the time had been respecting an agreement to hold fire to allow the evacuation of civilians. 'Russian aviation carried out absolutely no strikes on ground targets in the area,' spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. 'The alleged air strike was completely a staged provocation... that can deceive the Western public but not an expert.' Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attacked what he called 'pathetic shouting about so-called atrocities by the Russian armed forces'. He told reporters after meeting Ukraine's foreign minister in Turkey that the hospital building had for days been under the control of ultra-radical Ukrainian forces who had emptied out the doctors and patients the version rejected by Zelensky as a lie. On Wednesday, the United States denied renewed Russian accusations that Washington was operating biowarfare labs in Ukraine, calling the claims 'laughable'. During a televised meeting with Kremlin officials on Thursday, Putin addressed the Western sanctions that have caused the ruble to crash and led many major companies to leave Russia. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said today that Ukraine's capital city has been 'turned into a fortress' ahead of the Russian assault, with about 2 million people - half the residents of the metro area of the capital - having fled as Putin's troops draw ever closer A child wait to be evacuated from the city of Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 10, 202 Kyiv's northwest suburbs such as Irpin and Bucha have been enduring shellfire and bombardments for more than a week, prompting a mass evacuation effort (Ukrainian soldier hugs his wife evacuating Irpin, north of Kyiv) A Russian armoured vehicle sits by the side of the road in Brovary, to the east of Kyiv, after being destroyed in an artillery and rocket ambush that caused heavy casualties Ukrainian servicemen walk in front of a Russian tank that they captured after fighting, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, outside Brovary near Kyiv, Ukraine, March 10, 2022 Ukrainian servicemen drive off in a Russian tank they captured after fighting with Russian troops, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, outside Brovary, near Kyiv, Ukraine, March 10, 2022 'The pressure of sanctions has always been there. Yes, of course, now it is complex and creates certain challenges, problems, difficulties for us. But just as we overcame these difficulties in the previous years, we will overcome them now. We must go through this period. The economy will certainly adapt to the new situation', the Russian despot said. The list of companies that have stopped operating in Russia grew Thursday, with German fashion brand Hugo Boss temporarily closing its stores and US-based hotel chains Hilton and Marriott closing their Moscow offices, though their Russian hotels are owned and operated by franchisees and will stay open. The Walt Disney Company said that in addition to pausing film releases in Russia, as previously announced, it was also 'taking steps to pause all other businesses' there. Goldman Sachs said it would close its operations in Russia entirely, making it the first major Wall Street bank to do so since Russia invaded Ukraine. And JPMorgan Chase said it was 'unwinding' its Russian banking business. Meanwhile, Twitter launched a privacy-protected version of its site to bypass surveillance and censorship after Russia restricted access to its service in the country. Transcript: Guests defy Russian state television President Putin's propaganda and criticise the war in Ukraine Karen Shakhnazarov 'The Ukraine situation paints a horrifying picture and it needs to be understood that it's playing a huge role on our collective morality. 'Ukraine, which ever you look at it or how you feel, has tens of thousands of human links. This moment of suffering of innocent people is not compensated by the suffering of other innocent people...If we look at the situation practically, the way I see it - I may be wrong - but the way I see it there are three ways this could go. 'One, ideally, in the week our forces surround...they surrender, we take cities without huge losses for us and without big losses of civilians. Ukraine surrenders. 'This territory of east Ukraine self-governs independently, becomes independent and creates a new government. This is the ideal variant and it's entirely possible this was the proposed initial one but as they, not everything went, it appears, to plan...We accomplish those two goals, the way I understand - I'm no specialist but this is what the President talks about along with military specialists, if the figures really do align with the reality - the destruction of Ukraine's structure, demilitarisation, the liberation of Donbas, and after that, the end of the military operation, or the end of the military part of the operation...denazification doesn't seem realistic here. 'I'm against Nazism with all my soul but I don't see how it can happen here. It's such a big country, you'd need 1.5 million soldiers to control everything. 'Moreover, I don't see a big political force which would consolidate Ukraine for Russia. I'm elderly, I remember Czechoslovakia, when we sent troops, I remember Afghanistan, I have to say in both those cases there was a strong force...Afghanistan - there was also a communist party. 'A relatively strong one which also became our ally. Today unfortunately I don't see that kind of political force in Ukraine. And those in masses who are supportive of Russia - I don't know. 'It seems everything is now how we'd like to see it. Basically, in this instance the most important thing in this scenario is to stop our military action. Others will say that sanctions will remain. 'Yes, they will remain, but in my opinion discontinuing the active phase of a military operation is very important.' Semyond Bagdasarov 'May I remind you that Iran, until 1978, and before the Islamic Revolution, in one day delivered around six to seven barrels of oil in 24 hours. 'That's the level they were at...All that oil will go to replace our oil. We by the way are delivering just about 10 million barrels per day, it's not a huge difference...Iran could replace us and Americans would gladly take it. 'Unlike Trump, Biden wouldn't refuse trading with them. (57:22) That's what could happen but we will suffer. We say China says everything is OK...tomorrow they'll put in a system which they had with Iran. 'They'll say, without question you're an independent state, but between your companies and markets, which one will they choose...Now about Ukraine. I agree with Karen...We had prior experiences of bringing in our troops, destroying the military infrastructure and leaving. 'I think that our army fulfilled their task of demilitarization of the country by destroying most of their military installations... To restore their military they will need at least 10 years...Let Ukrainians do this denazification on their own. We cant do it for them... As for their neutrality, yes, we should squeeze it out of them, and thats it. 'We dont need to stay there longer than necessary (1:02:45) Do we need to get into another Afghanistan, but even worse? There are more people and theyre more advanced in their handling of weapons. We dont need that. Enough already... As for the sanctions, the world has never seen such massive sanctions.' Advertisement Putin's 'convoy of death' targets Kyiv: Forty-mile column moves into 'attack positions' near capital as Ukraine says Russian forces are killing MORE civilians than soldiers in sledgehammer assault on cities By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline and James Gordon for Dailymail.com A 40-mile Russian 'death convoy' that had been stalled to the north of Kyiv has begun moving towards the capital, satellite images reveal, with rocket artillery taking up firing positions as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of the city enters its early stages. Vladimir Putin's forces are now attacking to the north, west and east of Kyiv, Ukrainian commanders say, as the convoy - which had been stuck for two weeks due to fuel and logistical issues - gets moving again - dispersing to take up firing positions or else concealing itself in civilian areas and forests to prevent attacks. Ukraine believes the capital - which is currently home to around 2million people - could soon be surrounded, after which it faces the same punishing fate meted out to the cities of Mariupol, which has been without water or power for 11 days, Kharkiv, and Sumy, where thousands of civilians have been killed. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 1000 Advertisement Territorial defence units, charged with protecting the city, were pictured digging trenches there and setting up barricades, as mayor Vitali Kitschko said the capital has been turned into a 'fortress'. Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine's defence minister, said Russia's attacks have now killed more civilians than soldiers after generals switched tactics from American-style 'shock and awe' precision strikes - which largely failed due to poor battlefield tactics - to 'medieval'-style siege warfare of the kind Moscow's men waged in Syria. Airstrikes early Friday struck the cities of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, in the west, which have largely been spared attacks. The strike on Dnipro hit civilian areas including a shoe factory, killing at least one person. The bombings in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk are thought to have targeted military airports - mirroring attacks in the early days of the war. Two soldiers were killed. Strikes on Kharkiv, a surrounded city in the north east of Ukraine, hit the Physics Institute which houses a nuclear reactor - drawing accusations from Ukraine that Russia is committing 'nuclear terrorism'. It comes after Putin's forces also attacked the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia, further to the south. Comparisons with Russia's assault on Syria are particularly chilling, because of the brutal punishment meted out to cities such as Aleppo which was all-but levelled by Russian artillery which killed thousands of innocents. Bashar al-Assad's forces also used chemical weapons on civilian targets during that campaign, most notably in Ghouta in 2013 and Khan Shakhun in 2017. President Volodymyr Zelensky, giving a late-night address to his people on Thursday, confessed to fears that Russia itself is now preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine - having accused the Ukrainian government of preparing such an attack. 'We have found if you want to find out Russia's plans, you should look at what Russia is accusing others of,' he said, pointing out that ahead of Putin giving the order to invade Ukraine, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of preparing an attack against Russia. 'We're the ones being blamed, as if we've attacked a peaceful Russia. And what now,' he asked in an emotional late-night address. 'What does it mean, that we're being accused of preparing chemical attacks? Have you decided to conduct a dechemicalisation of Ukraine? With what? With ammonia? With phosphorus? 'What else have you prepared for us? What do you plan to hit with chemical weapons? A maternity hospital in Maripul? A church in Kharkiv? A children's hospital?' US intelligence said Russian forces had made gains elsewhere to the west of Kyiv and had inched three miles closer to the city centre. Tanks are now nine miles from the central government district, the Pentagon said late Thursday, having been 13 miles out previously. Putin's men are now facing a long and bloody mission to try and take the capital, which is thought to be the main target of their 'special military operation' - with the goal being to topple the government and install a puppet regime friendly to Moscow. Russia has convened a UN security council meeting today to discuss what it claims are threats from Ukrainian chemical weapons. Should Russia decide to deploy WMDs, it is unclear where the attack would take place. Moscow is officially committed to destroying its chemical weapons stockpiles under various international treaties, and has not used the weapons in combat for decades. The Soviets were last accused of using them during the invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. However, the Kremlin is known to have maintained an illegal chemical weapons programme which it has used to attack political opponents. Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent, was used in the failed assassination attempt on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the UK in 2018. It was also used in a failed attack on Alexei Navalny in 2020. This satellite image from Thursday provided by Maxar Technologies shows resupply trucks and multiple probable rocket launchers in firing position, in Berestyanka, Ukraine Satellite images shows troops and equipment deployed in trees and towed artillery in firing position, northwest of Antonov Airport in Lubyanka, Ukraine The new satellite images provided by Maxar on Thursday also show armored units maneuvering in and through towns close to Antonov airport northwest of the Ukrainian capital Initially, the 40-mile line of vehicles, tanks and artillery had stalled outside Kyiv but as of Thursday, parts of the convoy have now 'repositioned' into the woods and dispersed A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows equipment and trucks convoy, southeast of Ivankiv, Ukraine, 10 March 2022 On February 28, a string of Russian vehicles could be seen stretching for 40 miles north of the capital Ukraine war: The latest Kyiv may soon be encircled with Russian forces moving on areas north and west of the capital, the Ukrainian military says Volodymyr Zelensky says trucks carrying food and medicine to the besieged city of Mariupol - without water and power for 11 days - were attacked by Russian tanks Russia claims deadly bomb attack on Mariupol's children hospital was 'staged' by Ukraine A kindergarten and an apartment block are hit in the first air strikes on the city of Dnipro Ukraine says at least 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded Zelensky says about 100,000 people have evacuated from areas surrounding Kyiv, Sumy and Izyum Ukrainian military says fighting is raging for control of the northern city of Chernihiv and Kharkiv and Severodonetsk, in the east Moscow promises to open humanitarian corridors every day to allow Ukrainians to flee, but Kyiv has rejected routes leading into Russia or its ally Belarus UN Security Council will meet Friday after Russia says biological weapons are being developed in Ukraine, in what is feared to be pre-text for a potential use of the weapons by Moscow US and Europe could impose additional penalties on Moscow because 'the atrocities that they're committing against civilians seem to be intensifying' White House says any decision by Moscow to seize assets of US or international companies 'will ultimately result in more economic pain for Moscow' European Union leaders tell Ukraine there is no fast way to join the bloc, N says more than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine - more than half to Poland Asian stock tumble with Tokyo falling more than two percent and the yen hitting a five-year low US investment bank Goldman Sachs pulls out of Russia, the first Wall Street institution to do so Advertisement The so-called 'death convoy' originated in Belarus and had been making its way south towards Kyiv. It had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. It's believed the convoy consisted of fuel tankers and trucks carrying food and ammunition together with an estimated 15,000 troops. But images on social media over the past several days showed Russian tanks and military vehicles sitting idle, or even destroyed on the side of roads. In earlier images, the units in the convoy were seen to be traveling two or three across the road while in other sections, they were spaced out. Senior U.S. defense officials say Ukrainian troops were targeting the convoy with ground fire, including shoulder-fired Javelin anti-tank missiles that had been provided by Western allies. Simply striking the vehicles at the front of the convoy created significant delays as they proved difficult to move and essentially created their own roadblock. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Russians appear not to have anticipated such difficulties or the strength of Ukrainian resistance. Western leaders had originally feared that the sudden influx of ground forces would descend rapidly on Kyiv, directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to topple the government and install a new Kremlin-friendly regime. Intelligence agencies also speculated that the convoy might have been attempting to encircle Kyiv in order to place the city under siege and cut off supplies and escape routes. Russian forces were continuing their offensive toward Kyiv from the northwest and east, notably trying to break through Ukrainian defences from Kukhari, 56 miles to the northwest, through to Demidov, 25 miles north of Kyiv, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in a statement. He said Russian troops had been halted in efforts to take the northern city of Chernihiv, notably by Ukraine's retaking of the town of Baklanova Muraviika, which Russian troops could use to move toward Kyiv. Russian forces are blockading Kharkiv and pushing their offensive in the south around Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's home town. Rough weather on the Azov and Black Seas has stalled Russian ships' efforts to come ashore, the general staff said. Three Russian airstrikes hit the important industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Friday, killing at least one person in strikes that hit near a kindergarten and apartment buildings, according to interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. One strike hit a shoe factory, sparking a fire, he said. He released video showing flashes over residential areas of the city, home to nearly one million people. A US defence official said Russian forces moving toward Kyiv had advanced about three miles in the past 24 hours, with some elements as close as nine miles from the city. The official gave no indication that the convoy had dispersed or otherwise repositioned in a significant way, saying some vehicles were seen moving off the road into the tree line in recent days. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire as civilians trapped inside the city scrounged for food and fuel. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the city, according to deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Night-time temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. 'They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it,' Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address to the nation. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. The number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and centre of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Mr Zelensky said. He told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the rouble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. 'You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes,' Mr Zelensky said in a video address, warning that 'you will be hated by Russian citizens'. Russian president Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. 'We will overcome them,' he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create 'certain challenges'. In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said about two million people, half the population of the metropolitan area, have left the capital. 'Every street, every house... is being fortified,' he said. 'Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.' Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Mr Putin's forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraine's cities. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has flagged that older Australians may get a new Covid vaccine booster shot every year. Mr Hunt said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has been looking into a potential fourth vaccine shot for weeks. After some significant research he said ATAGI will potentially be 'going to recommend a second booster' for people aged 65 and over, and an annual jab is being considered. Mr Hunt said it could be a matter of weeks before older Australians known they can have a second Covid booster Mr Hunt said advice from the nation's leading vaccine advisory group could come through by the end of the month on whether a fourth dose would be recommended. So, Australians could find out in a matter of weeks whether they need to receive a second COVID-19 vaccine booster ahead of a predicted winter surge in infections. Mr Hunt said it was more likely than not a fourth dose will be the course of action for some groups ahead of winter, when a spike in both COVID and flu infections is forecast. 'I can't pre-empt the decision but ... they are potentially going to recommend a second booster, which would be potentially the start of an annual program for people 65 and above,' Mr Hunt told reporters in Canberra. 'We're expecting that advice from ATAGI within the next three weeks, if not earlier.' The fourth dose plan will be a major topic of discussion when Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with state and territory leaders at Friday's national cabinet meeting. It comes as the government announced $2.1 billion to prepare for the months ahead. The plan will involved $1.2 billion to help protect residential aged care and disability care sectors, $356 million to protect vulnerable population groups and a further $571 million for vaccines. Mr Hunt said a scheme which provided free rapid antigen tests for concession card holders would be extended until the end of July this year. The health minister said despite a rise in COVID cases being predicted, infections were unlikely to reach the highs seen during summer at the peak of the Omicron wave. Mr Hunt: 'COVID infections are a little bit like a bouncing ball - the highest bounce is likely to have been in January, and then will progressively decrease over time, but there will be a bounce as it goes into winter.' So far, more than 5.5 million people have collected the free tests, with 20 million tests distributed among concession card holders. The health minister said despite a rise in COVID cases being predicted, infections were unlikely to reach the highs seen during summer at the peak of the Omicron wave. Timeline of Australia's vaccination rollout 22 February 2021: Australias COVID-19 vaccination program began with small group of aged care residents and staff. 3 May 2021: People aged 50 years and over became eligible for a Covid vaccine 30 August 2021: Those aged 1639 became eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. 8 November 2021: COVID-19 booster vaccination rollout program began, with the initial focus on residential aged care and disability facilities. 10 January 2022: Five to 11-year-olds began vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine. 11 March 2022: Health Minister Greg Hunt announces ATAGI considering a fourth booster to combat new Covid variants, with those over 65 possibly needing an annual booster against coronavirus. Advertisement 'We saw an absolute peak in Omicron cases and we're not expecting anything at those levels,' Mr Hunt said. 'COVID infections are a little bit like a bouncing ball - the highest bounce is likely to have been in January and then will progressively decrease over time, but there will be a bounce as it goes into winter.' Despite concerns of a new Omicron sub-variant being detected, deputy chief medical officer Sonya Bennett said preparations have been made to deal with new variants. 'What we've learnt over the last few years is we now have a range of tools in the toolkit ...so we now have adequate and ready access to rapid antigen tests and adequate access to treatments for those at risk,' she said. 'We know that public health and social measures need to be implemented in the worst-case scenario.' There have been a further 17 COVID deaths reported on Friday, including 10 in Victoria and seven in NSW. There were 14,034 new cases in NSW, 6811 in Victoria and 1129 in Tasmania. A Russian musician who has been described as a 'piano prodigy' and was set to perform in Canada this week has been struck off the schedule seemingly because of his nationality. Alexander Malofeev, 20, was to perform a trio of shows with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from on March 9, 10 and 13, but his performances were cancelled - despite the piano player having been outspoken against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where some of his family members still live. 'The Orchestre symphonique de Montral (OSM) feels that it would be inappropriate to receive Mr. Malofeev this week,' Pascale Ouimet, a spokesperson for the orchestra, wrote in a statement. Initially, Malofeev's performances were on track, and the pianist openly spoke out against the invasion. But then a number of Ukrainians living in Montreal emailed asking the OSM asking it to cancel Malofeev's performances. They stated that it wasn't simply about his stance on the war but about promoting a Russian 'cultural product.' Earlier this month, Malofeev has expressed his opposition to the war in Ukraine, writing 'the truth is that every Russian will feel guilty for decades because of the terrible and bloody decision that none of us could influence and predict.' In a second social media post on Monday, he noted how he was upset by the 'hatred going in all directions, in Russia and around the world,' and that he 'still believes Russian culture and music specifically should not be tarnished by the ongoing tragedy, though it is impossible to stay aside now.' Montreal's symphony orchestra cancelled the appearances this week of Russian classical pianist Alexander Malofeev, 20, saying it would be 'inappropriate' to receive him on stage Pianist, Alexander Malofeev, pictured ahead of a performance in February in The Netherlands Malofeev had already written several posts on his Facebook profile in support of Ukraine Malofeev explained that he had been asked to release more anti-war statements but said he was 'very uncomfortable' about it and was concerned about his family still in Russia He explained that he had been asked to release more anti-war statements but said he was 'very uncomfortable' about it and was concerned about his family. 'Honestly, the only thing I can do now is to pray and cry,' he said. 'I do understand that my problems are very insignificant compared to those of people in Ukraine, including my relatives who live there,' he wrote. 'The most important thing now is to stop the blood. All I know is that the spread of hatred will not help in any way, but only cause more suffering.' Malofeev's performances would have been his Canadian debut. The concerts will take place only with other performers. Ouimet added: 'We continue, however, to believe in the importance of maintaining relationships with artists of all nationalities who embrace messages of peace and hope. We look forward to welcoming this exceptional artist when the context allows it.' At first, the orchestra declined to cancel referring to Malofeev's personal criticism of the war, but it then flipped and decided that removing him from lineup was the right thing to do 'considering the serious impact on the civilian population of Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion,' Ouimet explained. The orchestra said it wanted to 'reaffirm its solidarity' with the Ukrainian people and would be making a donation in support of them. 'I frankly don't understand why Montreal Ukrainians have to fight this with OSM while we live every minute in anguish for our families in Ukraine,' Mariya Makivchuk told CTV News having emailed the orchestra urging them to cancel Malofeev's performances. The orchestra's conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas, said the organization still had a good relationship with the pianist. 'I was very pleased to be working in Montreal for the first time with the extraordinary young pianist Alexander Malofeev,' Thomas said. 'It is regrettable that political situations have made it impossible. I look forward to the possibility of collaborating with him in the near future.' Orchestra explained it hopes to welcome the Russian musician in the future, adding that it had 'excellent collaboration' with Malofeev to date The Orchestre symphonique de Montreal (OSM) was supposed to welcome Alexander Malofeev for three shows on March 9, 10 and 13. He is seen pictured last December as a performance in Italy On social media, a number of people were outraged by the decision to see the pianist effectively canceled through no fault of his own. 'I'm sorry but to cancel the concerts of a young Russian musician who has spoken out against the war in Canada is heartbreaking,' tweeted Steve Edwards. 'People of the world, this is the reckless consequence of some leaders blinded by revenge. Let us not accept this. This young Russian piano prodigy is paying the consequences. I am appalled,' added Amelie Complotiste. 'What an incredible short-sighed stupid move to cancel #AlexanderMalofeev concert. Just because he is Russian. @OSMconcerts You obviously don't understand the power of art and music #shame! #Montreal. Shame on you,' stated Pascal. 'I don't believe it! People have gone a little crazy banning Russian artists for political reasons. What does this mean for the principles of free speech in the West? Are we requiring these artists to choose between their country and their art? It is Not going to help the war situation. It does nothing for the Ukrainians. I am so deeply sorry. It is a profound loss,' Marita McDonough wrote on Facebook. On social media, many were outraged by the decision to see him effectively canceled through no fault of his own Malofeev became famous around the world following a performance when he was just 13. His concerts where he was scheduled to perform in Vancouver later this year have also been cancelled. Malofeev still has a busy lineup of forthcoming concerts including in Italy, Oman, France, Switzerland and his native Russia. There are plans for him to come to the U.S. for a number of performances in August. Initially, Malofeev's performances were on track with the pianist speaking openly against the invasion, but then a number of Ukrainians living in Montreal emailed asking the OSM to cancel Malofeev's performances Stephane Bancel, 49, would get a 'golden parachute' worth up to $926 million if Moderna is sold or merged and he's replaced, a huge change from the $9.4 million package he had in 2019 The amount of money that Moderna's CEO would get if the company is sold and he's replaced is now a jaw-dropping $926 million, a 9,751 percent raise from his proposed severance of $9.4 million in 2019. Stephane Bancel's 'change-in-control' package was approved at the end of last year by the Massachusetts-based company's board of directors, CNBC reported. Most of the golden parachute - $922.5 million, to be exact - is in the form of stock, which has yo-yoed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rest includes a cash payment of $1.5 million and a bonus of $2.5 million. Bancel, 49, who is already worth a reported $4.3 billion, would only get the money if the company is sold or merged and he loses his job in the process. Last year, he earned a combined $18.2 million, a 41 percent increase from 2020. The French-born executive's last known address is a three-bedroom, 1,537-square-foot apartment in Boston worth an estimated $1.2 million, according to Zillow. Things have changed a lot for Moderna since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. It went from losing $747 million that year to making $12.2 billion in 2021, largely from sales of its two-dose vaccine, its only commercially available product. Most of Bancel's golden parachute is in the form of stocks. Moderna's share price has gone up and down since the pandemic, reaching a peak of $497.49 each on August 10. On Thursday, it was at $139.52 Bancel, right, is married to Brenda, second from right, and has two children. Above, Brenda and Stephane Bancel at the Esplanade Association's Moondance Gala in Boston in 2016 Bancel's lat known address is a $1.2 million apartment in a corner row house in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston Who is Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, the French-born exec who stands to make millions if he's replaced? Stephane Bancel was born in 1972 and grew up in Marseille, France. The CEO of Moderna has degrees in engineering from CentraleSupelec and the University of Minnesota. He graduated with an MBA from Harvard in 2000. Before joining Moderna in 2011, he was the CEO of French diagnostics company BioMerieux. The pharmaceutical executive is worth a reported $4.3 billion, according to Oxfam International, much of which he earned as the value of Moderna skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has a wife, Brenda, and two children. His last known address is a three-bedroom, 1,537 sq ft apartment in Boston worth about $1.2 million. Last year, he earned a combined $18.2 million from his role as CEO of Moderna, a 41 percent increase from 2020. Advertisement The biotech company is also developing shots for the flu and other infectious disease. Much of Bancel's sky-high parachute is tied to Moderna's stocks, but share prices have gone up and down during the pandemic, making it hard to determine how much they'll be worth if and when Bancel cashes them out. Moderna shares reached a record high of $497.49 each on August 10, 2021, before tumbling to $253.98 by December 31. On Thursday, one share was worth $139.52. Bancel, 49, was born in France. He has degrees in engineering from CentraleSupelec in Rennes, France and the University of Minnesota. He also has a master's in business administration from Harvard, according to Forbes. The pharmaceutical executive is married to his wife, Brenda, and has two children, according to an alumni article from Harvard Business School. He was the CEO of French diagnostics company BioMerieux before joining Moderna in mid-2011. Bancel is worth a reported $4.3 billion, according to Oxfam International, a British nonprofit that included him on a May 2021 list of nine new 'vaccine billionaires' who were minted 'as stocks in pharmaceutical firms rise rapidly in expectation of huge profits from the COVID-19 vaccines over which these firms have monopoly control.' Oxfam reported that the nine new billionaire had enough money to fully vaccinate everyone in the world's poorest countries 1.3 times over. Oxfam America actually owns 376 shares of Moderna common stock, CNBC reported. The nonprofit has criticized Moderna for raking in the dough while keeping its technology from being shared with poorer nations. Bancel's last known address is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit in the Gas Light District, located in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston. The apartment is worth an estimated $1.215 million, according to Zillow. The bright and airy unit is located in a corner row house and features a private courtyard and a bridal staircase. 'Open living room/dining room and chef's kitchen,' reads the unit's description. 'The private entrance on Adams Street goes directly into the mud room, and the third entrance from the kitchen to the patio make bringing bikes and carriages inside even more convenient. 'Historic details include 2 Carrera Marble Fireplaces, restored tin ceiling, and a gleaming bridal staircase.' The 1,537 sq ft apartment has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, according to Zillow The bright and airy unit features an open living room and dining room and a chef's kitchen Other amenities include a private entrance and courtyard and a bridal staircase Last year, Bancel made a combined $18.2 million for his role as CEO, representing a 41 percent increase from 2020, CNBC reported. His compensation included his base salary of $990,385, $15 million in stock award and options and a $1.5 million bonus. Moderna spent an extra $661,000 in personal security for him and his family. Bancel isn't the only top executive at Moderna cashing in on the COVID vaccine's success. President Stephen Hoge was paid $7.8 million last year, including stock awards and options valued at $6 million and a bonus of $819,000. But Hoge's biggest payday came when he cashed out $165.9 million in stock options last year. Similarly, Chief Technical Officer Juan Andres made $6.6 million, with $5 million in stock awards and options and a bonus of $756,000. But he cashed out $194.3 million in options. Hoge's total 2021 compensation, without the cashed out options, is a 48 percent increase from 2020, while Andres's compensation represents a 55 percent raise. Oxfam America has filed a proposal for the annual Moderna shareholder's meeting on April 28 urging the company to share its vaccine development technology with developing nations. Moderna's fortunes shifted quickly after the pandemic. The Massachusetts-based company went from losing $747 million that year to making $12.2 billion in 2021 Moderna President Stephen Hoge (left) made $7.8 million last year. He also cashed out $165.9 million in stock options. Moderna Chief Technical Officer Juan Andres (right) made $6.6 million. He cashed out $194.3 million in options 'We believe backlash from Moderna not sharing information needed to manufacture its vaccine in low- and middle-income countries could tarnish its reputation, threaten its social license to operate, and undermine relations with the U.S. government,' Oxfam wrote in its proposal. Moderna's board of directors, which includes Bancel, has asked shareholders to vote against the proposal, arguing that sharing the information would impact the safety and quality of the vaccine and hurt the public's confidence in its mRNA technology. Moderna and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are over disputing who should get credit for a central piece of the company's COVID-19 vaccine. The biopharmaceutical firm and the government agency have spent years collaborating on vaccine development. According to the NIH, three scientists at the agency's Vaccine Research Center played a central role in designing synthetic genetic material that is key to how a person's immune system responds to the vaccine. In a call with reporters last week, White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested that the NIH would share the technology if it wins the dispute. Pfizer and Moderna are expecting to bring in $51 billion in vaccine sales this year, according to earnings statements published by the companies. Pfizer expects to lead the way, with $32 billion in expected sales, with Moderna projecting $19 billion in revenue from its Covid shots. Almost all of these sales are coming from the developed world, with major nations like the US, the UK, Germany and others having surplus of vaccines while many developing countries struggling to get their hands on the shots. The wide disparity between the developing and developed world has been noted by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the People's Vaccine Alliance (PVA) who are continuing calls for the companies to make their shots more widely available in the developing world. Advertisement Republican senators on Thursday accused the Biden administration of caving to Russian President Vladimir Putin by ditching a plan to supply warplanes to Ukraine for fear that Moscow would see it as an escalation of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded repeatedly for the U.S. to provide his military with more aircraft. On Wednesday, the Pentagon said it nixed a plan for the U.S. to act as a middle man to send Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine because it risked escalating the conflict. Forty GOP senators signed onto a letter from Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Mitt Romney of Utah urging President Joe Biden to answer the call. Sen. Tom Cotton accused the administration of giving way to Moscow and demanded that President Joe Biden do more to put Putin on the back foot. 'If we continue to blink every time Vladimir Putin says, "Boo," it's not gonna stop in Ukraine. It's not going to stop in Europe,' he said. 'We might as well call the commanding general at Fort Lewis outside Seattle and tell him to take down the flag and surrender our position because we will never stand up to Russia if every time Vladimir Putin says, "Boo," we back down.' At a press conference on Capitol Hill, Sen. Mitt Romney said: "Enough talk. People are dying. 'Send them the planes they need.' Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky criticized the Biden administration for moving too slowly to send military help to Ukraine. 'This administration has been a step behind every step of the way,' McConnell said. Congress is poised to approve nearly $14 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, including more weapons as well as humanitarian help. It comes as the administration is under mounting pressure to do more to deter Putin from launching a chemical weapons attack and to stop him attacking civilian targets. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki steered clear of saying the Russian leader would be crossing a 'red line' with chemical weapons, and she and other officials have stopped short of accusing him of war crimes. And earlier, the nation's intelligence chiefs defended the decision not to help Poland send the MiGs to Ukraine. Sen. Tom Cotton accused the Biden administration of caving to Moscow by refusing to help Poland send MiG-29 fighter jets to Poland. 'If we continue to blink every time Vladimir Putin says, "Boo," it's not gonna stop in Ukraine,' he said A day earlier the Pentagon ruled out a Polish plan to hand its MiG-29s to the U.S. for transfer to Ukraine's armed forces The country's intelligence chiefs appeared before senators Thursday. From left are FBI Director Christopher Wray, National Security Agency Director Gen. Paul Nakasone, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and CIA Director William Burns Explosions rocked Mariupol again on Thursday as Russian forces shelled the city, raising fresh accusations of atrocities This image taken from video provided by the Mariupol City Council shows the aftermath of Mariupol Hospital after an attack, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday March 9, 2022 CIA director Burns says chemical weapon use is 'part of Russia's playbook' and Director of National Intelligence slams Russian nuclear lab propaganda CIA director Bill Burns appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday to talk about 'worldwide threats U.S. intelligence chiefs on Thursday denounced what they said was a classic Russian disinformation campaign accusing Washington of backing biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine, which they said could set the scene for Russia to launch its own chemical attacks. C.I.A. Director Bill Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines both said there was no evidence that Ukraine was developing weapons of mass destruction. Instead, they joined a chorus of warnings that Moscow could be preparing a fake narrative before it unleashed its own chemical arsenal. 'I think it underscores the concern that all of us need to focus on those kinds of issues, whether it's the potential for a use of chemical weapons either as a false flag operation or against Ukrainians,' Burns told the Senate intelligence committee. 'This is something as all of you know very well is very much a part of Russia's playbook. 'They've used those weapons against their own citizens. They've at least encouraged the use in Syria and elsewhere. 'So it's something we take very seriously.' Concerns flared a day earlier, when Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine was running chemical and biological weapons labs with U.S. support. The claims are not new, but have circulated as debunked conspiracy theories that have been spread by the likes of QAnon-linked websites. On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that it had uncovered U.S. and Ukrainian plans to spread flu with birds. 'At least two species of migratory birds were identified, the routes of which pass mainly through Russia, and information on migration routes through the countries of Eastern Europe was also summarized,' it said in a release. It comes as military analysts have warned that the war could take a brutal turn as Putin switches tactics after his forces failed to make the rapid breakthrough he expected. Advertisement Cotton pressed Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines on why supplying the most advanced anti-tank grenades and anti-aircraft was permitted, but supplying aircraft was escalatory. 'I dont see a lot of common sense between this distinction,' he said. She responded by saying the U.S. was trying to walk a fine line. 'Were in a very challenging position, right, where we are obviously providing enormous amounts of support to Ukraine as we should and need to do, but at the same time trying not to escalate the conflict into a full-on NATO or U.S. war with Russia,' she said during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Cotton and other senators accused the country's highest ranking intelligence chiefs of giving the administration cover for not facilitating a fighter exchange, when officials had already said it was OK for other countries to send warplanes directly. Sen. Ben Sasse weighed in to support Cotton's line of questioning. 'Vladimir Putin will embrace the idea that we might self-deter every time he issues a press release,' he said 'And lawyerly hair-splitting about providing this kind of weaponry is not escalatory but providing that kind of weaponry is escalatory I don't think we really believe that. 'I think the administration is pushing the intelligence community to give them cover for lean forward decisions they don't want to be making.' Earlier it was reported that Biden personally blocked the Polish plan to supply MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. 'POTUS will do what the military advises here and the advice now is not to do this and instead send the Ukrainian government more things they can make good use of,' a senior administration official told Politico. Ukraine has 'many planes they already don't fly much because of Russian air defense.' The official added that it's 'not clear what sending more planes achieves.' The decision put paid to days of on-off speculation, that began when a top European Union diplomat promised the jets to Ukraine and ended after Poland stunned Washington by saying it would hand the planes to the U.S. which would then transfer them to Ukraine. 'We do not support the transfer of the fighters to the Ukrainian air force at this time and have no desire to see them in our custody either,' Press secretary John Kirby told reporters Wednesday, as he described the sentiment of a call between Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin and his Polish counterpart. He said that the Pentagon had assessed the warplanes would not materially improve Ukraine's defense posture, while it would escalate the prospects of drawing NATO, of which both the U.S. and Poland are a part, into direct conflict. Critics have noted that the U.S. has already delivered hundreds of millions in lethal aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to US lawmakers over the weekend and asked them help facilitate the transfer of jets, including MiG-29s, to Ukraine. Ukraine currently has between 37 and 70 MiG-29s. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the U.S. and Poland of playing games with people's lives. 'Listen,' the Ukrainian leader pleaded, 'We have a war! We do not have time for all these signals. This is not ping pong! This is about human lives! We ask once again: solve it faster.' 'Do not shift the responsibility. Send us planes,' Zelensky demanded. He spent 45 minutes on the phone with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday, where he begged her too for more jets. But skeptics within the Biden administration pushed back on the idea, and Biden himself agreed, according to Politico. Despite desperate please from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pressure from lawmakers at home, President Biden killed the Polish plan to transfer MiG-29 jets to Ukraine The Pentagon poured cold water on Poland's offer to hand all its MiG-29 fighter jets to the US, apparently as part of an arrangement to deliver the warplanes to Ukraine's armed forces where they are desperately needed Poland said it was ready to deploy 'immediately and free of charge' all its MiG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the 'disposal of the Government of the United States of America' Republicans and Democrats called on the Biden administration to heed Zelensky's calls for more aircraft. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said it was time to make Putin 'fearful.' 'It's time for Putin to be fearful of what we might do. This is war. People are dying. We need to get aircraft to President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine immediately,' he wrote on Twitter. Senate Foreign Relations chair Bob Menendez, D-N.J., wrote to Blinken and Austin this week calling on the U.S. to commit to replacing any aircraft donated by Poland and other NATO countries to Ukraine with American planes. 'The Ukrainians are getting bombarded, and they do not have at least as their country's leaders suggest and assert the wherewithal to compete in the sky,' Menendez said during a committee hearing Thursday with defense officials. 'I understand why NATO and the United States are not engaged in a no-fly-zone that it has potential direct conflict with Russia but I don't understand why we are not working expeditiously to facilitate planes to Ukraine.' Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, questioned why the U.S. felt comfortable sending Javelins and Stinger missiles but felt providing planes was too escalatory. 'So you're saying that we would like to send something that's more effective that should offend Vladimir Putin more than the airplanes, and yet we cannot send the airplanes? What's the logic behind that,' said Portman during the hearing. The U.S. had a long list of logistical concerns in transferring the aircraft - and as Biden has promised not to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, U.S. pilots could not fly the planes into the war zone. The administration also considered the transfer of fighter jets to be a more aggressive move than providing Ukraine anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Officials also said that the transfer may have been possible if it had been kept under wraps, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs and security policy chief, rendered a secret mission impossible when he announced to reporters that the European bloc would provide the jets, to the shock and dismay of many U.S. and European officials. Kyiv was only interested in handful of aircraft that its air force is familiar with, (which excludes U.S. jets) - the MiG-29, the Su-25, and the MiG-21. These aircraft are currently used by Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, and Slovakia. Of these, the MiG-29 is best-equipped to take on Russia's aerial forces. Poland currently has 28 MiG-29s. The Ukrainians hear Borrell's comments and ran with the idea, boasting that they would soon get 70 new MiG-29s. They even sent pilots to Poland to seal up the deal and bring the planes home, a Ukrainian official told Politico. But Poland killed such a deal when it announced no Polish jets would be given to Ukraine. 'Poland won't send its fighter jets to Ukraine as well as allow to use its airports. We significantly help in many other areas,' the Polish Chancellery of the Prime Minister wrote in a tweet Sunday. Still, the Biden administration pressed forward with a three-way deal. Sec. of State Antony Blinken first announced on Sunday that the U.S. was in talks with Poland to backfill their supply of MiG-29s with American F-16s if they offered the warplanes to Ukraine. He said that Poland had a 'green light' to sent the war planes, and the U.S. would assist with backfilling their needs. 'We're in very active discussions with them about that,' Blinken said on CBS News' 'Face the Nation.' Poland quickly said it would not be sending the jets directly to Ukraine, with both the U.S and Poland citing logistical issues but also quietly concerned with how the move could be viewed as an act of war on their part. Poland then suggested they would fly their MiG-29 jets to the U.S.'s Rammstein Air Base in Germany, where it would be up to the U.S. to deliver the jets back east to Ukraine. Kirby said that proposal was 'untenable,' before killing the transfer idea altogether. The administration was at first widely on board with assisting Warsaw in delivering the planes. But the Pentagon, along with members of the intelligence community, opposed the three-way plan, for fears it would provoke a direct conflict between NATO and Russia and concerns that the F-16s would have to be severely downgraded to provide them to Poland to avoid compromising the highly classified avionics systems installed in the planes. Biden sided with the Pentagon. The White House reportedly said it would respect Poland's decision of whether or not to offer the jets, but made clear it could not guarantee a speedy backfill of F-16s. Poland then shocked U.S. officials with its proposal to give the jets to the U.S. to deliver. U.S. troops fire Stinger missile from their Stryker armored fighting vehicle during Saber Strike military drill in Rutja, Estonia March 10, 2022. The U.S. and allies have delivered shoulder-fired Stingers to Ukraine U.S. troops prepare to fire Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicle during Saber Strike military drill in Rutja, Estonia March 10, 2022. U.S. and allied forces carried out military exercises in Estonia Thursday A Russian armoured vehicle sits by the side of the road in Brovary, to the east of Kyiv, after being destroyed in an artillery and rocket ambush that caused heavy casualties 'We will continue to consult with Poland and our other NATO allies about this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it presents, but we do not believe Poland's proposal is a tenable one,' Kirby said after the offer. The deal essentially fell through altogether when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would not allow the Polish planes to land at Rammstein in Germany. 'We might've been in a different place if this hadn't turned into the Poles putting this on the table,' a senior State official said, according to Politico. And after Kirby said the proposal was not 'tenable' he later took the podium before reporters to announce that the U.S. would not be party to the deal entirely. Gen. Tod Wolters, the U.S. European Command chief, shortly after agreed with Kirby. 'The transfer of MiG-29 aircraft will not appreciably increase the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Air Force. The Ukrainian Air Force currently possesses numerous mission capable aircraft that are flying daily. Adding aircraft to the Ukrainian inventory is unlikely to change the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Air Force relative to Russian capabilities. Therefore, we assess that the overall gain is low,' he said in a statement. Most of the fighting in Ukraine remains a ground conflict, though the Russian air force has stepped up its airstrikes in recent days. This is the heartbreaking moment when brave Ukrainian soldiers share a final kiss with their girlfriends before heading for the frontline. The images were captured at Lviv train station in the west of the country. The young men will be heading eastwards where the bulk of the fighting is taking place. Soldiers in Lviv have been leaving their loved ones behind as they head off to fight for their country against Russian invaders Ukrainian soldier Volodymr waits with his girlfriend Olga before he boards a train heading east towards the fighting And their loved ones are left hoping for their safe return. Ukraine has banned men aged between 18 and 60 from leaving the country so they can stay and fight against the Russian army. And this has led to emotional scenes of families being torn apart. Ukraine has banned men aged between 18 and 60 from leaving the country so they can stay and fight Among them are harrowing videos of fathers saying tearful goodbyes to their children, who are caught up in a war most are too young to understand. More than two million people, including a million children, have fled since the invasion. And more flee every day. They are crossing to neighbouring countries such as Poland and Romania. Facebook will allow posts calling for Vladimir Putins death in a temporary change to its hate speech policy, it was reported last night. Instagram and Facebook users in some countries will be allowed to call for violence against Russian soldiers and civilians in the context of the Ukrainian invasion, according to internal emails seen by Reuters. Meta, which runs the social media sites, told content moderators that posts calling for the death of the Russian President and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will also be allowed. Facebook users in some countries will be allowed to call for violence against Russian soldiers and civilians in the context of the Ukrainian invasion. (Stock image) The temporary policy change applied to Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Posts that call for Mr Putins or Mr Lukashenkos death will only be removed if they target other individuals or if there are indications the threat is credible. Facebook said calls for violence against prisoners of war will not be allowed. Several social media companies previously announced new content restrictions after the Ukraine invasion including blocking Russia state media RT and Sputnik in Europe. Meta told content moderators that posts calling for the death of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will be allowed Russia banned Facebook last week in response to what it said were restrictions of access to Russian media on the site. Moscow officials have also cracked down on other tech companies including Twitter as the war in Ukraine rages on. Meta did not respond to requests for comment. Russian expats have been left stranded with no cash in the tourist hotspot of Bali as Australia and Western nations slap the country with harsh sanctions over Ukraine. Several Russian banks have been disconnected from the international payments system SWIFT and Visa and Mastercard pulling out of Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion. The move has left several Russian tourists on the Indonesian holiday isle unable to withdraw money from ATMs - forcing them to get creative. Konstantin Ivanov, a 27-year old Russian , holds his cards as he tries to withdraw money from his bank account at a cash machine in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia Mr Ivanov's is unable to access his cash with as his transactions are automatically cancelled and card returned Tourist Konstantin Ivanov, 27, hasn't been able to take out money in days, and said: 'This has created a huge problem for us... we have been left completely stripped of our finances,' he said. 'It's like they have been completely frozen and we cannot use our finances over here.' Bali has recently reopened its boarders to Australia and other approved countries announcing it will no longer force fully-vaccinated travellers to isolate on arrival from last Monday. Russian travellers are now scrambling for cash as digital payment options have been rendered useless. Senator Ruslan, a 43-year-old Russian who is on holiday in Bali, tries to use a card of his Russian bank account for paying his lunch at a cafe in Canggu, Badung regency, Bali, Indonesia Western sanctions have blocked Russians from using the global payment system SWIFT, which is used by over 11,000 banking organisations and in more than 200 countries Visa and Mastercard also blocked multiple Russian financial institutions from their network this week, rending their bank cards useless to millions. The moves have made accessing funds virtually impossible for Russians and even some travellers. Meanwhile, the sanctions aimed at crippling the Russian economy have sent global oil prices skyrocketing above US$130 a barrel - the highest in 14 years. Motorists are now paying an average of $2 a litre for petrol with prices expected to rise. Fuel prices are seen at a Shell petrol station in Melbourne, March 9. Motorists are now paying an average of $2 a litre with prices expected to increase. Australia is planning to issue a fresh round of sanctions targeting the dissemination of propaganda and disinformation about the Invasion of Ukraine. In addition, financial sanctions will be imposed on Russia's armed forces, as well as senior military commanders responsible for attacks on Ukraine. As for the Russians in Bali, they agree that war in Europe is not the solution. 'People of our country do not need a war and neither do the people of Ukraine. Nobody wanted this war,' Mr Ivanov said. 'We all need peace.' The departing chief inspector of constabulary said yesterday it was unjustifiable for forces not to attend crimes like burglaries and domestic abuse as he delivered his final report. In an extraordinary indictment of policing today, Sir Tom Winsor said if he were burgled tomorrow he would not expect the culprit to be caught unless there was an evidential trail, as some forces simply dont have the resources or skills. Police cannot afford to investigate all crimes and the public must decide how much harm they can take, he said. In a ten-year view of policing in England and Wales, the outgoing inspector said Britons had no idea about the scale and severity of criminality, suggesting they need to decide how much safety they are prepared to pay for. Although it is possible to catch a paedophile for pennies, police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) still cannot go after some of the most dangerous criminals due to budget constraints, he said. The departing Chief Inspector of constabulary Sir Tom Winsor said yesterday it was unjustifiable for forces not to attend crimes like burglaries and domestic abuse as he delivered his final report If the public want all demand met they are going to have to put their hands in their pockets, they [police] cannot afford to investigate all crimes, they have to prioritise, he said. In his final report, Sir Tom said: The public must decide how much threat, harm and risk they are prepared to tolerate. If resources are not to be increased, there must be a reduction in the demand that the police will be required or expected to meet, or in the quality of the service provided, he added. The report warned of rampaging levels of online crime including child sexual offences, with up to 850,000 UK offenders posing a risk to children. It used to be said our children were unsafe if they were out at night on the streets, they are now more unsafe in their own bedrooms, he said. But while the NCA has the techniques to catch a paedophile for pennies, the chief inspector said the principal constraint is money. I wonder if the public realised that they would be prepared to tolerate low levels of investment that go into the detection of those crimes, he added. In a ten-year view of policing in England and Wales, the outgoing inspector said Britons had no idea about the scale and severity of criminality, suggesting they need to decide how much safety they are prepared to pay for Despite this, Sir Tom argued certain crimes must remain a priority, as he lambasted ideas such as Leicestershire Polices pilot scheme in 2015 to not investigate attempted break-ins at odd-numbered houses. It is unjustifiable for any police force to decline to attend at and properly investigate crimes of a serious nature, such as burglary or domestic abuse, he suggested. Asked what he would expect if burgled, he said: I would expect them to take it seriously. I think the days when police forces were prioritising, or thought to be prioritising, things like burglaries by going to houses with only odd numbers or only in certain streets or only on certain days of the week, which was utterly mad... are long gone. They take these things more seriously now but do they have the resources, do they have the efficiencies, do they have the skills to do it to the standard the public demand? No, not in all cases. He added: I wouldnt expect him to be caught unless he left a sufficient evidential trail. Sir Tom suggested a high proportion of crimes are not being recorded, and therefore, not investigated. Forces must also work hard to rebuild public trust after the murder of Sarah Everard by Met officer Wayne Couzens, and scandals such as officers at Charing Cross station swapping racist, misogynist and homophobic messages Forces must also work hard to rebuild public trust after the murder of Sarah Everard by Met officer Wayne Couzens, and scandals such as officers at Charing Cross station swapping racist, misogynist and homophobic messages. But Sir Tom said problems with police behaviour are not limited to London, with pockets in other forces. Standards departments need to be staffed by the best to unearth bad behaviour, he added. He concluded: Police officers and staff have a very great deal of which to be proud. But major shortcomings in policing persist, and these need to be addressed. If the police continue to use 20th-century methods to try to cope with 21st-century technology, they will continue to fall further and further behind. PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday read the riot act against foreign diplomats, accusing them of meddling in the countrys internal affairs and fuelling political tension ahead of next years general elections. Addressing over 50 diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe during a virtual New Year reception for heads of diplomatic missions and international organisations, Mnangagwa said diplomats must stay in their lane and focus on issues that foster unity. As we begin yet another year in our relations, I challenge you, the diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, to look through the lenses of possibilities and focus on those matters which unite us, as opposed to our areas of differences. It is most unfortunate, however, that as Zimbabwe prepares for the 2023 harmonised elections, some forces are already seeking to influence the national discourse and destabilise the peace and stability we are enjoying as a country, Mnangagwa said without naming the alleged meddling diplomats. He added: Sadly, this is not new to us and is part of the decades-old regime change agenda. Those of you who may be inclined to perpetuating this blatant interference in the internal affairs of our country are urged to introspect and stop this unbecoming practice. Let the people of Zimbabwe enjoy their unfettered right to choose their leadership. It is our democratic rights, a right which we fought for, and a right which we will protect, respect and uphold to the letter. The Zanu PF government has on several occasions accused Western powers, particularly the United States and Britain of funding opposition parties to pursue a regime change agenda. Government has also threatened to deregister several non-governmental organisations and civic society organisations which it claims were being funded by the West to work with the opposition to destabilise the country. Relations between Zimbabwe and the US have been frosty since Washington imposed sanctions on Harare in 2001 under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act over gross human rights abuses and electoral theft. Last month, the US and the European Union extended sanctions on Harare, saying the southern African countrys human rights situation had not changed. The US also accused Mnangagwa of cracking down on human rights defenders and introducing more oppressive laws to stifle dissent. On Wednesday, the UK Parliament urged Mnangagwa to end political violence ahead of the March 26 by-elections after an opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporter was killed by suspected Zanu PF activists at a rally in Kwekwe on February 27. In his address to diplomats, Mnangagwa said his government was now pinning hope for the lifting of the sanctions on a report to be submitted by United Nations special rapporteur Alena Douhan, which claims that the restrictive measures are hurting ordinary people. It is my governments expectation that the independent, evidence- based report being compiled for submission to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2022 by the special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights will trigger a rethink among those that are maintaining these punitive illegal sanctions against us, he said. Recently, Zimbabwe presented its reports to the UN Human Rights Councils Universal Periodic Review (UPR) working group for the third time. The feedback we receive from these periodic review sessions is invaluable and will undoubtedly enrich our quest to entrench a more democratic culture and realise an equitable society for the good of our people, Mnangagwa said. Local opposition parties have dismissed Douhans findings, saying they were pre-determined and biased. Newsday Doctors feel under pressure to adopt an unquestioning approach to children seeking to change their sex, a review found yesterday. It said a lack of formal clinical guidance and stifled debate have left many medics 'nervous' about offering the 'more robust support' they want to deliver. The NHS-backed report said the situation means youngsters are being given the controversial puberty blockers or sex-swap hormones they ask for when they may benefit more from waiting or other care. Report author Dr Hilary Cass wrote: 'Primary and secondary care staff have told us that they feel under pressure to adopt an unquestioning affirmative approach and that this is at odds with the standard process of clinical assessment and diagnosis that they have been trained to undertake in all other clinical encounters.' Doctors feel under pressure to adopt an unquestioning approach to children seeking to change their sex, according to a new report (file photo) The Cass Review into gender identity services for children and young people was commissioned by the NHS following a surge in demand for appointments and calls for better guidelines. The Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London is currently the only specialist service of its kind in the UK for young people. Referrals have rocketed from 50 a year in 2009 to 2,500 in 2020, with 4,600 on the waiting list. There is a waiting time of more than two years for a first appointment. The review's interim report warned that the service has struggled to cope with the rise in demand, leading to 'considerable distress' for those waiting. It said there is a lack of evidence on the best way to manage children with 'gender incongruence and dysphoria' and highlighted concerns with the way they are assessed, the drugs used and poor record-keeping. Dr Cass, a former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, wrote: 'Within the UK, the single specialist service has developed organically, and the clinical approach has not been subjected to some of the usual control measures that are typically applied when new or innovative treatments are introduced. 'Many of the challenges and knowledge gaps that we face in the UK are echoed internationally and there are significant gaps in the research and evidence base.' The report said a lack of formal clinical guidance and stifled debate have left many medics 'nervous' about offering the 'more robust support' they want to deliver (file photo) She described a need for regional clinics, clear criteria for referral to ensure fair access and more research. Formal recommendations will be developed over the coming months. A spokesman for the Bayswater support group for parents of children with gender dysphoria said: 'This interim statement gives us hope that our children will in future receive care that is based on scientific evidence and accurate data rather than on ideological views.' He stressed: 'Our children deserve the same level of healthcare as any other child.' The spokesman said that parents currently encounter a mixture of views from mental health experts, adding: 'Some areas push immediate unquestioned affirmation of the child while others are willing to be more cautious. 'We support the move to a standardised approach to training, which should remove these inconsistencies.' A Tavistock spokesman said of the Cass Review: 'We will work with her and NHS England to support her recommendations.' Advertisement U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joined the People's Convoy on Thursday, riding shotgun with protesters around Washington, D.C., and thanking them for 'standing up for every man, woman and child in America.' The Texas Republican spent the day with the truckers, who have formed an American version of the Canadian Freedom Convoy, protesting federal COVID-19 mandates by blocking traffic around the Capitol. Video from the protest movement shows Cruz waving to fellow demonstrators as he thanked them for showing up while the truckers let their horns blare. 'Thank you to The People's Convoy for speaking out for freedom,' Cruz said in a statement. 'Petty government tyrants shouldn't force people to make private health care decisions.' Cruz also stood alongside People Convoy leader Brian Brase, 37, who said the protest was not just a Republican movement, but a demonstration by a wide range of Americans who want to remind the government that it works for the people. 'Now is the time for the American people around the county... to stand up for your personal freedoms,' Brase told reporters on Wednesday. The now nearly 3,000-vehicle-strong People's Convoy traveled from Southern California nearly 2,500 miles to D.C. on an 11-day journey. The group stopped in major U.S. cities and rural towns along they way, holding rallies and meeting with their supporters. Scroll down for video U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joined the People's Convoy trucker protest on Thursday as he rode shotgun 'Petty government tyrants shouldn't force people to make private health care decisions,' Cruz said as he rode with protestors, who were demonstrating against federal COVID-19 mandates much like the Canadian Freedom Convoy Cruz got into the truck as a show of support after meeting with the group on Tuesday to hear their demands Cruz didn't hesitate to hop in and take a rid with the demonstrators The Republican senator rode shotgun with the truckers around Washington, DC The People's Convoy has been attempting to slow down traffic near the U.S. Capitol since Sunday Thank you to every trucker who is standing up for freedom for every man, woman, and child in America! pic.twitter.com/DJeoHtWEXy Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 10, 2022 On Thursday, the convoy continued its efforts to impede traffic at the Capitol by circling the 64-mile Beltway after the group leaders spoke with lawmakers earlier this week. The movement, however, comes as most COVID rules across the nation have been relaxed and lifted altogether, with the convoy now dramatically expanding its demands to lawmakers in an attempt to try and gather the same momentum as its Canadian predecessor. The truckers told DailyMail.com their key demands also include reopening the Keystone pipeline, ending Big Tech censorship, ensuring rights for Capitol riot prisoners, holding vaccine manufacturers liable for damages, making political ideology a protected class - like freedom of religion - and reaffirming the Bill of Rights. Brase, while speaking with legislators on Tuesday, called upon all Americans - and truckers worldwide - to join in their protest for freedom. 'I encourage every trucker from around the world to stand up,' he said. 'This isnt a right or left issue. Its a people's issue. Its time that the people stand up. This is for you. You should be apart of this.' Cruz applauded the convoy organizers for their efforts, saying: 'What yall are doing is incredibly important.' 'One of the things COVID has done is revealed truth,' the lawmaker said. 'And the truth is revealed that a lot of politicians are petty tyrants. There are a lot of Big Tech executives who are happy to censor and silence.' Fellow Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, echoed the sentiment, hailing the leaders as patriots: 'They have been peacefully, fighting for their freedoms as Americans should. Theyre fighting for freedom and theyre going to continue to fight.' The Texas Republican spent the day with the truckers, who have formed an American version of the Canadian Freedom Convoy, protesting federal COVID-19 mandates by blocking traffic around the Capitol Cruz (second from the left) spoke with the group's leadership and said the movement was important, thanking protestors for 'standing up for every man, woman and child in American' Cruz called government officials who imposed COVID-19 mandates 'petty tyrants' as he spoke with protestors on Thursday Following the speech, he got up in one of the trucks to ride around the Capitol and participate in the protest The now nearly 3,000-vehicle-strong People's Convoy is blocking traffic by circling around the D.C. Beltway Organizer Brian Brase (pictured at the Capitol on Tuesday) promised: 'We're going to keep looping the Beltway until we're heard. We're not going anywhere' The People's Convoy has a vast list of demands that they addressed with congressional leaders on Tuesday The 37-year-old trucker from Ohio also hit back at claims that the People's Convoy was anti-vaccine and seeking to cause chaos in the capital city. Were not anti-vaxxers. Were pro-choice,' he said. 'Many of the politicians who refuse to understand where were coming from or dont want to meet with us, they are out of touch with who Americans really are.' The convoy organizer noted that protesters are cooperating with authorities and 'doing everything we can to limit the impact of the American peoples commute to and from work' by publicly announcing their plans the night before their highway drive. 'We have a First Amendment right to exercise where we stand and what we want. Were probably the most peaceful protest to come through D.C. area in a long time,' Brase argued, adding: 'We stick to our word.' The trucker promised that the People's Convoy would keep protesting and circling Washington until they achieve their goals. The People's Convoy, which is holding camp at the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland, will encircle the Washington D.C. Beltway in protest again Tuesday. This is the third time the caravan will impede traffic on the busy interstate The People's Convoy - a spinoff from a protest in Canada started by truckers upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border - traveled from southern California nearly 2,500 miles to D.C. to protest government overreach WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 8: Organizers have sworn to impede D.C. traffic until their demands are met, noting that 'every day the protest will escalate' WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 8: Brase promised that the People's Convoy would keep protesting and circling Washington until they achieve their goals. He called the meeting with Cruz and Johnson 'a win' but alleged there is still more work to be done WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 8: Leaders from the People's Convoy are meeting with Senators Ted Cruz , of Texas and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin on Capitol Hill to 'discuss the harmful effects of President Biden's vaccine mandates' They first arrived in the Washington D.C. area on Sunday, and brought traffic to a standstill on the Beltway - the circular stretch of I-495 that connects Virginia, Maryland and D.C. - for two days in a row. The group has received mixed response from authorities in Washington. The Pentagon on Monday approved requests from U.S. Capitol Police and the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency to extend National Guard support at traffic control points throughout D.C. and the Capitol building until Wednesday in response to the trucker protest. House Sergeant at Arms William Walker and House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor wrote to Capitol Hill staff on Sunday night urging them to either work from home or use public transportation. If that was not an option, the two House officers gave the unusual option of letting staff get a hotel room paid for by their congressional office, which is funded by taxpayer money, so they can stay close to the Capitol and avoid a commute. 'In general, living expenses and commuting expenses, including lodging expenses at a Member's or employee's regular duty station, are not reimbursable with official funds, except in extraordinary circumstances,' Walker and Szpindor write in a letter obtained by DailyMail.com. 'Considering the current situation, the Committee on House Administration has determined that extraordinary circumstances exist to permit use of official funds to reimburse short-term lodging expenses in the Washington, D.C., area for certain Members and staff,' they noted. WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 8: Truckers from the People's Convoy, American Freedom Convoy and various other groups drive over the Potomac River as a unified caravan while flooding the The Beltway for a third day in a row HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 7: The People's Convoy first arrived in the Washington D.C. area on Sunday, and brought traffic to a standstill on the Beltway - the circular stretch of I-495 that connects Virginia, Maryland and D.C. HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 8: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton said Monday she is monitoring the convoy 'closely to ensure D.C. residents are kept safe.' She said police do not expect the group to cause security problems in the area The word 'evil' is overused. But how else to describe Vladimir Putin as he inflicts apocalyptic hell on Ukraine? Incensed by the lionhearted resistance of Ukrainian fighters, the brute has plumbed sickening new depths of savagery. His deliberate bombing of women and children at a maternity hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol was the most unspeakable act of depravity to date. Now it is feared the tyrant could sink even lower by using banned chemical weapons. But Putin is not simply trying to terrorise Ukrainians into submission; he seemingly wants to goad the West into confrontation. We must not succumb to his provocation. It is imperative we hold our nerve, resist and continue to use our economic might as the key weapon against his regime. Boris Johnson has excelled, banishing Russian banks and businesses from the global financial system. These sanctions are beginning to bite hard. The World Bank predicts Moscow will default on debt payments for the first time since 1917. The word 'evil' is overused. But how else to describe Vladimir Putin as he inflicts apocalyptic hell on Ukraine? Incensed by the lionhearted resistance of Ukrainian fighters, the brute has plumbed sickening new depths of savagery Boris Johnson has excelled, banishing Russian banks and businesses from the global financial system. These sanctions are beginning to bite hard. The World Bank predicts Moscow will default on debt payments for the first time since 1917. Pictured: An empty Burberry boutique in Moscow's Red Square By extending these punishments to more oligarchs, including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, the Government is turning the screw. But why did it take so long? As Putin intensifies the barbarity of his onslaught, so more refugees flee Ukraine. Soon, four million could be homeless. So the hapless Home Office, and the too often useless civil service, must finally step up to the plate. This crisis demands they are in top gear, not trundling along in first. Yes, Home Secretary Priti Patel has loosened visa restrictions to allow entry for more displaced Ukrainians. But the process remains a dystopian nightmare. Too many refugees risk falling through the net. She must go further. Britain's reputation and, more importantly, these poor people's shattered lives are at stake. Police's PC priorities Not all that long ago, if you were the victim of crime you could phone the police and an officer would be sent out to investigate. How times change! Today, as lawlessness engulfs Britain, a damning report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary says forces have effectively thrown in the towel. Most possess insufficient funding, resources or skills to tackle all reported offences, the watchdog claims. Is it any surprise criminals feel all their Christmases have come at once? Today, as lawlessness engulfs Britain, a damning report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary says forces have effectively thrown in the towel [File image] Leave aside that Miss Patel has sought to protect budgets and is recruiting 20,000 officers. Isn't the depressing truth that the police's priorities are disastrously askew? While whinging about cuts, politically correct chief constables waste money and manpower on made-up thought crimes, historical sex offences, virtue-signalling and even Partygate. It's high time they remembered their primary purpose fighting real crime and keeping public order. Back-door censorship If ministers remain unconvinced that the Online Safety Bill imperils free speech, they should contemplate the disturbing findings of an experiment by civil liberties campaigners. These new laws, if enacted, would compel social media firms to remove content that is not illegal, but is vaguely deemed harmful. To highlight the dangers, Big Brother Watch used dummy accounts to post contentious yet lawful statements originally made by politicians including Boris Johnson. Facebook deleted them all. Free speech is too precious to be entrusted to an unelected cabal in Silicon Valley [File image] The implications for open debate are chilling. If not amended, the bill risks censorship by the back door. Worse, the blue pencil would be handed to woke whiz-kids working for tech giants, who could throttle any opinion of which they disapproved. The Government must rethink. Free speech is too precious to be entrusted to an unelected cabal in Silicon Valley. One of the UK's largest courier firm's Hermes is set to rebrand itself and will offer millions of pounds in pensions for its employees, the company has announced. The company, which delivers more than 400 million parcels a year across the UK, announced it would be changing its name to Evri, with a new logo rolled out across the country. The move was coupled with news of a 7 million annual investment in pensions, which was described as a first in the UK logistics industry. Addressing the change, the GMB union said it was a 'breakthrough' deal which will give couriers proper retirement plans and the right to maternity and paternity leave. The decision to rebrand comes just months after an investigation by The Times exposed couriers launching parcels around a depot in a bid to save time. However the company said the move is not related to the investigation. Hermes is set to rebrand itself and will offer millions of pounds in pensions for its employees. (Stock image) Evri will be introducing the right to maternity and paternity leave for all so-called 'self employed plus' (SE+) couriers from this month. Chief executive Martijn de Lange said: 'When we first announced our SE+ model in 2019 we committed to continuing to develop our support for our self-employed couriers and we are proud to have been true to that and be leading the industry once again. 'Our couriers receive guaranteed pay rates, paid holiday and now a pension but have also been able to retain the flexibility that so many treasure, fitting in their deliveries alongside their other, often family, commitments. 'This rebrand follows significant investment and two years of dramatic growth which has resulted in our entire business going through a major transformation programme. 'It is more than just a name change - it is a statement of intent of our commitment to leading the way in creating responsible delivery experiences for ''Evri one'', ''Evri where''. 'It heralds a new culture and an even better way of doing things in an ever-evolving world, building on our achievements and successes.' GMB union official Steve Garelick said: 'This breakthrough deal is a massive step forward and will make work better for GMB members. 'Tens of thousands of couriers will now have the safety and security of knowing their retirement plans are being looked after. 'Meanwhile, the right to maternity and paternity leave will break down barriers previously blocking those with children from entering the profession.' MP Stephen Timms, chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee said: 'This is a huge step in the right direction and will help thousands of couriers plan for retirement. 'I am delighted to see Hermes provide pensions and parental leave in addition to the holiday pay, guaranteed pay rates and union recognition already available.' In December last year, footage secretly filmed by an undercover reporter at The Times at a Hermes site in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, showed employees at the delivery firm throwing deliveries against cages, walls and onto the floor. The video also showed one manager say drivers should 'act stupid' when dealing with complaints from customers. Footage secretly filmed by an undercover reporter at The Times showed staff at a Hermes site throwing deliveries The footage was filmed by a reporter at a Hermes site in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire In a statement last year Hermes said: 'We do not claim to be perfect and are aware that in an operation of our size there will be individual issues that we need to improve. 'We are determined to do this but remain confident that the vast majority of these allegations are unfounded and do not reflect our business and the standards we deliver.' The company added: 'We have however acted swiftly and launched a full investigation. Our senior teams are currently at the Delivery Unit mentioned undertaking an urgent review. 'This unit is performing well and there are no issues regarding service or damage.' Responding to the investigation, John Lewis told The Times it was 'alarmed' and had asked Hermes to 'investigate urgently', while Next and H&M said they were discussing the footage and Marks & Spencer took the claims 'very seriously'. It came as Hermes and Yodel were shown to be performing the worst in a league table released by Citizens Advice last year. Yodel was ranked fourth with 1.75 stars, just ahead of Hermes on 1.5 stars. The ratings were measured by Citizens Advices Consumer Service, customer polls and complaints on social media. A Liberal MP has been mocked for boasting about his high school marks in campaign letters to his constituents. Dave Sharma, who represents the marginal seat of Wentworth in Sydney's eastern suburbs, distributed the letters on Thursday detailing his family life, education and career. The former ambassador to Israel bragged about scoring the highest possible Tertiary Entrance Rank of 100 at Turramurra High School in Sydney's north in 1993. Dave Sharma (pictured with his wife of 16 years, Rachel) has been mocked for boasting about his high school marks in campaign letters to his constituents Labor councillor for Leichhardt Philippa Scott shared the letter (pictured) on her Twitter page and called him a 'dork' 'I completed my HSC at my local public high school, finishing with a TER of 100, and went on to study science and law at Cambridge University, graduating with first class honours in 1997,' he wrote. Labor councillor for Leichhardt Philippa Scott shared the letter on her Twitter page and called him a 'dork'. 'Dave Sharma, and I cannot stress this enough, has his TER in his campaign material,' she wrote. Hundreds of Twitter users also mocked the married father of three in comments under her post. 'He is 46 years old and still talking about it,' one wrote. Mr Sharma is pictured graduating Turramurra High School in Sydney's north in 1993 The father-of-three frequently shares photos such as this one of his wife and daughters on his Instagram page Other Twitter users pointed out that Mr Sharma had not once mentioned the Liberal Party or Scott Morrison is his letter, and even coloured it teal instead of Liberal blue amid fears the PM is unpopular in leafy Wentworth. 'I love that he thinks his best chance is to remove LNP logos from his advertising,' one wrote. Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Sharma was unfazed by the criticism and quite happy for his high achievements to be talked about publicly. The TER was replaced by the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The maximum score was 100 whereas the ATAR maximum is 99.95. Mr Sharma, who reclaimed Wentworth from independent Kerryn Phelps in 2019, is this year facing a challenge from another well-funded independent, Allegra Spender. Allegra Spender is pictured with her sister Bianca during a tribute to her late mother, fashion designer Carla Zampatti, last year She is the daughter of late fashion designer Carla Zampatti and former Liberal MP and ambassador to France John Spender. Her campaign is focussed on greater action on climate change and integrity in politics. Just like Mr Sharma, Ms Spender scored a maximum ATAR of 99.95 and went to Cambridge University. But while he attended a public school, she was head girl at Ascham, one of the most exclusive girls' private schools in Australia which today charges up to $34,500 a year. Political insiders say if the talented and ambitious Mr Sharma holds his seat it won't be long before he's promoted to the front bench and he could one day run for prime minister. The federal election is expected in May. The Coalition trails Labor by 10 points in the latest Newspoll. New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has admitted many residents living in flood-prone areas are uninsured because the premiums are way too expensive. Australians who live in flood-prone areas face paying very steep annual flood insurance premiums of $30,000 - a level well beyond what residents living in cyclone areas have to pay. Areas of northwest Sydney along the Hawkesbury River have now flooded twice in one year. Floodwaters peaked at a record 13.8 metres on Wednesday and two days later, water levels at North Richmond still stood at 10.26 metres, Bureau of Meteorology records showed. New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet (right on Sunrise with Natalie Barr and David Koch) has admitted many residents living in flood-prone areas are uninsured because the premiums are way too expensive Many residents face losing everything because they have been reluctant to take out costly flood insurance. Sunrise host Natalie Barr, who did live crosses from along the Hawkesbury River this week, told Mr Perrottet long-time residents had told her they could not afford the expensive flood insurance. 'Premier, the problem I saw when I was out in a lot of these flood areas in the last 10 days you may see it too people bought in areas may 10, 20, 30 years ago, they could get insurance and it was a reasonable amount,' she said. 'Now it is $20,000 or $30,000 a year because we flood more. 'Is there an answer to that?' Mr Perrottet, who is visiting Lismore in northern NSW, noted many people couldn't afford flood insurance. Australians who live in flood-prone areas face paying very steep annual flood insurance premiums of $30,000 - level well beyond what residents living in cyclone areas have to pay (pictured is flooding at Windsor in Sydney's northwest) 'We have to have an open discussion around this because there's no doubt as you've seen Nat there are many outlying communities here in the Northern Rivers who don't have any insurance because it's just too expensive,' he said. People living in flood-prone areas pay even higher insurance premiums than residents of tropical northern Australia who face cyclones during the warmer months of the year. An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report in 2019 found the average home and contents insurance policy for northern Australia was $2,500 compared with $1,400 in the rest of Australia. But residents along the Hawkesbury River in northwest Sydney, Lismore and parts of Brisbane face much higher insurance premiums if they take out flood cover. The Insurance Council of Australia on Friday estimated an insurance claims damage bill of $1.89billion, following the recent flooding in Sydney, northern NSW and south-east Queensland. The woman whose DNA from her rape kit was used by San Francisco police to arrest her in an unrelated property crime plans to sue the city, her attorney said Thursday. The woman filed notice of a possible federal lawsuit because she feels betrayed by police officers who broke her trust and violated her rights, said her attorney, Adante Pointer. Pointer declined to identify his client. The woman was tied to a burglary in late 2021 during a search of a San Francisco Police Department crime lab database, according to District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Last month, that the match came from DNA collected from her as part of a 2016 domestic violence and sexual assault case. Scroll down for video San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin holds a report during a news conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 The narcotics/chemical analysis unit of the Crime Lab in San Francisco, California She told local media that she felt 'violated again' after finding out the DNA collected as part of a sexual abuse case had been used against her. 'It was a slap in the face,' she told KTVU-TV. 'It's just unbelievable. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around this right now. Its just not a good feeling.' It is not clear whether the woman was convicted on the basis of the DNA. 'This is the ultimate betrayal and re-victimization at the hands of authorities and people that she sought help and protection from,' Pointer said. Boudin, who has been criticized for his 'woke' and 'soft-on-crime' approach, said he dropped felony property crime charges against the woman after becoming aware of a report, found in evidence of the property crime case, that referred to a DNA sample collected from her during the 2016 rape investigation. 'Rapes and sexual assault are violent, dehumanizing, and traumatic,' he said previously in a news release. 'I am disturbed that victims who have the courage to undergo an invasive examination to help identify their perpetrators are being treated like criminals rather than supported as crime victims. 'We should encourage survivors to come forward - not collect evidence to use against them in the future. This practice treats victims like evidence, not human beings.' Sexual assault victims who file police reports are often asked to undergo an exam so that investigators can retrieve evidence. The victim submits her own DNA so that it can be excluded as evidence when the samples are analyzed. Using their DNA to incriminate them in future crimes could prevent future victims from coming forward, Boudin's office said. The revelation prompted a national outcry from law enforcement, legal experts, lawmakers and advocates and led San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott to institute new guidelines so that victim DNA would no longer be used in unrelated investigations. 'Whatever disagreements District Attorney Boudin and I may have, we agree that this issue needs to be addressed,' Scott said in a statement. 'At the end of the day, our respective departments exist to do justice for victims of crime. The last thing we should ever do is discourage their cooperation with us to accomplish that.' Scott said he believes the only arrest was that of the woman planning to sue the city. The department's crime lab stopped the practice shortly after receiving a complaint from the district attorney's office and formally changed its operating procedure, Scott said. Rapes in San Francisco have dropped dramatically within the past five years; 207 were reported in 2021, compared with the 446 rapes investigated in 2017 Rape cases are down in San Francisco, police data shows. There were 207 cases reported in 2021, compared to 449 rapes investigated in 2018. However, other violent crimes are up in the Northern California city, and Boudin has been widely criticized for enabling criminals with his criminal reform policies. The city's police chief has publicly criticized Boudin for showing leniency toward criminals, and earlier this month accused him of concealing evidence in officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths. California allows local law enforcement crime labs to operate their own forensic databases that are separate from federal and state databases. The law also lets municipal labs perform forensic analysis, including DNA profiling, using those databases - without regulation by the state or others. The flood-ravaged town devastated by this month's catastrophic deluge has all but been washed away - and now exhausted locals admit they're finally close to defeat. Lismore in northern New South Wales has been destroyed by a record-breaking flood, just five years after suffering a one in a 100 year flood in 2017. It follows earlier floods in 1989, 1974 and 1954. A levee installed after 1999 held back rising waters in the early 2000s - but nothing could stop the latest floods. Now, with the big wets coming ever faster, higher and more furious, many are questioning if it's even wise to rebuild. Urban planning expert Professor Paul Burton told Daily Mail Australia: 'Knowing what we know now, if we were starting from scratch, would we build a large town here? 'Answer? Probably not.' Lismore in northern New South Wales has been destroyed by a one in 3500 year flood, just five years after suffering a one in a 100 year flood in 2017 Exhausted locals admit they're finally close to defeat. After spending all they had to rebuild and recover from the 2017 floods, many now have nothing left in their reserves to do it all over again Across the country, 20 people have died in the floods and in Lismore, entire homes, shops and businesses were completely submerged. Many were destroyed, while some simply floated away. 'It's a war zone,' town solicitor Sean Radburn admitted to Daily Mail Australia. 'It looks like a bomb has gone off. It's so heartbreaking.' One business owner watched in horror as TV footage showed a home swept away by the raging floodwaters ram into his premises and demolish part of it. The house is now wedged into the roof of the property. Even with forewarning of the coming nightmare, apparently fail-safe precautions by locals for a worst case scenario proved to be hopelessly insufficient. Those who stored possessions, valuables and vital documents 5m high off the ground, as recommended by the SES, still lost it all when water levels swamped everything up to a staggering 7m. After spending all they had to rebuild and recover from the 2017 floods, many locals now have nothing left in their reserves to do it all over again. The 2022 flood follows earlier floods in 1989, 1974 and 1954. A levee installed after 1999 held back rising waters in the early 2000s - but nothing could stop the latest disaster 'It's a war zone,' town solicitor Sean Radburn admitted to Daily Mail Australia. 'It looks like a bomb has gone off. It's so heartbreaking' Resident Michelle Stone echoed many in the town of 28,000 by conceding: 'This could be the end for us. 'The town was already dead after 2017. It was just starting to come back to life. I'm wondering if it's going to come back again.' Some have already fled, she revealed, with one neighbour taking their family and moving to the coast after losing everything. She fully expects many more to follow. Lismore lies on Wilsons River where it meets Leycester Creek, downstream of the Northern Rivers catchment - and when it pours, it can bring tragedy and disaster. The danger from floods is so high, it's virtually impossible to get insurance in the town. Quotes start at $18,000 a year for a small town-centre shop - and that doesn't include contents. Lismore's Rollerworld skating rink centre hasn't had insurance for 20 years since it received a $30,000 quote for a premium in 2000. Owner Craig Newby now faces an estimated $100,000 bill to get back on his feet once more - and he still hasn't paid off the damage and repair costs from 2017. 'It's really hard,' he said. 'We would only have been out of debt from the last flood at the end of this year, so we haven't been able to put any money aside for this one.' Last week's floods saw the water rise so high, it even swamped the mirrorball that hangs 10m high above the skating rink. Rollerworld owner Craig Newby now faces an estimated $100,000 bill to get back on his feet once more - and he still hasn't paid off the damage and repair bill from 2017 Lismore's Rollerworld skating rink centre hasn't had insurance for 20 years since they received a $30,000 quote for a premium in 2000 'We're going to need to get in a scissor lift to clean the walls, it's so high,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I've lived in the town all my life and you'd never have thought that it could go so high. It's just mind-boggling.' But experts warn it's only going to get worse in years to come, throwing the very viability of the town's future into question. Climate scientist Professor Will Steffen warns nothing can stop global temperatures rising by 1.6C by 2050, regardless of any emission reduction programs. 'That means we'll be having considerably heavier rainfalls and more flooding,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'For every degree of warming, the atmosphere can hold about seven per cent more water vapour which also becomes obviously more energetic. 'Whenever you get the local conditions for rain, it's going to come down heavier.' With big wets coming ever faster, higher and more furious, many are questioning if it's even wise to rebuild Lismore Climate scientist Professor Will Steffen says the economic cost of continually rebuilding on a flood plain no longer makes sense and money should be invested in more permanent solutions He says the economic cost of continually rebuilding on a flood plain no longer makes sense - and the money should be invested in more permanent solutions. 'It's a very difficult thing because people are used to living where they've been living for a long time,' he said. 'But honestly, the situation is going to be really, really difficult - I'd say almost impossible - to keep living on these floodplains.' Initial insurance estimates - for those who were insured - have been put at a staggering $2.5billion, making these floods Australia's worst ever natural disaster. But many of those affected only lived in the risky areas because of low property prices - and can't now afford to move anywhere else without government help. Prof Steffen added: 'It's going to be costly to relocate populations and townships away from floodplains - but not doing so is going to be even costlier. 'It's going to take a pretty fundamental rethink, right across the board as to how and where we develop in the future.' Initial insurance estimates - for those who were insured - have been put at a staggering $2.5billion, making these floods Australia's worst ever natural disaster. Local lawyer Sean Radburn is not giving up without a fight though. His two-storey Lismore office building was completely destroyed in the flood, but he's vowed to stay. Pictured above - water swamps the town Local lawyer Sean Radburn is not giving up without a fight though. His two-storey Lismore office building was completely destroyed in the flood, but he's vowed to stay. He believes a radical overhaul and redirection of the river system to protect not just Lismore but nearby towns Casino, Coracki and Ballina is vital for the area's future. And he believes that so long as the government doesn't pull out of the town, Lismore still has a future, even although he estimates 95-98 per cent of those affected had no insurance. 'It's a wonderful town and an amazing community,' he said. 'We can come back from this. We just need to all work together. 'I'm not ready to admit defeat yet.' Sean Radburn believes a radical overhaul and redirection of the river system to protect not just Lismore but Casino, Coracki and Ballina is vital for the area's future Planning expert Professor Burton warned there are no easy answers though - and building new levees is expensive and doomed to fail because of ongoing costs. Planning expert Professor Paul Burton warned there are no easy answers - and building new levees is expensive and doomed to fail because of ongoing costs But moving a population from one area to another can create new problems elsewhere. 'We sometimes think Australia is a massive place - surely you can go and live anywhere?' he said. 'There's plenty of land, but it isn't necessarily well suited to Western living. 'You can move from a flood plain to the top of a hill - but now you're in a bushfire area. Or you can move to a field - but that's agricultural land. 'Or you can clear some forest - but that's vital ecological land and wipes out koala populations. Or it's coal-fracking land, or mining licence land... 'Alternatively you can go to the other side of the Great Dividing Range - but then you're 10 hours away from the nearest major city with no economy to support it. 'It's very tricky. But it has to start with a ban on new developments on flood plains.' Many of those affected only lived in the risky areas because of low property prices - and can't now afford to move anywhere else without government help Prof Burton said the cost of trying to relocate Lismore and its population was inconceivably huge, but more could be done to at least mitigate the worst impact of future floods He said the cost of trying to relocate Lismore and its population was inconceivably huge, but more could be done to at least mitigate the worst impact of future floods. 'When buildings are being rebuilt or repaired then that's the time to look at what can be done to make them a bit more resilient,' he said. 'Is it feasible to put things up on stilts that aren't already up on stilts? Or is it possible to design some kind of flood defences to protect particular areas like individual streets or collections of buildings? 'But you can't protect the whole city and town and you can't move the whole town. It's a real conundrum. It's just not easy. 'And ultimately it's a treacherous land - Mother Nature will always get you.' A white policeman accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager has been found not guilty. Constable Zachary Rolfe was found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker and all other charges he faced in the NT Supreme Court on Friday. Outside court Constable Rolfe was asked about the verdict. 'Obviously I think that was the right decision to make, but a lot of people, are hurting today,' he said. 'Kumanjayi's family - I'm going to leave this space for them.' Constable Zachary Rolfe had been found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker and all other charges he faced Constable Rolfe denied murdering Kumanjayi Walker after the teen stabbed him with a pair of scissors on November 9, 2019. He had pleaded not guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to the two alternative charges of manslaughter and violent act causing death. Mr Walker died after Const Rolfe fired three shots into the 19-year-old's back and torso as he resisted arrest in Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs. The Crown conceded the first shot, fired while the teen was standing and wrestling with Sergeant Adam Eberl, was justified. But it said the second and third shots, which are the subject of the murder charge, went 'too far'. Jurors at the four-and-a-half week trial heard evidence from about 40 witnesses. Police body-worn camera footage of the shooting was also shown to the court. Kumanjayi Walker, 19, was shot three times in the back and torso as the teen resisted arrest in Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs The court heard senior police sent Const Rolfe and four other officers from Alice Springs to patrol the community of about 800 on the evening Mr Walker died. They were also ordered to gather intelligence about the teen's location and arrest him early the following morning when he was likely to be sleeping and easily taken into custody. Instead, they tracked Mr Walker down at his grandmother's home within 15 minutes of leaving the Yuendumu police station. A video of the incident showed Mr Walker lying about his identity before Const Rolfe and Sgt Eberl, then a constable, attempted to handcuff him about a minute later. A scuffle broke out and the teen stabbed Const Rolfe in his shoulder with a pair of scissors before the constable fired one shot into his back. He fired the next two shots in quick succession 2.6 seconds later. Mr Walker died about an hour after the second shot ripped through his spleen, lung, liver and a kidney. Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC said Sgt Eberl was effectively restraining Mr Walker on the ground when the fatal second shot hit him. Const Rolfe was on a mission to track the teen down after watching a video of him violently threatening other officers with an axe on November 6, he said. The court heard senior police sent Const Rolfe and four other officers from Alice Springs to patrol the community of about 800 on the evening Mr Walker died The constable also did not have an honest belief he needed to fire the second and third shots to protect himself, or that they were a reasonable response. His state of mind was that if Mr Walker showed any resistance or pulled out a weapon he would draw his gun and if necessary, fire it, he said. Const Rolfe told the jury he felt Mr Walker's hand on his police pistol and spotted him stabbing Sgt Eberl in the chest and neck, and that he feared for his and his partner's lives. His lawyer David Edwardson QC said Const Rolfe had no choice but to pull the trigger and Mr Walker had a lengthy and violent criminal history. He said Const Rolfe was defending himself and his partner when he fired all three shots and that he was performing his duty as a police officer, and acting in good faith in that role. The jury agreed. Speaking outside court, President and CEO at NT Police Association Paul McCue said: 'We've seen justice prevail'. 'Obviously this has been a very traumatic two-plus years for a lot of people,' he said. Constable Rolfe is seen outside court last week. He denied murdering Kumanjayi Walker after the teen stabbed him with a pair of scissors on November 9, 2019. 'As we've spoken about previously, it was a tragic day. A young man lost his life. But let's not forget Constable Rolfe, Constable Eberl, were set upon viciously, and they followed their training. 'It was a travesty that Constable Rolfe was charged so quickly and without thorough investigation. We'll have more to say about that in the coming days.' Outside court there was deep anger and frustration from Aboriginal members of Mr Walker's community. All of Mr Walker's supporters were devastated at the verdict, while demanding an end to guns in their community. 'When are we going to get justice?' Senior Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said. 'We don't want no guns! Enough is enough! It's gotta stop. To our people - let us stand strong. 'And we do not want to see another black young fella, or a girl, to be shot.' Another Indigenous elder, Warren Williams, questioned why no Aboriginal people were on the jury. 'We wanted to see Zachary Rolfe locked up,' he said. Mr Williams said there was a clear double standard when it came to Indigenous Australians charged with crimes. 'Justice seems to be really dishonest. It helps (non-Indigenous Australians) avoid justice instead of making them accountable,' he continued. Members of Mr Walker's family and community have expressed outrage at the verdict handed down on Friday 'There are over 500 Aboriginal deaths in custody that need justice. No police has ever been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing in relation to any deaths in custody for (Indigenous Australians).' Another supporter of Mr Walker said the family and community was 'devastated by this injustice'. 'We are all so full of anger and grief. It is a racist system that we've got here in Australia,' she said. 'Our spirit may be broken, but we are the powerful decision-makers, we as Warlpiri nation, against the weapons that we know has been used against our people by choice by police. 'It must stop. We demand an end to guns in our communities.' She criticised those who saw Constable Rolfe as a 'hero'. 'Disgusting. After he went to our community like a predator, took our young fella. He's a hero to you guys.' 'We should not be divided by racism, but we are. We are being divided up. We must have clear communication and work towards the future of our next generation. We don't want guns in our community.' Speaking last was Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez, who fought back tears as she said she and his family were 'robbed' of being able to say goodbye to Mr Walker. While she spoke, cries from grief-stricken community members were heard behind her. 'Sometimes I think about how he must have felt in his last moments. Was he scared? Terrified, I'd imagine. Was he in pain? Excruciating pain, I would think,' she told reporters. 'Throughout this trial, Kumanjayi has depicted solely as a dangerous individual who, in the words of (Rolfe's defence lawyer David Edwardson), was the author of his own misfortune. 'Would you call misfortune death? 'Cause I wouldn't. He has been criticised and picked apart by people who didn't know him. They saw only his flaws, and wished to put him at trial for his own death. That's disgusting. 'He was a joyful young man who was generous, a young man who was taken far too soon, and a young man who will be deeply, deeply missed.' NSW workers are excluded from the campaign due to recent extreme weather Ms Palaszczuk says she will explore incentives for workers from other states The premier announced a campaign to lure skilled tradesmen to QLD on Friday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urges interstate tradies to come to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged interstate tradies to come to Queensland as devastating floods and skilled worker shortages plague the Sunshine State. Speaking at a Workforce Summit on Friday, Ms Palaszczuk said she will launch an 'aggressive' campaign to lure interstate tradespeople, with the exception of NSW. 'We want tradies to come to Queensland...we want you to run to paradise, to come to paradise,' she said. Annastacia Palaszczuk said she will launch an 'aggressive' campaign to lure interstate tradespeople into Queensland (pictured, road workers) About $1billion worth of insurance claims have already been made in Queensland as families begin rebuilding their homes following devastating floods in the state's south-east. The Premier made it clear she didn't want to pinch much needed workers from NSW after extreme weather ravaged the northern rivers region. 'Of course we will not be targeting New South Wales, let me make that very clear,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'They have been going through natural disasters, they need their resources there on the ground.' Ms Palaszczuk said she would look at offering incentives to lure workers to the state by offering accommodation and travel perks. The new campaign comes as the Palaszczuk Government announce a $15 million injection into skilling workers from 'emerging and evolving industries'. Ms Palaszczuk said she will not target workers from NSW due to recent weather events The cash flow would see more workforce development training for workers in the energy, manufacturing, agribusiness and technology sector. 'What the last two years and the last two weeks have shown us once again is the resilience of Queenslanders,' Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said. 'At the start of the pandemic, no-one envisioned that by 2022 we would be dealing with a shortage of skilled workers. About $1billion worth of insurance claims have already been made in Queensland after recent floods 'But today we're here to listen to the businesses in those emerging industries to find out what they need to maintain Queensland's competitive advantage.' Meanwhile, the premier wants to see the same level of federal support in Queensland as NSW, with a national emergency declaration likely for both regions. 'How could this be different? People have lost their whole life's possessions,' she said. A mammoth cleanup is underway in Queensland as the premier urges skilled workers to travel to the Sunshine State for work (pictured, a flood damaged property in Goodna, Ipswich) Flood affected properties are seen in the suburb of Goodna in Ipswich, Queensland on March 8 'Whether you live in Queensland or New South Wales, natural disasters impact on people the same way.' The Prime Minister foreshadowed an emergency declaration following a tour of the disaster-stricken region this week. Earlier Ms Palaszczuk told reporters that in her state, 'The time for that national emergency was probably a week ago'. 'So we've actually gone past that,' she said. 'The floodwaters have gone down, they've subsided. Those (local government) disaster declarations will be lifted on Sunday.' Mr Morrison said there was 'a bit of a misunderstanding' about the effect of a national emergency declaration. He said rather than unlocking more funding for victims or allowing larger Australian Defence Force deployments in flood zones, the declaration removed regulatory hurdles for support to reach people in a more streamlined way. CASH-STRAPPED Harare City Council has announced plans to convert residents outstanding Zimbabwe dollar bills to United States dollars to preserve the value of the money if the debts remain unpaid in the coming three months. Council spokesperson Michael Chideme said the decision was made after it emerged that the US$17 billion owed by residents in unpaid bills was affecting service delivery. Residents, who fail to retire their debts within three months of being invited to negotiate payment plans, will have their outstanding debts converted to United States dollars at the interbank rate. council is owed over US$17 billion, Chideme said. Money owed to the council is losing value daily and when it is paid, it will not meet its budgeted targets. Hedging the debts against the US dollars will help the council maintain value when its finally paid. Harare Residents Trust (HRT) director Precious Shumba said the move was unjustified. Without undertaking means testing to establish the levels of household economy among ratepayers, the rates charged by the City of Harare are only informed by measures outside the life of residents. The City of Harares 2022 budget was prepared with residents being consulted through WhatsApp groups. This reaches an insignificant number to be reflective of the aspirations of ratepayers. There are known big debtors in areas like Avondale, Borrowdale and other low-density suburbs whose debt is enough to run Harare, but these debtors are more powerful and influential. Therefore, they are not always threatened with summons, Shumba said. He added: The HRT will be mobilising ratepayers to educate them to know what they need to do when they receive summons. Residents must not be afraid because the City of Harare has not provided them with accurate states of their accounts. The bills are currently based on estimates with some of the debt contributed by refuse collection and water consumption, yet the City of Harare has largely neglected to provide the services. Water supplies are erratic. Refuse is not being collected. Shumba urged council to plug revenue leakages in the citys various business units. The HRT wants the City of Harare to repossess City Parking finances so that more of the revenues being generated there could be directed towards health, roads surfacing and marking in the central business district as well as traffic lights, he said. C President Joe Biden is expected to revoke Russia's 'most favored nation' trade status over its invasion of Ukraine in a joint announcement with the G7 and European Union leaders on Friday. The revoked status, if passed by Congress, would clear the way for increased tariffs on Russian imports in the U.S. and around the world. The 'most favored nation' trade status applies to members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and allows countries with the status to trade freely and fairly with each other. Each country is expected to implement its own measures on trading with Russia after its status gets revoked, according to a source familiar with the matter. Biden's move comes as bipartisan pressure has been building in Washington to revoke the status. Joe Biden is expected to call for an end to Russia's preferential trade status on Friday in a joint announcement with the G7 and European Union Friday's announcements would serve as yet another economic blow to Russia and President Vladimir Putin as it allows more tariffs to be imposed on Russian imports The move comes as a way to punish Russia over its invasion of the Ukraine in late February. Pictured, Russian troops patrolling an area in Ukraine Earlier this week, Congress imposed its latest economic blow against Russia by banning Russian energy imports, just shy of revoking the 'most favored nation' status. The trade leaders in the House and Senate announced the deal in a statement as the White House sought to balance a desire to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine while seeking to avoid sending U.S. energy prices still higher. 'Taking these actions will send a clear message to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that his war is unacceptable and the United States stands firmly with our NATO allies,' the lawmakers said. The statement was issued by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, both Democrats, and their Republican counterparts, Representative Kevin Brady and Senator Mike Crapo. In a rare show of bipartisanship, lawmakers on both sides approved the measure 414-17, with just 15 Republicans voting against it, as well as Squad members Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced ahead of a vote to ban Russian oil on Wednesday that she's 'so pleased the president' had moved to do so What does 'energy independence' mean? Both Democrats and Republican lawmakers are calling for a path to American energy independence, though they have different ideas about how to get it done. To be 'energy independent' means to export more oil, gas and coal than is imported each year. In theory it could also describe a nation that exclusively exists on its own fuel sources -- though with a vast number of global transit lines and how natural resources are distributed around the country, the latter definition is near impossible to achieve in the US. Americans consumed roughly 20 million barrels of liquid fuel per day in 2021, according to the Energy Information Administration. The United States exported an average 8,632 barrels of crude oil and petroleum per day last year. And as of February 25, the EIA stated there were 580 million barrels in the strategic reserve. However even if the US were to produce more oil than it buys -- as was the case in 2020 -- it would still be far costlier and more cumbersome for energy companies to sell that oil in parts of the country. For example, the Wall Street Journal points out that oil companies shipped about 3 million barrels per day out of the US Gulf Coast. Pipelines from the Gulf Coast lead to the southwestern Permian Basin and the crude oil storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma that's home to 14% of total US oil storage. Thanks to the 1920 Jones Act, US companies are limited in the size of ships they can use to transport goods between domestic ports. That effectively makes it costlier for oil to be shipped from there to the East and West Coasts, for example, which have more direct access to overseas markets. Advertisement The bill is now headed to the Senate and goes further than just banning oil. It encourages a review of Russia's status in the World Trade Organization and calls for strengthening the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those it sees as violating human rights, freeze their assets and ban them from entering the country. It comes after many in Congress had pushed for weeks for a ban on Russian oil - with some seeing it as a way to punish Russian officials for alleged human rights violations. But the Biden administration had been reluctant to act out of fear of increasing already record-high gas prices throughout the country. On Tuesday, the president changed course - announcing from the White House that the U.S. would indeed ban Russian oil. Biden said the ban would 'deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine' after a vast number of sanctions targeting Russia's financial institutions and top officials were already levied in coordination with other western governments. Oil imported from Russia amounts to less than 10 percent of the United States' oil imports, whereas many European countries rely on Russia's supply. As of Wednesday, the average price of regular gasoline in the U.S. was $4.25 a gallon, setting an all-time record for the second day in a row, according to AAA. That is an increase of 16 percent from just one week prior, and 22.5 percent higher from last month as Russia continues to bomb cities and towns in Ukraine - where residents are seeking shelter in underground tunnels. The president admitted that the ban would impact American drivers as well, saying: 'The decision today is not without cost here at home. Putin's war is already hurting American families at the gas pump. 'Since Putin began his military buildup on Ukrainian borders, just since then, the price of the gas at the pump in America went up 75 cents.' 'And with this action it's going to go up further. I'm going to do everything I can to minimize Putin's price hike here at home,' he said, explaining that he made the decision in consultation with European allies - though they may not join the US in the oil ban. 'We're moving forward this ban understanding that many of our European allies and partners may not be in a position to join us,' Biden said. 'The United States produces far more oil domestically than all of the European countries combined. In fact, we're a net exporter of energy. So we can take this step when others cannot.' In fact, data from the Energy Information Administration show the US shifted to being a net importer of petroleum in 2021, and projected the same for 2022 last month. US oil production peaked under the Trump administration in 2019, before falling 8 percent the next year. The US is now the world's top oil producer, with much of its imported oil coming from Canada. The European Union is also aiming to cut its reliance on Russian gas by nearly 80 percent by the end of this year and the United Kingdom is expected to ban Russian oil. Advertisement A 40-mile Russian 'death convoy' that had been stalled to the north of Kyiv has begun moving towards the capital, satellite images reveal, with rocket artillery taking up firing positions as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of the city enters its early stages. Vladimir Putin's forces are now attacking to the north, west and east of Kyiv, Ukrainian commanders say, as the convoy - which had been stuck for two weeks due to fuel and logistical issues - gets moving again - dispersing to take up firing positions or else concealing itself in civilian areas and forests to prevent attacks. Ukraine believes the capital - which is currently home to around 2million people - could soon be surrounded, after which it faces the same punishing fate meted out to the cities of Mariupol, which has been without water or power for 11 days, Kharkiv, and Sumy, where thousands of civilians have been killed. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 1000 Advertisement Territorial defence units, charged with protecting the city, were pictured digging trenches there and setting up barricades, as mayor Vitali Kitschko said the capital has been turned into a 'fortress'. Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine's defence minister, said Russia's attacks have now killed more civilians than soldiers after generals switched tactics from American-style 'shock and awe' precision strikes - which largely failed due to poor battlefield tactics - to 'medieval'-style siege warfare of the kind Moscow's men waged in Syria. Airstrikes early Friday struck the cities of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, in the west, which have largely been spared attacks. The strike on Dnipro hit civilian areas including a shoe factory, killing at least one person. The bombings in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk are thought to have targeted military airports - mirroring attacks in the early days of the war. Two soldiers were killed. Strikes on Kharkiv, a surrounded city in the north east of Ukraine, hit the Physics Institute which houses a nuclear reactor - drawing accusations from Ukraine that Russia is committing 'nuclear terrorism'. It comes after Putin's forces also attacked the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia, further to the south. Comparisons with Russia's assault on Syria are particularly chilling, because of the brutal punishment meted out to cities such as Aleppo which was all-but levelled by Russian artillery which killed thousands of innocents. Bashar al-Assad's forces also used chemical weapons on civilian targets during that campaign, most notably in Ghouta in 2013 and Khan Shakhun in 2017. President Volodymyr Zelensky, giving a late-night address to his people on Thursday, confessed to fears that Russia itself is now preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine - having accused the Ukrainian government of preparing such an attack. 'We have found if you want to find out Russia's plans, you should look at what Russia is accusing others of,' he said, pointing out that ahead of Putin giving the order to invade Ukraine, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of preparing an attack against Russia. 'We're the ones being blamed, as if we've attacked a peaceful Russia. And what now,' he asked in an emotional late-night address. 'What does it mean, that we're being accused of preparing chemical attacks? Have you decided to conduct a dechemicalisation of Ukraine? With what? With ammonia? With phosphorus? 'What else have you prepared for us? What do you plan to hit with chemical weapons? A maternity hospital in Maripul? A church in Kharkiv? A children's hospital?' US intelligence said Russian forces had made gains elsewhere to the west of Kyiv and had inched three miles closer to the city centre. Tanks are now nine miles from the central government district, the Pentagon said late Thursday, having been 13 miles out previously. Putin's men are now facing a long and bloody mission to try and take the capital, which is thought to be the main target of their 'special military operation' - with the goal being to topple the government and install a puppet regime friendly to Moscow. Russia has convened a UN security council meeting today to discuss what it claims are threats from Ukrainian chemical weapons. Should Russia decide to deploy WMDs, it is unclear where the attack would take place. Moscow is officially committed to destroying its chemical weapons stockpiles under various international treaties, and has not used the weapons in combat for decades. The Soviets were last accused of using them during the invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. However, the Kremlin is known to have maintained an illegal chemical weapons programme which it has used to attack political opponents. Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent, was used in the failed assassination attempt on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the UK in 2018. It was also used in a failed attack on Alexei Navalny in 2020. This satellite image from Thursday provided by Maxar Technologies shows resupply trucks and multiple probable rocket launchers in firing positions, in Berestyanka, around 30 miles from central Kyiv Russian supply trucks and other vehicles are seen parked in the tree line of a forest (to the right of the image) in an apparent effort to make them harder for Ukrainian forces to destroy Russian tanks and armoured vehicles have also dispersed into civilian areas in an effort to make them harder to hit. Pictured are some of the 'death convoy' vehicles in the town of Ozera, north east of Kyiv Initially, the 40-mile line of vehicles, tanks and artillery had stalled outside Kyiv but as of Thursday, parts of the convoy have now 'repositioned' into the woods and dispersed along roads Those vehicles which are left along the main highway into Kyiv (pictured, part of the road north of Ivankiv) are now spaced out to make them less of a target for Ukrainian artillery February 28: The last clear images of the 'death convoy' were taken almost two weeks ago, when the skies were clear of clouds, and showed them bunched up along the road (above). Those vehicles have now dispersed Ukrainian commanders say Russian attacks are underway to the north, west and east of Kyiv and that the city will soon be surrounded as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of it gets underway Ukrainian territorial defence units, which are charged with protecting Kyiv from Russian attacks, have been preparing trenches in the capital as the battle to take the city gets underway Members of the Kyiv territorial defence dig trenches along the side of highways in the capital Kyiv, as they prepare to defend the capital against attacks by Russian troops Barricades made from sandbags and tyres filled with earth are erected around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as commanders warn it will soon be surrounded and Russian forces will try to push into the city A member of Ukraine's territorial defence forces helps to erect barricades in the capital, with a Russian offensive to try and sieze control now pushing into the outskirts Newly-erected barricades are seen against the backdrop of Ukrainian apartment buildings in Kyiv, as mayor Vitali Kitschko says the capital has been turned into a 'fortress' Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts Ukraine war: The latest Kyiv may soon be encircled with Russian forces moving on areas north and west of the capital, the Ukrainian military says Volodymyr Zelensky says trucks carrying food and medicine to the besieged city of Mariupol - without water and power for 11 days - were attacked by Russian tanks Russia claims deadly bomb attack on Mariupol's children hospital was 'staged' by Ukraine A kindergarten and an apartment block are hit in the first air strikes on the city of Dnipro Ukraine says at least 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded Zelensky says about 100,000 people have evacuated from areas surrounding Kyiv, Sumy and Izyum Ukrainian military says fighting is raging for control of the northern city of Chernihiv and Kharkiv and Severodonetsk, in the east Moscow promises to open humanitarian corridors every day to allow Ukrainians to flee, but Kyiv has rejected routes leading into Russia or its ally Belarus UN Security Council will meet Friday after Russia says biological weapons are being developed in Ukraine, in what is feared to be pre-text for a potential use of the weapons by Moscow US and Europe could impose additional penalties on Moscow because 'the atrocities that they're committing against civilians seem to be intensifying' White House says any decision by Moscow to seize assets of US or international companies 'will ultimately result in more economic pain for Moscow' European Union leaders tell Ukraine there is no fast way to join the bloc, N says more than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine - more than half to Poland Asian stock tumble with Tokyo falling more than two percent and the yen hitting a five-year low US investment bank Goldman Sachs pulls out of Russia, the first Wall Street institution to do so Advertisement The so-called 'death convoy' originated in Belarus and had been making its way south towards Kyiv. It had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. It's believed the convoy consisted of fuel tankers and trucks carrying food and ammunition together with an estimated 15,000 troops. But images on social media over the past several days showed Russian tanks and military vehicles sitting idle, or even destroyed on the side of roads. In earlier images, the units in the convoy were seen to be traveling two or three across the road while in other sections, they were spaced out. Senior U.S. defense officials say Ukrainian troops were targeting the convoy with ground fire, including shoulder-fired Javelin anti-tank missiles that had been provided by Western allies. Simply striking the vehicles at the front of the convoy created significant delays as they proved difficult to move and essentially created their own roadblock. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Russians appear not to have anticipated such difficulties or the strength of Ukrainian resistance. Western leaders had originally feared that the sudden influx of ground forces would descend rapidly on Kyiv, directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to topple the government and install a new Kremlin-friendly regime. Intelligence agencies also speculated that the convoy might have been attempting to encircle Kyiv in order to place the city under siege and cut off supplies and escape routes. Russian forces were continuing their offensive toward Kyiv from the northwest and east, notably trying to break through Ukrainian defences from Kukhari, 56 miles to the northwest, through to Demidov, 25 miles north of Kyiv, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in a statement. He said Russian troops had been halted in efforts to take the northern city of Chernihiv, notably by Ukraine's retaking of the town of Baklanova Muraviika, which Russian troops could use to move toward Kyiv. Russian forces are blockading Kharkiv and pushing their offensive in the south around Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's home town. Rough weather on the Azov and Black Seas has stalled Russian ships' efforts to come ashore, the general staff said. Three Russian airstrikes hit the important industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Friday, killing at least one person in strikes that hit near a kindergarten and apartment buildings, according to interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. One strike hit a shoe factory, sparking a fire, he said. He released video showing flashes over residential areas of the city, home to nearly one million people. A US defence official said Russian forces moving toward Kyiv had advanced about three miles in the past 24 hours, with some elements as close as nine miles from the city. Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after three airstrikes hit on Friday morning - destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian Emergency crews assess the damage on a residential street in Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it came under bombardment on Friday - having largely been spared attacks so far during the war Damage is seen in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it was bombed by Russian forces in the early hours The sky over Dnipro is lit up as Russian airstrikes hit the city in the early hours, destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian. There was no immediate word on the number of people hurt Flames fill the night sky in the city of Lutsk, in western Ukraine, as it is struck by a Russian airstrike targeting an airfield Gutted buildings are seen in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after Russian missile strikes in the early hours Fires burn amidst the ruins of a destroyed building after a Russian airstrike in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine Damage is seen at the Institute of Physics in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, north east Ukraine, which houses a nuclear reactor that Russian forces are accused of targeting Ukraine has accused Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' after the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, was shelled. The institute houses a nuclear reactor Damage caused by Russian shelling is seen near the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, The official gave no indication that the convoy had dispersed or otherwise repositioned in a significant way, saying some vehicles were seen moving off the road into the tree line in recent days. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire as civilians trapped inside the city scrounged for food and fuel. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the city, according to deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Night-time temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. 'They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it,' Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address to the nation. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. The number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and centre of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Mr Zelensky said. He told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the rouble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. 'You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes,' Mr Zelensky said in a video address, warning that 'you will be hated by Russian citizens'. Russian president Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. 'We will overcome them,' he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create 'certain challenges'. In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said about two million people, half the population of the metropolitan area, have left the capital. 'Every street, every house... is being fortified,' he said. 'Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.' Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Mr Putin's forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraine's cities. One satellite image shows the southern end of Antonov Airport and fires at the fuel storage area after the Russian invasion, in Hostomel, Ukraine on Thursday Slide me Before/after: The Epicentr K shopping center, in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, is seen before and after being destroyed by Russian strikes A satellite image reveals the nuclear site at Chernobyl, with the dome containing the main reactor pictured centre, after Russian forces disconnected it from the main power grid - threatening damage to the cooling tanks A satellite image shows heavily damaged residential buildings in Borodyanka, Ukraine, one of which was cut in half by a Russian missile strike (pictured centre) This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows destroyed and burning warehouse buildings in Stoyanka, Ukraine, in western Kyiv region A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows fires at the fuel storage area of Antonov airport in Hostomel, Ukraine A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows overview of fire in southern Chernihiv, Ukraine Western Australia's daily Covid case numbers have soared to new heights, with the state recording 5,005 new cases on Friday. The state's total number of active cases has hit 20,788 and there are 92 patients in hospital with the virus. Three people are in ICU and no new deaths were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The state's total active case number is now 20,788 and the number of those in hospital has also risen, 92 people are now being treated for Covid. The positive results were divided between PCR and RAT tests, with 2,866 positive PCR tests and 2,139 positive RATs. A total of 14,090 PCR tests were conducted on Thursday. Case numbers have risen sharply since January when Omicron arrived in the state. Premier Mark McGowan opened the Western Australian borders on March 3 after long coming under criticism for his 'hermit state' zero-Covid approach. The premier himself, however, is currently in the first hours of his own self-imposed quarantine period after flying home from New South Wales. Premier Mark McGowan is in isolation despite opening his borders after travelling to Sydney to give evidence at his defamation case with Clive Palmer Mr McGowan volunteered to serve seven days in isolation after briefly flying to Sydney to give evidence in the Federal Court in a defamation suit brought by Clive Palmer. The premier has insisted upon quarantining in a serviced apartment to avoid any perception the border reopening date was chosen for his own benefit. 'He wants to set a good example,' Health Minister Jade Sanderson said. 'He's covering the cost out of his own pocket and he will be attending meetings (virtually) and managing the state as is appropriate.' Russia's ambassador to Australia has been stripped of an invitation to make a national address following allegations of war crimes in Ukraine. The National Press Club had invited both Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky and Ukraine's Charge d`Affaires Volodymyr Shalkivskyi to speak separately. But club CEO Maurice Reilly says it is no longer appropriate for Russia's envoy to appear. Russia's ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, will no longer be giving a nationally televised speech after allegations emerge of war crimes and bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine 'The invitations were issued at a different stage in the conflict in Ukraine before allegations of war crimes and bombing of civilian targets,' Mr Reilly said in a statement on Friday. 'The club stands by its principles of encouraging free speech and promoting a balanced national discussion of the big issues of the day and reserves the right to revisit this decision at a later date.' Mr Reilly also condemned media censorship in Russia with new laws imposing charges of high treason carrying 15 to 20 year jail terms for journalists who spread 'false information'. 'This situation should not be tolerated and has no place in a democratic society,' he said. The announcement came a day after Mr Shalkivskyi gave his press club address, using his speech to declare his countrymen would never stop fighting for its freedom, and telling journalists he would like to see Russia's ambassador expelled after shelling had killed more than 50 children in Ukraine. Residents in the city of Irpin, north of Kyiv are waiting to evacuate as the city endures shellfire and bombardments for more than a week as Russian forces in armoured vehicles continue to edge closer. 'Every government needs to have lines of communication but I'm not in the position to be diplomatically polite. Having my parents in a bomb shelter, it makes you more decisive,' he said. Talks between high-level Ukrainian and Russian officials have failed to broker a peace deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin has remained defiant against coordinated sanctions, saying the injunctions would backfire against the West leading to higher food and energy prices, and Moscow would emerge stronger. Talks between high-level Ukranian and Russian officials have failed to broker a peace deal while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains defiant But as sanctions continue to bite the Russian economy, Australia's Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says he does not believe the impact from the war in Ukraine warrants coordinated global financial policy. Dr Lowe will attend a regular scheduled meeting with other central bank bosses on Friday night, with the situation in Ukraine high on the agenda. A coordinated response during the global financial crisis had been needed because the financial markets had frozen. 'At the moment there is no need for a coordinated policy response - what we need is to share information and talk about where things might go from here,' Dr Lowe told an Australian Banking Association conference. Russia continues to feel the bite from economic sanctions as Goldman Sachs became the first US bank to withdraw from Russia, a move that will increase pressure on rival lenders to follow 'The assessment has been in the first couple of weeks it hasn't caused major dislocation in the financial system. 'But it is still early days and there is a lot to come for these sanctions to work their way through the financial sector.' Goldman Sachs has become the first US bank to withdraw from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, a move that will increase pressure on rival lenders to follow. The United Nations Security Council will also meet on Friday at Russia's request after the Kremlin claimed the United States military were conducting 'biological activities' in Ukraine. Olivia Dalton, the spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN, said the accusation was a false flag operation the Kremlin could use to justify biological or chemical weapons attacks. Defence Minister Peter Dutton said reports of Russia potentially using biological weapons against Ukrainians were credible and based on intelligence. Mr Dutton said he would not put anything past the regime when it comes to war, given its 'history of brutality'. 'If there is to be use of chemical weapons or other weapons which will impact in a broad way across the population, then there will be a devastating outcome,' the minister told the Seven Network. The family and community of an Aboriginal teenager shot dead by a white policeman have expressed anger at 'racist Australia' after he was acquitted of murder and all charges. Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, was found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker and alternative charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act by a Northern Territory Supreme Court jury on Friday. Mr Rolfe denied murdering Mr Walker after he fired three shots at the teen, after the young man stabbed the police officer with a pair of scissors on November 9, 2019, while resisting arrest in Yuendumu, 290km north-west of Alice Springs. There was deep anger and outrage from Mr Walker's family and loved ones outside court - with many left in reeling after the verdict was handed down. Deputy chair of the Parumpurru select committee and senior elder Valerie Napaljarri Martin said the community was 'devastated by this injustice'. 'We are all so full of anger and grief. It is a racist system that we've got here in Australia,' she said. Constable Zachary Rolfe had been found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker and all other charges he faced 'Our spirit may be broken, but we are the powerful decision-makers, we as Warlpiri nation, against the weapons that we know has been used against our people by choice by police. 'It must stop. We demand an end to guns in our communities.' Ms Napaljarri also called out those who saw Constable Rolfe as a 'hero'. 'Disgusting. After he went to our community like a predator, took our young fella. He's a hero to you guys. 'The biggest problem we have is the racism in the police and racism in the court system. And racism kills. Racism kills our young fella, Kumanjayi Walker.' Kumanjayi Walker, 19, was shot three times in the back and torso as the teen resisted arrest in Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez, fought back tears as she said she and his family were 'robbed' of being able to say goodbye to Mr Walker Ms Napaljarri was joined by other members of Mr Walker's community, many heard crying and wailing as friends and family spoke to the media. 'When are we going to get justice?' senior Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said. 'We don't want no guns! Enough is enough! It's gotta stop. To our people - let us stand strong. 'And we do not want to see another black young fella, or a girl, to be shot.' Another Indigenous elder, Warren Williams, questioned why no Aboriginal people were on the jury, which deliberated for just five hours. Mr Williams said there was a double standard when Indigenous Australians were separately charged with crimes. 'Justice seems to be really dishonest. It helps (non-Indigenous Australians) avoid justice instead of making them accountable,' he continued. 'There are over 500 Aboriginal deaths in custody that need justice. No police has ever been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing in relation to any deaths in custody for (Indigenous Australians).' The court heard senior police sent Const Rolfe and four other officers from Alice Springs to patrol the community of about 800 on the evening Mr Walker died Speaking last was Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez, who fought back tears as she said she and his family were 'robbed' of being able to say goodbye to Mr Walker. While she spoke, cries from grief-stricken community members were heard behind her. 'Sometimes I think about how he must have felt in his last moments. Was he scared? Terrified, I'd imagine. Was he in pain? Excruciating pain, I would think,' she told reporters. 'Throughout this trial, Kumanjayi has depicted solely as a dangerous individual who, in the words of (Rolfe's defence lawyer David Edwardson), was the author of his own misfortune. 'Would you call misfortune death? 'Cause I wouldn't. He has been criticised and picked apart by people who didn't know him. They saw only his flaws, and wished to put him at trial for his own death. That's disgusting. 'He was a joyful young man who was generous, a young man who was taken far too soon, and a young man who will be deeply, deeply missed.' Ms Fernandez said her cousin loved animals, his partner and family, and music. Outside court Mr Rolfe gave his thoughts on the verdict. He showed no emotion when it was handed down but later smiled and hugged family members. 'Obviously I think that was the right decision to make, but a lot of people, are hurting today,' he said. 'Kumanjayi's family - I'm going to leave this space for them.' Constable Rolfe is seen outside court last week. He denied murdering Kumanjayi Walker after the teen stabbed him with a pair of scissors on November 9, 2019. The Crown conceded Mr Rolfe's first shot, fired while the teen was standing and wrestling with Sergeant Adam Eberl, was justified. But it said the second and third shots, which are the subject of the murder charge, went 'too far'. Jurors at the four-and-a-half week trial heard evidence from about 40 witnesses. Police body-worn camera footage of the shooting was also shown to the court. The court heard senior police sent Const Rolfe and four other officers from Alice Springs to patrol the community of about 800 on the evening Mr Walker died. They were also ordered to gather intelligence about the teen's location and arrest him early the following morning when he was likely to be sleeping and easily taken into custody. Instead, they tracked Mr Walker down at his grandmother's home within 15 minutes of leaving the Yuendumu police station. A video of the incident showed Mr Walker lying about his identity before Const Rolfe and Sgt Eberl, then a constable, attempted to handcuff him about a minute later. A scuffle broke out and the teen stabbed Const Rolfe in his shoulder with a pair of scissors before the constable fired one shot into his back. He fired the next two shots in quick succession 2.6 seconds later. Mr Walker died about an hour after the second shot ripped through his spleen, lung, liver and a kidney. Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC said Sgt Eberl was effectively restraining Mr Walker on the ground when the fatal second shot hit him. Members of Mr Walker's family and community have expressed outrage at the verdict handed down on Friday Const Rolfe was on a mission to track the teen down after watching a video of him violently threatening other officers with an axe on November 6, he said. The constable also did not have an honest belief he needed to fire the second and third shots to protect himself, or that they were a reasonable response. His state of mind was that if Mr Walker showed any resistance or pulled out a weapon he would draw his gun and if necessary, fire it, he said. Const Rolfe told the jury he felt Mr Walker's hand on his police pistol and spotted him stabbing Sgt Eberl in the chest and neck, and that he feared for his and his partner's lives. His lawyer David Edwardson QC said Const Rolfe had no choice but to pull the trigger and Mr Walker had a lengthy and violent criminal history. He said Const Rolfe was defending himself and his partner when he fired all three shots and that he was performing his duty as a police officer, and acting in good faith in that role. The jury agreed. Speaking outside court, President and CEO at NT Police Association Paul McCue said: 'We've seen justice prevail'. 'Obviously this has been a very traumatic two-plus years for a lot of people,' he said. 'As we've spoken about previously, it was a tragic day. A young man lost his life. But let's not forget Constable Rolfe, Constable Eberl, were set upon viciously, and they followed their training. 'It was a travesty that Constable Rolfe was charged so quickly and without thorough investigation. We'll have more to say about that in the coming days.' Phones 4u billionaire John Caudwell today vowed to offer his two-bedroom coach house to Ukrainian refugees rent and bill-free for six months as it emerged Britons will be asked to give a home to tens of thousands of people fleeing Russian invaders. Mr Caudwell, 69, is offering to put up a displaced family on his Staffordshire estate, Broughton Hall, where he lives with his Lithuanian cyclist girlfriend Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 39. The Government will unveil a hotline and webpage where individuals, charities, businesses and community groups will be able to offer rooms to those escaping the conflict but with no family links to the UK. Ministers want Britons to open their doors after problems with Afghan refugees being placed in hotels for long periods after they fled the Taliban last year. The details will be announced by Michael Gove on Monday. Calling the UK Governments response to Russias invasion embarrassing, John Caudwell said: Id like to host a Ukrainian family to live in the grounds of my estate. As Eastern Europe struggles to address the worsening crisis, I urge wealthy individuals to step up and offer shelter in their homes. He added: 'They'll have their own, two-bedroom apartment here, with all utilities and food as long as they need it. I want to help and suspect the experience will be humbling and deeply enriching for me as well'. Mr Caudwell, who sold his Phones 4u empire for 1.5billion, splits his time with Ms Vzesniauskaite between his giant Staffordshire estate and their 250millon Mayfair mega-mansion, which includes a 120-capacity ballroom, 15 bedrooms over eight floors. John Caudwell's Staffordshire coach house, which he hopes a Ukrainian family will move into rent and bill free Phones 4u tycoon John Caudwell poses on the red carpet with his girlfriend Modesta Vzesniauskaite in Monaco last May. The couple have been moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people Mr Caudwell, pictured in the Great Hall, called the Government's response to the refugee crisis embarrassing Mr Caudwell splits his time between his 10m Staffordshire home (pictured) and Mayfair Britain's schools will throw their doors open to 100,000 Ukrainian children says Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi today declared Britain is ready to take 100,000 Ukrainian children and educate them in UK schools. Mr Zahawi, who fled to Britain as an Iraqi child refugee to escape the Saddam Hussain regime, plans to increase the capacity of schools to help displaced youngsters continue their learning online and in the country's classrooms. The Department for Education is yet to provide more details about how and when it expects this to happen, and if all schools will be expected to take Ukrainian children, but unions have already backed the decision. The Education Secretary told the Association of School and College Leaders this morning: 'We have a team that's ready and already making plans for a capacity of 100,000 Ukrainian children that will come in to take places now.' It came amid the Home Office's shambolic handling of its scheme for Ukrainian refugees with family in the UK, which has suffered delays and excessive bureaucracy, piling further pressure on Boris Johnson to do more to make it easier for Ukrainians to find sanctuary in the UK. Mr Zahawi himself said much more needed to be done to 'streamline' the system. Scores of Ukrainian families were turned away at Calais with just 760 people granted visas under the Home Office' Family Support Scheme despite tens of thousands of applications. Mr Zahawi has also asked a tech firm who supported schools with virtual learning in lockdown to fast track Ukrainian translations for their bank of thousands of online lessons. 'To support schools' efforts, I asked the Oak National academy to roll out an auto-translate function across all 10,000 of its online lessons,' he said. 'And I can share with you today that they have delivered on this, meaning that Ukrainian children arriving in the United Kingdom can access education in their native language.' Advertisement It came amid the Home Office's shambolic handling of its scheme for Ukrainian refugees with family in the UK, which has suffered delays and excessive bureaucracy, piling further pressure on Boris Johnson to do more to make it easier for Ukrainians to find sanctuary in the UK. Scores of Ukrainian families were turned away at Calais with just 760 people granted visas under the Home Office' Family Support Scheme despite tens of thousands of applications. Following mounting criticism, Priti Patel yesterday announced major changes to the visa regime - but charities said they did not go far enough. Now Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is preparing to announce details of a 'local sponsorship scheme' to match people in the UK with Ukrainians who want to come to Britain but this has been delayed until next week. Technology minister Chris Philp said the details of plans to allow Ukrainian refugees to come and stay with British families will be set out 'in the very near future'. He told Sky News: 'We're going to be making announcements in the very near future about a scheme for UK local authorities, and indeed UK families, to welcome Ukrainian refugees, we've announced that principle and the details of how that scheme works will be laid out in the very near future.' The scheme will enable Britons to put people fleeing the war up in a spare room, or perhaps give them a job. However, it is expected that anyone offering to house a Ukrainian refugee will have to pass Disclosure and Barring Service checks, which will slow the process further. Boris Johnson told Sky News: 'On Monday, you'll get from the Levelling Up Secretary, you'll get the programme that will allow people to come in, so (if) people want to welcome (refugees) into their own homes, they can do so.' Refugees who enter through the new route will be allowed to stay for an initial period of 12 months during which they will be entitled to work, claim benefits and access public services. Officials will match them with offers of free accommodation from the sponsoring individuals and organisations who will be vetted to ensure it is safe and secure. The Daily Telegraph said those offering housing would have to agree to take the refugees for a minimum period - potentially six months - and demonstrate that they meet appropriate standards. A Government spokesman said the details of the scheme were being worked on 'at pace'. 'The routes we have put in place follow extensive engagement with Ukrainian partners,' the spokesman said. 'This is a rapidly moving and complex picture and as the situation develops we will continue to keep our support under constant review.' Displaced people fleeing the Russian invasion evacuate through the central train station in Lviv, as Britons will soon urged to take in refugees The refugee exodus from Ukraine since the Russian invasion is now the largest in Europe since Second World War Refugees are rushing into neighbouring countries - Poland's population has grown for the first time since the 1980s Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 move comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel was urged to do more to make it easier for those coming to the UK through the existing family route. On Thursday, Ms Patel announced that from Tuesday people will be able to apply online for a visa and will no longer have to go to a processing centre to give their biometrics. It followed criticism that the UK's response has been painfully slow in the face of the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War with around 2.2 million having fled the country. However the British Red Cross said the quickest way of fixing the problem would be to remove the requirement for a visa, while the Refugee Council said Ms Patel's announcement 'does not go anywhere near far enough'. Meanwhile, after the Government announced it was sanctioning seven more Russians linked to Vladimir Putin's regime including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK and other allies need to keep up the pressure with further measures - including a freeze on all Russian banking assets. 'We must double down and ramp up the global pressure on Putin. We must go further on sanctions to keep tightening the vice,' she said in a speech in Washington. 'We want a situation where they can't access their funds, they can't clear their payments, their trade can't flow, their ships can't dock and their planes can't land.' Her call came as Mr Johnson warned that the 'cynical, barbaric' Russian regime appeared to be preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine as its forces continued to struggle to make the expected gains in the face of fierce resistance. 'The stuff which your are hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook,' he told Sky News. 'They start saying that there are chemical weapons that are being stored by their opponents or by the Americans, so that when they themselves deploy chemical weapons - as I fear they may - they have a sort of a maskirovka, a fake story, ready to go.' Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defence said the Russian forces were committing increasing numbers to encircling key cities, reducing the forces to continue their advance which 'will further slow Russian progress'. Mr Johnson said that he believed the conflict would only end when Mr Putin accepted he had made 'a disastrous miscalculation' and withdrew his forces. 'Vladimir Putin has himself made it very difficult to find an off ramp, and he has, I think, driven his tank, so to speak, down a cul de sac from which it will be very hard to extricate himself but he must,' he said. Ukrainian refugees hit out at British Government's 'many lies' as visa application centre FAILS to open in Lille - as those fleeing war are told to try again tomorrow at another office an hour away Ukrainian refugees were left fuming after a visa application centre promised by the British Government failed to open. Hundreds of Ukrainians who fled their war-torn country were told unequivocally by British officials that the visa centre would open in Lille today to process their documents as quickly as possible so that they could join relatives or those who had sponsored them in the UK. Home Office officials also notified the media of the centre's opening earlier this week as part of its efforts to ease the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Many Ukrainians were ferried in buses on Wednesday from Calais, where they had gathered and taken to the city of Tourcoing, which is located close to Lille so that they could be near the proposed visa application centre. But they were left angry and disappointed when it did not materialise, protesting that it further underlined their callous treatment at the hands of the British Government. Roksolana, 22 who fled Kyiv and travelled for more than week to get to Calais, said she was told that the visa centre would be open for business on Thursday Hundreds of Ukrainians who fled their war-torn country were told by British officials that the visa centre would open in Lille today to process their documents. Pictured: A GV of the Bureaux de la Prefecture which is believed to be the site of the Ukrainian visa application centre To add to their misery, they are being put up in a shabby hotel in Tourcoing which is normally used to temporarily house homeless people and drug addicts. Roksolana, 22 who fled Kyiv and travelled for more than week to get to Calais, told MailOnline: 'We were told that the visa centre would be open for business on Thursday but nothing's happened. It's just one of the many lies that we've been told by the British Government.' Adam, 26 who also fled the bombardment of Kyiv added: 'Every country is welcoming Ukrainians refugees except Britain. I was hoping that I could start my visa process today but sadly, that's not going to happen. 'I want to go to Britain because I speak very good English and it is a country that I have a lot of respect for. After everything we have gone through, I don't understand why we are being mucked around like this by the British government.' Announcing the 'opening' of the visa application centre in Lille, Home Office officials stated that it would only for those Ukrainian refugees who had been referred by Border Force officials. To add to their confusion, Ukrainians are now being told that a visa application will now open on Friday in Arras, which is an hour away from Lille. Ioana, who fled the outskirts of Kyiv when the war started said: 'I'll believe it when I see it. It's hard to believe anything the British Government tells us. Adam, 26 who also fled the bombardment of Kyiv, said he was hoping to start his visa process today but 'sadly, that's not going to happen' 'Every nation in Europe has made it easier for Ukrainians to stay in their country except Britain, who seem to want to kill us with bureaucracy and red tape. I have family there, I want to join them, and it should not be so complicated.' Announcing the visa centre that never opened in Lille, the Home Office declared earlier this week: 'The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Ukraine and we have taken urgent action to process visas at speed for all those eligible to the Ukraine Family Scheme, while carrying out vital security checks. 'In light of the risk from criminals actively operating in the area around Calais, we have set up a new temporary Visa Application Centre in Lille which will open tomorrow (Thursday) focused on referrals only for people in the area eligible for the scheme.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We have announced new measures to simplify and speed up the process for people applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme. From Tuesday 15 March, Ukrainians with passports who are eligible for this route can do their application online and will not need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK. 'To support those people in Calais who are eligible for the scheme, we have worked closely with the French to set up a new, larger temporary Visa Application Centre in Arras for referrals only.' We drove 1,600 miles... then the UK turned us away A Ukrainian mother and daughter who drove 1,600 miles from Kyiv were turned away in Calais by UK border staff who 'shrugged' as they pleaded to be let through as refugees. Alena Semenova, 22, and Tetyana Tsybanyuk, 40, had bought a ticket on an Irish Ferries sailing to Dover and had passed the French border, but were stopped by seemingly indifferent British officials who detained them 'like criminals' because they did not have visas. Miss Semenova, a former medical student trying to reach her godparents in Glasbury, Powys, said: 'We did not understand what was happening, why we were detained as criminals. urned back at the border: Alena Semenova and Tetyana Tsybanyuk were trying to get to Wales but must go to Paris first 'But the border guard officer shrugged her shoulders and said that they would not let us through without a visa.' They then had to drive 180 miles to Paris where they are hoping to gain visas. But this will only happen if the Government eases restrictions for Ukrainians without relatives in Britain. Her godfather, Graham Blackledge, a chiropodist whose wife Alla is also from Kyiv, said: 'Let them come over, house them, feed them, look after them. And then if you want to start processing them, but in the first instance help. 'And to accuse those seeking sanctuary in Britain of perhaps being Russian spies trying to infiltrate the UK, you should be ashamed of yourself.' At the Polish processing centre, Natalia Honcharyk, a 28-year-old marketing executive from Kyiv, said: 'It's not like we are going on holiday. We only want to get to Britain to seek safety there.' She and her 37-year-old sister, Viktoriia Kudlysheva, a civil servant, hope to stay with a cousin in Bristol. 'We are unsure if our application will be accepted here because we had originally booked an appointment in Lviv,' Miss Kudlysheva said. A courier caught on CCTV carelessly hurling a package over a customer's front gate has divided opinion after the footage went viral. The video showed the worker walk up to the gated home before flinging the parcel at least three metres over the electric gate. The courier, who the customer claimed was an Australia Post employee, appeared to check his surroundings before throwing the parcel underarm. The footage then shows him taking a photo of the item on the front step to confirm the delivery. An courier has divided opinion after being filmed throwing a customer's package over their front gate While many viewers said the man could simply have left a 'missed delivery' note, others blamed the resident for making their home inaccessible to delivery workers. 'I used to deliver for Woolies during my university years,' one wrote on Reddit after the video was shared online. 'Electric gates can f**k off. 'Most people don't answer the buzzer on them, then you're stuck trying to get customer service to contact some muppet so they can press a single button and let you in.' 'I work for Aus post. If you have a closed gate - nine times out of 10 no delivery driver will enter your address,' another said. 'If you can't gain access to the front door everyone will always assume there is a dog.' But others said there was no excuse for throwing the parcel so far, and the worker should have left a note so the parcel could be picked up at a depot. 'How f***ing hard is it for these people to do their jobs properly,' one said. Some blamed the delivery driver but others said the homeowner made the delivery impossible by locking his gate Another added the courier could have reached through the gate and propped the small parcel against the mailbox. The video was posted online with the caption 'delivered with care, thanks Australia Post'. Australia Post told Daily Mail Australia it could not confirm whether the courier in the footage was one of their employees, but added the courier's actions were unacceptable. 'Our drivers are instructed to leave a card in the mail if they are unable to access the property,' a spokesman said. Australia Post said locked front gates are an 'impediment to delivery' and urged its customers to provide proper access to couriers. Shannon Bennett has told how his difficult separation from ex-partner Madeleine West left him as the primary carer of their six children and cost him his dream hotel redevelopment project. Bennett split with the 41-year-old actress after 13 years together in 2018, with West earlier this year saying the separation process 'turned love toxic'. The chef, known for running Melbourne's renowned Vue de monde restaurant, said he has since relocated from Victoria to the NSW tourist town of Byron Bay, where West also lives, to help look after their children. 'Since relocating to Byron Bay with his six children after the breakdown of his relationship with their mother, his sole focus is the care and upbringing of his children,' his management team said. Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett and his ex-partner Madeleine West split in 2018 after six years together. Bennett said he has since relocated to the NSW tourist town of Byron Bay, where West also lives, and said he is looking after their six children as a primary carer Ms West (second from right) has found new love since the split she says 'turned love toxic', moving on with Byron Bay environmentalist Maximo Bottaro (second from left) His team said the chef has also divested his shares in Vue de monde, and ditched plans to turn a historic mansion near Melbourne into a luxury hotel. Bennett took over the Burnham Beeches estate in the Dandenong Ranges - 40km east of the city - in 2010, but recently sold the property for $16.6million to hotel giant Sorrento. 'Burnham Beeches became superfluous to this focus [of looking after his children],' the statement given to The Herald Sun read. 'Shannon has no current hospitality projects on the horizon. He wishes the new owners all the success.' Bennett had struggled to complete Heritage Victoria-mandated repair on the state-listed estate and it is believed he never completed all the required works. In 2020, he said bureaucrats had ordered $250,000 in 'mad' repairs and he would not 'stand for it any more'. Bennett's plans for the redevelopment included a hotel with a microbrewery, shop and new restaurant. West, who has pitched in with the flood clean-up in Lismore in northern NSW, is planning to run at the NSW state election next year as an independent. In February, she described the soul-shaking moment she decided to leave the celebrity chef in 2018. Pictured: The Burnham Beeches estate in the Dandenong Ranges, 40km east of Melbourne. Bennett took over the historic mansion in 2010, but recently sold the property for $16.6million to hotel giant Sorrento The former couple, who never married despite being together for 13 years, share six children, Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe, Xahlia and Margaux Pictured: Bennett and Ms West on March 29, 2016, in Melbourne 'I woke one morning and no longer recognised myself in the mirror. I loved so much about my life, but somewhere I'd lost myself within it. It no longer fit me,' she recalled of her decision to walk away. Describing the process of separation as 'painful', Ms West confessed in an article for Mamamia: 'It tore apart my world, damaged the things I held dearest and turned love toxic.' The former Neighbours star also listed the challenges she faced after leaving her relationship - learning how to parent as a single mother and how to cope with being alone when her kids were staying with their father. Ms West also said she struggled to 're-establish' her identity as a single woman. 'I wish I'd known that divorce is more than a division of assets': The actress described the soul-shaking moment she decided to leave her relationship in 2018 'I wish I'd known that divorce is more than a division of assets, it's a division of homes, friends, hopes, dreams,' she lamented. Ms West has since moved on from those difficult years and found new love with Byron Bay environmentalist Maximo Bottaro. The couple were first pictured together in April 2020 when they were spotted kissing at a secluded beach in the coastal NSW town. The couple met while Ms West was volunteering for Maximo's environmental organisation ReForest Now. Ms West announced her split from Bennett in September 2018 after 13 years of dating. The former couple, who never married, share six children, Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe, Xahlia and Margaux. New love: The actress has moved on from those difficult years and has found new love with Byron Bay environmentalist Maximo Bottaro (right) A year after the split, the actress said she was unlikely to ever get back together with Bennett. 'I'm a big believer that everything in life has a season. We change. We evolve,' she told The Kyle and Jackie O Show. 'At some point we go, "Well, I have certain needs I want to have met and you've got certain needs and if the two don't combine and cross in the middle, why fight it and be miserable?" 'Everything in life has a season': A year after the split, Ms West said she was unlikely to ever get back together with Shannon 'I don't think that's fair to the children either to see two parents that are constantly across purposes.' She brushed off questions about a potential 'love interest' at the time and joked she was living 'like a monk'. Ms West told Stellar magazine in 2018 she and Shannon were 'striving to reconnect as friends and parents'. She said having six children and 'two high-pressure careers' had put a strain on their relationship over time. A 'controlling' boyfriend who strangled and stabbed a mother-of-two to death in a savage attack in her home has been jailed for life for murder. Antanas Jankauskas, 39, of Wookey, Somerset, admitted killing company director Sarah Ashwell, 47, at her home on November 6 last year during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday. And Avon and Somerset police has reported itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after Ms Ashwell reported him for being violent on 'multiple occasions'. Anna Vigars QC, prosecuting, told the court that Ms Ashwell had described Jankauskas as 'controlling' to her friends and said she had been violent 'on multiple occasions' and would even grab her throat, according to Somerset Live. She reported him to police in August 2021 over some damage he had caused to her home. And the day before she died she told two police officers in Glastonbury that she 'didn't feel safe' at home. The court heard a personal statement giving the impact on Ms Ashwell's (pictured) family describing the devastation and heartbreak of her parents at having their only child taken from them and the effect on Sarah's two sons The officers drove her back to her home and searched it but found no one there. Sarah spent the night at a friend's house and returned the following day (November 6). A pathologist said that the strangulation was 'capable of causing death in its own right' but that it was followed by 'repeated strokes with a sharp implement'. The court heard that Ms Ashwell struggled with drug use for many years and cocaine and heroin were found in her blood by the pathologist. The lack of defensive wounds suggested she was vulnerable and possibly immobile at the time of her death, he said. Antanas Jankauskas (pictured), 39, of Wookey, Somerset, admitted killing company director Sarah Ashwell, 47, at a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday Officers went to the farm where Jankauskas worked on November 8 but he told them he hadn't seen Ms Ashwell since the previous week. He said that they had broken up six weeks earlier due to her heroin use. He was then arrested and interviewed on November 9, when he denied any involvement and answered 'no comment' to all other questions. But Ms Ashwell had accidentally called one of her friends on the evening she was murdered and ended up leaving a voicemail in which she can be heard arguing with Jankauskas. Ms Vigars also read out a victim impact statement from Ms Ashwell's mother, Linda Joice. It read: 'Who gave you the right to take her life? 'You knew she had two young children and people that loved her. The boys have lost their mummy. 'One day she was watching her son's rugby match, the next day they are told she is dead. 'How can you live with that?' 'Sarah used to talk about the boys getting married one day and having children of their own. 'She would wonder what their partners would be like. 'Now Sarah will never meet those partners and will never know what it is like being a grandparent. 'There will always be questions all through the boys' lives. 'They will have to live with the fact that people will want to know what happened to their mother. Ms Vigars also read out a victim impact statement from Ms Ashwell's (pictured) mother, Linda Joice. It read: 'Who gave you the right to take her life?' 'We will never have Sarah back and the last minutes of Sarah's life haunt me and will until the day I die.' The Honorary Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC said in his sentencing remarks that Jankauskas had deprived Sarah's children of their mother and their mother's love, adding that everyone in court would have been greatly moved by the family's impact statement. Sarah was found dead on November 7 2021 at her home in Wells, Somerset. The Major Crime Investigation Team launched a murder investigation during the course of which four men were arrested on suspicion of murder, including Jankauskas, and a fifth on suspicion of assisting an offender. All were eliminated from the enquiry except for Jankauskas, who was charged with her murder and appeared before magistrates on November 13. Avon and Somerset police Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins led the investigation, which involved more than 100 officers and police staff from across the Avon and Somerset police service. He said: 'Sarah's life was taken by someone she had known and trusted. I want to pay tribute to Sarah's family for their dignity and strength after facing every parent's nightmare. 'Throughout our investigation we developed a picture of Sarah as person - someone who was a well-loved mother, daughter and friend. 'I hope that those who loved Sarah can now start to build a new future for her sons, while keeping her memory alive. 'This was a complex enquiry but through the painstaking work of forensic examination, digital investigation, house-to-house and CCTV enquiries we gave the Crown Prosecution Service the evidence to build an incontrovertible case.' After sentencing Sarah's family released another statement. 'We are very grateful to Avon and Somerset Police and their teams of officers who have been exemplary in their support for our grieving family, and in bringing this case to court. 'We especially want to thank DC Louise Findlay and DC Rachel Pople. 'We are grateful to Victim Support, to our friends and members of the public, to Bridgwater Investigation Team 3 and to Detective Superintendent Gary Haskins. 'We will never forget the kindness of the officers who helped us. 'For us, knowing that we will never see Sarah again and never share the things families do, is heartbreaking. 'After we told her youngest son what had happened, he said: 'Mummy's a star now' and asked if she was coming back. We had to stay strong for him but our hearts were breaking. 'We will focus on him and his brother, and giving them the love and support they need. 'Sarah was loved by so many people and she could communicate with anyone. 'She had so many achievements in her life. 'Justice has been done for her but we will never forget nor ever forgive the man who did this terrible thing. 'No punishment could ever be enough for what he has done.' An IOPC spokesman said: 'We received a mandatory referral from Avon and Somerset Police on November 10, 2021, relating to police contact with Ms Sarah Ashwell before she was sadly found dead at an address in Wells, Somerset. After careful consideration, we decided to carry out an independent investigation. 'Our investigation has been on hold while awaiting the end of the criminal proceedings. 'A man pleaded guilty to her murder and has been jailed for life at Bristol Crown Court on 10 March. Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, we are in a position to begin our independent investigation, which will examine the force response to a number of incidents and reports to police concerning the welfare of Sarah Ashwell between 27 October and 8 November 2021. Our thoughts remain with her family and friends.' A teenage mother stabbed a friend in cold blood and left him for dead after she flew into a rage at him spending the night with her new boyfriend's former lover. Kalesha Hemsley, then 19, armed herself with a kitchen knife then plunged it into the chest of Matthew Hope telling him: 'You don't sleep with your mate's ex, you scum bag.' When Mr Hope exclaimed: 'What the f*** are you doing?' Hemsley replied: 'What the f*** do you mean, what am I doing?' before walking off. Mr Hope managed to stagger home to discover blood 'spurting' from his wound. Doctors later discovered the blade had breached the muscle around his heart but miraculously he has made a recovery. Kalesha Hemsley (pictured), 20, was jailed for two years after stabbing her friend and leaving him for dead after she flew into a rage at him spending the night with her new boyfriend's former lover Hemsley (pictured) called her victim Matthew Hope a 'scum bag' before stabbing him in the left side of his chest with a five inch knife Inquiries revealed the stabbing in Farnworth, near Bolton, Greater Manchester was carried out in revenge after victim had gone back to the home of Jennifer Settle who had previously dated Hemsley's boyfriend Jack Davies. At Bolton Crown Court, Hemsley, now 20, of Westhoughton, who has a daughter aged two, wept as she was jailed for two years after admitting causing grievous bodily harm. Her daughter is currently being looked after by the child's grandmother. Davies, 18, of Bolton who was at the scene of the attack was initially charged with wounding but the case against him was dropped. The incident occurred on September 19 2020 after Mr Hope had attended a drink party at Hemsley's flat. Prosecutor Alexandra Sutton said: 'They had known one another for a few years, never had any previous issues and and had always got on well. 'That evening he was having a drink with the defendant at her flat. They were socialising and listening to music, whilst others were also present. But it seems the defendant was intoxicated and was being rude to a young lady, Jennifer Settle. 'Matthew Hope told the defendant she was being disrespectful and in due course Matthew and Jennifer left the defendant's flat with Matthew staying at Jennifer's accommodation. Jennifer used to be in a relationship with Jack Davies who appears to have had some sort of relationship with the defendant in September 2020.' Matthew Hope said he 'never expected' Hemsley (pictured) to stab him and since the event he has kept seeing the image of 'how angry she was' The prosecution continued: 'During the evening of 19 Sep, the defendant rang Matthew Hope on a number of occasions asking him to come to her accommodation. She said she wanted to speak to him about something important but, he instead went to bed. 'At 6am the next day, he engaged in a Snapchat call with another friend and they arranged to meet in Farnworth. The friend never turned up but the defendant did. She queried why he behaved in the way he did the night before and it was then he noticed two males behind her - one of those males being Jack Davies. 'The defendant said to Matthew Hope, 'you don't sleep with your mates ex, you scum bag.' She then pulled a knife from her coat pocket and stabbed him to the left chest area. He described the knife as having a five inch blade. 'He said to her 'what the f*** are you doing?' To which she replied 'what the f*** do you mean, what am I doing?' He had seen the knife go in and out of his chest and by that stage, he did not feel any pain as he was in shock. 'It was not until he was back at his own flat that he realised how serious it was. He described how there was a lot of blood and how it started to spurt out quite a bit. He said it was like it had its own heartbeat. He rang an ambulance and by the time they arrived, he was conscious but feeling faint. 'He was in pain, in shock and he kept replaying the incident in his head. He had never expected her to behave in that way and has kept seeing the image of how angry she was in his head.' 'The defendant was arrested and interviewed but said she did not stab him and said she did not know who did.' Despite initially denying stabbing Mr Hope, Hemsley did plead guilty with her defence counsel saying she had 'an issue with alcohol' at the time In mitigation defence counsel Mark Friend said his client had since admitted guilt and was 'genuinely remorseful.' 'It is clear that at the time of this offence, the defendant's life was significantly less organised than it currently is,' said Mr Friend. 'There was an issue with alcohol and that summer she had been living in shared accommodation, and was evicted. 'This was an offence out of character for her and the injury caused was managed by the medics and did not require surgical intervention and it has healed in time. She is now taking courses to obtain employment in the future and she will never be before the court again.' But sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Andrew Long told Hemsley: 'You armed yourself with a knife and for no good reason and in cold blood, you produced that knife and stabbed him in the chest. Hemsley's two-year-old daughter will be looked after by her grandmother while she serves her prison sentence 'It is only by the graces of God that you did not kill him and it is purely by good fortune, he suffered only the injury that he did. It involved the penetration of his chest, a knife traversing the front of his lung and the tip just injuring his heart. You know what would have happened if it was another half an inch. In my judgement, that is a very serious offence. 'Since then, you have not committed any further offences but you have not done yourself any favours by telling the probation service that you never stabbed him. This concerns me a lot and leads me to believe your supposed remorse and contrition are not genuine. 'Nor am I convinced that you have come to terms with what you did or to take steps to avoid such behaviour in the future. There was grave injury. A period of custody will be difficult for you because of the relationship with your child. Nevertheless, I would be failing in my duty if I did not pass an immediate sentence of imprisonment.' In a move straight out of Central Virus Casting, the delta and omicron variants of the novel coronavirus have mated, their spawn dubbed deltacron. The variant has been detected in several countries, including the U.S., but it may never even gain any traction, health experts said Thursday. Advertisement For one thing, the new version does not seem to have inherited its progenitors propensity for spreading rapidly, William Lee, chief science officer at tracking lab Helix, told USA Today. COVID-19 (Shutterstock/Shutterstock) For another, the term deltacron not an official, clinical name applies to infections found to have a combination of genetic material from the two strains. Helix researchers found two such infections in the U.S. out of 29,719 positive COVID-19 samples that had been collected from Nov. 22 to Feb. 13, USA Today reported, citing a study not yet peer reviewed. Advertisement There were 20 other infections of the delta and omicron variants together but not combined, though one of those samples also tested positive for deltacron, the researchers said. The fact that there is not that much of it, that even the two cases we saw were different, suggests that its probably not going to elevate to a variant of concern level, Lee said, in which case it wouldnt even rate its own Greek letter. Its only a variant if it produces a large number of cases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health epidemiologist William Hanage told USA Today. So no, if its not causing lots of cases, people dont need to be concerned. All the experts noted that viruses mutate all the time, and the novel coronavirus is no exception. But that doesnt mean every mutation will take over and make things worse. Nonetheless, deltacron is attracting attention, and on Wednesday the World Health Organization said it had been detected in France, Denmark and The Netherlands. Their pronouncements were in contrast to January, when the variants existence was questioned as a possible lab mistake. We have not seen any change in the epidemiology with this recombinant, said WHO COVID-19 technical lead Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove in a press briefing. We havent seen any change in severity. But there are many studies that are underway. A receipt found inside a suspected 'murder kit' would have led police to the killer of Gracie Spinks a whole month before he struck - had they 'done their job properly', her family have claimed. Michael Sellers, 35, stabbed the 23-year-old model to death near her horse's stables in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, on June 18 last year, after stalking her for several months. Just weeks before the killing, a backpack containing 'Rambo-style knives', Viagra, and a sinister note reading: 'Don't lie!', were found less than 100 metres from the scene. It has now emerged that the bag also contained a shop receipt that linked directly back to Sellers, reports the BBC, however it was not followed up after the items were 'logged as lost property'. Her parents have now blasted Derbyshire Police, saying Gracie 'would still be alive today' if the force had 'done their job properly'. Gracie had reported Sellers - her former supervisor at work - to police for stalking her four months before her body was discovered. Derbyshire Police said they could not comment on the receipt due to the ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has launched several misconduct probes over the force's handling of the case. Gracie's parents Alison Heaton and Richard Spinks (pictured) claimed that if Derbyshire Police had warned her about the bagful of weapons that had been found, then she could have been protected Sinister: Suspected murder kit containing 'Rambo-style knives', Viagra, and a sinister note reading: 'Don't lie', were found a short distance from what would become the scene of Gracie Spinks's murder Gracie Spinks (pictured), 23, reported Michael Sellers, 35, to police four months before she was stabbed to death in Derbyshire on June 18 last year Michael Sellers (pictured), 35, stabbed Gracie Spinks to death near her horse's stables in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, on June 18 last year, after stalking her for several months. In particular, the body is investigating a police sergeant for gross misconduct and two constables for misconduct over how they dealt with the rucksack evidence. 'It was a very, very sinister bag of weapons, including Rambo-style knives, axe, blades, Viagra, a note, and they just logged it as lost property,' said Gracie's mother Alison Heaton. 'We now know that bag directly led straight back to Michael Sellers. There was a receipt in there that led back to his household.' Mrs Heaton said they had been told about the receipt - which had card payment details printed on it - by police. 'They traced it back to that house after her death. It should have been traced back to that household back on May 6 [when the bag was found],' she said. The bag had been found near the stables in Duckmanton, where Gracie kept her horse Paddy, and where she had already told police she saw Sellers waiting in his car on a previous occasion. 'Surely basic policing and training would show you that is a bag of weapons [belonging to someone] about to commit a murder?' said Gracie's father, Richard Spinks. 'If they had done their job properly, Gracie would still be alive today.' A separate police sergeant is also being investigated for misconduct over their handling of Gracie's stalking complaint. Her mother said Sellers, from Sheffield, had become 'infatuated' with Gracie when he was her supervisor at the e-commerce company Xbite, in Chesterfield. She agreed to go on a meal with him but she was not interested in any form romantic relationship. Gracie's father said: 'Because he was her supervisor she was a bit anxious and nervous about how to tell him to go away. A receipt found in this rucksack - discovered 100 yards from where Gracie was later killed - contained a receipt directly linked to the killer Gracie, pictured, had reported Sellers to Derbyshire police, whose conduct is now under investigation 'He pestered her with messages and phone calls; obviously she blocked him in the end. 'He was constantly asking [work colleagues] 'what's Gracie doing, where is she?'' It was early last year when alarm bells started ringing, as Gracie saw Sellers waiting for her in a white VW Scirocco car near her stables - not long after she told him she liked her brother's Scirocco. Her father said this 'spooked her even more' and she decided to report him to Xbite, where they both still worked at the time. Bosses suspended Sellers and encouraged Gracie to report him to the authorities. It was then that two female officers visited Gracie at home in Old Whittington to take a statement. Her mother said: 'They left that evening saying they were going to go to his home address and tell him to leave her alone. 'The police have since told us that they did go to his address and he said he was in a relationship with Gracie, which to us flags alarm bells even more. 'If that's what he's telling the police and Gracie's saying something completely different, there's clearly a problem.' After hearing that Sellers had been waiting for Gracie, her parents say they did not let her return to the stables on her own for weeks. They told the BBC that had they known about the cache of weapons found nearby, they would have never let her return. The rucksack was happened upon by Anna White and her partner Wayne Kipling while out walking. Mrs White told the BBC: 'When we took everything out the bag and saw the note that said 'don't lie', it was obvious that it was going to be used to kill someone. 'That's what I thought, so that's why I rang the police. 'I asked what was going to be done with it and they said it would probably just go to lost property. I was just gobsmacked.' By coincidence, her daughter also works at Xbite, where she said Sellers was known as 'creepy Mike'. 'He must have been a certain way with the girls, I think, and that's what they called him,' she added. Michael Sellers, 35, fatally stabbed Gracie in the neck, before she was found dead in a paddock in the picturesque village of Duckmanton in Derbyshire A total of five Derbyshire Police officers are being probed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct for their handling of the case (Pictured: Police at the scene) Gracie's parents believe her colleagues at Xbite should have been approached by police, particularly as other women reportedly made complaints about Sellers. They have since launched a campaign to demand to fund stalking advocates within police forces, dubbed Gracie's Law. Gracie's father said: 'I don't think they get enough training in stalking or understand it fully, and that's what needs to be addressed as well. 'We don't want this to happen to anybody else.' Derbyshire Police is set to appoint a stalking coordinator. Gracie last seen alive by her mother at 7.30am on June 18, leaving the family home in Chesterfield to drive a few miles to Blue Lodge Farm stables in Duckmanton, where she kept her horse. She was discovered unconscious with a fatal stab wound to the neck half an hour later. The body of unemployed Sellers, who killed himself shortly after the killing, was found in a nearby field off Tom Lane a few hours later. In a statement, Derbyshire Police said: 'We continue to support and fully cooperate with the IOPC investigation into the circumstances leading up to the tragic death of Gracie. Gracie Spinks, who studied art and design at Chesterfield College and lived in Old Whittington, worked as a packer at e-commerce firm Xbite with suspected killer Michael Sellers, and occasionally modelled for a London agency 'We are keeping the IOPC up to date with a number of improvements we have implemented in recent months and we would encourage all victims of stalking and harassment to report incidents to us for investigation. 'We're unable to comment further at this time due to the ongoing IOPC investigation.' An IOPC spokesperson said: 'We have completed our investigative steps into the actions of Derbyshire Constabulary in the months leading up to the death of Gracie Spinks in Duckmanton in June last year and are now compiling our final investigation report. 'We have kept Gracie's family, the coroner, and Derbyshire Constabulary updated during the course of our investigation. 'At its conclusion we will decide whether any of the five officers we have served notices on may have a disciplinary case to answer. 'We are also considering whether any learning has arisen for Derbyshire Constabulary from their contact with Gracie prior to her tragic death.' A mother who drove her Audi with her two young children inside while almost four times the alcohol limit has been banned from driving - as a magistrate blasted her decision as 'reckless, foolish and irresponsible'. Laura Lyons, 39, was breath tested by police after they found her dazed behind the wheel of her car in Urmston, Greater Manchester, on January 15, where she had pulled over after an apparent seizure. The receptionist was arrested as a reading showed she had 132 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Inquiries revealed that Lyons had driven the youngsters in her A6 S-Line vehicle in order to drop them off with their grandmother and that she had been drinking 'the night before'. Laura Lyons, 39, was arrested on January 15 after she was found dazed behind the wheel in Urmston, Greater Manchester, with an alcohol reading nearly four times the legal limit Laura Lyons pictured outside Manchester Magistrates Court with her husband Sean, who runs a successful tattoo business in Urmston At Manchester Magistrates Court yesterday, Lyons admitted being drunk in charge of a car and was banned from driving for 32 months. She was also ordered to a complete a 12 month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work and pay 180 in costs and surcharges. Magistrate Joe Bangudu said: 'It stretches the imagination as to why you took such a stupid, unrealistic and reckless decision to get behind the wheel after consuming so much alcohol. It is way too much. 'We struggled here, I will be honest with you, there is no reason why a custodial sentence should not be handed out to you for this totally unacceptable behaviour. 'The decision you took was reckless, foolish and irresponsible. You should never make a decision like this ever again. 'You put people's lives in danger including your own children, anything could have happened in that short distance.' At Manchester Magistrates Court yesterday, Lyons admitted being drunk in charge of a car and was banned from driving for 32 months Lyons was also ordered to a complete a 12 month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work and pay 180 in costs and surcharges Lyons, who lives in a 450,000 property in Flixton, near Urmston, is married to Sean Lyons - who runs a successful tattooing business which has featured on BBC, ITV and Channel 5. Earlier in the hearing, prosecutor Miss Catherine Allan said police had attended Stretford Road in Urmston after an ambulance was called to attend to the defendant. Ms Allan said: 'She was in the driver's seat of the motor vehicle and she had been carrying passengers but the car had stopped. It seemed she was driving her children but pulled over because she had a seizure, an ambulance was called who then rang the police. 'She failed a breath test and was then arrested. She has no previous convictions.' The two boys were safe inside the car and were picked up by their grandmother. Lyons is now getting counselling with the alcohol recovery organisation Achieve. In Lyons' mitigation, defence lawyer Edgar Fernando said: 'This is a lady who is not going to be in court again. She has no previous convictions or cautions and clearly, she is distressed and upset about this case. Lyons, pictured with her husband, has since given up drinking, is receiving counselling and she apologised to the court for her behaviour 'The night before she had been drinking with a friend and the next day she was going to drop her children off at her mother's home. 'She has then driven the car a short distance and has then had a seizure or an issue where she could not drive. She pulled over and has called her mother to collect the children. 'She is not drinking at all anymore and takes Antabuse, which means if she drinks any alcohol, it makes her feel very unwell. 'She has worked with Achieve to make sure this does not happen again.' Lyons took the opportunity to address the court and apologise for her offending. Lyons told the hearing: 'I am extremely sorry what has happened. It is out of character for me. I am sorry for everyone's time, it definitely will not happen again.' She will be offered a place on a drink driving rehabilitation course. Advertisement A beauty blogger who survived the Mariupol hospital attack has given birth after being targeted by vicious online trolls accusing her of being 'paid' to take a 'photoshoot' at the hospital, with Russian propaganda claiming she faked her injuries. Mariana Vishegirskaya, who was pictured bloody as she evacuated the maternity hospital following the attack, gave birth to a baby girl called Veronika at around 10pm on Thursday evening, according to reports. A poignant photograph showed Ms Vishegirskaya lying in a hospital bed in Mariupol after giving birth, just days after she was pictured at the scene of the devastated hospital when it was hit by shelling. Independent journalist Olga Tokariuk claimed to have been told the good news by Ms Vishegirskaya's relatives, adding in a tweet: 'I received an update from a relative of Marianna - a pregnant girl from Mariupol's bombed hospital. 'They were able to reach her on the phone briefly. Last night at 10pm, Marianna gave birth to a baby girl! They are ok, but it's very cold in Mariupol and the bombing doesn't stop.' Earlier, the bloody patient who had been seen evacuating the hospital was named by Russia's London embassy in a tweet as beauty blogger Marianna Podgurskaya as they accused her of faking her injuries. The post has since been deleted for violating Twitter's 'community guidelines'. Nadine Dorries, the UK culture secretary, denounced the embassy's tweet, which claimed the blogger 'played' the roles of two victims in photos it said were taken by a 'propagandist', who is actually a photographer for respected news wire Associated Press. The beauty blogger has since been targeted by streams of social media abuse, with trolls accusing her of 'getting paid' for a 'fake photoshoot' at the devastated hospital and asking her why she was 'setting up Russia'. Most of the comments were written in Russian. One comment, translated into English, read: 'How much did you get paid for a photoshoot against the backdrop of a destroyed maternity hospital.' Another cruel post said: 'Why didn't you immediately shoot stories if you were in that maternity hospital from the very beginning? This content is gone!' Mariana Vishegirskaya gave birth to a baby girl at around 10pm on Thursday evening, according to an independent journalist, with a photograph showing her lying in a hospital bed after giving birth in Mariupol Mariana Vishegirskaya, who was pictured evacuating the maternity hospital (right), gave birth to a baby girl called Veronika at around 10pm on Thursday evening, according to reports. Earlier, she was named by Russia's London embassy in a tweet as beauty blogger Marianna Podgurskaya (left) as they accused her of faking her injuries Mariana Vishegirskaya lies in a hospital bed after giving birth to her daughter Veronika, held by her partner Yuri, in Mariupol, on Friday It comes after the beauty blogger was targeted by online abuse, with trolls accusing her of 'getting paid' for a 'photoshoot' at the devastated hospital, after Russia accused her of faking her injuries. Most of the comments were in Russian A third troll asked: 'Hello, how much was the photo session at the maternity hospital?' A fourth comment claimed: 'Why are you setting up Russia like that, which cleans Ukraine from fascism.' And a fifth added: 'How embarrassing to participate in such filth. This is just cynicism, meanness and disrespect for oneself.' Other vicious comments from trolls, which have been described as 'bullying', said they hoped she ended up in 'jail for the 'fake' 'photo session' and slammed her as 'f***ed up' as they supported Russian propaganda which claimed she is a 'crisis actor' wearing 'very realistic make-up'. But other social media users were quick to flock to the beauty blogger's support as they urged her to 'stay strong' and said the main thing was that she and her baby were 'safe'. Humans rights activist Oleksandra Matviichuk spoke about the 'bullying' and urged people to offer the mother 'words of support'. As the Kremlin desperately attempts to deny attacking mothers and their babies, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, told a news conference yesterday that the hospital was a 'legitimate target' because there were no patients in it at the time of the attack and it had been overtaken by 'extremists' from the Azov Brigade which is defending the city. Images and video from the scene clearly show several pregnant women taken out of the badly damaged hospital with injuries. Ukraine said three people died in the attack, including a six-year-old girl, while 17 others including hospital staff were wounded. The beauty blogger posted pictures on Instagram weeks before the maternity hospital in Mariupol was bombed The heavily pregnant woman was pictured evacuating from the Mariupol maternity hospital on Wednesday night after it was struck several times by Russian bombers in what Ukraine called a 'war crime' Sergey Lavrov, earlier in the day, had sought to claim that there were no patients in the hospital at the time of the bombing and it had been taken over by 'extremists' - making it a legitimate target Russian POW says he was told to shoot CIVILIANS and was part of a unit sent to capture Kharkiv in three days before being captured by Ukrainian forces A captured Russian commander has revealed he was told to shoot civilians and was part of a unit sent to capture Kharkiv in three days. The man, a platoon leader in Russia's military according to Ukrainian authorities, said Vladimir Putin had ordered the troops to occupy the city of Kharkiv before advancing and capturing other Ukrainian cities. The soldier, who has not been named, said they were told to 'open fire' on the civilian population in Kharkiv, after they landed in Ukraine at the beginning of Russia's invasion on 24 February. 'There was a command to capture the city of Kharkiv, occupy all the roads, block civilian exits and occupy the city,' the soldier, who was captured by Ukrainian forces after a shootout, said in a video released by Ukraine's Security Service. A captured Russian commander has revealed he was told to shoot civilians and was part of a unit sent to capture Kharkiv in three days When asked what other tasks the Russian troops were given when they moved in on Ukraine, he said: 'We had permission to open fire on command and on all city residents,' adding that there was an order to shoot civilians. The soldier, who said his platoon arrived in Ukraine on February 24, added that it was their mission to capture Kharkiv within three days. But two weeks after Russia began its barbaric invasion, Kharkiv is still under Ukrainian control. But the city is still being heavily pummelled by surrounding Russian forces, with local forces reporting artillery fire. Advertisement At the same press conference, Lavrov claimed that Russia 'never attacked Ukraine' and denounced international outcry over the hospital attack as 'pathetic'. President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the bombing as a 'war crime', while Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it 'depraved'. Lavrov spoke out amid a slew of disinformation from the Kremlin over the last 48 hours aimed at justifying Putin's decision to invade Ukraine whilst also seeking to minimise or obfuscate Russia's role as instigator of the conflict. Foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday claimed that Ukraine was developing bioweapons in laboratories near the border with American help which 'forced' Putin to launch his attack, claims which have been dismissed by Washington as false. Claims of WMDs in Ukraine are being pushed by Russia after its initial justification for the war - genocide against civilians in Donbass - was quickly abandoned after the Pentagon warned ahead of time that 'false flag' operations in the region would be used to create a pre-text for conflict. Sergei Orlov, deputy mayor of Mariupol, said he is 'absolutely sure' the Russians knew they were bombing a hospital when they launched the attack late yesterday - adding 'this is the third hospital they have destroyed' after a 300-bed Covid unit and blood bank were targeted on Tuesday. Orlov accused Putin's men of trying to create a humanitarian crisis in Mariupol in the hopes of weakening Ukrainian defences and making it easier for Russian troops - which have surrounded the city for more than a week - to seize, having largely failed to take control of cities elsewhere. It is hardly the first time that Russian commanders have been accused of deliberately striking hospitals. During the bombing of Aleppo, in Syria, humanitarian groups said Putin's warplanes had systematically blown up medical facilities in the city before Bashar al-Assad's troops rolled in to seize it. Observers have suggested that Russia is now using a Syria-style battleplan against Ukraine after its early precision strikes failed. The Ukrainian Healthcare Center, a think-tank based in the country, says that between the outbreak of fighting on February 24 and yesterday, their team documented 42 cases of Russian forces attacking either healthcare facilities or medics in order to deliberately provoke a 'humanitarian crisis'. Hospitals had been struck in every theatre where Russian forces were operating, the think-tank said, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv. 'The humanitarian catastrophe is a part of Russia's hybrid war. [It] intends to spread panic, create a flow of refugees at the borders and force the Ukrainian government to surrender,' said Pavlo Kovtonyuk, co-founder of the think-tank. The bombing took place during what was supposed to be a ceasefire in Mariupol so that civilians could evacuate. It marks the fourth time a so-called 'humanitarian corridor' out of the city has failed because Russian forces opened fire. Ukraine now says that at least 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded in Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war on February 24, a Ukrainian parliament official said on Thursday. The toll was announced amid outrage over the bombing Wednesday of a children's hospital in Mariopol that officials said killed three people, including a young girl. The hospital was struck by several high explosive bombs which destroyed large parts of the buildings and courtyard, killing three people including a six-year-old girl and wounding 17 others Ukraine has called the attack a 'war crime' while the city's deputy mayor has said he is 'certain' the Russians knew what they were targeting when they dropped the bombs Wounded patients from the hospital are pictured staggering out of the building after it was bombed, triggering international condemnation of Russia's attacks Ukrainian mothers say 'Russian b**tards' who ordered artillery strike on Mariupol maternity hospital as women were giving birth 'must be put to DEATH' Mothers across Ukraine have expressed their anger at the heartless bombing of the maternity hospital in Mariupol that has shocked the world. Women fought back tears as they told of their sympathy for the three who were killed and the dozens injured by the senseless bombardment by the Russian army. Mother Katia Poltorak spoke for many when branded the Kremlin leaders 'b**tards'. The 42-year-old, from Dnipro, who has a five-year-old son Miron, told MailOnline: 'The Russians are heartless b**tards. Anna Afinogenova (pictured) said she feared it could have been her who was giving birth as the bombs rained down 'These are not men, they are animals. My heart is broken. These killing are terrible. I cannot watch the news of the attack. It is too upsetting.' Anna Afinogenova told how she feared it could have been her who was giving birth as the bombs rained down. The 41-year-old from Kyiv, who has a one-year-old baby daughter Kira, said: 'I cannot think about what happened at the hospital without shedding tears. 'A year ago that could have been me, in hospital giving birth. My daughter had her first birthday only last week. 'To attack helpless and defenceless women and babies is unconscionable. The hospital is not a military target. Putin had no excuse to attack it. This was the worst kind of war crime.' Anastasia Pohorelova, added: 'Whoever ordered this operation must be put to death. It was worse than a war crime.' The 32-year-old had to flee from Dnipro with her sons Maxim, 6 and Yuroslav, 2. She said: 'We need to send a message to the world that this cannot be allowed to happen. It's such a terrible thing to have happened. These poor people were civilians.' Natalia Korniusha said: 'I am beyond angry. This is not war this is murder. To attack women and children like this is despicable. The people who ordered this atrocity need to be punished.' Advertisement 'From the start of the Russian invasion and up to 11:00 am on March 10, 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded,' Lyudmyla Denisova, parliament's point person on human rights, wrote in a Telegram message. The hospital was hit as Mariopol, a southeastern port in Ukraine, is under siege from Russian troops and pro-Russian separatists from the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Sources said 17 adults were also wounded in the bombing. In Malyn, in the western Zhytomyr region, three children and two other people were killed when seven homes were destroyed in air strikes, according to Denisova, who cited several examples of children dying in air strikes. On Wednesday night, two women and two children were killed when a shell hit their home in Slobozhanske, a village in the eastern Izium region, Denisova said, adding that a five-year-old girl survived. In Irpin, not far from the capital Kyiv, a 10-year-old girl was gravely wounded and is fighting for her life in hospital. This afternoon, President Zelensky told Russian leaders that their country's invasion of Ukraine will backfire, by landing them in court and making their people hate them. 'You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes,' Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address. The West has slapped harsh financial and economic sanctions on Russia because of the invasion, and the Ukrainian leader said the consequences will be felt by all Russians. 'And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens - everyone you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children.' Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced by the fighting. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday that about 2 million people - half the population of the capital's metropolitan area - have left the city, which has become virtually a fortress. Another 2.3million have fled the country. 'Every street, every house . is being fortified,' Klitschko said. 'Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.' Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days. But they have intensified the bombardment of Mariupol and other cities, trapping hundreds of thousands of people, with food and water running short. Temporary cease-fires to allow evacuations and humanitarian aid have repeatedly faltered, with Ukraine accusing Russia of continuing its bombardments. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 35,000 people managed to get out on Wednesday from several besieged towns, and more efforts were underway on Thursday in eastern and southern Ukraine - including Mariupol - as well as in the Kyiv suburbs. The Mariupol city council posted a video showing buses driving down a highway. It said a convoy bringing food and medicine was on the way despite several days of thwarted efforts to reach the city. 'Everyone is working to get help to the people of Mariupol. And it will come,' said Mayor Vadym Boychenko. Images from the city, where hundreds have died and workers hurried to bury bodies in a mass grave, have drawn condemnation from around the world. Residents have resorted to breaking into stores for food and melting snow for water. The city has been without heat for days as nighttime temperatures fall below freezing and daytime ones hover just above it. Mariupol, which has been under heavy bombardment for more than a week, continued to suffering shelling on Thursday as a humanitarian support convoy made a fifth attempt to get into the city Burning buildings are pictured on the outskirts of Mariupol, with the mayor saying 1,200 people have been killed in nine days of Russian shelling with bodies buried in mass graves The skyline of Mariupol lights up with the blasts from Russian bombs as the city suffers under another day of intense bombardment designed to break Ukrainian defenders before Putin's troops roll in 'The only thing (I want) is for this to be finished,' Volodymyr Bykovskyi said as he stood by a freshly dug trench where bodies were being buried. 'I don't know who's guilty, who's right, who started this. Damn them all, those people who started this!' When the series of blasts hit the children's and maternity hospital in Mariupol, the ground shook more than a mile away. Explosions blew out windows and ripped away much of the front of one building. Police and soldiers rushed to the scene to evacuate victims, carrying a bleeding woman with a swollen belly on a stretcher past burning and mangled cars. Another woman wailed as she clutched her child. Regional Ukrainian police official Volodymir Nikulin, standing in the ruins, called the attack 'a war crime without any justification.' Britain's Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, 'it is a war crime.' U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraine's neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, 'The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as 'pathetic shrieks' from Russia's enemies. He claimed without providing evidence that the Mariupol hospital had been seized by far-right radical fighters who were using it as a base - despite the fact that photographs from the aftermath showed pregnant women and children at the site. Several rounds of talks have not stopped the fighting, and a meeting in a Turkish Mediterranean resort between Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, failed to find much common ground. In their highest-level talks since the war began, the two sides discussed a 24-hour cease-fire but did not make progress, Kuleba said. He said Russia was still seeking 'surrender from Ukraine.' 'This is not what they are going to get,' he said, adding that he was willing to continue the dialogue. Lavrov said Russia was ready for more negotiations but showed no sign of softening Moscow's demands. Russia has alleged that Western-looking, U.S.-backed Ukraine poses a threat to its security. Western officials suspect Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to install a government friendly to Moscow in Kyiv as part of an effort to draw the former Soviet state back into its orbit. Russia's military is struggling, facing heavier losses and stronger Ukrainian resistance than it apparently anticipated. But Putin's forces have used airpower to pummel key cities, often shelling populated areas. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, 91-year-old Alevtina Shernina sat wrapped in a blanket, an electric heater at her feet, as cold air blew in through a damaged window. She survived the brutal World War II siege of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, and is now under siege again, her health too fragile for her to be moved. Her daughter-in-law Natalia said she was angry that Shernina 'began her life in Leningrad under the siege as a girl who was starving, who lived in cold and hunger, and she's ending her life' in similar circumstances. 'There were fascists there and there are fascists here who came and bombed our buildings and windows,' she said. Boris Johnson says he fears Vladimir Putin WILL use chemical weapons in Ukraine because it would be 'straight out of Russia's playbook' as he warns Moscow is already preparing a 'fake story' to blame the West By Jack Maidment and James Tapsfield for MailOnline Boris Johnson said he fears Vladimir Putin will use chemical weapons in Ukraine because it would be 'straight out of Russia's playbook'. The Prime Minister said Mr Putin is in charge of a 'cynical, barbaric government' and he believes Moscow could resort to deploying chemical weapons after its invasion stalled in the face of fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces. Mr Johnson also said he believes Russia is preparing a 'fake story' which it could use to deny using the weapons and to blame the West. The Prime Minister told Sky News' Beth Rigby Interviews show: 'I will make you one other prediction by the way which is that the stuff that you are hearing about chemical weapons, this is straight out of their playbook. 'They start saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stored by their opponents or by the Americans and so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a sort of maskirovka, a fake story, ready to go. And you have seen it in Syria. You saw it even in the UK.' Asked if it was his expectation that Russia will use chemical weapons, the premier said: 'I just note that that is what they are already doing [preparing a fake story]. It is a cynical, barbaric government I am afraid.' Mr Johnson's comments came after Defence minister James Heappey insisted the bombing of a maternity hospital in Ukraine was a war crime as he called for Mr Putin and Russian generals to be held to account. Mr Heappey stressed that the West is gathering evidence that can be used in a future prosecution, but said in a round of interviews: 'What you see on your TV screens is a war crime.' It has been confirmed three people, including a child, died when warplanes bombed the hospital in besieged Mariupol as pregnant women gave birth in the basement. President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the attack as an 'atrocity' and 'the ultimate proof of genocide against Ukrainians'. Boris Johnson said he fears Vladimir Putin will use chemical weapons in Ukraine because it would be 'straight out of Russia's playbook'. He made the comments to Sky News' Beth Rigby Interviews show The Prime Minister said Mr Putin is in charge of a 'cynical, barbaric government' and he believes Moscow could resort to deploying chemical weapons after its invasion stalled in the face of fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces The hospital, in the besieged city of Mariupol, was hit 'several times' by high-explosive Russian bombs - one of which missed the building by yards and left a crater two-stories deep, officials said. Other bombs scored 'direct hits', President Zelensky said, wounding at least 17 people. Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy Prime Minister, said there can be 'no doubt' the hospital was deliberately 'targeted' by Russia in a chilling echo tactics used during the bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo while Putin's men were fighting alongside dictator Basahr al-Assad's troops. Moscow denies targeting civilian facilities. And Mr Heappey told Sky News this morning: 'What you see on your TV screens is a war crime. 'Clearly there is evidence to be gathered in which to prove it is a war crime, and Western countries are working together to make sure that evidence is gathered in the best way so people can be held to account. 'What Putin is doing is not a war waged between two militaries. Right now he has besieged a number of Ukrainian cities and he has waged a war against Ukrainian civilians.' He added on BBC Breakfast: 'We ask ourselves the question how did this happen? Was it an indiscriminate use of artillery or missiles into a built-up area, or was a hospital explicitly targeted? 'Both are equally despicable, both, as the Ukrainians have pointed out, would amount to a war crime. 'So, what matters beyond the outrage of the fact that this has happened in the first place is to make sure all this is catalogued so when and they surely will be President Putin and everybody in the military chain of command beneath him because war crimes are committed at every level not just the ultimate decisionmaker people will be held to account for what they are doing in. It's utterly despicable.' Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 1000 Advertisement Pressed on whether he thinks the attack constitutes a war crime, he replied: 'Yes, if you deliberately target a piece of civilian infrastructure like a hospital, yes. 'If you use indiscriminate artillery into an urban area without due regard for the reality, you could hit a protected site like a hospital, then that too in my view is.' Many of the pregnant women present at the hospital were hiding the the basement at the time of the strike on the orders of hospital authorities - a move indicative of the harsh bombardment suffered by Mariupol's citizens over the past week, and one which likely saved their lives. Zelensky himself posted a video showing the badly damaged hospital buildings, filmed inside a destroyed ward room with its windows blown out and ceiling partially collapsed. More footage showed a car park covered in rubble and the smouldering wrecks of vehicles as injured families staggered into the freezing air while snow fell. 'Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity,' the President tweeted. He then took to Telegram, where he released a video statement from the presidential palace in Kyiv in which he said the hospital strike 'is the ultimate proof that what is happening is the genocide of Ukrainians'. 'Europeans, you can't say you didn't see what is happening. You have to tighten the sanctions until Russia can't continue their savage war,' he said. 'What kind of country bombs hospitals? Is afraid of hospitals? Of a maternity ward? 'Was someone insulting Russians? Were pregnant women shooting in direction of Rostov? Was it the ''denazification'' of a hospital? What the Russians did at Mariupol was beyond savagery.' In a separate interview with Sky News, Zelensky added that Russian invaders want Ukrainians 'to feel like animals' by preventing them from accessing food or water, and implored NATO and the West to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. 'They want us to feel like animals because they blocked our cities... because they don't want our people to get some food or water. 'Don't wait for me to ask you several times, a million times, to close the sky. You have to phone us, to our people who lost their children, and say ''sorry we didn't do it yesterday.'' Mr Johnson has condemned the strike as 'depraved' and vowed to step up support to the beleaguered Ukrainian military. 'There are few things more depraved than targeting the vulnerable and defenceless,' the Prime Minister declared. 'The UK is exploring more support for Ukraine to defend against airstrikes and we will hold Putin to account for his terrible crimes,' he added. Mr Johnson later on Wednesday committed to enacting the 'maximum economic cost' on Russia in wake of the bombing, while Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is expected to say aggression like Vladimir Putin's must 'never again' be allowed to 'grow unchecked' in her speech tomorrow in Washington. Ms Truss will make comparisons between the Russian president's actions and the World Trade Centre terror attack in 2001, and will urge the international community to change its approach to dealing with antagonistic world leaders. The White House press secretary Jen Psaki also commented: 'As a mother - I know a number of you are mothers - it is horrifying to see the barbaric use of military force to go after innocent civilians in a sovereign country.' Mariupol's city council said the hospital had suffered 'colossal' damage but did not immediately give a figure of the wounded and dead. The deputy head of Mr Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said authorities are trying to establish the number of victims. Ukrainian MP Dmitry Gurin told the BBC: 'There are a lot of dead and wounded women. We don't know about children or newborns yet.' Video footage from the aftermath of the attack showed that large parts of the hospital had completely collapsed, while blood soaked mattresses were pictured lying in hallways. 'Russia committed a huge crime,' said Volodymir Nikulin, a top regional police official, standing in the ruins. 'It is a war crime without any justification.' Mariupol has been under heavy Russian bombardment for more than a week, with food, water and electricity cut off several days ago - with the Red Cross describing conditions there as 'apocalyptic'. The head of the Ukrainian Red Cross said yesterday's strike will likely cause a complete collapse of paediatric care in Mariupol, as much of the hospital's equipment and the paediatric care wards were reduced to ashes. A woman injured in Russian shelling of Mariupol's maternity hospital stands outside wrapped in a blanket amid the carnage The aftermath of the Russia bombardment on the children and maternity hospital in Mariupol James Heappey said the West is gathering evidence that can be used in a future prosecution, but added in interviews: 'What you see on your TV screens is a war crime.' Ukrainian emergency employees and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from the maternity hospital A woman outside the maternity hospital that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol The wreckage of the maternity hospital after the Russian bombardment in Mariupol Rescuers on the scene at a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol are locked in a race against time as they try to free survivors from the rubble after the complex suffered a 'direct hit' by Russian rockets yesterday An injured pregnant woman walks downstairs in a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022 An official death toll for the heinous attack has not yet been established but rescuers are working desperately to find and free those still trapped under the rubble with temperatures in the besieged city set to plunge to minus 4 degrees C overnight A Russian attack severely damaged the children's hospital and maternity ward in the besieged port city of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter that there were 'people, children under the wreckage' of the hospital and called the strike an 'atrocity' The burning wreckage of a car is seen outside a destroyed children's hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which has been under heavy Russian bombardment for more than a week A Ukrainian soldier examines a huge crater caused by one of the Russian rockets, which fell just in front of a hospital building at the maternity hospital in Mariupol British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the strike as 'depraved' and vowed to step up support to the beleaguered Ukrainian military Ukrainian citizens are pictured on the outskirts of Mariupol dropping bodies into a mass grave as the city's inhabitants work to remove the dead amid brutal shelling from Russian troops Ukraine has rejected most Russian evacuation routes because they lead to Russian soil or that of its ally, Belarus, while routes that Ukraine has proposed have come under bombardment. The only successful evacuation to take place so far has been from Sumy to Poltava (in green) Local official Pavlo Kyrylenko confirmed the fears in a post on Facebook: The maternity ward in the city centre, the children's ward and the therapy ward at the hospital - all destroyed in the Russian air raid.' Just hours before the hospital was hit, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba warned that 3,000 babies were without food or medicines and begged for a humanitarian corridor to allow them to flee. Moscow had promised a ceasefire in the city yesterday so civilians could be evacuated, but failed for the fourth time to keep its word - a move Kyrylenko said 'crossed the line of humanity' before declaring Russians should 'stop calling yourselves human beings.' Residents of Mariupol were pictured on Wednesday dumping bodies into mass graves dug on the outskirts of the city in a desperate attempt to remove the dead amid the sustained Russian bombardment. It is not the first time that Russian airstrikes have targeted hospitals. While fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad in Syria in 2016, Putin's generals were accused of 'deliberately and systematically' blowing up hospitals as a way of weakening the city of Aleppo ahead of a ground assault. Observers have suggested that Russia is now using a Syria-style battleplan against Ukraine after its early precision strikes failed. The Ukrainian Healthcare Center, a think-tank based in the country, says that between the outbreak of fighting on February 24 and yesterday, their team documented 42 cases of Russian forces attacking either healthcare facilities or medics in order to deliberately provoke a 'humanitarian crisis'. Hospitals had been struck in every theatre where Russian forces were operating, the think-tank said, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv. 'The humanitarian catastrophe is a part of Russia's hybrid war. [It] intends to spread panic, create a flow of refugees at the borders and force the Ukrainian government to surrender,' said Pavlo Kovtonyuk, co-founder of the think-tank. The bombing took place during what was supposed to be a ceasefire in Mariupol so that civilians could evacuate. It marks the fourth time a so-called 'humanitarian corridor' out of the city has failed because Russian forces opened fire. The mayor of Izyum, to the east of Kharkiv, said evacuations that were supposed to be underway there yesterday also had to stop because Russians were bombing the escape route. But in Sumy, a short distance away, some civilians had managed to make it out. Successful evacuations also took place in Enerhodar, in the south, with women and children able to leave. It is feared the evacuations are simply a precursor to Russia stepping up its bombardment of the cities to wear down dogged Ukrainian defenders before rolling in troops and tanks to capture them. CIA Director William Burns, briefing Congress on Putin's state of mind Tuesday, warned the 'angry and frustrated' despot is 'likely to double down and try to grind down the Ukrainian military with no regard for civilian casualties.' Giving an update on the military situation yesterday afternoon, Ukrainian commanders said Russian units continue to try and surround the capital Kyiv with attacks taking place to the west and north-east of the city, with several highways blocked. New footage released on Wednesday purported to show Russian armour just 13 miles from Kyiv as the invaders pushed through the town of Irpin. Fighting also raged close to the city of Sumy in an attempt to surround Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, commanders said. Battles also broke out around the city of Mykolaiv in the south, as Russians attempted to push out from Kherson towards Odessa but were turned back. Ukrainian commanders also said Russian military police had rounded up 400 activists protesting against the invasion in the occupied city of Kherson - as the long arm of Vladimir Putin's police state reached across the border to grab people on foreign soil. Russia's defence ministry meanwhile acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that some conscripts had been sent to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine, just days after Putin promised that only professional soldiers would be sent in. Some associations of soldiers' mothers in Russia had raised concerns about a number of conscripts going incommunicado at the start of what Kremlin calls a 'special military operation' in Ukraine, suggesting they could have been sent to fight despite a lack of adequate training. The revelation comes just one week after Russia's parliament passed a law imposing a prison term of up to 15 years for spreading intentionally 'fake' news about the military. 'Unfortunately, we have discovered several facts of the presence of conscripts in units taking part in the special military operation in Ukraine. Practically all such soldiers have been pulled out to Russia,' the defence ministry said, promising to prevent such situations in the future. Liz Truss described the hospital attack as 'absolutely abhorrent', but continued to reject Ukraine's request for a no-fly zone to be imposed over its skies. Speaking in Washington, she said: 'The best way we can protect the skies is through anti-air weaponry which the UK is now going to be supplying to Ukraine. 'Of course the attack on the hospital is absolutely abhorrent, reckless and appalling.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US involvement in a no-fly zone could 'prolong' the conflict, making it 'even deadlier'. 'Our goal is to end the war, not to expand it, including potentially expanding it to Nato territory,' he said. 'We want to make sure it is not prolonged, to the best of our ability. Otherwise, it is going to turn even deadlier, involve more people and I think potentially even make things harder to resolve in Ukraine itself.' Earlier, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the MPs that the Ministry of Defence was looking at whether they could supply anti-aircraft missiles as well as more anti-tank weapons. A baby is evacuated as people flee near a destroyed bridge to cross the Irpin River, on the outskirts of Kyiv, as Russian forces try to surround it in ahead of an attack Ukrainian servicemen evacuate a person across Irpin River below a destroyed bridge as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues New members of the Territorial Defence Forces train to operate RPG-7 anti-tank launcher during military exercises in Kyiv Recent conscripts into the Ukrainian Territorial Defence are trained to use NLAW anti-tank launchers in Kyiv, as the city prepares to defend itself from a Russian assault New members of the Territorial Defence Forces are pictured on training exercises in Kyiv, as Russian troops try to surround the city in preparation for an assault A satellite image taken on Tuesday but released Wednesday shows the destroyed road bridge on the outskirts of Irpin, near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which refugees have been using to flee the besieged city Tracks created by Russian armoured vehicles are seen in the snow near Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, while heavily damaged buildings are seen to the right of the image Putin meets his 'children's rights commissioner' in Moscow as rockets destroy hospital Vladimir Putin has met with his 'children's rights commissioner' in Moscow at the same time as shelling a maternity hospital in Mariupol in his latest vile display of hypocrisy. The Russian leader spoke with Maria Lvova-Belova at the Kremlin after overseeing a savage two-week campaign in Ukraine which has seen children killed, orphaned or forced to flee their homes. Putin held the meeting to discuss changes to the law which will allow Russians to adopt Ukrainian orphans, after his forces killed their parents. The changes will mean children from Donetsk and Luhansk who do not have Russian citizenship will qualify for adoption. Putin said in the meeting: 'These are extraordinary circumstances and it seems to me that we need to think not about bureaucratic delays, but about the interests of children. 'I will make proposals, we will change the legislation. We will appeal to the State Duma, I am sure that the deputies will support you.' Lvova-Belova said 1,090 orphans have been evacuated to Russia from the two republics. An estimated one million children have been forced to flee Ukraine since the barbaric invasion was launched. Advertisement 'We can all see the horrific devastation inflicted on civilian areas by Russian artillery and air strikes, indiscriminate and murderous,' he said. 'It is vital, therefore, that Ukraine maintains its ability to fly and to suppress Russian air attack.' Mr Wallace said that 'in response to a Ukrainian request' the Government was exploring the donation of Starstreak high-velocity man-portable anti-air missiles. He also confirmed that 3,615 Nlaw anti-tank weapons had been supplied - up from the previously-announced figure of 2,000 - and 'small consignments' of the Javelin system would also be sent to Ukraine. Other Western officials expressed concern that Putin could next resort to the use of 'non-conventional weapons' such as chemical weapons, in the conflict. One official speaking on condition of anonymity said: 'I think we've got good reason to be concerned about possible use of non-conventional weapons, partly because of what we've seen has happened in other theatres. 'As I've mentioned before, for example, what we've seen in Syria, partly because we've seen a bit of setting the scene for that in the false flag claims that are coming out, and other indications as well.' Before the rocket attack took place, Mariupol's deputy mayor spoke about the dire situation in the besieged city - saying residents had been forced to use melted snow as drinking water, as it runs dangerously low on supplies. Serhiy Orlov admitted that he didn't know how long the blockaded urban centre would be able to continue under siege as he spoke to CNN's John Berman about the devastating bombings on Wednesday. Orlov said it was their fifth attempt to provide a humanitarian corridor to get supplies and transport into Mariupol, but he added that by 3pm local time, the buses had not made it anywhere near the city. He said many residents are unable to leave as Mariupol is being bombed 'each second', after Russian forces have broken their ceasefire agreement despite agreeing to open 'humanitarian corridors' allowing citizens to flee. 'There is no ceasefire, any ceasefire in Mariupol, Mariupol is under continuous shelling from the artillery and bombing. Each hour, each minute, each second,' he added. Mariupol, which has been under blockage for eight days, is one of the Ukrainian cities worst hit since the invasion began, with Russian forces bringing widespread destruction to residential and administrative centres. Speaking about the devastation across the city, Orlov said Russian forces had destroyed their biggest steel planter as he warned that the situation is 'unmanageable'. He praised the bravery of the Ukrainian army, but warned that it is the humanitarian crisis is also worsening, adding: 'We are not able to protect our lives.' President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday warned that the port city was running dangerously low on food, water and medicine. Ukrainian territorial defence forces have been able to deliver vital supplies to some residents, but many more remain isolated and unable to access lifesaving rations. Reiterating Zelensky's stark warning, Orlov said there is no more electricity, heating, gas or water supplies in Mariupol, adding that residents have had to resort to collecting wood to make fires for warmth and using melted snow as drinking water. 'It's an awful situation and I cannot imagine in my mind that it's possible in the 21st century, but it is true,' he said. When asked how long the city might be able to continue under siege, Orlov admitted he 'didn't know' as he claimed there are at least 3,000 infants who are currently without food. American talk show host Berman also asked the deputy mayor whether his own family are safe, after he previously spoken about being unable to reach his parents. In response, a devastated Orlov said the district where his parents lived has been completely destroyed, saying it 'does not exist anymore', as he admitted he doesn't know if they are alive. He added: 'The district where they live is flattened and I'm not sure that I can see them anymore. But I hope and pray they are alive.' Ukrainian commanders said that Russia's attack on the country has 'slowed significantly' with no major gains in any sector while its forces were bolstering defenses in key cities and 'holding the line.' In the northern city of Chernihiv, Russian forces are placing military equipment among residential buildings and on farms, the Ukrainian general staff said. And in the south, it said Russians dressed in civilian clothes are advancing on the city of Mykolaiv. It did not provide any details of new fighting. In Kyiv, back-to-back air alerts Wednesday morning urged residents to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible over fears of incoming Russian missiles. Soon after an all-clear was given for the first alert, a second alert followed. Such alerts are common, though irregular, keeping people on edge. Kyiv has been relatively quiet in recent days, though Russian artillery has pounded the outskirts. Kyiv regional administration head Oleksiy Kuleba said the crisis for civilians was growing in the capital, with the situation particularly critical in the city's suburbs. 'Russia is artificially creating a humanitarian crisis in the Kyiv region, frustrating the evacuation of people and continuing shelling and bombing small communities,' he said. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson continued to resist calls to drop visa requirements for Ukrainians fleeing the violence, insisting the security checks were vital to prevent President Putin infiltrating agents into the UK. The Prime Minister said a thousand visas had been granted under the scheme allowing relatives of people in Britain to flee the war zone to join their families and he promised another programme allowing individuals to offer a home to Ukrainians would be set out in 'the next few days'. More than 2 million people have now fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations. 'We know how unscrupulous Putin can be in his methods, it would not be right to expose this country to unnecessary security risk and we will not do it,' he said. 'We are going to be as generous as we can possibly be, but we must have checks.' His comments in the Commons followed a call from Ukraine's ambassador to the UK to temporarily drop the visa requirement. Vadym Prystaiko hit out at the bureaucracy of the British system, telling MPs: 'I don't want to see these pictures of people banging at the doors in Calais and scratching the doors which are quite sealed.' Buses transport people out of the city of Sumy, in Ukraine's north east, in the first successful evacuation of a besieged city which took place on Tuesday. In total, 5,000 people were transported out Russia said the evacuation route out of Sumy will be reopened Wednesday to allow more people to flee, though there are fears it could be a pre-cursor to heavier shelling in the coming days A large number of foreign students - including hundreds from India and east Asia - were among those allowed to flee from Sumy on Tuesday, with more transports planned Two convoys of civilian vehicles were allowed to leave Sumy on Tuesday, the mayor has said, marking the first successful evacuation after other routes came under attack by Russia Debris is seen next to houses destroyed by shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Sumy Debris and houses destroyed by shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are seen in Sumy Houses damaged by shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are seen in Sumy Houses destroyed by shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are seen in Sumy Debris is seen next to houses destroyed by shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Sumy Natasha Sivek carries her two-month-old grandson Meron shortly after she and other family members, including her daughter, walked into Poland Women and children arrive from war-torn Ukraine on a snowy day at the Medyka border crossing Over one million people have arrived in Poland from Ukraine since the Russian invasion and some are journeying on to other countries in Europe Most of those fleeing the war have entered countries on Ukraine's western border, like Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova The majority have gone into Poland, where 1.33 million refugees have crossed according to the Polish Border Guard agency Yulia Sivek carries her two-month-old son Meron and is trailed by her mother Natasha as they walk into Poland Oxana Opalenko holds her friend Yulia's two-month-old son Meron shortly after they walked into Poland A Russian tank with overhead armour meant to protect against American-made javelin missiles is pictured burned-out by the side of a road in Ukraine, after the makeshift protection apparently failed Advertisement Pressure is mounting on health chiefs to speed up the rollout of fourth Covid vaccine doses to the vulnerable after virus hospital admissions surged in the past week. No10's vaccine advisory panel recommended last month that over-75s, care home residents and patients with weakened immune system should be given the top-up shots around six months after their original booster. It is almost exactly six months since the last booster rollout was launched, and despite hospital admissions and cases on the rise again the NHS is still yet to send any invite anyone to come forward for their fourth vaccine in England. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday said Britain needed 'more oomph on fourth jabs' after seeing a 'significant shift' in hospitalisations. Latest data shows there were 1,406 virus admissions across the UK on March 6, marking a rise of a third in a week. Hospitalisations in over-85s have risen by a quarter over the most recent seven days and the South West is already seeing higher admission numbers than during the height of the Omicron wave in January. Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical medicine expert at King's College London, claimed she is 'surprised' the Government has not got on with the rollout of fourth jabs. But as many as half of Covid hospital 'patients' are not primarily ill with the virus, suggesting they are 'incidental' cases that came to hospital for a different reason but tested positive. The large share of incidentals would explain why rising Covid admissions have tracked with an increase in cases, when normally there is a two-week lag between infection and severe illness. Parts of the South West of England already seeing higher admission numbers than they did during the height of the Omicron wave in January. But many hospitalisations could also be so-called 'incidental' cases where people admitted for other reasons who happen to have the virus are counted as a Covid admission (green line). Graph shows: Difference between incidental cases and admissions primarily caused by Covid (red line) and Covid patients on ventilators (claret line) The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) last month recommended fourth doses to the most vulnerable age groups this spring, telling ministers they should be dished out around six months after their last vaccine. JCVI advisers originally recommended third doses on September 14, with over-75s, care home residents and patients with serious underlying health conditions first in the queue. Vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 can now book Covid booster online Vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 can now book their booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine online, NHS England has said. Those who are severely immunosuppressed with underlying health conditions can access appointments once they become eligible, which is 12 weeks after their previous dose. NHS England said 6,400 invitations have already been sent to parents and guardians of eligible children, with a further 4,400 being contacted about using the national booking service now they qualify. Until now, families with children whose conditions include cancer, diabetes, chronic diseases or severe mental illness, have been vaccinated by GP-led teams. Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and a leader on the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, said: 'Children's lives, including their education, have been significantly disrupted over the last two years and every parent wants to do all they can to protect their little ones and keep them in school. 'But when a family has the added worry of what Covid could mean for a child who is seriously unwell, getting them their top-up boost in protection as soon as they become eligible is vitally important.' Advertisement People in Scotland have already been invited to book their fourth doses, while vulnerable 12- to 15-year-olds can now book their third jabs online in England. Professor Ward told the Daily Telegraph: 'I was surprised that they didn't get on with it immediately, to be honest.' She urged No10 to follow the path of other countries including Israel that have 'swung into action' with their fourth dose rollouts. Professor Ward also appealed to the JCVI to consider recommending shorter gaps between doses. The committee met yesterday to discuss the proposals, the newspaper reports. The JCVI is expected to make a recommendation next week after it receives more data on how long third booster doses remain effective for. Pfizer's booster drops from 90 per cent effectiveness against severe disease to around 75 per cent after 10 weeks, according to the latest data. An NHS spokesman said: 'The NHS continues to follow JCVI guidance accepted by the Government, and in line with this the NHS will be vaccinating eligible people with a spring dose six months after their first booster starting later this month for the small number of people eligible before April.' Government dashboard data shows there were 71,259 infections confirmed yesterday, the highest in more than a month and up 56 per cent on last Thursday. Cases have been climbing for over a week, with the trend thought to be down to a combination of lifting the final restrictions in England and the rise of a more infectious version of Omicron. Experts tracking the pandemic noticed that admissions began to spike before cases, despite there normally being a week-lag in the other direction. There are a number of theories for the trend, including that the rise in infections was masked by the central testing being scaled back. Whitehall sources say they are not 'overly worried' about the increase, although they insisted they were keeping an eye on the numbers. Meanwhile, MailOnline analysis yesterday suggested Covid is now less deadly than flu. Government figures indicate the virus had a mortality rate of around 0.2 per cent before the ultra-transmissible strain erupted onto the scene. But this has since plunged seven-fold to as little as 0.03 per cent, meaning it kills effectively just one in every 3,300 people who get infected. For comparison, seasonal influenza's infection-fatality rate (IFR) sits between 0.01 and 0.05 per cent, suggesting that the two viruses now pose a similar threat. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert from the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline it meant that Covid could actually be even less deadly than the flu. Although, he warned another variant could reverse the progress. Ministers today warned Vladimir Putin against using chemical weapons in Ukraine as they told Russia 'not to cross that line'. Boris Johnson said last night he fears Mr Putin will deploy the weapons because it would be 'straight out of Russia's playbook'. Technology Minister Chris Philp said this morning that using the weapons would be 'totally unacceptable' and 'a barbaric thing to do'. His comments came as the Ministry of Defence said it believes Russia is 'likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days' after its invasion stalled. The new activity 'will probably include' an assault on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the MOD said. Technology Minister Chris Philp said this morning that using chemical weapons in Ukraine would be 'totally unacceptable' and a 'a barbaric thing to do' The Ministry of Defence said it believes Russia is 'likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days' after its invasion stalled Mr Philp was asked this morning during an interview on Sky News if the UK has any specific intelligence suggesting Russia is planning to use chemical weapons. He replied: 'Clearly I can't comment on intelligence the UK Government may have received, that wouldn't be right to speak about that publicly. 'But we have seen in the last 24 or 48 hours what appear to be bits of disinformation published by Russian state outlets, including in fact the Russian embassy here in London, putting on things like Twitter information that appear to be creating a false narrative that the Ukrainians are considering using chemical weapons which is clearly ridiculous and totally untrue. 'Sometime they do that in preparation. But I hope that is not what they are contemplating. The use of chemical weapons in any theatre of war but certainly one where there are lots of civilians is totally unacceptable. 'What we have seen the Russians doing in the last two weeks in Ukraine is totally barbaric. 'We saw them in the last day or two shelling and bombing hospitals across Ukraine, including a hospital which was where new mothers were giving birth to children. 'What they have done is totally barbaric which is why the United kingdom is determined, as the Prime Minister was saying, to do everything we can to try and stop them.' Mr Philp added: 'I am not going to talk about intelligence but using chemical weapons in an area which has lots of civilians would be a barbaric thing to do and I would just say to Vladimir Putin and to the Russian regime not to cross that line, not to do that to civilian populations.' Mr Johnson said last night that Mr Putin is in charge of a 'cynical, barbaric government' and he believes Moscow could resort to deploying chemical weapons. He also said he believes Russia is preparing a 'fake story' which it could use to deny using the weapons and to blame the West. The Prime Minister told Sky News' Beth Rigby Interviews show: 'I will make you one other prediction by the way which is that the stuff that you are hearing about chemical weapons, this is straight out of their playbook. 'They start saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stored by their opponents or by the Americans and so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a sort of maskirovka, a fake story, ready to go. And you have seen it in Syria. You saw it even in the UK.' Asked if it was his expectation that Russia will use chemical weapons, the premier said: 'I just note that that is what they are already doing [preparing a fake story]. It is a cynical, barbaric government I am afraid.' The MOD published its latest intelligence update on the Russian invasion this morning, just before 6am. It said Russian ground forces 'continue to make limited progress' and predicted Moscow will now seek a 'reset'. The MOD said: 'It remains highly unlikely that Russia has successfully achieved the objectives outlined in its pre-invasion plan. 'Russian ground forces continue to make limited progress. Logistical issues that have hampered the Russian advance persist, as does strong Ukrainian resistance. Boris Johnson said last night he fears Vladimir Putin will deploy the weapons because it would be 'straight out of Russia's playbook' 'Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days. This will probably include operations against Kyiv. Russian armoured vehicles have been approaching the northeastern edge of Kyiv but experts have suggested the assault on the capital has been poorly planned. George Barros, a researcher with the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in the US, told The Times that the Kremlin had given the job of taking the capital to 'suboptimal units'. He said the force had been 'crudely assembled', adding: 'The Russians took some of the worst units of the Russian army, arrayed them in a poor way, and told them to waltz into Kyiv.' The government's 5 billion post-Covid catch-up programme aimed at school children is 'not fit for purpose' and is failing disadvantaged pupils from poorer areas, a Conservative MP has claimed. Robert Halfon, who is also chairman of the Education Committee, said today that there are 'significant regional disparities' with the programme and that the 5 billion is not 'providing value for money'. His words come as MPs warned disadvantaged pupils in poor areas could be up to eight months behind their peers following the pandemic. A new report from the Commons Education Select Committee, published on Thursday, said the government must also assess the success of the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) under Randstad, and that if the company cannot deliver the scheme effectively it must be 'booted out'. The report said pupils are facing an 'epidemic of educational inequality' and a 'worsening mental health crisis' because of school closures and national lockdowns during the Covid-19 crisis. It highlighted that, during the pandemic, studies showed a fifth of pupils did no schoolwork at home or less than an hour a day, but that, 'equally alarmingly', absence remains high now schools have reopened, with 182,000 pupils absent for Covid-related reasons on February 10. Meanwhile, in an online survey of nearly 1,000 primary school teachers carried out during November and December 2021 by YouGov and the early years charity Kindred2, it was revealed that half of Reception pupils were not ready to start school. Schools expect early years pupils to have basic social skills such as being able to share, to write some letters and numbers, to follow simple instructions and to be able to concentrate for short periods of time. But in the study, one in four teachers said that over half of children starting Reception could not follow instructions and struggled to share with others. Robert Halfon, who is also chairman of the Education Committee, says the government's 5 billion post-Covid catch-up programme aimed at school children is 'not fit for purpose' On average, the survey found that just 50% of pupils arrived in Reception being 'school ready' while over a third of teachers - 34% - said that their pupils were not ready to start school, an increase on the proportion who reported this in 2020 of 23%. Teachers said that the pandemic had impacted pupils' readiness for school, with parents finding it difficult to access toddler groups. Lockdowns have meant that young children have had fewer opportunities to develop social skills or enjoy experiences such as a visit to a farm or zoo. Another report published on Wednesday by Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza showed that nearly 1.8 million pupils had missed at least 10% of school during the autumn term in 2021. The Education Committee said the Government needs to take action over the issue of persistent absence, ensuring that no more pupils became 'ghost children' - those who have fallen off of schools' radars during the pandemic. It added that the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has said that, in the worst-case scenarios in the poorest communities, disadvantaged pupils could be up to eight months behind their peers in some of their learning, while progress made towards narrowing the attainment gap has been reversed. It said the Government's flagship National Tutoring Programme appears to be 'failing the most disadvantaged', with the scheme reaching 100% of its target number of schools in south-west England by March 2021, but only reaching 58.8% of target schools in the North East. In December 2021, just 52,000 courses had been started by pupils through the tuition partners pillar - 10% of Randstad's target for this year. Tuition partners have complained that Randstad - the company contracted to run the tuition partners and academic mentors pillars of the programme - has an online booking platform that is bureaucratic and 'dysfunctional' to use. On Wednesday, schools minister Robin Walker said the take-up of catch-up tutoring has been 'slow in parts' but is 'on track' to deliver its objectives this year. But Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said the programme risks 'proving a disaster', adding there are concerns that 'the tutoring partners strand of the NTP is sucking teachers out of schools and particularly out of the supply pool'. New report said pupils are facing an 'epidemic of educational inequality' and a 'worsening mental health crisis' because of school closures and national lockdowns during the Covid-19 crisis Conservative MP Robert Halfon, chairman of the Education Committee, said in the Commons debate on education spending: 'The real questions that I have, given the importance of catch up, is whether the catch-up programme is fit for purpose, the National Tutoring Programme particularly. 'And my view is that under the Randstad programme it's not working.' He added today: 'The catch-up programme is very welcome, there's a big 5 billion behind it but it's not fit for purpose and it's not helping the most disadvantaged children. 'There's significant regional disparities, in the south there's a huge take up, in the north a much lower take up. 'There's a spaghetti junction of bureaucracy and funding streams for schools which makes it harder to access. There's not enough being done in terms of children's mental health, which we know has really suffered during the lockdown, and also, of course, the catch-up programme doesn't reach the 100,000 or so children who have not returned to school since schools were opened last year. 'My own view is that the government should give them (Randstad) one last warning and if not, they should shape up or be booted out and that needs to be decided very soon because school closures for most pupils was nothing short of a national disaster in terms of their educational attainment, mental health, safeguarding and life chances.' During a committee evidence session in January, the NTP's programme director, Karen Guthrie, was asked about the number of pupils the scheme is supporting who have special educational needs, or are receiving the pupil premium, as well as the number of tutoring providers in the North compared with the South. The Education Committee said the Government needs to take action over the issue of persistent absence, ensuring that no more pupils became 'ghost children' Randstad said it would provide MPs with this information, but the committee's report said it has not received any further statistics or data from the company or from the Department for Education, while Randstad has since removed the requirement of reaching 65% of the poorest pupils through the programme. The committee said it is 'not clear that the National Tutoring Programme will deliver for the pupils that need it most' and that there needs to be full transparency over how the scheme is working, including how many pupils are benefiting and their characteristics, such as if they have a disability. Statistics should be published every half-term on the number of tutoring sessions started, with information on regional access to the scheme, as well as how many disadvantaged pupils or Send students are being supported. If Randstad cannot meet its targets for supporting disadvantaged pupils, the DfE should terminate the contract and re-tender it, the committee said. The Government should also plough more resources into the school-led tuition route, it added, although it said there are concerns about the quality assurance of this pillar. It should also review plans to reduce funding for the NTP, as this could prove an obstacle to uptake in the poorest areas. The committee said children are facing a 'mental health crisis' which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Around one in six children aged between six and 16 have a probable mental health disorder, with witnesses telling the committee that one of the biggest issues for pupils' mental wellbeing is their access to social media. It called on the Government to explore the full impact of the pandemic on children, including how their mental health and wellbeing has been affected, 'as this is critical to academic attainment'. It criticised a 'spaghetti junction' of catch-up funding, with 5 billion of recovery spending announced by Government since June 2020, and headteachers raising concerns about the 'complication' of accessing funds. The 'complex bureaucratic system' for applying for funds may have burdened teachers with more work and hampered schools' ability to get support for their pupils as quickly as possible, the committee said. It added that the Government should launch a pilot scheme in the poorest areas to facilitate extra-curricular activities such as sport, music and drama, as well as fast-tracking its commitment for all schools to have a designated mental health lead. Mr Halfon said catch-up funding is 'not reaching the most disadvantaged children', while 'there are significant regional disparities and there is a real risk of failure through Randstad as the delivery partner'. 'Moreover, it is not reaching the hundreds of thousands of 'ghost children' who have not returned to school,' he said. 'Given the increase in children's mental health problems, more work needs to be done to rocket-boost support.' He concluded: 'The Government must ensure Randstad shapes up, or boot them out. The catch-up programme must be shown to be reaching disadvantaged pupils and this data must be published.' Advertisement China called Putin's attack on Ukraine a 'war' for the first time on Thursday, marking a shift in tone for Beijing which has toed the line between supporting and condemning Russia over the past two weeks. 'We hope to see fighting and the war stop as soon as possible,' state broadcaster CCTV cited foreign minister Wang Yi as saying on Thursday in a video conference call with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian. Wang called on all sides to calm down and to take more actions to prevent escalation in Ukraine, CCTV reported. China called Putin's attack on Ukraine a 'war' for the first time on Thursday, marking a shift in tone for Beijing which has toed the line between supporting and condemning Russia over the past two weeks. Putin is pictured meeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko this morning China has yet to call the war an 'invasion', steering clear of language that would pit them against Russia on the international stage. Pictured: China's President Xi in Beijing on March 10 Firefighters spray water on a destroyed shoe factory following a Russian airstrike in Dnipro, Ukraine on March 11 Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts Ukrainian commanders say Russian attacks are underway to the north, west and east of Kyiv and that the city will soon be surrounded as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of it gets underway China has yet to call the war an 'invasion', steering clear of language that would pit them against Russia on the international stage. Beijing has, however, toned down its support of Moscow, but is still rejecting calls for it to join the West in sanctioning the invading nation. On Thursday, China refused to supply Russian airlines with aircraft parts, an official at Russias aviation authority revealed. Russia will look to source parts from other countries including Turkey and India, according to Russian news agencies. Boeing and Airbus have halted supply of components, in line with the sanctions, and almost all European nations have closed their airspace to Russian planes. Wang described the Chinese-Russian relationship as 'rock solid' earlier in the week, but the change in tone suggests a shift in China's view of the conflict. Ukraine has asked Beijing to use its connections with the Kremlin to put an end to the invasion. Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday that he had received assurances that 'China is interested in stopping this war', raising hopes the country could act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia. China has claimed neutrality since Putin's attack, abstaining from a UN general assembly resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its troops on March 2. This week, China also said it would send 600,750 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, an amount dwarfed by humanitarian aid sent by other nations. The US House of Representatives approved a 10.4 billion aid package on Wednesday, whereas the total support offered by the UK equals around 400 million as of Monday. China has claimed neutrality since Putin's attack, abstaining from a UN general assembly resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its troops on March 2. Pictured: Rescuers working at the scene of an airstrike in Dnipro this morning A New York Times article published on March 2 described a Western intelligence report as claiming that Chinese officials new of Putin's intention to invade Ukraine, but asked the Kremlin to wait until after the Winter Olympics had concluded. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese premier Xi Jinping in Beijing on February 4, hours before the Olympics opening ceremony. The two countries issued a joint statement declaring that friendship between the two states had no limits. China also endorsed Russia's opposition to further NATO expansion, demanding the alliance respect the sovereignty and security interests of other countries, meaning Russia. Beijing has repeatedly endorsed the Russian argument that Moscow's security was threatened by NATO's eastern expansion. When it came time for Putin's statements, Russia reaffirmed its support for China's claim over Taiwan. Chinese officials denied the claims, calling the New York Times report 'fake news'. China has also parroted Russian propaganda claiming the US and Ukraine was jointly developing chemical weapons and pathogens, which the US has warned could be the makings of a false-flag event. Ukrainian forces today seized gas marks from Russian troops following warnings from the West that Putin could use chemical weapons in his barbaric invasion. The Ministry of Defence shared images of the captured equipment, which also included World War II era helmets Ukrainian forces have seized gas marks from Russian troops following warnings from the West that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons The Ministry of Defence shared images of the captured equipment, which also included World War II era helmets and an ushanka hat, showing the dilapidated state of Putin's run-down military. The ministry said on Twitter: 'The second army of the world is a sham. Equipment of "liberators". They want us to live like that? stoprussia.' Western and Ukrainian leaders have issued dire warnings that Putin is preparing to use chemical weapons, and the masks issued to Russian troops suggest an attack is likely. A Sydney science teacher who is accused of supplying marijuana to her students will attempt to have her case dismissed. Lauren Russell, 42, was filmed allegedly inhaling from a bong made from a Gatorade bottle and is accused of contacting students and supplying them drugs after school. The physics teacher from Sydney's south was charged with the supply of a prohibited drug. Ms Russell's legal representative entered a not guilty plea in court on Wednesday morning. The court heard Russell, who taught at Lucas Heights Community Highschool, will look to have her charges considered under Section 14. 42-year-old Lauren Russell has three children of her own and some of her students have pledged support for her in the legal proceedings A magistrate may give Section 14 to those with a cognitive disability or problems with their mental health. If a charge is dismissed under Section 14 the defendant does not have to pay a fine or go to jail. A magistrate may however, discharge the defendant to treatment, care or rehab, they may discharge without conditions at all. Ms Russell joined Lucas Heights Community School in 2014, originally from Maryland in the United States. A widely circulated video shows Ms Russell allegedly inhaling from a bong with student A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said Ms Russell was removed from the school as soon as they were made aware of the allegations. A widely circulated video shows Ms Russell atop a milk crate allegedly inhaling from a bong fashioned from a gatorade bottle and a hose piece with students. Teenagers of the area have been rallying in support of Ms Russell, though she is banned from the school and from contacting staff and students. The case will return afore the Sutherland Local Court on June 1. Russian dog owners have been banned from attending the canine world's biggest competition by organisers as a mark of solidarity with Ukrainians facing invasion. The annual Crufts dog show is currently in its second day at the National Exhibition Centre, after a two-year hiatus due to Covid. Typically, the show is staged annually by The Kennel Club but this time around, bosses have opted to ban Russian participants due to the ongoing war. The ban is understood to affect about 30 owners and breeders along with 51 dogs which were due to compete in the show. It is not understood to impact Russian breeds of dog. Three French Bulldogs wearing bandanas in the colours of the Ukrainian flag rest in their pen on the first day of the Crufts dog show Jill Davies and her dog Demelza performing in the Hellwork to Music Final, supporting Ukraine at Crufts A spokesman from The Kennel Club said: 'In the light of rapidly evolving circumstances, it is with a heavy heart we have taken the decision not to allow exhibitors from Russia to compete at Crufts 2022. 'Our friends in Ukraine, and their dogs, are fearing for their lives and we will do all that we can to support them wherever possible. The club is donating 50,000 ($66,000) for its partner organisations in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary to help breeders, owners and their dogs during the conflict with Russia. Chief executive Mark Beazley described Crufts as 'a little bit of joy in some pretty sad days for the world at the moment'. Dina Lepteva from Latvia, dressed in Ukrainian colours, with her Husky dog Connor, five, during Husky dog Crufts is a celebration of the relationship between dogs and their owners, and features a range of events and competitions (pictured: Jill Davies' dog Demelza) As the contest opened yesterday, many participants wore ribbons in Ukraine's yellow and blue colours to show their respects. Sara Davies, 63, from northeast England, entered Crufts for the first time with her black German shepherd, Laxi. Wearing the yellow and blue ribbon, she said: 'It's my way to show I'm thinking of the Ukrainians. 'I mean, it's appalling. At least I can live my daily life normally. They can't.' A Chihuahua arrives on the second day of the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham A pair of Russian Black Terriers arrive for the first day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham Lockdown restrictions, which forced last year's Crufts to be cancelled, increased stress and isolation for both humans and their four-legged friends. 'The pandemic was very difficult,' said Stacie Young, from Kent as she sat with her imposing Newfoundland, Bumbee, taking part in her second Crufts. 'She used to socialise a lot with other dogs during shows. Suddenly there was nothing happening at all. When we were finally allowed to gather in a group of six, we would gather in the park with some friends to practise.' The last coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England last month, and few people were seen wearing masks as they watched a parade of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. But organisers said it will take time for the show to get back to its previous level: in 2020, some 150,000 people attended. Australia will start treating Covid like the flu despite fears a new 'stealth' version of the virus is set to spread rapidly across the country. The National Cabinet on Friday agreed healthy Australians who catch the virus but only have mild symptoms would soon no longer need to take a Covid test or isolate. The new policy will be adopted by each state and territory when they are ready. Australia will soon start treating Covid like the flu, the national cabinet agreed on Friday. Pictured is a woman wearing a mask in front of the Sydney Opera House on January 25 Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened the meeting to discuss a $2.1billion plan to battle both Covid-19 and influenza over the upcoming winter. The national cabinet will now consult the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee about changes to the mandatory Covid isolation period, which stands at seven days for confirmed cases. The imminent relaxation of coronavirus rules comes despite fears the new sub-strain of the Omicron variant is already spreading across Australia. The NSW government expects the BA.2 'stealth variant' to become the dominant strain nationally within a month. Whether the strain is more infectious than Omicron remains unclear. 'So far, we dont have any data from the rest of the world that it is any more or less severe, which is reassuring,' Australian Medical Association NSW president Danielle McMullen told the Today show on Friday morning. Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened a National Cabinet meeting on Friday to discuss a $2.1billion plan to battle both Covid-19 and influenza over the upcoming winter A vaccination is administered at a pop-up vaccination clinic in Melbourne in October 2021. The NSW government expects the BA.2 'stealth variant' to become the dominant strain nationally within a month Health care workers administer Covid-19 PCR tests at the St Vincent's Drive-through Clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney 'We know that Omicron has been a milder variant than previous ones before so were hopeful that continues. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns a new Omicron sub-variant is spreading in Europe, and has even been detected in the U.S. The organization will soon publish a full report on the strain 'It's just that we are expecting to see these higher case numbers again, which of course causes disruption to the community and even a milder variant doesnt leave you feeling very well.' The World Health Organisation said during a briefing Wednesday the strain has been found to be spreading in France, Holland and Denmark. They also believe they have detected at least two cases in the United States, and plan to publish a report on their findings in the near future. The report also comes just as the world reaches the two year mark of the pandemic, with Friday, March 11, being the two year anniversary of the WHO declaring a worldwide pandemic. EU leaders to focus on unity, defence at informal summit Xinhua) 16:03, March 11, 2022 French President Emmanuel Macron (L), president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (C) are seen ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) VERSAILLES, France, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. The goal of the two-day summit, the first during France's six-month presidency of the European Union (EU), is to "show, and continue to construct and reinforce the unity of Europe," Macron said. "We need to prepare ourselves with all the scenarios," he emphasized, referring to Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine. Faced with rising fuel prices, Europe should not be dependent on Russia for gas, he said. It should also be able to supply its own markets, and defend itself independently. "France depends less than others on gas...but Europe depends on gas, and 40 percent is Russian gas," he said. Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that "this is a defining moment for Europe." At the summit, heads of state and government will discuss how to boost European defence capacities, she said. Europe also needs massive investment in renewables in order to remove its energy dependency, she added. During the talks, leaders are also expected to tackle issues related to the accession of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) EU leaders pose for a group photo ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is seen ahead of the informal European Council meeting in the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, March 10, 2022. Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Mayor Adams unveiled plans Friday to offer a combination of free summer school and camp to more than 100,000 city youngsters for a second year pledging to build on the successes of the inaugural year of Summer Rising while reversing the logistical hiccups that led to a rocky rollout. The supercharged new version of the program will offer access to 110,000 kids in kindergarten through eighth grade this year, while extending the hours for middle school students to 6 p.m. Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams announces an expanded summer program at Bronx Delta School on Friday, March 11, 2022. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) Like last year, the program will offer a mix of academics in the morning and recreation and enrichment in the afternoon, and will be open to both kids mandated to attend summer school because of their grades and those signing up by choice. We are supercharging last years successful program. This is about taking what worked and building on it, Adams said Friday in the Bronx. Every young person that participates will get a chance to learn, to grow, to explore their talents. Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams and Chancellor David Banks, pictured, announce an expanded summer program at Bronx Delta School on Friday, March 11, 2022. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) The Summer Rising program comes on top of Adamss plan to expand the number of teens participating in the citys Summer Youth Employment Program to 100,000 part of his proposal to cut down on youth violence. The Summer Rising initiative was launched last year under former Mayor de Blasio with the help of federal stimulus money. And while many families and educators embraced the idea of more free summer offerings and a mix of academic and recreational activities, the program was beset by logistical challenges from the start. That included a complex multi-agency partnership between the Education and Youth and Community Development Departments that caused enrollment challenges, and transportation shortages that hindered access for some students with disabilities and those living in shelters. Mayor Eric Adams announces an expanded summer program at Bronx Delta School on Friday, March 11, 2022. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) City officials on Friday promised to iron out those kinks this year. We have to make sure the transportation is there, and we factored that into the Summer Rising plus, Adams said. We looked at all the complaints were zeroing in on homeless shelters... to make sure they have access to the program. City officials are pledging more support for nonprofits in accommodating students with disabilities who may need specialized services. The city is holding it's Summer Rising camps mixing academics and recreation for a second year. (Courtesy, St. Nicks Alliance.) There will also be changes to how enrollment works, according to an email from the Youth and Community Development Department to the community-based organizations running the recreational portion of the program. Last year, DYCD was in charge of signing up students causing headaches for some principals who didnt have access to enrollment numbers and families who werent familiar with DYCDs online system. This year, the Department of Education will be in charge of enrollment, according to the email. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > City officials are also hoping that making the announcement earlier this year last years was in April will give schools, nonprofits and families more time to plan and reduce stress. Fewer COVID-19 restrictions could also offer more opportunities for field trips, nonprofit staffers said. Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams announces an expanded summer program at Bronx Delta School on Friday, March 11, 2022. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) There could be other logistical challenges still ahead, though. One wrinkle that remains from last year is that schools have to set aside seats for kids who are mandated to go to summer school but wont know how many theyll need until June. DYCD Deputy Commissioner Susan Haskell acknowledged the challenge, but said shes confident programs will be able to hold those seats open without affecting enrollment for other kids. This summers program will be open to all students who apply until the summer seat capacity in each building is reached, according to DYCD. City officials didnt provide a list of which schools will host the summer program, but said it will be offered in all five boroughs, with a concentration in neighborhoods identified as having the highest needs. Kids at a St. Nicks Alliance summer camp in Brooklyn, part of the city's Summer Rising program in 2020. (Courtesy, St. Nicks Alliance) Most concerning for many nonprofits is whether theyll be able to hire enough staff to man the ambitious effort with wages for most summer camp workers hovering between $15 and $18 an hour. Its been really hard on CBOs to fill positions and fill them in a timely manner, said Nora Moran, the policy and advocacy director for United Neighborhood Houses, a group that advocates on behalf of city-contracted nonprofits. The biggest reason for that is wages theres a big fear that people who would previously work in a summer program, that those folks are going to opt for working at Target. Adams said hes working with his budget director and trying to cut costs elsewhere to make sure were paying people a salary suitable to the work were asking them to do. Anonymous has hacked into Russia's media censorship agency and released 340,000 files in the latest undermining of Putin's war propaganda campaign. The hacktivists broke into the Roskomnadzor federal agency to steal the classified documents which they then passed on to transparency organisation Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets), who published them online. The trove of 820 gigabytes of emails and attachments, some of which are dated as late as March 5, show how the Kremlin is censoring anything referring to their brutal invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow is instead calling a 'special military operation'. Anonymous has hacked into Russia's media censorship agency and released 340,000 files in the latest undermining of Putin's war propaganda campaign (file image) The Anonymous hacker said they 'urgently felt the Russian people should have access to information about their government', DDoSecrets said. The files relate to the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, one of the largest in the federation with a population of four million. Roskomnadzor, which oversees mass media in Russia, restricted access to Facebook and Twitter before blocking them and also threatened to cut off access to Wikipedia, due to its article on the invasion. On February 24, the agency ordered all media outlets to only use official, state-sanctioned information sources or face severe punishment for spreading 'fake news'. The words 'war, 'invasion' and 'attack' were all banned from use when describing Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 media regulator has also edited its profile on the Telegram messenger to capitalise the Z in the agency's name after it became a symbol of the Russian invasion. Over the past decade, the censor has demanded that US companies including Google remove content on Ukrainian protests, Forbes reported. The leader and cofounder of DDoSecrets is Emma Best, a US-based leaker who has previously targeted Russian government agencies and US police forces in the wake of George Floyd protests. David Betz, professor of war in the modern world at King's College London, said: 'I think it's positive. Censors should be exposed.' It is feared Russia could be cut off from the global internet any time from today, and the hackers hope the data will be widely shared in the country beforehand, exposing the censorship at the top of government. A letter from Andrei Chernenko, Russia's deputy digital minister, is calling on Russian state-owned websites and portals to ramp up security by today. He ordered them to move to domestic services and remove JavaScript code downloaded from foreign sources. The minister also instructed web services to switch to domain name system (DNS) servers on Russian soil. The global DNS allows people around the world to use the internet easily and freely, indicating Russia could cut itself off from the system and implement its own. Russia claims the directive is only to enhance security in the face of repeated cyber attacks, but experts fear it is a sign Russia could disconnect itself from the global internet. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, said: 'From the outside it looks like a preparation for the sovereign Runet.' Earlier this week, Anonymous claimed to have hacked into Russian state TV to air footage of the war in Ukraine. The hacking collective said it targeted Russia 24, Channel One and Moscow 24 to show the realities of the savage invasion. The hackers said they are taking part in the 'biggest Anonymous op ever seen' in their take-down of Russia. Part of the footage aired on Russian TV included the message: 'ordinary Russians are against the war' and urged them to oppose the invasion. And last week, the hackers claimed to have shut down Russia's space agency so Putin 'no longer has control over spy satellites'. It comes after reports that Chinese telecoms giant Huawei 'rushed to Russia's aid' to fend off Western cyberattacks. Reports in China say the tech giant, which has several offices in the UK, has been helping Putin's efforts to stabilise Russia's internet network. Last week Russian media sites were hacked by Anonymous who replaced pages with a 'tombstone' in honour of the war dead. Network Battalion 65 or 'NB65', which is affiliated with Anonymous, posted a tweet claiming to show server information for Roscosmos (pictured). However, the head of Roscosmos denied the claim and called Anonymous 'scammers and petty swindlers' Reports in China say tech giant Huawei, which has several offices in the UK, has been helping Vladimir Putin's efforts to stabilise Russia's internet network after it came under attack from hacker groups across the globe. Pictured, Huawei logo illuminated outside at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday A report, which appeared on a Chinese news site but was later deleted, claimed that Huawei would use its research centres to train '50,000 technical experts in Russia'. It added that the firm expects to expand 'to cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and face recognition'. 'If Russia thought for one moment China would break rank they wouldn't have invaded Ukraine.' Chinese companies are in fear of secondary sanctions from the US if they are found to be helping Russian companies evade the measures. Huawei has been badly hit by US sanctions, introduced in 2019 over national security fears, and has been banned from providing equipment for the UK's 5G network. A spokesperson for Huawei said: 'This story is untrue and based on inaccurate and false information from an article that has since been corrected.' Senator Kimberley Kitching was suffering from thyroid issues before she died aged 52 of a suspected heart attack while driving. The popular Labor politician, who had friends on both sides of politics, was taking medication for the condition since last year. Senator Kitching's symptoms were improving according to the Sydney Morning Herald but caused her to lose weight in recent months before her death on Thursday afternoon. The condition can 'cause problems that masquerade as heart disease or make existing heart disease worse' according to a Harvard study. Prominent right-wing figures including Pauline Hanson and Andrew Bolt paid tribute to Senator Kitching on Friday Senator Hanson, who went to Afghanistan with Senator Kitching on a 10-day trip to visit Australian troops in 2018, broke down in tears on TV last night while discussing her friend. 'She was a unique person. I had a lot of time for Kimberley. I'm very sad and very shocked by her passing,' she told Sky News host Paul Murray before sobbing and saying 'sorry'. Senator Hanson (left) went to Afghanistan with Senator Kitching (right) on a 10-day trip to visit Australian troops in 2018 'We actually went to Afghanistan together it was just the two of us, we had a lot of fun together. Hyperthyroidism Symptoms Hyperthyroidism can mimic other health problems, which can make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose. It can also cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms - Unintentional weight loss - Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) commonly more than 100 beats a minute - Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) - Pounding of your heart (palpitations) - Increased appetite - Nervousness, anxiety and irritability - Tremor usually a fine trembling in your hands and fingers - Sweating - Changes in menstrual patterns - Increased sensitivity to heat - Changes in bowel patterns, especially more frequent bowel movements - An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), which may appear as a swelling at the base of your neck - Fatigue, muscle weakness - Difficulty sleeping - Skin thinning - Fine, brittle hair The Mayo Clinic Advertisement 'She always had a smile on her face, she was never nasty to anyone.' Conservative commentator Bolt was also emotional as he praised Senator Kitching who died after pulling over while driving in suburban Melbourne on Thursday afternoon. 'I'm devastated, I'm shocked. We've been friends for 30 years and she was just at my home for lunch on Friday with her husband Andrew,' he said on Sky News. 'This is someone who had guts who was so important in Australian politics. This is a politician who would defy her own party to fight for the right things.' Nationals Senator Matt Canavan also penned a touching tribute, writing on Twitter: 'I am so so sad to hear of the passing of my colleague and friend, Kimberley Kitching. 'Kimberley was always so much fun to be around, never took herself too seriously and was always up for a laugh. Canberra can be a lonely place sometimes but it was less so with Kimberley around.' Senator Kitching's close friend Bill Shorten cried on morning radio as he revealed she was under 'great stress' in the face of a move to kick her out of the senate. The Victorian senator and fierce China critic was from the right faction of Labor and faced a tough preselection fight for a winnable spot on the senate ticket for the upcoming election. 'She was under great stress. Preselection is never easy,' Mr Shorten told ABC Radio National in an emotional interview. 'I'm not a coroner. I can't tell you why this woman at 52 was taken from us but I have no doubt that the stress of politics and the machinations in the back rooms had its toll. 'She's a very strong person. She could give as good as she could get. But you take all that home with you.' During her maiden speech to parliament, Senator Kitching spoke about her hope to represent everyday Australian people. She is pictured with former opposition leader Bill Shorten Senator Kitching is pictured with Labor Senator Kristina Keneally Mr Shorten was audibly emotional in the interview, with his voice breaking up several times. Taking lengthy pauses to compose himself, Mr Shorten explained: 'It wasn't clear what was going to happen to her ongoing role in politics and it's stressful. 'There were machinations and arguments going on. 'We have a woman who's 52 who's pulled over by the side of the road and died unexpectedly. That's shocking and terrible.' Mr Shorten said he got a call from Senator Kitching's husband yesterday afternoon to say that she had passed. He and wife Chloe rushed to a street in Strathmore, Melbourne - where Senator Kitching had pulled over on the side of the road while having a heart attack at the wheel - and waited for the undertaker's van to arrive. The day before her death the Labor Right had reportedly refused to re-endorse her preselection. Mr Shorten discussed the move to kick her out of the Senate on the Today show. 'I have no doubt that some of the stress of politics, the machinations behind the scenes, some of the attacks you get - even from within your own ranks... contributed to her early passing. It's terrible,' he said. Mr Shorten urged viewers to check their health. 'Bad things can happen to good people and just get your heart checked out. Just get your heart checked out,' he said. Senator Kitching held doubts about Anthony Albanese's leadership. She was also a fierce China critic who teamed up with Liberal MPs Andrew Hastie and James Paterson to form an anti-Beijing club called the Wolverines. On Thursday night Mr Albanese gave a heartfelt response to Senator Kitching's tragic passing, saying: 'The Labor family is in shock tonight at the tragic news that our friend and colleague Senator has died suddenly in Melbourne. 'My sincere condolences to her family. Kimberley will be missed by us all.' The former lawyer, policy adviser, Melbourne City councillor and union official was elected to Parliament in 2016 Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching has died of a suspected heart attack Victorian premier Daniel Andrews wrote: 'Terrible news tonight about Senator Kimberley Kitching. My thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison also shared a few words. 'Deeply saddened at the news Victorian Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching passed away suddenly today, aged just 52,' he said. 'Our deepest condolences go to her family, friends and colleagues.' Labor leader Anthony Albanese announced Kitching's tragic passing on Twitter Prime Minster Scott Morrison said he was 'deeply saddened' to hear about Senator Kitching's passing, while Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce referred to her as a 'dear friend' in his response The former lawyer, policy adviser, Melbourne City councillor and union official was elected to Parliament in 2016. During her maiden speech to parliament, Senator Kitching spoke about her hope to represent everyday Australian people. 'As a former Queenslander who grew up swimming, a proud holder of a bronze medallion, who continues to enjoy swimming in Victoria's chillier waters, I am daunted yet delighted to be thrown in the deep end right here and now,' she said. 'I am mindful and deeply humbled that only 591 Australians have ever served in the Senate,' she said. 'I am mindful that so much that is great about this nation comes from rising to meet challenges.' She made a bid for Labor pre-selection for two electorates in the 2013 Australian federal election but was unsuccessful. Pictured with Dean Jones In 2016, Senator Kitching won pre-selection to fill Stephen Conroy's seat following his resignation Senator Kitching was born in Brisbane in 1970 and moved to Melbourne in 1995. She made a bid for Labor pre-selection for two electorates in the 2013 Australian federal election but was unsuccessful. In 2016, Senator Kitching won pre-selection to fill Stephen Conroy's seat following his resignation. Mr Albanese, who is from the Labor Left, opposed her bid to enter politics but after the 2019 election he promoted her to the frontbench as shadow ministry as Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability. Senator Kitching broke the story of former AusPost boss Christine Holgate handing out luxury watches as bonuses to her staff by quizzing the CEO during a senate estimates hearing. Kimberley Kitching (pictured seond right) and Anthony Albanese (pictured left) are pictured with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and other Labor collegues in 2018 A teenage Coldstream Guardsman who went AWOL is fighting Russian troops on the frontline in Kyiv after signing up for Ukraines Foreign Legion, MailOnline can reveal. The soldier, 19, crossed into Ukraine from Poland earlier this week and joined recruits at a Foreign Legion base 15 miles outside the city of Lviv. He was made to sign a contract, stating that he would not leave Ukraine until the war finished and ordered to hand over his passport. He was then given an AK-47 machine gun, provided with uniform and other equipment and sent to Kyiv with other recruits where he is currently fighting. The soldier, who is not being named for security reasons, is one of hundreds of foreigners who are believed to have joined Ukraines Foreign Legion. He is being paid 2,500 per month by the Ukraine foreign legion and his contract prevents him from leaving under martial law. A friend who spoke with the soldier told MailOnline: He didnt want to sit around in England and wanted to put his training to good use to help the people of Ukraine. Hes a great lad and really believes in what hes doing. A 19-year-old member of the Queens Guard (left and right), whose identity has not been revealed for security reasons, dropped his ceremonial duties as a Coldstream Guardsman and signed up for Ukraines International Legion of foreign volunteer fighters Four active members of the British Army are believed to have abandoned their posts and shipped off the Ukraine to fight the Russian invaders, including one teenager who is a serving member of the Queen's Guard (stock pic) Pictured, members of Ukraine's international legion. Volunteers from the US, UK, Sweden, Lithuania and Mexico have joined 'He happily signed a contract and handed over his passport because he has no intention of leaving until this war is over. Up to four serving British soldiers are believed to be in Ukraine while a number of ex-squaddies are also believed to have joined. The soldiers friend added: Its not that easy to speak to him over there because the signals not great but hes doing OK and was put into action straight away because of his combat training. The four British soldiers who went AWOL and plan on fighting for the Ukrainians after Russia invaded the country two weeks ago could be prosecuted under desertion law, the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned this week. Residents evacuate the city of Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 10, 2022, as Russia approaches Civilians erect barricades with bags of sand as a precaution amid Russian attacks in Kyiv Gutted cars today following a night air raid in the village of Bushiv, 40 kilometers west of Kyiv Russian forces are currently advancing on Kyiv in an attempt to encircle the capital city Pictured, volunteers from Portugal and Brazil in Ukraine army fatigues in the days following Putin's invasion Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 19-year-old member of the Coldstream Guards regiment reportedly dropped his ceremonial duties as one of the prestigious Queen's Guards in Windsor and signed up for Ukraine's International Legion of foreign volunteer fighters. After reportedly writing to his parents before booking a one-way flight to Poland, the teenage Coldstream Guardsman is feared to be among four British soldiers who have fled the country for the warzone, sparking panic in the British Army that Russia could use it as a chance to begin World War Three. But speaking on Wednesday, Mr Wallace stressed that serving soldiers who have reportedly already travelled to the war zone will face a court martial when they return. He also warned other Britons not to travel to Ukraine, telling them they would not be there for 'a selfie and six weeks' but in the war 'for real'. In the Commons, Mr Wallace said any serving personnel who went to Ukraine 'will be breaking the law and they will be prosecuted when they return for going absent without leave or deserting'. For other Britons, he said 'we strongly discourage them from joining these forces' in Ukraine. 'The Ukrainians are very clear: you turn up, you are in it for the whole game. You are not in it for a selfie and six weeks, you are in it for real,' he said, 'I think we have seen already some people at the borders find that may be not be the right option to follow.' Retired Army chief General Lord Richard Dannatt warned that it could be disastrous if active, serving British Army personnel were to be captured by Russian forces. A post on the British Armys internal messaging service read: There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia. To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not. Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team. The British Army cannot legally prevent retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict. Ukraines defiant president Volodymyr Zelensky put out a plea in the days following the invasion, appealing for members of the international armed forces community to fly to Eastern Europe and join the war effort. Around 20,000 volunteers from around the globe have already signed up to fight, with roughly 16,000 already on the ground in Ukraine, including a small contingent of Brits. Vladimir Putin has today given the go-ahead for up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels to fight in Ukraine. The move, which comes just over two weeks since the Russian President ordered the ruthless invasion, allows Russia to deploy battle-hardened mercenaries from conflicts such as Syria without risking additional Russian military casualties. Putin has also asked his defense minister to prepare plans for possible fortification of Russia's western border in response to NATO troop movement in eastern Europe. It will double down on the brutal invasion that the West says has been losing momentum, as Russian troops continue their offensive toward Ukrainian capital Kyiv from the northwest and east. As his invasion of Ukraine enters its third week, the Russian leader also met with his Belarus' counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin on Friday. At a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East were ready to fight alongside Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. Russia's Defense Ministry TV channel has also shared footage of supposed Syrian combatants ready to 'volunteer' in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin (pictured) has today given the go-ahead for up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels to fight in Ukraine Russia's Defense Ministry TV channel has also shared footage of supposed Syrian combatants ready to 'volunteer' in Ukraine Putin, speaking at the council from the Kremlin, said they could help volunteers, who he claimed were joining of their own accord rather than for money, to 'get to the conflict zone'. 'If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbass, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone,' he added in an exchange that was shown on Russian state television. Shoigu said the 'special military operation' was going to plan before requesting Putin's approval for the use of fighters from the Middle East. Putin claims the 'operation' in Ukraine is essential to ensure Russia's security after the United States expanded NATO's presence up to its borders and supported pro-Western leaders in Kyiv. In response to NATO troop movement in eastern Europe, Putin asked Shoigu to prepare a report on possible fortification of Russia's western border. 'As for the strengthening of our western borders because of the actions adopted by NATO countries... this needs to be considered separately, I ask you to prepare a report,' Putin told his defence minister. NATO countries have deployed thousands of troops to central and eastern Europe in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Moscow has demanded NATO pull back its troops in the east. NATO members Poland and the three Baltic states share a common border with Russia, while Ukraine borders several others - Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Putin (pictured) has also asked his defense minister to prepare plans for possible fortification of Russia's western border in response to NATO troop movement in eastern Europe At a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (pictured right with First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov) said volunteers in the Middle East were ready to fight in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine In the council meeting, Shoigu suggested Western-made Javelin and Stinger missiles that were captured by the Russian army in Ukraine should be handed over to Donbass force. He also proposed that other weaponry, including man-portable air-defense systems, known as MANPADS, and anti-tank rocket complexes, should also be sent to the Donbass region - where Russia claims it is operating a limited 'special operation'. 'As to the delivery of arms, especially Western-made ones which have fallen into the hands of the Russian army - of course I support the possibility of giving these to the military units of the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics,' Putin said. 'Please do this,' he told Shoigu. Shoigu claimed Western arms were flowing into Ukraine in an 'absolutely uncontrolled' way and that the Russian military planned to strengthen its Western border after what he said was a build up of Western military units on Russia's border. 'The general staff is working on, and has almost finished, a plan to strengthen our Western borders, including, naturally, with new modern complexes,' Shoigu said. Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to defend 'every inch' of NATO territory Thursday as US troops fired Stinger missiles during military drills in Estonia. The forces carried out air defense drills in cold weather exercises in coastal areas of Estonia, a NATO ally, with US, British, Estonian, as well as forces from Finland NATO partner but not a member of the alliance. At the start of her trip to Warsaw, Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday announced that the U.S. had delivered two batteries of Patriot air defense missiles to the NATO ally. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with his Belarus' counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 11 Servicemen seen in Bugas, in the Donetsk People's Republic, on March 1 Servicemen seen in Bugas, in the Donetsk People's Republic, on March 1 'Today I can announce that we have delivered those Patriot missiles systems to Poland,' she said at the start of a press briefing with Polish President Duda. The defense systems are positioned to allow Poland and other allies contend with any stray missiles or incursions from neighboring Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing assault. She said the US had recently deployed 4,700 US troops to Poland, on top of a typical rotation of about 5,000. Ukraine war: The latest Kyiv may soon be encircled with Russian forces moving on areas north and west of the capital, the Ukrainian military says Volodymyr Zelensky says trucks carrying food and medicine to the besieged city of Mariupol - without water and power for 11 days - were attacked by Russian tanks Russia claims deadly bomb attack on Mariupol's children hospital was 'staged' by Ukraine A kindergarten and an apartment block are hit in the first air strikes on the city of Dnipro Ukraine says at least 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded Zelensky says about 100,000 people have evacuated from areas surrounding Kyiv, Sumy and Izyum Ukrainian military says fighting is raging for control of the northern city of Chernihiv and Kharkiv and Severodonetsk, in the east Moscow promises to open humanitarian corridors every day to allow Ukrainians to flee, but Kyiv has rejected routes leading into Russia or its ally Belarus UN Security Council will meet Friday after Russia says biological weapons are being developed in Ukraine, in what is feared to be pre-text for a potential use of the weapons by Moscow US and Europe could impose additional penalties on Moscow because 'the atrocities that they're committing against civilians seem to be intensifying' White House says any decision by Moscow to seize assets of US or international companies 'will ultimately result in more economic pain for Moscow' European Union leaders tell Ukraine there is no fast way to join the bloc, N says more than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine - more than half to Poland Asian stock tumble with Tokyo falling more than two percent and the yen hitting a five-year low US investment bank Goldman Sachs pulls out of Russia, the first Wall Street institution to do so Advertisement 'The United States is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory. The United States takes seriously that an attack against one is an attack against all,' Harris said. But there are still grave concerns among non-NATO members about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin may be eyeing further territory. For some European countries watching Russia's brutal war in Ukraine, there are fears that they could be next. Western officials say the most vulnerable could be those who aren't members of NATO or the European Union, and thus alone and unprotected - including Ukraine's neighbour Moldova and Russia's neighbour Georgia, both of them formerly part of the Soviet Union - along with the Balkan states of Bosnia and Kosovo. But analysts warn that even NATO members could be at risk, such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Russia's doorstep, as well as Montenegro, either from Moscow's direct military intervention or attempts at political destabilization. On Thursday, US intelligence chiefs told lawmakers that Russia had been surprised by the strength of Ukrainian resistance, which had deprived the Kremlin of a quick victory. Russia had hoped for a speedy victory that would have prevented the United States and NATO from providing meaningful military aid. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed agreed to send a package worth nearly $14billion to Ukraine to aid it during Russia's invasion. President Biden originally requested $10billion in assistance for the Ukraine but the bipartisan support was so strong the number grew to $12billion on Monday and $13.6billion in the final package. The financial assistance includes $6.5billion for the Pentagon, including $3billion to bolster U.S. troops in Europe and $3.5billion to replace weapons given to Ukraine; $4billion for the State Department for refugee assistance; and $2.8billion to USAID for immediate humanitarian disaster assistance. It also includes $300million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $300million for allies and partners in the region, including $180million for the Baltic Security Initiative, $30million for Poland, $30million for Romania, $20million for Bulgaria, and $40million for Georgia. The West has claimed that Putin has grown frustrated about the speed of his invasion, with CIA director William Burns saying he had planned to take the Ukrainian capital within two days. Russia's main column of armor has been stalled outside Kyiv for days amid reports of poor morale, lack of supplies and technical problems. Giving evidence before Congress, CIA Director Bill Burns said Putin was angry and frustrated. 'Instead of seizing Kyiv within the first two days of the campaign, which was what his plan was premised upon, after nearly two weeks they still have not been able to fully encircle the city,' said Burns, revealing for the first time what US intelligence circles knew of the Russian game plan. Although Russian forces have made significant advances in the south of the country, they have stalled in other parts of Ukraine. Captured soldiers have complained of a lack of food, fuel, and overall battle plan. In the meantime, Russian troops have besieged cities, cutting off food, water and power. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 Without an off-ramp for Putin, Burns said the result was likely to be a grinding conflict with terrible consequences for civilians. 'I think Putin is angry and frustrated right now,' said Burns. Amid the slow progress, Western and Ukrainian leaders have issued dire warnings that Putin is preparing to use chemical weapons. Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday the threat of Russian forces deploying chemical weapons is 'very real' as the invasion enters its third week. In last night's televised address to the nation, the president sarcastically addressed Russian troops and asked where they planned to deploy the weapons. 'Where will you strike with chemical weapons?' he asked. 'At the maternity hospital in Mariupol? At the church in Kharkiv? Okhmadit children's hospital? 'Or at our laboratories, which have been around since Soviet times and work on regular technology, not military technology?' Boris Johnson and former head of MI6's Russian operations Christopher Steele echoed Zelensky's concerns that Russia could soon deploy chemical weapons. The Prime Minister said Putin is in charge of a 'cynical, barbaric government', and believes Russia is preparing a 'fake story' which it could use to deny using the weapons and to blame the West. The Prime Minister told Sky News Beth Rigby Interviews show: The stuff that you are hearing about chemical weapons, this is straight out of their playbook. They start saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stored by their opponents or by the Americans and so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a sort of maskirovka, a fake story, ready to go. And you have seen it in Syria. You saw it even in the UK. Asked if it was his expectation that Russia will use chemical weapons, the premier said: 'I just note that that is what they are already doing [preparing a fake story]. It is a cynical, barbaric government I am afraid. Russia has accused Ukraine of preparing a chemical weapons strike without any evidence, which officials fear could be used as a pretext for their own attack. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that Ukraine was running chemical and biological weapons labs with US support, allegations which have been dismissed by the West. Moscow is officially committed to destroying its chemical weapons stockpiles under various international treaties, and has not used the weapons in combat for decades. The Soviets were last accused of using them during the invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. But Russia used the deadly Novichok poison in 2018 an attempt to assassinate spy Sergei Skripal living in Salisbury, England. And it is suspected of using a similar poison against opposition leader Navalny in 2020. Moscow has also offered diplomatic cover to Syrian use of chemical agents, for example accusing the West of being behind the 2017 attack on Khan Shaykhun with Sarin or similar nerve agent. As of February 27, hate crimes targeting all minorities, not just Asian-Americans, were up more than 142 percent compared with the same period last year NYPD is investigating the attack as a possible hate crime - after anti-Asian crime soared by 343 percent during the Covid pandemic The suspect in New York City's latest hammer attack that left an Asian man with blood pouring from a wound on his head has been held on $300,000 bail. Christian Jeffers, 48, who identifies as a woman, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting the 29-year-old victim at the 14th Street subway station in Manhattan on Tuesday. Her charges were of assault, aggravated harassment, menacing, all as hate crimes, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon. At her arraignment hearing on Friday morning, the judge ordered Jeffers to be held on $300,000 bail. Prosecutors said that Jeffers' alleged attack was done with 'little to no provocation'. The on-camera attack shows Jeffers, wearing a black wig and purple lipstick, smashing the victim in the head with a hammer just after the strangers had bumped into one another. They exchanged words before Jeffers can be seen launching a brutal attack on the 29-year-old Asian man. Police said that Jeffers has a vast criminal history that stretches back to 2007 and includes 47 prior arrests, charges of prostitution, grand larceny, public lewdness, theft of service and drug possession. Jeffers was released from prison in last June after serving six years for second-degree robbery, and just a week after release, she was arrested for petit larceny. His post-release supervision for this conviction was set to expire in September 2024. Career criminal Christian Jeffers, 48, who identifies as a woman, faces hate crime charges for allegedly striking an Asian man with a hammer in a Manhattan subway station Police said that Jeffers has a vast criminal history that stretches back to 2007 and includes 47 prior arrests, charges of prostitution, grand larceny, public lewdness, theft of service and drug possession The victim of Tuesday's brutal hammer attack told NBC New York that he was returning home after having dinner with a friend when he and his companion encountered Jeffers at the subway station at around 9pm. 'We saw the assailant come out from the turnstile,' said the victim, who did not wish to be named. 'As [Jeffers] was coming out he bumped into another individual that was in front of us.' After having some words with the other passerby, Jeffers allegedly intentionally bumped into the 29-year-old Asian man, even though the victim said he tried to move out of the way to avoid a collision. The 29-year-old victim was left with blood pouring down the side of the face after being smashed in the head at the 14th Street station on Tuesday Police said the attacker was male, about 6-foot-2, wearing a wig, purple lipstick, blue jeans, red shoes and a red jacket, attacked another man with a hammer on a subway platform Referring to the suspect by a male pronoun, the victim said: 'He turned around, trying to get in my face, get in my face aggressively.' In doing so, Jeffers allegedly stepped on the victim's foot. Video of the attack shows Jeffers, wearing a wig, a red jacket and blue jeans, yelling at the victim: 'Why you hit me? Why you f***ing hit me?' The 48-year-old then pulls a hammer out of her bag and smashes the Asian man in the head. 'It happened too quick for me to react,' the victim later recounted. 'I tried to put my hand up because I was expecting something but I just got hit regardless.' The victim said he then felt blood dripping down the side of his face. Photo taken at the scene shows the man sitting on the floor and being tended to by paramedics. A small puddle of blood is seen next to him. Christian Jeffers is pictured being arrested on Wednesday evening, on suspicion of attacking a man with a hammer Jeffers has been charged with second-degree assault and may face hate crimes The 29-year-old remained conscious and was taken to Bellevue Hospital. Police initially described Jeffers as male, about 6-foot-2, wearing a wig, purple lipstick, blue jeans, red shoes and a red jacket, and carrying a tote bag. On Wednesday, Jeffers was spotted by a transit officer shortly after 2 p.m., having jumped the turnstile. Jeffers, wearing the same top and jacket but without the wig, and without the blue jeans and red shoes, was taken into custody. A hammer was found in her bag. While being led by officer out of a police precinct, Jeffers, wearing the same red jacket she had on during the attack, told reporters that the victim 'pushed me.' Jeffers was detained on Wednesday night, after jumping a turnstile The victim, an Asian man, suffered head injuries in the hammer attack at 14th St station in New York City. He is seen in an ambulance The victim, who remained conscious, was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where police described his condition as stable The victim said he is fed up with rising crime in the Big Apple - and that he wants his hammer-wielding attacker 'locked up.' 'I want to get him locked up because he was pretty aggressive,' the victim, who chose not to be identified, told the New York Post. 'He was looking for trouble. 'We're trying to live our lives as well as we can, you know, and it's just unfortunate that we have to face all these adversities, along with just all the struggles in life,' he added. As of February 27, hate crimes targeting all minorities, not just Asian-Americans, were up more than 142 percent compared with the same period last year. It is unclear what evidence prompted prosecutors to file hate crime charges against Jeffers. New York City has seen a huge rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, with police figures showing a 343 percent rise during the Covid pandemic. This follows a string of horrific incidents in Manhattan, including a homeless man who confessed to fatally shoving an Asian woman in front of subway train at Times Square and a 65-year-old woman who was kicked and stomped on by a man yelling anti-Asian slurs. NYPD investigators say an incident at 14th Street station in Manhattan on Tuesday night, which left an Asian man with head injuries, is being investigated as a possible hate crime The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force has been notified of the assault, although it is not known if the attack was motivated by anti-Asian bias Police describe the suspect as male, about 6-foot-2, wearing a wig, purple lipstick, blue jeans, red shoes and a red jacket, and carrying a tote bag It follows a string of horrific incidents in Manhattan, including a homeless man confessing to fatally shoving an Asian woman in front of subway train at Times Square, and a 65-year-old woman who was kicked and stomped on by a man yelling anti-Asian slurs Asian Americans have experienced a 343 percent increase in hate crimes in 2021 with 133 attacks. Hispanics are also seeing a rise in attacks with eight attacks happening in 2021, compared to one in 2020 Last week, police arrested a suspect who allegedly kicked city health worker Nina Rothschild, 58, down the stairs outside the station in Queens Plaza and repeatedly hit her head with a hammer. Denise Alston, 57, of Queens, was arrested Friday night after police said she used Rothschild's credit card a day after the attack. Also last week, police launched a hunt for a man suspected of going on a two-hour assault spree targeting seven Asian woman. In February, New York City Mayor Eric Adams ousted Jessica Corey, the head of the NYPD's hate crimes unit, which has made arrests in fewer than half of all reported incidents. 'We were too slow in investigating [crimes] as possible hate crimes,' Adams said Monday as he commented on Corey's ouster. 'I wanted a new face there, a new vision.' During the month of February, the NYPD reported a 58.7 percent increase in total crime. The latest figures showed 9,138 incidents as opposed to 5,759 in 2021 - with double-digit surges in nearly every major category Only 219 people were arrested for hate crimes last year, though there were 524 such complaints. In 2020, there were 265 complaints and 93 arrests What does Adams's subway safety plan for NYC look like? The mayor's plan lays out how the Adams administration, in partnership with the MTA and other state entities, will confront these concurrent challenges on New York City's subway systems. Investments in people will provide immediate support and protection to New Yorkers, while investments in places like drop-in-centers, safe havens, stabilization beds, and Street Homeless Outreach Wellness vans, as well as policy changes at local, state, and federal levels will provide medium- and long-term solutions. These include: Deploying up to 30 Joint Response Teams that bring together DHS, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYPD, and community-based providers in high-need locations across the city Training NYPD officers in the city's subway system to enforce the MTA and New York City Transit Authority's rules of conduct in a fair and transparent way Expanding Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division 'B-HEARD' teams to six new precincts, more than doubling the precincts covered to 11. These teams will expand on the already-successful pilot of answering non-violent 911 mental health calls with mental health professionals Incorporating medical services into DHS sites serving individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Expanded DHS Safe Havens and stabilization bed programs will offer on-site physical and behavioral health care to immediately address clients' needs Immediately improving coordination across government with weekly 'Enhanced Outreach Taskforce' meetings that bring together senior leaders from 13 city and state agencies to address issues quickly Creating new Drop-in-Centers to provide an immediate pathway for individuals to come indoors, and exploring opportunities to site Drop-in-Centers close to key subway stations to directly transition individuals from trains and platforms to safe spaces Streamlining the placement process into supportive housing and reducing the amount of paperwork it takes to prove eligibility Calling on state government to expand psychiatric bed resources and amending Kendra's Law to improve mental health care delivery for New Yorkers on Assisted Outpatient Treatment Requiring instead of requesting everyone to leave the train and the station at the end of the line Advertisement There has also been a nearly 60 per cent spike in general crime over last year. The attack comes almost two weeks after New York City started its new 'Subway Safety Plan', a 17-page program to fight the massive spike in transit crime in the still-recovering city. According to the latest data from the New York City Police Department, since the beginning of the year, there have been 276 instances of crime in the subway system, which represent a 65 percent increase compared to the same period in 2021. Adams's plan involves sending more police, mental health clinicians and social service outreach workers into the subways. Levy said Monday that a 'phased-in' implementation was beginning. The plan notes that more than 1,000 homeless people who use the subways for shelter need help, not handcuffs, but says police will have a zero-tolerance policy and will crack down on sleeping, littering, smoking, doing drugs or hanging out in the system. It calls for clearing all passengers out of trains at the ends of their lines, an approach that has waxed and waned over the years. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which runs the subways, 'knows that there are people in the subway system who need help and must and will be helped. 'But they can't stay in the subway system,' spokesperson Aaron Donovan said. Adams did not give any specific details and timelines on his plan's progress last month, and given the chronic shortage of housing options that are mostly priced at an affordable rate for people who choose to live in the subway, it was unclear where those who found a home underground would go if they are evicted, if won't be the streets. Details on the plan's cost or how it would be paid remain scarce. Shelly Nortz, a deputy executive director of the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless, cautioned against 'criminalizing homelessness and mental illness' and suggested the city was falling back on policing strategies that had failed in the past. However, she welcomed arrangements within the plan that call for more psychiatric inpatient beds to be made available, as well as shelters with private rooms and supportive housing, which comes with on-site social services. In recent years, the city has veered between responding to concerns about crime in the subways and complaints about heavy-handed policing there. The last mayor, Democrat Bill de Blasio, at times deployed more police into the system. So did Adams, just last month. The precise number of homeless people living in the subway is unknown, but an annual survey in January 2021 shared an estimated figure at 1,300 and that was when the subway system would be closed for four hours every night for disinfecting. The number of homeless people in the system is believed to have increased ever since. Prior to the pandemic, 1,700 people were living in the subway in January 2020. A senior gynaecologist has been suspended after a new mother died following a bungled caesarean which was carried out on an NHS maternity unit with one of Britain's worst death rates. Cambridge educated Dr Peter Yeh, 54, delegated the caesarean to a junior colleague without reading the patient's medical notes which showed she had a potentially cancerous cyst on her left ovary. The woman, who was not named, subsequently died due to complications relating to the cyst which had become malignant. Inquiries revealed she should have undergone treatment to the ovary as part of the c-section but due to a 'chaotic and busy morning' no medical notes were made available for Yeh to read in advance of the operation. It is not known what happened to the baby. The tragedy occurred at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North London, which in 2005 was criticised in a report which said during the period April 2002 to March 2004, the maternal death rate for the maternity unit was 74.2 per 100,000 - 6.5 times the national average. Cambridge educated Dr Peter Yeh, 54, delegated the caesarean to a junior colleague without reading the patient's medical notes which showed she had a potentially cancerous cyst on her left ovary In 2016 a Care Quality Commission report rated Northwick Park Hospital as 'requiring improvement' and last year the maternity unit was rated 'inadequate' following 13 serious incidents including bullying allegations and baby deaths. Yeh, a Consultant Obstetrician and Specialist in Fetal Maternal Medicine, was reported to the General Medical Council following a Serious Incident Investigation conducted by London North-West University Healthcare NHS Trust. He is currently practising as a locum at North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. At the Medical Practioners Tribunal Service in Manchester Yeh who was nominated a 'Covid Hero' during the pandemic by colleagues was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and was suspended from treating patients for a month. The incident occurred in August 2017 when the woman known as Patient A was admitted to the hospital for the pre-planned operation. During a consultation ahead of the procedure Yeh obtained consent from the woman for the c-section without reading her antenatal clinic entries or obtaining an adequate medical history from her. The Manchester hearing was told the notes might have contained details of any potential complications and potential difficulty in undertaking a c-section, any past medical or surgical history, any allergies and medication, how the pregnancy has been progressing and any foetal complications up to that point. The tragedy occurred at Northwick Park Hospital (pictured) in Harrow, North London, which in 2005 was criticised in a report which said during the period April 2002 to March 2004, the maternal death rate for the maternity unit was 74.2 per 100,000 - 6.5 times the national average But Yeh failed to review the notes and simply delegated the operation to a junior colleague known as Mr B that same day. It was not revealed when the c-section took place or when the woman died but Yeh later accepted he 'had not taken sufficient effort' to retrieve Patient A's medical notes. He also accepted that there may have been some electronic notes available that he did not access, and that he could have reviewed the ultrasound scans, in the absence of antenatal notes. Yeh's lawyer Mr Andrew Colman said: 'His failure to read Patient A's records as well as his subsequent delegation of her c-section were serious failures, and that these would be seen as deplorable and affect public trust in doctors. But Dr Yeh remains at a loss as to how this had happened given his usual high standards. 'This was the first and only time in Dr Yeh's career that such a mistake had occurred. Dr Yeh's usual approach was one of thorough diligence. He was a skilled and experienced doctor who was one of the few consultants to go the extra mile for patients. Dr Yeh is mortified to have let Patient A and her family down. 'He has repeatedly expressed remorse towards Patient A's family through his responses to his regulator and others. Although he felt he was unable to approach the family directly, Dr Yeh wished to convey his sincerest and heartfelt apologies to the family members. Mr Colman added: 'The fact that there had been miscommunication and failings by others exacerbated the consequences of Dr Yeh's failings. These included the fact that the patient notes were not available on the day, that it was a busy and chaotic day on the Maternity Unit, and that Dr Yeh fell short while doing his best to cope. 'Dr Yeh had not been deliberately prioritising anything else and his only concern at the time was the care of Patient A. It was at the degree of care that Dr Yeh had failed, rather than putting his own interests first. 'He has since undertaken appropriate and targeted steps to remediate and had also reflected on his actions. He has sought to learn from his mistakes and to improve the system for sharing clinical information. 'Dr Yeh is acutely aware that nothing could make up to Patient A's family for what happened to her but he has done everything possible to ensure this didn't happen to anyone else. 'This was an isolated incident that was unlikely to be repeated, and Dr Yeh currently presented no risk to patient safety. 'Even senior doctors can make mistakes that are fundamental and serious in their consequences. The tribunal was presented details of Yeh's CV, his repeated nominations for 'Staff Excellence Awards' since 2017, and the number of testimonials from 'grateful' patients and parents. In a statement he said: 'I accept my failures risked patient harm, I agree it is a fundamental tenet to make my patient my first concern and I accept I have breached a fundamental tenet of the medical profession.' MPTS chairman Ms Louise Sweet told the hearing: 'The key omission was Dr Yeh's failure to read any clinical notes when taking consent before Patient A's planned operation. 'This failure meant he and others in theatre were insufficiently briefed as to her medical history, any risks she might face nor of the existence of an ovarian cyst that required removal. This key omission also led to inappropriate delegation of the operation to a junior colleague. 'The Tribunal were conscious that Dr Yeh was keen to fulfil his rota duty at the Fetal Medical Centre where he had lead responsibility for especially difficult births. The Tribunal were also conscious that he was working in difficult circumstances with paperwork not readily to hand and accepted that Dr Yeh was not the only clinician in error with regard to Patient A. 'Nonetheless, Dr Yeh was the Consultant on duty. He was the person, before he delegated, who was to operate on Patient A. He had a responsibility to give her care his full focus which must, at a very basic level, require him to find and read her antenatal records. 'His actions represented a clear breach by his failure to find and read patient notes before carrying out or delegating any surgical procedure, especially such a significant operation as a c-section. 'His seniority meant he would have fully appreciated why the notes would need to be reviewed and the importance of taking time to obtain the notes, no matter what delays that might cause to others. The Tribunal were of the view that Dr Yeh should have made Patient A his first concern. 'Dr Yeh's failings meant Patient A was exposed to unnecessary risks. In her case, a potential ovarian cystectomy was overlooked.' A three-year-old girl died after choking on a Nike-top toggle at an Asda store while her parents desperately tried to save her. Toddler Poppy Reardon was out with her mum and dad in Aintree, Liverpool, shopping at the supermarket for a camping trip they had planned the next day when she died in a 'tragic accident'. An inquest heard how her dad Conor Mulhaney was carrying the tot when she started biting on the plastic zip toggle on his Nike running jacket. Coroner Julie Goulding said Poppy 'accidentally asphyxiated' after swallowing the toggle when became detached from the top, reports the Liverpool Echo . Poppy Reardon, 3, died after choking on a plastic toggle from her dad's top in an Asda in Aintree (pictured) Poppy was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital (pictured), but on arrival she was found to not be 'breathing on her own' Off-duty paramedic David Fitzmurphy had stepped out of the store when his partner alerted him to the youngster choking and 'going blue'. He ran to the aisle and immediately started mouth-to-mouth but said it 'felt like it wasn't going in' as her 'really distressed' parents Rhian Reardon and Conor Mulhaney frantically tried to help. An off-duty operating department practitioner then started CPR on Poppy, before the paramedics arrived and took over. When the ambulance arrived, the 3-year-old was in cardiac arrest and not breathing. Not able to resuscitate her in the store, the paramedics rushed her to Alder Hey Hospital. Upon arrival to the hospital, Poppy was 'not breathing on her own' and there were 'no signs of life'. Despite repeated CPR attempts and adrenaline shots, Ms Goulding said it 'was not possible to resuscitate her'. The inquest yesterday held at Bootle Town Hall (pictured) heard how medical professionals rushed to the aid of Poppy but were unfortunately unable to resuscitate her despite their efforts The tragic incident at the Aintree Asda (pictured), left staff feeling 'devastated' The hearing at Bootle Town Hall was told that the Nike top Poppy's dad was wearing on the day of the tragedy in August 2021 was designed for adults and had been distributed globally with 'no other similar issues'. Though a toggle of this kind would not have been a feature on a child's top due to it being 'prohibited by law'. Concluding Poppy's death to be a 'tragic accident', Ms Goulding said the top complied with all appropriate UK and international standards. The coroner sent her 'deepest condolences to the young family and friends for their very tragic and sad loss.' Speaking after the incident, one unnamed worker said all the staff were 'devastated'. 'It's just so sad for her parents,' they added. 'How do you get over something like that.' Advertisement It was a decade remembered for its industrial strife and social upheaval, but now a set of rediscovered images have revealed everyday life in 1970s Stockport. The images, which show ordinary Britons in the Greater Manchester town on market day, were taken by Swiss-born photographer Heidi Alexander during her visits there in 1976 and 1977. One, which Ms Alexander says is her 'favourite', shows a little girl looking defiant as she sits with her arms folded next to a man picking at his teeth. Another reveals the famous power station cooling tower that dominated the Stockport skyline before it was demolished in 1981. Beneath it, an array of socks and tights are for sale, with prices ranging from four to 40 pence. A third image shows three children - one of whom is dressed in then-fashionable flares - waiting at a hot dog stand. Ms Alexander, who moved to Scotland with her mother and four siblings in 1969, said she took the first set of images of Stockport life while visiting a friend aged 21, but then never developed the prints. She said that, because she was 'born and raised in Switzerland in the middle of the Alps', she had never encountered English life and so regarded what she saw in Stockport as 'exotic as somewhere in Greece or Portugal'. Now aged 67, she only found the negatives during the first coronavirus lockdown in April 2020 and then began posting them on Instagram, where they proved popular. The images are now set to go on display in an exhibition at Stockport restaurant Where The Light Gets In, from April 23. Images revealing life in Stockport in 1976 and 1977 are set to go on display after being rediscovered by Swiss-born photographer Heidi Alexander. Above: A group of children are seen waiting at a hot dog stand at Stockport market A smartly dressed man in suit and cloth cap is seen talking to a fellow Stockport resident next to a plant stall. Ms Alexander, who moved to Scotland with her mother and four siblings in 1969, said she took the first set of images of Stockport life while visiting a friend aged 21, but then never developed the prints Another image reveals the famous power station cooling tower that dominated the Stockport skyline before it was demolished in 1981. Beneath it, an array of socks and tights are for sale, with prices ranging from four to 40 pence One, which Ms Alexander says is her 'favourite', shows a little girl looking defiant as she sits with her arms folded next to a man picking at his teeth. The retired social worker said of the girl: 'She reminds me of a lot of young girls at that age, you have that confidence before you realise you don't have the confidence' Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Alexander, who now lives in Edinburgh with her husband, said: 'I was born and raised in Switzerland in the middle of the Alps and we travelled a lot on the continent and didn't come to the UK until the late 60s, settling in Scotland. Ms Alexander, 67, now lives in Edinburgh with her husband 'So the UK and parts of England were as exotic as somewhere in Greece or Portugal. 'It was unfamiliar, and I was a tourist frankly. I was a tourist frankly in Stockport in 1976.' Ms Alexander was a student at Stirling University when she took the images in Stockport. In total, she took more than 300 photos on nine rolls of film, using her father's Leica M4 camera. She said she said she initially failed to make any prints from the film because she graduated from university and no longer had access to the Darkroom that was needed. The retired social worker then rediscovered them in her home when looking for other images of her sister's wedding. 'I forgot that they even existed,' she said. 'I happened to be looking during the first lockdown, I was asked by one of my sisters for an old negative of her wedding. 'It was my father's Leica M4 that I used. I was looking for this negative that she wanted and I came across this box of negatives and contact sheets from Stockport. 'Because it was lockdown and there wasn't much happening, I started scanning them with a borrowed scanner. Looking fabulous: A little girl is seen smiling brightly as she sits on a wall whilst wearing a star-patterned dress and groovy glasses. Ms Alexander was a student at Stirling University when she took the images in Stockport, between 1976 and 1977 In total, Ms Alexander took more than 300 photos on nine rolls of film, using her father's Leica M4 camera. Above: Three pensioners engage in conversation next to a book stall at Stockport market Ms Alexander initially failed to make any prints from her rolls of film and then forgot she even had them. It wasn't until April 2020 that she rediscovered them and posted them online. Above: A woman smiles at a fabric stall at Stockport market Two boys are seen with contrasting expressions on their faces as they sit next to a fruit and vegetable stall at Stockport Market Roll up, roll up! Stockport locals are seen walking past a stall selling rugs and mats during a busy day at Stockport market Feline tempted? An elderly Stockport resident is seen manning a stall selling cat food, including recognisable brands such as Pedigree and Go Cat 'I put them on my website and happened to show them to a friend who comes from the area and she said they should be on social media. 'People responded and it took off, last June, July time.' Ms Alexander has since published the images in a book, which is titled The Stockport Collection. She said the images are being exhibited after she went back to Stockport for the first time since the 1970s and chanced upon the owner of Where The Light Gets In, Sam Buckley. Another image shows a trio of locals poring over a magazine whilst standing at a stall selling an array of bras. Ms Alexander has since published her images in a book, which is titled The Stockport Collection Shoes, glorious shoes: Women are seen poring over piles of footwear at Stockport market, as clothes at other stalls hang behind them Ms Alexander's images captured life in Stockport nearly 50 years ago. She said she has had emails from people who recognise their relatives. Above: Ms Alexander's image of a street in the town Looking distracted: This Stockport resident is seen sitting in what appears to be a greenhouse. The photo is one of more than 300 taken by Ms Alexander during two visits to Stockport He then invited her to display them in his venue. Ms Alexander said of the girl in her favourite image: 'She reminds me of a lot of young girls at that age, you have that confidence before you realise you don't have the confidence,' she said. 'I just love her body language and I have several other images of her.' She added: 'The sense of community was revived by the lockdown and revealed what we took for granted 45 years ago, because there was no social media. There wasn't that "me me me" stuff going on.' Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces have said they are afraid of death by firing squad if they are returned home. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, a soldier from the 2nd Motor Rifle Division said he fears being killed when he is returned to Russia, reported the Daily Telegraph on Thursday. 'In Russia, we are already considered dead,' said one of the captured soldiers. 'I was given the opportunity to call my parents and they told me that a funeral for me had already been arranged. 'If we are exchanged, then we will be shot by our own people.' Eleven russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces make a press statement on March 5 in Kyiv. Five days later, soldiers were A captured Russian soldier tells a press conference that he started to question what he'd been told after seeing his favorite boxers Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko signing up to fight Ukrainian forces detain servicemen of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic who were captured during the morning attack on the town of Schast'ye on February 24 Another captured Russian soldier described on Tuesday how he was shot at by his fellow troops when they tried to protect Ukrainian civilians. His comrade, a lieutenant, was killed by his own side when trying to save a woman in her 20s, and her mother, after Russian soldiers were given orders to fire on civilians on February 24 in Kharkiv. The captured soldier claimed he was shot in the foot, and the lieutenant killed, when other troops realized the pair weren't shooting at the civilians. Captured Russian soldiers speaking on March 2 said the invasion of Ukraine was in 'complete disarray', according to voice recordings obtained by a British intelligence company. The intercepted radio messages indicated that troops are refusing to obey central command orders to shell Ukrainian towns and are complaining about running out of supplies of food and fuel. Parts of the Russian military still use analogue 'walkie talkie' two-way radios, making them more vulnerable to interception. The recordings are among around 24 hours of material obtained by intelligence firm ShadowBreak since the invasion of Ukraine began last week. Other video recordings are said to show Russian soldiers retreating back into Russia after becoming frustrated. The Telegraph reported a text message sent by a soldier to his mother is alleged to have said: 'The only thing I want right now is to kill myself.' A senior US defence official told the New York Times on March 1 that some troops have been deliberately punched holes in their vehicles' petrol tanks in the hope of avoiding combat. In a second video released by the Ukrainian Security Service on Facebook, a Russian military technician was questioned, and claimed deserters are being threatened with seven years of jail time. Several of the videos were posted on a Telegram channel set up on Saturday by Ukraine's Interior Ministry called 'Find Your Own'. President Vlodymyr Zelensky's government have also opened a telephone hotline for Russian parents to find out if their sons are among the dead or captured. Russian prisoners interviewed by Ukrainian forces said the order to attack came at short notice. They were told the Ukrainian government had been deposed, and that they were going in a 'liberators' who should expect only light resistance. Instead, Russian soldiers found themselves led to the slaughter as Putin's forces met heavy resistance in the first few weeks of the invasion. This week, Ukrainian authorities said more than 12,000 Russian soldiers had been killed, a number that could not be independently verified. Russia has only admitted to 2,095 casualties, including 498 deaths and 1,597 wounded. British and EU regulators today opened investigations into Google and Meta over concerns the firms broke competition rules for online display advertising services. The Competition and Markets Authority in the UK and the European Commission announced parallel probes into the 'Jedi Blue' agreement between the tech giants. The London-based CMA is looking into whether the firms restricted or prevented the uptake of header bidding services, amid concerns that this impacted competition Header bidding allows sellers, such as news publishers, to offer online advertising space to multiple buyers at the same time - rather than receiving offers one by one. Buyers or advertisers therefore compete against each other for advertising space, allowing publishers to compare bids from a range of bidders. Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, said the watchdog fears 'that Google may have teamed up with Meta to put obstacles in the way of competitors' The watchdogs are scrutinising a 2018 agreement codenamed 'Jedi Blue', allowing Meta's audience network to work alongside Google's open bidding programme. The European Commission said it is concerned this link-up may have led to the exclusion of tech advertising services from competing with Google's bidding programme, and therefore restricting competition in the display advertising market. How 'Project Jedi Blue' exposed allegedly secret collusion Project Jedi Blue exposed allegedly secret collusion between Google and Facebook (now called Meta) to rig the advertising market. It was a secret deal between Facebook and Google that allegedly ensured Facebook would have a leg up in Google's ad auctions, with fixed win rates, informational advantages and discounted exchange fees. The September 2018 agreement was given the codename by Google, and it allowed Meta's audience network to work alongside Google's open bidding programme, which is a rival to header bidding. According to the accusations, the 'Jedi Blue' deal served to oust competition by manipulating ad auctions - the ultra-sophisticated system that determines which ads appear on web pages based on the anonymised profiles of internet users. As for header bidding, this allows sellers, such as news publishers, to offer online advertising space to multiple buyers at the same time - rather than receiving offers one by one. Buyers or advertisers therefore compete against each other for advertising space, allowing publishers to compare bids from a range of bidders. Advertisement Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president at the European Commission in charge of competition policy, said: 'Many publishers rely on online display advertising to fund online content for consumers. 'Via the so-called 'Jedi Blue' agreement between Google and Meta, a competing technology to Google's Open Bidding may have been targeted with the aim to weaken it and exclude it from the market for displaying ads on publisher websites and apps. 'If confirmed by our investigation, this would restrict and distort competition in the already concentrated ad tech market, to the detriment of rival ad serving technologies, publishers and ultimately consumers.' Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: 'We're concerned that Google may have teamed up with Meta to put obstacles in the way of competitors who provide important online display advertising services to publishers. 'If one company has a stranglehold over a certain area, it can make it hard for start-ups and smaller businesses to break into the market - and may ultimately reduce customer choice. 'We will not shy away from scrutinising the behaviour of big tech firms while we await powers for the Digital Markets Unit, working closely with global regulators to get the best outcomes possible.' Google and Meta are under intense pressure from publishers and ad rivals as together they overwhelm the online advertising market in much of the world. A Google spokesman told MailOnline today: 'The allegations made about this agreement are false. 'This is a publicly documented, procompetitive agreement that enables Facebook Audience Network (FAN) to participate in our Open Bidding program, along with dozens of other companies. 'FAN's involvement is not exclusive and they don't receive advantages that help them win auctions. 'The goal of this programme is to work with a range of ad networks and exchanges to increase demand for publishers' ad space, which helps those publishers earn more revenue. Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president at the European Commission in charge of competition policy, spoke about the so-called 'Jedi Blue' agreement between Google and Meta 'Facebook's participation helps that. We're happy to answer any questions the Commission or the CMA have.' And a Meta spokesman told MailOnline: 'Meta's non-exclusive bidding agreement with Google and the similar agreements we have with other bidding platforms, have helped to increase competition for ad placements. 'These business relationships enable Meta to deliver more value to advertisers and publishers, resulting in better outcomes for all. We will cooperate with both inquiries.' US Big Tech companies have been under intense pressure over their business practices in Europe, resulting in probes, huge fines and plans for EU-wide legislation to rein them in. In the latest accusations, which also form the basis for lawsuits in the United States, the 'Jedi Blue' deal served to oust competition by manipulating ad auctions. The Competition and Markets Authority is based in this building in London's Canary Wharf These are the ultra-sophisticated system that determines which ads appear on web pages based on the anonymised profiles of internet users. US court documents revealed that the top bosses of Google and Facebook were directly involved in approving the allegedly illegal 2018 deal. The legal documents filed in a New York court clearly refer to Sundar Pichai, chief of Google's parent firm Alphabet, as well as Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg and CEO Mark Zuckerberg - even if their names were redacted. Google, which has already been hit by more than 8billion in EU antitrust fines in the past decade, and Facebook are both being investigated by the bloc's executive over other issues and could face fines as much as 10 per cent of their global turnover for breaching its rules. Britain's anti-trust authority is also investigating the deal and the EU competition watchdog said it intends to cooperate closely with its British counterpart. Texas and 15 other US states alleged in an anti-trust complaint against Google that the deal with Facebook was struck as part of its effort to counter header bidding. A federal judge scolded former President Donald Trump Friday for waging futile and relentless delay tactics in a defamation lawsuit and rejected the former presidents effort to countersue his rape accuser. Judge Lewis Kaplans scorching remarks came in a decision turning down Trumps bid to invoke a New York law against frivolous litigation while fighting E. Jean Carrolls case against him. Advertisement E. Jean Carroll, center, waits to enter a courtroom in New York for her defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, March 4, 2020. (Seth Wenig/AP) The lawsuit by the magazine journalist says Trump lied when he denied her rape accusation. Approving use of the statute would have enabled Trump to sue Carroll for attorneys fees if he prevailed in the case. Advertisement (Trumps) litigation tactics, whatever their intent, have delayed the case to an extent that readily could have been far less, Kaplan wrote. The judge detailed a laundry list of legal gambits Trump has tried since 2019 when Carroll initially filed her complaint and he attempted to dodge service of it at his Manhattan residence and the White House. Taken together, wrote Kaplan, the strategies strongly suggest that he is acting out of a strong desire to delay any opportunity (Carroll) may have to present her case against him. Kaplan added that the relevance of a 78-year-old Carroll being the alleged attacks only witness is obvious when considering why Trump might seek to delay her case. The anti-SLAPP bill, signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019, was created by state lawmakers to deter powerful entities from bringing frivolous lawsuits as a means to silence criticism. Ironically, legislators said Trumps propensity for suing his detractors inspired them to draft it. His decision said nothing in the statute would defeat Carrolls claims if theyre true and allowing Trump to invoke the law would unduly prejudice his rape accuser. Which, in my view, is a motive for (Trumps) position on this motion, Kaplan wrote. Advertisement Kaplan had previously disputed whether Trumps lawyer Alina Habba could cite the New York law in his case now that it has been moved to Manhattan Federal Court. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, during an event to award Presidential Medal of Freedom, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Washington. (Patrick Semansky/AP) Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Habba said her client is undeterred. While we are disappointed with the Courts decision today, we eagerly look forward to litigating this action and proving at trial that the plaintiffs claims have absolutely no basis in law or in fact, Habba said. Lawyer Roberta Kaplan said she and Carroll could not agree with more with the judges ruling. Initially filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Carrolls lawsuit was transferred to federal court when Trump moved to swap himself out as a defendant and be represented by the Justice Department, which Kaplan denied. The case is on hold while the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals mulls a make-or-break decision on Trumps appeal of that ruling. Advertisement The magazine columnist says Trump defamed her when he called her a liar and not my type in response to allegations he raped her at Bergdorf Goodmans in the mid-1990s. Carroll no longer wants to depose Trump in the suit. She only wants a sample of his DNA to compare with semen on the dress she was wearing during the alleged assault. She says she never washed the dress. Advertisement Russia has today blown up a disabled care home near the city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said, as Vladimir Putin's troops stoop to a new low just 48 hours after shelling women as they gave birth in a maternity hospital. Oleg Sinegubov, an official from Kharkiv which has been under siege by Russian forces for days, accused Putin's men of committing a 'war crime' by launching air strikes against the facility in the town of Oskil which had 330 residents inside at the time the bombs hit. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 1000 Advertisement Sinegubov said 63 care home residents have since been evacuated, but could not give an update on the other 267. Ten of those living at the home require wheelchairs, he said, while another 50 have reduced mobility. Ihor Terekhov, mayor of the city, said another 48 schools have been destroyed by Russian missiles. Just 48 hours before the care home was destroyed, Russian jets had bombed a maternity hospital in the southern city of Mariupol as women gave birth inside. The Kremlin has sought to paint those wounded in the attack as 'crisis actors' as part of a vile propaganda attempt to dismiss allegations its troops are attacking women and children. Ukraine says Russian attacks have now killed more civilians than soldiers - without giving an exact figure for either - as the Kremlin's generals pivot from shock-and-awe-style precision strikes to 'medieval' siege warfare. Dnipro, hundreds of miles to the south of Kharkiv, was hit by three strikes early Friday that damaged a kindergarten, a civilian apartment block, and a shoe factory - killing at least one person. But Ukrainian forces continue to fight back, saying successful counter-attacks around the northern city of Chernihiv has recaptured five villages after Russian units took such heavy casualties that they were no longer able to attack effectively. It comes after another successful counter-attack in the same region on Thursday, and a counter-attack to the west of Kyiv which ground a Russian offensive to a halt. Meanwhile footage showed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter being downed earlier this week, as western-supplied anti-aircraft missiles continue to inflict a heavy toll on Putin's air forces. It is unclear exactly when or where the footage was taken, though it was first posted to TikTok two days ago before circulating widely today. Chernihiv is located around 80 miles to the north of Kyiv, where attacks are also underway today in an effort to surround the capital and subject it to the kind of siege already underway elsewhere. Satellite images revealed a 40-mile 'death convoy' that had previously clogged up highways nearby is now moving into attack positions. Ukraine believes the capital - which is currently home to around 2million people - could soon be surrounded, after which it faces the same punishing fate meted out to the cities of Mariupol, which has been without water or power for 11 days, Kharkiv, and Sumy, where thousands of civilians have been killed. Putin's men are now facing a long and bloody mission to try and take the capital, which is thought to be the main target of their 'special military operation' - with the goal being to topple the government and install a puppet regime friendly to Moscow. Russia has convened a UN security council meeting today to discuss what it claims are threats from Ukrainian chemical weapons. Should Russia decide to deploy WMDs, it is unclear where the attack would take place. Moscow is officially committed to destroying its chemical weapons stockpiles under various international treaties, and has not used the weapons in combat for decades. The Soviets were last accused of using them during the invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. However, the Kremlin is known to have maintained an illegal chemical weapons programme which it has used to attack political opponents. Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent, was used in the failed assassination attempt on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the UK in 2018. It was also used in a failed attack on Alexei Navalny in 2020. Bashar al-Assad's forces, fighting alongside Russia, used chemical weapons on civilian targets during his campaign to re-take Syria after the civil war - most notably in Ghouta in 2013 and Khan Shakhoun in 2017. President Volodymyr Zelensky, giving a late-night address to his people on Thursday, confessed to fears that Russia itself is now preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine - after Moscow accused the Ukrainian government of preparing such an attack. 'We have found if you want to find out Russia's plans, you should look at what Russia is accusing others of,' he said, pointing out that ahead of Putin giving the order to invade Ukraine, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of preparing an attack against Russia. 'We're the ones being blamed, as if we've attacked a peaceful Russia. And what now,' he asked in an emotional late-night address. 'What does it mean, that we're being accused of preparing chemical attacks? Have you decided to conduct a dechemicalisation of Ukraine? With what? With ammonia? With phosphorus? 'What else have you prepared for us? What do you plan to hit with chemical weapons? A maternity hospital in Maripul? A church in Kharkiv? A children's hospital?' Footage taken somewhere in Ukraine shows another of Vladimir Putin's helicopters crashing out of the sky after apparently being hit by a surface-to-air missile Firefighters spray water on a destroyed shoe factory following an airstrike in Dnipro, after the city was hit by three Russian airstrikes Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after three airstrikes hit on Friday morning - destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian Emergency crews assess the damage on a residential street in Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it came under bombardment on Friday - having largely been spared attacks so far during the war Damage is seen in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it was bombed by Russian forces in the early hours Gutted buildings are seen in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after Russian missile strikes in the early hours Fires burn amidst the ruins of a destroyed building after a Russian airstrike in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers counter-attack against Russian forces to the west of Kyiv on Thursday, after an attempt by Putin's men to enter the west of the city was ground to a halt Ukrainian troops carrying an array of anti-tank weapons are pictured moving through a forest as they prepare a counter-attack against Russian forces near Kyiv Ukrainian territorial defence units, which are charged with protecting Kyiv from Russian attacks, have been preparing trenches in the capital as the battle to take the city gets underway Members of the Kyiv territorial defence dig trenches along the side of highways in the capital Kyiv, as they prepare to defend the capital against attacks by Russian troops Barricades made from sandbags and tyres filled with earth are erected around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as commanders warn it will soon be surrounded and Russian forces will try to push into the city A member of Ukraine's territorial defence forces helps to erect barricades in the capital, with a Russian offensive to try and sieze control now pushing into the outskirts Newly-erected barricades are seen against the backdrop of Ukrainian apartment buildings in Kyiv, as mayor Vitali Kitschko says the capital has been turned into a 'fortress' Ukrainian commanders say Russian attacks are underway to the north, west and east of Kyiv and that the city will soon be surrounded as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of it gets underway Ukraine war: The latest Kyiv may soon be encircled with Russian forces moving on areas north and west of the capital, the Ukrainian military says Volodymyr Zelensky says trucks carrying food and medicine to the besieged city of Mariupol - without water and power for 11 days - were attacked by Russian tanks Russia claims deadly bomb attack on Mariupol's children hospital was 'staged' by Ukraine A kindergarten and an apartment block are hit in the first air strikes on the city of Dnipro Ukraine says at least 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded Zelensky says about 100,000 people have evacuated from areas surrounding Kyiv, Sumy and Izyum Ukrainian military says fighting is raging for control of the northern city of Chernihiv and Kharkiv and Severodonetsk, in the east Moscow promises to open humanitarian corridors every day to allow Ukrainians to flee, but Kyiv has rejected routes leading into Russia or its ally Belarus UN Security Council will meet Friday after Russia says biological weapons are being developed in Ukraine, in what is feared to be pre-text for a potential use of the weapons by Moscow US and Europe could impose additional penalties on Moscow because 'the atrocities that they're committing against civilians seem to be intensifying' White House says any decision by Moscow to seize assets of US or international companies 'will ultimately result in more economic pain for Moscow' European Union leaders tell Ukraine there is no fast way to join the bloc, N says more than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine - more than half to Poland Asian stock tumble with Tokyo falling more than two percent and the yen hitting a five-year low US investment bank Goldman Sachs pulls out of Russia, the first Wall Street institution to do so Advertisement Territorial defence units, charged with protecting the city, were pictured digging trenches there and setting up barricades, as mayor Vitali Kitschko said the capital has been turned into a 'fortress'. Airstrikes early Friday struck the cities of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, in the west, which have largely been spared attacks. The strike on Dnipro hit civilian areas including a shoe factory, killing at least one person. The bombings in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk are thought to have targeted military airports - mirroring attacks in the early days of the war. Two soldiers were killed. Strikes on Kharkiv, a surrounded city in the north east of Ukraine, hit the Physics Institute which houses a nuclear reactor - drawing accusations from Ukraine that Russia is committing 'nuclear terrorism'. It comes after Putin's forces also attacked the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia, further to the south. US intelligence said Russian forces had made gains elsewhere to the west of Kyiv and had inched three miles closer to the city centre. Tanks are now nine miles from the central government district, the Pentagon said late Thursday, having been 13 miles out previously. The 40-mile line of vehicles, tanks and artillery had massed outside Kyiv early last week. But its advance had appeared to stall amid reports of food and fuel shortages while Ukrainian troops also targeted it with anti-tank missiles. The new moves suggest the convoy forces were now moving west around the city, making their way south to encircle it,, according to Jack Watling, a research fellow at British defense think-tank Royal United Services Institute. 'They're about half-way around now,' he told BBC radio. He said they were likely preparing for a 'siege rather than assault' on Kyiv because of continuing low morale and logistical problems. A missile Friday hit the town of Baryshivka, on Kyiv's eastern perimeter, significantly damaging buildings, according to the regional administration. The British Ministry of Defense said that after making 'limited progress,' Russian forces were trying to 're-set and re-posture' their troops, gearing up for operations against Kyiv. Moscow also indicated it plans to bring fighters from Syria into the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved bringing in 'volunteer' fighters and told his defense minister to help them 'move to the combat zone.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the 'volunteers' include fighters from Syria. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia knew of 'more than 16,000 applications' from countries in the Middle East, many of them from people he said had helped Russia against the Islamic State group, according to a Kremlin transcript. Since 2015, Russian forces have backed Syrian President Assad against various groups opposed to his rule, including Islamic State. Opposition activists in Syria have also reported Russian recruitment efforts in the country for the Ukraine war. But they estimate the number of volunteers so far is in the hundreds or a few thousand. Revoking Russia's 'most favored nation' trade status by the U.S. and other nations would allow higher tariffs to be imposed on some Russian imports. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow to Russia, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Putin has insisted Russia can endure sanctions. After meeting in Moscow with the president of Belarus, Putin said there have been 'certain positive developments' in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. But he offered no details. Meanwhile, the offensive on Ukrainian cities has expanded. In Syria, Russia backed the government in imposing long, brutal sieges on opposition-held cities, wreaking heavy destruction on residential area and causing widespread civilian casualties. That history, along with the ongoing siege of the Azov Sea port of Mariupol, has raised fears of similar bloodshed in Ukraine. Russian airstrikes Friday targeted for the first time the eastern city of Dnipro, a major industrial hub and Ukraine's fourth-largest city in a strategic position on the Dnieper River. Three strikes hit, killing at least one person, according to Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Heraschenko. In images of the strikes' aftermath released by Ukraine's state emergency agency, firefighters doused a flaming building and scattered ash fell on bloodied rubble. Smoke billowed over shattered concrete and collapsed sidings where buildings once stood. The Ukrainian general staff said Friday that the attacks in the west and in Dnipro were launched because the Russians were 'unable to succeed' on other fronts. It said Russian efforts Friday remain concentrated around Kyiv and Mariupol, and that Russian forces are regrouping in the north and around the eastern cities of Sumy and Kharkiv. Ukrainian forces have seized gas marks from Russian troops following warnings from the West that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons The sky over Dnipro is lit up as Russian airstrikes hit the city in the early hours, destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian. There was no immediate word on the number of people hurt Flames fill the night sky in the city of Lutsk, in western Ukraine, as it is struck by a Russian airstrike targeting an airfield Damage is seen at the Institute of Physics in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, north east Ukraine, which houses a nuclear reactor that Russian forces are accused of targeting Ukraine has accused Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' after the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, was shelled. The institute houses a nuclear reactor Damage caused by Russian shelling is seen near the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, This satellite image from Thursday provided by Maxar Technologies shows resupply trucks and multiple probable rocket launchers in firing positions, in Berestyanka, around 30 miles from central Kyiv Russian supply trucks and other vehicles are seen parked in the tree line of a forest (to the right of the image) in an apparent effort to make them harder for Ukrainian forces to destroy Russian tanks and armoured vehicles have also dispersed into civilian areas in an effort to make them harder to hit. Pictured are some of the 'death convoy' vehicles in the town of Ozera, north east of Kyiv Initially, the 40-mile line of vehicles, tanks and artillery had stalled outside Kyiv but as of Thursday, parts of the convoy have now 'repositioned' into the woods and dispersed along roads Those vehicles which are left along the main highway into Kyiv (pictured, part of the road north of Ivankiv) are now spaced out to make them less of a target for Ukrainian artillery February 28: The last clear images of the 'death convoy' were taken almost two weeks ago, when the skies were clear of clouds, and showed them bunched up along the road (above). Those vehicles have now dispersed Anonymous hacks Russian media censorship agency and leaks 340,000 files Anonymous has hacked into Russia's media censorship agency and released 340,000 files in the latest undermining of Putin's war propaganda campaign. The hacktivists broke into the Roskomnadzor federal agency to steal the classified documents which they then passed on to transparency organisation Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets), who published them online. The trove of 820 gigabytes of emails and attachments, some of which are dated as late as March 5, show how the Kremlin is censoring anything referring to their brutal invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow is instead calling a 'special military operation'. The Anonymous hacker said they 'urgently felt the Russian people should have access to information about their government', DDoSecrets said. The files relate to the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, one of the largest in the federation with a population of four million. Roskomnadzor, which oversees mass media in Russia, restricted access to Facebook and Twitter before blocking them and also threatened to cut off access to Wikipedia, due to its article on the invasion. On February 24, the agency ordered all media outlets to only use official, state-sanctioned information sources or face severe punishment for spreading 'fake news'. The words 'war, 'invasion' and 'attack' were all banned from use when describing Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Advertisement Temperatures sank below freezing across most of Ukraine and were forecast to hit -13 degrees Celsius (8 Fahrenheit) in Kharkiv, which has come under heavy bombardment. Some 400 apartment buildings were cut off from heating supplies, and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov appealed to remaining residents to descend into the subway system or other underground shelters where authorities and volunteers were distributing blankets and hot food. A deadly strike on a maternity hospital in Mariupol this week sparked international outrage and charges of a possible war crime. Mariupol residents said bombardment continued Friday. Konashenkov, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, said Russian-backed fighters have advanced up to 800 meters from Mariupol from the east, north and west, further squeezing the city which has the Azov Sea to its south. He said the advance was being conducted by fighters from the separatist-held Donetsk region, the standard Russian line for fighting in the east. Ukrainian authorities are planning to send aid to Mariupol, home to some 430,000, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a video message. Repeated previous attempts have failed as aid and rescue convoys were targeted by Russian shelling, even as residents have grown more desperate, scrounging for food and fuel. More than 1,300 people have died in the siege, Vereshchuk said. 'They want to destroy the people of Mariupol. They want to make them starve,' she added. 'It's a war crime.' Residents have no heat or phone service. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. Grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied days ago by people breaking in to get supplies, according to a local official with the Red Cross, Sacha Volkov. A black market is operating for vegetables, meat is unavailable, Volkov said. Residents, Volkov said, are turning on one another: 'People started to attack each other for food.' Vereshchuk also announced efforts to create new humanitarian corridors to bring aid to people in areas occupied or under Russian attack around the cities of Kherson in the south, Chernihiv in the north and Kharkiv in the east. Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began, the International Organization for Migration said Friday. Millions more have been driven from their homes. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people, half the metropolitan area's population, have left the capital. Three Russian airstrikes hit the important industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Friday, killing at least one person in strikes that hit near a kindergarten and apartment buildings, according to interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. One strike hit a shoe factory, sparking a fire, he said. He released video showing flashes over residential areas of the city, home to nearly one million people. A US defence official said Russian forces moving toward Kyiv had advanced about three miles in the past 24 hours, with some elements as close as nine miles from the city. The official gave no indication that the convoy had dispersed or otherwise repositioned in a significant way, saying some vehicles were seen moving off the road into the tree line in recent days. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire as civilians trapped inside the city scrounged for food and fuel. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the city, according to deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Night-time temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. 'They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it,' Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address to the nation. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. The number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and centre of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Mr Zelensky said. He told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the rouble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. 'You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes,' Mr Zelensky said in a video address, warning that 'you will be hated by Russian citizens'. Russian president Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. 'We will overcome them,' he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create 'certain challenges'. In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said about two million people, half the population of the metropolitan area, have left the capital. 'Every street, every house... is being fortified,' he said. 'Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.' Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Mr Putin's forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraine's cities. One satellite image shows the southern end of Antonov Airport and fires at the fuel storage area after the Russian invasion, in Hostomel, Ukraine on Thursday Slide me Before/after: The Epicentr K shopping center, in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, is seen before and after being destroyed by Russian strikes A satellite image reveals the nuclear site at Chernobyl, with the dome containing the main reactor pictured centre, after Russian forces disconnected it from the main power grid - threatening damage to the cooling tanks A satellite image shows heavily damaged residential buildings in Borodyanka, Ukraine, one of which was cut in half by a Russian missile strike (pictured centre) This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows destroyed and burning warehouse buildings in Stoyanka, Ukraine, in western Kyiv region A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows fires at the fuel storage area of Antonov airport in Hostomel, Ukraine A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows overview of fire in southern Chernihiv, Ukraine A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows people and cars waiting by Irpin river bridge, Irpin, near Kyiv 'Inept' Russian tactics baffle military experts: Tank commanders allowed Ukrainians to ambush them by driving straight up a main road Experts have said they are baffled by the ineptitude of the tactics displayed by Russia's armies after drone footage yesterday showed a column of tanks getting picked off one-by-one in an ambush carried out by Ukraine's forces. Analysts have said Russian tank commanders allowed the Ukrainians to ambush their unit by driving down the middle of a main road leading into Kyiv - and straight into a death trap. By multiple counts, President Vladimir Putin's forces have lots more tanks than belong to the entire German army. The devastating artillery strikes came as Putin's troops inched closer to Kyiv, and saw a number of Russian T-72 tanks and other vehicles destroyed or routed in the surprise attack from the front and back of the convoy. Ukrainian forces surprised the column that included some 30 tanks and support units, as well as a fearsome TOS-1 thermobaric launcher, forcing survivors to flee and left Russia mourning the loss of another senior commander. Pictured: Analysis by the Austrian military's R&D department demonstrated the column was part of a larger Russian Battle Tactical Group (BTG). The analysis highlighted different companies within the unit as it came under heavy artillery fire Drone footage posted online on Thursday (pictured) captured the 'Battle of Brovary', named after the north-eastern Kyiv suburb in which it took place. It showed explosions around the Russian tanks, releasing plumes of black and grey smoke into the air, with suburban houses seen on either side of the road Pictured: A graphic showing Russian army equipment that has been visually confirmed as destroyed by Oryx - a military blog that is tracking Moscow's losses during its invasion of Ukraine. Oryx says its figures are based on 'photo or videographic evidence. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here' Ukraine's masterful ambush in Brovary piled on the misery of Moscow's invading forces, which has suffered more losses than expected and are now facing freezing temperatures in the coming days. Morale is said to be low. While reports said Russia's 6th tank regiment escaped with relatively minimal casualties, Russian commander Colonel Andrei Zakharov was reportedly killed, and his unit forced into a retreat. The smouldering wrecks of Russian tanks lay on streets after the fighting. Defence experts have been left stunned by Russia's military tactics Franz-Stefan Gady - an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies - said the 'fight shows the danger of not securing urban terrain with adequate infantry plus recon. assets when main elements of a force pass through urban terrain ideally suitable for ambushes.' Rob Lee, a Senior Fellow and military expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, commented on the ambush, saying the Russian armoured force displayed 'very poor tactics'. The Russian column was 'on an obvious avenue of approach, and they still decided to bunch up like this, leaving them more vulnerable to indirect fire,' he wrote on Twitter, while sharing drone footage of the strikes. Of the Russian military activities in Ukraine, a former British army commander told The Daily Telegraph today: 'This is not the Russian army we trained to fight'. Meanwhile, analysis by the Austrian military's R&D department demonstrated the column was part of a larger Russian Battle Tactical Group (BTG), The analysis highlighted different companies within the BTG seen in the drone footage, as it came under Ukrainian heavy artillery guided by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A destroyed tank is seen after battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces on a main road near Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022 Ukrainian forces surprised the column that included some 30 tanks and support units, as well as a fearsome TOS-1 thermobaric launcher, forcing survivors to flee and left Russia mourning the loss of another senior commander A destroyed Russian tank is seen after battles on a main road near Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022 The analysis showed that the tank column was comprised of Russian BMP-1s (Soviet amphibious landing vehicles), soviet-era T-72 tanks, BTR-82 armoured personnel carriers and a TOS-1 Buratino - the thermobaric launcher. Two vehicles were destroyed in the fighting, but the analysis said others were likely damaged by the strikes. The full scale of losses suffered by Putin's armies are unknown, but Ukraine has claimed it has destroyed over 12,000 troops, 350 tanks, 80 helicopters, 125 artillery units, 1,150 personnel carriers and almost 60 planes. Figures based on visual confirmations by military tracking website Oryx suggest over 1,000 Russian vehicles have been destroyed, damaged, abandoned or captured in the war. According to Oryx's figures as of March 11, Russia has lost 1,034 vehicles, of which 424 were destroyed, 13 were damaged, 159 were abandoned by Russian troops and 438 were captured by Ukraine's forces. While there is some discrepancy between figures detailing visually confirmed Russian vehicle losses released by Oryx and those released by Ukraine's defence officials, both paint a grim picture for Moscow's armies. Oryx says its figures are based on 'photo or videographic evidence. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here.' Tobias Schneider, a research fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, said Russian losses visually confirmed by Oryx 'now amount to approximately one Bundeswehr' - the entire German army. The drone footage posted online on Thursday captured the 'Battle of Brovary', named after the north-eastern Kyiv suburb in which it took place. It showed explosions around the Russian tanks, releasing plumes of black and grey smoke into the air, with suburban houses seen on either side of the road. The column was shown in the footage driving down a main road into the Brovary suburb in a long line when it came under fire from artillery. Explosion were seen both on the road and in the fields in the distance. Two tanks were shown pulled up on the side of the road, while others further into the suburb were shown bunched together in a traffic jam, as artillery fire began to rain down from above. Amongst the tanks, Russian troops can be seen frantically running between the vehicles, which start to turn around to escape the death trap. A woman banned for life from driving after a drunken crash killed her sister has been given her licence back after claiming she needed it to ferry her children around. Candice Lee Chmieluk had been drinking at a Gold Coast surf club with her younger sister Sammy-Jo, 24, when she crashed her 4WD while four times over the alcohol limit in May 2016. The skincare marketer pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and was sentenced to five years in prison - of which she served only three months. Chmieluk was banned from driving for life at the time but a judge on Friday ruled she could have her licence back on Monday, March 14 so she could drive her two seven-year-old twin daughters around the city, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Candice Chmieluk, who was banned for life from driving after a drunken crash which killed her sister in 2016, has been given her licence back by a judge Candice Chmieluk (pictured left) was on a suspended driver's licence when she lost control of her 4WD and smashed into a light pole at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in 2016; her sister Sammy-Jo (pictured middle) died at the scene Chmieluk said she also needed her licence back for work and to earn a better income. The woman was on a suspended driver's licence when she lost control of the 4WD and smashed into a light pole at Palm Beach. Her Jeep was ripped in half and burst into flames, with her sister killed on impact. Chmieluk was dragged to safety by bystanders and later produced a blood alcohol reading of 0.202. Police also alleged she was driving at close to 100km/hr in a 60km zone at the time of the crash. Last month, Chmieluk applied in the Southport District Court for her licence back - and on Friday had her request granted by Judge Deborah Holliday. The judge felt Chmieluk has displayed a 'substantial change in character and conduct' following the tragedy and 'demonstrated a legitimate purpose for obtaining a driver's licence'. Candice Chmieluk was dragged to safety by bystanders and later produced a blood alcohol reading of 0.202. The scene of the crash is pictured Candice Chmieluk, a mother of twin girls, has pledged to be a careful and responsible driver Chmieluk has also pledged to be a careful and responsible driver and said she was committed to 'being that kind of person generally.' She has also been to counselling sessions and completed courses for traffic and alcohol abuse. A few weeks before her death, Sammy-Jo Chmieluk had moved to the Gold Coast from her family's home town of Armidale in northern NSW. An Argentinian national has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a champion dog breeder who was found dead with neck injuries on her driveway. Valerie Freer, 68, was found dead outside her bungalow in the picturesque village of Whittington, Staffordshire, at 10.53am on February 24. A post-mortem examination confirmed Valerie died as a result of injuries to her neck. Alexander Verdu Munoz, 26, of no-fixed-address, has been with charged with murder. He has also been charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of burglary and possession of a bladed article and dangerous driving relating to incidents on February 12 and 21. Valerie Freer died as a result of neck injuries in the village of Whittington, near Lichfield, and was found on the driveway of her home by paramedics at around 10.53am on February 24, Staffordshire Police said. Pictured: A police roadblock on Lichfield Road Following the murder, her family paid tribute to Valerie, who had an 'illuminating smile and infection laughter' and was 'infinitely loved by family and friends.' They added: 'Words cannot even begin to describe how truly devastated we are to have lost our wonderful Val. 'An incredibly beautiful lady both inside and out, she was always so loving and caring to all those around her. 'Val is loved infinitely by family and friends around the world. She will be hugely missed, remaining forever in our hearts.' Valerie, who lived at the bungalow on Lichfield Road with her husband, was a renowned breeder of Samoyed dogs. One of her dogs, Champion Nikara Dancer, was awarded Best in Show at Crufts in 2014. Police roadblock on Lichfield road in Whittington, March 2, 2022, where police are appealing for witnesses after the body of 68 year old Valerie Freer was found murdered on the drive of her bungalow Munoz, an Argentine national, is due to appear before magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre later today (Fri). Detective Inspector Ian Fitzgerald, of Staffordshire Police, said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family of Valerie at this time. 'I would also like to thank the community of Whittington for their patience and understanding.' A 72-year-old man, initially arrested in connection with the death, has since been released with no further action to be taken. Advertisement Only a quarter of the rise in newly-occupied NHS Covid beds last week was down to patients actually ill with the virus, official data suggests. Up-to-date NHS England figures reveal 8,569 infected patients were being treated in hospitals across the country on March 8, up by almost 600 on the previous Tuesday. But over the same time-frame, there was only a jump of 136 coronavirus 'patients' who were primarily sick with the virus. Just 42.7 per cent of beds were taken up by patients mainly being treated for the virus the lowest proportion on record. It suggests that the nearly 5,000 other patients were 'incidental' cases those who either test positive after being admitted for another reason, such as a broken leg or heart disease, or beat the illness only to fall ill with something else. Top experts today insisted the figures offered proof that the spike in hospital admissions seen over the past week was nothing to worry about and merely reflected a surge in infections in the community that has been masked by a lack of testing. Dr Raghib Ali, a University of Cambridge epidemiologist who advised the Government through the Omicron wave, told MailOnline: 'When cases go up in the community you would expect numbers of so-called incidentals to do so at the same time because you do not have to wait as long for the virus to incubate and become serious. 'This week there was a very small rise in primary Covid patients but the vast majority of new patients are those who aren't there for the virus.' Sky-high immunity rates from both vaccines and previous waves, as well as the variant's intrinsically milder nature, blunted the impact of the last wave. ICU admissions barely budged despite surges in admissions, which experts said signalled that the worst days of the pandemic had been consigned to history and gave ministers confidence to push ahead with their 'living with Covid' strategy. Fears the current surge in hospitalisations was being driven by waning immunity had piled pressure on officials to put 'oomph' into speeding up the fourth jab roll-out. Admissions have already reached their highest levels since the peak of the Omicron wave in the South West, while hospitalisations in over-85s have risen by a quarter over the most recent seven days. Only a quarter of the rise in newly-occupied NHS Covid beds last week was down to patients actually ill with the virus, NHS England data suggests. Graph shows: Changes in the overall number of Covid patients and the number being primarily treated for the virus over time in England The NHS England data show increase in overall Covid patients and those primarily for the virus varied wildly across the country. London has the lowest proportion of Covid patients that are primarily being treated for the virus, with only 27 per cent actually in hospital because of an infection NHS England's data does not break down admissions by status, meaning it is impossible to tell how many patients who are actually ill with Covid need treatment every day. However, the agency does release a weekly report that lays bare the gap for 'inpatients' the total number of infected patients who are on wards as of 8am that day. Although discharge figures can skew the data, the figures do still suggest the majority of the rise in pressure on hospitals is from patients who are not primarily being treated for the virus. Two areas actually saw a fall in the number of Covid patients who were primarily ill with the virus between March 1 and March 8 the Midlands and London even though overall rates went up slightly Graph shows: The number of Covid patients on ventilators in hospitals in England over time compared to the overall number of coronavirus patients over time NHS is told to put a bit of 'oomph' into fourth Covid jab rollout Pressure is mounting on the NHS to speed up the rollout of fourth Covid vaccine doses to the vulnerable after virus hospital admissions surged in the past week. No10's vaccine advisory panel recommended last month that over-75s, care home residents and patients with weakened immune system should be given the top-up shots around six months after their original booster. It is almost exactly six months since the last booster rollout was launched, and despite hospital admissions and cases on the rise again the NHS is still yet to send any invite anyone to come forward for their fourth vaccine in England. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday said Britain needed 'more oomph on fourth jabs' after seeing a 'significant shift' in hospitalisations. Latest data shows there were 1,406 virus admissions across the UK on March 6, marking a rise of a third in a week. Hospitalisations in over-85s have risen by a quarter over the most recent seven days and the South West is already seeing higher admission numbers than during the height of the Omicron wave in January. Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical medicine expert at King's College London, claimed she is 'surprised' the Government has not got on with the rollout of fourth jabs. Advertisement But the rise in hospitalisations started before official Government figures showed any increase in positive tests, marking a drastic change to how waves have previously played out. Cases usually soar before NHS figures because of the lag between testing positive and becoming severely ill. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline low testing rates could have masked the true size of the outbreak. He pointed to surveillance data from the Office for National Statistics released today that suggests only 15 per cent of all infections are 'making it onto the dashboard'. 'Throughout most of the epidemic it averaged about 40 to 45 per cent,' Professor Hunter added. 'There are two possible explanations for this and both are probably playing a role. 'One, people are not being able to access tests as easily or are less willing to go for testing as they would have been for similar symptoms as a few months back. Two, illness is now more likely to be asymptomatic or very mild and so wouldn't trigger people to think they would need a test.' Under NHS rules, patients are required to test before a procedure, meaning many who did not know they had the virus are only finding out when they enter the system for another problem. NHS England's data does not break down admissions by their illness status, meaning it is impossible to tell how many patients who are actually mainly ill with Covid are entering the system for treatment every day. However, the agency does release a weekly report that lays bare the gap for 'inpatients' the total number of infected patients who are on wards as of 8am that day. Although discharge figures can massively skew the data, the figures do still suggest the majority of the rise in pressure on hospitals is from patients who are not primarily being treated for the virus. Two areas actually saw a fall in the number of Covid beds taken up by patients who were primarily ill with the virus between March 1 and March 8 the Midlands (16 fewer) and London (three fewer) even though both of their overall rates went up slightly. The capital has the lowest proportion of Covid patients that are primarily being treated for the virus, with only 27 per cent actually in hospital because of the infection. For comparison, the North West had the highest proportion (55 per cent), while the South West which saw the highest overall rise in Covid patients had the second largest share (53 per cent). Professor Hunter told MailOnline while only seeing a small rise in primary patients is positive in the short-term, it does not guarantee there will not be rises in the future. He said: 'The increase in people in hospital has largely been "with" rather than "because of" Covid. 'To a certain extent that is to be expected because otherwise how can you explain the almost simultaneous increase in admissions and cases. We would not normally see any impact of increased cases on hospitalisation rates for at least seven to 10 days. 'But don't get too excited: what this may mean is we will start seeing a sudden increase in admissions "because of" Covid in a little over a week's time. 'Ultimately SARS-CoV-2 infections will remain common, whilst Covid the disease becomes less common and it is right that we won't need to be so worried about infection in future then we have been in the past.' Modelling by the agency estimates that infections started to rebound on February 19, three days before the key milestone. There were 178,300 new infections that day, according to the ONS, compared to the 28,344 officially reported by the Government's Covid dashboard Top experts today insisted the figures offered proof that the spike in hospital admissions seen over the past week was nothing to worry about and merely reflected a surge in infections in the community that has been masked by a lack of testing. Graph shows: The number of tests being conducted in the UK over time ICU admissions in England have largely remained flat despite the uptick in wider hospitalisations across the country. Government dashboard data shows they fell 5.6 per cent to 221 yesterday. The number of patients requiring ventilator beds barely changed through the Omicron wave, with experts crediting immunity from the booster rollout and previous infection for keeping figures low. The NHS says: 'A subset of those who contract Covid in the community and are asymptomatic, or exhibited relatively mild symptoms that on their own are unlikely to warrant admission to hospital, will then be admitted to hospital to be treated for something else and be identified through routine testing. 'However these patients still require their treatment in areas that are segregated from patients without Covid, and the presence of Covid can be a significant co-morbidity in many cases. 'Equally, while the admission may be due to another primary condition, in many instances this may have been as a result of contracting Covid in the community.' It comes as the country's gold-standard infection survey today confirmed cases have been rising in England since before restrictions were lifted on Freedom Day. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) weekly report estimated 2.07million people had the virus on any given day in the week to March 5, the equivalent of one in 25. It marked a 7.3 per cent rise on the previous week and covers the first full week after the Government removed all remaining Covid laws on February 24, including the requirement for positive cases to isolate. The estimate brings the ONS in line with the central testing programme which started to started to report increases in daily cases at the beginning of the month. The ONS said it was still too early to say definitively that Freedom Day is responsible for the rise, highlighting the newly-dominant Omicron subvariant BA.2 as another possible factor. Free lateral flow and PCR tests are due to be scrapped at the start of April and ministers will mostly rely on the weekly infection survey to monitor the outbreak as part of their 'living with Covid' strategy. Today's ONS report, based on around 140,000 swabs, found that cases increased in all of the home nations, with one in 13 people in Northern Ireland carrying the virus last week, one in 18 in Scotland and one in 30 in Wales. Liz Truss today announced the UK has imposed sanctions on 386 members of the Russian Duma as she pledged to continue to 'tighten the screw' on Moscow. The Foreign Secretary said Russian lawmakers who supported Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine have been hit with a UK travel ban and a freeze on any UK assets. It is the latest in a wave of sanctions unveiled by the Government, with Ms Truss saying Britain 'will not let up the pressure' on Mr Putin and his supporters. Liz Truss today announced the UK is imposing sanctions on 386 members of the Russian Duma as she pledged to continue to 'tighten the screw' on Moscow The Foreign Secretary said Russian lawmakers who supported Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine will be hit with a UK travel ban and a freeze on any UK assets. The State Duma is pictured meeting in February this year The Duma is the lower house of the Russian parliament and at the end of February it ratified treaties which recognised the independence of the breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions in Ukraine. The treaties also authorised the permanent presence of Russian forces in the regions in a move which was viewed as paving the way for the eventual invasion. The UK Government said at the time that it intended to sanction the parliamentarians who supported the treaties. All 386 of the people sanctioned have been banned from travelling to the UK and they will be unable to access any assets they may hold in Britain. They have also been prohibited from conducting business in the UK. A handful of Russian Duma members had already been sanctioned by the Government and today's announcement by Ms Truss takes the total to 400. Ms Truss said: 'We're targeting those complicit in Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. 'We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions. 'Together with our allies, we stand firmly beside our Ukrainian friends. 'We will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian aid, defensive weapons and diplomatic work to isolate Russia internationally.' Downing Street said those sanctioned had 'aided and abetted' Mr Putin's 'brutal assault' on Ukraine. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman told reporters at lunchtime: 'We have done this given that it was these individuals who aided and abetted the Putin regime's brutal assault on Ukraine. 'You will have seen the quotes from the Foreign Secretary that we issued this morning. You are aware that these individuals sanctioned all voted to recognise the independence of the breakaway Ukrainian regions, acting as a pretext for Russian invasion. It is the latest in a wave of sanctions unveiled by the Government, with Ms Truss saying Britain 'will not let up the pressure' on Mr Putin and his supporters 'We said at the time that we would sanction these people and you can see us continuing to sanction more and more people who not only aided and abetted Putin in launching the invasion but those who are closest to him and finance the Russian war machine.' Labour's David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, said: 'Labour welcomes that the Government has finally imposed sanctions on members of the Duma, but this should have happened weeks ago.' Today's announcement comes after the Government yesterday unveiled a new crackdown on key oligarchs. The Foreign Office said the UK has now sanctioned more than 500 high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries since the invasion started just over two weeks ago. That brings the total now covered by the UK's sanctions list to more than 800. A total of 18 oligarchs, with a combined value of more than 30billion, have been hit with travel bans and asset freezes by the UK. Commuters are set to be hit with more tube and train strikes across the UK this weekend. Last week, strikes on the London Underground caused several days of chaos, with millions of workers hit by travel misery. Now, members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) working as cleaners, London Underground drivers and train conductors in different companies will take further industrial action from Friday evening. Cleaners employed by contractors on the West Coast mainline and for train operators across London and the South East will also take strike action over the weekend over pay. People wait to get on buses at Liverpool Street station in central London during a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union earlier this month RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'This strike by cleaners sends a clear message that our union will fight tooth and nail against super exploitative contractors who refuse to pay key workers properly. 'The fact that some of our members are on minimum wage with no right to company sick pay is a scandal. 'Not only should these companies cough what our members are owed, they should be stripped of their lucrative rail contracts and all outsourced staff bought back on the railway as direct employees. 'RMT will not rest until pay justice is achieved for our members.' RMT members on London Underground's Night Tube will stage the latest in a series of evening strikes on Friday and Saturday in a dispute over new rosters. LU has been running Night Tube services despite the industrial action, which is set to continue until June. RMT members working as conductors on the TransPennine Express (TPE) will strike again on Sunday in a row over pay. An amended timetable will be in place which will see a 'significant reduction' in services. An empty Central Line platform at Ealing Broadway Station in London during a strike Commuters wait in long queues for buses at Victoria Train station as the underground is shut down due to strikes The company advised customers not to travel on the majority of routes and to plan carefully if journeys are necessary. The RMT has announced further strike action by its TPE conductors on March 20, 27, April 3, 16, 17, 30, May 1 and June 4 and 5. Last week, the RMT union staged a 24-hour walkout of around 10,000 Underground staff. Why did tube drivers strike last week and what do they want? The union fears that spending cuts will lead to hundreds of job losses and reductions in pensions and working conditions. However, TfL insists it hasn't proposed any changes to pensions or terms and conditions, and described the action as 'completely unnecessary'. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who want to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers. 'It is this political failure that has left Tube workers with no choice but to strike this week. 'Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the government and they are not having it, as can be seen right across London today.' Drivers can earn 24,000 while on a 12-16 week training course, which can then rise to 30,000 after completing assessments. The salary for a newly qualified driver is around 49,000 but those with five years experience can pocket an extra 11,000 on top. In the financial year from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, the annual wage of a full time driver was 56,496, the Sun reports. This is on top of other perks the drivers enjoy such as free travel around the capital for them and a partner. They can retire on a reduced pension at the age of 50 or a full pension at 60. Advertisement Picket lines were mounted outside Tube stations and the union said its members were solidly supporting the industrial action. Key workers and hospital patients were caught up in the mayhem as passengers tried to board packed buses. Underground staff are protesting over fears of staff cuts and changes to work conditions and pension schemes as TfL looks to recover from the pandemic. In another blow for travellers, Uber users were hit by hiked fares as they were forced to turn to the app amid transport chaos. Prices were around double, with a normal taxi from Kennington to Kensington costing 25 and one from Kensington to Tooting hitting 20. And roads were clogged up with vehicles as those who would usually get the Tube to work took to taxis, buses and cars. Boris Johnson demanded an end to the chaos after stepping in and ordering TfL and union bosses to stop 'bringing misery to Londoners'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I think these ongoing strikes clearly are bringing misery to many Londoners, and we want both sides to get around the table and put an end to this disruptive action. 'It's a blow to businesses as they recover from Covid restrictions and it's stopping people from getting to work.' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was also critical, as he tweeted: 'For the 2nd time this week, @TfL tube strikes have brought London to a standstill. 'Given the government has provided almost 5bn to protect services & TfL jobs throughout the pandemic, this is no way to repay hard-pressed taxpayers who are simply trying to get to work & home.' Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Commons transport committee, said: 'It's wholly unacceptable for people's daily lives, their income, their livelihoods to be disrupted in this horrendous way. 'It's literally taking food off people's tables. People who were stuck in the rain on Tuesday and who couldn't get about today will be raising many an eyebrow as they see the Labour mayor was swanning around at a glitzy event with celebrities rather than hammering it out with the RMT to end this nonsense.' A racehorse owner whose wife suffered a serious brain injury when her Mercedes was T-boned by a speeding police car has blasted a judge's decision not to jail the officer responsible. Constable Harry Little, 43, careered into Gai Vieria's car in Cronulla in Sydney's south in September 2018 as he tried to pursue another driver he suspected of using their phone at the wheel. She took the impact of the crash while her three-year-old grandson who was sitting in the backseat escaped uninjured. Mrs Vieira is still learning how to talk again, has no movement in her arms and requires around-the-clock care. Scroll down for video Gai Vieria's car was T-boned by a speeding police car in Cronulla in Sydney's south in 2018 Little pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to a 12-month community correction order in the NSW District Court on Friday. He was using no warning signals on his squad car and reached speeds of 135km/h in the moments before the collision, The Daily Telegraph reported. Her husband, Sydney racing identity Bert Vieira, said he was 'disgusted' by the ruling as Little could walk free from court despite his wife's suffering. 'My heart bleeds for her and he is not being punished for it I'm utterly disgusted because its not fair, is it?' he said outside court. 'My wife has been in jail for three years locked up in her body.' Harry Little, 43, (left) careered into Gai Vieria's car in Cronulla in Sydney's south in September 2018 as he tried to pursue another driver Bert Vieira (pictured), the victim's husband, said he was 'disgusted' by the ruling as Little could walk free from court while his wife was 'locked up in her body' Mrs Vieira is still learning how to talk again, has no movement in her arms and requires around-the-clock care Little pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm over the collision. The aftermath of the crash is pictured He said he has take care of his wife 24 hours a day, and rarely leaves the house. 'I maybe go out once every few weeks when I get something running at Rosehill [racecourse] for a group one, I might go out, but I dont go out anywhere, I don't even go out for dinner,' Mr Vieira said Little's driving licence was disqualified for 12 months as part of the ruling. The court heard he had suffered from severe depression since the incident and doctors doubted he would ever be able to return to his role with NSW Police. Since the accident, Mr Vieira has since called for a ban on high-speed police pursuits for lower-level traffic crimes. A shocking photo has emerged showing bodies lying abandoned on stretchers next to living patients in a Hong Kong hospital as Covid deaths spiral in the city fueled by a low vaccine uptake. A medic working at the hospital told Hong Kong Free Press the photo was taken inside the Accident & Emergency ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong and circulated on Friday. The photo, reportedly taken in early March, showed six body bags lying on stretchers as bed-bound patients struggled to prop themselves up. Body bags lay right beside the surviving patients with tags labelling their contents, a grim omen for those still relying on ventilators for breathing support. Chinese officials are struggling to contain the biggest Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic erupted in Wuhan two years ago. Health authorities reported 29,381 new infections and 196 deaths on Friday. A shocking photo emerged of bodies stored on the ward of a Hong Kong hospital, forcing China's Hospital Authority to apologize A person is transferred onto a bus outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong on March 10, 2022, as the government announced the hospital will be used only for Covid-19 patients Hospital workers dispose medical waste outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong on 10 March 2022 A person (2nd L) is transferred onto a bus outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong on 10 March 2022, 'The Hospital Authority understands that sometimes bodies cannot be transferred to the mortuary in time,' said Sara Ho, chief manager of the Hospital Authority said on Friday, adding that the situation appearing in the photograph has since been dealt with. 'We hope everyone could be understanding [about how] public hospitals have done the best to use more manpower to handle this situation. 'We are very sorry for causing discomfort to patients,' she said. Hong Kong's hospitals are being overwhelmed, with the South China Morning Post reporting the city now has the worlds highest Covid-19 death rate per capita. The news came as China prepares to send another city into lockdown, cutting off over nine-million people inside Changchun. China reported another 397 cases of local transmission nationwide on Friday, 98 of them in the Jilin province where the city of Changchun is located. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Friday that the city's Covid-19 vaccination program would focus on its elderly and children, as authorities battled to reduce a surge of coronavirus infections and climbing death rates. Deaths are shown spiking in mid February and continuing to rise, prompting further lockdowns Cases appear to have peaked in early March, but deaths remain high across Hong Kong Hong Kong will test its entire population for Covid-19 in March, said Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, pictured In total since early 2020, the global financial hub has recorded almost 650,000 Covid-19 infections and about 3,500 deaths - most of them in the past two weeks. Hong Kong registered the most deaths per million people globally in the week to March 9, according to Our World in Data. Most have been unvaccinated senior citizens. Until this year, the Chinese-ruled city had an enviable track record of controlling the virus due to stringent measures as part of its 'zero covid' approach, which like mainland China seeks to eradicate outbreaks at all costs. However, many residents in the former British colony chose to remain unvaccinated for most of 2021, due to the minimal number of infections and fear of side effects, particularly among the elderly. 'Over 90% of the deaths were those who had not been fully vaccinated. We need to catch up and vaccinate every Hong Kong citizen,' Lam told a daily news briefing on how her government was managing the virus. Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 9 March 2022. A resident undergoes a nucleic acid test for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Changchun in China's northeastern Jilin province on March 11 Residents queue to undergo nucleic acid tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus at a residental area in Changchun The city holds over nine-million people and is the latest city to be locked down in China While there has been a rapid pick up in vaccinations - more than 90% of the population have now had at least one dose, rates among the more vulnerable elderly have lagged the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the city. Just over 53% of those over 80 are vaccinated, government data shows. Lam said her government was shifting its approach to target the elderly with more medical resources after a senior Chinese official said Hong Kong needed to prioritize reducing deaths. The government had previously focused on identifying, treating and isolating each infection even if they were mild or asymptomatic cases. It was also planning to hold a mass testing scheme for the city's 7.4 million residents in March. Lam this week said there was no time frame for the testing and it would only be done if there were sufficient resources. Hospitals, morgues and isolation centers are overflowing, while some supermarkets and grocery stores still have empty shelves nearly two weeks after residents began stocking up in anticipation of a potential city-wide lockdown. Many residents have been frustrated about what they see as constant changes in the government's policy. Lam said she was the 'authoritative source' for all coronavirus information and would address any rumors or misinformation. Her administration was managing the outbreak as best as possible with the changes aiming to achieve 'the objectives of safety and health,' she said The Royal Navy has discovered a remote Pacific island has been marked in the 'wrong place' for 85 years. British sailors now say Henderson Island - which is one of the Pitcairn Islands - is a mile south of the position shown in charts that have been used by mariners all over the world since 1937. Yesterday evening Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Spey confirmed the error as part of efforts to check and update charts of waters around British Overseas Territories that are scattered around the globe. The sailors used Spey's radar and GPS satellites to obtain new images of the island's exact position. When these were overlaid on the existing charts, the island was found to be in the wrong place. Henderson Island has earnt its unfortunate moniker of the 'most polluted in the world' due to the masses of man-made debris that have been dumped on its shoreline by Pacific currents. It has been estimated that 270 objects every day wash up on its beaches - with as many as 40 million items of plastic and rubbish scarring Henderson's landscape. The South Pacific island, uninhabited and about the size of Oxford, is one of four in the remote Pitcairn chain. All are British Overseas Territories. The Pitcairns were made famous following the 1789 Mutiny on the Bounty, when Captain William Bligh was ousted by his second-in-command, Fletcher Christian. The current islanders, who are just 47 in number, are descendants of the sailors who took part in the mutiny. The Royal Navy has discovered a remote Pacific island has been marked in the 'wrong place' for 85 years. British sailors now say Henderson Island is one mile south of the position shown in charts that have been used by mariners all over the world since 1937. Above: The old and new position Henderson Island has earnt its unfortunate moniker of the 'most polluted in the world due to the masses of man-made debris that have been dumped on its shoreline by Pacific currents Chile lies 3,600 miles to Henderson's east and New Zealand 3,200 miles to its southwest. The Royal Navy has been using navigational charts supplied by the UK Hydrographic Office for more than 225 years and over the past 15 years, the majority of the fleet has been navigating with digital charts. According to the Navy, key areas and seas regularly used are well covered by the electronic system - which not only ensures navigational accuracy, but allows sailors to 'interrogate' key features such as landmarks, buoys and depths. However, the Pitcairn chain's position on the electronic system needed updating, after only being the subject of some satellite-based data collection which already revealed inaccurate positioning on historical charts. HMS Spey's captain then offered to assist with new data gathering. The South Pacific island, uninhabited and about the size of Oxford, is one of four in the remote Pitcairn chain, which are all British Overseas Territories Yesterday evening Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Spey (pictured, with Royal Navy sailor in the foreground) confirmed the error as part of efforts to check and update charts of waters around British Overseas Territories that are scattered around the globe Henderson Island's true position is seen plotted above after the Royal Navy's exploration work She is not a dedicated survey vessel, but navigator Lieutenant Michael Royle used radar imagery gathered by Spey's sensors and GPS positioning and then overlaid the details on the existing charts of the Pitcairn chain. 'In theory, the image returned by the radar should sit exactly over the charted feature - in this case, Henderson Island,' Lieutenant Royle explained. 'I found that wasn't the case - the radar overlay was a mile away from the island, which means that the island was plotted in the incorrect position when the chart was first produced. 'The notes on the chart say that it was produced in 1937 from aerial photography, which implies that the aircraft which took the photos was slightly off in its navigational calculations.' Navigator Lieutenant Michael Royle (pictured) used radar imagery gathered by Spey's sensors and GPS positioning and then overlaid the details on the existing charts of the Pitcairn chain The work by Spey is part of much wider government programme to update maritime charts of waters around the UK's overseas territories Henderson Island was last visited by the Royal Navy in late 2018 when HMS Montrose conducted an environmental survey to study the impact of plastics in the oceans. Above: Plastic waste is seen on the island's beach The work by Spey is part of much wider government programme to update maritime charts of waters around the UK's overseas territories and improve navigation using sonar, airborne laser techniques and satellites to better understand, manage and protect the marine estates of these territories. Henderson Island was last visited by the Royal Navy in late 2018 when HMS Montrose conducted an environmental survey to study the impact of plastics in the oceans. 'Scientists in the UK have really scant data about the ocean in this region - its salinity, temperature, water pressure and the like,' Lieutenant Royle added. 'They are keen to understand climate change in the area.' The ship also conducted patrols in the waters around the islands to deter and defend against illegal fishing, in partnership with the UK's satellite monitoring programme run by the Marine Management Organisation. Portsmouth-based HMS Spey is on a five-year mission to the Indo-Pacific region with her sister HMS Tamar. The latter ship was recently used to help the people of Tonga in the wake of the recent tsunami. A pensioner charged with the notorious 'Lady in the Lake murder' has denied the killing through his lawyer - after refusing to appear at court. Donald Robertson, 66, is accused of tying up, gagging and throwing Shani Warren - who he had allegedly murdered - into a lake in Taplow, Bucks, more than 30 years ago. But today he refused to appear before the High Court judge Mr Justice Wall via video link at Reading Crown Court. As well as the historic 1987 murder he is also accused of the rape and kidnap of another then 16-year-old girl from Slough, Berks, in July 1981. Defending counsel, Michael Ivers QC said: 'There are some people who will engage fully in the process - we have had sufficient engagement to say it (the plea) is not guilty. 'We have been instructed to check out the evidence of the rope and the scientific evidence. The reality is we are not able to give a detailed defence statement.' Shani Warren' bound-and-gagged body was found lying face down in a lake in Taplow, Bucks She was found by a dog walker whose German Shepherd had become excited by something Robertson was previously due to attend a plea hearing in November last year, however he also failed to attend the hearing, claiming he could not appear on camera because of Covid-19. The defendant was previously charged with the murder of blonde-haired Shani Warren in April 1987. Her bound-and-gagged body was found lying face down in a lake in Taplow, Bucks., by a dog walker whose German Shepherd had become excited by something unusual in the lake. The walker then found 26-year-old Shani's body. Robertson was charged with Shani's murder, false imprisonment and indecent assault in November last year. Robertson was said to have murdered Shani after she disappeared from her home in Bucks He was also accused of the rape and kidnap of a then 16-year-old girl from Slough. The alleged victim cannot be named for legal reasons. Robertson was said to have murdered Shani after she disappeared from her home in Stoke Poges, Bucks., only minutes after she had finished mowing the lawn at the house her millionaire parents had bought her. She had set off in her car to dispose of the grass cuttings at the compost heap at her parents' home in Gerrards Cross, Bucks., but Shani never returned to the house she shared with two flatmates. Her body was found in a lake in Taplow, Bucks., by Marjorie Arnold who was out walking her dog. A date for the trial, which was expected to last up to four weeks, was set for April 27, where the indictment will once again be put to him. The leader of a Sarah Lawrence cult forced one of his devoted followers to have sex numerous times with his trusted lieutenant even though the man dated Rays daughter. Santos Rosario, 30, subdued and sometimes mumbling, testified Friday in Manhattan Federal Court about the three times that he slept with Lawrence Rays right-hand woman, Isabella Pollok. Advertisement Ray first made the Rosario and Pollok have sex in 2013 in Pinehurst, N.C., where he had numerous young adults working all day on his step-fathers property for no money, according to testimony. Lawrence Ray (Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York) What was the nature of your relationship with Isabella Pollok at that time? prosecutor Lindsay Keenan asked Rosario. Advertisement Very distant. Beyond exchanging pleasantries we didnt really talk, Rosario responded. But that didnt bother Ray, who ordered Rosario to perform a sex act on Pollok, Rosario testified. I did what he told me... He was nearby, like a few feet away and I think he then walked away to do something else, Rosario recalled. Rosario met Ray through Rays daughter, Talia. Rosario and Talia dated their freshman year at Sarah Lawrence College in 2010 the same year prosecutors say Lawrence Ray, 62, began his plot to manipulate the small group of young people. It was not clear if Rosario and Talia were still dating when Ray allegedly forced him to have sex with Pollok. Santos Rosario and Talia Ray. (Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York) Pollok has been indicted for her role allegedly enabling Rays abuse. Shes pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to face a separate trial. After the incident in North Carolina, Rosario said that Ray made him and Pollok have sex twice at his Upper East Side apartment. The incidents, he said, made him feel Like I wasnt in control of my life. The rest of the summer and fall of 2013, Rosario worked the land of the Pinehurst property at Rays direction, shoveling gravel, digging ditches, pulling out dead grass and moving sod around. Advertisement How would you describe how the defendant treated you while you were in North Carolina, Keenan asked. Like a slave, Rosario responded. Ray has pleaded not guilty to a 17-count racketeering indictment that charges him with mentally, physically and sexually abusing the college students and other young adults between 2010 and 2020. He extorted his victims including Rosario for millions of dollars using threats, physical violence and compromising information and videos he had of them as collateral and even made one young woman work for him as a prostitute, prosecutors say. Feb. 12, 2020: Feds: Kerik's best man ran sex cult at posh college. Turned own daughter's classmates into hookers. Lawrence Ray was indicted Tuesday on charges of sex trafficking students at Sarah Lawrence College. (New York Daily News) Rosario testified that Ray drew in his victims by being an active listener who extolled the virtues of honesty and clear-mindedness only to later turn into a vicious and physically abusive monster who controlled all aspects of his victims lives and demanded they pay him for supposed infractions. Ray claimed that Rosario damaged the alleged cult leaders Upper East Side apartment. So Rosario paid Ray more than $200,000 of his parents money, he testified. Advertisement Rosario explained that he believed at the time he had actually caused the damage. He now understands, he said, it was all made up. Rosario trusted Ray so much at the beginning of their relationship that he convinced both of his sisters, Felicia and Yalitza, to join The Ray Family, he testified. By the fall of 2011, Rosario said his interactions with Ray were straight up abusive. He recalled on the stand a time when Ray hit him in the legs with a hammer over an alleged betrayal that never actually happened. That same night, Ray repeatedly told Rosario to jump out an open window at the Upper East Side apartment. More than an hour of disturbing audio of the incident was played for jurors. I swear Ill put this through your skull, Ray said, brandishing the hammer, Rosario testified. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > In another bizarre and non-sensical punishment, Ray once forced Rosario to slap himself in the face until his sister, Felicia Rosario, stopped talking. Advertisement Jurors were shown video of Rosario standing over his sister, repeatedly smacking himself in the face as she howled on a couch. Ray filmed the episode. Stop talking Felicia... Youre behaving like a child Rosario yelled at his sister. Im no longer going to enable it. Ray made Santos take a photo of his red and swollen face after an hour of self-flagellation. Rosario, the first witness at Rays trial, was just one of Rays alleged victims. He said he dropped out of Sarah Lawrence to dedicate his life to Ray. Jurors listened to numerous audio recordings of Ray berating Rosario, usually in front of others, referring variously to the much younger man as a little worm, a cockroach, a dirtbag, a b---h, a dog, and a f--king rat. In the foreground, Daniel Levin. In the background, Santos Rosario and Talia Ray. (Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York) Rosarios friends from college were also victims of Rays physical abuse, he testified. In one disturbing example, Rosario remembered a time when Ray tied up his friend Daniel Levins genitals. There was a time when he got long piece of Saran Wrap and twisted it into a string and tied it into a knot and then put the ring of the knot around his genitals and twisted the Saran Wrap with a pencil, Rosario said. It was a contraption he made on the spot. A total of 74 people have been charged in relation to Insulate Britain protests which blocked the M25 motorway and roads near the Port of Dover, Kent Police have said. The spate of incidents, which caused traffic chaos and ignited fury across the country, took place in September and October last year. It is believed to be the first time criminal proceedings have been launched in relation to activists from the much-hated eco-mob. Kent Police were called to each incident to 'manage disruption caused to motorists and made a number of arrests'. Officers 'worked closely' with the Crown Prosecution Service to authorise 104 charges for a total of 74 people, the force said. The accused have been summonsed to attend hearings at Crawley Magistrates' Court from April onwards. Kent Police revealed 104 charges against 74 members of Insulate Britain today (Pictured: Eco-mob stages a demonstration and blocks the roads around Parliament Square in central London, on November 4 last year) A climate protestor is arrested during Insulate Britain's illegal road block around Parliament Square on November 4, 2021 Insulate Britain began a wave of demonstrations last September which included blocking the M25 and other roads in London, including around Parliament, as well as roads in Birmingham, Manchester and Dover in Kent. (Pictured: Sit-down in Essex last September) Insulate Britain began a wave of demonstrations last September which included blocking the M25 and other roads in London, including around Parliament, as well as roads in Birmingham, Manchester and Dover in Kent. A series of High Court injunctions against its road blockades were granted to National Highways and Transport for London to prevent their disruptive protests. Those who breach them could now be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine as well as seizure of assets. The offshoot from the Extinction Rebellion is calling on the UK Government to implement policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing. The group wants the UK government to promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025. It is demanding 'a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low energy and low carbon whole-house retrofit, with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy'. It comes as Insulate Britain, and a number of other protest groups, threatened to conduct raves around the M25 last month - before postponing the planned chaos until April 2. A fresh protest, which has been shared as an event on Facebook with the slogan 'staying alive on the M25', is set for April 2. Pictured: Insulate Britain activists blocking a carriageway of the M25 in September last year An Insulate Britain protestor is carried by police after being unglued from the road in front of Parliament in Westminster in London on November 4 last year Protesters from Insulate Britain blocking a road near Manchester Airport on November 2 last year There are four demos planned at unknown locations, which are set to take aim at the cost of living crisis as well as the country's reliance on fossil fuel energy. One party named 'Staying Alive on the M25' has been organised by campaigner Gabriella Ditton, 27, from Norwich, with more than 500 already signed up to attend. Ms Ditton already received a suspended sentence in February after blocking part of the M25 in a protest. An event page on Facebook brands it the 'biggest party of 2022...bigger than 2020 Downing Street'. Listing its justifications for bringing roads to a standstill, it adds: 'Cost of Living Crisis, Electricity and gas bills go up 54% a year in April, 200 'discount' you gotta pay back later, People dying in their homes...Boris Johnson can shove it up his a**e. 'U shoulda insulated Britain I reckon' [SIC]. Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said last month: 'Yet again, a minority of the crusty Wokerati are willing to endanger others. 'These middle class hippies are hell-bent on imposing green extremist ideals on people regardless of how hard-up that will make working people.' Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said the raves, now planned for April 2, 'will cause chaos for families' Some 16 environmental protesters were handed jail sentences recently after staging blockades of Britain's roads last autumn. A further 18 received suspended sentences. In an online post about the planned raves, Insulate Britain previously stated: 'We failed to move our irresponsible government to take meaningful action to prevent thousands of us from dying in our cold homes during the energy price crisis. 'We have failed to make this heartless government put its people over profit and insulate our homes to do our part in lowering the UK's emissions. 'We have failed to encourage our government to get up from their drinks parties, go to their desk and get on with the job.' The group went on: 'So our next campaign of civil resistance against the betrayal of this country must be even more ambitious.' Nicola Bell, from Highways England, said: 'We will work with police and other partners to limit the effects of protests.' Advertisement The daughter of a overnight staffer being held hostage in Chernobyl has warned the plant is being held by Russian forces who 'have no clue about nuclear security protocols' after Kyiv's intelligence agency claimed Putin's forces are preparing to fake a terror attack at the site to try to blackmail the world. Natalia Ruemmele has warned that staffers who usually work 12 hour shifts have been maintaining the nuclear plant at gunpoint for more than two weeks since Russian forces seized control of the site as she pleaded with Moscow to agree to a ceasefire and allow a shift change. Ukrainian intelligence earlier warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to create a 'man-made catastrophe' at Chernobyl which he plans to blame on Ukrainian 'saboteurs' in order to justify further escalating his war against the ex-Soviet country. Ukrainian spies say the 'terrorist attack' will be carried out by Russian operatives who moved in yesterday amongst a group of 'specialists' sent by Belarus to take over safety operations at the partially-destroyed nuclear power plant, which was seized by Russian forces in the opening days of the invasion. Belarus sent the team in after Putin's men disconnected Chernobyl from monitoring systems which report the status of its nuclear safety systems to UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and cut power to the plant - meaning water used to keep its fuel rods cooled will no longer automatically top itself up. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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. 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 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 1000 Advertisement Power to the plant was cut more than 40 hours ago leaving the reactors reliant on diesel generators that 'have a 48-hour capacity' before radiation leaks become 'imminent, according to transmission system operator Ukrenergo. Nuclear safety experts say Chernobyl has diesel generators which should have automatically kicked in after the power was disconnected to keep pumps running, after which water which cools nuclear fuel rods at the plant will start to evaporate - exposing the rods which could then start to burn and create a cloud of radioactive ash. All that should be needed to prevent that is for Russians to top up the water manually, which could be done with a water truck. Ukraine told the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday that technicians have started repairing damaged power lines at the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant in an effort to restore power supplies, the UN nuclear agency said. The Ukrainian nuclear regulator said Friday that workers repaired one section of the lines, but there still appears to be damage in other places. Repair efforts would continue despite 'the difficult situation' outside the plant, which was taken by Russian forces early in the invasion, the IAEA said. The Ukrainian regulator said additional fuel was delivered for generators, but it remains important to fix the power lines as soon as possible. The IAEA reiterated that the disconnection 'will not have a critical impact on essential safety functions at the site.' But Kyiv's Main Intelligence Directorate believes Moscow's actions show it is laying the ground for a manufactured nuclear catastrophe. They say Russian forces have been collecting the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who died fighting at Hostomel airport - the site of clashes close to Kyiv - in refrigerated lorries so they can be taken to Chernobyl and posed up as saboteurs. Putin's motivation is to 'blackmail the global community' for sanctioning Russia and providing weapons to Ukraine, which have battled the Russian leader's forces to a near-standstill with heavy losses. At the same time, the disaster - which would almost certainly cause radioactive fallout to land on Russia - would also be used to justify the use of further force against Ukraine. Though Kyiv's account cannot be independently verified, it comes against the backdrop of Russian attacks on other nuclear reactors in the country - at Zaporizhzhia in central Ukraine and Kharkiv in the east - which Ukraine has said are 'nuclear terrorism'. Zaporizhzhia power plant was attacked last week, sparking a fire near one of the reactors which Russian forces initially prevented fire crews from extinguishing. Kharkiv's Institute of Physics, which houses a reactor, was also shelled this morning - though no damage was caused to the nuclear facility. Meanwhile the head of a nuclear research facility in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv said on Friday that the grounds of the institute had been struck by Russian shells during recent fighting, but the core housing nuclear fuel remains intact. He warned, however, that any future damage to equipment in the core could pose a danger. 'The facility, in working condition, doesn't present any danger whatsoever,' said Mykola Shulga, director general of the National Science Centre Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology. 'However, if there is physical damage, a nuclear fuel leak is possible, radioactive elements (could escape) outside,' he said, speaking inside the facility. 'This obviously would be a huge, huge problem for the environment. In other words, what would happen would be comparable to a similar situation at any nuclear power station.' While the inner areas of the institute were unscathed, some of the outer walls of the building were damaged by shrapnel and windows were blown in. It comes against the backdrop of western governments saying Russia appears to be laying the groundwork to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine - an attack that would also be blamed on Kyiv with the aim of justifying a further increase in violence. Ukraine has also today accused fighter jets of staging a 'false flag' attack on Belarus as a pre-text to getting Alexander Lukashenko's troops involved in the fighting. Kyiv said two Su-25 bombers crossed the border from Belarus this afternoon, carried out attacks on Ukrainian soil, and then bombed Belarus itself. Defence minister Olexiy Reznikov said the attack was planned by Russia. 'The purpose of this provocation is to force the current leadership of Belarus into war against Ukraine. Moscow is trying to bind you with blood,' he said. Lukashenko has so-far refused to get his men involved in the war, after commanders reportedly quit rather than join the fighting. The 'false flag' operation came immediately after the dictator met Putin in Moscow to discuss trade links, and agreed Russian would supply Belarus with modern military equipment. Ukraine's defence ministry later said it expects Belarusian forces to cross the border and join in the fighting at 9pm (7pm GMT) tonight - though is not yet any sign that Minsk has joined the invasion. But Russian forces continued pounding the city of Mariupol on Friday night and elsewhere Moscow's men stopped some buses of people trying to flee the Kyiv region, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. In a video address, Vereshchuk said some planned evacuations were successful, including 1,000 people who were evacuated from the village of Vorzel in the Kyiv region. Ukraine says 1,582 civilians have died there in 12 days after the invasion. Chernobyl nuclear power plant, pictured on Thursday March 10 in a satellite image released today. The plant is currently under the control of Russian forces, who have disconnected it from international safety systems Russian forces took control of the power plant, which is located to the north of Kyiv, in the early days of fighting (pictured, Russian tanks at the site) and have since shut off the power which runs the cooling system, and disconnected Ukraine has warned that radioactive substances could be released from Chernobyl if power is not restored to the plant. Pictured: A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a general view of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, March 7 Pictured: A graphic showing the series of events that led to the explosion in the reactor in Reactor 4 on the night of April 26, 1986 Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts An explosion in an apartment building in Mariupol, southern Ukraine, on Friday, March 11, after Russian tanks fired on the block during fierce fighting more than two weeks after Moscow invaded its neighbour A Russian army tank marked with a Z moves through the outskirts of Mariupol, a city that continues to be pounded by shelling after Moscow widened its offensive in Ukraine People cross the Irpin river as they evacuate from Irpin town next to a destroyed bridge more than two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine Hundreds of thousands are displaced inside Ukraine as well, after fleeing assaults on their hometowns. Irpin, (pictured) on the outskirts of Kyiv, has been one of the worst hit Volunteers evacuate an elderly resident in Irpin, some 25 km (16 miles) northwest of Kyiv, where residents have been enduring Russian shellfire and bombardments for over a week Civilians carry white flags as they navigate a crossing between Russian-controlled areas and Ukrainian-controlled areas in Bucha and Irpin on Friday, March 11 A woman walks in front of a residential building which was damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region The northwest suburbs, including Irpin (pictured) and Bucha, have already endured days of heavy bombardment but Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the northeastern edge A service member of pro-Russian troops in uniform without insignia jumps off a tank with the letters "Z" painted on it outside a residential building in Volnovakha in the pro-separatist Donetsk region Service members of pro-Russian troops in uniforms without insignia gather around a fire outside a residential building in Volnovakha in the pro-separatist Donetsk region A satellite image shows a multispectral overview of artillery firing, in Ozera, near Antonov Airport, Ukraine, on Friday, March 11 Two men carry a body in a body bag to lay it next to others in a snow covered yard of a morgue in Mykolaiv, a city on the shores of the Black Sea that has been under Russian attack for days Jen Psaki, spokesman for the White House, said Russia is engaged in an 'obvious ploy' to justify its own use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by pumping out disinformation that America is secretly developing the weapons in Ukraine in laboratories close to the Russian border. 'Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them,' she said earlier this week. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a similar statement yesterday, saying: 'The stuff that you're hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of their playbook. 'They start saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stored by their opponents or by the Americans. And so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a... fake story ready to go. 'You've seen it in Syria. You saw it even in the UK. That's what they're doing. It is a cynical, barbaric government.' Joe Biden warned Friday that Putin will pay a 'severe price' if he uses chemical weapons in Ukraine - but again repeated that American troops would not be sent into the country to prevent the outbreak of World War Three. 'The United States and our allies and partners continue to work in lockstep to ramp up the economic pressures on Putin and to further isolate Russia and the global stage,' Biden said in his announcement from the White House. Biden also said he will revoke Russia's 'most favored nation' trade status over its invasion of Ukraine, another step in the series of harsh economic sanctions he and U.S. allies have imposed on Moscow. He noted that revoking the favored trade status 'is going to make it harder for Russia to do business with the United States, and doing it in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another crushing blow to the Russian economy that's already suffering very badly from our sanctions,' he said. He also reiterated that American troops will not fight in the Ukraine. 'We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine,' adding that a 'direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War III something we must strive to prevent.' Meanwhile civilian volunteers trained in Odessa on Friday, learning to use rifles and other defence techniques as the city's mayor warned that Russian forces could soon surround the southern Ukrainian port city on three fronts. In a different part of the city, a group of women crafted camouflage nets by cutting up old pieces of cloth. It came a day after Russia's deputy energy minister, Yevgeny Grabchak, said power had been restored to the decommissioned plant, after Ukraine said earlier this week that Putin's forces had cut the electricity. However, the intelligence update disputed this, and repeated an earlier warning that if the electricity is cut, the plant's emergency diesel generators that provide back-up power to safety systems can only last 48-hours. Earlier this week, Ukraine pleaded with Russia to observe a ceasefire so engineers could go into Chernobyl and restore the power. This was refused, Ukraine said. 'The occupiers refused to grant access to the station to Ukrainian repairmen,' the update continued. 'Instead, 'Belarusian specialists' went there on the instructions of Alexander Lukashenko. Among them, under the guise of nuclear power plants, Russian saboteurs also come to organize a terrorist attack.' On Wednesday, IAEA also said it had lost contact with the captured Zaporizhzhia power plant, just hours after warning of a potential unfolding disaster at Chernobyl. The agency said warning systems at Zaporizhzhia - Europe's largest nuclear power plant - had stopped broadcasting updates in the days since Russian forces shelled the site, resulting in international condemnation. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Wednesday he was 'concerned about the sudden interruption' of the data flows to the watchdog's Vienna headquarters. He added that the reason for the disruption in updates from the power plants was not clear but the IAEA was still receiving data from other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including three other operational nuclear power plants. Also on Wednesday, Ukraine warned Chernobyl could be 48 hours away from leaking radiation, and the country's nuclear company Energoatom warned that radioactive substances could be released if an electricity outage at the site continues any longer, as it makes it impossible to cool spent nuclear fuel. Energoatom has said that work to repair the connection and restore power to the plant - the site of the world's biggest nuclear disaster in 1986 - has not been possible because fighting is under way in the region. Members of Ukraine's territorial defence forces take part in military training in an underground garage in Kyiv as Russian troops advance on the capital Soldiers patrol a street in Lviv, western Ukraine, as the Russian-waged war rages in the east and centre of the country for the sixteenth day on Friday, March 11 A Ukrainian woman with her baby embarks a train bound to Warsaw, at the Przemysl train station, southeastern Poland on Friday, March 11 Ukrainian forces have seized gas marks from Russian troops following warnings from the West that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons Damage is seen at the Institute of Physics in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, north east Ukraine, which houses a nuclear reactor that Russian forces are accused of targeting Ukraine has accused Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' after the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, was shelled. The institute houses a nuclear reactor Damage caused by Russian shelling is seen near the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after three airstrikes hit on Friday morning - destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian Emergency crews assess the damage on a residential street in Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it came under bombardment on Friday - having largely been spared attacks so far during the war The company said there were about 20,000 spent fuel assemblies at Chernobyl that could not be kept cool amid a power outage. Their warming could lead to 'the release of radioactive substances into the environment. The radioactive cloud could be carried by wind to other regions of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe,' it said in a statement. Without power, ventilation systems at the plant would also not be working, exposing staff to dangerous doses of radiation, it added. Russia took control of the defunct atomic plant on the first day of the invasion and has since captured a second nuclear site - Zaporizhzhia - the biggest in Europe. Energy operator Ukrenergo also said their power has been entirely cut to the plant and its security systems. The plant 'was fully disconnected from the power grid,' Ukrenergo said in a statement on its Facebook page, adding that military operations meant 'there is no possibility to restore the lines'. The recent developments have now added increasing concern about safety and security around the region. Last week staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were captured on video pleading with Russian soldiers directing fire on the building before they overtook it. The nuclear power plant, which creates around 20 percent of Ukraine's electricity, was captured after a fierce gun battle between Russian President Vladimir Putin's men and Ukrainian defenders that sparked a fire in a six-story training building. 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. The IAEA said later on Wednesday it saw 'no critical impact on safety' from the power cut at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine. The Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that Ukraine had informed it of the loss of electricity and that the development violates a 'key safety pillar on ensuring uninterrupted power supply.' But it tweeted that 'in this case IAEA sees no critical impact on safety.' The IAEA said that there could be 'effective heat removal without need for electrical supply' from spent nuclear fuel at the site. Speaking to MailOnline Claire Corkhill - Professor of Nuclear Material Degradation at Sheffield University - said that while power being cut at Chernobyl was concerning, the spent nuclear fuel would not lead to a nuclear 'meltdown'. Damage is seen in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it was bombed by Russian forces in the early hours Gutted buildings are seen in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after Russian missile strikes in the early hours Fires burn amidst the ruins of a destroyed building after a Russian airstrike in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers counter-attack against Russian forces to the west of Kyiv on Thursday, after an attempt by Putin's men to enter the west of the city was ground to a halt Ukrainian troops carrying an array of anti-tank weapons are pictured moving through a forest as they prepare a counter-attack against Russian forces near Kyiv Ukrainian territorial defence units, which are charged with protecting Kyiv from Russian attacks, have been preparing trenches in the capital as the battle to take the city gets underway Members of the Kyiv territorial defence dig trenches along the side of highways in the capital Kyiv, as they prepare to defend the capital against attacks by Russian troops Barricades made from sandbags and tyres filled with earth are erected around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as commanders warn it will soon be surrounded and Russian forces will try to push into the city Ukrainian commanders say Russian attacks are underway to the north, west and east of Kyiv and that the city will soon be surrounded as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of it gets underway 'With the electricity supply to the Chernobyl site unavailable, there are several areas of concern with regards to the safety of the nuclear material stored there,' she said. The first issue, she explained, is that spent fuel from reactors one and three is kept cool in metal casings in a pond (that looks like a large swimming pool). 'This material produces heat through radioactive decay and requires constant cooling, which is achieved by pumping fresh cool water into the ponds,' she said. 'With no power supply, this water could slowly evaporate, potentially resulting in contamination of the building by low levels of radioactive isotopes.' The second issue, she said, concerns the monitoring of radioactivity levels in reactor four - the reactor that exploded in 1996. 'It is essential that radiation monitoring systems are able to constantly monitor the situation inside reactor 4 so that we can be aware of any potential reasons for concern about the exposed nuclear fuel that resides there,' Prof. Corkhill said. 'Another serious concern is the maintenance of the ventilation system in the New Safe Confinement structure,' she continued. The Chernobyl New Safe Confinement is the huge cover - or sarcophagus - that was placed over reactor four in 2016. 'This prevents further degradation of Reactor number 4 and the hazardous exposed nuclear fuel within, and is essential to the future decommissioning of the site. 'If there is no power to this structure, we could see the complete failure of the 1.5Bn euro decommissioning programme to make the site safe once and for all.' While Prof. Corkhill said there the loss of power would unlikely lead to a wide scale released of radioactivity, she said it was more likely there would be 'severe contamination within one of the spent fuel storage facilities.' Prof Corkhill's research focuses on understanding the long-term evolution of radioactive waste material in disposal environments and she provides independent advice to the UK government's radioactive waste management and disposal policies. She is leading a British team that is making a key contribution to the huge clear-up operation at the stricken Fukushima nuclear power station in Japan after developing material that simulates the most dangerous radioactive debris remaining in the reactors. This satellite image from Thursday provided by Maxar Technologies shows resupply trucks and multiple probable rocket launchers in firing positions, in Berestyanka, around 30 miles from central Kyiv Russian supply trucks and other vehicles are seen parked in the tree line of a forest (to the right of the image) in an apparent effort to make them harder for Ukrainian forces to destroy Russian tanks and armoured vehicles have also dispersed into civilian areas in an effort to make them harder to hit. Pictured are some of the 'death convoy' vehicles in the town of Ozera, north east of Kyiv Initially, the 40-mile line of vehicles, tanks and artillery had stalled outside Kyiv but as of Thursday, parts of the convoy have now 'repositioned' into the woods and dispersed along roads Those vehicles which are left along the main highway into Kyiv (pictured, part of the road north of Ivankiv) are now spaced out to make them less of a target for Ukrainian artillery February 28: The last clear images of the 'death convoy' were taken almost two weeks ago, when the skies were clear of clouds, and showed them bunched up along the road (above). Those vehicles have now dispersed On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine and seized the defunct plant, site of a 1986 disaster that killed hundreds and spread radioactive contamination west across Europe. The Chernobyl site has been under the control of Russian troops since last week. The cause of the damage to the power line serving it was not immediately clear. On Tuesday the UN atomic watchdog IAEA said that the site was no longer transmitting data and voiced concern for staff working under Russian guard. The situation for the staff 'was worsening', the IAEA said, citing the Ukrainian nuclear regulator. The defunct plant sits inside an exclusion zone that houses decommissioned reactors as well as radioactive waste facilities. In 2016, the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement was put in place to cover the reactor. It was designed to prevent further release of radioactive contaminants for 100 years. More than 2,000 staff still work at the plant as it requires constant management to prevent another nuclear disaster. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Tuesday called on 'on the forces in effective control of the site to urgently facilitate the safe rotation of personnel there.' He also repeated his offer to travel to Chernobyl or elsewhere to secure 'the commitment to the safety and security' of Ukraine's power plants from all parties. 'The Director General indicated that remote data transmission from safeguards monitoring systems installed at the Chernobyl NPP had been lost,' the IAEA said in a statement yesterday. Safeguards keep track of nuclear material and waste products generated by nuclear power plants. The IAEA urged Russian authorities to allow the 210 staff members who are being held captive at Chernobyl to leave, arguing that although radiation levels in the area are relatively low, it is necessary to ensure a 'safe rotation' of staff. It comes after the Vienna-based UN body said Ukrainian authorities reported an attack on a nuclear facility in Kharkiv on Sunday - though no increase in radiation levels had been reported at the site. Shoppers in New York City are selling sought-after Supreme x Burberry clothes they lined up for hours to buy online with up to 600 percent markups. On Thursday people became violent outside Manhattan's Dover Street Market where there was a long line of people waiting for the highly anticipated Supreme x Burberry Spring 2022 Collaboration. Typically following any exclusive clothing drops, resellers will be the first in line to get their hands on the items and wait for them to be out of stock and then sell them online. The lucrative side hustle has earned many a small fortune. After just dropping on Thursday, the Supreme x Burberry collaboration has sold out online and in stores, meaning customers are practically forced to turn to resellers for hot items like the Supreme Burberry Rugby Shirt, which originally retailed for $168 is currently reselling online for $450. Scroll down for video The Supreme Burberry Box Logo Tee, originally sold for $54 is now available for resale at $300 A Supreme Burberry Box Logo Hooded Sweatshirt, originally retailing for $198, is up for resale at $500 The Supreme Burberry Denim Trucker Jacket, retailing for $298 was reselling online for $695 The Supreme Burberry Rugby Shirt, which originally retailed for $168 was reselling online for $450 on StockX.com The $598 Supreme Burberry Shearling Collar Down Puffer Jacket is up for resale for nearly twice it's retail price at $1,029 The Supreme Burberry Denim Shorts from the collaboration retail for $168 but is up for resale for $592 Punches were thrown among shoppers waiting on long lines for the highly anticipated Supreme x Burberry Spring 2022 Collaboration on Thursday Several men waiting on line outside outside a NYC boutique were captured throwing punches on Thursday Observers look on as the fight continues in the New York City streets by a delivery truck The Supreme Burberry Denim Trucker Jacket originally cost $298 in stores but is now being resold online for $695, and the Supreme Burberry Box Logo Tee, sold in stores for $54, is listed online for $300. The same goes for the $598 Supreme Burberry Shearling Collar Down Puffer Jacket, which is up for resale for nearly twice it's retail price at $1,029 and even the $68 Supreme Burberry Skateboard Deck, which is selling for $200 online. Several people started brawling outside the Manhattan store, throwing punches and pushing each other down the steps and even fighting up against a FedEx truck in the street before two police officers stepped in to end the tussle. The high tensions at the release may have been partly responsible for the fight on Thursday. Part of the new collaboration, which combines Burberry's signature plaid with the recognizable Supreme logo, is dropping only in-store, making them prime for resale online. A model wears wear the grey Supreme Burberry Box Logo Hooded Sweatshirt, which retails for $198 A model sports the Supreme Burberry Denim Shorts from the collaboration, which retail for $168 Supreme, founded in 1994 as a skateboarding store, has evolved into a billion- dollar street wear empire with an almost cult-like following. On top of it's loyal fanbase, the brand only does incredibly limited releases which encourages reselling online, where modestly priced items can sell for up to six times its original price on popular marketplaces like StockX, Grailed and even Instagram, depending on how sought after it is. This has led to a culture of reselling that has made it nearly impossible for everyday customers to get their hands on new releases. The Burberry collaboration is just the latest team up with a luxury brand, in 2017 Supreme did an extremely popular collaboration with Louis Vuitton, as well as more recent collaborations with Nike, North Face and Levi. Advertisement Vice President Kamala Harris stressed the need to stick with 'friends' as she appeared at a joint press conference Friday afternoon alongside Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. 'Gotta stand with your friends,' Harris said. 'And as everybody knows, even in your personal life, being loyal to those friendships based on common principles and values, sometimes it's difficult. Often it ain't easy. But that's what the friendship is about.' Harris also stated plainly that she believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was committing war crimes in Ukraine. 'We are clear that any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime. Period,' she said. The Romanian government rolled out the red carpet for Harris's visit Friday, as she traveled to NATO allies Poland and Romania this week. On Thursday in Warsaw, Harris attracted controversy after laughing off questions about the refugee crisis resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the press conference Friday, she ignored answering a specific question on how long Americans might have to deal with inflation and high gas prices, and instead talked about the plight of those refugees coming from wartorn Ukraine. 'When we look at Putin's actions ... it is painful to watch. It is painful to watch what is happening to innocent people in Ukraine, who just want to live in their own country and have pride in themselves as Ukrainians,' she said. 'Who want to be home speaking the language they know, going to the church that they know, raising their children in the community where their families have lived for generations.' 'And by the millions now are having to flee with nothing but a backpack,' she added. She pointed to the Russian attack on a maternity hospital. 'Pregnant women,' she remarked in disgust at how they had been targeted. 'We are - we have the unfortunate experience, all of us right now, who are not in Ukraine, of witnessing horror,' Harris said. 'So we are committed in everything we are doing.' 'And yes, the president did say in the State of the Union there is a price to pay for democracy,' she added. Vice President Kamala Harris stressed the need to stick with 'friends' as she appeared at a joint press conference Friday afternoon alongside Romanian President Klaus Iohannis Harris (left) and Iohannis (right) participate in a joint press conference after their meeting Friday afternoon Harris (left) and Iohannis (right) shake hands following their joint press conference Friday afternoon The press conference took place in an ornate room in Romania's Cotroceni Palace Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (right) participate in a meeting Friday afternoon at the Cotroceni Palace Harris (left) and Iohannis (right) participate in a welcome ceremony Friday afternoon in Bucharest, Romania Harris (left) and Iohannis (right) stand for their countries' national anthems at a welcome ceremony Friday afternoon in Bucharest, Romania Harris (left) and Iohannis (right) meet at the Cotroceni Palace Friday afternoon Harris (left) signs a guest book alongside Iohannis (right) prior to holding a meeting at Cotroceni Palace Friday afternoon Iohannis (right) walks Harris (left) on a large red carpet set up for her arrival Friday in Bucharest Iohannis greeted Harris warmly as she arrived at the Cotroceni Palace. 'Your visit here is strength and living proof of our strong partnership,' he said 'That is why I am here, to reaffirm our commitment to this partnership and also to the NATO alliance as a whole,' Harris replied. Before departing Poland, Harris met with about 40 servicemembers - 20 Americans and 20 from Poland at the Chopin Airport. Several of the Americans said they heralded from California, Harris' home state. 'You have each decided to live a life of service doing some of the most important work any individual could do which is to prepare to sacrifice for your nation,' she said. 'That is some of the most noble work any human being could do.' 'When we are in those rooms making decisions it is you we have in mind,' she continued. 'Knowing that when we stand firm we can back it up with you.' Vice President Kamala Harris meets with American and Polish troops in Warsaw Friday before traveling to the Romanian capital of Bucharest Harris met with about 40 servicemembers, 20 from the United States and 20 from Poland Harris talked to around 40 servicemembers Friday morning before departing Warsaw 'You have each decided to live a life of service doing some of the most important work any individual could do which is to prepare to sacrifice for your nation,' she said At a press conference Thursday in Warsaw, Harris received criticism after awkwardly laughing when asked about the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Harris also dodged inquiries at a press conference in Warsaw Thursday on why a deal for sending fighter jets to Kyiv fell through. Ukrainian-born Republican Rep.Victoria Spartz slammed the vice president by saying 'this is a very serious situation requiring action, not a laughing matter,' as critics tore into Harris' conduct at her press conference alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda. The vice president's three-day trip to Eastern Europe comes as Poland has taken in upwards of 1.5 million refugees fleeing Ukraine in the 15 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded. When asked about the issue of refugees, Harris looked at Polish President Andrzej Duda like she expected him to respond first, then cackled through her comment: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.' The vice president's now commonplace laughter at inappropriate moments with world leaders was met with widespread criticism. 'Kamala Harris has been very consistent during her live remarks with Poland's leader,' former Donald Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos tweeted Thursday. 'She is awkwardly laughing. Again. Discussing refugees is no laughing matter. Why she laughs at this is deranged.' Harris has faced backlash previously for laughing during inappropriate moments. After the Biden administration's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, Harris cut off reporters asking questions by giggling and saying 'Hold on, hold on slow down, everybody.' Duda confirmed that he had asked Harris to help speed up the consular process so Ukrainian refugees could go stay with family they have in the U.S. He also said that a 'refugee crisis is unfolding' in Eastern Europe, and claimed that more than 1 million people arrived at his country's borders from Ukraine in just 10 days of the so-far 15-day conflict. The United Nations predicts that at least 2.2 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded and more than half of those refugees are now in Poland. Harris pledged during her Thursday press conference more than $50 million more in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, while also dodging questions on a fallen through deal to send the country warplanes. 'The issue facing the Ukrainian people and our allies in the Eastern flank is something that occupies one of our highest priorities,' the vice president said, calling it a 'dynamic situation' that 'requires us to be nimble and to be swift.' Duda, however, did address the issue of warplanes, explaining that the situation is 'extremely complicated', and that the mix up came because Poland was making these aircraft available for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to decide if they wanted to send them to Ukraine. 'We are trying to do our best,' Duda said in a frank moment during his joint briefing with the vice president as Poland takes in millions of refugees fleeing their neighbor Ukraine. 'Some expectations were addressed in a very strong and a vocal way, also towards us, towards Poland,' he added. 'However, we are members of the North Atlantic Treaty alliance and as far as security issues are concerned we have to look at this not only through our own lens through the prism of the security of Poland but we also have to adopt the perspective of the security of NATO as a whole.' Russian tanks push to within just a few miles of Kyiv's outskirts, analysts and witnesses claim, though initial assaults to the west and east of the capital were repelled Wednesday as President Vladimir Putin's men face a long and bloody campaign to take the capital. At the same time, U.S. troops conducted military drills in Rutja, Estonia on Thursday by firing Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicles. Vice President Kamala Harris laughed off inquiries about the Ukrainian refugee crisis and dodged questions on why the plan with Poland to send fighter jets to Ukraine fell through. Harris speaks during a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Thursday Harris and Duda met bilaterally before holding a joint press conference where Duda said the situation with send war planes to Ukraine is 'extremely complicated' and said he requested the U.S. speed up the consular process so Ukrainian refugees could go stay with family they have in the U.S. Tanks are seen destroyed near Brovary, Ukraine on Thursday as Russia enters it's 15th day of invasion of Ukraine and closes in on capital city of Kyiv More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have arrived in Poland since the start of he conflict last month. Pictured: People wait to board buses after crossing the Ukrainian border into Poland, at Medyka borders crossing on Thursday, March 10, 2022 Analysts believe the Russian assault on Kyiv is now underway, as troops massed in both the west and east try to push into the city limits - with missions also underway to surround the capital from the south west U.S. troops prepare to fire Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicle during Saber Strike military drill in Rutja, Estonia on Thursday, March 10, 2022 KAMALA'S NERVOUS AND AWKWARD LAUGHS: A HISTORY August 23, 2021: Harris nervously laughed and dismissed a reporter's inquiry as she headed to Singapore amid Afghanistan chaos. Harris initially claimed to have had a key role and that she was 'the last person in the room' when Biden chose to follow through with the May 1 deadline to retreat US troops from Afghanistan. March 22, 2021: Harris was asked if she had plans to visit the US-Mexico border on Monday but appeared to laugh at the question when posed by a reporter. 'Do you have any plans to visit the border?' came the question while on the tarmac in Jacksonville, Florida. 'Not today,' responded Harris, before laughing. 'But I have before, and I'm sure I will again.' October 26,2020: Harris burst into laughter when asked if she would bring a 'socialist or progressive perspective' to the White House in an interview with CBS News. September 8, 2019: Harris apologizes for laughing when man at New Hampshire town hall described Trump as 'mentally retarded' - and claims she hadn't heard the words he used 'in that moment' Advertisement Harris left Wednesday for a three-day trip to Eastern Europe as the 15th day of Russian invasion continues in Ukraine and troops close in on the capital city of Kyiv. The vice president had a much more tame stance toward the violence than President Duda during Thursday's joint remarks. 'We are also very clear that any intentional attack on innocent civilians is a violation,' the vice president said, stopping short of calling Russia's actions 'war crimes.' But Duda sayid: 'It is obvious to us that in Ukraine Russians are committing war crimes.' While Duda explained that Poland is trying to act in the interest of their own country, Ukraine and NATO, Harris appeared on more shaky ground as she deflected and dodged. 'I want to be very clear, the United States and Poland are united in what we have done and are prepared to do to help Ukraine and the people of Ukraine. Full stop,' Harris said when she was asked about the lack of movement on a fighter jet deal. 'In terms of the work the United States has done so far, we have, as you know, given military, humanitarian and security assistance, and that is an ongoing process,' the vice president continued without addressing the defunct plan to send war planes to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the U.S. and Poland of playing games with people's lives after the Pentagon poured cold water on a plan to get them fighter jets. Zelensky told D.C. and Warsaw to stop their 'ping pong' and hand over the MIG-29 combat planes to bolster Ukrainian firepower against Russian troops as they continued their relentless shelling campaign in cities across the country. 'There is an official decision of Poland to transfer the planes to the relevant base - the American base. We also have confirmation - we have all heard - that the agreement between the American party and Poland has been reached,' Zelensky said in a speech Wednesday. 'But at the same time, we hear that Poland's proposal is allegedly unfounded,' he continued. 'And that's what they say in Washington. We also read this. So when will the decision be made?' 'Listen,' the Ukrainian leader pleaded, 'We have a war! We do not have time for all these signals. This is not ping pong! This is about human lives! We ask once again: solve it faster.' 'Do not shift the responsibility. Send us planes,' Zelensky demanded. Despite the Pentagon denying a deal to enter a war plane deal with Poland, Harris announced Thursday that the U.S. did deliver on its promise to send patriot missiles to Warsaw to ramp up their protection against possible attacks from Russia. She also pledged that the U.S. will send $50 million more in humanitarian aid to help Ukraine as it faces attack from Russia. 'Today we are also announcing in pursuit of what must happen, which is to provide humanitarian assistance, that we will give another $50 million the United States will through the UN's World Food Program to assist in humanitarian aid,' she said. A White House fact sheet on the new announcement Thursday claims: 'This assistance builds on the United States' announcement less than two weeks ago of nearly $54 million in humanitarian assistance to provide critically needed health supplies, food assistance, high thermal blankets, and other relief.' Refugees from Ukraine stand near tents as they wait to be transported away from the border after crossing into Poland in Medyka on Wednesday, March 9 When asked Thursday about the building refugee crisis in Poland, Harris laughed and handed the question off to Duda, saying through chuckles: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed' Duda (left) and Harris (right) met in Warsaw, Poland on Thursday, March 10, 2022 as the Russian attack on Ukraine entered its 15th day and forces closed in on Kyiv Ukrainian armed forces collect captured ammunition on Thursday, March 10, 2022 as Russia continues its 15th day of invasion and closes in on Kyiv Thousands of U.S. troops were deployed to Eastern European countries to assist in defending NATO ally nations as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine. Pictured: U.S. troops during a military drill in Rutja, Estonia on Thursday U.S. troops prepare to fire Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicle during Saber Strike military drill in Estonia on March 10, 2022 Zelensky's former press secretary tweets and then deletes message saying it would be a 'tragedy' if Kamala Harris becomes President after laughing during press conference Zelensky's former press secretary Iuliia Mendel, who served from June 2019 until July 2021, said Thursday it would be a 'tragedy' if Vice President Kamala Harris became president Volodymyr Zelensky's former press secretary tweeted then deleted a post saying it would be a 'tragedy' if Vice President Kamala Harris were to one day be president after she laughed through questions at a press conference in Poland about the refugee crisis in Ukraine. 'It would be a tragedy if this woman won the presidency,' Iuliia Mendel, who served Zelensky's administration from June 2019 until July 2021, wrote on Twitter before quickly deleting the post. Harris is the first ever woman and person of color to serve as a U.S. vice president before being selected as President Joe Biden's No. 2, she was running for his spot in the Democratic primary. Mendel's comments were in response to another tweet with a video showing Harris laughing when asked about the refugee crisis resulting from people displaced from Ukraine fleeing to neighboring countries and saying through giggles: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.' The vice president held a joint press conference alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine during her three-day trip through Eastern Europe. The trip comes as Poland already took in upwards of 1.5 million refugees fleeing Ukraine in the 15 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded. Duda confirmed at the press conference that he had asked Harris to help speed up the consular process so Ukrainian refugees could go stay with family they have in the U.S. He also said that a 'refugee crisis is unfolding' in Eastern Europe, and claimed that more than 1 million people arrived at his country's borders from Ukraine in just 10 days of the so-far 15-day conflict. 'It would be a tragedy if this woman won the presidency,' Mendel tweeted, then quickly deleted, in response to the vice president laughing and deflecting her way through a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday Advertisement Although there has been no word on Ukrainian military casualties, Russia says it has destroyed more than 2,900 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities and has taken control of a number of neighborhoods in besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Kyiv estimates that Russia has lost some 12,000 troops in the fighting, along with 335 tanks, 1,100 armored personnel carriers, 500 vehicles, 81 helicopters and 49 planes. Moscow has admitted suffering losses, but has not given an accurate figure. 'The NATO alliance is stronger and Russia is weaker because of what Putin has done, that is very clear to us,' Harris said in her remarks with Duda on Thursday. Zelensky shared a video Wednesday of destruction at a maternity hospital as buildings were turned to rubble in Mariupol, Ukraine. 'Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity!' Zelensky tweeted. 'How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror?' he questioned in a tweet. 'Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity.' The devastating airstrikes on the maternity hospital killed three including a six-year-old girl. Residents and troops help civilians flee on Thursday from the town of Irpin in the Kyiv region of Ukraine as Russia tries to take the capital city after almost a week of fighting in the area forcing thousands of people to escape the town A Russian armored vehicle sits by the side of the road in Brovary, to the east of Kyiv, after being destroyed in an artillery and rocket ambush that caused heavy casualties Ukraine has rejected most Russian evacuation routes because they lead to Russian soil or that of its ally, Belarus, while routes that Ukraine has proposed have come under bombardment. The only successful evacuation to take place so far has been from Sumy to Poltava (in green) Vadym Denysenko, adviser to the interior ministry, said Ukrainian forces had managed to stop the attack in Irpin and were counter-attacking on Thursday morning with battles now underway. 'The night was quite difficult, but in general we can say that the Ukrainian army counterattacked near Kyiv,' he said. 'There is no further detailed information yet.' It means the Russian mission to assault the Ukrainian capital is now underway, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said. Among the vehicles seen driving towards Kyiv before they were ambushed was a missile launcher which carries thermobaric warheads - missiles that suck oxygen out of the air and crush the lungs of victims. Shelling in Kharkiv overnight killed four people, two of them children, with a five-year-old girl injured and rushed to hospital. Emergency workers said they are still working to pull people from the rubble of houses in the town of Slobozhanske. Three people were also killed in shelling on the city of Sumy - two women and a 13-year-old boy. Mariupol continues to be surrounded by Russian forces but is still in Ukrainian hands, chiefs said. They said Ukrainian fighter jets and anti-aircraft missile units destroyed four Russian Su-25 attack jets and two Russian helicopters over the past 48 hours. A retired army major and his partner have been hit with a 25,000 court bill after a fight with neighbours over a luxurious B&B in their 1m home, but the pair have called the reaction 'over-aggressive', insisting 'it's not like we were running a brothel'. Decorated ex-Grenadier Guards officer Steven Marcham, 66, has been ordered by a judge to stop taking in paying guests at the home on an exclusive private road Warren Lane, Ringwood, Hampshire, permanently. A bitter row ensued after the retired Army major - who has an MBE- and his partner Diana Groves, 65, were sued by two sets of neighbours following a 'fun' business idea to run a luxury B&B from their home. Decorated ex-Grenadier Guards officer Steven Marcham, 66 and his partner Diana Groves, 65, were sued by two sets of neighbours after running a luxury B&B from their home. Desmond and Colette Taylor and Trevor and Shirley Hands asked for a court order outlawing the B&B operation, plus damages. Now, after a fight at Central London County Court, Judge Nicholas Parfitt has banned the couple from operating their B&B and handed them a 25,000 court bill for the case. Ms Groves told the court they had once been on friendly terms with the pair of couples and their teenage daughter even baby-sitting the Taylors' children. The couple had decided to experiment with their B&B after their adult children left home, but said the Covid lockdown left them with no profits. But the couple's neighbours claimed Major Marcham and Ms Groves crossed the line by renting out two bedrooms at their home, 'Avonhurst', at a price of 90 per night. Pictured, the pool at the luxury residence. Desmond and Colette Taylor and Trevor and Shirley Hands asked for a court order outlawing the B&B operation, plus damages The couple received a lawyers' letter from their neighbours in July 2019, warning them that they were breaking the terms of their house purchase contract by taking in guests at their home. It further added that neighbours complained about guests using the outdoor swimming pool at their seven-bed home and about 'seeing numerous cars parked at your property'. The couple were also warned they had breached their 'restrictive covenant' - a binding part of their purchase contract which barred them from taking in paying guests. A bedroom in the 1m home. The couple received a lawyers' letter from their neighbours in July 2019, warning them that they were breaking the terms of their house purchase contract Before their case went to court, Ms Groves said they felt their neighbours were 'ganging up against them'. In July last year, the Taylors and the Hands secured a court judgment against Major Marcham and Ms Groves, ruling that they had breached their covenant by running the B&B. The case returned to Central London County Court where Judge Parfitt totalled up the legal costs bill to be paid by the couple, as well as awarding their neighbours 1,000 each in compensation and an injunction closing the B&B permanently. The lawyers' letter added that neighbours complained about guests using the outdoor swimming pool at their home and about 'seeing numerous cars parked at your property' Maj Marcham and Ms Groves had suggested their neighbours 'rushed into litigation and behaved over-aggressively' and argued that their costs' bill should be slashed to reflect that. They claimed the costs' bill had been heavily inflated by involving lawyers at all stages, rather than dealing with the issue on a 'person to person' basis. But the judge said the Taylors and Hands were well within their rights to negotiate through their lawyers rather than chat with the couple directly. Judge Parfitt also offered his sympathy for the couple bearing the 23,000 costs bill but added they were not supposed to run the home as a B&B. A decorated room in the luxurious residence. Maj Marcham and Ms Groves had suggested their neighbours 'rushed into litigation and behaved over-aggressively' He said: 'You have to bear in mind that they had to pay those costs - regardless of whether they were reasonable - to vindicate their position that you shouldn't have been running a B&B'. The couple was also hit with a court order banning 'the operation of a bed and breakfast from this property'. Major Marcham told the judge: 'We feel very disappointed by this judgment but we shall carry on with our lives, and that's what it's all about. 'We will pay up very promptly.' A respected vet has been struck off from the profession after she abducted a child at knifepoint who she claimed was a victim of 'Satanic abuse'. Dr Anke Hill, 51, who is understood to have worked in north Wales, wrongly believed the child's father was a Satanist and paedophile and led a gang-of-six to 'meticulously' plot and carry out a kidnap. After arriving home from school, the child was snatched by Dr Hill and another conspirator who threatened the child's horrified foster mother with a knife. Other members in the gang acted as getaway drivers and lookouts, however their plan was foiled four hours after the abduction when police stopped a car on the M1 in Northamptonshire. Dr Hill, who last year was jailed for 14 years and five months, was said to have recruited a gang after contacting satanic ritual abuse campaigner Wilfred Wong, 56. The vet - whose gang used codenames, false number plates and disguises - has now been banned from practising by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons [RCVS]. Wilfred Wong, pictured being taken from Caernarfon Crown Court, was a leading member of a gang involved in the abduction of a child in north Wales She was condemned by the RCVS following the 'violent' kidnapping which caused 'unspeakable misery'. She believed the child, who can't be named for legal reasons, was a victim of Satanic ritual abuse and after contacting Wong, the pair convinced four others to help. Over several months they hatched a plan to 'rescue' the child in Anglesey, north Wales, and smuggle them out of the country. An RCVS tribunal report said 'Dr Hill had a leading part in the carefully planned conspiracy to kidnap'. The report added: '[It was] planned over several months and had involved meticulous and sophisticated preparations designed to avoid detection. 'These preparations included the use of encrypted messaging applications, codenames, prepaid mobile phones which were to be discarded after use, more than one vehicle, false number plates, false documentation and disguises. 'The kidnapping itself was violent, involving the use of a knife which was held to the throat of a foster carer, and the forcible abduction of the victim. 'The foster carer's child and baby were at the scene and witnessed this event.' Members of the gang, including Edward and Janet Stevenson, pictured, wrongly claimed the child was at risk. Detectives scoured CCTV footage to discover those involved in the crime The gang plotted to abduct the child after school, threatening the foster carer with a knife, pictured here, Jane Going-Hill and Wilfred Wong, left, captured on CCTV outside Bangor station in North Wales Members of the gang were jailed for a total of 63 years following the kidnapping. Wong left, was jailed for 17 years The RCVS panel concluded: 'The Committee concluded that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was that of Dr Hill's removal from the register of veterinary surgeons maintained by RCVS. 'The Committee noted that this was a case involving serious harm to members of the public; it involved an offence the commission of which included violence; and a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would consider that it also evidenced a harmful deep-seated personality or attitude problem.' Hill and Wong snatched the child from their foster carer as they arrived home from school on November 4 last year, Caernarfon Crown Court heard. Hill wrestled the child from their car seat and put them in a waiting vehicle, while Wong held a knife to the foster carer's throat before slashing one of the carer's car tyres to prevent them from following. They then met Janet Stevenson and Edward Stevenson, a married couple who had hired a car to take the child away from Anglesey, north Wales. Two others, Jane Going-Hill and Kristine Petley, acted as lookouts on bridges to mainland Wales to spot any police activity, facilitating the car's escape route. The youngster had to travel for 'hundreds of miles in the footwell' of a Ford Galaxy as their captors sought to evade detection. The child was safely recovered when the hire car was stopped on the M1 between Milton Keynes and Northampton. In September last year Dr Hill was jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court, Wales, after she was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap. Wong, from London, was jailed for 17 years. In total, the gang of six was jailed for 63 years. One alleged member died of suffocation while in prison awaiting trial. Advertisement Inmate number 20220310140 in Chicago's Cook County Jail, Jussie Smollett For the last three years, actor Jussie Smollett has been the martyring star of a long drawn-out, legal circus. But on Friday morning, the 39-year-old woke up as inmate #20220310140, one of 6,000 convicts and suspects in the Cook County Jail, serving the first day of a 150-day sentence for lying to police. Yesterday, Smollett - once a darling of the music and TV world for his success on the show Empire - was sentenced to 150 days in jail. The star was convicted last year of five, felony four counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police repeatedly in January and February 2019, when he claimed he was the victim of a race hate attack. Judge James Linn yesterday granted Smollett 'day for day' eligibility which means if he behaves himself behind bars, he will likely be released within 75 days - just over two months. Because of the low-level, non-violent nature of Smollett's crimes, he will not serve his time in a state prison. He is being housed instead for the two-and-a-half months in the Cook County Jail, a stone's throw from the court and one of the biggest jail complexes in the country. He is currently being held in Division Eight - which is predominantly reserved for inmates with injuries or illness. It remains unclear if he will serve the duration of his sentence there, or if he will be moved after undergoing health checks. Smollett will not receive visitors today. Visitation for inmates in Section 2E of Unit 8 - where records show he is now - begins tomorrow, at 2.30pm. Division 8 is what is known as a Residential Treatment Unit. It is a two-wing facility and made headlines recently for a COVID outbreak which killed three inmates. Cook County Jail mostly houses suspects who are awaiting trial or convicts awaiting sentencing so there is a variety of violent and non-violent suspects and convicts in the population. Those whose their sentences there have been given considerably light ones of two years or less. Several sections of the jail have enormous dormitories where hundreds of men sleep in bunk beds lined up, row to row. There are individualized cell blocks, for more violent or at-risk offenders. During a New York Times visit to the jail for a 2017 feature on how it had been upgraded, one inmate repeatedly stabbed two others. An exterior view of Cook County Jail, where Smollett has begun his 150-day sentence. He will likely be let out after 75 days, if he behaves, and is currently being held in Division 8 - the medical unit. The prison has 6,000 inmates who are either serving sentences of under two years, or are awaiting trial An aerial view of the enormous Cook County Jail complex where more than 6,000 inmates are spread across more than a dozen units, awaiting sentencing or trial dates or serving sentences The worst of the jail: A solitary confinement cell in the Cook County Jail. Jussie is not likely to be placed in one of these cells Inside the prison, there are cramped dorm rooms where hundreds of non-violent offenders sleep side by side in bunk beds. Smollett was convicted of five, non-violent felonies. It is unclear if he will have to sleep in a dorm, or if he'll be put in a cell A cell block in another portion of the jail. The locked cells are reserved for more violent offenders These are the cells in Division 8- the medical unit where Smollett is currently being held In this Sept. 29, 2011 file photo, inmates at the Cook County Jail in Chicago wait to be processed for release. Jussie will have to spend at least half of his 150 day sentence In this Sept. 29, 2011 file photo, inmates at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, line up to be processed for release The star was convicted in December of five counts of felony four disorderly conduct - the lowest level of felony in Illinois. Facing a maximum sentence of three years, his attorneys yesterday begged for a non-custodial sentence and enlisted Hollywood heavyweights Samuel L. Jackson and Alfre Woodard to plead their case. It wasn't enough to persuade Judge James Linn against imposing jail time. After patiently listening to Smollett's attorneys blame the jury, the media and the prosecutors for his conviction, Linn imposed a 150-day sentence and blasted Smollett's 'astounding hypocrisy'. The actor has claimed throughout that he is the victim of a racist and homophobic campaign by the Chicago Police Department and prosecutor's office. He blamed former Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson - who is black - for going after him, and his brother yesterday fumed at assistant special prosecutor Samuel Mendenhall - who is also black - that they didn't need a 'lecture in racism'. In 2018, a violent brawl erupted in the mess hall where dozens of inmates started viciously fighting at the bottom of the stairs A plea for help is written on a window of the maximum security unit of the Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 10 April 2020. In January 2022, more than 800 inmates and staff tested positive for COVID The COVID-19 quarantine tier with single cells at Division 11 of the Cook County Jail in Chicago on May 20, 2020 Smollett is currently being held in Division 8, the medical unit. It's unclear if he will be allowed to stay there As he was led away in handcuffs, Smollett tore off his COVID-mask and screamed that if anything happened to him in custody it was at someone else's hand. He and his supporters say he is being unfairly punished because of his celebrity and that anyone else would have spared jail for the crimes he was convicted of. He still maintains that he was telling the truth when he claimed to have been beaten up by two white Trump supporters in January 2019. A jury unanimously convicted him of lying. They found that the evidence showed he had in fact paid his two black friends, brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, to rough him up in a staged attack. Police at the time suggested it was to raise his celebrity profile. Judge James Linn is pictured sentencing Smollett to 150 days in Cook County jail Jussie Smollett raises his fist in a Black Power salute as he is led out of court to begin his 150 day sentence, yelling over his shoulder: 'I am not suicidal! I am innocent!' Smollett told the judge: ''If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not to it to myself, and you must all know that' The two brothers testified at trial that Smollett walked them through exactly how to go about the attack. Smollett's defense attorneys claimed they were liars throughout, but couldn't explain why they would have lied to him. The brothers were never charged because they never lied to police - the first time they were questioned about it, they told cops what had happened, according to Judge Linn. Smollett has never relented on his defense and instead insists he was victimized by the City of Chicago. Judge Linn has ordered him to pay $120,000 in restitution which reflects the $130,000 the city is suing him for, minus $10,000 that Smollett has already surrendered as part of a now canceled-out deal with the State's Attorney's Office. As he was sentenced yesterday, Judge Linn blasted Smollett as a 'charlatan' Judge Linn was damning in his verdict, noting how Smollett on the stand reprimanded someone who, quoting him, used the N-word, and yet himself sabotaged the work of activists for equality. 'The hypocrisy is just astounding. I believe that you did damage to actual hate crime victims. These are people who have a difficult time coming forward. There may be some trepidation. 'I don't know if they are going to be accused of acting like you, pulling a stunt like you. I don't know if first responders are going to be more hesitant. I hope it's not the case.' 'You're just a charlatan, pretending to be a victim of a hate crime.' A white policeman found not guilty of murdering an Indigenous teenager has claimed he was 'sacrificed' by his colleagues - and told of the moment he was arrested and charged over the 19-year-old's death. Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, was acquitted of murdering Kumanjayi Walker and alternative charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act by a Northern Territory Supreme Court jury on Friday. Mr Rolfe denied murdering Mr Walker after he fired three shots at the teen - who had stabbed the police officer with a pair of scissors on November 9, 2019, while resisting arrest in Yuendumu, 290km north-west of Alice Springs. During an interview that year, the 30-year-old claimed NT Police arrested him over Walker's death despite having evidence that would clear him of any criminal responsibility. 'I feel like they threw me under the bus,' he told The Australian. Mr Rolfe claimed the first shot did nothing to subdue Mr Walker, and it was only after the third round that the threat was neutralised. Constable Zachary Rolfe was found not guilty of murdering Kumanjayi Walker and all other charges he faced on Friday in the NT Supreme Court Kumanjayi Walker, 19, was shot three times in the back and torso as the teen resisted arrest in Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs on November 9 in 2019 The constable was adamant there was sufficient evidence to clear him of murder based on body-worn video footage from the scene - and was not expecting to be arrested and charged with murder within days. 'The (police) leadership sacrificed me to appease a crowd which is not what a good leader would do,' he said. 'A good leader should take the hits. If they have a win, they should give it to the team. And if the team has a loss, a good leader takes the loss. 'To put it as bluntly as I can, if a white guy stabbed me and tried to stab my partner, Id shoot him just the same.' He added he and another member of the police Immediate Response Team (IRT) led efforts to save Mr Walker's life after the shooting. But Mr Rolfe said there was little he could do as there were no medical staff at the remote community's local clinic that day. The officer said the Indigenous man suffered priority one injuries which meant he wouldn't survive unless he was in a surgical ward within an hour. Mr Rolfe said he was flown to Darwin the following week, and was staying in police accommodation when he was arrested and charged with murder. On Friday, the family and community of Mr Walker expressed their collective anger and disgust at 'racist Australia' after Constable Rolfe was acquitted. Deputy chair of the Parumpurru select committee and senior elder Valerie Napaljarri Martin said the community was 'devastated by this injustice'. 'We are all so full of anger and grief. It is a racist system that we've got here in Australia,' she said. 'Our spirit may be broken, but we are the powerful decision-makers, we as Warlpiri nation, against the weapons that we know has been used against our people by choice by police. 'It must stop. We demand an end to guns in our communities.' Ms Napaljarri also called out those who saw Constable Rolfe as a 'hero'. 'Disgusting. After he went to our community like a predator, took our young fella. He's a hero to you guys,' she fumed. 'The biggest problem we have is the racism in the police and racism in the court system. And racism kills. Racism kills our young fella, Kumanjayi Walker.' Ms Napaljarri was joined by other members of Mr Walker's community, many heard crying and wailing as friends and family spoke to the media. 'When are we going to get justice?' senior Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said. Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez fought back tears as she said she and his family were 'robbed' of being able to say goodbye to Mr Walker 'We don't want no guns! Enough is enough! It's gotta stop. To our people - let us stand strong. 'And we do not want to see another black young fella, or a girl, to be shot.' Another Indigenous elder, Warren Williams, questioned why no Aboriginal people were on the jury, which deliberated for just five hours. Mr Williams said there was a double standard when Indigenous Australians were separately charged with crimes. 'Justice seems to be really dishonest. It helps (non-Indigenous Australians) avoid justice instead of making them accountable,' he continued. 'There are over 500 Aboriginal deaths in custody that need justice. No police has ever been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing in relation to any deaths in custody for (Indigenous Australians).' The court heard senior police sent Const Rolfe and four other officers from Alice Springs to patrol the community of about 800 on the evening Mr Walker died Speaking last was Mr Walker's cousin Samara Fernandez, who fought back tears as she said she and his family were 'robbed' of being able to say goodbye to Mr Walker. While she spoke, cries from grief-stricken community members were heard behind her. 'Sometimes I think about how he must have felt in his last moments. Was he scared? Terrified, I'd imagine. Was he in pain? Excruciating pain, I would think,' she told reporters. 'Throughout this trial, Kumanjayi has depicted solely as a dangerous individual who, in the words of (Rolfe's defence lawyer David Edwardson), was the author of his own misfortune. 'Would you call misfortune death? 'Cause I wouldn't. He has been criticised and picked apart by people who didn't know him. They saw only his flaws, and wished to put him at trial for his own death. That's disgusting. 'He was a joyful young man who was generous, a young man who was taken far too soon, and a young man who will be deeply, deeply missed.' Ms Fernandez said her cousin loved animals, his partner, family and music. Outside court Mr Rolfe gave his thoughts on the verdict. He showed no emotion when it was handed down but later smiled and hugged family members. 'Obviously I think that was the right decision to make, but a lot of people, are hurting today,' he said. 'Kumanjayi's family - I'm going to leave this space for them.' Constable Rolfe denied murdering Kumanjayi Walker after the teen stabbed him with a pair of scissors on November 9, 2019 The Crown conceded Mr Rolfe's first shot, fired while the teen was standing and wrestling with Sergeant Adam Eberl, was justified. But it said the second and third shots, which are the subject of the murder charge, went 'too far'. Jurors at the four-and-a-half week trial heard evidence from about 40 witnesses. Police body-worn camera footage of the shooting was also shown to the court. The court heard senior police sent Const Rolfe and four other officers from Alice Springs to patrol the community of about 800 on the evening Mr Walker died. They were also ordered to gather intelligence about the teen's location and arrest him early the following morning when he was likely to be sleeping and easily taken into custody. Instead, they tracked Mr Walker down at his grandmother's home within 15 minutes of leaving the Yuendumu police station. A video of the incident showed Mr Walker lying about his identity before Const Rolfe and Sgt Eberl, then a constable, attempted to handcuff him about a minute later. A scuffle broke out and the teen stabbed Const Rolfe in his shoulder with a pair of scissors before the constable fired one shot into his back. He fired the next two shots in quick succession 2.6 seconds later. Mr Walker died about an hour after the second shot ripped through his spleen, lung, liver and a kidney. Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC said Sgt Eberl was effectively restraining Mr Walker on the ground when the fatal second shot hit him. Members of Mr Walker's family and community have expressed outrage at the verdict handed down on Friday Const Rolfe was on a mission to track the teen down after watching a video of him violently threatening other officers with an axe on November 6, he said. The constable also did not have an honest belief he needed to fire the second and third shots to protect himself, or that they were a reasonable response. His state of mind was that if Mr Walker showed any resistance or pulled out a weapon he would draw his gun and if necessary, fire it, he said. Const Rolfe told the jury he felt Mr Walker's hand on his police pistol and spotted him stabbing Sgt Eberl in the chest and neck, and that he feared for his and his partner's lives. His lawyer David Edwardson QC said Const Rolfe had no choice but to pull the trigger and Mr Walker had a lengthy and violent criminal history. Indigenous Australians marched for justice in November, 2019 following Mr Walker's death He said Const Rolfe was defending himself and his partner when he fired all three shots and that he was performing his duty as a police officer, and acting in good faith in that role. The jury agreed. Speaking outside court, President and CEO at NT Police Association Paul McCue said: 'We've seen justice prevail'. 'Obviously this has been a very traumatic two-plus years for a lot of people,' he said. 'As we've spoken about previously, it was a tragic day. A young man lost his life. But let's not forget Constable Rolfe, Constable Eberl, were set upon viciously, and they followed their training. 'It was a travesty that Constable Rolfe was charged so quickly and without thorough investigation. We'll have more to say about that in the coming days.' Terrifying footage has revealed the moment a teenage lone gunman armed with a fake firearm stormed a college and started shooting at students who fled in terror. Sandijs Dreimanis, 18, who has been jailed for five years for the attack, said he wanted to make himself a target for armed police after rampaging through Crawley College which he attended in West Sussex. CCTV footage shows the moment the teenager strolls up to the campus holding his fake pistol before firing towards students and walking towards the entrance of the building. Horrified students scatter in a desperate attempt to get out of the line of fire with some running into the college building and others running down the street. Two members of staff are then seen heroically running toward Dreimanis even as he raises his pistol and begins firing at them. CCTV footage shows the moment the teenager strolls up to the campus holding his fake pistol before firing towards students and walking towards the entrance of the building Horrified students scattered in a desperate attempt to get out of the line of fire with some running into the college building and others running down the street Sandijs Dreimanis (pictured), 18, said he wanted to make himself a target for armed police after rampaging through Crawley College which he attended in West Sussex The teachers then tackle him to the ground before police arrived. Dreimanis told police he wanted the people who made him feel bad to be scared. He fired 16 shots and tried to stab the two members of staff who tackled him to the ground on April 26 last year. Lewes Crown Court heard 'the real button was pushed,' as police feared a terror attack or an American college campus, lone gunman style attack. Hundreds of armed police swarmed Crawley College with snipers taking up positions on nearby roofs. Sandijs Dreimanis, who was born in Latvia and came to the UK aged ten, tried to deny he had the blank firing gun to cause fear of violence. The teachers then tackle him to the ground before police arrived Dreimanis tried to stab the members of staff while they detained him Dreimanis (pictured) told police he wanted the people who made him feel bad to be scared He changed his plea in January following psychiatric tests. His mother watched in court as Dreimanis, wearing a grey prison tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name. Dreimanis had been excluded from college the previous December for fighting with another student and was only allowed on campus for one class. He bought the gun days before for 130 and hid it with the knife on the pathway to the college. Dreimanis approached a group of students and told them to Run before opening fire. Police activity at Crawley College, Crawley, West Sussex, following the incident on April 26 last year Staff who heard loud bangs and saw him brandishing the pistol dialled 999. Workshop technician Simon Wilson and college lecturer Peter Davidson rushed towards Dreimanis as students scattered even as he raised his pistol again and fired directly at them. Her Honour Judge Laing QC described their bravery as outstanding. Dreimanis told police he felt he had been bullied and discriminated against at college. 'You have a poor ability to regulate your own emotions and your mental state can change rapidly and you contemplate suicide, but you had planned it,' HHJ Laing said. Sandijs Dreimanis arrives at Lewes Crown Court today for sentence after entering the grounds of Crawley College last year armed with a gun 'You bought the gun days before and had hidden it with the knife on the pathway to college. 'You told police someone said something bad to you and got stressed. 'You were trying to be happy but realised no one really cared about you and snapped and wanted to get shot by police.' The judge said it was not hard to imagine the terror he would have caused. 'I have no doubt at all you knew perfectly well the fear it would engender in all those students. 'I am prepared to accept your ultimate aim was to get yourself shot by police but there is no doubt you got satisfaction from causing that amount of fear. 'You told police you wanted to scare those who you deemed had been mean to you.' Armed police at Crawley College, Crawley, West Sussex, following the incident last year The judge said the bravery shown by Mr Wilson and Mr Davidson was remarkable. 'They both ran after you and you fired directly at them. They carried on running at you with no hesitation at all. It is quite remarkable. 'They tackled you to the ground and got the gun out of your hand. You got the knife and attempted to stab Mr Wilson with it. 'Mr Davidson also sustained cuts to his hands. He was repeatedly telling you to drop the knife and striking your hand,' the judge said. Maryam Syed for the prosecution told Lewes Crown Court the gunman had spoken to members of staff before going on his violent rampage. She said he told staff: 'The people who will judge me are God and the people I care about. 'He then left in apparent good mood. That was lunchtime. 'By 1512, police had been called after report of someone with a gun at the college.' He was described as looking odd and aggressive. Within minutes, at 3.19pm, he had been pinned to the ground by Mr Wilson and Mr Davidson. Richard Furlong for the defence described Dreimanis as a young man at the end of his tether. 'This is an unfortunate and sad young man who made a serious attempt to end his own life in the most grotesque and public way possible,' he said. Dreimanis was described as having an emotionally unstable personality disorder. He admitted possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear, two counts of ABH and possession of a knife on school premises. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in a young offenders institution for the firearms offence, 12 months, six months and 21 months for the other three charges to be concurrent and consecutive to count one. HHJ Laing praised the two staff members for their bravery. 'It is clear Mr Wilson and Mr Davidson deserve special recognition. 'They are both very modest and do not think they have done anything out of the ordinary. Their bravery was utterly extraordinary. 'Their instinctive desire to run towards danger is one of the most remarkable things I've seen in this job. 'They may play it down, saying they had a feeling the gun was imitation, but they had no way of knowing that. 'They did not hesitate at all. There is no doubt they saved the life of this defendant. 'Armed police were minutes away and he would in all likelihood been shot dead,' the judge said. Both men were given a 5,000 High Sheriff award. Prosecutors say they will drop a second-degree murder charge against a former television station security guard who shot a pro-police demonstrator during a 'Patriot Muster' protest in downtown Denver in 2020. The shooter, Matthew Dolloff, 32, killed 49-year-old Lee Keltner after a skirmish that saw Keltner spray him in the face with mace, with the entire incident caught on video. Dolloff's attorney, Douglas Richards, said the office of Denver District Attorney Beth McCann informed him by phone Thursday that prosecutors would dismiss the charge at a pre-trial hearing March 21. Dolloff did not face any other charges in the case. 'They just said they don't believe they can prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt based upon the evidence,' said Richards, who declined further comment. Carolyn Tyler, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said prosecutors had also informed the family of the 49-year-old victim, Lee Keltner, that the case would be dismissed. Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against Matthew Dolloff (pictured), 30, who shot dead a Navy veteran at a Denver 'Patriot Muster' protest In this October 10 photo, Dolloff (right) right, turns after fatally shooting Keltner following opposing rallies Dolloff drops his gun and kneels with his hands in the air as he is taken into custody after the fatal shooting Lee Keltner, 49, (above) was a US Navy veteran. Dolloff - an unlicensed Pinkerton security guard - shot Keltner dead at a 'Patriot Muster' protest in Denver 'In line with our ethical obligations, we cannot overcome the legal justifications of self-defense or defense of others,' she said in an emailed statement. Dolloff was hired by KUSA-TV to protect a producer covering the October 10, 2020, 'Patriot Muster' demonstration and 'BLM-Antifa Soup Drive' counter protest. Police say Keltner was arguing with a Black man as the rallies broke up before getting into an altercation with Dolloff. Dolloff's attorney, Douglas Richards, said the office of Denver District Attorney Beth McCann informed him by phone Thursday that prosecutors would dismiss the charge Keltner slapped Dolloff in the head, and Dolloff pulled a handgun and shot Keltner as Keltner fired pepper spray at him, according to an arrest affidavit. A cellphone video taken by KUSAs producer suggests Keltner was upset that his initial dispute was being recorded. The video shows Keltner in a confrontation with a man wearing a T-shirt that read, 'Black Guns Matter.' A bystander is trying to defuse the argument. Dolloff was visibly stunned as he immediately surrendered to riot police who rushed in to arrest him. He was booked on suspicion of first-degree murder and is being held at the Downtown Detention Center without bond. This image captures the moment Keltner sprays mace, (left) as Dolloff (right) fatally fires a semiautomatic gun at him in Denver Keltner staggers backward after Dolloff fired his weapon into the cloud of mace The video then shows Keltner, holding a spray can, walking out of view. A mans voice - its unclear if its Keltner - is heard saying the area was no place for cameras. 'Get the cameras out of here or Im going to f*** you up,' the unidentified man says. Keltner and Dolloff are then shown scuffling before the video stops. Keltner and Dolloff are then shown scuffling before the video stops. The producer resumed filming after the shooting and tells responding officers he is with the press and says of Keltner, 'That guy was going to get me.' He also says the security guard shot Keltner because Keltner used pepper spray. Dolloff pleaded not guilty in May 2021 and was set to go to trial in April. His attorneys had argued that he was acting in self-defense when he shot Keltner. Dolloff faced between 16 and 48 years in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. He was released on $500,000 bond in November, 2020. Dolloff has been involved in several brushes with the law, including spending seven nights behind bars for trespassing at a local convenience store in 2011. He was also ticketed in 2007 for buying cigarettes while underage, although the case was later dismissed by the District Attorney's office. In 2009, he was busted by cops for driving with a suspended drivers license and in 2014 he was again ticketed for careless driving, driving under restraint and driving an unsafe vehicle. Dolloff was forced to file for chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2013, claiming $16,000 in liabilities and just under $2,000 in assets, including a Ruger pistol that he pawned for $325. Dolloff has had several previous brushes with the law. He also started a farm alongside his wife, Samantha Morin (pictured right), that sold wool and honey Dolloff was heavily involved in the Occupy Denver movement for two years between 2011 and 2012. Dolloff (center in black) is seen participating in a rally in Denver in 2012 in a photo on his Facebook page At the time, Dolloff was 23 years old and making $1,700 a month by working as a meat wrapper at Costco, according to bankruptcy records. By the next summer, Dolloff had shifted his plans and founded Lavender Moon Farm, which is no longer in operation, with his wife at the time, Samantha Morin, specializing in Heritage Turkeys, which cost almost $200 for a 16lb bird. Other products their farm sold included raw Shetland wool for $18 per 1lb, 'Raw Colorado Clover Honey for $8 for a half pint glass and raw wildflower bee pollen. They also sold Great Pyrenees puppies for up to $700. Dozens of Facebook posts dating back to 2011 in which Dolloff, a registered Democrat, railed against Republicans including President Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz and urged his followers to vote for Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential primary race. He also shared several photos from Occupy Denver - the local branch of Occupy Wall Street - and spent nearly two years protesting against economic inequality in the heart of the city gatherings in 2011 and 2012. Dolloff got involved in Occupy Denver in the movement's early days in 2011 and continued turning out for events over the next two years. Dolloff remained actively engaged in politics years later, according to old posts on his Facebook page. A Brooklyn man was shot to death while unloading his car Thursday night, two blocks away from where another man died in a hail of 30 bullets last month. Gary Delima, 31, was shot in the chest several times in a drive-by shooting outside an apartment building on Willmohr St. near E. 95th St., on the East Flatbush-Brownsville border at about 7:15 p.m. Advertisement Police investigate a shooting on Willmohr Street and East 96th Street in Brooklyn, New York City on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) The victim, known to his neighbors as Snap, was unloading his gray Honda sedan when the shooter rolled up and opened fire. It was at least five shots. It was a red sedan. He was lying on the ground, not moving at all. His girlfriend was standing there crying, said one woman, who didnt give her name. Advertisement When police showed up, She went down and said, Im the girlfriend. And another woman came down the street and said, Youre the girlfriend? Im the girlfriend. The police had to hold her back. Police investigate a shooting on Willmohr Street and East 96th Street in Brooklyn, New York City on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) One of the women told the Daily News, Its awful! My boo, my boo! Im too traumatized, but didnt comment further. Medics took him to Brookdale University Hospital, but he couldnt be saved. Though neighbors believed Delima lived in the building, cops listed his address as about 2 miles away. He had a lengthy arrest record that includes several gun busts, police sources said. Delimas slaying happened just two blocks from the site of the murder of Andre Lewis, 40, who died Feb. 10 in a barrage of bullets outside a convenience store on Willmohr St. near Rockaway Parkway. A second man, also 40, was wounded. The alleged shooter, Ramone Donaldson, 24, told cops he acted in self-defense after Lewis flashed a gun. He faces murder and attempted murder charges. Police have made no arrests in Delimas killing, and cops said its too soon to know if the two slayings were linked. A triple killer who murdered a mother, her son and a stranger over a six-day bloody spree in 2020, has been sentenced to a rare whole-life order. Heroin junkie Anthony Russell, 39, raped Nicole McGregor on October 26, 2020, before murdering her and dumping her body in woodland in Leamington Spa. He also slayed David Williams, 32, and his mother Julie Williams, 58, at separate flats in Coventry on October 21, 2020 and October 25, 2020 respectively. Mr Justice Wall said at Warwick Crown Court guidelines on whole life orders required that the sentence should be reserved for 'exceptionally serious' cases in which they were required as just punishment. The judge - who sentenced him in his absence after he refused to appear - said: 'None of these crimes was random or motiveless. 'I have no doubt that this is a case which falls fairly and squarely within the description of being exceptionally serious. 'There were three murders - each was separated in time and location. Each was the result of a separate murderous act which was sustained and brutal. Each involved the use of very significant violence.' Ruling that Russell was exceptionally dangerous and manipulative, the judge added: 'This is one of those cases deserving of a whole life order. 'You will remain in custody for the rest or your life and will never be eligible to apply to the Parole Board for your release.' Chilling CCTV footage shows a 'callous and calculating' triple killer walking with a pregnant woman just moments before he raped her, murdered her then dumped her body by a river Anthony Russell killed three people in a sickening six-day spree during the pandemic. The 39-year-old has now been convicted of raping Nicole McGregor on October 26, 2020, having previously admitting murdering her and dumping her body in woodland in Leamington Spa Dramatic body-cam footage released by police shows the moment police smashed their way into a stolen car to detain Russell as he slept The killer lured Miss McGregor, who was five months pregnant, to Newbould Comyn Country Park to sell her drugs on a chance encounter, prosecutors said. Russell assaulted her just hours after she had showed him a picture of her baby scan. He then strangled her with her own leggings so she could not complain to police about the rape, before dumping her body by a river with twigs, leaves and a piece of wood stuffed in her mouth. Russell had also told the expectant father: 'I bet you can't wait for it to be born' in the hours after she disappeared knowing he had raped and murdered her in a bid to cover his tracks. The depraved killed was arrested in the village of Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire, after one of the biggest manhunts in the history of West Midlands Police. Russell has also pleaded guilty to the murders of David Williams and his mother Julie Williams at separate flats in Coventry on October 21, 2020 and October 25, 2020 respectively There was 'no known link' between Nicole McGregor and her killer: Police statement Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, who heads West Midlands Police's homicide team, said: 'This was a violent series of killings which happened over a period of just seven days, but which have left two families devastated for the rest of their lives. 'We believe that David was killed due to Russell's mistaken belief that he was in a relationship with his girlfriend. When Russell went to speak to Julie about her son's disappearance, we suspect that he confessed to David's killing. He then killed Julie to stop her from speaking to the police. 'There's no known link between Russell and Nicole, and it appears to be pure chance that he has encountered her. 'The huge effort that went into tracking Russell down, including national media appeals, can't be overstated. We worked around the clock to bring him to justice, and I'm glad that that is what has happened today. 'The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are with the families of David and Julie, and Nicole, as well as the victims he robbed, today.' Advertisement Dramatic body-cam footage released by police shows the moment police smashed their way into a stolen car to detain Russell as he slept. Officers can be heard shouting 'armed police, get your hands up' as they handcuff him inside the vehicle after breaking the car's rear windows. Other chilling footage shows Russell walking alone with the pregnant victim at 7.45pm on October 29 just minutes before he raped and murdered her. He was also caught walking through the streets of Leamington glancing shiftily up at CCTV cameras while on the run from police. The callous killer can be seen in further CCTV footage helping Miss McGregor's boyfriend Christopher White look for his partner after he had already murdered her. He can also be seen walking through Coventry with Mr Williams on the day he was killed with the pair joking around with a shopping trolley and drinking together. During her opening speech, prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said of the footage: 'This is the last time Nicole is seen alive. 'Just three hours after meeting the defendant it appears that Nicole has agreed to walk with the defendant into Newbold Comyn. 'We suggest that the defendant lured Nicole on to the Comyn, not for sex but more likely for drugs. The defendant murdered Nicole McGregor shortly after that image was captured, just hours after they had met.' The court was told Russell, of Coventry, went on his 'callous and calculated campaign of crime' between October 25 and 29, 2020. He first murdered Mr Williams at his flat by strangling him with a lanyard and leaving him with 81 external injuries. The callous killer can be seen in further CCTV footage helping Miss McGregor's boyfriend Christopher White look for his partner after he had already murdered her Whole life orders: the brutal killers given UK's rarest sentences There are 60 criminals still alive who are serving whole life orders, according to government figures to the end of June. In total, 73 criminals have been sentenced to whole life terms. Former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens was handed one for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. Prisoners serving life sentences will never be considered for release, unless there are exceptional compassionate grounds to warrant it. Wayne Couzens was jailed for the rest of his life with no chance of parole Milly Dowler's killer Levi Bellfield is thought to be the only criminal in UK legal history to be serving two whole life orders - for her murder, the killings of Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. Other notorious criminals serving whole life orders include Gloucester serial killer Rose West, who is responsible for the deaths of ten women - many of them tortured and murdered with her husband Fred West, now dead, as an accomplice. Rose West was later transferred to HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire in 2019, as rumours circulated about ill health and death threats. Myra Hindley, who died aged 60 in 2002, was never released from prison despite her long campaign for parole, which was backed by prominent supporters including Francis, Pakenham, Earl of Longford. Partner in crime, Ian Brady, spent 19 years in mainstream prisons before he was diagnosed as a psychopath in 1985 and moved to the high security Park Lane Hospital, now Ashworth Hospital, in Maghull, Merseyside. Brady vowed to starve himself in 2012 and unsuccessfully applied to return to prison. He finally died at Ashworth Hospital in 2017 aged 79, after spending 52 years incarcerated. Michael Adebolajo, one of Fusilier Lee Rigby's killers, is also serving a life term without parole. Other notorious lifers are Mark Bridger, 55, who abducted and murdered five-year-old April Jones in Powys, Wales, in 2012; neo-Nazi Thomas Mair who killed MP Jo Cox; Grindr serial killer Stephen Port; and most recently terror attacker Khairi Saadallah - who murdered three men in a park in Reading. Levi Bellfield who was found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2003 Before they died, Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and doctor Harold Shipman - thought to be one of Britain's most prolific serial killers - were also among those serving whole life orders. In the past, home secretaries could issue whole life tariffs and these are now determined by judges. The reforms would also allow judges to hand out the maximum sentence to 18 to 20-year-olds in exceptional cases, such as for acts of terrorism leading to mass loss of life. It will also give judges the discretion, in exceptional circumstances, to impose a whole life order on offenders aged 18 or over but under 21. Advertisement Russell strangled Mr Williams' mother in a 'violent and sustained attack' in which she was hit five times on the head and neck, prosecutors said. She had 113 separate injuries, and is believed to have been killed because she found out Russell had murdered her son. Miss McGregor's body was discovered in woodland in Newbould Comyn Country Park near the banks of the River Lea on October 29. She had been lured there by Russell, who had befriended there while on the run for the other killings, before he raped and murdered her. Miss McGregor suffered blunt force injury to her head and face as well as a bleed to the brain and died from 'external neck compression as a result of ligature strangulation'. Hours before she was killed, she had proudly shown Russell her baby scan during the chance encounter which led to her death. Russell even callously helped Mr Williams' mother and Miss McGregor's partner look for their missing loved ones in a bid to cover this tracks despite knowing they were dead. Miss Johnson told the court previously: 'Anthony Russell embarked on campaign of crime. 'He murdered three people and raped one of his victims before killing her. He attacked another leaving that person with serious injuries and robbed two other people. All were vulnerable. All the acts of violence were in order to get what he wanted.' The killer was eventually the subject of a national manhunt, and fled Leamington by robbing a 78-year-old man of his car. Russell rung the pensioner's doorbell asking for directions, and when the victim was distracted he hit him over the head from behind with a brick, leaving him with a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. The killer was arrested on October 30 after police spotted the stolen Ford C-Max parked on a road near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, and found Russell on the back seat. While being booked into custody, he told officers: 'I admit it, I did it.' Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, of West Midlands Police, said after the case: 'This was an appalling series of violent attacks. 'At the heart of this are three people who have lost their lives and another three people who were subject to violent robberies. 'Each one of these were vulnerable, either due to mental health due to illness or age. 'We believe that David was killed due to Russell's mistaken belief that he was in a relationship with his girlfriend. 'His mum, Julie, was obviously concerned about David. She had not seen him. She went to Russell and asked if he had seen David, knowing that he was dead in his flat. 'Russell had said he had not seen and helped look for David in another callous way. 'When Russell went to speak to Julie about her son's disappearance, we suspect that he confessed to David's killing. 'He then killed Julie to stop her from speaking to the police in a violent attack leaving her dead in her house. 'He knew there was a murder enquiry and then fled from Coventry and went over to Leamington. 'There's no known link between Russell and Nicole, and it appears to be pure chance that he has encountered her. 'He befriended Nicole McGregor and killed her and left her body in a parkland. 'Again, in another callous way, he spoke to her boyfriend, who was looking for her, and helped him look for her another callous way of covering his tracks. 'Russell was extremely dangerous and we needed to arrest him as quickly as possible. 'This was a significant manhunt. One of the biggest West Midlands Police has run. 'We worked with Warwickshire Police and Staffordshire Police who subsequently arrested him. 'We worked around the clock to bring him to justice, and I'm glad that that is what has happened today. 'The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are with the families of David and Julie, and Nicole, as well as the victims he robbed, today.' He was also caught walking through the streets of Leamington glancing shiftily up at CCTV cameras while on the run from police He can also be seen walking through Coventry with Mr Williams on the day he was killed with the pair joking around with a shopping trolley and drinking together This is the moment a Met Police officer headbutted the manager of a London cocktail bar after he was accused of flouting Covid rules alongside a score of police colleagues. PC Luke Wilson, 28, was found guilty of carrying out the assault on Jonny White at the Be At One bar near Monument on July 2 last year. Staff at the bar had complained that the off-duty officers were breaking the rule of six indoors in place at the time - with more members at their table than allowed and some of them constantly 'moving about', The Evening Standard reports. But they were instead told to 'lighten up' by the group, who flashed their warrant cards according to the victim. When Mr White approached the group to challenge their behaviour, PC Wilson squared up to him and landed a headbutt. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court today, PC Wilson pleaded not guilty and claimed self defence but his evidence was rejected as 'not credible' by District Judge Briony Clark. CCTV footage showed PC Luke Wilson headbutt City bar manager Jonny White on July 2 last year after he and his group of officers were confronted over breaking Covid rules The officer, from Gravesend, Kent, will be sentenced later this month. The court was told that the group of officers based at Lewisham Police Station had booked several tables for six and staff readied themselves for a busy night. It was estimated there were between 20 and 25 police officers included an acting inspector and at least four sergeants. Manager Mr White said: ''As the night progressed, they started acting like the normal general public, switching places, switching seats to be with friends. 'I was shocked by the behaviour we spent quite a lot of the night running around the venue, asking people to return to their seats.' Met Police officer PC Luke Wilson, 28, pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates Court after he was found guilty of assault by beating When the group ordered a bottle of prosecco with eight glasses, Mr White told them this was against the rules and he was confronted by PC Wilson. Mr White added: 'He squared up to me, literally head-to-head. I remained calm. My colleague radioed security to make them aware, and then it was a strike on my head with his head.' The manager told the court that it was 'the worst day' of his career in hospitality and he had lost trust in The Met. He has since made a complaint to the IOPC. The judge said it was 'clear' from CCTV that the officers hadn't been following the instructions of six people at a table and that PC Wilson was the aggressor in the incident. The new leader of the Islamic State is the brother of its slain former caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and served as the former leader's confidant, Islamic law adviser and messenger. ISIS named its new leader as Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi in a recorded audio message distributed online this week. The group offered no further information about the man succeeding Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi, who U.S. officials say died when he blew himself up as American special forces closed in on his Syrian hideout last month. But on Friday, Reuters reported that western and Iraqi security sources believed his real name was Juma Awad al-Badri, the elder brother of Baghdadi. Little is known about him other than that he headed the group's shura or consultative council, and there are no known photographs of him in existence. Two years ago, Iraqi intelligence officials revealed that Badri was his brother's most trusted messenger, who had travelled from northern Syria to Istanbul, Turkey, to deliver and retrieve information about the group's operations. 'We were watching somebody who was acting as a messenger to Al Baghdadi and he was travelling frequently to Turkey and back,' a senior Iraqi intelligence official told The National. 'He was Al Baghdadi's brother.' Little is known about Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi and there are no known photographs of the new ISIS leader in existence The new leader of ISIS is Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi. He is reportedly the brother of its first caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (l) and replaces its second caliph Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi (r) who blew himself up last month as U.S. forces surrounded his hideaway in Syria Quraishi was tracked to a three-story building in the northern Idlib countryside. US forces moved in on the house and officials said Quraishi detonated explosives Syrian civil defence retrieves a body on February 3, 2022 after the overnight raid by US special operations forces against jihadists in northwestern Syria which left at least nine people dead He was first picked up by security services crossing the Syrian-Turkish border at the end of 2018 before he appeared in Istanbul, according to the report. He made several more trips until April 2020 before returning to north-western Syria, where his brother was finally tracked down and died. Iraqi security officials said they cultivated a source who would tell them what was in Juma's messages, and they said it showed Baghdadi was in full control of the group even as he went to great lengths to evade detection after losing territory in Syria and Iraq. 'He was delivering messages from ISIS commanders in Iraq the state of their forces, money, logistics, routes,' the agent said. 'He was in contact with commanders here.' HIs elevation to leader came weeks after the death of Quraishi, 45, the man who in turn succeeded Baghdadi in 2019 and became the group's second so-called caliph. Both Baghdadi and Quraishi died by blowing themselves and family members up during U.S. raids on their hideouts in northern Syria. Badri was thought to be favorite to take on the role. He comes from a close circle of shadowy, battle-hardened Iraqi jihadists who emerged in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. invasion. The scene after Quraishi died in northern Syria last month, leaving at least nine people dead American helicopters carrying 24 commandos arrived just after 1am. When they left two hours later ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was dead The scene in the situation room as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris monitored the overnight operation as it unfolded in northern Syria Islamic State, a successor to Al Qaeda's notoriously bloodthirsty Iraq branch, has its roots in an Islamist insurgency against U.S. forces after they invaded Iraq and toppled Sunni Muslim dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. Islamic State in its current form emerged from the chaos of the civil war in neighbouring Syria last decade and took over vast swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Baghdadi declared an Islamic caliphate from a mosque in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014 and proclaimed himself caliph of all Muslims. The group's brutal rule, during which it killed and executed thousands of people in the name of its narrow interpretation of Islam, came to an end in Mosul when Iraqi and international forces defeated the group there in 2017. Its remaining thousands of militants have in recent years mostly hid out in remote territory but are still able to carry out significant insurgent-style attacks. 'Badri is a radical who joined salafi jihadist groups in 2003 and was known to always accompany Baghdadi as a personal companion and Islamic legal adviser,' one of the Iraqi security officials told Reuters. The official said Badri has long been head of Islamic State's Shura Council, a leadership group that guides strategy and decides succession when a caliph is killed or captured. Research by the late Iraqi Islamic State expert Hisham al-Hashemi published online in 2020 said Badri was leader of the five-member Shura Council. The audio recording announcing the new leader said he had been named by Quraishi as his successor before his death. Badri's nom-de-guerre, also Quraishi, indicates that like his brother and his predecessor he is believed to trace his lineage from the Prophet Mohammed, giving him religious clout among fellow jihadists. Iraqi security officials and analysts have said that the new leader will continue trying to wage attacks across Iraq and Syria and that he might have his own vision for how those attacks are carried out. One of the Iraqi security officials who spoke to Reuters on Friday said Badri had recently moved across the border from Syria, where he has been holed up, and into Iraq. Badri will inherit control over financial resources that are significant, according to a report written in December by the United Nations sanctions monitoring team. 'Recent assessments ... put the group's reserves at between $25 million and $50 million," it said, but added that Islamic State spends more than it earns, relying on "opportunistic extortion, looting and kidnap for ransom.' Badri has two other brothers, one detained for years by Iraqi security services, the Iraqi security official said. The other brother's whereabouts is not known, but he is believed to be another Islamist radical, he said. India's military accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan, New Delhi's defence ministry said on Friday, claiming that routine maintenance made the missile go off because of a 'technical malfunction'. The missile landed in 'an area of Pakistan', the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that a high-level inquiry had been ordered. India called the bombing 'deeply regrettable', but added it was a 'matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident'. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed states, sharing a long history of tension along the border, most notable in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Indian military 'mistakenly' fires a missile into Pakistani territory. No lives were lost, it said The statement came hours after Islamabad's foreign ministry condemned what it called an 'unprovoked violation of its airspace by an Indian origin "super-sonic flying object"'. The missile damaged some civilian property, said Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations, a wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, but said 'it was certainly unarmed'. When asked at the press briefing if the missile was intended to test Pakistan's air defence capability, the spokesperson said: 'I think it is too early to say anything about that.' India's charge d'affaires in Islamabad had been summoned to the foreign office for a 'strong protest', it added. A photo shows the destroyed missile picked up by Pakistani Air Defence Debris was left scattered by the impact The 'imprudent launch' had damaged property on the ground and put at risk both civilian lives and aircraft in Pakistani airspace, it said, accusing India of 'callousness towards regional peace and stability'. New Delhi has more than 500,000 troops stationed in Indian-administered Kashmir, where rebel groups have battled for decades for the region's independence or its merger with Pakistan. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of backing the insurgents, which it denies. Indian aircraft bombed what New Delhi called a terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan in 2019 after a suicide bombing claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group killed 40 Indian troops. In aerial skirmishes over Kashmir the next day, at least one Indian jet was shot down and its pilot captured by Pakistan, but Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had him released in a 'peace gesture'. Liz Truss is facing embarrassment after appearing to U-turn on a proposal to pay countries compensation if they sever energy links with Russia. The Foreign Secretary yesterday delivered a major speech in the US in response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. She called for an end to the West's 'strategic dependence' on Russian oil and gas. Ms Truss had been expected to say that 'we should look at potential compensation for countries that are especially dependent on Russian energy'. But the line was dropped when she delivered the speech, as she said instead that 'we need to look at how we can help those countries especially dependent on Russian energy, and how we can increase supplies elsewhere'. It is unclear why the compensation line was dropped from the speech and why it was replaced with the broader commitment to help countries. Liz Truss is facing embarrassment after appearing to U-turn on a proposal to pay countries compensation if they sever energy links with Russia Britain and the US announced on Tuesday they will phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of the year as part of increased sanctions against Mr Putin. Ms Truss used her speech yesterday at the Atlantic Council think tank to warn that Europe 'remains deeply reliant on Russian energy'. She said that this 'provides a vital source of revenue' for Mr Putin and 'it must end'. According to an advanced text of the speech provided by the Foreign Office, Ms Truss was due to say: 'I welcome the EUs plan to cut its imports of Russian gas by two thirds this year. 'We are working on a G7-wide timeline to cut this dependence once and for all. 'We should put a ceiling on the percentage of Russian energy imports. We should commit to bringing them down over time. 'And we should look at potential compensation for countries that are especially dependent on Russian energy.' However, the compensation line was not delivered by Ms Truss as she instead said: 'I welcome the EUs plan to cut its imports of Russian gas by two thirds this year. The Foreign Secretary yesterday delivered a major speech in the US in response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine 'We are working with our G7 partners to cut this dependence once and for all, to put a ceiling on the percentage of Russian energy imports and committing to bring it down over time. 'And we need to look at how we can help those countries especially dependent on Russian energy, and how we can increase supplies elsewhere.' It was not immediately clear how such a compensation scheme would be paid for or how it would operate. Vladimir Putin has placed the head of the FSB's foreign service and his deputy under house arrest after blaming them for intelligence failings that saw his army handed a series of embarrassing defeats in Ukraine, it has been claimed. Andrey Soldatov, a respected author on the Russian secret services, said sources inside the FSB told him that Sergey Beseda, 68, head of the agency's foreign service, has been placed under arrest on Putin's orders. Also arrested is Anatoly Bolyukh, Beseda's deputy, according to Soldatov, who said Putin is 'truly unhappy' with the agency - which he ran before becoming president. Sergey Orestovich Beseda (pictured) head of the FSB's foreign service, has reportedly been placed under house arrest after the intelligence service took the blame for the war's progress Anatoly Bolyukh, deputy head of the 5th Service of the Federal Security Service and head of the operational information department, has also reportedly been arrested Putin reportedly blames his intelligence agencies for misleading him over the extent of Ukraine's resistance to Russian attack Andrey Soldatov is a respected author on the Russian secret services, who said on Friday that sources inside the FSB told him officials had been placed under house arrest Putin is said to blame the agency for intelligence which assured him ahead of the invasion that Russian forces would face only token resistance from the Ukrainian army and that Ukrainians themselves were eager to be rid of their leaders. Among the reasons for the repressions are the embezzlement of funds allocated for subversive and undercover work in Ukraine, as well as deliberately false information about the political situation in Ukraine. The FSB security service allegedly handed him intelligence suggesting that Ukraine was weak, riddled with neo-Nazi groups, and would give up easily if attacked. In fact, the Russian armed forces have faced fierce resistance from Ukrainian soldiers that has battled them to a standstill, inflicted heavy losses, and forced Putin's commanders to resort to brutal siege warfare that has so far yielded few results. Meanwhile Ukrainian civilians have rallied behind their government and the inspirational leadership of Volodymyr Zelensky, staging protests in areas that Russians have occupied, while sabotaging their tanks and capturing vehicles. It comes after multiple reports said Putin was 'fuming' at the FSB for assuring him that his soldiers would meet little resistance when invading Ukraine, turning on his intelligence service and blaming them for the blunder. Earlier today, Putin was said to have sacked his top generals and is 'raging' at the FSB after failed intelligence and poor strategy saw his troops handed a series of embarrassing defeats in the opening days of the war in Ukraine. Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine's security council, said 'around eight' Russian commanders have been fired since the start of the conflict as Moscow scrambles to change strategy after its attempted 'shock and awe' blitz fell flat. Soldatov previously told The Times that most FSB agents are brought into the service as legacy hires based on their parents or grandparents being agents and are removed from mainstream schools to be educated in-house. This is unlike western security services, which tend to recruit from elite universities or colleges to ensure they get 'the cream of the crop'. A charred Russian tank and captured tanks are seen, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the Sumy region, Ukraine, March 7 Destroyed Russian armoured column reportedly in Brovary just east of Kyiv Dead bodies are put into a mass grave on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine Destroyed Russian tanks are seen on a main road after battles near Brovary, north of Kyiv Alternatively, he said, the organisation did gather good intelligence - but was simply too afraid to tell Putin the truth, instead doctoring their reports to appease him. That poor decision making has led to Russia suffering much higher casualties than it expected in its attack, which has now been going on for over two weeks. It seems Moscow had anticipated little resistance when it sent in light forces backed by airstrikes to seize key targets during the opening days, but was met with punishing counter-attacks. Reliable numbers are hard to come by, but Ukraine believes Russia has lost up to 12,000 men in a fortnight. European intelligence puts it lower - between 6,000 and 9,000 - and US lower still, at up to 3,000. Whichever proves accurate, it is almost certainly more than Putin anticipated when he launched the attack in the hope that fighting would be over in just a few days. Reports that a hybrid Covid variant of Omicron and Delta is spreading across the world are not yet a cause for concern, scientists have said. Fears about 'Deltacron' were raised again this week after the World Health Organization announced the super-mutant had been spotted in France, Holland and Denmark. But UK Health Security Agency bosses who have been tracking the strain for weeks have spotted just 32 domestic cases. While the hybrid variant has shown it can spread between people, experts and health authorities have insisted it is not growing at concerning rate and is unlikely to replace Omicron. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, said it would be hard to see how the hybrid could outcompete the now dominant BA.2 subvariant of Omicron. 'Omicron replaced Delta so a hybrid is a step back and unlikely to be 'better' in any appreciable way,' he told the The Times. He added that unless monitoring shows that it could be a threat 'it doesn't warrant particular attention'. Professor Lawrence Young, a microbiologist from the University of Warwick, told MailOnline it was 'unlikely' to result in a rise in severe disease. 'Given waning immunity in the population and the removal of all restrictions, it is likely that Deltacron will spread but is unlikely to result in severe disease,' he said. 'The BA.2 cousin of Omicron is currently spreading in the England and is more transmissible than the original Omicron variant.' While Deltacron cases are in the UK, scientists and health officials have both said it is not a particular cause for concern (pictured commuters on the London underground last month) HOW CAN VIRUSES COMBINE? For a combined variant of the virus to emerge, one person must be infected with two strains of the coronavirus likely from two separate sources at the same time, and then the viruses must bump into each other inside the body. Once the viruses are inside the body, the way they spread is by forcing human cells to make more of them. The coronavirus is made up of genetic material called RNA and, to reproduce, it must force the body to read this RNA and make exact copies of it. There are inevitably errors when this happens because it happens so fast and so often and natural processes are imperfect. If two viruses are in the same place at once, both being duplicated by the same cells, there is a chance the RNA genes could be mixed up, just as there could be a mix-up if someone dropped two packs of cards at once and picked them all up. Most places have dominant variants of the virus so someone getting infected with two is unlikely to begin with. And, for healthy people, there is likely only a window of around two weeks before the body starts to develop immunity and successfully clear out the first version of the virus. This risk window could be cut to days for the majority of people who develop Covid symptoms which takes an average of five days and then stay at home sick. But huge, poorly controlled outbreaks like the ones in the UK and US over the winter, significantly raise the risk of the combination events simply because the number of infections is higher. Advertisement He added that while we don't know how Deltacron will compete with BA.2, there was no room for complacency and underlined the importance of continuing Covid vaccination and getting the elderly and vulnerable a second booster. UKHSA have said it will continue to monitor Deltacron closely as it does with all variants. So far there has been no evidence that the hybrid variant make people more severely ill than other variants and likewise there are no signs Covid vaccines are less effective against it. Even if Deltacron cases were to start to increase rapidly, the UK has high levels of immunity against both its parent strains thanks to high uptake of vaccines and high levels of natural immunity following repeated waves of the pandemic. Official data indicates nine in 10 eligible Britons have had at least one Covid vaccine and two thirds have had three. Half of people in England are thought to have already had Covid, according to central estimates. All in, the Office for National Statistics estimates virtually every person in Briton has antibodies against the virus, which indicates some degree of protection. The hybrid of Omicron and Delta first emerged January 7, in a person who had both variants at the same time. Such combinations of different viruses can occur in such circumstances in a process called viral recombination. The coronavirus is made up of genetic material called RNA and, to reproduce, it must force the body to read this RNA and make exact copies of it. There are inevitably errors when this happens because it happens so fast and so often and natural processes are imperfect. If two viruses are in the same place at once, both being duplicated by the same cells, there is a chance the RNA genes could be mixed up, just as there could be a mix-up if someone dropped two packs of cards at once and picked them all up. However, there is no guarantee that such a new version is any more harmful or virulent than its parents. This week the WHO warned Deltacron was starting to spread across Europe and it is also believed to have reached the US. WHO officials have said they are preparing a report into Deltacron which they plan to release in the near future. Advertisement Prince Harry and Meghan Markle today signed an open letter accusing the UK and 'rich' neighbours of pursuing 'self-defeating nationalism' to deny African and Asian countries the right to make their own Covid-19 vaccines. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are campaigning for Britain to work with pharmaceutical companies to waive intellectual property rights on the life-saving jabs in the latest flashpoint between Harry and his home country. In an open letter published this afternoon, Meghan, Harry and other signatories warned 'the pandemic is not over', and blamed 'self-defeating nationalism, pharmaceutical monopolies and inequality' for the entire world not being vaccinated by now. The UK has vowed to donate 100million coronavirus vaccine doses within the next year to low-income countries as part of at least 1billion doses due from the G7. There have been a number of African countries, including Nigeria, where more than one million doses were destroyed last year because they expired after low uptake saw just two per cent of the population fully vaccinated in 2021. In December experts said up to one third of Africa's Covid vaccine deliveries remain in storage as rollouts are hindered by jab hesitancy and infrastructure problems. The Sussexes have repeatedly called for global vaccine equity, comparing it to the HIV crisis in 1980s and 1990s, and today their Archewell Foundation joined The People's Vaccine coalition, a group of 90 famous names and organisations demanding vaccines are 'freely available to everyone, everywhere'. The couple have today said that 'world leaders' and 'rich nations' now 'have the responsibility to change the situation' in a letter also signed by Charlize Theron and Ban Ki-Moon. Their letter says: 'The European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland continue to block the lifting of intellectual property rules which would enable the distribution and scale-up of Covid-19 vaccines, test and treatment facilities in the global south. 'The transfer of largely publicly funded vaccine technology and know-how from pharmaceutical corporations would fast track production to a matter of months. Yet still today, a handful of these corporations retain the power to dictate vaccine supply, distribution and price - and the power to decide who lives and who dies'. Despite their stance, critics pointed out that recently the 'ethical' Wall Street investment company backed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ploughed millions into pharmaceutical companies that develop Covid-19 jabs - despite their calls for vaccine makers to share their research and recipes. And last year they announced a partnership with Procter & Gamble, the US pharma and consumer goods corporation. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accept the President's Award at the 53rd NAACP awards in LA last month and today have signed a letter calling for vaccine equity and slamming the UK and EU Today their Archewell Foundation joined The People's Vaccine coalition, a group of 90 famous names and organisations demanding vaccines are 'freely available to everyone, everywhere' The group said they are 'proud' to have Harry and Meghan among their famous supporters People's Vaccine launched a campaign on World Aids Day and the group can now count on the support of the Sussexes The couple's attack on the British government, the EU and Switzerland came a fortnight after Harry took the Home Office to the High Court over taxpayer funded police protection when he and his family is in the UK. Lawyers for the duke said he now did not feel safe to visit Britain, or to bring his family from their home in the US. The duke has also taken aim at his own British family since he and Meghan emigrated after quitting as senior working royals in early 2020. They live in a 11million Montecito mansion in California. The People's Vaccine coalition said today: 'We are proud to welcome Archewell Foundation to the Alliance and appreciate their support, alongside Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. rince Harry and Meghan Markle speak during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival at the Great Lawn, Central Park, about vaccine equity 'We will work together to end vaccine inequity and ensure COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and tests are available to everyone'. It came days after Harry spoke of his 'commitment to a life of service' as he accepted an award alongside Hollywood A-listers. The Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan accepted the award from a US civil rights group for their work helping a Texas women's shelter, promoting Covid vaccines and creating community relief centres in areas affected by the pandemic and natural disasters. Harry, 37, praised his 'incredible wife' as the couple urged the global community to support the people of Ukraine. He said: 'It's safe to say that I come from a very different background than my incredible wife, yet our lives were brought together for a reason. 'We share a commitment to a life of service, a responsibility to confront injustice and a belief that the most often overlooked are the most important to listen to.' Meghan, 40, said the couple were committed to 'illuminating those who are advancing racial justice and progress'. She added: 'I couldn't be prouder that we're doing this work together.' The former actress said she and Harry had moved to the US shortly before the murder of George Floyd, which prompted the Black Lives Matter protests. She said: 'For black America, those nine minutes and 29 seconds transcended time, invoking centuries of our unhealed wounds. 'In the months that followed, as my husband and I spoke with the civil rights community, we committed ourselves and our organisation, Archewell, to illuminating those who are advancing racial justice and progress.' The Sussexes have regularly spoken out over major issues and global conflict since stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family in early 2020 and leaving Britain to start a new life in California, where former actress Meghan is originally from. After moving to the US, they were accused of wading into the American presidential election when they urged voters to 'reject hate speech' in a message widely interpreted as an attack on Donald Trump and tacit support for Joe Biden's campaign. And last August the 'heartbroken' Sussexes said the Taliban's advance in Afghanistan left them 'speechless' in a long statement but they were slammed for 'another attempt to form an alternate woke royal family'. Also, social media users at the time branded their statement 'vague publicity seeking word salad' and said it was 'irrelevant' because it did not mention how they personally would be helping in the Afghan crisis. Pictured: Our World in Data stats shows the percentage of nations' population that has been fully vaccinated in 2021 And last December, Harry warned of 'corporate greed and political failure' prolonging the pandemic. He said: 'In the early 2000s, a wave of activism helped break drug company monopolies, giving millions of people access to generic medicines at a fraction of the price.' And he continued: 'By ending vaccine monopolies and sharing technology, companies in the developing world can start producing Covid vaccines too.' The video concluded with Harry and Ms Byanyima saying: 'Break the monopolies, share the know-how, deliver a people's vaccine.' Meanwhile Harry also wrote a letter to Mr Ghebreyesus and Ms Byanyima, saying how 'deeply grateful' Diana would have been for their achievements. The letter was read out by the WHO's director of global HIV, hepatitis and STIs programmes Dr Meg Doherty at the WHO and UNAids event. Harry wrote: 'On this World Aids Day we recognise the 40 years that have shaped life for many. 'We honour those whose lives have been cut short and reaffirm our commitment to a scientific community that has worked tirelessly against this disease. 'My mother would be deeply grateful for everything you stand for and have accomplished. We all share that gratitude, so thank you.' He said there had been a 'spectacular failure' over coronavirus vaccine equity. 'Vaccinating the world is a test of our moral character and we are experiencing a spectacular failure when it comes to global vaccine equity,' Harry wrote. 'Similar to the Aids crisis, we've yet again revealed over the past year that the value of life depends on whether you were born and/or live in a rich nation, or a developing country.' Harry described the emergence of the Omicron variant as of 'deep concern'. 'Now more than ever, the voiceless majority of the world needs to be heard and the onus is on our leaders to end this pandemic,' he wrote. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex condemned the Russian invasion, in a statement published on their Archewell website a fortnight ago The Duke warned that repeating the failures surrounding the Aids epidemic would be a 'betrayal of the next generation'. He said: 'It's time to draw from the lessons we learned throughout the HIV/Aids pandemic, where millions died unnecessarily due to deep inequities in access to treatment. 'Are we really comfortable repeating the failures of the past? Everything I've learnt, from the youth of Sentebale, tells me not. 'They see how repeating these mistakes is destructive and self-defeating, it is a betrayal of the next generation. 'Let's spend today celebrating and building on the work of champions who turned what was once a death sentence into a manageable condition. 'Let's spend tomorrow continuing our efforts to save lives and make a difference.' Harry was filmed speaking in New York in September, saying: 'Many of these vaccines were publicly funded, they are your vaccines - you paid for them.' The Duke had been at Global Citizen Live, an event which urged leaders to adopt a vaccine equity policy, at which he labelled pandemic a 'human rights crisis' The 37-year-old said he is a Ukrainian citizen but did not have a passport yet Uwandu Michael, said he was 'really shocked' when he realised he had been sent to a hotel around 70 miles away from other Ukrainian refugees A black refugee from Ukraine hoping to join family in the UK has said 'nobody is talking to us' after he and other people of colour were split up from a group of Ukrainians in France. Uwandu Michael, originally from Nigeria, said he was 'really shocked' when he realised he had been sent to a hotel around 70 miles away from other Ukrainian refugees when they were bussed out of Calais this week. The 37-year-old, who moved to Ukraine in 2009 and secured permanent residency eight years ago, said he was granted Ukrainian citizenship in late February but had to flee before he could collect his passport. As he attempted to travel across the border into Poland, he became separated from his Ukrainian ex-partner and nine-year-old daughter and has not been able to contact them since. Uwandu Michael, originally from Nigeria, is hoping to join his sister and cousin in London Hoping to join his sister and cousin in London, he made his way alone to Calais, where he was helped to apply online for a visa by a charity. The majority of Ukrainians who had gathered at the port town were taken to hotels near Lille on Wednesday, close to where a pop-up visa centre is being set up, or nearer to existing centres in Paris or Brussels. But Uwandu Michael and around five other people of colour with UK relatives were taken to a hotel on a remote industrial estate near Boulogne-sur-Mer. They say they have been given no information about why they were separated and are unclear which authorities put them into the mini van. They have received no update about their visa applications or had any help from officials since they arrived. The 37-year-old told the PA news agency he feels 'tired of life, traumatised, and confused'. He suspects they may have been treated differently because of the colour of their skin, adding: 'We are alone - nobody is talking to us'. He said: 'It's like all the stress, everything is beginning again to multiply. 'I think we don't have anybody to speak to, except you... We cannot continue to be living in this kind of tense condition, coupled with what we've seen in Ukraine.' Uwandu Michael said he is desperate to reach the people who love him so they can 'heal my wounds', and urged the UK Government to speed up the visa process. Kevin, originally from Kenya, was three months away from completing his computer science western Ukraine when the country was invaded He said: 'I just want them to help us, because our situation here, we lost a lot of things... and putting me here is actually making me go crazy.' He also described experiencing discrimination when trying to get a train from Lviv, with Ukrainian women and children given priority over people of colour, including his daughter who is mixed race. He said he believes he was able to get to Poland because a journalist tipped him off that a train was leaving on another platform that most people were not aware of. Kevin, originally from Kenya, was three months away from completing his computer science university course in western Ukraine, where he had a temporary residence permit, when the country was invaded. He wants to continue his studies in England and join his uncle in Northampton. More than two and a half million people have fled the 'senseless war' in Ukraine, the UN said today He believes the group were separated from the other refugees because they are not Ukrainian, which has left him feeling 'awful, neglected, angry'. He said: 'It's pretty awful, it makes us feel like we're left out. 'But all we're doing is just escaping the war and hoping for the best for ourselves.' Clare Moseley, founder of Care4Calais, said the charity had initially understood that people living in Ukraine who were not Ukrainian nationals would be eligible under the current scheme if they had loved ones in the UK. Home Office guidance says applicants must be joining UK-based family members, be Ukrainian or have an immediate relative who is a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme, and have been residing in the country on or immediately before January 1 2022. Her biggest fear now is what will happen to people 'who for one reason or another are at the edges of the scheme, who don't quite qualify who do have family in the UK'. Ms Moseley said the group near Boulogne-sur-Mer are 'very scared' due to the lack of certainty. They speak English and several are students who would like to continue learning in England, but have been 'repeatedly' asked to apply for asylum in France. She said: 'If they've got close family relations in the UK who are willing to support them, then it doesn't make any sense for them to live in France where they don't know anyone.' Home secretary Priti Patel is under mounting pressure from both sides of UK politics to loosen visa requirements for Ukrainians entering the UK - regardless of familial connection Asked if she believed racism may have played a part in the decision to move them to a separate location, she said: 'It's a very big coincidence that the nationality of these people is basically Kenyan, Nigerian and Yemeni. 'And it seems extremely coincidental that all the people that have been taken elsewhere are these nationalities.' Details of a separate visa route, allowing UK individuals and companies to sponsor people from Ukraine to come to the country, and who will be eligible, are due to be set out next week. A Government spokesman said: 'We are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians which is why we've made it easier for those with Ukrainian passports to come here. 'This is alongside changes to visas to ensure Ukrainians in the UK can stay here. 'We have expanded our Visa Application Capacity to 13,000 a week, deployed additional staff across the EU, with a 24/7 helpline in place to ensure those who need appointments can get them to come here. 'This allows us to balance security risks while welcoming those in need.' A French Embassy spokesman said French local authorities did not discriminate between refugees coming from Ukraine on the basis of their physical appearance. `French local authorities continue to provide assistance to refugees fleeing from Ukraine as they arrive in France, sometimes with the aim of reaching the UK. `Any difference in treatment, for example, in terms of the location of their accommodation, is based on individuals nationality and/or passport status or on the accommodation capacity available. More broadly, France is committed to welcoming and supporting refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. `Some African students willing to reach the UK arrived last Wednesday in Calais, without proof of Ukrainian nationality. They were accommodated in Boulogne and Croisilles pending a meeting held on 14 March at the British consular pop-up in Arras. `On the same day, a group of Ukrainian nationals without passports, also willing to reach the UK, was transferred to Tourcoing and Lille. There has been no difference in treatment between those two groups by French local authorities.' A husband and wife team who 'callously and cynically exploited' vulnerable women to run their lucrative sex-trafficking racket have been jailed. Romanian nationals Nicusor and Rodica Gheorghe recruited 10 women, some as young as 18, and took them to England where they were forced to have sex with multiple men each night. The pair - who are now divorced - operated a brothel in Barking, east London, from 2010 until 2019 when police stormed their building and discovered multiple women locked in one room. The Gheorghes were convicted by jurors following a five-week trial in which the defendants refused to give evidence in their defence. Sentencing the pair at Southwark Crown Court on Friday afternoon, Judge Andrew Goymer said: 'During this trial, the jury and I heard evidence from 10 Romanian women who were driven into prostitution - it was not the lifestyle of choice. Romanian national Rodica Gheorghe (pictured), 33, was convicted of two counts of human trafficking, eight counts of controlling prostitution for gain and one count of money laundering - landing her with a five-year prison sentence 'It was a sad and sordid tale of degradation and exploitation. 'Those women were being callously and cynically exploited, treated as a commodity, treated like vehicles or machinery to be hired out.' Nicusor, 34, was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of two counts of rape, nine counts of trafficking, 10 counts of controlling prostitution for gain, and one count of money laundering. Mother-of-two Rodica, 33, who the judge said played a lesser role in the offending, was jailed for five years after being convicted of two counts of human trafficking, eight counts of controlling prostitution for gain, and one count of money laundering. The judge commended the victims and the officers in the 'difficult and distressing' case. One of the victims was a family friend lured to the UK by the Gheorghes on the pretext of waitress work. She then spent four years as a prostitute, police said, having sex with up to 15 men in one evening for which she was paid 20 a week. Nicusor also raped the woman, police said, threatening to tell her family she was a prostitute if the victim did not do as she was told. She only escaped after confiding in a member of the public who helped her return to Romania. Another woman told police she had to work every day between 2pm and 6am, and was expected to pay more than 1,000 a week to the Gheorghes for advertising costs, food and rent. Nicusor, 34, was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of two counts of rape, nine counts of trafficking, 10 counts of controlling prostitution for gain, and one count of money laundering If the women fell asleep during their hours of work, they were fined 50 by the Gheorghes, police said. Detective Sergeant Chris Weatherstone from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, one of those commended by the judge, said: 'This lengthy and complex investigation over several years has dismantled an organised crime group who were exploiting women in London for their own financial gain. 'Anyone considering exploiting other human beings for financial gain should expect to face the same level of expert investigation and prosecution.' Police said investigations showed the duo transferred more than 150,000 out of the UK during the offending period, obtained from the sexual exploitation of others, to build property and buy businesses in Romania. Years before Harvey Marcelin was charged with dismembering a friend and dumping her body parts on a Brooklyn street, the octogenarian serial killer played Tarot cards behind bars, argued an all-female parole board that denied her release was sexist and even filed court papers saying she was present during the notorious 1971 Attica prison riot. The sordid saga began decades ago, with Marcelin, now 83, arrested for a series of crimes starting in 1957 assault, then gambling and, in 1963, attempted rape. The rape case was dropped when the victim didnt show up in court in March of that year. Advertisement Harvey Marcelin The following month, Marcelin, who now identifies as a woman, shot her girlfriend in a public hallway in their Harlem building in front of witnesses. During a psychiatric review at Bellevue Hospital, doctors concluded Marcelin had schizoid personality with sociopathic features, but was not criminally insane, according to court documents. While serving a sentence of 20 years to life in prison for the first girlfriend she killed, Marcelin complained of stints in solitary confinement. He said they were so brutal that they amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. But her complaint was dismissed on procedural grounds. Advertisement Marcelin, acting as her own lawyer, later filed legal papers seeking to join a class action lawsuit over the 1971 riot at Attica prison, in which 29 inmates and 10 hostages were killed when authorities ended the attempted uprising. Inmates were barred from joining the suit if they werent in Atticas Yard-D at the time of the riot or if they missed a deadline, according to court papers. It wasnt clear which condition Marcelin failed to meet, but she was not among the class of inmates awarded a settlement payout. Marcelin was released from prison on lifetime parole in 1984. She wasnt out for long. The following year, she fatally stabbed another girlfriend, later complaining to a Manhattan judge that Anna Laura Serrera Miranda would sometimes steal and fail to pay for rent. Marcelin cut Miranda into pieces, put her remains in black bags and dumped them in Central Park, police said Friday. Pleading guilty to manslaughter, Marcelin got a sentence of six to 12 years. Marcelin blamed the crime on youth and poor judgment and stupidity, according to court papers. A parole official wasnt buying it and rebuked Marcelin, 47 at the time, as a grown-ass man. Marcelins complaint over the comment went nowhere, court records reveal. While serving time for killing Miranda, Marcelin complained of losing access to her Tarot cards, saying her First Amendment rights were violated. But authorities rejected her 1993 bid to get the cards back, maintaining that they were just for edification, recreation and deep personal interest not religion. During a parole hearing in which she was denied bail in 1997, Marcelin said she had problems with women, court documents show. Those problems extended to the all-female parole that rejected one of her bids for release, court documents show. Yet again, a judge wasnt buying it. There was no basis for petitioners claim that he was denied procedural due process due to members of the parole board at his hearing being women who were considering his crimes against women, a three-judge panel on a mid-level appeals court in Albany wrote. Advertisement Then in 2001, Marcelin faced a disciplinary hearing for having oral sex, though no penalty was applied. A guard observed the prisoner standing in the corner of the telephone room engaged in an act of oral intercourse with another inmate, according to a court filing. Marcelin continued bringing unsuccessful lawsuits until 2019, when she was released on parole for a second time. Susan Leyden is pictured in an undated photo. After the dismembered body of his latest alleged victim was found stuffed in a shopping cart at Atlantic and Pennsylvania Aves. in East New York, Marcelin was identified as the individual caught on camera getting rid of the remains. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Cops found what they believe to be victim Susan Leydens head in Marcelins apartment on March 4 and arrested Marcelin for concealment of a human corpse. The suspect was indicted for second-degree manslaughter and other charges Thursday. Front page of the New York Daily News for Friday, March 11, 2022. (New York Daily News) A lawyer for Marcelin did not immediately answer a request for comment. Advertisement Sakr Kassem, who manages the MK Shisha Smoke Shop not far from Marcelins apartment, remembered the suspect as a regular. He bought Newports, Oreo cookies and Coca Cola. Thats what he bought every time. When he opened his wallet, he had a lot of cash. He had so much cash I couldnt tell how much, Kassem said, not using Marcelins preferred pronoun. He wasnt nice. It was always, Hurry up, I want to pay now. With Kerry Burke Advertisement Six students on spring break in Fort Lauderdale who overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl and were hospitalized on Thursday have been identified as West Point football players. Two of the cadets had not ingested the drugs but were overcome by the effects of fentanyl when they attempted to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on their sickened friends, Orlando Sun-Sentinel first reported on Friday. DailyMail.com reached to the US Army Academy at West Point and was told by a representative that the college was 'aware' of the incident in Florida involving its students. 'The U.S. Military Academy is aware of the situation involving West Point cadets, which occurred Thursday night in Wilton Manors, FL,' a West Point spokesperson said in an email. 'The incident is currently under investigation and no other details are available at this time.' News helicopter video shows paramedics converging on the front yard of a short-term vacation rental home on NW 29th Court in Wilton Manors, where multiple people were found in cardiac arrest at 5pm. Footage from the scene shows first responders administering first aid and placing several individuals onto stretchers. Fort Lauderdale Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Gollan told Local10 that two of the people who overdosed were sickened because they tried to perform CPR on the initial four overdose victims. He said the opioid-overdose-reversing drug naloxone, which is sold under the brand name Narcan, was administered to revive the victims. Local10 helicopter footage shows paramedics trying to revive six West Point Academy football players on spring break who overdosed on fentanyl-laced cocaine in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday Officials say four college students staying at a vacation rental home in Wilton Manors ingested the drug and went into cardiac arrest, and their two friends fell ill after coming into contact with the fentanyl by performing CPR on the patients A first responder in a HAZMAT suit is seen working at the scene of the mass overdose in Wilton Manors on Thursday night The six patients are college students who traveled to Fort Lauderdale for spring break The overdosed vacationers were treated with nalaxone at the scene before being taken to a hospital, where one of them was listed in critical condition Paramedics are seen removing one of the overdoses college kids from the home on Thursday What is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous? Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl jumped from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016 - surpassing common opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time. And drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017 a record driven by fentanyl. It is often added to heroin because it creates the same high as the drug, with the effects biologically identical. But it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to officials in the US. In America, fentanyl is classified as a schedule II drug - indicating it has a strong potential to be abused and can create psychological and physical dependence. Advertisement Neighbors described seeing the spring breakers being carried out of the rental home crowded with young vacationers. 'We saw paramedics pulling the kids out of the house, unconscious, just laying them on the grass,' Dana Fumosa, who lives a few doors down, told NBC6. Four of the patients were taken to Broward Health Medical Center, and the remaining two were transported to Holy Cross Hospital. By Friday, one of the patients had been released from the hospital, two remained in critical condition after being intubated, and three were in stable condition. 'These are healthy young adults, college students in the prime of their life,' Gollan said. 'Getting this drug into their system, its unknown what the recovery will be on the critical individual.' Fentanyl is an unpredictable and powerful synthetic painkiller blamed for driving an increase in fatal drug overdoses. It's 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and used to treat severe pain, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. It also slows a persons breathing and heart rate. Neighbors in Wilton Manors told the Sun-Sentinel that the West Point cadets had been staying at the rental property for several days, and that on Wednesday night police were called for an unspecified reason. Two local residents said they have repeatedly complained to the managers of the vacation property about excessive noise and rowdy parties. Meanwhile, Florida and Fort Lauderdale are bracing for 'triple' the amount of visitors compared to last year as tens of thousands of students prepare to celebrate the first Spring Break in the US free of COVID rules. Inhabitants of popular vacation spots, including Cancun, Miami, Pensacola, Fort Lauderdale and South Padre Island have to deal with observing never-ending crowds of college students having a good time, often blasting loud music and drinking alcohol from the first week of March until April. Starting last Saturday and until March 20, many public school districts in Florida, including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota counties as well as the University of Southern Florida and Tampa - will be on vacation. That means that an estimated 570,00 students will be on holiday at the same time in the Sunshine State, not to mention all the teachers and staff who will also have the week off, according to Tampa Bay Times. Last year's spring break saw about 65,000 passengers fly into Tampa Bay International Airport per day during peak weeks. However, in 2020, the number of spring breakers was 'dismally low' in March and April, as there were as few 1,500 people flying in per day. Many popular springtime vacation spots are expecting at least double-to-triple amounts of spring breakers flying in this year between March and April, as resorts, nightclubs and other businesses are looking forward to recovering from time lost during the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: A packed beach in Fort Lauderdale. None of the students pictured were involved in the drugs incident Beachgoers carry a cooler down Poinsettia Street during Spring Break on Fort Lauderdale Beach as they get ready to soak up the sun. None of the students pictured were involved in the drugs incident Durham University has said it will undertake a review into its policies for inviting external speakers, following a dramatic row in the aftermath of students walking out of an after-dinner speech by columnist Rod Liddle's in December. But protesters said the university is seeking a 'systemic cover-up' of the controversy, following comments Mr Liddle reportedly made, arguing it has failed to support marginalised students throughout. At the time, South College principal Professor Tim Luckhurst was criticised for yelling 'pathetic' as students left the talk, even though most were unaware that Mr Liddle would be speaking when they chose to attend. Durham University students stage a protest at South College for a 'safer more inclusive Durham University' after columnist Rod Liddle's appearance at South College He stepped back from his duties, but has since resumed them at the start of the academic term. After the talk, footage emerged of Professor Luckhurst and his wife Dorothy Luckhurst talking to students in a bid to calm them down. They appeared to be helping them understand universities are supposed to be bastions of free speech. The youths stood with their mouths wide open as Professor Luckhurst spoke before his wife interrupted him. She asked: 'What are you frightened of you silly... what are you frightened of?' One of the students replied: 'What do you mean?' The rest of their exchange was inaudible but Mrs Luckhurst went on to repeat the word 'a***'. Mrs Luckhurst had explained the video left out the context of the chat in which the vicious students hurled insults at the couple. At the time, South College principal Professor Tim Luckhurst (pictured) was criticised for yelling 'pathetic' as students left the talk She said the 'baying' mob called her a 'b***h' and left her intimidated and frightened as they swarmed around them. She told the Times: 'I shouldn't have said what I did but it had been a long day and it was very tense.' According to a report from student newspaper Palatinate, during his after-dinner speech Mr Liddle said that when it comes to gender, the left is against 'science or pure facts', adding: 'A person with an X and a Y chromosome, that has a long, dangling penis, is scientifically a man, and that is pretty much, scientifically, the end of the story.' In January, the university refused to comment on the result of its investigation into the row, and would only say that it would be 'inappropriate to comment on what remains a confidential and ongoing process'. But on Thursday, Durham released a statement saying it will now review its processes for engaging with external speakers, adding that it does not intend 'to exclude any speakers from our campus'. Durham confirmed that it would not be publishing details of Professor Luckhurst's involvement in the incident, but said that as a university it 'must constantly strive to establish a culture which is underpinned by respect and by our values' and that this included 'taking pride' in how ideas were discussed and debated, 'including those that we may find challenging'. 'We should ensure that as an educational institution we allow our students opportunities to openly debate so that ideas and views can be heard and contested respectfully,' the statement added. Durham University has said it will undertake a review into its policies for inviting external speakers, following a dramatic row in the aftermath of students walking out of columnist Rod Liddle's (pictured) after-dinner speech in December Tom Allen, master of Grey College, will now undertake a review of how 'we engage external speakers for college-based events' but this will not lead to excluding speakers from the university. 'Rather, the focus will be on providing clarity as to how students and the wider college community are engaged, including the appropriateness of the forum for any speaker and ensuring appropriate information is provided in advance to attendees,' the university said. Students said the university response smacks of a 'systemic cover-up'. South College student Niall Hignett, an organiser of protests on the issue during post-offer open days, told the PA news agency that the university had said it would deal with the matter 'swiftly'. He added: 'And what we've actually seen is delay, delay, delay. 'To be honest, I'm really disappointed with the statement. It's frankly embarrassing.' Mr Hignett said the issue was not about free speech, 'it's about student welfare and wellbeing - because the event wasn't an academic setting; there was no room there for academic debate'. He added that in the university's statement, multiple references were made to freedom of speech. Mr Hignett said: 'Our main contention now is that Tim Luckhurst was shouting at students - he showed himself to be incredibly unprofessional.' He said the review of the existing investigation was 'a complete abdication of responsibility' and a 'systemic cover-up'. In their statement, the university management had shown themselves to be 'puppets of culture war proponents' while failing to support marginalised students, he added. Students have planned protests on post-offer visit days on March 22 and 23. Student ambassadors on the days have been advised to be 'professional in your outlook when asked about the protests and any other issues', adding: 'Your personal opinion may have to be separated from your position as an employee.' Sara L Uckelman, associate professor of philosophy at Durham, and equalities co-officer for Durham University and College Union, said the union 'will certainly be continuing to press the Durham University management for a clear and unambiguous statement that the behaviour that was seen at the South College formal last December is unacceptable and will not be tolerated'. 'There is no way that the university can credibly claim that they are serious about providing an open and undiscriminating environment that is supportive of everyone - no matter class, gender, race, sex, or gender - if they do not unequivocally condemn this behaviour. 'It goes against everything that DUCU supports, including equality and the right to all students and employees to study and work free from harassment and abuse.' Durham students at a protest following Rod Liddle's speech last December. student protesters said the university is seeking a 'systemic cover-up' of the controversy, arguing it has failed to support marginalised students throughout She added that it was 'not enough' for management to say they would make recommendations to the senate on how guest speakers were engaged for events. 'They must also say why no such policy existed before now, or - if one does - why it was not followed. 'It is also not enough for the management to say that they cannot comment on any individual consequences that may happen as a part of a disciplinary matter (which we of course recognise and accept); they must also say what positive steps they are going to do to provide redress to the students affected by the South College events. 'An apology from the university management, who provided the environment which allowed this event to occur, wouldn't go amiss.' On 27 January a Durham University spokesperson said: 'Following the formal dinner at South College on 3 December 2021, we launched an investigation which has been carried out in line with established University policies and procedures. 'That investigation has now concluded and a number of recommendations have been made. 'It would be inappropriate to comment on what remains a confidential and ongoing process. 'All staff and student processes related to individuals are confidential and will remain so, including after they have been concluded. 'We expect there will be lessons learned from the event of 3 December that we will share and reflect on as a community. 'We need to first allow our internal process to take place and conclude before we are in a position to comment further.' Advertisement Volodymyr Zelensky's former press secretary revealed on Friday she deleted a tweet saying it would be a 'tragedy' if Kamala Harris became president when she learned the Vice President laughs when she is 'uncomfortable'. Iuliia Mendel also praised the United States for standing behind Ukraine during Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion and said she hopes Harris' actions are better than her 'inappropriate communication. 'It would be a tragedy if this woman won the presidency,' Mendel, who served Zelensky's administration from June 2019 until July 2021, wrote on Twitter on Thursday before quickly deleting the post. She told CNN on Friday morning that she deleted the tweet because she was told that Harris has a form of 'particular communication when she feels uncomfortable.' 'For us as Ukrainians it was a very bad experience to see this type of reaction, a laugh', while the rest of the world is witnessing the 'tragedy' of millions being turned into refugees. 'We also understand that the United States is very united around Ukraine,' she added. 'We really appreciate their support, including the $13.6billion in humanitarian and military aid. Mendel went on to say that if even if Harris' communication was 'somehow inappropriate', her actions should hopefully show more than her 'communication behaviors. In 2019, former journalist Mendel was appointed Zelensky's press secretary after winning a competition between 4,000 applicants. The same year she wrote a piece for the New York Times suggesting then-Vice President Joe Biden pushed to oust Viktor Shokin, the countrys top prosecutor, because he was investigating the head of Burisma Holdings, the company where Hunter Biden was a board member. Volodymyr Zelensky 's former press secretary Iuliia Mendel told CNN on Friday she deleted a tweet saying it would be a 'tragedy' if Kamala Harris became president when she learned the Vice President laughs when she is 'uncomfortable' Harris is the first ever woman and person of color to serve as a U.S. vice president before being selected as President Joe Biden's No. 2, she was running for his spot in the Democratic primary. Mendel, who served from June 2019 until July 2021, tweeted Thursday it would be a 'tragedy' if Vice President Kamala Harris became president after she laughed during her press conference in Poland. She later removed it Mendel's comments were in response to another tweet with a video showing Harris laughing when asked about the refugee crisis resulting from people displaced from Ukraine fleeing to neighboring countries and saying through giggles: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.' The vice president held a joint press conference alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine during her three-day trip through Eastern Europe. The trip comes as Poland already took in upwards of 1.5 million refugees fleeing Ukraine in the 15 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded. Duda confirmed at the press conference that he had asked Harris to help speed up the consular process so Ukrainian refugees could go stay with family they have in the U.S. He also said that a 'refugee crisis is unfolding' in Eastern Europe, and claimed that more than 1 million people arrived at his country's borders from Ukraine in just 10 days of the so-far 15-day conflict. The United Nations predicts that at least 2.2 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded and more than half of those refugees are now in Poland. During her Thursday remarks with Duda in Warsaw, Harris faced a slew of backlash for laughing off questions about the refugee crisis and dodging inquiries on why a deal fell through with Poland for sending fighter jets to Ukraine. Ukrainian-born Republican Representative Victoria Spartz slammed the vice president by saying 'this is a very serious situation requiring action, not a laughing matter,' as critics tore into Harris' conduct at her press conference with Duda. When asked about the issue of refugees, Harris looked at Polish President Andrzej Duda like she expected him to respond first. 'It would be a tragedy if this woman won the presidency,' Mendel tweeted, then quickly deleted, in response to the vice president laughing and deflecting her way through a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday Harris (left) inappropriately laughed when a reporter asked the vice president and President Duda (right) about the refugee crisis in Ukraine. Harris said through giggles, 'A friend in need is a friend indeed,' and turned to have Duda answer the question More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have arrived in Poland since the start of he conflict last month. Pictured: People wait to board buses after crossing the Ukrainian border into Poland, at Medyka borders crossing on Thursday, March 10, 2022 The press secretary who was chosen through a competition of 4,000 contestants and wrote about Hunter Biden in the New York Times Iuliia Mendel is a former journalist who served as Volodymyr Zelensky's press secretary from June 2019 to July 1921. She was appointed after a competition with 4,000 contestants Iuliia Mendel is a former journalist who served as Volodymyr Zelensky's press secretary from June 2019 to July 1921. She worked as a correspondent for multiple Ukrainian TV stations, has contributed to the New York Times and Politico, and was the first in her country to win a World Press Institute Prize. In her 2,500 word piece for the New York Times in 2019, she suggested then-Vice President Joe Biden pushed to oust Viktor Shokin, the countrys top prosecutor, because he was investigating the head of Burisma Holdings, the company where Hunter Biden was a board member. She noted how Biden's allege conflict of interest was being pushed by Rudy Giuliani. She was appointed to Zelensky's office when she won a competition out of 4,000 contestants and in 2019 was named by Focus magazine as one of the 100 most influential women in Ukraine. 'If you want changes make them. I am glad to join Volodymyr Zelensky's team. We will do everything possible to be as open to the media and society as we can,' she said when she was appointed. Under Zelensky she pushed his image on the global stage by landing him interviews with top European newspapers including Le Monde and Der Spiegel and landed him on the cover of Time. She went with with him on all international trips and was a key part of the Normandy Format talks in Paris in December 2019. Advertisement The vice president's now commonplace laughter at inappropriate moments with world leaders was met with widespread criticism. 'Kamala Harris has been very consistent during her live remarks with Poland's leader,' former Donald Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos tweeted Thursday. 'She is awkwardly laughing. Again. Discussing refugees is no laughing matter. Why she laughs at this is deranged.' Turning Point USA's chief creative officer Benny Johnson posted: 'Only Kamala Harris would find it appropriate to laugh when talking about the topic of Ukrainian Refugees.' Harris has faced backlash previously for laughing during inappropriate moments. After the Biden administration's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, Harris cut off reporters asking questions by giggling and saying 'Hold on, hold on slow down, everybody.' The vice president pledged during her Thursday press conference that the U.S. will send more than $50 million more in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, while also dodging questions on a failed deal to send the country warplanes. 'The issue facing the Ukrainian people and our allies in the Eastern flank is something that occupies one of our highest priorities,' the vice president said, calling it a 'dynamic situation' that 'requires us to be nimble and to be swift.' Duda, however, did address the issue of warplanes, explaining that the situation is 'extremely complicated', and that the mix up came because Poland was making these aircraft available for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to decide if they wanted to send them to Ukraine. 'We are trying to do our best,' Duda said in a frank moment during his joint briefing with the vice president as Poland takes in millions of refugees fleeing their neighbor Ukraine. 'Some expectations were addressed in a very strong and a vocal way, also towards us, towards Poland,' he added. 'However, we are members of the North Atlantic Treaty alliance and as far as security issues are concerned we have to look at this not only through our own lens through the prism of the security of Poland but we also have to adopt the perspective of the security of NATO as a whole.' Russian tanks push to within just a few miles of Kyiv's outskirts, analysts and witnesses claim, though initial assaults to the west and east of the capital were repelled Wednesday as President Vladimir Putin's men face a long and bloody campaign to take the capital. At the same time, U.S. troops conducted military drills in Rutja, Estonia on Thursday by firing Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicles. Harris left Wednesday for a three-day trip to Eastern Europe as the 15th day of Russian invasion continues in Ukraine and troops close in on the capital city of Kyiv. The vice president had a much more tame stance toward the violence than President Duda during Thursday's joint remarks. 'We are also very clear that any intentional attack on innocent civilians is a violation,' the vice president said, stopping short of calling Russia's actions 'war crimes.' But Duda sayid: 'It is obvious to us that in Ukraine Russians are committing war crimes.' While Duda explained that Poland is trying to act in the interest of their own country, Ukraine and NATO, Harris appeared on more shaky ground as she deflected and dodged. Harris held a press joint press conference in Warsaw with Duda after the United Nations said at least 2.2 million people fled Ukraine in the 15 days since Russia launched its invasion and at least half are now in Poland Harris three-day Eastern European trip includes a stop in Poland and Romania, where the U.S. has sent troops to help defend the NATO ally countries Analysts believe the Russian assault on Kyiv is now underway, as troops massed in both the west and east try to push into the city limits - with missions also underway to surround the capital from the south west U.S. troops prepare to fire Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicle during Saber Strike military drill in Rutja, Estonia on Thursday, March 10, 2022 KAMALA'S NERVOUS AND AWKWARD LAUGHS: A HISTORY January 20, 2022: Harris is hit with a barrage of criticism for laughing during interviews where she said the COVID pandemic was under control January 20, 2022: Harris is hit with a barrage of criticism for laughing during interviews where she said the COVID pandemic was under control. August 23, 2021: Harris nervously laughed and dismissed a reporter's inquiry as she headed to Singapore amid Afghanistan chaos. Harris initially claimed to have had a key role and that she was 'the last person in the room' when Biden chose to follow through with the May 1 deadline to retreat US troops from Afghanistan. March 22, 2021: Harris was asked if she had plans to visit the US-Mexico border on Monday but appeared to laugh at the question when posed by a reporter. 'Do you have any plans to visit the border?' came the question while on the tarmac in Jacksonville, Florida. 'Not today,' responded Harris, before laughing. 'But I have before, and I'm sure I will again.' October 26,2020: Harris burst into laughter when asked if she would bring a 'socialist or progressive perspective' to the White House in an interview with CBS News. September 8, 2019: Harris apologizes for laughing when man at New Hampshire town hall described Trump as 'mentally retarded' - and claims she hadn't heard the words he used 'in that moment'. Advertisement 'I want to be very clear, the United States and Poland are united in what we have done and are prepared to do to help Ukraine and the people of Ukraine. Full stop,' Harris said when she was asked about the lack of movement on a fighter jet deal. 'In terms of the work the United States has done so far, we have, as you know, given military, humanitarian and security assistance, and that is an ongoing process,' the vice president continued without addressing the defunct plan to send war planes to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the U.S. and Poland of playing games with people's lives after the Pentagon poured cold water on a plan to get them fighter jets. Zelensky told D.C. and Warsaw to stop their 'ping pong' and hand over the MIG-29 combat planes to bolster Ukrainian firepower against Russian troops as they continued their relentless shelling campaign in cities across the country. 'There is an official decision of Poland to transfer the planes to the relevant base - the American base. We also have confirmation - we have all heard - that the agreement between the American party and Poland has been reached,' Zelensky said in a speech Wednesday. 'But at the same time, we hear that Poland's proposal is allegedly unfounded,' he continued. 'And that's what they say in Washington. We also read this. So when will the decision be made?' 'Listen,' the Ukrainian leader pleaded, 'We have a war! We do not have time for all these signals. This is not ping pong! This is about human lives! We ask once again: solve it faster.' 'Do not shift the responsibility. Send us planes,' Zelensky demanded. Despite the Pentagon denying a deal to enter a war plane deal with Poland, Harris announced Thursday that the U.S. did deliver on its promise to send patriot missiles to Warsaw to ramp up their protection against possible attacks from Russia. She also pledged that the U.S. will send $50 million more in humanitarian aid to help Ukraine as it faces attack from Russia. 'Today we are also announcing in pursuit of what must happen, which is to provide humanitarian assistance, that we will give another $50 million the United States will through the UN's World Food Program to assist in humanitarian aid,' she said. A White House fact sheet on the new announcement Thursday claims: 'This assistance builds on the United States' announcement less than two weeks ago of nearly $54 million in humanitarian assistance to provide critically needed health supplies, food assistance, high thermal blankets, and other relief.' Refugees from Ukraine stand near tents as they wait to be transported away from the border after crossing into Poland in Medyka on Wednesday, March 9 When asked Thursday about the building refugee crisis in Poland, Harris laughed and handed the question off to Duda, saying through chuckles: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed' Duda (left) and Harris (right) met in Warsaw, Poland on Thursday, March 10, 2022 as the Russian attack on Ukraine entered its 15th day and forces closed in on Kyiv Ukrainian armed forces collect captured ammunition on Thursday, March 10, 2022 as Russia continues its 15th day of invasion and closes in on Kyiv Thousands of U.S. troops were deployed to Eastern European countries to assist in defending NATO ally nations as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine. Pictured: U.S. troops during a military drill in Rutja, Estonia on Thursday U.S. troops prepare to fire Stinger missiles from their Stryker armored fighting vehicle during Saber Strike military drill in Estonia on March 10, 2022 Vladimir Putin is going is on his 15th day of invasion in Ukraine. The Russia leader pictured above at a video meeting with government members in Moscow on Thursday Although there has been no word on Ukrainian military casualties, Russia says it has destroyed more than 2,900 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities and has taken control of a number of neighborhoods in besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Kyiv estimates that Russia has lost some 12,000 troops in the fighting, along with 335 tanks, 1,100 armored personnel carriers, 500 vehicles, 81 helicopters and 49 planes. Moscow has admitted suffering losses, but has not given an accurate figure. 'The NATO alliance is stronger and Russia is weaker because of what Putin has done, that is very clear to us,' Harris said in her remarks with Duda on Thursday. Zelensky shared a video Wednesday of destruction at a maternity hospital as buildings were turned to rubble in Mariupol, Ukraine. 'Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity!' Zelensky tweeted. 'How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror?' he questioned in a tweet. 'Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity.' The devastating airstrikes on the maternity hospital killed three including a six-year-old girl. Residents and troops help civilians flee on Thursday from the town of Irpin in the Kyiv region of Ukraine as Russia tries to take the capital city after almost a week of fighting in the area forcing thousands of people to escape the town A Russian armored vehicle sits by the side of the road in Brovary, to the east of Kyiv, after being destroyed in an artillery and rocket ambush that caused heavy casualties Vadym Denysenko, adviser to the interior ministry, said Ukrainian forces had managed to stop the attack in Irpin and were counter-attacking on Thursday morning with battles now underway. 'The night was quite difficult, but in general we can say that the Ukrainian army counterattacked near Kyiv,' he said. 'There is no further detailed information yet.' It means the Russian mission to assault the Ukrainian capital is now underway, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said. Among the vehicles seen driving towards Kyiv before they were ambushed was a missile launcher which carries thermobaric warheads - missiles that suck oxygen out of the air and crush the lungs of victims. Shelling in Kharkiv overnight killed four people, two of them children, with a five-year-old girl injured and rushed to hospital. Emergency workers said they are still working to pull people from the rubble of houses in the town of Slobozhanske. Three people were also killed in shelling on the city of Sumy - two women and a 13-year-old boy. Mariupol continues to be surrounded by Russian forces but is still in Ukrainian hands, chiefs said. They said Ukrainian fighter jets and anti-aircraft missile units destroyed four Russian Su-25 attack jets and two Russian helicopters over the past 48 hours. A Royal Navy sailor today walked free from court after he was cleared of drunkenly sexually assaulting a US Navy sailor in her bed while they were stationed together on a remote island. A court martial had heard Leading Seaman Paul Morby, 29, went to her room drunk and took off his shorts while they were both based on Diego Garcia, the British Indian Ocean Territory. The woman claimed LH Morby kept putting his hand down 'the back of my pants, my underwear and my jeans'. She said he told her to 'calm down' because 'it's just a penis' before sexually assaulting her further which left her feeling 'tense' and 'numb', the panel was told. But LH Morby, who denied the charges, told the hearing they had just 'spooned' while dressed which led to them getting 'frisky'. LH Paul Morby, who served on HMS Vigilant submarine, said they had been kissing on her bed and after he touched her leg, she stormed off to the bathroom leaving him thinking he had taken things 'too fast'. LH Morby, who joined the Navy in 2014, has now been found not guilty of both charges of sexual assault after a board deliberated for five hours. Leading Seaman Paul Morby, 29, was cleared of drunkenly sexually assaulting a US Navy sailor in her bed He went to her room drunk and took off his shorts while they were both based on Diego Garcia, the British Indian Ocean Territory During the trial, Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, heard the woman had invited him over in the afternoon after they met at a bar on the island days before, but he did not turn up until 9.30pm. The court was told he drank three beers and two strawberry flavoured margarita cocktails, but he denied being drunk. William Peters, prosecuting, said: 'They had known each other for a day or two. There had been sexualised flirting and they had exchanged contact details.' LH Morby told the court that before going to her room he sent her a jokey text saying: 'You don't have to do anything you don't want, just using you for spoonage.' The woman, in her 20s, told the court: 'He went to the bed and kept asking me to come to the bed. I did eventually say yes and lay next to him on the bed. 'He kept sticking his hand down the back of my pants, my underwear and my jeans. I didn't say anything at the time. 'He took off his shorts and I asked what he was doing and he looked at me and said 'calm down, it's just a penis'. 'Shortly after that he undid the button on my jeans and I was telling him I didn't want to have sex. He kept repeatedly asking me to take off my clothes. 'And I kept repeatedly telling him no. Eventually I realised he wasn't going to listen to me so I took off each article of clothing one by one. 'We were laying there and he was sitting behind me and we were still kind of cuddling and we were talking about something.' The woman told the court heard LH Morby then sexually assaulted her. She added: 'I felt incredibly anxious, very tense, very numb too.' But LH Morby told the court the woman had been 'quite flirtatious' with him prior to this and after the alleged incident, she would actively seek him out. He said: 'I went to her room but I was not drunk. She joined me on the bed. We were spooning and she was pressing her bum into me. I got an erection, I was aroused. 'She was not upset in any way shape or form. After a while, I started kissing her neck.' LH Morby, who joined the Navy in 2014, has now been found not guilty of both charges of sexual assault after a board deliberated for five hours LH Morby said that as they were kissing he lightly touched her hip which he believes prompted her to lock herself in the toilet for 15 minutes. 'It was a completely unreasonable reaction. She seemed upset, angry and annoyed. From what I saw, it was a completely normal encounter. 'She brushed me off to the side, maybe I took it too fast,' he added. LH Morby repeatedly denied putting his hands down her pants, digitally penetrating her and giving her oral sex. He told the court he waited for her to come out of the bathroom as he wanted to understand what he had done to warrant an 'unusual, unreasonable reaction'. The court was told in a text exchange between the pair after the alleged incident, LH Morby described himself as 'dickish' and that he was 'ashamed' and 'would not try that shit again'. He told the hearing: 'She never made clear what I had done wrong. I was not apologising for anything in particular. It was never made clear what I had done wrong. 'I was overly harsh on myself. I was scared and didn't know what she was capable of. I cannot understand why she's made these allegations. 'She made me feel like I'd done something wrong because of her reaction, I wanted to make amends.' The woman later lodged a complaint and the matter was transferred to the Royal Navy police. LH Morby has since left the Navy and is now training to become a radiographer. A six-month-old baby boy was found close to death in a hotel room with his mother's body, up to five days after she died in a suspected heroin overdose. Police in Springfield, Oregon, were called by a social services worker at Quality Inn hotel at around 7pm on Monday to help with a welfare check, only to find the baby strapped in to his stroller and 'virtually unresponsive'. Local authorities said the boy's mother, who was identified as a 28-year-old woman, was found dead in an apparent overdose. Officers reported finding heroin in the hotel room. A six-month-old baby boy was found close to death in a Quality Inn hotel room in Springfield, Oregon (pictured) with his dead mother's corpse, up to five days after she died in a suspected heroin overdose. The boy has been to hospital in Portland for 'life saving treatment' The young boy was taken to a hospital in Portland for 'live-saving treatment', after reportedly suffering from severe dehydration, malnourishment and severe diaper rash. The after-hours welfare check, which was done by an employee from the Department of Human Services, has been credited as the reason the child is still alive. The 28-year-old mother was said to have overdose about four to five days prior to her body and her six-month old being found. Since the incident on 7 March, the child's condition is said to have 'improved dramatically'. He was transferred over from the nearby hospital to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland and will soon be discharged. Police have not released the infant's mother's name as they are attempting to contact her family to notify them of her death. The bodies of four migrants have been pulled out of the Rio Grande over the last week, the culmination of a deadly week that saw two children - a four-year-old Uruguayan boy and a four-year-old Nicaraguan girl - who drowned while attempting to cross the Rio Grande river. The incidents highlighted the risks faced by migrants who continue to risk their lives by traversing through the dangerous international waterway for the chance to seek asylum from the United States - despite no assurances that immigration officials under the administration of President Joe Biden will grant it. U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Del Rio Sectors Eagle Pass Station in Eagle Pass, Texas, located the lifeless body of four-year-old Angelica Mariel Silva on Thursday morning. The heartbreaking discovery came just a week after the Nicaraguan child was swept away by the Rio Grandes rushing waters as she was crossing from Coahuila, Mexico, to Texas, along with her mother and a group of migrants. Angelica Maria Silva Mendoza told Mexican newspaper El Tiempo Monclova that a man was carrying her daughter over his shoulders when a rip current dragged them down the river March 5 around 8 p.m. local time. The distraught mother recalled hearing Angelica Mariels cries for help before she disappeared into the night. Angelica Silva, a four-year-old girl from Nicaragua, was crossing the Rio Grande on March 4 when she was swept by a rip current. U.S. border agents located her body Thursday. She and at least three other people have died while trying to wade across the perilous river that separates Mexico and the United States Alessa Patino and her four-year-old son Ismael Patino, both natives of Uruguay, died Wednesday when they were swept down the Rio Grande as they attempted to cross from Mexico to Texas with her husband Guillermo Matos, a 33-year-old from Cuba, who survived Neyling Rizo was found dead Saturday by members of Mexico's National Institute of Migration after drowning in the Rio Grande. The 26-year-old was a native of Nicaragua Silva Mendoza reported the incident to members of the Texas National Guard, who encountered the group after reaching the Eagle Pass shore of the Rio Grande. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, border officers and an air support unit canvassed the river for Angelica Mariel and were unable to locate her until marine unit border agents finally found her Thursday. On Wednesday, agents from Mexicos National Institute of Migration recovered the body of Alessa Patino, 25, and her four-year-old son, Ismael Patino, after the Uruguayan nationals were dragged through the Rio Grande and separated from the womans Cuban husband, Guillermo Matos, 33, who survived the failed attempt to reach the U.S. border. Matos and his family arrived in Coahuila border town of Ciudad Acuna this week and decided to wade through the river. U.S. border data obtained by Univision revealed that 45 migrants have been rescued from drowning in the Rio Grande over the last seven days. At least two children died during the same period while attempting the crossing Cuban national Guillermo Matos survived bring dragged down the Rio Grande in Coahuila, Mexico, on Wednesday when he, along his wife and son, attempted to reach the U.S. His wife and son drowned They were in the middle of the Rio Grande when they were abruptly separated by a strong current, which was reportedly produced by the recent release of water from a nearby La Amistad dam. Alessa and Ismael floated down the river and disappeared before Mato was able to make back to the Mexican shore. Then, on March 5, Mexican authorities recovered the body of Nicaraguan native, Neyling Rizo, after she drowned in the Rio Grande. Guillermo Matos told cops that he, his wife, Alessa Patino, and their four-year-old son, Ismael Patino, had been in Coahuila for a few days only before decided to cross to the U.S. via the Rio Grande. A rip current separated the family as they were halfway through the river, causing his wife and son to drown According to newspaper Zocalo, at least 15 migrants have drowned since January 1 while trying to cross from Coahuila to the United States through the Rio Grande. As many as 45 people were rescued from drowning in the last seven days after they disregarded warnings from both Mexican and U.S. authorities border. The National Institute of Migration revealed Wednesday it has intercepted 73,034 migrants since January 1. At least 19,095 individuals are natives of Guatemala, 13,867 are from Honduras, another 4,165 migrants were reported to be from El Salvador. The remaining 40,927 undocumented migrants are from countries in South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Advertisement When Russia's tyrannical president Vladimir Putin put his country's nuclear forces on high alert last week, many feared the devastating consequences if the weapons were to actually be used. The escalation in tensions was roundly condemned and provoked memories of the decades of the Cold War - when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear conflict on several occasions. Amid the stand-off with the Soviet Union in the 1970s, the British Government produced a public information campaign that advised ordinary Britons on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. The 'Protect and Survive' series included the eventual publication of a pamphlet in 1980 that detailed the effects of nuclear fall-out, outlined how to plan for survival and advised what to do in the hours and days following the use of nuclear weapons. Britons were told to prepare a 'fall-out room' in which they would need to store enough food and water for two weeks. They were also advised to bring the likes of kitchen utensils, a portable radio, toilet paper, a bucket and a first aid kit. Shortly after the leaflet was released, expert critics said the advice would not be helpful. One said the protective measures were 'illusory' because people would immediately 'panic' in the event of a nuclear attack. The leaflet was issued after relations with the Soviet Union had taken a turn for the worse when the country's then dictator Leonid Brezhnev launched an invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Amid the stand-off with the Soviet Union in the 1970s, the Government produced a public information campaign that advised ordinary Britons on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. The 'Protect and Survive' series included the eventual publication of a pamphlet in 1980 that detailed the effects of nuclear fall-out, outlined how to plan for survival and advised what to do in the hours and days following the use of nuclear weapons Britons were told to prepare a 'fall-out room' in which they would need to store enough food and water for two weeks The Protect and Survive campaign was produced by the Government from 1974 until 1980. As well as the leaflet, it included newspaper advertisements, radio broadcasts and public information films. Whilst the campaign had been intended for use only in an emergency, it came to public attention in a series of newspaper articles. The Government then decided to publish the leaflet in May 1980 and the public information films were leaked to the BBC and anti-nuclear group CND. The leaflet gives tips on how to make a fallout room and tells Britons to construct within it an inner refuge to protect from radioactive fallout dust. Individuals were told they would need three-and-half gallons (16 litres) of water each and were told to store clean water in the cisterns of their toilets. They were also advised to bring the likes of kitchen utensils, a portable radio, toilet paper and a first aid kit The leaflet advised that Britons should try to stock twice as much water as they would need for drinking, so they could also wash. Foods to bring included sugar, jam, meat, vegetables and fruit. People were also told to bring a radio into their fall-out room Britons were also advised to bring a tin opener, cutlery and crockery, along with a portable stove and changes of clothes The leaflet featured a guide on the warning sounds that people would hear if an attack was imminent, along with the noises for when there was a danger from fall-out Britons were told to build an 'inner refuge' inside their fall-out room. It needed to be 'thick-lined with dense materials to resist the radiation'. Doors could be requisitioned and leaned against each other, or the refuge could be made under a table or the cupboard under the stairs How Russia heightened nuclear risk after Ukraine invasion The UN last week slammed Russia for its attack on Ukraine and cautioned that heightened nuclear threat levels showed all of humanity was at risk from Putin's invasion. Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet warned that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was 'generating massive impact on the human rights of millions of people across Ukraine.' 'Elevated threat levels for nuclear weapons underline the gravity of the risks to all of humanity,' she added. Her comments came after Putin ordered Russia's nuclear forces be put on high alert. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had previously accused Western politicians of fixating on nuclear war. 'It is clear that World War Three can only be nuclear,' Lavrov said in an online interview with Russian and foreign media. 'I would like to point out that it's in the heads of Western politicians that the idea of a nuclear war is spinning constantly, and not in the heads of Russians,' he said. Advertisement Bedding, sleeping bags and a portable stove were also advised, whilst a makeshift toilet could be made using a bucket and a chair with the seat cut out. On the subject of the construction of the fall-out room, Britons were told: 'The further you can get, within your home, from the radioactive dust that is on or around it, the safer you will be. 'Use the cellar or basement if there is one. Otherwise use a room, hall or passage on the ground floor. 'Even the safest room in your home is not safe enough, however. 'You will need to block up windows in the room and any other openings, and to make the outside walls thicker, and also to thicken the floor above you, to provide the strongest possible protection against the penetration of radiation.' If someone were to die, Britons were advised to place the body in another room and cover it as securely as possible, whilst also attaching identification. A survival kit list included biscuits, meats, fruit, vegetables, sugar cubes, jam, crockery, notebooks and pencils for messages. A radio was useful to listen out for public announcements following an attack. If people were not at home during the nuclear strike, they were told to 'lie flat (in a ditch) and cover the exposed skin of the head and hands' However, critics quickly took aim at the information that the Government had put together. Quoted in the Daily Mail in 1981, Professor Josef Rotblat, who was an expert on nuclear fallout, said: 'If there is a war there will be all-out nuclear war. 'Under these circumstances, the whole concept is unrealistic of people preparing themselves. There will be no time for preparation. 'There will be panic. People will not stay indoors for long enough. They will go outside. All the protective factors are illusory.' Britons were also given tips in a video that was produced for the campaign. The warning sound of a nuclear attack was revealed in the video. During the fears of a nuclear attack, the Government also had a nuclear bunker built deep in the Essex countryside, beneath a non-descript cottage. Kelvedon Hatch had capacity for up to 200 civil servants to hold out for 14 days in the event of a nuclear strike on Britain Without revealing its precise location, the Home Office allowed TV cameras from ITV programme the Thames Report into the bunker Around the same time, nuclear fall-out shelters were also on the market, as were protection suits costing up to 200, which equates to nearly 1,000 in today's money. One firm, named Civil Defence Supply, supplied suits from the Lincolnshire village of Wellingnore, near Grantham. The Government also had a nuclear bunker built deep in the Essex countryside, beneath a non-descript cottage. Kelvedon Hatch had capacity for up to 200 civil servants to hold out for 14 days in the event of a nuclear strike on Britain. If London were to be wiped out, a junior minister based in the Essex bunker would be elevated to have dictatorial powers over survivors. Without revealing its precise location, the Home Office allowed TV cameras from ITV programme the Thames Report into the bunker. Russia has today banned Instagram and opened a criminal case against Facebook's owner Meta as it accused it of being an 'extremist' organisation. Russian prosecutors asked a court to designate Meta as an 'extremist organisation' after the the US tech giant temporarily allowed posts such as 'death to the Russian invaders following Vladimir Putin's ruthless invasion of Ukraine, now entering its third week. The latest clampdown also saw access restricted to Instagram and comes after Roskomnadzor, which oversees Russian mass media, blocked Facebook and Twitter amid Moscow's war propaganda campaign. Russia's Investigative Committee, which reports directly to Russian president Vladimir Putin, confirmed that a criminal case had been started against Meta for allowing what it deemed to be illegal content. Russian prosecutors asked a court to designate Facebook owner Meta as an 'extremist organisation' in another social media clampdown (stock image) 'A criminal case has been initiated ... in connection with illegal calls for murder and violence against citizens of the Russian Federation by employees of the American company Meta, which owns the social networks Facebook and Instagram,' the committee said. It was not immediately clear what the consequences of the criminal case might be. No comment was immediately available from Meta in response to a Reuters request. The Investigative Committee said Facebook's change in hate speech rules could violate articles of the Russian criminal law against public calls for extremist activities. 'Such actions of the [Meta] company's management not only form an idea that terrorist activity is permissible, but are aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards the citizens of the Russian Federation,' the state prosecutor's office said. It said it had applied to a court to recognise Meta as an extremist organisation and prohibit its activities in Russia. Russia's communications regular also confirmed it was restricting access to Instagram, after Facebook and Twitter were also hit by a clampdown last week. Prosecutors accused Meta of being 'extremist' after it temporarily allowed posts such as 'death to the Russian invaders following Vladimir Putin's (pictured) ruthless invasion of Ukraine Instagram is a favoured tool of jailed Putin opponent Alexei Navalny, who took to the social media site - via his lawyers - on Friday to call for Russians to join protests against the Ukraine war and 'mad maniac Putin' this weekend. WhatsApp will not be affected by the legal moves, Russia's RIA news agency cited a source as saying, as the messaging app is considered a means of communication, not a way to post information. It comes one day after a Meta spokesperson said the company had temporarily eased its rules for political speech, allowing posts such as 'death to the Russian invaders,' although it would not allow calls for violence against Russian civilians. Meta said the temporary change aimed to allow for forms of political expression that would normally violate its rules. Its oversight board said on Friday that it was closely following the war in Ukraine, and how Meta is responding. Internal Meta emails seen by Reuters showed the US company had also temporarily allowed posts that call for the death of Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. It was said posts that call for Mr Putin's or Mr Lukashenko's death will only be removed if they target other individuals or if there are indications the threat is credible. 'We hope it is not true because if it is true then it will mean that there will have to be the most decisive measures to end the activities of this company,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The temporary policy change applied to Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. The communications regular also confirmed that it was now restricting access to Instagram, which is a favoured tool of jailed Putin opponent Alexei Navalny (pictured) Facebook said calls for violence against prisoners of war will not be allowed. The United Nations human rights office said the potential change in Facebook policy was worrying. 'It is a very concerning issue because it does have a certain risk to generate and encourage and allow hate speech that is directed at Russians in general,' spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell said. Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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 Several social media companies previously announced new content restrictions after the Ukraine invasion including blocking Russia state media RT and Sputnik in Europe. Russia blocked Facebook for 'discrimination towards Russian media' after it banned Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik in the UK at the request of the British government. Roskomnadzor also 'restricted access' to social media network Twitter, Russian news agencies reported last Friday. According to Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies, access to Twitter was restricted on the basis of a request of the Prosecutor General from February 24. Russia has for more than a year been striving to curb the influence of US tech giants including Alphabet Inc's Google and Twitter, repeatedly fining them for allowing what it deems to be illegal content. But Putin's ruthless invasion of Ukraine, met by a storm of international condemnation and unprecedented sanctions, has sharply raised the stakes in the information war. Social media provides an opportunity for dissent against Putin's claims - followed by the tightly controlled state media - that Moscow was forced to launch its 'special military operation' to defend Russian-speakers in Ukraine against genocide and to demilitarise and 'denazify' the country. Meta's Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp services are all popular in Russia, with 7.5 million, 50.8million and 67million users last year respectively, according to researcher Insider Intelligence. In another clampdown, Andrei Chernenko, Russia's deputy digital minister, called on Russian state-owned websites and portals to ramp up security by today. He ordered them to move to domestic services and remove JavaScript code downloaded from foreign sources after Anonymous hacked into Russia's media censorship agency and released 340,000 files. The minister also instructed web services to switch to domain name system (DNS) servers on Russian soil. The global DNS allows people around the world to use the internet easily and freely, indicating Russia could cut itself off from the system and implement its own. Russia claims the directive is only to enhance security in the face of repeated cyber attacks, but experts fear it is a sign Russia could disconnect itself from the global internet. Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, said: 'From the outside it looks like a preparation for the sovereign Runet.' Today, Anonymous broke into the Roskomnadzor federal agency to steal the classified documents which they then passed on to transparency organisation Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets), who published them online. The trove of 820 gigabytes of emails and attachments, some of which are dated as late as March 5, show how the Kremlin is censoring anything referring to their brutal invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow is instead calling a 'special military operation'. The Anonymous hacker said they 'urgently felt the Russian people should have access to information about their government', DDoSecrets said. A heroic Californian Army veteran has traveled to Ukraine to fight Russia - and says hew will 'do what is necessary' to stop Putin. Dad-of-one Jericho Skye, 25, of California, has volunteered for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion to 'offer these civilians some sort of protection.' He said he never believed that Putin would invade - and now felt he had to do something after seeing civilians bombed and killed. 'What's happening in [Ukraine] is atrocious,' Skye told SWNS. 'It's a totally unprovoked attack. 'We as the world have to stand together and fight not only tyranny, but to fight [Putin's] way of thinking that he can just come and brutalize whoever he wants and take over. So it's up to us to hold that line and show him that we as the world are not going to take this 'If it doesn't stop here, then it's not going to stop,' he said. Jericho served as a military policeman in the 137th Military Police Detachment of the US army. He has never served in active combat but says he isn't scared of the Russian army. 'I have a set of skills that are always there,' he said. 'There's a very real enemy, and it's really easy to understand what our mission is here - to defend the country.' Scroll down for video Jericho Skye, 25, from California, took a quick smoke break before hopping on a truck to Ukraine. He volunteered to fight for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion against Russia as he crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border on Monday He held hands with a man who sent him off as he packed his rucksack into the truck. Skye said it's the 'world's' job to stand up tyranny and to Putin's way of thinking. 'What's happening in [Ukraine] is atrocious. It's a totally unprovoked attack. We as the world have to stand together and fight not only tyranny, but to fight [Putin's] way of thinking that he can just come and brutalize whoever he wants and take over' He also said his 'heart goes out to the Russian soldiers, to be honest.' 'From what I've read they didn't even know what they were getting into, and they're a conscripted military, so I'm going to be fighting against 18/19-year-old kids that didn't sign up for this. 'There will be professional soldiers of course, but a lot of them will just be here doing their national service. 'My heart bleeds for those kids, I don't have any animosity towards the Russian people. 'I'll do what is necessary, but I'll really feel bad if I have to take their life when they don't want to be here. 'I hope they realize what is happening and go home.' He hugged a man who came to send him off before hoping into the truck The veteran (pictured in 2020) has an American flag tattooed on his arm in a similar place the flag would be placed on his Army uniform. The flag is traditionally sewed on backwards, as it appears on his arm, to represent the flag flying backwards in the wind as the soldier moves forward He also said he has heard many say they want to help Ukraine, but 'talk is really cheap, especially in the US.' 'It's easy to say that you want to do one thing while you're sitting on your couch and watching it on the television. It's one other thing to offer your support in whatever ways you can, you know.' Skye said he had met 'wonderful Polish people' after crossing the border from Poland to Ukraine after hitching a ride from a truck driver on Monday in Dorohusk. Jericho said he was shocked to see the number of refugees on the border as he crossed into Poland. He said: 'When I got to the border at Poland there were only 50 people there, so I thought: "Oh maybe it isn't as bad as we see," but right now I'm next to no less than 1,000 people - children and women, young kids. 'When I saw that they were bombing civilians and there wasn't going to be any other military support, I knew I had to do something. 'If NATO was coming or the EU, or anyone else, I'd think: "Oh they've got this" and I'd leave it - but there's no support other than individuals volunteering. 'I've heard of a few veterans on Reddit coming to Ukraine to fight, but don't know anyone personally who's heading out here. 'I met another US veteran on the flight out here coming to fight, so I wouldn't be surprised if I find other brothers from the US or UK militaries out here.' As for how the US can help the Ukrainian people under attack, Skye said he would be relaying that information once he gets in there. Leaving behind a five-year-old son and his parents, Jericho says he isn't scared to fight, but hopes that his family doesn't have to face losing him. He said: 'No I'm not really nervous, It's kind of weird but it's just what I do - it's what I'm trained for. 'I have a son, and I feel good about being here and what we're doing. Skye leaves behind a five-year-son (pictured in 2018) and his parents, but says he is not afraid to fight Putin's army of men He said he wasn't nervous and 'felt good' about his decision. 'I'm not really nervous, It's kind of weird but it's just what I do - it's what I'm trained for. I have a son, and I feel good about being here and what we're doing' Skye (pictured with his son and girlfriend Erika in 2018) said he applied to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion through the embassy and is trying to learn to Ukrainian alphabet to help him communicate while he's there 'I have hope that I'll get home eventually, but if I had any sort of fear it's that my mom and dad are still alive and my son is still alive, but I'd never want to put them through losing me. 'It's in the realm of possibility, of course, but I have a good feeling about it.' Intending to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, Jericho says the process for volunteering was simple. He explained: 'I contacted the Ukrainian Embassy back home. 'They sent me an application asking for basic military experience, background and sent that in to volunteer for the International Foreign Legion. 'I'm kind of counting on people speaking English. '[I'm] trying to learn the Ukrainian alphabet right now, but there's nothing really to reference - it's difficult. 'I watched the Russians start to position troops around the border and I just thought he wouldn't do anything - nobody wants a war. 'I told my friend one night I thought Putin was more intelligent than that really, by the time I got home my friend's mum said Russia had just invaded. 'On day two I totally understood nobody was coming to their support, it was just them - their little military and civilians. 'Nobody else wants to get involved, and I get that, but it's just their civilians with no training holding back one of the world superpowers. 'It's like looking out my window and seeing a kid being beaten up while everyone stands around them and says they want to help but can't. 'I don't mind if I get injured, I'll be there to help them - and these guys are holding their own, they're putting up some stiff resistance against some of the best fighters on earth. 'It'll be an honor to serve with these guys.' His sister Rebecca Magallon started a GoFundMe to support her brother's 'honorable act.' Armed men take pictures of themselves in front of a bombed building on Thursday. Putin has now killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers and has bombed a maternity hospital and a disability center Ukrainians try to pass over a bridge in Iprin after it was bombed Citizens have taken refuge in subway stations and bomb shelters as the war continues 'His bravery to risk his life, and enter into a dangerous territory, is such an honorable act. I want him to know how much support and love he has behind him,' she wrote on the fundraiser. It has raised $1,070 of it's $5,000 goal. On Friday, Russia blew up a disabled care home near the city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said, as Vladimir Putin's troops stoop to a new low just 48 hours after shelling women as they gave birth in a maternity hospital. Oleg Sinegubov, an official from Kharkiv which has been under siege by Russian forces for days, accused Putin's men of committing a 'war crime' by launching air strikes against the facility in the town of Oskil which had 330 residents inside at the time the bombs hit. Sinegubov said 63 care home residents have since been evacuated, but could not give an update on the other 267. Ten of those living at the home require wheelchairs, he said, while another 50 have reduced mobility. Ihor Terekhov, mayor of the city, said another 48 schools have been destroyed by Russian missiles. Just 48 hours before the care home was destroyed, Russian jets had bombed a maternity hospital in the southern city of Mariupol as women gave birth inside. The Kremlin has sought to paint those wounded in the attack as 'crisis actors' as part of a vile propaganda attempt to dismiss allegations its troops are attacking women and children. Ukraine says Russian attacks have now killed more civilians than soldiers - without giving an exact figure for either - as the Kremlin's generals pivot from shock-and-awe-style precision strikes to 'medieval' siege warfare. Dnipro, hundreds of miles to the south of Kharkiv, was hit by three strikes early Friday that damaged a kindergarten, a civilian apartment block, and a shoe factory - killing at least one person. But Ukrainian forces continue to fight back, saying successful counter-attacks around the northern city of Chernihiv has recaptured five villages after Russian units took such heavy casualties that they were no longer able to attack effectively. It comes after another successful counter-attack in the same region on Thursday, and a counter-attack to the west of Kyiv, which grounded a Russian offensive to a halt. A bin was mistakenly thought to have been too light to have had missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague inside because of a miscalibrated weighing device, an inquest has heard. Mr McKeague, of Dunfermline, Fife, was 23 when he disappeared in the early hours of September 24, 2016, after a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. He was last seen on CCTV at 3.25am on September 24 entering a service area behind a Greggs store. Police believe that the serviceman, who was stationed at RAF Honington, climbed into a bin which was then tipped into a waste lorry. Mr McKeague, of Dunfermline, Fife, was 23 when he disappeared in the early hours of September 24, 2016, after a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk He was last seen on CCTV at 3.25am on September 24 entering a service area behind a Greggs store Waste firm Biffa initially told police that the weight of the bin was 11kg (1 stone 10lbs) but it was later recorded as 116kg (18 stone 3lbs). Stephen Graham, IT services director for Biffa, told an inquest in Ipswich how weights are recorded. 'Truck goes out, picks up bin,' he said. 'When you weigh a bin the bin is weighed twice. Once when it goes up, once when it comes down, and weight is generated be the difference. 'Full, empty, one minus two.' He said that, after a bin has been emptied, the driver pushes a button to get the weight on a device in the bin lorry. These are later uploaded from the device to Biffa's database. Police believe that the serviceman, who was stationed at RAF Honington, climbed into a bin which was then tipped into a waste lorry Asked about other weights displayed in the database beside the Greggs bin other than the reported 116kg, including the initially reported weight of 11kg, Mr Graham said: 'From our investigations during the course of this inquiry we're able to see these are bins that were previously collected and we believe they came from the depot where the lorry was kept. 'They are unfortunately confirmed against the Greggs single bin pick up.' He said that there was 'no contract to accept (the bins from the Biffa yard) against' so they were confirmed against the Greggs bin. He continued: 'It's an error in the process as the device hasn't been cleared after picking up bins at the Biffa depot.' Mr Graham said a timestamp by the 116kg weight showed it was from September 24, and timestamps by the other weights, including the 11kg, showed they were from September 23. He said at the time it had mistakenly been thought that the most recent weight lifted would be at the bottom of the list on the database, but actually it was at the top. He said he was '99% confident' the 116kg reading was correct', adding 'perhaps I should have said 100% - I think there's always 1% somewhere for room for anomaly in the world of computers but otherwise 100%'. CCTV footage shows him entering a horseshoe-shaped area (pictured) in Brentgovel Street, behind a Superdrug and a Greggs shop, where there are several industrial waste bins Mr McKeague was last seen near a bin loading area in Bury St Edmunds in 2016. Police searched a landfill site near Cambridge for his body in March the following year Bin lorry driver Martyn Thompson previously told the inquest that he lifted the lid of the bin when he collected it at 4.19am on September 24 and there was no-one inside. Asked if he could explain the difference between the 116kg weight and what the driver said he saw, Mr Graham said: 'Personally no. 'All I can say is this is what the weighing equipment says and this is what the system says. 'I can't account for what the driver saw.' The inquest heard that adjustments were made to the front-end IT system, Biffanet, on September 30 so that users would see the weight for the Greggs bin as 11kg, but Mr Graham said that this did not affect the data in the database underpinning it. Police carried out two searches of a 120-acre landfill site at Milton, Cambridgeshire, over 27 weeks in 2017, but found no sign of Mr McKeague's body after sifting through 9,000 tons of rubbish Mr McKeague's girlfriend April Oliver (left), then 21, found out that she was pregnant with his child after he disappeared and later gave birth to his daughter Ellie-Louise Mr Graham said the adjustments were made by someone at the Bury St Edmunds site and there were 'no commercial reasons' for doing so. Mr Thompson had spoken with police on September 29. Christopher Ball, an area manager for Greggs, said the bin was emptied on Friday, September 23 and 99.22% of sales that day were for takeaway sales, with the remainder for items consumed on the premises. He said that when the bin was collected on the morning of Saturday, September 24 it would have had 'four, five bin bags of potential rubbish' inside, such as paper waste, plastic tubs and coffee grinds. He said the bin had a lock but this could be 'easily popped if someone is strong enough to lift the bin lid'. The inquest, being heard with a jury, continues. A 30-year-old Brooklyn man was chased into a Crown Heights bodega and shot dead in a hail of high-caliber bullets, police said Friday. The gunman got away, leaving behind eight 40-caliber shell casings in the Deli & Grocery bodega on St. Johns Place near Troy Ave. Advertisement Officers on the scene at St. Johns Pl. in Brooklyn on Friday morning. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The shooting happened just after 11:20 p.m. Thursday, police said. The victim, Adiyb Ramkisoon, was seen running into the bodega, followed closely by the suspect, who then opened fire. Advertisement Ramkisoon, who has no gang affiliation and has never been arrested in New York City, was hit numerous times inside the deli less than a block away from his apartment building on Troy Ave. The victim was fatally shot in the Crown Heights bodega, less than a block from his apartment building. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Medics rushed Ramkisoon to Kings County Hospital but he could not be saved. He was a great young man, gone far too early, said a friend of Ramkisoon, who wished not to be named. I knew him like 20 years. He was a responsible young man. He took care of his family. Cops were guarding the shuttered corner store Friday as they scoured the area for surveillance footage they hope will help identify the shooter. The gunman, described as a dark-skinned man wearing a blue hat and a green jacket, ran off down St. Johns Place after the shooting. No arrests have been made. Police said it is not yet clear what sparked the shooting. Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx, who was widely accused of meddling in the Jussie Smollett case after recusing herself from it, has claimed Jussie Smollett's 150-day jail term is 'mob justice' and an example of the system failing. Foxx is the Cook County State's Attorney - one of the most senior prosecutors in the state of Illinois. In January 2019, when the crime was first reported to police as a hate crime and Smollett was still being considered a victim, she exchanged text messages with his a friend of the Smollett family who was angry about the Chicago Police Department leaking details of the case. Foxx personally lobbied the then-chief of police, Eddie Johnson, to have it moved into the care of the FBI. When her involvement was revealed as Smollett became more and more of a suspect, she recused herself. She then however continued to meddle, instructing deputy Joseph Magats to ignore the recommendation of a grand jury who charged Smollett with lying 16 times. Under the direction of Foxx's fury, Magats entered a deal with Smollett which meant he would serve 15 hours of community service and pay a $10,000 fine to avoid jail and have the whole case wiped. Now, after a different prosecutor successfully convicted Smollett of lying, Foxx is claiming that the 150 sentence he received (a seventh of the maximum he was facing), is too harsh. Chicago State's Attorney Kim Foxx - who dropped the charges against Smollett in March 2019 - claimed on Friday that the case against Smollett was 'mob justice' Smollett yesterday reacting after being sentenced to 150 days in jail. He said yelled out that if anything happens to him in custody it's the jail's fault because he is not suicidal In 2019, before Smollett was charged, an unnamed friend of the Smollett family was in contact with Foxx. The family was upset about how many details of the investigation were being leaked to the press. They wanted it to be handed over from the Chicago Police Department to the FBI and Foxx (whose text is in blue) told 'the friend' she was trying to get it done for them Foxx also emailed Tina Tchen, another friend of the Smollett family, to tell her she was working on getting the case handed over to the FBI to limit the amount the media knew about it Writing for The Chicago Sun Times, the unapologetically Democratic prosecutor wrote: 'On Thursday, the damaging, costly, and disingenuous criminal prosecution of Jussie Smollett came to an end. 'As Cook County States Attorney, it pains me deeply to say that, in this particular case, our justice system failed.' She went on to claim that Smollett was presumed guilty from the beginning, ignoring whether or not he actually committed the crime that Judge James Linn yesterday said amounted to 'astounding hypocrisy'. Foxx insisted that the story 'should have ended' with her office's decision not to pursue any criminal action against Smollett back in March 2019. 'Taxpayers have since spent millions of dollars for the criminal prosecution of a hoax,' she said. 'Rather than working collaboratively to stem rising crime or free the wrongly convicted, a small group of people hijacked the judicial system to enact what is best described as mob justice,' she fumed. She is one of a handful of prosecutors across America who is opting for no cash bail in a majority of crimes, a trend that many say is contributing to widespread repeat offenses. Foxx recused herself when it became clear that Smollett was a suspect. After a grand jury indicted him on 16 counts of lying to police, she told her deputy Joseph Magats not to pursue the charges, calling them excessive for 'a washed up celeb who lied to cops' 'Smollett was indicted, tried and convicted by a kangaroo prosecution in a matter of months. Meanwhile, the families of more than 50 Black women murdered in Chicago over the last 20 years await justice,' she said. Inmate number 20220310140 in Chicago's Cook County Jail, Jussie Smollett The judge and the prosecution blamed Smollett for wasting precious police and prosecutorial resources with his report of the fake hate crime. Foxx was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in her handling of the case. In her piece for the Chicago Sun Times, she says she was targeted by the same 'mob' that Smollett was. 'Black women elected prosecutors around the country have faced the same mob mentality,' she wrote. She goes on: 'The same special prosecutor pursued a targeted, predetermined investigation of my involvement with the case. 'Knowing I had done nothing wrong but that objecting to the process would be painted as guilt, I cooperated. Predictably, the probe found no criminal wrongdoing and still un-ironically accused me of abuses of discretion. 'Its a playbook: attack and marginalize anyone fighting to create a more just system, one that recognizes the rule of law,' she said. This is newborn baby 'Luka' safe in Poland - thought to be the first refugee child born to parents fleeing their native Ukraine since Russia invaded. His parents, mother Ksenia, 33 and Ruslan Zhuralev, 46, braved terrible and dangerous travel conditions when he was past his due date to ensure he could be born in the safety of Poland rather than his war-ravaged home nation. Luka was born February 26 just a day after the couple endured a nightmare eight-hour crawl through more than 12 miles of traffic to reach the border with Poland at Ustrzykydolne. This is newborn baby 'Luka' (pictured) safe in Poland - thought to be the first refugee child born to parents fleeing their native Ukraine since Russia invaded Heavily pregnant and due to give birth the day Vladimir Putin, invaded the couple felt they had no choice but to flee after hospitals were requisitioned by the military for possible wounded casualties. They joined thousands of others driving to the border and made it across before Ksenia went into labour. But the family's anxiety and fears aren't over - the couple had to leave the two young sons they already have in Kharviv with Kesenia's parents as they felt they would be safer there and not up to the hazardous journey to Poland. His parents, mother Ksenia, 33 and Ruslan Zhuralev, 46, braved terrible and dangerous travel conditions when he was past his due date to ensure he could be born in the safety of Poland rather than his war-ravaged home nation. Pictured: The Zhuralev family with their newborn baby Speaking exclusively to MailOnline he said: 'My priority was to make sure my wife was okay so we left the other two boys with my mother and father. 'I wanted to make sure she was safe, my parents insisted I get Ksenia to safety and they would look after the children and make sure they carried on schooling. 'We had friends in Truskavets and we were planning for the boys to join us but then the war broke out and travelling back was out of the question. 'Ksenia was due to give birth February 24, the day the war broke out but the hospitals we were supposed to go to were taken over by the military. 'The doctors said they would give us the name of another clinic where we could go but by now it was afternoon and we couldn't wait any longer.' Engineer Ruslan explained how he bundled his wife into his Nissan and drove towards the border flashing his headlights and sounding his horn to clear the way. But because of the sheer volume of traffic, he ground to a halt 12 miles from the Poland as traffic tailed back with thousands wanting to escape. Luka was born February 26 just a day after the couple endured a nightmare eight-hour crawl through more than 12 miles of traffic to reach the border with Poland at Ustrzykydolne. Pictured: Luka with mother Ksenia At one point he jumped out and asked a man holding a child to move out of the way so he could get pass. Ruslan said:' I remember I had tears as I said to him 'Look you are holding your son, I want to hold mine, I need to get pass.' 'He saw the situation we were in and moved out of the way but other threw stones at my car as we went past. 'Not everyone was agreeable to us passing and I can understand they were frightened and just wanted to be safe in Poland. 'Even then it still took almost eight hours to get to the border, I kept telling Ksenia to be calm and things were going to be OK. 'She was worried about the two boys but we called my mother and she said they were safe and not to worry.' The couple eventually made it through the border into Poland in the early hours of February 25 where they rushed by an escort to Przemysl where Luka was born the following day weighing a healthy 3.5kg The couple eventually made it through the border into Poland in the early hours of February 25 where they rushed by an escort to Przemysl where Luka was born the following day weighing a healthy 3.5kg. Cradling sleeping Luka as she spoke, Ksenia said: 'Ruslan just kept telling me to remain calm and not to get worked, he was being a typical guy and not much help. 'Only a woman knows the stress of giving birth and I was also worried about the other two boys in Kharkiv. 'I knew they were with my parents but a mother always wants to make sure her children are safe. Cradling sleeping Luka as she spoke, Ksenia said: 'Ruslan just kept telling me to remain calm and not to get worked, he was being a typical guy and not much help. 'Only a woman knows the stress of giving birth and I was also worried about the other two boys in Kharkiv. 'I knew they were with my parents but a mother always wants to make sure her children are safe.' Pictured: Ruslan, Ksenia, Luka and Ilya Staff at the clinic told them Luka was the first child born to a refugee and since then the couple have been staying with friends in Poland, and have now been joined by their other two sons Vadim, 13, and Ilya, seven, after they arrived with Ksenia's mother. Pictured: Ksenia and Ruslan speak to Nick 'When we got to the hospital the doctors were really worried about the baby's blood pressure but after a few hours things had calmed down and I was able to give birth naturally.' Staff at the clinic told them Luka was the first child born to a refugee and since then the couple have been staying with friends in Poland, and have now been joined by their other two sons Vadim, 13, and Ilya, seven, after they arrived with Ksenia's mother. Heartbroken Ruslan said: 'My parents will not leave Kharkiv, they will stay but I don't think we will be able to go back. 'Our apartment is gone and who knows when I will see them again, for the time being I have to send them pictures of Luka on Whatsapp and we speak every day. They send love emojis but I want them to hold Luka and it tears me apart when I thing about it. 'My father is old and in a wheelchair, he cannot move, he has lived in Kharkiv all his life but for us we have to start a new page. 'It's the same with Ksenia's father nothing will take him from the place where he was born. Heartbroken Ruslan said: 'My parents will not leave Kharkiv, they will stay but I don't think we will be able to go back.' Pictured: Ruslan and Ksenia 'We have been uprooted but we will have to put roots down somewhere else for now and them hopefully when this is all over we can all meet again.' When asked about the devastating attack on the maternity hospital in Mariupol which left three people dead, Ruslan said:' I just don't understand why they did that. 'Why all this aggression ? Aggression only leads to more aggression, I would say to those soldiers imagine if it was your wives or family in their giving birth, would you do something like that ?' Luka is believed to be the first refugee baby. Others have reportedly been born since. Luka is believed to be the first refugee baby. Others have reportedly been born since She avoided going to prison and was given a six-month suspended sentence A mother-of-three who sued the NHS for 7.3m after pretending her daughter needed a wheelchair to get around because of medical blunders has avoided a jail term. Natasha Colley's lies were exposed by social media posts showing her supposedly badly disabled daughter, Megan, 21, singing, dancing and playing the lead in a Jack and the Beanstalk stage show. Mrs Colley launched a lawsuit in 2016, claiming that her daughter Megan Colley - who was born with displaced hips - had been left severely disabled because doctors failed to correct the issue during operations when she was younger. Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted breach of duty in the way the operations were performed on Megan, valuing the claim at around 65,000. But Mrs Colley, 38, acting as her daughter's litigation friend, demanded a massive 7.3m, claiming the mistakes meant Megan had been left 'significantly reliant upon a wheelchair out of doors with consequential dependence, such as people having to push her'. However, investigations showed that Megan had taken up a performing arts degree course, and had made social media posts showing her on her feet, singing, dancing and performing onstage without apparent difficulty. Natasha Colley (pictured) has avoided going to prison and was given a six-month suspended sentence demanded a massive 7.3m, claiming errors meant Megan was left 'significantly reliant upon a wheelchair out of doors with consequential dependence, such as people having to push her' She was hailed as a 'strong dancer' and a 'star pupil' by tutors on her course, who, lawyers for the NHS said, had expressed 'astonishment' to learn that she was said to be badly disabled. The compensation claim never reached trial as Megan withdrew her support for it days before it was due to hit court. Today at London's High Court, Mr Justice Bourne found Mrs Colley guilty of contempt of court for lies making out her daughter needed to use a wheelchair whenever she was out of the house and handed her a suspended six-month jail term, suspended for two years. Megan was not herself accused of contempt. The court heard that Megan was born in July 2000, suffering from hip dysplasia. Megan Colley - who was born with displaced hips - had been left severely disabled because doctors failed to correct the issue during operations when she was younger, her mother claimed Megan was hailed as a 'strong dancer' and a 'star pupil' by tutors on her course, who, lawyers for the NHS said, had expressed 'astonishment' to learn that she was said to be badly disabled The NHS admitted blame but claimed that 65,500 would compensate Megan for two unnecessary operations she would have to undergo, plus the fact that she may face having to have hip replacements earlier in life than her condition would otherwise have necessitated. However Natasha insisted that, due to the blunders, Megan had needed a wheelchair for much of the time when she was at school and later when she was at college completing a performing arts degree. She claimed that her daughter was so seriously disabled she deserved 7.3m compensation, later revised to 5.5m after surveillance evidence was disclosed. Caroline Harrison QC, for the NHS Trust, told the judge they had gathered statements from Hull College tutors who taught her during her performing arts degree, and 'described her energetic stage work, including dancing,' she said. 'Her tutors do not support any special arrangements being made or required by her. 'The tutors do not recognise the portrait of her disability that is painted by her mum.' The court was shown surveillance video of Megan performing in stage productions of shows including Oliver, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Beauty and the Beast. However, investigations showed that Megan (centre right) had taken up a performing arts degree course, and had made social media posts showing her on her feet, singing, dancing and performing onstage without apparent difficulty Megan had also posted online videos on her social media showing her standing and singing, and statements that she wanted to 'build a career in performing and modelling... I can sing, dance and act and love to also entertain'. When she did bring a wheelchair to college it was for a short time, which the barrister claimed 'supports the suggestion that it was a prop rather than being genuinely needed'. Natasha Colley however maintained it was true that her daughter used a wheelchair at Hull College and that she had a dedicated teaching assistant to push her around. Mr Justice Bourne found Mrs Colley guilty of contempt for having lied about that in her witness statement as well as claiming that Megan needed to use a wheelchair whilst outside the house. 'When all the evidence in the clinical negligence claim is considered, it becomes clear that Megan and Mrs Colley exaggerated the effects of her condition. 'There was evidence of Megan playing leading roles, dancing acting and singing, contradicting the evidence that was put forward that she was severely disabled. 'I am sure that Mrs Colley made false statements and knowingly did so. 'Mrs Colley knowingly made these statements with the intent if increasing the value of Megan's clinical negligence claim. 'People who make false claims to the court should expect to go to prison,' he added, saying that whilst Megan's claim could potentially have been worth up to 5m had vital assessments by medical experts gone her way, her mother's proven lies had exaggerated its maximum value by at least a six-figure sum. But he went on to suspend the sentence after hearing that Mrs Colley had caring responsibilities as a mother of three and had experienced a tough childhood. Evgeny Lebedev today said he is 'not some agent of Russia' after it was claimed Boris Johnson intervened to override security concerns about granting him a peerage. It was recently alleged that a security services assessment saying the media mogul posed a national security risk was withdrawn after the PM got involved. The peer acknowledged on Friday that his father, the Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev, was 'a long time ago' a KGB officer but denied being 'a security risk to this country'. Lord Lebedev's statement to his Evening Standard website came as the UK hits Kremlin-supporting oligarchs with sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. The Sunday Times reported that a damning assessment of the Moscow-born businessman was withdrawn by the security services after the Prime Minister personally intervened. Evgeny Lebedev today said he is 'not some agent of Russia' after it was claimed Boris Johnson intervened to override security concerns about granting him a peerage Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee to investigate the 'matter of national security'. But Mr Johnson has denied intervening, saying it was 'simply incorrect' to suggest he influenced the intelligence services after they reportedly advised against giving a Lords' seat to Mr Lebedev. Lord Lebedev wrote: 'At the moment many with Russian roots are under scrutiny, including myself. 'I understand the reason for this as it is inevitable when events of such magnitude occur and the world order as we have known it in recent decades suddenly gets torn up. 'But I am not a security risk to this country, which I love. My father a long time ago was a foreign intelligence agent of the KGB, but I am not some agent of Russia. 'I may have a Russian name but that makes me no less a committed or proud British citizen than anyone else in this country of ours. 'Being Russian does not automatically make one an enemy of the state, and it is crucial we do not descend into Russiaphobia, like any other phobia, bigotry or discrimination.' The crossbench peer pointed to his use of the Standard's front page on which he appealed last week for Vladimir Putin to end his invasion to show he is a critic of the war. He said he was publishing his latest 'statement from the proprietor' because 'accusations are coming from credible media outfits who are posing incredible questions to me so I feel I have no option but to respond'. Mr Johnson warned against allowing a 'witch hunt' against Russians in the UK when he was grilled earlier this week on the claims that he forced spooks to water down their assessment of Mr Lebedev. Asked if he intervened to secure Mr Lebedev a peerage, Mr Johnson said: 'That is simply incorrect What I can tell you is that it suits Putins agenda to try to characterise this as a struggle between the West and Russia. Mr Johnson has denied intervening, saying it was 'simply incorrect' to suggest he influenced the intelligence services after they reportedly advised against giving a Lords' seat to Mr Lebedev 'It suits his agenda to say that the UK, that we in Nato countries, are anti-Russia, European countries are now anti-Russian. 'Its very, very, very important that we get the message over that were not anti-Russian, were not against Russians. Our quarrel is simply with the regime and the aggression of Vladimir Putin.' However, Mr Johnson sidestepped a question about whether he met Lord Lebedev in March 2020, at the height of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, to discuss the peerage. Lord Lebedev took his seat in the House of Lords in December 2020 as Baron Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia. Alec Baldwin claimed that he was following Halyna Hutchins' directions when he pointed what turned out to be a gun loaded with live rounds at her on the set of the movie Rust and pulled the trigger, killing the cinematographer, according to a new document. The actor made this allegation in an arbitration demand that his lawyers filed on Friday with the JAMS arbitration system against his fellow producers. The document maintains that the terms of Baldwin's contract shielded him from carrying any financial responsibility related to Hutchins' death, or paying legal fees. Despite the tragedy, Baldwin, 63, had attempted to convince cast and crew to finish filming 'Rust' in Hutchins' honor and have the proceeds from the movie go towards a settlement with the woman's husband and nine-year-old son, according to the filing. Baldwin has been named as a defendant in multiple lawsuits that have been filed in connection with the fatal shooting. Alec Baldwin's attorneys stated in a new court filing that the actor was following Rust cinematographer's directions when he pointed a gun at her and pulled the trigger, killing her The actor said he said he remains 'hopeful when the facts come out we will not be held criminally responsible' for the shooting that killed 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins (pictured) Baldwin, who was also a producer on Rust, was pointing the vintage Colt at Hutchins inside a small church during the setup for the filming of a scene for the Western in New Mexico on October 21 when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza. 'This is a rare instance when the system broke down, and someone should be held legally culpable for the tragic consequences. That person is not Alec Baldwin, according to the filing. 'October 21 was also the worst day in Alec Baldwins life. That day has and will continue to haunt Baldwin.' Friday's filing repeatedly argued that the actor was not responsible for the cinematographer's death because he had been assured that the gun he was using in the scene did not contain live bullets, and also because he was not responsible for checking the ammunition, as New York Times first reported. 'An actor cannot rule that a gun is safe,' the filing said. 'That is the responsibility of other people on the set.' Baldwin was paid $250,000 to star in and produce the low-budget western, but he gave $100,000 of that sum back as an investment in the film. His lawyers maintained that as a producer, he was involved only in creative decisions, but was not responsible for hiring staff or gun safety on set. Alec Baldwin and Halyna Hutchins, along with other cast, are pictured on the Rust set Lawsuits filed against Alec Baldwin and Rust production members The Hutchins Family: Matthew Hutchins, husband of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and about two dozen other defendants - including armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director David Halls - in February, claiming they disregarded standard industry practices meant to keep movie sets safe. The complaint alleges 'reckless behavior and cost cutting led to the senseless and tragic death of Halyna Hutchins'. Script Supervisor Mamie Mitchell: Mamie Mitchell filed a lawsuit against Baldwin in November 2021 arguing he should have checked the Colt .45 revolver he was holding to make sure it did not include live ammunition. Mitchell, who said she was in the line of fire during the shooting, alleges assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and deliberate infliction of harm and is seeking unspecified damages. Chief Electrician Serge Svetnoy: Serge Svetnoy also filed a suit against the actor, Gutierrez-Reed and Halls in November 2021 alleging negligence. Svetnoy accused the producers and others of failing to implement safety standards and of allowing 'a revolver loaded with live ammunition to be pointed at living persons on the Rust set.' He alleged there was 'no reason' for a live bullet to be placed in the gun or even present on set. Key Medic Cherlyn Schaeffer: Cherlyn Schaeffer filed a lawsuit against Gutierrez-Reed and Halls in February 2022 claiming their negligence lead to actor Baldwin being handed a gun with a live round. The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, also included the movie's production company and others like prop master Sarah Zachry. Schaeffer alleges the incident caused her so much emotional distress that she cannot work, claiming she's, 'medically prevented from returning to the profession or any other job.' Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed: Gutierrez-Reed in January sued the supplier of the ammunition used on the set of the Western film, PDQ Media Arm & Prop owner Seth Kenney, claiming the company led to 'live rounds to be introduced on the New Mexico movie set' after selling blank and live rounds packaged together. Lawyers for the armorer also allege that she was not present when Baldwin had been practicing the cross-draw move, and that no one told her that was going on. They claim that had she 'been called back in, she would have re-inspected the weapon, and every round again, and instructed Baldwin on safe gun practice with the cross-draw, as was her standard practice'. Advertisement The arbitration demand offered a detailed account of what Baldwin said took place during the scene in the church, which called for the actor's character, Harland Rust, to fire a Colt. According to the document, Hutchins instructed Baldwin how to hold the gun. 'She directed Baldwin to hold the gun higher, to a point where it was directed toward her,' the filing stated. 'She was looking carefully at the monitor and then at Baldwin, and then back again, as she gave these instructions. In giving and following these instructions, Hutchins and Baldwin shared a core, vital belief: that the gun was cold and contained no live rounds.' Baldwin then asked Hutchins if she wanted him to pull back the hammer on the Colt, and she allegedly said yes. The actor pulled back the hammer 'but not far enough to actually cock the gun,' the filing said. When Baldwin let go of the hammer, the gun discharged. Baldwin's lawyer wrote that it was not until the actor was shown a photo of the bullet that had gone through Hutchins and Souza's bodies that he 'recognized the object as a live bullet.' 'He was shocked,' attorney Luke Nikas added. Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and about two dozen other defendants - including 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director David Halls - last month, claiming they disregarded standard industry practices meant to keep movie sets safe. These included failure to use a prop gun rather than a live weapon, a lack of individuals qualified to handle weapons on set at the time of the shooting, and lack of protective equipment for crew. The complaint alleges 'reckless behavior and cost cutting led to the senseless and tragic death of Halyna Hutchins'. Matthew's attorney, Brian Panish, said his firm has conducted an independent investigation that uncovered 'numerous violations of industry standards' by Baldwin and the other defendants named in the complaint. A 10-minute video created by Matthew's attorneys showed a 3D animated recreation of the shooting during a rehearsal in a church. It shows a computer-generated avatar representing Baldwin accepting the Colt gun from Halls, pointing it in Hutchins' direction, and firing. The animation shows that the bullet in the chamber was live and not a 'dummy' with a hole drilled into it. The round strikes Hutchins, who clutches her chest and collapses in the video. The lawsuit also states: 'Halyna Hutchins deserved to live, and the Defendants had the power to prevent her death if they had only held sacrosanct their duty to protect the safety of every individual on a set where firearms were present instead of cutting corners on safety procedures where human lives were at stake, rushing to stay on schedule and ignoring numerous complaints of safety violations.' The attorneys also claimed Baldwin had 'refused' training for the kind of gun draw he was doing when he shot Hutchins. The complaint also claims that Baldwin never checked the gun himself for ammunition before using it. The suit also included a copy of a text message where a local camera operator made safety complaints to producers that there had been three unsafe weapons discharges and that the set was 'super unsafe'. The unit production manager responded 'with callous sarcasm', according to the lawsuit. He said in response that it was 'awesome' and 'sounds good'. In response to the civil suit filed by Hutchins' family, Baldwin's lawyer Aaron Dyer said the actor should have been able to rely on the film's armorer, prop department and assistant directors to ensure the gun was safe to use. In Friday's filing, his lawyer wrote that Gutierrez-Reed had told him that 'it was her job to check the gun not his.' It also disputes that Baldwin had refused to attend 'cross-draw' training, saying that he had asked about lessons before arriving on set, and that he had received the necessary training. Baldwin is pictured above in a 3D video simulation that shows the moment he fired the shot that killed Hutchins Matthew has also publicly shared his frustrations with the actor's refusal to take responsibility for his role in the shooting. 'He said essentially he felt grief but no guilt. Almost sounds like he was the victim,' Matthew said in a TODAY interview last month. 'The idea that the person holding the gun a/nd causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me.' In the arbitration demand, Baldwin's lawyer said that in the days and weeks after the shooting, the actor and Matthew Hutchins remained on good terms, and even had breakfast together. On that occasion, the filing claims, the widower hugged Baldwin and told him: 'I guess were going to go through this together.' The two men continued exchanging text messages over the next few months, but the tone of their communications grew colder after Baldwin did an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, during which he publicly denied responsibility for Halyna's death. The adult children of a murdered Utah Shell executive are suing a Brazilian state-controlled oil company for 'orchestrating' the killing of their parents' 20 years ago, after their father allegedly uncovered a multi-million dollar corruption scheme in Rio de Janeiro. Logan and Wesley Staheli were only 10 and 13 at the time - and were sleeping just down the hall from where the bedroom where the bloody scene occurred at their home in Rio. They were later accused by Brazilian authorities of using a toy hatchet to kill their parents, Todd and Michelle. The siblings claim government-owned Petroleo Brasileiro - known as Petrobras -planned their parents' 2003 murder to cover up a multi-million dollar corruption scheme Todd had been investigating. Todd, an executive for a Shell Oil Company subsidiary, had traveled to Brazil to determine why the company was losing millions. He found that 'hundreds of millions of dollars were being paid in kickbacks and bribes involving Petrobras,' the lawsuit claims. The complaint also accused Rio de Janeiro law enforcement of interrogating the children without a legal guardian present and preventing them from immediately returning to Utah with their grandparents. At the time, local prosecutors held a press conference showing a small hatchet found in Wesley's room, implying that it was the murder weapon - despite not finding any traces of blood on it. The Staheli's other two children, Madison and Carly, then 8 and 3, were also sleeping in their rooms down the hallway at the time of the murders, The Utah Star Tribune reported. Todd and Michelle Staheli were bludgeoned to death in their sleep on November 30, 2003, at their home while their children slept just down the hallway. Above, the couple appears with their young daughter, Wesley Logan and Wesley Staheli were only 10 and 13 when they were accused by Brazilian authorities of using a toy hatchet to kill their parents At the time, local prosecutors held a press conference showing a small hatchet found in Wesley's room, implying that it was the murder weapon despite not finding traces of blood in it The unmade bed where Todd and Michelle were murdered while they slept In the suit, the four siblings are now demanding monetary and punitive damages for the emotional distress and trauma they endured, in addition to the cost of their legal fees. Dailymail.com has reached out to attorneys for the Stahelis. Todd and Michelle were bludgeoned to death in the sleep on November 30, 2003, while their children slept in their rooms down the hallway. Logan found his father's body and his wounded mother in the early morning hours. Michelle was taken to a hospital, where she underwent surgery to stop her brain from bleeding, but died five days later. An autopsy revealed the Stahelis suffered wounds to their heads inflicted with an unknown blunt object. Todd's parents and Michelle's sister all traveled to Rio in order to return the children to the United States, but a judge ordered Logan and Wesley to stay in Brazil. Logan and Wesley were then interrogated by police without an adult or legal guardian present, the lawsuit claims. 'Now orphaned in a country where they did not speak the language, we were subjected to lengthy interrogations by the Rio police ... The Rio police even went so far as to publicly name the children as suspects and prevent them from leaving Brazil in the immediate aftermath of the murders,' the suit adds. Todd's parents proceeded to petition Brazilian courts to allow the children to return to the US, the complaint states. The siblings claim government-controlled Petroleo Brasileiro - known as Petrobras -planned their parents' 2003 murder to cover up a multi-million dollar corruption scheme Todd had been investigating They were murdered in their Rio de Janeiro home on November 30 Months after the murders, police arrested Jossiel dos Santos, a handyman who worked at the complex where the Stahelis stayed, in connection to the crimes Months after the murders, police arrested Jossiel dos Santos, a handyman who worked at the complex where the Stahelis stayed, in connection to the crimes. Dos Santos initially confessed before recanting his testimony. The lawsuit filed by the Staheli children claims that government documents indicate that dos Santos was beaten, tortured, and coerced into giving his false confession. The interrogations of dos Santos and the siblings were all conducted by two law enforcement officials who were later found guilty of corruption in an unrelated investigation. The Staheli children now argue that Petrobras and Brazilian police caused them 'severe emotional distress' and attempted to derail the investigation in order to protect Petrobras. In 2014, the Brazilian police convicted dozens of Petrobras executives, politicians and police officers who had participated in the corrupt scheme. Todd's parents and Michelle's sister traveled to Rio in order to return the children to the United States, but a judge ordered Logan and Wesley to stay in Brazil The Staheli children claim their parents were kill to cover up a corruption scandal within Petrobras, a Brazilian state-owned oil company The children were interrogated without a legal guardian present, the lawsuit claims Todd was first hired by Shell's subsidiary Royal Dutch Shell in 1991 as an attorney for the oil company and then moved to the executive board. He worked as the Vice President of Joint Ventures for the company's Southern Cone Gas and Power, the lawsuit stated. In the summer of 2003, he was sent to Rio de Janeiro to investigate if Shell should leave Brazil, as the company was losing millions in joint ventures with Petrobras. In August of that year, Michelle and the children joined him. Within months, Todd, 39 at the time, reportedly told colleagues that the company was 'the most difficult partner' he had ever encountered. According to the lawsuit, he found that the cost overruns on Shell's projects with Petrobras 'were the result of rigged contracts at inflated prices and related bribes being paid to politicians and government.' The Staheli children now claim that their parents were killed to prevent Todd from revealing the scheme, which would be uncovered a decade later as part of a Brazilian Federal Police investigation that led to the arrest of more than 60 Petrobras executives and government officials. Video footage has shown the moment Syrian 'volunteer' fighters proudly hold aloft a pro-Russian 'Z' flag as they prepare to join Moscow's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia's Defense Ministry TV channel shared clips of supposed Syrian combatants ready to 'volunteer' in Ukraine - as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Vladimir Putin for hiring foreign 'murderers'. In the video, dozens of armed so-called Syrian mercenaries are pictured lining up as one hooded soldier proudly holds aloft the 'Z' sign that has become synonymous with support for Moscow's war. Chilling images later show the group chanting, enthusiastically waving Russian flags and holding up placards adorned with President Putin's face on them. At a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East were ready to fight alongside Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. The move, which comes just over two weeks since the Russian President ordered the ruthless invasion, allows Russia to deploy battle-hardened mercenaries from conflicts such as Syria without risking additional Russian military casualties. Vladimir Putin (pictured) has today given the go-ahead for up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels to fight in Ukraine Russia's Defense Ministry TV channel shared clips of supposed Syrian combatants ready to 'volunteer' in Ukraine - as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Vladimir Putin for hiring foreign 'murderers' Chilling images later show the group chanting, enthusiastically waving Russian flags and holding up placards adorned with President Putin's face on them Putin today gave the go-ahead for up to 16,000 fighters from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels to fight in Ukraine. It comes as Zelensky warned Russia was hiring Syrian 'murderers' to fight in Ukraine after Moscow permitted fighters from the war-torn nation to join its combat forces. 'It's a war with a very stubborn enemy... who has decided to hire mercenaries against our citizens', the Ukrainian premier said on Friday. 'Murderers from Syria, a country where everything has been destroyed... like they are doing here to us,' he said in a video statement on Telegram. Putin has also asked his defense minister to prepare plans for possible fortification of Russia's western border in response to NATO troop movement in eastern Europe. It will double down on the brutal invasion that the West says has been losing momentum, as Russian troops continue their offensive toward Ukrainian capital Kyiv from the northwest and east. As his invasion of Ukraine enters its third week, the Russian leader also met with his Belarus' counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin on Friday. Putin, speaking at the council from the Kremlin, said they could help volunteers, who he claimed were joining of their own accord rather than for money, to 'get to the conflict zone'. Putin (pictured) has also asked his defense minister to prepare plans for possible fortification of Russia's western border in response to NATO troop movement in eastern Europe At a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (pictured right with First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov) said volunteers in the Middle East were ready to fight in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine 'If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbass, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone,' he added in an exchange that was shown on Russian state television. Shoigu said the 'special military operation' was going to plan before requesting Putin's approval for the use of fighters from the Middle East. Putin claims the 'operation' in Ukraine is essential to ensure Russia's security after the United States expanded NATO's presence up to its borders and supported pro-Western leaders in Kyiv. In response to NATO troop movement in eastern Europe, Putin asked Shoigu to prepare a report on possible fortification of Russia's western border. 'As for the strengthening of our western borders because of the actions adopted by NATO countries... this needs to be considered separately, I ask you to prepare a report,' Putin told his defence minister. NATO countries have deployed thousands of troops to central and eastern Europe in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Moscow has demanded NATO pull back its troops in the east. NATO members Poland and the three Baltic states share a common border with Russia, while Ukraine borders several others - Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. In the council meeting, Shoigu suggested Western-made Javelin and Stinger missiles that were captured by the Russian army in Ukraine should be handed over to Donbass force. He also proposed that other weaponry, including man-portable air-defense systems, known as MANPADS, and anti-tank rocket complexes, should also be sent to the Donbass region - where Russia claims it is operating a limited 'special operation'. 'As to the delivery of arms, especially Western-made ones which have fallen into the hands of the Russian army - of course I support the possibility of giving these to the military units of the Lugansk and Donetsk people's republics,' Putin said. 'Please do this,' he told Shoigu. Shoigu claimed Western arms were flowing into Ukraine in an 'absolutely uncontrolled' way and that the Russian military planned to strengthen its Western border after what he said was a build up of Western military units on Russia's border. 'The general staff is working on, and has almost finished, a plan to strengthen our Western borders, including, naturally, with new modern complexes,' Shoigu said. Ukraine's claims that Belarusian forces were set to invade the country on Friday evening appear to have simmered down as there were no signs that any alleged invasion took place overnight. Kyiv's Centre for Strategic Communications said on Friday that it could not rule out the possibility of Belarusian combatants crossing the border following a meeting in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Lukashenko. 'According to preliminary data, Belarusian troops may be drawn into an invasion on March 11 at 9pm (7pm GMT),' the centre, which was established under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, said in a statement. The centre urged Belarusians to defy any unlawful orders - including an invasion - and to rise up against Lukashenko. The dictator has so-far refused to get his men involved in the war, after commanders reportedly quit rather than join the fighting. Ukraine had also accused fighter jets of staging a 'false flag' attack on Belarus as a pretext to getting Lukashenko's troops involved in the fighting. But by midnight on Friday, it became clear that no Belarusian advance was forthcoming on this day. Meanwhile Ukraine's top security official Oleksiy Danilov said Kyiv was showing restraint towards Belarus, despite the country being used as a launchpad for Moscow's planes to attack, but will fight back if Belarusian soldiers cross the border to join the Russian invasion. 'If one fighter crosses our border, we will fight back,' a defiant Danilov said. Ukraine on Friday claimed that Belarus was 'set to invade Ukraine' with Alexander Lukashenko 's forces poised to cross the border at 9pm (7pm GMT) - though there were no signs the alleged invasion took place overnight Kyiv's Centre for Strategic Communications urged Belarusian soldiers (pictured taking part in military exercises in Brest Province, Belarus, on March 4) to defy any unlawful orders - including an invasion - and to rise up against Lukashenko The warning came hours after two Russian Sukoi Su-25 aircraft reportedly attacked targets in Ukraine and Belarus. The attack appears to be the latest in a string of 'false flag' attacks that Putin has used to try to justify his invasion of Ukraine, launched more than two weeks ago Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts Here's how YOU can help: Donate here to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal 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 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. 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 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 1000 Advertisement Kyiv said two Su-25 bombers crossed into its border from Belarus this afternoon, carried out attacks on Ukrainian soil, then bombed Belarus itself. Defence minister Olexiy Reznikov claimed the attack had been pre-planned by Moscow. 'The purpose of this provocation is to force the current leadership of Belarus into war against Ukraine. Moscow is trying to bind you with blood,' he said. The leaders of Russia and Belarus agreed on Friday that Moscow would supply its smaller neighbour with the most up-to-date military equipment in the near future, the official Belarus Belta news agency said. Belta also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko agreed at their Kremlin meeting on joint steps for mutual support in face of Western sanctions, including on energy prices. It did not provide any further details. Russia widened its offensive in Ukraine on Friday, striking airfields in the west and a major industrial city in the east as well as continuing to hit urban areas such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russia used high-precision long-range weapons to put military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west 'out of action.' The Lutsk strikes killed four Ukrainian servicemen and wounded six, Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said. In Ivano-Frankivsk, residents were ordered into shelters during an air raid alert. Russian airstrikes also targeted for the first time the eastern city of Dnipro, a major industrial hub and Ukraine's fourth-largest city, situated on the Dnieper River. Three strikes hit, killing at least one person, according to Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Heraschenko. In images of the aftermath released by Ukraine's emergency agency, firefighters doused a flaming building, and ash fell on bloodied rubble. Smoke billowed over shattered concrete where buildings once stood. So far, the Russians have made the biggest advances on cities in the east and south - including in Mariupol, the heavily bombarded seaport where civilians scrounged for food and fuel amid a harrowing 10-day-old siege - while struggling in the north and around Kyiv. Meanwhile Kyiv's intelligence service yesterday claimed Vladimir Putin had ordered his troops to create a 'man-made catastrophe' at Chernobyl which he plans to blame on Ukrainian 'saboteurs' in order to justify further escalating his war against the ex-Soviet country, Kyiv's intelligence service has claimed today. Ukrainian spies say the 'terrorist attack' will be carried out by Russian operatives who moved in yesterday amongst a group of 'specialists' sent by Belarus to takeover safety operations at the partially-destroyed nuclear power plant, which was seized by Russian forces in the opening days of the invasion. Belarus sent the team in after Putin's men disconnected Chernobyl from monitoring systems which report the status of its nuclear safety systems to UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and cut power to the plant - meaning water used to keep its fuel rods cooled will no longer automatically top itself up. The Ukrainian warning comes against the backdrop of western governments saying Russia appears to be laying the groundwork to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine - an attack that would also be blamed on Kyiv with the aim of justifying a further increase in violence. For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had 'reached a strategic turning point,' though he did not elaborate. 'It's impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it,' he said via video from Kyiv. He also said authorities were working on establishing 12 humanitarian corridors and trying to ensure food, medicine and other basics get to people across the country. Thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed in the invasion. Emergency crews assess the damage on a residential street in Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it came under bombardment on Friday - having largely been spared attacks so far during the war Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after three airstrikes hit on Friday morning - destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian Chernobyl nuclear power plant, pictured on Thursday March 10 in a satellite image released today. The plant is currently under the control of Russian forces, who have disconnected it from international safety systems Ukraine has warned that radioactive substances could be released from Chernobyl if power is not restored to the plant. Pictured: A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a general view of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, March 7 Pictured: A graphic showing the series of events that led to the explosion in the reactor in Reactor 4 on the night of April 26, 1986 In another potentially ominous development, new satellite photos appeared to show the massive Russian convoy outside the Ukrainian capital had split up and fanned out. Howitzers were towed into position to open fire, and armuored units were seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city, according to Maxar Technologies, the company that produced the images. The 40-mile (64-kilometer) line of tanks and other vehicles had massed outside Kyiv early last week. But its advance had appeared to stall amid reports of food and fuel shortages, muddy roads and attacks by Ukrainian troops with anti-tank missiles. The purpose of the latest move was unclear, though Russia is widely expected eventually to try to encircle the capital. Britain's Ministry of Defense said that after making 'limited progress,' Russian forces were trying to 're-set and re-posture' their troops, gearing up for operations against Kyiv. But Reynolds, the defense analyst, said the move, in part, looked like an attempt by the troops to better protect themselves by dispersing. He said it may indicate the Russians are not ready to surround the city just yet. Repeated rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have taken place along the Belarus border, and the two countries' foreign ministers held talks on Thursday with no apparent progress, while various third countries have also made attempts to broker a stop to the fighting. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the fact that negotiations are taking place so early in the fighting 'might speak to Russian concerns' about the progress of the war. On Wednesday, Ukrainian soldiers traversed snow-dusted fields and woods near Kyiv, rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers slung over their shoulders, in a video recorded by Radio Free Europe. One of them vowed to kill their enemies over the bombing of Mariupol. Gunfire and explosions could be heard, and at one point, shots split the air nearby, and the soldiers dropped to the ground and returned fire. Drone footage posted online on Thursday (pictured) captured the 'Battle of Brovary', named after the north-eastern Kyiv suburb in which it took place. It showed explosions around the Russian tanks, releasing plumes of black and grey smoke into the air, with suburban houses seen on either side of the road The footage showed the Russian tanks being picked off one-by-one as Ukrainian forces ambushed the column with artillery Pictured: Analysis by the Austrian military's R&D department demonstrated the column was part of a larger Russian Battle Tactical Group (BTG). The analysis highlighted different companies within the unit as it came under heavy artillery fire. The analysis showed that the tank column was comprised of Russian BMP-1s (Soviet amphibious landing vehicles), soviet-era T-72 tanks, BTR-82 armoured personnel carriers and a TOS-1 Buratino - the thermobaric launcher. All companies were squeezed into a tight corridor making them easy targets for Ukrainian artillery Aftermath: Destroyed Russian tanks are seen on a main road after the column of military vehicles was ambushed by Ukrainian artillery fire as they drove through Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. Tank tracks can be seen in the mud either side of the road where the drivers of the tanks desperately performed U-turns to escape the death trap A destroyed tank is seen after battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces on a main road near Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022 Ukrainian forces surprised the column that included some 30 tanks and support units, as well as a fearsome TOS-1 thermobaric launcher, forcing survivors to flee and left Russia mourning the loss of another senior commander Pictured: A graphic showing Russian army equipment that has been visually confirmed as destroyed by Oryx - a military blog that is tracking Moscow's losses during its invasion of Ukraine. Oryx says its figures are based on 'photo or videographic evidence. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here' Ukrainian commanders say Russian attacks are underway to the north, west and east of Kyiv and that the city will soon be surrounded as what is sure to be a long and bloody battle for control of it gets underway On the economic and political front, the US and its allies moved to further isolate and sanction Russia by revoking its most favoured trading status. President Joe Biden announced the US will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia as punishment for its invasion and also ban imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The move to revoke to revoke 'most favoured nation' status for Russia was taken in coordination with the European Union and Group of Seven countries. 'The free world is coming together to confront Putin,' Biden said. Stripping most favoured nation status from Russia would allow the US and allies to impose higher tariffs on some Russian imports. Other Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow to Russia, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Putin has insisted Russia can endure sanctions. The United Nations' political chief said the UN has received credible reports that Russian forces are using cluster bombs in Ukraine, including in populated areas. Cluster bombs scatter 'bomblets' over wide areas. Their use against civilians is prohibited under international law. In Syria, Russia backed the government in imposing long, brutal sieges of opposition-held cities, wreaking heavy destruction and causing widespread civilian casualties. That history, along with the siege of Mariupol, has raised fears of similar bloodshed in Ukraine. Temperatures sank below freezing across most of Ukraine and were forecast to hit -13 degrees Celsius (8 Fahrenheit) in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which has come under heavy bombardment. About 400 apartment buildings in Kharkiv lost heat, and Mayor Ihor Terekhov appealed to remaining residents to descend into the subway or other underground shelters where blankets and hot food were being distributed. The bombardment continued in Mariupol, where a deadly strike on a maternity hospital this week sparked international outrage and war-crime allegations. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians from the city of 430,000 have been thwarted by continued attacks, and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk put the number of dead there at more than 1,300. Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the United Nations. Firefighters spray water on a destroyed shoe factory following an airstrike in Dnipro, after the city was hit by three Russian airstrikes Ukrainian troops carrying an array of anti-tank weapons are pictured moving through a forest as they prepare a counter-attack against Russian forces near Kyiv Ukrainian soldiers counter-attack against Russian forces to the west of Kyiv on Thursday, after an attempt by Putin's men to enter the west of the city was ground to a halt Damage is seen at the Institute of Physics in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, north east Ukraine, which houses a nuclear reactor that Russian forces are accused of targeting A steam ship which once carried King George V and the Queen Mother is set to sail again on the River Clyde as the 1933 built ship undergoes a 3.8million restoration. The Princess Royal today made the announcement during a visit to the TS Queen Mary, which is being restored in Glasgow. It was first planned that the ship would be docked at Pacific Quay next to Glasgow Science Centre permanently where the focus would have been on heritage and maritime training. But it has now been decided that the vessel will hopefully sail again on the Clyde by Summer 2024, to support post-pandemic recovery and help boost tourism. Friends of TS Queen Mary, a charity doing the restoration, said it has been 'overwhelmed by the generosity of corporate donors and individuals.' A steam ship which once carried King George V and the Queen Mother is set to sail again on the River Clyde as the 1933 built ship undergoes a 3.8million restoration. The Princess Royal today made the announcement during a visit to the TS Queen Mary, which is being restored in Glasgow (pictured) Iain Sim, chairman of the Friends of Queen Mary, said: 'It is entirely fitting that this announcement should be made by HRH The Princess Royal given the strong family connection TS Queen Mary has, not just to her great grandmother Queen Mary after whom the ship is named, but to the wider Royal Family. 'When Her Royal Highness became Royal Patron of the ship three years ago to the day it re-established that important Royal link. 'TS Queen Mary also has a special place in the hearts and minds of those in Britain and beyond who recall this iconic ship and its unrivalled place in the life of the River Clyde. 'Thanks to the backing of our wonderful supporters, both individual and corporate and those whose hard work is defining this restoration, TS Queen Mary will set sail once again. 'While TS Queen Mary's incredible history can only be understood looking backwards, her legacy must be lived looking forward.' It was first planned that the ship (pictured) would be docked at Pacific Quay next to Glasgow Science Centre permanently where the focus would have been on heritage and maritime training But it has now been decided that the vessel (pictured) will hopefully sail again on the Clyde by Summer 2024, to support post-pandemic recovery and help boost tourism Friends of TS Queen Mary have raised and invested 3.8 million cash and in kind support in the project. There is substantial work required on the ship including new engines. The ship, built at Dumbarton in 1933, carried 13,000 passengers each week in her heyday and was known as 'Britain's Finest Pleasure Steamer.' Famous passengers included the then Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. And other notable passengers on the vessel included the then US first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein and music hall legend Sir Harry Lauder. Robbie Coltrane, who remains patron of the charity, said: 'I always dared to say that we could put engines back in her and sail her down the Clyde like she did in 1933. 'I believed it could be done, and I believed that it should be done. 'TS Queen Mary is as relevant in the 21st Century as she was almost 90 years ago. 'Now she is coming back to reclaim her throne.' Friends of TS Queen Mary have raised and invested 3.8 million cash and in kind support in the project. There is substantial work required on the ship including new engines. Pictured: The charity's patron Robbie Coltrane The celebrities who went to bat for Jussie Smollett after he was convicted of lying to police include Hollywood heavyweights Samuel L. Jackson and Alfre Woodard, who both wrote to the judge and begged him not to jail the actor. Jackson and his wife LaTanya begged the judge not to give Smollett jail time, and said they were 'incredulous' about the entire case against him. 'My husband, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and I have known Jussie since he was a baby living down the street from us in New York City. 'We have often broken bread with this young man as we discussed the right and wrong ways to live. Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya asked the judge to give Smollett leniency. They said they were 'incredulous' that he'd even been convicted The couple said they have 'broken bread' with Smollett many times and that he is 'worth the risk and the investment' 'Jussie comes from a good family who we are proud to know intimately. Jussie has no prior record and has never been violent. 'It is incredulous to Sam and to me that this entire criminal situation even exists. 'Jussie has already suffered a great deal of punishment, as this situation has destroyed his career and impugned his reputation,' LaTanya Jackson wrote in her letter. Woodard appealed to the judge directly, harkening back to when she met Jussie in South Africa and he referred to her as 'Mama Alfre'. 'I am in my 60th decade and when he was a young teen, as we worked together to bring shelter, health and education to South Africa's AIDS orphans, Jussie referred to me as "Mama Alfre". 'It is out of that bond that I make this appeal to you. Judge Linn, I know you and I are "meeting" in a situation that would cause some "Mamas" to lower their eyes. Actress Alfre Woodard referred to Smollett as her 'good friend' who she has known since she was a child Woodard appealed to the judge directly, harkening back to when she met Jussie in South Africa and he referred to her as 'Mama Alfre' Jussie Smollett raises his fist in a Black Power salute as he is led out of court to begin his 150 day sentence, yelling over his shoulder: 'I am not suicidal! I am innocent!' 'But I must tell you, I am proud of this man, whom I know to be an exceptionally kind human being. 'My dear friend Jussie Smollett has been convicted of a nonviolent crime... he has already paid a personal and professional price that few in real power have even for crimes against the health and safety of millions. 'Through it all, Jussie has stood like the good man I know him to be. If he is incarcerated, I fear for his safety,' she said. Organizations including the NAACP and BLM also appealed to the judge. They questioned why the judge would impose jail time for a low level felony like the one Smollett was convicted of. The judge, in passing down his sentence yesterday, slammed Smollett as a 'charlatan' and a 'hypocrite'. He said it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that he was guilty at trial. Smollett's lawyers say they plan to file an appeal. A possessive boyfriend was charged Thursday with fatally shooting an innocent man in Chelsea while gunning for his girlfriends ex-beau, cops said Thursday. Tyrell Rodgers, 28, wounded his romantic rival and killed the mans friend when he opened fire on them outside NYCHAs Fulton Houses near W. 19th St. and Ninth Ave. Tuesday night, police said. Advertisement Police at Ninth Ave. and W. 19th St. in Manhattan where two men were shot, one fatally. The shooting scene is the lower center area of the picture, which is near NYCHA's Robert S. Fulton Houses, (Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News) The NYPDs Regional Fugitive Task Force caught up with Rodgers in the Bronx Thursday. Hes also charged with robbery in a disturbing Feb. 8 incident on the Upper West Side, where cops say he pulled a gun on his 28-year-old girlfriend as she was holding her 1-year-old son, and demanded she give him her cell phone. Advertisement Kenneth Williams (Facebook) Neighbors recalled the murder victim, Kenneth Williams, 31, as the devoted dad of a 1-year-old girl. Rodgers shot him in the abdomen, and struck his girlfriends 27-year-old ex in the right arm, cops said. Rodgers awaits arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. The public inquiry into the Novichok death of Dawn Sturgess will sit for the first time in London at the end of the month. The mother-of-three, 44, died three years ago after spraying the nerve agent on her skin from a discarded bottle in Wiltshire in the belief that it was perfume. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill but survived. The inquest will likely examine possible Russian involvement amid allegations Ms Sturgess died as an indirect result of Kremlin-sponsored poisoning. It comes as British relations with Russia are at their worst for years after Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine. Moscow's intended targets for the Salisbury poisoning were Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer who became a double agent for Britain, and his daughter Yulia. A public inquiry will be held following the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was unwittingly poisoned by Novichok brought to the UK by Russian agents sent to murder Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, Priti Patel has said The counterfeit perfume box found by Mr Rowley in June 2018. Ms Sturgess died after being exposed to the nerve agent that had been discarded in a perfume bottle following the attack A police at a cordon at Rollestone Road, Salisbury, where Dawn Sturgess became ill after coming into contact with Novichok Both poisoned but survived and are now thought to be hiding in the United States. Two suspects in the case were identified by police in 2018 - Alexander Mishkin, who used the name Alexander Petrov while in the UK, and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the alias Ruslan Boshirov. In September last year the Met said Sergey Fedotov, real name Denis Sergeev, was the mystery 'third man' in the plot. Home Secretary Priti Patel granted permission in November 2021 for Ms Sturgess's inquest to be converted into a public inquiry since the Government and Scotland Yard believe Russian agents were responsible for the poisoning. Russian agents spied on Sergei and Yulia Skripal (pictured) five years before the Salisbury novichok poisoning - they survived but tragically Dawn Sturgess died Priti Patel has said announced last year that a public inquiry would be held following the death of Dawn Sturgess Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess (left) and her partner Charlie Rowley (right) fell ill at the flat after she handled a perfume bottle containing the poison. She died in hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on July 8 that year. Mr Rowley was left seriously ill but recovered Demolition work on the former flat of Charlie Rowley and a neighbouring flat after they became contaminated (pictured last year) Former Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey (pictured with wife Sarah) was also taken seriously ill but went on to recover In her letter to coroner Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Patel said: 'I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (Ms Sturgess's family and others affected) through a greater understanding of the circumstances of Ms Sturgess' death and recognise the bravery and resilience of those who responded.' The preliminary hearing will be held at the Royal Courts of Justice on March 25. It comes after the Government announced on Thursday that the inquiry would formally begin from March 17. The 2013 movements of two intelligence officers - who used the aliases Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov (right) - will be investigated during the probe into the death of Dawn Sturgess, Coroner Baroness Hallett said Both of the suspects are spotted at Salisbury train station, where authorities believe they were carrying out reconnaissance mission. Russia claims they were just tourists visiting the famous cathedral's tall spire Officers identified the third Salisbury poisoning suspect as Sergey Fedotov (real name Denis Sergeev) and said he was a Russian national, aged about 50. This image is taken from his travel documents The first hearing is expected to be largely administrative ahead of the evidential sessions, due to be held between London and Salisbury at a later date. Mother-of-three Ms Sturgess died in July 2018 after she came into contact with the nerve agent on a discarded perfume bottle in Amesbury, Wiltshire. It followed the attempted murder of the Skripals and ex-police officer Nick Bailey in March that year. Members of a Russian military intelligence squad are thought to have smeared the deadly nerve agent on Mr Skripal's door handle in Salisbury. Police appealed to the public for information about how the bottle came to be found eight miles from Salisbury and where it was stored between the departure of the Russian would-be assassins from the UK in March and its discovery three months later. The inquiry will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Lord Hughes of Ombersley. The US is leading international war games amongst soldiers from 11 countries in Latvia - a country which borders Russia. The United States European Command (EUCOM) started 'Crystal Arrow 22' military training in the Baltic state with a total of 2,800 troops including forces from 10 other countries on February 18 and the drills will end on March 23. The US sent at least 800 soldiers, 100 machinery units, 22 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and a C-17 military transport plane to the European state - arriving on February 18 at the Lielvarde airfield in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, southeast of Riga. A C-17 military transport plane arriving on February 18 at the Lielvarde airfield in the Vidzeme region of Latvia During the exercises, attack helicopters will fly in Latvian airspace as well as training for moving military equipment on Latvian roads. The war games are intended to help the nations cooperate during potential tactical operations - and include preparations for tasks in wintery conditions. The war games come at a time of heightened tensions between NATO and Russia after the latter's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. NATO nations are currently arming Ukrainian defence forces but have been wary not to involve their own troops for fears that Vladimir Putin could retaliate using nuclear weapons. A series of military exercises of the EUCOM is also planned in May and June. Latvian armed forces and national guard troops are taking part in the exercises and have asked residents to be understanding of the disruption which may be caused. The moves come after experts have been left baffled by the ineptitude of the tactics displayed by Russia's armies in Ukraine. Drone footage has showed a column of tanks getting picked off one-by-one in an ambush carried out by Ukraine's forces. The war games are intended to help the nations cooperate during potential tactical operations - and include preparations for tasks in wintery conditions NATO nations are currently arming Ukrainian defence forces but have been wary not to involve their own troops for fears that Vladimir Putin could retaliate using nuclear weapons Analysts have said Russian tank commanders allowed the Ukrainians to ambush their unit by driving down the middle of a main road leading into Kyiv - and straight into a death trap. By multiple counts, President Vladimir Putin's forces have lost more tanks than are operational in entire German army. The devastating artillery strikes came as Putin's troops inched closer to Kyiv, and saw a number of Russian T-72 tanks and other vehicles destroyed or routed in the surprise attack from the front and back of the convoy. Ukrainian forces surprised the column that included some 30 tanks and support units, as well as a fearsome TOS-1 thermobaric launcher, forcing survivors to flee and left Russia mourning the loss of another senior commander. Drone footage posted online on Thursday (pictured) captured the 'Battle of Brovary', named after the north-eastern Kyiv suburb in which it took place. It showed explosions around the Russian tanks, releasing plumes of black and grey smoke into the air, with suburban houses seen on either side of the road Ukraine's masterful ambush in Brovary piled on the misery of Moscow's invading forces, which has suffered more losses than expected and are now facing freezing temperatures in the coming days. Morale is said to be low. While reports said Russia's 6th tank regiment escaped with relatively minimal casualties, Russian commander Colonel Andrei Zakharov was reportedly killed, and his unit forced into a retreat. The smouldering wrecks of Russian tanks lay on streets after the fighting. Defence experts have been left stunned by Russia's military tactics Pictured: Analysis by the Austrian military's R&D department demonstrated the column was part of a larger Russian Battle Tactical Group (BTG). The analysis highlighted different companies within the unit as it came under heavy artillery fire. The analysis showed that the tank column was comprised of Russian BMP-1s (Soviet amphibious landing vehicles), soviet-era T-72 tanks, BTR-82 armoured personnel carriers and a TOS-1 Buratino - the thermobaric launcher. All companies were squeezed into a tight corridor making them easy targets for Ukrainian artillery Pictured: A graphic showing Russian army equipment that has been visually confirmed as destroyed by Oryx - a military blog that is tracking Moscow's losses during its invasion of Ukraine. Oryx says its figures are based on 'photo or videographic evidence. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here' Franz-Stefan Gady - an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies - said the 'fight shows the danger of not securing urban terrain with adequate infantry plus recon. assets when main elements of a force pass through urban terrain ideally suitable for ambushes.' Rob Lee, a Senior Fellow and military expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, commented on the ambush, saying the Russian armoured force displayed 'very poor tactics'. A personal trainer accused of trying to 'blackmail' a wealthy businessman for 10million by threatening to tell his children about 'degrading' sex acts he performed today told a court she was owed money because of a 'promise' he made to her. Jennifer Mbazira, 50, from Clapham, south-west London, demanded 10million from the man, who she believed was a billionaire, or else she said she would tell his business associates, friends and family he had physically and mentally abused her and used her as a 'human toilet', it is alleged. The court heard she demanded enough money to 'buy a house, start a new business and put her son through university' in exchange for promising to leave him alone and 'not reveal details of our relationship'. Jennifer Mbazira (pictured), 50, claimed her demands were justified to 'redress the wrongs she suffered' after accusing the man, who she met on a dating site called Encounters, of abusing her sexually and mentally She claimed the man, who she had met through a dating website, had previously promised to fund her career in fashion and retail. Today, Ms Mbazira told Portsmouth Crown Court, Hampshire, she first demanded 20,000 from the businessman so she could start a business importing baskets from Morocco and selling them on eBay and Amazon. The mother from London claimed he had mentioned talking to someone who worked for online fashion brand Asos and wanted to back her desired career in that industry. She told the jury: 'He asked about my eBay shop and I talked to him about the things I sold. 'He said to me, 'why don't you make it big?' and I tell him I would love to make it big, I have lots of other ideas, but all my ideas remain as ideas because you need money to bring it forward. 'Of course I had visions and plans but i couldn't, I explained that to him.' Speaking about a later date, Ms Mbazira added: 'He said, 'you are quite good at fashion... I would like to do that for you, I would like to make you big'. 'I have never had someone offer me such generosity, it really felt good.' Ms Mbazira said she kept hold of this promise, but was 'not able to talk about it' with him. She told the court he used the alleged promise to 'control the relationship', adding: 'I felt he was holding on to that offer. He made it clear I needed him and without him I would not get this, he called it a lifestyle. 'He had made this beautiful, wonderful offer but somehow I couldn't talk about it with him... any mention of money he would call me a gold digger.' The couple broke up in February 2018 and in June 2018 she said she finally plucked up the courage to demand 20,000 from him to fund her business, despite telling the court 'I don't like asking people for things'. When the businessman said he did not have that kind of money and did not think it was 'sensible' to be in a business relationship together he instead offered her 1,000 on the condition she didn't ask for money again. Portsmouth Crown Court (pictured) heard how after their 'on and off' relationship of three years ended, Ms Mbazira got back in touch and initially asked the unnamed man to lend her 20,000 to 'support her business' Ms Mbazira said she this was a 'demeaning, horrible, mean thing to say' and texted him back 'through a shaking fit', accusing the businessman of being a 'narcissist' who had been 'taking but not giving' and using her home in Clapham, which she shared with her son, 'as a bed and breakfast' throughout their relationship. She said she had Googled verbal contracts and 'decided I was going to make a claim'. The court previously heard Ms Mbazira sent a series of menacing emails to the businessman several months later, threatening to 'press the button' and send details of their sex life and allegations of abuse to his children if he did not follow through on his 'promise' to fund her business. She eventually demanded 10million from the man, convinced he was a 'billionaire entrepreneur'. But he told her in emails: 'I'm not a billionaire. I had a good career [but] I don't own the companies I work for. I'm not a self-made entrepreneur. 'There is a big difference between a director of a company (me) and the person who owns the company (not me). 'I'm sorry you saw me as a billionaire entrepreneur when it should have been obvious I was not.' The alleged victim, you remains anonymous for legal reasons, previously told jurors: 'To say I felt threatened was an understatement... I was really very, very worried and concerned. 'I didn't have 10million to give her. I'm very comfortable, well off, but I don't have assets of 10million. 'I only had one option, which was to go to the police. 'I seemed to have become a fictional person... I wasn't a billionaire. Far from it. She seemed to have no relationship to the reality and I felt tremendously threatened.' Ms Mbazira denies one charge of blackmail. The trial continues. The Queen will not attend Monday's Commonwealth Service, Buckingham Palace has said. 'After discussing the arrangements with the Royal Household, The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday,' Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The palace gave no reason for her cancellation but said she 'will continue with other planned engagements, including in-person audiences, in the week ahead.' The Queen's decision not to attend the service is understood to be related to concerns over the monarch's comfort getting to and from Westminster, ITV Royal Editor Chris Ship reports. Monday's service at Westminster Abbey what was to have been the 95-year-old's first in-person public engagement since being advised to rest by her doctors following a hospital stay in October and testing positive for Covid-19 on February 20 with 'mild symptoms'. She has spent the last two weeks carrying out only light duties including a handful of virtual audiences. But she returned to in-person engagements this week, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle on Monday and later meeting the head of Britain's armed forces. She now regularly uses a stick and recently commented about her mobility issues, telling two senior military officers during a Windsor Castle reception 'Well, as you can see, I can't move,' when asked how she was. The announcement came as Prince Harry pulled out of Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at the end of the month - but said he 'hopes to visit the Queen as soon as possible'. Queen Elizabeth (pictured, appearing on a videolink virtual audience on Tuesday, March 8) will not attend Monday's Commonwealth Service, Buckingham Palace has said Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, will stand in for his mother at the Commonwealth Service on Monday, Buckingham Palace has announced Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old monarch (pictured meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, March 7) would resume in-person audiences next week The Queen last missed a Commonwealth Day Service in 2013 The Queen last missed a Commonwealth Day service - other than when it was not able to take place during the pandemic - nine years ago. She pulled out of attending the event in 2013 while recovering from a nasty bout of gastroenteritis. Before that, she had not been absent from a Commonwealth Day Observance service for 20 years, the last occasion being when she had flu in 1993. The monarch, 95, who has just recovered from Covid, is to miss Monday's service, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday. The decision is understood to be based on the Queen's comfort travelling to and from and attending the occasion, rather than due to illness. The event usually sees the Queen, who places great importance on her role as head of the Commonwealth, join 2,000 people including high commissioners from across the globe at Westminster Abbey in central London. Since 1977, Commonwealth Day has been celebrated every year on the second Monday in March. In 2006, the Queen attended a Commonwealth Day service in Sydney, Australia - the first time the event was held outside the UK. The Queen sees the Commonwealth as a 'family' and takes pride in its work as 'a force for good in the world'. Although she is its symbolic head, she has no formal powers over the 54 countries and two billion citizens which make up the voluntary association. The modern Commonwealth was established by the London Declaration of 1949, two years after India and Pakistan were granted independence. The Duke of Edinburgh once described his wife as the 'Commonwealth psychotherapist', a nod to her informal talks with heads of government at the bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Queen is not expected to travel to the next CHOGM, having called time on her overseas visits some years ago. The 2020 Commonwealth Day service was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in what was their final official public duty before stepping down as senior working royals. Reporting by PA Advertisement The Queen was set to be joined at the Commonwealth Service on Monday by some 1,500 guests celebrating Britain and the international grouping based around its former colonies. She is the queen and head of state in Britain and 14 other Commonwealth nations or realms around the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada - a group which comprises about a quarter of the world's population. A royal source told MailOnline: 'It's not a great surprise that the Queen won't be attending the Commonwealth Day service. 'Anyone who reaches the age of 95 would find it difficult to stand for long periods of time. She has said herself that she has been finding it difficult to walk lately. She has also been recovering from Covid. 'I don't think anyone really expected her to attend under the circumstances. She has to take things steady. She will be disappointed but it is a sensible precaution.' She is understood to be extremely regretful about missing what would have been her first public appearance since October. People forget that the Queen is almost 96, said one insider. She hasnt hidden the fact that she is now using a walking stick. Mobility is an issue. It is understood that the Queen, who contracted Covid last month, is determined to attend Philips memorial and may even be pacing herself in public so that she can. Officials met at Windsor yesterday to discuss the situation with her and it was felt that discretion was the better part of valour. It was decided it would be impolite and disruptive to make a decision on Monday morning, hours before it was due to go ahead, so they decided to make a decision there and then. She is still expected to attend a service of thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years who died aged 99 last April, at London's Westminster Abbey at the end of March. Senior royals attending the Commonwealth Day service on Monday include Charles' wife Camilla, and Prince William and his wife Catherine. But Buckingham Palace revealed tonight that the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will 'no longer attend, following the duke's positive test for Covid.' 'The Queen's Commonwealth Day message will be distributed in the usual way,' the spokesperson added. Princess Alexandra, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Commonwealth secretary-general Baroness Scotland, high commissioners, ambassadors, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the UK and Commonwealth, faith leaders and more than 600 schoolchildren and young people will attend the service. It will feature the world premiere of the musical piece Beacon Of Brightest Light, inspired by the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, composed by Debbie Wiseman. The event, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Sociey, will begin with a procession of Commonwealth flags and members of the royal family will meet people involved in the service at the end. It will also feature the Queen's Commonwealth Day message. The last Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey was held in March 2020, as coronavirus cases spiralled and just before Britain locked down for the first time. It was also the last royal event attended by the queen's grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan, before their shock departure from the United States. The Queen has made fewer appearances in public during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many of her engagements switching to virtual events. The Queen last met a group of people in public on February 5, the eve of reaching her Platinum Jubilee, when she hosted a reception at her Sandringham home for local charity workers, volunteers and former staff from her Sandringham estate. Concerns were raised about the Queen's health when she spent a night in hospital last October, missed a string of events and was advised to undertake light duties by royal doctors. In November, she pulled out of hosting world leaders at a UN climate change summit in Glasgow, and cancelled an appearance at the Remembrance Day parade due to a bad back. She has been seen using a walking stick for the first time, and heard complaining about mobility issues, even before her Covid diagnosis. She had only returned to something approaching normal working practices just before contracting Covid-19. She had been expected to attend three engagements this month, including the Commonwealth Service. Another one - a diplomatic reception at Windsor Castle - had already been postponed because the government felt the timing was inappropriate. The monarch, who has rarely been seen wearing a mask, wore a face covering to attend the funeral of her husband Prince Philip in April 2021 Commemoration: The Queen wears a face mask as she inspects a bouquet of flowers to be placed at the grave of the Unknown Warrior by her Equerry, Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, in November 2020 Prince Harry will not be returning to the UK later this month to attend the high-profile memorial marking the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex today confirmed he would not be physically attending his grandfather's Service of Thanksgiving, which is due to be held at Westminster Abbey on March 29. Speculation had mounted that Harry would not be in attendance after the Prince started a High Court battle over his taxpayer-funded security arrangements in the UK. The Duke launched legal proceedings after he claimed he did not 'feel safe' in Britain without the protection of Scotland Yard officers, who he believes offer superior protection to privately hired bodyguards. Harry's grandmother still hasn't met the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes' daughter, who was born last June in California and named Lilibet after the Queen's childhood nickname. The developments come on the same day that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle signed an open letter accusing the UK and 'rich' neighbours of pursuing 'self-defeating nationalism' to deny African and Asian countries the right to make their own Covid-19 vaccines. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are campaigning for Britain to work with pharmaceutical companies to waive intellectual property rights on the life-saving jabs in the latest flashpoint between Harry and his home country. In an open letter published this afternoon, Meghan, Harry and other signatories warned 'the pandemic is not over', and blamed 'self-defeating nationalism, pharmaceutical monopolies and inequality' for the entire world not being vaccinated by now. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex today confirmed he would not be physically attending Prince Philip's Service of Thanksgiving , which is due to be held at Westminster Abbey on March 29 The UK has vowed to donate 100million coronavirus vaccine doses within the next year to low-income countries as part of at least 1billion doses due from the G7. There have been a number of African countries, including Nigeria, where more than one million doses were destroyed last year because they expired after low uptake saw just two per cent of the population fully vaccinated in 2021. In December experts said up to one third of Africa's Covid vaccine deliveries remain in storage as rollouts are hindered by jab hesitancy and infrastructure problems. The Sussexes have repeatedly called for global vaccine equity, comparing it to the HIV crisis in 1980s and 1990s, and today their Archewell Foundation joined The People's Vaccine coalition, a group of 90 famous names and organisations demanding vaccines are 'freely available to everyone, everywhere'. The couple have today said that 'world leaders' and 'rich nations' now 'have the responsibility to change the situation' in a letter also signed by Charlize Theron and Ban Ki-Moon. Their letter says: 'The European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland continue to block the lifting of intellectual property rules which would enable the distribution and scale-up of Covid-19 vaccines, test and treatment facilities in the global south. 'The transfer of largely publicly funded vaccine technology and know-how from pharmaceutical corporations would fast track production to a matter of months. Yet still today, a handful of these corporations retain the power to dictate vaccine supply, distribution and price - and the power to decide who lives and who dies'. It comes as the Duke pursues a legal challenge against the Home Office after being told he would no longer be given the 'same degree' of personal protective security when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself. The High Court heard how Harry received 'insufficient information' over a decision to change his tax-payer funded police protection when he is in the UK. The Duke hopes to bring his children to visit from across the Atlantic, but 'does not feel safe' when visiting under the current security arrangements, the court was previously told. He is challenging the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which has delegated powers from the Home Secretary. Harry is arguing that his private protection team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad or access to UK intelligence information which is needed to keep his family safe. Advertisement A San Diego CEO stole a 60-foot yacht in Newport Harbor and took it for a destructive joyride, crashing into dozens of boats and injuring one woman. Joel Praneet Siam, 38, of San Diego, surrendered to the Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol after they boarded the crashed boat after Siam's joyride on Thursday. He was seen being escorted by police wearing an orange life vest and wind-swept hair as he entered the squad car barefoot. He was later transferred into the custody of the Newport Beach Police Department and is booked into the Orange County Jail on a $3million bail. Police charged Siam, who is listed as a CEO on his booking information, with grand theft of a boat and possession of a stolen boat after he vandalized cars and then stole the 60-foot yacht, crashing into dozens of other boats in the bay around 9.30am on Thursday. During his joyride, Siam injured Debora Dolly, who was inside her friend's sailboat when made the initial crash near Amarees boutique and Rusty Pelican restaurant. This is the moment a San Diego CEO stole a 60-foot yacht in Newport Harbor and took it for a destructive joyride, crashing into dozens of boats and injuring one woman Joel Praneet Siam, 38, of San Diego, (pictured) surrendered to the Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol after they boarded the crash boat after Siam's joyride on Thursday. He was taken into custody by the Newport Beach Police Department and booked into the Orange County Jail on a $3million bond 'The entire starboard side came crashing in on me and it didnt stop,' she told CBS Los Angeles. 'It came once, twice, three times, so the whole boat, the poles, the steel, the enclosure - everything was crashing in on me.' Dolly, who suffered a head injury and reported isn't 'seeing very clearly,' was taken to the hospital after the crash. Video footage of the event shows Siam crashing into the boats at a high speed before backing out, almost pulling out the entire dock. W witness Kai McCartney told CBS Los Angeles. He then went to a different area of the harbor and started doing donuts before crashing into another boat. After the second collision, Siam lost control of the boat and drove into the wall, effectively ending his joyride near the Lido Island Bridge. 'He pulled the dock off itself [and] damaged heavily some boats across the way. And it just sounded like boats were sinking,' McCartney told CBS Los Angeles. Siam then back out and began doing donuts in the ocean before hitting another boat and crashing into a wall He stole a boat after vandalism cars and crashed into wall near the Lido Island Bridge. The sheriff's department escorted the boat (pictured) to the Sheriffs Harbor Patrol Division yard in Corona del Mar He stole the boat, that was being serviced, after the worker had stepped off for a moment and took it for a joyride, doing donuts and crashing twice McCartney said the impact was so loud 'everyone came out of their homes' to see what had happened. One witness Denise Schaefer said Siam was 'out of his wits' when she saw him steal the boat, although police have not confirmed if he was under any influence. The owner of the boat, however, said the half-bottle of tequila on board is now gone. Another witness Tareq Risheq told KTLA he saw Siam make his final crash and said he was 'hurt.' 'I saw the guy freaking out and then he was screaming,' Risheq told KTLA. 'He was laying down and the Harbor Patrol and the Coast Guard and the sheriff all came and surrounded him. 'They basically hopped on and went upstairs on the bridge and he was laying down and his feet were barely moving. After a while, they got him up and put him in handcuffs and took him in.' He injured Debora Dolly, who was on a friend's sailboat at the time of the crash. She suffered from head injuries and had to be taken to the hospital Denise Schaefer (left) said she saw Siam steal the boat and said he was 'out of his wits,' while Tareq Risheq (right) said Siam was hurt after the crash and had to be picked up off the ground by police. Siam was later seen walking barefoot with an orange life vest around his neck as police escorted him to the squad car The event took place at Newport Harbor, which has been described as typically being pretty quiet The extent of his injuries are unknown. Authorities have said the boat was being serviced at the time of the theft and the keys were on board. The person serving the boat had stepped away for a moment and that's when Siam stole the boat. The boat will temporarily be held in the Sheriffs Harbor Patrol Division yard in Corona del Mar and did sustain damage on the side and bow of the ship. 'Something with this kind of damage is an isolated incident and is pretty rare,' Lieutenant Ryan Anderson told the Los Angeles Times. He is due back in court on March 14 at Central Jail Court in Orange County, according to his booking information. Advertisement Prince Harry has been slammed for 'snubbing the Queen' after he announced on Friday that he will not be returning to the UK later this month to attend the high-profile memorial marking the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh - but will reportedly head to The Hague for the Invictus Games in April. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex on Friday confirmed he would not be leaving his Montecito mansion to attend his grandfather's Service of Thanksgiving, which is due to be held at Westminster Abbey on March 29. Harry's lawyers have claimed he 'does not feel safe' coming from across the Atlantic under the current security arrangements after he was told he would no longer be given the 'same degree' of personal protection when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself. But the Duke will fly to Europe for a visit to the Netherlands in mid-April for the Invictus Games, a sporting event for military veterans founded by Harry in 2014. Royal biographer Angela Levin has slammed the Duke as a 'child stamping his feet' over the decision and said the move was tantamount to 'blackmail', warning the Duke could use dropping out of major events at the last minute as leverage to secure personal protective security in the UK. Levin warned that although Harry 'has snubbed the Duke of Edinburgh but really he is snubbing the Queen' who is still 'grieving the loss of her husband of 73 years' - and was only given 15 minutes advance notice of Harry's announcement on Friday evening. 'He has got this all wrong. If he comes over for a royal event he gets police protection. What they won't do is, if he goes out with his friends he gets security. He'll probably use this same excuse to try to get out of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations,' she said. 'It's all about "me, me, me" rather than going out of his way for his grandmother and showing her he cares. He's behaving like a child stamping his feet'. Shunning memorial later this month, particularly one which will honour his beloved grandfather, is likely to add further tension to his already strained relationship with his family. The congregation will include family, friends, dignitaries and representatives of many charities and organisations with which the Duke of Edinburgh was associated. The spokesperson added the Duke - who briefly visited the UK at the unveiling of Princess Diana's memorial last July - hopes 'to visit the Queen as soon as possible'. Speculation had mounted that Harry would not be in attendance after the Prince started a High Court battle over his taxpayer-funded security arrangements in the UK. The Duke launched legal proceedings after he claimed he did not 'feel safe' in Britain without the protection of Scotland Yard officers, who he believes offer superior protection to privately hired bodyguards. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex today confirmed he would not be physically attending Prince Philip's Service of Thanksgiving , which is due to be held at Westminster Abbey on March 29 The Duke of Sussex (pictured with Jill and Joe Biden during the Invictus Games Basketball Finals in 2017) will fly to Europe for a visit to the Netherlands in mid-April for the Invictus Games, a sporting event for military veterans founded by Harry in 2014 Last year, Harry returned without his wife Meghan and children Lilibet, aged eight months, and Archie, two, to attend his grandfather's funeral, which was restricted to close family and friends at Windsor due to Covid restrictions Harry quit as a senior working royal in 2020 and moved to the US with Meghan (pictured together) for a new life of personal and financial freedom The congregation at Westminster Abbey (above) will include family, friends, dignitaries and representatives of many charities and organisations with which the Duke of Edinburgh was associated Britain fell silent in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh as a funeral marking his life of service, devotion and duty took place at Windsor on April 17. The guest list was trimmed from 800 to only 30 guests amid Covid restrictions, and the Queen sat alone in mourning for her husband of 73 years. The Queen and her family gathered to say farewell to Philip, who died peacefully and was hailed as the 'grandfather' of the country by his son Andrew. Cutting a solitary figure at the front of the quire, near the altar, the Queen sat apart from her children. There was a space left beside her where Philip would have sat. Last year, Harry returned without his wife Meghan and children Lilibet, aged eight months, and Archie, two, to attend his grandfather's funeral, which was restricted to close family and friends at Windsor due to Covid restrictions. The service of thanksgiving for Philip in just over two weeks' time is a chance for family, friends, dignitaries and representatives of the charities and organisations which Philip was associated with to gather together in tribute to him. But a source close to the Royal Family had said: 'They don't think it's likely he'll come back because it would undermine his position that it's too much of a threat.' It is believed to be even more unlikely that Meghan and their children would return. When the Queen recently announced that it was her 'sincere wish' that Camilla would become Queen when her husband Charles is King, Harry made no publicly supportive comment to his step-mother in response to the news. And the Royal family is braced for further Harry bombshells when he publishes his memoirs, which are said to have been pushed back to the end of this year. Pallbearers carry Prince Philip's coffin for his funeral service at Windsor Castle on April 17 The Queen and Prince Philip in June 2014. The Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9 aged 99 Speculation had mounted that Harry would not be in attendance after the Prince started a High Court battle over his taxpayer-funded security arrangements in the UK. Pictured: Her Majesty and Prince Philip together in Windsor Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accept the President's Award at the 53rd NAACP awards in LA last month and on Friday signed a letter calling for vaccine equity and slamming the UK and EU Harry - one of the Queen and Philip's eight grandchildren - last returned to the UK to unveil the statue of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales on July 1 with the Duke of Cambridge. The brothers have faced a long-reported rift. The day before on June 30, Harry met seriously ill children and young people at a WellChild garden party and afternoon tea in Kew Gardens, west London, after which he was said to have been chased by the paparazzi. Harry quit as a senior working royal in 2020 and moved to the US with Meghan for a new life of personal and financial freedom. The Sussexes' controversial Oprah Winfrey television interview left the monarchy facing a crisis in March 2021 amid the lingering fallout from Megxit. Harry and Meghan accused an unnamed royal of racism against their son Archie before he was born and the institution of failing to help Meghan when she was suicidal. The Queen, 95, who contracted Covid just over two weeks ago, has also just pulled out of attending the Commonwealth Day service at the abbey on Monday. MailOnline understands Her Majesty made the difficult decision not to attend the service because of the monarch's lack of comfort getting to and from Westminster, it was reported. Monday's service at Westminster Abbey what was to have been the 95-year-old's first in-person public engagement since being advised to rest by her doctors following a hospital stay in October and testing positive for Covid-19 on February 20 with 'mild symptoms'. She has spent the last two weeks carrying out only light duties including a handful of virtual audiences. But she returned to in-person engagements this week, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle on Monday and later meeting the head of Britain's armed forces. Harry's grandmother still hasn't met the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes' daughter, who was born last June in California and named Lilibet after the Queen's childhood nickname. Royal author Brian Hoey said he believes that a meeting between the Queen and the newest member of the Sussex family would heal the reported rift between Harry and the other senior royals. He explained: 'I have heard from people I know within the Royal Household, she really would desperately like to see the baby in this way. 'I think she would love to, I wonder whether it is going to happen, I would love to think it could,' he added. Last year, Harry returned without his wife Meghan and children Lilibet, aged eight months, and Archie, two, to attend his grandfather's funeral, which was restricted to close family and friends at Windsor due to Covid restrictions The Duke of Sussex wants to bring his children to visit from across the Atlantic, but 'does not feel safe' when visiting under the current security arrangements, the court was previously told The Sussexes slam UK Government for 'self-defeating nationalism, pharmaceutical monopolies and inequality' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Friday signed an open letter accusing the UK and 'rich' neighbours of pursuing 'self-defeating nationalism' to deny African and Asian countries the right to make their own Covid-19 vaccines. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are campaigning for Britain to work with pharmaceutical companies to waive intellectual property rights on the life-saving jabs in the latest flashpoint between Harry and his home country. In an open letter published this afternoon, Meghan, Harry and other signatories warned 'the pandemic is not over', and blamed 'self-defeating nationalism, pharmaceutical monopolies and inequality' for the entire world not being vaccinated by now. The UK has vowed to donate 100million coronavirus vaccine doses within the next year to low-income countries as part of at least 1billion doses due from the G7. There have been a number of African countries, including Nigeria, where more than one million doses were destroyed last year because they expired after low uptake saw just two per cent of the population fully vaccinated in 2021. In December experts said up to one third of Africa's Covid vaccine deliveries remain in storage as rollouts are hindered by jab hesitancy and infrastructure problems. The Sussexes have repeatedly called for global vaccine equity, comparing it to the HIV crisis in 1980s and 1990s, and on Friday their Archewell Foundation joined The People's Vaccine coalition, a group of 90 famous names and organisations demanding vaccines are 'freely available to everyone, everywhere'. The couple on Friday said that 'world leaders' and 'rich nations' now 'have the responsibility to change the situation' in a letter also signed by Charlize Theron and Ban Ki-Moon. Their letter says: 'The European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland continue to block the lifting of intellectual property rules which would enable the distribution and scale-up of Covid-19 vaccines, test and treatment facilities in the global south. 'The transfer of largely publicly funded vaccine technology and know-how from pharmaceutical corporations would fast track production to a matter of months. Yet still on Friday, a handful of these corporations retain the power to dictate vaccine supply, distribution and price - and the power to decide who lives and who dies'. Despite their stance, critics pointed out that recently the 'ethical' Wall Street investment company backed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ploughed millions into pharmaceutical companies that develop Covid-19 jabs - despite their calls for vaccine makers to share their research and recipes. And last year they announced a partnership with Procter & Gamble, the US pharma and consumer goods corporation. Advertisement The developments come on the same day that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle signed an open letter accusing the UK and 'rich' neighbours of pursuing 'self-defeating nationalism' to deny African and Asian countries the right to make their own Covid-19 vaccines. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are campaigning for Britain to work with pharmaceutical companies to waive intellectual property rights on the life-saving jabs in the latest flashpoint between Harry and his home country. In an open letter published this afternoon, Meghan, Harry and other signatories warned 'the pandemic is not over', and blamed 'self-defeating nationalism, pharmaceutical monopolies and inequality' for the entire world not being vaccinated by now. The UK has vowed to donate 100million coronavirus vaccine doses within the next year to low-income countries as part of at least 1billion doses due from the G7. There have been a number of African countries, including Nigeria, where more than one million doses were destroyed last year because they expired after low uptake saw just two per cent of the population fully vaccinated in 2021. In December experts said up to one third of Africa's Covid vaccine deliveries remain in storage as rollouts are hindered by jab hesitancy and infrastructure problems. The Sussexes have repeatedly called for global vaccine equity, comparing it to the HIV crisis in 1980s and 1990s, and on Friday their Archewell Foundation joined The People's Vaccine coalition, a group of 90 famous names and organisations demanding vaccines are 'freely available to everyone, everywhere'. The couple on Friday said that 'world leaders' and 'rich nations' now 'have the responsibility to change the situation' in a letter also signed by Charlize Theron and Ban Ki-Moon. Their letter says: 'The European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland continue to block the lifting of intellectual property rules which would enable the distribution and scale-up of Covid-19 vaccines, test and treatment facilities in the global south. 'The transfer of largely publicly funded vaccine technology and know-how from pharmaceutical corporations would fast track production to a matter of months. Yet still on Friday, a handful of these corporations retain the power to dictate vaccine supply, distribution and price - and the power to decide who lives and who dies'. It comes as the Duke pursues a legal challenge against the Home Office after being told he would no longer be given the 'same degree' of personal protective security when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself. The High Court heard how Harry received 'insufficient information' over a decision to change his tax-payer funded police protection when he is in the UK. The Duke hopes to bring his children to visit from across the Atlantic, but 'does not feel safe' when visiting under the current security arrangements, the court was previously told. He is challenging the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which has delegated powers from the Home Secretary. Harry is arguing that his private protection team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad or access to UK intelligence information which is needed to keep his family safe. Harry (pictured with Meghan in the UK in 2019) is arguing that his private protection team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad or access to UK intelligence information which is needed to keep his family safe What is Harry's concern with UK security and why is he taking legal action? Are Harry and his family covered by security arrangements currently? He and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, personally fund a private protection team in the US for their family. The Sussexes have signed multimillion-pound deals with Netflix and Spotify, with Harry telling Oprah Winfrey he secured these to pay for his security. But he and Meghan lost their taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK in the aftermath of quitting as senior working royals. Why did they lose their taxpayer-funded security? Their security provision was one of the key issues when the couple announced they wanted to step down in 2020. Speaking to Winfrey during the couple's sit-down interview in 2021, Harry said he was told that 'due to our change of status - we would no longer be 'official' members of the royal family'. He said he had been shocked by this and 'pushed back' on the issue, arguing that there had been no change of threat or risk to the couple. Meghan, during the same interview, told how she had written to her husband's family urging them not to 'pull his security', but had been told 'it's just not possible'. At the time of announcing their stepping back from royal life in 2020, their website suggested the Home Office, through the Metropolitan Police, should continue to provide protection for the couple and Archie, their only child at the time. Have they offered to pay for police protection in the UK themselves? Yes. Harry wants to fund the security himself, rather than ask taxpayers to foot the bill, his legal representative said. He first offered to personally pay for police protection in the UK for himself and his family during the so-called Sandringham summit in January 2020, but the legal representative said that offer 'was dismissed'. The representative added that Harry 'remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer'. Can they use the same security team they have while in the US? Harry's legal representative said that while the couple personally fund a private security team for their family, 'that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK'. His argument is that the US team does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad or access to UK intelligence information which is needed to keep the Sussex family safe. So what is Harry doing about the issue of his UK security now? In September 2021, he filed a claim for a judicial review against the Home Office decision. His legal team said this course of action was taken 'after another attempt at negotiations was also rejected'. They said the judicial review bid is an attempt to 'challenge the decision-making behind the security procedures, in the hopes that this could be re-evaluated for the obvious and necessary protection required'. What threats do the couple see themselves as facing in the UK? In a statement, the legal representative said: 'He remains sixth in line to the throne, served two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and in recent years his family has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats. While his role within the Institution has changed, his profile as a member of the Royal Family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family.' Has the Home Office said anything about the bid for judicial review? A Government spokesperson said: 'The UK Government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements. To do so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security. 'It would also not be appropriate to comment on the detail of any legal proceedings.' Will the couple return to the UK if the issue is not resolved in the way they would like? A spokesperson for the duke has said that, in the absence of what they consider to be the necessary protection, 'Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home'. They insisted the UK 'will always be Prince Harry's home', adding that it is 'a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in'. But they added: 'With the lack of police protection, comes too great a personal risk.' Advertisement Queen will NOT be at Commonwealth Service: Her Majesty, 95, asks Prince Charles to stand in at Westminster Abbey on Monday - but Palace says she will hold in-person audiences next week By Lauren Lewis for MailOnline The Queen will not attend Monday's Commonwealth Service, Buckingham Palace has said. 'After discussing the arrangements with the Royal Household, The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday,' Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The palace gave no reason for her cancellation but said she 'will continue with other planned engagements, including in-person audiences, in the week ahead.' The Queen's decision not to attend the service is likely to be interpreted as a precautionary measure by royal commentators and a practical move, rather than a new health issue. Monday's service at Westminster Abbey what was to have been the 95-year-old's first in-person public engagement since being advised to rest by her doctors following a hospital stay in October and testing positive for Covid-19 on February 20 with 'mild symptoms'. She has spent the last two weeks carrying out only light duties including a handful of virtual audiences. But she returned to in-person engagements this week, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle on Monday and later meeting the head of Britain's armed forces. She now regularly uses a stick and recently commented about her mobility issues, telling two senior military officers during a Windsor Castle reception 'Well, as you can see, I can't move,' when asked how she was. The announcement came as Prince Harry pulled out of Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service at the end of the month - but said he 'hopes to visit the Queen as soon as possible'. Queen Elizabeth (pictured, appearing on a videolink virtual audience on Tuesday, March 8) will not attend Monday's Commonwealth Service, Buckingham Palace has said Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, will stand in for his mother at the Commonwealth Service on Monday, Buckingham Palace has announced Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old monarch (pictured meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, March 7) would resume in-person audiences next week The Queen was set to be joined at the Commonwealth Service on Monday by some 1,500 guests celebrating Britain and the international grouping based around its former colonies. She is the queen and head of state in Britain and 14 other Commonwealth nations or realms around the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada - a group which comprises about a quarter of the world's population. A royal source told MailOnline: 'It's not a great surprise that the Queen won't be attending the Commonwealth Day service. 'Anyone who reaches the age of 95 would find it difficult to stand for long periods of time. She has said herself that she has been finding it difficult to walk lately. She has also been recovering from Covid. 'I don't think anyone really expected her to attend under the circumstances. She has to take things steady. She will be disappointed but it is a sensible precaution.' She is still expected to attend a service of thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years who died aged 99 last April, at London's Westminster Abbey at the end of March. Senior royals attending the Commonwealth Day service on Monday include Charles' wife Camilla, and Prince William and his wife Catherine. But Buckingham Palace revealed tonight that the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will 'no longer attend, following the duke's positive test for Covid.' 'The Queen's Commonwealth Day message will be distributed in the usual way,' the spokesperson added. Princess Alexandra, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Commonwealth secretary-general Baroness Scotland, high commissioners, ambassadors, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the UK and Commonwealth, faith leaders and more than 600 schoolchildren and young people will attend the service. It will feature the world premiere of the musical piece Beacon Of Brightest Light, inspired by the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, composed by Debbie Wiseman. The event, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Sociey, will begin with a procession of Commonwealth flags and members of the royal family will meet people involved in the service at the end. It will also feature the Queen's Commonwealth Day message. The last Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey was held in March 2020, as coronavirus cases spiralled and just before Britain locked down for the first time. It was also the last royal event attended by the queen's grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan, before their shock departure from the United States. The Queen has made fewer appearances in public during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many of her engagements switching to virtual events. The Queen last met a group of people in public on February 5, the eve of reaching her Platinum Jubilee, when she hosted a reception at her Sandringham home for local charity workers, volunteers and former staff from her Sandringham estate. Concerns were raised about the Queen's health when she spent a night in hospital last October, missed a string of events and was advised to undertake light duties by royal doctors. In November, she pulled out of hosting world leaders at a UN climate change summit in Glasgow, and cancelled an appearance at the Remembrance Day parade due to a bad back. She has been seen using a walking stick for the first time, and heard complaining about mobility issues, even before her Covid diagnosis. She had only returned to something approaching normal working practices just before contracting Covid-19. She had been expected to attend three engagements this month, including the Commonwealth Service. Another one - a diplomatic reception at Windsor Castle - had already been postponed because the government felt the timing was inappropriate. The monarch, who has rarely been seen wearing a mask, wore a face covering to attend the funeral of her husband Prince Philip in April 2021 Commemoration: The Queen wears a face mask as she inspects a bouquet of flowers to be placed at the grave of the Unknown Warrior by her Equerry, Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, in November 2020 What DO they do every day? Harry and Meghan solemnly pledged themselves to a 'life of service' and 'global action' after their Oprah interview - alongside their lucrative work for Netflix and Spotify. So how's it all going? Prepare to be underwhelmed! By Richard Kay and Barbara Mcmahon for the Daily Mail With its bucking broncos, yee-hawing cowboys and pitchers of cold beer, the Fort Worth Stockyards is a rowdy and testosterone-fuelled throwback to the old days of the American West. While today tourists throng the mule and horse-barns that were once the last 'civilised' outpost for livestock traders on Texas's famous Chisholm Trail, breeders compete for trophies for their longhorn cattle and prize bulls. Last weekend, however, there was another spectacle at the first night of its championship rodeo a Stetson-wearing Prince Harry. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speaks at 'Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World' in Inglewood, California, on May 2, 2021 Prince Harry (top centre), 37, was seen attending the Stockyards Rodeo event in Fort Worth, on Saturday, where he went mostly unrecognised Judging by the photographs posted online before they were mysteriously deleted the Duke of Sussex did not look entirely comfortable. Perhaps it was the gushing posts that appeared on Instagram. 'We get a lot of rodeo royalty but this is the first prince I've seen,' enthused Cory Melton, a muscular wrangler who breeds bucking bulls. Yet his genial observation which also claimed that Harry was going to enter the bull-riding competition but had lost his 'rigging bag', an essential piece of rodeo kit was swiftly removed. As, too, was a message brimming with Southern hospitality from rodeo secretary Cindy Reid, in which she generously thanked Harry for his visit. No doubt some will wonder if an event reeking of 'toxic masculinity' might sit uneasily with Harry's image as the self-appointed Prince of Woke. But was there, perhaps, another explanation why he might not be pleased to see pictures of himself at the so-called 'Cowtown coliseum'? The visit coincided almost exactly with the first anniversary of his and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview from which, we were assured, a 'global wave of service' would be unleashed by the couple. An appearance at a kitsch tourist attraction can hardly be described as an illustration of their 'shared commitment' to a life of good works. Indeed, the embers of their incendiary claims about cruelty, neglect, snobbery and racism aimed at the heart of the Royal Family are still glowing. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, accept the President's Award at the 53rd The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People Image Awards More than 50 million people around the world including 12 million in Britain and 17 million in the U.S. tuned in to hear Meghan discuss how royal life had made her suicidal, blame sister-in-law Kate for making her cry at a bridesmaids' dress-fitting and, infamously, allege that a member of the Royal Family had questioned what colour her son Archie's skin would be. The repercussions are still being felt as are the memorably damning soundbites: 'Were you silent, or were you silenced?'; 'My family literally cut me off financially'; and complaints that Archie 'won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title'. More significantly, 12 months after the so-called 'interview of the decade', we are entitled to ask what on earth a couple who set themselves the loftiest of standards has actually been doing since apart from overseeing the stream of platitudes and wearily right-on slogans that are issued with monotonous regularity from the luxury of their nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion? Take, for example, their attendance at last month's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Awards, where they accepted the President's Award that recognises special achievement and distinguished public service. Over the years this venerable organisation set up in 1909 in response to violence against black people has handed its most prestigious award to some significant individuals, who have done much to raise the aspirations of America's black population, from boxer Muhammad Ali to preacher-turned-politician Jesse Jackson and former U.S. Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Prince Harry was seen with a therapist doing exercises to improve his mental health on The Me You Can't See with Oprah Winfrey No wonder questions have been asked about the frankly modest achievements, by comparison, of the duke and duchess. Yet according to the citation, they received this honour for 'heeding the call to social justice' and 'joining the struggle for equity' in America and around the world. Doubtless it was merely a coincidence that the media for the awards was organised by Sunshine Sachs, the New York-based public relations outfit that has been advising Meghan since her days as an actress. Activism, of course, is part of the identity the couple have moulded for themselves since abandoning their royal lives for California. As the website for the Archewell Foundation, their American-registered charity, grandly proclaimed: 'Each of us can change our communities. All of us can change the world.' But for all this and other high-minded declarations, the 'shared purpose and global action' has not quite materialised. For instance on her 40th birthday last August Meghan launched her '40 x 40' project, a scheme which asked 40 of the duchess's friends to give 40 minutes of their time to advise women how to get back into the workplace after the Covid-19 pandemic. In a video with actress Melissa McCarthy, Meghan promised the scheme would have a 'ripple' effect across the world as each person asked 40 of their friends to take part and so on. But what has it accomplished? According to reports, the initiative has since gone rather quiet. There is one area, of course, where there has not been silence the various legal battles they have fought with newspapers and broadcasters including The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the BBC, and more recently, the Home Office, which Harry is suing over the loss of their police protection in the UK, for which he has offered to pay. It is only fair to point out that the main event in the Sussexes' lives in this 12-month period has been the birth last June of their second child, Lilibet, and Meghan has therefore spent much of the past year on maternity leave. The Queen has still not met the great-granddaughter given her family nickname and it is not clear when that situation will change. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey. The couple made a number of inflammatory allegations We now know Harry and Meghan will not attend the thanksgiving service for Prince Philip later this month and their presence at June's Platinum Jubilee celebrations which coincides with Lilibet's first birthday is increasingly uncertain. In fact, relations between the Sussexes and the Royal Family have barely improved since the Oprah 'truth-bombs'. If anything, they have worsened. Harry's revelation that he has collaborated with a ghostwriter on a tell-all memoir, due out this autumn, has spread a deep anxiety across the royal household. A well-placed source this week told the Mail that the Royal Family were 'absolutely dreading' its publication. 'God knows what one-eyed nonsense will be in it,' the source said. The fear that its contents could overshadow the Queen's anniversary is more intense than those that surrounded Prince Andrew before he settled his sex-abuse lawsuit. We understand that recent reports that Harry and his father are in frequent contact are wide of the mark. Prince Charles is often unavailable when his son calls and, because he does not have a mobile phone, Harry relies on officials to patch him through when he does ring. And that is often not possible. This is an extraordinary case of history repeating itself. At the height of the marital differences between Harry's parents, Princess Diana was similarly thwarted in phone calls to both Charles and other senior royals. And in both cases there has been an issue of trust. Thirty years ago, Charles never forgave Diana for leaking intimate family secrets to author Andrew Morton. Now, Palace aides believe Harry could damage Charles's hopes of making his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, his queen if he raises new questions about her role in the break-up of his father and mother's marriage. Pointedly, Harry was silent when the Queen announced her stated wish that Camilla should be her son's queen when the time comes rather than a mere princess consort as was originally planned. Meghan Markle marked her 40th birthday sharing a video message featuring Melissa McCarthy and a cameo from Prince Harry There has been at least one phone call between Charles and his son where voices were raised. As a friend of Charles says: 'Simply put, the worry is how on earth will things be resolved if Harry is unkind about Camilla.' As for Harry's relationship with his brother, that has still not recovered from the Oprah interview and the allegations (still being investigated) that Meghan had bullied royal staff, something that Meghan's lawyers have denied. Whether the Duchess of Sussex ever returns to Britain remains to be seen. She was absent from Prince Philip's funeral because of her pregnancy and did not accompany Harry to the unveiling of his mother's statue in Kensington Gardens in July. Glimpses even in the U.S. have been rare. Her first post-Oprah appearance was in the trailer for The Me You Can't See, an American documentary series on mental health featuring Harry, the singer Lady Gaga and actress Glenn Close. Then there was her toe-curling turn on the Ellen DeGeneres show where she took part in a skit, drinking from a baby's bottle and singing a song about kittens. Television is, of course, crucial to the Sussex brand. Their biggest commercial deal on moving to the U.S. was a 75 million contract to make shows for Netflix. And what do they have to show for that? Precious little so far. Only two series are thought to be in the pipeline Heart Of Invictus about Harry's initiative for wounded warriors, the Invictus Games, and an animated show titled Pearl, the adventures of a 12-year-old girl inspired by influential women in history. Meghan and David Furnish, Sir Elton John's husband, are producers. So what else have they done since that Oprah spectacular? Have they achieved even one of their ambitions, or has it been a year of living aimlessly? The answer, according to our audit, suggests accomplishments have been scant. Two weeks after Oprah, Harry was unveiled as 'chief impact officer' for mental 'wellness' app BetterUp, described as 'a platform for coaching and mental fitness' in the workplace. On May 3, the duke was a participant on stage at the 'Vax Live' awareness concert at the SoFi stadium in California with artists such as Jennifer Lopez and the Foo Fighters and which called on world leaders to make Covid vaccines available all over the world. A fortnight later he was happily filmed going through therapy on an Apple TV+ series that focused on the importance of mental health. Four days after the birth of their daughter, Meghan published her children's book The Bench, with hundreds of copies given away free to schools and children's libraries across the U.S. Although it became a New York Times bestseller within a week of release, overall sales are said to be disappointing. Certainly, it has not been flying off shelves at the couple's local book store, Tecolote in Montecito. A store saleswoman was reported saying: 'Meghan has never come into the shop.' On July 1, Harry was in London for the flying visit to unveil, alongside William, the Princess Diana statue outside Kensington Palace. Then, 18 days later, came the bombshell announcement from Penguin Random House of his autobiography with his grandiose statement: 'I'm writing this not as the prince I was born [sic] but as the man I've become.' World events rarely pass without some kind of intervention from the Sussexes. Thus, on August 17, with Kabul in crisis following the return of the Taliban, they issued a statement about the 'many layers of pain' in Afghanistan while also pontificating on the humanitarian disaster in Haiti following an earthquake. So far so predictable. Making the cover of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People issue last September was surely validation for all their endeavours. Next stop New York, where then mayor Bill de Blasio pulled out all the stops for the couple's 'royal' visit. On stage at the Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour broadcast from Central Park, on September 25, they held hands. On stage at the Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour broadcast from Central Park, on September 25, the former working royals held hands Intriguingly, their participation came after Global Citizen was named Organisation of the Year at the 2021 American Business Awards nominated by none other than . . . Sunshine Sachs. Six weeks later, the couple were back in the Big Apple for the November 11 Salute to Freedom gala, which honoured military veterans and to which Harry wore his insignia as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), a medal he received from the Queen. That same month, Meghan was criticised for using her royal title to lobby U.S. senators on the issue of paid parental leave. Then came the couple's Christmas card showing the first photo of their daughter and its cheesy message: 'Archie made us a Mama and Papa, and Lili made us a family.' In February, Harry opened up to BetterUp about how he sets aside 45 minutes a day to 'build resilience' and meditate. He admitted to 'burning the candle at both ends' before he learnt how to embrace what he described as 'inner work'. All in all, the couple's schedule hardly compares with the daily work of the royals they left behind. So might this indicate they have been busier in their private lives? The evidence does not suggest so. They have shared information about Archie's chicken coop and in April there was footage of them playing with their new dog Pula on the beach in Montecito. Last month, accompanied by his cousin Princess Eugenie, Harry was photographed at the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, American football's blue riband event. And on February 22, Harry, Meghan, Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were pictured dining out in Santa Barbara. But sightings in their neighbourhood are rare. Harry has been spotted pootling on an electric bike while being trailed by his security team and also at the wheel of his Range Rover. He has also been seen buying groceries while Meghan was spotted in December carrying bags from the Pierre LaFond delicatessen. They did attend the town's July 4 parade. But according to Sharon Byrne of the Montecito Association, 'no one knew it was them'. And they contributed as sponsors for Montecito's Christmas parade. Prince Harry's last major solo outing was at the Super Bowl last month. He is pictured in the Rams' locker room following their victory With so few local appearances, rumours circulated that they may even have moved out but this does not appear to be the case. Certainly, locals are protective of their celebrity residents. For example when reporter Richard Mineards revealed that Archie had taken his first riding lesson, he did not name the upmarket stables he attended. But it's always been that way in Montecito. There are no 'maps to the stars' or tour buses past their homes, as in Beverly Hills. A neighbour who has lived near the Sussexes' property said he had never clapped eyes on them. 'I've only ever seen their security,' he said. The bodyguards who constantly patrol the couple's perimeter fence in golf carts are far more visible. Only Harry and Meghan can say whether a year that began with the hype and rage of their Oprah interview has turned out quite how they intended. On the face of it, however, it doesn't seem to have added up to much. Committed to his story until the very end, Jussie Smollett protested 'I AM INNOCENT! I AM NOT SUICIDAL!' as he was led away in handcuffs to begin his 150-day jail sentence yesterday for lying to police about being the victim of a racially motivated hate crime. And while the 39-year-old actor kept a straight face throughout his outburst, it sent many others into fits of laughter. Smollett's performance in the courtroom is now being mercilessly mocked online, with some questioning who the actor thinks is out to get him. 'Bro, chill out. You're not Jeffrey Epstein. You only got a measly 150 days,' one Twitter user said, referring to Epstein's suspicious jail suicide which conspiracy theorists have long thought was a murder to prevent him from ratting out other high profile pedophiles. Jussie's legal team say they are desperately worried about his safety. They have not, despite requests, clarified who they think wants to hurt him, or why. 'The only thing that made my eyes roll harder than a Twilight movie was Jussie Smollett declaring how totally *not* suicidal he is. Yeah dude - nobody's gonna Epstein you. Also, the fact that THAT is your try-hard goal is kind of f****d in the head,' said one Twitter skeptic. '#JussieSmollett is flattering himself WAY too much claiming he's gonna get Epstein'd, why does the dude love lying so much? You only got 150 days man, count your blessings and thank God,' another said. On Friday, the court agreed for Jussie to serve out his time in protective custody, away from the other inmates. Jussie Smollett, seen in his new mugshot, held his fist up in defiance as he was taken from the courtroom to the Cook County jail Thursday Some critics have now suggested that Smollett - who was convicted of staging a hate crime - may stage another attack in jail. 'How long til he stages a hate crime or fake murder attempt in prison now?' one person quipped. As he was led out of court yesterday, Smollett whipped off his COVID mask to speak. At first he was calm, sitting at the table where he had been all day, with his hands clasped. ''Your honor, I'd just like to say that I am not suicidal. That's what I would like to say.' Judge James Linn, sounding confused, said: 'Ok...' Jussie continued, rising to his feet and pointing his finger in the air. 'I am not suicidal! Jussie Smollett raises his fist in a Black Power salute as he is led out of court to begin his 150 day sentence, yelling over his shoulder: 'I am not suicidal! I am innocent!' 'I am not suicidal! I am innocent and I am not suicidal! 'If I did this, I stuck my fist in the fears of black Americans in this country for over 400 years. And the fears of the LGBTQ community. 'Your honor I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this! And I am not suicidal. If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that. 'I respect you, your honor, I respect your decision.... jail time? I am not suicidal.' His attorneys then asked the judge twice to delay the jail term on the grounds that they plan to file an appeal. Judge Linn, growing frustrated after the hours-long hearing, said: 'No, no, no...this happens right here, right now.' At that, Jussie grew even more animated. As he was led out, Smollett yelled out with his fist in the air: 'I AM NOT SUICIDAL! I AM NOT SUICIDAL! I AM INNOCENT! I COULD HAVE SAID THAT I WAS GUILTY A LONG TIME AGO!' Some said it was one of the Empire actor's best performances. President Joe Biden has turned to a bevy of TikTok influencers to help him battle Russia's propaganda machine about its invasion of the Ukraine. The White House held a zoom briefing for about 30 popular internet figures, who promptly took to their social media accounts to talk about what they learned. They included Aaron Parnas, who has 1.2 million followers and is the son of Rudy Giuliani's indicted former associate Lev Parnas. 'I just got off of a zoom call with the White House about the situation in Ukraine,' Kahlil Greene, who calls himself a 'Gen Z historian' and has 540,000 followers, posted in a video to his social media accounts. He said the officials on the briefing call encouraged them 'as content creators to use our platform to highlight different issues as they arise, especially when mainstream media fails to do so.' According to audio obtained by the Washington Post, Psaki also said on the call that Russia hacked the 20165 election, when Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump. 'If you look back at 2014, and frankly even 2016, when Russia invaded Ukraine and then in 2016, when they, you know, of course, hacked our election here, we did not do that, we did not declassify information, she said. The administration's move comes as it battles a wave of misinformation out of Moscow where Vladimir Putin is justifying the invasion by making false claims about the Ukraine. All the 'digital creators' on the White House briefing game a similar summary: that the administration was emphasizing its work with allies, the assistance it was offering the Ukraine and how it was trying to prevent a bigger war. Kahlil Greene, who calls himself a 'Gen Z historian,' posted about what he learned on a briefing call the White House held with social media influencers Aaron Parnas, the son of Lev Parnas, was also on the call and praised the White House for the work it was doing to counter Russian propaganda Marcus J. DiPaola tweeted about his experience on the White House briefing. 'The number one message the White House has is U.S. unity with partners & allies. The number two message is to prevent a more expansive war,' he noted. National Security Council staffers and White House press secretary Jen Psaki conducted the briefing, according to the Washington Post. Aaron Parnas, who said he has family in the Ukraine and whose father Lev assisted Trumps plan to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump's rivals, discussed the White House talking points on the call in a video he posted to his social media accounts. 'The United States has provided a significant amount of militaristic as well as humanitarian aid to Ukraine,' he said, citing White House officials. 'Next we are seeing the United States sanctions on Russia work. Russia's economy is in freefall, the ruble is at its lowest point in a very long time, and the country is on the brink of default. And finally, the United States is publishing a significant amount of previously classified information that was since declassified in order to debunk Russian misinformation and keep the public and Ukraine aware of what's happening.' President Joe Biden turned to TikTok stars to help him counter Russian online influence on its invasion and White House press secretary Jen Psaki briefed the social media stars Both sides have used social media to spread their messages in the Russian-Ukraine conflict: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has posted defiant videos on Facebook to counter Russia rumors he left Kyiv (above) VICE News uncovered a coordinated campaign to pay Russian TikTok influencers to post videos pushing pro-Kremlin narratives about the war in Ukraine where popular social media influencers shared Moscow's propaganda even after TikTok banned new uploads from users located inside Russia. Parnas noted on Twitter that 'Russia is literally paying people to make content on TikTok and elsewhere. Beware of the propaganda out there, and know that Russia is desperate because they are losing this war.' Both sides have used social media to spread their messages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has posted defiant videos on Facebook to counter Russia rumors he left Kyiv. Journalists and others in country have posted photos and video of the damage being done by Russian forces. The White House briefing was led by Matt Miller, a special adviser for communications at the White House National Security Council, and Psaki, the Post reported. Gen Z For Change, a nonprofit advocacy group, helped identify the content creators invited to participate. The information was targeted at the younger generation. Jules Terpak, an influencer who was on the briefing call, tweeted that 'TikTok is the media app that many young people click first after unlocking their phones. Police have launched an urgent manhunt for a killer in the Midlands after a man in his 50s was stabbed to death in the middle of the day. Officers admitted the motive for the attack remains a mystery. The man was stabbed to death in Birmingham and is believed to be in his early 50s. He died in Grazebrook Croft, Bartley Green, southwest Birmingham, at 11.20am on Friday. West Midlands Police said officers were working to identify the man and had launched a search for his killer. Police have launched an urgent manhunt for a killer in the midlands after a man in his 50s was stabbed to death in the middle of the day Police at the scene in Bigwood Drive, Bartley Green, in southwest Birmingham today 'At this time, we do not know why the man was attacked,' the force said in a statement. 'Searches are underway for his attacker.' Grazebrook Croft and the adjacent Bigwood Drive were taped off after the murder and will be closed until at least Saturday, police said. Grazebrook Croft and the adjacent Bigwood Drive were taped off after the murder and will be closed until at least Saturday, police said 'Residents will be allowed into or out of their homes but they will be disrupted and may need to wait to be escorted through the area,' the force added. Officers were questioning locals, reviewing CCTV images, and collecting drone footage. Specialist search teams were also deployed. Advertisement President Joe Biden promised to welcome refugees from war-ravaged Ukraine with 'open arms' on Friday even as complaints surface that his administration is not doing enough to rescue people fleeing the violence. At the White House, he unveiled a new round of sanctions on Russia and said help would continue to flow to Ukraine. 'And I also want to be clear though: We will make sure Ukraine has weapons to defend against an invading Russian force,' he said. 'We will send money and food and aid to save the Ukrainian people. And I will welcome the Ukrainian refugees. 'We should welcome them here with open arms if they need access.' He repeated the promise when he spoke to Democratic lawmakers later in the day, but offered no further details. His words will seem hollow to critics who say his administration is not doing enough to help Ukrainians find the support of relatives already in the U.S. And it comes amid warnings that eastern Europe is already feeling the strain of 2.5 million refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. This week Maryna Seifi, a Ukrainian-American living in California, told CBS News that the U.S. embassy in Poland had thwarted her efforts to bring two teenage relatives to safety. President Joe Biden on Friday promised to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the U.S. 'with open arms if they need access' Refugees arriving in Krakow, Poland, after fleeing Russian attacks in Ukraine. Some 2.5 million people have fled the country Families flee the major port city of Odessa, which remains under Ukrainian control, as Russian forces close in Maryna Seifi told CBS News that her Ukrainian family was turned away by the U.S. embassy when she asked for help She described how she flew to Poland to meet her sister Victoria, 19, and nephew Ilya, 16, as they fled the southern port city of Odessa and crossed the border. 'They were able to jump on the train and stay tight. There were a lot of people trying to get out,' she said. She told them to stay there and wait for her and her husband to arrive. 'You sit there and you wait 10 days, 20 days, until your auntie comes to pick you up,' she said. They reunited seven days ago on the train platform in the Polish city of Przemysl. She had thought the difficult part was over but it had only just begun. 'When we went to the American embassy, they just turned us away,' Seifi said. 'They have no sympathy, no understanding. Even when I say I'm an American citizen that wants to take my kids.' The State Department says Ukrainians will only be considered for resettlement in the U.S. if they have fled to a country that is also unsafe. Seifi traveled to Poland to rescue her sister Victoria, 19, and nephew Ilya, 16, after they fled the southern port city of Odessa and crossed the border. But she has not been able to get them to the U.S. as they don't have visas 'When we went to the American embassy, they just turned us away,' Seifi told CBS News this week Seifi's sister and nephew fled a city that is preparing for war, with key positions reinforced with sandbags Anti-tank obstacles have been placed across key intersections in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa Thehe road to Odessa. Two men carry a corpse in a bodybag in Mykolaiv, which has been under Russian attack for days It means the Biden administration may have extended protections for Ukrainians already in the country - extending them an 18-month Temporary Protected Status to prevent them being deported back to a war zone - but has not helped their relatives. It means Ukrainians at home are unable to rely on the support of some 350,000 Ukrainian immigrants in the U.S. 'When the leaders of the country tell you, "We stand with you. We support you," this is not actual support,' said Seifi. 'Actual support is when you help me to bring my family. They don't have any place to go. They have to go with me.' To add to their difficulties, her sister lost her passport in scramble to escape Odessa. 'Poland let her in without even checking the documents,' said Seifi. 'They allow people in without even a birth certificate because there is a humanity. Why America cannot be human?' Poland is already struggling to cope, as hundreds of thousand of people make their way out of Ukraine. In Warsaw, the biggest temporary reception centre was about 70% full by Thursday. Refugees now make up over 10% of the Polish capital's population, Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski said, according to Reuters. Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after three airstrikes hit on Friday morning - destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian In Krakow, Poland's second-largest city, one NGO described the situation at the train station as "tragic". 'There is nowhere to direct the refugees. They are stressed and confused, all kinds of help is needed, and above all, premises,' tweeted Fundacja Brata Alberta, an NGO that in normal times helps individuals with mental disabilities. Friday, the 16th day of the war, brought more of the same for Ukraine. Russian forces continued their bombardment of key Ukrainian cities, although a huge column of forces remained stationed outside Kyiv where it has been stalled for days. Biden announced he - in partnership with other allies and partners - was revoking Russia's most-favored-nation status, making it harder for the Russian economy to trade with the U.S. 'Were also taking a further step of banning imports of goods from several signature sectors of the Russian economy, including seafoods, vodka, and diamonds,' he said. 'And were going to continue to squeeze Putin. The G7 will seek to deny Russia the ability to borrow from leading multinational institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. 'Putin is an aggressor - is the aggressor. And Putin must pay the price.' A 12-year-old girl was clinging to life Friday after she was rammed by a Mercedes Benz as she walked around a double-parked car at a Washington Heights corner, cops said Friday. The child was thrown several feet in the air after she was hit on Audubon Ave. and W. 170th St. about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, police sources said. Advertisement The girl was in the crosswalk but did not have a green light when she stepped in front of a double parked van. At the same moment, the Mercedes driver, who had the light, zipped around the double parked van and slammed into the child, sending her flying. Advertisement First responders found the child, who is from the Bronx, sprawled out in the street suffering from a massive head injury. She was rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she remained in critical condition Friday. The 40-year-old man driving the Mercedes remained at the scene. No charges were immediately filed. Nothing about the woman in Flat 16 betrayed the depths of her isolation. Even Sheila Seleoane's nearest neighbours were blind to the poignant truth: that this prim medical secretary didn't have a single friend or family member close enough to her to care for her welfare. On weekday mornings, when it seemed that she was heading off for work, she wished everyone she saw a cheery good day. In the evening, when she returned to her fourth-floor flat in the bustling South London community of Peckham, she was equally affable. 'She was always well put-together, and wore a smart black coat, black trousers and black court shoes, with her hair tied in a bun,' recalls a young professional woman who lived opposite Miss Seleoane. 'But I didn't really speak to her. It was more just, 'Hi' and 'Bye'.' Miss Seleoane was similarly detached from other residents of Lord's Court, a modern building containing 20 flats owned by the Peabody Trust, the affordable housing charity. On weekday mornings, when it seemed that she was heading off for work, she wished everyone she saw a cheery good day. In the evening, when she returned to her fourth-floor flat in the bustling South London community of Peckham, she was equally affable However, mother-of-three Lyesha Bent, who resides on the same corridor, says she wore gym clothes at weekends and, with her petite figure, looked younger than her 61 years. So everyone assumed her to have a busy career and social life. No one in the block can recall exactly when they last saw her striding purposefully to the bus stop or returning home with shopping. Some time in the late summer or early autumn of 2019, though, Miss Seleoane vanished. For reasons pathologists are trying to establish, we now know that she had died presumably alone in her flat. Astonishingly, she lay undiscovered for two-and-a-half years until, on February 18 this year, police broke in to find her skeletal remains on the living-room sofa. Having failed to enter her flat, despite being alerted as early as October 2020 to the possibility that harm might have befallen its occupant, they finally responded to a report that her balcony door was still swinging open, following Storm Eunice. Beside her body were some deflated pink party balloons, according to Ms Bent, who says she gleaned this puzzling detail from one of the officers who made the grim discovery. That this woman had been so shamefully forgotten is a damning indictment of the depersonalised, look-the-other-way attitude that pervades so many neighbourhoods in modern-day Britain. That her death went unnoticed for more than two years, when our every move is now monitored, whether by social media, CCTV, mobile phone cameras or other digital devices, almost defies belief. It says much about her isolation that, having spent a fortnight investigating this harrowing case, I haven't found a solitary photograph of Miss Seleoane, nor anyone who knew her well, except for a few school friends who long ago lost touch with her. Her only known family member in this country, her estranged older brother Victor Seleoane, 64, has proved equally elusive. His conviction for murder, 41 years ago, might explain his determination to remain in the shadows. One person I have traced is Miss Seleoane's half-sister, Julia Bella Brooms, who lives in South Africa. For reasons that will become clear, the two women never met. But they briefly corresponded after the death of their mother, in 1987, and Mrs Brooms, 72, became emotional this week, when, as sensitively as possible, I told her what had become of her sibling. That her death went unnoticed for more than two years, when our every move is now monitored, whether by social media, CCTV, mobile phone cameras or other digital devices, almost defies belief. It says much about her isolation that, having spent a fortnight investigating this harrowing case, I haven't found a solitary photograph of Miss Seleoane, nor anyone who knew her well, except for a few school friends who long ago lost touch with her 'This is too much. Awful. I don't understand how anyone could pass away and be left for so long,' she said, speaking through an interpreter in the Sesotho language. 'Where were Sheila's neighbours? Where were her work colleagues? People from the local municipality? Her landlord? This could never happen in South Africa. Here, when your neighbour isn't seen, even for one or two days, you go to check up on them. We live as a community.' Her plaintive questions are understandable. But more and more of us are now living alone. The number of Britons living on their own has increased by nearly ten per cent in a decade, it was revealed this week, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that 25.8 per cent of Londoners live alone. Miss Seleoane's death ought to have been obvious for all manner of reasons not least the nauseating stench that filled the fourth-floor hallway in the autumn of 2019, and throughout that winter. Her nearest neighbour, who asked not to be named, showed me a text from her mother saying the smell she described sounded like that of a 'dead person'. There were countless more clues. Miss Seleoane had lived in her flat since 2014, and until August 2019, paid her 109 weekly rent by debit card. Yet by March 2020, she had fallen heavily into arrears, and the housing trust had begun legal action to recover the debt. She was summoned to Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court on March 18 by which time she would probably have been dead for about six months. Deeply concerned by this case, Miss Seleoane's local MP, Harriet Harman, has compiled a timeline of events. In it, Peabody states that from April, her rent was being covered by universal credit. The Department for Work and Pensions wouldn't comment on her individual case. But it explained that a landlord can apply for universal credit to be paid directly to them when the tenant defaults. As her bank account drained, Miss Seleoane must also have missed paying other bills, including those for her household utilities and perhaps her mobile phone. Southwark Council says her council tax payments stopped around the time of her death, but this wasn't considered unusual because many people default. It adds that debtors were not pursued in the usual way during the pandemic. In March 2019, Robert Heath Heating Ltd, an energy firm contracted by Peabody, made two attempts to check her gas supply. Finding no one at home, they taped notices to the door, warning that they would enter the flat forcibly if she didn't let them in by early April. If only this threat had been carried out, Miss Seleoane might have been spared the indignity of lying unburied for two more years. The company declined to comment. Meanwhile, her post-box overflowed, and her unopened letters littered the entrance hall, yet the postman kept cramming them in regardless. No one in the block can recall exactly when they last saw her striding purposefully to the bus stop or returning home with shopping. Some time in the late summer or early autumn of 2019, though, Miss Seleoane vanished. For reasons pathologists are trying to establish, we now know that she had died presumably alone in her flat . An ambulance is pictured outside the building At one point, a team of decorators painted the exterior of Flat 16, failing to notice her body through the unlocked balcony window. Nor, it seems, were their suspicions aroused when her front door couldn't be opened to stop the wet paint sticking to the frame. When cleaners removed her doormat to mop the corridor, in autumn 2019, it was never put back. Didn't anyone think to ask why? This week, the mat was still propped against the flat's wall, alongside a withered bouquet and children's paintings left as a token of remembrance. As one neighbour remarked: 'Surely all this should have set alarm bells ringing?' The bare details of this story first emerged three weeks ago, soon after Miss Seleoane was found. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine dominating the news, however, it soon slipped out of the headlines. Doubtless this came as a relief to the many people who, either through indifference or ineptitude, failed to inquire into her disappearance. By my assessment, the number of individuals and organisations who might have suspected something runs into double figures. However, surely the most culpable are Peabody and the Metropolitan Police. Named after its founder, a Victorian philanthropist, the housing trust provides 67,000 homes for 155,000 people in London and the South-East. Its grandiose mission statement claims it places community spirit at the heart of its values. 'We are able to tell the stories of our residents and customers and make sure their voices are heard,' its website proclaims. The trust should try telling that to the residents of Lord's Court, who lodged innumerable complaints about the sickening odour emanating from Miss Seleoane's flat many times, only to be fobbed off or ignored. Everybody on the fourth floor has asked to be moved to another building. Evelyn Odintru says her children, 12, 11, and three, are so frightened from living close to a corpse that they have nightmares. Though concerns were allegedly voiced as early as the winter of 2019, Peabody says nothing was logged in its records until the following June. The trust then claims it made repeated attempts to contact her but didn't have the legal right to enter the property. A full year passed before finally, in October 2020, the trust asked the Met Police to make a welfare check. According to Peabody's records, the police reported back that they had 'spoken to the resident and that she is safe and well'. Yes, you read that correctly. How could such a basic error have been made? Was there some miscommunication? Did an officer go to the wrong flat and speak to the wrong woman? These are among many questions to be addressed by the outside consultants tasked by Peabody with investigating this deeply distressing matter. Whatever the truth, Peabody says the police's reassurance led its staff to believe 'everything was fine' and on October 22, 2020, it closed the case. However, the trust's chief executive, Ian McDermott, admits it made mistakes. 'We are all devastated by what has happened. Quite rightly, everyone wants answers, and so do we,' he says. 'Clearly, looking back, the red flags were there. It should have been obvious to us that Sheila had either abandoned the property or something was very wrong. Even with the challenges of lockdowns, we should have done better.' The Met would only say it was aware of the trust's claims, and was 'working to establish what messages were relayed after officers attended this location.' But back to Sheila Seleoane. What do we know of this forsaken woman, and how should she be remembered? With the help of her school friends, distant relations, and public records, I've pieced together fragments of her story. It begins in post-war South Africa under the ever-tightening yoke of apartheid. In 1949, her mother, Adeline, gave birth to a girl called Bella, whose father is unknown. But when, five years later, she was offered the chance of a new life in England, she grasped the opportunity. Adeline was the nursemaid to the two daughters of a Dr Thomas Forrest, and when he took up an appointment in London, he asked her to accompany them. Passenger records from the mail ship Carnarvon Castle show that she made the 12-day voyage with the doctor, his wife Lillian, and their children, arriving at Southampton, in September, 1954. Three years later, by then living in Hornsey, North London, Adeline had given birth to a son, Victor Patrick Seleoane; and on January 9, 1961, Sheila was born. Their father is not named on their birth certificates, and it seems Adeline was unmarried. Accounts of his murder trial, at the Old Bailey in 1981, suggest Victor was an unsavoury character. Embroiled in a gangland dispute, he stabbed a man to death during a pub brawl, and though he claimed to have been defending a friend, who was being attacked with a knife, he was jailed for life. He was then 24. It is not known how long he served in prison but after his release the Department of Justice says he was jailed again, for burglary, and was freed five years ago. Since then, he, too, has vanished without trace. His last listed address, in 2014, was an unprepossessing flat, in Plaistow, East London. On the Lord's Court grapevine, it is rumoured that he and his sister fell out several years ago, but as her immediate next-of-kin, he is believed to have been contacted about her death. As the coroner will need to establish Miss Seleoane's identity beyond doubt, experts believe her brother could be asked to provide a DNA sample. Commendably, Miss Seleoane overcame her difficult beginnings. According to Valerie Meade Hussey, a friend from Woodberry Down Comprehensive School, North London, she was 'quiet at first', but a 'bubbly' character when she felt comfortable in people's company. They remained friends into their late teens, and enjoyed nights out together, but lost touch. They last bumped into each other shopping about 30 years ago. 'We chatted for a while and she seemed fine,' says Mrs Hussey. 'This is just so sad. Why was nobody there for her?' Perhaps Miss Seleoane chose the job of medical secretary because her mother worked for a doctor and in hospitals. At all events, in her 50s she was temping for a company called Lifeline Personnel. However, it says it has no payroll record of her after February 20, 2015. From that date, her life becomes a complete mystery. If she was working, as neighbours believe and her smart outfits suggest, who employed her and why weren't they concerned by her disappearance? If she wasn't, where and how did she pass her days? Though the police are describing her death as 'unexplained' but not suspicious, there is, of course, another unanswered question: how did she die? Given that her body had decomposed, renowned forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd (who conducted the autopsy on Princess Diana) says the cause might be deemed 'unascertainable'. Ironically, it seems that the only person demanding to know the truth about what became of Sheila Seleoane is her half-sister Bella Brooms; someone she never met. She also wants her remains flown to South Africa and buried in the family plot with their mother. Then, at last, there would be people to care for the occupant of Flat 16. A woman Britain so shamefully forgot. Additional reporting by Tim Stewart and Stephanie Condron Bill Clinton signed a copy of his memoir to Ghislaine Maxwell, a photograph exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com reveals. The former President wrote 'To Ghislaine with love' in blue marker in the front cover of 'My Life', said Maxwell's former dog walker Rasmus Alpsjo. Alpsjo told DailyMail.com that he remembered finding the copy of 'My Life', which came out in 2004, one day at Maxwell's $15million New York townhouse. He took a picture to remind himself of it and thought that it added to the 'mystery' about who Maxwell was. The friendly tone of the letter is one of the latest indications of how close Maxwell was with Clinton, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Clinton flew on Epstein's jet dozens of times including trips to Africa and Asia after he left office. In 2010 Maxwell attended the wedding of Clinton's daughter Chelsea in Rhinebeck, upstate New York. DailyMail.com has obtained a photograph of a signed copy of Bill Clinton's memoir. The former President wrote 'To Ghislaine with love' in blue marker in the front cover of 'My Life', said Maxwell's former dog walker Rasmus Alpsjo A photo from 2002 on the Africa trip shows Clinton standing on the steps of Epstein's plane with his arm on the shoulder of a smiling Maxwell. Clinton flew on Epstein's jet dozens of times including trips to Africa and Asia after he left office The friendly tone of the letter is one of the latest indications of how close Maxwell was with Clinton, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Pictured in 1993 In 2010 Maxwell attended the wedding of Clinton's daughter Chelsea in Rhinebeck, upstate New York Alpsjo also revealed that Maxwell's bedroom was always 'messy' with pillows and clothes on the floor on the weekends her then boyfriend - now estranged husband - Scott Borgerson would visit. He recalled they were 'newly in love' and acted 'like young people' rather than a couple in middle age. Alpsjo said that they 'really came off as a power couple' and revealed that Borgerson left him scared with his military-style demeanor and the 'firmest handshake you can imagine'. Rasmus Alpsjo said he was employed by Ghislaine Maxwell and husband Scott Borgerson as a dog walker In the interview Alpsjo said that in Spring 2015, when he worked for Maxwell, Borgerson would visit on weekends. The pair would marry in 2016 and sold the townhouse for $15m and moved to Manchester-by-the-sea where they bought a $7.2m waterfront mansion. Alpsjo said: 'Borgerson was the one who had the talk with me. They really came off as a power couple. 'I remember coming home from something and my hair was fussy and I came in and met them he said your hair looks like a bird's nest. They laughed in a not a very nice way. 'They felt like they were above me and I got self conscious'. While Alpsjo did not see Maxwell and Borgerson being affectionate in public, there were clear signs that their relationship was moving ahead. He said: 'When he was there her bedroom was so messy. I guess they were newly in love, it was like young people. 'There were clothes on the floor, pillows all over the place'. Alpsjo called Borgerson 'frightening' and recalled how one time he spoke sternly to him after one of Maxwell's dogs jumped up at a car valet worker outside the house and nearly bit him. Alpsjo, now 31, said he was one of several men - all young and Swedish, he noted - charged with the care of Captain Nemo, Maxwell's dog for a few months back in 2015 Maxwell's secret husband Scott Borgerson is seen walking a dog in Boston in 2019 Alpsjo worked at Maxwell's five-story, 7,000-square-foot Beaux Arts townhouse on East 65th Street on the Upper East Side, which Maxwell left in 2015 He said: 'Scott was going to teach me to be the alpha male with a dog and showed me how to do it. He took on the role of alpha male. It was the worst experience on my life 'He's a tall guy, firmest handshake you can imagine, no room for being nervous. Very military in his style. 'His technique was to keep the dog in a corner and stand in front of the dog and be really firm and loud and make the dog sit. You had to be very, very firm. 'It worked when he did it. I had really no prior experience with dogs, though I said I did'. Sometimes Maxwell's attention would turn to Alpsjo, such as one morning when he got back from the gym in running tights. He said: 'She asked me where I'd been, so I told her the gym. She told me: 'You're already fit'. In late April 2015 Maxwell took Alpsjo to the premiere of the latest Marvel film, he recalled, which appears to have 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'. He said: 'That night she asked me do you have something nice to wear so I dressed up in a suit and she said: 'I'm taking you to this stupid party'. 'We took an Uber, to the after party to whatever Avengers Movie had happened. It was a really high end party in a hotel that hadn't opened yet. 'There were lot of celebrities and I remember Jeremy Renner from Avengers though there were tables with other names on them 'She asked me if I could get her a drink - maybe she was too fancy to get her own drinks. She didn't stay long and left me there'. 'It felt like after that night the feeling changed. It was more, she's being nice to me, taking me to this cool party. It was a moment'. Maxwell and secret husband Scott Borgerson (right) together at 2013 Assembly for Arctic Circle Alpsjo, now 31, said he was one of several men - all young and Swedish, he noted - charged with the care of Captain Nemo, Maxwell's Vizsla for a few months back in 2015 and lived in her basement at the time. Alpsjo said that while he had no idea of any of the crimes Maxwell, 60, was eventually sent to prison for, he alleges that Maxwell's secret husband Scott Borgerson was intimidating and he should never reveal who his boss was. 'He sat me down and he told me, like, 'The woman that you're working for, living with, she's a very famous woman. So you can never say who she is, and you can never bring people to the house and you have to be quiet about all this,'' Alpsjo said. 'It was quite a surprise. I had no idea she was connected to Jeffrey Epstein,' he said. Alpsjo said he was paid $300 a week for the gig and took turns taking care of the dogs with what he claims was a group of men with a similar look. 'I guess I fit the description because all the guys who has been there looked like, well, they looked really, really Swedish, like blonde, tall, blue eyes. So we all had that in common,' said Alpsjo, who was 24 when he took the job. He added that Maxwell told him she'd never been to Sweden but would love to go. Maxwell is awaiting sentencing at a Brooklyn jail after being found guilty of sex trafficking minors for her involvement in helping Epstein lure underage girls before he sexually assaulted them. She is now facing 65 years behind bars in a federal prison - prompting speculation she could now 'flip' and discuss the actions of others within Epstein's circle in a bid to receive a lighter sentence. Life-saving technology was not working on a stretch of smart motorway where a driver died in a crash after breaking down, insiders have claimed. Road bosses were last night facing questions over whether the tragedy was avoidable after sources told the Daily Mail the radar had not been working for days. National Highways stopped vehicle detection (SVD) system is supposed to alert traffic officers to vehicles marooned in live traffic which often happens on all lane running smart motorways as their hard shoulders are permanently removed. Pulvinder Dhillon, 68, from London, was killed on the M4 on Monday when her car broke down and was struck by a white van But Pulvinder Dhillon, 68, from London, was killed on the M4 on Monday when her car broke down and was struck by a white van. Sources told the Mail it was believed Mrs Dhillons car had been stranded for several minutes without being noticed by the system. The tragedy happened close to junction 12 near Reading, after her Nissan came to a halt in the fourth lane during the morning rush hour. Two other passengers suffered serious injuries. One National Highways insider said: Allegedly the SVD hadnt been working for five days prior to the accident. Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames on the burning vehicles with the road remaining closed for more than five hours Police apparently picked up that the vehicle was stranded and when [National Highways] turned the cameras around to find the vehicle, they saw it get hit. A second source who works in the South Mimms control room in Hertfordshire, which monitors the M4 stretch which reopened last month, said: [Mrs Dhillon] was sitting there for around five to ten minutes and cars were coming up to it at speed and almost hitting it and all of a sudden the van hits it. Everyone is relying on SVD to protect them. Im not anti-smart motorways, but Im anti them being run badly. The control room source said the SVD system had not issued a single alert for the whole of the M4 since March 2. When an alert goes off, the system is supposed to set warnings signs and a recommended speed limit on nearby message boards. As National Highways staff were seemingly not alerted to the breakdown on Monday, no lane closures or signals were put in place either manually or automatically to protect Mrs Dhillon. Officials are said to have been briefed about the revelations following the crash. Mrs Dhillon stalled in the fourth lane of the busy motorway near Reading, Berkshire, before being struck by a white van on Monday morning The roads agency did not deny the claims last night, saying instead that it would not be appropriate to comment due to the incident being under investigation. Mrs Dhillons heartbroken family released a statement through Thames Valley Police on Thursday, saying: She was a beautiful, kind mother, mother-in-law, sister, grandma and friend who was loved and respected by all she knew. Its a tragic accident and we would want the respect of the public to let the family come to terms with what has happened and grieve in peace. The Mail first revealed a raft of lethal problems with smart motorways in an investigation into the death trap roads six months ago. An undercover reporter working at a National Highways control centre witnessed the radar-based system fail to go off when there was a stranded car on a smart motorway section of the M25 for 30 minutes. The alert was also triggered constantly with false alarms. Internal reports revealed staff flagged system failures to highways bosses several times, complaining the system often misses breakdowns when they occur with potentially catastrophic results. SVD has previously been lauded by road bosses and ministers as ground-breaking and the key to keeping motorists safe. But a report by the Commons transport committee last October raised concerns over whether stopped vehicle detection technology is effective and reliable. Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the committee, said of the latest tragedy: It is wholly unacceptable for any smart motorway, let alone a new one, to have technology that is not working. The technology deployed on these roads is essential to save lives in the event of a breakdown or stopped vehicles. If the technology was not working, the road simply should not be open. A Department for Transport spokesman said the allegations were deeply concerning and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has demanded answers from the road agencys bosses. Martin Fellows, National Highways regional director, said: This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with everyone affected at this difficult time.' Five middle school students, aged between 12 and 15, have been arrested and charged with a hate crime after launching a racially motivated attack on their white classmates, police say. The group, made up of three black and two white students, reportedly yelled 'It's opposite day, Brown Power!' as they whipped, kicked and hit the four white kids. One of the alleged victims, who has not been identified because he is a minor, said he no longer feels safe attending Lyons Creek Middle School, in Broward County, Florida. He told NBC Miami that the five boys assaulting him and his friends told them it was 'revenge for what they did in the 1700s, slavery.' The boy described being 'jumped' and then covering his face to protect it from the attack. Another victim claimed that the group used a black USB phone charger and began whipping him with it. The attack, which lasted for only a few seconds, happened just steps away from the police. Five middle school students, aged between 12 and 15, have been arrested and charged with a hate crime after launching a racially motivated attack on their white classmates. One of the victims shows off his injuries after the attack One of the victims of the hate crime attack shows off injuries to his arm after he was assaulted by a group of five students, made up of three black and two white students One of the alleged victims, who has not been identified because he is a minor, said he no longer feels safe attending Lyons Creek Middle School, in Broward County, Florida 'They were whipping them, kicking them, hitting them,' said Frank Foster, pictured, one of the father's of the assault victims The mom of one of the suspects, pictured, says she is angry at the victims and claimed they were trying to ruin her son's life by prosecuting him Furious parents said that their children are terrified to return to school after the racial attack at the Coconut Creek Recreation Center in Coconut Creek, Florida on Wednesday morning. 'They were whipping them, kicking them, hitting them,' dad Frank Foster, told Local 10 News. Foster said his son is still being abused at school over text messages for reporting the assault. 'People at school are calling him a snitch for reporting it and doing the right thing,' he said. The five students were arrested and charged battery and evidence of prejudice while committing a battery, which is a third degree felony. The group reportedly yelled 'you are white' before attacking the four boys While the victims are physically fine, it's the mental and emotional toll that worries parents. However, the mom of one of the suspects says she is angry at the victims and claimed they were trying to ruin her son's life by prosecuting him. Meanwhile, other parents at the school said the incident is part of a larger bullying problem on campus, one that is seemingly getting worse after this most recent incident. 'I'm frustrated with the school that they are not making the effort to stop it and keep them safe,' Foster said. Coconut Creek Police Chief Butch Arenal said he was 'disappointed' to be called out in response 'to a racially-motivated crime by school-aged children within the City of Coconut Creek.' 'This is an extremely rare occurrence in our community. But these are children, and as such, poor judgment can occur. 'We will take appropriate action to ensure that all of our kids are safe before, during, and after school throughout Coconut Creek.' The kids all attend Lyons Creek Middle School, in Broward County, Florida Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction was the subject of the hit podcast 'Serial,' may be one step closer to exoneration after both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to have physical evidence from the crime scene - including the victim's rape kit - tested for DNA. The prosecutors signed on to a motion Thursday that asks a judge to order a retest of clothing, shoes, hairs and other unspecified evidence in the case against Syed. The two sides agreed the Baltimore City Police Lab should retest the items collected as evidence in the 1999 killing of Syed's high school girlfriend, 17-year-old Hae Min Lee, using modern DNA technology called touch DNA, which was not available for Syed's trials, reported Baltimore Sun. The news comes after a series of legal setbacks for Syed going all the way up to the nation's highest court. Through it all, Syed has staunchly maintained his innocence. Prosecutors and defense lawyers in Adnan Syed's murder case agreed to file a joint motion on Thursday, asking a judge to test evidence for DNA. Syed, 40, is serving life in prison plus 40 years for the 1999 killing of his high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee, 17 (right), in Baltimore Syed, 40, is serving a life sentence plus 40 years after he was convicted in 2000 of strangling Lee and burying her body in a shallow grave in Baltimore's Leakin Park. Syed and Lee were high-school classmates who had dated. Authorities have maintained Lee struggled in a car with Syed before her death by strangulation. In the latest motion, Syed's attorney argued that in such circumstances, a killer would have to be in close proximity to the victim. The motion requests testing evidence for the presence of DNA from skin cells or bodily fluids. The motion states that state prosecutors believe there is a 'reasonable probability' that the new DNA testing 'has the scientific potential to produce exculpatory or mitigating evidence relevant to a claim of wrongful conviction or sentencing,' according to People Magazine. In its debut 2014 season, the 'Serial' podcast broke podcast-streaming records and shined a spotlight on the case that led to renewed court proceedings. Syed and Lee were high-school classmates who had dated (pictured together as teens) Syed has maintained his innocence. His trial attorney failed to investigate an alibi witness Two Maryland courts found that Syed deserved a new trial. His lawyer during his first trial, Cristina Gutierrez, failed to contact an alibi witness, Asia McClain, who said she saw Syed at a library at the time prosecutors say he strangled Lee in 1999. Gutierrez has since died. But in 2018, the Maryland Court of Appeals denied Syed a new trial in a 4-3 ruling, even though it agreed his trial lawyers work was lacking. The state high court said there was little chance the outcome would have been different had Gutierrez done what she should have. Then in 2019, the US Supreme Court rejected Syed's bid for a new trial. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh in a statement at the time said the evidence against Syed 'was overwhelming.' 'We remain confident in the verdict that was delivered by the jury and are pleased that justice for Hae Min Lee has been done,' he said. Rabia Chaudry (right), an attorney and friend of Syeds family, celebrated the news of the motion being filed Rabia Chaudry, an attorney and friend of Syeds family who first brought his case to the attention of 'This American Life,' which developed 'Serial,' celebrated the latest development in his case. 'For the first time in 23 years, we are not fighting the State anymore. They've joined us in this motion!' Chaudry wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. 'It's not unheard of but is rare. It happens usually when the State believes the defendant may in fact be innocent.' Gabby Petito's family is suing the parents of Brian Laundrie, saying the couple knew about Petito's death and still tried to help their son escape the country. Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito argue in the lawsuit that Chris and Roberta Laundrie were aware that their son had killed Gabby - assisting him in several attempts to evade authorities that ultimately culminated in his suicide in a Florida swamp. The Laundries' response to their son's actions was 'shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable,' the lawsuit, which was filed in Sarasota County, Florida, states. The suit also claims that Gabby suffered blunt force injuries to the face and neck. A previous report by the coroner's office had determined she died by strangulation, but made no mention of other injuries. The entire saga began when Petito embarked with Laundrie on a cross-country road trip in July, with the pair hoping to become 'van life' influencers documenting their daily lives on social media. But their dreams seemed to vanish during a brush with police in August, when authorities in Utah responded to a domestic violence incident between the two. Just a few days later on September 1, Laundrie, 23, returned to Florida without her. He was named a person of interest in her disappearance on September 15, but himself vanished two days after that. Petito was found strangled to death near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19. Authorities later said that she had been dead for three to four weeks before the discovery. Laundrie's remains weren't discovered until October, well after his several weeks on the run garnered coast-to-coast headlines. Petito's parents are now seeking damages of at least $100,000 from the Laundrie family. Chris and Roberta Laundrie (pictured) were aware that their son had killed Gabby Petito - and still tried to help him flee the country before he committed suicide, a suit filed by Gabby's parents claims Laundrie vanished on September 13, six days before the body of his fiancee Gabby Petito was found in Wyoming. He was found on October 20 with a gunshot wound to the head Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito are suing Brian Laundrie's parents, claiming they acted with malice and withheld information about his whereabout after Gabby's disapearance The suit, filed in Sarasota County, Florida, also claims that Gabby suffered blunt force injuries to the face and neck The Laundries are accused of acting with malice by 'hiding the whereabouts of their son, knowing Gabby's parents were suffering' The lawsuit claims that while Petito's parents struggled to locate her in early September, Roberta and Chris went on a vacation to Fork DeSoto Park. Roberta then went on to block Nichole's number to avoid her calls and messages pleading for information to help her find Gabby. She also blocked Nichole on Facebook soon after. The Laundries then issued a statement through their lawyer on September 14 saying it was their hope that Gabby 'was found safe and could return to her family' - though the suit claims that they were fully aware their son had already killed her. 'Despite the fact that Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt implored Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundire to tell them if their daughter was alive, and if she was not, where her remains were located, [they] refused to responds to [Gabby's parents] and law enforcement,' the filing said. The Laundries are accused of acting with malice by 'hiding the whereabouts of their son, knowing Gabby's parents were suffering.' 'Christopher and Roberta Laundrie exhibited extreme and outrageous conduct which constitutes behavior, under the circumstances, which goes beyond all possible bounds of decency and is regarded as shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community,' the lawsuit reads. The Laundrie's attorney, Steve Bertolino, told local news station WFLA that his clients were under no obligation to speak to law enforcement. 'As I have maintained over the last several months, the Laundries have not publicly commented at my direction, which is their right under the law,' Bertolino told the outlet. 'Assuming everything the Petitos allege in their lawsuit is true, which we deny, this lawsuit does not change the fact that the Laundries had no obligation to speak to law enforcement or any third-party, including the Petito family. This fundamental legal principle renders the Petitos' claims to be baseless under the law.' Last month, an FBI agent raised questions about Laundrie's suicide after an autopsy revealed that he shot himself on the left side of the head - even though he was right-handed. Retired agent Jennifer Coffindaffer called the finding 'bothersome.' 'Because it does not fit with a right-handed person committing suicide with their off hand,' she told RadarOnline. In an autopsy report released by the Sarasota Medical Examiner's office on February 14, investigators observed that Laundrie's 'personal belongings' - including a notebook in which Laundrie confessed to killing his fiance as they traveling the country in a van - 'were surrounded by apparent skeletal human remains that were scattered on top of the dirt ground in plain sight.' Coffindaffer posits that Laundrie, 23, may have been ambidextrous - or that someone may have helped him kill himself. 'I'm not a conspiracy theorist at all but I cannot ignore facts, nor can I ignore statistics,' she said. 'And statistics would say a predominantly right-handed person does not commit suicide with their left hand.' Gabby had embarked with Laundrie on a 'van life' cross-country road trip in July and had a brush with the law in August, when police in Utah responded to a domestic violence incident between the two 'On October 20, 2021 at approximately 0820 hours, search groups found a backpack and shoes that were identified as belonging to Brian Laundrie,' his autopsy report reads. Above, the scene where his body was located The clearing in the Carlton Reserve where DailyMail.com believes the skeletal remains of Brian Laundrie were recovered Laundrie's remains were found north of the entrance to Myakkahatchee Creek, in the Big Slough Preserve, off an unpaved trail near a bridge where Brian's parents said he liked to visit. It is four miles north of their home in North Port, Florida Aside from the notebook, several other items were recovered from a 'drybag' near Laundrie's remains, which were found near his parents North Port home, including a wooden box containing the journal as well as several photos. Both 'the skeletal remains and personal effects were in plain sight and scattered upon the dirt ground,' it said. According to the report, one of the snaps was a shot of Laundrie. It is not clear what the other photos showed. The report confirmed that Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, as police frantically searched for the man as the primary 'person of interest' in the disappearance of Gabby. Brian Laundrie took responsibility for killing Gabby Petito in a notebook that was found near his remains, a report revealed A forty-seven page document, released in February by The Sarasota Medical Examiners office, noted that Laundrie had been subjected to 'moderately extensive carnivore activity evidenced by multiple gouging and gnawing marks' on his corpse Near Laundrie's corpse, at an adjacent 'secondary' scene, authorities recovered animal skeletal remains that suggested the self-professed killer had been hunting before his death. Lawmen also found a incomplete, handwritten note at the 'secondary' site, but did not detail its contents, as well as a 'MOAB Coffee Roasters' hat belonging to Laundrie, that advertised the same Utah coffee shop were pulled over by police for a domestic incident on 12 August - approximately two weeks before Petito was killed. The search for Petito began after Laundrie had returned to his parent's Florida home from their trip without her on September 1. On September 11, Gabby's family reported her missing and two days later, her boyfriend Brian Laundrie vanished from his parents' home. The young couple had been on a cross-country van trip but it turned sour and in August, just a few weeks before she died. Chris and Roberta Laundrie, Laundrie's parents, have been widely condemned for not talking with Petito's family or turning their son in to police when he returned home from his trip, especially after she was reported missing. He left their home on September 13, two days after her family on Long Island reported her disappearance. Petito's family criticized the Laundries for not helping them. Her remains were soon uncovered in a Wyoming campground on September 19. Before Gabby's disappearance, she and Laundrie were pulled over by Utah police officer in Moab after visiting the 'MOAB Coffee Roasters' on August 12, 2021, who had been responding to a call from a witness who saw the couple involved in a domestic fight. Last week, an independent investigator has said that the officers who pulled them over should have been suspended for not citing Gabby following the violent encounter where she admitted to being the aggressor. Officers Eric Pratt and Daniel Robbins had pulled the couple over after they responded to a call from a witness who saw the couple involved in a domestic fight. Bodycam footage showed a visibly shaken Gabby admitting to being the aggressor in the public argument. During the conversation, Pratt had noted that Gabby should have been arrested for her actions as stated in the Utah state law. An independent investigator revealed that Gabby Petito should have been cited for being the aggressor in a domestic dispute with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie (pictured left). Moab City PD Eric Pratt (right) is seen speaking with Laundrie The couple, however, managed to dispute the allegations and the officers let them go following a 75-minute conversation on the promise that they spend the night away from one another. After the bodycam footage emerged, the Price City Police Department launched its own independent investigation and said that the officers should have pressed charges in the incident. 'I believe the officers responded to a domestic violence call and had probable cause an act of domestic violence had been committed,' Price Police Capt. Brandon Ratcliffe. 'This should have meant an arrest was made, either by citation or custody.' Despite evidence pointing towards Petito as the aggressor, Ratcliffe noted that she had probably been the victim of violence in the relationship. As a result of the investigation, Ratcliffe recommended that Pratt and Robbins be put on probation for how they handled the incident. He also concluded that he couldn't be certain that the officers could have changed the outcome of Petito's fate if they acted accordingly. 'Would Gabby be alive today if this case was handled differently?,' the report said, according to CNN. That is an impossible question to answer despite it being the answer many people want to know. 'Nobody knows and nobody will ever know the answer to that question.' A mother who admitted taking her daughter to Ukraine against a court order has been spared jail so she can travel to the war-torn country to rescue her from the conflict. Judge Michael Kay said 'simple humanity' led him to the decision to spare Olga Khomenko from a prison sentence so she would be able to retrieve her daughter from the Kyiv region amid a barrage of Russian shelling. The 37-year-old had been accused of abducting the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by taking her to Ukraine in 2017 after fleeing what she alleges was an abusive marriage with her 'violent' husband. Khomenko was last week granted 72 hours bail by the court to travel to Ukraine but only made it as far as the Polish border before having to turn back to adhere to the time limit and was desperate to be sentenced quickly in the hope of getting back her passport to make another attempt. At St Albans Crown Court on Friday, she entered a plea of guilty to abducting a child, and faced as many as five years behind bars. She was given a two-year suspended sentence. Judge Michael Kay publicly said he wished 'her every success' in her quest to be reunited with the girl after handing down the sentence. Desperate mother Olga Khomenko, 37, (pictured outside St Albans Crown Court on Friday) was spared a prison sentence so she could return to Kyiv and rescue her daughter Khomenko left the court with a suitcase (pictured above) and the intention of going straight to the Polish border to attempt to retrieve her daughter The court heard the youngster is currently living in the region of the Ukrainian capital with her grandmother and 'can hear the bombs raining down'. The pair had tried to escape the city by train but their attempt was thwarted when the railway station was bombed and they were turned back by Ukrainian soldiers. Judge Michael Kay said: 'This court is in an impossible situation. I cannot begin to understand what the situation is on the ground in the Kyiv region. 'I imagine the system has broken down in terms of authority and the enforcement of the rule of law. It is a desperate situation, only truly desperate measures can be taken.' 'I have never known a sentencing exercise in which the issue of saving a child in a foreign country has been a factor. It's a decision that I would be amazed if any crown court has made before. These are extraordinary times,' he added. 'The criminal justice system has to have humanity.' Judge Michael Kay said 'simple humanity' led him to the decision to spare Olga Khomenko from a prison sentence so she would be able to retrieve her daughter from the Kyiv region amid a barrage of Russian shelling He said he was aware of the arguments put forward by the prosecution, adding 'but simple humanity informs me that the only appropriate sentence is one of two years imprisonment which will be suspended for two years'. Khomenko, who stood in the dock wearing a white turtleneck jumper and blue jeans wept as the sentence was passed. Judge Kay ordered the immediate release of her passport, which is currently being held by authorities at Gatwick Airport, so she can travel overseas. Khomenko left the court with a suitcase and the intention of going straight to the Polish border to attempt to retrieve her daughter. The court heard how she divorced her husband in 2015 after an allegedly abusive marriage which led her to stay in women's shelters on a number of occasions. Judge Kay, speaking at St Albans Crown Court (above) ordered the immediate release of her passport, which is currently being held by authorities at Gatwick Airport, so she can travel overseas After settling in Ukraine with her daughter, she was eventually extradited to the UK in 2020 after being arrested the previous year in Paris under a European arrest warrant and has been awaiting trial since, the court heard Ahead of the sentencing, Stephen Vello QC, defending, pleaded with the judge to pass the suspended sentence. He said: 'In short, this defendant is [the daughter's] best chance of escaping the warzone and if she fails to escape the warzone, I hope it isn't in any way over exaggerating that, [the daughter's] life may or may not continue to exist for the months hence. It really is that important.' Cheques from kind-hearted Mail readers have taken the total raised in our Ukraine fundraising appeal to more than 6million in less than two weeks. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin. Horrified at the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, some people have dug exceptionally deep, writing cheques for thousands of pounds, while others without so much to give have sacrificed small luxuries to help. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin. Pictured: A Red Cross worker helps an elderly woman evacuate in Irpin today Richard Halliday, of south-east London, sent 20 with a handwritten note included saying: 'I have very little money. Every Saturday night, I treat myself to a nice steak and chips, but I will replace this meal with baked beans on toast.' An anonymous reader accompanied their cheque with a handwritten note that read: 'At the turn of the 20th century my grandfather left Ukraine to escape persecution from the Tsarist regime. 'The British took him in and gave him a safe new life, but 120 years on nothing has changed. The Russian regime is still persecuting innocent people. This cheque is in memory of my grandfather.' The Kilmarnock Burns Club sent 50, with club treasurer John McCracken saying simply that its members had felt the need to contribute towards ending 'this humanitarian disaster'. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin Twice-married widow Doris Hanczaryk sent 20 in memory of her late husbands, both of whom were Ukrainian. The 87-year-old, nee Wright, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said: 'I am English-born and still feel English but in many ways I feel Ukrainian. 'I miss my menfolk so much as many refugees will miss theirs in this terrible war. Both of my husbands fought to push Russia out of the Ukraine in the Second World War. 'These people need all the help we can send for them.' A farmer who spoke to the Mail on the phone said: 'We have had Ukrainians on our farm in Carmarthenshire. They are honest hardworking people. 'I feel so desperately sorry for them. I feel I had to give to the Daily Mail appeal. 'Something must be done to stop this evil dictator. It cannot go on.' Some four million are running away, making this the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Pictured: Refugees in Moldova And Brenda Seaton, from Exmouth, Devon, gave 100 and said: 'I have cried so many tears watching the TV coverage and I hope that my small donation will help a little. 'My heart goes out to the brave men and women and I hugely applaud their wonderful leader.' Animal campaigner Irene Davies sent 20 and saluted the 'wonderful and brave people' of Ukraine, adding: 'They also saved their pets and didn't think just of themselves.' The Mail Force charity has also received generous donations via bank transfer and on the telephone, and through the Just Giving fundraising website. At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000. Mail Force does not take a penny in administration costs and is passing the money to good causes helping refugees on the ground in Ukraine and the countries they are fleeing to. Some four million are running away, making this the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Raw courage of the life-saving volunteers that your donations help to fund By Richard Pendlebury and photographer Jamie Wiseman in Irpin for the Daily Mail The town of Irpin is or, rather, was a residential satellite on the edge of Kyiv. Think of Borehamwood or Orpington in the context of London, or Sale outside Manchester; Morley in relation to Leeds. Not a military target, but now being targeted all the same by artillery and sniper fire. Tens of thousands of its civilian population have found themselves trapped here. An unknown number have already died. But the survivors have not been abandoned. And thanks to the incredible generosity of Daily Mail readers they will continue to get urgent help on the ground. On Popovic Street the main route out of town across the bridge now collapsed into the Irpinka river, a white van is parked beside a burned out restaurant, next to a blast-shattered church. On the side of the van is emblazoned perhaps the most iconic symbol of humanitarian relief in wartime. It tells you that the Red Cross is present in ruined Irpin. Tens of thousands of its civilian population have found themselves trapped here. An unknown number have already died. But the survivors have not been abandoned As we pass, a volunteer crew is helping an elderly couple who have run the gauntlet of a dubious ceasefire into the back of their vehicle. This is neither the time nor place to stop and chat, so I don't know the names of the Red Cross personnel concerned. But what courage, what fortitude. Again and again, they drive their unarmoured van backwards and forward beyond the evacuation buses that are parked out in the forest, beyond the last Ukrainian military checkpoint on the edge of Irpin and into the firing line. The road surface here is covered in debris. Heavy mortars had pounded this section of the escape route a few days earlier, killing Tatiana Perebeinis, the chief accountant of a Silicon Valley start-up with headquarters in London, her daughter, Alise, 9, and son, Nikita, 18, as well as the family's pet dogs. On the side of the van is emblazoned perhaps the most iconic symbol of humanitarian relief in wartime. It tells you that the Red Cross is present in ruined Irpin The images of the family lying dead on the pavement amid their belongings caused horror around the world. But thousands of others have escaped, thanks to the local Red Cross evacuation teams, working in conjunction with the state emergency services. Of the 6million raised so for by the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal, 500,000 is directly funding Red Cross work in this country. This week, the Mail spent two days witnessing that work, both at the front line and at one of the major railway hubs that has been overwhelmed by the refugee exodus from the fighting. By last night more than 2.5million Ukrainians had left the country, most of them women and children. Their journeys often begin in places like Irpin. Once they reach the evacuation buses, they are driven several miles through the forest to a check point where volunteers serve them hot drinks and cakes. By last night more than 2.5million Ukrainians had left the country, most of them women and children. Their journeys often begin in places like Irpin Those who are obviously in distress are taken into a tent and checked by Red Cross medics. It is outside this tent that we come across one young family; dentist Oleks, his wife Marina and their three year old son Dimi, pale faced and red eyed, chewing on a pastry. They have just got out, but the trauma is still with them. 'I was so scared,' says Marina. 'We live on the boundary of Irpin and Bucha and there was such heavy fire last night. My parents are still there. They cannot move because of their poor health. Thank goodness Dimi doesn't understand what is happening.' Their next stop as new refugees will probably be Kyiv's main railway station. And the Ukrainian Red Cross Society the local branch of the international movement will be there for them too. Katarina is team leader for the organisation's 'first response' team for this particular day shift that will last from 10am to 10pm. Their base is a small tent in a corner of one of the cavernous, Soviet-era waiting halls. Those who are obviously in distress are taken into a tent and checked by Red Cross medics In peacetime, she is a theoretical physicist. She still is a wife and mother. But for the next twelve hours she will be responsible for providing help and comfort to the thousands of displaced who continue to pour through the capital towards the west and safety. Among her team are two chemical scientists, Oleksa and Mikhail, Alina, a procurement manager and Irina, a nurse. A furniture designer, an IT specialist and medical students are in reserve. 'It is a long day and a very long night,' Katarina says. 'Probably the worst times are when the evacuation buses or trains from the east arrive in the hours of darkness, unannounced. Then it's like the apocalypse. 'People are tired, frightened and disorientated and it is the elderly and disabled, and those women travelling alone with kids who suffer the most.' She added: 'We have had to deal with strokes, high blood pressure and people on the verge of collapse or in hysterics. A couple of days' ago a woman had a heart attack and despite our best efforts we could not save her.' The main hall is very cold at night and refugees often stay here for many hours because of the city-wide curfew outside. 'Sometimes a hot drink and a comforting word is just enough to keep them going,' says Katarina. 'Other people see the Red Cross sign and it is reassuring. They come over just to talk to someone they can trust.' A destroyed vehicle is seen at the border between Bucha and Irpin, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Irpin, Ukraine, today The volunteers carry their own burdens. 'It is a very stressful for us. Today we helped a woman from Bucha whose husband had been shot in front of her. You hear a dozen stories like that each shift and they stay with you.' What do they still need? 'We cannot have too much antiseptic solvents and bandages,' she says. 'And our front line evacuation people do not have any body armour or helmets. We also need more tourniquets. This is a war situation and we have evacuated a lot of people who had lost limbs.' The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has around 500 employees and 6,000 volunteers. While the Red Cross is a completely neutral humanitarian organization, that does not make it invulnerable. Premises run by the URCS in Mariupol and a Kharkiv and a vehicle in Vyshhorod have been damaged by artillery fire, according to a local spokesman. But Katarina and her team soldier on. She tells me: 'Thank your readers so much for their generosity. We know that Britain is thinking of us. But we need more help. We're on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.' NSW Health has demanded restrictions be reintroduced amid fears Covid cases will grow to 25,000 a day - but Brad Hazzard has sensationally shut them down. Indoor face masks, bans on singing and dancing, density limits and working from home are among the changes recommended by the state's health department. The suggestions were put forward to the health minister as an internal presentation amid forecasts of a horror winter season with Covid cases set to double, a new BA.2 strain to dominate and a deadly flu season. Mr Hazzard dismissed reintroducing the restrictions before claiming they would be taken as a 'last resort', The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW Health has demanded restrictions be reintroduced amid fears Covid cases will grow to 25,000 a day - but Brad Hazzard has sensationally shut them down Indoor face masks, bans on singing and dancing, density limits and working from home are among the changes recommended by the state health department 'As Health Minister I am not at all keen to be heading back the path that has exhausted everybody with all the restrictions,' he said. 'All that would be a last resort from my perspective.' Mr Hazzard said rising cases were 'a major issue that the whole health team is watching very closely.' His biggest concern was 'the failure of about 45 per cent of eligible people not having had a booster'. NSW Health revealed in its presentation it was concerned about a 'substantial rise' in Covid cases between March and early May. 'We should plan for health system impacts of around 2.5 times what we are currently experiencing,' the slides read. 'This includes planning for an increase of around 2.5 times in staff furloughed, COVID-19 hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths'. NSW Health said in its presentation the department wants the state government to continue to enforce isolation compliance among Covid cases. The measures have been ditched elsewhere in the world including the UK. 'For the community, recommend reintroduction of indoor masks, and reintroduce other mitigations that were in place in schools,' the slides read. At a press conference on Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked whether he thought Covid restrictions will need to be imposed again due to a new spike in case numbers. 'I certainly hope not. I can't see that, you can never know what the next variant may be. . 'We discussed the mutations of the existing variant with Omicron yesterday, but we are largely talking about the same virus. The difference with Omicron and Delta was like a completely different virus. 'What we have seen with these latest permutations of this variant is, it doesn't need to change our settings, we can keep doing what we are doing.. 'We may see some more cases, but as we have known now ....cases is not the point. 'How your hospital system is going is the point, and our hospital systems have held up extremely well.' National cabinet is moving to scrap quarantine requirements for all close contacts of Covid-19 cases as soon as possible as well as to transition away from PCR testing. The suggestions, which included working from home, were put forward to the health minister as an internal presentation amid forecasts of a horror winter season with Covid cases set to double, a new BA.2 strain to dominate and a deadly flu season Mr Hazzard dismissed reintroducing the restrictions before claiming they would be taken as a 'last resort' Healthy people with mild respiratory illnesses will instead be encouraged to undertake voluntary self-isolation while symptomatic. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee will urgently review both measures and report back to the nation's leaders. Australians are also poised to find out whether they will be offered a second COVID-19 booster shot ahead of an expected winter surge of infections. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the advice is expected by the end of the month on whether a fourth vaccine dose would be recommended for people over 65. Mr Hunt said it was more likely than not a second booster would be advised. The government has set aside $2.1 billion to prepare for winter, including $1.2 billion to help protect residential aged care and disability care sectors, $356 million to protect vulnerable population groups and a further $571 million for vaccines. Mr Hazzard's biggest concern was 'the failure of about 45 per cent eligible people not having had a booster' But while a COVID-19 spike is expected, it is unlikely to reach the same levels of early 2022, Mr Hunt said. Plans have also been drawn up to handle a new - and possibly more infectious - Omicron sub-variant. Despite concerns of a new Omicron sub-variant being detected, deputy chief medical officer Sonya Bennett said preparations had been made to deal with new strains. 'What we've learnt over the last few years is we now have a range of tools in the toolkit ... so we now have adequate and ready access to rapid antigen tests and adequate access to treatments for those at risk,' she said. 'We know that public health and social measures need to be implemented in the worst-case scenario.' NSW Health's recommendations came as the state posted a further decline in Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with 12,850 new infections and a further four virus-related deaths. The new numbers follow 14,000 new cases on Friday and more than 16,000 on Thursday. Health officials say there are 966 coronavirus patients in hospitals across the state. Of these, 40 are in intensive care. Of the latest cases, 7624 were detected via rapid antigen kits and 5226 as a result of PCR lab tests. There were a further 30 Covid-19 deaths reported on Friday, including 10 in Victoria, seven in NSW, eight in Queensland, three in the ACT - including one historical case - and one in South Australia and the Northern Territory. The health minister said despite a rise in COVID cases being predicted, infections were unlikely to reach the highs seen during summer at the peak of the Omicron wave Mr Hunt said a scheme which provided free rapid antigen tests for concession card holders would be extended until the end of July this year. So far, more than 5.5 million people have collected the free tests, with 20 million tests distributed among concession card holders. The health minister said despite a rise in COVID cases being predicted, infections were unlikely to reach the highs seen during summer at the peak of the Omicron wave. 'We saw an absolute peak in Omicron cases and we're not expecting anything at those levels,' Mr Hunt said. 'COVID infections are a little bit like a bouncing ball - the highest bounce is likely to have been in January and then will progressively decrease over time, but there will be a bounce as it goes into winter.' The octogenerian suspect in a grisly Brooklyn murder shopped at a 99 cent store with her victims dismembered leg tucked away in her electric wheelchair, police said Friday. The leg of victim Susan Leyden cut off from the knee down was captured on surveillance video when her accused killer Harvey Marcelin stood up from the wheelchair while inside the store, Chief of Detectives James Essig said at a Friday press conference. Advertisement She gets up out of her wheelchair there and the leg is right there on the seat, Essig said. Accused killer Harvey Marcelin inside a 99 cent store. Police say he had the leg of victim Susan Leyden hidden on his wheelchair. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The chief did not specify when Marcelin, who also went by Marcelin Harvey, went on the horrific shopping trip. The store is in Brooklyn near where Leydens torso was found. Advertisement Marcelin, an 83-year-old transgender woman, was arrested March 4 after she was identified as the person who ditched Leydens headless, limbless torso in a shopping cart at Atlantic Ave. and Pennsylvania Ave. in East New York. The NYPD says Leydens head was found inside Marcelins home. This is a gruesome and barbaric homicide which resulted in a headless torso being disposed of on a New York City corner, Essig said. It takes a serial killer off the street. This is just the latest [in] a list of heinous offenses conducted over the period of a lifetime by Ms. Harvey. We can only hope that she can do no more. The NYPD was able to piece together Marcelins movements around the time of the horrific killing. Harvey Marcelin is being held without bail at Rikers Island. On Feb. 27, Marcelin was seen entering her apartment building with the shopping cart in which Leyden was later found, according to Essig. On March 1, she and another woman went to a Home Depot in Manhattan and bought a Sawzall reciprocating electric saw, plastic bags and cleaning liquids. The other woman, who was not identified by cops, has not been charged. Cops say Marcelin was captured on video March 2 leaving her apartment building with a bag allegedly containing Leydens body parts. Essig said there was blood spatter and several trash bags at the killers Pennsylvania Ave. apartment. Susan Leyden is pictured in an undated photo. The suspect previously killed two other women, dumping the body of one victim in plastic bags in Central Park in 1985. Marcelin was released on parole in 2019. Advertisement Leyden lived for eight months at the Stonewall House development for elderly LGBTQ people and was an active supporter of LGBTQ causes, police said. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Marcelin lived in transitional housing for homeless people 45 and older in Alphabet City in Manhattan from November 2021 until February when she found permanent housing, a former neighbor told the Daily News. She used to sit in the living room all day long and never talked to nobody, said the neighbor, who only identified herself as Ms. Escevdo. We knew she was in prison before but now all anyone can talk about is what she did to that poor woman. We had no idea. Its unbelievable. Marcelin, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 125 pounds, had known Leyden for at least two years after meeting on social media, said Chief John Chell, head of detectives in north Brooklyn. Advertisement A lawyer for Marcelin did not immediately return a request for comment. The suspect has made no statements to police, and any mental health issues were not immediately known, officials said. Police are investigating whether any unsolved crimes can be linked to Marcelin. For a woman who, only this week, was reprimanded for wading into the increasingly febrile transgender debate, youve got to applaud Tory police and crime commissioner Lisa Townsend for her sheer chutzpah. If youre a male who prefers to wear dresses, grow your hair long and youd rather wear make-up, thats great. You go for it, but that doesnt make you a woman. Ive said it before and Ill go on saying it. Its how an overwhelming number of my constituents feel, she says. Lisas is a rare, defiant voice on an issue thats become so politically charged that this week two Labour frontbenchers, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow minister for women Anneliese Dodds, were unable to define what a woman is. The fact that Dodds struggled to answer the question on International Womans Day and on Radio 4s Womans Hour and Cooper the day after, only added to the irony. Lisas is a rare, defiant voice on an issue thats become so politically charged that this week But while Ms Cooper refused to go down the rabbit hole of defining what a woman is, you get the sense that Lisa, the elected commissioner for Surrey, is more than happy to pay home visits to the entire cast of Watership Down. How do we define it? My periods started when I was 13 and I needed to wear my first bra when I was 14, she says. Those are experiences that absolutely contribute to me being a woman and allow me to sit down with another woman and have conversations like: Oh God, Im 42, so the perimenopause is probably just around the corner. Youve got people like Professor Lord Robert Winston saying every cell in my body is female. Every cell in my husbands body is male. There is no surgery, no hormones, no amount of documentation that gets you away from that. Like or loathe Lisas stance, youve got to admire her conviction given that this week she was reprimanded by a male-dominated panel of councillors for sharing a tweet written by author J. K. Rowling in December last year, suggesting that biologically male rapists are not female. It is not a niche issue, it is not hysterical for women to be taking to the street about it, Lisa wrote. We will not accept this gaslighting from men who keep telling us they are women or from those who enable them, she added to her retweet and posted it without a second thought. Three men, including local Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, complained. The Surrey police and crime panels complaints sub-committee found that Lisa had not been dignified or respectful to trans people. It demanded that she explain herself to the men who reported her over the tweet. Three men, including local Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, complained. The Surrey police and crime panels complaints sub-committee found that Lisa had not been dignified or respectful to trans people For goodness sake, says an exasperated Lisa, clearly cut from the direct-speaking mould of the late former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Saying that my words as a woman are disrespectful because Ive chosen to stand up for women who have been raped and telling me I have to explain myself to three men, particularly a male MP from my own party, whove complained about my language, is ridiculous. Its not the fact that these men, or anybody, think Im wrong theyre all perfectly entitled to think Im stark raving mad, quite frankly its the cancelling of a womans voice on an issue that really troubles a lot of women and men. The debate is a rather kind way of describing the toxic battle that rages over a transgender persons right to self-identify. Campaigners, particularly the lobby group Stonewall, insist anyone should be free to determine their own gender even if that means sending women born as men, and in some cases who still have male genitalia, into female jails or safe spaces such as womens refuge centres and changing rooms. According to Lisa, an overwhelming number of her female constituents are genuinely frightened. She says it was the single biggest issue in her inbox when she campaigned to be Surreys police and crime commissioner ten months ago. She has since been a vocal supporter of womens right to exclude biological males be they transwomen or not from female-only safe spaces. There are also concerns about the trans agenda being thrust down childrens throats in schools. Such is the sheer nastiness surrounding the debate that she has received as many as 15 death threats. Ive had a lot of the die TERF [trans exclusionary radical feminist] threats and, if I ever saw you Id kill you. The woke debate about trans rights is incredibly noisy because for some reason its perfectly acceptable to espouse the things they say. Its perfectly acceptable to fly in the face of science and say trans women are women. Its perfectly acceptable to call women like me TERFs. It seems perfectly OK, in some quarters, to put up signs saying Die TERFs and all the awful, awful things you see, but its not acceptable for a woman to say: I dont believe transwomen are women. I do believe theres a difference between sex and gender and that females not just deserve, but have a right, to have our own safety and protected spaces where males should not be allowed. What many would think is a mainstream view has become something we cant say without facing this ridiculous process. The ridiculous process actually began in August last year when Lisa, then three months into her new job, spoke out in our sister paper The Mail on Sunday against Stonewall for promoting dangerous transgender ideology that threatens the safety of our women and girls. She wanted Surrey Police to stop employing the lobby group. Lisa is neither a radical feminist nor a TERF. In fact, shes a very sensible lapsed Catholic who has a husband of 12 years, Ben, who has taken part in Pride marches to support equal marriage, has many dear gay and lesbian friends and is hugely sympathetic to the trans community. Shes aware of their needs and works hard with Surreys sexual and violent crime liaison officers to protect them. She just doesnt believe a transwomans rights trump the rights of a biological woman. Speaking to women in domestic abuse refuges, they do not want [biological] males in their refuge however theyve identified, she says. For some women and Ive spoken to them just the sound of a male voice is enough to re-traumatise them. The refuges work incredibly hard to make sure that doesnt happen. They dont have male window cleaners or male workmen. Surrey Police do so much work around sexual abuse and sexual victims. It would be very disappointing if we let all that go by allowing them to be re-traumatised by something as simple as a male voice. When she first aired these views, Mr Blunt contacted her. Mr Blunt, who as well as being MP for Reigate is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LBGT+ Rights, called her again shortly after she retweeted J. K. Rowlings message in December One of his concerns was that, me saying what I said and being an elected Conservative, it would be perceived that was how the party thought. He felt by saying what I had I was being transphobic. I said for me it wasnt a trans issue. It was a womens rights issue and it was about protecting female space while also making sure the trans community also have all the support they need. I thought, by the end of the call, we agreed to disagree. I said: Crispin, you take one view, thats perfectly OK. I take another. As a party, were a broad church. There are people on both sides of this issue and weve taken different sides, thats all. Mr Blunt, who as well as being MP for Reigate is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LBGT+ Rights, called her again shortly after she retweeted J. K. Rowlings message in December. Quoting from George Orwells 1984, the author had tweeted: War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength, before adding: The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman. After Lisas retweet, which included the hashtag #IStand WithJKRowling, she says Mr Blunt essentially said: I would like you to stop. He didnt reference that tweet. He said: Im disappointed youre still talking about this issue. Please stop. I was frustrated. I said: Crispin, Im going to be honest. Im getting a little bit fed up with middle-aged men telling me I cant speak about what, for me, is a womens rights issue and is something constituents are writing to me about. He said: In which case, Im sorry for what Im about to do, and ended the call. Nearly a week later, I discovered the what Im about to do was to put an official complaint to the police and crime panel. Lisa was in Edinburgh on International Womens Day when she received the panels decision. I wasnt angry. I just thought it was ridiculous, she says, rolling her eyes. Mr Blunt is one of three men she must write to. A second complainant simply said Lisa Townsend is transphobic and the other took issue with Ms Rowlings tweet. The particular point that Crispin made to the panel was that hed counselled me but Id done it anyway, therefore hed had to complain. Lisa, who worked for Mr Blunt in Westminster in her 20s, laughs wryly. After all, the MP is in no shape or form her boss and she hasnt received a word of complaint from the Conservative Party. They could throw me out of the party, but I havent had any complaints. I actually had an overwhelming number of messages of support from Conservative MPs and my constituents. Ive had flowers, too. One bouquet, in suffragette colours, arrived with a card, saying From the women. Lisa has since been a vocal supporter of womens right to exclude biological males be they transwomen or not from female-only safe spaces. I am a woman. I like expressing myself as a woman. I like wearing nice dresses and I have a fantastic collection of lipsticks. But the wearing of fabulous lipsticks and the high heels isnt the thing that makes me a woman. If I decide one day to put on a pair of flat shoes and wear no make-up that doesnt stop me being a woman. Just as if a man wants to wear high heels, he can without appropriating female spaces and what it means to be a woman. What I get in my inbox constantly is women saying: I cant speak up because if I say anything I will be ostracised or I wont get a promotion and might even get a dismissal, so thank you for doing so. I find the fact a male Conservative MP has used his position to attempt to silence a woman on an issue that, he must surely know, matters to an awful lot of people not just his constituents but people throughout the United Kingdom is... She shakes her head. Do you know what? For every person who complains, thats another year Ill keep talking about it. This attempt to try to stop the debate altogether is sinister. But Im an eternal optimist. I think the pendulum [of political correctness] has swung too far but we will come back to a place thats ultimately sensible but we have to keep talking about it. A row over a 500,000 pay-off for Dame Cressida Dick is delaying her departure and hampering efforts to fill the top job in policing. A month after the Scotland Yard commissioner was forced out by London mayor Sadiq Khan over a succession of scandals, the pair are yet to agree the terms of her departure. Sources say Mr Khan is refusing to hand over a settlement worth almost 520,000, despite giving Dame Cressida a two-year extension to her contract in September. The Home Office cannot begin the process to recruit her successor until a deal is reached and a departure date decided. The stand-off comes at a time of extraordinary uncertainty, as the force faces an independent review into its culture and standards of behaviour led by Baroness Casey. London mayor Sadiq Khan is refusing to approve a 500,000 pay-off for Dame Cressida Dick (pictured) - delaying her departure and hampering efforts to fill the top job in scandal-rocked Scotland Yard Sources say London mayor Sadiq Khan is refusing to hand over a settlement worth almost 520,000, despite giving Dame Cressida a two-year extension to her contract in September Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is also due to publish a report on the force's vetting and anti-corruption measures in the next fortnight. The turmoil at the Met comes as it continues to investigate the Prime Minister and others over parties breaching lockdown rules. When former Met commissioner Lord Blair of Boughton was forced to resign by then-mayor Boris Johnson in 2008, he was paid 580,000 for his final eight months in office more than double his 240,000 salary. He also received an index-linked pension of 160,000 a year, full compensation for leaving his five-year contract 18 months early, and compensation for losing the use of a flat and a car. Dame Cressida's agreed two-year extension came with a 246,109 annual salary and 3,074 benefits. She could expect a total of just over 519,000 based on the 25 months she had left to serve. The 61-year-old will also draw from a pension pot worth around 160,000 a year. The Home Office is said to be growing impatient with the lack of progress since her resignation on February 10. Partygate police chief in dock over Everard vigil Scotland Yard's bid to stop a vigil for Sarah Everard was unlawful, High Court judges said on Friday. The ruling will pile pressure on Commander Catherine Roper now leading the Partygate probe into Downing Street as she had said the event could not go ahead due to Covid restrictions. Organisers of the meeting, held in memory of the 33-year-old murdered by Met officer Wayne Couzens last March, were threatened with 10,000 fines and prosecution. Despite this the vigil went ahead, with the Duchess of Cambridge among the early attendees at Clapham Common in south London. Police moved in later to arrest members of the crowd, wrestling some women to the ground. Taxpayers now face a hefty bill after the Met went to the High Court to defend its handling of the vigil only for judges to rule that it had breached the human rights of the organisers to freedom of speech and assembly. Lord Justice Warby and Mr Justice Holgate ruled that the forces decisions in the run-up to the event were not in accordance with the law. The claim was brought by four women who founded Reclaim These Streets, which had called for a socially distanced vigil and protest about violence against women. In a statement on behalf of the four women, solicitor Theodora Middleton said: Todays judgment is a victory for women. Last March, womens voices were silenced. Todays judgment conclusively shows that the police were wrong to silence us. Met assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said yesterday that the force was considering an appeal. Scotland Yard's bid to stop a vigil for Sarah Everard was unlawful, High Court judges said on Friday - piling pressure on Commander Catherine Roper now leading the Partygate probe into Downing Street as she had said the event could not go ahead due to Covid restrictions Advertisement It has also increased tensions between Mr Khan and Home Secretary Priti Patel, who will ultimately choose Dame Cressida's successor. Yesterday, the chairman of the London Assembly police and crime committee, Susan Hall, said: 'This isn't some middle management job here, it has been handled so badly. This could not have come at a worse time for Met officers and Londoners when confidence in police has never been lower.' A City Hall source said Dame Cressida's departure date and terms 'will be agreed in due course'. A Home Office spokesman said: 'The priority is to select the very best person for the job, who will deliver for our capital, keeping its people and communities safe.' He added that her departure was a 'matter for her and the mayor's office'. An elderly New York City transgender woman was seen on store surveillance video sitting on a severed human leg in her motorized wheelchair before being arrested for murder. Harvey Marcelin, 83, who was convicted of two other killings in 1963 and 1984, was arrested late last week for the killing of Susan Leyden, 68, after she was allegedly caught on surveillance cameras dumping a body near her Cypress Hills apartment. Leyden's headless torso was stuffed into a garbage bag and dumped in a shopping cart in Brooklyn. On March 2, a passerby made the grisly discovery on Pennsylvania and Atlantic avenues in the borough around 1:45 a.m. when he peeked inside the garbage bag. On Friday, NYPD held a press conference where they showed a video of Marcelin sitting on a severed human leg. In the store surveillance footage, Marcelin is seen getting out of the wheelchair, exposing the leg and then sitting back down. 'This is a gruesome and barbaric homicide, which resulted in a headless torso being disposed of on a New York City corner, and it takes a serial killer off our streets,' Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez told reporters. 'This is just the latest of a list of heinous offenses conducted over a period of lifetime by Ms. Harvey, and we can only hope that she can do no more,' he added. An elderly New York City transgender woman was seen on store surveillance video sitting on a severed human leg (circled) in a motorized wheelchair before being arrested for murder Harvey Marcelin, 83, was arrested late last week for the killing of 68-year-old woman Susan Leydon after she was allegedly caught on surveillance cameras dumping a body near her Cypress Hills apartment Store surveillance video captures Marcelin sitting on the leg in the motorized wheelchair Marcelin, who killed two women in 1963 and 1984, was charged with murder, criminal tampering of evidence and concealment of a human corpse According to the NYPD's investigation, Leyden, an LGBTQ activist who lived in a city shelter, was last seen alive on February 27 as she entered Marcelin's apartment at 50 Pennsylvania Avenue, carrying a 'multi-colored bag with a flower decal' and rolling a shopping cart. Two days later, Marcelin and another woman were spotted leaving the building with the same bag as they headed to a Home Depot in Manhattan to purchase saws, trash bags and cleaning solutions, Gonzales said. On March 2, surveillance footage caught Marcelin walking out of the apartment again with a shopping cart and a trash bag inside the cart, leaving it out in the streets. Police said the female corpse was found inside the bag without a head or limbs and did not appear to be decomposed. On March 3, police found blood and trash bags in the apartment complex, and a search warrant into Marcelin's home turned up a 'human head,' along with the saws Marcelin bought. On March 7, a severed leg, which had been cut from the knee down and was still wearing a sock, was poking out of a discarded tire four blocks away. Gonzales added that the woman who went to Home Depot was cooperating with police, but did not say if she faced any charges in connection with the murder. Marcelin was charged with murder, criminal tampering of evidence and concealment of a human corpse. Marceline is being represented by Legal Aid, who did not immediately return DailyMail.com's request for comment. Police identified the victim as Susan Leyden, 68, formerly of Teaneck, New Jersey, and an acquaintance of Marcelin. She was last seen entering Marcelin's apartment on February 27 Police said the female corpse was found inside the bag without a head or limbs and did not appear to be decomposed. They said the head was found in Marcelin's apartment A leg was found on Monday, March 7, in Cypress Hills, just days after a torso was found a few blocks away. Police said the body parts belonged to Leyden, an LGBTQ+ activist The murder of Leyden is the third killing Marcelin has been connected to. On April 18, 1963, Marcelin was arrested for shooting her then-girlfriend Jacqueline Bonds three times inside their Harlem apartment, the New York Post reported. Earlier that year she was arrested for illegal gambling and attempted rape. The rape case was dropped when the victim didn't show up in court. For the murder of Bonds, Marcelin was sentenced to 20 years to life and was paroled in 1984, according to state prison records. While in prison, Marcelin had allegedly filed court papers saying she was in the notorious 1971 Attica prison riot, which left 29 inmates and 10 hostages dead, the New York Daily News reported. Marcelin was not among the inmates awarded a payout settlement in the class action lawsuit following the riot. After being released in 1984, she went on to fatally stab another girlfriend, Anna Laura Serrera Miranda, cutting her up and stuffing her body into a bag before dumping it on the streets near Central Park, the Daily News reported. Marcelin was arrested in 1986 and convicted of manslaughter. A psychiatric review concluded that she had 'schizoid personality with sociopathic features,' but was not deemed criminally insane. Marceline had applied for parole multiple times and during one of those hearings, she said she had 'a problem with women,' the Post reported. She also blamed an all-female parole board for denying her release in 1997, a claim a three-judge panel in Albany rejected, according to court records. In 2001, Marcelin also faced a disciplinary hearing for having oral sex with another inmate, but faced no punishment, according to the Daily News reported. She was released from the Cayuga Correctional Facility in upstate New York in 2019. Marcelin is currently in custody and being held without bail at Riker's Island. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office said the case is still under investigation. The incident comes as the city continues to see a drastic spike in violent crime compared to last year. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the homicide 'gruesome and barbaric' Violent crime in New York City continues to rise with overall crime up more than 47 percent Although murders are nearly the same with 67 committed so far this year compared to the 66 from last year, assaults are up by more than 19 percent, increasing from 3,210 to 3,824. The number of shooting victims have gone up from 181 cases to 215, more than 18 percent when compared to the same time last year, and rapes have shot up by more than 31 percent, with 293 cases reported so far. Robberies saw the largest spike so far this year, going up by nearly 45 percent when compared to the same time in 2021. Overall crimes have gone up by more than 47 percent. The town of Irpin is or, rather, was a residential satellite on the edge of Kyiv. Think of Borehamwood or Orpington in the context of London, or Sale outside Manchester; Morley in relation to Leeds. Not a military target, but now being targeted all the same by artillery and sniper fire. Tens of thousands of its civilian population have found themselves trapped here. An unknown number have already died. But the survivors have not been abandoned. And thanks to the incredible generosity of Daily Mail readers they will continue to get urgent help on the ground. On Popovic Street the main route out of town across the bridge now collapsed into the Irpinka river, a white van is parked beside a burned out restaurant, next to a blast-shattered church. On the side of the van is emblazoned perhaps the most iconic symbol of humanitarian relief in wartime. It tells you that the Red Cross is present in ruined Irpin. Helping hand: A Red Cross worker assists with evacuation in Irpin As we pass, a volunteer crew is helping an elderly couple who have run the gauntlet of a dubious ceasefire into the back of their vehicle. This is neither the time nor place to stop and chat, so I don't know the names of the Red Cross personnel concerned. But what courage, what fortitude. Again and again, they drive their unarmoured van backwards and forward beyond the evacuation buses that are parked out in the forest, beyond the last Ukrainian military checkpoint on the edge of Irpin and into the firing line. The road surface here is covered in debris. Heavy mortars had pounded this section of the escape route a few days earlier, killing Tatiana Perebeinis, the chief accountant of a Silicon Valley start-up with headquarters in London, her daughter, Alise, 9, and son, Nikita, 18, as well as the family's pet dogs. The images of the family lying dead on the pavement amid their belongings caused horror around the world. But thousands of others have escaped, thanks to the local Red Cross evacuation teams, working in conjunction with the state emergency services. Mercy mission: Irina and Katarina treat an injured man Of the 6million raised so for by the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal, 500,000 is directly funding Red Cross work in this country. This week, the Mail spent two days witnessing that work, both at the front line and at one of the major railway hubs that has been overwhelmed by the refugee exodus from the fighting. By last night more than 2.5million Ukrainians had left the country, most of them women and children. Their journeys often begin in places like Irpin. Once they reach the evacuation buses, they are driven several miles through the forest to a check point where volunteers serve them hot drinks and cakes. Those who are obviously in distress are taken into a tent and checked by Red Cross medics. It is outside this tent that we come across one young family; dentist Oleks, his wife Marina and their three year old son Dimi, pale faced and red eyed, chewing on a pastry. They have just got out, but the trauma is still with them. 'I was so scared,' says Marina. 'We live on the boundary of Irpin and Bucha and there was such heavy fire last night. My parents are still there. They cannot move because of their poor health. Thank goodness Dimi doesn't understand what is happening.' Symbol of hope: A Red Cross van outside shelled restaurant Their next stop as new refugees will probably be Kyiv's main railway station. And the Ukrainian Red Cross Society the local branch of the international movement will be there for them too. Katarina is team leader for the organisation's 'first response' team for this particular day shift that will last from 10am to 10pm. Their base is a small tent in a corner of one of the cavernous, Soviet-era waiting halls. In peacetime, she is a theoretical physicist. She still is a wife and mother. But for the next twelve hours she will be responsible for providing help and comfort to the thousands of displaced who continue to pour through the capital towards the west and safety. Among her team are two chemical scientists, Oleksa and Mikhail, Alina, a procurement manager and Irina, a nurse. A furniture designer, an IT specialist and medical students are in reserve. 'It is a long day and a very long night,' Katarina says. 'Probably the worst times are when the evacuation buses or trains from the east arrive in the hours of darkness, unannounced. Then it's like the apocalypse. 'People are tired, frightened and disorientated and it is the elderly and disabled, and those women travelling alone with kids who suffer the most.' She added: 'We have had to deal with strokes, high blood pressure and people on the verge of collapse or in hysterics. A couple of days' ago a woman had a heart attack and despite our best efforts we could not save her.' A destroyed vehicle is seen at the border between Bucha and Irpin The main hall is very cold at night and refugees often stay here for many hours because of the city-wide curfew outside. 'Sometimes a hot drink and a comforting word is just enough to keep them going,' says Katarina. 'Other people see the Red Cross sign and it is reassuring. They come over just to talk to someone they can trust.' The volunteers carry their own burdens. 'It is a very stressful for us. Today we helped a woman from Bucha whose husband had been shot in front of her. You hear a dozen stories like that each shift and they stay with you.' A child and his father are evacuated from Irpin, Ukraine today What do they still need? 'We cannot have too much antiseptic solvents and bandages,' she says. 'And our front line evacuation people do not have any body armour or helmets. We also need more tourniquets. This is a war situation and we have evacuated a lot of people who had lost limbs.' The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has around 500 employees and 6,000 volunteers. While the Red Cross is a completely neutral humanitarian organization, that does not make it invulnerable. Premises run by the URCS in Mariupol and a Kharkiv and a vehicle in Vyshhorod have been damaged by artillery fire, according to a local spokesman. But Katarina and her team soldier on. She tells me: 'Thank your readers so much for their generosity. We know that Britain is thinking of us. But we need more help. We're on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.' A man and a woman wait to be evacuated from Irpin, Ukraine today Thank you SIX MILLION times: That's how much our amazing readers and others have raised through the Mail Force Ukraine refugees appeal in less than two weeks By Sam Greenhill Chief Reporter for the Daily Mail Cheques from kind-hearted Mail readers have taken the total raised in our Ukraine fundraising appeal to more than 6million in less than two weeks. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin. Horrified at the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, some people have dug exceptionally deep, writing cheques for thousands of pounds, while others without so much to give have sacrificed small luxuries to help. Cheques from kind-hearted Mail readers have taken the total raised in our Ukraine fundraising appeal to more than 6million in less than two weeks Richard Halliday, of south-east London, sent 20 with a handwritten note included saying: 'I have very little money. Every Saturday night, I treat myself to a nice steak and chips, but I will replace this meal with baked beans on toast.' An anonymous reader accompanied their cheque with a handwritten note that read: 'At the turn of the 20th century my grandfather left Ukraine to escape persecution from the Tsarist regime. 'The British took him in and gave him a safe new life, but 120 years on nothing has changed. The Russian regime is still persecuting innocent people. This cheque is in memory of my grandfather.' The Kilmarnock Burns Club sent 50, with club treasurer John McCracken saying simply that its members had felt the need to contribute towards ending 'this humanitarian disaster'. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin Twice-married widow Doris Hanczaryk sent 20 in memory of her late husbands, both of whom were Ukrainian. The 87-year-old, nee Wright, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said: 'I am English-born and still feel English but in many ways I feel Ukrainian. 'I miss my menfolk so much as many refugees will miss theirs in this terrible war. Both of my husbands fought to push Russia out of the Ukraine in the Second World War. 'These people need all the help we can send for them.' A farmer who spoke to the Mail on the phone said: 'We have had Ukrainians on our farm in Carmarthenshire. They are honest hardworking people. 'I feel so desperately sorry for them. I feel I had to give to the Daily Mail appeal. 'Something must be done to stop this evil dictator. It cannot go on.' Some four million are running away, making this the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Pictured: Refugees in Moldova And Brenda Seaton, from Exmouth, Devon, gave 100 and said: 'I have cried so many tears watching the TV coverage and I hope that my small donation will help a little. 'My heart goes out to the brave men and women and I hugely applaud their wonderful leader.' Animal campaigner Irene Davies sent 20 and saluted the 'wonderful and brave people' of Ukraine, adding: 'They also saved their pets and didn't think just of themselves.' The Mail Force charity has also received generous donations via bank transfer and on the telephone, and through the Just Giving fundraising website. At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000. Mail Force does not take a penny in administration costs and is passing the money to good causes helping refugees on the ground in Ukraine and the countries they are fleeing to. Some four million are running away, making this the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Advertisement At least four yachts and a private jet owned by sanctioned Russians or their families have escaped the grasp of European officials in recent weeks, a Daily Mail investigation can reveal. Between them, the oligarchs have managed to spirit away 1.8billion in assets. A fifth yacht linked to a firm subject to sanctions was also on the move. MPs and campaigners described blundering nations' failures to freeze assets owned by Kremlin cronies as a 'total dereliction of duty'. Among the most notable examples is Roman Abramovich's 445million superyacht, which was 'rushed' out of a shipyard in Barcelona weeks before repairs were finished. Staff working on Solaris which boasts its own helipad and missile detection system said they were told to tear down scaffolding at short notice 'so the boat could leave' on Tuesday, less than 48 hours before the billionaire owner of Chelsea was sanctioned by the UK. Last week the largest boat in Abramovich's fleet the 533ft Eclipse, worth an estimated 672million sailed away from the Caribbean island of St Martin, which is part of the European Union, putting it beyond sanctions. A 180million private plane owned by the family of Alisher Usmanov was allowed to leave Munich airport 24 hours after Germany closed the skies to Russian aircraft. The former Arsenal shareholder was sanctioned by the EU on the same day, February 28. At least four yachts and a private jet owned by sanctioned Russians or their families have escaped the grasp of European officials in recent weeks, a Daily Mail investigation can reveal The plane, a custom-painted Airbus A340 named after the metal tycoon's father, is now in Uzbekistan beyond the reach of officials, according to flight data. On February 27, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was banning 'any plane owned, chartered, or otherwise controlled by a Russian person'. Usmanov said he had passed ownership of the aircraft to his family and claimed there was 'no legal basis' for their seizure. The EU also watched as the 437million yacht owned by Andrey Kostin, the 'Jedi Master' of Russian finance, sailed from Barcelona to the Seychelles days before Ukraine was invaded on February 24. Graceful, the 269ft superyacht believed to be owned by Russian president Vladimir Putin, escaped Hamburg for Russia's most westerly port Kaliningrad last month as troops built up on Ukraine's border. Sanctioned: Roman Abramovich Experts said there was no hope of seizing the assets once they left Europe, meaning their owners are free to enjoy them even as the war enters its third week. Ross Denton, of law firm Ashurst, said: 'There's no extradition law for boats.' Vagit Alekperov, president of US-sanctioned oil company Lukoil, moved his boat from Barcelona two weeks ago. He has not been personally sanctioned. In a further case, a superyacht linked to Russia's sanctioned former president Dmitri Medvedev has not been seized by a boatyard in Finland because they reportedly 'have no information that the vessel belongs to him'. Last night, Abramovich's two biggest yachts worth a combined 1billion appeared to be heading towards safe waters in the eastern Mediterranean. He was finally hit with UK sanctions on Thursday. But days earlier, as the net closed in, staff working on the 461ft Solaris were told to prepare the asset to leave Barcelona 'suddenly'. Its eight decks still needed to be painted and its teak wood treated refurbishment that would have taken a further two weeks, workers told the Mail. One staff member said: 'Some scaffold sheeting had to be put up and they [the manager] suddenly told us the work couldn't be done and the scaffolding had to be taken down so the boat could leave. It would have stayed longer.' Solaris was south of Italy yesterday, and appeared to be sailing to the safe waters of Montenegro, according to data from Marine Traffic. Eclipse is expected to pass the Strait of Gibraltar tomorrow. Roman Abramovich's super yacht Solaris is seen at Barcelona Port in Barcelona city, Spain, March 3, 2022 Chris Bryant MP, a Labour member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said: 'We gave [Abramovich] two weeks' warning plenty of time to scurry away like a rat. 'Why is the Government taking so long about this? Why? It's very frustrating, there was nothing that was known on Thursday that wasn't known by the Government two weeks ago or even three years ago.' Susan Hawley, executive director of Spotlight on Corruption, said the delay 'has given those close to Putin and in the oligarchy plenty of notice to shift their assets beyond the reach of sanctions enforcement'. Labour MP Margaret Hodge, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-corruption, said: 'It is a total dereliction of duty that law enforcement agencies are allowing oligarchs to sail their yachts and fly their jets where they cannot be impounded.' Tory MP Andrew Mitchell said: 'Impounding the toys of Putin's money men strikes at the heart of his support. It's a highly effective weapon and together with all civilised countries we must do everything we can to exploit this Putin weakness. 'Governments around the world should have moved further and faster and then it would not have come to this.' A giant scaffolding covered in tarpaulin covers the super-yacht 'Dilbar' lying in dry dock at the German shipbuilding company Blohm + Voss compound on the river Elbe at the harbour in Hamburg, northern Germany, on March 7, 2022 Two superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs are in the same MB92 Barcelona shipyard where Abramovich's Solaris had been before it suddenly set sail. One is 106million Valerie, owned by former KGB officer Sergey Chemezov who is subject to US sanctions. This week staff covered its name in black sheeting. Tango, owned by US-sanctioned Viktor Vekselberg, the founder of a Russian energy conglomerate, was last seen in Mallorca. The boats can only be seized if the EU imposes sanctions before they cast off. Three superyachts belonging to Gennady Timchenko, steel magnate Alexey Mordashov, and Igor Sechin, Putin's 'right-hand man', were seized last week. But the majority of boats owned by sanctioned Russians are now beyond the reach of European officials. Clio, owned by Oleg Deripaska, is in the Maldives. Rahil, which is owned by Putin's judo partner Arkady Rotenberg, was last seen in Turkey, while Nord, owned by steel magnate Alexey Mordashov is in the Seychelles. The hunt for private jets has stuttered. At least two planes linked to super-wealthy Russians have travelled through Basel, Switzerland, in recent days, in apparent contravention of the EU flight ban. The UK grounded a private jet in Farnborough believed to belong to oil baron Eugene Shvidler on Tuesday but has not yet been able to prove the Luxembourg-registered plane is actually Russian. Although Mr Shvidler, a close friend of Abramovich, has not been sanctioned himself, new laws passed by the Government have made it illegal for any plane owned or chartered by Russians to fly in UK airspace A Boeing 767 previously used by Abramovich landed in Basel on Tuesday, but has not been seized. The oligarch's main jet, a 264million Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is in Dubai. The UK grounded a private jet in Farnborough believed to belong to oil baron Eugene Shvidler on Tuesday but has not yet been able to prove the Luxembourg-registered plane is actually Russian. Although Mr Shvidler, a close friend of Abramovich, has not been sanctioned himself, new laws passed by the Government have made it illegal for any plane owned or chartered by Russians to fly in UK airspace. A representative for Usmanov said he had transferred ownership of his plane to his family, adding that he is 'convinced that there is no legal basis for any blocking or any other restrictions' on his assets. He said: 'The assets were long ago transferred to an irrevocable trust whose beneficiaries are Mr Usmanov's relatives. From that point on, [he] did not own them but could only use them on a rental basis.' Shipyard MB92 and Basel Europort airport declined to comment. Three representatives for Abramovich did not respond to requests for comment. Kostin and Alekperov have also been contacted for comment. A tearful Ukrainian mother has spoken of her 'grief and shame' as she condemned her Russian fighter pilot son who was shot down for 'bombing' her country. Elena Golovenskaya broke down as she revealed her horror that her son, Major Aleksey Golovensky, had allegedly been attacking her native Ukraine. In the video message, released by the Ukrainian military, she said she felt 'grief and shame' and apologised to her fellow countrymen for her son's actions. Aleksey was reportedly shot down in the Mykolaiv area in south Ukraine on March 5 while flying in his SU-30SM fighter. He reportedly told his captors that he had flown from Crimea, where he was performing 'reconnaissance' missions for Moscow's air force. Elena Golovenskaya (pictured) broke down as she revealed her horror that her son, Major Aleksey Golovensky, had allegedly been attacking her native Ukraine Footage released by the Ukrainian Armed Forces reportedly showed Aleksey after he was shot down in the Mykolaiv area in south Ukraine on March 5 while flying in his SU-30SM fighter Footage released by Ukraine's forces over the weekend showed a stranded pilot with Golovensky's name surrendering on his knees in a field. He was later questioned and appeared before an Interfax, Ukraine's national news agency, press conference on Friday. Mrs Golovenskaya said her son serves as a pilot in Russia's naval aviation unit and was deployed in the city of Saky, in Russian-occupied Crimea. Mrs Golovenskaya (pictured) said her son serves as a pilot in Russia's naval aviation unit and was deployed in the city of Saky, in Russian-occupied Crimea She explained in the video footage: 'On March 5, 2022, following the criminal orders of the command of the Russian army, he flew to Mykolaiv. He was shot down by Ukrainian air defence and captured' She explained in the video footage: 'On March 5, 2022, following the criminal orders of the command of the Russian army, he flew to Mykolaiv'. 'He was shot down by Ukrainian air defence and captured. We learned about this news from the media, watching a report about downed pilots,' she added. 'I was overwhelmed with grief and shame for my son, we repeatedly heard the terrible howl of air raid sirens in Kremenchug. 'It was hard for me to understand how it was possible to fulfill the commanders criminal order about the bombing of Ukraine. 'Naturally, I'm worried about my son. Once captured, thank God he survived. 'I apologise to the Ukrainian people and I apologise for my son and for myself that I could not raise a normal, worthy person.' Today, Trudi McPhee, a sixth generation islander, farms her 8,500 acres of land populated by 1,700 sheep on East Falkland, where she was born and raised. In fact, her little plot is too small to be economic, so she also, with her partner, manages three other farms with a further 10,000 sheep. Her peaceful existence is in stark contrast to the dangers she faced exactly 40 years ago when a huge Argentine force invaded the Falkland Islands. From the moment Governor Rex Hunt was forced to surrender, all the islanders faced an uncertain future, at best, and a dangerous one, at worst. Once the battle to regain the islands began, Trudi was one of several islanders who put their lives at risk by helping the British troops as they advanced towards Port Stanley. Three islanders, all women, died in the fighting. It is little-known that during the occupation, many other islanders also took significant risks by forming a loose resistance group that tried to sabotage the communications and other operations of the Argentine invaders, while also passing on vital information, including the locations of enemy troops, to the British. Some say the islanders courage has, to this day, never been fully recognised. Today, Trudi McPhee, a sixth generation islander, farms her 8,500 acres of land populated by 1,700 sheep on East Falkland, where she was born and raised. As a 29-year-old Trudi McPhee, pictured, helped British troops free the Falklands from the Argentine invaders In November last year, I published my latest bravery book, Falklands War Heroes, in order to tell remarkable stories of gallantry performed by our soldiers, sailors, airmen and support staff during the 1982 war. This bravery resulted in numerous gallantry decorations being awarded, including two posthumous Victoria Crosses. Now, just days before the 40th anniversary of the invasion, I want to tell the story of the valour of the islanders themselves as well as of some other unsung heroes in two articles, continuing in tomorrows The Mail on Sunday. When a large Argentine force descended on the Falkland Islands in the early hours of April 2, 1982, the remote British Overseas Territory of 1,820 inhabitants was defended only by a platoon of Royal Marines. They put up a short but spirited defence until ordered to surrender in the face of a far larger enemy force. The Falklands Islands Defence Force had been alerted the night before the invasion and the 40-strong civilian militia was up for a fight. However, few had any military experience or training and it was decided, wisely perhaps, not to put them into the front line. The men, who drew comparisons with Dads Army and who were under the command of Major Phil Summers, had assembled in the Drill Hall at Port Stanley from 5am on April 2, but they surrendered later that day, without firing a shot in anger, on the orders of the Governor. Over the next fortnight, the Marines and most government officials, including Rex Hunt, were flown off the island. Before invading, the enemy had done their homework, perhaps aided by Argentines already living on the islands, and had identified some islanders by name as potential troublemakers to watch. The Battle for Mount Longdon was won on June 12. On June 14, Port Stanley was captured and the enemy surrendered. Sadly, during the fighting on June 11, three civilians, all women and including the vet Steve Whitleys 30-year-old wife Sue, were killed by a stray missile, while Steve himself, then 35, was injured. But their fight to help regain their homes and their freedoms had been won The islanders debated in private from the start what they should do: some favoured out-and-out disobedience but most opted, in the face of overwhelming odds, to build a working relationship with the invaders but to fall short of total cooperation. A few even bided their time waiting for the best moment to take up arms. Dick Barker, Hunts right-hand man as Chief Secretary, chaired a committee set up to debate the occupation before he left the island after ten days. He later recalled: We had to do a bit of restraining with Steve Whitley [the island vet] because he was all for going out and sabotaging things, and sticking knives in a few Argies. Baker pointed out that if enemy servicemen were killed, the retaliation might be to shoot dead some islanders, including women and children. Bill Luxton, who had long been a fierce critic of Argentina, was a councillor on the island and he and his wife defied the enemy orders to stay in Port Stanley, fleeing instead to their remote farm on West Falkland. The couple were soon rounded up by a Special Forces team and deported. But Luxton left with useful intelligence information that he handed to the British and he became a fierce critic of Argentina from afar over the next few weeks. As the occupation went on, the invaders adopted a new policy of detaining potential troublemakers, including Dr Daniel Haines, the Senior Medical Officer, at the remote Fox Bay settlement. The men of the Public Works Department, who ran the electricity and water supplies under armed guard, considered trying to sabotage both services, but they realised the islanders would suffer as much as the invaders. One man whom the Argentines seemed to disregard as a threat was vet Steve Whitley, who was allowed to keep going round the islands tending to farm stock and pets. Phil Middleton, a teacher, helped him secure the homes of Government officials who had left the Falklands after April 2. However, Middleton later recalled how the vet used his surgery equipment to cut enemy communications. Steve Whitley had his magic scissors, a gelding tool that he used to cut the army telephone wires. Wed stop and Steve would just drop down and cut the wires with a big pair of castrating scissors. My job would be to keep watch . . . Every time we went into a house that we knew the Argentines were about to take over, wed walk around and make sure it was all right. Snip, snip! Whitley also used his camera equipment to good effect during so-called house-clearing missions, photographing various enemy positions and the like for the UK Task Force to use at some point. Speaking from his home on the Falklands, Middleton told me: At the time, we [Steve Whitley and himself] were fundamentally angry that someone had come to take over our island, our homes, and were telling us what to do. Mr Middleton, who was 32 at the time of the invasion, added: Steve and I were having a bit of a lark thumbing our noses up to the [Argentine] authorities. We didnt consider that we were doing anything heroic. The enemy, however, would have looked upon such activities as spying or even treason, but the two men were never caught. At the time of the invasion, most islanders relied on the government operated RT (radio-telephone) system for their communications. After the invasion, this RT network could only be used with special permission and the invaders ordered radio hams to dismantle and hand in their sets. They knew who had equipment from the licences that had been issued. The principal RT operator was Eileen Vidal and, by chance, shortly after the invasion she had Captain Nick Barker, of the patrol ship HMS Endurance, on the line when the enemy were not listening. At the time of the invasion, most islanders relied on the government operated RT (radio-telephone) system for their communications His Marines were on South Georgia preparing to defend the island the next day. Vidal told him valuable information: there were an estimated 15,000 Argentine troops on the island, plus aircraft carriers, helicopters and other military equipment and enough ships out there to blow you out of the water! Some of the braver amateur radio ham operators were also seeking to pass on intelligence, including Reg Silvey, who had lived on the Falklands for 13 years. Immediately after the invasion, he handed in his rig at the Town Hall, making sure it was signed for, but he then managed to obtain a radio and transmitter that had been secretly hidden by another islander. Soon, he was linking up over the airwaves with a radio ham in the north of England and passing on useful information. This included the fact Stanley airport was being used by the enemy for supplies but there were no locals nearby, so it could be safely attacked. The trick was to transmit while watching out of the window for the military police, Silvey later recalled. The invaders knew someone was transmitting but their direction-finding equipment was not sufficiently accurate to identify the culprit. Perhaps the bravest islander was Terry Peck, a former police chief turned councillor, who wandered around with a Russian camera and telephoto lens, concealed in a drainpipe. His images of anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons were eventually smuggled to the British forces. However, Peck had come to the attention of the invaders. Constable Anton Livermore, originally a member of the island police force and a Spanish-speaker, overheard two Argentines saying they planned to arrest Peck the following morning. Alerted to the danger, Peck, who was in his early 40s, fled Stanley on a motorbike, armed with a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition hidden earlier in his spare tyre. He headed for a remote location known as Green Patch. For the next few weeks, Peck, who had waterproof clothing, hid out, sometimes sleeping rough and at other times seeking help from islanders who fed him and allowed him to sleep in their outbuildings and use their bathrooms. The fugitive, who had also recovered weapons hidden by the Marines before their surrender, had also been provided by locals in the area with a forged Argentine white card which permitted movement between islands, changing his own name of Terry Peck to Jerry Packer in case he was caught. On April 24/25, South Georgia was retaken by the British, which lifted the spirits of islanders. They knew that the Task Force would next try to recapture the Falklands. Peck, who had the codename Rubber Duck, was determined to meet up with members of the British Armed Forces once they arrived on East Falkland. After the men of 3 Para and Royal Marines landed at Port San Carlos on East Falkland, Peck successfully sent a radio message to them that he was riding to meet them on his motorbike and they should not fire on him. Peck later described riding through the men, sporting their red and green berets. I was frantically waving to everybody and they were waving at me. Over the next few days, he was debriefed by intelligence officers. Peck was happy to be attached to 3 Paras D Company as they marched towards Mount Longdon, a key target in the battle for Port Stanley. Over a two-way civilian radio, he made contact with farmer Trudi McPhee, urging her to get as many drivers and vehicles together as you can and meet them as soon as possible. Trudi, then aged 29, was farming the land where she still lives. During the occupation, she had shielded up to 16 people, including women and children, in her two-bedroom farmhouse and neighbouring caravan. Most had fled from Port Stanley, more than 30 miles away, because they were frightened or they wanted more freedom. Once she had her request for help from Peck, Trudi, who is passionate in her love for the Falklands, wasted no time getting several volunteers with Land Rovers, tractors and other supplies to join her cross-country convoy. I am a pretty strong-willed character. There was no way I was going to miss out. I wanted to get rid of those bloody Argies, she told me. At 4am on May 31, much to her parents concern, Trudi and her group of 22 islanders drove through the Para lines and on to nearby Mount Estancia, with enemy soldiers all around the mountains. Soon they met up with Major Roger Patton, of 3 Para, who was full of admiration for their courage and their willingness to guide the troops towards Mount Longdon. It was not long before the volunteers were taking 300 Paras and their kit up Mount Estancia. As an attack on Mount Longdon was being formulated, Peck, Trudi and the rest of the volunteers agreed to stay with the British forces and helped over the next ten days with night patrols as they knew the terrain so well. It was unreal, Peck later recalled. We would get as close as we could get without spitting in their eye. Were talking tens of metres. Sometimes I got a bit nervy, particularly on moonlit nights. As the battle loomed, both Peck and Trudi stayed with the British forces. At one point, Trudi led a military convoy while wearing white gloves so they could be seen easily as she pointed out the best directions in the gloom. She had also been warned the area was mined and was given a field dressing and a hypodermic with morphine in case she was wounded by a mine or a bullet. Trudi said she was not really scared, even when she came under enemy fire. I just felt so damn cross that these people [the enemy] had done this to us and I wanted to do all I could to help, she said. Once they reached Longdon, Major Patton told the civilians that their role was over they could not be involved in the hand-to-hand fighting to take the mountain. Nine locals headed towards the foot of the mountain where they later saw wounded troops arrive by helicopter. Physically and mentally exhausted, Trudi remembered it was her mothers birthday the next day June 12 and so she went home to the family farm, Brookfield. The Battle for Mount Longdon was won on June 12. On June 14, Port Stanley was captured and the enemy surrendered. Sadly, during the fighting on June 11, three civilians, all women and including the vet Steve Whitleys 30-year-old wife Sue, were killed by a stray missile, while Steve himself, then 35, was injured. But their fight to help regain their homes and their freedoms had been won. Terry Peck, who fought with the Paras, was awarded the MBE for his contribution to the resistance and supporting the British advance. He was also given honorary membership of 3 Para and stayed on the islands until his death in 2006, aged 68. [His quotes in this article were given to Graham Bound, an islander and journalist who remained on the Falklands during the occupation.] Sue Whitley was buried on the Falklands and her husband was made an MBE for his brave deeds in 1982. He subsequently moved back to the UK and remarried, but has always been reluctant to discuss his role publicly. Trudi McPhee (then using her married surname, Morrison), received a letter of commendation from Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, commander of the British forces in 1982, that ended: At times under enemy artillery fire, Mrs Morrison remained resolved to continue, showing tremendous steadfastness in dangerous and unfamiliar circumstances. Six other farmers received similar commendations for their brave efforts and others were recognised for keeping services going during the occupation. Today, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, there is a memorial tribute to the bravery of the islanders who resisted their invaders and oppressors. The contribution of the islanders themselves seems to have been forgotten over the years and so I wanted to do something for them. They were incredibly brave, said former SAS soldier Mike Colton, 74, who founded the Friends of the Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove at the arboretum. However, the Willow Upland Goose memorial, featuring a bird widely found on the Falklands and designed to represent the islanders freedom, is falling into disrepair. I have made a contribution to the 50,000 appeal to construct a more permanent memorial made from metal. Perhaps the final word on the islanders courage should go to the-then Major Roger Patton, the former second-in-command of 3 Para in 1982 and who recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Patton, who eventually retired from the Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel, said of recapturing the Falklands: We couldnt have done it without the help of the islanders. Many of them were incredibly brave and they have never really received the recognition they deserve. Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is a businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For information on his work, visit www.lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook @LordAshcroft. For details on his new book, visit www.falklandswarheroes.com. All authors royalties are being donated to military charities. Advertisement The crisis in Mariupol deepened yet further last night as the death toll passed 1,500 and the deputy mayor claimed his besieged city had been 'totally destroyed'. In hellish scenes not witnessed on European soil since the Second World War, residents have resorted to fighting one another for food while bodies are being buried in trenches before they pile high in the streets. With Russia laying ruthless siege to the city, thousands of its inhabitants remained without food, water, electricity or heat as relentless shelling continued to blast shops and residential apartments. Such is their desperation, many trapped residents have resorted to looting to provide for their families. The crisis in Mariupol deepened yet further last night as the death toll passed 1,500 and the deputy mayor claimed his besieged city had been 'totally destroyed'. Pictured: The aftermath of Russian artillery shelling on a residential area in Mariupol where a rocket hit a house Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted: 'Besieged Mariupol is now the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet. 1,582 dead civilians in 12 days, even buried in mass graves. Unable to defeat the Ukrainian army, Putin bombs the unarmed, blocks humanitarian aid. We need planes to stop Russian war crimes!' With temperatures dropping to -9C (15.8F), those who did not manage to escape before Russian troops encircled the perimeter run the risk of dying from thirst, starvation and the cold. Mariupol has been a Russian target because of its port and strategic location on the Sea of Azov. Last night all bridges and approaches to the city, in southern Ukraine, had been surrounded or destroyed. A Russian army tank moves on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine today as the beseiged city is without water and electricity An explosion is seen in an apartment building after Russian's army tank fires in Mariupol, Ukraine today A sapper of the State Emergency Service stands at the bottom of a bomb crater amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9 Mariana Vishegirskaya walks downstairs in of a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Pictured: Where Russia is targeting during its invasion of Ukraine and Ukraine and Russia's losses A view shows cars and a building of a hospital destroyed by an aviation strike amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this handout picture released on March 9 Mariana Vishegirskaya lies in a hospital bed after giving birth to her daughter Veronika, in Mariupol, Ukraine today Eight trucks carrying humanitarian aid poised to enter are thought to have been stopped. Stephen Cornish, from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, said: 'Sieges are a medieval practice that have been outlawed by the modern rules of war for good reason.' Sergei Orlov, Mariupol's deputy mayor, said there was 'no way out.' He told Irish broadcaster RTE: 'Russian troops do not allow us to leave our cities. We have no utilities, no electricity, no sanitary system. 'Without water we had the awful [situation] when a child died of dehydration. So people collect snow to melt it to water. The city is totally destroyed by artillery and... aircraft bombing.' Mr Orlov said 50,000 children including 3,000 babies and toddlers remain in Mariupol. He estimated that about 100,000 of its 450,000 citizens had managed to flee before the siege. He added: 'Unfortunately, we have no opportunity to bury [the dead] in private graves. That's why yesterday we buried 47 people in a mass grave.' Ukraine's foreign ministry last night accused Russian soldiers of abducting Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the south-eastern city of Melitopol, which fell nearly two weeks ago. A mysterious Ukrainian pilot who has shot down up to ten Russian jets had been thought to be a myth. But now the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces have released an image of the so-called Ghost of Kyiv, alongside his threat: 'Hello occupier, I'm coming for your soul!'. The image simply shows a figure in the cockpit of an MiG-29 fighter jet, with his face hidden behind a black visor and oxygen mask. But now the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces have released an image of the so-called Ghost of Kyiv, alongside his threat: 'Hello occupier, I'm coming for your soul!'(pictured) The Ghost is fast becoming a symbol of resistance against the massive, but stalled, invasion. Ukraine has claimed it has shot down multiple Russian aircraft during the conflict. Putin had almost 1,200 combat aircraft before hostilities began, while Ukraine had just 124. The Ghost is fast becoming a symbol of resistance against the massive, but stalled, invasion. Pictured :A member of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces walks near remains of the Russian Sukhoi Su-25 assault aircraft crashed into the State Scientific Production Enterprise AKommunar CorporationA in Ukraine's second-biggest city of Kharkiv on March 8 A rampaging camel from a Tennessee petting zoo attacked and killed two men Thursday afternoon, authorities reported. The Obion County Sheriff's Office announced on Friday that it received reports of a camel on the loose that was attacking people at Shirley Farms in Obion. In audio obtained by CBS News, a dispatcher can be heard reporting 'two 911 calls of people being viciously attacked by a camel.' By the time deputies arrived on the scene, they found two unconscious victims, and the camel remained on the loose. The camel was later put down 'for the safety of everyone on the scene,' authorities said. Bobby Matheny, 42, and Tommy Gunn, 67, were pronounced dead. Bobby Matheny, 42, was one of two victims killed when the camel attacked on Thursday A camel at Shirley Farms, in Obion County, Tennessee, got loose Thursday afternoon and started attacking some bystanders, killing two men Officials from multiple agencies responded to the scene of Shirley Farms, on the site of The Pumpkin Barn, LLC, shortly before 5pm A sign for the Pumpkin Barn, where Shirley Farms is located, advertises 'exotic animals' The Sheriff's Office said it first received received a call about a loose camel at Shirley Farms, on the site of The Pumpkin Barn, LLC, at around 4:44 p.m. Officials from multiple agencies responded to the incident, and deputies who arrived immediately found two unconscious victims, Sheriff Karl Jackson said on Friday. Officers immediately tried to provide aid to the victims and move them to a safe place, he said, as the camel attacked an Obion County Sheriff's Office vehicle. The animal then moved toward the deputies, who were transferring a victim to EMS, at which point, Jackson said, 'officers had to put the camel down for the safety of everyone on [the] scene.' In the aftermath, Matheny and Gunn succumbed to their injuries, and were pronounced dead at the scene. Nick Beres, a reporter for News Channel 5 Nashville, later reported that he spoke to a family member of one of the victims, who said they had been trying to help capture the animal when it cornered them and attacked, stomping them to the ground. As a camel expert explained to Beres: 'A full grown [camel] can fit your head, arm, leg or torso in its mouth. 'They have enough strength to rush arms and legs along with your neck, while kicking forwards and backwards. 'Camels will do a combination of all those things while kneeling forward to crush you,' the camel expert said. When deputies arrived they found two victims unconscious at the scene (pictured) The petting zoo has previously been cited by the USDA for animal abuse and safety concerns. In 2018, a report obtained by DailyMail.com said an inspector on the scene noticed 'that the public were petting and feeding animals without any employee/attendant present. 'There is a barrier present between the public and the non-human primates, but not for any of the other species present, including a zebra, camels, llamas, alpacas, goats, sheep, pigs, fallow deer, kangaroo, zebu, rabbits, cavy and prairie dogs. 'The only attendant noted present at the exhibit was the cashier who does not have a direct line of sight on any of the animals,' it said. 'To prevent injury to the public and the animals, and to ensure proper human-animal interactions/feedings, an attendant must be present.' Then, in 2019, the USDA reported that the only source of water for the camels and zebras 'was a very small shallow muddy creek running through their enclosure. 'Access to potable water is necessary to prevent dehydration and spread of disease/parasites,' the inspection report reads. 'The camels and zebras shall be provided potable water at all times, or as often as necessary for the health and comfort of the animals.' In a statement to DailyMail.com, PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Debbie Metzler said: 'Shirley Farms has a history of failing to have employees supervise interactions with camels, among many other citations for violating federal law, so this incident is tragic yet unsurprising. 'Injuries abound when animals are exploited for entertainment, and PETA urges everyone to avoid sleazy roadside attractions as if lives depended on it - because they do.' Following the news of Matheny's death, tributes started pouring in on Facebook, with Autumn Staggs, a former co-worker of Matheny, writing: 'I cannot believe I'm making this post. 'To know him was to love him, and some days we clashed, she wrote of Matheny, calling him her work husband when they both worked as janitors at Lake County High School. Following the news of Matheny's death, tributes started pouring in on Facebook, with Autumn Staggs, a former co-worker of Matheny writing: 'I cannot believe I'm making this post' I remember the day you were hired, Staggs reminisced. We shared many laughs and many hard work days up there until I decided to leave for another job. He was always my go-to when I needed to vent and vice versa, she explained. Bob was a one-of-a-kind, and I cannot believe Im saying this but rest easy, big guy. You always made me laugh and we always had fun working together. Five years of knowing you, five years of counting on you, five years of you never failing to be a good co-worker and friend, but this hurts, man. You were my friend, my sidekick up there and Im never going to forget you. Rest easy, my friend. I pray youre singing with the angels right now, because so many are hurting tonight over your departure from Earth. Its a bad dream I wish we all could wake up from. A funeral service for Matheny will be held on March 13 in the gymnasium of Lake County High School, according to an online obituary for him, with staff members serving as honorary pallbearers. Shirley Farms told CBS News that they are 'upset and grieving' but do not have any further comment at this time. The much-anticipated police unit trained to get guns off the streets makes its debut Monday and not a moment too soon, with shootings up sharply in the city The specialized teams will start out in 25 precincts where shootings have been particularly bad, said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell in her first One Police Plaza news conference Friday. Advertisement Eventually, the teams a sergeant and five officers each will be assigned to 30 precincts and four Housing Bureau commands. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell at One Police Plaza in Manhattan on Friday, March 11, 2022. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The new Neighborhood Safety Unit replaces the controversial plainclothes Anti-Crime Unit, which then-Police Commissioner Dermot Shea disbanded in June 2020 after it was involved in a rash of shootings. A number of its officers were named in lawsuits or had complaints filed against them. Advertisement We actually looked at the mistakes of the past and what we needed to change, Sewell said. Theres also a community component to this training as well, where we talk to the community and find out what the changes are theyd like to see, she said. The neighborhood safety officers will wear blue tactical pants and NYPD jackets and be easily recognizable as police officers. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Theyve had seven days of training in topics like minimum force techniques, car stops, courtroom testimony and constitutional law. De-escalation is central to all of it. Communication skills is a big part of it, said Chief of Department Kenneth Corey. NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Police reform advocates have said they are worried the new unit wont be any better than Anti-Crime and have vowed to track how officers conduct themselves. But Sewell said the mission is to keep New Yorkers safe. These teams are there for gun violence, she said. Theyre there for criminal activity. They are there for the safety of the community. Advertisement Mayor Eric Adams (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) Through Sunday, serious crime in the city was up 47% from a year ago. While murders were up only slightly 67 compared with 66 at the same time last year shootings have spiked. There have been 192 shooting incidents this year, 14% more than the 168 as of last year. This year, 215 people were shot, 19% more than the 181 who were shot as of last year. A Ukrainian woman has allegedly been shot dead by a Russian tank in a roadside ambush after going to find medicine for her sick mother. Valeriia Maksetska, 31, was shot dead alongside her mother Irina and their driver by a passing Russian tank in a village outside Kyiv. Friends have hailed the late Maksetska as a 'brave' woman, saying she stayed in Ukraine to help locals under siege after Russia invaded more than two weeks ago. She made the fateful decision to flee the country when her mother's medicine ran out and the pair were driving towards Ukraine's western borders when they were ambushed by a Russia tank convoy. Maksetska had pulled over to let Moscow's men passed when one allegedly opened fire on her car, killing the 31-year-old, her mother and their driver. Valeriia Maksetska, 31, has allegedly been shot dead by a Russian tank in a roadside ambush after going to find medicine for her sick mother Maksetska was shot dead alongside her mother Irina and their driver by a passing Russian tank in a village outside Kyiv. Friends have hailed the late Maksetska as a 'brave' woman, saying she stayed in Ukraine to help locals under siege after Russia invaded more than two weeks ago USAID administrator Samantha Power confirmed all three died in the attack. She said: 'I'm enormously sad to share the death of Valeriia 'Lera' Maksetska - proud Ukrainian, beloved USAID implementing partner & brilliant, compassionate leader on building social cohesion & fighting disinformation. She was killed by the Russian military just shy of her 32nd birthday. 'She survived the shelling of Donetsk, moved to Kyiv, and started working with USAID - where she became beloved as 'a brave woman with a kind heart'. 'Lera, a trained medic, could've left Kyiv when the invasion began, but stayed to help others,' she added. 'Only when her mom Irina ran out of medicine did she evacuate. As Lera, Irina & their driver Yaroslav waited in a car for a Russian convoy to pass, a tank fired on them - killing all three. 'Lera's death is devastating for @USAID, @Chemonics & all who knew her. We celebrate her fierce dedication to Ukraine & joyful spirit. 'As Lera wrote when Kyiv was attacked, she was angry at the awful violence 'but so proud to be a Ukrainian & live someplace where beliefs matter'.' She made the fateful decision to flee the country when her mother's medicine ran out and the pair were driving towards Ukraine's western borders when they were ambushed by a Russia tank convoy Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts Jamey Butcher, chief executive of Chemonics, wrote: 'This is my staff member Valeriia (Lera) Maksetska. She was killed in a village west of Kyiv while trying to get medication for her sick mother.' Maksetska, who worked for Chemonics, was born and raised in Donetsk. She had worked as part of a humanitarian response since Russia's invasion of the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Her death comes less than a day after Russian forces blew up a care home near the city of Kharkiv. Oleg Sinegubov, an official from Kharkiv which has been under siege by Russian forces for days, accused Putin's men of committing a 'war crime' by launching air strikes against the facility in the town of Oskil which had 330 residents inside at the time the bombs hit. Sinegubov said 63 care home residents have since been evacuated, but could not give an update on the other 267. Ten of those living at the home require wheelchairs, he said, while another 50 have reduced mobility. Ihor Terekhov, mayor of the city, said another 48 schools have been destroyed by Russian missiles. Just 48 hours before the care home was destroyed, Russian jets had bombed a maternity hospital in the southern city of Mariupol as women gave birth inside. The Kremlin has sought to paint those wounded in the attack as 'crisis actors' as part of a vile propaganda attempt to dismiss allegations its troops are attacking women and children. Ukraine says Russian attacks have now killed more civilians than soldiers - without giving an exact figure for either - as the Kremlin's generals pivot from shock-and-awe-style precision strikes to 'medieval' siege warfare. Dnipro, hundreds of miles to the south of Kharkiv, was hit by three strikes early Friday that damaged a kindergarten, a civilian apartment block, and a shoe factory - killing at least one person. Footage taken somewhere in Ukraine shows another of Vladimir Putin's helicopters crashing out of the sky after apparently being hit by a surface-to-air missile Firefighters spray water on a destroyed shoe factory following an airstrike in Dnipro, after the city was hit by three Russian airstrikes Emergency crews assess the damage on a residential street in Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it came under bombardment on Friday - having largely been spared attacks so far during the war In Ivano-Frankivsk, a triple strike hit at first light, said to be targeting an airfield on the edge of the city Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelenskiy slammed Moscow for 'torturing' civilians who have spent more than a week without vital supplies in besieged cities as Vladimir Putin widened his onslaught of Ukraine yesterday. The Ukrainian premier accused Russia of refusing to allow evacuees to escape the city of Mariupol, which has been cut off from food, water and electricity, and defiantly insisted vital supplies would be delivered there tomorrow despite it being surrounded by Russian troops. The Kremlin-owned Tass news agency painted a damning picture for those stuck in the city after quoting Russian Colonel Mikhail Mizintsev as saying all bridge into the city were destroyed and roads had been laid with mines. 'Russian troops have not let our aid into the city and continue to torture our people... tomorrow [Saturday] we will try again, try again to send food, water and medicine' Zelenskiy said. Ukrainian officials revealed on Friday that Russian soldiers had kidnapped Melitopol's mayor Ivan Fedorov from the city's crisis centre after he 'refused to co-operate with the enemy'. 'This is obviously a sign of weakness of the invaders... They have moved to a new stage of terror in which they are trying to physically eliminate representatives of legitimate local Ukrainian authorities,' President Zelensky said. 'The capture of the mayor of Melitopol is therefore a crime, not only against a particular person, against a particular community, and not only against Ukraine. It is a crime against democracy itself... The acts of the Russian invaders will be regarded like those of Islamic State terrorists,' he said. In hellish scenes not witnessed on the continent since the Second World War, residents have resorted to fighting one another for food and bodies are buried in mass graves as more than 1,500 people have now died in the city. Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted: 'Besieged Mariupol is now the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet. 1,582 dead civilians in 12 days, even buried in mass graves. Unable to defeat the Ukrainian army, Putin bombs the unarmed, blocks humanitarian aid. We need planes to stop Russian war crimes!' A total of 7,144 people escaped four Ukrainian cities on Friday using humanitarian corridors, President Zelensky said in a televised address, a sharply lower number than managed to leave in each of the two previous days. It comes as Putin struck areas in central and western Ukraine, some hundreds of miles from the capital Kyiv and huge explosions illuminated the night sky in Dnipro and Lutsk as residents experienced Russian artillery attacks for the first time. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a triple strike hit at first light, said to be targeting an airfield on the edge of the city. Indiscriminate shelling at 4am UK time yesterday left tower blocks and a factory ablaze in Dnipro, killing a security guard. Meanwhile, the 40-mile convoy of tanks, troops and artillery that had been bearing down on Kyiv in recent days is understood to have moved into strategic firing positions ahead of an all-out assault on the capital. Fears have been mounting that Moscow could attempt a repeat at the barbaric bombing used on besieged cities such as Mariupol, with Russian troops now just nine miles from the city. Satellite images showed howitzer weaponry and suspected rocket launchers being readied, prompting remaining Kyiv residents to take up arms and erect barricades. Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned Russia the city was a fortress. It comes as military experts say they are baffled by the ineptitude of the tactics displayed by Russia's armies after drone footage yesterday showed a column of tanks getting picked off one-by-one in an ambush carried out by Ukraine's forces. Analysts have said Russian tank commanders allowed the Ukrainians to ambush their unit by driving down the middle of a main road leading into Kyiv - and straight into a death trap. By multiple counts, President Vladimir Putin's forces have lost more tanks than are operational in the entire German army. The crisis in Mariupol deepened yet further last night as the death toll passed 1,500 and the deputy mayor claimed his besieged city had been 'totally destroyed'. Pictured: The aftermath of Russian artillery shelling on a residential area in Mariupol where a rocket hit a house A Russian army tank moves on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine today as the beseiged city is without water and electricity An explosion is seen in an apartment building after Russian's army tank fires in Mariupol, Ukraine today Rescuers work at the scene of an airstrike in Dnipro during the first shelling of the Ukrainian city that killed a security guard Service members of pro-Russian troops in uniforms without insignia are seen next to a tank with the pro-Russia letter 'Z' painted on it outside a damaged residential building in the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha, Donetsk A view of a destroyed building after airstrikes hit civil settlements as Russian attacks continue on Ukraine in Dnipro Firefighters spray water on a destroyed shoe factory following an airstrike in Dnipro after civilian targets came under Russian shelling Trenches are prepared by the side of the road as a precaution amid Russian attacks in the capital city of Kyiv People taking refuge at the Kharkiv Metro Station in Kharkiv after shelling from Russian troops around the city Russia attacked the Lutsk aircraft plant leading to large explosions in the Ukrainian city As there were no Ukrainian military facilities in the Dnipro district, the local prosecutor opened an investigation into a possible war crime. Residents and shop owners worked thoughout the day to clear up broken glass and board up the open window frames as snow fell and temperatures dipped below zero. Svetlana Kalenecheko, who works in a clinic next door to the factory in Dnipro, said: 'We heard a loud explosion and the windows broke and bits of the ceiling started to fall.' Dnipro had been considered a safe haven. Consequently, it has become a hub for the coordination of humanitarian aid and for those fleeing more severe fighting. It was unclear last night what Putin thought he would achieve by bombing the city, as no invading troops were on the ground there yesterday. Other soft targets were hit, perhaps with the intention of spreading fear in areas previously unaffected by the invasion. A psychiatric hospital in the eastern town of Izyum was bombed, causing 73 patients to be evacuated. Governor Oleg Sinegubov said the number of casualties was being established. He described it as 'a brutal attack on civilians'. A care home for the disabled was also struck in the village of Oskil, eastern Ukraine. There were 330 people inside including ten who required wheelchairs and 50 with reduced mobility but there were no casualties. Ukrainian airstrips were targeted yesterday at Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, which are 260 miles and 380 miles respectively from Kyiv. Last night it was considered unlikely that attacks on airstrips so far from the capital city would provide Russian forces with a much-needed impetus. Western officials said the invaders were making 'minimal ground' because of logistical issues and 'strong Ukrainian resistance'. Civilians erect barricades of tires topped with bags of sand as a precaution amid Russian attacks on Kyiv A Ukrainian soldier hides from a helicopter airstrike amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine near Demydiv A destroyed tank is seen after battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces on a main road near Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022 Pictured: A graphic showing Russian army equipment that has been visually confirmed as destroyed by Oryx - a military blog that is tracking Moscow's losses during its invasion of Ukraine. Oryx says its figures are based on 'photo or videographic evidence. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here' Third Russian general 'killed' in Ukraine in eight days: Commander of armoured unit is the latest senior officer to be claimed dead by Ukrainian forces A third Russian general has been killed in Ukraine in just eight days in another devastating blow to Vladimir Putin's savage invasion of Ukraine. Major General Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army became the latest high profile casualty of the war today, Ukraine's government announced. There are believed to be 20 Russian generals taking part in the faltering invasion, which has also seen the loss of 173 tanks, 12 aircraft and 345 troop carriers. Western officials said the multiple general casualties suggest they are having to move to the front because Russia's troops are either unable to make their own decisions or are fearful of moving forward. Maj Gen Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army became the latest high profile casualty of the war today in another blow to the Kremlin, Ukraine's government announced Kolesnikov's death comes four days after the killing of Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, 45, the first deputy commander of Russia's 41st army. The general took part in the second Chechen war, the Russian military operation in Syria, and the annexation of Crimea, winning medals from those campaigns. According to reports, Gerasimov was the son of Valery Gerasimov - the Chief of General Staff of Russia's armed forces. And last week, Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, 47, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, was killed. Sukhovetsky died during a special operation in Ukraine, his comrade-in-arms Sergey Chipilev wrote on social media. He was shot and killed by a sniper near Mariupol, which has been under a brutal siege by Russian forces for days. Experts have said they are baffled by the ineptitude of the tactics employed by Russia's armies after drone footage yesterday showed a column of tanks getting picked off one-by-one in an ambush by Ukraine's forces. Analysts have said Russian tank commanders allowed the Ukrainians to gun down their unit by driving down the middle of a main road leading into Kyiv - and straight into a death trap. Putin's forces have now lost more tanks than are operational in entire German army. Ukraine's masterful ambush in Brovary piled on the misery of Moscow's invading forces, which has suffered more losses than expected and are now facing freezing temperatures in the coming days. Morale is said to be low. While reports said Russia's 6th tank regiment escaped with relatively minimal casualties, Russian commander Colonel Andrei Zakharov was reportedly killed, and his unit forced into a retreat. The smouldering wrecks of Russian tanks lay on streets after the fighting. Defence experts have been left stunned by Russia's military tactics. Franz-Stefan Gady - an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies - said the 'fight shows the danger of not securing urban terrain with adequate infantry plus recon. assets when main elements of a force pass through urban terrain ideally suitable for ambushes.' Rob Lee, a Senior Fellow and military expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, commented on the ambush, saying the Russian armoured force displayed 'very poor tactics'. The Russian column was 'on an obvious avenue of approach, and they still decided to bunch up like this, leaving them more vulnerable to indirect fire,' he wrote on Twitter, while sharing drone footage of the strikes. Of the Russian military activities in Ukraine, a former British army commander told The Daily Telegraph today: 'This is not the Russian army we trained to fight'. It comes as Russia continued their barbaric assault today by blowing up a disabled care home near the city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said, just 48 hours after shelling women as they gave birth in a maternity hospital Advertisement One said: 'Because of the challenges... they are reassessing how to prosecute military operations. Russia made assumptions [before the invasion] which led to tactical errors about moving forces and protecting forces.' The failure to establish control of Kyiv could force Putin to negotiate a settlement sooner than expected. Yesterday he said there had been 'positive changes' from the talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials as he welcomed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko to Moscow. It comes as Kyiv volunteers were seen digging trenches in the city outskirts to try to stop Russian troops. Bracing themselves for a bloody fight, others joined soldiers in erecting makeshift barricades with old tyres and sandbags. Around half of the city's 3.5million residents are thought to have fled but Mr Klitschko and his brother Wladimir both former heavyweight boxing champions said many were returning to defend their country. Some Russian units are now just nine miles from the city. There are fears they will attempt to repeat the barbaric tactics used on other cities including Mariupol, which is surrounded with those inside suffering starvation and dehydration. Russian forces even bombed a maternity hospital there this week. A convoy advancing through Brovary, a north-eastern suburb of Kyiv, was forced to retreat on Thursday after it became stuck in the town's streets and was ambushed by Ukrainian troops with anti-tank missiles. At least two vehicles including a tank were destroyed and a Russian commanding officer, said to be Colonel Andrei Zakharov, an associate of Vladimir Putin, was killed. Despite the setback, Russian forces continued to advance yesterday with armoured units seen in towns near the Antonov airport north of the city as well as in nearby forests. The Ministry of Defence warned that Russia was looking to 'reset and reposture' its forces for 'renewed offensive activity'. But officials noted the troops had made limited progress. 'Logistical issues that have hampered the Russian advance persist, as does strong Ukrainian resistance,' a spokesman said. 'Russia is [probably] seeking to reset and reposture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days. This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv.' Troops are approaching the capital from the north west and the east, engaging in firefights with Ukrainian soldiers in Kukhari 56 miles from Kyiv and Demydiv, 25 miles away. The convoy initially stalled as it approached Kyiv amid reports of fuel and food shortages as well as resistance from the Ukrainian forces. Speaking yesterday, Mayor Klitschko said his city had enough supplies to last a couple of weeks and had access to electricity, heating and gas. Wladimir, who has enlisted in Ukraine's reserve army, said citizens were prepared to engage in battle. 'There are a lot of refugees who left west, but a lot are coming back,' he added. 'A lot of men and women ... coming back to defend the country. This is our home. We are staying here. We are not going anywhere.' At least 564 civilians have died in Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova said at least 78 children were among the dead. Defence specialists have repeatedly been stunned by Russia's 'bizarre' military tactics. Franz-Stefan Gady - an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies - said the 'fight shows the danger of not securing urban terrain with adequate infantry plus recon. assets when main elements of a force pass through urban terrain ideally suitable for ambushes.' Rob Lee, a Senior Fellow and military expert at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, commented on the ambush, saying the Russian armoured force displayed 'very poor tactics'. The Russian column was 'on an obvious avenue of approach, and they still decided to bunch up like this, leaving them more vulnerable to indirect fire,' he wrote on Twitter, while sharing drone footage of the strikes. Of the Russian military activities in Ukraine, a former British army commander told The Daily Telegraph today: 'This is not the Russian army we trained to fight'. Meanwhile, analysis by the Austrian military's R&D department demonstrated the column was part of a larger Russian Battle Tactical Group (BTG). The analysis highlighted different companies within the BTG seen in the drone footage, as it came under Ukrainian heavy artillery guided by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The full scale of losses suffered by Putin's armies are unknown, but Ukraine has claimed it has destroyed over 12,000 troops, 350 tanks, 80 helicopters, 125 artillery units, 1,150 personnel carriers and almost 60 planes. Figures based on visual confirmations by military tracking website Oryx suggest over 1,000 Russian vehicles have been destroyed, damaged, abandoned or captured in the war. According to Oryx's figures as of March 11, Russia has lost 1,034 vehicles, of which 424 were destroyed, 13 were damaged, 159 were abandoned by Russian troops and 438 were captured by Ukraine's forces. Is THIS proof that the Ghost of Kyiv is real? Ukraine's military posts image of pilot 'who has shot down 10 Russian jets during war' warning: 'Hello occupiers, I'm coming for your soul!' A mysterious Ukrainian pilot who has shot down up to ten Russian jets had been thought to be a myth. But now the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces have released an image of the so-called Ghost of Kyiv, alongside his threat: 'Hello occupier, I'm coming for your soul!'. The general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces have released an image of the so-called Ghost of Kyiv, alongside his threat: 'Hello occupier, I'm coming for your soul!'(pictured) The image simply shows a figure in the cockpit of an MiG-29 fighter jet, with his face hidden behind a black visor and oxygen mask. The Ghost is fast becoming a symbol of resistance against the massive, but stalled, invasion. Advertisement While there is some discrepancy between figures detailing visually confirmed Russian vehicle losses released by Oryx and those released by Ukraine's defence officials, both paint a grim picture for Moscow's armies. Oryx says its figures are based on 'photo or videographic evidence. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here.' Tobias Schneider, a research fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, said Russian losses visually confirmed by Oryx 'now amount to approximately one Bundeswehr' - the entire German army. According to figures released by Germany, the country currently has 159 operational tanks in its entire military. The drone footage posted online on Thursday captured the 'Battle of Brovary', named after the north-eastern Kyiv suburb in which it took place. It showed explosions around the Russian tanks as they passed through the village of Skybyn, releasing plumes of black and grey smoke into the air, with suburban houses seen on either side of the road. The column was shown in the footage driving down a main road into the Brovary suburb in a long line when it came under fire from artillery. Explosion were seen both on the road and in the fields in the distance. Two tanks were shown pulled up on the side of the road, while others further into the suburb were shown bunched together in a traffic jam, as artillery fire began to rain down from above. Amongst the tanks, Russian troops can be seen frantically running between the vehicles, which start to turn around to escape the death trap. Yesterday smouldering shells of Moscow's machinery sat abandoned by the road, after the survivors of the attack performed desperate U-turns to flee the deadly corridor and retreated back up the road. In video released by Ukraine's military, a Russian soldier could be heard saying: 'Commander, the commander's dead!'. The second voice asked for the message to be repeated to which the first voice shouted: 'He's dead! The commander's dead!'. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence named the dead Russian commander as Colonel Andrei Zakharov, of the 6th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division, whom its statement describes as having been 'liquidated'. In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Courage by Vladimir Putin, and the two stood shoulder-to-shoulder in photographs. Zakharov's death, which could not immediately be verified, is another blow for Putin, as it follows those of Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, chief of staff of Russia's 41st Army, reportedly killed in fighting in Kharkiv on Monday, and Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, the 41st Army's deputy commander, who perished early in the invasion. 'Medieval horrors' of Mariupol siege: Death toll passes 1,500 as deputy mayor says besieged Ukrainian port city is 'totally destroyed' by Russian shelling in hellish scenes By Glen Keogh for the Daily Mail The crisis in Mariupol deepened yet further last night as the death toll passed 1,500 and the deputy mayor claimed his besieged city had been 'totally destroyed'. In hellish scenes not witnessed on European soil since the Second World War, residents have resorted to fighting one another for food while bodies are being buried in trenches before they pile high in the streets. With Russia laying ruthless siege to the city, thousands of its inhabitants remained without food, water, electricity or heat as relentless shelling continued to blast shops and residential apartments. Such is their desperation, many trapped residents have resorted to looting to provide for their families. The crisis in Mariupol deepened yet further last night as the death toll passed 1,500 and the deputy mayor claimed his besieged city had been 'totally destroyed'. Pictured: The aftermath of Russian artillery shelling on a residential area in Mariupol where a rocket hit a house Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted: 'Besieged Mariupol is now the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet. 1,582 dead civilians in 12 days, even buried in mass graves. Unable to defeat the Ukrainian army, Putin bombs the unarmed, blocks humanitarian aid. We need planes to stop Russian war crimes!' With temperatures dropping to -9C (15.8F), those who did not manage to escape before Russian troops encircled the perimeter run the risk of dying from thirst, starvation and the cold. Mariupol has been a Russian target because of its port and strategic location on the Sea of Azov. Last night all bridges and approaches to the city, in southern Ukraine, had been surrounded or destroyed. A sapper of the State Emergency Service stands at the bottom of a bomb crater amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9 Mariana Vishegirskaya walks downstairs in of a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022 A view shows cars and a building of a hospital destroyed by an aviation strike amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this handout picture released on March 9 Mariana Vishegirskaya lies in a hospital bed after giving birth to her daughter Veronika, in Mariupol, Ukraine today Eight trucks carrying humanitarian aid poised to enter are thought to have been stopped. Stephen Cornish, from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, said: 'Sieges are a medieval practice that have been outlawed by the modern rules of war for good reason.' Sergei Orlov, Mariupol's deputy mayor, said there was 'no way out.' He told Irish broadcaster RTE: 'Russian troops do not allow us to leave our cities. We have no utilities, no electricity, no sanitary system. 'Without water we had the awful [situation] when a child died of dehydration. So people collect snow to melt it to water. The city is totally destroyed by artillery and... aircraft bombing.' Mr Orlov said 50,000 children including 3,000 babies and toddlers remain in Mariupol. He estimated that about 100,000 of its 450,000 citizens had managed to flee before the siege. He added: 'Unfortunately, we have no opportunity to bury [the dead] in private graves. That's why yesterday we buried 47 people in a mass grave.' Ukraine's foreign ministry last night accused Russian soldiers of abducting Ivan Fedorov, mayor of the south-eastern city of Melitopol, which fell nearly two weeks ago Double danger at Chernobyl: Ukrainian hostage's daughter warns plant is held by Russians who have 'NO CLUE about nuclear security protocols' - as Kyiv intelligence claims Putin's forces will fake a terror attack at the site and try to blackmail the world By Chris Jewers, Chris Pleasance and Lauren Lewis for MailOnline The daughter of a overnight staffer being held hostage in Chernobyl has warned the plant is being held by Russian forces who 'have no clue about nuclear security protocols' after Kyiv's intelligence agency claimed Putin's forces are preparing to fake a terror attack at the site to try to blackmail the world. Natalia Ruemmele has warned that staffers who usually work 12 hour shifts have been maintaining the nuclear plant at gunpoint for more than two weeks since Russian forces seized control of the site as she pleaded with Moscow to agree to a ceasefire and allow a shift change. 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 Ukrainian intelligence earlier warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to create a 'man-made catastrophe' at Chernobyl which he plans to blame on Ukrainian 'saboteurs' in order to justify further escalating his war against the ex-Soviet country. Ukrainian spies say the 'terrorist attack' will be carried out by Russian operatives who moved in yesterday amongst a group of 'specialists' sent by Belarus to take over safety operations at the partially-destroyed nuclear power plant, which was seized by Russian forces in the opening days of the invasion. Belarus sent the team in after Putin's men disconnected Chernobyl from monitoring systems which report the status of its nuclear safety systems to UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and cut power to the plant - meaning water used to keep its fuel rods cooled will no longer automatically top itself up. Power to the plant was cut more than 40 hours ago leaving the reactors reliant on diesel generators that 'have a 48-hour capacity' before radiation leaks become 'imminent, according to transmission system operator Ukrenergo. Nuclear safety experts say Chernobyl has diesel generators which should have automatically kicked in after the power was disconnected to keep pumps running, after which water which cools nuclear fuel rods at the plant will start to evaporate - exposing the rods which could then start to burn and create a cloud of radioactive ash. All that should be needed to prevent that is for Russians to top up the water manually, which could be done with a water truck. Ukraine told the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday that technicians have started repairing damaged power lines at the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant in an effort to restore power supplies, the UN nuclear agency said. The Ukrainian nuclear regulator said Friday that workers repaired one section of the lines, but there still appears to be damage in other places. Repair efforts would continue despite 'the difficult situation' outside the plant, which was taken by Russian forces early in the invasion, the IAEA said. The Ukrainian regulator said additional fuel was delivered for generators, but it remains important to fix the power lines as soon as possible. The IAEA reiterated that the disconnection 'will not have a critical impact on essential safety functions at the site.' But Kyiv's Main Intelligence Directorate believes Moscow's actions show it is laying the ground for a manufactured nuclear catastrophe. They say Russian forces have been collecting the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who died fighting at Hostomel airport - the site of clashes close to Kyiv - in refrigerated lorries so they can be taken to Chernobyl and posed up as saboteurs. Putin's motivation is to 'blackmail the global community' for sanctioning Russia and providing weapons to Ukraine, which have battled the Russian leader's forces to a near-standstill with heavy losses. At the same time, the disaster - which would almost certainly cause radioactive fallout to land on Russia - would also be used to justify the use of further force against Ukraine. Though Kyiv's account cannot be independently verified, it comes against the backdrop of Russian attacks on other nuclear reactors in the country - at Zaporizhzhia in central Ukraine and Kharkiv in the east - which Ukraine has said are 'nuclear terrorism'. Zaporizhzhia power plant was attacked last week, sparking a fire near one of the reactors which Russian forces initially prevented fire crews from extinguishing. Kharkiv's Institute of Physics, which houses a reactor, was also shelled this morning - though no damage was caused to the nuclear facility. Meanwhile the head of a nuclear research facility in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv said on Friday that the grounds of the institute had been struck by Russian shells during recent fighting, but the core housing nuclear fuel remains intact. He warned, however, that any future damage to equipment in the core could pose a danger. 'The facility, in working condition, doesn't present any danger whatsoever,' said Mykola Shulga, director general of the National Science Centre Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology. 'However, if there is physical damage, a nuclear fuel leak is possible, radioactive elements (could escape) outside,' he said, speaking inside the facility. 'This obviously would be a huge, huge problem for the environment. In other words, what would happen would be comparable to a similar situation at any nuclear power station.' While the inner areas of the institute were unscathed, some of the outer walls of the building were damaged by shrapnel and windows were blown in. It comes against the backdrop of western governments saying Russia appears to be laying the groundwork to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine - an attack that would also be blamed on Kyiv with the aim of justifying a further increase in violence. Ukraine has also today accused fighter jets of staging a 'false flag' attack on Belarus as a pre-text to getting Alexander Lukashenko's troops involved in the fighting. Kyiv said two Su-25 bombers crossed the border from Belarus this afternoon, carried out attacks on Ukrainian soil, and then bombed Belarus itself. Defence minister Olexiy Reznikov said the attack was planned by Russia. 'The purpose of this provocation is to force the current leadership of Belarus into war against Ukraine. Moscow is trying to bind you with blood,' he said. Lukashenko has so-far refused to get his men involved in the war, after commanders reportedly quit rather than join the fighting. The 'false flag' operation came immediately after the dictator met Putin in Moscow to discuss trade links, and agreed Russian would supply Belarus with modern military equipment. Ukraine's defence ministry later said it expects Belarusian forces to cross the border and join in the fighting at 9pm (7pm GMT) tonight - though is not yet any sign that Minsk has joined the invasion. But Russian forces continued pounding the city of Mariupol on Friday night and elsewhere Moscow's men stopped some buses of people trying to flee the Kyiv region, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. In a video address, Vereshchuk said some planned evacuations were successful, including 1,000 people who were evacuated from the village of Vorzel in the Kyiv region. Ukraine says 1,582 civilians have died there in 12 days after the invasion. Chernobyl nuclear power plant, pictured on Thursday March 10 in a satellite image released today. The plant is currently under the control of Russian forces, who have disconnected it from international safety systems Russian forces took control of the power plant, which is located to the north of Kyiv, in the early days of fighting (pictured, Russian tanks at the site) and have since shut off the power which runs the cooling system, and disconnected Ukraine has warned that radioactive substances could be released from Chernobyl if power is not restored to the plant. Pictured: A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a general view of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, March 7 Pictured: A graphic showing the series of events that led to the explosion in the reactor in Reactor 4 on the night of April 26, 1986 Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivan-Frankvisk came under Russian bombardment in the early hours of Friday having largely escaped attack so-far, while efforts to capture the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol resumed. Ukrainian commanders say the capital Kyiv will soon be surrounded as Putin's men push into the outskirts An explosion in an apartment building in Mariupol, southern Ukraine, on Friday, March 11, after Russian tanks fired on the block during fierce fighting more than two weeks after Moscow invaded its neighbour A Russian army tank marked with a Z moves through the outskirts of Mariupol, a city that continues to be pounded by shelling after Moscow widened its offensive in Ukraine People cross the Irpin river as they evacuate from Irpin town next to a destroyed bridge more than two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine Hundreds of thousands are displaced inside Ukraine as well, after fleeing assaults on their hometowns. Irpin, (pictured) on the outskirts of Kyiv, has been one of the worst hit Volunteers evacuate an elderly resident in Irpin, some 25 km (16 miles) northwest of Kyiv, where residents have been enduring Russian shellfire and bombardments for over a week Civilians carry white flags as they navigate a crossing between Russian-controlled areas and Ukrainian-controlled areas in Bucha and Irpin on Friday, March 11 A woman walks in front of a residential building which was damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region The northwest suburbs, including Irpin (pictured) and Bucha, have already endured days of heavy bombardment but Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the northeastern edge A service member of pro-Russian troops in uniform without insignia jumps off a tank with the letters 'Z' painted on it outside a residential building in Volnovakha in the pro-separatist Donetsk region Service members of pro-Russian troops in uniforms without insignia gather around a fire outside a residential building in Volnovakha in the pro-separatist Donetsk region A satellite image shows a multispectral overview of artillery firing, in Ozera, near Antonov Airport, Ukraine, on Friday, March 11 Two men carry a body in a body bag to lay it next to others in a snow covered yard of a morgue in Mykolaiv, a city on the shores of the Black Sea that has been under Russian attack for days Jen Psaki, spokesman for the White House, said Russia is engaged in an 'obvious ploy' to justify its own use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by pumping out disinformation that America is secretly developing the weapons in Ukraine in laboratories close to the Russian border. 'Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them,' she said earlier this week. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a similar statement yesterday, saying: 'The stuff that you're hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of their playbook. 'They start saying that there are chemical weapons that have been stored by their opponents or by the Americans. And so when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a... fake story ready to go. 'You've seen it in Syria. You saw it even in the UK. That's what they're doing. It is a cynical, barbaric government.' Joe Biden warned Friday that Putin will pay a 'severe price' if he uses chemical weapons in Ukraine - but again repeated that American troops would not be sent into the country to prevent the outbreak of World War Three. 'The United States and our allies and partners continue to work in lockstep to ramp up the economic pressures on Putin and to further isolate Russia and the global stage,' Biden said in his announcement from the White House. Biden also said he will revoke Russia's 'most favored nation' trade status over its invasion of Ukraine, another step in the series of harsh economic sanctions he and U.S. allies have imposed on Moscow. He noted that revoking the favored trade status 'is going to make it harder for Russia to do business with the United States, and doing it in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another crushing blow to the Russian economy that's already suffering very badly from our sanctions,' he said. He also reiterated that American troops will not fight in the Ukraine. 'We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine,' adding that a 'direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War III something we must strive to prevent.' Meanwhile civilian volunteers trained in Odessa on Friday, learning to use rifles and other defence techniques as the city's mayor warned that Russian forces could soon surround the southern Ukrainian port city on three fronts. In a different part of the city, a group of women crafted camouflage nets by cutting up old pieces of cloth. It came a day after Russia's deputy energy minister, Yevgeny Grabchak, said power had been restored to the decommissioned plant, after Ukraine said earlier this week that Putin's forces had cut the electricity. However, the intelligence update disputed this, and repeated an earlier warning that if the electricity is cut, the plant's emergency diesel generators that provide back-up power to safety systems can only last 48-hours. Earlier this week, Ukraine pleaded with Russia to observe a ceasefire so engineers could go into Chernobyl and restore the power. This was refused, Ukraine said. 'The occupiers refused to grant access to the station to Ukrainian repairmen,' the update continued. 'Instead, 'Belarusian specialists' went there on the instructions of Alexander Lukashenko. Among them, under the guise of nuclear power plants, Russian saboteurs also come to organize a terrorist attack.' On Wednesday, IAEA also said it had lost contact with the captured Zaporizhzhia power plant, just hours after warning of a potential unfolding disaster at Chernobyl. The agency said warning systems at Zaporizhzhia - Europe's largest nuclear power plant - had stopped broadcasting updates in the days since Russian forces shelled the site, resulting in international condemnation. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Wednesday he was 'concerned about the sudden interruption' of the data flows to the watchdog's Vienna headquarters. He added that the reason for the disruption in updates from the power plants was not clear but the IAEA was still receiving data from other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including three other operational nuclear power plants. Also on Wednesday, Ukraine warned Chernobyl could be 48 hours away from leaking radiation, and the country's nuclear company Energoatom warned that radioactive substances could be released if an electricity outage at the site continues any longer, as it makes it impossible to cool spent nuclear fuel. Energoatom has said that work to repair the connection and restore power to the plant - the site of the world's biggest nuclear disaster in 1986 - has not been possible because fighting is under way in the region. Members of Ukraine's territorial defence forces take part in military training in an underground garage in Kyiv as Russian troops advance on the capital Soldiers patrol a street in Lviv, western Ukraine, as the Russian-waged war rages in the east and centre of the country for the sixteenth day on Friday, March 11 A Ukrainian woman with her baby embarks a train bound to Warsaw, at the Przemysl train station, southeastern Poland on Friday, March 11 Ukrainian forces have seized gas marks from Russian troops following warnings from the West that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons Damage is seen at the Institute of Physics in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, north east Ukraine, which houses a nuclear reactor that Russian forces are accused of targeting Ukraine has accused Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' after the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, was shelled. The institute houses a nuclear reactor Damage caused by Russian shelling is seen near the Institute of Physics, in the north eastern city of Kharkiv, Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the city of Dnipro, central Ukraine, after three airstrikes hit on Friday morning - destroying a shoe factory and killing at least one civilian Emergency crews assess the damage on a residential street in Dnipro, central Ukraine, after it came under bombardment on Friday - having largely been spared attacks so far during the war The company said there were about 20,000 spent fuel assemblies at Chernobyl that could not be kept cool amid a power outage. Their warming could lead to 'the release of radioactive substances into the environment. The radioactive cloud could be carried by wind to other regions of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe,' it said in a statement. Without power, ventilation systems at the plant would also not be working, exposing staff to dangerous doses of radiation, it added. Russia took control of the defunct atomic plant on the first day of the invasion and has since captured a second nuclear site - Zaporizhzhia - the biggest in Europe. Energy operator Ukrenergo also said their power has been entirely cut to the plant and its security systems. The plant 'was fully disconnected from the power grid,' Ukrenergo said in a statement on its Facebook page, adding that military operations meant 'there is no possibility to restore the lines'. The recent developments have now added increasing concern about safety and security around the region. Last week staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were captured on video pleading with Russian soldiers directing fire on the building before they overtook it. The nuclear power plant, which creates around 20 percent of Ukraine's electricity, was captured after a fierce gun battle between Russian President Vladimir Putin's men and Ukrainian defenders that sparked a fire in a six-story training building. 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. The IAEA said later on Wednesday it saw 'no critical impact on safety' from the power cut at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine. The Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that Ukraine had informed it of the loss of electricity and that the development violates a 'key safety pillar on ensuring uninterrupted power supply.' But it tweeted that 'in this case IAEA sees no critical impact on safety.' The IAEA said that there could be 'effective heat removal without need for electrical supply' from spent nuclear fuel at the site. Speaking to MailOnline Claire Corkhill - Professor of Nuclear Material Degradation at Sheffield University - said that while power being cut at Chernobyl was concerning, the spent nuclear fuel would not lead to a nuclear 'meltdown'. Red Cross volunteers help an elderly Ukrainian couple escape town devastated by Russian shelling during ceasefire as life-saving emergency crews aid terrified civilians with the help of Mail readers' donations, writes RICHARD PENDLEBURY By Richard Pendlebury and Jamie Wiseman in Irpin for the Daily Mail The town of Irpin is or, rather, was a residential satellite on the edge of Kyiv. Think of Borehamwood or Orpington in the context of London, or Sale outside Manchester; Morley in relation to Leeds. Not a military target, but now being targeted all the same by artillery and sniper fire. Tens of thousands of its civilian population have found themselves trapped here. An unknown number have already died. But the survivors have not been abandoned. And thanks to the incredible generosity of Daily Mail readers they will continue to get urgent help on the ground. On Popovic Street the main route out of town across the bridge now collapsed into the Irpinka river, a white van is parked beside a burned out restaurant, next to a blast-shattered church. On the side of the van is emblazoned perhaps the most iconic symbol of humanitarian relief in wartime. It tells you that the Red Cross is present in ruined Irpin. Helping hand: A Red Cross worker assists with evacuation in Irpin As we pass, a volunteer crew is helping an elderly couple who have run the gauntlet of a dubious ceasefire into the back of their vehicle. This is neither the time nor place to stop and chat, so I don't know the names of the Red Cross personnel concerned. But what courage, what fortitude. Again and again, they drive their unarmoured van backwards and forward beyond the evacuation buses that are parked out in the forest, beyond the last Ukrainian military checkpoint on the edge of Irpin and into the firing line. The road surface here is covered in debris. Heavy mortars had pounded this section of the escape route a few days earlier, killing Tatiana Perebeinis, the chief accountant of a Silicon Valley start-up with headquarters in London, her daughter, Alise, 9, and son, Nikita, 18, as well as the family's pet dogs. The images of the family lying dead on the pavement amid their belongings caused horror around the world. But thousands of others have escaped, thanks to the local Red Cross evacuation teams, working in conjunction with the state emergency services. Mercy mission: Irina and Katarina treat an injured man Of the 6million raised so for by the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal, 500,000 is directly funding Red Cross work in this country. This week, the Mail spent two days witnessing that work, both at the front line and at one of the major railway hubs that has been overwhelmed by the refugee exodus from the fighting. By last night more than 2.5million Ukrainians had left the country, most of them women and children. Their journeys often begin in places like Irpin. Once they reach the evacuation buses, they are driven several miles through the forest to a check point where volunteers serve them hot drinks and cakes. Those who are obviously in distress are taken into a tent and checked by Red Cross medics. It is outside this tent that we come across one young family; dentist Oleks, his wife Marina and their three year old son Dimi, pale faced and red eyed, chewing on a pastry. They have just got out, but the trauma is still with them. 'I was so scared,' says Marina. 'We live on the boundary of Irpin and Bucha and there was such heavy fire last night. My parents are still there. They cannot move because of their poor health. Thank goodness Dimi doesn't understand what is happening.' Symbol of hope: A Red Cross van outside shelled restaurant Their next stop as new refugees will probably be Kyiv's main railway station. And the Ukrainian Red Cross Society the local branch of the international movement will be there for them too. Katarina is team leader for the organisation's 'first response' team for this particular day shift that will last from 10am to 10pm. Their base is a small tent in a corner of one of the cavernous, Soviet-era waiting halls. In peacetime, she is a theoretical physicist. She still is a wife and mother. But for the next twelve hours she will be responsible for providing help and comfort to the thousands of displaced who continue to pour through the capital towards the west and safety. Among her team are two chemical scientists, Oleksa and Mikhail, Alina, a procurement manager and Irina, a nurse. A furniture designer, an IT specialist and medical students are in reserve. 'It is a long day and a very long night,' Katarina says. 'Probably the worst times are when the evacuation buses or trains from the east arrive in the hours of darkness, unannounced. Then it's like the apocalypse. 'People are tired, frightened and disorientated and it is the elderly and disabled, and those women travelling alone with kids who suffer the most.' She added: 'We have had to deal with strokes, high blood pressure and people on the verge of collapse or in hysterics. A couple of days' ago a woman had a heart attack and despite our best efforts we could not save her.' A destroyed vehicle is seen at the border between Bucha and Irpin, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Irpin, Ukraine today The main hall is very cold at night and refugees often stay here for many hours because of the city-wide curfew outside. 'Sometimes a hot drink and a comforting word is just enough to keep them going,' says Katarina. 'Other people see the Red Cross sign and it is reassuring. They come over just to talk to someone they can trust.' The volunteers carry their own burdens. 'It is a very stressful for us. Today we helped a woman from Bucha whose husband had been shot in front of her. You hear a dozen stories like that each shift and they stay with you.' A child and his father are evacuated from Irpin, Ukraine today What do they still need? 'We cannot have too much antiseptic solvents and bandages,' she says. 'And our front line evacuation people do not have any body armour or helmets. We also need more tourniquets. This is a war situation and we have evacuated a lot of people who had lost limbs.' The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has around 500 employees and 6,000 volunteers. While the Red Cross is a completely neutral humanitarian organization, that does not make it invulnerable. Premises run by the URCS in Mariupol and a Kharkiv and a vehicle in Vyshhorod have been damaged by artillery fire, according to a local spokesman. But Katarina and her team soldier on. She tells me: 'Thank your readers so much for their generosity. We know that Britain is thinking of us. But we need more help. We're on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.' A man and a woman wait to be evacuated from Irpin, Ukraine today Thank you SIX MILLION times: That's how much our amazing readers and others have raised through the Mail Force Ukraine refugees appeal in less than two weeks By Sam Greenhill Chief Reporter for the Daily Mail Cheques from kind-hearted Mail readers have taken the total raised in our Ukraine fundraising appeal to more than 6million in less than two weeks. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin. Horrified at the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, some people have dug exceptionally deep, writing cheques for thousands of pounds, while others without so much to give have sacrificed small luxuries to help. Cheques from kind-hearted Mail readers have taken the total raised in our Ukraine fundraising appeal to more than 6million in less than two weeks Richard Halliday, of south-east London, sent 20 with a handwritten note included saying: 'I have very little money. Every Saturday night, I treat myself to a nice steak and chips, but I will replace this meal with baked beans on toast.' An anonymous reader accompanied their cheque with a handwritten note that read: 'At the turn of the 20th century my grandfather left Ukraine to escape persecution from the Tsarist regime. 'The British took him in and gave him a safe new life, but 120 years on nothing has changed. The Russian regime is still persecuting innocent people. This cheque is in memory of my grandfather.' The Kilmarnock Burns Club sent 50, with club treasurer John McCracken saying simply that its members had felt the need to contribute towards ending 'this humanitarian disaster'. The amount contained in the torrent of envelopes arriving in the daily post has burst through the 2.5million barrier, accompanied by letters of compassion for refugees and rage at Vladimir Putin Twice-married widow Doris Hanczaryk sent 20 in memory of her late husbands, both of whom were Ukrainian. The 87-year-old, nee Wright, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, said: 'I am English-born and still feel English but in many ways I feel Ukrainian. 'I miss my menfolk so much as many refugees will miss theirs in this terrible war. Both of my husbands fought to push Russia out of the Ukraine in the Second World War. 'These people need all the help we can send for them.' A farmer who spoke to the Mail on the phone said: 'We have had Ukrainians on our farm in Carmarthenshire. They are honest hardworking people. 'I feel so desperately sorry for them. I feel I had to give to the Daily Mail appeal. 'Something must be done to stop this evil dictator. It cannot go on.' Some four million are running away, making this the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Pictured: Refugees in Moldova And Brenda Seaton, from Exmouth, Devon, gave 100 and said: 'I have cried so many tears watching the TV coverage and I hope that my small donation will help a little. 'My heart goes out to the brave men and women and I hugely applaud their wonderful leader.' Animal campaigner Irene Davies sent 20 and saluted the 'wonderful and brave people' of Ukraine, adding: 'They also saved their pets and didn't think just of themselves.' The Mail Force charity has also received generous donations via bank transfer and on the telephone, and through the Just Giving fundraising website. At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000. Mail Force does not take a penny in administration costs and is passing the money to good causes helping refugees on the ground in Ukraine and the countries they are fleeing to. Some four million are running away, making this the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. A 17-year-old girl was found dead this morning after being raped and having skin removed from her face in the Philippines. Christine Silawan, a grade nine student, had been on her way to church on Sunday afternoon but when she did not return home her mother Joan alerted the police to her daughter's disappearance at 7pm. This morning police found the teenager, whose skin had been removed from her face, dead in a vacant field in Barangay Bangkal. She was last seen at 4pm with three men in Lapu-Lapu City in the Cebu province. Christine Silawan, 17, was found dead this morning in a vacant field in Barangay Bangkal, Philippines After locals in the area reported the girl's body to the police, Christine's mother was left to identify her daughter from her clothes. Police Colonel Lemuel Obon, Lapu-Lapu City police director, said: 'We have witnesses who said three men were seen with the victim. We are now tracing their whereabouts.' Officers said that they suspected the teenager had been raped and are now waiting for the post-mortem examination results. They believe the killers could have been high on illegal drugs or removed the girl's face as part of a twisted ritual. Colonel Obon added: 'Police are investigating all motives about whether the young victim was the subject of an unprovoked attack and if the suspects were under the influence of drugs. 'We have never seen such a brutal crime before. It could also be a ritual to remove the skin from the face. The mother of the girl identified her from her clothes.' A police cordon is put up after the body of 17-year-old Christine Silawan is found in a field. The young girl had been waling to church and was last seen at 4pm with three men in Lapu-Lapu City Following the teenager's death friends paid tribute to the 'beautiful, clever' girl. Haring Joseph said: 'Rest in peace, my friend and my condolences to all of your family. May the police find whoever did this.' Police are now hunting for the killers behind the horrific crime. A woman who burnt her husband alive in an armchair by pouring a jerry can of petrol on him and setting it alight has been jailed for 12-years. Former Tupperware saleswoman Angela Surtees, 35, of Geelong, cried hysterically upon learning she must serve at least eight years before being eligible for parole. She had been fortunate not to have been jailed for even longer after reaching a deal with Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd, QC. Angela Surtees (pictured) worked as a Tupperware lady before she set her husband on fire as he sat on a couch outside their front door The pair, who were married for four years with five children, had been reportedly involved in a 'petty argument' before Mr Surtees' death Police were called to the couple's Boundary Road home around 8.30pm where they found the father with severe burns. Pictured above are the charred remains of the armchair where Mr Surtees was sitting The deal allowed Surtees to plead guilty to manslaughter rather than face a murder trial. Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Andrew Tinney was scathing of the deadbeat mother's cruelty to her deceased husband Daniel. The couple's own children had been home when she committed the atrocity. 'The shocking and painful nature of the fatal injuries you inflicted upon Daniel is clear,' Justice Tinney said. 'It would be a futile exercise to attempt to imagine a death that more appalls the conscience than death by burning. It is a form of death likely in common knowledge to be accompanied by extreme pain.' The court had heard audio of the shocking triple-0 phone call Surtees made after setting her husband alight. In it, Mr Surtees, 36, could be heard screaming in agony as he writhed on the ground in agony. The court heard Surtees had admitted to dousing her husband in petrol and igniting a lighter as he relaxed in a chair on the porch of their Geelong home in January 2020. The pair had been involved in a wild argument that started at an engagement party earlier that day. When the couple got home, neighbours heard them argue for a further 20 minutes before Mr Surtees was seen throwing over a garbage bin. Surtees was later seen crying outside. Agitated, she grabbed a 20 litre jerry can of unleaded fuel and poured it all over her husband as he sat in an armchair on the front porch. When he jumped up, Surtees pushed him back and lit a lighter. The father of five - two with Surtees - was engulfed in flames as he was incinerated on the spot. He died in hospital 18 hours later. The court heard the pair had a 'volatile' relationship leading up to the attack, which often included 'screaming matches' and 'slamming doors'. They would sometimes explode into violence. Angela Surtees had been a frequent contributor to her Facebook page, encouraging people to raise money for bushfire victims Footage of the scene showed the blaze reached the walls and ceiling, damaging the interior of the home On Friday, Justice Tinney described Mr Surtees as a kind and loving father whose cruel death was the sole responsibility of his wife. 'Daniel Surtees' death was not the result of a mere accident. You and you alone caused his tragic death by your criminal and outrageous actions which constituted a serious instance of family violence,' he said. The court heard Surtees had tried to convince police, doctors and her husband's own family that he had poured the fuel on himself during a wild physical attack upon her. They were shocking lies called out by Justice Tinney, who refused to accept Surtees held any remorse for what she had done. 'I am satisfied that it is simply not the truth. I am satisfied that fear had nothing whatsoever to do with your actions,' he said. The court heard Surtees' story about what happened that day changed repeatedly depending on whom she was telling it to. In one version, told to a forensic psychiatrist, Surtees claimed she had been pinned to the wall by Mr Surtees after she doused him in fuel. She also claimed her husband had been a pyromaniac. 'I'm satisfied that all these claims were false ... I'm satisfied that you (lied) deliberately (to the doctor) in an attempt to shift the degree of blame onto the deceased,' Justice Tinney said. The mother and sister of Angela Surtees are pursued by media as they leave the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in 2020. They made no comment A neighbour told the local news station she had previously heard sounds of a verbal altercation coming from the Surtees' home Angela Surtees, 34, of Geelong, appeared in court (above) charged with setting her husband on fire while he slept on an armchair The court heard Surtees had told police her husband had grabbed the can of petrol, poured the fuel on himself and dared her to light him up. When she sparked the lighter, he lunged at her into the flame, she claimed. 'You know what they say about gasoline and a match. He brought the gasoline and I brought the match. And it was not pretty,' she said. When asked how her own arm had been burnt, Surtees remarked: 'Just got some burns from an altercation with my husband that went 50 shades of wrong.' Surtees described the result as a 'massive, cataclystic fireball'. 'It was eons beyond stupid,' she said of sparking the lighter. Surtees continued to deny she had intended to kill her husband. 'I'm not a monster. He's supposed to be okay. He's supposed to be fine and it was all supposed to be okay,' she said. 'I didn't murder anyone. I'm not a monster. I'm not a monster. I don't belong in a cage.' The court heard Surtees' continued to torment the younger brother of her husband from behind bars in a series of cruel letters. The kindly sibling had not only been forced to make the decision to take his brother off life support, but had also taken in their three young children. 'Your disgraceful blaming of Luke for the heartbreaking and obviously correct decision he was forced to make by your criminal actions to authorise the cessation of life support for Daniel may tend to indicate a lack of remorse almost a year after your crime,' Justice Tinney said. In another letter mailed to the court, Surtees sooked about her own rotten luck in life. 'You describe yourself as a prisoner of grief for the remainder of your days . There is nothing to suggest that you have a well developed sense of remorse,' Justice Tinney said. Angela Surtees, her husband Daniel and family in happier times Angela Surtees said she would not be a slave to any man In offering the plea deal, the Crown accepted Surtees did not mean to kill her husband when she lit the lighter, despite bringing out the fuel can, dousing her husband with fuel and activating it. According to social media, Surtees and her husband met in 2012 and had a photography business in Geelong. She had recently shared numerous posts about providing aid to bushfire victims and urged friends to donate to the cause. The young mum had a strong social media presence and frequently took to Facebook to post angry rants. She described herself as a 'selfish b**ch' with a 'short fuse' in one post. In 2013 she posted: 'Has come to the conclusion that harnessing my hurt pain and sorrow and turning it into anger is making my normally short fuse paper thin.' A year later she she warned people about the consequences of 'talking s**' about her. Surtees continued her rants in 2016, telling the world she would not be forced to live in the kitchen 'serving her husband'. 'Happy wife, happy life. Unhappy wife and you bet your ass s**t is going to hit the fan. A king will take care of her king, a slave will pray the day he dies.' Surtees revealed her husband was a hard working chef who had done time in Italian restaurants and as a baker. She regularly posted about her struggle to find work and over the years had done everything from selling Tupperware to bartending. At one stage, she even attempted to get on the hit cooking show Masterchef. Surtees rated herself as a working artist and photographer, who was doing her best to remain off welfare payments to survive. 'I am who I am,' she posted in 2016. 'I'll be who I'll be. I'll never apologise for simply being me.' She has already spent more than 700 days behind bars. Sir Richard Branson's space firm Virgin Orbit has revealed its plans for its first UK launch this summer from Cornwall. In a historic moment for UK space, Virgin Orbit has signed a deal with Cardiff-based company Space Forge to launch the latter's satellite into orbit. The satellite will be blasted into space on a rocket called LauncherOne, which will be unleashed from a jumbo jet from Spaceport Cornwall, part of Newquay Airport. Over the last 14 months, LauncherOne has already deployed payloads in space for Virgin Orbit's customers, including NASA and the US Department of Defense. Scroll down for video Virgin Orbit has announced an agreement with tech start-up Space Forge to launch the first satellite developed in Wales into space in summer 2022. It will be the first launch from UK soil with Virgin Orbit Virgin Orbit launches involve the firm's carrier aircraft, a modified Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl (pictured), and a two-stage orbital launch vehicle called LauncherOne, tucked into Cosmic Girl's belly Over the last 14 months, LauncherOne has already deployed payloads in space for Virgin Orbit's customers, including NASA and the US Department of Defense From left, Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart, Space Forge CEO Joshua Western and CTO Andrew Bacon sign launch agreement in Long Beach, California LAUNCHER ONE FLIGHTS - May 25, 2020: Failure - January 17, 2021: Success - June 30, 2021: Success - January 13, 2022: Success All three took place from Mojave Air and Space Port, California Advertisement 'We at Virgin Orbit are delighted to have been chosen to move Space Forge forward in their space journey as we look forward to our inaugural Cornwall launch,' said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart. 'Space Forge is joining the growing community of space innovators advancing space technologies for the betterment of our world. 'Their commitment to sustainability builds a foundation for future growth in the industry that we at Virgin Orbit are proud to be part of.' It's unclear exactly when the Cornwall flight will occur; MailOnline has contacted Virgin Orbit for more information. Virgin Orbit has already conducted three successful consecutive orbital missions with LauncherOne in 2021 and 2022, the last one in January. All three took place from Mojave Air and Space Port, California. The maiden LauncherOne flight back in 2020, meanwhile, failed to reach space, due to an 'anomaly' due to a premature shutdown of the first stage engine. Virgin Orbit is a company within the Virgin Group, the conglomerate founded by Richard Branson in 1970. Virgin Orbit was formed in 2017 to develop the air-launched LauncherOne rocket, launched from Cosmic Girl (this had previously been a project of Virgin Galactic) Virgin Orbit's carrier plane, known as Cosmic Girl, took off Wednesday with the LauncherOne rocket tightly secured under its left wing in the firm's first operational mission Virgin Orbit has already conducted three successful consecutive orbital missions in 2021 and 2022, the last one in January. Pictured is the modified Boeing 747, Cosmic Girl Virgin Orbit's launches involve Virgin Orbit's carrier aircraft, a modified Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl, and LauncherOne, a two-stage orbital launch vehicle, tucked into Cosmic Girl's belly. Once Cosmic Girl is at a high enough altitude around 30,000 feet LauncherOne is unleashed. When at an orbital altitude, LauncherOne deploys satellites in space. With the upcoming launch, LauncherOne will deploy Space Forge's satellite ForgeStar, which it refers to as a 'space factory'. ForgeStar is a reusable, suitcase-sized vehicle capable of being in low Earth orbit (LEO) for up to six months before returning to Earth. It will be used as a testing ground for research projects in microgravity, in areas such as medicine and advanced industrial applications. It will allow Space Forge to 'leverage the benefits of the space environment', namely microgravity, vacuum and temperature, to create products 'that are impossible to manufacture on Earth'. It's unclear exactly when the Cornwall flight will occur; MailOnline has contacted Virgin Orbit for more information 'We're thrilled to be making UK history with our first launch,' said Joshua Western, CEO of Space Forge. 'We will demonstrate the use of space for good through in-space manufacturing and reliable return and it's brilliant that both Virgin Orbit and Spaceport Cornwall share our ambitions. 'This is the start of a great collaboration and we are so excited to see where it goes.' January's LauncherOne flight successfully launched seven satellites for customers including the US Department of Defense and British firm Spire. Virgin Orbit also still has several LauncherOne flights planned from California in 2022, including one in the first quarter of the year carrying payloads for the US Space Force. While it may have been called the Bronze Age, ancient people were certainly not limited on bling and would fashion rings, necklaces and earrings from gold. However, a new study has shown that Britons were not using it as currency, as objects made of the precious metal from the period appear to all have different weights. Over 800 British gold pieces were analysed at Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Germany and no evidence of weight-regulation was found. The ancient inhabitants of Europe used balance scales, along with standardised units of weight, to regulate the mass of many items like in modern shops. But new research published in Antiquity shows that gold was not part of this, and eliminates the possibility it was ever exchanged as currency in Britain. Dr Raphael Hermann analysed over 800 Bronze Age gold objects from Britain in the nine classes pictured, and found no evidence of weight standardization A Bronze Age golden cup and Lunula that were both discovered on the British Isles Weighing scales a Bronze Age merchant would have carried when moving from one market to another to trade are pictured Dr Raphael Hermann said: 'We now know that weighing as a method to quantify things did exist in Bronze Age Britain, as evidenced by balance weights and scale beams found in England at Potterne and Cliff End Farm. 'Despite the undoubted attraction of gold and the existence of weighing and measuring in later Bronze Age Britain, objects made of the most precious of the metals apparently were not generally regulated by weight. 'Whilst gold would still have had an intrinsic value and probably could have been used for trading in any number of circumstances, it most likely wasnt a generally recognised form of currency.' Research published in 2019 detailing the discovery of weight-regulated gold artefacts in Britain suggested that they could have been traded as currency. This was also found of items made of the precious metal on mainland Europe, indicating they were used as money on the continent too. However the new research released this week details analysis of over 800 gold objects, including torcs, rings, and antiquities found by the public and reported to the British Museums Portable Antiquities Scheme. Graph showing the frequency distribution of the weight of the 810 gold artefacts studied Dr Hermann used Cosine Quantogram Analysis (CQA) to measure each piece, which searches for common multiples - or quanta - in their weights. The more items that share a quantum, the greater chance this reflects an actual unit being measured. This study did not find any signs of mass-regulation in the objects, which is likely due to the researcher's larger sample size. While Bronze Age Brits may not have been trading in gold, in Europe they did use rings, bangles and even axe blades as an early form of money 5,000 years ago. A key feature of money is standardisation, but this can be difficult to identify in the archaeological record since ancient people only had inexact forms of measurement compared with today. HOW ARE WEIGHTS MEASURED? Cosine Quantogram Analysis (CQA) graphs and Frequency Distribution Analysis (FDA) of different artefacts Dr Hermann used Cosine Quantogram Analysis (CQA) to measure each gold piece, which searches for common multiples - or quanta - in their weights. The more items that share a quantum, the greater chance this reflects an actual unit being measured. In this research over 800 gold objects were analysed, including torcs, rings, and antiquities found by the public and reported to the British Museums Portable Antiquities Scheme. This study did not find any signs of mass-regulation in the objects. Advertisement Researchers from Leiden University assessed possible money from the Early Bronze Age of Central Europe, comparing the objects based on their perceived - if not precise - similarity. More than 5,000 objects from 100 hoards were studied, including bronze in shapes described as rings, ribs, and axe blades. The team compared the objects' weights using a principle known as the Weber fraction, which suggests that, if objects are similar enough in mass, a human weighing them by hand can't tell the difference. They found that even though the objects' weights varied, around 70 per cent of the rings were similar enough to have been indistinguishable by hand - averaging about 195 grams, as were subsets of the ribs and axe blades. The researchers suggest that the consistent similarity in shape and weight, along with the fact that these objects often occurred in hoards, are signs of their use as an early form of standardised currency. The objects studied were made of bronze in shapes described as rings (pictured), ribs, and axe blades Their findings suggest that people used bronze objects such as rings, ribs (pictured) and even axe blades as an early form of cash 5,000 years ago The research team examined more than 5,000 such objects from more than 100 ancient hoards in Central Europe Advertisement Big-wave surfers need more than skill, strength and courage to succeed the ferociousness of nature must also play its part. And that's just what happened on October 29, 2020, when a teenage student may have surfed the biggest wave ever at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal. Wave height analysis can be tricky but 19-year-old Portuguese surfer Antonio Laureano claims to have broken a world record by riding the estimated 101.4-foot (30.9-metre) wave, which if confirmed would surpass the current record of 80ft. Now, NASA has released a fascinating satellite image that captures the intensity of the waves that day, along with a more recent picture from space to compare it to an average winter morning. The images were taken by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8, the eighth in a series of Earth-monitoring spacecraft jointly managed by Nasa and the US Geological Survey. Slide me NASA has released a fascinating satellite image that captures the intensity of the waves in Nazare, Portugal on October 29, 2020 (pictured left), along with a more recent picture from space to compare it to an average winter morning (right) Wave height analysis can be tricky but Portuguese surfer Antonio Laureano claims to have broken a world record by riding the estimated 101.4-foot (30.9-metre) wave (pictured), which if confirmed would surpass the current record of 80ft In the pictures, the white band parallel to the shore is foam produced by breaking waves, according to Jose da Silva, an oceanographer at University of Porto. A green plume can also be spotted extending about 6.2 miles (10 km) from the shore. Experts think this is the result of seafloor sediments that have been re-suspended by the waves before and after breaking WHY ARE THE WAVES AT NAZARE SO BIG? The exceptionally large and energetic swell in October 2020 is believed to have been influenced by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon and a low-pressure weather system near Greenland. Wind-driven waves can originate from such distant storms. But storm systems alone don't explain why the waves off Nazare are routinely so large. The waves here are magnified and focused by a deep underwater canyon measuring 130 miles (210 kilometres) long and coming to an end at Nazare Bay. The part of a wave traveling in deep water over the canyon moves faster than the part of the wave in shallow shelf water. This difference in speeds makes the wave appear to bend in this case approaching North Beach from the west or southwest. These waves ultimately run into waves approaching from the northwest, which never passed through the canyon, and the pattern of interference large wave meets large wave can lead to the supersized waves famous at Nazare. Advertisement It carries an optical imager to take pictures in visible and infrared light, as well as a thermal infrared sensor to measure the heat radiation coming up off our planet's surface. The 2020 image provides a visceral insight into the huge amount of energy associated with big-wave conditions, while a second image from February 5, 2022 shows the same area on a more typical day. The waters off Nazare, Portugal have churned out some of the largest waves ever surfed, including the current world record by Rodrigo Koxa, who rode an 80-foot wave in 2017. In winter, the waves off North Beach (Praia do Norte) average about 50 feet (15 metres) high, while on an exceptional day surfers can catch a wave towering around 80 feet (24 metres). In the pictures, the white band parallel to the shore is foam produced by breaking waves, according to Jose da Silva, an oceanographer at University of Porto. The foam is visible in both images but is much more extensive in October 2020. Farther offshore, thin filaments of foam snake across the ocean surface. This happens when two surface currents collide water gets pushed downward, but the foam floats and accumulates along the margins. A green plume can also be spotted extending about 6.2 miles (10 kilometres) from the shore. Da Silva thinks this is the result of seafloor sediments that have been re-suspended by the waves before and after breaking. Recent research has shown that green plumes in Portuguese coastal waters are more closely associated with large waves than with increases in rainfall, which causes rivers to discharge sediment. Data from October 29, 2020, reveals that the offshore wave height measured more than 20 feet (6 metres) high, with a wave period of 17 seconds. However, this is before the waves rise as they begin shoaling and breaking closer to shore, so surfers would be riding much taller waves nearshore. For comparison, the wave height offshore on February 5, 2022, measured just over 6 feet (2 metres) high, with a wave period of 11 seconds. The exceptionally large and energetic swell in October 2020 is believed to have been influenced by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon and a low-pressure weather system near Greenland. Wind-driven waves can originate from such distant storms. But storm systems alone don't explain why the waves off Nazare are routinely so large. The waves here are magnified and focused by a deep underwater canyon measuring 130 miles (210 kilometres) long and coming to an end at Nazare Bay. The foam is visible in both images but is much more extensive in the satellite image that was taken on October 2020 Portuguese surfer Antonio Laureano (pictured) may have surfed the biggest wave ever at Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal Data from October 29, 2020, reveals that the offshore wave height measured more than 20 feet (6 metres) high, with a wave period of 17 seconds However, this is before the waves rise as they begin shoaling and breaking closer to shore, so surfers would be riding much taller waves nearshore (pictured) The exceptionally large and energetic swell in October 2020 (pictured) is believed to have been influenced by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon and a low-pressure weather system near Greenland The part of a wave traveling in deep water over the canyon moves faster than the part of the wave in shallow shelf water. This difference in speeds makes the wave appear to bend in this case approaching North Beach from the west or southwest. These waves ultimately run into waves approaching from the northwest, which never passed through the canyon, and the pattern of interference large wave meets large wave can lead to the supersized waves famous at Nazare. Visitors travel great distances to witness Nazare's monster waves and to watch surfing competitions, but long before Garrett McNamara popularised the area in 2011 as a big-wave surfing spot, people living in the centuries-old fishing town have lived side-by-side with the magnificent waves. Sometimes they have brought grief, claiming the lives of fishermen; other times they have brought joy, generating a playground long appreciated by local bodyboarders. If you see someone breaking the rules at work, do you feel inclined to call them out on it? Vigilantism might just be written into who you are. A study has found that one in five people adopt a 'vigilante identity' where they routinely monitor others' behaviour - and punish those who don't follow the rules. The trait spurs the vigilante to act in certain circumstances where they believe authorities have failed to serve justice, and it bolsters their self-regard when they do. The self-appointed enforcer may punish others by slandering them on social media, telling them off at work or engage in physical acts like vandalism. If you see someone breaking the rules at work, do you feel inclined to call them out on it? Vigilantism might just be written into who you are (stock image) Graph shows the likelihood a participant would post a video on social media of a university instructor making culturally insensitive remarks to a student, against their VIS score. In the scenario of 'justice failure', no disciplinary action would be taken against the instructor, but in 'justice upheld' the university would release a statement condemning his behavior. As the VIS score of the participant increases, the more likely they would punish the instructor themselves From Batman to Dexter: Fictional vigilantes 1. Batman Batman was introduced in 1940 as a civilian without superpowers who took the law into his own hands 2. Dexter, from Dexter Dexter is a forensic analyst-turned-vigilante serial killer, who targets other murderers who have evaded the justice system Lisbeth Salander in 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' 3. Lisbeth Salander, from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Lisbeth is a hacker whose mission in life is to go after male abusers and powerful figures who try to get away with their crimes 4. Bryan Mills, from Taken Liam Neeson's character takes the law into his hands after his teenage daughter and her best friends were kidnapped by human traffickers 5. Travis Bickle, from Taxi Driver Played by Robert De Niro, war veteran and cab driver Bickle is impelled to clear up crime he sees in New York City Advertisement Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Otago and University of British Columbia have created a vigilante identity scale (VIS) to assess the degree to which people adopt the vigilante identity. 'These are people who see themselves as punishers and monitors of the environment,' said Fan Xuan Chen, a doctoral candidate in psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 'Their responses suggest that they don't mind punishing the innocent to deter future wrongdoers and are willing to disregard due process.' The new scale might be useful for screening applicants hoping to work in the police or military, or when evaluating potential jurors, according to the researchers. It could also be used in recruitment to identify people who may try to go above and beyond their authority. Chen said: 'In a criminal context, in law or the legal system, this kind of vigilante is probably an unhealthy presence. 'Having that kind of identity in a disciplinary setting could be dangerous and problematic, both for the individual and for others.' No correlation was found between vigilantism and gender or political leaning in the study, published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. Separate studies were also conducted on individuals in New Zealand, India and the US, as well as through online surveys. Participants self-reported their own findings, and supplemented them with those observed by members of their household and employers. 'This suggests that the vigilante identity is a recognized presence. In other words, we know vigilantes are around us,' Chen said. Liam Neeson's character Bryan Mills in 'Taken' takes the law into his hands after his teenage daughter and her best friend were kidnapped by human traffickers Those who identified most strongly as a vigilante tended to be more extraverted or outgoing, and thought themselves to be kind and moral. Those who scored highly on the VIS enjoy keeping order, but also want to have their acts of restoring the norm noticed and appreciated. The study found they aren't concerned about punishing innocent people. The scale cannot tell whether someone will engage in mild, aggressive or violent forms of vigilantism, but if other measures point to them having impulsive or violent tendencies, that could act as a warning of potential harmful behaviour. Overall, one in five reported an eagerness to monitor others in their environment and punish those they deemed offenders, in the absence of authorities stepping in. Advertisement It may bear more of a resemblance to a giant pram, but this bizarre looking lunar rover is actually a new prototype to carry astronauts across the moon's surface in the coming decades. The buggy, which has been designed by aerospace startup Venturi Astrolab, will also be able to crouch down and lift payloads up from the lunar soil, before carrying them under its belly and depositing the cargo at a desired location. It will be specifically built to handle the lunar terrain and could one day be used to ferry humans around on Mars. Venturi Astrolab plans to assemble a fleet of the rovers over the coming years in an attempt to become 'the UPS, FedEx, and the Uber of the moon'. It wants to help NASA and commercial companies establish a long-term presence on Earth's only natural satellite but has not revealed how much the rover will cost. Called FLEX, for Flexible Logistics and Exploration, the rover has a 'modular payload concept' which allows it to carry a variety of different objects if they are built to an agreed-upon standard of size and shape. The buggy can be controlled remotely, manoeuvre semi-autonomously, and even be modified to include a crew interface so astronauts can ride onboard while driving it across the moon's surface. Venturi Astrolab, based in Hawthorne, California, was formed by a team of industry leading planetary rover and robotics experts. Taking a ride: California-based aerospace startup Venturi Astrolab has unveiled a lunar rover prototype for use on the moon Called FLEX, for Flexible Logistics and Exploration, the rover has a 'modular payload concept' which allows it to carry a variety of different objects if they are built to an agreed-upon standard of size and shape. It has undergone a test drive (pictured) Retired NASA and Canadian Space Agency astronaut, engineer and author Chris Hadfield (pictured right), who is on Astrolab's board of advisers, took part in a five-day field test to give his feedback on the vehicle's design and performance NASA'S SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ROCKET IS THE LARGEST EVER MADE AND WILL LET HUMANS EXPLORE THE SOLAR SYSTEM Space Launch System, or SLS, is a launch vehicle that NASA hopes will take its astronauts back to the moon and beyond. The rocket will have an initial lift configuration, set to launch in the early-2020's, followed by an upgraded 'evolved lift capability' that can carry heavier payloads. Space Launch System Initial Lift Capability - Maiden flight: Mid-2020's - Height: 311 feet (98 metres) - Lift: 70 metric tons - Weight: 2.5 million kilograms (5.5 million lbs) Space Launch System Evolved Lift Capability - Maiden flight: Unknown - Height: 384 feet (117 metres) - Lift: 130 metric tons - Weight: 2.9 million kilograms (6.5 million lbs) Advertisement Historically, planetary rovers have each been bespoke and have been put into operation on a timescale of roughly once per decade, the company said, and often at a cost of billions of pounds. FLEX, it claims, is much more compatible with NASA's ultimate goal of supporting a sustained presence on the moon and Mars because it is designed around a modular payload interface that supports intermodal transportation (from lander to rover and back). 'For humanity to truly live and operate in a sustainable way off Earth, there needs to exist an efficient and economical transportation network all the way from the launch pad to the ultimate outpost,' said Jaret Matthews, founder and CEO of Astrolab. 'Currently, there is a gap in the last mile and Astrolab exists to fill it.' NASA is currently aiming to put the first woman and next man on the moon later this decade. However, the mission has been plagued by delays, with the target having slipped from 2024 to 2025, and is now unlikely to happen before 2026 according to US space agency regulators. Meanwhile, billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are working to develop landers to take people to the lunar surface through their respective companies SpaceX and Blue Origin, as well as considering the feasibility of longer missions to Mars. Other commercial firms are developing robotic craft to take cargo to the moon. Matthews said that while SpaceX and Blue Origin work on solving the long haul transportation problem, he hopes his company Venturi Astrolab will 'solve the local transportation problem'. He started his career at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on the twin Spirit and Opportunity rovers that were launched to Mars in 2003, before moving to SpaceX. Matthews formed his new company with his co-founders in January 2020. It has already built a full-scale prototype of FLEX and recently completed a test drive in the California desert near Death Valley. Retired NASA and Canadian Space Agency astronaut, engineer and author Chris Hadfield, who is on Astrolab's board of advisers, took part in the five-day field test to give his feedback on the vehicle's design and performance. 'As we transition from the Apollo era, which was focused on pure exploration, to now, where people will be living for longer periods on the moon, the equipment needs to change,' Hadfield said. 'When we settle somewhere, we don't just need to get people from one place to another, but we need to move hardware, cargo, life support equipment and more. 'And it's all dependent on mobility. It was not only a joy to drive FLEX but also see its size, capability and get an intuitive sense of what this rover can do.' The aim is for FLEX to be able to carry as much cargo as possible, hence the modular design, and Matthews has likened his company's vision of a standardised payload to how shipping containers on Earth are made to specific international standards. 'We've designed a mobility platform that is payload agnostic so it can work within an ecosystem of transportation systems, vehicles and tools,' he added. Venturi Astrolab plans to assemble a fleet of the rovers over the coming years in an attempt to become 'the UPS, FedEx, and the Uber of the moon' It will be specifically built to handle the lunar terrain and could one day be used to ferry humans around on Mars The buggy can be controlled remotely, manoeuvre semi-autonomously, and even be modified to include a crew interface so astronauts can ride onboard while driving it across the moon's surface Venturi Astrolab has already built a full-scale prototype of FLEX and recently completed a test drive in the California desert near Death Valley The buggy can also crouch down and lift payloads up from the moon's surface, before carrying them under its belly and depositing the cargo at a desired location 'FLEX achieves a wide range of utility by being able to collect, transport, and deposit any payload that conforms to what will be a standard and open interface.' Astrolab said the final rover should weigh about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) and will be built specifically to handle the lunar terrain. FLEX will also have insulation and 'sufficient internal battery capacity' to allow it to withstand the lunar night, a two-week period when the moon is plunged into darkness and temperatures can drop below -208 Fahrenheit (-130 Celsius). The company said the rover will stay warm for between 100 and 300 hours of nighttime at the moon's south pole, before using its external solar arrays to generate electricity once the sun rises again. Last year NASA put out a call for companies to come up with designs for a 'lunar terrain vehicle' that could carry future Artemis astronauts across the Moon's south pole, and Astrolab has had discussions with the US space agency. To find out more about FLEX, visit Astrolab's website. Astrolab said the final rover should weigh about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) and will be built specifically to handle the lunar terrain FLEX will also have insulation and 'sufficient internal battery capacity' to allow it to withstand the lunar night, a two-week period when the moon is plunged into darkness and temperatures can drop below -208 Fahrenheit (-130 Celsius) NASA's crewed mission to put the first woman on the surface of the moon has been pushed back again, with the space agency saying it is unlikely before 2026 Advertisement China's lunar rover has beamed back a new image of the 'dark side' of the moon showing the winding path it has taken over the surface. The Yutu-2 rover arrived on the moon three years ago on Change'e 4 - the first spacecraft to ever land on the far side of the moon. Chang'e 4 is visible in the back right of the panorama image, along with the twisting tracks in the moon dust left by the rover. Since landing, the solar-powered Yutu-2 has traveled 3,376 feet (1,029 metres) across the Von Karman crater, according to data from China's Lunar Exploration Ground Application System. A panorama made of stitched photos from Yutu 2, capturing the lunar rover's winding track in the moon dust and the distant Chang'e 4 lander Chang'e 4 is visible in the back right of the panorama image, along with the twisting tracks in the moon dust left by the rover THE YUTU-2 MISSION Yutu-2 is the robotic lunar rover component of China's Chang'e 4 mission to the far side of the Moon. It launched on December 7, 2018, entered lunar orbit on December 12, and made the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon January 3, 2019. Yutu-2 is exploring Von Karman crater, where an ancient lunar impact may have exposed the Moon's mantle. Advertisement The Yutu-2 was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, China on December 7 2018, and landed less than a month later. In February this year, the 308lbs (140kg) rover spotted two intact spheres of translucent glass up to an inch thick on the far side of the moon. Small glass 'spherules' are actually common on the moon, although they're typically less than 0.03 of an inch (3mm) in diameter. These newly-found glass spheres are much bigger, measuring around 0.5-inch to 1-inch (1.5 cm to 2.5 cm), according to the scientists. Glass forms on the moon when silicate material rock-forming minerals are subjected to high temperatures. It's known that volcanic glass deposits were formed during explosive eruptions in the moon's history, when it was volcanically active. New glass can be formed on the moon due to the heat generated from impacts by meteorites with the lunar surface. This is not the first time Yutu-2 has come across odd lunar features last year, it returned photos of a 'mystery hut' in the horizon, which researchers initially had trouble identifying. Pictured are the centimeter-sized glass globules collected by the Apollo 16 missions (a, b) and those observed by Yutu-2 (c, d) Images returned by the rover show the glass globules looking like a couple of tiny ball bearings On closer inspection, it was revealed in January that it was a rabbit-shaped rock, surrounded by its own rocky 'droppings' and morsels of food. The finding is a coincidence as the name of the rover, Yutu, happens to be Chinese for 'Jade Rabbit'. The rover is named after a mythical figure in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese folklore, as the dark markings on the Moon are said to resemble a rabbit or hare. China's Yutu 2 team said an oddly-shaped rock looks like a small but 'lifelike' crouching bunny like a statue set in stone, surrounded by its own rocky 'droppings' and morsels of food In February 2021, Yutu-2 captured images of an elongated 'milestone' rock on the lunar surface. The moon rover spotted the sharp structure sticking out from the ground after awakening from a 14-day slumber during the dangerously cold lunar night. Yutu-2, spotted some 'gel-like' matter in 2019, with the green-ish tinge in this image revealing the location of the substance Because Yutu-2 is solar-powered, it constantly has to keep 'going to sleep' when there's no sunlight. In 2019, just months after it landed, Yutu-2 found a mysterious 'gel-like' substance of a dark green colour. Yutu-2 has been traversing the 115-mile-wide (186km) Von Karman crater ever since it landed on the moon attached to the Chang'e-4 spacecraft on January 3, 2019. Chang'e 4 was China's fourth mission to the moon and the second to send a rover. The Chang'e 1 and 2 missions were orbiters, while Chang'e 3 landed on the near side of the moon with the first Yutu rover. Beijing also launched Chang'e-5 in November 2020, which successfully returned the first moon samples to Earth in more than 40 years. China has approved three more missions to the Moon Chang'e 6, 7 and 8 launching from 2024 onwards. The Yutu 2 rover (pictured) became the first spacecraft to land on the dark side of the moon in January 2019 Yutu-2 has a host of instruments and will be powered by solar panels. This includes a spectrometer which was used to analyse the bizarre find WHO advises Ukraine to destroy high-risk pathogens in labs Xinhua) 16:39, March 11, 2022 GENEVA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens stored in the country's labs to prevent "any potential spills," the UN agency said on Thursday. In an emailed response, the WHO told Reuters that it has "strongly recommended the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies" to destroy those disease-causing pathogens or toxins, but provided no specifics about their kinds. According to Reuters, Ukraine has public health laboratories working on disease research, and received support from the United States, the European Union and the WHO. With no reference to biowarfare, the WHO said it encourages all parties to cooperate in "the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed." Also on Thursday, Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, tweeted that the United Nations Security Council would convene on Friday to discuss the United States' alleged military biological research in Ukraine at Russia's request. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Two former police officers were convicted by Manhattan juries of stealing cash from a suspect they arrested in an integrity test sting staged by the NYPDs Internal Affairs Bureau, prosecutors said Thursday. Officer Joseph Stokes, 42, stole $4,800, and his partner, Jose Aracena, 37, separately grabbed $220 in a 2019 drunken driving bust on the Lower East Side, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Officer Joseph Stokes appears in court in Manhattan. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) Stokes was convicted of felony grand larceny and official misconduct last month, while a second jury found Aracena guilty of petit larceny and official misconduct, both misdemeanors, Thursday. Both cops were dismissed from the police force in June, a NYPD spokesperson said. Advertisement The duo pulled over an undercover officer pretending to be a drunk driver in October 2019 at the corner of Stanton St. and Orchard St.. Stokes found $4,800 in several stash cans that look like Arizona fruit punch and soda in the undercovers car, authorities said. He claimed he tossed the cans into a passing garbage truck and didnt voucher the money, prosecutors said. But he was caught on video hiding the cans under his car in the 7th Precinct parking lot, police said. Two cash-filled cans were found by cops later that day. A hidden camera inside the undercover cops car recorded Aracena, 35, taking $220 from inside, prosecutors said. Jose Aracena is seen at his arraignment in State Supreme Court on January 28, 2020 in New York. (Alec Tabak/for New York Daily News) These two officers, believing nobody was watching, attempted to use their positions of power to get away with blatant theft, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement Thursday. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Stokes, who was held but not immediately charged right after the sting, filed a $100 million notice of claim against the city about a week before he and his partner were formally charged in January 2020. According to the legal paperwork, Stokes said he turned on his body camera, vouchered a can of cash the undercover officer mentioned to him, and found nothing when he searched the car. He claims he was targeted and arrested on trumped up charges because a year earlier he busted a friend of then-NYPD Commissioner James ONeill for drunk driving. Advertisement Joe Murray, his lawyer in the civil proceedings, says Stokes lawsuit is currently on hold, and he plans to appeal the conviction. He was clearly targeted, Murray said. This was all a set-up from the beginning. They are renowned for putting on a breathtaking show across the Arctic Circle. But after a huge solar flare triggered a coronal mass ejection (CME) that is hurtling towards Earth, the Northern Lights may be seen as far south as Scotland and northern England this weekend. The CME is expected to produce geomagnetic storms when it ploughs into our planet either late Sunday or early Monday, making it possible to spot the spectacular natural phenomenon across northern parts of the UK. Not only that but cloud cover is expected to be relatively minimal on Sunday evening and into Monday, meaning skywatchers have every chance of a sighting. Also known as aurora borealis, the Northern Lights are predominantly seen in high-latitude regions, so any glimpse across the UK is a rare treat for stargazers. On Sunday the Northern Lights could be seen as far south as Scotland and northern England, when a huge coronal mass ejection hits Earth (stock image) The CME is expected to produce geomagnetic storms when it ploughs into our planet either late Sunday or early Monday, making it possible to spot the spectacular natural phenomenon across northern parts of the UK (shown above) Satellite images show a CME leaving the sun yesterday, which could produce minor/moderate geomagnetic storms on 13 or 14 March, with aurora sightings possible for Scotland and northern England. Get the latest aurora forecast https://t.co/L2a0b4XDih@metoffice #SpaceWeather pic.twitter.com/U78SWBqUee Met Office Space (@MetOfficeSpace) March 11, 2022 WHAT ARE AURORAS AND WHAT TRIGGERS THE STUNNING NATURAL DISPLAYS? The Northern and Southern Lights are natural light spectacles triggered in our atmosphere that are also known as the 'Auroras'. There are two types of Aurora Aurora Borealis, which means 'dawn of the north', and Aurora Australis, 'dawn of the south.' The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles, sometimes referred to as a solar storm, are deflected by Earth's magnetic field. But during stronger storms they enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles, including hydrogen and helium. These collisions emit light. Auroral displays appear in many colours although pale green and pink are common. Advertisement The aurora appears when atoms in the Earth's high-altitude atmosphere collide with energetic charged particles from the sun, creating breathtaking colours of green with a hint of pink, red and violet. It is more often seen in winter when the nights are cold, long and dark. The reason people across the UK will have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights is because a CME which left the sun yesterday is expected to hit Earth either late on Sunday or early Monday. Its effects will likely continue into Monday night, making the aurora visible along the northern horizon if skies are clear, experts said. Those in Scotland and northern England will have a chance of catching the spectacular display. The Met Office said: 'Satellite images show a CME leaving the sun yesterday, which could produce minor/moderate geomagnetic storms on 13 or 14 March, with aurora sightings possible for Scotland and northern England.' In a post on the Space Weather section of its website, the Met Office added: 'Yesterday's large CME has been analysed and is expected to have an Earth directed component, which is expected to arrive either late on day 3 (13th) or early on day 4 (14th).' A solar or geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere the area around Earth controlled by the planet's magnetic field caused by CMEs. Although our sun gives us life, it also frequently 'sneezes', ejecting billions of tonnes of hot plasma into space in colossal blobs of matter threaded with magnetic fields in other words, CMEs. It emits gigantic flares, bursts of powerful electromagnetic radiation x-rays, gamma rays and radio bursts accompanied by streams of highly energetic particles. In November last year the Northern Lights were visible over Hadrian's wall following a coronal mass ejection from the sun. The mesmerising display spread as south as Cambridgeshire A spectacular display of the Northern Lights seen over Derwentwater, near Keswick in the Lake District, last November amazed photographers and skygazers These violent solar sneezes sometimes spin outward from the sun in our direction, delivering radiation, energy and charged particles that distort and disrupt Earth's protective magnetic field (the magnetosphere) and upper atmosphere. When a solar storm heads our way, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth's atmosphere. There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky the aurora, or Northern Lights. Oxygen gives off green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and purple. The aurora can be seen near the poles of both the northern and southern hemispheres. In the north the display is known as the aurora borealis, and in the south it is called the aurora australis. The Northern Lights have fascinated people on Earth for centuries, but the science behind them has not always been understood. Our planet has an invisible forcefield, the magnetosphere, which protects us from dangerous charged particles from the sun. The magnetosphere is the area around Earth controlled by the planet's magnetic field. Science expert Marty Jopson said: 'Whilst it shelters us, it also creates one of the most impressive phenomena on Earth the Northern Lights. 'When the deadly solar winds meet Earth's magnetosphere, some of the charged particles get trapped, and are propelled down the Earth's magnetic field lines straight towards the poles. 'And when they reach Earth, they strike atoms and molecules in our atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light.' The problem is disruption to our magnetic field creates solar storms that can affect satellites in orbit, navigation systems, terrestrial power grids and data and communication networks. 'Harmful space weather has affected Earth before, but as we become increasingly reliant on systems and technologies vulnerable to the sun's outbursts, future solar impacts could be even more disruptive,' according to the European Space Agency. Lake Powell, one of the most important reservoirs in the western U.S. is about to hit a 'worrying new low', at just 24 per cent of its maximum capacity, authorities warn. Sitting at the border of Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell is part of a system that supplies water for 40 million people in multiple western states, and through the Glen Canyon Dam, supplies power for more than five million people. Water level readings from this week, by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, found that the lake was 3,526 feet above seal level, which is 24 per cent capacity. This puts it just one foot above a crucial threshold set up in drought contingency plans, where additional releases from upstream water sources will need to be released in order to ensure millions still have access to water. Authorities involved in the reservoir say the lake could dip below that pint, triggering the contingency plans, although its expected to be restored later in the Spring. This low water level risk comes amid a severe drought in the region and prolonged periods of dry weather, including a very dry summer in 2021. Lake Powell, one of the most important reservoirs in the western U.S. is about to hit a 'worrying new low', at just 24 per cent of its maximum capacity, authorities warn. Stock image The Colorado River flows from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado through the southwestern U.S., passing through an elaborate water-management system designed to tame the yearly floods from spring snowmelt and to provide a reliable supply of water for residents as far away as California. In the past decade it has been hit by prolonged drought conditions, combined with increasing populations and higher levels of water withdrawal. Last August the federal government declared the first ever water shortage for the areas surrounding and serviced by the Colorado River. Along with Lake Mead, Powell is the largest reservoir in the country, and crucial to keep water systems on the Colorado River functioning - both are at a record low. The lake has been hitting a series of new lows since its previous lowest record of 3,555.09 feet last July, but could go below 3,526 in the coming weeks. While it is unlikely to stay that low, thanks to Spring runoff, it still puts it close to the cutoff level for the Glen Canyon Dam, which needs at least 3,490 ft of water to run. If it goes off, up to 5.8 million homes and businesses could be without electricity. The cutoff point, where the power plant could shut down, is 3,525ft of water - designed to leave a buffer for the power to keep running. It is a foot away. Water level readings from this week, by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, found that the lake was 3,526 feet above seal level, which is 24 per cent capacity Megadrought plaguing Southwest is worst the region has seen in 1,200 years, researchers say The megadrought that has been devastating the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico over the last two decades is the worst the region has seen in at least 1,200 years, according to a study released Monday. Researchers with Nature Climate Change analyzed tree ring patterns, which delineate soil moisture levels over periods of time, to conclude that the current megadrought is worse than one that hit the region in the late 1500s and is the most severe since one in 800 AD. The study, which analyzed a region stretching from southern Montana to northern Mexico and from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, found that human-caused global heating accounts for more than 40% of the severity of the dry spell. "The turn-of-the-21st-century drought would not be on a megadrought trajectory without anthropogenic climate change," reads the study, led by Park Williams, an associate professor at the University of California in Los Angeles. Source: Afp Advertisement 'We're kind of in some uncharted territory, socially and economically,' Justin Mankin, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Drought Task Force, told CNN in an interview about the lake water level. 'It's totally within reason to expect that the next couple of weeks or so for [Lake Powell] to fall below the critical level.' Bureau of Reclamation forecasters say if it does drop below this level, it will only contain a quarter of the water it was created to store, and will be at high risk. By the Spring, thanks to mountain snow melts running into tributaries that spread into Lake Powell, it is expected to go back above the threshold, but the experts say the fact it dropped this low is a sign of increased stress on the river system. As well as impacting power supplies, Southern Nevada will be among the worst hit, as 90 per cent of its residents rely on the Colorado River for drinking water. 'The effects of Lake Powell dipping below its critical threshold in spring could reverberate through the states reliant on that water months down the road,' Mankin said, particularly in terms of power. 'The drought is pretty baked in,' Mankin said. 'My expectation is fully that the American West is going to be in a drought through the rest of this year, at the very least. To recover from this thing, we're talking about multiple seasons of above-average precipitation.' Chuck Cullom, executive director of the Upper Colorado River Commission, said this is all part of the impact from droughts and climate change being felt. The problem is at the source, with lower levels of runoff from snow, according to Cullom, explaining this is due to the planet getting warmer. In California, which is serviced by Lake Powell, drought conditions caused a hydropower plant on Lake Oroville to be shut down due to low water levels. This is similar to what could happen Glen Canyon Dam if levels drop just another foot, experts explained. In Utah's Great Salt Lake, levels water have also reached a record low, all of which is due to a climate change-caused mmegadrought gripping the west. Sitting at the border of Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell is part of a system that supplies water for 40 million people in multiple western states, and through the Glen Canyon Dam, supplies power for more than five million people. Stock image The megadrought that has been devastating the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico over the last two decades is the worst the region has seen in at least 1,200 years, according to a study. Researchers analyzed tree ring patterns, which delineate soil moisture levels over periods of time, to conclude that the current megadrought is worse than one that hit the region in the late 1500s and is the most severe since one in 800 AD. The study, which analyzed a region stretching from southern Montana to northern Mexico and from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, found that human-caused global heating accounts for more than 40% of the severity of the dry spell. 'The turn-of-the-21st-century drought would not be on a megadrought trajectory without anthropogenic climate change,' reads the study, led by Park Williams, an associate professor at the University of California in Los Angeles. Manchester City have a deal in place to land the blockbuster signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer. Sources in Germany close to the move have told Sportsmail they now expect the 21-year-old to choose a switch to the Etihad Stadium. They say personal terms have been discussed and the framework of the transfer is ready to be signed off by City chiefs. Haaland has a 63million release clause in his Dortmund contract, while the player's agent, Mino Raiola, is also set to earn a substantial payment. Those fees, plus a signing-on bonus, are likely to take the total outlay towards 100m. Manchester City have a deal in place to land the blockbuster signing of Erling Haaland Pep Guardiola has been in the market for a forward since the last summer transfer window The financials are said to be affordable for City, who have made the Norway striker their number one transfer priority. Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are showing interest but City's most significant rival is Real Madrid, who will continue fighting for the goal machine's signature. Yet there is a growing feeling across Europe that the Premier League champions are in pole position to land the continent's hottest property and an expectation that he will line up for Pep Guardiola next season. Haaland's father, Alfie, spent three years at City after leaving Leeds United, and the family still share an affinity with the club. Haaland has scored 16 Bundesliga goals in 14 appearances this season for Dortmund Sportsmail revealed earlier in the week that City's pursuit of a high-ticket left back had taken a back seat, which pointed towards confidence surrounding a big outlay on a serial goalscorer. Guardiola has consistently stressed that the club requires a frontline striker following the release of Sergio Aguero last year and that the team has found ways of playing without one rather than not needing a focal point. Haaland - who is nearing a return for Dortmund after suffering a muscle injury in January - boasts an enviable record. He has 80 goals from 79 appearances for the Bundesliga side and a career return that reads 149 from 190 games. Advertisement There are more than 6,000 sun-drenched islands and islets in Greece and what could be better than an escape off the beaten track surrounded by sparkling seas, quiet beaches, the fragrant waft of pine trees and that inimitable quality of light. Getting there might not be quite so easy but arriving by ferry can be an adventure in itself. So heres our guide to some of the Greek islands you may never have heard about. LAZY DAYS ON SERIFOS Shining half moon: Serifos island, pictured above, is home to invitingly sandy beaches Serifos the legendary home of Perseus (of Medusa fame) is part of the Cyclades. Half a century ago, the bank on Serifos consisted of a man on a bicycle with a tin box who pedalled round the island once a week. All these years on, it has retained its laidback charm. There are invitingly sandy beaches a scuba-diving centre where you can also hire boats, and bars and restaurants at the harbour. DONT MISS: Psili Ammos and Livadakia are among the best beaches, where you may find a tavern for a bite of fresh octopus. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights at the beach-front Alexandros Vassilia from 949 pp (sunvil.co.uk) including international flights to Athens and from Santorini, with ferry transfers to Serifos (two hours and three-and-a-half hours, respectively). CULTURE IN CHIOS A charming church on Chios, a culturally-rich island that is mooted as the birthplace of the ancient Greek poet Homer A view of the 11th-century monastery of Nea Moni in Chios, close to the Turkish coast Traditional: A local producing mastic resin on Chios Close to the Turkish coast, Chios is famed for its mastic trees, which yield their precious resin said by Hippocrates to cure everything from leprosy to whooping cough like nowhere else on Earth. Mooted as the birthplace of Homer, the island is rich in culture from the geometric house facades of Pyrgi to the 11th-century monastery of Nea Moni, the medieval mountaintop village of Anavatos and the 17th-century houses of Kampos. DONT MISS: The knock-out local drink of ouzo infused with mastic. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights in Voulamandis House in Kambos from 699 pp B&B (islandsofgreece.co.uk), including flights to Athens and domestic flight (50 minutes). LEGENDS AND LOBSTERS Above is the village of Armenistis on Ikaria. Seven nights B&B at the waterfront Erofili Beach Hotel there costs from 1,218 with Cachet Travel Few islands remain as stuck in the mists of time as Ikaria, in the northern Aegean, named after the legendary Icarus who drowned off its shores when, flying too high, the sun melted the wax binding his feather wings. Ikaria is known for its therapeutic springs and delicious lobsters. In centuries past, the islanders supposedly slept all day and only emerged at night. They still enjoy an eccentric reputation. DONT MISS: The beaches of Mesakti, Livadi and Manganiti. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights B&B at the waterfront Erofili Beach Hotel in Armenistis from 1,218 (cachet-travel.co.uk) including flights to Athens and domestic flight to Ikaria (55 minutes). REAL GREEK ODYSSEY On a visit to Ithaka, don't miss the fishing village of Kioni (pictured), with its tavernas and harbourside restaurants Ithaka is a 'mountainous island of golden light, sparkling sea and sheltered coves'. Above is the island's picturesque Afales beach If this isle were mine, Byron wrote of Odysseuss legendary home island in 1823, I would break my staff and bury my books and never leave. Of all the peoples, the Greeks have dreamt the dream of life best Goethe, German writer It is easy to understand the poets impulse. The smaller, quieter sister of neighbouring Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea, Ithaka is a mountainous island of golden light, sparkling sea and sheltered coves. An ancient network of mule tracks makes for a walkers paradise. There is plenty to discover, including its monasteries, charming hilltop towns and churches. DONT MISS: Fishing villages including Frikes and Kioni, with their tavernas and harbourside restaurants. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights at Neritos House from 841 pp (four sharing). Includes flights to Kefalonia, sea taxi or ferry transfer (45 minutes) and hire car (simpson travel.com). PEACEFUL PATMOS Patmos is blessed with a superb medieval capital, Chora (pictured), with mansions clad in bougainvillaea and thyme-fragrant hills Above: The bells in the magnificent fortified monastery on Patmos In the Dodecanese, Patmos comes to life at Easter and high summer when it attracts both blue-blood and Hollywood royalty in search of anonymity. It is renowned as the island of St John, who settled in a cave and had a vision that inspired his Revelations. The cave remains, as does a magnificent fortified monastery built in his honour in the 11th century. The island is also blessed with a superb medieval capital, Chora, with mansions clad in bougainvillaea and thyme-fragrant hills. DONT MISS: The sheer beauty of the pine-clad rugged scenery of the islands north. HOW TO DO IT: Six nights at Skala Hotel in Patmos from 855 pp including flights to Kos, a night at a hotel in Kos and ferry transfers (two-and-a-half hours) between the islands (sunvil.co.uk). DODECANESE DODDLE Island life: Take a water-taxi from the tiny isle of Kastellorizo, pictured above, and spend a day snorkelling at the nearby islets Kastellorizo, also in the Dodecanese, is perhaps best known as the setting of the entertaining 1991 film, Mediterraneo. This tiny island has had a chequered history, successively occupied by Mycenaeans, Dorians, the Knights of St John, the Sultan of Egypt and, in 1450, by the King of Naples. The ensuing 400-year long Turkish occupation ended in 1920 with Italian rule, when the islands depopulation began. Look out for the ruins of the hilltop Castello Rosso and the 4th-century BC Lycian rock tomb. DONT MISS: A water-taxi ride to the islets of Rho or Strongyli for snorkelling. HOW TO DO IT: Nine nights seven at the waterfront Mediterraneo Boutique Hotel plus two nights in Rhodes from 769 pp (islandsofgreece.co.uk) including international flights and air or ferry transfers (around two-and-a-half to three hours). CYCLADES WITHOUT CROWDS Above is Firopotamos on the isle of Milos - a 'dramatic' landscape with rock formations curling around a central volcanic caldera Spend an afternoon wandering through the Christian catacombs on Milos, pictured, which are set near where the Venus de Milo was discovered Above: Freshly caught octopuses drying out in Milos The island of Milos was the original home of the Louvres famous Venus. It is a dramatic island with rock formations curling around a central volcanic caldera. The Cycladic style is typified in villages such as Plaka, with its whitewashed houses set in winding lanes. There are also the blue-domed churches and windmills above Trypiti and fishermens huts carved into the cliff at Klima. DONT MISS: The Christian catacombs, near where the Venus de Milo was discovered. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights at the Miland Suites from 1,062 pp B&B including flights to Athens and a three-hour ferry transfer from Piraeus (escapetogreece.com). LUSH GREEN HIDEAWAY The Neraida waterfall tumbling into an aquamarine pool on the 'tucked away and overlooked' island of Kythira In the Ionian Sea, Kythira lies beneath the Peloponnese. It feels tucked away and overlooked, yet is home to delightful whitewashed sugar-cube houses and a lush green interior, with a riot of wildflowers in the spring. The tiny islet of Avgo (Egg), off the southern tip, vies with Cyprus as the birthplace of Aphrodite. With the Neraida waterfall tumbling into an aquamarine pool, Venetian-era castle and spectacular hilltop views, it is a romantic setting. DONT MISS: Be sure to hire a car to explore the 40-odd secluded hillside villages. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights at four-star Kythea Resort Hotel in Agia Pelagia from 1,026 pp B&B (cachet-travel.co.uk) including flights to Athens and domestic flight (55 minutes). Advertisement The sudden sight of the Cala den Serra beach makes it all worthwhile. Were up on the north-east of Ibiza, several miles from anywhere. We trekked up from Portinatx, past the majestic, 170 ft, candy-striped Moscarter lighthouse and along an intricate coastal path with lush pine forestation, orange and lemon trees on one side, steep cliffs, rocky bays and a rich blue sea on the other. This cove is one of the islands countless glories, an oval of golden sand surrounded by turquoise water. Roger Alton and his group - led by tour guides from G Adventures - trek to Ibiza's Cala den Serra beach (pictured) A beach in the Ibizan village of Portinatx, which features on one of Roger's hikes along the island's coast We have to walk down (the roads in terrible condition) past the shell of an abandoned hotel and on to the little beach, dotted with a handful of fishermens shacks. Theres said to be a risk of jellyfish, but thanks to a handy new app (yes, really) those troublesome critters are easy to avoid. Hiking is, by some margin, the best way to see the island and savour its rich flora, from bougainvillea and hibiscus to rosemary and sage. We are an assorted bunch, brought together by an enterprising Canada-based outfit called G Adventures. They want to introduce visitors to the unseen sides of great destinations. Holidays spent on a sun lounger? Forget it. With G Adventures you put one foot in front of the other in Iceland to see the Northern Lights; the Inca Trail in Peru; the rich wildlife in Costa Rica; the wonders of Nepal. These are trips for grown-ups (whatever your age) like-minded people with the confidence to get out and see the world as it is. Where else are you going to meet a couple of businesswomen who are best friends and confusingly both called Kathryn, and who are most helpful to me as I fall behind; a hospital consultant who is so fit her six-pack has a six-pack; a man helping to build a new generation of phones; a Canadian paralegal; an Austrian shipping agent; a Swiss travel agent; or a couple of 19-year-old pals from Munich who succumb to the other delights of Ibiza and disappear from view? Mixed indeed. The tour leads the group past the majestic, 170ft, candy-striped Moscarter lighthouse (pictured centre-left) The group's base for the holiday is Santa Eulalia (pictured), a small beachside resort half an hour up the east coast from Ibiza Town All love the outdoors; all get on like a house on fire. Our guides are Javi, a former ad man, and Jaime, who says that even after 25 years on the island, he is still discovering hidden treasures. Frankly, I have always avoided Ibiza because of the party island stuff. Thats there, of course, but mostly tucked away on San Antonio or the Playa den Bossa. Were based in Santa Eulalia, a small beachside resort half an hour up the east coast from Ibiza Town and packed with every restaurant you could want. Strangely, our hotel shuts its bar at 4pm, which is very un-Spanish and doesnt make for lots of communal get-togethers, although our gregarious crew meets all over town after our walks. Nobody should miss Formentera, the 12-mile-long nearby island, a crisp ferry ride from Santa Eulalia and a byword for bohemian escapism and some of the best beaches in Europe. Roger hops on a ferry to the nearby isle of Formentera, which, he says, is a 'byword for bohemian escapism and some of the best beaches in Europe' After renting a bike, Roger cycles to the salt flats of the Trucador Peninsula at the northern tip of the island. Above is a beach on the western side of the peninsula On his final outing, Roger hikes through olive groves and past carob trees down to the extraordinary cove Es Portitxol (pictured) TRAVEL FACTS G Adventures Hiking Ibiza tour starts from 699 per person, excluding international flights. Upcoming departures include March 19, April 23 and May 14 with trips running through to November 2022. Advertisement Visibility under water is regularly to a depth of 165 ft, thanks to extensive seabed meadows of something called Posidonia, an ancient Mediterranean seagrass known for its healing properties and extensive production of oxygen. Obviously good stuff, and like most good stuff its in danger from marine pollution. Formentera best suits two wheels rather than two feet, so Javi and I take to hired bikes and visit the salt flats of the Trucador Peninsula at the northern tip of the island. All the organisms in the salt pans take on a pinkish hue and shine red in the late sun. Eventually we bike to the Es Ministre restaurant straddling the promontory running north into the sea. Apparently, Beyonce and Lionel Messi have been known to pop in here, so its not a place to come without a credit card. Back on Ibiza, for my final trip Jaime takes me off the beaten track north-west of Sant Miquel through olive groves and past carob trees, and then down to the extraordinary cove Es Portitxol, tiny and lonely with just an elegant yacht moored in the waters. But when locals tell you its about a ten -minute walk, dont believe a word. Theres just time for a last visit to the marina at Santa Eulalia. My daughter, Hannah, who is a chef on Ibiza, takes me to Word of Mouth (known as WoM), an open space with music and, Hannah tells me, the best burgers in the world. And you know what, shes right. They are the best this hungry hiker has ever tasted, and make a delicious way to end an enlightening visit to an island Ive misunderstood for decades. The Queen remains the constitutional monarch in Belize, a country with a population of fewer than 400,000 Advertisement William and Kate, pictured, are including Belize on their upcoming 12-day tour of the Caribbean The announcement that William and Kate are including Belize on their 12-day tour of the Caribbean, marking the Queens Platinum Jubilee, raised a few eyebrows. For many people, the tiny Central American country slightly bigger than Wales, with a population of fewer than 400,000 is off-radar. But as British Honduras, Belize was from 1783 to 1964 a Crown colony. The Queen remains the constitutional monarch, with the official title Queen of Belize which sounds like a calypso song. In 1981, after a protracted period of wrangling with neighbouring Guatemala, the country became fully independent, and is now a stable democracy. Unlike Barbados, where the Queen has ceased to be head of state, Belize has no plans to change its relationship with the Commonwealth or monarchy. The British Army has a permanent base, making use of its mountainous western flank for jungle warfare training. A beach on Ambergris Caye the largest of the many islands that lie between Belize's mainland and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Deep inside the tropical forests are the mysterious Mayan citadels of Caracol, Lamanai and Xunantunich and, quirkily, a luxury hotel owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola. The country looks and feels Caribbean, but was once part of the Mayan empire; its official language is English, but people also speak Kriol, Spanish and Mayan languages. Its also home to the Garifuna, the descendants of African, Arawak and Carib people. Famed for their drumming, the Belizean Garifuna have their spiritual capital in Dangriga. Ecological themes will be an important aspect of the royal visit. An essential stop will be the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Home to a dizzying array of marine species, including manatees, crocodiles, four kinds of sea turtle, sharks and rays, and the second largest coral reef on the planet, its a biodiversity hotspot and a dream destination for pro scuba divers and novice snorkellers alike. Deep inside a tropical forest in Belize is the mysterious Mayan citadel of Caracol (pictured above) Above is San Pedro, the main township on Ambergris Caye, which is said to have inspired Madonnas La Isla Bonita Ambergris Caye the largest of the many islands that lie between the mainland and the reef is a magnet for monied Americans and a multinational yachting crowd. It is home to the cream of Belizes high-end resorts and the countrys best restaurants, as well as carefully combed beaches, crystal-clear waters and the Unesco-listed Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve a protected habitat for jaguars, ocelots and pumas. The main township, San Pedro, is said to have inspired Madonnas La Isla Bonita, though reggae and marimba are the main soundtrack in the cocktail bars and beer shacks. Rum punch is the national drink. Back in his partying days, Prince William was known to be a keen drinker of rum-based Treasure Chest at Mayfairs Mahiki; no doubt Belizes bartenders are already working on a local variation. A family classic Travel by boat through the deep jungle to discover the ancient temples of Xunantunich, pictured, on a break with the adventure tour operator Explore A vermilion flycatcher bird at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, which is also home to spider monkeys, toucans and crocodiles Belize is an ideal family holiday destination. Visit the tropical forest of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary to see spider monkeys, toucans and crocodiles, and enjoy a day trip to the remote Davis Falls, Belizes second highest waterfall. Travel by boat through the deep jungle to the ancient temples of Xunantunich and Lamanai. How to do it: From 3,044pp for 14 days, with flights and most meals (explore.co.uk). Get active From your jungle-lodge bases in the Maya Mountains, visit the Actun Tunichil Muknal caves, a Mayan ceremonial site; enjoy waterfall hikes; and go abseiling and ziplining at Bocawina Rainforest Resort. Relocate to Glovers Reef atoll to try stand-up paddle-boarding, kayaking and patch reef snorkelling. How to do it: From 3,000pp for 11 days, excluding flights budget a further 600 (journeylatinamerica.co.uk). The Great Blue Hole Divers will love Belize - explore the country's Great Blue Hole, pictured, on a trip with Dive Worldwide Belize is a world-class diving destination. A liveaboard holiday on the 55-metre, 20-guest Belize Aggressor IV will allow you to explore the Lighthouse and Turneffe atolls. The former includes the Great Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau. How to do it: From 3,475pp for ten days, including flights and seven nights aboard (diveworldwide.com). Maya mountains A waterfall at Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary in the Maya Mountains, which features on Cox and Kings' tour TRAVEL FACTS There are no direct flights between the UK and Belize. Most people fly via Atlanta, Houston or Miami in the U.S. Cancun is a 90-minute flight by propeller plane. More details at travelbelize.org and lata.travel. Fully vaccinated tourists are not required to take a test. Unvaccinated travellers must present a negative PCR or antigen test. All tourists must pay 14 for Belize Travel Health Insurance (belizetravelinsurance.com). Advertisement Spend three nights in the beach town of Placencia, an ideal base for a drive up to the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary in the Maya Mountains a large nature reserve created to protect pine and scrub forests and endangered species such as the jaguar. How to do it: From 2,295pp for 12 days, including flights (coxandkings.co.uk). Hop over to Guatemala Compare and contrast these two neighbouring countries, with visits to former capital Antigua, Lake Atitlan and the Tikal ruins once the Mayan capital in Guatemala and stays at the Lodge at Chaa Creek and Naia Resort & Spa in Belize. How to do it: From 3,800pp for 13 days, including flights (scottdunn.com). Film-set luxury Spend three nights at Coppolas deluxe Blancaneaux Lodge (the decor features film set fixtures) in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, with a road trip to see the Mayan site of Caracol. Afterwards, visit Lamanai before flying to Ambergris Caye to stay at the beautiful Victoria House hotel. How to do it: From 3,850pp for ten days, including flights; budget for an overnight stay in the U.S. (lastfrontiers.com). Overland group tour Colourful: Hop on a water-taxi in Belize City on a tour with Intrepid Travel and visit Caye Caulker island (pictured) A woman takes part in a class at a cacao plantation in Punta Gorda See the Mayan lands of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Theres an option to go reef diving off Cozumel. A bus ride south to Belize City is followed by a water-taxi to Caye Caulker and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. How to do it: From 1,088pp for 17 days, excluding flights (intrepidtravel.com). A grand trip Visit a cacao plantation in Punta Gorda in the south, enjoy a jungle adventure, take the medicine trail in Orange Walk District and try a snorkelling trip from Ambergris Caye. How to do it: From 5,300pp for 15 days, including flights (audleytravel.com). Ruins and reefs Rainbow Tours' getaway, which costs from 3,095pp, makes a stop at the Mayan ruins at Lamanai. Above is the Lamanai Jaguar Temple Explore the Mayan ruins at Lamanai, set in dense jungles and overlooking the New River Lagoon a habitat for howler monkeys, river turtles and stunning birdlife. Visit Caracol, another Mayan site, before heading to the beaches of Ambergris Caye, a base for diving and snorkelling trips. How to do it: From 3,095pp for 11 days, including flights (rainbowtours.co.uk). Natural history highs Visit ruins, rainforest, rivers, lagoons, reef and coral islands, staying in jungle lodges where the focus is on forest environments and local wildlife including black howler monkeys, deer, ocelots and jaguars. Spoil yourself at the beachside Turtle Inn. How to do it: From 3,120pp for 13 days, excluding flights (reefandrainforest.co.uk). Love Is Blind star Deepti Vempati has branded ex-fiance Abhishek 'Shake' Chatterjee's grovelling apology 'fake' and says she was left 'broken' by his cruel behaviour on the hit Netflix dating series. In her first UK interview, the US reality favourite accused Shake, who she agreed to marry despite never seeing him in the flesh, of being 'insincere' after he claimed to be 'truly sorry for the things he said', in a video posted to Instagram this week. Speaking to MailOnline, Deepti, 31, admitted that she felt Shake, 33, 'wasted' her experience on the show after his chauvinist and disrespectful comments towards her appearance destroyed her confidence. Shake faced furious criticism from viewers of the reality series after he was seen making several negative comments about Deepti behind her back following their first in-person meeting and subsequent engagement. At one point, Shake told a fellow cast member that he wasn't 'physically attracted' to his new fiancee, adding: 'It feels like I'm with my aunt or something.' Even before the couple met and got engaged, Shake left viewers outraged by asking multiple women on the show questions about their body shape and weight despite the series being focused on matching people on personality, rather than looks. During one of his first conversations with Deepti, he asked whether he would 'have trouble picking her up.' 'It's too late': Love Is Blind star Deepti Vempati has branded ex-fiance Abhishek 'Shake' Chatterjee's grovelling apology 'fake' and says she was left 'broken' by his cruel behaviour on the hit Netflix dating series After coming under furious fire for his behaviour on the show, Shake eventually issued an apology to his ex who ultimately left him at the altar stating in an Instagram video that he was 'truly sorry for some of the things' that he said on-camera. However, speaking to MailOnline, Deepti said the apology has come too little, too late, sharing: 'This is the first time he's apologised. Right before he made that video, he sent me the same text message. But for me it's too late.' She also accused Shake of using his apology video to try and escape the criticism and 'hate' he has been receiving since his comments were aired on the show. She added: 'I feel like he's just doing damage control and clearly what he's continued to do on social media since that apology, it's evident that he does not care,' Deepti continued. 'He did that for show. He did that to get less hate but he's not sorry. 'I honestly don't want anything to do with him and his apology is fake. It feels insincere. 'Why now? After 4/5 weeks of this happening as soon as episode 1-4 dropped he should have been apologising if it really was sincere and from the heart. He's only done it because he's getting a lot of hate.' 'His apology is fake': The US reality favourite accused Shake, who she agreed to marry despite never seeing him in the flesh, of being 'insincere' after he claimed to be 'truly sorry for the things he said' this week Netflix series Love Is Blind, which is presented by husband and wife Nick and Vanessa Lachey, sees contestants date each other without knowing what their partner looks like. But fans and cast members grew frustrated with Shake for his obsession with appearances, going against the ethos of the dating show, which encourages connecting on a deeper level rather than being influenced by looks. Shake insisted that he only dates 'blondes' and made regular jibes at Deepti, while also claiming he's not attracted to Indian women. Deepti has been praised by viewers for dumping Shake at the altar, choosing to be friends instead, after realising days before their wedding that he didn't have the right qualities she was looking for in a partner. She explained: 'I was happy on my wedding day because we could celebrate our friendship at least but I had no idea what he had been saying. 'I knew this was not my person': Deepti has been praised by viewers for dumping Shake at the altar after realising days before their wedding that he didn't have the right qualities she was looking for in a partner 'How could I have got married? For me, the switch came a couple of dates before the wedding, we were trying to grow our intimacy and I thought to myself 'What am I doing? 'Why am I forcing something that doesn't exist? Do I even want Shake as a husband?' He started to show qualities that I wasn't looking for in my partner. I just knew this was not my person. It was the best decision I made.' Deepti's strength and ability to know her own self-worth has taken years of work. The star, who's originally from India and moved to the States when she was eight, admits she has battled with body insecurities and identity issues after being bullied for looking different. 'I was overweight': The star, who's originally from India and moved to the States when she was eight, admits she has battled with body insecurities and identity issues after being bullied for looking different 'I was broken': Deepti feels 'disappointed' in Shake for 'wasting' her experience after he admitted to only dating 'blondes' and not being attracted to Indian women She hoped to finally find her life partner by signing up to Love Is Blind following the breakdown of two long-term relationships but feels Shake, who she suspects only joined the cast for fame, 'wasted' her experience. She said: 'My whole life I have been struggling because I have wanted to fit in. 'Coming to America and not looking like everyone, talking like everyone, I was bullied a lot, I was overweight, and I had a lot of a self-body image issues. 'In adulthood I have worked hard to build that back and know that I shouldn't run from my culture because it's amazing. It has taken me a lot of time to be in this confident place. 'I go through periods of being angry': Deepti hoped to finally find her life partner by signing up to Love Is Blind following the breakdown of two long-term relationships but feels Shake only joined the cast for fame 'That's why I am so disappointed because if Shake does place so much importance on the physical appearance and that's a deal breaker then maybe Love Is Blind wasn't the show for him. He wasted my experience. Maybe if I was blonde and different looking he may have married me. 'I have to say I was broken during the process. That's why I am so grateful for my family and friends because they constantly reminded me throughout the experience 'don't forget the work that you have done on yourself.' 'I go through periods of being angry, but I need to remember I went through this for a reason to build my confidence even more and know I can get through anything.' Shake, who claims he was edited badly by Netflix producers, has not only faced a backlash from viewers but his fellow cast mates have also cut contact with him after tensions reached an all-time high on the Love Is Blind reunion. Despite Shake believing he has been portrayed as the show's 'villain', Deepti says he made far worse comments, of which she wasn't prepared to reveal, off camera. 'It hit a nerve with everyone': Shake has not only faced a backlash from viewers but his fellow cast mates have also cut contact with him after tensions reached an all-time high on the Love Is Blind reunion She said: 'My cast mates felt it was disrespectful and out of line for him to speak in that way. 'Everyone is entitled to have their own opinion but it wasn't just me, he was talking to the other cast mates very degradingly and disrespectfully and it hit a nerve with everyone, we had enough. 'I'm not going to get into the specifics but he got a good edit. He said much worse and not just to me, sometimes he just talks disrespectfully about women in general and that's outside of the cast. 'We started to notice that behaviour when we hung out with him after filming wrapped. All of us have distanced ourselves and that's okay.' Bride to be: Deepti, pictured with fellow brides Natalie, Lyanna, Mallory, and Danielle, ahead of her wedding to veterinarian Shake Kyle Abrams, who was engaged to Shaina Hurley, spoke out in admiration for Deepti during the reunion episode, prompting speculation from fans that the pair, who also grew close during the dating experience, are now an item. But Deepti says they are 'just good friends.' She said: 'A lot of people don't know that Kyle was my no2 person in the pods. We did connect a lot, we spent hours and hours talking and after filming wrapped, we started talking again. 'He's my best friend, biggest support system, and I am grateful for him and the rest of the cast for supporting me. I don't know about anything more at this stage because we're just good friends.' Blackmail (Mercury Theatre, Colchester) Rating: Verdict: Poirot lite The Merchant Of Venice (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Globe) Rating: Verdict: Brutally to the point There is nothing like a little blackmail to make an audience sweat. Alfred Hitchcock knew that better than most, and it's what must have attracted him to Charles Bennett's 1928 West End play, Blackmail, which starred a young Tallulah Bankhead; and which the grand master of suspense adapted for the big screen. It's the tale of 19-year-old Alice, a Chelsea shop assistant who kills a posh bohemian artist after he assaults her in his studio. The set-up is a little creaky, with Alice first falling out with her honest copper fiance, Harold. Alice's moral dilemma come clean, or save her skin is just about enough to carry a brisk, two-hour evening. All the same, I'd have preferred a little more psychological intrigue, and a few more red herrings. But Anthony Banks directs a tidy production, with Jessie Hills as a sympathetic and strong-willed teenage killer She might have got away with the killing, were she not spotted going in and out of the artist's studio by a friend of the victim who seizes the opportunity for a spot of extortion. Bennett went on to become a Hollywood scriptwriter, but apparently continued tinkering with the play until his death in 1995. Best seat in the house The Red Real-life father and son Bruce and Sam Alexander star in comedian Marcus Brigstocke's play, paying tribute to his late, wine-loving Dad. originaltheatreonline.com March 16-June 16 Advertisement Enter playwright Mark Ravenhill, who has now completed that tinkering highlighting the story's themes of women's rights and turning the desperate blackmailer into a gay outsider. The result is Poirot-ish melodrama, featuring a compromised fiance instead of a moustachioed sleuth. Alice's moral dilemma come clean, or save her skin is just about enough to carry a brisk, two-hour evening. All the same, I'd have preferred a little more psychological intrigue, and a few more red herrings. But Anthony Banks directs a tidy production, with Jessie Hills as a sympathetic and strong-willed teenage killer. Gabriel Akuwudike's Harold, however, undergoes a pleasing transformation from idealist bobby to cynical pragmatist. And Lucy Speed, as Alice's god-fearing mum, is an honest to goodness Cockney battle-axe. The most curious performance, though, is from Patrick Walshe McBride as blackmailer Ian Tracy, an almost flamboyant dilettante. Veering between squeaking mouse and booming bear, he's alarmingly unpredictable. This is a neatly restored period piece worthy of the slickly renovated Mercury Theatre. If only Ravenhill had pushed the characters further, we might have been able to sweat a bit more. Shakespeare's Merchant Of Venice is also a kind of blackmail story, with a cabal of Venetian merchants putting the squeeze on hapless Jewish moneylender Shylock. And now this abridged, two-hour version of the tale at the Globe's indoor theatre makes that abundantly and brutally clear. The forfeit of Abigail Graham's production is that it coarsens the plot line of Bassanio defaulting on his debt to Shylock. Shakespeare's version offered a complex vision of a society tolerating institutional racism in the name of business. The benefit, however, is that it brings a horrible clarity. Graham's modernised setting casts the merchants as a bunch of raucous, routinely racist yuppies including Michael Marcus's Bassanio, here a smug City banker. No opportunity to slander Shylock is missed, in vitriolic outbursts of anti-Semitism, accompanied by volleys of spit. Fittingly, Adrian Schiller's Shylock is measured and deliberate: wary of beatings and fearful of meeting his tormentors' eyes. It's sometimes hard to see his face in the candlelit gloom, but his body speak volumes racked by spasms, as if he were fighting invisible demons. I've never been more distressed by Shylock's pain, or keener to see him win his pound of flesh. Fittingly, Adrian Schiller's Shylock is measured and deliberate: wary of beatings and fearful of meeting his tormentors' eyes Jazzed up Jane Austen is pretty persuasive Persuasion (Rose, Kingston) Rating: Verdict: In awe of Austen's powers Hamlet in a hoodie has become de rigueur but a Jane Austen heroine in Athleisure? This and many other courtships are startlingly played out on a raised rectangular platform which functions as a disco, catwalk, foam-flooded bubble-party and, most important, a rostrum from which Sasha Frost's wonderfully withheld and high-handed Anne roughly pushes any character who becomes tiresome Jeff James's bold adaptation of Austen's Persuasion ditches bonnets and decorous jigs to polite piano accompaniments in favour of bikinis, bubble-parties, full-on snogging and robotic dancing to the tune of Robyn's Call Your Girlfriend, Nicki Minaj and Dua Lipa. The result is a frolicking, rollicking rom-com nailing the contemporary dating and mating game as sharply as it did in 1818, when it was published shortly after Austen's death. In its shrewd and amused understanding of what it is to be a witty woman in a man's world, it captures the essence and spirit of Austen with an extra portion of bubbles. This is Anne Elliot's story. At the age of 19, she was persuaded by her trusted friend, Lady Russell, that she would be 'throwing herself away' if she accepted a proposal of marriage from impecunious Frederick Wentworth. Eight years on, unmarried Anne considers herself 'haggard at 27' when Wentworth, now a wealthy captain, unexpectedly turns up in Bath, a city, we are told, 'blighted by modern architecture' but where all the newest dance moves are invented. Second time lucky? This and many other courtships are startlingly played out on a raised rectangular platform which functions as a disco, catwalk, foam-flooded bubble-party and, most important, a rostrum from which Sasha Frost's wonderfully withheld and high-handed Anne roughly pushes any character who becomes tiresome. Disappearing from view are, variously, her absurdly vain father, Sir Walter (Emilio Doorgasingh), posing in a chest-revealing green towelling dressing-gown; her sister, the hilariously moaning married Mary (Helen Cripps); her older sister Elizabeth, a spoilt Daddy's girl, superbly played by Matilda Bailes who also doubles as one of the Musgrove sisters, Instagram-ready blonde bimbos in hot pursuit of a husband. It's a hoot and I was totally persuaded. Georgina Brown Toby-Alexander Smith has revealed his plans for the future after quitting EastEnders. The actor, 30, played serial killer Gray Atkins on the BBC soap, with his final scenes airing on Thursday as he was finally arrested for the murders of Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) and Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami). And Toby-Alexander will be enjoying a break from the drama that came with playing his character to concentrate on his duties as a father after welcoming his first baby to the world late in 2021 with his Emmerdale actress partner Amy Walsh, 34. Moving on: Toby-Alexander Smith, 30, has revealed his plans to grow into his role at home as a doting father after his last EastEnders scenes aired on Thursday When asked what he plans to do next, he told The Sun: 'Changing nappies, breast pumps and not getting any sleep probably. 'It's all good. I'm very happy using this time now just to be present with Amy and Bonnie and I'm just loving every second of it. 'Who knows what's around the corner but for right now I'm very happy to just be a full-time dad.' Family man: The actor, who played serial killer Gray Atkins on the BBC soap, welcomed his first baby to the world with his Emmerdale actress partner Amy Walsh, 34, in December Toby-Alexander originally signed up to appear in EastEnders for six months as domestic abuser Gray, arriving in Walford in March 2019. However, his storyline unfolded further after Gray killed wife Chantelle by pushing her onto a knife standing on end in the dishwasher. The star said he began counting his days after the scripted killing but his character went on to develop further before killing Tina and Kush. Happy couple: Toby-Alexander's parter Amy, who plays Tracy Metcalfe in Emmerdale, announced she had given birth to daughter Bonnie Mae in January Drama: Toby-Alexander originally signed up to appear in EastEnders for six months as domestic abuser Gray, arriving in Walford in March 2019 (pictured on EastEnders this week) He went on to say he would not miss the online abuse he received from viewers who detested Gray for his murderous actions as he admitted that some audience members 'don't seem to be able to differentiate between Gray and myself'. Toby-Alexander's parter Amy, who plays Tracy Metcalfe in Emmerdale, announced she had given birth to daughter Bonnie Mae in January this year after welcoming the newborn in December. She told the OK! magazine: 'Wellit's been a busy week! Hope you all had a good one. HAPPY NEW YEAR from the three of us.' The pair first met back in 2019 when they were in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing together. Amy, who is the sister of former Girls Aloud star Kimberley, and Toby-Alexander then moved into together after only a few months because of the pandemic. Bob Odenkirk's Jimmy McGill is on the verge of Breaking Bad. The 59-year-old actor was featured in the trailer for the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul released on Wednesday. In the two minute clip, his character McGill is in the midst of his transformation into criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Interesting: Bob Odenkirk was featured in the trailer for the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul released on Wednesday as his character Jimmy McGill transforms into Saul Goodman Hmm: As if that already wasn't enough his complex relation ship with wife and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler - played by Rhea Seehorn - becomes even more complicated as she has a bit of an existential crisis As if that already wasn't enough his complex relation ship with wife and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler - played by Rhea Seehorn - becomes even more complicated as she has a bit of an existential crisis. The trailer begins with Kim looking paranoid as she peers over her shoulder. She confides in Jimmy as she asks him: 'You ever feel like you're being followed?' He replies: 'Well, you know what they say. The wicked flee when no man pursueth.' Spooked: The trailer begins with Kim looking paranoid as she peers over her shoulder She confides in Jimmy as she asks him: 'You ever feel like you're being followed?' He replies: 'Well, you know what they say. The wicked flee when no man pursueth' Kim then asks: 'You think we're wicked?' Kim then asks: 'You think we're wicked?' The end of season five saw Kim reconsider her morality by sabotaging Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian), managing partner of law firm Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill. Meanwhile Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) and drug cartel member Nacho Varga (Michael Mando) had organized a hit on fellow drug cartel member Lalo Salamanca (Tony Dalton) which failed. Lalo's family was left dead but he had no idea that Nacho was responsible. Bond: The end of season five saw Kim reconsider her morality by sabotaging Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian), managing partner of law firm Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill Easter egg: Saul's Cadillac with the LWYRUP vanity plate is shown The new trailer shows both Kim and Jimmy in conflict with Howard while Lalo seeks vengeance over Mike and Nacho. At one point Kim asks Howard: 'Are you building up a case against Jimmy?' He mysteriously responds: 'I'm just getting warmed up.' At one point Kim asks Howard: 'Are you building up a case against Jimmy?' He mysteriously responds: 'I'm just getting warmed up' Toward the end of the clip Mike says: 'Whatever happens next, its not going to go down the way you think it is.' The final frame of it remains a bit of a mystery as a man who looks much like Lalo looks up and smiles. The series centers around lawyer Jimmy McGill [Odenkirk] who, over the course of several years, mishaps and questionable ethical choices rebrands himself as smarmy criminal attorney Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad. A prequel spin-off of the Bryan Cranston series, Better Call Saul managed to carve out a home for itself among televisions great dramas. Toward the end of the clip Mike says: 'Whatever happens next, its not going to go down the way you think it is' More questions than answers: The final frame of it remains a bit of a mystery as a man who looks much like Lalo looks up and smiles Executive producer of Better Call Saul, Peter Gould, previously confirmed the show's final season will consist of 13 episodes rather than the usual 10. 'From the beginning when we started this, I think all our hopes and dreams were to be able to tell the whole story,' Gould said in a statement. He added: 'And make it to be a complete story from beginning to end. We're going to try like hell to stick the landing of these 63 episodes.' The sixth and final season of Better Call Saul begins airing Monday, April 18 on AMC. Watch Better Call Saul only on Stan in Australia. An off-duty Manhattan cops firearm was snatched during a fight early Friday in Midtown with a group of hooligans, police said. The 42-year-old officer and his friend were outside the Hudson Market Place deli near the corner of 51st St. and Ninth Ave. about 4:30 a.m. when they got into an argument with four other men, cops said. Advertisement Officers on the scene outside of the Hudson Market Place on 9th Avenue in Manhattan on Friday morning. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The argument quickly escalated into a fistfight. During the brawl, one of the suspects removed the off-duty cops pistol, which he hadnt drawn. The gun was not the cops service weapon, but one he was approved to carry while off-duty, cops said. The attackers ran off and were last seen jumping into a late model Dodge Charger, which sped down Ninth Ave. Police called to the scene found the off-duty officer and his friend beaten and bruised. Advertisement Officers investigate the scene outside of the Hudson Market Place on 9th Avenue in Manhattan on Friday morning. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) EMS took the officer and his friend to Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Lukes. Both had minor injuries. No arrest have been made. Cops on Friday were scouring the area looking for surveillance footage that can help them identify the brawlers. The latest episode of The Apprentice saw a double firing as both Aaron Willis and Akeem Bundu-Kamara were given their marching orders. Lord Sugar dismissed both candidates following a disastrous baby food challenge in which the teams were tasked with creating a unique and healthy meal for kids before making the product and pitching it to retailers. However, after neither team managed to secure any orders for their offerings, every candidate was in the firing line, with the exasperated business mogul eventually letting both men go ahead of the final, which will now be an all-female affair. Meanwhile, the end of the show teased the return of Alan's trusted aide Claude Littner, who was forced to miss this series due to an E-bike accident. Oh dear! The latest episode of The Apprentice saw a double firing as both Aaron Willis and Akeem Bundu-Kamara were given their marching orders While he enthusiastically offered himself up as Project Manager, the task soon proved too much for Aaron as his 'Moroccan Medley' that he whipped up in the kitchen was branded 'stodgy' while lacking in 'flavour'. The businessman also made a blunder by not leaving a brief for Brittany and Kathryn on the branding team, giving them 'complete freedom'. Lord Sugar's aide Tim Campbell even pointed out this was a bad move, remarking: 'I'm not sure what Aaron was thinking, giving them no specific brief. He can be in real trouble if they come back with something he doesn't like.' Axed: However, after neither team managed to secure any orders for their offerings, every candidate was in the firing line, with the exasperated business mogul eventually letting both men go ahead of the final, which will now be an all-female affair He's back! Meanwhile, the end of the show teased the return of Alan's trusted aide Claude Littner, who was forced to miss this series due to an E-bike accident In the boardroom, Lord Sugar berated Aaron and his team's efforts, branding their offering 'one of the worst products I've ever seen in this boardroom.' Meanwhile, Akeem didn't fare much better as his team's logo and promotional poster, which he helped design, failed to impress. His efforts were notably hampered by their disastrous branding, with the label of their product First Time Foodies awkwardly reading as 'First Time F** Dies' thanks to the 'oo' being replaced by bowls of food. Recipe for disaster: the task soon proved too much for Aaron as his 'Moroccan Medley' that he whipped up in the kitchen was branded 'stodgy' while lacking in 'flavour' Uh oh: The businessman also made a blunder by not leaving a brief for Brittany and Kathryn on the branding team, giving them 'complete freedom' Not impressed: In the boardroom, Lord Sugar berated Aaron and his team's efforts, branding their offering 'one of the worst products I've ever seen in this boardroom' Commenting on the issue, Karren Brady quipped: 'They've created a label for their brand but all I see is 'first time dies', I mean what parent wants to see that on their child's food?' Despite not being on the losing team, Akeem was let go by the businessman, who at one point was deliberating between him and Stephanie. Aaron and Akeem's exits mean that the final in two weeks' time will be an all-female one, with Stephanie Affleck, Brittany Carter, Kathryn Louise and Harpreet Kaur making up the final four. Troubles: Meanwhile, Akeem didn't fare much better as his team's logo and promotional poster, which he helped design, failed to impress Yikes! His efforts were notably hampered by their disastrous branding, with the label of their product First Time Foodies awkwardly reading as 'First Time F** Dies' And ahead of the final, fans can look forward to the much anticipated interview stages, where they'll be in for an extra treat as notoriously tough interviewer Claude Littner makes a comeback. A preview for the penultimate episode showed a glimpse of the business executive, 72, giving Stephanie a grilling over her business plan. Claude, who this year was replaced by former Apprentice winner and entrepreneur Tim Campbell, underwent nine surgeries and will have to learn to walk again after damaging his right leg in an E-bike accident near his London home in April 2020. The Apprentice's interview episode airs Thursday 17 March at 9pm on BBC One. Human bear-baiting thats how The Jeremy Kyle Show was described, not by a TV reviewer but by a district court judge. In 2007, two years after the ITV morning show first aired, Judge Alan Berg heard the trial of a man aged 45 who head- butted his lodger after learning on the show that his wife was having an affair with him. This type of incident is exactly what the producers want, said the judge. These self-righteous individuals should be in the dock with you. They pretend there is some virtue in putting out a show like this. Incredibly, Kyles obnoxious spectacle of humiliation continued to screen for the next 12 years. It was not axed until 2019, when 63-year-old Steve Dymond, of Portsmouth, died from an overdose, a week after appearing on the show. Mr Dymond wanted to prove to a former partner that he had not been unfaithful to her. Human bear-baiting thats how The Jeremy Kyle Show was described, not by a TV reviewer but by a district court judge Instead, he was held up to ridicule in front of millions. Now a two-part Channel 4 documentary on Sunday and Monday is to expose the machinations of researchers and producers on the show, accused of rounding up guests and then stoking resentments and jealousies to the point of explosion. The investigation includes behind-the-scenes footage as well as interviews with people who say their lives were wrecked by the show. But just as guilty were the snobbish Left-wing media commentators who relished the sight of desperate, unhappy people being goaded into fits of rage. Johann Hari in the Independent unironically called it wonderfully progressive for exposing homophobes, misogynists [and] neglectful parents. The headline on his piece grotesquely referred to Kyle as a moral hero of our time. In the Guardian, Derek Draper (who worked on another Kyle show as a psychotherapist) described the presenter as a strong father figure who was teaching responsibility and restraint to guests. How many of us have watched, transfixed, from behind our Guardians on our days off? asked Draper, today of course the tragically Covid-stricken husband of ITVs Kate Garraway. Other commentators simply gloried in how the show mocked Britains poorest and worst-educated people, often drug addicts and alcoholics. Incredibly, Kyles obnoxious spectacle of humiliation continued to screen for the next 12 years. It was not axed until 2019, when 63-year-old Steve Dymond, of Portsmouth, died from an overdose, a week after appearing on the show. Mr Dymond wanted to prove to a former partner that he had not been unfaithful to her The BBCs Charlie Brooker called them a cast of people who resemble a sort of aquatic livestock. The liberal elites intense condescension for the guests mostly white Britons from provincial cities empowered Kyle to continue his ritual shaming and exploitation. To look back at the series now is to see an endless low point for television. People were tricked on to the show and then held up to ridicule. Some of the worst segments defy belief and were engineered to do just that. In 2015, Kyle ran an interview with Bristol man Ted Richards, then 57, under the banner, Parrot Man is getting a beak... and thats not the worst of it. Ted had colourful feathers tattooed over his face, and had his ears surgically removed to make his head more like a parrots as well as plume-like bones that screwed on to his skull. In 2014, Kyle was criticised by Ofcom for his treatment of a teenager accused of stealing from her mother to feed a drug habit. She denied it, but failed a lie detector test a deeply unscientific piece of circus. Kyle told the audience that the 17-year-old had a reputation and had slept with 33 men. Her older sister called the girl a crackhead and a silly anorexic slapper, with no intervention from the host even when the teenager began sobbing and shouting in protest. That was the fourth time Kyle was reported to Ofcom. The previous three occasions had all been for the use of foul language. Astonishingly, some of the most obnoxious segments such as an interview with a man who boasted of having sex with both his stepdaughters resulted in no official reprimand. Often the aim appeared to be provoking physical clashes, so that security guards could make a display of separating rivals. Kyle himself would occasionally be sucked into the fracas: an angry father once snatched an envelope containing DNA results and hit him over the head with it. Another time, a woman grabbed the papers and shoved Kyle. He fell backwards theatrically, landing on his backside then gave chase, accusing the woman of theft and demanding the return of his property. The Jeremy Kyle Show has been consigned to the dustbin but, for many of those who appeared, the shame will dog them for a lifetime. The real humiliation belongs to ITV for staging this revolting spectacle and to the chattering classes who treated it as an opportunity to sneer at their social inferiors. Julia Fox put on risque display on Thursday when she was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles wearing an underboob-baring bra top. The 32-year-old star wore light wash jeans with fraying hems and accessorized with an upcycled tote made from jeans of the same shade. She covered up with sunglasses and let her light brunette hair flow freely down her shoulders. Simple look: Julia Fox put on risque display on Thursday when she was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles wearing an underboob-baring bra top The rising celebrity added a pair of black pointed-toe pumps to her simplified ensemble. She wore a light face of makeup, highlighting her plump pout with a pink lip stain as the wind blew through her thick mop of hair. The Uncut Gems actress looked as if she was in danger of a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction as he top revealed some underboob. Her flat, toned tummy was also exposed in the laid back outfit. Julia added a touch of class with an almond-shaped French manicure as well. Cute: The 32-year-old star wore light wash jeans with fraying hems and accessorized with an upcycled tote made from discarded jeans of the same shade The mother-of-one's midriff was also on display the night before as she went to dinner on Wednesday night. Showing off her lithe figure in a backless gloved crop top and low rise trousers, the she looked sensational as she headed to contemporary French bistro Gigi's in Los Angeles. Julia, who has snatched headlines of late owing to her brief relationship with rapper Kanye West, used her modeling experience to pose up a storm for the cameras. Night out: The mother-of-one's midriff was also on display the night before as she went to dinner on Wednesday night Fox completed her all-black attire with chunky-soled boots and carried her belongings in a large bag. Stunning snaps taken from behind allowed Julia to proudly show off her lower back 'cello' tattoo, which mimicked the tone holes on the string instruments and was bound to capture attention. The Italian-born beauty had her striking features drawn out by a glowing face of makeup, and she wore her chestnut tresses loose for the evening. Hot: Stunning snaps taken from behind allowed Julia to proudly show off her lower back 'cello' tattoo, which was bound to capture attention Fashionista: Fox completed her all-black attire with chunky-soled boots and carried her belongings in a large bag Julia was accompanied by film producer A'Ziah King, who followed suit in stopping for a series of gorgeous shots. A'Ziah, known for her work on Zola (2020), put on a revealing display in a figure-hugging leather dress which accentuated her hourglass frame. On Thursday Julia took to Instagram to share some snapshots from her evening out with her 1.2 million followers and wrote in the caption, 'STORY TIME,' referencing the first line of the Twitter thread that first got people interested in King's Zola story. The friends also attended the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica over the weekend. The Kyle and Jackie O Show has set a young family up for life. Jessica and Brandon, who share a young daughter, were on Friday given a brand-new four-bedroom, two-storey home in Sydney's south west after their old home was badly damaged in the floods last year. The top-rating KIIS 106.5 breakfast program teamed up with Wisdom Homes and Oran Park Town for the extraordinary giveaway, and also gifted the family $30,000 worth of furniture and an electric car. Congratulations! The Kyle and Jackie O Show has set a young family up for life. Jessica and Brandon, who share a young daughter, were on Friday given a brand-new four-bedroom, two-storey home in Sydney's south west after their old home was badly damaged in the floods last year. The family is pictured here with radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson broadcast Friday's show live from Julia Reserve in Oran Park Town. Hundreds of listeners had turned up in the hope of winning the home and were each given a key, with only one key opening up the pink prop door. Jessica and Brandon were overcome with emotion when their key opened the door, confirming they had won the incredible prize. Set up for life: The top-rating KIIS 106.5 breakfast program teamed up with Wisdom Homes and Oran Park Town for the extraordinary giveaway, and also gifted the family $30,000 worth of furniture and an electric car In action: Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson broadcast Friday's show live from Julia Reserve in Oran Park Town Eyes on the prize: Kyle and Jackie had been promoting the giveaway on air for weeks Bold: KIIS FM-branded banners surrounded the pink door that was central to the giveaway A tearful Jessica revealed they had been living with her in-laws for six months, after their own home was badly damaged by the floods in Sydney last year. 'Honestly, life has been really crazy with our house [and] the [floods] last year. I've been trying so hard to get back into the house and fight the insurance company,' she said. 'I knew if we didn't get this I'd have to go back to doing that. It's so hard.' Brandon added: 'For weeks and months, I've been saying that I feel like your dad from up above is going to take care of us.' Competition: Hundreds of listeners had turned up in the hope of winning the home and were each given a key, with only one key opening up the pink prop door. KIIS FM producer 'Intern Pete' Deppeler (right) was on hand as the entrants tried their key in the door Buzzing: The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as would-be homeowners arrived The countdown begins: The radio hosts adjusted their microphones in the lead-up to the big announcement on stage New wheels: Jessica and Brandon are also now the owners of this BYD electric car The couple later appeared on Studio 10 and described their win as a 'dream'. 'We were affected by the March 2021 storms and insurance have not been helping; they keep declining the claims. So we've just been trying to fight it for a year now,' Jessica explained. In March last year, floods took a heavy toll on Australia's east coast. Then-NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian described the events as 'one in 100-year flooding'. Overwhelmed: The couple later appeared on Studio 10 and described their win as a 'dream' Difficult: 'We were affected by the March 2021 storms and insurance have not been helping; they keep declining the claims. So we've just been trying to fight it for a year now,' Jessica said The Kyle and Jackie O Show was on Thursday crowned Sydney's most-popular FM breakfast show, according to the first radio survey of the year. The program maintained its No. 1 spot with a 10.6 per cent audience share. This was only a slight dip from the last survey of 2021, which saw the popular duo lead the pack with a 10.8 per cent share. The overall No. 1 breakfast radio show, across both AM and FM bandwidths, was Ben Fordham Live on 2GB. Dominant: The Kyle and Jackie O Show was on Thursday crowned Sydney's most-popular FM breakfast show, according to the first radio survey of the year Ashley Judd spoke about how she almost died after injuring herself during a hike through the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during an episode of the Sex, Body and Soul podcast. The 53-year-old actress previously broke her right leg in four places while making her way through the country's heavily wooded area and had to be taken to South Africa for further medical treatment. The performer, who pointed out that she easily could have died from her injuries, told the podcast's host, Kate Roberts, that she did not understand how she was able to take the intense pain during her journey to a medical facility. Harrowing experience: Ashley Judd spoke about how she almost died after injuring herself during a hike through the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during an episode of the Sex, Body and Soul podcast 'I don't know how the mind and the body and the soul come together to manage to endure the unendurable,' she said. Judd pointed out that she was unafraid of showing her emotions during the journey, although she noted that she would have liked to lose consciousness to circumvent the pain. 'I bit a stick, I screamed, I howled, I convulsed. I never did pass out I wished that I could,' she said. The Heat actress made a point of thanking her 'Congolese brothers' who transported her 'up and over hills, through the river' following the accident. Grateful: The Heat actress made a point of thanking her 'Congolese brothers' who transported her 'up and over hills, through the river' following the accident Judd went on to note that her situation had progressed to a potentially deadly point during her trip to medical attention. 'I was in hospital in South Africa about nine days. And then I was medevaced to Tennessee. But when I got to South Africa my leg didn't have a pulse and I was hemorrhaging,' she recalled. The actress also remarked that 'if I had been medevaced to Europe I would've bled to death.' The performer then noted that she had to overcome a mental barrier to keep herself calm during her journey. No laughing matter: Judd went on to note that her situation had progressed to a potentially deadly point during her trip to medical attention Judd specifically noted that 'as animalistic as I was, my mind was pretty skilled' on the trek. The Olympus Has Fallen cast member did not attempt to lie to herself after her injury and was committed to getting medical attention. 'I just had no expectations, and I knew that I could only do it one breath at a time,' she stated. The actress also recalled that 'I didn't make it anybody else's fault, and I didn't take it out on the people around me.' Managing the pain: The actress also recalled that 'I didn't make it anybody else's fault, and I didn't take it out on the people around me' Judd then expressed that her dedication to meditating had greatly helped her while she sought out medical care. 'It showed me that all the work I've done in the development of my meditation process and how hard I've tried to heal, that that really was with me throughout those 55 hours,' she said. The performer stated that 'I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but there was a certain grace that stayed with me.' Judd went on to state that she attempted to look inward and find untouched inner strength while she was being taken to see medical professionals. Mind over matter: Judd then expressed that her dedication to meditating had greatly helped her while she sought out medical care 'I was at my edge, and I would get to the edge of my edge and I would try to soften, and I would try to find more spaces inside of me,' she said. The performer later recovered from her injuries and announced that she would be heading back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a post that was shared on her Instagram account this past January. In her message, Judd noted that all of the pain and anguish she suffered during the trip 'is in the past now.' She's one of the UK's biggest presenters with a big-budget wardrobe to match. But Holly Willoughby proved she isn't above reusing one of her favourite frocks, recycling a 1,320 sequinned gown for Annabel's star-studded 4th anniversary party in London on Thursday. The This Morning host, 41, who first wore the dress to host Dancing On Ice in 2018, was joined by her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin as they both donned 70s-inspired looks for the party's theme: The iconic New York nightclub Studio 54. Wow! Holly Willoughby proved she isn't above reusing one of her favourite frocks, recycling a 1,320 sequinned gown for Annabel's star-studded anniversary party in London on Thursday Holly - whose show was taken off-air earlier in the day when ITV studios was evacuated due to a bomb threat - displayed her toned frame in her glittering multicoloured sequin gown with a racy split. The star accentuated her toned legs with some towering heels and sported a peach feather boa and bejewelled sunglasses as she attended the soiree. Her tresses were styled in soft waves and she sported a rich palette of make-up. TV producer Dan channelled the 70s in a cream shaggy coat, flares, platform trainers and aviators as he stepped out - completing his look with a blonde quiff. Out on the town: The This Morning host, 41, who first wore the dress to host Dancing On Ice in 2018, was joined by her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin Gorgeous: Holly previously sported the colourful dress adorned with rainbow sequins, while hosting a Dancing On Ice live show four years ago Glitz: Making the most of herself: Holly displayed her toned frame in her glittering multicoloured sequin gown with a racy split Costume party: TV producer Dan channelled the 70s in a cream shaggy coat, flares, platform trainers and aviators as he stepped out - completing his look with a blonde quiff Toned: Her tresses were styled in soft waves and she sported a rich palette of make-up Cute couple: The pair looked in great spirits as they headed inside to a party Holly had previously worn the eye-catching sequinned gown to present a Dancing On Ice live show four years earlier. Also in attendance for the party was Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster, who cut a glamorous pair. The hitmaker wore a black and silver embroidered jacket with a crisp white shirt and black trousers, while Penny put on a leggy display in a glitzy silver mini-dress. Off she goes! After the anniversary celebration, Holly was seen exiting the bash in her eye-catching sequinned dress, jumping into a waiting taxi with her husband in tow Happy: She was seen chatting to a female pal in the cab as they headed home Here she is! Holly made a glamorous exit from Annabel's lavish anniversary party with her husband Dan in tow, with both donning their fun 70s-inspired outfits Glamour puss: The mother-of-three added to her look with funky bejewelled sunglasses Stunner: She teamed the colourful dress adorned with sequins with a fluffy peach boa and her towering heels as she exited the event Musician Sir Rod ensured he caught the eye of onlookers by opting for a pair of bejewelled silver and black shoes which sparkled in the light at the bash - themed in honour of the iconic 1970s New York City club, Studio 54. He wore a silver chain around his neck with a cross pendant hanging down as he posed arm-in-arm with his beloved Penny. Television personality and police officer Penny showed off her long slender legs while wearing a pair of white knee-high boots. Glitterati: Also in attendance for the party was Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster, who cut a glamorous pair Star power: Supermodel Naomi Campbell, 51, looked chic while in a dragon print dress as enjoyed the company of British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enniful, 50 Glamour puss: Model Naomi showed off her chic sense of style in her dress which featured a yellow Chinese-style dragon on the front Friends in high places: She was seen posing alongside Sir Rod and Penny as well as her good friend Edward at the party at the private members' club Fashionista: Naomi's black gown consisted of a sheer panel at the top, with the star going braless beneath the garment while her long curly hair tumbled down onto her shoulders All smiles: The group were in good spirits as they sat alongside one another while they were joined by socialite Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, 35 (left) She carried a silver clutch purse to match her long pendulum costume earrings which perfectly framed her face. The star wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty facial features and wore her blonde hair in loose curls for the evening. Taking to Instagram to share a picture of herself and Rod at the event, Penny noted that venue bosses were supporting the rescue of Ukrainian citizens following the Russian invasion. Dressing up: Sir Rod ensured he caught the eye of onlookers by opting for a pair of bejewelled silver and black shoes which sparkled in the light at the bash Looking good: Television personality and police officer Penny showed off her long slender legs while wearing a pair of white knee-high boots Happy couple: Sir Rod wore a silver chain around his neck with a cross pendant hanging down as he posed arm-in-arm with his beloved Penny Fashion focus: Penny carried a silver clutch purse to match her long pendulum costume earrings which perfectly framed her face Behind the scenes: Taking to Instagram to share a picture of herself and Rod at the event, Penny noted that venue bosses were supporting the rescue of Ukrainian citizens following the Russian invasion She wrote: 'Celebrating 4 years of @annabelsmayfair in studio 54 style as they support the rescue effort in the Ukraine.' Model Naomi showed off her chic sense of style in her dress which featured a yellow Chinese-style dragon on the front. The black gown consisted of a sheer panel at the top, with the star going braless beneath the garment. She cosied-up to her friend Edward who looked smart in a black and T-shirt for the evening while he wore a gold chain around his neck. Glamorous: Also in attendance was socialite Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, who wore a chic black dress which perfectly accentuated her hourglass figure Also in attendance was socialite Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath, 35, who wore a chic black dress which perfectly accentuated her hourglass figure. Emma cinched in her waist by opting for a glitzy silver and black chainlink belt which sat on her hips. Meanwhile, DJ Josh Quinton stood out in a bright orange suit and rose gold platforms while he wore a jaunty brown hat on his head while posing alongside Sir Rod. New beginnings: In 2018, 65million was spent on moving Annabel's which was opened in 1963 by entrepreneur Mark Birley and named after his wife Lady Annabel Goldsmith to a Grade I-listed townhouse two doors down on Berkeley Square Looking back: Bosses organised a Studio 54-themed party on Thursday to pay homage to the famous New York nightclub (Bianca Jagger pictured at Studio 54 in 1978) Infamous: Studio 54 became world famous for its celebrity guests and colourful characters who enjoyed hard partying ways at the establishment Annabel's is one of the UK's most exclusive members' clubs with a waiting list numbering in the thousands, with the social spot frequented by celebrities, aristocrats and royalty. In 2018, 65million was spent on moving Annabel's which was opened in 1963 by entrepreneur Mark Birley and named after his wife Lady Annabel Goldsmith to a Grade I-listed townhouse two doors down from its original address on Berkeley Square. Annabel's opened its doors at its new address of 46 Berkeley Square in 2018. The club occupies 26,000 sq ft and offers members space to work, dine and entertain. The exclusive venue has witnessed the comings and goings of the creme de la creme of British society with Princess Diana visiting for the hen night of Sarah, Duchess of York. The Queen also visited for the 70th birthday of her friend the Countess of Airlie in 2003. Entertainers: Meanwhile, DJ Josh Quinton stood out in a bright orange suit and rose gold platforms while he wore a jaunty brown hat on his head while posing alongside Sir Rod Looking fresh: Holly looked sensational as she took to Instagram on Friday to share some pictures of herself wearing a blue and white floral print dress by Marks & Spencer A furious row is brewing in the genteel world of silver service dining. I hear that chefs at The Ritz have been accused of 'copying' veteran restaurateur Otto Tepasse's signature dishes. Tepasse who worked at the famed La Tour D'Argent in Paris and Mirabelle in Mayfair before opening his restaurant, Otto's, in Clerkenwell was, for a time, the only chef serving pressed duck in London. So he was shocked to discover that the new head chef at The Ritz, Spencer Metzger, who is currently starring on the BBC's Great British Menu, unveiled his own duck press when he joined the team, alongside executive chef John Williams. I hear that chefs at The Ritz, in particular Spenzer Metzger (pictured, second right) have been accused of 'copying' veteran restaurateur Otto Tepasse's signature dishes Otto Tepasse was shocked to discover that the new head chef at The Ritz, Spencer Metzger, who is currently starring on the BBC's Great British Menu, unveiled his own duck press when he joined the team, alongside executive chef John Williams (pictured) Another dish that Tepasse claims has been swiped is the Anjou pigeon with roast figs and game sauce. 'They have copied my duck and now the pressed Anjou pigeon,' he tells me. 'They are bandwagon-jumping, I guess. John Williams wants to be in the forefront of gastronomy. Well, they are copycats.' Otto's dish costs 190 for three courses for two people, whereas at the Ritz one course with pressed duck sauce costs 104 a head. Otto's decadent duck dish comprises an entire bird, served as three courses, with fried breasts, confit legs, then the rest of the carcass is put into a solid silver press where it is crunched down into a rich sauce infused with brandy. It's a 19th-century art started in Rouen. This, since 2011, was Otto's unique calling card and why people trekked to his dining room, which is a favourite haunt of restaurant critics. A spokesman for The Ritz declined to comment. Otto's dish costs 190 for three courses for two people, whereas at the Ritz one course with pressed duck sauce costs 104 a head. A spokesman for The Ritz declined to comment Homes 4u: tycoon's offer to refugees Ukrainian refugees could soon find themselves living at a 50 million Jacobean stately home. Billionaire Phones 4u founder John Caudwell, 69, is offering to put up a displaced family at his Staffordshire estate, Broughton Hall. Calling the UK Government's response to Russia's invasion 'embarrassing', he says: 'I'd like to host a Ukrainian family to live in the grounds of my estate. As Eastern Europe struggles to address the worsening crisis, I urge wealthy individuals to step up and offer shelter in their homes.' Billionaire Phones 4u founder John Caudwell, 69, (pictured with his Lithuanian cyclist girlfriend Modesta Vzesniauskaite, 39) is offering to put up a displaced family at his Staffordshire estate, Broughton Hall Jungle Queen Toff relives I'm A Celeb nightmare I'm A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo clearly has a 'flair' for partying. The 27-year-old former Made in Chelsea star wore a pair of striking flares as she flitted between London events. First, she attended the launch party for Life Support, a book about the NHS, by her friend, former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft, at Banqueting House in Whitehall. There, she swapped I'm A Celebrity horror stories with ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton's wife, Christine, who competed in the first series. 'The challenges got worse by the time I was on it,' claims Toff, who had to eat a bull's penis among other revolting challenges on her way to victory in 2017. 'There was absolutely no privacy,' she tells me. 'The toilet was a hole in the floor with a transparent curtain in front of it.' Happily, 'Toff ' now lives a life of luxury, and went on to 5 Hertford Street, the opulent Mayfair club where Prince Harry entertained Meghan. I'm A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo clearly has a 'flair' for partying. The 27-year-old former Made in Chelsea star wore a pair of striking flares as she flitted between London events Get real, Emma tells photo-cheat selfie generation Broadcaster Emma Forbes once declared she would never wear a bikini again because of her age. She has, however, happily slipped into a black swimming costume to take a stand against women choosing to use filters on social media. 'The thing that annoys me most on Instagram are unrealistic photos with filters,' declares the daughter of Bryan Forbes (who directed the 1975 film version of The Stepford Wives) and Nanette Newman. 'It can only make one feel insecure and at 56 your confidence is not what it was. 'I accept that everything takes longer and is harder to achieve post-55 and you just have to do your best, keep on top of health checks and use your gut instinct.' Broadcaster Emma Forbes (pictured in January 2020) once declared she would never wear a bikini again because of her age. She has, however, happily slipped into a black swimming costume to take a stand against women choosing to use filters on social media Celebrated cellist Julian Lloyd Webber has hit out at the opera houses and orchestras clamouring to ban Russian artists because of the Ukraine invasion. To make his point, the 70-year-old recalls watching Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich play Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor at the BBC Proms the day Russian tanks rolled into the Czech capital, Prague, in 1968: 'The extraordinary intensity of Rostropovich's performance, together with the tears pouring down his cheeks as the concerto neared its end, spoke more than any number of words.' Her father, the disgraced former junior defence minister Tony Lambton, served in the Hampshire Regiment during World War II. Now, Lady Isabella Naylor-Leyland is determined to do her bit in Europe's latest conflict, at the age of 65. Lady Isabella, whose baronet husband Sir Philip has an estimated fortune of 176 million, is going to Poland tomorrow to volunteer with the not-for-profit organisation World Central Kitchen and cook for Ukrainian refugees who have been forced to flee the Russian invasion. 'We'll do whatever is needed,' she says. She also plans to hire a people-carrier to transport refugees, if necessary. She's expecting her first child with her fiance, radio king Kyle Sandilands. And Tegan Kynaston looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be as the loved-up couple left an ultrasound appointment at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney on Thursday. Tegan, 35, showed off her growing baby bump in a pair of bike shorts as they walked through the carpark. Growing and glowing! Tegan Kynaston showed off her baby bump in tight bike pants while leaving an ultrasound appointment with her proud fiance Kyle Sandilands in Sydney on Thursday Tegan teamed the chic shorts with a cropped peach sweater and white sneakers. She wore her short blonde locks out and around her shoulders and sported natural-looking makeup. Tegan carried a Fendi backpack and her ultrasound image in her hands. Keeping comfy! Tegan teamed the chic shorts with a cropped peach sweater and white sneakers She's got a glow: She wore her short blonde locks out and around her shoulders and sported natural-looking makeup Exciting times! Meanwhile, a proud Kyle, 50, accompanied Tegan to the appointment and kept casual in black shorts, a polo and a puffer vest Apple of her eye! Tegan carried her ultrasound image in her hands Meanwhile, a proud Kyle, 50, accompanied Tegan to the appointment and kept casual in black shorts, a polo and a puffer vest. On Thursday, the shock jock revealed on his KIIS FM radio show that the couple have already decided on a name of their unborn son - Otto. He made the admission when he and co-host Jackie O were talking about what she wants her daughter Kitty, 11, to be when she grows up. Cute! On Thursday, the shock jock revealed on his KIIS FM radio show that the couple have already decided on a name of their unborn son - Otto Divided! Kyle said their family aren't too sure about the distinctive name Jackie said she hopes their children follow in their footsteps and have radio careers. 'I was thinking, because Kyle's having a boy, in 20 years' time, like, it's the "Kitty and whatever-you're-going-to-call-your-kid Show".' Kyle then revealed his child's name: 'Otto. That's what we're going to call him.' 'I don't think it's gone down too well with the family. Even Tegan's mum goes, "Oh, there's no need to rush into a name." 'And my auntie Jill went, "What sort of stupid name is that?"' Kyle and Tegan announced they were set to welcome their first child together live on The Kyle and Jackie O Show last month. 'I don't think it's gone down too well with the family. Even Tegan's mum goes, "Oh, there's no need to rush into a name," Kyle said Baby joy: Kyle and Tegan announced they were set to welcome their first child together live on The Kyle and Jackie O Show last month 'We're having a baby!' he declared as the entire KIIS FM studio cheered. Jackie said she was 'so happy' for the pair and told them their lives were about to change forever. The couple had learned communications chief Tegan was expecting a week earlier. Kyle said his manager, Bruno Bouchet, had to deflect questions from reporters after Tegan was seen sporting a slight bump in public on February 2. A helping hand: He joked he plans to hire a 'dozen Fijian nannies' once the baby is born He then joked he plans to hire a 'dozen Fijian nannies' once the baby is born. Tegan said Kyle had been busy preparing for their child's arrival, even helping pick out cribs. Kyle and Tegan, who got engaged in Port Douglas, Queensland, over the Christmas holidays, began trying for a baby last year. Khloe Kardashian paid tribute to her two longtime best friends, twin sisters Malika and Khadijah Haqq on Thursday. As they turned 39 the Good American founder, 37, honored the ladies' special day with a carousel of images and a heartfelt caption. The reality TV personality wrote under the post, 'Happy birthday my besties!!!!' Social media shoutout: Khloe Kardashian paid tribute to her two longtime best friends, twin sisters Malika and Khadijah Haqq on Thursday Included in the slideshow were photos of the trio's many special moments from birthdays to vacations. Khloe kicked off the post with a sepia throwback image of all three women sitting in a vehicle and holding their hands up. She continued in her post, 'Screaming happy birthday to my girls!!! Since the moment I met you girls we just clicked.' The mother-of-one reminisced on her long friendship with the ATL actresses as she said, 'We just get one another. We became triplets and we never looked back.' Sweet: As they turned 39 the Good American founder, 37, honored the ladies' special day with a carousel of images and a heartfelt caption Among the snapshots was an image of Khloe dressed in a lavender mini dress with a drawstring tie going down the front. It was taken when the former E! star had long, wavy brunette locks. The twins stood on either side of her dressed casually in sweats and sneakers as the three women smiled. There was a pastel-colored balloon display situated behind them, making a colorful backdrop. Much love: The reality TV personality wrote under the post, 'Happy birthday my besties!!!!' Kardashian kept her caption going, writing, 'I pray today and every single day you ladies know how loved, respected and adored you are! She gushed about her girlfriends as she noted, 'You girls are magic and you prove that every time you walk into a room. The room lights up! 'I light up because of my girls. You are my happy place, my refuge. I love you!' Then she vowed, 'Until the wheels fall off and even after that Im screaming Happy birthday!!!!!' Memories: Included in the slideshow were photos of the trio's many special moments from birthdays to vacations In one older photo Khloe wore her blonde hair in multiple individual braids that fell over her shoulders. She topped them with a red fedora hat and although the picture was a bit blurry, her heavily glossed pout stood out. Malika and Khadijah both wore frosty eyeshadow, showing off their perfected version of the early 2000s trend. Peas in a pod: Kardashian wrote in her post, 'Screaming happy birthday to my girls!!! Since the moment I met you girls we just clicked' Khloe also included a picture of the three on a scenic island getaway. The threesome each wore sunglasses as they posed arm-in-arm while standing poolside. A dreamy ocean view could be seen behind them as waves washed up on the sandy shoreline. The denim designer wore a black one-piece bathing suit and a wide-brimmed black hat. Paradise: Khloe also included a picture of the three on a scenic island getaway Well-liked post: The post racked up over 300,000 likes from Khloe's massive following of 225 million The post racked up over 300,000 likes from Khloe's massive following of 225 million. Both sisters took a moment to show their best friend appreciation for the thoughtful, celebratory shoutout. Khadijah said, 'I love youuuuuuu,' with a red lips emoji while Malika chimed in with, 'God blessed the day I love you.' She added a smiling emoji with a single joyful teardrop and a lips emoji as well. Stranger things have happened to Hollywood actor David Harbour, but this could be the most daunting, as he prepares to make his debut on the London stage. Harbour, who encounters all things weird and wonderful as melancholic police chief Jim Hopper in the Netflix sci-fi horror drama Stranger Things, has signed on to star in the world premiere of American playwright Theresa Rebeck's play Madhouse, for a 12-week season at the Ambassadors Theatre starting in June. The show's a two-hander featuring two men Daniel, who's in his 60s; and Michael, who's in his 40s (presumably the part that Harbour, 46, has agreed to do). Details about the nature of Rebeck's play, to be directed by her frequent collaborator Moritz von Stuelpnagel, are sparse, though she has spoken in the past of her work in theatre and television being about 'a betrayal, and treason and poor behaviour'... which sounds exactly like the kind of material Harbour is attracted to. The 6ft 2in actor has helped make Chief Hopper one of the most compelling characters on telly. Season four of Stranger Things begins in May and finds Hopper with head shaved languishing in a Russian prison cell. Perhaps, adoptive daughter Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, will come to his rescue? Stranger things have happened to Hollywood actor David Harbour, but this could be the most daunting, as he prepares to make his debut on the London stage. He is pictured above with wife Lily Allen Filmmaker Cate Shortland sought Harbour out to play Alexei, the oddball Russian spy and father figure to Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh, in Marvel movie Black Widow. And he has certainly built up his screen presence of late but his acting background is actually rooted in the theatre. I've watched him at New York's Lincoln Center in Tom Stoppard's epic, three-part drama The Coast Of Utopia. And I recall seeing him alongside Al Pacino in two productions: Glengarry Glen Ross and The Merchant Of Venice. He even managed to escape, unscathed, from Kathleen Turner in a production of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? Harbour will move to London from the home he shares in New York with wife Lily Allen and her two daughters for the run. Harbour, who encounters all things weird and wonderful as melancholic police chief Jim Hopper in the Netflix sci-fi horror drama Stranger Things, has signed on to star in the world premiere of American playwright Theresa Rebeck's play Madhouse, for a 12-week season at the Ambassadors Theatre starting in June Allen made her own West End debut last year in 2.22 A Ghost Story, which this week garnered her a best actress Olivier award nomination. Once Harbour ends his stint in Madhouse, the Ambassadors will bring down its curtain for several weeks while it undergoes much-needed refurbishment. It's a beautiful looking house, but the seating and other facilities are in desperate need of updating. It has become an extremely popular playhouse (see item below), though; and there are productions lining up to rent it. Rebeck enjoyed success on Broadway with Seminar, which starred Alan Rickman; and she's written many other plays, in addition to the TV musical series Smash. Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour and Florence Pugh film a scene for the Marvel film, Black Widow Bridgerton star is lord of the stage Monday night's audience at the second preview of Mike Bartlett's play Cock was relieved it wasn't a re-run of Saturday, when actor Taron Egerton fainted. Thankfully, he got through it unharmed at the Ambassadors Theatre, nursing (as he put it on social media) 'a slightly sore neck and a bruised ego'. Understudy Joel Harper-Jackson was in the house, just in case as he had been on Saturday, when he had to step in and take over from Egerton, who was back on stage after a ten-year gap. No mention of the incident was made on Monday, though fellow star Jonathan Bailey seemed to give Egerton an extra warm embrace as they, along with cast mates Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels, took their bows, to a standing ovation. Fellow star Jonathan Bailey seemed to give Taron Egerton an extra warm embrace as they, along with cast mates Jade Anouka and Phil Daniels, took their bows, to a standing ovation after performing Mike Bartlett's play Cock on Monday Monday night's audience at the second preview of Mike Bartlett's play Cock was relieved it wasn't a re-run of Saturday, when actor Taron Egerton (pictured in Rocketman filmed in 2019) fainted Bartlett's play, originally staged at the Royal Court in 2009, is about open intimacy and the prevalence of gender labelling. It's been revived at a time when discussions of sexual orientation and the shifting definitions of gender are taking up much oxygen, and I found director Marianne Elliott's searing interpretation illuminating and urgent. This cast is superb Bailey ferociously so. The actor won awards for his anxious groom in Elliott's acclaimed revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company. But nothing he did then prepares us for the command and stature of his performance here. The play should by rights extend its run, but is unable to for several reasons. Bailey has projects, including Bridgerton 3 to film; and Egerton, Anouka and Daniels have other commitments, too. But Bailey will return to the stage. He told me last year that there are several other shows he's got his eye on. Elliott and her partner Chris Harper might have further plans for him, too. The actor, who plays Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix's saucy smash hit, told me viewers are going to be 'kicked back to the ground, and then swept off their feet again in a completely different manner' with Bridgerton 2, which runs on Netflix from March 25. Bailey explained that future shows will follow his screen siblings; and that he intends 'to be there at every wedding, and every birth . . .I'll be there with the family as long as the siblings and the mother need me'. The actor, who plays Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix's saucy smash hit, told me viewers are going to be 'kicked back to the ground, and then swept off their feet again in a completely different manner' with Bridgerton 2, which runs on Netflix from March 25 A reputed Manhattan gun runner and drug dealer was barking up the wrong tree when he tried to sneak some illegal pills past the police in a stuffed toy dog. Cops and federal drug enforcement task force agents said that when they confronted Aaron Sanchez on Wednesday night leaving the luxury Midtown apartment building where he lives, he dropped a dog toy near a parked car. Advertisement An officer retrieved the stuffed pet and found nearly 1,000 fentanyl pills packed inside. The blue tablets were imprinted to look like oxycodone, authorities said. Sanchez, 31, was also charged with trying to sell guns to undercover agents as part of a long-term investigation. Advertisement This drug and gun dealer operated out of luxury apartments in the heart of Midtown, said Timothy Foley, the Drug Enforcement Agencys acting special agent in charge. Concealing fentanyl pills in a dog toy was just one way Sanchez would deliver deadly doses to customers. The rising threat of drug overdoses and violence is being fueled by profiteers like Sanchez. Law enforcement collaboration is paramount in our efforts to remove drugs and weapons from our streets. What's left of the stuffed dog and the fentanyl pills authorities found on Aaron Sanchez when they arrested him on March 9, 2022. During the investigation, Sanchez allegedly met with an undercover NYPD officer on four occasions and sold fentanyl pills and two guns, police said. The first three meetings occurred behind and inside another luxury apartment building on W. 42nd St., where Sanchez previously lived, authorities said. In the first sale, on Aug. 5, 2021, Sanchez allegedly sold the undercover officer approximately 750 fentanyl pills imprinted to look like oxycodone and a piece of crystal methamphetamine in exchange for $6,000. On Aug.11, 2021, Sanchez provided the undercover cop with 250 fentanyl pills that were missing from the first transaction, the feds said. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > On Oct. 28, 2021, Sanchez brought the undercover inside a penthouse apartment at 635 W. 42nd St. and allegedly sold the officer 400 fentanyl pills and a Taurus 9mm firearm with two magazines for $3,600. Cops said the final sale occurred on March 3, 2022, near his current W. 54th Street home, where Sanchez allegedly sold the undercover officer a Sig Sauer firearm with approximately 54 cartridges for $1,200. Advertisement Days later, the undercover officer arranged to buy another 1,000 fentanyl pills from Sanchez. Members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force stopped Sanchez as he came out of his building carrying the dog toy containing the pills, federal officials said. There were five cars, all unmarked, no lights or sirens, said a staffer at Sanchezs building who witnessed his arrest. They took him out and put him in a truck. It was crazy out here. Authorities searched Sanchez apartment and seized 10 more fentanyl pills, a scale, money counter and multiple rounds of ammunition, officials said. Sanchez was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal sale of a firearm and criminally using drug paraphernalia. With Kerry Burke The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Meghan King took to Instagram on Thursday to vent her 'frustration' over her three-year-old special needs son Hart's 'violent and disruptive' behavior at school. The 37-year-old influencer-blogger lamented that it was the 'second day in a row' that she had to pick up her toddler - who was diagnosed with hypotonic cerebral palsy in October 2020 - due to 'poor behavior.' 'This not only renders me unable to work during that short school window but it leaves me feeling frustrated and helpless for both of us,' Meghan - who boasts 1.4M social media followers - wrote. 'Hart's brain injury affects all of our lives daily': The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Meghan King took to Instagram on Thursday to vent her 'frustration' over her three-year-old special needs son Hart's 'violent and disruptive' behavior at school 'I seldom share with you the challenges Hart faces and instead focus on how great he's doing while trying to give equal focus to my other two children and myself. But the reality is that Hart's brain injury affects all of our lives daily.' King - who ended her third marriage in December - worried that little Hart's 'environment was too inconsistent' or maybe he wasn't 'getting enough attention.' 'Is happiness achievable or are we bound to a lifetime of rollercoaster behaviors, merry-go-round therapies, and erratic emotions that eat into everyone's time and energy?' the Missouri-born blonde - who enlists nanny Ashley Estrada - asked. 'The unknown is daunting. How do I keep him integrated in normal schooling when he acts violently or disruptive? How? Thank you for attending my depressing TED talk.' 'It renders me unable to work during that short school window': The 37-year-old influencer lamented that it was the 'second day in a row' that she had to pick up her toddler - who was diagnosed with hypotonic cerebral palsy in October 2020 - due to 'poor behavior' 'Thank you for attending my depressing TED talk': Meghan - who ended her third marriage in December - worried that little Hart's 'environment was too inconsistent' or maybe he wasn't 'getting enough attention' (pictured September 7) July 19 family portrait: King is also mother to Hart's three-year-old twin brother Hayes (L) and five-year-old sister Aspen (2-L) from her five-year marriage to retired MLB center fielder Jim Edmonds, which ended in May President Joe Biden's nephew: The Missouri-born blonde is 'done with marriage' after announcing her separation from third husband Cuffe Biden Owens (L, pictured November 24) on December 27 following two months of wedded bliss Meghan is also mother to Hart's three-year-old twin brother Hayes and five-year-old sister Aspen from her five-year marriage to retired MLB center fielder Jim Edmonds, which ended in May. King is 'done with marriage' after announcing her separation from third husband - President Joe Biden's lawyer nephew Cuffe Biden Owens - on December 27 following two months of wedded bliss. The Mattel paid partner recently returned from a lavish girls trip to what appeared to be Cancun from February 26-March 7 following another lavish ski trip to Utah in January. Meghan - who's been vlogging her RHOC episodes - hasn't appeared on the reality series since guest-starring in an episode titled 'Hot Mess Express' back in 2019. Ready for another vacation? Meghan - who enlists nanny Ashley Estrada - recently returned from a lavish girls trip to what appeared to be Cancun from February 26-March 7 following another lavish ski trip to Utah in January She's known for her expert sense of style. And Alexa Chung wowed onlookers once again on Thursday, as she stepped out in an oversized fluffy coat in London. The model, 38, oozed elegance in the faux-fur number and flashed a peek at her toned legs underneath. Turning heads: Alexa Chung wowed onlookers once again on Thursday, as she stepped out in an oversized fluffy coat in London Elevating her height in a pair of black Gucci kitten heels, she toted her essentials in a little black bag. Her chocolate locks were styled straight and left down in their signature blunt bob and she completed her look with a dusting of pink eyeshadow and blush. Alexa has recently returned from Paris Fashion Week, after spending her week hopping through different shows and events in the French capital. Fashion forward: The model, 38, oozed elegance in the faux-fur number and flashed a peek at her toned legs underneath However, the designer also posts YouTube videos, alongside keeping fans up to date via her Instagram. The Brit has shared that she has been enjoying a European getaway alongside fashion events, recently visiting Venice. She posted a picture in the Italian city, joking in the caption: 'It's Venice Fashion Week though really.' Flawless: Elevating her height in a pair of black Gucci kitten heels, she toted her essentials in a little black bag Sharing a glimpse at her travels, she shared images of herself in a gondola to her 4.9m followers, alongside some traditional Italian food. While she seemingly attended Fashion Week events in Paris solo, she is reportedly living with her boyfriend Orson Fry in London. The low-key couple are thought to have been together since 2019, with Orson, who is heir to Fry's chocolate dynasty, having reportedly moved in with Alexa. The athleisure industry was rocked this week by news Jaggad - the popular activewear brand co-owned by AFL power couple Rebecca and Chris Judd - had closed its only physical store and cut ties with third-party retailers. And the company's chief customer officer, Scott Browning, has now explained the decision, telling news.com.au it was down to the pandemic and trading issues. Browning said on Friday that major retailers Myer and The Iconic 'refused delivery' of their supplier partner orders due to Covid uncertainty. Revealed: Why Rebecca Judd's (pictured) activewear brand Jaggad closed its flagship Melbourne store and cut ties with two retail giants in a move that shocked the industry 'This meant Jaggad was forced to sell all that stock online as our only remaining channel of operation,' Mr Browning explained. Jaggad is reaping the rewards of selling online only, with Mr Browning adding: 'The switch to [a] 100 per cent online, direct-to-customer model has resonated with our customers and allowed us to still grow accordingly over the last two years.' The Herald Sun reported earlier this week that the athleisure brand, co-founded in 2013 by Bec, Chris and fellow AFL couple Steven and Michelle Greene, was 'shifting its entire business model online'. Change of pace: Jaggad's chief customer officer, Scott Browning, has explained the decision, saying it was down to Covid and trading issues. Jaggad, co-founded in 2013 by Bec, Chris and fellow AFL couple Steven and Michelle Greene (left), has now shifted its entire business online A Google search for the flagship store in Brighton shows it has 'permanently closed'. The newspaper reported the store would remain closed 'for the foreseeable future', with all staff redeployed across the business. In addition to Myer and The Iconic, Jaggad has also severed ties with Stylerunner, Glue and Revolve. Changes: Jaggad is reaping the rewards of selling online only, with Mr Browning telling News.com.au: 'The switch to [a] 100 per cent online, direct-to-customer model has resonated with our customers and allowed us to still grow accordingly over the last two years' Gone: A Google search for the flagship store in Brighton shows it has 'permanently closed' The move means customers will now have to buy from Jaggad directly, instead of a third-party retailer. It's not the only major change the brand has made recently. In February last year, Jaggad quietly removed all menswear from its website. Closed shop: The Herald Sun reported earlier this week that the athleisure brand, co-founded in 2013 by Bec, Chris and fellow AFL couple Steven and Michelle Greene, was 'shifting its entire business model online'. Pictured: Jaggad's now-shuttered Brighton retail store The Melbourne-based brand previously offered a range of sportswear for men, including shorts, jumpers, T-shirts and lightweight jackets. The label offered customers 70 per cent off all menswear in a flash sale just before Christmas 2020. The unsold garments were then removed from the website. Going it alone: In addition to Myer and The Iconic, Jaggad has also severed ties with Stylerunner, Glue and Revolve It's unclear if the brand intends to launch a new menswear collection at a later date. Men's activewear is a notoriously difficult market to break into, and even P.E. Nation offers 'unisex' styles as opposed to a full menswear range. 'Our purpose is to encourage people to live unstoppable healthy and active lives, every day,' the Jaggad website states. Kaia Gerber put on a stylish display as she stepped out in West Hollywood with her boyfriend Austin Butler on Thursday afternoon. The model, 20, and the actor, 30, were captured strolling along the sidewalk with Gerber's darling rescue dog Milo. Gerber and Butler became romantically linked in December after her split from The Kissing Booth star Jacob Elordi. Out and about: Kaia Gerber put on a stylish display as she stepped out in West Hollywood with her boyfriend Austin Butler on Thursday afternoon For this latest excursion with Butler's cute white pet pooch, Gerber took charge of the pack by holding on to the dog's leash for some of the stroll. The runway maven kept it casual in a pair of faded blue jeans and a blue button-down shirt, which she left untucked. She also donned a pair of classic white Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers, as she carried a small purse over her left shoulder. And with the sun glaring down, the daughter of legendary supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber wore a pair of stylish dark sunglasses. Butler rocked a similar outfit to Gerber's featuring a navy blue tee and a pair of denim jeans with Persol sunglasses. Pack leader: The model, 20, and the actor, 30, were captured strolling along the sidewalk with Kaia's darling rescue dog Milo Just three days earlier, the pair were spotted hand-in-hand during a hike at the TreePeople park in Los Angeles. Gerber and Butler were first linked romantically last December, when they were seen leaving a Yoga class together. Their excursion came about a month after she split from Euphoria star Jacob Elordi after a year of dating. Butler has been linked to several actresses, including Lily-Rose Depp, Vanessa Hudgens and Olivia DeJonge. The Anaheim, California native first made waves in nearby Hollywood when he appeared in several series for Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel as a teenager, including Hannah Montana (2006-2007), Ruby & the Rockits (2009) and Zoey 101 (2007). Rising star: Gerber, who is the daughter of legendary supermodel Cindy Crawford, is the first model born in the 2000s to achieve The Big Four of Vogue covers In more recent years he starred in the drama fantasy miniseries The Shannara Chronicles (2016-2017), and the Quentin Tarantino comedy-drama film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (2019). He will have some big shoes to fill for his next feature film, Elvis, in which he plays the King Of Rock 'N' Roll himself, Elvis Presley. The movie chronicles Elvis from his humble beginnings as a youngster in the American South, to his rise to fame, and working relationship with manager Colonel Tom Parker, who's played by Tom Hanks. Butler, who has his blonde hair died black for the role, has been sharing clips and promo photos of the film ahead of its June 24 premiere. Big shoes to fill: Butler takes on the role of Elvis Presley in the upcoming biographical musical drama film Elvis Advertisement Selma Blair's ex Ron Carlson has been pictured for the first time after the Cruel Intentions actress accused him of physically attacking her at her home last month. Carlson was spotted on his phone during a coffee run in Studio City on Thursday. Selma has obtained a restraining order against Carlson, 52, whom she claims tried to strangle her during an altercation at her home in Los Angeles on February 22. Carlson has denied the claims and has also been granted a temporary restraining order against her. Selma Blair's ex Ron Carlson has been pictured for the first time after the Cruel Intentions actress accused him of strangling her at her home last month Carlson wore a green-yellow flannel shirt, blue jeans and trainers. He wore a plain white T-shirt beneath his button down. Carlson attempted to keep a low-profile as he stepped out wearing a brown Atari cap and aviator style sunglasses. He appeared deep in thought as he strode across the sidewalk, his phone pressed against his ear. At one point, he raised his coffee to his lips. Low-key: Carlson wore a green-yellow flannel shirt, blue jeans and trainers. He wore a plain white T-shirt beneath his button down The sighting comes after news of the restraining order and alleged attack broke earlier this week The sighting comes after news of the restraining order and alleged attack broke earlier this week. Photos presented as part of Blair's restraining order request appear to show her injuries after she was allegedly attacked by Carlson. In the images, Blair, 49, has what looks like bruises and red marks around her throat and just under her chin. On the line: He appeared deep in thought as he strode across the sidewalk, his phone pressed against his ear Coffee run: Carlson enjoyed a cup of coffee during his phone chat One photo shows Blair seemingly topless with her head throne back and her neck extended to reveal what appear to be red marks along the sides of her neck. She also appears to have dark bruises on her throat just below her chin, along with some bloodied scratches. The photos included in the filing were taken by her housekeeper, according to the Los Angeles Times. The photos were included as part of the documents for the actresses' restraining order request. Stepping out: Carlson paired his blue jeans with off-white trainers Blair alleges the incident occurred on February 22 after they had recently ended their long-term relationship, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ Another view from the front with better lighting emphasizes what looks like a line of dark bruises extending from below her chin down to her throat as she again tilts her head back. One photo taken from the side of Blair's face seems to show more bruising, along with dark marks that may be bloodied scratches. Other photos obtained by TMZ appear to show additional injuries, including a large scrape and bruise on her side and bruising on her arms. After submitting the photos and other evidence in her documents, Blair was subsequently granted a restraining order against Carlson after claiming he physically attacked her last month while she was at her home in Los Angeles. Disturbing: Blair, 49, included pictures that appear to document injuries she received after Carlson allegedly attacked her at her home on February 22 Court victory: The Hellboy actress was able to obtain a restraining order against Carlson, whom she claims tried to strangle her during an altercation at her home on February 22; seen in October in LA Blair alleges the incident occurred on February 22 after they had recently ended their long-term relationship, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. Following an argument, the Cruel Intentions star claims that Carlson lunged at her, jumped on top of her body and began to strangle her. Carlson has denied the claims and has filed a petition for his own restraining order against the actress. In the legal docs, Blair who battles multiple sclerosis alleges that Carlson 'strangled her, throttling her and shaking her head and shoulders aggressively' while she was lying on her sofa. Marked up: Another view from the front with better lighting emphasizes what looks like a line of dark bruises extending from below her chin down to her throat as she tilts her head back The report claims that Blair had been medicated at the time of the alleged attack due to her ongoing illness and told Carlson that she had not been feeling well. Carlson had reportedly arrived at Blair's home to return a television set when he allegedly became violent and frustrated with her. She alleges he screamed at her, raging: 'You f**ked up, you can't do anything, you can't love anybody, you're f**king useless, you cripple.' The Legally Blonde star alleges that he added: 'I don't f**king deserve this, I can do so much better than you.' Blair further details the incident in legal docs, claiming that she stuck her fingers into his eyes and mouth, and Carlson responded by covering her face and mouth with his hands. She alleges at this point she lost consciousness as she was unable to breathe. Alleged injuries: One photo taken from the side of Blair's face seems to show more bruising, along with dark marks that may be bloodied scratches When police officers arrived at the scene and interviewed the actress, she claims her nose began to bleed heavily and she once again lost consciousness. Paramedics then decided to take Blair to a hospital to evaluate her condition, the report claims. Carlson was arrested for felony domestic violence with corporal injuries. Police officers are said to have obtained a five-day restraining order against Carlson following the attack, keeping him from going in close proximity to Blair. The actress then obtained a temporary restraining order through her attorney. In response, Carlson filed a petition for his own restraining order against Blair, fifteen days after the incident. Ordeal: Following an argument, Blair who battles multiple sclerosis claims that Carlson lunged at her, jumped on top of her body and began to strangle her (Pictured last year) In his version of events, Carlson claims that he was at her home when she had asked him to sit with her. Carlson alleges that Blair became 'angry and antagonistic' when he declined to sit with her, and claims she got in his face and said, 'Your daughter is a f***ing loser.' According to the Los Angeles Times, Blair got upset that he wanted to end their relationship. Blair has a 10-year-old son, Arthur, who she shares with with ex Jason Bleick, while Carlson has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. In happier times: In a January 2020 post the Cruel Intentions star praised her ex-boyfriend Blair's ex then claims that she swung at him and struck him in his eye and attacked with both arms. He alleges that Blair scratched him on the nose, eyes and cheeks. He has denied attacking her and says that he only reached for her out of defense. Carlson claims that her bloody nose is part of a long-term medical issue and provided a text message as proof. According to the Los Angeles Times, Carlson and his daughter were both granted a temporary restraining order against Blair. 'I defended myself against Selmas attack, but I did not intentionally strike her or cause her any harm,' Carlson wrote in his application, which was also filed with the Superior Court, according to the LA Times. Family man: Blair shared this picture of Carlson and his daughter in 2020 '[E]ven through Selma was the aggressor and the one who initiated the attack, and I was the victim, she called the police after I left her home and falsely claimed that I had attacked her,' the document read. Carlson is set to be arraigned on criminal domestic charges on June 22, according to the Times, citing his filing. According to his filing, Carlson claimed he only spent ten minutes inside Blair's home and did not contact her anymore that day. The filing says he woke up at 11PM by the sound of police officers knocking at his door. His daughter woke up as Carlson was being arrested. Carlson was 'mortified' she witnessed the arrest. 'My face was sore for a few days, as I estimate I was struck at least 5 times,' he said, including images of the scratches on his face. Health battles: Selma - pictured above in 2019 - has been open about her struggle with multiple sclerosis Carlson also accused Blair of 'taking Adderall and another drug to control mood swings and said she consumes cannabis,' writes the LA Times. He also claimed Blair attempted to manipulate his daughter through text message and had even reached out to his ex-wife and manager, according to his filing. 'A hearing on making the temporary orders permanent is scheduled for March 22,' writes the LA Times. Blair went public with her autoimmune disease diagnosis in October 2018. In August last year after receiving stem cell treatment, Blair revealed that she was currently in remission. MS sufferers who undergo treatment will go through periods of relapses and remissions. The actress has been dealing with debilitating symptoms from the disease, including difficulty in speaking, and losing the ability to use her left leg fully, resulting in her using a cane to walk. Battle: Last year, Blair revealed she underwent an 'aggressive' course of chemotherapy to treat the disease and restart her immune system (pictured above in her documentary) In her recent documentary about her struggles, Blair said how an MS diagnosis can be 'isolating' but was determined to get through it for her son Arthur. 'I was so burnt out. If there was an option to halt me, to rebalance after being hit so hard with that last flare, it's absolutely for my son. I have no desire to leave him alone right now.' The Cruel Intentions star also praised the wealth of support she received from her friends and family. 'People took great care of me. I never really like life. I do now - strange, huh?' she went on. 'Just because life's so weird. I was so scared in life. To suddenly start to find an identity and a safety in me, to figure out boundaries, time management and energy. I'm having the time of my life.' Alessandra Ambrosio looked every bit the supermodel on Thursday afternoon as she arrived to a photoshoot in Los Angeles. The Brazilian beauty, 40, went braless in a tight fitting brown tank top that she layered under a beige knit cardigan. Ambrosio strolled through the parking spot in a pair of baggy blue jeans and treaded off white boots. Model behavior: Alessandra Ambrosio looked every bit the supermodel on Thursday afternoon as she arrived to a photoshoot in Los Angeles Due to the blistering Southern California heat, Ambrosio left her comfy sweater unbuttoned and shielded her eyes with a pair of sunglasses. She toted her belongings in a tan leather purse that hung over her shoulder as she made her way from her car to the studio. The runway maven styled her dark brown tresses in a messy low ponytail and appeared to be wearing little to no makeup. Daring: The Brazilian beauty, 40, went braless in a tight fitting brown tank top that she layered under a beige knit cardigan The longtime Victoria's Secret Angel only recently returned from a trip to the tropical paradise of St. Barts, where she enjoyed the spoils of the gorgeous beaches both for business and pleasure. While soaking in the sun, the mother of two put her catwalk skills to use by striking a number of poses in swimsuits from her Gal Floripa line. When Ambrosio, who turns 41 in one month, wasn't working, she got to spend some quality time with her family, which included her daughter Anja, 13, son Noah, nine, and her parents. Working vacation: The model only recently returned from a trip to the tropical paradise of St. Barts, where she enjoyed the spoils of the gorgeous beaches both for business and pleasure Her own best advert: The former catwalk queen posed in various Gal Floripa bikinis In March 2019, Ambrosio launched her beachwear brand, Gal Floripa, in partnership with her sister, Aline Ambrosio, and her childhood friend, Gisele Coria. Purposefully named Gal Floripa, the swimwear brand symbolizes 'the synergy between Gisele + Alessandra + Aline and the location where it was created and inspired by, Floripa,' according to the company's website. The ladies follow a 'by women for women' philosophy, all while understanding diverse female figures and paying special attention to fabric, contour, color, and cut. Gorgeous: The model struck poses in and out of the lovely blue ocean water ABC's Q&A scored its worst ratings ever on Thursday night with a metro audience of just 175,000 viewers. The broadcast saw an all-female panel discuss gender, equality and justice with anchor Stan Grant. The current affairs panel show was once a ratings winner for the national broadcaster, attracting major political leaders of all persuasions. Decline: ABC's Q&A, hosted by Stan Grant (pictured), scored its worst ratings ever on Thursday night with a metro audience of just 175,000 viewers But for the last few years there has been a major decline in its audience, and the show has frequently been under scrutiny for its perceived political bias. Often controversial, Q&A divided opinion once again last week when host Grant, 58, took exception to remarks made by a Melbourne university student. Sasha Gillies-Lekakis was removed from the studio during the broadcast after he claimed on air that Russia was under threat from Ukrainian 'Nazi' killers. Ejected: Melbourne university student Sasha Gillies-Lekakis was last week removed from the studio after he claimed on air that Russia was under threat from Ukrainian 'Nazi' killers 'As someone who comes from the Russian community in Australia, I've been pretty outraged by the narrative created by the media depicting Ukraine as "the good guy" and Russia as the "bad guy",' he told the panel. 'Believe it or not, there are a lot of Russians here and around the world who support what Putin is doing in Ukraine, myself included.' His controversial take on the invasion sparked fierce debate on the panel, and ultimately saw him booted from the show, prompting raucous applause. Gone: His controversial take on the invasion sparked fierce debate on the panel, and ultimately saw him booted from the show, prompting raucous applause Grant addressed Gillies-Lekakis later in the show and repeatedly asked him to leave, explaining the advocacy of violence would not be tolerated. According to the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Sasha Gillies-Lekakis is an Honours Student in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Its website states he is passionate about Cuban history and politics and recently graduated from the University of Melbourne. Grant, who hosts Q&A on a rotation with David Speers and Virginia Trioli, faced backlash on Twitter from media players who said his decision to boot Gillies-Lekakis was an affront to free speech. Not a winner: Hamish McDonald left the Q&A hosting gig after 18 months in July 2021 to return to Channel 10 Toby Jones hosted Q&A from its inception in 2008. Some media commentators believe the show lost its edge when he stepped down from the role in 2015. The Sunday Project's Hamish Macdonald was host from 2020 to mid-2021, and during this period Q&A lost ground with audiences. A timeslot move from Monday nights to Thursdays only quickened the decline. Chris Pratt looked every inch the doting dad while spending some quality time with his daughter Lyla on a frozen yogurt run in the Pacific Palisades. During their outing on Wednesday, the 42-year-old Guardians of Galaxy star could be seen holding his one-year-old, who was dressed in a pink outfit and a white bucket hat. As they soaked in the sunshine together on the sunny afternoon, the actor sat outside a store with his little who, who he gazed lovingly at. Sweet: Chris Pratt looked every inch the doting dad while spending some quality time with his daughter Lyla on a frozen yogurt run in Los Angeles His youngest also walked around as her father stayed close behind her. Pratt seemed to be embracing the good weather in a t-shirt, charcoal grey t-shirt and shorts. In December, reports surfaced that his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger was pregnant with their second child, 14 months after welcoming little Lyla. Quality time: During their outing on Wednesday, the 42-year-old Guardians of Galaxy star could be seen holding his one-year-old, who was dressed in a pink outfit and a white bucket hat Chris and Katherine's relationship might not have come to be if it wasn't for her mother Maria introducing the two at church in 2018, and the two began dating by June of that year. They tied the knot in Montecito, California, the following year, and they welcomed Lyla in August 2020. It was the second child for Chris, who already shares his nine-year-old son Jack with his ex-wife Anna Faris. Growing family: In December, reports surfaced that his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger was pregnant with their second child, 14 months after welcoming little Lyla They two met on the set of their 1980s-set rom-com Take Me Home Tonight in 2007 and got engaged the following year, before marrying in 2009 in a ceremony in Bali, Indonesia. Jack came along in 2012, but Chris and Anna announced their separation five years later in 2017. So far, neither Chris nor Katherine has revealed the sex of their upcoming child, and Katherine's father Arnold admitted earlier this month on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he didn't even know. He wondered aloud if Chris and Katherine had even bothered to find out the child's sex, as his ex-wife Maria had never cared to know her children's sex before they were born. Just before landing his first ever acting role on Fox's That 70s Show, Topher Grace actually managed to crash the Academy Awards. The 43-year-old actor told his bizarre tale on The Drew Barrymore Show, revealing that he even saw the actress at the 1998 Oscars. Grace revealed it was just a few months before he landed the role of Eric Forman on That 70s Show, when he and a friend devised a remarkably simple plan that worked. Crashed: Just before landing his first ever acting role on Fox's That 70s Show, Topher Grace actually managed to crash the Academy Awards Simple plan: Grace revealed it was just a few months before he landed the role of Eric Forman on That 70s Show, when he and a friend devised a remarkably simple plan that worked Before That 70s Show, Grace was attending college at the University of Southern California, which is right across from The Shrine Auditorium, where the Oscars were held in the late 1990s and early 2000s before the Dolby Theatre. Barrymore was stunned beyond disbelief that Grace managed to pull that off, with the actor adding he has, 'been when I was invited.' 'But before I went, I was still at USC, and USC used to be right across the street from the Shrine,' Grace began. College kid: Before That 70s Show, Grace was attending college at the University of Southern California, which is right across from The Shrine Auditorium, where the Oscars were held in the late 1990s and early 2000s before the Dolby Theatre 'We were up drinking on a parking garage,' Grace began, as Barrymore screamed, 'YES! I already love this story.' Grace continued, 'My buddy goes, "I bet if we just drove a limo in tomorrow, just got in that limo line, we could just hop out of the car and walk in."' They showed a photo that Grace at one point shared on Twitter, of a much younger Grace in a full tuxedo on the red carpet. Love: 'We were up drinking on a parking garage,' Grace began, as Barrymore screamed, 'YES! I already love this story' Limo line: Grace continued, 'My buddy goes, "I bet if we just drove a limo in tomorrow, just got in that limo line, we could just hop out of the car and walk in"' 'Oh my God you are a baby!' Barrymore said of the photo, with Grace revealing that was, 'two months before I started That 70s Show.' 'We got in the limo, we pulled up, we got out of the car, waved, everyone in the audience goes like, "Whoa, like, who?"' Grace joked. He added, 'by the time they knew that they didn't know who we were, we got in there and we're on the red carpet.' Baby: 'Oh my God you are a baby!' Barrymore said of the photo, with Grace revealing that was, 'two months before I started That 70s Show' Red carpet ready: He added, 'by the time they knew that they didn't know who we were, we got in there and we're on the red carpet' Grace said they saw Tyra Banks on the red carpet, 'which was a big deal for us,' adding then they saw Barrymore. She asked if it was the year she had the daisies in her hair, which Grace confirmed as they showed a red carpet photo of Barrymore. Grace currently stars in ABC's Home Economics and he was also recently announced to return as Eric Forman in That 90s Show. Watch Home Economics only on Stan in Australia. Big deal: Grace said they saw Tyra Banks on the red carpet, 'which was a big deal for us,' adding then they saw Barrymore Charlotte Chimes was in a playful mood while filming scenes for Neighbours in Melbourne on Friday. The 28-year-old actress pulled a series of silly faces and cheeky poses in between takes, amusing both onlookers and her co-stars. It comes amid growing speculation former Neighbours star Kylie Minogue could return for the upcoming series finale. Still smiling: Charlotte Chimes (pictured) was in a playful mood while filming scenes for Neighbours in Melbourne on Friday In an interview with TV Tonight earlier this month, executive producer Jason Herbison said he was trying his best to book the 53-year-old pop star. 'I'm doing everything you'd expect me to be doing!' he teased when asked if Kylie would be returning. Kylie starred as Charlene Robinson on the series between 1986 and 1988, where she was paired with Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson. Despite the sad news that the beloved series will be ending after 37 years, Charlotte did her best to keep the mood light on set. Peace out: The 28-year-old actress pulled a series of silly faces and cheeky poses in between takes, amusing both onlookers and her co-stars Making a comeback? It comes amid growing speculation former Neighbours star Kylie Minogue (pictured on the show) could return for the upcoming series finale. Kylie starred as Charlene Robinson on the series between 1986 and 1988 The actress was seen chatting and laughing with her co-stars in between takes, pulling funny faces for onlookers. At one stage, she stuck her tongue out and thrust her hips forward, before then flashing a peace sign. She appeared to leave her co-stars in a state of disbelief when she lifted her shirt to reveal her black bra underneath. Cheeky: At one stage, she stuck her tongue out and thrust her hips forward, before then flashing a peace sign In a flash: She appeared to leave her co-stars in a state of disbelief when she lifted her shirt to reveal her black bra underneath Another moment saw Charlotte flaunting her flexibility as she raised a bent leg in the air and extended one of her arms out in front of her. The animated star also assumed a squatting position, resting her hands on her thighs as she pouted. Charlotte wore a pair of high-waisted black shorts, which she teamed with a long-sleeve emerald green button-up shirt worn tucked in. Bend and stretch: Another moment saw Charlotte flaunting her flexibility as she raised a bent leg in the air and extended one of her arms out in front of her She rounded out her ensemble with a pair of white sneakers with velcro straps, and carried a small black handbag on one shoulder. In some scenes, she wore a blood orange dressing gown over the top of her ensemble. The series announced that production would be ceasing on the long-running soap in a tweet last week. Twist and pout: The animated star also assumed a squatting position, resting her hands on her thighs as she pouted 'We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June,' they wrote. 'Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show. 'To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours.' In costume: Charlotte wore a pair of high-waisted black shorts, which she teamed with a long-sleeve emerald green button-up shirt worn tucked in Network 10 also addressed the end of the series in a statement to Australian media last week, admitting it had been a 'difficult decision'. 'Today, Fremantle confirmed that Neighbours will cease production in June, after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes,' a network spokesperson announced. 'This difficult decision came after the search for an alternative UK broadcast partner proved unsuccessful.' Coming to an end: The series announced that production would be ceasing on the long-running soap in a tweet last week They added that the series would 'not air on 10 Peach beyond September 2022', marking the end of its decades-long run. 'A much-loved stalwart of our program schedule for over 35 years it has been a staple of Australian television drama, and Australian cultural exports,' they added. 'Ramsay Street, Erinsborough, is a cul-de-sac recognised all over the world and has been home to Scott and Charlene, Des and Daphne, Dr Karl and Susan, Dee and Toadie, Aaron and David and many, many more neighbours. Ready for bed: In some scenes, she wore a blood orange dressing gown over the top of her ensemble 'Network 10 thanks the cast, crew, all the production team and Fremantle for bringing the perfect blend of soap and sunshine to audiences in Australia and around the world.' They also praised 'the Australian fans and audiences for their continued support of the series'. 'Their encouragement particularly in the past few weeks has been incredible. It shows that our audience still want Australian scripted drama,' continued the statement. 'We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June,' the statement read Meanwhile, Fremantle - the production company behind the soap - said they had been unable to come up with 'alternative funding' for the series. 'It is with sadness that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast, we are confirming that Neighbours will cease production in June,' they began in a statement last week. 'Following the loss of a key broadcast partner in the UK, and despite a search for alternative funding, we currently have no option but to rest the show. Sparking rumours: In an interview with TV Tonight earlier this month, executive producer Jason Herbison said he was trying his best to book Kylie. She was she was paired with Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson, on the show. Pictured together on Neighbours 'I'm doing everything you'd expect me to be doing!' he teased when asked if Kylie would be returning,' he said. Kylie is pictured recently 'Everyone at Neighbours has been overwhelmed by the love and support from the audience since the news came out. 'The show has brought a sunny slice of Australia into the homes of millions of viewers around the world launching the careers of dozens of household names along way. 'But as this chapter of Ramsay Street comes to a close, we promise to do everything we can to give the show the send-off it deserves.' A Florida woman killed her 4-year-old daughter and attempted to take her own life but survived and was arrested, according to police. Jacinda Decaro, 26, was detained Wednesday, almost two months after her 4-year-old daughter Masiela was found dead in a hotel room in Kissimmee, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Advertisement Cops said both Jacinda and Masiela were unresponsive when they were found during a Jan. 10 wellness check at Star Island Resort, according to the Sentinel. But first responders said Jacinda had a faint pulse, and she was saved at a nearby hospital. Masiela Decaro (left) was killed by her mother Jacinda, according to police. Investigators said Masiela died from a toxic cocktail of Tylenol and Benadryl. Bottles of both medications were found on the rooms nightstand, local CBS affiliate WKMG reported. Advertisement Police said a note that simply read Im sorry was found in the room, according to local Fox affiliate WOFL. Cops said that Decaro was given an opportunity to explain herself Wednesday and declined. If she wanted to take her own life, she could have, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez told reporters. She didnt have to include this 4-year-old baby, who hasnt even begun to live. Decaro was charged with first-degree murder. She was held without bond. It's the Netflix series which copped backlash for not consulting local Indigenous groups or the Byron Council before filming last year. But as Byron Baes went to air, two of its stars have opened up about being slammed by fellow residents. 'There's definitely like a sense of localism and a bit of a clique there,' star Elias Black told Nova FM's Smallzy's Surgery on Friday. Copping it? As Byron Baes recently hit streaming service Netlfix, its two stars Elias Black (pictured) and Nathan Favro have opened up about being slammed by residents in the region 'I feel like a lot of the hype that that kind of it was a bit of a media sensation in terms of like the people that I know that from there and live there in the graph feel like they've all been super, super friendly and super welcoming,' the 31-year-old added. Meanwhile, fellow star and The Bachelor alumni Nathan Favro, 26, agreed that despite the initial hesitance, locals were pleasant. 'I don't think the actual animosity was actually directed towards any one cast member,' he began. No animosity: 'I don't think the actual animosity was actually directed towards any one cast member,' Nathan Favro, 26, (pictured) said 'It's more of like, someone's coming to exploit the beauty of Byron and I don't think it was that at all. But we don't really experience any shouting across the street.' The boys' comments come after the series copped an onslaught of negativity after failing to consult local Indigenous groups or the Byron Council before commencing filming. According to the Echo, the Byron Council 'passed an urgency motion' that would require producers to get permission before any further filming. Controversial: Byron Baes has been fraught with controversy since the moment it was announced. Last year, the series received backlash for not consulting local Indigenous groups or the Byron Council before filming Independent Councillor Cate Coorey said in a statement: 'We need to stand up for our community.' Filming on the controversial reality series was eventually moved to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Byron Baes is currently streaming on Netflix. Caitlyn Jenner is reflecting on her Keeping Up With The Kardashians stint after it was revealed she was shut out of the family's new Hulu show, The Kardashians. Caitlyn's ex-wife Kris Jenner confirmed to Variety that the 72-year-old is not included in the series, which will see the Kardashian-Jenner women split a massive nine-figure salary. 'I was there when this started from day one. I watched it grow. And doing the show for almost 20 seasons was one of the highlights of my life,' began Caitlyn in a tweet published Thursday. Reflecting: Caitlyn Jenner is reflecting on her Keeping Up With The Kardashians stint after it was revealed she was shut out of the family's new Hulu show, The Kardashians; She continued: 'To be able to work with my family for all those years, connect with the fans, it was incredible. 'Happy that it continues for my family,' concluded the star, who'd penned her tweet in response to a tweet by Variety promoting the Kardashian's recent interview. Caitlyn was a regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians from it's very first season, which premiered on E! in October 2007, until 2015. The reality show was the brainchild of Kris and TV host and producer Ryan Seacrest, and followed the lives of Kris' family, which included Caitlyn - then Bruce - along with their children. Viewers bared witness to the end of her 22-year marriage to Kris, as well as her brave decision to come out as transgender. Day one: 'I was there when this started from day one. I watched it grow. And doing the show for almost 20 seasons was one of the highlights of my life,' began Caitlyn in a tweet published Thursday Confirmed: Caitlyn's ex-wife Kris Jenner confirmed to Variety that the 72-year-old is not included in the series, which will see the Kardashian-Jenner women split a massive nine-figure salary; (L-R) Kim, Khloe, Kris, and Kourtney pictured on the cover of Variety Caitlyn further documented her transition and new life as a single woman on the KUWTK spinoff series I Am Cait, which aired for two seasons on E! After 14 years, the Kardashian-Jenner clan decided to pull the plug on their long-running reality series and announced in 2020 that the 20th season would be its last. In an interview with Australia's The Morning Show, Caitlyn claimed that she was not informed by her family about the show's end. 'I heard it on the news!' she said. 'Nobody called me, I heard it through the media. Was I surprised? No.' The beginning: Caitlyn began her time on Keeping Up With The Kardashians in it's very first season, which premiered on E! in October 2007 All out there: Viewers bared witness to the end of her 22-year marriage to Kris, as well as her brave decision to come out as transgender; (L-R) Khloe, Caitlyn, Kim, Kris, Kourtney and Rob Kardashian pictured in 2007 Keeping Up With The Kardashians officially concluded in June 2021, with the family participating in a two-part reunion special. Caitlyn did not make an appearance. During the special, Kris briefly spoke on their failed marriage and admitted to host Andy Cohen that her and Caitlyn did have 'a lot of really great years' together. When asked if Caitlyn's transition played a role in their divorce, Kris shutdown the notion and confessed that they probably would have split up regardless. The former couple share daughters Kylie, 24, and Kendall, 26. Rare comments: During the KUWTK special last year, Kris briefly spoke on their failed marriage and admitted to host Andy Cohen that she and Caitlyn did have 'a lot of really great years' together; Caitlyn and Kris pictured in 2015 Months later, it was revealed that the Kardashians would be making a return to reality TV in a new show, titled The Kardashians, for the streaming platform Hulu. Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner are all set to appear in the forthcoming series, which has been described as having a 'documentary feel' to it. The ladies will split a nine-figure salary, as reported by Variety, which Kris and Khloe briefly spoke on in their recent interview with the publication. Back in action: Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner are all set to appear in the forthcoming series, which has been described as having a 'documentary feel' to it 'Well, money always matters. I think that anybody would be foolish to say that money doesn't matter anymore,' confessed the 65-year-old momager. Khloe added that they are all paid equally for their participation in the show. Hulu will be launching two seasons, 40 episodes total. The family also has an option for future projects within the Disney umbrella. The Kardashians premieres on April 14. Emma Weymouth ensured she stood out on Thursday evening as iconic London nightspot Annabel's celebrated its fourth anniversary. The Marchioness of Bath, 35, caught the eye in an elegant black evening gown as she made her way inside the exclusive Mayfair venue, where she was joined by a host of special guests. With a notable thigh-high slash, the distinctive dress proved to be a fashion highlight on a night dominated by bold style statements. Make way: Emma Weymouth ensured she stood out on Thursday evening as iconic London nightspot Annabel's celebrated its fourth anniversary Emma, a former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, added to her look with a pair of glittering silver stilettos, while a smart black clutch-bag rounded things off. Steeped in showbiz history, the Richard Caring owned Annabel's was celebrating its fourth year at its latest address in London's Berkeley Square. The original Annabel's, which launched to much fanfare in 1963, was originally based at number 44 Berkeley Square before relocating to a Grade I listed Georgian mansion house at number 46 in 2018. Looking good: The Marchioness of Bath, 35, caught the eye in an elegant black evening gown as she made her way inside the exclusive Mayfair venue In good company: (L-R) Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath,, Editor-In-Chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful, Naomi Campbell, Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster The venue is one of the UK's most exclusive members' clubs with a waiting list numbering in the thousands, with the social spot frequented by celebrities, aristocrats and royalty. The exclusive venue has witnessed the comings and goings of the creme de la creme of British society with Princess Diana visiting for the hen night of Sarah, Duchess of York. The Queen also visited for the 70th birthday of her friend the Countess of Airlie in 2003. Lovely: Emma, a former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, added to her look with a smart black clutch-bag Make way: Emma inevitably turned heads following her arrival at the high profile event in London's upmarket Berkeley Square Upbeat: She greeted onlookers with a beaming smile as she let her hair down on Thursday Also in attendance at the party was Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny, who cut a glamorous couple as Sir Rod wore a black and silver embroidered jacket with a crisp white shirt and black trousers, while Penny put on a leggy display in a glitzy silver mini-dress. Fellow guest Holly Willoughby accessorised her ensemble with sparkling platform heels and funky bejewelled sunglasses. She was joined by her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, who channelled the 70s in a cream shaggy coat, flares, platform trainers and aviators as he stepped out - completing his look with a blonde quiff. Let's go: The Marchioness left later that night in the company of Edward Enninful and a rather bewildered looking pet dog Glitterati: Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster led the way at the star-studded fourth anniversary party of the new location of Annabel's alongside Holly Willoughby Roxy Jacenko has celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary with husband Oliver Curtis. In an Instagram post on Friday, the PR Queen shared several images of the couple and their family over the years. The 42-year-old wrote in her caption: '10 Years. 10 Images. I don't know who deserves a medal more, Oliver or me'. Happy days: Roxy Jacenko has celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary with husband Oliver Curtis. Both pictured The images document several candid moments, including the pair sharing sweet kisses. They also picture the pair's children, daughter Pixie, 10, and son Hunter, seven, beaming alongside their parents. Last year, Roxy was forced to shoot down rumours that she and Oliver had split. Sweet: In an Instagram post on Friday, the PR Queen shared several images of the couple and their family over the years The 42-year-old wrote in her caption: '10 Years. 10 Images. I don't know who deserves a medal more, Oliver or me' Aww: The images document several candid moments, including the pair sharing sweet kisses At the time, she shared a photo to Instagram showing the couple cuddled up together, and slammed claims there was trouble in paradise. Roxy captioned the photo: 'According to a certain column today I am now separated and [Oliver] has moved out. 'I've received a stack of messages (and a few date requests - phewww I haven't lost my touch) but no, all is well and OC is still around LOL. Suppose if you gotta fill a page at times you've got to get creative.' Family: They also picture the pair's children, daughter Pixie, 10, and son Hunter, seven, beaming alongside their parents. All pictured Fine: Last year, Roxy was forced to shoot down rumours that she and Oliver had split Roxy again shared the same photo also to her Instagram Stories, captioned: 'Late lunch with [Oliver] now that we are separated and all'. The media personality appeared to be referring claims made by The Daily Telegraph which reported that the couple were spending time apart. Speaking to the paper, Roxy refuted those claims, saying: 'No troubles in paradise. [We] even attended Frozen the Musical just the other week'. Claims: The media personality appeared to be referring claims made by The Daily Telegraph which reported that the couple were spending time apart She went on to explain that the talk may have emerged because Oliver has been away in Tasmania starting a new business. The couple wed in a ceremony estimated to have cost $250,000 at Quay restaurant in Sydney in 2012. Oliver was sentenced to two years for insider trading in June 2016, and was released from prison after 12 months on a good behaviour bond in June 2017. Speaking to the paper, Roxy refuted those claims, saying: 'No troubles in paradise. [We] even attended Frozen the Musical just the other week' Following his release from Cooma Correctional Centre, Oliver proposed with a ring said to be worth a staggering $500,000. However the pair revealed in 2019 that they have delayed renewing their vows as it would be 'another expense'. At the time, they were focusing on building their property portfolio instead. Stephanie Pratt showed off her legs as she arrived at the star-studded anniversary bash for Annabel's in Mayfair on Thursday night. The reality star, 35, wore a hot pink satin minidress layered with a bold black leather jacket adorned with faux-fur detailing. Stephanie added sparkling black heeled boots to her look for the soiree, which was Studio 54 themed, accessorising with a pink Chanel bag to match her dress. Dressed to Impress: Stephanie Pratt showed off her legs in a pink mini dress as she arrived at the star-studded anniversary bash for Annabel's in Mayfair, London on Thursday night 70s inspired: Stephanie donned a hot pink satin mini dress, layering with a black leather jacket with a statement pink fur detail around the neck Stephanie kept most of her blonde tresses flowing, going vintage with some of her locks pulled into a quiff to keep the hair from her face. The star added some bold makeup to her look, opting for bright turquoise eyeshadow and stuck on diamante's around her eyes to go alongside her otherwise nude-pink look. She finished with a diamond silver necklace, silver rings on each finger and black nail-polish. Shimmer: She added sparkling black heeled boots to her look for the soiree, which was Studio 54 themed, accessorising with a pink Chanel bag to match her dress Status: A flock of famous faces headed to Annabel's on Thursday, such as Kevin Adams (pictured left) The event was to celebrate Annabel's fourth anniversary, and paid homage to Studio 54, which became world famous for its celebrity guests and colourful characters who enjoyed hard partying ways at the establishment Annabel's is one of the UK's most exclusive members' clubs with a waiting list numbering in the thousands, with the social spot frequented by celebrities, aristocrats and royalty. Thursday marked four years since Mayfair's Annabel's moved locations after originally opening in 1963, by entrepreneur Mark Birley, with 65million being spent on the move. Bold: The star added some bold makeup to her look, opting for bright turquoise eyeshadow to go alongside her otherwise nude-pink look Annabel's opened its doors at its new address of 46 Berkeley Square in 2018. The club occupies 26,000 sq ft and offers members space to work, dine and entertain. The club was transformed into a glamorous, 1970s style disco - featuring gold disco balls and a champagne tower. Other famous faces such as Naomi Campbell, Rod Stewart and Holly Willoughby were in attendance to the boozy bash. Looking back: Bosses organised a Studio 54-themed party on Thursday to pay homage to the famous New York nightclub (Bianca Jagger pictured at Studio 54 in 1978) The actors played sibling roommates in the 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids, and went on to become flatmates in real life, sharing an apartment in Los Angeles. And on Thursday, Rebel Wilson commanded attention in a red plaid jacket as she reunited with her former flatmate Matt Lucas for dinner at STK in Westminster, London. The Hollywood A-lister, 42, stunned in an all-black ensemble which was jazzed up with her statement coat, while British comedian Matt, 47, was suited and booted. Reunited! On Thursday, Rebel Wilson, 42, commanded attention in a red plaid jacket as she reunited with her former flatmate Matt Lucas, 47, for dinner at STK in Westminster, London Rebel flaunted her weight loss in her sleek black trousers and plunging top, but kept things simple with a pointed pair of flats. The blonde beauty carried her belonging in a large leather tote and styled her tresses into glamorous curls while finishing off her make-up with bold red lipstick. Meanwhile, Little Britain star Matt looked dapper in a navy blue suit, which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and red tie. The duo happily posed for photographs after enjoying their steak dinner at the swanky eatery. Stylish: The Hollywood A-lister stunned in an all-black ensemble which was jazzed up with her statement coat, while British comedian Matt was suited and booted Gorgeous: Rebel flaunted her weight loss in her sleek black trousers and plunging top, but kept things simple with a pointed pair of flats Stunning: The blonde beauty carried her belonging in a large leather tote Looking good: The Little Britain star looked dapper in a navy blue suit, which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and red tie Speaking to Conan O'Brien in 2013, the actress admitted she and Matt made the decision to move in together after hitting it off on the set of Bridesmaids, but it didn't go well with their neighbours. 'We played roommates so well in Bridesmaids, we thought we'd do it for real,' she said. 'But instead of annoying Kristen Wiig, we're annoying all the neighbours nearby. 'We got a letter in the mailbox... and so it's a little bit disturbing because it's anonymous for a start... (We sing a lot of show tunes). 'We've been mixing it up a bit, we do Oklahoma, Little Shop Of Horrors, Fiddler On The Roof. The Neighbours do not enjoy it.' Beauty: Rebel styled her platinum tresses into glamorous curls while finishing off her make-up with bold red lipstick Sensational: Rebel was glowing with delight as she strolled out of STK Happy days: The duo happily posed for photographs after enjoying their steak dinner at the swanky eatery Rebel is currently in England as she gears up to host the BAFTAs on Sunday evening. Speaking about the awards show, the actress admitted her nervousness, confessing: 'Everyone who could possibly ever employ me will be in the audience'. But when it comes to risque jokes, she laughed: 'I wouldn't mind getting cancelled... I wouldn't have to work for two years'. Daniella Westbrook has revealed she is training to be a therapist and holistic healer and has also been approached to run a mental health course. The former EastEnders star, 48, opens up about her new journey in the new episode of Paul Danan's podcast and says her spiritual new direction gives her a 'better buzz than any drug'. Speaking to The Morning After, the ex-addict opens up about how she's transformed her life and is now on the other side of recovery helping others. Change: Daniella Westbrook revealed on Paul Danan's podcast that she is training to be a therapist and holistic healer She says: 'I am actually going off to work at a holistic centre in Harrogate. A friend of mine has opened one, they have sound healing, reiki, therapists, all different stuff.' Upping her qualifications, while studying for an NVQ in therapy, Daniella is also training to be a yoga teacher. She told Paul: 'I am learning how to be a therapist I am getting there. I am training really hard and I am doing loads of different stuff and techniques. I am learning yoga and that too.' Candid: Speaking to Paul Danan on his podcast The Morning After ex-addict Daneilla spoke about how she had transformed her life and is now on the other side of recovery helping others Daniella who has been very open and honest in the past about her own recovery struggles goes on to explain how she's also been approached to run a mental health course by Kirklees council in Yorkshire, to help those suffering with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as their families. The TV personality who is now on the other side says the joy she gets from helping others who have suffered like her makes it all worthwhile. Speaking on the podcast, she explains: 'I think for us as well, It's all about getting that buzz, whether that's a buzz from audience reaction, a buzz from seeing somebody else thriving or growing, it's actually so much better than the buzz you would ever get from a drug. So much better.' She continues: 'As much as I love acting and will always love being an actor... my love for helping other people, especially within this vile viscious illness that we all suffer from, gives me more joy than acting. Buzzing: The TV personality who is now on the other side says the joy she gets from helping others who have suffered like her makes it all worthwhile 'God, if I could have had this bottled as a something I would have taken years ago, that would have been the drug I would have picked.' Daniella also goes on to describe how her new way of life has helped her conquer her anxieties after completing a spiritual retreat in Wales adding that sound baths have completely transformed her. She recalls: 'I was doing the sound healing for three hours a day. The way it goes through your body, I have never had a high that that healing gives me. It has really helped me. That healing stuff took the anxiety side of things away from me.' Interview: Daniella took to her Instagram account to promote the podcast with her friend Paul The interview comes as Daniella took to her Instagram Stories on Monday to reveal that she was back in hospital to prepare for her next round of face surgery. She is set to go under the knife to have part of her rib put in her cheek. She shared a photo of her lying in bed on Sunday, writing 'Time for bed, hospital again tomorrow' followed by a string of prayer and heart emojis. Back again: Danniella took to her Instagram Stories on Monday to reveal that she was back in hospital to prepare for her next round of face surgery The star is having the procedure after her cheek was left damaged by botched dental work. Addressing her followers she said: 'So I'm off to the hospital in Aintree to get my next consultation for the next part of my operation for the bone doctor to put a bone in here', before gesturing to her cheek. She added: 'It's scary but I'm excited. Can't wait to get all these operations done and get the hell back to work'. Last week, Danniella 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. Under the knife: The former EastEnders star, 48, is 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 The mum-of-two 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.' She 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.' Surgery: She 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 (pictured in 2021) MailOnline have contacted Danniella's rep for further comment. The actress has spent the last year getting lip filler and Botox, in addition to surgery on her face as she works hard to get back to her best. Last month, Danniella revealed that she was looking forward to her upcoming set of surgery. Sharing a throwback snap of herself on Instagram, she penned: 'Can't wait for all my surgery to be done will be back too my best and fighting fit and next year I will be 50! Bring it on I'm ready. More than ready , I'm ready for a full transformation physically. Danniella previously discussed first undergoing the procedure four years ago during an appearance on Good Morning Britain. Looking ahead: Last month, Danniella revealed that she was looking forward to her upcoming set of surgery as she shared a throwback snap from 2009 (pictured) She explained: 'When I was doing excessive amounts of drugs and lost my nose I would have got it then, not after being 13 years clean. I wouldn't have just got it in the last three years.' On her dental work that went wrong, she said: 'The screws, which they have left in, the bone didn't close around them when I had implants, which led to blood getting into the bone so it just died. 'That gave me the septicaemia which gave me the bone disease and started rotting away and it's all down to that. 'They were going to have to take some of my skull but they're going to use a floating rib.' Touching her cheek, she went on: 'I have no cheek bone here at all where it's just gone from osteoporosis, nothing to do with cocaine at all. 'If it was I would openly say that it was, like I did before with my nose.' Open: Danniella previously discussed first undergoing the procedure four years ago during an appearance on Good Morning Britain The news of her upcoming procedure comes months after she underwent surgery for a sinus infection. The actress previously told her fans that she was waiting to go to theatre at Aintree University Hospital, after doctors feared the nasty infection, which saw her end up in ICU, could 'reach her brain'. The following day, the former EastEnders star announced that the surgery had been a 'huge success' and she came bearing more good news for her concerned Twitter followers. She wrote in November: 'Thanks for all the messages of support for my operation. It was a huge success and I'm so happy thank you to @LivHospitals and the best staff surgical team and cleanest hospital ever x #NHS #Liverpool,' she said. Her hospitalisation comes after she vowed to turn her life around following years of drug abuse and relapsing onto 'cocaine and champagne' earlier in 2021. 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. At the height of her use, it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to 250,000 on the drug. The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons - and revealed she was finally clean in June 2020, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain. Recovery: The news of her upcoming procedure comes months after she underwent surgery for a sinus infection Katie Price showed off her newly-enlarged bust in a pink crop top and tassel skirt after returning home from her romantic getaway in Thailand with fiance Carl Woods. The former glamour model, 43, took to Instagram on Friday to share the picture while she toted an oversized handbag and straw hat. During her holiday, Katie reportedly covered up the heart rate tattoo she got while 'drunk in Miami' with a new floral inking. Home sweet home: Katie Price showed off her newly-enlarged bust in a pink crop top and tassel skirt after returning home from her romantic getaway in Thailand with fiance Carl Woods Stunning: The former glamour model, 43, took to Instagram on Friday to share the picture while she toted an oversized handbag and straw hat According to The Sun, Katie new body art comprises of lilies, daffodils and hyacinths on her forearm and cost approximately 180. Katie took to her Instagram Story the day before she left Thailand to share a glimpse as she got her latest tattoo. The TV personality was allegedly drunk when she was inked with a heart rate monitor reading at Oxygen Ink studio in 2017. Old tattoo: The TV personality was allegedly drunk when she was inked with a heart rate monitor reading at Oxygen Ink studio in 2017 (pictured on Loose Women in 2017) New inkings: Katie took to her Instagram Story the day before she left Thailand to share a glimpse as she got her latest tattoo Sources told The Sun at the time that Katie and her friend were intoxicated when they went in the tattooist's chair: 'The pair appeared in high spirits after they worked up the courage to get new body art by knocking back a number of beers. 'She spent at least two hours in the tattoo parlour as she was filmed undergoing the procedure before lending moral support to Lara who was also filmed getting inked.' It comes after Katie jetted back from Thailand on Wednesday after revealing the results of her 13th boob job. New look: Katie covered her newly-enlarged bust in a cropped T-shirt as she jetted back from Thailand on Wednesday after revealing the results of her 13th boob job She looked casual in the cream top and dark green tracksuit as she posed outside the airport. Katie reportedly had her latest boob job and full body liposuction with bum fat removal, at the BeClinic in Overijse, Belgium in December and revealed them on Tuesday while posing on a boat in a skimpy bikini. For her airport look, Katie completed her ab-flashing outfit with comfortable white trainers and toted a Louis Vuitton bag while clutching her face mask. She wore her dyed-blonde hair up in a high pony and opted for a glamorous makeup look complete with a slick of light pink lip. On Tuesday Katie unveiled the results of her 13th boob job while on a boat trip with her fiance Carl during their holiday to Thailand. Earlier this month, Franz Ferdinand cancelled tour dates in Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. And on Friday's instalment of GMB, frontman Alex Kapranos, 49, insisted that their Russian fans 'don't want this war.' His comments come after the band cancelled gigs, scheduled to take place over the summer in St Petersburg and Moscow, over Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking out: On Friday's instalment of GMB, Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos, 49, insisted that their Russian fans 'don't want this war' Alex insisted to hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: 'I feel a close connection with our Russian fans over there. Speaking with our Russian fans over there - they don't want this war.' 'On our last tour we played in Odessa and Kiev - they're beautiful - and now I'm seeing tanks arriving in them, and thinking 'that's my apartment block being blown up.' The band are taking part in a fundraising concert, A Night For Ukraine, of which Alex said: 'All of us feel helpless and want to do something.' He added: 'Music will lift our spirits no matter where we are and what we're doing. It's always a help.' Connected: Alex insisted to hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: 'I feel a close connection with our Russian fans over there' Devastating: 'On our last tour we played in Odessa and Kiev - they're beautiful - and now I'm seeing tanks arriving in them' said Alex (Pictured performing in Moscow in 2009) It comes after Franz Ferdinand took to Twitter on March 1, where they announced they wouldn't be performing in Russia. Their statement read: 'We are cancelling our Russian shows that are scheduled for this summer. The only reason for this is the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state. 'We love Russia. This great country has inspired our band through its art and literature and since we first played there seventeen years ago, we have built a rich and deep relationship with our Russian fans. 'Since Thursday morning, we have spoken to many of our friends in Russia via social media and have encountered unanimous opposition to this violence and solidarity with our Ukrainian friends. We know you see the madness of your country's leadership. We know you do not want war. Boycott: It comes after Franz Ferdinand took to Twitter on March 1, where they announced they wouldn't be performing in Russia 'We do not want war. Despite the tragedy of this situation, we still burn a flame of optimism in our hearts and look forward to the day when we can return in a time of peace to share the joy of music together again.' The band were slated to play shows in St Petersburg and Moscow in June and July. More than 400 civilians have died since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on February 24. Now, Ukrainian forces have seized gas marks from Russian troops following warnings from the West that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons in his attacks. On Friday, the United Nations Refugee Agency reported that there have been 2,473,427 refugees from Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion. She certainly knows how to turn heads arriving to work. Charlotte Hawkins, 46, looked gorgeous in a blue animal print dress from Dancing Leopard as she arrived at Global studios in London on Friday morning. The GMB presenter donned a midaxi, belted shirt-style satin dress in a blue leopard print, paired with blue court heels. Gorgeous! Charlotte Hawkins, 46, looked gorgeous in a blue animal print midaxi dress from Dancing Leopard as she arrived at Classic FM studios on Friday morning Her dress featured a side slit detail, showing off her toned legs as Charlotte battled with the wind. She carried a large black handbag as she arrived, beaming for the camera. Charlotte kept her shoulder-length blonde locks loose in curls as she went for a pretty makeup look. Those legs! Her dress featured a side slit detail, showing off her toned legs as Charlotte battled with the wind Charlotte is presenting Classic FM every weekday this week from 12pm-4pm, alongside Smooth Classics at Seven on Sundays, from 7pm-9pm. The presenter has recently opened up about being 'fed up' of scam ads, taking to twitter to open up about frequently being used in them. Martin Lewis has previously sued Facebook for defamation over scam ads, with more action being taken to prevent them recently. Radiant: Charlotte kept her shoulder-length blonde locks in curls as she went for a pretty makeup look Charlotte tweeted her support, saying: 'Ive been so fed up of being used in them & its been hard to get them taken down.' 'Social media sites & search engines will have to stamp them out in new online safety laws. Well done for the campaign.' She also shared images of numerous scam ads that had used her face for 'clicks', reading headlines such as: 'She had us all stunned by sharing this on TV'. A man has been charged with fatally stabbing a married couple on their way home from an event held during Daytona Bike Week in Florida. Terry Aultman, 48, and his 55-year-old wife, Brenda were riding their bicycles away from Main Street on Sunday when they were attacked by a man authorities now believe to be Jean Macean. Officers found the couple, of Daytona, fatally stabbed at Riverview Boulevard and North Wild Olive Avenue around 2 a.m. Advertisement Their throats had been slashed. By the time police arrived on the scene however, the killer had already fled. Terry and Brenda Aultman died of slashed throats. Authorities on Monday released a video and still pictures of a person of interest in the case. It showed a man in a black hat, white pants, a gray tank top, red gloves and tan boots, according to the Daytona News-Journal. A reward for information about the double murder also reached $50,00. Advertisement While authorities suspect Macean followed the Aultmans home, they are still investigating a motive for the brutal slaying. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young announced his arrest on Thursday in a tweet thanking U.S. Marshals, the Orange County Sheriffs Office and the Orlando Police Department for their assistance. Usually, theres a nexus, theres a motive that we can come up with and say this happened because of this, Young told reporters. But as of right now this thing seems totally random. We are investigating this as a random attack. Visitors and motorcycle enthusiasts gather along Main Street at the 2021 Daytona Bike Week festivities. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP) Young added that the couple did everything right in terms of safety. If you ask me as a chief what are the most important things you can do to keep yourself safe when you go out, the first thing Im going to tell you is if you are going to consume alcohol dont get behind the wheel of a vehicle, so they didnt. They rode their bicycles, he said. The second thing I would tell you is to stick together. Dont go it alone. So they didnt; they stuck together as a couple yet still they were attacked and they were murdered. Dermot O'Leary made light of the bomb scare that almost sent ITV into meltdown on Thursday as he prepared to host the latest edition of This Morning. The network was forced to pull its live broadcasting after a package addressed to breakfast TV presenter Lorraine Kelly sparked pandemonium at their London studios. Regular daytime staples This Morning and Loose Women were taken off air while police investigated, before determining the parcel - sent to Lorraine from a production company - was not suspicious. We're back: Dermot O'Leary made light of the bomb scare that almost sent ITV into meltdown on Thursday as he prepared to host the latest edition of This Morning Addressing the unexpected incident on Friday morning, a jovial O'Leary, 48, said: 'Well we both had a very relaxing day yesterday watching the show from home. 'If you were watching yesterday, youll have noticed we came off air a little earlier than usual. 'There was a security scare, but it was all fine someone sent a strange bottle of wine to Lorraine, that was all it was, nothing to worry about.' Earlier that day the breakfast television favourite, 62, revealed she had been sent a gift that contained a battery, prompting concern as it passed through security. She told Good Morning Britain: 'Apparently, I am told somebody from a film company sent me a wee present and it had a battery in it, and when they X-rayed it it looked a little bit suspicious. 'But it was all fine and dandy, and it's OK.' Worrying: The network was forced to pull its live broadcasting after a package addressed to breakfast TV presenter Lorraine Kelly sparked pandemonium at their London studios All good: Addressing the unexpected incident on Friday morning, a jovial O'Leary described the incident as 'nothing to worry about' Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway said: 'It's lovely to know people are worried about you and are taking care of you isn't it?' Lorraine admitted one positive from the incident is that it shows 'the system all works'. She said: 'It shows the system all works, so it's all fantastic.' ITV went off air for more than hour as staff were evacuated from their West London television studio amid the reported bomb threat - with the usual running replaced by pre-recorded programming. Concern: ITV went off air for more than hour as staff were evacuated from their West London television studio amid the reported bomb threat Shut down: Transport for London closed White City and Wood Lane stations while police responded to the incident The channel pulled a live episode of This Morning during an advert break and cancel following programme Loose Women. Viewers watching Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby at around 12.15am were left baffled when it returned from an ad break to instead show a highlights reel of old footage. A spokesperson for ITV said: 'Due to a suspected security alert, the building which ITV daytime broadcast from was safely evacuated. Back on: As crew members returned to the studios, This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield posted on social media 'The issue has been resolved and staff have returned to the building following the all-clear from the police. We apologise for the interruption to the schedule and we have now returned to normal programming.' Transport for London shut White City and Wood Lane stations while police response units investigated the security alert, but they have since been reopened. Hammersmith and Fulham Police have since confirmed that an 'item' reported to them had been assessed as 'non-suspicious'. Explanation: This Morning confirmed they were going off air as the incident played out Nothing to see here: But it was business as usual on Friday as Dermot and Alison Hammond filled their usual presenting slots on This Morning As crew members returned to the studios, This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield posted on social media saying: 'Back in my dressing room after a security alert. 'All ok and a thankfully false alarm. Thank you to our team and the Met Police for being amazing... I've been to the pub with everyone, now back to get my house keys.' A Met Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'At 11:14hrs on Thursday, 10 March, police were called to reports of a security alert at Wood Lane, White City. Rebel Wilson has revealed that she plans to get quite naughty when she hosts the 75th BAFTAs on Sunday. Much like British comedian Ricky Gervais, who was known for his cutting mockery of celebrities during his tenure hosting several Golden Globes ceremonies, Rebel said on Friday that she will tell the 'filthiest, cheekiest jokes' - and no one will be spared. 'In Australia, our culture is you can take potshots at people if they're successful, so I'll be doing a little bit of that,' she told Perth Now. Pushing the envelope: Rebel Wilson (pictured) has revealed that she plans to get quite naughty when she hosts the 75th BAFTAs on Sunday. 'In Australia, our culture is you can take potshots at people if they're successful, so I'll be doing a little bit of that,' she said on Friday Rebel added that she has been emailing the racy gags to herself - and has wondered if they aren't a bit too much. However, the Pitch Perfect actress says she will try and get her edgy material over the line. 'I'm probably going to try, just because you've got to push the limits,' she added. Joker: Much like British comedian Ricky Gervais (pictured), who was known for his cutting mockery of celebrities during his tenure hosting several Golden Globes ceremonies, Rebel says that she will tell the 'filthiest, cheekiest jokes' - and no one will be spared The star admitted to having nerves before the awards and that she worries about being cancelled for her jokes. She confessed to the Radio Times: 'Your head is on the chopping block as the host, which is a bit scary. I get very nervous. 'It's a very hard time for comedians, because what can you say without being cancelled?' Funny woman: Ahead of the awards, Rebel hammed it up backstage at the Royal Albert Hall this week as she prepared for her hosting duties Ahead of the awards, Rebel hammed it up backstage at the Royal Albert Hall this week as she prepared for her hosting duties. The Hustle actress looked sensational in a black, orange and pink dress that clung to her incredible figure and boasted a cut out across the shoulder for an extra flash of skin as she posed for snaps in London. She beamed proudly as she held up the names of A-listers like Lady Gaga, Rege Jean Page, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ariana DeBose as the seating arrangements got underway. She's currently soaking up the sun in Mexico on a work trip. And Molly-Mae Hague continued to flaunt her tanned physique as she posed for a sizzling PrettyLittleThing shoot in Tulum on Thursday. The Love Island star, 22, put on a leggy display as she flaunted her tan in an open green pinstriped shirt while enjoying the sunshine. Unreal: Molly-Mae Hague, 22, continued to flaunt her tanned physique as she posed for a sizzling PrettyLittleThing shoot in Tulum on Thursday The blonde beauty posed up a storm as she donned a stylish straw hat and teamed it with a matching Prada beach bag. The influencer opted for a bronzed makeup look which accentuated her natural features and she wore her hair straight underneath the hat. Molly shared the picture to her 6.2 million followers, captioning it: 'Oversized shirts on holiday are my staple @prettylittlething 'Ive sorted a code for you guys. MOLLY10 for an extra 10% off everything including my collection!' Beach babe: The influencer posed up a storm as she donned a stylish straw hat and teamed it with a matching Prada beach bag The Creative Director is currently in Tulum, Mexico for a work trip as she shoots a campaign. She revealed that she was 'filming something very special' to her fans through Instagram. During her trip, she has also been sharing snaps of the beautiful Mexican scenery, alongside her bikini-clad content. Busy: The Creative Director is currently soaking up the sun in Mexico for a work trip as she shoots a campaign Molly-Mae has been hit by renewed criticism recently over her working life, which come after previous comments she made about wealth inequality during a podcast sparked backlash. She was accused of making another 'tone deaf' blunder after she detailed her 'overwhelming' workload in a video tracking her job with PrettyLittleThing. The influencer pockets an eye-watering six-figure sum per month with her role as creative director for the fast fashion brand and presented a runway collection at the same time as London Fashion Week. A video showing the lead up to the show was shared by the brand on Monday, but several viewers were left baffled by the content, claiming it was a ploy to prove how 'hard' she works after her controversial comments on wealth inequality last year. In the clip Molly was seen meeting with PLT's Marketing Director Nicki Capstick, who told her: 'We need you to come up with some venue suggestions asap, so if you can get those over to me this week that will be great. 'Inspo-wise, any ideas around creative, it's all on you, it's representing your collection so you need to come up with the ideas around that.' The video then cut to Molly saying: 'As creative director I've done events and parties with PLT before but I've never dealt with anything like this before, this is huge.' Back in the meeting, Nicki continued: 'Hopefully we'll be throwing an after party so we'll need to think about which DJs, we'll need to think about a performer, drinks lists, any appetisers and food, all that kind of stuff - again, all on you.' A visibly flustered Molly told the camera: 'I definitely feel slightly overwhelmed about how much there is to get organising and to get on with.' Molly-Mae's contract as EU Creative Director with PrettyLittleThing will expire in August, but she has previously stated that she would love to do more work with the brand. She was one of Fashion Week's biggest stars. And Gigi Hadid continued to show off her newly-dyed platinum blonde tresses as she took to the runway for the Burberry fashion show in London on Friday. The model, 26, displayed her lightened hair which was pulled into a sleek bun, as she donned an oversized cardigan and skirt emblazoned with the designer's signature checked print. Hard to miss! Gigi Hadid continued to show off her newly-dyed platinum blonde tresses as she took to the runway for the Burberry fashion show in London on Friday Displaying some of Burberry's staple style components, Gigi donned a loose-fitting mustard cardigan and a matching jumper, layered over one of the designer's signature skirts. The outfit was completed with a matching leather butterscotch bag and boots, along with vintage glasses with snap-down lenses. Having previously made a huge statement with her newly-dyed blonde hair, Gigi pulled her glosses tresses into a sleek bun as she took to the catwalk. Stylish: Ahead of the fashion show Gigi donned the simple black trench coat which she belted around the waist as she exited her hotel to make her way through the capital New look: The stylish star recently stunned with her lightened locks, unveiling them for the first time earlier this week Transformed: Gigi surprised many when she ditched her usual blonde style (right) in favour of a far lighter look (left) Ahead of the fashion show Gigi donned the simple black trench coat which she belted around the waist as she exited her hotel to make her way through the capital. The stylish star recently stunned with her lightened locks, unveiling them for the first time after flying back to JFK following Paris Fashion Week. Shielding her alabastar complexion with oversized sunglasses, Gigi opted for a simple outfit as she arrived ahead of the fashion event. It comes after Gigi revealed she was donating her earnings from walking various runways at Fashion Week 2022 to Ukrainian relief. Low-key: Shielding her alabastar complexion with oversized sunglasses, Gigi opted for a simple outfit as she arrived ahead of the fashion event Off she goes: The mother-of-one was joined by her sister Bella taking to the runway for the annual fashion show Generous: It comes after Gigi revealed she was donating her earnings from walking various runways at Fashion Week 2022 to Ukrainian relief Kind: On Instagram she wrote: 'Following in the footsteps of my friend @micarganaraz, I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war' In a lengthy post to Instagram Stories she wrote: 'Having a set Fashion Month schedule has meant that my colleagues and I often present new fashion collections during heartbreaking and traumatic times in history. 'We don't have control over most of our work schedules, but we would like to walk 'for' something. 'Following in the footsteps of my friend @micarganaraz, I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support those experiencing the same in Palestine. Our eyes and hearts must be open to all human injustice.' Fine dining: Bella continued to send temperatures soaring as she arrived at swanky Chiltern Firehouse later on Sensational: The model put on a street-side fashion show in Marylebone Woah! Gigi looked nothing short of sensational as she followed closely behind Dapper: Bella's boyfriend Marc Kalman looked dapper in a suave black shirt Superstars: The model sisters garnered plenty of attention as they later stepped out in the capital Close: The siblings held hands as they made their way outside together Hadid previously shared a statement regarding the conflict in Ukraine to her Instagram Story last month, where she noted that she was upset about the Russian invasion. 'My heart is hurting for Ukraine and all those affected by this unimaginable reality,' she wrote. She then called out Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom she saw as the main aggressor in the conflict. 'Putin's actions are a threat to every Democratic country in the world, and must be stopped,' she wrote. Hadid finished her message by encouraging her followers to raise awareness for the ongoing war. 'I pray that the support other countries provide can give Ukrainians what they have voted for and deserve,' she wrote. Centre of attention: Gigi looked chic in a quilted navy coat jacket as she stormed the runway Blanca Blanco has a memoir out called Breaking The Mold that she chatted up at her book signing at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. During a Q&A session, the actress commented on her past brushes with A list stars. 'He was a gentleman and kind,' said the Tale Of Tales star about Brad Pitt whom she met in 2019 when at a private party in Hollywood for the film If Beale Street Could Talk. She also shared that the Oscar-winner was 'shy' and talked about how much he loved producing movies. Book time: Blanca Blanco has a memoir out called Breaking The Mold that she chatted up at her book signing at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles on Thursday evening Brad moment: During a Q&A session, the actress commented on her past brushes with A list stars. 'He was a gentleman and kind,' said the Tale Of Tales star about Brad Pitt whom she met in 2019 when at a private party in Hollywood for the film If Beale Street Could Talk Brad had not gone out much because he was in the process of divorcing Angelina Jolie and wanted to keep a low profile. A photo of him at the time was very rare, even if it was blurry and at an event. So the photo of the two went viral and she was in shock. 'It just shows you the power of the internet that one little photo like that can be circulated and all these assumptions can be made,' said Blanca who was in a Fendi dress and Balmain boots. So what was Pitt really like? Hype: 'It just shows you the power of the internet that one little photo like that can be circulated and all these assumptions can be made,' said Blanca who was in a Fendi dress and Balmain boots The real Brad: 'He was incredibly polite, I was taken aback by that, like a gentleman from another era. We talked for about 15 minutes about films and he says he loves bringing stories to the screen, he relishes his role as movie producer,' she said of Pitt Done: Brad and Angelina Jolie divorced in 2019 after getting married in France in 2014; seen here in 2011 The way they were: Together they raised six children; seen here in Los Angeles 'He was incredibly polite, I was taken aback by that, like a gentleman from another era,' noted Blanco. 'We talked for about 15 minutes about films and he says he loves bringing stories to the screen, he relishes his role as movie producer. And he walked me through the process a bit, saying he reads a lot of books and scripts to find the right content.' Pitt has produced Moneyball, The Departed and 12 Years A Slave, to name a few. But there was no romance. Her book is in stores now 'No, there was no flirting or romance, it was just a friendly conversation, he was unassuming and almost shy,' she added. 'But I can understand he has not really dated since he split from Angelina, so everyone wants to know who's next? What is he up to? It's the nature of our culture.' And when asked who the most 'real' celebrity is that she has ever met in her 20 years in Hollywood, she said Lady Gaga. 'I met her a few years ago when she released an album. We were at a the Four Seasons hotel,' she said. 'We have some friends in common so she came over to our table and talked. When I spoke with her about acting she gave me her full attention and she told me how much passion she has for acting. 'I was really impressed with her because she spoke from the heart and was so genuine. She was not a star but a real person, there was no wall, she was not guarded at all. I am happy to see she is having so much success, she was fascinating to watch in House Of Gucci.' Chevalier's Books is located at 133 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004. Breaking The Mold has become a bestseller. The book shares many details of her life like how her father use to beat her with a horse whip and how she was sexually assaulted in her 20s by a man pretending to be a movie producer. In the chapter about her sexual assault, Blanca writes that she was asked to star in a film by a small company. The Washington state native checked out the company and the man and everything seemed legitimate. No flirting: But there was no romance. 'No, there was no flirting or romance, it was just a friendly conversation' Real deal: And when asked who the most 'real' celebrity is that she has ever met in her 20 years in Hollywood, she said Lady Gaga. 'When I spoke with her about acting she gave me her full attention and she told me how much passion she has for acting. I was really impressed with her because she spoke from the heart and was so genuine' So she went to meet the producer, who seemed legit and ready to work with her. But when he asked her to meet him on the film's set in a parking lot, there were no movie sets or crew members which made Blanca very nervous. She asked him where the staff was and that is when he sexually assaulted her. Luckily Blanca was a runner in high school and was fast enough to run away from the man but he caught up to her in her car and almost stopped her from driving away. Tough: Breaking The Mold has become a bestseller. The book shares many details of her life like how her father use to beat her with a horse whip and how she was sexually assaulted in her 20s by a man pretending to be a movie producer. Seen with pal Lauren McCawley Another star: Here she poses with actress pal Margarita Reyes The door shut on her leg, almost breaking it, but she managed to drive away - with dog open and leg injured from the man. Blanca went to the police and she later found out there had been other complaints about the man, but he was not caught. She told the story in her book because she wanted to warn other young women about wily con artists who pretended to be what they were not. Blanco - who dates actor John Savage - released Breaking the Mold this year. Tough upbringing: The beauty's early years were a 180 where she had to suffer physical abuse from her father and also live a life of poverty in Washington state that saw her live in a garage for years Last year she told DailyMail.com exclusively about the release. 'I wrote 'BREAKING THE MOLD' during the COVID lockdown, as I felt my story could help others because poverty and abuse has been increasing. I will take you on my journey from poverty to success and how I made it happen,' the Mission: Possible actress told DailyMail.com. 'I share and provide tools and techniques that worked for me,' she said about her book which is coming out from Briton Publishing. The Cannes Film Festival favorite added, 'My book is an autobiography and I share about childhood poverty, abuse, and how I overcame it. I feel it will motivate readers if they are caught in a bad situation.' The truth about her childhood: Now the star has written a memoir, titled Breaking the Mold, about her dark past and how she overcame the pain to flourish in Hollywood. The book will be out in 2022, DailyMail.com has learned exclusively She was isolated during her painful youthful, never having the support system she really needed, especially at school. 'I never told my classmates about our poverty, living in a garage, because I wanted to be treated just like them - a normal kid! No one knew, not even the teachers.' She also shared an excerpt with DailyMail.com about the abuse she endured. 'It happened when we were living in Mexico as children but the abuse continued throughout the years. Her father was not loving, she said, and instead he was an 'abusive father and husband.' 'He used to beat us and used a Chicote a type of switch or whip used to control horses to beat us with,' she shared. 'He even held his gun to our mothers head and threatened to shoot her right in front of us. We were all scared of him, especially our mother. We were all crying and trying to protect our mother who he had pushed into the bed and we were surrounding her and begging him not to shoot. 'His rage and uncontrolled anger was all because she was asking him to give her money to buy us food when he suddenly snapped. 'This continued even when we were older. He went to attack me when our mother was dying but that time I squared up to him and dared him to touch me. Now I was older and not afraid of him any more. He backed down, shocked that I challenged him!' Blanco was born in Watsonville, California. At three-years old, her family moved to Southwest Mexico. Her father was a police officer there and was shot twice forcing the family to return to the U.S., to, hopefully, live the American Dream. Blanca was nine-years-old. She survived: 'I wrote 'BREAKING THE MOLD' during the COVID lockdown, as I felt my story could help others as poverty and abuse has been increasing and I will take you on my journey from poverty to success and how I made it happen,' the Mission: Possible actress told DailyMail.com exclusively A graduate... even though her father was abusive: 'He used to beat us and used a Chicote a type of switch or whip used to control horses to beat us with,' she shared. The book will be out in early 2022 'He even held his gun to our mothers head and threatened to shoot her right in front of us. We were all scared of him, especially our mother' HOW SHE COPED The star shares her tools that worked for her to deal with anxiety. She said she applied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (cbt) techniques. 'The heartbreaking part was that I lost my sweet mom while writing my book, and I share in my book, I find my self crying a few times a week but I know she is no longer suffering but sadness is there,' said Blanca. She also advises to 'trust your intuition; it's there for a reason.' And she said if you are not challenged, then there is no growth. 'Experiences shouldn't be a waste of time, walk with confidence. YOU are a diamond. 'It may seem like forever, but doors do open eventually. Move forward; it's hard to go backwards. It's ok to be an outcast. Even if you fall on your face. You're still moving forward.' 'Education is not given its earned, own it. "Are you breathing?" Be thankful you are breathing with no pain Live for Today. 'You woke up today, its already a good day' 'Haters will hate that only means that you are exactly where they wish they were - it's uncomfortable to go backwards literally.' Advertisement Her family of seven lived in poverty for her entire childhood, residing in a small garage with no hot water, no shower and no heat while facing the frigid winters of Washington State. They then moved into a tiny trailer in a small trailer park, often with unsafe water causing sickness. She attended Chelan High School where she became determined not to remain in poverty. Upon leaving school she became the schools role model for younger graduating students and made a motivational video to help them. With the help of her guardian angel, a teacher who cared, she said, she achieved 'full ride scholarships enabling her to continue on to college then to university.' She became the first Latina woman in the area to go to college working hard in order to graduate and continue her full ride scholarships, where she took an associate of science degree from Spokane Falls Community College. She then went on to Washington State University achieving a 4.0 grade average and earned a bachelors degree in psychology followed by masters degree in social work from Eastern Washington State University. Her first job after receiving her Masters in Social Work degree was working in hospice care. Deciding to follow her dreams, she moved to Los Angeles where she became an actress and studied under Gordon Hunt (Helen Hunts father). She immediately landed many roles in film and television. The star achieved a Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Melanie in the movie Betrayed. The foreword is by Edward I. Byrnes, Ph.D. Professor of Social Work Eastern Washington University. Advertisement This lavish seaside mansion in Carmel, California that has some deep Hollywood history has gone up for sale. The photogenic home, which is situated on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, has been listed for almost $30million. It was heavily featured in the 1992 smash hit movie Basic Instinct where Sharon Stone's devious author Catherine Tramell hung out with her lesbian lover (played by Leilani Sarelle) and her hot-headed cop beau (played by Michael Douglas). And it was also one of the locations for the critically acclaimed HBO series Big Little Lies with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. Ready to buy: This lavish seaside mansion in Carmel, California that has some deep Hollywood history is so impressive it deserves its own SAG card. Now it is up for sale Big bucks: Now the photogenic home, which is situated on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, has been listed for almost $30million Her pad by the shore: It was heavily featured in the 1992 smash hit movie Basic Instinct where Sharon Stone's devious author Catherine Tramell hung out with her lesbian lover (played by Leilani Sarelle) and her hot-headed cop beau (played by Michael Douglas). Seen here is Douglas, left, and Stone, right The compound is located in Carmel on California's Central Coast and has an impressive five bedrooms, nine baths, 12 fireplaces and two kitchens. There is a total of 12,000-square-feet. The home sits on over two acres of lushly planted grounds with a swimming pool, a home spa and grotto hidden away among tropical foliage. The house contains a two-story library, gourmet main kitchen with glass-walled breakfast area, a second kitchen, and a gym and sauna. Glass walls provide breathtaking Pacific Ocean and coastal views. Roomy place: The compound is located in Carmel on California's Central Coast and has an impressive five bedrooms, nine baths, 12 fireplaces and two kitchens. There is a total of 12,000-square-feet A view to die for: The home sits on over two acres of lushly planted grounds with a swimming pool, a home spa and grotto hidden away among tropical foliage So much property: There are plenty of mature trees and indigenous plants on the property with steps down to the cliff overlooking the sea The price is $29.625 million. The home was also used as a location for Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman in the two-season HBO series Big Little Lies. In Basic Instinct, the property is a second home for writer Tramell who may or may not be a serial killer; her main residence is a massive white mansion perched on the hills of San Francisco with a view of the bay and nearby Marin County. Where she used her ice pick: In this scene, Stone's Catherine used a pick to chop up ice as Michael is seen in the background. The scene was filmed in the home's living room Another look: In this shot, where Michael makes the moves on Sharon, there are tile floors instead of the new wood floors Her other lover: The living room is also where the writer's love, played by Sarelle, is seen When Michael Douglas' cop - nicknamed Shooter - goes looking for the blonde bombshell to question her over the murder of her rock 'n' roller lover, he drives to her Stinson Beach home, which is not far from the city in Marin County. But in reality the beach home is located on the rocky coast of Carmel. He and his partner find her on her back porch smoking a cigarette while looking at the ragged coastline. Later, they ring the door bell of the home and Sharon - in a top and shorts - answers, letting them in the house that has spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The living room has it all: There is a breathtaking view with large windows and hardwood floors as well as a stone decorated fireplace and high beam ceilings So much to offer: The house contains a two-story library, gourmet main kitchen with glass-walled breakfast area, a second kitchen, and a gym and sauna She changes into her famous white dress with no undies before being taken to police headquarters to be questioned. Stone is also seen with Douglas at the home as she taunts him over his past shootings that have gotten him into trouble with his bosses before her lesbian lover (Leilani Sarrell) emerges. And later, the house is where Stone's icy cold Tramell dumps cop Shooter as her book is finished and she no longer needs him. A nice place to unwind: The bedroom also has a view of the ocean with its uneven shoreline The home has changed hands over the years, and for a few years was owned by aviator Steve Follett. The current owner invested millions into its floor plan. It is easy to understand why people are drawn to Carmel with its laid-back vibe and impressive views. Over the years, the town has also attracted Hollywood producers who chose it as the backdrop for many films, including A Summer Place, Play Misty for Me and the original The Parent Trap. Carmel is an artsy town that has always drawn celebrities. It has seen Clint Eastwood as its mayor and is a town that spells freedom for dogs, due mainly to the diligent work of Doris Day, where the canines are allowed on the beach and in many restaurants. It also has unique laws, including no high heels for women without a permit, should they cause a fall on the uneven pavement. The listing agent is Jonathan Spenser of Compass in Carmel, California. Irina Shayk looked sensational as she stormed the runway at the Burberry fashion show in London on Friday. The 36-year-old model put on an edgy display as she bundled in several Burberry coats to show off the 2023 womenswear collection. The Russian native donned a pair of black leather trousers and heeled boots which she teamed with a large leather handbag as she strutted her stuff for the crowd. Stunning: Irina Shayk looked sensational as she stormed the runway at the Burberry fashion show in London on Friday Earlier in the day, Irina was spotted arriving at the star-studded event in a black Burberry trench coat which she paired with black trousers and a black t-shirt. She rocked a pair of black loafers and carried a black handbag with gold chains as she walked out with Stella Maxwell. The natural beauty opted for a minimal makeup look which enhanced her featured and she slicked her brunette locks back into a bun. Irina was joined by Bella and Gigi Hadid on the runway who both looked flawless in their Burberry ensembles. Bella recently joined her sister Gigi in donating her earnings from Fashion Week 2022 to Ukrainian relief. Fashionista: Irina was spotted arriving at the star-studded event in a black Burberry trench coat which she paired with black trousers and a black t-shirt Wow: The model put on an edgy display as she bundled in several Burberry coats to show off the 2023 womenswear collection Work it: The natural beauty opted for a minimal makeup look which enhanced her featured and she slicked her brunette locks back into a bun. Earlier this month, Irina took to Instagram with an image of a peace sign, in expressing her support for the people of Ukraine. 'I will be donating to @unicef and @redcrossukraine - Please check my stories for donation links and resources, give what you can. Praying for peace.' The catwalk beauty earlier this year spoke with Vogue UK about her upbringing in Russia. Model: Irina rocked a pair of black loafers and carried a black handbag with gold chains as she walked out with Stella Maxwell Catwalk: Bella put on a chic display in a lilac trench coat featuring a red collar and panels and a knee-length dress with ruby polka dots '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."' Christina Ricci is weighing into the contentious divorce battle of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. On Thursday, the actress accused Kanye of 'post separation abuse' in an Instagram Story while posting a link to an article reporting on the rapper's controversial music video where he simulated burying Kim's boyfriend Pete Davidson. 'It's called Post Separation Abuse and it's happening to one of the most famous, wealthiest, powerful women in the world...' the 42-year-old wrote. The Yellowjackets star added: 'Harassment, threats, public humiliation, it's all there.' Speaking out: Christina Ricci accuses Kanye West of 'post separation abuse' as she weighs into his contentious divorce battle with Kim Kardashian (Posted to her IG story on Thursday) Ricci's comments come after Kanye, 44, has repeatedly attacked Kim's new partner Pete in his music and on his social media, where her refers to him with the disparaging nickname 'Skete.' The rapper leaked private messages from Kim, 41, last month where she begged him to stop targeting Pete, 28, admitting that she was worried for his safety. Earlier this month, a judge ruled in Kim's favour as she was declared legally single and dropped 'West' as her last name, while Kanye released his music video 'Easy' that depicted him beating up her SNL funnyman boyfriend. Not afraid to speak her mind: Christina Ricci pictured above at a Hollywood event in November last year Post separation abuse is a term that describes abusive behavior from an ex partner or ex spouse after a relationship has ended, and is now recognized under the Domestic Abuse Bill. Ricci has had her own contentious divorce with her ex-husband James Heerdegen who she married in 2013. She filed for divorce in July 2020 following an alleged domestic battery incident, that he strenuously denied. The actress posted a follow-up Instagram Story on Thursday, sharing a tweet about Kim and Kanye. The tweet read: 'Saw someone talk about how if Kim K, with all the money and resources in the world, cant safely and simply divorce her husband without being harassed and stalked, then its about time we stop asking women in domestic violence situations the question "why doesn't she just leave?"' Sharing the message: Ricci also re-posted this tweet about the situation to her followers Twitter has been ablaze with comments about Kanye's alleged post separation abuse since last month. On Feb, 14. activist Sprout Chinn tweeted: 'Kanye's behavior is an example of post separation abuse. It's incredibly dangerous. It's scary how many people are taking it lightly, treating it as a meme. Post separation is statistically the MOST dangerous time for a woman. Kim filed for divorce from Kanye in February last year citing irreconcilable differences. At first, their post-divorce relationship appeared cordial and supportive - as Kim even attended the rapper's album launch party. However, things seemed to turn sour once Kim struck up a new relationship with comedian Pete after appearing on SNL together. Ricky Gervais' glamorous long term partner Jane Fallon has started selling her red-carpet dresses on eBay to help with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The best selling author, 61, took to her Instagram account earlier this week to announce the news after 'feeling helpless about the situation,' adding she will donate all proceeds to charity. Jane uploaded a slew of show-stopping designer looks up for sale from the likes of The Golden Globes and several film premieres around the world. Kind: Ricky Gervais' glamorous long term partner Jane Fallon has started selling her red-carpet dresses on eBay to help with the Ukraine humanitarian crisis Some of the glam looks up for grabs are a one shoulder floor length red gown and a fuchsia pink strapless midi-dress. The star has also added a black and white monochrome V-neck dress and a lacy long sleeved frock. Posting to her 20,600 followers she wrote earlier this week: 'In the face of feeling helpless about the situation in #Ukraine I've decided to set up an eBay sale of some of my beautiful dresses with 100% of the profits going to @rescueorg - those pictured will all be included, and I'm hoping to add some shoes and maybe bags.' Fabulous: The black and white designer dress is sure to be a favourite amongst buyers Heartbroken: Posting to her 20,600 followers she wrote earlier this week, Jane said she felt 'helpless' and wanted to help with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine Terrible: On Thursday, Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its third week, with military and civilian casualties continuing to increase (pictured on Friday in Lugansk region) While adding nervously: 'I've never done anything like this before, so bear with me while I set it up! Announcement soon.' Following a massive outpouring of support online, the writer went on to update her on Friday the stunning gowns were now available and ready to be bid on to help raise some much needed funds for the war torn country. On the same day - she generously added to the lavish collection, adding some Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin shoes and an Alexander McQueen gown - while also revealing she would pick up the postage bill. Incredible: Jane generously added to the lavish collection, adding some Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin shoes and an Alexander McQueen gown In her latest post she wrote: 'So the plan is to have my eBay auction kick off on Friday morning and run for 7 days, to raise money for @rescueorg - I'll pay all postage worldwide and 100% of the proceeds (after any fees eBay take, not sure if they will take anything yet) will go direct to the charity. 'I will post the link as soon as I have it. @alexandermcqueen @jimmychoo #christianlaboutin @roland_mouret @stellamccartney @michaelkors @antonioberardiofficial.' Pretty: Some of the glam looks up for grabs was a fuchsia pink strapless midi-dress she wore to 'The Invention of Lying' film premiere, Los Angeles in 2009 Chic: The star has also added a black and white monochrome V-neck dress to the auction Elegant: Jane also added this blue frock to her collection of designer goods for sale Helping hand: One hundred percent of Jane's profits will be going to the International Rescue Committee who respond to the world's worst humanitarian crises One hundred percent of Jane's profits will be going to the International Rescue Committee who respond to the world's worst humanitarian crises and help people to survive, recover and rebuild. On Thursday Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its third week, with military and civilian casualties continuing to increase. According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, which has been tracking civilian casualties, at least 549 civilians have been killed and another 957 wounded since Russia invaded on February 24th. Fab! She also added some Christian Louboutin shoes which she is set to sell for the good cause Stunning: She decide to put an Alexander McQueen gown on her auction page too Ricky and Jane have been dating since they first met at University College London in the 1980s. However, they've never married, with Ricky previously sharing his thoughts on their relationship. Speaking to The Times in 2010, he said: 'Don't see the point 'We are married for all intents and purposes. 'Everything's shared and actually our fake marriage has lasted longer than a real one. 'But there's no point in us having an actual ceremony before the eyes of God because there is no God.' Phoebe Dynevor looked casually chic as she stepped out in north London with her Coronation Street star mother Sally on Friday. The Bridgerton star, 26, looked great and wrapped up warm in a padded cream jacket which she wore with brown leather trousers to add a stylish twist. She completed the look with a dark grey T-shirt and chunky white and black shoes and wore a pair of dark sunglasses on top of her head. Out and about: Phoebe Dynevor looked casually chic as she stepped out in north London with her Coronation Street star mother Sally on Friday Phoebe wore her red tresses up in a sleek pony tail and opted for a naturally pretty makeup look. To complete the look she toted a colourful Louis Vuitton bag over her shoulder while looking in great spirits. Meanwhile soap star Sally, 58, dressed down in a black padded jacket and jeans as she strolled beside her actress daughter. Fashion: The Bridgerton star, 26, looked great and wrapped up warm in a padded cream jacket which she wore with brown leather trousers to add a stylish twist Stepping out: She completed the look with a dark grey T-shirt and chunky white and black shoes and wore a pair of dark sunglasses on top of her head Glowing: Phoebe wore her red tresses up in a sleek pony tail and opted for a naturally pretty makeup look It has been a jampacked week for Phoebe, who is in the midst of filming for upcoming biopic Bank Of Dave. Phoebe's latest feel-good project, the Bank Of Dave, will tell the story of how David Fishwick set up no-nonsense lending company Burnley Savings and Loans, also known as the Bank On Dave, which has helped a range of businesses in the area. Phoebe will be playing a fiery local doctor named Alexandra, while actor Rory Kinnear will transform into the self-made millionaire David. All smiles: To complete the look she toted a colourful Louis Vuitton bag over her shoulder while looking in great spirits Casual: Meanwhile soap star Sally, 58, dressed down in a black padded jacket and jeans as she strolled beside her actress daughter After rising to prominence in the period drama Bridgerton in 2020, Phoebe has made her feature film debut in The Colour Room, and will reprise her role as Daphne in the Netflix series later this month. Dave himself previously shared the news that his life would be turned into a biopic with This Is Money last month. He has now lent nearly 30million via his bank and currently has a three year waiting list for people to open a savings account. Busy: It has been a jampacked week for Phoebe , who is in the midst of filming for upcoming biopic Bank Of Dave Plot: Phoebe's latest feel-good project, the Bank Of Dave, will tell the story of how David Fishwick set up no-nonsense lending company Burnley Savings and Loans Exciting: After rising to prominence in the period drama Bridgerton in 2020, Phoebe has made her feature film debut in The Colour Room Heading out: They were taking a casual stroll through Hampstead on Friday Plans: Phoebe will be playing a fiery local doctor named Alexandra, while actor Rory Kinnear will transform into the self-made millionaire David Star: Dave himself previously shared the news that his life would be turned into a biopic with This Is Money last month Family: The actress was pictured with her mother Coronation Street actress Sally He made his money selling minibuses, a business that he says continues to thrive despite the recent chip shortage hitting the vehicle market. During and after the financial crisis, he was fed-up with how businesses were struggling to get finance for vehicles and the rest is history. He took matters into his own hands, setting up a bank, presenting a hugely successful and award-winning Channel Four programme and publishing a best-selling book, though there were plenty of big hurdles along the way. The film will tell the story of how the working class Burnley man fought against all the odds to set up the community bank, so that he could help the local businesses of Burnley. Stroll: They took a casual walk along the high street Style: She also wore Louis Vuitton shoes to complete the look An old cigarette butt and other DNA evidence led Seattle-area police to a breakthrough in the case of a woman killed 27 years ago. Douglas Keith Krohne was identified as the suspected killer of Patricia Lorraine Barnes, the Kitsap County Sheriffs Office announced Wednesday. Khrone died in an accident in 2016. Advertisement Patricia Barnes was killed in 1995 in Kitsap County, Wash. (DNAsolves.com) Barnes was 61 when she was fatally shot on Aug. 25, 1995, in Kitsap County, across Puget Sound from Seattle. Her body was discovered naked in a ditch, only partially covered by a sleeping bag. Despite some early leads, including a potential serial killer connection that was later ruled out, the case went cold. Advertisement A sketch rendering of Barnes' suspected killer (left) and Douglas Khrone. (Mike Grant) The Kitsap County Sheriffs Office reopened the investigation in 2018, pursuing leads based on a rough sketch of the killer and DNA evidence. They sent the forensics to a DNA lab in Texas, Othram Labs, which built a suspect profile. That profile led the Washington authorities to Nogales, Ariz., where they learned that it was a match to DNA the locals had from Khrone. The DNA match was confirmed Feb. 7, 2022. Details of Khrones accidental death were not revealed. He would have been 33 at the time of the killing. The linchpin for the evidence was a cigarette butt that was found at the body dump location, investigator Mike Grant told local Fox affiliate KCPQ. The evidence on the body could mean one of two, three different things but when you have a cigarette butt with the DNA and the DNA on her body and on items around her body, it was conclusive to me that we had the right guy. Khrone had an extensive criminal history in Washington, including an arrest for first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping, according to police. Cops said there was no known connection between Khrone and Barnes prior to the killing. In the past decade, DNA on discarded cigarettes has helped cops solve cold cases in Florida, Utah and California, among others. Bella Hadid is joining her sister Gigi Hadid in donating her earnings from Fashion Week 2022 to Ukraine relief. The supermodel siblings have been inspired by fellow catwalk beauty Mica Arganaraz, 29, who called on her colleagues in the industry to pledge the money they make from the shows to organizations offering assistance to the people of the war-torn country. Bella, 25, donned an oversized t-shirt with the colors of the Ukrainian flag to show her support in a photo posted on Instagram earlier this week. She captioned the image: 'To watch my Ukrainian friends and colleagues working hard here in Europe, so close but so far from their families/friends/homes in Ukraine who are experiencing one of many brutal occupations and invasions happening right now in the world is a very emotional and humbling experience for me.' War relief: Supermodel Bella Hadid is following her sister Gigi's example and will donate some of her fashion week earnings to Ukrainian relief saying interactions with other models and behind the scenes staff have 'really shown me the strength and perseverance of the people around me who are going through pure terror' 'We rarely have control of our work schedules and this week has really shown me the strength and perseverance of the people around me who are going through pure terror.' 'To hear their stories and emotions first hand is devastating and I wholeheartedly stand with them in support. I stand along side every person that has been affected by this war and the innocent people who's[sic] lives have been changed forever from the hands of 'power.'' The former Model of the Year added, 'Taking after Mica and My amazing Sis, I will be donating all of my earnings from this Fashion Week directly to organizations that are providing help, refuge and medical aide to those in need on the ground in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support our Palestinian people and land.' Sister Sister: The former Model of the Year said she was inspired to donate her fashion week earnings to Ukrainian war relief by her sister, Gigi, and by fellow model Mica Arganaraz Trying to help: Gigi was the first of the supermodel siblings to announce her charitable donations. The 26-year-old runway veteran will also donate part of her Fashion Week proceeds to Palestinian charities Bella had already shown her support for Mica's donation initiative, posting, 'You said it @micaarganaraz.' 'We have many Ukrainian friends, colleagues, models, production, casting and to see the lack of communication/knowledge about a war...so close is very very sad. It's incredibly odd to be walking in fashion shows as our work, especially during a time like this. 'I compel the people of our industry to do their research and have open conversations about the hell that is happening next door.' Activism runs in the family: Bella Hadid and her family have long supported pro-Palestinian causes. Their father, Mohmed, spent much of his youth as a refugee Gigi previously confirmed she is donating all of her earnings for Fashion Week to Ukraine and Palestine. The models' father, Mohamed, is an Arab Palestinian and spent part of his youth as a refugee. She wrote on Instagram: 'Having a set Fashion Month schedule has meant that my colleagues and I often present new fashion collections during heartbreaking and traumatic times in history. We don't have control over most of our work schedules, but we would like to walk "for" something.' 'Following in the footsteps of my friend @micarganaraz, I am pledging to donate my earnings from the Fall 2022 shows to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support those experiencing the same in Palestine. Our eyes and hearts must be open to all human injustice.' First step: Argentinian beauty Mica Arganaraz got the ball rolling. The 26-year-old supermodel was the first to announce efforts to donate her runway revenue would be donated to Ukrainian relief In February, Mica announced: 'I have to say it feels very weird walking fashion shows knowing there's a war happening in the same continent. 'I will be donating part of my earnings of this fashion week to help Ukrainian organizations.' The Argentinian beauty called on others to do the same. 'To my model friends and colleagues and whoever is also struggling with this feeling, perhaps this is something we could all contribute to.' The fiancee of late rapper DMX has revealed that their son Exodus has stage three kidney disease. Earlier this week Desiree Lindstrom shared a snippet from her interview with Raquel Harper in which she discussed her five-year-old's health. 'Exodus is stable, he's been stable since I had him. He still has stage 3 kidney disease,' Lindstrom told the host. Revelation: The late DMX's fiancee Desiree Lindstrom revealed that their son Exodus has stage three kidney disease Desiree added, 'I've just continued to keep his potassium down, he can't eat high potassium foods.' The post was shared on her Instagram account, where she has 115,000 followers. In the outtake she also noted, 'He goes to the doctor very often... He's an amazing child.' She said it again in her caption, writing, 'Exodus is an amazing child! Blessed to be his mother through this journey. 'March is the month that brings awareness to kidney disease. Take the time to learn about CKD. Knowledge is key.' Health update: Earlier this week Lindstrom shared a snippet from her interview with Raquel Harper in which she discussed her and the rapper's five-year-old's health Desiree made sure to thank National Kidney Foundation, including in the post: 'Thank you for the support @nationalkidneyfoundation and Columbian Presbyterian Hospital NYC.' Lastly she said, 'Prayers are much appreciated!' and '#ForeverX.' The hands-on mom also opened up on how she's dealing with her grief in the wake of DMX's death last year. Lindstrom said her 'life changed so fast' following the passing of the Party Up (Up in Here) artist, whose real name was Earl Simmons. Coping: Earlier this month the hands-on mom opened up on how she's dealing with her grief in the wake of DMX's death last year 'I haven't moved on - it's hard, you know?' Lindstrom said. 'It's really hard. I just take it minute-by-minute. Some people say you could take it day-by-day, but it's second-by-second.' She added that she's studying to be an esthetician and focused on raising her son as she looks to move forward almost one year later. 'I just want to build myself to be a great mother to Exodus,' Lindstrom said. 'I want him to see that he has a strong mother that can stand up on her own, and I'm just trusting in God through the process.' Lindstrom said she goes 'up and down with emotions' in the wake of the rapper's death, adding, 'I have to really force myself to keep it moving, keep going.' Father and son: DMX spent some quality time with his mini me She added, 'Holidays get lonely ... because Earl was my family, but I do have Exodus and I try to make the best of it, because I know that's what he would've wanted me to do.' Speaking again about Exodus Desiree said, 'Sometimes it's hard, just looking at him. He has so many different qualities of his father. 'So when I do shed a tear, he'll be like, "Mommy, are you okay?" And I'll say, "You just did something that was like your father." And he's like, "Mommy, it's okay, daddy's with God, he's watching over us. He's our angel."' She said she thanks 'God that he gave me a son that is like that,' adding, 'He's just like his dad.' Like father, like son: DMX's fiancee said her son is 'just like his dad' DMX, real name was Earl Simmons, died last year at White Plains Hospital in New York after being admitted on April 2 following a reported drug overdose and a subsequent heart attack. He was 50-years-old. The rapper had been on life support and in a 'vegetative state' according to his manager. Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have reached a major charitable milestone, but they aren't finished yet. The Black Swan actress, 38, and the No Strings Attached actor, 44, have now raised over $20 million for the people of Ukraine following the unprovoked attacks from Russia. The Ukrainian-born star and her husband announced the news in a video they posted to Instagram. Major milestone: The Black Swan actress, 38, and the No Strings Attached actor, 44, raised $20 million for the people of Ukraine 'We want to give you a little update on our campaign to stand with Ukraine,' Kutcher began in the video. 'We have raised over $20 million in less than a week. And I say we because it's all of us together. Some people didn't have the means to give, and they've done an unbelievable job of getting the word out and sharing it. But we're not done. Our goal is $30m, and we're going to get there.' The Friends With Benefits star then took over for her husband, saying, 'But we do want to say thank you to the 56,000 of you who were able to donate and supported us. Whether it was the $5, the $10, the $1,000, whatever it was it means so much to us because it does bring in a community and a sense of belonging and an ability to help.' 'Let's keep pushing. Let's keep spreading the word, and we, together, can hit our goal of $30million,' Kutcher said. 'The first humanitarian aid is already on the ground. Flexport's already delivering planes that are delivering humanitarian aid to these NGOs, and Air BnB is already taking in refugees. Very grateful: The stars thanked everyone who donated, and everyone who didn't have the means to donate but still go the word out about the fundraiser Not done yet: The Hollywood couple say they are not done fundraising yet and are hoping to hit their goal of $30 million Giving the numbers: Kutcher said that there have 'been over one million children...that are in refugee status right now' 'There have been over one million children, this is just children, that are in refugee status right now, and so every bit that we can do helps, and we appreciate you.' Kutcher captioned the post, 'Thank you to everyone that got us to $20m in less than a week. We can do this. We can hit our goal. Together. Because we stand together with Ukraine. #standwithukraine.' Kunis was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States in 1991 when she was just eight years old. Kutcher and Kunis launched the GoFundMe page last Thursday when she appeared alongside Kutcher in a video shared to his Instagram account. In the video, she spoke publicly for the first time about the 'devastating' conflict in her native country. Proud to be Ukrainian: In a video last week, Kunis said she was a proud America, but she's 'never been more proud to be a Ukrainian' Calling out Russia: Kunis went on to say, 'The events that have unfolded in Ukraine are devastating. There is no place in this world for this kind of unjust attack on humanity' (pictured 2021) 'I was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine in 1983. I came to America in 1991. I've always considered myself an American,' the actress began. 'A proud American. I love everything this country has done for myself and my family. But, today, I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian.' Kunis later said: 'The events that have unfolded in Ukraine are devastating. There is no place in this world for this kind of unjust attack on humanity.' Kunis and Kutcher have been married since 2015. They share two children, daughter Wyatt, seven, and son Dimitri, five. Helen George glowed on Friday as she attended the BAFTA Fundraising Gala in London in a glittery minidress. The Call The Midwife actress, 37, looked sensational in the icy blue dress that sparkled under the lights and boasted feathered sleeves as she took time off from mummy duties after welcoming her daughter in November. Helen's outfit put her toned legs on full display, while it featured a keyhole cutout across the chest for an extra flash of skin. Dazzling: Helen George glowed on Friday as she attended the BAFTA Fundraising Gala in London in a glittery minidress She teamed the ensemble with metallic silver shoes, and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves. Helen completed her look with lashings of mascara and eyeliner, and a swipe of pink lipstick. The BAFTAs will be taking place on Sunday 13 March at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Flawless: The Call The Midwife actress, 37, looked sensational in the icy blue dress that sparkled under the lights and boasted feathered sleeves Rebel Wilson, who will be hosting the Academy's 75th ceremony, recently admitted to her nerves and that she worries about being cancelled for her jokes. She confessed to the Radio Times: 'Your head is on the chopping block as the host, which is a bit scary. I get very nervous. 'Its a very hard time for comedians, because what can you say without being cancelled?' The nominations were announced last month with Dune, The Power Of The Dog and Belfast leading with 11, eight and six respectively. It comes after she gave birth to her second daughter, Lark, in November, with her partner and former co-star Jack Ashton. Leggy display: Her outfit put her toned legs on full display, while it featured a keyhole cutout across the chest for an extra flash of skin Incredible: Helen completed her look with lashings of mascara and eyeliner, and a swipe of pink lipstick Stunning: She teamed the ensemble with metallic silver shoes, and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves Helen previously spoke about her experience of cholestasis during her second pregnancy. Cholestasis is a liver disease that affects 1 in 140 pregnant women in the UK and slows or stops the normal flow of bile from the gallbladder. After the condition was highlighted during an emotional episode of Call The Midwife, the actress took to Instagram the following day to discuss her own experience. Baby joy: It comes after she gave birth to her second daughter, Lark, in November, with her partner and former co-star Jack Ashton Alongside the image of her shadow during pregnancy, the mother-of-two revealed she was diagnosed with the condition after she gave birth to her first daughter Wren, now aged four. The TV star, who is best known for playing Trixie Franklin in Call The Midwife, then described how her second pregnancy was 'so uncomfortable and painful'. She explained in her post: 'After last nights final episode of Call the Midwife, it seemed the right time to talk about my experience with Cholestasis in Pregnancy.' Mummy's girl: Helen explained how she was diagnosed with Chloestatis after she gave birth to her first daughter Wren, now aged four (pictured with her second daughter Lark) Candid: After the condition was was highlighted during Sunday's episode of Call The Midwife, the 37-year-old actress took to Instagram the following day to discuss her own experience Helen continued: 'In 2017 when I gave birth to our daughter Wren, I was diagnosed with this condition. I knew there was a high chance that I would suffer again with my second pregnancy, but I was under the most incredible specialists/doctors/midwives/health worker at Guys and St Thomass. So I felt safe. 'I started getting the itch a lot earlier with this pregnancy and it was infuriating. I tried everything, creams, baths all of it and nothing would work. 'I would scratch all day and all night, normally on my hands, shoulders, feet but that quickly increased to just bloody everywhere. I was put onto medication (Urso) at around 30 wks. 'My bile acids- whilst up and down were stable because of this, so I knew Lark was okay and the pregnancy progressing well. But the medication did little for the itch and urge to scratch myself raw. I have to say this pregnancy was so uncomfortable and painful. I thought the second would be easier but it really wasnt.' She continued: 'Pre term birth is always a possibility with this condition but I was so hoping it wouldnt come to that. However, for me it did. 'I started having contractions whilst away but managed to race back to London and my obstetrician. He decided to perform an emergency C section that day, but I had to cross my legs whilst Jack raced to the hospital 'Lark was born on the 16th November to our chosen music, The Lark Ascending. The relief when we heard her first cry was overwhelming, a release of months of anxiety and the fear that this moment may not play out quite so successfully. Lark was born early but healthy and is doing so well. 'I was lucky, but more so, well looked after. ICP support were there every step of the way to help me with whatever questions I had. Please, if you are worried you may have Cholestasis in Pregnancy or have been diagnosed and need any advice, do reach out to them. 'Spreading the word about this sometimes fatal condition is really important to me. I was over the moon that Call the Midwife tackled the subject last night. @icpsupport'. Happy couple: Helen, whose partner Jack, 35, (pictured) is a former co-star on the hit series, gave birth to daughter Lark last November (pictured with Jack last year) After a months-long COVID delay, this year's AFI Awards are finally here and the American Film Institute's annual luncheon brought out big Hollywood names on Friday. Andie MacDowell, 63, proved the case for grey hair once more with her sleek silver locks on display at the event held this year at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The Maid star led the pack of celebrities, including Meryl Streep and Oscar hopeful Benedict Cumberbatch. Also in attendance were newcomers Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton and Succession's Roy family - Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong and Nicholas Braun. Honorees: Andie MacDowell led the pack of this year's honorees at the annual AFI Awards luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire on Friday Andie turned heads a textured black suit by Thom Browne with a simple white button-up. Her grey locks were blown out into a youthful and sleek shine. She posed with her daughter Margaret Qualley, 27, who looked chic in a slate grey A-line sundress. Andie and Margaret co-starred together in the highly lauded Netflix dramedy Maid. Maid sees Margaret play Alex, a young mother attempting to provide for her child as a house cleaner after leaving an abusive relationship. Gorgeous! Andie MacDowell turned heads a textured black suit with a simple white button-up. Her grey locks were blown out into a youthful and sleek shine Famous family: She posed with her daughter Margaret Qualley, 27, who looked chic in a slate grey A-line sundress Mother daughter: Andie and Margaret co-starred together in the highly lauded Netflix dramedy Maid Andie plays Alex's mother Paula, a woman living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The mother daughter duo were honored with respective Golden Globe nominations for their roles in the series. On camera, the contentious Roy family are embattled in a war for control of their media empire in Succession but off camera the cast appeared happy together at the luncheon. Succession: On camera, the contentious Roy family are embattled in a war for control of their media empire in Succession but off camera the cast appeared happy together at the luncheon (L-R Brian Cox, from left, Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong) Waystar-Royco: Succession stars Kieran Culkin and Nicholas Braun looked dapper in suits Catching up: Nicholas posed with his costar Sarah Snook at the event Glam: Snook glowed with her ginger bob in tousled side swept waves and flaunted her stunning figure in a nude midi-length bodycon dress Tremendous television: Succession is among the crop of 2022 TV AFI honorees The best! Fan favorite J. Smith Cameron, who plays whip smart business woman Gerry in Succession stunned in a brown ensemble Roy patriarch Brian Cox posed with his on camera kids Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook. While cousin Greg [Nicholas Braun] and Roman [Kieran Culkin] were spotted separately. Snook glowed with her ginger bob in tousled side swept waves and flaunted her stunning figure in a nude midi-length bodycon dress. Tick Tick ... Boom! star Andrew Garfield had some fun in the press line with CODA star Marlee Matlin. The pair stood back to back, hands on hips for a few photos. Looking good! Andrew Garfield made a statement in neutral tones and Gucci printed loafers Fun times! Tick Tick ... Boom! star Andrew Garfield had some fun in the press line with CODA star Marlee Matlin Lovely: Matlin rocked a sophisticated pair of wide leg slacks with a white ruffled blouse and sleek hair High praise: Marlee and Troy Kotsur star in CODA, a film about the children of deaf adults, which has been praised by critics and viewers alike Matlin rocked a sophisticated pair of wide leg slacks with a white ruffled blouse and sleek hair. She stars in CODA, a film about the children of deaf adults, which has been praised by critics and viewers alike. The cast recently took home the SAG Award, making it the first cast of primarily deaf actors to do so. King Richard breakout stars Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton who play the Williams sisters in the film made a splash at the event in pastel dresses. Newbies: King Richard breakout stars Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton who play the Williams sisters in the film made a splash at the event in pastel dresses AFI Awards: The American Film Institute Awards honor the 10 top films and 10 top television shows of the year (L - Demi Singleton, R- Sian Heder) The 10 film honorees this year are: CODA, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick... Boom!, The Tragedy of Macbeth and West Side Story (L-R) Julie Oh and Ariana DeBose EGOT winner Rita Moreno posed for a sweet snap with West Side Story director Steven Spielberg. The critically acclaimed filmmaker rebooted the beloved movie musical this year to high praise. Moreno starred in the original version as well as the reboot. The top 10 TV series honored are: Hacks, Maid, Mare of Easttown, Reservation Dogs, Schmigadoon!, Succession, Ted Lasso, The Underground Railroad, WandaVision and The White Lotus (Keegan Michael-Key pictured with wife Elise) Legends! EGOT winner Rita Moreno posed for a sweet snap with West Side Story director Steven Spielberg Wild for white: Connie Britton and Alexandra Daddario used their hit limited series, The White Lotus, as inspiration for their ensembles Big day! Evan Peters had the rare honor of starring in not one but two of the top 10 television shows this year, Mare of Easttown and WandaVision The American Film Institute Awards honor the 10 top films and 10 top television shows of the year. The 10 film honorees this year are: CODA, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick... Boom!, The Tragedy of Macbeth and West Side Story. And, the top 10 TV series honored are: Hacks, Maid, Mare of Easttown, Reservation Dogs, Schmigadoon!, Succession, Ted Lasso, The Underground Railroad, WandaVision and The White Lotus. Connie Britton and Alexandra Daddario used their hit limited series, The White Lotus, as inspiration for their ensembles. A-list! Morgan Freeman stopped for a photo op with Bradley Cooper There are also three AFI Special Aware nominees for 2022: Belfast, Squid Game and Summer of Soul Feeling the love! Questlove makes the bold choice to rock a pair of Crocs Chatter: Marlee Matlin, Sian Heder, Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan were seen catching up There are also three AFI Special Aware nominees for 2022 and they are Belfast, Squid Game and Summer of Soul. The annual luncheon was originally postponed from January 7 to March 11 due to a surge of COVID cases amid the Omicron variant. 'The goal of AFI Awards is to bring together the creative community at a private event founded in hugs and handshakes,' Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, said at the time. 'Because that goal is not achievable at this time, we will be postponing the event until we can properly celebrate the artists in a manner worthy of the gifts they have given the world.' Acting royalty: Meryl Streep poses with HoYeon Jung at the bash Finally: The annual luncheon was originally postponed from January 7 to March 11 due to a surge of COVID cases amid the Omicron variant (L-R Dove Cameron, Cinco Paul) Sparkle! Krisin Chenoweth dazzles in a pale pink beaded suit She never fails to impress with her red carpet looks. And Jenna Coleman was once again on fine form as she made a stylish appearance at the British Academy Film Awards 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel in London on Friday night. The actress, 35, was the epitome of glamour in an orange satin floral print gown, which charmingly coordinated with the event's orange carpet. Wow: Jenna Coleman was on fine form as she made a stylish appearance at the British Academy Film Awards 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel in London on Friday night Jenna's longline, high-necked gown featured ruched sleeves and was adorned with a striking black sequinned pattern. The Victoria star elevated her height with towering black stilettoes and rounded off her elegant look with chunky gold rings and stunning pearl drop earrings. She further went on to highlight her beauty with a dewy make-up palette, while she swept her brunette tresses into a neat bun. Simply stunning: The actress, 35, was the epitome of glamour in an orange satin floral print gown, which charmingly coordinated with the event's orange carpet The BAFTAs will be taking place on Sunday 13 March at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Rebel Wilson, who will be hosting the Academy's 75th ceremony, recently admitted to her nerves and that she worries about being cancelled for her jokes. She confessed to the Radio Times: 'Your head is on the chopping block as the host, which is a bit scary. I get very nervous. 'Its a very hard time for comedians, because what can you say without being cancelled?' The nominations were announced last month with Dune, The Power Of The Dog and Belfast leading with 11, eight and six respectively. Jenna's outing comes after her new romance with boyfriend Jamie Childs, a producer and director whose previous work includes Doctor Who and His Dark Materials, was confirmed last month. Style: Jenna's longline, high-necked gown featured ruched sleeves and was adorned with a striking black sequinned pattern Jenna embarked on a fresh romance with the 34-year old filmmaker little more than two years after separating from her Victoria co-star Tom Hughes, 36, with whom she still shares a Georgian property in the capital. The actress appeared to have a spring in her step when she was spotted out on a casual coffee date with Jamie in February. The couple were first romantically linked in December, after meeting on the set of their new project. Childs is directing the Netflix adaptation of the Neil Gaiman and DC Comics' book The Sandman, starring Coleman as occult detective Johanna Constantine. That outing came just days after they were seen outside the 2.2million home she is said to co-own with Hughes as furniture was moved in. Gorgeous: She further went on to highlight her beauty with a dewy make-up palette, while she swept her brunette tresses into a neat bun Strike a pose: Jenna appeared in great spirits as she graced the orange carpet on Friday Lovely: The actress was all smiles as she mingled with other attendees inside Showstopping: Jenna was sure to stand out in her burnt orange gown Coleman took over ownership of the three-bedroom house last July but also appears to have been spending time at a separate property in the Cotswolds. The actress and ex-boyfriend Hughes began dating while playing the lead roles of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in ITV period drama Victoria. They had met previously in 2013 on the set of drama series Dancing On The Edge. They split in 2020 after four years together, with a source at the time claiming that they were 'trying to salvage a friendship'. Advertisement Amy Jackson looked sensational as she led the star-studded arrivals alongside Talulah Riley at the British Academy Film Awards 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel on Friday night. The actress, 30, sent temperatures soaring as she flaunted her hourglass figure in a thigh-split black gown which featured a plunging neckline. Meanwhile, Talulah, 36, commanded attention in a shimmering green maxi dress also featuring a thigh-split and and chic stripes as she made her red carpet debut with her Love Actually boyfriend Thomas Brodie-Sangster, 31. Here come the girls! Amy Jackson (left) flaunted her hourglass figure in a tight black gown while Talulah Riley flashed her legs in a thigh-split dazzling green maxi dress as they led the stars at the BAFTA 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel on Friday She wore her light brown locks in beachy waves and beamed for photographers. Putting on animated display at the lavish bash, Amy accessorised her look with a glitzy silver necklace and added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of charcoal heels. The BAFTA Gala, is the arts charitys biggest fundraising event, with the funds raised helping to enable BAFTAs work supporting young people building careers in film, games and television. In light of the Ukraine crisis, some of the funds will support Ukrainian creatives working in the screen industries and those reporting on the conflict. Hot stuff: The actress, 30, sent temperatures soaring as she flaunted her hourglass figure in a thigh-split black gown which featured a plunging neckline Beauty: She accessorised her look with a glitzy silver necklace and wore her chocolate locks in a bun Picture of elegance: Amy looked simply stunning in her off-the-shoulder gown And the stars were out in force to support the event, with Tess Daly seen putting on a leggy display in a white mini dress featuring a plunging neckline and sleeves as she posed up a storm alongside her dapper husband Vernon Kay who sported a navy suit and a matching polo sweater. Gazing into each other's eyes, the power couple certainly looked loved-up as they led the entrances at the star-studded event. The Strictly Come Dancing host added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of nude heels while accessorising her look with dazzling gold earrings and wearing her glossy blonde locks in a tousled ponytail. Woah! Talulah continued to send temperatures soaring on the orange carpet Couple: Talulah and her boyfriend Thomas Brodie-Sangster looked every inch the adorable couple Sweet: The former child star and his actress partner appeared to be in high spirits at the event Flawless: The ex-wife of Elon Musk looked fabulous in her shimmering green gown Close: The happy continued to put on an affectionate display inside the event Green Goddess: Talulah flashed her toned legs as she sat in her thigh-split dress Good times: The couple were in great spirits as they laughed and giggled at their table Accessories: The actress teamed her green gown with a chic cream handbag A tale of two faces: Talulah at one point looked glum before then breaking into a dazzling smile Mesmerising: The stunner certainly knew how to dress to impress for the event Following soon afterwards was Jimmy Carr, who looked suave in a black suit-and-tie while putting on an animated display for photographers. Max Harwood ensured he was the centre of attention in a glittery pink suit which featured dazzling gold stars and multi-coloured rocket prints, while keeping things casual with a pair of tan trainers. George MacKay and Tom Holland looked sensational as they donned black suits with white shirts, which Ray Panthaki did too but with a coordinating black shirt. What a pair! Tess Daly made a very stylish arrival with her husband Vernon Kay at the British Academy Film Awards 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel on Friday night Couple: She posed up a storm alongside her dapper partner, 47, who sported a navy suit and a matching polo sweater Edgy: Vinette Robinson (left) put her best fashion foot forward in a navy suit featuring white sea creature prints while Helen George (right) ensured she was the centre of attention in a sparkly blue mini dress with feathered sleeves Stunner: She wore a full face of 60s inspired make-up, which enhanced her natural beauty Out of this world: Helen's unmissable number featured a cutout and a trendy oversized collar Girls' night out: Ronni Ancona and Joely Richardson stopped to pose for a picture together What joy: The two were clearly delighted to see each other as they laughed away while posing in their contrasting gowns Having fun: The two ladies were certainly in high spirits on the night Dame Judi Dench 87, looked ever-graceful in a black full-length gown, which boasted a plunging v-neckline and sheer panelling across the skirt. She teamed it with an elegant grey and black patterned velour scarf, slung across her shoulder. Carrying her essentials in a black sequinned clutch, she opted to wear coordinating black shoes and accessorised with several chunky silver bracelets and rings and a delicate silver chain around her neck. Her short silver grey tresses were artfully tousled, as she laughed in delight on the orange carpet. Jenna Coleman, 35, was the epitome of glamour in an orange satin floral print gown, which charmingly coordinated with the event's orange carpet. Stunning: Dame Judi Dench 87, looked ever-graceful in a black full-length gown, which boasted a plunging v-neckline and sheer panelling across the skirt Beautiful: The legendary actress was the picture of elegance at the event Legend: Dame Judi looked ever-graceful in an all-black ensemble Suited and booted: Piers Morgan dressed up to the nines for the prestigious event Bottom's up: The broadcaster enjoyed a glass of bubbly at the gala dinner Golden girl: Amazonica looked sensational in a blush pink gown with adorned with gold embroidery All that glitters: Amazonica was quite the fashionista in her eye-catching gown There she is: Former BAFTA host Edith Bowman looked comfortable as she sat at the bar Cheers: The presenter enjoyed a glass of fizz at the glitzy event Jenna's longline, high-necked gown featured ruched sleeves and was adorned with a striking black sequinned pattern. The Victoria star elevated her height with towering black stilettoes and rounded off her elegant look with chunky gold rings and stunning pearl drop earrings. She further went on to highlight her beauty with a dewy make-up palette, while she swept her brunette tresses into a neat bun. The BAFTAs will be taking place on Sunday 13 March at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Rebel Wilson, who will be hosting the Academy's 75th ceremony, recently admitted to her nerves and that she worries about being cancelled for her jokes. She confessed to the Radio Times: 'Your head is on the chopping block as the host, which is a bit scary. I get very nervous. Wow: Jenna Coleman, 35, was on fine form as she made a stylish appearance at the Gala Dinner Style: Jenna's longline, high-necked gown featured ruched sleeves and was adorned with a striking black sequinned pattern Gorgeous: She further went on to highlight her beauty with a dewy make-up palette, while she swept her brunette tresses into a neat bun Lovely: The actress was all smiles as she mingled with other attendees inside Showstopping: Jenna was sure to stand out in her burnt orange gown Happy: Kelly Barel di Sant'Albano (left) and her guest (right) beamed from ear-to-ear Stars: They both put on equally stunning displays Lovely couple: Alexander Armstrong and his wife Hannah Bronwen Snow smiled for a sweet photo Rainbow Queen: Hannah was sure to stand out in her beautiful multicolored patterned gown adorned with rainbow coloured gems 'Its a very hard time for comedians, because what can you say without being cancelled?' The nominations were announced last month with Dune, The Power Of The Dog and Belfast leading with 11, eight and six respectively. Denis Villeneuve's star-studded sci-fi epic landed a slew of technical nods, along with a nod for the top prize for Best Film, while Jane Campion's dark Western and Kenneth Branagh's Irish biopic follows close behind with eight and six respectively. Shake a leg! Thomas and Talulah later showed off their dance moves at the event That's my guy: Talulah seemed mightily impressed with Thomas' dance skills What a night: The pair were certainly making the most of their night out Bond: The duo only had eyes for each other at the glitzy bash While the Academy once again recognised three women in the Director's shortlist, this year's nominations fell short on BAFTA's vow to improve diversity, with only seven people of colour nominated in contrast to last year's 12. It looks set to be a competitive evening in the acting categories, with Lady Gaga, Caitriona Balfe and Benedict Cumberbatch battling it out for the leading honours, alongside newcomers Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ariana DeBose and Adeel Akhtar. While many of Dune's nominations came in the technical categories, it's also landed a nod for Best Film, alongside Belfast, Don't Look Up, Licorice Pizza and The Power of the Dog. Three piece: George MacKay (centre) and Tom Holland (right) looked sensational as they donned black suits with white shirts, which Ray Panthaki (left) did too but with a coordinating black shirt Strike a pose: George continued to look dapper as he stood on the red carpet Pals: George (left) and Krishnendu (right) Majumdar proved they were the best of friends as they shared a warm embrace The critically-acclaimed film, the first of two films based on Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, had been tipped for awards glory, with Hans Zimmer once again recognised in the Original Score category, along with nods for Casting, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hair, Sound and Special Visual Effects. After its success at the Golden Globes, the dark Western The Power of the Dog landed eight nominations, including Best Film, Director and Adapted Screenplay for Jane Campion, Leading Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch, Original Score, Cinematography, and two nominations in the Supporting Actor category for Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jesse Plemons. Following close behind is Belfast, which landed six nods despite an unexpected snub for Kenneth in the Director category. Looking great: Following soon afterwards was Jimmy Carr, who looked suave in a black suit-and-tie while putting on an animated display for photographers Beaming: The TV personality flashed his full set of gleaming white veneers as he beamed for onlookers Your face or mine? Jimmy took a moment to pose next to a statue of the famous BAFTA award Talented: Tom wore his light brown locks in a swept-back quiff There's that smile: Tom soon brought out his dazzling smile as posed for the cameras Hey you! Tom was accosted by Edith Bowman at the party Rock on! At one point Edith found herself providing the entertainment as she had a go on some drums All white on the night: FKA twigs rocked up to the event in a billowing white dress Happy to be here: The singer flashed a smile among the dinner settings No smile guys? The beauty posed for a serious snap with filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron The drama, which stars Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench and newcomer Jude Hill and is based on Kenneths' childhood growing up in Northern Ireland at the height of The Troubles, was also nominated for Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actress for Caitriona, Supporting Actor for Ciaran Hinds and Editing. Following the surprise BAFTA success of 2012's Skyfall, the British Academy has also recognised Daniel Craig's swan song in the James Bond franchise, with five nominations. The action-packed epic, which was delayed multiple times due to the Covid pandemic, landed nods for Outstanding British Film, Special Visual Effects, Editing, Cinematography and Sound. Eye-popping: Max Harwood (left) ensured he was the centre of attention in a glittery pink suit which featured dazzling gold stars and multi-coloured rocket prints, while keeping things casual with a pair of tan trainers Snapshot: Max Harwood looked delighted as he posed for a fun selfie Purple reign: Max posed for a photo with a purple suit clad CEO of BAFTA Amanda Berry, who co-hosted the gala dinner Flower power: Amanda's co-host Barbara Broccoli, who is BAFTAs Vice President for Film, looked radiant in a floral print black gown License to thrill: The American film producer, known for her work on the James Bond movies, looked lovely as she posed in her lovely maxi dress In the Outstanding British Film category, Belfast and No Time To Die will fight it out for the honour alongside After Love, Ali & Ava, Boiling Point, Cyrano, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, House of Gucci, Last Night in Soho, and Passing. The Leading Actress prize will go to either Lady Gaga (House of Gucci), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Emilia Jones (Coda), Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), Joanna Scanlan (After Love), or Tessa Thompson (Passing). Adeel Akhtar (Ali & Ava), Mahershala Ali (Swan Song), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), Leonardo DiCaprio (Don't Look Up), Stephen Graham (Boiling Point) and Will Smith (King Richard) are shortlisted for the Leading Actor award. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress are Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), Ariana Debose (West Side Story), Ann Dowd (Mass), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard) and Ruth Negga (Passing). Looking sharp: Lottie Archer and Joshua Kane made for a very stylish duo Looking their best: The duo pulled out all the stops as they posed in the fashionable black ensembles Stunner: Lashana Lynch cut a stylish figure in a black suit teamed with a Prada boob tube beneath Power suit: The beauty oozed confident in the black pinstriped suit which she teamed with silver heels Ready for my close-up: Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan looked gorgeous as she posed for a photo The ton would be proud! The actress was the picture of elegance in her black and white A-line gown and pearl embellished heels Companion: Jamie Neale and Sukki Singapora looked nothing short of sensational Mike Faist (West Side Story), Ciaran Hinds (Belfast), Troy Kotsur (Coda), Woody Norman (C'mon C'mon), Jesse Plemons (The Power Of The Dog), Kodi Smit-Mcphee (The Power Of The Dog) have landed nods for Supporting Actor. All of the performers in the Supporting Actor category are first-time nominees, with a total of 19 out of the 24 nominees up acting accolades earning their place on the shortlist for the first time. Disney's critically-lauded musical Encanto leads the nominations for Animated Film, competing opposite Flee, Luca and The Mitchells Vs The Machines. However, despite vows to improve diversity among the stars being nominated, this year's list of nods falls short on 2021, with seven people of colour nominated as opposed to last year's 12. Sensational: Jenna wrapped up in an embroiled black cape as she later led the stars in heading home from the gala dinner How lovely: The actress was shielded from the rain by a gentleman carrying a large umbrella Ray of light: Tess was simply glowing as she later made a departure I've got you: Tess and Vernon sweetly held hands as they headed home for the night Off he goes: Tom headed off with a BAFTA brochure clutched in his hand In recent years BAFTA, and other film Academies such as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have come under fire for a lack of diversity in their nominations list, and ahead of this year's ceremony, the British Academy bosses reiterated their vow to recognise a wider range of films and actors. Amanda Berry, CEO of BAFTA, said: 'Congratulations to all our nominees, whose extraordinary talent and achievements have shone through in another incredible year for film. 'BAFTA celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, so it is a particularly special year for us and we are proud to be announcing the nominations from our recently redeveloped home at 195 Piccadilly. 'We look forward to celebrating our nominees' incredible talent in person when we welcome everyone to London's Royal Albert Hall for the EE British Academy Film Awards on 13 March.' A vision in blue: Joely was sure to stand out in her bright blue cobalt gown as she left the event End of the night: Edith looked elegant in her black strapless gown, with the star draping a long black coat over her shoukders Show's over: The star headed home after playing the drums during the evening Krishnendu Majumdar, Chair of BAFTA, added: 'This year's nominations showcase a remarkable range of creative work in-front of and behind the camera. We know that by celebrating outstanding achievement today, we are inspiring future generations for years to come. 'Two years ago, we launched a wide-ranging review into our voting, membership and campaigning processes and I want to thank the BAFTA members and the wider industry for embracing these changes. 'Our goal is to level the playing field for awards entries so that more films and the true diverse range of exceptional creative talent in the UK and internationally is represented and celebrated. With 48 films nominated today, we're delighted to be able to shine a spotlight on such phenomenal breadth of stories and performances.' Mary-Kate Olsen looked ready for business earlier this week. On Wednesday, the fashion designer was seen out dressed in a typically stylish ensemble as took a walk to her office in New York City. The 35-year-old former Full House star looked stylish in navy blue pants, a white t-shirt, oversized coat and sneakers while she carried two oversized bags through the streets of The Big Apple. Working woman: Mary-Kate Olsen steps out in a casual look as she heads to work in New York. The award winning designer sported navy blue pants, a white t-shirt, oversized coat and sneakers while she carried two oversized bags through the streets of The Big Apple Her trademark dark blond hair hung in loose layers. She finished off the look with huge gold ring and watch. Mary-Kate and her twin sister, Ashley, stepped away from acting more than a decade ago and have devoted their careers to making the world a little more beautiful via fashion. The pair say their parents taught them to be 'discreet people' and their minimalist but elegant aesthetic comes from that upbringing. Their first brand, The Row was founded in 2006 and the sisters celebrated the company's 15th anniversary last June. Private: Mary-Kate and her twin sister, Ashley, walked away from acting more than a decade ago. The two have gone on to win awards for their clothing designs and are the founders of four different fashion brands Lessons learned: The former child star said the experience she and her twin sister, Ashley, learned from their work in television, video helped them understand how to market fashion. They have since created a multi-million dollar empire During a rare interview marking the occasion, the 5'2' powerhouse said, 'Creatively, we wanted to explore making something of ourselves.' The Olsen twins spent eight years sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on the hit sitcom Full House (1987-1995.) They were able to segue their popularity on the show into a media empire, earning millions starring in a series of videos with stories built around the twins and their adventures. They were also the faces of a Walmart clothing brand and beauty line, Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls. Low profile: Both sisters prefer to keep a low profile and have a limited social media presence. Mary-Kate's last acting job was in 2011 The sisters said this early experience helped them learn 'what sells in the fashion mass market' and have since created their own multi-million dollar empire. Since launching their first line, the pair have also ventured forth with three other collections: Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye, and StyleMint. The award winning fashionista is divorced from French banker Oliver Sarkozy, 52, the half-brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. The couple started dating in 2014, but the marriage fell apart and the divorce was finalized in January 2021. Remembrance: Both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have a limited social media presence, but they did make a public statement earlier this year after the tragic death of the TV dad, Bob Saget calling him loving, compassionate and generous Both MK, as she's sometimes called, and Ashley prefer to live privately and let the work speak for itself. The pair have a limited social media presence, but did make a public statement earlier this year after the tragic death of their TV dad, Bob Saget. 'Bob was the most loving, compassionate and generous man. We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us but know that he will continue to be by our side to guide us as gracefully as he always has. We are thinking of his daughters, wife and family and are sending our condolences.' Dame Judi Dench oozed sophistication on Friday night as she attended the British Academy Film Awards 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel. The actress, 87, looked ever-graceful in a black full-length gown which boasted a plunging v-neckline and sheer panelling across the skirt. Dame Judi teamed the frock with an elegant grey and black patterned velour scarf which she slung across her shoulder. Elegant: Dame Judi Dench oozed sophistication on Friday night as she attended the British Academy Film Awards 2022 Gala Dinner at The Londoner Hotel Carrying her essentials in a black sequinned clutch, the Bond star opted to wear coordinating black shoes. The actress accessorised with several chunky silver bracelets and rings and a delicate silver chain around her neck. Her short silver grey tresses were artfully tousled, as she laughed in delight on the orange carpet. Dazzling: The actress, 87, looked ever-graceful in a black full-length gown, which boasted a plunging v-neckline and sheer panelling across the skirt Stunning: Dame Judi teamed it with an elegant grey and black patterned velour scarf, slung across her shoulder The BAFTAs will be taking place on Sunday 13 March at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Rebel Wilson, who will be hosting the Academy's 75th ceremony, recently admitted to her nerves and that she worries about being cancelled for her jokes. She confessed to the Radio Times: 'Your head is on the chopping block as the host, which is a bit scary. I get very nervous. 'Its a very hard time for comedians, because what can you say without being cancelled?' The nominations were announced last month with Dune, The Power Of The Dog and Belfast leading with 11, eight and six respectively. The outing comes after the star revealed she feels 'frightened' when she finishes an acting job. Accessories: She accessorised with several chunky silver bracelets and rings and a delicate silver chain around her neck Graceful: Her short silver grey tresses were artfully tousled, as she laughed in delight on the orange carpet Judi admitted despite her legendary reputation, she is always worried no one will want to hire her again. She detailed how grateful she is to still be 'employed' and the relief that comes with being cast in a new project. In an interview with Readers Digest magazine she confessed: 'Ive always thought, one is very lucky to be employed. 'I always get frightened at the end of the job because I think Im not going to be employed again and then feel very relieved at the beginning of the next one.' Despite her decades of success, Judi, who most recently starred in the coming of age drama Belfast, admitted that she still feels nervous when she lands a new job. On set: Judi, who most recently starred in the coming of age drama Belfast, said: 'I think Im not going to be employed again and then feel very relieved at the beginning of the next one' She exclaimed: 'Ill say! I get more anxious now. Oh yes, much more anxious. Theres more things to consider and more things to find out and more things to learn about. And you think, "Oh God, have I got the energy to do this?" When it comes to looking for new roles, the Belfast star is always on the hunt for something different to anything shes done before. She said: 'I just, really, always hope that I will be asked to do something different. And perhaps not expected. Or something that has no reference to anything Ive done before. In Belfast, Judi worked with director Sir Kenneth Branagh for the 12th time and confessed how much she loves their collaborations. She said: 'I just love working with him. I just love it. Its very varied, all the things Ive done with Ken. And Ive directed him and been directed by him and been in things with him. Its always different.' This comes as Judi made history with her Oscar nod - her eighth overall - becoming the oldest nominee ever for Best Supporting Actress. The veteran actress has been nominated for her role as Granny in the Irish drama, which marks her seventh Academy Award nomination. She received her first nomination in 1999 for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. Judi's latest role sees her play grandmother to young lad Buddy (11-year-old Jude Hill) whose parents (Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan) are struggling to decide whether to remain in Belfast as the city descends into a state of war. Set in 1969, the movie is inspired by Kenneth's early childhood growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles. The film continues to dominate awards season as it also landed a spot in the coveted Best Picture list, and is nominated for a whopping six BAFTAs. The BAFTAs will be taking place on Sunday night and will see Belfast go up against Don't Look Up, Licorice Pizza, The Power of the Dog and Dune. Latest role: Dench's latest role sees her play grandmother to young lad Buddy whose parents are struggling to decide whether to remain in Belfast as the city descends into a state of war Kate Hudson looked fit and fabulous as she stepped out in Los Angeles wearing a skintight yellow dress on Friday. The 42-year-old actress and gym fanatic looked toned in the sleeveless, spring-ready outfit while out and about. The blonde beauty paired it with chunky white sneakers, giving her ensemble a sporty edge. Impressive! Results of Kate Hudson's time spent in the gym were on full display as she stepped out in Los Angeles wearing a skintight yellow dress on Friday Kate's dress had spaghetti straps, a side slit, and it stopped right below her knees. Her legs looked strong and muscular as she was seen moving about by herself in the City of Angels. The Almost Famous actress went bare-faced under a pair of glamorous black Valentino shades. She skipped jewelry except for a thin, understated necklace. The entrepreneur pulled her tresses back into a low ponytail with a lavender scrunchie. Strong: The 42-year-old actress looked fit and toned in the sleeveless, spring-ready outfit while out and about Athleisure: The blonde beauty paired her dress with chunky white sneakers, giving her ensemble a sporty edge Earlier this week the multihyphenate appeared on Instagram to share a cocktail recipe using her vodka brand King St. Vodka. She looked radiant as she poured up a lemon drop martini in a collared mini dress with pleats and bell sleeves. The mother-of-three rocked her hair in a tussled bob as she showed she knows her way around a bar. The clip was soundtracked by the trending social media tune Love Nwantiti (TLO Mix) by TLO Jayy. Vacation: Last month the Fabletics founder enjoyed a trip to Miami where she did yoga on the beach, soaked up the sun, and enjoyed nightlife Kate wrote in her caption, 'A personal favorite of mine because when life gives you lemons, you make the cocktail.' She added, 'Meet my newest @kingstvodka Lemon Drop Martini,' employing a lemon emoji. She encouraged her 14.8 million followers to engage with her as she added, 'Tag me in yours! Recipe on Stories! #KingStCocktails.' Fun photos: During her holiday she dropped in on social media to share outtakes from the getaway Last month the Fabletics founder enjoyed a trip to Miami where she did yoga on the beach, soaked up the sun, and enjoyed nightlife. During her holiday she dropped in on social media to share outtakes from the getaway. Hudson shared a trio of sultry snaps in which she showed off her endless legs in a thigh-skimming purple minidress and towering platform pumps. The Golden Globe winner captioned her post with a simple purple heart emoji. Alec Baldwin said he, too, was a victim in the shooting on the set of the indie Western movie, Rust, and that he was only following direction when when the gun went off, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. It was a tragedy a horrible loss of a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and talented cinematographer. It does not diminish that loss to say that October 21 was also the worst day in Alec Baldwins life, according to an arbitration claim filed Friday by his lawyer Luke Nikas. That day has and will continue to haunt Baldwin. Advertisement Baldwin was rehearsing a scene that required him to draw a gun when the gun went off at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. Hutchins, 42, was pronounced dead a short time later. Director Joel Souza was also injured and transported to Christus St. Vincents Regional Medical Center by ambulance. Advertisement The day of the shooting was the worst of Alec Baldwin's life, the filing says. (DIMITRIOS.KAMBOURIS@GETTYIMAGES.COM/Getty Images) Nikas noted those who mistakenly kill someone experience symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, including flashbacks, hallucinations and nightmares. Yet, as a society, we do not provide the resources or understanding for people going through these tragedies, the court filing reads. Instead, we often pile on to the grief they are experiencing and villainize them as murderers, without putting ourselves in their shoes or considering who is truly culpable for the tragedy. Since the on-set shooting, Baldwin has been named in several lawsuits seeking damages in connection with the fatal incident. The filing by Nikas on Friday asserted Baldwins contract protected him from any financial responsibility. The filing, which names Rust Movie Productions L.L.C. and Ryan Smith, one of the other producers, as the respondents in the claim, is seeking to enforce that clause. Nikas further contended that Baldwin, 63, could not be blamed for the deadly gunfire because he was repeatedly told the prop weapon did not contain live ammunition, and that it was not his responsibility to double-check the gun. That task, Nikas noted, belonged to the films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. An actor cannot rule that a gun is safe, the filing said. That is the responsibility of other people on the set. Reed said she personally checked the ammunition before loading the chamber and then showed it to assistant director Dave Halls, who later confessed to investigators that he did not check all of the rounds as he should have before he handed it over to Baldwin, shouting Cold gun! as he did so. A cold gun is a term for a prop piece that does not contain live ammo. From there, the movies leading man followed instruction from Hutchinson, who told him how to position the gun, he claims. Advertisement She directed Baldwin to hold the gun higher, to a point where it was directed toward her. She was looking carefully at the monitor and then at Baldwin, and then back again, as she gave these instructions, according to the court documents. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > In giving and following these instructions, Hutchins and Baldwin shared a core, vital belief: that the gun was cold and contained no live rounds. Aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021. (Jae C. Hong/AP) Nikas said a breakdown in on-set protocol and safety measures is primarily to blame for Hutchins death, and that someone other than Baldwin should be legally culpable for the tragic consequences. Even as a producer on the film, the lawyer said, Baldwin should not bear that responsibility. He didnt announce that the gun was cold when it really contained a live round; he didnt load the gun; he didnt check the bullets in the gun, said the arbitrtion filing. The filing went on: [H]e didnt purchase the bullets; he didnt make the bullets and represent that they were dummies; he wasnt in charge of firearm safety on the set; he didnt hire the people who supplied the bullets or checked the gun; and he played no role in managing the movies props. Each of those jobs was performed by someone else. Advertisement A portion of the filing also details some of shootings aftermath, including Baldwins efforts to create a settlement for Hutchins family. The actor additionally claimed that he tried to convince the Rust cast and crew to honor Hutchins memory by completing the film, the proceeds of which would be provided to further support her family. Those efforts came to an end after Hutchins husband, Matt, filed his wrongful death suit and in a television interview criticized what he deemed Baldwins refusal to take responsibility. When someone comes at your doorstep to take away your assets, you obviously find ways to hide it. Now it is one thing to stuff unaccounted cash under your bed or hide it in a pot of rice. You can even transfer money to your innumerable Swiss bank accounts easily. Yacht Amore Vero. Photo: Getty Images But how does one hide an asset like this super mega-yacht from governments, local folks and satellites when you want them to magically disappear in a crisis? In an attempt to make the Russian sanctions hit 'home', strain Russian finances and make life of Russians harder (as if the 31 and more companies leaving Russia was not enough), the US announced a KleptoCapture team, which will aggresively target Russians. In a four-point statement to clarify what it means, the US mentioned that they would be 'using civil and criminal asset forfeiture authorities to seize assets belonging to sanctioned individuals or assets identified as the proceeds of unlawful conduct'. So, indirectly, the US just said: "Russia, we are coming for your lovely large mega-yachts and jets. And real estate, of course." via GIPHY This move came after France decided to seize Russian ships, which was followed by the US and some other countries. This forced the Russian oligarchs to play a game of hide and seek - which they will unwittingly lose. Because how on earth do you hide this big piece of luxury asset, which is probably also linked to Putin, and which you purposefully created to be this large, to flaunt your wealth? WHY DO THE RICH LOVE THEIR YACHTS IN THE FIRST PLACE? via GIPHY Among the billionaires and mega billionaires, the length and the number of superyachts decides the pecking order of ranking among these millionaires in their club. Though yachts aren't the most useful mode of transport (like private jets) and don't appreciate in value each year (like art and property), yachts always allow the super-rich to show off their wealth and status. The rich owners usually use their mega-yachts as alternative floating homes / floating hotels around the world. Also, both their homes and mega-yachts are so huge that they have to be fully managed by their professional staff. This enables the oligarchs to have a lifestyle where they can comfortably stay at different places depending on their mood and business - their mega-yachts which can float across the globe. via GIPHY Because life is comfortable and luxurious, no matter where you stay. Remember this scene from The Wolf of the Wall Street where John Belford flaunts his influence and status and tries to bribe FBI officers? Yea, that's the vibe. In The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) the second FBI agent who questions Belfort on his yacht is played by Ted Griffin, a co-producer on the film who also wrote the screenplay for Ocean's Eleven (2001) pic.twitter.com/cQp0V1QEpX Movie Details (@moviedetail) August 9, 2021 The super-rich also use their yachts to control the level of access they grant to those outside their wealthy circle and allow the yachts to influence their relationships with the 'not-so-rich' rest of the world. Yachts on the sea give the oligarchs a feeling of privacy which contrasts with the city life, where there is a desire to see and be seen. Also, since tourists remind the super-rich of their wealth and their social status, the oligarchs usually sit on the aft deck and when they finally descend from the ship, people look at them in awe, which though is a reminder of their power, is also quite a feeling to experience again and again. IS SEIZING SHIPS ILLEGAL? via GIPHY Assets can only be seized during sanctions if the country imposing such sanctions is in armed conflict with the owner of the asset. Also, finding the actual owner of the ships could be difficult since ships are owned by 'offshore companies'. But if there is enough speculation pointing to a specific person as the owner, such evidence is 'sufficient' to seize ships. But can there be legal battles and operational issues because of such seizures? We think so. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RUSSIAN YACHTS Russian nationals own about 10% of all yachts longer than 79 feet, and at least 15 mega-yachts have been linked till date to the sanctioned Russian oligarchs. These include: 1. Galactica Super Nova 2. The Amore Vero 3. Dilbar 4. Quantum Blue 5. Nirvana 6. The Eclipse 7. Solaris 8. Tango 9. Graceful 10. Scheherazade 11. Stella Maris 12. Sailing Yacht A 13. ICE 14. Lena (Seized) 15. Lady M (Seized) SO, WHAT ARE THE RICH DOING? As the sanctions began, the oligarchs started moving their ships to small, tiny countries like the Maldives and Seychelles, which are also tax havens, as they are free from seizure repercussions. Some even travelled through the Indian Ocean and are still finding nations to hide. 1. Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea FC, is one of 7 Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned with asset freezes and travel bans. He owns two super-yachts- a $600 million Solaris and a $1 billion worth The Eclipse. Roman's vessel Solaris was tracked off the coast of Sicily when it left the Barcelona port. It had been undergoing repairs since late 2021 and on March 10, it was rounding the southern coast of Sicily. Solaris. Photo: Getty Images Abramovichs second (and even more luxurious yacht), The Eclipse set sail from the Caribbean island of St Maarten, crossed much of the Atlantic, and was located to the west of the Canary Islands. 2. Vagit Alekperov's yacht The Galactica Super Nova, is a 230-foot super-yacht that has room for 28 guests and crew. It had sailed off from Barcelona to Montenegro on March 1. But on March 2, it turned off its GPS tracking system and vanished from the port, in violation of the International Maritime laws. The laws require ships of this size to have their tracking systems on "at all times", and though the owner is not sanctioned yet, the sanctions on other officials seem to have caused this development. Galactica SuperNova. Photo: Getty Images 3. Russian President Vladimir Putin's own yacht Graceful left Germany just before his invasion of Ukraine. But seems like someone ungracefully messed up. Putin reportedly has a $97 million luxury yacht called "Graceful". A group of Anonymous hackers on Saturday figured out a way to mess with maritime traffic data & made it look like the yacht had crashed into Ukraine's Snake Island, then changed its destination to "hell": pic.twitter.com/Ch53lcG7D6 Ryan Gallagher (@rj_gallagher) February 27, 2022 4. Alisher Usmanov owns Dilbar, which is the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. Though he has been sanctioned by the EU, the US, the UK, and Switzerland, his boat remains in Germany (unseized). With a weight of 15,917 tons, the ship (which values between $600- 750 Mn) which has been docked in Germany for months undergoing a 'refitting', has been unable to leave the dock. Some reports also say that the crew and the captain of the ship were not paid their wages (thanks to the sanctions) and hence decided to leave the ship alone. Alisher Usmanov Dilbar yacht will be seized because of sanctions ? pic.twitter.com/cwdv69f9x5 Lethabo (@Cheetahplains) March 2, 2022 The Germany Federal Customs has to issue an export waiver for the yacht to leave Germany, and since the same is held back, seems like the port will stay there for some time. THE SEIZED YACHTS 1. France was the first country to seize Russian mega-yachts and detained Amore Vero (which means true love"), a 280ft, $120 million super-yacht which is owned by Igor Sechin. The yacht, which can accommodate 14 guests and 28 crew, was found at the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat. Sechin is a sanctioned oligarch as he is the Chief Executive of the Russian oil producer Rosneft and a close ally of Putin. The French police found that though the ship was in port for repairs, its crew were making arrangements to leave in a hurry, without having completed the planned work. Amore Vero. Photo: Getty Images 2. Gennady Timchenko, a close friend of Putin, is a sanctioned Russian owner of a 41-metre, $55 million yacht called Lena, which was impounded by Italy. Gennady has an estimated $21 billion fortune held in several large Russian raw materials companies. Italys tax police also froze Lena - a 50m yacht belonging to Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko located in Sanremo (Liguria) - and Villa Lazzareschi - a 3m property belonging to Oleg Savchenko located in the province of Lucca (Tuscany). pic.twitter.com/yc1Q2y4d0G Ferdinando Giugliano (@FerdiGiugliano) March 5, 2022 3. Alexei Mordashov, another sanctioned Russian, whose luxury yacht Lady M, a 64-metre, $66 million yacht was also seized in the nearby Ligurian port of Imperia by Italy. Looks like the EU and US are just getting started with the yachts. Next up will be the millions of euros worth of property held by Russians in the real estate sector. The Hallyu wave is sweeping the globe, with the neon world of K-pop and the fantastic storylines of K-dramas. From good-looking chaebols (heirs to conglomerate businesses) sweeping the poor girl off her feet, to the portal to an adventurous comic book world, K-dramas are a perfect escape from reality. And perhaps, after watching one too many of these, you might have dreamed of moving to the peninsular nation for good. But all that glitters is not gold and so the glossy stories in K-dramas are as far from reality as Hogwarts is. The recently concluded South Korean presidential elections showed the world the real problems and grievances of the Korean masses. From unaffordable housing, rising class disparity and more, the reality of the people of South Korea is far from designer clothing and handsome, rich and kind men. South Korea's new President Yoon Seok-youl. Photo: Getty Images But what are these issues affecting the land of K-drama and K-pop? There is no better way to explain these issues than through K-dramas themselves. Of course, the most internationally popular ones are the Oscar-winning film Parasite and Netflix hit series Squid Game, but there are much more than these two. 1. FIGHT FOR MY WAY Unlike the usual stories of a neoliberal rich boy who meets a poor girl, the 2017 drama Fight for My Way tells the tale of four young people considered to be living third-rate lives struggling to make their way up the competitive South Korean job market. The four characters are Ko Dong-man, who is a nameless mixed martial arts fighter; Choi Ae-ra who works at a department store but dreams to be an announcer (TV host), Kim Joo-man who has a permanent position at a home-shopping network and Baek Sol-hee who works at the customer service department at the home shopping network. The characters belong to the non-regular worker and low-educated worker groups that face job insecurity, and discrimination in Korean society. Usually, we hear fewer stories about such people who make up for most of the South Korean population portrayed in K-dramas. Also, if you are a fan of the Oscar-winning film Parasite, then one of the films lead actors, Kim Woo-shik plays a cameo in Fight for My Way. And Park Seo-joon who had a cameo in Parasite plays the lead role in Fight for My Way. 2. EXTRACURRICULAR This drama is not your average teenage or high-school story. Though it portrays exaggerated dark themes, the drama also sheds light on some contentious South Korean issues plaguing the teens. Extracurricular depicts teen crimes, bullying and Asian academic pressure. Bullying and academic pressures are two issues that are rampant in South Korean high schools. Unlike in other countries where bullying is often brushed off as childish fights, South Korean society, even the adult world, takes it quite seriously. There have been several instances where popular K-drama actors like Kim Ji-soo had their entire careers destroyed due to high-school bullying allegations. Academic pressure in Asian countries is known to be on another level. The drama depicts the struggle of students who come from poor backgrounds and the expectations from students who belong to rich backgrounds. 3. SKY CASTLE On the heels of Extracurricular, is Sky Castle, which also depicts the academic pressure in South Korean society on students. And like Extracurricular, it is a bit exaggerated. In the critically acclaimed drama, a group of rich housewives belonging to the Sky Castle community does everything to ensure their children get into the prestigious Seoul National University. It means that those from middle or poorer backgrounds lose out on the spots despite their qualifications and merit. In 2019, then-President Moon Jae-ins office was rocked by his Justice Ministers scandal of falsifying his daughters merits to get her into a prestigious university. 4. LIVE The 2018 South Korean drama tells the story of police officers, no not the detective, gang-busting rung of officers, but those doing the menial tasks at district offices. The characters' road to being a police officer is also not of an extraordinary tale, but that of a normal real-life struggle we are familiar with - unable to get a place in the competitive labour market in the private sector. 5. WHEN THE CAMELLIA BLOOMS This K-drama talks about single unwed mothers, the perception of the society of such women and the discrimination. The protagonist Oh Dong-baek, an unwed mother of a little boy, moves into a quiet neighbourhood and starts a bar and restaurant business. The neighbourhood doesnt take too kindly to her presence. The ajhummas (middle-aged and old aunties) accuse her of being a homewrecker, and the men in the neighbourhood make unwanted advances towards her. The drama also shows how the discrimination based on the society's perception also has an impact on Miss Oh's business and livelihood. Of course, in the story, Oh Dong-baek finds her love the kind police officer. If you think watching these will be emotionally taxing; fret not, many like Fight for My Way are pretty light-hearted that get viewers laughing like a maniac while also driving home the social message. The 2022 Jacob Lawrence legacy resident, Lauren Williams, could see the knowledge and passion that curator and director, Emily Zimmerman, had for the gallery. Along with increasing the Jacob Lawrence Gallerys endowment, getting the gallery Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.) A gas leak caused a house to explode in Lubbock, Texas, on Thursday, according to authorities. Fire crews and first responders swarmed a house in the southern part of the West Texas city around 3 p.m., local CBS affiliate KLBK reported. Advertisement No injuries or deaths were immediately reported, but the extent of the damage remained unclear Thursday evening. The Lubbock fire department said 35 nearby homes had been evacuated but none were directly affected, according to KLBK. The fire department said the problem was caused by a gas leak. Advertisement Gas to the area was shut off, local NBC affiliate KCBD reported. Daytona Beach, FL (32114) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Rating: High on grandeur, low on content Film: Radhe Shyam Cast: Prabhas, Pooja Hegde, Sachin Khedkar and Jayram Director: Radha Krishna Kumar Rating: 2.5 Story: Vikramaditya (Prabhas) is a reputed palmist. He falls in love with Dr Prerna (Pooja Hegde) despite his efforts not to let his emotions get involved. While he predicts a long and bright future for her on reading her palm, destiny has a different plan. Whats that? Review: Fundamentally, the conflict point of Radhe Shyam is - Which is greater? Science or Astrology? This is established right in the first scene, when a group of scientists reach out to Guru Paramhansa (Krishnam Raju), who is running a Vedic school. While the argument between the scientists and Paramhansa is left open to debate, the director introduces the audience to Vikramaditya a disciple of Paramhamsa, whose predictions based on palmistry never go wrong. Interestingly, Vikramaditya insists that as he does not have a love-line on his palm, he wants only a flirtationship. But he falls in love with Dr. Prerana. Prerna falls for Vikramaditya too, after seeing his skills in prediction. But just when she is about to tell him that hes the right guy for her, theres a twist in the tale. He distances himself from her. But why? Director Radha Krishna Kumar seems to be trying to say that Science is never 100 per cent accurate, and theres always an outside chance that you can change your destiny. But his narrative stills arent totally convincing. The film is being projected as an intense love story. But the writing is weak and lacks panache. Several scenes are not gripping enough to hook viewers to the story. Most of the time, you aren't empathetic towards the lead pair. In short, the film fails to touch the heart. Radhe Shyam is set in the 1970's in Italy, and has everything right superficially artwork, cinematography, locations, etc. But it lacks soul and defining moments. The character arc of Vikramaditya could have been made stronger. It lacks the firmness to render it elevating. Remember, palmistry is a highly respected and sensitive process. In real life, palm readers do not randomly check peoples palm. Yet, Vikramaditya does just that, often reading the palms of the man-in-the-street! The narrative, especially in the second half, is slow. When the drama unfolds, the narration should pick up pace, but that doesnt happen. Perhaps the director was relying more heavily on artwork and grandeur in visuals than on storytelling. None of the dialogues is memorable, and the lines seem to have been written for a feel-good romance. Songs too fail to transport the audience into the romantic universe of Vikramaditya and Prerna. Several scenes could have been chopped off to make the run time crispier. For instance, Prabhas comic act of death yoga in the hospital could have been easily avoided, as it fails to tickle the funny bone. The narration is uneven at times, and also falls flat, especially during the second half. Performance wise, Prabhas is sincere in his approach. However, at times, during close shots, he looks tedious. His character doesnt have defining moments typical of a protagonist. Pooja Hegde as Prerna is adequate; in fact, her character has better depth than Prabhas. However, their chemistry is flat and the romance lacks spark. On the flip side, Ravinder Reddys production work is evident - the film is high on visual grandeur and sets. Manoj Paramahamsas camerawork is appealing. All said and done, perhaps better and stronger writing could have taken Radhe Shyam to a different level. Hanamkonda: Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) released the first phase notification for admissions to M.Sc. Nursing and MPT courses for the academic year 2022-23. The provisional list of merit students eligible are displayed on the universitys website. The final merit list of eligible students will be announced after the verification of original certificates. Students must visit the special centre established at JNTU, Kukatpally in Hyderabad on March 4 for certificate verification. For further information, students can log on to the university website www.knruhs.telangana.gov.in.http://www.knruhs.telangana.gov.in A day after dodging questions about a Bronx judges criticism of the arrest of a teenage drill rapper, Mayor Adams doubled down on his support of the NYPDs conduct in the case. That young man was shot because he had an illegal gun. Thats why he was shot, Adams said Thursday at a news briefing in Hunts Point in the Bronx. That police officer was shot because that young man had an illegal gun for the second time lets be clear this is not the first time, this is the second time he had an illegal gun. Now, it may be me, but I have a problem with that. Advertisement Mayor Adams (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Over the past two months, Adams has pointed to rapper C Blu as a case study of why the states bail laws must change. He wants Albany lawmakers to add a provision in which judges have the ability to factor in a defendants dangerousness. But theyve repeatedly pushed back on his demand. On Tuesday, the case against C Blu, whose real name is Camrin Williams, was cast into doubt after Bronx Supreme Court Justice Naita Semaj said the testimony of the rappers arresting officer was incredible and unreliable. Advertisement Semaj railed against Officer Taulant Gjonbalaj, saying his remarks on the stand were inconsistent with video of the incident and a fellow cops statements. It was self-serving, the judge said. It had no value. Bronx Supreme Court Justice Naita Semaj (Carolyn Bongiorno/Carolyn Bongiorno) The saga began on Jan. 18 when cops confronted the 16-year-old. During an ensuing scuffle, a stolen gun in the rappers pocket went off, striking him in the leg, as well as Officer Kaseem Pennant. Video showed that the gun went off as cops grabbed at Williams sides, the judge said. While there is no disputing the fact that Mr. Williams had a gun on him that night ... he literally does everything you tell your child to do when theyre approached by cops, Semaj said. He literally kept his hands up. He literally tried to record to make sure there was proof. He answered questions he had no obligation to answer. The judge said that the police had no legal justification for stopping and searching the young rapper. Rapper C Blu in an undated photo. Williams has pleaded not guilty to weapons charges and second-degree assault. Semaj ruled that he should be tried as a juvenile. Adams avoided questions about the judges remarks Wednesday, but a day later, he fielded several questions from the Daily News about the ongoing case. Front page for March 10, 2022: NYPD stands by rapper's bust as judge calls cops' tale "incredible and unreliable." Camrin Williams, who raps as C Blue, is treated after being shot by a gun he had in his pants pocket during a January confrontation with Officer Kaseem Pennant (inset), who was also hit. (New York Daily News) The News asked Adams whether he still felt outrage over the rapper being released on bail and if hed been misled by the NYPD regarding the arrest. Adams did not respond directly, but pushed back on the judges ruling. Advertisement What were saying is instead of that young man having an illegal gun, we want to give him a legal opportunity to be in our society, he said. So if anyone states that my police officers, [who] are going out, putting their lives on the line to remove illegal guns off the street, is at fault, I challenge that. Its a dangerous job removing illegal guns off our street. Adams noted, however, that recovering a gun does not justify an improper arrest. He said he believes that, in Williams case, the arrest was done by the book. I dont want anybody saying I avoided this question, he said. A police officer cant break the law to enforce the law. I dont believe those officers broke the law. I think those officers were aware from a previous arrest of that young man that there are steps to take to ensure you protect yourself and protect the public. During the last academic year 14,782 new admissions were recorded in various government schools, said district educational officer M. Chandrakala. (Representational Image/ DC) Vishakhapatanam: Refurbishment of infrastructure with modern furniture, toilets and power supply influenced over 45,000 students in north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam to quit private schools and join government schools during the last academic year. In addition to the facilities, the students were also drawn to the government schools due to government efforts to introduce English medium from primary level, opined district educational officers of the three districts. Visakhapatnam district has 6,91,782 school students and of them 3.32 lakh are enrolled in the private schools. During the last academic year 14,782 new admissions were recorded in various government schools, said district educational officer M. Chandrakala. This year we will have more admissions compared to last year as more schools have added infrastructure this year. The other factor is the government's decision to launch a training programme for teachers to upgrade skills, she said. Similarly, Srikakulam district has a strength of 3.7 lakh students and of them one lakh were studying in private schools. Around 20,000 left private and corporate schools and joined various government schools, said DEO M. Lingeswara Reddy. The number is comparatively less in Vizianagaram district where 10,000 new admissions were reported last year. The district has around three lakh students enrolled in various schools. The students from smaller private schools got admitted in government schools as their parents lost employment due to two phases of Covid-19, said D. Uday Kumar who runs a corporate school in Seethammadhara area in Visakhapatnam. He said the virus led to closure of many schools which resulted in many going to government schools. However, the reputed schools still have the same strength and the demand for admissions is still high, Uday Kumar said. Indian nationals who were stranded in Sumy, on board a special train to Lviv in western Ukraine, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (PTI Photo) New Delhi: An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft from Poland's Rzeszow carrying students evacuated from northeastern Ukrainian city Sumy landed at the Hindon airbase here on Friday afternoon, officials said. The flight, which was conducted by the IAF using its C-17 military transport plane, landed at the airbase here at 12.15 pm. This is the second of the three flights being operated by India on Friday -- one each by Air India, IndiGo and the IAF -- from Rzezow to Delhi to bring back 600 students who have recently been evacuated from Sumy. The first flight had taken off from Rzeszow around 11.30 pm (IST) on Thursday and landed in Delhi at 5.45 am on Friday, officials 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. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was admitted to a private hospital here on Friday for nearly three hours after he complained of weakness and severe pain in the left arm. The Chief Minister underwent a battery of tests including angiogram, ECG, 2D-ECHO, MRI and CT scans of brain and neck. Doctors said all the test reports were normal. Doctors discharged him later and advised the Chief Minister to take one week of complete rest. The Chief Minister complained of weakness and severe pain in his left arm at around 8 am on Friday. A team of specialists from a private hospital in Somajiguda including general physician Dr M. V. Rao and cardiologist Dr K. Pramod Kumar, who have been looking after the Chief Ministers health for a long time, rushed to Pragathi Bhavan to conduct a physical check-up and later decided to shift him to the hospital for diagnostic tests at around 11.45 am. Chief Ministers wife Shobha, son K. T. Rama Rao, daughter K. Kavitha, grandson Himanshu, minister T. Harish Rao, MP J. Santosh Kumar, minister V. Srinivas Goud, former MP B. Vinod Kumar, MP Maloth Kavitha, MLCs Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Seri Subhash Reddy, MLAs Danam Nagender, Redya Naik, chief secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP M. Mahender Reddy, Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand, DCP Joel David and several others accompanied the Chief Minister to the hospital. The Chief Minister was taken inside the hospital on a stretcher giving anxious moments for TRS leaders, cadre and people who watched the visuals on TV channels and eagerly waited to know his health condition. After conducting all the tests, the doctors discharged him at around 2.45 pm. The Chief Minister walked out of the hospital to his convoy along with his family members and proceeded to Pragathi Bhavan. Dr Rao said the neck and spinal MRI and CT scans revealed that Chief Minister was experiencing pain in the left arm due to cervical spondylitis, a general term to describe wear and tear that impacts the spinal disks of the neck. Following this, the Chief Ministers scheduled tour to Yadadri temple on Friday to review arrangements for reopening of the renovated temple complex was cancelled. Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has unveiled plans to introduce drone technology in the states farming sector. Agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu announced the states move to use drone technology while presenting the agriculture and allied sectors budget in the assembly. He said the state government plans to spend Rs 200 crore on drone technology for the benefit of farmers. The drones would help farmers optimise the use of inputs like water, fertilizers and seeds, in spraying operations, in addition to the spraying of pesticides to tackle weeds, pests and fungi. At present, drones are being pressed into service only for the spraying of pesticides for protection of plants from pests in a short time. The government intends to extend drone services for seeding and for the application of liquid fertilizer. Drones would be used for crop scouting to help assess damage to crops due to natural calamities like rains and floods and also to do soil health analysis. The state government intends to launch 10,000 drones in a phased manner through the Rythu Bharosa Kendras and provide training to the rural youths on the maintenance and service of these drones with a target to generate employment for nearly 20,000 youths. The Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University has been doing research in drone technology under APSARA Project since 2018-19 with the budget support from the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. It will provide technical support to the state agriculture department to use the drones in the farm sector. Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath skirted the issue of Amaravati development in view of the recent high court verdict on the Three Capitals plan. (Photo: Facebook) VIJAYAWADA: The AP annual budget presented in the state assembly on Friday had no mention of Capital (Amaravati). Finance minister Buggana Rajendranath skirted the issue of Amaravati development in view of the recent high court verdict on the Three Capitals plan. The high court had affirmed Amaravati will remain as the only capital of Andhra Pradesh and asked the government to develop the area as per the masterplan and handover the developed plots to farmers in six months time. Huge sums are required to do this. However, there is no budgetary allocation for Amaravati development. The Amaravati farmers and Opposition parties including Telugu Desam had expectations that the budget would allot funds for Amaravati development. The YSRC government avoided mentioning about Three Capitals under the decentralized development plan. Earlier too, there was no mention of Three Capitals in the Governors speech on the inaugural day of the state assembly budget sessions on March 7 except that the government was committed to decentralising and inclusive governance. The Three Capitals plan had been part of the budgetary speech of finance minister Rajendranath and in the Governors speech too in the last two years. Even in the Republic Day speeches, the Three Capitals proposal was invariably being mentioned. Government sources said chief minister Jagan is still discussing with legal experts about the possibility of going to the Supreme Court and challenging the HC verdict. Hence, any comment or statement on the issue now would be inappropriate. Telugu Desam leaders including party general secretary Nara Lokesh criticised the government for not allocating funds for the Amaravati Capital project despite the orders from the high court. The BJPs spectacular results in these Assembly elections -- barring in Punjab, where it has never really had any serious influence -- will possibly go down as a special landmark for the party, and a reference point for India. More than any preceding Lok Sabha or state election, it wakes us to the fact that the present ruling party is set to dismiss all comers -- regional and national opponents -- with a wave of the hand in something like two-thirds of the country. In a multi-hued, diverse country, this is the closest that a party like the BJP can come to the analogous Congress system, which dominated Indian politics across regions for a quarter century or more after Independence. This means that the psychological appeasement of the countrys majority religious community - another name for majority communalism - now appears to have entered the election chessboard as a stable factor that is likely to dominate politics and society over the long term, edging the secular parties - the Left-liberal with a socialist tint, or plain caste-oriented ones - to the margins, even if they were to rid themselves of the dynastic tag. It is a moot point whether the stability element and the strongly pro-BJP results owe in considerable measure, even if not fundamentally, to the personality of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is evidently more loved than disliked, though the latter quotient is far from insubstantial. At least that is what the recent election results seem to suggest. Barring Punjab, in UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur - where the elections were held - the BJP was the ruling party. Resentments against it ran high even in the reckoning of pro-BJP observers. This was especially the case in Uttar Pradesh, which truly offered what looked like a hateful and a hated regime. And yet, the results tell a story that seemed far from real. Or, is it that the tale of the election result is only too real. It tells of the fact that voters in Mr Modis New India think more 80-20 that CM Yogi Adityanath spoke of in an election speech, without inhibition or a sense of public morality alluding to the Hindu-Muslim population ratio, than of the miseries of everyday life encapsulated in rampaging unemployment, runaway prices, deplorable public health services, thousands of (Hindu) corpses floating on the holy Ganga during the high point of the Covid-19 pandemic, and millions of angry farmers, and attacks on dalits and minority communities. Eighty-twenty has trumped everything in its path. The BJPs political, intellectual and ideological rivals and opponents totted up resentments among the public, which is what people do in a democratic system. But this appears to have left only a sideways impact on the poll results (other than in Punjab, where the communal factor was absent), not amounting to much. Majority communalism may well have long-term drivers that are not discernible in the general analysis. Its also likely to be organically linked to aspects of our societal structures, economy and culture -- not unlike the situation in Turkey, where the rise, first, of Recep Tayyip Erdogans AKP Party in a slow and stumbling way, and then in full-fledged and compelling fashion under his outright leadership. In Turkey, the reigning motif was of armed forces-guided secularism. This penetrated society in the Muslim but European parts of the country and was reflected in politics, commerce and economics. But Anatolia, the Asiatic part where sits Ankara, the capital, simmered with discontents in a reaction to the secularists. The class structure of rural and semi-rural areas had no stable cultural or business structure links with the Europeanised north of the country. The rise of the fundamentalist AKP at the grassroots is partly explained by this. The difference between Turkey and India is also great, and that makes Mr Modis electoral successes all the more noteworthy. Turkey is hardly as diverse as India in its religious or class makeup and the takeover by an idea may not be as complex a venture there as in India. Even so, will the situation change in Turkey after its current leader? In the same way, will the scenario in India change once its current leader is no longer at the helm? On this will depend how far-reaching or shallow is the penetration of the majority communal appeal at an extended societal level, which is the precursor to political and electoral preferences being decisively influenced. But Thursdays election results portend far-reaching trends. The foremost of these is the impact on the fortunes of the Congress. In that party are ideologically secular and modernist leaders who are also politically experienced and have played a long innings administering the country. But even if they come to the fore upon the jettisoning of the dynastic elements, or through voluntary self-abnegation by the Gandhis, it is hard to see how much of a challenge they can pose to the BJP -- both politically and ideologically. Two, once the Congress goes down, effectively speaking, it is hard to think of any regional party being able to stand up enough to give a fight. The Samajwadi Party under Akhilesh Yadav put up a brave show in UP but it was far from adequate. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress was impressive. But would that be the case if it was an Opposition party? Thats a question that cant be wished away. If the BJP meets real resistance above the Vindhyas, its likely to be in Bihar (where a regional party can show the way if it combines effectively with others), Punjab and Kashmir. By Saritha Rai In the annals of controversial startup founders, theres a special place for the likes of Ubers Travis Kalanick and WeWorks Adam Neumann. Now, Indias Ashneer Grover could join their ranks. Within BharatPe, one of the countrys fastest-growing financial technology companies, a ferocious split has divided the startups board from Grover, the co-founder and former managing director. In recent days, senior leadership has accused Grover of misappropriating funds. Staff have narrated a long litany of complaints. In a leaked audio recording posted anonymously on Twitter, a man whose voice sounds like Grovers threatens a bank employee with death for not helping him get shares in a hot initial public offering. Soon after the recording appeared online, Grover went on leave, though he denied on Twitter that the voice was his. In the days since, the 39-year-old has launched a full-out assault on the company he helped build, attempting to push out a hand-picked chief executive and threatening to sue BharatPes board. Last week, the drama reached a tentative conclusion: Grover resigned from the startup. In a statement, BharatPe said it reserves all rights to take further legal action against him and his family. His presence was scrubbed from the website. As a result of his misdeeds, Mr. Grover is no longer an employee, a founder, or a director of the company, the statement read. Also read: Being forced to bid adieu: Ashneer Grover resigns from BharatPe Grover said the accusations against him, including that he stole company money to fund an extravagant lifestyle, stem from personal hatred and low thinking. In a statement provided to Bloomberg, he added: The only thing lavish about me is my dreams and ability to achieve them against all odds through hard work and enterprise. The tense showdown between Grover and his colleagues comes at the height, or perhaps the beginning of the fall, of a boom for Indias startup scene. During the past few years, hard-charging entrepreneurs explored untapped corners of the market, pushing into e-commerce, online tutoring and digital health services. Investors largely looked beyond boorish behavior or personnel conflicts, fixated on record-setting initial public offerings and a surge of foreign money funneled to India after China erected walls around its economy. This account of the drama at BharatPe is based on interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees, as well as other people close to the company. Its a case study in how Indias business culture is changing as scores of promising startups vie for legitimacy -- and riches -- in one of the most promising markets in the world. Until just a few weeks ago, BharatPe was lionised in the pantheon of Indias up-and-coming companies. Grover shepherded the New Delhi-based firm through successful fundraising rounds from investors including Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, Ribbit Capital, Coatue Management and Beenext. After three years in business, BharatPes valuation has reached nearly $3 billion. The tech unicorn found success in digital payments, going toe-to-toe with older rivals such as Paytm and the Walmart Inc.-owned PhonePe. Grover was the driver of growth, a smooth talker who could help persuade Bollywood stars like Salman Khan to endorse the brand. He was also a master marketer, making public appearances in snazzy jackets and landing zingers on fresh-faced entrepreneurs as a shark investor on the Indian edition of Shark Tank. Now, Grovers influence appears to have waned. His wife, Madhuri, a key executive with the title Head of Controls, has left BharatPe. Following weeks of mudslinging, Grover has gone quiet beyond his short statement after the board announced the ouster last week. Grover declined to comment further. Madhuri Grover did not respond to interview requests. Sequoia, Tiger Global, Beenext and Coatue declined to comment. Ribbit did not return a request for comment. Also read: Ashneer Grover loses Singapore arbitration, BharatPe probe to continue A Fundraising Whis BharatPe was founded in 2018 by Shashvat Nakrani, a drop-out of the Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi, one of the countrys most prestigious schools. After teaming up with Bhavik Koladiya, a commercial pilot, the duo canvassed small businesses to understand problems with digital payments in India. A few months into the work, they asked Grover to join as a co-founder. The men zeroed-in on a lucrative business model harnessing merchants transaction data and underwriting loans to shop owners at the click of a button. BharatPe deducted loan dues daily at 2 per cent monthly interest. Grover, a former investment banker, was an indispensable partner on the fundraising front, helping to secure $2 million from Sequoia and Beenext almost immediately. He knew exactly what investors wanted, said an early employee of BharatPe. He knew how to deliver. Grovers wife, Madhuri, who has a background in fashion design, also molded the business, managing everything from hiring to marketing expenses. Within a matter of months, the husband-and-wife team had entrenched themselves so firmly in BharatPe that Nakrani retreated to the edges of daily operations, one executive said. BharatPe soon upped the stakes. Grover raised hundreds of millions of dollars in rapid succession and locked in marquee investors. By mid-2021, when the companys valuation hit $2.85 billion, several high-profile C-level executives were already on board, including Suhail Sameer, who reported to Grover as group president and was later elevated to chief executive. In September 2021, BharatPe recorded around 140 million monthly transactions and had already lent 25 billion rupees through its partners. Over 7.5 million merchants used the platform. Im hyper-paranoid, Grover said in a September interview with Bloomberg, long before the companys public meltdown. Im always thinking, How do I ring-fence my business from competitors? Which new products will bring more growth? Piles of Complaints But as BharatPe grew, signs of trouble began to emerge and spill into view of its investors. Problems started to crop up in 2020, according to the current and former employees. At that time, Indias first wave of the coronavirus was ravaging the economy, shutting businesses and forcing the nations 1.3 billion people inside. BharatPes office stayed open, along with other tech startups providing essential services such as grocery and medical deliveries. One veteran female executive who joined the startup that year said she was shocked that mask-wearing wasnt mandatory. Only a handful of the companys 70 or so employees wore them. Grover chided her for making Covid an issue and influencing staff, the executive said in an interview, asking not to be named for fear of retribution. Just a few weeks into the job, her employment was abruptly terminated, she said. A senior leader called her a diversity hire, the executive said, and another attributed the decision to her emotional baggage. The executive asked BharatPes investors for a fair hearing, writing to Sequoia, Ribbit and Beenext. Sequoias lawyers said they werent involved in day-to-day operations and had asked the startup to address her concerns. In response to questions from Bloomberg, BharatPe said corrective actions were taken based on the complaints received from the employee. We cannot divulge more details due to confidentiality. Madhuri Grover was another source of frustration for senior executives, according to more than 10 current and former employees. Staff said she threatened a colleague with a salary deduction for making printouts at work and criticised people for the amount of coffee consumed in the office. According to members of the marketing team, Madhuri raised queries over relatively small things, like the price of a television or motorcycle intended as gifts for a merchant promotion. Nakrani and Sameer met with Grover to speak about his wifes management style, which some employees perceived as meddling. They asked Grover to hire an experienced chief financial officer, but he rejected candidate after candidate, one person said. The role is still vacant. Office frugality clashed with the couples apparently glitzy lifestyle, rubbing some employees the wrong way. They upgraded their modest home for a rented penthouse and renovated another luxury property. Grover purchased a Porsche. He told multiple people at the company he spent $130,000 on a dining room table, according to the employees. Meanwhile, as the startup expanded, staff said Grover pushed them relentlessly. The sales team met lofty targets by foisting loans on merchants who didnt want credit, the employees said. BharatPes customer support and collections staff were barraged by complaints from small business owners. If you expect that someone will create a $6 billion dollar business in less than four years and want everything to be perfect, including culture, sorry just not going to happen, Grover said in a February interview with Moneycontrol, an Indian publication. Fast growth will come at some cost, no? Also read: Ashneer Grover, wife Madhuri Jain pay Rs 8.2 crore advance tax An Unraveling By January, Grovers world had started to crumble. The audio clip that had been posted on Twitter began to go viral among the countrys tech community. In it, a person who sounds like Grover berates a Kotak Bank employee for failing to arrange funds to buy IPO shares of Nykaa, an Indian beauty supply company that nearly doubled in value after its listing. The clip is peppered with Hindi insults, while the bank employee asks largely polite questions. Grover denied on Twitter that the voice was his. That tweet was later deleted. Generally speaking, once in a while, the wild streak could land the founder in extreme territory, said Krishnan Ganesh, who has invested in dozens of startups, including online grocer Bigbasket, which was recently acquired by the Tata Group. Then, according to colleagues, Grovers behavior took another bisarre turn. He provided a dossier to the board and Bloomberg linking Sameer, the chief executive, with colorful claims of misconduct. BharatPe declined to address these accusations. Sameer wasnt made available to comment. Investors appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers and Alvarez & Marsal to investigate Grovers management of money. In early March, BharatPes board released a statement accusing Grover, his family and relatives of creating fake vendors to siphon away funds and abusing expense accounts in order to enrich themselves and fund their lavish lifestyles. I am appalled at the personal nature of the companys statement, but not surprised, Grover wrote in the statement to Bloomberg, adding that his wealth was derived in part by $12 million of shares he sold during various funding rounds. Across India, the public unraveling has captivated investors. Many see the saga as a cautionary tale of what happens when a talented but erratic leader pursues profits at any cost. Still, Grover has taken the hits in stride. Founder is a guy who has the spine to raise money from someone and tell them Im not here to dance to your tunes, he wrote on LinkedIn last month. Hundreds of his followers liked the post and applauded its bravado. Fellow startup founders in India, however, werent so generous. No offence boss, but you seem to have totally lost the plot, replied Shantanu Deshpande, the founder and chief executive of Bombay Shaving Company, a startup selling grooming products. Check out DH's latest videos Capital markets regulator SEBI on Friday imposed a total fine of Rs 25 lakh on five entities for indulging in non-genuine trades in stock options on BSE. In five separate orders, the regulator slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on Dhanwantri Suppliers Pvt Ltd, Dayanidhi Mercantile Pvt Ltd, Sanjay Agarwal HUF, Radhika Sarraf and Ankit Garg HUF. The orders came after Sebi observed large scale reversal trades in the stock options segment of BSE, leading to the creation of artificial volume in the segment. In view of the same, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had conducted an investigation into the trading activity from April 2014 to September 2015. Also Read India tightens IPO valuation scrutiny, jolts startups eyeing listings Pursuant to the investigation, it was observed that these entities were among various others that indulged in the execution of reversal trades in the stock options segment. The reversal trades are alleged to be non-genuine in nature as they are executed in the normal course of trading, which leads to false or misleading appearance or trading in terms of generating artificial volumes, SEBI said. By indulging in such trades in stock options, they violated the provisions of PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) norms, it added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Bangalore South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said on Friday that a new law introduced by his partys government in Karnataka to govern Bengaluru was "inadequate" while Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad argued for an overhaul of the BBMPs structure, dubbing the civic body as a "burden". Surya and Rizwan, two of Bengalurus youngest lawmakers, were in conversation at the DH Bengaluru 2040 summit where, in a rare display of concurrence, the two leaders were on the same page as far as the citys future was concerned. "The citys parastatals - the BBMP, BWSSB, BMTC - don't talk to each other," Surya said. "Even the new BBMP Act is inadequate and Im saying this being a member of the ruling party. We need an administrative surgery where theres coordination between various parastatals taking care of the city." Follow live DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit updates here Arshad, a first-time MLA like Surya who is a debutant MP, said that Bengaluru needed a lot of attention and commitment. "BBMP is a burden on Bengaluru rather than being an organisation that can provide solutions," Arshad said, to which Surya agreed. "It is an unscientifically structured body governing Bengaluru, a city projected as the fastest-growing city. You need to restructure the BBMP." Congress MLA Arshad said the current BBMP Act, passed in 2020, did not go through the consultative process. The law proposes to increase the number of wards in the city from 198 to 243. "It is creating a bigger BBMP than it already is, which wont help." He said the current structure should be decentralised. "You must empower the ward committee; you cant expect people to go to the BBMP offices." Also Read | Bengaluru will need 4 clones by 2040, says Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Surya made a strong case for Bengaluru to get a directly elected mayor, a topic he admitted was a "political hot potato". "One political solution is political decentralisation of power in the BBMP with a more powerful, accountable mayor," he said. "What we have now is a mayor with a 12-month term to oversee 198 wards. The first six months go in celebrating and the other six months on planning retirement. No party wants to create a mayoral office that is super powerful. But there are senior leaders in my party who are sympathetic to the idea." Surya also batted for the creation of an institution that can think for Bengaluru. "Who is thinking about Bengaluru today? Which organisation have we created? If were talking about Bengaluru in 2040, we need an institution that is insulated from political pressures," he said. Right now, Surya said the citys politics did not involve citizens in the growth narrative. This needs to change, he said. For 2040, Arshad said that basic infrastructure needed fixing. "How do you handle migrants? What will you do about water with a deficit of 400 MLD already?" he said. "How much waste will you generate in the next 20 years when were already producing 6,100 tonnes daily. What about housing? Clean environment?" Arshad added that Bengaluru also needed uniform development. "East Bengaluru isnt as developed as the south," he said. "And Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city. So, we cant claim that one language cant be spoken. In Shivajinagar, youll see Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Urdu, Hindi how do you bring synergy? Ultimately, infrastructure should provide peace and harmony." Responding to this, Surya suggested a social audit on how and where resources are spent. "Maybe we need to spend more energy and resources on public health, education and housing, which are the three primary drivers of the good life," he said. While Arshad said that Bengaluru was too cosmopolitan for any friction to occur, Surya opined that it was in the nature of Kannadigas to be all-accepting and warm. "Thats why the city has so much ability to attract talent," he said. "We are the coolest people in the country." Check out latest DH videos here "Healthcare in the future will be delivered to the global population on a mobile phone on the move and not in hospitals or at the desk," according to Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and executive director of Narayana Health, who's known as the 'Henry Ford of cardiac surgery. He was delivering the keynote address, 'Digital Disruption of Healthcare', at the DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit on Friday. "History will be written as Before Covid (BC) and After Covid (AC). These are two distinct periods," Shetty said. "The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that those who are not involved in patient care directly, who do not need to touch the patient, need not be in the hospital. I believe the healthcare of the entire population of this world will be delivered through one device - the mobile phone. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, this is the device through which healthcare will be taken care of." He went on to explain that he is personally overseeing 20 patients of the 500 in his hospital, be it in the ICU or in the ward and they are tracked clinically on his phone. "I can do the ICU rounds at 11 pm before going to bed or at half past 4 am when I wake up because I can check their chest X-rays, blood tests and cardiac monitor readings right from my phone," he said, showing a patient's reports on his phone. "You can communicate with the patient right from the bedroom. With a risk scorecard, I can know the possibility of him or her developing a cardiac arrest. As soon as the blood chemistry is out, at least 20 people on my team would have seen the results." Track live updates of DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit here Shetty explained that Covid-19 had disrupted the healthcare industry around the world. In the near future, people consulting with doctors first on the phone for a diagnosis will become the new normal, he said. "The doctor will have the entire medical history of the patient on their phone and do instant diagnosis. They will go to the hospital only if necessary and everything else will be online," said Shetty. With advanced technology, doctors staying in their homes will be able to interact, treat and offer diagnoses to patients with serious issues like kidney problems, heart failure and other critical health conditions, Shetty noted. This will eliminate errors and make it safer for patients. The doctor said that healthcare was the largest industry in the world worth $8.2 trillion and yet, less than 20% of the world had access to decent healthcare. "India will be the country where access to healthcare will be disassociated with the affluent," he said. "Electronic medical records (EMRs) of the patient on the phone will be the norm. A QR code scan will give the doctor access to everything. Today, in the US, millions of dollars are being spent on checking EMRs at the desktop, which the doctor sees only a few times. Whereas he checks his mobile phone a hundred times." "Today, we have so many young men and women working in hospitals just fetching patient samples from one room to another. This is redundant. In the future, robots can do this," he said. Shetty also spoke about a trust deficit between patients and insurance companies. "The concept of health insurance is complicated," he said. "All kinds of tall promises are made by insurance providers that for a small premium, lakhs worth of coverage will be given even for pre-existing conditions, but they don't turn out to be true." And making a point about the almost universal digital takeover, Shetty said, "Uber, which owns no cars, Facebook, which doesn't make any content and Alibaba, which doesn't own any inventory, have become top companies in their sector. Similarly, the healthcare system will be driven by software rather than physical infrastructure." Check out DH's latest videos The spending package passed by lawmakers in Washington this week took aim at the plight of Ukraine, but it also carried a bundle of support for New York to the tune of some $300 million as the state pulls out of the pandemic, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday. Schumer, a New York Democrat, crowed that the state did real well in the $1.5 trillion spending bill, scoring a historic haul of cash for community projects focused on violence intervention, health care, housing and more. Advertisement Its much larger than weve ever gotten, Schumer said of the earmarked funding. We truly buffed the Big Apple. The shine is returning, and we are overcoming the COVID crisis. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks at a press conference in Bronx, New York on Jan. 25, 2022. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) All together, the so-called congressionally directed spending secured for New York came as a significant investment in curing coronavirus-era ills in New York, from rising violent crime to an exhausted health care system to widespread food insecurity. Advertisement The bill did not accomplish every Democratic priority a $16 billion bucket of COVID aid was shelved over Republican resistance and the GOP ramped defense spending higher than some Democrats wanted. But Schumer said the ruthless Russian invasion of Ukraine galvanized and accelerated bipartisan collaboration on a package set to send almost $14 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. Republicans knew we had to get something done, Schumer told the Daily News. But even before that, we were headed on a path to getting this done. Schumer said the legislation, which awaited President Bidens signature, would flush funding into business development and climate resiliency in New York. The package earmarks almost $5 million for One Hundred Black Men, a community development program based in Harlem; more than $9 million for the Brooklyn Hospital Center; and $3 million for the Campaign Against Hungers planned Brooklyn hub, according to Schumers office. The bill also set aside $150,000 for City Halls Office of Climate Resiliency, Schumers office said, part of a broader campaign to prepare New York for increasingly potent storms like Hurricane Ida, which thrashed the five boroughs late last summer. Mayor Adams offered his appreciation to the citys congressional delegation for pushing the bill through. From preventing gun violence to addressing climate change, to building a more equitable health care system, these Community Project Funding requests will spur New York Citys recovery and build a safer city for all, Adams said in a statement. Advertisement Local-level earmarks are unpopular among budget hawks in Washington, but Schumer seemed thrilled by the money he had secured for his constituents. Theres such good news for New York its going to help every aspect of life in New York get better, Schumer said. Not that we dont have a long way to go. But its as large and full a package for New York as has ever happened when it comes to earmarks. Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy urged companies to encourage their employees to come back to the office now that the worst of the pandemic seemed to be behind us. I am not a great fan of work from home at all, the information technology veteran said at Bengaluru 2040, a summit organised by DH on Friday, citing the practices impact on company culture. Murthy said it was very difficult to build a culture of hard work, imagination, excellence, intuition, meritocracy, discussion and debate if people worked from home. Also Read | Decentralise to decongest: Experts speak on making Bengaluru livable When people work from home, that institutional culture will slowly become weaker and weaker, Murthy said in a virtual session. Working from home does not work well in a country like India where many employees live in multi-generational households, have poor Internet bandwidth and do not have a separate room to convert into a home office. While working from home was necessary during the worst of the pandemic, Murthy urged corporate denizens to get back to the office to boost productivity as it was really important for a nation like India which wanted to overtake China in terms of per capita income. He highlighted how Indias productivity was less than that of Bangladesh, a nation created just a little over four decades ago. As per official data, Indias per capita income was just over $1,900 in the financial year 2020-21 versus Bangladeshs $2,227 and Chinas $12,551. Murthy also cited the example of Germany in the 1940s, which worked for over 16 hours a day and 6 days a week to rebuild its economy after the second world war. I believe in emulating that as it is the only way we can elevate our economy and follow China, Murthy said. Many companies, especially in the information technology sector, allowed their employees to work from home during the pandemic but now they are trying to bring their staff back. My wish is that all the companies get back to office at the earliest, Murthy said. Check out latest DH videos here The BJP on Friday took a much-needed break from its organisational efforts, a day after it registered a spectacular win in Assembly elections and retained governments in four states, two of which were known to not repeat parties in power. Yet, behind the calm, the churnings have started the party swung into action in the hill state of Uttarakhand where its sitting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost from the Khatima seat. In two other states Uttar Pradesh and Manipur the BJP is set to repeat its chief ministerial faces. Also Read | Pushkar Singh Dhami resigns as Uttarakhand CM along with his cabinet It was the first Assembly election for UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his re-election has set a record he is the first CM to return to power after completing a tenure of five years. Adityanath has been a five-term MP from Gorakhpur. In Manipur, under Chief Minister Biren Singh, this is the second time that the party has won an election on its own without the help of alliance partners. The BJP is in power in Arunachal Pradesh alone, too. Senior party leaders Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan were sent to Uttarakhand as observers. A few days ahead of the results, the party had dispatched poll strategist Kailash Vijayvargiya to handle the post-election situation if there was a hung Assembly in the state. Vijayvargiya told DH that the selection of a CM candidate will be a long-winded process. The partys senior leaders who are now in Uttarakhand will first call for a deliberation with the elected legislators. The names that they put forward will be taken up by the party leadership," he said. The BJP has had a spate of bad luck with the CM face in Uttarakhand. The party won the elections in 2017 and Doiwala MLA Trivendra Singh Rawat was appointed the CM on March 18, 2017. His unpopularity among party workers led to party president J P Nadda asking him to resign in March 2021, barely a year ahead of Assembly polls. He was replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat, who was then the MP from Garhwal. Rawat had to leave the chair four months later in July, as he could not contest the bypoll from the Salt Assembly seat, needed to continue as the CM. He was down with Covid-19. The party fought the elections under Dhami, who was appointed after Tirath Singh Rawat. It won 47 seats in the 70-member Assembly with a 44.3% vote share. With Dhamis loss this term, the party is looking for a new face. A senior party leader involved with the election process said that about five names are being considered. State ministers Dhan Singh Rawat and Satpal Maharaj, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni, Union Minister of State Ajay Bhatt and former chief minister and current Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank are some of the names in contention for the post. In Goa, while the perception is that the party will go ahead with sitting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, there is speculation that Vishwajit Rane might replace him. A Union minister who wished to remain unnamed said that observers have been sent to the state and the partys parliamentary committee will hold a meeting soon. Senior party leaders also said that the BJP is unlikely to form governments or organise oath-taking in either of the states before the festival of Holi on March 18, as they consider the time inauspicious for new beginnings. Check out latest DH videos here Sonia Gandhi will be calling a meeting of the Congress Working Committee very soon to discuss the partys poll debacle in five states even as the leadership appeared to have zeroed in on the internal fight as one of the main reasons for its defeat in Punjab and Uttarakhand. The party particularly blamed anti-incumbency during Amarinder Singhs four-and-half year tenure as the reason for its debacle in Punjab. Sources said Congress was not expecting a defeat in Uttarakhand of all places while being confident of retaining Punjab and capturing Goa from the BJP. It did not expect Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to lose from both the seats he contested and party chief in the state Navjot Singh Sidhu being relegated to third position. Also Read: Congress butt of jokes on social media; Rahul, Sidhu find special mention At the CWC meeting, which may be called within a week, the leadership may ask leaders like Sidhu, who has made public statements in the run up to the polls and during campaigning exposing divisions within, to explain the defeat as well as looking at the micro data that led to the debacle. "Humbly accept the peoples verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India," top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted in the afternoon. Humbly accept the peoples verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 10, 2022 Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told a press conference that the results were not as per our expectations and they expected better results in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa. Asked whether internal bickering was the reason for the debacle, Surjewala said, whether the war for postsis undermining the position of the party to the extent where we end up helping the cause of our opposition?...Whether the difference of opinion and the quest for position has become so bitter that we are harming or cutting the very tree, the Congress, on which we are sitting? Thats the question each one of us needs to answer and introspect. It is not a question of Punjab, Uttarakhand or Goa alone. Leaders and workers in every part of the country will have to think whether the animosity towards a colleague, the quest for a post is going to strengthen the opponent, he said. Surjewala said the CWC will discuss all issues threadbare as they have to do course correction, have to do introspection, have to find a way ahead and ensure that people centric issues continue to be relevant in our society. Follow latest updates of Assembly Elections 2022 Though Congress did not do well in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress feels that it is on a resurrection path in the state with Surjewala saying Priyanka Gandhi Vadras campaign has put the party in every nook and corner of the state. He said the party resurrected in UP but they could not convert it into seats. He said Channi was chosen as the new leader, a son of the soil who is honest, but they could not overcome the anti-incumbency generated by Amarinder Singhs regime. Surjewala also said the Congress was the only party that referred to real peoples issues but the party concedes that it could not succeed in capitalising on it. My temporary failure to put peoples issues in the imagination of people is not the failure of the issuesWe need to introspect, reimagine and re-examine ourselves. The CWC will provide a way forward, he said. Check out latest DH videos on Assembly elections 2022 here The 2022 Uttar Pradesh poll outcome will be remembered for Yogi Adityanath's record-breaking victory- as he becomes the first chief minister to win a second consecutive term after completing a full five years in office. The results will also go down in the annals of history when the Samajwadi Party (SP) recorded its best-ever performance in UP elections romping home with 32 per cent votes. The other big story of this election is the meltdown of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), registering its worst performance in terms of vote-share since 1989. But those were formative years when within four years of its formation, the BSP could boast of having garnered close to 10 per cent votes. Also Read Uttar Pradesh poll verdict a lesson, says BSP chief Mayawati Four years later, the party was in power in alliance with Mulayam Singh Yadav's SP, winning 11 per cent votes. By 1995, Mayawati had become the youngest and the first Dalit chief minister of UP. The rise of the BSP in the country's political horizon was spectacular. In 2007, the BSP won a majority of its own with just over 30 per cent votes and 206 seats in a house of 403. However, its fall after the rise of the BJP in UP after the 2014 elections has been equally precipitous. From 22.23 per cent votes in the 2017 elections, the party's vote share has fallen by almost 10 per cent to a shade below 13 per cent. Where did the committed BSP voter go? In terms of absolute numbers, UP has the highest percentage of Dalit votes. The 23 per cent of the electorate comprises about 12 to 13 per cent Jatavs. Smaller Dalit communities, such as Pasis, Valmikis, Khatiks, Gonds together make for the remaining 10 per cent. Other parties, especially the BJP, have made a concerted effort to win over this 10 per cent over the last seven years. The party made tangible gains as some of these castes recoiled towards the BJP against the Jatav dominance in the BSP. But this sub-13 per cent vote share by the BSP is indicative of a much more significant churn in the entire Dalit community of Uttar Pradesh. It indicates a serious breach in Mayawati's command over a community that has stuck with the party through thick and thin. Take the case of the Budhana seat in the Muzaffarnagar district. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has won this constituency by a fair margin. But the BSP candidate here has registered less than five per cent votes. In 2017, the BSP nominee on this seat polled more than 47,000 or just over 23 per cent of the total votes polled. In the adjoining Charthawal seat, the BSP candidate, son of a former minister in UP, got just over 11 per cent votes when the last time the party polled more than 30,000 votes here. Eight-time MLA from the Mant constituency in Mathura, Shyam Sunder Sharma, who has won from here even on the Trinamool Congress symbol, has lost this seat contesting as a BSP candidate this time around. Also Read Why farmer agitation failed to stop BJP juggernaut in UP Aman Mani Tripathy, son of former UP minister Amar Mani Tripathy, has come a poor third from Nautanwa in Maharajgunj district on the BSP symbol. Tripathy junior won from here as an independent in the last polls. In Varanasi South, the BJP has won by more than 10,000. The BSP candidate has polled less than one per cent of the votes polled. Yes, less than one per cent o a meagre 1848 votes. A BSP candidate from Sultanpur district who has also served as a minister in the Mayawati government says, "It is beyond belief that even Jatav voters seemed to have shifted away from the party in large numbers." "I can say with some confidence that in my constituency, more than 60,000 Jatavs polled. And as a BSP candidate, the total votes I have got is less than 40 thousand," he rued. In Ambedkar Nagar, from where Mayawati has won the Lok Sabha polls on more than one occasion, the BSP has lost all five seats. This district on the borders of Purvanchal and Awadh has a very high concentration of Jatav votes. Even in the last BJP wave in 2017, the BSP could retain three out of five seats in the district. All have gone to the Samajwadi Party this time around. We return to the same point that we tried to raise right at the beginning of this piece- where did the BSP vote go? In many constituencies, even the BSP candidates are surprised at the turn of events. "In one polling booth where I once used to get 80 dedicated party votes, I got only 8," a candidate said. "Someone in the village asked me where the votes went. I told them in a lighter vein that they were all swept away by free ration," he added. The incremental vote that the SP seems to have weaned away from the BJP from the OBC sections seems to have been adequately compensated by a nearly 10 per cent shift of the BSP voters to the BJP. The BSP appeared to be holding on to its Jatav votes on the ground. However, the results show the attrition was much more widespread and profound. The net result is that the BJP increased its vote share by a good couple of percentage points. So, where does the BSP go from here? Will the new kids on the block, like the Azad Samaj Party, challenge Mayawati's grip over Dalit votes? (Sumit Pande is a journalist) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Three air strikes early on Friday in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least one person. Meanwhile, UNSC will hold an emergency meeting on alleged manufacture of biological weapons in Ukraine at the request of Moscow, whose credibility on chemical weapons was questioned during a session on Syria. The Ukrainian state nuclear power firm Energoatom has said that the company will no longer buy Russian nuclear fuel. Stay tuned to DH for live updates! Ukrainian state nuclear power firm Energoatom will no longer buy Russian nuclear fuel, the company said on Friday. Ukraine operates Soviet-era nuclear reactors, importing its fuel from Russia and the United States. Check out DH's latest videos Canada is studying ways to increase pipeline utilisation to boost crude exports as Europe seeks to reduce its dependence on Russian oil, the country's natural resources minister said on Thursday. Pipeline operator Enbridge Inc said in a statement it was in talks with the government "about how the industry can help relieve the current energy crisis". Most of Canada's crude exports travel to the United States on Enbridge's Mainline system, with another 590,000 barrels a day flowing on TC Energy's Keystone pipeline. TC Energy did not respond to a request for comment. "We are looking at whether our pipeline network is fully utilised," Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a telephone interview. He said the aim was to make an "incremental" increase in exports to Europe. Canada exports more than 4 million barrels a day of oil to the United States and a small portion of that is then re-exported to other countries. "Both our liquids and natural gas systems are at or near capacity but we're exploring options that may be taken to provide more energy to the US and Europe. That includes using export facilities on the Gulf Coast for crude and natural gas," Enbridge said. After Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks ago, Canada and other nations said they would no longer import Russian crude. On Thursday, European Union leaders are set to agree to cut their reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Wilkinson said he would travel to Paris in two weeks for a meeting of the International Energy Agency, where he would get a better idea of Europe's future needs. The war in Ukraine has "shown in all of the European countries that dependence on Russian oil and gas cannot continue," he said, adding that down the line the discussion with Europe is about "the transition from natural gas to hydrogen." The government is conducting the analysis to ramp up pipeline flows together with industry, Wilkinson said, adding that he expected to "have an answer in terms of what Canada can do" as soon as next week. Even if Canada is able to increase pipeline export capacity, many producers have been reluctant to adjust spending plans to significantly boost output. However, Suncor Energy's chief executive, Mark Little, said earlier this week he expects Canadian production to climb by a "few hundred thousand" barrels this year as prices soar. Canadian oil companies exported a record amount of crude out of the US Gulf Coast at the end of 2021, most of which went to big importers India, China and South Korea. Watch latest videos by DH here: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that there were some "positive shifts" in talks between Russian and Ukraine, two weeks into Moscow's military campaign in the country. "There are certain positive shifts, negotiators from our side reported to me," Putin told his Belarus counterpart Alexander Lukashenko during a televised meeting in Moscow. He said negotiations are "now being held on an almost daily basis." Watch the latest DH Videos here: NATO must not allow Russia's invasion of Ukraine to spill over into a war between the alliance and Moscow, its chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday, again ruling out a no-fly zone. "We have a responsibility to prevent this conflict from escalating beyond Ukraine's borders to becoming a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO," the NATO secretary general told AFP in an interview on the sidelines of a forum in Turkey, saying a no-fly zone over Ukraine would "most likely lead to a full war between NATO and Russia". Check out latest DH videos here The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday on alleged manufacture of biological weapons in Ukraine at the request of Moscow, whose credibility on chemical weapons was questioned during a session on Syria. Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, which has faced an assault by tens of thousands of Russian troops since February 24. Both Washington and Kyiv have denied the allegations, with the United States saying they were a sign that Moscow could soon use the weapons itself. Also Read | Air strikes in Ukraine's Dnipro kill one Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russia's allegations in a video address on Thursday, saying, "No one is developing any chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction" in Ukraine. Western states have charged that Russia is employing a ruse by accusing their opponents and the United states of developing biological and chemical weapons to lay the ground for their possible use in Ukraine -- something Moscow has been accused of doing in Syria. At a monthly Security Council meeting on the use of chemical weapons in Syria -- a case that remains unresolved and continues to suffer from a UN-denounced lack of information from Damascus -- both Washington and London raised Ukraine. "The Russian Federation has repeatedly spread disinformation regarding Syria's repeated use of chemical weapons," said the deputy US envoy to the UN, Richard Mills. Also Read | Russia, Ukraine ready to work with UN nuclear watchdog "The recent web of lies that Russia has cast in an attempt to justify the premeditated and unjustified war it has undertaken against Ukraine, should make clear, once and for all, that Russia also cannot be trusted when it talks about chemical weapon use in Syria." Mills' UK counterpart, James Kariuki, denounced Moscow's attack on Ukraine and said the "parallels with Russian action in Syria are clear." "Regrettably, the comparison also extends to chemical weapons, as we see the familiar specter of Russian chemical weapons disinformation raising its head in Ukraine." In 2018, Moscow accused the United States of secretly conducting biological weapons experiments in a laboratory in Georgia, another former Soviet republic that, like Ukraine, has ambitions to join NATO and the European Union. The Security Council meeting Friday is slated to begin at 11 am (1600 GMT). Check out the latest videos from DH: World wants to know what risks US biolabs pose Chinadaily.com.cn) 17:30, March 11, 2022 Without any evidence, the United States has repeatedly claimed that the novel coronavirus leaked from a laboratory in China, even after an international team of experts concluded it was "extremely unlikely" after conducting in-depth and independent field research in the country. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and the US is facing calls to open some of its biolabs in Ukraine for international investigation, after Russia claimed its forces had found documents showing the Ukrainian health ministry had ordered the destruction of samples of plague, cholera, anthrax and other pathogens before Feb 24, calling it "an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programs" financed by the Pentagon. The Pentagon does have cooperation with Ukraine under the framework of its so-called Biological Threat Reduction Program. But that cooperation is not under the supervision of any reliable international third party. Therefore, the call by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, during a news conference on Tuesday, for the US to ensure the 26 biological laboratories it controls in Ukraine do not threaten the health and safety of the Ukrainian people is fully justified. The operation of the labs where lethal pathogens are reportedly developed and stored remains opaque. With war engulfing the country where the labs are located, the US is duty-bound to ensure any pathogens that may exist in the labs do not pose a risk. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, Statement Department spokesman Ned Price and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki all rebutted Russia's accusations as "absurd", "laughable" and "false" on Wednesday, without providing any substantial facts about these labs. Such glib dismissals cannot dispel the international community's concerns about the potential safety threats posed by these labs. And the haste with which they tried to kick the ball back in accusing Russia of using this as an attempt to justify its "horrific actions" in Ukraine has only further raised people's doubts about the reason why they want to quickly divert the public's attention from the labs in Ukraine, which are only the tip of the iceberg of the 336 biolabs the US controls overseas. Particularly since the US has been thwarting the United Nations' attempts to build an auditing and supervision system under the Biological Weapons Convention by refusing to join it. The US is obliged to not only ensure that its biological laboratories pose no safety risks but also disclose details of their purpose. The best way to refute a rumor is to tell the truth. The world deserves the right to know what the US has been up to in these labs. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) President Biden hailed the bravery of the Ukrainian people on Friday and vowed to keep helping them in a phone call with charismatic President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As I do every time we speak, I told him the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they bravely fight to defend their country, Biden said. Advertisement And they are doing that, Biden added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP) The White House said the call focused on the U.S. effort to ramp up aid and to help Ukraine military hold off the Russia attack. Advertisement Biden highlighted how the United States is continuing to surge security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine, the White House said in a statement. Biden also updated Zelenskyy on the new trade sanctions against Russia that were announced, including revoking so-called most favored nation status and banning imports of signature products like Russian vodka, diamonds and seafood. Zelenskyy has won worldwide plaudits for his courageous leadership amid the invasion. He has refused offers to be evacuated to safety outside Ukraine, saying he prefers to stay and fight alongside his people. Although Biden and Zelenskyy have spoken regularly since the crisis erupted, the Ukrainian leader has recently started to call on the West to provide more direct military assistance. The Ukraine military badly wants to be given fighter jets from Poland that they say could help them prevent Russias brutal aerial bombardment campaign. But the U.S. is seeking a way to allow Ukraine to use the jets without the direct involvement of U.S. or NATO bases, which could be seen as a major escalation by the Kremlin. Biden stressed for the umpteenth time that American forces will not fight Russia in Ukraine, saying that any such intervention would amount to starting World War III. An Air India flight from Poland's Rzeszow carrying students evacuated from northeastern Ukrainian city Sumy, landed in Delhi on Friday morning, officials said. The flight had taken off from Rzeszow around 11.30 pm (IST) on Thursday and landed in Delhi at 5.45 am on Friday, they said. India has sent three flights to Poland to bring back 600 students evacuated from Sumy. Read | India on side of peace, says PM Modi on Ukraine war Another flight is expected to land in Delhi around 8.40 am, officials said. According to the details shared by the students with PTI, the first flight was for first, second and third-year students. The second flight is for fourth and fifth-year students and the third is for those with pets, fifth and sixth-year students and for any other who may have been left behind, they said. The Indian government is carrying out a challenging evacuation exercise under Operation Ganga to help stranded Indians leave Ukraine. The operation to evacuate the 600 students from Sumy began on Tuesday morning. Watch latest videos by DH here: A Naxal commander, carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district on Friday morning, an official said. A jawan of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was also injured in the gunfight, they said. The skirmish took place at around 8.30 am at a forest near Kaika and Mosla villages under Naimed police station limits when a joint team of the security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI. The personnel belonging to the DRG and 222nd battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were involved in the operation. Near Mosla, over 450 km away from capital Raipur, a group of armed ultras opened fire on the patrolling team leading to the gun-battle. After the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a male Naxal along with a 12 bore rifle and Maoist-related material were recovered from the spot, he said. "The killed ultra was identified as Ritesh Punem, who was active as commander of Sendra Local Organisation Squad (LOS) of Maoists," the IG said, adding that he carried a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head. "A DRG jawan sustained minor injury in the incident and his condition is said to be stable," he added. Check out DH's latest videos Elated over BJPs astounding poll performance in UP and three other states, party legislators here attended the budget session in the Assembly in saffron attire on Friday and chanted Jai Shree Ram slogans on its premises. Heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for "effective implementation of welfare programmes" in the country and UP, the saffron camp legislators said ceaseless efforts by the two leaders have helped curb crime. Some of them expressed confidence that the saffron wave will also sweep Jharkhand in the next assembly polls. Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, BJP legislator Amit Mandal said, "The agenda of Hindutva and development worked well in Uttar Pradesh. The party will fight the upcoming assembly polls in Jharkhand with the same agenda." The BJP's Jharkhand unit had on Thursday congratulated the party leadership over the saffron camp's victory in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, asserting that the people of the four states wanted a "Congress-mukt Bharat". Taking a dig at the saffron party legislators over their chants in the Assembly, cabinet minister Mithilesh Kumar Thakur said, "BJP MLAs should be sent to temples and priests instead should be asked to attend the session as they would hold better discussions in the interest of the state. Check out latest DH videos here Emotions ran high as Indian students, evacuated from the embattled Ukrainian city of Sumy, came out of the Delhi airport on Friday and hugged their parents, who had been waiting there for over five to six hours to see their children. The scene was littered with teary-eyed parents and family members, some of whom distributed sweets and garlanded their children while others welcomed them with bouquets and hugs upon their arrival at gate numbers 4 and 5 of the Indira Gandhi International airport. Slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Modi hai to Mumkin Hai" were also raised by some family members of students who returned from war-hit Ukraine. An Air India flight from Poland's Rzeszow carrying the 240 students landed in Delhi on Friday morning. The flight had taken off from Rzeszow around 11.30 pm on Thursday and landed in Delhi at 5.45 am on Friday, officials said. Also Read IAF, IndiGo flights carrying students evacuated from Ukraine's Sumy land in Delhi The evacuees from Sumy were from different states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Punjab and Haryana. Lalit Kumar travelled over 600 km from Chamba in Himachal Pradesh to reach IGI airport to receive his son Dheeraj Kumar, who was stuck in Ukraine's Sumy following the fierce Russian military offensive. As soon as Dheeraj came out of the airport, his parents and sister hugged him and started crying. Dheeraj's father also distributed sweets to everyone present there and garlanded his son. "I came all the way from Chamba and have been waiting here since midnight. But now since my son has returned safely, all my pain has gone," Kumar told PTI. Some students also thanked the government, the Indian embassy and their university who helped them get out of Ukraine. "We thank the Indian government and the embassy which carried out this sensitive Operation Ganga to evacuate us from Ukraine. We also thank our university in Sumy which provided us food and water during the hardship," Lavish Kalal of Banswara in Rajasthan said. Some states, such as Chattisgarh and Gujarat, also set up their help desks for evacuees from Ukraine at the airport. Click here to follow live updates of Ukraine-Russia crisis Tanvi Chaudhary, one of the evacuees and a resident of Rudrapur in Uttarakhand, could not control herself and ran to hug her brother as soon as she saw him at the airport. "I can't believe that I made it to my country and am now reunited with my family. It still feels like a dream," Chaudhary said, as her eyes brimmed with tears. For Ishita Pandita, the wait of over five hours was finally over as her brother Dhruv returned to India with other evacuees in another Indigo flight. "The flight was delayed by around four hours and we had been waiting here since morning. My joy knows no bounds today and the wait is finally over as the flight has landed. My brother will finally be with us after a long wait," she said while taking out a garland and a bouquet from her bag. The Indian government is carrying out the most delicate and challenging evacuation exercise under Operation Ganga to help stranded Indians leave Ukraine. The operation to evacuate the 600 students from Sumy began on Tuesday morning. India has sent three flights to Poland to bring back a big last group of 600 students evacuated from Sumy. Watch the latest DH Videos here: With President Vladimir Putin's military operations against Ukraine prompting the United States and the other western nations to impose sanctions on his country, India has alerted its citizens studying in Russia about disruption of banking services and air connectivity between the two nations. Even as India just completed evacuation of its citizens from war-torn Ukraine, it issued 'guidelines' for its citizens studying in Russia. Certain disruption of banking services in Russia and direct flight connectivity from Russia to India is, however, taking place. If students have concerns regarding these aspects and would like to travel back to India, they may consider doing so, the Embassy of India in Moscow stated in the 'guideline' posted on its website. The disruptions in banking services and air connectivity are apparently caused by the sanctions the US and other western nations imposed on Russia in response to its military operations in Ukraine. Read | No security concern over Indians in Russia: Embassy The Embassy of India in Moscow, however, reassured Indians studying in Russian institutions that it saw no security reasons for them to fly back home. The embassy stated that it was in regular contact with relevant authorities in Moscow with respect to the safety and security of the citizens of India in Russia, including the students. It, however, noted that a number of universities had informed it that they had already shifted to the online distance learning mode. Students are advised to exercise their discretion in consultation with their respective universities on the appropriate course of action regarding continuation of their academic activities without disruption, the Embassy of India in Moscow stated in the guidelines issued recently. Meanwhile, the Operation Ganga, which India launched to evacuate its citizens from war-torn Ukraine, almost ended on Friday. Two aircraft chartered by the government arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi with 461 evacuees on board. An Indian Air Force aircraft carrying 213 passengers also landed at the Hindon air base. New Delhi did not clarify if it would operate more aircraft under Operation Ganga to bring home citizens of India from Ukraine. A source in Delhi said that almost all Indians who had wanted to leave Ukraine had been evacuated through Romania, Poland, Slovak Republic, Hungary and Moldova. Watch latest videos by DH here: India on Friday admitted that one of the missiles in its arsenal had landed in Pakistan after being fired accidentally earlier this week. New Delhi ordered a probe into the accidental firing of the missile, even as Prime Minister Imran Khan's government in Islamabad summoned India's acting envoy to Pakistan and conveyed its strong protest over the incident. The envoys of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are also likely to be briefed about the incident soon by the senior diplomats of Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, alleged that the accidental firing of the missile from India had posed a very serious threat to the passengers of the international flights operated by the carriers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Ministry of Defence of the Government of India did not divulge the details about the missile while expressing regret over its accidental firing. A source in New Delhi, however, said that it was one of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles manufactured in India in collaboration with Russia. Also Read India says it accidentally fired missile into Pakistan The missile was unarmed though. New Delhi did not make it clear if it had alerted Islamabad about the accidental firing of the missile, but Pakistan's air defence system did not take it down after it was launched from India and entered into the airspace of the neighbouring country. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi stated that a technical malfunction during the course of a routine maintenance had led to the accidental firing of the missile last Wednesday. The Government of India has taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry, the MoD stated in a press release on Friday. The missile had landed at Mian Chunnu city in Punjab in Pakistan just seven minutes after entering the territory of the neighbouring country. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident, the spokesperson of the MoD stated in New Delhi. Pakistan's senior diplomats conveyed to New Delhi's acting envoy to Islamabad on Friday that the imprudent launch of the flying object by India not only caused damage to civilian property but also put at risk human lives on the ground. Also Read | Pakistan summons Indian diplomat over accidentally-fired missile The flight path of the flying object launched from India endangered several domestic and international flights within the airspace of Pakistan and could have resulted in a serious aviation accident as well as civilian casualties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the neighbouring country's government said. Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia of the Pakistan Air Force briefed journalists in Islamabad about the incident on Thursday. He said that when Pakistan's air defence systems had picked up the incoming missile launched from India, several commercial airlines were in the area along two active airway routes. If you look at the speed and height of the projectile, it was 40,000 feet high, and the airlines were between 35,000 to 42,000 feet. This could have been very detrimental to the safety of passengers, a PTI report from Islamabad was quoted saying. The projectile travelled 124 kilometres in three minutes and forty-four seconds after entering the territory of Pakistan The defence ministry said the Government of India has taken a serious view of the incident and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry into it. "On March 9, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," it said in a statement. "It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident," it added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A Cheetah helicopter of the Army crashed near Line of Control (LoC) in Tulail sector of north Kashmirs Bandipora district on Friday, killing the co-pilot and critically injuring the pilot, officials said. The helicopter, on a routine mission to evacuate an ailing soldier from a forward post, lost contact at Gujran, Baraub area of Tulail, 200 kms from here, they said. A search operation was immediately launched by the Army and rescue helicopters were pressed into the service. The wreckage of the crashed helicopter was found in the snow-bound Gujran Nallah, while the pilot and his co-pilot, who was injured in the crash, were immediately evacuated to the Command Hospital, Udhampur, officials said. However, co-pilot, Major Sankalp Yadav died of his injuries at the hospital while the injured pilot is critical, they said and added the slain Major was commissioned in 2015 and was a resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Last year in September, two pilots were killed in a similar accident after an Army helicopter landed on the hills of Shiv Dhara near Patnitop in the Udhampur district of Jammu. The Cheetah helicopter is a high-performance chopper designed for operation over a very wide range of weight, centre of gravity and altitude conditions. The five-seater Cheetah helicopter holds the world record in high altitude flying among all categories of helicopters. Check out DH's latest videos Amid a war between Russia and Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's several needs are connected to the involved countries but it is on the side of peace and hopes that all problems get resolved through dialogue. He also hit out at opposition parties for raising questions about the government's efforts to evacuate stranded Indians from war-hit Ukraine. "These people also tried to regionalise 'Operation Ganga'. These people have given a different colour of regionalism and communalism to every scheme - it is a major worry for India's future," the prime minister said. Addressing BJP workers after his party's massive win in four state elections, Modi said, "The ongoing war is affecting every country across the world directly and indirectly. India is on peace's side and hopes that all problems are resolved with deliberations." Read | NATO is 'stronger' and Russia 'weaker' because of Putin: US "India has a connection with the countries involved in the war - economically, security wise, education wise and politically as well. India's several needs are connected to these countries," he said. The price of crude oil, palm oil and sunflower oil that India imports is also rising very fast in the international market, Modi noted. Be it coal, cooking gas or fertilizer, their prices are rising across the world and due to the war, the prices are rising across the globe, he said, adding that particularly the developing nations are facing problems. "In this global context, amidst these difficulties, if we look at the budget this time, a belief arises that the country is moving ahead on the path of the self-reliant India campaign. This sentiment is further fuelled by this budget," Modi said. In this uncertain environment of upheaval, the people of India, particularly states like Uttar Pradesh have shown their far-sightedness, he said, adding that the way the voters have given their mandate for stable governments in these polls signifies that democracy runs in the veins of Indians. The prime minister said Indians are working for the country in every way possible, coupled with responsibility. "However, there are some people who are lowering the standards of politics in our country. The world is appreciating our efforts to vaccinate but on this sacred work, India's vaccine has been questioned. "It is unfortunate that even when thousands of Indian students, Indian citizens were stranded in Ukraine, there was talk of breaking the morale of the country. Work was being done to increase the worries of the families of those stuck there," he added. There were some people increasing the insecurities among the students there and increasing the worries of their families here, Modi said in an apparent attack at the Opposition which had been critical of the government's evacuation strategy. Over 17,000 Indians, mostly students, have been evacuated from Ukraine so far under the 'Operation Ganga'. Watch latest videos by DH here: Crediting Narendra Modi for the BJP's victory in four assembly elections, BJP chief J P Nadda on Thursday said the people's massive support to the party shows their stamp of approval for the prime minister's schemes and policies. Addressing BJP workers from the party's headquarters here, Nadda credited the prime minister for "changing" the culture of politics in India, saying elections are now fought on the basis of "report card politics". "Today, the results of the elections have come unilaterally in favour of the BJP, you all have come in such a large number in the order of its victory march. On behalf of crores of BJP workers, I welcome and congratulate the prime minister," Nadda said. "In Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi has been blessed for the fourth time consecutively -- 2014 Lok Sabha, 2017 Vidhan Sabha, 2019 Lok Sabha and now, in the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections," the BJP president said. Read | Holi has come a week early: PM on BJP's sweep in polls Underlining that there are many firsts in the election results, Nadda said it is for the first time in 37 years in Uttar Pradesh that a party is forming the government after serving its full term, and the BJP's vote share has also increased. Similarly in Uttarakhand, since the state was formed, governments have changed in every election. But this time, the state has voted for a party to continue for the first time in the state's history, Nadda said. In Manipur, he said the party is set to form a government with clear majority, and in Goa, it will form government for the third time. Lauding Modi, Nadda said the prime minister has ushered in politics of "report card, development and people's empowerment, replacing politics of nepotism, corruption, crime, casteism, communalism and regionalism." "Prime Minister Modi has changed the culture of politics in India. Now elections are fought on the basis of report card," he said. Stating that elections are not purely arithmetic, Nadda said it is more of a chemistry. "The poor and needy people, women, youth, backward classes of India are all strengthening their chemistry with Prime Minister Modi," he said. He also praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for bringing what he described as rule of law in the state and claimed that fear ruled it five years back with terrorists and criminals being patronised by the previous dispensation. Watch latest videos by DH here: Fresh from an emphatic win in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is opening a new battlefront with the BJP in the national capital over the deferment of elections to three municipal corporations due in April on the pretext of unification of the civic bodies, saying the ruling party at the Centre is taking such a course as it is scared of an AAP wave that will wash it away. While it did not spell out clearly whether it is in agreement with unifying the North, South and East Delhi municipal corporations, the AAP is questioning why the BJP-ruled Centre is initiating such a move just an hour before the State Election Commission was to announce the dates for the poll. AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said during a digital address, "for seven-eight years, the BJP has been in power at the Centre. If they wanted to bring the three corporations together, why didn't they take action earlier? This comes just one hour before the SEC was to make an announcement. People say the deferment of the polls in the pretext of unification is just a pretext. They say BJP feels there is an AAP wave and the BJP knows it will be washed away. They want to avoid it." Also Read | What turned fortunes for the AAP in Punjab? "What does election have to do with unification of the three civic bodies? The new councillors chosen after the polls will sit in their respective offices if there are three civic bodies. If the three bodies are merged, they will sit together," he said urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi "with folded hands" to ensure that the elections take place. Kejriwal also questioned the State Election Commission for coming under pressure from the Centre to defer the polls. "Governments come and go. The country is important and not political parties. If we pressure the Election Commission, it weakens institutions. We should not let the institutions weaken since it weakens democracy and the country," he said. Also read: AAP wins Punjab emphatically, Congress tastes defeat The Delhi SEC was to announce the dates for the polls at 5 pm on Wednesday but it said it has received a communication from the Centre about its plan to reunite the three municipalities through a Bill in Parliament during the second leg of the Budget Session starting March 14. It deferred the announcement saying the SEC was studying the communication from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and has sought legal advice on if it can still hold polls for the three civic bodies. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated in 2012 and two civic polls were held in 2012 and 2017. Once the reunification process is complete, all the three existing municipal corporations in Delhi will be "dissolved". The election will have to be conducted within six months from the dissolution and till then, the administration will be carried out by the central government officials. Watch the latest DH Videos here: BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that Washingtons dedication to the collective defense of NATO is ironclad as she visited allied Romania, which has experienced a flood of refugees from neighboring Ukraine amid Russias invasion there. We take seriously, and are prepared to act on, the words we speak when we say, An attack on one is an attack against all, Harris said during a news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. Advertisement Harris also thanked Romania, a Balkan country of 19 million residents, for welcoming tens of thousands of displaced people from Ukraine as of earlier this week. The Ukrainian refugee crisis is expected to only become more challenging in the days and weeks ahead, and Harris said the Romanian people have been extraordinary in the generosity and the courage you have shown in this moment. US Vice President Kamala Harris holds a press conference following a meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at Cotroceni Palace in Otopeni, Romania, Friday, March 11, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AP) She warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of engaging in serious diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine. And she reiterated that Americans should be prepared to endure higher gas prices as the U.S. and its allies punish Russia, a major global oil supplier, with economic sanctions for the invasion. Advertisement There is a price to pay for democracy. Gotta stand with your friends, Harris said, adding that sometimes its difficult, often it aint easy. Iohannis said that NATO needs to fundamentally rethink its approach to its eastern flank, and he spoke with Harris about enhancing the alliances presence there. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis greets US Vice President Kamala Harris as they attend a welcoming ceremony at Cotroceni Palace, the Romanian Presidency headquarters, in Bucharest, Romania, March 11, 2022. (DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images) NATO will act without hesitation to defend each and every allied state, including, obviously, Romania, Iohannis said. It is a scenario that all of us want to avoid. The southeastern European country of Romania had taken in more than 84,000 displaced people as of Tuesday, according to United Nations data. Other countries on NATOs eastern flank, including Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia, have also welcomed tens of thousands of refugees. The Pentagon announced last month it was deploying a Stryker squadron of about 1,000 additional soldiers to Romania, a NATO member, as the Biden administration looks to bolster the military alliances presence on NATOs eastern flank. U.S. officials remain concerned about Romanias vulnerability in the midst of Russian activity in the Black Sea. The Delhi High Court Friday asked the Centre to come with a clear stand as to what objection it has in fully re-opening the Nizamuddin Markaz, where the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held in March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and has remained shut since then. The court sought to know from the Centre why it was against reopening it fully daily when it was agreeable to open it during festivals. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri asked the counsel for the Centre to apprise the court as to what objection they have in re-opening all the floors of the building when the authorities are agreeable to open the first floor of the masjid for devotees to perform their prayers. If the first floor can be used for 'namaz' then other floors can also be used for it. You (Centre's counsel) please take instructions as to in case there is no objection to the opening of the first floor, what objection may be there for the opening of the remaining portion, dehors your submission that you have no objection as far as festivals are concerned. Why can't it be opened every day, the court said. The court was hearing an application by the Delhi Waqf Board seeking to open the mosque in view of Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan in March and April. Senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose, representing the Delhi Waqf Board, submitted that even when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, the predecessor bench had allowed 50 people to offer namaz after which a joint inspection was conducted and the mosque premises was demarcated. He said it was a congested area and allowing all devotees on the first floor is actually creating Covid hazard when you want all devotees to throng in one floor when seven floors are available with you. I don't understand the logic and reason of the Union of India to argue like this. Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the managing committee of the mosque, said "there is no reason why any restriction should be placed" and "why the mosque premises should not be open when no other religious places are closed." The Centre, in its recent affidavit, has opposed fully re-opening the Nizamuddin Markaz and stated that a few people may be allowed to offer prayers on the upcoming religious occasions. Government counsel Rajat Nair submitted that there was no objection in allowing people to offer namaz on the first floor, as per the DDMA guidelines, but if they want all the floors to be reopened then they have an objection as it was the final relief which cannot be granted at an interim stage. The judge said, today both the claimants (waqf board and managing committee) are before the court and they both jointly seek reopening of the area which has been identified as the place where devotees can come and offer namaz. You also identify that from the basement till the fourth floor it is the place and there is no restriction in the numbers now, what objection is there for other floors? The court listed the matter for March 14 and asked the Centre's counsel to make his stand clear on that day while adding, I want some clarity on your submissions. The counsel for the Delhi Waqf Board had earlier said that the mosque, which is under the lock of Delhi Police, should be opened as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has now lifted all restrictions that were imposed on account of the pandemic. Several FIRs were registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, the Foreigners Act and various provisions of the penal code in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat event held at the Nizamuddin Markaz and the subsequent stay of foreigners there during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. In its application filed through advocate Waqeeh Shafiq, the petitioner has said that last year during these two occasions -- Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan, the high court had permitted prayers in the mosque. It has said the current strain of COVID-19, Omicron, was not as severe and fatal as the Delta variant and as the conditions have improved, physical hearings of all courts have resumed, schools, clubs, bars, and markets have also reopened, therefore, there is no impediment to direct reopening of this waqf property. The application was filed in the Board's petition which has sought the reopening of the premises and contended that even after unlock-1 guidelines permitted religious places outside containment zones to be opened, the Markaz -- comprising the Masjid Bangle Wali, Madarsa Kashif-ul-Uloom, and attached hostel -- continues to be locked up. It has stated that even if the premises were part of any criminal investigation or trial, keeping it "under lock as an out of bound area" was a "primitive method" of the enquiry process. Last year, the court had questioned the Centre as to how long it intended to keep the Nizamuddin Markaz locked, saying it can't be kept forever. In its affidavit affirmed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, the Centre has told the court that it was necessary and incumbent to preserve the Markaz property as the investigation in the case registered for violation of the Covid-19 protocols has cross borders implications and involves nation's diplomatic relationship with other countries. On April 15, 2021, the court had allowed 50 people to offer namaz five times a day at Nizamuddin Markaz during Ramzan, saying there is no direction in the DDMA notification to close down places of worship. Check out latest DH videos here Terming as worrisome the Union government imposing regressive principles in the syllabus, making use of education coming under the concurrent list of the Constitution, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday pitched the need for the subject to be brought back to the state list to prevent such moves. Addressing a conference of vice-chancellors of universities from southern states, Stalin also told heads of the varsities to keep in mind that people want the institutions to follow the education policy of the respective state, in an indirect retort to Governor R N Ravi, who, in January, sought to know why students from Tamil Nadu are being deprived of learning Hindi. Vice-chancellors play an important role in the functioning of universities and setting standards for the institution. You should function in a way that scientific thoughts are inculcated in the minds of students. It is deplorable that the Union government makes use of education being in the concurrent list to push regressive principles, Stalin said. Moving education back to the state list will only be the apt solution to stop this. This is not the first time that Stalin has demanded that states be given more rights by the Union Government; on February 28, he had sought the support of parties like Congress in amending the Constitution to ensure a greater say for states. Also Read Centre to focus on nurturing IT entrepreneurs in North East: Official The DMK government has proposed a State Education Policy as it feels the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not augur well for states like Tamil Nadu. DMK interprets the third language formula proposed in the NEP as indirect imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. Talking about higher education in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said 19 universities from the state have found a place in the national ranking of institutions while 33 colleges are in the list of the first 100. It is a matter of pride that Loyola College in Chennai ranks the third in the country, he said. While the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in the country is just 27.1 per cent, it is 51.4 per cent in Tamil Nadu. This is an achievement. Tamil Nadu currently has 1,553 colleges; 52 government and private universities and 1,096 technical institutes that pave the way for the states continued growth in the education sector. After we came to power, our government has allotted Rs 5,369 crore for the higher education department. Our focus will be to take higher education to every nook and corner of the state in the next 10 years, Stalin said, asking the VCs to ensure students are trained with future employment in mind. Watch the latest DH Videos here: At a time when the resumption of studies remains a major concern for thousands of Indian students repatriated from Ukraine, the Kerala government has decided to engage the state Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department to take steps to coordinate activities in this regard. The state government will also take global peace initiatives by conducting seminars and discussions with the participation of global peace workers and thinkers. These were among the highlights of the state budget presented by Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Friday. While Rs. 10 crore was earmarked for assisting students from Ukraine resume studies, Rs. 2 crore was earmarked for the proposed peace initiatives. Each one of us has to contribute our small bit to ensure peace and hence the global peace initiatives are being planned, he said. So far 3123 Malayalis from Ukraine returned to Kerala. A data bank of Malayali students studying abroad would be prepared, said the budget. The budget also proposed the production of ethanol and beverages with low alcoholic content from fruits and various agricultural produces like tapioca. Winemaking units would be also encouraged to promote the agricultural sector. In the transport infrastructure sector, apart from earmarking Rs. 2,000 crore for the government's flagship semi-high-speed rail project, it was also proposed to set up an airstrip network connecting tourist spots. Preliminary steps like preparation of DPR and land acquisition for airstrips at Kasargod, Wayanad and Idukki would be initiated and an amount of Rs. 4.5 crore was earmarked for the purpose. The first paperless budget presented in Kerala also witnessed major announcements in the technology sector. Initiating steps to expedite the introduction of 5G networks in the state, setting up of four IT corridors, a new IT park at Kannur and satellite IT parks were announced in the budget. A total of two lakh new jobs could be created in the IT sector and the IT exports from the state could be doubled in the next five years, said the minister. The budget also mooted major reforms in the plantation and agriculture sector. Pomiculture would be brought under the purview of plantations by amending the plantation laws and a new farm plan that aims at promoting a multi-crop system was also announced. A higher allocation of Rs. 881.96 crore was made for the agriculture sector Enhancing the fair value of land by ten per cent, increasing land tax, one-per cent increase in motor vehicle tax on motorcycles costing up to Rs. 2 lakh and green tax on various categories of vehicles that are over 15 years were among the new tax proposals in the budget. The green tax on vehicles above 15 years old is increased by 50 per cent. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the budget aims at enhancing the standard of living in the state to that of developed countries in the next 25 years despite many odd factors. Opposition leader V D Satheesan of Congress said that 70 per cent of the announcements in the last budget were not yet implemented and many of the announcements in the last budget were repeated in this budget also. Check out the latest videos from DH: Amidst reports that a Malayali ISIS operative was killed in Afghanistan, sources in Kerala police said that the incident was reported much earlier. As per reports quoting Islamic State Khorasan Province publication 'Voice of Khorasan', Najeeb Ali, a 23-year-old engineering student from Kerala was killed in Afghanistan. Kerala police sources said that the youth hailing from Malappuram district in Kerala reportedly went to Afghanistan in 2017 and joined ISIS and his death was also reported much earlier. So far over 100 youths from Kerala, including professional qualified men and women, reportedly joined the extremist outfits from Kerala and many were reported killed. According to Voice of Khorasan, Najeeb was killed after soon after his marriage was fixed with a woman from a Pakistani family. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Buggana Rajendernath has presented the state budget 2022-23 with an outlay of Rs 2,56,256 crore, with welfare schemes receiving major allocations. While the revenue expenditure was pegged at Rs 2,08,261 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 47,996 crores, the estimated revenue deficit is around Rs 17,036 crore and the fiscal deficit is around Rs 48, 724 crore. The fiscal deficit would be around 3.64 per cent of the GSDP, whereas the revenue deficit works out to be about 1.27 per cent of GSDP. The Children and Gender Budget was allocated Rs 4,322.86 crore, Rs 18,518 crore is given for the SC sub-plan, Rs 6,145 crore for ST sub-plan, Rs 29,143 core for BC sub-plan, Rs 3,661 crore for welfare of minorities and Rs 3,537 crore for Kapu community welfare. Also Read Maharashtra government proposes African safari at Nagpur zoo in state budget School education is allocated Rs 27,706 crore, which is 12.52 per cent higher than the previous year's. Amma Vodi, a financial incentive scheme for mothers sending their children to schools, was allocated Rs 6,500 crore. Rs 3,500 crore is allocated for Mana Badi Nadu Nedu, the school infrastructure improvement programme. For the Pedalandariki Illu (housing for all) Rs 4,791.69 crore was allocated. The FM said that in the last three years, we have set in motion changes through Navaratnalu and welfare schemes as mentioned in the YSRCP manifesto, working for social inclusion in order to make our State a leader in the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2022-23 budget has allocated Rs 48,802.71 crores for DBT schemes while it was Rs 39,615.98 crores in the previous year. YSR Pension Kanuka got Rs 18,000.90 crores, YSR Rythu Bharosa Rs 3,900 crores, YSR Aasara Rs 6,400 crores, YSR Cheyuta Rs 4,235.95 crores, Jagananna Vidya Deevena Rs 2,500 crore, Jagananna Vasati Deevena Rs 2,083.32 crores, YSR - PM Fasal Bima Yojana Rs 1,802.04 crores and so on. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Three evacuation flights carrying the last batches of Indian nationals from Ukraine including around 600 students are set to arrive in India on Friday morning, people familiar with the development said. India has already brought back over 17,000 Indians, mostly students under the evacuation mission 'Operation Ganga'. The three flights are likely to be the last ones under the evacuation mission. Read | India on side of peace, says PM Modi on Ukraine war Around 600 Indian students, who were pulled out of the besieged Ukrainian city of Sumy, are arriving in Delhi on Friday morning, the people cited above said. The students, who were stranded in Sumy, were initially brought to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv from Poltava in central Ukraine on a train. Then they were taken to Poland. India has been bringing back its nationals from Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova after they crossed over to these countries from Ukraine through land border transit points. Ukraine had closed its airspace for civilian aircraft after Russia began the military operation. Watch latest videos by DH here: After the BJP's buoyed performance in the just-concluded Assembly polls in five states, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the saffron party would come to power with a full majority in Maharashtra during the 2024 Vidhan Sabha polls. We will come to power with full majority, said Fadnavis, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and former chief minister. Fadnavis, who was the BJPs in-charge for Goa polls, was given a grand welcome on Friday at the state BJP headquarters at Nariman Point after he returned from the coastal state. Fadnaviss counterpart in the Council Pravin Darekar, state BJP President Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Kapil Patil were present. Fadnavis also took a dig at Shiv Sena and NCP for their performance in the Goa polls. They have a contest with NOTA, he said. The performance of BJP in Uttar Pradesh has made it clear what the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls would be, he said, hailing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the next big political fight would be in Mumbai when the civic polls are held. We will free the BMC of bribery and corruption, he said, asking BJP workers to get to work. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Maharashtra government has planned an African-safari project a the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in the orange city of Nagpur with an outlay of Rs 100 crore. The government intends to conduct the country's first experiment to display wildlife from the African continent. For this, an African safari is proposed at Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoo, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance and Planning portfolios, announced in the state Budget 2022-23. Meanwhile, a leopard safari in Pune and a tiger safari in Chandrapur have also been planned. Also Read | MVA comes out with 'Panchasutri' mission A leopard safari is proposed in a 90 hectare forest area of Pune forest department. It is expected to cost Rs. 60 crore, he said. It has been decided to start Tiger Safari in a 171 hectare forest area adjacent to Chandrapur. In addition, a wildlife rescue center will be set up in Chandrapur district to facilitate immediate treatment of wild animals in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts, he added. To conserve genetic biodiversity in the state, Maharashtra Gene Bank Project is being implemented and an outlay of Rs.286 crores will be made available for this project in next 5 years. The government also announced measures for the tourism sector. A water tourism project of Rs 50 crore is proposed in Shivsagar reservoir in Jawali taluka of Satara district in the vicinity of Koyna dam. Similar water tourism projects will also come up at Bhandara and Jayakwadi in Aurangabad district. An integrated development plan would be taken up in Ajanta, Ellora and Mahabaleshwar tourism sites. Modern community convention centers will be reopened at world-class tourism sites of Ajanta and Ellora. The government will also provide an outlay of Rs 100 crore in the year 2022-23 for the development of Raigad fort and its surroundings. Rs14 crore will be provided for six forts Rajgad, Torna, Shivneri, Sudhagad, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg and Rs 7 crore will be provided for the preservation and conservation of Sewri and St.George Fort in Mumbai. A detailed proposal is being submitted to UNESCO for declaring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs forts and his guerrilla warfare as a World Heritage Site. Check out latest DH videos here In a bid to boost overall development, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra has come out with a five-pronged plan - Panchasutri - covering agriculture, health, human resources, transport and industry. The programme has an outlay of Rs. 1,15, 215 crore and a whopping Rs 4 lakh crore will be provided for this programme in the next three years, according to the state Budget, 2022-23 tabled on Friday. This will result in huge investments in the economy and thereby making Maharashtra the first state in the country to have a one-trillion dollar economy. Also Read | Poll outcome would not have bearing on Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar With the Uddhav Thackeray-led tri-party government involving Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress - halfway through its tenure, the dispensation is focusing on core areas. We have been trying whatever possible, and will continue to do whatever is possible, said Thackeray. We all know the importance of the five fundamental elements in Indian philosophy. Like the five elements earth, water, fire, air and sky, we must also adopt the five elements involved in development. Development means the growth of agriculture, health, human resources, transportation and industry. This Panchasutri is at the core of our budget this year, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance and Planning portfolios, said while tabling the budget. Of the Rs. 1,15, 215 crore, an outlay of Rs. 23,888 crore is proposed for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs. 5,244 crore for the health sector, Rs. 46,667 crore for human development and human resources, Rs. 28,605 crore for transportation infrastructure, Rs.10,111 crore for development of Industry and Energy sectors. Also Read | Maharashtra debt stock crosses Rs 6 lakh crore Pawar announced an incentive grant of Rs. 50,000 to 20 lakh farmers who repay their loans regularly, which is expected to result in an expenditure of Rs. 10,000 crore. As part of health infrastructure upgrade, the government has proposed the establishment of 100-bed womens hospitals at Hingoli, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Wardha, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Solapur, Ratnagiri, Aurangabad and Raigad. Level-1 Trauma Care Units of 50 beds each to be set up at Nanded, Amravati, Jalna, Bhandara, Ahmednagar and Satara. A provision of Rs. 7500 crore for 10,000 k.m. roads under Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase-II, while the launch of 6550 km road improvement under Prime Ministers Village Road Scheme Phase-3 has been planned. The Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Highway will be extended from Nagpur to Bhandara-Gondia and Nagpur to Gadchiroli. A Rs 16,039 crore Nashik-Pune medium high-speed railway project has been sanctioned. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A three-day meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the top decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), began near Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Friday. The closed-door event being held at Pirana village will see the participation of nearly 1,200 key leaders or office-bearers from across the country, including sarsanghchalak (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat and sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale. One of the key focus areas of the meeting is expansion of the organisation's base, said Manmohan Vaidya, sah sarkaryavah (joint general secretary) of the RSS, while addressing the media on the first day of the meeting. The RSS runs nearly 60,000 daily shakhas (branches) across the country and 97.5 per cent shakhas have started functioning again after the easing of Covid-19 related restrictions, he said. "Those who attend these 60,000 shakhas constitute 61 per cent of school or college students. This shows that the number of youths taking interest in the RSS is increasing. Ninety-four per cent of the total 2,303 cities in the country have shakhas. It shows that our spread is increasing," Vaidya said. "There are 59,000 mandals in the country. Each mandal comprises 10 to 12 villages. In the next two years, the RSS will try to expand its base and work for establishing shakhas in all the mandals. Our work in that direction came to a standstill due to coronavirus. Now we are planning to achieve it during the next two years," the senior RSS functionary said. Apart from those joining the RSS through shakhas, a significant number of people are expressing their interest in becoming a part of it through the "Join RSS" campaign being run on the organisation's website, according to Vaidya. Between 2017 and 2021, as many as 1 lakh to 1.25 lakh persons expressed desire to join the RSS every year, he said, adding that people from Malwa (central India) and West Bengal had sent more requests in comparison to other regions in 2021. A detailed plan about the expansion of the RSS's base will be prepared during this three-day meet. Other topics which will be discussed include creating harmony in society and promoting organic farming. Vaidya said. Check out latest DH videos here Mila Kunis, who was born in Soviet Ukraine, is speaking candidly about the impact the war in her homeland has had on her and the way she identifies. The 38-year-old actress, who was born in Chernivtsi about 170 miles southwest of Lviv said Friday that although shes always considered myself very much an American, something changed in her following Russian President Vladimir Putins deadly invasion of Ukraine late last month. Advertisement This happens and I cant express or explain what came over me, but all of a sudden ... I was like, oh my God, I feel like a part of my heart just got ripped out. It was the weirdest feeling, the Friends with Benefits star told Maria Shriver during the latters Conversations Above the Noise web series. Mila Kunis is seen in 2015. (David Buchan / Getty Images) I came to the United States in 1991 with my family. And we were the last of my family to migrate, said Kunis, noting that much of her family was either in concentration camps during World War II or migrated shortly before. So when we came to the States, I was 7, 8, I very much have always felt like an American. Theres no part of me that ever people are like, Oh, youre so Eastern European. I was like, Im so L.A., what do you mean? ... My whole life, I was like, Im L.A. through and through. And then this happens. Advertisement Kunis said that she and husband Ashton Kutcher visited Ukraine shortly before the pandemic, and even met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and she noted her family to this day has lots of friends still there. I was talking to ... one of my best friends, who came here not that long ago and has his whole family still in Odessa, and I was like, How is it over there? said Kunis. A) They refuse to evacuate male, female, children all stayed. And B) they all go to work every day. So theyre in their bomb shelter at night, they wake up in the morning, they take whatever weapon ... they have to protect themselves in the city and they go to their office to continue working. It is a different breed of people. Kunis and Kutcher, 44, last week launched a GoFundMe, through which they hope to raise $30 million for the eastern European country. The couple themselves even donated $3 million to Stand with Ukraine. The just-concluded Assembly elections have sent out two clear messages. The first is that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by winning all the four states that it was in power Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur has beaten the anti-incumbency trend and reaffirmed that the strong man image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose face has appeared on everything from vaccination certificates to rice bags has virtually squeezed every other leader from the public space. Except for and that is the second message of these elections the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that has won a landslide victory in Punjab, making it the only party apart from the BJP and Congress to be ruling two states. This win will mark the entry of a new player in the country's opposition politics: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who also heads the AAP, can now legitimately demand that his name be considered the face of the opposition for the next general elections in 2024. Also Read What turned fortunes for the AAP in Punjab? If the BJP's victories in Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur are certainly noteworthy, its return to power in Uttar Pradesh is nothing short of historic. Yogi Adityanath becomes only the second chief minister after Govind Ballabh Pant to win a second term in office in the country's largest state. This win also gives legitimacy to his ambition to succeed Narendra Modi as the next leader of the BJP. So what worked for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in an election that came in the wake of a debilitating two-year pandemic, widespread unemployment, skyrocketing prices, the stray cattle menace that was destroying standing crops across the state, despite a concerted pushback from an energised Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal-led combine that was drawing large and enthusiastic crowds? The BJP, of course, has made much of the many welfare schemes that it has launched, particularly the one for free rations, that particularly helped the poorest of the poor. And indeed, it came up in conversations, positively, in every village that I visited during my travels in the run-up to these elections. But was that enough to keep the pain of unemployment and high prices at bay? In the end, if the Opposition was unable to proffer solutions for the problems the state was facing, it was the BJP's law and order card that worked for it. Every time a voter brought up the issue in a conversation, one knew one was talking to a BJP voter. It was shorthand for the Yogi Adityanath-led administration's crackdown on Muslims, which helped ensure that UP's voters remained polarised along communal lines. It ensured, for instance, that a majority of non-Yadav OBCs fearful that reservations may go, unhappy that their leaders were not being taken seriously by the BJP that had accommodated them but not given them a role in decision making plumped for the BJP. The collapse of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress also helped the BJP: the SP-RLD combine increased its vote percentage by over 12 per cent but was unable to win the election because it became a two-horse race. The Aam Aadmi Party The landslide victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, meanwhile, could well signal a new chapter in Indian politics. The party's success was largely a result of the people's preference for a "non-political" party and their disenchantment with establishment political parties like the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The AAP is a non-ideological party whose Delhi model of governance has clearly resonated with the voters of Punjab. This victory now places Kejriwal on the political centre stage: his party is already speaking of itself as the alternative to the Congress; it sees itself emerging eventually as the real challenge to the BJP. While the AAP is a long way from achieving these ambitions, it is a fact that its success in Delhi earlier and Punjab now has been at the expense of the Congress something that has led many people who don't take a charitable view of the AAP to describe it as the BJP's B team. Nevertheless, the party's victory in Punjab and the fact that it will now be in power in two states will help its leader to claim a pre-eminent position at the Opposition's high table. If, till now, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee was playing the lead role in Opposition politics, she will now face a challenge from Kejriwal, who is equally ambitious. After these elections, the Opposition in the country will have to do some introspection. Of late, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) boss M K Stalin, Telangana Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi boss K Chandrashekar Rao apart from Bannerjee and the Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, have been vocal. For the Congress, the premier Opposition party, it is time for introspection again. Not only has it failed to win any of the three smaller states, Goa, Uttarakhand or Manipur, especially the first two where it stood a good chance, but it was also in free fall in Punjab. For the young leaders of the SP and RLD, though they have not made the breakthrough in UP they thought they would, they have still performed very creditably and it is to be hoped that they will continue to build on the gains they have made this time. For they, too, have a big role to play in Opposition politics. (Smita Gupta is a senior journalist) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Two labourers were killed in a wild jumbo attack at Kadegarji village in Belur taluk on Friday afternoon. The deceased have been identified as Chikkaiah (65) and another Chikkaiah alias Maruvadi (45). According to sources, they were working in Sharada Estate in the taluk when the mishap occurred. Their efforts to escape from the wild jumbo futile, the duo died on the spot. Irked villagers staged a protest against the failure of the Forest Department in preventing wild jumbo menace in the region and blocked the state highway. The flash protest disrupted the vehicular movement on the stretch. The villagers are adamant that they will not clear the deceased persons' bodies and withdraw the protest until the CM visits the spot. Check out latest DH videos here Emboldened after its convincing victory in Punjab, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is working to make a mark in the upcoming Bengaluru civic polls and the 2023 Karnataka assembly showdown. We got the fillip that we needed. Our prospects look very bright, AAP Karnataka convener Prithvi Reddy told DH. Reddy said AAP expects some big joinings over the next 4-6 weeks in the run-up to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections that are likely to be held in a couple of months. The polls will be held for 243 municipal wards. AAP will fight in all of them, Reddy said. For the 2023 Assembly elections, Reddy said his party is inviting like-minded individuals - people from other parties, activists and so on. In the next three months we will be able to identify candidates in all constituencies, he said. Read | BJP to discuss early elections in Karnataka with Bommai During its formative years, AAP counter Bengaluru as one of the major cities with a significant support base, especially youngsters. It contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, but none of the candidates gave a tough fight. AAP did not contest the 2015 BBMP polls as it was not ready. AAP tried its luck in the 2018 Assembly elections by fielding 29 candidates. All of them, including Reddy, lost badly and their vote share was only 0.06% (around 21,000 votes). Karnataka is a very huge state and is largely agricultural. Many agrarian problems are similar to that of Punjab. Our government in Punjab will give a model that we can take to rural areas, Reddy said. On the other hand, Delhi where we are in power is comparable with Bengaluru given the urban setting, he added. Watch latest videos by DH here: A Mysuru-based college declared that its women staffers can avail of a days leave during menstruation, in addition to their casual leave (CL) and other benefits. The announcement was made on the occasion of International Womens Day. P Jayachandra Raju, chairman of Daksha College, under Global Education Trust (GET), said the move is a step towards creating a meaningful change in the work environment. Raju said that Daksha College has been experimenting and adopting best-possible practices, in an innovative way, since its inception in 2017. Our campus is a Green and Clean Education Hub. We implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 this academic year (2021-22) itself. BCom and BBA (Honors) courses are offered in line with NEP 2020. We have a dedicated health centre. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, a qualified and dedicated nurse was appointed. She is available round the clock, on the campus, for first aid and also emergency care. Now, we have taken this step for the physical and psychological care of our women staffers, he said. Also Read Why period leave is an empowering idea Head of the department (HoD) of Commerce, GETS Academy, G N Shobha said, On the day of International Women's Day, my institution made all female employees proud, for being a part of it by understanding our pain and stress. With an announcement of menstrual leave, our institution has stood by us, morally. Earlier, we used to suffer silently, even though we required both physical and mental rest. I feel privileged to be part of the Daksha Family. Mahalakshmi Mayya, Economics lecturer, Daksha PU College, said: Every woman should welcome her period once a month. In that process, she goes through a series of menstrual cramps, mood swings, tiredness, and uneasiness. A menstrual leave helps us a lot, so that we can take sufficient rest and consume nutritious food. I am lucky that our institution implemented this leave, perhaps for the first time in India. I wish every institution implements it, as soon as possible. Principal Abhishek said, Our mission is to create a meaningful change in the work environment. Women employees of Daksha College can now avail of menstrual leave... Apart from their regular CLs, female employees can avail of the menstrual day off, during their cycle, as a personal leave. All women staffers should feel that they are in a good working environment. Watch the latest DH Videos here: "The Mekedatu will create a disaster," said T V Ramachandra, a professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science at a Bengaluru 2040 panel discussion about protecting and restoring the biodiversity of Bengaluru. "The project will submerge 5,000 hectares of forest. Instead, we should look at local solutions like rainwater harvesting." The forests in the area have a catchment capacity of 100 TMC, replacing that with a dam that has a storage capacity of 65-67 TMC is a myopic decision, he said. The other panelists explained that such large projects that would impact people and the environment significantly need to be approached with a participatory lens. Disha Ravi, a climate justice activist explained that though the government invited suggestions from the public, rarely were they receptive to them. The Mekedatu project, for instance, has a lot of opposition that the government has not considered. "We have heard enough about how we (the youth) have to approach the government," she said. "Whenever attempts are made, they have not been receptive. Maybe more people in the government need to understand how to engage with citizens better and take criticism well." Follow live Bengaluru 2040 updates here This lack of consultation is nothing new. According to Leo Saldanha, coordinator of the Environmental Support Group, there is a trend towards centralisation. "Is it not a paradox that our leaders are elected for the state but they are focused on the development of one city?" he asked. The Cauvery has been exhausted, and instead of focusing on local systems of water management, the focus is on large-scale projects. The rajkaluves (stormwater drains) have been encroached upon and we have not followed the recommendations by the Justice N K Patil committee to protect lakes," he said. "Endemic vegetation can be planted along the drains so natural filtration happens. The need is for low-cost solutions." Intergenerational participation Merely three per cent of Bengalureans were aware of or displayed interest in matters related to the environment, according to a study. To bridge this disconnect between people and the natural environment that surrounds them, Disha said that there was a need to build intergenerational participation in environmental movements. "One thing that I have learned is that as young people we may make many mistakes, but there is always space to learn," she said. It is also not possible to separate environmental activism from politics as is commonly suggested, according to Disha. "When the decision to take away land from the Adivasis is political, when the result of political decisions have kept our air and water polluted and is causing lung problems, why should environmental activism not be political? It is impossible to separate," she said. The increasing tendency to privatise public spaces or limit access is also political in Saldanhas opinion. "There have been many judgements in the past that limit the access of common people," he said. "Keeping peanut sellers out of Cubbon Park is one such move. Those who are in power are limiting access to people to whom these spaces belong." There is also a need for more government support towards environmental research efforts. As Ramachandra said, "It is not that we don't receive support. There is a 40 to 50 per cent effort. But if I got 40 to 50 per cent in college, I would not have become a scientist." Check out latest DH videos here Renowned Derry actress and film producer, Roma Downey, is 'praying for Ukraine.' Roma, who became a household name following her starring role in the hit US TV series, Touched by an Angel, lives in America with husband, fellow producer Mark Burnett. In a post on social media, she revealed she has donated funds for humanitarian aid. She said: I had planned to sleep in today but I woke before the sun, went downstairs and made a cup of tea and then went and sat outside listening to the waves and the early birds waiting for the sun to rise. Just me and my dogs alone in the dark. Praying. Praying for Ukraine. Its so horrific whats happening over there and I feel so helpless. I am not a soldier, I am not a politician. I dont know how to make a difference over there. I have donated through a fund created by @milalkunis @aplusk to offer humanitarian aid and in addition to that I pray . I dont have any answers just a heart full of sadness. I feel helpless but I trust in God and I beg the Lord to send His angels to wrap their warrior wings around the people of Ukraine. Please God, help them, please. Meanwhile, the Derry-born Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, has urged people to pray for peace in the region.' He said: The people of Ireland are well aware that we can never take peace for granted. We must always continue work for peace, to pray for peace and to make sacrifices for peace. The scenes from Ukraine are distressing and frightening. They remind us how fragile peace in the world is. One of the awful things about war is the way that it suddenly destroys everything in its path. It disrupts normal life and overnight introduces death, destruction, violence, fear, sorrow and grief. Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin Watching our screens from Ireland we feel powerless to help. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the people of Ukraine who didnt ask for this war, and who simply wanted to be left to get on with their lives, their jobs and with bringing up their families. Now they must hide, shelter, and even run for safety to protect themselves and their children. We can never take peace for granted. We must always work for peace, pray for peace and make sacrifices for peace. All of us have the capacity to build peace by our words, our actions and our attitudes to others. "We choose to sow peace or conflict, love or hate, to build up, or to tear down, to heal or to hurt, to forgive or to resent, to soothe or to inflame. The current situation in Ukraine appears to be motivated, at least in part, by abuse of power and by the desire to control and dominate. It is alarming to think that despite the lessons learned last century in Europe about the horrors of war, that our continent could so easily be plunged back into chaos and uncertainty. Pope Francis asked that Catholics all over the world pray and fast for peace on, Ash Wednesday. I encourage you to keep the Ash Wednesday fast, to take just one main meal on Wednesday and two small snacks; to abstain from meat and to consider also abstaining from alcohol. "Make some extra sacrifice this Lent and offer it up for peace in Ukraine. He concluded: Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them. Concern Worldwide Derry Group are operating a pop up donations desk on behalf of the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal in the Millennium Forum from 10.00am to 5.00pm until this Saturday. Donations can also be made at the Concern bookshop, Ferryquay Street, Derry or online. Meanwhile, local pharmacy group Gordons Chemists has pledged 10,000 to aid humanitarian work in Ukraine. General manager John Clark said the money was being donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to assist with their ongoing humanitarian aid efforts. He added: Like millions around the world, we have been horrified to see the situation in Ukraine unfold. The pictures on our televisions are a far cry from the city of Kyiv that I visited with my family only a few years ago. Our hearts go out to those affected in Ukraine and those in Northern Ireland with family members there. Since the start of the Russian invasion we have seen overwhelming generosity from the public donating clothes and toiletries. As a pharmacy chain we cannot directly send medicines and we have chosen a monetary pledge to ensure the benefits are directed where needed, as quickly as possible. We hope that this donation will help ICRC to provide the medicines and assistance to those Ukrainians most affected by these tragic events. The continuous desecration of the western shore of Lough Foyle should be the subject of the Republic of Ireland's Environment Department investigation, according to a Donegal County Councillor. Speaking to Derry News, following last Tuesday's Inishowen Municipal District meeting, Cllr Terry Crossan (Sinn Fein) said he had been contacted by the Loughs' Agency regarding "irregular behaviour" taking place along the western shoreline of Lough Foyle, about which the agency was quite concerned. The "irregular behaviour" concerned what appeared to be large amounts of stone being deposited, below the high water mark, to create a hard stand for oyster trestles. Cllr Crossan said: I advised the Loughs' Agency to email Mr Michael McGarvey, Donegal County Council's director of water and the environment. However, when I raised the matter at the municipal district meeting, the council officer present was unaware of the correspondence. Councillor Crossan added: I subsequently contacted Mr Barry Fox, who is the director of aquaculture in the Loughs' Agency, and he confirmed he had no response from Michael McGarvey. I expressed my concern that the Loughs' Agency email had not been acknowledged, replied to or addressed. Following the municipal district meeting, Donegal County Council acted on the matter. It sent someone out to investigate. I subsequently received an email saying the nature of the stone that was being deposited did not give rise for concern because it was coming directly out of a quarry. In other words, it was not waste material from demolished buildings. When I asked if the people depositing the stone were in possession of a foreshore licence, I was told council 'did not know'. It is as simple as this, no-one can remove or deposit materials below the high water mark unless they have a foreshore licence, issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Currently, this requirement is being blatantly ignored across the whole western bank of Lough Foyle. Cllr Crossan said he was not opposed to aquaculture per se. He added: Aquaculture is creating a lot of employment. It is bringing a lot to the local economy but, by the same token, operators need to be aware of environmental consequences. I have subsequently contacted Environment Minister, Eamon Ryan regarding the 'continuous desecration of the western foreshore of Lough Foyle due to the unregulated aqua culture industry.' I explained to him that works are being carried out on a daily basis, without regard to the environment or protected species and that, in addition, there were no foreshore licences in place to legitimise these works. I then asked Minister Ryan to investigate this situation. I also contacted the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which issues the foreshore licences. I have asked, how many foreshore licences are currently in place in Lough Foyle, if any, and in what locations? Cllr Crossan said he was concerned about ongoing works below the high water mark. He added: We cannot have the continuing large depositions of materials without the foreshore licences being in place and the necessary environmental impact assessments having been carried out. Concluding, Cllr Crossan said: I have asked Minister Charlie McConalogue to suspend, immediately, any ongoing works which do not have a foreshore licence, until the proper authorisations are in place. RECOMMENDED READING As part of our Women in Business feature for International Women's Day, Liam Tunney talks to Magherafelt-based interior designer Shauna Kelly about her creative spark, expanding her business and the pull of home. When Shauna Kelly returned home from studying and working in England, jobs in interior design were few and far between. The practice of having someone else design your home, although popular in other parts of the globe had not yet found its place in Mid Ulster. Almost two decades later, she herself employs half a dozen interior designers and has worked on projects across Ireland and further afield. A native of Brocagh, County Tyrone, it was the potent mix of determination and serendipity that led to her finding a home for her business in Magherafelt. After studying fashion design in York and working for Marks & Spencer in London, she found herself back home and at a loose end. I came home from London and I had no work for a long time, and I was pulling my hair out, she told the County Derry Post. So I rang round all the different boutiques, clothes shops, furniture stores and asked would they let me in to do their window dressing for them. I'd go through the Yellow Pages, ringing every local boutique or store and say 'please give me a chance to make your product look really good'. I went in and did their windows and that moved on to me having my own business going round Northern Ireland doing people's windows for them. I did the furniture stores' indoor displays, and that led to me working with fabrics, furniture and I got a passion for that. Then Kennedy's Furniture Store in Magherafelt asked me to come and open a sideline within their store doing interior design. That snowballed into me moving into this field and I've been here ever since, I suppose. Kennedy's, however, became another victim of the recession that gripped the globe in the late 2000s and turned the Celtic Tiger from success story to cautionary tale. Shauna Kelly runs Shauna Kelly Interiors from its base in Magherafelt while taking on projects across Europe. When the store closed, Shauna made the brave decision to launch her own interior design business amid a market with an uncertain future, and Shauna Kelly Interiors was born. I rented a tiny, small place on Broad Street and got started by myself in there, selling wallpaper and curtains, bits and pieces like that, said the mother-of-two. I did that for about two or three years with one other girl, and things started to get busy, so I decided to go bigger. I bought a house here in Magherafelt and decided to do it up as a showroom, so clients could visualise how their own house would look like. My husband came on board as well, and we did the place up, completely gutted it and started by appointment only, so you could give the client one-to-one attention. Then, I got onto social media, and Instagram particularly. Within a few years, we have 100,000 followers and we've moved into southern Ireland as well. Staying in Northern Ireland is just not enough if you want to have a bigger business. I have six or seven interior designers working for me now. With an average of eight or nine new-builds per month, the company take projects from architectural drawings right through to the finished article. They design all their own furniture in-house, work on architectural layout and floor selections to give their clients as much control as possible. A completed Shauna Kelly Interiors project in County Meath. Shauna also has ongoing work in Spain. With the work coming thick and fast, does Shauna take any time to reflect on her journey? I'm going that fast at the minute, that I don't, she said. Sometimes when I'm on my own, I look at it and just think 'wow, that's grown quickly', especially with the social media. It's just gone really quickly in the last two years; it's ramped up unbelievably, and I think that's due to the Southern market as well. We're doing work in Spain as well. A lot of our clients have holiday homes in the Marbella area, so we have projects on our there at the minute also. I'm really excited about getting into that market out there. We are doing two full villas out there, and I've also bought my own place out there; so at the minute, I'm loving life. Making the business work and flourish from her homeland is something that is important to Shauna, who always saw herself returning to Ireland, but she doesn't entertain limits on her scope. I love going in and out of the city, but I didn't want to live there. I wanted to have a family and get married, and have my own home here as well, she said. I never probably thought the business would be as big as what it is now. I wanted to come home and get work for myself, and I knew it would probably just be me and another girl. What I have now can't fit just in Northern Ireland, you have to go a bit more global. You need to be travelling to England, or be able to go to Spain at the drop of a hat. You need to be prepared to do that. Now providing half a dozen jobs in interior design, Shauna is providing the creative jobs that just weren't there when she moved home. It can be done, but you have to be determined to get up and go, and travel. To get up early in the morning to be in Dublin for 9 o'clock putting the hard work in. Enthusiasm for her work has remained feverish over the years, and her excitement for the future of both herself, and other women in business, is clear. Women are standing up more and being seen more now, especially through social media. It gives women especially a really good platform to showcase what they can do, she said. I think that's becoming more prevalent with all the influencers, you can see women out there making loads of money through social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shauna Kelly Interiors (@shauna_kelly_interiors) Social media helps me immensely in what I do; I wouldn't be where I am without it. In the creative industry, it's an excellent tool. I'd advise people to familiarise themselves with it and work at it. If you're doing something you're passionate about, that will come from within without trying. Nowadays, within Mid Ulster and Ireland as a whole, interior design is much more popular. If Shauna had arrived home from England this year, she would find a much more diverse business landscape. In the last three or four years, there is more of a demand for interior designers; people are using them, she said. Maybe years ago, it was seen as too expensive to bring in an interior designer, but it's not the case. Everything you see on social media is our own work, it's behind the scenes of what we do. Through seeing what we do, people are seeing that it's more accessible, and I can see a lot of young girls watching what we do and going out on their own and doing it, which is lovely to see. The thrill of handing over the keys to someone's beautifully designed house is the warm glow that, for her, underlines the benefit of what Shauna does. It's a very rewarding industry, especially when you're handing over the keys to someone's house and everything is sitting beautifully, she said. To see them walking into a property like that, I've been in tears on numerous occasions. It's so rewarding. When you do something you love, your passion will shine through, she added. You can find out more information about Shauna Kelly interiors by visiting their website www.shaunakellyinteriors.com or following them on Facebook and Instagram. One of the boys convicted of murdering schoolgirl Ana Kriegel is seeking to introduce fresh evidence at his upcoming appeal and wants to challenge the admissibility of matters that weren't challenged at trial, the Court of Appeal heard on Friday March 12. Brendan Grehan SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the Court of Appeal on Friday that the State had received the submissions on behalf of Boy B last week and anticipated that the application to "enlarge grounds" and introduce fresh evidence would be opposed. The now 17-year-old, referred to in court as Boy B, was unanimously found guilty of murdering the lonely and vulnerable schoolgirl in June 2019 and was sentenced to 15 years detention, to be reviewed after eight years. He and his co-accused Boy A, whose identities cannot be published as they are children, were just 13-years-old when they murdered 14-year-old Ana in May 2018. On Friday, President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court had received a notice of motion on behalf of Boy B seeking to amend the grounds of appeal and introduce fresh evidence. Defence counsel Seoirse O Dunlaing BL, for Boy B, told the judge that three further grounds were sought. Mr Grehan, for the State, said they had received "papers as of last week" and whilst he did not have the formal instructions of the DPP, he anticipated that the application "to enlarge the grounds" and to introduce "fresh evidence" would be opposed. "It is a very substantive matter, the omnibus grounds seek to challenge the admissibility of matters which weren't challenged at trial and also for fresh evidence to go before the jury. That motion will have to be dealt with first and separately," he said. Mr O Dunlaing said he could "see the logic with that" but pointed out that one of the principal grounds being argued did not require the introduction of "fresh evidence". Mr Justice Birmingham told counsel that quite often the court deals with the motion and substantive hearing together but that it did not sound like this would be "such a case". The judge said he would give counsel a date for the hearing of the motion and in the meantime if parties came to the view that it was not necessary to deal with the motion separately then that can be dealt with at the "very substantive hearing". When asked how long the motion would take to be heard, Mr Grehan said the issue would take a day. Mr Justice Birmingham asked the barristers if Boy B's co-accused had appealed. Mr Grehan said that Boy A had not lodged an appeal against either his conviction or sentence. The case was listed for hearing on June 17. Boy B was not present in court today for the brief hearing. Mr Grehan asked for the matter to be mentioned in the case management list a month before that date so that "everyone was clear" if there was any additional documentation. The matter was listed for mention on May 27. In July 2020, lawyers for Boy B told the Court of Appeal that they were making a "very unusual application" to exceed legal aid limits so the teenager could seek the services of a UK psychologist ahead of an appeal against his conviction. The Court of Appeal also heard at the time that the thrust of Boy B's appeal would focus on the refusal to allow before the jury the evidence of a clinical psychologist, who said Boy B was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the assault on Ana and that lies he told to gardai did not show he was guilty of murder. Clinical psychologist Dr Colm Humphreys was called by Boy B's defence team in the absence of the jury during the 2019 trial and testified that Boy B was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the assault on Ana and that his lies to gardai did not show that he was guilty of murder. However, trial judge Mr Justice Paul McDermott refused to allow Dr Humphreys give evidence before the jury after the prosecution objected on the grounds that his evidence would make him a 13th juror, deciding the guilt or innocence of the accused. The Court of Appeal has previously stated that when Boy B's appeal is heard arrangements will be put in place for the hearing that both sides consider appropriate. As both boys were children, the Central Criminal Court trial adopted procedures from the Childrens Court, which saw lawyers and judges wearing suits and ties rather than gowns and members of the public denied access to the courtroom. Boy B lured Ana from her home, knowing that his friend was waiting to attack her in a derelict house in St Catherines Park in Lucan. He gave several different versions of events to Gardai, but eventually admitted seeing Boy A attacking Ana. The boys were unanimously found guilty of murder by a Central Criminal Court jury in June 2019. Boy A was also convicted of Ana's aggravated sexual assault in a manner that involved serious violence. Boy A was sentenced to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years, and eight years imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault. No appeal has been lodged on his behalf. Boy B is seeking to appeal against his conviction only, meaning no appeal is being sought against the severity of his sentence. Boy B is currently detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus and his earliest possible release date is June 2027. Sentencing the boys in November 2019, Mr Justice McDermott said that the boys first period in detention would last until they were 18, when they will be transferred to an adult facility. Minister Brophy announced strengthened support for GAA overseas Press release The Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Mr. Colm Brophy, T.D. reaffirmed the Governments commitment to the overseas development of the GAA and announced strengthened support to the GAAs Global Games Development Programme. The Ministers announcement was made at a meeting with the President of the GAA, Mr. Larry McCarthy, in Croke Park on Tuesday 8th March. From supporting just 14 projects in 2013, the Global Games Development Programme has grown and developed to support around 100 different projects annually in over 30 countries in every region of the world. Some projects are one-off events, others have activities lasting the course of a year. All have been invaluable in supporting and nurturing a sense of Irish community and many have created important links between the global Irish and their local communities. Minister Brophy paid tribute to and thanked GAA clubs and communities across the globe for the important role they played throughout the Covid pandemic. He highlighted the partnership developed with local GAA organisations on the ground, to implement the Governments Covid Response Fund, in support of the Irish abroad for protection of the most vulnerable, as well as maintaining the vital links between the Irish abroad and at home. Speaking after the meeting, the Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, T.D., said: Through the Governments new Diaspora Strategy and the Emigrant Support Programme, my Department remains committed to supporting Irish communities abroad. I am therefore delighted to announce strengthened support for the GAA for the coming twelve months. This funding will be matched by the GAA, and brings the total amount for the development of the Global Game to nearly 8.5 million over the last 10 years. The GAA is at the heart of many of our Diaspora communities. GAA clubs create a sense of belonging and connection with our heritage in locations as diverse as Manila or Vancouver, and they are invaluable in keeping connections to Ireland alive. Many of the 450 GAA clubs around the world only exist due to the commitment and engagement of volunteers, who tirelessly give their time and enthusiasm to ensure that Gaelic Games continue to grow and flourish and remain at the heart of our community abroad. I would like to thank them all for their tireless work, in particular, over the past two years of the Covid pandemic. In my role as Minister for Diaspora, I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the GAA, to maintaining our close and collaborative relationship, and to developing our sporting heritage networks and contributing to the vitality of our communities worldwide for the good of our emigrants. President of the GAA, Mr. Larry McCarthy added: The GAA continues to play a key role in the social and cultural life of Irish communities abroad. It goes without saying, the global pandemic presented an inevitable challenge for the GAA in terms of developing our Gaelic games overseas. However, the Association remains more committed than ever to promote Irish heritage and identity across the globe through the promotion of our games. The support from the Government is much welcomed and will allow the GAA to strengthen and develop links with Irish communities abroad. ENDS Press Office 11 March 2022 Previous Item | Next Item Russia will soon block access to Instagram, in the latest push by Moscow to crack down on how its citizens receive information about the countrys invasion of Ukraine. On Friday, Russias communications and media regulator, Roskomnadzor, said in a statement that access to the social media platform would be cut off starting on March 14. Advertisement Regulators accuse the image-sharing app of encouraging acts of violence against Russian soldiers and President Vladimir Putin. Messages are circulating on the Instagram social network encouraging and provoking violent acts against Russians, in connection with which the Russian Prosecutor Generals Office demanded that Roskomnadzor restrict access to this social network, Roskomnadzor posted on its Telegram account, according to a translation by Engadget. Advertisement Roskomnadzor decided to complete the procedure for imposing restrictions on access to Instagram at 00:00 on March 14, providing users with an additional 48 hours of transition period, regulators added. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) According to The Associated Press, Roskomnadzor specifically mentioned a tweet by Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Instagrams parent company Meta, when explaining the move to block the platform. On Thursday, Stone said in a statement that as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules on violent speech, such as death to the Russian invaders, though he added that the company would still censor any credible calls for violence against Russian civilians. A rep for Instagram didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Access to Facebook in Russia was blocked earlier this month. Last week, several western outlets announced they would temporarily stop broadcasting from the country after Russian lawmakers passed an amendment to the criminal code making the spread of what they deem as fake news a criminal offense. Anyone found to break its new censorship law could face up to 15 years behind bars. Instagram, Facebook and Google-owned YouTube are among the major social media networks to have barred Russian state media from its platforms. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Dingfelder's Delicatessen building, at 1318 E. Pine St., recently sold for a bit under $2.7 million, according to King County records. The seller was Sakana Partnership, which had owned the property for decades. The buyer was CHS Development LLC, which is associated with three local investors, one of them being a principal at Studio19 Architects. Public records indicate a loan from Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. No new plans have been filed. . . . There is no evidence that police leaked information about the whereabouts of a former Sinn Fein member who was unmasked as an informant before he was murdered, a watchdog report has said. Denis Donaldson was shot dead at a remote cottage in Donegal in April 2006, in a killing claimed by the Real IRA. Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson found that the PSNI had not sought to implicate members of Mr Donaldsons family in his murder, and said that rather than impeding the investigation of his murder by the Garda, the PSNI had provided a high level of co-operation and assistance. However, she stated that the PSNI should have carried out a further risk assessment of any potential threats to Mr Donaldsons life following the publication of a media article which included photographs of him outside the cottage just over two weeks before he was murdered. Reacting, Mr Donaldsons family slammed a flagrant breach of Deniss Article 2 right to life and the PSNIs duty of care to him. Mrs Andersons report deals with police actions before and after his murder. On March 17, 2002, sensitive information was stolen during a burglary at Castlereagh police station, and police received intelligence that the Provisional IRA was responsible. After documentation was recovered from Mr Donaldsons home, he was charged along with three others of possession material which could be of use to terrorists. Charges against one of the four were withdrawn in December 2003, and the case against the others was withdrawn by the Public Prosecution Service in November 2005. The report said that police then carried out a risk assessment which concluded that the PIRA would be likely to conduct an internal inquiry to establish why the case had collapsed. On December 10, 2005, police delivered a threat message to Mr Donaldson, which stated that members of the media believe that Denis Donaldson is an informant. The report said because of concern that he may be at risk, the PSNI held an urgent Gold Command meeting on December 14, resulting in police resources being put on stand-by so that, if necessary, they could respond quickly to developing events. The following day, the report stated, an officer referred to as Police Officer 3 called Mr Donaldson on the phone twice and spoke to him briefly on the second occasion, providing him with a contact number. At about 9.20pm, a call was made to the number given to Mr Donaldson earlier, but Police Officer 3 did not recognise the number as belonging to Mr Donaldson and did not answer the call. The following day then president of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams held a press conference in Dublin during which he announced that Mr Donaldson had been dismissed from the party after admitting that he had been an informant. Mr Donaldson made a statement later the same day stating that he had worked for British Intelligence and RUC/PSNI Special Branch since the 1980s. He later moved to a cottage near Glenties in County Donegal, where he was murdered. Mr Donaldsons family expressed a number of concerns about police actions, including an allegation that a threat message delivered to Mr Donaldson on December 10 2005 was bogus and artificially manufactured as it was untrue that the media were intending to expose him as an informant. The family voiced concern that the message was maliciously released, and alleged that police had failed to conduct a risk assessment before delivering the message. However, Mrs Anderson said the threat message was based on reliable information from a credible source. She said her investigators had examined a clear audit trail, including a risk assessment and contingency plans, setting out the rationale for the decision by police to deliver the threat message. She said: I am of the view that police would have failed in their Article 2 obligations if they had not informed him of the relevant information. The family also alleged that the phone call made to Mr Donaldson on December 15 was intended to spook him and part of an exercise to burn him as an informant. But Mrs Anderson said it was part of a carefully considered threat management plan in response to information that Mr Donaldson had informed Sinn Fein colleagues that he was an informant. She added: The purpose of these telephone calls was to identify, assess, and manage any identified risks, as well as address any welfare concerns relating to Mr Donaldson. I have identified no concerns regarding these telephone calls. She said that the decision by police not to take the call made to Police Officer 3 on the evening of December 15 was reasonable and prudent given that it was not made from Mr Donaldsons phone. Another concern expressed by Mr Donaldsons family was that, after he had moved to Donegal, police had leaked information about his whereabouts to a number of people, including journalists. On March 19 2006, a newspaper published a story which described the cottage he was living in as run down, without running water and electricity and adjacent to other cottages in a bend in the road. Mrs Anderson said her investigation had found no evidence that police had leaked any information about Mr Donaldsons whereabouts. However, she said the publication of information about where he was living should have prompted police to conduct a further risk assessment to identify any risks he might have been exposed to. She said: PSNI advised AGS (An Garda Siochana) of the potential increased risk to Mr Donaldson as a result of the media article. However, my investigators found no evidence that a further risk assessment took place or was considered by the PSNI. She added that she had found no evidence that PSNI had monitored Mr Donaldsons movements or conversations after he moved to Donegal, as alleged by his family. The Police Ombudsmans investigation examined concerns that the PSNI had sought to implicate members of Mr Donaldsons family in his murder, but found no evidence. The family also alleged that the PSNI had impeded AGSs murder investigation by withholding, suppressing or editing information about their contact with him during the final months of his life. However, Mrs Anderson said her investigation had found no evidence that any member of the PSNI sought to impede the murder investigation conducted by AGS. A spokesperson for the Donaldson family said: For reasons that remain unexplained, and unaccounted for, it is reported that the PSNI abandoned its routine practice of risk assessments which had apparently followed Deniss exposure in December 2005. This course of action was taken at precisely the moment when the risk to Deniss life was at its greatest. This is a flagrant breach of Deniss Article 2 right to life and the PSNIs duty of care to him. There were repeated attempts to close down this inquiry. The key question has always been: did the PSNI do enough to protect Deniss life. The Ombudsmans answer today was: no, they did not. No-one has any comprehension of the direct harm and damage to our family caused by the actions and omissions of certain police officers, and others, over the last 16 years. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said: I recognise the pain and suffering felt by the family of Denis Donaldson. We note the findings of the Ombudsmans investigation and will now take some time to review her comprehensive report. We have reviewed our operational policies and service procedure regarding the management of threats to life, and will continue to do so on a regular basis. Two men have had attempted murder charges against them upgraded to murder after the death of their alleged victim in hospital. On Friday the three-judge court Special Criminal Court accepted jurisdiction to hear the cases of Bernard Fogarty and Robert Redmond, who are now accused of the murder of Barry Wolverston in Swords, Co Dublin, two years ago. Mr Redmond (33), of Woodview Close, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, and Mr Fogarty (34), with an address at Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, Coolock, Dublin 5, are both charged with the murder of Mr Wolverson at Madigan's Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin, on January 17, 2020. The two men were charged before the non-jury court in April of last year with the attempted murder of Mr Wolverston, who died on February 21, 2021 after a lengthy spell in hospital. Today, Friday, State solicitor Ciara Vibien applied for the two men to be tried at the Special Criminal Court under the new charges in circumstances where the DPP has deemed the normal courts inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. Ms Vibien said that the two attempted murder charges were to be withdrawn and replaced by the murder accusation and that Books of Evidence had been served on the two men. Detective Garda Warren O'Sullivan of Swords Garda Station told the court that he charged Mr Fogarty in the Criminal Courts of Justice building at 10.59am and then served him with the Book of Evidence in the body of the court. Detective Garda Michael McGuinness of Santry Garda Station told the court that he charged Mr Redmond at 12.40pm in the court building and Mr Redmond was then also served with the Book of Evidence. Mr Redmond and Mr Fogarty are also charged with assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman also at Madigan's Yard, Killeek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin on the same date. The two accused are further charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition to wit .38/.357 calibre bullets with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury on the same occasion. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne, allowed the application and said the attempted murder charges in both cases are to be withdrawn. Both men were present in the court today and only spoke "yes" to confirm their names to the registrar when presented with the upgraded charges. The original trial date of June 15, 2022, is to stay in place, said Mr Justice Hunt. Taoisech Micheal Martin is to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the weekend as part of a programme of events to mark St Patricks Day. The leaders will discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine as well as the Northern Ireland Protocol. Following his trip to the UK, Mr Martin will travel to Washington DC where he will meet US president Joe Biden. On Friday the Taoiseach will attend a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London Vincent Keaveny, where he will meet members of the business community from the UK and Ireland. Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) and Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Hillsborough Castle (Brian Lawless/PA) On Saturday, the Taoiseach will attend an Enterprise Ireland business event and roundtable at the Embassy of Ireland. Mr Martin will then watch the Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Twickenham, which will include a bilateral meeting with Mr Boris Johnson. It is expected the leaders will discuss Irish and British relations and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The day will conclude with a dinner at which the Taoiseach will be guest of honour of the St Patricks Day Ball Committee. On Sunday, the Taoiseach will attend Londons St Patricks Day festival and parade, which this year will celebrate community and key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Taoiseach will then travel to Washington DC for a series of engagements. A green fountain at the White House in the US for St Patricks Day (Niall Carson/PA) On Tuesday a cultural programme will include a ceremony in honour of the late former SDLP leader and civil rights campaigner John Hume, a Tourism Ireland reception and a performance of Riverdance. A spokesman for the Government said Wednesday will feature a series of economic engagements, including a Women in Business Executive roundtable, a US Chamber of Commerce and Science Foundation Ireland event, and the Ireland Funds 30th National Gala. On St Patricks Day, the Taoiseach will attend a series of events at the White House and Capitol Hill, including a breakfast hosted by US vice president Kamala Harris, the Speakers Lunch on Capitol Hill, a bilateral between the Taoiseach and Mr Biden, as well as the traditional Shamrock Ceremony and Ambassadors St Patricks Day Reception. In meetings, the leaders are expected to discuss the cultural and economic ties between Ireland and the US, as well as the situation in Ukraine and ongoing support for the Good Friday Agreement. The Ukrainian government said Thursday that more than 70 kids have died in President Vladimir Putins gruesome, grinding invasion, as a growing club of businesses pulled out of Russia. The count of childhood casualties came one day after an explosion rocked a maternity hospital in the besieged southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol and revolted the globe, leaving images of bloodied pregnant women in its wake. Advertisement But the Wednesday assault, which wounded at least 17 victims, marked just one of at least three attacks against Ukrainian maternity hospitals during the 15-day-old war, according to the UN. Residents evacuate the city of Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 10, 2022. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) A spokesman for the UN Population Fund, Eddie Wright, emphasized that the true count of blitzed maternity wards could be even higher. Advertisement Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, suggested Thursday that negotiations for a ceasefire in his country have been stalled by the Kremlins demands of surrender. On Twitter, Kuleba said that Putin has sent his army to kill Ukrainians, including children. Over 70 of them already died, Kubela wrote. This aggression is a barbaric crime not seen since WWII. A Polish soldier holds a baby as refugees fleeing war in neighboring Ukraine arrive at the Medyka crossing border, Poland, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Daniel Cole/AP) After parachuting into Poland, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her support for a war crimes probe of the Russian Armys brutal actions. Appearing emotional in a news conference in Warsaw, Harris decried the images of pregnant women wounded by an unprovoked, unjustified war, where a powerful country is trying to take over another country. There should be an investigation, and we should all be watching, Harris said of a war crimes probe. And I have no question the eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done. The vice president found herself working to defuse a small diplomatic row after the Pentagon swatted a plan from the Poles that would have required that the U.S. transfer some of Polands fighter jets to Ukraine. The U.S., which hopes to deescalate Europes largest military conflict since World War II, expressed wariness at the notion of flying warplanes through contested airspace. A Ukrainian serviceman takes a photograph of a damaged church after shelling in a residential district in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) The U.S. has joined its European allies in declining to implement a missile-stopping no-fly zone over Ukraine, fearful of sparking a direct military conflict between Western powers and nuclear-armed Russia. Advertisement The Ukrainian government has pleaded for the West to attempt to close its skies to the Russian onslaught. On Thursday, Harris emphasized that the U.S. and Poland are united in their support of Ukraine. And President Andrzej Duda of Poland praised American efforts to strike at the Russian economy with crippling sanctions. Joining Harris at the Warsaw news conference, Duda said his country stands here together with the United States of America. The United States is in the vanguard of those sanctions, Duda said. And, speaking honestly, these sanctions are working. A man walks with a bicycle in a street damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) The value of Russias currency, the ruble, has plunged by more than 40% since the West started to level penalties late last month. And the Russian economy figures to face even rougher straits after the U.S. and U.K. moved this week to cut their economies off from Russian oil. But the plight of Ukrainians has drawn a response from many corners. Businesses have begun to voluntarily join the economic pressure campaign against the Kremlin. Advertisement Uniqlo, the Japanese retailer, said in a statement that its thoughts are with the people who are suffering as it suspended Russian operations. H&M, the Swedish clothing company, issued a statement expressing deep concern about the tragic developments as it pulled out of Russia. The coffin of senior police sergeant Roman Rushchyshyn is lowered during his funeral in the village of Soposhyn, outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Lviv. Rushchyshyn, a member of the Lviv Special Police Patrol Battalion, was killed in the Luhansk Region. Temporary cease-fires to allow evacuations and humanitarian aid have repeatedly faltered, with Ukraine accusing Russia of continuing its bombardments. (Bernat Armangue/AP) And Goldman Sachs on Thursday became the first big U.S. bank to announce plans to leave Russia. None of us can fail to see this for what it is: the invasion of a sovereign state, as flagrant a violation of international law as any weve seen in recent memory, David Solomon, the banks chief executive, said in a statement. As the Kremlin attempts to subdue its democratic neighbor, it has suffered steep costs in blood, too. CBS News reported Thursday that a U.S. official estimated the Russian Army had already lost between 3,500 and 6,000 troops, after massing more than 150,000 around Ukraine this winter. Bodies of civilians lie in a park in Irpin, north of Kyiv, on March 10, 2022. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency had estimated earlier this week that Russia had lost between 2,000 and 4,000 soldiers. America lost 2,461 troops in its two decades of war in Afghanistan. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Putin has been left to watch his country incur economic blows while his military sustains significant casualties. The invasion apparently lags well behind schedule, upended by stiff Ukrainian resistance. Putin has attempted to maintain support at home by purging his country of independent news outlets, banning Facebook and pushing fact-light propaganda on the state-run news. His army has shown no signs of retreat, continuing to hammer Mariupol in southern Ukraine and Chernihiv in the north. The advance appears to be inching closer to Kyiv, the capital. Clear wins for Russia have proved sparse. But the country has seized the city of Kherson and the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant in the south, and the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the north. Ukraine said Thursday it had lost all contact with the Chernobyl plant, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Firefighters help a woman to evacuate from a damaged by shelling apartment building in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) More than 2 million refugees have flooded out of Ukraine during the war, according to the UN. Mila Sirychenko, 21, who was born in the Mariupol maternity hospital that was attacked, said Thursday she was in the safety of Spain with her parents. But Sirychenko said she could not contact friends and family in Mariupol where power has cut out and human corpses lie in the streets and that she has not heard from her grandmother in eight days. Advertisement Im watching my home city, Mariupol, being destroyed, Sirychenko told the Daily News. I am calling constantly to my family and friends. But nobody is answering. Duncan, OK (73533) Today Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High around 70F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Dundalk has been selected as one of eight pilot towns and cities in Ireland as part of an initiative by the Department of Education aimed at increasing the number of multi-denominational primary schools. Minister for Education Norma Foley TD announced yesterday that arrangements are now being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this. It was confirmed by the Minister's department yesterday that an information pack for school communities and parents was being published, setting out some general and practical information relating to transfer of patronage. The Department of Education says that it has been engaging for some time with the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) in relation to progressing the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process. This has involved, it says, reviewing learnings to date and developing agreed arrangements to explore reconfiguration opportunities in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational provision at present as part of a pilot arrangement. These agreed arrangements are reflected in the information pack being published today. The Schools Reconguration for Diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of school communities, aims to facilitate more availability of multi-denominational schools across the country. The Reconfiguration process involves existing schools changing their patron and may also involve a change of ethos (for example, a change from a denominational (religious) ethos to a multi-denominational ethos). When a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open (with the same roll number and operating from the same school property), with staff and pupils remaining in place. The Council for Education and relevant Bishops have confirmed their commitment to reconfiguration and their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department of Education in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and city areas. The pilot areas are: Arklow, Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Youghal.As part of this pilot process, the Department of Education will make available a number of independent facilitators to work with the school patron and relevant school authorities at a local level: - to progress the reconfiguration pilot initiative; - to assist in identifying potential school(s); and - to engage with stakeholders including school authorities, school staff and the school community with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this. Commenting yesterday, Minister Foley said: Minister Foley said: I am delighted to announce that arrangements have been agreed on a process to identify potential schools for a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, in a number of pilot areas.I acknowledge the significant contribution that the Catholic Church has made, and continues to make, to the Irish education system. The Department and the Church recognise that there is a need for further progress in terms of visible and tangible change to provide more options of multi-denominational provision for parents. Accordingly, I am delighted that agreement has been reached on a process which will support meaningful engagement with school communities in the pilot areas in order to provide more multi-denominational options where there is demand for this. The learning from these pilots will inform the process in other areas of the country going forward. I thank the Irish Episcopal Conference Council for Education for their engagement in this regard and the relevant Bishops for their commitment to engage and co-operate fully with my Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in the pilot areas. Claremont, NH (03743) Today Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. What do young Black and Latino men on the streets of New York City really think of the police? A recent study that one of us helped to lead offers some answers. We must take them to heart if were ever going to bridge the divide between cops and the community in a way that enhances public safety. Advertisement The study focused on young people in the Bronx and Brooklyn who were at considerable risk of being either a victim or a perpetrator of violence. In 2017, a research team of three doctoral students interviewed more than 100 participants with the help of four Cure Violence programs and other grassroots organizations. Nearly three out of four participants in the study had been casualties of firearm violence. What we learned from talking to these young people is that there is a deep disconnect between them and the NYPD. More than 90% of our participants said that they would not summon police if they or a loved one were threatened with gun violence. Advertisement This vote of no confidence does not come out of nowhere. One young man, Curtis (not his real name), expressed the sentiments of many when he said, police [have] threatened me with guns more than anyone else has ever, so Im not comfortable with police at all. Maurice was incensed about NYPDs failure to address local youth violence, saying that the police dont do enough to protect the kids out here. Crucially, participants in the study said that their mistrust of police stemmed from concerns about both over- and under-policing. Their dissatisfaction with police performance, especially when it came to holding violent offenders accountable, pushed them toward self-defense strategies, including arming themselves for possible retaliation, instead of cooperating with police. Notwithstanding New York Citys strict gun laws, the resounding refrain from respondents was this: Id rather be caught with it than without it. Marlon emphasized that he carries a gun for his own safety: Once you got a person that is coming for you for whatever reason, you got to protect yourself. Chris, who had recently recovered from being shot, echoed Marlons concerns: I dont want to say that I was clueless to the consequences, I just didnt care about thembecauseonce you get shot, the only thing you care about is [not] getting shot again. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Where does this leave us? How can we reduce violence while also addressing the valid concerns expressed by the participants in our study? No doubt, police departments have a crucial role to play in reducing shootings. In particular, it makes sense to devote additional resources to the detective divisions charged with investigating gun violence. But policing is just one piece of the puzzle. Research tells us that targeted investments in employment, education, housing, environmental changes and health care have all been linked to substantial crime reduction. In Philadelphia, for example, a local nonprofit transformed abandoned lots into vibrant green spaces. Researchers noted a citywide decrease in gun assaults nearby. Another study, examining the effects of summer jobs on youth violence, found that employed young people were less likely to be involved in violent crime. Advertisement Going forward, government decisionmakers who take pains to ensure that the citizens most disaffected by over- and under-policing have authentic input in the policymaking process. Many residents of marginalized neighborhoods dont believe that mainstream institutions genuinely care about hearing their ideas. This can create a lethal mismatch between community sentiment and policy and funding priorities, further fueling public mistrust of local government. The good news is that meaningful community engagement has already started to happen in a few places, including here in New York. In 2016, the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice launched NeighborhoodStat, enlisting a broad coalition of local residents from 15 public housing developments with city agency leaders to identify and address enduring crime and disorder problems. While some teams invested in mentorship and youth employment programs, others used their allotted monies to improve nearby parks, playgrounds and other aspects of their physical environment. Since the implementation of NeighborhoodStat, the average rate of felonies declined by 7.5% in target areas compared to 3.8% in nonparticipating housing developments. No, its not a cure-all. Nothing is. But NeighborhoodStat demonstrates what can happen when local government involves community members in important decision-making processes. By investing in housing, education, workforce development and physical environments, we can lessen our overreliance on the criminal justice system and increase public trust in government. This is the true meaning of public safety. Brunson is a professor in the department of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland. Henry is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland. This was adapted from a longer essay in the inaugural issue of the Vital City policy journal. Bruce Springsteens born in the U.S.A. and now, a new exhibition space devoted to his life and work will open in a New Jersey firehouse. Bruce Springsteen (Greg Allen/Greg Allen/Invision/AP) A joint project of Freehold Borough and the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University in West Long Branch was announced on Tuesday at the Freehold Fire Department building, which will house the exhibition space. Advertisement Everything I learned of deep importance, I learned in this town, the 72-year-old Grammy Award-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Famer said during an onsite press conference. You learn most of what makes you who you are by the time you are ... by the time youre 12, maybe; maybe your teen years. I had all the usual joy and heartbreak of growing up in a small town like this, and of course the minute the opportunity arose I got the hell out. I suppose the unusual thing is that moving around the world as I did, or I do, I always came back, he continued. To this day, I spend quite a bit of money and time trying to figure out what I keep coming back for, and so far, there is no answer. I will let you know as things go on. Advertisement Dubbed My Hometown: The Bruce Springsteen Story Center, the space will include artifacts, photographs and displays featuring concert footage and interviews, according to an official press release. Town historian Kevin Coyne curated and programmed the exhibition along with other community members. The central idea behind the Freehold project is to tell the story of Bruce Springsteen as a writer, a storyteller and as a chronicler of America, and how his story and the story of his hometown intertwine to tell the larger story of this country, Coyne said in a statement. The exhibit is expected to open in mid-2024; the Fire Department will be relocated as part of the towns redevelopment plan. ALMOST 1,400 Cork homes have opened their doors to Ukrainian refugees following an appeal from the Irish Red Cross. According to the charity, 75% is for shared accommodation where people have a room to spare. Two Ukrainian sisters, Antonina Sheludchenko and Iryna Demchenko, who have arrived in Cork, are now among those who are looking for accommodation. Irynas daughter Maryna Kvochka, who has been living in Cork since 2020, said: They are in search of accommodation because Im renting a room with only one bed, so there is no space for all of us. The past few nights a colleague of mine offered a room because she was out of the city, but starting from today we dont have a place for them. Marynas mother and aunt both spoke to at the Together-Razem centre where staff are supporting people who have fled Ukraine. Iryna spoke of the terror she experienced sitting in her apartment at night with the lights out in a bid to avoid being bombed. She said it was super scary to sit in your apartment in the darkness and hear the noises outside, Maryna translated. With the conflict escalating, the sisters made the difficult decision to leave, with little more than the clothes on their backs. Iryna has travelled over from Pokrovsk in Ukraine, whilst Antonina has come from the countrys capital. My aunt, she woke up because she heard the bombing and she realised that the war had started, Maryna said. She was in Kyiv when it started, and for safety reasons she then moved to a village near Kyiv because everyone was expecting it to last just a few days. Maryna Kvochka with her mother Iryna Demchenko and her Aunt Antonina Sheludchenko who both arrived in Ireland from Ukraine on the 6th of March. Picture Dan Linehan That village, they were bombing around that, so she spent a few nights in a basement and then she realised that it was very dangerous for her life to stay in Kyiv, and of course every day I was saying: Please, please come to me, Im afraid for you. My aunt, by train, got from Kyiv to Lviv and my mum, she had to take three trains to get to Dnipro, a city in the middle of Ukraine, and then she got another train that was around 20 hours to get to Lviv. So for my mum it took two or three days to come from east to west and my aunt was waiting for my mum in Lviv and then when they were together they crossed the border in Poland, Maryna explained. The sisters say they are very grateful for the help and support Cork people have shown to Ukraine. Director of the centre, Voyteck Bialek, said that the charity has linked up with the Irish Red Cross in an effort to arrange accommodation for people, and they are working to support Ukrainians in any way they can. After Covid, we only reopened our centre on February 21 and we were planning to slowly reopen all our services, and suddenly just a few days after, this invasion started, he said. We havent even fully reopened, and we have to cope with such a crisis. For years we have been providing support to Polish and to eastern Europeans across five areas mental health, advice and advocacy, languages, integration, and policymaking. Ninety per cent of our clients were Polish because we are the biggest diaspora here. Ukrainians are going to be the second-biggest minority in this country and we are expecting 100,000 of them, so we need to get ready for that. This is why we quickly set up the service. We have Ukrainian volunteers, we now have a Ukrainian-speaking support worker, and we need to act really quickly. Meanwhile, Together-Razem said that it is planning to host a rally in support of Ukraine on Sunday at 4pm on the Grand Parade. To find out more about the work of Together-Razem or to make a donation to the centres fundraiser for Ukraine, visit www.together-razem.org. CORK is a bubbling pot of activity these days and with so much going on, it's easy to miss the good stuff. The Echo has started a new weekly feature, compiling a list of the biggest and brightest news stories of the week including a nod to an interesting social media account. Heres what we have this week on The Echo Rebel Roundup. Social media suggestion Overheard in Cork on Twitter: @overheardincork A Twitter page dedicated to snippets of social interactions in Cork that are laugh-out-loud funny, read, retweet, reply with your own, a good page to get involved with. Cork person of the week Translit CEO, Alex Chernenko, who was born in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, which has come under heavy fire from Russian forces in the past week has said he is determined to help the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Alex Chernenko His company is donating its technology and language services to help people affected by the current crisis in Ukraine. Read More Cork business donates language expertise to aid Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland The Echo gig pick The Kinsale Record Fair has announced it is running a fundraising initiative for the people of Ukraine at its next event happening this Sunday, March 13. The event, featuring a live DJ and vinyl traders from across the country, is now a biannual occurrence with the next event taking place in the Kinsale Youth Community Cafe next to Dino's on Pier Road in the town. Organiser Dennis Collins said there will be a cover charge of 2 and all door proceeds will be going to the Irish Red Cross to help with the crisis in Ukraine. Organiser Dennis Collins said there will be a cover charge of 2 and all door proceeds will be going to the Irish Red Cross to help with the crisis in Ukraine. Read More Kinsale Record Fair announces fundraising initiative for the people of Ukraine Kudos for a Cork company TWO Cork companies have announced that they are trialling a 32-hour work week in a bid to deliver a better work-life balance for staff. Southern Tapes & Packaging (STP Packaging) and its sister company, Down2Earth Materials, which both have their headquarters on Forge Hill, commenced the trial on Monday. Read More Cork firms trial shorter work week What is Cork City Council up to? Cork City Council has been approved for a 16-storey office block, overlooking the Lee in Cork city centre, to be built on the site of the former pub The Sextant. The original planning application for the site, filed by the JCD Group, was a Strategic Housing Development application (SHD) for a 125m 25-storey build-to-rent apartment tower with 200 apartments. The original planning application for the site, filed by the JCD Group, was a Strategic Housing Development application (SHD) for a 125m 25-storey build-to-rent apartment tower with 200 apartments. However, following the demolition of the building in August 2020, which was listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, the group said it was not financially viable to go through with the original plan. JCD Group has welcomed the granting of planning permission for a new 100m office scheme which also includes a new public plaza and the renovation and refurbishment of the ticket office and Railway terminus building at the junction of Albert Quay and Albert Street. A MAN with a screwdriver in his pocket denied acting suspiciously at a bus stop and said he never called gardai paedos. 30-year-old William Corcoran was charged with having a weapon namely a screwdriver without lawful authority. Corcoran contested the case at Cork District Court and said to his solicitor Frank Buttimer that he was at the bus stop across the road from Watercourse Road garda station and he was not acting suspiciously. If making a rollie is acting suspiciously then if they (gardai) go into town they are going to have to arrest everyone, the young man said. Cross-examined by Sergeant Gearoid Davis about the screwdriver he said he had it in his pocket after using it to open the cover of a fluorescent bulb in the bathroom of his girlfriends house at Westbourne Place, off Magazine Road, where he also stayed. The sergeant said those bulb covers opened when prised by anything flat like a knife and would not have required a screwdriver. Did you have to take out screws? the sergeant asked the young man. Corcoran replied, That is what a screwdriver is for. Sgt Davis said, Thanks very much. The prosecution evidence was that the accused was acting suspiciously and was searched for that reason and that when the search was commenced, Corcoran said, F*** off, you paedos. F*** off and leave me alone. While William Corcoran denied using the word, paedos, he said he did feel harassed by gardai on the morning. I kind of lost my head a bit. "I didnt handle it well, to be honest, the defendant said. He also said he should have explained to gardai why he had borrowed the screwdriver from his father to do the job. I had it for a legitimate purpose. I didnt have it to harm somebody or do something crazy, he said. Judge John King said, There was no good reason for him to have it no lawful authority. The judge convicted and fined him 400 for having the screwdriver. Russias invasion of Ukraine has presented world leaders with a conundrum: how to wean Europe off of Russian fossil-fuel products without worsening the climate crisis? To answer this dilemma, environmental advocates have come up with a solution of ramping up U.S. production of heat pumps and sending them overseas. And it appears the Biden administration is listening. White House aides have studied ways to enact this plan, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Its very exciting to see people picking up on this, author and climate activist Bill McKibben told The Washington Posts The Climate 202. McKibben was the first big name to advocate for the heat pump solution in a February substack post. President Biden should immediately invoke the Defense Production Act to get American manufacturers to start producing electric heat pumps in quantity, so we can ship them to Europe where they can be installed in time to dramatically lessen Putins power, McKibben wrote. He also cited the precedent of the lend-lease program of sending supplies at or below cost to Europe during World War II. Europe currently gets about 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia, Reuters reported. In response to Russias actions in Ukraine, the European Commission promised Tuesday to reduce its dependence by two-thirds by the end of the year and phase out Russian gas completely well before 2030. One way to help Europe with this endeavor would simply be to ship more liquified natural gas (LNG) to the continent. The White House was reportedly considering announcing an interagency review of how to increase LNG exports, but ultimately decided not to after some members of the administration expressed concerns about the climate crisis, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Opponents of the review argued that upping natural gas exports ran counter to the goal of reducing fossil fuel production and consumption. This is a position shared by more than 200 environmental groups, who wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to use the Defense Production Act to help Ukraine by speeding the transition to renewable energy. They argued that the global reliance on fossil fuels ultimately gave Russian President Vladimir Putin more power, and that weaning the world off of them rapidly was essential for both climatic and geopolitical stability. Putins ability to wreak such destruction on Ukraine is predicated on global dependence on fossil fuels, the groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sunrise Movement and the Indigenous Environmental Network, wrote. Oil and gas constitute forty percent of Russias national revenue, meaning Russian exports of oil and gas are literally funding this invasion. Whats more, global reliance on Russian oil and gas slowed our collective will to respond over fear of higher energy costs the world over. In addition to heat pumps, the groups also thought the administration should ramp up the production of other renewable energy, storage and weatherization technologies and deploy them not only in Europe but also in the Global South and across the U.S. The groups also called on Biden to use the act to create millions of well-paying jobs and mobilize to build public transportation infrastructure to lower the impact of high gas prices. Heat pumps are considered a more energy efficient means of heating or cooling a space. This is because, instead of generating heat like a furnace, they use electricity to transfer heat from a warm area to a cool area, the Department of Energy explained. Their efficiency is why McKibben argued that sending them to Europe was a climate solution. At first some of the electricity to run the heat pumps will come from gas but heat pumps are much more efficient than gas boilers, so even that will reduce use, he said. As time goes on, the energy that supplies the pumps will get greener and greener if countries honor their climate commitments, he argued. With only two female northern white rhinos left in the world, scientists are rushing to find ways to save the species before its too late. Theyve come one step closer to this goal via creating artificial rhino eggs from stem cells. Led by a team of researchers at Leiden University, a new study in Scientific Reports highlights that the team was able to collect and find new information on pluripotent rhino stem cells. This data is an essential step in creating artificial rhino eggs in order to save the species from extinction. The team is collaborating with Katsuhiko Hayashi, a professor at Kyushu University, who has succeeded at creating mice eggs from skin cells. The conceived offspring were born healthy. According to a report in Science Daily, iPS cells in a petri dish may develop into any cells of the body, including primordial germ cells, the type of cells the researchers want to cultivate. The iPS cells can either be in a naive-like pluripotency state or primed. In a former trial, the scientists were unable to successfully convert stem cells into the naive-like state. So they modified the cells by introducing a gene that prevents cell death and then were able to convert the rhino stem cells to the naive-like state, which are needed to produce germline cells, which pass genes from generation to generation. While this research is a promising step and provides researchers with more insight into rhino stem cells, these particular cells cannot be used moving forward. The iPS cells we have cultivated contain persistent foreign genetic material namely, the reprogramming factors and the gene that prevents cell death, said study author Vera Zywitza of the Pluripotent Stem Cells Platform at Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association. This means we cant use them to make germ cells, as there is a risk these would be pathologically altered. Still, the new information is crucial in helping scientists create artificial rhino eggs. The research comes at an important time, as only two female northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, remain in the world. In November 2021, Najin, a 32-year-old rhino, was retired from the BioRescue breeding program both rhinos had been part of due to her age and health concerns. The last male of the species, Sudan, died in March 2018. The importance of advanced assisted reproduction technologies (aART) may go beyond supporting conventional conservation approaches such as habitat protection and breeding as they might in some cases be the last resort to rescue critically endangered species from extinction, the study authors note. With just two females remaining, the NWR symbolizes the catastrophic decline in flora and fauna, and especially of large mammals, which happens globally due to human activities. Nevertheless, there is hope that biomedical technologies could be applied to rescue keystone species from extinction, or at least to produce cell banks for future resurrection when technologies become available. The northern white rhino, or Ceratotherium simum cottoni, is the rarest rhino in the world with just two surviving members of the species. Both rhinos, Najin and Fatu, are protected within the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Najin and Fatu are both female rhinos, a mother and daughter duo, and have been part of an assisted breeding program that aims to help the species survive. But scientists have decided to retire Najin from the program due to ethical concerns. Najin, 32, is being withdrawn from the BioRescue breeding program for ethical reasonings based on her age and overall health. Ovary cell collections showed that her eggs were no longer viable to become embryos, and scientists have found benign tumors on her reproductive organs. It was a difficult decision, very difficult, because we had to evaluate the conservation of the species against the welfare and life of the individual animal involved, Barbara de Mori, director of the Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare for Italys University of Padua, told Mongabay. It was the right decision for Najin. Northern white rhinos have been deemed essentially extinct since the last male of the species, Sudan, died in 2018. The breeding program is a final hope to help the species survive. Scientists are still working with Fatu and the frozen sperm cells from now-deceased male rhinos of the species for breeding. The BioRescue breeding program involves harvesting eggs from the rhinos and implanting embryos in another species of rhino in Kenya. Both Najin and Fatu, along with two male northern white rhinos, were brought to the conservancy for breeding from a zoo in the Czech Republic. The first male, Suni, died in 2014. That year, the scientists also realized that neither of the female rhinos were able to carry a pregnancy to term. The team behind the assisted breeding program plans to have a northern white rhino calf born in the next 3 years and more members of the species born over the next 20 years. We have been very successful with Fatu So far we have 12 pure northern white rhino embryos, David Ndeereh, acting deputy director for research at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Kenya, told Reuters. We are very optimistic that the project will succeed. This critically endangered species was once found all across Central Africa, but the population is now considered extinct in the wild due to armed conflicts and excessive poaching for their horns. Scientists hope the continued successful creation of embryos will help lead to new northern white rhino calves. It is very encouraging to note that the project has continued to make good progress in its ambitious attempts to save an iconic species from extinction, said Hon. Najib Balala, Kenyas tourism and wildlife cabinet secretary, in a press release. With 12 pure northern white rhinoceros embryos so far developed, the project should now focus on the next steps of embryos transfer into the surrogate females at Ol Pejeta Conservancy for it to achieve its ultimate objective. Spain lobbies European Commission to buy Argentinian corn Luis Planas, Spain's Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister is pushing the European Commission to waive import controls, in particular from Argentina, on corn and livestock feed due to supply concerns caused by Russia's invasion into Ukraine, Reuters reported. He said current plans such as permitting farmers to use fallow land would not replace imports from third countries, but imports of maize need to be made in the next 60 days. Ukraine is a key corn supplier for cattle feed to the Benelux countries, Iberia, the Middle East, and North Africa. These importers have turned to Romania, Bulgaria and France for supplies and are looking further for more stocks. Industry groups in Spain have called on the government to sidestep European Commission rules and take action or risk losing out to other corn purchasers, especially as the country's corn stock is set to run out within weeks. Jorge de Saja, managing director of the leading feed industry association, said Spain has four weeks of corn in stock and six weeks of crude sunflower oil used as livestock feed. De Saja said a decision needs to be made or herds, especially chickens, need to be slaughtered. A spokesman from Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said the European Commission must agree to these exceptions in relation to the importation of products from third countries. Corn exporters in Argentina are in talks with Spain's government and its industry on possible corn sales. Gustavo Idigoras, head of the Argentina's CIARA-CEC grains export and crushing chamber, said they can supply 2021/22 corn to meet any shortfall in Spain. Idigoras said other potential buyers include Lebanon, Egypt, and Azerbaijan. The majority of Argentinian corn is genetically modified and contains pesticide residues restricted by Europe. Argentina is the second biggest corn exporter in the world. - Reuters Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sponsored By: St Anthony's Hospital Cardi B isnt quite making money moves with what wouldve been her first big screen leading role. The Grammy-winning hip hop star has dropped out of Assisted Living, causing production company Paramount Players to scrap the project until further notice. Advertisement Cardi B attends the 2021 American Music Awards Red Carpet Roll-Out with Host Cardi B at L.A. LIVE on November 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Rich Fury/Getty Images) Deadline reported that the $30 million-budgeted film set to be directed by Thembi Banks was a week away from starting production. The reported reason for Cardi Bs pullout is that she is overextended. Advertisement Producers are considering options to resume the production later this year, sources told the outlet. According to a description, Assisted Living revolved around a low-level crook on the run after shes wrongly accused of a crime. After struggling to find someone to take her in, she impersonates an elderly woman and hides out in her estranged grandmothers nursing home. The Bodak Yellow rapper, whose given name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, made her feature film debut in a supporting role in the Jennifer Lopez-headlined Hustlers. In 2021, the former stripper and reality star played the role of Leysa in F9 the latest installment of the multi-billion dollar-grossing Fast & Furious franchise. An "errant comment" by EU foreign affairs high representative Josep Borrell ruined the chances of a pact between Poland and the United States to send fighter jets to Ukraine, reports the US online newspaper Politico. On Wednesday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby rejected a proposal he had been considering for days to transfer Soviet MiG-29 fighter jets owned by Poland to Ukraine in exchange for the Americans supplying Poland with replacement planes. This exchange would have responded to the demands of the government of Volodymyr Zelensky for more material help to combat the Russian invasion in the face of the devastating assault that the country is undergoing. However, the proposal was "not feasible" from a logistical point of view, Kirby argued, and it raised "serious concerns" for the whole of NATO because it would involve flying in an area in dispute with Russia. But according to the US political publication, Borrell's indiscretion also played an important role. Borrell let it slip to the press A comment from Borrell sparked a misunderstanding within NATO. Despite the large number of voices in the upper echelons of the US military who were against sending planes from NATO member countries to Ukraine, Politico says that it was not until Borrell revealed the plans to the press that the operation became "impossible." The head of European diplomacy "declared unequivocally to reporters on Feb. 27 that the bloc would provide Ukraine with fighter jets" even though the bloc "had never agreed to this plan." This comment, says the US publication, "shocked" both the Western allies and Ukraine, who preferred to keep it a secret. The issue became more surreal as the Ukrainians took Borrell at his word and publicly announced that they would receive European fighters. "Ukrainian pilots even travelled to Poland to wrap up the deal and bring the planes back over the border," Publico reports. In early March, the Polish president dropped the plan and said his fighters would not fly into Ukrainian airspace. No one wants to take the first step More recently, US secretary of state Antony Blinken confirmed that a possible triangular pact was still being studied with Poland and Ukraine, under which the United States would send new F-16s to the Poles in exchange for the MiG jets which would go to Kiev. However, the Americans finally backed down after strong opposition from intelligence services, but left the door open for Poland to send its planes if they so wished, although the US fighters would not be ready until a few months later. In response, Warsaw went a step further and proposed that the US deliver the Polish planes to Kyiv via the American base in Ramstein, Germany. That is where the deal came to an end. Catalonia and Scotland, siblings in terms of their nationalisms. This is the idea defended today by MEP Diana Riba, of the Catalan party ERC, during an event on independence movements in Europe. Riba drew links between the two countries' models of nationalism, far removed from those dynamics "of centuries ago", but also from many other current, more conservative and xenophobic secessionist movements. "We push for national emancipation going hand in hand with the struggle for social emancipation," she said. In this line, she positioned the Catalan and Scottish independence movements as "inclusive, democratic, feminist and ecological" projects, which also regard their territories as "multilingual and plural" spaces. However, despite the open nature of these sovereignist movements, she pointed out with regret that the European Union had closed the door on them. She recalled that the European model has been based since its inception on incorporating states, such as the former Soviet countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And now it is even studying the accession of Ukraine, in the face of the Russian invasion of the country. By contrast, as Riba criticized, the EU rejects the incorporation of "future new states which Catalonia or Scotland could be". Its incomprehensible, she said, calling for work to get beyond this framework. To do so, the ERC representative stressed the need to open spaces within the framework of the European Union in which to raise this debate regarding the countries that want to become new states within the European community. "We need to propose spaces to discuss what democratic tools we have for situations like Catalonia and Scotland," she said. Thus, while there are other debates that currently dominate the headlines, such as Covid and the war in Ukraine, this issue cannot be overlooked. Regional nationalisms are not xenophobic The MEP expressed this message during a speech entitled 'Self-determination Movements in Europe', organized by the Fundacio Josep Irla and the Coppieters Foundation. The event was also attended by three researchers. Marc Sanjaume, political science professor at Barcelona's UPF, rejected the idea that all regional nationalisms are exclusive and xenophobic. "Empirical analysis disproves that and says it's false." In this regard, he also defended that the independence movement cannot be understood solely as an economic issue: "It's not just not wanting to pay taxes, but rather, it's much more complicated." For his part, Jordi Mas, international policy professor at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), recalled that nationalisms exist not only at the regional level, but also at the state level, while xenophobia can be found at the level of a whole state or country, as well as in political parties that are country-wide. And Ivan Serrano, a political science professor from the UOC, described it as a "universalist fallacy of the progressive movement" to describe all sovereignist movements as exclusivist in nature. "It's an easy cliche," he said. Washington, MO (63090) Today Generally cloudy. High 67F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low near 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. 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 Last Thursday to celebrate the closing of a new $400 million round, the venture capital firm M13 held an invite-only schmoozing opportunity in the former offices of Musical.ly, opening with a introductory chat on "the future of crypto, the decentralized web, and creators." Curiously, one of the guests was Cameo's Steven Galanis who, according to audio provided to Engadget by an attendee, took the opportunity to share a metaphor he apparently has deployed before: that the rampant speculation around Web3 is akin to the colonization of the Americas by Europeans. To be clear, he seems to think of both as good things. Cameo, the service that hit unicorn status last May and allows anyone to book a short, custom video message from celebrities and pseudo-celebrities like Fran Drescher, Gilbert Gottfried or the guy who played Hagrid, is not a Web3 business in any sense not that "Web3" itself is a particularly meaningful or well-defined piece of terminology. But Galanis seems to have become something of a booster for these loosely conjoined elements of emergent tech. His Twitter profile picture is of toga- and 3D glasses-wearing Bored Ape NFT, for which he seems to have paid 100 ETH the equivalent of around $300,000 at the time. He steered Cameo toward minting its own set of NFTs (called "Cameo Pass") last month with the promise that proceeds would be reinvested into, among other things,"exploration of further Web3 projects focused on fan/talent interactions." Presumably this enthusiasm a contrast to the often chilly reception towards NFTs at other tech companies helped land Galanis on stage for M13's shindig, along with Lightning Labs's Liz Stark. But in the course of his enthusiastic boosterism he shared "the analogy that I like to give people" about Web3, which we've edited for clarity (emphasis ours): "I actually think right now it's like 1493. Columbus has just gotten back from the New World. And he's going to the King of Spain and the Queen of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, and he's like 'there's a whole world over there that like, there's literally just gold coming out of rivers.' And then the King of France hears about it, the Kingdom of England hears about it. And what does everybody decide? We need to start building boats. So right now we're in this age where everybody's building boats. Everybody's trying to go to this New World. [...] So everybody's going over, there's gonna mutinies on some boats. Somebody's gonna hit an iceberg. [...] But somebody is gonna end up on Manhattan, like in the digital world, and they're gonna pull a bunch of beads out of their pocket, and they're going to make the best real estate transaction of all time." It boggles the mind that anyone could be aware of the colonization and systematic genocide of native peoples, and conclude that the moral is to not miss out on the opportunity to kill, steal and swindle again for personal gain. Or that if someone were to sincerely believe something quite so awful, they would at least have the good sense not to share that opinion, apparently, on multiple occasions. Beyond the blunt insensitivity of the remarks, Galanis seems to have little to no grasp of the events he references. "Everybody is building boats!!!? This is a sort of 20th [century] arms race point of view," William Fowler, a professor emeritus of history at Northeastern, told Engadget via email. "England sent Cabot (1497) West, but that did not result in much. Not until Jamestown, 1607, did England, through a private company, establish a permanent colony in America. As for their naval power, England barely made it through the Armada, 1588, and did not have a first class navy until [the] mid 17th [century] ... France sent Cartier (1534), but it would be almost one hundred years before they got serious in Canada." All of this is to say nothing of the fact that Columbus was far from the first European to stumble onto the Americas (that distinction likely goes to the Vikings) or that he "went to his grave (1506) believing he had found a route to the Indies," according to Fowler. The tale of Manhattan's land rights being bought out from under native people by the Dutch for baubles is, at best, highly exaggerated. Unlike Staten Island or other areas of land, the contract between the Dutch and native peoples for Manhattan is either lost or never existed, and according to the Gotham Center's Richard Howe "the extant evidence for the Dutch purchase of Manhattan is scant, indirect and circumstantial." While a letter claiming a transfer occurred, dated November 7 1626, does survive, it's both inconclusive and in no way mentions "beads" rather that the land had been purchased "for the value of 60 guilders" (which is something like $1,000 in today's dollars.) Whether native tribes shared the same understanding of property, or could be said to have freely entered into these types of contracts is unresolved. Nor is it known if the people who allegedly signed over the deed were even the tribe primarily occupying Manhattan at the time. Whatever the case, this "investment" was short-lived, and New Amsterdam was "taken easily by the British," according to Fowler, in 1664, less than 20 years after the rights were supposedly sold for a song. Let's not even get into how the metaphor fails on a structural level in that Web3 isn't a valuable resource simply awaiting discovery and exploitation. Its illusion of riches shares more in common with El Dorado than the "New World." It might appear unfair to expect Galanis to have studied history, rather than basing offensive flights of fancy on colonialist myths. Then again, history was the man's area of study at Duke. Engadget made several attempts to contact Cameo to allow Galanis to explain precisely what he might have meant by this analogy, and have yet to hear back. "Trying to apply 21st [century] criteria to ages past should be done with great care," professor Fowler wrote, "[Galanis] may have something to say, but it is hard to dig through the rhetoric to get to his point, if he has any." Have a tip to share? Download Signal messenger for iOS or Android and text me confidentially at 646 983 9846. The search engine DuckDuckGo will be down-ranking sites that spread Russian propaganda and disinformation. In a tweet, founder and CEO Gabriel Weinberg wrote that the privacy-focused search engine would be releasing updates that would ensure Russian disinformation sites rank further down in search results. Earlier this month, DuckDuckGo announced it would pause its relationship with Russian-state owned search engine Yandex. Like so many others I am sickened by Russias invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create. #StandWithUkraine At DuckDuckGo, we've been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation. Gabriel Weinberg (@yegg) March 10, 2022 A number of platforms including the Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram have also demoted posts from Russian state media. Google has been down-ranking search results from Russian state news agencies since 2017. Known for being a privacy-minded search engine, DuckDuckGo does not track its users or sell data to third parties. The company primarily makes money from affiliate links and non-targeted, contextual ads. DuckDuckGo, which regularly donates to digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and non-profit newsroom The Markup, has also been embraced by conspiracy theorists and far-right groups in recent years. A number of studies highlighted in the New York Times found that Bings search algorithm, which powers DuckDuckGo, surfaces more sites that promote conspiracy theories than Google. Many fans of DuckDuckGo criticized the search engine for its decision on Russia, likening it to censorship. Its unclear whether DuckDuckGo will make a wider effort to down-rank disinformation. Weinberg did not detail in his tweet which Russian propaganda sites DuckDuckGo would target, or whether the search engine will target other types of disinformation, such as on climate change or COVID-19. DuckDuckGo provided Engadget with the following statement regarding this change: The primary utility of a search engine is to provide access to accurate information. Disinformation sites that deliberately put out false information to intentionally mislead people directly cut against that utility. Current examples are Russian state-sponsored media sites like RT and Sputnik. It's also important to note that down-ranking is different from censorship. We are simply using the fact that that these sites are engaging in active disinformation campaigns as a ranking signal that the content they produce is of lower quality, just like there are signals for spammy sites and other lower-quality content. In addition to this approach, for newsworthy topics we're also continuing to highlight reputable news coverage and reliable instant answers at the top of our search results where they are seen and clicked the most. We're also in the process of thinking about other types of interventions. Update, 3/11/22 2:45PM ET: This story has been updated with DuckDuckGo's statement on the move. We've also updated the headline and added additional context to this story based on DuckDuckGo's statement. Its a wonder of a new look. Chris Pine at the premiere of his new spy thriller, All the Old Knives, finally sounded off on his scruffier and viral new look. Advertisement I guess its like, equal parts laziness and equal parts something I may do in the future here, the Star Trek star, 41, told ET. Chris Pine, a cast member in "All the Old Knives," poses at the premiere of the film at The London West Hollywood, Wednesday, March 9, 2022, in West Hollywood, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Pine, now sporting a graying beard and long hair, joked, If theres any excuse not to shave and have makeup put on, you know... Advertisement One of Hollywoods favorite Chrises, Pine wouldnt confirm whether or not the 70s-esque look was for an upcoming part, joking, This is my Gregg Allman look. My publicist said I look like a Bee Gee, but I prefer [the late] Gregg Allman, he continued, noting that hes around to star in a Bee Gees biopic. Major social networks aren't done cracking down on Russian misinformation following that country's invasion of Ukraine. As CNN's Donie O'Sullivan and CNBC report, Facebook and Twitter have both removed posts from Russia's UK embassy over false claims surrounding the bombing of a maternity hospital in the Ukraine city of Mariupol. Russia claimed without evidence that a woman in a photo of the destroyed hospital was a "beauty blogger" and that the photo was staged. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told O'Sullivan a Facebook post violated rules about content that asserts a "violent tragedy did not occur." Twitter's representative, meanwhile, told CNBC multiple tweets broke rules surrounding the "denial of violent events." Russia has routinely promoted demonstrably false narratives surrounding the invasion of Ukraine, prompting Meta, Twitter, Google and others to restrict state-backed Russian media outlets like RT and Sputnik. In turn, Russia recently made it illegal for the media to contradict President Putin's official line on the war and has blocked Facebook and Twitter. The removals aren't surprising given the stances of Meta and Twitter against Russia-based misinformation. However, there may still be room for more action. The Russian embassy in Geneva, for instance, has routinely shared unsupported claims about Ukraine on Twitter, including allegations a Ukraine paramilitary group was using Mariupol hospital patients and staff as human shields. We've asked Twitter for comment, but this suggests the fight over misinformation is far from over. Users in Russia won't be able to buy apps and games or pay for subscriptions and in-app purchases at the moment. Google has suspended the Play store billing system as of March 10th due to "payment system disruption," most likely caused by sanctions imposed against the country's banks. The tech giant has announced the suspension in a support page, where it also said that Russian users can still download free apps and games. Ongoing subscriptions won't be cut off right away, but they can't be renewed after they're done. Google advised developers in Russia to make their apps free and to switch off subscription services for now if they want to continue making them available for download. According to Reuters, YouTube is also pausing all paid services for viewers in Russia, including YouTube Premium, Channel Memberships, Super Chat and merchandise sales. Creators in the country can still generate revenue from viewers outside the country, who'll still be able to send them Super Chats and buy their merch. In addition, Google is pausing ads for all advertisers based in Russia across all its properties around the world, expanding the other ad-related bans it implemented since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. YouTube previously barred Russia Today (RT) and other state-owned media channels from being able to generate revenue. It also blocked access to them across Europe following the EU's orders to ban their broadcast. Google blocked Russian state media from being able to monetize their content across its products, as well, and eventually stopped selling ads in Russia. The White House isn't the only one trying to steer discussion of Ukraine on TikTok. Vice News has discovered that Russian TikTok influencers are reportedly being paid to share videos promoting the Putin government's narrative surrounding the invasion. An anonymous operator in a Telegram channel has been telling creators what and when to post, what goals they must meet and otherwise dictating their content. At least some of the followers have over a million followers. It's unclear who is behind the campaign, but the operator claims to be a journalist and has looked for posters for additional pro-government content (such as supporting Russian athletes in the Olympics) and private companies. However, TikTok's ban on new videos from Russia apparently isn't an obstacle. The channel administrator tells influencers how to dodge the ban, and at least some producers have posted videos after the ban took effect. The channel suddenly shut down on March 9th as Vice conducted its investigation. Most of the videos have since been removed, but the campaign team reportedly asked them to do this. Others remain, and it's not certain how many similar initiatives might be underway. It's also unclear if the propaganda was effective. TikTok hasn't commented on the pro-Kremlin campaign and told Vice about its general efforts to spot "emerging threats" and "harmful misinformation" surrounding Russia's war against Ukraine. Whether or not the Russian government was involved with this TikTok effort, there's little doubt the country has tried to control the online narrative on Ukraine. It has blocked social networks like Instagram, posted misinformation through its embassies' accounts, circumvented bans on its state news outlets and criminalized media reports that contradict the official stance on the war. TikTok's large user base may be a tempting target if Russia hopes to sway more of the internet to its side. Instagram will soon be inaccessible in Russia, according to regulator Roskomnadzor. The latest ban is in response to Facebook "temporarily" changing its rules to allows for calls for violence against Russian soldiers and Vladimir Putin. Though Facebook has been restricted in the country for more than a week, the ban didnt extend to Instagram. State news agency TASS reported earlier that Russian lawmakers had called for that to change, though, in response to the company's updated policy. The state prosecutor also reportedly asked for Facebook-owner Meta to be labeled an "extremist organization" and the Russian government opened a criminal investigation into the company, according to CNBC. Now, the state regulator Roskomnadzor says that it will move to cut off access to the photo sharing app on March 14th. Messages are circulating on the Instagram social network encouraging and provoking violent acts against Russians, in connection with which the Russian Prosecutor General's Office demanded that Roskomnadzor restrict access to this social network, Roskomnadzor posted on its Telegram account. Roskomnadzor decided to complete the procedure for imposing restrictions on access to Instagram at 00:00 on March 14, providing users with an additional 48 hours of transition period. Facebook didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. A company spokesperson said Thursday that it had changed its rules around violent speech in order to allow for more forms of political expression. Responding to reports that the Russian government is considering designating Meta as an extremist organization for its policies in support of speech: pic.twitter.com/Y8sUbZDSML Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) March 11, 2022 In a statement, Meta's President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg didn't address the impending ban of Instagram, but did address the recent rule change, calling it "a temporary decision taken in extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances." "The fact is, if we applied our standard content policies without any adjustments we would now be removing content from ordinary Ukrainians expressing their resistance and fury at the invading military forces, which would rightly be viewed as unacceptable," Clegg wrote. "There is no change at all in our policies on hate speech as far as the Russian people are concerned." Update 3/11 6:50pm ET: Instagram's top executive, Adam Mosseri, also weighed in on the ban, calling it "wrong" to cut off 80 million users in the country. Twitter is now also adding labels to accounts and tweets sharing links from Belarusian state-affiliated media outlets "after detailed reporting about their role in the war in Ukraine." The website started labeling tweets from Russian state media outlets a few days in late February in an effort to significantly reduce the circulation of their content. Yoel Roth, the company's head of site integrity, said on Twitter that the company made the decision to label tweets from Belarus, as well, after expert voices highlighted the country's involvement in the invasion of Ukraine. Were adding labels to accounts and Tweets sharing links of state-affiliated media outlets in Belarus after detailed reporting about their role in the war in Ukraine. This builds on our years-long work to add context to state media outlets and limit their reach on Twitter. Yoel Roth (@yoyoel) March 11, 2022 Roth said Twitter saw a 30 percent drop in impressions on Tweets from Russian state media based on early data, suggesting that the company has been successful in its goal to limit those outlets' reach. Similar to what it did to the Russian state outlets, Twitter will also reduce the visibility of labeled tweets with Belarusian state media content. In addition, users will see a prompt whenever they try to share labeled tweets. Twitter blocked ads from state media outlets years ago, but it completely paused ads and recommendations in Ukraine and Russia shortly after the war began to make sure critical public safety is elevated. While Russian authorities had blocked the website since then, Twitter launched a Tor onion service to give the country's residents access to sources about the war other than state media. More recently, Twitter removed posts from Russia's UK embassy over false claims that the bombing of a maternity hospital in the Ukraine city of Mariupol was staged. Twitter said the posts were removed for breaking its rules surrounding the "denial of violent events." The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned operators of cryptocurrency ATMs in the UK to shut down their machines or else face enforcement action. In its announcement, the financial watchdog said that it hasn't granted any of the crypto firms registered with it the permission to operate ATM services. That means all crypto ATMs in the UK are illegal. "Crypto ATMs offering cryptoasset exchange services in the UK must be registered with us and comply with UK Money Laundering Regulations," the regulator wrote. As The Telegraph reports, there are around 81 functional crypto ATMs in Britain based on data from the Coin ATM Radar tracker, located mostly inside supermarkets and convenience stores. These ATMs allow users to deposit cash in exchange for cryptocurrency, which they can then transfer to their digital wallets. The regulator previously raised concerns that the machines could be used for money laundering, because they require minimal background checks, especially for small deposits. Gidiplus, a Bitcoin ATM operator, tried to overturn the FCA's refusal to grant it a license. The regulator argued that bad actors could take advantage of its machines' weak identity checks on people depositing less than 250. Money launderers and illegal businesses could potentially use multiple "mules" to do small transactions in order to avoid getting noticed by authorities. The UK's Upper Tribunal ruled against Gidiplus, which has since sold its ATMs to an Eastern European buyer. The regulator ended its announcement with a warning that cryptocurrency is high-risk and that people could lost their money if something goes wrong: It's not just journalists receiving White House briefings on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Washington Post has learned Press Secretary Jen Psaki and National Security Council adviser Matt Miller helped virtually brief 30 TikTok influencers, including Khalil Greene and Jules Terpak, on the US approach to the war. They outlined the US' strategic objectives in the area and answered creators' questions on subjects ranging from relief efforts to a theoretical response if Russia used nuclear weapons. White House digital strategy director Rob Flaherty characterized the briefing as both an effort to provide reliable information from an "authoritative source" and an acknowledgment TikTok is a "critically important" source for updates on Ukraine. It's hoping to fight misinformation by reaching millions of TikTok followers, in other words. There were concerns the briefing didn't tackle hard questions. Jules Suzdaltsev, the operator of TikTok account Good Morning Bad News, said it felt like a press event "for kindergarteners." Another TikTok news provider, Marcus DiPaola, also saw this as selective messaging the White House didn't address its involvement in other invasions, he said. However helpful the presentation might have been, it's not surprising the Biden administration would reach out to TikTok creators. Many younger internet users get at least some of their news from social networks like TikTok, and those outlets have been struggling to curb misinformation. TikTok halted video uploads and streams in Russia on March 6th, and only recently started labelling state-backed media outlets. Briefings like this will theoretically counter misinformation and get the official US strategy to people who would otherwise remain unaware. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas, including the following counties, in Oklahoma, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman. In northern Texas, Archer, Clay, Wichita and Wilbarger. * WHEN...From 6 AM CDT this morning through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorms will develop Wednesday morning over a broad swath of the watch area. Another round of rain and thunderstorms is expected later in the afternoon and will last much of Wednesday night before ending Thursday morning. Storm total amounts of 2 to 5 inches are expected. Given recent rainfall, these additional amounts may cause flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && Mark Hamills shade strikes back. The Star Wars actor snapped back at a prominent conservative commentator who suggested that by showing his support to LGBTQ youth, Hamill was parroting idiotic propaganda. Advertisement The Daily Wires founder Ben Shapiro apparently took issue with a retweet by Hamill, in which he wrote the word gay 69 times. On Tuesday, Hamill shared a tweet by Occupy Democrats that read, Floridas students spoke loud and clear this week against the GOPs bill to cancel free speech and LGBTQ people, and theyre going to #SayGayAnyway in reference to the controversial legislation banning discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation in Floridas primary schools. Advertisement Hi Ben, I LOVE mind-reading acts! Now guess which finger I'm holding up... - Mar https://t.co/et79YujyB2 pic.twitter.com/gFY1uger67 Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) March 11, 2022 Shapiro retweeted Hamills message on Wednesday, suggesting that the actors show of support somehow represented a form of indoctrination of children in schools. So I take it you wish to indoctrinate small children into gender and sexual ideology, the bestselling author and right-wing hero wrote. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Because thats the only reason youre parroting idiotic propaganda, he added. Mark Hamill and Ben Shapiro (Getty Images) Hamills response to Shapiros response came two days later. The 70-year-old actor known for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films shared a screenshot of the conservative pundits response and had some fun with his caption. Hi Ben, I LOVE mind-reading acts! Now guess which finger Im holding up he said, adding a red-heart emoji and a pun for his name, Mar-Camel. While the Hamill-Shapiro feud continues to generate likes, retweets and comments, users of the microblogging network seemed to have declared one clear winner. As of Friday morning, Shapiros tweet seemed to have peaked at 17,500 likes, while Hamills response received Twitter love from nearly 285,000 users. Advertisement On Wednesday, Hamill said that his gay tweet had been investigated following complaints by people from Germany, but that he was relieved to learn that tweeting the word gay 69 times with a rainbow emoji is NOT subject to removal under the @Twitter rules or German law. Numbers in Indias Periphery: The Political Economy of Government Statistics by Ankush Agrawal and Vikas Kumar, New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 2020; pp 397, `945. When the results of the 2011 Census were declared, one curious anomaly immediately came to light. In one state, Nagaland, the population appeared to have contracted between 2001 and 2011, while the rest of the country recorded a significant population growth. This demographic somersault attracted the attention of two intrepid data detectives, Ankush Agrawal and Vikas Kumar, whose investigation into the issue revealed a wide range of problems with Nagalands official statistics. From the census data to administrative maps to poverty estimates, it appears that all official data on Nagaland are of poor quality, affecting even finance commission allocations for the state. The root of the problem lay in the census, the statistical bedrock on which other calculations and projections stand. Over the past few decades, the census counts seem to have been manipulated, exaggerating the states population. Matters came to a head in 2001 when the census reported a 65% increase in Nagalands population between 1991 and 2001. The results were so astounding that even the state government felt compelled to reject them. The 2001 miscount prompted wide-ranging deliberations before the 2011 Census to prevent a repeat of such exaggerations, leading to more realistic estimates in the last census. Since the population figures were inflated in the 2001 Census, the 2011 Census reported a reduced population of the state. Libya is at a perilous crossroads again. On 1 March, the countrys Tobruk-based parliament, the House of Representatives, voted to endorse a new interim government headed by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, giving it the greenlight to take over from the sitting prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah. The votes proponents insist that the procedure was sound, but factions in the capital Tripoli say it was fraudulent. The latter reject the new cabinet and oppose appointing a new executive entirely. As the camps square off, omens of renewed fighting are visible for the first time since an October 2020 ceasefire ended six years of political feuds and intermittent conflict. Armed groups allied with the Tripoli-based government have already closed Libyan airspace to prevent incumbent ministers from traveling to Tobruk to take part in Bashaghas swearing-in ceremony. With others gearing up for confrontation, what happens next will depend largely on how foreign powers react. A splintered international response could encourage an institutional split and military mobilization. But a united international condemnation of the use of force coupled with a call on Libyans to chart a consensual way forward with UN assistance could avoid this scenario. The 1 March vote risks breaking apart the unified interim government that formed in the months after a ceasefire declared in October 2020. That government brought together the countrys rival power centers, one based in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk, which formed after contested parliamentary elections cleaved the country in two in 2014. Efforts to instal a new government have been under way since early 2022, after the national electoral commission indefinitely postponed a presidential election that had been slated for 24 December, citing insurmountable legal disputes regarding the candidates running for the countrys top position. Since then, Libyas main political camps have put forward conflicting ideas for resolving the impasse. The Tobruk-based group, which includes House speaker Agila Saleh, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar (who led forces that besieged Tripoli in 2019) and Tripoli-based factions that want to oust Dbeibah, said politicians should form a new government and amend a draft constitution before new elections. The other, which includes western Libyas main political blocs, wanted Dbeibah to stay in power until a new legislature is elected and can choose a new executive. Even presidential hopeful Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, son of the late dictator, who is historically at odds with the second camp, echoed the need to keep the Dbeibah government in place and proceed with a legislative ballot. The polarization between these two broad camps deepened after 10 February, when the House appointed Bashagha as prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a government by the end of the month. This appointment was the result of a deal among Bashagha, Saleh, Haftar and their respective allies in the House. Khaled al-Mishri, the chairman of the High State Council, the rival assembly located in Tripoli, withdrew his support in late February. Divisions among foreign actors mirrored Libyas cleavages. Cairo and Moscow gave their initial blessing to the Houses efforts to instal a new government, seemingly believing that Libya would benefit from an alliance among former enemies like Bashagha and Haftar. Beginning in early 2022, Egyptian officials actively supported reaching an understanding between the two and proceeding with the plan based on their deal. Turkey, while maintaining friendly ties with Bashagha, stuck by Dbeibah and called for fresh elections, banking on polls being a better guarantee of long-term stability. The UAE backed Dbeibah, while its Gulf adversary Qatar, made discreet overtures to Bashagha while still bankrolling its traditional allies aligned with Dbeibah. In effect, the Gulf monarchies allegiances have shifted: barely a year ago, Abu Dhabi was aiding Haftar militarily, while Doha was providing diplomatic and financial support to the Tripoli-based authorities. Amid these fast-changing developments, the US and other Western states have adopted a wait-and-see approach. The UN did not oppose the attempt to replace the government. But the UN Secretary-Generals special adviser, Stephanie Williams, imposed conditions for accepting the move. The 1 March parliament confidence vote made matters worse. The House speaker counted 101 members in attendance, and 92 voted in favor. This number was close to or higher than the earlier quorum estimates. But video footage showed fewer attendees than 101, and only 88 names were read out during the roll call for the vote. The number of parliamentarians who pronounced the word confidence (thiqqa) was unclear because they did not speak into microphones. On 2 March, parliament clarified that the discrepancy in numbers came about because eight lawmakers had dialed in from remote locations for security or health reasons, while others preferred to cast their votes anonymously after receiving threats from pro-Dbeibah armed groups. The House also changed the total number of those in favor of the new government to 96, adding to the confusion. Bashagha said the ballot was clear and transparent and vowed to take office in Tripoli in a peaceful manner. The next day, however, Dbeibah called the vote a coup attempted through fraud. On 3 March, Bashagha and most of his ministers took the oath of office in Tobruk. On that occasion, House speaker Saleh listed all 96 names of the lawmakers who had supported the new executive, in one last attempt to dispel doubts about the vote of confidence. The power struggle could disrupt the calm Libya has enjoyed since factions signed the October 2020 ceasefire agreement. It risks undermining reconstruction efforts and the wider economy. Political rivals are also becoming more dependent on armed loyalists. Gunmen allied with the Tripoli-based government reportedly detained two new ministers, preventing them from assuming their duties. It is unclear how Haftar-led forces, who control the east of the country and are allied with the Bashagha cabinet, will respond. The risk of war depends both on the answer to this question and on what the sides foreign backers decide to do. For now, the foes in the civil war appear unlikely to take up arms again, due to general war fatigue. Neither do outside powers seem eager for renewed conflict. That said, rising animosity between the two governments could change this calculation. Geopolitical shifts could also affect tensions in Libya. The precarious balance between Turkey and Russia, both of which have military personnel in Libya, could be rapidly upended. Turkey is allied with the Tripoli-based government. Russia deployed fighter jets and the Wagner Groups private military contractors to support Haftar-led forces in the 2019-2020 war, and while it has subsequently sent some of its assets elsewhere, it retains a presence on the ground alongside Haftar. As fighting in Ukraine intensifies, there is a risk of spillover that could drag Libya into a new proxy war. For now, Moscow is the only foreign capital to officially welcome the Bashagha government. The Kremlins confrontation with the West over Ukraine makes its strategy in Libya unpredictable. Other capitals have thus far kept a deafening silence, perhaps waiting to see how the UN responds. On 2 March, the UN Secretary-General said the vote fell short of the expected standards of transparency and procedures and included acts of intimidation prior to the session. This wording is likely to push foreign powers in the direction of refusing the new government recognition, which would be a blow to those backing the Bashagha-Haftar deal. Notwithstanding their divisions, external actors should speak with one voice in pressing all Libyan parties to show restraint and condemning the forcible detention of the new governments supporters. Such a minimum international consensus should be attainable, given that outside powers have a common interest in preventing a return to a divided Libya or a relapse into civil war at a moment of already great geopolitical upheaval. The two sides in Libya should accept UN mediation to break their deadlock and return to negotiating a realistic political roadmap for the way forward. Finding a consensus between the two rival governments admittedly will not be easy, but for each there are good reasons and incentives to accept external mediation: the Bashagha government will be short-lived if it does not receive broad international recognition or, alternatively, gain access to state funds (both of which will be difficult without the UNs support); the Dbeibah government risks losing out if member states begin to gradually flip their recognition in favor of the new executive. The UNs Williams should call on the parties to refrain from violence and urge them to accept her good offices for mediation. Foreign governments should follow her lead in calling for negotiations. International Unity is Needed to Prevent a Divided Libya Article by Team of Authors International Crisis Group / ICG. The Article can be downloaded here Sharing a bed with a pet at night is a common feature of nighttime routines in the United States. According to the 20212022 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, 43 percent of pet dogs in the United States and 49 percent of pet cats sleep on their owners bed. When it comes to the health perks (or drawbacks) of sharing your bed with your favorite furry friend, however, experts are divided. RELATED: How to Find (and Follow) the Sleep Routine Thats Right for You The Benefits of Sharing a Bed With Your Pet First, its worth noting that the majority of research on the topic of co-sleeping with pets has focused on dogs rather than cats. Mark Fierstein, MD, an internal medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health in New York City, suggests this is because cats are nocturnal and may want to play or even purposely wake up their owner. Dr. Fierstein points out that historically, in some populations, people slept alongside their dogs at night to derive a very significant health benefit: heat. Past research has noted that Indigenous Australians did so, for example. A contemporary benefit of sleeping with pets is that the practice may buffer loneliness, Fierstein says. Often, [people who co-sleep with pets] report an increased sense of security, companionship, and relaxation, he notes. For some people, the dogs warmth, steady heartbeat, and protective nature can make sleeping with them feel safe and cozy. This may be especially true of people who are managing trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (Sleep issues, such as insomnia and nightmares, are common among people living with PTSD, per the Sleep Foundation.) They help put the person at ease and help them feel secure, says Fierstein. Some service dogs are specifically trained to help people with PTSD cope with nightmares by waking them up when they sense nightmare-related distress in the human; research that surveyed veterans living with PTSD found that 57 percent of respondents said service dogs trained in this way helped them manage this hallmark PTSD symptom, according to one cross-sectional study published in Frontiers in Psychology in July 2020. Leslie Sinn, DVM, a veterinary behavioral specialist at Behavior Solutions in Ashburn, Virginia, says an animal can calm you down if you wake up feeling disoriented. The presence of the dog might be really reassuring and grounding, she says. Fierstein adds that some research has found that having a dog in the bed during sleep doesnt disrupt slumber in a meaningful way. He highlights an observational study published in September 2017 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings that showed dog owners studied in their home had slightly lower sleep efficiency (a measure of time spent sleeping versus time spent in bed) when their dog slept in their bed than owners whose dog slept elsewhere in the room, but neither scenario lowered people's sleep efficiency to a disruptive level. RELATED: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need Each Night? The Case Against Sharing a Bed With Your Pet Of course, there are a few potential downsides to inviting Fido into bed with you. Some include: increased opportunity for allergen or disease exposure with your pets, aggressive behavior, and disrupted sleep quality, says Fierstein. Some research suggests co-sleeping with pets may increase mid-night awakenings for people. A study published in November 2018 in Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of the Interactions of People & Animals found that dog owners were more than four times as likely to be woken up by a pet they co-slept with when their pet was active (which was around 20 percent of the night) than if their pet was still. (Its worth noting the significant limitation that the study looked at only five dogs and their owners, and the potential benefits of co-sleeping were not considered.) If the owner is a light sleeper, he or she may not do well with a dog or cat in the bedroom, notes Fierstein. For example, he points out that a dog who snores loudly is not an ideal sleeping mate. Dogs may also show aggressive behavior such as snarling, growling, or even biting as a reflexive startle response if they are woken up unexpectedly, and this can be potentially disruptive or dangerous to the person sleeping next to them, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Allowing pets in the bedroom can also expose owners to potential allergens, like pet hair and dander, as well as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause disease, per the Sleep Foundation. RELATED: Sleep Remedies That May Not Work (and Could Do Harm) How to Safely Share a Bed With Your Pet If youre a new pet owner, or just considering getting a pet, Dr. Sinn advises creating a place for the animal to sleep outside of a human bed. Your pet will benefit from having their own place to rest, she points out, and their bed will become a safety item, making it easier to transport your dog or cat when you travel to a new or unfamiliar place. If you do choose to allow your dog or cat in your bed, experts have some tips. Create boundaries. Make sure the dog knows where it is allowed and where it is not, Fierstein advises. Sinn concurs: Only give access when you invite [your pet] up. Block access at other times. Keep the pet clean. An owner may not be allergic to their dog or cat, but they may be allergic to other materials in the animals fur, says Fierstein if the animal is not kept clean. Practice good hygiene with your pet and you'll decrease the likelihood of exposure to ticks, fleas, ringworm, and mites. Forbid aggressive behavior. Some dogs become territorial and start to exhibit problematic aggressive behavior when on the bed, says Fierstein. Dont allow any aggression in the sleeping area, he says. Establish order. When your pet is on your bed, Fierstein says they should stay on top of the covers to keep dirt and potential allergens, such as pet hair or dander, from getting into the bed. This rule also prevents the animal from feeling trapped, he explains. In the middle of the night, a pet could suddenly awaken and be startled or feel trapped. At that moment, a normally docile pet could bite or scratch an owner. RELATED: What Is Revenge Sleep Procrastination? The White House is warning that Russia may seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine. But asked if such an move would cross a "red line" leading to U.S. military involvement, Jen Psaki says U.S. troops will not be sent to fight. 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) Swedish retail giant IKEA said recently they will put their operations on hold in Russia and Belarus. The company's response to Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine creates urgent issues and questions for U.S. and other foreign retailers who have not yet closed their stores or other operations in Russia: Will they pause or shutter their operations to protest that country's invasion of Ukraine? If not, why not? Their failure to respond quickly to the escalating war in Ukraine could trigger boycotts or other protests by consumers and investors. Jeff Galak, an associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, noted that, "as individual consumers, it is possible to take action against the government of Russia by boycotting products that continue to do business with Russia or that continue to provide financial benefit to its government and people.'' According to a new Morning Consult survey, "An overwhelming majority of Americans want businesses to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with action, such as donating money to aid Ukrainian people and refugees and cutting business ties with Russia." Burger King's Position A Burger King spokesperson said that, "Burger King restaurants operate in more than 100 countries around the world, primarily through a franchisee model. This includes our 800 locations in Russia, all of which are owned and operated by local franchisees and are not company-owned restaurants. "We have watched the attack on Ukraine and its people with horror along with many across the world. We support the sanctions that have been put in place by the U.S., E.U., Canada and other countries and will insist that our franchisees in Russia abide by those as well." Statement From IKEA According to a statement on IKEA's website, "The war has a huge human impact already. It is also resulting in serious disruptions to supply chain and trading conditions. For all of these reasons, the company groups have decided to temporarily pause Ikea operations in Russia." Impact IKEA said their announcement will "have a direct impact on 15,000 IKEA co-workers. The ambitions of the company groups are long term and we have secured employment and income stability for the immediate future and provide support to them and their families in the region." According to Sky News, "IKEA has 17 stores in Russia, which is the Swedish company's 10th largest retail market. In the year up to August 2021, sales from Russia made up 4% of IKEA's overall sales." Using Shareholder Power Peter Tanous is the founder and chairman of Lynx Investment Advisory in Washington, D.C. He said that, ""Americans who care about the fate of Ukraine can and should use their power as shareholders doing business in Russia to suspend operations so long as Putin continues his deadly invasion. "The fight for justice is worth far more than a decline in the company's next quarterly earnings report. The loss of major American brands will reverberate among Russian citizens and underline the heavy cost they will continue to pay for Putin's madness," he predicted. Caution Urged Nicholas Creel is an assistant professor of business law at Georgia College and State University, with a specialization in international relations. He said that, ''We should be careful in calling on all U.S. and other western companies to totally exit from Russia in that fully alienating them removes a great deal of our cultural influence to permeate through the country's population. "Extreme economic ostracization of Russia could also backfire by turning their population against the West, with them seeing us [as] an enemy rather than a well-meaning potential ally," he said. "So, while we absolutely want to punish Russian leadership for their unlawful aggression towards Ukraine, we also must remember that the average Russian citizen doesn't want to be in this war and has no real democratic method to stop it," Creel concluded. Advice For Business Leaders 'Set Up Contingency Plans' Christena Garduno is chief executive officer of Media Culture, a multichannel brand response media agency. She said, "The way brands respond to crises varies depending on the industry and their operation. "Most manufacturing brands with plants in Ukraine have halted their operations and implemented contingency and risk management plans. This is a good lesson for businesses to set up contingency plans and risk management measures for different crisis scenarios such as war, natural disaster, pandemic, etc." 'Start Building Scenario Plans' "It is high time that brands and marketers start building scenario plans. During this crisis, marketers must flex their strategies by considering different hypothetical business scenarios likely to emerge if the war escalates," Garduno counseled. "The Russia-Ukraine war is a humanitarian crisis with an economic and cultural impact. Organizations doing business in Ukraine and Russia should rethink their plans and flex their strategies based on evolving business conditions. Multinational companies have established adaptability and flexibility in their strategies to mitigate a volatile macro-environmental situation. Businesses should learn from these multinational companies and consider doing the same to their strategies," she observed. ### The city of Alamo Heights is implementing water restrictions starting Friday that will prohibit certain activities and limit things like when residents can wash their cars or use irrigation systems to water their lawns. When the rules kick in, Alamo Heights residents will be allowed to water using automatic or manual irrigation systems once per week before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. The day of the week that you may water is determined by the last digit of your address: Monday: 0 or 1 Tuesday: 2 or 3 Wednesday: 4 or 5 and multifamily premises, schools, churches and commercial users Thursday: 6 or 7 Friday: 8 or 9 MARVIN PFEIFFER /San Antonio Express-News On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio implements stage one water restrictions You may wash vehicles and other equipment at home only on your designated watering day, and you may not let the water run into the street. You may use drip irrigation, soaker hoses or hand-held hoses during any day at any time. Any ornamental, outdoor fountain may not be used under Stage One restrictions unless the water is recycled and unless any additional water used there is due to evaporation. The restrictions prohibit charity car washes except at commercial car washes that recycle at least 75 percent of the water they use or that have certified conservation designations. Restaurants may not serve customers water unless they request it. On ExpressNews.com: SAWS water restrictions, explained Alamo Heights Stage One announcement comes after the Edwards Aquifer Authority said Wednesday that the 10-day average of water levels at its J-17 index well fell below 660 feet. Stage One water restrictions go into effect in the city when this happens, according to Alamo Heights Water Conservation Plan. The plan says that Alamo Heights follows the same restrictions used by San Antonio Water System. As of early Thursday afternoon, the aquifers index well was at 658.64 feet. Stricter, Stage Two restrictions go into effect if the aquifers index well drops below 650 feet for 10 days, Public Works Director Pat Sullivan said. He said that the city gets all of its water from the Edwards Aquifer. San Antonio announced Stage One water restrictions Wednesday. For a full list of Alamo Heights water restrictions, check out the water restrictions informational flyer on the citys website. Questions or concerns can be directed to the Public Works Department at 210-882-1518. megan.rodriguez@express-news.net A giant steel sculpture that has turned heads everywhere its popped up is slated to make its San Antonio debut next week. Titled Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenins Head, the sculpture depicts a tiny Mao Zedong balancing atop a giant head of Vladimir Lenin. Developer James Lifshutz acquired the piece on an indefinite consignment to display in a courtyard behind a building he owns in the 300 block of Commerce downtown, across from Texas Public Radios new headquarters in the Alameda Theater. The installation is intended as a marker of the resurrection of a section of downtown that includes the Alameda, which is being renovated, and a new segment of San Pedro Creek Culture Park currently under construction. Its a block thats been dead for 20 or 30 years, Lifshutz said. One of the things that inspired my getting a piece there was the fact that that block has been so dreary for so long, and I wanted to signal that its slowly waking up from its coma and is going to be a really, really amazing block. On ExpressNews.com: Giant sculpture added to public art along the River Walk Given Russian President Vladimir Putins ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Lifshutz acknowledged that the timing of the installation of a piece featuring an enormous depiction of Lenin, a Russian revolutionary, might raise eyebrows. But the acquisition has been in the works for months, he said. Its not pro-Putin, thats for sure, he said. Thats not what it says to me. And if people interpret it as anti-Putin, thats fine with me. Im kind of anti-Putin right now also. I do admit that the timing of the Russian aggression and the arrival of a giant Lenin head is kind of weird. If this piece starts a conversation, thats great. Thats what I would hope. He said he was taken with the sculpture because of its beauty. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Its gorgeous, and it was available not easily, but it became available, and I was able to get it and have it placed here in San Antonio, he said. Miss Mao was created by the Gao Brothers, Beijing-based siblings Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang. Much of their work is politically charged, with the intent of critiquing communism in China, according to Artnet, an international art market website. Their work often features Mao, the Chinese Communist revolutionary. Their works are in collections around the globe, including at the China National Museum in Beijing, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenins Head made its debut at the 2009-2011 Vancouver Biennale. A guide to works in that exhibition says, Through the use of satire, the Gao Brothers have consciously chosen to play the role of critic to the political environment of their homeland. This sculpture can be read as a narrative, commenting on the relationship between the two leaders and their ideologies, as well as a reflection on the current nostalgic attitude towards Mao. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer After the Vancouver exhibit, Miss Mao was displayed in front of the Ace Gallery in Los Angeles until it went bankrupt in 2017, according to a 2017 post from the LAist. A column posted last year to the Richmond News site about the sculptures whereabouts after its time in Canada reported that it had gone from the L.A. gallery to an art collector in the Mojave Desert. Lifshutz arranged with the artists and the Deborah Colton Gallery in Houston to take the piece as an indefinite consignment. Miss Mao is traveling to its new home in San Antonio in sections, which will be assembled starting Saturday. The process should be completed early next week, Lifshutz said. The sculpture will be in a part of the Zona Cultural culture district that is slowly being revitalized. In addition to the Alameda and the San Pedro Creek project, the University of Texas at San Antonios School of Data Science building is under construction nearby. And Texas Public Radio has relocated to the Alameda complex. In response to a request for comment on its shiny new neighbor, Robert Salluce, Texas Public Radios vice president of marketing and communication, noted all thats going on. Were excited about all of the plans for development and public art from both public and private entities around West Commerce and the San Pedro Creek Culture Park, Salluce said via email. Along with UTSA and the renovation of the historic Alameda Theater, we look forward to these projects coming together to make the west side of downtown a lively, cultural destination of its own. Miss Mao is not the only large-scale sculpture that will be settling into that neighborhood this spring. A work by Fletcher Benton, an American artist who was known for his abstract geometric works, is slated to be installed at the UTSA site in May, said Andi Rodriguez, vice president of cultural placemaking for Centro San Antonio. On ExpressNews.com: Immersive Van Gogh announces S.A. venue, new dates Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Rodriguez helped facilitate the installation of both sculptures as part of Centros Art Everywhere program, which collaborates with the private sector and the citys Department of Arts & Culture to bring more art downtown. Once all the construction wraps up, programming is being planned to bring live music and local vendors to the area. This once forgotten, unloved area is going to have a rebirth, Rodriguez said. In two years, its going to be like, where did that come from? dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One Texas-based salsa company went viral earlier this month on Twitter, with thousands of people raving about the taste. The daughter of Jaime Lopez, one of the co-owners of Salsa El Gallo, tweeted a photo of herself on March 4 next to shelves of the salsa products and encouraged her followers to buy from the company. She was met with over 100,000 reactions to the post. Run by the Lopez family, the Hispanic-owned company started in 2011 in Brownsville. It now sells its products at H-E-B stores for just over $5. Its loyal customers are legion. On Expressnews.com: Former Lone Star Brewery complex south of downtown San Antonio is for sale again One Twitter user said that they drive six hours to San Antonio to buy the salsa because of its addictive flavor. Many commented, calling the salsa "fire" and "authentic" and naming their favorite flavors. Juan Lopez, 47, is a co-owner of the company along with his brother, and said their salsas are traditional Mexican recipes made using fresh ingredients. He said that their demand comes from people wanting authentic salsa that "tastes like how salsa is supposed to." On their website, they say that they don't "water down their salsa." On Expressnews.com: Nacho ordinary crime: Texas women bought 50 tons of cheese in food stamp fraud "We grew up working in the fields, we know the produce and when it's ripe," Lopez said. "It was just natural for us to start this business." Last September marked the 10th anniversary of Salsa El Gallo's opening, and Lopez said they hope to expand even more in 2022. Before making it onto H-E-B shelves, Lopez said they started the company operating out of a garage and would go door to door to small business across the Rio Grande Valley, asking to have their products put on the shelves. Today, they are in the process of moving their operations from McAllen east to Donna, into a new building that they finally purchased. Lopez said he's so grateful for how far they've come for those who have supported them along the way. He emphasized the importance of his family and how each person plays their part in the business, including his niece's tweet. "That (tweet) was a home run, we're very excited" he said. "The response that we saw was so strong and further encourages us to use social media and get involved with the younger crowd." They sell four flavors: which are the habanero, fire-roasted green jalapeno, restaurant-style green jalapeno and red jalapeno. They can be purchased online or at select H-E-B stores. Malak.Silmi@express-news.net San Marcos public schools ended their mask mandates this week, following a wave of school districts across the country that are easing up on COVID protocols as numbers plunge nationwide. Trustee Miguel Arredondo brought forward the proposal at Mondays San Marcos CISD meeting, saying he always advocated (that) we follow CDC guidance, and the school districts guidance should change since the CDCs guidance has changed. On Feb. 25, the CDC said that communities who have a low risk level a level determined by hospital availability and new case counts should wear masks based on personal preference and risk of COVID symptoms. The CDC lists Hays County as a low-risk community. School staff told the board that the school district is averaging five new cases a week, even with random asymptomatic testing Fridays. Hill Country Headlines: Get top stories from the region sent to your inbox At one point we were just getting hammered, said Doug Wozniak, director of school safety and health services for San Marcos CISD. Probably for three weeks in a row, we averaged over 100 asymptomatic positives, and then there was just a complete drop-off. The board first implemented a mask mandate at the start of the 2020 school year, and in August 2021 changed to mask-optional to follow Gov. Greg Abbotts directive prohibiting governmental entities in Texas from requiring or mandating masks after June 4. Since then, masks have been strongly encouraged but optional. Now, masks will be fully optional and will be encouraged based only on the wearers risk level and personal preference. On ExpressNews.com: Homebuilding gold rush in Hill Country prompts dire warnings About 80 percent of San Marcos CISD staff were vaccinated in the fall. Arredondo made a motion at Mondays meeting that the board allow Superintendent Michael Cardona to implement COVID-19 protocols, including mask usage, as he sees fit, without requiring board approval. Following the meeting, Cardona issued the directive to all San Marcos public schools. The mask mandate worked when vaccines were not available for all students and helped students and staff weather the Delta and Omicron surges, the district said in a news release. Now that guidance from public health experts is changing, we need to update our protocols. Annie Blanks writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. annie.blanks@express-news.net. Randy Haffner became president and CEO of AdventHealths Central Florida Division in February 2021, just months before the COVID-19 delta variant spawned Floridas deadliest surge. Now, hes planning major changes to how AdventHealth delivers care in the region. Before taking on his current role, he was a senior executive vice president for AdventHealth and president and CEO for the health systems multi-state division, where he oversaw 20 campuses in eight states. Hes been with AdventHealth for over 30 years. Advertisement Looking back, Haffner said COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges to Central Floridas largest health system, which encompasses over 20 hospitals and ERs in seven counties. After four waves, the most recent of which led to large numbers of staff being out sick at once, AdventHealth is more prepared than ever to address another COVID-19 surge, he said, though it needs the communitys help. The best thing to do in order to solve this problem is to stay well, Haffner said during a one-hour interview on Monday. The vaccine is a method of doing that, social distancing is a way of doing that, continuing to practice all of what the CDC has suggested as best practices. Advertisement The pandemic also exacerbated longstanding issues such as the nursing shortage and the need to improve mental health care and health equity in Central Florida. AdventHealth Central Florida will give special attention to these issues in the coming years, addressing them through artificial intelligence, a remote workforce and millions in grants. The way that we have done business historically may not be the way that we do business in the future, Haffner said. Mental health Haffners executive team has begun meeting with community health leaders to discuss priorities for how AdventHealth will help the community in 2023-25. I can guarantee you that one of the issues that is going to come out of that is access and support of behavioral health, Haffner said. COVID has certainly exasperated and shined a bright light on the issue. Almost two-thirds of Florida youth with a major depression diagnosis dont get treated, according to a 2021 analysis by Mental Health America. He points to a planned Center for Advancement and Support of Youth at AdventHealth for Children that will address mental health issues in the community. In September, Dr. Phillips Charities provided a $6 million grant to AdventHealth for Children to bring more mental health providers to the community and establish a pediatric and young adult mental health program over the next several years. Marni Stahlman, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association of Central Florida, serves on the advisory board of the Center for Advancement and Support of Youth. She notes children and adolescents mental health issues rose during the pandemic, but they often have nowhere to turn or feel ashamed to seek help. Advertisement Behavioral health care in the state of Florida is abysmal, said Stahlman. We have record numbers of children and adolescents now being diagnosed and presenting with anxiety and depression, even before COVID. Stahlman said the advisory committee has met regularly since the grant was announced in September and will continue to work on the issue. Health care and AI Haffner said the hospital system will also focus on improving health equity in the coming years, led in part by Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Jessica Brazier, and the systems first chief health equity officer, Dr. Alric Simmonds, who has joined other Black leaders across Central Florida in efforts to increase vaccine uptake, among other initiatives. Health equity is achieved when socioeconomic factors such as income or ethnicity do not affect peoples access to and quality of health care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health care biases can affect length and quality of life, disease rates and access to treatment. For example, studies have shown that doctors underestimate and undertreat Black patients pain compared to white patients. February data from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that people of color have had higher rates of COVID-19 infection and death than white people. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color is due to decades of poor health care and health education, said Dr. Alexander Evans, president of the Central Florida Medical Society, an organization of African American doctors. Advertisement When someone has higher comorbidities, ie: higher incidence of diabetes, higher incidence of hypertension their immune system is already diminished, Evans said. Now that causes them to get sick, that causes them to have a higher mortality rate. AdventHealth is hoping to address health inequity in part with a new technology platform, Epic, which will combine the hospitals electronic medical records previously stored on multiple platforms into a single database and use artificial intelligence to aid patient care, Haffner said. Haffner said Epic uses prompts to guide doctors in following the companys protocols and best practice guidelines. The systems advice will change based on ongoing analyses of how patient diseases and outcomes vary by factors such as zip codes and ethnicities. The computer will say hey, theres a few more things you need to be looking at before you can move on to the next screen, if you will, Haffner said. Education is great, its helpful. We all need to have that. But then you need to also put it into fail-safe processes, in terms of making sure that everyone every time is able to provide the best care. Evans, whose current research focuses on how artificial intelligence can increase health equity, praised the idea. I think thats an excellent thing that the CEO is looking at. I would love to join him in that effort, he said. We have an iPhone that suggests words as were typing. We should be able to get medicine to suggest the right thing as we type in the patients information. Advertisement The nursing shortage While AdventHealths plans for health equity and mental health may take years, one of Haffners top priorities in 2022 is to alleviate the health systems staff shortages, particularly nursing. The importance of nursing cannot be minimized in any way. It is something that is at the very heartbeat of a hospital, he said. Prior to the pandemic, a report commissioned by the Florida Hospital Association projected Florida could have up to a 59,100-nurse shortfall by 2035 as the number of nurses who retire outpaces the number entering the workforce. The horrors of COVID-19 sped up retirements and spurred some nurses to quit the profession altogether. Some started to work as travel nurses because it is more lucrative, Haffner said. The Health Report Weekly A weekly update on health news in Florida. > The emotional drain that has come from COVID has been hard on communities, but what it has done for caregivers, I dont think that were going to fully appreciate or fully reconcile for years, Haffner said. Its especially difficult to keep nurses in Orlando because of the areas record-high rent and cost of living, Haffner added. Advertisement Among other efforts, AdventHealth Central Florida is offering incentives such as tuition reimbursement; in-house training programs that allow nurses to be promoted to higher positions; and psychologists and chaplains entirely devoted to supporting caregivers. AdventHealth University is planning to triple the size of its graduating class annually, from about 250 to nearly 1,000, Haffner said. In the meantime, the system is testing ways to relieve stress for its staff. One strategy among many is a pilot program for virtual nursing, where a screen is set up in hospital rooms for nurses to video chat with patients and perform services that can be done online, such as completing the paperwork associated with admission and answering questions. The pilot program was rolled out several weeks ago at AdventHealth Daytona Beach and will be tested at eight sites in total, Haffner said. Virtual nurses are not going to replace in-person nursing jobs, but they will help lighten the load while the system attempts to recruit more staff, he added. ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com The San Antonio chapter of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Justice organization is holding a peace vigil this weekend in light of anti-Asian attacks nationwide. The vigil will be held in solidarity with other organizations across the nation about a year after the anti-Asian attacks March 16 in Atlanta that killed eight people. The event will take place at Travis Park at 12:30 p.m. after the San Antonio International Women's Day March. It will include a healing circle and a self-defense demonstration, according to a news release. On Expressnews.com: Three things to know about the International Women's Day March this weekend in San Antonio The gathering should draw between 50 and 100 attendees, said Myra Dumapias, lead community organizer for the San Antonio chapter of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Justice. The public is welcome to attend the gathering, which will center on Asian women's voices and stories. In just the past two months, there have been several attacks against Asian women in New York City. In two particular, deadly attacks, Christina Yuna Lee, 35, was stabbed to death in her bathroom in February, and Michelle Go, 40, was pushed in front of an oncoming train at the Times Square subway station in January, according to NBC News. "Regardless of geography, Dumapias said, these attacks send a message to Asians everywhere the moment it prompts us to think, 'People who look like me cant just feel fully safe,' or 'I have to avoid that place now.'" For more information on the vigil, visit the Facebook event page. Malak.Silmi@express-news.net A Canyon Lake man pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal misdemeanor for his role in last year's Capitol riot. Treniss Jewell Evans III, 47, entered the plea to unlawfully entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. He admitted he took shots of Fireball liquor after entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a mob of Donald Trump supporters, and that he called for more to go in, during the 20 minutes he was in the building. He faces up to six months in jail and a fine between $500 and $9,500 when U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich sentences him later this year in Washington, D.C. Evans plea paperwork said he agreed to pay $500 in restitution, his portion for the nearly $1.5 million in damage caused by the rioters. Evans was arrested in March 2021 after witnesses told the FBI that he had been part of the large pro-Trump gathering that breached the Capitol following a rally for Trump, court records said. A factual statement filed with his plea deal said that, before entering the Capitol, Evans used a megaphone to address other rioters, stating: I dont support looting, I dont support violence, I support a peaceful protest to put them on notice that we the people demand justice. He later entered a corridor in the Senate wing of the Capitol by stepping through a window that had been broken by other rioters. As a high-pitched alarm rang, a line of Capitol Police officers in riot gear blocked off one direction of the corridor. Once inside, Evans turned back to face the broken window where other rioters were visible outside. Two other rioters inside the building addressed those outside to invite them to come in. Evans then raised his megaphone to his mouth, and said, Bring em in. according to the factual statement. Evans also marched through a corridor of the building, and used his megaphone to address other rioters, stating, We want justice, and Back the blue. Evans also used his megaphone to lead other rioters in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. He also entered a congressional conference room that other rioters said belonged to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Evans took a shot of Fireball whiskey inside the room, the statement said. He was initially charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, a federal felony, and two misdemeanors: unlawfully entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and violent entry or disorderly conduct. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charges. He remains free on recognizance bond pending sentencing. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland To his friends at Christendom College, Michael Echaniz was a sweet, devoted friend who never got stage fright. He was in the debate society, he participated in swing and waltz dance competitions, and he acted in musicals. It was in the classroom at Christendom College, a liberal arts college in Virginia, that Echaniz found a love for teaching. After graduating in 2020, he took a teaching assistant position at Great Hearts Teaching Academy in San Antonio. On ExpressNews.com: Texas foster care home was supposed to help sex trafficked kids. Instead it was trafficking them Now classmates and colleagues are mourning his death. In an online message, Christendom College said the 23-year-old was killed Thursday. The details surrounding his death are limited. As of 4 p.m. Friday, the Bexar County medical examiner had yet to identify Echaniz as the 23-year-old victim killed outside of his Medical Center-area apartment. In the email to the Express-News, the Great Hearts spokeswoman said grief counselors would be available on campus to support students and staff. But neither Christendom College nor Great Hearts, a charter school in the Forest Heights community, explained how he died. We are shocked and deeply saddened to have lost a beloved member of our school community, a spokeswoman for Great Hearts said in an email to the Express-News. He was a skilled teacher and generous soul who poured his time, talent and energy into our community. On ExpressNews.com: DUI arrest, crash and cigarette feud: Why these SAPD officers were suspended Just before 7 a.m. Thursday, San Antonio police were called to the Eckert Heights apartments, at 4801 Gus Eckert Road, for reports of shots fired. There, they found a 23-year-old man lying dead next to his car. Authorities did not know what led to the shooting. The shooter fled from the scene and has not been located. He was wearing a dark blue hoodie. News of Echanizs death spread quickly to friends in Virginia. Christendom College posted a lengthy announcement to its website, describing it as tragic. Echaniz will be deeply missed by the entire Christendom community and all are encouraged to pray for his soul and for his family at this time, the school said in a news release. According to the news release, his parents, John and Sharon Echaniz, attended Christendom. Echaniz grew up in Front Royal, Va., a small town just outside of Winchester. In college, Echaniz found a love for teaching, particularly in his political science and economics classes, the school said. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net A San Antonio man has been charged in connection with last months shooting death of 2-year-old Juelz Emily Gonzalez. Joshua Christopher Ramirez, the boyfriend of the toddler's mother, was charged this week by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a federal felony. According to news reports, the childs mother called San Antonio police on Feb. 18 to report that the toddler had shot herself with a gun at a South Side home. First responders went to the home in the 100 block of Dublin Avenue and found a child with a gunshot to the head. Paramedics transported the girl to a hospital, where she was taken to the intensive care unit, but eventually died. Investigators said she was at the home with her mom and her moms boyfriend when the shooting happened. When police arrived, Ramirez was not there, court records show. After getting a search warrant, police found a black duffel bag beside a trash can outside, by the driveway. The bag contained a Glock .40-caliber handgun, with a single spent shell casing in the ejection port. Officers also found clothing and hygiene products for a man in the bag. During a recorded interview with Child Protective Services, the girls mother said Ramirez sells illegal drugs from a hotel because he is not allowed to sell drugs from the Dublin home, and that Ramirez had packed the duffel bag in preparation to travel to the hotel to sell illegal drugs for the evening. During a recorded interview with San Antonio police, the mother admitted that Ramirez is her boyfriend and that the girl shot herself with the handgun. Ramirez appeared Feb. 20 in front of San Antonio police for a voluntary interview, and admitted that he is a convicted felon but denied possession of the firearm. Ramirez initially denied possession of the duffel bag but changed his statement and admitted he and the juveniles mother owned the bag together, an affidavit said. Ramirez also admitted to living at the residence and being present at the time of the shooting. Ramirez was convicted in 2011 of aggravated assault on a public servant and received a six-year prison sentence after his probation was revoked from a 2008 drug-possession case, records show. He was released from state prison system in 2015, the records said. Ramirez faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted of the new gun charge. Paternal relatives of the child set up a GoFundMe account to collect donations for her memorial services. As of this week, it had raised $5,835 of its $15,000 goal. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland Heres what we know: Donald Trump will run for president again in 2024. If he gets the Republican nomination, there is no way Trump will ask his estranged former running mate, Mike Pence, to be on his ticket. Heres what some Beltway Republicans surmise: Ted Cruz is angling to be Trumps VP selection. Cruz has dropped some breadcrumbs in recent months to support this theory. In a December interview with the Truth Gazette, this states junior senator made the case for himself as a potential presidential front-runner if he decides to run in 2024. Pointing out that he finished second (albeit a distant second) to Trump in the 2016 cage match for the GOP nomination, Cruz said, Theres a reason historically that the runner up is almost always the next nominee. He added, You come in with just an enormous base of support. That was a bit of leverage building for Cruz, a way of saying, If I choose to run, Im going to be a major problem for any other Republican in the race. Having established that point, Cruz, in January, told NBC News, The race in 24 will very much hinge on whatever President Trump decides to do. Cruz added, I expect that everyone else will react accordingly when he does make that decision. An unnamed source close to Cruz spelled out exactly what the senator meant by reacting accordingly. I dont think he would run against Trump, the source said. Cruz has a better shot of getting signed to a multi-year deal with the Boston Celtics than he has of beating Trump in a GOP primary. A Morning Consult/Politico tracking poll conducted in late January had Trump at 49 percent support among GOP voters. Cruz was at 2 percent. Why would a voter who shares Cruzs stated adoration for the bombastic former president take Cruz when they could have Trump? And any Republican turned off by Trumps narcissism, dishonesty, reckless rhetoric and unwillingness to accept his own defeat in the 2020 election wont find anything to like in Cruz. As one of the senators fellow Republicans recently told me, Cruz thinks of himself as president and then works backwards from there on exactly what he needs to do to make it happen. With Trump signaling his intention to run, and his nomination already looking like a near certainty, that leaves one logical path for Cruz: stay out of the presidential race, incessantly gush over Trump and convince the former president that they would make an unbeatable team. Two weeks ago, Cruz visited Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the day before Cruzs appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando. Cruz tweeted out a picture of himself standing in a lobby with Trump. Enjoyed visiting with President Trump today at Mar-a-Lago, Cruz wrote. A red wave is coming! Trump would be 78 on Election Day in 2024. Because he already has served four years as president, Trump would be constitutionally limited to a single term if he wins the general election. That would position a Vice President Cruz perfectly for 2028. Given Cruzs inherent political limitations his awkwardness, his tendency to overcompensate for his lack of charisma by bellowing in a bad approximation of a fiery preacher its hard to envision him making it to the White House any other way. Trump will have plenty of other options when it comes to running mates. There will be calls for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Both of them have worked overtime to establish their culture-war bona fides by targeting critical race theory and the rights of the LGBTQ community. Their culture-war game is fresher than Cruzs, but his eagerness is second to none. Just this week, he spent Thursday riding shotgun with the Peoples Convoy, a group of truckers fighting against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. At a news conference with the truckers, Cruz was asked by a reporter if he believed the COVID vaccine has saved lives. Im not a doctor, Cruz said. You know what, why would you take medical advice from me? I wouldnt take medical advice from me. Im not in the business of giving medical advice. He doesnt know if the vaccine is effective. Hes not in the business of giving medical advice. And yet hes taking time from his taxpayer-funded job to celebrate the cause of people refusing to receive a vaccine created to slow the spread of the worst pandemic of the past 100 years. Thats a special kind of political shamelessness. You might get that same flavor from Noem and DeSantis, but Cruz is the original recipe. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 If youre hoping that the instability that Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine has wreaked on global markets and geopolitics has peaked, your hope is in vain. We havent seen anything yet. Wait until Putin fully grasps that his only choices left in Ukraine are how to lose early and small and a little humiliated or late and big and deeply humiliated. I cant even wrap my mind around what kind of financial and political shocks will radiate from Russia this country that is the worlds third-largest oil producer and has some 6,000 nuclear warheads when it loses a war of choice that was spearheaded by one man, who can never afford to admit defeat. Why not? Because Putin surely knows that the Russian national tradition is unforgiving of military setbacks, observed Leon Aron, a Russia expert at the American Enterprise Institute, who is writing a book about Putins road to Ukraine. Virtually every major defeat has resulted in radical change, added Aron, writing in the Washington Post. The Crimean War (1853-1856) precipitated Emperor Alexander IIs liberal revolution from above. The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) brought about the First Russian Revolution. The catastrophe of World War I resulted in Emperor Nicholas IIs abdication and the Bolshevik Revolution. And the war in Afghanistan became a key factor in Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachevs reforms. Also, retreating from Cuba contributed significantly to Nikita Khrushchevs removal two years later. In the coming weeks it will become more and more obvious that our biggest problem with Putin in Ukraine is that he will refuse to lose early and small, and the only other outcome is that he will lose big and late. But because this is solely his war and he cannot admit defeat, he could keep doubling down in Ukraine until until he contemplates using a nuclear weapon. Why do I say that defeat in Ukraine is Putins only option, that only the timing and size is in question? Because the easy, low-cost invasion he envisioned and the welcome party from Ukrainians he imagined were total fantasies and everything flows from that. Putin completely underestimated Ukraines will to be independent and become part of the West. He completely underestimated the will of many Ukrainians to fight, even if it meant dying, for those two goals. He completely overestimated his own armed forces. He completely underestimated President Joe Bidens ability to galvanize a global economic and military coalition to enable Ukrainians to stand and fight and to devastate Russia at home the most effective U.S. coalition-building effort since George H.W. Bush made Saddam Hussein pay for his folly of seizing Kuwait. And he completely underestimated the ability of companies and individuals all over the world to participate in, and amplify, economic sanctions on Russia far beyond anything governments initiated or mandated. When you get that many things wrong as a leader, your best option is to lose early and small. In Putins case that would mean withdrawing his forces from Ukraine immediately; offering a face-saving lie to justify his special military operation, like claiming it successfully protected Russians living in Ukraine; and promising to help Russians brethren rebuild. But the inescapable humiliation would surely be intolerable for this man obsessed with restoring the dignity and unity of what he sees as the Russian motherland. Incidentally, the way things are going on the ground in Ukraine right now, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Putin could actually lose early and big. I would not bet on it, but with every passing day that more and more Russian soldiers are killed in Ukraine, who knows what happens to the fighting spirit of the conscripts in the Russian army being asked to fight a deadly urban war against fellow Slavs for a cause that was never really explained to them. Given the resistance of Ukrainians everywhere to the Russian occupation, for Putin to win militarily on the ground his army will need to subdue every major city in Ukraine. That includes the capital, Kyiv after probably weeks of urban warfare and massive civilian casualties. In short, it can be done only by Putin and his generals perpetrating war crimes not seen in Europe since Hitler. It will make Putins Russia a permanent international pariah. Moreover, how would Putin maintain control of another country Ukraine that has roughly one-third the population of Russia, with many residents hostile to Moscow? He would probably need to maintain every one of the 150,000-plus soldiers he has deployed there if not more forever. There is simply no pathway that I see for Putin to win in Ukraine in any sustainable way because it simply is not the country he thought it was a country just waiting for a quick decapitation of its Nazi leadership so that it could gently fall back into the bosom of Mother Russia. So either he cuts his losses now and eats crow and hopefully for him escapes enough sanctions to revive the Russian economy and hold onto power or faces a forever war against Ukraine and much of the world, which will slowly sap Russias strength and collapse its infrastructure. As he seems hellbent on the latter, I am terrified. Because there is only one thing worse than a strong Russia under Putin and thats a weak, humiliated, disorderly Russia that could fracture or be in a prolonged internal leadership turmoil, with different factions wrestling for power and with all of those nuclear warheads, cybercriminals, and oil and gas wells lying around. Putins Russia is not too big to fail. It is, however, too big to fail in a way that wont shake the whole rest of the world. COVID-19 spread is now considered low across metro Orlando, as key indicators of the virus presence in Central Florida continue to decline, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines indicated Thursday. This means that the CDC no longer issues a blanket recommendation for residents to wear masks. People at high risk for severe disease are advised to talk to their health care provider about masking. Advertisement The CDC previously used cases and test positivity to determine COVID-19 levels. On Feb. 25, it announced it now considers hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new COVID-19 cases to calculate whether COVID-19s impact is low, medium or high. Only people in counties with a high level of disease burden are asked to wear masks. This marks the beginning of the second week masks are no longer recommended in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia counties, all of which now have low spread as hospital admissions and new cases continue to fall. Polk fell to a medium level of community spread from a high level March 3, so masks are no longer recommended there either. Advertisement Orange County is also relaxing mask requirements amid dwindling COVID-19 cases. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings on March 3 repealed a mask requirement for county employees, making masks optional at government offices. Demings put the mandate in place during the omicron surge, which is all but over in Central Florida. ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Mayor Ron Nirenberg shouldnt have sought a jail term for violations of a mask mandate in one of their initial emergency orders, Wolff asserts in his new book detailing local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Greg Abbott blocked local authorities from assessing jail time. The governor also was right about reopening Texas in March 2021, at the end of the second surge, and Nirenberg and I looked like alarmists, Wolff wrote. But he also takes aim at Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who both are seeking re-election, for undermining local responses to the public health crisis that has killed nearly 1 million Americans, including more than 86,000 Texans. Had the pandemic gotten over with after the first wave, Abbott wouldve gone down as a hero. But instead, he wavered. Politics got to him. Everything he stood for, he changed. It resulted in many more deaths than were necessary, Wolff said in an interview. In The Mayor and The Judge: The Inside Story of the War Against COVID, Wolff makes a case that disinformation, political agendas, alternative facts and outright lies derailed opportunities to defeat COVID-19. The book is set for release May 3 by Elm Grove Publishing. Ronald Cortes /Contributor / On ExpressNews.com: They are going to hang you; woman berates county judge at store Wolff, whose 21 years as the countys top elected official ends Dec. 31, recounts the challenges he and Nirenberg have endured in the two-year pandemic. He lays out pointed criticisms of the state and federal government, including Abbott and President Donald Trump. The book carries readers through San Antonios early encounter with COVID-19, when Americans who had been exposed to the virus in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the pandemic, were transported to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for quarantine. In all, San Antonio was swept by four surges of the virus, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives locally and which at times pushed hospital staffing to the limit. His book offers a dozen ideas on preparing for future pandemics and rebuilding the economy, including legislation requiring social media companies to control messages of hate and misinformation. In the closing chapter, Wolff writes, During the pandemic, a barrage of attacks were launched on the principles of reason, rational behavior, positive attitudes and respect for each other that are critical to the functioning of our society. Nirenberg wrote a forward and collaborated on the book. The pandemic forced Nirenberg, 44, and Wolff, 81, a former San Antonio mayor, to spend many hours together, appearing on hundreds of evening COVID-19 updates broadcast via radio, television and livestream. I got to know and understand what was in Judge Wolffs heart, the discerning leadership, and what was driving him as he began to wrap up 50 years of public service during a time of such instability, Nirenberg wrote in the forward. The time of COVID-19 was one filled with an abundance of emotion, confusion and questions many remaining unanswered, he wrote. This book will inspire you to reflect on your own story just as I am thinking about my own. Nirenberg believes the books most interesting excerpts are Wolffs personal perspectives, including his grief after the death of his longtime best friend, oil businessman Glynn Dyess, in early 2021. Wolff described how Dyess died alone, a terrible, horrifying way to die because the hospital, as a precautionary measure, didnt allow friends or even his wife to be with him. The mayor said the book documents struggles he and Wolff faced with flailing leadership at the federal and state level, and how we had to shore up our own local community because were the last line of defense. One of the things people continued to remark about during the pandemic is the consistency of having us be with them in their living rooms every night through the darkest periods, Nirenberg said. On ExpressNews.com: Pandemic forces county judge to rethink goals for final term Because of the global scope of the pandemic and national media attention focused on Bexar County, Wolff is hopeful the book will outsell his previous works, which typically generated sales of 3,000-4,000 copies. He also chronicles other events that accompanied the health crisis, including civil rights protests following the May 2020 death of George Floyd, the January 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and a record winter storm in February 2021 that overwhelmed the states electrical grid. Wolff, a longtime moderate Democrat who advocates bipartisan cooperation, admits a few of his own mistakes and gives credit to Trump for launching initiatives to develop a vaccine. He praises Abbott for enacting health protocols early in the pandemic and allowing extended early voting periods during the 2020 elections. But his most blistering critiques also are directed at Trump and efforts by Abbott and Paxton to stop cities, counties and school districts from enforcing mandates on masks, vaccinations and testing. He faults federal agencies for administrative blunders, a slow rollout on testing and inconsistent guidance on masks and the overall threat posed by COVID-19. He blames the Trump administration for disregarding a 69-page playbook for early response to infectious disease threats and dismantling a pandemic response team created by President Barack Obama. During the delta variant surge that followed, Abbott was slow in responding to pleas for additional hospital nurses, Wolff critiques. The city and county waged a court battle, claiming the governor exceeded his authority by prohibiting Metro Health from mandating masks in schools and blocking masks mandates and city and county facilities. By the time the surge of the milder but fast-spreading omicron variant began in late 2021, the state had completely shut down the countys authority to require masks in its facilities or mandate safety protocols for businesses. Wolff accuses the governor of putting politics first while facing two right-wing Republic challengers in the primary. He holds Abbott and Paxton partly responsible for the death toll in Texas, second in the nation and less than 1,000 fewer than California, which has 10 million more residents. On ExpressNews.com: Wolff, Nirenberg send dire plea for hospital staffing support For future public health emergencies, Wolff recommends Texas communities: mandate safety protocols at businesses, rather than shutting them down; upgrade schools with enhanced ventilation systems and close them only as a last resort; let employers require vaccinations or weekly virus testing; and limit the governors authority to suspend local orders in a disaster. He also calls for expansion of Medicaid to promote affordable health care and studies on links between climate change and the spread of infectious diseases. Nirenberg was hesitant to speculate whether Bexar County would face another summer surge in the months ahead. But he advocates for cities and counties to have the discretion to enforce mandates based on guidance from health experts. He believes the thousands who have died are owed that respect, that we will use these tools that many of them didnt have available to them to survive, in order for us to move on from COVID-19. Wolff doesnt foresee another major surge locally because of the countys fully vaccinated rate of 70 percent and antibodies that people who were infected now carry. But he said, There will be some outbreak sometime in the future. Looking forward, he places confidence in science, medical and technology professionals, but he has serious reservations about how our politicians and citizens will respond to their advice and their leadership. Wolff writes that the information age has become the disinformation age, leading to an unraveling of truth and a polarization. Somehow we have to come to our senses if we are going to prepare our citizens for any future pandemic. shuddleston@express-news.net Sixty-five major U.S. companies who do business in Texas are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to reverse his order requiring the state's child welfare agency to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender youth as a form of child abuse by their parents. The companies, including Apple, Dow, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Meta and PayPal, in conjunction with the LGBT advocacy nonprofit Human Rights Campaign took out full-page print and digital advertisements in the Dallas Morning News that state in all capital, bold letters: Discrimination is bad for business. The recent attempt to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age-appropriate health care in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies, they wrote. This policy creates fear for employees and their families, especially those with transgender children, who might now be faced with choosing to provide the best possible medical care for their children but risk having those children removed by child protective services for doing so. So far, there are nine new CPS investigations statewide involving parents who are supporting their childrens medical care, said Patrick Crimmins, spokesperson for the state Department of Families and Protective Services. But advocates and lawyers say even just the fear of an investigation is putting immense stress on Texas families with transgender children. More Information Full list of business who signed onto the letter Akamai Technologies, Amalgamated Bank, Apple, BASF Corporation, Ben and Jerry's Homemade, Inc, Bottle Rocket, Bounteous, Box, Inc., Capital One, Cisco, Corning Incorporated, Creative Artists Agency, CREDO Mobile, Curology, Dow, Dropbox, Edelman, Electronic Arts, Emerson, Fastly, Folx Health, Gap Inc., Gearbox, Google, GSD&M, H&M US, IBM, ICM Partners, IKEA U.S., Included Health, Johnson & Johnson, Juniper Networks, Levi Strauss & Co., LinkedIn, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Macy's, Inc., MassMutual, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft Corporation, Momentive, Neiman Marcus, Patagonia, Patreon, PayPal, Phillips Murrah P.C., Pinterest, Plume, Range Media Partners, REI Co-op, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Inc., Shutterstock, State Street, Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, SXSW, Talon Labs, Taxa Outdoors, Texas LGBT Chambers of Commerce, Trillium Asset Management, LLC, Unilever United States, VMLY&R, VMware, Yahoo, Yelp See More Collapse FALLOUT: Parents of transgender son say CPS is targeting them through state terrorism A Travis County judge is scheduled to hold a hearing in a lawsuit challenging the policy change on Friday morning and consider whether to block it statewide while the case is being heard. The backlash against the policy from major businesses echoes a similar response after North Carolina and Texas considered bills in 2016 and 2017 preventing transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity. North Carolinas bill passed, while the Texas version did not. Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign interim president, said Texas parents are being put in the position where they have to decide between abandoning their lives, quitting their jobs, and leaving the state or fostering a safe, inclusive environment for their child. These businesses recognize this unfair ultimatum and are advocating for their LGBTQ+ employees, customers, and their families, Madison said. The Human Rights Campaign is grateful for these companies supporting transgender youth as we hold Governor Abbott accountable and extremist politicians who are attacking trans kids across the country. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com A Travis County judge on Friday temporarily blocked a new policy that requires Texas Child Protective Services to investigate reports of parents who help transgender children access gender-affirming care as potential child abuse, saying Gov. Greg Abbott had overstepped his authority and that his directive was unconstitutional. A broad consensus among physicians groups considers affirming care for children with gender dysphoria a medical necessity. Two national civil rights groups, Lambda Legal and the ACLU, filed the suit against Abbott and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on behalf of an unnamed family who came under review for supporting their 16-year-old transgender daughters care for gender dysphoria. A psychologist who says enforcing the policy would violate her ethical obligations as a professional counselor is another plaintiff in the case. District Court Judge Amy Clark Meachum, who ruled from the bench late Friday afternoon, said the plaintiffs would suffer imminent and irreparable injury if the directive were allowed to stay in place. Among those harms, she said, the mother, who is a DFPS employee, could lose her job; the family would face deprivation of their constitutional rights and the stigma of being subjects of a child abuse investigation; and the daughter would face the loss of necessary medical care. After the judge ruled Friday, Texas Attorney General Paxton said his office will appeal, writing in a tweet: Ill win this fight to protect our Texas children. So far, nine investigations have been opened against parents who are supporting their childrens medical care, DFPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins confirmed. The state and nations largest pediatric facility, Texas Childrens Hospital, has temporarily stopped prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapies, and Legacy Community Health has said its analyzing available options. In November, another program in Dallas pulled its website and halted services to new patients amid political pressure . This vast overreach establishes a new presumption of abuse by parents of transgender children who receive gender-affirming care, triggering investigations of families based solely on the provision of that care and prioritizing those investigations in an unprecedented way, Paul Castillo, Lambda Legals senior counsel, said at the hearing Friday. A former CPS investigator testified that she quit over the new policy, and at an afternoon rally, a workers representative said some CPS employees consider the investigations baffling, hypocritical and disturbing. THE CASE: CPS is targeting 9 Texas families of transgender kids, but a judge could halt investigations Friday Abbott ordered the investigations to begin late last month, citing a nonbinding opinion by Paxton, who concluded that sex reassignment surgery, as well as medications, such as puberty blockers, fall under the states broad definition of child abuse. Despite Paxtons focus on surgery, that medical option is rarely offered to patients who are under 18. Emotional outpouring Also Friday, just down the street from the courthouse in Austin, more than 100 advocates for LGBT Texans showed up at a public DFPS meeting to protest the policy. There were so many people that staff were still unfolding chairs as the meeting started, placing them all the way at the back of the room. Still others sat on the floor. Dozens read from statements written by parents of transgender youths who are too afraid of coming under investigation to speak publicly for themselves. Speakers were emotional and angry, and many choked back tears. Its so important that we look up with pride and confidence at the organization that sets standards for safety for Texas children, said Marie Catrett, who said she has worked as a child care provider for 25 years. And now Im looking at this organization possibly being used as a political tool, again, against transgender children. Your job is not to be political. Your job is to advocate for the safety of children based on facts, based on science, and not for political reasons. Outside, advocates held a rally calling for a public outcry against Abbotts new directive. Anne Lewis, a board member for the Texas State Employees Union, said statements from rank-and-file staff indicate many think asking CPS workers to investigate these families is baffling, hypocritical and disturbing. Lewis quoted one worker anonymously: I am terrified for families with transgender children. The worker said she had documented details about a family supporting their transgender teen and now is concerned that those details will now be used against them. Also at the rally was Sam Ames, from The Trevor Project, an LGBT suicide prevention group. He called Paxtons guidance a politically motivated opinion that is only going to pit the government against loving families, teachers against students, doctors against patients and neighbors against neighbors, which is language we should all find familiar and has never been on the right side of history. Slippery slope At the injunction hearing, lawyers for the plaintiffs called two expert witnesses to testify on the medical necessity of puberty blockers and hormones for transgender youths. Both said the treatments are safe and effective and supported by medical research and standards of care set by national and international organizations. They are not sterilizing procedures, and therefore they dont constitute child abuse and characterizing them as such puts medical providers in an untenable situation, said Dr. Armand Antommaria, director of Cincinnati Childrens Hospitals Ethics Center. Courtney Corbello, a lawyer with the Texas attorney generals office, which defends state officials and laws, argued that the plaintiffs lacked standing to receive an injunction. Plaintiffs are merely fearful at this point of any potential harm that may come to them because of a report or investigation, said Corbello, who added that the 16-year-old at the center of the case has so far had one meeting with an investigator and nothing further. RELATED: 65 U.S. companies blast Abbotts push to investigate therapy for transgender kids as child abuse In the courtroom, the mother of the 16-year-old told the judge: Its hard to put into words how awful this is, how much I dont want to be here. Randa Mulanax, a former CPS investigations supervisor called as a witness by the plaintiffs attorneys, testified that the agency was not following normal procedure when receiving child abuse reports related to gender-affirming treatment provided to transgender youths. In a Feb. 24 agency meeting, Mulanax said that she was told that we had to be investigating these cases and to ignore the typical prioritization scale that would normally allow such cases to be screened out or declined if it appears intervention is unnecessary. She said she was told the reports of transgender therapy for minors could not be resolved in a more collaborative way reserved for cases with less immediate safety or risk issues. Mulanax also said agency leadership advised her not to put anything into writing about cases related to the cases against transgender parents. She said shed never been asked to do that before and found it very unethical. She said she has since resigned and will leave the agency at the end of this month out of disagreement with the policy, which she described as an overreach and not directed to actually ensuring child safety. I see a slippery slope of what would be next of what the government will try to interfere with, she said. I have always felt that the department has the childrens best interest at heart. I no longer feel that way with this order. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com John T. Steen Jr., one of the five trustees who govern CPS Energy, was frustrated. CPS Energy is not at a good place at present, and will continue to deteriorate unless strong curative steps are taken, he said during the boards Feb. 28 meeting. Few would argue with him. CPS has a nest of troubles. Its fighting in Bexar County court over millions in natural gas and electricity bills stemming from Winter Storm Uri. In January, City Council approved a smaller rate hike than CPS had originally sought and that after hours of often acrimonious debate. Employees have been streaming out of the utility, either retiring or taking better-paying jobs elsewhere. And polls and customer surveys over the past few months show many of CPS ratepayers have soured on the utility. CPS is also under growing pressure to shut down Spruce, its last coal-burning power plant, and to restructure its rates, making them fairer to residential customers. But to Steen, a trustee since 2016, the utilitys problems run even deeper. Amid all the turmoil, hes worried CPS is losing its independence from city politics, that its being run less and less like a business focused on the bottom line. And hes frequently at odds with several of his board colleagues: Janie Gonzalez, owner of the internet firm Webhead; Willis Mackey, a retired Judson Independent School District superintendent; and Mayor Ron Nirenberg. At the February meeting, Steen grilled Rudy Garza, the utilitys interim CEO, on whether hed agreed to an audit of the utility which City Council members had called for in exchange for their support of the rate increase. Gonzalez stepped in to defend Garza from Steens stern questioning. If you have an issue, then you have an issue with your fellow trustee, Gonzalez told Steen. The CEO should not be on trial. Steen also chided Gonzalez and Mackey for making board commitments including launching the organizational review council called for without talking to him first. Gonzalez and Mackey are often aligned. On policy issues, they often fall somewhere in between the business-minded Steen and Nirenberg, who frequently focuses on climate change and boosting CPS programs for lower-income customers. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Gonzalez, a strong-willed South Side native, frequently highlights the challenges of poorer neighborhoods. She wants the utility to spend more on weatherizing impoverished households. And shes quick to defend her positions in meetings. The boards testiness is attention-grabbing. In the 80-year history of CPS, public displays of strife among trustees have been rare. The current discord is intensifying as the board prepares to search for a permanent replacement for CEO Paula Gold-Williams, who recently resigned under pressure. She left CPS in January. Picking a chief executive to lead the utility in the years ahead probably will be the most consequential move the board makes in 2022. And it could get messy. Old school mates At the boards February meeting, Steen read from a letter left by former trustee Ed Kelley, a retired real estate executive. Folksy and combative, he was the boards most reliable voice for business. Kelley stepped down Jan. 31 after serving 11 years on the CPS board. CPS Energy is an entity with a sterling history and great potential, but I believe it is on course toward mediocrity, or worse, Kelley wrote. Kelley and Steen are friends and allies, though the two come from very different backgrounds. Kelley grew up in a modest household on the South Side, the son of two civil service workers. A Harlandale High School graduate, he was president of USAA Real Estate Co. for nearly 17 years, heading up the development of La Cantera shopping mall and resort and landing Six Flags Fiesta Texas. He also chaired both the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (now called greater:SATX) in the 1990s and early aughts. Steen came from a wealthy and politically connected family. His father, John Steen Sr., was a staunch conservative who owned ranching interests and insurance companies, served on City Council in the 1970s and lost to Henry Cisneros in the 1981 mayoral election. John Steen Jr., an attorney who got his bachelors degree at Princeton University and law degree at the University of Texas-Austin, was appointed Texas secretary of state by then-Gov. Rick Perry in 2012, a position he held for just over a year. What Steen and Kelley have in common is the old-guard belief that the main job of CPS Energy is to keep rates as low as possible, especially for the businesses that fuel San Antonios economic growth. With Kelley gone, Steen is looking to be the bulwark against what both men describe as the politicization of CPS what they see as the growing influence of Nirenberg and City Council over the utility. Since last years winter storm, CPS officials meet regularly with City Hall staffers. Last fall, the utilitys finance team worked with city CFO Ben Gorzell to shrink CPS original proposed rate hike of about 10 percent. In July, Nirenberg created the Municipal Utilities Committee to track CPS and the San Antonio Water System. He also tapped District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval to keep tabs on the Rate Advisory Committee, a group of 21 residents appointed to study CPS rates and its plan to shift away from fossil fuels. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran named herself to the RAC with Nirenbergs approval. All other RAC members are residents nominated by their council member. Steen bristled at the move and Nirenbergs support for it. Whats to prohibit other council members, or all of them, from nominating themselves to serve on the RAC? Steen said. This is an example of the politicization of CPS that Ed Kelley warned us about. Kelleys replacement, Francine Romero, a public administration professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, attended her first meeting as a trustee on Feb. 28. She was appointed to the board last fall with Nirenbergs backing. But she has been reluctant to air her opinions on the utility. In an October interview after she was nominated to the board, Romero declined to say whether she supported the rate increase CPS was seeking at the time or how she thinks the utility ought to manage its emissions. Romero declined an interview request for this story. Kelley and Steen voted against naming Romero a trustee, arguing the board which is self-perpetuating, selecting its own members needed someone with experience running a big business. They preferred Clayton Killinger, a former finance executive at San Antonio convenience-store operator CST Brands, which was acquired by the parent company of Circle K in 2017. On ExpressNews.com: Business maven, CPS trustee Ed Kelley tangles with reformers over San Antonios energy future CEO search The search for a new CEO isnt currently at the top of board members priority lists. They arent expected to hire an executive search firm until late April. When the hunt for Gold-Williams permanent replacement begins, however, its unlikely CPS will offer a pay package as hefty as the one she received when she became the CEO in 2016. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, CPS suspended its incentive bonus pay for executives and rank-and-file employees to save money. That meant most CPS employees effectively took a pay cut. The last time CPS handed out bonuses for 2019 they totaled $14.3 million. Utility officials have said the absence of incentive pay has made it harder to retain workers in the regions competitive labor market. Yet CPS has since discontinued bonuses altogether, which was in line with Nirenbergs view. Robin Jerstad / In 2019, he first said the utility should do away with incentive pay in favor of a flat base salary. That was partly in response to many ratepayers anger over Gold-Williams compensation. With bonuses, it was in the high six figures in a city where workers earned median pay of $52,455 in 2019 and about $39,000 in 2020, and over 13 percent of residents live in poverty. Before she stepped down, Gold-Williams earned a salary of $415,000. In 2021, if the bonus program had still been in place, she would have been eligible for a bonus up to $350,000. Garza, the interim CEO, is earning $415,000 per year, but will not receive any bonus pay on top of his salary. There may be a board fight ahead over how much to pay the utilitys next permanent CEO. Were not going to go back to the days that it used to be someone making $1 million annually, Gonzalez said of executive compensation. CPS is the nations largest municipally owned power and gas utility, but Garza trails his peers in pay. The median salary for general managers of the six U.S. public electric utilities with at least $1 billion in annual revenue is $465,000, according to the American Public Power Association. Chief executives at rural electric cooperatives with at least 100,000 customers earn median pay of $657,000. CPS posted revenue of about $2.5 billion in 2020, and the utility serves more than 870,000 electric customers. Annual compensation for CEOs at 19 major investor-owned utilities ranged from $6.5 million to nearly $28 million in 2019, according to the Energy and Policy Institute. Kelley led a 10-month CEO search in 2015 and 2016 that ended with the board selecting Gold-Williams in-house after an unidentified outside candidate rebuffed CPS offer, saying the salary was too low. Kelley urged CPS to maintain a performance bonus in the next chief executives pay structure. That is very important if youre going to recruit top-flight talent, while at the same time protecting the company, because its a risk-based plan, he said. Doing away with incentive pay for the CEO would be a very bad idea, he said. If they do, I think theyre going to have a very, very difficult time recruiting a third-party CEO. Next up For his part, Kelley said Garza deserves a shot at becoming CPS next permanent CEO. Garza took the helm in early November, and by the time the search process gets underway, he could have well over six months of on-the-job experience. I would go ahead and look at external candidates, but I would definitely put Rudy in the mix, Kelley said. He might be the right fit for CPS. On ExpressNews.com: CPS Energy trustees pick executive Rudy Garza as interim CEO Garzas experience in utilities and as a former Corpus Christi assistant city manager along with a back-slapping, South Texas charm helped CPS win approval for a rate increase from City Council in January. Garza, 48, has worked to improve CPS public relations and community outreach, and has advanced the organizational review that City Council members sought. Last month, CPS trustees began soliciting offers from consultants to perform a top-down study of the utilitys management and finances. Garza also has tried to stem the tide of employees leaving CPS. The utility sought the rate increase in part to boost employee pay. CPS trustees likely will interview lower-ranking executives at other utilities, as well as leaders from smaller power companies. For now, Garza isnt saying whether hell seek the permanent CEO job. Whats critical at this stage is that the community is supportive of the next leader of our utility, whether thats me or someone else, Garza said in a statement. There are major decisions our board will have to make going forward. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net Sterling, VA (20165) Today Cloudy with light rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Sterling, VA (20165) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 80F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. A former Central Florida elected official who shot a man suspected of shoplifting a hatchet from his military surplus store in 2018 pleaded guilty to manslaughter, according to media reports. Former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn had initially been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Cristobal Lopez, 50, who was found dead at the scene of Vets Army Navy Surplus store on North Florida Avenue in Lakeland. Advertisement Dunn pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter with a firearm and faces a May 23 sentencing hearing that could carry a sentence of up to 17 years 6 months in prison, according to a report from WFLA.com. Dunn will remain out on bond until sentencing. After the incident the Lakeland Police Department released video of the incident that showed Lopez apparently trying to leave the store when Dunn grabbed him by the shirt. Lopez escaped his grasp when Dunn shot him. Advertisement At the time of the indictment, Polk County State Attorney Brian Haas said his office would battle any attempted stand your ground defense. I have determined this case and the actions of Mr. Dunn fall outside of the protection of the stand your ground law, Haas said. Dunn was elected to the commission in 2018. Read more at WFLA.com. (The Center Square) Two members of the Arizona House have expressed support for the U.S. ban on Russian oil imports and called for the U.S. to increase its domestic energy production. State Reps. David Cook, R-Globe, and Brain Fernandez, D-Yuma, sponsored a proclamation read on the Arizona House floor this week that offered support for these policies. The resolution noted Russia invaded the free and democratic country of Ukraine on Feb. 24, forcing millions of civilians to flee the country. It also said the U.S. and its allies, in response, have offered sanctions against Russia, including sanctions against Russias petroleum industry. The resolution, which was read Wednesday, argued the U.S. needed to find a way to permanently cut off Russias energy industry. The United States has also imported Russian liquified natural gas and coal, despite having some of the largest reserves domestically and this import strategy puts American national security at risk and supports Vladimir Putins ability to stay in power, the proclamation read. More from this section They're Paneling Paradise to Put Up Solar -- a Lot It went on to say Americans should not be forced to help finance Russias heinous atrocities and unprovoked aggression. The lawmakers argued the U.S. and Arizona should support all types of energy production to fuel the American economy rather than buying energy from dictators. The proclamation concluded with a call to action for Cook and Fernandezs colleagues in the House. Representative David Cook and Representative Brian Fernandez, invite the members of the Arizona House of Representatives to join with them in their support of the ban on Russian oil, gas and liquefied natural gas imports imposed by President Joe Biden and call on the President of the United States and the United States Congress to revisit and revitalize domestic energy production, it read. Though ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was never charged with conspiring with Russia, he did go to jail for, among other things, failing to register as a foreign agent for Ukraine. The Democratic National Committee operative who helped get him booted from the campaign should be investigated for the same violation, Republican Senators say. Former DNC contractor and opposition researcher Alexandra Ali Chalupa not only worked closely with the Ukrainian Embassy and Clinton campaign, trading dirt on Manafort and Trump, but also Congress and the Obama White House, State Department and even the FBI. At the center of the [Ukraine foreign influence] plan was Alexandra Chalupa, GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of the Senate Judiciary Committee has asserted. Chalupas actions appear to show she was simultaneously working on behalf of a foreign government, Ukraine, and on behalf of the DNC and Clinton campaign, in an effort to influence not only the U.S. voting population but U.S. government officials, Grassley said in a July 2017 letter to then-deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Chalupas actions implicate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, he said. It is imperative that the Justice Department explain why she has not been required to register under FARA. Chalupa maintained Justice looked into the complaint and cleared her within four months, finding no FARA violations. (Rosenstein at the time had just appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller to take over the Russiagate probe after reportedly considering invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.) Chalupa is an important figure in the anti-Trump conspiracy plot Special Counsel John Durham is investigating, according to sources familiar with his probe. Though she is a material witness in his inquiry, it is not immediately known if she has been interviewed by his investigators. Questions sent to her attorney went unanswered. Questions are also being raised about how the Federal Election Commission handled her case in an investigation the agency quietly conducted from 2017, when it first received a complaint about her, until it closed it in 2021. In a little-noticed 2019 letter to Chalupa, the FEC stated that its attorneys found reason to believe that you violated [the Federal Election Campaign Act] by soliciting, accepting or receiving contributions from foreign nationals, noting that the Ukrainian Embassy made in-kind contributions to the DNC by performing opposition research on the Trump campaign at no charge to the DNC. In a separate letter to the DNC, the commission found that the Democratic organization does not directly deny that Chalupa obtained assistance from the Ukrainians nor that she passed on the Ukrainian Embassys research to DNC officials. Further, it stated that DNC officials may have authorized Chalupa to act as an intermediary [with the Embassy] to solicit and receive negative information about the Trump campaign. But on Jan. 13, 2021 the day the House voted to impeach Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot FEC attorneys suddenly reversed themselves and recommended the commission take no further action against Chalupa or the DNC. In a 4 to 2 vote, FEC commissioners closed the case. Voting with the majority, longtime Democratic commissioner Ellen Weintraub dismissed the Ukraine-DNC collusion allegations as Russian disinformation. Defending the DNC in the case was Clinton attorney Marc Elias, then of Perkins Coie, which refused to comply with the commissions subpoenas for DNC depositions and documents, including phone records. "We attempted to interview several former DNC officials who interacted with Chalupa on the Manafort issue, but each denied our interview request, acting FEC General Counsel Lisa Stevenson said in a case report. She said investigators were forced to rely primarily on testimony and documents from Chalupa, even though Chalupa claimed she could not access critical text messages with DNC officials. Stevenson said investigators put more stock in Chalupas testimony than that of Andrii Telizhenko, the Ukrainian Embassy official who swore Chalupa coordinated with the Ukrainian government in an election interference plot. Chalupa told investigators she thought Telizhenko might be a mole for the Russian Federation. She also suggested he was mentally unwell." Stevenson also decided not to investigate fresh evidence of potential wrongdoing that surfaced late in the case and cast doubt on Chalupas candor in her sworn 2019 statements. "Chalupa apparently made two other requests of the embassy related to exposing Manafort, which she did not mention but which [senior Ukrainian Embassy official Oksana] Shulyar disclosed in June 2020, Stevenson said. "Shulyar recalls that Chalupa separately asked for the embassy to talk with a journalist writing a story on Manafort and to approach a member of Congress (unidentified, but most likely [Democratic Rep. Marcy] Kaptur given Shulyars description) to initiate a congressional investigation into Manafort. Nevertheless, the top FEC attorney claimed investigators didnt have time to explore the revelations and urged the FEC to button up the case. "These requests [by Chalupa] could support finding additional violations of the [FEC] Act and commission regulations, but in light of the time remaining within the statute of limitations and the lack of further specific information regarding these requests the existence of which was not revealed until late in the investigation we do not recommend that the commission expend further resources in pursuing such a finding, Stevenson said. However, the federal statute of limitations on such matters runs five years, which means investigators had another six months to evaluate whether the new information constituted a violation. In addition to omitting critical information from her testimony, Chalupa appears to have made up a story about Telizhenko trying to bribe her friends to collect dirt on her. Chalupa identified two individuals who she claimed were approached by Telizhenko and offered money in exchange for dirt on her, Stevenson noted. However, when we interviewed these individuals, both denied that Telizhenko had made any such overture to them." Perkins Coie is now a central target of Durhams ongoing investigation. Former Perkins lawyer Michael Sussmann faces felony charges related to his work digging up anti-Trump dirt for the Clinton campaign in 2016. And Durham recently brought his former partner Elias before his grand jury to testify under subpoena. Durham also has obtained thousands of pages of subpoenaed documents from Perkins. While it cannot be determined if Durham has subpoenaed DNC documents, he has received documents from the Clinton campaign under subpoena, according to a recent discovery filing in the Sussmann case. And he presumably has access to the cell phone Chalupa used to contact DNC officials in 2016, since the FBI imaged it after she claimed shed been hacked by the Russians. Chalupa has denied coordinating DNC opposition research with the Ukrainian Embassy in 2016 or breaking any laws, even though she admits discussing Manaforts activities in Ukraine with embassy personnel and trying to get then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to issue anti-Manafort statements during the campaign. The former Clinton White House aide and longtime DNC operative insists she acted out of a sense of patriotism, not politics a common refrain among officials who fueled the Trump-Russian collusion hysteria. The Ukrainian-American claims she wasnt just trying to protect her ancestral homeland but also America. I was moved to warn Americans out of a sense of duty to our country, Chalupa said in a statement to the FEC. Not for a moment did I view that doing so was a partisan issue, but rather was purely out of national security interests. Again, this was not a political issue, but rather a matter of U.S. national security." She maintained that an explosive January 2017 Politico expose by Kenneth Vogel and David Stern Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump backfire that formed the basis for the FEC complaint against her and the DNC was malicious and filled with false accusations against her. She also speculated that Vogel was used by Trump operatives who planted the story with Politico to create a counternarrative to distract attention from the Russiagate narrative, which was raging at the time thanks to the January 2017 leaking of the Steele dossier. It is worth noting that in late 2017, I met with Ken Vogel for almost two hours and Vogel apologized to me for the Politico article and offered to write another one for the New York Times [where he now works] to clarify the truth, Chalupa said. However, she said she no longer trusted the award-winning investigative reporter and declined the offer. Vogel, who now reports for the New York Times, did not respond to requests for comment, but Politico has not retracted its story or appended any corrections to it. And Chalupa has not attempted to sue the news site for libel. That would be difficult, since she doesnt deny telling Vogel that Ukrainian Embassy officials were helpful to her crusade to raise the alarm about Manafort and Trump, or that they provided guidance, though she contends she was sleep deprived when he called and asked her about it. She also doesnt deny telling Vogel she traded information and leads with the embassy. Warrenton, VA (20186) Today Light rain this morning. Scattered thunderstorms for the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The purpose of the legislative session is for priority bills to become law. Thousands of bills are introduced; this year, 293 bills became law. Its hard to keep up with them all, so heres a brief rundown of major bills that became lawand bills that did not. Orange County School board members, from left: Teresa Jacobs, Amy Envall, and Pam Gould chat inside the Orange County Public Schools Leadership Center in Orlando on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Protesters from both pro-mask mandate and anti-mask mandate showed up to make their points during a public hearing inside the school board chambers. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools and 11 other Florida school districts that imposed mask mandates on students will not lose state funding this year, but their schools cannot earn the extra money awarded based on A-to-F school grades, state lawmakers decided late Thursday. House leaders initially proposed and Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would support a plan to have the 12 school districts collectively face a $200 million cut in the coming years budget. The money, House lawmakers said, would then be divided among the 55 school districts that did not require students to wear masks during the COVID-19 surge at the start of the school year. Advertisement The Senate, however, did not include that penalty in its budget. As House and Senate budget leaders this week worked out differences in their spending blueprints, they agreed to a new plan: Schools in those 12 districts cannot earn extra school recognition money, but their per-student funding, which the Legislature set at a historic high of more than $8,100-per-pupil, will not be impacted. Advertisement The 55 counties that followed the law are going to be eligible to have these school recognition dollars, said Rep. Jay Trumball, R-Panama City, chair of the Houses appropriations committee. He said the 12 districts disobeyed state rules and laws a point some school leaders do not accept and should not get what amounts to bonus money. The Legislature is expected to vote on its $112.1 billion budget on Monday. The budget includes $200 million for the school recognition fund. As in past years, schools will be eligible for a share of that money if they improved their grade or maintained an A on Floridas annual school report card, which is based largely on student test scores. The money, divvied up based on student enrollment, can go to pay for staff bonuses, buy equipment or materials or hire temporary staff. In 2019, the last year school grades were issued before the pandemic, more than 100 Orange schools earned the money. East River High School, for example, earned more than $191,000. Joe Spina, plant manager at Lakeview Elementary School in St Cloud, changes a sign on the marquee Thursday, June 9, 2005, to congratulate the students and staff at the school for making another "A" for the school. This year, school districts that had mask mandates, including Orange County's, will not be eligible for the "school recognition" money given based on Florida's A-to-F grades. The 55 school districts that did not have mask mandates, a tally that includes Lake, Osceola and Seminole county schools, will be eligible. (Ed Sackett / Orlando Sentinel) But this year, the proposed legislation says Florida wants to reward only school districts that complied with state rules related to face masks, so schools in districts with mask mandates cannot get that money, no matter their performance. The state plan is disappointing, said Melissa Byrd, an Orange County School Board member. She and her board colleagues said a mask mandate made sense as COVID-19 cases surged at the start of the school year and was what most parents wanted. Initially, OCPS allowed parents to opt their children out of wearing masks and less than 10% did. Advertisement We were doing what our parents wanted at the time, Byrd said. We were doing the right thing. Hours before Florida lawmakers announced their decision, the National Institutes of Health on Thursday released a study finding that schools with mandatory masking during the Delta variant surge last fall had 72% fewer cases of in-school COVID-19 transmission than those with less-stringent policies. Demonstrators are pictured in front of the OCPS Leadership Center in Orlando on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Local school leaders also said that in the fall there were legal questions about whether the states Parents Bill of Rights, passed last year, and executive orders from the DeSantis administration meant school boards could not impose mask mandates. Many of the 12 initially challenged the states rules in court. They dropped their mask mandates in the fall, as COVID-19 cases fell and after the Legislature passed a new law specifically banning mask requirements. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, proposed that the 12 districts face a funding cut for imposing mask mandates, with the $200 million taken from their budgets and then shared with the 55 that did not have mask mandates. The Orange school district could have lost about $16.5 million under that plan. The other districts that faced the penalty and will not be eligible for school recognition money are those in Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Volusia counties. Advertisement The Florida Education Association, the union that represents public school teachers, thanked the Senate for standing firm in its refusal to penalize students in the 12 school districts that listened to their communities and held fast to mask requirements in local schools. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The association overall praised the new budget, saying the Legislature made a great investment in our students, with more per-student funding and more money for employee raises. On Twitter this week, Fine wrote he was very pleased with the new agreement, which still provided extra money to districts that did not force-mask children and left out those that did. The reckoning has arrived, he wrote. Derek Black, a professor of constitutional law at the University of South Carolinas law school, said Fines proposal to penalize some school districts through the states funding formula likely would have violated Floridas constitution. The constitution says it is a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for all children and to operate a uniform system of public schools. That would make cutting funding for 12 districts a problem, Black said. Advertisement Were just going to treat these districts differently because were mad at them, he said. You cant just pick on people through the law that way, he added. Its no more than political retribution. I dont see how you can defend it. lpostal@orlandosentinel.com Before he built a series of successful businesses or won multiple prestigious business awards, Northern Michigan entrepreneur Terry Berden (ET'73) was a student in Ferris State University's Heavy Equipment Program. "My experience at Ferris was very good," says Berden. "The things I learned there I took with me into the rest of my life." After graduation, Berden worked as a mechanic, first for Ryder truck rental and then for the United Parcel Service. In 1976, he left work at UPS to launch his first business, Grand Traverse Refrigeration. As the heating and cooling operation grew, so did opportunities for Berden to diversify; he worked with two local fabricators to outfit his heating and cooling customers' kitchens with stainless steel equipment, cabinetry and surfaces. When those fabricators lost their jobs to restructuring, Berden saw an opportunity to expand. He added a stainless steel shop to his business and two positions in it for them. It was a risk well taken: By 1995, the stainless steel portion of his operation had grown so dramatically that it became its own enterprise, and Berden made it a separate company. Today, Great Lakes Stainless Steel provides custom, precision-crafted stainless steel cabinetry and equipment for major developers across the Midwest from a state-of-the- art facility in Traverse City. In 2005, Berden set up a 50,000-sq.- ft., CAD/CAM-equipped shop to allow Great Lakes Stainless plenty of room for continued growth be it in the size of its workforce or the scope of its services. "We had thought, 'There's no way we're going to fill it up,'" says Berden. "And now, we're adding 10,000 sq. ft." In addition to equipping Ferris' own popular dining destination, The Rock Cafe, with its immaculate and functional cafeteria counters, service areas and kitchen components, Great Lakes Stainless has provided innovative, precision-crafted installations for Michigan projects including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Ford Field, Michigan State University and Munson Medical Center. "We started out doing cafeteria and back-of-the-house kitchens for Michigan and Michigan State and then we branched out," says Berden. "We did the Kansas City Royals' and Chiefs' stadiums." In 2008, Great Lakes Stainless branched out even further. Selling Grand Traverse Refrigeration to an employee to focus his own efforts fully on stainless steel, Berden expanded his services to include custom work for the airline, sign, hospitality and medical industries. He also recently added a buffing and polishing division and hired three new employees. Currently, Great Lakes Stainless employs 48 members of the Northern Michigan community numbers which are steadily on the rise. Throughout all of its remarkable growth, Great Lakes Stainless has never compromised quality. The company's emphasis on precision craftsmanship and excellent customer service earned Great Lakes Stainless the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Award in 2010 despite a record number of nominations, an honor which Berden attributed to the hard work and loyalty of his staff. "It was my employees who thought enough of the company to put us in this position, that I would be in the forefront to receive the award," Berden said in his acceptance. "I think that speaks highly of our company. If the employees think it's a great place to be and work, then you've won." There would soon be even more recognition, as Great Lakes Stainless earned a coveted spot on the Crain's Detroit Business 2011 list of 50 Michigan Businesses to Watch, a reflection of Berden's expansion into Southeastern Michigan and the Great Lakes region, as well as the versatility of the business he and his employees have grown. Under Berden, Great Lakes Stainless has always been ready to perfect a new craft, a perspective that he credits in part to his time at Ferris. "I tell people that there were four main things about my time at Ferris that have really stuck with me," says Berden. "I had a good math teacher, and a good speech teacher, Mr. Williams. I had an automotive HVAC class that I really liked. And, in my last semester, I had a class that really emphasized the importance of lifelong learning that, for the rest of your life, you should learn something every day." Berden's sense of continual development and innovation has led him to collaborate with inventor Jerry Sheren in a new project that is poised to offer great benefits to community children. A mechanical contractor who had serviced Northern Michigan schools' ventilation systems for years, Sheren had invented a system to dramatically boost schools' energy efficiency and air purity, but he needed help developing his design and fabricating a model in stainless steel. Working together, Sheren and Berden developed Aristotle-Air, a retrofit for existing school ventilation systems that maximizes free heat energy exchange. The system uses the heat of the outgoing air to supply three-fifths of the total heating needed to bring the incoming air to temperature, meaning that only two-fifths of the energy needed to bring rooms to temperature must be supplied by the school's existing heating system. Schools implementing Aristotle-Air could save more than 40 percent of their energy costs. The system also purifies air more effectively, thanks to Berden's addition of a germ-killing UV system that prevents the spread of airborne illness. In beta testing, the system exceeded government air purity standards and reduced absenteeism dramatically. Helping to save schools from rising energy costs and children from illness seems to be all in a day's work for Berden, who, when asked about his proudest achievement so far, doesn't mention a famous stadium or prestigious award. "We've been able to build businesses that employ a good number of people locally, and that's good for their families and our community," he says. "Helping people is my thing, and there's always more to be done." For more information about Great Lakes Stainless Steel, visit greatlakesstainless.com. More information about the Aristotle-Air system is available at aristotle-air.com. College of Pharmacy Pharmacy With more than 25 years of retail health experience, Michael J. Bettiga has demonstrated exceptional leadership and communication abilities in achieving the position of Senior Vice President of retail health services/GMM HBCShopKo Stores. In that position, Michael is responsible for all optical and pharmacy operations. In 2004 he led the development of ShopKo Express, a free-standing pharmacy initiative, and today oversees the Express operation. Michael is very active in maintaining the integrity of the pharmacy and healthcare fields. He has served on the State of Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board since being appointed in November 1999 and is serving his fourth consecutive year as Board Chair. He is also vice president of the Bellin College of Nursing board of trustees. His dedication to his field earned him the 2007 State of Wisconsin Pharmacy Government Affairs award. The volunteer work he has done for Walk to Cure Diabetes, the Arthritis Foundation and Northeast Wisconsin Juvenile Diabetes organizations also reflects his commitment to improving the quality of life for those with health challenges. That commitment is also clear in his founding of the ShopKo Pharmacy Scholarship at Ferris College of Pharmacy. Michael lives in Green Bay, Wis., with his wife and Ferris alumnae, Barbara. They have two children, Bart and Kaitlyn. College of Pharmacy Pharmacy John Trestrail graduated with honors obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Ferris State University in 1967. From 1967-1968, he attended graduate school in the College of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University majoring in natural product chemistry. He followed his education by serving with the United States Peace Corps from 1968-1970 where he taught chemistry in the College of Agriculture at the University of the Philippines. During his time in the Philippines he was also involved with the provision of public health education and medical aid to the Mangyan tribe on the island of Mindoro. Trestrail is recognized internationally as the foremost authority on criminal poisoning and murder by poison. He currently serves as the director of the Center for the Study of Criminal Poisoning in Grand Rapids, Mich. and has served as an expert consultant in many criminal poisoning investigations to law enforcement and attorneys. As the author of numerous books and articles on the topic of criminal poisoning and toxicology, he has given many seminars over the years on Murder by Poison! and Poisoners Throughout History which have been received with wide acclaim by audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. College of Education and Human Services Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education Billy C. Hawkins graduated in 1976 from Ferris State Universitys College of Education and Human Services. He earned his masters degree in Education Administration at Central Michigan University before completing a doctorate at Michigan State University in 1985. Since 2008, Hawkins has served as the President of Talladega College, a private liberal arts College in Talladega, Alabama. He is author of the books "Reaching for the Stars" and "Educating all Students: A Pathway to Success." Hawkins has served multiple institutions in his more than 35-year career in educational leadership. He served as president at Texas College, located in Tyler, Texas, from 2000 to 2007. From 1995 to 1999, he served as vice president of St. Pauls College, before which he served in numerous instructional and administrative roles for Ferris States College of Education and Human Services. He has helped institutions overcome considerable challenges. Under his leadership, major enrollment, fiscal and legal threats to Talldega College were successfully resolved. In 2001, he led efforts that resulted in Texas Colleges most successful accreditation ever despite a 10-year lapse in its accreditation. He also led the successful effort to reinstate the college into the United Negro College Funda first in UNCF history. In 2017, he traveled with leaders of historically black colleges and universities to Washington, D.C., to advocate for HBCUs, after which President Donald Trump signed the Feb. 28, 2017 Executive Order for HBCUs. Hawkins also has raised millions of dollars toward university initiatives, including major facility renovation and program development projects. Most recently, he has secured government funding for construction of Talladega Colleges new William R. Harvey Art Museum. Since 2004, he has raised $8 million in unrestricted funds and $20 million in new grants for his institutions. He also is the first African American chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In addition to his professional roles, he is an active member of alumni and community organizations including the United Way (Board of Directors) and Ferris State University Bulldog Club (Board of Directors). Hawkins has been recognized at local and national levels for his professional and community work. He delivered the keynote address to the Committee on Education and Labor National Summit of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, was a gubernatorial appointee to the Southside Virginia Business and Education Commission in 1998, appeared on ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings in 2001 and was featured on the cover of Diverse Issues in Higher Education in 2014. 2017 Pacesetter Award Winner: Javier Olvera College of Engineering Technology, Product Design Javier Olvera graduated from Ferris State Universitys College of Engineering Technology in 2003. He is the owner and president of Supermercado Mexico, La Tapatia and Mexicana Bakery of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Olvera, his family and associates acquired the existing La Tapatia in 1996 and Chicago Drive Supermercado Mexico in 2010. In 2011, they broke ground on the Division Street Supermercado Mexico, which later expanded from a grocery to a commercial property. The combined overall growth of Olveras enterprises has averaged 28 percent per year since 2006. Supermercado Mexico was nominated as Business of the Year in 2014 and 2015 by the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and was awarded as one of Michigans Top 50 Companies to watch in 2012 by the Edward Lowe Foundation. It was nominated for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerces EPIC Minority Business of the Year Award in 2015 and 2017. Olvera is highly active in area business and civic organizations, serving as advisor for WMHCC since 2011 and a member of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Chamber since 2016. He served on the Hispanic Center of West Michigan Board of Directors from 2001 to 2014 and on the Board of Directors for the Roosevelt Park Association in 2016. He has provided support and served as a volunteer for the Mexican Heritage Festival since 2012. Olvera and his family arrived in the United States when he was 16 years old and worked as farm laborers. He had to take additional classes to communicate successfully in English. Since 2010, he has partnered with the Grand Rapids newspaper El Informador to provide jackets and backpacks to children in need. He also provides mentoring, tours and workshops to students of Ferris College of Business. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Julia Squitteri, left, a senior at Hagerty High School, and Celina Westerberg, a senior at Lake Mary High School, are pushing for changes to the the dress code for Seminole County Public Schools, which they view as sexist. The two are pictured at Lake Eola Park in Orlando on Monday, January 31, 2022. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) An anonymous Instagram post started Julia Squitteris quest to change the dress code for Seminole County Public Schools, hoping to delete rules the 17-year-old is convinced amount to clear gender discrimination. The Instagram post described one girls experience getting dress coded, or in trouble for the clothes she wore to school, and how it made her feel humiliated and sexualized by school staff. Advertisement Julia, now a senior at Hagerty High School near Oviedo, said the post struck a chord because at every school she attended girls always seemed to be the ones called out for dress code infractions and forced to miss class as a result. And no wonder, she said. The dress codes list of prohibited clothing items, including tank tops and backless dresses, are almost all found in the womens section of a clothing store. Advertisement Upset, Julia started an online petition urging reform of the school districts dress code. A womens body is respectable no matter what she wears, reads the petition that now has more than 3,900 signatures. Working with other like-minded teenagers, she also collected written testimony from students, met with school officials, launched The Ruth Project to lobby a wider audience on gender inequality issues and spoke at Seminole County School Board meetings, most recently this week. Ive met students who have been called hookers. Ive met students whove missed hours of class. Ive met students who have cried in bathrooms. Ive met students whove been humiliated in front of their peers. All while being dress coded, Julia told the board Tuesday. Dress coding is not a trivial issue, she said. The school board, she added, should revise its policy so in the next school year girls will not have learning time stolen because of sexist and paternalist sections of the dress code. Julia and others who pushed for changes last year were happy the word cleavage was removed from Seminoles 2021-22 school dress code, as theyd argued that focused exclusively on female students. Now they want other gender-specific items removed, too. Violations of SCPS dress code rules are punishable by verbal warnings, detention and in-school suspension, depending on the number of infractions, according to the districts code of student conduct. Students said being dress coded can lead to lost class time as students call their parents and then wait for them to bring a change of clothes or go to the office to pick up a school shirt to wear for the day. SCPS has a committee reviewing the dress code and more changes could be recommended to the school board by summer, said Mike Rice, assistant superintendent over Seminoles high schools. Advertisement Across the country, school dress codes have faced criticism in recent years for rules that were imposed mostly on girls, with opponents arguing they sexualized and shamed them in the process. The Orange County School Board in 2020 revamped its dress code, aiming to do away with rules board members worried unfairly targeted girls, keeping them from wearing tank tops in hot weather, for example, and blaming them for distracting boys with their outfits. The Pinellas County school district may adopt a more gender-neutral dress code this year, and other Florida school districts are considering similar changes, the Tampa Bay Times reported last week. The American Civil Liberties Union in 2021 sent letters to all Florida school districts urging them to make sure their dress codes did not impose gender-based requirements. The Seminole school district was among those flagged for policies the ACLU argues violate the U.S. Constitutions prohibition against sex discrimination. Schools must make sure their policies are fair and are enforced fairly, the group said in its letter. But too often schools, by both policy and action, focus almost exclusively on girls, sending them the message, Your body is a distraction. You are too distracting, said Ria Tabacco Mar, director of the ACLUs Womens Rights Project, in a December press conference on school dress codes. Boys simply cant behave themselves unless girls cover up their shoulders. These messages demean all of us, and they have no place in our schools. Celina Westerberg, a senior at Lake Mary High School, signed Julias petition and, when the teenager reached out, joined the push for dress code changes in Seminole. She, too, spoke at Tuesdays board meeting. Advertisement The way a student dresses should be between themselves and their parents, she told the board. Banning tank tops and making students wear longer shorts often hard to find in young womens styles doesnt make sense in Floridas heat, she said. Worse, administrators who focus on how girls are dressed make those students feel uncomfortable at school. It was definitely very embarrassing and a lot of my peers say the same thing, Celina said in an interview. They look at you up and down and say, Come with me. People in larger bodies get in trouble for dress code violations more often, adding to the sense of unfairness, she and others said. The dress code is promoting inequality, agreed Jasmine Kaur, a senior at Hagerty High, who also spoke at Tuesdays board meeting. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Stop the cycle, she said. Please stop pulling a girl out of math class because her shoulder strap was too thin. Please stop pulling a girl aside during her history exam to tell her her stomach was showing. Advertisement Julia said she has been dress coded twice, both times because her shirt was considered too cropped. In middle school, she was uncomfortable when administrators told girls to make sure their midriffs did not show or that, if they wore leggings, their t-shirts covered their buttocks. As a middle schooler, she said, it didnt occur to her that she could speak out. Things changed. In the past two years, Julia, who plans on law school after college, read about 100 dress code policies, took part in a summer ACLU program and helped write a 23-page comprehensive reform plan that is posted on The Ruth Project website. Shes heard from students in other Florida counties and from as far away as Canada who share her concerns about school dress codes that target half a schools population. At the end of the day what it leads to is feminine students are out of the class, Julia said. Thats clear gender discrimination. lpostal@orlandosentinel.com Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone are the two most promising actors of Bollywood. They enjoy a massive fan following and their fans wait for their pictures to be released ever since the announcement of their film. Hrithik Roshan, the Greek God himself announced the release date of their upcoming film Fighter. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the movie will release on September 28, 2023. To note, Fighter marks Deepika and Hrithiks first collaboration ever, which is definitely a dream come true for their fans. The movie also stars Anil Kapoor in a pivotal role. Hrithik Roshan posted a video to announce the news on his Instagram handle. As per the announcement video, Fighter is Indias first aerial action film. Earlier, the film was slated to release on January 26, 2023. The much-anticipated movie also marks the reunion of Hrithik Roshan and Siddharth Anand for the third time as earlier they worked together in Bang Bang, starring Katrina Kaif and War starring Tiger Shroff. Since the lockdown restrictions have been lifted, the movie will be shot all around the world. The film's shoot was delayed because of Covid-19 and due to Hrithik and Deepika's prior work commitments. The period drama which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan will now release worldwide on June 3, 2022, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Speaking about it, Manushi said, "I was really happy when I heard that the film was getting preponed. Its been quite the wait for the entire team of the film and when you hear that the movie is coming earlier than usual, you do feel a sense of joy because all of us have been waiting for the moment when the incredible life story of Samrat Prithviraj will be unveiled on the big screen." Manushi remains ecstatic not only for stepping into the industry but also for making her debut alongside Akshay Kumar. Manushi has been cast opposite Akshay as Prithvirajs beloved Princess Sanyogita. Prithviraj was earlier slated to release on June 10 but now, it will release a month earlier.The period drama which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan will now release worldwide on June 3, 2022, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Speaking about it, Manushi said, "I was really happy when I heard that the film was getting preponed. Its been quite the wait for the entire team of the film and when you hear that the movie is coming earlier than usual, you do feel a sense of joy because all of us have been waiting for the moment when the incredible life story of Samrat Prithviraj will be unveiled on the big screen." She further added, "It is a big screen spectacle and Im counting down days for its release. The film was postponed twice due to the pandemic. I hope the film entertains every movie lover in the country with its bigness. After winning the Miss World title, Manushi Chillar became famous globally, following which she is set to make her debut with the topmost banner of Bollywood Yash Raj Studios. She signed a three films deal with them; Prithviraj, The Great Indian Family, and another one she will be sharing the screen with Ajay Devgan, of which the film title is yet to be confirmed. SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2022 / Dexbrowser, the future DEX super platform, and Web3 data aggregator, providing a combination of advanced trading tools, intelligent farming, arbitrage trading, attack alert, and lots more, is thrilled to present the Dexbrowser V2 release! On December 13th, 2021, the Dexbrowser V1 was released, which is considered the data center of the DeFi Space. It embodied tabs as Transfers, Wallets and Insights, even farming functions. Now in advancing those functions in V1, V2 will provide four main sections: Dashboard Dex Tokens Insight Currently, the data analyzed is mainly the data of the Fantom public chain, with Spooky and Anyswap as the two main DEXs, using the tokens on the Fantom public chain as the primary data analyzed. However, the subsequent development will gradually support the data of Solana, Terra, Avalanche, and other public chains. An overview of these added sections: Dashboard (Main Page) Right on the homepage in our V2 advancement, an added rolling section of live prices, and real-time price data of some popular assets on the Fantom public chain are displayed to be captured by users in real-time. Additional features on the homepage section are: The option of users being able to save their favorite pairs through the 'My favorite' section. A User preference section where users can also observe the trading trends of popular assets in the 'Trending Pairs' and 'Trending Tokens' sections in real-time. This will allow users to observe which sections of the ecosystem are hot at the moment and judge current hot trends in real-time. The possibility to observe the last few real-time on-chain transactions, as well as the corresponding Gini coefficient on the chain. DEX page (General and Pairs tabs) Dexbrowser V2 present the ability to track popular DEX data on Fantom's public chain (with the possibility of adding protocol types such as lending, aggregators, etc. in the future) in terms of second-by-second changes. The page (on the general tab) can be able to display TVL (Total Value Locked) data for that DEX and the percentage change in TVL over the last 1-7 days. It will bear an additional feature of information display such as: Potential risk Protocol type Audit status Protocol native tokens and lots more Interestingly, at the delve into the 'Pairs' option, it shows the funds and transactions of each pair liquidity pool in this DEX. Displaying sections on: Volume Transaction amount number of tokens Pair trend (detailed k-line chart) Transaction details (buy, sell, increase liquidity, decrease liquidity, and others). This is very helpful for analyzing the liquidity of this DEX, especially when comparing similar DEXs. Tokens (Transfers and Holders tabs) In this section, users can analyze various types of data about the asset to determine its risk. On this page, Dexbrowser provides the ability to observe the transactions of the selected token in detail and display it in a chart. It also provides clear information to the latest trading information in real-time at the bottom to help investors determine the trading frequency of asset trading, which also indicates the trading situation and liquidity. Amazingly, right at the 'Holder' tab, the asset's holdings can be observed in real-time, which can help users analyze whether the distribution of the asset is diversified or concentrated on determining a risk profile of the asset. Insight (Dex and Token tabs) This section provides a general overview of the data for DEX and tokens. In the DEX section, users will be able to observe the historical curve of the number of selected DEX pairs, to analyze the trading situation of the pair. INDEX 10 on that section represents the average price status of the top 10 pledged pairs in the DEX. The index equals the sum of the total locked values (TVL) of the selected 10 pairs divided by a constant, forming an index that will be updated every minute. Together with the TVL and LP asset count data, users will be able to determine the real-time dynamics of locked assets, which also reflects the market sentiment to a reasonable extent. The 'Token' section, presents users with: The ability to observe the 'Holder Seniority Distribution'. Distribution of how many people have been holding the token for and how long can reflect some users' attitude towards the asset. Furthermore, the changes in active users' holdings, the total number of tokens held, and the Gini coefficient below can further increase users' asset analysis. Conclusively, Dexbrowser V.2 can display liquidity data, sentiment data, as well as more detailed position data and transaction data for some DeFi protocols and on-chain tokens in real-time. With these, users can quickly analyze the potential opportunities and risks involved, which is expected to become the primary way for investors to analyze data on the DeFi chain in the future. With Dexbrowser, the future DEX super platform and Web3 data aggregator are established. More updated versions and multiple advanced functions will come soon. Please stay tuned! About Dexbrowser Dexbrowser, the premier Web3 data aggregator, is developing a suite of tools to make decentralized trading more accessible and profitable to all. Decentralized trading, liquidity pools, and staking solutions are widespread yet often difficult to access in the current landscape. Dexbrowser aims to combine all of these aspects under one roof to make them more accessible and help users achieve much higher profitability than before. Want more Dexbrowser? Other resources: Twitter | Telegram | Website Contact person: Shawn E-mail: shawn@dexbrowser.com Website: https://www.dexbrowser.com SOURCE: Dexbrowser View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692642/Dexbrowser-the-One-Stop-DeFi-Data-Solution-launches-V2 SINGAPORE, Mar 11, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Cake DeFi, a Singapore-based fintech platform that makes DeFi (decentralised finance) services and applications accessible for everyone, has launched Cake DeFi Ventures (CDV), its venture capital arm with US$100 million in earmarked capital.Cake DeFi Ventures (CDV) is looking to invest in technology startups in Web3, gaming and fintech - especially those in the metaverse, NFT, blockchain and esports industries - that will bring synergistic value to Cake DeFi's core business. Based in Singapore, CDV will look for global investment opportunities in startups around the world.CDV is led by Cake DeFi's Co-founders Dr Julian Hosp (Chief Executive Officer) and U-Zyn Chua (Chief Technology Officer) along with newly appointed Investment Partner Nicholas Khoo:- Dr Julian Hosp is a seasoned blockchain entrepreneur, widely regarded as a leading influencer in the crypto and blockchain space. His vision is to bring blockchain awareness and understanding to a billion people by 2025.- U-Zyn Chua, a blockchain engineer, enthusiast and investor for over a decade, was a Smart Nation Fellow on blockchain for the Singapore government. He was also the Lead Architect for the world's first Central Bank Digital Currency (CDBC) - the Sand Dollar in the Bahamas.- Nicholas Khoo brings over 20 years in the tech sector with diversified experience in startups and multinationals such as Visa. For more than ten years, Nicholas has invested in a number of successful and fast-growing tech startups and has also served on the investment committees of investors such as the Global Fund.Portfolio companies of CDV will receive strong support from Cake DeFi's global and experienced leadership team, and the opportunity to access Cake DeFi's connections, resources and expertise within the global blockchain industry."By launching Cake DeFi Ventures, we want to bring cryptocurrency and blockchain capabilities to the world. Cake DeFi is one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing fintech platforms. The projects that we invest in can expect to receive strong support scaling globally," said Dr. Julian Hosp, Co-founder and CEO of Cake DeFi.Deploys First Strategic Investment into US-Based 'The Edge Of Company, Inc.'At the time of CDV's launch, the firm was in early to late-stage discussions with a number of global startups, including those in Southeast Asia, the U.S. and Europe. For its first strategic investment, Cake DeFi has selected tech, media and events startup, The Edge Of Company, which has been building the community and ecosystem for the NFT and Web3 space."The entire team at The Edge Of Company is honored to have Cake DeFi Ventures as part of the Edge family. Their know-how, relationships, and strategic insights will help propel this Web3 rocketship to new heights across our platform of tech, media, and events," said Jeff Kelley, Co-Founder, The Edge Of Company, Inc."As an extension of our multiple blockchains support and having built up an R&D arm with cryptography deep tech capability, investing in companies that bring synergies to Cake DeFi's core business will allow us to enhance and broaden our Web3 offerings," said U-Zyn Chua, Co-founder and CTO of Cake DeFi.To apply for funding from CDV, please email contact@cakedefi.vc with the project details. CDV will be in touch with shortlisted projects. Venture capital firms or investment funds interested in co-investment opportunities or strategic partnerships may also reach out for further discussion.ABOUT CAKE DEFICake DeFi is a fully transparent, highly innovative and regulated fintech platform dedicated to providing access to decentralised financial services and applications by enabling users to generate returns from their crypto and digital assets. It is operated and registered in Singapore and is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).By enabling and empowering its users to harness the potential of decentralised finance (DeFi), Cake DeFi aims to educate and inform people around the world on crypto and DeFi in a simple, easy to understand and hassle-free manner.In 2021, Cake DeFi saw a tenfold growth in its registered customer base, with over US$1bn customer assets. In the same year, Cake DeFi's customers received over US$230 million in rewards.ABOUT THE EDGE OF COMPANY, INC.A media, events, and tech venture, The Edge of Company launched in 2021 with the Edge of NFT Podcast and has since created the NFT LA conference. NFT LA hosted March 28-31, 2022 will be the largest NFT & Web3 gathering in Southern California, and at over 100 episodes the podcast continues to feature "the top 1% in NFTs today and what will stand the test of time." Believers in economic structures that value the attention of every participant, the company leverages its three founders' experiences in various domains including blockchain, fashion, real estate, music, neuroscience, foodtech and high-growth startups to catalyze co-creation in the Web3 and NFT space.For Media Enquiries, Please Contact:cakedefi@preciouscomms.comSource: Cake DeFiCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. WASHINGTON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The Omnibus largely did not include immigration policy provisions, however, it did include H.R. 2471, the provision to update and reenact the EB-5 Regional Center Program. The language includes agreed upon robust legislation that would firmly reauthorize an updated and improved EB-5 Regional Center Program. Next step is for the bill to be considered by the Senate and then sent to the President for his signature. This is slated to take place on or before March 14th by midnight. Below is a summarized version of the updated provisions included in the final agreement of the Omnibus that's currently making its way to the President's desk. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, beginning on page 2609, initially extends the EB-5 program through September 30, 2027, and is to be renewed for 5-year periods thereafter, though the effective date will be 60 days following the date of enactment. The inclusion of this act protects investors from future expirations of the Program and applies to investors who file before September 30, 2026. The bill also revises the determination of High Unemployment Areas (TEA's) by revoking state and other official government authority to determine TEA's and assigning that to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Minimum EB-5 investment amounts will be increased from $500,000 to $800,000 for high unemployment areas (TEAs) and from $1,000,0000 to $1,050,000 in non-designated TEA areas. Also included is a visa set-aside which provides priority for 32% of all EB-5 visas within a fiscal year for specific projects with 20% of visas for rural projects, 10% of visas for high unemployment areas and 2% for infrastructure projects. If set-aside visas remain unused after the following year, they will be made available to all qualifying EB-5 applicants. Grandfathering language has been enhanced and ensures that investors have the ability to proceed with their cases regardless of sunset dates. "We have been working alongside USIF for the last decade and applaud their efforts to lead and advocate for the EB-5 Program and help it evolve in a way that supports the nation's economic goals," said Ronald Klein, a partner with Holland & Knight LLP.- "USIF 'S efforts have resulted in getting the industry to a point that welcomes increased integrity measures that further protect investors, eliminate misappropriations, increases economic stimulus and create jobs across America." STAY UP TO DATE WITH USIF Nick Mastroianni, II, Chairman of USIF added, "We have worked tirelessly for years on improving and reauthorizing the EB-5 Program and are happy to see the inclusion of this act in the Omnibus. We're thankful to have worked as a united front over the last 9 months or so with aligned industry stakeholders including The US Chamber of Commerce, Laura Reiffl and The EB-5 Investment Coalition, Holland & Knight, RER, REBNY, and Miller Strategies among others." He continued, "As always, we thank them for their collaboration and support." By working closely with members on both sides of the aisle in Congress and Senate with the goal of creating strong economic development and U.S. jobs across urban and rural areas we were able to have the initial bill that was proposed in July refuted to provide an opportunity to allow for a holistic Program that addressed the economic needs of the United States as a whole and has favorable measures for investors worldwide. With that in mind, USIF and its partners worked to bring all stakeholders together with a unified voice to come up with a legislative policy that was embraced by all stakeholders within the industry. Mastroianni continued, "Today's success in achieving a bill that will work for the industry at-large, while also benefitting investors from all around the world that have put faith in our country and helped to create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the years, will now continue to be a working Program that is of tremendous value to the United States and that is a direct result of the effort put forth by Senator Lindsey Graham in July 2021. There was broad support across the industry for this very valuable, job creating Program, however, we want to give special thanks to Senator Lindsey Graham, Minority leader Mitch McConnell, Senator John Cornyn, Majority leader Chuck Schumer, Senators Chuck Grassley, Patrick Leahy, Cory Booker and Rand Paul, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Chairman Gerald Nadler," he concluded. We will continue to provide you with updates regarding the regional center reauthorization outcome. Contact: info@usifund.com TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Sony Music Group has joined the long list of companies suspending or withdrawing their Russian operations over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Sony Music said it has suspended operations in Russia and will continue its support of global humanitarian relief efforts to aid victims in need. It calls for peace in Ukraine and an end to the violence. Earlier this week, Netflix, the popular video streaming service, said it was shutting down all its operations in Russia. Netflix reportedly had suspended all its future projects and acquisitions in the country on a temporary basis over the same concerns. TikTok, a video-focused social networking service with one billion users worldwide, said it was suspending livestreaming in Russia and new content to video service. The media companies' decision came amid Russia's new fake news-law, that limits information about Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday signed the law with jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone spreading false information about the Russian army and publicly calls for sanctions against Russia. 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. SINGAPORE, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biobot Surgical, a robotic-assisted percutaneous surgical systems company, is delighted to announce a MOU with BEBIG Medical, a global provider of radiotherapy products and a brachytherapy leader based in Europe to work together to provide a robotic-guided high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy solution for prostate cancer treatment. Biobot Surgical developed the iSR'obot Mona Lisa 2.0, a robotic-assisted percutaneous surgical system that allows clinicians to plan and position needles during image-guided diagnostic and interventional prostate procedures. Globally, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and fourth most common cancer overall [1]. The treatment options depends on factors such as the stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and the benefits and side effects of the treatment option. HDR brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy which involves a thin tube inserted into the prostate gland and a radiation source is then passed through the tube to kill the cancer cells. Traditionally, the ultrasound-guided HDR brachytherapy procedure uses a template grid for needle insertion into the prostate. Using the iSR'obot Mona Lisa 2.0 for HDR brachytherapy, it automatically guides the needle insertion by a clinician to within 1.0mm* accuracy of the targeted needle position for treatment. The robotic arm allows flexibility of angulated needle trajectory for an optimal treatment plan and avoids critical anatomical structures. "BEBIG Medical is a well established brand in brachytherapy, while Biobot Surgical is known for its accurate placement of needles. The partnership enables our companies to bring robotic-assisted brachytherapy solutions to patients," said Mr. Sim Kok Hwee, CEO of Biobot Surgical. "The future trend of medical device technology was moving toward digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence. The joint partnership is a vivid display of these orientations to achieve clinical excellence," said Mr. George Chan, Chairman and CEO of BEBIG Medical. The iSR'obot Mona Lisa 2.0 has been U.S. FDA 510(k) cleared and is expected to obtain EU MDR approval in 2023. Its 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 [2,3,4,5]. About Biobot Surgical Pte. Ltd. Biobot Surgical is headquartered in Singapore and focuses on robotics-assisted percutaneous surgical systems. The company is expanding its core technology in precision needle positioning to address comprehensive prostate cancer care to improve patient prostate cancer outcomes. About BEBIG Medical GmbH BEBIG Medical GmbH ("BEBIG Medical") is a global provider of high quality radiation therapy products for cancer treatment headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Preceded by the high dose brachytherapy business unit of Eckert & Ziegler AG, BEBIG Medical has a heritage of more than 40 years' experience in brachytherapy field and continues to provide affordable healthcare with proven clinical outcomes via strong and viable technology.BEBIG Medical's US subsidiary, Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Inc., is also known internationally for its manufacturing expertise in the field of applicators and accessories to advance brachytherapy. With a team of professionals and offices in Europe, United States and Asia, the company is empowered to serve customers in more than 65 countries and regions together with a worldwide distribution network. *based on internal bench test 11 March 2022 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Article 53 of SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules ONE swiss bank SA 2021 annual financial results in true and fair view "2021 was an intense and productive year during which ONE swiss bank accelerated its strategy of bringing together different entities to continue its growth and get closer to its profitability objectives. By putting together enthusiastic, like-minded and determined people,we successfully faced COVID-19's challenges and kept moving forward to reach several major milestones, such as: completing three complex transactions in various forms (merger, asset deal and acquisition) onboarding hundreds of clients and welcomed tens of new colleagues opening offices in Zurich and Dubai expending our asset management capabilities under the brand Dynagest by ONE defining a concrete pathway to become a more sustainable company. In terms of financial figures, the bank was able to engage its turnaround and return to a positiveEBITDA. Nevertheless, the net result, although forecasted, remains negative asit mainly originates from goodwill amortisation expenses resulting from accounting rules. ONE is today in a better position to face tomorrow's challenges with projects and ideas that should bring us on the path of sustainable profitability." Gregoire Pennone, CEO, ONE swiss bank SA 2021 KEY FIGURES 2021 HIGHLIGHTS 12 MONTHS' OUTLOOK 2021 KEY FACTS Despite COVID-19's challenges, ONE reached several strategic milestones in its development plan and kept moving forward by doubling its client base, enhancing its service offering and implementing economies of scale. The merger between Banque Profil de Gestion and One Swiss Bank has been fully operational since 2021. The transaction was executed on 1 June 2021 (with retroactive effect from 1 January 2021) to become, a few days later, ONE swiss bank. Genevieve Berclaz remained Chair of the Board of Directors. New Board Members, all independent, were appointed during an extraordinary general meeting. The Swiss private bank remains listed on the Swiss stock exchange under the ticker: ONE. After several months of intense work, including an IT migration completed in one month, the integration and the reorganisation of the merged entity we finalised in 6 months with the reunion of all Geneva-based employees under one roof at Biotech Campus. One of the merger's underlying aim was to propose existing institutional asset management capabilities to private clients. The asset management teams have been regrouped under the name 'Dynagest by ONE', referring to the well-known asset management boutique. They manage henceforth all managed assets, including discretionary mandates, by offering robust and innovative systematic and quantitative investment services. Managed assets increased significantly since June 2021, particularly in the Bank's unique high-yield quant strategy. ONE also strengthened its Swiss and international footprint by acquiring two entities in the major financial hubs Zurich and Dubai. These moves will boost the Bank's development strategy and demonstrate confidence in the UAE region's capacity for growth and economic stability. Each and every employee played a huge part in this new banking venture, with the aim of providing even more services and expertise to our clients across our three business lines: Wealth Management, Asset Management and Asset Services. Finally, the Bank's management decided to place sustainability at the heart of its organic development and defined a corporate vision and mission. Throughout 2022, concrete steps will be taken at all levels of the organisation to work collectively towards a better future and a more sustainable planet. 2021 ANNUAL RESULTS (true & fair view) Positive EBITDA. Expected net loss due to goodwill amortisation costs. Increase of regulatory capital ratio since the merger date. ONE swiss bank reports a positive operational result earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of CHF +0.45 million, in line with management's forecasts, compared to a negative amount of CHF -1.58 million in 2020. Total revenues soared by +168 % to CHF 27.58 million, relative to CHF 10.29 million in 2020. Operating expenses in 2021 amounted CHF 27.1 million, up by +128 % compared to 2020. 2021's net result amounts to CHF -4.77 million, mainly resulting from goodwill amortisation costs, and was anticipated. The difference between the net loss and the positive EBITDA stemmed mainly from goodwill amortisation and adjustment costs of CHF 5.24 million, including goodwill generated by the merger with One Swiss Bank SA (amounting CHF 10.48 million as of end 2021, after 1st year amortisation). Goodwill amortisation costs do not impact the Bank's regulatory equity level, as goodwill is fully deducted from the regulatory equity at acquisition date. Total equity as of 31 December 2021 amounts to CHF 43.5 million. It has decreased by CHF -12.3 million, compared to 31 December 2020, as a result of the CHF 8 million extraordinary dividend payment, a capital increase of CHF 1.3 million and the annual net loss. Regulatory capital remains at a comfortable level at CHF 31.2 million as of 31 December 2021, which represent a regulatory ratio of 17.0%, compared to 13.8% at the merger date, which is way above minimum legal requirements of 10.5%. As of 31 December 2021, Bank's total assets reaches CHF 870.1 million, compared to CHF 317.7 million at the end of 2020. This increase mainly results from the merger. Clients assets managed by the Bank and spread over three business lines Wealth Management, Asset Services and Asset Management, jumped to CHF 5.05 billion versus CHF 2.77 billion at year-end 2020. The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) stood at 522% as of 31 December 2021, significantly above the 100% minimum requirement. These figures reflect the initial benefits from the economies of scales and cost synergies from the merger. The full synergies will be unlocked in 2022. INCOME STATEMENT OVERVIEW (CHF) 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2021 01.01.2020 -31.12.2020 Variation Net result from interest operations 4'931'208 2'128'643 Result from commission business and services 18'629'018 6'344'118 Result from trading activities and the fair value option 3'745'125 1'816'599 Result from ordinary activities 270'777 1'545 Total revenues 27'576'128 10'290'905 +168% Operating expenses -27'127'112 -11'877'293 - 128% EBITDA 449'016 -1'586'388 Depreciation, amortisation, extraordinary items and taxes (A) -5'220'951 - 970'672 Net loss -4'771'935 -2'557'060 - 86% (A): The difference between net result and EBITDA is mainly due to goodwill amortisation expenses resulting from the merger with One Swiss Bank SA completed on 1 June 2021. 2021 ANNUAL REPORT The Bank's publication calendar has changed. The 2021 Annual Report will be published on Tuesday 15 March 7:00) under the "Investor relations" section. 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The invitation and the agenda of the Bank's 2022 Annual General Meeting will be published on Tuesday 15 March 7:00) under the "Investor relations" section. For further information, please contact: Julien Delecraz Head of Marketing & Communication investorrelations@oneswiss.com +41 58 300 78 13 ONE swiss bank SA Attachment FORT LAUDERDALE A 7-year-old boy who took a gun to school wont be charged, officials said. About 7:45 a.m. Friday, a student at Dillard Elementary School told staff another student had a gun on campus, the Broward School District said in a statement. Advertisement A school official talked to the boy and took the handgun, Fort Lauderdale Police said. Police said they spoke the boys parents. Advertisement The school was on a code red lockdown that was later downgraded to code yellow. Operations at the school returned to normal later Friday. The student involved will face appropriate school disciplinary measures, the school district said in a statement. The District commends the student who did the right thing seeing something and saying something. At all times, the safety and security of our students and staff are our highest priorities. Police said the Threat Response Unit was investigating. Conference call and live webcast today at 15:00 CET / 14:00 GMT / 09:00 EST, details below Ghent, Belgium, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press release - regulated information - inside information Biotalys Reports Full Year 2021 Financial Results and Business Highlights IPO - Initial Public Offering providing a strong financial runway to further exploit the potential of the company's proprietary AGROBODY Foundry platform - Initial Public Offering providing a strong financial runway to further exploit the potential of the company's proprietary AGROBODY Foundry platform EVOCA - First protein-based biocontrol Evoca on track for expected market calibration in the U.S. in 2022 - First protein-based biocontrol Evoca on track for expected market calibration in the U.S. in 2022 PRODUCT PIPELINE - Breakthrough increase in production level of Evoca's active ingredient triggers adjustment of the company's pipeline - Breakthrough increase in production level of Evoca's active ingredient triggers adjustment of the company's pipeline PARTNERSHIPS - Strategicpartnerships with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Biobest, Olon and Kwizda Agro - Strategicpartnerships with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Biobest, Olon and Kwizda Agro CASH - Year-end cash and cash equivalents amounted to 56.1 million Conference call and livewebcasttoday at 15:00 CET / 14:00 GMT / 09:00 EST, details below Ghent, BELGIUM - 11 March 2022, 07:00 CET -Biotalys, an Agricultural Technologyompany's website. Patrice Selles, Chief Executive Officer of Biotalys, commented:"2021 has been a historic year for Biotalys where we have made outstanding progress in many areas. Guided by new leadership in the Board of Directors, our Initial Public Offering on Euronext Brussels has significantly increased the global visibility of the company with partners, growers and investors." "Our first protein-based biocontrol Evoca is expected to receive EPA regulatory approval in H2 2022, which should be one of the key milestones for our company this year. The product is on track for market calibration in selected states in the U.S. later this year. The product demonstrated strong performance in independent field trials by renowned public institutions in the U.S." "Recently, our strain engineering and manufacturing teams have achieved a breakthrough in protein expression of the bioactive ingredient of Evoca, using our state-of-the-art biotech toolbox. This unprecedented achievement creates an opportunity to bring a next generation of the product to the market in 2026 at competitive efficacy and cost to growers. To leverage this opportunity, we have decided to adapt our pipeline of product candidates to focus our internal efforts on capturing market share as rapidly as possible with the next generation of Evoca products. We will therefore merge the current BioFun-5 and BioFun-6 programs to consolidate efforts in the biofungicide space and focus on providing growers a complementary and differentiated biocontrol solution by 2028." 2021 O perational H ighlights (including post-period) Evoca is a protein-based biofungicide that aims to provide fruit and vegetable growers with a new rotation partner in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. It helps control diseases such as Botrytis and powdery mildew, thus reducing the dependency on chemical pesticides with corresponding residues in harvested produce while offering a distinctive new tool to manage pathogen resistance development. Following the submission to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States in December 2020, Biotalys passed both the provided completeness check and the preliminary technical screening (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-reports-half-year-2021-financial-results-and-business-highlights)in 2021 (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-reports-half-year-2021-financial-results-and-business-highlights). Biotalys also submitted for approval in California in April 2021, as this State performs its own in-depth review. In the European Union, Biotalys received confirmation from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) that the registration dossier submitted in March 2021 for the active substance of Evoca was admissible for review. The company expects to receive EPA approval in H2 2022 which will be one of the key milestones for this year and will also pave the way for the regulatory assessment of our product pipeline in the future. Biotalys expects to initiate a stepwise market calibration of Evoca in selected states in the U.S. starting in late 2022, conditional upon regulatory approval. In December 2021, Biotalys appointed Biobest (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-and-biobest-enter-strategic-partnership-expand-reach-novel-biocontrol-solutions), a global leader in biocontrol and pollination, as exclusive distributor of Evoca in the U.S. for all crops and applications. Evoca demonstrated strong performance both in the company's (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-ongoing-trial-program-demonstrates-strong-potential-its-new-generation-protein)own (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-ongoing-trial-program-demonstrates-strong-potential-its-new-generation-protein)field trial program (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-ongoing-trial-program-demonstrates-strong-potential-its-new-generation-protein) as in independent field trials conducted by highly reputed public institutions in the U.S (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-first-biocontrol-evocatm-demonstrated-be-excellent-new-tool-growers-2021). (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-first-biocontrol-evocatm-demonstrated-be-excellent-new-tool-growers-2021) In 2021, more than 200 additional field and greenhouse trials were performed for Evoca product development and positioning, leading to Biotalys' ongoing global fruit and vegetable trial program reaching over 500 trials across multiple regions, pathogens and crops. These field trials provide Biotalys with a tremendous amount of data points on Evoca. Biotalys' pipeline of product candidates includes programs in biofungicides, biobactericides and bio-insecticides. Building on the Biotalys' AGROBODY Foundry technology platform, the company achieved end of 2021 a breakthrough in protein expression (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-achieves-breakthrough-protein-expression-increasing-commercial-potential-its) of the bioactive ingredient of Evoca. By using its state-of-the-art protein expression toolbox, the strain engineering and manufacturing teams have accomplished more than 500% increase in production, representing an unprecedented achievement for the active protein of Evoca in the yeast Pichia pastoris. If confirmed in large scale production, the achieved production increase will significantly lower the production costs of the protein as active ingredient of the end products. While Evoca is positioned as a tool to calibrate the market, the company now believes that a next generation of the product - based on the same bioactive - has the potential to provide commercial value at competitive efficacy and cost to growers. In view of the recent breakthrough in protein expression, the company has decided toadapt its pipeline to consolidate its efforts in biofungicides on capturing market share as rapidly as possible with the next generation of Evoca products by 2026. As the subsequent BioFun-5 program was also positioned to deliver a commercial product by 2026, and would therefore compete for resources with the next generation of Evoca, BioFun-5 will now be merged into BioFun-6 to focus on providing growers a differentiated biocontrol solution by 2028 as planned. By consequence, Biotalys' pipeline of protein-based biocontrols can today be presented as follows: The expected timelines and addressable market for the respective pipeline programs remain as previously communicated. Biotalys pipeline of product candidates can be summarised as follows: Evoca remains the key product for market calibration in the US through an exclusive distribution partnership with Biobest. The second generation of Evoca (containing the same protein bioactive, with enhanced manufacturing and formulation) is currently in the development stage. The product will be submitted to the EPA in the US and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the EU for rapid follow-on registration to replace Evoca in the US and enter into the European market as of 2024, allowing Biotalys to make a significant step towards cost reduction as compared to the original investment plan. The third generation of Evoca (containing the same protein bioactive, with optimized manufacturing and formulation) has progressed into the development stage. It is expected to enter both the US and the EU markets by 2026, and expected to provide commercial value at a faster pace than anticipated for the BioFun-5 program that it will therefore replace in terms of crops, geographies and partnership potential. BioFun-6 is progressing according to plan, allowing Biotalys to focus on the throughput and selection capacity, increasing the probability of success and a differentiating offer in the field of fruit and vegetables protection by 2028. The acquired knowledge, assays, processes and lead candidate from the previous BioFun-5 program are fully incorporated into the frame of the BioFun-6 program. With this change, Biotalys is enhancing its focus on the most value generating program, decreasing the risk while securing a strong IP position on recent achievements. The other pipeline programs (BioFun-2, BioFun-4, BioFun-7, BioBac-1 and BioIns-1) are expected to provide valuable IP and know-how strengthening the company's AGROBODY Foundry platform and could form the basis of further R&D collaborations. Biotalys also entered into several strategic partnerships in R&D, distribution, manufacturing and formulation throughout the course of 2021. In October 2021, Biotalys was awarded a multi-year grant (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-awarded-multi-year-grant-develop-new-biological-solutions-cowpea-and-other)by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-awarded-multi-year-grant-develop-new-biological-solutions-cowpea-and-other) to develop new biological solutions for cowpea and other legumes (BioFun-7). During the course of the four-year project that has started beginning 2022, Biotalys is receiving a grant of close to USD 6 million in installments to achieve, by the end of 2025, proof-of-concept of effective on planta protection of the cowpea crop from leaf spot by an AGROBODY bioactive. In December 2021, Biotalys announced a strategic partnership with Biobest (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-and-biobest-enter-strategic-partnership-expand-reach-novel-biocontrol-solutions) under which Biobest is granted access to five protein-based biocontrol solutions developed by Biotalys on its AGROBODY Foundry technology platform for Biobest's global offer in covered crops and berries. For each of the product candidates being promoted to the development stage, the companies will negotiate a tailored global distribution agreement and associated fees (for the technology and product) taking into account the spectrum, potency and crop applicability of the bio-fungicide, bio-insecticide or bio- bactericide solution involved. In January 2022, Biotalys announced the appointment of Olon (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-and-olon-enter-long-term-partnership-production-protein-based-biocontrols), a world-leading contract development and manufacturing organization, as manufacturer of its products. Olon will produce the active ingredient of Evoca at its world-class biotech manufacturing sites in Italy, in batches of up to 112m. This upscaling signifies a major step forward in terms of production efficiency and scalability of protein-based biocontrols. Biotalys also announced in January 2022 an agreement with Kwizda Agro to act as the formulator (https://biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-appoints-kwizda-agro-formulator-its-protein-based-biocontrols) of the protein-based biocontrol products developed by Biotalys. This agreement forms a critical step in the set-up of the production process for Biotalys' unique products, starting with its first biofungicide Evoca planned for market calibration in the United States. The partnerships with Olon and Kwizda Agro enable the market calibration of Evoca. Biotalys earned recognition for its products and innovation in several awards in 2021: In May 2021: Finalist in Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas (https://www.biotalys.com/media/news/biotalys-earns-recognition-fast-companys-2021-world-changing-ideas-awards), an awards program showcasing some of the world's most inventive companies that are pursuing innovation for the good of society and the planet. In October 2021: Finalist for the Scale-up of the Year 2021 Award of the Flemish Government (https://www.ey.com/nl_be/eoy/wie-wordt-de-scale-up-van-het-jaar-2021), recognising its recent progress as fast-growing company with international ambitions. In December 2021: SEAL Award (https://sealawards.com/sustainability-award-2021/), recognising companies from all over the world that show Sustainable and Environmental Leadership. Biotalys won in the category Sustainable Innovation. Biotalys continues to strengthen its patent portfolio to protect its science and products. In 2021, seven patents were granted to the Company as follows: in the U.S. related to certain VHH polypeptides; in Japan and Australia (x2) related to certain compositions; in Canada related to a seed treatment composition; and in Canada and Brazil related to a targeting agent. At the beginning of 2021, Biotalys moved to its new facility located at Buchtenstraat 11, Ghent. 2021 C orporate H ighlights In July 2021 Biotalys successfully listed on Euronext Brusselswith the support of local and international investors, raising a total of 52.8 million. The IPO provided the company with a strong financial runway to further exploit the potential of its proprietary AGROBODY Foundry platform. Following the IPO, Biotalys entered the Euronext BEL Small index in September 2021. The company strengthened its Board of Directors in 2021 with the appointment of Simon Moroneyas Chairman of the Board, as well as the appointment of Catherine Moukheibirand Markus Heldtas Independent Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors will propose to the General Shareholders Meeting of 15 April 2022 to appoint Michiel van Lookeren Campagne as Independent Director as of 1 June 2022. Michiel van Lookeren Campagne is currently Director Agriculture & Food at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, based in Canberra, Australia, and previously had an international career as a scientific executive and thought leader at multiple major companies in the agricultural sector. Additional information will be shared once the appointment is confirmed by the General Shareholders Meeting. In October, Patrick McDonnell strengthened the executive team as Chief Business Officerbased in Biotalys' offices in Research Triangle Park (RTP), the heart of US AgTech activities, in North Carolina. Biotalys also attracted key personnel for various of its departments, including the Discovery, Development, Finance and Business Development functions. Outlook for 2022 Additional to the above achievements, Biotalys anticipates achieving the following key milestones in 2022: receiving EPA registration approval for Evoca in the US in H2 2022; initiating the market calibration in the US with our partner Biobest focusing on entering the high value markets of covered fruit and vegetables, berries and grapes by leveraging the close relationship between Biobest and its grower customers; appointing a Chief Technology Officer to complement capabilities, leverage the potential of the AGROBODY Foundry technology platform to secure new collaborations and create additional value; and engaging further academic and industrial collaborations to validate and accelerate the development of the AGROBODY Foundry. The financing obtained with the IPO in July 2021 provides the company with additional funding to further expand the capabilities and potential of its proprietary AGROBODY Foundry platform, and to continue progressing its product pipeline. The company expects the cash burn in 2022 to range between 27 and 29 million, in line with the envisaged investments in the pipeline, platform and manufacturing requirements. Detailed financial review In thousand 2021 2020 Other operating income 1,995 1,402 Research and development expenses (13,880 ) (11,488 ) General and administration expenses (4,905 ) (2,357 ) Marketing expenses (1,289 ) (834 ) Operating loss (18,079 ) (13,276 ) Financial income 1,510 2,710 Financial expenses (343 ) (171 ) Loss before taxes (16,913 ) (10,737 ) Income taxes (16 ) (13 ) Loss for the period (16,929 ) (10,750 ) Remeasurements gains (losses) on defined benefit plans 5 (6 ) Exchange differences on translating foreign operations 5 20 Total comprehensive loss of the period (16,919 ) (10,736 ) Basic and diluted loss per share (in EUR) (1.10 ) (14.33 ) Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to the owners of the company (16,929 ) (10,750 ) Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to the owners of the company (16,919 ) (10,736 ) Cash and cash equivalents 56,107 23,103 Consolidated statements of profit and loss Other operating income amounted to 2 million and relates to R&D tax incentives received and grants awarded to support R&D activities. The primary increase relates to grants from government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Biotalys' R&D activities, which accounted for 1.0 million for 2021 (2020: 0.45 million). amounted to 2 million and relates to R&D tax incentives received and grants awarded to support R&D activities. The primary increase relates to grants from government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Biotalys' R&D activities, which accounted for 1.0 million for 2021 (2020: 0.45 million). Research and development expenses amounted to 13.9 million for 2021, an increase of 2.4 million compared to 2020. These increases primarily relate to increases in internal staffing levels to develop the company's pipeline product candidates, depreciation of lab equipment and external spending for production, field trials and regulatory expenses for Evoca. amounted to 13.9 million for 2021, an increase of 2.4 million compared to 2020. These increases primarily relate to increases in internal staffing levels to develop the company's pipeline product candidates, depreciation of lab equipment and external spending for production, field trials and regulatory expenses for Evoca. General and administrative expenses amounted to 4.9 million for 2021, compared to 2.4 million in 2020. The increase was mainly driven by an increase in employee benefit expenses, strengthening the company's management team and an increase in professional services related to the preparation for the initial public offering in July 2021. amounted to 4.9 million for 2021, compared to 2.4 million in 2020. The increase was mainly driven by an increase in employee benefit expenses, strengthening the company's management team and an increase in professional services related to the preparation for the initial public offering in July 2021. Marketing expenses rose from 0.8 million in 2020 to 1.3 million in 2021 as a result of strengthening of the sales and marketing team in support of the expanded market calibration of Evoca planned for 2022 and beyond. rose from 0.8 million in 2020 to 1.3 million in 2021 as a result of strengthening of the sales and marketing team in support of the expanded market calibration of Evoca planned for 2022 and beyond. Financial income amounted to 1.5 million in 2021, compared to 2.7 million in 2020, and related primarily to the full release of the remaining derivative liability of the Anti-Dilution warrants as they were cancelled upon the IPO. amounted to 1.5 million in 2021, compared to 2.7 million in 2020, and related primarily to the full release of the remaining derivative liability of the Anti-Dilution warrants as they were cancelled upon the IPO. Financial expenses amounted to 0.3 million and related primarily to interest expenses for the leases and bank loans (0.2 million in 2020). amounted to 0.3 million and related primarily to interest expenses for the leases and bank loans (0.2 million in 2020). Income taxes expense remained negligible as in 2020. remained negligible as in 2020. Loss of the period was 16.9 million, compared to 10.7 million in 2020. was 16.9 million, compared to 10.7 million in 2020. Basic and diluted loss per share for 2021 amounted to 1.10 compared to 14.33 in 2020 (following adjustment to reflect the 2:1 reverse share split with the IPO). for 2021 amounted to 1.10 compared to 14.33 in 2020 (following adjustment to reflect the 2:1 reverse share split with the IPO). Cash and cash equivalents increased to 56.1 million in 2021 (compared to 23.1 million in 2020), as a result of the company's IPO in July 2021, partially offset by changes in the level of working capital, higher R&D expenditures and strengthening of the company's management team. Auditor Statement The statutory auditor has issued an unqualified report dated 10 March 2022 on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended 31 December 2021 and has confirmed that the cumulative full year accounting data reported in the accompanying press release is consistent, in all material respects, with the accounts from which it has been derived. The condensed consolidated financial statements are derived from the consolidated financial statements at 31 December 2021 that were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on 10 March 2022. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted for use in the European Union. Financial calendar and upcoming IR-events 11 March 2022: Online publication of annual report 2021 15 March 2022: Biotalys' CEO and CFO will meet with investors at the Berenberg's EU Opportunities Investor Conference (Benelux Day) in London 22-23 March 2022: Biotalys' CEO, CBO and COO will meet with investors at the World AgriTech Conference in San Francisco 30 March 2022: Biotalys' COO and Head of IR will give a presentation at the Bolero webinar on food value chain 31 March 2022: Biotalys' CEO, CFO and Head of IR will participate in a virtual investor roadshow organized by Kepler Cheuvreux 4-6 April 2022: Biotalys' CEO and CFO will give a presentation to investors at the Global Ag Investing Conference in New York 15 April 2022: Annual General Meeting 23 April 2022: Biotalys' CEO will give a company presentation at VFB's Annual Happening in Antwerp 5 May 2022: First Biotalys Shareholders Club at Biotalys' HQ in Ghent 1 June 2022: Biotalys' CEO, CFO and Head of IR will give a presentation at the Kepler Cheuvreux ESG-conference 19 August 2022: Publication of half year results 2022 Live webcast and conference call Company management will host a live webcast in English to discuss its full year 2021 results and business highlights today, 11 March 2022, at 15:00 CET / 14:00 GMT / 09:00 EST. Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/vxozutog Dial-in details: Belgium: 027933847 France: 0170700781 Germany: 06922222625 Netherlands: 0207956614 Switzerland: 0445807145 UK/International: +44 (0) 2071 928338 United States: +1 646 741 3167 Passcode: 5116258 -Ends- About Biotalys Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology. For further information, please contact Toon Musschoot, Head of IR & Communication T: +32 (0)9 274 54 00 E: Toon.Musschoot@biotalys.com Important Notice This announcement contains statements which are "forward-looking statements" or could be considered as such. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words 'aim', 'believe', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'will', 'plan', 'continue', 'ongoing', 'possible', 'predict', 'plans', 'target', 'seek', 'would' or 'should', and contain statements made by the company regarding the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are warned that none of these forward-looking statements offers any guarantee of future performance. The Biotalys actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Biotalys makes no undertaking whatsoever to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, unless required to do so by law. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER (1) The denominator for the purposes of calculating both basic and diluted earnings per share has been adjusted retrospectively to reflect the 2:1 reverse share split completed on 5 July 2021. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER Attachments Proposed acquisition by CGI of a stake in Umanis representing 70.6% of the share capital and 81.9% of the voting rights from Mura and M. Olivier Pouligny, followed by the filing of a simplified mandatory tender offer at the same price; Price of 17.15 per share, representing a premium of 45.96% to last closing price of Umanis' shares; Umanis' Board of Directors welcomed the proposed transaction and appointed, on March 10, 2022, Crowe HAF as independent expert (subject to AMF opposition right); Umanis' shares listing was suspended on March 11, 2022 and will resume at the opening of the market on March 14, 2022. Paris, March 11, 2022 - CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) and Umanis (Euronext Growth - FR0013263878 - ALUMS) announced today that they have entered into an agreement for the acquisition by CGI, through its subsidiary CGI France SAS ("CGI France"), of all of the shares of Umanis. The proposed transaction values the entire share capital of Umanis at approximately 310 million on a fully diluted basis (excluding treasury shares) and represents a premium of 45.96% to Umanis' shares' last closing price of March 10, 2022 and of 30.40% to their volume-weighted average closing price over the last 30 trading days. Under the agreement, CGI France has the exclusive right to acquire all of the shares held by MURA (controlled by Mr. Laurent Piepszownik) and Mr. Olivier Pouligny, representing approximately 70.6% of the share capital of Umanis at a price of 17.15 per share (the "Block Purchase"). Subject to completion of the Block Purchase, CGI France intends to launch a mandatory tender offer to acquire the remaining shares of Umanis (the "Offer") at a price of 17.15 per share and, if the legal and regulatory conditions are met, will implement a squeeze-out transaction to acquire all remaining shares not already tendered as part of the Offer. The signing of the Block Purchase agreement would only take place after completion of the information and consultation procedures of the relevant employee representative bodies of Umanis and CGI France. The completion of the contemplated Block Purchase will notably be subject to (i) the obtaining of regulatory approvals for merger control and foreign investments in France, (ii) the delivery of a fairness opinion by the independent appraiser appointed by Umanis, as well as issuance of a positive recommendation from its board of directors, and (iii) the delivery of Umanis' consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021, certified without any reservations by the statutory auditors and confirming the 2021 revenues of 245.9 million as well as a certain level of adjusted EBITDA margin consistent with Umanis ' guidance published on February 2, 2022 and a maximum level of adjusted net debt of 26 million. The Block Purchase is expected to be completed and the contemplated simplified tender offer is expected to be filed with the French financial markets authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) by the end of the second quarter of the 2022 calendar year. The board of directors of Umanis met on March 10, 2022 and welcomed the proposed transaction, without prejudice to its reasoned opinion on the Offer that will be issued following receipt of the independent expert's opinion. To that end, the board of directors designated a committee comprised of Mr. Olivier Pouligny, Mrs. Isadora Combelle and Mrs. Claude Vibert-Gigue and, upon its recommendation, appointed Mr. Olivier Grivillers, representing Crowe HAF, as independent expert pursuant to article 261-1 I 2 and 4 and II of the AMF general regulations (subject to AMF's opposition right pursuant to article 261-1-1 III of such general eregulations) to prepare a fairness opinion relating to the Offer. "The combination of CGI's operations and those of Umanis will further deepen our presence and positioning across Western and Southern Europe. This transaction is consistent with the metro market merger element of our Build and Buy strategy for delivering profitable inorganic growth, while acting as a catalyst for future organic growth," said George Schindler, CGI President and CEO. "We are excited to join forces with Umanis to help our clients accelerate their digital transformation and enable them to benefit from our expanded end-to-end capabilities. Umanis and CGI are two very complementary companies in terms of skills, vision and values. We look forward to welcoming Umanis' professionals to CGI," said Laurent Gerin, CGI President of Western and Southern Europe. "I founded Umanis in 1990, went public in 1998, and I am particularly proud of the company's track record and the value created for all of our shareholders over the past years. Looking ahead, Umanis' employees and clients will greatly benefit from the support of CGI, with which we share a common vision and values," said Laurent Piepszownik, Executive Chairman of Umanis. "We are thrilled by this new opportunity and look forward to integrating with CGI with which we are highly complementary," said Olivier Pouligny, CEO of Umanis. The listing of Umanis' shares was suspended this morning and will resume at the opening of the market on Monday, March 14, 2022. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 82,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2021 reported revenue is $12.13 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. About Umanis Umanis is a digital company specializing in data, digital and business solutions with annual revenue of approximately 246 million, which has been operating for more than 30 years, mainly in the French market. Created in 1990, Umanis supports the digital transformation of many companies with strong expertise in five areas in particular: Big Data & Artificial Intelligence, Infrastructure & Cloud, Digital Experience, Integration of business solutions and BPO. Umanis is headquartered in Paris and gathers approximately 3,000 professionals in France as well as in Spain, Luxembourg, Morocco and Switzerland. Umanis shares are listed on Euronext Growth in Paris (FR0013263878 - ALUMS). Learn more at umanis.com. Societe Generale is the exclusive financial advisor to CGI and will act as the presenting bank for the tender offer. Bredin Prat acts as the legal advisor. Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank is the exclusive financial advisor to Umanis and Mura, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier acts as legal advisor. Forward-looking information and statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable United States safe harbours. All such forward-looking information and statements are made and disclosed in reliance upon the safe harbour provisions of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking information and statements include all information and statements regarding CGI's intentions, plans, expectations, beliefs, objectives, future performance, and strategy, as well as any other information or statements that relate to future events or circumstances and which do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts. Forward-looking information and statements often but not always use words such as "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "foresee", "plan", "predict", "project", "aim", "seek", "strive", "potential", "continue", "target", "may", "might", "could", "should", and similar expressions and variations thereof. These information and statements are based on our perception of historic trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other assumptions, both general and specific, that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Such information and statements are, however, by their very nature, subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, of which many are beyond the control of CGI, and which give rise to the possibility that actual results could differ materially from our expectations expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not restricted to: risks related to the market such as the level of business activity of our clients, which is affected by economic and political conditions, other external risks (such as pandemics) and our ability to negotiate new contracts; risks related to our industry such as competition and our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, to develop and expand our services, to penetrate new markets, and to protect our intellectual property rights; risks related to our business such as risks associated with our growth strategy, including the integration of new operations, financial and operational risks inherent in worldwide operations, foreign exchange risks, income tax laws and other tax programs, our ability to negotiate favourable contractual terms, to deliver our services and to collect receivables, and the reputational and financial risks attendant to cybersecurity breaches and other incidents, and financial risks such as liquidity needs and requirements, maintenance of financial ratios, and changes in creditworthiness and credit ratings; as well as other risks identified or incorporated by reference in this press release, in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and in other documents that we make public, including our filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators (on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (on EDGAR at www.sec.gov). For a discussion of risks in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, see Pandemic risks in section 10.1.1. of our annual MD&A and section 8.1.1 of our quarterly MD&A. Unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. While we believe that our assumptions on which these forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are based were reasonable as at the date of this press release, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking information or statements. Furthermore, readers are reminded that forward-looking information and statements are presented for the sole purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding our objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook as well as our anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Further information on the risks that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations may be found in the section titled "Risk Environment" of CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A, which is incorporated by reference in this cautionary statement. We also caution readers that the above-mentioned risks and the risks disclosed in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and other documents and filings are not the only ones that could affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial could also have a material adverse effect on our financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation. For more information Contact CGI Media Giuseppina Forino Relations publiques, Ouest et sud de l'Europe giuseppina.forino@cgi.com +33 1 57 87 42 21 Investors Kevin Linder Senior Vice-President, Finance and Treasury, and Head of Investor Relations kevin.linder@cgi.com +1 905 973-8363 Contact Umanis ACTUS finance & communication Mathieu Omnes Relation investisseurs momnes@actus.fr +33 1 53 67 36 92 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mJhxlcqZlGjHxm9vYsmbmWWXmmaSmWjJaGOblGNxZ5nGbWuUm21qmZeaZnBkmmhr - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-73535-umanis-pr-cgi-11032022-en.pdf BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 2.00 am ET Friday, the Office for National Statistics releases UK GDP, external trade and industrial output data. Economists forecast GDP to grow 0.2 percent on month in January, offsetting the 0.2 percent fall in December. The pound traded mixed against its major counterparts ahead of the data. While it rose against the yen and the franc, it fell against the greenback and the euro. The pound was worth 152.74 against the yen, 1.3093 against the greenback, 0.8403 against the euro and 1.2184 against the franc as of 1:55 am ET. 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. LEVERKUSEN (dpa-AFX) - Lanxess AG (LNXSF.PK), a German specialty chemicals company, reported a decline in earnings for the full year while sales improved from last year. For the financial year 2021, the Cologne-headquartered firm reported a net income of 267 million euros, compared with 885 million euros, recorded for the financial year 2020. The firm generated its earnings from continued operations at 218 million euros as against 908 million euros last year. For the year 2020, the firm had generated significant proceeds from the sale of the stake in chemical park operator Currenta. The German firm posted its EBITDA pre exceptionals at 1.01 billion euros, compared with 862 million euros, on year-on-year basis. For the fiscal 2021, the company said it will propose an increased dividend of 1.05 euros per share. The company registered a rise in its sales at 7.55 billion euros, compared with 6.10 billion euros, reported a year ago. Moving forward, for the first quarter, excluding the impact of Ukraine conflict, Lanxess expects its EBITDA , excluding items, to be in the range of 280 million euros - 320 million euros. The company added that excluding uncertainties related to the war, it expects significant earnings increase for 2022. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX LANXESS-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de OSLO, Norway, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (PHO: OSE), The Bladder Cancer Company, announces that its partner Asieris Pharmaceuticals (688176.SH) has obtained approval to conduct a real-world evidence study for Hexvix in Hainan, China, in addition to the Phase III study approved last month. Asieris announced today that the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration, in accordance with advice from the National Medical Products Administration Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), has approved the inclusion of Hexvix in the clinical real-world evidence pilot study. In January 2021, Asieris Pharmaceuticals entered into a license agreement with Photocure, obtaining exclusive rights to register and commercialize Hexvix in mainland China and Taiwan. In December 2021, Hexvix was put into pilot use in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province with several patients receiving the procedure to date. The recommendation of combined use of Hexvix and blue light cystoscopy (BLC) for the improved management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has been included in all major clinical practice guidelines, including Chinese Urological Association Guideline. The present approval will allow Asieris to capture real world Hexvix data from the Hainan Pilot in addition to the results generated from the planned randomized controlled Phase III trial in China. Read Asieris' full media release here: https://asieris.com/hexvix-has-obtained-cde-approval-to-carry-out-clinical-real-world-evidence-study/ Note to editors All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin. About Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer ranks as the eighths most common cancer worldwide with 1 720 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)1a, 573 000 new cases and more than 200 000 deaths annually in 2020.1b Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate with an average of 61% in year one and 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.3 Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.4 1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [January 2022]. 2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657 3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295-300 4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html About Hexvix/Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl) Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the bladder making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors and better management decisions. Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S. and Europe, and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in China, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Please refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further information on our commercial partners. About Photocure ASA Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Dan Schneider President and CEO Photocure ASA Email: ds@photocure.com Erik Dahl CFO Photocure ASA Tel: +4745055000 Email: ed@photocure.com David Moskowitz Vice President, Investor Relations Photocure ASA Tel: +1 202 280 0888 Email: david.moskowitz@photocure.com Media and IR enquiries: Geir Bjrlo Corporate Communications (Norway) Tel: +47 91540000 Email: geir.bjorlo@corpcom.no This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-partner-asieris-announces-cde-approval-for-hexvix-clinical-real-world-evidence-study-in-ch,c3522675 VALLETTA, Malta, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VisitMalta has today launched the first-ever Virtual Citizen at a conference organised by the Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection on the Digital Tourism Roadmap 2030. Marija will bring together, in perfect synergy, the infinite possibilities of artificial intelligence, incorporating them with a new immersive experience allowing everyone to access a wealth of information about Malta. Marija is an interactive AI-powered virtual being ready to help all tourists who want to learn more about Malta's rich history and everything happening on the Maltese Islands. While she is only a month old and has just begun her learning journey, that knowledge base will grow over time, expanding her understanding of everything in Malta. Marija will also be available on a mobile application, accessible in multiple languages to enhance visitors' journey at any venue. Thanks to this technology, Marija will be able to interact in real-time and answer any questions and will also be able to throw in a joke or two in the mix. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9007351-malta-launches-marija-first-virtual-citizen/. Marija is a mix of art and science built through a meticulous, creative process. VisitMalta, in collaboration with Reimagine AI, created hundreds of 2D AI-generated models that were narrowed down to a single image. This image was then brought to life in 3D to have Marija look like a typical Maltese woman, with characteristics and features associated with the Mediterranean region. The language was also crucial in the development process. A specific lexicon system was custom-built to consider the pronunciation of Maltese words and the particularities of the vocabulary that are synonymous with a typical Maltese conversation. Marija's neural synthesized voice, which speaks English with a Maltese accent, is based on the voice of a Maltese content creator who recorded many hours of dialogue, and from those recordings, an AI duplicate voice was created. This voice now lives on independently from the original recordings and can vocalize any new information Marija needs to learn and say in the future. "Integrating technology with Maltese tourism is the way forward in this age of acceleration. What was once known as a barren rock in the middle of the Mediterranean today is not only one of Europe's best performers in economic growth but is now climbing up the ladder to become a digital bastion on the international stage. Our sureness of touch, steadfastness, and the ability to bridge alliances together in these difficult times, are those likely to see us continue to steer Malta as a go-to-country in the digital world," highlighted Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Clayton Bartolo. "VisitMalta is looking at this project as another opportunity through which the Maltese touristic product is being developed, by becoming more relevant to the 21st century. In a nutshell, Marija will become an experience which is guaranteed to bring together art and artificial intelligence to provide a holistic and exciting human experience," Mr. Johann Buttigieg, CEO of VisitMalta, stated. "Malta is truly a visionary country. It is a great destination for leisure, fun, business, and innovation. This project was a great testament to the country's vision and implementation of a solid national digital strategy. We are proud to have worked closely with VisitMalta in creating Marija, a purpose-driven and socially interactive AI-powered virtual being we believe will continue establishing Malta as a true next-generation visitor experience destination. We build the interface between AI and the human experience, and we are incredibly excited to help Marija continue to learn and evolve. Marija is the perfect medium to tell the Maltese story and connect in a meaningful way with everyone who comes in contact with her. AI is the future of storytelling, and Malta is at the forefront of it all," says David Usher, President of Reimagine.AI. For more info kindly check this link: https://www.visitmalta.com/en/malta-launches-marija/. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGD558g9Cl4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728669/Visit_Malta_Virtual_Citizen.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1492931/VisitMalta_Logo.jpg LONDON, March 11, 2022(WCR), which ranked countries that provide citizenship by investment (CBI) options in the region in the top 30 per cent. The new one-of-a-kind report was developed by CS Global Partners, the world's leading government advisory and marketing firm. The WCR measures 187 countries against five motivators that are relevant amongst High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs). These motivators include Safety and Security, Economic Opportunity, Quality of Life, Global Mobility and Quality of Life. The report considers data from the Global Peace Indexand World Governance Indicatorsand scored the Caribbean region highly in the Safety and Security, Quality of Life and Global Mobility motivators. The Caribbean is considered the cradle of investment immigration due to the high concentration of countries that offer CBI programmes in the region. These countries' proximity in the WCR ranking reflects a sense of community and collaboration that characterises nations in the jurisdiction. For example, all the Caribbean nations hosting CBI programmes are members of CARICOM, which is committed to promoting and supporting a unified Caribbean community that is inclusive, resilient, and competitive to share in economic, social, and cultural growth. At its 33rd meeting, CARICOM members pledged to continue to be vigilant in managing the threats to sustainable development in the region. This included implementing initiatives that attract foreign direct investment, ensuring that the region is not perceived as high risk by investors, lobbying against the proposed global minimum corporation tax and continuing to build relations with the OECD and European Union. The Chair of the Conference, the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honourable John Briceno, stated that the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting was a particularly consequential meeting which was taking place at a time when "unprecedented and existential challenges coincide with our citizens' expectations for relief and prosperity." "We are contending with the worst economic recession in modern history and to foster our recovery, we need to rekindle the founding vision of CARICOM, both with respect to the scale of its ambition for integration, and the speed which was needed to achieve its consolidation. Our recovery should be aligned to a new regional agenda that is centred around creating prosperity for the people," he continued. In order to achieve this prosperity for the people, heads of government at CARICOM also agreed that the immediate and urgent implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy or CSME was imperative for responding to the current developmental challenges and for building a more resilient region. Another way that small island nations are ensuring their prosperity and sustainability is through CBI programmes. CBI is a well-documented and viable way for Caribbean nations to attract FDI into their economies which can then be used for significant developmental projects. For example, the island nation of Dominicais constructing a geothermal plantthat is expected to be operational by 2023 in partnership with the United Kingdom, the World Bank and Kenesjay Green LTD, a local green energy company. The plant will ensure that the country is powered by renewable energy, reducing energy costs and carbon emissions while simultaneously creating jobs. In St Kitts and Nevis, the construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante was financed via various local and international sources, of which US$5 million came from the country's CBI. The pier has allowed St Kitts and Nevis to host the world's largest cruise vessels, which has been particularly important for the tourism sector. The small but ambitious Caribbean country now has the marquee status of larger cruise destinations in the region. The inflow of funds to the private sector have had a noticeable impact on the economic activity of island nations, in many instances improving fiscal outcomes, facilitating debt repayment, and spurring economic growth. Research by the International Monetary Fundduring lockdown when tourism was at an all-time low. While in Dominica, the IMFnoted that the "strong growth" in the construction sector was "financed with record-high CBI revenue of 30 per cent of GDP" in 2021. In 2017, CBI accounted for 20 per cent of the GDP in Antigua and Barbuda - showing that inflows from CBI programmes are making a major difference in the performance of government of smaller countries. Taking a deeper dive into some notable CBI programmes in the region, St Kitts and Nevis established their CBI Programme in 1984 and is the longest-running in the world. Being the first of its kind, the Programme is also one of the most reputable and has become known as the 'Platinum Standard' brand in the industry. After over three decades, the twin-island nation continues to be a popular option for investors and their families due to its longevity and commitment to due diligence processes. The country scored a respectable score of 66.8 points out of 100 in the overall rankings in the WCR, the highest of all the Caribbean CBI nations. It reached top marks in the Safety and Security, Quality of Life and Global Mobility motivators. Dominica's CBI Programme was launched in 1993 and has been ranked as the number one CBI initiative for five consecutive years in the CBI Index, published by the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine. The nation is politically and economically stable, with a low crime rate and rich investment opportunities. Known as the Nature Isle, Dominica placed in the 52nd spot, achieving high marks for Safety and Security, Quality of Life and Global Mobility motivators. Contact Details: pr@csglobalpartners.com www.csglobalpartners.com +447824029952 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pioneer Media Holdings Inc. (CSE: PNER, AQSE: PNER, NEO: JPEG) ("Pioneer" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has received final approval to list the common shares of the Company on the Neo Exchange Inc. ("NEO"). Trading is expected to commence at market open on Monday, March 14, 2022 under the ticker symbol "JPEG". Mike Edwards, CEO of Pioneer commented, "Listing on the NEO is a significant accomplishment for the Company as we build out our comprehensive Web3 ecosystem. The NEO is a senior marketplace that focuses on innovative and disruptive technologies and the best fit for Pioneer as our business continues to grow. We believe that the listing will increase liquidity, visibility and exposure for our investors, and we remain committed to driving meaningful, long term shareholder value." In connection with the migration, the Company's common shares will be delisted from trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange effective March 11, 2022 after the close of markets. The graduation will not impact current investors' ability to trade shares of Pioneer, nor the listing of Pioneer's shares on the Aquis Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom. About Pioneer Media Holdings Inc. Pioneer is a technology incubator creating a full Web3 ecosystem focusing on NFT, NFT Gaming, DAO and tokenized communities. Pioneer's experienced management team leverages its global network and expertise to provide investors with direct access to a portfolio of innovative, early-stage to mid-level growth companies in the space. Additional information about Pioneer is available at www.p10neer.comor www.sedar.com. About the NEO Exchange The Neo Exchange Inc. is Canada's Tier 1 stock exchange for the innovation economy, bringing together investors and capital raisers within a fair, liquid, efficient, and service-oriented environment. Fully operational since June 2015, NEO puts investors first and provides access to trading across all Canadian-listed securities on a level playing field. NEO lists companies and investment products seeking an internationally recognized stock exchange that enables investor trust, quality liquidity, and broad awareness including unfettered access to market data. ON BEHALF OF PIONEER MEDIA HOLDINGS INC. "Mike Edwards" CEO & Director First Sentinel Corporate Finance Ltd (AQSE Corporate Adviser) Brian Stockbridge / Gabrielle Cordeiro +44 7876 888 011 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. STOCKHOLM, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT AB is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Drews as Chief Operating Officer (COO), as EQT continues to accelerate its growth journey across geographies and business strategies. As new COO, Christina will lead the strategic development of EQT's operating platform. Christina brings nearly 30 years of experience in the global financial industry, most recently serving as COO at Helios Investment Partners. Before Helios, Christina had a long and esteemed career at Goldman Sachs within M&A and Global CAO, as well as in regional COO and CFO roles in the Investment Banking division. EQT's Deputy CEO and COO Caspar Callerstrom will remain in his existing role as deputy CEO and will focus on strategy development going forward. Christian Sinding, CEO and Managing Partner at EQT, said, "I am thrilled to welcome Christina to our team. EQT has grown significantly over the past several years, both in terms of investment strategies and geographic scope. As we continue our mission to future-proof companies and make a positive impact, we also need to ensure we are future-proofing our own platform. With her breadth and depth of operating experience, I am confident that Christina has the skills and vision to help guide us through this journey - putting in place the right competencies, processes, and strategies so that we can continue to scale and grow. Christina Drews, incoming COO at EQT, said, "I am very passionate about the journey EQT is on, am impressed with the quality platform that I will join and excited to make a contribution alongside a great team". Christina, who is based in London, will join EQT in June. She will be part of the Executive Committee and report directly to CEO Christian Sinding. Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com , +46 8 506 55 334 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-ab-appoints-christina-drews-as-coo-and-member-of-the-executive-committee,c3522900 The following files are available for download: FRANKFURT, Germany, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Roundhill Investments, an ETF sponsor focused on innovative thematic funds, is planning to launch a Metaverse ETF in Germany later this month in partnership with Ball Metaverse Research Partners. The Fund will be Roundhill's first launch in the European market. The Metaverse is broadly understood as a successor-state to today's mobile Internet, but which will involve countless interoperable and persistent virtual worlds, be richly integrated into the physical world as well, thereby creating a new medium and economy for work, leisure, and innovation. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have estimated that the Metaverse economy will be worth roughly $8 trillion. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, has said he believes the Metaverse economy will eventually exceed that of the physical world. The Fund will aim to offer investors exposure to the Metaverse* by tracking, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Ball Metaverse Index (BALLMETA Index). According to TD Ameritrade (2/15/2022), the Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETF (NYSE Arca: METV), which also tracks the BALLMETA Index, was the largest sector ETF launched in the U.S. in 2021, amassing $885 million in assets. The Index is managed by Ball Metaverse Research Partners, an indexing and research firm led by Matthew Ball , a seasoned investor, advisor, and researcher of the Metaverse. "We consider the emergence of the Metaverse to be as transformative and valuable as the emergence of mobile Internet and the fixed-line Internet that preceded it. It likely will touch every industry and profession, enlarging and/or disrupting today's leaders, and leading to countless new companies and technologies" said Matthew Ball. "We believe that all investors should have the ability to invest in our themes, not just U.S. investors. This launch will be an important step towards achieving that goal," said Roundhill CIO Tim Maloney. "We're excited to debut our first fund in Europe and look forward to offering additional products in the future." *There is no guarantee that the investment objective will be reached. Past performance does not predict future returns. About Roundhill Investments: Roundhill Investments is a U.S.-based investment adviser focused on developing innovative exchange-traded products. The firm's product lineup currently accounts for more than $1 billion in assets under management. To learn more about the company, please visit roundhillinvestments.com . About Ball Metaverse Research Partners: Ball Metaverse Research is a financial and market research collective focused on the ongoing transition of global telecommunications, commerce and social engagement to the successor platform of the current Internet, known popularly as the 'Metaverse.' In addition to managing the Metaverse Index, Ball Metaverse Research publishes essays and studies on the future of the Internet, entertainment, gaming and social media, as well as convenes and participates in industry settings to promote standards and dialogue between important media and technology entrepreneurs, inventors, activists and enterprises. Authorities arrested three pastors including one in Florida and charged them with capital sexual battery after a church raid on Wednesday. One of the three was arrested after the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office conducted the raid at the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ, while two others associated with the church were arrested in Oklahoma, according to WTLV-WJXX. Advertisement The arrests came after a long-term investigation that started with a tip regarding possible sexual abuse in 2020. Following the tip, investigators found instances of sexual and physical abuse of minors for more than 30 years, WTLV-WJXX reported. Advertisement Pastor Paul Dyal was jailed on charges of capital sexual battery on a child under 12. The other two, Vernon Williamson and Jerome Teschendorf, face charges of capital sexual battery, according to WTLV-WJXX. Read the full report on firstcoastnews.com. FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche Bank AG (DB) said its Supervisory Board determined total compensation on an individual basis for 2021. The total compensation for Christian Sewing, Chief Executive Officer, was 8.8 million euros, in 2021. It comprised: base salary of 3.6 million euros; a short term award of 3.1 million euros; and a long term award of 2.1 million euros. His total compensation was 7.4 million euros in 2020. Christian Sewing became a member of the company's Management Board on January 1, 2015, and is Chief Executive Officer with effect from April 8, 2018. He was responsible for the Corporate Bank and the Investment Bank until April 2021. Since May 2021, Sewing has been responsible for Human Resources. He does not have any external directorships. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX DEUTSCHE BANK-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de CHICAGO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the report "Agricultural Biologicals Market by Function, Product Type (Microbials, Macrobials, Semiochemicals, Natural products), Mode of Application (Foliar Spray, Soil and Seed treatment), Crop Type and Region - Global Forecast to 2027", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated at USD 12.9 billion in 2022; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.7% to reach USD 24.6 billion by 2027. The global agricultural biologicals market is dominated by North America and Europe in 2022 due to the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies and organic farming practices. However, the demand for agricultural biological products in developing countries of regions, such as Asia Pacific and South America, has significantly increased. This increase in demand is primarily attributed to the stringent regulatory frameworks regarding the maximum residue level (MRL); banning of chemical pesticides; increase in the cost of agricultural inputs, such as seeds; and a decrease in the proportion of cultivable land. The adoption of GM seeds and integrated pest management (IPM) are the key factors that have also contributed to the growth of the biologicals market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=100393324 The Biocontrol segment by function is projected to achieve the fastest growth in the Agricultural Biologicals market. The usage of biocontrol methods in integrated pest management programs is projected to drive the growth of the market. Biological control is a key component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy, with biological control tactics taking precedence over other strategies in the program and vice versa. The increasing popularity of biopesticides in crop protection compared to their synthetic counterparts is due to their lower development cost, suitable use in sustainable agriculture, and as an additional tool to manage resistance in integrated pest management schemes. By product type, the microbial segment is estimated to account for the largest market share in the Agricultural Biologicals market. The ability to increase the nutrient availability in the soil and enhance plant yield to drive the growth of the microbials segment. Microbial biological control agents (MBCAs) are used to biologically control plant pathogens in crops, and they work in a variety of ways. Without directly interacting with the pathogen, some MBCAs interact with plants via inducing resistance or priming plants. Other MBCAs modulate pathogen growth conditions through nutritional competition or other methods. Browse in-depth TOC on "Agricultural Biologicals Market" 261 - Tables 65 - Figures 305 - Pages The foliar segment by mode of application is estimated to account for the largest market share of the Agricultural Biologicals market over the forecast period. The foliar spray segment dominated the agricultural biologicals market in 2022. The ease of use and non-technicality of the method are key factors that have led to its increasing popularity and preference. Besides the developing countries, foliar sprays are also widely accepted by farmers of developing countries due to their low cost than soil and seed treatment. Request for Customization: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=100393324 The fruits and vegetables segment is estimated to observe the fastest market growth in the Agricultural Biologicals market during the forecast period. The fruits & vegetables segment accounts for the largest share in the agricultural biologicals market since most companies offer biological solutions for vegetable crops, such as tomatoes, cabbage, pumpkin, cucumber, and bitter gourd. According to the FAO's Statistical Yearbook of Food & Agriculture Organization, the production of vegetables has grown intensively on a per capita basis and has increased by nearly 60% in the last 20 years. Moreover, the production of vegetables accounts for nearly 12% of the total area and 14% of the total production globally. North America is estimated to be the largest market. The agricultural biologicals market is growing in North America due to the increasing applications in the agricultural sector for the adoption in fields, vegetables, and fruit crops. The governments in the North American region have made the registration of biopesticides products more efficient through the development of modified test methodologies and clear guidance documents. This helps key companies to develop new products and register them before commercialization. Key Players: The key players in this market include BASF (Germany), Syngenta (Switzerland), Bayer AG (Germany), UPL (India), Marrone Bio Innovation, Inc (US), Gowan Company (US), Vegalab SA (Switzerland), Lallemand Inc (Canada), Valent Bioscience (US), Koppert Biologicals System (Netherlands), Biovert S.L. (Spain), Trade Corporation International (Spain), Stockton Bio AG (Israel), Biolchim SPA (Italy), and Rhizobacter (Argentina). These players in this market are focusing on increasing their presence through agreements and collaborations. These companies have a strong presence in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. They also have manufacturing facilities along with strong distribution networks across these regions. Related Reports: Top Trends in the Agricultural Biologicals Market by Agricultural Biologicals, Biocontrols, Bio fungicides, Bioinsecticides, Bio nematicides, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers, Inoculants, Pheromones, Biological Seed Treatment - Global Forecast to 2026 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/top-10-trend-agricultural-biological-market-139215554.html Browse Adjacent Reports: Agriculture Industry Market Research Reports & Consulting About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/agricultural-biological-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/agricultural-biological.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon television program, Copyright MMXXII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3 to 4 month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $6,950.00 to $11,995.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by Donald Baillargeon, the producer, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Not for release or distribution in the United States or through any U.S. newswire service VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Sarama Resources Ltd. ("Sarama" or the "Company") (TSX-V:SWA) is pleased to announce that it has lodged a prospectus with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in relation to its proposed dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") (the "Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus will be available on SEDAR under the Company's profile. Under the Prospectus, the Company will issue between 28,571,429 and 38,095,238 CHESS Depositary Interests ("CDIs") over common shares in the capital of the Company ("Offer Shares") at an issue price of A$0.21 per CDI for gross proceeds between A$6 million and A$8 million (the "Offer"). Each CDI will represent a beneficial interest in 1 common share of the Company. The Offer is expected to open on March 21, 2022 with the expected commencement of trading on the ASX to be on or around April 18, 2022. The Company's 10-day VWAP at market close on March 10, 2022, was C$0.23. Leading Australian resources broker, Euroz Hartleys, has been appointed as Lead Manager for the ASX listing process. The net proceeds raised pursuant to the dual listing on the ASX will be used to support and expedite an extensive and predominantly shallow drilling campaign across the Company's 100%-owned Sanutura Project (the "Project"). The planned drill programs aim to augment and upgrade the currently defined oxide and free-milling mineral resource and test high priority targets identified through previous grassroots exploration that have the potential to significantly impact project growth. The Project is an advanced-stage exploration project covering approximately 1,420km that hosts a significant, well-defined gold mineral resource base and a suite of exploration targets. As announced on November 16, 2021, the mining-shape constrained mineral resource estimate at the Project stands at 9.4Mt @ 1.9g/t Au for 0.6Moz gold (Indicated) plus 52.7Mt @ 1.4g/t Au for 2.3Moz gold (Inferred)(1). The combined oxide and transition component of the pit shell-constrained mineral resource totals 0.2Moz gold (Indicated) plus 0.8Moz gold (Inferred)(2). The Project is being positioned as a long-life, multi-stage asset that would initially exploit the oxide component of the mineral resource. The large mineral resource base and suite of exploration targets provide significant optionality and leverage to the gold price and the Project remains key to the development of the southern Hounde Belt. Sarama's President and CEO, Andrew Dinning commented: "We are very pleased to have lodged the Prospectus and reached this major milestone. The ASX listing will allow Sarama to bolster its treasury and pursue an aggressive exploration program with the aim of growing the already significant Sanutura Project resource base and have a closer look at some of the regional exploration targets that have intrigued us for some time." For further information on the Company's activities, please contact: Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede e: info@saramaresources.com t: +61 (0) 8 9363 7600 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. In accordance with section 734(6) of the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the Company advises in respect of the offer of Offer Shares under the Prospectus: the issuer of the Offer Shares is Sarama Resources Ltd. ARBN 143 964 649; the Prospectus is available online at www.saramaresources.com or by contacting the Company by email at info@saramaresources.com; offers of Offer Shares will only be made in, or accompanied by, a copy of the Prospectus; a person should consider the Prospectus in deciding whether to acquire the Offer Shares; anyone who wishes to acquire the Offer Shares will need to complete the application form that will be in or will accompany the Prospectus; the offer of Offer Shares under the Prospectus will only be made available to persons receiving the Prospectus in Australia and certain institutional investors (as defined in the Prospectus) in, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Europe Union (excluding Austria), and Singapore and the United States; and the offer of Offer Shares under the Prospectus will not be available to residents of Canada. ABOUT SARAMA RESOURCES LTD Sarama Resources Ltd (TSX-V: SWA) is a West African focused gold explorer and developer with substantial landholdings in south-west Burkina Faso. Sarama is focused on maximising the value of its strategic assets and advancing its key projects towards development. Sarama's 100%-owned(4) Sanutura Project is principally located within the prolific Hounde Greenstone Belt in south-west Burkina Faso and is the exploration and development focus of the Company. The project hosts the Tankoro and Bondi Deposits which have a combined mineral resource of 0.6Moz gold (Indicated) and 2.3Moz gold (Inferred)(1). Together, the deposits present a potential mine development opportunity featuring an initial, long-life CIL project which may be established and paid for by the significant oxide mineral resource base. Sarama has built further optionality into its portfolio including an approximate 470km exploration position in the highly prospective Banfora Belt in south-western Burkina Faso. The Koumandara Project hosts several regional-scale structural features and trends of gold-in-soil anomalism extending for over 40km along strike. Sarama also holds an approximate 18% participating interest in the Karankasso Project Joint Venture ("JV") which is situated adjacent to the Company's Sanutura Project in Burkina Faso and is a JV between Sarama and Endeavour Mining Corp ("Endeavour") in which Endeavour is the operator of the JV. In February 2020, an updated mineral resource estimate of 709koz gold(3) was declared for the Karankasso Project JV. The Company's Board and management team have a proven track record in Africa and a strong history in the discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits. Sarama is well positioned to build on its current success with a sound strategy to surface and maximise the value of its property portfolio. FOOTNOTES Current mineral resource estimate for Sanutura Project - 9.4Mt @ 1.9g/t Au for 0.6Moz Au (Indicated) plus 52.7Mt @ 1.4g/t Au for 2.3Moz (Inferred), reported at cut-off grades ranging 0.2-1.6g/t Au, reflecting the mining methods and processing flowsheets assumed to assess the liklihood of the mineral resources to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The effective date of the Company's mineral resource estimate is November 16, 2021. For further information regarding the mineral resource estimate refer to the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report Sanutura Project, South-West Burkina Faso", dated February 7, 2022 and prepared by Paul Schmiede, Rindra Le Grange and Fred Kock. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama. Ms Le Grange and Mr Kock are employees of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and Orway Mineral Consultants Pty Ltd respectivley and are considered to be independent of Sarama. The technical report is available under Sarama's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Oxide & transition component of the current mineral resource - 3.2Mt @ 1.6g/t Au for 0.2Moz Au (Indicated) plus 23.4Mt @ 1.1g/t Au for 0.8Moz Au (Inferred), reported above cut-off grades of 0.2g/t Au and 0.3g/t Au for oxide and transition material respectively. Karankasso Project current mineral resource estimate - the current mineral resource estimate for the Karankasso Project of 12.74Mt @ 1.73g/t Au for 709koz Au (effective date of December 31, 2019) was disclosed on February 24, 2020 by Semafo Inc ("Semafo", since acquired by Endeavour Mining Corp. "Endeavour"). For further information regarding that mineral resource estimate, refer to the news release "Semafo: Bantou Project Inferred Resources Increase to 2.2Moz" dated February 24, 2020 and Semafo: Bantou Project NI43-101 Technical Report - Mineral Resource Estimate" dated April 3, 2020. The news release and technical report are available under Semafo's and Endeavour's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The mineral resource estimate was fully prepared by, or under the supervision of Semafo. Sarama has not independently verified Semafo's mineral resource estimate and takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Semafo, and now Endeavour, is the operator of the Karankasso Project JV and Sarama is relying on their Qualified Persons' assurance of the validity of the mineral resource estimate. Additional technical work has been undertaken on the Karankasso Project since the effective date but Sarama is not in a position to quantify the impact of this additional work on the mineral resource estimate referred to above. The Government of Burkina Faso has processed the requisite documents to facilitate the grant of the new, full-term Tankoro 2 and Djarkadougou 2 Exploration Permits (the "Permits") and subsequently issued the invitation to pay the permit issuance fees (the "Fees") and the Fees were paid within the requisite 10-day timeline. Following the payment of the Fee, the issuance of the Permit's arrete and related paperwork becomes an administrative process during which time the Company may undertake work on the Tankoro 2 and Djarkadougou 2 Properties. The Company expects the arretes and related paperwork to be issued in due course. The properties, hosting the Tankoro and Bondi Deposits respectively, were formerly known as Tankoro and Djarkadougou, but have been renamed as part of the process of re-issuing the respective Permits. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans to list on the ASX and the associated gross proceeds, the number of shares (CDIs) to be issued and pricing, statements regarding the Company's future exploration and development plans, the potential for the Sanutura and Karankasso Projects to host economic mineralisation, the potential for open pit and underground mining at the Sanutura Project, the potential to expand the present oxide component of the existing estimated mineral resources at the Sanutura Project, the reliability of the historical exploration work and estimates for artisanal mining depletion at the Bondi Deposit, the potential for the receipt of regulatory approvals and the timing and prospects for the issuance of the arretes for the Tankoro 2 and Djarkadougou 2 Exploration Permits by the Government of Burkina Faso. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; mineral resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws. QUALIFIED PERSONS' STATEMENT Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the preparation of the mineral resource estimate for the Sanutura Project is based on information compiled or approved by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the metallurgical testwork at the Bondi Deposit is based on information compiled or approved by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to tank-based and oxidative metallurgical testwork and mineral processing is based on information compiled or approved by Fred Kock. Fred Kock is an employee of Orway Mineral Consultants Pty Ltd and is considered to be independent of Sarama Resources Ltd. Fred Kock is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Fred Kock consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration activities at the Sanutura Project is based on information compiled or approved by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Guy Scherrer consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the quotation of the Karankasso Project's mineral resource estimate and exploration activities is based on information compiled by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Paul Schmiede and Sarama have not independently verified Semafo's (now Endeavour's) mineral resource estimate and take no responsibility for its accuracy. SOURCE: Sarama Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692670/Sarama-Resources-Files-Prospectus-for-Proposed-Dual-Listing-on-The-Australian-Securities-Exchange Today, Wereldhave N.V. publishes its Integrated Annual Report 2021 and the convocation and agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), to be held at Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Schiphol Boulevard 701, 1118 BN Schiphol, on Monday 25 April 2022 at 11.00h CEST (also to be viewed online by webcast). The Integrated Annual Report 2021, including the ESEF* package, is available on www.wereldhave.com. The full agenda including annexes is published on www.wereldhave.com under 'Group / Corporate Governance / General Meeting of Shareholders'. Shareholders who wish to participate in the AGM, must register before 20 April 2022 17.30 h CEST by intervention of their bank. Through their bank, shareholders will receive a receipt confirmation which also serves as a log-in with URL to follow the meeting online. Registration can be made at www.abnamro.com/evoting . Shareholders who wish to vote by proxy, must instruct their bank or broker to inform ABN AMRO to register their shares for the meeting before 20 April 2022 17.30 h CEST. Shareholders and usufructuaries with voting rights can give their notification and voting instructions electronically as from 29 March 2022 up to 20 April 2022 17.30 h CEST at www.abnamro.com/evoting . Intermediaries can submit their instructions up to 21 April 2022 13.30 h CEST at www.abnamro.com/intermediary. Questions can be put in advance by shareholders who wish to follow the meeting by webcast before 20 April 2022, through investor.relations@wereldhave.com . To the extent possible, questions will be combined and answered during the meeting. * European Single Electronic Format Attachment OSLO, Norway, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Solutions has been awarded a substantial1 seven-year contract extension (3+2+2 years) of an existing maintenance and modifications frame agreement with OKEA. The agreement covers work on all installations offshore Norway operated by OKEA. Maintenance and modifications are crucial to ensure safe and efficient operations of installations and facilities. Aker Solutions has delivered maintenance and modifications services for OKEA since 2018 which will now be further extended to 2028. It includes exercising the remaining three options in the agreement. The work scope will cover concept study, engineering, procurement, construction and installation services for all onshore and offshore assets. "We value the opportunity to build a long-term partnership with OKEA and the trust in our teams to continue delivering safe and efficient operations. Our experiences working with OKEA in the last few years will enable us to accelerate initiatives towards cost-effective and low-carbon solutions, with a strong emphasis on continuous improvements and increased productivity in the work we deliver," said Kjetel Digre, chief executive officer of Aker Solutions. "We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Aker Solutions in the long term by exercising all three options in the agreement. I look forward to leveraging the cooperation of the workforce in both companies to maximize production in our fields safely while reducing carbon intensity," said Knut Gjertsen, senior vice president of OKEA. Aker Solutions' teams in Kristiansund and Trondheim will continue to deliver to the agreement with support from other locations, including fabrication in Egersund. The agreement will be booked as order intake in the first quarter of 2022 in the Electrification, Maintenance and Modifications segment. 1Aker Solutions defines a substantial contract as being between NOK 700 million and NOK 1.2 billion. Media Contact: Torbjrn Andersen, mob: +47 928 85 542, email: torbjorn.andersen@akersolutions.com Investor Contact: Fredrik Berge, mob: +47 450 32 090, email: fredrik.berge@akersolutions.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/r/aker-solutions-secures-extension-of-maintenance-and-modifications-agreement-from-okea,c3517370 The "Romania Defense Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides the market size forecast and the projected growth rate for the next five years. The report covers industry analysis including the key market drivers, emerging technology trends, and major challenges faced by market participants. It also offers insights regarding key factors and government programs that are expected to influence the demand for military platforms over the forecast period. Over the historic period, increasing Romanian defense expenditure has been primarily driven by the need to modernize the Romanian Armed Forces, in order to guarantee national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and also allow Romania to actively contribute to regional and global stability and security through key alliances such as the EU and NATO. Over 2017-2021, Romania's defense expenditure grew at a CAGR of 10.08%, and reached a high of US$5.7 billion in 2021. This report offers detailed analysis of Romania's defense market with market size forecasts covering the next five years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for the industry, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants. Key Highlights Russian influence in the Black Sea One of the primary security threats to Romania is the destabilization of the security environment in the Black Sea Extended Region (BSER), driven by actions undertaken by Russia to strengthen its influence in Eastern Europe. This threat is underscored by the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. Hybrid warfare, as a threat from a state or non-state enemy, that is using conventional and nonconventional methods and means in a vector-oriented and uniform manner, may represent a major risk against the security of Romania. Who Should Buy Defence Startups, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Defence Planners, Aerospace and Defence Integrators, Venture Capital Firms, Government Agencies, Head of Marketing, Head of Sales, CEOs and Senior Executives. The concerned stakeholders can utilize the report to identify high growth segments and customize their offerings to match the project requirements. The Venture Capital Firms can utilize the project details, growth rate, and market size to identify and fund high potential startups. Scope Romania's defense budget: detailed analysis of Romania's FY2021 defense budget broken down into market size and market share. This is coupled with an examination of key current and future acquisitions. Regulation: the procurement policy and process is explained. This is coupled with an analysis of Romania's military doctrine and strategy to provide a comprehensive overview of Romanian military regulation. Security Environment: political alliances and perceived security threats to Romania are examined; which will help to explain trends in spending and modernisation. Import and Export Dynamics: analysis of prevalent trends in the country's imports and exports over the last five years Competitive landscape and strategic insights: analysis of the competitive landscape of the Romanian defense industry. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Defense Budget Assessment Budgeting Process Defense Market Size Historical And Forecast Drivers Of Defense Expenditure Analysis Of Defense Budget Allocation Key Market Trends and Insights Military Doctrine And Security Environment Military Doctrine And Strategy Primary Threat Perception Political And Strategic Alliances Geopolitical Social And Economic Scenario Market Entry Strategy And Regulations Procurement Policy and Process Market Regulations Market Entry Route Key Challenges Major Deals and M&A Market Attractiveness And Emerging Opportunities Market Attractiveness, 2020-2025 Top Defense Segments By Value Import And Export Market Dynamics Import Market Dynamics Export Market Dynamics Defense Platform Acquisitions MIM-104 Patriot Gowind-class Piranha V Fleet Size Competitive Landscape Defense Companies Operating In Romania Main Defense Companies Appendix Companies Mentioned Raytheon Technologies Corp Rheinmetall AG Lockheed Martin Corp For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x166h4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005185/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / MJ Harvest, Inc. ("MJHI") (OTCQB:MJHI) announced today that it has appointed Jason Roth and Rich Turasky to the company's Board of Directors. Simultaneously with the appointment of Mr. Roth and Mr. Turasky to the company's board, the company also announced the resignation of Jerry Cornwell as a member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Roth and Mr. Turasky join Patrick Bilton, David Tobias and Randy Lanier rounding out the five-member board. "As part of our company's ongoing expansion initiatives, I am thrilled that we have identified two outstanding independent[RV1] directors in Jason Roth and Rich Turasky. Both of these directors bring extensive and relevant experience from their business careers. Their experience and the expertise they will bring to our board will only expand our ability to meet our growth initiatives over the short and long term," said Patrick Bilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MJ Harvest Inc. "I would also like to thank Jerry Cornwell for his invaluable support and contribution to MJ Harvest." Mr. Bilton concluded, "The additions to our board announced today ensures that we should have the right balance of cannabis industry expertise and overall business experience to drive our expected corporate growth for our shareholders." These board additions enhance the recently announced licenses and purchases to operate a cannabis manufacturing facility in Colorado, an additional board appointment in Randy Lanier, 10% equity purchase of BLIP Holdings LLC, and a minority ownership interest in WDSY LLC. Jason Roth sits on the Board of Directors for Next Frontier Pharmaceuticals which owns an FDA- approved cannabinoid drug known as Syndros as well as Next Frontier Beverages based in London, England. Mr. Roth also is Chief Executive Officer of Ackrell SPAC I, which recently announced a $904 million merger with Blackstone Products. Previously, Mr. Roth was Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mile High Labs Inc, which was one of the world's largest processors of cannabis. While at Mile High Labs, Mr. Roth grew revenues from zero to nearly $100 million in the first year of business. Mr. Roth previously was the Chief Executive Officer of a large scale multi-national device company, was a founder and Senior Vice President, Commercial Director, Compliance Director and Board Member of Brooklands Inc., a medical device OEM/ODM approved by the U.S. FDA, and was a founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Safeguard Medical Technologies, a leading OEM/ODM medical device manufacturer approved by the U.S. FDA. Mr. Roth owns numerous patents in the medical device sector. Rich Turasky has been in the investment and finance business for 30 years, investing with both private and institutional investors. He has been the managing partner in more than 100 partnerships. Additionally, as an accomplished entrepreneur Mr. Turasky has been a founding shareholder in more than a dozen operating companies. Most recently, Rich was founding shareholder and board member of Next Frontier Holdings which recently acquired Benuvia Manufacturing, a leading synthetic pharmaceutical drug developer focused on pharma grade cannabinoids and psychedelics. Mr. Turasky, through Next Frontier Holdings, has also recently been a founding shareholder in SPAC and reverse merger transactions worth nearly $2 billion. The company has also concurrently entered into a binding memorandum of understanding with Flight Ventures for advisory and business development services. Flight Ventures is owned by the new Directors Roth and Turasky. It is expected that Flight Ventures will refer acquisition candidates to the Company and will assist the Company with management and oversight of the opportunities they refer if and when such opportunities are acquired. Flight Ventures will be reimbursed expenses for due diligence and will be paid an acquisition fee equivalent to 20% of the value of the acquired opportunity at closing, plus 5% of the net revenues of the opportunity for eighteen months following the closing date. It is expected that all expense reimbursements, compensation, and directors' fees payable to Mr. Roth, Mr. Turasky, and/or Flight Ventures will be paid through issuance of the Company's restricted common stock priced at 85% of the volume weighted average closing price for the immediately preceding 30 trading days. Mr. Roth and Mr. Turasky will receive $50,000 each for undertaking their roles as Directors and will thereafter be compensated as Directors at the same rate applicable to the other Board Members. Currently, Board compensation is paid at the rate of $10,000 per quarter. Board compensation is currently paid in restricted common stock. About MJ Harvest Inc. MJHI cultivates, harvests, manufactures and sells cannabis products through its growing relationship with PPK. PPK sells and markets cannabis flower and edibles throughout Oklahoma and through a joint venture relationship with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in Flandreau, South Dakota. MJHI currently owns 25% of PPK with options to acquire up to 100% of PPK Investment Group at any time prior to March 31, 2023. MJHI also acquires and markets products and technologies that are designed to benefit growers and processors in the horticultural and agricultural industries. MJHI launched www.procannagro.com to provide a professionally designed and maintained web-based marketing outlet for the company's brands and technologies. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and information. Although the forward- looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward- looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. No assurances are, or can be given, that the parties will enter into a definitive agreement for any potential strategic acquisition, or that if such agreement is entered into, that the acquired business would be successful. Certain conditions to any closing of a potential acquisition would likely be outside of our control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release. CONTACT: MJ Harvest, Inc. 9205 West Russell Rd., Ste. 240 Las Vegas, NV 89148 Telephone: 954.519.3115 Tcktsllc@earthlink.net @HARVESTMJ SOURCE: MJ Harvest, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692659/MJ-Harvest-Appoints-Two-New-Experienced-Directors CORONA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. (OTCQX:EVTV), a provider of new zero-emission, purpose-built electric vehicles (the "Company"), today announced that Phillip Oldridge, Chief Executive Officer of Envirotech Vehicles, and Susan Emry, Executive Vice President, will attend the 34 th Annual ROTH Conference being held virtually and in-person at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California March 13-15, 2022. Mr. Oldridge and Ms. Emry will be available for virtual and in-person one-on-one meetings throughout the conference. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2022) - Torr Metals Inc. (TSXV: TMET) ("Torr" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has recently staked an additional ~218 km2 of mineral claims focused on extending trends to mineralization around the northwest portion of the Latham Copper-Gold Project (the "Property"). Guided by Torr's exploration model these highly prospective areas were identified through historical data compilation and integration into the Company's robust database. The 100% owned Latham Property is located within a highway-accessible area of the prolific Golden Triangle region of northern British Columbia, Canada, and covers a significant ~689 km2; making it the largest holding of mineral claims directly north of the Red Chris, Saddle North, GJ, and North Rok deposits. These deposits together with Galore Creek, Schaft Creek, and Gnat Pass constitute a ~160 km north-northeast trending corridor of copper-gold porphyry deposits that are genetically linked to Late Triassic and Early Jurassic intrusive rocks (Figure 1). Figure 1. Latham Project and location of known Triassic and Jurassic porphyry deposits. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/116387_d607ef3114563b08_001full.jpg Malcolm Dorsey, President and CEO, commented, "By consolidating this area into a massive ~689 km2 land package through proactively staking the most prospective ground we are well positioned to advance 13 known mineral occurrences and 17 grassroots exploration targets, in addition to the Gnat Pass deposit. With a ~218 km2 expansion we continue to add new highly prospective exploration targets as well as increase the Project's footprint and exploration upside with the potential for new discoveries as we go forward." Figure 2. Latham trends to mineralization and known mineral occurrences. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/116387_d607ef3114563b08_002full.jpg New Mineral Claim Staking Along the Pallen and Hu Trends The newly staked mineral claims cover areas that exhibit geological characteristics consistent with prospective copper-gold porphyry and epithermal-style mineralization. This led to the Pallen trend being extended to ~13 km in length to fully encompass a mapped north-northeast trending Early Jurassic intrusive that is potassically altered with magnetite and copper-sulphide mineralization at the Pallen North occurrence. This style of alteration and mineralization suggests a near-surface exposure of an advanced argillic core of a porphyry system that will be further delineated with planned 2022 fieldwork (Figure 2). Within the newly acquired southern portion of the Pallen trend are the historically underexplored Disco, Moly, and Stikine occurrences, which exhibit sericitic phyllic alteration consistent with zonation on the periphery of the core portion of a porphyry system. With an inferred proximity to an advanced argillic zone the phyllic alteration shell provides the geochemical pathfinders necessary to aid in identifying and vectoring towards the potential core of an additional porphyry system, such as found at the Pallen North occurrence along-strike to the northeast. The north-northeast Hu trend has also been extended to a total ~37 km length, (see Figure 2). Most of the historic work along the Hu trend focused on an Early Jurassic intrusion at the Hu and Hu West occurrences, where the associated alteration assemblage is consistent with an alkalic porphyry mineralizing system; including skarn, hornfels, clay-carbonate within shear structures, and advanced argillic alteration associated with copper sulphide mineralization and magnetite. Currently the Company is compiling historic data to form a basis for advancing the known occurrences along the Hu and Pallen trends, as well as identify potential new targets for exploration in 2022. Kulta Zone Mapping within the Kulta zone by the British Columbia Geological Survey (Figure 2) suggests a highly prospective geological setting that includes Late Triassic and Early Jurassic intrusions within Stuhini Group rocks (Figure 2). Supporting the geological model are highly anomalous stream sediment samples collected by the Regional Geochemical Survey and Geological Survey of Canada in 2014 that assayed up to 61.9 ppb gold, 375 ppm silver, and 89.83 ppm copper. The stream sediment samples together with mapped geology suggest that the Kutla zone has substantial potential for new discoveries within an area that has largely been underexplored and along-trend to Galore Creek ~150 km to the southwest. Project Highlights and Corporate Updates Since 1960 there has been 14 operators that have conducted a significant amount of work on a number of claims that have for the first time been consolidated to form the Latham Copper-Gold Project. This historic work first identified the Gnat Pass copper-gold porphyry deposit in 1960 while later regional exploration identified the majority of nearby mineral occurrences during the 2000's (Figure 2). The Gnat Pass deposit is located within the eastern portion of the Property at the northern extent of the ~20 km Dalvenie trend and remains open to expansion along-strike as well as to depth. Torr is currently compiling extensive historical datasets; including drill data from the Gnat Pass deposit, regional induced polarization (IP) surveys, soil, rock, and trench sampling. Compilation work has so far helped identify a minimum of three major trends to mineralization (Hu, Pallen, Dalvenie) commonly associated with proximal exposures of Late Triassic and Early Jurassic intrusions that are hosted within Late Triassic Stuhini Group. In addition, this work will improve and direct future drill targeting and fieldwork to effectively advance the significant number of targets at Latham. Torr Metals also announces that Mrs. Taylor Niezen has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company, effective March 1, 2022. Taylor is a partner of an accounting and corporate services firm which provides financial, accounting, regulatory, compliance and management advisory services to numerous issuers on the TSX Venture Exchange, and other Canadian and U.S. exchanges. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and has over 5 years experience in the governance and reporting of private and publicly-listed exploration and mining companies. Mrs. Niezen replaces Mr. Justin Bourassa. Torr would like to thank Mr. Bourassa for his service to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavours. In addition, the Company has granted a total of 2,300,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees, and consultants. The incentive stock options vest immediately and may be exercised at a price of $0.30 per common share for a period of five years from the date of grant, subject to the terms of the Company's 10% rolling stock option plan and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a consultant to the Company who is a qualified person defined under National Instrument 43-101. About Torr Metals Torr Metals is a Vancouver based mineral exploration company focused on defining and developing the substantial exploration and resource potential of the ~689 km2 Latham Copper-Gold Project, located within the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia. Year-round access is provided by Highway 37 with the project being favourably located 16 km south of the regional airport in Dease Lake. For further details about the Latham Copper-Gold Project, please refer to the Company's website or current geological Technical Report (August 24, 2021) filed on November 25, 2021 under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Torr Metals Inc. "Malcolm Dorsey" Malcolm Dorsey President, CEO and Director For further information: Malcolm Dorsey Telephone: 236-982-4300 Email: malcolmd@torrmetals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116387 Clearwater Police arrested the "hugging bandit" aka Kathy Stevens for pretending to know men before stealing their wallets and credit cards. (Clearwater Police Department) Florida officers said a hugging bandit was hugging older men and helping herself to their wallets. Clearwater Police arrested Kathy Stevens, 65, on Thursday, according to a post from the police department. Advertisement Stevens faces more than a dozen charges from various law enforcement agencies around the Tampa Bay area. Police say Stevens approached men, pretending to know them, hugged them, then shed help herself to their wallets and credit cards. Advertisement The Clearwater Police Department has four pending cases against her, according to the Facebook post. Stevens is in Pinellas County Jail awaiting trial for charges, including fraudulent use of personal information, robbery by sudden snatching, unlawful possession of someone elses identification and unauthorized use of a credit card. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2022) - Goldsource Mines Inc. (TSXV: GXS) (OTCQB: GXSFF) (FSE: G5MA) ("Goldsource" or the "Company") is pleased to announce exploration drill results for the Company's 100%-owned Eagle Mountain Gold Project in Guyana, South America. Reported results are for a new prospect located within the Eagle Mountain Prospecting License ("EMPL") and proximal to the Eagle Mountain deposit. This prospect, called Soca (the "Soca Prospect"), was discovered in late 2021 as part of the Company's Phase-2 exploration program. See attached Figures and Table below. Soca Prospect Highlights : Results for twenty (20) core holes totaling 3,126 metres. Drilling to date has intersected mineralization along an estimated 250 metres of strike and down to 170 metres depth, with high-grade gold intervals as well as broader zones of lower grade mineralization. The mineralized structures remain open in all directions. Most significant drill intercepts are: 6.0 meters grading 18.31 grams per tonne (" gpt ") in EMX21-010 at 130 metres vertical depth. This includes a higher-grade sub-interval of 1.5 metres grading 69.96 gpt gold. 9.0 meters grading 9.29 gpt gold in EMX21-012 at 103 metres vertical depth. 21.0 metres grading 3.13 gpt gold in EME21-167 at 105 metres vertical depth. This includes 6.0 metres grading 4.29 gpt gold and 6.0 metres grading 5.56 gpt gold. 36.0 metres grading 2.12 gpt gold in EME21-171 at 77.0 metres vertical depth. This includes a higher-grade sub-interval of 15.0 metres grading 4.14 gpt gold. 13.5 metres grading 4.70 gpt gold in EME21-161 within a wider zone of 54.0 metres grading 1.31 gpt gold at 55.0 metres vertical depth. The Soca Prospect was one of several areas tested as part of the Company's 2021 Phase-2 drill program, which was initiated in September after completion of the larger 17,500-metre infill and expansion program. The Phase-2 program was designed to test known geophysical and geochemical targets as well other areas of interest proximal to the Eagle Mountain deposit. With several targets worthy of follow-up work, the Company announced an increase to the 2021 Phase-2 drill program to 9,000 metres from the initial 5,000 metres (see news release December 2, 2021). It was the discovery of the Soca Prospect in late 2021 that drove the increase in meterage and expanded scope. Steve Parsons, P. Eng., and CEO of Goldsource, added, "Soca provides another example of the prospectivity of the EMPL, including areas that are proximal to the Eagle Mountain deposit. The drill results for Soca follow the high-grade Toucan results released in late 2021, which were also part of the Phase-2 program. In the case of Soca, it will not be included in the Mineral Resource Update, which the Company is planning to release in the coming weeks. The Soca Prospect will, however, feature in the 2022 exploration program with drilling planned to test strike and up-dip extensions. This will proceed concurrently with a generative exploration program in which earlier-stage targets will be evaluated, many for the first time in several years. We look forward to reporting on these activities through 2022." Kevin Pickett, Chief Geologist of Goldsource, commented, "We are pleased to add another positive drill-tested prospect at Eagle Mountain. Not only does the Soca Prospect support our assertion that Eagle Mountain is very prospective, including to depth, but it also brings to bear a variation in the style of mineralization. While it shares certain characteristics with the Eagle Mountain and Salbora deposits, the Soca mineralization is associated more directly with quartz saturation alteration with quartz veining. With three styles of mineralization now identified on the property: (i) Eagle thrust style (dip-slope to horizontal shear zones); (ii) Salbora breccia style and now, (iii) Soca alteration style, the exploration team in Guyana still has multiple areas to investigate for these mineralization styles and potentially add to the inventory of prospects within our Prospecting License." The following table shows the most significant results (uncut, undiluted): Soca Prospect - Exploration Intercepts Hole ID (1) From (m) To (m) Drilled Interval (m)(2) Au (gpt)(3) EMX21-008 60.0 61.5 1.5 0.59 118.5 120.0 1.5 10.71 126.0 127.5 1.5 5.02 EMX21-009 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.53 49.5 84.0 34.5 0.76 Incl. 78.0 79.5 1.5 7.50 100.5 102.0 1.5 0.59 123.0 124.5 1.5 1.06 EMX21-010 126.0 130.5 4.5 0.54 138.0 139.5 1.5 0.88 153.0 154.5 1.5 2.47 169.5 175.5 6.0 18.31 Incl. 172.5 174.0 1.5 69.96 EMX21-012 84.0 85.5 1.5 0.61 111.0 112.5 1.5 0.76 117.0 118.5 1.5 0.52 129.0 130.5 1.5 0.74 139.5 148.5 9.0 9.29 178.5 181.5 3.0 5.17 208.5 210.0 1.5 0.56 EMX21-014 168.0 214.5 46.5 0.83 Incl. 169.5 183.0 13.5 1.55 AND 202.5 214.5 12.0 0.75 EME21-161 49.5 51.0 1.5 0.76 66.0 79.5 13.5 4.70 EME21-162 43.5 69.0 25.5 0.54 124.5 126.0 1.5 0.76 EME21-163 13.0 28.5 15.5 1.67 75.0 78.0 3.0 0.56 87.0 102.0 15.0 0.54 111.0 115.5 4.5 0.56 EME21-164 7.0 10.0 3.0 0.54 54.0 55.5 1.5 1.52 78.0 88.5 10.5 3.66 99.0 102.0 3.0 0.58 EME21-166 58.5 61.5 3.0 7.45 97.5 99.0 1.5 3.77 114.0 117.0 3.0 0.82 EME21-167 28.5 46.5 18.0 1.25 Incl. 28.5 33.0 4.5 0.80 And 39.0 46.5 7.5 2.33 61.5 66.0 4.5 3.55 91.5 97.5 6.0 0.60 103.5 105.0 1.5 2.18 112.5 133.5 21.0 3.13 Incl. 117.0 123.0 6.0 4.29 And 124.5 130.5 6.0 5.56 EME21-168 46.5 48.0 1.5 2.91 112.5 127.5 15.0 0.62 EME21-169 54.0 55.5 1.5 0.72 73.5 100.5 27.0 0.51 120.0 154.5 34.5 0.69 Incl 132.0 135.0 3.0 1.57 222.0 223.5 1.5 0.61 EME21-170 156.0 159.0 3.0 0.92 EME21-171 5.5 7.0 1.5 0.48 79.5 115.5 36.0 2.12 Incl 99.0 114.0 15.0 4.41 141.0 142.5 1.5 1.75 EME21-172 18.0 19.5 1.5 0.54 45.0 46.5 1.5 0.98 67.5 70.5 3.0 0.56 73.5 76.5 3.0 0.64 109.5 111.0 1.5 1.65 Note: All numbers rounded. (1) EMX and EME defines core holes completed by contract drill rig. (2) True widths are estimated to be 70 to 100% of drilled widths. (3) Saprolite and hard rock cut-off grades of 0.3 and 0.5 gpt gold, respectively. All sample preparation and geochemical analyses were completed by Actlabs Guyana Inc. in Georgetown, Guyana. Diamond Drill holes EMX21-011, EMX21-013, EMX21-015 and EME21-165 intersected mineralization below the company cut-off of 0.3 gpt gold for saprolite and 0.5 gpt gold for fresh rock. 2022 Exploration Overview The 2022 program will include drilling and generative exploration activities as well as a significant increase in technical work to progress the prefeasibility study. The Company's exploration program has three primary objectives: Announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") in Q1 2022. An initial 11,000-metre drilling program (2022 - Phase 1), the majority of which is anticipated in H1 2022, will include testing of known target areas along the Salbora-Powis trend; infill and expansion drilling of the Toucan Prospect; and infill drilling of the Eagle Mountain deposit to upgrade new inferred mineralization. The re-initiation of a generative exploration program, inclusive of geophysics, geochemistry, and trenching, among other techniques, to add to the pipeline of prospective greenfields gold targets for follow-up drilling. The updated MRE is currently being finalized and is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The MRE will include infill drilling of the Eagle Mountain and Salbora deposits to upgrade a significant portion of the mineralization currently classified as Inferred to the Indicated category. In addition, resources will be reported for the earlier-stage Toucan and Powis prospects. The updated MRE will be used as the basis for the Company's planned prefeasibility study. Generative exploration has seen a lesser focus in recent years as the Company's activities centred on expanding the mineral resources of the Eagle Mountain and Salbora deposits. Consequently, there remains under-explored areas that are prospective, including several with historical artisanal workings on the western and eastern sides of the EMPL. These will be tested in 2022. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng., Executive Chairman for Goldsource, who has reviewed and approved its contents. ABOUT GOLDSOURCE MINES INC. Goldsource Mines Inc. (www.goldsourcemines.com) is a Canadian exploration company focussed on the 100%-owned Eagle Mountain gold project in Guyana, South America. The Company is led by an experienced management team, proven in making precious metals exploration discoveries and executing on phased project development in the Americas. Steve Parsons CEO Goldsource Mines Inc. For Further Information: Goldsource Mines Inc. Contact: Steve Parsons, CEO Yannis Tsitos, President Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1760 Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313 Toll Free: 1-866-691-1760 (Canada & USA) Email: info@goldsourcemines.com Website: www.goldsourcemines.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT AND FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern Goldsource's strategic plans; contents and timing of preparation of an updated MRE; intention to use the updated MRE as the basis for a prefeasibility study; timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs at Eagle Mountain, including the objectives of the Company's 2022 exploration program and the re-initiation of a generative exploration program; and information regarding high grade areas projected from sampling results and drilling results. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results and availability of mining equipment; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations; and future operating costs. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations and results, results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; the uncertainties of resource estimations; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; delays in release of an updated mineral resource; availability of funds; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Figure 1 - Soca Drill Summary Plan View To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4977/116402_figure1.jpg Figure 2 - Schematic Cross-Section Through A-A' Looking North-Northwest To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4977/116402_figure2.jpg Figure 3 - Schematic Long-Section Through B-B' Looking West To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4977/116402_Figure3.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116402 The first months of the year pointed to a boom in Moldova's solar sector, but the war has already started to negatively affect investment decisions.The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already had a significant impact on the region's PV sector, including in Moldova. The ongoing military clash has had negative repercussions because it has driven uncertainties for potential investors, both internationally and at the local level. The first months of this year pointed to a boom in the Moldovan PV sector, but the initial consequences of Russian aggression are already visible. "We are already seeing ... 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. DIVIDEND DECLARATION FlexShares ICAV (the "Fund") wishes to announce the following details with respect to an interim dividend to be paid with respect to the following sub-fund: Sub-Fund:FlexShares Developed Markets High Dividend Climate ESG UCITS ETF ISIN: IE00BMYDBM76 Declaration Date: 11/03/2022 Ex-Date: 17/03/2022 Record Date: 18/03/2022 Payment Date:30/03/2022 Dividend Rate: 0.1140 Currency: USD Type: Confirmed Please note that the above dates are in respect of the primary market of the Fund. All dividend proceeds are paid in the Fund's base currency (USD). The amount that is actually received by an investor will depend on whether the investor receives the proceeds in the same currency as the base currency of the Fund. If an investor will receive the proceeds in a currency other than the base currency of the Fund, then the amount the investor will receive will be affected by the FX rate at which the investor's broker/nominee converts the proceeds. If you purchased your investment on the secondary market (for example, on a stock exchange), please liaise with your broker/nominee. As a large proportion of the Fund's shareholders are broker/nominees who hold the shares in the Fund on behalf of their underlying investor clients, it is up to the relevant brokers/nominees to ensure that the proceeds are distributed to their underlying investor clients in accordance with the contractual arrangements they have in place with their clients. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact FlexShares: Tel: +44 207 982 1866 Email: EMEA_FlexShares@ntrs.com ___________________________ Director FlexShares ICAV 11/03/2022 Deveron increases soil lab capacity by 45,000 samples annually, executing on vertical integration strategy Adds 2021 unaudited revenue of US $664k and EBITDA of US $240k Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2022) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agricultural data company in North America, is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement dated March 10th, 2022 (the "Definitive Agreement") to acquire the assets of Agri-Labs, Inc. ("Agri-Labs"), a leading soil lab and agronomy company that services Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio (the "Acquisition"). Agri-Labs conducts approximately 45,000 soil tests annually and provides clients with sampling services and prescription recommendations across 100,000 acres. The Acquisition drives Deveron forward on its mission to vertically integrate the soil collection and analysis process. Agri-Labs offers a single chain of data custody, providing clients a truly digital soil health experience, from the field to the cloud. Additionally, the Acquisition adds a leading local agriculture service provider to Deveron's national soil network and greater access to the 39.7 million acres of farmland in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Agri-Labs' unaudited 2021 revenue was US$664K and EBITDA was US$240k Tony Covely, owner of Agri-Labs, commented, "I am very excited to announce that Agri-Labs has joined the Deveron family. Deveron's soil ecosystem and nationwide network of soil technicians creates the only scalable and streamlined solution that can support any size operation from local farm to multi-billion-dollar enterprise." "Tony is a great leader in sampling, analytics, and lab work in Midwest United States," said David MacMillan, Deveron's President, and CEO. "Agri-Labs provides a unique opportunity, as this acquisition allows Deveron to execute on its vertical integration strategy by adding a production soil lab into our soil ecosystem and expands our US footprint. By acquiring Agri-Labs we take another step towards our vision of creating a vertically integrated, digital soil ecosystem to provide a streamlined and scalable solution to all our clients, from the local farmer to the international agricultural enterprise." As consideration for the Acquisition, Deveron has agreed to: (i) pay Agri-Labs an initial cash payment of US$420,000 upon signing of the Definitive Agreement and US$210,000 on each of the first two anniversaries of the signing of the Definitive Agreement; and (ii) issue such number of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") equal to US$180,000 at a price of $0.61 per Common Share upon receipt of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and an additional number of Common Shares equal to US$90,000 at a price of $0.61 per Common Share on each of the first two anniversaries of the signing of the Definitive Agreement. The completion of the transaction remains subject to all regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Agri-Labs: Agri-Labs Inc is a digital independent consulting company for the agricultural industry that provides fertility recommendations and other ag related services to individual growers and fertilizer dealers in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The laboratory processes around 45,000 soil samples per year. About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to better manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide, and other farm inputs. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone. Our geographic focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres are actively farmed annually. For more information, please visit www.deveron.com . David MacMillan President & CEO Deveron Corp. dmacmillan@deveron.com "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116393 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. DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of Shareholding Increase in the Company by Actual Controller's Concerted Actor 11.03.2022 / 13:09 Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG Announcement on the Progress of Shareholding Increase in the Company by Actual Controller's Concerted Actor Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 11 March 2022 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published a mandatory announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Increase in Shareholding of the Company by Actual Controller's Concerted Actor. The announcement is fully available at: http://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020220311664348374880.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Progress%20of%20Shareholding%20Increase%20in%20the%20Company%20by%20Actual%20Controller%E2%80%99s%20Concerted%20Actor and on the "D Share Announcement" Section on the Company's website: https://smart-home.haier.com/en/ggyxw/?id=dggg&spm=inverstor.31558_pad.irheader_20200506_3.2 IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sven Pauly Sara Pinto sp@crossalliance.de T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized mass production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as smaller household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 11.03.2022 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Russia has widened its attacks to more Ukrainian cities. Lutsk, in the far west near the Polish border, the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, and Dnipro in central Ukraine are being subjected to devastating blows, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter. Three airstrikes in early morning on Friday in civilian areas of Dnipro resulted in the death of one person, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said in an official Telegram channel. Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun tweeted that one person was killed in airstrike in Lutsk. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and six were injured in a Russian attack on the city, BBC reported, quoting the head of the regional administration, Yuriy Pohulyayko. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Russian forces have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers in the two weeks since the invasion began. In an intelligence update issued on Friday, Britain's Ministry of Defense warned that Russian forces could be preparing for a fresh attack against Kiev in a few days. The Russian forces have moved about five kilometers closer to Kyiv and are now about 40 kilometers east of the city, according to the United States. Peace talks between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia in the Turkish city of Antalya for a ceasefire did not yield any major breakthrough. As the war rages, Ukraine's Minister of Reintegration Iryna Vereshchuk said the government is trying to open new evacuation corridors in several regions on Friday. About 100,000 people were evacuated through corridors from Ukraine over the past two days, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that the number of refugees who have fled the war has mounted to 2.5 million. An estimated one million others are displaced inside Ukraine. At least 12 million people are in need of humanitarian aid across Ukraine. The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Friday as requested by Russia to discuss its allegation that the United States is developing chemical weapons in Ukraine. But both Zelensky and the Pentagon roundly rejected the claims. The United States is not assisting Ukraine with biological weapons in its war with Russia and there are no indications that biological weapons are being used by Ukraine, a senior defense official said at a press briefing at the Pentagon Thursday. There are five biological research laboratories in Kyiv. Their work focuses on diagnostics, therapeutics, treatments, prevention and vaccines, not on military use as the Russians and Chinese accuse, he told reporters. 'There are no DOD bio-weapon labs in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world,' he added. Meanwhile, the White House said President Joe Biden is set to announce actions 'to continue to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine' at 10:15 AM Friday. During her trip to Poland, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced $53 million additional Funding for humanitarian needs in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. She has left for Romania in her latest push to reassure U.S. allies, the White House said. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Newly-released Report a Significant Advancement Toward Life-saving, Sustainable and Efficiency-enhancing Drone Missions for Americans WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) thanks the FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee (BVLOS ARC) for its significant efforts on behalf of the American people. The Committee's report, published by the Federal Aviation Administration last evening, is a crucial first step for making aviation safer, creating the next generation of American aerospace jobs, restoring American leadership in the skies, and unlocking the countless public benefits of 21st Century aviation technology in the United States. Unlocking the next generation of aerospace will advance America's progress toward sustainable transportation infrastructure, reduce carbon emissions, create good aerospace jobs, improve equitable access to medicines and vaccines, enable safer and more effective critical infrastructure inspection, improve emergency response, and increase domestic manufacturing. The commercial drone industry is at a point to scale and operationalize in the United States, as other countries have been doing around the world. However, despite being the source of leading technology and ingenuity, the United States has lagged behind the rest of the world integrating drones into the National Airspace. This is largely due to outdated rules and the federal bureaucracy's struggle to move nimbly. "Around the world, commercial drones are saving lives, making jobs more efficient, inspecting infrastructure at scale, and growing the economy. But here in the U.S. outdated regulations hold back these benefits by unnecessarily applying outdated standards designed for traditional aircraft. This report outlines a common-sense approach to improve the overall safety of the skies and enable American communities to realize the health, safety, convenience and economic benefits of 21st Century aviation technology," said Lisa Ellman, Executive Director of the CDA. The report represents an important step ahead, incorporating input and feedback from a diverse set of 87 organizations representing aviation, environmental, safety, academic, privacy, infrastructure, community, and security interests. Now it is critical for the FAA to rapidly implement and build upon these recommendations. The CDA looks forward to continuing to work with the FAA, civil society organizations, industry, states, and localities to make this possible. About the Commercial Drone Alliance The Commercial Drone Alliance is an independent non-profit organization led by key leaders in the commercial drone and advanced air mobility industries. The CDA brings together commercial drone end-users, manufacturers, service providers, advanced air mobility companies, drone security companies, and vertical markets including oil and gas, precision agriculture, construction, security, communications technology, infrastructure, news-gathering, and filmmaking. The CDA works with all levels of government to collaborate on policies for industry growth and seeks to educate the public on the safe and responsible use of commercial drones to achieve economic benefits and humanitarian gains. Contact: Joel Richman for the Commercial Drone Alliance joel@escalatepr.com 617-312-5942 SOURCE: Commercial Drone Alliance View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692676/Commercial-Drone-Alliance-Applauds-FAA-Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight-Aviation-Rulemaking-Committee-For-Report-To-Move-Drone-Industry-Forward Data continue to show potential of ProSomnus's patient-preferred oral appliance therapy devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProSomnus Sleep Technologies, the leader in patient-preferred medical devices for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), today announced the results of four studies evaluating its oral appliance therapy (OAT) devices as an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in treating OSA. ProSomnus will share the data in four poster presentations at the World Sleep Congress 2022, being held from March 11-16, 2022, in Rome, Italy. Emerging data continue to show the potential of OAT in treating OSA, the recurring collapse of the airway during sleep which results in oxygen shortages and abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking. In addition to daytime sleepiness, OSA is associated with comorbidities such as heart failure, stroke, hypertension, morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes. Patients with untreated OSA are 23 times more likely to suffer a heart attack and four times more likely to have a stroke. It is estimated that over one billion people worldwide and over 74 million people in North America suffer from OSA, with approximately 56 million of those 74 million people in North America undiagnosed. The ProSomnus EVO Sleep and Snore Device - shaped like a mouthguard for a patient's upper and lower jaw - is an alternative to legacy OSA treatments and can result in better efficacy and better patient compliance with fewer side effects. It enables easier breathing by holding the jaw gently forward and opening the airway in the back of the throat, making it less likely for the air passing through a partially closed airway to cause snoring or more severe sleep interruptions. Key data from ProSomnus to be presented at the World Sleep Congress in support of its novel devices include: Data from a cohort of 55 patients treated at four centers for dental sleep medicine showing significantly improved results to previous data reported when evaluating the effectiveness of the ProSomnus EVO, its novel precision milled iterative advancement device and material combination. The data look at 55 patients - 15 of whom had mild OSA, 23 moderate and 17 severe - with an average pretreatment apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of 26.4. After being treated with the ProSomnus EVO, the patients demonstrated an average AHI reduction of 75 percent, from 26.4 to 6.6. Additionally, 62 percent of all patients exhibited an AHI below five, while 85 percent of all patients demonstrated an AHI below 10 and 65 percent of patients with severe OSA attained an AHI below 15. An analysis suggests that digital archives and the ability to remake a re-alignment device - called a Morning Occlusal Guide (MOG) - in the same morning maximum intercuspal position (MIP) can be important in recapturing bite changes in OAT. The poster highlights one patient demonstrating a unilateral posterior open bite, often seen as a common and unavoidable side effect of OAT. 10 days after the patient was presented with a MOG ordered from ProSomnus's digital case archives, posterior occlusion was reestablished. ProSomnus is the only manufacturer that has demonstrated the ability to make a MOG from the digital records of a patient and to recapture the patient's original bite relationship using digital records. Results of a study of 115 consecutively-treated patients with complete pre- and post-sleep tests suggest that precision Oral Appliance Therapy should be considered as the primary form of therapy for all levels of severity of OSA depending on the preference of the patient. These patients, who had varying severity of OSA, all exhibited significantly lower AHI after they were fitted and treated with the ProSomnus EVO. Post-treatment residual AHI was 6.1 +/- 6.4 with an AHI reduction of 69.2 percent +/- 21.2 percent, while 56 percent of patients reached an AHI of less than five. According to the researchers' success metric of an AHI reduction of more than 50 percent and an overall AHI of less than 10, 74.8 percent of patients were successfully treated. The 29 patients with severe OSA pre-treatment, who exhibited an average AHI of 51.5, were treated to a final average AHI of 9.9. Results from a study indicate that OAT could be a suitable alternative to CPAP for severe OSA and that oxygen-based parameters might provide valuable insight into therapeutic success. Of 109 patients who received oral appliances generated by ProSomnus digital intraoral scans, 29 had mild OSA while 39 had moderate and 41 had severe. Following a two-night home OSA test, 18 mild (62.1 percent), 31 moderate (79.5 percent), and 30 severe (73.2 percent) OSA patients achieved a respiratory event index (REI) reduction of 50 percent or more. 27 (87.2 percent) moderate and 20 (68.3 percent) severe OSA patients achieved an outcome REI of less than 15. Combined, the promising results warrant more study into the effect of OAT on disease burden. "One of the biggest barriers to successful OSA treatment is the discomfort of legacy OAT devices, but at ProSomnus we have a patient-preferred and less invasive alternative," said Len Liptak, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ProSomnus Sleep Technologies. "This is an exciting set of data that underscores the potential of OAT as an alternative to CPAP. These studies further validate ProSomnus's OATs and the World Sleep Congress is a great stage on which to demonstrate the efficacy of our innovative devices." "Understanding the efficacy of ProSomnus's OATs in treating OSA requires plenty of research and collaboration with leading sleep doctors and institutions," said John E. Remmers, MD, Chief Scientist of ProSomnus Sleep Technologies. "The data we are presenting at the World Sleep Congress are the product of countless hours of observation and innovation, and we believe it has become clearer that these OATs can make successful OSA treatment a reality for millions of patients worldwide." About ProSomnus Sleep Technologies ProSomnus is the first manufacturer of precision, mass-customized Oral Appliance Therapy. Investor Contact Mike Cavanaugh ICR Westwicke Phone: +1.617.877.9641 Email: Mike.Cavanaugh@westwicke.com Media Contact Sean Leous ICR Westwicke Phone: +1.646.866.4012 Email: Sean.Leous@westwicke.com Harold Weeks (left) and Justin Aho (right) (Collier County Sheriff's Office) Florida troopers caught two men in a Lamborghini with over 3,000 THC cartridges. On Wednesday, FHP pulled over a 2019 Lamborghini Urus for a traffic violation in Collier County, according to WFLA. Advertisement Troopers searched the SUV and found 3,030 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cartridges. Authorities arrested 30-year-old Justin Paul Aho of Fort Myers, WFLA reported. Harold Weeks, 33, of Fort Myers was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance and distribution. Advertisement Read the full report on wfla.com. HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Camber Energy, Inc. (NYSE: American) ("Camber" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on March 10, 2022 it redeemed 2,636 shares of Series G Preferred Stock (the "Series G Shares"), which were previously issued by the Company on December 31, 2021 as part of a $100 million financing commitment from an institutional investor. The 2,636 Series G Shares were associated with a promissory note issued by the investor in favor of the Company in the principal amount of $23,750,000, due March 31, 2022, and the Company exercised its right to redeem the shares and cancel the promissory note. The other three promissory notes issued by the investor in favor of the Company remain outstanding and the Company has the right to redeem the Series G Shares associated with such notes. Separate from the Series G Shares, the Company's outstanding Series C Preferred Shares have been reduced by approximately 59% since December 1, 2021 through redemptions and conversions. James Doris, President and Chief Executive Officer of Camber, commented, "The purpose of closing the Series G Preferred Share transaction at the end of 2021 was to provide the organization with optionality. We viewed the deal as an insurance plan, and are pleased to be in a position to redeem the first tranche of shares. There are always uses for capital but we are committed to making sure that future financings are on the best terms possible for the company's stakeholders." Further details regarding the above are contained in Camber's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 11, 2022, and available under " investors " - " SEC filings " at www.camber.energy. About Camber Energy, Inc. Camber Energy, Inc. is a growth-oriented diversified energy company. Through its majority-owned subsidiary, Camber provides custom energy & power solutions to commercial and industrial clients in North America and owns interests in oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The company's majority-owned subsidiary also holds an exclusive license in Canada to a patented carbon-capture system, and has a majority interest in: (i) an entity with intellectual property rights to a fully developed, patent pending, ready-for-market proprietary Medical & Bio-Hazard Waste Treatment system using Ozone Technology; and (ii) entities with the intellectual property rights to fully developed, patent pending, ready-for-market proprietary Electric Transmission and Distribution Open Conductor Detection Systems. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.camber.energy. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements", which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the oil and gas industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in Camber's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions. Contact Information Investors and Media: Tel. 281.404.4387 (ext.3) SOURCE: Camber Energy, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692681/Camber-Energy-Redeems-Preferred-Shares Washington legislators fund $200,000 USD for a Psilocybin Wellness Workgroup to research and write a report that will inform a pathway for future legislation. The workgroup will include a member of the Psychedelic Medicine Alliance of Washington as well as other community, health care, and regulatory representatives. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2022) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTC Pink: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Psychedelic Medicine Alliance Washington ("PMAW") has made progress in its efforts to promote legal psilocybin services in Washington State. On Thursday, the Washington State Legislature agreed to fund a Psilocybin Wellness Workgroup administered by the state Health Care Authority in conjunction with several other state agencies and stakeholders which will review regulatory models from other states and countries. It will also gather the latest science and information on best practices from both health care professionals and current practitioners. The workgroup will then report back to the Legislature, informing future lawmakers on an appropriate model for Washington State to provide safe and accessible Psilocybin treatments to state residents 21 and older. Led by Psychedelic Medicine Alliance of Washington (PMAW) in collaboration with Red Light Holland and Red Light Holland's lobbyist James Paribello, their lobbying efforts helped promote state legislators to begin laying the groundwork for a regulated system of adult-use psilocybin services. After receiving powerful testimony during a public hearing from a broad spectrum of health professionals, religious practitioners, veterans, as well as indigenous persons, senators on the Health Care Committee agreed to explore a regulatory model by providing $200,000 in the state budget. The full terms of the budget approved can be found here: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2022/cosH-2990.1.pdf. Page 314; Sect. 211. "Red Light Holland continues to deliver on our commitment to be aggressive within legal frameworks to promote legalization efforts around the world - to provide access to naturally-occurring Psilocybin," said Todd Shapiro, CEO and Director of Red Light Holland. "This is a big win not only for Washington State but for people everywhere showing that if we stand up for what we believe in we can promote policy changes and Red Light Holland is proud to help expedite the growing movement. We hope to see similar efforts come to fruition, in time, all around the world." "It was amazing to see the outpour of testimonies from people sharing how Psilocybin helped them," said Sarah Hashkes, CTIO of Red Light Holland and Washington Resident who testified before the senators. "With everything that's happening in the world this initial 'win' coming from Washington State legislators is a bright beacon for a hopeful future in which psilocybin services used responsibly could help heal and connect us." "PMAW is extremely pleased that the Washington State Legislature has listened to the overwhelming support of their constituents by fully funding this budget proviso studying psilocybin services," said PMAW Co-Director Kody Zalewski. "We are also extremely grateful for the support that Red Light Holland and the dedicated self-advocates have provided throughout this entire process, and we look forward to future developments as the result of this collaboration." While the state House and Senate have agreed to this year's final state budget, it now must go to the Governor's desk for his final approval and signature. About Red Light Holland Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles. For additional information on the Company Todd Shapiro Chief Executive Officer & Director Tel: 647-643-TRIP (8747) Email: todd@redlight.co Website: www.RedLight.co About Psychedelic Medicine Alliance of Washington (PMAW) PMAW is working to decriminalize and ensure safe and equitable access to psychedelics like psilocybin, mescaline and ayahuasca, for human health and wellness in Washington State. Ensuring personal autonomy, community sovereignty, and robust harm reduction measures related to entheogenic healing are the core to PMAW's mission. PMAW hopes to accomplish this by dismantling outdated and harmful drug war era policies that have disproportionately impacted trauma survivors, those suffering from substance use disorder, those in poverty, and especially BIPOC communities. For more information on PMAW check out their website: https://pmaw.org/ or contact: tatiana@decriminalizenatureseattle.org kody@decriminalizenatureseattle.org 1.206.854.6631 Forward-Looking Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Red Light Holland. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. 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. In this news release, forward looking statements include, but are not limited to: statements with respect to the expected work to be completed by the stakeholder workgroup in Washington State. Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by Red Light Holland, including without limitation: the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian economy and Red Light Holland's business, the decision of Governor Islee to fund the workgroup on the terms outlined in this news release, or at all. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what the Company believes to be reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the refusal of Governor Islee to fund the stakeholder workgroup on the terms outlined in this news release, or at all. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116420 Finance and Banking Executive Joins Ireland's AI Leader to Drive Future Direction and Growth Altada Technology Solutions, a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that supercharge data-driven decision making in the financial services, travel/security, and healthcare sectors, today announced that Matthew Cooleen has joined the company's advisory board. Cooleen will serve as a strategic advisor to Altada, assisting the company in refining its market position and commercial offerings moving forward. He brings deep experience in mortgage company and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, having served as a frequent business transformation advisor to a number of large private equity firms that work with non-bank mortgage companies. In this capacity, he is an expert in organizational transformation, digital strategy, change management, customer experience, cost reengineering, servicing transformation, and origination strategy. "We are thrilled to welcome Matthew to our advisory board," said Allan Beechinor, Altada CEO. "His experience in organizational transformation across the banking, mortgage and consumer finance industries will be critically important to Altada as we expand our AI solutions in the financial services sector and continue to refine our market fit." Cooleen is currently a partner in Grant Thornton's Financial Services Consulting Practice and serves as the Global Head of the Banking Industry where he focuses on governance, framework matters, and operational and organizational transformation, as well as working with banking, mortgage, private equity clients on transactional and strategy services related to mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters. Prior to Grant Thornton, Cooleen worked at Deloitte Consulting as a leader in the firm's financial services consulting practices. He also served in senior positions at Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, ING Bank, AIG, and HudsonCross Financial. "I'm proud to become an advisor at Altada, because the company is leading the charge and blazing new trails in AI for the banking and mortgage industries," said Cooleen. "AI doesn't need to be complex; it always begins with a journey benchmarking enterprise data and architecture to key business objectives and strategic goals. Altada's approach, which integrates applicable use cases, represents the 'holy grail' by incorporating a collaborative workshop approach. Given their unique approach to the market, I am truly looking forward to being part of Altada's evolution." About Altada Founded in 2017, Altada is a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that supercharge data-driven decision making in the financial services, travel/security and healthcare markets. The company's Data Intelligence Platform integrates the first AI engine that leverages optical character recognition (OCR) and natural language processing (NLP) to analyze large volumes of structured and unstructured data, enabling users to not only make sense of their information but to also gain meaningful market insights that drive competitive advantage. Altada is headquartered in Cork, Ireland, with additional offices in Dublin and Limerick, Ireland. It also has offices in Malta, London, New York, and San Francisco. Privately-held, Altada is backed by venture investment from Rocktop Partners, Elkstone Partners and Enterprise Ireland. To learn more, please visit https://www.altada.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005061/en/ Contacts: Miranda Honnoll Bospar for Altada Miranda@bospar.com (408) 887-8486 Southern Glazer's Wine Spirits (Southern Glazer's)-the world's preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol-today announced that it will be matching 100 percent of all employee donations made to three charitable organizations supporting humanitarian aid in Ukraine during the next 90 days. Southern Glazer's has chosen to support World Central Kitchen, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) through its matching campaign. Employees are able to contribute through the Company's internal giving platform, VolunCheers Online, in order to be eligible for the donation match. "Southern Glazer's stands in support of the Ukrainian people," said Wayne E. Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Glazer's. "We are deeply saddened by the crisis and our hearts are with those who have been impacted by this terrible situation. Our FAMILY values represent a spirit of inclusiveness and giving back that is part of our cultural DNA, which is why we've chosen to support three organizations that have stepped in to provide much-needed aid. Our employees never hesitate to lend a helping hand in times of crisis, and we are happy to amplify their generosity through this campaign." About Southern Glazer's Wine Spirits Southern Glazer's Wine Spirits is the world's preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. In 2021, Southern Glazer's was selected as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, as well as named by Newsweek as a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace. Southern Glazer's urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005073/en/ Contacts: Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, LLC Cindy Haas Vice President, Communications CSR Office: (305) 625-4171, ext. 1166 Mobile: (786) 498-7640 Email: cynthia.haas@sgws.com Sofia Estevez Manager, Communications CSR Office: (305) 625-4171, ext. 1162 Mobile: (786) 457-6821 Email: sofia.estevez@sgws.com WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Star Alliance International Corp. (OTC PINK:STAL) ("STAR"). STAR is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of Intent to acquire 99% of the issued share capital of STARVING LION, INC., ("SL") a BVI corporation with offices in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. SL operates six profitable operating gold mines in Guatemala with net profits annually in excess of $5 million. The purchase price for the mines and its reserves is $180 million. This acquisition is subject to due diligence which includes a current NI 43-101 appraisal that is expected to confirm gold reserves exceeding one million ounces with a value of over $2 billion. Richard Carey, Chairman of STAR, commented, "This is the next step in our significant growth strategy. It is a perfect time to acquire not only revenue producing mining operations but also to add to our significant gold reserves especially with gold prices around $2,000 per ounce. We continue to look for other growth opportunities. It has been my intent as Chairman to ensure that our shareholders benefit from the growth and profitability of our Company and once we close this transaction we will start issuing dividends to our shareholders at least twice per annum with the plan to change to quarterly dividends as soon as possible." Richard continued, "As always, our intent is to increase shareholder value." About Star Alliance International Corp. Star Alliance International Corp. ("the Company", "we", "us") was incorporated in the State of Nevada on April 17, 2014 under the laws of the State of Nevada. In August 2019, following a change in control, the Company acquired the mining claims, buildings and equipment from Troy Mining Corporation. The Project is located at the base of the "gold mother lode" in one of the three major vein belts where the greatest concentration of minerals settled, over the years, in California. Our gold estimates have been confirmed by geologists showing significant reserves of gold located in veins within the areas that are covered by our California mining leases. The Company plans to commence mining as soon as is feasibly possible. In December 2021 the Company executed the agreements to acquire 51% of Compania Minera Metalurgica Centro Americana SA (Commsa), a HonduranCorporation. Commsa owns the mining rights to five mines, one approved for mining and 4 approved for exploration. These mines run along a 12.5 mile stretch of the Rio Jalan River. We will commence mining operations very shortly and the Company plans to expand operations as soon as possible. In November, 2021, STAL entered into a binding Letter of Intent to acquire 49% of Lions Works Advertising, SA, a Guatemala Corporation that owns the "Genesis" ore extraction process. Since signing the Letter of Intent the company has renegotiated and will now acquire a 51% interest. This green, environmentally friendly process, extracts up to 98% of the gold ore from the rock. A single module processes 300 to 350 tons of ore daily. The speed of extraction is up to 400 times faster than a conventional heap leaching process. The Company plans to market" Genesis" to mining companies worldwide. Safe Harbor and Informational Statement This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Security Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including all statements that are not statement of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) the company's financing plans; (ii) trends affecting the company's financial conditions or results of operations; (iii): the company's growth strategy and operating strategy; and (iv) the declaration and payment of dividends. The words "may", "would", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including the risk disclosed in the company's statements and reports filed with the OTC Markets. The Company claims the safe harbor provided by Section 21E(c) of the Exchange Act for all forward-looking statements. For more information, contact Richard Carey E Mail: info@staralliancemines.com Web Site: staralliancemines.com Twitter: @staralliancein1 SOURCE: Star Alliance International Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692664/Star-Alliance-International-Corp-Signs-Letter-of-Intent-to-Purchase-Six-Operating-Gold-Mines-in-Guatemala-for-180-Million-Subject-to-Final-Due-Diligence Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Doubles Down on Demand for Delaware to Stop Doing Business with Skadden Until It Severs All Ties to Russian Oligarchs Following pressure from Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware, other good government advocates, and intense media scrutiny, Skadden Arps has dropped a lawsuit on behalf of Alfa Bank, owned by billionaire Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, and pledged to relocate its Russia-based lawyers while maintaining its Moscow office. In response, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey released the following statement: "We're glad that our pressure, along with that of other good government groups, has forced Skadden to reconsider its long-held ties to Russian oligarchs, especially in light of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. But these latest steps by Skadden seem cynically calculated to minimize losses to the firm's bottom line while publicly saving face as much as possible. We don't buy it. "For years, Skadden has done the bidding of Putin-aligned oligarchs without a shred of concern for his regime's human rights abuses, helping facilitate more than $90 billion worth of Russian corporate deals just since 2012. While dropping the oligarch-backed Alfa Bank lawsuit is one small step towards justice, Skadden must do much more including closing its Russia office, disclosing its Russian client list, and contributing to Ukraine relief efforts to right its wrongs in Russia. "Until Skadden does so, we are doubling down on our demand that Delaware's courts and government cease doing business with Skadden immediately. The same firm taking Russian 'blood money' does not deserve to receive a cent from the state of Delaware." Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware is a group made up of more than 5,000 members including employees of the global translation services company TransPerfect, as well as concerned Delaware residents, business executives and others. They formed in April of 2016 to focus on raising awareness with Delaware residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders about the unprecedented, forced sale of TransPerfect. While their primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, they continue their efforts to fight for more transparency in the Delaware Chancery Court. For more information on Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware or to join the cause, visit DelawareForBusiness.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005294/en/ Contacts: Chris Coffey, ccoffey@tuskholdings.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2022) - Canada Computational Unlimited Corp. (TSXV: SATO) ("CCU" or "the Company") is pleased to announce its year-end financial results for December 31, 2021 ("2021"). All amounts in this news release are in Canadian dollars. JOIN LIVE PRESENTATION AND Q&A on Tuesday 15th 2022, 1PM/ EST 2021 Highlights - Best Year to Date Total revenue of $6,118,420 in 2021 represent a growth of 229% compared to 2020 Revenue from digital assets mined in 2021 grew 163% compared to 2020 Revenue from hosting in 2021 grew 1011% compared to 2020 Gross profit in 2021 grew to $2,567,506 compared to a gross loss of$141,718 in 2020 71 BTC and 55 ETH minted in 2021. Working capital increased to $1,568,785 at December 31, 2021, from a deficiency of $823,350 at December 31, 2020 Digital assets held at December 31, 2021 was $3,254,131 compared to $653,882 at December 31, 2020 Adjusted EBITDA of $1,368,327 in 2021, and increase of 311% from 2020 Significant CAPEX increase represented by a 13X investment between the year 2020 and 2021 Fanny Philip named Chief Operating Officer The Company today announced the appointment of Fanny Philip as Chief Operating Officer, effective retroactively since January 1, 2022. Mrs Philip will report directly to Romain Nouzareth, President and Chief Executive Officer. As Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Philip will provide strategic leadership and oversee all the operations of Canada Computational Unlimited Corp. "2021 was a very good year for CCU, not only based on our financial results and successful public listing, but also because we are hitting all our goals and working towards reaching our Center One full capacity with full renewable energy. I am also pleased to appoint Fanny Philip, who has been an exceptional asset to our team in her role as VP Finance, as CCU's new Chief Operating Officer. Fanny is recognized by colleagues and peers as an inspirational leader, I am confident that her guidance and expertise will be a great asset to ensure the Company's continued progress," said Romain Nouzareth, President and Chief Executive Officer. Fanny Philip commented, "2021 was a year with numerous mandates during which we built a cohesive and high functioning team. I am proud to be named as Chief Operating Officer in recognition of my efforts and contributions during the past three years. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the team and contribute to CCU's growth and success." 2021 Financial Overview For 2021, the Company recorded a net loss of $1,729,669 compared to a net loss of $855,424 in 2020. Contributing to the loss for the year 2021 are one-time listing expense related charges in the amount of $2,278,572. A summary of the results are as follows : 2021 2020 % change Revenue 6,118,420 1,860,089 229% Cost of revenue 3,550,914 2,001,807 77% Gross profit (loss) 2,567,506 (141,718) N/A Gain (loss) on use of digital assets 252,320 363,658 -31% Revaluation of digital assets - 94,608 N/A Expenses (2,244,646) (477,995) 370% Operating income (loss) 575,180 (161,447) N/A Other (charges) income (2,300,772) (693,977) 232% Loss before income taxes (1,725,592) (855,424) 102% Deferred income taxes (4,077) - N/A Net income (loss) (1,729,669) (855,424) 102% Total comprehensive income (loss) (1,713,171) (697,530) 146% Gross mining profit 1,231,043 (921,046) N/A EBITDA (392,536) 660,944 -159% Adjusted EBITDA 1,368,327 332,719 311% This news release makes reference to certain measures that are not recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. They are therefore not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company uses non-IFRS measures including "Adjusted EBITDA" and "EBITDA" as additional information to complement IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Company's results of operations from Management's perspective. A reconciliation of these non-IFRS measures to their nearest IFRS measures is included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") accompanying the audited annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (the "Consolidated Financial Statements") and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements. Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A A complete financial reporting package, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and MD&A, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under CCU's profile and on the Company's website at www.ccu.ai. About Canada Computational Unlimited Corp. CCU operates a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral bitcoin mining center with a contract of 20 MW of stable, eco-friendly energy. The Company's high-density calculation centers are built for high-grade cryptocurrency mining, AI data processing, and fintech infrastructure. Founded in 2017, CCU is led by technology entrepreneurs, electricity and ventilation experts, network specialists, and Canadian industrialists. Since its inception, the company has pursued a vision of environmental stewardship throughout the mining process. The excess supply of renewable energy in the province of Quebec has made this endeavor feasible and a great base for growth. Additional information can be found at www.ccu.ai. Event Notice CCU will host a webcast presentation and Q&A based on the recently filed financials on Tuesday, March 15th, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. EST. For full details please visit www.ccu.ai/events. For additional information, please contact: Caroline Klukowski Tel: 604.260.5490 news@ccu.ai Keep up-to-date on developments and join our online communities at Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the future performance of the Company, and other statements that are not historical facts. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116422 The world's first semi-automated crypto trading platform announces a free suite of tools that's ideal for busy traders, part-time investors, and anyone else currently involved in cryptocurrency. It includes computer-generated trade ideas, market scanners, expert updates, and trader education - including one strategy that could help you make profits overnight. SOFIA, Bulgaria, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ProfitFarmers, the world's first semi-automated crypto trading co-pilot, is re-launching their free "Moonbag" - a suite of tools designed to help busy traders save hours of time and improve their profitability. "Moonbag" is crypto slang for a small investment in risky projects in the hope that it'll increase in value exponentially. Here are just a few highlights of this free package: Complete trade plans: Signals including entry zones, take-profit targets, stop-loss, and leverage. Signals including entry zones, take-profit targets, stop-loss, and leverage. Market analysis and predictions : ProfitFarmers team analyzes the crypto market and informs you of trends and helpful strategies. One recent opinion predicted a massive spike in MIR, a cryptocurrency, days before it happened. : ProfitFarmers team analyzes the crypto market and informs you of trends and helpful strategies. One recent opinion predicted a massive spike in MIR, a cryptocurrency, days before it happened. Price scanners: Traders use price-action and relative-strength index scanners to see market behavior at a glance and make more informed trading decisions. These are available free. Traders use price-action and relative-strength index scanners to see market behavior at a glance and make more informed trading decisions. These are available free. Advanced education: Free training videos, live trading sessions, and more - including one strategy that helped a member to make 60% in just hours. You can learn more about their Moonbag here CEO Matthew Tansley believes his company's free package truly benefits traders everywhere, regardless of their trading goals. He had this to say: "We founded ProfitFarmers with the idea of giving traders their lives back. No price alarms. No sitting at the screen all day. No emotional rollercoaster. Our platform automates nearly every time-consuming trading task including research, planning, and monitoring trades. Now, with the free Moonbag, we can save traders hours and hours of time AND improve their strike rate, helping them live better lives free from the emotional rollercoaster of crypto trading." He went on to say: "Crypto is not only confusing - it's intimidating. Not just for beginners, but for everyone.The whole idea of the Moonbag is to help stressed out, confused, or scared traders by giving them a data-driven trading plan, helpful opinions from experts, and advanced market intelligence tools to make researching and planning trades easier. This free package includes everything you need to go from losing trades and being stressed out to winning and actually enjoying life." Why Are They Giving All of This Free? 2021 was a wildly successful year for the Moonbag and the company in general. Thousands of crypto traders everywhere signed up to get free trading ideas and tools, and many even went on to become full members of the platform. And, with Bitcoin recently surging past $40,000, they believe another boom is just around the corner. 2021 was so successful that ProfitFarmers decided to re-open the Moonbag for another run for a limited time. The package includes the following, all 100% free. Trading Signals The core offer of the Moonbag is ProfitFarmer's AI-generated trading signals with an historic 78% win rate on completed signals. Their algorithm dynamically scans the market taking into account dozens of factors, then each signal is vetted by their expert trading team before being passed on to Moonbag members. Unlike most other services, the company has no "VIP" signals group. That means free Moonbag subscribers get the same quality signals as actual paid members of the platform. The company says they focus only on quality not quantity, so they can't guarantee a certain number of signals every week. However, it's typically 2-3 depending on market conditions. Trade signals include full trading plans. For example: Coin pair Entry zone Take-profit targets Stop-loss Leverage Direction Strategy (EX: Futures-Scalp-Trade) Market Updates ProfitFarmers is run by a team of trading experts with decades of combined experience in trading, investing, and market analysis. And each week, this team publishes the results of their analysis and emails their thoughts to subscribers - again, all 100% free. This includes anything from trading ideas and suggestions to coin price theories and more. Recently, their team instructed members to keep their eyes on MIR - a cryptocurrency - and be prepared to "buy the dip" before it spiked back up in price. Within just a few days, the price did exactly as projected, and increased by 40% from their team's suggested "buy zone" - the price at which the experts thought was optimal to purchase the coin. This type of analysis not only will give members confidence, but also can help quell their emotions in volatile markets. Trader Education Moonbag subscribers not only get trading ideas and market updates every week, they also get expert trading education so they can learn how to analyze, research, and trade on their own. Everything from live trading sessions to helpful articles and videos. There's even one strategy that, when combined with their scanners, helped one member make 60% on one trade overnight (see the video on the ProfitFarmers page). "We want to both give traders a fish AND teach them how to fish - so to speak", said Matthew Tansley. "We will literally put high-probability trading ideas in your hand, and in the meantime while your trades are live, you can learn advanced trading techniques from our videos, webinars, and live sessions.That way, you can start making your own trade ideas or fine tune the ones our algorithm creates. It's really the best of both worlds. If you're a new trader, you get everything you need to start making real profits. If you're already trading, you get everything you need to get to the next level. It's that simple." In celebration of their very successful 2021, Profitfarmers wants to help traders everywhere get ready for what looks to be a very promising 2022. So, the Moonbag is once again open for everyone! It will be available for a limited time, so take advantage of this offer while it's still available. Visit ProfitFarmers page to learn more and sign up. It only takes a few minutes to create your free account and to access your tools. And yes, it is 100% free. About ProfitFarmers ProfitFarmers is the world's first crypto co-pilot, a system that handles the most difficult aspects of trading for you. It's a semi-automated trading platform that combines high win-rate signals with copy-trading and advanced trading tools to automate the most time-consuming trading tasks. Their system creates a signal, then you copy the signal, adjust your plan, and enable trading features such as a break-even stop-loss. The system then does the rest. The entire system is designed to help traders optimize work-life balance and to finally live normal lives, all while still earning a full-time income. The company is registered in Bulgaria and run by CEO and founder Matthew Tansley. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Canadian dollar spiked up against its major counterparts in the New York session on Friday, as strong jobs data for February raised hopes for another rate hike by the Bank of Canada at its meeting next month. Data from Statistics Canada showed that employment jumped by 336,600 jobs in February after falling by 200,100 jobs in January. Economists had expected employment to rise by 160,000 jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in February from 6.5 percent in January, while economists had expected the unemployment rate to drop to 6.2 percent. Sentiment lifted up following Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks suggesting positive developments in talks with Ukraine. In a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin indicated about positive shifts in negotiations, but did not provide more details. The loonie was up against the greenback, at a 4-day high of 1.2695. The loonie is likely to face resistance around the 1.25 level. The loonie touched a 3-day high of 1.3940 against the euro, up from Thursday's close of 1.4005. On the upside, 1.36 is likely seen as its next resistance level. Extending its early rally, the loonie approached 92.08 against the yen, which was its strongest level since January 12. If the loonie rises further, 94.00 is possibly seen as its next resistance level. The loonie moved up to a 1-week high of 0.9300 against the aussie from yesterday's close of 0.9387. The loonie is seen finding resistance around the 0.92 level. 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. Highlights US$3.1m to be raised through the issuance of 19,891,375 shares at C$0.20 per share, a premium to the current share price Raise supported by investment from existing shareholders, management, and directors Funding relates to and is conditional upon DFR's proposed acquisition of Moydow to create a New West African gold explorer Proceeds from the financing will be used for working capital and on resource expansion drilling at the Labola Project where a maiden mineral resource estimate was reported by DFR in December 2021 Drilling at Labola Project to recommence following closing of the Moydow acquisition, expected during Q2 2022, and will target multiple newly identified zones along mineralized strike length of 30km Agreement reached to increase exploration area at the Labola Project by an additional 243km2 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Diamond Fields Resources Inc. (TSXV:DFR) ("DFR" or, including its subsidiaries, the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into agreements to raise US$3,132,500 through the issuance of 19,891,375 shares at C$0.20 per share (the "New Financing"). In addition, the Company has entered into agreements to settle an aggregate of US$117,500 of debt owed to two insiders of the Company in consideration for the issuance of 746,125 shares at C$0.20 per share. DFR is also pleased to announce that Moydow Holdings Limited ("Moydow"), the company to be acquired by DFR pursuant to the transaction (the "Transaction") announced on August 25, 2021 (the "Transaction Press Release"), has entered into an agreement to acquire an additional exploration license contiguous to the Labola Project referred to in the Transaction Press Release. Commenting on the announcement John McGloin, CEO of DFR said: "The scale of opportunity presented by the potential of the Labola Project is underlined by the strong support of our existing shareholders and the commitment of our management team. This endorsement is an important step towards the completion of the Moydow acquisition. "We intend to start drilling at the Labola Project in the second quarter of 2022 and will be updating shareholders as this work proceeds. Drilling to date has only covered a small part of the identified deposit and the next phase of exploration will focus on areas of known mineralization with the aim of expanding the current resource. "We are progressing with the steps required to seek conditional approval from the Exchange and deliver an Information Circular to shareholders ahead of a vote to approve the acquisition of Moydow in the second quarter." Fundraising details US$3,132,500 is to be raised through the issuance of 19,891,375 shares at C$0.20 per share, a premium to the last closing price of the DFR shares. Participants in the New Financing include: Jean Raymond Boulle (via Spirit Resources SARL ("Spirit")) - US$500,000 Brian Kiernan, Executive Chairman of Moydow Holdings - US$1,000,000 DFR Directors and officers, Al Gourley, Bertrand Boulle and David Reading (Directors), John McGloin (Director and CEO) and Jean L Charles (CFO) - US$182,500 in aggregate (collectively the "Insider Private Placements") Existing DFR shareholders - US$700,000 John McGloin and Jean L Charles have also agreed to settle an aggregate of US$117,500 of debt through the issuance of 746,125 shares at C$0.20 per share (the "Insider Debt Settlements"). The New Financing is conditional upon completion of the proposed acquisition of Moydow as announced in the Transaction Press Release. The Transaction is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX V"), required shareholder approvals, and completion of satisfactory confirmatory due diligence by DFR. Additional License Area The footprint of the Labola Project has been extended by an additional 243km2 following Moydow's acquisition of an option over an exploration license ("Wuo Land 2") contiguous to the existing license area ("the Moydow Option"). Importantly the Company now has control of a full 30km strike length of identified mineralization surrounding Moydow's original Labola Project. The Moydow Option is exclusive and can be exercised through the payment of US$0.5m with the license holder retaining a net smelter royalty of 1% on all gold produced up to a total aggregate payment of US$2.0m. The US$0.5m is payable in tranches with US$200,000 due upon satisfaction of all the requirements of an escrow agreement to hold the Wuo Land 2 license being satisfied (the "Wuo Land 2 Closing Date"), US$150,000 within 12 months of the Wuo Land 2 Closing Date and US$150,000 within 18 months of the Wuo Land 2 Closing Date. Labola Project exploration The Labola Project lies in the Banfora Birimian Greenstone Belt, one of the three major mineralized belts in western Burkina Faso. Gold mineralization at a the Labola Project is spatially associated with sulfides and quartz sericite alteration. Historical geophysics (IP and EM) surveys have helped define a 30km mineralized corridor. Within this corridor, historical and recent mapping and sampling combined with the widespread activity of artisanal miners has identified seven structures with mapped extents of 15km to 25km. The recent drilling undertaken by Moydow has concentrated on only a small portion of this belt, towards the northern end of the Central Western and Eastern structures. Drill testing has covered only between 6% and 25% of the mapped strike length of these three structures and rarely to depths of more than 100m. The current resource, which was prepared in accordance with an NI43-101, was based upon validated historical and recent drilling. The objective of the next phase of exploration work is to infill and extend the previous drill pattern on areas of known mineralization to expand the current resource. Additionally, the next phase will test the tenor and continuity of some of the other structures that have been identified through our mapping and sampling campaign and are currently being exploited at surface by artisanal gold panners. Preliminary metallurgical test work was conducted by previous operators High River Gold Mines Limited and Taurus Gold Limited. This work suggested that the gold present in the license area was treatable by conventional cyanide leaching. Recoveries were seen to be 90 to 98% in the oxide zone and 82% to 93% in the transitional and sulfide zone. During the exploration work undertaken by Moydow, LeachWell accelerated cyanide leach testing was used alongside fire assay analysis of drill samples and the results have provided further indication that the gold mineralization is essentially free milling in line with historical and regional metallurgical results. A wider metallurgical test program to confirm these results will be implemented as the Labola Project advances. Moydow transaction update The Moydow transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022. As set out in the Transaction Press Release, Brian Kiernan, Spirit and Panthera Resources Plc held warrants to subscribe for up to 70,000 Moydow shares each at a price of US$3.50 per share until 31 December 2021 (the "Moydow Warrants") that would have been converted to shares in DFR. However, the Moydow Warrants expired unexercised. Beravina Zircon Project Following the expiry of its co-operation agreement with TMH Acquisition Co., DFR is considering its options with regards to the Beravina Zircon Project ("Beravina"). Zircon prices are currently buoyant with major producers reporting strong demand that is expected to continue in the short to medium term. Beravina has an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.5 million tonnes grading 22.7% Zircon (ZrSiO4) (equivalent to 15.3% ZrO2) as set out in the technical report filed by the Company on January 29, 2019 entitled "Diamond Fields Resources Inc. Beravina Project Madagascar" dated December 20, 2018 with an effective date of December 14, 2018 and prepared by the MSA Group (Pty) Ltd.. Exercise of Options A Director, of the Company has exercised 700,000 DFR share options with an exercise price of C$0.145. Insider Debt Settlements and Insider Private Placements The Insider Debt Settlements and Insider Private Placements are exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company to be issued to insiders does not exceed 25% of its market capitalization. Early Warning Reports In connection with the Transaction and the New Financing, Brian Kiernan will acquire a total of 65,638,465 common shares of DFR, representing approximately 36.8% of the to be issued and outstanding common shares of the Company after giving effect to the Transaction and the New Financing. Brian Kiernan is acquiring the common shares of DFR as part of the Transaction and for investment purposes. Depending on market and other conditions, Brian Kiernan may from time to time in the future increase or decrease his ownership, control or direction over DFR securities as circumstances warrant (noting, as described in the Transaction Press Release, that he has agreed to a 30 month hold period for the shares he receives as consideration under the Share Exchange Agreement). As of the date hereof, Spirit holds 64,161,990 common shares of DFR, representing approximately 80% of the issued and outstanding common shares of DFR. In connection with the Transaction and the New Financing, Spirit will acquire a total of 6,833,607 common shares of DFR, for a total shareholding of 70,995,597, representing approximately 39.8% of the to be issued and outstanding common shares of the Company after giving effect to the Transaction and the New Financing. Spirit is acquiring the common shares of DFR for investment purposes. Depending on market and other conditions, Spirit may from time to time in the future increase or decrease its ownership, control or direction over DFR securities as circumstances warrant. For the purposes of this notice, the Head Office of DFR is Lot 223, Le Mahe Beau, Vallon, Mauritius 50810. In satisfaction of the requirements of National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids And Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, an Early Warning Report in respect of acquisition of common shares of DFR by Brian Kiernan and Spirit will be filed under the Company's SEDAR Profile at www.sedar.com. Ends David J Reading, M.Sc., FIMM, a director of DFR and a Qualified Person as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has prepared or supervised the preparation of, or approved, as applicable, the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Reading has over 40 years' experience in the mining industry covering all stages of mine development, including exploration, feasibility, financing, construction and operations. He has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geologists. DIAMOND FIELDS RESOURCES INC. John McGloin, CEO Contact: enquire@diamondfields.com Michael Oke/Andy Mills: +44 20 7321 0000 Aura Financial LLP: www.aura-financial.com Notes to Editors: DFR is a TSX Venture Exchange listed exploration and mine development company with assets in Madagascar and Namibia. In Madagascar, DFR is developing the Beravina Project, an advanced high grade hard rock zircon exploration prospect located in the west of the country, approximately 220km east of the port of Maintirano and close to a state road. DFR acquired Beravina from Pala Investments and Austral Resources in 2016. In Namibia, the Company owns several offshore diamond mining licenses including the ML 111 concession which has a ten-year mining license, effective until 4 December 2025. In 2018 and early 2019 mining undertaken by a contractor on the Company's ML111 license area produced two parcels of rough diamonds totaling 47,318.41 carats. Moydow is a privately owned, BVI registered, West African focused gold exploration business, which was formed in 2019 and subsequently in 2020 acquired, from AIM listed Panthera Resources Plc, its interest in the Labola Project, (Burkina Faso), followed by the Kalaka (Mali) project interest in 2021. At Closing Moydow will be controlled by DFR. Website: www.diamondfields.com The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this release that address activities, events or developments that DFR expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements or information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "aim", "aspire", "strive", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "believe" or similar expressions as they relate to DFR. Forward- looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements and information in this release include but are not limited to statements and information relating to the terms, conditions and completion of the Transaction and New Financing; the use of proceeds from the New Financing; the obtaining of all required regulatory approvals in connection with the Transaction and New Financing; technical information; drilling and exploration programs; political risks; statutory and regulatory compliance; the proposed officers and directors of DFR following completion of the Transaction; and the impact of the Transaction on the business of DFR. Such statements and information reflect the current view of DFR. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause DFR's actual results, performance or achievements or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause DFR's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: the ability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Transaction and the New Financing; the ability to obtain requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the Transaction on relationships; including with regulatory bodies, employees; suppliers customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation and the diversion of management time on the Transaction and the New Financing. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statement prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. DFR cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on DFR's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, shareholders should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. DFR has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents the expectations of DFR as of the date of this release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While DFR may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. SOURCE: Diamond Fields Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692725/Diamond-Fields-Resources-Expands-the-Labola-Project-and-Enters-into-Agreements-to-Raise-31m-from-Existing-Shareholders-and-Management-at-C020-Per-Share FILE - This police camera video provided by The Moab Police Department shows Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito talking to a police officer after police pulled over the van she was traveling in with her boyfriend, The FBI on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 identified human remains found in a Florida nature preserve as those of Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the death of girlfriend Gabby Petito while the couple was on a cross-country road trip. (The Moab Police Department via AP) (AP) The family of Gabby Petito have filed a civil lawsuit against the parents of her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who the FBI said admitted to her killing in a notebook found near his body. The lawsuit filed March 10 on behalf of Petitos father Joseph Petito and mother Nichole Schmidt names Chris and Roberta Laundrie alleging they knew Brian had killed Gabby and that they were going to help him leave the country, according to court reports obtained by WFLA.com, an NBC-affiliate serving Tampa Bay. Advertisement Petito and Laundrie left in summer 2021 from the home they shared with the Laundrie parents in North Port, Florida on a cross-country van trip. Laundrie returned to Florida on Sept. 1 in the van without Gabby, and several days after a missing persons report at the behest of Gabbys parents led to a nationwide search for the missing 22-year-old. Petito was found dead on Sept. 19 in Wyoming. Laundrie, who was only ever named a person of interest by law enforcement himself was reported missing that same week by his parents, saying he had gone to a vast wilderness area on Sept. 14 leaving behind his wallet and phone, and they were worried he could have harmed himself. Advertisement Law enforcement accompanied by Laundries parents discovered items belonging to Brian in a search of the area in October, after which his remains were found along with the notebook. Investigators said Laundrie, 23, had sent text messages to intentionally deceive people that Petito was still alive after he beat and strangled her in late August, according to a statement released by the FBI in Denver. A coroner determined shed died of blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation. Medical examiners determined Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The documents claim Laundrie told his parents what had happened on or about Aug. 28, one day after it believed Petito had been killed, WFLA reported. WFLA reported that the lawsuit stated, It is believed, and therefore averred that Brian Laundrie advised his parents, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, that he had murdered Gabrielle Petito. On that same date, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie spoke with Attorney Steve Bertolino, and sent him a retainer on Sept. 2, 2021. The lawsuit also claimed that during the time between Brians return to Florida and the missing persons report, there was no contact between the Laundries and Petitos worried parents, and that after the report came out that Roberta Laundrie blocked Schmidts phone and Facebook, WFLA reported. The lawsuit accuses Laundries parents of making arrangements for him to leave the country during this time, and of acting with malice or great indifference to the rights of Petitos family, WFLA reported. The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $100,000 for pain and mental anguish. Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read more on WFLA.com. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of Justice has named Associate Deputy Attorney General Kevin Chambers as Director for Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement. In the new capacity, he will lead the department's criminal and civil enforcement efforts to combat Covid-19 related fraud, along with the latest results of criminal and civil enforcement actions that include alleged fraud related to more than $8 billion in pandemic relief. As Chief Prosecutor for Pandemic Fraud, Chambers will serve as a watchdog to go after the criminals who stole billions in relief money meant for small businesses and working Americans. Justice Department has so far filed criminal charges against more than 1,000 defendants with alleged losses exceeding $1.1 billion. The Department has seized more than $1 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loan proceeds; and launched 240 civil investigations into more than 1,800 individuals and entities for alleged misconduct in connection with pandemic relief loans totaling more than $6 billion. Chambers said he plans to focus on large-scale criminal enterprises and foreign actors who sought to profit at the expense of the American people. This will include establishing Strike Teams to prepare for the next phase in the Justice Department's efforts to fight pandemic fraud. 'We are receiving an extraordinary amount of data from our state workforce agency partners. This data holds the key to identifying and prosecuting certain types of fraud, including unemployment insurance fraud,' he added. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 430 defendants have been charged and arrested for federal offenses related to Unemployment Insurance fraud. President Joe Biden said that in the early days of the pandemic, the Trump Administration consistently undermined the watchdogs whose job it was to keep relief funds from being wasted or abused. 'Emergency loans that were supposed to help small businesses keep running and keep employees on the payroll were siphoned off by wealthy scammers. Foreign and domestic criminal syndicates intercepted benefits meant for Americans in dire need of relief. Reports of identity theft spiked by 3,000 percent from 2019 to 2020 - and far too many working families bore the brunt of this unchecked fraud,' he said in a statement. Biden said that the Covid-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force has already initiated more than 1,000 criminal cases. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Higher prices nationwide are being felt by consumers and farmers. With Russia and Ukraine together growing 14% of the world's wheat 1 , and Russia accounting for up to 45% of the key nutrients used for fertilizer in the world 2 , consumers are feeling the pinch at the grocery store, including higher-priced breads, meat and milk. U.S farmers are also experiencing the pain of continued pressure on fertilizer prices, often costing more than the rent for the land on which they farm 3 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. SAO PAULO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elea Digital and Vertiv announce partnership to deliver edge data center services in Brazil. Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, will provide operation and maintenance services for Elea Digital data centers in key metro areas, including Porto Alegre, Curitiba, and Brasilia. Vertiv's local technicians will provide support for this first of its kind edge services contract in Brazil. Through the partnership with Elea Digital, Vertiv will gain a larger and wider market to support the Brazilian data center industry growth. The partnership between Elea Digital and Vertiv aims at maintaining market growth rates across a continent-wide geographical footprint. Elea Digital's aim is to accelerate the standardization of its multi-location data center platform and, at the same time, to assure to its colocation clients secure services aligned with global best practices. The partnership with Vertiv brings accountability, automated and real time management of key infrastructure. A set of software applications will ensure energy efficiency and cost control to Elea Digital's six data centers. According to recent studies of the Uptime Institute, the major bottleneck in the Brazilian data center industry is the lack of experienced manpower, especially when moving away from the central region of Sao Paulo. By joining forces, Elea Digital and Vertiv will be able to provide knowledge and best practices to less developed but highly demanding metro-areas markets such as Brasilia (where Elea Digital SIG data center is the only Tier III facility), Porto Alegre and Curitiba. The two companies together will be able to bring data center expertise to these edge markets at a faster speed. "We are excited to start working with Elea Digital on services offerings for edge data centers in Brazil. Our goal is to bring Vertiv and Elea Digital experience to less developed metro-markets, but with high demand," said Rafael Garrido, vice president of Vertiv Latin America. "The strategic alliance with Vertiv shows our commitment and enthusiasm with client service as we continue to do our best to ensure that our critical infrastructure is maintained equally secure, miles away from the central cloud region of Sao Paulo," concludes Alessandro Lombardi, Chairman of Elea Digital. About Elea Digital Founded by Piemonte Holding in 2019, Elea Digital is a data center infrastructure platform in Latin American with a differentiated wide geographical spread and interconnection focus across Brazil. Elea Digital's six data centers are at the edge of the central cloud regions in key Brazilian metro-areas: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Brasilia. Currently Elea Digital's core revenues are derived from colocation and cross-connectivity infrastructure services provided to a wide range of customers, mainly concentrated in the information technology, telecom, banking, media, and public sectors. In December 2021, Elea Digital increased its share capital to allow Goldman Sachs Asset Management to co-invest in the platform turbinated growth. About Vertiv Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to ensure its customers' vital applications run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today's data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs approximately 21,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com. CVC today announced that CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII has agreed to acquire RGI (the "Company"), a leading independent provider of software solutions to the European insurance industry, from Corsair, a leading private equity firm targeting services, software, and payments investments in the financial services market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. RGI provides insurers with a comprehensive and modular offering that addresses the entire insurance value chain, covering processes such as policy administration, claims, analytics, market management, reporting and sales, and distribution. RGI provides a wide range of cloud- software solutions serving Property Casualty and Life insurance clients across Europe, with leadership positions in Italy, France, and Germany. The Company has an international, blue-chip customer portfolio covering insurance and corporate clients of all tiers, including six of the top ten European insurers. Under Corsair's ownership, RGI has realized significant organic and inorganic growth including substantial progress in its shift to a SaaS-based offering as well as the 2019 acquisitions of Novum and Unimatica and the 2021 acquisition of Flexperto evolving from a strong national player to a pan-European leader. CVC will support RGI's management team in its future growth plans, which include further consolidating the fragmented insurance software industry and investing in the Company's product offering and transition to a cloud-based platform. "RGI is an outstanding company with an industry-leading technology platform and strong sector position. We are excited to be part of the Company's journey going forward," said Leif Lindback, Partner and Head of European TMT at CVC. "Having followed RGI for several years, we have been impressed by the growth that Cecile and her management team have achieved, transforming the Company into a pan-European insurance software leader." Giorgio De Palma, Partner at CVC Italy, added: "RGI is well-placed for further expansion, our vision for the future of the Company is fully aligned with the management team and we look forward to partnering with them to accelerate RGI's growth and fully capture the significant market opportunity in Europe." Cecile Andre Leruste, RGI Group CEO, commented, "CVC has a wealth of experience and an impressive track record helping companies accelerate their growth. We're delighted to have found another team whose values are aligned with our own and who are committed to our future as a leader in the digitization of the European insurance market. On behalf of everyone at RGI, we'd like to thank Corsair for their invaluable guidance and support as we transformed our business under their stewardship." Raja Hadji-Touma and Edward Wertheim, Partner and Managing Director at Corsair, respectively, said, "This transaction is a reflection of RGI's successful execution of its strategy to become a pan-European leader in insurance software, and the meaningful traction the Company has made in transitioning to a SaaS-based operating model with a comprehensive, industry-leading offering. We are grateful for our successful partnership with RGI and the many dedicated colleagues who have helped build an outstanding business that provides a full range of best-in-class and mission-critical solutions across the entire insurance value chain. We are confident the Company is in good hands and has a bright future with CVC." About RGI Headquartered in Milan and Ivrea, Italy, RGI is a leading independent provider of core software systems to the European insurance market, providing a comprehensive and modular offering which addresses core processes, including policy administration, market management, and sales and distribution. With a team of 1,200 professionals specialized in IT, insurance, and state-of-the-art customer-experience-know-how, operating from 20 offices in 8 countries, RGI is leading the digital transformation of the insurance sector in Europe and has collaborated with over 130 insurers and 300 brokers across the region. www.rgigroup.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram About CVC CVC is a leading private equity and investment advisory firm with a network of 25 offices throughout Europe, Asia and the US, with approximately US$122 billion of assets under management. Since its founding in 1981, CVC has secured commitments in excess of US$165 billion from some of the world's leading institutional investors across its private equity and credit strategies. Funds managed or advised by CVC are invested in more than 100 companies worldwide, which have combined annual sales of over US$100 billion and employ more than 450,000 people. For further information about CVC please visit: https://cvc.com. Follow us on LinkedIn here. About Corsair Corsair is a global specialist investment firm offering opportunities for investors and solutions for companies across financial business services and infrastructure. The firm has almost three decades of experience partnering with businesses at the crossroads of technology transformation and financial services complexity and established its complementary infrastructure investment practice in 2015. Corsair has invested $12 billion in capital across its global buyouts and infrastructure platforms since inception. More information about Corsair can be accessed through https://corsair-capital.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005333/en/ Contacts: RGI Elena Monti elena.monti@rgigroup.com Edelman teamrgi@edelman.com CVC Nick Board nboard@cvc.com Corsair Benjamin Spicehandler Claire Keyte Sard Verbinnen Co. Corsair-SVC@sardverb.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Grid Metals Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:GRDM)(OTCQB:MSMGF) today released the final results from the Bannockburn Nickel Property near Matachewan, Ontario and ~100 km south of the mining city of Timmins. Drilling from the 2021 program was focused on the bulk tonnage nickel sulfide potential of the B Zone at the property. HIGHLIGHTS - BANNOCKBURN PROPERTY 2021 DRILL PROGRAM Results from the final three of the eight holes completed in 2021 are reported together with complete program assays. Overall the 2021 drilling outlined a mineralized zone with similar nickel grades and thickness to Canada Nickel's Crawford Deposit located north of Timmins, Ontario. The best result was 341.7 metres averaging 0.28% Ni in hole GBN21-03. The Company has engaged SGS Canada Inc. to complete a quantitative mineralogical study to establish the abundance of potentially recoverable sulfide nickel from the B Zone. The new mineralogical work will complement a historical metallurgical test study completed by SGS that showed a low-grade composite sample with 0.33% total nickel and ~70% sulfide nickel could produce a 35% Ni concentrate. The 2021 drill program tested the B Zone over a strike length of 700 meters and to a maximum vertical depth of 300 meters. The zone remains open in all directions. Below: Selected analytical highlights for the Bannockburn 2021 drill program including previously unreported results for drill holes GBN21-03, GBN21-05 and GBN21-07, B Zone target. There is insufficient geological information available to estimate the true thickness of the reported intervals. Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ni (%) GBN21-01 71.50 232.39 160.89 0.24 inc. 103.00 125.56 22.56 0.30 with 118.00 125.56 7.56 0.38 GBN21-02 40.50 337.00 296.50 0.28 inc. 98.00 210.00 112.00 0.32 with 147.00 195.00 48.00 0.34 GBN21-03 39.30 381.00 341.70 0.28 inc. 256.50 321.00 64.50 0.30 GBN21-04 115.50 309.00 193.50 0.31 inc. 133.50 162.00 28.50 0.40 and 225.00 247.50 22.50 0.41 GBN21-05 49.70 219.00 169.30 0.20 inc. 79.50 105.00 25.50 0.27 GBN21-06 60.00 247.50 189.00 0.27 inc. 133.50 174.00 40.50 0.30 and 210.00 235.50 25.50 0.31 GBN21-07 36.00 405.00 369.00 0.24 inc. 160.50 273.00 112.50 0.27 with 231.00 273.00 42.00 0.29 GBN21-08 72.00 303.00 231.00 0.24 inc. 132.00 258.00 126.00 0.28 Bannockburn Property: Final Results for the 2021 B Zone Drilling Program Drilling at Bannockburn targeted the B Zone, a >1 km long, steeply-dipping trend of bulk tonnage, secondary nickel sulfide mineralization that exhibits similar nickel grades and thicknesses to Canada Nickel's (TSXV:CNC) Crawford nickel sulfide deposit. Hole specifications are provided in the Appendix and locations are shown on the accompanying map. Total nickel analyses from the last three holes to be reported are provided along with previously released highlights from the other holes completed during the 2021 drilling campaign. Sulfur analyses (not shown here) were determined for approximately 50% of the samples submitted for nickel analysis. Sulfur contents typically varied between 0.05 and 0.15% for the intervals having the highest nickel grades. Holes GBN21-03 (341.7 metres of 0.28% Ni) and GBN21-07 (369.0 metres of 0.24% Ni) both returned very wide intervals having typical B Zone nickel grades. Hole GBN21-05 was drilled further to the west of the other 2021 holes and returned lower average grades and widths - which the Company believes reflects the breaching of the western limit of the B Zone mineralization. As with the previously announced drill holes, higher-grade subintervals were noted in the new drill results with a maximum individual sample grade of 0.76% Ni and 0.22% S over a 1.5 metre core length in hole GBN21-07. The 2021 drill program confirmed that there are large areas with enhanced nickel contents in the B Zone trend with average nickel grades generally falling in the range 0.24 to 0.32% Ni over widths of >100 to 369 metres. These results are similar to those reported by Canada Nickel for their Crawford Deposit nickel resources. The B Zone remains open to the east, north and south and at depth. It is also partly open to the west. Nickel data reported here are considered to represent total nickel and will include some percentage of unrecoverable silicate-bound nickel. The Company has therefore engaged SGS Canada Inc. to complete a quantitative mineralogical study on representative core samples from selected 2021 B Zone drill holes to establish the abundance of potentially recoverable nickel sulfide present. This is the next critical step toward confirming the potential for a bulk mineable open pit nickel sulfide resource at Bannockburn having similar mineralogical and metallurgical characteristics to the Crawford deposit. For context, a 2005 mineralogical and metallurgical study completed by SGS used a B Zone composite sample averaging 0.33% total nickel and 0.10% sulfur. The study showed that the only nickel sulfide mineral present in this composite was heazlewoodite containing an average of over 70% nickel, with heazlewoodite accounting for over 70% of the total nickel present in the feed sample. The study further demonstrated that a premium-grade concentrate containing up to 35% nickel could be produced from this type of feed material using simple froth flotation concentration methods. "The drill program at Bannockburn combined with new mineralogical test work will provide crucial information as to the prospectivity of the B Zone to host a bulk tonnage nickel deposit capable of producing a high grade nickel concentrate through standard flotation. From our historical work and the 2021 drilling and our forward looking mineralogical study we will have a solid information base to guide next steps at the project" said Dave Peck, Vice President of Exploration and Business Development for Grid Metals. ABOVE. Location of 2021 Bannockburn property exploration drill holes including holes GBN21-03, GBN21-05 and GBN21-07 - reported on for the first time in this release. The 2021 drilling targeted the B Zone bulk nickel sulfide exploration target located in the northern ultramafic complex. Massive Sulfide Zones It is important to note that Bannockburn also hosts several zones of nickel-rich massive sulfides including the C Zone where Grid has drilled 53 holes and where the zone remains open at depth. An internal evaluation of the tonnage potential of all of the massive sulfide zones and of the remaining, untested massive sulfide targets is underway and should be an important component of future project development. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Grid Metals applies best practice quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") protocols on all of its exploration programs. For the Bannockburn drilling program, core was logged and sampled at the Company's temporary logging facility located near Matachewan, Ontario. From there the core was trucked to the Company's logging facility in Massey, Ontario where it was logged and sampled. Standard 1.5 metre sample lengths were used. NQ size core was collected from all the drill holes. Sampling involved cutting the core into approximately equal halves using a diamond saw. For the Bannockburn project, samples were bagged and tagged and then transported by secure carrier to the SGS (Burnaby) laboratory for sample preparation and analysis for total nickel, copper, cobalt and selected major and trace element abundances using a sodium peroxide fusion total digestion method. Approximately 50% of the samples reported in this news release were also analyzed for total sulfur using a Leco infrared combustion method. The Company used two certified reference materials ("CRMs") and one analytical blank to monitor analytical accuracy and check for cross contamination between samples. The analytical results for the two CRMs and the blank for the sample batches reported here did not show any significant bias compared to the certified values and the results fell within the acceptable limits of variability. Dave Peck, P.Geo., has reviewed the contents of this press release and is the qualified person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101. GRANT UNDER INCENTIVE PROGRAM The Company Board of Directors has approved the grant of a total of 2.85 million awards under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the " Plan") to employees, officers and directors of the Company. A total of 1.55 million stock options were granted at $0.25 with a maximum term of five years. If not exercised the options will expire on March 10, 2027 subject to earlier expiration in accordance with the Plan. Included in the 2.85 million of awards were 1.3 million RSUs and DSUs which were granted to officers and directors of the Company. All awards granted are subject to the Plan and applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Grid Metals Corp. Grid Metals Corp. has a portfolio of exploration and development stage properties focused on battery metals which are located in the Provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, Canada Grid's nickel-copper-PGM portfolio includes: (1) the advanced exploration-stage Makwa-Mayville project in Manitoba, which has a NI 43-101 compliant nickel copper PGM cobalt resource included in the 2014 PEA report authored by RPA and Associates; (2) the exploration stage East Bull Lake Palladium project near Sudbury Ontario, where the Company has had good success in its recent drilling activities; and, (3) the Bannockburn Nickel project south of Timmins, Ontario, which is discussed in this release. Grid is also exploring the Donner Lake Lithium Property in Manitoba and is currently drilling there. To find out more about Grid Metals Corp., please visit www.gridmetalscorp.com. On Behalf of the Board of Grid Metals Corp. Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director Email: rd@gridmetalscorp.com Telephone: 647 201 6844 David Black - Investor Relations Email: info@gridmetalscorp.com Telephone: 416 955-4773 Appendix. Specifications for drill holes from the 2021 Bannockburn B Zone drilling program. Collar coordinates are based on a NAD83 UTM Zone 17N projection. Hole Number Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth (degrees) Dip (degrees) Length (m) GBN21-01 506785 5313730 376 245 -65 250.23 GBN21-02 506785 5313730 376 245 -65 351.25 GBN21-03 506775 5313858 363 245 -65 408.00 GBN21-04 506704 5313991 363 245 -65 349.36 GBN21-05 506586 5313921 362 245 -60 224.00 GBN21-06 506634 5313746 362 65 -65 450.00 GBN21-07 506980 5313536 369 235 -65 402.00 GBN21-08 507077 5313506 364 205 -45 350.00 SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692745/Grid-Metals-Outlines-Drills-Wide-Intercepts-of-Nickel-at-Bannockburn-Nickel-Property-Commences-Mineralogical-Study-on-Project DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the conflict in Ukraine and the appalling human suffering being endured by those affected, The Goodman Foundation, in collaboration with ABP Food Group and the Parma Group (which includes Blackrock Health Group - Blackrock Clinic, Galway Clinic and Hermitage Clinic) is announcing a donation of 3 million to UNICEF, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). ABP and Parma employ a number of Ukrainian nationals in Poland and across Europe. We are working locally with the Polish Authorities and are providing direct humanitarian assistance on the ground to our colleagues impacted by the war in Ukraine. In addition, both the livestock farming community and suppliers of goods and services will be facilitated to make donations. Internal colleague initiatives will also be established for those who wish to make donations. Any money raised from these sources will also be matched, up to an additional total of 2 million. One hundred percent of donations will go directly to UNICEF, MSF and the ICRC to fund the immediate and urgent humanitarian response in Ukraine. A governance structure has been established for the project. This structure will be audited by KPMG. The thoughts of the Goodman Foundation, ABP Food Group, Parma Group and our employees are with those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and with our many Ukrainian colleagues and friends Issued on behalf of Goodman Foundation, ABP Food Group, Parma Group Groupe Gorge announces that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the shareholders of iXblue to acquire 100% of its capital on the basis of an enterprise value of 410 million. This transaction will bring together iXblue and ECA Group, a Groupe Gorge subsidiary specializing in autonomous robotics. A press release detailing the transaction will be issued on Monday morning before the opening of the stock market. Trading in Groupe Gorge shares on Euronext Paris has been suspended since this morning at the request of Groupe Gorge pending a press release on the progress of the iXblue acquisition process. The resumption of trading will take place on Monday morning at the opening of the stock market. About Groupe Gorge Groupe Gorge is a high-tech industrial group driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture. The Group is present in drones, engineering and protection systems. The Group generated revenue of 202 million in 2021. More information on www.groupe-gorge.com Groupe Gorge is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment B (GOE). Contacts : Investor Relations Hugo Soussan Tel. +33 (0)1 44 77 94 86 h.soussan@groupe-gorge.com Claire Riffaud Tel. +33 (0)1 53 67 36 79 criffaud@actus.fr Media Relations Manon Clairet Tel. +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73 mclairet@actus.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: x2qfk5tqaWjGmZ5pYpyZZpJnaJeVmpOXamqbnGqalJzJbG6RyGaWacmZZnBkmmlq - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-73544-cp_acquisition-ixblue_11-03-2022_en.pdf The "Europe Molded Pulp Packaging Market Size, Share Trends Analysis Report by Source (Wood Pulp, Non-wood Pulp), by Packaging Type (Transfer, Thermoformed), by Application, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2020-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe molded pulp packaging market size is expected to reach USD 1.43 billion by 2028. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2020 to 2028. Rising usage of molded fiber for the packaging of eggs and fruits in Europe is expected to fuel the growth of the market. The European Union (EU) is amongst the top four egg-producing regions globally. As per the European Commission, the overall egg production in the region was 6,313 thousand tons in 2020. Whereas, according to International Egg Commission, the average egg consumption in the European Union is 210 eggs per person per year. These factors are expected to fuel the demand for molded pulp packaging in the region. The EU is focusing on banning the use of single-use plastic products, along with foam, in a variety of food packaging and foodservice applications and electronics and industrial applications. Supportive regulatory policies promoting the use of sustainable packaging solutions are expected to augment the growth of the market during the forecast period. Increasing adoption of sustainable practices by businesses in their supply chain activities is anticipated to increase the penetration of molded pulp products in European countries. For instance, in March 2021, AR Packaging introduced a fiber-based barrier tray for fresh vegetables and fruit in order to attract retailers and food producers in search of plastic alternative packaging solutions. Pulp made from recycled paper products is further increasingly being promoted in the region to reduce the burden on virgin wood pulp. Europe Molded Pulp Packaging Market Report Highlights The non-wood pulp source segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period. Increasing concerns over deforestation leading to challenges associated with the availability of wood pulp are expected to support the demand for non-wood pulp sources such as bagasse, rice straw, flax, and hemp Market players are focusing on new product development and mergers acquisitions to strengthen their market presence. For instance, in January 2021, Brodrene Hartmann A/S acquired Gotek-Litar JSC, headquartered in Russia and involved in producing molded fiber packaging. The acquisition was a part of the former's strategy to increase its foothold in Europe in the market The thermoformed packaging type segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period owing to thin walls, a smoother finish, and better dimensions of thermoformed pulp packaging. The products offer alternative solutions to plastic thermoformed packaging and are thus expected to gain traction The food packaging application segment held the second-largest revenue share in 2020. Molded pulp trays and clamshells are widely used for packaging eggs, fruits, vegetables, and meat and poultry products in the fresh food industry, thus supporting the segment growth The Scandinavian region is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period. The region is characterized by the presence of countries that are major producers of pulp and pulp-based products. Finland and Sweden were ranked among the largest producers of these products in 2020 in the European region, thereby fueling the growth of the market Market Dynamics Market Drivers Rising consumption of eggs Growing demand for sustainable packaging Market Restraints Availability of substitute packaging products Industry Challenges Aesthetic limitation of molded pulp products Companies Mentioned Brodrene Hartmann A/S Omni-Pac Group Huhtamaki Pulp-Tec Limited Eco-Products, Inc. TART PAPACKS Sales GmbH Kiefel Packaging Switch Packaging Specialists Ltd. AR Packaging For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5u3mvg View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005392/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Regulatory News: Philippe Charrier, CEO of ORPEA (Paris:ORP), issued the following statement: "First and foremost, I wish to convey my full support to residents, patients and their families. I appreciate how they must feel in the face of the allegations against the Group and the ongoing discussions around care for the elderly. I wish to reassure them that we have been doing everything to shed light on what we are accused of. We owe this transparency to all of our stakeholders, and above all to residents and their families. This is also why the Board of Directors immediately created an ad-hoc Committee and appointed Grant Thornton and Alvarez Marsal to perform independent external evaluation missions. All of our teams are fully cooperating in order to facilitate their work. Since the end of January, around 150 of the Group's facilities in France have undergone administrative inspections, which the teams have welcomed with professionalism. I promise to ensure that all observations be considered with utmost seriousness and recommendations be implemented as quickly as possible. As part of the finalisation phase of the IGF and IGAS investigations1, we are working on the responses to be provided. ORPEA fully supports the announcements made in recent days by the public authorities in France, with the aim of guaranteeing greater control, quality and transparency in nursing homes and strengthening the confidence that families have in the sector as a whole. The company is committed to deploying these measures with the utmost diligence in its facilities, with some of the measures being a continuation of actions or reflections already initiated. Finally, now more than ever, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our 70,000 employees for their unwavering commitment to the residents, patients and families. I appreciate the total dedication that they bring to work every day and I know how much this situation has affected them. I wish to reiterate the trust that I have in them." In accordance with the press release of 23 February 2022, ORPEA is publishing a preliminary selection of key financial indicators for the financial year ended 31 December 2021. The audited financial statements will be published after the release of the various reports and initial findings of administrative investigations (IGF, standing for: Inspection Generale des Finances French inspectorate general for finance and IGAS, standing for: Inspection Generale des Affaires Sociales French inspectorate general for social affairs) and external independent audits (Grant Thornton and Alvarez Marsal), scheduled for mid-March and mid-April respectively. Should the contents of the reports and initial findings identify new elements, the Company may need to reflect this in the financial statements, depending on their materiality. The audit of the financial statements is in progress. The publication of these financial indicators was approved by the Board of Directors on 11 March 2022. Key indicators for 2021 results The 2021 results are presented in accordance with IFRS accounting standards, including IFRS 16, and pursuant to the applicable regulations and recommendations. In million (IFRS) audit in progress 2021 2020 Change Revenue 4,285 3,922 +9.2% EBITDAR (EBITDA before rental expenses) 1,068 963 +10.9% EBITDAR margin 24.9% 24.6% EBITDA 1,037 926 +12.0% 2021 revenue stood at 4,285 million, up +9.2% (including +5.1% organic growth). This change reflects the contributions from new facilities opened in 2021, the acquisitions carried out (including First Care, Belmont and Brindley in Ireland and Sensato in Switzerland) and the rise in the level of activity. EBITDAR (EBITDA before rental expenses) stood at 1,068 million, representing a margin of 24.9% on the FY2021 revenue. Financial debt and rental commitments as at 31/12/2021 In million (IFRS) audit in progress 2021 2020 Net debt 7,767 6,653 Gross debt 8,809 7,542 Cash 1,042 889 Rental commitments (IFRS 16) 3,229 2,987 Amount of real-estate rental expenses (1) 383 354 (1) It should be noted, where necessary, that real-estate rental expenses are not deducted from EBITDA in accordance with IFRS 16 Net financial debt stood at 7,767 million. The observed increase is mainly due to the investments made in construction projects and external growth in 2021. At end-2021, cash stood at 1,042 million. Update on the planned acquisition of Hestia Alliance ORPEA announces that the acquisition of the Spanish group, Hestia Alliance has eventually not been completed, due to certain key conditions precedent not being met before the long stop date. Financial schedule The Company will publish its financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2021 and hold its analyst meeting before the end of April 2022. The exact date will be communicated in due course. Communication The company will continue to ensure that all shareholders are fully informed of the forthcoming actions to be undertaken, in full transparency and in compliance with stock market regulations. With respect to shareholders and investors, the company will favour, in the coming period, public communication over any other form of communication. About ORPEA (www.orpea-corp.com) Founded in 1989, ORPEA is one of the world leaders in Dependency care (nursing homes, assisted living, post-acute and rehabilitation hospitals, mental health hospitals, home care services) ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120, STOXX 600 Europe, MSCI Small Cap Europe and CAC Mid 60 indices. 1 IGF: Inspection Generale des Finances French inspectorate general for finance and IGAS: Inspection Generale des Affaires Sociales French inspectorate general for social affairs View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005421/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations ORPEA Steve Grobet EVP Communication and Investor Relations s.grobet@orpea.net Benoit Lesieur Investor Relations Director b.lesieur@orpea.net Investor Relations NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 orpea@newcap.eu Media Relations Image 7 Laurence Heilbronn Tel.: +33 (0)6 89 87 61 37 lheilbronn@image7.fr Charlotte Le Barbier Tel.: +33 (0)6 78 37 27 60 clebarbier@image7.fr Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2022) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF) ("Los Andes" or the "Company") announces that in accordance with the terms of the US$5,000,000 eight per cent convertible debenture issued to Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. ("Queen's Road Capital") on June 2, 2021 (the "Convertible Debenture"), and the terms of a trust indenture entered into between the Company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada dated June 2, 2021 (the "Trust Indenture"), the Company has elected to issue 3,275 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a deemed price of US$11.45 (C$14.73) to Queen's Road Capital as payment for US$37,499 (C$48,241) in interest owing on the Convertible Debenture. Under the terms of the Trust Indenture, interest on the Convertible Debenture is payable quarterly, five per cent in cash and three per cent in shares, at the greater of: (i) the 20-day volume weighted average price prior to the interest payment date; or (ii) the Discounted Market Price (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V")). The issuance of the Common Shares as payment for interest owing on the Convertible Debenture is subject to the terms and conditions of the Trust Indenture as well as the receipt of all requisite approvals, including, without limitation, the approval of the TSX-V. About Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. is a leading financier to the global resource sector. The company is a resource focused investment company, making investments in privately held and publicly traded resource companies. It is intended that the company will acquire and hold securities for both long-term capital appreciation and short-term gains, with a focus on convertible debt securities and resource projects in advanced development or production located in safe jurisdictions. Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: QRC. About Los Andes Copper Ltd. Los Andes Copper Ltd. is an exploration and development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing the Project, which is located along Chile's most prolific copper belt, into production. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile's next major copper mine. The Company is currently drilling at the Vizcachitas project. Recent drill results include 1177.15m at 0.50% Copper Equivalent. The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 120 kilometres north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. The Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA"), delivered in June 2019, highlights that the Project has a post tax NPV of $1.8 billion and an IRR of 20.77%, based on a $3 per pound copper price. It also has a Measured Resources of 254.4 million tonnes having a grade of 0.439% copper and Indicated Resource of approximately 1.03 billion tonnes having a grade of 0.385% copper. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Please refer to the technical report dated June 13, 2019, with an effective date of May 10, 2019 and titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Vizcachitas Project", prepared by Tetra Tech. The PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA. Qualified Persons Antony Amberg CGeol FGS, the Company's Chief Geologist, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. The QP has validated the data by, supervising the sample collection process, through chain of custody records and inspecting the detailed technical data and quality control and assurance information. For more information please contact: R. Michael Jones , P.Eng CEO rmj@losandescopper.com +44 203 4407982 Blytheweigh, Financial PR Megan Ray Rachael Brooks Tel: +44 207 138 3203 E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com Follow us on twitter @LosAndesCopper Follow us on LinkedIn Los Andes Copper Ltd Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend"; statements that an event or result is "due" on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information. Such Forward-Looking Information includes, without limitation, the timing of and ability to obtain TSX-V and other regulatory approvals and the prospects, details related to and timing of the Vizcachitas Project. Such Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company's assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy and the Company's production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company's future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116478 Hong Kong: Patrick Nip meets civil service unions Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today met representatives from the four central civil service consultative councils and the four major service-wide staff unions. During the meeting, Mr Nip elaborated on the Governments overall anti-epidemic strategies and government employees' engagement in anti-epidemic work, as well as listened to the views and concerns of the staff side representatives. He thanked the large number of government staff who have displayed exemplary diligence in the fight against the epidemic, saying that their dedication has proved the criticisms against the civil service were wrong. Mr Nip pointed out that government employees should oblige to departmental arrangements and take part in the anti-epidemic effort, no matter what their original and usual duties are. The Government will provide frontline anti-epidemic staff with appropriate and adequate protective equipment and measures, he added. Relevant briefings will be held before operations, and guidelines and videos on the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment uploaded by health authorities will be provided to colleagues for reference in advance. Testing will also be arranged after operations to staff members in need. The civil service chief encouraged government staff to continue to work in unity and spare no effort in jointly assuming the main responsibilities in curbing the epidemic. Furthermore, having regard to the latest advice from health authorities, the Civil Service Bureau issued guidelines today providing that staff members who are regarded as a close contact of a positive case can resume duty at the workplace upon completion of quarantine as directed, without needing to wait for their household members to recover or complete isolation. The guidelines also state that under the fifth wave of the epidemic, government employees who have undergone isolation as directed and recovered will not be required to undergo isolation again even if tested positive again. Heads of departments may make suitable work arrangements for such cases having regard to individual circumstances. From the beginning of the fifth wave of the epidemic to March 10, there were around 28,600 COVID-19 cases among government employees, of which over 8,000 have resumed duty. The remaining employees will resume duty upon recovery or completion of isolation according to the Department of Health's directions. This story has been published on: 2022-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Volkswagen Anhui started construction on a proving ground on Wednesday in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province. It is expected to be finished in the middle of 2023, said the joint venture in which Volkswagen holds a majority stake. The proving ground, covering around 200,000 square meters, focuses on performance and functions testing, and hardware and software applications for vehicles in the development stage, said the carmaker. Key aspects will cover vehicles' noise, vibration harshness testing as well as driving-assist systems, and connectivity. "The introduction of our R&D proving ground facilitates the fast development of local solutions, bringing us one step closer to delivering our exciting NEV products to China and worldwide customers," said Ludger Luehrmann, Volkswagen Anhui's chief technology officer. He said the trend of electrification and digitalization urges the company to speed up the development of future mobility, especially in China, a global frontrunner in new energy vehicles' innovation. Last year, over 3.5 million electric and plug-in vehicles were sold in China, ranking first in the world, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The association expects their figures to reach 5 million this year as demand continues to rise especially in big cities. Volkswagen Anhui said the proving ground is part of its R&D facility, which units development, quality assurance, vehicle prototype manufacturing and comprehensive testing under one roof. Local R&D capabilities at Volkswagen Anhui are key to the group's transformation and e-mobility strategy, said the joint venture in a statement. The R&D Center is currently building up the battery and vehicle component workshops and the pre-series center, with a target of completion by the end of this year. By then the center will have over 700 employees, said the company. LVIV, Ukraine Russia widened its offensive in Ukraine on Friday, striking airfields in the west and a major industrial city in the east, while the huge armored column that had been stalled for over a week outside Kyiv was on the move again, spreading out into forests and towns near the capital. On the economic and political front, the U.S. and its allies moved to further isolate and sanction Russia by revoking its most favored trading status, while on the ground, the Kremlins forces appeared to be trying to regroup and regain momentum after encountering heavier losses and stiffer resistance than anticipated. Advertisement Its ugly already, but its going to get worse, said Nick Reynolds, a land warfare analyst at Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. With the invasion in its 16th day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there had been certain positive developments in Russia-Ukraine talks, but gave no details. Advertisement For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had reached a strategic turning point, though he did not elaborate. Its impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it, he said via video from Kyiv. He also said authorities were working on establishing 12 humanitarian corridors and trying to ensure food, medicine and other basics get to people across the country. Thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed in the invasion. So far, the Russians have made the biggest advances on cities in the east and south including in Mariupol, the heavily bombarded seaport where civilians scrounged for food and fuel amid a harrowing 10-day-old siege while struggling in the north and around Kyiv. On Friday, they continued to launch airstrikes in urban areas such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, while also pounding targets away from the main battle zones. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russia used high-precision long-range weapons to put military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west out of action. A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces walks on the debris of a car wash destroyed by a Russian bombing in Baryshivka, east of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Felipe Dana/AP) The Lutsk strikes killed four Ukrainian servicemen and wounded six, Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said. In Ivano-Frankivsk, residents were ordered into shelters in an air raid alert Russian airstrikes also targeted for the first time the eastern city of Dnipro, a major industrial hub and Ukraines fourth-largest city, situated on the Dnieper River. Three strikes hit, killing at least one person, according to Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Heraschenko. Advertisement In images of the aftermath released by Ukraines emergency agency, firefighters doused a flaming building, and ash fell on bloodied rubble. Smoke billowed over shattered concrete where buildings once stood. In another potentially ominous development, new satellite photos appeared to show the massive Russian convoy outside the Ukrainian capital had split up and fanned out. Howitzers were towed into position to open fire, and armored units were seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city, according to Maxar Technologies, the company that produced the images. The 40-mile line of tanks and other vehicles had massed outside Kyiv early last week. But its advance had appeared to stall amid reports of food and fuel shortages, muddy roads and attacks by Ukrainian troops with anti-tank missiles. The purpose of the latest move was unclear, though Russia is widely expected eventually to try to encircle the capital. Britains Ministry of Defense said that after making limited progress, Russian forces were trying to re-set and re-posture their troops, gearing up for operations against Kyiv. Advertisement But Reynolds, the defense analyst, said the move, in part, looked like an attempt by the troops to better protect themselves by dispersing. He said it may indicate the Russians are not ready to surround the city just yet. Repeated rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have taken place along the Belarus border, and the two countries foreign ministers held talks on Thursday with no apparent progress, while various third countries have also made attempts to broker a stop to the fighting. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the fact that negotiations are taking place so early in the fighting might speak to Russian concerns about the progress of the war. On Wednesday, Ukrainian soldiers traversed snow-dusted fields and woods near Kyiv, rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers slung over their shoulders, in a video recorded by Radio Free Europe. One of them vowed to kill their enemies over the bombing of Mariupol. Gunfire and explosions could be heard, and at one point, shots split the air nearby, and the soldiers dropped to the ground and returned fire. In Washington, President Joe Biden announced the U.S. will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia as punishment for its invasion and also ban imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The move to revoke to revoke most favored nation status for Russia was taken in coordination with the European Union and Group of Seven countries. Advertisement The free world is coming together to confront Putin, Biden said. Stripping most favored nation status from Russia would allow the U.S. and allies to impose higher tariffs on some Russian imports. Other Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow to Russia, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Putin has insisted Russia can endure sanctions. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The United Nations political chief said the U.N. has received credible reports that Russian forces are using cluster bombs in Ukraine, including in populated areas. Cluster bombs scatter bomblets over wide areas. Their use against civilians is prohibited under international law. In Syria, Russia backed the government in imposing long, brutal sieges of opposition-held cities, wreaking heavy destruction and causing widespread civilian casualties. That history, along with the siege of Mariupol, has raised fears of similar bloodshed in Ukraine. Temperatures sank below freezing across most of Ukraine and were forecast to hit -13 degrees Celsius (8 Fahrenheit) in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which has come under heavy bombardment. About 400 apartment buildings in Kharkiv lost heat, and Mayor Ihor Terekhov appealed to remaining residents to descend into the subway or other underground shelters where blankets and hot food were being distributed. Advertisement The bombardment continued in Mariupol, where a deadly strike on a maternity hospital this week sparked international outrage and war-crime allegations. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians from the city of 430,000 have been thwarted by continued attacks, and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk put the number of dead there at more than 1,300. Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the United Nations. Associated Press journalists Felipe Dana and Andrew Drake in Kyiv, Ukraine, along with other reporters around the world contributed. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil prices climbed higher on Friday on concerns about disruptions in supply amid uncertainty about any meaningful progress in talks between Russia and Ukraine. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly stated that 'certain positive shifts' have occurred in the talks between the Kremlin and Ukraine, a ceasefire has not been negotiated. According to reports, Russia has widened its attacks to more Ukrainian cities. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for April ended higher by $3.31 or about 3.1% at $109.33 a barrel. WTI crude futures shed about 5.5% in the week. Brent crude futures were up $3.20 or nearly 3% at $112.53 a little while ago. Talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on Friday faced the threat of collapse with world powers pausing negotiations for an undetermined time following a last-minute Russian demand. Reports that some OPEC+ producers, including Angola and Nigeria, have struggled to meet their production targets, contributed as well to the uptick in crude oil prices. A report released by Baker Hughes showed the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil increased by eight to 527 this week. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, climbed by 13 to 663, the report said. 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. Cian PLC (NYSE: CIAN, MOEX: CIAN) ("Cian" or the "Company"), a leading online real estate classifieds platform in Russia, today announced that Ms. Cloe Harford has tendered her resignation as a member of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), effective as of 4:02 p.m. Eastern time on March 8, 2022 (the "Effective Time"). Ms. Harford informed the Company that she has resigned as a result of recent geopolitical developments. Ms. Harford served as a member of each of the Audit Committee of the Board (the "Audit Committee"), the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board (the "Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee") and the Strategy Committee of the Board (the "Strategy Committee"). On March 10, 2022, upon recommendation of the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board appointed Gilles Blanchard to the Audit Committee, with effect immediately following the Effective Time. The Board has determined that, after due consideration of all relevant factors, Mr. Blanchard qualifies as independent under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). The Board has also determined that, based on his education and experience, Mr. Blanchard is financially literate in accordance with the requirements of the NYSE. Following Mr. Blanchard's appointment, the Audit Committee consists of Douglas Gardner, Simon Baker and Gilles Blanchard, with Mr. Gardner serving as Chairperson. On March 10, 2022, upon recommendation of the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board appointed Maksim Melnikov to the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee, with effect immediately following the Effective Time. Following Mr. Melnikov's appointment, the Compensation, Governance and Nominating consists of Gilles Blanchard, Dmitry Antipov and Maksim Melnikov, with Mr. Blanchard serving as Chairperson. Further, following the resignation of Ms. Harford, the Strategy Committee consists solely of Simon Baker, who serves as Chairperson. The Company has previously disclosed in its registration statement on Form F-1, declared effective by the SEC on November 4, 2021, that it follows the corporate governance practices of its home country, Cyprus, in lieu of certain of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. In addition to the previously disclosed practices, the Company intends to rely on this "foreign private issuer exemption" with respect to: (i) NYSE Rule 303A.01, which requires an issuer to have, among other things, a majority of its board members be independent; (ii) NYSE Rule 303A.4, which requires an issuer to have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors; (iii) NYSE Rule 303A.05, which requires an issuer to have a compensation committee comprised entirely of independent directors. About Cian Cian is a leading online real estate classifieds platform in the large, underpenetrated and growing Russian real estate classifieds market, with a strong presence across Russia and leading positions in the country's key metropolitan areas. The Company ranks among the top ten most popular online real estate classifieds globally in terms of traffic (based on SimilarWeb traffic data for other online real estate classifieds and Google Analytics data for Cian for September 2021). Cian's networked real estate platform connects millions of real estate buyers and renters to millions of high-quality real estate listings of all types residential and commercial, primary and secondary, urban and suburban. In the third quarter of 2021, the Company had over 1.9 million listings available through its platform and an average UMV of over 18.7 million. Through its technology-driven platform and deep insights into the Russian real estate market the Company provides an end-to-end experience for its customers and users and helps them address multiple pain points on their journey to a new home or place to work. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our financial outlook for 2021 and long-term growth strategy, as well as statements that include the words "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend, intend," may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: our ability to maintain our leading market positions, particularly in Moscow, St. Petersburg and certain other regions, and our ability to achieve and maintain leading market position in certain other regions; our ability to compete effectively with existing and new industry players in the Russian real estate classifieds market; our heavy dependence on our brands and reputation; any potential failure to adapt to any substantial shift in real estate transactions from, or demand for services in, certain Russian geographic markets; any downturns in the Russian real estate market and general economic conditions in Russia; any effect on our operations due to cancellation of, or any changes to, the Russian mortgage subsidy program or other government support programs; further widespread impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other public health crises, natural disasters or other catastrophic events which may limit our ability to conduct business as normal; our ability to establish and maintain important relationships with our customers and certain other parties; any failure to establish and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting; any failure to remediate existing deficiencies we have identified in our internal controls over financial reporting, including our information technology general controls; any new or existing government regulation in the area of data privacy, data protection or other areas and the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" (in particular, "Risks Relating to the Russian Federation" thereunder) in Cian's prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 4, 2021, and our other filings with the SEC as such factors may be updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005437/en/ Contacts: Investor: Varvara Kiseleva Head of Capital Markets and IR ir@cian.ru Media: Olga Podoliaka po@cian.ru TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Investment Fund VCC (TSX:FAP) (UEN: T21VC0235H) (the "Company"), today announced the results of the 2021 voluntary cash redemption. Requests for redemption of approximately 18,203,795 ordinary shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), representing approximately 35.9% of the current issued and outstanding Shares, have been submitted by shareholders. As previously announced, the VCC Constitution of the Company limits the annual redemption to 10% of the issued and outstanding Shares on the final day on which to submit Shares for redemption, which was March 9, 2022. Payment of the redemption proceeds will be made on or before April 22, 2022 at a redemption price equal to price equal to 100% of the Average Net Asset Value (NAV) of the three trading days preceding the March 31, 2022 redemption date, less direct costs. Shares that have been submitted for redemption will remain eligible for the March 2022 distribution. Important Information Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal will fluctuate and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. NAV returned data includes investment management fees, custodial charges, bank loan expenses and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. The Company is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal. Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the Company's net asset value during each period. Total return based on market price reflects changes in market value. abrdn is the registered marketing name in Canada for the following entities: abrdn Canada Limited, Aberdeen Standard Investments Luxembourg, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, abrdn Capital Partners LLP, abrdn Investment Management Limited, Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited, and Aberdeen Capital Management LLC. abrdn Canada Limited is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer in all provinces and territories of Canada as well as an Investment Fund Manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Company's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the Company. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of future financial performance and condition of the Company, are factors and assumptions which, although considered reasonable by the Company, Aberdeen Standard Investments (Canada) Limited, Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., and/or Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited, as applicable, at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Shareholders are cautioned that actual results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the completion of the proposed Re-domiciliation and the anticipated benefits of the Re-domiciliation, general economic and market factors, including credit, currency, political and interest-rate risks and could differ materially from what is currently expected. The Company has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact Investor.Relations@abrdn.com https://www.abrdn.com/en-ca/canadaclosedend For More Information Contact: abrdn Inc. Investor Relations 1-800-992-6341 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692807/Abrdn-Asia-Pacific-Income-Fund-VCC-Announces-Results-of-2022-Voluntary-Cash-Redemption RICHMOND HILL, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX:HBP) ("Helix" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field of immuno-oncology, based on its proprietary technological platform DOS47, today announces that it has closed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $1,001,000 from the issuance of 3,850,000 common share at a price of $0.26 per common share. In addition, the Company announces that it has applied to the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") to introduce an Incentive Plan (as defined below) to temporarily reduce the exercise price of its issued and outstanding common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") that are not held by insiders of the Company, or non-arm's length parties, including all such Warrants expiring on March 31, 2022 to May 12, 2026 ("Eligible Warrants"), from their current respective exercise prices to a reduced exercise price of $0.26 (the "Incentive Exercise Price"). Private Placement Mr. Jerzy Wilczewski ("Mr. Wilczewski"), an insider of the Company, subscribed for all 3,850,000 of the common shares issued under the private placement. As a result of the closing of the private placement, Mr. Wilczewski owns, or exercises control or direction over, 23,467,153 common shares, representing approximately 15.94% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis, or approximately 24.95% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the full exercise of the 17,659,500 common share purchase warrants that Mr. Wilczewski owns or exercises control or direction over. "I strongly believe in the new strategy and look forward to further advancements of the company's L-DOS47 drug platform" said Mr. Wilczewski. "We are very appreciative of Mr. Wilczewski's continued support" said Dr. Majewski, Helix's Interim Chief Executive Officer. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the private placement for working capital and advancing the Company's L-DOS47 drug development program. The purchase of common shares by Mr. Wilczewski 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 Company relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of Mr. Wilczewski 's purchase of common shares. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction less than 21 days prior to the closing of the private placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of the proceeds of the private placement in an expeditious manner. Warrant Incentive Program The Company has applied to the TSX to temporarily reduce the exercise price of all of its issued and outstanding Eligible Warrants, being those Warrants that are not held by insiders of the Company or non-arm's length parties, including all such Warrants expiring on March 31, 2022 to May 12, 2026, from their current respective exercise prices ranging from $0.70 to $1.98 to a reduced Incentive Exercise Price of $0.26 as an incentive (the "Incentive Program") to the holders of Eligible Warrants to exercise such Eligible Warrants over a limited period commencing on March 28, 2022 until April 28, 2022 (the "Early Exercise Period"). The implementation of the Incentive Program is subject to the approval of the TSX. Proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of Eligible Warrants, if any, will be used for working capital and advancing the Company's L-DOS47 drug development program. The terms and conditions of the Incentive Program and the method of exercising Eligible Warrants pursuant to the Program will be set forth in a letter which will be delivered to each holder of Eligible Warrants at their registered address. New certificates representing the Eligible Warrants will not be issued in connection with the Incentive Program. The Eligible Warrants include an aggregate of 49,806,469 warrants that if exercised at the Incentive Exercise Price will result in the Company receiving gross proceeds of up to $12,949,682 There can be no assurances as to the number of Eligible Warrants that will be exercised under the Incentive Program or if any Eligible Warrants will be exercised under the Incentive Program at all. The dates of each private placement under which the Eligible Warrants were issued, the original issue price of the units of which the Eligible Warrants formed a part of, the total number of Eligible Warrants, the original exercise price of the Eligible Warrants, the current expiry dates of the Warrants and the proposed Incentive Exercise Price of the Eligible Warrants are as follows: Date of Distribution Issue Price of Units (if applicable) under Private Placement ($) Eligible Warrants (#) Current Expiry Date of Warrants Current Exercise Price ($) Incentive Exercise Price July 10, 2014 $1.60 2,935,500 July 9, 2023 $2.24 April 28, 2022 April 1, 2015 $1.10 3,680,000 March 31, 2022 $1.54 April 28, 2022 April 29, 2015 $1.10 1,003,500 April 28, 2022 $1.54 April 28, 2022 April 27, 2016 $1.50 2,837,000 April 26, 2023 $1.98 April 28, 2022 July 29, 2016 $1.46 1,250,000 July 28, 2023 $1.82 April 28, 2022 August 18, 2016 $1.54 644,675 August 17, 2023 $1.92 April 28, 2022 December 29, 2016 $1.20 1,313,000 December 28, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 December 30, 2016 $1.20 207,000 December 29, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 April 27, 2017 $1.20 683,300 April 26, 2022 $1.50 April 28, 2022 June 7, 2017 $1.20 2,433,500 June 6, 2022 $1.50 April 28, 2022 August 31, 2017 $1.20 1,092,500 August 30, 2022 $1.50 April 28, 2022 October 19, 2017 $1.20 3,258,000 October 18, 2022 $1.50 April 28, 2022 December 22, 2017 $1.20 625,500 December 21, 2022 $1.50 April 28, 2022 April 30, 2018 $1.20 254,500 April 29, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 June 7, 2018 $1.20 1,284,000 June 6, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 July 9, 2018 $1.20 333,500 July 8, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 August 8, 2018 $1.20 682,000 August 7, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 September 10, 2018 $1.20 380,000 September 9, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 October 30, 2018 $1.20 285,000 October 29, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 December 6, 2018 $1.20 726,000 December 5, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 December 20, 2018 $1.20 285,000 December 19, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 December 28, 2018 $1.20 290,000 December 27, 2023 $1.50 April 28, 2022 March 15, 2019 $0.51 1,195,000 March 14, 2024 $0.72 April 28, 2022 April 18, 2019 $0.51 1,992,922 April 17, 2024 $0.72 April 28, 2022 April 29, 2019 $0.51 1,000,000 April 28, 2024 $0.72 April 28, 2022 May 29, 2019 $0.51 996,000 May 28, 2024 $0.72 April 28, 2022 January 13, 2020 $0.30 2,940,000 January 12, 2025 $1.43 April 28, 2022 March 12, 2020 $1.0332 5,042,016 March 11, 2025 $1.67 April 28, 2022 December 4, 2020 $0.50 2,200,000 December 3, 2025 $0.70 April 28, 2022 December 30, 2020 $0.50 6,000,000 December 29, 2025 $0.70 April 28, 2022 May 13, 2021 Issued upon closing of a $3,500,000 convertible security 1,957,056 May 12, 2026 $1.03 April 28, 2022 In connection with the proposed adoption of the Incentive Program, the Company also announces that it is extending the exercise period of a total of 3,680,000 Warrants (the "Extended Warrants"), all of which are held by arm's length parties, until April 28, 2022 (the "Warrant Extension"). The Extended Warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement of the Company that closed in April 2015, have a current exercise price of $1.54 (prior to the contemplated adjustment pursuant to the Incentive Program) and an expiry date of March 31, 2022 and represent approximately 2.55% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares. The expiry date of the Extended Warrants is being extended in order to provide the holders of such Warrants with the opportunity to exercise their Extended Warrants pursuant to the terms of the Incentive Program. The Warrant Extension is subject to the approval of the TSX. About Helix BioPharma Corp. Helix BioPharma Corp. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field of immune-oncology for the prevention and treatment of cancer based on our proprietary technological platform DOS47. Helix is listed on the TSX under the symbol "HBP". For more information, please contact: Helix BioPharma Corp. 9120 Leslie Street, Suite 205 Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3J9 Tel: 905-841-2300 x 233 Frank Michalargias, Chief Financial Officer ir@helixbiopharma.com Forward-Looking Statements and Risks and Uncertainties This news release contains forward-looking statements and information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements and information that are not historical facts but instead include financial projections and estimates, statements regarding plans, goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to the Company's future business, operations, research and development, including the Company's activities relating to DOS47, and statements regarding the Company's belief that it is positioned as a leader in addressing newer treatment avenues for cancer, the belief that the Company's recent actions will provide opportunities to de-risk the Company's clinical program and enhance value of the Company's platform and assets, expectations regarding dialogue with market leaders, expectations regarding the enhancement of clinical program design, expectations regarding the timing of clinical trials and the results of such trials, and statements regarding the identification and appointment of a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Forward-looking statements can further be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "ongoing", "estimates", "expects", or the negative thereof or any other variations thereon or comparable terminology referring to future events or results, or that events or conditions "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved, or comparable terminology referring to future events or results. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are also uncertain. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements, including financial outlooks, are intended to provide information about management's current plans and expectations regarding future operations, including without limitation, future financing requirements, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Certain material factors, estimates or assumptions have been applied in making forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, the use of proceeds of the private placement, the timing and expected amount of proceeds to be received in connection with the Incentive Program, and receipt of TSX approval of the Incentive Program and Warrant Extension. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including without limitation; the risk that the Company's assumptions may prove to be incorrect; the risk that additional financing may not be obtainable in a timely manner, or at all, and that clinical trials may not commence or complete within anticipated timelines or the anticipated budget or may fail; third party suppliers of necessary services or of drug product and other materials may fail to perform or be unwilling or unable to supply the Company, which could cause delay or cancellation of the Company's research and development activities; necessary regulatory approvals may not be granted or may be withdrawn; the Company may not be able to secure necessary strategic partner support; general economic conditions, intellectual property and insurance risks; changes in business strategy or plans; and other risks and uncertainties referred to elsewhere in this news release, any of which could cause actual results to vary materially from current results or the Company's anticipated future results. Certain of these risks and uncertainties, and others affecting the Company, are more fully described in the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended July 31, 2021 under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" and Helix's Annual Information Form, in particular under the headings "Forward-looking Statements" and "Risk Factors", and other reports filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com from time to time. Forward-looking statements and information are based on the beliefs, assumptions, opinions and expectations of Helix's management on the date of this new release, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement or information should those beliefs, assumptions, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances change, except as required by law. SOURCE: Helix BioPharma Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/692812/CORRECTION-Helix-Biopharma-Corp-Closes-Private-Placement-andAnnounces-Early-Warrant-Exercise-Incentive-Program-and-Extension-of-Warrant-Exercise-Period WooWoo, a London, UK-based female-powered wellness brand, raised 750K in Seed funding. The backers were not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to extend their reach further with a US launch in late 2022, as well as invest into expanding their product portfolio. Founded in 2016 and led by CEO Lucy Anderson, WooWoo features a range of hair removal and intimate products designed especially for women. The brands main business channel is their e-commerce site WooWoo.fun, which gives the brand a global platform for social advocacy around womens confidence and normalising womens sexuality. In 2021, the brand expanded reach into new territories including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Australia. Anderson will continue to led the business as WooWoos CEO and is joined on the board by Bettina Wonsag as Chairwoman, who brings with her a wealth of beauty e-commerce experience from her previous role as Executive Chairperson at Cult Beauty. FinSMEs 11/03/2022 Bill Cosby looks to the sound of supporters and detractors screaming at him from the sidewalk of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Pennsylvania as he makes his way to the entrance for the first day of sentencing hearings on Sept. 24, 2018. Having endured the loss of her mother to COVID-19, Cynthia White strives to comfort others facing challenges. Travis McMichael, William Roddie Bryan and Gregory McMichael were found guilty in the federal hate crimes trial. In January, the men were found guilty of killing Ahmaud Arbery by a Georgia state court. Jennie Joseph is the founder of Commonsense Childbirth Inc., which operates a training institute, health clinics and a birthing center in Orlando. Dr. Raul Pino, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, speaks during a press conference to discuss a COVID-19 updates at the Orlando International Airport on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. (Stephen M. Dowell/ Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) The top state health officer in Orange County, Raul Pino, who was put on administrative leave after questioning low vaccine rates at his office, will return to work Tuesday. Pino, whose paid leave started as the omicron variant roared through the county, has been out of office for two months. Advertisement We know Orange Countys definitely happy to have him back, said Jeremy Redfern, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health. Were happy to have him back. Pino, 58, who has led the Health Department in Orange County since May 2019, earns about $165,000 a year. He was placed on paid administrative leave Jan. 10, about a week after he sent a staff-wide email Jan. 4 revealing that fewer than 14% of the 568 employees in the office had been fully vaccinated with a complete series and booster shot. Advertisement Pinos email Jan. 4 to employees bore a subject line of Concerned for us and our families! He wrote: I have a hard time understanding how can we be in public health and not practice it. I am sorry, but at this point, in the absence of reasonable and real reasons, it is irresponsible not to be vaccinated. We have been at this for two years, we were the first to give vaccines to the masses, we have done more than 300,000 [shots] and we are not even at 50%, pathetic. There are going to be corrective actions that have to be met by Pino, Redfern said. Its not an end-of-the-world thing for him. Asked if Pino had improperly accessed confidential health information of his staff, Redfern said, As a supervisor, somebody shouldnt be asking somebody to do something without a legitimate purpose. ... Hes being brought back and undergoing corrective actions because the department still has confidence in him. Pino confirmed he was reinstated Thursday and will return to the office Tuesday, but declined to comment further. His return was announced this morning by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings during a radio interview. Just yesterday, I had an opportunity to talk to him and he told me that hes going to be returning to work at the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, Demings said during a phone interview with Scott Anez, morning-drive host for WDBO, 107.3 FM and 580 AM. I think thats good news for him and I believe that gives him the opportunity to share with others that he was essentially vindicated without any serious wrongdoing. Demings has previously defended Pino as our trusted partner and friend throughout the pandemic while clashing with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over face-masking and vaccination mandates. Advertisement The mayor praised Pino during the radio interview. Dr. Pino is someone that we all came to respect. He gave sage advice throughout the pandemic to all of Central Florida and, in many ways, he gave advice across the state of Florida, Demings said. Some of what we did here was replicated in other jurisdictions across the country. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > He wished Pino well but added, it remains to be seen just what his relationship with the state and the Florida Department of Health continues to be. Inquiries posed by email to state health officials nearly two months ago were funneled into a public records portal and have yet to be filled. Pino had declined to discuss Health Department business while on paid leave. Pino appeared at over 150 COVID-19 briefings, providing information in English and Spanish beside Demings. Advertisement Florida Department of Health officials had provided few details of the investigation, releasing this statement on Jan. 18: As the decision to get vaccinated is a personal medical choice that should be made free from coercion and mandates from employers, the employee in question has been placed on administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Health is conducting an inquiry to determine if any laws were broken in this case, spokesperson Weesam Khoury said at the time. The Department is committed to upholding all laws, including the ban on vaccine mandates for government employees and will take appropriate action once additional information is known. shudak@orlandosentinel.com Dr. Joseph Ladapo, right, who was appointed Floridas surgeon general by Gov. Ron DeSantis in September 2021, will recommend against giving healthy children COVID-19 vaccines. Abortion should be legal in all circumstances Abortion should be legal in most circumstances Abortion should be legal in a few circumstances Abortion should never be legal in any circumstances Vote View Results These community newsletters are open to all; you do not need to be a member to sign up. (Although we hope you do join us!) This is our best offer! You get home delivery Monday through Saturday plus full digital access any time, on any device with our six-day subscription delivery membership. This membership plan includes member-only benefits like our popular ticket giveaways, all of our email newsletters and access to the daily digital replica of the printed paper. Also, you can share digital access with up to four other household members at no additional cost. Subscriptions renew automatically every 30 days. Call 240-215-8600 to cancel auto-renewal. Most subscribers are served by News-Post carriers; households in some outlying areas receive same-day delivery through the US Postal Service. If your household falls in a postal delivery area, you will be notified by our customer service team. There are no room for rainbows in the Sunshine State, so say opponents of a controversial new bill that would prohibit Florida schools from instructing students on issues of sexuality in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards. Wrongly nicknamed the Dont Say Gay bill, HB1557 is now the latest lightning rod in the classroom culture wars. Opponents wasted little time claiming the bill was hurtful to LGBT students, restrictive of teacher autonomy, and symbolic of the institutionalized bias that LGBT students face in public schools. To those opposing this bill, it is the latest attempt by conservatives to censor and punish modernity. Advertisement Joseph R. Murray II is conservative commentator, a former campaign official for Pat Buchanan and an author. - Original Source: handout (Courtesy photo) But is this reaction justified? Does HB 1557 imperil the well-being of Florida students? Or are progressives of the LGBT left channeling their inner Joan Crawford and having a wire-hanger moment? Make no mistake: as an educator, civil-rights attorney and a happily married gay man, I can firmly state that HB 1557 is not an attempt to marginalized LGBT students or create a group of second-class students. The bill is an appropriate measure geared at removing the culture wars from the classroom, restoring parental authority and protecting the emotional development of students. Advertisement For too long, parents have been asleep at the wheel. Many parents got accustomed to dropping their child off at school and picking them up eight hours later. Throughout my time in the civil-rights arena, I often heard claims that members of the LGBT community were out to recruit children at a young age. Naturally, I scoffed at those claims. Much to my chagrin, some teachers in California proved those claims at least marginally to be true. At an equity conference, two California middle school teachers decried meddlesome parents and provided tips on how to identify LGBT students. It gave America a peek behind the schoolhouse curtain. When we were doing our virtual learning we totally stalked what they were doing on Google, when they werent doing schoolwork, Lori Caldeira told the gathering. One of them was Googling Trans Day of Visibility. And were like, Check. Were going to invite that kid when we get back on campus. Florida, thus, is not trying place a scarlet T on students, but merely trying to work through a complicated issue. Students, especially the middle school and elementary students HB 1557 is trying to protect, are not known for making great judgment calls. They are impressionable and impulsive, rarely knowing what they want. So, issues of sexuality and gender need parental guidance, not teachers stalking internet activity. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Advertisement While COVID has changed many aspects of our public life, education is witnessing one of the biggest cultural shifts. Teachers and school districts no longer have a vise grip on what students are taught and parents, through the ballot box, are demanding accountability. It is this accountability that is the source of the rage pummeling HB 1557. Teachers unions, LGBT advocates, and corporations believe the issue of gender fluidity is settled. But the issue is far from settled, as parents across the nation continue to remind school boards. Schools may act in the place of parents from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but Florida is telling its school districts not to put loco in in loco parentis. Is that such a bad thing? Joseph R. Murray II is an educator, civil rights attorney, and a former speechwriter for Patrick Buchanan. He lives near Memphis. Patients who have HIV and are in need of a transplant for leukemia and would like more information about the trial may email principal investigator Dr. Filippo Milano at fmilano@fredhutch.org. Be the Match, which operates the worlds most ethnically diverse bone marrow registry, found that a white person has a 79% chance of finding a compatible donor, while the chances for a Black person are only 29%. Concerned about patients who cannot find a suitable donor, cancer physicians including Milano developed umbilical cord blood transplantation as an alternative. Cord blood produces immature immune cells that do not require the kind of tissue-type matching required of conventional transplants. It can be a lifesaver for patients who have difficulty finding a close match in donor registries, particularly for people of color. Milano and the Hutch program team perform more than 30 transplants per year about 700 since the program launched in 2006. Nearly two-thirds of their patients came from minority communities. While transplants are difficult, desperate options for patients at risk of dying, more than 70% of those patients survived the procedure. That means over 300 people belonging to minorities have been cured because of cord blood, he said. I think that is outstanding. He is hopeful that, if transplants can cure both leukemia and HIV in patients who have both diseases, the use of cord blood will assure that option is available to patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds who have both HIV and leukemia. That was the case with the New York patient, who was described by her physician as a person of mixed race. To find compatible donors for the new trial, Milano is collaborating with the Cleveland Cord Blood Center to screen donated umbilical cords for the rare HIV resistance traits. The center stores blood from those donations, collected from all over the country. Milano estimates about one million cord blood units are available worldwide in public banks, and about 1% of those could contain the needed mutations. From transplant to gene editing, the long road to elusive HIV cures Milano had been researching the possibility of infusing cord blood carrying HIV resistance traits as early as 2016, when there was only one patient in the world who had been cured of HIV/AIDS: Timothy Ray Brown, a Seattle native who was living in Berlin when he developed acute myeloid leukemia. In 2006, Brown knew that to survive his leukemia he would need a transplant. However, his German physician, Dr. Gero Hutter, thought he might also be able to control Browns HIV if the transplant came from a donor who was naturally resistant to the virus. What if he transplanted stem cells lacking a cell-surface receptor known as CCR5, which HIV uses like a trap door to slip into cells? For this trait to block HIV, the donor would have had to have inherited from both parents a rare mutation known as a CCR5 delta-32 deletion. Only about 1% of northern Europeans (Browns ancestry) carry two copies of the flawed gene, but Hutter found a donor. Brown had his transplant in February 2007, and when his leukemia recurred in 2008, he needed a second one from the same donor. The second transplant was so traumatic he barely survived. Having never restarted his antiviral medications, yet remaining HIV-negative, in 2010 his apparent cure was announced. At the time he remained anonymous, known only as the Berlin Patient. While his HIV never returned, Brown died on Sept. 29, 2020, due to a relapse of leukemia. He was 54. Not long after he began his Ph.D. studies at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City, Dr. Daniel Blanco-Melo found himself reconstructing the genome of a 30-million-year-old virus. Just as paleontologists piece together the evolution of ancient life by studying fossils freed from rocks, the young molecular biologist was discovering the history of ancient pathogens from traces of viral genes woven into the DNA of primates, including humans. Viruses are able to get endogenized. By that, I mean they become part of the genome of the organism they infect. With time, some of these viral sequences were passed from generation to generation until this day, where they are now part of us. Blanco-Melo said. The virus he reconstructed was part of a line known as human endogenous retroviruses, the genetic remnants of which comprise about 8% of the human genome. Blanco-Melo concluded that this particular virus emerged in ancient monkeys 40 million years ago and faded out some 10 million years later yet its history can be traced in the DNA of modern human beings. Now a faculty member at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Blanco-Melo is continuing his exploration of the evolution of viruses and of the immune defenses our bodies have used to protect against these microbial threats. By observing the history of viral evolution, we are gaining insights on the development of our own antiviral strategies," Blanco-Melo said. One of his goals is to match our understanding of how viruses evolve with the parallel evolution of antiviral strategies of the immune systems of humans or our ancient primate ancestors. Gainesville, TX (76240) Today Cloudy early then strong thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 79F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek is pausing all of the companys political donations in Florida after the passage of the dont say gay bill and apologized to employees for his silence during the months-long debate on the measure. In a letter sent to Disney workers, Chapek said the bill was not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights. Advertisement You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down, he wrote. I am sorry. ... But Im an ally you can count on, and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility and opportunity you deserve. The decision by the largest employer in Central Florida could have a major impact on election fundraising for both parties, and it escalates in his war of words with Gov. Ron DeSantis, who accused the company of being woke a day earlier for opposing the bill. Advertisement Disney has given about $55 million to Republicans, Democrats and political committees in the state over the past 28 years, including about $5 million in 2020 and more than $2 million so far in 2022, state records show. The company has also given more than $100,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC since 2019. Chapeks statement comes after a week of criticism from fans and employees about his delayed reaction to the bill, which he opposed only after it passed both houses of the Legislature and was sent to DeSantis for his signature. Disney had already been under fire from the bills critics over its contributions to the bills GOP sponsors, including $11,000 over the last 12 years to GOP state Sen. Dennis Baxley of Ocala. Earlier in the week, Chapek said DeSantis had agreed to meet with him to ensure the bill wouldnt be weaponized against the LGBTQ community. Instead, DeSantis blasted the company as woke and in bed with Chinese communists at an exclusive event publicized on Fox News. If signed by DeSantis, the bill would prohibit discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools up to the third grade and limits it to age-appropriate students in higher grades. Parents would be able to sue school districts over the issue. Republicans argued the bill protects parental rights, while Democrats and LGBTQ groups contend it was intentionally vague and could have a chilling effect on teachers and students. To my fellow colleagues, but especially our LGBTQ+ community, thank you to all who have reached out to me sharing your pain, frustration and sadness over the companys response to the Florida Dont Say Gay bill, Chapek said in his letter. Advertisement Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was, Chapek wrote. Chapek walked back his previous statement to employees that the company could fight against bigotry through its creative content, saying Disney needed to be standing up for the rights of all. Starting immediately, we are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states, Chapek wrote, possibly referring to a similar measure proposed in Georgia and bills targeting transgender children in Texas and Idaho. We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. And today we are opposing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review. Chapek added, there is so much more work to be done and said he would continue to engage with the LGBTQ community in the coming weeks. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > I truly believe we are an infinitely better and stronger company because of our LGBTQ+ community, he wrote. Advertisement While Chapek said he spoke with DeSantis by phone and would meet with him, DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw said Thursday no in-person meeting had been scheduled. Pushaw did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Critics have cited specific concerns over sections of the bill, including the vague wording about banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity that isnt age appropriate that goes beyond the language about kindergarten through third grade. An amendment from GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes that would have widened the classroom instruction ban to human sexuality, and not specifically orientation and identity, failed to pass. The bills Republican sponsors have also been more openly vocal about LGBTQ students, with Baxley complaining about everybody now all about coming out when youre in school. Still, DeSantis has continued to claim that Chapeks opposition is only because he hadnt bothered to read the bill, according to a DeSantis campaign email sent Thursday. The email said a member of his staff would hand-deliver a copy of the bill to Disneys Orlando headquarters and asked for gas money to get him there. Asked if the Florida GOP wanted to comment about Disneys decision to pull contributions, Helen Aguirre Ferre, executive director of the party, wrote in an email: There is no world in which Gov. DeSantis backs down from his commitment to doing whats best for Floridas children and parents. ... Disneys decision to fold under the pressure of the lying-Left is disappointing. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 83F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm late. Low 77F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%. La franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles va revenir prochainement dans l'univers du jeu video avec une compilation de 13 anciens titres. Les Tortues Ninja sont de retour ! Mais en attendant un nouveau jeu video tire de la franchise, il va surtout falloir composer avec une compilation baptisee Cowabunga Collection. Presentee dans le cadre du State of Play de Sony, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Cowabunga Collection propose de regrouper pas moins de 13 titres sortis sur differentes plateformes en 8 et 16 bits ces dernieres annees. Voici la liste des jeux qui seront integres : Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (Arcade) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game (NES) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project (NES) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (NES) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (Super Nintendo) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Super Nintendo) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (Sega Genesis) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Sega Genesis) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of The Foot Clan (Game Boy) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Back From The Sewers (Game Boy) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue (Game Boy) Konami souhaite rassurer les joueurs, il ne s'agira pas d'un simple portage puisque les titres profitent d'une petite mise a jour graphique. Les jeux ont ete confies a Digital Eclipse qui a adapte les jeux en ajoutant des visuels et artworks, mais egalement en developpant des modes multijoueurs en ligne et en local pour certains titres. Des options de sauvegarde seront proposees, tout comme de nouveaux modes de jeu (Boss Rush et Challenge). Il sera possible de configurer les touches et le tout profitera de textures HD. La compilation est attendue sur PS4 et PS5 dans le courant de l'annee, sans date precise pour l'instant. Braden Manning, Gettysburg baseball: Braden went 9-for-13 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 7 RBI over 4 games. He also struck out 11 batters in a win over South Western. Amy Anderson, Delone Catholic softball: Amy went 5-for-12 with 6 RBI, 3 runs scored and a triple over 3 games. She also struck out 17 batters and went 2-1 in those games. Parker Sanders, Bermudian Springs Tennis: Parker won 3 matches on his way to a fourth-place finish in the YAIAA Class 2A Singles Tournament. Andrew Koons, Fairfield baseball: Andrew went 5-for-11 with 8 RBI, 4 runs scored and 2 home runs over 3 games, including a grand slam. He was also the winning pitcher against Biglerville. Ben Angstadt, Biglerville baseball: Ben went 8-for-17 with 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, a double and a home run over 4 games for the Canners. Vote View Results Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly attacked Disney, one of Floridas largest employers, on Thursday after its CEO voiced concerns with Floridas so-called dont say gay bill approved by the Florida Legislature this week. DeSantis slammed Disney at an event with supporters in Boca Raton, accusing the company of staying silent on human rights abuses in China while pushing woke ideology, according to a video aired exclusively on Fox News website. Advertisement The DeSantis-Disney battle centers on legislation officially titled Parental Rights in Education but called the dont say gay bill by critics. The bill limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for grades kindergarten through three or in a manner that is not age appropriate. You have companies, like at Disney, that are going to say and criticize parents rights, theyre going to criticize the fact that we dont want transgenderism in kindergarten in first grade classrooms, DeSantis said. If thats the hill theyre going to die on, then how do they possibly explain lining their pockets with their relationship from the Communist Party of China? Because thats what they do, and they make a fortune, and they dont say a word about the really brutal practices that you see over there at the hands of the CCP. Advertisement He added, In Florida, our policies [have] got to be based on the best interest of Florida citizens, not on the musing of woke corporations. In a video exclusively obtained by @FoxNews Digital. @GovRonDeSantis slams #Disney saying In Florida, our policies got to be based on the best interest of Florida citizens, not on the musing of woke corporations. pic.twitter.com/Op87xgsLzB Kelly Laco (@kelly_laco) March 10, 2022 Opponents say the bills language is vague and singles out the LGBTQ community. A Disney spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Disney has come under fire for filming parts of the movie Mulan in Xinjiang province where there are widespread accusations of human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party. The company also has theme parks in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The company, which employs about 60,000 people in Central Florida, carries immense political power in the Sunshine State and is a major donor to politicians. DeSantis has received $106,809 since May 2019 from Disney through his political committee, according to campaign finance records. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > DeSantis comments came after Disney CEO Bob Chapek called him on Wednesday to express the companys concern that the bill could be used to unfairly target LGBTQ children and families. Chapek went public with his criticisms for the first time on the day after it passed. DeSantis has indicated he supports it. The governor heard our concerns and agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ+ members of our senior team in Florida to discuss ways to address that, he said during an annual shareholders meeting. DeSantis is open to meeting with Chapek as long as the discussion is grounded in facts, said Christina Pushaw, the governors spokeswoman. She said an in-person meeting has not been scheduled. Advertisement State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, accused DeSantis of being a hypocrite by accepting Disneys campaign cash. Republican Party of Florida & almost every lawmaker accepts money from Disney so youre taking the $ youre attacking, she wrote on Twitter. Real smooth. The Magic Kingdom at Disney World attracted more than 20 million visitors in 2019 before the pandemic struck, making it the most-visited theme park in the world. Staff writer Steven Lemongello contributed to this report. sswisher@orlandosentinel.com Gillette, WY (82718) Today Cloudy. Periods of rain early. High 51F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, March 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (BOSTON) Today, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Australian biotech company The iQ Group Global Ltd. announced that the Institutes electrochemical eRapid technology has been licensed to Antisoma Therapeutics Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of The iQ Group Global. The licensing agreement was coordinated by Harvard Universitys Office of Technology Development and grants the company exclusive, worldwide access to the Wyss Institutes sensor technology in the fields of respiratory viral disease, including COVID-19 and the flu, allergic responses and anaphylaxis, and cancer. The agreement enables the company to concertedly develop much-needed point-of-care diagnostics that could put results in the hands of patients and primary health practitioners in real time. After we realized in 2019 the enormous future potential of eRapid for monitoring various disease pathologies, we systematically de-risked the technology and successively added and validated the features that enabled it to mature into the powerful diagnostic platform it is today, said Wyss Institute Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. This license marks an important moment in moving eRapid technology out into the world where it could improve the lives of patients suffering from infectious, immune, or cancer diseases, whose rapid diagnosis requires the detection of multiple biomarkers. Ingber also is a lead of the Wyss Institutes Bioinspired Therapeutics and Diagnostics Platform, where eRapid was conceived and developed, the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at Harvard Medical School and Boston Childrens Hospital, and Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Since 2020, the Wyss Institute has collaborated with The iQ Group Global in an effort to expedite the development of a fast, multiplexed, low-cost COVID-19 biomarker analysis for point-of-care applications. Exchanging sensor prototypes, specific know-how, and product development expertise, the Wyss Institute and The iQ Group Global worked jointly toward combining eRapid technology developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection with The Groups transistor technology, which is based on Organic Thin Film Transistor Technology (OTFT), and the combination of the two technologies was able to significantly enhance the electrical signals. Ingber and a multidisciplinary team led by Wyss Senior Staff Scientist Pawan Jolly, Ph.D., in the Institutes Bioinspired Therapeutics & Diagnostics platform, developed eRapid as a low-cost, affinity-based electrochemical sensing platform that can simultaneously detect and quantify a broad range of biomarkers with high sensitivity and selectivity in a small volume of blood and other complex biological fluids. The technology uses a novel, low-cost, antifouling nanocomposite coating to which ligands for a broad range of biomarkers, including RNAs, proteins, host antibodies, and metabolites can be attached. Upon chemically detecting a target biomarker, the eRapid platform generates an electrical signal within minutes that correlates in strength with the levels of the bound biomarker. Through an extensive de-risking process, the Wyss team significantly enhanced the applicability and cost-effectiveness of eRapid technology by building multiplexing capabilities into it, which enables each eRapid sensor chip to simultaneously detect multiple biomarkers and produce independent electrical signals for each of them. They replaced the original surface chemistry with a graphene-based chemistry that further enhances biomarker detection, and by streamlining the fabrication of eRapid sensors with a dip coating method, reduced the time needed for coating the sensor surface with the graphene chemistry from 24 hours down to less than a minute. This last engineering feat also dramatically decreased the fabrication costs for eRapid sensors and made them storable with minimal loss of electrical signal, which will greatly facilitate their commercialization and increase their usefulness in future point-of-care diagnostic assays, as tests taken remotely can also be sent to central laboratories for their analysis. Harvard initially granted The iQ Group Global access to the eRapid technology on a non-exclusive basis, for a limited term, in accordance with the Universitys commitment to the COVID-19 Technology Access Framework. The Framework enables broad access to emerging technologies to incentivize rapid innovation in pursuit of solutions to combat the pandemic. Through different stages of the development and validation process, we have created eRapid-based biomarker panels as precision instruments for several disorders with a strong focus also on COVID-19 detection, said Jolly. We are confident that in the hands of Antisoma Therapeutics, our technology will be used to close important diagnostic gaps. Ingber, Jolly and the eRapid team de-risked eRapid technology in a high-priority Institute Project at the Wyss Institute. Jolly also is the technology lead of the Wyss Diagnostic Accelerator (Wyss DxA), a Wyss initiative enabling the fast creation and validation of diagnostic technologies to solve pressing clinical problems through deep collaboration with clinicians and industry partners. CEO and Chairman of The iQ Group Global, Dr. George Syrmalis added, This is a great time that we live in as we become part of the convergence of multiple technologies such as biosensors, 5G connectivity and nano technology. We are on the verge of making personalised medicine not only a reality, but accessible and affordable to everyone. Our priority is to continue developing and commercializing the saliva quantitative COVID test, standardised against the World Health Organization (WHO) reference preparation, which will allow patients and physicians to determine immunity based on antibody load, and thus determine if and when additional vaccination shots are needed. This level of accuracy will rationalise repeat vaccination protocols, increase the effiency of health care services while dramatically reducing costs to governments and the health care sector. PRESS CONTACTS Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University Benjamin Boettner, benjamin.boettner@wyss.harvard.edu, +1 617-432-8232 The iQ Group Globa Australia: James Gorman, james.gorman@theiqgroupglobal.com, +61 2 8239 5400 Harvard Office of Technology Development Caroline Perry, caroline_perry@harvard.edu, +1 617 495 4157 ### The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University uses Natures design principles to develop bioinspired materials and devices that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Wyss researchers are developing innovative new engineering solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing that are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and formation of new startups. The Wyss Institute creates transformative technological breakthroughs by engaging in high risk research, and crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers, working as an alliance that includes Harvards Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Arts & Sciences and Design, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital, DanaFarber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University, Tufts University, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, University of Zurich and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information, please visit http://wyss.harvard.edu. About Harvard Universitys Office of Technology Development Harvards Office of Technology Development (OTD) promotes the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard University into useful products that are available and beneficial to society. Our integrated approach to technology development comprises sponsored research and corporate alliances, intellectual property management, and technology commercialization through venture creation and licensing. More than 90 startups have launched to commercialize Harvard technologies in the past 5 years, collectively raising more than $4.5 billion in financing. To further bridge the academic-industry development gap, Harvard OTD manages the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator and the Physical Sciences & Engineering Accelerator. For more information, please visit https://otd.harvard.edu. About Antisoma Therapeutics Pty. Ltd. Antisoma is a medical technology company focused on creating professional and layman use personalised medicine rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests and diagnostic test panels, for cancers, allergies, and infectious diseases. Antisoma is developing and commercializing a portfolio of diagnostic tests and diagnostic test panels to detect an extensive range of biomarkers, including COVID-19 antibodies, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and histamine. The iQ Group Global is a consortium of companies that find, fund and develop bioscience discoveries to create life-changing medical innovations. The Group provides a turnkey solution for bioscience companies, spanning corporate advisory and investment banking, through to research, development, and commercialization of life science assets. For more information, please visit www.theiqgroupglobal.com. PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global engineering and defense technologies provider HII (NYSE:HII) announced today the appointment of Donny Dorsey as vice president of operations at HIIs Ingalls Shipbuilding division. Dorsey, formerly ship program manager for all DDG waterfront efforts at Ingalls Shipbuilding, replaces George Jones, who will retire April 1 after 37 years of service. Georges expertise in shipbuilding has influenced generations of shipbuilders and the capabilities of the shipyard, said Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. We are grateful for his focus on execution excellence and for shaping our shipyard of the future. Thank you George. As we move forward, I am confident that Donny will continue the Ingalls legacy of strong execution, and will focus on strategic innovation and transformation as we look to the future. In Dorseys new position, he will oversee all manufacturing operations through delivery, across all Ingalls Shipbuilding programs. He will also be responsible for working collaboratively with union partners, cost and schedule performance, process improvements and driving production strategies. Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/ingalls-dorsey-jones. Dorsey joined Ingalls Shipbuilding in 2000 as a robotic operations technician and spent a portion of his career focused on the Gulfport composite operations for LPD/DDG 1000 serving as quality manager, operations director and then site director. Most recently, Dorsey served in program management with a focus on the DDG 51 class where he and his team managed the installation, test and activation of multiple complex ship systems. He holds a bachelors degree in management from Nicholls State University, an MBA in project management from Capella University and is a graduate of the Gulf Coast Business Councils Masters Leadership Program. HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: HII on the web: https://www.hii.com/ HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wearehii HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearehii Contact: Danny Hernandez Danny.J.Hernandez@hii-co.com (202) 580-9086 TALLAHASSEE Floridas public schools, universities and state agencies would be barred from entering into cultural agreements or accepting grant funds from Russia under a late budget agreement reached by state legislators. Lawmakers also ordered a review of state contracts to check for any taxpayer dollars that could be going to Russia-based businesses. Advertisement The findings must be reported to the Legislature by Dec. 1. [ RELATED: Florida is evaluating Russian investments as governors in other states cut financial ties ] Russia has faced a global backlash for its invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Gov. Ron DeSantis has not publicly called for Floridas state retirement funds to divest Russian holdings, a step taken by leaders in other states. Advertisement Instead, DeSantis said America should focus on boosting its domestic energy production. Floridas $195 billion in assets overseen by the State Board of Administration include about $300 million in holdings in Russian-domiciled investments, Dennis MacKee, a spokesman for the State Board of Administration, said last month. The State Board of Administration handles state retirement funds. [ RELATED: Florida House avoids vote to ban state investments in Russian companies ] MacKee said the state was evaluating those investments. He did not provide an update Friday on the status of that evaluation. Last week, the Republican-controlled Florida House declined to take up a Democratic proposal that would have prohibited the Florida Retirement System from investing in any company doing business with the Russian Federation. That amendment was deemed out of order on a technicality. Florida lawmakers are expected to approve the $112.1 billion budget on Monday, wrapping up their legislative session. sswisher@orlandosentinel.com TRENTON, NJ, March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following Februarys denials of high-performing public charter schools, hundreds of parents and students, primarily families of color, from New Jerseys public charter schools took to the states capitol, urging Governor Phil Murphy to direct Acting Department of Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan to reverse these harmful decisions and support the growth of high-quality charter schools in New Jersey. Hundreds of parents and students took to the Statehouse Annex, traveling from all across the state, to express their concerns of being uprooted from the schools that best fit their educational needs. The #LetMyChildLearn campaign was launched following the New Jersey Department of Educations denial of expansions to high-performing charter schools in Newark, Trenton, Kearny, New Brunswick, and Paterson. Due to these denials, hundreds of students will no longer be able to remain at their schools throughout their educational careers. The campaigns goal is to provide families with the ability to share their perspective with the Governor directly while also ensuring that New Jersey leaders and lawmakers learn more about the important role that public charter schools play in the public education system through a statewide digital ad campaign. To date, 3,560 community members have sent 13,970 emails asking Governor Murphy to reverse the devastating decisions made by the Department of Education. No child should be shut out of a quality public school that is meeting their academic and social emotional needs. Charter School families are at the capitol today to let Governor Murphy and the Department of Education know how these decisions are affecting their lives, said Harry Lee, President of NJPCSA. We are here today to ensure that the voices of parents and students are heard, especially when you realize that these decisions disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities and will rip kids away from the schools they love. Our students were just starting to feel a return to normalcy following the COVID-19 pandemic and now they are being taken out of the schools they believe in, said TJ Best, Government Affairs Director of NJPCSA. These denials are the direct opposite of Governor Murphys commitment to supporting high-quality New Jersey public charter schools. We continue to urge the Department of Education to listen to our families and students and allow them to make the best decision for their childrens educational careers. With these denials, parents and students are worried, having to find other schools to attend and students will have to adjust to a new school environment midway through their K-12 educational experiences. My family has seen tremendous improvement in our sons education during his time at Achievers. Having a special needs student and finding a school that best fits his needs can be difficult. With these denials, I am worried where my son will go for the rest of his high school career, said Sulmi Sarceno, a parent of an Achievers Early College Prep Charter School student in Trenton. I am worried for my sons future and for his future education beyond high school if he has to move schools. We beg the governor and commissioner to consider how these decisions will truly affect these students. All of us at Hudson want to add grades 9-12 so that our kids can stay to complete their high school experience. We want to do that specifically at Hudson, the same school where our children found such great success in elementary and middle school, said Ana Simonelli, whose children attend Hudson Arts and Science Charter School in Kearny. For my family, this means my boys are at different schools this year and my youngest will have to change schools after eighth grade. I cannot understand why this decision was made. It is not fair to my boys and their friends that they cannot go to a school that they love and that we know works for them. The Murphy Administrations rejections to allow great public charter schools to enroll more students are leaving parents with no options. With approximately 20,000 students on charter waiting lists, the future remains bleak for families demanding better school alternatives to overcome the trappings of generational poverty, said Jasmine Morrison, whose children attend North Star Academy Charter School in Newark. Im unapologetic when I say I expect my kids public school to be a high expectations vessel that prepares them to thrive in the future workforce. I am a champion of expanding school options and charters like North Star Academy because the teachers and staff produce amazing academic outcomes and believe in my children. I recently had to have a conversation with my daughter and tell her she will not have the chance to go to high school at Philips like she has dreamed, said Oscar James, a parent of a Philips Academy Charter School student in Newark. Hundreds of charter school parents are going to be immediately shut out of the schools their families love. Thousands more will be denied the opportunities they deserve. Because of this decision, my daughter has a glass ceiling on her future. Achievers has been my home for the last three years. My teachers have pushed me to be the best person I can be and to succeed academically. Governor Murphy is taking away my future, said Aleslys Mong, a student at Achievers Early College Prep Charter School in Trenton. My education at Achievers allowed me to fall in love with coding and computer science. I dont know how I can continue learning about my passion without the curriculum of my school. My education is in jeopardy. The parents, students, and staff who participated in todays rally are hoping the actions today open up a discussion with Governor Murphy and Acting Education Commissioner Allen-McMillan to reverse the denials. For more information about this campaign, visit www.letmychildlearn.org. For photos and video from the event, visit this link. About New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association The New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association (NJPCSA) is the non-profit membership association that represents the states charter school community and, by extension, charter school students and their parents. There are currently 87 charter schools in New Jersey serving nearly 60,000 students. We are committed to advancing quality public education for New Jerseys children through the cultivation of excellent public charter schools. The Association seeks to influence legislative and policy environments, leverage collective advocacy, and provide resources to support our members in developing and operating high quality, public charter schools. Contact: Skylyr VanDerveer 732-597-2948 skylyr@statesideaffairs.com ### Attachment SAN DIEGO, March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A panel of cross-industry water experts will gather for a discussion on Using Innovative Technology to Bring Savings to the Water-Energy Nexus at The P3 Water Summit in San Diego this month. The discussion will focus on the results of the 2021 California Energy Commission (CEC) final project report, CEC-500-2021-036, Demonstrating Innovative Water Leakage Reduction Strategies, which addresses the need for innovative new technologies in the public water sector. This panel will present one of the technology solutions tested, along with a public agency utilizing these technologies through public-private partnerships. The panel moderator is Ben Stanford, Ph.D., of Hazen & Sawyer. Stanford was co-author of the CEC report and manager of the project. Additional panelists include James Perry, executive vice president of ASTERRA, Martin Coghill from San Diego County Water Authority, and Ellie Barker, of Imagine H2O. We are pleased that these water industry experts will gather to stress the importance of bringing innovation through public-private partnerships to the water industry, said Perry. The state of California were real trailblazers in funding the study of water innovations for the sole purpose of saving electricity. The CEC project was led by Hazen and Sawyer and American Water. The project team installed and evaluated the latest advances in leak detection technology, including satellite imagery leak detection. Read a summary of the CEC report on ASTERRA.io. The CEC project was a cooperative effort with vendors to provide a side-by-side comparison of tools available, and to measure the ROI in terms of energy savings. The outcome of the work done by the CEC four years ago is now being realized in San Diego County. The San Diego County Water Authority coordinated member agencies to team up and share cost of participating in using satellite leak detection from ASTERRA, a global company with their US headquarters in San Diego. The P3 Water Summit is a project delivery conference for agencies and industry, focused on drinking water, wastewater, sanitation, stormwater, resiliency, environmental planning, green infrastructure, and water and power. Among the attendees will be the EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and water utilities from across the country. ASTERRA is a silver sponsor of the P3 summit. The panel discussion will occur in the San Diego Convention Center at 1 Market Place in San Diego, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. PST. ASTERRA will also receive guests at their booth throughout the conference. The conference agenda provides more details. ABOUT ASTERRA ASTERRA (formerly Utilis) provides data-driven solutions for water utilities, government agencies, and the greater infrastructure industry in the areas of roads, rails, dams, and mines. ASTERRA products use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from satellites and turns this data into large-scale decision support tools. The companys proprietary algorithms and highly educated scientists and engineers are the key to their mission, to deliver actionable intelligence to advance Earths resource resilience. Since 2017, ASTERRA technology has been used in over 59 countries, saving over 169,280 million gallons of potable water, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 108,339 metric tons, and saving 423,200 MWH of energy, all in support of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. ASTERRA is headquartered in Israel with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. Their innovative data solutions are used in multiple verticals around the globe. ASTERRA is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) to bring their products to the next level. For more information on ASTERRA and to learn more about their technology, visit https://asterra.io. Media Contact Karen Dubey Corporate Marketing Director inquiry@asterra.io (858) 798-6709 A video accompanying this press release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19e79861-0862-4913-8667-cc193c8040b7 SHENZHEN, China, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whether a person has started working from home or has developed a new interest in computer gaming, they may be on the lookout for new tools to help them improve their daily activities. The past couple of years have been undesirable for many people all around the world, but that hasnt stopped individuals from adapting and thriving. To get the most out of one's home or office setup, one must ensure that he or she has the proper equipment for the best user experience. Amazing monitors should have vibrant colors, high picture quality, and a sleek style that can be used in any home office or gaming environment. The INNOCN 27" 4K Designers Computer Display 27C1U is a monitor that achieves all of these goals and is unquestionably the greatest partner for Mac Studio in every aspect. INNOCN 27" 4K Designers Computer Monitor 27C1U for Mac Studio A Look into the INNOCN 27 Monitor for Mac Studio Among the many outstanding features of the 27" 4K Designers Computer Monitor 27C1U from INNOCN are true color composites and accurate colors. There is something that every individual can enjoy about the monitors. Gamers who want to immerse themselves in their favorite PC game's visuals and live streaming would be delighted to have this monitor on their desk. When it comes to precise jobs such as video-editing and programming, this display is a stroke of genius. Professional photographers will be able to see their images in their original, unaltered form. With the low blue light eye care feature, users can do what they love without putting too much pressure on their eyes. The 27-inch INNOCN 4K Designers Computer Monitor 27C1U coupled with the Mac Studio is an untouchable pairing. The monitor's elegant appearance will look great in any workspace, whether it's at home or in the office. This monitor is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JS74MGY , where customers can test it out for themselves. A Brief Company Overview INNOCN was founded in 2014 as a subsidiary of the Century Joint Innovation Group. When it comes to computer monitors, the company has plenty of experience under its belt. With a large choice of monitors available on their website, https://www.innocn.com/ , customers can find the perfect fit for their system. The company now has more than 260 national patent certifications and 300 developers, including 200 engineers, working for them. Shenzhen Century Joint Innovation Technology Co. Ltd. is the company's primary name. INNOCN or Lian He Chuang Xin, translates to Innovation China. This company excels at creating the most elite computer monitors in the industry. INNOCN is interested in hearing from customers. Please feel free to contact the company via emailmarketing@innocn.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d77b54d3-afbd-43a9-aca9-1c8603448861 English Danish COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT No. 132/2022 Tvis, 11 March 2022 The annual general meeting of TCM Group A/S will be held on the 5 April 2022 at 5 p.m. (CEST) at Skautrupvej 22b, Tvis, 7500 Holstebro, Denmark. The notice and the agenda for the annual general meeting are attached to this announcement. For further information please contact: Torben Paulin, CEO, TCM Group A/S, +45 21 21 04 64 About TCM Group TCM Group is Scandinavias third largest manufacturer of kitchens and furniture for bathrooms and storage. The products are designed and produced in Denmark and rooted in a proud tradition of good quality and good craftsmanship. TCM Group pursues a multi-brand strategy, under which the main brand is Svane Kkkenet and the other brands are Tvis Kkkener and Nettoline. Combined, the brands cater for the entire price spectrum, and are sold through c. 140 dealers in Denmark and the rest of the Scandinavia. TCM Group sells private label kitchens through DIY stores in Denmark and independent kitchen stores in Norway. TCM Group is supplier to the 45% owned e-commerce kitchen business Celebert, which operates under the brands kitchn.dk, billigskabe.dk, Celebert and Just Woods. See www.tcmgroup.dk for more information. Attachments LONDON, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caribbean nations are becoming investment hubs in the global arena, offering attractions such as safety, lucrative financial diversification options and of course idyllic lifestyles that make them desirable places to take up second citizenship. This is according to the World Citizenship Report (WCR), which ranked countries that provide citizenship by investment (CBI) options in the region in the top 30 per cent. The new one-of-a-kind report was developed by CS Global Partners, the worlds leading government advisory and marketing firm. The WCR measures 187 countries against five motivators that are relevant amongst High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs). These motivators include Safety and Security, Economic Opportunity, Quality of Life, Global Mobility and Quality of Life. The report considers data from the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2021 and World Governance Indicators (WGI) and scored the Caribbean region highly in the Safety and Security, Quality of Life and Global Mobility motivators. The Caribbean is considered the cradle of investment immigration due to the high concentration of countries that offer CBI programmes in the region. These countries proximity in the WCR ranking reflects a sense of community and collaboration that characterises nations in the jurisdiction. For example, all the Caribbean nations hosting CBI programmes are members of CARICOM, which is committed to promoting and supporting a unified Caribbean community that is inclusive, resilient, and competitive to share in economic, social, and cultural growth. At its 33rd meeting, CARICOM members pledged to continue to be vigilant in managing the threats to sustainable development in the region. This included implementing initiatives that attract foreign direct investment, ensuring that the region is not perceived as high risk by investors, lobbying against the proposed global minimum corporation tax and continuing to build relations with the OECD and European Union. The Chair of the Conference, the Prime Minister of Belize, the Honourable John Briceno, stated that the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting was a particularly consequential meeting which was taking place at a time when unprecedented and existential challenges coincide with our citizens expectations for relief and prosperity. We are contending with the worst economic recession in modern history and to foster our recovery, we need to rekindle the founding vision of CARICOM, both with respect to the scale of its ambition for integration, and the speed which was needed to achieve its consolidation. Our recovery should be aligned to a new regional agenda that is centred around creating prosperity for the people, he continued. In order to achieve this prosperity for the people, heads of government at CARICOM also agreed that the immediate and urgent implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy or CSME was imperative for responding to the current developmental challenges and for building a more resilient region. Another way that small island nations are ensuring their prosperity and sustainability is through CBI programmes. CBI is a well-documented and viable way for Caribbean nations to attract FDI into their economies which can then be used for significant developmental projects. For example, the island nation of Dominica is constructing a geothermal plant that is expected to be operational by 2023 in partnership with the United Kingdom, the World Bank and Kenesjay Green LTD, a local green energy company. The plant will ensure that the country is powered by renewable energy, reducing energy costs and carbon emissions while simultaneously creating jobs. In St Kitts and Nevis, the construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante was financed via various local and international sources, of which US$5 million came from the countrys CBI. The pier has allowed St Kitts and Nevis to host the worlds largest cruise vessels, which has been particularly important for the tourism sector. The small but ambitious Caribbean country now has the marquee status of larger cruise destinations in the region. The inflow of funds to the private sector have had a noticeable impact on the economic activity of island nations, in many instances improving fiscal outcomes, facilitating debt repayment, and spurring economic growth. Research by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) found that CBI programmes are having a significant macroeconomic impact on these countries. From a country perspective, CBI contributed more than 30 per cent of GDP in St Kitts and Nevis in 2020. According to Les Khan, CBI Unit Head of St Kitts and Nevis, the Programmes revenue was a main driver during lockdown when tourism was at an all-time low. While in Dominica, the IMF noted that the strong growth in the construction sector was financed with record-high CBI revenue of 30 per cent of GDP in 2021. In 2017, CBI accounted for 20 per cent of the GDP in Antigua and Barbuda showing that inflows from CBI programmes are making a major difference in the performance of government of smaller countries. Taking a deeper dive into some notable CBI programmes in the region, St Kitts and Nevis established their CBI Programme in 1984 and is the longest-running in the world. Being the first of its kind, the Programme is also one of the most reputable and has become known as the Platinum Standard brand in the industry. After over three decades, the twin-island nation continues to be a popular option for investors and their families due to its longevity and commitment to due diligence processes. The country scored a respectable score of 66.8 points out of 100 in the overall rankings in the WCR, the highest of all the Caribbean CBI nations. It reached top marks in the Safety and Security, Quality of Life and Global Mobility motivators. Dominicas CBI Programme was launched in 1993 and has been ranked as the number one CBI initiative for five consecutive years in the CBI Index, published by the Financial Times Professional Wealth Management magazine. The nation is politically and economically stable, with a low crime rate and rich investment opportunities. Known as the Nature Isle, Dominica placed in the 52nd spot, achieving high marks for Safety and Security, Quality of Life and Global Mobility motivators. Contact Details: pr@csglobalpartners.com www.csglobalpartners.com +447824029952 March 11, 2022 Industry first integrated, diagnostic quality tele-ultrasound technology lets clinicians talk, text, screen share, and transfer control to remote colleagues in real time New functionality helps increase diagnostic confidence on compatible clients including iOS, Android, Chrome web browser and Windows Peer reviewed data on efficacy and efficiency presented at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Meeting Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that Collaboration Live has received expansion of its U.S. Food & Drug Administration 510(k) market clearance for remote diagnostic use on additional mobile platforms. Available on Philips Ultrasound Systems EPIQ and Affiniti [1], Collaboration Live allows clinicians to collaborate in real-time with colleagues in order to complete image acquisition and diagnosis regardless of location. Ultrasound imaging is one of the most accessible and low-cost imaging modalities. However, capturing and interpreting the acquired images and making an accurate diagnosis requires a great deal of expertise and skill. While ultrasound equipment is readily available both in hospitals and healthcare settings, widespread staffing shortages can impede access to care. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the risk to clinicians in contact with infectious patients, and the resulting backlog of postponed exams is now increasing workloads and driving the need for greater efficiency. Collaboration Live enables remote diagnosis, expanding the ability to image patients inside and outside of healthcare facilities, and could help limit the risk of exposure for healthcare workers and patients to infectious diseases such as COVID-19. With its expanded clearance for diagnostic use on additional platforms, clinicians now have the ability to consult or diagnose from their mobile device, check the strength of their bandwidth before making a call, and check their remote screen calibration to ensure image quality is appropriate for diagnosis. This can enable greater efficiency and flexibility for clinicians since they are no longer limited to a PC for remote collaboration. Collaboration Live is already helping to extend access to quality care in underserved settings. "We have been able to open a strictly telemedicine office to serve our patients in rural communities because Collaboration Live enables us to carry out a full diagnostic patient visit remotely, said Michael S. Ruma, MD, MPH, at Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, who will present peer-reviewed data on the associated return-on-investment at this years American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Meeting (AIUM 2022). "We are committed to helping our customers deliver better access to care for their patients regardless of their location at any time. Collaboration Live is a perfect example of how Philips is delivering an expanded experience for patients and healthcare professionals through telemedicine", said Gerois Di Marco, General Manager Global Ultrasound Services & Solutions at Philips. Sonographers no longer have to feel they are alone or limited to only acquiring ultrasound images and preparing a report for subsequent clinical review. They can now call on the expertise of colleagues during ultrasound examinations to deliver on-the-spot accurate diagnosis that every patient deserves. Philips Collaboration Live lets users quickly and securely talk, text, screen-share, and video-stream directly from a Philips Ultrasound System EPIQ or Affiniti to a compatible remote PC or mobile device [1]. In addition to allowing remote clinicians to view real-time diagnostic ultrasound images and communicate with the local clinician and patient to provide guidance and ask questions, the ultrasound user can give remote control [2] of the ultrasound system to the remote user, enabling them to enhance image quality, capture a new image or make a measurement. These combined features as well as the ability to check the calibration of the remote viewing screen provide the high diagnostic confidence needed to help optimize patient outcomes. Collaboration Live can help hospitals standardize care across locations and support remote staff via protocol training, remote support during ultrasound examinations, and real-time communication between clinicians and patients, helping to ensure the same high standard of care wherever it is delivered. Collaboration Live is applicable in any area of medicine such as breast imaging and hepatology, where ultrasound can provide important diagnostic information including maternal fetal medicine when dealing with the potential of high-risk pregnancies, as well as cardiac imaging. Visit AIUM 2022 for more detail about Philips participation in the event, and visit Philips advanced tele-ultrasound solutions for more information on Philips Collaboration Live and other solutions in the companys advanced ultrasound portfolio. [1] Requires an EPIQ or Affiniti ultrasound system with software level 7.0.5. or higher. Mobile access via compatible clients including iOS, Android, Chrome web browser and Windows for diagnostic use requires Collaboration Live 9.0 or higher. [2] Remote control requires a Windows device. Collaboration Live is available in the USA, and select availability in other countries. For further information, please contact: Kathy OReilly Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +1 978-221-8919 E-mail : kathy.oreilly@philips.com Twitter: @kathyoreilly About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter . Attachment Dublin, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Application; By Therapeutic Area; By Offering; By Technology; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global artificial intelligence in drug discovery market size is expected to reach USD 5,558.0 million by 2029 Artificial Intelligence (AI) uses complex algorithms and machine learning to acquire significant information from huge datasets. For instance, AI uses RNA sequencing data to recognize genes whose expression correlates with a given cellular condition. It employs the most recent advancements in biology to create cutting-edge medicine discovery algorithms. The increase in computer processing power, the development of advanced algorithms, and the availability of large datasets are the main drivers that led to the developments in machine learning. Based on application, the global artificial intelligence (AI) in the drug discovery market is clustered into drug optimization & repurposing, preclinical testing, and others. The optimization & repurposing segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the industry as it is economical and demands only Electronic Medical Records (EMR) for medicine repurposing. Based on therapeutic areas, the global market is classified into oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and others. The oncology segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 as it deals with the diagnosis and prevention of cancer. There are some pharmaceutical companies that are focusing on integrating artificial intelligence with medicine discovery and development. For instance, Pfizer associated with IBM Watson Health, an AI platform, to augment their search for immuno-oncology treatments. Sanofi partnered with Exscientia to discover metabolic-disease therapies. The companies in the industry are engaged in collaborations and expansions with several market platform providers to develop medical treatment. Key players operating in the global market include Atomwise Benevolent AI Berg Health BIOAGE BioSymetrics Cloud Pharmaceuticals Cyclica Deep Genomics DeepMind Envisagenics Euretos Exscientia GNS Healthcare IBM Corporation Insilico Medicine Insitro NuMedii Numerate NVIDIA Corporation OWKIN Inc. Aria Pharmaceuticals Inc. Verge Genomics XtalPi Inc. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1. Report Description 1.2. Stakeholders 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Highlights 3. Research Methodology 3.1. Overview 3.1.1. Data Mining 3.2. Data Sources 3.2.1. Primary Sources 3.2.2. Secondary Sources 4. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market Insights 4.1. Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery - Industry Snapshot 4.2. Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Drivers and Opportunities 4.2.1.1. Technological advancements in AI 4.2.1.2. Rising industrial partnerships and collaborations 4.2.2. Restraints and Challenges 4.2.2.1. Inadequate accessibility of data sets 4.2.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.2.4. PESTLE Analysis 4.2.5. Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Industry Trends 4.2.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis 5. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Application 5.1. Key Findings 5.2. Introduction 5.2.1. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Application, 2017 - 2029 (USD Million) 5.3. Drug Optimization & Repurposing 5.4. Preclinical Testing 6. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Therapeutic Area 6.1. Key Findings 6.2. Introduction 6.2.1. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Therapeutic Area, 2017 - 2029 (USD Million) 6.3. Oncology 6.4. Neurodegenerative Diseases 6.5. Cardiovascular Disease 6.6. Metabolic Diseases 6.7. Infectious Disease 7. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Offering 7.1. Key Findings 7.2. Introduction 7.2.1. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Offering, 2017 - 2029 (USD Million) 7.3. Software 7.4. Services 8. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Technology 8.1. Key Findings 8.2. Introduction 8.2.1. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Technology, 2017 - 2029 (USD Million) 8.3. Machine Learning 8.3.1. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, By Machine Learning, By Region, 2017 - 2029 (USD Million) 8.3.2. Deep Learning 8.3.3. Supervised Learning 8.3.4. Reinforcement Learning 8.3.5. Unsupervised Learning 9. Global Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market, by Geography 9.1. Key findings 9.2. Introduction 9.2.1. Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market Assessment, By Geography, 2017 - 2029 (USD Million) 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1. Expansion and Acquisition Analysis 10.2. Partnerships/Collaborations/Agreements/Exhibitions 11. Company Profiles 11.1. Company Overview 11.2. Financial Performance 11.3. Product Benchmarking 11.4. Recent Developments For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/otwohm Attachment Dublin, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Virtual Private Network (VPN) Global Market Report 2022: By Type, Component, Connectivity, Deployment, End-User, and Covering" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global virtual private network market is expected to grow from $38.56 billion in 2021 to $45.89 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.0%. The change in growth trend is mainly due to the companies stabilizing their output after catering to the demand that grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The market is expected to reach $91.20 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 18.7%. Major players in the virtual private network (VPN) market are Check Point Software Technologies, Cisco Systems, Golden Frog, Juniper Networks, Microsoft Corporation, Safer Social Ltd., Avast, Citrix Systems, Columbitech, Google, IBM Corporation, NetMotion Software, WatchGuard Technologies, Array Networks, NCP Engineering, BlackBerry, Smith Micro Software and GZ Systems Ltd. The virtual private network (VPN) market consists of sales of VPN software and solutions by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that provides an encrypted connection over the internet from a device to a network. The encrypted connection helps in the secure transmission of sensitive data, protects against unauthorised traffic monitoring, and allows the user to work remotely. The virtual private network gives users private internet access, web security, and global remote access for multinational corporations, large corporations, and electronic devices. The main types of virtual private network are IP VPN, cloud VPN, mobile VPN and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). IP VPN stands for internet protocol virtual private network, which uses a private connection to each remote site to avoid using the public internet. The various types of components in virtual private network are solution and services. The different connectivity types include site-to-site, remote access, extranet and is deployed in different modes such as cloud, on-premise. Virtual private network is implemented in several vertical such as BFSI, manufacturing, healthcare, telecom and IT, government and others. North America was the largest region in the virtual private network 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. Growing technological advancements are gaining the popularity in the virtual private network (VPN) market. The virtual private network providers are increasing investments in VPN technologies to provide fast and uninterrupted internet connectivity and remote accessibility. For instance, in 2020, Microsoft Corporation, a US-based technology company has integrated advanced features in its VPN Gateway. This Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway connects the user's surrounding networks via site-to-site VPNs, similar to how the user connects to a remote branch office. In operating systems such as Linux and Windows, this feature allows an end-user from a remote location to maintain user profiles in the central database. The increasing cyberattacks is expected to drive the growth of the virtual private network market in the coming years. Cyberattacks have been ranked as the fifth most important threat in 2020 and are expected to become the new norm in both the public and commercial sectors. Additionally, cyberattacks are anticipated to develop even more in 2021, with IoT cyberattacks alone projected to double by 2025. VPN technologies are being adopted by major corporations as they securely transfer data and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. For instance, according to the World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Risk Report, cybercrime has increased 600% as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, encompassing everything from theft and embezzlement to data hacking and destruction. Therefore, the rising cyberattacks propels the growth of the virtual private network market. The countries covered in the virtual private network (VPN) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK and USA. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market Characteristics 3. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Virtual Private Network (VPN) 5. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market Size And Growth 5.1. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Historic Market, 2016-2021, $ Billion 5.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.1.2. Restraints On The Market 5.2. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Forecast Market, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 5.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 5.2.2. Restraints On the Market 6. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market Segmentation 6.1. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion IP VPN Mobile VPN Cloud VPN Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) 6.2. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Segmentation By Component, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Solution Services 6.3. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Segmentation By Connectivity, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Site-To-Site Remote Access Extranet 6.4. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Segmentation By Deployment, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Cloud On-Premise 6.5. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Segmentation By End-User, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion BFSI Manufacturing Healthcare Telecom And IT Government Others 7. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market Regional And Country Analysis 7.1. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion 7.2. Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Companies Mentioned Check Point Software Technologies Cisco Systems Golden Frog Juniper Networks Microsoft Corporation Safer Social Ltd. Avast Citrix Systems Columbitech Google IBM Corporation NetMotion Software WatchGuard Technologies Array Networks NCP Engineering BlackBerry Smith Micro Software GZ Systems Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xmdp6q Attachment Dublin, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Antibiotics Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Product; By Application: By End-Use; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2021 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global antibiotics market size is expected to reach USD 51.5 billion by 2028 The collaboration between pharma companies is boosting industry growth. Pharma companies across the globe are strengthening their research efforts to develop new therapies and to reduce costly burden of drug discovery. In this direction, in July 2019, Nosopharm partnered with Evotec to develop NOSO-502, a novel antibiotic to treat Enterobacteriaceae infections. Similarly, in April 2019, Forge Therapeutics and Basilea Pharma announced research and license agreement to develop new antibiotics. Moreover, rising public-private collaborations to fund projects related to this industry are also expected to boost market growth. For instance, in March 2019, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) announced a collaboration with Evotec to develop first-in-class antibiotics for the treatment of drug-resistant bacteria. Market participants such as Abbott Laboratories, Allergan, Bayer AG, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Danaher, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Melinta Therapeutics, Merck & Co. Inc., Mylan, Nabriva Therapeutics plc, Novartis, Pfizer Inc., Roche , Sanofi, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Pharmaceutical companies across the globe are focusing on research and innovation to stay competitive and develop new anti-microbial therapies. In line with this, in July 2020, more than dozens of pharma companies introduced AMR action fund, a collaborative effort to develop new three to four antibiotics, by the end of the decade. Group has already collected more than USD 1 billion to support clinical research for new antibiotics to address life-threatening infections. The fund would provide potential antibiotic candidates for the most challenging drug development stages and enable individual governments to make favourable reforms for potential product pipelines. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1. Report Description 1.2. Stakeholders 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Highlights 3. Research Methodology 3.1. Overview 3.1.1. Data Mining 3.2. Data Sources 3.2.1. Primary Sources 3.2.2. Secondary Sources 4. Antibiotics Market Insights 4.1. Antibiotics Market - Industry Snapshot 4.2. Antibiotics Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Drivers and Opportunities 4.2.2. Restraints and Challenges 4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.4. PESTLE Analysis 4.5. Antibiotics Market Industry trends 4.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis 5. Global Antibiotics Market, by Product 5.1. Key Findings 5.2. Introduction 5.2.1. Global Antibiotics Market, by Product, 2016 - 2028 (USD Billion) 5.3. Software 5.4. Device 5.5. Storage System 6. Global Antibiotics Market, by Application 6.1. Key Findings 6.2. Introduction 6.2.1. Global Antibiotics Market, by Application, 2016 - 2028 (USD Billion) 6.3. Drug Discovery & Development 6.4. Academic research 6.5. Disease Diagnosis 7. Global Antibiotics Market , by End-Use 7.1. Key Findings 7.2. Introduction 7.2.1. Global Antibiotics Market, by End-Use, 2016 - 2028 (USD Billion) 7.3. Hospitals 7.4. Biotech & pharma companies 7.5. Diagnostic Labs 7.6. Academic & research institutes 8. Global Antibiotics Market, by Geography 8.1. Key findings 8.2. Introduction 8.2.1. Antibiotics Market Assessment, By Geography, 2016 - 2028 (USD Billion) 9. Competitive Landscape 9.1. Expansion and Acquisition Analysis 9.1.1. Expansion 9.1.2. Acquisitions 9.2. Partnerships/Collaborations/Agreements/Exhibitions 10. Company Profiles 10.1. Company Overview 10.2. Financial Performance 10.3. Product Benchmarking 10.4. Recent Developments Abbott Laboratories Allergan Bayer AG Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. Danaher GlaxoSmithKline plc Melinta Therapeutics Merck & Co. Inc. Mylan Nabriva Therapeutics plc Novartis Pfizer Inc. Roche Sanofi Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pe33s3 Attachment Dublin, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market By Power Capacity; By Component; By End-User; By Region, Segments & Forecast, 2018 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery market size is anticipated to reach over USD 15.25 million by 2028 In 2020, the automotive segment dominated the global industry, in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global lithium iron phosphate battery industry revenue during the forecast period. The rising demand for LiFePO4 batteries from the automotive sector primarily drives the growth of the industry. The demand for battery electric vehicles has increased significantly over the years resulting in the increasing adoption of lithium iron phosphate batteries. The exponential growth in the prices of gasoline and diesel owing to the depleting fossil fuel reserves, along with increasing environmental concerns has encouraged consumers to switch to battery electric vehicles. Technological advancements, rising adoption of smart devices, stringent government mandates, and increasing applications are factors expected to further increase the demand for batteries during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific generated the highest revenue in the industry in 2020 and is expected to lead the global industry throughout the forecast period. The increasing demand for electric vehicles in the region is expected to drive the growth of lithium iron phosphate batteries in this region. The growing use of lithium iron phosphate batteries in renewable energy storage systems also accelerates the adoption. The increasing demand for consumer electronics from countries such as China, Japan, and India, along with stringent government regulations boost the lithium iron phosphate battery industry growth. The companies operating in the market include Toshiba Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd, BYD Company Ltd., Valence Technology, Inc., GS Yuasa Corporation A123 Systems LLC., Bharat Power Solutions, Formosa Energy & Material Technology, and others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Key Topics Covered: 1. Overview and Scope 1.1. Research goal & scope 1.2. Research assumptions 1.3. Research Methodology 1.4. Key takeaways 1.5. Stakeholders 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Definition 2.2. Market Segmentation 3. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Insights 3.1. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery - Industry snapshot 3.2. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery - Ecosystem analysis 3.3. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Dynamics 3.3.1. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery - Market Forces 3.3.1.1. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Driver Analysis 3.3.1.2. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Restraint/Challenges analysis 3.3.1.3. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Opportunity Analysis 3.4. Industry analysis - Porter's five force 3.5. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market PEST Analysis, 2020 3.6. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Value Chain Analysis 3.7. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Industry Trends 3.8. Competitive Ranking Analysis 4. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Size and Forecast by Power Capacity, 2016 - 2028 4.1. Key Findings 4.2. Less Than 3,000 mAh 4.3. 3,000 mAh to 10,000 mAh 4.4. 10,000 mAh to 60,000 mAh 4.5. More Than 60,000 mAh 5. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Size and Forecast by Component, 2016 - 2028 5.1. Key Findings 5.2. Cathode 5.3. Anode 5.4. Electrolytes 5.5. Separators 5.6. Others 6. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Size and Forecast by End-user, 2016 - 2028 6.1. Key Findings 6.2. Consumer Electronics 6.3. Automotive 6.4. Industrial 6.5. Healthcare 6.6. Others 7. Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Market Size and Forecast by Region, 2016 - 2028 7.1. Key Findings 7.2. North America 7.2.1. U.S. 7.2.2. Canada 7.2.3. Mexico 7.3. Europe 7.3.1. Germany 7.3.2. UK 7.3.3. France 7.3.4. Italy 7.3.5. Rest of Europe 7.4. Asia-Pacific 7.4.1. China 7.4.2. India 7.4.3. Japan 7.4.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific 7.5. Latin America 7.5.1. Brazil 7.5.2. Middle East & Africa 8. Company Profiles 8.1. Overview 8.2. Financials 8.3. Product Benchmarking 8.4. Recent Developments Panasonic Corporation Toshiba Corporation Samsung SDI Co. Ltd Toshiba Corporation BYD Company Ltd. GS Yuasa Corporation Valence Technology Inc. A123 Systems LLC. Formosa Energy & Material Technology Bharat Power Solutions For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ge77pe Attachment TALLAHASSEE Miyas Law, which seeks to make apartments in Florida safer through mandatory background checks on employees, is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Florida Senate gave final approval Friday to legislation named after slain Orlando college student Miya Marcano, who grew up in South Florida and lived in Pembroke Pines. Advertisement Police suspect Marcano was murdered by a maintenance worker who had a master key to her apartment. Miyas Law would require apartment managers with five or more units to conduct a national check of criminal records, including sex offender registries, and keep a key log of who has access to apartments. Advertisement [ RELATED: Keys to our life. Miya Marcanos death heaps scrutiny on apartment safety ] It also would require landlords to provide 24-hour notice, instead of 12 hours, for nonemergency maintenance and repairs. Marcanos family praised lawmakers for approving the changes. It passed the House and Senate in unanimous votes. I know today she is smiling, said Marlon Marcano, her father. Pastor Norman Hemming speaks during the funeral service for Miya Marcano on Thursday Oct. 14, 2021 at Cooper City Church of God in Cooper City, Fl. Marcano, a 19-year-old college sophomore from Pembroke Pines, was found murdered in a wooded area near her apartment complex in Orlando on Oct. 2. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Marcano, 19, attended Valencia College and lived at the nearby Arden Villas apartment complex. The maintenance worker, 27-year-old Armando Caballero, was found dead by suicide at a Seminole County apartment complex just days before Marcanos body was discovered in October. Sen. Linda Stewart, who sponsored the bill, said it will help prevent similar tragedies in the future. Her death has highlighted ongoing problems in apartment safety, especially around having access to master keys, the Orlando Democrat said. The House sponsor, Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said two million renters in Florida will be safer when Miyas Law takes effect. Advertisement Everyone deserves to feel safe under their own roof, she said. Last week, another maintenance employee in Osceola County, Freddy Rodrigo Lafuente, was arrested and accused of raping a 70-year-old woman living in the building where he worked. Lafuente is on probation for a 2018 aggravated battery case involving serious injury, according to state records. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > An apartment manager refused to answer questions on whether Lafuente underwent a background check, Fox 35 reported. [ RELATED: Man accused of raping 70-year-old woman could have more victims, authorities say ] In the Marcano case, Arden Villas issued a statement that it conducted a background check on Caballero and found no charges of burglary or sexual assault. A background check provided by a lawyer representing Marcanos family shows other criminal charges on Caballeros record, including throwing a destructive device and firing a weapon on school property in 2014. Advertisement In 2016, Caballero was adjudicated guilty on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the background check report. In addition to tenant safety provisions, lawmakers made a last-minute addition to Miyas Law that will prohibit hotels from charging hourly rates. Initially, the House version would have removed key provisions of Miyas Law, but state representatives agreed to pass the Senates bill instead on Thursday. sswisher@orlandosentinel.com TORONTO, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzanian Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (TanGold or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has been granted an extension to the renewal date for the Special Mining License (SML 04/92) at the Buckreef Gold Project (Buckreef Gold). The Company received a certificate for Renewal of Special Mining License (SML) from the Mining Commission, a division of the Ministry of Minerals of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Special Mining License renewal period for Buckreef Gold has now been extended by an additional 5 years from 2027 to 2032. Under the Tanzanian Mining Act, a SML confers on the holder the exclusive right to carry out mining operations and to prospect (within the SML) for minerals as specified in the license. The Company, along with its joint venture partner STAMICO and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, is excited by the continued development and ramp-up of Tanzanias next large gold mine at Buckreef Gold. The duration of the Special Mining License covers the estimated life of mine, with specified renewals over that period. The Company anticipates the life of mine will extend significantly beyond 2032, and therefore the SML will be renewed prior to the renewal date, in accordance with the requirements under the Tanzanian Mining Act. The Company is delighted to receive this license extension and it is a testament to the significant progress being made at Buckreef Gold and the hard work by the team on the ground in Tanzania. The Company would like to thank the Honorable Minister for Minerals, the Chairman and members of the Mining Commission, our joint venture partner STAMICO and all other Government officials in Tanzania who have supported Buckreef Gold and the long-term development of the project. We look forward to working together in building the next large gold mine in Tanzania. noted Stephen Mullowney, Chief Executive Officer of TanGold. About Tanzanian Gold Corporation TanGold along with its joint venture partner, STAMICO is advancing a significant gold project at Buckreef in Tanzania. Buckreef is anchored by an expanded Mineral Resource published in May 2020. Measured Mineral Resource is 19.98 million tonnes (MT) at 1.99 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) containing 1,281,161 ounces (oz) of gold and Indicated Mineral Resource is 15.89 MT at 1.48 g/t gold containing 755,119 ounces of gold for a combined tonnage of 35.88 MT at 1.77 g/t gold containing 2,036,280 oz of gold. The Buckreef Gold Project also contains an Inferred Mineral Resource of 17.8 MT at 1.11g/t gold for contained gold of 635,540 oz of gold. The Company is actively investigating and assessing multiple exploration targets on its property. Please refer to the Companys Updated Mineral Resources Estimate for Buckreef Gold Project, dated May 15, 2020 and filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR on June 23, 2020 and with the SEC on June 23, 2020, as amended (the Technical Report), for more information. Buckreef is being advanced in a value accretive sustainable manner through: Expanding Production Profile: A 360 tonne per day (tpd) processing plant is being expanded to 1,000+ tpd, enabling a near term production profile of 15,000 - 20,000 oz of gold per year. Positive operating cash flow will be utilized for value enhancing activities, including exploration and Sulphide Project Development. Exploration: Continuing with a drilling program with the goal of expanding resources, discovering new resources and converting resources to reserves, by: (i) step-out drilling in the northeast extension of Buckreef Main; (ii) infill drilling to upgrade Mineral Resources currently in the Inferred category in Buckreef Main; (iii) infill drilling program of Buckreef West; (iv) develop exploration program for the newly discovered Anfield Zone; (v) upgrade historical mineral resources at Bingwa and Tembo; and (vi) identification of new prospects at Buckreef Gold Project, and in the East African region. Sulphide Development Project: Unlocking the value of the Sulphide Project in which the sulphide ore encompasses approximately 90% of the Resources. It is the goal of the Company to substantially exceed all metrics as outlined in the Technical Report, including annual production and strip ratio. For further information, please contact Stephen Mullowney, CEO, or Michael Leonard, CFO at IR@tangoldcorp.com, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com Andrew M. Cheatle, P.Geo., the Companys COO and Director, is the Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101 who has reviewed and assumes responsibility for the technical content of this press release. The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Tanzanian Gold Corporation is providing the reference of the research report in this press release for information only. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined in the applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, intends, estimated, potential, possible and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results will, may, could or should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect TanGold managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the continued operating cash flow, expansion of its process plant, the ability to successfully expand production to 1,000 tpd, estimation of mineral resources, recoveries, subsequent project testing, success, scope and viability of mining operations, the timing and amount of estimated future production, and capital expenditure. Although TanGold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance. The actual achievements of TanGold or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks, uncertainties and factors include general business, legal, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties; actual results of exploration activities and economic evaluations; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in costs; future prices of gold and other minerals; mining method, production profile and mine plan; delays in exploration, development and construction activities; changes in government legislation and regulation; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and in a timely manner or at all; contests over title to properties; employee relations and shortages of skilled personnel and contractors; the speculative nature of, and the risks involved in, the exploration, development and mining business. These risks are set forth in reports that Tanzanian Gold files with the SEC. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The information contained in this press release is as of the date of the press release and TanGold assumes no duty to update such information. Pune, India, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The increasing cases of infectious diseases is predicted to create sales opportunities for the market during the forecast period, states Fortune Business Insights, in a report, titled Bioprocess Technology Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Products (Instruments [Bioprocess Analyzers, Gas Analyzers, Osmometers, Cell Counter Systems, Bioreactors, Incubators], Consumables Accessories[Culture Media, Reagents]), By End-Users (Biotechnology & Biopharmaceutical Companies, Research & Academic Institutes, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. The growing advancements in bioprocessing technology are likely to enable speedy expansion of the market in the forthcoming years. Notable Development: March 2019: Merck KGaA announced the introduction of the BioContinuum Buffer Delivery Platform, which is a combined solution for more efficient buffer delivery for next-generation bioprocessing that offers a way to streamline buffer management. February 2019: UNIVERCELLS announced the launch of a scale-X carbo that is a bench-scale automated cell culture system. March 2018: Sartorius AG unveiled an ambr 250 HT perfusion bioreactor system for cell culture process development. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/bioprocess-technology-market-103097 Extension of Bioprocess Technologies to Promote Growth The growing research and development investments for the advancement of bioprocessing technology are predicted to facilitate the healthy growth of the market. The rising government support for the production of biofuel in various countries is expected to spur lucrative business opportunities for the market. The growing demand for biosimilar and biopharmaceutical products is expected to improve the potential of the market in the forthcoming years. Bioprocessing is a combination of biology, mathematics, and engineering which consists of activities such as designing bioreactors, biocatalysts, substrates, and media volume production, downstream processing, and purification. The growing need for bioprocess technology in the pharmaceutical sector is predicted to enable speedy expansion of the market. The growing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer is expected to foster the need for biotechnology, which, in turn, will boost the healthy growth of the market. The heavy demand for vaccines especially in the time of pandemics is predicted to foster healthy growth of the market. Nevertheless, strict supervisory policies and high technological costs are factors predicted to dampen the growth of the market. Quick Buy Bioprocess Technology Market https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/103097 An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market: The coronavirus crisis has disrupted the supply chain of every industry around the world. We understand that this health emergency has negatively impacted various sectors across the globe. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly infectious virus. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. More or less, nearly every sector is estimated to be impacted by this pandemic. We are making endless efforts to uplift businesses in this crucial need of the hour. Our expertise and experience can offer enormous benefits to help regain during this global pandemic. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/bioprocess-technology-market-103097 The report on the bioprocess technology market contains: In-depth analysis of the regions Latest market drivers and restraints Latest industry developments Competitive landscape Rising Prevalence of Cancer to Fuel Demand in North America Geographically, the global bioprocess technology market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to lead the global market. The growth in the region is attributed to the growing demand for superior quality biologics. The increasing R&D investments by key players are expected to promote the healthy growth of the market. Europe is predicted to hold the largest share during the forecast period due to the rising demand for biosimilars. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is predicted to enable speedy expansion of the market. Asia Pacific and Latin America are expected to account for the largest share during the forecast period in the foreseeable future. The growth in the region is attributed to the flourishing biopharmaceutical industry. The rising government support is expected to enhance the development of the market in the forthcoming years. Ask for Customization https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/bioprocess-technology-market-103097 The Report Lists the Main Companies in the Bioprocess Technology Market Emerson Electric Co. UNIVERCELLS Koninklijke Philips N.V. Abbott, BD Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Sartorius AG Danaher Merck KGaA About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Legend of Bruce Lee is getting a 2022 reboot with streaming service Jungo Plus as they set to air 30 episodes across its OTT and FAST channel platforms. It premieres on Jungo Plus, Black Belt Magazine TV, Black Belt Magazine YouTube, and Facebook on March 11, 2022. Bruce Lee is a pioneer of martial arts action movies and founder of the Jeet Kune Do form of martial arts. Though it's been almost 50 years since Lee's death, his influence on culture is as strong as ever. Superstars like Eddie Murphy, Steve Aoki, Lebron James, and Jackie Chan credit him as inspiration in their own careers. Produced by China's official China Central Television on a multi-million dollar budget The Legend of Bruce Lee was shot in China, Hong Kong, Macau, the U.S., Italy, and Thailand over nine months. The series traces Lee's life from his teenage years in Hong Kong to his move to the U.S. where he studied and taught martial arts to his film career and untimely death at 32. Notably, the series was authorized by the Lee family. Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee is credited as an executive producer. "This is a major win for Bruce Lee fans as we release this free series across our international ad-supported multi-platform network," said JungoTV CEO George Chung who is a former five-time world karate champion and inductee (along with Bruce Lee) in the Black Belt Hall of Fame. "As a practitioner of martial arts and longtime fan of Bruce Lee, I proud we can present this content at no cost to people around the world. We hope to create a new generation of Bruce Lee fans who can also be inspired by this great man's life and body of work," Chung added. Black Belt Magazine Editor in Chief, Robert Young said, "At Black Belt, we know the impact Bruce Lee has had on the martial arts. That's why we have been covering him since the 1960s and why we continue to do so. It's our pleasure to work with JungoTV to bring this dramatization of Bruce Lee's life to the Black Belt Magazine Channel and make it available to the public for free." Stream Now: App Download Link: bit.ly/3qmB1aq Stream on Jungo Plus: https://www.jungoplus.com/shows/legend-bruce-lee Black Belt Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlackBeltLLC Jungo Plus Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jungoplus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jungoplus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jungoplus About JungoTV, LLC Jungo is an international streaming media company based in the United States. As a market leader in international language verticals, our offerings include 50+ streaming and on-demand channels featuring thousands of hours of movies, sports, music, television and esports across mobile, web, and connected devices. Key stakeholders are Chairman/Co-founder Nasser Kazeminy, Sandy Climan, Ahmet Calik, William Pope, Robert Priddy, John Sculley, and CEO/Co-founder George Chung. Contact: Brandon Kneefel - PR & Communications Manager brandon@jungotv.com Related Images Image 1: The Legend of Bruce Lee Series On Jungo Plus and Black Belt TV This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) ("SHARC Energy" or the Company) is announcing it has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation and Saskatchewan Renewable Energy Solutions Inc. The purpose of the MOU is to create an environmentally, socially and economically beneficial renewable energy project utilizing solar energy and SHARC Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) equipment. The MOU acknowledges that this renewable energy project would be taking place on Treaty 4 Land in Saskatchewan. Each party to the MOU with Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation actively recognizes the culture, contributions, and history of Indigenous People in Saskatchewan, Canada and United States, and would like to express honour and respect to Treaty 4s natural environment and people. It is the intention of the MOU to create a lasting positive impact on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation for future generations to come. The SHARC and PIRANHA WET Systems paired with solar energy will supply clean and efficient heating, cooling, and hot water to the Nakoda Oyade Education Centre and surrounding community houses through the usage of two renewable resources sunlight and wastewater. This project will make the education centre amongst the most sustainable in Saskatchewan as it will significantly reduce the nations carbon emissions annually through the reduction of propane use on Treaty 4 land. Furthermore, a key goal of the project is to create a positive environmental, social and economic impact for Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation through the deployment of local and indigenous-owned businesses in different aspects of the project and to continue to build skills, capacity and expertise within the developing renewable energy industry. Saskatchewan Renewable Energy Solutions takes great pride in the privilege of working with Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation to reduce carbon emissions and to create opportunity and knowledge in the renewable energy industry for local indigenous-owned businesses, says Dimitris Kourles, CEO of Saskatchewan Renewable Energy Solutions Inc., a manufacturer representative of SHARC Energy. This project is being planned with a triple-bottom-line approach to provide a lasting social, economic and environmental impact. Our community fully supports the renewable energy sector and we are excited to participate in this excellent initiative, says Shawn Spencer, Band Councillor of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation. Our elders and youth have always provided ongoing support when pursuing renewable energy and this Wastewater Energy Transfer project at our school is a perfect example of our youths voices being heard. Pina Maya (Thank you)! We are honoured to be supporting Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation and Saskatchewan Renewable Energy Solutions in developing this sustainable project, says Lynn Mueller, CEO of SHARC Energy. Rural communities like Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation face energy challenges that increase the reliance on fossil fuels and this project will serve as an example of how smaller communities can invest in clean energy solutions for greater energy security. The parties will work together to come to a definitive agreement that would replace the MOU, outlining coordination, development, design, construction and delivery of the renewable energy project. About SHARC Energy SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energys systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential and industrial buildings. SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile. Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Lynn Mueller Chairman and Chief Executive Officer For investor inquiries, please contact: For media inquiries, please contact: Hanspaul Pannu Mike Tanyi Chief Financial Officer Director of Marketing and IT SHARC Energy SHARC Energy Telephone: (604) 475-7710 ext. 4 Telephone: (604) 475-7710 ext. 109 Email:hanspaul.pannu@sharcenergy.com Email: mike.tanyi@sharcenergy.com The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as anticipate, plan, estimate, expect, may, will, intend, should, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Companys expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global engineering and defense technologies provider HII (NYSE:HII) announced today that Paul C. Harris has been appointed executive vice president and chief sustainability and compliance officer, reporting directly to HII President and CEO Chris Kastner on matters of sustainability. The move expands the scope of responsibilities for Harris, who has served as HIIs chief compliance officer since 2020. In his new role he will oversee the companys ongoing efforts to formalize and mature its strategy-driven environmental, social and governance program, in addition to overseeing matters of compliance. Paul has demonstrated true leadership in enhancing our culture of ethics and compliance at HII, Kastner said. We see sustainability as important to long-term growth, built around our values and commitments to our employees, customers and shareholders. I am confident Pauls leadership will ensure we are making meaningful, measurable progress on environmental, social and governance initiatives and communicating clearly about them going forward. As HIIs corporate vice president and chief compliance and privacy officer, Harris is responsible for working with leaders within the law department and throughout the enterprise to advance HIIs compliance strategy and execution objectives. Additionally, he manages a team of experienced compliance and privacy counsel, which provide legal advice and guidance to senior management. Harris reports to HIIs general counsel on matters of compliance. Harris came to HII from Hampton University, his alma mater, where he served as senior vice president. After serving in the U.S. Armys 10th Mountain Division, he received his juris doctorate from George Washington University Law School in 1995. In 1997, Harris was elected to Virginias House of Delegates, where he served for four years. He later worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as deputy associate attorney general and deputy assistant attorney general of the civil division, torts branch. He then rejoined the private sector, where he held compliance-related positions of increasing authority at several global companies, including Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Sodexo. A photo accompanying this release is available for download at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/760d70b5-beec-44f7-8944-81ae1b492948 HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: HII on the web: https://www.hii.com/ HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wearehii HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearehii Contact: Danny Hernandez Danny.J.Hernandez@hii-co.com (202) 580-9086 Ranked #1 Overall Across All Eight Categories Among 25 Companies in Leisure Sector Ranked #1 Overall Best CEO, CFO and IRO for Third Consecutive Year Company Among 23 Most Honored Companies Which Topped All Categories in Their Respective Sectors Recognized as Top Leisure Company in Communication of Strategy and Risk Management Amid COVID-19 Global Pandemic NEW YORK, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Norwegian or the Company) (NYSE: NCLH), a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, today announced its second consecutive clean sweep of first place overall rankings in all eight categories for the Leisure sector in the 2022 Institutional Investor All-America Executive Team annual survey. The Companys management team was recognized at the Institutional Investor Most Honored Companies awards ceremony last night in New York City. It is an honor to once again be recognized by the investment community with an across-the-board sweep of all categories for the Leisure sector in the prestigious Institutional Investor All-America Executive Team survey for our engagement and outreach efforts during what has certainly been the most challenging period in our Companys 55-year history, said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Norwegian has always strived to be as clear, open and transparent as possible, and while the pandemic impacted our Company and industry more severely than any other, it afforded us the opportunity to expand the conversation with our stakeholders to include our fundamental commitment to health, safety and the environment as we continue our Companys recovery and return the balance of our fleet to operation over the coming months. Over 3,400 money managers, sell-side researchers and buy-side analysts took part in the survey, nominating 1,384 companies and ranking each ones Investor Relations professionals across 20 metrics, ranging from credibility and executive leadership to quality of financials disclosures, ESG, and crisis management. Institutional Investor congratulates Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings for its continued excellence and its second consecutive sweep across all categories for Leisure companies in our 2022 All-America Executive Team survey rankings, said Ursula Kizy, Director of Investor Relations Americas at Institutional Investor. Norwegian, along with other companies receiving the Most Honored Company distinction in this years rankings, have demonstrated the importance of clear and transparent communication with the investment community, particularly through what have certainly been extremely challenging times. Norwegians executive leadership and Investor Relations program were ranked as follows out of 25 companies nominated in the Leisure sector: #1 Overall Best CEO: Frank Del Rio #1 Overall Best CFO: Mark Kempa #1 Overall Best Investor Relations Officer: Andrea DeMarco #1 Overall Best Investor Relations Team #1 Overall Best Investor Relations Program #1 Overall Best Analyst Day #1 Overall Best ESG #1 Overall Best Crisis Management Amid COVID-19 About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with nearly 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company has nine additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising approximately 24,000 berths About Institutional Investor For 52 years Institutional Investor has consistently distinguished itself among the worlds foremost media companies with ground-breaking journalism and incisive writing that provides essential intelligence for a global audience. In addition, Institutional Investor offers highly-respected proprietary benchmark research and rankings; Institutional Investor Research provides independent sell-side and corporate performance research and rankings and aims to be the first-choice and independent validation source of qualitative market intelligence for all three sides of the investment community. Institutional Investor Research has a global presence, spanning Europe, All-Asia, the US and Latin America. Investor Relations & Media Contact Edel Cruz (305) 468-2339 InvestorRelations@nclcorp.com Institutional Investor Contact Ursula Kizy (212) 224-3124 ukizy@institutionalinvestor.com Graphics accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e82b420b-2db4-4d56-bff4-08909531c23f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8d38d04-398c-4490-a496-77f5cde9070c Victoria, Republic of Seychelles, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iBG Finance, a sister-concern of ICOA Inc (OTC Pink: ICOA) sees continuous flourishing growth for its native token on Ethereum as March kicks off the last stretch of Q1 this year. iBG Finance is an ecosystem of smart DeFi wealth management products uniquely designed to bring simplicity and efficiency to users interested in entering the cryptocurrency and DeFi markets. iBG takes on the vision decentralized finance strives for and takes it a step further through innovating easier, alternative solutions to the complexities currently available on the market. No cryptocurrency platform has yet to create an ecosystem with user experience at its core; none until iBG Finance. March saw greener pastures beginning the 5th at $0.153, steadily growing to $0.184 by the 8th, this week soaring to greater heights $0.658 to end the week strong on the 11th. An exact 108.7% growth quote from CoinGecko indicates a paving way towards higher milestones for both iBG Finance and its consumers on the Ethereum chain. The prosperous stage set by the iBG Tokens steady climb on the charts is further supported by iBGs latest launch of their Flexible Lock Staking feature on their Ethereum staking platform. Flexible Lock Staking, the latest innovative component of the iBG ecosystem, employs a twist on the typical locked staking platforms available on the blockchain. Prospective users can enjoy locked staking time periods adjustable based on their own distinction, the pool weight of their deposit based on their selected timeframe automatically calculated on-screen. From a range of 1-12 months, users can experience a unique sense of freedom despite the essence of their investment being locked in. A feature of iBGs Flexible Lock Staking that sets itself apart from mainstream DeFi farming platforms is its approach to the investors initial capital. Even without the chosen lock-in period expiring, the investor is able to claim his yield rewards immediately! Claim daily and receive your days yield reward a year after first claiming. This enables the investor to further his flexibility with his capital while having a safety net of iBG Tokens at his disposal after a year. I am delighted to present our new Flexible Lock Staking to the public, says iBG Finance CEO, Samuel Chng. He further explains, we created the platform with our consumer base in mind. In this day and age of cryptocurrency, liquidity reigns king. We at iBG understand users need to be adaptive to the market and thus designed this feature accordingly. iBG Finance truly finds itself at the forefront of a new wave of cryptocurrency integration to mans daily lifestyle, beginning with the platforms consistent approach to simplicity and accessibility in regards to its releases and further upcoming launches. The Flexible Lock Staking of iBG Finance went live on eth.ibg.finance on 10 March 2022, 17:00 GMT+4, effectively enabling users to diversify their cryptocurrency assets in a fresh, appealing fashion. About iBG Finance iBG is a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) wealth management platform designed to bring simplicity to users interested in entering the cryptocurrency and the DeFi market. iBG is equipped with the latest Robo Advisory technology to offer algorithm-driven recommendations. Website: https://ibg.finance Twitter: https://twitter.com/IbgFinance About ICOA, Inc. ICOA, Inc. is a national provider of wireless and wired broadband Internet networks in high-traffic public locations. ICOA provides design, installation, operation, maintenance, and management of WI-FI hot-spot and hot-zone Internet access. ICOA owns or operates broadband access installations in high-traffic locations across 40 states, located in airports, quick-service restaurants, hotels and motels, travel plazas, marinas etc. ICOA networks are compatible with widely used 802.11x technology and with virtually all Internet service providers. ICOA is currently entering the DeFi, Blockchain and Crypto Space through multiple acquisitions. Website: ICOA Twitter: https://twitter.com/icoa_inc Contact: Rashi Gaur rashi@ibg.finance Attachments NEW YORK, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agbotic Inc. and its European subsidiary Agbotic Limited based in Dublin, Ireland, announced today the completion of planning approval for their first European SmartFarm. Richard Kennedy, CEO of Belfast-based Devenish, Chair of InterTradeIreland, and Director of Agbotic Europe, said, "We are quite pleased by the approval of our plans by County Sligo to build the first Agbotic SmartFarm in Europe here in Co Sligo. The Agbotic technology represents a world-leading model for automated, carbon-smart farming. We are looking forward to demonstrating how this model can make high-quality, carbon-negative, year-round, local food in a manner that meaningfully addresses climate change." John Gaus, CEO at Agbotic, commented, "Circumstances around the world and especially over the past 24 months remind us of the importance of food security. We are excited about the progress of our European team. The proprietary Agbotic tech stack currently achieves industry-leading production economics as it cleans the air, water and soil where we farm. Our team members in Europe are outstanding executives, farmers and engineers. They will run a highly successful commercial operation as well as conduct R&D in Ireland to extend our tech stack to more plant types, inside and outside; with greater resource efficiency; higher levels of precision and automation; and with a deep learning model." About Agbotic Agbotic builds highly differentiated farm automation and greenhouse technology for distributed, organic farming. The company's proprietary technology for soil agriculture can grow more crop types than typical hydroponic greenhouses and does so without the use of synthetic (Haber-Bosch) nitrogen fertilizers used in most hydroponic operations. Agbotic grows crops without the use of chemicals; with 90% less water; and utilizes a deep data learning model. Crops grown with Agbotic technology in the United States are certified organic by the USDA and the Real Organic Project. The Company operates its first SmartFarm in Sackets Harbor, NY, and sells fresh produce across New York State and into New England under its GoodHealthy brand. The Company is expanding in North America and Europe. Contacts: Agbotic Limited - Patrick Harte - harte@agbotic.com Agbotic Inc. - John Gaus - gaus@agbotic.com www.agbotic.com and www.goodhealthy.com Related Images Image 1: Agbotic Smart Farm Aerial View This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif., March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Malaga Financial Corporation (OTCPink:MLGF) announced today the declaration of a cash dividend in the amount of 25 cents per share to shareholders of record on March 25, 2022. The dividend will be paid out on or about April 1, 2022. Randy C. Bowers, Chairman, President and CEO, remarked, We are pleased that continued strong operating results have positioned us to declare this 25 cent quarterly dividend which represents a 4.00% annualized yield based on our most recent closing price of $25.00. We are grateful for the efforts of our colleagues and delighted to continue to reward our shareholders for their investment. Malaga Bank, a subsidiary of Malaga Financial Corporation, is a full-service community bank headquartered on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with six offices located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Malaga Bank has been awarded an A+ financial health rating by DepositAccounts.com. A more detailed breakdown of Malaga Banks A+ health score may be found in the health section of its dedicated page at www.depositaccounts.com/banks/malaga-bank-fsb.html#health . For over ten years Malaga Bank has been consistently recommended by one of the nations leading independent bank rating and research firms, Bauer Financial Inc. Malaga Bank was awarded Bauers premier Top 5-Star rating for the 57th consecutive quarter as of December 2021. Since 1985, Malaga Bank has been delivering competitive banking services to residents and businesses of the South Bay, including real estate loan products custom-tailored to consumers and investors. As the largest community bank in the South Bay, Malaga is proud of its continuing tradition of relationship-based banking and legendary customer service. The Banks web site is located at www.malagabank.com . Oakland, California, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visit Oakland announces the final 70+ restaurants participating in Oakland Restaurant Week, March 18-27, 2022. Featuring specially-designed dining experiences and offers from local gems and classic Oakland spots, to Michelin-starred restaurants and newly opened eateriesits 10 days of lunch and dinner specials, and infinite possibilities of deliciousness. Diners are invited to support local restaurants and literally Feast Your Way through the East Bay. A Cote Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken Agave Uptown alaMar Arthur Mac's Tap & Snack Bacheesos Bardo Lounge & Supper Club Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen Bellanico Restaurant & Wine Bar Belly Binny's Oakland Bird & Buffalo Bombera Burma Superstar Calavera Mexican Kitchen & Agave Bar Chop Bar Co Nam Commonwealth Cafe and Public House Communite Table Copper Spoon District Oakland Duende Eating Saigon Everyone's Empanadas Grace Street Catering Graffiti Pizza Grand Lake Kitchen - Dimond Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Home of Chicken and Waffles Homeroom Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar Ikaros Greek Restaurant Iron & Oak Italian Colors Restaurant Itani Ramen Izzy's Kitchen Kitava Lake Chalet Limewood Bar & Restaurant Los Cocos Salvadoran Restaurant Magnolia Street Wine Lounge & Kitchen Magnolia Street Wine Lounge & Kitchen Mago MAMA Oakland Mela Ethiopian Bistro Mockingbird Mua OakCali Cafe Obelisco PARLOUR Perle Fine Wines & Cocktails Petit Cafe Pintoh Thai Street Food Pomella Prima Materia Que Rico Nightclub and Restaurant Roses' Taproom Saturn Cafe Saucy Oakland Shakewell Shinmai Sobre Mesa Soi4 Sovulas Kitchen Taste of Sierra Leone Split Square Pie Guys Sugarsweet Cookie + Cake Studio Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar The Cook and Her Farmer The Damel The Forge Tribune Zachary's Chicago Pizza The 10-day celebration is designed to highlight the flavors of Oakland and support local establishments, enticing diners with menu offerings and experiences made available only during the 10 days from March 18-27, 2022. Special menus include: Chef Oswaldos mouth-watering Fiesta Platter at Agave Uptown, Slow-Roasted Coriander Pork Shoulder from Chef Jen Biesty at Shakewell, and the one-of-a-kind Keiths Tackle plate at Home of Chicken and Waffles inspired by the owner, Derreck Johnsons nephew who played for the Cal Bears and Houston Texans. Come discover Oakland and all the richness it has to offer, says Peter Gamez, Visit Oakland President & CEO. I love Restaurant Week as we get to experience Michelin-star restaurants, to the most innovative food trucks in the country. Our vibrant neighborhoods are just the backdrop as your senses come alive with every bite, he continues. Oakland is ready to show off what we have to offer in the culinary scene. Following an especially challenging year, Visit Oakland is focused on supporting the eclectic Oakland restaurant community with a swift, rapid...and delicious recovery, with over 70+ restaurants participating. Oakland Restaurant Week is offered at no cost for any and all Oakland restaurants to participate. Participating restaurants create new and unique offerings from family-style dinners, special menu items, prix fixe menus, ingredient-driven tastings and more. Its an invitation for the community, locals and visitors alike to Eat. Drink. Repeat! The community and fabric of Oakland is made up of culturally-distinct neighborhoods, inspiring an incredibly creative food scene of unexpected pairings and fusion-style flavors. Favorite foodie hot-spots include Jack London Square and Temescal to Uptown and Fruitvale, to name a few. All Oakland Restaurant Week participants will feature lunch and/or dinner menus at six different price points: Lunch Pricing Tiers will be offered at $10, $15, $25 Dinner Pricing Tiers will be offered $25, $40, $60 The complete lists of participating restaurants will be searchable by neighborhood, cuisine, meal type, and price point at OaklandRestaurantWeek.org. Through a partnership with OpenTable, reservations (strongly recommended) can be made directly from the Oakland Restaurant Week page. About Visit Oakland Visit Oakland is a non-profit organization marketing Oakland, California as a travel destination. Visit Oakland offers a wide variety of complimentary services and materials for travelers interested in visiting Oakland. For more information, check out VisitOakland.com. Want to share the Oakland love with the world? Follow @VisitOakland on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. PHOTOS Dropbox CONTACT Beth Schnitzer | 917.287.7064 | beth@spritzsf.com SOCIAL FB @VisitOakland | IG @VisitOakland | LinkedIn | YouTube HASHTAGS #ORW22 #oaklandrestaurantweek #orw #oaklandsmallbusiness #oaklandfoodie #oaklandeats #oaklandrestaurants #keepitoakland #OaklandLetsEat #FeastYourWay Attachments Into Light Project features hand-drawn portraits of Floridians who died due to substance-use disorder. The exhibit will be at Orange County Regional History Center through April 15. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Theresa Clower wants her drawings to erase the stigma that surrounds substance use disorder. Her latest effort, rooted in personal tragedy, includes her 41 hand-drawn portraits currently being exhibited at Orange County Regional History Center. The downtown Orlando museum is host to Into Light Projects Florida installation through April 15. Advertisement The first image visitors see is of Clowers son, Devin, who died after an overdose of fentanyl in 2018. It was the first portrait she had ever attempted but her daughter suggested it as a coping mechanism after his death. There was a major hesitation but I just took my time. And thats how it began, Clower said during a recent visit to Orlando. Advertisement The other 40 graphite portraits, also created by Clower, are of Floridians who died due to substance use disorder. They are presented alongside brief life stories of the individuals written by Barbara Francois, who interviews their friends and family. Theresa started finding other individuals and families who were also grieving, said Catherine Duffy, chief curator at the history center. And due to the stigma associated with substance use disorders, there is not always a lot of support, or understanding for people who are actively in addiction and for the people, the loved ones around them. Among Theresa Clower's portrait subjects for Into Light Project Florida is Anna McGill. (Into Light Project / Courtesy photo) That single portrait of Devin is leading to a nationwide project, presented state-by-state, and created by Clowers nonprofit organization, Into Light Project. The history centers exhibit represents Florida, the sixth state to participate. Eighteen of the 40 people in the drawings lived in Central Florida. The museum sent oral historians to meet with families, and quotes from those interviews also are presented with the portraits. Most of the individuals who are featured in the portraits for this exhibition have died due to substance use disorder in the past five years or so, Duffy said. Many of them died within the first year of the pandemic. The subjects were submitted online and selected on a first-come basis, she said. Then Clower started on the artwork. It takes between five and 10 hours to complete a drawing, she said, and she continues to find it therapeutic. There is an energy within their eyes that I feel. I have to get those eyes right, and sometimes theyre giving me a real struggle, but eventually, they will come through, she said. I just sit with these people. I understand, like my own son, that they were just so cherished and so loved. And they struggled with a disease that ostracized them, that stigmatized them, and that they didnt deserve that. Francois narrations dont always include drugs or death. I want to represent the essence of that whole human being and not just the addiction part, she said. Seeing people depicted in this true way helps to dismiss the stereotype of what we have thought about, traditionally, as people who use drugs. Advertisement Thomas Hall, director of the Orange County Drug Free Office, said the exhibit demonstrated how addictions affect a wide range of Central Floridians. His office was established in 1999 in response to a heroin uptick in Orlando, he said. Issues have come in waves since then in the form of alcohol, methamphetamines, prescription drugs, heroin and most recently, fentanyl. What were seeing with fentanyl is its cheap. Its a synthetic drug. So, you dont have to grow it and cultivate it. And its very potent, Hall said. We talk about fentanyl being 1,000 times more powerful than morphine. The amount of fentanyl it takes to overdose is so very small. Into Light Project profiles are accompanied by text blocks that recap the lives of people who have died due to substance-use disorder. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Theme Park Rangers Weekly The latest happenings at Disney, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and other Central Florida attractions. > The portrait subjects families provide a photo for Clower to work from and they have approval of the images. At the end of the exhibition, all of the portraits are given and gifted to the loved ones and family, Duffy said. The oral histories that we collected for this exhibition, those are part of the Orange County Regional History Centers permanent collection, and that collection will continue to grow as we pursue additional avenues for collecting and understanding substance-use disorder in our community. The exhibit will be in place at Orange County Regional History Center through April 15. Many of these parents, the reason that they want to be a part of this exhibit is because they want people to know, they want to be able to use the life of their loved one to make this point that this is a brain disorder and that we need to do something about it, Francois said. Advertisement Honestly, its art activism, Clower said. Through the power of art and storytelling, were able to kind of grab people. For more information, go to thehistorycenter.org and intolightproject.org. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theme park news? Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast NEW DELHI, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Octaloop is proud to announce the India Blockchain Tour and Metamorphosis 2022. Blockchain is taking over the world of financial services, and like the last software-based revolution - the Internet - India has a lot to contribute to Web3. Between March 12 and July 31, Octaloop is conducting a series of events, hopping from city to city and collaborating with meetup groups across the nation to bring the blockchain hype to you. Take part in quizzes, network with other professionals and enthusiasts, and let your voice be heard. The India Blockchain Tour The India Blockchain Tour is a journey unlike any other. Whether you prefer coffee or beer - in Delhi, Chennai, or any of the eight cities we're hitting - we're gathering enthusiasts and professionals from around the country to talk about cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and the Web3 movement. Join them as they travel the country, raising awareness about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology to bring decentralized networks into the mainstream. Turn up, grab a drink (it's on them!), sit back, and watch the air turn electric as we discuss the future of money. Metamorphosis 2022 This July, we're also conducting Metamorphosis 2022 - their way of celebrating decentralized networks, incentivizing developers to build applications for blockchain, and catalyzing discussions between the industry's thought leaders and the Indian government. 15 teams will be shortlisted from the online hackathon, winning a chance to fly to Bangalore and interact with some of the industry's most influential personalities. Across the globe, people are working hard to build a more inclusive digital future. Blockchain is bringing both technological and political leaders together towards one common goal - improving the world's financial systems. By developing robust Web3 products, India can position itself as a leader in the blockchain space, cementing its value as a core player in the future of money. About Octaloop Octaloop is a marketing and consulting firm that has evolved from hosting small events in coffee shops to conducting India's largest blockchain meetup in 2018. Octaloop's founder, Anupam Varshney, is a prolific thought leader in the Indian blockchain arena, publishing news and opinion pieces on some of the most prominent news websites covering the industry. Over the years, the company has built a community of thousands of passionate blockchain enthusiasts in India and abroad, and through our marketing efforts for various prominent brands in the space, they have cultivated strong and lasting relationships with some of the ecosystem's most influential names. The India Blockchain Tour and Metamorphosis 2022 represent their years of experience conducting events and collaborating with crypto firms. Skeptical about blockchain? Come present your arguments, and hear out ours. It's fun talks over coffee with a bunch of funky people - an experience where both professionals and casual enthusiasts will feel right at home. Register now! Related Images Image 1: metamorphosis India Blockchain Tour and Metamorphosis by Octaloop This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment MIAMI, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kingsman Philanthropic Corp., a Miami-based non-profit, originally formed as a part of USPA Nationwide Security in 2005, has traditionally been focused on human trafficking and kidnap recoveries. Now Kingsman are focused on recoveries and rescues of adults and children with disabilities in Ukraine. With rescues already completed in Bucha and many others underway in scattered corners of the country, the non-profit has a waiting list of more than 120 individuals in need of the medically-trained rescue personnel to arrive. Working alongside World Institute on Disability, contractors from several companies with boots on the ground, including USPA Nationwide Security (www.uspasecurity.com) and USPA International, the Kingsman are dedicated to offering their assistance in a humanitarian effort to rescue as many people as they can. Executive Director, Michael Evans said, "In this campaign, Kingsman is more like the Red Cross, in that; we aren't working for any government, and we aren't picking sides or involved in any conflict. We get a list of people who need to be rescued in a war zone and we perform the evacuations. No questions asked." Evans earmarked $10,000.00, which has already been used to facilitate rescues in Ukraine. A Facebook fundraiser by Kingsman only brought in $4,100.00 as of this morning. The $350,000 already donated by Evans at his retirement from USPA in November has already been utilized to perform rescues, locate missing children and for witness protection here in the USA. "We need donors. I don't know another way to say it," Evans explained. Evans is working congruently with an old high school friend, International Disability Advocate and Board Chair for All Wheels Up as well as a Board Member of Bender Leadership Academy, Tinamarie Duff, who has been doing her magic behind the scenes with Dan Manning, USPA Nationwide Security's CEO. Tinamarie said, "The disability community is often left behind or forgotten about during times of crisis and disaster. Efforts from groups like Kingsman are imperative to support our community." Kingsman's efforts are being facilitated by Brian Fitzgibbons and Adam White, of Project Exodus Relief (www.proexodusrelief.com). Together, they are now coordinating evacuations from Ukraine as they have been doing from Afghanistan since the disastrous U.S. withdrawal in August of 2021 which left thousands of American citizens and Afghan allies behind. Kingsman Philanthropic is asking anyone who wants to help, to please visit www.therealkingsman.org and make a donation. About Kingsman Philanthropic Corp. Formed in 2005 as a way to give back to the community, Kingsman was originally providing domestic violence assistance, close protection and witness protection for women and children - free of charge. Evans added human trafficking rescues and kidnap recovery to their list of free services in 2010 after being hired to guard Lisa Ling for an Oprah Network series, 3AM Girls, an expose on human trafficking of teen girls. For 15 years, all funds for Kingsman services were provided and donated by Michael Evans. In 2019, Sondae Esposito joined Kingsman's efforts to combat domestic violence and has been a speaker as well as philanthropist to that end. Kingsman has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Yahoo News, and other media outlets for their work in rescuing women and children. In 2021, Kingsman Philanthropic Corp. was officially issued 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. Evans and Esposito set that up, anticipating Evans' retirement as a way to fund future rescues. Press Contact: Sondae Esposito sondae@therealkingsman.org Kingsman Philanthropic Corp. Related Images Image 1: Displaced Ukrainian Residents Look for Safety This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment English French TORONTO, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following eased border restrictions and reduced travel requirements last week, a new survey reveals a pent-up demand for travel, with half (51%) of Canadians intending to travel in the upcoming year, and of those, 41% plan to do so between this winter and summer. Survey data shows that, if Canadians were to travel internationally in the upcoming year, 60% are considering the ease of an all inclusive vacation, including more than two-thirds (68%) of younger Canadians aged 18-34. In addition, 53% of respondents ranked overall atmosphere and location as key when searching for an all inclusive travel experience. The survey was conducted by Sunwing, in both English and French, among members of the Angus Reid Forum from February 25-28, 2022 with a nationally representative sample of 1,518 Canadians. Our latest customer research shows that 51% of Canadians are ready to start planning their next vacation, with a significant portion of the population intending to do so before the summer season, commented Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer of Sunwing Travel Group. With eased border measures, were seeing a steady increase in demand for all inclusive vacations that suit customers budgets and travel style, with location and overall atmosphere a top consideration for Canadians looking for an all inclusive escape. While more than half (57%) of respondents claim the price of all inclusive vacation packages as the most important factor when choosing a vacation provider, its the experiences those packages offer that draw them in. Romantic getaways are becoming increasingly sought after, with two-thirds of respondents across all household income brackets intending to escape with their significant other on their next all inclusive vacation. Research shows there is also an interest in family vacations, as 28% hope to travel with their children, while 27% of respondents would plan getaways with friends. Additional survey insights include: Of those who may travel in 2022, respondents aged 18-54 are nearly twice as likely as those 55+ to anticipate travelling in the summer (21% versus 11%, respectively). 57% of respondents in Quebec, should they travel in the upcoming year, are interested in an all inclusive vacation. 16% of respondents in Alberta ranked guided excursions as their primary deciding factor when looking for an all inclusive vacation experience. Two-thirds (67%) of Quebec-based respondents would travel with their significant other on their next all inclusive vacation, compared to 25% who would plan a getaway with friends. Women are more likely than men to list flexible change policies as key considerations when booking all inclusive travel. After two years of putting off travel plans, our customers can live out their vacation dreams and reconnect with friends and loved ones in paradise, says Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations at Sunwing. Sunwing customers can travel seamlessly under our wing, with more flight options and limited time savings from regional gateways to popular sun destinations, flexible changes policies and a variety of medical coverage options. Were meeting our customers exactly where they are and giving them their choice of vacation options to enjoy. According to survey data, while travellers are excited to return to travel, they are looking to book with a tour operator that offers flexible booking conditions. Sunwing offers customers the flexibility to change their travel dates, destination or resort up to seven days before departure with zero fees* and comprehensive COVID-19 emergency medical coverage, so they can book their long awaited vacation with peace of mind. *Terms & Conditions apply. About Sunwing The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid. For more information: Melanie Anne Filipp Director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations Sunwing Travel Group 1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d11e812c-525c-463e-8438-2a7803a1ed2d SAN JOSE, Calif., March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meriwest Credit Union has been selected by its partner, Elan, a leading provider of credit union services, as one of 50 credit unions to designate a recipient of a $12,500 donation from Across the Country Charitable (ATC) Giving program. These donations are intended to be used for local charitable giving initiatives to support families in their communities. In partnership with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues (CCUL), Meriwest has chosen to give their donation to Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, in support of local hospitals, to help further their mission in providing the best care possible for children in need. Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for 170 childrens hospitals across North America. In turn, CMNH uses the money where its needed most: in areas like research, care, innovative programs, and resources. All the funds donated stay in the community, ensuring every dollar raised will help local kids. Meriwest is proud to accept this generous donation from Elan and to help Bay Area children get the care they need. Meriwest is honored to receive this generous donation from Elan to help enrich and support the daily miracles that do exist through our local Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, said President and CEO of Meriwest Credit Union, Julie Kirsch. Credit Unions continue to embrace People Helping People and we truly appreciate our partners who share the same values. Elans Credit Card GM, John Owens, emphasized, Credit unions are a vital resource for their communities, with a mission to serve members and neighbors. Were proud to launch Across the Country Charitable Giving and help support the positive impact our credit union partners have on their communities. We believe giving back is more important than ever and including our credit union partners was a meaningful component of bringing this project to fruition." To learn more about Elan and Across the Country Charitable Giving program, visit elancharitablegiving.com. About Meriwest Credit Union Founded in San Jose, California on May 5, 1961, Meriwest Credit Union, one of Silicon Valleys largest and most established financial institutions, provides proactive, personal, convenient, and innovative financial services to over 80,000 businesses and families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Pima County, Arizona. Meriwest is one of the top-200 largest credit unions in the United States with assets in excess of $2 billion, and offers a wide array of personal banking, business banking, and wealth advisory products and services to members. In 2020 & 2021, the credit union was voted a Best Places to Work by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and was included in The Mercury News 20th Annual Best in Silicon Valley Readers Choice Awards in 2021. More information can be found at www.meriwest.com. About Elan As Americas leading agent credit card issuer, Elan serves more than 250 active credit union partners. For more than 50 years, Elan has offered an outsourced partnership solution that provides credit unions the ability to offer a competitive credit card program. Elan has developed industry-leading technologies to improve cardmember satisfaction and drive growth all while sharing the program economics with its partners. In 2022, Elan launched the Across the Country Charitable Giving program pledging to nonprofits across the country in partnership with select credit union partners. For more information, visit www.cupartnership.com. Contact: Helen Grays-Jones Meriwest Credit Union Community Relations Manager Direct Line: 408-365-6328 hgrays@meriwest.com Tokyo, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global solar vehicle market size was valued at US$ 426 million in 2021. The global solar vehicle market is expected to witness a significant growth rate during the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for the fuel efficient and eco-friendly transportation solutions. The stringent government regulations to curb the emission of greenhouse gases is encouraging the customers to opt for solar vehicles across the globe. The rising investments of the vehicle manufacturers in the production of solar vehicles and the government subsidies sanctioned to them is boosting the overall growth of the global solar vehicle market. Get the Sample Pages of Report for More Understanding@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1427 The technological advancements and increasing government investments in the development of clean transportation for public is driving the sales of electric buses that utilize solar energy as fuel. Moreover, the rising awareness among the population regarding the deteriorating environmental conditions due to the rising pollution levels is encouraging them to demand for the solar vehicles, especially in the developed markets like Europe and North America. The oil reserves are depleting rapidly across the globe. Government of various nations are heavily investing towards the development of the renewable energy sources. Hence, the solar vehicle market is estimated to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period. Report Highlights Details Market Size By 2028 USD 2.93 Billion CAGR 32.2% from 2022 to 2030 Base Year 2021 Forecast Data 2022 to 2030 Companies Covered Toyota, Lightyear, Volkswagen, Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, America Cruise Car, Hanergy, Mahindra, Venturi Automobiles, The Solar Electric Vehicle Company Report Highlights Based on the vehicle type, the passenger vehicle segment dominated the global solar vehicle market in 2020. The rising disposable income, desire for emission free vehicles, and increased environment consciousness among the population has significantly fostered the adoption of various passenger vehicles. Moreover, changing demographics of the consumers and shifting preferences of the consumers towards eco-friendly fuel is further expected to drive the segment growth during the forecast period. Based on the electric vehicle type, the BEV segment is estimated to be the most opportunistic segment during the forecast period. This is due to the rising investments in building charging stations and service care points at various locations to serve the solar vehicle breakdowns and fuel exhaustion issues. Based on the battery type, the lithium-ion is the dominant and the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increased installation of the lithium-ion batteries in the EVs owing to its cost-efficiency, light-weight, and longer range. Moreover, rising sales of the solar vehicle is expected to boost the adoption of this battery in the forthcoming years. Ask here for more customization study@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1427 Regional Snapshot Europe was the dominatingsolar vehicle market in 2020. The increased income levels of the consumers and increased awareness regarding the negative effects of rising pollution levels on the environment is encouraging the people to opt for alternative fuel vehicles to curb the vehicle emissions. Moreover, the rising pollution levels owing to rapid industrialization in the economies like Germany, Italy, and France has forced the government to take necessary steps to curb the carbon emissions. Hence, the government regulations to restrict the vehicle emission is playing an exceptional role in the growth of the solar vehicle market. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market. The rising disposable income of the consumers coupled with the rising awarenessregarding the sustainable and eco-friendly products is fostering the demand for the solar vehicles. The government in nations like China, Japan, and India are playing a significant role by enforcing appropriate laws regarding the vehicle emission, which is anticipated to drive the market growth during the forecast period. Market Dynamics Driver The stringent government regulations concerning vehicle emission The enforcement of vehicle emission laws in the prominent nations like China, Germany, U.S., and Italy have encouraged the manufacturers to ramp up the production of the solar vehicles. The rising popularity of the zero emission vehicle is boosting the sales of the electric powered and fuel-cell powered vehicles. Hence, the government regulations is expected to play a crucial role in driving the growth of the solar vehicle market. Restraints High cost of thesolar and electric vehicles The cost of buying solar vehicles is high. Therefore, its adoption is limited in the low and middle income countries. The consumers in the low and middle income countries, especially the middle class consumers are expected to resist the adoption of the costly solar vehicles owing to their low affordability. Opportunities Product launches and various developmental strategies to drive the market growth The solar vehicle market is fragmented owing to the presence of numerous big market players. The various developmental strategies adopted by them such as new product launches, acquisitions, and partnerships are expected to significantly drive the market growth in the forthcoming years. For instance, in July 2021, Lightyear and Valmet Automotive entered into an agreement to manufacture solar vehicles together and agreed to produce around 1,000 solar vehicles per year. Related Reports Challenges Lack of adequate infrastructure in the underdeveloped regions The lack of proper infrastructure in the underdeveloped and developing nations is hampering the penetration of the solar vehicles. The lack of the adequate number of charging stations and other alternative fuel stations may slow down the adoption. Further, the lack of proper government regulations regarding the vehicle emissions is a major challenge to the market players. Some of the prominent players in the global solar vehicle market include: Volkswagen Toyota Lightyear Ford Motor Company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles America Cruise Car Venturi Automobiles Hanergy Mahindra The Solar Electric Vehicle Company Segments Covered in the Report By Vehicle Type Passenger Commercial By Electric Vehicle Type BEV HEV Plug-in HEV By Battery Type Lithium Ion Lead Acid Lead Carbon By Solar Panel Monocrystalline Polycrystalline By Geography North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America MEA Click Here to View Full Report Table of Contents Buy this Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1427 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact at sales@precedenceresearch.com | +1 9197 992 333 Browse our blog@ http://www.marketstatsnews.com/ About Us Precedence Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Precedence Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/precedence-research/ https://www.facebook.com/precedenceresearch/ https://twitter.com/Precedence_R Gloucester, MA (01930) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. MANSFIELD [mdash] Patricia Ann Thursby-Daniels, 77, of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, died Sunday April 10, at Mansfield Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. She was born May 30, 1944, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Robert James and Opal Mae (Allison) Thursby. On Feb. 14, 1965, she marrie Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - A total of 14 people were killed on Thursday in an attack by unidentified gunmen on a gold mining site in the town of Seytenga, in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso, sources said on Friday Toto Wolff is very proud of his team's performance. Mercedes surprised several people in Bahrain with their 'zeropod' concept. Although there is still much work to be done, the Austrian expresses his appreciation. For eight years in a row, Mercedes has been the constructors' world champion, but in Bahrain, the development team showed that there is no sign of satisfaction just yet. The German once again came up with a concept that we have not seen so extreme in any other team. Wolff is proud of his team. Read more LIVE | Day two of the 2022 Formula 1 winter test in Bahrain Mercedes shows something again ''I think we are really proud of what we have achieved in terms of concept. But now we need to make it go fast. I think its a development direction that we like, and its about tuning the car and so we are experimenting a lot, as weve done during the day, and approaching it with curiosity'', says the Mercedes team boss at Formula1.com. Yet it was not all hosanna with the team from Brackley, because the car still suffered from porpoising and especially George Russell sometimes slipped in a corner. ''I think there [are still] issues that are Bahrain-specific. Its very hot, you see a lot of cars still bouncing some on the straights, others through the corners so its a tuning question. And we havent really looked at performance data yet.,'' Wolff concludes. As reigning world champion, Red Bull Racing hopes to compete for prizes again next season, but during the test days in Barcelona and Bahrain, it saw that besides Mercedes it must also take Ferrari seriously into account. Nevertheless, Christian Horner is not worried yet. The Italian racing team impressed again during the second day of testing in Bahrain with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc setting the first and sixth times of the day respectively. With the Spaniard's time, he kept Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton behind him. Although Ferrari is having a good preseason, Horner knows that this does not yet say anything about the performance during the Grands Prix. With all the experience that the Red Bull team boss gained in recent years, he knows better than anyone that the cars are constantly evolving. With the new regulations, this trend is only taking place more this season. Horner not worried about Ferrari yet However, the Briton does believe that the Italians can be very satisfied with the work they have done. "Ferrari has very convincing test sessions so far, but all the cars are still undergoing a huge growth spurt this year. The further development will be at a tremendous pace," he concluded in conversation with the NOS. Mercedes had the dominant car in recent seasons, but in 2022 the team will have a much harder time. Due to the new regulations, the German racing stable is working hard behind the scenes to keep sight of the competition, but for now Lewis Hamilton has no certainty. For years, the seven-time world champion was the slain world champion. Last season he suddenly faced competition from Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen, while in the new year Ferrari also seems to be among the title favorites. Hamilton therefore realizes that it is not going to be easy. With one week left before the first Grand Prix in Bahrain, Mercedes therefore has a lot of work to do. The Germans will use the test days to gather as much data as possible, while Hamilton and George Russell will prepare for the pressure they will face directly during the first race weekend. Hamilton puts pressure on competition Hamilton, meanwhile, still finds it difficult to say which team is the favorite to finish the race in Bahrain victorious. "I really don't know. I think Ferrari, from what I can see, today Ferrari would probably be getting a 1-2 or maybe Red Bull," he revealed to Crash.net. Mercedes does not seem to be going through the F1 test days without problems. In Barcelona they suffered from porpoising and the problems do not seem to have been solved yet in Bahrain. Lewis Hamilton denies that the team is deliberately sandbagging. Sainz indicated during the fifth F1 test day, the second test day in Bahrain, that he sees through Mercedes' game. The Ferrari driver calls it a typical Mercedes strategy to pretend to be slower than they actually are during the winter tests. The so-called sandbagging is denied by the team's number one and seven-time world champion Hamilton. The Briton says that already the moments of oversteer show enough. To The-Race.com Hamilton, in fact, reacted to Sainz's statement. Hamilton denies sandbagging by Mercedes "We would be very, very, very good if we do these moments of oversteering and the tacky driving on purpose to hide our speed. It's not the case. There are things we have to work around. Other teams don't seem to suffer as much as we do." The biggest problem is that there have been no noticeable improvements since Barcelona. The severe hobbling of the car due to the porpoising has not yet been remedied. The strong winds blowing in Bahrain are not helping either. Hamilton says that the team is working hard to solve the problems. It just doesn't seem to be working for the time being. The new impressive design of the W13, of which the side pods have almost completely disappeared, is therefore not a strong move by the team. Knowing Mercedes, such problems can often be solved, but it looks worse than expected. Kevin Magnussen had already retired from F1 for a year and probably didn't think a return to the premier class of motorsport was still in the cards. Nevertheless, he will drive a full season at Haas F1 this year. The Dane talks about his first day back behind the wheel. Haas F1 has had a tough time with its Russian sponsor Uralkali. Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the team said goodbye to the sponsor and its livery. Later it appeared that under these circumstances it was not tenable to keep driver Nikita Mazepin. The Russian still drove the test days in Barcelona, but for the test days in Bahrain Magnussen has been embarked who is starting a last minute return season in F1. Magnussen returns in style Due to circumstances, around the test days in Bahrain the team was given a few extra hours compared to the other teams to make up testing time. During his first test day Magnussen set the fastest time in one of those extra hours. A fine comeback therefore in the tradition of his F1 debut. In 2014 the debuting Magnussen finished second in the Australian Grand Prix. The Dane looks back on an exciting first day: "It's so good to be back. Driving an F1 car is always fun. I didn't know I missed it so much. The initial feeling is good, at least during my session in the afternoon there were no major problems with the car. Tomorrow we'll pick it up again. My neck just hurts a little bit now, but I'm happy to be back." Premier Li Keqiang met the press on Friday morning after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. The premier took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters via video link. Here are the highlights. On macro economy - 5.5% growth target reflects steady progress, high-quality growth - Current development plans based on long-term view - China to increase government spending for stable growth On Ukraine conflict - China concerned about Ukraine situation, committed to independent foreign policy of peace - China supports all attempts at peace, urges de-escalation - China will work with the intl community to promote peace in Ukraine - China to continue providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine - Utmost efforts should be made to support Russia, Ukraine in carrying forward ceasefire negotiations - China calls for exercising utmost restraint, preventing massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine On financial policy - Fee and tax reduction most direct, fair and effective measure to help businesses - Li highlights 2.5 trillion yuan in tax cuts and refunds - China will give priority to small and micro enterprises in its tax rebates to help them navigate difficulties - Central government's transfer payments to local governments will reach 9.8 trillion yuan this year On Hong Kong - Central government fully supports Hong Kong in fighting COVID outbreak (Read more) - Central authorities understand, support HKSAR government decision to delay chief executive election - China steadfast in implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong On employment - China preferably would create over 13 million new urban jobs this year, which is more than its target of 11 million - Li stresses market approaches to creating jobs amid record number of urban job seekers On COVID-19 - China's anti-COVID policy to continue to be based on science and actual situation On business environment - China streamlines administration, delegates power to improve business environment - 150 million market entities in China, mostly privately held On China-US relations - China and Us should continue dialogue - China-US cooperation mutually beneficial, also benefits world - China, US should cooperate to tackle global challenges - China, US economic competition should be healthy, fair On Taiwan - Mainland committed to One-China principle, 1992 Consensus, and national reunification - Mainland to continue sharing development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots On government work - COVID and economic impact largest challenge for the current-term government, which has responded in full force - Government has focused on stable economic growth, meeting people's needs On people's livelihoods - lncreases in incomes and GDP basically in step - Purpose of economic growth is always to ensure and improve livelihoods - China to scale up support for compulsory education in rural, remote areas - On common prosperity - Common prosperity needs common effort, China committed to opening to world - Chinese economy deeply integrated with world, still offers great investment potential - China will ensure Chinese, foreign companies to compete on fair, equal footing - China will unswervingly expand opening-up regardless of changes in international situation Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - The president of the Guinean transition, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, urged on Thursday members of the government to invest in agriculture by individually developing at least 50 hectares of rice cultivation Formula One drivers have spoken out en masse about the war in Ukraine. The disbelief is the same for everyone, but Sebastian Vettel spoke out just a bit more fiercely about the situation. He, therefore, came to the winter test in Bahrain with a special helmet design. With this helmet, he calls for peace, but the first offended party has already come forward. 'No war' is the clear message on the Aston Martin driver's helmet. In addition, the German flag has made way for that of Ukraine, alongside the peace symbol. On the top adorns the lyrics of John Lennon's 'Imagine'. Yet Vettel managed to infuriate someone with the design. How ironic do you want it to be? Outcry over helmet with peace message from Vettel That anger concerns a specific detail of the design. Along the rim are depicted the flags of all the countries in the world, but with one of them the German has incurred the wrath of the government of Cyprus. The flag in question is that of Northern Cyprus, a self-proclaimed republic recognized only by Turkey. "Vettel's decision to put the flag of this pseudo-state on his helmet is unacceptable," reads the response from the Cypriot motorsport federation according to CyprusMail. The union is not leaving it at that and is filing a complaint against the driver with da FIA. "We demand the immediate removal of the flag from his helmet and the imposition of a penalty on both the driver and his team," reads the continuation of the statement. Imagine all the people * living life in peace #RacingUnited #StandWithUkraine No War pic.twitter.com/qDBpCJaiOr Jens Munser Designs (@JMD_helmets) March 10, 2022 Kevin Magnussen finished the first day of his comeback in Formula 1 with the fastest time. He did so in the extra time given to Haas at the end of the second day of testing in Bahrain after the team suffered significant delays along the way. This soon proved to be fodder for former F1 drivers Jenson Button and Marcus Ericsson, who have been booing each other on Twitter. Button and Ericsson jeer at each other Moments after Magnussen set the fastest time at the Bahrain International Circuit, a comment appeared from former Formula One driver Marcus Ericsson. "A month ago he tested IndyCar and was slowest. Now first day back in F1 and hes fastest. Must mean that IndyCar is much harder and more competitive than F1," it sounds somewhat sarcastic. Read more Vettel garners hefty criticism with helmet design calling for peace In that same sarcastic note, Ericsson states that this "puts an end to that discussion once and for all. Here Jenson Button saw a reason to jump in: "All those races you won in F1 must have helped you build confidence to be competitive in Indycar?" reads Briton's equally sarcastic response. Ericsson then responds to this by saying that Button is "taking the bait" and that he didn't expect that from "someone like him". Still, he is not too shy to acknowledge that his former colleague had a go at him, but he does refer to his used hashtag '#LetsSeeWhoUnderstands'. Man I wouldnt have thought someone like you would take the bait. Fair play mate. Its a burn . But next time read the # pic.twitter.com/nTrTQhVRMS Marcus Ericsson (@Ericsson_Marcus) March 11, 2022 Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US State Department is on Friday hosting the Eighth United States-African Union Commission High Level Dialogue If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Sanctioning Russian nickel will slow the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hinder the decarbonization of Western economies, according to GlobalData. The data and analytics company notes that such actions will simply mean Western countries will be more reliant on Russian oil and gas for longer. According to GlobalDatas Mining Commodity Analyzer, Russia was the third-largest producer of nickel in 2021, producing more than 200,000 tons. As nickel is used in the production of EV batteries, any sanctions placed on Russian nickel will cause EV manufacturing prices to increase further, threatening adoption and decarbonization. The evolving situation in Russia and Ukraine has already caused unprecedented increases in the price of nickel. Following overnight increases in the 3-month nickel price earlier this weekwith prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) up as much as 250% in two trading days above $100k per tonthe LME made the decision to suspend trading in the metal on 8 March. Trading had yet to resume as of 10 March. Geopolitical issues such as the Russia-Ukraine situation disturb the fine balance of battery metal supply chains. A skyrocketing nickel price would have major repercussions on the climate ambitions of countries around the world, and will ultimately hamper the adoption of EVs. The extra costs will be felt somewhere, either hitting the profits of automakers, or being passed on to customers. Now is a critical time for EV adoption, as advanced economies aim to accelerate the decarbonization process. Russia has reportedly been looking to reduce the impact of sanctions by turning to Asia for trade. EV and battery companies in China may well step in and buy the commodity at lower prices. China already has a strong position in the battery metal supply chain, and buying Russian nickel on the cheap as a result of sanctions would further strengthen its globally competitive position. Daniel Clarke, Analyst specializing in batteries on the Thematic Research Team at GlobalData Dr Lil Read, Thematic Analyst at GlobalData, adds: It is possible that another nickel-producing nation such as Indonesia or the Philippines could step up and supply western automakers with nickel, but this would lead to two negative consequences for companies downstream. Firstly, Western automakers would see an increase in emissions across their supply chainsas these two producing countries are geographically further afield and frequently engage in environmentally unfriendly practices. Secondly, this would lead to an increase on the reliance on China for companies downstream, as Chinese companies play a key role in the main nickel mines in these countries. The reshoring and ESG-proofing of battery supply chains are two challenges that automakers have been grappling with for the last few years. Considering other battery types that may have the potential to increase in popularity as a result of the situation, Read comments: BMW Group, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Arriver Software AB announced a long-term development cooperation for the development of Automated Driving technologies. The companies signed an agreement for a strategic cooperation, which will focus on joint development of next-generation AD technologies ranging from New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), Level 2 Advanced Driving Assistance Systems to Level 3 High Automated Driving functionalities. The co-development of software functions is based on the current BMW Automated Driving software stack first launched with the BMW iX in 2021, which will be further extended in the next generation through this cooperation. In November 2021 the companies announced that BMWs next-generation Automated Driving System will be ported on the Snapdragon Ride Vision system-on-chip (SoC) including Arriver Computer Vision and the Snapdragon Ride Platforms compute SoC controllers managed by Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud Services platform. The efforts will focus on creating a scalable platform for Automated Driving based on a common reference architecture, sensor-set specifications, and safety requirements with joint development, toolchain, and a data center for storage, reprocessing, and simulation. The cooperation will see more than 1,400 specialists working together in locations worldwide, including Germany, USA, Sweden, China, Romania, and the BMW AD Test Center in Czech Republic. This joint software development is an important milestone for the BMW Group with regards to our next generation Automated Driving platform. To enable sophisticated and safe functionalities in a vehicle you need state-of-the art software in all components of the digital value chain. This forms the backbone for intelligent driver assistance systems. Nicolai Martin, Senior Vice President Driving Experience, BMW Group The BMW Group, Qualcomm Technologies and Arriver are working closely together to establish and continuously develop an ecosystem for automated driving solutions but remain open to further partnerships. European Union leader calls for bloc to ban oil imports from Russia in new set of sanctions targeting Moscow, reports AP. To boost the global production capacity of green methanol, A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) is entering strategic partnerships with six leading companies with the intent of sourcing at least 730,000 tonnes/year by end of 2025. The six companies are CIMC ENRIC, European Energy, Green Technology Bank, Orsted, Proman, and WasteFuel. With this production capacity, by the end of 2025 at the latest, Maersk will reach well beyond the green methanol needed for its first 12 green container vessels currently on order. To transition towards decarbonization, we need a significant and timely acceleration in the production of green fuels. Green methanol is the only market-ready and scalable available solution today for shipping. Production must be increased through collaboration across the ecosystem and around the world. That is why these partnerships mark an important milestone to get the transition to green energy underway. Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, CEO of Fleet & Strategic Brands, A.P. Moller - Maersk Once fully developed these projects of both bio- and e-methanol will enable Maersk to source green methanol at scale across several regions around the globe Collaboration and investments in innovative projects are the most important ways to reach a net zero fuel value chain. Maersk will keep on working with a wide-ranging group of leading companies on these and further projects to accelerate the urgent transition to green energy. Production Capacity Estimation Table Partner Fuel Production capacity (end of year) tonnes/year 2024 2025 added after 2025 CIMC ENRIC bio-methanol 50,000 200,000 European Energy e-methanol 2-300,000 GTB bio-methanol 50,000 300,000 Orsted e-methanol 300,000 Proman bio- & e-methanol 100,000 WasteFuel bio-methanol 30,000 Total 130,000 6-700,000 500,000 Maersks green methanol sourcing partners CIMC ENRIC, a subsidiary of CIMC (China). CIMC is a large, industrial conglomerate that has been a partner of Maersk for more than two decades. Its energy divisionCIMC ENRICis a world-leading manufacturer of key equipment and services provider of engineering and system solutions for the clean energy, chemical and liquid food industries. CIMC ENRIC will develop bio-methanol projects for Maersk in China. The phase one project will have a capacity to produce 50,000 tonnes/year of green methanol, starting in 2024. The second phase of the project will have a capacity of 200,000 tonnes/year with start date to be determined. The feedstock for the bio-methanol will be agricultural residues. Maersk intends to offtake the full volume produced. European Energy (Denmark). European Energy is a global renewable energy company and project developer (wind, solar and Power to X). It develops, builds, and operates renewable electricity projects globally with a pipeline consisting of 20 GW renewable energy capacity. As a partner, European Energy will produce e-methanol for Maersks first green feeder vessel, which is expected to be on the water by 2023. It will also develop e-methanol projects in Latin America and the United States that will have a capacity to produce up to 200-300,000 tonnes annually of e-methanol starting in 2025/2026. Maersk intends to offtake the full volume produced on long-term contracts to help its customers realize their own ambitious emission targets. Green Technology Bank (China). Green Technology Bank (GTB) was established in 2016 by the Chinese government with the priority task to fulfill the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The purpose is to strengthen the integration of technology and finance, to accelerate the transformation and industrialization of technological achievements, to drive the realization of 2030 sustainable development goals, and explore for a green development model. GTB will facilitate development of bio-methanol projects in China together with project developers to be identified. The first project is planned to have a capacity to produce 50,000 tonnes/year starting from 2024, and the second project is planned to have a capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes/year at a start date to be determined. Orsted (Denmark). Orsted is a global renewable energy company with activities within onshore wind, solar-pv, Power-to-X, and offshore wind, where the company is the world leader. Orsted has a strategic ambition of installing 50 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The company is the only energy company in the world with a science-based net-zero emissions target as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Orsted aims at becoming a global leader within Power-to-X and currently has a development pipeline of 11 projects across several hard-to-abate sectors. Partnering with Maersk on the companys ambitious decarbonization journey, Orsted will develop an e-methanol project in the US that will have a capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes/year starting 2025. Maersk intends to offtake the full volume produced. Proman (Switzerland). Proman is an integrated energy company and the worlds second largest methanol producer. Headquartered in Switzerland, with assets in the United States, Trinidad and Oman, and ongoing expansion into Mexico and Canada, Proman is a global leader in methanol, fertilizer and other products such as melamine. The company is committed to developing sustainable methanol and ammonia as cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, offering a pathway to drastically cutting emissions in power generation, overland transportation, shipping and industry. Proman will aim to supply Maersk with 100,000 150,000 tonnes/year of green methanol from its in-development facility in North America. The project will be built by Proman with target start of operations in 2025, producing bio-methanol from non-recyclable forestry residues and municipal solid waste. WasteFuel (US). WasteFuel is a California-based start-up addressing the climate emergency by transforming unrecovered waste into sustainable fuels using proven technologies. WasteFuel has established strategic partnerships with leading global companies and technology providers to develop biorefinery projects and to ensure the environmental and commercial aspects of each project and industry are met safely, efficiently, and economically. Maersk Growth invested in the company in 2021. WasteFuel is developing a bio-methanol project in South America that will produce over 30,000 tons per year starting in 2024. Maersk intends to offtake the full volume produced. How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. The writer is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. Copyright 2022 Tribune Content Agency. Almost exactly two years after the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, many places, including Wyoming, are seeing COVID case numbers decrease and transitioning out of precautions and procedures put in place at the beginning of the pandemic. The latest development for Wyoming is the end of the states COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration, which will officially end March 14. As we see our case numbers and hospitalizations receding, it is time to begin the shift to a new phase, Governor Mark Gordon said in a press release. Th... Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Families looking for a leisurely bite after a visit to the The Maritime Aquarium should soon have a new option an Italian restaurant that will include pizza by the slice and other menu items catering to kids. Less than a year after opening, RHK Seafood Boil & Bar has closed in South Norwalk, vacating a prominent restaurant space on North Water Street adjacent to the aquarium. A replacement tenant surfaced shortly after the space at 19 N. Water St. was put back on the market, according to Ron Czebiniak, of Aegis Realty Group, who handled the listing. Czebiniak did not reveal the name of the new restaurant, but said it is being launched by an existing area restaurateur with a focus on pizza and Italian dishes. There have been three concepts in there and they were all been pretty upscale, Czebiniak said. They failed to realize that a lot of their income would depend on those crowds coming out of the aquarium youre not taking your kid to a place like that. RHK Seafood did have a childrens menu priced below $10 and other fare like burgers, lobster rolls and mac and cheese, but it emphasized its Cajun seafood boils along with gourmet crazy milkshakes. The Maritime Aquarium drew 260,000 visitors over 12 months through last June some of them on school field trips and far more in pre-pandemic years during normal operation, according to a spokesperson. The aquarium operates the Cascades Cafe with kids fare, and The SoNo Collection mall has an array of food options a short walk from the aquarium, including Romanacci Pizza Bar. A few blocks in the opposite direction on Washington Streets restaurant row, Connecticut Magazine voters ranked Washington Prime and Enchanted Schezuan as tops in the state in this years rankings in the categories of steakhouses and Chinese restaurants. But the 19 N. Water St. restaurant space offers the ability for families to grab a quick bite or sit-down meal, on the way to the car just an elevator ride away. RHK Seafood opened in June 2021 and drew attention last August when a customer left a tip for just over $1,500. Direct competition surfaced a few blocks away, however, with the debut of SoNo Boil on Washington Street. RHK Seafood Boils website was still online as of this week with the proclamation we are open, but its Facebook page and telephone line have been deactivated, as well as a reservation engine, which linked to the OpenTable website of Norwalk-based Booking Holdings. An email to RHK Seafood Boil was not immediately returned. RHK Seafood Boil becomes the third restaurant to drift through the 19 North Water St. space without dropping anchor for good. Beach House SoNo lasted less than two years there, filling the void left by Mamas Boy Southern Table & Refuge after its proprietor moved on to create Jax & Co. Low Country Kitchen in SoNo and then Peaches Southern Pub & Juke Joint on Wall Street. Peaches closed in 2020 weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic after its proprietor announced plans to open restaurants in New York City. Includes prior reporting by Abigail Brone and Leeanne Griffin. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Shortly after the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out, Google announced that it's disabling some of its Google Maps features in Ukraine such as traffic information and crowd data. Google argues that the data could be used as military intelligence. Now, Google is adding Air Strike alerts for its Ukrainian users. The new update comes as part of Google's Play Services and reportedly, Google is enabling it on the request of the Ukrainian government. The feature is supposed to be supplemental to the already existing raid alert systems. The company's VP of Engineering says that Google used the same low-latency system that's as for detecting earthquakes. Source | Via Google's Android messaging app is getting an interesting new update today. Messages by Google, which is the name the app goes by these days, can now show reactions from iPhones as emojis, "just like when you're messaging with someone who's using an Android device", Google says. This will initially be available for devices set to English. Next up, videos shared via Messages by Google can be sent as Google Photos links right inside the conversation. This means iPhone users will be able to watch a high quality version of the video through Google Photos, instead of the blurry mess that normally gets sent to them via MMS. In the near future, you'll also be able to send photos in a similar fashion. Google didn't waste any time in condemning Apple for ignoring RCS, the standard which today "lets people with Android devices share beautiful, high-quality photos and videos with one another". Google outright says it encourages "Apple to join the rest of the mobile industry and adopt RCS" so that it can "make messaging better and more secure, no matter what device you choose". Messages by Google has some other new features too, like Organized inbox which automatically sorts your messages into Personal and Business tabs. One-time password messages can be set so they get automatically deleted after 24 hours to reduce clutter. This feature is landing in the US after initially launching in India. Gentle nudges remind you to reply to messages you may have missed or simply forgotten about (Gmail does this too). This is rolling out first to English users across the globe. Finally, if you save someone's birthday in your device's contacts app, you'll get a gentle reminder on that day, when you open Messages or jump into a conversation with them. All of these updates are rolling out "over the coming weeks". Source A man who turned 18 this week was charged in connection with the sexual assault of a minor on four different occasions. According to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court, a 12-year-old girl reported she had been sexually assaulted by Joshua Contillo Valencia, 18. The girl reported the first incident occurred between Dec. 4, 2017, and Dec. 13, 2018, when the girl was 8 and Valencia was 13. According to the complaint, Valencia sexually assaulted the girl during a game of hide-and-seek. This incident was not reported to the police, according to the complaint. The second incident was reported to have happened in 2021 when the girl said she was sitting behind a water dispenser when Valencia walked up to her, allegedly put his hands down her shirt then moved toward her genital area, the complaint stated. In January, the third incident occurred when Valencia took the girls underwear off and sexually assaulted her, the complaint stated. In March, Valencia is accused of touching the girl inappropriately before sexually assaulting her, according to the complaint. Valencia was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct as a first-degree felony and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct as a first-degree felony. Waves crash on the reefline outside First Beach in Ipan, Talofofo Jan. 17, 2022. The 69-year-old F.Q. Sanchez Elementary School will get a $3.5 million makeover from the Guam Historic Preservation Trust under a local law signed by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero Friday. This is a miraculous occasion for the people of Humatak, said Humatak Mayor Johnny Quinata during the signing of Bill 172, which took place just outside the campus. F.Q. Sanchez Elementary School has been closed since 2011. Its been over 10 years and the building has fallen apart a building that has historical and sentimental significance to the community and its people, he said. F.Q. Sanchez Elementary was designed in part by Austrian architect Richard Nuetra and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Since closing, the school has been vandalized and stripped for valuables. The jungle has begun to encroach onto the school structure. Quinata plans to use the building as village government offices, a community center and possibly a charter school so that Humatak students can go back to school in the village. Sen. Joe San Agustin, who introduced the bill, said he had opposed closing the school when he served on the Guam Education Board. I am very excited to continue supporting a village that will be a beautiful source for Guam and CHamoru history, San Agustin said. He also recognized Joe Quinata, chief program officer for the Preservation Trust, who presented the plan to revitalize the school. Funding for the renovations will come from excess General Fund revenue from fiscal 2021. Veterans rights Also signed into law Friday was a bill aimed at increasing housing, employment, education and health care access for local military veterans. Sen. Amanda Sheltons Bill 227 charges the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs with a number of duties to support vets under a Veterans Bill of Rights and provides $500,000 to support the programs. This is a very great victory for all veterans on Guam and in the region, said P. Tim Aguon, director of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Affairs office is authorized to seek grants and partner with other government agencies to streamline housing for vets. Under the law, students called to active duty while attending the University of Guam or Guam Community College will be given full course credit, provided they have completed 13 weeks and 85% of the course work and have at least a C. If they dont, they will get a full refund of tuition and fees. Military training or service also can be redeemed for college credit. On the health care side, Veterans Affairs will employ veteran health navigators to assist other vets in applying for benefits, coverage and other services. The navigators also will assist with mental health and suicide prevention and Veterans Affairs will review mental health programs that are currently available to vets. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, bids farewell to Guam Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui and the command team of the Guam National Guard March 10, 2022. The explosion and fire at Oriental Kitchen restaurant was caused by an accumulation of gas, according to firefighter Kevin Reilly, Guam Fire Department spokesman. Over the course of the investigation, which was launched after neighbors reported the blast at around midnight Feb. 24, the department found the cause to be an accumulation of liquid petroleum gas from a leaking gas line or appliance fitting. However, the exact ignition source still is undetermined, Reilly said. Reilly said the case will remain open, as the source could be discovered later with the introduction or discovery of new information. Oriental Kitchen owner Bay Zhang said he learned about the cause of the fire from GFD earlier this week. The report brings kind of a closure, said Zhang. I have respect for the findings of the fire department because they are the professionals. Zhang is still in shock and has been thinking about the next steps for Oriental Kitchen. Theres a lot of scenarios, ... but for now I dont really know. At the moment there is still aftershock and trying to figure out what is a feasible way to move forward, Zhang said. From scratch Zhang said he knows the community would like Oriental Kitchen to return, but with the costs to start the restaurant from scratch, it may take some time. Were kind of figuring out how we can try to come back in a way where we can actually make it feasible, Zhang said. Construction is extremely expensive. If we were going to build the whole building again, its going to cost an arm and a leg. I really want to thank the community for their understanding and support, because we have been here since ever since, since the 80s. It means a lot they want us to come back but we would like to ask the community to be patient with us, Zhang said. The University of Guam held its 43rd College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences annual research conference Friday with presentations from scholars, scientists, artists and students. This year, the theme for the colleges annual conference was Retrospective(s) A look at Origins and How These Take Us into the Future. Pacific islanders The conference featured research and presentations on various topics, including Pacific islander origins, population movements, Pacific culture and identity. Genetic anthropologist Miguel Vilar presented his studies on islander origins and population movement and discussed the genetic data data used to uncover early CHamoru origins. Vilar discussed historical events, the different types of Austronesian languages, material evidence of the pre-latte period and genetic studies in which he compared CHamoru lineages to lineages of people from Southeast Asia, Asia and the Federated States of Micronesia. Asylum seekers Co-presenters Christopher Rasmussen and Svetlana Rasmussen discussed the experiences of Russian asylum seekers on Guam. Svetlana Rasmussen said that there are very few opportunities for Russian asylum seekers to talk about their perspectives. The challenge is to protect their identity. Putting those stories up is not quite an option, but presenting them in the way where their words can be heard, then we can hear the common features of the asylees on Guam, she said. Keynote speaker Keynote speaker Rindraty Limtiaco, who started her journalism career as a reporter in 1991 and is now president of the Pacific Daily News, shared with conference attendees her acute awareness of her organizations responsibility to bring important information to people throughout the region. I want the information that we provide to empower the community, Limtiaco said. Other topics covered during the conference included perspectives on climate change, identification with the CHamoru culture and lifestyle, as well as archeological discoveries. Rudy Fegurgur Quinata, who is charged in the murder of former Humatak Mayor Daniel Sanchez, pleaded not guilty Friday to the special allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. A superseding indictment was filed accusing him of using a hammer in the assault on Sanchez. Quinata will stand trial next week for charges connected to Sanchezs death. In April 2021, Quinata and his then-girlfriend, Joyner Sked, were charged with murder and aggravated assault after Sanchez was found beaten and stabbed inside of Quinatas residence. Last month, Sked was convicted of murder and aggravated assault with the special allegation of using a deadly weapon, a pair of scissors, in the commission of a felony. Jury selection in Quinatas case is scheduled to start Tuesday. When Quinata was arrested, he told investigators Joyner did it, according to court documents. Sked, who testified as a witness in her trial, stated Quinata killed Sanchez after she fled the home where they had been the night of Sanchezs death. Above: Agana Heights Elementary kindergartner Eli Mahaa, 5, takes aim at a chicken roaming in his grandfather Ronald Laguanas backyard garden during a visit to the property on Feb. 24, 2022. Haiti - FLASH : Visa for Haitian students in the Dominican Republic, still suspended Thursday, March 10, Haitian university students demonstrated in front of the Embassy of Haiti in the Dominican Republic to demand the surrender of their passport with the Dominican student visa, not to lose the years of study completed and not to be repatriated to Haiti due to their irregular migration status. Let's recall that at the beginning of November 2021, the Dominican Government had indefinitely suspended the special visa program for Haitian students https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35787-haiti-politic-haitian-student-visas-in-the-dominican-republic.html due to fraud and trafficking of visas granted to ineligible persons https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35246-icihaiti-dominican-republic-traffic-of-student-visas.html Avenel Archelus, a Haitian engineering student at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) who was protesting, said they have been almost 10 months without any documents after handing over their passports to the Haitian Embassy for the granting of the visa by the Dominican Government "We are not criminals. If the Dominican authorities have problems with the Haitian authorities, we don't have to pay for it." Derby Guerrier, another electronic engineering student at Apec University, pointed out that without a passport and visa, they cannot receive money, so they turn to friends for help. He indicated that he has been studying in the Dominican Republic since 2018. In addition, he added that without the documents, they will not be able to complete their studies because Dominican universities require them to have papers indicating a valid immigration status. Let's recall that in January 2022 on the sidelines of the Summit of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Jean Victor Geneus the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs after meeting in Argentina his Dominican counterpart Roberto Alvarez declared that the Dominican Chancellor "promised" him to find an "immediate solution" to the problem of visa suspensions for Haitian students It should be noted that this statement has never been confirmed or denied by the Dominican Government. On the sidelines of the inauguration of the President-elect of Chile Gabriel Boric, Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry should meet the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36142-haiti-politic-the-prime-minister-ai-in-chile.html . According to sources close to the PM, the issue of the situation of Haitian university students in the Dominican Republic should be addressed. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35787-haiti-politic-haitian-student-visas-in-the-dominican-republic.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35246-icihaiti-dominican-republic-traffic-of-student-visas.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35153-haiti-flash-suspension-of-haitian-student-visas-in-the-dominican-rep-clarification.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35150-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34458-haiti-flash-200-first-dominican-visas-issued-to-haitian-students.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33683-haiti-flash-visa-applications-for-haitian-students-approved-by-the-dominican-authorities.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33269-haiti-flash-towards-a-visa-for-more-than-2-800-university-students-in-dr.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33662-haiti-flash-a-special-visa-for-haitian-university-students-in-the-dominican-republic.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : The Embassy of Haiti in Washington targets allegations of embezzlement In December 2021, former opposition Senator Youri Latortue, former President of the Senate Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, alleged that executives of the Embassy of Haiti in Washington had embezzled an amount estimated at nearly $4 million. An accusation denied at the time by the Ambassador of Haiti in Washington Bocchit Edmond "The Embassy denies formal to the rumors according to which 4 million dollars have disappeared from its coffers. No audit has been carried out, how a person can tell the amount that would have gone missing. The Embassy acknowledges that some embassies and consulates in debt have yet to send in passport or money application forms." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35565-haiti-flash-youri-latortue-accuses-the-embassy-of-haiti-in-washington-of-embezzlement.html Chancellor Jean Geneus confirms that inspection and audit missions have since been carried out in two consulates and the reports sent to the authorities concerned. Concerning the Embassy of Haiti in addition to the management of passport funds, appointment and lobbying contracts without the approval of the Cancellerie, would be in question... Geneus affirms that if there is fraud or embezzlement, there a will have recall, transfer, dismissal and non-partisan sanctions. For its part, the office of the Senate, following the denunciations received describing administrative excesses in embassies and consulates in general and at the Embassy of Haiti in Washington in particular, asks Fritz Robert Jean Paul, President of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSC/CA) "to initiate an investigation with the head of the Embassy of Haiti in Washington in order to produce a comprehensive report on its management." Fritz Robert St Paul, confirmed the decision of the board of the CSC/CA to audit, among other things, the management of funds related to passports and the lobbying contracts of the Embassy of Haiti in Washington To be continued... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35565-haiti-flash-youri-latortue-accuses-the-embassy-of-haiti-in-washington-of-embezzlement.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #721 GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022: Epidemiological situation: Friday March 11, 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 453,783,167 cases (+1,891,097 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,880,529) Number of infected countries: 224 *Healings: 387,903,245 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+1,581,529 in 24 hours), the day before (+2,059,397) *Deaths: 6,051,516 people died of Covid-19 worldwide (+6,703 in 24 hours), the day before (+8,359) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 59,828,406 cases (+302,865 in 24 hours), the day before (+187,227) Average cure rate in the world: 85.48% (=) Average mortality rate in the world: 1.33% (=) World: Number of daily confirmed cases: (Day-1) Vaccination: 11.00 billion doses of vaccine injected (+20 million doses injected in 24 hours. Updated March 10, 2022 (latest data available). HAITI: Epidemiological situation: Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after March 5, 2022 daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti. Accordingly, the data below on the situation in Haiti is the latest available. According to the Ministry of Public Health, +30 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of March 5, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 30,430 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 (+18 cases as of March 3, 2022). Healings: 25,729 (+244) Cure rate: 84.55% (+) Deaths: 827 deaths (+2) (Center +1, North +1) Death rate: 2.71% (=) 5th Wave (Omicron Dominant): Total of the 5th wave (starting December 27, 2021) amounts to 4,435 confirmed cases and 61 deaths Haiti: Active Cases Trend: (less recoveries and deaths) (Day-1) Screening since the start of the pandemic: 181,451 tests (+427 in 2 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: 734 (+5); Petion-ville 613 (+0); Port-au-Prince 405 (+0); Tabarre 285 (+3); Croix-des-Bouquets 232 (+2) Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020): West: 2022: 2,523 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases) North: 2022: 263 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases) Center: 2022: 220 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases) Artibonitis: 2022: 168 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases) Northeast: 2022: 147 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases) Southeast: 2022: 236 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: 158 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases) Nippes: 2022: 33 cases; (2021: 249) (2020: 149 cases) Cumulative deaths by department (2022-2021): West: 293 deaths (2020: 104 deaths) North: 54 deaths (2020: 34 deaths) Center: 78 deaths (2020: 13 deaths) Artibonite: 40 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: 31 deaths 30-39 years: 54 deaths (+1) 40-49 years: 78 deaths (+1) 50-59 years: 133 deaths 60-69 years: 186 deaths 70-79 years: 181 deaths 80 years and over: 137 deaths Vaccination: 157,002 Haitians (1.35% of the population) +1,178 in 8 days have received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers and 106,114 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.91% of the population) +1.130 in 8 days. Update March 6, 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): 81,108,786 cases (+44,683 in 24 hours), the day before (+51,148) *Healings: 55,600,175 healings (+170,181 in 24 hours), the day before (+214,324) National Cure Rate: 68.55% (+) *Deaths: 991,260 deaths (+1,787 in 24 hours), the day before (+1,858) National death rate: 1.22% (=) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 24,517,351 (-127,285 in 24 hours), the day before (-165,034) Tests: 962,617,214 last data available. USA: Number of daily confirmed cases (Day-1) Vaccination: 556.27 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, the date of the first injection in the United States (+280,000 doses in 24 hours). Updated March 10, 2022 (latest data available). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 576,301 cases (+81 in 24 hours) the day before (+91 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020) Healings: 571,538 healings (+199 in 24 hours), the day before (+555) National Cure Rate: 99.17% (+) Deaths: 4,374 deaths (+2, previous (+1) Death rate: 0.75% (=) Positivity rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 2,98% (-) Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 389 cases (-120 in 24 hours) the day before (-465) 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: Santiago: +26 new cases in 24 hours (-) Santo Domingo: +15 new cases in 24 hours (+) National District: +12 new cases in 24 hours (+) La Altagracia: +7 new cases in 24 hours (-) Monte Cristi: +4 new cases in 24 hours () Tests (since the 1st case): 3,156,761 tests (+3,629 in 24 hours), the day before (+3,899) Vaccination: 15.33 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 10, 2022 (latest data available). QUEBEC: Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 933,443 (+1.267 in 24 hours), previous (+1.426) Healings: 905,962 people (+980 in 24 hours), previous (+1,053) Cure rate: 97.05% (-) Deaths: 14,141 deaths (+15 in 24 hours), previous (+6) Death rate: 1.51% (=) Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 13,340 cases (+272 in 24 hours), previous (+367 in 24) Quebec: Trend of daily confirmed cases: (average weekly trend) Test: 16,836,676 people tested since the first case (+13,414 in 24 hours) Vaccination: 18,497,524 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+6,563 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of March 10, 2022) FRANCE: *Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 23,308,880 cases (+74,818 cases in 24 hours), previous (+69,190) *Healings: 22,011,308 healings (+82,291 in 24h), previous (+92,178) National Cure Rate: 94.43% (+) Deaths: 139,880 deaths (+107 in 24 hours), previous (+155) Death rate: 0.60% (=) Active Cases: 1,157,692 (-7,580 in 24h), previous (+23,310) Test: 246,629,975 (last data available February 27, 2022) France: Number of daily confirmed cases: (Day-1) Vaccination: 141.22 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+10,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 10, 2022 (latest data available) Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36146-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-720.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... PNH : 2 bandits arrested in Arcahaie The Arcahaie police, alerted to the presence of two suspects, quickly intervened on the scene and arrested two individuals identified as Merisier Abel and Fantilus Jodelere who were in possession of a 38 magnum revolver. Sunrise Airways talks about surprise "On March 14, our route to Les Cayes will celebrate its first year of operation. Thanks to your loyalty, and despite a difficult year punctuated by events of all kinds, this experience proved to us that this line was essential for Haitians to join their families or for their business trips. In March, a few surprises for our passengers to celebrate with dignity," Sunrise AirWay. Doctors announced work stoppage: Due to kidnappings of health professionals, among others Dr. specialists Pierre Boncy, and Michel D'Alexis, https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36088-icihaiti-flash-two-doctors-kidnapped-in-their-medical-office-by-fake-police-officers.html Osni Eugene, Vice-President of the Haitian Medical Association (AMH) appeals to the doctors of the 10 departments for a work stoppage from March 14 to 16 in order to protest against insecurity. Only hospital emergency departments will remain open. A special anti-gang unit of 200 to 500 men ? The Security Working Group (GTS), working at Quisqueya University, made up of security experts, whose mission is to analyze and formulate proposals to the State, believes that a special anti-gang unit should be formed 200 to 500 men well equipped with weapons and ammunition whose mission would be to carry out a permanent fight against the gangs. Launch of the Francophonie Fortnight On Thursday March 10, the Quinzaine de la Francophonie 2022 was launched around the theme "La Francophonie de lAvenir". This year, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) is organizing innovative activities in the Caribbean throughout the month of March : an augmented reality exhibition on women's cultural heritage, online workshops on youth employability , pedagogical innovation, research-action, the contest "La Francophonie par les mots", promoting the Caribbean contribution to the French language, in partnership with the Dictionary of Francophones, said the director of the AUF Caraibe, Saulo Neiva. Grenadieres : Congratulations from the Federation The Haitian Football Federation (FHF) salutes the courage and fighting spirit of the Grenadieres (U-20) engaged in the Concacaf championship held in the Dominican Republic from February 24 to March 12, 2022. The Federation and the many supporters of the Grenadieres join for their send their warmest thanks for having once again made the two-tone and Haitian women's football shine in the eyes of the world despite the difficult times that Haiti is facing. Read all the articles on this competition : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36132-haiti-costa-rica-2022-qualification-our-u-20-grenadieres-eliminated-and-humiliated-by-the-usa-[6-0]-video.html HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Thank you for reading! You have reached our free-content limit. If you are a current subscriber, please log in to continue viewing content or purchase a subscription by clicking the Subscribe button below. Thank you for supporting independent Journalism. Hastings, NE (68901) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High 53F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain likely. Low 46F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Havre-Area Fisheries Biologist Cody Nagel provides an update Thursday at Havre Inn and Suites during a meeting on the Fresno Reservoir Fisheries 10-year management plan. Area recreators attended a public meeting Thursday evening where representatives from Montana Bureau of Reclamation and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks shared a status update on Fresno Reservoir the St. Mary Diversion and the various projects going on in the area. At the meeting, Havre-Area Fisheries Biologist Cody Nagel provided update on the Fresno Rservoir Fisheries' 10-year management plan which will run from 2022 through 2031 with the goal of managing the reservoir as, primarily, a habitat for walleye. The plan includes stocking, habitat creation and other methods for managing the v... I was glad to see Marc Racicot and Bob Browns proposal for a top two primary in the Havre Daily last week. It is not that I think an open primary system, by itself, is the one thing needed for a more representative and more effective government. It is also not that I share former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot and former Republican Secretary of State Bob Browns enthusiasm for the kind of moderate Republican government which, I suspect, might re-emerge in Montana from this particular reform if it is the only reform. What I do share with Brown and Racicot is a conviction that electo... The Perry County Fiscal Court approved a resolution re-establishing the Perry County Cemetery Board in its March 8 regular meeting. The primary purpose of the board is repairing cemeteries that have fallen into neglect and disrepair and the approved resolution will allow the board to adopt rules and regulations concerning those cemeteries. The county, said court members, used to have the Cemetery Board but did not have the necessary funding to keep it running at the time. In 2015, the cemetery board was quorumed to the fiscal court to do certain things with neglected cemeteries and since that time not a lot has been done because no funds were available as far as I understand. There are some funds that can be applied for so were re-establishing the board. The members of the board that were appointed in 2015, their terms have expired so were pretty much just starting from scratch again, said Perry County Community and Economic Development Coordinator Bill McIntosh. Currently, there is only around $3,000 available, said Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander. The funding, said McIntosh, is available through the Department of Local Government (DLG), and the county has to match the funding. Its not a lot of money but it will help as far as us doing some things, said McIntosh, explaining that funds will not pay for headstones but will pay to repair and clean them and will pay for landscaping as well. Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander said it is important for the community to know that the funding is limited, so the county will only be able to repair the cemeteries in the most amount of need, not all cemeteries in the county. I want to note that we have a cemetery board that were putting back in place. Theres a little bit of funds that they can apply for, but by no means are we telling the public that the fiscal court can take on every cemetery and take care of it. This is for us to address issues that may arise in cemeteries and well bring them before the cemetery board and go from there, said Alexander. All court members voted to approve the motion to re-establish the Perry County Cemetery Board. As the drug epidemic continues across the state, local agencies are working together to find ways to reduce overdoses and increase treatment options for individuals facing addiction. Following the May 2020 launch of the Quick Response Team (QRT) program in Perry County, officials with Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentuckys QRT have continued to combat the ongoing drug overdoses in the area through education, connecting resources, distributing Narcan to high risk communities and more. According to the Kentucky Substance Use Research & Enforcement (K-SURE), a four-year report examining possession and trafficking citations, drug overdose-related deaths, emergency department visits, hospitalizations and state police lab submission data aggregated at the state and Kentucky State Police Post levels in Kentucky from 2017-2020, drug overdose-related deaths among Kentucky residents during that period and the general overdose number increased from 1,477 deaths in 2017 to 1,965 in 2022. Among the reported overdose increases, opioids, methamphetamine and fentanyl and fentanyl analogs were some of the most prevalent drugs seen in fatal overdose across the state, with the opioid-related overdose number increasing from 1,002 deaths in 2017 to 1,588 deaths in 2020; methamphetamine related overdoses increasing from 269 deaths in 2017 to 586 deaths in 2020; and fentanyl and fentanyl analog-related overdose deaths increasing from 685 deaths in 2017 to 1,344 deaths in 2020. Locally, the number of drug overdoses, overdose-related deaths and drug-related arrests have increased. In the past four years, the K-SURE report states that Post 13 saw increases in: Heroin-related trafficking, possessions, labs, emergency department visits and hospitalizations; opioid related deaths and emergency department visits; methamphetamine related deaths; cocaine related deaths; and fentanyl/fentanyl related analogs trafficking, labs and deaths. QRT Program Director Sandra Boucher said many of the overdoses in Perry County are often connected, and the findings are sometimes surprising. They come in waves, honestly, said Boucher. When there are overdoses theres a lot of them at the same time, she said. One thing I found in Perry County, a lot of the overdoses and deaths were not young people but older people like 60s, 70s and that just kind of blew my mind. I didnt expect that, Boucher said. The QRT, said Boucher, was started up in Perry County with the mission of reducing the number of opioid related deaths in Perry County and surrounding areas, and to reduce the complications for anybody that survives an overdose as well as their families. The goal of the QRT, she said, is to get a report from EMS, 911 or other first responders on overdose related calls and follow up with the people involved within a day or two of the incident to see if they need help or treatment. This, she said, will allow them to better track overdoses in the area and help follow up on them. During the QRT kickoff last May, QRT team members went door-to-door in the Combs community to hand out bags with Narcan, along with information about the needle exchange program and treatment resources. The Perry County QRT, said Jordan Winchester, a QRT peer support specialist, has continued to distribute Narcan to at-risk communities, as well as utilizing other methods of connecting with individuals in need. In addition to giving out Narcan, Winchester said the QRT also gives out fentanyl testing strips; connects people to available resources such as treatment, transportation, food and clothing; gives survival kits to the homeless population; and more. My feet are on the ground. Im going out and we are talking to overdose victims, families of overdose victims, being any kind of resource that we can to them. We set up and if people need help with food boxes, clothing, or mental health issues we set them up appointments to do that, said Winchester. While they continue to combat the drug epidemic, Winchester and Boucher said the QRT has faced a few challenges along the way including negative stigmas against people facing addiction and seeking help and a lack of communication and accurate data tracking between agencies among other issues. The goal of the QRT, Boucher said, is to get a report from EMS, 911 or other first responders on overdose related calls and follow up with the people involved within a day or two of the incident to see if they need help or treatment, which will allow the QRT to better track overdoses in the area and help follow up on them. To do this, she said, there needs to be a clear line of communication between agencies and there needs to be a more reliable source of tracking data and statistics collected. I think getting information out is the barrier right now, said Boucher, stating that they werent able to get information about overdoses very easily at the beginning stages of the QRT, but they have been working on that issue since their arrival in Hazard. I think the other thing we really need to work on is getting the EMS and fire departments on board with us to work hand-in-hand. You cant get real statistics on overdoses, theres not a good reporting system for that. Theres different things set up through the state that are supposed to get reported to but a lot of times an overdose is classified as a heart attack theyre not on paper as an overdose, said Boucher. Theres no good statistics, thats another big issue. She said the QRT wants more cooperation between 911, hospitals, first responders and other involved agencies. Currently, she said, they do use available resources from state agencies to track information, but they want to contribute a more accurate system of data through the QRT findings. Theres just a lot of barriers to get the correct information, said Boucher. In addition to trying to find a solution to the communication barriers, the QRT is also facing the challenge of addressing negative stigmas attached to people who face addiction as well as the stigma attached to asking for help. Many times since the QRT has opened in Hazard, Boucher said, community members have complained about the distribution of Narcan to people facing addiction, often complaining that it can be seen as enabling those individuals instead of helping them. People need the Narcan. It saves lives, said Boucher, explaining that the need for providing resources to help people is more important than the negative things people think about the QRT or people facing addiction. People dont realize bad things happen to good people. One hurdle that I see is addiction affects almost every family in some way or other, said Winchester, stating that many families in Perry County have a family member who is addicted to drugs or they know someone who is. This, he said, is sometimes viewed in a negative light by others and can lead to people not wanting the community to know their familys business, which makes the families hesitant to seek help. They dont want it to get out that someone in their family struggles with addiction, Winchester said. A lot of people dont understand that there is treatment available or they dont understand how to go about it, said Winchester.Were here to help. Were not here to judge them, he said, adding that the QRT is trying to form a bond with the people they work with. To form this bond, Winchester said he shares his story to relate to people and form a connection so the families know they can trust him and know he understands where they come from. I was that guy; I was that guy that overdosed. I was that guy thats been to treatment four times and didnt even realize I needed help or that I had a problem, Winchester said. Being able to share his story and connect with the people facing similar issues, he said, means a lot and shows people facing addiction that they are in control of their lives and can make changes for the better. That overdose might be what changes that persons mind into seeking treatment, Winchester said, explaining that the realization of being so close to death can wake addicts up in a sense. Once you hit that bottom and realize theres something terribly wrong, that might be what changes their mind to seek out help, he said. The program, said QRT officials, has grown a lot since their arrival in Hazard and is soon going to be expanding to other areas with high overdose rates. Here over the last month we have grown quite a bit and are very involved in the community, said Winchester. Where were decently new were coming up quick of people knowing who we are and everything that we do, he said. Weve definitely grown and made a lot of changes for the good, said Boucher. She continued, adding that surrounding counties have expressed an interest in the QRTs services, which helps show the regions need for help during this time. Weve had a lot of contact from other communities wanting to know what they can do, how they can help them get something started, she said. I think by this time next year were going to be able to see a dramatic drop in overdoses and the overdose deaths. She said the QRT has high hopes of seeing the effect they have on the communities in which they are involved. According to the 2020 Combined Annual Report from the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, in 2020 the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet announced that eight programs in Kentucky will receive a total of $16 million from the state budget to combat heroin and substance misuse in the Commonwealth. Among other efforts, the expanded funds helped support treatment in communities and jails, alternative sentencing programs and care for expectant mothers who are struggling with drug dependency. The goal of the program, the report said, is to serve adults diagnosed with a substance misuse disorder or a co-occurring mental illness with a substance misuse diagnosis. Thirteen CMHCs were selected to receive funding of $3,550,500. Of this funding, The Kentucky River CMHC in Hazard received $300,000. Additionally, 10 additional awards totaling $2,883,100 were granted to providers to address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. The Kentucky River CMHC in Hazard received $325,000 of funding through this. The QRT plans to continue trying to grow and help those in need. For more information about the QRT or available resources through them, or to donate, visit the Perry County Quick Response Team Facebook page, or call Boucher at, (606) 435-7687, or call Winchester at, (606) 223-4801. Irene Van Winkle, center, a local journalist, is interviewed by San Antonio news stations while attending a rally in support of Ukraine last week. Chippewa County Substance Use and Overdose Profile The purpose of this profile is to allow users to gain a better understanding of what the overdose epidemic looks like in their community and to make data-driven prevention decisions to improve health. Having data on overdose and substance use is essential. Data can inform prevention programming, help to identify communities being impacted, drive the creation of new services, and be shared with funders to get more resources. Everyone has a role to play in reducing drug use and preventing overdoses. People living in the community, local public health, and providers can all advocate for changes and support those with substance use disorder and those in recovery. Drug overdose is preventable. Substance use disorder is treatable and preventable, and recovery is possible. *NOTE: Any 2020 drug overdose death data is considered preliminary and is likely to change when finalized. The 2020 data included here is indicative, not final, of 2020 drug overdose deaths. What does the data tell us? For any questions on county profile data, please contact a prevention staff member at health.drugodprev@state.mn.us. Prevention action steps and resources For Local Public Health Explore funding opportunities to increase capacity to monitor substance use in your community and fund prevention programming. Subscribe to the MDH Opioid Overdose Prevention e-mail list to get regular updates on data, programming, research, and funding opportunities. Lead a community task force focused on reducing substance use and overdose in your community. Provide regular Naloxone trainings to the community. Become knowledgeable of local prevention work. Connecting with Chippewa County Public Health and with the Southwest regional prevention coordinator is a great place to start. For Providers Support patients exploring alternative pain management methods and reduce opiate prescriptions. Review the Minnesota chronic pain opioid prescribing recommendations. Prescribe naloxone to all patients that are also prescribed or are using opioids. Become a buprenorphine waivered practitioner to provide medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to patients. Learn about the TOWN model, developed by CHI St. Gabriels, that can support people who use drugs or people in recovery. Data Limitations Race/Ethnicity Data Drug use and overdose data is collected from many different sources, all of which have their own unique limitations. For example, nonfatal overdose information that comes from hospital discharge data does not always have race or ethnicity included. We know that race and ethnicity influence a persons access to substance use treatment and likelihood to die from an overdose. If data is not available by race or ethnicity, it does not mean that there are not disparities present. It is also important to note that MDH does not report data on sex or age at the county level due to small numbers. Learn more on Differences in Rates of Drug Overdose Deaths by Race Small or No Numbers For other data indicators, some of the numbers are so small it can be difficult to understand what they mean or how this data could be used to change or develop prevention programming. Sometimes, data is unavailable. When data is unavailable, it does not mean that the issue is not present, rather it means we dont currently have a good system in place to track and share this information. For example, in some small counties, there could be a year without any fatal opioid overdoses and very few nonfatal overdoses. These small numbers do not tell us that substance use is not an issue in this county. There are many other negative health effects from using substances that are not collected as data points, such as having trouble maintaining a job, safe housing, or relationships with family and friends. For more detail on data limitations, please review the Drug Overdose Data Sources webpage. Timeliness Due to the nature of the current reporting systems, it takes some time for data to be updated. Data that MDH collects and publishes is often at least six months to a year behind because of the time it takes to verify data and write publications. If you need data that is not currently available on our website, contact Health.DrugODEpi@state.mn.us. For more detail on data limitations, please review the Drug Overdose Data Sources webpage. Where can I find more county data? MDH Supported Programming in Chippewa County Currently, MDH is supporting opioid overdose prevention work done by the following organizations: Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital Overdose Fatality Reviews in the Southwest Emergency Medical Services region For more information on MDH funded-programming, review the MDH Response to Substance Use and Overdose Across Minnesota webpage. Please visit the Opioid Dashboard for more information on opioid overdose death, nonfatal overdose, use, misuse, substance use disorder, prescribing practices, supply, diversion, harm reduction, co-occurring conditions, and social determinants of health. All products picked below are evaluated by our objective standards of quality and scored accordingly. Health Canal is part of an affiliate program of brands where we earn a small commission from your purchase choice. This article is reviewed by a team of registered dietitians and medical doctors with extensive, practical clinical and public health experience. Lab-tested, high-quality kratom Money-Back Guarantee (Opened and unopened) Wide range of product strains Good customer service 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL See Golden Monk Coupon 10 Quality 8 Reputation 9 Price Golden Monk Kratom Made from the USA GMP Certified AKA Program member Potent and pure Medical Benefit Pain relief Stable energy Relaxation Improves mood Who is Golden Monk? The Golden Monk Kratom is a kratom seller known for its high-quality kratom products. The vendor started in 2016, and they originated in Canada. Later, they moved to Las Vegas. Golden Monk pledged to deliver pure kratom only. They ensure that they follow the quality and manufacturing standards set. Also, they are part of the American Kratom Association GMP Program. More specifically, they use six special laboratory tests to assure each products safety and efficacy. This means that all kratom products like kratom powders and kratom capsules pass the standards before selling them. There is a wide variety of kratom products inside Golden Monk. According to the source, some kratom products are Bali Kratom, Malay Kratom, Borneo Kratom, and Sumatra Kratom. They can be classified according to their leaf vein color, grown source, and weather conditions. As for the color, common kratom strains are red Vein, Green Vein, and White Vein. It has been said that each color is representing a different healing property and are specific to certain health conditions. In each strain, both kratom powders and kratom capsules are available. Top Product Maeng Da Bestselling Available in any strain Available in powder and capsule 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL What We Like about Golden Monk Kratom? Sterility When it comes to kratom products sterility, Golden Monk performs well. Specifically, they utilize a climate-controlled clean room, an essential additional process to maintain all products cleanliness and other materials needed for the packaging. This is to prevent airborne particles and organisms from attaching to the materials. Therefore, we can assure ourselves that all Golden Monk kratoms are free from contaminants. Packaging Aside from products Sterility, Golden Monks packaging is also the best. All kratom products are packed with double-layered, dense materials. All these packaging materials are germ-protecting and moisture-resistant. This is to prevent damage to the product. Also, Golden Monk offers private packaging, wherein the word kratom and other associated words are not seen at the outer part of the package. American Kratom Association Approved We highly recommend taking Kratom products from Golden Monk not only because many customers recommend them and they got positive reviews, also they are approved by the American Kratom Association and accredited with (Current Good Manufacturing Practices or CGMP. They hold strong credibility and will be less likely to scam you. Third-party Lab-tests For the Golden Monk kratom to be successful in the industry, its quality should always come first. In this case, the Golden Monk did not fail. For instance, they employ third-party lab tests in a total of six. Some of them include microbe screening, heavy metals screening, and alkaloid screening. You can visit their website for a complete list of their lab tests. All the employed testing can detect almost all harmful substances that may potentially be present in kratoms. Rest assured that all kratom products are tested for their safety, purity, and potency. Products that passed all the lab tests are being sold at the market. Otherwise, the company discards them. Customer Service Compared to other companies, Golden Monk comes with the most unique and customer-oriented service. They understand that some customers may have concerns during weekends. Thus, you can reach them even on Saturdays and Sundays. You can contact the company by sending them an email at [email protected] Alternatively, you can reach them by their telephone number (855) 997-6665. Their customer support service is open between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM on weekdays. As for the weekends, you can contact them between 8:30 AM and 2:00 PM. Although they are available for only a half of the day during weekends, it is still a great avenue to express your concerns, especially if you are too busy during weekdays. Shipping and Delivery Are you afraid that you will be waiting for a highly long time until your Golden Monk kratom reaches your hands? We are glad to tell you that the company can ship your orders in a short period. For instance, they can guarantee you same-day shipping. All you have to do is make orders before 10:00 AM, Pacific Time. Moreover, USPS Priority Shipping is also made available. You can get it free if your order reaches over $49.99. Safe Tracking System In partnership with their excellent shipping, Golden Monk uses the advancement of technology to ensure that any Golden Monk kratom is being delivered in the right and faster manner. Thus, they developed their tracking system. Moreover, it enables them to ensure that all orders are shipped to the right customer with timely delivery. Payment Methods Golden Monk kratom becomes more unique as they accept both online and offline payments. Specifically, you can pay as you receive your order. We call Cash On Delivery (COD), which many retailers or sellers do not do. Value Pricing Golden Monk Kratom is priced as a more expensive one, yet it still comes with the best value for money. Customers would instead buy highly-priced products with higher quality than purchasing cheaper ones with an unguaranteed safety and purity. You can head over to the vendors website for the complete list of each products pricing. Top Alternatives to Golden Monk Kratom Kats Botanicals cGMP and AKA certified Product Transparency Made in the USA Lab tested products See Kats Botanicals Reviews Kraken Kratom GMP compliant American Herbal Products Association member Vegan-friendly Different strains from different regions See Kraken Kratom Reviews Kats Botanicals does not only sell kratom products but also has CBD and other alternative medicines. All their products are also being manufactured in the USA. Unlike Golden Monk kratom, Kats Botanicals their kratoms are only sourced from one place, specifically from farms in Indonesia. This means that there is a lesser strain variety. However, they also sell kratoms in different forms, like kratoms in an ordinary powder form or kratom capsules. Another viable option is Kraken Kratom. The company originated in Portland, Oregon. They started their business in 2014 and became the pioneering brand in the kratom industry. Certain kratom strains are also available with them. They sell both Kratom Powder and kratom Leaf. Some of their kratom products include premium Bali Kratom, Maeng Da Thai (Red Vein strain of Maeng Da), Krakens (Maeng Da Kratoms White Vein variant), Maeng Da Kratom Leaf, and Bali Kratom Leaf. Top 5 Best Golden Monk Kratom strains 2022 Maeng Da If you search for the bestselling kratom to be sure that it is effective, Maeng Da kratom is for you. You can choose from 250gm and 1000gm packs, with different variants like Green Maeng Da. 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL When we talk about Golden Monk kratom, Maeng Da is now the bestselling product. It has the highest potency among all kratom strains. Many believed that this kratom strain had been created by intelligent farmers, wanting for a variety. It is a fantastic pain reliever, coming with no sedation side effects. In one review, it has been reported that Maeng Da had made them able to sustain their life with enthusiasm despite the extremely hot weather. But Maeng Da benefits are not limited to these things. Maeng Da comes with three various strains. These are green Maeng da, white Maeng da, and red Maeng da. Regardless of which kratom strain you will choose, all of them have similar benefits. Being high in potency, Maeng Da serves as a stimulant. Specifically, it helps you sustain your energy and boost your confidence level. It also allows users to feel relaxed and less stressed. Furthermore, it supports a healthier metabolism. Red Vein Bali kratom If you do not know where to start, search for no other than the Golden Monk Red Vein Bali. It helps in various ways; it is also the most frequently available. 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL One review describes this kratom strain (Red Vein Bali) as the one that has the best value. This is because one of the Golden Monk kratoms has the most affordable price. It is said to be best suited for newbies in kratom. This specific strain focuses on the relaxation part of the human body. For instance, users report that Red Bali helped them have better and restful sleep than when they were not using the product. Other benefits of taking Red Bali are similar to different Golden Monk kratom, like pain relief. It can also boost your energy, but without making you feel tired afterward. Kratom Capsules If you do not like kratom powders taste, you can switch to Capsules. Well-tested for its potency, each capsule contains 500mg of kratom. 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL Kratom Capsules are similar to Kratom Powders, wherein powders are inserted into capsules. Among the Golden Monk kratom products, kratom capsules are the most convenient pill for always traveling. Another great thing about it is that you do not have to measure the dose as it is already done. However, there is a little downside. Kratom Capsules are slow-reacting compared to other kratom types. It can also become more expensive on your part. Nevertheless, it brings common benefits like relaxation, pain relief, and energy-boosting. If you decide to have Kratom Capsules, you can choose within different Golden Monk kratom strains, including Red Bali, Red Maeng Da, Red Borneo, and Red Thai. It is also available in White Borneo, White Bali, Super Green Malay, Green Maeng Da, and Green vein Borneo. Super Green Malay kratom If you still search for a long-lasting kratom product, Super Green Malay kratom is the answer. It is available in 250gm, 500gm, and 1,000gm packages. 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL Super Green makes this strain more unique and familiar. Its called Super Green Malay because its superb green in color is its trademark due to the soil source and to what region it came from. More specifically, its root is usually harvested from the countryside in Malaysia. When compared to other Golden Monk green vein kratom products, Super Green Malay long-lasting effects. Another thing that makes this strain great is its higher amounts of alkaloids. As a result, it offers more health benefits as well. Some of the Super Green Malays benefits are similar to other strains, such as pain relief and relaxation. However, its positive effect on depressed mood, anxious sensation, and blood pressure are added. White Vein Borneo Kratom If Are you familiar with how fast coffee reacts within the body? White Vein Borneo Kratom is similar. It is available in 250gm, 500gm, and 1,000gm packs. 10% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL White Vein Borneo Kratom is also a fast-acting kratom strain. However, it is rarer compared to other kratom strains like red vein and green, red vein. Nevertheless, it is seemingly ironic that White Vein Borneo Kratom is more in demand. Most users prefer this over other kratom products and take it early in the morning as they start their day because it increases productivity. It also helps them stay focused and maintain a positive mood. Pros & Cons The Pros American Kratom Association Program Member Six total lab tests Variety of kratom strains The Cons Expensive than other brands The golden monk review What real users say? Upon looking at customer reviews available online, weve found out that Golden Monk kratom is not only golden by its name but also comes with a golden review. Besides its high-quality kratom products, its excellent customer service is also being applauded. For instance, heres what one customer had to say: Not only one of the best kratom quality products but also the best customer service, and fast shipping. Ive purchased from them a few times already and they gave great prices but with some awesome quality kratom. The customer service representatives are very nice and kind to help; Representative Edgar had gone far and beyond to help me when the issue was out of our control due to the winter storm, he sent me a complimentary order free of charge on them. I vouch for their products, prices, fast shipping, and best customer service. Bobby Jimenez, Golden Monk user from US The compliments about the quality of Golden Monk kratom products are really pouring in. Another happy customer added in his review, I stopped ordering bulk kratom online from any vendor because it was ALWAYS bad quality. I was hesitant to order from anyone again, but Im trying to get off strong extracts and needed something stronger than head shop kratom to help. I ended up ordering 250 capsules of the super green Malay and SO FAR, so good. I usually take 20 caps 3x a day, I only need 15 of these 2x a day! Off to a good start. Kitinia Wood, Golden Monk user from Canada Where to buy the golden monk? Many kratom vendors are available online and offline (local stores/headshops). However, users are always advised to choose wisely between these kratom vendors. SO where can you buy Gold Monk, which you will not have to compromise your safety? We highly suggest buying from Golden Monks official website. From there, you will also see all the kratom strains available. Golden Monk kratom also accepts refund requests as stated from their 30-day money-back guarantee. This 30-day money-back guarantee is applicable for unopened/unused and opened/used kratom products. In case you request a refund, you are also obligated to return the product you bought, regardless of whether you had it opened or not. Moreover, if the product arrived in you is damaged, you can also request a product exchange. Primarily, Golden Monk is one of the best kratom vendors focusing more on customers over the business. Likewise, they offer a special coupon code for first-time customers. Additionally, they also give special discounts for those who want to sign up with them. All are great deals to save. Final thoughts Should you buy it? Although Golden Monk kratom is somewhat new in this industry, we can still say that they are one of the best vendors both online and offline. Specifically, all their kratom products are tested in third-party labs for a total of six tests. You can also view the test processes and results by going to their site. Plus, they have approachable customer service. We can be sure that their kratoms are created with the best manufacturing practices, as they are also a part of the American Kratom Association (AKA) program. Moreover, they also offer fast delivery and safe shipping service to all kratom users. Furthermore, buying online and offline will never be a problem. They are the only company that offers Cash On Delivery payment method. Golden Monk seals different strains and varying forms when it comes to the product range. For instance, they have kratom in powder form as well as capsules. Some of their top products include Green Maeng Da, Red Bali, Super Green Malay, and White Borneo. Of course, they also have red borneo, White Bali, and many more. Therefore, we could say that the company is trustworthy. If you are looking for more opportunities, the Golden Monk Kratom has additional offers. For instance, If you subscribe to their site, you will be given discounts in the future. Meanwhile, the company also gives out coupons for first-time customers. It is great to share such incredible opportunities. Frequently Asked Questions Is Golden Monk legit and safe? Yes, Golden Monk kratom is legit and safe. Their products are lab-tested, and the company is also a member of the American Kratom Association. Can Golden Monk Kratom increase energy? Yes, it can. It is the primary reason why Golden monk users continuously subscribe at their site. Is Golden Monk also selling Sumatra kratom? Yes, they do. If you cannot find them in the main category, simply search it within their store page, and you will see the different Sumatra variants available. How can I contact Golden Monks customer service? You can call them using their telephone number at (855) 997-6665. If you prefer sending an email, you can send a message at [email protected] All products picked below are evaluated by our objective standards of quality and scored accordingly. Health Canal is part of an affiliate program of brands where we earn a small commission from your purchase choice. This article is reviewed by a team of registered dietitians and medical doctors with extensive, practical clinical and public health experience. Stealth Shipping Good Strain Variety Reliable Customer service High Germination rate Accepts numerous payment methods See Crop King Seeds Coupon 9 Quality 9 Reputation 8 Price Crop King Seeds Founded in 2005 Located in Vancouver, Canada Contact Number: +1 844-276-7546 Website: https://www.cropkingseeds.com/ Medical Benefit Large seed bank variety Stealth Shipping Reliable Customer Service About The Brand If you search for cannabis seeds online, chances are that youd find Crop King Seeds as a choice in Google. Its not surprising since the brand is a very popular and reliable website that makes things easier for its customers. This Crop King Seeds review will explore everything youll need to know about the brand and determine whether or not this Canadian Seed company is worth trying out. Top Product Train Wreck Autoflower Marijuana Seeds Easy to grow Good yield Reasonable rates What You Like About Crop King Seeds? History Although Crop King Seeds was formed in 2005, the company has been in business as early as 2000. The company has been perfecting its seed banks ever since and today it has a large seed bank for cannabis seeds and sells various strains. They have built up the reputation of the company and because of this, their seed ships offer extra services like stealth shipping and even toll-free shipping. Product Quality One of the most attractive traits that any brand has would be the quality of their products and Crop King Seeds understands this. Their seed banks are filled to the brim with the highest quality cannabis seed, marijuana seed, and other new strains that will make it convenient for their customers. Because of this, the brand often has a high reputation among cannabis growers. The germination rates of their seeds are also top-tier and even if you have poor growing methods as a beginner grower, you can still expect good yield thanks to their auto-flowering strains. Overall, Crop King Seeds is a brand you can trust especially if you plan to plant cannabis or marijuana but dont know if the methods to do it perfectly. If youre looking in need, trust in Crop King Weed. Strain selection If youre looking for a particular strain of cannabis, then Crop King seeds are one of the best seed banks to rely on. They have a good variety of strains and even mixtures of Sativa, Indica, ruderalis, and many hybrids, like Canadian seed. Expect to see a lot of different cannabis strains of high quality like candy cane, purple haze, purple kush, and many more! Another thing worth mentioning is that they have different types of seed selection as well. They have auto-flowering seeds for beginners that you can easily grow thanks to their high germination rate. On the other hand Crop Kings also have a seed selection that gives a large yield. These feminized seeds provide a large yield for people who know proper growing methods and techniques. Of course, strains like candy cane come in seed packs of varying sizes of seeds. Some contain 5 seeds and some have 10 seeds per pack. The pack variety is also very good to have and its a good guarantee of the quality of the brand as the larger seed packs often contain better prices which promotes bulk buying that saves you money and time. Overall, Crop King Seeds have quality seeds online and their seed banks alone are worth trying out and its good to know that they also offer free seeds on various promos, so make sure to keep an eye out for those. Reputation Theres a reason why Crop King Seeds has a lot of high ratings from customers and this is why its reputation is very solid. The company has been around for a long time and has been formed as early as 2005. As stated by the company on their website, the brand itself has been perfecting the process and genetics of cannabis plants of the products that they are selling. And speaking of reputation, their seeds also have a guarantee of an 80% chance of germination which is pretty good for a cannabis seed or plant. Overall, Crop King Seeds is a good brand and deserves the high praise and solid reputation it has. Website & Customer Service Their website is very reliable and the information about the products is very accurate and the seeds online have good strain variety and offer free shipping based on the amount that you ordered. What we like about the website are the layout and design. They have a table of contents that makes it easy for good customers, Canadian customers, and other customers to know more about the business. They also have amazing customer service as well. The website has a live chat function that any good customer can use to help them solve problems with payment, questions about their products, etc. Their customer service team is available on business days and some holidays. Payment methods, Shipping & Return policy When it comes to payment options, Crop King Seeds offers very good service. Whether you are ordering 10 seeds or 100, payment via their website is very easy. They accept different payment options from credit cards and they even accept bitcoins as payment for their shipping and service. When it comes to shipping, they also offer free shipping services when your orders reach a certain amount. This promoted bulk orders which also help you save money thanks in the long run. The company also offers stealth shipping services as well which makes it very convenient if you dont want anyone else that youre buying weed seeds. They do have a decent return policy and its pretty reliable. But its nothing special compared to its other features who are more worth mentioning. Top Alternative Choice Seedsman Trusted Brand Reliable seed bank High germination rates See Seedsman Reviews I Love Growing Marijuana Good service Helpful guides Good prices See ILGM Reviews Top 3 Best Crop King Seed Product 2022 Train Wreck Autoflower Marijuana Seeds Despite the name, Train Wreck Autoflower Marijuana Seeds is one of Crop King Seeds most popular products that can give you a yield of up to 250 g within 8 weeks. One of the major reasons why Crop King Seeds seed bank is labeled as one of the highest quality seeds is because of their germination rates. A very good example of Crop Kings product is Train Wreck Autoflower Marijuana Seeds. Even with the weird name, this auto-flowering seed can give you good yield simply within 8 weeks. Its strain of 30% indica, 10% ruderalis, and 60% Sativa ensures the potency of the final product. Its high Sativa strain will ensure that pains and problems can easily go away and its mind-altering effects can ensure that youll have a good time. After all, it is estimated to have 16.5% THC Levels. CB Autoflower Cheese Marijuana Seeds CB Autoflower Cheese Marijuana Seeds is a highly recommended product of Crop King Seeds. Its seed banks are always being purchased by a lot of people because its very easy to grow. If youre new to growing cannabis seeds, then its highly recommended that you purchase autoflowering seeds vs feminized seeds. And thats where CB Autoflower Cheese Marijuana Seeds come in. This particular seed bank is very popular not only because of its quality seeds but because its cannabis seed is very easy to grow as well. You dont need to put in a lot of care with this one and you can expect good yields within 8 weeks. It also has a 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC as well which makes it more suitable for people looking for the therapeutic effects of CBD over getting high. CB Dream Feminized Marijuana Seeds CB Dream Feminized Marijuana Seeds are the type of seed banks people who want good yields. Expected yields up to 400g with these quality seed packs! CB Dream Feminized Marijuana Seeds is one of the better choices if you know how to properly grow cannabis seeds of different strains. You might have to put in a little more effort if you plan to buy seeds of this type. CB Dream Feminized Marijuana Seeds have a pretty high germination rate so you dont have to worry about your marijuana seeds. Expect yields up to 400 g with this product and just like with CB Autoflower Cheese Marijuana Seeds, it also has a rate of 1:1 with its CBD and THC contents. Crop King Seeds Side Effects Is Crop King Seeds safe? The answer depends on how you use it. Crop King Seeds contain various strains of cannabis seeds which will yield into plants that may or may not have strong psychoactive properties (depends on the strain). Because of this, it might be a good idea to take note of the side effects of cannabis plants especially those with high THC content. According to the FDA, some possible side effects[1] to look out for when using cannabinoids are: Drowsiness Liver damage Toxicity Gastrointestinal distress Changes in mood Pros & Cons One very important component of this Crop King Seeds review is exploring both the positives and negatives of the brand. Crop King Seeds is generally a good brand and knowing its strong suits will be of help. Crop King Seeds Pros High germination rate Quality Seedbanks Amazing Customer Support Large Product Variety Crop King Seeds Cons Prices are a little bit higher No 3 star or lower reviews on their website Crop King Seeds reviews What real users say? If youre still doubting or want to know more about this Canadian seed bank company, then here are real customer reviews that might give you more insights into the product: 5 Star Review So far so good I got this seed from a friend it delivers. has about two to three weeks before harvest and it looks like two or three ounces in a 3 gal pot Calvin Bosworth 4 Star Review Great seeds only did 4 2/2 all sprouted trainwreck and white widow x crystal meth both auto flower they turned out OK. 100% due to outside factors nothing to do with the seeds. The price is a little higher than I like but I will use the crop king again. Jonathan Biggs 3 Star Review Not bad, but could have been better. I am only giving them three stars as I order 4 sets of 5 seeds. One box was crushed beyond salvage and none of those seeds were viable. We followed the directions and we successfully germinated 4/5, 3/5, and 2/5. So, overall, 9 out of what could have been 20. Mark Latendresse Final thoughts: Can we trust the brand? This Crop King Seeds review concludes that the brand is trustworthy and worth trying out. Now the overwhelmingly positive reviews on their website can be a little suspicious considering you rarely see a 3-star review or lower but thankfully customer reviews from others are generally positive as well. Overall, we can say that Crop King Seeds is a good brand and its multiple pros outweigh its few cons. Frequently Asked Questions Is Crop King Seeds any good? Yes. Its a famous company that has a good reputation. Does Crop King Seeds ship to the USA? Yes they do. They even offer stealth shipping services as well. Who has the best seed genetics? Depends on what youre looking for. If its potency you want then the Godfather OG is the best choice with its amazingly high THC content. Where is Crop King located? Crop King Seeds is located in Vancouver, Canada Henderson, NC (27536) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Suspected rapist caught in Mississippi Boyd Henderson County sheriffs deputies charged a Georgia man this week with raping and kidnapping a woman in Henderson County after he was found driving the victims car in Mississippi, the Henderson County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Aaron Marquez Boyd, 32, of Waynesboro, Georgia, waived extradition from Mississippi earlier this week and was booked into the Henderson County jail on charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree forcible rape and robbery with a dangerous weapon. He remained in the county jail Thursday under a $600,000 secured bond. Boyd is also wanted as an absconder from Georgia Probation and Parole. A nationwide attempt to locate Boyd began on Feb.10 after sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a kidnapping and rape that occurred on Howard Gap Road near U.S. 64. Once they responded to the call, deputies learned from the victim that she was forced into her own vehicle at gunpoint as she walked out of a Hardees restaurant at 6001 Asheville Highway near I-26. She was then forced to drive to a vacant lot near the intersection of Howard Gap Road and U.S. 64. After assaulting the woman, the suspect fled the area in her vehicle. She was able to keep her cell phone and call for assistance. The woman was treated and released from an area hospital after talking with investigators. With the help of video surveillance from Hardees, investigators were also able to determine the suspect left his own vehicle in the businesss parking lot. Investigators entered Boyd and the victims vehicle in a national data base as wanted and sent out a nation-wide attempt to locate the victims vehicle after identifying Boyd as the suspect, according to the press release. A variety of law enforcement agencies including the U.S. Marshal's Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force in Asheville and Columbia, S.C. Divisions and the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force Gulfport, Miss., divisions, located Boyd in Gulfport, Miss., on Feb. 13 driving the victims vehicle. He was arrested after a brief vehicle and foot chase, according to the press release. The U.S. Marshal's Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is made up of state and local law enforcement officers from South Carolina and North Carolina, who work directly in conjunction with deputy U.S. marshals, to apprehend state and local violent offenders and sexual predators. The Asheville Division of the task force consists of law enforcement officers from the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, Buncombe County Sheriffs Office, Madison County Sheriffs Office, Transylvania County Sheriffs Office and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Humane Society to hold 'Kitten Shower' With spring-like weather returning to Western North Carolina, Blue Ridge Humane Society is preparing for the start of kitten season with their annual Kitten Shower from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the 2nd Act in downtown Hendersonville. The event seeks to equip the Blue Ridge Humane Foster team with vital supplies and funds to care for the hundreds of kittens that will come through the doors of the rescue organization this year. This year, Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique is matching donations up to $1,250 through March 26th to fund the purchase of two incubators for Blue Ridge Humane Society. Professional grade incubators run in the $1,200-$1,500 range, but the lifesaving capability they extend to the most vulnerable neonatal kittens and puppies is priceless. Kittens under 4 weeks of age cannot thermo-regulate, and depend completely on an external heat source to keep their body at an appropriate temperature. Each year when we start to see the first signs of daffodils peeking up, we know that kitten season is just around the corner, said Angela Prodrick Blue Ridge Humane Societys executive director. The local population of community or feral cats start having kittens who are then found by well-meaning animal lovers. They want to do what they can to help, which often leads to kittens without mothers being brought to local shelters, quickly overwhelming available space and resources. The addition of the sorely needed incubators means that well be equipped to provide our community with an even higher level of medical care that is needed by the smallest neonates our Adoption Center takes in. Members of the public can help by donating and noting incubator or kitten shower in the notes, or by shopping for kitten registry items at your favorite pet supply store that can be dropped off or sent directly to the Adoption Center at 88 Centipede Ln, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Registry items include: Smart Pet Love Snuggle Kitty or Puppy with Heartbeat Play pens for neonates Hide-away cat beds Kitten bottles and puppy bottles Shaker Bottles Cat Bowls Miracle Nipples 2 Nebulizers Food Scales Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Real Healthy Kitten Recipe Canned Cat Food 4 Health All Life Stages Cat Kibble Purina One Kitten Kibble Baby Blankets Heating pads and warming disks 32 Oz Plastic Spray Bottles For Cleaning Tissues Baby wipes Dawn Dish Soap Litter boxes (all sizes) Litter (clumping and non-clumping) Attendees to the Kitten Shower can also learn about what to do when you find kittens, find out about becoming a foster for cats or dogs, drop off donations, and of course, play kitten-themed games and enjoy refreshments from the 2nd Act. "Kitten season is where shelters receive an influx of kittens due to the weather becoming warmer, says Katie Thomas, Foster Coordinator with Blue Ridge Humane Society. Kittens end up being orphaned for multiple reasons and without their mothers, these kittens are dependent on foster care. With so many kittens coming through the shelter at this time it is crucial to be as prepared as possible by receiving donations and accruing bottle-baby kitten fosters!" A TEACHER has told how he fled Kyiv to avoid being caught up in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Christopher Ward says the Ukrainian people he left behind are committed to defending their country and that the next few weeks will be crucial in determining the outcome of the conflict. He decided to fly back to Britain two weeks ago and move in with his parents, Kevin and Maureen, in Station Road, Shiplake, and try to do all he can to support his friends back in the war-torn country. Mr Ward, 38, ran an English language school in the capital, where he has lived for six years. He left his home at the end of January as Russian troops were mobilising on the Ukrainian border. He moved to Tbilisi in Georgia, believing he would be able to return to Kyiv, but then realised he should leave the country. He is planning to launch an online platform called UKforUkraine to pull together useful information and the ways to help the people there, while also promoting local efforts. He remains in contact with his students, friends and their families, many of whom have moved to the west of the country, while others have volunteered to support the armed forces. Mr Ward said: The general attitude of the Ukrainian people and my friends is that they are incredibly determined and committed to defending their country. They are very proud to be Ukrainian and my friends are repeating phrases such as Russia, if you come here, you are coming to hell. They are a strong people and have been through a lot and experienced hardship but they have this spirit and are proud of who they are and their country. Mr Ward, who is also a composer, visited Kyiv in April 2016 when he attended a short film festival and loved the country so much that he quit his London real estate job and decided to stay. Initially, he worked as a communications consultant and then about a year ago he co-founded SNAX, which specialises in English courses for businesses. Mr Ward said that when Russia began building its forces on the Ukrainian border, he contacted the British embassy as locals were becoming anxious. He said: Since I have lived there it has been comfortable. Although every now and then in the East it would kick off, we would never really notice it. People would continue with their ordinary lives. Previously, there has been a smaller build-up of Russian troops, about 70,000 to 80,000, doing exercises but then they were disbanded. I thought the same would happen this time but that they would keep it going for as long as possible to create that psychological torment. Through December and January, people started sharing locations of bomb shelters and one morning a Ukrainian friend asked me whether I had an evacuation plan, which shocked me. I dont speak the language particularly well and I didnt want to be in a difficult situation if it did turn out to be dangerous. In January he contacted the British embassy and the next day he was told to register. He said there were some mixed messages with the Ukrainian government telling the public not to panic while the American and British governments were warning that war was inevitable. Mr Ward said: At the end of January they started taking non-essential staff and their families out of the country. I left on January 25 or 26 but I didnt want to come home to England, I wanted to stay as close as possible to Ukraine. My friend had a spare room in Tbilisi so I moved there and was able to continue my classes as I could do it all remotely. From there I watched the whole thing build up through February and I kept in touch with my friends and my flatmate. When the invasion finally happened I was in shock and disbelief and found myself crying at times while I was glued to the news trying to find out what was happening. My flatmate is still in Kyiv. One day he told me he was making Molotov cocktails. He volunteered to fight but he wasnt accepted because he didnt have the experience. At the moment, they dont just give anyone a gun but they do try to put what skills you have to good use. I have another friend who can do a bit of welding so he is making metallic spikes which can be used to puncture things such as tyres. Fortunately, all my friends and their families are safe, as well as my students. Many are now in the west of the country, staying or planning to cross the border, and some are now out of Ukraine. A number of friends are still in Kyiv or southern and eastern Ukraine and are volunteering to support the army or civil guard and help to fortify the cities. I see everyone pulling together, getting help to those who need it most and giving what they have to those without. However, it is not possible to reach everyone. In the east it is extremely hard. My friend in Poltava tells me her parents have not received their pension payments. People cannot work. Ordinary people who were poor before are starting to run out of money and its increasingly difficult to buy food and medicines. My friend can no longer feed her dog. The tragedy is beyond words. Mr Ward said he hoped to eventually be able to return to Kyiv. I did feel mixed emotions about leaving, he said. My landlady said the flat survived the Second World War and was used by the Nazis as a communications base. It is about a three-minute walk one way to the main square and three minutes the other way is the parliament building and I am five minutes away from the cathedral. What I am going to try to do is find out where my friends are now and how they are doing. It will take a week or two for certain supplies to get through, certainly to Kyiv and the cities under siege. Where I see this will end is not something I can speculate on, although I know how Id like to see it end the Russian army giving up due to low morale and Putin being lynched by his army and oligarchs. I am in touch with a girl in Russia who I met in Tbilisi and she was telling me that the prices of things are doubling and that people are trying to leave. Mr Ward, who volunteered at the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre on Saturday, said he loved Kyiv and especially the creativity of the people. He said: It is a bit like a small village in that I can walk around the centre and bump into people I know and they really welcome you. It is not easy to live there, as you have to go through the whole visa process but whenever I have left I have missed it. It is where I have lots of friends and where I have built my business. The city in winter is like a wonderland but in spring and summer, it is so green. It is like two cities divided by a forest. It is a beautiful city and there is just so much to do there. My decision to move there was a bit like stepping into darkness as I knew nothing about the country but I have always felt grateful for everything there. It is very strange for me to walk through Henley town centre and see the normality of life here. I dream about what is happening and as soon as I wake up Im thinking about it. I want to set up a website to pull together lots of different information so it can be all in one place and will include the ways in which you can help and how to get certain things to the right places, whether it is to the border and the refugees there or to the volunteer army forces. The covid experience has given us all the tools to continue, to communicate and connect people and that has brought Europe together to unite with Ukraine against Russia. A UKRAINIAN woman living in Nettlebed is co-ordinating efforts to help her family and friends in her homeland. Anastasiia Lypynska, 37, who is from Kyiv, is organising money, resources and networks of drivers. Her mother and sister escaped on the third day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and went to Poland, where they have applied for UK visas. Her father, grandmother, aunt, cousins and friends remain in the city and she calls them every dyay to check they are still alive. Ms Lypynska started her aid work with the aim of getting body armour to her best friend who has joined Ukraines territorial defence force and is on the second front behind the fighting. He currently has no protective equipment. She is sending money to friends who need support in the city and has also been working with Henley town councillor David Eggleton to collect donations and send them to Ukraine where her cousin distributes them. Ms Lypynska, a former classical dancer, met her husband Michael Lilburn, from Devon, while he was working in Kyiv eight years ago. They move to Nettlebed in April last year. Ms Lypynska, who has two children Issac, six, and Isabel, five, said: I miss and love my home country. Until recently we would fly over for the weekend for fun and to feel the vibe of my place. I kept my maiden name because I love my country. I have lived all around the world and everyone I know who has come to Kyiv with me says theyre in love with my country and our food and culture. I will always help when its needed. Kyiv is being cut off from humanitarian help as the Russians want us to capitulate. My people will all die if they dont get help. All my family and friends are there. On the third day my Mum and sister escaped to Warsaw and my husband went over to greet them. Theyre now applying for UK visas because they have become eligible as my relatives. But Im not even thinking about them anymore because they are safe. Im thinking about my grandma, father, cousins, auntie and friends. Im calling everyone every the morning to check if they are alive and if they have food. Then I move on to do all I can to get them help. So far all my family are still alive but the fighting is getting closer and closer to them. I need to provide them with protective equipment to help them to survive. I have my best friend in the territorial defence force, just behind the fighting, and he is bare. All he has is a yellow band on his arm. Hes hearing that body armour and sleeping bags are coming but they dont come to him. My mission is to try to get body armour to him. My cousin works for a volunteering agency out there and he is helping me by collecting goods and getting them through green corridors into Ukraine. But we are facing more and more red tape and paperwork, which makes it more difficult to get stuff out there. If you dont do the paperwork correctly all this stuff can end up in landfill. Imagine that when people are so in need. I can organise this because I have links out there and connections. I want people not to be afraid to donate to me. I know people there and I can organise this. My sister in Poland sourced some night vision goggles which I could get to my best friend but to do that I need 2,000. But I have only my own personal money which will run out. Twenty-four hours a day Im talking to people. Im full time every second. I look to everyone else like a mentally ill person. The other day my husband talked to me about laundry and I said, If its not Ukrainian laundry, I dont care. Its like an explosion in my house because I cant be washing school uniforms and keeping up with that. Ms Lypynska said people needed to donate things that were needed. She said: The humanitarian help is wonderful but what we need is military equipment and protection. Give us the protection of a bullet-proof vest instead of nappies. Give us weapons and food. Help us to survive we will do the job. You dont have to fight, just give us metal. Look at how were fighting now without metal, we will be invincible if we are protected. I will not stop doing this. I have a purpose for life now because I know I will be supporting my people for the rest of my life. All I dream of is for [Putin] to stop shelling us with bombs and I hope he will see that we can resist. Ms Lypynska said her children didnt fully understand what had happened. She said: On the third day, when my mother was escaping, I think they heard some of my conversations with Michael and started to ask questions. On the fourth day at school they had to have some kind of conversation about it because all the kids were asking questions. My kids are being looked after by kind mums who are bringing them home and Im trying to keep them living normally. The chef from school sent me home some school lunches to ensure we are eating. I say to the kids that Im trying to help and need to keep doing what Im doing and I tell them to look at the wonderful community we have. To make a donation to Anastasiia Lypynska, her account number is 62434411 sort code 04-00-75. Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. The Anhui delegation to the fifth session of the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC) held a group meeting on Thursday to deliberate draft resolutions. Following are the draft resolutions: -- draft resolution on the government work report; -- draft resolution on the implementation of the 2021 plan and on the 2022 plan for national economic and social development; -- draft resolution on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2021 and on the central and local budgets for 2022; -- draft resolution on the work report of the NPC Standing Committee; -- draft resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Court; -- draft resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Zheng Shanjie, Party chief of Anhui province and head of the delegation, and deputy heads - Wang Qingxian, Liu Hui, Xie Guangxiang and Wang Cuifeng attended the meeting. The deputies expressed their support for the draft resolutions. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we've all known individuals who have done more than their share to help their neighbors and communities with food, comfort, care, companionship and dozens of other needs. If you know of such a person, you can nominate them to be featured in our upcoming H We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, please log in to leave your message. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log In button at the top of the page and then register to create your account. Very, we have an emergency plan and complete emergency supply kit. Somewhat, we have a complete emergency supply kit. Little, we have incomplete plan and/or supply kit. Not at all. Vote View Results Amnesty International, March 8, 2022 More than 80,000 global supporters and activists have signed a petition calling on the international community to urgently stand up for womens rights in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable for their unrelenting suppression of women and girls rights, Amnesty International said today on International Womens Day. The petition, which calls for states to prioritize, monitor and support womens and girls rights in Afghanistan, has been delivered to governments across the globe. Over the last six months, the Taliban have systematically discriminated against women and girls by introducing policies that have severely restricted womens freedom of movement and expression and undermined girls access to education and employment. In the space of just half a year, they have eroded two decades of womens contributions to the country, said Yamini Mishra, Amnesty Internationals South Asia Director. The speed at which the Taliban are dismantling the hard-fought human rights gains of Afghan women should send a chilling reminder to the international community of their responsibility to safeguard the women and girls of Afghanistan, many of whom are being silenced through reprisal attacks, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture. As this petition makes clear, the Taliban must be held accountable for their actions. The fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 led to significant improvements in womens rights. Over the last two decades, around 3.3 million girls have gained access to education while women have been able to actively participate in the political, economic, and social life of the country. Afghan women have found work as lawyers, doctors, judges, teachers, engineers, athletes, activists, politicians, journalists, bureaucrats, business owners, police officers, and members of the military. But now, as the world celebrates International Womens Day, Afghan women and girls are unable to fully exercise their human rights. Instead, they are facing unfettered oppression by the Taliban. Recently, they have suffered an unprecedented number of reprisal attacks, with the Taliban evading any form of accountability. Seven months after the Taliban takeover, the fears that Afghan women harboured for decades have turned into a grim daily reality. Since taking power, the Taliban have dismantled the Afghan Ministry of Womens Affairs (MOWA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). They have also blocked female employees of government institutions and NGOs from returning to work, prevented three million girls from accessing education and imposed severe restrictions on womens and girls rights. These repressive actions break international human rights law. There is a need for multi-level interventions, including local, regional and international efforts to ensure women and girls rights are protected. A UN-led monitoring mechanism, for instance, should be established to oversee womens situation and hold the Taliban accountable, said Shabnam Salehi, former Womens Rights Commissioner at AIHRC. Mahbouba Seraj, Executive Director of Afghan Women Skills Development Center, said: Do not forget the Afghan women. Be our voice and raise your voice with your own governments. The rest of the struggle is on us, and we will continue. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The HFTP Club Advisory Council has been hard at work for the past few months on the HFTP 2022 Club Summit planning a comprehensive educational agenda packed with the latest trends and information for clubs at a time when the standards are constantly changing in response to pandemic and economic shifts. Their collaboration and collective expertise resulted in the following eight sessions to prepare clubs for accounting, recruiting, board positioning, improving member services and operating in 2022 and beyond. Now in its fourth year, the HFTP Club Summit provides two days of advanced-level education addressing industry strategy, trends and engagement for club professionals. This year the event will be held March 14-15 at The Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas a city rich in history, culture and modern attractions and home to the Alamo, the Tower of Americas, and the stunning San Antonio Riverwalk. Registration for the event by February 1 ensures the best possible price at the early rate. HFTP is the professional non profit association for financial and IT personnel working in hotels, resorts, clubs, casinos, restaurants, and other hospitality-related businesses. The association provides continuing education and networking opportunities thousands of members and stakeholders globally. HFTP also administers the examination and awards the certification for the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in 1952 as the National Association of Hospitality Accountants. HFTP owns and produces several global products including the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, HITEC, Pineapplesearch.com, HFTP Club Summit, HFTP Club Forum, and the Uniform System of Accounting for the Lodging Industry (USALI). HFTP has offices in Austin, Texas, USA, Hong Kong, SAR,, and Dubai, U.A.E. For more information please contact Eliza Selig +1 512 220 4026 Yesterday, the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI), #Accommodation-Ukraine and Airbnb.org have announced a new partnership to provide free, short-term accommodations for refugees fleeing Ukraine in Germany. We are experiencing a wave of solidarity. Civil society has already mobilized free, private housing for 300,000 refugees across Germany. Now, it is important to organize stay for a constantly growing number of refugees in a structured way, State Secretary Dr. Markus Richter, BMI. Airbnb.org will work directly through nonprofits on the ground across Germany who are responsible for booking and coordinating stays for refugee guests, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, or how they identify to connect refugees to available housing. Anyone who wants to offer accommodation to refugees can register at unterkunft-ukraine.de or airbnb.org/help-ukraine. By connecting the civil society alliance to the nonprofit gut.org AG and and leveraging Airbnb.orgs international experience with providing temporary accommodations in times of crisis BMI will aim to efficiently coordinate housing needs for a growing number of refugees. Last week, Airbnb.org committed to offer free, temporary housing for up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine, and since then, more than 11,100 people across Europe including nearly 1,800 across Germany have signed up through Airbnb.org to offer their homes to refugees for free or at a discount. Earlier this week, Airbnb.org also announced a new partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the UN Migration agency, to connect people fleeing from Ukraine to free, short-term housing in Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. In addition, the Utah Jazz Foundation is now working with Airbnb.org to provide more than 32,200 nights of temporary housing to refugees fleeing Ukraine. About #Unterkunft-Ukraine #Unterkunft-Ukraine (www.unterkunft-ukraine.de/) is an alliance of mission-driven organizations started on day 1 of the Ukraine war by Lukas Kunert and Falk Zientz. Led by the charitable gut.org gAG, it has activated 280,000 offers for free, private accommodation for refugees. Gut.org is a group of digital social enterprises including Germanys largest crowd giving platform, betterplace.org. #Unterkunft Ukraine is supported by several pro-bono Partners. About Airbnb Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities. About Airbnb.org Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. Airbnb Press Airbnb Press Office Airbnb SEATTLE Reside, the leading prop-tech and alternative accommodations firm with operations in over 19,000 cities and 60 countries, announced today that it has expanded its partnership with Virdee, an Austin, Texas-based SaaS provider serving the hospitality, short-term rental, multi-family and commercial real estate industries. Resides subsidiary Reside 3Sixty, a state-of-the-art marketplace for extended-stay corporate housing accommodations, has implemented the Virdee Virtual Reception mobile app for guest communications, upsells, and check-in and check-out across its entire property portfolio, enabling seamless guest experiences for the companys flexible inventory. Reside 3Sixty is Resides innovative technology platform designed to provide an end-to-end relocation and business travel management solution to partners, clients and guests on a global scale. Reside 3Sixty offers direct access to over 650,000 high-quality, fully-vetted alternative accommodation options spanning traditional corporate housing, hotels, short- and long-term apartments, student housing, and single-family homes. Reside 3Sixty clients benefit from a globally compliant and real-time booking tool curated to each clients needs and a customer advocacy model centered on consistency, communication and 100% transparency. Robyn Joliat, Chief Technology Officer, Reside, said: With the diversity of our product as a true alternative accommodations provider and the growing demand for locations across the globe, we needed to continue to drive a tech solution that allowed us to adapt quickly and provide a quality and consistent guest experience. We deployed Virdee Virtual Reception Mobile and Kiosks in initial Seattle, Washington locations and have expanded into our New York City properties. Customers and guests find the tech easy to use and are impressed with the services they have at their fingertips and the seamless arrival experience that the Virdee solution has provided. Branigan Mulcahy, Virdee Co-Founder, said: We are thrilled to expand our partnership by providing an enterprise-wide mobile app solution for Reside 3Sixty. Virdee was established with a focus on elevating the guest experience at many types of properties, including corporate housing, which in many cases lead the adoption of self-service solutions. Nadav Cornberg, Virdee co-founder, said: We are excited to bring our solutions to an innovative leader in corporate housing accommodations. The adaptability Virdees mobile app brings to Reside 3Sixtys flexible inventory will help Reside 3Sixtys clients streamline their operations. About Reside Headquartered in Seattle, WA, Reside is the leading provider of professionally operated and managed global alternative accommodations with a portfolio of premier hospitality and technology brands (ABODA by Reside, Broadway Plaza, The Beekman Tower, The Residences at W New York, OnBase Suites and Reside 3Sixty). Reside's mission is to present a new way to stay; offering a curated experience to guests no matter the destination or duration of their stay. Reside aggregated a world-class partner network of over 1,000,000 of the best globally-compliant accommodations options in over 60 countries to satisfy growing consumer demand for high-quality, flexible and vetted housing solutions for business or leisure travel. To learn more visit www.staywithreside.com. About Reside 3Sixty Reside 3Sixty is a managed global accommodations marketplace and an end-to-end technology management platform designed to dramatically improve the overall mobility process for relocation and travel companies, clients, and guests. We provide clients with access to over 1,000,000 globally compliant, fully vetted, quality, and cost-effective accommodations options in over 60 countries. providing them with bilateral guest communications, case management and business intelligence reporting to create an all-around platform to manage, monitor and elevate their mobility process. To learn more visit www.3sixty.tech. About Virdee Based in Austin, Texas, Virdee is an innovative software company serving the commercial real estate industry. Its API-first approach provides the most comprehensive solution of check-in/out, ID verification, payment collection, and remote support assistance. Virdee helps clients elevate the customer experience, reduce costs and generate ancillary revenue. Visit www.virdee.co to learn more. Michael Frenkel About one in five people in Texas have no health insurance, the highest rate of uninsured in the nation. This number could become even higher as pandemic related benefits come to an end. During the pandemic, a lot more people were able to access the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The American Rescue Plan Act expanded subsidies, lowered monthly premiums, and extended subsidies to middle-income people who were previously ineligible for them. But those subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2022. The end of the subsidies will leave those middle income families in a coverage gap because they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, the government program for the poor, but cant afford policies sold through Affordable Care Act markets. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas ranks among worst in the nation for racial health disparities Texas has had the opportunity to close that gap, but lawmakers have repeatedly rejected efforts to expand eligibility for Medicaid to cover a larger segment of the working poor. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government would pay 90 percent of the cost of the expansion. Texas is one of 12 states that hasnt expanded Medicaid coverage. Most of the people caught in the coverage gap tend to be working class minorities. Among Hispanics in Texas, the uninsured rate is 38 percent, nearly double the state average. About 20 percent of Blacks in Texas are uninsured, compared to 15 percent for whites, according to a November report from the Commonwealth Fund, a health policy foundation in New York. But with the subsidies in place for 2022, Texas had a record year in ACA enrollments. More than 1.8 million Texans now get their health insurance through the federal program, an increase of 548,000 or about 40 percent from last year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Overall, the subsidies seemed to have the greatest impact in states that have not expanded Medicaid. ACA enrollment in states that did not expand Medicaid increased an average of about 31 percent, compared to an 11 percent increase in states that did expand Medicaid, according to federal data. On HoustonChronicle.com: More Texans than ever get health insurance through the ACA as enrollment surges 42 percent There's now some financial security for folks, if they end up getting sick, said Stacey Pogue, a senior policy analyst at Every Texan, an Austin think tank in a January interview. It provides peace of mind that if something bad does happen, youre not going to go bankrupt trying to pay for access to a doctor or access to health care. Still No. 1 The best bet at keeping the subsidies was the Build Back Better Act, legislation from the Biden administration aimed at building so-called social infrastructure such as education and health care, but negotiations on the bill in Washington have stalled. Some opponents of the bill, projected to cost around $2 trillion, said it was simply too expensive. Biden promised to Build Back Better, Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Tweeted. In reality, we would be building back broke. Build Back Better seems to be at a stalemate, and Texas Republican-controlled government remains steadfast in its opposition to expanding Medicaid. As a result, any progress made in lowering the rate of uninsured through pandemic relief programs and record ACA enrollments could very well be undone. Texas is all but certain to hold onto its No.1 ranking in both the number and percentage of uninsured. As Houston Mayor Sylvester puts it, he has two heads on his body that are often fighting each other. One is focused on climate change, working to lessen its impacts on a city that has seen seven federal disasters in the past 6 years and pleading with officials at the United Nation's climate conference, COP26, to push for more ambitious carbon reductions. The other welcomed leaders of the world's oil and gas industry at the World Petroleum Congress in December, defending much of the industry as other mayors call them "antithetical" to climate goals. "The point Ive made at the national level with the Climate Mayors is if we want to aggressively achieve our objectives, the energy executives need to be at the table, and we need to invite them to the table," Turner said. Turner's comments reflected an identify conflict that has become central to Houston's story over the past five or so years -- trying to balance the city's economic life raft of oil-and-gas while trying to stop the rising tide of increasingly severe weather events linked to their activities. REFOCUSED: Energy security overshadows transition at CERAWeek as oil shortages drive up prices That dichotomy was not much of a conversation until Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 52 inches of rain on the city, Turner said, killing dozens, drowning homes, threatening critical oil-and-gas infrastructure, and waking up both residents and energy executives to a harsh new reality punctuated by floodwaters. In the nearly five years since, he said the city has undergone a marked shift in focusing both on resiliency to severe weather and climate goals. Those efforts -- including the city's resiliency and climate action plans -- have mostly been underwritten by energy leaders, Turner noted. Turner said his actions have at times strained relationships with both climate advocates and energy officials. Executives bristled when he told them the Climate Mayors had asked him to be their chairs, but ultimately gave their blessing for taking the role. Some of the climate mayors, meanwhile, scoffed at the idea that the leader of a city so seeped in hydrocarbons could speak to climate goals. "What I would say is we dont mean to create winners or losers. I think theres a way for us all to win," Turner said. "I believe we can have climate mitigation, resilience and equity without winners and losers if we're willing to have an open line of communication and are inviting people to the table." shelby.webb@chron.com The Howard Hughes Corp. started construction on Memorial Hermann Primary Care Clinic at 1890 Research Forest Drive in Shenandoah in The Woodlands area. Located on 3.6 acres, the 20,000-square-foot, build-to-suit clinic is leased by Memorial Hermann Medical Group The Woodlands. The clinic will provide in-person and virtual office visits for primary care, endocrinology, and sports medicine and lab services. The clinic will anchor the next future phase of development of an additional 5.4 acres of retail. The clinic is less than a mile from the Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center campus, which includes a 397-bed hospital and four medical office buildings. Open since 1985, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center is one of six major medical providers in The Woodlands, along with CHI St. Lukes Health - The Woodlands Hospital and CHI St. Lukes Health - Lakeside Hospital, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Texas Childrens Hospital The Woodlands and MD Anderson The Woodlands. Memorial Hermann Primary Care Clinic will complement the extensive medical offerings in The Woodlands area and meet the growing needs of our residents, tenants and customers for world-class healthcare," Jim Carman, president of the Houston Region for Hughes said in an announcement. The pandemic highlighted the demand for medical office facilities, both nationally and within The Woodlands. RELATED: Real estate transactions: Florida investor buys Katy shopping center Montgomery County community leaders along with officials from Memorial Hermann Medical Group The Woodlands, Hughes and the city of Shenandoah marked the groundbreaking at a ceremony Wednesday. We are very excited to open a new 20,000-square-foot primary care clinic in The Woodlands to provide convenient access to support the growing community. The new space will allow us to expand our primary care services to double the providers we have today, said Rachelle Guerra, vice president of physician practice operations for Memorial Hermann. We have seen tremendous growth in The Woodlands market and on our Memorial Hermann campus and feel this will be a great addition to the community for years to come." Elsewhere, Hughes is developing Creekside Park Medical Plaza within Creekside Park Village Center in The Woodlands. The two-story, 33,745-square foot medical office building will be built with Craftsman-style architecture and target tenants providing services such as multi-specialty, orthopedics, pediatrics, imaging, ophthalmology, oncology and dentistry. This was originally featured in the Houston Chronicle's HouWeAre newsletter about race, culture and identity. You can sign up here. Houston has seen its fair share of backlash over industrial pollution and contamination battles that stretch across decades and afflict neighborhoods like Manchester, Fifth Ward, Deer Park and Kashmere Gardens. Neighborhoods where, under the haze of smoke plumes from refineries or in the contaminated soil that edges backyards, generations of predominantly Hispanic and Black families live, work and play, Chronicle environment reporter Emily Foxhall who has contributed to the newspaper's award-winning work on Hurricane Harvey and the school shooting at Santa Fe High School has found herself embedded on the front lines of these communities' fight for environmental justice. Communities that have long been ignored or neglected by city, state and corporate entities, but who will not go quietly until their right to breathe clean air and drink clean water is upheld. Today, Foxhall shares a glimpse into those struggles. ** Sandra Edwards knows what it means to fight for her neighborhood. At the end of her street in Fifth Ward, a rail yard is contaminated with creosote, that sticky substance used to treat phone poles and rail ties to preserve them. Creosote is a likely carcinogen. Its been in the soil and water for decades. Union Pacific is still working with state environmental regulators on how to clean it up. Reporting on Edwards efforts, and others similar to hers, is a critical part of what I do as the Houston Chronicles environment reporter. Though I grew up in Houston, it was only when I moved back to work as a journalist here that I began to grasp the potential harms that we live alongside, and that some communities shoulder more of than others. Edwards and her neighbors have explained to me that if they lived in a whiter, wealthier neighborhood the contamination problem would have been addressed long ago. Theirs is a textbook example of the fight for environmental justice, a term that refers to the push from people of color and lower income communities to have the same access to clean air and clean water that is their right. Quickly, I learned about experts such as Texas Southern University professor Bob Bullard, who helped pioneer the environmental justice movement. He graciously summarized his work for me on the phone when I first started on the beat, in the middle of the pandemic. The inequity Bullard has long documented is finally getting attention. President Joe Biden made environmental justice part of his agenda. His appointed Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Michael Regan, came to Houston specifically to draw attention to it. I sat in the grass and watched as he spoke with Edwards in front of her home. I listened later as Latino advocates showed him the pollution spewing near a Baytown park. People like Edwards are working hard and persistently for what some here take for granted. I know the striking issues they face wouldnt be permitted in the affluent neighborhood where I grew up, and thats inherently wrong. My job is to tell stories of people fighting wrongdoing, which means also untangling the complicated policies that allow it. As long as Edwards and her neighbors keep calling for change, I will be there to try to understand and tell you about it. Espanola, NM (87532) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 37F. NNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Houston-area woman is asking for help after she claims she was attacked in a Willowbrook Target parking lot. She said she's scared the person may hurt other women, and feels it's even worse that it happened on International Women's Day. Around 7:45 pm on Tuesday evening, Marisol Riddle was putting groceries in the trunk of her car when the alleged attack happened. According to Riddle, who is a Willowbrook area resident and mother, she was attacked by a man dressed in all black who forcefully ran towards her while her back was turned and struck her across the side of her face. CRIME: Parents arrested after 4 children found abandoned in Spring home "I was putting my groceries in my trunk, the next thing I knew I heard two footsteps really fast," Riddle said. "Then I felt like I was in the air and the world was turning around me. My glasses had been broken and my face instantly went numb." "It took me a couple seconds to realize I had been hit," Riddle said. Riddle said she filed an assault claim with the Houston Police Department and asked Target to release the surveillance footage of the attack. According to a Target spokesperson, the company released the footage to the police but didn't release it to the public. The Houston Police Department confirmed that police talked to Target employees who confirmed they saw the alleged assault, which is under investigation. "He charged me like a bull, punched me as hard as he could in the face, and then immediately ran back to his car and left," Riddle said. "He didn't say anything to me, he didn't try to take anything from me. Now Riddle is calling upon her local representatives to address the issue and asking people on social media to stay vigilant- she believes the man could attack someone else. "He did it on International Women's Day, and I can't help but wonder if that was part of it," Riddle said. Riddle also says she has been getting harassed online after she made posts about her attack. Riddle just hopes they are able to find her attacker in case someone else is harmed. "I truly feel like if I don't help find this guy, I won't be able to live with myself," Riddle said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A teacher at Bear Branch Junior High School is being deployed to the Texas border, Magnolia ISD announced on their website. Army National Guard First Lieutenant Trevor Burchett, who will be going to Laredo to serve with the U.S. Border Patrol for nine to 12 months, said that he felt called to help others. I have always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and I think that has proven true both as a teacher and as a defender of our nation, Burchett said in the news announcement. His past deployments include serving in Mexico and during Hurricane Harvey. Tomball, Magnolia school notebook: Houston Rodeo awards scholarships to LSC students Burchett has been teaching at Bear Branch for three years. He has taught science and history in Magnolia and Big Spring ISDs in addition to serving in the Army National Guard, the announcement details. Hes a Texas A&M graduate and was also in the Corps of Cadets. Serving my country and my community, I have learned many leadership qualities and have great respect for people from different backgrounds, he said. It makes me appreciate my family and other support groups who are working for a greater cause. Burchett is among four active military personnel who are Magnolia ISD staff members. He and his wife have a 15-month-old son. -From the Magnolia ISD website Students fundraise to fight cancer Magnolia High School students Payton Szabo and Molly Nelson were among the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Students of the Year, a seven-week program and fundraising campaign for high school students, according to a school district announcement. Students in the program use professional skills to fundraise for LLS, a nonprofit whose mission is to fight blood cancer. Szabo with Team Childrens Cancer Crushers and Nelson with Team LLS Lifesavers, who earned the Mission Citizenship Award, helped the two Magnolia High School teams raise about a quarter of a million dollars. -From the Magnolia ISD website Digital Dilemma presentation planned A family seminar, Digital Dilemma presented by Timothy Shoemaker, is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 23 at the Magnolia Event Center. On HoustonChronicle.com: Main Event to open 50,000-square-foot location in Tomball next month The course will offer techniques for identifying and avoiding the various dangers children and adults may encounter in online environments. The Magnolia Event Center is located at 11659 FM 1488 in Magnolia. -From the Magnolia ISD website Essay earns recognition Magnolia High School senior Audra Gosch was honored by the Freedom Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution of The Woodlands for her essay in the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. Essays must explore topics based on original research and deal with an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, a Magnolia ISD announcement states. According to the announcement, she received a medal, certificate and small cash prize. The essay will be entered in the statewide competition and the winners will be announced in March. -From the Magnolia ISD website Board nominates superintendent for award The Tomball ISD school board voted unanimously to nominate Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora for Texas Association of School Boards Superintendent of the Year for 2022, the district announced on their website. With more than 35 years of experience in education, she has been Tomball ISDs superintendent since 2017 and prior to that, served as the districts chief academic officer for three years. The Board believes Dr. Salazar-Zamora is a great leader and ambassador for our district. We would like her to be recognized beyond our district boundaries, TISD Board President Kathy Handler said in the announcement. The school board will submit the nomination next month to the Region 4 Education Service Center for the TASB Regional Committee. One nomination from each region will be submitted in July to the TASB State Selection Committee. Five finalists for Texas SOTY will be named in August and a winner will be announced in September. For more information about Salazar-Zamoras accomplishments and contributions, visit www.tomballisd.net/apps/news/article/1581405. -From the Tomball ISD website Educator wins teaching excellence award Victoria Hagan, a teacher at Creekside Park Junior High School in Tomball ISD, has earned the 2022 Susan OConnor Award for Teaching Excellence from the Harris County Department of Education. This award is based on Hagans commitment to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program of HCDE. This year alone, Hagan led 19 students at CPJHS to receive Regional Gold Key awards and 25 Regional Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards. This was a record-number of students receiving Regional accolades, a district announcement states. The award is accompanied by $500, and Hagan will be recognized March 29 at the Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Ceremony. -From the Tomball ISD website mfeuk@hcnonline.com A man who led authorities on a pursuit late Thursday afternoon has been taken into custody in southwest Houston. The man was driving around 4:30 p.m. on the Southwest Freeway near Beltway 8 in a vehicle with tags that didnt match the vehicle, according to Harris County Pct. 5 Constables office spokesperson Jeff McShan. OnScene.Tv A Spring couple has been arrested after their four children were found abandoned at their home Thursday night, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Teenagers spotted the children in a road in the 4000 block of Cypress Hill Road, Gonzalez said. When deputies arrived, they found three children, the eldest 4 years old, in the roadway, Gonzalez added in a tweet Friday morning. A fourth sibling was found in a nearby residence. A man suspected of breaking into several vehicles in Gulfton was found dead Thursday night and his accomplice may have accidentally run over him while she was fleeing, according to police. Officers responded to a reported shooting around 11:30 p.m. at the 6600 Chetwood Drive near Clarewood Drive and found a man with gunshot wounds who also had apparently been run over, police said during a news briefing at the scene of the incident. Witnesses told authorities the man and a woman were trying to break into a toolbox on a truck before neighbors came out from an apartment complex and tried to confront them at gunpoint. They also apparently had broken into other vehicles in the area. More on HoustonChronicle.com: Houston man convicted of 2018 murder of Marine Corps veteran during Cypress home invasion "They went out to encounter him and stop him from doing what he was doing," HPD Lt. Ronnie Willkens said. "An altercation occurred and one of the three men had a pistol on him and shots were fired." As one of the neighbors pursued the suspect after a physical altercation, he fired shots, but it is unknown at this time if the suspect was struck by the gunfire, police said in a news release on Friday. The neighbors in the incident were questioned and released, authorities added. Authorities are also hoping to locate a woman who was driving a light blue Nissan Rogue who they believe dropped off the man that was breaking into the truck, Willkens said. More from Joel Umanzor: Man radios for help after finding Harris County constable deputy unconscious "We need her to come back to the scene," he said, adding it appears she ran over the man while trying to leave the area. "At some point in time, it looked like she, out of fear, possibly ran over our deceased individual which he probably incurred more injuries from that." Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. Joel.Umanzor@chron.com When a pathologist examined Zyre Orenales' little body, he noted the 2-year-old girl had bruising on her abdomen and suffered head injuries that looked as if she was swung around and struck a piece of furniture. The autopsy brought to light older injuries the girl sustained prior to being admitted in critical condition to Texas Children's Hospital Woodlands on Nov. 24, with an injury to the back of her head, according to court documents. The totality of the toddler's injuries two fractures to the side and back of her head along with contusions on her chest and inner thigh highlighted inconsistencies in what her mother's boyfriend, Jehu Martinez, 26, told Harris County sheriffs deputies investigating the girls death three days later, authorities said. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled her death a homicide. More on HoustonChronicle.com: Parents arrested after 4 children found abandoned in Spring home Martinez maintained the child injured herself, falling more than 2 feet off of the bed after he had left her unsupervised with her 5-year-old brother in their Spring home, court documents said. He also told investigators the girls brother would be rough with her when they would fight. Martinez was charged on Feb. 4 with felony murder in the girls death, according to court records. A judge set bail at $70,000 bond and he posted bail on Feb. 9. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 28. Martinez said he didn't know how the toddler could have sustained the injury, and her mother told authorities that he didn't discipline the child. Evidence seized from Martinez' cell phone, however, included pictures and messages sent to the girl's mother on two occasions in the month and a half leading up to the child's death, court documents show. More from Joel Umanzor: Carjacking suspect shot last month by Houston police dies at hospital The criminal complaint alleges that on Oct. 12, Martinez sent a photo to the toddlers mother showing the girl with a "large contusion protruding from the left side of her forehead approximately the size of an adult palm hand" preceded by a picture of soiled underwear. On Nov. 18, he sent messages to the mother stating the toddler didnt respect him and lashed out at him in the shower, causing her to fall, the complaint added. Martinez denied any wrongdoing. Investigators examined the toddlers medical records and reported she had been taken to the hospital Nov. 22. No signs of severe trauma were noted in the records, according to court documents. Requests for comment from Martinez attorney were not immediately returned on Friday. joel.umanzor@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate State and local law enforcement on Friday seized computer equipment from the county administrative buildings, searching for evidence related to a controversial $11 million contract that was later rescinded amid accusations County Judge Lina Hidalgos office steered it to a political consultant. The Harris County district attorneys office and Texas Rangers executed search warrants for the devices at county administrative offices, including the Preston Street location downtown. Both the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Rangers, and the district attorneys office confirmed a judge had signed off on warrants, though neither would confirm their contents or the investigation they involved. The Rangers said the district attorneys office had requested assistance with the searches. The warrants were not yet publicly available Friday, but sources with direct knowledge said the search centered on the since-canceled contract Commissioners Court awarded last June for COVID-19 vaccine outreach to Elevate Strategies, a communications firm with ties to Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia and other Democrats. Felicity Pereyra, who runs the firm, worked on Garcias 2015 mayoral campaign and Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential bid. A Garcia spokesman said the search did not involve the Precinct 2 office. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hidalgo, Cagle spar over $11M vaccine outreach contract as Commissioners Court exchange gets personal Elevate Strategies won the contract over the University of Texas Health Science Center, despite its lack of public health experience and its more costly bid. UT Health had received the most points in an initial county scoring competition. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has insisted her office did nothing improper related to the contract and a procurement committee selected the vendor it thought would do the best job. Her office has said Elevate impressed the committee with a door-knocking proposal. The committee included three of Hidalgos staffers and two from the county public health department. The judge has the strictest ethical guidelines ever imposed in Harris County and thats been ironclad from Day One, said Ashlee McFarlane, Hidalgos attorney. This is nothing but political theater since the devices would have been provided on request. Whats missing is any shred of evidence, but whats in abundance is politics. Hidalgo has said criticism of the contract is part of a partisan smear campaign. Spare me the outrage, Hidalgo said during a heated exchange with Republican Commissioner Jack Cagle during a contentious Commissioners Court meeting last August. Bring it on, yall. Because there is nothing here other than an appropriate COVID response and someone who has gone to lengths to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. During that exchange, Cagle questioned how a one-person firm could manage such a large contract, promoting Hidalgo to call that a bold-faced lie. Cagle was correct that Pereyra is the firms only principal, although the plan called for her to hire 50 canvassers to visit neighborhoods with low vaccination rates. Cagle said Friday he was not surprised to learn of the search. From the very beginning, this whole Elevate Strategies thing did not smell right, Cagle said. Its never good for the public when you have the Texas Rangers raid government offices At the end of the day, its a stinky contract that should never have come to this court. Cagle was the lone vote against the contract. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hidalgo to cancel controversial $11 million vaccine outreach contract, saying it has become politicized The contract would have had Elevate launch a digital advertising campaign and hire canvassers to go door-to-door and talk to residents. Hidalgo later canceled the contract in September, saying the way its being politicized is getting in the way of getting people vaccinated. In November, the Harris County district attorneys office issued subpoenas related to the contract. A judge signed search warrants, which are legal authorization to search for and seize potential evidence of a crime, Dane Schiller, spokesman for the district attorneys office said Friday. Out of fairness for all parties involved, we have no additional comment at this time. The DPS said in a statement: At the request of the Harris County District Attorneys Office, the Texas Rangers (DPS) in conjunction with the Harris County District Attorneys Office prosecutors and investigators, served multiple search warrants this morning. Hidalgo is running for re-election in November. Two Republicans vying to challenge her jumped on the news Friday. Vidal Martinez, an attorney and former prosecutor, called on Hidalgo to resign. In order to restore confidence in our county government, I once again call on Lina Hidalgo to resign immediately, Martinez said. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, Martinezs opponent in the GOP primary runoff to challenge Hidalgo, said it should not take legal action to get information. Leadership starts with accountability it can't always be someone else's fault, Mealer said. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fort Bend County's animal shelter is so overwhelmed with animals that it has resorted to housing dogs in the hallways of its facility. The shelter can comfortably care for around 140 dogs but has reached critical capacity with nearly 180 dogs in its care including 57 that entered the shelter within the last week. Every single one of the shelter's kennels is full, and some dogs have been moved into empty cat rooms in addition to the hallways, Barbara Vass, assistant director and life savings program manager for the shelter, said. Vass said she expects even more animals to need shelter thanks to an impending cold front that will send Houston temps down into the 30s and 40s tonight and through the weekend. HOUSTON PET OWNERS: It's illegal to leave your pet outside in freezing temps It's been at least four years since the shelter has had to move animals into the hallways due to space constraints, Vass said, but the critical capacity levels it is experiencing are nothing new for Fort Bend or for shelters across the region. "It's not only the dogs that are coming in, it's the dogs that are not leaving. The adoption numbers are just not moving," Vass said. "All the rescues are full it doesn't matter what shelter, what rescue, there are huge numbers in all of the shelters. It's a crisis everywhere right now." Vass said the return to office many residents are making has contributed to the influx of pandemic pet intakes. The shelter is asking for the community to help find homes for the animals or to consider applying to foster, even for a short period of time, as any help right now goes a long way. "We need some kind of relief," she said. More from Rebecca Hennes: 'Just devastating': Animal shelters near critical capacity due to COVID surrenders, evictions The shelter has waived adoption fees for all animals. The animals are all neutered/spayed; heartworm tested; microchipped and up to date on vaccines. Vass said her team is even willing to deliver the animals to an adopter or foster's home, a policy the shelter started during the pandemic. To adopt or foster an animal, visit Fort Bend's website. rebecca.hennes@chron.com Bollywood superstar Ayushmann Khurrana who recently finished shooting for her upcoming Anirudh Iyer directorial 'An Action Hero' in London says he had an exhilarating experience during the shooting of the film. Sharing his experiecne Ayushmann said, "This was the first time that I shot for a film in London and it has been an exhilarating experience! It's been an amazing leg in London and I can't believe how fast it's over already. I had a great time working with the entire cast and crew of the film and I'm eagerly looking forward to being back on the sets of An Action Hero again." Produced by Aanand L Rai's Colour Yellow Productions and Bhushan Kumar's production house T-Series, the film went on floor in January and it wraps its first schedule this week. Sharing more, Aanand said, "These are exciting times for us at Colour Yellow! We concluded the first leg of An Action Hero in London successfully and I'm happy with the amount of work we achieved during the schedule. It's great collaborating with the A-Team once again for yet another fun project! Ayushmann and Jaideep have done a great job and I can't wait to kick off the next schedule with them!" Bhushan Kumar said, "It's amazing that we have the same team on Atrangi Re coming together for An Action Hero too! It's been a productive first schedule in London! Watching Ayushmann and Jaideep in action has been incredible and we are looking forward to the second schedule of the film together!" NASA will receive $24 billion as part of the $1.5 trillion government-wide spending bill passed late Thursday by Congress. This bill funds the government through September and includes $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and its European allies. CONFLICT: Russia-Ukraine War is already leading to threats and bluster in outer space NASAs portion is about $700 million more than the agency received last year but falls some $800 million short of what President Joe Biden requested. Biden is expected to sign the bill. Any budget that grows NASAs science and exploration programs is a great outcome, even if, as in this case, growth is smaller than originally requested by the White House, said Casey Dreier, senior space policy adviser for the Planetary Society, a nonprofit that seeks to get more people engaged with space. Congress fully funded several of NASAs key projects, including $1.2 billion for systems that will lower astronauts to the moon, $653 million to return rock and soil samples from Mars and $101.1 million to help fund commercial successors to the International Space Station. One of NASAs projects is the human landing system, where its working with commercial companies to develop landers that will lower astronauts to the moon. This became a hot topic for Congress, NASA and the commercial sector last year when NASA selected SpaceX and only SpaceX to lower its next batch of astronauts to the moon. The agency was expected to select two companies to develop these systems, but it cited lack of funding for why it chose only the SpaceX Starship spacecraft being developed in South Texas. Blue Origin filed a lawsuit hoping to be reconsidered for the contract, and members of Congress expressed concern over the lack of competition. Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at BryceTech, said a competitive environment helps keep companies sharp. Plus, its better to have two options for reaching the moon just in case one company is delayed by an issue. Such competition was emphasized in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act portion of the omnibus spending bill. Within 30 days of enactment of this act, NASA is directed to deliver a publicly available plan explaining how it will ensure safety, redundancy, sustainability and competition in the (Human Landing System) program within the resources provided by this act and included in the fiscal year 2023 budget request, the bill said. Returning rocks and soil from Mars has been another agency focus now that NASAs Perseverance rover has begun collecting samples from the red planet. The omnibus spending bill states that Congress strongly supports this NASA and European Space Agency mission. ONE YEAR ON MARS: Heres what the NASA Perseverance rover has accomplished so far And for the first time in recent years, Congress fully funded NASAs commercial low-Earth orbit development budget request. This part of the budget will help companies develop space stations that will replace the government-run International Space Station when its retired. Dreier said the Senates version of the legislation released in October fully funded commercial low-Earth orbit development, but the House version did not. Commercial space stations could have a new sense of urgency with the Russia-Ukraine war raising questions about international relationships in space. The Senate version won out, and it is reasonable to conclude that increasing tensions with Russia helped get this funding across the finish line intact, Dreier said in an email. But the Senate did propose full funding prior to the war, so this isnt purely a reactionary move. Yet Dreier was surprised to see that Congress didnt fully fund NASAs Earth science request. This part of the budget uses satellites and other tools to study Earthly concerns such as climate change, and this has been a major priority of the Biden administration. Biden requested $2.3 billion; Congress approved $2.1 billion. On HoustonChronicle.com: NASA is developing new missions to help fight climate change Regardless, Congress supported several key science and exploration programs programs that invest in some of our best values: curiosity, scientific exploration and peaceful cooperation. Those are needed more than ever these days, Dreier said. The Associated Press contributed to this article. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder Houston schools Superintendent Millard House II on Friday sought support for the strategic plan he unveiled last month by acknowledging issues that have vexed the largest district in the state and declaring the school system must make important choices to remedy inequities and shortcomings. During his first State of the Schools address, House told hundreds in a downtown hotel ballroom that he needed their support and asked to be held to account to transform the district with the five-year plan, which would centralize funding for fine arts, athletics and extracurricular activities while aiming to ensure all schools have library, nursing and counseling staff, among other initiatives. It will not be easy and I cannot do this alone, said House, who was introduced at the event by this years Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Competition winner. We need each of you to stand by us and work with us and, most importantly, to hold us accountable. So far, the district has released scant details about the budgetary impact of the plan, which has raised some concerns from those who say they want more specifics about what it will cost. The districts first budget workshop this year largely was focused on the state of the districts budget, with a consultant and administrators explaining the districts financial outlook and the budget process. The next workshop, expected to be about long-term financial considerations regarding the strategic plan, is scheduled for March 24. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ISDs equity-based strategic plan calls for teacher raises, librarians at all campuses Among the issues House acknowledged in his speech were the loss of 20,000 students, which has reduced the districts enrollment to around 195,000; two dozen schools that continuously have under-performed and kept the district at risk of a state takeover; the districts inability to retain educators ; inequities between campuses; and a financial system that he said had been plagued by waste, short-term budget gimmicks and fraud. Federal authorities in December indicted the districts former chief operating officer Brian Busby and landscaping vendor Anthony Hutchison in an alleged bribe scheme that cost the district an estimated millions of dollars over a decade. The investigation already has resulted in plea agreements with at least five other former district officials including former president of the districts Board of Education, Rhonda Skillern-Jones who have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. There have been individuals that have not handled themselves with the professionalism and kind of honest spirit that they need, House said in a brief interview after his address. That is going to take trust building for our community to know those individuals and old systems and ways of doing business are no longer with us. In the speech, House highlighted key aspects of the plan that would address some of the issues, sometimes to applause from the audience that included trustees, teachers and rapper 50 Cent, who has partnered with the district for an entrepreneur program with Kashmere, Worthing, and Wheatley high school students. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ISDs strategic plan met with calls for more detail about implementation and funding In an effort to attract and keep teachers, the plan would boost the pay of teachers and other staffers, offering signing and retention bonuses as soon as this spring to be funded with federal COVID-19 relief money, in a bid to make the district more competitive. The range of teachers salaries would increase to be between $64,000 and $90,000 by the 2024-25 school year under Houses plan. Teachers currently make between $57,000 and $84,000, according to district numbers. District police officers, principals and assistant principals also would receive raises and the master pay scale for all other support staff would be updated. Under the plan, the district also would try to turn around its lowest-performing schools, aim to give special education kids the services they need when they need them and change the magnet program, although more specific details beyond a goal to improve timeliness, fairness, transparency, and access to magnets have yet to be released. Additionally, HISD plans to expand early childhood education while simplifying enrollment and targeting marketing efforts to boost enrollment. School closures are not planned for the first year but House repeatedly has hinted at difficult decisions to come. I believe our five-year plan builds a framework for investing in world-class talent, getting every student at or above grade level, ensuring all families have access to foundational experiences and will make HISD a destination for students and families, House said. The hard work is ahead. alejandro.serrano@chron.com SAN ANTONIO Yeesh. Tell us how you really feel. Visitors to Texas top spring break destinations have left some brutal one-star reviews. One Google reviewer said that a Vienna sausage was more beachy than Galveston Island. Another on TripAdvisor complained that the Comal River was too crowded, like a diabetic artery. Another complained of fecal matter on a Corpus Christi beach. With droves of spring breakers headed to Texas beaches and waterways, we were curious to see what the most critical travelers had to say about Texas top spots. The following one-star reviews on Google and TripAdvisor have been edited for length but not spelling or punctuation to preserve their authenticity. Padre Island National Seashore and South Padre Island Beach is a beach. Valentin Armianu/Dreamstime/TNS If I was a big drinker and willing to risk it the bars were pumping all weekend with a crap ton of people at them. If you like that kind of stuff, then youll probably enjoy yourself. Galveston Island Jellyfish and tumbleweeds. Vienna sausage is more beachy than this place. Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer Stewart Beach Too much sand. East Beach There is a line of oil takers as far as the eye can see. However, the hum of the engines as the tankers pulled in was kinda peaceful in a train station depot sorta way. Sunny Beach "Got stuck in the sand." Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer SAVE MONEY: Spring break from Houston on one tank of gas Our favorite spots within 100 miles of the city J.P. Luby Surf Park What does the $12 parking fee give you anymore? Nothing. McGee Beach Got out of water and felt sticky. Not nice at all. There was fecal matter on the beach. Whitecap beach The current was so strong it took our sandals. It's not fun to go unless you are easily entertained and like beaches because they're beaches. The sand is coarse, irritating, and it gets everywhere. This wouldn't be bad if the water was nice, but it's not. It's brown. Something slimy is bound to touch you every time you go in." Maria Luisa Cesar/San Antonio Express-News They had too much flags that ruined the whole experience. I had a terrible time. Full of trash and green slime and the seawater made us itchy. The ocean was not blue but a dirty brown. I'm from Australia and I've never seen anything like this. And there was not any shade anywhere and you couldn't walk to a cafe to get a cold drink or a coffee. It was so commercial in the worst way. Boca Chica State Park Elon Musk has ruined the entire area. Drove all the way out there for nothing. Heartbreaking. Make sure you go to the right boca chica beach, google maps took me to boca chica "state park" by boca chica and lbj blvd and its not it. Its a deserted beach, very dry, no waves or people. Literally no one around. and ended up getting stuck, even though i have a 4x4. Paid 345 dlls to be towed out. GAS FAQ: Confused about Houston's rising gas prices? We answer some of your commonly asked questions Lake Texoma It's a giant nasty lake but for some reason the locals love it. The memories made here are the heart and soul of the lake and I wouldnt trade them for anything, but the dirty water, muggy weather and often louder-in-many-ways lake users knock off a few stars. Texas Parks and Wildlife Departm Comal River Will not be going back. I had a water bottle full for me to drink and i got a citation and my water taken away. I wasn't aware of the rules because honestly it's a river not a school. I just wanted to relax and have a good time! For everyone who is thinking of going read the rules!! Because these stupid cops are watching everything!! River was crowded like a diabetic artery. The lifeguards arent there to save your life, they are there to steal your belongings that come out of your tube. San Marcos River I had heard that it was beautiful, but all I saw was trash and litter. People don't pick up after their dogs...or their kids. I'll be going to a different river next time. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News Wow - we took a trip on the river renting Lions Club tubes this Saturday morning. I really couldn't tell whether I was in da Club in the 'hood or on the San Marcos river!!! Between the packed,crowded river, cigarette smoke, beer and liquor, and extremely loud "MF" this and "MF" that every two seconds - FAMILIES, OR FOLKS WHO WANT A NICE OUTING TO ENJOY NATURE - STAY AWAY, STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guadalupe River My daughter and her boyfriend went with snacks and water and the police took that away from them so I will go there anymore. It was ok. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Not too many fish water is way too low. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net Parents across Texas are arming their children with tools to protect them from a new threat on their school campus a visit from a state investigator asking if they are victims of abuse. Since late February, the states Department of Family Protective Services has been complying with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons non-binding opinion directing CPS workers to treat parents who assist their transgender teens in seeking medically recommended care as child abusers. On Friday, a state judge in Travis County may consider a motion by the ACLU of Texas, the ACLU and Lambda Legal to halt these investigations on the grounds that they pose irreparable harm to a subset of children who studies show are far more likely than their peers to contemplate suicide. Some advocates are also planning to show up at a routine public DFPS meeting Friday in the hopes they can urge leaders to halt investigations. They have asked families to anonymously submit comments online or share with them written testimony that others can read at the meeting on their behalf. MORE: Meet the Houston 8-year-old standing up to Abbott, for trans kids, at State of the Union There are nine new CPS investigations statewide involving parents who are supporting their childrens medical care, said Patrick Crimmins, spokesperson for DFPS. No social workers have tried to bring a new child abuse case against parents of transgender children in Harris County, according to County Attorney Christian D. Menefee. But the narrowness of the targets hasnt stopped parents from panicking that their families could be next. Parents with younger transgender and nonbinary children have been attending online and in-person training sessions and lawyering up, based on guidance from transgender community advocates that parents and children will need separate lawyers. Among the materials these sessions provide is a card teenagers can carry in their backpacks to help them respond to a state official who might try to interview them one-on-one at school. You can tell them to go away. You can refuse to speak with them. You can tell them not to take your picture. You can start talking and tell them to stop later, say the bullet points on a bilingual form provided by The Trevor Project at one session this week. Nichole Worrell, of Austin, whose nonbinary 10-year-old has not sought any medical interventions, said shes infuriated and angry the state is suddenly targeting families like hers. Every family of a transgender person is in the cross-hairs, she said. These investigations are all based on assumptions about a childs medical care. Why would you share that with your childs teacher? On HoustonChronicle.com: I finally feel right in my body: Houston kids confront anti-trans legislation that targets them Im angry that I am in a position where I have to justify my childs existence, Worrell said. Texas lawmakers failed during four legislative sessions to pass a bill equating gender-affirming care including puberty blockers and hormones that doctors recommend for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria with abuse. But last month Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and his attorney general found a work-around, an opinion directing the state officials to start showing up at peoples homes and asking questions. The family of one transgender teen and a psychologist who refuses to comply with mandated reporting sued on behalf of all Texas families with transgender children. The district judge blocked enforcement of the directive in that case last week. The state has appealed that and an appellate court denied the states appeal. The civil judge may not be able to move forward on a motion to halt investigations statewide if the attorney general requests to appeal to the states high court. Tiffany Reedy, who manages CPS cases for the Harris County Attorneys office, said the child abuse directive is the talk of the town right now. Reedy said it appears theres far more chatter than investigations, and that the threat of CPS visits is what is causing harm. In this tight child-welfare community, people are talking to their friends and theyre saying this is ridiculous and we dont know why theyre using children in their political fight, she said. But officials have been rallying to the defense of families and their children. More than 90 current and former chief state prosecutors, U.S. attorneys, Justice Department officials, attorneys general, former state and federal judges and law enforcement leaders from around the U.S. filed a brief in the case Thursday stating they are united in opposition to Paxtons directive. Menefee, who is among the signatories of the brief supporting transgender youth and their families, said the chilling effect on the community supporting transgender kids was one of the intended purposes of the governors edict. Doctors, therapists, teachers and friends will feel compelled to turn on vulnerable children. This has a real life impact on families, he said. RELATED: Texas Childrens Hospital pauses hormone therapies for gender-affirming care after Abbott and Paxton directive More than half of transgender and nonbinary teens seriously considered suicide in 2020, according to a 2021 survey by The Trevor Project. Kids whose families subjected them to conversion therapy were twice as likely to have tried suicide. Most of those in the group of 35,000 LGBTQ youth surveyed also reported feeling anxious and depressed, the national study found. Staff writer Cayla Harris contributed. gabrielle.banks@chron.com taylor.goldenstein@chron.com The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that the state has no part in enforcing Senate Bill 8, effectively ending a months-long challenge that leaves in place the countrys most restrictive abortion law in decades. The decision was over a narrow piece of the citizen-enforced six-week abortion ban: whether state licensing officials have the ability to discipline abortion providers that violate the law. The court held unanimously that they do not. No verdict would have been a win for abortion providers, since the laws centerpiece authorizing citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion after cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in December. But it does provide some clarity that they wont also be subject to state disciplinary action such as sanctions from the Texas Medical Board. Providers are still challenging the law in state court and through other federal appeals, but have begun accepting that abortion access will be severely restricted in Texas for the foreseeable future. Citizens who successfully sue under the law are eligible for at least $10,000 in damages and can file the claims in any state court, making it more likely the cases will end up with a sympathetic judge. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The Texas high court ruling comes as other conservative-led states are moving to enact similar laws and as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs overturning federal abortion protections in the coming months. Over and over again the courts have failed Texans, who have been stripped of their fundamental right to abortion for more than six months now, Alexic McGill Johnson, the head of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. Texans are living in a state of sustained chaos, crisis, and confusion and there is no end in sight. Both the state and abortion rights proponents had said licensing officials should be prohibited from enforcing the law, but the state said that was already made clear in text of the legislation. Eight of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices had disagreed, saying in their December ruling that the officials may or must take enforcement actions against clinics that violate the law. Abortions at Texas clinics fell by about 50 percent after the law took effect in September. Researchers have found that most women are still obtaining the procedure, either by traveling to other states or by ordering abortion pills in the mail. More than 5,500 Texans fled to surrounding states between September and December, many of them to Oklahoma, where a law mirroring Texas passed the state Senate on Thursday. Chelsey Youman, an anti-abortion activist with the Human Coalition Action, said Fridays ruling is further vindication of what we already knew: this law is constitutional. It is the most successful piece of pro-life legislation in 50 years and should be replicated everywhere in states that are serious about rescuing preborn lives, she said in a statement. jeremy.blackman@chron.com Thousands of Texans could not vote in the March primary election because their mail ballots were rejected under the states new voting law. The primaries were the first election since the GOPs sweeping voting legislation took effect, instituting new ID requirements for mail-in ballots and the applications for them. As counties finalized their election results on Thursday and Friday, local officials reported unprecedented rejection rates for mail ballots an outcome that voting rights advocates had feared. Everything that people warned about has come to pass, that there would be an enormous jump in both the application rejection rate and the ballot rejection rate, said James Slattery, a senior staff attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project. More than 18,000 ballots were tossed across 15 of Texas 20 most populous counties, according to tallies posted by Friday afternoon. Elections administrators said nearly all the ballots were rejected because voters had submitted newly required identifying information either a drivers license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number that did not match what the county had on file. Republicans who championed the election bill say the legislation makes it easier to vote and harder to cheat. But critics say the new ID requirements havent made mail-in voting more secure. BACKGROUND: Texas Secretary of State scrambles to address mail ballot application problems as deadline looms Voters with flagged ballots had the opportunity to correct them, but thousands missed the deadline and were unable to cast ballots. The curing processes were not sufficient to save every eligible vote, Slattery said. Republicans have said they expect to see the mail ballot rejection rates drop as voters grow accustomed to the new requirements. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who helped craft the voting bill and formerly oversaw the Harris County voter rolls as tax assessor-collector, last month attributed the high rejection rates to a learning curve. He also predicted the initially reported rates, which totaled as high as 40 percent early on in Harris County, would fall. In all, 7,750 mail ballots were flagged in Harris County specifically due to ID issues, according to the county elections administrators office. Less than 11 percent of voters resubmitted ID information and got their ballots corrected, despite efforts by Harris County that included sending letters instructing them how to correct their ballots and doubling the number of staff assigned to help handle voter questions. The total of 6,888 ballots that were ultimately rejected accounted for nearly one in five of all mail ballots received by Harris County. The total far outpaced the 135 mail ballots rejected during the 2018 primary, or about 0.3 percent of the more than 48,000 received. Other counties saw similar issues. In Bexar County, about 22 percent of more than 18,000 mail ballots were rejected. In Travis County, about 2 percent of mail ballots were rejected in 2018 but this year, the final number was 8 percent, or roughly 900 ballots. Initially, about 16 percent of all mail ballots there had been flagged, but half of those voters were able to fix the mistakes. A majority of finally rejected ballots had ID issues, said county spokeswoman Victoria Hinojosa. In nearby Williamson County, officials reported a nearly 12-percent rejection rate, mostly linked to ID requirements. In total, 379 ballots were not counted there because of the new mandate. And in El Paso County, local officials told El Paso Matters that 15 percent of mail ballots were rejected over the ID requirements, amounting to 683 voters. In previous elections, about 5 to 10 percent of ballots were not counted. The ID requirements came under criticism from Democratic state lawmakers last year as they embarked on their quorum-breaking trip to Washington, D.C., in an unsuccessful bid to stop the voting bill. Democrats in both chambers of the Legislature, along with voting rights advocates, argued that the ID provision would create a dilemma for the nearly 2 million Texas voters who used only their Social Security or drivers license number but not both when registering to vote. Last month, the Harris County elections administrators office began advising voters to include both pieces of identifying info when submitting their ballot, in case they were unsure or had remembered incorrectly which number was on file. About 3.2 million Texans voted in the primaries, accounting for roughly 18.3 percent of the states registered voters. Its slightly higher than 2018s turnout of 17.2 percent, as more Republican voters turned out to the ballot box. There are nearly 17.2 million registered voters in Texas. cayla.harris@express-news.net The Biden administration has seized record amounts of a synthetic opioid called fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border, made fighting opioids a major piece of the State of the Union address last week and issued new executive orders targeting the criminals trafficking the drugs. Still, Gov. Greg Abbott is blasting the administration at nearly every campaign speech for not doing more. On Thursday, Abbott, a Republican running for a third term in office, spoke to a conservative group in Washington, D.C., and later to law enforcement on the Texas border and accused Biden of ignoring the problem. I dont know if the Biden administration even cares about it, Abbott said in Weslaco near the Mexico border. The president of the United States is doing nothing about it. Abbott says Texas law enforcement deserves the credit, after seizing more than 1,300 pounds of fentanyl in the last year. Texas is having to step up and do the federal governments job, he said at the forum hosted by the Heritage Foundation. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid originally developed to help cancer patients. It can be nearly 100 times more potent than morphine, which has led to abuse. Sellers often add fentanyl to heroin to make it more potent or hawk it as heroin to people who dont know what they are buying. INVESTIGATION: fentanyl deaths are soaring in Texas, and officials arent taking key steps to stop them More than 100,000 people die annually from drug overdoses, and opioids are a factor in 7 out of every 10 of those deaths, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. Biden has been bringing up the opioid crisis often in his speeches, as well. On Thursday in Washington, he talked about fentanyl and earlier this week in Fort Worth the president assured a crowd of veterans that battling opioids is a central part of his Unity Agenda outlined in his State of the Union address. Biden is also touting the Border Patrols work in stopping the flow of illegal drugs coming through ports of entry. At our border, weve installed new technology, like cutting-edge scanners, to better detect drug smuggling, Biden said in his address to the nation. According to the White House, Customs and Border Protection has been seizing more than 800 pounds of fentanyl along the U.S.-Mexico border per month double what it was stopping in 2020 as the Trump administration ended, and four times as much as it blocked in 2019. The Biden administration has also touted new prevention and education programs, and its efforts to get more medications like naloxone into communities to treat overdoses before emergency personnel arrive. Still, Abbott is making clear the flow of fentanyl is a major campaign piece. During his primary election night victory party in Corpus Christi, Abbott made fentanyl seizures and deaths a part of his speech. And when Democratic opponent Beto ORourke was holding a campaign event in Austin last month, Abbotts campaign team distributed empty fentanyl pill bottles to people with the words: Beto Biden Open Border Crisis and it included a number of fentanyl deaths in 2021. Caution: Open borders have increased the amount of fentanyl deaths. jeremy.wallace@chron.com Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Union minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Friday morning received another group of students returning from Ukraine. The students took flight from Rzeszow, a city in south eastern Poland, and landed in New Delhi. In a tweet, Thakur said: "Welcome back home, another batch of students returned via #OperationGanga this morning and will reunite with their families and friends. We remain committed to the safety of every Indian citizen from Ukraine." Thakur also met with the airline crew and pilots and appreciated their service and support to the Government's efforts in bringing our citizens back home. In another tweet, the office of Anurag Thakur said: " Union Minister @ianuragthakur receives students safely brought back from Ukraine under Operation Ganga. He also met with the airline crew and pilots and appreciated them for their service and support to the Government's efforts in bringing our citizens back home." 'Operation Ganga' launched to rescue Indian citizens from Ukraine's neighbouring countries started on February 22. Till March 8, about 18,000 Indians have been brought back through the special flights. The number of Indians airlifted by 75 special civilian flights goes up to 15,521. IAF had flown 12 missions to bring back 2,467 passengers, as part of Operation Ganga, and carried over 32 tonne relief material. Among the civilian flights, 4,575 passengers have been brought from Bucharest by 21 flights, 1820 from Suceave by nine flights, 5571 from Budapest by 28 flights, 909 by five flights from Kosice, 2404 from Rzeszow by 11 flights, and 242 persons by a flight from Kyiv. Mount Greylock School Committee Advances Budget with Diversity Director WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee on Thursday voted 5-0-1 to advance a fiscal 2023 spending plan that includes assessment increases north of 4 percent for each of its member towns and a new administrative position to address equity issues. The total operating budget of $25.1 million would be up by just more than a million from the FY22 spending plan if ultimately approved this spring by annual town meetings in Lanesborough and Williamstown. The final product of the district's budget deliberations has a price tag lower than the projection the district was sharing with the community earlier this week But it still includes the expenditure that generated the most discussion at Thursday's public hearing: a roughly $100,000 allowance for a newly created director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. For perspective, $100,000 represents less than 0.4 percent of the district's budget and less than a 10th of the increase in the operating budget from FY22 to FY23. Committee members Julia Bowen, Jose Constantine, Curtis Elfenbein, Carrie Greene and Ursula Maloy voted to send the budget to the member towns of Lanesborough and WIlliamstown. Steven Miller abstained from the final budget vote after expressing misgivings about the DEI director post during the committee's deliberations. Chair Christina Conry did not attend Thursday's meeting. Twenty-three residents of the district, most of whom identified as residents of Williamstown, addressed the School Committee during a public comment period that consumed nearly an hour of a four-hour meeting. The comments ran more than two-to-one in favor of the new position, which Superintendent Jason McCandless explained during an hour-long budget presentation to kick off the meeting. McCandless said the need for a DEIB officer was made clear during his first 18 months in the district, which included a six-month listening project to determine the extent to which all students and families feel they belong in the PreK-12 district. "We understand that we serve students best when we infuse the budget with opportunities to become more culturally competent and build a better sense of belonging for all students, and make sure all students are represented in our curriculum, our materials and our approach to teaching and learning," McCandless said. He showed the committee and the public at the hearing data that supports the perception that the district's student population is growing in diversity. As recently as the 2016-17 academic year, 17.8 percent of the district's students were identified by the commonwealth as low-income students; this year, that percentage is 26.3 percent. Just two years ago, 90 percent of the district's students and families reporting a racial identification identified as white; this year, that number is 80 percent. McCandless emphasized during his formal presentation and later in a back-and-forth with School Committee members why he feels creating a DEIB position in the district is a moral and ethical duty. But he also offered a different justification. "I also see this, to some degree, being an economic development issue," McCandless said. "Working to be more culturally competent, working to be more aware of our implicit biases is vital in many ways, including economic development and sustainability of the towns of Williamstown and Lanesborough. "I think presenting the Mount Greylock Regional School District as a district that is ahead of the curve instead of behind the curve for those employers who recruit increasingly not only from around the country but around the world, I think this is an important message to send about who we are and how we operate." Seven residents spoke during the public hearing to encourage the district to at least delay plans for a DEIB position. Several argued that the position which would not come online until July 1 if the budgets pass does not have a formal job description yet. "Is it premature to fund a position when you don't know what it entails?" Anne Skinner of Williamstown asked. Williamstown's Ralph Hammann said he helped author a petition against moving forward with the position that received the support of 80 residents but stressed that more than a dozen people supported the petition but declined to sign their names. "It is a shameful and ironic truth in this town: People are afraid to speak or even ask for further discussions for fear of reprisals," Hammann said. Most of the speakers during the public hearing and the 200 residents who signed a different petition applauded McCandless and his administrative team for addressing the need for a position to support the district's ongoing DEIB efforts. The youngest speaker to address the School Committee was Mount Greylock senior Henry Art. "I felt it was important to have my voice heard as a member of the school community and a leader in the school community," Art said. "I've been the class of '22 president for three years and a member of the Mount Greylock Peer Team, which is currently involved in facilitating some of the DEIB discussions in the school. "As a member of both those groups, I can confidently say that having someone in that position as a DEIB director, that sort of leadership is paramount in actively increasing the efficacy and impact of those discussions and, in the future, making the school and the school district a more inclusive place." Most of the School Committee members expressed strong agreement. "Although there are a wide variety of opinions this needs to happen and needs to happen now," Elfenbein said. Bowen addressed a notion expressed by opponents of the DEIB position that its work is best left to the district's teachers without an added administrator. "Knowing what teachers and the adults in our buildings have gone through trying to serve the students and what they have gone through, I absolutely believe we need additional support in this particular area," Bowen said. "I don't think the reading interventionist and the math interventionist [being added to the FY23 budget] will be as successful if we don't have classrooms where the students feel they belong." Lanesborough's Maloy echoed the sentiments of Williamstown resident Jeanette Smith, who told the School Committee that DEIB work "is not just about race." "When I think about this position and why it's important, it's not only race, it's all types of diversity, including sexual identity, household type, division among the towns," Maloy said. "I think about all the ways people need to feel included." Constantine directly addressed the charge from critics that the district is "rushing" to create a DEIB position. "Folks have tried to contrast this process with the process our communities participated in with regard to the playing fields on the Mount Greylock campus," Constantine said. "What I'd like to hear in those concerns is a concern to do this right, which I fully back. "But I'd like to point out that none of this work is new. We're not establishing a precedent. The support for diversity, equity and inclusion in educational settings has been going on successfully across the country for decades. In some respects, we're behind the times. "We have excellent examples for how to do this well and a demonstrated need to do it right." Miller said he did not feel the DEIB position was "fleshed out enough" to include in the FY23 spending plan. "I want to make sure if we have a position like this that we get it right," Mller said. McCandless told attendees at the hearing that he has a well crafted job description and talked about how he sees the DEIB director serving the district on a day-to-day basis. "I see this person interacting on a daily basis, a weekly basis, as part of the administrative team to help us as learners and help us guide our decisions," McCandless said. "I see them working with staff in real time around real issues. One of the key items would be to help us take advantage of teachable moments in real time and to get our teachers, many of whom are highly skilled with this and almost all of whom are highly willing but almost all, including the superintendent, feel nervous going into realms that are challenging and hard to discuss. "I would see this person providing leadership and expertise. I see this person being a resource for the towns of Lanesborough and Williamstown as they work to do the same work. We would see this person working to develop educational workshops not only for staff and students and administration but for our parents and community." The budget presented at Thursday's hearing showed a lower fiscal 2023 operating budget than the version posted on the district's website on Tuesday. Forty-eight hours before the public hearing, the district was projecting a total budget of $25.3 million. By Thursday night, that number had dropped to just less than $25.1 million. Likewise, the projected assessments to member towns Lanesborough and Williamstown were lower on Thursday than listed in the publicly-available document on Tuesday. In the case of Lanesborough, a projected $5.7 million assessment for the operational budget was down to $5.6 million, and what was a 5.5 percent increase from the current fiscal year was down to 4.7 percent. For Williamstown, the earlier forecast of an $11.9 million assessment for operations (taking out capital costs) had dropped to $11.8 million, and the increase from FY22 went from 5.5 percent to 4.4 percent. The total assessment to each town, including capital costs, is up by 4.29 percent in Lanesborough ($5.9 million to $6.1 million) and 4.10 percent in Williamstown ($12.3 million to $12.9 million). Medical Matters Weekly Welcomes Community Care Team's Health Advocate BENNINGTON, Vt. Southwestern Vermont Health Care's (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson is pleased to welcome Kim Warren, the health advocate for the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's (SVMC) Community Care Team, an award-winning program that helps support people seeking Emergency Care, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16. The show is produced with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly on facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington . The show is also available to view or download a podcast on www.svhealthcare.org/medicalmatters Warren started at SVMC in 2001. She has worked as a patient coordinator, mammography tech assistance, and as an administrator of the Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment program in the Emergency Department. In her current role, she facilitates the Community Care Team. She graduated from Southern Vermont College in 2013 with my bachelor's degree in healthcare management and patient advocating. She is enrolled in a master's in Social Work at Chamberlain University. In addition, she served on the Six Sigma team that facilitated the re-opening of the Breast Health and Imaging Center. After the program, the video will be available on area public access television stations. On CAT-TV, viewers will find the show on channel 1075 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Monday, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Friday, and 7 p.m. Saturday. GNAT-TV's Comcast channel 1074 airs the program at 8 a.m. Monday, 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 1 p.m. Saturday. Medical Matters Weekly is an interactive, multiplatform, guest-driven, medical-themed talk show hosted by Dr. Trey Dobson. It provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on health care and the interesting personalities that drive positive change within the industry and its surrounding professions. Topics include behavioral health, food insecurity, equitable care, and the opioid crisis. The show is produced in partnership with Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV) and is broadcast on CAT-TV, Greater Northshire Access Television, Facebook Live, YouTube, and podcast platforms. Pittsfield VFW Post 448 Cmdr. Arnold Perras, left, and Quartermaster Hank Morris pose with this year's 'Voice of Democracy' essay winner Taibat O. Ahmed. Taconic Sophomore Wins Voice of Democracy Essay Contest PITTSFIELD, Mass. Taibat O. Ahmed, a sophomore at Taconic High School, for a second year in a row, has won as this year's first-place winner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars "Voice of Democracy" essay contest for Pittsfield. Ahmed has won $1,000 as first-place winner for Taconic High School, $1,000 as first-place winner for Pittsfield, $250 as first place for District 9 Berkshire County, and $2,000 for third-place winner at the Massachusetts VFW state level for a total of $4,250. Awards were presented to her on March 2 at Taconic High School. The length of the essay was limited to a 3 to 5 minute oral duration. The theme of this year's essay was titled: "America: Where do we go from here?" Other winners for Berkshire County, District 9 were, second place, from VFW Housatonic Post 8183, Victoria M. Pevzner of Great Barrington; and third place, from VFW Lenox Post 12079, Paige E. Schultze of Otis. In addition, Inyene-Abasi Idara Bell, a freshman at Miss Hall's School, has won $1,000 as its first place winner. Ahmed is in the SEA Academy, and has been on the high honor roll every quarter since the sixth grade. She also runs track and participates in Taconic's Fall Festival of Shakespeare and spring musicals. She is the daughter of Abdulrahim and Halimat Ahmed. Voice of Democracy judges for Berkshire County District 9 were retired Army Lt. Col. James Clark, Pittsfield school teacher Rose Ann Sturgeon and retired Pittsfield School Committee Chair Kathy Yon. Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the Veterans of Foreign Wars' premier scholarship program. More than 50,000 high school students compete for more than $2.3 million in scholarships and incentives each year. Students compete by writing and recording a broadcast script on an annual patriotic theme. Starting within a local community, a winner can advance to county, state and a national first-place award of $30,000 in addition to awards given at the preliminary levels of competition. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities. Goodwill to Lease Larger Allendale Space PITTSFIELD, Mass. Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont recently leased 19,471 square feet of retail space in the Allendale Shopping Center. The store plans to relocate its Dalton Avenue thrift store and donation center later this spring. "This is a game changer and a testament to the greatness and dedication of the entire Goodwill family," David K. Twiggs Jr., president and CEO of the Pittsfield-based nonprofit said. "It's another building block in our organization's foundation. Thanks go to our Board of Directors for making this vision a reality." The site is located in the building that formerly housed Big Lots, which was relocated to the Dalton Avenue Plaza Shopping Center in November to accommodate an expanded line of merchandise. "We, at Goodwill, are very excited about the relocation of our Pittsfield store to Allendale," said Miriam Maduro, president of the board. "Profits from our retail operations are used to fund our mission of assisting people overcome barriers to employment. The increased visibility and larger footprint will enable us to help more people. Goodwill has been a part of this community for over 65 years and we welcome the opportunity to be able to continue to help our neighbors." Goodwill's current Pittsfield store, located at 457 Dalton Ave., opened in 2013 and encompasses 8,150 square feet. In the new location, which will more than double the store's footprint, Goodwill will be able to increase the amount of merchandise and services offered and plans to add more employees, including supported employees. "I'm excited to welcome Goodwill to Allendale, which has always been a very convenient and family-friendly shopping center," Glenn Langenback, property director of the Allendale Shopping Center said. "Goodwill has secured a great position in the center, with a bus stop just outside. As a testament, there have essentially only been three stores occupying that space since the shopping center opened in 1955." "I've been involved with this property for 42 years, and John, my dad, has been dedicated to the meticulous maintenance of the center for the past 49 years. Together we have experienced a lot of changes to the shopping center, both physical changes to the buildings as well as the tenant mix, as landlords and retailers have innovated through decades of market shifts. Goodwill's new space will offer shoppers a larger store to find their treasures and a more convenient location for the community to donate," Langenback said. According to Senior Project Manager Maryam Kamangar, who is Goodwill's senior director of supply chain management and territory expansion the bigger space will allow more room for more production and storage, a larger retail store and backroom, a larger donation center and a more convenient donating process. "The new store will feature customer-friendly experiences that will appeal to a wide range of shoppers," she said. "Our incredible retail team will be busy getting it ready for the grand opening and we're ready to fill up the vast space with lots of great merchandise." A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the late spring. Twitter has deleted a controversial tweet by the Russian Embassy in London, that claimed a pregnant victim fleeing the site of a hospital bombing in Ukraine's besieged city of Mariupol was an actor in "some very realistic make-up". Responding to a photo of the woman in the aftermath of Wednesday's attack, the Embassy had tweeted: "She has some very realistic make-up. She is also doing well with her beauty blogs. Plus she could not be in the maternity house at the time of the strike, as it has long been taken by the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion who told all the staff to clear the place." The micro-blogging platform immediately deleted the tweet. The Embassy has had at least three tweets removed within a day for violating the platform's rules, reports The Verge. The false claims appeared to have originated in Russian-language Telegram channels. Several Russian Embassy Twitter accounts are sowing misinformation amid the country's invasion of Ukraine. The Twitter account of the Embassy in London has been actively disseminating false information about ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine. On Thursday, Twitter suspended @asbmilitary, an account spreading the fake conspiracy theory that the US holds biological weapons labs in Ukraine. Ventfort Hall Women's History Month Celebration LENOX, Mass. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum is offering visual presentations that were pre-recorded at the mansion last year on Zoom. These presentations are presented by speakers who are experts or specialists in the fields they cover. The lectures are available to view at any time through the end of March. Cost to order each presentation is $10. There are no in-person tickets for this event as it is online only. Federal Omnibus Spending Bill as $1M for Greylock Glen ADAMS, Mass. A $1 million earmark for the Greylock Glen is in the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill that cleared Congress on Thursday. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means voted to pass the funding legislation that he said includes transformative investments that will help working families with the cost of living, create American jobs, and support the vulnerable. "In this pivotal moment, the Congress has risen to meet some of the most pressing challenges at home and abroad," said Neal. "This legislation will create good-paying jobs, lower costs for families, and support those in need. This is the latest major deliverable in our ongoing work for the people. I am proud to vote for this legislation, which will lower costs for working families, create American jobs, and support the vulnerable." The bill contains $8 million in spending for Neal's 1st Massachusetts district, including $350,000 for Berkshire Community College's nursing program. The long-planned Greylock Glen development project is moving forward with construction of an outdoor center this year. The state has committed $9.3 million to the project and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation invested nearly $3 million in the trail system that connects the 52-acre glen into the larger Mount Greylock State Reservation. The town of Adams was named developer of the state-owned parcel more than a decade ago. The measure, now on President Biden's desk, unlocks infrastructure investments already been authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and removes the prospect of government shutdowns through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. "I am particularly pleased to have secured nearly $8 million in Community Project Funding to address some of the most pressing needs in western and central Massachusetts," Neal said. "These investments support and foster economic development, making a real difference in the lives of so many in our community." Community Project Funding for Western Mass includes the following: $740,000 for the Town of Agawam's Main Street sewage main and slope stabilization project $450,000 for Springfield Urban League's Camp Atwater, The Next Century Campaign Facilities Modernization and Stabilization Project $350,000 for Berkshire Community College's nursing simulation upgrades $100,000 for Rick's Place $250,000 for Mount Holyoke College's Professional and Graduation Education Department $200,000 for the Franklin County Opioid Task Force $2,000,000 for the City of Springfield's Forest Park Horticultural Plan $850,000 for the town of Sturbridge's Maple Street water line project $1,000,000 for the town of Adams' Greylock Glen project $2,000,000 for the city of Westfield's Operations Center Building at the water treatment plant Under guidelines issued by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, members of Congress requested Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding for projects in their state for fiscal 2022. CDS requests were restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities were permitted to receive CDS funding. As with the globally renowned Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountain), Huangshan city in Anhui province aims to develop tourism to improve the lives of residents, the city's top official said. Huangshan received 63.17 million visits and recorded an annual tourism income of 53.8 billion yuan ($8.5 billion) in 2021, about 81 percent of the 2019 number, said Party Secretary Ling Yun. Ling, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions that the city's recovery from the economic downturn of 2020 has been faster than the national average. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said in January that domestic travel saw a year-on-year rise of 12.8 percent around 3.25 billion visits in 2021. That number is more than half what it was in 2019, when Chinese people made more than 6 billion visits to tourist attractions, showing strong recovery. As a tourism-dominated city, Huangshan has been harshly impacted by COVID-19 since 2020, but local authorities have been active, not just waiting, Ling said. She said the city is now striving to build itself into an eco-friendly destination for leisure tourism. In 2019, about 74 million visitors came to Huangshan about seven times the number of visitors to Hawaii in the United States the same year while visitors from outside the Chinese mainland numbered 2.87 million, about double the volume of visitors to tropical Hainan province, according to the local government. "The abundance of local tourism resources is beyond many people's imagination, and we should make better use of the gifts of nature and history to serve people's common prosperity," Ling said. One example, she said, is that the city has been firmly supporting local farmers and investors to run homestays. A guideline from 2021 projects that the number of homestay businesses in the province will surpass 10,000 by 2025. "So far, Huangshan has more than 2,500 homestays across the city, bringing in revenue of more than 1.5 billion yuan last year," Ling said. As homestays make it more convenient for tourists to stay in villages, Huangshan's rural tourism sector recorded 44.2 million visits last year, bringing in 32.3 billion yuan. She said rural tourism development has become a major source of income for residents in Huangshan. The city has more than 8,000 above-ground historical and cultural relics, more than 90 percent of which are located in rural areas. In ancient times, most of the Huangshan area belonged to Huizhou prefecture, which existed for nearly 800 years. It was established in the early 12th century to govern six counties. As the mountainous counties had limited arable land, more than 70 percent of local male residents became traveling merchants, who became a dominant business group in the country by the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). A saying emerged that "a town will not be a town without Huizhou merchants". The merchants' success brought wealth with which to build, and delicate architecture emerged in the Huizhou style. Boosting economic growth in rural areas was highlighted as a key task in China's first policy statement of the year from central authorities. The latest document, released in February, highlighted the integrated development of industries in the countryside and for the first time mentioned support for the rural homestay sector. The document encourages farmers to directly run, or participate in running, rural homestays as a way to improve rural tourism. Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has claimed that an Indian "high speed flying object" fell in Mian Channu located in Punjab province's Khanewal district, Dawn news reported "It was a supersonic flying object, most probably a missile, but it was certainly unarmed," he told reporters on Thursday. Earlier reports had suggested that a private aircraft had crashed in the area. "On March 9, at 6.43 p.m, a high speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)," the ISPR chief said. "From its initial course, the object suddenly manoeuvred towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan's air space, ultimately falling near Mian Channu at 6.50 p.m. "When it fell, it damaged civilian properties," he said, adding no loss of life was reported. "PAF continuously monitored the complete flying path of the object, from its point of origin near Sirsa in India to its point of impact, near Mian Channu. It initiated requisite tactical actions. "It is important to highlight that the flight path of this object endangered many international and domestic passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani air space as well as human life and property on ground. "Whatever caused this incident to happen, it is for the Indians to explain. It, nevertheless, shows their disregard for aviation safety and reflects very poorly on their technological prowess and procedural efficiency," Dawn quoted the ISPR chief as saying. He added that this could have resulted in a major aviation disaster. "Pakistan strongly protests this flagrant violation and cautions against recurrence of any such incident in the future," he warned. Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia told the media that at the time this projectile was picked up, there were two airway routes active and several commercial airlines in the area. "If you look at the speed and height of the projectile, it was 40,000 feet high, and the airlines were between 35,000 to 42,000 feet. This could have been very detrimental to the safety of passengers." Ukrainian authorities said on Friday said Russian troops have bombed a nuclear research facility in the country's second largest city of Kharkiv. In a Facebook post, Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said the bombing of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology on Thursday night has caused a power outage at the Source of Neutron Nuclear Research Subcritical Unit. According to the state regulator, the unit has completely lost power and the exterior of the building has also been damaged. It added that authorities were still assessing further damages at the site. The regulator said the Source of Neutron is designed to conduct scientific and practical studies in the fields of nuclear physics, radiation material science, biology, chemistry and for the production of medical radioisotopes. Russia has been targeting nuclear sites in Ukraine since it started the war on February 24. On the first day itself, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of the world's worst nuclear accident, fell to Russian troops. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Ukrainian authorities had informed it that they had lost all communications with the radioactive waste facility at Chernobyl after the plant suffered a power outage. On March 3, another facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency in south-eastern Ukraine, was damaged by artillery fire and captured by Russian forces. Rising gas prices may not have negative impact on travel to some hotspots, say experts Ellensburg man successful in getting wife and stepdaughter out of Ukraine and into America Homeless count confirms increase in unsheltered residents for second year in a row in Chelan and Douglas counties Putin During a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that volunteers from the Middle East, who are ready to assist Russia in Ukraine, need to be helped to get to the war zone. According to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, more than 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East are ready to come to help the Donetsk and Lugansk republics in Ukraine. "And here, of course, we consider it right to respond positively to requests, especially since these requests are not for money, but according to the true desire of these people. We know many of them, they helped in the fight against ISIS - at the most difficult time, in the last ten years," the Kremlin press service quoted the minister as saying, RT reported. Islamic State" (IS) was recognized as a terrorist organisation by the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia of December 29, 2014. Putin said that it is necessary to meet the needs of people who want to come and help people living in Donbass on a voluntary and free basis. The President spoke about this during a meeting of the Security Council, commenting on the words of Shoigu, who said that Russia receives a large number of applications from volunteers who want to come to the republics of Donbass. According to Shoigu, the countries of the Middle East are leading in this regard, of which about 16,000 applications have been received. Putin has approved mobilisation of volunteers in the war against Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. According to Putin: "If you see people who want to volunteer especially without financial remuneration to go and help the people of Donbas, you have to accommodate their wish and help them reach the zone of military action." Putin added that he supports the transfer of "weapons of Western make ended up in the hands of the Russian army" to the troops of the republics of DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LPR (Lugansk People's Republic). Jordanian authorities detained journalist Daoud Kuttab on 8 March following a complaint over an article he wrote in 2019, while journalist Taghreed al-Rishq was detained on March 7 over a social media post. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemn their detention and calls for the reform of an outdated cybercrime law that restricts media freedom. Kuttab is a Palestinian-Jordan writer living in Jordan, where he runs the Community Media Network, Radio al-Balad, and the Amman Net news organisation. Cybercrime police issued an arrest warrant for him following a complaint over an article published in 2019 about a Jordanian-American investor. Daoud Kuttab was arrested at Amman airport on his way back from a trip to the UK. "I had heard hints from my colleagues that some in the government were not happy with my writings, but I did not expect to be prevented from entering [the country]," Kuttab said to the media. He was eventually released hours after his detention, but he still faces charges of "spreading fake news" under the cybercrime law. Jordan's Cybercrime Law, passed in June 2015, has become a recurrent tool for Jordanian authorities to stifle free speech and media freedom amid protests over the financial crisis hitting the country. Mohammad Ersan, an MEE contributor and editor-in-chief of Radio al-Balad, said Jordanian journalists are "terrified". "We practice self-censorship before publishing anything for fear of the Cybercrime Law, which contains loose phrases that could be used to imprison journalists," Ersan said to local media. "Any opinion, article or even emoji that the authorities don't like, could land you in court on charges of spreading misleading news or defamation and libel," he added. On 7 March, Taghreed al-Rishq, a Jordanian journalist, was also detained at Amman airport for nearly 12 hours upon her arrival from Washington for posting a tweet on 13 January criticising a pro-government journalist. She was released on bail hours later. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: Jordans constitution enshrines the right to free speech and the freedom of the press, but this cybercrime law is being used against those fundamental rights. We call on the authorities to drop all charges on Taghreed and Daoud and to stop using this cybercrime law to stifle critical voices and independent reporters. 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Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account." www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. TCL North America Inc., (TCLNA) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Titan Company Ltd has signed a Stock Purchase Agreement with Great Heights Inc., USA (Great Heights) for subscription of shares with voting preferred stock in the capital stock of Great Heights, which would result in TCLNA holding up to 17.5% voting rights in Great HeightsAs per regulatory filing, this investment of USD 20 Million in Great Heights by TCL North America Inc. (TCLNA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, does not fall within the purview of Related Party Transaction."This is a strategic investment that will provide Titan a ring-side view of the fast-growing Lab Grown Diamond (LGD) and Direct to Consumer (D2C) sectors. Great Heights retails LGD jewellery through its brand Clean Origin, said company.At around 2:45 PM, Titan Company was trading at Rs2,481 apiece up by Rs14 or 0.57% on Sensex. remaining of Thank you for Reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. After 21 years behind bars and 14 years since he got a life sentence, a murder convict will approach the Gujarat high court to challenge the order, as per TNN. 53-year-old Jesal Dhana Koli who hails from Nani Rav village in Kutch was convicted for killing 9 people of a family in 2001 but was unable to appeal against his conviction as he had no financial resource for legal aid. The Supreme Court has instructed him to file an appeal after he plus 20 others approached the apex court. This was in the wake of a trial court punishing 26 people with life imprisonment for the massacre. While Jesals incarceration is set to stay in place, there are 14 others who were able to get bail after spending 21 years in jail. Narendra Jain, the counsel said nine persons were killed over a land dispute between a Gadhvi family and members of Koli community on July 13, 2001. iStock 48 people, including 10 women from the Koli community, were put on trial in a fast-track court in Bhuj. 25 including three women were found guilty and got life imprisonment in 2008. 24 convicts challenged the sentencing order and the state government filed an appeal against the acquittals. In 2015, the HC upheld all convictions plus found one of the acquitted women guilty and sentenced her to life too. iStock When the case reached the apex court, 5 of the convicts were no more. The SC granted bail to four women and two men in 2018. The remaining 14 also have got bail. They were lodged in the prison for two decades. Eight inmates of this set of convicts were associated with the bhajiya centre that is being run outside the Palara jail near Bhuj. One of these convicts was also assigned the task of grazing cattle by the jail authorities, the lawyer said. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Homestead, FL (33030) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will give way to occasional showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 86F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Rain showers early with mostly clear conditions later at night. Thunder possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. A rare kidney transplant saved the life of a 23-year-old Uzbekistan woman. She suffered postpartum kidney and intestinal damage, which is very rare. As per The New Indian Express, Mokhichekhrakhon Sultonova faced complications after becoming a mother and that led to the failure of both kidneys. She suffered from hypotension or low blood pressure. iStock That resulted in tubular necrosis, a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys. Due to the kidney failure, there was damage to a portion of the intestine, putting her life at risk. Doctors at Delhi's Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital said that Sultonovas mother donated the kidney via a complicated procedure. She had a bowel resection as well (removal of a diseased or damaged part of the intestine). A stool stoma, an aperture on the abdomen that allows waste (urine or faeces) to be diverted out, was also designed, said the hospital authorities. EPS Only about 0.5-0.1 per cent of women globally are affected by this condition. It occurs when oxygen is not delivered to the kidneys due to low blood pressure, causing damage to the kidneys, said Dr. Vikas Agarwal, Director and Head of the Department, Urology, Uro oncology and Kidney Transplant. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Social media giant Twitter has deleted a series of tweets by the Russian Embassy in the UK for violating its policies after claiming that the photos of an injured pregnant woman who was seen being evacuated from a bombed maternity hospital in the besieged port city of Mariupol as 'staged'. In a series of tweets, the Russian Embassy in the UK had claimed that the pregnant woman seen in a photo was actually a Ukraine beauty blogger and suggested that the photo was staged propaganda. AP What the Russian embassy claimed The Russian Embassy had initially claimed that the bombed hospital was non-operational and no civilians were injured. Later it posted the photo of the pregnant woman and a photo of Marianna Podgurskaya from her Instagram account to suggest that she was an actress. According to the Embassy, she wore very realistic make-up to embellish head wounds and played roles of both pregnant women on the photos. On her Instagram account, there are several photos of Podgurskaya, suggesting that is was in fact, pregnant. It wasn't just the Embassy in the UK that tried to discredit the photos. AP Kremlin spokesperson Dmittry Peskov told Reuters Thursday "Russian forces do not fire on civilian targets, and he didnt have clear information on the hospital strike. Shortly after, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called claims of the attack pathetic, claiming there were no civilian victims because the hospital "long ago became a base for extremists." According to Ukrainian authorities, 17 people were injured and three, including a child and two adults, were killed, in the attack on the hospital. AP President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Mariupol strike trapped children and others under the rubble. "A children's hospital. A maternity hospital. How did they threaten the Russian Federation?'' Zelenskyy asked in his nightly video address, switching to Russian to express his horror at the airstrike. "What kind of country is this, the Russian Federation, which is afraid of hospitals, afraid of maternity hospitals, and destroys them?'' The World Health Organization said it has confirmed 18 attacks on health facilities and ambulances since the fighting began, killing 10 people. It was not clear if that number included the assault on the maternity hospital. AP French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack a shameful and immoral act of war. Britain's Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, it is a war crime. US Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraine's neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities. For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. The LGBTQ community is still fighting for equal rights and inclusivity in the country. However, in Mumbai, a cafe has shown the way forward and how. A food blogging account on Instagram named Bombay Foodie Tales shared a video that featured a cafe in Mumbai which is run completely by transgender employees. This cafe identified as Bambai Nazariya is in Versova, Andheri West in Mumbai. It shows how all employees are from the transgender community and greet their guests with the utmost respect, affection and huge smile on their faces. Nazariya badlo, nazaara badlega seems to be the indicated slogan of the cafe which makes complete sense. The place seems very homely and gives a very warm vibe. According to the video, the cafe is also popular for its 'pink chai' and other authentic Bambai style dishes. The food is cooked by the transgender community and every employee there greets you with a smile on their face. People on the internet loved the idea and loved the opportunity given to the community by the cafe's owner. Many even expressed their eagerness to come and taste their food. While one user said, "Amazing initiative" Another one commented, "Sahi kaha Nazariya badalo Duniya badlegi" Instagram The video has already garnered over 42,000 likes on Instagram and is still counting. We hope to see such great initiatives by various brands and outlets across the country. For the latest from trending, click here. An elite Canadian sniper, nicknamed Wali, has arrived in Ukraine and vowed to fight the Russians as a volunteer fighter. Wali, a former member of the elite Royal 22e Regiment of Canada, had earlier travelled to Iraq on his own to fight against ISIS in 2015, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. CBC He was also deployed twice to Afghanistan as a sniper with the Canadian Armed Forces between 2009 and 2011. He fought in the same Canadian unit as the sniper with the worlds longest confirmed kill, of 3.5 km. Wali has now left his home - leaving behind a wife and young son - in Canada to fight in Ukraine as a volunteer. I want to help them. Its as simple as that. I have to help because there are people here being bombarded just because they want to be European and not Russian," Wali said in a recent interview with the CBC. Wali said he was warmly greeted by Ukrainians. One of the worlds best snipers has arrived in Ukraine. The French-Canadian Wali from the Royal Canadian 22e Regiment made his reputation during tours in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq He fought in the same Canadian unit as the sniper with the worlds longest kill (3.5 km) pic.twitter.com/iWOZiyUXpC Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) March 8, 2022 They were so happy to have us, Wali said. Its like we were friends right away. A week ago, I was still programming stuff. Now Im grabbing anti-tank missiles in a warehouse to kill real people. Thats my reality right now," he said. Having arrived in Ukraine, he said the hardest part was to leave his wife and son behind, who will celebrate his first birthday without him. "I know, it's just awful. But me, in my head, when I see the images of destruction in Ukraine, it is my son that I see, in danger and who is suffering," he told The Sun. CBC News "When I see a destroyed building, it is the person who owns it, who sees his pension fund go up in smoke, that I see. I go there for humanitarian reasons," he added. Wali told CBC three other former Canadian soldiers had also made the journey with him the journey with him He travelled from Poland, going against a sea of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees travelling the opposite way. Since crossing into Ukraine, he and other veterans have taken shelter in an abandoned home, ahead of linking up with Ukrainian authorities. For more from trending stories, click here. Web browser makers Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Mozilla have forged a cross-browser benchmark initiative, called Interop 2022, intended to address interoperability pain points on the web platform. The initiative has produced a public metric to assess progress toward fixing browser interoperability issues. Also participating in the initiative, which was announced March 3, are web consulting firm Bocoup and software consultant Igalia. Interop 2022 has three investigative areas: Editing, contentEditable, and execCommand Pointer and mouse events Viewport measurement. Interop 2022 has 10 new focus areas: Cascade layers Color spaces and functions Containment Dialog element Forms Scrolling Subgrid Typography and encodings Viewport units Web compatibility These 10 new areas join five areas adopted from Google and Microsofts previous Compat 21 effort: Aspect ratio Flexbox Grid Sticky positioning Transforms Persons interested in participating can follow instructions at the Interop 2022 dashboard. Mozilla said that the web developer feedback and end user bug reports it has collected point to two principal kinds of interoperability problems: Problems where there was a relatively clear and accepted standard, but where implementations were buggy or incomplete, and problems where the standard was missing, unclear, or does not match the behavior depended on by sites. Problems in the former category, called focus areas, can be addressed through web-platform-tests that ensure web standards are implemented consistently across browsers. Problems in the latter category, called investigate areas, will have to be addressed through investigation and measurement against more qualitative goals. For the latter, its not possible to simply write tests because its not clear whats necessary to reach interoperability. These unknown unknowns turn out to be extremely common sources of developer and user frustration, Mozilla said. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. As cyber threats have continued to grow, one segment of the market that has been especially impacted is education, according to guests on the most recent episode of The Insuring Cyber Podcast. This is a segment that is squarely a target for these ransomware threat actors, especially as we went through the pandemic, said Stephanie Snyder-Frenier, vice president and general manager of insurance at cyber risk ratings firm BitSight, in this episode. This comes as the threat environment has changed over time from being primarily data breach driven to becoming much more focused on ransomware, she said. The ransomware threat actors are targeting what Snyder-Frenier calls low hanging fruit, or organizations that dont have ideal cybersecurity posture. Oftentimes, [educational organizations] do not have very large cybersecurity budgets, and when you dont have a very large cybersecurity budget, thats when cybersecurity posture can really start to suffer, she said. Frankly, the education sector has long been one of the worst performing sectors from a cybersecurity perspective. Indeed, BitSight data show that the education sector performs poorly on a whole when it comes to managing cyber risk, with 80% of education organizations falling below a 750 rating on its cyber risk measurement platform. BitSight assesses cybersecurity performance for organizations by assigning something similar to a credit score, which can range from 250 to 900, with a higher score indicating better overall cybersecurity performance. Presenting further challenges, however, is the rising cost of cyber insurance. In Illinois, one school district Bloomington School District 87 recently reported in a memo to its superintendent a 334% hike in cyber insurance costs. It said in the memo that this increase is indicative of the current cyber marketplace and what other districts have faced as well. Snyder-Frenier said this is because as schools increasingly become targets of cyber crime, it is becoming harder for insurers to underwrite with confidence. The challenge is that theres only so much budget to go around, and when you think about education providers, they want to be able to both invest in cybersecurity, in people and process and technology, and also invest in cyber insurance as a backstop, essentially, she said. So the challenge really is how do they spend a limited pool of dollars between investing in cybersecurity and investing in cyber insurance? And unfortunately, some education providers have decided to forego cyber insurance because its just simply too expensive. Challenges around cybersecurity expand to the higher education space as well. The federal government is aiming to tackle this issue with its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program (CMMC), in which the U.S. Department of Defense is enhancing requirements to protect sensitive data for its prime and sub-contractors. The CMMC is a training, certification, and third party assessment program of cybersecurity in the U.S. government Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Its aim is to measure the maturity of an organizations cybersecurity processes. Although it was originally launched in 2019, the program was revisited and streamlined in November of last year to enhance some of its requirements in the face of growing cyber threats. These requirements apply to all Department of Defense prime and sub-contractors throughout sectors like weapons and communication systems, as well as manufacturers and technology providers. But it also extends to labs and research centers within higher education. When youre doing research on a project, theres obviously a good chance youve got some sensitive intellectual property that youre dealing with, and that information falling into the wrong hands can have implications, said John Farley, managing director of Gallaghers cyber liability practice, earlier in this episode. You could lose years and years of research, which costs millions of dollars to come up with, and it just gets stolen. And then somebody takes that information and creates a new product and competes, or does something else with it, that really can hurt those that devoted all the time and energy into creating it. Farley said the CMMC program raises the bar for higher education because failure to meet these standards could impact a schools ability to receive critical government funded grants. He also said it will likely change the way underwriters assess risk in higher education in the future. A lot of higher education institutions are contracting with the federal government to do a number of different types of research projects, and that could be anything from vaccine research to aerospace programs, and these are really important contracts to these higher education institutions, he said. They can really impact the bottom line of these schools. If you dont meet the standards that CMMC requires, there is a chance that you could lose your government contract, which is a very big deal. Another consideration for entities covered under the CMMC is the issue of litigation and reputational risk in the wake of a cyber attack, since attacks will be investigated to ensure an organizations self-attestation about its cybersecurity posture was accurate. If you attested that you have multifactor authentication in place, but it turns out that the hackers got in because you didnt have it in place, not only can you lose your government contract, but you can also be sued under The False Claims Act, Farley said. So theres also a litigation risk there, and of course, a whole lot of reputational harm that might follow. Snyder-Frenier said in the face of all of these challenges, particularly as cyber insurance premiums continue to climb, cyber insurance needs to be increasingly behaving as a partnership between the insured and the insurer. Frankly, there are a lot of ways that insurance carriers can help educational providers improve their overall security, she said. Be sure to check out the rest of this episode to hear what else John and Stephanie had to say, and check back for new episodes of The Insuring Cyber Podcast publishing every other Wednesday along with the Insuring Cyber newsletter. Thanks for listening. Topics Cyber Trends Training Development After 33 years at the Maine Bureau of Insurance, including 10 as superintendent and 13 as deputy superintendent, Eric Cioppa will retire on April 1, 2022. Cioppa joined the insurance department in 1988 as a statistician then served as supervisor of the workers compensation section, prior to becoming deputy superintendent in 1998 and then superintendent in 2011. Cioppas appointment to serve as superintendent was reconfirmed by the legislature in 2017. Throughout his tenure at the bureau, and especially in recent years, Cioppa has also been involved with helping to set national priorities, develop model laws and regulation, and act as a spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). He served as president of the NAIC in 2019, vice president in 2017 and secretary in 2016 in addition to chairing and serving on numerous committees. His regulatory colleagues at the NAIC also appointed him to serve a two-year term as their non-voting member representative on the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Council in 2018, and appointed him for a second two-year term in 2020. Governor Janet Mills thanked Cioppa on behalf of all Mainers. Superintendent Cioppa has accomplished so much for Maine people during his tenure at the Bureau, stated Governor Janet Mills. From his work to overhaul the workers compensation system in the state in the early 90s, to overseeing the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Maine since 2010, to working with my administration on health insurance and consumer financial protections during the pandemic and all the legislative, regulatory and enforcement work in between Superintendent Cioppas contributions to the health and welfare of Mainers have been invaluable. I will deeply miss him. Department of Professional and Financial Services Commissioner Anne Head said that Cioppa has been an incredible asset to the state and its people; hes been tireless in his work to protect the rights of Mainers and to support business innovation and competition in Maines insurance industry. The administration is undertaking a national search to identify candidates for the Superintendent of Insurance position. Topics Maine The Democrat-led state Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to approve legislation forcing private-sector businesses in Delaware to provide 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. The bill requires businesses employing 25 or more workers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave per year, and a combined total of up to six weeks of paid family caregiving leave, medical leave or military leave every two years. The combined total of paid leave in any given year could not exceed 12 weeks. Businesses with 10 to 24 workers would be required to provide only paid parental leave, while those with fewer than 10 employees would be exempt from the law. Businesses that already offer comparable benefits would be able to opt out of the state-run insurance program. The program would be funded by a payroll tax split evenly between employers and employees, starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The combined tax would be 0.8% for 2025 and 2026. The state Department of Labor would establish the tax rate for succeeding years based on sound actuarial principles, but benefit payments would be cut to ensure the rate does not exceed 1%. Benefit payments would start no later than Jan. 1, 2026. The weekly benefit would be 80% of a covered workers average weekly wage during the preceding 12 months, with a minimum benefit of $100 week. Workers making less than $100 a week would receive a benefit equal to their full wage. To be eligible for paid leave, a person must have been employed by the business for at least 12 months and must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months, which amounts to an average of 26 hours per week. The legislation passed Tuesday is the third iteration of a bill. It was initially introduced in May of last year but has been modified to address the concerns of the business community and to conform more broadly with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. The changes include exempting smaller employers in whole or in part, strengthening eligibility requirements for employees, reducing the maximum amount of annual paid leave, and delaying implementation of the program. The legislation, which is supported by Democratic Gov. John Carney and is similar to programs already passed in nine other states and the District of Columbia, now goes to the House. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Politics Delaware On March 10, 2022, the UK Government announced a formal agreement with Connecticut Insurance & Financial Services (CT IFS), the MetroHartford Alliance (MHA), the Connecticut Insurance Department, and Insurtech UK to launch a new Insurtech Corridor. The signing took place at Nassau Financial Group in downtown Hartford. Strengthening the Insurance Industry in Connecticut and the UK The regions space, place, and reputation were duly noted, enhanced by opening comments from event host MHA Vice President and CT IFS Executive Director Susan Winkler, who emphasized that Hartford is not only The Insurance Capital of the World, but also The Insurance Capital of the Universe. She noted the magnitude of building a stronger insurance industry in two global metros: Hartford and London and recognized UK DIT Trade & Investment Officer Joy Kinnear and Barbara Fernandez for their hard work, perseverance, and vision for the partnership. Nassau Financial Group Chief Marketing Officer Paul Tyler underscored the importance of innovation and said the company is thrilled to be a part of the effort. Leveraging Connecticuts Insurance Ecosystem Her Majestys Trade Commissioner to North America Emma Wade-Smith called the event a historic moment building on a longstanding relationship and collaboration. She added that the IFS industry boost is exactly what we achieved today by harnessing the skills and talents of everyone involved and recognized all organizations involved. The UK can now leverage Connecticuts local insurance ecosystem and Connecticut now has more exposure to the UK insurance market, creating a fast track for those seeking to internationalize, Wade-Smith said. She also emphasized how it was natural to pursue a partnership to revolutionize, rhetorically asking, Whats not to love about that? Accelerating Innovation and InsurTech Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais reiterated that the day marked a significant milestone, accelerating innovation and insurtechand benefitting consumers. We want to make sure this industry prospers and consumers have easy and affordable access to the products they need, he said. Theres a reason were known as the Insurance Capital of the World, the commissioner added, referencing Connecticuts talent and skillset. Connecticuts government and organizations are committed to job growth, innovation, and furthering the industry. The partnership is an example of how Connecticut continues to innovate, said Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman. Connecticuts economy provides a framework of collaboration, innovation, and encouragement. Collaborating and Creating Opportunities Insurtech UK Council member and Chair of the Government & External Affairs Working Group John Warburton agreed, noting that Insurtech is all about collaboration. In terms of choosing to partner with the United States, he spoke of members desire to locate here, saying Connecticut is an attractive international destination that has a cluster effect with the density of our insurance industry. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin recognized the amount of work involved and graciously thanked all the organizations, local and abroad, for their partnership. Were proud of our tradition as the Insurance Capital of the World. Our new goal is to become the insurtech capital of the world, he asserted, pointing out that what distinguishes Hartford is the level of access to decision makers and innovators, which enables opportunities to interact and partner. MHA President and CEO David Griggs acknowledged that all the reasons why Hartford is the best had already been discussed by other panelists. He signified the importance of the event by quoting a line from Mancunian poet Tony Walsh, Some were born here, others drawn here, but we all call it home. Overcoming Barriers During the Q&A, a question was posed about barriers to overcome. Insurtech UK Council member and Chair of the Government & External Affairs Working Group John Warburton addressed the question from a startup perspective, explaining that UK-based insurtech startups want to explore the United States but may experience barriers to determining market access, regulations, and known counterparts. This partnership addresses those barriers by providing access to talent and decision makers, and unlocking relationships that lead to serendipity. Mayor Bronin added that the partnership alleviates barriers on two levels: by providing access to government and access to the market via a warm handshake. Whats Next? The InsurTech corridor is now officially open and set up to support companies in the UK and Connecticut. In the coming weeks, the Corridor will be announcing agreements and upcoming participation. Source: MetroHartford Alliance Topics InsurTech Tech Connecticut Lloyds Register, one of the worlds top ship certifiers, is stopping services to Russia after sanctions were imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, the company said on Thursday. Classification societies including LR provide services such as checking that ships are seaworthy and this certification cover is vital for securing insurance and entry into ports. Based on the latest legislative requirements taking effect in the United Kingdom, the European Union and United States, LR has confirmed that it will disengage from the provision of all services to Russian owned, controlled or managed assets or companies, it said in a statement. An LR spokesperson added that it was working to identify which vessels in the LR fleet are impacted by these new sanctions. LR will not be providing the relevant classification certificates and international convention certificates going forward to Russian clients and will be notifying the relevant flag administrations of the withdrawal of class as it takes effect, the spokesperson said. Ordinarily that would invalidate existing certificates issued on behalf of the flag Administration. LR also provides other engineering and technology solutions. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Kirsten Donovan) Topics Excess Surplus Russia Lloyd's Global leasing companies staring at an imminent sanctions deadline to repossess more than 400 jets worth almost $10 billion from Russian airlines have received mostly radio silence as experts warn of legal wrangling that could last a decade. Western bans imposed after Russias invasion of Ukraine give most leasing firms until March 28 to sever ties with Russian airlines sparking a game of cat-and-mouse from Asia to Africa as lenders frantically try to seize aircraft. The aviation insurance market will struggle to make payouts potentially dwarfing the $1.8 billion from 9/11. Leasing companies are terminating leases and asking for planes to be returned along with the paperwork that must be secured for planes to be placed with new airlines. But so far, Western observers say that is not happening. There is nothing official, but Russian airlines are not giving aircraft back. The only ones are a handful that were already outside Russia and could be repossessed, said independent aviation adviser Bertrand Grabowski. Those include two jets seized in Istanbul and Mexico City, according to trade journal ch-aviation. Others have wriggled through the repo net. An Aeroflot Boeing 777 narrowly escaped being seized at the initiative of a non-Russian bank in Southeast Asia and the Gulf in the past week, two people familiar with the matter said. An Airbus A321neo leased to the same flag carrier was the target of a failed repossession in Egypt, aviation publication The Air Current reported. Aeroflot did not respond to a request for comment. Mass Default Risk In total there are almost 780 jets leased by Russian airlines, including 515 from abroad. Even some leased within Russia are subject to claims from foreign banks. Some 425 of these are most at risk in what looks set to become aviations biggest mass default, according to consultants Ascend by Cirium who have seen virtually no progress in seizing jets. For a maturing industry with portfolios worth up to $300 billion, that remains far from the global impact of the pandemic that grounded over 15,000 jets. But the loss of a market representing 5-6% of global traffic has shocked a sector that owns more than half the worlds airliner fleet. The resulting flood of claims and potential writedowns could trigger a lengthy contest over liability. This will end up in the courts forever. In general it is a very bleak picture, said Jerrold Lundquist, managing director of advisers Lundquist Group. Between the airlines, lessors and insurers, you are most probably looking at a decade of lawsuits, Grabowski added. Ratings agency Moodys warned last week that a prolonged escalation of sanctions could pile pressure on the leasing industry, which has risen from shaky roots in the 1970s to become a dominant force. Uncharted Territory As Russia launched what it described as a special operation in Ukraine last month, some financiers reported initial signs of panic. Someone offered to sell me seven freighters and two other international lessors asked if I wanted to buy their entire Russian portfolio, said a person at a China-based lessor, adding the offer had been refused. Facing multiple obstacles in seizing jets from lack of co-operation and possible security risks on the ground, to airspace bans and questions over permission to fly to storage sites lessors are banking on a record payout under war-risk insurance. But the aviation insurance market will struggle to make payouts potentially dwarfing the $1.8 billion from 9/11. A declaration of war is not necessarily required to claim under a war-risk policy, insurers say, with nationalization, seizure and restraint under government orders also covered. But lawyers say proving Moscow has effectively confiscated hundreds of jets could be a daunting task. This is totally uncharted territory. There is a possibility that insurers could cancel policies, leaving lessors with an aircraft but no insurance, Lundquist said. War also threatens to erode the Cape Town Convention, an industry circuit-breaker designed to make contracts more enforceable across borders. Its 83 nations including Russia set up an international register to smooth repossessions but it relies on co-operation widely seen as unlikely after Russian President Vladimir Putin told airline workers that Western sanctions were akin to a declaration of war. Most lessors already use the Bermuda register rather than Russias over legal uncertainties. A person at a Chinese lessor with planes at Aeroflot said transferring the agreement to a different entity would require layers of approvals that have little chance of materializing. Were completely stuck, said the person who has spoken to an Aeroflot representative almost every day since the invasion. Even if conflict eases, Russias near-isolation may permanently damage valuations by interrupting the continuity of maintenance records or encouraging airlines to swap parts. Indirect effects might go wider still, forcing Airbus and Boeing to remarket dozens of jets and halting others plans to convert older Russian jets into freighters amid a cargo boom. Also in the spotlight are asset-backed securities used by lessors to ease financing and now containing high Russian risk. All this, while soaring oil prices threaten to punch a new hole in airline balance sheets and damage the creditworthiness of all carriers. UK-based aviation consultancy IBA said the crisis had already delayed the industrys pandemic recovery by two months. Critics say the crisis calls for a rethink about the way the industry handles risk. For years its selling point to investors was its ability to move assets to escape regional volatility. But a worldwide pandemic, and now a sequestered Russian fleet, have left the industry struggling to restore equilibrium. There was a perception that Russia was a good risk and capable of absorbing significant capacity that others could not take because of the COVID-19 crisis, Grabowski said. For people who had surplus planes on their hands Russia was a venue of last resort. Most of the market also thought Aeroflot was an impeccable credit but forgot the political risk. (Reporting by Tim Hepher, Engen Tham, Carolyn Cohn; additional reporting by Jamie Freed, Alexander Cornwell, Allison Lampert; editing by Jason Neely) Topics Carriers Russia Aviation Definity Financial Corp. announced a strategic partnership with APOLLO Insurance Solutions Ltd., a Canadian digital insurance broker and MGA that specializes in commercial insurance. This strategic partnership includes a distribution relationship between Definitys affiliate Definity Insurance Company and APOLLO, and an agreement by Definity to complete an initial minority equity investment in APOLLO. Financial details of the cash deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022. Definity has an established digital insurance expertise in commercial lines, which includes the broker digital platform Vyne Commercial. Definity said the partnership with APOLLO will expand its existing digital footprint APOLLO allows its broker partners and customers to purchase insurance online through its proprietary platform. APOLLOs all-digital approach leverages extensive data and intelligent algorithms to quote, collect payment, and issue policies all without human intervention and serves all provinces, except Quebec. Definity is one of Canadas leading digital insurance providers, and this partnership with APOLLO will allow us to extend the opportunities for a simpler insurance experience for both brokers and their customers, said Fabian Richenberger, executive vice president, Commercial Insurance, Definity, in a statement. We believe that the scalable platform that APOLLO provides, combined with our proven track record in digital innovation and strong underwriting, will help strengthen our commercial distribution capabilities, he added. Our partnership with Definity provides us with resources and opportunities to expand our footprint in the small to mid-size business market, commented Jeff McCann, chief executive officer and co-founder of APOLLO. Definity and APOLLO share a deep commitment to using technology and software to deliver an effortless insurance experience to customers and our retail broker partners. APOLLO has a user base of more than 6,000 individual Canadian brokers and over 150 group partners. Definity was established in 2021 following the demutualization of the Economical Mutual Insurance Co., which was founded in 1871. Source: Definity Financial Corp. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies Canada Radio hams interviewed about the Neighborhood Radio Watch Capital Public Radio interviews radio amateurs Bob Hess W1RH and Alan Thompson W6WN about the Neighborhood Radio Watch in El Dorado, California The Neighborhood Radio Watch members are understood to use General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) equipment. The broadcaster says: In the face of natural disasters, amateur radio groups fill communications void in rural California Hess and Thompson are both amateur or ham radio operators, which requires technical understanding and more extensive licensing. The world of ham operators is small. The goal of the Neighborhood Radio Watch is to put user-friendly radios into the hands of everyday people radio for the rest of us, as Thompson describes it. Their group buys large lots of used radios on eBay usually retired from police or fire departments and refurbishes them. Average users need to purchase a license from the Federal Communications Commission, and the group offers training to members. There are similar networks throughout California and across the country, with more popping up every year. The pattern that we see is always in response to large scale disasters or catastrophes, said Joe Ames, national chairman of Radio Relay International, a nonprofit that works with local radio clubs. Read the full story at https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/03/10/in-the-face-of-natural-disasters-amateur-radio-groups-fill-communications-void-in-rural-california/ A Ukrainian man charged last year with conducting one of the most severe ransomware attacks against U.S. targets has been extradited to the United States and made a court appearance on Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department said. According to an August 2021 indictment, Yaroslav Vasinskyi, 22, accessed the internal computer networks of several victim companies and deployed Sodinokibi/REvil ransomware to encrypt the data on their computers, the Justice Department said in a statement. Vasinskyi was allegedly responsible for the July 2021 ransomware attack against Florida software provider Kaseya, the department said. Reuters could not reach a representative of Vasinskyi. Kaseya did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The Ukrainian national was accused in the indictment of breaking into Kaseya over the July 4 weekend last year, and simultaneously distributing with accomplices REvil ransomware to as many as 1,500 Kaseya customers, encrypting their data and forcing some to shut down for days, the Justice Department said. While most of the 1,500 businesses paralyzed as a result across the globe faced limited concerns, the disruption was felt keenly in places like Sweden, where hundreds of supermarkets had to close because their cash registers were inoperative, or New Zealand, where schools and kindergartens were knocked offline. Vasinskyi was charged in the indictment with breaking into the victim companies and installing encryption software, developed by the core REvil ransomware hacking group. REvil directly handled the ransom negotiations and split the profits with affiliates like Vasinskyi. This model allowed the notorious ransomware gang to extort numerous companies for cryptocurrency. Vasinskyi was arrested in Poland in October, and charged late last year along with a Russian by the Justice Department. Read full story Vasinskyi was transported to Dallas by U.S. law enforcement authorities where he arrived on March 3, the Justice Department said on Wednesday. REvil was involved in an attack last year against top global meatpacker JBS SA JBSS3.SA. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Raphael Satter in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Karishma Singh) Topics Cyber USA Ukraine The former head of the Louisiana State Police has agreed to appear before the legislative committee investigating the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene _ an in-custody death one lawmaker described March 8 as a modern-day lynching. Legislators plan to question former Col. Kevin Reeves as soon as next week about his response to Greenes violent death and what Gov. John Bel Edwards knew about the 2019 case and when he knew it. State troopers initially blamed Greenes death on a car crash after a high-speed chase in northeast Louisiana. But The Associated Press last year published long-withheld body-camera video showing white troopers jolting Greene with stun guns, punching him in the face and dragging him by his ankle shackles as he wailed, Im your brother! Im scared! Im scared! A reexamined autopsy commissioned by the FBI rejected the crash theory last year, attributing Greenes death to physical struggle, troopers repeatedly stunning him, striking him in the head, restraining him at length and Greenes use of cocaine. Ronald Greenes death can be equated to a modern-day lynching, and thats just the facts, Rep. Jason Hughes, a New Orleans Democrat, said during the committees first hearing. Its imperative that we garner the facts and the truth surrounding his death and that we leave no stone unturned. The bipartisan committee formed last month in response to another AP report that Edwards was informed within hours that troopers arresting Greene engaged in a violent, lengthy struggle. The governor has said he was unaware Greene had been mistreated until September 2020 and did not speak out about the troopers actions _ even after privately watching graphic body camera footage of the arrest _ because of an ongoing federal civil rights investigation. Edwards initially derided the legislative inquiry as a witch hunt before issuing a later statement saying he was certain that any fair and impartial investigation will conclude that I made no attempt to impede or interfere with any investigation into Mr. Greenes death. The Governor hasnt been invited to appear before the committee, Edwards spokesperson wrote in an email Tuesday. He will review any and all requests to our office for documents or testimony very seriously. The legislative action is playing out amid a separate, long-running federal investigation into the deadly encounter. Federal prosecutors are also examining whether state police brass obstructed justice to protect the troopers who arrested Greene, including one who later admitted bashing the motorist in the head with a flashlight. Asked Tuesday whether that grand jury investigation would hamper lawmakers work, Rep. Tanner Magee, the Republican chairman of the committee, told reporters that federal authorities have had three years to criminally investigate these people. St or get off the pot. Reeves, who stepped down in late 2020 amid mounting controversy over Greenes death, is among several current and former ranking state police officials expected to address the committee in the coming weeks. His attorney, Lewis Unglesby, told AP that Reeves will have truthful answers for whatever questions lawmakers ask. He said Reeves is not a subject or target of the federal investigation. Reeves texted Edwards within hours of Greenes death, but it is not known whether the two had any follow-up conversations about the case. The governor regularly communicated with Reeves about officer-involved shootings and often received updates as law enforcement learned more about those incidents, text messages obtained by AP through a public records request show. I know it has been tough, Edwards texted Reeves on Oct. 14, 2020, the day Greenes family first met with the governor before privately viewing the body camera footage of Greenes death. We will get through this. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana Law Enforcement Republicans in the Oklahoma House on March 7 unveiled a package of new restrictions on the states booming medical marijuana industry, designed to crack down on illegal growers who sell cannabis on the black market. The 12-point plan includes a standardization of lab testing and equipment, more inspections of grow facilities, separate licenses for marijuana wholesalers and stringent new reporting requirements for electric and water usage by growers. One proposal would also make the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority a stand-alone agency, not a division of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. If youre an illegal operator in Oklahoma, youre time is up, said Rep. Scott Fetgatter, an Okmulgee Republican and a member of the House Republican working group on medical marijuana. The marijuana industry has been booming in Oklahoma since voters in 2018 approved one of the most liberal medical programs in the nation. Its easy for patients to obtain a two-year medical license, and nearly 10% of the states population is now authorized to buy and use marijuana. Unlike other states, there also are no restrictions on the number of dispensary or grow licenses, and the low cost for entry into the industry has led to a flood of out-of-state pot entrepreneurs seeking to capitalize on the boom. But the low barriers for entry and the loose regulatory environment also has led to a huge increase in the number of illegal operators, according to law enforcement. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics last month announced one of the states largest-ever marijuana busts involving more than 200 federal, state and local officers and a dozen grow operations. Agents seized more than 100,000 plants and thousands of pounds of bulk processed marijuana destined for other states, including California, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas. Even medical marijuana industry professionals agree there should be stricter enforcement, said Chip Paul, a marijuana processor who helped write the state question voters approved in 2018. Absolutely, I would think generally the industry feels like things are too loose on the back end, Paul said. But we dont necessarily need more regulation. We just need our current regulations to be enforced. Paul, who operates a marijuana processing facility in the Tulsa area, said hes had a license since 2018 and had his first state inspection last week. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Cannabis Oklahoma Politics A committee of the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. governing body produced some good news on litigated claims and some bad news Thursday, giving further insight into a big part of Floridas insurance market. The bad news first: The number of new litigated claims increased by a third last year over the previous year. In 2021, Citizens, the state-run insurer, was hit with 10,085 lawsuits, or an average of 878 new suits per month, Jay Adams, chief of claims for Citizens, told the corporations Claims Committee at its monthly meeting. For January of this year, the insurer was served with 943 lawsuits, a 41% increase over January 2021. The vast majority of the suits were from homeowners, and most were filed in South Florida. Water damage is increasingly a cost driver. Water-loss lawsuits are also now on a sharp upward trend, reversing the previous downward trend experienced from 2020 to 2021, reads a summary report to the committee. Assignment-of-benefits suits made up about a third of the residential lawsuits in 2021, a 14% increase over the previous year. In January 2022, Citizens saw 1,146 AOB lawsuits. If that level continues, 2022 numbers will outpace 2021 by about 2,000. The rising litigation numbers appear to buck the trend for the Florida property market as a whole. CaseGlide, a litigation management software firm that tracks lawsuits, reported that since last summer, the number of litigated claims for the 17 largest property/casualty carriers in Florida had declined steadily, until January of this year. But Citizens overall policy count is growing rapidly, while some other carriers counts are not. The increases in lawsuits against Citizens are due partly to the steady rise in the number of Citizens policyholders in recent years, as other carriers have stopped writing in Florida or raised premiums, the committee was told. Senate Bill 76, approved last year by the Florida Legislature, was designed to help reduce litigation by requiring that policyholders and assignees give 10-day notice when they plan to file suit. Its still too early to know if the law is having an impact, but Citizens staff members said they should know more by the middle of this year. The number of notices of intent for AOB litigation was only 73 in January of this year, a fraction of the notices filed in all of 2021. Some Florida lawmakers and news reports have suggested that some plaintiffs attorneys are not filing the notices as required by the law, so the notice-of-intent numbers may or may not reflect a sea-change in litigation. Litigation numbers also have been affected by the COVID-19, which has caused a backlog in the courts, Citizens staff said. The good news for Citizens financial picture: While the volume of litigation is still climbing, the amount paid out appears to be on the wane. Adams reported that the average amount of indemnity per litigated case fell from just over $18,400 in 2019 to about $13,800 in 2021. The amount of legal fees also has declined significantly. For new suits, total defense costs fell from $85 million in 2019 to $71 million in 2021. Staff members said one reason for the decline in payouts and costs is a deliberate strategy by Citizens to avoid litigation and litigation expenses. The insurer has changed its policy language for many homeowners to cap non-weather water damage at $10,000, and launched a managed repair program in 2019, using contractors that offer a three-year warranty on repairs. Citizens also requires the use of appraisal panels in many cases to resolve disputes without need of litigation. Its good to see legal spending going down, said Reynolds Henderson, a member of the Citizens Board of Governors, from Walton County. Another bit of potential good news: The Claims Committee agreed to recommend to the full Citizens board that it beef up fraud detection by signing a contract for as much as $7.6 million over the next several years. Staff members said that after more than a year of review, they have recommended the contract with FRISS Inc., to provide artificial intelligence and data-mining software systems that will help detect patterns of insurance fraud. FRISS is considered one of the largest makers of insurance fraud detection software. This week, the Ohio-based firm announced it had acquired Polonious, a special investigations and case management software company. The companys software can quickly do what it would take human investigators months to do, such as identify photos submitted by claimants that may have be plucked from the internet, said Greg Rowe, director of claims vendor and system management for Citizens. He noted that Citizens already-swamped fraud investigators have found that about 4.5% of claims are fraudulent. But the insurance industry has indicated that the percentage for the industry as a whole may be more than 10%. So, doubling the amount of fraud detection could result in significant savings for Citizens, staff members said. Committee members were concerned that Citizens would be able to end the contract if better fraud detection technology becomes available in the coming years. Adams assured them Citizens would be able to do that. The full Citizens Board of Governors meets March 23. Topics Lawsuits Carriers Bord Bia has announced that its CEO Tara McCarthy is to step down from her role later this year. Having held the role for the last five years, Ms McCarthy will take up a new position in the private sector in June 2022. Ms McCarthy said she is "very grateful for the wonderful privilege" she had in leading Bord Bia. "The wider agri-food industry faces many challenges, but thanks to the amazing people that work in and with the industry, it continues to thrive," she said. Bord Bia chairman Dan MacSweeney paid tribute to Ms. McCarthy, saying: On behalf of the board of Bord Bia, I wish Tara the very best for the future and thank her for her tremendous efforts and for her dedication and commitment to our client companies and the food, drink, and horticulture sector." Search for a successor The search for a successor to Ms McCarthy begins immediately, Mr MacSweeney added, and, in the interim, he has "full confidence in the leadership team in Bord Bia to continue to successfully execute our new and exciting strategy". Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue thanked Ms McCarthy for "her energy, leadership and commitment to Bord Bia and the wider agri-food industry". "She has guided the organisation and supported the industry through many challenges, including the impacts of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic," Mr McConalogue said. "Tara has nurtured top talent, as well as building Irelands voice in thought leadership on sustainability, with benefits for the sector as a whole. "Tara has focused on developing new markets while building on existing ones to the benefit of our world-class primary producers, farm families and fishers." Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon commended Ms McCarthy for being a "strong advocate for our agri-food sector and sustainable food production". "She has helped to build trust and confidence in Irish food, promoting Irish products here and around the world by standing behind the producers of Ireland, supporting them to reach global markets," he added. Ms McCarthy thanked her colleagues in Bord Bia and Government, along with farmer and producer members for the support given to her throughout her time as CEO. "I will continue to play my full part in Bord Bia until my departure and to ensure an orderly transition, I will work in partnership with the board as they begin the recruitment process for my successor," she said. The Shelter: Animal SOS RTE One, 7.30pm A Shih Tzu arrives at the shelter in a sorry state; and theres a race to save orphaned newborn kittens. Jack Reacher Virgin Media One, 9pm A former military police investigator takes on the case of a random shooting for which an army sniper has been framed. Action thriller, with Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike. The Late Late Show RTE One, 9.35pm Former Presidents of Ireland, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese will speak together about the war in Ukraine. RTE Europe Editor, Tony Connelly saw first-hand how a vibrant city overnight turned to one where terror, confusion and panic reigned. Tony will discuss the scenes he saw first-hand on the streets of Kyiv while broadcasting from a bunker where parents and children sought refuge. Dolly Parton and bestselling author James Patterson will join Ryan from Nashville to talk about their new novel 'Run Rose Run' and why theyre both extremely passionate about encouraging children to read from a young age. Plus, there will be music from Dublin pop artist Aimee who will perform her newest single 'Nobody Else'. Sport Six Nations Rugby: Wales v France, ko 8pm, RTE2 The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Apple TV+ Based on the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley, this new limited series from Apple stars Samuel L Jackson in the title role and boasts a strong supporting cast (including Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins and Marsha Stephanie Blake). Ptolemy Grey is a lonely nonagenarian whose failing, dementia-addled memory leaves him feeling detached and confused. However, the arrival of orphaned teen carer Robyn (Fishback) coincides with a new treatment that temporarily restores some clarity for the old man - leading to more questions than answers, as a decades-old mystery re-emerges. The Adam Project Netflix The Adam Project: Walker Scobell as Young Adam and Ryan Reynolds as Big Adam. Picture: Doane Gregory/Netflix Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo lead a cast which includes Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell, Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldana in this big-budget sci-fi fantasy adventure. Adam Reed (Reynolds) travels back in time to enlist the help of his younger self. The stakes? Adam wants to help his late father. This is a surprisingly tender and moving family melodrama, whose mind-bending sci-fi elements are secondary to the human story at its heart. Radio Arena, RTE 1, 7pm: Writer Colin Barrett discusses his new book Homesickness, a second collection of short stories from a nascent presence in the genre. Lyric Live, Lyric FM, 7pm: The National Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor Jaime Martin bring us Richard Strausss Ein Heldenleben; a world premiere by Irish composer Emma OHalloran; and pianist Hugh Tinney performs Piano Concerto No 24 by Mozart. Two Ukrainian medical doctors who spent eight days with their children underground escaping missile fire want to use their skills to thank Irish people for their hospitality when they arrive this weekend. Nikolai Sykal, his wife Vicka and her sister and four children are due to arrive on Saturday after fleeing the embattled city of Kharkiv. They will be met by his half-sister, Iryna Sykal Byrne, who has lived in Ireland for the last 20 years. Nikolai, a qualified surgeon and his wife who is an anaesthetist hope they can give back to the Irish for their hospitality through helping them medically, according to Iryna. Iryna has secured initial accommodation for her family, which has been kindly offered by The Bay Hotel in Arklow, Co. Wicklow, where she lives. Nikolai Sykal and his family in better times. After that, a generous resident has offered a house in the area for a number of weeks. At present, Iryna shares a one-bedroom apartment with her 19-year-old son Alex and her 20-year-old nephew Yurii who arrived in Ireland from Ukraine just ahead of the Russian invasion. "People here have been so kind and generous," said Iryna who also graduated as a medical doctor in Ukraine but was unable to practise here when she first arrived. Anya (Nikolai's sister-in-law who is also coming to Ireland) with her daughter Masha and Nikolai's daughter Nika in the bunker before fleeing. "Unfortunately, my home is too small but people have offered me a beautiful house to use on a temporary basis for my brother, two ladies and four children aged 14 (twin boys) and girls, 10 and seven. This is just an unexpected nightmare and noone knows what is going to happen or how long it will go on. "I grew up in Kharkiv and so my friends are there. They are all staying because their husbands and sons have been conscripted to the army. "My half-brother and his family have spent eight days underground, not knowing what the next minute would bring. He said it was like a horror film. "He even had to spell children across the back of the car so soldiers would know there were children in the car. They are traumatised like everyone in the situation and noone knows what happens next. "My pleas for help have been met by the most amazing people who have offered homes and lifts from the airport and even just advice on getting them out of Poland. "The owners of the Bay Hotel have been fantastic in offering them a room and breakfast for the initial few days and then another generous resident has given them the use of a house for a number of weeks. We are so thankful." Iryna said she is heartbroken by the shocking invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Some of the children in Nikolai Sykal's car as they flee Ukraine. "I'm getting messages from friends over there every morning to say they are still alive. They are just in a panic but it's heartbreaking for me because I can't help them. Nikolai and his wife want to come here but they want to work. "They want to repay all the kindness they have received by using their skills to help while they are in Ireland. We will look into how they will be allowed to work here once they are settled. They don't want to come here and add to the problems of the unemployed that already exist. "They don't want to come here at all - but they can't stay in a future that is no longer their own. If they can't have peace in their homeland, they can have peace of mind here and they are intent on giving back for all the kindness and generosity they have already been offered." Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the war in Ukraine will be at the utmost in our mind when he meets Boris Johnson at the rugby this weekend. Mr Martin said he will talk to the British Prime Minister about Russias invasion of its neighbour on Saturday, as well as the Northern Ireland Protocol. We will have some discussions, obviously, because right throughout the weekend the plight of Ukraine is utmost in our mind, he told reporters. The relationship and the very constructive partnership between the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States has been vital for standing up for democracy, freedom of speech and opinion the very basic standards that we share. Taoiseach Micheal Martin signs the guest book as he arrives for a formal dinner at Mansion House in London (James Manning/PA) I welcome what has been very constructive engagement between the UK, the European Union and the United States. I will take the opportunity to say that to the Prime Minister tomorrow and I think the British Government deserves credit for its leadership role on this issue internationally and thats been well reflected in the responses of eastern European countries. The pair will meet at the Six Nations match between England and Ireland at Twickenham. Arriving at a reception in central London hosted by the citys Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny on Friday, Mr Martin jokingly said he hopes Ireland will emerge victorious while he is sitting alongside Mr Johnson. The Taoiseach will also attend an Enterprise Ireland business event and roundtable at the Embassy of Ireland. On Sunday, Mr Martin will attend Londons St Patricks Day festival and parade, which this year will celebrate community and key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. He will then travel to Washington DC for a series of engagements. Burma Junta Forces Massacre 14 People in Upper Myanmar Eleven resistance fighters were slaughtered in Khin-U this week. / CJ Fourteen people, 11 resistance fighters and three civilians, were slaughtered earlier this week in Sagaing Regions Khin-U Township, as Myanmar junta forces stepped up attacks on local Peoples Defense Forces (PDF). The military regime is reportedly on a Kill All, Torch All mission to eliminate resistance in Sagaing before the annual Armed Forces Day on March 27. Soldiers from Division 77 and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia from Sagaings Ye-U Township arrived in Khin-U Township on March 5. They joined troops already deployed in Ywa Thit Gon Village in Khin-U and raided several surrounding villages, according to local residents. Junta troops raided Thein Taw Village on Tuesday morning. They reportedly fired at least 50 rounds from 40 mm grenade launchers as they entered the village and clashed with PDF fighters. Members of the village defense forces were forced to withdraw as junta troops continuously fired on them. But 11 fighters were detained and shot dead, said residents. The slain resistance fighters bore signs of torture and some had been shot point-blank in their heads, a local who was involved in retrieving their bodies told The Irrawaddy. It appears that they were not killed in the fighting, but that they were shot dead after being arrested. They had no gunshot wounds to their bodies, but they were shot point-blank in their heads. Heads had been severed from some bodies. We also saw knotted ropes near the bodies which are believed to have been used to tie them. And they were apparently kicked in their chests with boots before being shot dead, he said. Eight of the victims were between 18 and 25 and two were 17. The other victim was 40, said locals. Regime soldiers also shot dead three Kyun Lel villagers who they abducted and took to Thein Taw Village. The victims were 45, 48 and 55, according to locals. I think they [junta soldiers] killed the three villagers because they had witnessed their cruelty, said one resident. Locals were only able to retrieve the bodies on Wednesday after junta troops had left the village. They said they saw the cremated body of a junta soldier in the field where the resistance fighters were massacred. Junta troops also torched homes, with 35 houses burned down in Dan Gon Village and 25 houses destroyed in Hman Taw Village, according to locals. On February 17, 14 PDF fighters died in a junta raid on Myothit Village in Khin-U. Five resistance fighters were killed in a raid on Thayet Kan Village on February 20. That village was also raided on January 25, when 11 resistance fighters died. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Sentences Veteran Activist on his Birthday Junta Court Charges Myanmar Journalist With Incitement Myanmar Junta Kills 10 Children in a Week Vladimir Fulman, owner of Mama Bella Gourmet Market & Cafe in West Palm Beach, is serving a menu of Ukranian comfort food this week to raise money for the relief organization United Help Ukraine. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Restaurant owner Iryna Panyukova is living the American dream in South Florida, but her heart, lately, aches for Ukraine, which her parents and brother fled days before Russian forces besieged her homeland. The owner of two Smoothie King franchises in Deerfield Beach and Boynton Beach has tried everything to book safe passage for her family. For now her parents, brother and his children are stranded in Romania, paralyzed with anxiety in a country where they dont speak the language. Advertisement Panyukova says one Romanian family invited them to take refuge in their home as the war in Ukraine intensifies a thousand miles away. As soon as they got there [the Romanian family] said, Do you need clothes? Do you need money? and it makes me feel better, says Panyukova, the daughter of a former Soviet Army officer who emigrated from the port city of Odesa in southern Ukraine in 2004. But at the same time, Im trying to get them to the States. Advertisement But her mind reels with worry about her friends in Ukraine who couldnt escape or stayed behind to fight. And she intends to help: From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 12, her Smoothie King franchise in Deerfield Beach (792 S. Federal Highway; 954-637-4864) will donated 100 percent of sales to the National Bank of Ukraine, a direct humanitarian fund that gives food, clothing and shelter for displaced citizens and Ukrainian refugees fleeing the country. [ RELATED: Palm Beach Countys Ukrainian community rallies in support of homeland | PHOTOS ] The fundraiser will repeat from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 13 at Panyukovas Boynton Beach Smoothie King (313 W. Boynton Beach Blvd.; 561-810-5748). There is a misinformation campaign in Russia they are trying to tell people nothing is happening. But I see the videos of them shooting crazy bombs into the childrens hospital and its horrible, she says. I cannot process it. For now Panyukova, of Parkland, hasnt told her 8-year-old son about the war, but has said that his grandparents and cousins will visit them soon. When he wakes up, hes asking when his family is going to be here, Panyukova says. I dont ever want him to ask me, Are my cousins still alive? " She says this weekends fundraiser may do little to help Ukrainian families shes expecting to collect about $2,000 but she refuses to feel helpless. [ RELATED: We had a good life: Family flees war in Ukraine and finds refuge in South Florida | PHOTOS ] I will be happy even if I dont raise too much, she says. Its better that Im creating some awareness about the crisis. Other South Florida restaurants and markets are following suit, organizing fundraisers across Broward and Palm Beach counties that will benefit relief organizations now shipping food and supplies to Ukraines borders. Advertisement Here are two other fundraisers taking place this weekend. Ovlo Eats 7626 Peters Road, Plantation; 954-302-3750, OvloEats.com Fundraising organization: Jewish Federation of Broward When: Through Sunday, March 13 Why: Owner Steve Stolberg is not Ukrainian and tries to stay apolitical with his restaurant, but watching news of women, children and the elderly displaced from their homes in recent weeks, to be blunt, has pissed me off, he says. Its making me nuts and sad. People can now see what a psychotic human being [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is. Through March 11 at his restaurant, which serves herb-grilled steaks, salads and sandwiches, 25 percent of sales will benefit the Jewish Federation of Broward County. The nonprofits Global Disaster Relief Fund aims to start an emergency hotline and give temporary housing to displaced citizens, per its website. Golubtsi, or meat-stuffed cabbage rolls, are on the menu Mama Bella Gourmet Market & Cafe in West Palm Beach, which is serving Ukrainian comfort-food dishes as part of a fundraising effort for the charity United Help Ukraine. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Mama Bella Gourmet Market & Cafe 518 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 561-599-5500, MamaBellaCafe.com Advertisement Fundraising organization: United Help Ukraine When: Indefinitely Why: Warm Ukrainian hospitality and comfort food are both on the menu at this European gourmet market in downtown West Palm Beach, opened last October by owner Vladimir Fulman. We have to do something to help all the families struggling over there, says Fulman, a Belarus native. The market is staffed by Ukrainian-born chef Mila Nesterenco and her daughter, Yulia, who are now serving a Ukranian-themed menu of golubtsi (a stuffed meat cabbage), borscht, dumplings and soups. Proceeds from market sales will benefit United Help Ukraine, a charity Fulman chose because they are shipping clothes and medical aid for wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Burma Regime Artillery Strikes Kill Children and Senior Citizens in Upper Myanmar Bodies of Letpan Taw villagers killed by junta artillery strikes. / AAMIJ Two children and nine senior citizens were killed earlier this week by junta artillery strikes and raids in Sagaing Regions Yinmabin Township. Around 100 regime soldiers raided Letpan Taw Village in Yinmabin on Tuesday, firing artillery rounds which killed ten people sheltering in the village monastery, said residents. They died after they [junta troops] fired artillery at the monastery. We saw it from the place where we were hiding. But we could do nothing. The victims were then placed on a bed in the west of the monastery and set on fire. They were a total of ten people including two kids, said one resident. Eight elderly people died in the artillery strike alongside the two children. One of the victims family members said: It grieved us to see their charred bodies. We feel like we would fight them [the junta] at once if we had weapons. Words fail me. An elderly woman from Kantha Village, who was taking shelter at Kanthas monastery, died in another junta raid, locals reported. Civilians from Kantha and Letpan Taw villages were also reportedly abducted by military regime troops. Five people were abducted with their hands tied. We heard one of them was released on Wednesday, a member of the Yinmabin Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) told The Irrawaddy on Thursday. Yinmabin PDF clashed with junta troops during the raid on Letpan Taw Village on Tuesday. Clashes are still taking place, said one Yinmabin PDF fighter on Thursday. We dont know where they [regime forces] are heading. But as they march, we ambush them with mines where possible. They are not wearing military uniforms, but they are in black clothes and short pants, pretending [to be civilians]. They dare not travel in small groups, so they come as a large group and there might be around 100 of them. Military tensions remain high in the area with junta forces deployed near a pagoda in the west of Theegon Village in Yinmabin. The Myanmar military has reinforced its soldiers across Yinmabin and is raiding one village after another in an effort to crush resistance in the township, said local PDF fighters. You may also like these stories: Yangon Suffers Water Shortages Amid Rolling Blackouts in Myanmar Junta Forces Massacre 14 People in Upper Myanmar Myanmar Junta Sentences Veteran Activist on his Birthday Burma Yangon Suffers Water Shortages Amid Rolling Blackouts in Myanmar A queue for water supplied by the Shin Than Yay charity in Yangon. / Shin Than Yay charity Yangon residents have been hit by water shortage as daily power outages disrupt lives across Myanmar. Thingangyun, North Okkalapa, South Okkalapa, North Dagon, South Dagon, East Dagon, Dagon Seikkan and Thaketa townships are facing water shortages and residents are seeking charitable assistance, chairman of the Shin Than Yay (Noble Heart) charity U Tun Tun Oo told The Irrawaddy. Water supply has completely halted in some wards for nearly a week. Some residents cant pump water although they have electricity, he said. While long and irregular blackouts have made it difficult, especially for high-rise residents, to pump water as some pumping stations cannot operate due to power outages. Shin Than Yay has been supplying between 14,000 to 25,000 gallons of water per day to areas of Yangon facing shortages, said U Tun Tun Oo. One North Dagon Township restaurant owner, who requires refrigeration, said: We cant pump water because of blackouts. I cant afford to run a generator the whole day because of fuel price hikes. I have difficulties keeping meat frozen because of blackouts and I have to buy ice. He said fuel prices might force him to close with fuel costing over 2,000 kyats (US$1) per liter, meaning it is increasingly costly to use a generator. The price of water sold by hawkers who fetch supplies from lakes and public taps has increased across Yangon. A 50-gallon barrel has risen from 500-1,000 kyats to 2,000-2,500 kyats, according to a Thaketa resident. Water supplies are cut because of frequent blackouts. We have to buy from hawkers. But as prices increase, people face further difficulties, she said. The municipal body Yangon City Development Committee in 2020 said it supplied around 200 million gallons of water per day to 33 Yangon townships using four reservoirs and groundwater supplies. However, that only met about 40 percent of Yangons demand, with residents using other sources, like artesian wells. An estimated half of the former capitals water is wasted due to leaks in the aging pipes. The junta-controlled Ministry of Electricity and Energy has warned about planned 24-hour electricity cuts across the country from Saturday until next Friday. It said high gas prices and damage to the nations network of power lines by resistance fighters have caused the blackouts. You may also like these stories: Junta Forces Massacre 14 People in Upper Myanmar Myanmar Junta Sentences Veteran Activist on his Birthday Junta Court Charges Myanmar Journalist With Incitement Guest Column With Ukraine in the Limelight, Spotlight on Myanmar Fades Smoke and fire is seen in Thantlang, Chin State, where more than 160 buildings have been destroyed due to shelling by junta forces, in October 2021. / AFP Nations across the globe have unequivocally condemned Russias military action against Ukraine. The Western bloc led by the US has imposed the heaviest possible sanctions in order to cripple Moscow economically and isolate it globally. But the same solidarity is missing when it comes to Myanmar, which is reeling under a protracted civil war. Does it indicate an inherent Western bias against Asia as an impoverished region that can be dealt with just by paying academic lip service to democracy and development? The role of the UN is far from satisfactory. For the UN is supposed to ensure that the rule of law, fundamental to international peace and security and political stability, prevails not just on one continent but across regions. The sense of urgency it showed in the Ukraine crisis is quite missing in the case of the Southeast Asian nation. On Feb. 1, 2021, Myanmars military generals ousted a democratically elected government, triggering countrywide protests and civil disobedience. Since then, junta forces have launched a brutal campaign to suppress pro-democracy voices, killing more than 1,600 people and arresting over 9,500, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), a monitoring group. Long before common citizens in Ukraine took up arms to defend their land against the invading Russian troops, Myanmars ousted government formed what is known as the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) comprising hundreds of civilian resistance groups across the country to fight a marauding military. All this has led to a civil war that is unlikely to end anytime soon. But the question is, why has the UN not been proactive in tackling the Myanmar crisis? Louis Charbonneau, the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, said, Calls for the Security Council to hold a public meeting to discuss the violence since last years coup have gone unheeded, as has a campaign by dozens of organizations urging the council to impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctions on the junta leaders and military companies. He also noted that while the US, the UK and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Myanmar, none has presented a draft resolution for the Security Council to negotiate, probably fearing a Chinese and Russian veto. But a veto threat hasnt stopped them before. Russia, usually backed by China, has vetoed 16 resolutions regarding Syrias armed conflict since 2011. The US and EU persistence has sent a strong message that the international community is determined to hold parties to the conflict accountable for serious abuses, according to Charbonneau. Western media bias? The Russia-Ukraine war, the largest conventional military assault on a European nation since World War II, is being widely covered by Western liberal media. Reports and editorials condemning Russian action against its neighbor, however, raise some pertinent questions about bias and impartiality in media coverage. For instance, the Arab and Middle-Eastern Journalists Association, has accused Western leaders and media of using discriminatory language, based on race and religion while discussing the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Arguments about integrity, impartiality, freedom of expression and human rights are only used when it serves in their interests, and this was evident in the Western medias coverage of refugees from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan, and how different it is to the coverage of refugees from Ukraine, Jordanian journalist Khaled Qudah says. This is a valid observation as conflicts in many parts of Asia do not get adequate coverage in the Western media. One can see a difference in the coverage of Ukraine and Myanmar. Visuals of gun-toting Ukrainian young women and elderly people as well as those fleeing to Europe as a result of the war dominate the digital space. But similar images of Myanmars civil resistance, internal displacement and refugees have not made it to much of the global media. Even a Ukrainian journalist has called out Western reporters for what she calls their racist narrative. I am utterly appalled at some individuals who dare to call themselves reporters referring to refugees from the Middle East as uncivilized as opposed to Ukrainians who are fleeing. Anyone who supports this narrative is a racist bigot, and deserves colossal shame, tweeted Anastasiia Lapatina from the Kyiv Independent. How Asian countries react Asian countries are sharply divided in their response to the Ukraine crisis. For instance, India, China and Pakistan have tacitly supported Russia by abstaining from voting on a key UN General Assembly resolution condemning Moscows aggression. While India faces a two-front military threat from China and Pakistan, each of these countries maintains a close relationship with Russia. Countries such as Japan and South Korea, on the other hand, voted in favor of the resolution. Tokyo has also sent bulletproof vests and helmets to Ukraine, apart from other nonlethal items, including tents, winter clothing, emergency food items, hygiene products, cameras and power generators, according to Kyodo News. Apart from that, Indias position has once again highlighted its ambiguity in international relations. With Moscow being the largest defense supplier for Indiaaround 65 percent of its military hardware is of Russian originNew Delhi, naturally, cannot abandon Russia. At the same time, India is getting closer to the US and the two strategic partners, along with Japan and Australia, are part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) to corner China in the Indo-Pacific. India faces a similar dilemma while dealing with Myanmar, as it refrained from condemning the military generals for the coup but has called for the restoration of democracy in the neighboring country. Additionally, Russia is accused of supplying weapons to the Myanmar junta, thereby indirectly contributing to the mass murders being committed in the Southeast Asian country. That said, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed numerous geopolitical fault lines. It also underscores inherent biases of the Western media toward Asia and the inadequacy of their coverage of the region. Jayanta Kalita is a senior journalist and author based in New Delhi. He writes on issues relating to Indias northeast and its immediate neighborhood. The views expressed are his own. You may also like these stories: Why India Opposes Sanctions On Myanmar Indian rebels now brothers in arms with Myanmar military Will India Serve as a Catalyst to Solve Myanmar Crisis? Trinity, TX (77320) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Now that COVID-19 surges have subsided in South Florida, patients are arriving at local clinics with neglected medical conditions that have advanced into dangerous stages. For Floridians lacking insurance or easy access to care, forgoing doctor follow-ups and preventative screenings has had particularly harsh consequences. With diabetes, heart disease and other diseases out of control, patients must navigate the high costs of medication and limited access to care amid a rush of people finally seeking treatment. Advertisement As the country opens up again, people are getting back to seeing their providers and they are being identified with breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some of the other things that early detection could have prevented, said Yolette Bonet, newly retired founding CEO of FoundCare, the Federally Qualified Health Center, which just opened its seventh clinic in Palm Beach County. Shevie Brown, 35, felt a lump in her right breast several years before the pandemic. But as coronavirus swept through the state, Brown said she felt afraid to seek care. Her lump grew larger. Advertisement Finally, in the spring of 2021, when the lump grew so large it became noticeable through clothing, Brown went to a FoundCare clinic in Palm Springs to get re-examined. I got scared because I realized this was my health, Brown said. The clinic arranged for her to see an oncologist who diagnosed her with stage 3 breast cancer. Brown, who has now undergone surgery and chemotherapy, encourages others who delayed care to get checked out as soon as possible. If I hadnt gone, I wouldnt be here today. Rose Philius, a nurse practitioner at Foundcare, inside the mammography room in the Women's Health Services department on Thursday March 3, 2022 in West Palm Beach. The non-profit health clinic has seen an increase of women patients who put off care during COVID and some are showing up with advanced breast cancer. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Reluctance is finally dissipating One in three Americans have delayed or skipped medical care during the pandemic, according to two surveys funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition, a year-long survey by Prevent Cancer Foundation found half of all Americans are missing important cancer screenings, with minorities at higher risk. But with case levels declining, reluctance to seek care is waning, too. By mid-day on a recent Thursday, Rose Philius, a nurse practitioner, had seen 28 patients for womens health services at the FoundCare clinic in West Palm Beach. One patient had an abnormal pap smear prior to the pandemic and never followed up. Philius will send her to an oncologist to fast-track her biopsy, fearful that cancer may now have spread. We were never closed but people were afraid to come, she said. Other factors have been issues in delayed care, too, Philius explains. Some patients lost their jobs during the pandemic and lost their health insurance. Others have language barriers and no one to help them navigate the system, she said. Advertisement [ RELATED: Why are you wearing that? A new round of mask shaming looms as COVID cases fall in Florida ] The overwhelming need for care Chris Irizarry, CEO of FoundCare, said telemedicine has helped his doctors reach residents who are still hesitant and suffering at home with concerning medical issues, but the effort is not wide enough, yet. We are trying to get tablets into households in areas of need so that they can increase the utilization of telehealth because some care is better than no care at all, Irizarry said. We want to encourage patients to come to our centers but if they actually dont feel comfortable yet we want them to at least speak to our providers because we know the importance of preventative medicine. In Hollywood, Dr. Sheridan Major-Moore, clinical director and family medicine physician at Broward Community & Family Health Centers said the demand for primary care at this stage in the pandemic is overwhelming. Our patients were trying to avoid getting COVID and the result is a lapse in care, she said. They have uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressures ... . We had many of those cases, anyway, but now its exacerbated. When they are coming in, they have multiple conditions that require addressing because they have been away from care for so long. Major-Moore said for patients who already had chronic conditions and havent had lab work done in two years, its often like starting over. Some stopped taking their medications altogether after losing their health insurance, she said. A big issue, she said, is many people gained weight during the pandemic. Obesity increases the risk for hypertension heart disease, so many different conditions. We are hoping as things improve with COVID a lot of our patients will become more active and start to eat better again. Advertisement [ RELATED: Monoclonal antibody treatments resume for those testing positive for COVID-19 ] Christopher Irizarry, CEO of Foundcare, inside the health clinic's waiting room on Thursday March 3, 2022 in West Palm Beach. The non-profit health center has seen an increase of women patients who put off care during COVID and some are showing up with advanced breast cancer. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Clinics respond to the need Clinics like FoundCare and Broward Community & Family Health Centers are federally funded and provide medical, dental and mental health care on a sliding fee scale. Getting an appointment, however, can take several weeks. As demand picks up, community clinics are extending their hours and adding some same-day appointments. FoundCares Irizarry says he has added more doctors and recently opened another clinic in West Palm Beach. We are taking measures to meet the demand, he said. Patient levels this month are double what they were during the delta wave, and many visits at that time were virtual, he said. [ RELATED: COVID-19 update: Here are the key statistics to watch in Florida ] The COVID toll could linger for years While COVID killed more than 70,000 people in Florida, doctors worry that medical conditions that fell by the wayside could add to that death toll. We have to make it easy for patients to get help for these diseases, Major-Moore said. They existed in large numbers before, and theyre going in even larger numbers now. With children in the last group to become vaccine eligible, parents concerns about COVID exposure have led to a decline in visits to the pediatrician. Advertisement In Miami, Dr. Tina Carroll-Scott, provides medical care to mostly minority children who lack insurance or are on Medicaid. She says children are coming in after missing appointments for two years. Im dealing with kids who have acute asthma and arent on medications and kids who havent had immunizations or routine physicals, said Carroll-Scott of South Miami Childrens Clinic. What we also have seen is an uptick in mental health and developmental issues. There are children on the spectrum who could have gotten speech or behavior analysis and now they have more advanced developmental issues that havent been addressed. Carroll- Scott said with her patients it takes outreach and hand-holding to get them caught up on missed checkups and screenings. I think we will be dealing with the repercussions of coronavirus for years to come, she said. Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Krischer Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or Twitter @cindykgoodman. Ithaca, NY (14850) Today Rain. High 62F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. GUEST OPINION: There are several reasons why real-time is really taking off, and the rise of event-driven architectures is one of them. The challenge of doing business in real-time is that it means different things to different people, and the expectation of how quickly things need to occur continues to shift over time. Everyone understands that latency matters. There's a good understanding generally of the impact that higher ping times have on access to applications and data. Similarly, organisations understand how data and faster access to it can fundamentally change the value proposition they create for customers. For these organisations, it's no longer sufficient to look at past application usage or purchase patterns as a predictor of future customer behaviour. Instead, organisations are cognisant they now operate in a "real-time economy," where what matters most is what I as the user or consumer am looking at now, combined and enriched with the historical context of my past transactions.. For organisations, it's about making online, not offline, predictions. It's about having the ability to learn and execute while the user is still active and engaged. From a technology perspective, it's the ability to continually learn by updating machine learning models in real-time and incorporating new incoming data. That's the essence of the real-time challenge that organisations are faced with enabling today. Time matters Executing the processing and predictive work while the user is online means that time is always going to be of the essence. More to the point, there's still a lot of 'fuzziness' around how real-time an organisation's capabilities have to be in order to execute on that. Does it need to occur in seconds, milliseconds, microseconds or nanoseconds? The short answer is 'yes,' but with a big 'but' as it will largely depend on business SLA. Even within early use cases, such as fraud detection and prevention, personalised offers and gaming, there are differences in what constitutes acceptable, real-time performance. And that gets to the essence of the challenge around real-time: there's a continuum of options as to the time it takes to execute the process. Where an organisation starts on that continuum is not an indication of where it'll stay. The goalposts will continually move, and organisations will need to keep pace. Real-time is a journey and may take a few steps to accomplish. As expectations of what really constitutes real-time shift, it's critical that organisations build real-time applications on a platform that enables them to keep pace with this constant compression of the acceptable time window available for processing and predictive analysis. It's the only way to ensure they remain real-time and that the applications satisfy the value it creates for the customers. How we got here The migration from batch processing and offline behavioural analysis to real-time analysis while a customer is active online is a trend that's been a while in the making but is coming of age due to a confluence of factors. The 'art of the possible' is now orders of magnitude different than it was a decade ago. It wasn't long ago that the recommendation from Netflix was the North Star of what was possible. While the engine is still highly effective with some reports suggesting it drives 80% of stream time improvements continue to the engine and its underlying machine learning algorithms. Yet, other large technology-based organisations have since emerged with engines of their own that significantly advance the state-of-the-art. TikTok is an example of this progression; the data science behind its operations is seen as a key reason for its meteoric rise, and more importantly, why its user base is so obsessive. What this demonstrates is that the power of the underlying platform is a key factor in the drive to real-time, as well as the ability for more organisations to enable real-time approaches in their operations. Organisations know data is gold. They understand how data can fundamentally change the value they create for customers and, in turn, change customers' behaviours. However, only a fraction of fresh streaming data is being used today. They also know that the era of real-time is possible because there's now enough compute and storage capacity available to power these ambitions. Additionally, real-time is made possible by advances on the customers' end as well. Other key enablers for accessing data and services in real-time are the constant march to more powerful edge computing devices, as well as the emergence of powerful, low-latency, highly resilient networks like 5G. Where real-time goes next The other reason organisations have gone real-time is because of the emergence of more platform-like solutions to execute this strategic direction. To enable organisations to build real-time solutions, a set of core capabilities or services are required. These include a way to ingest real-time event and messaging, a way to store and have quick access to the data once ingested, streaming analytics, and real-time machine learning. The challenge organisations face is that it's still non-trivial to stitch these capabilities together. Not every organisation is the size of a Netflix or TikTok, with the engineering resources to build and continuously improve a real-time application or capability. That's why application enablement is emerging as a key building block for organisations in this space. To build a real-time business or application, organisations need the support of a modern data platform that has the components and underlying compute to realise their real-time ambitions. Russian security vendor Kaspersky has denied rumours that the source code of its products have been leaked, with the denial coming in the wake of the leak of source code from Samsung's Galaxy devices. A message promising the release of the Kaspersky source code appeared on Twitter a couple of days back; the leak of the Samsung code was announced on Telegram. Most of these claims appear to be part of a pattern where big-name companies are claimed to have been breached and their source code leaked following the Samsung incident and also a leak from NVIDIA. There are also numerous claims about hacking attempts in support of either Russia or Ukraine, with different groups claimed to be taking different sides. Less than 12 hours until Kaspersky code from their production, quality assurance, and staging servers is leaked. Plus a possible surprise or two that may cause the company a lot more stress than just the leak of some source code....#Ukraine @xxNB65 @NB65 #nb65 @kaspersky Ender Wiggin (@Nb65Lead) March 9, 2022 iTWire understands that some of the accounts making these claims may be operated by intelligence agencies which are aiming to keep their opponents off-balance. We take security very seriously pic.twitter.com/ghFThKbULq Kaspersky (@kaspersky) March 10, 2022 One individual has put together a list of so-called combatants and commented on the likelihood of who is legit or not, but iTWire has been told that these assessments are far too positive. One band of so-called hacktivists has falsely claimed to have compromised Signal's Russian servers and an informed source said it was not clear as to whether the false claim was made for fun or to get Russians to switch to a less secure platform where messages could be intercepted more easily. Signal has a reputation as the best mobile messaging client as far as security is concerned. Another company that was claimed to have been breached was Epic Games, with the Telegram post in question claiming that source code for the Unreal engine was among the dump. This has, like the Kaspersky claim, turned out to be unreal [pun intended]. The leak from the South Korean mobile giant was, however, confirmed by the company. Kaspersky issued a tweet saying its experts had checked the claims about source code leaks. "The result of the analysis confirms that the claims are unfounded," the company said. "The leak doesn't contain source code of the company's products. Instead [it] contains publicly available data from Kaspersky's servers." Contacted for comment regarding this burst of online activity, ransomware researcher Brett Callow said: "Ransomware gangs, other cyber-crime operations, multiple hacktivist collectives and a state-sponsored volunteer IT Army all claim to be hacking either Russian or Ukrainian assets." Callow, who works with Emsisoft, a company based in in New Zealand, added: "While some of the claims are undoubtedly true, others are impossible to verify and lots are likely completely false. Those making false claims may be goofballs doing it for the lulz [laughs] or actually doing it strategically to keep the other side distracted and off-balance. The most disappointing CTI news of the week still remains the Kaspersky leak that wasn't. I can't even imagine all the use cases of the advertised dataset... Jake Williams (@MalwareJake) March 11, 2022 "It really is impossible to say. And, of course, in addition to the cyber-crime operations and hacktivist collectives and IT Army, the intelligence services will be doing what intelligence services do. Suffice to say, the threat landscape is currently complicated and unpredictable. In fact, it's a cluster****." Kaspersky added that the source code of its products, along with security and A-V updates, results of security audits and software build of materials were all available for review at its transparency centres around the world. These centres were set up after the US Government waged a campaign against Kaspersky which resulted in the company losing its business with the public sector. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Weather Alert ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Spalding, northeastern Pike, southwestern Butts and northern Lamar Counties through 500 AM EDT... At 433 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Orchard Hill, or near Griffin, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding especially in poor drainage areas. Locations impacted include... Griffin, Milner, Orchard Hill, East Griffin, Liberty Hill, Goggins, Johnstonville and Chappel Mill. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to hydroplaning. && MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN; MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, mainly cloudy during the afternoon with a few showers. High around 75F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Joplin, MO (64801) Today Scattered thunderstorms this morning, overcast during the afternoon with occasional rain likely. High around 60F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 58F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Five Coconut Creek students are facing hate crime charges after police say they jumped and attacked four of their schoolmates on Wednesday while declaring Its Opposite Day! Brown Power! Police say the victims, two 11-year-olds and two 12-year-olds, were attacked because they are white although one of the victims has a Hispanic surname. The alleged attackers were described as three Black children and two white children, and one of the white children has a Hispanic surname. All the alleged attackers were described by police as upset and regretful. Advertisement The attacks happened off-campus at a Coconut Creek recreation center where children gather before the first bell at neighboring Lyons Creek Middle School. It was not clear Friday whether the accused students were still allowed at the school. Had the incident taken place on campus, the students would face discipline in accordance with the Code for Student Conduct, a school district spokesperson said in an e-mail Friday. Advertisement [ RELATED: "We are scared every day;" Schools see uptick in violence ] Principal Vernicca Wynter sought to ease parents worries in a robocall Thursday. In addition, we will work with Coconut Creek Police, community partners and parents on implementing programs or processes that will address any lingering concerns, she said. Shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, an 11-year-old flagged down a Coconut Creek Police officer who was on a routine patrol around the school to say he was hurt, said Scotty Leamon, a spokesman for the police department. The child was crying and holding on to his side and abdomen. Records say he told the officer he was jumped by a student and then several others joined in, striking him with their hands and feet. He told the officer he heard them say, Its Opposite Day! Brown Power! as well as You are white before being jumped, records say. As the child was talking to the police, Leamon said three other boys came over and shared similar stories of being jumped by the same group. One of victims said he was struck with a closed fist. [ RELATED: As white supremacy festers, hate crime charges are rare ] The five accused attackers an 11-year-old, two 13-year-olds and a 14- and 15-year-old were arrested on battery charges. On its own, a battery charge is a misdemeanor. Police added a hate crime charge, effectively elevating misdemeanor battery to felony battery. We are disappointed to take law enforcement action in response to a racially-motivated crime by school-aged children within the City of Coconut Creek. This is an extremely rare occurrence in our community. But these are children, and as such, poor judgment can occur, Coconut Creek Police Chief Butch Arenal said in a statement. As always, we will work closely with our school officials to see that the suspects are appropriately dealt with, the victims receive appropriate services, and that the incident doesnt manifest into further conflict, the chiefs statement said. Ultimately, the State Attorneys Office will determine if it will follow through with the felony charges. Advertisement Eileen Kelley can be reached at 772-925-9193 or ekelley@sunsentinel.com By Kong Pengpeng BEIJING, March 9 -- China has allocated a defense budget of 1.45 trillion yuan for 2022, up by 7.1% compared to the budget implementation in 2021, said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian, also spokesperson for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Peoples Armed Police (PAP) Force at the fifth session of the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC), in an interview on March 9. To this, Lieutenant General He Lei, an NPC deputy and former vice-president of the PLA Academy of Military Science, pointed out that the sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests , as well as the major responsibility of maintaining regional and world peace, has put forward new and higher requirements for building a solid national defense and a strong military that are commensurate with China's international status and in line with its national security and development interests. There are also actual demands for defense spending investment. Since Chinas reform and opening-up, its steady economic development has not only greatly improved the living standards of the people, but also laid a solid foundation for meeting the needs of national defense security and military construction, enabling simultaneous improvement of both national defense and economic strength, and favorable for the integrated realization of a prosperous country and a strong military. "China will adhere to three principles in terms of defense expenditure investment: balancing development and security, as well as national prosperity and strong military; coordinating development of national defense and economic construction; combining diligence and frugality with overall efficiency, with a view to maintaining a reasonable and moderate growth," said Lieutenant General He Lei. In recent years, China's defense expenditure has been mainly used to improve the living and welfare of its military service members, increase investment in weapons and equipment construction, and ensure military training and diversified military missions. At the same time, Chinas defense spending remains relatively low compared with other major military powers across the world. There has been a big gap in terms of the proportion to GDP and national fiscal expenditure, as well as the per capita amount of citizens and military personnel. Lieutenant General He Lei also pointed out that China's defense spending has always been open and transparent. Since 1998, the Chinese government has explained the scope and main purpose of its defense spending, and the proportion to fiscal expenditure in Chinas national defense white papers. He Lei said that China is a socialist country that loves and maintains peace. Within the framework of the United Nations, China undertakes important tasks such as international peacekeeping, far sea escort and humanitarian relief, either alone or cooperating with militaries of other countries. As the Chinese military grows stronger, the international community has increasing expectations for China to play a greater role in international affairs and for the Chinese military to provide more support in international public safety and security. China's defense spending has maintained a reasonable and steady growth, which will provide a solid foundation for world peace. "China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development. No matter how much it spends on defense, and how far the modernization of its national defense and military develops, China will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence. Nor will China ever engage in arms race, or threaten any other country. This is China's solemn commitment to the world," Lieutenant General He Lei stressed. LVIV, Ukraine Russia widened its offensive in Ukraine on Friday, striking airfields in the west and a major industrial city in the east, while the huge armored column that had been stalled for over a week outside Kyiv was on the move again, spreading out into forests and towns near the capital. On the economic and political front, the U.S. and its allies moved to further isolate and sanction Russia by revoking its most favored trading status, while on the ground, the Kremlins forces appeared to be trying to regroup and regain momentum after encountering heavier losses and stiffer resistance than anticipated. Advertisement Its ugly already, but its going to get worse, said Nick Reynolds, a land warfare analyst at Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. With the invasion in its 16th day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there had been certain positive developments in Russia-Ukraine talks, but gave no details. Advertisement For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had reached a strategic turning point, though he did not elaborate. Its impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it, he said via video from Kyiv. He also said authorities were working on establishing 12 humanitarian corridors and trying to ensure food, medicine and other basics get to people across the country. Thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed in the invasion. So far, the Russians have made the biggest advances on cities in the east and south including in Mariupol, the heavily bombarded seaport where civilians scrounged for food and fuel amid a harrowing 10-day-old siege while struggling in the north and around Kyiv. On Friday, they continued to launch airstrikes in urban areas such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, while also pounding targets away from the main battle zones. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russia used high-precision long-range weapons to put military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west out of action. A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces walks on the debris of a car wash destroyed by a Russian bombing in Baryshivka, east of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. (Felipe Dana/AP) The Lutsk strikes killed four Ukrainian servicemen and wounded six, Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said. In Ivano-Frankivsk, residents were ordered into shelters in an air raid alert Russian airstrikes also targeted for the first time the eastern city of Dnipro, a major industrial hub and Ukraines fourth-largest city, situated on the Dnieper River. Three strikes hit, killing at least one person, according to Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Heraschenko. Advertisement In images of the aftermath released by Ukraines emergency agency, firefighters doused a flaming building, and ash fell on bloodied rubble. Smoke billowed over shattered concrete where buildings once stood. In another potentially ominous development, new satellite photos appeared to show the massive Russian convoy outside the Ukrainian capital had split up and fanned out. Howitzers were towed into position to open fire, and armored units were seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city, according to Maxar Technologies, the company that produced the images. The 40-mile line of tanks and other vehicles had massed outside Kyiv early last week. But its advance had appeared to stall amid reports of food and fuel shortages, muddy roads and attacks by Ukrainian troops with anti-tank missiles. The purpose of the latest move was unclear, though Russia is widely expected eventually to try to encircle the capital. Britains Ministry of Defense said that after making limited progress, Russian forces were trying to re-set and re-posture their troops, gearing up for operations against Kyiv. Advertisement But Reynolds, the defense analyst, said the move, in part, looked like an attempt by the troops to better protect themselves by dispersing. He said it may indicate the Russians are not ready to surround the city just yet. Repeated rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have taken place along the Belarus border, and the two countries foreign ministers held talks on Thursday with no apparent progress, while various third countries have also made attempts to broker a stop to the fighting. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the fact that negotiations are taking place so early in the fighting might speak to Russian concerns about the progress of the war. On Wednesday, Ukrainian soldiers traversed snow-dusted fields and woods near Kyiv, rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers slung over their shoulders, in a video recorded by Radio Free Europe. One of them vowed to kill their enemies over the bombing of Mariupol. Gunfire and explosions could be heard, and at one point, shots split the air nearby, and the soldiers dropped to the ground and returned fire. In Washington, President Joe Biden announced the U.S. will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia as punishment for its invasion and also ban imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The move to revoke to revoke most favored nation status for Russia was taken in coordination with the European Union and Group of Seven countries. Advertisement The free world is coming together to confront Putin, Biden said. Stripping most favored nation status from Russia would allow the U.S. and allies to impose higher tariffs on some Russian imports. Other Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow to Russia, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Putin has insisted Russia can endure sanctions. The United Nations political chief said the U.N. has received credible reports that Russian forces are using cluster bombs in Ukraine, including in populated areas. Cluster bombs scatter bomblets over wide areas. Their use against civilians is prohibited under international law. In Syria, Russia backed the government in imposing long, brutal sieges of opposition-held cities, wreaking heavy destruction and causing widespread civilian casualties. That history, along with the siege of Mariupol, has raised fears of similar bloodshed in Ukraine. Temperatures sank below freezing across most of Ukraine and were forecast to hit -13 degrees Celsius (8 Fahrenheit) in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which has come under heavy bombardment. About 400 apartment buildings in Kharkiv lost heat, and Mayor Ihor Terekhov appealed to remaining residents to descend into the subway or other underground shelters where blankets and hot food were being distributed. Advertisement The bombardment continued in Mariupol, where a deadly strike on a maternity hospital this week sparked international outrage and war-crime allegations. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians from the city of 430,000 have been thwarted by continued attacks, and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk put the number of dead there at more than 1,300. Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the United Nations. Associated Press journalists Felipe Dana and Andrew Drake in Kyiv, Ukraine, along with other reporters around the world contributed. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responds to cheering supporters as he takes the stage at the 2022 CPAC conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla, Thursday, February 24, 2022. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Im just another cog in the Ron DeSantis fundraising machine. My columns criticizing the governor ought to be listed as in-kind contributions to Friends of Ron DeSantis. Same goes for disapproving sentiments filed by other Florida newspaper columnists and editorial writers as we respond to a deluge of DeSantis outrages like a pack of Pavlovian mutts. Advertisement Make that calculated outrages, strategically crafted to elicit the (non-Fox) medias collective disapproval. DeSantis knows we cant help ourselves. Heaven knows, Im tired of reacting to his non-stop provocations, when I ought to be concerned about Floridas property insurance crisis or contaminated inland waterways or the ongoing weirdness at Fort Lauderdale City Hall. But a Florida opinion wrangler simply cant bring himself to ignore the governors divisive, mendacious, inflammatory pronouncements on race, election integrity, public health, immigrate children, abortion rights and/or gay school kids. Advertisement South Florida Sun Sentinel columnist Fred Grimm. Rolando Otero, South Florida Sun Sentinel (Rolando Otero / Sun Sentinel) So, we take the bait. Within hours, Friends of Ronnie or his Make America Florida PAC has fed our words into his magic money-making machine, where theyre recast as the degenerate lies of the corrupt and biased legacy media. Along with urgent pleas for donations before the truth is silenced. Chip in $30, $15 or just $5 to help me continue the fight. Cha-ching. Cha-ching. Media bashing has never been so lucrative. OpenSecrets.org, the nonprofit that tracks the money sluicing through American politics, reported that DeSantis raised $67 million last year and another $10 million so far this year. (A few of those contributions were a bit more than $30, like the $10 million chipped in by the CEO of the Citadel hedge fund.) Youd think Ron might have a kind word for his favorite patsies. He couldnt have done it without us. The genius of DeSantis lies in his utter shamelessness. Since the Old South banished its segregationist demagogues (most of them anyway), there had been a prevailing sense that modern governors ought to restrain their untoward inclinations, either for the sake of decency, or if decency is in short supply because theyd want to avoid embarrassing revelations in the media. DeSantis, however, seems to have been vaccinated against embarrassment. It would have been unimaginable for a traditional Florida governor like, say, Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles or Jeb Bush or even (on most days) Rick Scott to indulge in the kind of lowdown political theater DeSantis orchestrated on March 2 at a University of South Florida cybersecurity conference. A few Tampa high school kids standing behind the podium as DeSantis approached were wearing masks. The governor, whose fact-free rejection of COVID-19 safety precautions has made him a MAGA mega-star, acted as if protective face coverings were a personal affront. (Never mind that 10,000 Americans had died from COVID the previous week). He sighed, shook his head in frustration and scolded the teenagers. Weve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous. Of course, he well knew that the media would react to this jarring combination of boorishness and unscientific claptrap. (A University of California School of Public Health study published in February found that widely available KN95 and N95 masks were 83% more likely to prevent COVID infections than no masks.) Because, we would assume such churlish behavior was beneath a Florida governor. Advertisement But there is no beneath beneath Ron DeSantis. Very next morning, the requisite fundraising email arrived in his supporters in-baskets, warning that the corporate media is coming after me again. He recounted what he had said to the students, skipping over his unseemly demeanor. Predictably, the leftist propagandists in our media had a meltdown and called me a bully for allowing children to breathe fresh air. So keep those donations a-comin. (To be fair, its not just hatred of the press empowering his fundraising. His campaign is also cashing in on the right wings inexplicable antipathy to Dr. Anthony Fauci, with $15 Dont Fauci my Florida beer koozies and $39 Freedom Over Fauci flip-flops.) His mentor (and possible rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination) Donald Trump pioneered the art of nonstop incendiary remarks (delivered amid insults, personal grievances and 30,000 documented lies): so many, so often that the press barely reported one before he knocked us off-balance with another. But Trumps outrages seemed untethered to forethought. They just gushed out his mouth unbidden, a font of untoward spontaneity that probably surprised him as much as it titillated his followers and appalled everyone else.. DeSantis is no such idiot savant. Hes a more cunning version, Floridas Trump 2.0. He knows how to play us. Cha-ching. Cha-ching. Fred Grimm, a longtime resident of Fort Lauderdale, has worked as a journalist in South Florida since 1976. Reach him by email at leogrimm@gmail.com or on Twitter: @grimm_fred. Today Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High 84F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tonight Generally clear. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 81F. Winds light and variable. The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor said on Thursday he had requested arrest warrants for three people over alleged war crimes during the 2008 conflict opposing Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia. The accused were Mikhail Mayramovich Mindzaev, then minister of internal affairs of the pro-Moscow breakaway region, Gamlet Guchmazov, head of the ministrys preliminary detention facility, and David Georgiyevich Sanakoev, the regions ombudsman at the time, he said in a statement. My application for these warrants of arrest focuses specifically on unlawful confinement, ill-treatment, hostage taking and subsequent unlawful transfer of ethnic Georgian civilians in the context of an occupation by the Russian Federation, said ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan. ICC judges in The Hague will now have to decide whether or not to approve the warrants. The court in 2016 opened an investigation into alleged war crimes during the brief 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, its first such probe into events outside Africa and the first into a war involving Russia. The fighting in August 2008 claimed more than 700 lives and displaced tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians. During the fighting, most Georgian civilians living in South Ossetia fled to undisputed Georgian territory, Khan said. But almost immediately after the Georgian armed forces were driven out of South Ossetia, Russian forces and primarily South Ossetian forces began capturing Georgian civilians, mostly the elderly and sick who were unable or unwilling to abandon their homes and flee the fighting, he added. The evidence shows that many of these people were unlawfully confined in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, insulted, beaten, tortured and humiliated. The application for warrants comes on the 15th day of a Russia invasion of Ukraine. The ICC has already begun investigating possible war crimes in that conflict. Moscow has never ratified the worlds only permanent war crimes court, but in a heavily symbolic move in 2016 formally withdrew its signature to the tribunals founding Rome Statute. Russian strikes hit civilian targets in central Ukraines Dnipro city on Friday, as Moscows troops edged closer to Kyiv, where officials said the capital was being transformed into a fortress. Hundreds of thousands of civilians remained trapped and under fire in Ukrainian cities, including besieged Mariupol, after the first talks between Moscow and Kyivs top diplomats ended Thursday without any progress. In the early hours of Friday, Russian war planes carried out what appeared to be the first direct attack on Dnipro, killing one person, emergency services said in a statement. Three air strikes hit a kindergarten, apartment building and a shoe factory, it said. Meanwhile two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and six wounded in Russian strikes on the Lutsk military airport in the northwest, local authorities said. Russian forces are currently encircling at least four major Ukrainian cities, while the capital Kyiv is increasingly at risk of being surrounded. The UN said some 2.5 million refugees have left Ukraine since Russia shocked the world by invading its neighbour on February 24. Nowhere to run The Ukrainian military warned Russia was trying to block Kyiv by taking out defences to the west and northwest of the capital, adding that there was also a risk to Brovary on the east. Kyivs mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday that half the citys population had fled and the capital has been transformed into a fortress. Every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified. The northwest suburbs, including Irpin and Bucha, have endured days of heavy bombardment but Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the northeastern edge of Kyiv. Ukrainian soldiers described fierce fighting for control of the main highway leading into the capital, and AFP reporters saw missile strikes in Velyka Dymerka just outside Kyivs city limits. Its frightening, but what can you do? said Vasyl Popov, a 38-year-old advertising salesman. There is nowhere to really run or hide. We live here. Britains defence ministry said in an intelligence update that Russian forces are committing an increased number of their deployed forces to encircle key cities. This will reduce the number of forces available to continue their advance and will further slow Russian progress, it said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday backed plans to allow volunteers, including from abroad, to fight in what Moscow calls a special military operation in Ukraine. The Russian army this week admitted conscripts were taking part, after Putin previously said only professional soldiers were involved. Desperation in Mariupol The southern port city of Mariupol has suffered relentless bombardment, including on attempted aid deliveries, according to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said Moscow had launched a tank attack targeting a humanitarian corridor where he had dispatched a convoy to try to get food, water and medicine into the city. The attack, which Zelensky described in a video statement as outright terror, came a day after the bombing of a childrens hospital there that local officials said killed three people, including a young girl. Zelensky branded that attack a war crime, a position backed by top Western officials, while Russias army claimed the bombing was a staged provocation by Ukraine. In a video, Mariupol mayor Vadym Boichenko said Russian warplanes had targeted residential areas in the city every 30 minutes on Thursday, killing civilians, the elderly, women and children. The situation in the city has been described as apocalyptic, with more than 1,200 civilians killed in days of constant attacks, according to the mayor. The International Committee of the Red Cross said some residents had started fighting for food, and many had run out of drinking water. Yulia, a 29-year-old teacher who fled Mariupol, said her mother-in-law was still there, and told them the attacks dont stop. There are many corpses on the street and nobody buries them, she told AFP. Some humanitarian corridors out of cities under attack have held. Around 100,000 people have been able to leave the northeastern city of Sumy, the eastern city of Izyum, and areas northwest of Kyiv in the last two days, Ukrainian officials said. Moscow said it would also open daily humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians to Russian territory, but Kyiv has rejected routes leading to Russia. No progress in Turkey talks In Turkey, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his talks on Thursday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov ended with no progress, even on a 24-hour ceasefire. Lavrov said the two sides would keep talking, but also insisted Russias invasion was purely defensive. Asked by a reporter if Moscow was planning to attack other nations, he insisted we dont plan to attack other countries and Russia did not attack Ukraine. He said Putin launched the operation as the situation in Ukraine posed a direct threat to the Russian Federation. Russia has also ramped up its claims about alleged biological weapons development in Ukraine, which Western officials have said could be an attempt to lay the ground for their possible use by Moscows forces in the country. On Friday, the UN Security Council will hold an urgent meeting on the subject at Moscows request. Western nations and allies have offered military and humanitarian support, and on Friday the US congress passed a budget, including $14 billion in humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. But the US has ruled out enforcing a no-fly zone, and rejected a Polish plan to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine via a US air base for fear of being drawn directly into the conflict. The State Department said Thursday that Washington would continue to provide our Ukrainian partners with the surface-to-air systems that they need. Moscow has warned supplying deadly weapons is creating a colossal danger. With global anger surging online as the war rages, Facebook said late Thursday it had temporarily eased its rules on violent speech to allow statements like death to Russian invaders, while still barring threats against Russian civilians. burs-ar/jv Meta JUSTICEINFO.NET: What is the general atmosphere in the Western part of Ukraine where you stay right now? WAYNE JORDASH: Everyone is watching with a degree of horror as the war impacts a large part of the East of Ukraine and of course everybody knows somebody who is impacted or, as with us, had to flee their home. We have friends nearby whove also fled, or have family members caught up [with the war]. They have to face this sort of choice of what to do, whether to flee or stay. Every day is taken up with thinking about how to make sure friends and family are safe and what to do if the war gets closer to them or closer to us. Ukraine was very swift at filing applications before every international jurisdiction available: the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). How did the Government of Ukraine manage to mobilize so quickly on the legal front? Each ministry has had years of dealing with these cases since 2014. If you look at the ICJ it pretty much mirrored what the team has already been doing [before this court]. With the ECHR the team was already in place. In the field of war crimes, weve been supporting the national prosecutor since 2015 and up to now. In relation to civil society the coalition that was formed to document war crimes has been working on the subject since 2015 too. This is not the first invasion; its the continuation of the same invasion: Crimea first, then Donbass, and now the rest of the country. In that sense there has been a similar response from those groups since then. According to Wayne Jordash, the Russian invasion of Ukraine actually began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Here, a Crimean Tartar family arrives in Lviv, western Ukraine, in March 2014, after the Russian invasion. Yuriy Dyachyshyn / AFP In the past, Ukrainian authorities were learning about their approach to the ICJ. Prior to their latest claim their suit required both International Humanitarian Law (IHL) experts, which they didnt have, public international law experts which they did have, and international criminal law experts which they didnt have. This latest suit was really public international law expertise and the interpretation of the Genocide Convention which they did have. I think the real test is whether they call upon the right expertise if it goes beyond the preliminary stage and requires a proper investigation into whether Ukrainian involvement in the conflict in Donbass could conceivably amount to genocide which of course it didnt. But you need proper international criminal law experts, IHL experts to argue it on the merits. The real question is whether Ukraine will deploy those experts which in the past it hasnt. Ukraine is fighting the communication battle and its an important one. Whats the value of all these legal initiatives: is it more political than legal at this point? I think Ukraine is fighting the communication battle and its an important one. If there is going to be any possibility of deterring Russias behavior, whether by minimizing violations of humanitarian law or communicating to the Russian public what is happening or keeping up the pressure on the international community, then communication is absolutely vital. We shouldnt pretend to ourselves that if the ICJ requests provisional measures to stop the invasion effectively which is what Ukraine is asking for the Russians are going to listen to that. But its absolutely vital from a communication perspective that the international community understands that Ukraine is using the law to try and communicate its argument that the justifications for the invasion are completely baseless, that there was not a glimpse of genocide in Donbass committed by Ukraine. So you call it political or communication or law: ultimately it comes down to communicating that the invasion was legally baseless, that Ukraine has the law on its side. Its important that Ukraine did move fast to show that it is a responsible member of the legal community as well as the political community. Irrespective of the fact that Russia will, of course, ignore it. Each international mechanism is an important piece in Ukraines attempt to communicate to the outside world that it is on the right side of the law. Some experts say that the European Court of Human Rights may be the best way to go I think that each international mechanism has a part to play. Each is equally toothless in the face of a Kremlin attempt to ignore international law. But each is an important piece in Ukraines attempt to communicate to the outside world that it is on the right side of the law. The ECHR is very relevant to Ukraines interstate conflict in that this court stood the greatest challenge to identifying Russias role in Donbass and describing it more accurately. No sensible state disputes that Crimeas sovereignty remains with Ukraine and that Russia was trying to annex the territory. In the case of Donbass it was less clear because the political positioning was less clear. The UN General Assembly was clear that Russia was supporting the armed groups; it wasnt clear in terms of whether that Russian support went further and moved towards control of the armed groups. The ECHR was perhaps the only court which is actually looking at that subject more squarely and more comprehensively, and asking the question of whether Russias support amounted to some kind of control of part of the territory. Was Russia in effective control of the armed groups such that human rights obligations are attached to Russia and such that an international conflict arose alongside the non-international armed conflict? You dont have that question in the ICJ case or at the ICC. To that extent the ECHR is asking more directly relevant questions. Still, each court has its part to play in piecing together the jigsaw of Russias involvement in Ukraine from a legal perspective. 39 states have referred the case of Ukraine to the ICC and the ICC prosecutor has been very prompt to announce the opening of an investigation. But during eight years the ICC has been seized with the situation in Ukraine without making a single move. How do you feel seeing the ICC being called upon and praised as a new hope when its appeared as the opposite up to now? I think the ICC prosecution has been incredibly slow in responding to the conflict, undoubtedly. Slow is a kind word. Absolutely. Especially when compared to the oversized expectations that civil society and the Ukrainian government have had from the ICC. More than 80 communications have been filed to the ICC Office of the Prosecutor over the past 8 years without any result Civil society has been filing communication after communication asking the ICC to find that there was a reasonable basis to proceed [with a full investigation], which there undoubtedly is and has been for the whole of those eight years. There is no justification for the delays that have occurred in terms of the law and the facts none. There is no justification why the preliminary investigation went on for this amount of time it didnt have to. We should still be very cautious in getting too excited as to the role the ICC can play in terms of bringing any form of real accountability. So what can be hoped from the ICC now? The ICC Prosecutor can only play a small part in terms of documenting, investigating, adjudicating the massive international law violations that have occurred in Crimea and in Donbass, in the East. We should still be very cautious in getting too excited as to the role the ICC can play in terms of bringing any form of real accountability. Lets be realistic: the prosecutor might at best secure additional funds which allow him to enhance its resources and focus on the Ukrainian situation. But what are we talking about: ten investigators? Twenty? We would still be talking about a fraction of the resources that are needed to conduct a proper investigation into the Ukraine situation. So I am not excited by the prosecutors newfound focus on Ukraine. I am obviously pleased that there is a newfound energy but lets face it: even with the most optimistic view, what the ICC prosecutor can do in documenting the widespread and systematic nature of the violations is a small fraction of what is actually needed. Yes, its better late than never but whats needed is for states to step up and support Ukrainian civil society and Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office to actively conduct its own investigations because if we leave it to the ICC it is not going to be sufficient. It puts the ICC in a position where it has to go after a world power when it has proven to be unable to do so. Since he has taken over as ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has defined a very pragmatic line that seemed to spare powerful nations from its prosecutorial priorities. Is this a change and why would he be more effective now? The role of the prosecutor has to be also embedded into what can be achieved [politically]. The previous prosecutor didnt do enough to pressure the Assembly of State Parties (ASP) to fund a proper investigation into Afghanistan, into Georgia and into Ukraine. I dont see that this previous caution is justified even within the constraint of the resources available and those imposed upon the Office by the international communitys unwillingness to apply the law evenly to the big powers as it is prepared to apply it to the smaller or medium powers. The new prosecutors caution rightly attracted criticism in regard to Afghanistan and the jury is out now whether he is prepared to go after a superpower or at least a stronger power. His recent action in seeking arrest warrants for Russian affiliates in the Georgian situation indicates that we ought not to worry too much about that. But ultimately the prosecutor is always dependent on the ASP willingness to fund it properly. I always come back to the same thing: even with a courageous prosecutor the resources that he has at his fingertips are a fraction of whats required to pursue proper investigation. Because the obstacles are significant: no access to Crimea, no access to the East. Why Ukraine never ratified the Rome Statute and joined the ICC as a member state? There was general support for ratifying the Rome Statute, both across government and civil society but lots of misunderstanding about the effect of doing so. There were many who did not understand the effect of the declarations filed in 2014 [that allowed the ICC to have jurisdiction over Ukraine], or understand the Rome Statute system as a whole, and many mischievous voices fueling that misplaced anxiety. It did not help that none of the big powers, including Russia itself, the US or China were not members of the ICC. This provided the sceptics with the ammunition they needed to suggest that what was good for them, was also good for Ukraine. We cannot analyse Russias latest invasion without the clear departure point which is that Russia invaded Crimea and the East in 2014. You cant really analyse the current conflict without seeing those crimes and that control. You have been closely working with Ukraines national prosecutors in charge of Crimea and the East on war crimes committed since 2014. Is there any use today of what has been collected all those years or is it going to be buried under the most recent crimes? There is no simple answer to this question. My organization has spent the last ten months investigating Russias role in the East. We were two or three weeks away from publishing the most comprehensive analysis of Russias support to armed groups [when the invasion began]. We will publish a report in the coming weeks that show the systemic support and control that Russia has had over the armed groups and term what was initially an internal armed conflict into an international armed conflict both in terms of the scale of the support Russia has offered to the armed groups, financing them, supplying them with weapons and providing political support. Its a misconception to talk about an internal armed conflict. Its a Russian invasion in the East using proxies. The armed groups in the East could not survive, engage in armed conflict, commit international crimes without Russias support. They wouldnt have existed. In my view it is as simple as that and it is what the evidence points very clearly towards. The examination weve done, evidence gathered by Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, the General Prosecutors Office and the civil society points convincingly to Russias involvement in the international crimes in the East and in Crimea. Pro-Russian separatist fighters parade in eastern Ukraine, April 2014. The armed groups in the East could not survive without Russian support, Jordash says. Anatoliy Stepanov / AFP We cannot analyse Russias latest invasion without the clear departure point which is that Russia invaded Crimea and the East in 2014. You cant really analyse the current conflict without seeing those crimes and that control. The silver lining of the current invasion is that there is a new enthusiasm in the international community or among national authorities from the United Kingdom to the Swedes to the United States to the Irish to the Dutch, to actually provide those resources [to investigate the case]. My organization may be the only one that has been consistently funded in Ukraine to support the national judicial effort since 2015. Its been incredibly poor. Donor countries were supporting trainings, capacity building, activities which scratch the surface and provide minimum support to Ukrainian authorities and civil society. We were not supported to be able to build cases. Its very obvious that the international community let Ukraine down in many respects: look at the amount of investigators made available to investigate a single terrorist attack in Lebanon through the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Its disappointing, to say the least. With the latest invasion I have seen those states starting to step into playing the role they should have played in 2014 onwards. What I dont want to see happening in Ukraine is civil society and the Prosecutor Generals Office to be left alone to investigate and try to preserve evidence for the purpose of future trial. Some people suggest there should be an international evidence-gathering mechanism created for Ukraine as there is for Syria. Is it a good idea? The UN Human Rights Council has resolved to create a commission of inquiry which has the potential within its mandate to mirror the functions of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for Syria. It has a mandate to investigate human rights and to preserve and support the investigation of violations of IHL. I think its absolutely necessary but my concern is that I am not certain how it does both things, report and investigate for the purpose of trials before national courts and in Ukraine. If you look at the IIIM and previous efforts to support national efforts, they have been absolutely necessary but not sufficient. The IIIM mandate has extended to preserve what has been done by civil society but not necessarily to support them to do it. There is a coalition of civil society in Ukraine which is formed around organisations that have been doing it since 2014. What I dont want to see happening in Ukraine is civil society and the Prosecutor Generals Office to be left alone to investigate and try to preserve evidence for the purpose of future trials which may if were lucky happen in years to come. Crimes should be documented in real time and publicized to the extent possible so that everybody is aware in Ukraine and globally of Russias violations of international law. Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office needs substantial help to be able to fulfil its role. It needs expert advisors and investigative experts who can work with the prosecutors. It needs mobile investigative units as was used to good effect in Chechnya in the 90s. Given the challenges of the crime base this support will prove essential. If we start to focus on an international tribunal which is not the ICC well start to distract from those national efforts. Thats where we might achieve something. Germany, Spain and Poland have already announced national investigations into war crimes in Ukraine or the crime of aggression. What does it add? There is a movement among international lawyers over the last week to create an international tribunal to try the crime of aggression. I am less interested in that. What I am interested in is supporting Ukraine to conduct its own trials, supporting regional national authorities such as Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, to really investigate and prosecute these crimes, not to create a super international tribunal which will disappear into the Western capitals political conversation. Its going to be difficult to get hold of Russian officials, of Putin, of these hundreds of enablers of this crime of aggression and many other violations. Its going to be more important to try and further these trials in their domestic settings such as Ukraine and those regional national authorities that try to do it. If we start to focus on an international tribunal which is not the ICC well start to distract from those national efforts. Thats where we might achieve something. Lets not fool ourselves. International lawyers are very excited about how Germany has acted quite boldly and pursued universal jurisdiction on Syria and thats a good thing. But what we really need to do is to support Ukraine to do it and hope for political change in Russia. The whole thing must be joined up not to create jobs for international lawyers but to create real accountability locally as much as is possible. Lets support Ukraine to do it first. The Kremlin said Friday that fighters from Syria and the Middle East would be allowed to fight for Russia in Ukraine, after President Vladimir Putin backed a plan to send volunteers to battle there. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russias defence minister had said that most of those who want and who asked (to fight) are citizens of Middle East countries and Syrians. Russia was a key partner to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad when war broke out, rallying to his side in the conflict in 2015 and turning the tide of the fighting in the regimes favour. Peskov said the decision to send volunteer fighters to Ukraine was acceptable, claiming that the United States was backing measures to send mercenaries to fight alongside Kyivs army in Ukraine. Russia launched a massive military operation in Ukraine late last month, spurring an exodus of refugees in Europe and allegations of war crimes. If the West is so enthusiastic about the arrival of mercenaries, then we also have volunteers who want to participate, Peskov told journalists. Putin backed plans to allow volunteers including from abroad to fight in Ukraine earlier Friday and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said more than 16,000 mostly Middle Eastern volunteer had appealed to join the military action. Ukraine has announced the creation foreign volunteer contingents to be integrated into its armed forces to fight Russian forces on its territory. At least 750 civilians were killed or executed in Ethiopias Amhara and Afar regions after they became caught up in the war last year, the countrys rights body said Friday. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission also catalogued a litany of abuses, including torture and gang rape and enforced disappearances, saying some may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The 16-month conflict in Africas second most populous country between government forces and Tigrayan rebels has killed thousands of people, with widespread reports of atrocities including mass killings and sexual violence. According to the UN, the fighting has also displaced more than two million people, driven hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation and left more than nine million in need of assistance. The EHRC report said at least 403 civilians had died and another 309 were injured in air raids, drone strikes and heavy artillery fire in the second half of the year since the rebel Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an offensive into Afar and Amhara in July. At least 346 civilians also lost their lives in extra-judicial killings carried out by the warring parties, mainly Tigrayan rebels but also government forces and allied militias, it said. The state-affiliated independent rights body also accused Tigrayan rebels of widespread abuses such as gang rape, torture, looting and destroying public facilities such as hospitals and schools in the two regions bordering Tigray. Tigray Forces committed widespread, cruel, and systematic sexual and gender-based violence including gang rape against women of different ages including girls and elderly women in parts of Afar and Amhara regions under their control, the report said. Tigray forces engaged in abductions and enforced disappearances in a manner that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, it said, while also accusing federal and local security forces in Amhara and Afar of widespread arbitrary detentions. More than 2,400 health facilities including hospitals in the two regions had ceased operation as a result of the destruction, damage and and pillage they sustained, the report said, while more than 1,000 schools were destroyed and another 3,220 damaged. Fridays report follows a joint investigation by the UN and the EHRC covering November 2020 to June 2021 which detailed a vast array of rights abuses, mostly blamed on Ethiopian forces and Eritrean troops, who provided military support to Addis Ababa. Deteriorated significantly The conflict erupted in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent forces into Tigray to topple the regions ruling TPLF, after months of tensions with the party that dominated politics for three decades before he took power in 2018. Abiy said the offensive was launched in response to the rebel groups attacks on army camps and vowed a swift victory. But after initially losing control of Tigrays cities and towns, the TPLF regrouped and retook the region in June last year, then launched offensives into Afar and Amhara. In November 2021 the rebels claimed to be advancing on the capital Addis Ababa, but the government launched a counter-offensive, retaking lost territory in Amhara and Afar while the TPLF then retreated into Tigray. Although the intensity of fighting has eased, the UN on Monday reported that at least 304 civilians had been killed in air strikes since November in the north, particularly Tigray. The rights and security situation in Ethiopia has deteriorated significantly since late November, UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet said, with reports of severe and widescale violations in the three northern regions. UN humanitarian agency OCHA also said in a bulletin dated Thursday that northern Ethiopia remained highly tense and unpredictable. Hostilities were boosting humanitarian needs, as the number of displaced people grows in Afar and Amhara, it said. Last week, the UN Human Rights Council announced that Fatou Bensouda, a former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), would head a UN investigation into a wide range of alleged violations committed by all sides in the war. The Kremlin said Friday that volunteers including from Syria would be welcomed to fight alongside Russias military in Ukraine, embroiling the Middle East in a conflict the West has worked to contain. Dozens of men in camouflage, hoisting Kalashnikov assault rifles and pro-Russian banners, appeared in footage Russias defence ministry said was a gathering of veterans in Syria, eager to join the Ukraine conflict. Moscows plans to bring in as many as 16,000 private fighters into the conflict came as Russian strikes hit fresh civilian targets in central and eastern Ukraine on Friday, including a care home for disabled people. Moscows troops are edging closer to the capital Kyiv, two weeks after President Vladimir Putin announced a so-called special military operation in Russias pro-Western neighbour. The Kremlins spokesman told reporters Thursday that the defence ministry had talked in particular about those who sent their requests from the Middle East countries and from Syria. There was no talk about our fellow citizens, volunteering, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Russian mercenaries gave key support to pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014, observers say, when the Kremlin annexed the Crimean peninsula after street rallies ousted a Kremlin-friendly leader. They also gave Russia a level of plausible deniability when it intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015 with a bruising air campaign that decimated the opposition and turned the tide in favour of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Peskov said the decision to send volunteer fighters to Ukraine was within reason, claiming that the United States was backing measures to send mercenaries to fight alongside Kyivs army in Ukraine. If the West is so enthusiastic about the arrival of mercenaries, then we also have volunteers who want to participate, Peskov told journalists. Help volunteers reach battlefield Putin backed plans to allow volunteers including from abroad to fight in Ukraine earlier Friday and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said more than 16,000 mostly Middle Eastern volunteers had appealed to join the military action. If you see that there are people who want on a voluntary basis (to help east Ukraines separatists), then you need to meet them halfway and help them move to combat zones, Putin told Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a televised security council meeting. Ukraine has announced the creation foreign volunteer contingents to be integrated into its armed forces to fight Russian troops on its territory. Prior to the onset of fighting in Ukraine, training camps sprouted up across the country to train civilians in basic self-defence, first aid, and small arms use. Russia launched a massive military operation in Ukraine late last month, spurring an exodus of refugees to Europe and allegations of war crimes. It has also seen members of NATO, the US-led military alliance that Ukraine seeks to join, sharply increase weapons supplies to Ukraine, and bolster troop deployments near Russia. Putin on Friday asked Defence Minister Shoigu to prepare plans for possible fortification of Russias western border in response to actions taken by NATO countries. Poland and the three Baltic states share a common border with Russia while Ukraine borders NATO members Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Putin also said that any weapons seized during the fighting by Russian troops particularly Western-produced arms should be handed to rebels in eastern Ukraine, regions Putin recognised as independent. I support the possibility of transferring them to the military units of the DNR and LNR, Putin said of confiscated weapons, referring to so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic. Ukraines army had been fighting the rebels since 2014, prior to Russias incursion, in fighting that claimed 14,000 lives. Forty-four groups have been invited to talks in Qatar on Sunday gathering Chads military junta and armed rebels. The meeting is a key step in the juntas plans to bring rebels into a national forum that it says will chart the countrys return to civilian rule. Here are snapshots of the main armed groups: Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) The biggest group in terms of fighters and weaponry, the FACT emerged in 2016 from a split in a rebel force called the Union for Democracy and Development (UFDD). It ranges over is northern Chad, a vast, restive and lawless desert region abandoned to illegal gold miners and gangs of traffickers, but it also runs rear bases across the border in Libya. It was while leading operations against the FACT in northern Chad last April that iron-fisted veteran president Idriss Deby Itno sustained fatal wounds. His son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, took over the country, fronting a 15-member military junta. In the following weeks, the armed forces killed several hundred rebels and took nearly 250 prisoner and the FACT retreated into Libya, according to the authorities. The FACTs leader is Mahamat Mahdi Ali, who studied in France, where he was also a Socialist Party activist. -Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) Created in 2009 from an alliance of eight groups, the UFR draws its fighters mainly from the Zaghawa ethnic group, from which the elder Deby hailed. They are led by his nephew, Timan Erdimi, who fled to Qatar for a decade after falling into disgrace. In February 2019, the UFR mounted an attempt to oust Deby by sending a column of fighters in 50 pickup trucks from Libya via Sudan. They were beaten back by French air strikes, requested by Deby, a major ally in Frances anti-jihadist campaign in the Sahel. The UFR is estimated to have several hundred men, based in southern Libya and northern Chad. Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) The UFDD was created in 2006 by Mahamat Nouri, a former close aide to Hissene Habre, the president overthrown by the older Deby in 1990. Habre was sentenced in 2016 to life imprisonment by a special court under the aegis of the African Union for crimes against humanity. Nouri joined up with Deby and for a time became his defence minister before defecting. In early 2008, the UFDD, with other rebels, reached the gates of the presidential palace in NDjamena. Supporting the regime, France secured the capitals airport, allowing the army to obtain more ammunition. The offensive was repelled. In 2019, Nouri was indicted in France for crimes against humanity for recruiting of child soldiers in Chad and Sudan. Incarcerated in Paris in 2019, he was released in 2020 for health reasons. The Libyan-based UFDD was greatly weakened when it splintered in 2016 and the FACT emerged. In 2019, several hundred UFDD fighters joined the Deby regime. Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (CCMSR) The CCMSR was formed in June 2016 after a rift in the FACT. In a report issued in December 2019, UN experts on Libya said the CCMSR was most likely steeped in criminal activities and trafficking of all kinds, linking southern Libya to the Tibesti region in Chad. Chadian rebel groups are also regularly accused of selling their services as mercenaries to the two rival powers battling for control of Libya. The United States stepped up the pressure against Moscow on Friday as Russian forces moved further into western and central Ukraine and tightened their grip on the capital Kyiv. More than two weeks after Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24, hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped and under bombardment, while the UN estimates some 2.5 million have fled. The situation is particularly dire in the southern port city of Mariupol where local officials said Friday more than 1,500 people have been killed during 12 days of Russian siege. Western powers have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Moscow and sent funds and military aid to Kyiv, but have failed to halt the advance, including against civilian targets. President Joe Biden said Friday the US and its allies would end normal trade relations with Russia and announced a ban on imports of Russian vodka, diamonds and seafood. The US will also ban the export of US luxury goods to Russia and Belarus. Putin must pay the price. He cannot pursue a war that threatens the very foundation of international peace and stability and then ask for help from the international community, Biden said. US and European stock markets had risen earlier, buoyed by Putins comments about certain positive shifts in negotiations with Ukraine. The first high-level talks between the two sides on Thursday failed to make a breakthrough, but Putin said negotiations are now being held on an almost daily basis. But there was no let up in the bombardment, with three missiles hitting civilian buildings in the central city of Dnipro early Friday, destroying a shoe factory and killing a security guard. The industrial hub of one million inhabitants had been considered a relatively safe haven, a centre for coordination of humanitarian aid and those fleeing more severe fighting in the countrys east. But images of its charred or destroyed buildings including a kindergarten with windows blown out now join those from Kharkiv and Mariupol as testimony to the brutal conflict. Today, we were supposed to host people who need a lot of support, said Svetlana Kalenecheko, who lives and works in a clinic that was damaged. Now we cant help anyone. Elsewhere, a care home for disabled people was hit in the village of Oskil, near Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, local officials said, although no casualties were reported. Russia also announced the military airfields of Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine closer to the Polish border, had been put out of action. Local officials said four Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the attack. Ukraine claimed the widening of Russias targets followed its failure to secure cities already under siege, and insisted Moscow had made no significant progress in the last 24 hours. Syrian mercenaries But the capital Kyiv risks being entirely surrounded, with presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak calling it a city under siege. He tweeted that it was ready to fight, with checkpoints prepared and supply lines in place, adding: Kyiv will stand until the end. The Ukrainian military warned on Thursday Russia was trying to block Kyiv by taking out defences to the west and north of the capital, adding that there was also a risk to Brovary in the east. The northwest suburbs, including Irpin and Bucha, have already endured days of heavy bombardment but Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the northeastern edge. Ukrainian soldiers described fierce fighting for control of the main highway leading into the capital, and AFP reporters saw missile strikes in Velyka Dymerka just outside Kyivs limits on Thursday. Turkey, one of the last countries to keep its embassy open in Kyiv, said Friday it had was beginning to evacuate staff. Britains defence ministry said Russian forces were committing more forces to encircle key cities, reducing numbers available to continue the advance. The Kremlin on Friday announced that Syrian fighters can fight for Russia in Ukraine after Putin backed plans to draft in 16,000 volunteers, mostly from the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of hiring murderers from Syria, a country where everything has been destroyed like they are doing here to us. World War III In a video message recorded outside his presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky also demanded the European Union do more to help his country. Around 100,000 people have been able to leave the northeastern city of Sumy, the eastern city of Izyum, and areas northwest of Kyiv in the last two days, Ukrainian officials said. But the president warned living conditions were deteriorating fast, in the northeast, around the capital and in the east. In the Sumy, Kyiv and Donetsk regions, there is no more electricity. Yes, there are problems with heating. There is no gas, no water, he said. Its a humanitarian catastrophe. EU leaders on Friday sought to double financing for military aid to Ukraine by an extra 500 million euros (around $550 million). Late Thursday the US congress passed a budget including $14 billion in humanitarian and military aid to the country. But the US has ruled out enforcing a no-fly zone, and rejected a Polish plan to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine via a US air base for fear of being drawn directly into the conflict. Biden again ruled out any direct intervention on Friday, warning that such conflict pitting the NATO alliance against the Kremlin is World War III. Severe price In Mariupol, Mayor Vadym Boichenko said Russian warplanes had targeted residential areas in the city every 30 minutes on Thursday, killing civilians, the elderly, women and children. Zelensky accused Moscow of launching a tank attack targeting a humanitarian corridor to which he had dispatched a convoy to try to get food, water and medicine into the city. On Wednesday, he and top Western officials also accused Russia of a war crime for the bombing of a childrens hospital there that local officials said killed three people, including a young girl. Russias army claimed the bombing was a staged provocation by Ukraine. The International Committee of the Red Cross said some Mariupol residents had started fighting for food, and many had run out of drinking water. Yulia, a 29-year-old teacher who fled Mariupol, said her mother-in-law was still there, and told them the attacks dont stop. There are many corpses on the street and nobody buries them, she told AFP. Later Friday, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting at Russias request, over its claims that the US is funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine. Both Washington and Kyiv have denied the allegations, with the US saying they were a sign that Moscow could soon use the weapons itself. Im not going to speak about the intelligence, but Russia would play a severe price if they used chemicals, Biden told reporters Friday. burs-ar/har Meta On the 16th day of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces were encircling at least four major cities Friday and inched closer towards the city limits of Kyiv. The capital remains under Ukrainian control but is increasingly at risk of being surrounded, with many observers believing Russia is still aiming to capture the city despite slow progress and intense resistance. Here is a summary of the situation on the ground, based on statements from both sides, Western defence and intelligence sources and international organisations. The east Kharkiv remains in Ukrainian hands despite increasingly intense Russian bombardment, according to Western sources, and the city is now surrounded. A US defence official said Russian troops were just outside the city. Russian forces were also pressing an offensive through the separatist Donetsk and Lugansk regions that are backed by Russia and seeking to join up with Russian forces who entered from the north. The city of Sumy in northeast Ukraine is now encircled by Russian troops but thousands of civilians have been able to leave through a humanitarian corridor. Kyiv and the north Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control despite heavy bombardments, but observers say Russian forces are still slowly advancing ever closer towards the city. The northwest suburbs, including Irpin and Bucha, have already endured days of heavy bombardment but Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the northeastern edge. The British defence ministry warned that after limited progress in the last days, Russia is likely to reset for renewed offensives, probably including operations against Kyiv. But US think tank Institute for the Study of War said the likelihood is increasing that Ukrainian forces could hold Russian forces to a standstill around the city. Ukrainian forces also retain control of the northern town of Chernihiv, which has seen heavy civilian casualties in recent days and appears to be encircled. The south Russia has besieged the strategic city of Mariupol, and attempts to evacuate an estimated 200,000 civilians from the city have so far failed. The childrens and maternity hospital in Mariupol was attacked on Wednesday in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a Russian war crime. The major port city of Odessa remains under Ukrainian control and has so far been spared fighting. But the US Defence Department said Russian ground forces appeared primed to attack the city, possibly in coordination with an amphibious assault. Russian forces last week took the southern city of Kherson, just north of Crimea, and there is now heavy fighting for control of the city of Mykolayiv to the northwest. The US defence official said Russian forces were now just 15 kilometres to the north of Mykolayiv. The west and centre The west of Ukraine remains largely spared from the fighting. The main city of Lviv has become a hub for foreign diplomatic missions and journalists as well as Ukrainians seeking safety or wanting to leave the country. Three missiles hit civilian buildings in the central city of Dnipro, destroying a shoe factory and killing a security guard. The city had been considered a safe haven, becoming a hub for the coordination of humanitarian aid. Casualties The United Nations said Thursday that it had recorded 549 civilian deaths in Ukraine, including 41 children, though the actual toll could be far higher. Ukraine and Western sources claim that the Russian death toll is far higher than Moscow has so far admitted. Ukraine says more than 12,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, though US estimates put the number of Russians killed at 2,000 to 4,000. Russias only official toll, announced last week, said 498 Russian troops had been killed in Ukraine. Refugees Over 2.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion began, more than half going to Poland, according to the UN refugee agency. Morehead, KY (40351) Today Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 65F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. The UN warned Russia Friday that attacks that target civilians were banned and could amount to war crimes, as it raised the use of cluster bombs in Ukraine. The UN human rights office said Friday it was gravely concerned by the rising death toll in the conflict following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recorded 564 civilians killed and 982 injured, though it acknowledged that the actual figures are considerably higher. We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called area bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes, OHCHR spokeswoman Elizabeth Throssell said. Civilians are being killed and maimed in what appear to be indiscriminate attacks, with Russian forces using explosive weapons with wide area effects in or near populated areas, she told reporters in Geneva. She said these included missiles, heavy artillery shells, rockets and air strikes. We have also received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions, including in populated areas. Throssell said on February 24, a cluster munition exploded at the Central City Hospital in Vuhledar, in government-controlled Donetsk, killing four civilians and injuring 10 others. It also damaged ambulances, civilian vehicles and the hospital itself. There were other cluster munition attacks in several districts of Kharkiv, in which nine civilians were killed and 37 injured, she said. Due to their wide area effects, the use of cluster munitions in populated areas is incompatible with the international humanitarian law principles governing the conduct of hostilities. Russian strikes hit fresh civilian targets in central and eastern Ukraine Friday, including a city previously considered a safe haven, as Moscows troops edged closer to the capital Kyiv. The International Criminal Court on Friday warned warring parties in Ukraine that attacks on civilians are a crime as invading Russian forces ramp up bombardments of city infrastructure. If attacks are intentionally directed against the civilian population: that is a crime. If attacks are intentionally directed against civilian objects: that is a crime, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan said. I strongly urge parties to the conflict to avoid the use of heavy explosive weapons in populated areas, added Briton Khan. There is no legal justification, there is no excuse, for attacks which are indiscriminate, or which are disproportionate in their effects on the civilian population. I am closely following the deeply troubling developments in hostilities. The events of recent days require me to again emphasise that all those involved in this conflict must adhere strictly to the applicable rules of international humanitarian law. The conflict Wednesday saw a maternity ward and a hospital hit in the surrounded southeastern city of Mariupol where a young girl was one of three people listed as killed in an attack which brought widespread condemnation. The Hague-based ICC last week opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine after 39 member states gave it the green light to do so. Khan said Friday Japan and the Republic of North Macedonia had also called for the investigation. Ukraine is not a signatory to the Rome Statute treaty which established the ICC but it did in 2014 officially recognise the courts jurisdiction for crimes committed on its soil. Russia withdrew its signature from the Rome Statute in 2016. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid plans to establish minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes within a year, agency officials told industry representatives Thursday. Theres no timeline yet for all of the more than 20 other initiatives President Joe Biden proposed during the State of the Union address last week, the officials said during a conference call. We are on a full-court sprint toward new regulations, new safety guidance and new systems, said Jonathan Blum, CMS principal deputy administrator and chief operating officer. The upcoming regulations would be part of the administrations efforts to improve conditions in nursing homes after more than 200,000 patients and workers in long-term care facilities died from COVID-19. Biden announced plans to set minimum staffing requirements, create more transparency about facility ownership, address overcrowding, cut back on the overuse of antipsychotic medications and increase inspections and enforcement. CMS will prioritize policies appropriate for swift action in the short term and identify longer-term goals among the presidents proposals, said Jean Moody-Williams, deputy director of CMSs Center of Clinical Standards and Quality. The nursing home industry and other interested parties will have opportunities to offer feedback, said Will Harris, a senior advisor to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Groups representing the long-term care industry, such as the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, have expressed concern about the feasibility of nurse staffing rules and other Biden proposals. This week, the AHCA/NCAL wrote Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting a meeting with Biden and his senior health officials. I am one of those lucky people that get to live in a jurisdiction where cannabis is legal for adult and medical use (Oregon). Its as amazing as you might imagine. Cannabis dispensaries are located all over the place where I live, and in addition to being able to frequent them and buy legal cannabis products, I also dont have to live in fear of being arrested at my house if I choose to cultivate cannabis. I can legally give away any cannabis that I acquire, whether I grew it, bought it, or had it gifted to me. With that in mind, its painful to reflect on the fact that some countries still sentence people to death for distributing cannabis. No Distinction Between Cannabis and Other Substances Singapore is one of only a handful of countries that issue the death penalty for cannabis distribution. There is no distinction between cannabis and other illegal substances. They are all considered to be drugs and drug trafficking offenses carry the death penalty. Its a completely inhumane approach to cannabis policy and easily makes Singapore one of the worst places on earth for cannabis advocates. However, its an approach to cannabis policy that a supermajority of residents in Singapore support based on the results of a new survey. Sixty-Six Percent Approval Last week Singapores Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam appeared before the countrys parliament to discuss various matters, including penalties for drug trafficking. The majority of Singapore residents support the use of the death penalty and agree that the death penalty deters serious crime, stated Shanmugam to parliament, referring to preliminary findings from a survey conducted last year. On the question as to whether the mandatory death penalty is appropriate, 81% said it was appropriate for intentional murder, 71% said it was appropriate for firearm offenses, and 66% said it was appropriate for drug trafficking, Shanmugam went on to say, according to a media report from Devdiscourse. The survey results need to be verified by a third party, but if the results are accurate its a very scary situation. If you have plans to sell cannabis, steer clear of Singapore. Subscribe to our podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you get podcasts. Student Senate elections are held this week, and will determine the next Student Body President and Vice President. Mariupol children's hospital bombing one of many attacks on medical facilities since Russian invasion, WHO says MBABANE Paying tribute to African women through fine art. This best describes contemporary fine artist Mbongeni Fakudzes work which has been recognised internationally. For people that do not know him, he is a liSwati who is currently plying his trade in South Africa. On February 19, 2022, he hosted his solo exhibition titled Pieces Of Me in Sandton, Johannesburg. His expertise in acrylic, digital print and mixed media installations on canvas has seen him travel the world as he also had an exhibition in Singapore, an Island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. In 2017, he once hosted a solo exhibition dubbed Androgen at the ODA Gallery in Franschoek. He also worked the Yebo Art Gallery. Paintings When asked about what he aimed at addressing through his paintings in a recent interview on SABC 1, he said his work was an upliftment to what the image of African women was in society as they deserved to be respected equally when compared to men. I portray women in a sense where they are head wrapped. In African Culture, women in head wraps are of an important stature, which is the theme around the portraits that I do and how society has misrepresented women, he said. He went on to say it was important to highlight this through his work as he was brought up by a strong woman. He has worked with many galleries from around the world too, as the quality of his art has made him to be recognised from all over the world. Mbongeni Fakudze was born in Mbabane on April 16, 1982. He studied at Sifundzani Primary School and then attended Waterford Kamhlaba (UWCSA) until Form 5. He then completed a Fine Arts correspondence course through the University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria. Afterwards, he attended the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria for Fine Arts. Upon completion, he returned to the kingdom where he registered a small company doing animation work for corporate advertising. After a few years he moved to Johannesburg, where he studied 3D animation in Randburg. After receiving his certification in 3D animation, Mbongeni returned to the country once more and now does primarily visual art work. Fakudze was first introduced to the arts at Waterford where he discovered himself as an artist. His art teacher liked and emphasised the importance of Surrealist art, and Mbongeni was exposed to artists like Dali and Magritte, both of whom still influence his work today. Upon finishing school, Mbongeni remembers, all I wanted to do was paint. He quickly, however, moved from painting to exploring digital art and animation. Animation is the natural next step he explains, the still leads to the moving object. Mbongenis animation is artistic and abstract, as opposed to commercial. He has recently become interested in film exploring multimedia performances that combine video, photographs and graphic art with live performance. Poetry He also enjoys writing poetry, an art form that he sees as very connected to his visual art all of my art comes from the same mind, just in different mediums. In every medium, Mbongenis work is lyrical, quite abstract, and oftentimes socially and politically relevant. In 2004, after being awarded the Best Figure Drawing Award at TUT, he was invited by SABC to do a portrait for the Programme All You Need Is Love which was aired on national TV (SABC 1). Another important highlight in Mbongenis artistic career occurred in 2010, when he was awarded for Best Public Sculpture competition by the Matsapha Town Board. His sculpture now stands as a historical monument in the gardens of the town board. Ukrainian citizens walk along with advocates on the Mexican side of the border on March 9, 2022. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, centre, led six councillors and top city staff on a two-day tour of recreation facilities and residential areas in Vancouver on Feb. 25. Cost of the tour, as indicated in a report going to council on Monday, was almost $17,000. Conservative MP Michael Chong says he will not be entering the party's leadership race. Chong rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, March 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Rep. Jason Nemes is the sponsor of the medical marijuana measure that cleared the House on Thursday after an emotional debate. NHLANGANO Production had to be halted at Montigny Investments Nhlangano site after a female employee died while on duty during the wee hours of yesterday. The employee reportedly died while working in the night shift. According to the employees who were working with the deceased, the incident happened at around 2am while they were hard at work. It was reported that the employees, who were supposed to take the day shift, arrived for work at around 7am and were told about the incident. They said they were told that they could not work for that day because police were still busy at the scene. By the time this reporter arrived at the company premises, most of the employees were found seated outside the premises. The name of the employee is known to this publication but will not be revealed because her family could not be reached by the time of compiling this report. Trapped The employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, narrated that the employee was trapped by a conveyor belt of the big machines used to process the timber. The traumatised employees, who were working in the night shift, explained that the conveyor belt is always running as long as the crushing machine is on and they explained that they saw her being squeezed by the moving belt but they could not help her because they did not know how to stop the machine. Some of the employees raised concerns about their safety in the company as they claimed that some of the machines were posed danger. Andrew Le Roux, Montigny Investments General Manager (GM), confirmed the tragic death of the employee. I can confirm that there was a tragic death on the morning March 10, 2022 (yesterday) at the Montigny Investments Nhlangano site, said the manager. Roux said the company was working with the authorities to establish the cause and ascertain the circumstances which led to the tragic incident. He said at present, they were awaiting the outcome of the investigations before making any statements or determinations on the matter. Roux further added that in terms of the company protocols, in tragic circumstances such as these, production was halted to allow for internal, police, medical and labour investigations. When asked about the state of the safety of employees, he said Montigny took the safety, health and well-being of all employees very seriously and everything would be done to fully investigate the matter and appropriate action taken. He added that as a company they were currently focusing on advising the family of the deceased and providing all necessary support to them during this unfortunate moment. Ketchikan, AK (99901) Today Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 48F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 39F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. JUNCTION CITY, Ore. -- Some Junction City residents feel shocked after a woman's body was found on Thursday. Police said they located the body near an abandoned car on the 300 block of Dorsa Street at about 7 a.m. As of now, the death is considered suspicious, and an investigation is underway. Neighbor Beth Walker said she noticed the car in the early morning hours of the day. "I was coming home around 2 a.m., just came around the corner, saw the car here and thought, 'Oh, that's a little weird,' but it happens all the time here," said Walker. "We have cars that'll park down here and people walk around here. So I didn't think much of it. It was a little weird that the door was open." Neighbors recall seeing the driver's door wide open. "When we arrived, we noticed there was frost inside the vehicle and outside the vehicle," said Junction City Police Chief Bob Morris. "So clearly, it had been here all night long." Angie Fickel and her husband were the first to call police. "We thought it was a stolen car because the door was wide open," said Fickel. "I didn't hear anything in the middle of the night. I have a German Shepherd, and she didn't alert me to anything. I even woke up in the middle of the night because I'm pregnant. But I didn't see anything. I didn't hear anything." Some neighbors said suspicious incidents like these don't happen in their neighborhood. "For the most part, it's a pretty safe neighborhood. We watch out for each other here," said Walker. "There's not going to be any way to make sense of this. There's not going to be any way to wrap your head around like yeah, I get that. But just give grace." Police said there is no outstanding person of interest or suspect. They said there is no threat to the area. At this time, police are not releasing the age or identity of the deceased woman. Stay with KEZI for the latest. MBABANE Prophet Vusumuzi Major V Dlamini is no longer opposing the application by Swaziland Building Society to reverse the sum of E900 000 that was mysteriously deposited into his account. This means that the interim order authorising the bank to keep the money is now final. The matter was due for argument yesterday when lawyers representing the clergyman informed Judge Mzwandile Fakudze that he was no longer opposing the application. When the prophet was first asked about the source of the money, he allegedly told the bank officials that it was deposited by his wife, but later changed the story to say it was deposited by a drug dealer he did not know. In her papers, the Managing Director of the bank, Mbali Sibanyoni, told the court that the prophet dismally failed to produce any evidence which demonstrated that the money belonged to him. Fraudulent The sum of E900 000 was a product of a fraudulent act done by the banks employee, one Ndumiso Khumalo, who unlawfully transferred the said funds to Dlaminis account on February 3, 2022. Therefore, these monies having been unlawfully appropriated by Khumalo for the benefit of Dlamini, the bank is entitled to reverse the transaction, contended the managing director. Sibanyoni argued that the sum of E900 000 which landed into Dlaminis account was as a result of a criminal act done by Khumalo. She told the court that Dlamini could not seek to claim same as a gift. According to Sibanyoni, when the bank approached the High Court on February 18, 2022, to seek the interdict, it relied on an error suspected on its system. It was her contention that this reliance on the error at the time was justified. She narrated to the court that Dlamini had deposited E500 on February 2, 2022, however, the general ledger showed a debit of E500 and a credit of E900 500, which was unusual in the banking industry. Sibanyoni said besides the above, Dlaminis statement, instead of showing a credit of E500 to his benefit, reflected a cash deposit of E900 500 (with the narration Cash Deposit Self) when the only cash deposit which was present on that day was for E500. She went on to submit that the bank had engaged an intellect who advised it on February 7, 2022, that there was nothing wrong with its banking application. The MD highlighted to the court that preliminary investigations by the intellect viewed this transaction as a systems error because of the abnormality of same. This, according to Sibanyoni, was because as per the system records, the customer made a deposit of E500 made up of one E200 note, four E50 notes and five E20 notes. She brought it to the attention of the court that, the general ledger entries when viewed, showed a mismatch in the sense that they showed a debit entry of E500 and a credit of E900 500. Appearing for the bank is Kenneth Motsa of Robison Bertram while for the clergyman is Ntobeko Piliso. Looking to update your home? Watch the KHQ Spring Home Design Guide featuring the areas top home improvement businesses on Sat, May 7 at 4:30pm on KHQ. And click here to win a $500 VISA gift card, courtesy of our presenting partner - VPC Electric! "I think it's an embarrassment, should be an embarrassment, for serious Republicans. Because these guys aren't serious," said a professor of political science at Gonzaga University. The Tanaiste is "honoured" to be in Chile on the day marriage equality becomes enshrined in law. Leo Varadkar commented on social media this afternoon (Thursday March 10), stating, "And then there were 31. Honoured to be here in Chile on the day marriage equality becomes law. One of the final acts of the outgoing Govt and Congress. Only 150 to go." Outgoing president, Sebastian Pinera, last year signed the marriage equality law after being passed by congress. Tanaiste Varadkar made the trip to the South American country to attend the inauguration of new president, Gabriel Boric, on behalf of Ireland and the European Union. In a statement published yesterday (Wednesday March 9), he said, "This trip is about deepening the relationship between our two countries, which is something weve committed to as Government. There are huge opportunities for both sides in strengthening links between Ireland and Chile, and indeed with the wider Latin American region." Varadkar will officially open Ireland's new embassy in Santiago during his time there. Honoured to meet President-elect @gabrielboric. Am here for inauguration as representative of Ireland and the EU. Discussed EU-Chile association agreement, ties with Ireland and the situation in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/2AFT7qarLW Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) March 10, 2022 Same-sex marriage is legal in just thirty one countries, including Ireland, which voted in favour of equality in 2015. The measure was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins. According to the Human Dignity Trust, Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen all implement the death penalty for being gay, and the sentence is a legal possibility in Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qater and the UAE. Over seventy jurisdictions criminalise private and consensual same-sex sexual activity. Main image: Leo Varadkar/Twitter Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Teagasc, the IFA, ICMSA, Macra na Feirme and more have teamed up with Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP) to host free, 11-week programmes for farm families which are designed to help them improve their traditional and digital skills, learn about alternative farm futures and so much more. Any farm family in the Leinster and Southeast area is eligible to sign up for the landmark Farming 360 programme. Over the course of each 11-week course participants will hone practical skills like dry stone walling, hedgerow laying and maintenance and computers. There will be advice and help on staying up to date on and understanding evolving farm regulation from trusted experts and farm bodies as well as much-needed time to unwind with some fun adventure pursuits at the course venue, Castlecomer Discovery Park. The in-depth programme is being offered in collaboration with IT Carlow, Trinity College Dublin, Mental Health Ireland and Forestry Services Ltd and it is hoped that if successful, the pilot initiative might be rolled out nation-wide. The far-reaching programme is designed to give a 360 view of farming today and address some of the demands that are placed on farm families. While Farming 360 features a blend of practical skills, training and information, it and also focuses on Health & Safety Practices, changes to the upcoming Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) as well as modules in health and wellbeing. Given the time constraints involved in modern family life, participants are asked to attend for just one day a week, plus one evening session over the 11 weeks. The initial pilot programme for the first group starts from March 14 with other dates timed to fit in with the farm calendar. Farm families are invited to sign up for this or future dates by contacting Conor Cleere at Kilkenny LEADER Partnership at 0567752111 or 0868165700 or conor.cleere@cklp.ie John Keane, National President, Macra na Feirne, said: As farmers and rural people engaging proactively in our wellbeing and overall health is something we need to constantly improve and work on. This programme affords the opportunity for farmers to be in a setting which is all inclusive and address challenges in an open and friendly way while facilitating discussions with like-minded people. Richard OBrien, Teagasc Regional Manager for Waterford/Kilkenny, said: Teagasc understands the continuing pressures and anxieties that are experienced among the farming community. This can be seen through the day to day interaction between advisors and clients, and particularly during the series of lockdowns during the Covid pandemic. We welcome the opportunity for farmers to engage in the Farmer 360 programme, where they can experience the fantastic amenities available in the Castlecomer Discovery Park, re engage with traditional skills and be part of information sessions that will highlight the many changes that will occur in farming over the next decade and beyond. Declan Rice, CEO, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, said: Were conscious that family farms are busy places with lots of demands on a farmers time and skills. This programme has been designed to help farm families by bringing them together, sharing information and experiences in a supportive learning environment while also getting them to enjoy some quality time off farm. Its something weve all missed over the course of the pandemic and has made farms even more isolating places to live and work at times. Working with our partners, we want to give participants a 360 vision of the farming sector and industry not just in Ireland but in Europe. Places on each programme are limited and we would encourage any farm family interested in participating to book their place now. Glanbia Ireland and its farm family suppliers have teamed up with manufacturing partners Complex Nutrition to get 250,000 nutritional Irish milk powder-based meal kits to Ukrainian hospitals and refugees fleeing into Poland. Production of the humanitarian cargo at the Epicom/Complex Nutrition plant in Navan, Co Meath is now complete and the much-needed donation will feed thousands of families in medical settings and fleeing Ukraine. Such is the demand for the ready to use meal kits that the Ukrainian Embassy is to fly part of the donation directly to medics in the Ukraine. The remainder will be shipped on Monday by other volunteer companies in the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Ireland network Complex Nutrition CEO, John Cunningham, said: Were in the complex nutrition area to add value to milk powder and the product were making will provide a full, nutritional meal for anyone aged 3 years of age and over just by adding cold water. The product is robust, it has a shelf life of 18 months and can easily be made in a cup or a jug. Weve donated shakers for every box along with an instruction leaflet in both English and Ukrainian. We have 12 nationalities among our workforce here including one Ukrainian, lots of Polish, Latvians, Lithuanians, Slovenians and Romanians. Theyre all very proud of what were doing and are also glad to play their part. John Cunningham paid tribute to everyone for the speed at which they have come together to get the urgent supplies manufactured and deliver 22 pallets in a 40ft container in the coming days through a network of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Ireland. Glanbia Ireland Chairman, John Murphy, said: Our initial aim was to get 100,000 milk powder based meal kits to refugees in Poland. Now that has grown to 250,000 and Glanbia is also providing the minerals and vitamins needed to fortify the food. The community of the parish of Freshford will commemorate the 1400th anniversary of their patron saint, Lachtain, with a year long festival of events beginning on Saturday, March 19. The festival will celebrate the Millennium Quarter Centenary (MQC) and more than 1400 years of worship on the site of St Lachtains Church of Ireland. The parishioners will gather at 3pm on Saturday in St. Lachtains Church of Ireland for a religious service titled Celebrating our Shared Christian Heritage. After the opening of the service, which has been devised by Monsignor Kieron Kennedy and Canon Richard Marsh of the Church of Ireland, there will be a procession to St Lachtains Roman Catholic Church where it will conclude. Both Bishops of Ossory will attend. Bishop Nulty, acting Bishop of Ossory, will preach at the Church of Ireland and Bishop Burrows will preach at the Roman Catholic Church. There will be a reception afterwards at Freshford Community Hall. Events in April include a War of Independence Commemoration on Easter Sunday and the Kilkenny Fleadh Cheoil which will take place in Freshford on April 23 and 24. One of the highlights of the festival will be the Edmund Fitzpatrick tribute on the first weekend of May. The bi-centenary of the birth of the Freshford-born artist and illustrator will be celebrated with the launch of Ned Kennedys booklet on his life and work. An exhibition will consist of available paintings and illustrations from the Illustrated London News where he worked from 1848 to 1863. Also included in the weekend programme is a lecture on Saturday, May 7, by author and art historian Derville Murphy on the life and work of artist Margaret Allen, the first female member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. She spent her retirement in Brookville House in Lisdowney. A series of lectures will be held throughout the year on a variety of subjects including the architecture of St Lachtains Church and Doorway, the Shrine of St. Lachtains Arm and the excavations on the site. For the children of Scoil Lachtain there will be an open-air Art on the Green event in June and a community painting event on the same weekend run by local artist Rachel Burke in conjunction with KCETB. A pilgrimage walk to the church ruins at Clashacrow and Ballylarkin will be held on July 10 followed by an exhibition, curated by Marie Cleere, by local artists during Kilkenny Arts Festival. Heritage Week will also be a busy week with the launch of Mike Cormacks book of parish photographs which includes a study of 20th Century home ownership in Freshford village. The MQC Concerts will take place in October with The Rafter Family in St Lachtains RC Church on October 8. This will be Patricks homecoming concert which has generated great interest. A week later St Canices Cathedral Choir and Organist will perform at the Church of Ireland. The celebrations will conclude on the second weekend of November with Mass in St. Nicholass Church, Tulla and St Lachtains Church at which the spiritual songs of Elvis Presley will be sung by Alexander Rafter. Information about the events can be found at www.ionadlachtain.com and on Facebook and Instagram accounts at Ionad Lachtain. A local craft manufacturing business from Graignamanagh will represent County Kilkenny at the National Enterprise Awards. Philip and Mary Cushen along with their daughter Miriam from Cushendale Woollen Mills have been nominated to represent Kilkenny at the National Enterprise Awards which will be held in the Mansion House, Dublin on 2nd June. At the presentation Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Fidelis Doherty, said: The Local Enterprise Office support hundreds of small businesses and start-ups every year, as the first stop shop in the County. The National Enterprise Awards highlight the achievements and contribution of small business and showcase their success. She added We would like to congratulate Cushendale Woollen Mills on their achievements to date and wish them all the best in the next stages of the competition. Cushendale Woollen Mills based in Graigmanagh, Co Kilkenny is the sixth generation of the family business and one of last remaining mills in Ireland who continue to operate as a vertical mill, working with the sheeps fleece and processing it, all under the one roof. Cushendale Woollen Mills has unique distinguishing characteristics by way of it's rich & authentic heritage, using a distinctive process including traceability & sustainability and its ability to position itself in the bespoke luxury market. It also offers a unique and authentic "mill retail experience" where visitors can view a range of exceptional textiles showcased against the backdrop of the historic mill. They have a strong Irish customer base and also export to Japan, whilst the US and Canadian markets have been growing significantly in recent times. Since the inception of the Local Enterprise Office and formerly the County Enterprise Boards, Cushendale Woollen Mills has been supported with grant assistance towards salary costs and capital investment. In recent times, they have also availed of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme to enhance their online presence and ecommerce website. The Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters Grant has supported the business to attend international trade fairs and developing marketing material specifically for their targeted export markets. Cushendale Woollen Mills will now compete against 30 finalists from each Local Authority for a share of the 35,000 winners prize fund as national judging gets underway in May according to Fiona Deegan, Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office. Categories this year include Best Export Business, Best Start-Up and Innovation, in addition to eight regional awards. There are also two new National Enterprise Awards this year with a One to Watch award and a Sustainability / Green award. Run every year by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in the Local Authorities Network, the National Enterprise Awards were set-up to celebrate the achievements of Irelands micro-enterprise sector. Previous national winners from Kilkenny included companies such as Mileeven, Mechanical Modular Solutions and MyBio. Further details about the supports available to local start-ups and small businesses are available through www.localenterprise.ie /kilkenny. Updates around local companies competing at the National Enterprise Awards are available by searching #NEAwards on social media. Directed and co-written by Janet Moran, Looking for America is the real-life story of writer and performer Federico Julian Gonzalez. Following his fathers arrest by a Military Junta, at the age of five, Fede and his family were forced to flee the Salvadoran Civil war. There followed years of continuous moving throughout Latin America with his mother and brother as they sought sanctuary. In 2019, Fede and his 74-year-old mother set off on a quest through Havana to look for America. Shared memories, conflicting recollections and offline maps led them through their past. A past peopled with ghosts scattered among grand avenues, dark lanes and unnerving dead ends in the city that had taken them in, more than 30 years before. They spoke to shop-keepers, taxi drivers, old ladies and more importantly to each other. When they were about to give up, they found her. Looking for America charts two journeys. The journey of that night in Havana looking for a Salvadoran ex-Guerilla fighter called America, and the journey of escaping the catastrophe that had engulfed his country decades before. A catastrophe whose after effects still resonate today. Sometimes the idea of home has to be remade. And remade. And remade. Looking for America will be performed at the Watergate Theatre on April 2. For more see www.watergatetheatre.ie The world really is in danger because in the centre of Europe, a terrible abuser, right in front of everyone, is at war in a large and beautiful country. Ukraine is only a stones throw away from us, approximately less than 3,000 kilometres or a four-hour flight and its affecting us all. This week I bring you a Week in the Life of my neighbour Tatjana Feldmane, better known as Tanya. Originally from Ukraine, she has been living in Kilkenny for the past 12 years. Tanya left Ukraine for Latvia, where she lived since the events of 1991, when the USSR was broken. In May 2005, Tanya took her daughter Dasha to Ireland, and she received Irish citizenship in Autumn 2016. Seventeen years after arriving in Ireland, Tanya is living her worst nightmare. Her Kilkenny home resembles a war office, where she is on the phone day and night trying to help her loved ones who are living in the city of Kyiv and the Luhansk region. Last week, Tanyas partner Joe sent a text to all our neighbours requesting some warm clothes to help the displaced victims of the Russian invasion. He was hoping to fill up the back of his jeep and bring it to Dublin to make its way to Poland. By the end of that day word spread, with neighbours and friends calling non-stop to their home. It was like an Irish wake, instead of people bringing plates of sandwiches, they called with boxes of warm clothes and aid parcels. They received so much that Joe had to find a lorry to transport it all. Tanya and her daughter spent days packing everything. She put a very patriotic poem of hope into almost every box, as well as a fistful of sweets in coat pockets for the children. All week I have been listening to Tanyas stories as she has educated me on Ukraines history and her peoples struggle for freedom. When I started interviewing her on day three of the conflict, Tanyas only sister Olya and her husband Sergey had decided to stay in their home in Kyiv. Nothing she could say or do could persuade them to leave. Fast forward to today and Tanya is making the journey to the Polish border to meet her sister after she made the horrendous journey since boarding the night train last Saturday with her husband. It will be the first night that Olya and her husband will sleep in a bed in nearly two weeks. Tanya does not want this story to be just about war, but instead about the goodness of people. Tanya, the Irish humanity amazes you. Since coming to Ireland in May 2005, I have been amazed by the generosity and kindness of Irish people. Emotionally, the most moving was the fact that Irish people still remember the Chernobyl tragedy. Thirty-five years later, Irish people are still generously sending their love across all the borders to those who need protection and help. Just like sending aid to the children of Chernobyl, sponsoring operations to treat birth defects, sending the best Irish doctors and medical equipment to perform unique operations. Yes, this foundation supports a few institutions in Belorussia, but it does not matter where the human pain or child suffering is located - the Irish will go and send their light and love to them. Humanity doesnt know borders. As for my Kilkenny neighbours and friends, I would like to thank them very much for their efforts in such a short time to accumulate so many aid packages for my people. I was crying seeing all the people come into our house with their arms full of boxes; the most valuable thing they were bringing to our home was their sincere love to those who are in pain. Also, please can I say a big thank you to the Moldova shop here in Kilkenny, who transported the aid for us. The generosity of Irish people is so great. They are supporting those who lost all their plans, dreams, and happiness. Tell us about the significance of the Ukraine flag as it helped me understand the strength of your people. The Ukrainian flag is made up of two colours - sky blue and yellow. Sky blue on top represents blue sky, good weather sunshine, light, and yellow means fields of wheat fields, of barley, fields of rapeseeds and sunflowers in bloom. This flag radiates light. It also has three fork-like symbols, which represents that we are peaceful hardworking people. Please share the stories you have been hearing about the Ukrainian women fighting this war, especially the elderly. The spirit of the Ukrainian people who live in poverty will never break. The cost of living is very high in Ukraine, they live off an average pension of 100 to 150 per month - a pound of good quality butter there is dearer than it is here. However, people trust and believe that things will be better, so everyone young and old is helping. Ive heard some extraordinary stories that you dont hear on the news. On the first day of occupation, when Russian soldiers set foot on Ukrainian soil, an old lady bravely went up to one of them and asked, What are you doing here, this is my home?. He answered by saying we are here to give freedom to the Russian-speaking population. She pulled a fistful of sunflower seeds from her pocket and said Look, my dear put these in your pocket, if anything good comes out of this war may some flowers come out of the ground when youre dead and buried. My sister told me another story about a Ukrainian village that was occupied by a tank brigade of tired Russian soldiers. They stopped at a house and asked for water, but the woman was prepared and offered them herbal tea - or so they thought. She gave them tea that was stewed all night with laxative herbs! We have warned the Russians that every woman in Ukraine is a witch, so watch out! As you may know laxatives on an empty stomach work very fast and on the outskirts of the village, the Russians popped up like popcorn from their tanks to relieve themselves. The Ukrainians were waiting for them. You believe you cannot stop war by killing people or sending military equipment to kill somebody. What can we do to help? You can stop war by sending love and positive thoughts there and your understanding. I told you Siobhan to watch the Winter on Fire documentary on Netflix and it gave you a better understanding of what we have battled with for the past eight years. Everyone should watch it, as this understanding is so important. Currently, there are plenty of injured soldiers and civilians, but I think the most injured part of the population are those 1.5 million people who left Ukraine, those on the border and in refugee camps. We need to think about women now and yes, we need to think more about the children because they will bring this trauma to their adulthood. They will bring this pain and fears. This is where Irish people can do something to ease this pain. As modern psychologists confirm, one of the ways to reduce stress is drawing. From my childhood, I remember the time when at school we were collecting stationery for children of the Vietnam war. I see big potential for a project like Save the smiles and childhood of the displaced Ukraine children. Each school can make donations and to form a pallet, involving all age groups of children here to collect stationery, toys, puzzles, copy books, colouring books, pencils. We have a very good facility to use for delivery via the Moldova shop. Besides helping the children, how can we help the women when they arrive in Ireland? First, we need to give them language skills. Most of them speak English but its very basic. We need to accommodate them here, maybe in hotels and give them time to restore their emotional state and be patient, giving them time to learn language at their own pace, then they can go and work or involve them as social workers for more people coming to Ireland. We need to help the pregnant women who made the horrendous journeys without their husbands and now have no family support. The mothers of Ireland need to step up and help with their experiences and give these children the best start in life that a free country like ours can offer. Closer to home, you have a suggestion to help from Kilkenny. We are in the art capital of Ireland, so this is a call for all artists and for people to buy Irish art. I would like to see a joint exhibition of the community of Irish artists, who prepared to donate funds from this project to something very special. After a few days of live display, organise an auction. Over the last two years I participated in a few auctions, and I can tell you how euphoric it is to see someone giving a higher price than expected or advised. This will benefit the artist and benefit the buyer, who bought something unique. The biggest benefit is for those who will receive the funds. https://joy-art.space A nurse from Dungarvan in Kilkenny will walk alongside the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, as Grand Marshal of the London St Patricks Day Parade. Jane Callaway is the Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust hospital, in the heart of London. She has been chosen to represent the NHS alongside other frontline workers, to thank them for their dedication and sacrifice that support their community through the Covid pandemic. Jane left Kilkenny to train as a nurse and has been living in London in 1998. She is now married to Chris and they have two little girls - Ella (10) and Robyn (six). The London parade will take place this Sunday, on March 13, and Jane says its something her daughters will remember. She says its quite an honour to have been chosen. Jane was nominated by the Director of Nursing in Chelsea and Westminster and the news came to her as a total surprise. Shes still in a bit of disbelief. Jane took on the role of Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control in 2019. She had no idea what was coming in 2020. Covid brought a very busy time for Jane and all in the NHS and frontline services. Living in London in that time, and being one of the few still commuting to work, meant Jane walked empty streets and described the Tube as eerie. While all restrictions are now relaxed in the community in the UK there are still precautions in healthcare settings, keeping Jane busy. Covid also meant that Jane and her family were not able to travel home to Ireland much. In Dungarvan, Janes mother Statia Wall is very proud of her daughter. Im delighted for her, Statia told the Kilkenny People. When Jane graduated from the Presentation Secondary School she went straight to London to train. Statia was looking forward to having Jane and her family in Kilkenny last Christmas, but a positive Covid test stopped that. Now, Stella is looking forward to having Jane home with her siblings Graham, Julie and Laura, to celebrate her father Michaels 70th birthday, in April. Michael is well known and works in Templetuohy Farm Machinery in Callan. Saturdays London parade will also honour the police, fire service, paramedics, shop workers, transport workers, teachers and psychotherapists who supported London through the pandemic. The Garda Band will take part in proceedings. Read more about the London St Patrick's Day Festival HERE on the website of the London Mayor. MBABANE Amid calls by political organisations who were demanding his release from prison, political activist Amos Mbedzi has been handed over to prison authorities in his home country. The name of Mbedzi, who was referred to as a political prisoner, has been a common feature in political rallies and other events, with those in attendance calling for his immediate release. Mbedzi, who has been sick for some time, left the country for South Africa yesterday after undergoing medical tests at the Mbabane Government Hospital. Armed Correctional Services officers were deployed at the hospital to ensure his safety while he was undergoing the medical check-ups. Hospital While doctors were busy examining Mbedzi, there were students from various institutions who had assembled at the entrance of the hospital singing and calling for his release as they believed that the charges which resulted in his conviction were trumped up. After undergoing the medical check-ups, Mbedzi was transported out of the hospital in a car from His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS), which was escorted by two others with armed officers. It was later gathered that the political activist was transported out of the country through Ngwenya/Oshoek Border Gate. He was sentenced to 85 years by the then High Court Judge Bheki Maphalala, who is now the countrys chief justice. Mbedzi was found guilty on two counts of murder after the death of Musa MJ Dlamini and South African national Jack Govender when a bomb exploded in a vehicle they were travelling in at Lozitha Bridge. He was convicted of five charges, including sedition and murder and was subsequently sentenced to 85 years and six months in prison. The sentence was broken down as follows; 25 years imprisonment for the murder of MJ Dlamini, 25 years imprisonment for the murder of Govender, 20 years for attempted murder, 15 years for sedition and six months for unlawful entry into the Kingdom of Eswatini. Since the judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, Mbedzi was sentenced to a total of 26 years. Mbedzi who has been in custody for 10 years after he was convicted and sentenced in 2012, will now serve the remaining part of his sentence in the Republic of South Africa. When he was sentenced, he had already spent four years in custody after his arrest in 2008. In 2014, it was reported that the South African Communist Party (SACP) organised a campaign called Release Amos Mbedzi, which was held at Makonde Stadium. Mbedzi, an ANC and MMVA member, was last seen at home in September 2008 during the funeral service of his grandmother. Last year, about 20 people failed to deliver a petition to HMCS in Matsapha, where they demanded the release of Mbedzi and two incarcerated MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. Guilty Coming to the judgment, Mbedzi was found guilty of murder after the deaths of, MJ and Govender, after a bomb explode in a car they were travelling in on September 20, 2008. Mbedzi sustained serious injuries to his face and head, but survived the blast because he was about 10m away from the car when the bomb went off. It exploded prematurely while being assembled by Dlamini and Govender. The court found that mens rea (the mental state of a person) in the form of dolus eventualis, did exist: the accused meant to bomb and destroy the bridge but the bomb killed the deceased. This is a misapplication of dolus eventualis, just as in the Pistorius trial in which the athlete was found not guilty of murder by the High Court. The Supreme Court of Appeal later overturned this verdict. Mbedzi was also found guilty on three other counts; sedition, entering and being in the country illegally, and illegal possession of explosives. He pleaded guilty only to the last charge. According to court evidence, the three entered Swaziland (Eswatini) from South Africa, intending to plant a bomb under the bridge. Confirming the latest developments, HMCS Commissioner General Phindile Dlamini said the transfer of Mbedzi was in accordance with the transfer of Convicted Offenders Act 10 of 2001. Dlamini said the Act was in line with the international obligation, which governed the transfer of offenders between States. She said the country ratified the South African Development Community (SADC) protocol on the exchange or transfer of convicted offender between States. Dlamini stated that after the successful bilateral negotiations between Eswatini and the Republic of South Africa, she, with assistance from Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu, facilitated the transfer of Mbedzi to the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa, where he is expected to complete his sentence. She stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Coorperation also contributed in the transfer of Mbedzi. Dlamini stated that the process would have been completed earlier had it not been for COVID-19. She thanked all stakeholders for their collective effort in ensuring that Mbedzi was transferred to his home country. Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the largest jewellery retailers in the world, said it will invest up to $100 million in the next three to five years in Bangladesh, a senior company official announced at the 3rd Bangladesh Economic Forum that concluded at the Movenpick Grand Hotel in Dubai. Another Dubai-based company, Danube Homes the home improvement arm of Danube Group also announced its foray into Bangladesh with a franchise partnership agreement with Dhaka-based Daffodil Group signed at the Bangladesh Economic Forum. The partnership agreement will see Danube Homes rolls out multiple stores across Bangladesh. More than 300 delegates comprising business leaders from the UAE and Bangladesh were present at the forum in which Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen and Salman F Rahman, Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister on Investment and Private Industries, delivered keynote speech. Dr Momen, in his keynote speech, urged the UAE investors to invest in Bangladesh. Our bilateral relations with the UAE is currently at the highest level. Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently leading a large delegation to the UAE to further deepen our ties with the UAE. The business community should take advantage of the strong UAE-Bangladesh relations and come closer to tap the untapped economic potential and create a win-win situation. The high-profile event also saw presentations by Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Sheikh Yousuf Haroon, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and Prof Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, Chairman of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC). Rahman urged UAE investors to visit Bangladesh and see the new Bangladesh for themselves. The Bangladesh that you see today, is a changed Bangladesh. However, unless you visit and see the changed Bangladesh, you wouldnt realise the new ground reality. So, I urge all of you to come and visit Bangladesh and see what Bangladesh has to offer and how you could benefit from the growing opportunities in Bangladesh where 165 million people are becoming economically empowered. Our team will be happy to host you and show you around for you to see the changing dynamism and the economic opportunities. President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) and senior officials of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led a 75-member delegation to Bangladesh Economic Forum. Malabar Gold and Diamond is currently searching for a suitable location to set up its jewellery manufacturing unit, to be followed by the opening of its showroom in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a very promising market for us. Bangladeshis represent a sizeable customer base amongst our global customer base. We see the demand for quality gold and diamond jewellery is growing rapidly in Bangladesh, which prompted us to enter the country, Ameer CMC, Director of Finance and Administration, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, said. We expect faster return on investment in Bangladesh due to low-cost of operation that could result in higher return and increase our global footprint. We believe it is the right time to enter the market. Adel Sajan, Managing Director of Danube Group and Sabur Khan, Chairman of Daffodil Group, Bangladesh signed an agreement to cement their partnership at the Bangladesh Economic Forum. Sajan said: Bangladesh offers a very promising future and we have decided to move into Bangladesh at the right time with the right partner. By this summer, we are going to open our first showroom in Dhaka and I hope to open more outlets in Bangladesh as the economy is growing fast, in fact so fast that the per capita GDP jumped four times in just 10-12 years. Both the deals were facilitated and structured by Bangladesh Economic Form and its founder Saifur Rahman, who welcomed the delegates at the Bangladesh Economic Forum. The whole objective of launching Bangladesh Economic Forum was to bring the business communities of the UAE and Bangladesh close. Bangladeshi exporters have not been focusing on the UAE and GCC markets for a long time. It is time for them to come to the UAE and use the global connectivity of Dubai and use it as a hub to penetrate the Middle East, Africa and Central Asian market," he said. We are talking to many UAE investors to invest in Bangladesh and we are willing to find partners for your investment. - TradeArabia News Service Two Easy Ways To Subscribe! The Kodiak Daily Mirror offers full-service, five-day a week subscriptions with home delivery in addition to unlimited access to our online services (including our e-Edition). Online-access-only subscriptions include unlimited access to the Mirror's online services without delivery of the printed newspaper. (Note: New users: You must register and login before purchasing a subscription. Support local journalism Local news, sports and entertainment when you want it. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the best local news, sports and entertainment coverage. BEIJING, March 11 -- Under the organization of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the 25th Chinese peacekeeping engineering contingent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Indonesian peacekeeping quick reaction force battalion held a completion ceremony to celebrate the successful completion of the expansion project of Walungu Camp on March 8, local time. According to the adjustment plan of force deployment of MONUSCO, the Walungu Camp needs to be expanded in order to solve the accommodation problem of the relocated Indonesian peacekeepers. After receiving the task in mid-October last year, the Chinese peacekeeping engineering contingent sent 16 peacekeepers to perform engineering tasks. The camp expansion project covered tasks such as the renovation of prefabricated houses, the erection and restoration of semi-permanent tents, the construction of septic tanks, the renovation of barracks, and the construction of sub-drainage systems. As the key project of MONUSCO, strict requirements were specified in terms of project standards, quality and timeline. During the nearly 4-month construction period, the 16 peacekeepers overcame difficulties such as hot weather, pandemic, diseases and material shortages, and efficiently completed the multiple engineering tasks with remarkable speed and quality, including the construction of two new toilets as well as their water pump installation, circuit layout of 30 tents, paint spraying of 34 prefabricated houses, connection of 200-meter water pipes, surface hardening of 250-meter road, and excavation and hardening of 315-meter drainage ditch. The commander of the Indonesian side spoke highly of the strict work style, discipline and responsible attitude of Chinese peacekeepers at the completion ceremony. UW Extension, Wyoming 4-H to Host Virtual Career Night March 22 Young people in Wyoming and beyond can learn about a variety of career opportunities during a virtual career night hosted by University of Wyoming Extension and Wyoming 4-H Tuesday, March 22. Exploring Your Future and Growing a Career: Virtual Career Night will begin at 6 p.m. with a welcome and introduction, followed by a brief presentation by Tris Munsick, a country music artist from Sheridan. Following Munsicks talk, participants will learn about career opportunities in six career tracks: agriculture and natural resources, business, health and education, expressive arts, trades, and wild and crazy. Each track will feature industry professionals who will provide insights into their careers. The presentations will be recorded and available for later viewing at https://wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night. The event is free, but registration is required. To register, go to https://wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night. A Zoom link will be provided following registration. This event is a unique way to connect with people in different professions and learn about a variety of careers that are available, says Amber Armajo, UW Extension 4-H/youth educator in Washakie County. Not only can participants learn about career options, but they also can ask questions of professionals and college recruiters. Representatives of UW, the states community colleges and WyoTech will be available to talk about opportunities available at their schools and answer questions. For more information, go to https://wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night; or call Armajo at (307) 347-3431 or email amwall@uwyo.edu. President Joe Biden will announce Friday that the US, along with the G7 and European Union, will call for revoking "most favored nation" status for Russia, referred to as permanent normal trade relations in the US, sources familiar with the move tell CNN. Biden is shown here in the State Dining Room of the White House on December 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. Citibank Korea headquarters in Seoul / Korea Times file By Yoon Ja-young Citibank Korea announced that it signed a syndicated loan agreement with Hanwha EU Energy Solutions on Feb. 25, to support Hanwha's business in Europe. Hanwha EU Energy Solutions is the European subsidiary of Hanwha Solutions. As the sole coordinator, Citibank Korea, signed the 430 million euro syndicated loan facility based on the overseas investment insurance of Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE). Hanwha Solutions will fund its renewable energy investments in Europe, including France, Spain and Portugal, and gain momentum for additional business expansion through the agreement, according to the bank. The agreement covers large-scale joint financing between K-SURE and global banks for Hanwha Solutions' investment into renewable energy projects in Europe, including solar PV and wind power, and is expected to have a positive impact on related domestic industries, such as solar PV module exports, following the future expansion of business in the region. This agreement is meaningful for Citibank Korea and K-SURE since the green financing deal shows their strong ESG commitment. After signing an MOU to support Korean companies' exports and overseas expansion in February of 2021, Citibank Korea and K-SURE expanded their financial support to help Korean companies foray into green industries overseas. "We are delighted to support Hanwha Group's global ESG projects with K-SURE through this agreement," Citibank Korea CEO Yoo Myung-soon said. "Citibank Korea will spare no effort in supporting Korean companies expanding into green industries overseas based on our global network," she added. After opening its first branch in Korea in 1967 and its new launch as Citibank Korea Inc. (CKI) through integration with KorAm Bank in 2004, the lender has been providing innovative financial products and services based on its global network in more than 160 countries. No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results U.S. District Court judges in Northern Indiana are looking for public comment on whether to reappoint Susan L. Collins as a federal magistrate judge. Collins has been serving as a magistrate in the Districts Fort Wayne Division since 2015. She will be undergoing a job review to determine if she should receive a new eight-year term in court. The court issued a press release this week stating federal law requires the judges to establish a panel of citizens to advise them on whether to reappoint Collins. Collins is among six magistrates working in Hammond, South Bend and Fort Wayne to assist the work of nine judges presiding over federal criminal and civil cases throughout Northern Indiana. The judges delegate the magistrates to handle pretrial proceedings. They also may preside over trials in misdemeanor criminal as well as civil matters. The court is inviting public comments about Collins from members of the legal bar and members of the public to be sent to Gary T. Bell, federal court clerk, 204 South Main St., South Bend, Indiana, 46601. Collins has practiced law in Indiana since 1986. She served as a deputy in the Lake County prosecutors office from 1987 until 2003. She served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Hammond from 2003 until 2015. She had the distinction of prosecuting the first capital case completed in the history of this federal court district in 2004, winning the conviction and death sentence of Odell Corley for the murder of two bank clerks and the attempted murder of a bank guard in 2002 at The Pines First State Bank in Porter County. Collins was among 37 who applied to be a federal magistrate in 2015 when an opening for the job occurred. She was chosen for that job by the judges of the District Court from a pool of five finalists. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Following a social media post, Yuna has been embroiled in dating rumors with ENHYPEN member, Jay. Keep on reading to know Yuna's response to the rumor. Keep on reading to know more. ITZY Yuna Rumors to be in Relationship With ENHYPEN Jay Following Latest Post Back on March 8, ITZY member Yuna recently took to the fan messenger app Bubble to update fans on what she has been up to these days. During her time on Bubble, Yuna shared a couple of photos with fans where she can be seen visiting the popular "Gordon Ramsay Burger" restaurant located at the Lotte World Mall in Seoul while spending her time with a mystery person. In the photos, Yuna also showed off the two large hamburgers and a milkshake. While Yuna's latest Bubble post seemed innocent, netizens quickly began to speculate that the idol was spending time and went to the restaurant with ENHYPEN member Jay, after a netizen had shared Yuna's Bubble post on the online community forum, Nate Pann, on March 10. This speculation came after the ENHYPEN member had also shared a couple of photos of him visiting the same Gordon Ramsay Burger restaurant on the same day. In the photos that Jay shared, it can be seen that the idol had also ordered the same kind of burger and milkshake as the one in Yuna's photos, which prompted netizens to wonder if the two fourth generation idols are in a relationship and were on a date. ITZY Yuna Responds to Dating Rumors of Her and ENHYPEN Jay Not long after the speculation of the two dating began gaining attention around social media, Yuna herself had taken once again to Bubble to personally explain the situation. According to Yuna, she had gone to the Gordon Ramsay Burger restaurant along with her friend whom she met when was in elementary school. Yuna explained that she and her friend had been friends for 11 years, and that they had gone to the restuarant to celebrate her friend getting accepted into college. In addition, Yuna also shared another photo of her at the Gorden Ramsay Burger restaurant, with the angle of the photo showing her female friend sitting opposite of her. Jay had also held a Naver V Live broadcast, where he talked about visiting the restaurant with his father. After the new photo was shared by Yuna, netizens took to social media to criticize those who began the speculation, with some leaving comments such as "Yuna even took off her face mask to take the photo. There would be no way that she would do that while sitting there with a male idol out in the open." "This is the reason why Yuna posted that photo right away in the morning." "The sesame seeds on the two burgers are different." "Please leave Yuna alone." "Even if these kids went there together, why would people think that they are automatically dating? Seriously, you guys. Act more one-dimensional than animals," among others. For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan Law enforcement agencies across the state of Idaho are reporting an increase in drug and drug trafficking cases, particularly when it comes to cases involving fentanyl. Read more Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight take testimony Friday, March 11, 2022. From left to right is Vice Chair Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge; Chair Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge; and panels members Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette; and Sen. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe. (Photo by Mark Ballard, The Advocate) Vice President Kamala Harris ventured farther toward NATO's eastern edge Friday with a stop in Romania, a country suddenly thrust into priority position for the United States as fighting rages over its border in Ukraine. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, seen here in December 2021, is being sued by a woman who claims he is her biological father; Dallas County court documents show. Biden gets a new friend in Asia to take on China, North Korea MILLER COUNTY, Mo. A local teacher is facing four felony charges after authorities say he had a sexual relationship with a female student. Miller County R-III (Tuscumbia) teacher Michael Allen is charged with two counts of Statutory Sodomy and two counts of Sexual Contact with a Student. According to a probable cause document for Allens charging, a tip through the Highway Patrols Courage 2 Report system put local investigators on the trail. During the investigation, a man called the Miller County Sheriffs Office investigator, saying his daughter had told him that she and Allen had been in a relationship for more than a year, and that the relationship had been sexual. During an interview at Kids Harbor, the girlwho was 16 at the timesaid Allen had given her alcohol and tried to have sex with her at his apartment. She told interviewers that she resisted, according to the document, but Allen persisted and made sexual contact with her. He was 24 years old at the time. The girl reportedly told interviewers that they would meet, and he would tell her to turn off the Life 360 tracking app on her phone when they did so. He also is alleged to have tried to have sexual contact with her in his classroom outside of school hours. In another incident at a friends house, the girl says Allen followed her into the bathroom and had sexual contact with her. The document noted Allen is under investigation in Camden County for an incident that reportedly happened in Osage Beach. Allen was arrested on March 9 and is being held in Miller County Jail on $75,000 bond. Related Stories Lake Area Man Charged With 1st Degree Statutory Rape CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. A Sunrise Beach resident facing a 2nd degree statutory rape charge in M Osage Beach, MO (65065) Today Cloudy in the morning, then off and on rain showers during the afternoon hours. High 64F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain showers in the evening will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 56F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Fraley's 2022 Spring Consignment Auction sold off 3,900 lots of farm and construction equipment to 2,650 in-person bidders plus another 1,700 online, and the record turnout generated some high prices. In view of the further relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions by the Swiss authorities, Consular services at the Sri Lanka Consulate in Geneva will continue to be provided in the following manner. Applications for NewPassports/ Passport Renewals/Visa Applications/ Legalization/ Police clearance certificates Applications for New Passports/Passport Renewals/Visa Applications/Legalization/Police Clearance Certificate can be obtained by applying in-person at the Consulate by prior appointment or by sending the duly completed application form via registered post with the originals of the supporting documents. Submitting Applications in-Person To obtain an appointment to apply for New Passports/Passport Renewals/Visa Applications/Legalization /Police Clearance Certificate, please login through https://geneva.embassyonline.lk/ or click the link: click here to get an appointment for consular services Submitting Applications via Registered Post Those who wish to apply for New Passports/Passport Renewals/Visa Applications/Legalization/Police Clearance Certificate by registered post, can download the application form from https://www.lankamission.org/2013-07-02-05-11-06/consular-services/travel-documents/new-passport.html. Please note that the originals of the necessary supporting documents have to be sent by registered post along with the application form. The originals will be returned to the applicant by registered post. For information regarding applications for New Passports and Passport Renewals click: https://www.lankamission.org/2013-07-02-05-11-06/consular-services/travel-documents/new-passport.html For information regarding applications for visas click: https://www.lankamission.org/2013-07-02-05-11-06/2013-12-19-11-22-11/visit-visa.html For information regarding legalization of the documents click: https://www.lankamission.org/2013-07-02-05-11-06/consular- services/legalization.html For information regarding Police clearance certificates click: https://www.lankamission.org/2013-07-02-05-11-06/consular-services/police-clearance-certificates.html Applications for Registration of Births/ Registration of Deaths/ Driving Licenses/ Dual Citizenship/ Emergency Passports/ Lost Passports/ Attestation of Documents/ Power of Attorney The physical presence of the applicant is necessary when applying for Registration of Births/ Registration of Deaths/ Driving Licenses/ Dual Citizenship/ Emergency Passports/ Lost Passports/ Attestation of Documents/ Power of Attorney. To obtain an appointment for these services other than Emergency passports please login through https://geneva.embassyonline.lk/ or click the link: click here to get an appointment for consular services To obtain an appointment to apply for Emergency Passports please call 0229191251 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. View Notice in PDF Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Geneva New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI/Oswaal Books): CBSE Term 2 Class 10 & 12 Date Sheet: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the datesheet for term-2 board exams, which would be conducted in April-May 2022. Here's are CBSE Term 2 Date Sheet Class 10 & 12 for Board Exams2022 on the official CBSE website Also Read | Radhe Shyam Movie Review: Prabhas Tries Hard To Save This Beautifully Decked But Sinking Ship Co-Starring Pooja Hegde! (LatestLY Exclusive). CBSE Term 2 Date sheet Class 10 For Board Exams 2022: https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents//ClassX_2022.pdf CBSE Term 2 Date sheet Class 12 For Board Exams 2022: https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents//ClassXII_2022.pdf Also Read | Bengaluru Shocker: 16-Year-Old Teen Drugged and Raped by 4 Men for Over 6 Days. CBSE Term 2 Board Exams 2022 for classes 10 and 12 to commence from April 26. The board exams will be held in offline mode at the allotted exam centres, and will be in a descriptive model with long and short-form questions. CBSE is all set to conduct the Term 2 offline exams from April 26th, 2022 of Class 10th and 12th. We know that board exams are tough and seem even tougher to crack, but they are not tougher as you think. You can crack the most horrific and the toughest board exam if you are known to some management techniques that can assist you in tackling the stress of exams. We are sure that you may be able to crack the exams if you are well versed with the management techniques in your exam. This article suggests seven scientific time management that will surely help you settle your time as per your priority and convenience. You can scroll down to know more! Pomodoro Technique The Pomodoro technique uses the timer to divide the work into intervals. Each interval is known as the Pomodoro interval. According to this technique, you can divide your whole into small intervals and can decide on a particular subject for that time. Parkison's Law The law states that the time you give to each work is the time that each work will take to get completed. As per this law, you can divide the time as per the specific and try to revise it for a specific period. Rapid Planning Method (RPM) Motivational speaker Tony Robbins originally originates this method; According to this method, you can train your mind to put an intense focus on your vision so that you can make it real. With this method, you can achieve the goal that you want to achieve. As per this method, you can achieve a specific rank in your boards by focusing on that rank. With the help of this method, you can be self-determined and self-motivated to achieve a specific goal in your 10th class. Students can also plan their exams with Oswaal CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 & 12 For Board Exams 2022. Students will get different ways of learning: * Self-Assessment Papers for Term 2 Board Exams March-April 2022 * Oswaal CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 & 12 For Board Exams 2022 include all latest typologies of Questions as specified in the latest CBSE Sample Papers Released On 14th Jan 2022 * On-Tips Notes & Revision Notes for Quick Revision * The CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 & 12 For Board Exams 2022 include Mind Maps for Better Learning * The Book provides Free Oswaal 360 E-Assessments based on the latest Typologies of Questions as per CBSE Term 2 Board Exams 2022 Here is the recommended link for CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 10 for Board Exams 2022, click here Here is the recommended link for CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 12 for Board Exams 2022, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai1QHEw3qMg Time Blocking The famous entrepreneur has suggested this method and businessman Elon Musk. In this technique, you have to divide your time into the blocks of the day and organize your whole day accordingly. According to this technique, you can divide your subject to each specific block of the day; this block might lie between an hour or the duration of half-hour. GTD Method With this method, you can record the specific task on the paper and then divide it into actionable items. Furthermore, you can divide specific larger tasks into small tasks and set the commitments to complete them with this method. With this method, you can segregate the largest and lengthiest lessons into small sections and set specific commitments to revise them properly. Pickle Jar Theory The pickle theory is effective when you prepare for the first time in your boards. It helps you to give a priority to the things that are primarily important and necessary for you. It helps you to pick out the things based on their importance. In this theory, the time is the little pickle jar and every day, and it is filled up with the non-essential and the essential things. The useful things are called the pickle, and the useless things are sands or pebbles. We have to keep the pickle and throw out the sands from the jar. As per this theory, you can keep the important lessons in your time while skipping out some unimportant and other activities from your day. Eat That Frog This technique highlights that we should do the work as per the task's priority. It entails that we should perform important tasks initially in our day. As per this technique, you can initially revise the important tasks and lessons. Conclusion The board exams are a challenge if you appear in the exam for the first time. But these examinations get even easier if you follow the above seven-time management techniques, you will surely achieve a successful level in organizing your time accordingly. This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books) (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 11 (ANI/PR Newswire): Pearl Academy, India's leading institute in creative studies today strengthened its collaboration with Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the apex body of fashion designers in India. The collaboration aims to provide an enhanced learning experience to the students through a series of programs and industry events spread over the next few months. The event was held at Pearl Academy Delhi South Campus. During the event, FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi, Aditi Srivastava President Pearl Academy, Sharad Mehra, Chairman, Creative Arts Education Society and FDCI board of governors Payal Jain, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Anjana Bhargav, Paras Bairoliya, Reynu Taandon, Rahul Vohra, Safir Anand along with India's key designer Anju Modi, came together to address the students and educate them about the new developments in the fashion industry. Also Read | Microsoft Reportedly Starts Testing Tabs in File Explorer on Windows 11. Through this collaboration, Pearl Academy will be providing an opportunity to the students to directly interact with India's key designers for a more immersive experience of the high-tech fashion industry. The enhanced partnership with FDCI will ensure right skill sets that the students need to nurture and develop as designers of tomorrow. The enhanced learning experience includes: -Fashion Week- In continuity of the association over the last six years, Pearl Academy's graduating students will continue to showcase their best creations at FDCI x LFW Fashion Week. Also Read | Parth Samthaan Birthday: 7 Pictures That Show The Handsome Hunk Loves To Globe-Trot. -Setting up of a Designer's Club with leading members of fashion fraternity under which designers will mentor and inspire a group of students from Pearl Academy. This event will be held across Pearl Academy's campuses, providing a platform for mentoring and counselling the students by the industry experts on various aspects on the fashion industry.Idea Generator will be an event hosted by FDCI with fashion experts (designers, editors and stylists) where students from Pearl Academy will participate to delve upon new fashion ideas and future fashion trends. -Brand Moods will be a live & interactive web series where senior designers will talk to Pearl students about their journey from being a label to becoming a successful brand. Commenting on the continued alliance, Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI said, "It is a matter of pride for us to take forward our association with Pearl Academy to new levels. Our collaboration with Pearl Academy aims to ensure that students have the right exposure to the industry and have knowledge that goes beyond campus environment. The coming together of FDCI and Pearl Academy will enable direct face-to-face interaction and exposure with India's key designers. This will eventually open up a plethora of new opportunities for them." "We are extremely happy to further strengthen our collaboration with FDCI. At Pearl Academy we have always ensured an enhanced learning experience for our students that is in line with industry standards. The association with FDCI will ensure our students get the right exposure and inspiration from leading designers that will further hone their creative instincts. Students at Pearl Academy will have learning that is deeply integrated with the industry and the alliance with FDCI ensures the same," said Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy. Pearl Academy is India's leading creative education institution as per industry surveys by ASSOCHAM, India Today- MDRA, Outlook-Drshti & I-CARE, The Week- Hansa, Business of Fashion, and The Economic Times. The institute offers 40-plus under-graduate, post-graduate, and professional development programs in design, fashion, business, and media through its campuses in Delhi-South, Delhi-West, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. For 28 years, Pearl Academy has been a catalyst for success for its students through its unique Total Learning System, constructive tie-ups with industry bodies, and international universities that are strongly reflected in its placement record of over 98% year-on-year. For more information, please visit: www.pearlacademy.com. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1764038/Fashion_Design.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1764039/Sharad_Mehra.jpg This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PR Newswire) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Mar 11 (PTI) The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday granted bail to former UP minister Azam Khan in a case relating to a Jal Nigam recruitment scam. Passing the order, the court observed that the counsel representing the state government failed to point out any clinching evidence against Khan. Also Read | India Regrets Accidental Firing of Missile Which Landed in Pakistan. The state counsel also could not show that Khan committed any misappropriation or financial irregularity, the court added. Considering facts and circumstances of the case, Justice Ramesh Sinha said, "In view of this court, the continued custody of Khan, prima facie, may not be necessary for the purpose of further investigation and trial in the instant case." Also Read | Maharashtra Budget 2022: Maha Vikas Aghadi Govt Presents Rs 24,353 Crore Deficit Budget; Reduces VAT on Natural Gas to 3% From 13.5%. In the course of hearing, it came out that as many as 87 cases were lodged against Khan and in all cases, he obtained bail the except two cases, including the present one, in which he had been in jail since November 19, 2020. An SIT had booked Khan for committing irregularity in appointment of 1,300 people during the previous Akhilesh Yadav government. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Mar 11 (PTI) AAP's chief ministerial face in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, will visit Delhi on Friday to meet party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. This comes after the party stormed to power in Punjab decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP combine. Also Read | Apple Planning To Launch Macs With M2 Chip Later This Year: Report. Talking to reporters in Sangrur before leaving for the national capital, Mann said he was going to meet Kejriwal and will congratulate him on the party's stupendous victory in the Punjab elections. To a question on government formation, Mann said, I will meet the (Punjab) governor tomorrow. We will seek time from him today. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Woman Police Constable Lodges FIR Against Inspector For Rape. Mann said the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Nawanshahr district. On the party's resounding poll victory, Mann said, The people defeated arrogant persons and they made the common people victorious. Mann won from the Dhuri seat by a huge margin of 58,206 votes. The Aam Aadmi Party romped home in 92 of the 117 assembly seats. Several stalwarts including chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal and Amarinder Singh lost to AAP candidates. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 11 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the party's victory in four out of five states that went to polls will ensure that the BJP's lotus will bloom in the state Assembly elections, scheduled early next year. Participating in a function to celebrate BJP's victory in the five states, the Chief Minister said, "Our responsibility has increased. We have to work more actively to implement the welfare programmes announced in the State budget. I have already instructed the officials to prepare the files before the end of this month and get the work orders issued before the month of April. Implementation of all the programmes will be started without any delay and it is our responsibility to reach them to the common man." Also Read | Gurugram: Liquor to be Dearer From Next Week As Vendors Announce Price Hike of 10 Percent. Bommai asked the party workers to take up publicity of the welfare programmes at booth level and help the people to avail the benefit of these programmes. "We have resolved to see the Lotus bloom and win the 2023 Assembly election by winning the hearts of the people through the public welfare programmes of our government and organisational strength of the BJP. We have taken a pledge to build a prosperous state by returning to power for the next 5 years. We will undertake a state tour with our senior leader BS Yediyurappa and central leaders to further strengthen the party in every part of the State. We are already on the job," he said and called upon the party workers to be ready to work hard to bring BJP to power again. "Congress has sunk in the rest of the country. It will sink in Karnataka too. Congress is fighting for survival. Congress has lost direction at the national and state level. It has lost its base all over the country. While BJP is fighting for a bright future for the country, Congress is fighting for existence. That is the difference. "BJP has won in 4 States. We will win in Gujarat in the coming days. The victory of BJP in Karnataka is as true as Sun rising in the East," Bommai said. Also Read | Assembly Election Results 2022: PM Narendra Modi Congratulates AAP on Punjab Win, Assures Centres Support For States Welfare. Congress is offering Fridge, TV and other inducements for its party workers who enroll new members for the party in Siddaramaiah's constituency of Badami. The Congressmen are accustomed to give and take. Nothing works without that. They will grab 10 times more than what they offer now. They have reached such a sorry state, Bommai said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Raipur, Mar 11 (PTI) A Naxal commander, carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Friday morning, an official said. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Two Women Booked Under POCSO Act for Getting Minor Girl Raped for Money in Bengaluru. A jawan of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was also injured in the gunfight, they said. Also Read | Microsoft Reportedly Starts Testing Tabs in File Explorer on Windows 11. The skirmish took place at around 8.30 am at a forest near Kaika and Mosla villages under Naimed police station limits when a joint team of the security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI. The personnel belonging to the DRG and 222nd battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were involved in the operation. Near Mosla, over 450 km away from capital Raipur, a group of armed ultras opened fire on the patrolling team leading to the gun-battle. After the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a male Naxal along with a 12 bore rifle and Maoist-related material were recovered from the spot, he said. "The killed ultra was identified as Ritesh Punem, who was active as commander of Sendra Local Organisation Squad (LOS) of Maoists," the IG said, adding that he carried a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head. "A DRG jawan sustained minor injury in the incident and his condition is said to be stable," he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji (Goa) [India], March 11 (ANI): A day after the BJP retained power in Goa, state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday held a meeting of his cabinet to dissolve the state Assembly on Monday. Speaking to ANI, Sawant said, "Today was the last cabinet meeting of the tenure. We thanked everyone. We also took a resolution to dissolve the assembly from March 14 as tenure is ending." Also Read | Huawei Nova 9 SE With 108MP Camera Launched; Check Price, Features & Specifications. The Chief Minister further informed that the swearing-in ceremony of the new government would be decided by the Central observer of the BJP. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which fell one seat short of the majority figure in Goa is set to retain power in the state with the help of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) and Independent candidates. Also Read | GPAT 2022 Exam: Graduate Pharmacy Test to be Held on April 9; Applications Open at gpat.nta.nic.in. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in Goa winning 20 seats in the 40-member state assembly and decimated Congress to 11 seats. Independent candidates bagged three seats while two seats each went to tally of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) tally. Revolutionary Goans Party and Goa Forward Party (GFP) got one seat each. According to Election Commission, BJP got 33.31 per cent vote share followed by Congress (23.46 per cent), MGP (7.60 per cent), Aam Aadmi Party (6.77) and Trinamool Congress (5.21 per cent). Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday evening said that it will form a full majority government in the coastal state with the support of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak (MGP) and three independent MLAs-- Antonio Vas, Chandrakant Shetye and Alex Reginald. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 11 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday inaugurated the first drone school in Gwalior. The chief minister said that drone technology opens huge technology opportunities for youngsters. Also Read | Gurugram: Liquor to be Dearer From Next Week As Vendors Announce Price Hike of 10 Percent. "First drone school in the state has been inaugurated in Gwalior. There's huge employment potential in this industry as drones can be used for various purposes," Chouhan told media persons here. In addition, Madhya Pradesh was also the first state in the country in advancing the use of drone technology at a big scale by organising drone meta in Gwalior in December last year. Also Read | Assembly Election Results 2022: PM Narendra Modi Congratulates AAP on Punjab Win, Assures Centres Support For States Welfare. The programme was the biggest congregation of drone manufacturers, service providers, drone enthusiasts and user communities, especially students, farmers and common man of the city. The programme included drone exhibition, demonstration, drone spardha, industry-user interactions and launches. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jodhpur, Mar 11 (PTI) Meghalya Governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday said if farmers' demands are not met, they may try to get what they want through violence. "My advice to Delhi is don't mess with them, they are dangerous people," Malik said here at an event, where he also claimed he is not scared of losing his post for raising farmers' issues. Also Read | Punjab Assembly Election Results 2022: 13 Doctors Elected as Legislators in State for the First Time, Says Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain. "Farmers will take what they want. If it is not given through talks, they would take it through a fight ('ladai'). They will get it though violence if not through a fight," he said. "They cannot be muzzled. They know how to get their demands met. If these demands are not met, they would again resume their agitation," he said referring to the year-long stir against the Centre's farm laws. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Writes to Dehradun Student Anurag Ramola, Uploads His Painting on Narendra Modi App, Website. Malik, who had earlier criticised the Centre and PM Narendra Modi over the handling of the farmers' agitation, said there was always a chance that he will get a "call from Delhi" if he talks about farmers. "I live in Delhi in a one-and-half room house, that is why I could mess ('panga le saka') with Modi over the farmers' issue," the Governor said. "I don't have any enmity with the Centre but I can leave my post for the farmers," he said. Malik repeated his earlier remark, saying when he met the PM over the farmers' issue in the past, they had a fight in just five minutes. "I told him that the Sikhs and Jats do not forget. You must send them with something. They had remembered Indira (Gandhi) as well," he said in an apparent reference to the former PM's assassination. Malik was in Jodhpur to attend a book release by the Marwar Jat Mahasabha. He earlier too has made remarks against the PM and the Centre over the farmers' issue. At an event in Haryana earlier this month, he had claimed that his friends advised him not to criticise the BJP government as he could be made the President or Vice President if he kept quiet. Malik had then asserted that he "doesn't care about these positions". In January, he had claimed that when he went to meet the prime minister on the issue of farmers, Modi was "arrogant" and had a fight with him within five minutes. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 11 (ANI): The Government of Karnataka and the British Council, the United Kingdom's International Organisation for Educational Opportunities and Cultural Exchange, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, at Vikasa Soudha, Karnataka. The MoU was intended to renew the partnership in the sectors of Education, English, and Arts for imparting global skills and creating global opportunities for the state's youth, read the release by the office of Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Minister of Higher Education. Also Read | Chennai Shocker: 22-Year-Old Man Dies by Suicide After Wife Breaks His Mobile for Speaking With Another Woman. The MoU has been signed by G. Kumar Naik, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, GoK and Janaka Pushpanathan, Director, British Council South India for 3 years in the presence of Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Minister of Higher Education, and B.C. Nagesh, Minister of Primary & Secondary Education. "The extended 3 years MoU would enable to develop the skills of faculty and students from higher education institutions in the State and to expand collaborations through British Council initiatives such as the UK-India Education Research Initiative (UKIERI) and the Going Global Partnerships," said Ashwatha Narayan during the MoU signing. Also Read | Odisha Government To Conduct Offline Matriculation Examination From April 29. Narayan also proclaimed that the MoU will pave the way for developing sustainable partnerships in the research and innovation areas of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Ed-Tech, Biosciences, and Cybersecurity between the Centers of Excellence (CoE) in the UK as well as Karnataka. "The MoU allows to build initiatives to improve English and employability skills of young people attending Industrial Training Institutions (ITIs), engineering and management courses. This facilitates student mobility between universities in India and the UK and enhances partnership opportunities between institutes in Karnataka and the UK for internationalization in the curricula," said Narayan while explaining the benefits of signed MoU. Janaka Pushpanathan, Director South India, British Council said that the MoU would allow developing further initiatives to improve English teaching and enhance employability skills in schools and training institutes, building capacity in higher education & research, and promote co-operation on inspiring young people in the state through arts and culture. On the day of MoU signing, Steve Smith, International Education Champion, Government of UK, invited ministers to participate in the Education World Forum (EWF) scheduled in May 2022 in London, UK for exploring further partnerships for Karnataka. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 11 (ANI): Highlighting gender gap in jobs, Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader and MLC K Kavitha on Friday said called upon the industry to hire more women and pointed out that the pandemic played havoc with women's workforce. While addressing the three-day Business Women Expo 2022, Kavitha said " 47 per cent women lost their jobs due to COVID, while men lost just 7 per cent." Also Read | Mamata Banerjee Calls for Opposition Unity to Fight 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, Says Congress Lost Credibility. She mentioned that the employability of women in the country is less than ten per cent."Out of 47 per cent of women who lost jobs, not many are likely to come back. Employability of women is less than 10 per cent. Pandemic has directly affected women's employment. So you need to extend a helping hand to women to come back to work. Please hire more women," she added. The MLC also requested the industry leaders present on the dais in particular and employers in general to hire more women. She also emphasized on creating awareness among the women about various schemes which the government offers for developing women's entrepreneurship. Also Read | Chennai Shocker: 22-Year-Old Man Dies by Suicide After Wife Breaks His Mobile for Speaking With Another Woman. "Not many women are aware of it. It is found that a meagre 17 per cent of women are aware of the various schemes introduced by governments Women bodies in particular and other industrial associations must create awareness about these schemes," Kavitha said. Kavitha was the chief guest at the inauguration of the Second Edition of Business Women Expo-2022, India's largest women-owned businesses expo BWE-2022. The event was jointly hosted by Hitex and COWE (Confederation of Women Enterprises) India. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Noida, Mar 11 (PTI) Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the decision of people is paramount as he hoped the new governments in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will work for farmers and labourers. The remark of the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) came late on Thursday after the BJP won majority seats in four states, including Uttar Pradesh, while the Aam Aadmi Party stormed to power in Punjab. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: Woman Kills Husband After Being Caught Having Illicit Affair With Father-in-Law in Alwar. In the great festival of democracy, the decision of the people is paramount. The farmers' movement showed its effect. We hope that all the governments that have been formed will work for to uplift farmers and labourers in their respective states. Congratulations to all on the victory, Tikait tweeted in Hindi. Tikait's BKU was part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers unions which had spearheaded the 13-month-long protest in Delhi in 2020-21 against three contentious farm laws, which now stand repealed. Also Read | OnePlus 10 Pro Reportedly Spotted on Geekbench Ahead of Its India Launch. In the aftermath of the iconic protests, the SKM had launched a punish BJP campaign in Uttar Pradesh, where farmer leaders toured several places and highlighted the anti-agriculture policies of the saffron party and issues like inflation, alleged corruption and the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which a Union minister's son is among the accused. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh [India], March 11 (ANI): The Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave the approval to recommend Governor Banwarilal Purohit for dissolution of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) registered a landslide victory in the state Assembly elections. A decision to this effect was taken during a virtual Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at his official residence in the morning hours. Also Read | Huawei Nova 9 SE With 108MP Camera Launched; Check Price, Features & Specifications. A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office mentioned the governor's authority to dissolve the state legislature."Punjab governor is authorised to dissolve the State Legislature as per sub-clause (b) of clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India. This move being a Constitutional necessity would now eventually pave a way for the formation of 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha" stated the official. At the end of the meeting, the Chief Minister thanked all his cabinet colleagues, officers, employees and people for overall development and maintaining peace and tranquillity in the state during the tenure of the present government. Also Read | GPAT 2022 Exam: Graduate Pharmacy Test to be Held on April 9; Applications Open at gpat.nta.nic.in. The Chief Minister also congratulated the incoming government and hoped that the new government would earnestly implement the promises made to the people. "He also hopes that the decisions taken by his government in the public interest such as reduction of electricity rates, slashing VAT on oil besides decreasing rates of sand and gravel etc. would be continued by the next government" read the statement. The counting of votes for Punjab Assembly elections took place on Thursday. The AAP had a landslide win in the Punjab Assembly polls by winning 92 seats to form its government in the state with a three-fourth majority in the 117-member legislative assembly. In the Punjab election, the ruling Congress managed to secure 18 seats while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended up with two seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) bagged three seats while Bahujan Samaj Party managed to win a solitary seat. Punjab witnessed a multi-cornered contest with key players being Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt) led by SS Dhindsa. Congress' Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu all lost to AAP candidates. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won 77 seats whereas Shiromani Akali Dal could win only 15 seats, BJP netted three and independent candidates won two seats. AAP had emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gaya (Bihar) [India], March 11 (ANI): Railway operations were disrupted for two hours after a bomb was found on the railway tracks near Guraru railway station in Gaya district of Bihar, said a police officer on Thursday. "Railway operations were disrupted for two hours after a crude bomb was found on the railway track near Guraru railway station. It is within 100 meters range of the railway station," said Manish Kumar, Additional Superintendents of Police, Gaya. Also Read | OnePlus 10 Pro Reportedly Spotted on Geekbench Ahead of Its India Launch. As it was a low-intensity bomb it was defused on the tracks only. The Police officer also said, "Investigation is ongoing" when asked about culprits behind the bomb. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Two Women Booked Under POCSO Act for Getting Minor Girl Raped for Money in Bengaluru. This bomb scare comes a day after Naxals allegedly set a poclain machine on fire in the Gaya district "Naxals allegedly set a poclain machine on fire near Piparwar village in Gaya's Dumaria block," said Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ajit Kumar on Wednesday. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday posted in April the hearing of a plea filed by the mother of an Army officer seeking direction to the Centre to take immediate steps through diplomatic channels for repatriation of her son, who is lodged in jail in Pakistan for last over 23 years. A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna and Justice Hima Kohli agreed to list the matter in the first week of April, after advocate Saurabh Mishra, appearing for the petitioner sought an urgent listing of the matter. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Writes to Dehradun Student Anurag Ramola, Uploads His Painting on Narendra Modi App, Website. The petition filed by 82-year-old Kamla Bhattacharjee, mother of Captain Sanjit Bhattacharjee, sought directions to the authorities to intervene in the case on an "urgent humanitarian basis" through diplomatic channels of the External Affairs Ministry and intervene in his case. In March last year, a bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had issued notice to the Centre in the case. Also Read | Bihar Legislative Council Elections 2022: BJP Releases List of 12 Candidates. The plea stated that her son, who was commissioned as an officer of Gorkha Rifles Regiment of Indian Army in August 1992, was lodged in Pakistan's jail. The family was informed in April 1997 that her son, who had gone for patrolling duty on the border at night time in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch, was apprehended by the Pakistan authorities while carrying out operation reconnaissance along the international borders on April 20. It added that the petitioner's family is entitled to be apprised with information, apropos the steps that have been taken by authorities in the past 23 years to ensure justice to the Army officer, who has been languishing in jail for past over two decades in Pakistan, especially in the absence of any case registered against him. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 11 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the innovations of scientists should reach the common man and benefit them while asserting that this is the objective of his government. The Chief Minister was speaking at a function to present Sir M Visvesvaraiah, Dr Raja Ramanna, Sir CV Raman, Prof. Satish Dhawan and Dr Kalpana Chawla Science and Technology awards for the year 2019 organised by the Department of IT, BT and Science and Technology. Also Read | Mumbai: Water Supply to be Hit in Dadar, Worli on March 14, 15 Due to Repair Work on Tansa Main Pipeline. "Innovation is a continuous process. It should be used for the welfare of the people. Our government will provide full cooperation in this regard. We will consider the proposal for setting up a Medical Research Center with the Indian Institute of Science," Bommai said. "I have come up with a Green Budget for the purpose with an allocation of Rs.100 cr to compensate for the ecological loss suffered over the years. A new way of thinking is needed for ecological protection," Bommai said. Also Read | BPSC Recruitment 2022: Apply Online For Assistant Town Planning Supervisor at bpsc.bih.nic.in. Referring to rising Cybercrimes, the Chief Minister said cyber laws have been framed to tackle the rising Cybercrimes. The innovations of young scientists should keep ahead of the Cybercriminals, he added. "Experiments, innovations and development is a continuous process. The research and innovations of great scientists like Einstein and Newton have helped the development of humanity. Our great scientist CNR Rao has been a great inspirational force for us through his experiments. He is the modern Visvesvaraya who has made immense contributions to the field of Science by building many scientific institutions," Bommai said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 11 (ANI): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday interacted with a group of students from Sikkim who were recently evacuated from war-hit Ukraine. "The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu interacted with a group of students from Sikkim who were recently evacuated from Ukraine," Vice President of India tweeted from its official account. Also Read | India Regrets Accidental Firing of Missile Which Landed in Pakistan. India has evacuated over 20,000 of its citizens from war-hit Ukraine under Operation Ganga. Earlier today, more flights carrying many Indian students from the city of Sumy in North-Eastern Ukraine landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi (ANI) Also Read | Maharashtra Budget 2022: Maha Vikas Aghadi Govt Presents Rs 24,353 Crore Deficit Budget; Reduces VAT on Natural Gas to 3% From 13.5%. (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, Mar 11 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday invited Canadian pension funds to invest in the National Monetization Pipeline and National Infrastructure Pipeline. The finance minister exchanged views on cooperation for promoting bilateral investment and trade during a meeting with Mary Ng, Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export, Small Business & Economic Development. Also Read | Odisha Government To Conduct Offline Matriculation Examination From April 29. "FM @nsitharaman complimented Canada for housing some of the largest and most successful pension funds globally and welcomed the investments from Canada into India, including in National Monetization Pipeline #NMP and National Infrastructure Pipeline #NIP," the finance ministry said in a tweet. (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, Mar 11 (PTI) Punjab & Sind Bank on Friday said it has entered into an agreement to buy 2 per cent stake in asset reconstruction company NARCL for Rs 55 crore. "Punjab & Sind Bank has entered into an agreement with National Asset Reconstruction Company on March 10, 2022 regarding investment in NARCL," the lender said in a regulatory filing. Also Read | Odisha Government To Conduct Offline Matriculation Examination From April 29. The bank said the equity investment would be done in tranches, with the first investment of Rs 28.18 crore expected to be completed by March 31, 2022. The financial investment is being done to ensure prompt resolution, including recovery of NPA (non-performing assets) accounts, the bank said. Also Read | Redmi K50 Pro & Redmi K50 Pro+ With 12GB RAM Listed on Geekbench: Report. NARCL was incorporated on July 7, 2021 with a total authorised share capital of Rs 2,750 crore to act as a bad bank for speedy resolution of bad assets of the banks. In January, SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara said that 38 NPA accounts worth Rs 82,845 crore were identified to be transferred to NARCL. Transfer of these accounts will happen in a phased manner with banks agreeing to transfer 15 NPA accounts worth Rs 50,000 crore in the first phase by March end. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Hague (Netherlands), Mar 11 (AP) The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced late Thursday that he is seeking arrest warrants for three men suspected of committing war crimes during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. All three Lt.-Gen. Mikhail Mindzaev, Gamlet Guchmazov and David Sanakoev served in the governments of the Russian-backed self-declared republic of South Ossetia. Also Read | Yoon Suk-yeol Elected President of South Korea. In a press release, chief prosecutor Karim Khan said his application focuses on the "unlawful confinement, ill-treatment, hostage taking and subsequent unlawful transfer of ethnic Georgian civilians" in August 2008. Mindzaev and Guchmazov held the top positions at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of South Ossetia, while Sanakoev served as the Presidential Representative for Human Rights of the breakaway region. Also Read | Vladimir Putin Warns of Further Spike in Fertiliser Prices if West Creates Difficulties for Russia. The Hague-based court opened an investigation into the conflict, which killed hundreds and left thousands of civilians displaced, in 2016. Russia invaded Georgia after violence broke out between separatist groups and Georgian forces. In 2021, the European Court of Human Rights concluded that grave human rights abuses occurred on Russian-held territory. Khan noted in his statement that his office's investigation into Ukraine since 2014 had turned up similar "patterns" and called on all parties in the ongoing conflict there to respect international humanitarian law. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tokyo, Mar 11 (AP) Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea's president-elect Yoon Suk Yeol talked on the phone Friday, agreeing to cooperate toward improving their countries' ties, signalling a thaw in their icy relations strained by wartime history disputes. After their 15-minute talk, Kishida told reporters that sound relations between Japan and its important neighbour, South Korea, are indispensable in achieving the rules-based international order and ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, just as the international society is faced with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Also Read | Sony Music Suspends All Operations in Russia. Yoon, a conservative former top prosecutor and foreign policy neophyte, was elected South Korean president to replace outgoing Moon Jae-in, during whose leadership bilateral relations have sunk to their lowest in years over Japan's atrocities during its 1910-1945 colonisation of the Korean Peninsula. Japanese officials including lawmakers of Kishida's conservative governing party and experts have welcomed the victory of Yoon, who has sought stronger alliance with the United States, improved ties with Japan and tougher stance toward North Korea. Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Says 'No Chemical Weapons Were Developed in the Country'. Kishdia said he told Yoon that he hoped to cooperate together to improve their bilateral ties and looks forward to Yoon's leadership. And of course, we said that we wanted to meet each other face-to-face as soon as possible and to have dialogue. We made such remarks to each other, both from my side and from his side, Kishida added, without elaborating on the timing. Kishida said he and Yoon also agreed to cooperate closely in dealing with North Korea and its nuclear and missile threats, including the North's recent launches of ICBM-class ballistic missiles. But Kishida repeated Japan's position that the two countries need to develop their relations based on their friendship and cooperation built since the 1965 normalisation of their diplomatic ties. Relations between Tokyo and Seoul rapidly deteriorated after South Korean court rulings ordered Japanese companies to pay reparations to Korean labourers over their abuses during world War II. Another sticking point is Korean comfort women who were sexually abused by Japan's wartime military. Japan insists that all compensation issues were settled under the 1965 treaty normalising relations with Seoul and that South Korean court orders to Japanese companies to pay compensation violate international law. (AP) (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 11 (ANI): There are five million drug addicts in Afghanistan including over one million minors and women, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salaam Hanafi said on Wednesday. Hanafi made these remarks in his meeting with a delegation from International Rescue Committee (IRC). Also Read | Australia: COVID-19 Spike Expected in New South Wales As Omicron Subvariant Emerges. Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Inamullah Samangani said, if the International Community assists the Afghan farmers in providing their alternative, the IEA is committed to making efforts in uprooting narcotics across Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. Meanwhile, the head of IRC in Afghanistan Vicki Aken said that delivering health services to deprived areas is a priority of the IRC and a suggestion has been made to the de facto authorities in this regard. Also Read | COVID-19 Outbreak in China: Chinese Govt Locks Down Changchun City Amid New Spike in Coronavirus Cases. Further, Deputy Director of the committee Zahra Wardak said, the committee is interested in not only working for Afghan women and children but also for the financial self-sufficiency of Afghan women, Khaama Press reported. Opium and other drugs are being sold in open markets in the southern provinces, TOLOnews reported. As per TOLOnews, the two provinces of Kandahar and Helmand have been recognized as one of the top poppy producers. 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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Riyadh, Mar 11 (AP) Saudi Arabia said Thursday it had rescued two young American women from Yemen in a joint special operations mission with the United States. The Saudi defence ministry said the women, both Yemeni-American teenagers, were being held by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa after having been taken captive while visiting their grandmother. Also Read | US Asks China To Allow UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet 'Unhindered' Access to Xinjiang. The women were taken by Saudi operatives from Sanaa to Aden, then flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. They have now been repatriated to the US, the Saudis said. There was no immediate comment from Washington. The Saudis did not say when the rescue mission took place but a person familiar with the operation said it occurred in January and was being made public now because the women are now back in the US. Also Read | Afghan Women Portrayed As Victims, Not Passive Bystanders, Says UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet. During a family visit to Sanaa, the two US citizens were mistreated by the Houthi militia, said Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Malki. The Houthis also placed restrictions on their freedom and movement, and their passports were confiscated. Following a request from the US and through a special security operation, the two US citizens were freed and then transported from Sanaa to Aden, he said. Subsequently, they were flown from Aden to Riyadh by the Royal Saudi Airforce. The statement said the joint operation was indicative of cooperation between Washington and Riyadh, something which many have called into question recently due to differences on issues ranging from global oil supplies to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the Iran nuclear deal. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Cairo, Mar 11 (AP) At least 19 people have been killed in renewed tribal clashes in Sudan's volatile west Darfur region in the past 24 hours, a medical group said Friday. Violence between Arabs and non-Arabs in the same area of Jebel Moon also killed at least 16 people earlier this week. The Sudan Doctors Committee of West Darfur called on local authorities to protect civilians in the area from attack. Sharaf Jumma Salah, a local resident and activist, said the clashes between Arabs and non-Arabs have also left behind dozens of burnt houses in four villages. Also Read | Macron: Food Supplies to Be profoundly Destabilized by War. The French Latest Tweet by The Kyiv Independent. Adam Regal, spokesman for the General Coordination Body for Refugees and Displaced in Darfur, said on Thursday that armed men attacked villages that morning and the fighting went on for hours. He said a communications cut had made it difficult to obtain complete information from the remote area. He blamed local Arab tribal militias known as janjaweed for the attack. Also Read | European Union to Table Proposals by May End to Phase Out Dependency on Russian Energy by 2027. Clashes in Jebel Moon first erupted in mid-November over a land dispute between Arab and non-Arab tribes. Dozens have been killed since then and authorities have deployed more troops to the area. However, sporadic fighting has continued even as entire Sudan is roiled by unrest following an October military coup. The takeover upended an already fragile democratic transition in the African country, which has also faced uphill security and economic challenges since the 2019 overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government. In Khartoum, the country's capital, protests against the military coup have continued. Two teenagers were killed by gunfire in demonstrations there on Thursday, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee. The group, which has kept track of protester deaths and injuries since the military takeover, has tallied a total of 87 killed. The instability has led to deteriorating security conditions in other parts of the country, like the war-wrecked Darfur. In 2020, the United Nations closed its peacekeeping mission to Darfur, leading to fears that without a strong state presence violence would return. Too often violence around Sudan is downplayed and described as seasonal inter-communal conflict with faceless perpetrators it's time to end this fiction, and help end the violence, said Will Carter, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council for Sudan. "Since the peacekeeping mission ended, the international community are barely even passive observers to this unfolding violence, he added. The yearslong Darfur conflict broke out when rebels from the territory's ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. Al-Bashir's government responded with a campaign of aerial bombings and raids by the janjaweed militias, which have been accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes in Darfur over the years. Al-Bashir, who has been in prison in Khartoum since his ouster, also faces international charges of genocide and crimes against humanity related to the Darfur conflict. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], March 11 (ANI): The nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to become US ambassador to India seems to be in trouble as a top Senate Republican has sought to put the matter on hold owing to a pending investigation regarding sexual harassment of his adviser. According to a document obtained by Politico, Republican Senator Charles Grassley asked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sought a delay of the nomination until the probe is concluded. Also Read | Yoon Suk-yeol Elected President of South Korea. "The United States owes it to the Republic of India to send them a qualified Ambassador that will represent the values of the United States," Grassley said in the documents sent to McConnell on Thursday to notify the Senate. "Mayor Garcetti may very well be fully qualified, but at this time, the Senate needs to look into these allegations further," he added. Also Read | Vladimir Putin Warns of Further Spike in Fertiliser Prices if West Creates Difficulties for Russia. In January this year, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had confirmed the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be US ambassador to India. However, the nomination needed to be confirmed by a majority of the US Senate. Garcetti was among a series of ambassadors and other foreign affairs nominees approved. Although individual senators raised public objections to some of the nominees, none did to Garcetti's selection. During his appearance before the committee on December 14, Mayor Garcetti was questioned by lawmakers weighing his nomination to become the U.S. ambassador to India. Garcetti during his testimony he gave a statement followed by questions from lawmakers of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."Few nations are more vital to the future of American security and prosperity than India," Garcetti told the committee. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ankara [Turkey], March 11 (ANI/Sputnik): Turkish Pegasus Airlines decided to cancel all its flights to and from Russia from March 13 for two weeks amid financial sanctions imposed on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine. "Due to operational risks under these conditions, all our flights to and from Russian Federation have been temporarily suspended as of March 13, 2022 (including) until March 27, 2022," the company said in a statement, adding that such measures were forced due to sanctions on insurance, leasing and other operations on flights to and from Russia. Also Read | Sony Music Suspends All Operations in Russia. According to the statement, all passengers on flights to the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Mineralnye Vody, Grozny, Makhachkala and Krasnodar between these dates can change tickets for free or receive a full refund. The newest wave of EU sanctions introduced against Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine banned the sale of aircraft and parts to Russian companies and obliged leasing companies to take back all leased planes from Russia. (ANI/Sputnik) Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Says 'No Chemical Weapons Were Developed in the Country'. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv [Ukraine], March 11 (ANI): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that Ukraine had lost all communication with the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a day after the Russian-controlled site lost all external power supplies, IAEA reported on Thursday. The agency has also informed that they are aware of reports that power has now been restored to the site and it is looking for confirmation, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. Also Read | Yoon Suk-yeol Elected President of South Korea. Earlier, Ukraine authorities have reported to the IAEA that emergency diesel generators that were providing electricity to the Chernobyl NPP had subsequently lost communication which meant that the regulator could no longer provide updated information such as radiation monitoring, ventilation systems and normal lighting related to the site to the IAEA. Taking to Twitter, IAEA said, "If emergency power were lost, it would still be possible for #Chornobyl staff to monitor the water level and temperature of the spent fuel pool. They would do this under worsening radiation safety conditions and would not be able to follow operational radiation safety procedures." Also Read | Vladimir Putin Warns of Further Spike in Fertiliser Prices if West Creates Difficulties for Russia. IAEA also informed that Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya NPP which is also under the control of Russian forces is not in a position to deliver the necessary spare parts, equipment and specialized personnel to carry out planned repairs. IAEA further revealed that the maintenance activities at Unit 1 had also been reduced to minimum levels. On March 3, Ukraine informed the IAEA that the Russian forces had taken the control of the site of the country's Zaporizhzhya NPP. Ukrainian counterparts informed the IAEA that the projectile had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant's reactor units, causing a localized fire that was later extinguished. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tijuana (Mexico), Mar 11 (AP) US authorities allowed a Ukrainian woman and her three children to seek asylum Thursday, a reversal from a day earlier when she was denied entry under the Biden administration's sweeping restrictions for seeking humanitarian protection. The 34-year-old woman and her children ages 14, 12 and 6 entered San Diego for processing after authorities blocked her path hours earlier, triggering sharp criticism from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats. Also Read | Yoon Suk-yeol Elected President of South Korea. Blaine Bookey, legal director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, was returning to San Diego Wednesday from Tijuana, where she was helping Haitian migrants. She saw the Ukrainian woman crying with her children, looking "very uncomfortable" with a reporter "in her face". Also Read | Vladimir Putin Warns of Further Spike in Fertiliser Prices if West Creates Difficulties for Russia. Bookey's tweets and media coverage sparked renewed criticism of a Trump-era order to deny people a chance to seek asylum under an order to prevent spread of COVID-19 known as Title 42 authority. Schumer raised the Ukrainian woman's case as he called for an end to use of Title 42, which the Biden administration has defended as health risks from COVID-19 have subsided. "They requested refuge in one of the ports of entry on our southern border, but were turned away because of Title 42," Schumer said on a conference call with reporters. "This is not who we are as a country. Continuing this Trump-era policy has defied common sense and common decency." US Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Migrants have been expelled more than 1.6 million times since Title 42 was introduced in March 2020. The Ukrainian woman, who identified herself to reporters only as Sofiia, tried entering the US in a car with a relative this week but was blocked, Bookey said. Another attempt on foot Wednesday was also stopped but Bookey found her before she returned to her Tijuana hotel to wait for news. Erika Pinheiro, litigation and policy director for Al Otro Lado advocacy group, said she got a call from CBP early Thursday, telling the woman to pack her bags and be ready on short notice. She was told to come hours later. "She's just been very stoic for her kids and I think she let herself get emotional," Bookey said. The woman left Ukraine with her children February 27 as friends warned her that Russia might invade. She went to Moldova, Romania and Mexico, arriving in Tijuana on Monday. She plans to settle with family in the San Francisco area and seek asylum. The woman pulled a small red suitcase and carried a pink backpack patterned with tiny dogs as she walked into the US with her 6-year-old daughter beside her and her older children behind. Mexico accepts citizens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who are expelled under Title 42 authority. People of other nationalities are subject to expulsion but many are released in the United States to seek asylum due to difficulties flying them home. They must be on US soil to claim protection, though, and authorities often block their path. Thousands of Russians have sought asylum at San Diego border crossings in recent months after flying to Mexico. People from Ukraine and other former Soviet republics use the same route but in much lower numbers. In January, 248 Ukrainians crossed the US-Mexico border, with three out of four in San Diego. A 27-year-old Ukrainian who asked to be identified only as Kristina was left behind on the Mexican side of the border Thursday with her fiance, a US citizen. She said she had been living in Kyiv when the fighting started. "It was so scary," Kristina said. "We just woke up and there was bombing. We never expected this." Kristina fled to Poland but hotels and apartments were full. She flew to Mexico where her fiance was trying to help her get into the U.S. They spent hours waiting at the border. "They don't listen to us," she said. (AP) (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 11: Mayawati on Friday blamed the casteist media for driving away Muslims from her Bahujan Samaj Party and said the fear of a 'jungle raj' if the Samajwadi Party came to power made its other supporters shift to the BJP. Plummeting to its lowest ever tally of winning only one seat in the current Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Mayawati said it was the media's aggressive propaganda showing the BSP as the "B team of the BJP" that drove away Muslims and anti-BJP voters from it. "This decision by the Muslims harmed the BSP because the party's supporters among the upper castes, backwards and other communities were made to fear that the 'jungle raj' will return to UP again if the SP is elected to power. That is why these communities went to the BJP, Mayawati said. Lies like the BSP contesting elections not as strongly as the SP were also spread. This was widely publicized, while the truth is contrary because the BSP's fight with the BJP is political as well as ideological, she added, adding this also took away the anti-BJP Hindu votes, too, from her party. Assembly Elections 2022 Results: Who Will be the CMs in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa?. She also said that the Muslim community has made a mistake by trusting the SP instead of the time-tested BSP. The Mayawati-led party had contested all the 403 seats on its own but managed to win just one -- Rasra in Maharajganj. Had there been a triangular contest in Uttar Pradesh then the results would have been as per the expectations of BSP. Then BJP could have been stopped from coming to power. In all, the Muslim community was with BSP but its vote went to SP," she said. Mayawati urged the leaders and workers of her party not to get bogged down with the results, but to learnt from the defeat and take the party forward. The BSP had fielded 97 Muslim nominees in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls while the SP had fielded 64 candidates from the minority community. Thirty six of the 36 winning Muslim candidates are from the Akhilesh Yadav-led party. In addition to jailed Azam Khan, his son Abdullah Azam and Nahid Hasan from Kairana won on SP tickets. Muslims constitute around 20 per cent of the population in Uttar Pradesh. Upcoming: Debut of the #Artemis I mega Moon rocket. Teams plan to roll the stacked @NASA_SLS rocket & @NASA_Orion spacecraft to the launchpad for testing on March 17. A March 14 media telecon will reveal whether teams are moving forward with the trek: https://t.co/t9LCiH8SD1 pic.twitter.com/3Am6BW6zvr NASA (@NASA) March 10, 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.) Redmi 10 India launch is set for March 17, 2022. The company has teased the device on its official Twitter account, revealing its launch date. Redmi has also set up a dedicated microsite on the Xiaomi India website, revealing its several key specifications. The Redmi 10 India variant is said to be different from the Redmi 10 2022 global model, which was introduced last month. Redmi Note 11 Pro & Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Launched, India Prices Start at Rs 17,999. According to the dedicated microsite, Redmi 10 will come powered by a Snapdragon processor. The processor is claimed to be 2x faster than the previous generation. It will carry a grand waterdrop notch display, a massive battery with fast charging support. The start of a new era is here! Un10ck a world of opportunities with A Blockbuster Display A Big Battery The Power of Snapdragon Un10ck fun & let the world be your canvas!#Redmi10IsComing on 17.03.2022! Head here to witness #RedmiUn10ckedhttps://t.co/X6xU3EJcdY pic.twitter.com/Xybx4mAGaV Redmi India (@RedmiIndia) March 10, 2022 The Xiaomi India website also reveals that the handset will come with a 50MP dual rear camera setup, along with an LED flash. Apart from this nothing more is known. We expect the company to release a few more teasers before its launch. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 11, 2022 12:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) on Thursday denied that the United States is seeking oil from the country amid the Russian-Ukraine conflict that affected the U.S. gas prices, Reuters reported. Lopez Obrador, nor his spokesperson, did not further his comment, as the president quickly moved away from the topic, thanking the United States for approving Mexico's purchase of the Deer Park refinery in Texas. Lopez Obrador's comments about the U.S. seeking oil came as his administration plans to "sharply cut" the country's oil export this year and end them in 2023, according to Reuters. The outlet pointed out that Pemex data for crude exports in January were down to 832,216 barrels per day (bpd) compared to the around 1 million bpd average in 2021. READ NEXT: Venezuela Frees 2 Jailed U.S. Citizens Following Talks With High-Level Delegation AMLO Says Mexico Gas Price Will Not Hike Lopez Obrador also pointed out the Mexican public should not worry, as he pledged that gasoline costs will not experience a price hike, Reuters stressed. Natural Gas Intel also noted that Lopez Obrador reiterated that gas prices would not escalate during his Tuesday and Wednesday news briefing. "It's important that all Mexicans know that we are not going to have problems with price increases for fuels or electricity, despite the invasion and war in Ukraine," Lopez Obrador underscored. Litro de Gasolina Premium, a $30.49 en Shell de Ejercito Nacional #CDMX pic.twitter.com/39DIL28OTC Salvador Perez (@YoSoyChavaPerez) March 10, 2022 Despite the president's assurance, several netizens reported a high increase in prices in several commercial gas stations, with the regular oil amounting to 25.19 pesos while the premium at 30.49 pesos. These prices are different compared to the costs mentioned by a report from Mexico's Federal Consumer Attorney's Office (Profeco), which was acquired by El Universal. According to the report from Profeco, the first week of March 2022 recorded the daily average cost of regular gasoline is 21.30 pesos per liter, 23.19 per liter for premium, and 22.42 per liter for diesel. Meanwhile, commercial gas stations like Pemex offers regular gas amounting to 21.73 pesos per liter, 23.28 pesos per liter for premium, per El Universal. The report also indicated that the cheapest gas station in Mexico as of Thursday is ORSAN "Mobil" as it offered 20.97 pesos per liter of regular gas, while 22.38 per liter of premium. U.S. Gas Price: California Marks Highest Fuel Price As Lopez Obrador promised that gas consumers in Mexico should not worry about the petrol prices amid the Russia-Ukraine war, consumers from the United States experienced a gas price hike on Thursday. According to USA Today, California continues to have the most expensive gas in the country. On average, the state offers gas prices ranging from $5.694 to $5.976. The outlet also pointed out that California is also the first state to sell diesel over $6. As of Thursday, only 12 states have an average gas price of under $4. USA Today noted that most of these states come from the Midwest region of the country, including Kansas, which has the cheapest price for gas at $3.82. "Oil prices play a leading role in pushing gas prices higher. Consumers can expect the current trend at the pump to continue as long as crude prices climb," the American Automobile Association (AAA) said on Monday. READ NEXT: White House Warns of 'Severe Consequences' After Nancy Pelosi Announced the Removal of COVID Funding on Omnibus Bill | Here's What May Happen This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: If the U.S. and EU Ban Russian Oil, it's Going to Have a Big Impact, Says Expert - From CNBC Television The United States has enacted another cross-country partnership, as President Joe Biden appointed Colombia as U.S.' major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally on Thursday. According to The Hill, Biden announced Colombia's new designation during a visit from Colombian President Ivan Duque to the White House. "Today I'm proud to announce that I intend to designate Colombia a major non-NATO ally ... that's exactly what you are... This is a recognition of the unique and close relationship between our countries," President Biden said. Biden also called Colombia a "keystone" in the "shared efforts" to build a prosperous, democratic, and secure hemisphere. It can be recalled that Colombia served as a key partner of the U.S. in managing several issues, such as the South American migration. Meanwhile, Colombian President Ivan Duque said that Biden's announcement on Thursday recognized the values and principles shared by both the western hemisphere countries, per Associated Press. Before Colombia's new designation as a non-Nato major ally, The Hill pointed out that the country was considered a "global partner" of the United States. Biden's announcement marks Colombia as the new addition to a straw of U.S. major non-NATO allies, including Argentina, Australia, and South Korea. Brazil was also given the same title during the reign of former President Donald Trump. READ NEXT: Mexico President Denies U.S. Is Asking for Oil Help, Says Mexicans Should Not Worry About Gas Price Hike Effects of Colombia Being a Major Non-NATO Ally of the U.S. The Hill noted that the status would make it easier for Ivan Duque's government to purchase U.S. weapons and work together on certain security issues. Meanwhile, the State Department underscored that under U.S. law, the appointment of being a major non-NATO will also benefit the trade of the countries, which is also a symbol of close ties, per AP. Although Colombia is considered a major non-NATO ally, AP underscored that it still does not have the same security guarantees as the full-fledged NATO members have. The outlet explained that NATO countries are entitled to defend each other if one comes under an attack and that protection does not extend to non-NATO major allies. In a joint statement from Presidents Biden and Duque, the top executives underscored that their partnership is committed to "advancing" the border drug policy strategy through a "holistic approach" that focuses on evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services. The statement also highlighted that the countries are going to work on a new framework on how nations throughout the hemisphere will collectively manage the migration. The joint statement from the presidents also mentioned that the cooperation between the countries will be guided by their commitment to several aspects, including environment and social justice and respect for human life. Colombia on U.S.-Venezuela Talks It can be recalled that Duque has led regional opposition against Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, whom he called a "dictator," per Associated Press. During Duque's visit to the White House, the Colombian president remained tight-lipped about the recent U.S-Venezuela meeting that occurred. "On the issues and details having to do with the visit (to Venezuela), I think U.S. authorities have to answer about that," Duque said, adding that their position concerning Maduro's regime in Venezuela has not changed at all despite Colombia's new designation. READ NEXT: Venezuela Frees 2 Jailed U.S. Citizens Following Talks With High-Level Delegation This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Biden Designates Colombia As 'Major Non-NATO Ally' In Bilateral Meeting - From NBC News With initial financing from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), and additional funding from Canada, the A-CIP Programme currently supports more than 20 beneficiary countries in their efforts to combat corruption and promote integrity. Launched in January 2019, the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme responds to the recognised high costs of corruption in customs. The Programme aims at improving the business and law enforcement environment for cross-border trade in selected WCO member countries by making changes to the operational and administrative context that restricts corrupt behavior and promotes good governance in Customs services. These changes are guided by and in line with the ten key factors of the WCO Revised Arusha Declaration Concerning Good Governance and Integrity in Customs. The WCO Revised Arusha Declaration provides Customs administrations with a practical approach for anti-corruption policies as stipulated in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). The A-CIP Programme acts as an important delivery mechanism for WCO Members to realize commitments under UNCAC. The bilateral component of the Programme involves delivery of WCO technical assistance and capacity building to help selected WCO member countries undertaking measures to implement priority areas of the Revised Arusha Declaration. For each administration, a multi-annual action plan is developed along with clear benchmarks and performance measurement criteria. The Programme also contains a multilateral component to create an enabling environment for WCO Members to implement A-CIP measures by leveraging regional and international initiatives in parallel, and to build WCO instruments and tools. The Programme design has taken into account lessons learned from previous WCO programmes as well as global experiences and insights into the challenges for technical assistance and capacity building in the fight against corruption. In particular, A-CIP activities leverage collective action, performance measurement and data analysis as implementation principles for achieving results. Specific attention has also been paid to take into account parallel change activities both in the participating countries as well as globally, in order to ensure that A-CIP delivers results that complement ongoing and deeper reforms. The actions aim to deliver specific outcomes for each participating country over a multi-annual period. The A-CIP Programme offers a results-based approach to integrity-related capacity building initiatives. It complements other WCO programmes in enforcement and security such as the WCO Container Control Programme (CCP) and trade facilitation such as the WCO Mercator Programme. Its efforts align with the WCOs Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) as well as the World Trade Organizations Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA) which call for transparency and predictability, promoting integrity and closing opportunities for corruption. More WCO Members have shown interest in being part of the Programme, and A-CIP is open to inclusion of support from other donors which could enable more WCO Members to benefit from the Programmes targeted technical assistance and capacity building. For more details, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org Amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the World Health Organization has urged Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens in its public health laboratories to stop the spread of "any potential spills" that could spread diseases across the country. Biosecurity experts noted that Russia's attack on its cities has raised the risk of leak of disease-causing pathogens, if any of those facilities would be damaged, according to a Reuters report. Ukraine's labs have received support from the United States, the European Union, and the WHO as it researches how to mitigate the threats of dangerous diseases affecting both animals and humans. The WHO said in an email that it has collaborated with Ukrainian public health labs for several years to promote security practices to help prevent an "accidental or deliberate" release of the pathogens. The United Nations agency noted that they strongly recommended the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and concerned parties to destroy the high-threat pathogens. The WHO would not say when it had made the recommendation nor added any details about the kinds of pathogens or toxins in Ukraine's labs. READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden's Administration Handed China Intelligence on Russia's Invasion; China Told Russia the U.S. Intel: Report Pathogens in Ukraine Health Labs Robert Pope, the director of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, noted that the Russian invasion may pose a threat to a network of U.S.-linked labs in Ukraine. The program that Pope handles is a 30-year-old Defense Department program that has aided secure the former Soviet Union's weapon of mass destruction and redirected facilities toward peaceful endeavors, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Pope said that he would say every facility that they have worked with them has electrical power, trained people, and biosafety officers to keep the pathogens safe and secure to international standards. However, he said that it could change once the facilities are damaged. Pope said that Cooperative Threat Reduction Program labs have pathogens that are generally kept frozen, adding that they cannot replicate and become infectious. Pope said that the pathogens in Ukrainian labs vary by facility, but some can be characterized as presenting concern in the Ukrainian environment. Pope said that the program is encouraging host countries to reduce the scope of their pathogen holding to as small as necessary for legitimate scientific research. The U.S. government has worked with 26 research facilities in Ukraine, with the program providing biosafety and scientific mentorship training to Ministry of Health personnel. Russia-Ukraine Crisis Ukraine has informed U.N. nuclear watchdog IAEA that it has lost all contact with facilities at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, which is now being held by Russian forces, according to an Aljazeera News report. Ukraine's minister of education has said that more than 280 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed by "bombing and shelling." Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council will meet on Friday at Russia's request to discuss Moscow's claims of U.S. biological activities in Ukraine, which would be presented without evidence. The U.S. has dismissed Russian claims and described them as "laughable" while warning that Moscow may be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons. READ MORE: Former White House Doctor Rep. Ronny Jackson Reiterates Call for Pres. Joe Biden to Take Cognitive Test, Saying "He Is Not Fit to Be President" Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: US using Ukrainian territory to experiment on pathogens - Lavrov on bio-lab revelations - from RT North Carolina Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn faced criticism on Thursday after he called Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky a "thug." "Remember that Zelenskyy is a thug," Cawthorn said in a video obtained by WRAL. The Republican representative added that the government of Ukraine is "incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil." Cawthorn then noted that Zelensky's government has been "pushing" for woke ideologies. According to Independent, former deputy chief of staff, Karl Rove, said in a WSJ op-ed that Cawthorn made his statement about Zelensky during an event in Asheville that occurred over the weekend. Rove added that he "believed" that the GOP representative's views "didn't reflect Republican opinion." READ NEXT: Joe Biden Announces Appointment of Colombia as U.S.' Major Non-NATO Ally | Here's the Implication of the Partnership Madison Cawthorn Criticized Over Comments About Volodymyr Zelensky Cawthorn's remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gathered the attention of several officials. Former White House Director of Strategic Communications during Ex-President Donald Trump's tenure, Alyssa Farah Griffin, expressed her disappointment about what Cawthorn said. I try not to criticize Madison because hes my former intern & I think he genuinely doesnt know how little he knows. But this is disgraceful & not how a sitting lawmaker should speak about a U.S. ally. MC is echoing Russian propaganda. Wish @TheWayneKing won this seat. https://t.co/u433VtEFFv Alyssa Farah Griffin (@Alyssafarah) March 10, 2022 "I try not to criticize Madison because he's my former intern & I think he genuinely doesn't know how little he knows. But this is disgraceful & not how a sitting lawmaker should speak about a U.S. ally," Griffin said in her tweet. Yet another dim-witted statement from the delinquents that run the GOP aka the Party of Putin. Zelenskyy is fighting for freedom and the lives of his people and this guy is driving around with a revoked license and beating up dead trees. #FraudFearFascism https://t.co/7c2AEirK3F Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@harrisonjaime) March 10, 2022 Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison called Cawthorn's statement "dim-witted," explaining that Zelensky is "fighting for freedom and the lives of his people." Disturbing that he sits in our classified briefings on Russian Ukraine war. Not sure now that is a good idea. https://t.co/I4MHZT4iKM Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) March 10, 2022 Democratic Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego also slammed Cawthorn on Thursday, saying that it was "disturbing" that the Republican representative sits during their "classified briefings on Russia Ukraine war." Gallego then added that he is not sure how Cawthorn's statement is a "good idea." Lets be clear. The thug is Vladimir Putin. We must unite as a nation to pray for President Zelensky and the brave people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and their freedom. Anything less is counter to everything we stand for in America.#ncpol #wncpol #ncga #NC11 Chuck Edwards (@ChuckEdwards4NC) March 10, 2022 Meanwhile, Republican Senator Chuck Edwards also clapped back on what Cawthorne said, underscoring that the "thug is Vladimir Putin" and not Volodymyr Zelensky. "We must unite as a nation to pray for President Zelensky and the brave people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and their freedom," Edwards urged the public. The Senator then added that "anything less is counter to" what America stands for. Despite the criticism faced by Cawthorn after his statements, Independent pointed out that White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to give comments about what the North Carolina Republican representative said about the Ukrainian president. Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn Calls Vladimir Putin and Russia's Action 'Disgusting' Following the backlash the Republican representative received online, Madison Cawthorn took to Twitter on Thursday to criticize the actions of Vladimir Putin and Russia did, per New York Post. The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting. But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America. I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Pray also we are not drawn into conflict based on foreign leaders pushing misinformation. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (@RepCawthorn) March 10, 2022 "The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting," Cawthorn said. However, the Republicans still slammed the Zelensky, saying that the Ukrainian president should "NOT push" misinformation in America. According to New York Post, Cawthorn linked his statement to an article as instances of disinformation. The Republican representative then said that he is "praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people." Madison Cawthorn also urged that the U.S. will "not be drawn" into conflict due to misinformation pushed by foreign leaders. READ NEXT: Mexico President Denies U.S. Is Asking for Oil Help, Says Mexicans Should Not Worry About Gas Price Hike This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: White House Refuses To Comment On Madison Cawthorn's Comments Calling Zelenskyy A Thug - From The Hill United Airlines has announced a new change within their company, with a memo allowing unvaccinated workers to return to their jobs starting March 28. United Airlines has been known to be one of the companies that imposed one of the strictest COVID-19 vaccine mandates, according to a CNBC News report. United earlier said that around 2,200 workers who received medical or religious exemptions would go on unpaid leave or be moved to non-customer-facing roles. The airline company sought to vacate the ruling that was upheld by a federal judge in Texas, as well as dismiss the appeal that was filed in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month. The company came with the decision due to the lessening severity of the pandemic and its new policy. United said in a court filing that due to the changed circumstances, the plaintiff's preliminary injunction motion is moot and the Court should vacate the panel opinion and dismiss the appeal. The company's vice president of human relations, Kirk Limacher, said in the memo that the United was taking the step as it expects COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to continue to drop over the next few weeks, according to an Aljazeera News report. Limacher said that if another variant emerges or the COVID trends suddenly change course, the company will have to reevaluate the right safety protocols at that time. Last year, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has pushed the mandate as a critical safety measure, with that United became of one of the most visible U.S. corporations to enforce a vaccine requirement. The company said that around 97 percent of its 67,000 U.S. workers hot the shots while around 200 were terminated. Meanwhile, the company spokeswoman said that the airline still mandates new employees to be vaccinated. READ NEXT: Omicron BA.2 Variant: 2 New Symptoms Could Indicate COVID-19 Infection COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate More than half the states are having renewed legal challenges against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate from U.S. President Joe Biden's administration for millions of healthcare workers across the U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID. Medicare and Medicaid providers' vaccine requirement was one of the several mandates the Biden administration imposed on private-sector employers. Opponents are trying to stop the enforcement of the mandate, arguing that the situation has changed as cases tied to the Omicron variant have decreased. Biden's vaccine mandates were challenged in court by Republican-led states, conservative groups, as well as other businesses. Their lawsuits argued in part that the mandates had exceeded federal executive powers, as well as infringing on states' rights to regulate public health issues, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Biden's health worker vaccine mandate was also being challenged by several lawsuits filed by Republican-led states, mostly in groups. Health workers were mandated to have their first dose of the vaccine by January 27. The COVID-19 mandate for large business was also challenged by 27 Republican-led state governments, with some conservative and business groups. Meanwhile, the federal contractor mandate lawsuit is currently facing a hold on its ruling. READ MORE: CDC Recommends Shorter COVID Isolation Period for Health Care Workers Amid Omicron Variant This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: More than half of previously unvaccinated United Airlines employees got shots after mandate - from CNBC Television A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that overall suicide rates in the United States declined in 2019 and 2020, but suicides among Latino men have increased. According to CDC, the year-over-year suicide rates declined by 3 percent after nearly two decades of increases. Overall, it fell by 8 percent among women and 2 percent among men. However, there were a few notable outliers. According to Public Health Watch, suicides among Latino men, in particular, surged by about 6 percent. Many Latino Men Died by Suicide Amid COVID-19 Pandemic According to health advocates and providers, problems such as substance abuse, job loss, limited access to care, and the stigma of mental illness in the Latino population, which all existed prior to COVID-19, worsened during the pandemic. Fredrick Sandoval, the executive director of the New Mexico-based National Latino Behavioral Health Association, said Latino men were not getting much help, and services shut down. He added that those who sought care most of the time encountered lengthy delays, so others simply gave up looking. Also, Sandoval noted that Latino men, as well as women, lost jobs at disproportionately high rates amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 2020 study published by Pew Research Center, the unemployment rate for Hispanics increased from 4.8 percent in February to 18.5 percent in April, but it declined to 14.5 percent in June. Sandoval said the fact that Latino men were no longer the primary wage earners had a significant effect on their emotional state and impacted the men's sense of responsibility and self-worth. He noted that some had turned to alcohol or drugs to cope with it. A 32-year-old Latino man from Albuquerque, who used black-tar heroin as his outlet, told Public Health Watch that he tried to kill himself twice. He believes that the economic trouble associated with the COVID-19 pandemic could have driven other Latino men also to take their lives. "You can't provide for your family, you're sitting there worried about what's going to happen... If you can't provide, what kind of man are you? That's the mentality you're taught," the man said. The CDC reported that 45,979 people died by suicide in 2020, fewer than 47,511 in 2019. READ NEXT: Aaron Rodgers Admits 'Remorse' Over COVID-19 Vaccine Situation, Hints Possible Reason for Split Rumors With Shailene Woodley Biden Administration's Mental Health Plan Not Designed for Latinos In his State of the Union address on March 1, President Joe Biden announced a new plan to address the country's mental health needs. He called for "full parity between physical and mental health care." Biden's plans include the launch of a 988, a three-digit mental-health crisis hotline, and setting up mental health services in "non-traditional" settings like in schools or libraries. Sandoval said he was pleased to hear Biden's plans but asked, "How do we know we can get more services to Latinos?" According to Sandoval, Latinos are being treated as hard-to-reach people even though they are not. "Latinos are not hard to reach. The system isn't designed to engage them. It's a very passive system: We wait for you to come to us for help," he noted. Sandoval then suggested that local engagement groups be assigned to events Latinos frequent, like church bazaars. He said health care should be physically present in homes, backyards, and neighborhoods, and "not in a building where staffers sit and wait." Luz Garcini, an assistant professor at UT Health San Antonio's Center for Research to Advance Community Health, said Latinos seldom discuss mental health since it was "very stigmatizing," especially to men, as it was equated with mental illness. However, Garcini said advocating for more funding for research, mental health providers, and protection of safety-net access is much needed. According to recent census data, Latinos have the biggest uninsured rate of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. One of the myths ingrained in Latino culture is that problems are best dealt with alone, and seeking help reflects weakness, according to Cheryl Aguilar, a therapist and a director of the Hope Center for Wellness in Washington, D.C. On the contrary, Aguilar, who has many Latino immigrants among her clients, believes that seeking support takes and shows courage. READ MORE: Jayson Tatum Spoils Kevin Durant's 25K Club Party, Shares Perfect Reaction to 54-Point Outburst for Celtics vs. Nets This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Suicide Rates During Pandemic Decreased Nationally, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - From KSAT 12 A Los Zetas cartel regional boss was arrested in Mexico's border state of Coahuila for allegedly ordering the murder of a Mexican journalist in 2021. According to Breitbart, authorities arrested Raymundo "N.," 27, at a bus station in Ramos Arizpe town, Coahuila on Monday night after investigators tracked him down. State authorities said Raymundo is a regional boss of the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN), a faction of the Los Zetas cartel. Officials identified Raymundo as the mastermind behind the murder of Saul Tijerina at Ciudad Acuna in Coahuila in June 2021. Raymundo was reportedly the CDN's regional boss in the city at the time. Tijerina, an online news video and photojournalist covering crime in north Coahuila, has been stabbed in the neck, and his body was discovered on a road next to his vehicle. Investigators also found a poster board with a message that cited his work as justification for his death. It also contained a threatening message. READ NEXT: Mexico: 9 Killed in Massacre Inside Home; Mexican Drug Cartel Gunmen Eyed as Suspects The Eighth Mexican Journalist Killed in Mexico The body of Juan Carlos Muniz was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside a taxi in Fresnillo, Zacatecas last Friday. Muniz was a reporter for the Fresnillo news website Testigo Minero and other local outlets. He also made a living as a taxi driver. Mexico News Daily reported that Muniz is the eighth Mexican journalist killed in the country this year. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based non-government organization, has condemned the federal government's response to Muniz's murder. According to CPJ, the Zacatecas state prosecutor's office has already opened an investigation into Muniz's murder and enforced special protocols used for attacks on press members. However, the group said authorities must quickly investigate the case to determine whether the journalist was killed because of his profession. CPJ Mexico representative Jan-Albert Hootsen said the "brutal slaying" of Muniz extended the country's "staggering streak of journalist killings in 2022." He noted that the killing was a clear example of the "extreme risks that local reporters" covering politics and crimes face every day. Hootsen added that the government's inaction allows the impunity that fuels these attacks against journalists in Mexico to "fester and cement" its status as the deadliest country for journalists. Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has also been accused of instigating hostility toward journalists and the media via his repeated verbal attacks on critical press during his news conferences. However, Lopez Obrador said the criticisms against him, especially on journalist killings, were part of a campaign to undermine his administration and a "soft coup" by media firms, U.S. News reported. He noted that it was no longer the traditional military coup but a "soft coup with the power of the media that generally controls public opinion." International press freedom groups have already labeled Mexico the most dangerous place for journalists outside an official war zone, with many crimes going unpunished. According to human rights organization Article 19, around 145 journalists were killed in Mexico from 2000 to 2021. The worst year was 2017, with 12 murders, followed by 2010, with 10. The Los Zetas Cartel in Mexico The Los Zetas cartel started as the enforcement arm of drug-trafficking Gulf Cartel and had broken away as an independent criminal enterprise in 2010. According to Britannica, the Los Zetas cartel is known for its violent tactics and strong organizational structure. Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the former leader of the Gulf Cartel, recruited about 30 former members of Mexico's special forces led by Lieutenant Arturo Guzman Decena. This group formed the core of the Los Zetas cartel. After Cardenas Guillen's arrest in 2003, the Los Zetas cartel became more directly involved in the drug business. The Mexican drug cartel played a major role in beating back the attempt by the Sinaloa Cartel to seize the control of Nuevo Laredo between 2005 and 2006. The Los Zetas cartel has eventually expanded its operations to arms trafficking, kidnapping, smuggling people, and extortion. READ MORE: Brother of El Chapo, 3 Other Sinaloa Cartel Members Charged on Drug Trafficking Charges This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Mexicans Protest Following Murders of 5 Journalists This Year - From Al Jazeera English The 2022 water year is shaping up to be another challenging one. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has released its streamflow forecast for March in the Rio Grande Basin. The NRCS estimates streamflow at 69 percent of median at the Otowi Gauge in northern New Mexico. Last month, the NRCS shifted from reporting streamflow as a percentage of average streamflow from 1981 to 2010 to a percentage of median streamflow from 1991 to 2010. READ NEXT: Texas' Rio Grande Valley Operates as a Major Marijuana and Drug Smuggling Corridor Streamflow Forecast in Rio Grande Basin The shift makes comparisons to past years more difficult but also provides a more accurate assessment of the streamflow forecast, given the impacts of climate change we are already seeing throughout the Basin. The outlook does not bode well for the plant, wildlife, and human communities that depend on the Rio Grande. "This river connects us all. We're staring down another hard water year, where the effects of reduced streamflow are just compounding. From farmers, both here in the Valley and south of Elephant Butte, to the tiny silvery minnow and all the species that rely on this river, to the needs of cities. We're all dependent on the Rio Grande," said Tricia Snyder, Rio Grande Campaigner for WildEarth Guardians. Plummeting Streamflow Complicated by Nearly 100-Year-Old Agreement While the forecast is dim, archaic laws and policies that dictate water management in the Basin--including the Rio Grande Compact--will have equally serious impacts on when and where water is available this summer. The Compact is an agreement between the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Texas that spells out how much water needs to be delivered to the downstream state each year. As of January 2022, New Mexico owes Texas about 130,000 acre-feet of water in 2022. That amount cannot exceed 200,000 acre-feet without violating the Compact and triggering even further restrictions on water use and storage by New Mexicans. This means more pressure on water managers to get water to Elephant Butte Reservoir (the delivery point for New Mexico) to ensure maintained compliance. Historically, this has meant re-routing Rio Grande water through canals, drains, and other artificial channels, bypassing important river ecosystems, habitat for imperiled species, and degrading the quality-of-life living rivers bring to communities. The Low Flow Conveyance Channel (LFCC), built in the 1950s when water managers' preeminent concern was getting water where it was needed for irrigated agriculture as quickly as possible, is the largest piece of such infrastructure. During its operation until the mid-1970s profound impacts on ecosystems occurred, including significant drying of the Rio Grande which resulted in adverse effects on recreation and habitat destruction. "We have to start thinking about and managing river systems more holistically, ensuring that all water uses are not only considered but have a seat at the decision-making table," added Snyder. "Our water challenges are only going to get more complicated as the impacts of climate change intensify and we don't have any more time to waste." Last year, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (District) delayed the start of its irrigation season by one month, from March 1 to April 1 to help offset some of the strain on the river. This year, the District plans to implement a staggered delivery plan, beginning in late March. At the beginning of the year, the District approved an operational plan that will allow no more than half of native Rio Grande streamflow to be diverted for irrigation purposes, so long as the river remains connected through the Albuquerque area and Compact deliveries can still be made. Once the river becomes disconnected, the District has committed to working with water managers to minimize damage to endangered species. It's unclear what that will entail, particularly if New Mexico's Compact debit tops 200,000 acre-feet. In addition to New Mexico's looming Compact debit, the state is also currently involved in settlement discussions with the states of Texas and Colorado, as well as relevant cities and irrigation districts, related to Compact obligations. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for future water management in the region, particularly under drought conditions. "Without heroic measures to ensure the health of the Rio Grande, we're looking at another year of damage to a Living Rio and the quality-of-life it provides," said Jen Pelz, Wild Rivers Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. "We've put off the hard conversations for too long and if we don't act now, we are risking permanent damage to the river, as well as to the communities that depend on it." READ MORE: WildEarth Guardians Condemns Biden's Plan to Sell Public Lands for Fracking As Climate Hypocrisy and More Broken Promises KEY TAKEAWAYS When it comes to abortion, a hierarchy of rights is present before us which clearly depicts that mothers rights are given more importance as compared to fathers. In India, there are provisions regarding the fathers rights in abortion however, they are not well protected. Other than the conflicting views that parents of an unborn child might have, financial responsibility largely remains on the father of the child. Various countries are providing equal rights to both parents regarding abortion since both have an equal responsibility. In the last notable case of abortion Anil Kumar Malhotra v. Ajay Pisricha (2017) , SC held that fathers consent is not required for abortion. , SC held that fathers consent is not required for abortion. Therefore, fathers consent has no importance and is not recognised in India yet. INTRODUCTION In earlier times, the concept of abortion was encouraged against in our country. Abortion remains to be a sensitive topic despite it being more accepted now. Under Indian law, abortion means expulsion or removal of fetus which is done artificially. The laws on abortion have largely remained unchanged since their creation. Abortion is viewed as an important step towards women empowerment. When IPC was formulated, it was a punishable crime to abort a child, for doctors as well as mothers unless it was to save the life of the mother. The abortion laws in India which are currently place are consistent with the protection of reproductive rights as envisaged by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and other similar international agreements. It discourages abortion as a family planning measure but advocates for the promotion of family planning services to prevent unwanted pregnancies while recognizing the importance of providing safe, affordable, accessible, and acceptable abortion services to women who need to end an unwanted pregnancy. The rights of a father are rarely discussed when it comes to abortion. In some cases, parents of the child may have a opposite views and one may want abortion and another may not, however there exists a clear hierarchy of rights which is present in which the mothers right to abortion prevails over the rights of pre-viable fetuses in all circumstances and the rights of viable fetuses as long as the mothers health, freely interpreted, is in danger. The legal status of the unborn acts as a catalyst in this discussion. There are various legal frameworks enacted in India, however, the rights of the father in abortion although mentioned, are not correctly protected. RIGHTS OF FATHER When it comes to abortion, a mothers rights are widely known and but there is not much awareness about the fathers rights. This reality remains the same across the world and especially in India. Paternal rights in an abortion The role of the fathers usually begins in the case where the mother wants an abortion but the father does not or in a situation where the mother wants to delay the process of abortion but mother wants an early abortion. Rights of a father in abortion Both parents contribute to caring for the unborn child. When a child is unborn, the father usually takes care of the mother and the unborn child, financially and emotionally. He protects them and is responsible for any harm caused to them. It was highlighted in Anil Kumar Malhotra v. Ajay Pisricha (2017),by the Supreme Court of India, that there is no consent required for the father of the child or husband of the mother for the abortion of the child, since there are no provisions mentioned under the Medical Abortion of Pregnancy Act, 1971 regarding the consent of the father for an abortion. Therefore, father has no say case of an abortion which gives rise to the need of an amendment to be made in the abortion laws of India. THE NEED FOR AMENDMENT Globally, more importance and recognition is given to the mothers right and the fathers rights arent usually discussed at all, sometimes parents may have conflicting or opposite views on whether to get the child aborted or to give birth to them. Listed below are certain concerns regarding the rights of the father: Consent of the father isnt required A fathers consent is not required for abortion in most countries. This is because the mother gets more affected by the pregnancy as its her body that carries the child and she has her right to privacy. Commonly, the fathers opinion isnt even considered on abortion of his own child. No need to notify the father about abortion Consent of a father isnt required for abortion, however the question that arises is, whether father is to be informed of such abortion. In an American case law, Planned Parenthood v Casey(1992), the court has observed that notifying the husband about the abortion might lay a burden on the pregnant wife. In cases when the wife has not taken the consent of the husband and notifies him about the abortion, she might be risking her safety. Therefore, according to most of the courts across the world, it is not necessary to notify the husband about the abortion. Financial obligations remains on the father who wants to remain childless Fathers are generally liable to provide financially for the needs of the child despite their wish of remaining childless, in some cases. Since theres also no need to inform the father of the pregnancy, it isnt discovered until after the birth of the child whether the father was prepared to take the responsibility of a child, financially. In India, the mothers rights in abortion are considered to be primary, and the father is left with no rights at all. Few years back, it was reported that Indonesia, Malawi, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan, and Turkey, all had laws that required that an abortion first be authorized by the womans husband. All the mentioned countries provide equal rights to the father and the mother in case of abortion. They consider that it is the decision of both the parents and since they will be taking care of the child further and are liable for the act done by them. Even if the pregnancy is abnormal, consent of both parents should be taken into consideration. While discussing the abortion issue, it's important to remember that the rights of the father must be respected while making family planning options that include abortion.The rights of father are viewed as secondary to the mother however both have an equal responsibility towards the unborn child.As a result, there is a pressing need to not only increase awareness about this "little talked about" topic, but also to press the Indian judicial system to abandon old preconceptions and give fathers an equal say, if not in all cases, then at least in some. In contemporary times, parents play an equally important role in raising children, and their importance can in no way be reduced by marital disharmony between couples. There should be a law that gives the father the same rights as the mother in deciding whether or not to abort the kid. In many circumstances, women may not want to bear the kid in order to retain their physical form or simply because they do not want to be responsible for the child. What the child's father thinks isn't taken into account. As a result, a revision to the MTP Act about the father's approval for abortion in the pregnancye wise be a highly unbalanced domain is required. RELATED CASE LAWS The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in Anil Kumar Malhotra v. Ajay Pasricha (2017), the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Courts decision against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision in Dr. Mangla Dogra v. Anil Kumar Malhotra (2011), in which a suit for damages filed by the husband against his wife and doctors for terminating his wife's pregnancy without his consent was dismissed on the grounds that the MTP Act does not require the husband's consent for an abortion. Because it recognises women's autonomy, the Malhotra decision was considered as a step forward in respecting and executing their reproductive rights. In Nirav Anupambhai Tarkas v. State of Gujarat (2008), the Gujarat High Court affirmed the dismissal of a criminal case filed by a husband against his wife and her family for having an abortion despite his opposition, on the grounds that his consent was not required. The Supreme Court of the United States in Planned Parenthood v. Danforth (1976) ruled that statutes demanding a spouse's agreement for an abortion are unconstitutional. The Court reasoned that a husband's failure to consent would effectively veto a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy. While both potential dads and pregnant women have an interest in the decision, only one partner's viewpoint can prevail when the two disagree. Because the woman carries the pregnancy, "the balance weighs in her favour," according to the Court, forbidding the husband from vetoing her decision. The US Supreme Court Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) addressed the question of whether a father has the right to be notified regarding termination of pregnancy and found that such a law was unconstitutional. According to the Court, while most women discuss abortion with their partners, those who don't are considerably more likely to be in violent situations. The Court viewed spousal notification requirements as an unreasonable burden on women who may be concerned about their own or their children's safety. The court held in Roe vs Wade (1973) that a woman's right to privacy includes her decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy, but that this right is not absolute and may be limited by the state's legitimate interests in protecting the woman's health, maintaining proper medical standards, and protecting potential human life.The court held that the state may not interfere with or regulate an attending physician's decision, reached in consultation with his patient, that the patient's pregnancy should be terminated prior to the end of the first trimester; from and after the end of the first trimester, and until the point in time when the foetus becomes viable, the state may regulate the abortion procedure only to the extent that such regulation relates to the preservation of the foetus; and unless where it is essential to save the mother's life or health, and the state may prohibit all abortions except those done by physicians who are currently licensed by the state. CONCLUSION In the recent years, Indian abortions laws have become quite progressive, women finally have an assurance of their rights in abortion. However, since theres no mention of fathers rights in an abortion, theres a long way to go for an ideal law in place for abortion. This may seem fair to some, but since our Constitution of India guarantees equality as a basic human right, minor changes in favour of fathers rights are now expected for a step further towards equality. Since both parents are responsible for childbirth, wants of both parents shall be considered for a an abortion. Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!" Join our Telegram group Join our Whatsapp group "Loved reading this piece by Vrinda Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!" Tags : Others Robbie Williams has "nowhere to live". The 'Let Me Entertain You' hitmaker and his wife Ayda Field - with whom he has children Teddy, nine, Charlie, seven, Coco, three, and two-year-old Beau - have sold off their houses, including a 6.75 million mansion in Wiltshire, South West England and a 37 million estate in Beverly Hills, California, so they are trying to "figure out" where to base their family for the foreseeable future and what to do about their kids' education. Speaking to Australian radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O, he said: "Were actually nowhere. "We havent got an abode right now, weve pretty much sold everywhere, we dont live anywhere and were trying to figure it out. "The four kids are constantly a Rubix Cube puzzle that were trying to sort out because if they are schooled then they dont see me because Im all over the place and if they are home-schooled then they have another set of things that are a problem." Robbie is rumoured to have sold his US abode to Drake but joked he couldn't confirm the reports because if it was true, he would have signed a non-disclosure agreement with "any Canadians" involved in the sale. As well as selling his houses, the 'Angels' hitmaker is also planning to auction off three Banksy paintings he owns, 'Girl With Balloon', 'Kissing Coppers', and 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)'. He said of the iconic artwork: "I remember seeing 'Girl With Balloon', 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)' and 'Kissing Coppers' for the first time. "I believe they are some of his best paintings and I love how closely linked they are to the street pieces. "As a collector of Banksys work, you become part of a broader cultural movement." Businesses from Laois had the opportunity to meet buyers from all over the world this week as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2022 in the RDS in Dublin. There were over 100 Local Enterprise Office supported businesses from across the country present at the event with two in attendance from Laois. Yvonne Bolger Jewellery and Val Ceramics were all exhibiting at the Local Enterprise Showcase, part of Showcase 2022, that saw over 4,000 buyers from retailers across the globe attend the four-day event in Dublin looking to secure new sales and partners for the year ahead. Based in her studio in Laois, Yvonne Bolger designs and handcrafts her pieces in Sterling Silver and Gold taking inspiration from Irelands rich Mythology and beautiful landscape. Her Love Knot Collection is a modern interpretation of the Ancient Celtic Knot which symbolised Love, Loyalty and Friendship. The Irish Woodland pieces are inspired by Irish heartland surroundings. Vale van der Merwe Val Ceramics - designs and makes ceramic homewares in her studio in Laois and produces beautiful handcrafted homeware to enhance living spaces. Honor Deevy, Local Enterprise Office Laois said: The Local Enterprise Showcase is always an exciting element of Showcase. The clients here are the up-and-coming talent of Irish craft and design. Many of the exhibitors here will be just starting out, working with their Local Enterprise Office and trying to make the most of the opportunity this event brings. Others have been here before and know the benefits of the Local Enterprise Showcase and the chance to meet buyers from Ireland and all over the world. They have the chance to potentially make business and life changing deals. Damien English, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment officially closed Showcase 2022 at the RDS, Dublin. The show, which marked its 46th edition this year and ran until Wednesday 2nd March, is one of Irelands largest and most important international trade fairs. Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide. It is incredibly encouraging and exciting to see the return of Showcase as an in-person international trade event in the RDS. Showcase is a crucial event to letting global buyers know that Irelands Design and Craft sector very much open for business and we are driving economic recovery through the dynamism of these brave, talented and creative makers from across the country. "There is a tangible air of excitement as buyers and sellers get to connect face-to-face and get down to business together. I would like to congratulate the exhibitors and thank the trade buyers who have come to Showcase from far and wide, both in person and via Showcases digital marketplace Showcase Connect. The continuing support of Irish businesses helps to drive enterprise, growing the sector and strengthening the Irish economy, said Minister English. Mary Palmer, Chair of Showcase , said: Showcase marks one of the most important events in the design and crafts sectors calendar. For many, this is their first trade show of the year, a chance to launch their new collections and secure orders for the year ahead. Attracting buyers from Ireland and around the world, Showcases strength lies in its unique identity and high quality display of Irish design and crafts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in Showcase 2022, you are helping to support and grow our sector. It was another strong year for Local Enterprise Showcase exhibitors as part of the Showcase Awards with several Local Enterprise Office client companies securing awards and recognition through the Showcase awards programme. In the Local Enterprise Showcase Award category Tidings supported by LEO Louth was selected as the winner of the Local Enterprise Showcase Award. Highly commended were David Oliver Bespoke supported by LEO Kilkenny, Kings Forge Glass supported by LEO Monaghan and The Designer of Things supported by LEO Cork North & West. The Local Enterprise Office supported clients also dominated the sustainability awards this year. The Sustainability Award which promotes innovative and sustainable development in craft, was won by Badly Made Books supported by LEO Cork City. Nunaia supported by LEO Tipperary and Kopper Kreation supported by LEO Dublin City were highly commended in this category. For more information on Local Enterprise Showcase 2022 and supports available to those operating in the design and crafts sector, log on to www.LocalEnterprise.ie and for more information on Showcase 2022, log on to www.ShowcaseIreland.com A judge has warned he will start to strike out cases of illegal drug possession if the gardai continue to seek adjournments. Numerous cases before Naas District Court have not been dealt with and repeatedly adjourned in the absence of a certificate of analysis indicating the value and quantity of illegal drugs in each case. This certificate comes from Forensic Science Ireland, which is staffed by scientists and analysts who examine samples submitted from crime scenes and provide expert evidence in criminal trials. FSI also examines on items that possibly come into contact with drugs such weighing scales, knives and equipment from clandestine labs to determine if traces of a controlled substance are present. Read more Kildare news Having adjourned a number of cases at the court sitting on February 2, Judge Zaidan said there has to be a meaningful solution to the delay in providing the certs or Ill have to start striking them out. Sgt Jim Kelly acknowledged the delays but said that meetings have taken place with the Department of Justice in an effort to find a solution, possibly through prioritising cases. He said a system has been up which will allow the gardai to provide a list of priority cases. In one case where the value of the drugs was estimated at 7,000, there was an application for the issue to be struck out or marker peremptory for the next date, meaning it must proceed on that date. However Judge Zaidan declined to strike the matter out. I suspect this is due to a lack of resources but its not satisfactory. I wont strike it out now but there will come a time when I will have to draw the line somewhere. Solicitor Tim Kennelly said that one defendant had complained of having to turn up in court on a number of occasions and the case has yet to go ahead. He was referring to delays in the system, largely caused by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, which limited the amount of people allowed into the courtroom and led to many adjournments. One of his clients, who is facing allegations of assault, robbery, and the production of an article, has been in custody for over four months. Judge Zaidan replied: That's the state we're in. Were supposed to be a first world country. There are people on hospital waiting lists for three years to have an operation and that is more important. Judge Zaidan likened the delays within the District Court system in County Kildare to having just one medical doctor for the whole county. Dont get me started on the politicians, he added. An exhibition relating to the Selton Hill Ambush will open in Fenagh Visitors Centre this Friday, March 11. It marks one hundred and one years after the ambush which resulted in the deaths of six volunteers and what was the second worst atrocity in the country during the War of Independence. Funding was granted in 2021 by the Decades of Centenary programme 2012 -2023 which was funded by the Dept of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an online commemoration of the centenary of the ambush in 2021. This took place with a 27-minute documentary showcasing the event. Funding was also granted at the time for an exhibition. Because of Covid-19 restrictions last year this event could not be held to coincide with the centenary of the ambush. The easing of the Covid restrictions means that the exhibition can now take place. Numerous panels will be on display throughout the centre detailing the tragedy of the ambush and covering the period from 1917 up to the unveiling of the Selton Hill monument in 1936. These panels include numerous local photographs in addition to photos from the National library Of Ireland, The Imperial War Museum, RTE archives and Military Archives making it a must see. Portraits of the eleven volunteers, painted by Sinead Guckian in addition to various items of memorabilia relating to the volunteers and that period in Irelan will be on display. The exhibition at Fenagh Visitors Centre opens this Friday and remains open for viewing until March 18 during open hours. The exhibition helps us to remember, reflect and to learn about the tragic deaths and their context in our local and national history. The exhibition is free and further information can be got through Fenagh Visitor Centre Facebook page. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Harvest Films have sent out a casting call to local theatre groups in search of a character for the upcoming feature film based on John McGahern's memoir "That They May Face The Risining Sun." The film will be directed by the acclaimed Irish director Pat Collins and produced by Tina OReilly at South Wind Blows and Brendan Byrne at Cypress Films. It will shoot for 5 weeks in the West of Ireland. Casting is ongoing but actors Sean McGinley, Barry Ward, Lalor Roddy, Ruth McCabe and John Olahan have already been confirmed. The producers are now anxious to find an actor to play the role of JAMESIE and are shifting through local drama groups to secure the perfect candidates. According to the Director Pat Collins, "The character we are looking for is a man in his 70s - rooted in the rural countryside - at ease with the farming world - schooled in the university of life, mischievous and wise at the same time - with a clear speaking voice and a natural intelligence and good humour." The role of Jamesie is one of the most interesting roles in the script. Anyone interested should contact Maureen Hughes Casting Director on 087 2688273. That They May Face the Rising Sun is John McGaherns last novel, published in 2002, four years before his death. It was called by some as his masterpiece. The film adaptation is written by Eamon Little and Pat Collins and supported by Fis Eireann and MEDIA. The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are hosting a public meeting tonight, Friday 11th March in the Bee Park Centre Manorhamilton at 8pm. INHFA County Chair for Leitrim and West Cavan Martin Feely noted that with the new CAP Programme commencing in 2023 INHFA is running a number of meetings to inform farmers on details relating to this Programme. For many farmers in the North West the new CAP will stated Feely provide increased income across Pillar 1 through further convergence, a flat rate payment in the eco-scheme and the introduction of a front-loaded payment model which will be paid on up to 30ha. Through the introduction of these payment models farmers in Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan and Donegal can he added expect to see an overall increase in Pillar 1 payments. This increase of 20m annually will benefit over 15,000 farmers which represents 75% of farmers in the region. At farm gate level interest is focusing on how the individual schemes will operate. Here he stated we are seeing a keen interest in details around the proposed Eco-scheme and the new Agri-environment and Climate Measure (AECM) which will succeed GLAS. In addition to this, farmers are he continued anxious to know how entitlements will be calculated in the new CAP, what will happen their existing entitlements and how these new proposals will impact their payments. All of these questions and other issues relating to CAP will be addressed at tonight's meeting Feely explained. With regard to proposals on new designations the INHFA Rep outlined how demands from Europe could see the land area of Ireland that is designated SAC or SPA increase from 13 to 30%. This he stressed will be a major issue for farmers across the county on all land types as it will reduce farming output and income. Details on this will also be outlined at tonight's meeting concluded Feely A trial judge failed to highlight to a jury the differences between the cases of two men in their twenties accused of raping a young woman who had blacked out at a party, the Court of Appeal was told today. The first accused, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty to raping the woman at an address in Co Leitrim on a date in 2017. His co-accused, who also cannot be identified, had pleaded not guilty to the oral rape of the same woman at the same time and place. The men were later found guilty by a jury following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in November 2019 and jailed for seven years each by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. Both men have since appealed their convictions. In legal papers submitted to the Court of Appeal, the first man claimed that Ms Justice Creedon failed in her charge to highlight the differences between his case and the case of his co-accused. It was also submitted that the judge failed to give the jury an adequate corroboration warning before sending them out to consider their verdict. A corroboration warning can be given by a judge to a jury to highlight the dangers of convicting a defendant on the basis of uncorroborated evidence. The second man in his appeal has submitted that the judge erred in law in refusing the application to acquit on the ground that the State had failed in its duty to gather and preserve evidence. At a joint hearing at the Court of Appeal today, Brendan Grehan SC, for the first appellant, said his client and the complainant had been socialising in a flat following a birthday party at a public house. Mr Grehan told the court that the other guests had observed his client and the complainant engaging in flirtatious behaviour together before leaving the kitchen area and going to a bedroom. The assumption among the many of the guests, counsel continued, was that his client and the woman were getting together. Mr Grehan then told the court that next thing the woman said she remembered was waking up and his client was having sex with her. The complainant, Mr Grehan added, said that his client had his hands around her neck and had slapped her during the intercourse. When his client returned to the party, he had scratches on his back arising from went on in the bedroom, the defence barrister said. Mr Grehan added that the account he had given was to distinguish his clients case from that of the co-accuseds. He also referred to claims the complainant made during the trial that she had blacked out after going to the bedroom and only woke up when his client was having sex with her. If it was the accused who said that he woke up in the bedroom having sex without knowing how he got there he would be laughed out of court, Mr Grehan said. Colm Smyth SC, for the second appellant, said his client and the complainant had been friends at school and been well-known to each other. Mr Smyth said his client had a brief conversation with the woman after entering the bedroom before engaging in foreplay with her, at which point she placed her hands inside his trousers. Counsel told the court that if his clients clothing had been made available to Forensic Science Ireland, then a touch test could have been carried out to establish if the victim had left her DNA inside his clients trousers. But he said this opportunity was lost when gardai decided not to seize his clients trousers after he was arrested and placed in custody. Eilis Brennan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the appellate court that it had been very clear in the course of this case that these were two separate matters and the jury had to consider them differently. The facts in the case were very much jury matters, Ms Brennan said, adding that the jury had rejected the defence put forward by the appellants at their trial. She said that on the night in question, the complainant came to to find the first accused was raping her. Ms Brennan said the woman had described the intercourse as violent and that she had scratched her attackers back as she told him to stop. She said the second accused entered the room shortly after the first man had left and forced his penis into the complainants mouth, hurting her as he did so. After the attacks, when the complaint was alone in the room , she heard other guests at the party talking about her, Ms Brennan said. One guest was heard to say, you effed her, you get rid of her, while another said: You guys think you can abuse a woman while shes drunk?. Regarding the issue of DNA evidence on the second appellants trousers, Ms Brennan noted that whatever DNA was on his penis would have transferred to his trousers. Judgement has been reserved. Roadbridge, one of the country's biggest civil engineering and construction firms, has announced it is to go into receivership. The company founded in Limerick by the late Pat Mulcair in the 1960's employs 630 people in Ireland, the UK and Sweden, and is involved in some of the biggest infrastructural road, energy and water projects in Ireland the UK and Europe. It was working currently on the Coonagh-Knockalisheen distributor road in Limerick, and was recently appointed as contractor for the Ballaghadreen by-pass in Roscommon. It has also been involved in the construction of the second runway at Dublin Airport, the Limerick Tunnel, and the Limerick Greenway. "It is with regret that, as result of insurmountable financial challenges, the Board of Roadbridge Holdings Ltd announces that it has requested Bank of Ireland to appoint receivers to the company," Roadbridge said in a statement this afternoon. Aidan Murphy, Chairman of Roadbridge said they have been "working tirelessly" for the last number of months to find a solution to the "grave challenges" faced by the company. "My fellow directors and I greatly regret having to take this step, but unfortunately, it was the only possible option at this time," Mr Murphy said in a statement. "The Board recognise the support of all our stakeholders, including our bank, Bank of Ireland, in difficult circumstances as the directors explored every opportunity to save the company. "We are committed to working closely with the receivers now in order to get the best possible outcome for employees, creditors and stakeholders," he added. The receivers are Stephen Tennant and Nicholas O'Dwyer of Grant Thornton. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has described the news as "extremely concerning". In a statement, he said Todays news that Limerick based construction company Roadbridge has entered receivership is extremely concerning. My thoughts are with the employees, many of whom I know dedicated their entire careers to the company. We are still gathering the full information. I have asked my officials and those in Enterprise Ireland to engage with the company as a matter of urgency. Again I am very aware of how disappointing this news is for the companys hundreds of employees and the wider community. The Government is on hand to help in whatever way it can. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. COUNCIL is to investigate the possibility of ruling that all new detached, terraced and semi-detached houses are built with chimney stacks. It comes amid fears of a gas and energy crisis emerging from Russias decision to go to war with Ukraine. There are fears that Russia could cut off its gas supply to Europe in response to sanctions imposed from the west leading to a price surge among remaining markets. Now, with energy costs already spiraling, councillors are looking at measures to protect Limericks energy supply. Members of the councils economic committee responsible for setting planning policy have unanimously accepted a call from former mayor, Cllr Stephen Keary to investigate the installation of chimneys on new homes. This would be in order to afford householders the opportunity to generate their own heat and electricity through locally-sourced fuel. In light of the current situation playing out in Russia and Ukraine, our economy could become very vulnerable and face a lot of challenges over the next couple of years. In view of that, Id ask that planning applications for houses in the future would stipulate solid-fueled chimney stacks, Cllr Keary told the meeting. Im not suggesting we go back to burning coal, gas and turf. But there is inordinate timber available in this country if one wants it. I do believe no house should be left standing on one leg in the event there is a Cold War, he added. Senior planner Nuala OConnell suggested it could be outside the scope of the planning process to attach conditions like these. But members asked her to investigate the matter, with Cllr Keary, a construction manager by trade, saying he does not believe it is beyond the planning authority to insert conditions like these. Councillor John Egan seconded his party colleagues call, and acting chairman, Cllr Jerome Scanlan, Independent, added: It needs to be looked at as a matter of urgency. He secured a commitment from Ms OConnell that written guidance would be provided. The matter will be raised at this months full authority meeting. Cllr Keary added: We need alternative sources of energy, and if it means using chimney stacks so people have the opportunity to put in a log burner that will give them heat and facilities to cook, so be it. THE TRAVELLER and settled communities in Rathkeale have come together in support of Ukrainian refugees and their joint efforts have resulted in 441 care packages which have now begun the first stage of their long journey to Poland. The appeal for help for refugees was very quickly answered, according to David Lamont, who described the response of local people as awesome. I expected a few boxes, but we had 80 by mid-week and hundreds by Friday, he said. Saturday, March 5 was D-day as the packages had to be dispatched to Killarney where they became part of a larger consignment. The towns Traveller community with Fr. William Russell raised thousands of euros that were promptly spent locally on the items deemed vital. Financial donations from the Credit Union and individuals were also converted to the requested supplies which included items such as blankets, sleeping bags, toiletries, baby supplies and non-perishable food. Mike Hunt, the Community Employment programme team and many unseen volunteers quickly became the logistical backbone of the process. They sorted, packaged, and labelled the supplies into uniform boxes donated by ABP. James OConnor Kitchens provided a large van and despite a tyre blowout on the second trip, everything was safely delivered to the Paul Fitzgerald & Son Building Supplies waystation in Killarney, County Kerry. The crew in Killarney were delighted to receive such a large donation all the way from Rathkeale that was boxed, labelled and ready to go on pallets, said Konrad Paprocki, who is the donation coordinator for the Polish community in Killarney. RYANAIR have announced a new route from Shannon Airport which is the second new service to be announced in three weeks. From May 4, passengers will be able to take off to Marseille in the south of France from Shannon. The service will operate twice weekly each Wednesday at 4pm and Saturday at 8:25am. The news follows the airports recent announcement of Barcelona Girona with Ryanair, which is due to commence later this month. CEO of Shannon Group, Mary Considine has warmly welcomed the news and said: "This is really positive news for Shannon Airport. "Having connectivity to France is another win for the region. A service to Marseille from Shannon is fantastic for our passengers, bringing them directly to the southern coast of France near Toulon, St Tropez, Cannes, Monaco and more. "We know that restoring connectivity is important to our airport customers and that is why we have been working hard with our airline partners to create exciting holiday opportunities, like this one. "The addition of Marseille means that Shannon Airport will now connect our passengers to 22 destinations with Ryanair." Ryanairs Director of Commercial, Jason McGuinness said: "We are pleased to add this new route to Marseille as part of our summer 22 schedule from Shannon. This route will operate twice weekly for the summer season, starting from 4th May. "Located on the Cote DAzur, Marseille is the second largest city in France after Paris, is a renowned port city and is the perfect destination for anyone seeking an authentic French city escape. Check out the lowest fares on Ryanair.com." Welcoming the new service, Dr Loic Guyon, Honorary Consul of France for the Mid-West region said: "The return of an air link between Shannon Airport and France, is excellent news for the Midwest and Connaught regions both in terms of tourism and in terms of the business opportunities it will notably generate with the Provence-Alpes-Cote dAzur region." THE LIMERICK-based construction company Roadbridge has entered receivership, it has been confirmed this afternoon. In a statement, the board of the firm said that as a result of "insurmountable financial challenges", Roadbridge Holdings has requested Bank of Ireland to appoint receivers. The receivers are Stephen Tennant and Nicholas ODwyer of Grant Thornton. Founded in 1967, and headquartered in the Ballysimon Road in Limerick, Roadbridge is a civil engineering and construction company which directly employs 630 people in Ireland, Britain and Sweden. It's understood approximately 150 staff are employed by Roadbridge in Limerick. Staff from Roadbridge are in the process of constructing the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road, and are also involved in a project to deliver a number of modular units in the Moyross estate. It's understood construction equipment was removed from the site of the 58m roads project earlier today. The firm's receivership places a question mark over the timelines of these schemes, with local representatives and business people set to seek assurances in the coming days. In particular, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road is seen as being vital to open up Moyross, and develop industry in this part of the city - with the not-for-profit University of Pittsburgh medical center announcing it would open a facility in the wake of its fresh approval last year. Roadbridge chair Aidan Murphy stated: "We have been working tirelessly for the last number of months to find a solution to the grave challenges faced by the company. My fellow directors and I greatly regret having to take this step, but unfortunately, it was the only possible option at this time. The board recognise the support of all our stakeholders, including our bank, Bank of Ireland, in difficult circumstances as the directors explored every opportunity to save the Company. We are committed to working closely with the Receivers now in order to get the best possible outcome for employees, creditors and stakeholders." Earlier today, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan was questioned on the matter, given Roadbridge's connection to the 58m road which will open up Moyross. Labour councillor Conor Sheehan urged the government must step in and protect the roles of staff employed by Roadbridge. Mr Ryan said he was only made aware of Roadbridge's troubles this morning, but added there is an "impetus" to protect the firm. Cllr Sheehan said: Today's announcment could result in the road project being delayed for up to two years. This is completely unnaceptable for the community who fought so hard for the road. I am calling on the government to intervene to secure an investor as soon as possible. If this is not possible we need a fast track procurement process to ensure the rest of these important projects get completed as soon as possible." Roadbridge representatives have been seeking a buyer for the firm, which is well-known for its work on motorways and other State projects since last year. National reports suggest Roadbridge owes an estimated 30m to 35m to Bank of Ireland, its main creditor, but also has mounting trade liabilities. At the same time it has building contracts worth a total of 750 million over the next two-and-a-half to three years. Management hoped this would help attract investment or a buyer. Roadbridge specialises in large projects worth tens or possibly hundreds of millions of euro each. Insiders say that it has traded on very tight profits, between 1.5 per cent and 2 per cent, leaving little room for error or unforeseen risks. Founded and controlled by the Mulcair family, Roadbridge has operations in Ireland, Britain, Europe and has worked in the Middle East. The firm is also involved in the high-profile High Speed Two rail project in Britain, with trade publications cross-channel reporting its staff stopped working on one of these sites yesterday. KIGALI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Trailblazing new conservation efforts are underway in Rwanda to protect the white rhinoceros and mountain gorillas from extinction while empowering local communities through ecotourism and boosting the landlocked nation's wildlife economy. Rwanda, dubbed as Africa's land of a thousand hills, is in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. Its natural assets include four national parks, namely the Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, and the Volcanoes National Park, and 23 lakes and rare species like the mountain gorillas. The new conservation efforts have turned out to be sustainable in terms of generating long-term benefits for local communities and ensuring the survival of wildlife species in the future. COMMUNITY ROLE IN MANAGEMENT OF AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK IN EASTERN RWANDA Game-viewing in the Akagera National Park, Central Africa's largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for the Big Five -- lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo -- in the country, has been a key tourist activity. This wasn't always the case. In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, during which more than 1 million people were slaughtered by ethnic Hutu extremists in just 100 days, in addition to a devastating impact on the environment, the park was on the verge of being lost forever. Fresh conservation efforts are being rolled out with the goal of generating long-term benefits for local communities of Rwanda. Thirty white rhinos were introduced to Akagera National Park from a private game reserve in South Africa in November 2021, through a collaboration between partners including the Rwanda Development Board, and African Parks, with funding provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The relocation was the largest ever undertaken and aimed at ensuring their survival into the future. "Akagera National Park is a Rwandan treasure. It's one of the four national parks that we have in Rwanda and the most visited attraction in the country," Jean Paul Karinganire, deputy tourism and marketing manager of the Akagera Management Company (AMC), told Xinhua at his office inside the park. "Last year, our numbers showed that 51 percent of all visitors were Rwandans. This is really an important asset for the country. Economy-wise, Akagera contributes to the community, it's really critical. We have to engage them in our actions, they have to be decision-makers and our partners to understand the management of the park and how they can benefit from it." "Ten percent of the tourism revenue is given to the community through a revenue-sharing scheme. And 5 percent of tourism revenue is also contributed to the community to what we call a special guarantee fund. It's a national fund that compensates losses from wildlife," Karinganire said. The park currently employs 286 people, with 95 percent of them coming from the community. The 2021 aerial census resulted in more than 12,000 animals counted, up from less than 6,000 in 2010. "The park is an amazing jewel that Rwanda has got. This is a huge boost to the economy of the country and a huge boost to us, the citizens of the country and the people who surround the park itself," tour guide Bachu Abdallah said. Akagera National Park, which sits along the border with Tanzania, is about three hours' drive from Kigali, Rwanda's capital. It was not immune to the COVID-19 pandemic. As countries went on lockdown and international flights grounded to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the tourism sector became one of the hardest-hit sectors in Rwanda. Tour operators, hotel and lodge owners, food and transport suppliers all experienced significant losses. "Before COVID in 2019, we had 50,000 visitors and around 2.6 million U.S. dollars of revenue. In 2020, we received 15,000 visitors and a revenue of around 1.2 million U.S. dollars. But we were glad that in 2021 the trend was going up again," Karinganire emphasized. "Tourism is the number one source of exchange for the country, helping people get jobs, opportunities for lodge and hotel owners, and marketing Rwanda globally. Because Rwanda was known for the genocide only. Now it's a country where you can see gorillas, you can see the Big Five, you can see chimpanzees." Rwanda is now also aiming to establish itself as a regional and global hub for conferences and events and is scheduled to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) during the week of June 20 in Kigali. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Rwanda's economy has rebounded strongly in 2021, and the recovery is expected to continue in 2022. SAVING THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS Elsewhere, the Volcanoes National Park in Musanze in the misty Virunga Mountains volcanic range is home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas which number only 1,000 remain in the wild. The park in the northwestern part of the country and covering an area of 16,000 hectares, is home to 364 mountain gorillas or 20 families according to the last census in 2018. Protecting the primates and their habitat is a top priority, as they are at the heart of Rwanda's tourism industry after decades of habitat encroachment and poaching threatening their existence. Mountain gorilla tourism is also a key driver for economic growth and conservation. The park has attracted tourists from all over the world for gorillas trekking and hiking in the misty mountains in hopes of coming to a close encounter with the silverbacks and their families. Due to the pandemic, tourists have been required to wear face masks to prevent a COVID transmission from humans to gorillas. After a dramatic decline in numbers following their scientific discovery in 1902, new conservation initiatives are ensuring that mountain gorilla numbers are now slowly increasing. "The mountain gorillas in Rwanda are so important to us as tour operators, and they are so important for the country because they bring foreign exchange," Olivier Kanyabikali, manager of Countryside Tours-Rwanda, told Xinhua. "The money paid by the tourists helps a lot in the conservation of the mountain gorillas and many other aspects of tourism and wildlife in Rwanda, and it also benefits local communities. They receive a certain percentage from the earnings from the mountain gorillas and tourism." The area is also home to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund which aims to tackle conservation challenges and ensure the survival of gorillas and their biodiverse forest home. The mountain gorillas can only be found in three countries: Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to WWF International, the mountain gorilla population currently stands at approximately 1,004 individuals and its status is still endangered. Tour guide Abdallah thinks otherwise. "For the future of Rwanda, I wish this country can do much better and better to develop other parts of the tourism attractive areas because we have several, not only the national parks," he said. TWO Limerick schoolgirls have made a unique and heartwarming donation to the Ukrainian appeal. Mabel OToole, 8, donated the money she had been given from the tooth fairy to the rescue effort. And her twin sister, Iris, put together all her loose change before sending a personal note in the hope that someone from the war-hit eastern European nation would see it, The girls are students of the Model School in OConnell Avenue, which like many in the city, organised a big donation to send to help the people of Ukraine, many of whom have had to flee following the invasion of their homeland. In her note, Iris, who lives with her sister in Mungret, wrote: I'm really sorry about the war. I'm not from Rusia [sic], I'm from Limreak [sic]. I hope most of you survive. The money I gave you was all of mine. Love Iris. Get better soon. The note, which Iris wrote on World Book Day, went viral, with many people across the world sharing it including the Ukranian MP Lesia Vasylenko. An 8 year old child from Ireland supports #Ukraine. With real action. An example for to follow #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/kq3AW52VXE Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) March 11, 2022 She sent two 10s, two 50s and two 20s. I wrote it so I hoped they would write back to me, and we could be in touch, said Iris. Her sister Mabel added: I feel like Putin is doing the wrong thing. Its actually very unfair as the Ukraine has not done anything, and its just very very sad. Vice-principal Marie Millane hailed the twins as two very generous girls, and also praised the whole school community for the efforts theyve made for Ukraine. "We are overwhelmed, and so proud of our entire school community," she said, "We are very proud of all of our children. They all contributed hugely - the parents, the staff, the whole school community helped out to bring supplies, blankets, nappies, things which people will really need." Pictured below, students of the Model School with some of their collection for Ukraine Iris said she is "kind of happy" to hear about how her note has spread around the world. Ms Millane added: "Iris's letter seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people because it was a very sincere letter from such a young pupil". Irish student Racheal Diyaolu has arrived safely back in Ireland after days trying to escape Ukraine. The medical student was helped out of the country that has been ravaged by a Russian invasion by two Scotsmen Gary Taylor and Joseph McCarthy. Emotions were understandably high when the 19 year old was finally reunited with her family at Dublin at Dublin Airport. Speaking to RTE News, Racheal said she was "Really overwhelmed but really happy". Moments after the tearful reunion Racheal told RTE News that she was really overwhelmed but really happy. *Final Update* RACHEAL IS FINALLY HOME. She arrived super late @ 11pm last night. After 15 sleepless nights and buckets of tears, my family and I are at peace knowing shes home and safe. A sincere Thank You to everyone for all the love, prayers and support shown to us. (1/3) https://t.co/9ajuzssd8c (@PrincxssTiana) March 11, 2022 Racheal had been studying medicine in university in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy along with other international students and was stranded there since the Russian invasion began on 24 February. Her family has described the last few weeks as a "nightmare". Speaking about his daughter, Racheal's father Taiwo Diyaolu said: "I'm proud of her. With the kind of stuff she's made of she's very resilient, very peaceful and very positive. "That's what saw her through and I'm very happy that she's back." The Carlow native endured a three-day cross country car journey to reach the border to Romania Racheal said: "It was a very anxious journey. "We had a lot of really bad roads, things went wrong along the way, but we stayed positive and knew that once we were out of Sumy, it was home strait. "We knew we just had to go a little bit further and we'd be back home soon." Racheal can now continue her studying here in Ireland, saying it was "such a relief" After her perilous journey, Racheal said the first thing she'll do once she's home is sleep. "I'm so tired. "I'll spend as much time with the family as I can, try and catch up on the last three and a half months, and just get some rest." Bord Bia has announced its Chief Executive Officer will be stepping down from the role later this year. The news of Tara McCarthy's departure was announced today (Friday March 11) by the government agency, which is responsible for the promotion of Irish food, drink and horticulture globally. It's expected Ms McCarthy will be taking up a new position in the private sector in June 2022. Speaking about the change, she called leading Bord Bia a "wonderful privilege" and said, "It is an exciting and thought-provoking organisation, with a powerful and inspiring mission. The wider agri-food industry faces many challenges, but thanks to the amazing people that work in and with the industry it continues to thrive. "I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our Chairman and Board, my committed colleagues in Bord Bia and in Government and our farmer and producer members, for the amazing support they have given me throughout my time as CEO. "I will continue to play my full part in Bord Bia until my departure and to ensure an orderly transition. I will work in partnership with the Board as they begin the recruitment process for my successor. I wish all in Bord Bia, its leadership team and its Board continued success." According to Bord Bia Chairman Dan MacSweeney, Ms McCarthy made "a significant contribution" to the organisation. He said, "[It] is in a very good place due to her leadership, energy, and drive over the last five years. The search for a successor to Tara begins immediately and, in the interim, I have full confidence in the leadership team in Bord Bia to continue to successfully execute our new and exciting strategy." The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, also commented and said, "I thank Tara McCarthy for her energy, leadership and commitment to Bord Bia and the wider agri-food industry. She has guided the organisation and supported the industry through many challenges, including the impacts of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. "Tara has nurtured top talent, as well as building Irelands voice in thought leadership on sustainability, with benefits for the sector as a whole. Tara has focused on developing new markets while building on existing ones to the benefit of our world-class primary producers, farm families and fishers. I wish Tara well in her new endeavours and look forward to continuing to work with the Board and leadership team in Bord Bia into the future." As part of an effort to support the health service in Ukraine, Ireland has sent 4,000 blood bags and 50,000 medical masks to to the war-torn country. The Government, working with the HSE, has donated thousands of items designed to help Ukrainian medics, as part of an EU-wide effort. Four thousand blood bags were donated by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and sent to Ukraine on Monday from a supplier in Poland, while 10,000 bio-protection suits, as well as 50,000 medical-grade masks and more than 2,500 litres of disinfectant were dispatched on Friday. The Department of Health confirmed that, alongside the HSE, staff are planning further donations to Ukraine and neighbouring countries as the Russian invasion shows no sign of ending. A view of a welcome room at a new processing facility for Ukrainian refugees which has been set up at the Old Central Terminal building at Dublin Airport The invasion has caused the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly stressed how vital these kinds of donations were. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is devastating. I had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Gerasko earlier this week and am keenly aware of how important these donations are to supporting the Ukrainian response to ongoing conflict, he said. The HSE is coordinating a large number of offers of medicines and medical assistance we can provide, and I look forward to confirming further support shortly. Darragh OBrien, who is Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said: What is currently happening in Ukraine is an absolute tragedy. We must pull out all the stops that we can to assist the humanitarian effort that is currently under way. The Irish Government recognises the horrors of this conflict and will provide whatever humanitarian supports we can. These medical donations are critical to helping in saving lives. Ireland has already taken in more than 2,500 Ukrainian refugees, with thousands more people expected to arrive in the coming weeks and months. The country has already signed up to an EU-wide fund to provide arms and equipment to Ukraine, although Ireland as a militarily neutral nation has committed to providing non-lethal equipment only. Appearing at an Oireachtas committee on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney indicated that Ireland is preparing to send defence equipment to Ukraine. He said: Were also looking to see what actual gear we can provide as well. Were making some decisions on that actually shortly having looked at what we have that is spare and available. And youd be surprised theres not as much as you might think. But there is some military defence equipment that I think would be useful and were making decisions on that actually as we speak today. And well get it to Ukraine as quickly as we can. Tata group firm Titan Company on Friday said its subsidiary has inked a pact to acquire 17.5 per cent voting rights in US-based Great Heights Inc for USD 20 million (around 152 crore). TCL North America Inc (TCLNA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, has signed a stock purchase agreement with Great Heights Inc for subscription of shares with voting preferred stock in the capital stock of Great Heights, the jewellery and watch maker said in a regulatory filing. As per the pact, TCLNA would hold up to 17.5 per cent voting rights in Great Heights, it added. "This is a strategic investment that will provide Titan a ring-side view of the fast growing Lab Grown Diamond (LGD) and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) sectors," the company stated. Great Heights retails LGD jewellery through its brand "Clean Origin". The company's gross revenue for the year 2021 stood at USD 25 million. Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district administration has temporarily banned all paragliding activities in the district. The decision was taken following the death of two-person at Bir-Billing on March 8. On Wednesday, a helper, who was pushing the glider, was entangled in a rope due to which the glider lost balance at Bir Billing in Kangra. The two men fell down from a height of 25-30 feet and died on the spot. The pilot suffered injuries and was hospitalised. "Two persons have been killed and one has been seriously injured after they fell off a paraglider while taking off in Bir Billing of Kangra district on Tuesday evening," Deputy Commissioner of Kangra Nipun Jindal told ANI. Therefore Kangra deputy commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal has banned paragliding under the Disaster Management Act. The district administration has sanctioned 4 lakh to the family of the deceased. ANd the matter has been sent for further probe. "The police has registered an FIR and investigation is on. The district administration has sanctioned 4 lakh financial help to each family of the deceased," Kangara's deputy commissioner told ANI news agency. Jindal will review the ban order in about a fortnight after ensuring that all registered operators and pilots have adhered to the administration's directions. The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima following the detonation of the atomic bomb On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States detonated atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two small cities in Japan. Still the only use of nuclear weapons against a civilian population, this act changed the way warfare is waged and heralded the dawning of the "nuclear age." The Second World War The Battle of Okinawa was a turning point in the Second World War. (Image credit: Getty/ Keystone / Stringer) By the summer of 1945, World War II had raged across several continents for six years, beginning when German forces invaded Poland in 1939. To a world grown weary of death and destruction, the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, was welcome news. Japan, however, vowed to fight to the very end. Their resolve was evident in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, both of which saw huge U.S. casualties. By June 1945, the U.S. military had lost more than 12,000 soldiers and Japan's military suffered more than 90,000 deaths plus the loss of an estimated 100,000 Japanese civilians according to the National WW2 Museum . Against this backdrop, Allied forces drew up plans for Operation Downfall, a large-scale invasion of Japan, according to The Imperial War Museum . But with Allied casualties from an invasion estimated to reach 1 million deaths plus another 10 million Japanese casualties, including civilians Allied planners searched for another way to end the war, which they found in the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project Concerned over reports that Nazi Germany was developing a new type of weapon using radioactive uranium, in 1939 U.S. government officials began to investigate the potential of uranium particularly the uranium-235 isotope for making a powerful nuclear bomb , according to the World Nuclear Association . Within a matter of months, a coalition of American, British and European scientists many of whom were refugees from Germany, Italy and other fascist nations began collaborating on a vast international project to develop a uranium-based bomb before any Axis powers beat them to it. One scientist denied clearance to work on the project was Albert Einstein, according to The American Museum of Natural History . Because one early component of the project was based in the U.S. Army's Manhattan District, the name Manhattan Project eventually stuck,, though work was carried out in Los Alamos, New Mexico; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; Chalk River, Ontario, and several other sites, according to The Bradbury Science Museum . After several years of intensive research under strict secrecy, the Manhattan Project developed two different bombs that used two different nuclear materials: uranium-235 and plutonium-239, according to the US Department of Energy . 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man' This is a mockup of "Fat Man," the atomic bomb that was dropped over Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 1945. (Image credit: U.S. Department of Defense) About 140 pounds (64 kilograms) of highly enriched uranium-235 was used to create "Little Boy," a nuclear-fission bomb that worked by shooting a large, hollow cylinder of uranium over a smaller uranium insert. Far from little, the bomb weighed about 9,700 pounds (4,400 kg), according to the Bradbury Science Museum . "Fat Man" was even bigger about 10,300 pounds (4,670 kg) and used a core of plutonium-239 to create a nuclear chain reaction that would release the energy of about 21 kilotons of TNT dynamite. The complexity of the plutonium bomb caused some concern among project engineers, so a test of the bomb was scheduled for July 16, 1945. On that day, at Alamogordo, New Mexico, the first atomic bomb blast the world had ever witnessed occurred, ushering in the Atomic Age. Hiroshima The damage caused by the Hiroshima bombing (Image credit: Getty/ Bettmann / Contributor) In 1945, Hiroshima, Japan, was a city of about 255,000 people that was largely untouched by the war, according to a paper in the American Journal of Epidemiology . Situated on a coastal plain, the city was an important manufacturing and military center at least 40,000 military personnel were stationed in Hiroshima during the summer of 1945. For these and other reasons, the city was selected as the first target of an atomic bomb attack. Early in the morning of Aug. 6, a B-29 airplane named Enola Gay (after the mother of its pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets, according to Time magazine ) took off from Tinian, an island roughly six hours from Hiroshima by air. Inside the Enola Gay's bomb bay was "Little Boy." At 8:15 a.m., the Enola Gay's bay doors opened and "Little Boy" was dropped over Hiroshima. The bomb exploded about 1,900 feet (580 meters) over the unsuspecting city. The enormous blast instantly destroyed most of the city and claimed some 140,000 lives, according to the BBC . "The mushroom [cloud] itself was a spectacular sight, a bubbling mass of purple-gray smoke and you could see it had a red core in it and everything was burning inside," said the Enola Gay's tail gunner, Staff Sgt. Robert Caron, according to Atomic Heritage . "As we got farther away, we could see the base of the mushroom and below we could see what looked like a few-hundred-foot layer of debris and smoke." On the ground, however, the scene was more horrific than spectacular. "In the following waves [after the initial blast] peoples bodies were terribly squeezed, then their internal organs ruptured," wrote a journalist with LIFE magazine. "Then the blast blew the broken bodies at 500 to 1,000 miles per hour through the flaming, rubble-filled air. Practically everybody within a radius of 6,500 feet was killed or seriously injured and all buildings crushed or disemboweled." Nagasaki The aftermath of the Nagasaki bombing (Image credit: Getty/ MPI / Stringer) To the surprise of some Allied military commanders, the destruction of Hiroshima did not bring about a Japanese surrender. Of the cities remaining on the Allied force's list of potential targets, the ancient fortress city of Kokura was at the top of the list. Shortly before 4 a.m. on Aug. 9, a B-29 named Bockscar (a pun on the aircraft's captain, Frederick C. Bock according to the Atomic Archive ) took off from Tinian, headed for the city of Kokura. In the plane's bomb bay was the plutonium-fueled "Fat Man." Cloud cover and poor visibility over Kokura spared the city, so the crew of Bockscar headed toward Nagasaki. A large seaport, the city was home to several important manufacturers, including the Mitsubishi Steel and Arms Works, and enterprises devoted to shipbuilding, weapons development and other military industries. It, too, was obscured by clouds, but the crew was able to find a break in the cloud cover, and shortly after 11 a.m., "Fat Man" exploded over Nagasaki. The powerful blast destroyed much of the city, and at least 40,000 people were killed immediately, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists . The hilly terrain of Nagasaki and the fact that the bomb was dropped almost 2 miles (3.2 km) from its intended target prevented greater destruction. Nonetheless, by the end of 1945, about 80,000 people died from the bomb over Nagasaki, according to the Columbia K1 Project . About half of the city was reduced to rubble and ash by the blast and the subsequent fires. Effects of the blasts The detonation over Hiroshima (left) and the explosion over Nagasaki (right) (Image credit: Getty/ Universal History Archive / Contributor) At noon on Aug. 15 six days after Nagasaki was bombed Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced an unconditional surrender, effectively ending World War II. Jubilant celebrations broke out across the globe, but there was little to celebrate in Japan. The exact number of deaths from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will never be known, but at least 103,000 died from the immediate blast or the effects of radiation sickness, according to the World Nuclear Organization. There were also a high number of stillbirths and birth deformities reported among survivors of the bombings, according to the Radiation Effects Research Foundation . However, no long-term genetic damage has been reported among the survivor's children, who are subject to ongoing screening. After the victors' initial celebrations quieted down, there was profound soul-searching by most of the people involved in the decision to use atomic weaponry. The devastation wrought by two just two bombs was unprecedented in human history, and the debate over the use of nuclear weapons remains relevant to this day. Robert Oppenheimer, nicknamed "the father of the atomic bomb" delivered a famous speech in which he qouted the Bhagavad Vita. "Yesterday man unleashed the atom to destroy man, and another chapter in human history opened, a chapter in which the weird, the strange, the horrible becomes the trite and obvious," wrote a New York Times correspondent one day after the Hiroshima bombing, according to Guy Oakes in " The Imaginary War: Civil Defense and American Cold War Culture " (Oxford University Press, 1995). Alarmed by the use of atomic weaponry, many of the scientists responsible for the Manhattan Project organized as the Federation of Atomic Scientists, an organization that continues to work against nuclear proliferation. Originally published on Live Science. Additional Resources Learn more about the history of nuclear weapons from The Atomic Foundation . Read more about what occured at Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the Arms Control Associations site . Click here to read the full article. BBC diversity lead Miranda Wayland is set to join Prime Video/Amazon Studios Europe, Variety can confirm. Wayland was previously deputy head of diversity at the BBC. She had been at the broadcaster for five years but reportedly announced her resignation last week. She will join Amazon later this year where she will take up the position of head of Europes diversity, equity and inclusion for Amazon Studios and Prime Video. Her remit will include both off-screen and on-screen representation. Wayland will work closely with European originals, business affairs, public policy, marketing and other departments with the intention of increasing diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the business via programmes and other initiatives. Wayland will report to Latasha Gillespie, Amazon Studios global head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Amazon Studios. Gillespie is based in Los Angeles. Before her role at the BBC, Wayland worked at ITV for a decade, where she held the title of diversity manager. In an address during Mip TV last year, Wayland pointed to Luther as an example of a show lacking in authenticity despite casting Idris Elba in the lead. When it first came out, everyone loved that Idris Elba was in there a really strong black character lead, Wayland reportedly said. But after you got into the second series you thought: well, he doesnt have any black friends, he doesnt eat any Caribbean food. This doesnt feel authentic. Its great having big landmark shows with key characters, but its about making sure everything around them their environment, culture, the set is absolutely reflective. Our commissioners continue to have those dialogues about how to get authenticity of character correct. BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore said: Miranda has been instrumental in improving diversity and inclusion within the BBC and the wider industry. I thank her for all her hard work, the support she has given our content commissioning teams and for everything she has done to launch and support the BBCs 112 million ($147 million) diversity fund. She will be hugely missed. BBC Director of Creative Diversity June Sarpong added: The BBC has always been a nurturer and developer of world class talent and Miranda Waylands incredible trajectory here is no exception to this. Over the past few years it has been such a pleasure to see Miranda grow to become one of the leading D&I practitioners in the British creative industry. Her work as Head of Creative Diversity has really helped to drive increased diverse representation both on and off screen as well as better serve diverse audiences, her dynamism and enthusiasm will be sincerely missed. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Dutch Features has acquired international rights to Finnish streaming service Elisa Viihdes crime series Evilside, a six-hour Archipelago thriller set in the Oulu region of northern Finland. Filming took place from Dec. 2021 through Feb. 2022. Evilside is produced by Whatevergroup Oy in collaboration with Handmade Films in Norwegian Woods, Business Finland, Business Oulu and the Finnish Film Foundation. What drew us to Evilside is that the script had all the characteristics of a good Scandi noir thriller, but with a very diverse mix of characters and so many new elements added, Dutch Features CEO Pim van Collem told Variety. She added: Two women are at the center here: the detective trying to solve the case and the young woman who is accused of the crime. Including a teenage character as one of the leads will feed into a whole new younger audience and we are excited to be hitting the international market with this gem. Evilside (Korvessa Kulkevi) follows the aftermath of the brutal murder of a teen boy in a small fishing village. When both evidence and public opinion points to Johanna, a teenage victim of bullying, she must prove her innocence to everyone including the police investigating the murder. The series is for a domestic release in Finland on Elisa Viihde Viaplay in the fall of 2023, Dutch Features will launch show onto the international market with a special presentation to selected buyers at Series Mania, the prominent French TV festival which unspools over March 8-25. The series has also made the cut for this years MIPDrama, a sign of its potential industry popularity. Evilside is set in a small community in the archipelago, but its universal theme of feeling excluded is relatable around the world. We are proud that we can bring such strong stories to international audiences with our partners, said Ani Korpela, Elisa Viihdes chief content officer [job titles after a name are lower case]. Producer Antti Kaarlela also praised the series timely topics, from bullying to internal tensions plaguing the village in the Bothnian Bay. The series is directed by Jussi Hiltunen, also behind Bordertown and Arctic Circle, with Olivia Ainali, Saimi Kahri, Amira Khalifa, Jacob Ohrman, Dennis Nylund and Matti Onnismaa rounding up the cast. When we were coming up with the story, we aimed for themes about outsiders in a tight-knit community. What does it feel like to grow up in a remote village, under the pressure from your own community only because youre a bit different?, said creator Aleksi Puranen, who co-wrote the series alongside Antti Kairakari and Oona Haapaniemi. Weve seen plenty of tough-as-nails detective with family issues investigates stories before and we wanted something more interesting, he added. So Evilsides detective is less tortured and more mellow but obviously very smart and brilliant at her job. Also, Puranen noted, Evilside is a community thriller with two equal and powerful leads one investigating the crime and the other one being the teenage girl who is our prime suspect. Together, they lead us through the twists and turns of the story. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the press after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2022. Li took questions from Chinese and foreign journalists via video link. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The central government has deep concern for Hong Kong residents and fully supports their COVID-19 fight, Premier Li Keqiang said Friday. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) should assume the primary responsibility in fighting COVID-19 and the central government will give its full support, Li said at a press conference after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. "The central government follows the COVID-19 situation developments in Hong Kong every day and has deep concern for the life, health and safety of residents in Hong Kong." As the HKSAR government has postponed the election for chief executive due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak, Li said the central government fully understands and supports the decision. Li said the change of the HKSAR government will take place in strict accordance with relevant provisions in the HKSAR Basic Law. The Chinese central government is steadfast in full and accurate implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems" in the HKSAR, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy in strict accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law, Li said. The premier hopes that the HKSAR government will unite and lead people across all sectors in Hong Kong to continue to develop the economy, improve people's lives, consolidate and elevate Hong Kong's status as an international financial, trading and shipping center and maintain long-term prosperity. Click here to read the full article. Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to On the Edge, a Belgian crime thriller by Giordano Gederlini (Les Miserables) from Le Pacte. The deal was negotiated by Kino Lorber senior VP Wendy Lidell and Le Pactes head of sales Camille Neel out of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema market. The event, which runs from March 3-13, is hosted by Unifrance and Film at Lincoln Center. On The Edge marks the sophomore outing of Gederlini, who co-wrote Ladj Lys Oscar-nominated film Les Miserables. The gritty, twisty noir is set in Brussels, where Leo, a Spanish metro driver, sees his estranged son right before he falls onto the rails and dies. After discovering that his son was involved in a bloody heist, Leo sets off to track down the criminals responsible for the murder under the watchful eye of the police. The film stars Antonio de la Torre (A Twelve-Year Night), Marine Vacth (The Double Lover) and Olivier Gourmet (An Officer and a Spy). Producers are Frakas Production (Titane), Noodles Productions, Fasten Films and Eyeworks. On the Edge more than lives up to its name, said Kino Lorber president and CEO Richard Lorber. It had us perched in our seats from start to finish with its thrilling mix of mystery, action and drama. We cant wait to share this gritty Belgian neo-noir with North American audiences, added Lorber, whose recent prestige acquisitions include Murina, the Cannes Golden Camera winning film directed by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic. Gederlini said that setting the action in Brussels had a special meaning, not only because the city is at the heart of Europe. Its where I live and I tried to film my city as a land of exile where the protagonist goes to disappear and be forgotten, added Gederlini. The writer-director said he approached the film with a very European aesthetic, a tense and kinetic screenplay, and which was brought to the screen by magnetic Spanish, French and Belgian actors. Kino Lorber will bring On the Edge to U.S. and Canadian theaters in 2022, followed by a release on all major digital platforms including their own platform Kino Now, plus home video. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A man has been arrested for attempting to smuggle multiple firearms, magazines and firearm parts into Mexico, according to an arrest affidavit. The case unfolded at about 9:25 p.m. March 6, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound operations at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge inspected a white Chevrolet Cheyenne bearing Mexican license plates. Webb County, a Democratic stronghold and home to Laredo, is set to become the most populous county to embrace Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts controversial border security operation to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegally on state charges, according to the county judge. Were just in the initiation stages, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina told The Texas Tribune on Thursday. Were almost there to start getting everything that we need to do as far as arrests. The partnership would be a win for Abbott, who has previously found Democratic regions less willing to participate in his catch-and-jail strategy. Other Webb County officials did not return phone calls immediately Thursday, and the governor's office declined to comment on the Webb County expansion, referring questions to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which did not immediately respond. At a press conference Thursday afternoon, DPS Director Steve McCraw and Abbott said trespassing arrests were set to start in other counties shortly. "We are expanding the operation to other counties where were also making the arrest for trespass, Abbott said at the event in Weslaco, which the governor used to boast about his border initiative's accomplishments after one year in operation. Last March, Abbott flooded some border regions with thousands of Texas National Guard members and state police shortly after President Joe Biden was sworn in and during a sharp rise in illegal border crossings. A year into his Operation Lone Star, Abbott this month touted more than 11,000 arrests and the seizure of a record amount of fentanyl. Beginning last July, Abbott ordered state police to make mass trespassing arrests of men in two border counties who were suspected of crossing the border illegally, resulting in a slew of mistakes by police, prosecutors and courts. The arrests have led to countless court fights and growing pleas for the federal government to intervene over concerns that the arrests unconstitutionally discriminate against migrants and overstep state authority in immigration law, which is under federal jurisdiction. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat who penned the first complaint to the federal government against the trespassing arrests, said Thursday that the operation is a "complete failure." "Hes wasted money, mistreated Guard members, and violated peoples basic Constitutional rights - all for politics," he said in a statement. "Im surprised any county would want to be part of that colossal mess at this point." Prison officials report more than 3,500 migrants have been locked up in two state prisons that Abbott converted into immigration jails, largely to hold those accused of trespassing on private property. The migrants have often been imprisoned for months before being transferred to immigration officials, who either deport, detain or release them into the country pending asylum claims. The arrests started around Del Rio in Val Verde and Kinney counties in July, with migrants booked into the Operation Lone Star jail system at a Del Rio processing tent and sent to prison. After Val Verde Countys misdemeanor prosecutor, a Democrat, said he rejected or dismissed most of the cases brought to him because the migrants were seeking asylum, however, state troopers stopped arrests in the county in November and focused on making arrests in the more conservative Kinney County. But last month, Abbott announced an expansion into Jim Hogg County, between Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. The state popped up a new tent center to begin processing more arrestees. On Wednesday, 57 of the nearly 900 men held in the state prisons for Operation Lone Star had been arrested in Jim Hogg County, the prison reported. Tijerina said Webb County will process arrested migrants in Jim Hogg County and otherwise operate similarly to Kinney County, where more than 2,200 men had been arrested and imprisoned solely for allegedly trespassing through January, according to DPS data. Its going to be exactly the same kind of situation, and its going to happen here, Tijerina said. The Democratic county judge said some ranchers have already signed agreements with DPS to allow troopers to arrest anyone on their property for trespassing. When you have a lot of these ranchers that are having problems with a lot of these immigrants coming in, it changes the dynamic of this, he said. Growing up on ranches, Tijerina said he always encountered people crossing the border illegally onto their property and for the most part, almost all of them do not mean us any harm. Nowadays, theres a lot of changes that have happened, he said. You have a lot of people who do have malintent. In the Laredo region, like all of the U.S. southern border, Border Patrol agents encountered significantly more people illegally crossing the border last year, according to federal data. Immigration officials reported more than twice as many encounters in the region in fiscal year 2021 versus 2020. But the increase was nowhere near the uptick seen in the Del Rio sector, where Abbotts arrests first began, which saw more than six times as many encounters during the same time in a less populous region. Tijerina said the governors office is providing grant funding to help county prosecutors and courts, but he did not have specifics. Some funds were still pending from the governors office, he said. As far as the constitutional concerns raised by Abbotts trespassing arrests, Tijerina said he believed the operation was largely about securing the border, but acknowledged there will likely be challenges ahead. We havent gotten started so maybe some of those [issues] are going to be speed bumps were going to have to address when we do it, he said. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Laredo Pageant Production is getting ready for their Miss Southwest Texas USA five category pageant where Southwest Texas finest ladies will be vying for the coveted crown. Miss Little Southwest Texas, Miss Jr Southwest Texas and Miss Pre-Teen Southwest Texas will be competing in fashion wear and evening gown. Miss Southwest Texas USA will be competing in interview, swimwear and evening gown. Miss Southwest Texas Teen USA will be competing in interview, activewear and evening gown. The Pageant will be held this Saturday, March 12, 2022, at la Posada Saint Augustine ballroom. Little/Jr and Pre-Teen pageant will be at 2 PM, doors open at 1 PM, and the Miss Southwest Texas USA and Miss Southwest Texas Teen USA will be at 6 PM, doors open at 5 PM. Miss Southwest Texas USA is under the direction of Roel Gonzalez Executive Director/President and Official Recruiter for Miss Texas USA and Miss Texas Teen USA and Director/Assistant Recruiter Saul Gonzalez. For more information you can call 956-286-3695 or 956-286-3683 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on March 10 that Republicans and Democrats must work together to "quickly" pass a massive government funding bill with $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine as soon as possible, "hopefully tonight." BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese virologists have reported finding an inhalable human antibody that can bind two targets, at once, on the virus that caused the COVID-19 epidemic. The effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibodies has been limited by the continuous emergence of viral variants and by the restricted diffusion of antibodies from circulation into the sites of respiratory virus infection. Researchers from Fudan University identified two highly-conserved regions on Omicron variant's receptor-binding domain, which implies that those parts resist rapid variations that lead to immune escape, according to the study published Thursday in the journal Cell. The researchers thereafter generated a bispecific single-domain antibody that was able to "simultaneously and synergistically" bind those two regions, according to the study. They demonstrated that the antibody, in the form of liquid drop within five micrometers, can be effectively delivered to the lung via inhalation administration, and exhibited exquisite neutralization breadth and therapeutic efficacy in mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the study noted. In a mouse model with severe COVID-19 symptoms and high viral titer in the lungs, they found that the inhalation of bn03 almost eliminated entirely the live virus in the lung and ameliorated the lung injury. The antibody's production technique is currently under development, and clinical trials are expected in the next step. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. A man who drove at what a Longford District Court judge has called an absolutely outrageous speed is due to reappear in September after he has completed a Driver Awareness course. Alex Cooney, Teevmacreeva, Tibohime, French Park, Roscommon, pleaded guilty to careless driving when he appeared before Judge Marie Keane last Tuesday morning. Sgt Mark Mahon, for the prosecution, told the court that Gardai detected Mr Cooney driving at 169km per hour in a 100km zone on the N5 at approximately 9am on February 5, 2022. In mitigation, the court heard that Mr Cooney had no previous convictions and no previous penalty points. It was also revealed that he had booked a driver awareness course. It was confirmed the vehicle - a 2007 Alpha Romeo - was in good condition and that Mr Cooney had only sped up to overtake another vehicle. What concerns me is (a) the speed and (b) the age of the vehicle, said Judge Keane. I will accept a plea to section 52 (careless driving) and remand him on continuing bail for the driver awareness course until September 6, 2022. But if you get as much as a parking ticket between now and then, you can come back here with a toothbrush. That type of driving is absolutely outrageous. Local News By Ls Cohen Published: March 10 2022 He was 92-years-old and a graduate of Bay Shore High School. Charles Edward Entenmann, the grandson of William Entenmann, the German baker who brought his wares from Brooklyn to Long Island and established a ubiquitous brand of bakery items, died at 92 in Florida where he retired after selling the company. Along with his mother and his brothers, Charles Entenmann helped to launch the company into the stratosphere, making their donuts and cakes a household name not only on Long Island but across the country. READ: Crazy Facts About Entenmanns Bakery to learn all about this historic Long Island company that became a national brand. Charles Entenmann was born in Bay Shore on July 12, 1929. He graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1947. He died on February 24, 2022. After the company that bore his name was sold, Entenmann moved to Florida. According to the New York Times, he launched two other companies. Activate your all-inclusive access for print subscribers: Link your losaltosonline.com account to your print subscription here. Your account number is your one-line street address as printed on your newspaper use normal capitalization. Example: 138 Main St. When your current subscription expires later this year, you will be able to renew at losaltosonline.com/users/admin/service/purchase. If you have any trouble accessing your account or linking your subscription, our Subscription FAQ may have the answer you need. Contact howardb@latc.com or call him at (650) 397-5213 with any questions or to learn more. Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business! Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge. (Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!) March 11 (Reuters) - Germany's government bond yields continued rising on Friday as Russian president Vladimir Putin said there were "positive shifts" in talks with Ukraine. Friday's rise added to a jump in yields on Thursday after a surprise plan from the European Central Bank to end bond purchases in the third quarter despite uncertainty around the Ukraine war. The ECB's decision, which also includes smaller bond purchases than previously announced under its conventional bond buying programme, the APP, had sent euro zone bond yields soaring as investors had expected the bank to refrain from making commitments. On Friday, Germany's 10-year yield, the benchmark for the bloc, was up 1.5 basis points at 0.28%, after touching a new three-week high at 0.312% earlier in the session. Its five-year yield was up 2.5 bps to 0.018% after rising to positive territory for the first time since Feb. 28 on Thursday. "It's a modest response but it's a positive response," Richard McGuire, head of rates strategy at Rabobank, said of the rise in yields following Putin saying there were "certain positive shifts, negotiators on our side tell me", without elaborating. "Clearly the market is keen to trade positive headlines. Maybe that's reflective of positioning on the back of Ukraine. It could also be a desire not to miss out on any relief rally which is likely to be significant," McGuire added. Italy's 10-year yield fell 4.5 bps to 1.88% after surging over 20 bps following the ECB meeting. The closely watched risk premium on Italian debt fell to around 158 bps, but was still far above 150 bps prior to the ECB's policy decision. Italy's debt - a key beneficiary of ECB stimulus - was the worst hit in the bloc on Thursday and the sell-off in its debt came after a rally earlier in the week on the back of a report that the European Union may unveil joint debt sales to fund defence and energy spending related to the war in Ukraine. "There is some more risk for spreads and peripheral countries, because (quantitative easing) ending is worrying investors," said Mauro Valle, head of fixed income at Generali Investments Partners. But at an auction which raised 7.75 billion euros from the sale of bonds due 2024, 2029 and 2037, Italy's cost of funding fell to a two-month low. The focus was also on a number of ECB policymakers, who emphasised that any rate hikes would be gradual and that the bank had room to manoeuvre if the economic outlook changed. Meanwhile, an EU summit resumed on Friday to tackle defence and energy spending issues. Divisions have emerged over the possibility of new joint debt issuance, advocated by countries like France and Italy but opposed by Germany, the Netherlands and others. (Reporting by Yoruk Bahceli; Editing by Alison Williams) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday that utmost efforts should be made to support Russia and Ukraine in overcoming difficulties to carry forward ceasefire negotiations, and China supports and encourages all efforts that are conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference held after China's annual legislative session, Li said China is willing to work with the international community to play a positive role for the early return of peace in Ukraine. Calling the current situation in Ukraine "disconcerting," Li said the pressing task now is to prevent tension from escalating or even getting out of control. China calls for exercising utmost restraint and preventing a massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Li said. China has put forward an initiative on the humanitarian situation there and has provided Ukraine with humanitarian assistance, and China will continue to do so, he added. Li also said that relevant sanctions will hurt the world economic recovery. LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Britain's economy faces significant uncertainty due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, British finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday after the release of stronger-than-expected growth data for January. "We know that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is creating significant economic uncertainty and we will continue to monitor its impact on the UK, but it is vital that we stand with the people of Ukraine to uphold our shared values of freedom and democracy and ensure Putin fails," Sunak said. Sunak is due to give a half-yearly update of economic growth and borrowing forecasts on March 23. (Reporting by Andy Bruce; writing by David Milliken; editing by William James) Jefferson, GA (30549) Today Thunderstorms, some locally heavy this morning, then partly cloudy during the afternoon hours. High 84F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Manchester, TN (37355) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 74F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. ISTANBUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Huawei and Turkish steel manufacturer Tosyali Holding co-launched a project on Friday to build the world's largest rooftop solar power plant in Turkey's Mediterranean province of Osmaniye. With a total investment of 71 million U.S. dollars, the two companies will build a "solar photovoltaic system" at Tosyali's plant in Osmaniye, combing Huawei's smart solar inverters with the tech expertise of SolarAPEX, Turkish leading solar power installer. The project is planned to complete by 2023 with a total installed power of 140 MW, which would help cut carbon emissions from steel production in Turkey by 116,525 metric tonnes per year, Tosyali chair of the board Fuat Tosyali said in a press release. "As a corporate citizen of Turkey, we do our best for green transformation and contribute to our country's zero-carbon target," Huawei Turkey General Manager Jing Li said. Noting that this year marks Huawei's 20th anniversary in Turkey, he said the national branch has created a strong corporate structure by supporting the development of information technologies and green energy in Turkey, which in turn enables valuable partnerships with local businesses. Huawei launched its operations in Turkey in 2002 and established an R&D department in 2009 in Istanbul, the second-largest center outside China. Fatih Dogan, general manager of SolarAPEX and the executive director of the project, said "at a time when the effects of climate change are felt intensely, Tosyali Holding will produce the greenest steel in the world with this project." Movie director Ryan Coogler was briefly handcuffed by Atlanta police after he was mistaken for a robber when he passed a teller a note while trying to withdraw a large amount of cash from his account, police said. The "Black Panther" director, who is Black, walked into a Bank of America branch Jan. 7 and passed the teller a withdrawal slip with a note written on the back asking her to "be discreet when handing him the cash," according to a police report. He was trying to withdraw more than $10,000, and the teller "received an alert notification" on her computer and quickly alerted her manager that Coogler was trying to rob the bank, the report says. The bank employee is a Black woman, the report says. Police responding to the bank branch in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood saw a black Lexus SUV parked out front with the engine running. An officer talked to the male driver who said he was waiting for Coogler, who was inside the bank. A female passenger gave police the same information. A description of Coogler given by the driver matched the description of the man reported to have been trying to rob the bank, the report says. The officer detained both the driver and passenger in the back of a police vehicle but they were not placed in handcuffs. Two other officers had gone inside the bank and led Coogler out in handcuffs. Body camera video released by police shows officers approaching Coogler from behind as he stands at the counter wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt, a black cap, sunglass and a white mask. As an officer pulls his gun and another tells him to put his hands behind his back, Coogler says, "Whoa, whoa, what's going on?" As he's led from the bank, Coogler tells them he's just trying to pull money out of his own account. Police determined the whole thing was a mistake by the teller and Coogler "was never in the wrong," the report says The handcuffs were immediately removed and the other two people were released from the back of the patrol vehicle. After the event happened, social media black voices didn't like the episode faced by Coogler, describing their outrage of the situation. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of Arkansas and Oklahoma, including the following counties, in Arkansas, Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Madison, Sebastian and Washington AR. In Oklahoma, Adair, Cherokee, Choctaw, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington OK. * WHEN...Through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff will likely result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially in areas that have already received heavy rainfall over the past few days. Several main-stem rivers could go into flood. A few locations could see significant flash flooding. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected today through Thursday afternoon with the potential for very heavy rainfall. Widespread 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected with locally higher amounts of 5 to 6 inches. The heavier rain will begin to shift east of far southeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) attends a gathering in a victory celebration after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won four states in the local elections at BJP headquarters in Delhi, India, on March 10, 2022. (Photo by Partha Sarkar/Xinhua) NEW DELHI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi got a shot in the arm when his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won four states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, in the election results that came in till late Thursday night. One state, Punjab, went to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the current ruling party in Delhi as the country's main opposition Indian National Congress (INC) couldn't show much presence. Final results were compiled by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and put up on its official website late Thursday night. According to the ECI's official data, the BJP won 255 Assembly constituencies out of the total 403 in Uttar Pradesh, 47 of the 70 in Uttarakhand, 20 of the 40 in Goa, and 32 of the 60 in Manipur. The encouraging results of the BJP, the main ruling party in India since 2014, is seen as an outcome of Modi's pro-poor "public welfare schemes," especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when the federal government distributed free food to the economically weaker sections of the society. Besides, the Modi government ensured free COVID-19 vaccines to different groups of the country's population. The latest victories of the BJP are also seen as a stamp on Modi's anti-corruption programs and policies. Addressing a gathering at BJP headquarters in Delhi in a victory celebration Thursday night, Modi said, "We have tried to reach out to the last person in our society with our welfare schemes. We have found ways and means to weed out corruption, and we wish to make India a strong nation." Meanwhile, the AAP (Common Man Party) won a whopping 92 Assembly constituencies out of the total 117 in Punjab. During its electioneering the AAP had promised to the people of Punjab to begin a new form of developmental politics in the state, wherein the focus would be laid on improving health and education facilities, besides ensuring a corruption-free economy. HONG KONG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic in still raging in Hong Kong, but the situation will improve with the concerted efforts from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government departments and agencies, the Hospital Authority chief executive has said. In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Tony Ko Pat-sing said the main difference between the current fifth wave of coronavirus infection in Hong Kong and the previous ones is that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is now the dominant strain of the pandemic. Noting that the latest COVID-19 wave has put a strain on Hong Kong's health care system, Ko said currently, Hong Kong's public hospitals are understaffed, and there have no enough isolation beds for the increasing number of patients. Though facing heavy workload, the medical staff in public hospitals are working very hard, and no one is leaving work for fear of infection, Ko said. More than 98 percent of the Hospital Authority staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and they are also required to take rapid antigen tests before going to work every day, he said. "We have been supported by the whole country over the past two years and are more than adequate in terms of protection equipment, so we feel much relieved," he added. Ko said the Hospital Authority has been trying its best to reduce mortality in confirmed patients, severe cases, and the transmission of the virus. "We first recruit retired colleagues, while inviting doctors working for private hospitals to join us to solve the shortage of staff," Ko said, adding they have increased the number of public hospitals converting general beds to isolation beds. Drawing on the successful experiences of the mainland in fighting the epidemic, Ko said they have adopted a hierarchical approach of diagnosis and treatment, assigning patients to community isolation facilities, mobile cabin COVID-19 hospitals built with the support of the central government, and local hospitals according to their severity of illness. In addition, the HKSAR government announced on Wednesday that Queen Elizabeth Hospital would be converted to a designated hospital for COVID-19 patients, which Ko said is very important. Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the largest general hospital in Hong Kong, and it is located at the center of Hong Kong with a large number of beds for patients, according to Ko. Ko said this arrangement can help better achieve what the experts suggest that the infected are treated in dedicated medical facilities where medical specialists and all the necessary medical resources are concentrated. "We have started to arrange for those non-COVID-19 patients to be transferred to other Hospital Authority hospitals and private hospitals so that Queen Elizabeth Hospital can focus its efforts on treating COVID-19 patients," Ko added. BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 397 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Friday. Of the new local infections, 121 were reported in Shandong, 98 in Jilin, 36 in Jiangsu, 26 in Gansu, 18 in Tianjin and Shaanxi respectively, 16 in Hebei and Zhejiang respectively, and 11 in Shanghai and Guangdong respectively. The rest of the cases were reported in seven other provincial-level regions, the commission said in its daily report. A total of 158 imported COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday, said the commission. Three new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, said the commission. No deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day. CAHOKIA, Ill. March 10, 2022 Illinois the United States Cahokia Arnett Harvey Mike Tith Cahokia State of Illinois Cahokia Cahokia the United States /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As schools acrosscontinue to navigate the management of Covid-19 prevention, the Cahokia Unit School District #187 has purchased and deployed air purifier units with ActivePure technology to complement their recent return to in-person learning and help provide an additional layer of protection against the spread of Covid-19 in its schools. The units were purchased from Sanalife, a national leader in advanced, indoor air quality and UV-C disinfection solutions for schools, businesses and organizations across. The initial deployment strategy was created in partnership with Sanalife to have the most effective results and will place the units in high-traffic areas like lunchrooms, nurse's rooms, and Covid-19 rooms across all the schools in the district."My staff and I understand the importance of students returning to in-person learning and we want to provide safe best-in-class technology in the market to provide peace of mind to students, parents, teachers, and our entire staff," saidSuperintendent Dr.. "Like the rest of the state, we are working hard to manage staffing shortages and the impact of the Omicron variant specifically, and Covid-19 cases in general. We wanted to take care of our high traffic areas during the first few weeks of being back and hope to continue to build upon our plans to keep students, teachers and all other school staff healthy so that students are ready to learn.""As a company, we care about the communities we work and live in, especially when it relates to students and teachers," shared, Sanalife general manager. "We know that students learn more effectively, are more focused and absenteeism is better managed, when they are breathing in clean, healthy air and teachers and staff are ready to work when they have peace of mind. We are honored to be collaborating with Dr. Harvey to support#187's return to in person learning."Across the, districts grapple with rising COVID-19 positivity rates and crippling staffing shortages. "My goal is for#187 to serve as a model for how to use technology, leadership, planning, and communication to win this daily battle with Covid. Our students, parents, teachers, staff, and bus drivers deserve it and Sanalife is the right holistic collaborator for us," said Dr. Harvey.The air purifiers that are being implemented across the#187 school district are called Beyond Guardian Air, which is powered by ActivePure technology, an active purification technology that puts back into the air the same therapeutic molecules that make outdoor air safe. In unaffiliated third-party laboratory tests, ActivePure has been proven to reduce up to 99.99% of pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), Avian influenza, E. coli, MRSA, Norovirus, Staph bacteria, Candida, Swine Flu, Hepatitis, Legionella, and more.To learn more, visit the Cahokia Unit School District #187 website.About Cahokia Unit School District #187 The Cahokia Unit School District Board of Education and the Superintendent of District #187, through an active partnership with its parent and community, will support a system of educational excellence. Wherein all students graduate and become responsible and competent decision-makers, while learning and growing from a rigorous curriculum in a caring environment that is fiscally sound, appropriately staffed, managed efficiently and improving every year.About Sanalife Sanalife is a wellness solutions brand offering advanced, indoor air quality and UV-C disinfection solutions to schools, businesses and organizations across. Together, Sanalife and its customers find the best end-to-end, customized solutions to solve partner-specific problems related to indoor air quality, surface disinfection, and clean water.Sanalife PR, Sanalife, 1 617-812-1523, danielle.wasem@aqualiteus.comSOURCE Sanalife The Kashmir Files, written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, has finally been released today (March 11). The film is a depiction of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits during the Kashmir Insurgency and features Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumar, Pallavi Joshi among others in pivotal roles. The audience review is out as fans, who were eagerly waiting to watch The Kashmir Files on the big screen, have been sharing their reactions on social media. Produced by Zee Studios, the film's plot revolves around the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 when the community was given a choice - to flee, die, or convert. The Kashmir Files is touted to be one of the biggest and most intense dramas of 2022 and it is getting a big thumbs up from the moviegoers. Overall, The Kashmir Files has been getting a positive response on social media as people are thanking the makers for helming a film on the heart-wrenching story of the extreme genocide. Netizens are also praising the star cast for their strong performances. After watching it, a Twitter user wrote, "A heart-wrenching story of the independent India, One simply can't empathize the terror & apprehension which the #KashmiriPandits went through. Extreme genocide. Brilliantly depicted by @vivekagnihotri & the entire team. A horrifying fact that one shouldn't miss #TheKashmirFiles". Another user wrote, "#TheKashmirFiles every Indian must watch this movie. It's about facts buried for years. Bollywood gained fame making useless movies". A third tweet reads, "@vivekagnihotri Can't thank you enough for making this soul shakening movie @KashmirFiles #TheKashmirFiles We are blessed to have you in this Bollywood. Take a bow sir (folded hands emoji) I cried throughout. Especially at the end. I'll never forget this impact". Another user tweeted, "For Me The Kashmir Files has to be the most hard hitting film I have ever seen in my entire life, Watch it only if you have courage. @vivekagnihotri has made a Phenomenal film, his career best film". Here are the reactions: Review - #TheKashmirFiles Rating - 4.5*/5 For Me The Kashmir Files has to be the most hard hitting film I have ever seen in my entire life, Watch it only if you have courage. @vivekagnihotri has made a Phenomenal film, his career best film #TheKashmirFilesReview pic.twitter.com/JIAJSL7BGu Sid verma (@sid_verma777) March 11, 2022 A heart-wrenching story of the independent India, One simply can't empathize the terror & apprehension which the #KashmiriPandits went through. Extreme genocide. Brilliantly depicted by @vivekagnihotri & the entire team. A horrifying fact that one shouldn't miss #TheKashmirFiles Prashant Singh (@imprashant15) March 11, 2022 #TheKashmirFiles every indian must watch this movie. Its about facts buried for years . Bollywood gained fame making useless movies. #biasedbollywood . #KashmiriPandits #KashmirGenocide . Dr. Shiva Kumar Reddy M (@drskr07) March 11, 2022 @vivekagnihotri Can't thank you enough for making this soul shakening movie @KashmirFiles #TheKashmirFiles We are blessed to have you in this bollywood. Take a bow sir I cried through out. Especially at the end. I'll never forget this impact. Niharika Pole Sarwate (@niharika_pole) March 11, 2022 This movie shows the truth that was well hidden and covered by the previous govt for a long time. This is our history that every Indian should watch and learn. #TheKashmirFiles#TheKashmiriFiles#TheKashmirFilesreview @vivekagnihotri pic.twitter.com/3NiLYbGiAa Prakash kumar Lenka (@Kprakash_Lenka) March 11, 2022 #TheKashmirFiles If we don't learn from History we become History.#TheKashmirFilesreview Best but sad pic.twitter.com/le2qtVlYw6 Shivani Kumari (@shivanikumari08) March 11, 2022 Watched #TheKashmirFiles what a well researched movie. each and every actor done justice to their roles. Thank you @vivekagnihotri Ji for bringing this truth. @AnupamPKher #mithunchakraborty @DarshanKumaar pic.twitter.com/Dkm3rigLe2 Naveen Herekar (@NaveenHerekar) March 11, 2022 Tears on my eyes when i saw #TheKashmirFiles movie .... A dark truth that Indians have forgotten, thank you from the heart @vivekagnihotri ji for bringing this truth in front of the people. Government should make this film tax free. Everyone should watch this movie in theatre. = Satya = (@stnarayan0) March 11, 2022 Initially, The Kashmir Files was slated to hit the theatres on January 26, coinciding with India's Republic Day, however, got delayed due to the third COVID-19 wave and Omicron spread. Have you watched it yet? If yes, share your views in the comments section below. Ahead of the release of his new film Radhe Shyam, Prabhas sat for a chat with the filmmaker SS Rajamouli with whom he worked in the Baahubali films. Since the subject of Radhe Shyam is based on astrology and Prabhas plays a palmist in the film, the actor and filmmaker discussed the same. Aditya Movies During the conversation around palmistry and astrology, Prabhas recalled an incident that Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut had shared with him during the filming of their 2009 Telugu film Ek Niranjan. He recalled how Kangana had told him that years before entering the film industry, an astrologer had predicted that shed be an actress in future. Kangana didnt believe him and thought he was fooling her. Prabhas told SS Rajamouli, Kangana told me this interesting thing back when we were shooting for Ek Niranjan. She grew up in a small town not related to cinema at all. She met an astrologer. She went there and they told her she was going to be a heroine. Aditya Movies He further added, She brushed it off thinking 'I'm just a small-town girl and these people are fooling me with heroine talk'. We heard many incidents like this, which might have happened but I find them hard to believe. Take a look at the video clip below: Watch the full interview below: Back in 2017, Kangana had revealed in an interview that she used to fight with Prabhas a lot during the shoot of Ek Niranjan. She told ABN Telugu, I feel so happy Prabhas is doing so well. When we started working together, we used to fight a lot. I remember we were shooting in Switzerland and had a massive fight and we stopped talking to each other. Then I saw Baahubali and I was like Wow, I am so proud of him and his achievements. I am sure he feels the same. As for Radhe Shyam, directed by Radha Krishna Kumar, the film also stars Pooja Hegde and Bhagyashree. T-Series The period romantic drama opened to mixed response from critics and audience. A Memorial Service of Christian Burial will begin at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Mrs. Cobb, 68, of Meridian, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Bedford Care Ce Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the press via video link after the closing 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 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. cooperation benefits both countries and the world, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday, adding that there should be more dialogue and communication between the two countries. Getting the China-U.S. relations right bears on people's wellbeing of both countries, Li made the remarks at a press conference after the conclusion of China's annual national legislative session. Li said that China and the United States are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, and China and the United States are the world's largest developing country and developed country respectively. Many global challenges require joint efforts and cooperation of both countries, he said. Fifty years ago, the two countries broke the ice and started a journey of normalizing bilateral relations. Despite ups and downs, China-U.S. relations have been moving forward over the past half century, said the premier. China hopes that the two countries would act in accordance with the common understandings reached in the virtual meeting between the countries' presidents at the end of last year, respect core interests and major concerns of each other, live together in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation. Now that the door has been opened, it shouldn't be shut again, nor should there be decoupling, said the premier. "Cooperation should be the mainstream because global peace and development hinge on cooperation," Li said, adding that even if there is market competition between the two countries in economy and trade, it should be healthy and fair. He pointed out that China-U.S. cooperation has extensive areas and much untapped potential, and if the United States chooses to ease its export restrictions on China, trade volume of both countries will be even bigger and therefore deliver more benefits to both countries and their peoples. The general consensus from educators participating at the forum regarding Senate Bill 138 on Thursday evening at Brescia University was that the bill, if passed, would inhibit teachers in the classroom, and promote indifference among students. SB 138, that will be named the Teaching American Principles Act if passed, is the critical race theory, or CRT, bill that was heard and passed by the Kentucky Senate Standing on Education in February, and is currently being considered by the full senate. It is a contentious bill that seeks to establish a consistent curriculum in public classrooms that teaches students that all individuals are created equal; an individual doesnt bear responsibility or actions committed by other members of the same race or sex; and that defining racial disparities is destructive to the unification of the U.S., among several other concepts that local educators call problematic and a slippery slope. Participating in the forum were Owensboro Public Schools teachers Beth Ewing and Erin Lewis; Brescia University professor Joshua Clary; and Morehead State University professor Benjamin Fitzpatrick. Clary explained to the crowd of about 50 that critical race theory was developed in the 1970s as a way to examine how racism is not only the product of individual bias or prejudice, but embedded in legal systems and policy. He said it is more of an undergraduate or postgraduate curriculum that isnt being taught in K-12 education, to his knowledge. The term has been equivocated with the craziest things we read in the newspaper, he said. Its a term that has been co-opted by people who dont want to have difficult conversations about race in the classroom. Fitzpatrick said conservatives argue that liberals are dividing students with CRT. He said the impact of this bill will be negative for teachers and students because it will only add to the problem of misinformation. Ewing, a high school social studies teacher, said having conversations on racism and bias are difficult, and that as a white person of privilege it can be hard to sit with those difficult conversations. That doesnt meant the conversations shouldnt happen. She also said the bill limits students educationally, and is disproportionately biased. She held up a thick textbook that was once used to teach local students world history, and demonstrated that in the entire textbook, only five pages were devoted to Africa. The bill also has a stipulation that educators introduce several texts that feature fundamental American documents and speeches into their curriculum. Of the 24 texts listed, only one is about women. There are more women in our history than Susan B. Anthony, Ewing said. Lewis, who teaches fifth grade, said this bill was not written with Kentucky children in mind. She said CRT became recently contentious in the wake of the national and worldwide equality movements following the death last summer of George Floyd. It was the answer to shut down that wave of progress and open-mindedness. This grieves me, she said. Our students deserve to learn a true and unbiased view of history told from the perspectives of the oppressed from teachers who are addressing our own biases. Our students employ their critical thinking skills to grapple with the tough questions. No one is telling them what to think. Rather, we hope to teach them how to fairly analyze information and form their own opinions. Matthew Constant, OPS superintendent, and Matt Robbins, Daviess County Public Schools superintendent, also provided statements, both agreeing that it is not the job of legislation to dictate curriculum. This legislation counters local control mentality, Constant said. Robbins said leaders within DCPS believe it is essential for people of all ages to be informed and aware of issues that affect all of us with information shared in age-appropriate formats, and with the opportunity to ask questions in a safe and respective environment. This concept is what public education is all about: bringing together the children and youth of our communities with their wide spectrum of backgrounds and objectively introducing them to ideas, thoughts, opinions, and beliefs that take them beyond the walls of the classroom and beyond their own life experiences, he said. Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315 JERUSALEM, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Two new polio infections were detected in Jerusalem, said the Israeli Ministry of Health on Thursday, four days after it reported the first case since 1989. One of the new cases was a close contact of the first infected 4-year-old child who had not been vaccinated against the virus, and the other one was found via a blind survey in Jerusalem. The ministry called on the public to fulfill routine vaccinations at the recommended times and for those unvaccinated to complete them as soon as possible. About 5,239 children in Jerusalem have been vaccinated since the first case was reported, it noted. The ministry has also expanded the epidemiological investigation in Jerusalem and sewage sampling across the country, as the virus has recently been found in sewage. The Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission approved Thursday night rezoning of more than 200 acres for multimillion-dollar projects proposed by Big River Electric Corp. and Jagoe Homes. Big Rivers plans to develop a $60-million Transmission & Energy Control Center with Kenergy Corp. on about 58 acres of the 114 acres it bought last year for $5.14 million. The property stretches from West Fifth Street Road near Jack C. Fisher Park to the intersection of Kentucky 331 (formerly U.S. 60 West) and Industrial Drive. The company has said that about 60 Big Rivers employees and 85 Kenergy employees will work there. Officials said last year that they hope to be in the facility by the end of 2023. The heavy traffic will enter and exit onto Kentucky 331 at the traffic light at Industrial Drive, the company said Thursday. The vote on the rezoning from urban agriculture to light industrial was unanimous. The board also approved Jagoe Homes rezoning of 108.893 acres on U.S. 60 West for a subdivision that is expected to have more than $100 million worth of home values within seven years. The subdivision Heatherstone will have 333 home sites, Bill Jagoe said earlier. Prices will range from $235,000 to $450,000. Jagoe said he wants to annex it into the city. The property is on the north side of U.S. 60 West, west of Audubon Elementary School and east of Booth Field Road the entrance to Ben Hawes Park. It backs up to Harbor Hills subdivision and is near the western boundary of Bon Harbor Estates. Jagoe said the company hopes to start construction this summer. Approval of the subdivision plat for the project was tabled until the OMPC gets more information from engineers. The vote on changing the zoning from urban agriculture to single-family residential was unanimous with one abstention. Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com. The 25th annual conference of the Kentucky Council of Problem Gambling was hosted at the Holiday Inn Thursday and will run through Friday to address concerns regarding disordered and problem gambling in the state. According to RonSonlyn Clark, council president and senior director of Substance Abuse Services with RiverValley Behavioral Health, gambling is a prevalent issue in Kentucky with at least 1-2% of the population struggling with disordered gambling and an additional 2-4% falling into an at-risk for problem or disordered gambling. Of Kentuckys nearly 4.5 million residents, as many as 45,000 are likely to be considered a disordered gambler, according to council Executive Director Mike Stone. The number of individuals expected to be problem gamblers or at risk for becoming problem or disordered, he said, is about three times that number. To put that number in perspective, Clark said, it would be about on par with the entire population of Daviess County. There are a list of criteria developed that help mental healthcare professionals determine an individuals level of gambling addiction, according to Stone. Individuals who meet or exceed five or more of those criteria, he said, are considered disordered gamblers. Those meeting at least two, he said, are considered problem gamblers and those meeting at least one criteria are considered at-risk for becoming a problem gambler or developing disordered gambling. The expansion of gambling accessibility, he said, has not made the problem any lighter in Kentucky, with availability of online gambling and easy access from a persons cellphone. Additionally, he said, it is much more difficult to spot than a substance use disorder. Its kept more secret and its less understood, even amongst addiction counselors, he said. A side-effect of this, he said, is that many people with gambling problems do not seek out help. In 2021, he said the Gambling Crisis Hotline received only about 600 calls, a far cry less than the estimated number of disordered gamblers. What is important, Clark said, is spreading education and awareness about the problem. Gambling, Clark said, is considered a process addiction. A process addiction, she said, is a habit that an individual uses to deflect emotional trauma or pain with and could include a multitude of things, like shopping, overworking, overexercising and gambling. You use that to cover pain, she said. You engage in these activities to cover that pain, and when the pain of using that substance or process becomes greater than the pain its covering up, thats when the counseling comes in. Gambling, she said, can lead to a plethora of other concerns in an individuals personal life, just as any other addiction can, including financial instability, legal issues, depression, anxiety and suicide. Suicide, she said, is a prevalent concern among disordered gamblers. We have estimated that 20% of addicted gamblers will attempt suicide, and that is extremely high, so the clinic needs to be skilled to assess for that, as well as provide treatment and handle that crisis, she said. While there are counselors trained in treating addiction disorders, Clark said disordered gambling can be very different and requires a special level of training to handle. In Kentucky, she said access to counselors training in handling gambling addiction is scarce with only two operating counselors locally, including herself. What is important from my perspective is to get people trained to handle those at-risk and addicted gamblers, she said. Also important, Stone said, is access to support and additional resources to help an individual begin to address gambling issues. Anyone needing more information or support regarding gambling concerns can reach out to the gambling crisis hotline, headquartered at RVBH by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or going online to KyGamblingHelp.org. Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360 While the world watches Russian troops invade Ukraine on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Owensboro native Frank Tate decided the time was right for him to do something to help. Tate spent six days in the war-torn country last week. The current Clarksville, Tennessee resident returned home from Ukraine on Sunday after volunteering with Aerial Recovery Group of Nashville in the war-ravaged country. It is primarily built up of military veterans and operators from all branches of the services, Tate said Thursday. The nonprofit organization is an economic development and disaster relief organization, he said. Tate soon found himself on the receiving end of a phone call asking if he would be able to volunteer his time and skills with the group in Ukraine. I was actually on my way to Owensboro and there was a gentlemen on the phone who said how quickly can you get a bag packed, and I said I can have one ready by tomorrow morning and they said, alright, we need you to go over and help us out, he said. While his trip to Ukraine came together quickly, the father of three said he discussed the situation with his wife and were in agreement that he should go. While some might hesitate to enter a country currently under attack, the potential dangers of the situation did not stop Tate from stepping up to do what he could to help. Honestly that wasnt even a consideration, he said. ...When I got the call, I kind of felt that this was a divine opportunity to go and make a difference in someone elses life. Tate flew out of the United States on Feb. 28, landing in Poland before moving into the Ukrainian city of Kyiv. I arrived over there, boots on the ground, with one other guy with a strong background in development and administration and with my prior military experience, we went over there and we did exactly what we were asked to do until the remainder of our team was able to show up, he said. Now there are about 10 guys there; we anticipate that we will have a presence for about the next three to four months and we see our team growing to about 30 people. Tate said the purpose of his mission was to set up administration, logistics and focus on getting things in place so Aerial Recovery Group could conduct safe and effective evacuations. Now the team there has been doing evacuations for orphanages, Tate said. Our estimated number is between 200-300, that we currently saved. Tate said it is difficult to put the sights and sounds of what he witnessed in Ukraine into words. Roads were congested at borders, what the news is saying about borders being deadlocked is 100% accurate, he said. Even with humanitarian passes and being able to run aid across the border swiftly, we still would get constrained with a three or four-hour border crossing time. With the Ukrainian border on lockdown, Tate said it is not unusual to see people waiting 14, 16, or 24 hours in a vehicle, waiting to move a few feet. Keep in mind, gas is a large talking point right now in the United States, Tate said. The Ukrainian people are limited to 20 liters (5 gallons) a day, so when they get in their car and they make their final trek out of the country, part of the consideration they have to take is how long can they sit in their vehicles before they run out of gas. Tate said a lot of Ukrainians are opting to abandon their vehicles along the side of the road and continue to the border on foot. While a personal and professional obligation brought Tate back home to Tennessee after six days in Ukraine, he said he is hopeful he might be able to return again. With the Lords blessing, I will try to obligate some more time over there soon, he said. Jerry Ray Davis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership will be moving from its old home at Fourth and Frederica streets next week to its new location at 3900 Frederica St. And RFD-TV will be in town on March 22 to produce live feeds from the dealership during its AgRally 22 Farm Show on National AgDay. Patrick Driscoll, president of the Certified Agriculture Dealer Program which puts on the rally, said, We selected Jerry Ray Davis CDJR to hold a local event and provide live camera feed because of the great job they do in serving local farmers, growers and ranchers. He said, During the remote feed of the broadcast, Alan Watts, farm director for WKDZ radio (in Cadiz), will interview Barry Alexander, current vice-chairman of the Kentucky Soybean Association as well as a board member of the national United Soybean Board. Driscoll said live local reports will also come from dealerships in Colorado, North Dakota, Michigan, Florida, California and Texas. The AgRally will begin at 1 p.m. local time and run through 4 p.m. People who want to attend the rally in person can register at www.certifiedagdealer.com/agrally. Davis, a Madisonville native, began his career as an 18-year-old in Lexington, selling cars made by Isuzu Motors America. In 2020, he and his wife, the former Kym Williams, an Owensboro native, moved back to her hometown and took over Steve Jones Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership. But Davis wasnt happy with the location. Back in the 1930s, when Harry Holder Motor Co. began selling cars there, all the dealerships were downtown and Fourth and Fifth streets, which bracket the dealership, werent one-way streets. In 2020, Davis said, he had one-way streets on the north and the south sides of the dealership and it was hard to get in and out. So, Envision Construction began work on preparing the property at 3900 Frederica St. part of the old Texas Gas property for Davis new 27,300-square-foot dealership. The initial cost was listed at $3.5 million. The new building is designed for comfort, Davis said last year. Well have free events for the community concerts and other things out there. I want to be part of the community. RFD-TV also airs My Bluegrass Story, a 13-episode series of bluegrass shows that the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum produces. The network says its available in 50 million homes. Its on Channel 345 on DIRECTV, Channel 555 on Spectrum and 231 on DISH Network. Its also available on apps and many streaming services. Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com. Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2022 Contact: press@michigan.gov Governor Whitmer Expands Access to Child Care, Adding Seven New Regions The MI Tri-Share Child Care Program now covers 59 Michigan Counties LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Whitmer announced the MI Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program expansion to seven new facilitator hubs in pilot regions across Michigan, expanding access to nearly all of Michigan. In last week's budget recommendations, Governor Whitmer included $2.5 million to continue support for this an innovative program that increases access to high-quality and affordable child care through a unique collaboration that leverages both state and business support. This innovative public private partnership works to increase access to high-quality, affordable child care for working families while helping retain and attract talent, Tri-Share now covers 59 counties in Michigan plus the City of Detroit. "Expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care will help every kid succeed from day one and help parents get back to work knowing that their kids are safe and cared for," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "We must continue investing in programs like Tri-Share that put Michiganders first and help us grow our economy." Each facilitator hub serves as an intermediary between employers, families and child care providers, and provides overall program management. The new facilitator hubs include: St. Clair RESA serving St. Clair County Southwest Child Care Resources serving Kalamazoo County Vibrant Futures serving Kent County Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership serving Shiawassee County Child Care Network serving Branch, Genesee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw County Marquette-Alger RESA serving all the Upper Peninsula, including Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft Counties Otsego County Economic Alliance, Inc. serving Otsego, Crawford, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Oscoda Counties "The pandemic has only exacerbated the reality that without affordable child care, less parents can fully participate in the workforce," said Susan Corbin, Director the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. "As we continue down the path of building a new, better economy for Michiganders, we must find ways to decrease the costs that put stress on family budgets, like child care." Through Tri-Share, the cost of?child care?is shared equally by an eligible employee, their employer and the State of Michigan, with coordination being provided regionally by a facilitator hub.?? "Almost a year after launching Tri-Share, we're pleased to see that the program now covers nearly two-thirds of the state, and is continuing to grow tremendously with bipartisan support," said Cheryl Bergman, CEO of the Michigan Women's Commission. "The introduction of seven new pilot regions not only broadens the program's breadth, but also meets the needs of more working parents and the businesses that seek to employ them." Since its launch in March of 2021, the Tri-Share program has gained tremendous momentum, garnering significant interest and a recent $800,000 investment by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to help fund further expansion. "The Tri-Share program is designed to address the current childcare crisis, making childcare more affordable for working families in St. Clair County," said Dr. Kevin Miller, Superintendent of St. Clair County RESA. "We've been collaborating with our Economic Development Alliance (EDA), Michigan Works, and our business partners. Our RESA will be the Tri-Share 'hub' as we have the connection with county childcare providers through our Great Start Collaborative. The power of the Tri-share grant is the cost-sharing between the State of Michigan, the business community, and our hard-working families." "Families living in rural areas face unique child care challenges," said Lyndsay Carey, Director of Early Childhood Education at Marquette-Alger RESA. "Tri-Share is a program that helps families, children and employers alike. We're excited to welcome it to the Upper Peninsula where even more Michiganders can take advantage." "As a mother of two young children, age 5 and 2, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate childcare costs and availability in our rural area," said Jenna Smith, Mayor of the City of Marquette. "The expansion of the Tri-Share Program to the Upper Peninsula is a win worth celebrating. I'd like to offer sincere thank you to all involved." "Otsego County Economic Alliance is honored to be selected as a grant awardee of the MI Tri-Share Child Care Pilot program," said Lisa McComb, Executive Director of Otsego County Economic Alliance. "We look forward to serving as a Regional Hub for our Northeastern Michigan employers, employees and childcare providers in Otsego, Ogemaw, Roscommon, Crawford, Oscoda and Montmorency counties. This innovative program will provide an opportunity to assist our communities in transitioning back to full-scale and growing our local economies. "When affordability levers like Tri-Share are in place, we have more tools in our toolkit to provide the necessary resources to ensure that more families have help navigating the evolving work environment," said Chana Edmond-Verley, CEO of Vibrant Futures. "We look forward to connecting more families and employers in Kent County to Tri-Share. Details about the Tri-Share program, including current pilot regions and participating employers, can be found at michigan.gov/Tri-Share. ### GENEVA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) held a panel discussion on Thursday on ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Michelle Bachelet, UN high commissioner for human rights, said at the event that as the world entered the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community stood at a crossroads and needed to "choose the right path." "The world has been profoundly fortunate to have had effective COVID-19 vaccines developed at an unprecedented pace. Science has saved millions of lives and livelihoods. But we have failed to administer the vaccines in a fair and equitable manner," she said. Emphasizing that the "pandemic's finish line is still out of sight," Bachelet said that "a false narrative that it may be over is arising in some countries with high vaccination rates, and where the effects of the Omicron variant have been relatively mild." "Yet, low vaccination rates in many countries continue to create ideal conditions for new variants to emerge," she noted. "So they pose a threat to everyone." Bachelet stressed that "delayed vaccination may mean a lost decade for development...Countries will become less resilient to fresh crises and shocks. And discontent at the human rights consequences of pandemic-related measures has the potential to escalate societal tensions and violence, which are growing around the world." Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said during the panel discussion that while more than six million people had lost their lives to COVID-19, these figures seriously underrepresented the reality of this crisis. "While almost ten billion vaccine doses had been administered around the globe, their distribution told a story of inequality: almost 70 percent of vaccinations were in high income countries, while less than 14 percent of people in low-income countries had received a single dose," he said. Countries with high vaccination rates are reopening, while others with low vaccination rates and low testing rates have been left behind, and the result is more than 60,000 deaths per week along with an increased risk of the emergence of new virus variants, he warned. We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. The Owendale Gagetown Area junior and senior high attended a drug addiction presentation put on by Huron County Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski March 4. Students learned about alcohol and drugs along with their long-term effects on the body. Mr. Rutkowski emphasized that using drugs and alcohol puts individuals at a much higher risk of committing a crime and ending their academics prematurely. Other topics discussed include sexting and the criminal charges that can be associated with sharing sexual content, threats today and how they are handled by authorities, and academic statistics related to dropping out of school and how this impacts your future. Students at the Owendale Gagetown Area School District will have the opportunity to travel back in time to experience the pilgrims and the Mayflower along with many other important events in American History thanks to a donation of books written by radio talk show host and conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh. This donation was provided last week to our school district by Tamera Feldhouse a mother of a second-grade student at Owen-Gage. The series features the adventures of Rush Revere, a substitute history teacher that is able to travel with his talking horse, Liberty, back to historically significant times in the history of the United States. Books included in the series are, Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims, Rush Revere and the First Patriots, Rush Revere and the American Revolution, and Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner. Tri-City Brewing Company, one of Michigans longer-operating microbreweries, recently marked its 15th year in business with an anniversary bash at its Bay City establishment. In a microcosm of how passionate people in this beer-crazed state are about their local craft breweries, some 1,000 people braved a bitterly cold mid-January day to venture out to be part of Tri-City Brewings milestone celebration. We opened at noon and had a dozen or so people waiting outside, said Kevin Peil, founder & president. That never happens. There was quite a buzz surrounding our special anniversary party. Twenty minutes after we opened we were packed. It was a fantastic time. Tri-City Brewing/Courtesy Photo Stoking interest in the event was advance word that Peil and company would be releasing a beer that took five years to produce. It was aged in 5 different barrels, all from Michigan distilleries. They first aged the beer in a Grand Traverse Rye Whiskey barrel for a year followed by a Grand Traverse Bourbon barrel for the second year. In the third year, the beer was moved into a second Grand Traverse Bourbon barrel and then into a Valentine Distillery Bourbon barrel for the fourth year. For the final year, the beer finished in a Third Wind Distillery Barrel. In Peils professional opinion, this is a Winter Warmer Beer, unlike anything you have ever tasted. We are calling it Crystal Warrior Ale. With a trace of chocolate, the beer comes in around 18% ABV, but is not boozy, Peil noted. Its smooth and will clean your sinuses out. We went through about a barrel and a half. We should have it available for the next 3-4 weeks. Tri-City Brewing/Courtesy Photo From humble beginnings in 2007 in an empty warehouse on the east side of Bay City, Tri-City Brewing has expanded over the years. It built a new 10,000 square foot facility (about double the size of its original space) about five years ago on the other side of town. The increased capacity and better visibility of its new building have worked out well for the business. We released our first beer on January 17, 2007, Peil recounted. Craft beer was just taking off back then. There were only about 30 microbreweries in Michigan. I spend many early mornings walking through our current building and shake my head in wonder at all weve been through. From the opening night of Phoenix Golden Ale at a packed Hooligans Bar and Grill in January 2007, to our 15th-anniversary bashhow did this all happen? Peil said its starts with the team of investors (family and friends), as well as the employees that have all bought into the brewerys mission. Theyre focused and dedicated to bringing fresh craft beer to people in Bay County, he said. We dont chase trends. You pick a style and weve developed it. If we offer an Irish Red, it tastes like an Irish Red. We dont attempt to get crazy. There are currently 29 beers on tap, ranging from Bay City Light Ale, Annabel Lee Red and Brown Hoist Brown Ale, to Charity Island IPA, Loons Summer Ale, and U.S.S. Edson German Pilsner. Not a beer drinker? The microbrewery offers hard apple cider, Moscato, Red Sangria and dry red wine. Teetotalers can enjoy a homemade root beer. Visit the brewery: Tri-City Brewing Company 4170 Shrestha Dr. Bay City, Michigan 989-686-1340 https://tricitybrewing.com/ See More Collapse Peil takes pride in the never-give-up attitude that has seen the business take some serious gut punches along the way but not go down. An achievement like this is hard to pull off at any time, but its especially challenging during these last couple of crazy years, he said. We seem to keep having punches thrown our way, even after the bell has rung. Tri-City Brewing has been presented with its share of challenges, but we are proud to have provided local brewery-fresh beer for the last 15 years. Were looking forward to many more years of making beers and memories. The business will not be resting on its laurels as it moves ahead in 2022. We take nothing for granted because the old patterns we once took for granted seem so far in the past. Still, here we are still standing today. The company distributes a number of its beers throughout the state, including its biggest seller, Hells Half Mile Lager. Its taproom and its wide selection are aimed at satisfying every beer drinkers personal preference. There is no kitchen at the brewery, but it is food-friendly. Peil said customers enjoy the variety of food trucks that he brings in every Friday and Saturday. One time it might be a pizza truck, another time a taco or burger truck, he said. People are welcome to bring in their own food and we have local restaurants whose drivers know us and will deliver customers orders here. At the anniversary party, we had a table of 4 that had two crockpots with them. Not preparing food on-site has its advantages. We dont have to be good at everything, just be good at brewing beer, Peil said. There arent wait staff and bus staff running around. People appreciate the calmness of what we have. In addition to the release of the 5-year-old Crystal Warrior Ale, patrons of the brewerys 15th-anniversary party were able to enjoy a salted caramel dopplebock and a coconut stout. Plans for this year include building an event structure such as a gazebo. Were in the planning stages, Peil said. We hope to break ground on our event area this summer. There are several other things we will be looking forward to in 2022 as we continue to grow and expand our hometown brewery. Michigan authorities announced the first criminal charges stemming from the state's review of child sexual abuse lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America this week, charging a former troop leader before his release from a New York prison on separate crimes. In January 2021, the Manistee County Sheriffs Office was locally involved in the investigation. Manistee County Sheriff Brian Gutowski, responded to an emailed inquiry from the News Advocate asking if the county was connected to the states investigation of Boy Scouts of America. Gutowski said through the state investigation, the Manistee County Sheriffs Office had received information about a possible incident that occurred in Manistee County. However, during the local investigation, the sheriffs office learned that the suspect was deceased. The Manistee County case's status was not immediately available as of Thursday afternoon. Southern Michigan Mark Chapman, 51, is accused of sexually assaulting two boys at the time he was a scoutmaster in the Detroit suburb of Roseville, where he also worked in and attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Starting in 2000, one victim was abused at the church where the troop sometimes met and other places from the time he was 13 or 14 until he was 17, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said on Wednesday. The second victim was assaulted for years beginning when he was about 11. One of the men called a tip line. "It's not just important for us to hold the person accountable for all the harm that was suffered by the victims ... but to prevent future crimes from occurring," Nessel said at a news conference in Detroit on Wednesday. The charges, she said, "are only the beginning." Chapman, who is due to be paroled in New York this week after serving more than nine years for child abuse convictions there, was charged now so he cannot leave the criminal justice system, she said. Authorities were working to extradite him to Michigan. The Associated Press could not immediately determine if Chapman has a lawyer. The attorney general's office and the Michigan State Police last year launched a joint review of what now are 5,000 civil claims forwarded by the Boy Scouts. A completed review of 550 claims resulted in roughly 60 inquiries being sent to state police for further investigation. The Boy Scouts last month reached a tentative settlement with a bankruptcy committee representing more than 80,000 men who say they were molested as children by Scout leaders and others. All told, the compensation fund would total more than $2.6 billion, which would be the largest aggregate sex abuse settlement in U.S. history. Also Wednesday, Nessel gave an update on a yearslong probe of sex abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. It has resulted in 11 prosecutions. The office has reviewed all but 245,000 of 5 million paper and digital documents from Michigan's seven dioceses. The review has identified 454 accused priests and 811 reported victims, she said. BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national lawmakers on Friday adopted an amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments at the closing meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Many Sanford residents are happy to see the long-awaited return of Huntington Bank on Tuesday, with some of the previous bank employees back behind the counter. The new bank, at 256 West Saginaw Road, replaces the former Chemical Bank that was demolished last summer. The building was flooded in May 2020 due to the dam failures and had to be razed and rebuilt. Within a short span of time in recent years, Chemical Bank was bought by TCF, which later merged with Huntington Bank, based in Columbus, Ohio. Sanford Village President Dolores Porte is glad the newly-opened bank will have some of the same familiar faces helping customers. Five of the eight employees working at the bank before it closed have returned. That includes bank manager Chris Bloom. The staff said it has been a long 22 months and they are happy to be back in the community they love. The other three original staff members have reportedly moved to other jobs within Huntington. Were very excited to see them come back, Porte said. Its so exciting. We are glad they are still here. In an earlier interview, Huntington Regional President Seth Perigo, who remembers the day the dams broke, said the financial institution wants to be a part of the Sanford community. He said the resurgence of Sanford is an amazing story and Huntington is happy to do its part in the community. Huntington Bank, which has led its industry four years in a row in small business loans by volume, works with many customers to secure loans, including women, minorities, and veterans. Perigo said they offer loans for as little as $1,000 and as much as $150,000 in some programs. In addition, Perigo said its important to have a face in the community, and Huntingtons headquarters is in Downtown Midland. The Sanford Huntington branch is having a ribbon cutting/grand opening at 4:30 p.m. April 5. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two residents who helped a community group develop the recall process in Lee Township are gearing up for a campaign after a special election was launched. More than 500 residents have supported a recall effort in Lee Township by signing petitions with the goal of an opportunity to vote. Polls open for the recall vote at 8 a.m. on May 3 at the Lee Township Hall at 1485 West Olson Road. Township residents will decide whether to remove two board officials, Supervisor Kristy Gustafson and Trustee Darla Rippee, from elected office. Petitioners raised concerns about how the two have conducted business, including the closure of the Lee Township waste station last year. Lee Township resident Doug Kruger, who sponsored the petitions certified for the election, will run against Gustafson. Township resident Mark List will run against Rippee. "It's one thing to sit back and complain about your current administration or your current board ... I can't just sit back and complain without taking action," Kruger said. Both Kruger and List have yet to further announce campaign events. Each candidate has created a Facebook page to reach Lee Township voters. Kruger said he hopes to promote transparency and communication with the residents, which he said the current board often does not initiate with the community. List also said it is one of his goals for the board to serve the will of township residents. "In my opinion, that's what the board is for, is to carry out the residents' wishes, not the residents carry out the board's wishes," List said. Regarding board business, Gustafson said if every vote went to the residents for approval, it could be difficult to do anything - to pay a phone bill, for example. "It doesn't help that residents don't take into consideration that they elected the board to make decisions for the people," she said. Several Lee Township residents have been vocal regarding the need for a recall election, during public meetings and on social media. But other township residents, like Joe Moore, do not support the recall election. "My issue is that I believe residents have been misled into thinking a recall is necessary," he told the Daily News in mid-February. After the Feb. 14 board meeting, Rippee said she has no interest in providing comment to the Daily News. She was not reached for this story. For more information on the ongoing recall effort, visit ourmidland.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CROMWELL Only a handful of the Ukranians known personally by a local missionary have made it out of the war-torn country besieged by Russian troops. For years, Steven Bibisi of Cromwell has been doing missionary work for the nonprofit religious group Rabbonis Love, primarily to support orphans and widows in Ukraine. The refugees Bibisi knows escaped to Germany and Moldova, he said. In the past, this has meant occasional trips to the country to help improve living conditions, and hosting a daily prayer session on Zoom with members of the Church of God in Odessa, Ukraine, Bibisi said. After Russia invaded Ukraine, he continued to host the prayer sessions. For Bibisi, these sessions now serve as a way to assure him that his friends are still okay, and to show them that they are supported. I just want to give an outlet, let them know we support them in America, Bibisi said. As the conflict continues to worsen, however, Bibisi said he wanted to do more. Theyre not just dealing with war now, theyre dealing with starvation. Yan Gutarov, pastor of the Church of God in Odessa, explained the situation further, saying many cannot or dont want to leave for various reasons. They dont know where to go, Gutarov told Bibisi, he said. There is one widow with four children who says she cant go. She has to stay and take care of her small farm with animals. Those that remain have very limited access to food, medicine or other necessities, so, Bibisi said, the goal is to get them adequate supplies. Some of Bibisis missionary colleagues, along with members of the Church of God parish in Odessa, are traveling in and out of Ukraine to provide food, water and other goods to those that are unable to leave. However, he said, It doesnt come without some danger. Through Rabbonis Love, Bibisi has helped organize a fundraiser to pay for these necessary supplies. Now he is trying to spread the word to other Connecticut residents. They can give directly to the church in Odessa through our website, Bibisi said. Then we turn the money into food and get it into peoples hands. He said this is an opportunity for those that want to make sure what they are doing is actually helping. We have places we can send it where we know people in need will get it, Bibisi said. His initial goal is to raise $50,000, but he doesnt plan to stop there because the funds will be needed long after the conflict ends. Gutarov emphasized that point. We want this conflict to end quickly, but even if it ends tomorrow, we face a humanitarian catastrophe that could last for a year because of the damage done to our cities. Bibisi said he plans to travel to Germany as soon as he is able to help out where he can. I have to keep fighting for them, he said. To help the cause, visit rabbonislove.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN Victoria Zakhidna and her preschool-aged children arrived in Connecticut this week after escaping war-torn Ukraine in a long and cold journey, leaving behind her husband who stayed to fight for their country. It was hard, but it was our decision, Victoria Zakhidna said of being separated from her husband. I love him, but I can live with that. It was harder for the children, however, because they love him and need him very much, she said Thursday in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Zakhidna, 27, escaped with her children, Daniel, 5, and Elizabeth, 4, and arrived this week in Middletown where she is staying with her younger sister Mariana, 26. Zakhidnas parents and nieces and nephews remained in Ukraine. They left Ternopil, a city in the eastern part of the country as refugees, carrying few possessions and had the choice of fleeing to either Poland, Romania and Slovakia, Zakhidna said. A harrowing journey The wait to cross the Ukrainian border into Poland was a fraught one, Victoria Zakhidna said. Once refugees arrived, Russian soldiers check every vehicle that enters and leaves the city, which makes traffic absolutely horrible, Mariana Zakhidna said. After a 12-hour bus ride, the family waited in a long line in harsh conditions, Victoria Zakhidna said. She saw mothers with disabled children who had to walk all night for nearly five miles to safety in 30-degree temperatures. I saw a child in a wheelchair. The mom had one bag and diapers. Its a little unbelievable, she said. She learned that her college friends son froze to death as they were crossing the border. For some, the journey took three days, Victoria Zakhidna said. Zakhidna knew it was time to go when her childrens day care and preschool were no longer able to operate. I have to know that tomorrow will be a safe day, Victoria Zakhidna said. She soon realized the situation had escalated. [The Russians were] bombing everything hospitals, day cares and killing civilians, she said. The Russians arent interested in the western part of Ukraine, but its dangerous everywhere, Mariana Zakhidna said. The grocery store shelves in Ukraine are wiped out, Victoria Zakhidna said. People in certain cities in the eastern portion of the country died of dehydration and starvation, Mariana Zakhidna said, because the Russians bombed the bridges, trapping them. The Zakhidnas said the Russians did not honor safe zones that had been designated for people to pass supplies. The idea, Mariana Zakhidna said, was for Ukraine to designate a territory where nobody is going to be shooting or throwing bombs and missiles. Prior to the Russian invasion, Victoria Zakhidna said she had been monitoring the news. The news already said everybody has to get out of Ukraine because something started, she said. Nobody believed that can happen in the 21st century. Mariana Zakhidna said she was nagging her sister to leave Ukraine. One recent morning, Victoria Zakhidnas husband came home from work at 8 a.m. and asked why she was sleeping. The war has started, he told her. She didnt believe him. That night was the hardest for me, because we had to go to the shelter or a basement or something underground, she said. Others hid in subways with blankets and yoga mats, creating makeshift beds, she said. Mommy, be careful In Ternopil, deafening sirens filled the air, she said. People who traveled back and forth from the shelter and home learned conditions were far more dangerous there, where Russian helicopters were dropping bombs. This is hard. I was scared, Victoria Zakhidna said. Sometimes its semi-peaceful, because most of the bombing is done at night, she added. A lot of Ukrainian children have been killed as if it were nothing, said Victoria Zakhidna, who pointed out how a prenatal center with infants, expectant mothers and staff was destroyed Wednesday. Her daughter is too young to grasp what was happening, Victoria Zakhidna said. It was like a game for her, she said. Despite his young age, Daniel fully grasps the situation, his mother said. He cried often in the shelter, asking if they could go home. When she left the bus to use the bathroom, he said, Mommy, be careful. The Russian soldiers can kill you. He understands, she said. They arrived Tuesday night at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in a tearful reunion. The children, who had never flown before, were exhausted from the eight-hour flight and the entire journey. They are now staying with Mariana Zakhidna and her 4-year-old daughter. The sisters picked up clothing and other supplies at the Ukrainian National Home in Hartford. Mariana Zakhidna said she was surprised when several people came up to her, saying, I just want to give you a hug. I was able to meet so many people and received so much support, Mariana Zakhidna, a local photographer, said of the Hartford facility. Im not just talking about materialistic support. Communicating with family back home has been difficult since there is often no cell service. The sisters mother created a Facebook chat group and gets anxious if she doesnt hear from family, sometimes staying up until she knows everyone is alive. Theyll say, Its OK. Were alive, Victoria Zakhidna said. Her husband, who joined the military after the Russian invasion, is being paid for his service, but is unable to send the family money, because cash transfer businesses got cut off, she said. Mariana Zakhidna said her sister and her children are welcome to stay as long as they need. My home is your home, Mariana Zakhidna told her sister. Youre my sister. We grew up together. Now that she and her children are safe, Victoria Zakhidna said she is on a mission. My mission is to tell everyone the truth about whats really going on there, she said. HADDAM A teenager from Killingworth was killed in a fatal crash in Haddam on Friday afternoon, according to state police. State police said a 19-year-old man from Higganum was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette south on Route 154 in Haddam. While attempting to turn left on a curve in the road, the driver lost control of the vehicle, spun out and collided with a tree on the east shoulder of the highway, according to an incident report from state police. The front seat passenger, identified as Steven Daniel Zichichi, 18, of Killingworth, was pronounced dead at the scene, the report said. An ambulance took the driver to Hartford Hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries from the crash, according to the report. State troopers, as well as EMS and the local fire department, were called to Route 154, or Saybrook Road, around 3:50 p.m. Friday, according to Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Sarah Salerno. Route 154 was shut down for a few hours as police investigated the crash. The road was back open as of 8:50 p.m. State police are investigating the incident. Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Trooper First Class John Swokla at 860-399-2100. State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria is one of five Americans representing Greek communities at an annual international humanitarian event in her native Greece. A member of three legislative committees Regulation Review, Public Health and Finance Klarides-Ditria, the sister of former house minority leader and current U.S. Senate hopeful Themis Klarides, left Wednesday to participate in the World Hellenic Parliament Inter-Parliamentary Association. She said a seven-hour time difference will allow her to participate in the conference during the day and attend Connecticut General Assembly meetings virtually at night. The event begins in Athens, then early next week moves to the port city of Thessaloniki on the Aegean Sea. The group will join others in meeting with Greeces deputy minister of the interior, and get updated on regional affairs at the U.S. Embassy. The group will then fly to Thessaloniki for meetings with the mayor, deputy ministers and the dean of the Aristotle University, one of the oldest colleges in the world. The issue of war and genocide in Macedonia will be included in the humanitarian talks. More than a century after the end of the Ottoman Empire and a bitter civil war, relations are still precarious in the region among Greece, North Macedonia and Turkey Well be talking about ways to promote Greeks and ways we can avoid another genocide, Klarides-Ditria said in an interview. This will be her third visit to the country. Well be talking about the U.S. can help Greece with their Navy. Greece and Turkey have had friction for many years. After spending her work days in Greece, Klarides-Ditria plans to attend remotely the various virtual hearings and committee meetings as the Connecticut legislature continues its short, budget-adjustment session. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT ADEN, Yemen, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Intense clashes broke out between the gunmen of a Yemen-based al-Qaida branch and drug dealers in the country's oil-rich province of Hadramout on Friday, killing an al-Qaida commander, a security official told Xinhua. The clashes that lasted for hours led to the death of a mid-ranking commander identified as Tariq Bin Salmeen AlKathiri in the southeastern province, the local security source said on condition of anonymity, noting that "the two groups are rivaling for presence in the Hadramout's valley." Last week, local Yemeni authorities said that four foreign workers of the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres/MSF) were kidnapped by suspected al-Qaida gunmen in Hadramout. The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against the newly-recruited security forces particularly in the country's southern provinces. The AQAP has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia to expand its presence in the war-ravaged Arab country. State Rep. Kurt Vail was once again stymied this year in his mission to end the shift to and from daylight saving time. For years, the state representative from Stafford has proposed a bill that would move Connecticut into the Atlantic standard time zone. If it actually happened, Connecticut and other New England states, including New York, would be on daylight saving time 12 months a year. The bill would not actually change anything for most of the year. When Connecticut moves the clocks forward on Sunday, the state would remain there and not turn them back ever again, according to Vails proposal. This is the sixth straight year Vail has submitted his proposal. It has both bipartisan support and opposition. Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, has signed on, as has Sen. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford. But this year is a so-called short session in the legislature, during which committees not individual legislators submit bills for consideration. So, Vail asked the legislatures Government Administration and Elections Committee to raise the bill. They declined. I asked leadership in that committee to bring it up and they chose not to do that, he said. Its dead in Connecticut for this year. Im pretty disappointed in that. Even if Connecticut lawmakers passed the bill and Gov. Ned Lamont signed it, the legislation would not take effect until after other New England states signed on. Each of those other states have had similar proposals raised in their respective legislatures. I was hoping Connecticut would be the first, Vail said. Vail believes there good reasons to end the shift to and from daylight saving time. When Massachusetts debated a similar bill in 2017, the state commissioned a study that found an increase in heart attacks and car accidents in the week following the time shift. Theres a lot of health issues with it, Vail said last year. Obviously, the world doesnt rotate differently, but our bodies are programmed to this time frame. Daylight saving time started during World War I in the United States and other countries, as a way to save energy by extending the time of day when the sun set. During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered year-round daylight saving time, in effect putting the East in Atlantic time. In Connecticut, much of the opposition has come from broadcasters. Such a change would be extremely disruptive to viewers and listeners, who currently enjoy access to a mix of local and national programming, which is available in the Eastern Time Zone, according to testimony submitted to the legislature in 2019 by Michael Ryan, president of the Connecticut Broadcasters Association. But Vail is not giving up. He plans to submit the bill again next year. Im going full force on it next year. We haven't given up, he said. Theres just zero reason for it anymore. Ron Chapple / Getty Image A Hartford man was sentenced to more than two years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, according to federal prosecutors. The charges came after a jury found Jose Perez, 40, of Hartford, guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in September 2021. A federal judge in Hartford sentenced Perez to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release Wednesday, according to Leonard Boyle, the United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAMDEN Peter Vouras has a Greek word etched onto the storefront of Freskos, his Whitney Avenue restaurant: filotimo. Literally, it translates to love of honor. It embodies a concept similar to the English phrase pay it forward, according to Vouras, in whose eyes it is about the idea that life is bigger than you. Filotimo also explains why the business owner was giving out free gyros Thursday afternoon, and planning to donate the total value of the giveaway to Nova Ukraine, an organization that offers humanitarian aid to the country. As Ukraine falls further and further into conflict amid the Russian invasion, Connecticut residents are looking for ways to help. Even as he is pitching in abroad, Vouras is filling stomachs at home. Though he accepted donations during the event, the gyros were free. Asked how he was able to raise money through the latter mechanism, Vouras said he was not. He was simply tallying the free gyros and basing his donation on their total price. Though the event helps raise his businesss profile, that wasnt what it was about, Vouras said. It was about filotimo. Vouras pointed to the word displayed near the entrance to his restaurant. Inside, customers munched down pita bread sandwiches as Hamdens political elite began to file in to show their support: Mayor Lauren Garrett, Board of Education Chairwoman Melissa Kaplan, state Sen. Jorge Cabrera and Legislative Council member Justin Farmer, D-5, among others. Farmer, the fifth district councilman, walked through the doors of Freskos because its important to support humanitarian efforts, he said. I definitely have prayed for those in Ukraine. But he also has another group of people on his mind, one that may be farther from American sympathies: Russians. Not the oligarchs or autocrats, but the everyday Russians who will suffer from economic sanctions. We also have to think about how we collectively heal afterward, Farmer said. Around 3 p.m., Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz joined the group, adding her own donation to a plastic box set near the cash register. She and Garrett offered remarks as Sean Grace, Garretts chief of staff, took out his phone to film. Wearing a yellow sweater and a blue scarf the colors of the Ukrainian flag Garrett explained how Sana Shah, a member of the Democratic Town Committee, had a cousin in Ukraine named Oleg. While his wife and child were now refugees in Poland, she said, Oleg remained in the country. We are with you and support you, Garrett said, speaking directly into the camera the team planned to send the video to Oleg. Oleg, we want you to know that the state of Connecticut cares, said Bysiewicz, encouraging people to donate to organizations like the Red Cross if they had the means. Ive been very inspired by people like (Peter Vouras), Bysiewicz later said. So many people want to do something to help, she said when asked why she decided to attend the event. She wants to spread the message that there are ways to help Ukrainians, such as by donating to organizations like the Red Cross, Save the Children and Doctors without Borders. Bysewiecz hoped Connecticut residents would be generous, she said. So far, that seemed to be the case. It was crazy. It was a line out the door at lunch, said Vouras. He even reported receiving a $1,000 donation from one customer. It would all go to Nova Ukraine, Vouras said. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN Police announced arrests Thursday stemming from a series of gun violence incidents, as officials praised the efforts of detectives, the regional shooting task force, and members of the community who had stepped forward to assist in the investigations. Interim Chief Renee Dominugez said arrests had recently been made in a series of incidents, which occurred near West Street, Redfield Street, Fowler Street, Shepherd Street, Lloyd Street, Rosette Street and Lodge Street, respectively, over the course of the past two years. The Rosette Street shooting was earlier this month, on March 4. A juvenile was arrested in connection with the incident on Shepherd Street, an alleged armed robbery in which a woman was shot in the finger; police have a warrant for Tyrone Thomas, 27, in connection with the matter. Dominguez, Mayor Justin Elicker, Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson and State Attorney Patrick Griffin praised the officers involved for their efforts. (Detectives) are working around the clock to be able to investigate and get some arrest warrants for these shootings, said Dominguez. These cases just really exemplify the hard work and dedication. A lot of progress here. I think that we need to underscore always that theres a lot more work to be done, in particular to increase the solve rate that we have for shootings, shots fired and homicides, said Elicker. I wanted to thank so many folks that have been vital to the work here, and I just see it over and over and over again. Jacobson, in addition to offering his thanks to a number of officials, underscored the importance of community residents coming forward with information. I feel like the police department is getting the support it needed from the outside, not just within, said Jacobson. The most important part of this is: the community is helping us. Thank you. We thank the community; theyre helping us, and we need your help. If they continue to help us, well continue to solve crimes, and we appreciate that. Jacobson also noted that Anthony Valerio, accused in connection with the fatal shooting of Natosha Gaines in October 2020, had been found guilty of first-degree manslaughter at trial. Valerio has not yet been sentenced, Griffin said. Three of the incidents were investigated by the regional shooting task force, which was formed in June 2021 and features officers from New Haven, Hamden, North Haven, Wallingford and the Yale Police Department. Griffin, noting the task force had been formed in the midst of a spike in gun crime in cities across the nation last year, spoke to the importance of solving such offenses. We recognize that unsolved shootings have an impact on the community, and have an impact on the confidence that the community has in law enforcement, said Griffin. The community has made a difference. They have sent a message to us that violent crime is the priority, and I think were beginning to see significant benefits in cooperation from the community. Dominguez said there had been 18 shootings and no homicides so far in 2022, as compared to 16 and seven at this time last year. The department has seized 42 guns, including six ghost guns, and made 36 associated arrests, up from 28 guns, none of which were ghost firearms, and 29 associated arrests last year. she said. Elicker also said the city had issued a request for proposals to garner 500 cameras, which will be installed across the city as officials continue to strive to solve gun violence cases, including homicides. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com MYSTIC Police are investigating a fire that killed a 79-year-old woman. Police were called to the structure fire on the 300 block of Flanders Road in Mystic just before midnight Wednesday. Members of the Mystic, Old Mystic and Sub Base fire departments extinguished the blaze, according to a press release from the Groton Town Police Department. First responders found 79-year-old Elizabeth Gray in a bedroom in the home. An ambulance took Gray to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead, the police department said. The American Red Cross also responded to the fire to provide aid to other residents who were displaced, according to the police department. The Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, Groton Town Police Fire Investigators, Groton Town Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Mystic Fire Department are investigating the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Groton Town Police Department at 860-441-6712. The Department of Veterans Affairs will recommend closing at least three medical centers and 174 outpatient health clinics and building roughly 255 new health care facilities and nursing homes to improve veterans medical services, according to briefings given by the department the week of March 8 and leaked planning documents. The documents, first obtained by Military Times, show the VA will recommend increasing its overall number of health facilities by 78. But the expansion also includes increasing partnerships with private hospitals to provide approved care for veterans without access to a VA medical center. Read Next: Troops Reprimanded After Deadly Al-Shabaab Attack on Kenya Base While details of the recommendations have yet to be made public -- they are expected to be published March 14 in the Federal Register -- VA officials have been on the offensive in the past week, briefing veterans service organizations, unions and employees on the recommendations, part of an ongoing review of VA real estate and infrastructure. VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Thursday the recommendations would improve overall access and quality of care and were designed to meet "the needs of 21st century veterans, not the needs and challenges of veterans in a health care system built years ago." "[They] will importantly strengthen our leading role as health care researchers in America and as the leading health care training institution in America," McDonough said during an event with the Rand Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute. "This is investment and investment again, not a retreat," McDonough said. The recommendations would place nearly 150,000 more veterans closer to primary care and improve access to mental health services and specialty care, putting nearly 200,000 more veterans within a 30-minute drive of mental health services and 370,000 veterans within 60 minutes of specialty care, according to the documents. But they also will recommend closing a medical center in the "northeast," replaced by new community outpatient clinics, a new nursing home and a partnership that places VA providers in a community hospital for inpatient care so "vets could get care in a modern high-quality setting rather than a VA hospital that only services five or six patients a day," McDonough said. The Chillicothe Gazette reported Tuesday that the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in Ohio is listed among those recommended for closure. McDonough added that the VA also will recommend eliminating some services at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center in South Dakota -- a move it has proposed since at least 2015 -- but would expand specialty care at the facility. Among the additions, he said that the VA will recommend building a new medical center in the Southwest, where demand is on the rise from younger veterans, as well as female and minority veterans. "Health care has evolved, so VA needs to overhaul and, in fact, lead the evolution," McDonough said. The recommendations are part of an Asset and Infrastructure Review, or AIR, required by Congress in 2018. A commission -- several members of which were nominated Wednesday by President Joe Biden -- will review the VA's proposals and develop final recommendations in the next year. The review has been likened to the Defense Department's base realignment and closure process -- an audit to determine whether facilities and programs are needed in areas to continue providing value. McDonough bristled at the comparison on Thursday, saying the DoD's BRAC process was designed to "reduce the DoD's footprint" while the AIR is meant to ensure that the VA stays "in every market in the country." "What this is is a modernization effort to upgrade the effectiveness of our facilities by moving away from aged and dated facilities," he said, noting that one of the VAs clinics has a tree growing in it and the VA hospital in Chicago lacks reliable heat in the winter. The recommendations also call for increasing the number of stand-alone nursing homes from two to 29 and residential rehabilitation treatment programs from 10 to 22. The VA would build 14 additional outpatient health care centers and create 140 additional outpatient clinics that provide specialty care, while reducing the number of community-based outpatient clinics by 86. And it also would shutter 88 other outpatient services clinics. Which clinics will close, however, will not likely be known until the Federal Register issues a preview of the recommendations, possibly as early as Friday. Despite the lack of detail provided by the VA, unions and lawmakers are already pushing back on the proposals, saying the changes would displace employees and hurt communities and care. American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said Tuesday that the proposals would force veterans to rely on "uncoordinated, private, for-profit care" where they would experience long wait times and not have access to care geared toward veterans' needs. "AFGE members, many of whom are veterans themselves, are outraged by and strongly oppose plans to dismantle large segments of the VA health care system, including medical centers and inpatient facilities for surgery, emergency medical care, mental health, and substance abuse treatment," Kelley said in a press release. And lawmakers already are gearing up to protect facilities in their areas. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., issued a statement March 3 calling any reduction in services in his state a "non-starter." "I'll be working to ensure this multi-year process protects Montana veterans, particularly those in rural areas, and ensures timely access to their earned health care." Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said the VA was "wrong, period" to consider downgrading the Hot Springs VA. "I'm frustrated, and I'm angry," Thune said in a press statement. "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 everyone's best interest, especially South Dakota's veterans', to immediately change course." Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Lawmakers Balk at VA Plans to Roll Out Electronic Medical Records System As Washington grapples with the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, lawmakers and officials are also wrestling with what the war means for a different territory eyed by a U.S. rival half a world away. In several congressional hearings this week, lawmakers pressed U.S. military leaders and intelligence officials to dissect how the war in Ukraine might be affecting China's thinking on invading Taiwan. The takeaway: Beijing appears unnerved by both the strength of the world's condemnation of Moscow and the Russian military's struggles in the first two weeks of the war, but it's unclear whether that's enough to prevent Chinese President Xi Jinping from using force to accomplish his No. 1 priority of reunifying China and Taiwan. Read Next: Troops Reprimanded After Deadly Al-Shabaab Attack on Kenya Base "We continue to watch to try to identify, has he learned the correct lessons as it applies to the changing world order and the concern that we see in the Ukraine?" Adm. John Aquilino, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Intelligence officials suggested Beijing may be more hesitant to act now. "They've been surprised and unsettled to some extent by what they've seen in Ukraine over the last 12 days, everything from the strength of the Western reaction, to the way in which Ukrainians have fiercely resisted, to the relatively poor performance of Russia," CIA Director William Burns told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. Still, Burns said, "I would not underestimate President Xi and the Chinese leadership's determination with regard to Taiwan." A little more than two weeks after Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine, Kyiv and most major cities remain in Ukrainian hands, though Russia has had better progress in the south, occupying Kherson and isolating Mariupol through devastating attacks -- including bombing a maternity hospital. U.S. officials say Russia failed to achieve its goal of quickly overwhelming and seizing Kyiv because of a stronger-than-expected Ukrainian resistance and the Russian military's own logistics failures, including low fuel and food supplies. Meanwhile, Russia's economy is in shambles after the West imposed strict sanctions and major companies vowed to end business there, and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency estimates as many as 4,000 Russian troops may have been killed in the first two weeks of the war. In his Senate testimony, Aquilino cited the death toll as one of the lessons he said Beijing should be learning from the war in Ukraine. "Number one, the loss of life required to create and execute an illegal war is certainly something that ought to be taken away," Aquilino said, adding that the high casualty rate is something that "will haunt" both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi. China should also take note of the broad international condemnation of Russia's actions and the "significant economic impacts that the free world can bring together," Aquilino added. The United States views Taiwan as a democratic bulwark against authoritarian China's expansionist ambitions, but does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent country, a careful highwire act that has been U.S. policy since President Richard Nixon established relations with China in 1972. But the United States has still sought to harden Taiwan against a potential Chinese invasion, including training Taiwanese forces and selling Taipei fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and other weapons. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, and Xi has vowed to pursue "reunification." While U.S. officials say Xi would prefer to accomplish that through coercive measures short of all-out war, they add he is prepared to use military force if need be. Aquilino's predecessor, Adm. Philip Davidson, predicted last year that China could try to invade Taiwan within six years. Aquilino has not explicitly endorsed that timeline, but he noted to lawmakers this week that Xi has told his military to "complete its modernization" by 2027. "I see actions that give me concern that the timeline is shrinking, and the mission that I've been given is to be prepared for it," Aquilino said, citing Chinese actions such as cracking down on Hong Kong, claiming disputed territory in the South China Sea and skirmishing with Indian forces in disputed territory along the China-India border. For the U.S. military, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been "a real wake-up" on the need to prepare for possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, including putting more troops and ships in the Asia-Pacific region, Aquilino said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday. While stressing that Taiwan and Ukraine are "two different things," in part because of differences in the U.S. military posture in Europe and the Pacific, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier told the House Intelligence Committee that China is watching how the Ukraine war unfolds "very, very carefully." One factor that could be contributing to China's unease in the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine is Beijing's own intelligence failures, Burns told senators Thursday. "Chinese leadership, President Xi in particular, is unsettled by what he's seen, partly because his own intelligence doesn't appear to have told him what was going to happen," Burns said at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin and Xi signed a pact that declared there were "no limits" or "'forbidden' areas of cooperation" between Russia and China. While Burns does not expect major changes in China-Russia relations post-Ukraine invasion, he does think Beijing is concerned about the "reputational damage that China suffers by association with the ugliness of Russia's aggression." Overall, Burns said, the war in Ukraine is having "an impact on the Chinese calculus with regard to Taiwan, which we obviously are going to continue to pay careful attention to." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: As US and China Warily Eye Each Other, Taiwan Could Be the Flashpoint BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's opening-up policy will not change, Premier Li Keqiang said Friday after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine now in its third week, Russian forces appear to be expanding the offensive by striking new areas in the west of the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the recruitment of volunteers from Syria and elsewhere to fight in Ukraine. The war has forced more than 2.3 million people to flee Ukraine as others try to seek refuge in basements, subway stations and underground shelters. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said 100,000 people were evacuated over the past two days during cease-fires in the north and center of the country. More evacuations are expected, though repeated attempts to reach the besieged port city of Mariupol in the south have failed under continued Russian shelling. On Friday, Russia appeared to be pushing its offensive westward with authorities in Ukraine saying airstrikes hit two cities that had been far from Russias main targets elsewhere. Western nations have been largely united in punishing Russia economically. President Joe Biden is expected to announce Friday an agreement with other nations to revoke Russias most favored nation trade status, allowing for tariffs to be imposed on Russian imports. Putin said there had been certain positive developments in recent talks, while Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces have reached a strategic turning point" in resisting the Russian advance. Neither of them elaborated on those statements. Here are some key things to know about the war: What has the AP directly witnessed or confirmed? Temperatures hover around freezing in the southern port city of Mariupol. The city of 430,000 has been without food supplies, running water and electricity for 10 days. Some 1,300 civilians have been killed in Mariupol throughout the siege, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. It was not possible to independently verify the figure. More shelling and airstrikes pummeled Mariupol on Friday. Residents have little idea of the military situation, but know its not safe to go outside. Looking over the city, two nine-story apartment blocks could be seen ablaze after shelling. So far, however, the devastation pales in comparison to what Chechnya and Syria saw during Russian interventions there. On the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv, AP reporters witnessed a teenage girl recovering at a hospital after her family was ambushed as they tried to flee the area. What else is happening on the ground? Russian airstrikes hit near airports in the western cities of Ivano-Frankiivsk and Lutsk, far from Russias main attack targets elsewhere in Ukraine. Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk said four servicemen were killed and another six were wounded. Russia said it used high-precision long-range weapons Friday to put military airfields in the two cities out of action. Russia's Defense Ministry also said Friday that an offensive, led by fighters from the separatist-held Donetsk region, are further squeezing the city of Mariupol. Satellite images show a huge Russian convoy that had been mired outside the capital, Kyiv, has fanned out into towns and forests. The immediacy of the threat to Kyiv was unclear. Three more Russian airstrikes hit the industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Friday, killing at least one person, according to the Ukrainian interior ministry. Who are the 'volunteer' fighters in this war? Putin on Friday approved bringing volunteer fighters from Syria and other countries to join Russias Ukraine offensive. Russia's defense minister said there had been more than 16,000 applications from the Middle East, many of them from people who he said fought alongside Russia against the Islamic State group. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the recruits include fighters from Syria, where Russia intervened in the civil war in 2015 on the side of President Bashar Assad. Already, the Ukrainian government says about 20,000 foreigners have joined the so-called International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine to fight the Russians. The pro-Ukrainian fighters are given weapons when they arrive. Among them are about 100 of the several thousand Americans who asked to join the fight. The U.K. has warned veterans not to travel to Ukraine to fight there, saying those who do will be court-martialed. Are people being safely evacuated? Ukrainian authorities said there are plans, with support from the Red Cross, for several evacuation and humanitarian aid delivery routes Friday. The top priority remains freeing people from the city of Mariupol and getting aid to its desperate population. Buses are being sent Friday to multiple Kyiv suburbs to bring people to the capital, where authorities say half of the metropolitan area's population, or around 2 million, has already fled. There are also efforts to create new humanitarian corridors around the cities of Kherson in the south, Chernihiv in the north and Kharkiv in the east. Russian forces are blockading Kharkiv and pushing their offensive in the south around three cities and towns, including the hometown of Ukraines president, Kryvyi Rih. What about Russia's claims that bioweapons are being developed in Ukraine? The U.N. Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss Russias baseless claims that the United States is conducting military biological activities in Ukraine. The United Nations has said it has received no information that would back up the claim, but that hasnt stopped it from proliferating. The Pentagon issued a lengthy rebuttal to the claims Friday, saying it supports labs in Ukraine devoted to identifying and responding to biological threats. Unlike Russia, the United States and Ukraine are not developing biological weapons, it said. China, meanwhile, is amplifying the unsubstantiated and inflammatory claims about Ukrainian bioweapons. What's the view from inside Russia? Putin said Friday that there are certain positive developments in Russia-Ukraine talks, without offering any details. Putin hosted Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally, in Moscow for talks on Friday. Putin said he would inform him about the situation in Ukraine and the talks. Meanwhile, Twitter launched a privacy-protected version of its site to bypass surveillance and censorship after Russia restricted access to its service in the country. Russia's foreign ministry doubled down Friday on a disinformation campaign falsely claiming the U.S. military was helping Ukraine develop biological weapons, despite Pentagon efforts this week to knock down the deception. The ongoing attack was the latest in Russia's info war, a subset of its invasion of Ukraine that aims to spin a web of lies to confuse foreign audiences, including Americans, as well as its own public. The new false claims, repeated in a ministry tweet, stoked fears that Russia could be planning its own biological or chemical attack on Ukraine. President Joe Biden warned Friday that Moscow would pay a "severe price" for such an attack. Read Next: How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Is Shaping China's Plans for Taiwan The Pentagon and the administration have worked hard to counter Russia's disinformation during the invasion by speaking publicly about its attempts to deceive, and on Friday released detailed information on cooperation with Ukraine on civilian biological safety programs and clean up of defunct Cold War-era military programs. Its part of a clear strategy from U.S. officials: Quickly debunk Russian claims loudly and publicly, even using carefully declassified details in an attempt to undermine the effectiveness of the fabrications. Russian propaganda flowed heavily in the lead-up to the invasion, according to a European Union watchdog, and has continued since. In a possible show of how far the claims have spread, the U.S.' top foreign adversary China repeated the biolab disinformation this week. "The only reason why we elevated the discussion is because the Russians and the Chinese decided to lie about it -- just flat-out lie. And so we were answering the lie," a senior defense official told Military.com on Friday. The existence of the joint Ukraine-U.S. biological security programs targeted by Russia has been publicly known and reported since it was created in 2005. The Pentagon's Cooperative Threat Reduction Program helped secure pathogens used in the Soviet Union's biological weapons programs after the communist superpower split apart and the Cold War ended, according to a fact sheet released by the department Friday designed to counter the Russian claims. The Defense Department has spent about $200 million since 2005 to support 46 Ukraine laboratories, health facilities and diagnostic sites. The support helped improve Ukraine's response to the COVID pandemic, the Pentagon fact sheet said. "I think that the U.S. government provides assistance, or at least has in the past provided assistance, really in the context of biosafety, which is something that we've done globally with a variety of different countries," Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, said in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. The Pentagon "even worked closely with Russia and within Russia in laboratories owned by Russia until 2014," according to the department fact sheet. That was the year Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine and began supporting a separatist civil war in the country's eastern Donbas region. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, called the Russian disinformation claims "preposterous" on Wednesday. Russia pushed false claims that it discovered Ukraine had tried to cover up work with the U.S. on a biological weapons program, first through its ministry of defense, and then amplifying that message through government-aligned media such as Pravda, according to EUvsDisinfo, a watchdog advisory group to the European Union that monitors Russian disinformation. "Radical Ukrainian groups under the control of U.S. special services' representatives have prepared several potential scenarios of using toxic chemicals to carry out provocations," Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted Friday. "Objective -- to accuse Russia of chemical weapons use vs. civilians." Variants of the biolabs disinformation began to appear in several major U.S. outlets late this week. On Thursday, Fox News' flagship evening show Tucker Carlson Tonight, which dominates primetime news programs with about 3.4 million viewers, said the Biden administration admitted funding "secretive" biolabs in Ukraine that are conducting experiments on highly dangerous pathogens. "Once again, not for the first time, what had seemed like a nutty conspiracy theory turned out to be true," Carlson told his audience. Russia has floated the biolab propaganda in different forms since at least 2014, EUvsDisinfo says. Many of those lies over the years targeted other nations, but about 25% have been directed at Ukraine, including false claims that Kyiv is hiding evidence of plague pathogens, it's testing viruses on its citizens, and a measles outbreak there was caused by U.S. biological weapons labs. Russian President Vladimir Putin has used such disinformation campaigns for years in an attempt to destabilize Ukraine and other governments, including the U.S., where he unleashed a tide of social media disinformation in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. Many of the false claims about the Ukraine war are directed inward to Russian citizens, who have been told that the invasion -- universally condemned by the international community -- is a "special military operation" to liberate the Ukrainian people. Putin's government has also threatened those who criticize the war with years of imprisonment. The Pentagon and Biden administration tried a new tactic against the propaganda in the days before Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, after he spent nearly a year massing over 150,000 troops around its borders. They released classified information indicating that Russia may use false claims of an attack on its forces -- called a false flag operation -- as justification for the invasion. That never happened and Putin launched his war to take control of Ukraine anyway, but concerns spiked this week that the biolab propaganda could be part of Russia's familiar tactics. "This one I do think is a little bit more dangerous than those, and that's because a lot of times what the Russians do is they telegraph what they are thinking about doing in some of the claims that they use against you," said Emily Harding, deputy director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. "So when they talk about chemical weapons, when they talk about bio weapons, you have to be very concerned that what they're doing is laying the groundwork for something that they're about to do." John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said Friday that the U.S. is watching very closely for a potential false flag operation because Russia is known to have a biological and chemical weapons program and has a "reputation for using those kinds of weapons on people." "I'm not going to speak about the intelligence, but Russia would pay a severe price if it uses chemical weapons," Biden said Friday at a White House event. -- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten. Related: US Misjudged Ukraine's Will to Fight Russia, Officials Admit In the summer of 2020, Space Force unveiled the motto it wanted all of its future Guardians to embody: Semper Supra -- a Latin phrase that translates to "Always Above." But in the two years since former President Donald J. Trump signed off on the creation of the new service branch, a lot of policies and procedures still need to be established, from finalizing the official uniforms to creating Space Force's physical training standards. Frustrated Guardians who are patiently awaiting these regulations and policies have coined their own Space Force motto online to cope: "Semper Soon." Read Next: Troops Reprimanded After Deadly Al-Shabaab Attack on Kenya Base One Guardian, who spoke to Military.com on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal by superiors, said the "Semper Soon" catchphrase gets used when there doesn't seem to be a clear answer for when service members can expect updates from leadership. "I think [Semper Soon] was a self-soothing mechanism by slapping something clever onto our motto that answers seemingly everything," the Guardian said. "I leaned more into it when there wasn't a lot of communication from leadership." New Guardians hoping to make a career in the newly established Space Force are waiting for policies such as the physical training assessment, a requirement that can mean the difference between career advancement and being booted from the force. The phrase has made an appearance on social media among Guardians to describe some of the frustration that comes from navigating government bureaucracy, especially as the new service branch tries to build a separate brand from the Air Force and also broadcast its mission to the American public. One Guardian even started an online "Semper Soon" tracker on Reddit, which holds Space Force leadership accountable for deadlines. The website sets an automatic timer when the service commits to an announcement date for new protocols and policies. The Space Force, a separate service under the Department of the Air Force -- mirroring the Marine Corps; relationship with the Navy --had been floated as a concept in Washington since the 1970s. But it wasn't until Trump suddenly made it one of his top priorities that it became a reality. The Space Force's mission -- to protect and defend the massive U.S. satellite fleet -- is crucial in everything from the country's reliance on GPS to detecting abnormalities in the Earth's orbit. Over the past two years, around 6,800 Guardians and 6,700 civilian employees have joined to support that mission. And even though it's the smallest branch by the numbers, senior military leadership has spent the majority of that time establishing protocols from the ground up for its new service members. Robert Farley, a professor at the University of Kentucky who researches national security and intelligence, said it's easy to compare the creation of the Space Force to something like the creation of the Air Force, which was known as the Army Air Corps until becoming an independent branch in 1947. But Farley pointed out that, unlike the Space Force, there was about five years of advanced preparation for the establishment of an independent Air Force. And many politicians and military experts weren't sure whether the idea of a new service branch was going to cross the finish line in 2019. "I kind of got a sense that people were a little bit surprised that this was actually going to happen," Farley said. "And certainly, there was not the same level of preparation, in late 2018, that we had seen from the prior example of the establishment of the Air Force." Additionally, the past two years were highlighted by a global pandemic and the 2020 election, both of which added varying levels of uncertainty in planning, he added. But many of the delays in establishing rules and regulations for the Space Force simply boil down to government bureaucracy. Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, pointed out that the service's predecessor, Air Force Space Command, was dragging its feet on a lot of decisions. Harrison said the Space Force can't fall into the same pattern. "I see the first two years of the Space Force as being really critical in setting the trajectory for the future," Harrison said. "And if too many things, too many decisions, are prolonged or delayed, then you're going to be setting yourself on a default trajectory that'll be hard to make a course correction later." Space Force's senior military leaders said they understand the frustrations of some Guardians who want to see the new policies developed as quickly as possible. But they're also proud of the progress they've made. Gen. John Raymond, the chief of space operations for the service branch, talked to reporters during a media roundtable at the Air Force Association's annual convention in Orlando earlier this month. When asked by Military.com at the conference about some of the outstanding policies that need to be put in place, Raymond said he "couldn't be more pleased" with the speed at which the service branch was being set up. "We've got a to-do list of probably 10,000 things to prioritize," Raymond told Military.com. "These are the kind of decisions that you want to get right. They're important to our people. They take a little bit of time." The Space Force has frequently posted to social media to try to help Guardians stay up to date on the rollout of policies. Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, the Space Force's highest noncommissioned officer, has posted several videos on Facebook and responds frequently to comments from Guardians on Reddit about policy. As far as Towberman is concerned, he said it's a good sign that Guardians are eager to find out what's happening with the Space Force. "All things considered, it's going really, really well, and a little impatience is good," he said. "I want them to be excited." -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Space Force's Physical Training Will Include Wearable Fitness Trackers Read the original article on Business Insider. Some members of Congress stand to personally profit off Russia's war on Ukraine. At least 18 federal lawmakers or their spouses hold stock in Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin, which manufacture the weapons Western allies are sending Ukraine to fight Russian invaders, according to an Insider analysis of federal financial records. The stock holdings by members of Congress come as the U.S. is preparing to send billions of dollars in defense aid to Ukraine. Both companies' stock -- especially that of Lockheed Martin -- have risen since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Among the weapons the U.S. and NATO members have dispatched to Ukraine are the so-called "fire and forget" Javelin and Stinger missiles that troops carry on their shoulders during battle. The joint Raytheon/Lockheed Martin-made Javelin missile is touted as "the world's premier shoulder-fired anti-armor system" capable of destroying battle tanks. Raytheon's Stinger missiles are designed to shoot down helicopters and other low-flying aircraft. Raytheon advertises the Stinger as "rapidly deployed by ground troops" and credited with "more than 270 fixed- and rotary-wing intercepts." Among those investing in the defense contractors is Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who bought between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin shares on February 22. Two days after her purchase, Greene wrote in a Twitter thread: "War is big business to our leaders." In a statement to Insider, Greene said her investment advisor made the purchase and noted it was only one among several other new purchases. But her critics seized on the trade as emblematic of what they consider an endemic problem in Congress: lawmakers personally buying and selling stock in ways that could conflict with their official responsibilities and position of public trust. "Add this to the list of why members of Congress should never be allowed to trade stocks," quipped Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota on Twitter, sharing a subtweet that showed Greene's financial disclosure document. In this March 27, 2019 photo, Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., speaks at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on budget on Capitol Hill, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Some members long held stock in the companies, others traded recently Other federal lawmakers have traded stock in the defense contractors in recent weeks. Republican Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee and her husband made three separate Raytheon trades worth up to $15,000 and Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida sold up to $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock but retained shares in the company. All trades happened in January -- close to when the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States permitted Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to dispatch the Javelin and Stinger missiles to Ukraine. Representatives for Frankel and Harshbarger did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Harshbarger has previously violated the 2012 Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, by reporting trades made by her financial advisor past a federally mandated deadline. More than a dozen other members of Congress or their families hold similar investments at a time when President Joe Biden approved a $350 million Ukraine military aid package last week. The U.S. government is also poised to deliver another $6.5 billion for defense purposes in Ukraine as part of a new spending package heading to the president's desk. CNN reported that the U.S. and other NATO members have so far sent Ukraine 17,000 anti-tank missiles and 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. Most lawmakers who hold shares in Raytheon and Lockheed Martin did not reply to Insider's request for comment. The list includes: Sen. John Hickenlooper , a Democrat of Colorado, held between $100,001 and $250,000 in Raytheon shares, according to his most recent annual disclosure. , a Democrat of Colorado, held between $100,001 and $250,000 in Raytheon shares, according to his most recent annual disclosure. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse , a Democrat of Rhode Island, held $15,001 to $50,000 in Lockheed Martin stock. He also held between $50,001 and $100,000 in stock in United Technologies, which was acquired by Raytheon. , a Democrat of Rhode Island, held $15,001 to $50,000 in Lockheed Martin stock. He also held between $50,001 and $100,000 in stock in United Technologies, which was acquired by Raytheon. Thomas Daffron, a former longtime Hill chief of staff and the husband of Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, held between $15,000 and $50,000 in stock United Technologies, which was acquired by Raytheon. Annie Clark, Collins' spokeswoman, said he first acquired United Technologies at least as far back as 2014, before the Raytheon acquisition. "Tom Daffron has no involvement in the purchase or sale of any of the stocks in his diversified portfolio," she said. "These investment decisions are made solely by a third-party advisor." Clark also added that the senator herself does not own any stocks. of Maine, held between $15,000 and $50,000 in stock United Technologies, which was acquired by Raytheon. Annie Clark, Collins' spokeswoman, said he first acquired United Technologies at least as far back as 2014, before the Raytheon acquisition. "Tom Daffron has no involvement in the purchase or sale of any of the stocks in his diversified portfolio," she said. "These investment decisions are made solely by a third-party advisor." Clark also added that the senator herself does not own any stocks. Abigail Perlman Blunt, a lobbyist for Kraft Heinz who is also the wife of retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri , held between $100,001 and $250,000 in Lockheed Martin shares. , held between $100,001 and $250,000 in Lockheed Martin shares. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito , a Republican of West Virginia, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock, her annual disclosures indicate. Her husband, Charlie Capito, who previously worked in finance, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in United Technologies, now acquired by Raytheon. , a Republican of West Virginia, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock, her annual disclosures indicate. Her husband, Charlie Capito, who previously worked in finance, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in United Technologies, now acquired by Raytheon. Sen. Gary Peters , a Democrat of Michigan, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon stock. Peters chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as well as the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. , a Democrat of Michigan, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon stock. Peters chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as well as the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Martha Stacy, the wife of Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon stocks and between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stocks. Carper serves on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. His spokeswoman, Rachel Levitan, said the couple has "always been careful to ensure that their financial investments are handled separately by a financial advisor who makes decisions and transactions independently." She added that Carper "fully supports ongoing conversations in Congress on how to strengthen the legislation and improve transparency and accountability for our elected officials." of Delaware, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon stocks and between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stocks. Carper serves on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. His spokeswoman, Rachel Levitan, said the couple has "always been careful to ensure that their financial investments are handled separately by a financial advisor who makes decisions and transactions independently." She added that Carper "fully supports ongoing conversations in Congress on how to strengthen the legislation and improve transparency and accountability for our elected officials." John Axne, the husband of Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa who operates a digital design firm, sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin shares twice in February but still appears to hold stock in the company. Axne previously violated the STOCK Act through failing to properly report trades. of Iowa who operates a digital design firm, sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin shares twice in February but still appears to hold stock in the company. Axne previously violated the STOCK Act through failing to properly report trades. Rep. Kevin Hern , a Republican of Oklahoma who built his wealth through McDonald's franchises, traded both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin stock throughout 2021. He most recently purchased shares of between $1,001 and $15,000 in both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in December, documents show. Representatives for Hern, who has past STOCK Act violations, didn't reply to Insider's most recent inquiry but previously said a financial advisor manages the trades and that Hern "does not have any input or control over stock purchases." , a Republican of Oklahoma who built his wealth through McDonald's franchises, traded both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin stock throughout 2021. He most recently purchased shares of between $1,001 and $15,000 in both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in December, documents show. Representatives for Hern, who has past STOCK Act violations, didn't reply to Insider's most recent inquiry but previously said a financial advisor manages the trades and that Hern "does not have any input or control over stock purchases." Rep. Fred Upton , a Republican of Michigan who is retiring after his term ends in 2022, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon shares. , a Republican of Michigan who is retiring after his term ends in 2022, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon shares. Rep. Steve Cohen , a Democrat of Tennessee, held between $15,001 to $50,000 in Raytheon stock. , a Democrat of Tennessee, held between $15,001 to $50,000 in Raytheon stock. Rep. John Curtis , a Republican of Utah, purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon shares in June 2021. He also held Lockheed Martin stock but public disclosures appear to show that he sold it in November 2021. His office did not reply to questions over whether he still held shares in the company. , a Republican of Utah, purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 in Raytheon shares in June 2021. He also held Lockheed Martin stock but public disclosures appear to show that he sold it in November 2021. His office did not reply to questions over whether he still held shares in the company. Rep. David Price , a Democrat of North Carolina, held between $15,001 and $50,000 in United Technologies which was then acquired by Raytheon. , a Democrat of North Carolina, held between $15,001 and $50,000 in United Technologies which was then acquired by Raytheon. Rep. Dwight Evans , a Democrat of Pennsylvania, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in United Technologies which was acquired by Raytheon stock and in May 2021 he purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock. , a Democrat of Pennsylvania, held between $1,001 and $15,000 in United Technologies which was acquired by Raytheon stock and in May 2021 he purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 in Lockheed Martin stock. Margaret Kirkpatrick, who is married to Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and retired from her role as general counsel for NW Natural Gas, held up to $15,000 in Raytheon shares as part of her retirement portfolio. Additional members of Congress appear to have shed their shares in recent months. They include Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee's Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. Documents appear to show Wittman sold his shares in Lockheed Martin in January of this year. His office did not respond to Insider's most recent inquiry but previously said that a financial advisor has "all control" of his investments. Insider previously reported that Wittman was among at least 15 lawmakers who both invest in the stock of defense contractors and hold powerful positions on a pair of House and Senate committees that control U.S. military policy. Together, these 15 lawmakers' defense contractor investments were worth up to nearly $1 million at the end of 2020. Another lawmaker who appears to have sold stock in defense contractors this year was Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican of Alabama. It wasn't immediately clear from available financial filings whether he still retained any stock in the companies. His office didn't respond to Insider's request for comment on whether he still holds the shares but previously said outside advisors manage the senator's investments. Tuberville, who sits on the armed services committee, violated the federal STOCK Act last year by disclosing nearly 130 stock trades weeks or months late. Tuberville isn't alone in violating the STOCK Act -- 1 in 10 members of Congress have done so, Insider's Conflicted Congress investigation found. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., gestures during a rally in Richmond, Va., Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Congress is considering a stock trading ban No law prohibits lawmakers from sitting on congressional committees, writing legislation, or voting on bills that might affect them financially. But momentum is growing for banning lawmakers from trading stocks altogether. A House hearing is set for March 16 to explore the matter. Numerous federal policymakers have defense contractors in their states and districts, who call up lawmakers as the defense spending bills are being drafted to warn that people will lose jobs if defense funding decreases. The latest spending bill making its way through Congress represents another victory for the industry as it includes $782 billion in defense spending, a 5.6% increase over last year. Government watchdog organizations say investments like those in defense contractors muddle lawmakers' decision making abilities and reduce public trust in government officials. Political action committees linked to defense contractors are among the largest political donors in the United States. Defense contractors likewise spend millions of dollars lobbying the federal government to prod elected officials, shape policy, and win lucrative government contracts. During 2021, Raytheon spent nearly $15.4 million on federal lobbying efforts while Lockheed Martin spent more than $14.4 million, according to federal records compiled by nonpartisan research organization OpenSecrets. "This is a case study in why there is a lot of concern around congressional stock trading," said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, government affairs manager at the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight. The investments indicate that war isn't only profitable for defense contractors "but members of congress who invest," he added. POGO supports a ban on members' trading individual stocks. "The easiest way to clear all this up and make the scandal not exist is to have clear, straightforward restrictions and have them apply to everybody," Hedtler-Gaudette said. Russia and Ukraine have a long history that dates back long before economic pressures and Russia's 2022 invasion. Russia may consider Ukraine as part of its sphere of influence, but Ukrainians have long memories of Russian and Soviet domination, a centuries-long era that resulted in the deaths of millions. Since the end of the 18th century, Russia (and then the Soviet Union) has controlled or attempted to control historical areas of Ukraine, so it's understandable that Ukrainians might be tired of it and ready to fight back. 1. Ukrainian War of Independence Toward the end of World War I, the Russian Empire had fallen and was under the control of the Bolsheviks, and many of the empire's former holdings attempted to declare independence. Ukraine established the Ukrainian People's Republic while the Soviets set up a rival Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in the east. Ukrainians had to fight Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russian Bolsheviks, White Russian volunteers loyal to the Russian monarchy and Poland while fighting a brutal civil war in the middle of World War I. By 1922, Ukraine's internationally recognized government was defeated, and its territory split between the Soviet Union, Poland, Romania and Czechoslovakia. The "Lwow Eaglets," Polish youth in the 1918 Battle of Lemberg against the West Ukrainian People's Republic. (Polish Army Museum) 2. The Red Terror Between 1917 and 1922, areas controlled by the Bolsheviks experienced a wave of reprisal killings, repressions and executions against the Bolshevik's political rivals. These rivals include those who sided with the Tsarist White Forces in the Russian Civil War, Kulaks (private landowners) and middle-class "bourgeoisie." The Bolsheviks called the campaign the "Red Terror" and modeled it after the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Not limited to the use of firearms, Ukrainians were thrown into boiling water, tortured publicly, impaled, crucified or killed in some other painful way. An estimated 1.3 million were killed. Translation: "Death to the bourgeois and their helpers. Long live the Red Terror." 3. The Holodomor After consolidating power in the Soviet leadership, Joseph Stalin moved to implement a massive industrialization program throughout the USSR. At the same time, the Soviet harvest was much lower than expected due to collective farming and land redistribution. The result was a man-made famine that killed 3.5 to 10 million people in the Ukrainian SSR. The Soviet government in Moscow not only did little to aid the Ukrainian famine, it actively tried to cover it up to maintain a facade of international strength. Even inside Ukrainian cities, few people knew what was happening to those in the countryside. Starving people on the streets of Kharkov, 1935. (Diocesan Archive of Vienna) 4. World War II The German Army advanced to Ukraine's capital city within six weeks of launching its invasion of the Soviet Union. Much of Ukraine saw the Germans as liberators in the early days of the war, especially in the western areas of the country, further from Russia's traditional border. Many Ukrainians joined the German forces against the Red Army. The Ukrainian Liberation Army collaborated with Nazi Germany to fight Soviet dominance of Ukraine. As German intentions in the east became clearer and the Nazis began killing Ukrainians en masse, more and more joined the Red Army to fight off the invasion. Ukraine had the second-largest population in the USSR and was a large part of the Soviet military. About 4.5 million Ukrainians served in the war, and 31% of Ukrainians who fought in World War II died, some 1.4 million. 5. Resistance to the Soviet Union During World War II, an insurgency broke out among Ukrainian nationalists, who not only fought the Nazi invaders but also the Soviet Union. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army, an anti-fascist, anti-communist military force with a political arm, fought for a Ukrainian state long after World War II ended. Christmas card made and distributed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Between 1944 and 1954, the Ukrainian guerrillas killed some 35,000 Soviet soldiers, police officers and party officials. It was a higher casualty rate than the Soviets experienced in Afghanistan in the 1980s. It received little international support because of its collaboration with Nazi Germany. Eventually it was infiltrated by the Soviet NKVD (later known as the KGB), which led to widespread arrests and executions among its members. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Fort Madison, IA (52627) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low around 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 4:10PM: Conforto is not a top priority for the Rockies, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports, though the club has some level of interest. 1:52PM: Michael Confortos market continues to grow, as the Diamondbacks were among the teams showing the most interest in Conforto before the lockout, The New York Posts Mike Puma writes. The Marlins had also been previously linked to Conforto, and Joe Frisaro of Man On Second tweets that Conforto remains on Miamis list of outfield targets. Such clubs as the Padres, Rockies, and Yankees have also been reported as suitors for Confortos services, with his market thus far representing an interesting cross-section of contenders and teams who struggled in 2021. The DBacks are coming off a 110-loss season, while the Marlins followed up an appearance in the expanded 2020 playoff bracket with a 95-loss campaign last year. This wide range of interested clubs could reflect Confortos status coming off a subpar (by his standards) .232/.344/.384 season over 479 plate appearances with the Mets. While Conforto rejected the Mets qualifying offer, speculation persists that Conforto might look for a shorter-term contract that would allow him to re-test free agency next winter. Since Conforto surely feels hell hit better in 2022, he naturally wouldnt want to short-change himself by signing a longer-term contract now that is reflective of his 2021 numbers. Even if Conforto is looking for big free agent pay day, as Frisaro puts it, he could still land a healthy salary on a one-year deal, which opens the door for many teams as possible fits. Clubs that may be wary of a longer-term commitment to Conforto (or not keen on longer-term commitments in general) could certainly be more open to a one-year arrangement, since a Conforto that returns to his 2015-20 form is a major addition to any lineup. Though Arizona would seemingly be closer to a rebuild than a true push for contention next season, the DBacks havent been willing to entirely blow things up, as the team still has some interesting core pieces as well as some younger players hoped to be on the verge of a breakout. To this end, the Snakes signed Mark Melancon to a two-year, $14MM deal prior to the lockout, and president/CEO Derrick Hall said yesterday that the Diamondbacks were looking to add some offense. Hall said he could easily see a scenario where Arizona spends $17MM to push the projected 2022 payroll up to the $110MM range. Since Conforto would certainly want to at least top the cost of the qualifying offer ($18.4MM) on any one-year deal, hed cost more than $17MM, thus putting him at the high end of the Diamondbacks possible spending range. Plus, if that hypothetical $17MM represents all the front office would have to spend on remaining needs, it is quite possible the DBacks would prefer to spread that money around to several players rather than splurge on Conforto alone. Confortos rejection of the QO could represent an obstacle for both the Diamondbacks and the Marlins, as either team would have to give up their third-highest pick in the 2022 draft as compensation for signing the outfielder. Surrendering such a notable pick for what might be a short-term deal is a hefty price to pay for an Arizona team that isnt really in position to contend in 2022. Likewise, the Marlins had also been wary about QO free agents when making their winter moves, but Miami has been more clear about its intent to challenge for a postseason berth next season. The Marlins have already signed Avisail Garcia and traded for both Jacob Stallings and Joey Wendle, and the Fish have also been reportedly chasing such big-ticket trade candidates as the Pirates Bryan Reynolds. Just how much more the Marlins are willing to spend on upgrades, however, is still an unknown. Derek Jeters surprising departure as the teams CEO was (according to some accounts) due to a change in ownerships approach to spending heading into the 2022 campaign. Prior to the lockout, the Jeter-led Marlins were in talks with Nick Castellanos on a contract of longer than five years, according to MLB Networks Jon Heyman (Twitter link), though only time will tell if such major expenditures are still on the Marlins radar now that the lockout is over. Naturally, the Marlins can still improve their team without spending a ton of money the Stallings and Wendle trades are evidence of that, and Miami has a lot of young pitching depth that could bring back a cost-controlled talent like Reynolds in a further swap. Conforto might also represent an interesting middle ground for the team, if he was indeed open to only a one-year contract. Miami could take the one-year payroll boost to add Conforto, look to benefit from a possible rebound year from the former All-Star, and then watch him depart in free agency next winter. With the lockout officially behind us, teams are again allowed to pursue major league transactions. Theres still plenty of free agent and trade possibilities for clubs, and its expected well see a flurry of activity in the coming days. Diamondbacks team president/CEO Derrick Hall met with reporters (including Steve Gilbert of MLB.com) this afternoon to discuss the clubs post-lockout outlook. He pointed to the addition of another bat and further upgrades to the bullpen as particular areas of priority for general manager Mike Hazen and the rest of the front office. That aligns with pre-lockout expectations, as the front office had signaled a desire in November for help at third base and in the relief corps. Arizona has yet to address the position player group in meaningful fashion, so adding at third base probably remains a goal. Kyle Seager has since retired, taking one notable free agent option off the table. The D-Backs arent likely to sign a star like Kris Bryant, leaving players like Jonathan Villar and Josh Harrison as the most realistic options for the Snakes if they look to the open market for infield upgrades. The Diamondbacks made one big pre-lockout addition to the bullpen. They added veteran closer Mark Melancon on a two-year deal, fortifying the ninth inning. Theres still plenty of room for upgrades in the middle to late innings, though. The only returning Arizona bullpen option who had above-average strikeout and walk numbers last season (minimum 20 innings pitched) is swingman Caleb Smith. Melancon, Smith, Noe Ramirez and Joe Mantiply are the only pitchers with an ERA below 3.50 who are heading back to the desert. Adding another arm or two to bridge the gap between the rotation and Melancon at the end of games makes sense. Free agency offers plenty of relief options coming off quality 2021 seasons. It seems likely the D-Backs will add at least one veteran bullpen arm on a big league deal, and Hall indicated the club has a bit of payroll flexibility with which to work. I see us being aggressive and being active, he said. And if youre asking if were gonna get [the payroll] to north of $90 million 100, 105 I could easily see that. At present, the D-Backs have around $88MM in commitments for the 2022 campaign, including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players (via Jason Martinez of Roster Resource). Halls comments suggest theres at least a few million dollars remaining in the coffers for Hazen and company, and it doesnt seem out of the question the Snakes could add an extra $10MM or $15MM to this years books if the right opportunity presents itself. Some may surprised to hear the D-Backs are planning to add on the heels of an NL-worst 52-110 showing. However, Arizona brass has been resistant to the idea of a full rebuild. The D-Backs didnt move key controllable players like Ketel Marte or Zac Gallen either at last summers deadline or earlier in the offseason. Their first big move of the offseason was to sign a veteran closer. Theyll face an uphill battle in an NL West that looks to be one of the most challenging divisions in the league, but it doesnt seem the D-Backs are interested in punting on 2022. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the press via video link after the closing 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 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday China's opening-up policy will not change "just as the course of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers will not be reversed." No matter how the international environment may change, China will keep the course of wider openness, Li told a press conference after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress. "If there will be any change, the change will be conducive to China's greater openness to international exchanges, trade and investment," the premier said. "Anything that is conducive to expanding high-level opening-up, we will go for it." China's economy has deeply integrated into the world, Li said. Imports and exports in goods contribute to more than one third of China's gross domestic product, and the country has remained the world's second-largest import market for 10 consecutive years. China has also been the largest trader in goods over the past five years. As the economy is still climbing up the industrial chain, China has tremendous potential and broad space for the growth of all types of investment, the premier said, promising a level playing field for all types of businesses, no matter homegrown or foreign-funded. As the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, the world's largest trade deal, has come into effect, China will seize the opportunity to push forward free trade and keep itself a popular destination for foreign investment, he said. As more than 40 years of opening-up has brought mutual benefits to China and the world, Li described the policy as a "door of opportunity." China will not and must not close it, he added. Veteran utilityman Sean Rodriguez is taking on a new job, as MLB.coms Todd Zolecki reports that Rodriguez has been hired by the Phillies as a player development instructor. The move brings an end to the 36-year-old Rodriguezs playing career after 18 professional seasons, including parts of 13 Major League seasons from 2008-20. Rodriguez hit .226/.301/.379 with 81 homers over 2913 MLB plate appearances. Originally a third-round pick for the Angels in the 2003 draft, Rodriguez went on to play for six different teams in the bigs, with the majority of his 1103 career games coming with the Rays (553 games) and Pirates (384 games). No matter the uniform, Rodriguez made himself valuable due to his ability to play virtually anywhere on the diamond. Second base was the most common of his many positions, though Rodriguez made at least 27 appearances at every position except catcher and pitcher throughout his career, and he even made a couple of mop-up appearances as a reliever in 2019. Those two mound appearances came when Rodriguez was a member of the Phillies in 2019, as he played 76 games with the club and hit .223/.348/.375 with four home runs over 139 PA. One of those homers made Rodriguez something of an infamous figure among Philadelphia fans, Zolecki notes. Rodriguez hit a walkoff home run to lift the Phils to a 6-5 win over the Pirates on August 26, 2019, though in a postgame interview, Rodriguez described Phillies fans as entitled. Discussing the incident with Zolecki, Rodriguez said that Philly fans are just as passionate about baseball as I am. I was doing my best to try to defend two stars on our team, seeing if I couldnt alleviate some pressure on them. It is a little funny that Im back, but Phillies fans are passionate and Im a passionate player. Rodriguez moved on from Philadelphia to sign a minor league deal with the Marlins in the 2019-20 offseason, and he played four games with Miami during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Rodriguezs time on the Marlins big league roster was further limited by an extended stint on the injured list, as Rodriguez joined many other Miami players in being sidelined by a COVID-19 outbreak in the clubhouse. Rodriguez will now move into the next phase of his baseball career on the instructional side, operating at the Phillies camp in Clearwater year-round and working with the organizations minor leaguers on infield work and baserunning. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Rodriguez on a fine playing career and we wish him the best in his new role. Prior to the lockout, the Yankees had interest in outfielder Michael Conforto, according to The New York Posts Mike Puma (Twitter link). The Bronx Bombers join the Rockies and Marlins as the only teams publicly linked to Confortos market, though over a dozen teams reportedly checked in on the former All-Star around the start of the free agent period. The possibility of Conforto jumping from the Mets to the Yankees creates some natural Big Apple intrigue, plus Conforto would seem like a good fit in the Yankees lineup. The Bombers are short on left-handed bats, and though Conforto slots in most naturally as the new everyday left fielder, he can also play right field (in the event of an injury or just a DH day for Aaron Judge) or even center field in a pinch, should Aaron Hicks run into more injury woes. The short porch at Yankee Stadium has been a boon to many a left-handed hitter, and it could help Conforto bounce back from an ill-timed down year just as he was on the verge of free agency. Conforto hit .232/.344/.384 with 14 homers over 479 PA still above average (101 OPS+, 106 wRC+) production, though well behind the numbers he posted from 2015-20. Conforto may have been hampered by a hamstring strain that cost him five weeks on the injured list, and teams will surely also note that Confortos 2021 Statcast numbers were largely unchanged from his career norms, apart from a drop in barrels and barrel rate. Still, the Yankees or any other interested clubs surely have some concern over guaranteeing a big multi-year contract (and giving up a draft pick, since Conforto rejected the Mets qualifying offer) to player coming off a rather underwhelming season. With that platform year in mind, there was speculation that Conforto could be open to a shorter-term contract with an opt-out clause, or perhaps just a straight one-year deal. Such an arrangement would allow Conforto to quickly re-enter free agency next winter on what he certainly hopes will be on the heels of a stronger 2022 season, not to mention a normal offseason that wont be interrupted by a lockout. Conforto is represented by the Boras Corporation, and Scott Boras is no stranger to unique contracts (such as the swell-opt) that allow his clients both some flexibility and the possibility of locking in more longer-term money. The Yankees have done plenty of business with Boras in the past, and in fact another Boras client in Gerrit Cole represents the last QO-rejecting free agent the Yankees signed without regard to the draft pick compensation. Naturally, there is a vast difference between Cole and Confortos situations, and thus the Yankees likely have some wariness about surrendering their second-highest 2022 draft pick and $500K in international bonus pool money in exchange for signing Conforto. That said, if Conforto was open to a shorter-term deal, he could fit into the Yankees reported preference for such contracts. New York offered a one-year, $25MM pact to another QO free agent in Justin Verlander before Verlander re-signed with the Astros, and the Yankees reported post-lockout plan is to monitor the shortstop market to see if any major names (i.e. the still-unsigned Carlos Correa or Trevor Story) could be amendable to a shorter-term arrangement. It stands to reason that the Yankees could expand this strategy beyond just shortstops, and to any prominent free agents like Conforto who can address other areas of need on the Bombers roster, while still not tying the club to a lengthy commitment. Young Ghanaian rap prodigy Yaw Tog says he believes in investing in bigger assets as his career is still fresh. The Kumasi-based youngster who jumped into the limelight two years ago stated that he is stalling up all funds that come his way instead of spending lavishly. Speaking on Joy Prime this morning the 'Sore' hitmaker stated that acquiring cars and houses are not his top priority for now. "I like assets but I am trying to invest in big things not small small things like farming, houses, and car business, plenty things you know," he told host of Prime Morning, Jay Foley. He indicated that despite his mother having a hand in the control of his finances he needs no permission to have access to them whenever he wants. The young rapper revealed that he has a music studio. Yaw Tog's career sprung up in rapid motion with the genesis of the Asakaa Kumerica drill type of music; the youngster's jam, 'Sore' became an instant hit and went on to hit international platforms when he featured UK based rapper Stormzy. The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey is not enthused with the work of many Ghanaian creatives. According to Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, who received newly inducted members of the Art and Tourism Writers Association (ATWAG) in his office midweek, it is evident that Ghanaian creatives are extremely talented but unfortunately lack the broader knowledge and sometimes exhibit an unrefined attitude to work. It is evident, we have the talents. It is now time for these talents to work on their attitude, their work culture and acquire more knowledge. Do not depend solely on your talent, the World is evolving otherwise you will be second to South Africa, Nigeria and even Togo, The Deputy Minister opined as he persuaded the newly executives of ATWAG to be change agents. The President of the Art and Tourism Writers, George Quaye, who led the team of ATWAG executives to the Deputy Ministers office for an introductory engagement, also laid before Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey, the quest to gain recognition and support from the Ministry in its operations. The Association has been around for a while and after our induction, we thought it wise to introduce ourselves to you. We are very passionate about the sector as writers and we want to leave a solid legacy, George Quaye beseeched Deputy Minister, Mark Okraku-Mantey. In his response, Mark Okraku Mantey assured the executives of a fruitful partnership. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye 11.03.2022 LISTEN This writer feels compelled to write this piece, being a student of the military in politics - a task I set myself to for decades. Categorically speaking, military intervention is NOT an alternative to civilian regime performance, no matter how abysmal. The democratic determination of political preference after political mandate has been given to a political party is by one mechanism ONLY the Ballot. A nation is either democratic and abides by this practice or it is unfit to be counted among the comity of civilised nations. You cannot serve God and mammon. You cannot have a Constitution adopted by the people and yet any time a section of the populace disagrees with policies being pursued, a coup or military take-over occurs. The only legitimate yardstick for determining the tenure of governors is the Ballot. This is especially so where the principle of limitation of tenure is duly applied and prevails in a nation. Limitation of Tenure means the government has fixed number of years to rule. Tragically, in certain African states, leaders refuse to leave when their time is up and seek refuge in tinkering with the Constitution. This is unacceptable. The African Union and ECOWAS must stand firm against this betrayal. Upon the above premise, this article firmly postulates that those persons who are currently against a policy of the ruling government MUST stop touting coups and exercise their right to criticise the government now and also vote against the ruling party as constitutionally provided for, in 2024. This is what makes us live under a Constitutional order. At any given time, a number of our people may feel strongly against a policy being introduced by those elected to rule. They have the right to free speech; they have the right to demonstrate. All of such measures are guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution. This right cannot include military overthrow! This is why no person, no matter how learned or otherwise, should responsibly utter words to the effect that if his/ her views are not taken, a coup may occur. It further has to be said that those who have had the exposure to the principles of good governance, legality and constitutionalism should mind their words and should never make utterances which might mislead people in our underdeveloped society and economy; nor give a misplaced rationalisation to puerile military adventurers of any kind. Those who tout coups and hope to gain the favours of coup makers in the future; those who think coups will benefit them, must learn from history. Imoro Ayarna, the CPP politician and others who conspired with Colonel Acheampong to overthrow Busias government hoping to have the government turned over to them, were flatly denied by Acheampong who subsequently arrested and threw them into prison for attempting a counter coup. Never follow coup makers. Violent overthrows or revolutions always eat up their own children when they have finished ravaging their opponents. By 1992, when Rawlings metamorphosed into a civilian leader, where was Akata Poree, Chris Atim, Ndebugre, Amartey Kwei, Major Quarshigah and a host of other leading members of the Revolution? They had all been eaten up by the Revolution. Military intervention, especially under Rawlings, destroyed indigenous Ghanaian businesses. Every successful entrepreneur was labelled a thief and the captains or industry were annihilated. Why wont we suffer? Mark Cofie Motors, then assembling Mazda cars in Ghana before June 4, Kowus Motors, Tata Brewery, then the largest Brewery in Africa South or the Sahara apart from South Africa, Pioneer Biscuit Co., B.A. Mensah and his Tobacco Company, Boakye Mattress who built the Police Hospital as a private hospital to be run by experts, GIHOC, GNTC, were destroyed. Military intervention is chaotic and breeds counter-coups and allied acts of violence and abuse of human rights. What wants that? Today, under the Constitution you can protest against arrests, take up cases in the Human Rights Count, voice out your protestations and demonstrate. No military regime has ever granted this freedom guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution. Who wants to go back to the AFRC/ PNDC days when naked women were held by soldiers and canes used to whip their naked private parts in public? Who today will like to be condemned to death or imprisonment without appropriate trial as happened to several Ghanaians? Do we seek a revisitation of the days when judges could be kidnapped in the night and murdered all in the name of a Revolution? Currently, all persons accused of committing a crime against the State are being tried by courts of competent jurisdiction. This is the beauty of the constitutional and democratic order we are all enjoying today. This nation belongs to us all; and we all want accountability. Please let all responsible citizens continue to make positive suggestions and roll out reforms, policies and institutions which will ensure accountability. The military regimes NEVER achieved this. The AFRC led by Rawlings opened AFRC Account No. 48. No one till today, could account for where several millions of cedis and dollars went. Indeed, the Account became a source of dispute between Rawlings, Boakye Gyan and others. When the Limann government decided to probe this matter further, Rawlings and others said that such measures were attempts to betray the gains of June 4. They therefore staged another coup 31st December, 1981. Where is our money? Who went into government and came out owning several state lands in Cantonment and Nsawam Cannery, etc? When soldiers capture power they only leave you free if you guarantee them immunity! While they are in office, the Auditor-General audits no account and when they leave office, they leave with immunity. Is this what we want? I pray that Ghanaians read my books on military regimes again and refresh their memories. How can human beings be so cruel as to remove the nails of prisoners with plyers or remove the skins from their back and order them to eat same for a meal as happened to young Goka and Kyeremeh Gyan (Boakye Gyans brother)? Captain Asiedu was kidnapped from his home, taken on a flight of death in a helicopter and dropped into the ocean for speaking ill of Rawlings! When will the people of Aburi find their Chief (Bismark) who was captured and vanished into oblivion? Do we want a revisitation of the murder of General Acheampong, Kotei, Utuka, Felli, Amedume and others tied to the stakes and shot, without proper trial? In some cases for the offence of getting a loan to buy a house. For what reason, in the name of sanity given us by the good God, should we ever opt for such slavery because we disagree with a particular government policy? CPP or NPP or NDC or whatsoever party elected by the good people of Ghana for four years under the 1992 Constitution, we say NEVER AGAIN to coups. Let us remember that Constitutional rule did not come on a silver platter at any time in Ghana. Have we forgotten the professional and students revolt under Acheampong? Have we forgotten how the soldiers stole the verdict under Unigav? And that the same was repeated under Rawlings? We need not repeat the wickedness in high places experienced by Ghanaians. This is necessarily so because military regimes seek to entrench themselves while some within the very military disagree with the pathway adopted by the leaders. Since there are no arbiters no elections, the only avenue is counter-coup to remove the ruler you disagree with. It goes on ad nauseam and bloodshed becomes the order of the day. Lt. Yeboah, Lt. Arthur and others et al, went to early graves beings victims of this inherent cancer of military intervention in politics. The joy of democracy is jaw- jaw and punishing parties at the polls where necessary and not violent overthrows. Those to whom much has been given should not mislead their countrymen and throw this beautiful Ghana into darkness. Military regimes have never brought economic prosperity to a nation. The military from all studies by political analysts have failed as agents of modernisation and economic prosperity. Did you live through Acheampongs hardship or experience the Rawlings chain? Inevitably, the initial euphoria of military rule soon dissolves on the altar of porous economic policies with hand-picked civilians in tow, who have not been tried, tested and voted for by the populace. This happens inevitably because the military is not established nor trained institutionally to become the agents of economic transformation. In fact, no single profession is so trained. Ghana under the 1992 Constitution has adopted a clear pathway of civil-military relations - the subordination of the military to civilian authority. This operates whether the government is NPP or NDC. Any attempt to do otherwise is treason. And to advocate such dastardly act is treason. Responsible citizens should not tread that pathway in any civilised discourse in Ghana. I am proud to be a Ghanaian, all problems apart. And I believe with the jaw-jaw approach, devoid of violence, we can use our God-given talents to get out of any difficulty. We should remember that in the building of nations, several ups and downs have occurred. But with unity of purpose and good applications in ironing out answers to issues and the social religious and allied pillars of cohesion we have, we will always overcome and progress. Ghana is a harmonious state. In Ghana, the Chief Imam donates to the building of Christian cathedral. In many homes, (including mine), you have a cocktail of many tribes living in peace as family and as Ghanaians freely naturally and by choice. Despite the sharp political differences between the NPP and NDC, there are excellent personal friendships and very often romance and marriages., which transcend political preferences. And if you want to examine family bonds, ask the Jinapors, who both perform brilliantly on the two sides of our political divide. Let us build on these strengths! Who are the non-appreciative characters who wish war in Ghana? In this unique nation we do not have tribal or religious conflicts which the Almighty has saved us from. Indeed, this has been fixated in concrete by our boarding school systems over the years. Ashantis and Ewes intermarry plentifully and joyfully more than meets the eye ask J.J. Rawlings and Nana Konadu. Religious differences are treated as mere options and Muslims share homes with Christians. Tell me the country where the Vice-President (a Muslim) reads the Bible in a Church, and the Chief Imam contributes to the building of a Cathedral? Let us build on what we have and dismiss the war-drums beaters! God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. VIENTIANE, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is aiming for a trade surplus of at least 1.55 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, despite the country's economic difficulties triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of exports is projected to reach 7.6 billion U.S. dollars while the value of imports is forecast at 6.05 billion U.S. dollars, according to a recent report from the Prime Minister's Office, quoted by the Vientiane Times on Thursday. To achieve this goal, the government has pledged to boost agricultural production and the processing of goods for export, especially to China, whose markets can now be more easily accessed via the China-Laos railway. The sectors involved have been instructed to help businesses access funding, apply science and technology to production, and help producers to find markets. In recent decades, the government has attempted to increase exports while minimizing imports so as to earn more foreign currency. In 2021, Laos recorded a trade surplus of 1 billion U.S. dollars, with the value of exports amounting to 7 billion U.S. dollars and imports valued at 6 billion U.S. dollars. Laos' main exports come from the mining industry, as well as paper products, wood pulp, garments, rubber, cassava, bananas, and other agricultural products. Meanwhile, the main imports are fuel, vehicles, mechanical equipment, spare parts, steel products, pharmaceuticals, plastic products, electrical appliances, food items, camera equipment and wood products. China has become a key export market for Lao goods, especially agricultural produce, following the opening of the China-Laos railway at the end of 2021. 10.03.2022 LISTEN Mr. Charles Owusu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) has led a team from the Corporation to engage prospective investors at the Dubai Expo 2020. The move forms part of a well-planned investor engagement aimed at wooing investors to invest and support the agenda of creating a more viable petroleum hub in Ghana to meet the demand for petroleum products on the continent. Mr. Owusu, in his address to prospective investors on Saturday, March 5, mentioned that the corporation would manage among other key infrastructures Refineries, Petrochemical Plants, Storage Tanks and Jetties and Ports. He added that the corporation was seeking to facilitate and manage the building and running of a US$60 billion petroleum hub in Jomoro, a municipality in the Western Region of Ghana. Mr Owusu gave a market analysis of petroleum product consumption within the sub-region and said in 2021, the entire sub region consumed petroleum products to a tune of 43 million tones with Nigeria being the major consumer followed by Ghana. This, he said left a huge potential for investors to come in and tap into the demands for petroleum products on the continent. Mr. Owusu stressed Ghanas enviable geographical location, its stride in maintaining high sustainability approach as even adopted and enforced by the corporation to make a strong case for a strategical destination for investments. He also spoke about the countrys economic resilience and growth, its peace and most importantly the ease of doing business as facilitated by dedicated institutions such as Ghana Free Zones, GIPC, among others. Particularly, he said investors of the hub would enjoy stable political environment, easy access to vibrant shipping routes and markets, availability of 20,000-acre land with few environmentally sensitive areas and access to deep water which provides the capacity to accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs). With all the ease of doing business, PHDC also promises incentives such as 100 percent tax exemption on duties and levies, exemption on corporate income tax for 10 years and thereafter will not exceed 15 percent, he stated. He added that there would be a total exception from payment of withholding taxes from dividends arising from the petroleum hub and with no restrictions on repatriation of funds. "Ghana would be the only country in Africa to have such a hub and thus boasting of a ready market throughout Africa even by and through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is headquartered in Ghana. "For Ghana, the hub when developed would give a direct economic boost of US$1.56billion, 780,000 jobs and 70 percent increase in GDP." US officials said in a scathing critique Thursday that poor command, inadequate security and a "climate of complacency" prevented US forces from adequately repulsing a 2020 attack by militants in Kenya that killed three Americans. Multiple US military commanders, speaking after the release of an independent review on findings about the attack on Manda Bay airfield and the attached Camp Simba US base, cited deficiencies and flaws including the negligence of several personnel whose inaction contributed to the vulnerability of the facility in East Africa. Shortly before dawn on January 5, 2020, a disciplined, heavily armed band of 30 to 40 fighters of the Al Shabab extremist group stormed Camp Simba and attacked the airfield at Manda Bay, firing rocket propelled grenades at a vehicle killing its driver, and attacking a taxiing plane and killing two pilots. They fired at least 10 mortars, destroyed seven aircraft, and engaged US forces in an hours-long firefight before they were driven off, US officials said. "We were not as prepared at Manda Bay as we needed to be," US Army General Stephen Townsend, commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), told reporters at the Pentagon. "Poor unity of command" plagued the base, there was "inadequate understanding of the true threat" in the region and to the facility, security at key base locations was lacking, and forces were "insufficiently prepared for their mission," Townsend said. US Air Force Major General Tom Wilcox, who helped lead the investigation of AFRICOM's findings of the attack, said his probe found that some senior officers "allowed a climate of complacency at the facility," intelligence sharing was insufficient, and some senior officers were negligent in their duties. But "while some individuals could and should have done better, the negligence of the individuals identified in the review was not the cause of the losses suffered in the attack," Wilcox added. "For mission command, it was found that flawed operational processes, and inadequate command and control at the tactical level, contributed to the outcome of the attack," he said. The officials said the deadly incident prompted an AFRICOM-wide review and suggested multiple improvements such as expanding training, bolstering physical defenses, improving communications and increasing Kenyan or other local participation in security operations. European Union leaders met on Thursday night at the Chateau de Versailles just outside Paris for the first round in a series of strategic talks about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The gathering - hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron - was convened before the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, ordered his country's forces into Ukraine on 24 February. The offensive swiftly reordered the agenda of the two-day summit and has reconfigured notions of stability throughout the world. After 15 days of fighting amid fears of nuclear strikes, nearly 2 million people have fled the bombardments and devastation in Ukraine for havens in the 27 countries of the European Union as well as Britain. "This isn't a party," France's Europe minister Clement Beaune told France Inter radio before the meetings on Thursday. "We have to be sober during this period." Mission A monotone will be difficult to project amid the lavish surroundings and ornately decorated rooms of Louis XIV's former home. Macron had hoped to exploit the sprawling venue to add a stylish coda to France's six-month presidency of the European Union and burnish his image of an international man of action just before he pursues his campaign for another five-year term as French president. But personal pomp and circumstance have been sacrificed as he and other top politicians struggle to find solutions to stop the bloodshed and deal with the economic fall-out of the conflict such as rising energy and food prices. A draft of the meeting's final declaration states: "Russia's war of aggression constitutes a tectonic shift in European history." Plea As part of that new reality, the leaders are expected to consider the plea of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to fast-track his country's membership of the European Union. However, Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, suggested pursuing such a request could be a distraction. "There is no such thing as a fast-track," warned Rutte. "I think what I want to do is acknowledge that all of us - and the Netherlands has been one of the first - come out with military support. "We collectively have achieved a lot in the area of sanctions but we need to do more potentially. Focus "I want to focus on what we can do for Volodymyr Zelensky tonight, tomorrow and the EU accession of Ukraine is something for the long term - if at all. It could take months, maybe years." A source close to the French presidency said: "Our first priority is to send a political message to Ukraine that it belongs to the European family." However, diplomats say the main topic in Versailles will be thrashing out a united front on how to wean the bloc off energy supplies from Russia. Any change is likely to take years to implement. The EU imports about 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia with Germany, Europe's biggest economy, especially dependent on the energy flow, along with Italy and several central European countries. About a quarter of the EU's oil imports also come from Russia. Loading packed fertilisers at Russiaamp;39;s PhosAgro Group in the town of Pochep. - Source: Photo by Vladimir GorovykhTASS via Getty Images 11.03.2022 LISTEN Russia is one of the major players in global agricultural markets. The country is a significant exporter of grains , and also integrated into global agriculture as a supplier of inputs, particularly fertiliser . The country is a leading world supplier of the key ingredients of a range of them. It's therefore important to keep track of the impact of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine on various transmission channels, and the knock on effects they could have on Africa's agricultural markets. So far the focus has been on the supply and price of grains and oilseeds. The war presents upside risks to both because Russia and the Ukraine make significant contributions to global exports of wheat, maize and sunflower oil. Read more: How Russia-Ukraine conflict could influence Africa's food supplies There are also risks for countries that export to Russia. Globally the country is the 13th largest agricultural products importer in value terms. The key products Russia imports include citrus, cheese, bananas, wines, soybeans, apples, pears, beef and palm oil. These are mainly sourced from a range of countries such as Belarus, Turkey, Brazil, Germany, China, Ecuador, Italy, Indonesia, France and Germany. In the case of South Africa, Russia accounted for 7% of its citrus exports in value terms in 2020. And it's South Africa's second-largest market for apple and pear exports. But there's a great deal more at play. Russia is the world's leading exporter of fertiliser materials in value terms , followed by China, Canada, the US, Morocco and Belarus. These fertiliser mixtures include minerals or chemicals ranging from nitrogen to phosphourous and potassium. Fertiliser constitutes a significant share in the growth of agricultural commodities and crops across the world, and also substantial share of input costs. In South Africa, fertilisers account for about 35% of grain farmers' input costs in South Africa . As with the grains and oilseeds market, the actual disruption of export activity is yet to unfold. But the extensive sanctions that Western countries have imposed on Moscow, including the agreement to exclude some Russian banks from some global payment systems such as SWIFT , could negatively affect Russia's trading activities. This disruption could push fertiliser prices even higher than the spike experienced in the past 18 months. In some cases, for example in ammonia, prices rose by 260% between December 2020 and December 2021 . This meant that farmers had to absorb substantial costs for the 2021/2022 crop across the world. The generally higher commodity prices, specifically grains and oilseeds, provided financial flexibility to absorb some of these costs, but not fully. The Russia-Ukraine war will now be an added upside risk on prices for farmers. For consumers, the knock on effects will typically be through the size of the final harvest of the crop. Farmers are price takers, and might therefore not necessarily pass on the input costs to consumers. Fertiliser price dynamics Fertiliser prices increased sharply in 2021 and remained elevated this year. For instance, in January 2022, the international prices of a range of key fertiliser ingredients shot through the roof. Since January 2021 the price of ammonia has gone up by 220%, urea by 148%, di-ammonium phosphate by 90%, and potassium chloride by 198%. A range of factors have been behind these sharp input cost increases. These include supply constraints in critical fertiliser-producing countries such as China, India, the US, Russia and Canada. Rising shipping costs, and high oil and gas prices have also been contributing factors, along with firmer global demand from agriculture produces. The Russia-Ukraine conflict will add to these price pressures, particularly if Russia's exports suffer as a result of the war and sanctions. The primary markets for Russia's fertiliser material are Brazil, Estonia, China, India, the US, Finland, Mexico, Poland, Romania, and Latvia . Even countries with small direct fertiliser imports from Russia, such as South Africa Russia's 36th largest fertiliser materials market will feel the price pressures. This week the US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said it was too early to know if the war in Ukraine would disrupt international fertiliser trade. But he warned companies against taking unfair advantage of the current circumstances by artificially inflating prices. Africa's fertiliser usage Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are small consumers of fertiliser compared with other regions of the world. Consumption is estimated at 19,9 kilograms of nutrients per hectare of cropland , which is well below the 128,7 kilograms of nutrients per hectare of cropland in developed countries such as the US . This low use of fertiliser has partly contributed to generally lower agricultural productivity in the region. There are numerous reasons for this low use of fertiliser, including affordability issues for the continent's smallholder farmers. The current prices levels have exacerbated the problem. This could keep productivity levels low for the foreseeable future. But the picture isn't uniform. Countries such as South Africa are major fertiliser users , with an average of 72,8 kilograms of nutrients per hectare of cropland compared to the regional average of 19,9 kilograms. Zambia is also an important fertiliser user, consuming 52,5 kilograms of nutrients per hectare. Kenya and Nigeria are smaller fertiliser consumers. Consumption for both is less than 30 kilograms of nutrients per hectare. The major regional users also import substantial volumes of their annual consumption . The longer view It has often been argued that Africa needs to improve its agricultural productivity to improve its food security. But for this to happen there needs to be a financially conducive production environment. As things stand, the cost of inputs like fertiliser don't augur well for the realisation of improved agricultural productivity on the continent. This is a global challenge for all farmers, and unfortunately, the ultimate crop yields that farmers harvest is dependent on the use of fertilisers. A reduction in fertiliser use, and the resulting negative impact on yields, has implications for the consumers across the world, particularly in poor countries where agriculture constitutes a significant share of the economy. Wandile Sihlobo is the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC). By Wandile Sihlobo, Senior Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics, Stellenbosch University If Ghanaians will turn back the clock to the time they declared the economy hopeless, John Mahama incompetent, and the NDC corrupt, they will like it better than todays hell of government under Nana Akufo Addo and Kwasi Anin-Yeboah because both the Chief Justice and the President were born to destroy Ghana. When persuasion fails, force is always applied by corrupt politicians, therefore, the so-called Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who is being haunted by 5 million dollars bribe scandal thinks, since the E-Levy has been rejected by the common Ghanaians, he will abuse his power to force it on them. Let me tell me you Kwasi Anin-Yeboah if Ghana is a good country or developed, you should have been removed as the Chief Justice a long time ago because your continuous service to Ghana tarnishes the image of the country, however, it fits you because your master, Akufo Addo, holds the master key of corruption. Together with the president, Nana Akufo Addo, before taking office, both of you swore an oath to protect and defend Ghanaians. If that mighty invincible God loves you or Akufo Addo, the NPP government wouldnt be on its knees begging the poor Ghanaians to accept that fraudulent E-Levy. Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, the most corrupt and incompetent Chief Justice in the political history of Ghana It baffles me so much that after collaborating with the Electoral Commission boss, Jean Mensah to deny Mahama and the NDC justice, you are still adding shame to the already infinite corruption case that follows you everywhere like a curse. Since appointed by Akufo Addo, you have continued to rob the joy, happiness, and justice of the common people. Today, almost everyone in Ghana has lost confidence in you. Anin-Yeboah has failed in everything as a Chief Justice; therefore, you have already lost your respect to the majority of Ghanaians. I am telling you the fact because you know I dont fear you, just as I dont fear your master Nana Akufo Addo. Both of you came on the political scene under the NPP government to steal, take bribes, abuse office, suppress information, deny people justice, and arrest critics against Akufo Addo, to put them behind bars. I am not afraid to tell you this and certainly, you know that Joel Savage is not one of the people you can add his name to the list of people Nana Akufo Addo wants the Security to arrest at the Kotoka International Airport. How I wish you can underestimate me and try it. Today, you have got back the favor as CHRAJ refuses to investigate the alleged bribe case involving the 5 million dollars bribe you received. You have denied receiving any bribe but the question on the lips of the intelligent ones is why President Nana Akufo Addo dismissed a petition to impeach the Chief Justice? Under your corrupt judiciary system, you and Akufo Addo keep destroying Ghana, yet you dont want anyone to talk about what is affecting our country. It seems you havent seen all the stolen monies, including the COVID funds by the NPP government to retrieve them. You have also failed to ask your master why Ghana is in huge debt, yet the country is broke without accountability; however, you are abusing your office as Chief Justice to force this fraudulent E-Levy as a means of taxation in Ghana for a loan. Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, you and Madam Jean Mensah, are responsible for todays economic and political crises in Ghana. Yet, you havent learned any lesson to change your criminal actions affecting the country and the people. This common writer was once a taxi and tro-tro driver in both Accra and Cape Coast, yet I strongly believe that I am more intelligent than many of the NPP politicians. When Akufo Addo became president, I saw earlier that Ghana will be in trouble over the way he was handling the countrys affairs. When I started to criticize every mistake he was doing to stop, my only reward is insults and attacks, spreading to both my mother and father. How can any intelligent president and his Vice-President who claims he knows Economics' print new high currencies and add to an already troubled economy or market? That is also part of the reason the economy has collapsed because the new 100 and 200 denominations shouldnt have been printed at all. Meanwhile, corruption has increased rapidly that it came as a shock to Ghanaians when Eugene Arhins wife came to expose him. Then later, the couple wants to convince Ghanaians that it was a mistake from his wife. The more I wrote criticizing Akufo Addo, begging Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to persuade Akufo Addo to take over the uncompleted project left by the NDC government because of the love I have for my country, the more I was attacked. I never knew there are such fools living in both Ghana and the Diaspora. I can remember one of my articles entitled Akufo Addo Had Thought Being President In Ghana Is Very Easy, in which I indicated that the president doesnt seem to know that the economy of a good country thrives on hard work and an effective judiciary. Today, look at the horrible state of Ghana. Akufo Addo wants an easy life to enjoy his corruption, thus; he appointed his relative Ken Ofori-Atta as the Finance Minister and also appointed Kwasi Anin-Yeboah as the Chief Justice, after his relative Gloria Akuffo. Thats why he has failed as a leader today. Easy come, easy it will go. Ghanaians want an honest and effective Chief Justice but not someone to promote and force fraudulent E-Levy on people. Akufo Akufo has lied to Ghanaians right from the time he became president till today. The one to protect the public's purse is now a super corrupt president and he that promised to cut taxes has rather piled up taxes on the heads of the poor people. The time youll realize the harm you have done to yourself, Anin-Yeboah, that is when the NPP government is no more in power. Keep on doing the dirty works for Akufo Addo by arresting critics against him and if anything happens to Oliver Barker-Vormayor, that day you will understand the law better. You don't even have any idea that foreign countries and diplomats secretly monitor whatever is taking place in Ghana. Have you ever thought about why many foreign diplomats know what is happening in Ghana more than the Ghanaians? Your time is very close Kwasi Anin-Yeboah because the next government in power after 2024 will never accept such a corrupt dishonest person like you as Chief Justice. You deserve to face justice and when found guilty to pay for your crimes together with other prisoners at Nsawam. You are a bad man, together with Akufo Addo, the blood of those people you murdered during the elections will ever remain indelible in your hands. 11.03.2022 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama has said if a Deputy Speaker can vote while presiding over proceedings in Parliament, then he could as well be able to participate in any debate in the chamber. The 2020 Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a post on his Twitter page on Thursday, March 10, 2020, described the ruling of the Supreme Court that a Deputy Speaker can vote when sitting in for the main Speaker of the house as shocking. Mr Mahama stressed that the decision from the apex court is setting a bad precedent and will lead the country into absurdity. A unanimous 7-0? Shocking but not surprising. An unfortunate interpretation for convenience that sets a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future, a post on the Twitter page of the former President said. In another post, John Dramani Mahama said, If Deputy Speakers, because they are Members of Parliament, can vote while presiding as Speaker, they could as well be able to participate in any debate on the floor over which they are presiding. This is the absurdity into which the Supreme Court ruling leads us. 11.03.2022 LISTEN An 8-year-old girl has been reported dead after a robbery by a gang that attacked a bus heading to Yeji at Woraso in the Ashanti Region. Per the information gathered, the robbery attack was staged on the dawn of Thursday, March 10, 2022. According to an eyewitness, Fatawu Bonu, the robbers are Fulani extraction. Speaking to TV3 News, he accounted that the robbers blocked the Ejura-Mampong road at Woraso and looked like Police when his bus was approaching from afar. They wielded assault rifles and flashed a light that I should stop. At first, I thought they were Police until I got closer then I realised they are Fulani guys. They took my 500 and asked me to lie down," Fatawu Bonu narrated. Another victim, Derrick Opare revealed that the robbers shot sporadically into his bus before getting on board to rob the passengers. Later after the robbers had left, the driver and the passengers who had been stunned realised that the 8-year-old girl was hit by a bullet. ..It was after they had escaped with their booty that they realised an 8-year-old girl, Bridget Wuogo had been shot in the head. She died on the spot," Derrick Opare who was driving the Yeji bound bus said. The Police are currently on the hunt for the robbers to bring them to book to face the full force of the law. Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, the Member of Parliament for Keta constituency has said the Minority side of the House will not cooperate with the Majority in Parliament any longer. According to him, the Majority in Parliament is resorting to all means to push the controversial e-levy down the throat of Ghanaians yet pretending to preach consensus building. Speaking at a media engagement on Thursday, March 10, 2022, he stated, "We are 137 at peace, what are their cries? Let them bring whatever bill we should deal with. If they bring something that will not benefit our people, we will continue to reject it." Mr Gakpey accused the NPP government of using the Supreme Court to remove the embattled Assin South Member of Parliament Mr James Gyakye Quayson. "They just want to suppress our numbers for them to have their ways but that will not be easy for them because we are fully ready for them," he stated. According to the Keta MP, he cannot fathom the recent ruling by the Supreme Court to allow Deputy Speakers the right to vote whiles presiding over House. "Supreme court should stop putting noses into our cases," he intimated. The lawmaker added," how can a referee of a match be from one of the teams he is officiating for, could he not be a bias referee?" He noted that the minority in the interest of Ghanaians has been too cooperative and friendly in the current hung Parliament for the business of government to move smoothly however, the NPP side has taken them for granted. For this reason, he said the Minority in Parliament will no more cooperate with their counterparts on the other side of the House. The Founder and President of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho has called for the immediate removal of Johnson Asiedu Nketia from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and stripped him of his position on the Parliamentary Service Board. This is contained in a post by the former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC condemning some utterances of the NDC scribe. Johnson Asiedu Nketia last month reportedly said the First Deputy Speaker in Parliament Joe Osei Owusu should be given slaps if he decides to cast a vote while presiding over the house in the absence of the main Speaker. So long as impunity will not stop, resistance has been imposed on us as a duty. If a Deputy Speaker decides to vote and at the same time play the role in a referee, if slapping him will make him do the right thing, dont hesitate, he directed the comments to the partys representatives in Parliament, Asiedu Nketia said while addressing the Ashanti Regional Youth Wing of the NDC. In a post on his Twitter page, Koku Anyidoho has accused the NDC General Secretary of displaying anti-party behaviour. According to him, Johnson Asiedu Nketia must be sacked from the Parliamentary Service Board as well as the NDC party. This man is a member of the Parliamentary Services Board, & he is advocating for the slapping of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament? He must immediately be sacked from the PSB! This is gross anti-party conduct & against the constitution of the NDC. He must be sacked from the NDC, Koku Anyidohos post on Twitter reads. 11.03.2022 LISTEN The Founder and President of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho has warned the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia not to dare to contest for the chairmanship position of the party. In a series of posts on his Twitter page on Friday, March 11, 2022, Mr. Anyidoho accused the NDC scribe of displaying gross anti-party behaviour over his comments when he reportedly called for the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu to be given slaps if he (Joewise) attempts to vote whiles presiding over the House. In addition to calling for the sacking of Asiedu Nketia, Koku Anyidoho has warned the NDC General Secretary not to dare attempt to contest for the chairman position in the party in the soon-to-be-held elections. Where in the constitution of the NDC is it enshrined that the General Secretary can preach violence? Asiedu-Nketiah should NOT dare contest for National Chairman of NDC! He has succeeded in destroying the image of the NDC up to this point: he shall succeed no more! Asiedu-Nketiah is a spent force bereft of ideas, Koku Anyidoho further posted on his Twitter page. NEW DELHI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government on Friday dismissed a recent study claiming that COVID-19 mortality in India is undercounted as "speculative and misinformed." The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, suggested that 4.07 million people in India are estimated to have died during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, eight times higher than the official number. The health ministry said in a statement that the data sources used by this study appears to have been taken from newspaper reports and non-peer-reviewed studies, questioning the accuracy of the results. The health ministry said the reporting of deaths in India was regularly done in a transparent manner. It is daily updated in the public domain on the official website. "Furthermore, there is a financial incentive in India to report COVID-19 deaths as they are entitled to monetary compensation. Hence, the likelihood of underreporting is less," the statement said. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is calling for stiffer punishment for persons who are caught engaging in LGBTQ + activities. The call was made when the church, led by its representative, presented its memorandum at the public hearing on the private member's bill known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values by the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament on Thursday, 10 March 2022. Presenting the memorandum before the committee, the Director of Ecumenical and Social Relations of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Nii Amarh Ashitey, said the punishment prescribed in the Anti-LGBTQ + Bill currently before parliament must be deterrent enough. The church proposed a three-year minimum jail term for persons who engage in LGBTQ+ activities. He said: As Christians, we believe in mercy and forgiveness but we equally believe that punishments are meant as deterrents not only for the offender but also for people who harbour similar intent. This bill is essentially to control social order and norms that the punishment prescribed must be deterrent enough He continued: It is the considered opinion of PCG that any offence committed under the bill should not attract an equivalent jail term of less than three years. We find that the needs of the law on Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values have emerged from the inadequacy of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29). This law that hopes to come out after this bill has been passed, is needed to deter unacceptable behaviours that are injurious to the common good of society. According to the church, the ordinary Ghanaian believes a human being is either a man or a woman and that men marry women and vice-versa, theres no alternative to this arrangement Rev Ashitey added: We shall be preserving our religious and moral values, as enshrined in both our cultural and religious affiliations, stressing, there is a need for a stiffer punishment regime to deter offenders and other persons who are harbouring such thoughts from pursuing their intents but seek support from appropriate agencies to help them out. He further noted: The law must be intentional and specific on how to deal with foreign diplomats who are found promoting such behaviours within the borders of Ghana, adding that we also believe the grace of God is abundant for those who will repent and have their minds renewed, however, we cannot continue to sin when this grace is abounding The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 seeks to make illegal LGBTQ + related activities in the country. Source: Classfmonline.com Freedom Coin says the press release by the Bank of Ghana concerning Freedom Coin on Wednesday 9th March 2020 is premature on their part. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) cautioned the general public that it has not approved any firm to trade in a cryptocurrency called Freedom Coin. In a press release issued by the central bank earlier in the week, it says it has learned of the impending launch of the supposed cryptocurrency. The public is advised to be wary and note that the company behind Freedom Coin is not licensed to operate in the banking and payment system. It has come to the attention of Bank of Ghana that there is an impending launch of a cryptocurrency named Freedom Coin. The public is hereby cautioned that neither this cryptocurrency nor the promoting company has approval from Bank of Ghana to operate in the banking and payment sector, parts of a release issued by BoG and signed by its Secretary Sandra Thompson reads. It adds, Bank of Ghana advises the general public to exercise caution in respect of cryptocurrency transactions. In reaction, Gideon Williams, the Media Relations Officer in a statement said Freedom Coin as a cryptocurrency is not a fraudulent venture. He indicated that the speed with which the BoG statement was made has created the impression that Freedom Coin is pondzi scheme. "We did not need the approval of the Bank of Ghana for our announcement," he stated. Below is the full press release: Attn: All Media Houses The Financial Community, The Ghanaian Public, and Africa. We have become aware of the public notice, issued by the Bank Of Ghana concerning Freedom Coin on Wednesday, 9th March 2022. While we understand it is the duty of the central bank of Ghana to take the necessary steps to prevent individuals or groups in the country from creating financial instruments that could threaten the economic situation of the country. we tind the message to be premature on their part. Freedom Coin was announced at the Black Star Square on Ghana's Independence Day, 6th March 2022, However, there were no specifics given about what the product was going to be and how it would fit within the current financial system, The only mentions of Freedom Coin as a cryptocurrency were speculations by the media. While we acknowledge the central bank's desire to preempt the potential for fraudulent activity, the speed with which the statement was made, has created the impression that they are aware Of nefarious activities from Freedom Coin and that is categorically false. We did not need the approval of the Bank of Ghana for our announcement, Freedom Coin would have answered all BOG questions if they had reached out for an official inquiry, They did not. We understand their apprehension, due to the existential challenges that a centralised system has with a decentralised system. We have specific plans to send out information to the general public in the coming days, weeks and months about the full scope of Freedom Coin. We know the statement has cast doubt in the minds of people and we understand this sentiment We want to implore you to exercise patience and make a decision for yourself once more details become public, To those who have continued to show their support, thank you. Your sincere anticipation of Freedom Coin will not be in vain. Gideon Williams Media Relations, Freedom Coin Email: [email protected] A man identified as Isaac Mensah has been shot dead over a land dispute at Awutu Papaase number one near Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East District of the Central Region. According to information gathered, the deceased was shot by the suspects in the waist before he was subsequently stabbed in the stomach. Following preliminary Police investigations, four suspects have been arrested by the Ofaakor District Police Command. Confirming the arrest of the suspects, DSP Samuel Amfoh who is Awutu Ofaakor District Police Commander noted that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Hospital. The land dispute in question per checks is between the people of Ngleshie Amanfrom, Bawjiase, and Ofaakor. The brother of the arrested suspects, Nii Armah has denied the allegations levelled by the chiefs of Awutu Papaase that his brother is part of those who killed the 37-year-old man. The Ofaakor District Police Command is engaging the suspects to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure the killers of Isaac Mensah are punished. 11.03.2022 LISTEN Some traders in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti region have pledged their support for the candidature of Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah also known as COKA to unseat the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako also known as Chairman Wontumi. The market women on Thursday, March 10, 2022 declared their intention to pick nomination forms for COKA who is currently the Constituency Chairman for Afigya Kwabre South Chairman. The traders said they have contributed money and are prepared to pick and pay for the nomination forms for the regional Chairman hopeful. Some of them who spoke to the media after Chairman "COKA" visited them expressed disappointment in Chairman Wontumi for neglecting them after they supported him (Wontumi) to win the chairmanship position. Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Adwenehemaa, Nana Ama Twenewaa popularly called Nana Sakina said the three-term of Chairman Wontumi is enough and he should step aside for a new preferred party member to lead the party in the region to help break the eight-year term jinx. She noted that Chairman Wontumi is not a contractor but has allegedly been awarded several contracts many of which have been abandoned, giving a bad name to the party in the region. Nana Sakina said the traders have lost confidence in Wontumi's ability to lead the party to win more votes in the region to help break the eight-year term jinx in the 2024 general elections. She was confident that due to what Chairman COKA has exhibited, he can lead the party to canvass for more votes to help the party break the eight. ---Classfmonline Several dozen people have been killed in a spasm of intercommunal violence in a disputed area on the South Sudan-Sudan border, the UN's emergency response agency OCHA and a local official said Wednesday. OCHA said the fighting in the oil-rich Abyei area had left 36 people killed as of March 6, with an unknown number injured and reportedly 50,000 displaced. "Intercommunal tensions increased in recent weeks in the Abyei Administrative Area (AAA), allegedly driven by longstanding territorial disputes, inter-tribal tensions and revenge seeking," the agency said in a statement. It said the fighting had been continuing since February 10 but intensified in early March, adding that humanitarian operations in the affected areas were suspended and aid workers relocated to safety. Abyei has been contested since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, although there have long been tensions between the Ngok Dinka community and Misseriya herders who cross the area looking for grazing. Abyei Administrative Area spokesman Ajak Deng said two deadly attacks at the weekend were carried out by Misseriya herders and members of the Sudan Armed Forces armed with heavy weapons. He said six people were killed on Saturday and another 27 on Sunday, adding that the situation remained tense and people were still living in fear. The US embassies in Juba and Khartoum issued a joint statement voicing their "great concern" at the escalation of violence in the area. "We call on all sides to cease reprisals and return to dialogue," they said. Abyei has been under UN protection since South Sudan's independence, and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) deployed there also voiced its concern at the bloodshed. "This has led to the loss of life and is causing untold humanitarian suffering on the people as well as reversing gains made towards achieving peaceful coexistence in Abyei," UNISFA said in a statement on Tuesday. Since the 1990s, the Washington and Kiev have cooperated in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and fighting the spread of dangerous diseases. However, since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a group of allegedly US-funded laboratories have become the target of stepped-up and relentless conspiracy theories which the US is finding hard to debunk. Did the US build a cluster of shady, top- secret biolabs in Ukraine aimed at developing bioweapons that are equipped with agressive strains of anthrax or the plague, as Russian propagada claims? Or are these theories just part of a false flag operation to cover up possible plans by the Russian army, to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, as White House press secretary Jen Psaki, wrote on Twitter? A clue may be found on the website of the US Embassy in Kyiv. Buried on the site is a page which highlights the mission's Defense Threat Reduction Office (DTRO.) The DTRO answers to the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which, its website reads, has its origins in the notorious 1942-1947 Manhattan Project that gave birth to world's first atomic bomb. But today the agency and its offices is not about making apocalypse-creating bombs, but rather preventing the spread of them. In Ukraine, the DTRO runs four programs. One of them now sits at the heart of the current propaganda war between Russia and the US. The program in question is the Biological Threat Reduction Program. The Department of Defense's role The Kyiv embassy's page describing the program explains that it "collaborates with partner countries to counter the threat of outbreaks (deliberate, accidental, or natural) of the world's most dangerous infectious diseases." In a list of 15 downloadable PDF documents, the embassy gives detailed information about 12 different laboratories and institutions which have, or are in the process of obtaining, a "permit to work with (non-specified) pathogens." Funds for most of the labs cites the US Ministry of Defense as "donor," according to the documents. Recipients include the Ukraine's Ministry of Health (8 cases) and the Ukraine State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service (4 cases). The labs are located in Zakarpartska, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Lviv, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. 12 biolabs, $21 million investment In all cases, according to the documents, the head contractor is the Kansas-based company Black & Veatch. According to early reporting by CNBC, the Ukraine program is "meant to make the world a safer place," with Black & Veatch helping to "enhance the partner nation's sustainable capacity to detect, diagnose, report, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks." The twelve labs mentioned in the documents were all created between 2009 and 2012. The program is an offspring of the 1991 Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act: The act was desiged to "reduce the risk of bioterrorism and prevent the proliferation of biological weapons (BW) technology, expertise, and extremely dangerous pathogens" in former Soviet states." It also built on the 2005 Agreement between the US and Ukraine on weapons proliferation, signed by representatives of the US Department of Defense and the Ukranian Ministry of Health. In the end, Black & Veatch were awarded all contracts for labs mentioned by the US Kyiv website. The total investment of the twelve facilities mentioned amounts to $21,3 million (18 million). In 2010, the company also completed Ukraine's first Bio-Safety Level 3 laboratory under a contract with the DTRA in Odessa. This was not mentioned on the US embassy's website. 'Deadly pathogens' From the beginning, the labs attracted suspicion and comments from Moscow, culminating in an article in Russian daily Izvestia published on 26 May 2020, which mentions "eight laboratories [that] were built and modernized with the participation of the US Defense Special Weapons Agency (DTRA) as part of the Special Biological Engagement Program between 2005 and 2014 and which provided "assistance to Ukraine in preventing the spread of ... pathogens." The article followed charges by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, on 17 April 2020, that "the United States may be developing deadly pathogens" in its "overseas laboratories," adding that "the United States is trying to strengthen its biological presence, including in the post-Soviet space." Russia's invasion On 26 February, two days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Bulgarian journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva tweeted that she had found out that the 15 links to pdf documents describing the Ukranian biolabs "were just deleted" from the website of Washington's embassy in Kyiv. At the time, RFI found that the documents had indeed disappeared from the US embassy website, but that they were still available via de internet archive Wayback Machine. But the unexplained disappearance of the documents triggered an avalanche of conspiracy theories on twitter and qAnon related websites trying to prove that the Russian invasion was, in fact, aimed at destroying the US-funded labs with elaborate maps comparing Russian artillery attacks with the location of the labs. 'Conceal any traces' On 6 March, Moscow's propaganda machine itself went into overdrive. Russian news agency Tass carried a report that Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov "revealed evidence of a US-financed military biological program developed in Ukraine," adding that the "Kiev regime" had applied "hasty measures" to "conceal any traces" of the program. Press agency Ria produced a set of documents "proving" the allegations. One day later, on 7 March, Russia's state controlled media outlet Ria Novosti quoted Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense of the Armed Forces as saying that "the Russian military has discovered 30 biolaboratories in Ukraine producing, possibly, bioweapons." The next day, Chinese government spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during a regular press conference on 8 March, without offering any further evidence that " ... US biological labs in Ukraine have indeed attracted much attention. According to reports, a large quantity of dangerous viruses are stored in these facilities. Russia has found during its military operations that the US uses these facilities to conduct bio-military plans." Zhao added that "according to data released by the US, it has 26 bio-labs and other related facilities in Ukraine, over which the US Department of Defense has absolute control." 'Quite concerned' The US initially tried to play down the rumors, but was in the end forced to react. during a Senate hearing on 8 March. The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland confirmed that Ukraine "has biological research facilities," which, the US is "now quite concerned Russian forces may be seeking to gain control of, so we are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach". On 9 March, White House Press Secretary Jan Psaki tweeted that the US "took note of Russia's false claims about alleged U.S. biological weapons labs and chemical weapons development in Ukraine," adding that "we've also seen Chinese officials echo these conspiracy theories," calling the allegations "preposterous" and shooting back that they form "the kind of disinformation operation we've seen repeatedly from the Russians over the years,". It added that Russia itself "has a long and well-documented track record of using chemical weapons, including in attempted assassinations and poisoning of Putin's political enemies like Alexey Navalny." On 10 March, the 15 links to the documents on the US Kyiv embassy website started working once again, clumsily coinciding with a US State Department statement which insisted that the US "does not own or operate any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine." This may may be factually true, as the US Department of Defense functioned as "donor" for the millions for the biolabs which are currently all operated by Ukrainian entities, according to the documents. But whatever the status of the biolabs, the war of words over them has no winner yet. "The labs were developing biological weapons, and the most dangerous pathogens were destroyed to prevent violations of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention by Ukraine and the United States from being exposed," according to Moscow's Interfax News Agency. "I have no doubt about it," added Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference in Istanbul on 10 March. "We asked details and wait for answers." It is now up to the Americans to provide more transparency on the project. On Thursday, the accused Ali El Haddad Asufi was questioned by the special criminal court about his possible involvement in helping the November 2015 Paris killers to obtain the kalashnikov machine guns used in the attacks. Asufi admits that he made two trips to Holland in October 2015, but says he went to buy drugs, not weapons. Ali El Haddad Asufi is not very convincing. Neither is the evidence against him. "I never bought a kalashnikov in my life," he assured the Paris court on Thursday. "You are not accused of buying anything," the court president, Jean-Louis Peries reminded him. "You are suspected of having helped in the search for weapons." If found guilty, Ali El Haddad Asufi risks 20 years in jail. He is 37 years old. Kalashnikov machine guns The Belgian police investigation has never identified the source of the kalashnikov machine guns used by the cafe terrace and Bataclan killers on the night of 13 November 2015. Earlier this week, a Dutch witness, supposed to be an "international arms dealer" laughed at the reputation accorded him by the investigators. His police record mentions a brawl in a bar, 30 years ago. He once owned a starting pistol. He never met Ali El Haddad Asufi, had to look him up on Google to find out who he was. Asufi didn't know the witness either. The "arms dealer's" evidence before the Paris court lasted 20 minutes, and that includes the time involved in translating between Dutch and French. Ali El Haddad Asufi admits to a long-term friendship with Mohamed Bakkali and Yassine Atar, two of the co-accused in this trial. He was also friendly with Ibrahim El Bakraoui, suspected of helping to organise the Paris massacres, and who blew himself up in the 2016 terrorist attack at Zaventem airport near Brussels. Of Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the witness memorably remarked that, given his friend's background, "he hardly needed me to help him find weapons". Bakraoui was arrested in 2010 after firing a kalashnikov at police officers during a failed bank robbery. Trips to Holland Ali El Haddad Asufi admits having made two trips to Holland in October 2015. On 7 October he travelled to Amsterdam: "I don't think I had any particular reason," he said. The 28 October trip to Rotterdam "was probably for drugs". Asufi was weak on details. The quantities of cannabis involved, the price, even the identity of the friend who accompanied him, all remain vague. Questioned on his forgetfulness by one of his own defence lawyers, the accused had a well-rehearsed response: "Of course I don't remember. We're talking about things that happened seven years ago. Things that were completely ordinary." And the question of the "Clios", the codename for the object of the Rotterdam trip, evoked earlier this week, came up again. The "Clios" might have been prostitutes or weapons. They certainly were not the Renault cars of the same name. The defence had a suggestion. "Clio", the court was told, is a phonetic anagram for "kilo", the basic unit in drug transactions. The trial continues. 11.03.2022 LISTEN THE Green Ghana Day trees planted last year to conserve forests have come under threat in Bono Region, as large herds of cattle invade the forests and grazed on the young trees. According to the Forestry Commission, about 2,000 cattle have been counted in four reserves in the region including Tain I, Tain II, Sorsor, Nsembre, and Yaya, expanding three districts: Berekum, Wenchi, and Sunyani West districts, otherwise referred to as Sunyani Forest District. To prevent further destruction to the young trees, the Forestry Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Form Ghana a private afforestation organisation, and the Berekum Traditional Council have decided to flush out the cattle using military personnel. At a press conference in Berekum, a few days ago to announce the commencement of the operation, the chief of Berekum, Nana Dr. Didwuo Amankona II, issued the last warning to cattle owners and their herdsmen to quickly move the animals out of the forest or face the wrath of personnel deployed for the 'Operation Shoot To Kill' about to begin. According to the Omanhene, the only option left to protect the seedlings (forest), that government expended so much on, is to shoot and kill the animals if owners fail to drive them away willingly as advised by stakeholders. Several meetings were held with the owners to take the animals out of the forest but all to no avail. The animals are also destroying crops such as maize, plantain, cocoyam, and the herdsmen, several times tried to rape our female farmers on their farms, he said. The Sunyani Forestry District Manager, Francis Brobbey, praised the stakeholders for the efforts to protect the reserves. The operation is mandated by law and anybody whose animals may be killed cannot hold any individual or institution responsible, he stressed. ---DGN online THE INVASION of Ukraine seems to have shocked the whole world and that is very strange because Russia started building its troops along the Ukraine border since November, 2021 and thanks to modern communications, the warning was loud enough. When Nazi Germany invaded Poland on 1st September, 1939, which was generally considered the beginning of the World War II, many nations got to know about the invasion when it was all over on 6th October, 1939 thirty-five days later. Modern communications have changed the whole world and revealed its deceit and hypocrisy. The USA lied about Iraq for developing weapons of mass destruction and consequently attacked Iraq and destroyed many of its infrastructure whilst the rest of the world looked on sheepishly. At the end of the war, not a single factory was found manufacturing weapons of mass destruction and the capture of Saddam Hussein ironically seemed to have been the only victory won. The hypocritical nature of our world and the selfish interests of the super powers have always been the bane of economic difficulties of many poor nations and yet they pretend to care for them. In spite of the vociferous support Ukraine has received, not a single nation has sent troops to show their solidarity and Ukraine is fighting this battle alone. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR- was made up of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine) and other republics such as Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The USSR was the largest country in the world and Ukraine with its capital Kiev was the most important Republic of the USSR. The union was dissolved in 1991 and many of the States, Byelorussia, Tashkent, Ukraine etc., became independent republics. The break-up of the federation was a very painful one for Russia because she lost some of its military and economic power such as oil, gas, defense industries, food productions and many others. Russia would have wished to have some controls over the freed republics but many of them started enjoying their newly won freedom and charting a new course for their countries to the detriment of Russian interests. The behavior of the freed republics earned them Moscow's displeasure and Ukraine became the biggest target because of its resources and potential. Ukraine was the most important and powerful of the fifteen Soviet republics and geographically its position has strategic concerns for Russia. Unfortunately, the stance of the current Ukraine President has aggravated the rift between the two countries because during the era of the Ukraine's Russian friendly leader, Viktor Yanukovych, some cordial relations existed. The relations however, turned sour when he was driven out of office by a popular uprising. Russia showed her anger by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and backing of a separatist insurgency movement in eastern Ukraine where fighting is still ongoing. Since 2014, the relationship has not been cordial and seems to have worsened with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's determination to join NATO. Many have equated the invasion of Ukraine to the abortive invasion of Cuba by the USA which took place at the height of the Cold War in April, 1961 at the Bay of Pigs. Whether this is a fair comparison or not the lessons learnt from the failed invasion highlighted the strategic concerns and sensitivity among the super powers regarding the geographical deployment of offensive weapons. The desire of the current leadership of Ukraine to join NATO is compared to the Cuban crisis because Moscow will not sit down for NATO to be established at its door steps. There are other reasons though, but none is too crucial than the NATO issue. In my opinion, it is a suicide mission because Russia cannot win this war no matter how powerful her military forces. She will succeed in destroying many cities, towns and villages thus winning the battles and not the WAR. To go nuclear, is out of the question because Ukraine is too close to Russia and the nuclear fallouts will seriously affect Russia as well and draw the wrath of the Western World, and therefore it will remain a conventional war. Warfare has changed dramatically since World War II as a result of scientific development in communications, electronics and weaponry especially, the ease of using some equipment such as missiles. During the World War II, a tank was seen as an indestructible weapon but today, a hand held rocket launcher is enough to destroy it in matter of seconds. The forty kilometer stretch of tanks (about 2,000 tanks calculated on 20 meters between two tanks) are 'sitting ducks' to Ukrainian freedom fighters. I believe the display of military hardware are meant psychologically to put fear into Ukrainians because a similar display of armament by the Arab countries during the 'Six Days' war could not defeat Israel. Another crucial factor in every warfare is the will of the people to fight. Israel has been able to withstand the might of Arab armies. The Russians were defeated in Afghanistan and the might of the USA could not match the determination of the Afghan people (Taliban's) and the US hurriedly had to run away from that place in a very embarrassing situation leaving their military hardware behind. Ukraine has been one of the socialist republics of the defunct USSR and knows the strength and weaknesses of the Russian Armed Forces and can plan and prepare to resist them. They have been prepared and tested in the Crimea peninsula's occupation and some of their citizens are already engaged in insurgency operations since 2014. What is happening is not new to Ukrainians considering the enthusiasm with which many citizens are equipping and training themselves to resist the Russians. There is no doubt that Ukraine will suffer a lot of casualties and damages to their infrastructure from the various battles but Russia will lose the war. Friendly forces are important factors in warfare and already many are lending support in the supply of arms and ammunitions, logistics and funds to Ukraine to boost their morale to stand up and fight. I am however, surprised that not a single country has offered troops to support them. Ukraine will surely stand up to fight in spite of the shelling and bombardments because they believe in their faith and are determined to safeguard their independence. Seventy five percent of Ukrainians are of the Christian faith (Roman Catholic, Protestants and Orthodoxy) and Christianity frowns on dictatorship. There is no way the people of Ukraine would like to be ruled by Russian dictators again. Lastly, world opinion is so important that anyone in a battle who ignores it, does so at its own risk and at the moment, the world opinion is in favor of Ukraine. Russia has so far either tactically or strategically resorted to a 'war of attrition' by using missiles, air attacks and shelling to break the will of the people. To force Ukraine to capitulate, it will require some occupation of towns and cities by Russian ground troops and that is when they will suffer such massive destruction of their tanks, equipment and personnel never experienced by Russia in recent times. The reasons are that the supply lines to sustain such huge occupational forces will be too long and would be subjected to constant insurgent attacks. The other issue is that the protests and arrests of some Russians at home are clear indication that the decision to invade Ukraine may not be popular with the Russian people. Thus the morale of the Russian troops may not be at their peak for this encounter and consequently, they may not give of their best. As observed in the USA during the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars, when the 'body bags' start arriving in Russia, the citizens will surely react because some of the 'body bags' will contain bodies of family members. Human beings will forever fall prey to eternal problems of poverty, inequality, racism, bigotry, intolerance and power struggle but these problems we all know, can never be solved through wars and violence. The League of Nations was formed after the World War I to help resolve conflicts among nations but it woefully failed and gave birth to World War II and the newly created United Nations. From recent developments, one may say that this world body has become a toothless bulldog and whilst it is busy passing resolutions on the invasion, a major catastrophe awaits Europe and the rest of the world more serious than Chernobyl or COVID-19, if the biggest nuclear power plant in Ukraine is destroyed by Russian bombing. The world, especially the USA and China, the remaining super powers must work together to stop (the third super power) RUSSIA now! Russia will surely win the battles but never the WAR. BY Brig-Gen (Rtd) J. Odei ANTALYA, Turkey, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday held meetings with Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers respectively on nuclear security in a town in Turkey's southern province of Antalya, Turkish official sources said Friday. At the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi arrived in Belek, a town about 30 km from Antalya's provincial capital, to attend the Antalya Diplomatic Forum that kicked off on Friday, the sources said. On the sidelines of the international forum, Grossi held separate meetings with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, a source of the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Xinhua. Following the talks, Grossi wrote in two successive tweets that his meeting with Kuleba was "important and forward-looking," and that with Lavrov was "constructive and important." "We are making progress on the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine," he wrote. Both Kuleba and the Permanent Mission of Russia to the International Organizations in Vienna confirmed via Twitter that safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine were discussed in the meetings. Lavrov and Kuleba held a meeting on Thursday in Belek in the presence of Cavusoglu, the first high-level meeting between Moscow and Kiev since Russia's special military operation in Ukraine started on Feb. 24. During the meeting, the two sides failed to make progress on a ceasefire but agreed to continue negotiations over the conflict. Husband and his wife have been burnt to death in a domestic fire outbreak at Gyinyase in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti region. The deceased, Mr. Godfred Konyo, a 51-year-old electrician, and Mrs. Happy Danso, 42, were sleeping in the room when the incident occurred today, Friday, March 11, 2022. Confirming the incident in an interview with class news Elisha Adarkwah, the Regional Public Relations Officer for the Ghana National Fire Service, DOIII Peter Addai said they had a distress call that there was a fire outbreak in the community. He said personnel were deployed to the scene to douse the fire "but two people lost their lives as a result of the fire". The cause of the fire that gutted the entire uncompleted building the deceased were using as an abode, he said, was not yet known but they have commenced investigations to unravel it. The charred bodies of the deceased have been conveyed by the Asokwa Police and deposited in a morgue for preservation. Meanwhile, the Assembly Member for the area, Justice Attobrah, suspects the fire was caused by a mosquito coil. Source: Classfmonline.com The embattled #FixTheCountry Movement convener Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who has been in detention for a month over his coup threat on social media, has, in his affidavit to counter that of the Attorney General said the treason felony charge levelled against him is baseless. Mr Godfred Dame, in his affidavit, accused Mr Barker-Vormawor of not cooperating with the security agencies despite two court orders to that effect. He, thus, prayed the Tema High Court to refuse the bail application of the youth activist. According to Mr Dame, in addition to refusing investigators access to his mobile phone as ordered by the court, the accused person has also refused to disclose his place of abode in Ghana for a search to be conducted, despite the court having granted a warrant for that purpose. For those reasons, the AG argues that it would be untenable to grant Mr Barker-Vormawor bail. That, having regard to the nature of the offence and the punishment which conviction will entail, the applicant, a person with no fixed place of abode in Ghana is not likely to appear to stand trial if granted bail, Mr Dame said. Mr Barker-Vormawor, however, said: I will make myself readily available to go through the present criminal proceedings and as I have done and continue to fully cooperate with any investigations which this criminal process may entail. He continued that for one whole month into my arrest and detention (and as at the time of deposing to this Affidavit), the Respondent is yet to charge me with the offence of Treason Felony or take a statement from me in respect of that charge. The Cambridge PhD student noted: I am advised by counsel, and I verily believe the same to be true that the Respondent have no genuine or reasonable or probable cause for my arrest or continuous detention. I am, again, advised by counsel, and I verily believe the same to be true that the offence of Treason Felony is not supported by the facts of this case (including all the depositions in the Respondents affidavit in opposition). Finally, I am advised by counsel, and I verily believe the same to be true that this is a proper case where this honourable Court ought to exercise its jurisdiction to grant me bail pending trial and to make any other order(s) which the Court deems fit. The court could not hear the bail application on Thursday since the lawyers of the accused person said they had just received the AGs document. The case has been adjourned to Monday, 14 March 2022. --- Classfmonline.com South Africa abstained in a vote in the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution condemning the Russian invasion of the Ukraine , and demanding their withdrawal. The South African government has explained that it enjoys good relations with both Russia and the Ukraine; hence it abstained in the UN General Assembly vote condemning the Russian invasion. President Cyril Ramaphosa subsequently said South Africa abstained because the resolution did not foreground the call for meaningful engagement . At home, the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance lost no time in taunting the governing African National Congress (ANC) that its abstention was because a Russian oligarch, Victor Vekselberg, had donated R7.5 million to the ANC . But one cannot assume that a billionaire's personal views are pro-Putin, merely because he is Russian. Besides, after the Kremlin jailed and sequestrated the billionaire Mikhael Khodorkovsky in 2005, no oligarch will ever again express opposition views in public. In fact, the moniker oligarch is misleading because it implies a wielder of great power in the inner circle. The reality is that Russia's billionaires possess their wealth solely by the grace of the Kremlin. Like England's Henry VII , the Kremlin seizes the property of its critics. A lire aussi : Ukraine war: fresh warning that Africa needs to be vigilant against Russia's destabilising influence Further, reality has many dimensions. And in this case history is relevant. To summarise, the ANC remembers who were its allies during the Cold War , and who denounced it as terrorists. This has drowned the other considerations. This includes that South Africa, as a small country, depends on the UN charter principles opposing war and invasion to seize territory, and multilateralism to protect it from invasion by a great power. Historic ties that bind The ANC and the former Soviet Union have a long history together . The first visit by an ANC leader to the Soviet Union was by Josiah Tshangana Gumede , one of the founding members of the ANC, in 1927. His visit was a spin-off of his attendance in Belgium of the League against Imperialism . After the apartheid regime was banned the ANC in 1960 it received aid from the Soviet Union for its exiled mission in the fight to liberate South Africa from minority white rule. This aid exceeded that from the pan-African Organisation of African Unity - now the African Union - or anyone else. It was only from the end of the 1970s that Scandinavian donations became higher than Soviet funding. But Scandinavian aid remained limited to peaceful aid only . Only the Soviet Union provided weapons and other military aid to the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe . By 1988, sensing that victory over apartheid was coming, Moscow supplemented training in guerilla warfare with training in conventional warfare, including naval and air force training. Historical links, such as these, were evident in the divide between African states during the UN General Assembly vote to condemn Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. Namibia, which is governed by Swapo , Angola, by the MPLA and Mozambique by Frelimo joined South Africa in abstaining . A lire aussi : Namibia's abstention on Russia violates its foreign policy principles Swapo, the MPLA, and Frelimo also received Soviet foreign aid during the 20th Century Cold War when they too were liberation movements fighting guerrilla wars. By contrast, Botswana and Zambia voted to condemn the Russian invasion. Significantly, their ruling parties came to power peacefully, and did not have Russian alliances. This vote for the UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion and demanding its withdrawal, was also the position of 28 African Union members . Seventeen abstained. Clearly, the liberation movements of Angola, South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique regard Russia as the inheritor and custodian of the Soviet Union history and traditions. Irony of history There is some irony in this, as so often in history. While Russian President Vladimir Putin started his career in the Soviet KGB, the political police, he now merits the western saying that there is no one more anti-communist than an ex-communist. In 2017 Putin's government, supported by his United Russia party, had absolutely zero centenary celebrations of the Bolshevik revolution . To the contrary, today's Kremlin ensures that today's Communist Party of the Russian Federation faces two decades of rigged elections, cheating it of winning the vote in Vladivostok and other towns. Why then do the ANC, Swapo, MPLA, and Frelimo, and the South African Communist Party the ANC's governing alliance partner continue to retain such bonds of deference to Putin's anti-communist government? One reason could be that Russia and those southern African governments have shared resentment of the international dominance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO) , especially that of the US and the former colonial powers the UK and French. This is regardless of the sea-change in party politics within the Kremlin. The relationship between South Africa and the US, especially, has a complex history . Not least because US governments designated ANC leaders fighting the apartheid regime as terrorists . There is also memory of the CIA'a unsavoury role in Africa . Most of the anti-Ukrainian commentary in the South African internet and letters to the editors reflects the commentators' stance against previous US government foreign policy of wars in Iraq , Afghanistan and elsewhere. They don't reflect facts unfolding on the ground. A lire aussi : How Russia-Ukraine conflict could influence Africa's food supplies For the governments of South Africa, Namibia, Angola, and Mozambique, the historical alliances and enemies of the last century's Cold War seem destined to tip the scales when it comes to their voting at the UN, the African Union, and in other forums. This is despite the fact that, as small countries with severely constrained defence capabilities, they depend on the support for multilateralism and the UN system against any invasions by a great power. Keith Gottschalk is an ANC member, but writes this article in his professional capacity as a political scientist. By Keith Gottschalk, Political Scientist, University of the Western Cape At least 750 civilians were killed or executed in Ethiopia's Amhara and Afar regions after they became caught up in the war last year, the country's rights body said Friday. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission also catalogued a litany of abuses, including torture and gang rape and enforced disappearances, saying some may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The 16-month conflict in Africa's second most populous country between government forces and Tigrayan rebels has killed thousands of people, with widespread reports of atrocities including mass killings and sexual violence. According to the UN, the fighting has also displaced more than two million people, driven hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation and left more than nine million in need of assistance. The EHRC report said at least 403 civilians had died and another 309 were injured in air raids, drone strikes and heavy artillery fire in the second half of the year since the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an offensive into Afar and Amhara in July. At least 346 civilians also lost their lives in extra-judicial killings carried out by the warring parties, mainly Tigrayan rebels but also government forces and allied militias, it said. The state-affiliated independent rights body also accused Tigrayan rebels of widespread abuses such as gang rape, torture, looting and destroying public facilities such as hospitals and schools in the two regions bordering Tigray. Map of Ethiopia locating Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions. By Aude GENET AFPFile "Tigray Forces committed widespread, cruel, and systematic sexual and gender-based violence including gang rape against women of different ages including girls and elderly women in parts of Afar and Amhara regions under their control," the report said. "Tigray forces engaged in abductions and enforced disappearances in a manner that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity," it said, while also accusing federal and local security forces in Amhara and Afar of widespread arbitrary detentions. More than 2,400 health facilities including hospitals in the two regions had ceased operation "as a result of the destruction, damage and and pillage they sustained," the report said, while more than 1,000 schools were destroyed and another 3,220 damaged. Friday's report follows a joint investigation by the UN and the EHRC covering November 2020 to June 2021 which detailed a vast array of rights abuses, mostly blamed on Ethiopian forces and Eritrean troops, who provided military support to Addis Ababa. 'Deteriorated significantly' The conflict erupted in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent forces into Tigray to topple the region's ruling TPLF, after months of tensions with the party that dominated politics for three decades before he took power in 2018. Abiy said the offensive was launched in response to the rebel group's attacks on army camps and vowed a swift victory. But after initially losing control of Tigray's cities and towns, the TPLF regrouped and retook the region in June last year, then launched offensives into Afar and Amhara. The TPLF retook Tigray at the end of June last year. By Yasuyoshi Chiba AFPFile In November 2021 the rebels claimed to be advancing on the capital Addis Ababa, but the government launched a counter-offensive, retaking lost territory in Amhara and Afar while the TPLF then retreated into Tigray. Although the intensity of fighting has eased, the UN on Monday reported that at least 304 civilians had been killed in air strikes since November in the north, particularly Tigray. The rights and security situation in Ethiopia has "deteriorated significantly" since late November, UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet said, with reports of "severe and widescale" violations in the three northern regions. UN humanitarian agency OCHA also said in a bulletin dated Thursday that northern Ethiopia remained "highly tense and unpredictable." Hostilities were boosting humanitarian needs, as the number of displaced people grows in Afar and Amhara, it said. Last week, the UN Human Rights Council announced that Fatou Bensouda, a former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), would head a UN investigation into a wide range of alleged violations committed by all sides in the war. Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye, a security analyst is calling for an independent forensic investigation into the Ghana Police Service to fish out criminals in the service. In the past week, there have been question marks on some people recruited into the Police after some four officers were arrested and two others killed over their involvement in the bullion van robberies in the country. With concerns that there could be more criminals hiding within the Ghana Police Service, Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye says there is the need for an independent probe into the security agency. We need an independent police complaint body and with particular reference to this case, we need an independent body Besides that, we need forensic investigation to try and establish the scope; how wide, how big, how deep, this network is within the Ghana Police Service, the security analyst said in an interview on the Asaase Breakfast Show. Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye continued, If we can do that, then we would have first of all solved the problem of preventing criminals from entering the service because these are the criminals who anecdotally in certain instances have rented their weapons to criminals. They are the same ones, who will take their weapons and go and kill. There are many instances that we can relate to; somewhere around the Ashanti Region, police officers go and kill civilians and plant evidence on them and say they are criminals. The four officers arrested for their involvement in the bullion van robberies were arraigned before a circuit court in Accra on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. They were all denied bail and remanded into Police custody. Several dozen people have reportedly been killed following a spike of intercommunal violence in the disputed Abyei region on the Sudan - South Sudan border, according to the United Nations emergency response agency. Fighting in the oil-rich Abyei region had left at least 36 dead, with an unknown number injured and reportedly displacing 50,000 people. In a statement released on Wednesday, OCHA said: "Intercommunal tensions increased in recent weeks in the Abyei Administrative Area (AAA), allegedly driven by longstanding territorial disputes, inter-tribal tensions and revenge seeking." The fighting started around 10 February but intensified in early March, leading to the suspension of humanitarian operations in the affected areas with aid workers relocated to safety. Cattle herders and Sudanese forces blamed Abyei has been contested since South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011, although there have long been tensions between the Ngok Dinka community and Misseriya herders who cross the region looking for grazing pastures. AAA spokesman Ajak Deng reported that two deadly attacks last weekend were carried out by Misseriya herders and heavily armed members of the Sudan Armed Forces. He claims six people were killed last Saturday and a further 27 on Sunday, adding that the situation remains tense and people are living in fear. Meanwhile the US embassies in Juba and Khartoum issued a joint statement voicing their "great concern" at the escalation of violence in the area, calling "on all sides to cease reprisals and return to dialogue." Abyei has been under UN protection since South Sudan's independence, and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei deployed there also voiced its concern at the bloodshed, saying the loss of life and insecurity "is causing untold humanitarian suffering on the people as well as reversing gains made towards achieving peaceful coexistence in Abyei." Speaker Alban Bagbin has described President Akufo-Addos comments on the Supreme Court ruling on Deputy Speakers as unfortunate and myopic. In his view, the Supreme Court ruling is not only an absurdity but a reckless incursion into the remit of Parliament. I have resisted the temptation of making a comment on the judgment of the Supreme Court on the issue of the voting rights of Deputy Speakers when presiding. But the unfortunate and myopic comment of the President has compelled me to let it out. The SC decision, is to say the least, not only an absurdity but a reckless incursion into the remit of Parliament. The trend of unanimity is equally troubling. It doesn't help explore and expand our legal jurisprudence. The President's comment is myopic and unfortunate. It only goes to worsen the schism between the Executive and Parliament. The impartiality of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or Presiding Officer has been treasured and fought for by this country throughout our democratic development. Mr. President, the issue being discussed is not about Parliament being above the law. Everyone knows that Parliament is not above the law. The Executive and the Judiciary are equally not above the law. The issue being discussed is the political question doctrine. It took centuries to detail out the strands of this doctrine and the principles are settled as to when and how this closed book could be opened. Please, I encourage the Plaintiff to go for a review. Mr Akufo-Addo said that he was not sure that persons who said that the Supreme Court cannot scrutinize Parliament have taken the time to read what the 1992 constitution says. Some persons including former President John Dramani Mahama have said the Supreme Court of Ghana has set a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure following the ruling that a Deputy Speaker can vote in Parliament. In a tweet, Mr Mahama said A unanimous 7-0? Shocking but not surprising. An unfortunate interpretation for convenience that sets a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future. But President Akufo-Addo said the apex court's decision on the voting rights of Deputy Speakers cannot amount to judicial inference in the work of Parliament. According to president Akufo-Addo, the suggestion that Parliament is beyond the scrutiny of the Supreme Court is to suggest that Parliament is a law onto itself. I'm not sure people who are saying this have actually taken the time to read the Constitution of our country. It says so in Black and white. The legislative powers of the State, which is vested in Parliament, is subject to the provisions of the Constitution. All organs of the Ghanaian State, including me as the Head of the Executive, we are all subject to the teachings of the Constitution, the President said. He continued, There is no body in the Ghanaian State that is above the fundamental law of the land. It will lead to the very matter that we have striven so long to avoid the concentration of unregulated power in our state we don't want that. And we brought about this Constitution to allow that to not reoccur. President Akufo-Addo made this known in an interview with Charles Takyi Boadu of the Daily Guide Newspaper, on Thursday, 10th March 2022, on the sidelines of Dubai Expo 2020. Astonished by the public energy dissipated in the debate, he was happy with the unanimity of the decision taken by the Supreme Court, especially as it is the most emphatic way in which the Court can pronounce. Touching on suggestions that the Parliament is beyond the scrutiny of the Supreme Court regarding issues of interpretation, the President indicated that the whole principle of judicial review was developed by the judges, both in America and England, to be able to check the activities of Parliament. Indeed, in Ghana, he stated that the first major constitutional case, which looked at the work of Parliament was in the case Tuffuor vs Attorney General, where the Act of Parliament, the decision of the Parliament to subject the then Chief Justice, the late Frederick Kwesi Apaloo, to a vetting process in Parliament had been expressly forbidden by the Constitution. And that is the reason why the late Dr. Amoako Tuffuor took the matter to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court made it quite clear that all the activities of all the institutions of our Republic that impugn, that violate the Constitution are subject to the powers of the Court and to the Declarations of the Court, he said. President Akufo-Addo continued, Me, I wat to repeat it, as President, Head of the Executive, I am subject to the Constitution and to law. I cannot set myself above it. Everybody has his remit, but those remits are subject to the operations of the Constitution, and I am happy that the Constitution has been so declared in such an emphatic manner by the Supreme Court, I support the Supreme Court to continue to do its work. ---3news.com The Australian High Commission in Ghana on the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD), held a mentorship breakfast meeting with women working in the mining sector. The meeting enabled them to share experiences and inspire the younger generation of women in the mining sector. The advocacy group, known as the Women in Mining (WIM) Ghana, comprises of members with diverse skills, knowledge and technical expertise in areas including geology and hydrology, which are critical in ensuring sustainable mining. Ms. Leann Johnston, the Charge d'Affaires at the Australian High Commission, in her welcoming remarks, commended the participants, and also all women for their great and diverse contributions towards global and national development. She also commended the Government of Ghana adopting and implementating various gender sensitive policies and programmes which promoted women empowerment and gender equality, but said there were still huge inequalities in areas such as female representation at decision making levels. She said the Commission's focus on Women in Mining (WIM) this year, stemmed from the fact that despite their vast contributions to the growth of the sector, female efforts and achievements in the sector had received the least recognition and celebrated. The meeting which was on the theme: Equality today for more sustainable operations tomorrow, couched out of the broader global subject for the annual event, which was to celebrate the achievements of all females, and increase their visibility. Speakers at the panel discussion, who were made up of both female and male achievers from the mining sector, and some corporate institutions, shared their knowledge and experiences with the audience based on the topic: Breaking the Biases by prioritizing women's representation and contribution in Ghana's mining and natural resource sector; the role of government and stakeholders. Among them were Ms Adiki Ayitevie, the Regional Vice President, Sustainable and External Relations, Newmont; Ms Bashiratu Kamel-Muslim, a Labour Consultant and member of WIM; Mr Dave Harper, the Chief Executive Officer, Geodrill; Ms Amanda Odoi, a Gender Specialist and Australian Alumni Ambassador, and Dr Yvonne Loh, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon. Ms Georgette Barnes, the President of Women in Mining, said the Group was keen on championing the cause of gender equality in mining because their numbers were still very low, due to the numerous barriers that female practitioners had to cross to enter into the male dominated sector. She said although the number of women working in the mining sector had increased compared to what pertained in the early years of 2000, there was the need to create a friendly working environment to attract more females, and also get them to occupy top leadership positions to change the narrative. She also stressed on the importance of networking of female practitioners because the field could be a very lonely one especially, for those who found themselves alone among all male working colleagues, adding that when you are in a community where you have people to relate to, it makes you feel much better. Dr Loh, spoke about the numerous socio-cultural barriers to be broken by women to get their spaces opened, informed that in most cases there were some unfavourable prices to be paid for their choices. She said there seem to an air of fear and threat among a section of men towards female advancement and empowerment, but allayed their fears, saying, we are not competing against men, but rather training ourselves to grow in wisdom and not to challenge men. Some men still want to be domineering and want to have the power over women to remain domicile so they are controlled, saying we want to find our space and help so that together can met whatever their grand agenda there is to achieve. Dr Loh cited an example of the reasons why most families fall apart when men, who were the breadwinners die, as the lack of the empowerment of their women to take over the home and manage it well in the event of the unfortunate. She called for intensified advocacy for additional efforts to close the gender inequality gap particularly in the mining sector, though increased budgetary support from government, to enhance infrastructure and training to empower and attract more women. She further called for closer collaboration across the gender divide, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 5, on gender equality. GNA The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has urged the applicant of the petition to the Supreme Court for a ruling on the voting rights of a Deputy Speaker, Justice Abdulai to go for a review. In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court held that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 103 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution, a Deputy Speaker who happens to be a Member of Parliament does not lose his right to take part in decision making in Parliament when sitting in for the Speaker of the House. Amid the controversy the ruling has created in recebtly, the Speaker of Parliament has given his take on the matter. In a post on his Facebook page on Friday, March 11, 2022, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has noted that indeed Parliament is not above the law. However, just like many Ghanaians, he believes the ruling must be reviewed by the Supreme Court. As a result, the Speaker has charged the plaintiff in the matter to go for a review from the apex court. The impartiality of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or Presiding Officer has been treasured and fought for by this country throughout our democratic development. Mr President, the issue being discussed is, unfortunately, not about Parliament being above the law. Everyone knows that Parliament is not above the law. The Executive and the Judiciary are equally not above the law. The issue being discussed is the political question doctrine. It took centuries to detail out the strands of this doctrine and the principles are settled as to when and how this closed book could be opened. Please, I encourage the Plaintiff to go for a review of the Supreme Court ruling, a statement on the Facebook page of Alban Bagbin reads. It would definitely have served the longterm interests of Mother Ghana, best, had Ghana's Supreme Court been guided (in its latest ruling on Deputy Speakers' voting rights), not by the conventions surrounding the Deputy Speakers of the House of Lords, of the British Parliament, who can vote on issues, but by the conventions that ensure that like the Speaker of the House of Commons, the UK Parliament's Commons Deputy Speakers, remain politically neutral at all material times, and don't vote on issues before the House. To quote an old fogey I know: "Kofi, this Supreme Court has mastered the art and science of giving judgements that give ordinary folk the unfortunate impression that they serve the the people now in power, not the Ghanaian nation-state." Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiii, ooooo... My response: Now that darkies in the UK can suddenly be deprived of their citizenship, without any recourse to the law, simply because serving Home Secretaries demand that, on behalf of friendly criticism-averse foreign kleptocrats, whom their ruling parties are in bed with, as fellow travellers, I will not bother myself any longer, responding to such issues, when they crop up. Suddenly jumping on a plane to fly back to the UK has lost its attraction for cantankerous Grandpa Kofi Thompson. So, let the judges of Ghana's Supreme Court, do their worst. The sods. After all, none of them will be there forever, ooooo, will they, Massa? Yabr3 wormu nyinaaa, aafe. Eeiiii, Oman Ghana - enti y3wieye paaaa enei? Asem kesie, bi, ebeba debi ankasa, oooo. Yooooooo. Cool. BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Global deliveries by the Volkswagen Group in February further declined by 16.7 percent year-on-year to 542,900 vehicles, Germany's largest carmaker said on Friday. Deliveries to China, Volkswagen's biggest market, decreased by 14.4 percent to 193,800, according to the company. In Western Europe, the carmaker delivered 183,800 vehicles, 10.9 percent less than the year before. Sales of the group's core brand Volkswagen fell by 19.7 percent to 280,900 vehicles. Luxury brand Audi recorded an 11.5 percent decline and delivered 107,800 vehicles. Besides Volkswagen's commercial vehicle manufacturer Traton, luxury brands Lamborghini and Bentley were the only brands to report rising deliveries, up 7.5 percent cumulatively to 1,700 vehicles. Due to the global chip shortage, Germany's automotive industry continues to face difficulties obtaining microchips and electronic components, still forcing companies to operate plants at reduced capacities. The Russia-Ukraine conflict "greatly exacerbated this shortage" of intermediate products, the ifo Institute said last week. 11.03.2022 LISTEN Did you hear the cry of African children saying they would rather volunteer to die fighting in Ukraine than die of hunger at home? Call them what you want, they come from the same country and Continent as you do. The difference is, they cannot take it anymore. When Youths get desperate, become disoriented, they do not care about the consequences of misadventures. Africans have never in history been so impoverished, eager to escape abject poverty or make money by any illegal means possible. The way Africans and Africans in Diaspora are treated reflect how we treat ourselves at home in the hands of greedy leaders and their cronies looking outside for comfort and hospitality they fail to provide in Africa. Our Youths are so desperate to escape, they are being charged to become mercenaries in Ukraine. Africans went through this during the Libyan Civil War where they became militia targets on both sides. This time they are asked to pay to go and fight to death! It is not the first time African children have insanely given their lives to civil wars: did in Libya, Middle East between Arabs and Israelis. There was a time they flooded the American Army because of the signing bonus. Tell them to fight at home, they run because they know their families will not be compensated. Since their money and gratuities would be embezzled before it gets to their families. So these Youths are saying they will rather take the insults and ignominy from foreigners outside than suffer the same fate at home. Others see that as lame excuse of cowards that cannot resist their oppressors at home. When they are backed up to the wall, instead of fighting back, they melt into the wall. The reason crimes have exploded far greater than the increase in population can account for. These crimes are getting more dangerous, repulsive, some gory details are fueled by mythical beliefs at the direction of Babalawo, Pastors and Imams. Many of these were respectable men of conscience that have fallen into the hands of the devil because of poverty ravaging the country. They discovered that Youths are willing to pay them good money if they are promised the realization of their fantasies. We can find the root cause of these nightmares in the unprecedented Poverty in the era of the highest foreign incomes earned by oil producing countries and laundered by unscrupulous politicians, never used for needs to alleviate devastating circumstances they subject African communities to. Nevertheless, they wish they could fight for Ukraine against the mighty Russia. When the South Americans were sending their children alone to cross the border into the United States, we wondered if they were crazy until the Haitians and Africans children were joining them. Of course, Haitians and Africans were treated worse at the American borders. How do we now explain Ukrainians children crossing their country's borders into Poland and Hungary unaccompanied like South Americans and Africans? However, if Ukraine thinks NATO and the European Union would risk War War III or give their lives like the African Youths that Ukraine asked to pay to become mercenaries, they could have miscalculated Western sympathy. It will be more effective if the Western world helps prolong the resistance by fortifying Ukraine without Americans getting deeply involved. It will cost Russia more and push Putin to save face before the situation becomes more unbearable to the world. Rather than African Youths paying to become mercenaries, there are roles respectable African leaders could have played if they had the old prestige of Nkrumah of Ghana and Nigeria's old Peacekeeping Mission before they were destroyed by corruption. Outright confrontation into World War III would kill more Ukrainians than they can imagine because of their proximity to Russia. Ukraine will get nuked more than the rest of the world. Yet, we must understand Ukrainians asking for a highly risky "No Fly Zone" to fend off the Russians. Though Africans lead the fight for Civil Rights in the Diaspora, since they get discriminated against most (even in Ukraine); every new Comer from Europe and Asia climb on their backs to a higher level. Imagine recent immigrants from Europe and Asia asking African Americans that have been there before Columbus, where they come from. This is why Ukranians and other Eastern Europeans or Asians do better in the United States and United Kingdom than Africans. It is very frustrating for those who took their skills, businesses and savings to Africa, only to find out that the more they contribute and move Africa forward in steps, there are those taking twice or thrice as many steps moving Africa backwards. Knowing that no matter what they achieved outside Africa, they are ridiculed and disrespected; told to save their achievements for Africa. Some of these Africans are forced to run back to countries they swear never to return to. The world forgets that Africans have always been very generous, to a fault. Others are taking advantage of our accommodation. Indeed, from the days of Queen of Sheba and Mansa Kanka Musa adventures to those of El Selassie and Nigerian billionaires laundering African fortune. Africa welcomed strangers and treated foreigners better than themselves in the hope that they would pass it on. Fast forward, only those that are naive today believe in old African generosity. Even worse, African looters are willing to forgo millions or billions when they are caught laundering money abroad. Some of our businessmen and politicians have forfeited large sums of money rather than go to jail in the green pasture they had intended to live and die in luxury. It does not matter how many bodyguards you have or how high you build the fence, where you hide or run to. Those who squandered African wealth on their families and cronies will not sleep at night while the poor are hungry at home or disrespected outside Africa. But when African Youths lack purpose, direction and discipline; even good law abiding people use their creativity for any means to survive. The Supreme Court has told Parliament that even though they are masters of their own rules and procedures, the 1992 constitution is their master. In their ruling to the effect that Deputy Speakers can vote while presiding in the House, the Justices said Even though Parliament is a master of its own procedure, it cannot be overemphasized that all the Houses rules, orders, procedures and practices also have a master, the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. Specifically the authority of Parliament to regulate its own procedure is expressly subject to the provisions of the Constitution as provided in Article 110(1) of the constitution. It is recalled that Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Samuel Nartey George said even though the the Supreme Court had given its ruling, Parliament is a master of its own rules and procedures. He said the ruling, instead of bringing clarity on the matter, has rather brought confusion. They have given their ruling we have heard but I believe that there is a reason why our standing orders say that parliament is a master of its own affairs and that the procedure in Parliament resides in the bosom of Mr Speaker. For me, I cannot, for the life of me, be part of what I will deem an illegality which will be that the person presiding in the House will take part in a vote he is superintending over. I do not know what position my leadership or my party will take but my principled position is one that states that anyone presiding, be it Mr Speaker or any of his two deputies has absolutely no business taking part in the vote on the floor. We will employ every legal means within the Parliamentary procedure to ensure that this long time tested practice of parliament which is 30 years old this year, will be upheld until the Lord Justices decide to start expunging part of the constitution like 104(5) for us to see that the application of the law is not skewed and imbalanced. I do not see why anyone who has conflict of interest should be allowed to vote. Why did the Lord Justices go silent on Standing Orders of Parliament that says that a chairman of a committee doesn't have a vote, why are they not saying that that is also a deprivation of his constituents. SCANNED-CERTIFIED-TRUE-COPY-JUDGMENT-JUSTICE-ABDULAI-VRS-ATTORNEY-GENERAL-2 Download We pray the Lord Justices, their role is to bring clarity not rather lead us co fusion and obfuscate what the facts are. the Law is clear . we have heard them, they have passed their ruling but Parliament we are masters of our own procedure , we will carry out what we believe is right on the floor of the chamber, he said. Meanwhile, a former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo has said that the Supreme Court ruling does not violate any parliamentary rule. He says he does not think that the ruling is a violation of parliamentary rules because the Standing Orders of Parliament do not supersede the 1992 constitution which is the supreme law of the land. He told Dzifa Bampoh on the First Take on 3FM, Wednesday March 9 that Whatever anybody has now it is a bit too late. The Supreme Court is the final authority. The other thing that you can do is to go for a review. Regarding whether or not the ruling violates parliamentary rules, he said Not at all. There is no other law in the country which is superior than the constitution, so whether Members of Parliament are masters of their own rules, all their rules should not be above the constitution. Regarding whether or not the Plaintiff can file for a review of the ruling, he said You look at whether the decision was split or unanimous, how many judges sat on it. Are you sure that you can get them to change their minds to the extent that you are going to get 5-2 or 4-3? I doubt. When it is so unanimous and there is no fundamental error that has been committed by the court it will be very difficult to go for a review. The apex court on Wednesday dismissed an application to pronounce as unconstitutional, Joseph Osei Wusu's action of counting himself for the purposes of quorum. Justice Jones Dotse ruled that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament participation in voting was constitutional. Private legal practitioner and law lecturer, Justice Abdulai subsequent to the November 30, 2021 clash between Speaker Bagbin and his First Deputy after the latter overturned an earlier vote of the House rejecting Government's 2022 Budget invited the Supreme Court to pronounce as unconstitutional, Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu's action of counting himself for the purposes of quorum. He argued in the context of articles 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution that the Deputy Speaker was not permitted to count himself for the purposes of quorum, since he had neither an original nor a casting vote as Speaker presiding. But the 7-member panel of justices ruled that the Member of Parliament for Bekwai exercised his right constitutionally, TV3's Laud Adu Asare who was in court reported. The SC struck out the standing order 109(3) which says a Deputy Speaker or any other member presiding shall not retain his original vote while presiding. It furthered that the Deputy Speaker can be counted during the quorum for decision making according to article 104(1) Justice Jones Dotse noted that the full ruling will be made available on Friday, March 11. Addressing a press conference in Parliament to react to the ruling, the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said Our attention has been drawn to a very disappointing ruling of the Supreme Court of Ghana which more or less will amount to a judicial interference in time tested Parliamentary practice and establishment convention. Everywhere in the world in civilized democracies including the United Kingdom the presiding officer's vote is discounted. So it is not for nothing that article 102 provides that a person presiding shall have no original nor casting vote. The Supreme Court, to put it aptly, this ruling is judicial support for E-levy. ---3news.com Works on the Tamale interchange project is progressing steadily in the Northern region. Contractors on the project site are currently working on the asphalting of the road, street lighting as well as reconstruction of drains at the down street, and some finishing touches ahead of the commissioning of the project. The Tamale interchange project is said to be about 98 per cent completed and will be commissioned soon. Some months ago the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah announced that the Tamale interchange will be ready for commissioning by the end of March 2022. The contractor has assured me that every work associated with the interchange will be completed by end of February and that the first two weeks of March will be used to do the end finishing and then anytime from mid-March the President will commission the project, he said. According to him, President Akufo-Addo's led administration is determined to change the face of road infrastructure networks across the country before ending his tenure. In 2019, President Akufo-Addo, cut sod for the commencement of the multi-million dollar Tamale Interchange project funded under the $2 billion China Synohydro deal. The project is aimed at enhancing inter-urban and national traffic flow reducing the cost and risk of doing business, thereby enhancing trade within the Saharan regions. ---DGN online Founder of United Front Party (UFP), Akwasi Addai Odike, has chastised President Akufo-Addo over what he calls bad governance, intimidation and harassment of journalists and the clergy in Ghana. According to him, the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) administration led by Akufo-Addo has gagged journalists and the clergy in the country. He said this has made extremely cumbersome for journalists to speak against his dreadful government. Speaking on Oyerepa Breakfast Show hosted by Nana Yaw Mensah Joel, Odike intimated that Akufo-Addo has gagged journalists and the clergy in this country so theyre not able to speak against his poor leadership. Odike revealed that the President has introduced the culture of silence in Ghana. "As a result, the clergy, journalists and other people who are responsible to speak against his autocratic leadership style are afraid to talk because the moment you speak, Akufo-Addo will let his boys come and attack you. These Akufo-Addos boys according to him, will harass and assault you in all fronts anyone who tries to speak against the bad happenings in the country under the current government. ---Oyereoafmonline.com Former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has called on Ghanaian patriots to join forces on a non-partisan basis to oppose what he says is an attempt by the ruling government to turn the countrys democracy into a Big Brother regime. In the latest piece from the Ghanaian statesman, he has waved into the decision by the President Akufo-Addo government to introduce the Electronic Transaction Levy and its associated matters. Making reference to the anger exhibited by Ghanaians to the cutting of an E-Levy-designed cake on the 65th birthday of the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu that led to the arrest of FixTheCountry convener Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor over his coup comments, Martin Amidu says it is time real patriots rise up. According to him, the arrest of Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor and the subsequent treason felony charge slapped on him is unconstitutional. The former Special Prosecutor has called on the citizenry, particularly real patriots to be bold and continue to speak out to protect the 1992 Constitution. The Government is using the Ghana Police now as its Thought Police in the E-Levy national disagreements to have its way despite the proscription of such unconstitutional methods under the 1992 Constitution as the foregoing article has demonstrated. The unconstitutionality being inflicted upon citizens and political adversaries for alleged thoughtcrimes for deciding not to be mere spectators but active citizens exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms can become pervasive and undermine the Constitution, parts of the latest release from Martin Amidu reads. It adds, Therefore, real patriots must come together on a non-partisan basis and advocate against turning our democracy into a Big Brother regime and defend the 1992 Constitution by putting Ghana First. Read the full release from Martin Amidu below: NANA AKUFO-ADDOS E-LEVY BILL & E-LEVY BIRTHDAY CAKES - TREASON FELONY, TREASON, MISPRISION OF TREASON & COUP MONGERING: BY MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU INTRODUCTION The Governments 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, particularly its determination to impose its draconian Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) on an already financially exhausted and challenged poor citizenry contrary to its own electoral promises and undertakings has seriously polarized this nation and created needless acrimony amongst the body politic in a manner I have never witnessed since my first involvement in public service and observation of the governance processes of Ghana since February 1982. The adversarial conflict over the Governments E-Levy policy eventually deepened with the uncomplimentary public reaction to what some citizens perceived to be an opulent, arrogant, and insulting 65th birthday celebration by the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, (which fell on Thursday 3 February 2022) amid their sufferings and the governments intention to further tax their scarce incomes. The Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday celebration provides the immediate context for understanding the public comments and reactions that led to the arrest and detention of a known political adversary of the Governments policies, Mr. Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, the convenor of #FixTheCountry, who was later charged unconstitutionally for the offence of treason felony. Mr. Kyei Mensah-Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday celebration has also led to other citizens being gagged and intimidated from exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms to free speech and thought on pain of being arrested and detained without bail at the behest of hawks and operatives of the Government under the smokescreen of coup mongering or first-degree felony offences against the safety of the state. The police also later arrested and detained Mr. Kwame Baffoe, the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on 15 February 2022 and subsequently charged him with lesser offences and bailed before a court the next day for accusing former President John Mahama of high treason and/ or treason in a radio interview on 14 February 2022. Subsequently, operatives of the government made threats to arrest and detain the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, for coup mongering and treason arising out of a public lecture he delivered at the Erata Hotel in Accra on 28 February 2022. These developments make it imperative for every patriotic Ghanaian and lover of constitutionalism and representative democracy committed to the sustenance, preservation and defence of the 1992 Constitution to speak out boldly against the use or the threatened use of the investigatory and prosecutorial discretionary powers of the Republic entrusted to the executive branch of government in abusing the rights and freedoms of citizens to speech and thought by means of the deployment of the system of criminal justice administration for purely partisan political ends. Any appearance of the use of the system of the criminal justice administration to intimidate, suppress or seek to suppress the lawful political activity of political adversaries in the marketplace of democratic political discourse needs to be unreservedly condemned in defence of the 1992 Constitution. The 1992 Constitution was intended to ensure a free marketplace of ideas in a representative constitutional democratic society where rights and freedoms of political adversaries are not suppressed or sought to be suppressed by Government over-reach. This was because the nations political history teaches that the contrary led to the several previous instabilities that the Ghanaian constitutional democratic processes witnessed since the darkest day of 24 February 1966 until 7 January 1993. For almost three decades, and for the first time in Ghanaian political history, the Fourth Republican Constitution, born out of a revolution led by a retired military officer, the late President, Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings (Rt.), who brought it into operation under his signature and nurtured it democratically for eight years against all odds and handed over political power peacefully to an opposing political party has enabled this nation to witness the transfers of political power from one political party to another through the ballot box. This singular achievement of the 31 December 1981 Revolution in ensuring a lasting 1992 Constitution for Ghana is what all patriots are to defend. It is in pursuance of the foregoing objectives that this article examines and discusses the heightened polarization of the nation arising from Mr. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kyei Mensah Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday celebration and the resulting public reactions and comments thereto leading to the deployment of the discretionary investigatory and prosecutorial powers of the executive branch of the Government of which he is a Minister of State against vocal adversaries of the governments E-Levy policy. MEDIA HYPE OF MR. KYEI MENSAH-BONSUS OPULENT 65TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH AN EDIBLE DECORATED GREEN E-LEVY CAKE The media hype of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs opulent 65th birthday celebration is captured on several of the electronic media and is available online, but it will suffice for purposes of this discourse to use a publication by Citi Newsroom which cannot be accused of being biased against the government to underscore the reactions and comments of the public to the Governments E-Levy policy. #CitiNewsroom has a 0:50 minutes video publication on https#m.youtube.com watch with the title: Watch: Kyei Mensah Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday accompanied by the following narration 9 Feb 2022 The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has celebrated his 65th birthday. Joy News also carried a 0:31 minutes similar video on YouTube on the same day showing the same celebration. One needs to watch the video of the celebration of the Ministers 65th birthday with the decorated green edible E-Levy cake to understand how it could generate sentimental dissent amongst bi-partisan opponents of the Governments ELevy policy and pending Bill in Parliament. The public reactions and comments were swift and electric both by individuals and the media. Citi Newsroom captured the public perception of the Kyei Mensah Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday on its online reportage of the event as follows: . It is also not clear what the motive is considering that many Ghanaians are against the proposed Electronic Transaction Levy, and may find this decision insensitive. Among the guests at the party were Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Samira Bawumia; Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Chairman Wontumi, known in real life as Bernard Antwi Boasiako; and Senyo Hosi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors. Many Ghanaians have started reacting to the photos since they started circulating online on Tuesday. Already, they are criticizing the controversial 1.75% E-levy which most people are kicking against. Most of the social media comments have condemned the use of the image by the experienced politician, as they consider it a mockery of their opposition to the levy. Mr. Sammy Gyamfi of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in reaction to the plush birthday party made the following post to his Facebook Sammy Gyamfi Checkout E-Levy cake at the plush birthday party of the Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu. Guess what? Our Jocular Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team at large, who has been mute on the obnoxious E-Levy policy, was the special guest of honour. The continuous display of opulence and ostentation by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government at this time of excruciating hardships is nauseating and insulting to the sensibilities of suffering Ghanaians. The Pulse.com.ghs Kojo Emmanuel reported that: The Economic Fighters League on its part described the majority leader's conduct as a symbolic indication that proceeds from the E-levy will be "chopped" by government officials. Taking to its Facebook page, the group described the act as a "perfect illustration of growing old without sense". Leader of the group, Ernesto Yeboah added that "An MP entering retirement age has just told us that he is going to take a cut of the national cake made from our own modest earnings. "If we as a nation allow this E-Levy bill and its accompanying insult to pass then we are sick.." Reacting and commenting on the 65th birthday celebration by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of the Government, on Wednesday 9 February 2022, Osagyefo Oliver BarkerVormawor who was in the United Kingdom but was apparently following the news in Ghana published on YouTube media concerning the opulent, flamboyant, and arrogant Kyei Mensah-Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65 birthday celebration amidst the national economic hardship and suffering of poor citizens posted the following statement on his Facebook wall: If this E-Levy passes after this Cake bullshit, I will do the coup Myself. Useless Army! In another and second post he stated that: Okay, lets try again. If this E-Levy still passes after this cake bullshit, then may God. Help us to resist oppressors rule, With all our will and might for evermore. (2x) Useless Army. Anaa, the value is the same? As a result of Mr. Barker-Vormawors Facebook posts some social media users who put varying interpretations on his two contradictory and ambiguous posts, called on the security agencies to arrest him over his comments (See Ghana Web of 11 February 2022 with source as dailmailgh.com). ARREST, RESTRICTION OR DETENTION OF MR. BARKER-VORMAWOR ON ARRIVAL FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AT THE AIRPORT AND A CYNICAL CHARGE OF TREASON FELONY Mr. Barker-Vormawor was picked up by the police on the evening of 11 February 2022 at the Kotoka International Airport upon his arrival from the United Kingdom. He was cautioned for the misdemeanour offence of offensive conduct conducive to the breaches of the peace contrary to section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as the basis of his arrest as required under Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution. The police kept him in custody from 11 February 2022 until on 14 February 2022 when he was brought before a District Court at Ashaiman in flagrant breach of the Constitutional injunction for any citizen who is arrested, restricted, or detained to be brought before a court within forty-eight hours or be set at liberty. While Mr. Barker-Vormawor was in police custody, the police took a written caution statement from him for the misdemeanour offence for which he was arrested at the airport and detained at the police station. The suspect had a right to a lawyer before interrogation and the taking of any written statement by the police from him and it is axiomatic from the subsequent facts that he exercised his right to a lawyer when he gave a written statement to the police. However, on 14 February 2022, when Mr. Barker-Vormawor was surprisingly brought before a District Court for the misdemeanour and summary offence of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace, the reasons for his arrest and detention changed in the court room. His lawyers and him learnt for the first time in the court that he had been brought before the Court on a charge of treason felony under section 182(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) for which the court had no bailable powers. The nature of the unconstitutional, unethical ambush, and abuse of the investigatory and prosecutorial discretion of the executive branch of government in informing the suspect and his lawyers for the first time in the court room of the treason felony charge shocked Mr. Akoto Ampaw, the lawyer leading the suspects defence team, to the extent that he is quoted by the Daily Graphic Online of 14 February 2022 to have said that: "Until this morning [Monday], it was a misdemeanour, only to appear in court and be told he is being charged with treason felony which has no factual basis." The Daily Graphic Online reported its interaction with Mr. Akoto Ampaw as follows: Counsel for Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor who has been charged with treason felony has described the charge by the police as "cynical". Mr Akoto Ampaw who is leading the team defending Barker-Vormawor told Graphic Online's Della Russel Ocloo that the charge is "cynical" and amount to "bad faith" on the part of the prosecution. Mr Akoto Ampaw wondered why the prosecution, which initially charged BarkerVormawor for offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace, which is a misdemeanour and went ahead to take a statement from him would show up in court with the charge of treason felony. He also questioned the basis for the adjournment of the case to February 28, 2022, when the court does not have jurisdiction over the charge for which the accused was brought before it. THE INFRINGEMENT OF THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF MR. BARKERVORMAWOR AND ABUSE OF THE SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE 1992 CONSTITUTION Mr. Ampaws quoted words and the paraphrased description of his interaction with the media which is contemporaneous with the arraignment and remand of the suspect shows a clear and calculated intention on the part of the executive branch of government to infringe the fundamental human rights and freedoms of Mr. Barker-Vormawor to personal liberty and respect for his human dignity (under articles 14(2) and (3) and 15(1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution respectively) from the time of his arrest to the time of his arraignment on a provisional indictable treason felony charge before a District Court which could not exercise bailable powers in felony cases. The Government had knowingly and intentionally turned the administration of justice into an inquisitorial and persecutorial system to intimidate and suppress the lawful political activity, personal liberty and right to equality before the law and non-discrimination of a citizen, Mr. Barker-Vormawor under articles 3, 14, 17, and 291 of the 1992 Constitution. There is no constitutional rational justification for the conduct of the Government in the manner it executed the persecution of the suspect as the executive branch has consistently sought to justify to the public. The answer by the Government to the public outcry and objection to the unlawful detention of Mr. Barker-Vormawor for more than forty-eight hours was the lame justification that the Republic was unable to reach the Chief Justice to assign a judge or court during the weekend. The excuse is lame and frivolous because if Mr. Barker-Vormawor was in lawful custody for the offence of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace with which he was charged upon his arrest and a statement taken from him in custody exercising his right to a lawyer of his choice, then the police did not need the Chief Justice or a court to exercise the discretion to grant him police enquiry bail to appear before them or a named court on a named date and time. On the other hand, if the Government and the police had received further information and facts with which they had reasonable changed grounds for the continued arrest, restriction or detention of Mr. Barker-Vormawor, without informing him of the changed reasons and his right to a lawyer of his choice, the contention that he was not brought before a court within forty-eight hours of his original arrest or detention because of lack of a court during the weekend is vacuous. I have painstakingly read Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawors two posts on his Facebook on 9 February 2022 while he was in the United Kingdom within the context of other posts and reaction to the ostentatious, opulent, and profane Kyei Mensah-Bonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday celebration. It is my considered view that the two contradictory and ambiguous Facebook comments taken separately or together do not measure up to the basic ingredients of the provisional charge of the indictable offence of treason felony for which he was cynically and surprisingly brought before an inferior court without powers of bail on 14 February 2022, and for which he is still in police custody on remand. The perception that the unconstitutional and unlawful arrest and detention of Barker-Vormawor was politically motivated and intended to suppress his lawful political activity has further polarized this country along ideological and partisan lines which is inimical to the unity and stability the Constitution enjoins each citizen to strive to preserve in our democracy. I had served the Republic of Ghana as the only Deputy Attorney-General in the Ministry of Justice continuously for upwards of twelve and half years with unfettered power for all subject matters of the Attorney-Generals Office and especially dealing with the system criminal justice administration. I have also served as the Minister for the Interior of the Republic of Ghana before serving as the Attorney-General of the Republic of Ghana. I have had the privilege of working with eminent and distinguished Directors of Public Prosecutions such as Mrs. Joyce Bamford Addo until she was appointed to the Supreme Court, the late Mr. A. A. Forster, until he was appointed to the Court of Appeal, the late Mr. S. G. Baddoo, until he was also appointed to the Court of Appeal (and later to the Supreme Court), and the venerable Mr. J. C Amoono-Monney until his appointment to the Court of Appeal, and I will bet my last farthing that none of these distinguished and seasoned Directors of Public Prosecutions would have agreed to the police bringing Mr. Barker-Vormawor to any court on an indictable charge of treason felony upon the ambiguous statements he posted on his Facebook. And if indeed, the police did any such thing on our blind-side we would have immediately called for the police docket, reversed their action, and ensured respect for the rights and freedoms of the suspect based on the reasons for his initial arrest. This is how it happened that on three different and separate occasions we declined to charge citizens some of whom are now eminent journalist and outspoken social commentators and activists with the offence of sedition. The foregoing exposition demonstrates that the manner the system of criminal justice administration has been deployed punitively by the executive branch of government against the suspect gives ample grounds for the conclusion that the government untowardly abused its executive powers of the Republic to suppress or seek to suppress the lawful political activity of a known political adversaries in a McCarthy-like hysteria of hunting for supposed coup mongers who are merely exercising their constitutional right to free speech and in defending the constitution by forewarning the government so that it may be forearmed against those who may wish to abrogate the Constitution in violation of article 3 thereof. ARREST AND DETENTION OF MR KWAME BAFFOE, THE BONO REGIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE N. P. P AND THE EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION Mr. Barker-Vormawor has suffered unconstitutional arrest, restriction or detention and an inferior court misled into remanding him into police custody for 14 days in the first instance and another 14 days on his second appearance on a spurious provisional treason felony charge which came to his notice for the first time on 14 February 2022 in the court room. His relatives, friends and he were put to the expense of seeking his release at the High Court, Tema, on a Habeas Corpus application without success. They went to the Supreme Court upon an application for certiorari which turned out to be faulty only to be assured by the office of the principal legal advisor to the Government under the Constitution that should he make a proper application for bail to a bailable court the Republic will not object it. What a cynical assurance this was! The Government knew before or from the moment of Mr. Barker-Vormawors arrest and detention that the government was going to keep him in undignified and unconstitutional custody to compel him to go to the needless expense of applying for bail before the suppose generosity of the Attorney-Generals Office and the Government will be showered upon him for political point scoring in the eyes of the public. His unconstitutional arrest and detention were orchestrated so that the Government will tell him, as the Office of the Attorney-General is now telling him in words to the effect that: You think you are somebody. We now have you. Go and apply for bail and we will show you mercy. This is not a constitutional and democratic attitude enjoined by the letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution, and it is patently inconsistent with article 3 (2) thereof. But what makes the Governments attitude more cynical, to borrow Mr. Akoto Ampaws words, is the fact that the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC granted an interview to 93.9 Hot FM on 14 February 2022 when Mr. Barker-Vormawor was in detention alleging that His Excellency former President John Mahama had met with Al-Qaeda militants to assist him to topple the Government of the New Patriotic Party by force of arms. The Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP claimed that John Mahama approached the group in a bid to help him become president again according to the rendition by Citi Newsroom. I have listened several times to the video publication of the interview which is online on different media platforms in which Mr. Kwame Baffoe, the Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP, says clearly and without equivocations that former President John Mahama was working with Al Qaeda (an internationally proscribed terrorist organization) to assist him to overthrow the Government of the NPP by force of arms and links Mr. Barker-Vormawors Facebook posts and his subsequent arrest and detention for treason felony to his being one of the co-conspirators of John Mahamas unlawful machinations to overthrow the NPP Government by force of arms. The serious allegations of high treason and/or treason made by Mr. Kwame Baffoe against former President Mahama and the public reaction to it in the media compelled the Government through its policing powers to attempt an exercise in damage control. When Mr. Kwame Baffoe was challenged several times by his interviewer as to the veracity of his assertions, he insisted that they were true and sought to justify the allegations on the interview which is now trending online. By failing or refusing to report former John Mahamas recruitment of Al Qaeda and Mr. Barker-Vormawor to over-throw the government of Ghana by force of arms Mr. Kwame Baffoe was committing the suspected offence of misprision treason under section 181 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) which states that: 181. Misprision of treason A person who knows the commission of high treason, or a treason within the meaning of clause (17) of article 19 of the Constitution, and does not forthwith reveal it to the President, or to a police officer not below the rank of Inspector, commits a misprision of treason and is punishable as a first-degree felony. Consequently, on 15 February 2022 the Ghana Police issued a public statement inviting Mr. Kwame Baffoe to report to the police to assist investigations into his allegations. He was arrested and detained overnight on the lesser charges of publication of false news, and offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace. The detention overnight by the police of the Bono Regional Chairman of the governing party was so offensive to operatives of the governing party who openly expressed their disquiet leading to bail being facilitated for the suspect when he was brought before a court to be with his family while poor BarkerVormawor, the cockroach, who made the mistake of making himself available in the den of the fowls administering the system of criminal justice administration received the justice cockroaches deserve before the executive branch of government run by fowls. Mr. Kwame Baffoe upon gaining his liberty took to the media to vent his spleen against the Inspector-General of Police and the Ghana Police Service for daring to humiliate him by his arrest and detention overnight. The Inspector General of Police and the Ghana Police Service have not dared to bring further charges against him for obstructing the police in the execution of its law enforcement duties or for any other offence simply because he is a powerful regional chairman of the political party of the government in power. The arrest and detention of Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of #FixTheCountry and Mr. Kwame Baffoe, the powerful Bono Regional Chairman of the governing political party, demonstrates the partiality with which the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed to citizens might through the exercise of the investigatory and prosecutorial discretion in the system of criminal justice administration at the level of the executive branch of government has been wittingly or unwittingly abused in the matter of the Kyei MensahBonsus E-Levy cake for his 65th birthday contrary to article 3(2) of the 1992 Constitution. PROF. RAYMOND ATUGUBAS PUBLIC LECTURE AND THE RESULTANT HYSTERIA ABOUT COUP MONGERING AND CALLING FOR HIS ARREST On 28 February 2022, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law delivered a public lecture at the Erata Hotel under the auspices of Solidaire Ghana on the topic: A Reviewed 1992 Constitution And Its Impact On The Economy of Ghana: Looking Forward. To prove the hypothesis of his public lecture he made references to the state of the national economy and how to prevent a coup in Ghana. One Saka Salia, reported in the media to be a Communication Team Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), called for the immediate arrest and investigation of Prof. Atuguba for advocating for a coup by his public lecture. Mr. Saka Salia charged the government to treat Prof. Atuguba the same way as the FixTheCountry convener, Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who was arrested for similar comments. Mr. Saka Salia is quoted to have stated, inter alia, that: The NDC are coup mongers and I will employ that Prof. Raymond Atuguba is arrested and investigated. If he is not, it will be considered discrimination. The Ghanaian community will start thinking some people are above the law which is wrong. The Minister of Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, devoted time to speak to journalist to criticize Prof. Atugubas public lecture. He is reported to have said, inter alia, that: Even if they were worse, the constitution provides legitimate means for advocating for and executing a change. For respected persons to be purporting that such conditions legitimise coups is a terrible attack on our democracy itself and should not be condoned. Mr. K. T. Hammond, an NPP Member of Parliament, joined the government hawks in calling for Prof. Atugubas arrest by the police for the exercise of his constitutional right to freedom of speech and of thought. Mr. Hammond is reported online to have said in an interview to the media, inter alia, that: I will be surprised if they (police) have not already invited him, clear foolishness. I believe that the theory that has been brought up will be best explained to an assembly of national security apparatus. They will understand it better than where he took the opportunity to say these things. Coup does not resolve difficulties in any country, we should be careful. The electronic media also reported the interpretations and reactions of some leading members of the NDC to Prof. Atugubas lecture. Dr. Obed Asamaoh, a respected former Attorney General, without whose experience and practical abilities in political organization the NDC would never have become a vibrant party capable of winning elections is reported to have allegedly described Prof. Atugubas statements on the ripeness of an environment for coups as childish and coming from someone who is not aware of the consequences of military takeovers. The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban S.K. Bagbin was also reported by the media to have disagreed with the perspectives expressed by Prof. Atuguba in the public lecture without calling for his arrest. But Dr. Obed Asamoah an eminent and experienced former Attorney-General, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs underscored the principles and conventions underlying the proper use of the investigatory and prosecutorial discretion of the executive branch of government when he politely concluded that: There is a difference between speech and action. [If I were the Attorney General] I will take action only when there is evidence of preparation to carry out a coup. If somebody is only talking, I will just take it to be over-excitement. I wont go arresting people for that, In accordance with my usual work habit, I have critically read several times over the twentyone pages published public lecture Prof. Atuguba delivered in which he analyzed the political and economic circumstances of Ghana and what must be done to avoid a coup in Ghana. I do not agree with some of the facts, analysis and conclusions Prof. Atuguba arrived at in his public lecture. But from my considered critique and analysis of his lecture, I cannot find any ingredient of criminal incitement on the part of Prof. Atuguba of anybody to commit high treason, treason or treason felony or any criminal intention and act on his part to over-throw the elected Government of Ghana by force of arms or any unlawful means to warrant his arrest and detention. Constitutionalism and democracy were undermined when the hawks in the governing party called for Prof. Atugubas arrest without first carefully and critically reading his full public lecture but merely relying on or listening to comments by social commentators who themselves might not have read or heard the full lecture delivered by the learned Professor. My conclusions are based on what Prof. Atuguba said within the context of his whole public lecture and not on hearsay, sentiments, and emotions. At page 7 of the public lecture of Prof. Atuguba, he states that: We do not want a coup in this country. Yet I fear that if we do not act quickly, we may have one in our hands very soon. I urge my good friend the Minister for National Security, Hon. Kan Dapaah, to have a conversation with my friend at the War College. A big part of why certain coups succeed and others fail is the Economy. What is the state of our economy today?... Prof. Atuguba also stated at page 10, inter alia, that: Marching on the Office of the President, a National Security Zone, is not a crime. Saying that you will do the coup, using the definite article, a reference to the coup that the market women in Kumasi already say they will do, is a heinous crime. Then at page 15 he states further that: . There is only one thing to do now, prevent a Coup in Ghana, since the climate and the environment, national and immediate international, are conducive for one. On his concluding page on page 21 he makes, inter alia, the following statements: Canada of all places is clamping down on citizen demonstrations, and the United States experienced their first attempted coup detat in centuries in January last year. As for Africa, literally every government is being toppled or sitting on tenterhooks. The world cannot continue like this and Ghana, always the pacesetter, must show the way. The foregoing sample of extracts from Prof. Atugubas public lecture taken within the context of the lecture do not disclose any intention on his part to commit any criminal offence let alone any act in fulfilment of his criminal intention. I would not have referred to any relationship with Oliver Barker-Vormawor and the undignified conditions under which he is detained in such a lecture if I had researched, written and delivered the public lecture. I would also have avoided the frontal comparison made between John Mahamas government and the present government because of its potential to be misinterpreted as doing politics in such an important public lecture. But God did not create Prof. Atuguba to reason with my brains and socialization which explains why everyone is a unique social being resulting in Shakespeare saying that there are as many opinions as there are men. I am entitled to criticize Prof. Atuguba as I have just done, just as Mr. Bagbin and Dr. Asamoah are reported to have done but none of us is entitled to gag Prof. Atuguba in the exercise of his fundamental right and freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of thought, conscience, and belief, which includes his academic freedom guaranteed to him under the 1992 Constitution as both a citizen of Ghana and a professor of laws. CONCLUSIONS This examination and analysis of the adversarial conflict over the Governments E-Levy policy eventually deepening with the uncomplimentary public reaction to what some citizens perceived to be an opulent, arrogant, and insulting 65th birthday celebration by the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu in February 2022 amid their sufferings and the government intention to further tax their scarce incomes has shown how discretionary investigatory and prosecutorial power vested in the executive branch of government can be abused in a manner in consistent with the letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution for purely unconstitutional partisan ends. In George Orwells dystopia novel Nineteen Eight-Four, (1984) the Thought Police (Thinkpol) is the secret police of Oceania, which discovers and punishes thoughtcrime, personal and political thought unapproved by Ingsocs regime. Thinkpol uses criminal psychology and omnipresent surveillance via informants, telescreens, cameras, microphones to monitor and arrest all those who have committed thoughtcrime in challenge to the status quo authority of the party and the regime of Big Brother. The Government is using the Ghana Police now as its Thought Police in the E-Levy national disagreements to have its way despite the proscription of such unconstitutional methods under the 1992 Constitution as the foregoing article has demonstrated. The unconstitutionality being inflicted upon citizens and political adversaries for alleged thoughtcrimes for deciding not to be mere spectators but active citizens exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms can become pervasive and undermine the Constitution. Therefore, real patriots must come together on a non-partisan basis and advocate against turning our democracy into a Big Brother regime and defend the 1992 Constitution by putting Ghana First! Martin A. B. K. Amidu Postscript/ I just read on Joy News Online that the Government is now objecting to the grant of bail to Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the #FixTheCountry lead convener who is not well because he will not be likely to appear to stand his trial as he has no fixed place of abode for a search warrant to be executed by the police by visiting and searching his residence and his refusal to obey a court order to grant the police access to his mobile phone. The application for bail has been adjourned to 14 March 2022 for hearing. Joy News reports that the provisional charge of treason felony for which he was unconstitutionally detained before being brought before a court is over allegations that he has instigated members of his group to overthrow the government. Is the Government now fishing for the evidence to support the initial unconstitutional treason felony charge? Whatever it may be, at face value this looks cynical but let us hold our horses and abide how this case pans out and whether #Fixthe Country and its convener will eventually be cancelled out as political adversary of our Big Brother. Readers who can find some time should re-visit my article on SIM card re-registration and integrate that material and conclusions with the use by Orwellian Thought Police (Thinkpol) of criminal psychology and omnipresent surveillance via informants, telescreens, cameras, microphones to monitor and arrest all those who have committed thoughtcrime in challenge to the status quo authority of the party and the regime of Big Brother. The use of the Pegasus spyware I wrote about in that article makes ones smart phone, iPad or computer and the SIM card used with them, surveillance devices modern Thinkpols employ for omnipresent surveillance as in the dystopian Big Brother Oceania. Can the constitutional right against selfincrimination protect anybody any longer? Think about it and re-register your SIM card. The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved the order on sentence of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, found guilty of contempt in 2017 for disobeying the Court's order for not disclosing full particulars of assets in case between the SBI and Kingfisher Airlines. A bench headed by Justice UU Lalit, after hearing detailed arguments in the matter, reserved the order. Amicus curiae, senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, submitted before the bench, also comprising justices S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha, that in the present situation, the issuance of a warrant of arrest won't serve purpose as Mr Mallya is in the UK. The bench also considered the ministry of home affairs (MHA) stand that the UK Home Office has intimated, there is a further legal issue which needs to be resolved before Mr Mallya's extradition takes place and this issue is outside and apart from the extradition process having effect under the UK law. The bench said: "They said there are proceedings in the UK. It's like a dead wall, something is pending we don't know, what's the number we don't know. How long can we go on so far as our jurisdictional power is concerned." Justice Lalit said Mr Mallya is not in anyone's custody and he is a free citizen in the UK. "The only reason perhaps, is there's a proceeding which is pending, which will decide if a person is to be extradited," he added. On 10th February, the top court gave final opportunity to Mr Mallya, seeking his appearance, before it pronounced sentence in contempt case filed by banks, in which he was found guilty. The top court said it has found Mr Mallya guilty of contempt and punishment has to be imposed. It added that going by normal logic, the contemnor has to be heard, but he has not appeared before the court so far. Justice Bhat observed that Mr Mallya has abstained from the hearing so far, and in the next hearing, the same thing will happen, then the court would have to pronounce sentence in absentia. Justice Lalit added that Mallya was given multiple opportunities. Justice Bhat also said this cannot become a gateway for courts of first instance to adopt this method, and it has to be specifically mentioned that circumstances in the present case were extraordinary. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta clarified that it was not the Indian government's stand that some confidential proceedings against him are pending in the UK, rather it was the stand of the UK government which was delaying his extradition. The bench clarified that if Mr Mallya is not present in the hearing, then the matter will be taken to its logical conclusion. According to a judgment delivered on 14 July 2017, Mr Mallya was found guilty of contempt for not paying Rs9,000 crore worth of dues to the banks despite repeated directions. Additionally, he was also accused of not disclosing his assets and also secretly trying to dispose the assets to defeat the purpose of recovery proceedings. On 6 October 2020, the MHA told the Supreme Court that the UK Home Office has intimated, there is a further legal issue which needs to be resolved before Mr Mallya's extradition takes place and this issue is outside and apart from the extradition process having effect under the UK law. The affidavit had said that Mr Mallya's surrender to India should, in principle, have been completed within 28 days otherwise. On 2 November 2020, the top court had asked the Centre to file a status report on extradition of the fugitive businessman within six weeks. On 30th November, last year, the Supreme Court said it will begin hearing on sentencing of him in contempt of court, in which he was held guilty in July 2017. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. A quick look at the annual report of 2020-21 of the central information commission (CIC) shows that 25,367 applications (47.38%) were rejected under Section 8 (1) of Right to Information (RTI) Act, which spells out exemptions from disclosure of information in its 10 sub-sections. Quite predictably, Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which protects personal information of an individual and prohibits disclosure that may cause unwarranted invasion of the individuals privacy, is the most frequently used of permissible exemptions during the pandemic year. Central-level public authorities invoked this clause to reject 34.44% of the RTI applications in 2020-21 - a marginal increase over the 2019-20 figure of 34.01%. However, Venkatesh Nayak, transparency advocator, in his analysis of rejections listed in the CICs annual report, states that, Most ministries reported a major decline in the use of Section 8(1)(j) during the pandemic year. It was to the tune of 50% in the case of the prime public authority, Supreme Court of India (from 142 cases in 2019-20 to 72 cases in 2020-21). Nevertheless, Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner (CIC) and RTI activist, who has been campaigning against the prolific use of Section 8 (1) (j) under the garb of protecting private information from being disseminated, says it is due to the misinterpretation of this clause, which continues without a halt and this lesser percentage is serious enough to threaten the power of this transparency law. He fears that, the RTI Act will lose its teeth as public information officers (PIOs), appellate authorities (AAs) and information commissioners (ICs) consistently deny personal information to applicants because they perceive that it does not satisfy the larger public interest criteria. If there is some solace that there is a decline in rejections, Mr Nayak provides some interesting figures. According to him, The ministry of finance, which accounts for the most frequent use of this exemption year after year, also reported a drastic reduction in usage - from 7,528 cases in 2019-20 to 5,210 cases in 2020-21. Delhi Police also reported a major reduction in the employment of this exemption - from 641 cases in 2019-20 to only 470 cases in 2020-21. The use of this exemption halved in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas - from 415 cases in 2019-20 to 208 cases during the pandemic year. Those public authorities under various ministries which reported increase in rejection cases are: ministry of external affairs which reported a five-fold increase in the use of Section 8(1)(j) during the pandemic year. It rose to 681 cases from 107 in 2019-20. Similarly, the ministry of steel had invoked this exemption in two cases only in 2019-20; but, in the pandemic year it was invoked in 199 cases. The use of this exemption went up to 576 cases in 2020-21 in the ministry of railways, whereas it was used only in 20 cases during the previous year. The ministry of consumer affairs and public distribution also reported use of this exemption in 142 cases during the pandemic year as compared to only 18 cases in 2019-20. The ministry of health and family welfare used this exemption in 184 cases during the pandemic year, whereas it was used in only 107 cases in 2019-20. For the recall, what are all the exemption clauses under Section 8 of the RTI Act? They include information that would threaten national integrity, security or economic interests; would amount to contempt of court; would hamper police investigations; would affect commercial interests like trade secrets; would affect 'fiduciary' relationships; would harm the person physically (like asking for details of VIP security, for example). This Section also protects information pertaining to deliberations of the council of ministers and secretaries while the process is underway. (Information can be given after a Cabinet decision, though). Mr Gandhi blames certain court judgements too, beginning from the Girish Ramchandra Deshpande vs Central Information Commissioner & others (2012) case, which have also given orders of exempting personal information from being provided. Such judgments demean the spirit of the Section 8 1(j) exemption clause. In this clause, there is also a proviso, which says that information that cannot be denied to an elected representative, cannot be denied to the common man either. However, this vital proviso is totally ignored, thus diluting the transparency, slowly and steadily, the former CIC says. Mr Nayak observes in his findings of this annual report that key ministries, incharge of COVID-19 related issues, used the exemption clauses under Section 8, the most. Elaborating further he says, Key ministries at the frontline of the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic reported a major increase in rejections. Some of them used exemptions clauses which they used in earlier years to deny access to information. The ministry of health and family welfare, the ministry of consumer affairs and public distribution are notable illustrations of this trend. The latter invoked the national security exemption in hundreds of cases during the pandemic year. The Delhi government reported a massive increase in the number of rejections during the pandemic year as compared with 2019-20. Is he hopeful that the CIC will take any action for continuous rejections, which have become a routine? Mr Nayak says, It is not possible to predict whether even a significant fraction of these cases will land up at the CIC in the form of appeals and complaints. Therefore, there is a strong reason for the CIC to hold consultations with such ministries, and also public authorities under their jurisdiction, to examine this trend and explore the correctness of such decisions to deny access to information. (Vinita Deshmukh is consulting editor of Moneylife. She is also the convener of the Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyaan. She is the recipient of prestigious awards like the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting, which she won twice in 1998 and 2005 and the Chameli Devi Jain award for outstanding media person for her investigation series on Dow Chemicals. She co-authored the book To The Last Bullet - The Inspiring Story of A Braveheart - Ashok Kamte with Vinita Kamte and is the author of The Mighty Fall.) After observing certain material supervisory concerns, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to stop onboarding new customers with immediate effect. RBI has also asked Paytm Payments Bank to appoint an information technology (IT) audit firm to conduct a comprehensive system audit of its IT system. "Onboarding of new customers by Paytm Payments Bank will be subject to specific permission to be granted by RBI after reviewing the report of the IT auditors," the central bank says. To unearth market misconduct, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has conducted search and seizure operations at the premises of seven individuals and one corporate entity at multiple locations in Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar (in Gujarat), Neemuch (in Madhya Pradesh), Delhi, and Mumbai. These entities are reportedly operating nine Telegram channels with more than 5mn (million) subscribers to whom they were making recommendations on selected listed scrips. "Such recommendations induced the investors to deal in the said scrips, thereby creating artificial volume and price rise. This provided an opportunity to their linked entities to offload their shares at higher prices and make significant profits at the cost of unsuspecting retail investors. The data, emails and other documents are being retrieved from the seized devices and a detailed investigation is in progress," the market regulator says. During the search and seizure operations, SEBI officials seized various records and documents, including 34 mobile phones, six laptops, four desktops, four tablets, two hard drive disks and one pen drive from the custody of these persons. SEBI says it had received information that messages containing stock tips and other investment advice concerning selected listed companies are being widely circulated through websites and social media platforms, such as Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. Perpetrators of such fraud use various marketing techniques to attract subscribers to their social media channels. SEBI has been undertaking several campaigns to educate investors to be vigilant while taking investment decisions based on stock tips. In the past, it was noticed that through bulk SMS, investors were induced to invest in or purchase the stocks of certain listed companies. In this regard, SEBI collaborated with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to reduce the vulnerability of the securities market to manipulation through misuse of mass communication mediums like bulk SMS. However, the perpetrators of such frauds are now adopting new methods and technologies to defraud the investors. Earlier also, SEBI officials had conducted a search and seizure operation on 1 December 2021 in the premises of certain persons carrying out similar manipulative activities through Telegram channels. In an order on 12 January 2022, SEBI established that the administrators of a Telegram channel with a large subscriber base enticed subscribers to act upon recommendations circulated by those administrators on the channel, leading to significant price and volume impact in various scrips. These administrators had built substantial positions in these scrips before the circulation of recommendations and offloaded their positions subsequent to the rise in the price of these scrips, making significant profits at the expense of unsuspecting investors, the market regulator says. Against this backdrop, SEBI, once again, has cautioned investors not to rely on such investment tips and advice received through social media platforms. It is also advised that investors should exercise utmost caution when taking investment decisions while dealing in the securities market. LONDON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A security review warned on Friday that London is facing a rising threat of extreme right-wing terrorism, but is "significantly better prepared" for a terrorist attack than it was five years ago. The review, commissioned by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, said there have been significant improvements in communication and coordination between the British capital's emergency services and partner agencies to ensure the city is better prepared to respond to an attack. In his recommendations, Lord Toby Harris, who headed the review, warned that Britain must be prepared to consider the possibility of terrorist deployment of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons, and ensure emergency services are equipped and trained to respond. Harris said cuts to police numbers over the last decade and cuts in other key services "potentially hampers London's capacity to react to terrorist incidents" and are "short-sighted". Khan called on the British government to support City Hall in taking action to mitigate new risks identified in the Harris review. Britain's current terrorism threat level is "substantial", meaning a terrorist attack is likely. HELENA, Mont. - Superintendent of Public Instruction, (OPI) Elise Arntzen is looking to create more flexibility with licensing Montana teachers by changing the current teacher licensing through the Board of Public Education (BPE) and seeking public comment. Getting a teaching license renewed became increasingly difficult through the pandemic, and in several cases a license would expire, meaning that the teachers were no longer technically eligible to be teaching in the classroom. Arntzen is trying to keep that issue from ever happening again, while driving more educators to the state. Through new inanition of licensing revisions, Arntzen is going to put teachers and Montana students, first. The need for emergency authorizations for teacher licenses has doubled since 2020, highlighting the demand for future teachers. These revisions are set to equalize alternative teacher preparation pathways, increase access for expired licensees accepting a lifetime license, recognize a license for a national board of certification for teachers and even help military spouses who teach by offering reciprocity from other states. All Montana submissions of written public comment will help ensure that quality educators are present to teach future generations and fill their classrooms. Submissions are due April 8, by 5:00 p.m. Comments can be sent via email to the BPE and all future changes will be voted on in May. For more information, you can contact Dr. Julie Murgel, Chief Operating Officer, at julie.murgel@mt.gov, or call 406-444-3172 MISSOULA, Mont. - The winter wildlife closure on the Mt. Jumbo South Zone has been extended. Wildlife biologists at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) consulted with Missoula Parks and Recreation to extend the closure, which typically ends on March 15. A projected opening date will be posted on March 18 by Parks and Recreation staff on the Missoula Parks website here. According to Parks and Recreation, the closure protects 75 to 90 elk and other animals that inhabit Jumbo's lower elevations to feed and regain their strength after a long winter. Jumbo elk are still reported to be in the South Zone that needs protection from humane and canine disturbance. "For elk and deer, the spring green-up of vegetation can't come soon enoughso they can start replenishing the physical reserves they lost over the winter," FWP Wildlife Biologist Liz Bradley says. "Female elk and deer are doubly stressed as they try to push through these tough conditions carrying the young they will deliver in late May and June." Conservation land managers say the South Zone will reopen when most of the herd has moved to higher elevations in the Jumbo's North Zone. The closure is anticipated to stay in place until May 1 or later, depending on weather conditions and elk presence. For more information, you can call (406) 721-PARK (7275). ANACONDA, Mont. - A haunted Montana ranch is so spooky, it's getting its own series on the Travel Channel. The Ghost Town Terror will investigate the activity at Gunslinger Gulch, a 52-acre property with 19 buildings, located outside of Anaconda. Karen Broussard and her three children moved to the ranch from the Seattle area. "Some things had escalated and we just wanted to make sure we weren't dealing with anything that was beyond what we were capable of dealing with," Broussard said. After dealing with various encounters for more than a year- hearing voices and footsteps, doors randomly opening and shutting, and seeing people walk past windows, Broussard decided to ask for help. Paranormal investigator Tim Wood and paranormal researcher Sapphire Sandalo answered her call. "During the day, it's so beautiful, warm, sunny and nice," Sandalo said. "At night, the energy of the entire place shifts." Wood described how it felt to first arrive at Gunslinger Gulch. "You could just feel the tension on the property as you drove up," Wood said. "Throughout our six, seven weeks that we were there, that tension just seemed to escalate." Part of the investigation was determining exactly what was haunted, the land, the separate buildings or the family. "There was a lot of wonder behind the scenes, because we didn't know if they were getting evidence, what kind of evidence or what the response was," Broussard recalled. Ultimately, the team made progress with extra assistance. "We did feel like there was a helpful... presence along the way while we were there," Sandalo described. "I'll just leave it at that." Both investigators said they hope the family gets peace. "You want to make sure that at the end of the day you're helping them, getting them to a place where they don't have to feel scared on their own property or in their own house," Wood said. As for the Broussards, they all still live in Gunslinger Gulch. "It definitely felt like the air was a little lighter," Broussard said. "As for the activity... activity is still here. In fact, there's some days where it's really here." The family is now operating a bed and breakfast on the ranch. Broussard said some guests experience the activity, others don't. For booking information, click here. The Ghost Town Terror premieres Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m. MST. The show will also be available to stream the same day on discovery+. March 11, 2022 Challenge-Response - How Russia Is Countering 'Western' Moves Against It Challenge: March 3: Zelensky says 16,000 foreigners have volunteered to fight for Ukraine against Russian invasion Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that 16,000 foreigners have volunteered to fight for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. In an emotional video posted to his Telegram channel, Zelensky referred to the international legion of 16,000 foreign volunteers he has sought to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world. The country earlier this week temporarily lifted visa requirements for foreign volunteers who wish to enter the country and join the fight against Russian forces. March 8: 450 Arab and foreign extremists from Idlib arrive in Ukraine Close to 450 extremist Arab and foreign nationals have arrived in Ukraine from Idlib to fight against Russia's forces, less than only three days after they left Syria, passing through Turkey. Relatives of extremists that have arrived in Ukraine told Sputnik that senior fighters from terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (the rebranded version of Jabhat Al-Nusra, i.e Al-Qaeda) have held a number of meetings with senior leaders in the Turkistan Islamic Party group and Ansar Al-Tawhid and Hurras al-Din groups, and agreed on allowing a number of all their fighters to enter Ukraine through Turkish soil. Response: March 11: President of Russia: Meeting with permanent members of Security Council Sergei Shoigu: We are receiving a huge number of requests from all manner of volunteers from different countries, who would like to come to the Lugansk and Donetsk peoples republics to take part in the liberation movement, as they say. The largest number of requests, over 16,000, has come from the Middle East. We believe that we should grant these requests, especially since the matter does not concern money but a genuine desire of these people. We know many of them; they helped us fight ISIS in the most difficult period, during the past 10 years. ... Vladimir Putin: All right, thank you very much. Regarding the mobilisation of mercenaries from all over the world and sending them to Ukraine. We can see that Ukraines Western sponsors and the Ukrainian regime are not concealing this fact. They are doing this openly and neglecting norms of international law. So, if you see that some volunteers would like to come and help the people in Donbass, especially without pay, then we should meet them halfway and help them relocate to the war zone. I am sure that the fighters from Syria and elsewhere who will fight on Russia's side will get some pay from this or that sponsor, most likely Iran. Some Russian billionaire may also be willing to chip in. But it is important for Putin to show that these are not mercenaries like those on the other side - thus no official pay. There was an additional challenge-response pair with regards to Ukraine. Shoigu also mentioned all the foreign weapon deliveries the Ukraine has received. He told Putin that the Russian forces had captured large amounts of heavy and light weapons including U.S. derived Javelin and Stinger missiles. He proposed to give those to the militia of the Donbas republics. Putin agreed with that. A third challenge-response is the immense number of forces NATO currently mobilizes and moves towards its eastern border. Shoigu thinks that NATO plans for those troops to stay there forever. He will soon propose a new arrangement of Russian forces to potentially counter them. Putin said that he would decide that separately. A few hours later he had a meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. The two likely discussed the stationing of Russian troops and weapons like air defense and missile artillery systems in Belarus. That would make any potential NATO move more complicate. In the above challenge-response pairs the Russian response is symmetric to the challenge. Foreign fighters versus foreign fighters, weapon deliveries versus weapon deliveries, and troops movements versus troop movements. The challenges Russia has not yet responded too are the myriad sanctions the 'west' has enacted against it. There the responses can only be asymmetric. I wonder why Putin is waiting to make them public. Does he want to keep them in reserve? Posted by b on March 11, 2022 at 14:48 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page VIENNA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday that a pause is needed in talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, citing "external factors." Trucks and other cars gather during a truck convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Hagerstown, Maryland, the United States, on March 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A convoy of truckers and other drivers circled the Capital Beltway that surrounds Washington, D.C., on Thursday, the fourth day since their demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions began here early this week. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz visited the convoy camping outside a speedway in Hagerstown, a Maryland city approximately 70 miles (around 110 km) northwest of the capital, before riding in one of the trucks in the morning. Cruz also held a press conference in Washington, D.C., alongside Brian Brase, an organizer of the so-called "People's Convoy," after the ride. The Texas Republican's appearance came a day after he and Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, met with convoy participants on Capitol Hill. Brian Tyler Cohen, a progressive political host, tweeted on Thursday afternoon that Cruz "is simultaneously complaining about gas prices while riding shotgun" with the truck convoy in circles "over and over to protest mandates that don't exist." The convoy, a spinoff from protests in Canada staged by truckers upset with vaccine requirements earlier this year, is calling for an end to the national emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States that led to what they called "overreaching mandates." A U.S. transportation security agency announced on Thursday that it will "extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month, through April 18th," as states and cities are easing COVID-19 restrictions. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said in a statement that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor." "This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science," the TSA statement read. "We will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change." The United States has reported more than 79 million COVID-19 cases and 964,000 deaths, both the highest in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University data. "Covid has moved to the back of many people's minds, but the pandemic isn't over," Tom Frieden, former CDC director, tweeted on Thursday afternoon. "To save lives now, we must keep pushing for better tracking and better access to vaccines, tests, and treatment globally," Frieden wrote. "To save lives from future pandemic threats, we must prepare better." The truckers started hitting the Capital Beltway in convoy on Sunday and took a break on Wednesday due to rain. Capitol Police said previously they did not expect the convoy to cause security problems in the Washington metropolitan area. Trucks and other cars gather during a truck convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Hagerstown, Maryland, the United States, on March 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Trucks and other cars gather during a truck convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Hagerstown, Maryland, the United States, on March 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Trucks and other cars gather during a truck convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Hagerstown, Maryland, the United States, on March 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The Lubbock-based auto group owner who lied to a bank about his companys prospects will spend 14 years in federal prison and have to pay nearly $9.4 million in restitution, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Reagor Dykes Auto Group owner Bart Wade Reagor, 55, was found guilty in October 2021 of making false statements to a bank insured by the FDIC. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk for the Northern District of Texas. Evidence presented at trial showed that Reagor in 2017 told the International Bank of Commerce that his auto group was experiencing tremendous growth and expected to go public, according to the Justice Department release. He told the bank his auto group needed money to sustain its upward trajectory and maintain a cash cushion for each of the dealerships to operate. The bank granted Reagor a $10 million working capital loan distributed in July 2017 and February 2018. But Reagor moved more than $1.7 million of that into his personal account at Prosperity Bank, according to the release. Reagor Dykes Auto Groups CFO Shane Smith testified at trial that Reagor and his partner, Rick Dykes, regularly took money out of the business. Smith estimated the two took out more than $25 million over 10 years. According to the release, 15 employees previously pleaded guilty to various financial crimes. During sentencing, videos of Reagor speaking with employees showed him demeaning anybody who makes less than six-figure salaries and saying that winning in his business was more important than life, according to the release. He told employees that anyone bringing home a five-digit salary is broke as [expletive] and living a chump life. Videos showed him berating his employees for not hitting their sales targets, as well, according to the release. You gotta want to win more than you want to live, Reagor says in one video, according to the release. I do. I [expletive] die to win. I want to win every [expletive] day. Every [expletive] day, every [expletive] deal. -- Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. High schoolers trading science experiments for making Molotov cocktails. Pediatric cancer patients huddled in basement bomb shelters. Architects, teachers and grandmothers taking up arms to protect their countrys freedom. This is the situation in Ukraine as Russia continues its invasion of this sovereign democracy in an attempt to rebuild the Soviet Union. The United States has taken action against Russian aggression, with sanctions crippling their banks and currency. However, Russias lucrative oil and gas industry remains virtually untouched, giving Putin enough capital to sustain the brutal attacks against Ukrainian civilians. The embarrassing truth is that the U.S. has been one of Russias many customers. Last year, we imported hundreds of millions of barrels of Russian oil and petroleum products. Following an intense pressure campaign from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, the White House finally announced a ban on the import of Russian oil. This is an important step in the right direction, but theres more we should do to hold Russia accountable and address our own energy insecurity. In the Senate, Ive introduced legislation to counter Russian aggression by closing a loophole in current sanctions that allow Russia to launder money through the purchase and sale of gold, as well as a bill to provide American internet and phone services to Ukraines citizens and military. I authored bills to strengthen our own security by screening U.S. outbound investments to Russia for national security risks and identifying ways to counter Russian energy influence globally. In addition to these bills, Ive cosponsored legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, increase domestic production of crude oil and natural gas, streamline the process for new liquefied natural gas exports, and open up oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. Im looking forward to discussing these solutions during a conversation with Dr. Daniel Yergin as part of Houstons CERAWeek. Energy security isnt an impossible fantasy in fact, just a few years ago American energy was thriving. In 2019, the U.S. became a net total energy exporter for the first time since 1952. That lasted through 2020, but President Biden has turned back the clock, taking us from an era of energy independence back to the oil crisis of the 1970s. From day one, this administration has taken actions that weaken our energy security. Only hours after being sworn in, President Biden cancelled the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline and halted new energy leasing and permitting on public lands and waters. Oil production is down by about 1.2 million barrels per day since March 2020, stacking the cards in Russias favor. Energy security is national security. We are a resource-rich country and theres no reason we should rely on any power-hungry dictator for our energy needs. Texas is an energy powerhouse, and we have the opportunity to strengthen Americas energy independence at this critical moment. Though Texas is best known for the might of our oil and gas industry, were also the nations largest producer of wind energy, and our solar production continues to grow. The Lone Star State is a leader in energy innovation and diversification, and were dang proud of it. We can offset the demand for Russian energy globally by continuing to focus on an all-of-the-above energy strategy. However, we know the sun doesnt always shine and the wind doesnt always blow. When Mother Nature fails to deliver an adequate supply of energy, we need reliable access to oil and gas. If the president continues to wage war on these energy sources, we wont be able to protect ourselves or our allies from the whims of an oil-rich dictator. We cannot expect Russia to stop at Ukraine in its quest to resurrect the Soviet Union, and we know Putin is not afraid of using oil and gas as a weapon to tear down its adversaries. The U.S. must face this threat head-on by harnessing energy to lift up our allies and improve global security, and Texas is well-positioned to lead this effort. -- Editors Note: In the wake of Russias invasion into Ukraine, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) authored the following op-ed in the Houston Chronicle discussing the troubling global dependence on Russian oil and the importance of bolstering domestic energy production for national security: WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate on Thursday night passed a 1.5-trillion-U.S.-dollar omnibus spending bill for the fiscal year 2022 to fund the federal government through the end of September, sending it to U.S. President Joe Biden's desk for his signature. The Senate voted 68-31 to pass the bill, which includes 730 billion dollars in non-defense funding and 782 billion dollars in defense funding, one day before a temporary government funding measure was set to expire on Friday. The bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday night, also provides 13.6 billion dollars in supplemental funding to boost humanitarian, security and economic assistance related to the Ukraine crisis. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the bill ends a damaging series of short-term continuing resolutions that have undermined the government's ability to meet pressing challenges. "We thank leaders in the House and Senate for their partnership in getting this bill done, and the President looks forward to signing it into law," Psaki said on Thursday night in a statement. Police investigate a slingshot threat and subsequent shooting at the Shell gas station on Marine Corps Drive near Ysengsong Road in Dededo Wednesday night. An investigation led by the Guam Office of the Attorney General has begun. In this photo provided by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a man arranges bags of seized suspected methamphetamine in Valenzuela city, Metro Manila, the Philippines on March 8, 2022. United Airlines planes are parked at their gates at O'Hare International Airport ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago, Illinois, Nov. 20, 2021. When Angie Johnson first heard the idea about putting roundabouts on Main Street in Conway, like so many others, she was skeptical. But after more study she has changed her mind. The biggest thing that made her see things differently was learning that the roundabouts suggested for Main Street at Third and Fourth avenues were single-lane models and that Fifth Avenue had been added to the recommendation. She calls the single-lane model a mini-roundabout. If they had two lanes I would be leery because of the pedestrians, but the mini is what sold me with just the one lane, said Johnson, who watches the Main Street traffic from Curtains-N-Things. Consultants, hired by the City of Conway to help plan Downtown Conways future, explained to Johnson that there would be plantings in the center of the roundabouts and plenty of room on the streets for pedestrians to wait to cross. Because traffic will be going slower than it does now, pedestrians will simply wait for someone to stop and let them walk. If necessary, theyll wait in the center until another motorist lets them walk the rest of the way across. Pete Poore, spokesperson with the S.C. Department of Transportation, provided information that says all traffic yields on entry to the roundabout, which is more efficient than the typical stop conditions. The slower speeds that a roundabout introduces also help maximize gaps for entering vehicles. Because Main Street is an SCDOT street, the final decisions on the roundabouts will be made with the help of SCDOT officials, who say the roundabouts are safer for everyone, reducing crashes by 66%, injuries by 79% and fatal crashes by 100%. They base these numbers on an evaluation of 12 single-lane roundabouts in use in South Carolina since 2011. But they can be costly, depending on a number of issues including purchasing rights-of-way, hydrology and utilities. Typically, SCDOT has seen construction costs for a single-lane roundabout around $1.5 million-$2 million, the DOT information says. BEARDSTOWN An affordable-housing project is moving forward after City Council voted to annex a large portion of land bought by JBS USA for the development. Mayor Tim Harris said the board voted to approve the annexation of a property along Illinois Route 125 near Walmart. "We did this so it will be a part of the city limits," Harris said. The land was county property. The housing project is a joint project between Beardstown, JBS USA and Cass County and will help provide affordable housing for both Beardstown residents and JBS employees. JBS USA has pledged $20 million to help fund affordable housing projects in several communities that are home to its facilities, including Beardstown. Nikki Richardson, a spokeswoman for JBS, has previous said that the funding is one way the company is meeting the needs of its employees. The annexed land is roughly 37 acres, Harris said. After the annexation is final, the city will take it through the zoning process so it will be zoned residential. "This is an addition to our housing market," Harris said. "There is a shortage of affordable housing options. This also helps JBS when they are bringing in new employees." The project is in the beginning phases, Harris said. The process will take time and he said most of it is being handled by JBS, though the city is helping. "This has been a group effort and there are still a lot of things that have to be considered," Harris said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Illinois School for the Visually Impaired senior Alyssa Root was named winner Thursday of the regional Braille Challenge, a competition that tests students in reading comprehension, spelling, speed and accuracy, proofreading, and charts and graphs. Im actually really excited about it, Root said. I didnt expect to place that high. It was Roots first win since she started competing in 2018. ISVI junior Sidney Root came in second, and senior L.T. Spears claimed third. The Braille Challenge is a competition held by the Braille Institute of America. It is open to students in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, with more than 50 regional events across those three nations. The challenge first was held in 2000. This year, 17 students ages 10 to 22 from across Illinois gathered at ISVI to test their skills in Braille. The event marked the ninth competition held by the school. Jasmine Wells, the schools organizer for the challenge, said it helps students with visual disabilities meet up with their peers. Typically, if they are in a public school, they are the only kid who is reading and writing Braille, Wells said. For some kids, it seems isolating to them, so this is an opportunity for them to also have the social aspect of being able to participate in this big event with other students who are going through the same things they are going through. Principal Barbi Ballard said the school is proud to be able to host an event like the Braille Challenge. Its a unique opportunity for them to come alongside their peers and be with a team of people who understand this is who they are, what they need and also what they shine at, Ballard said. The top 60 students from across the three countries will meet in Los Angeles for the final round. Root said she is optimistic about her chances of going to the national stage. Students who participated in the challenge say it is a good experience and encourage anyone who is considering competing to try it out. Going up against fellow students pushed Spears to improve his own Braille comprehension, he said. What I really like is competing against people, he said, because Im really competitive. If I get first place, or whatever, Im like, OK, Ill have to come back next year, but if someone beat me, that drives me and Im like all right, Ill have to come back and beat this person. Finalists will be announced in early May. The final round will be June 24-26. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Its a musical about an elementary school with more than its share of musical talent. And Jacksonville high school and middle school students are combining efforts this weekend to rock the Jacksonville High School auditorium stage with a production of School of Rock. Based on the 2003 Jack Black movie by the same name, the play features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. We decided our seniors needed a really great show, said Justine Moser, a JHS English teacher and co-director of the show. Everyone needed a fun, shot-in-your-arm sort of show. We thought the kids would really connect to it. Moser shares directing credits on the musical with Jacksonville Middle School theater and debate teacher Shawn Smith, while Stephanie Soltermann, who teaches music in Jacksonville School District 117, guides the musical aspects of the show. The story follows struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is kicked out of his band and subsequently passes himself off as a substitute teacher in a prestigious prep school to pay the bills. When he realizes his students fourth-graders in the movie and fifth-graders in the play have a wealth of musical talent, he recruits them as his band and enters a Battle of the Bands competition. The original plan was to have both schools involved, Moser said of JMS students joining the cast. We wanted to create an avenue for middle schoolers to get over to the high school, see what it was like and learn from the older students. Its a fun opportunity to connect the two schools. It also helps round out the large cast an entire classroom full of students, for starters. The student ... cast as Dewey is fantastic, Cory Ellis, JHS band and orchestra director and interim choir director, said of senior Gabe Karr. Sometimes he sounds virtually indistinguishable from Jack Black. Ellis isnt involved in guiding the production but is lending his musical talents to the productions pit orchestra, he said. Others in the cast include freshman Quentin Bryson-Adams as Mrs. Sheinkopf, junior Ellieanna Walden as student Summer Hathaway, and sophomore Jalen Morgan as Ned Schneebly, Deweys loveable pushover of a best friend. While many of the cast members play musical instruments off-stage, they will not be playing in real time on stage, Moser said, noting that they will have an amazing live band in the pit instead. The entire cast will be glad when the curtain finally rises on Friday, she said. It was touch-and-go for a while, with COVID days and snow days, but were definitely ready for an audience, Moser said. Its been a challenging couple of years, a challenging year. But weve been able to overcome them. The kids have been really great. And thats what theaters all about when you finally get to share it with the audience. Now, theyre hoping the audience turns out. A lot of people are familiar with the Jack Black movie, Moser said. (We hope it will) get a lot of people in the community excited to come out and support the kids. Its been a tough couple of years. Its fun to celebrate being back in the theater. NEW YORK, March 10 (Xinhua) -- As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, a cluster of new studies show that about a third of U.S. children in the youngest grades are missing reading benchmarks, up significantly from before the pandemic, reported The New York Times on Tuesday. "Children in every demographic group have been affected, but Black and Hispanic children, as well as those from low-income families, those with disabilities and those who are not fluent in English, have fallen the furthest behind," said the newspaper in its report. In Virginia, early reading skills were at a 20-year low this fall. In the Boston region, 60 percent of students at some high-poverty schools have been identified as at high risk for reading problems, twice the number of students as before the pandemic, according to the report. "The literacy crisis did not start with the pandemic. In 2019, results on national and international exams showed stagnant or declining American performance in reading, and widening gaps between high and low performers," said the article titled "It's 'Alarming': Children Are Severely Behind in Reading." The causes are multifaceted, but many experts point to a shortage of educators trained in phonics and phonemic awareness -- the foundational skills of linking the sounds of spoken English to the letters that appear on the page. "The pandemic has compounded those issues," it added. Phoenix Bonds parents are asking people to vote online so that he can win an adaptive tricycle. It's been about two weeks since the lifting of all domestic COVID-19 restrictions in England. How much can the removal really boost the UK economy? Views are mixed. Produced by Xinhua Global Service (Editors note: This project is a collaboration between the Plainview Herald and Saint Francis Ministries to showcase kids who are cleared for adoption.) Trinity is an outgoing and dynamic teen girl. She enjoys reading, dancing, drawing, and listening to music. The 15-year-old also has a knack for volleyball and horseback riding. Trinity carries a bold disposition while maintaining a fun, lively attitude. She loves to be the life of the party and values the connections she makes with those around her. Trinity is currently prioritizing learning how to make and maintain healthy relationships. She enjoys living life to the fullest. Trinity will be a delightful addition to a very loving, nurturing, and caring family. Open the windows and crank up the music; this girl is ready to lead a dance party in your living room! --- Trinity is among the children listed on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) website. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default for more details. Saint Francis Ministries is a nonprofit organization and a community-based care provider for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services Region 1. This region includes 41 counties across the Panhandle and South Plains. To learn more about fostering or adopting, those interested are encouraged to attend one of the monthly virtual meetings hosted by Saint Francis Ministries and other child placing agencies. The meetings provide information about how to get started, the basic qualifications and more, in addition to providing opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Those interested can visit Saint Francis Texas on Facebook @SFMtexas to register for the online meetings, which can also be found below: The meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of the month (Lubbock area https://lubbock-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com) and the third Thursday of the month (Amarillo area https://amarillo-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com). For more information, please contact Erin Baxter at (806) 317-5631 or email texasinfo@st-francis.org. Visit Saint Francis Ministries online at https://saintfrancisministries.org. MERIDEN Opening a business is an idea that crosses many peoples minds at one time or another, but the process of getting to that grand opening can be very complex. Fortunately, theres guidance available to help you start your business journey After creating a business plan, there are two important places in the process of opening a business: the Secretary of the States Office and your local city or town hall. The Secretary of the States Office is the government entity where new businesses file their documents as well as annual reports and any other organizational documents, according to Gabe Rosenberg, general counsel. Filing can be done online, and the website offers a personalized step-by-step checklist at business.ct.gov, depending on the type of business. To start the checklist, you must provide some information such as the potential name of the business, if you plan on registering the business in Connecticut and the type of business. Before starting The website provides a list and description of common legal business structures. For example, a limited liability company (LLC), allows profits and losses to be passed through to the owners, but members are considered self-employed and must pay self-employment tax contributions on their own. A stock corporation, on the other hand, is completely separate from its owners, is liable for any debts and obligations and is taxed at the higher corporate tax rate. For more information visit service.ct.gov/business/ The checklist starts by giving the potential business owner the steps to take prior to registering the business, such as choosing an address and getting location approval from local government offices. Next up is registering your business. Potential owners need to make sure the business name they want is available. A link to do a quick name check with the State of Connecticut is provided by visiting service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch. The checklist will provide you with a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, a classification of business establishments by the type of business activity. The checklist then suggests selecting a legal structure and speaking with a lawyer regarding the structure that would best match the business. Another suggestion is to register a trade name if you plan to use a business name different from the legal name you use to create the business. Businesses are required to have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), used by the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) to identify a business. To apply for an EIN, visit https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-to-apply-for-an-ein. Registering with the state Department of Revenue Services, completing an employer status report for unemployment compensation and registering for CT Paid Leave are also steps listed on the checklist. The checklist will tell you and guide you if your business needs licenses. Those looking to hire employees will need to purchase workers compensation insurance. Those planning on having one or more employees must also register with the Connecticut Department of Labor by filing an employer status report. For details about how to register, visit https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/uitax/RegisterReq.htm. The checklist provides other insurance options people should consider for their potential business. To learn more about the common types of business insurance, visit https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/get-business-insurance. Other resources can also be found at the end of the checklist. Business in Meriden Each city and town has certain regulations that must be followed. Meriden requires the name of a business to be filed at City Hall with the clerk, said Joseph Feest, Meridens economic development director. Some businesses like auto dealers and repair shops must have a special license and need to go through the Zoning Board of Appeals. Establishments such as restaurants and barber shops must go through the health department because inspections are required. Feest said it is a good idea and an important step for new business owners to speak with an accountant about details like the federal tax identification number and other financial aspects. It is also important to choose a location thats zoned for the type of business you are looking to open. Feest explained there are different commercial zones within each city. These are areas selected by the citys administration for specific types of businesses. Thats one of the reasons car dealers, for example, are typically located in the same area of a city. The city staff could help potential business owners with suggestions, Feest said. Help administering finances Steven Jacques, a certified financial planner and owner of Lighthouse Financial in Meriden, confirmed that a team of experts should be part of the process, including a certified financial planner or financial advisor, an attorney, an insurance agent, an accountant and a banker. Financial professionals help business owners to understand that they need to pay themselves first and save for retirement, Jacques said. A financial advisor assists by identifying the money needed and can help with other contacts and resources. Jacques said having a certified financial planner instead of a financial advisor could help with additional expertise in other areas. New business owners experience Jessica Macary, co-owner of La Catrina, a Southington restaurant that opened in December, said that creating a business journal has helped her a lot. I found it helpful for planning and organizing because its literally the foundation of my goals and dreams, she said. The journal is a three-ring binder divided up with tabs for ideas, questions and answers, legal aspects, networking, research and a vision board. The questions and answers are an important tool for Macary since she is aware that the business journey is not always going to be a straight path. Having that tab to refer to in the future is something she said she finds helpful. Staying on track of the legal aspects is also important for Macary. You need a lot of registrations, licenses, permits and its easy to get confused, she said. The research tab includes information about insurance companies and demographics. The networking tab includes a local chamber of commerce. She said the chambers are an asset because they can help answer questions and help business owners connect with each other. They are a great, great tool to reach out to. They have all the resources, tons of people willing to help you. Starting a new business can take time, so be prepared. It took Macary more than two years from the time she commited to start building the business to opening day. Macary said people should keep in mind there are a lot of details that go into opening and keeping a business, thats why she suggests people support small businesses in any way, even if it's just by writing a review. ksantos@record-journal.com203-317-2364Twitter: @KarlaSantosNews This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. Theres no way around it: Travel has a big environmental impact. If commercial aviation were its own country, it would rank sixth in terms of total carbon dioxide emissions (between Japan and Germany), according to a 2019 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Whoa. The onus of reducing the carbon impact of travel rests on many shoulders, from corporations to countries. But the fact remains that the decisions of individual travelers matter as well. So what can environmentally conscious travelers do to reduce their impact? Flying less frequently or less far is one option, but not an attractive or feasible one for many travelers. And buying carbon offsets or other price-intensive measures can help (in theory), but not everyone can afford them. Thankfully there are many low-cost or free ways to reduce the environmental impact of travel. In fact, some of them can even save you money. 1. Skip premium cabins Yes, flying at the front of the plane is the dream. And using points and miles makes this dream a possibility for many. But its expensive both in terms of cost and carbon impact. An analysis by the World Bank's Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group estimates that first-class fares can cause up to nine times more emissions than economy fares because of the space they require on aircraft. So, taking a single flight in first class could be the equivalent of nine flights of the same distance in economy. This ones a win-win for budget- and eco-conscious travelers. Avoiding the markup on premium seats can reduce both the cost and carbon impact of air travel. Your knees might not thank you for cramming into an economy seat, but the climate might. 2. Use Google Flights' new carbon feature Googles flight search tool is an excellent choice for travel experts and newbies alike. And it has recently added a carbon emissions feature that makes it invaluable for environmentally minded travelers. The best part of this feature is that you dont have to do anything to use it: Its baked into the flight search results automatically. Google shows the estimated carbon dioxide emissions for each flight and highlights the option with the lowest emissions. This acts as a behavioral nudge that lets you choose the most environmentally conscious option with all other variables being the same. In the example pictured, the Qatar Airways flight costs a bit more and has slightly lower emissions than the Singapore Airlines flight. However, in many cases, the lowest-cost flight is also the least carbon intensive. This makes it easy to make a small difference on the impact of your flight without spending much (or any) more. 3. Dont accept a rental car upgrade Have you ever booked the cheapest (and smallest) rental car available, only to receive a much bigger vehicle at the counter? This can feel like a small victory akin to being upgraded on a flight but it comes with a carbon cost. In addition to being cheaper, economy cars are also generally more fuel efficient. So getting upgraded to a sport utility vehicle isnt always a good thing. Just ask the rental car agent if any smaller cars are available. You might get some arched eyebrows in response, but theres no issue with taking the downgrade. Sometimes there are no small cars available, which is the reason for the upgrade, but its worth asking. This carbon-conscious trick is not only free it can save you gas money. 4. Turn down the hotel AC and heat when you leave All in all, hotel rooms are pretty efficient. Theyre much smaller and easier to heat, cool and light than a typical home. And theyre generally built with energy conservation in mind (since hotel companies foot the bill). Yet, for the most part, hotel rooms are under constant climate control, even when unoccupied. This means youre always stepping into a perfectly room-temperature environment when returning, but its also a waste of energy. This ones easy: Simply turn down your heat or air conditioning when leaving the hotel room for the day. The minor inconvenience of a chilly or warm room is easily offset by the energy savings. You might even take your eco-consciousness a step further and consider booking hotels that are committed to protecting the environment. The bottom line Being an environmentally responsible traveler is not a zero-sum game. You dont have to travel less, or buy a bunch of carbon offsets, in order to make a difference. Small behavioral nudges such as turning down the AC or rental car upgrade can make a meaningful difference. In fact, you can have it both ways saving money and reducing your carbon footprint at the same time. Sam Kemmis writes for NerdWallet. Email: skemmis@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @samsambutdif. The article 4 Cheap Ways to Be an Eco-Conscious Traveler originally appeared on NerdWallet. Michael Tran/FilmMagic In February, Alpha Media stunned San Antonio by launching a Tejano station with a strong signal and star-studded DJ list including Jonny Ramirez. After KXTN 107.5 switched to an HD2 format in 2019, local Tejano fans largely relied on streaming services to jam out to the classics. The news of the return of Tejano radio was celebrated by the city for days, and now Chris Perez, one of the musicians who helped make the genre a sound of the 1990s, is sharing his thoughts. The rocker was married to Tejano icon Selena at the time of her death. He was also lead guitarist of the Selena y Los Dinos band. Though he didn't explicitly name the Tejano station, we can guess who the San Antonio resident is referring to. He shared a throwback photo of the band in a post on Thursday, March 10. A solid player in the citys Thai restaurant scene, Kin Thai & Sushi has opened a second location on Bulverde Road at Loop 1604 on the Northeast Side. The original Kin Thai & Sushi opened in 2018 at the Dominion Ridge shopping center on the Northwest Side, earning praise from the Express-News for its curry bowls, pad thai noodles, tom kha gai soup and creative sushi rolls. The same extensive Thai and Japanese menu carries over to the new location, with bar service that includes beer, wine and sake. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After closing its downtown restaurant in December and operating out of a food truck since then, the health-forward restaurant Pharm Table is reopening in Southtown Tuesday. For chef Elizabeth Johnson, the move represents some big changes for the restaurant, renowned for its Ayurvedic healing approach to food and a colorful, refreshing menu of salads, broths, tacos, kitchari bowls and juice shots. Youll still be able to get those things, but Johnson is adding dinner hours to the experience, and with that comes an all-day menu with more protein options as entrees and add-ons, including Persian chicken, grass-fed beef, salmon and seared fish. New dishes will include smoked mole verde enchiladas, a beet-cured salmon gravlox board, Israeli-style hummus and roasted roots and cilantro-coconut guacamole, which Johnson calls Ayurveda meets Mexico. Keeping with Pharm Tables connection to fresh food and its growing seasons, the menu will change regularly and take advantage of Johnsons well-curated global spice library. The new Pharm Table also includes a full bar, with wine, beer and cocktails like the Pharmers Cup, which uses housemade turmeric ginger beer, and a pisco-based Sumac Sour that draws on the flavors of sumac, white port and aquafaba, a whipped foam conjured from the liquid produced from cooking garbanzo beans. On ExpressNews.com: Review: At Pharm Table, we finally get health food that doesn't taste like punishment The new space is located next to the upcoming new location of the progressive restaurant Mixtli in the complex that once housed Steel City Pops. There is plenty of outdoor seating in a broad courtyard thats been popular with Pharm Table food truck customers. Indoors diners will enjoy lots of light from garage door-style windows. The food trucks last day will be Sunday, then the restaurant will open Tuesday. Pharm Table, 611 S. Presa St., Suite 106, 210-802-1860, pharmtable.com. Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch and lunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for brunch and lunch Sunday. Permanent hours will be announced at a later date. msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking Courtesy of Blue Bell Blue Bell is pretty peachy about making the best out of this spring with the return of this fruity flavor. Now you'll be get your hands on it in stores. The Texas-based ice cream maker revealed the creamy Peachy Peach flavor is on store shelves, according to a Thursday, March 10 press release. The peach flavored ice cream contains chunks of peaches and is sure to go great with your spring cookouts. Billy Calzada /Staff file photo Fiesta is right around the corner and that means parade floats will soon be taking over the streets of downtown San Antonio. The annual Battle of Flowers Parade will return this year after a two-year hiatus. Tickets became available to purchase on Thursday, March 10. Revelers have the option to select tickets along various sections of the parade route. Battle of Flowers tickets are selling fast and range from $20 to $35. San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department The City of San Antonio has celebrated the completion of improvements at Martin Luther King Park that was part of the 2017 bond project. Officials held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event to commemorate the installments on Tuesday, March 8. Park visitors can expect a new pavilion with attached bathrooms, new paved trails, additional parking, a splash pad that will open at a later date, and a new art piece called "Spheres of Refection" by local artist, Kaldric Dow. John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Folks may have their weekend plans in place, but the latest report may throw a wrench in them. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but San Antonio should prepare for yet another change in weather. A strong, unseasonable cold front is set to move through San Antonio on the morning of Friday, March 11, according to a news release from the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to fall sharply into the 30s and 40s. The cold front will be accompanied by strong winds, so strong that a wind advisory will be in effect Friday from noon to midnight. Wind gusts may even reach 45 mph. Experts say a late season freeze will occur Friday night into the Saturday, March 12 morning as the wind chills temperature will range between the teens and low 20s. On Friday, a judge will consider whether to block enforcement of a letter that Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued Feb. 22 related to transgender minors. After the precedent established in 2021 by the state's restrictive abortion law, Abbott called for members of the public to report the names of Texans suspected of providing certain medical treatments, such as puberty-blocking hormones, to the Department of Family and Protective Services. The governor's directive followed a legal opinion issued Feb. 18 by State Attorney General Ken Paxton, R-Texas, that classified such treatments as child abuse. If Abbott's directive remains in effect, Texans risk losing their children to the foster-care system for providing gender-affirming health care. Neighbors could soon turn on neighbors, as the newest iteration of McCarthyism weaves its way through the medicine cabinets of teenagers in Texas. While restricting the rights of transgender individuals and youths in the state is a relatively recent phenomenon, the discriminatory intent behind these efforts is not. There is a long history in Texas of "otherizing" people in marginalized communities for political gain, with little regard for the truth. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, for example, conservative Christian activists targeted feminists, the LGBTQ population and eventually AIDS patients - people they thought were violating God's preference for the heterosexual nuclear family and its traditional gender roles. In 1977, Houston hosted the federally funded National Women's Conference (NWC), which drew approximately 22,000 participants, 2,000 of whom were delegates, with the rest observing. Conservatives found the conference horrifying. One journalist writing for a right-wing John Birch Society publication denounced the event for encouraging "militant lesbianism" and permitting participation by "old-line Stalinoids" and "active enemies of the United States." Anti-feminist, conservative activists - who adopted the moniker "pro-family" for their movement - sought to undermine and disrupt the conference. Some did so from inside the conference itself as delegates, including a few from Texas. One "pro-family" delegate from the Lone Star state complained that the delegate selection process had occurred before conservatives in the state could mobilize, meaning that "pro-lib, pro-ERA, pro-lesbian minority group[s]" outnumbered "the majority traditional American women who are concerned about the moral fiber, and the families, of the United States." But most conservative activists either were not elected to the NWC, did not know about the conference in time to apply or eschewed attending the main event in favor of a counter-conference also held in Houston at the old Astro Arena. Prominent anti-feminist organizer and conservative Republican Phyllis Schlafly is often credited for organizing this "pro-family" counter conference, but equal if not greater credit goes to local activist Lottie Beth Hobbs of Fort Worth - who pulled off what colleagues on the right believed to be impossible. Hobbs secured sufficient funds and organized the wildly successful counter rally, which drew 15,000 people. Christian conservatives arrived by the busload from around the state and the nation. Hobbs played a significant role in shifting Texas rightward on social issues such as legal abortion, LGBTQ rights and "traditional family values" more generally. Vitriolic attacks on those Hobbs said to be a threat to the traditional family - chiefly, feminists and lesbians - helped fuel this rightward shift in Texas that mirrored broader national trends afoot by 1980. Hobbs argued that the "barriers" feminists wanted removed from the nation's laws to ensure more equality for women and men, gay and straight, were actually important "safeguards" that "wise men and women of the past [had] carefully built . . . into our system," without which the country would "plunge . . . into social and moral destruction." In the years that followed the competing conferences in Houston in 1977 - at both the local and national level - the political parties continued to diverge on the cultural issues driving the dueling movements. The Democratic Party increasingly embraced policies and rhetoric from the feminist and LGBTQ rights movements, while conservative activists continued to gain a greater foothold in the Republican Party. These opposing forces soon collided again in Houston, first in a battle over an anti-discrimination ordinance in 1984 and then in the city's 1985 mayoral race. In 1984, liberal Democratic Mayor Kathy Whitmire, the first woman to hold the position, championed an anti-discrimination ordinance that would have protected the LGBTQ community against employment discrimination. The fight happened at the height of the AIDS crisis, when incendiary anti-LGBTQ rhetoric became commonplace across the nation. One opinion columnist called for all people with AIDS to be tattooed and another suggested that AIDS was nature's "retribution" against gay people for "declar[ing] war upon nature." By conflating a fear of AIDS with equal rights for the LGBTQ community, conservatives achieved victory, with voters rejecting the anti-discrimination ordinance in a referendum by a four-to-one margin in January 1985. Later that year, Republican Louie Welch, who had served as the pro-business mayor of the city from 1964 through 1973 - before the rise of family values politics took hold in his party - tried to resurrect his political career by challenging Whitmire. Welch campaigned by merging the boosterism of his past political style with the newer social conservatism of the modern Republican Party. Welch made AIDS the main issue in his campaign, and he attacked people with the disease, not the disease itself. In a far cry from the city and business boosterism that had marked his prior terms as mayor, he was caught on a hot mic boasting that he would solve the AIDS crisis by "shoot[ing]" LGBTQ people. Though not a literal threat, the spirit behind Welch's remark resonated with those who resented Whitmire's push for the anti-discrimination ordinance. And he was not the only candidate in Houston that year to make the anti-discrimination ordinance a major issue. A group of conservatives sought election to the city council by running on what they proudly termed the "Straight Slate." Welch and the Straight Slate candidates said they would require food service workers, day-care workers, teachers and employees of blood banks to carry health identification cards and be tested every six months for HIV, tuberculosis and leprosy. They claimed to be "trying to return [Houston] to a community oriented to traditional family values." This time, however, voters in Houston rejected Welch and the Straight Slate. Whitmire bested Welch 57 percent to 43 percent. Welch's gamble that political extremism was the ticket for reviving his political career failed. Today, Abbott and Paxton are adhering to this longer history and tradition of targeting a marginalized group to advance their political careers. Both faced primary challenges from the right. While Abbott won, Paxton will face Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush in a runoff. The playbook for both men is to appease the right wing on cultural issues, while making voting incredibly difficult for minority and marginalized communities that might include or be sympathetic to the plight of transgender youths and their families. Will Texas parents lose their children to reelect Abbott? Will transgender children and teens in Texas lose the right to gender-affirming health care? If the past really is prologue, the answer is maybe, but this history also shows that hate can be stopped when politicians go too far. - - - Nancy Beck Young is professor of history at the University of Houston and author of multiple books including "Why We Fight: Congress and the Politics of World War II" and "Two Suns of the Southwest: Lyndon Johnson, Barry Goldwater, and the 1964 Battle between Liberalism and Conservatism." By Lambert Strether of Corrente Bird Song of the Day * * * Politics But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51 They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. Hunter Thompson Trucker Convoys Activism, Uncensored: The Peoples Convoy [Matt Taibbi, TK News]. In a terrific piece of coast-to-coast video journalism, culminating in a story thats still live the Freedom Convoy, an American version of Canadian trucker protests, is still engaged in daily circling of the Beltway TK partners News2Share chronicles the convoys journey from Adelanto, California to Washington, D.C. Ford Fischer and his crew also shoot a counterprotest in Washington, as well as a meeting held between the truckers and three oft-maligned Republican members of congress: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and Thomas Massie. This extended video captures enough of the atmosphere around the protests to make it accessible, without covering up any warts. A delegation went to Washington to meet with the three Twitter-infamous members of congress. In that meeting, a trucker veered from mandates to talk about prices. In 2012, I went through this with Obama. When fuel prices hit $5 a gallon, I had a truck that was paid for, I was profitable, he said (reportedly the national average never made it to $5 a gallon then, though it did hit that number in spots). He went on: Then, I lost everything. I had to sell my truck, even though it was paid for, go to the oil fields of North Dakota, and get a job as a company driver, and its taken me ten years to work my way back up. Referring to current skyrocketing gas prices, and offering a preview of potential future disputes, he added: We are right now on the precipice of losing our collective asses You cannot run a truck on six dollars a gallon. Overall, News2Share does a great job giving a nuanced portrayal of all sides of the current culture war, showing a complex dispute from multiple angles. Biden Adminstration More Sanctions on Russia, Means More Economic Instability and Headwinds for Democrats [Amy Walter, Cook Political Report]. The notion that [Republicans] want to now come here and lecture us, Jeffries said earlier on Tuesday, when Vladimir Putin is the one responsible if gas prices increase significantly here in America Vladimir Putin and they shouldnt provide any aid and comfort to him. Of course, theres a limit to how much blame the Russian president can get for our current pain at the pump. While there has been a drastic short-term spike in gas prices over the last week, overall gas prices had been rising long before the invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, voters have been giving low marks to Bidens handling of the economy for the last few months, suggesting that this pivot to Putin will meet voter skepticism. Even so, recent polling suggests that Americans are more willing to accept economic pain to punish Putin. A Wall Street Journal poll, published Tuesday, found 79 percent of Americans favored a ban on Russian oil imports, even if the prohibition increased energy prices. A Quinnipiac poll released last week found similar support (71 percent), even with the knowledge that gas prices could go up. A late February CNN poll found that just 34 percent of Americans thought that the impact on gas prices should be a major concern for U.S. policymakers as they considered next steps on Russia. Its understandable that as Americans watch the horror inflicted upon innocent Ukrainians, they want to deny any support monetary or otherwise to Putin. But, theres sure to be a limit to this altruism , especially with such uncertainty about the final outcome. Will Americans feel as positive (and generous) if Russia succeeds in overthrowing the Zelenskyy government? Or, if this war drags on for weeks on end. The 17 lawmakers who voted against the Russian oil ban [The Hill]. Two Democrats: Ilhan Omar and Cori Bush. So know we know who has stones and who doesnt. Ukraine Museums Desperately Working To Preserve Priceless Hunter Biden Paintings [Babylon Bee]. According to sources, most of the paintings were initially purchased for the Burisma boardroom with the tacit understanding that then-Vice President Joe Biden would look out for Ukraine. * * * Covid aid faces uncertain path on Capitol Hill as White House warns of severe consequences [Poliitico]. My biggest concern at this point is that we have to get something supported by 10 Republicans in the Senate, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) told reporters on a call Thursday morning. The White House is out of money at this point to fight the global vaccination war, and theyre running on fumes to fight the domestic Covid war. How could we possibly leave ourselves in this position?' Covid is so over. We dont need to spend any money on it. Read the room! IRS plans to hire 10,000 workers to relieve massive backlog [ABC]. The IRS said Thursday it plans to hire 10,000 new workers to help reduce a massive backlog that the government says will make this tax season the most challenging in history. The agency released a plan to work down the tens of millions of filings that includes speeding up the traditionally slow hiring process, relying more on automated processes and bringing on more contract workers to help with mailroom and paper processing. Getting it done will be the big challenge, tax experts say. The agency faces a backlog of around 20 million pieces of correspondence, which is more than 15 times as large as in a normal filing season, according to the agency. And the IRS workforce is the same size it was in 1970, though the U.S. population has grown exponentially and the U.S. tax code has become increasingly complicated. Additionally, the need to administer pandemic-related programs has imposed an entirely new workload on the agency. Democrats en Deshabille I have moved my standing remarks on the Democrat Party (the Democrat Party is a rotting corpse that cant bury itself) to a separate, back-dated post, to which I will periodically add material, summarizing the addition here in a live Water Cooler. (Hopefully, some Bourdieu.) It turns out that defining the Democrat Party is, in fact, a hard problem. I do think the paragraph that follows is on point all the way back to 2016, if not before: The Democrat Party is the political expression of the class power of PMC, their base (lucidly explained by Thomas Frank in Listen, Liberal!). It follows that the Democrat Party is as unreformable as the PMC is unreformable ; if the Democrat Party did not exist, the PMC would have to invent it. If the Democrat Party fails to govern, thats because the PMC lacks the capability to govern . (PMC modulo class expatriates, of course.) Second, all the working parts of the Party reinforce each other. Leave aside characterizing the relationships between elements of the Party (ka-ching, but not entirely) those elements comprise a network a Flex Net? An iron octagon? of funders, vendors, apparatchiks, electeds, NGOs, and miscellaneous mercenaries, with assets in the press and the intelligence community. Note, of course, that the class power of the PMC both expresses and is limited by other classes; oligarchs and American gentry (see industrial model of Ferguson, Jorgensen, and Jie) and the working class spring to mind. Suck up, kick down. * * * 2022 Bracing for Losses, Democrats Look to Biden for a Reset [New York Times]. Gone is the talk of a transformative agenda to remake the countrys social safety net that was once going to be the centerpiece of Democrats sales pitch to voters. The words Build Back Better were all but forbidden among the groggy lawmakers who arrived after only a few hours of sleep. Speaking to reporters, Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, joked that the slogan for Mr. Bidens defunct social policy and climate bill had become like the evil Voldemort in Harry Potter that which must not be named. Instead, after a year of supporting his agenda, House Democrats have pivoted to beseeching Mr. Biden to act on his own through executive actions to address the outstanding issues they care about before they face voters in November. Ms. Jayapal said the president could pass executive actions to cap the price of insulin, raise the overtime eligibility threshold in order to increase wages for tens of millions of people, and fix the so-called family glitch in the Affordable Care Act. This is when workers with modest incomes cant afford their employers family policies, yet fail to qualify for government subsidies to buy their own insurance. Biden, Democrats Lose Ground on Key Issues, WSJ Poll Finds [Wall Street Journal]. Wall Street Journal poll. The survey also found Republicans making gains among minority groups. By 9 percentage points, Hispanic voters in the new poll said they would back a Republican candidate for Congress over a Democrat. The two parties had been tied among Hispanic voters in the Journals survey in November. Democratic margins also eroded among Black voters, who favored a Democrat for Congress by 35 percentage points in the new survey, down from 56 points in November. Support for a Republican candidate rose to 27% among Black voters, up from 12% in November. 2024 Tulsi Gabbard crosses party lines and goes after the power elite in CPAC speech where she earns standing ovation for praising the Durham probe into Clinton corruption and blasting FISA courts [Daily Mail]. She then asked Ronald Reagan dinner attendees to join her in an alternative universe. One where our leaders actually took their oath of office to the Constitution seriously, she said. If we were living in this world, they would shut down secret FISA courts and stop three letter agencies like the NSA, FBI and CIA from illegally spying on Americans. They would denounce the Attorney General of the United States for his disgraceful attacks on American parents like those Loudoun County and across the country, she continued. In Loudoun County, Virginia parents were demonstrating against mask-wearing and the teaching of critical race theory. She then name-dropped Clapper and the Durham probe. Special Counsel John Durham is investigating the origins of the FBIs Russia probe. Connected to that is the use of FISA warrants, which former President Donald Trump and his allies have criticized as one was used to monitor Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser for the ex-presidents 2016 campaign. I dont know who Gabbard would want second on her ticket, though. Realignment and Legitimacy We have the most frivolous, delusional, and self-centered professional managerial class in the world. She is talking about her son. A New York Times reporter, of course. It is true that Mandavilli is on the Covid beat. Heres another Times reporter: This reminds me of all the times I'm interviewing some doctor and they think I need a basic primer on some medical subject I've been writing about for ages. So I have to stop them and gently explain that they can raise the level of discourse. Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) March 11, 2022 If I were being briefed by a public health official, or in the unlikely event I was interviewing a doctor, you can bet I would listen respectfully. After all, they might know something I dont! These reporters, at the pinnacle of their trade (the Times) seem to believe that they are also at the pinnacle of all professions, simply because they write about them. Its bizarre. Making your spouse into a straw: BREAKING I analyzed how politicians often trade under their spouses, partners, or families. In the Senate, spouses accounted 46% of all investments. In the House, they accounted for 67% in 2021. There were tons of unusual trades. Link: https://t.co/1j8xtWqYz7 pic.twitter.com/sSgR75yTjt unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) March 10, 2022 #COVID19 Case count by United States regions: Fellow tapewatchers will note that up like a rocket, down like a stick phase is done with, and the case count is now leveling down. At a level that, a year ago, was considered a crisis, but were over Covid now, so I suppose not. I have added a Fauci Line. NOTE I shall most certainly not be using the CDCs new Community Level metric. Because CDC has combined a leading indicator (cases) with a lagging one (hospitalization) their new metric is a poor warning sign of a surge, and a poor way to assess personal risk. In addition, Covid is a disease you dont want to get. Even if you are not hospitalized, you can suffer from Long Covid, vascular issues, and neurological issues. For these reasons, case counts known to be underestimated, due to home test kits deserve to stand alone as a number to be tracked, no matter how much the political operatives in CDC leadership would like to obfuscate it. The official narrative was Covid is behind us, and that the pandemic will be over by January (Gottlieb), and I know some people seem to not want to give up on the wonderful pandemic, but you know what? Its over (Bill Maher) was completely exploded. What a surprise! This time, it may be different. But who knows? MWRA (Boston-area) wastewater detection: Flattened out, continues encouraging (and independent from the CDC). The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) service area includes 43 municipalities in and around Boston, including not only multiple school systems but several large universities. Since Boston is so very education-heavy, then, I think it could be a good leading indicator for Covid spread in schools generally. Wastewater in California: WatchingA suddenly 3-straight days of wastewater #SARSCoV2 increase found in Palo Alto & Mountain View (home to Stanford & Google)similar to late Jan levels. Such signals usually foretells rising #COVID19 cases 1-2 weeks later. #CovidIsNotOverhttps://t.co/3l3K5r9B8w pic.twitter.com/GxHu4DZMuE Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 11, 2022 For grins, national but not necessarily representative wastewater data from Biobot: Would I like a lot more breakdowns on that data, both geographically and by time. And while the wastewater data is current, a month time-lag on variants? Really? From CDC Community Profile Reports (PDFs), Rapid Riser counties: Those notes in red at the bottom make me wonder about what else is wrong. (Remember that these are rapid riser counties. A county that moves from red to green is not covid-free; the case count just isnt, well, rising rapidly.) And whats with Idaho? The previous release: Here is CDCs interactive map by county set to community transmission: Continuing slow improvement, assuming the numbers arent jiggered. Hospitalization (CDC Community Profile): Not 100% green. From the point of view of our hospital-centric health care system, green everywhere means the emergency is over (and to be fair, this is reinforced by case count and wastewater). However, community transmission is still pervasive, which means that long Covid, plus continuing vascular damage, are not over. (Note trend, whether up or down, is marked by the arrow, at top. Admissions are presented in the graph, at the bottom. So its possible to have an upward trend, but from a very low baseline.) Just a reminder: As with everything else, because the United States is not a serious country, our hospitalization data is bad. Here the baseilne is off: Hospital trick: patients admitted with covid in 10-12 days become post-covid & no longer counted as hospitalized covid patients. ICU is full of post-covid patients that are here for 30, 40, 50 & more days. Not counted in the official stats. Dr. Natalia (@SolNataMD) January 24, 2022 Death rate (Our World in Data): Total: 991,260 989,473 . Heading slowly downward. I have added an anti-triumphalist Fauci Line. This FT chart, and its conclusion, have gone everywhere. But not all agree with it: I don't believe this for one second. Pre-COVID we never did such extensive PCR testing for influenza. If we had a case of typical pneumonia, we wouldn't routinely screen for influenza. It and other respiratory viruses were probably much more common than we think https://t.co/hStK66mGCT Dr Satoshi Akima FRACP (@ToshiAkima) March 10, 2022 Another critique: This is my last time to make this point on here b/c I'm moving on with my life, but flu IFR #'s are not really naively comparable to COVID IFR #'s, b/c those numbers are VERY DIFFERENT in how they're derived. Scroll down in this post for more + links: https://t.co/ib9bhdoWv8 https://t.co/AZ3gSGKftT jonstokes.(com|eth) (@jonst0kes) March 10, 2022 Covid cases in top us travel destinations (Statista): The excess deaths chart appears weekly, on Friday: Look at the qualifications in that drop-down. And the ginormous typo, helpfully highlighted, has been there for weeks. CDC, if youre reading this, please send a signal by getting this fixed. And then throw some documents over the transom. In complete confidentiality! Obviously, nobody at CDC is checking the excess deaths chart. One can only wonder why. Stats Watch There are no official statistics of note today. * * * The Bezzle: U.S. eliminates human controls requirement for fully automated vehicles [Reuters]. For vehicles designed to be solely operated by an [automated driving system] ADS, manually operated driving controls are logically unnecessary, [the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Even an escalator has a kill switch. Trains have emergency brakes. But not robot cars? (Also, ADS is a new acronym to me. I dont like new acronyms. What level of autonomy are we talking here? Five?) The Bezzle: Bankers Had Their Crisis. Now Its Lawyers Turn [Bloomberg]. The global financial crisis exposed flaws in the oversight of banking, ending the era of so-called light-tough regulation. In the U.K., that meant breaking up the old watchdog, the Financial Services Authority. The drive was to refocus the banking sector on serving its core domestic corporate customers and ordinary individuals. The repercussions from the war in Ukraine should prompt a similar rethinking of how to keep tabs on the legal profession. Hmm. So if they do that, what is the City of London for? * * * Todays Fear & Greed Index: 14 Extreme Fear (previous close: 15 Extreme Fear) [CNN]. One week ago: 17 (Extreme Fear). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Mar 10 at 1:20pm. Rapture Index: Closes up one on Food Supply. Wheat hits an all-time high on the Invasion of Ukraine by Russia [Rapture Ready]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 187. (Remember that bringing on the rapture is a good thing, so higher is better.) Our Famously Free Press Good Lord, Mattys not being ironic (I checked the thread): Seriously this is embarrassing for any news outlet with fact checkers who employed @mattyglesias. Like Pulitzers have been won on this really basic history. https://t.co/wd0bulp8Yg Nomiki "No-me-KEY" (@NomikiKonst) March 11, 2022 The Gallery Manchester, in the UK: Zeitgeist Watch Some children go to Happyville, some go to Pain City: When the government removes mask mandates while most school kids are not fully vaccinated and infection rates are extremely high, you are literally living through a mass human experiment kids are the guinea pigs. #onted https://t.co/XhfTkKCApE Bill Comeau (@Billius27) March 10, 2022 Guillotine Watch Money to burn: Note on high gas prices: after filling up only with premium gas for decades, a few years ago a friend who knows and cares about cars told us it was unnecessary, that regular was just fine, so we stopped, no difference, hundreds of dollars saved. Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) March 10, 2022 Class Warfare It Is Disheartening New York restaurant workers react to the end of the citywide vaccine mandate. [New York Magazine]. Lets call it seven weeks removed from Omicron running rampant, says Elijah Servance III, a bartender at Queensyard in midtown. I dont know what data or what stuff yall are seeing that makes you feel eight weeks later like, No, its all good just get rid of the masks. Dont worry about the unvaccinated. At his bar, he says, hell often do 300 covers a night. What if 100 of those people are unvaccinated? he asks. I just think its foolish to open that Pandoras box without a different safeguard in its place.' The idea that the vaccines do not prevent tranmission has never penetrated, an enormous success for the Biden Administration. Will nobody think of the real estate investors: Reasons why people don't want to return to offices: -commuting -dress codes -the cost of buying lunch -the hassle of packing lunch -the necessity of code-switching -distractions from open-office layouts -poorly ventilated meeting rooms -commuting Karen K. Ho (@karenkho) March 6, 2022 News of the Wired Actor Jussie Smollett sentenced to probation, jail time for staging hate crime [Reuters]. His case took an unexpected turn in spring 2019 when the Cook County states attorneys office dropped a 16-count indictment against him in exchange for Smollett forfeiting his $10,000 bond without admitting wrongdoing. The dismissal drew criticism from then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicagos police superintendent, who called the reversal a miscarriage of justice. In 2019, a special prosecutor assigned to the case recommended charging Smollett again and a grand jury returned an indictment. Thanks, Rahm. And 2019? So long ago? Filing this here because Im not sure we know the everything about this very odd story. * * * Contact information for plants: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (SD): SD writes: Birch trees at sunrise. * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the recently concluded and thank you! successful annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated. If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! (Natural News) Austria has suspended a controversial law requiring adults in the country to be injected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Officials argued that the law would infringe on fundamental rights had its implementation was not stopped. Austrian Minister for the European Union and the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler told reporters during a March 9 press conference that the law represents an encroachment of fundamental rights that can no longer be justified. Thus, the law will no longer take effect contrary to Viennas earlier assertion that the controversial measure will take effect by the middle of the month. After consultations with the Health Minister [Wolfgang Mueckstein], we have decided that we will, of course, follow what the [expert] commission has said. We see no need to actually implement this compulsory vaccination due to the [B11529 omicron] variant that we are predominantly experiencing here, she said. Edtstadler added that the aforementioned commission, composed of health experts, will review the situation and the law in mid-June. Details of the law were announced back in December of last year. Austrians rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine would face fines of up to 3,600 ($3,974) every three months which equates to a monthly penalty of 1,200 ($1,324). According to Mueckstein, officials can choose to fine erring individuals 600 ($662). He elaborated: In regular proceedings, the amount of the fine is 3,600. As an alternative, the authorities have the option to impose a fine in shorter proceedings immediately after the vaccination deadline. Here, the amount is 600. Under the measure, Austrian authorities will write letters to unvaccinated persons ordering them to get the vaccine with non-compliance meriting the larger fine. (Related: Austria implements mandatory covid vaccination for EVERYONE.) The mandate exempted pregnant women, those with a medical exemption for vaccination and those who recently recovered from a bout with COVID-19. It was signed into law in February and was set to take effect this month, until Edtstadler announced its suspension. Suspension appears to align with general trend of bucking restrictions Viennas decision to suspend the COVID-19 vaccine mandate appeared to align with the countrys lifting of various restrictions meant to curb the spread of infections. During a Feb. 16 press conference in the capital, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer confirmed the end of the measures. He added that the number of new COVID-19 cases becoming stable plays a huge part in the move. Austria ended its vaccine passport mandate three days later on Feb. 19. Under the rule, Austrians no longer need to present proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19 to attend various activities and enter different establishments. A proof of a negative COVID-19 test would now suffice. Nehammer added that most of the restrictions would end on March 5 as entry requirements and other restrictions would be lifted entirely. Nightlife in Austria would see a boost following the repeal of restrictions, as nightclubs are allowed to reopen and restaurants and bars can stay open beyond midnight. The chancellor added that mask mandates will remain in place where absolutely necessary to protect vulnerable groups. Face coverings will remain compulsory for public transport, essential shops and pharmacies. Employees and visitors of healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes would be required to show at least one negative COVID-19 test result. Tourism in Austria would also reopen following the repeal of restrictions. From March 5 onward, a negative COVID-19 test will suffice as proof for entering the country. Prior to the lifting, travelers were required to show either proof of vaccination with booster or recent recovery from COVID-19 and a negative test result. Despite the more relaxed restrictions in Austria, Edtstadler remarked that the vaccine mandate might still be needed in the future. I dont think I need a crystal ball to tell you that today isnt the last chapter we will write regarding the vaccination mandate, she said. More related stories: Austria announces end of COVID mandates beginning March 5. Austrians who refuse COVID vaccines to face MONTHLY fines under new law. Austrian government approves plan to impose heavy fines on unvaccinated citizens. Austrian government challenged to either prove COVID pandemic is real or end restrictions. Austria now a giant PRISON CAMP for the unvaccinated as lockdown extended another 10 days. Watch below as Del Bigtree and Dr. Maria Hubmer-Mogg talk about the protests in Austria against the vaccine mandate. This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com. Find more stories like this at HealthFreedom.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com DailyMail.co.uk ABCNews.go.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) This week, President Joe Biden announced that the White House will be requesting $2.6 billion in order to fund gender equality programs. Biden stated: Im proud that my FY 2023 Budget will request $2.6 billion for foreign assistance programs that promote gender equality worldwide. The comment was part of remarks he made on International Womens Day, a day devoted to recognizing the cultural, political, economic and social achievements of women throughout the world. He added that the amount represents more than twice the figure that was requested last year, when he set up the first White House Gender Policy Council on International Womens Day. If his past actions and statements relating to gender equality are anything to go by, at least a portion of the money is likely to be devoted to abortions and birth control in foreign countries. The Biden administration is carrying out a governmental effort to protect reproductive rights, part of which entails repealing the Mexico City Policy, which prohibited providing foreign aid to any organization that commits, refers or promotes abortions. One of his first moves in office was to repeal the policy so that foreign aid could still be given to organizations that are involved in abortion, a move that many fear will lead to the murder of thousands of babies around the world. The policy had previously been reinstated by President Donald Trump not long after he took office in 2017. Under previous Republican presidents, the policy only applied to groups that carried out abortions; Trump expanded it to apply to groups that promote and discuss abortion. The move caused abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to lose millions of dollars, while abortion provider Marie Stopes was forced to close hundreds of operations across Africa. In a written statement about the new initiative, Biden commented: Ensuring that every woman and girl has that chance isnt just the right thing to do its also a strategic imperative that advances the prosperity, stability, and security of our nation and the world. The new funding request will form part of Bidens federal budget proposal for the fiscal year 2023, which begins on October 1. It is not known when the spending proposal will be sent to Congress. Calvin Freiburger of LifeSiteNews criticized Biden for suggesting that women are unable to live up to their full God-given potential without access to abortion on demand. His statement said: Every person deserves the chance to live up to their full God-given potential, without regard for gender or other factors. Yet too often, in too many places, women and girls face obstacles that limit their possibilities and undermine their participation in economic, political, and social life. As part of these efforts to make gender equity a cornerstone of his administration, Biden pointed out his launching of a whole-of-government effort to protect reproductive rights, which is another way of referring to legal abortion. Biden called bill banning abortions past 15 weeks dangerous Earlier this month, when Florida passed a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks, Biden tweeted that the legislation was dangerous. The president, who claims to be a devout Catholic, seems unconcerned about the fact that babies are close to viability at that point and can feel pain. The Republican-led Senate voted 23 to 15 in favor of the Florida bill, which Governor DeSantis plans to sign soon. It allows exceptions only for abortions that are deemed necessary to save the life of the mother or avert a serious risk to her health, as well as in cases where babies are diagnosed with abnormalities that will lead to their death upon birth. With a record like that, it should come as no surprise that so many people are worried about what might be included in this gender equality program American taxpayers will be funding and its especially upsetting at a time when there are so many more pressing needs that could use these funds. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com USNews.com LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) China hacked into the networks of at least six state governments in 2021, a private cybersecurity firm claimed. While the states were not named, the culprits were identified as members of a hacking group earlier indicted by U.S. authorities. A report released on March 8 by cybersecurity company Mandiant stated this allegation, adding that the hacking operations commenced in May 2021. While the Reston, Virginia-based companys report did not provide a motive for the hacking, it named Chinese hacking group APT41 as the one responsible. Known for hacking for financial gain and espionage, APT41 instigated the intrusions at the behest of Beijing, the report added. APT41 hackers took advantage of a previously unknown vulnerability in a commercial web application used by 18 states for animal health management. They also exploited the LOG4j software flaw first discovered in December to illegally access state government data. First discovered in December 2021, U.S. officials claimed LOG4j could be present on hundreds of millions of devices. Hours after LOG4j was announced, the APT41 hackers began exploiting it. Two U.S. state governments earlier victimized by the hackers were breached once more in late February. Mandiant senior threat analyst Rufus Brown noted that the bad actors persistence to gain access into government networks exemplified by re-compromising previous victims and targeting multiple agencies within the same state [shows] that whatever they are after is important. He added: We have found them everywhere, and that is unnerving. (Related: China hacking and penetration of critical U.S. infrastructure systems worse than previously thought.) Mandiant principal threat analyst Geoff Ackerman concurred with his colleagues observations. He said in a separate statement: We cannot allow other cyber activity to fall to the wayside, especially given our observations that this campaign from APT41 one of the most prolific threat actors around continues to this day. APT41 hackers unnerved despite earlier indictment The March 8 report by Mandiant mentioned earlier action by U.S. authorities to bring the hacking group to justice. Through all the new, some things remain unchanged. APT41 continues to be undeterred by the Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment in September 2020, it stated. A DOJ press release dated Sept. 16, 2020 elaborated on this indictment. According to the statement, a federal grand jury indicted five Chinese nationals for hacking more than 100 companies in the U.S. and abroad. The same jury indicted an additional two Malaysian businessmen who aided two of the hackers in their criminal activities. With the assistance of the countrys authorities, the two co-conspirators were arrested in the town of Sitiawan in the Malaysian state of Perak on Sept. 14, 2020. The indictment for the two Malaysians alleged that they collaborated with the cybercriminals to profit from the hackers criminal computer intrusions at video game companies. The five mainland Chinese hackers remained at large. One of the five culprits even boasted his connections to the Chinese Ministry of State Security to a colleague putting forward the possibility of Beijings involvement in the scheme. Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen said: The [DOJ] has used every tool available to disrupt the illegal computer intrusions and cyberattacks by these Chinese citizens. Regrettably, the Chinese Communist Party has chosen a different path of making China safe for cybercriminals so long as they attack computers outside [the country] and steal intellectual property helpful to China. Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, decried the allegations. He reiterated that Beijing is a staunch defender of cybersecurity and has always resolutely opposed cyberattacks. It is regrettable that the U.S. has stigmatized the issue of cybersecurity as a tool for political manipulation and the dissemination of false information, Wang said in a statement. More related stories: NYC subway system was secretly hacked by Chinese-backed hackers in April of this year. U.S. officials say Chinese hackers are stealing trade secrets about coronavirus vaccines. Chinese hackers target U.S. defense, national security networks ahead of Election Day. 5 Chinese nationals charged with hacking more than 100 companies worldwide. Watch former President Donald Trump commenting on Chinas hacking attempts to steal information about Wuhan coronavirus vaccines. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. Glitch.news has more stories about cybersecurity breaches organized by hacking groups. Sources include: ThePostMillennial.com NBCNews.com 1 Justice.gov NBCNews.com 2 Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Florida Department of Health has unveiled a new guidance that allows doctors throughout the state to freely prescribe off-label pharmaceuticals for early treatment of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). Published on February 24, the guidance explains that health care practitioners in the Sunshine State will now be encouraged to provide treatment using federally approved generic drugs to patients in need. When recommending COVID-19 treatment options for patients individualized health care needs, physicians should exercise their individual clinical judgment and expertise based on their patients needs and preferences, the guidance states. These options may include emerging treatments backed by quality evidence, with appropriate patient informed consent, including off-label use or as part of a clinical trial. Gov. Ron DeSantis helped spearhead the initiative in an effort to protect health care practitioners from potential lawsuits for providing early treatment. He says it is important for doctors to have access to these other drugs in addition to those that received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the federal government such as monoclonal antibodies. We want people to be able to have a right to access these medications, especially if theyre in a situation where nothing else has worked, DeSantis announced in a statement. (Related: Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor did something similar in that state.) Florida health care facilities that refuse to provide early treatment for covid can now be reported to a state agency The guidance also provisions for doctors to file a report with the Agency for Health Care Administration if the hospitals where they work refuse to treat patients with generic, off-label drugs. So now doctors who practice medicine in the way that they think is most appropriate for their patients, when they receive pushback from hospitals, we have an avenue for them to file a complaint with our Agency for Health Care Administration, added Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. So far, Florida is the first and only state to go directly against a recommendation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that people who suspect they have the Fauci Flu stay home and only go to the emergency room if symptoms become severe. Only people with high risk of death should go to the hospital, the order states. And these folks may be eligible for antiviral or monoclonal antibodies (passive vaccination), the Florida government says. Dr. Pierre Kory, president and co-chief medical officer at the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance, says that many people have needlessly died throughout the plandemic because they were denied access to the types of early treatments that are now allowed in Florida. We know there have been hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. and all for a treatable disease, he said at a recent panel. We have identified effective treatments, for now two years, and those effective treatments that are widely available generic repurposed [drugs], they continue to increase. And yet, we are still trying to vaccinate people with a 2-year-old vaccine against an Omicron variant, which is absolutely absurd. As early as March 2020, doctors at the FLCCC Alliance developed a Wuhan Flu treatment protocol for hospitalized patients. In October of that same year, the I-MASK+ protocol was added to it, with ivermectin being the core medication for early treatment. Were still perpetuating these toxic novel pharmaceutical company concoctions like Paxlovid and molnupiravir, Kory added. Molnupiravir does not work and Paxlovid is poisonous. According to an article published in the journal Nature, an antiviral for covid will only be effective if it targets two key pieces of a viruss biological machinery, a polymerase and a protease, both of which are essential for viral replication. More related news coverage about the plandemic can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Freedom Convoy supporters whose bank accounts were frozen will be flagged for life. The personal accounts of protesters that were locked after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act have been permanently marked, the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) revealed at the House of Commons finance committee meeting on Monday. (Article by Jack Bingham republished from LifeSiteNews.com) According to Blacklocks Reporter, bankers also explained that they froze accounts corresponding to 257 names that were not on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) blacklist provided to the banks, meaning they went beyond the scope of what the government asked of them. We primarily relied upon the names provided by the RCMP, but there were obligations under the order separate that required banks to make their own determinations, Angelina Mason, general counsel for the Bankers Association, testified to the finance committee on Monday. Were there accounts of individuals frozen that did not appear on a list of names submitted by banks to the RCMP? New Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) Daniel Blaikie asked. Yes, Mason replied. Once an account is frozen and eventually unfrozen, are there any permanent markers or indications on a clients file that would indicate they have had their accounts previously frozen? Conservative MP Adam Chambers queried. There would be something in the file indicating a freeze had taken place, Mason affirmed. In response to other questions, Mason confirmed that if a person whose name was flagged by the RCMP had a joint account with someone whose name did not appear on the RCMPs blacklist, the banks froze the account anyway, cutting both parties off from accessing their funds. Mason added that even in the event that some of these accounts were illegitimately or unnecessarily frozen, there was immunity provided in the Emergencies Act that shields the banks from any legal consequences. The stated goal of the protest was to get Canadian governments to rescind the mandates they had imposed during the so-called COVID pandemic, with supporters of the protest saying the measures taken to fight the virus were largely unnecessary, harmful, and unconstitutional. When the convoy of trucks and their supporters were first making their way to Ottawa, Trudeau maligned the diverse group of Canadians as a fringe minority with unacceptable views while also suggesting many of the demonstrators were Nazi sympathizers and racists. Despite the size and length of the protest, police reports indicate that the movement was overwhelming peaceful and non-violent, but was nonetheless met with Trudeau invoking the never-before-used Emergencies Act, granting him the power to use federal police to forcibly end the protest while compelling financial institutions to freeze the bank accounts of anyone involved in financing the protest without a court order. Trudeaus harsh actions against the protesters were met with widespread criticism from international figures on both the political right and the political left. Conservative FoxNews host Tucker Carlson accused Trudeau of turning Canada into a dictatorship after he granted himself the emergency powers, and prominent left-wing comedian Bill Maher likened Trudeaus anti-protester rhetoric to the discriminatory and hateful language used by Adolf Hitler. Since the Freedom Convoy protest, many provinces decided to move in the direction the protesters desired by phasing out or outright axing their vaccine mandates, vaccine passports, and mandatory indoor masking policies. However, Trudeaus federal government has still held on to the vaccine mandate for all interprovincial air travelers, mandatory quarantining for unvaccinated Canadians entering Canada, and the requirement that all employees of the federal government be fully vaccinated. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) Russia has banned citizens from using rubles to buy U.S. dollars or other hard currencies for a period of six months as the currency spirals into a free fall following Moscows war with Ukraine. Banks have been prohibited from selling cash to citizens during this period. However, people can exchange any currency for rubles, any time, in any amount. The new rule will be in effect from March 9 to Sept. 9, 2022. It also places a limit of $10,000 on the amount of U.S. dollars that people can withdraw from hard-currency Russian bank accounts. (Article by Naveen Athrappully republished from TheEpochTimes.com) Anyone wishing to withdraw a higher figure will have to accept the amount in rubles, the Bank of Russia, the countrys central bank, said in a March 9 statement. The bank noted that 90 percent of foreign currency accounts in Russian banks do not have balances exceeding $10,000. Citizens can continue to keep funds in foreign currency deposits or accounts. All funds are kept and accounted for in the currency in which the account or deposit was opened. The conditions for the deposit or account do not change. Interest on deposits will be calculated as usual, in the currency in which the deposit was opened, the bank said. Moscows new rule is aimed at preventing Russian citizens from making a run to procure U.S. dollars. Ever since the incursion into Ukraine, the ruble has been battered hard. On Feb. 23, a day before the invasion, one dollar could buy around 80 rubles. On March 7, this was close to 160 rubles. The exchange rate for one U.S. dollar now stands at around 120 rubles as of 4:43 p.m. UTC. The outflow of foreign currency deposits from Russian banks have apparently exceeded the forecasts of the central bank, thus calling into question the ability of the countrys banks to fulfill their obligations to depositors, Sergey Aleksashenko, a former official at the Russian finance ministry and the central bank, said in a newsletter. Alexsashenko slammed the Bank of Russias decision to impose restrictions on the use of foreign currency deposits. It seems to me that if the Bank of Russia wanted to sow panic among the population, then it would be difficult to find a better way, he said. Russia is also trying to make its citizens park their money in gold rather than dollars. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on March 9 that exempts the 20 percent value added tax (VAT) that people had to pay when buying physical gold. The law is retroactive and applies to all purchases made since the beginning of this month. Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com (Natural News) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is calling for a review of Big Techs legal protections. Thomas released a statement on Monday after the Supreme Court declined to take up a lawsuit from a woman who had been sexually trafficked using Facebook. (Article by Richard Moorhead republished from WesternJournal.com) Thomas concurred with the courts decision not to review the case but said the Supreme Court should consider a case pertaining to Section 230 protections. Very interesting statement from Justice Thomas today. Hes pleading for an appropriate case to be brought to SCOTUS to finally get rid of the sweeping immunity that lower courts have falsely ascribed to Section 230. Implied message is that he has five justices on his side. pic.twitter.com/LBNOYwfBFO Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) March 8, 2022 Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides social media platforms with immunity from civil or criminal liability for user-generated content. It is hard to see why the protections [Section 230] grants publishers against being held strictly liable for third parties content should protect Facebook from liability for its own acts and omissions, Thomas argued in the Supreme Courts denial of certiorari in Jane Doe v. Facebook. I concur in the Courts denial of certiorari. We should, however, address the proper scope of immunity under [Section 230] in an appropriate case. Amid partisan fact-checks and the pervasive censorship of conservatives on the part of Big Tech companies, some have questioned Section 230. The law has formed the basis for an internet in which a small handful of tech giants control the majority of online speech. Big Techs critics have also pointed to Section 230 as the basis for Silicon Valley giants creating uncontested monopolies. Google, for example, grabs 85 percent of all internet searches. The removal of Section 230 protections could fundamentally change the internet as we know it, although its unclear if this would lead to more free speech or less. Some have proposed regulating Big Tech giants as public utilities, providing the same right to access that the average American has to electric and other utility companies. In some of his previous statements, Thomas has shown himself willing to challenge the legal basis of Section 230. He has compared Big Tech giants to companies regulated as common carriers. Its unclear how the conservative court would rule in potential litigation redefining the scope of Section 230 protections. Read more at: WesternJournal.com (Natural News) The price of gas in Gorda, California, reached the eye-watering figure of $7.59 on Sunday. Fuel stations in Los Angeles County were also selling premium gasoline for more than $7.00 a gallon. One gas station in Los Angeles was advertising gas for $6.99. (Article by Baxter Dmitry republished from NewsPunch.com) Trump predicted gas would reach $7 under Biden on November 3, 2020, right before election day. It took just over a year after Biden assumed office for Trumps prediction to come true. While it is not difficult to predict that prices, including fuel, will rise under a Democratic president, few of us thought we would see over $7 a gallon, even in California. May 2021: Trump predicts $7/gallon gas under Biden Presidency This weekend: Gas hits $6.99 for regular unleaded and $7.29 for premium in California. As usual, Trump was right. Re-open Americas pipelines! pic.twitter.com/L57IcXOtN5 Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) March 7, 2022 Trump further stated: They [wind farms] ruin the environment, they kill the birds and they cost a fortune, Trump explained. We have natural gascosts us nothing. Actually nothing. They burn it off. When you look at all of those flames on top of the wells, thats natural gas that they burn off. They throw [it] awayand we want to give that away for windmills. Its time to re-open Americas pipelines and stop being held to ransom by foreign countries intent on swindling the United States. Per Breitbart: The average price of gas in the US is just six cents away from breaking the all-time 2008 record of $4.11. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, oil prices have continued to surge and gas prices have increased to over $4.00 per gallon. Instead of supporting American energy independence, Biden is likely seeking a substitute for Russian oil, which finances the Russian invasion of Ukraine, though Biden has not sanctioned relevant Russian energy suppliers. Russia provided ten percent of global supply last year. Jen Psaki confirms Biden administration officials are discussing energy security purchasing more oil with countries like Venezuela and Iran. Biden would rather get oil from terrorists than Texas. pic.twitter.com/iGhj0YEw7h RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 7, 2022 Over the weekend, the Biden administration secretly met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro about producing more oil. Other than meeting with Maduro to reduce oil prices, Biden has promoted renewable energy to address the spiking price of gas. Yet renewable energy is not a long- or short-term solution. In 2020, Biden promised he would transition away from the oil industry. Read more at: NewsPunch.com (Natural News) President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports amid the ongoing Ukraine invasion. To offset the bans effect on energy prices, Biden is now considering a deal with Iran and Venezuela two countries earlier sanctioned by the United States. Biden announced the Russian oil embargo on March 8. He claimed that the prohibition serves a two-fold purpose attacking the main artery of the Russian economy and strangling the countrys war effort against Ukraine. Americans have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and made it clear [that] we will not be part of subsidizing [Russian President Vladimir] Putins war, said Biden. The president acknowledged the impact of higher gasoline prices on American families, warning that these price increases would continue in the immediate future. Putins war is already hurting American families at the gas pump since [he] began his military buildup on Ukrainian borders and with this action, its going to go up further. Im going to do everything I can to minimize Putins price hike here at home [in] coordination with our partners. To this end, Biden has partnered with Iran and Venezuela. Both Iran and Venezuela are founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which was established in September 1960. Venezuela and its socialist leader, President Nicolas Maduro, are strong allies of Russia. It refused to vote on a United Nations resolution condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine alongside Latin American countries Cuba and Nicaragua. The U.S. and Venezuela ended all diplomatic ties in 2019 following the Trump administration recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president. Despite claims of an illegitimate election in the country, Maduro was found to have won the polls. Meanwhile, the U.S. has imposed various sanctions on Iran stemming from its nuclear program and terrorist activities backed by the Islamic republic. But based on reports, Biden is ready to lift these sanctions against Iran in order to obtain a much-needed oil supply. Keystone XL Pipeline a better option Writing for the New American, freelance journalist James Murphy floated the idea of reviving the Keystone XL Pipeline to resolve the oil crisis. He asked: Why not take the chains off our own energy sector? (Related: Trump calls on Biden administration to boost domestic oil production.) Murphy referenced Bidens March 8 remarks, where the president partly blamed the U.S. energy sector for higher pump prices. The journalist pointed out that Biden himself tied the hands of the domestic energy sector on the issue of the pipeline, thanks to his executive orders that forbade further work on the pipeline and banned the exploration of new oil deposits on federal land. They have 9,000 permits to drill now. They could be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year. They have 9,000 [permits] to drill onshore that are already approved, said Biden. However, American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers slammed Biden and his administration for their failure to understand how the process works. Theres a fundamental misunderstanding of the administration as to how the process actually works, he said. Just because you have a lease doesnt mean theres actually oil and gas in that lease. There has to be a lot of development that occurs between the leasing and then ultimately permitting for that acreage to be productive. I think that theyre purposefully misusing the facts here to their advantage. Ultimately, Murphy noted that Bidens refusal to lift restrictions on the Keystone XL Pipeline aligns with his supposed push for clean energy. He referenced another remark from the president that said: Loosening environmental regulations or pulling back clean energy investment will not lower energy prices for families. The journalist concluded: Biden offers no immediate assistance to struggling consumers at all. Instead, his minions negotiate potentially dangerous deals with the likes of Venezuela and Iran, and offer pie-in-the-sky platitudes about energy technologies that are simply not capable of keeping up with consumer demand. More related stories: Oil heading to eye-popping $200 barrel, with $10 gas coming to America thanks to energy policies made worse by Biden, Dems. As World War 3 escalates, get ready for a terrifying breakdown of our food and energy systems. US crude oil surges to 13-year high of $130 a barrel as Russia-Ukraine war escalates. Watch the video below to learn how Bidens ban on Russian and American oil can hasten the nations decline. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheNewAmerican.com OPEC.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) In a leaked audio recording, former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director and current Science Advisor to the President Dr. Francis Collins was overheard laughing about pressuring unvaccinated employees to take the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. The audio recording was obtained by the Daily Wire. It features comments Collins made in late October during an event at the University of Chicago. The event was organized by Russell Moore, a theologian for Christianity Today magazine, on behalf of David Axelrod, former senior adviser to President Barack Obama. During the event, Collins told students that he is in favor of the tyrannical vaccine mandates. He believes the federal government has the authority to force people to take the experimental and dangerous vaccine. The U.S. government does have the authority to mandate vaccinations if there is an outbreak that is threatening people, because its not just about you, its about the people youre going to infect, said Collins. Theres no question in my mind that the mandates are legal. Collins justified his belief by pointing to the 1905 Supreme Court case Jacobson v. Massachusetts, which upheld the authority of states to enforce vaccine mandates. This claim has already been debunked by legal scholars everywhere. Sean Trende, journalist and political analyst for RealClearPolitics and legal scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, called the 1905 ruling a footnote in most constitutional law treatises that non-experts like Collins cite whenever anyone questions the legality or constitutionality of vaccine mandates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Related: Fauci, Walensky and Collins all conspired to commit mass murder with the pandemic: Dr. Naomi Wolf.) Collins added that the mandates are the governments best tools to coerce people into getting vaccinated. Do [vaccine mandates] convince people who otherwise wouldnt get them? Oh yeah, especially if it means losing your job. The former NIH director talked about over 2,000 NIH employees who were forced to choose between keeping their jobs and getting vaccinated last year. Under this immense pressure, Collins remarked that even some pretty darn hesitant employees were coerced into taking the vaccine. You get the feeling that their resistance was not maybe quite that deeply seated, he said while laughing. Collins even claimed without evidence that many people who do not want to get vaccinated may only be resisting because of peer pressure and secretly actually want to get vaccinated. Theyre sort of thinking to themselves, You know, maybe I really should do it, but if I do, I lose my credibility with my peeps,' he claimed. Collins added that the mandates were a way to give these people a chance to get vaccinated while also saving face. They get, you know, bonus points because theyre now a victim. But theyve also gotten the mandated vaccine that they kind of wanted anyway. Leaked audio also reveals Collins mocking Christians for refusing the vaccine Collins, a self-described evangelical Christian, used the meeting at the university to disparage other Christians. He said other evangelicals have so wrapped themselves in the flag and wrapped themselves in this concept of personal freedom that public health just grates on them. [Evangelicals] have forgotten many times that freedom is not just about rights, said Collins. He is then heard in the audio recording taking on a mocking Southern accent when he asked the students: How many times have you heard, My freedom means I got rights? Well, okay, you also have that other r-word: Responsibilities. Thats what freedom is supposed to incorporate. Collins continued his attacks on Christians by defending the NIHs research that uses genetic data from aborted children. He claimed that it is acceptable because abortion is legal in the United States. Whether youre in support of it or not, its happened, he said. Collins added that the discarded material from abortions can be extremely valuable for certain kinds of research. Can you, in fact, in some circumstances, even with actions that you consider immoral, derive something from it that might actually be moral and beneficial? he asked rhetorically. Thats the horns of the dilemma upon which I have been resting here for these 12 years as NIH director, trying to oversee human fetal tissue research, which is something that I have to make decisions about. More related stories: DoD, NIH caught changing data after whistleblowers expose covid vaccine fraud. NIH Director Francis Collins conspired with Fauci in a propaganda effort to take down scientists who discussed the harms of lockdowns. Lunacy: NIH Director Francis Collins calls for critics of Anthony Fauci to be brought to justice. NIH claims co-ownership of Moderna COVID vaccine patent, demonstrating how taxpayer money is used to develop therapeutics that make drug companies wealthy. NIH Director Francis Collins lied and committed treason, but the media refuses to report it. Watch this episode of the Ben Armstrong Show as host Ben Armstrong talks about how the NIH fraudulently changed data that would have incriminated government officials in covering up the truth about the COVID-19 vaccines. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. Read more stories about forced vaccinations at VaccineWars.com. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com DailyWire.com IndependentSentinel.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Health Ranger Mike Adams and well-known author Steve Quayle discussed the possibility of nuclear war due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which could bring about the death of billions of people. The globalists want one thing and this is the termination and the annihilation of the human race. The globalists are now planning, plotting, scheming to try and get the global population to go along with their own demise, Quayle told Adams during a recent of episode of Brighteon Conversations. The host and Brighteon.com founder agreed, noting that the vaccine extermination agenda has failed. However, Adams still thinks one to two billion people will die over the next decade from cancers, heart attacks and other diseases caused by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. Its a vaccine holocaust. Its genocide, but its nowhere near the goal that you just mentioned, where they want to kill off 7.4 billion people or something in that range. So they have to shift to the next global weapon system. And notice how fast they moved from COVID to World War, said Adams, who called that particular edition of his program a red alert episode. Adams mentioned the ongoing deception and propaganda, as well as the Democrats and Leftists calling for a nuclear war and the survival of human civilization. Quayle, meanwhile, said that people need to understand that the world would be near extinction level with the threat of a nuclear war. He noted that Russia only wanted a guarantee of its 1991 agreement with the U.S. and NATO that they would not expand and put weapons near its territory. The Health Ranger added that they are talking about the rogue governments, the cartels, the globalists and the fascists who have occupied the nations such as Russia, Ukraine, America, Canada, among others, and who are now bringing destruction to humanity. People calling for a nuclear war have Cold War mentality Quayle, who is also a historian and radio host, pointed out that the people who are calling for nuclear war, especially in the West, have a Cold War mentality. In the Ukraine, the people are wonderful. People everywhere are wonderful. Its just the bloody governments and, in this case, the globalists that want to destroy all nations, all boundaries, all cultures and all historic references to the past, he said. Were watching the global chaos thats necessary to bring about the New World Order, which is nothing more than the old world order with Lucifer in the presence of Antichrist ruling and reigning on the planet and destroying humanity as fast as he can, wherever he can, said Quayle, who had written books on nuclear war based on the Cold War and civil defense. Quayle also emphasized that America cannot wage war on the basis of a lack of understanding of the enemys firepower and their technical developments, such as hyper-developments and hyper-dimensional physics that include hypersonic missiles, electromagnetic warfare weapons and 100-megaton nuclear torpedoes. (Related: Ben Armstrong warns Biden administration: Acting tough now against Russia could put the world on the brink of a nuclear war.) The book author and radio host said the Department of Defense lags behind in all areas of hypersonic weapons development, electromagnetic weapon development and weather modification and control. He mentioned that there are four Black Hole submarines or Russian Kilo-Class subs off the Americas east coast, adding that a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) could hit its target such as Washington D.C. or New York City in under a minute. More related stories: URGENT Health Ranger mega thread on Russia, nuclear war, cyber attacks and impending financial collapse. Insane US leaders try to provoke NUCLEAR WAR with Russia its all an attempt to create chaos and collapse as a cover for the global financial reset. World War III will be nuclear and destructive, warns Russian foreign minister. Russia threatens to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe as tension with US escalates. Watch the video below to know more about the possibility of a nuclear war. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Follow Nuclear.news for more articles about nuclear war. Sources include: Brighteon.com SteveQuayle.com NationalInterest.org (Natural News) Russian occupying forces have disconnected Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine from the national power grid igniting safety fears at the site, the global nuclear watchdog warned Wednesday. (Article by Simon Kent republished from Breitbart.com) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Ukraine had notified it about its loss of control over the site which had been taken by Russian troops. As Breitbart News reported on February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine and seized the defunct Chernobyl plant, site of a 1986 disaster that killed hundreds and spread radioactive contamination west across Europe. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi indicated that remote data transmission from safeguards monitoring systems installed at the Chornobyl NPP had been lost, the agency said in a statement. The Agency is looking into the status of safeguards monitoring systems in other locations in Ukraine and will provide further information soon, it said. The IAEA uses the term safeguards to describe technical measures it applies to nuclear material and activities, with the objective of deterring the spread of nuclear weapons through early detection of the misuse of such material. National nuclear energy company Ukrenergo also said the plant is in total blackout with no power supply, Reuters reports. The lack of power at Chernobyl risks means it is impossible to monitor radioactive substances passing into the air from the site. Ukrenergo added: Because of the military actions of the Russian occupiers, the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl was fully disconnected from the power grid. The nuclear station has no power supply. The military actions are in progress, so there is no possibility to restore the lines. Slavutich city is also out of power supply. Russias own official propaganda network TASS acknowledged the military hold on the site but urged calm and said all is going well, Moscow official Maria Zakharova said Currently, control over the situation at the Chernobyl NPP is being exercised jointly by Russian servicemen, Ukrainian specialists, the plants civilian personnel, and that countrys National Guard, she said, adding Ukraines allegations about 20-fold radiation increase at the Chernobyl plant are not true. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) The United States and its allies have announced sanctions on a number of Russian sectors, including banning oil imports over its invasion of Ukraine. However, Russia is not backing down. Russia retaliated by threatening to close a major gas pipeline to Germany. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in a state television address that rejection of Russian oil would lead to catastrophic consequences for the global market and claims that the price of oil could rise to over $300 a barrel. Citing Germanys decision to halt the certification of Nord Stream 2, Novak noted that Russia has every right to make a matching decision and impose an embargo on gas pumping through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. So far, we are not taking such a decision. But European politicians with their statements and accusations against Russia push us towards that, Novak warned. He also said it would be impossible to quickly find a replacement for Russian oil in the European market. It will take years, and it will still be much more expensive for European consumers. Ultimately, they will be hurt the worst by this outcome. Bank of America analysts have said that prices could reach up to $200 a barrel if Russias exports were cut off, and oil prices hit near a 14-year high on Tuesday, March 8, with Brent crude futures already reaching as high as $125.19 per barrel. (Related: Rising gas prices to hit $7 a gallon if crude oil cost spikes and tension between Russia and Ukraine escalates.) Novaks threat about the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany follows the comments made by the European Commissions climate policy chief, who said that the EU could wean itself off Russian gas within years and start curbing its reliance on the giant within months. Its not easy, but its feasible, Frans Timmermans said during the European parliaments environment committee. Russias invasion of Ukraine has triggered many concerns, with the European Commission set to propose plans to diversify the continents fossil fuel supplies away from Russia and move forward to renewable energy. Stateside, President Joe Biden held a video conference call with European leaders, pushing for their support in banning Russian oil imports. However, the U.S. said it is willing to move ahead without its European allies. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed that the idea of withdrawing support on Russian oil was gaining traction in the White House and had been the subject of active discussion. In the U.K., PM Boris Johnson attracted criticism after saying that the U.K. may have to increase its own domestic gas and oil production. Ban could have seismic repercussions for world economy Russia is the worlds third-largest oil producer behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. It is also the worlds largest exporter of crude to global markets and a major producer and exporter of natural gas. The European Union receives around 40 percent of its gas via Russian pipelines, some of which run through Ukraine. (Related: Sen. Cotton says gas prices will continue to rise, calls for deregulation of energy production in US.) With the ban on Russias oil and gas, energy analysts warn that this could have seismic repercussions for energy markets and the world economy as a whole. European policymakers are now under immense pressure to end their dependence on Russian fossil fuels, particularly as energy-importing countries continue to refill Putins war chest with oil and gas revenue daily. The revenue from Russian oil and gas was seen to be responsible for up to 43 percent of the Kremlins federal budget between 2011 and 2020, highlighting how fossil fuels play a central role in the Russian government. Novak also said European politicians need to honestly warn their citizens and consumers what to expect, adding that Russia is ready for them to reject energy supplies. We know where we could redirect the volumes to, he added. More related stories: Heres how Russias invasion of Ukraine is threatening the already struggling global semiconductor industry. Oil heading to eye-popping $200 barrel, with $10 gas coming to America thanks to energy policies made worse by Biden, Dems. After blocking a fossil fuel pipeline, Massachusetts was so short on energy, officials had to purchase natural gas from Russia. Financial pressures rise worldwide as governments witness the unfolding of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Germanys energy collapse hastens as major power plant runs out of hard coal because country depends largely on Russian gas and good weather for power. Watch the video below of TFI Global host Vedica Singh talking about Iran, Venezuela and other countries backing Russia through an embargo on oil exports. This video is from the Jerusalem Cats channel on Brighteon.com. Follow WWIII.news for more updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Sources include: TheGuardian.com CNBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) There has been a shortage of nearly every product following the insanity of shutting down the planet over a coronavirus with a 99.1 percent survival rate, and the supply chain crisis is not likely to abate anytime soon. In fact, the situation is likely to only get worse, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues. The government of Ukraine has introduced zero quotas for exports subject to licensing in 2022 of corn, oats, buckwheat, millet, sugar and salt suitable for human consumption, according to government resolution No. 207 dated March 5, published on the government website on Sunday, the Strange Sounds website reported earlier this week. In addition, zero quotas were also implemented for the export of live cattle and frozen beef as well as meat and edible meat offal, salted or in brine, dried or smoked; edible meat from meat or meat offal: bovine meat, notes the resolution, Ukrainian Customs Commodity Classification Codes for Foreign Trade code 021020. On Sunday, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv decided to limit the export of several other commodities as well as the raw materials from which they are produced but he was not specific about what product groups were selected. According to ABC News, the zero export directive was implemented so that the government can ensure that its own citizens are fed first: The export ban is needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, stabilize the market and meet the needs of the population in critical food products, Roman Leshchenko, Ukraines minister of agrarian and food policy, said in a statement posted on the government website and his Facebook page. Its the latest sign thatRussias invasion of Ukraine threatens the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the farmlands of the Black Sea region known as the breadbasket of the world. Russia and Ukraine together supply nearly a third of the worlds wheat and barley exports, which have soared in price since the invasion. The export ban will likely reduce global food supplies just when prices are at their highest level since 2011, the network continued. The loss of commodities from Ukraine is significant. As the largest country in Europe not named Russia, Ukraine also features extremely fertile black soil that is capable of producing some of the highest crop yields on the planet, according to a report posted this week. That is what earned the country the moniker, Europes breadbasket being capable of providing food for a half-billion people. Ukraine produces 18% of the worlds sunflower seed, safflower or cottonseed oil exports; 13% of corn production; 12% of global barley exports; and 8% of wheat and meslin, the report stated. In absolute figures, corn is the largest Ukrainian export market and brings in a massive $4.77 billion every year. Seed oils ($3.75bn), iron ore ($3.36bn) and wheat ($3.11bn) are also major export markets for Ukraine. China is the largest buyer of Ukrainian-grown corn, but the only country to rival it in corn production is an ally of China and that would be Russia. The report went on to explain the impact of the loss of Ukrainian commodities. The fighting disrupts the usual process of cultivating, harvesting, selling and transporting the crops that are so vital both for the Ukrainian economy and for nutritional demands of nations all over the world. Russia too will experience disruption to its crop production if the invasion is prolonged and is also receiving severe economic sanctions at the moment, the report said. The fighting in Ukraine obviously is not on our doorstep, but that doesnt mean the ill-effects of that war arent going to reverberate all the way to American shores. Worse, we have the feeblest president in the history of our country to deal with it. Sources include: AS.com StrangeSounds.org (Natural News) In order to prevent another plandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants to create an international pandemic treaty that would restrict and legally bind its 194 member nations to medical martial law. The United States would need to give up its national sovereignty under the plan, including all civil and health rights. Every other country that is part of the United Nations would be expected to do the same (if they have not already). Back in December, the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHOs 194-member health policy forum, agreed to initiate the process of drafting a pandemic treaty based on an already existing international legal instrument called the International Health Regulations (2005), also known as the IHR. The stated purpose of the IHR is to: Prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. In the event that another deadly bioweapon gets released from one of the Pentagons bioweapons laboratories in Ukraine, for instance, then the WHO would have at its disposal far more authoritarian power to tyrannize people for their own safety. The IHR is already far-reaching all on its own, as evidenced by what already took place as part of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic. Now, the WHO wants even more power for the next one, which the powers-that-be are already hinting is soon to come. Indeed, it was in January 2020, that pursuant to article 12 of the IHR that the WHO Director-General (the Director-General) declared that the COVID-19 was a public health emergency of international concern (a PHEIC), setting off a worldwide tidal wave of highly restrictive government health policies resulting in lockdowns, mandatory masking, social isolation, school and business closings, and eventually culminating in compulsory vaccination, contact tracing and testing, in some populations, reported GreenMedInfo. This was all the more egregious as pertains the widespread push for mandatory vaccination given that the mRNA technology used in the COVID jabs are highly experimental, having never before been tested in human clinical trials for safety or effectiveness. Their coerced or mandated use therefore violate informed consent given that evidence-based risk/benefit information based on long-term safety trails are not yet available. Next plandemic will be even more brutal than the last one The WHAs decision late last year was, in fact, adopted as schemed. They called the dystopian move The World Together, and it is set to be implemented under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution some time in 2024. Once that happens, the WHA will have the authority to adopt new conventions or agreements with respect to any matter deemed to be within the competence of the Organization. A simple two-thirds vote is enough to make such changes on a whim, and all member countries will have to abide by whatever gets passed. Keep in mind that this special session of the WHA is only the second to ever have occurred since 1948 when it was founded. This was the same year, by the way, that the modern-day nation-state of Israel was declared into existence. On March 3, the WHA already announced changes to implement a new global public health world order that basically globalizes how governments respond to plandemic. The Fauci Flu appears to have just been a test run, as miserable as it was, the next one will be even more brutal. If you believe in bodily sovereignty, parental rights and informed consent, you must stand up now and let your voice be heard, said popular health guru Sayer Ji. More related news can be found at Fascism.news. Sources include: GreenMedInfo.com NaturalNews.com Tropical Storm Gombe is likely to make landfall in Mozambique on the morning of Friday, March 11. Mozambican meteorological authorities said Gombe is expected to touch the ground of the Mossuril district in Nampula Province. Also called Tropical Cyclone Gombe, the storm formed over the Indian Ocean, near the coast of Madagascar on Monday, March 7. Cyclone Gombe had already made landfall in Madagascar's Antsiranana Province on Monday evening. The expected arrival of Gombe comes just more than a month after Tropical Cyclone Ana struck the region in late January, which caused widespread disruption and damage in multiple countries in southern Africa, including Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. Tropical Storm Gombe The meteorological authorities said Tropical Storm Gombe is moving at a speed of 120 to 165 kilometers per hour (74 to 102 miles per hour). Storm Gombe is near the coast of Nampula Province, according to Mozambique's National Institute of Meteorology (INAM), as cited by Xinhua News. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Gombe is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge in Mozambique and Madagascar in the coming days. Flooding due to torrential rain is also possible in coastal and low-lying areas. Furthermore, the UN OCHA confirmed Gombe will make landfall in the town of Liupo in Nampula on Friday morning based on the weather forecast. In the coming hours, disruption of road traffic movement, train services, and flights is expected in Mozambique and its surrounding countries. Currently, Gombe is over the Mozambique Channel and off the coast of Nampula Province, the storm is moving on a westward pattern, prompting disaster preparedness measures such as cancelation of flights, issuance of nationwide storm warnings, and storage of essential items. Also Read: Storm Alert: Tropical Cyclone Emnati Threatens Madagascar with Heavy Rain, Flooding, and Landslides Disaster Preparedness Measures The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGC) on Wednesday, March 9, has reportedly issued a nationwide storm warning that 77 bridges, 192 health facilities, and 2,058 schools are at risk in the central and northern region due to Tropical Cyclone Gombe, as per Xinhua News. Additionally, the Mozambican government has already prepared food items, non-food items, and several boats to key strategic locations, especially in coastal areas, in case of emergencies when cyclone Gombe makes landfall. Recent Storms in Southern Africa This year has witnessed the passage of several storms in the region-with Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique being the most affected countries. Prior to Gombe, Tropical Storm Ana wreaked havoc in the region, killing hundreds of people. Other storms or cyclones named Batsirai, Dumako, and Emnati, have also passed the region, causing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, travel disruption, and casualties. The succeeding storms consecutively hit the region while still recovering from previous cyclones. In March 2019, Intense Tropical Cyclone Idai caused large-scale damage and humanitarian crisis in southern Africa, including Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Cyclone Idai reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, injured over 2,000 others, and destroyed property, according to Reuters. The southern Africa region that includes Mozambique is currently on its cyclone season which is expected to end in May. With this, further cyclones could possibly manifest in the region after Tropical Cyclone Gombe. Related Article: Over 70 Dead as Tropical Storm Ana Wreaks Havoc on Southern African Countries Antarctica is one of the remaining frontiers for exploration on the planet. The Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica's vast wedge of floating ice that shields the Southern Ocean's southernmost extension, is the subject of the investigation. The ocean in this ice-covered depression is approximately the same size as the North Sea. However, ice forms a permanent, impenetrable canopy over a fully dark and frigid environment (about -1.9C). Uncovering Microbial Population The researchers uncovered a robust microbial population, unique and well adapted to living without light and without the organic stuff that falls in the open ocean, as part of a multi-disciplinary study endeavor to examine this under-ice environment. Instead, inorganic nitrogen and sulfur molecules serve as chemical energy sources in this food web. Microbes use these alternate energy sources to repair dissolved carbon dioxide into complex organic compounds and biomass, feeding the aquatic environment. The discovery harkens back to the first signs of microscopic life beneath the ice, which were initially discovered during the 19th-century journeys of James Clark Ross, for whom both the southernmost ocean and the ice shelf are named. Historical Mission = During the summers of 1840 and 1842, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror sailors raced southward across the Ross Sea, dodging icebergs, managing changeable winds, and chipping frozen sea spray from their rigging and decks. Their goal was the same as that of the Polynesian explorers who came before them millennia ago: exploration. The mission of Captain Ross's journey of exploration and inquiry was to uncover and investigate the ocean's southernmost boundary. They discovered signs of microbial life everywhere, including icebergs, seafloor sediment, and even the guts of bigger species. Captain Ross' ships couldn't get past the massive floating extension of the continental ice sheet, today known as the Ross Ice Shelf. Today, they may pursue the ocean further south by traversing the ice surface in tracked vehicles and drilling through the frozen cap of a mostly uncharted ocean with purpose-built drilling rigs. Also Read: NASA Helps Drill Antarctic, Revealing Something Below the Ice Marine Ecosystem Marine ecosystems are generally driven by photosynthetic organisms that utilize sunshine to convert nutrients in the water into biomass in other parts of the world-sinking organic particles transport carbon and energy at depths where sunlight does not reach, a process known as the biological carbon pump. However, there is no shower of organic particles above when the ice shelf is covered. It can take up to five years for water to flow into the sub-ice ocean cavity and see sunlight again. Microbes, amphipods, and fish were present in this ecosystem when scientists first examined it in 1977. Because the analytical tools of the time were inadequate, the question of whether what they had discovered constituted a functional food web remained unanswered. The secret was blown wide open by the team's latest mission. Drillers Drillers from Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka used a hot-water drill to melt a 30cm-wide borehole through the 360m-thick center area of the Ross Ice Shelf (at roughly 80.7S, 174.5W), some 300km from the open ocean, as part of a vast multi-disciplinary project in December 2017. They used this one-of-a-kind entry point to sample microbial life in the ocean hollow. Waiting Game The researchers had no idea how large the microbial population would be, but they expected ocean conditions to play a role at various depths. They then dropped a battery-powered filtration pump down the borehole into the freezing environment below to ensure they collected enough biomass. It was a waiting game when it came to collecting samples. They labored all night, carefully pumping hundreds of liters of water through a filter paper at the pump's center. Each filtration was carried out three times, at depths of 30 meters, 180 meters, and 330 meters from the floating ice's base, encompassing the whole water column between the ice shelf and the ocean floor. They exchanged samples with colleagues in Austria, New Zealand, Spain, Australia, and the United States once they safely returned to the labs. They identified what microscopic creatures dwell in the ocean cavity, where their energy comes from, and what they do with it using various cutting-edge genetic tools and biogeochemical measures. Illuminating Discovery = The work shed light on bacteria with high metabolic flexibility, allowing them to scavenge energy from a variety of sources and, as a result, maintain a complex food web in the dark. 1.6 million square kilometers of ice shelves surround Antarctica, each with its unique microbial population. They account for a considerable amount of unexplained energy and carbon. Microbial communities can be found everywhere, using whatever energy source is available to provide the basis for all of Earth's ecosystems. Understanding life in this distant system helps us make sense of life everywhere else on Earth, just as Captain Ross predicted 180 years ago. Related Article: Antarctic: Ocean's Cold at the Surface, but Scorching Deep Down For more news update about climate change and the environment, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Sign up to get breaking news, weather forecasts, and more in your email inbox. Sign Up Now NEW CANAAN Restaurateur Nick Martschenko is collecting donations for embattled Ukraine, and is asking people to drop-off donations at any of his three restaurants. Martschenko, who has cousins in Ukraine, said the Russian invasion hits close to home and he fears what is happening will carry over for a long time. I hope it ends soon, he said. Martschenko owns South End on Pine Street and Uncorked and TBE, both on Elm Street. Martschenko is working with bartender, Urszula Voynick, who came to the United States from Poland 18 years ago, to collect money and supplies for victims of the Russian attacks. Voynicks mother, father and two sisters are still in Poland and she sympathizes with the Ukrainian war victims. I cant imagine what those people are going through, she said. Growing up in Poland, I know what war is, she said. She recalls how there was nothing in the stores. During WWII when Poland faced invasion of German troops, they were left on their own, and now Poland is helping its neighbor country. The Polish people are opening their homes to strangers, from Ukraine and the Polish government is helping kids be like they are at home, including enrolling them in school, Voynick said. The mothers from Ukraine, who have become refugees, are being offered jobs, because she was told they want to do things for themselves. They will do hard work. They love their country. Their love of country is deep, she said. Voynicks family is afraid of the war and fears radiation and nuclear war. Her mother already had cancer, which the family believes was from living near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Martshenko and Voynick are collecting alcohol wipes, ear plugs, disinfectant, female hygiene products, sterile gauze rolls, Advil, Tylenol, disposable gloves and compression bandages. They are also collecting things such as flashlights and other objects for the military. They are helping collect for three different organizations, St. Michaels Bridgeport Church, Fairfield Moms and Trumbull Help. Drop-offs can be made from 2 p.m. until closing on Friday and Saturday. Yeng Carle, a 44-year-old mother of three from Portersville and the most-senior student in Butler County Community Colleges new practical nursing program, has been selected to speak Saturday at the Womens Conference of Lawrence County. Newburyport, MA (01950) Today Rain likely. High 51F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. George Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers responsible for the Star Wars franchise and Indiana Jones, he has been nominated for four Academy Awards for his work. The multi billionaire, visionary, film director, producer, screenwriter, and entrepreneur turns Click for more. Pikeville, KY (41501) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. College Football Reporter/Columnist Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. His email is asmussen@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@BobAsmussen). Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). The cover of Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long's new book, 'The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer,' set to be published March 22 by University of Illinois Press. Longview, TX (75601) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. If a cancer patient tests positive for COVID-19, are they more likely to become hospitalized from the disease? That depends on certain risk factors, according to a new study by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), who looked to identify cancer-related risks for poor outcomes from COVID-19. Analyzing one of the largest databases of patients with cancer and COVID-19, the team found previously unreported links between a rare type of cancer-;as well as two cancer treatment-related drugs-;and an increased risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. The findings appear in the journal Cancer Medicine. There is still a lot of fear of what the impacts are to the risk of patients with cancer and COVID-19. The key to this study was the strength of the dataset, which allowed us to look at this niche sector and was big enough to find some statistically significant cancer-related and medicine-related perspectives. These are potentially actionable items for physicians to let their patients be more aware, take more precautions or even look at alternate treatments." Priyadip Ray, LLNL principal investigator Using a logistical regression approach, the team examined de-identified Electronic Health Record (EHR) data from the UC Health COVID Research Data Set (UC CORDS) on nearly a half-million patients who underwent COVID-19 testing at all 17 UC-affiliated hospitals. The dataset included nearly 50,000 patients with cancer-;more than 17,000 of whom had also tested positive for COVID-;and contained information on patient demographics, comorbidities, lab work, cancer types and various cancer therapies. The researchers examined a range of factors and disease outcomes, including hospitalization, ventilation and death, and identified a higher risk from COVID-19 due to a specific group of rarer blood cancers and two medications used to treat cancer -; venetoclax (used to treat leukemia) and methotrexate (an immune suppressant used in chemotherapy). "We found that patients with cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms or receiving specific anti-cancer treatments may be more likely to be hospitalized after SARS-CoV-2 infection," said collaborator Daniel Kwon, an assistant clinical professor in the Hematology/Oncology division in UCSF's Department of Medicine. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify these potential risk factors. Further studies in these populations are needed." LLNL computer scientist Jose Cadena worked with co-authors Sam Nguyen and former Academic Graduate Appointee at LLNL Ryan Chan (currently a Ph.D. student at Johns Hopkins University) on the software tools for extracting and analyzing the data stored in the UCSF system. He said having access to such a large database with detailed medical history for each patient was key to the study. "It allows us to evaluate the potential risk of many different factors with some reasonable confidence that the findings are statistically significant and relevant to a population beyond the cohort understudy," Cadena said. "One of the reasons I joined LLNL was to conduct research that could have a national or global impact. It would be great if our findings help physicians improve care for cancer patients with COVID." In addition to cancer-specific risks, the study examined if people with cancer have an increased risk of getting infected with COVID-19. In contrast with previous studies, the team found cancer patients among the UC cohort were less likely to contract COVID-19 than the general population, which they hypothesized could be related to patients with cancer being more likely to take precautions that decrease transmission (e.g., social distancing and mask-wearing), frequent testing practices and having lower thresholds for undergoing testing compared to patients with cancer in other regions. Cadena said such counterintuitive findings highlight one of the challenges of using EHRs for modeling disease, where there are "numerous confounding factors that muddle the analysis and have to be accounted for." Researchers said more investigation is needed to help explain and confirm the lower risk of COVID-19 test positivity in patients with cancer. The team found additional risk factors for COVID-19 that have been previously reported, such as Asian and Hispanic/Latino ethnicities (which made up 36 percent of COVID-positive patients with cancer), and comorbidities like old age, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which were associated with increased risk of hospitalization and more severe disease. The work is part of a pilot study, and researchers are pursuing external funding for further examination. Ray said the team would like to add time-varying, genomic and imaging data and apply more sophisticated AI and other tools to find better ways to treat patients and understand not only the mechanics of the disease, but how socio-economic factors such as income and insurance can play a role. "All of us are very excited," Ray said. "When you are doing research, you don't always see things that are immediately translatable. The potential that you can immediately impact how you treat a disease, care for patients or give guidance to patients or clinicians in how they can manage their disease, is very satisfying." The Laboratory Directed Research and Development program funded the work. Co-authors included LLNL scientists Kwan Ho Ryan Chan, Braden Soper and Amy Gryshuk and UCSF Department of Medicine Assistant Professor Franklin Huang. An international team of investigators has discovered that an inorganic polyphosphate released by nerve cells known as astrocytes in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) contributes to the motor neuron death that is the signature of these diseases. The research, by Brigitte van Zundert, PhD, adjunct professor of neurology at UMass Chan and professor at the Universidad Andres Bello in Chile; Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, professor of neurology, and colleagues appears this week in Neuron. "We are encouraged by these early results," said Dr. Brown, the Leo P. and Theresa M. LaChance Chair in Medical Research. "These findings provide an entirely new perspective on ALS pathogenesis, raising exciting hypotheses and possibilities both for disease biomarkers and for therapeutic targets." ALS and FTD are characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and frontal lobes, but the causes of this neurotoxicity have remained elusive. And while great progress has been made in identifying genetic mutations that cause these neurodegenerative disorders, the vast majority of cases have no identifiable genetic mutation. How genetic changes affect neurons, and the possible impact of toxic factors, has also remained elusive. Previous research has shown that the astrocytes-;the glial cells in the brain and spinal cord-;may release one or more toxic factors that contribute to motor neuron death. The Neuron study provides evidence that the offending neurotoxic factor is a common inorganic polyphosphate, which was found to be released by both mouse and human astrocytes in cells with an array of ALS/FTD-linked mutations (including SOD1, TARDBP and C9ORF72). The toxic factor, called polyP, is a ubiquitous negatively charged inorganic biopolymer present in the cells of all living organisms, from bacteria to mammals. These polyphosphates perform numerous functions in cells: energy storage, formation of membrane channels, gene activity control, regulation of enzymes and stress response. "The biggest surprise from our study is that the toxic factor is not a novel or rare protein or peptide, but rather a very simple inorganic molecule that is found in every tested cell type in nature and conserved across more than 3 billion years of evolution," said Dr. van Zundert, corresponding author on the Neuron study. An important finding of the research is that human cerebrospinal fluid samples from familial and sporadic ALS cases revealed increased polyP concentrations. The study shows that exposure of spinal cord neurons to polyP reproduced the toxic effects of media from ALS astrocyte cultures, causing hyperexcitability, increased Ca2+ flow into neurons and enhanced motoneuron death." Brigitte van Zundert, PhD, adjunct professor of neurology, UMass Chan and professor at the Universidad Andres Bello, Chile Additionally, van Zundert, Brown and colleagues found that motor neurons can be rescued from the astrocyte toxicity by reducing levels of polyP. "Our findings strongly encourage the view that lowering polyP levels extracellularly may be an innovative therapeutic strategy for diverse types of ALS/FTD," said van Zundert. As a postdoctoral fellow in Brown's laboratory in 2008, van Zundert discovered that increased electrical excitability of motor neurons is an early, critical feature in mouse models of ALS. van Zundert began to consider polyPs as a candidate cause of hyperexcitability in 2014, when it was reported that this molecule can act as a glial transmitter that mediates communications between astrocytes and neurons. ALS and FTD are devastating, incurable diseases. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that involves the loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. Roughly 10 percent of ALS is familial-;inherited from a person's parents-;and is caused by a genetic mutation in a patient's DNA. The remaining 90 percent of cases are classified as sporadic and occur in cases with no family history of disease. An estimated 6,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year. Similarly, FTD, originally called Pick's disease, is among the most common forms of early-onset dementia, second only to Alzheimer's disease. FTD is caused by the loss of neurons in the frontal or temporal lobes. This study was supported by several funding agencies, including the ALS Association, the Angel Fund for ALS Research, ALS Therapy Alliance, ALS Finding a Cure, ALS ONE, the Max Rosenfeld ALS Research Fund and FightMND and with additional support from the National Institutes of Health and several Chilean governmental agencies. A UCL-led international trial exploring the effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) treatment in children has led to a change in the World Health Organisation's global guidelines for managing the disease. The research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that the treatment duration for the majority of children with drug sensitive tuberculosis can be shortened from six to four months, thereby reducing the burden on families and healthcare systems around the world. Principal Investigator, Professor Diana Gibb (MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL) said: "It is estimated that nearly one quarter of children with TB die, but the vast majority (90%) die because they are not diagnosed and started on treatment. A shorter treatment for children with non-severe TB allows savings of on average $17 (12) per child, which can be used to improve the screening coverage and find the missing children with TB." Researchers from the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL worked with partners in South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and India on the SHINE study, the first randomized control trial to assess whether children with 'minimal' TB could be effectively treated with a shorter course of treatment. Minimal tuberculosis is non-severe lung or lymph gland TB, where the TB bacteria cannot easily be found in the sputum through smear microscopy (smear negative). In 2020 an estimated 1.1 million children fell ill with TB globally, and unlike adult patients, most of them (approximately two thirds) had a non-severe form of the disease. Yet despite children being more likely to have minimal TB, until now their treatment length has been based on the results of trials in adults, requiring six months of a combination of daily medicines. As children on TB treatment often stay home from school, this also increases the burden on caregivers. The SHINE team found that treatment for four months using the same standard medicines was as beneficial as a six-month treatment course for children with minimal TB. Spending less time on treatment will mean fewer clinic visits, as well as making it easier to complete the full course of medicine. Savings to TB programmes can instead be spent on improving access to screening and diagnostic tests for the disease, which can be poor at lower-level health facilities, as well as on training health care workers. People think that a child with TB must be very sick that's not true. It is known that two-thirds of children who fall ill with TB every year have non-severe TB and therefore could be treated with shorter treatment." Dr Anna Turkova, First Author, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL The trial involved 1,204 children aged from two months up to 16 years with non-severe TB, who were divided randomly into two groups to take either four or six months of treatment with anti-TB medicines. Of the enrolled children, 11% were living with HIV. All children were followed for 18 months after enrolment to see whether their treatment had been successful. The results clearly showed that children who received the shorter course did as well as those on the standard six-month treatment, regardless of the age group, country or HIV status, with few and similar side effects in both groups. The evidence from SHINE was reviewed by the World Health Organisation Guidelines Development Group, who recommended in August 2021 that in children and adolescents with non-severe, presumed drug susceptible TB, a four-month regimen should be used rather than the standard six-month regimen. Important considerations about how to determine eligibility for the shorter treatment regimen will be described in WHO's full consolidated guidelines coming out in March 2022 and in the operational handbook. Lead investigator at the Zambian trial site, Dr Chishala Chabala (University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia), said: "Children are often presenting with mild disease. If they are diagnosed on time, they can now be treated with a shorter course. The SHINE results are an opportunity to improve treatment of children with TB." Trial paediatrician Dr Priyanka Anand Kulkarni (B.J. Medical College, Pune, India) added: "For parents it's very challenging to manage the pill burden and to motivate kids to complete the full duration of treatment. The short treatment course can make it more manageable." Children living with HIV who also have TB face problems of having to take treatment for both diseases, which complicates HIV treatment options. The shorter TB treatment will help to reduce these issues. While undertaking the trial, training and community education helped to diagnose children with mild TB. The SHINE team is now working with its South African partners to improve ways of identifying children with the disease. They hope to explore use of artificial intelligence to read chest radiographs and help clinicians distinguish between severe and non-severe cases. The SHINE trial was funded by the Joint Global Health Trials scheme, including the Department for Health and Social Care, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Medical Research Council and Wellcome. This UK-funded award is part of the EDCTP2 Programme supported by the European Union. Jill Jones, Head of Global Health Strategy at the Medical Research Council said: "It's fantastic to see that the trial results from this study have already been taken up in WHO TB guidelines. "TB remains a major health burden for children and so reducing treatment time by two months will have a major impact on the health and wellbeing of children affected by TB." Schools with mandatory masking during the Delta surge had approximately 72% fewer cases of in-school transmission of SARS-CoV-2 when compared to schools with optional or partial masking policies, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study included more than 1.1 million students and over 157,000 staff attending in-person school across nine states: North Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, California, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee, Kansas and Texas. The study is supported by NIH's Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics - Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) program and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It appears in Pediatrics. The authors pointed out that their study was conducted when Delta was the dominant variant, and that their study did not obtain data on school masking in preventing the spread of the Omicron variant. However, they added that masking remains a critical preventive measure in times with high community infection rates with more transmissible variants, such as Omicron. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidelines for masking and other preventive measures, taking into account community levels of COVID-19. The CDC recommends indoor masking in areas with high community levels of COVID-19. CDC's COVID-19 Community levels recommendations align precautions for educational settings with those for other community settings. In the current study, most COVID-19 cases among students and staff were acquired from the community and approximately 10% of cases were acquired within school. The researchers found that for every 100 community-acquired cases, school districts with mandatory masking had approximately 7.3 cases of in-school infections, while optionally masked districts had 26.4 cases of in-school infections. In other words, school districts with optional masking had approximately 3.6 times the rate of in-school COVID-19 cases when compared to schools with mandatory masking. These data also show that mandatory masking was associated with a 72% reduction of in-school COVID-19 cases, compared to districts with optional masking. The study included 61 school districts (kindergarten through grade 12) that provided data from July 26, 2021, through Dec. 13, 2021, a period encompassing the Delta surge and preceding the Omicron surge. In total, there were 40,601 primary infections acquired in the community (36,032 among students, 4,569 among staff) and 3,085 secondary infections acquired in school (2,844 among students, 241 among staff). Of these school districts, six districts (10%) had optional masking policies; nine had partial masking, i.e., policies that changed during the study or only applied to certain grade levels (15%); and the remaining 46 districts (75%) required masking for the entirety of the study. mRNA vaccines are highly effective in preventing covid-19 associated hospital admissions related to the alpha, delta, and omicron variants. But three doses are needed to achieve a similar level of protection against omicron that two doses provide against the delta and alpha variants, finds a large US study published by The BMJ today. The results also show that, although severity of disease among patients admitted to hospital is lower with the omicron versus delta variant, patients with omicron are still at risk of critical illness and death. Understanding covid-19 variants and the effectiveness of vaccines against them are essential to guide vaccination policies and development of new vaccines. Early studies suggested reduced vaccine effectiveness against infection and hospital admissions for omicron compared with earlier variants, but little is known about the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent the most severe manifestations of covid-19, including respiratory failure and death, for patients with infection due to the omicron variant. To address this knowledge gap, researchers assessed the clinical severity of covid-19 associated with the alpha, delta, and omicron variants among adults admitted to hospital and compared the effectiveness of two and three doses of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) to prevent hospital admissions related to each variant. Their findings are based on 11,690 adults admitted to 21 hospitals across the United States between March 2021 and January 2022: 5728 with covid-19 (cases) and 5962 without covid-19 (controls). Patients were classified into three variant groups based on viral gene sequencing or by the predominant circulating variant at the time of hospital admission: alpha (11 March to 3 July 2021), delta (4 July to 25 December 2021), and omicron (26 December 2021 to 14 January 2022). Vaccine effectiveness was then calculated for each variant and disease severity was compared among variants using the World Health Organization's clinical progression scale, which evaluates how severely ill a patient becomes in the hospital. Effectiveness of two doses of an mRNA vaccine to prevent hospital admission with covid-19 was found to be lower for the omicron variant than alpha and delta variants (65%, 85%, and 85%, respectively), whereas three doses were found to achieve 86% effectiveness against the omicron variant, similar to two doses against the alpha and delta variants. Among unvaccinated adults admitted to hospital with covid-19, the delta variant was associated with the most severe disease, followed by the alpha variant and then the omicron variant. The omicron variant was, however, associated with substantial critical illness and death, with 15% of patients admitted to hospital with the omicron variant (vaccinated and unvaccinated) progressing to invasive mechanical ventilation, and 7% dying in hospital. Vaccinated patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 had significantly lower disease severity than unvaccinated patients for all the variants. This is an observational study, so can't establish cause, and the researchers acknowledge that some variant misclassification may have occurred. What's more, they didn't account for potential differences in clinical management during the periods when the alpha, delta, and omicron variants predominated, which may have affected outcomes. Nevertheless, they say this was a large study with rigorous evaluation of vaccination status and of outcomes beyond hospital admission, suggesting that the results are robust. As such, they say that mRNA vaccines "were associated with strong protection against hospital admissions with covid-19 due to the alpha, delta, and omicron variants" and that vaccination against covid-19, including a third dose of an mRNA vaccine, "is critical for protecting populations against covid-19-associated morbidity and mortality." They conclude: "As the covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve, routine monitoring of vaccine effectiveness, especially against severe disease, and surveillance programmes to identify viral variants will be essential to inform decisions about booster vaccine policies and vaccine strain updates." In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, researchers investigated the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) mutations on antiviral restriction mediated by interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITMs) proteins and guanylate binding proteins (GBPs). The interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), components of innate immunity, encode antiviral restriction factors that act directly as the first line of defense against viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The GBP2/5 sense an interferon-response activated due to SARS-CoV-2 attack in human airway epithelial cells and collectively target key viral replication steps to induce an antiviral state; likewise, IFITMs proteins act broadly to block SARS-CoV-2 entry. Intriguingly, mutations within the furin cleavage site (FCS) of S protein affect these antiviral restriction factors. Therefore, investigating the effect of GBP and IFITM-mediated restriction is crucial to gain insights into how dominant SARS-CoV- 2 variants of concern (VOCs) are evolving their FCS by acquiring mutations to enhance their infectivity and transmission potential. About the study In the present study, researchers investigated whether antiviral restriction factors, such as GBP1/5 and IFITMs, could inhibit S cleavage translating in lowered SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. They also tested whether S mutations have provided SARS-CoV-2 VOCs ability to escape this restriction; in other words, they evaluated the effect of S mutations on sensitivity to endosomal restriction factors, including IFITMs. Study findings The study analysis showed that interferon-inducible restriction factors GBP2 and GBP5 interfered with furin-mediated cleavage of the S proteins of Wuhan-Hu-1, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, similar to furin inhibition by GBPs. Moreover, GBP exposure shifted the viral entry route towards the endosomal entry. On the other hand, IFITM1, but not IFITM 2 or 3 ( predominantly located within endosomes) inhibited infection by SARS-CoV-2 early-lineage Wuhan-Hu-1, as well as Alpha and Delta VOCs. Further, they observed differential sensitivity of S proteins of VOCs to GBPs and IFITM restriction, as the restriction by GBP2/5 correlated with the differential requirement for furin-mediated S processing. Consequently, S of Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was sensitive, but SARS-CoV-1 was resistant to inhibition by GBP. Omicron emerged as a unique VOC in being sensitive to inhibition by GBP2/5 and IFITM1, 2, and 3 and evolving towards the transmembrane proteases 2 (TMPRSS2)-independent entry pathway. It exhibited less sensitivity to the TMPRSS2 inhibitor Camostat and more sensitivity to the cathepsin inhibitor E64d. Moreover, it was significantly less infectious than other SARS-CoV-2 isolates on TMPRSS2 expressing Caco2 cells. In addition, Omicron contains the same P681H FCS-optimising mutation as Alpha; additionally, it has enhanced affinity for ACE2 just as Alpha and Delta. Thus, researchers speculated that Omicron would be GBPs resistant in pseudoviruses (PVs) assay, similar to the other VOCs. However, Omicron was sensitive to GBP2/5, behaving like Wuhan-Hu-1. Moreover, increasing Omicron S incorporation into PVs did not rescue them from GBP or IFITM restriction. The study data revealed that the evolution of Alpha and Delta S also contributed to conferring resistance to GBP restriction, and this was not solely due to the acquisition of an enhanced FCS. Discussion and conclusions Taken together, the study data indicated that SARS-CoV-2 is evolving to balance efficient host cell entry with evasion of compartmentalized restriction factors. Hence, Omicron has remarkably adapted its S activity, has become less fusogenic and is sensitive to restriction by GBP2/5 and IFITM1/2/3, which interfere with viral fusion and cell entry. Furthermore, compared to Wuhan-Hu-1, Omicron contains three unique mutations (Q954H, N969K, and L981F) within the heptad repeat domain 1 (HR1) of its S that mediates viral fusion. As these substitutions are absent in Alpha and Delta VOCs, they may also be significantly contributing to the differences between Omicron and other VOCs in the context of S fusion, sensitivity to restriction, and tropism. Overall, the mutations in and around the receptor-binding domain (RBD), N-terminal domain (NTD), and S1/S2 cleavage boundary of Omicron S might be contributing to the distinctiveness of the Omicron phenotype. According to the authors, similar processes have occurred during SARS-CoV-2 evolution in hosts and hence the need to escape from neutralizing antibodies became the dominant selective pressure on Omicron. This interplay between evasion of innate and adaptive immunity, and the consequences for transmission and tropism, will continue to influence future SARS-CoV-2 evolution. Therefore, linking this evolution to phenotype could be crucial for developing insights into understanding SARS-CoV-2 biology and pathogenesis. *Important notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Library will enable analytical labs to identify potential E&L compounds in their samples using instruments from Waters and confirm the identity using Merck reference materials. Collaboration to provide testing labs with unrivalled confidence in their results and enhance consumer safety Darmstadt, Germany, February 15, 2022 Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that its Life Science business sector has entered into a collaboration with Waters Corporation to build and expand an Extractables and Leachables (E&L) Reference Library to include ion mobility measurements. The library will enable analytical labs to identify potential extractables and leachable compounds in their samples by using Waters ion mobility-enabled Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) instruments and then confirming the identity and quantity using Merck reference materials. Accurate screening for extractables and leachables is imperative to ensuring consumer safety, especially in pharmaceuticals, food packaging, or medical devices, said Heike Petri, Head of Advanced Analytical and Industrial & Testing. This collaboration will provide manufacturers with unrivalled confidence in their results, help improve workflow efficiency for labs, and ultimately contribute to consumer safety. Under the agreement, Waters will use high-quality analytical standards and Reference Materials from Merck to build and expand an E&L library of collision cross-section (CCS) values for Waters LC-MS instruments. The library, which will be available for download from the Waters Marketplace (login required), will help to identify E&L compounds, with each addition to the library carefully selected to ensure maximum relevance to users. The library is cross-linked to the Merck online product catalogue to provide users access to reference materials to confirm their results. In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers discovered multiple novel genetic processes underpinning severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). For this, they used genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses. In COVID-19, pulmonary inflammation causes severe disease, resulting in a clinically homogenous extreme phenotype. The current study's authors previously demonstrated that this phenotype was immensely beneficial in the identification of genetic associations in severe COVID-19. The authors have also identified that immunomodulatory medications have considerable therapeutic benefits in this population, despite the advanced state of COVID-19. Additional genetic findings might lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for severe disease modulation. About the study In the present study, the scientists depict an updated evaluation of the international Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care (GenOMICC) research. In this new GenOMICC data release study, the researchers incorporated fresh microarray genotyping datasets from 11,325 critically sick COVID-19 patients in Brazil and the United Kingdom (UK). Further, data from severe COVID-19 cohorts from the SCOURGE and ISARIC4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium) investigations were also integrated into the study. There were 5,934 and 655 COVID cases from SCOURGE and ISARIC4C, respectively. Further, confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) patients needing continuous organ support or cardiorespiratory monitoring were enrolled for the study during 2020 and 2021. Combining the recruited COVID-19 patients and genotyped in the ISARIC4C and GenOMICC after the initial reported GenOMICC GWAS, the scientist performed ancestry-specific GWAS. Integrating these GWAS results, prior GenOMICC GWAS results, and GenOMICC Brazil's data trans-platform and -ancestry meta-analyses within the GenOMICC research was conducted. Lastly, the team performed detailed meta-analyses to place these novel findings in the context of current information. Findings and discussions The results revealed a strong link between Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), a crucial intracellular signaling kinase, and critical COVID-19. JAK1 was activated by various cytokines, including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and type I interferons (IFNs). Like tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), which the authors previously documented to be linked with severe SARS-CoV-2, JAK1 was recently found to be an effective therapy in COVID-19. This inference was mainly because JAK inhibitors targeted JAK1. Although the study's genetic data for either gene did not reveal the direction of impact, the therapeutic signal was constant throughout numerous trials, demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing genetics to identify targets in critical illness. A novel lead variant was identified inside the gene encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), CSF2. GM-CSF was a crucial cytokine in the synthesis and differentiation of myeloid cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and monocytes. The authors previously demonstrated that the circulating GM-CSF levels were linked to the severity of COVID-19, indicating its role as a pharmacological target in severe illness. Furthermore, in the current study, the team demonstrated that the low phosphodiesterase 4A (PDE4A) gene expression was linked to critical COVID-19. PDE4A controlled the generation of a variety of inflammatory cytokines from myeloid cells and was a target for many of the current medicines for the treatment of inflammatory illnesses. In addition to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a substantial GWAS relationship in transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) with critical COVID-19 was detected. TMPRSS2 is a crucial host protease that aids viral entry, which the authors previously investigated as a potential gene. This association might be lineage-specific. Further, the RAB2A gene had a substantial GWAS relationship with severe COVID-19, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) data suggests that higher RAB2A expression was linked to worse illness. This gene had high ratings in the authors earlier MAIC27 meta-analysis of host genes involved in the SARS-CoV-2 interaction based on clinical and in vitro data. Further, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screen findings showed that RAB2A was necessary for SARS-CoV-2s replication. TWAS results suggested fascinating and conflicting effect estimates for anticipated expression of several chemokine receptors such as C-C chemokine receptor type 9 (CCR9), CCR2, CCR1 versus CCR5 and CCR3; IFN- subtypes such as IFNA8 versus IFNA10; and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) such as ICAM1 versus ICAM5, ICAM3. However, these results must be interpreted cautiously as the molecular process behind the connection is unknown. Conclusions The study findings discovered 45 genomic associations with severe SARS-CoV-2, of which 14 were novel genetic relationships. The majority of them were druggable targets in monocyte-macrophage differentiation (CSF2), immunometabolism (SLC2A5, AK5), inflammatory signaling (JAK1, PDE4A), and host factors essential for the entrance of virus and its replication (RAB2A, TMPRSS2). Future investigations should integrate the complete range of human populations as European ancestry contributed to the vast majority of the participants in the current study. Although focusing on severe COVID-19 improved discovery potential, it has the drawback of merging genetic signals for many phases of disease progression, such as the development of inflammatory lung disease, viral replication, infection, and exposure to the virus. Hence, it was not possible to determine when the causative effect occurs in the disease progression or where it occurs in the body based on these results. A meta-analysis of numerous research with slightly varying effect sizes and phenotypic definitions was conducted in the study. This, along with ancestry-specific impacts, might account for variation in strong GWAS signals like the LZTFL1 signal. The probability (p)-values among variants in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) appeared more diverse than predicted since various studies contain collections of variants that did not overlap completely. Overall, similar to the authors' earlier research, the present study provides in-depth knowledge on COVID-19 pathogenesis and sheds light on novel biological processes of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thereby, it points to tractable treatment targets for reducing detrimental host-mediated inflammation in SARS-CoV-2. *Important notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. In a recent study posted to the Research Square* preprint server, researchers assessed the increase in Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine efficacy on administering a homologous booster dose. They determined the enhancing potential of the booster dose by evaluating the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titers against the spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has given rise to significant morbidity and mortality across the globe. This has led to the development of several vaccines. Although COVID-19 vaccines have potent short-term effects, their clinical efficiency decreases with time, with a corresponding decline in serological anti-SARS-CoV-2 trimeric IgG antibody titers. To this end, booster doses have been administered for restoring vaccine effectiveness to sufficient levels (greater than 50%) and increasing the neutralization of the mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains. About the study In the present retrospective observational study, the researchers evaluated the impact of a homologous booster dose in improving the efficacy of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine. The booster dose efficiency was investigated on the basis of alterations in the serological anti-SARS-CoV-2 trimeric IgG antibody titers. A total of 100 healthcare personnel with SARS-CoV-2 seronegativity at baseline, who were being primarily immunized with the BNT162b2 vaccine (two doses of 30 g administered three weeks apart), as part of a serosurveillance survey, were recruited for the study. Molecular screening tests were conducted every two to four weeks until the completion of the study to detect asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 cases. Out of the 100 healthcare workers, 18 were excluded from the analysis as they tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 mRNA during the study period. Additionally, 29 participants were lost to follow-up. As a result, only 53 subjects were included in the final analysis. These study participants were administered a 30-g single homologous vaccine booster dose after eight months of being primarily vaccinated. Venous blood samples were obtained from all the subjects before each primary vaccination dose and at one, three, and six-month intervals post-vaccination. Additionally, blood was collected one-month pre-and post-homologous BNT162b2 vaccine booster administration. The serological titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG were evaluated using the DiaSorin trimeric spike IgG immunoassay, and the results were denoted as kilo Binding Antibodies Units per liter (kBAU/L). Additionally, the serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers were compared to the 80% cut-off value (264 kBAU/L) of vaccine efficacy, established in previous studies, against symptomatic COVID-19. The interquartile ranges (IQR) were derived from the antibody titer values and inserted into the Analyse-it software for statistical analysis. Results The average age of the study population was 46 years. About 60% of the participants were females. An initial peak in anti- SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers was detected within one month of the primary BNT162b2 vaccination. Moreover, all patients demonstrated serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 trimeric IgG titers exceeding 264 kBAU/L within a month of receiving both the primary vaccine doses. However, these titers showed a 77.4% decline within six months and further decreased to 47.2% immediately before the booster vaccine dose administration. Another peak in these antibody titers was observed a month after the homologous vaccine booster was administered. This second peak showed a 39-fold increase compared to the titers before the third dose administration. Moreover, this peak was three-fold higher than the initial peak. Likewise, the proportion of participants demonstrating anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers exceeding 264 kBAU/L rose from 47% to 100% within a month of booster dose administration. Conclusion The study findings showed that the homologous vaccine booster enhanced the efficacy of the BNT162b2 vaccine in producing robust humoral immune protection against SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the third vaccination boosted SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers by almost 40-fold compared to that observed immediately before the homologous vaccine dose with a concomitant 100% increase in seropositivity. Additionally, the booster dose effectively increased the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers by three-fold compared to the antibody titers present post-primary vaccination. This longitudinal studys observations support current health policies encouraging COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to strengthen humoral immunity. These booster vaccinations would be especially beneficial for highly vulnerable populations and subjects with steep declines in humoral immune responses (vaccine or natural infection acquired). The significant rise in antibody titers after booster vaccinations could improve COVID-19 mitigation and confer enhanced protection against mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2. *Important notice Research square publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. The poll workers volunteered to help with the local primary elections on Tuesday. (Newser) Update: Katy Perry and her co-writers of "Dark Horse" can breathe a sigh of relief. A federal appeals court ruled 3-0 on Thursday that Christian rapper Flameinitially awarded $2.8 million in damages for copyright infringementfailed to prove anything "original" was copied from his 2009 song "Joyful Noise." As such, the March 2020 decision by a federal district court judge to vacate the earlier ruling is upheld, per Rolling Stone. An eight-note riff Flame argued was copied in "Dark Horse" is not "particularly unique or rare" and consists "entirely of commonplace musical elements," the panel found, per the BBC, adding the original ruling would have stifled musical creativity. Our original story from Aug. 2, 2019 follows: The Grammy-nominated 2013 hit "Dark Horse" will cost Katy Perry and her team a whopping $2.78 million, per USA Today. A jury of nine who ruled that the song improperly copied from 2009 rap song "Joyful Noise" ordered Perry to pay $550,000 to Christian rapper Flamereal name Marcus Grayand co-authors Emanuel Lambert and Chike Ojukwu on Thursday. Capitol Records will be on the hook for $1.2 million, with the rest of the penalty believed to be applied to Dr. Luke and seven other songwriters, per TMZ. The two songs are not lyrically similar but share a 16-second musical riff, per BuzzFeed. Lawyers for Gray requested $20 million, claiming Perry's album Prism and its third single "Dark Horse" have so far earned Capitol Records $31 million and Perry herself some $3 million. Defense attorneys who suggested a penalty of $360,000 said those figures didn't cover expenses including a marketing campaign, employee salaries, and artist royalties. One record label attorney told jurors that Capitol Records' profit was just $650,000 after expenses. (Read more Katy Perry stories.) (Newser) A disturbing story out of Portland, Oregon, but one that seems to have ended as well as possible under the circumstances. Police say a woman gave birth on a downtown sidewalk and then walked away from the newborn, reports KOIN. Bystanders quickly wrapped up the baby and called 911, and officers were able to find the troubled woman and bring her in for psychiatric help. Its a cold day, it wasnt raining at that moment, but it was raining earlier and the sidewalk at Southwest 13th and Market is no place to deliver a baby alone, says officer Nathan Kirby-Glatkowski. The officer tells the Oregonian that "in addition to any physical trauma the mother had experienced, she was also undergoing a pretty serious mental health crisis." Both she and the newborn, however, are reported to be in good condition in the hospital. The Portland Police Bureau thanked bystanders who acted so quickly to help the infant, per KATU. And a neighborhood resident says of the mother: "I'm glad to hear she wasn't alone, and she got some help." (Read more Portland, Oregon stories.) (Newser) The UK would like its troops back. The army said it's missing a small number of troops and suspects they went to Ukraine without leave to join the fight against the Russian invasion, the BBC reports. "We are actively and strongly encouraging them to return to the UK," an army spokesperson said. The government has sent weapons to Ukraine, and, as a member of NATO, supports the Ukraine in the battle. Still, a Cabinet member told troops, per the Guardian, "You cannot just get up and go." Former troops interested in joining the battle have complained about mixed messages from their government. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss first endorsed civilians signing up, saying that it was up to individuals to decide. Then the government said that, actually, no one should travel to Ukraine now. And defense officials said fighting for Ukraine might be illegal and could make Russia think the UK had deployed troops. Like the US, the UK has repeatedly said it's not sending any of its forces. As many as four UK troops are missing and suspected of having left for Ukraine. Over the weekend, a 19-year-old Coldstream Guard wrote a goodbye letter to his parents and bought a ticket to Poland, per the Sun. A former Royal Marine commando and six other veterans have traveled to Ukraine, as well. Military personnel going there will be penalized, defense officials said. A spokesperson said the government understands the sentiment, but added, "We think the best way we can help Ukraine right now is by ensuring" that Russian President Vladimir Putin fails. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) North Korea is in the middle of testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile, US officials said Thursday, prompting an increase in the readiness level for American missile defense forces in Asia. The tests are being conducted openly this time, officials said, allowing them to prepare for what they expect to be an attempt to determine the range of the new missile, the New York Times reports. It's had two smaller tests in the past two weeks; the next launch could be much larger and disguised as a space launch, a Pentagon spokesman said. The March 4 and Feb. 26 launches were to test cameras for a future spy satellite, North Korea said. The new ICBM was displayed in a Pyongyang parade in October 2020, per CNBC, but had not yet been tested. It's larger than the one launched in 2017 that appeared to have the range to strike the US, per the AP. UN resolutions forbid North Korea to launch such long-range missiles, and an official said the US will present new sanctions Friday to curb its access to weapons technology. Part of the reason the US has revealed its new intelligence about the tests is to build support among allies for sanctionsmuch as it did about Russia's military buildup along the Ukraine border before the invasion. US officials don't know whether the tests were timed to occur while other nations are busy with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. North Korea has launched more than 100 missiles since 2011, almost a dozen of them since President Biden took office. It's the only nation that's tested nuclear weapons in this century. (Read more North Korea missile launch stories.) (Newser) Richard, Theresa, and David Sackler were forced to sit in silence Thursday as victims of the opioid epidemic told the owners of Purdue Pharma the damage Oxycontin had done to their lives and families. The session was mandated by the settlement that ended years of court fights, giving victims their first opportunity to talk directly to the owners. For about two hours, the Sacklers sat while they were addressed in a virtual hearing by about two dozen people, per the AP. "For years the Sacklers painted them in their emails as slime, addicts, as low lifes, and that it was their fault they were addicted," said a lawyer on a committee for 70,000 victims' relatives and those in recovery. "But they are America. They are you and me." Statements were given by: Kara Trainor , whose son was born while she was on methadone to treat her addiction: "If you've ever heard a newborn in withdrawal, the screaming will haunt you for the rest of your life." , whose son was born while she was on methadone to treat her addiction: "If you've ever heard a newborn in withdrawal, the screaming will haunt you for the rest of your life." Tiffinee Scott , who found the dead body of her daughter Tiarra, 28, who'd been given OxyContin to treat pain from sickle cell disease, per the New York Times: "I pray that criminal charges are filed upon you. Have you revived one of your children from an overdose?" , who found the dead body of her daughter Tiarra, 28, who'd been given OxyContin to treat pain from sickle cell disease, per the New York Times: "I pray that criminal charges are filed upon you. Have you revived one of your children from an overdose?" Ryan Hampton , who became addicted after being prescribed OxyContin for a knee injury. "I hope that every single victims face haunts your every waking moment and your sleeping ones, too. I hope you hear our names in your dreams," he told Richard Sackler, adding, "I hope you hear the sirens." , who became addicted after being prescribed OxyContin for a knee injury. "I hope that every single victims face haunts your every waking moment and your sleeping ones, too. I hope you hear our names in your dreams," he told Richard Sackler, adding, "I hope you hear the sirens." Cheryl Juaire , who lost two sons to overdoses: "How much money is enough? Really, truly, how much is enough? If your family had any remorse at all, you could have changed the trajectory by taking your money back in 2007 and used it to abate this crisis." , who lost two sons to overdoses: "How much money is enough? Really, truly, how much is enough? If your family had any remorse at all, you could have changed the trajectory by taking your money back in 2007 and used it to abate this crisis." Kay Scarpone , who lost her son Joseph: "When you created OxyContin, you created so much loss for so many people. I'm outraged that you havent owned up to the crisis that you've created." , who lost her son Joseph: "When you created OxyContin, you created so much loss for so many people. I'm outraged that you havent owned up to the crisis that you've created." Jill Cichowicz , whose twin brother, Scott, died of a fentanyl overdose in 2017: "May God have mercy on all your souls, because no one in this room will." , whose twin brother, Scott, died of a fentanyl overdose in 2017: "May God have mercy on all your souls, because no one in this room will." Stephanie Lubinski, whose husband died of an overdose, per NPR: "You will know his name, Troy Alan Lubinksi." (Read more Purdue Pharma stories.) (Newser) The nation will hold at 50 states for now, after New Hampshire legislators voted down a constitutional amendment calling for the state to secede. Lawmakers said it was the first secession vote held in any US legislature since the Civil War era, WMUR reports. The measure would have sent voters an addition to the state's constitution saying New Hampshire "peaceably declares independence from the United States and immediately proceeds as a sovereign nation," per the AP. The vote to reject the measure, which was brought by libertarian Republicans, was 323-13. All 13 supportive votes came from Republicans; it needed the votes of three-fifths of the Legislature to go to voters. "This is not a fringe idea. #NationalDivorce trends on the internet," said GOP Rep. Matthew Santonastaso, adding, "National divorce is going to happen." Some of the sponsors had signed onto a document in 2020 calling the state government illegitimate and Gov. Chris Sununu a tyrant. Claiming fraud, they said the 2020 election was void. Other Republicans said voting for the bill violated the oath of office, and some Democrats called the attempt treason. "It is beyond disgraceful, and it is a stain on the proud history of this state that we even have to entertain this," said Democratic Rep. Timothy Smith. Supporters of the amendment said they're not giving up. "This amendment reinforces Article VII of our Constitution, which declared New Hampshire to be forever a free, sovereign and independent state," said Republican Rep. Michael Sylvia. (Rush Limbaugh said secession was a possibility after the election.) (Newser) A carjacking took an extremely dark turn on Tuesday in Washington, DC, where a 33-year-old doctor was run over by his own Mercedes. The Washington Post reports Rakesh Patel left his car running in the Adams Morgan neighborhood around 8pm as he brought a package to his girlfriend. They embraced, and police say at least one person entered the idling car as his back was turned. Patel was run over and killed while subsequently trying to chase after the vehicle. The Mercedes E350 was recovered the following day roughly five miles to the north, near the Maryland line. No arrests have been made, though police have released footage of persons of interest who were seen exiting the car, though neither of them were driving. NBC Washington reports witnesses on Wednesday saw people dousing the car's interior with bleach and removing the floor mats. Patels girlfriend, Rachel Lincoln, watched as he was killed and describes the situation as a "nightmare." She tells the Post Patel was extremely dedicated to his patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She repeated part of an email the hospital sent to staff about Patel's death that described him as someone who would "stop and pick up a morning cup of coffee for a patient who was struggling and didnt have a lot of support." (Read more carjacking stories.) (Newser) Mario Teran "simply complied with his duty as a sergeant of the army," says a retired Bolivian generalbut the order he carried out was one he reportedly later described as causing "the worst moment of my life." Teran, the man who executed Ernesto "Che" Guevara upon the order of the Bolivian president, has died at age 80, Der Spiegel reports. Guevara was surrounded, wounded, and taken captive by Bolivian troops on October 8, 1967. Teran killed the 39-year-old the following day. Sky News has this recollection from Teran: "I saw Che large, very large. His eyes shone intensely. I felt him coming over me and when he fixed his gaze on me, it made me dizzy. 'Calm yourself,' he told me, 'and aim well! You are going to kill a man!' Then I took a step back towards the door, closed my eyes and fired." Sky News notes the initial shots reportedly missed. The AFP reports Teran retired after 30 years in the military and avoided the media. But the Guardian in 2007 reported Teran "had his sight restored by Cuban doctors" who removed his cataracts, "turning him into an unlikely advertisement for the revolutionary's ideals." (Lost photos of Guevara's body turned up in 2014.) (Newser) Another high-profile Donald Trump ally has pleaded the Fifth Amendment in an appearance before the House select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. A lawyer for former national security adviser Michael Flynn said Thursday that the retired general complied with a subpoena to appear before the committee Thursday "and, on advice of counsel, exercised his 5th amendment right to decline to answer the Committees questions," Politico reports. "This privilege protects all Americans, not just General Flynn," lawyer David Warrington said. In its letter to Flynn, the committee asked Flynn about a Dec. 18 Oval Office meeting "during which participants discussed "seizing voting machines, declaring a national emergency," and "invoking certain national security emergency powers," the Washington Post reports. The panel noted that the day before the meeting, Flynn spoke to conservative network Newsmax about the possibility of seizing voting machines and declaring martial law to "rerun" the election Trump lost to President Biden. Flynn's lawyer accused the panel of basing some its question to Flynn on "fringe news and conspiracy websites and rumors." Other witnesses have also invoked their right against self-incrimination to refuse to answer the Jan. 6 committee's questions, including Roger Stone, conservative lawyer John Eastman, former Justice Department lawyer Jeffrey Cark, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, reports the New York Times. Clarkwho was facing a potential criminal contempt charge after initially refusing to testifyand his lawyer said the word "fifth" in answer to 146 questions during a deposition, reports the Times. The Post notes that during his 2016 campaign, Trump slammed Hillary Clinton after some of her aides took the Fifth during the investigation of her private email server, saying "only the mob takes the Fifth." (Read more Michael Flynn stories.) (Newser) Russia appears to be stepping up its attacks on Ukrainian cities, days after US intelligence officials warned that Vladimir Putin is likely to "double down" on the invasion despite international pressure. Missile strikes have hit cities that were not previously targeted, including the western cities of Lviv, Lutsk, and Ivano-Frankivsk, where airfields were damaged; strikes on other cities have intensified, the BBC reports. Officials say the central Ukraine city of Dnipro, previously considered a safe haven for people fleeing the bombardment of other cities, was hit by three airstrikes early Friday, wrecking buildings including an apartment block and a kindergarten. More: Heavy bombardment continues. Ukrainian authorities say relentless attacks are continuing on cities including Mariupol and Kharkiv, the Guardian reports. Authorities say residential areas of Kharkiv were hit 89 times in a single day and 48 schools in the eastern city have been destroyed since the invasion began. Land mines block relief, evacuation efforts . The New York Times reports that according to the United Nations refugee agency, the increasing use of land mines has made evacuation and aid deliveries even more difficult. The agency estimates that more than 2.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country and at least 2 million more have been displaced within Ukraine. . The New York Times reports that according to the United Nations refugee agency, the increasing use of land mines has made evacuation and aid deliveries even more difficult. The agency estimates that more than 2.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country and at least 2 million more have been displaced within Ukraine. Chemical weapons claims worry Zelensky. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Thursday he was worried that Russia's claims that Ukraine and the US were planning to use chemical weapons were a prelude to Russian use of the weapons, ABC reports. "This makes me really worried, because weve been repeatedly convinced: If you want to know Russias plans, look at what Russia accuses others of," he said. Fears of attack on Kyiv grow . With the Russian convoy outside Kyiv dispersing into forests with artillery pieces moved into firing position, many fear that an attack on the capital is imminent. "People here in Kyiv dare to hope that the city will be sparedhow could President Putin order his forces to come into a city that is so sacred to both Russians and Ukrainians?" says BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet. "But across Ukraine those same hopes have been dashed when residential areas in cities and towns were attacked." . With the Russian convoy outside Kyiv dispersing into forests with artillery pieces moved into firing position, many fear that an attack on the capital is imminent. "People here in Kyiv dare to hope that the city will be sparedhow could President Putin order his forces to come into a city that is so sacred to both Russians and Ukrainians?" says BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet. "But across Ukraine those same hopes have been dashed when residential areas in cities and towns were attacked." Putin approves bringing in Syrian fighters. Putin approved bringing in "volunteer" fighters from Syria and other countries Friday, the AP reports. Russia's defense minister said more than 16,000 people from the Middle East had asked to join the offensive. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Remember the debate over "the dress"? Or the commotion over whether people were hearing "Yanny" or "Laurel"? Or the deliberation over whether a hot dog is a sandwich? We haven't had a good old-fashioned internet brain-scrambler in some time, so Ryan Nixon decided to stir things up this week by posing a question that Boston.com notes "is most likely an impossible question to answer." "Do you think there are more doors or wheels in the world?" Nixon tweeted Saturday, acknowledging that he and his friends were having the "stupidest debate" over the inquiry. The question has now gone viral and is circulating on social media, and there are compelling arguments coming from both sides, as USA Today lays out. The pro-wheels contingent notes that there are wheels on everything from vehicles (including toy versions), bicycles, and scooters to shopping carts, garbage cans, suitcases, and garment racks. Those on the side of doors note the sheer number found not only in homes, offices, and other buildings, but also on such items as cupboards, cabinets, and even on some items with wheels, such as cars. Some are trying to go the route of averages, looking at the wheels and doors one might find in an everyday home and extrapolating from there, while others are getting philosophical and wondering what even constitutes a wheel, or a door, per Today. At any rate, Nixon's poll has officially ended, and while the results can't reliably be confirmedunless there's someone out there who's been keeping meticulous tabs on both wheels and doors, unbeknownst to us allit looks like #TeamWheels pulled out a win, with nearly 54% of the 223,000-plus votes that came in. One Nixon fan predicted that this fad may soon merge with another current one: "Has anyone made wheeldoorle yet? where it's wordle but just whether it's a wheel or a door and you only get one guess." (Read more strange stuff stories.) (Newser) A New York City resident who served more than 50 years in prison for two killings has been charged with murder again at the age of 83. Harvey Marcelinwho was listed as a man in court documents from other cases but now identifies as a womanwas indicted on a murder charge Thursday in a case Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez describes as gruesome and horrific, NBC New York reports. Gonzalez said Marcelin was arrested last week for "allegedly concealing the severed head of a woman in her home and discarding the victims torso in a bag on the street." The DA's office identified the victim as 68-year-old Brooklyn resident Susan Leyden, reports the AP. Marcelin was convicted of first-degree murder in 1963 for shooting her then-girlfriend in a Manhattan apartment, the New York Times reports. She was released on lifetime parole in 1984 but was arrested within a year after a body was found in a bag near Central Park. Marcelin pleaded guilty to stabbing a woman she had been living with and a manslaughter sentence was added to the original life sentence. She became eligible for parole from state prison in the 1990s but repeated parole bids were denied until she was released in late 2019. According to court documents, the parole board told Marcelin in 2010 that "release at this time is incompatible with the welfare and safety of the community." (Read more New York City stories.) (Newser) A Dutch diamond dealer has been found guilty of a plot he says he now finds "incomprehensible." Martin Van Gelder, 55, staged an armed robbery of one of the family firm's stores in which insured diamonds worth almost $5 million were taken, the Guardian reports. He claimed that three robbers had forced him to open a vault, then tied him up and locked him in itthough, conveniently, they didn't take his phone and he was able to call his daughter for help. He was arrested months after the 2016 "robbery" and eventually confessed that it was an insurance scam and that he had let his accomplices into the vault. Van Gelder Diamonds repaid the insurance company but the stolen gems, which he let the men keep, were never recovered. Van Gelder was found guilty of fraud and money laundering and sentenced to six months in prison, with more than half the sentence suspended. He also has to perform 240 hours of community services. At a Feb. 24 hearing in Amsterdam, he said he had been facing financial difficulties at the time he hatched the scheme, but he now realizes the problems weren't as bad as he imagined, NH Nieuws reports. "Because I did not express my concerns, fears and tensions, they grew," he said. "If I had talked about it with one person, it would not have happened. I did something terrible." One of his three accomplices, identified as Danny S, received a 90-day suspended sentence. The other two were never caught. The staged robbery led to a large-scale police investigation. Het Parool reported at the time that police became suspicious when Van Gelder told investigators that the robbers had spoken languages including Romanian and Arabic, though police had never known Moroccan and Romanian crime gangs in the Netherlands to work together. Investigators said Danny S, who had secretly taken photos during the fake robbery as an "insurance policy" because fraud isn't punished as severely as robbery, tried to blackmail Van Gelder after the crime. Van Gelder ran the business for around 10 years. After the arrest, his father, who is now in his 80s, apologized for his son's actions and said he was taking charge of the family business again. (Read more Netherlands stories.) (Newser) Adnan Syed would have been released from prison this year if he'd admitted guilt in the killing of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999, when Syed was 17. Now 40, he remains holed up in a Maryland prison serving life, though he's pushing for a sentence reduction that won't require him to admit to a crime he says he didn't commit. Prosecutors have agreed to a request from Syedwhose case was chronicled in the popular Serial podcast and later in a four-part HBO documentary seriesfor new forensic testing of evidence found on or near Lee's body due to advances in genetic profiling, the New York Times reports. A judge ordered a new trial in 2016 on arguments that Syed's initial defense lawyer failed to call an alibi witness. That decision was upheld by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in 2018 but overturned by Maryland's highest court a year later. That was after Syed's DNA failed to turn up in an analysis of various items from the scene in Baltimore's Leakin Park, where Lee's body was found, including fingernail clippings, a rope, and a condom wrapper, per the Baltimore Sun. His lawyers said that was proof he didn't strangle and bury Lee, but state prosecutors disagreed. The Supreme Court has declined to hear the case, though Syed has requested a sentence modification under the Juvenile Restoration Act. "In the process of reviewing this case for a possible resentencing, it became clear that additional forensic testingwhich was not available at the time of the original investigation and trial in this casewould be an appropriate avenue to pursue," said Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. Experts will look for DNA on "Lee's clothing and shoes, as well as hairs recovered around her body and other pieces of evidence not specified," per the Sun. Syed's lawyer Erica J. Suter argues the absence of Syed's DNA would call into question the prosecution's theory of the murder. "We are eager to finally have access to the forensic tools to establish Mr. Syed's innocence," she says, per the Times. (Read more Adnan Syed stories.) (Newser) Police in Pennsylvania say two people hid inside a Target store and remained there for hours after it closedand they might have gotten away with it, if they hadn't documented their activities in a YouTube video titled "24 Hour Overnight Challenge in Target." Police say Charlotte Fischer, 24, and Johnson Larose, 25, built a fort in the Exton store and then filmed themselves wandering around inside after employees left, Fox29 reports. According to investigators, the pair left the store at 3am on Feb. 21, triggering an alarm, then returned around 8am to resume filming, pretending they had been in the store all night. Police say officers went to the store after the alarm was tripped but they didn't find anybody inside. Target employees found surveillance video of the pair the next day. West Whiteland Township Police Detective Scott Pezick tells 6ABC that the incident could have ended very badly for Fischer and Johnson. "It is three o'clock in the morning, in a business where you are not supposed to be. That is something that as police officers we have to handle accordingly," he says. "And we don't know that someone is just in there hiding. We don't know if they are trying to commit a crime or not. That is the dangerous part." Police say the pair didn't take anything from the store, but the investigation wasted police and Target resources. Fischer and Johnsonwho call themselves "Saucy and Honey" on YouTube, where their channel has 18,000 subscribershave been charged with third-degree criminal trespassing and conspiracy and could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Their bail conditions ban them from every Target outlet in the state. Fischer said they hadn't expected more than a fine at most. "I mean, no regrets just living life and having fun, its kind of sad that all of this came out of it," she said, per Fox29. (Read more YouTube stories.) (Newser) Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that an "international legion" of 16,000 volunteers had offered to come to his nation to help fight off invading Russian forces. Now, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Shoigu is claiming that an equal number of volunteers from the Middle East are stepping up to fight for the Vladimir Putin-led side, reports the Wall Street Journal. "We should support them and help them enter the zone of military operations," Putin said Friday in a televised meeting with Shoigu, per Russian state media. The Russian president said that bringing in these volunteer forces was simply a reaction to the ones Zelensky is recruiting to assist Ukraine, which Putin deemed "mercenaries," per the Times of Israel. At the presser, Shoigu noted many of those who'd sent in "applications" to Russia were individuals who'd fought with Russia previously against the Islamic State, per the AP. Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov confirmed that among those volunteering were a contingent of fighters from Syria, whose civil war Russia stepped into in 2015 to assist President Bashar al-Assad. US officials told the Journal last week that Russia is specifically looking to pull in Syrian fighters trained in urban combat, a worrying sign that Russia is looking to start an even harsher assault against Ukrainian cities, especially the capital of Kyiv. The officials didn't offer further info on how many of these fighters there might be, or other details on that effort, though a Syrian media outlet notes that Russia is offering between $200 and $300 to those who offer to go to Russia as "guards" for six-month stretches. (Read more Vladimir Putin stories.) (Newser) The events on the ground suggest otherwise, but Vladimir Putin indicated Friday that peace talks with Ukraine were yielding progress. "There are certain positive shifts, negotiators on our side tell me," Putin said at the Kremlin during a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, reports Reuters. "I will talk about all of this later." Putin spoke after no breakthroughs were reported following high-level talks on Thursday between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukraine's Dmytro Kuleba. While Putin provided no details, his remarks were enough to lift the markets, notes CNBC. Dow futures jumped about 300 points immediately after the comments, and the index rose by about that much at the opening bell. "The markets reaction continues to highlight how powerful a snapback could be if there is a cease-fire and some type of diplomatic negotiation," Ivan Feinseth of Tigress Financial Partners tells the Washington Post. Still, Russia has only expanded its military operation throughout the country of late, notes the AP. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces had "reached a strategic turning point" in the conflict. "It's impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it because ... we have reached a strategic turning point," he said, without offering details. While Putin's comments were also similarly short on details, a Kremlin spokesman didn't appear to budge on what Moscow has been saying all along to justify the military operation: He cited the alleged killing of pro-Russian civilians in eastern Ukraine and Russia's opposition to NATO expanding eastward. "We need to find a resolution to these two questions," he said. "Russia formulated concrete demands to Ukraine to resolve those questions." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Tensions between India and Pakistan haven't been too bad over the past few months, but a missile that landed this week in the eastern part of the latter country may have just raised ire again. Per Reuters, India acknowledges the missile originated within its borders, but a statement from the nation's Ministry of Defense claims the projectile out of the northern city of Sirsa, which landed in Pakistan's Punjab province, was shot off in error. "In the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," the ministry says in a statement. "While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident." The ministry adds that a "high-level" government inquiry has been ordered. A member of the Pakistani air force says the missile flew at 44,000 feet for a distance of nearly 80 miles within Pakistan's airspace, before landing in the eastern Pakistani city of Mian Channu. The military there says there was some damage to the wall of a residential structure, but no fatalities, per the AP. Pakistan, naturally, is somewhat cranky over the incident. "The flight path of this object endangered many national and international passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace, as well as human life and property on ground," a military spokesman says, per Reuters. Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar of Pakistan, who says there were no sensitive military installations where the missile came down, is demanding an explanation, calling what happened a "flagrant violation," reports the AP, which notes that India and Pakistan have had three wars with each othertwo over the disputed region of Kashmirsince they separated and gained independence from Britain in 1947. Both countries have nuclear weapons, which is concerning, but some are praising them for how they handled this week's apparent mishap. "It gives me great hope that [they] dealt with the missile incident in a mature manner," tweeted Jawaharlal Nehru University's Happymon Jacob, a professor of international studies, per Reuters. (Read more India stories.) (Newser) Mila Kunis says she has always felt far more like an American than an Eastern Europeanbut when Russia invaded Ukraine, it felt like "part of my heart just got ripped out." Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, southern Ukraine, and moved to the US with her family in 1991, when she was 7. In an interview with Maria Shriver, she said the world should blame the people in power in Russia for the conflict, but ordinary Russians shouldn't be seen as the enemy, the Hill reports. "I do really want to emphasize that. I don't think that that's being said enough in the press," Kunis said. "I don't think it's the people of Russia, so I dont want there to be a thing of all Russians are horrible human beings," Kunis told Shriver, per People. "I dont want that to be the rhetoric." Kunis and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, started a GoFundMe fundraiser last week to support refugees and humanitarian aid efforts. It has now raised more than $20 million, with Kunis and Kutcher contributing $3 million. The full interview will be released Sunday via Shriver's Sunday Paper newsletter. (Read more Mila Kunis stories.) (Newser) The 19-mile-wide impact crater hiding under a glacier in Greenland isn't just among the worlds largest. At 58 million years old, it's also among the most ancient, forming just 8 million years after the asteroid strike on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula wiped out the dinosaurs, according to new research. When they first identified the impact crater using ice-penetrating radar, researchers estimated that it was between 12,000 and 3 million years old. That led some to speculate that the meteorite that caused it also triggered a 1,000-year cooling period, the Younger Dryas, that began some 12,800 years ago. Not so, according to a new study by the same research team, published in Science Advances. Though their initial study noted apparent irregularities in ice layers older than 11,700 years, hinting at an impact around that time, the researchers now suggest those irregularities instead came with the sudden collapse of ice sheets that covered Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago during the last ice age, per Science. In 2019, researchers pulled rocks that had apparently melted from the heat of the impact from rivers at the foot of the Hiawatha Glacier in northwest Greenland, and from those rocks emerged tiny crystals of the mineral zircon, which carried the distinctive linear fracture patterns that indicate an extraterrestrial impact. Using trace amounts of radioactive uranium, researchers dated the crystals to 58 million years old, give or take 1 million years. That was backed up by a separate method of dating, using argon gas extracted from grains of sand, that determined the crater to be between 56 million and 66 million years old, per Science Alert. "It's probably safe to put the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis back to rest for a while," study co-author and impact modeller Brandon Johnson of Purdue University, West Lafayette, tells Science. Indeed, a leading advocate of the Younger Dryas impact theory now acknowledges there can be no relation. Still, there are others who speculate that the new date is off by as much as 3 million years. In that case, the impact could be related to the PaleoceneEocene Thermal Maximum, a poorly understood 100,000-year period of intense warming. (Read more crater stories.) (Newser) The US and the West continue to turn the screws on Russia financially, and one tangible effect of Friday's moves is that Russian vodka and caviar will no longer be allowed into the US, reports CNN. The bans are part of newly announced penalties announced by President Biden. At a White House news conference, Biden said the US would strip Russia of its "most favored nation" trading status, reports Axios. The move, which must be formalized by Congress, would put Russia on par with North Korea and Cuba. The bigger hit on Moscow, however, is that the European Union and the Group of Seven nations are taking similar measures, reports the Washington Post. "The free world is coming together to confront Putin," said Biden, describing the action as "another crushing blow" to Russia. The New York Times explains that the moves will allow nations to raise tariffs on Russian goods, and prevent Moscow from being able to borrow money from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, or other such institutions. While the US move on its own will have a "limited" impact on Russia's economy, the European action will hurt much more, explains the Wall Street Journal. The EU accounts for 41% of Russian exports, the most in the world by far, per the Journal. China (which has not joined in the West's penalties on Russia) is second at 13%. For context, Russia is only the 23rd-largest trading partner of America. Still, the US will ban imports of Russian seafood and alcohol, as well as exports of luxury goods such as jewelry and cars that pro-Putin oligarchs favor. "Putin must pay a price," said Biden. (The US already has banned Russian oil and natural gas.) (Newser) Mitt Romney in 2024? In an essay in the Deseret News, journalist Robby Soave makes the case that Utah's junior senator should make one more run for the White House. The way things are going, Soave thinks pretty much any Republican would be the favorite against President Biden, "with the possible exception of (Donald) Trump." But if Republicans want to further improve their chances, they should consider the "one candidate who would almost certainly attract independent, moderate, and even Democratic votersperhaps enough of them to win something approaching a landslide, if current conditions hold." Romney, of course, is persona non grata in the pro-Trump crowd, which is why his biggest challenge would come in the GOP primaries. Here, Soave acknowledges that defeating Trump in the primaries would be "nigh impossible" for anyone should the former president decide to run again. But he thinks Romney has strong credentials, and not only because he was proved right on Russia years after being ridiculed for his warnings about Moscow. He's five years younger than Biden and far more eloquent and energetic. Romney's willingness to stand up to Trump shows him to be "one of the most independent minded political [figures] in the countrys history." Again, this won't help him much in the GOP primaries, but should he triumph there, Biden and the Democrats would be in serious trouble. (Read the full essay.) (Newser) A federal judge rejected Donald Trump's attempt to countersue a woman who accuses him of raping her, giving the former president an earful Friday in the process. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan issued a 23-page ruling saying Trump's legal strategy has been executed in "bad faith," the Hill reports. "These actions demonstrate that defendant's litigation tactics have had a dilatory effect and, indeed, strongly suggest that he is acting out of a strong desire to delay any opportunity plaintiff may have to present her case against him," Kaplan wrote. E. Jean Carroll, a writer, sued Trump for defamation while he was in office over his personal attacks after she said he raped her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room in New York. The suit shouldn't have taken long to resolve, the judge said. "Plaintiff's only claim in this case is a single count of defamation," Kaplan wrote. "It could have been tried and decidedone way or the otherlong ago." Carroll's attorney said Friday that they "could not agree more," per CNBC. A Trump lawyer did not immediately comment. Trump didn't try to sue Carroll for 14 months after she filed her suit. While president, he enlisted the Justice Department to take over the case for him. Kaplan rejected that strategy, a ruling that's now being appealed. His Friday decision said that any further delays would be harmful to Carroll's attempt to receive a full airing of her allegations in court. Besides, Kaplan wrote, any Trump attempt to prove in court that Carroll's suit was harassment and her rape allegation without merit would be "futile." (Read more Donald Trump stories.) (Newser) Alec Baldwin's lawyers have made a new filing in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Haylna Hutchins, and they argue that the actor is protected from liability because of a clause in his contract, per the Hollywood Reporter. Baldwin makes the case that he was a producer on the movie Rust only in a creative sense and that the other producers are responsible for any legal damages or fees that might result. The filing also provides what the New York Times describes as the most detailed account to date of how Baldwin came to accidentally shoot Hutchins: Hutchins "directed Baldwin to hold the gun higher, to a point where it was directed toward her, reads the filing. She was looking carefully at the monitor and then at Baldwin, and then back again, as she gave these instructions. In giving and following these instructions, Hutchins and Baldwin shared a core, vital belief: that the gun was cold and contained no live rounds. At that point, Baldwin asked her if he should pull back the hammer, and she said yes, according to the filing. Baldwin then pulled back the hammer, but not far enough to actually cock the gun, it reads. When Baldwin let go of the hammer, the gun went off. Someone is culpable for chambering the live round that led to this horrific tragedy, and it is someone other than Baldwin, reads the filing. (Read more Alec Baldwin stories.) Local breaking top story Clausi, Ukrainian church partner to fundraise for overwhelmed Ukrainian orphanages TIM ZYLA/STAFF PHOTO Pictured is the Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church Thursday in Shamokin. The church will host a press conference at 1 p.m. Monday to officially begin a fundraising campaign to benefit orphanages in Lviv, Ukraine, that have been overwhelmed following Russias invasion. SHAMOKIN Former Northumberland County commissioner and area businessman Vinny Clausi has partnered with the Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church to kickstart a countywide fundraising campaign to benefit overwhelmed orphanages in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Clausi will be making a $10,000 donation to the effort during a press conference held at the church, 227 N. Shamokin St., at 1 p.m. Monday. Transfiguration Pastor Mykola Ivanov said he met with Clausi on Wednesday to discuss details, and both have agreed to personally deliver the money at the Poland-Ukraine border to officials in charge of orphanages in Ivanovs home city of Lviv. Ivanov said orphanages in his native city have been overwhelmed with children that have sought refuge from heavier fighting in eastern Ukraine. They are overwhelmed and overflowed, Ivanov said. Its critical for them to get support. We have paid attention to the army, and adults in need, but somehow we have not remembered the children who have no parents right now. ... This is very important. Ivanov and Clausi are hoping to raise $100,000 from citizens and businesses within the county in about a two-week period through the online fundraising website GoFundMe.com. The link to donate is https://bit.ly/3KBdhtu. It would be very hard for us to transfer money through banks to Ukraine right now, Ivanov explained. We decided to travel ourselves and deliver the money in person. Clausi said he wanted to get involved with helping the Ukrainian people after seeing their suffering since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24. I came from a country where I was very, very poor, Clausi said. When I saw on TV what has happened with the children in Ukraine, my heart broke. Ivanov said the public is welcome to attend the press conference on Monday and encouraged county residents to donate at least $5 toward the cause. Ivanov made a plea to those reading about the fundraising effort, saying, To anyone who reads this announcement in the newspaper, I believe you will feel better after not only reading about this, but helping, so in the future you will not say I did nothing to help. You will live feeling you were doing, and not just watching. Ivanovs family has not fled the country and is continuing to stay in Lviv, despite the pastors suggestion to leave the country for Poland, an option that is becoming more and more difficult by the day. Right now, there is a line that goes 20 miles to cross the border in Poland, he said. Some people are walking that and it is taking about two or three days to get through. Ivanov said the communitys support has been outstanding since the Russian invasion began. We have received 20 bullet proof vests and helmets that we sent to Ukraine, he said. The vests are not cheap, they cost $500 each. He said right now the church is currently accepting donations of over-the-counter painkillers that have been in short supply in Ukraine. Tylenol, Motrin, Ibuprofen we need big doses, big packages. Thats critical right now. Local_news Polaris Building funding included in federal spending bill Andrew Ackerman, city of Fairbanks environmental manager, speaks to Matthew Hickey, legislative assistant for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, near the Polaris Building in Fairbanks Aug. 3, 2021. Alena Naiden/News-Miner Alena Naiden / Alena Naiden/News-Miner State and city officials gather in front of the Polaris Building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Greg Bringhurst, Fairbanks regional director for Sen. Dan Sullivan and Major Randi Ludington, defense legislative fellow for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, exit the Polaris building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Alena Naiden / Alena Naiden/News-Miner City and state officials inspect the Polaris Building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Alena Naiden / Alena Naiden/News-Miner A bar counter is seen inside the Polaris Building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Photo courtesy Pat Smith This December 2016 photo shows black mold on the walls of a room inside the Polaris Building. Photo courtesy Pat Smith This December 2016 shows a lounge area inside the Polaris Building. Photo courtesy Pat Smith This December 2016 photo shows a collapsed plaster ceiling inside the Polaris Building. Photo courtesy Pat Smith This December 2016 photo shows a kitchette and hallway inside the Polaris Building. Photo courtesy Pat Smith This December 2016 photo shows the interior of a room inside the Polaris Building. A lengthy process to secure funding for the 11-story Polaris Building demolition moved forward Thursday after the U.S. Senate approved a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill. The bill included about $10 million for the demolition of the building, an effort Alaska state Sen. Scott Kawasaki and others credit Sen. Lisa Murkowski and her staff for securing. Thank you Senator Lisa Murkowski for securing the necessary funds, Kawasaki said in a Facebook announcement Wednesday. Once the Polaris Building is gone, there will be a great opportunity to build something on that site. The House of Representatives approved the 2022 spending bill on Wednesday and sent it to the Senate, where it passed 68-31. The bill heads to President Joe Biden for final approval. David Pruhs, who chairs the city of Fairbanks Polaris Building Group, said the funding is the beginning of the end to a process the city has been trying to achieve for years. Its time to get the work done, Pruhs said. He said conversations with the states federal delegation, especially Murkowskis office, are bearing fruit. We are very, very confident about this funding, Pruhs told the News-Miner Thursday. We had a very good call with Sen. Murkowskis staff on it. Pruhs has served on the building group since its creation in 2015 to spearhead funding options to demolish the building. Once the city receives the funding, he said, it will have to contract with a consultant and eventually issue a request for proposal to tear it down. The Polaris Building has sat empty for more than two decades. The city closed it in 2001, and it was finally condemned in 2012. Originally built in 1952, its seen multiple attempts at redevelopment over the years. Now, the tan building a distinguishable sight in the downtown skyline sits boarded up and waiting to be torn down. The expected funding is incredibly significant to the demolition of the Polaris Building as it is expected to cover the entire estimated cost of the demolition, said Teal Soden, Fairbanks communications director. Mayor Jim Matherly, in a written statement to the News-Miner, said the federal funding finally gives the project some legs. It will mean so much to receive this money and for this project to have momentum to get things done, Matherly said. While it seems like its taken a long time for this project to move forward, there has been a huge amount of work done in the background by the Polaris Working group and others to get to where we are now. A lot of steps to demolition The city acquired the building with the help of donors after the Fairbanks North Star Borough foreclosed on it in 2018. The cost: $36,323 to pay for back taxes once owed by former owner Mark Marlow of Anchorage. Marlow had looked for ways to renovate the building and turn it into an apartment high-rise over a decade. According to Pruhs, the only solution was federal funding. Its an incredible deal for the city. There is no other way to get it knocked down, Pruhs said. The citys annual budget was $36 million, so it would have been nearly a fourth of the budget to knock it down. And the state doesnt have the money to fund it. Matherly added getting the funding is only the first step. While it wont happen overnight, receiving this funding is a huge step in the right direction, Matherly said. Soden said a lot of steps will take place. The next step after receiving the funding will be to put a bid package together and advertise, Soden said. We wont have a clear timeline right away for demolition because it will depend on several factors. Pruhs said demolishing the building requires a great deal of logistics, including environmental work. The Polaris Building is filled with asbestos, black mold covers several walls, and the top floor that once housed the Tiki Cove a restaurant that operated in the 1970s is now carpeted in green fungus. Many of its floors are of questionable structural stability. Once bids are reviewed, a contract awarded, the building eventually demolished and debris eventually cleared, the next goal will be to fill in the vacant lot. The options, Pruhs said, are boundless. It will be a cornerstone for redevelopment of downtown Fairbanks and the goal is to put something there to help the economy of the downtown, he said. Its been a long journey and incredible people have been involved in this. He added without Murkowskis support, it wouldnt have been possible. Sen. Murkowski and her staff did the heavy lifting and Fairbanks will be better for it, Pruhs said. Good Samaritans provide aid March 5, 2022, to the five victims of a Cessna 206 crash at Lake Iliamna. Alaska Air National Guardsmen of 176th Wing and Coast Guardsmen of 17th District medically evacuated victims from the scene using HH-60G Pave Hawk and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters respectively. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers) Joint forces attend U.S. Stryker armored vehicle familiarization training during Joint Exercise Arctic Eagle-Patriot at Anchorage, Alaska, Feb. 24, 2022. The exercise increases the National Guards capacity to operate in austere, extreme cold-weather environments across Alaska and the Arctic region. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Rice) (Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Rice) RTHK: India says missile fired into Pakistan by accident India said on Friday it had accidentally fired a missile into Pakistan this week because of a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance, giving its version of events after Pakistan summoned India's envoy to protest. Military experts have in the past warned of the risk of accidents or miscalculations by the nuclear-armed neighbours, who have fought three wars and engaged in numerous smaller armed clashes, usually over the disputed territory of Kashmir. Tensions have eased in recent months, and the incident, which may have been the first of its kind, immediately raised questions about safety mechanisms. "On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," the Indian Ministry of Defence said in a statement. "It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident." The ministry said the government had "taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry". Pakistan's foreign office summoned India's charge d'affaires in Islamabad to lodge a protest over what it called an unprovoked violation of its airspace, saying the incident could have endangered passenger flights and civilian lives. Pakistan warned India "to be mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence and take effective measures to avoid the recurrence of such violations in future". A Pakistani military spokesman said on Thursday evening that a "high-speed flying object" originating from the northern Indian city of Sirsa had crashed in eastern Pakistan, near the city of Mian Channu. "The flight path of this object endangered many national and international passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace as well as human life and property on ground," he said. A Pakistan air force official said the object, flying at 40,000 feet and three times the speed of sound, had flown 124 km in Pakistani airspace. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Top Bahraini and Israeli health officials mulled ways to enhance cooperation during a visit of Nitzan Horowitz, the Israeli Minister of Health, yesterday to the King Hamad University Hospital. Major General Doctor Sheikh Salman bin Attiya Allah Al Khalifa, the Commander of King Hamad University Hospital and Horowitz, who is on an official visit to the Kingdom, said they would share experiences in the sector in going forward. Doctor Sheikh Salman further said the visit would advance cooperation with Israel in health, medical, research, training, education and development. The Israeli Minister then toured the Bahrain Cancer Center and learned about the latest radiological devices in diagnosing tumours. Horowitz praised the quality of services at King Hamad University Hospital and the Bahrain Cancer Center that keep pace with the most advanced international standards. Senior officials from King Hamad University Hospital and the Bahrain Cancer Center, and Dr Waleed Al-Manea, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, were present. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com German language centre at Al Hidd Secondary School for Girls is widening the learning opportunities for students. With countries slowly reopening borders, the centre is also helping students who wish to study abroad. The programme initiated by Sarah Al-Musayyib said the centre, so far, has given training to over 25 students. Al Musayyib, a teacher at the school, is working on the project during her free time. She holds an accreditation certificate from the AWO Institute in Dusseldorf, Germany. "Through this project, we aim at providing students with proficiency in an international language, which widens their knowledge horizons," said Al Musayyib. "As soon as we launched the project, we received over 100 interested students, but we could not absorb all. To give them maximum focus and ensure that they master the language and speak it fluently, we turned them into batches." The Centre, Al Musayyib said, is also helping students who wish to study abroad. "We are keen to help students with more international languages, as Arabic along with English and French are part of the curriculum." Student Nouf Bujieri expressed her happiness at learning the German language when asked about her experience at the centre. "The centre allowed me to access wonderful educational and cultural sites in this language," Bujieri said. Goldman Sachs becomes the first major US bank to exit Russia Goldman Sachs becomes the first major US bank to exit Russia Agencies | London The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) on Thursday announced they were unwinding their Russian businesses, becoming the first major US banks to exit following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and putting pressure on rivals to follow. Operating in Russia has become harder for Western financial institutions due to international sanctions against that country. While European banks are the most highly exposed to Russia, US banks still have significant exposure, totalling $14.7 billion, according to Bank of International Settlements data. "Goldman Sachs is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements," the bank said in an emailed statement. JPM said in a statement: "In compliance with directives by governments around the world, we have been actively unwinding Russian business and have not been pursuing any new business in Russia." Current activities are limited, and it is helping global clients address and closeout pre-existing obligations, manage Russian-related risk, act as a custodian to clients and take care of employees, JPM said. Goldman will wind down the operations rather than exit them immediately and any losses would be "immaterial," according to a source familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity. In the aftermath of Russia's invasion last month of Ukraine, around half of Goldman Sachs employees in Moscow have moved or are moving to Dubai, three sources familiar with the matter said. The bank had around 80 staff members in Moscow. Some of the relocated staff will be involved in the winding down, working with colleagues still in Moscow, the sources said. Goldman's Russia head is understood to be remaining in Moscow, one source said. In its annual filing, the bank had disclosed a credit exposure to Russia of $650 million. Shares of Goldman Sachs fell 2.8% to $325.97 in midday trading. Up to the close of trading on Wednesday, GS had fallen 12.8% this year. The biggest exposed US bank is Citigroup Inc (C.N), which said on Wednesday it was operating its Russian consumer business on a more limited basis while sticking with its previous plans to divest the franchise. Citigroup has total Russian exposure of nearly $10 billion and its chief financial officer has warned that in a "severe stress scenario" its loss might be half that. Citigroup might be able to spread the pain of any Russian losses over several quarters by recording expenses to build reserves on some assets before the losses are final, said analyst David Hendler of Viola Risk Advisors. "It might put pressure on earnings for the next couple of quarters," Hendler said. Other US banks operating in Russia include JPMorgan (JPM.N), which declined to comment on what its plans were. Goldman Sachs was seventh overall in generating investment banking income in Russia's last year, with Russia's VTB Capital top, JPMorgan second with $32.8 million, Morgan Stanley fourth with $27.3 million and Citigroup fifth with $22.8 million. Goldman Sachs generated $19.5 million last year, according to Refinitiv data. In Europe, Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is considering leaving Russia, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters previously. Banks will find it hard to extricate themselves from the market, however, experts have said, with the process taking months or even years. Agencies | Stockholm The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Sweden's government said on Thursday it planned to boost annual spending on defence to 2% of the gross domestic product in response to a deteriorating security situation in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Countries in Europe - and across the globe - are looking at expanding defence budgets to meet an increasingly uncertain security outlook, with Germany among those promising a sharp increase in spending. "Today, we present a new initiative with a clear message to the Swedish people and the world around us. Sweden's defence capability must be greatly strengthened," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told a news conference. Sweden's military spending has increased in recent years following decades of cuts after the Cold War ended, including buying the Patriot air defence missile system from U.S. arms manufacturer Raytheon Co. The budget this year is 1.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), up from 0.9% in 2015, but far from around 3% in the early 1980s. Finance Minister Mikael Damberg told the news conference that this year's budget of about 70 billion Swedish crowns ($7.18 billion) was 42 billion short of 2% of GDP. Shares in domestic defence contractor SAAB (SAABb.ST), which makes Sweden's Gripen fighter jet, were up more than 7% on Thursday amid wide gains for the sector. Russia says it is conducting a "special military operation" to demilitarize Ukraine. NATO, of which Sweden is not a member but with which it cooperates closely, has a requirement of 2% defence spending for its members. Sweden's neighbour Denmark, which is in NATO, has vowed to raise spending to 2% of GDP by 2033. Sweden has a long history of neutrality and remaining outside military alliances, but the war in Ukraine has shifted public opinion in favour of NATO membership. Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said it was too early to say how long it would take to get to 2% and that it depended on several factors, including how fast the armed forces could grow. "We want to implement this in a systematic, realistic and feasible way. We must get the most out of every crown we spend on defence," he said. Hultqvist said Sweden would increase security cooperation with several partners, including NATO, but also bilaterally with Finland, Britain and the United States. Sweden could also increase the number of its citizens who are subject to conscription from the current 8,000 annually. "That's one thought, there is that possibility," Hultqvist said. Two Americans imprisoned in Japan for helping former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn avoid trial and escape to Lebanon are hoping to serve the rest of their time in the U.S. The Boston-based attorney for Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor, Paul Kelly, said Thursday that the elder man was suffering from serious back pain and frostbite. The U.S. Justice Department in October requested the Taylors, who were convicted in the same trial, be transferred to a U.S. prison. "It's not been an easy time for them, between the extreme cold and the isolation," Kelly told The Associated Press. "Japan has not acted on the transfer issue at all. If Japan were to grant the transfer, then Michael and Peter would be literally taken immediately out of Japan and brought back to the United States," he said. Japan's Justice Ministry must agree for the transfer to be carried out. The ministry had no immediate comment. Ghosn fled to Lebanon in late 2019, hiding in a music instrument box aboard a private jet. ...continue reading As millions flee Russian bombing in Ukraine, Japan has pledged to take in some of them to help ease the brewing humanitarian crisis, a test for the country's refugee policy that admits just 1% of asylum-seekers. "We will first accept those with family and friends in Japan, but we will engage in a further response from a humanitarian standpoint as well," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters last week. He relayed his stance to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland, which has received the bulk of Ukrainian refugees so far. As of Tuesday, over 2.1 million Ukrainians had fled to neighboring countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Filippo Grandi, the U.N. refugee chief, has called exodus "the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II." Members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is typically hesitant to accept refugees over security and other concerns, were on board, calling for swift action. "The prime minister's office overrode the concerns among Japanese bureaucrats," a source familiar with the matter said. But Japan has a less than solid track record. Of 3,936 new asylum applications received in 2020, just 47 -- or 1.19% -- were approved. The rate was even lower at 0.42% in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. In contrast, Canada approved 56% of its asylum claims in 2019, while the U.K. approved 46%, according to the Japan Association for Refugees. It is still unclear how many Ukrainians would seek asylum in Japan. The tally could vary widely depending on how long the war lasts. About 1,900 Ukrainian citizens currently live in Japan. If just one family member seeks asylum here for every 10 residents, that alone would equal 190 -- almost four times as many as Japan approved in all of 2020. ...continue reading The Economist - May 04 The last time the Japanese yen dipped below 130 to the American dollar, in 2002, Chinas economy was smaller than Frances, Vladimir Putin was meeting Western officials with a smile, and the rapper Eminem was atop the pop-music charts. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Danbury area has rallied behind Ukraine as the country faces an invasion from Russia that has killed more than 500 Ukrainians and forced more than 2 million people to flee the country. Here are some ways that residents in the region can support Ukrainians. Danbury Assumption Church in Danbury is collecting for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Ukraine Relief Fund. This fund was established in collaboration with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the International Orthodox Christian Charities. It aims to raise $1 million for both immediate and long-term support of the Ukrainian people. The Assumption Church Giving Committee and Ladies Philoptochos have pledged a matching gift up to $3,000. Every contribution community members make to the fund will be matched dollar for dollar up to $3,000. Make out checks to Assumption Church and write Ukraine Relief" in the memo. Danbury St. Joseph Parish and School is collecting supplies for Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Poland. The school and church will ship pre-filled bags to Polands front-line workers who are caring for refugees as they cross the border. Community members are encouraged to fill a gently used purse, diaper bag or backpack with everyday essentials. Items needed include self care products, sanitizing wipes, blankets, books, sleeping bags and small toys. A full list is available online. Donations may be dropped off at St. Joseph Church from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19, as well as from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 20. To help, email Megan at advancements@sjsdanbury.org. All donations will be shipped to the Municipal Social Welfare Center in Walbrzych, Poland. Donations will also be accepted to help with shipping costs. New Milford Nataliya Gryb, a New Milford resident originally from Ukraine, is creating and selling blue and yellow pins, with proceeds supporting the Ukraine army. She began selling the pins at First Congregational Church of New Milford, for $2 each and raised around $600 on the first day. Within two days, she created 1,000 pins. A few senior centers have joined the effort, including one in New Milford and one in Farmington. Gryb, 49, came to the U.S. in 2003 with her husband Andriy, also 49. Her extended family still lives in Ukraine. She has created the website, staystrong-ukraine.com, to raise funds for Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. The website include links to give humanitarian and military donations, donations for medical supplies and to the American Red Cross. Newtown Aquilas Nest Vineyards is partnering with local women-owned Connecticut small businesses to host two different fundraisers to support the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine the week of March 20. The winery will donate a portion of wine sales and ticket fees to the Ukrainian Red Cross, which has been repairing infrastructure, supporting families, and providing food, water, and medicine to those who need it in the Ukraine. At noon on Sunday, March 20, artist Anne Kearns Fers, of Annies Art Party, will host a painted wine bottle workshop, Sunflowers for Ukraine, where participants will learn how to paint a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, on a blue wine bottle. Workshop cost is $40 per person and includes all materials and instruction. In a show of solidarity, other women-owned small businesses including Melinda Prince, Candle Delights by Brigita & Mel, who created a Candles for Peace; cookie designer, Jen Hinkle, Hinkles Twinkles Cookies; and author, Anne Kearns, Poems From The Heart, are rallying together in support of Ukraine by donating 50 percent of their proceeds to the Ukrainian Red Cross. On Wednesday, March 23, Aquilas Nest Vineyards, in partnership with Art In Motion, will host Dance & Wine Night, with one of Connecticuts foremost instructors, Kristen Prall. The class is $13 per person for all ages and skill levels. All proceeds will be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross. No dance experience or partner is required. Prall, a ballroom and Latin dance champion, choreographer and owner of Art In Motion, will provide a maximum of 45 minutes of instruction starting at 6 pm. At each fundraising event, Aquilas Nest Vineyards will offer a selection of wines for purchase, with 50 percent of the proceeds donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross. For more information or to sign up for the Ukrainian fundraiser events at Aquilas Nest Vineyards, visit https://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/book-online. Ridgefield Women for Ridgefield will hold a candlelight vigil in support of Ukraine at 7 p.m. at the gazebo in Ballard Park. Candles will be provided. Children in Ridgefield have also raised money for Ukraine through a bake sale and yard sale. Ridgefield The Meetinghouse at Ridgebury Congregational Church is inviting community members to gather every Wednesday to pray for peace amid the turmoil in Ukraine. The program will be held from 5:30 to 6 p.m. over five Wednesdays on March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13. For more information, email Deborah Rundlett, director of The Meetinghouse and pastor of Ridgebury Congregational Church: Deborah@Meetinghouse.life If you, your organization or your business are doing something to support Ukraine, please contact us a newsstaff@newstimes.com. Sandra Diamond Fox and Alyssa Seidman contributed to this story. A court battle over the towns tax assessment of the Meadow Ridge retirement community is over after parties reached a multi-million dollar tax settlement. In a joint filing made in state Superior Court earlier this month, Redding officials agreed to pay $2.65 million to Redding Lifecare, LLC, the owner of the luxury retirement community better known as Meadow Ridge. The Town of Redding recognizes that Meadow Ridge is a preeminent life plan community in Connecticut and for over twenty years has provided quality housing and health care services to many thousands of families in Fairfield County, Redding First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton said in a statement. We are pleased we were able to reach an agreement with them, she added. The settlement brings to an end a nearly nine-year court battle that began following a dispute over the amount of property taxes paid by Redding Lifecare between 2012 and 2016. In a lawsuit filed in June 2013, the company claimed the town improperly assessed the value of the sprawling Meadow Ridge property set on 136 acres that includes nearly 800,000 square feet of buildings. The town collected the taxes based on a $112.5 million assessment; but the retirement community owner asserted its land held a value of $84 million, according to court documents. In February, Superior Court Judge John Cordani found the towns valuation of the property to be excessive, but said those submitted by Redding Life Cares multiple expert witnesses at a December trial to be unreliable. The court ultimately made its own calculation, to arrive at a final valuation of $92,367,043, which the court rounded down to $92 million, reads a copy of the judges Feb. 4 ruling. After electing not to appeal the ruling, the town settled on an agreement to pay Redding Lifecare $2,089,790 to compensate for their over-payment; along with $560,209 in awarded interest. Consistent with the strong financial position the Town has worked hard to achieve, we are pleased that we were able to work out a settlement agreement that would cause the Town as minimal financial disruption as possible, Meadow Ridge Managing Member David Reis said in a statement this week. Additional terms included in the settlement were not released, because the other terms extend beyond the issues raised in the complaint in the matter, and accordingly are beyond the issues that can be decided in this matter, wrote Cordani in an order announcing the settlement on March 3. COUNTY OF KINGS, NS, March 10, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Natural Resources Canada Across the country, Canadians are feeling the impacts of climate change. By investing in initiatives that lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase energy efficiency and support green infrastructure, we can accelerate our progress towards net zero by 2050 and help build strong, resilient, and sustainable communities in every region of the country. Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for KingsHants, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and Geoff Stewart, Third Vice-President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced today a $2.5 million investment through FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to help reduce pollution in Nova Scotia. The Municipality of the County of Kings receives $2,530,100 for the construction of a net-zero engineering and public works operations centre, the first net-zero facility to incorporate two different operations and building-system requirements. To meet the net-zero energy goal, the building design incorporates energy efficiency measures such as passive design, alternate building envelope components, automated control systems, heat pumps, a heat-recovery system and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on and next to the building. Energy usage will be monitored by two power meters: one to record power generated by the solar PV array, and one to record the amount of power used from the conventional power grid. GMF previously funded the County of King's feasibility study for this project. The Green Municipal Fund (GMF), administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, is funded through a major endowment by the Government of Canada. The GMF helps local governments switch to sustainable practices faster. Its unique mix of funding, resources and training gives municipalities the tools they need to build resiliency and reduce GHG emissions. Quotes "With 18 percent of Canada's GHG emissions coming from our buildings, making new and existing builds more energy-efficient while simultaneously investing in clean infrastructure will be a crucial part of achieving our climate targets. This net-zero engineering and public works operations centre will create good jobs while pioneering the practices we need to reach net zero by 2050. Our government is pleased to help the County of Kings and municipalities across Canada identify and capitalize on opportunities to lower emissions, increase energy efficiency and switch to sustainable practices." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Natural Resources "Canadians expect all levels of government to work together to tackle climate change and reach net-zero by 2050. In order to reach our environmental goals, we have to think differently about how we build our public infrastructure. The investments announced today will enable the Municipality of the County of Kings to take action by making their infrastructure more energy-efficient." The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities "Fighting climate change and creating new economic opportunities go hand in hand. Investing in green infrastructure in communities across the country will make our air cleaner and our economy stronger and will help propel us toward a sustainable future." The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister of Environment and Climate Change "The Municipality of Kings County is playing a strong leadership role in climate change adaptation and reducing emissions. I am pleased to see the Government of Canada, through the Green Municipal Fund, investing in projects that will support Kings County's goal of transitioning toward a low-carbon economy." Kody Blois Member of Parliament for KingsHants "Local governments influence half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. That means local action is critical, and it is happening. With support from the Green Municipal Fund, municipalities of all sizes are implementing smart low-carbon solutions. Together, we can improve our community infrastructure, accelerate the path to net-zero and meet Canada's climate change goals." Geoff Stewart Third Vice-President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities "The financial assist afforded to us with federal funds flowing through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has significantly impacted our GHG emissions reduction program here in the Municipality of the County of Kings. Our new net-zero Engineering and Public Works Operations Centre is a motivator toward leading-edge actions that will drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to municipal operations. The new building is about far more than upgraded bricks and mortar. It is a real-world example of how reimagining the built environment can benefit future generations for the challenging decades to come." Peter Muttart Mayor, Municipality of the County of Kings Associated links Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada For further information: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Ian Cameron, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-447-3488, [email protected]; FCM Media Relations, 613-907-6395, [email protected] OTTAWA, ON, March 11, 2022 /CNW/ - Fertilizer Canada is calling on Teamster's Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and Canadian Pacific Railways (CP Rail) to swiftly resolve their negotiations to avoid a potentially disastrous shutdown to the essential rail supply chain. If a resolution is not reached promptly a strike is set for March 16th at midnight, with services anticipated to slowdown March 13th. Work stoppage during the crucial spring seeding season will have crippling effects on the economy and agricultural sector, national and globally. While we respect the collective bargaining process, a work stoppage will compromise Canada's position as a leading global fertilizer supplier and could result in fertilizer production facilities being forced to shut-in production, impacting Canadian workers, the economy, and food security. "Fertilizer Canada and our members are greatly concerned with the looming CP strike," says Karen Proud, President and CEO, Fertilizer Canada. "The agriculture sector is already experiencing supply challenges compounded by the war in Ukraine and cannot withstand anymore disruption to the supply chain without severe consequences for farmers, food security in Canada and worldwide, and the Canadian economy." 75 per cent of all fertilizer produced and used in Canada is moved by rail, the industry is dependant on rail to move product across the country and into international markets who are counting on supply coming from Canada. There is no other alternative transportation method that currently has capacity or can be brought online in time to mitigate the impact of the work stoppage. TCRC represents more than 3,000 Teamsters union members who work as engineers, conductors, trainpersons, and yardpersons. A work stoppage of any duration will impact nearly all commodities within the Canadian supply chain and cost the Canadian economy millions of dollars. ABOUT FERTILIZER CANADA: Fertilizer Canada represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. The fertilizer industry plays an essential role in Canada's economy and is committed to supporting the industry through innovation, sustainability, stewardship, safety and security. As the foundation of Canada's agri-food sector, we apply innovative solutions that positively impact the environment, the economy, and the social fabrics of Canadian life. SOURCE Fertilizer Canada For further information: Kayla FitzPatrick, Director of Communications, Fertilizer Canada, [email protected], (613)979-8723 OTTAWA, ON, March 11, 2022 /CNW/ - There has never been a clearer opportunity for Canada to secure our blue future. As a nation of three oceans and nearly 250,000 kilometres of coastline and existing strengths in innovation, we have a unique competitive edge. One in five Canadians live in coastal communities and today's ocean industries generate over $30 billion a year. The potential of a blue economy is great. So the challenge of unlocking the promise and possibilities of our ocean resources in ways that are economically prosperous, requires environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and more inclusive solutions. From February to June 2021, Fisheries and Oceans engaged with Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We heard from the people who make their living from the ocean from Indigenous and non-Indigenous fish harvesters alike, as well as diverse ocean industries, scientists and many more. Canadians were eager to share their ideas, concerns, and solutions to grow a stronger, more sustainable blue economy. Today the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard released the 'What We Heard' report summarizing the input received. In recent years, Canada has made historic investments in innovation, sustainability, and ocean protection, which has resulted in cleaner, more resilient coastlines and coastal communities, better preparedness for environmental challenges, stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities, and more opportunities for jobs and economic growth. A recurring theme is our oceans and marine resources must be healthy to support a prosperous blue economy, while continuing to support industries that have traditionally relied on the ocean and its resources. To achieve this objective, we must value the natural environment by taking action to protect, conserve, restore and rebuild our marine and coastal resources. If we maintain healthy oceans, we can ensure sustainable growth. The input reflected will help guide the development of a Blue Economy Strategy that ensures Canada and its industry, communities and people are positioned to succeed in the fast-growing global ocean sectors of the blue economy while advancing reconciliation, conservation and climate objectives. The Government of Canada looks forward to releasing a Blue Economy Strategy in due course. Quote "Canada's oceans are a tremendous economic resource. They have the potential to be part of climate solutions, and they can continue to be a source of sustainable economic opportunity, provided we recognize protecting it's ecosystems and growing the ocean economy. I invite Canadians to read this What We Heard report, and I thank all those who contributed to it. This report helps lay a foundation to build on the tremendous success of Canada's fisheries and oceans, while protecting them for future generations." The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick Facts The World Bank defines the blue economy as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health. From February to June 2021 , we asked Canadians from coast to coast to coast about what Canada's Blue Economy Strategy could look like. DFO spoke with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, historically underrepresented groups in ocean sectors, environmental groups, industry and other stakeholders, as well as the general public. , we asked Canadians from coast to coast to coast about what Blue Economy Strategy could look like. DFO spoke with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, historically underrepresented groups in ocean sectors, environmental groups, industry and other stakeholders, as well as the general public. The engagement period was open for 158 days, closing on June 15, 2021 . During that time, 40 roundtables were held in addition to targeted sector and regional engagement involving more than 1,600 participants. . During that time, 40 roundtables were held in addition to targeted sector and regional engagement involving more than 1,600 participants. DFO will continue working with federal partners and others to advance this whole-of-government federal initiative. Associated Links Stay Connected Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada For further information: Claire Teichman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 604-679-5462, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected] CanNor invests more than $2.2 million toward seven Nunavut community infrastructure projects IQALUIT, NU, March 11, 2022 /CNW/ - Public spaces in Nunavut are critical assets to communities, sustaining the well-being of residents, attracting visitors and encouraging tourism, thus supporting local businesses. That's why the Government of Canada is making targeted investments to improve local infrastructure so that communities across Nunavut are well-positioned for recovery and future growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, announced investments of more than $2.2 million delivered through CanNor, to support seven projects in communities across Nunavut. Working together with the Government of Nunavut and Inuit partners, CanNor and the Government of Canada were there with financial support for Nunavut businesses and organizations when the pandemic began. Now, the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) and the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) are providing support for not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and other community groups as they rebound from the pandemic. CanNor investments support Nunavut community projects These investments support the building of new infrastructure, revitalize or improve existing facilities, and create new opportunities for employment. This includes eight jobs during construction, five new full-time jobs, two new part-time jobs and the continuation of four full-time jobs. Funding these initiatives contributes to the overall health of Nunavut communities, providing residents with places to go that support social interaction, physical activity and access to recreational programs and facilities. Quotes "Throughout the pandemic, our government has been there for residents of the North and Arctic as well as businesses, Indigenous partners, and community organizations. By working together with Nunavummiut we are identifying and supporting projects that strengthen communities through their shared spaces, based on their priorities. By helping create accessible spaces and revitalizing places for gatherings, sports, and recreation, we are helping build healthy and vibrant communities in Nunavut." The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency "While we continue to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's crucial to not only invest in aiding community recovery, but also in fostering community health and wellness moving forward. Through our investment of over $425,000, the Government of Nunavut is proud to support the development of safe, accessible spaces for physical activity, cultural activities and community gatherings. The infrastructure from these projects will play an important role in boosting local economies and supporting mental and physical health, especially that of our youth and Elders." The Honourable David Joanasie, Minister of Community and Government Services, Government of Nunavut "Investments of this nature are critical for communities in Nunavut. Not only will these communities see job creation, they will also see investment in projects that serve to improve everyday life, by offering key services and activities to Nunavummiut. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this investment will have on the lives of Nunavummiut." Kenny Bell, Mayor of Iqaluit and President of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities Quick facts The Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) helps communities across Canada build and improve community infrastructure projects so they can rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a national investment of $500 million over two years, the Fund supports not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and other community groups, as well as Indigenous communities. build and improve community infrastructure projects so they can rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a national investment of over two years, the Fund supports not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and other community groups, as well as Indigenous communities. The Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) is a $700-million federal program supporting regional job creation and positioning local economies for long-term growth. This includes up to $70 million dedicated to businesses created after January 2020 that meet the eligibility criteria. federal program supporting regional job creation and positioning local economies for long-term growth. This includes up to dedicated to businesses created after that meet the eligibility criteria. Communities receiving funding are Iqaluit , Kugaaruk , Taloyoak , Naujaat, and Whale Cove . Related products Associated Links Stay connected Follow CanNor on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) For further information: Kyle Allen, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister Responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, 819-953-1153; Craig Welsh, Communications Advisor, Nunavut, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, [email protected] The SADC du Haut Saguenay joins the Sustainable Community of Quebec, operated by Will, and will offer its customers direct access to the voluntary carbon markets (VCM). BELOEIL, QC, March 9, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - The SADC du Haut Saguenay (SADC) is proud to announce that it has accepted the invitation of Solutions Will (Will) to join its Sustainable Community. SADC will be the exclusive partner of the Sustainable Community for the recruitment of new members in the region and aims to stimulate the achievement of more than 3 million tons of GHG reductions by 2030. The SADC is launching a recruitment program for SMEs, municipalities, cooperatives and NGOs in the Saguenay and Lac St-Jean region which will facilitate the recognition of their climate actions by participating directly, through the Sustainable Community, in the monetization of their reduction efforts, on the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM). Will aggregated and quantified GHG reductions from hundreds of buildings under his first Sustainable Community in Quebec and converted them into carbon credits representing over 5.2 million tons of CO2eq. The company aims to improve its digital performance and productivity to facilitate the recruitment of hundreds of thousands of buildings into its Sustainable Communities, which will be deployed on several continents and process the billions of transactions necessary to recognize and monetize more than 100 million tons of CO 2 eq in the next few years. "To achieve Will's mission and facilitate commitment to climate action by all stakeholders in society, Will has developed a hypergrowth plan. It is necessary to innovate in processes for qualifying, quantifying and verifying GHG emissions for our members. SADC Haut Saguenay's participation in the Sustainable Community is the type of partner sought, through its local presence in its tightly knit business community in the region and supported by a sincere and real commitment to Sustainable Development" said Martin Clermont, president of Will Solutions. The partnership allows Will to obtain local recruitment capacity in the region in addition to generating business opportunities. "We are happy to join the Sustainable Community which is an important addition to our SD program. The launch of our recruitment campaign begins now. Reducing carbon emissions has become a global priority that demands focused and urgent action from all of us, individually and collectively. We believe this new offering in the region can make an important contribution to this effort, helping customers move towards more sustainable operations. " said Andre Boily, general manager of the SADC Haut Saguenay. About Solutions Will WiLL Solutions Inc. (WiLL) is a privately owned Canadian company, BCorp. certified, headquartered in Beloeil, QC. The company is active in the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM), notably through its first Sustainable Community project in Quebec (QSC). WiLL has a social philosophy based on sharing. It is based on two major axes: democratize access to carbon credits by pooling local GHG reduction projects carried out by SMEs, municipalities and NGOs, and return as much money as possible to these partners following the sale of carbon credits by WiLL. WiLL has been carbon neutral since 2007 and is committed to returning 10% of its net profit to community projects and initiatives supporting sustainable development. About the SADC Haut-Saguenay https://www.sadchs.qc.ca/ The SADC du Haut-Saguenay is a non-profit organization registered in Quebec. Our field experience with organizations (SMEs, Cooperatives, NGOs and Municipalities) in our area of intervention has led us to support around sixty companies in a Sustainable Development approach. Following global trends in financing, we have implemented a project analysis approach that consists of taking into account the four components of sustainable development: economy, environment, social and governance. This so-called 360 approach is inspired by major financial groups such as Moody's. Our intervention does not stop there. Projects such as the circular economy and the digital shift are the spearheads of our Sustainable Development (SD) deployment strategy for the years to come. The partnership with Solutions Will is an opportunity for us to complete the SD cycle. The planned supply chain targeting strategy will allow organizations to turn their operations "green" and thus to contribute to the fight against climate change. About Sustainable Community Durable https://solutionswill.com/en/our-community/ Quebec's Sustainable Community (QSC) is a project to democratize access to the voluntary carbon markets that is validated under the VCS program administered by VERRA. QSC is the first cluster project of over 1,700 projects validated under this program that aggregates GHG reductions in a one-stop-shop for its members. The community cluster business model of micro GHG reduction projects is intended to be a catalyst for local actions fostering the recruitment of a variety of stakeholders. Quebec's Sustainable Community was awarded in 2020 the Solar Impulse Label by the Swiss Foundation headed by Bertrand Piccard . SOURCE Will Solutions For further information: SADC Haut Saguenay : Andre Boily, SADC general manager 418-672-6333 | [email protected]; Les Solutions Will : Martin Clermont President Will Solutions 514 774-6601 | [email protected] The AAP had a landslide win in the Punjab Assembly polls by winning 92 seats to form its government in the state with a three-fourth majority in the 117-member legislative assembly. Punjab Chief Minister-elect Bhagwant Mann on Friday left for New Delhi where he is scheduled to meet Aam Aadmi Partys national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. I am going to Delhi to meet the founder of our party Arvind Kejriwal, said Mann before leaving from Sangrur to Delhi. The AAP had a landslide win in the Punjab Assembly polls by winning 92 seats to form its government in the state with a three-fourth majority in the 117-member legislative assembly. Stating that the date of the oath-taking ceremony will be announced by this evening, the chief minister-elect also took a dig at horse-trading politics. We can call our legislative party meeting anytime we want. We dont have to rush or worry as our MLAs are honest they are not running away to other states, Mann said. Mann, who won from Dhuri assembly constituency in Sangrur district by a margin of 58,206 votes, yesterday had announced that the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr district, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. I will take CMs oath from Khatkar Kalan, the birthplace of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, said Mann while addressing party workers from the terrace of his Sangrur residence on Thursday after he won from Dhuri constituency. In the election results which were declared yesterday, the ruling Congress managed to secure 18 seats while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended up with two seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) bagged three seats while Bahujan Samaj Party managed to win a solitary seat. Punjab witnessed a multi-cornered contest with key players being Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singhs Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt) led by SS Dhindsa. Congress Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu all lost to AAP candidates. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won 77 seats whereas Shiromani Akali Dal could win only 15 seats, BJP netted three and independent candidates won two seats. AAP had emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats. In the elections, the BJP went solo this time and contested all seats alone. It won 32 seats out of 60 in Manipur, Congress bagged five seats and the National People's Party has won seven seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a majority in Manipur Assembly elections reducing other parties to single digits and will now form the government in the state for the second consecutive term. In the elections, the BJP went solo this time and contested all seats alone. It won 32 seats out of 60 in Manipur, Congress bagged five seats and the National Peoples Party has won seven seats. Other parties including the Janata Dal (United) won six seats and the Naga Peoples Front (5) The Kuki Peoples Alliance (2) and Independents bagged three seats. BJP secured 37.83 per cent vote share, Congress 16.83 per cent, National Peoples Party 17.3 per cent, Janata Dal (United) 10.77 per cent, Naga Peoples Front 8.1 per cent and the other parties bagged 7.53 per cent vote share. Congress has formed an alliance of six political parties and named it Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA). The coalition partners in MPSA include Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Janata Dal (Secular). Chief Minister N Biren Singh has won by a margin of 24,814 votes from the Heingang constituency, defeating Congress candidate Pangeijam Saratchandra Singh. Prominent Congress leader Nameirakpam Loken Singh lost to BJP candidate T Basanta Kumar Singh from Nambol Constituency by a margin of 3060 votes. Nemcha Kipgen of BJP has won from Kangpokpi constituency by a margin of 5396 votes. Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh won by 15085 votes from the Thoubal constituency seat. He fought against BJPs Leitanthem Basanta Singh. PWD Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh won from Thongju constituency with 15338 votes; BJPs Govindas Konthoujam Singh won from Bishenpur; Education Minister Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh from Lamshang lost to National Peoples Party candidate Pukhrambam Sumati Devi, Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi secured Wangoi seat. National Peoples Party candidate and deputy chief minister Y Joykumar Singh lost the Uripok seat. After securing a win, the Manipur Chief Minister said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will take time to stake a claim to form a government, adding that central leaders of the party will decide the Chief Minister. We will take time to stake a claim to form a government, let the results be out. Our national leaders will decide on Chief Minister face, we will focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modis mantra of inclusive development, Biren Singh said. He further said that the BJPs historic victory in Manipur is a testament to the peoples faith in the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and citizen-centric governance. Thank you, Manipur! The historic victory that we have achieved today is a testament of the peoples faith in the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and citizen-centric governance. My heartiest congratulations to all the Karyakartas of BJP, tweeted Singh. In 2017, the BJP stunned the Congress which ruled for 15 years in Manipur as it emerged as the second-largest party winning 21 seats in the 60-member state Assembly. The National Peoples Party (NPP) and Naga Peoples Front (NPF) bagged four seats each while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) managed to secure only one constituency. The BJP bagged 36.28 per cent vote share while Congress received 35.11 per cent of the total vote. Later, the BJP stitched a coalition with the NPP, NPF, and LJP to form the government under the leadership of Biren Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a roadshow in Ahmedabad. The roadshow started from the Ahmedabad airport and concluded at the state BJP headquarters. The roadshow comes just a day after BJP won assembly elections in four states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. Notably, Gujarat is scheduled to go to the polls this year. According to the PMO, at around 4 PM, PM Modi will participate in Gujarat Panchayat Mahasammelan and address the gathering there. On Saturday, the Prime Minister will dedicate the building of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to the nation at 11 AM. He will also deliver the first convocation address of the RRU as the Chief Guest. At around 6:30 PM, the PM will deliver an address on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 11th Khel Mahakumbh. The results of five state assembly elections were declared on Thursday. BJP won 255 seats in UP, 47 seats in Uttarakhand, 32 out of 60 seats in Manipur, and 20 seats in Goa. The party plans to form the government with the MGP and independent candidates in Goa. In Manipur, the mandate for BJP has been historic, whereas, in UP and Uttarakhand, the party saw a decline in seat share as compared to the last elections in the respective states. BJP won 255 seats out of the total 403 seats in UP, securing a 41.29 per cent vote share. The BJP is now the first party in UP to return to power for the second time in a row in 37 years. With its victory in UP, BJP has retained power in Uttar Pradesh and broken several records in doing so. Yogi Adityanath is now the only BJP CM to have completed a full five-year term in UP. The BJP is now the first party in UP to return to power for the second time in a row in 37 years. The party won 255 seats out of the total 403 seats in UP, securing a 41.29 per cent vote share. The Samajwadi Party-led alliance came a distant second in the elections, securing 111 seats and getting 32.06% votes. In the 2017 Assembly election, SP had got 47 seats and BJP had secured 312 seats. CM Yogi Adityanath won the Gorakhpur Urban seat with a massive margin of over 1 lakh votes. The seats runner-up, Samajwadi Partys Subhawati Shukla, got 62,109 votes as compared to Adityanaths 1,65,499 votes. Founder of the Bhim Army, Chandrashekhar Azad, also contested the seat but secured only 7,640 votes. Thanking the states electorate for their increase of vote share and seat share, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, We have shown that BJP seats can be reduced. This reduction of BJP will continue unabated. More than half the confusion and delusion have been cleared, the rest will happen in a few days. The combined tally of BSP and Congress did not even cross five seats. BSP managed to win just one seat whereas Congress won just two seats. Moreover, the vote shares of BSP and the Congress party stood at 12.88 per cent and 2.33 per cent, respectively. The high-voltage scuffle occurred just ahead of the tabling of a no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government by the opposition parties. Police in Islamabad stormed into Pakistans Parliament Lodges on Thursday night and arrested 19 persons including key opposition figures. The high-voltage scuffle occurred just ahead of the tabling of a no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government by the opposition parties. Police commandos and other law enforcement personnel were deployed in huge numbers at the spot, The News International reported. We tried to convince them that they could not enter the lodges, but the police personnel remained adamant and entered by force, PMLN leader Khawaja Saad Rafique who was injured in the scuffle was quoted as saying. The action came after members of Ansarul Islam, a uniformed volunteer force set up to protect the leadership of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), entered the Parliament Lodges in large numbers, reported Dawn. JUI leader and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Salahuddin Ayubi refused to accept the polices demand saying that the Ansarul activists were their guests and legally staying with them. Shortly afterwards, clashes between Ayubis staff and police personnel erupted. Several Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) lawmakers were also present in the lodges at the time, while JUIs Maulana Fazlur Rehman also reached the venue, The News International said citing sources. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the police operation in Parliament Lodges is proof of Imran Khans nervousness. Violence against members of the Parliament and their arrests is unbearable, this is enough, he said, adding that consequences of such dictatorial acts will not be good for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. Taking notice of the issue, PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that Islamabad police should refrain from acting like the prime ministers stooges. The arrested persons were released later in the day. As a result, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) dropped plans to block highways across Pakistan to protest against the arrests On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that U.S.-funded Biolabs in Ukraine worked on establishing a mechanism "for the covert transmission of deadly pathogens." United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members will meet on Friday to discuss the allegations against the US about having military biological research facilities in Ukraine. Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, tweeted this request on Thursday. Russia has accused a network of Biolabs in Ukraine of working on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense and forming part of its biological weapons program. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it had received documents from employees of Ukrainian Biolabs, which confirmed urgent destruction of dangerous pathogens. On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that U.S.-funded Biolabs in Ukraine worked on establishing a mechanism for the covert transmission of deadly pathogens. The United States has dismissed Russias accusation as laughable, suggesting that Russia may be laying the groundwork to use a chemical or biological weapon. However, on Tuesday, while testifying before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Ukraine, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland admitted Ukraine has biological research facilities. The Kremlin is intentionally spreading outright lies that the United States and Ukraine are conducting chemical and biological weapons activities in Ukraine. We have also seen PRC (China) officials echo these conspiracy theories, the US State Department said in a statement in response to allegations made by Russia. Connecticut recovered nearly 44,000 jobs in 2021, according to a newly revised average of monthly data published Friday, a significantly larger number than prior surveys suggested, but leaving the state well short of its job count two years ago as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Connecticut Department of Labor reported Friday that businesses, nonprofits and government agencies employed nearly 1.64 million people in December, adjusted for seasonal hiring changes. Across the 12 months of 2021, payrolls averaged just over 1.61 million jobs. Connecticut payrolls shrank by an estimated 700 jobs in January, if surveys prove accurate, even as employment swelled nationally and in New York. Connecticuts yearly average showed a gain of 43,650 jobs from 2020 when employers triggered mass furloughs under public health emergency orders, then began restoring some positions with support from subsidies like the Payroll Protection Program. The final count was about 11,000 jobs more than estimates drawn by DOL from surveys throughout the year. DOL believes those surveys were skewed by varying job actions during the pandemic by business respondents. Connecticuts yearly average in 2021 remained about 82,000 jobs short of the total two years earlier. The state saw a slight contraction in jobs in January, both the result of the end of seasonal employment as well as the COVID omicron variant, which may have prompted some employers to wait to fill jobs. There are two main ways to measure year-over-year job creation using the surveys of a sampling of employers. The first is by using annual averages, which smooth out monthly swings and make comparisons over many years more accurate. In that method, Connecticuts 43,650 additional jobs in 2021 was revised upward Friday from a preliminary estimate of 32,600 jobs. Looking at the December-to-December figures, the Department of Labors report Friday showed Connecticuts economy added 55,400 jobs in 2021, up from an earlier estimate of 51,200. Either way, the states economy lost well over 100,000 jobs in the full year of 2020 with the pandemic collapse, even after significant job recovery in the second half of that year. Weve added more jobs than what we had previously thought, Dante Bartolomeo, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor, said Friday in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. This is a public health crisis that created an economic crisis. As omicron is receding, the underlying economy is strong. DOL revises its annual estimates each March based on payroll data it receives from employers, with additional revisions possible for the 2021 figures in the coming months as new information is submitted. Patrick Flaherty, who leads economic research for DOL, said the annualized number is useful for gauging long-term economic growth, but can obscure moments of time during the pandemic that have impacted hiring, most notably the successive waves of variants. Omicron likely contributed to a slight increase in Connecticuts unemployment rate in January to 5.3 percent, from 5.1 percent in December based on the revised benchmarks. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4 percent in January, with New Yorks matching Connecticuts at 5.3 percent. Bartolomeo said the coronavirus surge not only impacted workers who had to quarantine, but also working parents in instances when children had to stay home from school after the resumption of classes in January. Being able to participate in someones job was directly related to the spikes we were seeing in the variants, Bartolomeo said. As soon as there started to be talk about omicron coming into the state, I saw it in my daily reports of how many folks were out. Employers face a new challenge with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the resulting U.S. oil embargo sparking a surge in fuel prices. That is intensifying existing inflationary pressures for many businesses, whether for expensive equipment or everyday supplies with a possible impact on future hiring as existing budgets are not stretching as far as employers had assumed. Over the past decade, Connecticuts job total peaked in December 2018 at just over 1.7 million. The high-water mark occurred in March 2008, when Connecticut employers had 1,720,900 people on payrolls, according to DOLs official count. This is a disappointing start to the year, particularly given the number of private-sector job losses, and further emphasizes how critical it is for policymakers to prioritize job growth, Chris DiPentima, CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said in a statement Friday following the release of the DOL report. Our labor shortage is a full-blown crisis we have 110,000 job openings, yet our labor-force losses since the beginning of the pandemic represent an astonishing 10 percent of the national decline. As more businesses return to normal operations, Connecticut faces other challenges beyond those of the pandemic and inflation. Most notably, more workers have retired early. And Connecticuts high cost of living continues to be a hurdle for younger professionals and new graduates who are weighing opportunities in Connecticut and other states. For workers in the lowest income brackets, rent and mortgages are putting the squeeze on savings, pushing back by years any expectations for their own retirements. There is no discussion of the quality of jobs, Fred Carstensen, an economist at the University of Connecticut, said in an email. [Connecticut] gained low-skill, low-wage jobs in tourism, hospitality, logistics and elder care, all of which pay if working full time less than $40,000 annually. As Connecticuts population has aged, hospitals and clinics have added staff to handle new services, but the pandemic taxed their capabilities. As of Friday, Yale New Haven Health listed nearly 2,500 open jobs, the highest of any Connecticut employer with postings on the Indeed jobs board. The health care sector overall is still below where it was before the pandemic in terms of total employment, Flaherty said. Some of that is because there are openings the health care industry would like to fill that they havent been able to find people. Dan Haar contributed to this report. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fed up with your job? Frustrated with life? Annoyed at gas price increase? Would a rant help expel some of that pent up stress? Then comedian Lewis Black is the man for you. The so-called angry comedian offers the everyday individual the opportunity to submit rants that could be chosen to be performed live at the end of his shows. Called The Rant is Due, Blacks popular audience interaction just returned in January after being on hiatus during the pandemic. Since 2014, he has done over 400 of these live-streaming rants. Adding his own unique style, Black delivers audience-written Rants which have been submitted from the fans at his show and throughout the world. These rants are now available on Blacks podcast, Rant Cast. And if submitting the rant isnt enough, Lewis is bringing his Off the Rails tour to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester this month, the first time he is appearing at the iconic venue. For some comedians, taking a forced break during the pandemic in some ways, despite the circumstances, was a welcome mental respite. Brian Regan said it was somewhat of a relief to turn his comedy brain off for a while. Kevin Nealon focused on painting. Lisa Lampanelli began to cohost a mental health podcast. But this wasnt the case for Black. It was horrible, he said. He had zero interest in doing virtual comedy, on a medium like Zoom. Methadone is a better substitute for heroin than Zoom is for live comedy, he said. I have a strong relationship with my audience and for what they are feeling without their laughter it was really obvious for me, Black said. I really chose my career over having a primary relationship. The audience is my primary relationship. The audience who comes to see me gives me such a wide berth on a creative level it allows me to be real, he said. Known as the King of Rant, Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and finger pointing to expose the absurdities of life. A Grammy award-winning stand-up, Black performs his critically acclaimed shows more than 200 nights annually, to sold-out audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Black is nominated for a Grammy this year for his special, Thanks for Risking Your Life the last live performance he did before the shutdown. He is one of a few performers to sell out multiple renowned theaters, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City Center, the Main Stage at the Mirage in Las Vegas and a sold-out Broadway run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City Black is the longest-running contributor to The Daily Show on Comedy Central. He has had comedy specials on HBO, Comedy Central, Showtime and Epix. In 2001, he won Best Male Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards. In 2015, Black notably voiced the character Anger in the Academy Award-winning film from Pixar, Inside Out. A published playwright, hes written over 40 plays and has found his work performed throughout the country, including at the A.C.T. Theatre, the Magic Theatre, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, and The Public Theatre. In addition to his professional pursuits, Lewis is dedicated to a number of charitable organizations including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Rogosin Institute, and the 52nd Street Project. Hes also deeply committed to supporting our troops. A seasoned USO tour veteran, hes performed for the troops on three Christmas tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.Black, who is based in New York, said he is looking forward to performing at The Capitol Theatre. He talked about the various venues hes played. There are certain places that I like to play that were very formative to me as a comic, The Funny Bone in Omaha, Zanies in Chicago there are others Im leaving out, he said. But the accomplished playwright said he prefers playing a theater. Despite his reputation as angry, he said in order to be entertaining, you have to play angry, you cant really be angry. And Black says he truly senses that his audience is just as joyful to be back in the live venues as he is. The audience is happy to be back. Even if you dont get playing full houses, you can feel the energy they bring. They are ready. They want a show. They want to laugh, he said. Lewis Black plays The Capitol Theatre on Sunday March 27, at 8 p.m. For more information or to get tickets, visit The Capitol Theatre here. SHELTON A Shelton resident is bringing back plans to transform vacant bank space in Huntington Plaza into a convenience store and deli with a drive-thru. David Ghazals new application to the Planning and Zoning Commission seeks a special exception to allow the drive-thru at 5 Huntington St., which has been vacant for the past few years. The commission will hold a public hearing at a date to be determined. Concerns about the drive-thru prompted the commission to deny, by a 3-3 vote, Ghazals original application last March Commission Chair Virginia Harger and fellow members Ruth Parkins and Charles Kelly voted against the plan at the time, but all commissioners agreed they welcomed the concept. Harger, Kelly and Parkins denied the proposal because of the proposed drive-thru, which was used previously by the bank, they said. Ghazal said at the time that he would return with an amended application and answers to the commissions . (The) drive-thru will be utilized in these unprecedented times as a fully functional place where customers can order and pick up at the window, he stated in his application. Pre-paid pickup is also an option, where we will develop a user-friendly mobile application to order through, as well as third-party applications, phone calls, and online ordering, he wrote. If a customer decides to order items that will hold up the line, they will be advised to park in the designated parking space while a runner runs out their order to avoid any car queues. Plans call for redesign of the 2,619-square-foot interior, with display cases, a deli counter and two tables for indoor dining. The old ATM and canopy out front would be removed and replaced with a window. Ghazal said his plan would be to use the drive-thru only for pickup of preordered items. He said this would done to keep the employees and customers safe during the pandemic. Those voting against the plan sought more details on how whether through signs or other means Ghazal planned to keep people from driving into the drive thru and attempting to order. One of the things that attracted me to this location was the drive thru. I want people to feel safe during these times, even making our convenience the best user-friendly by developing a mobile application for ordering, Ghazal stated in his application. If a customer decides to order through line, we will dedicate a spot for them to park and have a runner run out their order to avoid any lines. After the initial denial, Ghazal told Hearst Connecticut Media that he planned to return with a revised plan. Having lived in the city for more than two decades, Ghazal said his goal is to make Shelton a better place, a better community and hopes his business, if approved, would help do that. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN The Board of Police Commissioners approved a new drug and alcohol policy for the department this week, barring officers from using marijuana, despite it being legalized for recreational use in Connecticut. The goal of the measure is to deter the misuse or abuse of any legal or illegal substances that create a threat to the safety and health of any City employee or member of the public, the policy says. But it leaves the door open for using products containing the marijuana derivative CBD. Commissioner Tracey Meares and Capt. David Zannelli revised the standard, which was last updated in 2015, and presented it to the police commission at its Tuesday meeting. Among other changes, Zannelli said the policy now specifically describes drug and alcohol testing procedures for supervisors and officers, which can be done on a random basis. It was also updated to reflect the ban on anabolic steroids included in the 2020 police accountability act; discusses prohibited conduct, such as purchasing illegal drugs online; and considers how to aid officers that may develop a drug dependency while doing undercover work. He noted the measure had been expanded, going from three to 15 pages in length. Its much more comprehensive, said Zannelli. Meares said the policy distinguishes between federally prohibited and controlled substances, prescription drugs and alcohol, which can be used up to a certain point by adults of legal drinking age. Officers are barred from drinking intoxicating beverages to an extent that it will render one unfit when reporting to duty under the policy. Meares noted that New Haven officers are still prohibited from using marijuana while employed by the department. Although it is now not illegal to possess cannabis in the state, it is not consistent with New Haven Police Department policy for officers to use that substance, said Meares. Its important to highlight that, and that the policy is carefully written to both acknowledge its status in the state of Connecticut and the departments policy with respect to the use of that substance. Under the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, people using marijuana are prohibited from possessing firearms. Officers have some flexibility to use Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, under the measure, although they can still be sanctioned for any positive drug tests resulting from such use. CBD, a chemical found in marijuana that does not produce a high, can be used to help treat anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain, according to Harvard Health Publishing. In light of the easy access and non-psychoactive properties of CBD, the New Haven Department of Police Service does not view the use or possession of over-the-counter products containing CBD as constituting the illegal use or possession of marijuana, the policy states. However, officers must be cautious as to the substances (they) ingest or use as CBD products are not regulated and may result in a positive urinalysis test. New Haven officers are subject to be drug tested for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, steroids, opiates like morphine and heroin and PCP, according to the policy. At least half of employees performing safety-sensitive functions are to be tested for controlled substance use annually, according to the document. At least four such screenings are conducted each year; employees are required to report immediately for testing once selected unless there are extenuating circumstances. According to the policy, the use of an illegal drug or controlled substance by a departmental employee, on or off duty, is cause for suspension, termination and/or criminal prosecution, although officers who have been assigned undercover work and may have developed an addiction through such service automatically receive a referral to a rehabilitation program for a first offense. Any officer, after completing their initial probationary period with the department, can disclose a substance use issue to the chief of police and receive rehabilitative assistance. Access of this type shall be limited to two occasions. An employee referred to the program shall not be disciplined for the substance abuse disclosed, the policy states. However, failure to comply with the terms of the program shall subject the employee to discipline. The commission unanimously approved the new policy Tuesday. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN A West Haven man was killed after he was thrown from his vehicle in a crash early Friday, police said. Police received a call around 1 a.m about a crash on Middletown Avenue between Flint and Ellis streets. Police said the crash involved a brown Nissan Murano and a white Toyota Scion. Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Cloudy. Periods of light rain this morning. High 59F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Cloudy with occasional light rain...mainly in the morning. High 58F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low near 40F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has declared support for an Igbo Presidency in 2023. Obasanjo, while receiving a 2023 Presidenti... Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has declared support for an Igbo Presidency in 2023. Obasanjo, while receiving a 2023 Presidential aspirant, Mao Ohuabunwa on Thursday in Abeokuta said it was time for reconciliation in Nigeria by supporting a president from the Southeast region to emerge in 2023. The former president stated that southeasterners can bring a lot to the table if elected. Beyond bringing unity to Nigeria or being the cement that holds Nigeria together, I believe that Southeasterners can model hard work and entrepreneurship. This will help in wealth creation and fight against poverty, which is ravaging Nigeria, Obasanjo said. He warned Ohuabunwa that running for Presidency is a tough job. Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Zamfara State Governor has cautioned his colleagues against washing their dirty linens in public. The Gov... Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Zamfara State Governor has cautioned his colleagues against washing their dirty linens in public. The Governor spoke against the backdrop of recent happenings within the All Progressives Congress (APC). This was contained in a press statement signed and issued to newsmen in Gusau, the State capital by Governor Matawalles Special Adviser on media and publicity, Hon. Zailani Bappa. According to the statement, It is not right for us to wash our dirty linens in the media, especially at this critical time of the Partys transformation as we move towards a decisive period in 2023. I believe that each of us has been trying his best in his own way to move the interest of our great Party forward. His Excellency, Bukar Mai Mala Buni has, no doubt, contributed immensely to the promotion of the Partys fortunes, and indeed all other Governors who disagreed with one another. However, we all disagree to agree. That is the beauty of democracy. There is no point in promoting disharmony among ourselves after disagreements are settled nor is it wise to drag the name of His Excellency, Mr President into taking sides on issues that are ordinarily a normal political misunderstanding common to every collective interest. Now, more than ever before, the Party needs the strength and unity to face the challenges ahead as we move towards the critical period of elections of which the Party must maintain its supremacy at all levels, he added. Governor Matawalle commended President Muhammadu Buhari for always being a father to all as well as all his colleagues for their various contributions to the success of the Party and opined that together as one, we shall continue to conquer and prosper. Troops in the last two weeks of operations in the northeast region have neutralized 12 terrorists as 174 others who surrendered themselves t... Troops in the last two weeks of operations in the northeast region have neutralized 12 terrorists as 174 others who surrendered themselves to troops have been profiled. A statement from Bernard Onyeuko, the Director, Defence Media Operations said the success was a result of sustained clearance operations in the region. Onyeuko said, Terrorists have continued to surrendered to own troops at different locations in the theatre, a total of 174 Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their families comprising of 43 adult males, 58 females and 73 children from Villages around Bama and Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State surrendered to own troops. The statement explained that aggressive clearance operations in the last two weeks have put the terrorists and their families under pressure resulting in their decisions to surrender. Troops operational efforts yielded significant results in some locations in the North East such as Mandara Mountain, Kwatara hill, Fadagwe village in Gwoza Local Government Area, Timbuktu Triangle, Buk Village in Damboa Local Government Area in Borno, General Bernard said. The statement said during the robust clearance operation troops engaged Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists at Mandara Mountain in Gwoza Local Government Area and Timbuktu triangle in Damboa Local Government Area Borno State. During the encounter, 10 terrorists were neutralized. Troops also recovered 4 AA-guns, 2,000 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 10 bicycles, 1 unexploded Improvised Explosive Device, 1 MOWAG APC, 1 truck mounted with 122 artillery gun, 1 machine gun, 4 AK 47 rifles, 160mm motar tube with 5 bombs. The statement added. It was also gathered that troops had an encounter with the Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists along the Debiro-Shaffa Village in Hawul Local Government Area where 2 terrorists were neutralized and a recovery of 1 AK 47 rifle, 3 magazines, 143 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1 Dane gun, 1 pump action rifle and 6 cartridges were made. Abubakar Sani Bello, governor of Niger who currently chairs the All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker/extraordinary convention plannin... Abubakar Sani Bello, governor of Niger who currently chairs the All Progressives Congress (APC) caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee, has denied knowledge of a letter from Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor. Prior to Bello taking charge of the APCs affairs, Buni has been in charge of the APC caretaker committee. However, there has been controversy within the party over the change in leadership of the caretaker committee. Speaking on the development, Bello said he had been in charge of the committee for a while, while Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, had in an interview, said Buni had been replaced. John Akpanudoedehe, secretary of the APC caretaker committee, has also insisted that he will remain in office until he receives a directive from Buhari requesting him to resign. Bunis displacement was linked to moves by the Yobe governor to scuttle plans for the partys convention scheduled to hold on March 26, so that he could remain as chair of the party. However, in a new twist, a letter dated February 28 requesting a leave of absence, signed by Buni and addressed to Bello, copying the CCEPC members and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), emerged on Thursday. This is to please inform you that I will be embarking on a medical trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from today, 28th February, 2022. I will resume office upon my discharge from the hospital, the letter reads. In my absence, I hereby transmit the functions of my office as the National Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to you. This is to enable the Committee to conclude all arrangements leading to the National Convention slated for March 26th, 2022 and other duties that may be required of the office. I invite all members to cooperate with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, by extending to him all the support that I have enjoyed from you. Please do accept the assurances of my best regards. But while fielding questions from journalists after the APC CCEPC meeting on Thursday, the Niger governor denied knowledge of the letter. I havent seen it, he said. In another development, INEC, in a letter dated March 9, said it could not act on a letter from the APC on its national executive council meeting scheduled for March 17. According to the commission, the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CCEPC contrary to the provision of Article 1.1.3 of the Commissions Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018). The commission also reminded APC that it needs to give at least 21 days notice to INEC of any convention, congress, conference or meeting. The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Dr. Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi has said seeking religious knowledge among security personnel will help in impro... The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Dr. Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi has said seeking religious knowledge among security personnel will help in improving the security situation of the country. The Emir stated this on Thursday at the 2022 Jigawa State Police Quranic competition held at the state police headquarters in Dutse. He said as custodians of law and order, security personnel have to lead by example by strictly following religious teaching for a better society. The Emir said the commitments of the present state Commissioner of Police in encouraging the police personnel to seek religious knowledge helped immensely in reducing the rate of committing criminal activities in the state. We no longer receive complaints from our people over police brutality and extortion the Emir stated. Meanwhile the State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Sule Gomna said the Quranic competition was aimed at reforming the police-community relations and encouraging police personnel to seek religious knowledge. He explained that seeking religious knowledge will help police personnel in the discharge of their official duties accordingly. Gomna said the Quranic competition is the first of its kind in the history of the command and also promised to continue organising the competition annually Announcing the results, the chairman of the competition panel Shiekh Shuaib Mukhtar Shuaib said Superintendent of Police, Abubakar Gambo Adam had emerged overall winner of the 2022 Jigawa State Police Quranic competition. He said the winner emerged after he defeated twenty contenders. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is on its way to victory against Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine ha... Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is on its way to victory against Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has claimed hundreds of lives, while millions of persons have fled to neighbouring nations since the war started on February 24. Speaking in a televised address on Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has passed a turning point against Russia and the Ukrainian troops need time and patience to achieve victory. He described the Russian government as an obstinate enemy that does not care about the lives of its soldiers. Time is needed, patience is needed. Our wisdom, energy, and ability to do our job to maximumfor us to come to victory, Zelenskyy. It is not possible to say how many more days it will take to liberate Ukrainian land but it is possible to say that we will do that because we have achieved the turning point strategically. We are on the way to victory. This is a patriotic war; a war against a strong, obstinate enemy who doesnt pay attention to thousands of their own soldiers, who gathered conscripts all over Russia to send them to this war. Advertisement They decided to bring mercenaries to kill our people. Those bullets from countries that were destroyed the same way the invaders are destroying us. This is the way the Russian army treats Ukrainians, Donbas. As they were saying to Russian-speaking people, they were shouting to everyone about defending those things were said in Moscow. Now Syrian mercenaries who do not differentiate who speaks which language, which church, party. Those mercenaries just simply go to kill. The Ukrainian leader said the Russian troops have destroyed the water supply to Kyiv, the countrys capital. Advertisement He described the challenges encountered in different parts of the country as a humanitarian catastrophe. He, however, said the government is doing all it can to remedy the situation. Last night and this morning, the invaders destroyed the running water supply into Kyiv, the city was left without water, Zelenskyy said. We are doing everything to reinstate the water supply. There are constant challenges in parts of Sumy, Donetsk; no electricity supply, no gas, no water. Its a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 549 civilians, including 41 children, have been killed in Ukraine. About 957 civilians have also been injured in the war. The UN body said most of the civilian causalities were caused by airstrikes and explosive weapons used by the Russian forces, adding that the actual casualty figure could be higher. More than two million refugees have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries while an estimated one million people have been displaced in the country. Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has refuted reports on the purported appointment of Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo. The Nation... Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has refuted reports on the purported appointment of Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo. The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) suspended him as the Lagos Chairman on Wednesday. On Thursday, the sanctioned leader announced that he and the state chapter were breaking away from the body. Oluomo urged Sanwo-Olu to appoint a Management Committee to oversee the operations of parks. On Friday, information emerged that Akinsanya has been named the head of Lagos Transport Parks and Garages Management Committee. Reacting, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olus Chief Press Secretary debunked the news. Please disregard post(s) claiming that Gov @jidesanwoolu has appointed suspended Chairman of NURTW, MC Oluomo as GM, Lagos Transport Parks and Garages committee, he tweeted. The spokesman noted that the statement by Information Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso, remains the governments position. Yes. Gov. Hochul chose Mr. Benjamin, and she's stuck with him through the election. No. The state should have the option to remove someone under criminal indictment. Vote View Results Watertown, NY (13601) Today Rain. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. The New Orleans Public Librarys Best Buy Teen Tech Center will host a virtual open house at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, on Twitch. Attendees will meet the centers staff while engaging in games like Among Us, Minecraft and Roblox, and exploring what tech is available to Teen Tech Center members. The center is an interest-based learning environment for teens to experiment with various new technologies with help from their peers and adult mentors. They can then share their work with other teens across the globe through Best Buys Clubhouse Network. The center is equipped with technology and multimedia tools that can be used for music and video production, interactive programming, graphic design and more. Located on the second floor of the Main Library, 219 Loyola Ave., the center is designed to be a safe and engaging space. Membership is limited to ages 13 to 18, and all members must complete an application with signed permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to use the center. In addition to connecting young people with technology, the adult mentors in the center support youth members in pursuing their interests. Interested adults can inquire about the application process by emailing bbttc@nolalibrary.org. Visit bbttc.nolalibrary.org for more information and to submit an application. TWISTS AND TURNS: Mystery-lover Shelby Goddard will host the New Orleans Public Librarys monthly Who Dun It? Book Club at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 17, on Zoom. Februarys title is The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, a twist-filled thriller that follows the envious Amber Patterson as she befriends Daphne, a beautiful and kind socialite, in an attempt to become what she wants to be most: Daphne. Tune in to discuss the story and find out next months selection. For details, email sgoddard@nolalibrary.org or visit nolalibrary.org/events. New members are always welcome. The Last Mrs. Parrish is available through the library in print, e-book and audiobook form. Reserve a copy at catalog.nolalibrary.org or by downloading the NOLALibrary app. STORYTIMES: The New Orleans Public Library hosts weekly outdoor storytimes at three library locations: Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive; Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave.; and East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd. Every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., children and their caregivers are invited to read, sing, talk, write and play together in a format designed for infants to 5-year-olds at these locations. The library also produces prerecorded, on-demand storytime content. A new storytime video is released every Monday at nolalibrary.org/early-literacy and on the librarys YouTube channel, @NOLALibrary. Help get your child ready to read from a young age with the librarys monthly early literacy activity calendar, which gives fun suggestions of ways to talk, sing, write, play and read together every day. Pick up a calendar at any library location or download a PDF at nolalibrary.org/early-literacy. Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the New Orleans Public Library. During the recent pandemic, library patrons across the country indulged their reading habits by using their librarys online services. In other words, they checked out e-books and read them with their electronic devices. However, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that print books still maintain a strong edge for readers and are likely to remain popular for quite some time. According to the Pew survey: 72% of U.S. adults read a book in some format over the past year 65% of respondents read a book in the past 12 months 37% of Americans read print books 28% read both print books and e-books 7% only read e-books Other interesting statistics: Print books outsell e-books by a 4 to 1 margin. 191 million e-books were sold in the United States in 2020. Printed book sales amounted to 750.89 million units in 2020. Print book sales increased 13.2% between 2020 and 2021, and 21% between 2019 and 2021. E-book sales grew by 22% in 2020. E-book sales have decreased 8% in 2021 but are still 8% higher than they were in 2019. In 2020, 19% of adult readers owned an e-reader, a decrease from 32% of adult readers who owned e-readers in 2014. The Jefferson Parish Library has more than 660,000 books in its 16 libraries. TREE CLINIC: Chris Dunaway, Jefferson Parish extension agent with the LSU AgCenter, will present Tree Care Tips and Techniques at 7 p.m. March 23, at the West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. Dunaway will discuss choosing the right kind of tree, selecting a healthy tree, planting the tree, proper mulching, watering and pruning. GREAT BOOKS: The members of the Great Books Discussion Group, which meets the third Tuesday of each month at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, have announced the books to be read for the remainder of the year. They are: March 15 "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie April 19 "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens May 17 "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro June 21 "How Green Was My Valley" by Richard Llewellyn "How Green Was My Valley" by Richard Llewellyn July 19 "Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick "Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick Aug. 16 "American Pastoral" by Philip Roth "American Pastoral" by Philip Roth Sept. 20 "The White Hotel" by DM Thomas "The White Hotel" by DM Thomas Oct. 18 "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" by CS Lewis "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" by CS Lewis Nov. 15 "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll Dec. 20 "Look Homeward, Angel" by Thomas Wolfe The group is free and open to the public. BOATING SAFETY: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will conduct a boating safety class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19 at the River Ridge Library, 8825 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge. The class lasts between six and eight hours. Preregistration is not required but is recommended by going to the department's website. The course includes information on choosing a boat, classification, hulls, motors, legal requirements and equipment requirements, navigation rules, trailering, sailboats, and related subjects that include canoeing, personal watercraft and more. Students who complete the course will be issued a vessel operators certification card. COMPUTER CLASSES: Receive free computer training at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, and at the West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey. Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training and click East Bank Regional Schedule or West Bank Regional Schedule. Upcoming Metairie classes include: Introduction to the internet 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 16. Microsoft Word 1 10 a.m. to noon March 18. Microsoft Excel 3 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 21. 3D Printing 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 21. Microsoft Word 1 10 a.m. to noon March 23. Microsoft Word 2 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 23. Basic Computer 10 a.m. to noon March 24. One-on-One Training 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 24. One-on-One Training 10 a.m. to noon March 29. One-on-One Training 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 29. Beginner Computer 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 31. Upcoming Harvey classes include: Microsoft Word 1 10 a.m. to noon March 18. Microsoft Word 2 10 a.m. to noon March 25. Microsoft Excel 1 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 25. Beginner Computer 10 a.m. to noon March 26. Microsoft Word 1 10 a.m. to noon March 28. Microsoft Word 2 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 28. Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library. Is your Sherman tank not starting? Do you need to know something about an obscure World War II battle or weapon? How about a particular uniform that someone wants to identify? For nearly 22 years, staffers at The National WWII Museum have known whom to call in such situations: Tom Czekanski, a perpetually cheerful, overall-clad, tool-wielding, human Google, who presides over a warehouse full of World War II equipment ranging from nuts and bolts to a 105 mm German howitzer. Czekanski, whose official title is senior curator and operations manager, can rattle off facts about battles, tell you when and where a particular weapon was used, and get under the hood to make a balky tank go. Although this multitalented man has become the go-to guy for his 250 colleagues for so many reasons intellectual and mechanical the Warehouse District establishment is going to have to learn to get by without him, because on Tuesday, Czekanski, 62, is retiring and moving with his wife, Annette, to St. Petersburg, Florida, to be near their daughter and granddaughter. 'Hard to fill the gap' Colleagues are distraught. For the past month, weve been asking ourselves, 'What are we going to do?' said Erin Scheaffer, the museums collections manager. Were very sad, very anxious to know what will happen. Everyone is drawn to Tom and has enjoyed the opportunity of working with him, said Stephen J. Watson, the museums president and CEO. No successor has been hired yet, Czekanski said. He was standing in the middle of his jam-packed 10,000-square-foot warehouse, surrounded by shelf upon shelf of spare parts as well as among other items a Sherman tank, a Jeep and a Red Cross ambulance. Its going to be hard to fill the gap, said Toni Kiser, the museums senior registrar. Its not only his mechanical knowledge but also a deep knowledge of World War II and a way to distill both sets of knowledge in a way that is understandable to a layperson. I have considered hogtying him to make sure he stays. Tanks so much! Kiser witnessed Czekanskis mechanical prowess firsthand when she and several colleagues were riding with him in a Sherman tank one afternoon on the short drive from the Constance Street warehouse to the museums main building on Andrew Higgins Drive. When the tank reached an intersection near the on-ramp to the Pontchartrain Expressway, the lumbering behemoth broke down. During rush hour. Drivers were furious, honking their horns and cursing, but Czekanski was unfazed. He said, I think its the fuel pump, Kiser said. He walked back to the warehouse, got a spare fuel pump, which he happened to have, and came back and replaced the fuel pump while we were trying to direct traffic. He replaced it, and he got the tank removed (from the intersection) before the tow truck we had called ever got there. Scheaffer has consulted him often on matters requiring his granular knowledge of WWII minutiae. I can send him a photo of a (military) patch or a weapon that no one seems to recognize, and hell send an email back in five minutes telling you where it came from and how it was used, she said. If Tom doesnt know something about World War II, itll never be known. A storehouse of knowledge He doesnt brag about his storehouse of knowledge, although he is prepared to tell people what he knows politely. Scheaffer recalled a stroll through the museum when a visitor started discussing Dunkirk, the French port from which thousands of British and French soldiers were evacuated under fire in the spring of 1940. When the visitor asked if 40,000 soldiers were rescued, a voice from the other side of the cabinet was saying, It was more like 400,000, she said. It was Czekanski, who launched into a discussion of the mission. Ive always enjoyed museums and history, said Czekanski, the son of a WWII veteran who served in the Army after earning a humanities degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Later, he earned a masters degree in museum science at Texas Tech University. Among the museums where Czekanski worked was the Cabildo, where he helped restore the venerable French Quarter building after the May 1988 fire. He also made leather goods for Civil War reenactors. Along the way, Czekanski said he acquired a reputation for getting his hands dirty. I used to say that if it was big, heavy and rusty, it was mine. Which explains the overalls, Czekanskis customary work attire. He said he started wearing them because he was tired of getting his good clothes covered with grease, oil and paint. Overall, a great guy Theyve become accepted expected, even, Watson said. We always feel strange when we see him in anything but overalls. When the two men were flying around the country checking on the restoration of aircraft that would hang in the museums Freedom Pavilion, Czekanski always wore overalls, Watson said. When we went through security, his overalls would set off alarms every time," he said. "There must have been something about those overalls that triggered security. Watsons customary work attire is a coat and tie. But on Tuesday, Ill be wearing overalls, Watson said, and I wont be alone. Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the parade grand marshal, during the Treme Sidewalk Steppers' 28th annual parade. Her administration has since imposed limits on the size of second lines. The death of 15-year-old JaMarian Price, gunned down in February on a Marrero sidewalk, split open the wounds of a large West Bank family still trying to heal and still seeking justice for the 2015 murders of his uncle and cousin. We werent over my sons death, JaMarians grandmother, Teresa Castle, 54, said Thursday of her son, Trammell Marshall, 21, who was shot and killed alongside his cousin, Johnell Ovide, 23, at a Harvey apartment complex on Fathers Day six years ago. I never thought Id have to bury my son, let alone my grandson, Castle said. The Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office arrested a suspect in JaMarians death, Derrick Harry, 19, of Marrero, on March 4 and booked him with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice, accordng to Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson. Ja'Marian's relatives said don't know Harry or why he would have wanted to kill the teenager. "He's a grown man. He's 20, and you killed a 15-year-old baby? It's crazy," Castle said. Ja'Marian was shot the afternoon of Feb. 12 in front of a house in the 7200 block of Gentry Road in Marrero, Rivarde said. Deputies dispatched to the area found the teen suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Ja'Marian lived in New Orleans with his mother, Tasia Day, 35. But he'd grown up in Marrero and still had relatives in the area whom he visited often. He was walking to the store when he was targeted, Day said. The Sheriff's Office has not released any details about a suspected motive in the case. Harry lives one door down from the home where Ja'Marian was shot, according to jail records. "We don't know what it was about. We don't know what happened," Day said. Ja'Marian was the second-oldest of Day's four children, a whip-smart jokester who loved to play pranks and make others laugh, relatives said. His nickname, "Munch," shortened from "munchkin," was a term of endearment from his younger days when he was the smallest in the family. But Ja'Marian had an outsized personality, his mother and grandmother said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Castle recalled a time when Ja'Marian had to be hospitalized around the age of 4. He kept the family and the hospital staff in stiches with his spot-on Michael Jackson impersonation. "He was cracking jokes and making us laugh," Castle said. Ja'Marian loved dressing well, playing video games and making music. One of his favorite pastimes was cooking, a skill he picked watching his mother as she tended to her catering business, Day said. His favorite dish was anything breakfast-related. "Pancakes, waffles, anything with a batter, anything that made a mess, he would try," Day said. Ja'Marian was a ninth-grader at John F. Kennedy High School in New Orleans. "He was a really a sweetheart," Day said. "He was just a baby." The arrest in Ja'Marian's case means the start of an unfortunately familiar judicial process for his relatives who've already weathered three criminal murder trials for the defendants charged with killing Marshall and Ovide. The pair was shot and killed on June 21, 2015. Defendants Johnell Walker, 27, Jacobie Green, 30, and Dartanya Spottsville, 34, were each convicted of the murders in separate trials. Walker died of a drug overdose while in custody at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna just days after he was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 50 years in the double slaying. But Spottsville is expected to return to court some time this year for a retrial after his conviction was overturned by the Louisiana 5th Circuit Court of Appeal because the verdict was not unanimous. "That's still fresh," Day said of her brother and cousin's deaths. "We're going to have to go back for trial on him, and that's opening another wound, sitting through that. "And now, we'll have to go through this all over again for Ja'Marian," Day said. *CORRECTION: An eariler version of this story incorrectly stated Derrick Harry's age. He is 19. Three men were tried this week in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. Accused in three separate slayings, the men now face sentencing following three guilty verdicts. Each of the trials kicked off on Monday, the courts first day back to jury trials after they were most recently suspended on Jan. 5. Only four jury trials were tried in criminal court in 2021, according to the Louisiana Supreme Court. On Thursday, a jury found Demeccio Caston, 31, guilty of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and obstruction of justice in the Aug. 10, 2019 shooting death of Patrick Lamar. Prosecutors said Caston shot 33-year-old Lamar as the victim sat in a car in the 7200 block of Bunker Hill Road. During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Strauss played a surveillance video that captured the shooting, as a man fired a gun 17 times into Lamar 16 shots fired rapidly, and one after a seconds-long pause. After she turned off the video, Strauss verbalized what the jury had just watched: Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow, Strauss repeated, once for each bullet fired into Lamar. And just for good measure, she added, pow again, speaking of the delayed seventeenth shot. Both Strauss and defense attorney Michael Kennedy pointed to an eyewitness who was called to the stand, and who was unable to identify Caston as the shooter. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Strauss said the witness was too afraid to truthfully testify, but Kennedy in his closing argument cast doubt that the witness ever knew the shooters identity: the mans head was covered in a bucket hat, obscuring his identity, and Kennedy claimed it took the witness 17 days to tell police that Caston was the shooter. Seventeen days is a long time to suddenly come up with a name and yet, thats what she did, Kennedy told the jury. And now, two-and-a-half years later, she didnt want to come here. The witness testified Tuesday after being served a subpoena by prosecutors. She had previously refused to appear for a Feb. 23 pretrial conference, saying she was afraid for her life. At the time, prosecutors submitted a motion for a material witness warrant an arrest warrant that would have compelled her to testify in this weeks trial but the motion was cast off by Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier, who required prosecutors to first subpoena the witness. Separately, a jury on Thursday found Trae Williams guilty of manslaughter in the 2014 shooting death of his uncle, Eddie Salvant III the second time a jury has found Williams, 35, guilty of the crime since 2018. Nearly four years ago, a jury voted 10-2 that Williams was guilty of manslaughter. But in 2020, the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal remanded the case back to Criminal District Court. And after this weeks jury sat through a three-day trial and deliberated for about five hours, the jury found him guilty again. Williams had been serving a 60-year sentence for the slaying, which took place in Algiers. His new sentence is scheduled to be delivered April 6, by Judge Kimya Holmes. Williams was also tried in 2017, but the jury deadlocked, unable to return a verdict in that trial. In a third trial, which concluded Wednesday, a jury decided Samuel Hunter Jr. gunned down Anthony Bridges, 19, on Dec. 25, 2020 in the Leonidas neighborhood. A federal jury in New Orleans found low-income landlord Joshua Bruno liable for damages Thursday in a dispute with rental giant Sonder USA, over a deal gone bad to convert a Mid-City apartment complex into a nest of short-term rentals. Brunos 645 N. Scott LLC owes $220,000 for breaching leases that Sonder signed to occupy 25 apartments at the Bruno-run Mid-City Lofts, the jury found. Kerry Miller, an attorney for Sonder, described the evidence as overwhelming that Bruno never intended to take responsibility for problems that cropped up in the complex soon after Sonder signed the leases in late 2017. "Sonder is pleased with the verdict," said Miller, a partner at the Fishman Haygood law firm. Philip Franco, an attorney for Brunos company, would not comment. Bruno did not immediately respond late Thursday to a request for comment on the verdict. The lawsuit pitted two big players in New Orleans rental housing, each of them controversial: Bruno for allegedly leaving tenants at other complexes he controls to live in squalor, Sonder for its role in feeding a surge in short-term rentals that has affected neighborhoods across the city. Bruno bought the gutted Mid-City building in 2012 and converted it to apartments before reaching a deal for Sonder to pay $1,500 per month for each one-bedroom apartment, and $2,000 for the lone two-bedroom unit. Sonder began furnishing and renting them to tourists as tenants leases expired. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Mold, leaks and chemicals In its suit, Sonder said the situation quickly soured, with rampant mold and air-conditioning leaks making several units uninhabitable. Sonder alleged that Bruno kept the problem hidden then failed to act. One Sonder guest slipped and fell on a floor made slick from roofing chemicals and pooling water, the suit asserts. The company hired an inspector who reported elevated levels of mold in more than half the units. Sonder alleges that Bruno, the sole member of 635 N. Scott LLC, refused to act, instead blaming Sonder and its guests. Brunos attorneys alleged in a counterclaim that Sonder breached the contract and violated Louisianas Unfair Trade Practices Act, by manufacturing cause to break the leases. Brunos own inspector concluded that the detected mold colonies were a result of Sonders failure to properly manage and maintain the leased property." Sonder not at fault The jury didnt see it that way, declining to find that Sonder did anything wrong. U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown presided over the four-day trial. Bruno has been in court a lot lately. He recently filed for bankruptcy over five New Orleans apartment complexes where residents and tenant advocates have complained of substandard and worsening living conditions, to avoid foreclosure proceedings. City Hall recently agreed to provide relocation assistance for tenants who remain in those complexes. Long in the making, the city of New Orleans is poised to open a gleaming, $25 million crime lab and evidence building on Gravier Street. But amid turnover that goes all the way to the top, the lab itself remains without a permanent civilian director or the ability to conduct DNA tests. On Thursday, the New Orleans City Council adopted an ordinance to push police to step up their game. District B Council member Lesli Harriss measure requires the Police Department to get accreditation for DNA testing, crime scene investigation and firearms analysis by the end of 2025. The ordinance also requires the NOPD to test all sexual assault collection kits that could be useful for solving crimes, and to provide the council with quarterly reports on how fast it is doing so. In a prepared statement, Harris said she was motivated by the testimony at recent council hearings that police solve only a fraction of sexual assaults. After hours of hearings with local criminal justice organizations, we discovered the NOPD has an abysmal 9% solve rate for rape in the city. That is absolutely unacceptable, and the addition of local DNA testing is a critical step in the right direction," she said. A flexible deadline Harris said she worked closely with the Mayors Office and Police Department on the ordinance. She added that the council could extend the timeline in consultation with a permanent lab director, once that person is hired. One of the leading candidates for the job is a supervisor in San Franciscos crime lab, which was rocked by scandal last month when the citys district attorney alleged that a sexual assault survivors DNA test had been used to arrest her in another crime. Harriss ordinance comments on that scandal: it prohibits the NOPD from entering the DNA profiles of sexual assault victims into criminal databases. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We have to make sure that we are not treating victims like criminals, said Council President Helena Moreno, who co-sponsored the ordinance. Council members didnt comment directly on the NOPDs potential hiring of Mark Powell, the San Francisco crime lab manager. Gary Scheets, a police spokesperson said that NOPD does not enter the DNA profiles of assault victims into a criminal database. Scheets said that a candidate for the crime lab was in background but declined to identify that person until the offer has been made and accepted. Many hurdles The NOPD has been searching for a permanent lab leader for two years after a previous chief faced complaints of racially discriminatory remarks. A former employee has also filed a lawsuit claiming that he was illegally arrested for blowing the whistle on unsafe conditions and shoddy drug tests. Regardless of who is hired to lead the lab, it faces a mountain of challenges, including a DNA accreditation process that could take years. The NOPD has lacked the capacity to test DNA samples in-house since Hurricane Katrina. Instead, police and prosecutors send samples to an overworked Louisiana State Police lab that currently has a 2,500-case backlog. Scheets said it will take more than personnel to win accreditation, a requirement for access to the DNA database maintained by the FBI. The NOPD will also need additional funding, he said. Harris said she recognized the need for more money and promised that the council would be willing to follow through. On this, Gov. John Bel Edwards and The Times-Picayune Power Poll agree: Louisiana should have more than one Black-majority congressional district. About 56% of poll respondents favor drawing the state's six districts to make at least two where Black people account for most of the population; 22% said no, and 22% said they were unsure. "Louisiana is a third Black," said Asali Ecclesiastes, CEO of the Ashe Cultural Arts Center in New Orleans. "Representative democracy, equity and good sense dictate that our legislators should reflect our electorate." "Voters need to feel their vote counts. Keeping one third of the population limited to one congressional district out of six due to gerrymandering is wrong," said Betsy Threefoot Kaston, past president of Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans board. "The entire state map needs to be redrawn with more diverse districts." The Democratic governor on Wednesday vetoed the Legislature's map for the U.S. House of Representatives, sending redistricting back to the Republican-controlled state House and Senate. The Legislature had largely kept intact the districts that it established after the 2010 census, and that have elected white Republicans in five of the districts and a Black Democrat in the sole majority-Black district. Edwards' veto came duing the polling period. Conducted online Tuesday through Thursday, The Times-Picayune Power Poll survey is not a scientific inquiry. But because it asks questions of the top Jefferson and Orleans parish influencers in business, politics, arts, media, nonprofits and community affairs, it does afford non-partisan insight into the thoughts and opinions of those who steer the region. Of 350 Power Poll members surveyed this week, 101 voted, for a participation rate of 29%. The Times-Picayune Power Poll results line up with those of the Acadiana Power Poll, where 59% said Louisiana should have two Black-majority districts. For now, Edwards' veto has put on hold the vow from some activists to sue the state for what they consider to be a better opportunity for more Black representation in Congress. Politics aside, Times-Picayune Power Poll members overwhelmingly expressed joy for the 2022 Mardi Gras season, the first full-blown Carnival in two years. The poll results: How was your Carnival 2022? Best ever - 5% 5% One for the ages - 19% 19% Refreshing - 66% 66% Meh - 10%. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Carnival was something that New Orleans needed. I appreciate the tourists who chose to visit us for Mardi Gras, but for me, this Mardi Gras was one for us, all New Orleanians. The city came to life again," said Marc Ehrhardt, president and partner at The Ehrhardt Group. "My hope is that we can feed off of that energy to move quickly to address crime, garbage pickup and other items that need immediate action." On one of the state's top elections this fall, most Power Poll members don't want to see Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Madisonville win a second term. But an even larger majority predict he will be reelected. Should Louisiana reelect U.S. Sen. John Kennedy? Yes - 34% 34% No - 55% 55% Unsure - 11%. Will Louisiana reelect U.S. Sen. John Kennedy? Yes - 72% 72% No - 4% 4% Unsure - 24%. The election is scheduled Nov. 8. Kennedy started 2022 with a huge advantage: $11.1 million in his campaign treasury. His announced opponents are airline pilot Luke Mixon and community activist Gary Chambers Jr., both Baton Rouge Democrats. Mixon collected less than $200,000 in his initial fundraising period; Chambers has not yet reported numbers. "It is challenging to defeat an incumbent with a significant fundraising advantage. Sen. Kennedy is an effective fundraiser and networker going back to his terms as Treasurer," said Stan Harris, president and CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. "And with the momentum appearing to favor Republicans in the mid-term, I expect he will be reelected. Trust he won't leave that to chance." The Times-Picayune Power Poll is a partnership between New Orleans' daily newspaper and powerpoll.com, a nonpartisan survey, news and information company focused on the opinions of influential people. Powerpoll.com is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and surveys in 37 metropolitan markets. A Slidell motorcyclist was killed Thursday after crashing into the back of an 18-wheeler on Interstate 12, Louisiana State Police said. Salvatore Adams, 35, died at the scene. The crash happened around 4 p.m. Thursday on I-12 near Airport Road. Adams was driving west on I-12 on a Suzuki motorcycle, according to preliminary information from State Police. Adams crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler that was also driving westbound. Police said they are still investigating what caused the collision, but they believe speed was a contributing factor. Adams was wearing a helmet, but was severely injured in the crash, police said. The driver of the 18-wheeler was properly restrained and wasn't injured, they said. Impairment is not suspected, but toxicology samples were taken from both drivers for analysis. The westbound lanes of the interstate were closed for about two hours, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. 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. Harrisburg, Pa. Sending monetary donations online always runs the risk of scams, but scammers are particularly active during humanitarian crises, according to the office of Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is urging the public to be careful when donating money or goods to assist the people of Ukraine, so they've offered tips for those looking to donate: Step 1 Ask Questions: Where will your donation go specifically? Charities should always be able to give you specific information on what your donation will fund. Who is soliciting your donation? Bad actors will try to take advantage of you without answering the name of the group they are calling on behalf of. Ask for the EIN (Employee Identification Number) for U.S. based charities. Charitable organizations should have this number and provide it to you. The EIN helps simplify IRS searches for charity information. Step 2 Double Check: Check with the IRS or the Pennsylvania Department of State registries to see if this organization is registered and if donations are tax deductible. In Pennsylvania, all non-religious non-profit organizations must register with the Department of State. While an organization may be registered, it does not mean it is effective. Check nonprofit sites like Give.org, CharityWatch.org, Charitynavigator.org or similar trusted sites that regularly do research on charities. Be wary of new charities: organizations that did not exist before and now only exist because of a crisis may not be legitimate. Step 3 Be Careful How You Pay: Never donate in cash or on your debit card. Credit cards are best. Avoid using cryptocurrency, such as BitCoin. Never give money on impulse or through a mystery solicitation. Scammers try to create urgency and pressure when soliciting money stay calm and do not allow yourself to be pressured by urgent appeals. If you believe you have been a victim to a scam, contact your local police to file a report and to file a complaint with the Office of Attorney Generals Bureau of Consumer Protection at: 800-441-2555 https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/scams. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Bloomsburg, Pa. The 2001 killing of a 17-year-old Williamsport man came one step closer to resolution as State Police in Bloomsburg announced an arrest in the cold case homicide. Troop N Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit Troopers, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service and the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office, took Brian Gregory Quinn, 44, of Deptford, NJ (formerly of Williamsport) into custody on March 9, 2022 after the Columbia County District Attorney approved criminal homicide charges. Quinn is pending extradition to Columbia County from Gloucester, NJ, according to the release. Investigators with PSP Bloomsburg Criminal Investigation Unit Troopers and Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit Troopers said they had been working the case since the discovery of Shamar Washingtons body along a roadside embankment on Orchard Drive in Hemlock Township on Jan. 13, 2001. According to the release, a reevaluation of the investigation was conducted in Jan. 2002. Investigators said Washington was reported missing by his family on Jan. 7, 2001. He was last seen on Jan. 5 in Williamsport. After the discovery in Columbia County, State Police said the cause of death was ruled a homicide due to multiple different fatal wounds. According to the release, all arrest documents have been sealed by the Columbia County Court of Common Pleas due to the sensitive nature of the case. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Harrisburg Pennsylvanians struggling to pay their utility bills are being reminded to use available programs to provide relief. Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Acting Consumer Advocate Patrick Cicero are calling on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to use unspent funds for an extension of the annual LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) Crisis Season. Energy prices are up this year and will likely keep rising, said Shapiro. I want Pennsylvanians to know that there is help available for everyone, and that we are going to do all we can to make sure that these resources remain available to Pennsylvanians over the spring and summer. I urge DHS to keep the LIHEAP program open for applications until August 31, said Cicero. Pennsylvania has hundreds of millions of dollars of LIHEAP funding left, and no eligible Pennsylvanian in need should have their utilities shut off. There is help available. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of electricity in Pennsylvania is up approximately 9 percent, and the price of natural gas is up 20 percent. Pennsylvania also saw record high funding and usage for its LIHEAP program. In total, LIHEAP has provided more 322,000 cash grants and 53,000 crisis grants to Pennsylvanians who needed assistance heating their homes. Currently, the LIHEAP program is scheduled to close for this year on May 6, 2022. Shapiro and Cicero have requested that the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services use remaining funds to keep the program open to new applications until Aug. 31, 2022. In order to help keeps costs down for consumers, the Office of Attorney General and Office of Consumer Advocate have released the following tips and information to all consumers: Budget Billing Budget Billing programs are available to everyone at no cost. With Budget Billing, the utility company takes your total annual utility costs and divides that total evenly across all twelve months of the year. Hardship Funds Hardship Funds can provide you with cash assistance if you need help paying your utility bill or if you still have a critical need for assistance after other resources have been exhausted. Customer Assistance Programs (CAP) If you are having trouble paying your utilities, a Customer Assistance Program (CAP) can lower your monthly utility bills. Like LIHEAP, your income must be below 150% of the poverty level to qualify. CAP will calculate your bills based on a percentage of your income or on a discounted rate, and may forgive some outstanding debts. Low Income Usage Reduction Programs (LIURP) Low Income Usage Reduction Programs help you reduce the amount of energy you use and lower overall energy bills. If you qualify, you will receive an energy audit to determine your households energy use. You may then receive the installation of free energy conservation measures to help reduce your households energy consumption. Payment Agreements Households who are behind on their bills and may not be eligible for other assistance can get a payment agreement. Most households, regardless of income, are eligible for a payment agreement from both their utility and the Public Utility Commission. For consumers attempting to apply for LIHEAP grants, please be advised of the following: There are two ways to apply for LIHEAP: Online: Apply for benefits online using COMPASS, the online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for health and human service programs and manage benefit information. On paper: You can download a paper application, print it, fill it out, and return it to your local county assistance office. Be prepared to provide the following information: Names of people in your household Dates of birth for all household members Income information for all household members for the month prior to application Proof of heating responsibility (utility bill, fuel receipt, lease showing that heat is included, etc.) Social Security Numbers or ITINs To apply for a Crisis Grant, you must also show proof that you face a home heating emergency (you are out of fuel, your home heating utility service is off, you are facing termination of your utility service, or you have broken heating equipment). For information on income qualification and additional eligibility requirements, visit: LIHEAP (pa.gov). Contact your utility company to check for eligibility for assistance programs Call your electric and natural gas distribution company to learn more about company-specific assistance that may be available. For more information, consumers can contact OCA toll-free at 800-684-6560 or consumer@paoca.org, or visit the OCA website at www.oca.pa.gov. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Bradford County, Pa. A 58-year-old man was accused of aggravated assault after authorities in Bradford County spoke with several witnesses outside a Dollar General. State Police allege Kerry Brian Myers of Milan attempted to hit a person with a 2001 Ford F150 on the night of March 5, 2022. According to an affidavit, Myers then pulled away as the accuser was on the step to the bed of the vehicle. Trooper Craig Kalinoski said Myers used a tape measure to strike the accuser after they attempted to pull the keys from his truck. Troopers received numerous reports of a man striking vehicles with a tape measure prior to speaking with Myers. According to the report, State Police located Myers near Springfield Road at approximately 3:11 p.m. in the afternoon on March 5. During their interview with Myers, troopers said he failed several sobriety tests. Myers allegedly told troopers he was run off the road in front of his driveway. Troopers said Myers spun around with his hands out and nearly fell down a hill as he explained the incident. Further interviews with witnesses at a Dollar General down the road gave officers a different impression of what happened. Witnesses allegedly told officers Myers had run several motorists off the road prior to the assault. Myers is being held on $100,000 monetary bail at the Bradford County Correctional Facility after a formal arraignment with Judge Larry Hurley. Myers is being charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, second-degree misdemeanor simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. Myers, who was also given a misdemeanor DUI charge, will face Judge Hurley on March 16 for a preliminary hearing. Docket sheet Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on www.northcoastcitizen.com. The North Coast Citizen E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement. A potent Intel Core i9-12900HX and GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Lenovo laptop has been spotted on Geekbench producing predictably impressive results. The i9-12900HX Alder Lake part has 16 cores and 24 threads and hit a peak rate of 4,888 MHz. Its likely that the unnamed device was a 2022 Legion 7i gaming notebook being put through its paces. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker An unnamed Lenovo laptop classified as LENOVO 82TD has been picked out on Geekbench by @BenchLeaks due to its startling composition. Not only does this mysterious beast, which as mentioned above is likely to be a 2022 refresh of the 16-inch Lenovo Legion 7i gaming notebook, come with a powerful dGPU in the form of the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti but also has a 16-core Alder Lake beast in the shape of the Intel Core i9-12900HX. The Geekbench record also reveals 24-thread availability and a base clock of 2.49 GHz for the CPU. Unsurprisingly, the OpenCL score for the Lenovo laptop was huge, standing at 146,537 points. With an RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU onboard, there would be expectations for good compute results here, and this score puts the system at a similar level as the desktop variants of the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. While its a theoretical maximum score versus average scores, its still an impressive feat. The i9-12900HX is certainly not overshadowed by the Ampere dGPU though, with the Alder Lake chip scoring 1,921 points in the single-core test and 15,974 points in the multi-core run. The multi-core result would place the Intel Core i9-12900HX not too far away from the 16-core AMD rival Ryzen 9 5950X, which is quite an achievement as it is a laptop chip (possibly 55 W processor base power (PBP) but unknown and much higher maximum turbo power (MTP) likely above 115 W) standing up to an admittedly aging but still impressive desktop chip (105 W TDP). But being a processor from Team Blue, one would expect an even mightier single-core performance, and Intel does not disappoint here either. If future i9-12900HX benchmarks maintain a similar score of 1,921 points then it will eventually position itself alongside giants as the Intel Core i7-12700K (1,898 points) and the i9-12900KF (1,945 points) at the very top of Geekbenchs single-core chart. Its worth reminding once again that the Intel Core i9-12900HX is a mobile processor, so it has to rely on less raw power than its 12th-gen desktop counterparts. If the Lenovo laptop also has the incredible cooling system that will be required for this CPU/GPU combo then it will undoubtedly be a very expensive high-performance beast. Buy a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme with i7-9750H on Amazon Editor's note (Mar 12): Updated Lenovo model from ThinkPad X1 to Legion 7i Lindsey Perrault de Barros stands with some items she purchased to help Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic thanks to donations from across the world. Northwest HealthPorter Hospital honored its staff with its Team Member and Managers of the Year Awards. The hospital at 85 E. U.S. 6 honored Libby Lavendusky as Team Member of the Year, Terry Wuletich as Non-Clinical Manager of the Year and Stephanie Didion as Clinical Manager of the Year. They were nominated by their peers for the awards, which recognize outstanding performance and exemplary service. Northwest Health CEO Ashely Dickinson said the health care system seeks to recognize that workers are the heart of the business. Lavendusky is a charge nurse in the Emergency Department who's been with Northwest Health since 2012. She was recognized for putting the needs of patients first and delivering exceptional patient care. Didion, a 20-year veteran of Northwest Health, serves as the director of the hospitals Birthing & Family Care Center, overseeing labor and delivery, post-partum care, neonatal intensive care, obstetrics emergency room and pediatrics. She has led the hospital to a number of honors, including a "Baby-Friendly Hospital" designation and distinctions for Level III maternity service, Level III neonatal intensive care unit and Anthem Blue Distinction maternity care. Wuletich serves as the director of Specialty Clinics with Northwest Medical Group. She's worked for the organization for 35 years and served in a number of leadership positions, including in the Emergency Department. Our team of caregivers are the heart of Northwest Health. Day in and day out they provide the high quality, compassionate care our communities have come to expect. Selecting the recipients for this honor is a challenge; we receive many nominations and its always difficult to choose just three individuals, said Dickinson. This years honorees Libby Lavendusky, Stephanie Didion and Terry Wuletich have gone above and beyond to support great patient care. They are an example to all and we are fortunate to have them in the Northwest Health family. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Project Swaddle at Franciscan Health Michigan City aims to combat infant mortality in LaPorte County, which has the third-highest infant mortality rate in the state. LaPorte County's infant mortality rate was 9.4 per 1,000 live births in 2019, the highest in Northwest Indiana. The hospital in Michigan City landed a $500,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Health for the program, which sends paramedics to new and expectant mothers for check-ins and education. The maternal and infant mortality rates in Indiana are among the highest in the country. Franciscan Health recognizes the great need for improvement in our communities, and especially in our most vulnerable populations, in lowering these death rates. And we are working tirelessly through our programs, services and direct interventions to save the lives of new moms and their newborn babies, Franciscan Health Michigan City President and CEO Dean Mazzoni said. The project started in Crawfordsville in 2018 and has been shown to keep participating mothers more engaged in monitoring their baby's health, such as by keeping a safe home environment and following through on medical appointments. LaPorte County has a prenatal care rate of 57.5%, which is the eighth-lowest in Indiana and significantly lower than the state average of 68.9%, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Project Swaddle sends paramedics to check up on mothers at their homes, via phone and virtually. Mothers also can call in with any questions. It's an alternative to nurses during a national nursing shortage. The Safety PIN grant will complement Franciscan Health's existing Prenatal Assistance Program, which kicked off at the Homer Street campus last year. Franciscan Healths most recent Safety PIN award will allow Michigan Citys Prenatal Assistance Program to add Community Paramedics to its multidisciplinary team. The addition of community paramedics will increase home-based services for our community's most at-risk pregnant women and infants. Such efforts aim to decrease varied access and social obstacles, Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Manager Danielle Crowder said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Most business ventures last only a few years. The state of Indiana plans to honor the stalwart businesses that have spanned generations and stood the test of time. Indiana is now accepting applications for Governors Century and Half Century Business Awards, which recognize Hoosier companies that have been around for 50 or 100 years. Honorees must have had a base of operations in Indiana and shown a history of community service. Qualifying businesses must have had continuous operations in Indiana for a half-century or full century as of Dec. 31, 2021. They can still apply if they've been in business longer than either threshold so long as they have not previously received the applicable award. Businesses that have been open or operating for 50 to 99 years qualify for the Half Century Award. Any firms that have been around for more than 100 years can receive the Century Award. Companies can win each award once, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp., which administers the state-run awards program. Half Century Award recipients can later go on to receive a Century Award if they endure another 50 years. A qualifying company must be in the same type of business as when it originally started or offer an explanation on the nomination form of how and why it evolved over the years. The chain of ownership also must be documented if the original founder of the business is no longer the owner. Companies must be current with all their taxes and paperwork with the Indiana Secretary of State in order to be eligible. Applications must be submitted by April 1. For more information or to submit a nomination, visit iedc.in.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Whiting, the city on the lake, came up in a "Jeopardy!" question Thursday. Contestants on the popular, long-running game show got the clue "Whiting is a suburb of Chicago but is in this state, not Illinois." Karson Leperi, an engineer from Beaverton, Oregon, gave the correct answer of Indiana, after beating Hannah Langhoff, a medical editor from Chicago, and eventual winner Maureen O'Neill from New Hampshire to the buzzer. "It's a great show, and it's great anytime we get positive recognition and publicity," said Tom Dabertin with the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce. While Whiting is not merely a bedroom community it's home to the largest inland oil refinery in the United States, the WhoaZone inflatable water park at the popular Whihala Beach on Lake Michigan and the national Mascot Hall of Fame many residents do commute to Chicago for work. "It's clearly a suburb," he said. "Many people that live in Whiting and Robertsdale commute into the city. It's been a real draw from Illinois in recent years. It's part of the suburban area that's more than a bedroom community with the lakefront, downtown and festivals." Much of the national attention Whiting gets comes from Pierogi Fest, which has garnered media coverage from PBS, the Travel Channel, the Food Network and the Wall Street Journal. So it's nice to see Whiting just get a general shoutout, Dabertin said. "It's a civic pride thing," he said. "For a small town, it's a big deal when you get any positive mentions nationally. I think it's a great positive." "Jeopardy!" has been on the air since 1964. It's won record 39 Daytime Emmy Awards and was ranked by TV Guide as one of the 60 greatest shows in American television history. It's currently viewed by an average of 9.2 million households. "I thought it was great to see the little city by the lake recognized on 'Jeopardy!'" said Joel Bender, the owner of Mind Benders puzzles & games on 119th Street in downtown Whiting. "It's phenomenal to see it on the national stage. We do draw from Chicago. We're more than Pierogi Fest. We have the Mascot Hall of Fame, the oldest movies theater in Northwest Indiana and a lot of history like with the Rockefeller and Carnegie buildings. A lot of things are happening in this little town." Bender was glad to see the contestant get the answer right. "It's a good feeling to see it on there," he said. "We're the first town across the border after Hammond. It's nice to see Whiting on the big stage." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A former Valparaiso firefighter-turned-medium will appear at the historic Fowler Theatre later this month. Teresa Rose Firehouse Medium will appear from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 19 at the Art Deco movie theater at 111 E 5th St. in downtown Fowler. Rose retired from the fire department because of a shoulder injury. She now serves as a medium based out of an office in Valparaiso who seeks to help people with healing, forgiveness or grief. She claims to communicate with loved ones who have died. She will do a reading purporting to reach out to deceased family, friends and pets at the movie theater in Benton County. "Teresas goal has been to help as many people as she can and give as many messages to loved ones as possible," a press release said. "The demand for Teresa Rose Firehouse Medium has been so strong, she is going on tour." The event is open to the public 18-years-old and up. Tickets range from $30 to $45 for VIP tickets that include a photo opportunity and meet-and-greet. For more information, visit firehousemedium.com, call 219-477-8639 or email info@firehousemedium.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MUNSTER Indianas lieutenant governor visited Munster High School for a tour and to meet with students. Suzanne Crouch and state Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, were introduced to several faculty, including Brad Docter, the dean of students for the School Town of Munster. They also met Patty Pfister, a non-instructional aide, and Marianne Orfanos, secondary coordinator for Munsters Exceptional Achievers. The tour began with a stop in Munster High Schools Incubator, a business program where students are able to pitch real business ideas, obtain funding and eventually create a product. There were 10 projects this year, and Crouch got to speak individually with some of the students. Ryan Muntean, a senior, and Francesco Stoner, a junior, discussed their product, which would suction pet toys to the ground to allow dogs to be distracted while their owners are busy. Crouch then met with students for a business plan to create puppy pee pads with designs on them. Students Sierra Sweeney, Emma Miles and Jacob Thometz, said the idea was to make it less obvious and intrusive to have a puppy pee pad. Crouch said she would be happy to let them test out their product with her dog. Andrade also thanked Munster for the program, as his son attends Munster High School and is a participant in it. Krissy LaFlech, teacher for the program, said their project is one of the biggest, with it requiring a significant amount of money to create. Crouch and Andrade were then led to Munster High Schools Wanger Family Fabrication Lab, which opened this academic year. The fabrication lab helps with hands-on projects, such as 3D printing or robotics. Docter said students have been using the lab in the robotics club and the school hopes to expand it to other uses this semester. Finally, Crouch and Andrade were introduced to some of Munsters special education students. Linda Ramos, an exceptional needs teacher, discussed the various activities they do in the program. She said they try to make it like a regular day for students and work on things like academic, social and independent skills. She said on Friday, the class was going to make a dip. She said they often do cooking activities. Ramos emphasized how wonderful of a program it is and many of the students were excited due to Crouch and Andrades attendance. Its a really good family vibe, Ramos said. Orfanos said since Munster is a smaller district, they can do more individualized instruction. Before Crouch and Andrade left, they discussed Munster High Schools success in recent years. Munster is the sixth highest rated high school in Indiana, Docter said. It takes good leadership, Crouch said. Munster leaders explained how strong the learners are in the community, with a 98% graduation rate. Crouch emphasized how important it is to keep these kinds of learners here in Indiana. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court jury found a man not guilty Thursday of murder in the December 2019 shooting death of a 19-year-old outside a Griffith apartment complex. Althirty C. Hunter III, 22, of Gary, was accused of shooting Marco Alonzo in the face during a drug deal involving Hunter's co-defendant Ashley Middleton, 23, of Wheatfield. Hunter could have faced more than 100 years in prison if the jury had convicted him of murder and firearm and habitual offender enhancements. Hunter's defense attorney, Michael Lambert, told the jury investigators "swallowed" Middleton's story "hook, line and sinker," but the state lacked any conclusive proof that Hunter was with Middleton at the crime scene. Middleton testified during the four-day trial before Judge Natalie Bokota that she asked Hunter to accompany her while she met with Alonzo to sell him 7 grams of marijuana. Middleton had known Alonzo since childhood and arranged the drug deal after Alonzo responded to her SnapChat post that she had marijuana for sale, attorneys said. She claimed she and Hunter were in the front seat of her car and Alonzo got into the driver's side backseat about 10:45 p.m. while she was parked outside Alonzo's residence at Park West Apartments in Griffith. Middleton testified Hunter and Alonzo began arguing after Alonzo asked Hunter a question about gang affiliation, and Hunter got out, walked around the back of the car, shot Alonzo, walked back around the car and got back in the front passenger seat. She drove away before police arrived. Lambert said Lake County prosecutors gave Middleton a "sweetheart deal" for her testimony, which included the dismissal of felony assisting a criminal and misdemeanor dealing marijuana charges, but she wasn't a credible witness. "At the end of the day, Mr. Hunter was not there," he said. "And you cannot put your faith in Ashley." The defense attorney questioned whether it was reasonable that Middleton testified she got a tattoo of her boyfriend's name hours before the homicide but also had sex that night with Hunter, whom she called her "boo." "From the beginning, she was deflecting responsibility or culpability," Lambert said. "I contend she was protecting someone else." Lambert asked why police never submitted a used cigar found in the backseat of Middleton's car for DNA analysis. He pointed to testimony from an Indiana State Police trooper, who responded to a report of a disabled vehicle on a Cline Avenue ramp and had Hunter's car towed. "Mr. Hunter's car broke down," Lambert said. "We know because his cellphone data puts him there." Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Shaw told jurors they didn't have to like Middleton but should believe her. Middleton's cellphone location data showed she was in the area of Hunter's residence in Gary's Glen Park section just before Alonzo was killed and that she had time to pick up Hunter from the Cline Avenue ramp and drive to Alonzo's apartment, he said. Hunter's phone data showed "33 steps," which Shaw said was evidence of Hunter running around the back of Middleton's car to shoot Alonzo. Hunter's call records also showed a 22-second phone call after the homicide, which Middleton testified she overheard, Shaw said. Hours later, both Middleton's and Hunter's phones connected to a Wi-Fi network associated with the area near Hunter's home, the deputy prosecutor said. Lambert asked the jury why Hunter's phone records didn't show any texts with Middleton the day of the homicide. In his final closing arguments, Shaw said, "Cases would be so much easier if people didn't delete files from their phones or get rid of the weapon." Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT Jurors were deliberating late Thursday whether to convict a man of knocking out a girlfriend's tooth, killing her months later, and setting her and her car on fire in 2018 in Gary. Hugh Scott Jr., 37, didn't testify during his four-day trial this week before Lake Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas on charges of murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and arson. He was accused of punching 39-year-old Davita Ward on March 22, 2018, and killing her June 16, 2018. Ward's body was found "burned beyond recognition" June 17, 2018, in the backseat of her car in the 2400 block of Noble Street in Gary. A forensic pathologist testified Ward was alive when she and her car were lit on fire, but she died a short time later from a gunshot to the top of her head. Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe told jurors Facebook messages between Ward and Scott showed they had a volatile dating relationship. Ward went to a dentist for a root canal in March 2018. When she returned for the second part of the procedure, she told staff her temporary tooth had been knocked out by an "abusive boyfriend" who punched her in the face, Dafoe said. Facebook messages showed Ward confronted Scott about the abuse, and he apologized and promised it wouldn't happen again. In the days before Ward was killed, the messages showed Scott was losing his temper because Ward wouldn't meet up with him, Dafoe said. Scott accused Ward of cheating on him and gave her an ultimatum by threatening to end their relationship. Later, he showed up at her home despite her messages telling him not to be there, Dafoe said. Scott wouldn't stop messaging Ward when he knew she was at work, but the messages stopped after Ward went missing, the deputy prosecutor said. "He knew where she was," Dafoe said. "He solidified the breakup." Dafoe said the evidence showed Scott likely thought he had killed Ward, so he put her in the backseat of her car and drove her to an abandoned area. She accused Scott of pouring gasoline in the car and panicking when Ward woke up after he started the fire. Scott likely burned his legs when he moved closer to the car to shoot Ward and his pants caught fire, she said. Jurors watched a video Thursday of detectives' interview with Scott, who claimed he was burned as a result of a mishap with a grill, lighter fluid and fireworks. He couldn't recall the exact date he was burned. Dafoe showed the jury a photograph of Scott, whose legs didn't appear to be burned, taken the day before Ward's homicide. He sought medical treatment for the burns days after the homicide. Defense attorney Lemuel Stigler said Scott could have been confused when talking to detectives about what specific day he suffered burns to his legs. The defense attorney told the jury Dafoe and Deputy Prosecutor Veronica Gonzalez presented no physical evidence connecting Scott to Ward's homicide. Ward's DNA wasn't found in Scott's home when police executed a search warrant there, nor was any lighter fluid or gasoline, he said. Dafoe told the jury Scott's home was searched three years after Ward's homicide, so police weren't likely to find Ward's DNA there. Stigler said DNA analysis can be performed on "ancient bones" and accused prosecutors of saying "in a roundabout way" their investigators searched Scott's home "just to jack around" Scott's grandmother. Prosecutors didn't present evidence showing Scott's leg injuries weren't consistent with burns from lighter fluid, he said. Stigler also questioned the forensic pathologist's conclusion that Ward was still alive when the fire started. Ward had some soot in her throat, but authorities failed to send her blood for analysis to determine how much carbon monoxide she had inhaled before death, Stigler said. "The packaging for the transport wasn't good," he said. "It leaked out. No such tests were performed." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MICHIGAN CITY A 32-year-old Michigan City man has been nabbed in last week's robbery of a local store that left an employee injured, police said. Avery Smith faces felony counts of robbery resulting in bodily injury and battery resulting in moderate injury, Michigan City police said. Police said they were called out shortly before 10 a.m. March 3 for a robbery in progress at the Smoke and Vape Shop at 3309 Franklin St. Officers learned an employee had been struck on the head and possibly injured, police said. They also discovered an undetermined amount of cash was taken during the robbery. Police said they collected numerous pieces of evidence, which aided in identifying Smith as responsible for the robbery. Smith was given a $25,000 cash bond and has an initial hearing set for March 15, police said. "The Michigan City Police Department would ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident, has any additional information, or has video surveillance/cell phone video of this incident, to contact Detective Lieutenant Anna Painter at 219-874-3221, extension 1077 or by email at apainter@emichigancity.com." Tips can also be made through Facebook Messenger, the crime tip hotline number at 219-873-1488 or by calling the WeTip Hotline for General Crime 1-800-78-CRIME. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO Nearly a year after dropping a bag of cocaine outside Chesterton High School where he taught, Patrick Miller pleaded guilty to a reduced charge as part of a proposal that will allow him to escape a felony conviction and time behind bars if he stays in line during the next year. If the 61-year-old Jackson Township resident violates the terms of the agreement, he will be convicted on the felony and faces whatever sentence is decided by the court, according to Friday's hearing before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer. Miller, who was represented by defense attorney Jason Denny, pleaded guilty to a reduced felony count of possessing cocaine, according to the proposed plea agreement. Clymer agreed to take the plea under advisement until March 17, 2023 during which time Miller is required to continue being monitored under pretrial supervision and continue seeing a counselor, the agreement says. He was also ordered to complete 15 days or 90 hours of community service. If he complies with these terms and has no new arrests during the next year, the conviction will be entered as a misdemeanor and he will be sentenced to time served, the proposal says. If he fails, he will be convicted on the lower level felony and face up to 2 1/2 years behind bars. A parent told police she was picking up her daughter from practice at Chesterton High School at about 4:30 p.m. April 15 when she noticed a small baggie containing white powder in the parking lot. She took it home and provided it the next day to police, who confirmed it was cocaine. An officer viewed surveillance footage from April 15 of the area in question and watched as Miller pulled keys from his pocket and then the bag in question fell to the ground unnoticed at 12:18 p.m., according to charges. The officer then watched as the parent picked up the bag about four hours later. Miller, who reportedly teaches adults in the wake of his arrest, later told police he went to Illinois, picked up two friends and the package in question, which he assumed was cocaine, according to the charges. He then gave several differing stories about how he came into possession of the cocaine, police said. He admitted to having used the drug in the past, but reportedly refused to take a drug test. The Duneland School Corp. said it cooperated with Chesterton police during the investigation and had taken "immediate steps to remove the staff member from employment." "At no time were students involved in the incident," according to the school district. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO In agreeing to reduced bond nearly 10 months ago for a 19-year-old Chesterton-area man accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl, Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer told the young man, "Don't screw up." While the accused, Elijah Fleming, now 20, responded at the time, "I won't let you down, your honor," officials say he did just that. Clymer revoked bond Friday for Fleming in the wake of two new felony charges in neighboring Lake County of sexual misconduct with a minor. He is accused of repeatedly having sex in October with a girl in Cedar Lake he knew to be 14, according to a court document. The case parallels the allegations in Porter County in that Fleming is accused of meeting a 14-year-old girl on the instant messaging app Snapchat and smoking marijuana with her before sex, records show. The girl in Lake County reportedly told police she told Fleming they could not date because of her young age, police said. She said Fleming repeatedly pressured her for sex and was verbally abusive. Fleming faces a felony count in Porter County of sexual misconduct with a minor and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor in relation to the Snapchat case, as well as felony counts of dealing and possessing marijuana and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, court records state. He also has a case pending from fall 2020 involving felony counts of criminal recklessness (firing a gun into a building), dealing in a controlled substance and possession of a narcotic drug, and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, criminal mischief, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, according to court records. The Porter County sex case stems from October 2020 when a 14-year-old girl told police she met Fleming a month earlier on Snapchat and told him her age, police said. Fleming then reached out to her the following month, picked her up, gave her marijuana and had sex with her, police said. Fleming denied the pair ever had sex and said he did not know her age, "but stated that he knew she was still in high school," according to court records. County police took Fleming into custody in May at a Portage mobile home, where they said they also found drugs and paraphernalia, resulting in further charges. Clymer agreed in May to reduce the former $17,500 cash bond to $2,000 cash for Fleming. Fleming was also to have an ankle monitor placed on him before his release from jail. "I want to know where you are 24 hours a day," Clymer had said. A status hearing in his Porter County was set for April 22. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SCHERERVILLE Just over $850,000 stands between the Lake County Parks Department and the creation of Lake Hills Park, an ecologically valuable patch of open space on the edge of Schererville. This fall Craig Zandstra, of Lake County Parks, met with the Schererville Town Council and Park Board, laying out plans for the potential park. Zandstra returned to the council Wednesday night with a more detailed vision, illustrating the land's educational and environmental possibilities. I think it would be a great opportunity for schools and other groups to get out there and learn more about nature and some of the aspects of our ecosystem here in Northwest Indiana and how they function, Zandstra said. Nestled between 77th and 85th avenues near the Pennsy Greenway Trail and Lake Hills Park, most of the 99.3 acres of land have sat unused since the owners stopped farming in the 1980s. Lake County Parks has been in talks with the owners for several years, but the $1.7 million price tag has been a barrier. So far, Lake County Parks has secured just under half of the necessary funds through federal partners. Now the department is looking to local sources to make up the difference, including the town of Schererville. While actually establishing the park could take a few years, Zandstra hopes to acquire the land as soon as possible, as the deadline to use some of the federal funding is this summer. If were not able to get the funds together and we cant get it purchased, then there is a good chance it will be developed," Zandstra told the Schererville council. A unique agreement The Schererville council "is still exploring how they will participate," Town Manager Bob Volkmann said. While Lake County Parks is asking for a $400,000 commitment from the town, Zandstra said any amount would be helpful. The arrangement would be "unique" in that Lake County Parks does not currently have any agreements with communities to help fund and manage their parks, Zandstra explained. "The reason for that is its been hard for us as a department to get a site on the west side of the county," Zandstra said. The cost of real estate here is a lot more than for the properties we work with on the east side of the county." Farm real estate prices have been on the rise across Indiana, with the average price per acre hitting $7,100 in 2021. That is up 7.6% from 2020, higher than the national increase of 7%. Natural stormwater solutions The park would benefit both the surrounding environment and community, Zandstra said. With old growth wooded areas, grassy lowlands sprinkled with wildflowers and about 25 acres of wetlands, the land is ripe with biodiversity. Lake County Parks has proposed creating an outdoor classroom to facilitate educational programming. Current plans also include a 3- to 5-acre turf grass area for recreation, a playground, picnic shelter and extensive trail system. However, Zandstra said the park's most valuable amenity would be its "green infrastructure." Some of the property's wetlands feed into Turkey Creek, which ultimately connects to Lake Michigan. Over the years the creek has been dredged and straightened; however, Lake County Parks hopes to re-meander the waterway, returning it to its natural state. Zandstra explained that when water flows naturally, creeks become more oxygenated improving water quality and increasing plant growth. Having ample vegetation benefits water bodies in a multitude of ways, including keeping water cool through increased shade, reducing erosion by stabilizing soil and purifying stormwater by filtering runoff through deep roots systems. "Returning creeks to their natural curves just seems to really help with water quality and with the organisms that rely on healthy water quality, Zandstra said. "It creates a better transition between the land and biotic communities. The hundreds of bur oaks and white oaks that populate the land would also help with stormwater retention. Throughout the course of a year, one oak tree can soak up about 3,000 gallons of rain water, Zandstra explained. Lake County Parks has also proposed dotting the property with bioswales, vegetated depressions in the earth that collect and filter stormwater. "I just think the overall benefits to the quality of life in our area are overwhelming, Zandstra said. There is just not a lot of this happening; I mean there is a lot of development happening in the area, but there is not a lot of preservation of open space. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LOS ANGELES On a cold day last December, sitting outside her studio in Santa Monica, Calif., the artist Suzanne Lacy talked excitedly about the coming year. In Manchester, England, exhibitions of her work were already open at the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Manchester Art Gallery. She looked forward to a prestigious fellowship at the University of Manchester in the spring. Lacy, 76, was also preparing for The Medium Is Not the Only Message, a survey of her art at the Queens Museum, in New York, opening March 13. The exhibition features work made since the 1970s in what Lacy once termed new genre public art politically engaged projects in which she involves communities in discursive, collaborative workshops and events on ageism, sexual violence, incarceration, immigration and other issues that might result in documentary photographs, video, performance, text, sound recordings, sculptures or often all of the above. Progressive institutions like the Queens Museum and the Whitworth are now centering their programs on the kinds of activities she has been doing for years, sometimes as art, sometimes as activism, sometimes as community engagement. Especially since Covid, the world seems to be focused on care, Lacy told me in February when I returned to her studio occupied mainly by wooden crates and plan chests that store her art. Even museums are talking about becoming caring institutions. A judge in Chicago sentenced Jussie Smollett to five months in jail on Thursday, ordering that the actor be incarcerated for falsely reporting to the police that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in 2019. At the end of a hearing that lasted about five hours, Judge James B. Linn excoriated Mr. Smollett from the bench, saying that he had concluded that the actor had premeditated the hoax and that despite his and his familys admirable past work in social justice, he had an arrogant, selfish side and had planned the stunt because he craved the attention. In the searing speech, the judge said that Mr. Smolletts name had become synonymous with lying, that he had sought to throw a national pity party for himself and that Mr. Smolletts conduct had undermined other victims of hate crimes at a sensitive time, as America was trying to climb out of its painful history of racism. You took some scabs off some healing wounds and you ripped them apart, the judge said. And for one reason: You wanted to make yourself more famous. Elsa Klensch, who for two decades produced and hosted the fashion news program Style With Elsa Klensch on CNN, becoming one of the cable channels early stars, died on March 4 at her home in Manhattan. She was 89. The death was confirmed by her friend and lawyer Jayne Kurzman. Ms. Klenschs weekly show made its debut in 1980 on the same day the Cable News Network first went on the air offering pioneering coverage of designers, models and haute couture runway shows for a mass television audience. With her signature bob and distinctive Australian accent she grew up in Australia she became a familiar figure, reporting from London, Paris, New York and Milan with interviews and video of runway collections. She attended thousands of shows for CNN, and designers like Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera, Anna Sui, Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada appeared regularly on her program. Ms. Klensch was described in a 1999 New Yorker profile as having reported on developments in design, on innovations in fabrics, and on mutations of hemlines as soberly as if she were covering the State Department. Scientists had warned in 2020 that the flu season, if it was severe, could possibly converge with Covid to create a dreaded twindemic. But coronavirus restrictions including working from home and the use of masks along with a high flu vaccine rate may have helped reduce caseloads the last few seasons, during which, the C.D.C. said, cases have been at a record low. Still, even a mild flu season can be devastating. The C.D.C. estimated that during the 2019-20 flu season, around 22,000 people in the country had died and 400,000 had been hospitalized. This season, the agency said, influenza activity declined in December and January, during the worst of the Omicron surge, but increased in early February. In October and November of 2021, the agency investigated a flu outbreak at the University of Michigan, where there were 745 cases, mostly involving students who had not been vaccinated against the flu. Investigators there also found that the vaccine did not offer much protection. Dr. Goodman said that this seasons results showed how much flu vaccines could be improved. The next pandemic could be an influenza pandemic, Dr. Goodman said, so we need better vaccines. An 83-year-old Brooklyn woman convicted twice of killing women she lived with was charged with murder on Thursday, after investigators found a head in her apartment that, officials said, belonged to a body discovered in a shopping cart last week. Harvey Marcelin, who had served decades in prison for murder and manslaughter before her release in 2019, was arrested March 4 and was initially charged with concealment of human remains. Ms. Marcelin who was listed as male in earlier court records but now identifies as a woman, according to a law enforcement official was indicted on second-degree murder charges on Thursday in the death of Susan Leyden, 68. She is accused of dismembering her and hiding her body parts. The official said it was not clear how Ms. Marcelin and Ms. Leyden knew each other. A lawyer listed as Ms. Marcelins attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. Months after remnants of Hurricane Ida crippled large parts of the state, killing at least 25 people, he did not utter the phrase climate change. There were no overt references to criminal justice, racial equity or immigrant rights. He cited a signature first-term win lifting the minimum wage to $15 just once, and instead chose to talk about tax cuts and rebates and a one-year fee holiday that would allow residents to visit state parks and renew drivers licenses for free. If you compare the really sharp racial justice messaging from last year to this year, there is a really big disconnect, said Sara Cullinane, director of Make the Road New Jersey, a left-leaning coalition focused on immigrant and worker rights. It seems that theres a pivot, she added. Instead of the unabashedly left-leaning budget message that set the tone for his first term, there were 24 mentions of the words affordable or affordability. The Democratic Party is looking down at the 2022 midterms coming and knowing that its message needs to be revamped, said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University. Many voters, probably most voters, are disenchanted. Mr. Murphy is scheduled to move from vice chairman to chairman of the National Governors Association in July and to take over leadership of the Democratic Governors Association for the second time next year. Democrats must defend governorships in the key battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, races seen as must-wins to stave off Republican restrictions on voting rights. Just a few weeks ago many influential figures on the U.S. right loved, just loved Vladimir Putin. In fact, some of them still cant quit him. For example, Tucker Carlson, while he has grudgingly backed off from full-on Putin support, is still blaming America for the war and promoting Russian disinformation about U.S.-funded bioweapons labs. For the most part, however, Americas Putin lovers are having a moment of truth. Its not so much that Putin stands revealed as a tyrant willing to kill large numbers of innocent people they knew or should have known that already. The problem is that the strongman they admired whom Donald Trump praised as savvy and a genius just before he invaded Ukraine is turning out to be remarkably weak. And thats not an accident. Russia is facing disaster precisely because it is ruled by a man who accepts no criticism and brooks no dissent. On the military side, a war Russia clearly envisioned as a blitzkrieg that would overrun Ukraine in days has yet to capture any of the countrys top 10 cities although long-range bombardment is turning those cities into rubble. On the economic side, Putins attempt to insulate himself from potential Western sanctions has been a debacle, with everything indicating that Russia will have a depression-level slump. To see why this matters, you need to understand the sources of the rights infatuation with a brutal dictator, an infatuation that began even before Trumps rise. Some of this dictator-love reflected the belief that Putin was a champion of antiwokeness someone who wouldnt accuse you of being a racist, who denounced cancel culture and gay propaganda. Prosecutors said on Thursday that they planned to drop a second-degree murder charge against a former security guard for a Denver television news station who fatally shot a man in a confrontation after a right-wing rally in 2020. A spokeswoman for the Denver district attorneys office said that prosecutors were not able to overcome claims by the former guard, Matthew Dolloff, that he had acted in self-defense or defense of others when he shot Lee John Keltner, 49, at the conclusion of a patriot muster rally on Oct. 10, 2020. Mr. Dolloff had argued that he was defending himself and a reporter for 9News, a Denver news channel, which said that it had hired him as a private security guard. Having fully considered the facts and circumstances surrounding the charges, today we informed Lee Keltners family members that we will soon dismiss the criminal case against Matthew Dolloff, the spokeswoman for the district attorneys office, Carolyn A. Tyler, said in a statement. More than 60 major businesses, including household names in technology and retail, have signed onto a new advertising campaign in Texas protesting a move by the states governor to label as child abuse medical treatments that are widely considered to be the standard of care for transgender teenagers. In digital ads and a full-page advertisement in Fridays Dallas Morning News, the businesses assailed a Feb. 22 directive by Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, requiring teachers and medical professionals to report to child protective services parents who are helping their children get such treatments as puberty-suppressing drugs and hormones. Mr. Abbotts order announced a week before the Texas primary, in which he won nomination for another term as governor came as lawmakers in Florida have also moved to advance a bill banning instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in some elementary school grades, widely called the Dont Say Gay bill. Both measures are part of a wave of anti-L.G.B.T.Q. crackdowns by conservative politicians heading into the midterm elections. But to clear the way for passage, Democrats had to drop some priorities, most notably a White House request for more pandemic aid. Republicans objected to spending any new federal money on the coronavirus response, prompting Democrats first to whittle down the size of that package, and then to claw back funding from existing aid programs, including money for state governments, to pay for it. But that strategy infuriated rank-and-file Democrats and governors in both parties, who balked at yanking promised state assistance, and leaders were forced to strip the aid from the package. They vowed to try again to pass it in the coming days, but Republican support was unclear, leaving in doubt the fate of the administrations new pandemic plan. The bipartisan funding bill proves once more that members of both parties can come together to deliver results for the American people, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. But, she added, we continue to call on Congress to provide the funds urgently needed to prevent severe disruptions to our Covid response. Republicans claimed credit for prodding Democrats to accept a $42 billion increase in military spending, bringing the total this year to $782 billion. The negotiations, said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, put us Republicans in the surreal position of having to push a commander in chiefs party into giving his own commanders the funding they need. The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This weeks issue is written by Meghan Dansie, a freelance reporter in Melbourne. Framed by native eucalyptuses and ferns in a shady glade near Victorias famed Great Ocean Road, a group of Californian giants rises into the Australian sun. In 1936, Victorian foresters planted a group of California redwoods the tallest living species on Earth to gauge their viability for the commercial logging industry. They grew too slowly to be sustainable logging fodder, so they were left alone to drink in the adjacent Aire River and grow ever taller in the cooler climate of the Otway Ranges National Park. But as the last week of catastrophic flooding in New South Wales and Queensland has shown, environmental stability in Australia is no longer something to rely on. The lives, wildlife and homes lost in the flooding render a clear picture of exacerbated climatic cycles. This time La Nina, last time El Nino. Footage contrasting this years floods with the 2019-20 Black Summer bush fires paints a devastating picture of an Australia already living with the extremes of climate change. President Biden will announce on Friday that the United States will join the G7 and the European Union in calling for the suspension of normal trade relations with Russia, according to a person familiar with the announcement, a change that would raise tariffs for many Russian products. Each country will implement the suspension based on its own national processes, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about it. Mr. Biden will work with Congress on legislation that would suspend normal trade relations between the United States and Russia, the person said. The move would add to a vast array of sanctions the United States and its allies have imposed to penalize Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Efforts to review or revoke normal trade relations have already been stirring in Congress. Earlier this week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed legislation that would ban imports of Russian energy into the United States and suspend normal trade relations with Russia. On Wednesday night, the House approved a bill that would ban Russian oil and gas imports and review Moscows membership in the World Trade Organization, but would not revoke Russias preferred trade status. The top diplomats of Russia and Ukraine failed to make even a hint of progress Thursday in their first face-to-face meeting since the Russian invasion began, while Russian bombardments spread more carnage in a two-week-old war that Ukraine estimated had already caused $100 billion in damage. The fighting has deepened suffering in the country, especially in besieged cities like Mariupol in the southeast and Chernihiv in the north. Russians forces also were reported to have gained ground in some smaller cities near Kyiv, the capital. Vice President Kamala Harris, in Warsaw to meet with Polish officials, said that Russia should be investigated for possible war crimes in Ukraine, though she did not name any individuals. I have no question the eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of the aggression and these atrocities, she said. Here are the days major developments: Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine and his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, met in the Turkish resort city of Antalya. The broad narrative he conveyed to me, Mr. Kuleba said afterward, is that they will continue their aggression until Ukraine meets their demands, and the least of these demands is surrender. Russian forces continued their siege of the embattled port city of Mariupol, a day after a maternity hospital bombing that a Ukrainian official said killed three people, including a 6-year-old. Conditions remained dire in the city, where people are struggling to find food and water and the authorities have been burying the dead in mass graves. BEIRUT, Lebanon The Islamic State on Thursday announced that it has a new leader, but provided little information on the true identity or background of the man who will now oversee the global terrorist organization. The new leader, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, was unveiled in an audio message released on Islamic State social media accounts that also confirmed the death of the groups previous leader, who American officials say blew himself up during a U.S. commando raid on his hide-out in northwestern Syria last month. Mr. al-Qurashi takes the reins of a terrorist group that is a shadow of its former self in terms of members and power, but still causes havoc in poorly governed areas in Syria, Iraq, parts of Africa and elsewhere. In January, Islamic State fighters carried out a daring attack on a prison run by a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in northeastern Syria with the aim of liberating their detained comrades. Hundreds of attackers, prisoners and Kurdish militiamen were killed in more than a week of fighting before the prison was brought back under Kurdish control. It is still unclear how many prisoners managed to escape during the violence. It is not long before tragedy strikes. Childhood in the 19th century was never without the shadow of death, after all, and the Booths are not spared: Sixteen years pass. The family grows, shrinks, grows. By 1838, the children number at nine, counting the one about to arrive and the four who are dead. Eventually there will be 10. There are slightly folksy descriptions of farm life chores, carrying babies punctuated by bursts of brilliant writing that briefly lift this novel above its predictable rhythms. Here, for instance, is a glimpse at ordinary carnage: The farmers had run outside to protect their fields and fill their larders. They simply shot their rifles into the air. There was no need to aim. There was no way to miss. The bird mass coiled into the air and rose like a giant snake when the shots began. Through its back half, Booth offers a speedy yet tedious summary of life immediately before and throughout the Civil War. One section simply reads, In January of 1865, the 13th Amendment passes, abolishing slavery in the United States forever. This is followed by a passage that begins, In February, while Edwin struggles with exhaustion in the midst of his historic run, June arranges his schedule to spend a day with John in Washington, D.C. Rosalie, Edwin and June have had a tete-a-tete-a-tete about John. We also get mentions of a Confederate arson plot in New York City: From the newsboys that night, they learn that the fire in the Lafarge Hotel next to the theater was set by a Confederate agent. From the newspaper next morning, they learn it was only one of 19 fires set that night in a plot to overwhelm the fire department and burn New York City to the ground. As a plot it was better in theory than execution. All 19 fires were easily extinguished. These national events are folded into the events of the family the Booth children grow up, get married, betray their spouses, run away from their responsibilities and find their way back to their true home: the stage. Meanwhile, Johnny, who starts out as the petted and beloved younger son of the family, grows into a strapping young man, mischievous and violent. At school, he falls in with a group of Southern boys and finds himself aligning with their preservation of the institution of slavery. Johnny has grown up with a Black family on the farm; hes played with their children and seen the pain when children are sold off or family members are beaten and raped. Booth is, in some sense, a chronicle of Johnnys transformation. Its also an indictment of the very idea of decent white people. I am sympathetic to this idea, but I found it rather a boring premise for a novel. There was a saying among these people: A dry year will scare you to death, and a wet year will kill you. This sense of perpetual dread permeates Dane Bahrs evocative debut, THE HOUSEBOAT (Counterpoint, 242 pp., $26), which chronicles an especially volatile year in Oscar, Iowa a year when the Mississippi River town turned on its own as the weather moved from drought to torrents: Four days of hard rain and the river became a butcher. It would rip at the banks as it swelled and cleave the edges of cropland like a knife to brisket. Just outside town, a girl, discovered in the woods, claims her boyfriend has been murdered, though no one has found a body. Still, the collective suspicion lands on Rigby Sellers, a loner who lives in a rotting houseboat on the river with only a creepy salvaged mannequin for company: Hed often talk to her. Sometimes try to feed her. Hed dress her up and comb his fingers through her abrasive hair and tell her how pretty she was. Sellers seems impervious to increasingly lurid rumors about his character and behavior. When the local sheriff enlists the help of a detective, events spin ever darker. Bahr deftly moves back and forth in time; his short chapters, which feature the perspectives of different townspeople, add to the feeling that the enormity of the horror cannot be fully comprehended. The Houseboat reminded me of works by Robert Bloch strained through a more literary but quite welcome sensibility. In the village of Shady Hollow nestled deep in the woods, covering a wide valley between two mountains folks drink coffee at Joes Mug, buy the latest releases from Nevermore Books and get their news from The Shady Hollow Gazette. Every so often, the bucolic little town is shaken up by murder. And oh yeah, one more thing: All the residents are animals. COLD CLAY (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, 221 pp., paper, $16), the second outing from Juneau Black, the pen name of the authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel, was originally self-published in 2017. In it, Vera Vixen, the papers star reporter, is investigating the discovery of old moose bones in an apple orchard and trying to clear Joe Elkin, the coffee shops owner as well as the victims husband. Shes also trying to figure out why a fancy silver-coated mink has moved to town. Blacks books Shady Hollow, Cold Clay and Mirror Lake, which will be reissued next month have become my favorite new comfort reads. The plotting is sharp, the prose lean and the atmosphere pure joy. Vixen and the rest of the critters never feel like anthropomorphic Disney cartoon characters. I eagerly await a fresh infusion of Shady Hollow mayhem. Sarah Weinmans Crime column appears twice a month. What, then, did Truman do? First, he made tough calls when he had to, dropping the atomic bomb, ordering American troops into Korea, canning the demigod Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Though his Cold War rhetoric was bellicose, his judgments were generally prudent: When the Soviets imposed a blockade on Berlin in 1948, he refused to shoot his way in, as some of his generals advised; instead, he staged an airlift that prevented American and Soviet troops from confronting each other. Second, Truman presented the face and voice of unterrified democracy to citizens very much inclined to be terrified as the cataclysm of World War II appeared to be giving way to the Gotterdammerung of World War III. Truman looks like my dentist, said the socialite Susan Mary Jay, after hearing him announce the obliteration of Hiroshima. That was probably just as well. Biographers have a built-in bias toward giving their subject credit for anything within reach; Frank leans almost in the opposite direction. He does not mention, for example, a story told by both David McCullough and the Truman scholar Alonzo Hamby, that for half a century Truman kept in his wallet the lines from Tennysons poem Locksley Hall that envision a world governed by a Parliament of Man and lapt in universal law. I had always taken that anecdote to imply a deep strain of Wilsonian idealism in this poker-playing machine pol. Was it there? More broadly, did Truman manage to keep his gyroscope stable thanks not only to common sense but to something more like actual political opinions? Frank has very little to say about the Fair Deal, Trumans domestic agenda. He describes the State of the Union Message that Truman delivered after his miraculous victory in the 1948 election as turgid and routine. Yet at the time The New Republic called it the most left-leaning message ever sent by an American president to Congress. Liberals, who had scorned Truman as a hack, now looked to him as a savior. The almost complete failure of Fair Deal legislation, and above all of the civil rights package Truman had bravely introduced, would set back liberalism for a generation. How much of that, if any, was Trumans fault? How much did he care? Franks interests lie elsewhere; and he deserves credit for judiciousness on the tormenting decisions Truman was compelled to make. He ultimately accepts the logic both of Hiroshima and of Korea, though he argues that Truman could have preserved the independence of South Korea without approving MacArthurs insane decision to cross the 38th parallel in order to take on Chinese as well as North Korean forces. Beyond that, Frank gives us this ebullient, often cantankerous man in full. He quotes the magisterial Walter Lippmann as observing that while it was very easy to get mad at Truman, neither he nor his critics and opponents were able to keep on being angry. For when he lost his temper it was a good temper that he was losing. A secret deal struck between Google and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is being investigated by antitrust regulators in the European Union and Britain for potentially undermining competition in the multibillion-dollar digital advertising market. The inquiry, which was announced on Friday by the European Commission and the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority, is the latest effort to scrutinize the business practices of the worlds largest technology companies. The regulators said the investigation centered on a 2018 deal first uncovered as part of a lawsuit against Google by 10 state attorneys general in the United States. The American investigation concluded that Google had reached an agreement, referred to internally as Jedi Blue, to limit how much Facebook would compete for ad dollars with one of Googles key services. If confirmed by our investigation, this would restrict and distort competition in the already concentrated ad tech market, to the detriment of rival ad serving technologies, publishers and ultimately consumers, Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissions executive vice president who oversees competition and digital policy, said in a statement. A calamity that strikes your child can drive any mother to extraordinary action. That was certainly true for Columba Sainz of Phoenix. Only when her daughter was diagnosed with asthma did she learn of the citys extremely hazardous air. Sainz is active with a group called EcoMadres, affiliated with a national group known as Moms Clean Air Force. In Phoenix, its members have pushed city officials to plant shade trees in neighborhoods disproportionately burdened by extreme heat, testified at federal hearings to strengthen air pollution regulations and marched to the offices of their state senators to demand climate legislation. Nationally, Moms Clean Air Force has successfully lobbied for federal money for electric school buses. We are mothers and we know what our kids are going through, Sainz said. We just have to go wherever we can go and be that voice, and motivate the voices of other moms. Thing is, moms are never just moms. Some are climate scientists who call themselves Science Moms, and who have created tip sheets and online videos to help others grasp the science. As scientists and moms, we want to provide other moms the climate change information and the resources they need, said Melissa Burt, an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University and a co-founder the group. Moms are worried, overwhelmed and anxious about the climate crisis, and the way to push through the anxiety is by taking action. Which brings us back to the play date at Larry Finks house. On a crisp Sunday last October, after a morning of apple picking, Bocci drove up with a half dozen other Brooklyn moms. They brought a basket of apples, along with placards and toddlers. They had planned to take pictures of their protest on Finks lawn and splash them on social media. Except that Fink came out to talk. They urged him to move BlackRocks trillions of dollars from coal, oil and gas. Zasper rolled down his yard, again and again. Some of the other toddlers had straight-up meltdowns. The moms said they were dismayed to hear Fink tell them there were limits to what BlackRock could do. If he cant make changes, I dont know who can! said Marlena Fontes, one of the other moms who was there. (BlackRock confirmed the meeting took place, though not what was said. Fink has said in the past that, as a fiduciary organization in charge of other peoples money, the firm cant divest from fossil fuel companies over climate issues. A company spokesman added that the moms group was later invited to speak with two BlackRock executives in charge of sustainability.) Robert Osborne grew anxious about dinner when his Brooklyn co-op board put the kibosh on a plan to move a gas line for his kitchen renovation. How could Mr. Osborne, a math teacher, cook his favorite dishes like skillet chicken with caramelized mushrooms and onions if he couldnt do it over the classic blue-orange blaze of a gas stove? Like many of the more than 40 million home cooks in the United States with gas stoves, Mr. Osborne considered his to be essential, a nonnegotiable part of his kitchen that, had it not been for the co-op board, he would have kept. After all, cooking over the open fire of a gas stove sparks something primal and intuitive in our lizard brains. Watching flames leap over the sides of a pan and lick the bone of a sizzling lamb chop is visceral and sensual, two adjectives you might not associate with the sleek ceramic surface of the Samsung induction range Mr. Osborne ended up installing instead. There is good weeknight cooking, and then there is great weeknight cooking: streamlined and smart, leveraging a few magic ingredients and a great technique to produce maximal flavor in minimal time. This week weve got a superb example in J. Kenji Lopez-Alts noodles, which are made with a garlic-butter sauce and a powerful umami triumvirate oyster sauce, fish sauce and soy sauce. Its a recipe from his new book, The Wok, thats based on a dish from the San Francisco Vietnamese restaurant Thanh Long. And we have Kay Chuns hand rolls, for which she takes inspiration from the sweet sauce that is typically used to glaze eel in Japanese cooking, and makes her own version to glaze salmon. There is also Yewande Komolafes quick peanut and pumpkin soup, inspired by the long-simmered stews found in cuisines across West Africa. I could go on. Tell me what youre cooking; Im dearemily@nytimes.com and I love to hear from you. If youre curious about what Im cooking, or about what we do at New York Times Cooking and in the Food department, I spoke with Matt Rodbard about all of it for the Taste podcast this week. Listen here! The next day brought a video from the front, a dashcam clip of a man pulling up to an armored vehicle by the side of the road. What happened, boys? he says to the soldiers milling around behind the vehicle. We ran out of gas, one of them says. Want me to tow you? Back to Russia? the driver asks. The soldiers laugh. The driver asks if they know where the road theyre on leads to. They say they dont. He says it goes to Kyiv. They seem surprised. This video was revealing on a number of levels. There was the courage of the driver, pulling up to armed soldiers in a war zone, and the simple incompetence of the Russian invasion, allowing an armored vehicle to run out of gas on the way to Kyiv. But most fascinating was the fact that the driver could communicate so easily, so freely, with the Russian soldiers. Like a great many of his countrymen especially in the east, where the invasion began he is a native Russian speaker. The language question has been a painful one in Ukrainian politics, though it looms far larger in the minds of Kremlin propagandists than it does in actual Ukrainian life. There are young Ukrainians for whom it is a matter of principle and honor to not speak Russian, the language of the former empire. And the government periodically passes contentious laws that aim to encourage further Ukrainianization. But most people continue to speak the language that makes most sense to them in their everyday lives, sometimes switching between the two depending on the context and situation. Russian propaganda claims that the language is discriminated against, and there are people in Russia who believe that you will get shouted at, or even attacked, for speaking Russian in Kyiv. Yet in the videos now emerging from Ukraine, over and over again, people are speaking Russian. Soldiers speak Russian as they fire rocket-propelled grenades at Russian tanks. Locals speak Russian as they survey annihilated Russian columns. Americans are accustomed to wars that take place far away, against people who dont so casually speak our language, but of course most wars take place between people who live right next to one another. Russia invading Ukraine is less like our wars in Iraq or Vietnam and more like the United States invading Canada. What was Putin thinking? We know a fair amount about this: Last summer he published, on the Kremlins website, a very long essay on The Historical Unity of Russia and Ukraine. He repeated some of its contents in a long televised speech on the eve of his invasion. The essential argument was that Ukraine could not exist if it moved away from Russia because it was part of Russia, and always had been. Alec Baldwin gave his most detailed account yet of fatally shooting a cinematographer on the set of the film Rust last year in an arbitration demand that his lawyers filed Friday against his fellow producers, claiming that his contract protected him from financial responsibility in her death and seeking coverage of his legal fees. Mr. Baldwin has been named in several lawsuits seeking damages since he shot and killed the cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, on Oct. 21 in New Mexico while practicing for a scene that required him to draw a gun. The filing said that he was not responsible for her death, since he had been assured that the gun did not contain any live ammunition and because he was not responsible for checking the ammunition or for firearm safety on the set. The filing provided new details of Mr. Baldwins role as a producer of Rust, a production some former crew members claimed in lawsuits had sacrificed safety by cutting costs. While Mr. Baldwin was involved in creative matters, the filing said, others had authority over hiring and budgets. Mr. Baldwin was to be paid $250,000 to star in the movie and act as a producer, it said, but he gave back $100,000 as an investment in the film. And the filing contained text messages that Mr. Baldwin had exchanged with Matthew Hutchins, the widower of the slain cinematographer, which showed how their relationship had deteriorated over time from mutual expressions of condolence and support in the immediate aftermath of the shooting to the pointed wrongful-death lawsuit Mr. Hutchins filed against Mr. Baldwin this year. Brian Panish, a lawyer for Mr. Hutchins, said in a statement that Mr. Baldwin was trying to avoid accountability for his reckless actions. PORT READING, N.J. A blue dot on a box means nonperishable food, ready for shipping. A red dot means first-aid items for hospitals still standing. A green dot means supplies for Ukrainians taking up arms: boots and kneepads, socks and gloves, thermal underwear and camouflage-patterned clothing. And in this cavernous warehouse, at the back end of an industrial park in central New Jersey, green dots are everywhere emerald signals that Ukrainian Americans stand behind Ukrainian civilians who are defending their homeland with their lives. Just three weeks ago, the warehouse hummed with the business of Meest-America Inc., a freight-delivery service that specializes in shipping goods to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries, including Russia. Meest is Ukrainian for bridge. But on Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, the native country for most of Meest-Americas 108 workers, and business all but stopped. The company was unable to ship to Ukraine, and it could not in good conscience continue shipping to Russia and Belarus. At that point, the virus had had weeks to spread far beyond Chinas borders and was beginning to establish outbreaks globally. A pandemic was on its way. What could have happened: China tells the world the truth and the pandemic is avoided. China could have notified the World Health Organization sometime in early to mid-December that it had an outbreak of a previously unknown coronavirus similar to the dreaded SARS pathogen, and immediately sequenced the virus and shared the genome, allowing tests to be developed. The rest of the world would have had to act, too. Governments could have made sure tests were immediately developed to find as many cases as possible. Health authorities could have isolated infected people and traced and quarantined their contacts. Travel restrictions and testing could have been put in place to prevent the spread outside China. It may seem like a fantasy to suggest that the outbreak could have been extinguished before it became a pandemic, but later outbreaks of this virus were contained. This first wave could have been, too, and the pandemic might have been completely avoided, saving millions of lives and much suffering. What happened after China covered up: The world failed to heed warnings and take action. On Dec. 30, 2019, ProMED, a service that tracks infectious disease outbreaks globally, warned of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan. The veteran infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell shared the news alert on Twitter the next day and said it was giving her #SARS flashbacks. That same day, Taiwans Centers for Disease Control with its close contacts on the ground in China fired off an email to the W.H.O. with its concerns that patients were being isolated in Wuhan a clear sign of an outbreak with person-to-person spread. On Jan. 11, 2020, a Chinese scientist bravely allowed an Australian colleague to upload the viruss genome to a gene bank, without official authorization. This meant that the whole world could now see this was a novel coronavirus, closely related to SARS. The next day, the scientists lab was shut down. Doubts over whether the virus was capable of spreading from person to person should have been swept away in mid-January 2020 by reports that a woman in Thailand and a man in Japan had tested positive without having been to the Wuhan seafood market that Chinese authorities had said was the center of the spread. Meanwhile, despite such clear evidence of the viruss transmissibility, the number of cases that China reported remained at 44. (Wed later learn that medical professionals werent even allowed to report cases that werent connected to the seafood market.) Yet the W.H.O. kept repeating Chinas line that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. It wasnt until China shut down Wuhan on Jan. 23, 2020, that the rest of the world could see how serious the threat was even then, the global response remained feeble. The Walt Disney Company has a big problem. It wants to be loved by everybody: Massachusetts liberals and Mississippi conservatives, Muslims in Saudi Arabia and atheists in China. It therefore prefers to minimize the number of times it takes stands on hot-button social issues. But it keeps getting dragged into politics, often by employees who tend to be liberal and want the company to reflect their values. This isnt just a Disney issue. Its one thats bedeviling chief executives of prominent companies such as Google (Alphabet) and Nike. In some cases the restive employees are conservatives, not liberals. The tensions seem to be intensifying. I can imagine one possible resolution: Companies openly embrace one side or another in the culture wars. Weve already seen that happen a bit. In the vehicle market, certain brands (Subaru, Honda) appeal more to liberals and others (Ford, GMC) appeal more to conservatives, albeit without getting political themselves. The retailer Hobby Lobby is avowedly conservative, while the grocery chain Trader Joes is popular with liberals. And so on. But mammoth companies like Disney arent usually ready to give up on any part of their customer base, so the stresses of political involvement are likely to continue. Disneys chief executive, Bob Chapek, got a harsh introduction to the new reality of politicized business this week. Disney executives had been working behind the scenes to head off Floridas Parental Rights in Education bill, which strongly constrains the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity and which activist opponents call the Dont Say Gay bill. But Chapek had resisted making a public statement despite entreaties from employee groups at Disney. Let me offer two theories about recent events. You tell me which you find more credible. Theory A: The reason President Biden has been sounding so forceful and effective lately is that the Disney Corporation has secretly replaced the real Biden with an animatronic robot. Theory B: Bidens socialist economic policies are the reason U.S. gasoline prices have shot up so much lately. If forced to choose, Id go for theory A. Its ridiculous, of course, but its not quite as easy to refute, not quite as cynical an insult to voters intelligence, as theory B. But theory B is, of course, what Republicans are running with. There are three things you need to know about gasoline prices. First, the price of crude oil the stuff that comes out of the ground is set in a global market, not country by country. Second, fluctuations in the price of gasoline, which is refined from crude, overwhelmingly reflect fluctuations in that global price. Third, U.S. policy has little effect on world oil prices, and virtually none at all in the short run say, the 14 months that Biden has been in office. BERLIN Nils Schmid, a member of Germanys Parliament and a foreign policy spokesman for the Social Democratic Party, was explaining to me what a minor role the military plays in his countrys politics. The average Bundestag member does not have this normal contact with the military he has with almost every other layer of society, Schmid said, referring to members of Parliament. Germany may be a major arms exporter, but in terms of total German manufacturing, he said, the arms industry is not really relevant, and representatives dont cater to it. There is a huge distance, vis-a-vis all things military, in German society, he said. That could soon change. Shortly after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, Germanys Social Democratic chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announced a radical shift in his countrys national security stance. Germany, he said, will arm Ukraine, ending its policy of not sending lethal weapons to conflict zones. It will ramp up military spending to more than 2 percent of its gross domestic product. It is clear that we must invest much more in the security of our country, he said. Schmid described the message German politicians now need to convey to the public. They must explain, he said, that the military is part of the state and should be equipped accordingly, just like schools and universities. For an American, this challenge getting people to take warfare as seriously as education has a through-the-looking-glass quality. But its a sign of how profoundly Putins aggression stands to alter German society. These are, to say the least, uncomfortable times to be a Russian oligarch. In response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, governments are taking aim at the superwealthy with close ties to Vladimir Putin, hitting them with sanctions, cutting off their access to offshore wealth, seizing their luxury yachts and villas and generally making it difficult to be a filthy rich person. But in the Opinion Video above, Jonathan Pie, the fictional broadcast journalist played by the comedian Tom Walker, argues that even while the United States and the European Union have come down hard on Russian oligarchs, Britain has taken a gentler approach. This response, he argues, is the result of a dark symbiotic relationship that the country has developed with ill-gotten Russian money. For years, Russian wealth has poured into Britain with few questions asked, helping to finance political campaigns and buoying the luxury property market. Russian oligarchs have been so happy to avail themselves of Britains laissez-faire regulatory climate to park their wealth and launder dirty money that the nations capital has earned the moniker Londongrad. And that, Pie argues, is why the British government has been reluctant to step up the pressure on the Russian elite. Stronger sanctions, he argues, would risk hurting Britain even more than they would Putin and his cronies. Mr. Clinton was perhaps more correct than he knew. The transactional attitude he identified appeared to be the key to understanding Russias president. Mr. Putin had inherited a very particular vision of what the West actually was. For him, it was, according to Gleb Pavlovsky, a former close aide, synonymous with the liberal capitalist order, which he understood in terms of Soviet caricature: It meant tolerating oligarchs, privatizing state industries, paying and accepting bribes, hollowing out state capacity and having some semblance of power-sharing. Mr. Putin thought his predecessors Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin had failed because they failed to understand this. Mr. Putin himself acted like a savvy applicant to the West in many respects. He gamely signed on to the global war on terror, later allowing the United States to use his bases for the war in Afghanistan, and extinguished a terrorist insurgency at home. Since coming to power, Mr. Putin has also made Moscow into a paragon of fiscal rectitude, and, according to the former aide, he explored the idea of installing an American-style two-party system in Russia. But as the economy Mr. Putin presided over threatened to crash in a state-stripping bonanza, he tried to shore up the state sector and turned to increasingly authoritarian measures at home. As former Warsaw Pact countries welcomed NATO expansion, he shifted to a more civilizational understanding of Russias place in the world, one based on Eastern values: the Orthodox Church, patriarchal chauvinism, anti-homosexuality edicts, as well as a notion of a greater ethnic Russian identity whose ancient wellspring is inconveniently Kyiv, Ukraine. Protesters such as Pussy Riot and others who struck directly at this neocivilizational image came in for swift retribution. Mr. Putins turn reflected a broader phenomenon of authoritarian-led liberalizing economies trying to fill an empty ideological space that seemed poised to be filled by Western idolatry. In China, too, in the late 2000s, there was a turn to a civilizational understanding in Beijing, where dutiful readers of Mr. Huntington have spread notions of Chinese civilization in the forms of global Confucius Institutes or a program for cultural self-confidence, and which President Xi Jinping today expresses in his elliptical thought. Turkey, too, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has pushed a vision of a neo-Ottoman sphere stretching from North Africa to Central Asia, which is a direct repudiation of Ataturks more bounded vision of Turkish nationalism. More recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has revived ideas about Hindu supremacy, glorifying his nations ancient past Hindustan is his Kyivan Rus and using it as a bludgeon against his opponents. The turn to civilizational imagining provides a useful lever for ruling elites who want to suppress other forms of solidarity, whether class, regional or ecologically based, and to restrict the attractions of cosmopolitanism for their economic elites. For all the talk about how Ukraine is despite whatever losses on the battlefield winning the P.R. war, there is a sense in which Mr. Putin has already won at another level of framing the conflict. The more we hear about the resolve of the West, the more the values of a liberal international order appear like the provincial set of principles of a particular people, in a particular place. Of the 10 most-populous countries in the world, only one the United States supports major economic sanctions against Russia. Indonesia, Nigeria, India and Brazil have all condemned the Russian invasion, but they do not seem prepared to follow the West in its preferred countermeasures. Nor do non-Western states appear to welcome the kind of economic disruptions that will result from, as Senator Rob Portman phrased it, putting a noose on the Putin economy. North Africa and the Middle East rely on Russia for basics from fertilizer to wheat; Central Asian populations rely on its remittances. Major disruptions to these economic networks seem unlikely to relieve Ukrainian suffering. For 20 years, the doctrine lay dormant. It was resurrected in 2020 by allies of Donald Trump, who needed some constitutional pretense for their attempt to overturn his defeat. Before the election, a number of state courts had ordered state governments to make accommodations for the pandemic, citing state constitutions. Elsewhere, governors, secretaries of state and state boards of election took matters into their own hands, bypassing the legislature (and using their own authority under the law) to accommodate voters. When, after the election, the Trump campaign sued either to throw out ballots or to invalidate results, its lawyers offered the independent state legislature doctrine as justification. So, too, did supporters of Trump who wanted Republican legislatures to void election results and choose electors who would give the president a second term. The basic problem with this doctrine is that its bunk. The text of the elections and electors clauses is silent as to the role of state constitutions, but the subsequent history is anything but, the legal scholar Michael Weingartner writes in a draft article on the theory of independent state legislatures. Since the founding, state constitutions have both directly regulated federal elections and constrained state legislatures exercise of their authority under the clauses. Whats more, over the past century, nearly every election-related state constitutional provision was either approved and presented to voters by state legislatures or placed on the ballot and enacted by voters directly. Even if the federal Constitution is vague on the full scope of state legislative power to regulate elections, both history and practice have fixed the meaning of the relevant clauses in favor of constraint. State constitutions (and state courts) do in fact regulate state legislatures as it relates to election law. Some proponents of the independent state legislature doctrine argue that theirs represents the original understanding of the elections and electors clauses in the Constitution. Another researcher, Hayward H. Smith, says otherwise. The history demonstrates beyond cavil that the founding generation understood that legislatures would operate as normal legislatures, not independent legislatures, with respect to both procedure and substance, he writes. In fact, he notes, a review of every state constitution adopted in the 19th century reveals that both explicit and nonexplicit limitations on legislatures were widespread before, during, and after the Civil War. Theres simply no basis for the claim that the Constitution grants state legislatures this kind of unaccountable power over the conduct of federal elections. It runs counter to the basic idea behind the American political system that is, the sharing and separation of power among competing and overlapping institutions. It defeats the purpose of this delicate balance to give state legislatures plenary power over federal elections (to say nothing of how it is incongruent with the elite frustration over the scope of states power that gave rise to the Constitution in the first place). Thankfully, the Supreme Court rejected the challenge from Republicans in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Still, there may be four votes for the theory of the independent state legislature. In a 2020 dissent from the majority on the question of whether Pennsylvania should count certain mail-in ballots, Justices Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh appeared sympathetic to the doctrine. Justice Neil Gorsuch endorsed it outright, writing that the Constitution provides that state legislatures not federal judges, not state judges, not state governors, not other state officials bear primary responsibility for setting election rules. Dissenting from the courts decision in the North Carolina case, Justice Alito called the question of state legislative power an issue of great national importance, a clear signal that he is open to the arguments of Republican legislators. Justice Kavanaugh concurred. I agree with Justice Alito that the underlying elections clause question raised in the emergency application is important, and that both sides have advanced serious arguments on the merits. The issue is almost certain to keep arising until the court definitively resolves it. It is unclear where the newest justice, the Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett, stands on the doctrine, although she appears to have voted with the majority in these particular cases. Considering these limitations, a cyber-Pearl Harbor or cyber-9/11 is the wrong metaphor for understanding these systems, Valeriano and other researchers say. Rather than battlefield-defining attacks, cyberweapons are better suited as weapons of espionage, sabotage and other covert operations. Like the cane or pen gun from the James Bond movies, they make for a neat spy trick but are unlikely to alter the international order the way aircraft carriers, precision-guided munitions or nuclear weapons have. Some have seen a more revolutionary role for them. In The Perfect Weapon, his 2018 book on the rise of cyberweapons, the Times reporter David Sanger argued that these weapons are unusual because they are very cheap, very stealthy and, unlike other novel weapon systems, available to a wide range of powers, from poor, isolated rogue nations like North Korea to former superpowers like Russia to criminal gangs and terrorist groups. Lucas Kello, an associate professor of international relations at Oxford who is a leading proponent of the idea that cyberweapons might be groundbreaking, has suggested that they could be as transformational for the international order this century as nuclear weapons were last century. He argues that cyberweapons will alter the world order by creating a state of relations between nations that he calls unpeace a status somewhere between all-out war and complete peace, in which nations attack one another digitally in ways that produce major damage but dont escalate to physical conflict. These predictions are troubling, but they havent yet been proved in battlefield conditions. The political scientists Nadiya Kostyuk and Yuri M. Zhukov studied how cyberweapons have been used in Ukraine and Syria. In both cases, they wrote in a 2017 paper, cyberactivities failed to compel discernible changes in battlefield behavior. Perhaps the fundamental reason for their failure, as Thomas Rid argued in his 2013 book Cyber War Will Not Take Place, is that cyberattacks are not inherently acts of war. Cyberattacks are rarely violent. They are rarely instrumental. While they may damage or annoy an enemy, they dont often cause hardships that push an enemy toward a specific goal. And they are not always political. In many cases, perhaps the majority, cyberattacks are better suited to criminal or intelligence ends (stealing money, gaining information) than to shifting political calculus. In that sense, Rid said, cyberattacks are not weapons of war like nuclear bombs but are instead sophisticated acts of network-enabled sabotage, espionage and subversion. This, of course, is great. It should be cause for celebration that cyberweapons arent the second coming of nuclear weapons. But for some theorists, there is a sadness to this realization, too, because it suggests that war will continue to be as physically brutal as its always been. This mission becomes especially urgent when it comes to speech varieties with origins in colonialism and imperialism, created by subordinated, often nonwhite people under various conditions of forced labor or social isolation. In many cases, under conditions like these, adults (as opposed to children, who start learning a language from birth) learned additional languages quickly and without formal instruction, and filled out what they learned with aspects of their native languages, and a good bit of sheer creativity, to fashion something brand-new: creole languages, as linguists call them. These new ways of speaking usually discarded much of the older languages random material (which any language accretes over time) that is harder for adults to learn and not necessary to communication, anyway. A creole language doesnt present you with long lists of conjugational endings or randomly assign genders to inanimate objects because many languages worldwide do not, and a language need not. But even when a language doesnt do these things, it still has a great many rules to pick up, its own grammar, tens of thousands of words and specific ways that sounds are shaped and sentences are intoned. In other words, its full human language. Yet this (rather efficient) shedding of the bric-a-brac, plus the creoles being spoken by subaltern people, has encouraged a sense of it as a mere broken version of an older language. It often distracts even the speakers of these varieties themselves. While there has been, of late, a movement advocating recognition of Jamaican Patois as an official language, experts on the variety are perpetually frustrated by a general misimpression, especially beyond the academy and the arts, that Patois is just broken English, a bad habit. But one way we know that languages like this are indeed languages is that you can write a detailed grammatical description of each of them, full of complex rules (and exceptions) mapping out how to pronounce words, add tense to verbs, put sentences together, convey nuance just as in grammatical descriptions of languages such as Ukrainian that arent creoles but have suffered similar disrespect. This brings to my mind Black English. It is a dialect of English rather than a separate language while Standard English speakers may miss some of it when spoken rapidly, for the most part, they readily comprehend Black English. But traditionally, it has been seen as English gone wrong, just as Jamaican Patois has. The differences between Black English and Standard English are due in large part to the fact that it formed under circumstances like the ones that produced many creoles. Adult learners had a lot to do with its creation, and as such, it let go of some of Standard Englishs unneeded bells and whistles, the absence of which is often presented in a way that inadvertently oversimplifies, even diminishes, Black English. For instance, in various sources providing guidance for teaching reading to kids who speak Black English at home, you encounter the same stock examples showing how Black English relaxes standard English rules: Youll see the comparison col vs. cold show up in more than one place to explain that for some words, the final consonant sound is dropped. Youll see a basic explanation that the verb to be is often superfluous she my sister instead of she is my sister and so on. Of all the energy hogs in Joseph Mulvaneys home, his gas range was not the biggest offender. But earlier this month, he replaced it with an induction one anyway. Mr. Mulvaneys century-old three-bedroom house in Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island, is heated with a natural gas-fired boiler. So is his hot water. Those two items account for the overwhelming majority of the energy his home consumes. So if he really wanted to wean himself off fossil fuels and switch to a cleaner energy source, he would need to change how he heats his house. He buys into a solar community program, and considered adding a geothermal heating and cooling system, but was told it would cost $50,000. Instead, he replaced his stove, a decision that made the smallest dent in his carbon footprint but may actually be one of the hardest hurdles to clear. Its psychological. Who really cares about what kind of furnace they have? But anyone who likes to cook probably has a strong opinion about their stove. And electric stoves have a terrible reputation, evoking images of awkward coils that take forever to heat or cool and usually burn your food. Ive always had gas everywhere Ive ever lived, and same with my wife. That was the natural choice, said Mr. Mulvaney, 41, a software engineer. Kent Laudon, a wolf biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, woke up one morning last year to a flurry of text messages from a rancher in the states northernmost county. He was asking about a post with wildly specific details spreading across Facebook that urged people to find a red truck that was transporting breeding wolves along Route 97 into Siskiyou County, Calif. Mr. Laudon was not surprised. This wasnt the first post of its kind, and it wouldnt be the last. Wolves make people crazy, he said of these persistent rumors. And for the record: No, were not importing wolves. That never happened. Wolves dont need to be dropped off in California because they are returning on their own. The last of the states original wild wolves was killed by a hunter in Lassen County in Northern California in 1924. Since 2011, a series of roving canids have come and gone. Now it seems that in the states far-north counties, families of wolves are there to stay, with a relatively stable population of about 20 wolves. That number may fluctuate once spring begins and new pups emerge from their dens, but California can probably expect to have wolves calling the state home for years to come. Their return is motivating conservationists and scientists like Mr. Laudon to battle misinformation and the deep politicization of the species. Simultaneously, biologists are learning more about their habits in an effort to help humans and wolves coexist. GiAnna Katherine Wyatt had recently moved from Louisville, Ky., to Lantana, Fla., when she met Kyle Gregory Orangio at the lockers in their school, Santaluces Community High School in Lantana, in August 2004. Though Mr. Orangio stood 6-foot-6 and towered over her 5-foot-2 frame, Ms. Wyatt said he at first seemed shy and quiet. They started talking a few months later when the two began passing notes in history class, where Ms. Wyatt had been impressed with Mr. Orangios accurate responses to the teachers questions. I thought he was smart and had a surfer vibe, said Ms. Wyatt. Mr. Orangio, who was born and raised in Palm Beach County, said his first impression of Ms. Wyatt was that she had a great laugh, infectious energy and was so different from me. Both were juniors at the time, and the following spring, each needed a date to the prom. I wanted to take her, said Mr. Orangio, who became not only Ms. Wyatts prom date but also her first boyfriend. I never told people how my mother reacted the first time she saw porn on my phone. I was 13 and confused about my sexuality when a Google search led me to a porn site. I drifted off while watching it, and the following day, I saw that my mother had my phone. There was a knowing look in her eyes, but she didnt say anything. It happened twice after that; still, she didnt say anything. Maybe that is what gave me the courage to come out to her. Perhaps thats why a part of me knew that she wasnt going to react as the average parent in my country might. Mom, Im gay, I said last August as she was sitting on her bed. When she didnt say anything, I swallowed hard and repeated myself. After a few seconds, she took my hand, smiled, and said, I have always known and will continue to love you. There was worry in her eyes, but she wrapped me in her arms and began to cry, making me cry too. The first time I had a full-blown heart attack, five months later, I was back in school. We were learning how data worked when I excused myself to use the toilet. I have tried to read how heart attacks work to be able to describe it, but I cant. It just happens. You think everything is going well, and the next thing you know, youre on the floor, your legs outstretched, your heart pounding. Heart attacks are vicious; Ive had approximately five one full-blown and the rest mild. Each one, no matter how mild, leaves you scared and wondering when the next one might happen. No, Mr. Grint said politely. When the Harry Potter films ended, Mr. Grint was worried that he may not make it as an adult actor. He knew how to play Ron, Harrys brave, anxious sidekick. He didnt know if he could play anyone else. I definitely did think, Is it too late to pick something else? he said. He bought a pink-and-white ice cream van, which he drove back to his family home just north of London on his last day of shooting. He thought briefly that he could make a go of that. But after taking a year off, he tried acting again. He had been sent a lot of Potter adjacent material more sidekicks but he held on for edgier, more serious, more adult work. He took a part in a Jez Butterworth play, enjoying the discipline of theater, and starred in the Crackle crime dramedy Snatch. His most significant post-Potter role has been in M. Night Shyamalans Servant, a creepy drama on Apple TV+ about a Philadelphia couple who hire a nanny to care for a baby that is actually a therapy doll. (The real baby had died in an accident.) Mr. Grint plays Julian, the babys supercilious uncle. Its quite a difficult subject, especially if youve got a baby, he said. Halfway through the series, in the spring of 2020, his partner, the actress Georgia Groome, gave birth to their daughter, Wednesday G. Grint. Having a child midway through definitely made me understand what a loss that would be, he said. Wednesday had made him into a bit of a hypochondriac, he added. (Working on a show in which terrible things happen to bodies in nearly every episode self-harm, self-flagellation, being buried alive probably hasnt helped.) The changes could be a warning shot for employees at other companies that are preparing to return to the office after two years of the coronavirus pandemic. Google, Meta and others have long offered creature comforts like on-site medical attention, sushi buffets, candy stores and beanbag chairs to lure and retain top talent, which remains at a premium in the tech industry. Meta has had a difficult past few months, though company officials say the changes to perks are not related. For years, the company dominated the social media landscape. Now it is undergoing dramatic changes as its user growth stalls and younger competitors like TikTok gain traction worldwide. Investors have been questioning the long-term prospects of the companys advertising business model. Its market capitalization has dropped by half, to $515 billion. And some employees are debating whether they should be searching for new jobs as they see the value of their stock-based compensation plummet. Last year, Metas chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, announced that the company would be shifting its focus to the metaverse, an immersive online virtual world that has yet to be created. Wide swaths of the company were reorganized around Mr. Zuckerbergs vision for augmented- and virtual-reality products, and employees who were not willing to get on board said they felt pushed out of the company. Meta discussed the changes to its perks program for months as it explored how to shift to the new, hybrid workplace model, said two employees. The company has also expanded employees wellness stipends from roughly $700 to $3,000 this year in an attempt to accommodate for removing some of the other in-office perks. As we return to the office, weve adjusted on-site services and amenities to better reflect the needs of our hybrid work force, a Meta spokesman said in a statement. We believe people and teams will be increasingly distributed in the future, and were committed to building an experience that helps everyone be successful. Among cultural sites, she said, her greatest fear was for the safety of St. Sophia in Kyiv. It is the memory of the nation for almost 10 centuries, she said. It holds the history of Ukraine. It holds our art history. And it holds the history of how it survived. The Cathedral of St. Sophia survived, just as the Ukrainian nation is surviving. Many have commented on Europes uncharacteristically unified response to Russias attack on Ukraine. That might stem from the countrys nature as a melting pot. Thanks to its location at the top of the trade-heavy Black Sea, wedged between the European Union and Russia, Ukraine is home to a number of ethnic groups, including one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe. Zakarpattia, where I visited, has a significant Hungarian community, though much of the region was once part of Czechoslovakia, creating bridges to nearby Slovakia and the Czech Republic today. Mariupol and other cities are famous for their Greek populations, while Donetsk and other regions have significant Armenian communities. Though often ancient in origin, those cultural ties build and maintain relationships between Ukraine and other countries, and help to explain why so many around the world are moved by what is happening to Ukraines people and its monuments. Or, as the mayor of Novoselytsia put it when I complimented him nearly 12 years ago on the remarkable, 400-year-old wooden tserkva in his village: This isnt our culture. This is everyones culture. It belongs to the world. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2022. The reprieve, which legislators hope to pass quickly, would affect only a small portion of the act that deals with the environmental impact reports required as part of long-range development plans at public universities in California. It would give higher education leaders 18 months to remedy deficiencies when the courts determine that a campus population exceeds projections, and would ensure that any remedy being sought now would not apply to current enrollment. It also would allow them to adjust the number of faculty and staff members on campus, rather than just the number of students. Legal challenges have arisen because of longstanding legislative pressure to make room at public universities for more California students despite an acute shortage of housing. Demand for admission to the highly ranked University of California system is intense and economic projections indicate that the supply of highly skilled workers is far short of the level the state needs. The University of California system has on-campus beds for about 106,000 students, leaving roughly two out of three students to compete for off-campus housing in some of the nations most expensive housing markets. Over the past decade, the state has added a little over three times as many people as housing units, driving its median home price, at $800,000, to more than twice the national figure. Mr. Ting said lawmakers were also pushing for a $5 billion fund to underwrite campus housing. We all know how hard students work to get into college, and U.C. Berkeley is a huge accomplishment for any student the time they spend to achieve that is a lifetime worth of work, he said. This was really our responsibility. A Berkeley campus spokeswoman, Janet Gilmore, said the proposal will help ensure that students arent harmed because of uncertainty around current policy. In doing so, Mr. Khan became the 20th of the 38 detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay for whom the United States needs to arrange safe transfer to another country. His lawyer, J. Wells Dixon, urged the Biden administration to transfer him promptly to a safe third country. Mr. Khan, 42, is a Pakistani citizen who went to high school in suburban Maryland, but neither place appears to be a viable option. By law, no Guantanamo detainee can be taken to the United States. His lawyers say he cannot be returned to Pakistan because, when he first pleaded guilty, he became a U.S. government witness, and his life could be in danger were he sent there. There is no basis left to continue to hold Majid Khan at Guantanamo, Mr. Dixon said. The United States must send him to a safe, third country where he can be reunited with his wife and his daughter, who he never met. Mr. Wood, a colonel in the Arkansas National Guard, was appointed to the civilian position of war court overseer during the Trump administration and has wide latitude to review and dismiss cases, as well as negotiate plea agreements. In the case of Mr. Khan, an agreement last year that was kept secret from the jury pledged to reduce his time in confinement. As part of the deal, Mr. Khan was permitted to make a public plea for leniency to the jury in October. He offered a painful, lengthy account of his journey from a hipster high school graduate in suburban Maryland in the late 1990s to a Qaeda recruit in Pakistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, followed by his disappearance into the black sites of the C.I.A. for three years. Ukraines most sophisticated attack drone is about as stealthy as a crop duster: slow, low-flying and completely defenseless. So when the Russian invasion began, many experts expected the few drones that the Ukrainian forces managed to get off the ground would be shot down in hours. But more than two weeks into the conflict, Ukraines drones Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 models that buzz along at about half the speed of a Cessna are not only still flying, they also shoot guided missiles at Russian missile launchers, tanks and supply trains, according to Pentagon officials. The drones have become a sort of lumbering canary in the wars coal mine, a sign of the astonishing resiliency of the Ukrainian defense forces and the larger problems that the Russians have encountered. The performance of the Russian military has been shocking, said David A. Deptula, a retired three-star Air Force general who planned the U.S. air campaigns in Afghanistan in 2001 and the Persian Gulf in 1991. Their failure to secure air superiority has been reflected by their slow and ponderous actions on the ground. Conversely, the Ukrainian air force performing better than expected has been a big boost to the morale of the entire country. If there were a biological or chemical weapon attack inside Ukraine, Mr. Rubio asked, would there be any doubt that Russia was behind it? There is no doubt in my mind, Senator, and it is classic Russian technique to blame the other guy what theyre planning to do themselves, Ms. Nuland responded. The State Department said Ms. Nuland was referring to Ukrainian diagnostic and biodefense laboratories during her testimony, which are different from biological weapons facilities. Rather, these biodefense laboratories counter biological threats throughout the country, the department said. Mr. Rubio made the same clarification in another congressional hearing on Thursday, noting that theres a difference between a bioweapons facility and one thats doing research. In referring to Mr. Pope on Thursday, Mr. Carlson was distorting a February interview Mr. Pope gave to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit organization and publication. Mr. Pope had warned that Russias invasion of Ukraine may damage laboratories in the country that conduct research and disease surveillance and are supported by the United States. He noted that some of the facilities may contain pathogens once used for Soviet-era bioweapons programs, but he emphasized that the Ukrainian labs currently did not have the ability to manufacture bioweapons. There is no place that still has any of the sort of infrastructure for researching or producing biological weapons, Mr. Pope said. Scientists being scientists, it wouldnt surprise me if some of these strain collections in some of these laboratories still have pathogen strains that go all the way back to the origins of that program. The spike in Russian migration across the southern border coincides with a confluence of factors that have rendered it virtually impossible for Russians to enter the United States directly, and the number of asylum seekers soared in the months leading up to the invasion of Ukraine. Strained relations between the United States and Russia had hobbled visa processing at the U.S. embassy in Moscow, as consular operations had also halted in nearby countries under pandemic shutdowns. All that limited legal options for reaching the United States, while Russians could still enter Mexico with relative ease, needing only a visa they obtained electronically. Some Ukrainians have arrived at the U.S. border in the days since the Russian invasion began driving millions out of the country, though exact numbers have not yet been made public. A mother and three children who showed up at the border in San Diego on Wednesday were refused entry, according to an immigrant advocate familiar with the case, but the U.S. authorities informed the family the following day that it would be allowed to enter. Ukrainians in the United States have been inundating immigration lawyers with calls asking how they can sponsor relatives stranded in Poland and other countries. There is newfound panic, and demand is overwhelming, said Jeff Khurgel, a Russian-speaking lawyer in Irvine, Calif. U.S. consulates in some European cities have begun expediting visas, he said. Russians and Ukrainians represent only a small fraction of all the people crossing the southern border. But unlike most migrants from Mexico and Central America, who have often been turned away since the beginning of the pandemic, they are being allowed to make asylum claims at ports of entry. And while a vast majority of asylum cases are ultimately denied, two-thirds of those from Russia and Ukraine have been winning their cases, according to government data analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. On May 4, 1891, as gale-force winds and waves raged on Lake Superior, the crew of a schooner barge named Atlanta abandoned ship as it sank. The six men and one woman, a cook, clung to their lifeboat for nine hours, fighting at its oars to guide it to the Michigan shore. As they neared land, according to archival news reports, the lifeboat capsized within sight of a distant rescue patrol, which mistook it for a tree trunk rolling in the turbulent water. Six of the crew members managed to climb back in the boat, but it flipped again. Only two men survived. This month, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society said that the wreckage of the Atlanta had been found after it had sat undetected in the cold oblivion of the lakes depths for more than a century. The announcement revived the story of how the Atlantas crew members fought for their lives on the worlds largest freshwater lake. Just suddenly, our cameras were on it, Bruce Lynn, the executive director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Mich., said in an interview. We were the first human eyes to be looking at this since that dramatic moment. I about jumped out of my chair. The fight over transgender issues, waged on several fronts in recent years, has increasingly focused on medical treatments for children. Major medical groups along with transgender advocates back what is known as gender-affirming care, which involves supporting a childs gender identity and social transition, often through clothes or a name. Such care can also eventually include puberty-blockers or hormone treatments, though genital surgery is not typically recommended for children. While acknowledging some uncertainty and risk, they cite evidence that the approach can improve childrens mental health and reduce suicide. Opponents including some large conservative organizations argue that children are too young to decide for themselves and must be shielded from potentially life-altering treatments that have only recently gained broader acceptance among the medical community. Those at the center of the conservative push for new state laws include a coalition of familiar groups the Heritage Foundation, Family Policy Alliance and Alliance Defending Freedom that came together in the last two years. Then last month, a newer player on the right, American Principles Project, took up the cause in Texas, spending more than $600,000 to run a series of highly produced ads on cable television featuring the case of Mr. Younger, who has become an outspoken supporter of restrictive legislation on transgender issues. The ads directly targeted Mr. Abbott during a hard-fought Republican primary, accusing the governor of not taking steps to protect our children. By that point, Mr. Younger, 57, had testified repeatedly at the Capitol in Austin on measures to restrict transgender medical treatments. After the bills failed, he entered the Republican primary for an open seat in the Texas House of Representatives. Last week, Mr. Younger came in second place, qualifying for the May runoff. For conservative activists, the legislative push has been part of a broader national struggle over social issues, including legislation in Florida to ban teaching about gender identity in schools. Some of the same activists who defend the rights of parents in battles over school curriculum argue that, on the question of transgender treatment, children need protection from their own parents. It was Read Across America week, and the second graders in the Hinds County School District in Mississippi were waiting for an administrator to read to them. The administrator had forgotten it was her turn, said Toby Price, the assistant principal at Gary Road Elementary School in Hinds County, who was in his office at the time. He decided to fill in. Mr. Price, 46, quickly grabbed a book I Need a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan, one of his childrens favorites and began reading it to the roughly 240 second graders over Zoom. Later that day, on March 2, the district superintendent, Delesicia Martin, called him into her office and told him he was on administrative leave, Mr. Price said. He was fired two days later, accused of violating the standards of conduct section of the Mississippi Educator Code of Ethics. Given the fast-changing situation in Ukraine and the mounting death toll, Ill be using todays newsletter to guide you through our coverage of the war as well as some stories with particular relevance to California readers. On Thursday, top diplomats from Russia and Ukraine met for the first time since the invasion began, but failed to make even a hint of progress. Russian forces pushed farther into Ukrainian cities. The other big stories, which are featured on todays front page, tackle surging inflation, Americas two-front information war against Russia and China and President Vladimir Putin opening the door to nationalizing Western businesses. The Times also wrote about how Russian sanctions are straining an already snarled global supply chain and why sanctions are an increasingly popular tool in foreign policy. From a clinical point of view, no matter whether it is a clinically confirmed case or a clinically asymptomatic infection, they are all virus-positive infected people, and they are all contagious, said Wu Jinglei, the director of the Shanghai Health Commission. Most of Chinas new cases have been in cities that attribute their outbreaks to the Omicron variant. Tiny pockets of the Delta variant are still occurring along Chinas borders. Each day, the National Health Commission announces the number of new cases from the day before, and it shows a steep ascent. Looking just at the announcements on Fridays, there were 60 cases nationwide three weeks ago, 104 cases two weeks ago, 117 a week ago and then 1,100 on Friday. The cases reported on Friday were in 17 of Chinas 31 provinces. The National Health Commission announced Friday that it would allow the commercial sale of Covid rapid test kits, which China has avoided until now in favor of nasal or throat swabs that are processed at government-approved laboratories. Pharmacies and online stores are now allowed to sell them. Several entire cities in northeastern China have gone into lockdown despite urgings from national officials to be more selective in choosing how extensively to restrict peoples movements. The latest city to do so was Changchun, a large car-manufacturing center, which locked down on Friday. GORAKHPUR, India The powerful chief minister of Indias most populous state woke up at a Hindu temple, fed cows sweet jaggery cakes, performed a religious ceremony for Lord Shiva, then hit the trail on the last day of his election campaign this month. This blurring of religion and politics is what some supporters love and some opponents fear most about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the firebrand Hindu monk who won a critical state election and a second term this week in Uttar Pradesh. His election victory and continued popularity, despite a heavily criticized government response to the coronavirus pandemic and a rise in hate speech and violence against Muslims under his watch, have cemented him as one of the most galvanizing figures in right-wing Hindu politics, and increasingly as an heir apparent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. MELBOURNE, Australia A police officer in Australia was found not guilty on Friday in the death of a 19-year-old Indigenous man whose shooting more than two years ago prompted widespread protests and worsened long-simmering tensions over the governments treatment of the countrys native peoples. The officer, Zachary Rolfe, 30, had been charged with murder and other counts after killing the teenager, Kumanjayi Walker, during an attempted arrest in a remote Australian community. After a closely watched trial that lasted over a month and featured testimony from more than 40 witnesses, Mr. Rolfe was cleared of all charges by a jury in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Darwin. The prosecution had argued that Mr. Rolfe used excessive force and did not need to shoot Mr. Walker two additional times after the first shot. The defense argued that Mr. Rolfe, who had been stabbed by Mr. Walker with medical scissors as officers tried to apprehend him, had acted in self-defense. Many Indigenous Australians had seen the case as a test of whether the authorities could be held accountable after what they call decades of abuses. While no police officer has been convicted of murdering an Indigenous person in Australia, nearly 500 Indigenous people have died in police custody since 1991, when a royal commission made 339 recommendations to reduce such deaths. American and Iranian officials are both eager to renew the deal: Iran desperately needs the lifting of sanctions that have crippled its economy, while the United States wants to restore the original deals limits on Irans ability to enrich uranium. The deal broke down in 2018 when the Trump administration withdrew from it. The Trump administration then applied a raft of new sanctions against Iran, and Iran began increasing its enrichment of uranium. Iran has always denied it intends to build a nuclear weapon, but it is now considered to be within just several weeks of creating enough highly enriched uranium to create a bomb, even though it would take many more months to weaponize it. Russia, however, has incentives to stop the deals revival. There are two reasons why a deal right now would not benefit Russia, said Ali Vaez, who follows the negotiations closely for the International Crisis Group. A nuclear deal with Iran would lift the weight of a major security crisis for the West and give it more space to put pressure on Russia. It would also decrease oil prices and Irans oil would enter the market. But Russias demands are not entirely clear, and go well beyond the framework of the Iran deal. If Russia wants reassurances that it can do all the transactions required under the deal, that can be managed, European officials said. If the demands are much broader, they might kill the deal entirely if they cannot be worked around. A local committee is planning a major celebration of the saint for 2024, the 1,500th anniversary of her reputed death. And the Irish government announced in January that starting next year, there will be a new annual holiday, on or near Feb. 1, to mark both Imbolc and Saint Brigids Day. It will be, the government said, the first Irish public holiday to honor a woman. For some Catholic feminists, the new interest in Brigid reflects the liberalizing Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, which appeared to signal an end to the subservient and cloistered role of women in the church. Many nuns, like the Brigidines, became much more engaged with ecological and social issues, and they are also in touch with feminist groups around the world, said Mary Condren, a visiting research fellow at Trinity College Dublins Center for Gender and Womens Studies. Margaret Hebblethwaite, a leading English writer on Catholic matters, attended this years vigil at Saint Brigids Well. While she had heard the name of Saint Brigid as a child, Ms. Hebblethwaite had only recently learned that, unusually, Brigid and her female successors governed not only nuns but male monks, as well. Moreover, it is believed that Brigid, despite being a woman, was ordained as a bishop. She is such a model, so badly needed by the church of today because of the issues of gender equality, Ms. Hebblethwaite said. In Ghouta, Ms. Khayti said she spent months in basements and eventually was forced to leave her home. As desperation set in, long after residents had eaten all the chickens, they resorted to eating the chicken feed, grinding it down and making bread out of it. She recalled how her family would buy one potato all they could afford to be used as a remedy in case of any stomach illness. Even as Ms. Khayti closely follows the news from Ukraine, she said that some images are too difficult to watch, like the video of the aftermath of a deadly airstrike. March 7 was the four-year anniversary of her brothers death in Ghouta. He and a neighbor had ventured out of the basement where they were sheltering to get water for the families there. Minutes later he was killed in an airstrike, she said. It was just days before the area surrendered and Ms. Khayti and the surviving members of her family boarded evacuation buses to the countrys northwest province of Idlib, never to return to their homes. We dont wish this on anyone, she said, not even our enemies. In the Damascus suburb of Moadamiya, after a generator running on plastic-bottle fuel broke down at night, doctors had to operate on a patient using only four or five small flashlights, the ones on the end of cigarette lighters, said Nooraddeen Mokhiber, 34, who now lives in France. The Syrian regime repeatedly deflected blame for the sieges of opposition-held areas, saying it was the fault of the rebels. LONDON The London police violated the human rights of the organizers behind a March 2021 vigil for a woman who was killed by a serving police officer as she walked home, the British High Court ruled on Friday, a decision that comes as the government seeks greater authority for the police to block protests. The judgment comes at a particularly fraught time for Londons Metropolitan Police Service, which is dealing with the resignation of its chief, Cressida Dick, and a broader crisis of trust after allegations of misogyny, racism and bullying within the force. Four leaders of Reclaim These Streets, the group that had organized the protest after the killing of the woman, Sarah Everard, took the police force to court after it canceled the vigil, saying their rights had been violated. The group celebrated the decision as a victory for women. Last March, womens voices were silenced. Todays judgment conclusively shows that the police were wrong to silence us, the organization said in a statement. The decisions and actions by the Met Police in the run-up to the planned vigil for Sarah Everard last year were unlawful and the judgment sets a powerful precedent for protest rights. Ms. Haidar did not reply to calls and messages requesting comment, and the news was not reported by the Saudi state news media. A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. Before his arrest, Mr. Badawi was not a well-known figure inside Saudi Arabia or abroad but ran a niche website called Free Saudi Liberals that published content supportive of secularism and critical of the kingdoms religious authorities and their austere interpretation of Islam. He was arrested in 2012 and put on trial for a range of criminal offenses that included cybercrime and disobeying his father, who denounced his son in the Saudi news media. The Saudi justice system is based on Islamic Shariah law, and prosecutors initially tried to charge him with apostasy, which can be punished by death. That effort failed, but he was convicted on lesser charges and sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 blows. Prosecutors sought a stiffer sentence, and in 2014, the court added a hefty fine, extended his prison term to 10 years and kept the 600 blows, to be administered in public in installments of 50 blows. On a Friday afternoon in early 2015, he was taken from a bus and beaten on his backside with a cane in front of a mosque in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. A bystander filmed the encounter, which ended with spectators chanting God is great! and applauding, and posted it on the internet, fueling international outrage. His sentence was not amended, but the flogging stopped. Rights activists took up his case and published translations of his writings. In 2015, he was named the international co-recipient of Britains PEN Pinter Prize, a major free speech honor, and awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Unions top human rights award. A campaign gathered speed to grant him the Nobel Peace Prize along with his brother-in-law Waleed Abulkhair, who ran a Saudi human rights organization and remains in prison. In some countries in Europe, the rise of BA.2 has roughly coincided with a halt in the decline of cases and a new surge. In Asia, some places like Hong Kong that suffered relatively little from earlier variants are now getting pummeled by BA.2. Its possible that BA.2s high transmissibility is driving these increases in cases. But its also hard to disentangle the subvariants effects from other factors. Europe, for example, has just dropped many of its protection measures, making it easier for any coronavirus to jump from one person to another. People who got vaccinated early last year may be experiencing waning immunity, especially if they havent been boosted. Places like Hong Kong that kept Covid out until now were not able to build up much immunity through infections in previous waves. And they have also failed to vaccinate many of their citizens, particularly the elderly. Many who were vaccinated got relatively ineffective ones developed in China. Covid cases are still falling drastically in the United States even as BA.2 is accounting for a greater fraction of those dwindling cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that as of March 12, BA.2 accounted for 23 percent of cases. As the United States drops many of its own protection measures, BA.2 may be able to spread more easily from person to person. But there are a number of reasons to doubt that it will drive a large new spike of cases and hospitalizations. In response to Russias invasion of Ukraine late last month, Western powers turned to an increasingly common playbook: imposing a broad range of sanctions that had immediate and devastating impacts on Russias economy, financial system and citizens. The use of these kinds of penalties has risen sharply in recent years, according to the Global Sanctions Database, a project from Drexel University that has become the most comprehensive tally of its kind. Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 250 cases Cases against Russia 200 Syria 150 100 Chile Myanmar Cuba 50 North Korea China 50 60 70 80 90 00 10 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. 250 cases 200 Russia 150 Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 100 Syria Cases against Cuba Chile Myanmar 50 North Korea China 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. 250 cases 200 Russia 150 Syria Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 100 Chile Cases against Cuba Myanmar 50 North Korea China 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 250 cases 200 150 Iran 100 South Africa 50 50 60 70 80 90 00 10 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. 250 cases 200 150 Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 Iran 100 50 South Africa 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. 250 cases 200 150 Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 Iran 100 South Africa 50 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 250 cases 200 Russia 150 100 50 50 60 70 80 90 00 10 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. 250 cases 200 Russia 150 Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 100 50 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. 250 cases 200 Russia 150 Number of sanction cases, grouped by target, in place from 1950 through 2019 100 50 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database. Note: One target might be subject to simultaneous cases from different sanctioning bodies. The database includes more than 1,100 cases: instances when a sanction or a set of sanctions were ordered by a country or intergovernmental body against another country or organization. Some sanctions, including those against Cuba, have been in place for decades. South Africa faced strict penalties during the apartheid era. In addition to combating military aggression, sanctions are often used to target human rights and other abuses. Iran was the target of a growing set of cases until a number were rescinded with the signing of the Iran nuclear deal. Russia was previously punished in 2014 when it invaded Crimea. Many of those provisions remain in place. Constantinos Syropoulos and Yoto Yotov, trade economists and two of the researchers behind the database, suggested that one factor driving the popularity of sanctions could be a resistance to engaging in military conflict. The United States, for example, has long used sanctions as a foreign policy tool. But it has accelerated their use in the last 20 years, just as support waned for the costly and unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States is responsible for the most sanctions cases, accounting for 42 percent of those in place since 1950, according to Drexels data. Next is the European Union, with 12 percent, and the United Nations, 7 percent. Sanctions have also become increasingly specific. The aim is often to directly punish responsible parties without harming citizens of the target country, decimating its economy or jeopardizing valuable trade relationships with allied nations. As their use has increased, so has the urgency of the question: Do sanctions work? There is no doubt in our minds, sanctions are economically very, very painful, said Mr. Yotov. But, he added, this doesn't imply necessarily that theyre going to reach their ultimate goals. To assess the success of sanctions in their database, the researchers compared stated policy goals for each case with determinations from government or official sources such as the United Nations on whether the goal was achieved. Using this framework, they found that about half of the stated goals in the sanctions cases were at least partly achieved, and about 35 percent were completely achieved. These estimates are roughly in line with previous research, though Mr. Yotov and Mr. Syropoulos cautioned that quantifying the objectives or the outcomes of sanctions inherently involved a degree of subjectivity and interpretation. Do sanctions achieve their stated goals? Stated goals for sanctions cases from 1950-2019, by outcome Total success Partial success Negotiated settlement Failed Still in place Defend human rights 316 Promote democracy 291 Change specific policy 193 End war 167 Prevent war 117 Stop terrorism 86 Destabilize regime 84 End territorial conflict 67 Other 109 Source: Global Sanctions Database The success or failure of a goal is based on collected official reports. These numbers include only sanctions that were imposed, but sometimes a threat alone is enough to achieve a specific goal. Estimates from another database that contains instances of threatened and imposed sanctions through 2005 suggest that if cases when penalties were threatened are counted alongside cases when they are imposed, the success rate of sanctions overall is higher. And even when a goal is not achieved, enforcing sanctions can make future threats of sanctions more credible, said T. Clifton Morgan, a political scientist at Rice University and a lead researcher behind this database. In the current crisis, the threat of sanctions did not prevent Russias invasion of Ukraine, and its too soon to say whether imposed ones will help encourage the wars end. Determining what makes sanctions successful involves many factors, including how coordinated they are across countries and how important the underlying cause in this case President Vladimir V. Putins desire to control Ukraine is for the target country. Whether or not they reach their stated goals, such penalties are often very effective at causing extreme economic pain and severely decreasing quality of life in the target country. Russians are experiencing this right now as they did to a lesser extent after 2014, when the countrys G.D.P. contracted nearly 2 percent after sanctions were levied while global oil prices were falling. Russia is still recovering from earlier sanctions Russian gross domestic product in current U.S. dollars 2014 Sanctions imposed on Russia for Crimea annexation, as oil prices fall $2.0 trillion $1.5 $1.0 $0.5 90 95 00 05 10 15 20 2014 Sanctions imposed on Russia for Crimea annexation, as oil prices fall $2.0 trillion $1.5 $1.0 $0.5 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 Source: World Bank In the current crisis, the first wave of sanctions against Russia was largely financial. The international assets of oligarchs and other powerful Russians within Mr. Putins inner circle were frozen and their foreign travel was limited. Russian banks were excluded from a critical communications system used for international transactions. These actions formed part of a wider strategy to cut off the means for Mr. Putin to finance his war effort. Other Military Arms Trade Travel Financial 50 100 150 cases 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Source: Global Sanctions Database Note: A single case can contain multiple types of sanctions. As Russia has refused to change course in Ukraine, Western countries have ratcheted up their tactics, including blocking the sale of Russian oil and gas. Private companies like McDonalds and credit card companies have also stopped operating in the country, wreaking even more havoc. Russias economy has been struggling under the weight of these heavier penalties, and is expected to go into default, sending ripples around the world as oil prices and other costs rise. The response to a pileup of sanctions is not always predictable. One concern Western leaders have had is that Russia may deepen its ties with China if its further cut off from the rest of the world. One example of that came last weekend, when Russias central bank said that some of the countrys financial institutions might begin using Chinas credit card system after Visa and Mastercard stopped functioning there. Sometimes sanctions can also have the counterintuitive effect of consolidating the power of an authoritarian government, according to Dursun Peksen, a political scientist at the University of Memphis. When a nation becomes isolated, he found, access to state resources becomes even more important, and elites unite behind the leader and quell opposition. Sanctions are often detrimental for human rights, democracy, gender equality, press freedom and public health in affected nations such as Iran and Cuba, Mr. Peksens research showed. Russia will become a lot more authoritarian, more isolated, and its the average Russian citizen that will incur the most cost, he said. Ultimately, he added, when imposing sanctions we have to strike a balance between political gain and civilian pain. Today Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Cloudy. High near 60F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Stillwater, OK (74078) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High near 65F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. The workers of several ant species have large, flattened, and slightly concave heads that they use as plugs to block entrance to their colonies nests. The so-called door head ants are soldier ants with armored heads that match both the size and the shape of the entrance to their colonies nests almost to perfection. They function as living doors, using their heads to plug shut the nest and only allow access to other members of the colony while keeping unwanted guests out. Door head ants can be found in several ant genera, including Cephalotes and Carebara. How these species developed the exact size and shape as the entries to their nests is the result of millions of years of evolution. Photo: Reddit Cephalotes, or turtle ants, have large, round and slightly concave heads that just happen to match the shape and size of the holes left in trees by wood-boring beetles. Such tunnels make a great place for an ant nest, but they also attract a lot of trouble, and its the door head ants job to keep invading ants, predators and parasites out. If you live in a tight tunnel like that, if anything invades the space youre basically trapped, Steve Yanoviak, of the University of Louisville, told New Scientist. Its sort of a non-aggressive, non-violent way of protecting yourself. Unlike many of their enemies, cephalotes have no sting, so they are not the most formidable combatants. This makes the door head soldiers that much more important to the colony, as the safety of the entire community rests on their shoulders, or, their head, rather. Interestingly, turtle ants arent in door-mode at all times. You can see the entrance to their nests open, but as soon as they sense danger, be it a top on the wooden wall of their tunnel, or pheromones of an enemy, the door is immediately plugged shut. Some species even pores on their heads that secrete tangled fibers that resemble fungi, to make them more inconspicuous. These living doors arent impervious to damage, though. Scott Powell of George Washington University studied them and found that many of the soldiers have deep scars on their armored heads, and even bits bitten or torn out of them. But no matter how bad things get, they never back up. They would rather die than put the nest at risk. Things have been biting at them and chewing at them and trying to get a purchase to yank them out. They bear the scars of this job of sticking their head in the hole all day long, Powell told New Scientist. Powell himself performed an experiment, trying to push one of these door head ants out of position with metallic forceps, and claims that the surgical instrument punctured the ants head before it would budge. A UK man claims that a hypnosis session triggered vivid memories of his past life as an airplane photographer and gunner during World War One. Steve Mulligan was born in 1961, in the city of Manchester, but also has very clear memories of growing up in Llandudno, Wales, in the beginning of the 20th century. He claims that he grew up as Sydney Sutcliffe, and died at the age of 24, after his plane was shut down on the Western Front during WWI. He always had these strange memories that played out in black and white, of him looking down from high up in the sky, but he could never really make sense of them. And then he went in for a hypnosis session and discovered that he was remembering his past life. Photo: sciencefreak/Pixabay Since my childhood, Ive always been drawn to Llandudno, even when I came here as a child I knew my way around and my mum used to be amazed at how I knew where to go, Steve recently told Daily Post. When wed be walking around it was like I was having Deja vu like Id been there before. It wasnt until someone suggested doing a past life regression that all of this came spilling out. During a hypnotherapy session with Paul Goddard, the 61-year-old allegedly recalled his past life, including joining the Fusiliers in Wrexham and later joining the Royal Flying Corps, before working as a photographer and gunner in World War One. He even recalled his last mission, an aerial reconnaissance flight over enemy lines near Cambrai, France, and looking down before the plane is hit by enemy fire and crashed. I can remember that feeling as the aircraft was going down and it was really strange because I had no control of it, Mulligan said. I could feel that loss of life but theres nothing I could do. Although he understands why most people are skeptical when they hear his story, Steve Mulligan says that it would have been impossible to go for the name of someone who had actually been born in Llandudno and had lived there in the same period as his past life memories. I didnt know anything about Llandudno apart from coming here as a child until I did the regression, the 61-year-old said. I had never heard the name Sydney Sutcliffe, so for me to choose that name out of millions of names and for that to be someone who did live in Llandudno, its just incredible. Steve recently visited the war memorial in Llandudno and actually found the name Sydney Sutcliffe listed among the local soldiers who died during World War One, as well as the graves of Sydneys parents. Huh, imagine that Seeing Sydneys name on the grave was emotional, and Im still trying to get my head around it. Its a weird feeling, Mulligan said. The strange thing is, his mother (Rhoda) died in 1960 and I was born nine months later in 1961. So, to me, thats as if she was waiting to pass so I could be reborn, and thats why Im here. Gordon Brown Phil Revzin, counselor at The Dilenschneider Group, helped former UK prime minister Gordon Brown prepare his March 10 op-ed calling for the US to back European leaders who want Russian president Vladimir Putin and his cronies to be prosecuted for the slaughter in Ukraine. Since Russia never signed the International Criminal Court agreement establishing aggression as a war crime, theres a need for a special tribunal to deal with Putins brutality. A tribunal would also send a message to Putin and his inner circle that their brutal criminality will not escape trial and punishment, wrote Brown. It would sow fear among Putins inner circle, if not Putin himself. Just as those complicit with Nazi crimes started to peel away from their leader and seek private deals, so, too, may Putins collaborators begin to cooperate with the forces of justice. Revzin spent more than 30 years at the Wall Street Journal as reporter/editor/publisher/VP and did a stint as editor at large at Bloomberg, which published Browns op-ed. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Rain likely. High 54F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Light rain early. Partial clearing late. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The International Association of Risk and Crisis Communication, a non-profit organization that brings together risk and crisis communication professionals from around the world, launches. Geneva, Switzerland-based IARCC will provide members with professional development and networking opportunities, as well as resources and support through education, research, and advocacy. It will also offer professional development in risk and crisis communication through the creation of a dedicated academy. The organization is currently running a fundraising program to support humanitarian efforts geared toward those impacted by the war in Ukraine. "On several occasions, I was confronted with risk causers and risk beneficiaries on the one hand, and anti-risk activists or vulnerable people who did not have the time and ability to assess their risk and make decisions from it," said IARCC president Herbert Koch. "I felt that there was a need for a platform to organize a dialogue between these groups to improve understanding of the issues." Seven Letter starts up an environmental, social and governance practice. The firm has also expanded its corporate communications offering to support both public and private companies in their efforts to reach existing and prospective investors, sector analysts and the financial media in the form of financial communications and investor relations. As part of the new practice, Seven Letter has added two new partners, Scott Deitz and Meaghan Hohl. They, along with new hires Christian Rodriguez, Macsonny Onyechefule and Jesse Rogers, will be integral to the expansion of the firm's offerings. "Establishing this ESG practice is a natural expansion for our firm," said Seven Letter founding partner and CEO Erik Smith. "Our new colleagues know the importance of this moment in our industry and they bring tremendous experience and talent to our team." Marquette University's Diederich College of Communication is partnering with Kansas City, MO-based Trozzolo Communication Group on the launch of the Carl Collective, a student-involved public relations, advertising and communications agency. Based near Marquette's Milwaukee campus, the Carl Collective will partner with clients in the region on a range of services across the marketing communication mix. It will be led by Marquette alumnus Erik Brooks, owner of Brooks Communications, which is being acquired by Trozzolo Communications Group as part of the deal. The agency is named for Carl Schrank, longtime professor and student adviser at Marquette, who passed away in 2019. "This is a big win for the students of today and tomorrow, as they can gain real-world experience they can't get anywhere else," said Diderich College of Communication dean Sarah Feldner. Dragon Horse Agency's sister company, Dragon Horse Publishing, has launched a campaign to provide 25 percent of book sales of its Toofer & The Giblet, a children's book written by Paulette LeBlanc and illustrated by Ukrainian Dmitriy Morozov, to care.org in support of Mozorov's family and all Ukrainians. Mozorov is based in Dnipro, Ukraine which has been attacked by Russian forces. Dragon Horse Publishing president Julie Koester, also founder, managing partner and president of Dragon Horse Agency, says she is in contact with Mozorov daily. And the campaign is a way for Dragon Horse to "do our small but hopeful part to help the people of Ukraine." 11/03/2022 - The OECD will publish Economic and Social Impacts and Policy Implications of the War in Ukraine on Thursday 17 March 2022. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann and Deputy Secretary-General and Chief Economist Laurence Boone will present the assessment (in English, with French interpretation) during an event at OECD Headquarters in Paris, starting at 11:00 CET (10:00 GMT). The event will be open to press (registration required via e-mail). The assessment will be freely accessible (in English and French) on the OECDs web site at http://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/. You are invited to include this Internet link in reports on the Outlook. Journalists can register to participate in an interactive presentation of the Assessment, via Zoom: https://meetoecd1.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sI8mmKZiS-GsaFnHfFzCPQ The presentation will also be webcast live, without registration, at: https://oecdtv.webtv-solution.com/49ebf7b8c883b0ac306936c9cb39e009/or/impacts_and_policy_implications_of_the_war_in_ukraine.html Media requests to receive the Assessment under embargo prior to release should be sent by e-mail to embargo@oecd.org. Journalists requesting an electronic version in advance of the release time agree to respect OECD embargo conditions. For further information, contact Lawrence Speer in the OECD Media Office (+33 1 4524 9700). Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to preserve individual liberty and improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The Jennifer Zamparelli Show on RTE 2fm is breaking out of Dublin and visiting listeners all over Ireland in the coming weeks, including Tullamore on Friday, March 11. This month the Jen Z Tour will make its first stop in OConnor Square, in Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Friday, March 11. The 2fm Roadcaster will be parked in OConnor Square from 9am-Noon where the show will broadcast live, and Jen wants to invite everybody to come along and say hello, grab a coffee, bring the children, everybody is welcome. There will be special guest interviews with familiar celebrities and live music from local band Chasing Abbey, and of course, there will be a few surprises, and prizes, to give away to people who come along. The 2fm DJ and Dancing with the Stars presenter, Jennifer says she is "really excited to be getting out of RTE and actually meeting the listeners. "Its gonna be a lot of fun and Im buzzing to go to Offaly and that a sentence I never thought Id say," she added. So make a date with Jennifer Zamparelli on the first stop on her Jen Z Tour LIVE in OConnor Square, Tullamore on Friday, March 11. A Tullamore student competed this week in the final of the prestigious All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad Robert Maher from Tullamore College competed at the national finals of the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) in Dublin City University (DCU) on Wednesday. Run by ADAPT, the world-leading SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, the contest challenges secondary school students to apply logic and reasoning skills to solve complex puzzles in unfamiliar languages. T he 100 national finalists, from 44 schools in 18 counties, have come through preliminary rounds held in schools all over the island in January. More than 3,000 students registered for this years contest. Competing in individual and team rounds, the finalists are faced with anything from deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics to interpreting ancient Mayan poetry to decoding numerical spy codes. The AILO finals see teenagers solve puzzles that require lateral thinking skills and the ability to think outside the box. Students must analyse the data they are given to work out the rules of the new language. These transferable skills are critical in preparing young people for a wide range of careers in computing, linguistics and language. Four winners from the final will go on to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad held on the Isle of Man in July. Speaking about the event, Dr Cara Greene who coordinates AILO said, Were delighted to be back hosting students and their teachers at ADAPT in DCU after running the competition both remotely and online for the last two years. The results of the National Final of the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad will be released next week. Sample puzzles from the Olympiad can be downloaded at https://ailo.adaptcentre.ie/sample-puzzles Fuels for Ireland has claimed petrol stations are not engaging in price gouging and have said the Government excise reduction has already been wiped out by soaring prices. Speaking on Morning Ireland, Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartlan said: "the Government is taking 40 million extra per month in VAT as a result of the high prices right now. There's no profiteering by industry but you would wonder where that extra 40 million is going?". In a letter issued to Taoiseach Micheal Martin today, Fuels for Ireland said its members are deeply unhappy over a number of misleading statements that the industry has been involved in profiteering. The Taoiseach told Fianna Fail TDs earlier in the week that any price gouging following the excise cut was morally reprehensible. However, M McPartlan said wholesale prices were going up rapidly prior to the Governments decision to cut the excise duty on fuel. It absolutely isnt because in the 24 hours coming up to the announcement of the excise cuts by government, the wholesale price for diesel had gone up by 22c per litre. So, a 15c per litre reduction was wiped out before it had even come into effect, he said. There was another thing that the Government announcement was misleading on, which was they told consumers that that should have impact from midnight on the night of the announcement," his letter outlined. Speaking earlier today, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the Government has invested 300 million of taxpayers' money "at a time of huge risk for all of us". "We need to make sure that every cent of that makes a difference at the pump," he said. The government is also making the case at EU level for flexibility on VAT regime rates for fuels. Just days following the outbreak of war and the shattering of "living life in peace" in Ukraine, the UNHCR has reported over 1,745,459 people have fled to neighbouring countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania, with the hope of finding safety for themselves and their loved ones during a time of intense violence and uncertainty. People fleeing from Ukraine to neighbouring countries desperately need our help. Border crossings are filling up, local capacities are overstretched, and the situation is opaque, to say the least. People often wait up to two days at the border, with outside temperatures dropping well below zero at night sometimes as low as minus10. It's been nearly two weeks since the unthinkable and unbearable happened as I write this article from the border of Ukraine and Slovakia in a place called Vysne Nemecke. A place where over the last two weeks over 129,000 refugees have crossed over from their homeland of Ukraine. In total, at this moment, over 1.75 million people have crossed over the various Ukrainian borders into the surrounding countries. To quote one refugee, Marianna, as she came across the border with two of her children and her mother, "being on the Ukraine side of the border is living and waiting in hell and then coming across to the Slovakian side of the border is like arriving in heaven." I am here on behalf of Self Help Africa, and our partners in the Irish Emergency Alliance, to bring medical supplies into Ukraine and provide food, blankets, and emotional support to people, women and children as they pass over the border from Ukraine into Slovakia broken-hearted and weary from their journey, leaving their homeland and loved ones behind. People might be familiar with my work in Africa, and they might be wondering why are we involved in this terrible situation that has emerged in eastern Europe - so I'm happy to explain how this came about. The core of our work has always been in Africa, of course, but down through the years through that work we have developed the skills and the experience to respond to emergency situations elsewhere around the globe. In Slovakia, we have linked up with Slovak Aid, with whom we have had a fruitful partnership over the past four years in Kenya. Together we are purchasing supplies for onwards distribution to a hospital that has been bombed, in Ukraine. As one of the founder members of the Irish Emergency Alliance, a consortium of charities that was formed just two years ago, we respond to crisis situations by teaming up and working together to help people around the globe - just like that in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are suffering on a scale not imaginable only a short time ago. In response, all people of goodwill must pray for peace and work at creating peace. We must all contact our leaders in power and implore them to strive for peace, and ensure humanitarian aid, charity and assistance for the people of Ukraine as war rages in the Eastern European country. The abhorrent and needless killing of so many people in Ukraine must cease now. It is evil. And it is inhumane. War and violence is never the answer. War and violence on this scale can only lead us all towards more death. Let us all call for an end to war and violence especially in trouble spots in our world and especially in Ukraine. We thought the year 2021 was like no other in our lifetime. Well, 2022 has definitely put an end to that. Nearly two years of battling the coronavirus has devastated our economy, our world, divided families and led to tragic loss of life. But this David versus Goliath war has only made things far worse. Our world at present seems to be spinning so erratically and becoming so unhinged. Everything feels so sad, uncertain, fearful, unknown, harrowing and disheartening especially here now as I work with Ukrainian refugees as they come across the Slovakia border. Once again we are faced with feelings of dread, terror and worry. With each day that passes, we have feelings of shock, fear, awe, hope, patriotism, anger and guilt at what is happening in Ukraine and indeed in other parts of our world. And with each day that passes, sadness creeps in more and more and hope dissipates. It seems we must expect the unexpected evil and horror these days. As my Nana Scully used to say, "be shocked or astonished by nothing and be ready for anything and everything." Its a David versus Goliath type of war between Ukraine and Russia. But we are hopeful - remember who won that war? David, who was fighting for his principles. Ukraine too is fighting for those principles. Self Help Africa, with its partners in the Irish Emergency Alliance and volunteers throughout eastern Europe, is working tirelessly to support the thousands of refugees fleeing Ukraine. People fleeing Ukraine can rest in a warm place while awaiting relatives to come pick them up or they reach a reception station, from where they are directed to accommodation. The refugees include mostly Ukrainians, but also people of other nationalities who were in Ukraine when the war broke out. In Slovakia, around 129,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border and Self Help Africa is helping out and preparing efforts to coordinate their response to meet the refugee crisis and also supply medical supplies to a hospital some 270Km within Ukraine. Border crossings are open, but the flow is often hampered by bureaucracy. People wait in queues for as long as six to 12 hours in some places and even longer in other places, which is really challenging, especially during freezing nights. On the positive side, most of the refugees so far seem to know where they are going - friends, family, acquaintances. But of course, this can change over the days as the conflict escalates. If a wave of refugees with no contacts arrives and asks for asylum, the whole situation could become seriously complicated. Self Help Africa, in conjunction with the Irish Emergency Alliance, has had a team working on the Slovak-Ukrainian border since 3rd of March. Humanitarian workers in Ukraine near Velky Bereznywhere the situation is critical built facilities for people waiting for border control. Various organisations have provided toilets, heated tents with food, hot tea and other urgent material aid. In the eastern Slovak village of Vysne Nemecke where Self Help Africa have been based, there are also toilets and large heated tents with a capacity for many people where refugees can rest or even sleep. They also receive food, drink, hygiene items and even charged SIM cards from volunteers when they arrive from across the border. We are also monitoring the smaller border crossing of Ubla, where there is also a steady flow of refugees. Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian side of this crossing, Self Help Africa is hoping and trying to deliver medical supplies to Victor Francheska Hospital to enable those in need at the hospital and its staff to get much needed medical supplies.The people who had to leave their homes and flee the fighting are often shaken and need not only material support when they arrive across the border so we hope to be able to look emotional supports in someway too. The capacity to help people and children in need especially during war times is a measure of our humanity. War, hunger and poverty are not abstract; they have a human face as I myself well and truly know. In order to tackle what seems insurmountable, we must encounter the face of those who are refugees, displaced, hungry and poor in the most tangible way. It is never possible to forget the gaze of a child who is hungry and poor after leaving their homeland or the desperation of a mother trying to secure her child's next meal because of the devastation of the war they are running from. The need for food to sustain one's life is primal yet the ability to do so depends on many complex factors beyond oneself. Today, more than ever, we are continually exposed to and aware of hunger and poverty in our world, and especially now for the people of Ukraine as well as other places where Self Help Africa works, whether it is in Malawi, Ethiopia, Congo, Nigeria, Bangladesh or Zambia. Yet, the ability to help those who are suffering seems like it can be far from our reach. Many of our brothers and sisters all over the world and especially now the people and children of Ukraine are surviving on just one cup of food if they are lucky per day. Intellectually, we understand the common drivers of food insecurity: war, conflict, displacement, poverty and climate change. We understand the basic human right to life and a basic standard of living, including food. We understand, and we are outraged and so upset about what is happening now in Ukraine. But is it enough? While being empathetic is necessary, it must also be translated into good deeds and real action. This war in Ukraine is looking like it's going to be a multiplier and a magnifier of global hunger. The people of Ukraine have also been fighting more than a global pandemic these last two years and especially these last few weeks. But it is now experiencing an intense humanitarian crisis, with people left in Ukraine wrestling against high hunger rates, war restrictions and war health threats that arent the coronavirus. Action needs to be taken to make sure that Ukraines people are considered in global recovery efforts, and that the country is not left behind by any means. Peace is a Choice Perhaps we have all taken peace for granted. The horrors being visited on Ukraine must be a wake-up call for all of us that peace is something we all need to work so hard at. What is happening in Ukraine is truly shocking and devastating, but, sadly, it is not surprising. We, if we are honest, have seen it coming. Ukraine now stands alone, unprotected by the treaties that protect us and allow us to believe that peace is a normal state of affairs. But it isnt. Peace is a choice. It is a decision that we need to make each day about the way we live and about our responsibilities to and with our neighbours, be that in our family, in our local community, or between the countries of our world. For there is no better thing that you can do in life than to help, love and care for someone especially someone in need whether that be a family member, neighbour, friend or helping the people of Ukraine. We need the policies of peace, the wisdom of peace, the tenacity of peace and the international resolve that will deliver real peace for our world and especially now for the people and children of Ukraine. Previous generations knew this. They knew it, because they had experienced the horrors of war that most of us havent. Right now, as well as generous, humanitarian aid and support for refugees, about which I hope many of us will continue to help and support, we must use all our know-how for peace, continue to use our diplomatic muscle and energy where we can for peace. I urge us all in some way to be peacemakers, not simply peacelovers and especially peacemakers for the people of Ukraine. This is an important distinction, because it is a call to action. First, in support of Ukraine and other troubled lands of our world, and especially support for the many innocent children and families, potential refugees living with this conflict and other conflicts and its consequences, and support for those who are bravely protesting on the streets of many of our cities around the world. But peace, lasting peace, requires more. It requires a new commitment to law and order, accountability and investment so that we make peace and choose peace, not just hope to keep it. The suffering of the people of Ukraine, the dictatorship ambition of Russia, our own acceptance of immorality that flows through our world has to stop and we have to help it stop now so that real peace can exist and come into our world and our lives. Please, if you can afford to, make a donation to help us continue this work with some of the world's poorest people now especially in Ukraine. Why not organize with your family, friends or businesses a fundraising event or to make a donation, buy Lifetime Gifts or support our Ukraine Appeal and find out more about the work of Self Help Africa to Act locally but impact globally. You can make a credit or Laser card donation by phoning ((01 ) 6778880 or by calling 1800-939-979 or texting IEA to 50300 or simply send whatever you can afford to Self Help Africa, Westside Resource Centre, Seamus Quirke Road, Westside, Galway or to Self Help Africa, Kingsbridge House, 17-22 Parkgate Street, Dublin 8. If you are interested in finding out more about Self Help Africas Lifetime Gifts, or want to find out any other ways you can help us or partner with us in our work, just visit www.selfhelpafrica.org, or www.irishemergencyalliance.org or drop me a note at ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.org. Id be happy to chat! Yes. I would be the first in line. No. I don't trust that a vaccine will be safe. I plan to, but I want to wait to see effects of first doses. Not sure. Vote View Results What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. Ari Michael Shapiro is an American radio journalist. In September 2015, Shapiro became one of four rotating hosts on National Public Radio's flagship drive-time program All Things Considered. He previously served as White House correspondent and international correspondent based in London for NPR. The lowest common denominator prevails again in European diplomacy, with leaders putting unity above any truly meaningful effort to stop the slaughter in Ukraine. Rumble 09 Mar 2022 What's Putin's endgame, and ours? It seems the West is giving up on the defense of Ukraine in the hope that the.. Newsy 08 Mar 2022 Watch Video*ALEX LIVINGSTON: *Welcome Senator Warner, thank you for taking the time today. So what do you hope and anticipate this.. Russia is ridiculous ... Putin now claims the photo of a pregnant Ukrainian influencer who was injured in the bombing of a maternity hospital is a fake, and it's triggered worldwide outrage. Beauty blogger Marianna Podgurskaya was called out by the German Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron told the Russian president that any resolution to the war needed to come through negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia blocked a humanitarian corridor in Mariupol. Meanwhile, satellite images show a massive Russian convoy near Kyiv has dispersed. DW has the latest. Russia's attack on Ukraine is putting Russian speakers in Estonia under pressure to decide which side of history they are on. The Estonian government is under pressure to help them feel more at home in the Baltic state. Newsy 19 Mar 2022 Watch VideoUkraine's president said Russia is trying to starve his country's cities into submission but warned Saturday that.. euronews (in English) 11 Mar 2022 Russian airstrikes have hit new targets including in western Ukraine, and Putin's forces are said to be on the move near Kyiv... Sesame Street has paid tribute to "beloved" actor Emilio Delgado, known by the show's fans as Fix-it Shop owner Luis Rodriguez, following his death at the age of 81. There were reports of fierce fighting on the outskirts of Kyiv. Russian missiles struck at least three cities in western and central Ukraine. President Biden will call for suspending normal trade relations with Russia. High Court judges have ruled that the Metropolitan Police breached the rights of the organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard in its handling of the planned event. The European Commission and the UK's Market Authority each launched an investigation to see if a 2018 deal between Google and Meta aimed at distorting competition in the digital ad business. Rumble 25 Mar 2022 Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) said during his recent trip to Poland he met Ukrainian refugees and leaders who raised questions.. Germany has been tied to Russia through energy for decades. But as the EU moves to end its dependency on Russian energy, opposition from the continents biggest economy is fading into irrelevance. The speech came hours after the Ukrainian president submitted an application to the European Union to grant Ukraine immediate.. Upworthy 01 Mar 2022 The Russian Embassy in London accused a Ukrainian woman of playing "roles" after she was seen fleeing after an airstrike on a maternity hospital. Poland's proposal to send MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine proved highly controversial. How would the plan work? How would Russia respond? Or was the whole debate a diversion tactic? 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. A look at why the nuclear plant site poses a risk during the Ukraine-Russia war, even though its shut down and a limited danger. Prime Minister Modi will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state, where he will hold a roadshow from the Ahmedabad airport to the Gujarat BJP headquarters. Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state. He held the roadshow from the Ahmedabad airport to the Gujarat BJP headquarters. Rumours of Sussanne and Arslan being in a relationship have been coming for a long time. The two are currently in Turkey, where the latter has been shooting for Ekta Kapoor's ALT Balaji's project 'Love Ek Tarfa'. The UK has sanctioned seven Russian oligarchs who have an estimated net worth total of roughly $19.8 billion in its latest attempt to choke off funding of the war against Ukraine. One of the individuals was found to be Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, who is said to have close ties with President Vladimir Putin. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas joined the "People's Convoy" and rode shotgun in one tractor-trailer, joining others who were protesting against the U.S. government's COVID-19 mandates. The lawmaker praised the people who joined the convoy, saying they were very brave for fighting for their freedoms. Britons will be able to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion under a new scheme. Newsy 20 Mar 2022 Watch VideoFighting is raging on multiple fronts in Ukraine, with intense combat underway in the besieged port city of Mariupol .. Walsall Advertiser 11 Mar 2022 Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive brings how the former Lions captain and Man City star reacted to his old side's 3-0 win.. The UN Security Council will meet on Friday at Russias request to discuss what Moscow claims are the military biological activities of the US on the territory of Ukraine. On Day 15 of the war in Ukraine, residents kept fleeing, soldiers kept fighting and mourners continued to bury the dead. (March 10) The economic restriction, one of several announced in recent weeks, is meant to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin and further hobble Russia's finances as it invades Ukraine. The White House warned against any "lawless" move to seize foreign assets, saying it will "result in even more economic pain for Russia." The UK has announced sanctions on 386 Russian politicians who supported Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Office has said. An 11-year-old named Hassan traveled alone into Slovakia, with a plastic bag, a passport and a phone number for relatives. His mother had sent him to safety, unable to leave herself. Kyiv trauma hospital prepares for grim days if Russian missiles rain on civilian targets or enemy troops close on the heart of Ukraine's capital. During a summit in France, European Union leaders issued a statement backing Ukraine's bid for membership but stopped short of an immediate welcome. The application process typically takes years. TomoNews US 14 Mar 2022 KYIV, UKRAINE The Russian war machine is designed to get air superiority by using its large fleet of attack jets to pound enemy.. Queen Elizabeth II will not attend Monday's Commonwealth Service, Buckingham Palace has said, in what was to have been the 95-year-old's first in-person public engagement since being advised to rest by her doctors. Bragg's ORYX Gaming Boosts 888casino with Entry into Spanish Market Published March 11, 2022 by Brett C Bragg's ORYX Gaming has extended its working partnership with 888casino by launching online casino operations in Spain. This major development is set to introduce one of the world's top iGaming corporations into a burgeoning European market. Bragg's ORYX Gaming recently boosted its market position in Spain by launching its gaming platform at a leading online casino brand, 888 Casino. This online casino is owned and operated by the LSE-listed enterprise 888 Holdings plc (LSE: 888). A compendium of games from Bragg's ORYX Gaming platform is now available to players at 888casino in Spain. In addition, a selection of new casino games is set for imminent release. Plus, exclusive content from the proprietary ORYX gaming studio and Bragg's Atomic Slot Lab forms part of the online casino games offering. Additional gaming titles from Blue Guru the latest RGS partner company, are also available. The 888casino games library caters to Spanish players with a fine selection of attractive titles. All offers are localised, with unique themed content. In-game features, functions, and added extras are delivered with cutting-edge technology. 888casino games include a stellar selection of titles from multivendor platform providers. With ORYX Gaming casino games added to the mix, players can enjoy content-rich games across Spain. The partnership between 888casino and ORYX has been in effect for many years. This latest expansion comes hot on the heels of ORYX games going live with 888casino in Sweden and the United Kingdom. Bragg's ORYX Gaming will enjoy significant market penetration in Spain, thanks to its existing partnerships with other online casinos. For 2022, it is estimated that the market size of the casino industry in Spain could top $0.53 billion, based on statistics by H2 Gambling Capital. Strong Growth Expected in 2022 ORYX recorded a solid year of earnings in 2021, with multiple jurisdictions launched, with 80 operators, and across 140 brand-new casinos. Bragg's ORYX Gaming also established three iGaming platform partnerships in 2021. The chief commercial officer of Bragg's ORYX Gaming, Chris Looney, had this to say, 'We are very pleased to partner with 888casino, one of the world's leading online casino brands, having launched our premium content portfolio with them in new and established markets. 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Tucson, AZ - Steam Smart Pro has become the go-to cleaning solutions provider in the Tucson, Arizona, area, thanks to their consistent, professional and affordable approach to leaving homes sparkling. Steam Smart Pro is a locally-owned and operated carpet, tile, and air duct cleaning company and, for the past nine years, has earned scores of five-star reviews. Their secret is simple: treat people right, solve their problems, and do it As the mission of the Popes envoy in Hungary continues, Cardinal Michael Czerny, sj, meets with the Deputy Prime Minister and visits the border with Ukraine at Barabas, where hundreds of people are crowded into five reception points. Crossing into Ukraine, he visits the city of Berehove, in Transcarpathia, an area spared by the bombings but a gathering point for thousands of refugees. The Cardinal denounces the bombing of a childrens hospital in Mariupol, saying, It makes you shudder. Welcome to Ukraine reads a faded sign, covered by dry branches, at the Barabas crossing, the frontier between Ukraine and Hungary. It is almost a bitter joke, looking at the abyss that the eastern European country has become since 24 February, when this cruel war broke out. Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect ad interim of the Dicastery ... This content is reserved for Subscribers Dear Reader, access to all editions of LOsservatore Romano is reserved for Subscribers. Click here to subscribe The bombing of a childrens hospital is unacceptable, Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, stressed on the margins of a conference in Rome on Wednesday evening, 9 March, expressing his concern. The Cardinal's statement came shortly after reports from the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, that a Russian air raid had struck a hospital in the southern port city of Mariupol with maternity and paediatric wards. Cardinal Parolin admitted that the space for negotiations is slight, but expressed his hope that some agreement could be reached. Referring to a phone call he had with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this week, he said that no guarantees had been offered and that Mr Lavrov had not offered any reassurances regarding safe humanitarian corridors. The Secretary of State reiterated that the Holy See is always ready to engage in diplomacy with all parties, even as it calls for an end to the war. The Holy See has called for a stop to conflicts and for negotiations to be consolidated, making itself available to mediate if it is deemed it may help. Pope Francis has sent two Cardinals to the Ukraine Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, and Cardinal Michael Czerny, the interim Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Their presence is a sign of the Popes desire to contribute, not only on spiritual, material, and diplomatic levels, but also on that of humanitarian aid. Finally, the Cardinal referred to recent comments made by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. The Patriarchs statements, he said, do not encourage or promote an understanding, adding that his words risked further inflaming tempers, leading to an escalation that does not resolve the crisis in a peaceful way. On International Womens Day, indigenous Miao women of northeast Indias Miao Diocese pray for Ukrainian women and their children. In the midst of horror stories of the suffering of women and children emerging from Russias invasion of Ukraine, a group of women from Miao Diocese in northeast Indias Arunachal Pradesh chose to express their prayerful solidarity with their counterparts and their children in the besieged nation. Adoration and prayer Heartbreaking images of children and women are everywhere. Ukraine is reeling under pain and there is [a] blood bath with no hope to the end of this mindless war, said Likro Mossang, the President of Women Commission of Miao Diocese in east Arunachal Pradesh. We stand in solidarity with them and pray for them this Womens Day that there will soon be an end to their agony. A group of 70 ... This content is reserved for Subscribers Dear Reader, access to all editions of LOsservatore Romano is reserved for Subscribers. Click here to subscribe UNIDOs Akemi Ishikawa speaks to Vatican Radio in the wake of the Empowerment of Women in Conflict Areas Conference marking the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Holy See. As an Industrial Development Expert involved in agribusiness projects that aim to empower women and displaced persons in developing communities and conflict areas, Akemi Ishikawa says there are too many women across the globe who continue to suffer discrimination and lack of opportunity simply because they are women. Speaking to Vatican Radio at the conclusion of a Conference organized to mark the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Holy See, Ishikawa speaks of the struggle, in some countries, to reach the women that these development projects aim to empower. She also highlights the fundamental role and value of ... This content is reserved for Subscribers Dear Reader, access to all editions of LOsservatore Romano is reserved for Subscribers. Click here to subscribe Today, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than hatred, that peace is more powerful than war. On 5 March 2021, Pope Francis began his Apostolic Journey in Iraq, a journey that many had warned against due to security reasons, while others feared the risk of failure, taking into consideration the inner divisions in Iraqi society and the fact that dialogue among the various religions in the country has not always easy. That visit which the Pope earnestly wanted to make, despite the concern over the vigil, which was a success. Moreover, it was a journey-message which underscored that peace is possible, co-existence necessary and that, as the Pope said in a Mosul devastated by Isis, despite everything, fraternity is stronger than fratricide. The words he used one year ago in one of the most tormented areas of the world, sound prophetic today, like a warning. Meanwhile, a destructive war sparked by the Russian armys invasion of Ukraine, is being fought in the heart of Europe. The suffering is disastrous, the debt of human lives lost to this war is unbearable. The very order of things is shocked because, as Herodotus said bitterly, in peace sons bury their fathers, but in war fathers bury their sons. Never like today, with the exception perhaps of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, does humanity fear a military escalation that could dangerously spill over into a new global conflict. A madness that is foreign to reason and yet now dreaded as possible. However, already many years ago, mostly unheard, the Pope had warned against a Third World War, fought piecemeal: From Syria to Yemen, from Afghanistan to Iraq, a list which tragically Ukraine now also joins. In these almost nine years of Pontificate, Pope Francis has tirelessly raised his voice in favour of peoples oppressed by the scourge of war, especially the ones that are forgotten because they are being fought far from the seat of power, or due to lack of media interest. How many times has Pope Francis launched appeals for the children in Yemen, innocent victims of a brutal war. How many times has he recalled the tragedy in Syria and how many initiatives has he implemented of prayer, humanitarian and diplomatic for those people, who for over 10 years, have not known peace. Those who wage war... forget humanity, Pope Francis said at the Angelus on 27 February. Those who wage war do not look at the real life of people, but trust in the diabolical and perverse logic of weapons, which is the furthest from the will of God. It is the furthest from the logic of fraternity, as well, which patiently accepts others as they are, as children of God. In September 2014, while visiting the Military Memorial of Redipuglia on the centenary of the First World War, the Pope had condemned the absurdity of war, highlighting that war is madness because its only plan is to bring destruction. Throughout these days, images of this very destruction that spares no one are arriving from Ukraine. And the question that becomes increasingly more distressing, day after day is: for how much longer? Alessandro Gisotti Solidarity travels along the roads threatened by bombs, where carrying boxes of food and packages of medicine can be a one-way journey. This solidarity is sustained by the heart of Pope Francis, who has decided in an area as large as Ukraine, where fuel already costs a small fortune to contribute to the expenses of the large vehicles that push on, laden with aid, to where a truck risks running into a tank. News of the Popes initiative arrives from the area around Lviv, where the extension of the Popes closeness, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, arrived on Tuesday, 8 March, after a brief stop in Poland, amidst a continually growing ocean of refugees. Having crossed the border into Ukraine, the Papal Almoner spoke with Vatican media about the impressive effort being made in the relative security of Lviv to reach those who are still in the ... This content is reserved for Subscribers Dear Reader, access to all editions of LOsservatore Romano is reserved for Subscribers. Click here to subscribe Ottumwa, IA (52501) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 60F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. MECOSTA COUNTY Deputies with the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office responded to the following calls from Monday, March 7, through Thursday, March 10. All calls may not be reported. Deputies responded to three vehicle crashes involving a deer and three vehicle crashes without injuries. Deputies assisted EMS with a suicidal subject in the 18000 block of Klay Drive. Subject stated he was not suicidal and was arguing with his wife because he was leaving her. Both had been smoking crack. A report of harassment was made in the 14000 block of 21 Mile Road. A female reported harassing communication from another female. Deputies arrested a male in Morton Township for for possession of crystal meth and a domestic warrant. He was walking on Hayes/60th. Deputies responded to a mental/medical situation in the 14000 block of New Millpond Road in Big Rapids Township. Female was high and had a medical reaction to the drugs she was on. She was transported by EMS. A traffic stop near Pierce and 155th for speed resulted in the driver being cited for driving while license suspended and speed. Vehicle was turned over to his friend. Two large tool boxes were found in the roadway on Northland Drive at 8 Mile Road. Deputies transported a female from Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital to Pine Rest without incident. Deputies transported a male to Midland from Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital. A domestic situation was reported in the 11000 block of 19 Mile Road. Caller was assaulted by her boyfriend. Report was sent to prosecutor's office for review. Deputies responded to a call in the 100 block of South Scott Street in Aetna Township. A female called to report she thought someone was knocking at her door. Found that she was seeing things/people that were not there. Deputies arrested male for operating while intoxicate, third violation, of restricted license after male crashed into a creek near Northland and Stanwood Drive. BR Tow impounded car. Deputies executed a warrant arrest in the 8000 block of 35th Avenue. A male was arrested for assault. Deputies transported a female from the hospital to Forest View. Deputies executed a warrant arrest on a female in the 14000 block of Bulldog Lane in Big Rapids Township. She was lodged at the Mecosta County Jail for probation violation. Deputies assisted Michigan State Police in locating suspect and suspects vehicle involved in a felonious assault with a firearm on May 5, 2022, in Newaygo County. Contact was made with the suspect, and he was arrested by MSP. A blue Ford Explorer was caught on camera driving through a yard in the 2000 block of Haddix Boulevard in Barryton. Contact was made with the offender who stated it was accidental and would pay for the damage. A traffic stop near Northland and 18 Mile Road in Big Rapids Township led to the driver being issued appearance tickets for no insurance and driving while license suspended. The vehicle driven away by a valid driver. A report of threats and trespassing was made in the 7000 block of Bello Vista Drive. Male reported that he was confronted by his neighbor in his driveway. He wanted his neighbor trespassed. A report of harassment was made in the 300 Block of East Main in Morton Township. Female advised that her daughter is being harassed by another juvenile female who now goes to school in Mt. Pleasant. Advised to contact both schools and advise of the bullying. A domestic situation was reported in the 13000 block of 150th Avenue. Male was arrested for probation violation as he blew a .249% blood alcohol content level. Warrant requests were submitted on both males for the domestic assault. Deputies executed a warrant pickup at Fates Grocery Store in Isabella County. It was requested to pick up a female on an assault warrant. She was handed over and lodged for the outstanding warrant Deputies executed a warrant near Northland Drive and 5 Mile Road in Aetna Township. A call came in for two people arguing in the road on foot. A female and a male were located and they advised nothing physical, both intoxicated, Male had an outstanding Friend of the Court warrant and was lodged. Director of Content and Operations Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half. Highland Elementary School hosted a visit for fifth-grade students on Wednesday, March 9 from CEDAR, Inc., during which students participated in being filmed for an upcoming documentary called King Coal that chronicles the impact of the coal industry's decline in Appalachia. Palestine, TX (75801) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. PostEurop, the European postal trade association, has committed to maintaining international postal exchanges between all regions, in the face of the escalating conflict in Ukraine. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> The organization plans to focus on keeping the postal network open and ensuring that postal services and all items, including humanitarian aid, can reach Ukrainian citizens. Despite a number of disruptions, including the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Ukrainian postal service remains open to serve the public. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> In addition, several members of PostEurop have organized various national actions, many in cooperation with humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross, to ensure the free delivery of parcels and the transportation of essential goods to the Ukrainian population. The association stated, PostEurop would like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation and gratitude to all its members for their unwavering commitment and dedication in working together to ensure a continuation of the postal service to and from Ukraine, as well as to enabling the flow of humanitarian aid during this difficult time. Special appreciation is given to Poczta Polska (Poland) and Slovenska Posta (Slovakia) for their efforts in ensuring that international postal exchanges with Ukraine remains possible. We are proud of the unprecedented cooperation shown and remain committed to assisting Ukrposhta during the conflict. Photo: (Photo : Omar Marques/Getty Images) Life is tough in war-torn Ukraine nowadays. With Russian troops increasing their attacks on civilians as they try to bring Ukraine to its knees, the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in the country just keeps on worsening. Among the victims of this senseless war are Ukrainian mothers, who gave birth during the ongoing conflict with Russia. That was the case for Mariia Shostak, a 25-year-old woman who lives in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. She recently talked to the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, about the struggles she has been facing as a new mother in a war zone. Shostak described the difficult conditions she endured while bringing a new life into a very dangerous world. According to Shostak, she had a complicated pregnancy so she went to the maternity hospital early so that she and her baby would be under constant medical supervision. Shostak's contractions come as Russia starts its invasion Shostak knew something was up when she woke up on February 24 with her phone's screen filled with messages from relatives. Shostak had a feeling that something terrible happened even before she opened those messages. Russia's invasion of Ukraine was terrible timing for Shostak as she started having light contractions on that same morning. The seriousness of the situation ratcheted up during the afternoon when hospital officials ordered the evacuation of their patients to the basement shelter for the first time since Russia launched their large-scale military offensive. Shostak admitted that it was scary and that she was not able to sleep at night because of the Russian onslaught. It did not help matters for Shostak that her contractions intensified during the evening. A doctor examined Shostak in the early morning of February 25 and told her that she would finally give birth that day. Shostak called her husband at home to come quickly to the hospital for the delivery. Shostak's husband, Yurii, took almost four hours to reach the hospital as long queues at the shops, pharmacy, and gas stations delayed his arrival. Read Also: Six-year-Old Ukrainian Girl Dies Alone at Home in Mariupol Due to Dehydration Shostak among the lucky ones to have given birth in a hospital Shostak considers herself lucky as she was able to deliver her baby in a room that was really set up for that purpose. Shostak said that she started in the delivery room before being transferred by doctors to an operating room for a Caesarean section. There were tense moments during her delivery as air raid sirens suddenly went off, with medical staff urging her to evacuate to the basement for their safety. Shostak opted to stay in the operating room with the pain so much for her to bear. According to Shostak, such was the pain she experienced that it made her forget about the war. The operation was a success but the challenges she faced did not end there. With air raid sirens sounding round the clock because of the Russian bombings, Shostak was forced to go down to the basement and up to the maternity ward multiple times. Fatigue, fear, and pain set in for Shostak one day after her surgery. The reality set in for her when she saw a projectile hit a high-rise building that they could see from the window of their hospital. Despite the Russian forces closing in on Kyiv, Shostak said she is not going to leave the capital with her husband and child. Related Article: From Womb to War Zones: American Couple Brings Home Baby Born via Surrogate in Ukraine Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) Numerous Utah mothers panicked after a massive milk formula recall resulted in stocks running out. With shelves emptied, mothers in Utah still do not know when milk companies might restock the supplies. According to Fox13 Salt Lake City, the recall occurred due to five babies falling ill. Four of them were diagnosed with Cronobacter infections and one with Salmonella. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that two of the five babies died. Jody Evans, a mother of seven, recently switched to Similac Alimentum because her youngest child, Daniel, could not keep breastmilk down and had terrible blisters. Two weeks after switching to formula, Evans said that her tiny baby started to gain weight. She said that the infant began to fill out and had grown out of his newborn clothes. However, she heard about the massive formula recall and is now worried because she had given Daniel formula from the recalled batch. Cronobacter contamination on milk Abbott Nutrition recalled Similac PM 60/40 powdered formula on February 28 in addition to the earlier formula recall of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered milk formula due to possible Cronobacter contamination. The FDA and the Centers for Disease and Prevention Control are currently investigating Cronobacter infection after a series of complaints and reports about infants falling ill. Cronobacter infection is a foodborne illness that can cause neonatal meningitis. The pathogen that causes the neonatal disease is called Cronobacter sakazakii and is associated with the contaminated infant formula. The said pathogen was previously referred to as Enterobacter in 1929 but was later identified as a distinct species. Previously, investigators included the reported Salmonella illness in the ongoing investigations of the FDA. The federal agency took all consumer complaints related to the exposure to products from Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis in Michigan facility into account. However, after further investigation, the FDA concluded no definitive link between the Salmonella illness and the powdered milk formula and was simply a single or exclusive case. Read Also: Milk Formula Recall Has Parents Angry at Abbott Nutrition and FDA for Delayed Action Empty Milk Shelves The FDA has advised consumers not to use the recalled Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas. Evans, just like most moms, had to throw out their milk in stock and search for other sources of milk supply for their children. However, the baby section aisles in several stores are empty due to the recalled milk formula. The mother of seven had to search stores, call pediatricians, and even turn to social media for help. Some other formula options are available in local stores but are pretty costly than most. Milk products from the facility have a digit lot code at the bottom of the packaging. The recalled powdered formula had 22 through 37 as their first two digits. The containers also had codes like K8, SH, or Z2 and expiration dates from April 2022 or later. Parents and caretakers can review the product lot code at the bottom of the package and check the company's website if the powdered formula is part of the recall. Related Article: Abbott Baby Formula Expands Recall to Similac PM Following Death of an Infant Photo: (Photo : David Eulitt/Getty Images) The 79-year-old Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, has been named in a paternity lawsuit filed by 25-year-old Alexandra Davis. She also claimed that the billionaire paid off her mother, Cynthia Davis, to keep quiet about her. According to Dallas Morning News, Alexandra filed the lawsuit with the Dallas County on Thursday, March 3, stating that her mother signed an agreement with Jones to conceal his paternity in 1998. For Cynthia's cooperation, Jones extended financial support and a trust fund for Cynthia and Alexandra. The agreement also stipulated that Alexandra would lose her trust fund or be sued by Jones' estate if she or her mother were to establish and legally claim that the billionaire is her biological dad. However, Alexandra wants the court to nullify this agreement because she was only a year old at that time and could not consent to the same arrangement. She also wants to be legally recognized as Jones' daughter. Read Also: Shaquille O'Neal Reminds His Kids To Create Their Own Wealth: 'We Ain't Rich, I'm Rich' Alexandra Never Met Her Father Cynthia, who started seeing Jones in 1996, went through a divorce when she gave birth to Alexandra. Genetic testings revealed that the baby was not Cynthia's husband; thus, he was not ordered child support when their divorce was finalized. She informed Jones that he was Alexandra's father, but he did not acknowledge this because he allegedly could not have kids. However, Jones had his lawyer and friend, Donald Jack, negotiate the settlement with Cynthia. Alexandra's mother settled in 1998, where court documents had Jack's name as the authority for the "putative father." According to Texas laws, this meant that the father had not established his relationship with the child despite alleging their biological relation. Alexandra stated in her lawsuit that she lived her life never naming her father, who has been married to Eugenia Jones since 1963. She has also never met Jones, but he could contact Cynthia, especially about their agreement. Jack was also named the grantor for Cynthia and Alexandra's trust funds. In Alexandra's case, she received monthly and annual funding until she turned 21. She will also receive a yearly budget until she's 28 years old. Reports cited, however, that Alexandra fears that she will lose financial support due to her mother's health concerns. Hearing Set for March 31 Alexandra's lawsuit was made public on the website of the Dallas County courts. The Dallas Cowboys discovered the link on Monday, March 7, prompting Jones' lawyers to ask a judge to temporarily seal it until Thursday, March 31, the case's first hearing. Meanwhile, Alexandra's lawyers said that despite her non-existent relationship with her biological dad, she was able to excel in her academic and professional life. Alexandra currently works as an aide for Rep. Ronny Jackson, and she also used to work in the White House during the Trump presidency. Related Article: Owen Wilson Not Involved in Only Daughter's Life, Ex-partner Calls Actor an 'Absent Parent' Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) More than two dozen angry, defiant, and sometimes tearful Americans whose lives were impacted by the opioid crisis had their chance to confront the Sackler family, owner of Purdue Pharma, manufacturer of OxyContin. The families blamed the Sacklers for fueling the epidemic by marketing OxyContin, its signature painkiller, and for failing to take responsibility for the role they played in the opioid crisis. The hearing was attended by Richard, Theresa, and David Sackler. Under the court rules, the family is not allowed to respond and has to sit silently while the two dozen people give their emotional statements, US News reports. Stories of Opioid Crisis from Families For three hours, the families of 25 victims of the opioid crisis unleashed the terrors that the OxyContin pill caused them for the past 20 years. One of the victims, Kara Trainor, disclosed that when she was pregnant with her son, Riley, she was assured that continuing the opioid medication would not negatively impact her. She was given methadone to treat her addiction. When the baby was born, the newborn screamed as if in withdrawal, which still haunts Trainor to this day. Years later, Riley, now 11 years old, continues to live with the effects of the medication. He still wears diapers, has autism, and requires continuous physical and occupational therapy. Trainor said that her son's life had been deeply affected. The boy will never graduate high school, join proms, get married or have children. Trainor tells the Sacklers that she hopes the family can reflect on what their medicine did to children like Riley. Massachusetts mom Cheryl Juaire, who lost her two sons to opioid overdoses, asked the family how much money is enough. She told the family that they could have "changed the trajectory" by taking their money in 2007 and averting this crisis if they had any remorse. Stephanie Lubinski, whose addicted husband took his own life in 2020, accused the Sacklers of making money off their family. She said her family has been grappling with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. She asked the family if they felt one bit of empathy for the victims and the devastation that their drug has caused. Dr. Kimberly Blake, whose son Sean died of an opioid overdose, said she had been consumed by grief as a physician and a mother. She admitted to being hospitalized for depression because she could not have another Mother's Day without her son. Read Also: World's First Heart-thymus Transplant for Baby Easton a Success The opioid crisis In the U.S. alone, the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention estimates that around 500,000 people have died from opioid overdose since the opioid crisis began in 1999. The drugs included prescription painkillers and street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. The virtual hearing was held in a federal bankruptcy court as the US bankruptcy judge approved a settlement that requires Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to pay around $6 billion to states and families in exchange for immunity for future lawsuits concerning opioids. Related Article: Study Reveals Women May Have Depression and Anxiety Despite Medication Photo: (Photo : Janos Kummer/Getty Images) For some soon-to-be parents, choosing a baby name can be difficult. There are plenty of options to choose when naming a child, leading some parents to do the unthinkable and give their babies names that would get them bullied at school. To prevent children from suffering that fate, the United States and other countries worldwide have enacted some naming laws that would prevent parents from giving names that are deemed off-limits. According to the website USBirthcertificates.com, there are already a few illegal baby names in the United States. It is important to emphasize that naming laws in the U.S. differ from state to state, meaning some names may be illegal in one place but not in another. Kentucky, for example, has no naming laws in place, giving parents the freedom to choose any name they want for their babies. Adolf Hitler name allowed in New Jersey Some of the names that have been banned in some parts of the United States include King, Queen, Jesus Christ, III, Santa Claus, Majesty, Adolf Hitler, Messiah, @, and 1069. It is crazy that parents would name their child after the Nazi leader, but a New Jersey couple did just that back in the 2000s. They grabbed the headlines back in 2009 when a ShopRite supermarket located in Greenwich, New Jersey, refused to inscribe their son Adolf Hitler Campbell's name on a cake for his third birthday. That sparked outrage across the country, but according to New Jersey law, parents can give any name to their child so long as it does not include numerals, symbols, or obscenity. That allowed Heath Campbell and Deborah Campbell to give their children Nazi-inspired names. Adolf Hitler Campbell has two younger sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hitler Jeannie Campbell. Their parents lost custody of them after a state appeals court in New Jersey ruled that the children were at risk of abuse and neglect. However, authorities made it clear that the reason they took the children into protective custody was not because of the children's names. Carlton Larson, a law professor at the University of California, tackled this issue in his 2011 study of U.S. baby names, saying, "If the Campbells had named their son 'R2D2,' state authorities would have intervened." Larson added that the name "Adolf Hitler Campbell" presented no legal impediments. Read Also: Most Popular Baby Names of 2022 Revealed: Top 10 Predictions for Names of Boys and Girls Illegal baby names from across the globe The United States is not the only country to have a list of illegal baby names. Other nations have banned certain names for newborn babies as well. The names "Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii," "Chief Maximus," and "Sex Fruit" are deemed illegal in New Zealand. The name "Robocop" is banned in Mexico, while "Linda" is not allowed as a baby name in Saudi Arabia. A baby cannot be called "Snake" in Malaysia, while the name "Friday" has been banned in Italy. Chinese authorities have deemed some Islamic terms as illegal baby names, including "Islam" and "Quran." The name "Osama bin Laden" is not allowed in Germany, while Devil, Circumcision, and Cyanide are banned in Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, respectively. Related Article: New Campaign Launched in the U.K. for Parents to Better Understand Baby Weaning Photo: (Photo : INTI OCON/AFP via Getty Images) A special school in Tampa Bay, Florida, had its official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. 1Voice Academy in Hillsborough County is the first accredited K-12 U.S. school for kids with cancer. Developed by 1Voice Foundation founder Mary Ann Massolio, 1Voice Academy provides 25 different programs, including family support, financial resources, and research opportunities, to help sick children continue their education and experience some normalcy in their lives despite their condition. Massolio said she had carried this dream to provide and do more for kids with cancer for many years. The day of the ribbon-cutting marked a memorable date as it was the death anniversary of Jay, Massolio's son, who died from cancer more than 25 years ago. Read Also: Heartbreak as Toddler Suffering From Constipation Diagnosed With Rare Cancer Easy Adjustment to Regular School Jay was an enthusiastic learner who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Despite wanting to go back to regular school and be with his friends, the child could not thrive in a typical school environment because of his compromised immune system. The boy's life was cut short at nine years old or six months into his cancer treatment. His mother, however, carried on with his legacy and started the foundation that led to the school. 1Voice Academy's first enrollees were Laurel Harrington, 5, who has been in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and Liam Kirchner, who has the same condition and is currently under maintenance. Harrington has since transitioned to a partner in regular elementary school, where she is doing well. Her dad said that she loves her new school, and she didn't have a hard time adjusting to the environment because of her experiences at 1Voice Academy. Her dad is also grateful that she was not isolated from her peers and developed healthy social skills with the other kids. In this special school, children with cancer can attend classes full time without compromising their health. It was an option that her son, who loved school, didn't have several years ago. "They should at least be able to go to school and be with their peers," Massolio said, per WFLA. "Who better than other children who are on the same journey they are." Model for Future Schools Stacy Hahn, who is part of the Hillsborough County school board, said that giving accreditation to 1Voice Academy is likely the "most meaningful thing" she has ever done in her work. She believes that the school will serve as a model for future schools and communities to provide a safer place for vulnerable children with suppressed immunities. 1Voice Academy is a non-profit and relies on community support to continue its operation. The school thrives because of generous sponsorships, volunteers, and donations for many of its supplies and resources. Recently, the community completed a mural on campus, which the children requested. It was a worthwhile endeavor participated by the students, school staff, parents, and several volunteers. Related Article: Young Breast Cancer Survivors Share Experiences With Deadly Disease That 'Does Not Discriminate' Photo: (Photo : KURT DESPLENTER/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) A baby frenzy is happening right now at the Chino Valley Fire District, with a total of 15 babies being born among the firefighter families over the past 12 months. Such has been the baby boom in their department that the fire station is being mistaken for a daycare nowadays. Some point to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason behind the sudden influx of babies. Arianna Guinn, one of the firefighters' wives at Chino Valley, agreed with that sentiment, saying she thinks the young kids are being called the "quarantine babies." The firefighters themselves noticed something strange was happening within their unit. Firefighter Charles Addie said that three of them on his crew that year had babies born within a month and a half of each other. Other Chino firefighters jumped on the baby train as well Firefighter Eric Englehardt said that they jumped on the baby train too, as it seemed like in every shift, somebody else was announcing that they were having another baby as well. The baby boom has been a blessing not only for the firefighters but also for the mothers. According to one of the firefighters' wives, Danay Englehardt, it was really cool and fun going on family vacations together with their big bellies. Pamela Addie echoed Englehardt's sentiment, saying, "It's nice having other moms around. Just the community and just being able to relate because we are all so close." Holley Kalousek also lauded the bond of the wives and partners of the Chino firefighters, saying, "It's definitely nice to have that support system, and it's always good when they are on long fires, we can always reach out to some of the other families." For the firefighter dads, nothing beats the feeling of coming home to their cute babies. Firefighter Caleb Guinn gushed about his sweet baby girl, saying that to see the excitement on her face after being gone for several days at a time is the best thing ever. The running joke right now in the Chino Valley Fire District is that these 15 babies could be the next generation of firefighters. Brian Kalousek asked his son that question, saying he had already showed him the engine to gauge his interest in being a firefighter. With these babies growing up together in this kind of environment, it is not farfetched to see them follow in their fathers' footsteps. Read Also: Mother Tells UN of Struggles She Faced While Giving Birth in Ukraine Amid Russia Invasion Study shows the pandemic caused a baby bust The baby boom in the Chino Valley Fire District is somewhat surprising, considering a recent study showing the COVID-19 pandemic causing a baby bust in high-income countries. Italian professor Arnstein Aassve and his colleagues looked at birth rates in 22 high-income countries, including the United States, from 2016 to 2021. They discovered that seven countries yielded statistically significant declines in birth rates in the final months of 2020 and the early stages of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc across the globe. Related Article: 5 Ways to Save Money on the Pump as Gas Prices Soar Photo: (Photo : Leon Neal/Getty Images) Horrified parents have slammed a primary school in England over a child murder scene that featured a bloody mannequin that was apparently bludgeoned to death by a crowbar. Ramridge Primary School set up the grisly murder scene for its students in a bid to teach them about fingerprints. The controversial activity was part of the school's Science Week, with pupils between 10 and 11 years old participating in the lesson. The activity went viral after school staff shared photos from the made-up crime scene on the social media platform Facebook. Among the graphic pictures shared on the school's social media page was that of a child-sized mannequin wearing a grey school dress slumped over a table with fake blood surrounding her. Police tape had already been set up around the scene of the crime, with an abandoned crowbar placed on the table where the mannequin's head rests. School shares photos of "terrible crime scene" on Facebook The crowbar was intentionally placed there for students to dust for fingerprints. In another set of photos, the child-sized mannequin can be seen this time around sprawled face down on the floor, with yet another crowbar and what appears to be a mobile phone placed next to the lifeless body. The school boasted about it, saying it was "another terrible crime scene" for their unsuspecting students to investigate. The primary school's crime scene activity was created by an outside company run by a former police detective, who said they had never received any complaints about their sessions before. Simon Smith, the owner and managing director of Zakon Training, said that he has been running the company for six years now and parents have never complained about his courses during that period. Smith said they have been in several hundred schools, and this is the first time he has heard of such a thing as parents being upset with their courses. Read Also: Parents in the UK Share the Challenges of Having a Baby with Tongue-tie The company insists children do not find its crime scenes scary Smith reiterated that they are using dummies and fake blood in their courses, and the school has not raised this issue at all to them. Smith added that crime and punishment sit within the school's curriculum, and that is why Ramridge Primary School acquired their services to set up this stunt. Smith made it clear that if the schools they serviced had any concerns about this particular crime scene, the company would run a different one that features no body and blood. Smith added that the children who participated in their lessons "have never given an inkling that they find it intimidating or scary." The issue shows no signs of stopping with irate parents flooding the school's post with angry comments about their murder scene activity. Echo Allen wrote that she would not want her "young children seeing life-like scenes of squashed and mangled bodies." Rachel Kelly echoed her sentiment, noting, "Who even comes up with stuff like this for primary school kids?!" Related Article: Police Arrest Grandfather for Unlawful Conduct After Grandson Brings His Gun to School to Shoot Zombies We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! In a press from the U.S. Department of Justice released yesterday, they stated that Teang Liu, 38, of Alexandria, Virginia, a citizen of the Peoples Republic of China, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison for participating in a conspiracy to defraud Apple Inc. out of more than $1 million. Liu pleaded guilty in February 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan ordered Liu to pay $577,780 in restitution and $57,780 in a forfeiture money judgment. Following his prison term, Liu will be placed on a year of supervised release. As part of the scheme, conspirators received shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong. Those phones contained spoofed IMEI numbers and serial numbers that corresponded with authentic in-warranty iPhones. The conspirators then returned the inauthentic phones to Apple, claiming that the phones were legitimate, in-warranty phones, all in an effort to receive authentic replacement iPhones from Apple. The fraudulently obtained authentic iPhones were then shipped back to conspirators overseas, including in Hong Kong. Lius particular role in the conspiracy included opening dozens of commercial mail agency mailboxes -- mostly at UPS Stores -- using fake identification cards that Wu provided to him, returning fraudulent phones to Apple retail stores, and traveling to the Rocky Mountains and Florida to facilitate the fraud. The conspirators acknowledged successfully defrauding Apple out of nearly $1 million and intending to defraud the company out of even more money if they weren't caught. For more on this, read the full press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, here. In February the U.S. Department of Justice revealed two other conspirators in this scheme, Haiteng Wu and his wife Jiahong Cai. Wu was ordered to pay $987,000 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment. Judge Sullivan previously ordered Wu to forfeit his interests in two condominium units, one in McLean, Virginia, the other in Arlington, Virginia. Wu purchased the Arlington condominium for cash during the conspiracy. The President of Association of Moroccan Exporters (AMEX) Hassan Sentissel El Idrissi, has identified three major obstacles currently hampering export and import trade in Africa. He said collaborations in Africa that relate directly to export and import businesses within the continent, have always struggled unjustifiably because of these challenges. These include the many years of language barrier between French speaking African countries and English speaking countries. He observed that the deterring language barrier in the region, has not only created an unwarranted inconvenience among traders, but has placed serious impediment on the way of exporters and importers along the value chain of marketing of products and services. Another obstacle, he said that confronts exporters and importers in the continent, is the poor transport sector required to handle goods and services that are being exported or imported from one country to another within the continent. The last, but not the least challenge, he observed ,has been the payment of disturbing custom duties, nuisant taxes and levies that turn to hurt exporters and importers doing business directly and indirectly at cross borders. He said while identifying these challenges, he also believes strongly that blame game would not address them except the stakeholders determination to apply pragmatic solutions. He added that the challenges mentioned above have therefore become a shared responsibility for all Africans especially those in the business circle. Again, he indicated that despite all the aforementioned challenges, the continent could still pull the trigger in addressing all these problems by harnessing individual strengths and potentials to improve export and import of products in the region. "We have to accelerate our progress in order to legitimize our trade relations. We have to multiply our meetings " he submitted. The President of the Association of Moroccan Exporters said the primary responsibility of countries is to build networks and create harmonious atmosphere for other countries through a win-win situation. He called for realistic analysis of the situation while projecting into the futuristic vision of ASMEX in playing an important role to shape the technical knowledge of organizations involved in export and import in Africa. In doing all these, he acknowledged the significant role ASMEX, established in 1982, with regional branches across fourteen (14) regions of Morocco, could play to drive change in the continent. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Jeleel Company Limited was adjudged the owner of a parcel of land situate at Pantang, Accra by the High Court Land Division, Accra. Pursuant to the said judgment, the Sheriff of the High Court executed a Writ of Possession and placed Jeleel Company Limited on the said parcel of land and in the year 2019. After the execution of the Writ of Possession, Trasaaco Furniture Co Ltd applied to the High Court to have the Writ of Possession set aside. This application was refused by the High Court on the grounds that, since Trasaaco was claiming ownership of the land and the fact that the Writ of Possession was already executed, there was nothing to set aside, and that the proper remedy available to Trasaaco was to issue a Writ against Jeleel Company Limited to have the entire judgment set aside. Trasaaco Furniture appealed the refusal to set aside the Writ of Possession to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal granted the appeal and set aside the Writ of Possession only leaving the judgment of the High Court in favour of Jeleel Company Limited intact. Trasaaco then set up a fraudulent scheme purporting to execute a non-existent Writ of Possession at the High Court. Jeleel Company Limited uncovered the scheme and made an application to the Supreme Court for a Stay of the fraudulent execution. At the Supreme Court, lawyers for Trasaaco argued that the Court of Appeal did not make any executable orders and that Trasaaco was not executing any judgement, so the Supreme Court ruled that since no executable orders were made by the Court of Appeal in favour of Trasaaco, there is nothing to execute hence nothing to stay and proceeded to dismiss the application for Stay of Execution. For Trasaaco to be able to execute any orders of the Court, it has to first serve a Notice of Entry of Judgment on Jeleel Company Limited, which has not been done. Meanwhile Jeleel Company Limited has long divested its interest in the said land to over 167 individuals who have developed same and living in them. For Trasaaco to be able to enforce any judgment against these residents Trasaaco must sue them individually as a judgment cannot be enforced against a non-party to the judgment. Meanwhile Jeleel Company Limited has initiated Contempt proceedings against Ernesto Traconi the CEO of Trasaaco Furniture Limited and the Registrar of the High Court General Jurisdiction Division for the attempted fraudulent execution. Jeleel Company Limited urges all residents to remain calm as they are bona fide purchasers whose rights and interests are guaranteed under the laws of Ghana Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ten medical officers posted to various health facilities in the Upper East Region in 2021 did not report to work, the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi has disclosed. Describing the situation as worrying and disturbing, Dr Dzotsi noted that the refusal of medical staff to accept postings placed undue pressure on other health personnel in health facilities. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Annual Performance Review Session of the Upper East Regional Health Services on Wednesday, Dr Dzotsi noted that the situation may be attributed to the perception that the region was unattractive. The region is perceived as unattractive to health personnel which had made it very difficult to attract critical staff such as doctors, midwives, professional nurses and Physician Assistance, he said. He noted that the region lacked critical health staff such as specialist doctors, physician assistants, laboratory scientists, obstetricians and gynaecologists. It is very worrying to note is that of the 10 medical officers posted to the region in 2021, none of them reported to work. There is acute shortage of human resource which is impeding the provision of health care, he said. He noted that as at December 31, 2021, the region had a total of 9 specialist doctors, forty-two general medical officers, two dental medical officers and 721 midwives attending to a population of about 1,318,351 in the region. Dr Dzotsi therefore called on all stakeholders to ensure that attractive incentive packages are put in place to attract and retain doctors and midwives to especially remote communities in the region. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Our teeth play a significant role in both our health and appearance. However, were all a little guilty of taking them for granted and maybe even neglecting them. This is especially true of children. As a young boy, Dr. Tyler Brady had a profound interest in and natural appreciation for teeth. It may sound like a bizarre interest for a child to develop, but for the founder of Haven Dental, it came as natural as smiling. Teeth have always been a source of fascination for me and it was always on the cards that I was going to work in the field of dentistry, says Dr. Tyler Brady. He adds, Fortunately for me, my uncle was a dentist and so I had a handy go-to for all teeth-related information. I was always, pardon the pun, drilling him about what the role of the dentist entailed, what qualifications I needed, and how to give patients teeth the best care possible. On finishing high school, Dr. Brady decided to learn on the job. After moving in with his uncle, he worked in his dental office to get some much-needed hands-on experience. He says, Working in the office made me more determined to become a dentist. It gave me a newfound appreciation of the vital role dentists play in society. When our teeth give us problems, it causes us much pain. Additionally, when our teeth are not as straight or white as wed like, it can play havoc with our self-esteem and mental health. Having the ability to remedy this using my specific skill-set and knowledge gives me a great amount of satisfaction. After graduating from college and attending Bostons highly-regarded Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Brady became an active member of the Bates-Andrews Research Group. He immersed himself in dental research involving implants, filling materials, silk proteins, antibiotics, and electric toothbrushes. After moving to Texas with his wife to start a family, Dr. Brady eventually opened his first private practice, Haven Dental. The ethos behind Haven Dental is to provide first-class and affordable dental treatment for everyone. We also run a non-profit scheme tailored to help those less fortunate with the dental care they deserve. My aim has always been to make a trip to the dentist a pleasurable experience and something to look forward to. Our job is to put a smile on your face and give you the sort of teeth to smile about, states Dr. Tyler Brady. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The initiator of Freedom Coin, Nana Kwame Bediako alias Freedom Jacob Caesar or Cheddar has described as premature a statement from the Central Bank warning the public on his yet to launch Freedom Coin. In a statement signed by his media officer, Gideon Williams, the real estate mogul said he was not specified during the announcement of the Freedom Coin how he was going to operate hence, the Central Banks warning was needless. There was no specific given about what the product was going to be and how it would fit within the current financial system. The only mention of Freedom Coin as a cryptocurrency were speculations by the media a portion of the statement read BoG caution The Bank of Ghana in its release cautioned the public against trading in the new cryptocurrency following some publicity promotions made ahead of a yet-to-be-launched cryptocurrency named Freedom Coin, According to the BoG, persons hoping to trade in Freedom Coin will be doing so at their own risk as to the cryptocurrency and other versions are not regulated under any laws in Ghana, and are therefore not backed by any guarantee of safeguards. Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mercy Larbi, has stated that fighting human rights violations in the country must occupy a centre stage in order to improve the lives of people. That, she explained, was because human rights bordered on everything, including livelihood, lives and ones birthright. She said if the human rights of people were ignored, the rights of the vulnerable included women and children would be violated and there would be arbitrary arrests of people by members of the security agencies. Mrs Larbi said this in an interview after the opening of a training on litigation and engagement with regional human rights and treaty bodies organised for CHRAJ and selected civil society organisations (CSOs). Why the training A 2019 study by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) established that most national human rights institutions in Africa had minimal interaction with the sub-regional and regional human rights treaty bodies in securing remedy for human rights violations. Although CHRAJ has sought remedy for human rights violations through its mandate and a few cases via national courts, it has seldom approached the regional human rights bodies and that informed NANHRI to organise the three-day training for the staff of CHRAJ and CSOs to enhance CHRAJs capacity to actively litigate and engage the regional treaty bodies in complementing the national mechanisms to ensure human rights for all. The training also seeks to consolidate and identify opportunities for collaboration between CHRAJ and CSOs in not only engaging the regional human rights treaty bodies but also following up on implementation of the recommendations and decisions of the regional bodies for the benefit of the rights holders. Importance of human rights Mrs Larbi said human rights bothered everybody whether rich or poor, therefore, by placing it at the centre stage it would help the country to develop. Be it economic, social or political, the development can be felt there. Besides, human rights are also about democracy which is the right to vote and so if people are allowed to vote it enhances our democracy, she added. She reminded Ghanaians of their rights and asked them not to allow anyone to take those rights away from them. For those whose rights were violated, she advised them to file a complaint with the Commission and they would investigate the case and take it to court on their behalf at no cost. The services of CHRAJ are free so you dont need money to file a complaint before it. The Commission is a national human rights institution and it is the institution that has been officially mandated by the constitution to protect and promote human rights. So if your rights are violated, the only place to go is CHRAJ, she pointed out. In her welcome address, Mrs Larbi said since the attainment of independence, the country had become party to numerous international, Africa and regional human rights institutions and it had amended some existing laws to include some of those international laws. She said the commission had engaged in litigation before the national courts in executing its mandate to promote and protect the fundamental human rights of all persons in the country. However, she said, it had not engaged in litigation before the Africa regional treaty bodies and that made the training very important and crucial to build the capacity of staff. Giving an outline of the training objectives and pre-training evaluation, one of the consultants for the training, Dr Tresor Makunya, said the African Union had established three human rights regional bodies, namely the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, with each of them having different mandates. He said although CHRAJ had done significant work at the domestic level in holding the government and state organs accountable in the implementation of the Bill of Rights and Regional Human Rights commitments but it needed to enhance its capacity to engage with the three regional human rights bodies, hence the training to help them do so. The training would, among others, help CHRAJ to know how to litigate before the regional bodies. About NANHRI NANHRI, which is considered as one of the largest regional networks within the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions, was established in 2007 to replace the Coordinating Committee of African National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (CCANI). It currently has 46 members and its secretariat is in Nairobi. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Volta Regional capital, Ho, was last Wednesday hit by a rainstorm which flooded at least 50 homes and caused extensive damage to some 20 school buildings, many shops and other structures. Scores of electricity poles and giant billboards, as well as shops made of shipping containers and electricity poles were also not spared by the late afternoon rainstorm which started a little after 4 p.m. and lasted for about an hour. At the Ho SSNIT Flats Presbyterian Basic School for instance, the roofs of three classrooms, P1, P2 and P3, were completely ripped off by the storm. As a result, about 120 pupils had to attend classes the following day under trees on the school compound, according to the Headmistress, Madam Vivian Coffie. She told the Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Divine Richard Bosson, who was there to assess the damage that the school had a total enrolment of 320, adding that the school was struggling to hold lessons for the displaced pupils without any disruption. Appeal Madam Coffie appealed to the assembly to come to the aid of the school as soon as possible. Similarly, the roofs of three classrooms at the Ho E.P. Kpoanyigba Primary School were carried away by the storm. The Headmistress, Madam Rita Etornam Ahadzi, said the displaced children were now sharing classrooms with other children. The story was no different at the R.C. Girls Basic School, where the roof of one classroom block was ripped off by the storm. At 10 a.m. the next day, scores of giant billboards and electricity poles were found lying by the roadside. Three people were injured at a restaurant opposite the Ho Municipal Hospital when a mango tree fell on the wooden spot during the rainstorm. The MCE visited the injured women at the emergency ward of the hospital to assure them of the assemblys support in their time of distress. Assemblys response At the time of filing this report, Mr Bosson said the assembly had instantly procured the needed building materials and directed the works department of the assembly to start repairing the damage caused to the school buildings. We cannot wait any further because we do not want the academic calendar of the schools to be disrupted, he said. He expressed misgivings about the conduct of some corporate bodies which erected billboards in the municipality without any permit from the assembly, warning that those behind such acts would be dealt with swiftly according to the law. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Peter Lanchene Toobu, the Member of Parliament for Wa West has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare to flush out top officers who may be connected to the multiple bullion van robberies in Ghana. The police on Tuesday (8 March) announced they have killed two officers and arrested four others linked with bullion van robberies. Reacting to the development on Asaase Radio, Toobu urged the IGP to discharge his duty without fear or favour. It is a possibility in every police organisation, and what we ought to say is that we always expect that the police leadership will have that moral character to be able to deal with some of these things when they emerge. It is not about it being real or perceived. I am saying that it is a possibility in all police organisations, and I trust in the competence of the Inspector General of Police, I trust in his moral character and I want to believe that he fears nothing, and he will do his work without fear or favour, the former police officer said. If there is anybody up there who is connected to this young boys or men, who are probably creating this criminal network to embarrass the Ghana Police Service, I am sure it is a matter of time, they will be exposed and when they are exposed, it doesnt matter what your rank is, it doesnt matter your standing in the police or society, you will be dealt with, he said. The circuit court in Accra on Wednesday (9 March) remanded into police custody four police officers and a civilian arrested recently in connection with bullion van robberies in Ghana. Their plea for bail was not taken after it was opposed by the prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sylvester Asare, who argued that the Police Service is still carrying out investigations into the case and will require the assistance of the five accused. Of the five suspects, two Albert Ofosu and Affisu Yaro Ibrahim have been charged with attempt to commit crime and robbery. The others Richard Boadu, Razak Alhassan and Rabiu Jambedu have been charged with abetment of crime and robbery. The five were picked up at a hideout after a police intelligence-led raid at Borteyman near Ashaiman on Tuesday 8 March. The case has been adjourned to Monday 28 March 2022. Source: asaaseradio.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video #FixTheCountry Movement lead convener, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was allegedly rushed to the Police Hospital in Accra on Wednesday. According to the Movement, he complained of general discomfort in the latter part of the morning. A statement issued by the FixtheCountry Conveners said Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been experiencing some minor health challenges since his detention in police custody. Doctors have since come to assess his health and discovered that his blood pressure has shot up, portions of the statement said. The Movement said it will be monitoring the progress of the social activist in relation to his health status and update the public accordingly. Oliver Barker-Vormawor has been in Police custody since he was arrested on the evening of February 11, 2022 over coup comments on his Facebook page. The arrest took place immediately he arrived from the United Kingdom. In a press release, the Police explained that his arrest followed a post he allegedly made on a social media platform to the effect that he would stage a coup himself if the E-Levy Bill is passed by Parliament. He was subsequently charged with treason felony, an offence provided for in section 182(b) of Ghanas Criminal offences Act. Appearing in Court on Monday, February 14, the judge hearing the matter, Eleanor Barnes remanded Barker-Vormawor into Police custody pointing out that the nature and severity of the crime meant the court cannot grant bail. His lawyers later filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging his arraignment before the district court. They wanted the Court to determine whether the Police have discharged their constitutional duty by sending their client to a court with no jurisdiction to consider a bail application. According to them, the ruling of the High Court B, Tema, dated February 17, 2022, entails a grave error of law which error is patent on the face of the record. But the Supreme Court on March 2, struck out the application filed by lawyers for Oliver Barker-Vormawor. This was after the Court had questioned the processes filed by the lawyers saying it does not properly invoke the jurisdiction of the Court. Meanwhile, the lawyers for the youth activist then informed the Court they wanted to withdraw the case. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayensuano constituency, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has backed the Supreme Court ruling regarding the right of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament to vote in the House as a Member of Parliament(MP). The Majority and Minority have been disputing among themselves claims that the Deputy Speaker, acting as Speaker of Parliament in the absence of the substantive Speaker, can cast a vote or be counted as part of the MPs to form a quorum during proceedings. Court Ruling The Supreme Court by a unanimous decision settled this contentious issue ruling on Wednesday that a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can as well "vote and take part in the decision of parliament". An action by Mr Osei-Owusu in November last year, in counting himself as an MP, enabled the Majority in Parliament to form the right quorum under Article 104(1) in order to pass the budget. By this ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed and legitimized the approval of the 2022 Budget passed in the absence of the NDC Minority Caucus on November 30, 2021. The seven member panel that adjudicated the case comprised Justices Jones Dotse, Nene Amegatcher, Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Clemence Honyenuga and Emmanuel Kulendi. Presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, the court also struck down Order 109(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament as unconstitutional. Criticisms Some critics have however shared their dissenting views over the court ruling. Former President John Mahama, in a post shared across his official social media handles, described the ruling as "shocking but not surprising", a Graphic Online publication cited. He added the Apex Court has set "a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future". Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George has also labeled the ruling as a sham. "The sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!'', he tweeted. The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu further asserts the court ruling is rather aimed at giving the Deputy Speaker the right to vote for the government's e-levy. Ayeh-Paye Supports Supreme Court Order But addressing the issue during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, the former MP, Samuel Ayeh-Peye was of a firm opinion that the Apex Court's intervention is in the right order. Sharing his expert knowledge on the roles of the Judiciary and the Legislature, he noted that although Parliament operates independently and have rules on their own which should be free from judicial interferences, nonetheless the Judiciary steps in when it finds a standing order of Parliament in contravention of the 1992 constitution. He expounded that, "the Supreme Court has the authority to say what you're doing contravenes the constitution, so cancel it'' and so called on the MPs to leave the Supreme Court alone. " . . we can't put any order in our standing orders which infracts the constitution," he advised the legislators. Hon. Ayeh-Paye urged the law makers to "admit that if we accept separation of powers, the Executives, the Judiciary and the Legislature, then we must give the Supreme Court the room to do its work". He, therefore, finds nothing wrong with the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Deputy Speaker. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has thrown his support for the Supreme Court ruling that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament is a Member of Parliament and has a voting right. The right of the Deputy Speaker to vote or be counted as part of Members of Parliament (MPs) to form a quorum was settled by the Supreme Court following a contention between the Majority and Minority in Parliament. The Majority and Minority, in the year past, traded punches in the chamber when the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, acting as Speaker of Parliament; attempted to hand over his seat to the Second Deputy Speaker in order to join the Majority to cast a vote on the government's e-levy proposal before the House. On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, a seven member panel adjudicating the case unanimously ruled that a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can as well "vote and take part in the decision of parliament". Following the court ruling, there have been criticisms from the Minority and some members of the opposition party who vehemently disagree with the court. Former President John Mahama, in a post shared across his official social media handles, described the ruling as "shocking but not surprising" and added the Apex Court has set "a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future", a Graphic Online publication cited. Sam Nartey George, a Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, also described the ruling as despicable, tweeting "the sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!". Reacting to the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah appealed to the parties to refrain from politicizing the Supreme Court ruling. Reading Articles 1 (clause 2), 125 (3) and 130 (1b), he opined that the constitution gives the Judiciary the authority by the constitution to adjudicate matters which infract the laws of the land. He, therefore, cautioned the MPs saying, "the Supreme Court is doing it's job. Let's not make it NDC/NPP issues . . . I plead that we should the Judiciary to go about its business''. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Our press briefing for today, ladies and gentlemen, shall focus on the partys internal elections including developments regarding the just ended polling station elections held across the country from February 19 to March 5, 2022. We would also outline the rules and regulations for the next phase of the internal elections, which is the conduct of the partys Electoral Area Coordinators elections, as approved by the National Council, at its meeting of January, 27, 2022. REVIEW OF POLLING STATION ELECTIONS The Party, having monitored the conduct of the polling station elections held across the country, observed with grave concerns and revulsion, the pockets of disturbances including in some cases, verbal attacks and physical confrontations witnessed in some of the constituencies. Without mincing words, the Party, once again, condemns all such unfortunate acts and misconducts which have sought to bring the name of the Party into disrepute. As a disciplined and law abiding political tradition, we expect all our members to use the Partys laid down grievance and dispute procedures to seek amicable resolutions to their grievances rather than resorting to such unorthodox means which only brings embarrassment to all of us. Beyond the dispute and grievance procedures enshrined in Article 4 of the Party Constitution, the Party, in issuing the rules and regulations for the conduct of the polling station elections, incorporated detailed and comprehensive redress mechanisms for aggrieved party members. The Party provided in the rules and regulations that no interested party member should be denied access to the purchase of Nomination Forms by the Polling Station elections committee, and where same is denied in gross violation of this express rule, that aggrieved member may, through a petition, purchase Nomination Form at the Regional or National Secretariat of the Party. The Party made adequate preparations for the exercise and also made available Nomination Forms, at least, 25 Nomination Forms were sent to each polling station across the country. So, the argument cannot be one of shortage of Nomination Forms but the desire on the part of the some party officers and members to honour these rules and regulations in breach rather than in observance. The Party has also commissioned internal investigative processes in respect of these disturbances and all persons found culpable shall be disciplined in accordance with the Partys regulations. In the specific case of the disturbances witnessed at Fomena including the painting of the Party Office with NDC colors, the Party takes serious view of this gross misconduct which is not only reprehensible but also an affront to the very dignity of the Party. Accordingly, the Party is taking immediate steps to expel all the persons behind this ungodly act from the Party, of course, through due process. The point must be made that the Party has not yet decided on the modalities for holding polling station primaries in Fomena and the other 9 constituencies where polling station primaries were suspended owing to one reason or another. So, in Fomena, for instance, the Party is yet to take a decision on the date of opening nomination, date of vetting, date of publication of vetting results, and date of holding the polling station elections in that constituency. This would be done and communicated in due course. That being the case, the Party certainly did not and could not have sent Nomination Forms to Fomena for the conduct of the elections, let alone, to have handed over all such Forms to the Independent Member of Parliament, as alleged, which then erroneously formed the basis for the disturbances witnessed at the Constituency including the painting of the Party office with NDC colours. Like I intimated, all those behind this untoward act, will be dealt with severely. It is also worth making the point that, the National executives have also been holding meetings with the members of the polling station elections committee and MPs in constituencies where there are issues which have been brought to our attention, with the view to resolving same. Where it was established that members of the elections committee had not acquitted themselves as required by the rules and regulations, the Party is holding them accountable, and in some cases, we have directed a complete overhaul of the committee ahead of the Electoral Area Coordinators Elections. It is instructive to make the point that, much as, as observed, pockets of disturbances and ugly scenes were witnessed in some constituencies which the Party condemns unreservedly, the process across the country was largely successful. Indeed, out of the 263 Constituencies where polling station primaries have been held, we have seen these worrying developments in some 15 constituencies. So, the impression should not be created that the entire process across the country was fraught with challenges. And like I intimated, the Party is currently conducting investigations in these constituencies and where the situation so demands, we may order a re-run of the polling station elections in the affected constituencies, in which case, we may send people from National to supervise the process. The Party has also given directives to the various chairpersons of all the Polling Stations and Electoral Area Elections Committees, to submit a comprehensive report, detailing all what transpired relative to the conduct of the just ended polling stations elections. This is a condition precedent that has to be fulfilled before the Committee will be cleared to conduct the Electoral Area Coordinators elections. CONDUCT OF ELECTORAL AREA ELECTIONS As earlier published by the Party, Electoral Area Coordinators elections shall be held from the 18th of March to 20th of March, 2022. At this phase of the internal elections, the Party, in order to increase access to Nomination Forms, has resolved to upload the Forms for the Electoral Area elections on the Partys website for interested members to download for free. Forms can be downloaded via the link: newpatrioticparty.org/npp-form. The Nomination Forms can also be downloaded from the official social media platforms of the Party including the Partys facebook and twitter accounts. Members who download the Forms will however be required to submit the completed Nomination Forms to the respective Polling Stations and Electoral Area Elections Committee, whereupon they would be required to pay the cost of filing, which is GHc50. Notwithstanding the resort to this online system, at least 5 hardcopies of the Nomination Forms will also be made available at each Electoral Area, for interested members. The Party also wishes to emphasize that for purposes of this electoral area elections, no new electoral areas shall be created in any constituency. Accordingly, the existing Electoral Areas shall be maintained, in spite of any provisions to the contrary. RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTORAL AREA COORDINATORS ELECTIONS With reference to Article 5(4) of the NPP Constitution that provides that the Polling Station Executives in each Electoral Area shall elect the Electoral Area Coordinator, as well as Article 18 on guidelines for the operations of the Party at all levels, the following Rules and Regulations have been made by the National Council of the NPP for the conduct of the Partys Electoral Area Coordinators Elections: 1. The Electoral Area Elections shall be held from March 18 to March 20, 2022 2. There shall be constituted, a Polling Station and Electoral Area Elections Committee to oversee the organization of the Electoral Area Coordinators Elections in each Constituency. 3. The Polling Station and Electoral Area Elections Committee shall be constituted as follows: a) One Regional Representative appointed by the Regional Executive Committee who shall be the Chair; b) The Constituency Chairman; c) The Constituency Secretary who shall be the Secretary to the committee d) The Constituency Research and Elections officer; e) The Constituency Council of Elders Chairman or his Representative f) The Constituency Council of Patrons Chairman or his Representative g) The Constituency I.T Officer h) The Member of Parliament or his Representative i) An elderly woman appointed by the Constituency Executive Committee 5. For the avoidance of doubt, the Polling Station and Electoral Area Elections Committee that supervised the just ended Polling Station elections held from 19th February to 5th March, 2022, shall be the same Committee that shall supervise the conduct of the Electoral Area Coordinators Elections, except the few places where the Party had legitimate cause to change some members of the Committee particularly the chairpersons. 6. The Committee shall be responsible for the supervision and conduct of the Electoral Area elections across the Constituency within the scheduled dates (Friday, 18th March Sunday, 20th March, 2022), and at a Venue to be determined by the Committee. 7. No member of the Polling Station and Electoral Area Elections Committee shall be eligible to contest in the Electoral Area Coordinators Elections. 8. A polling station executive who seeks to contest for the position of Electoral Area Coordinator shall first RESIGN from his/her position. 9. Nomination Forms shall be acquired from the Electoral Area Elections Committee for free. However, upon submission of completed Nomination Forms to the elections committee, an Applicant shall be required to pay to the Committee, a filing fee of GHc50.00. 10. Nomination Forms can also be downloaded from the Partys website via the link: newpatrioticparty.org/npp-form, as well as all the official social media accounts of the Party, for free. However, upon submission of completed Nomination Forms to the elections committee, the prospective aspirant shall pay a filing fee of GHc50. 11. No prospective aspirant shall be denied the opportunity to submit his/her completed Nomination Form 12. A prospective aspirant shall be a known and active member of the Party in the Electoral Area he/she seeks to contest. 13. An Aspirant shall be nominated by one (1) person and seconded by three (3) registered members of the Party, all of whom shall be in good standing and Party members at that particular Electoral Area. 14. Three (3) Passport sized photographs shall accompany each Application Form. 15. As provided for in Article 5(4) of the Party Constitution, persons who are qualified to vote in the Electoral Area Elections shall be the respective Polling Station executives within the Electoral Area as well as the current Electoral Area Coordinator. 16. For identification purposes, voters shall use their Party Membership Identity (ID) Card, but where same is unavailable, National Voters ID will be admitted for the purpose of voting. 17. The Constituency IT Officer, who is a member of the Committee, shall, under the supervision of the other Committee members, key in the details of all the elected Electoral Area Coordinators, into an electronic system that the Party has developed and made available to the various Constituencies. 18. The details of all the elected Electoral Area Coordinators entered into the system shall be electronically transmitted to the IT Directorate of the National Secretariat. 19. The Constituency IT Officer who effected the data entries, shall print a hardcopy of the entries and submit same to the Polling Station Executives and Electoral Area Elections Committee, for the necessary verification. 20. A hardcopy of the verified data entries shall be lodged with the Regional Secretariat by the Constituency Secretary and Chairman of the Committee, for onward submission to National Secretariat. 21. All the data entries and the pasting of photographs of elected Electoral Area Coordinators shall take place at a designated Constituency Collation Centre to be decided by the Polling Station and Electoral Area Elections Committee. 22. The following schedules shall be observed in the conduct of the elections: Opening and closing of Nominations - Monday 14th to Tuesday 15th March, 2022 Vetting of Aspirant - Wednesday, 16th March, 2022 Appeals, if any - Thursday, 17th March, 2022 Election of Electoral Area Coordinator - 18th to 20th March, 2022 23. Prospective aspirants who feel aggrieved at any point in the process must exhaust all available internal dispute resolution mechanisms in accordance with Article 4 of the Partys Constitution and the decision of the National Executive (NEC) shall be final. CONCLUSION The Party wishes to appeal, first of all, to the various Electoral Area Elections Committees to ensure a level playing field for all members interested in the Electoral Area Elections. They should rise to the occasion and vindicate the confidence that has been reposed in them by adhering strictly to these express rules and regulations which are meant to ensure the smooth rollout of the Electoral Area Coordinators elections. Finally, the Party, while commending its grassroots for showing great enthusiasm in the polling station elections, wishes to appeal to those aggrieved in the course of the exercise, to use the laid down time-tested grievance procedures of the Party to seek redress. This is the only Party we have, and we owe it to our forebears and our conscience to protect and defend the good name of the Party at all times. It is the only way we can show that we are loyal and patriotic members of this oldest political tradition in Ghana and West Africa. Let us do right to all in the supreme interest of our beloved party, and for the love God and country. Thank you. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira West, Ben Aryeh has taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama over his remarks on the Supreme Court verdict on the right of the Deputy Speaker in Parliament to vote while acting as Speaker. A seven member panel of the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, March 9, settled the issue as they ruled that a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can "vote and take part in the decision of parliament". Up untill the court ruling, this had been a contentious issue between the Minority and Majority in Parliament as each side stood by their arguments on whether or not a Deputy Speaker, acting as Speaker, remains a Member of Parliament to exercise a right to vote during proceedings. This controversy among the members even resulted in heated wrestle last year when the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, sitting in for the Speaker who had taken a medical leave; decided to hand over his seat to the Second Deputy Speaker in order to participate in a voting on the 2022 budget, particularly on the much-disputed e-levy proposal by the Akufo-Addo government. The court verdict therefore comes to legitimize the Deputy Speaker's action. However, Ex-President John Mahama has objected to the verdict. He finds the ruling "shocking but not surprising" and fears the highest court of the land is setting a "dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future". But Ben Aryeh vehemently dissents to the position of the Ex-President. Hon. Ben Aryeh held that the Supreme Court has done nothing wrong but served the people of Ghana with the right verdict. He noted that, contrary to Mr. Mahama's fears of the court setting a dangerous precedent, the Apex Court has rather acted in accordance with the constitution, so he doesn't see any turbulence arising in the future as a result of the ruling as the former President would have Ghanaians to believe. ''We have a Speaker who takes an oath as the Speaker. He is the only person who takes such oath. All other members of the House swear the oath of Members of Parliament including those who, temporarily, assume the role of the Speaker. When they assume that role, they don't swear any oath as the Speaker. That is why they don't retire on their Speaker's benefit or like the Speaker who retires on his salary and what have you. The Members of Parliament who act as Deputies are treated as Members of Parliament and that is it'', he affirmed on PeaceFM's "Kokrokoo" show, Friday. He therefore asked Mr. Mahama; ''Why should chaos be part of your vocabulary when, like I said from the beginning, as human beings; we have decided on ways to resolve our differences? Are we placing aside and use disorder? Is that an alternative that should come to mind?'' He cautioned the former President to refrain from making such statements emphasizing ''that should not be even an alternative''. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has lashed out at those slamming the critics of the Supreme Court verdict on the right of Deputy Speakers to participate in voting in Parliament when acting as Speaker. Following the court ruling which said a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can as well "vote and take part in the decision of parliament", there have arisen some people who disagree with the ruling. Objections Some of the notable critics are former President John Dramani Mahama who describes the ruling as ''shocking but not surprising" and fears the Supreme Court has set a ''dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future" and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George who tweeted ''the sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!''. Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu also believes the verdict is to award the majority the opportunity to pass the e-levy bill. Counter-Arguments But some members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Majority in Parliament have descended on the critics, wondering why they are speaking against the court ruling. President Nana Akufo-Addo has questioned the opposition's logic in objecting to the verdict. ''I'm astonished about how much public energy has been wasted, I say so with the greatest of respect, been wasted in an area on an issue where there is so much clarity and I'm happy that the court...the Supreme Court, when it is declaring the meaning of the constitution and it does so unanimously. That is the most emphatic way in which the court can pronounce!'', he said as he expressed shock over the opposition remarks. ''Our Speaker is expressly not a member of the Assembly, that's why he doesn't have the right to vote. In fact, he is really not even to participate in the deliberations of the House. He is the referee making sure that the debate is conducted properly and the rules of procedure or the orders of the House are complied with. That's his role'', he argued, emphasizing if the Deputy Speakers are ''denied the right to vote, [it will mean] it is tantamount to denying the right of the people you represent to have a say in the decision of the Assembly. That will not be right. So, I couldn't understand all this furore and controversy artificially generated''. Also, a leading member of the NPP and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayensuano constituency, Samuel Ayeh-Paye has asked the opponents to leave the Supreme Court alone stating "the Supreme Court has the authority to say what you're doing contravenes the constitution, so cancel it...we can't put any order in our standing orders which infracts the constitution''. He urged the law makers to "admit that if we accept separation of powers, the Executives, the Judiciary and the Legislature, then we must give the Supreme Court the room to do its work". Supreme Court Isn't Divine Reacting to this matter during a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Kwesi Pratt stressed the Supreme Court is not above criticisms. He explained that the constitution of Ghana gives every citizen the right to comment on a court ruling, hence can speak against it without fear or intimidation. ''The Supreme Court is not a divine institution. Supreme Court is a creation of the constitution. The constitution also gives us the right to review its provisions. We can even rewrite the constitution. The people of Ghana, the sovereign people of Ghana, they are the ultimate decision makers in everything including judicial matters. In fact, the continued existence of the Supreme Court is subject to the will of the sovereign people of Ghana'', he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi. He asserted; ''When the Supreme Court make the decisions, we are entitled to examine the decisions of the Supreme Court and to comment on the decisions of the Supreme Court.'' On his position on the verdict, Mr. Pratt argued that the purpose of the ruling is to give the Majority in Parliament an upper hand in decision making in the House. ''What is the purpose of this interpretation? The purpose of this interpretation is to allow the so-called majority to carry the day even as we have 137/137. That's the effect. That is the effect; no other effect! Is this right thing? For the Judiciary now to be making decisions about how voting can be carried in the House?'', he expounded. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Pumpjacks are shown pumping crude oil near Halkirk, Alta., on June 20, 2007. An oil and gas labour shortage is one of the factors that could prevent Canada from moving quickly to address energy demand in the wake of U.S. sanctions against Russia.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal Alberta Premier Jason Kenney gives a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. The premier has filed his defence in a defamation lawsuit brought against him over his remarks on the release of an Inquiry into supposed misinformation about the province's energy industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Agriculture Minister says Russian forces are targeting the Ukrainians' food supply, including their stores of grain.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle Quebec Premier Francois Legault responds to the Opposition during question period Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 at the legislature in Quebec City. On the second anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quebec premier says the government did what it could to save as many lives as possible. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot Ontario Premier Doug Ford removes his mask to take a question from a journalist as he attends a press briefing in Toronto, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. The premier responded Friday to several school boards asking to extend mask mandates by telling them to stick to the province's end date because "they aren't medical experts."THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.10 per week for 10 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Spains Adrian Mateos will return with nearly twice the chips of his nearest competitor for the Day 3 finale of the EPT Prague 50,000 Super High Roller at Kings Casino Prague. The Super High Roller's return to the European Poker Tour drew 45 runners and generated a prize pool of 2,182,950, of which 742,200 will go to Fridays winner. Mateos holds a commanding lead after taking big pots and picking up eliminations all day, and he will return for the Day 3 finale in search of his fifth EPT title. Hes followed in second by Timothy Adams, who bagged just over 2,000,000 at the end of Day 2. Rounding out the final five players are Nick Petrangelo, Chris Brewer, and Orpen Kisacikoglu. EPT Prague 50,000 Super High Roller Final Table Chip Counts Rank Name Country Chip Count Final Table Big Blinds 1 Adrian Mateos Spain 5,020,000 126 2 Timothy Adams Canada 2,220,000 56 3 Nick Petrangelo United States 2,100,000 53 4 Chris Brewer United States 1,155,000 29 5 Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey 830,000 21 Day 2 Action Mateos started his run early with the elimination of Tony G, followed by taking one of the biggest pots of the night from Brewer. Mateos and Brewer battled several times as the latter set the pace early, but the Spaniard retained the edge throughout the day and Brewer will return tomorrow looking for an opportunity to climb back up the leaderboard. Yuri Dzivielevski was the first to fall victim after the bubble burst when he made a king-high flush and ran into the ace-high flush of Mateos. The Brazilian picked up 152,810 for his sixth place finish. Elsewhere, Stephen Chidwick was a presence throughout the day, but his run came to an end when his pocket sevens ran into the pocket jacks of Adams, who will return tomorrow with the second-most chips looking for an opportunity to close the gap with Mateos. Other notable players that came up short include Leon Tsoukernik, who registered on Day 2 but had his kings cracked by Laszlo Bujtas. Ole Schemion made a run, but he ran out of momentum and busted out to burst the money bubble. Remaining Payouts 1 742,200 2 512,990 3 327,440 4 251,040 5 196,470 Players will return tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. local time for the Day 3 finale. Blinds will continue in Level 17 at 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante and blinds will increase every 60 minutes until a winner is declared. Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews team for coverage of the 50,000 Super High Roller and other marquee events at EPT Prague. Timothy Adams topped a 45-player field to win the EPT Prague 50,000 Super High Roller after a battling final day. He finally saw off Orpen Kisacikoglu heads-up to win 742,200 in his second Super High Roller victory in the Czech capital, after winning the same tournament back in 2017. The final table featured no fewer than a dozen double-ups, the majority split between Kisacikoglu and third-place finisher Nick Petrangelo. Fourth-place went to Chris Brewer, with Adrian Mateos fifth despite holding a commanding chip lead at the start of play. EPT Prague 50,000 Super High Roller Final Table Results Place Player Country Payout (EUR) 1 Timothy Adams Canada 742,200 2 Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey 512,990 3 Nick Petrangelo United States 327,440 4 Chris Brewer United States 251,040 5 Adrian Mateos Spain 196,470 6 Yuri Dzivielevski Brazil 152,810 Nick Petrangelo Orpen Kisacikoglu Timothy Adams Winner's Reaction After his victory, Adams spoke with PokerNews who said that there was a simple answer as to why the final table featured such a battling and resilient style of play - the opponents. "They're just world-class players," he explained. "They make all the right decisions, and it's just how the cards are being dealt. "This [final table] was very deep, so I was prepared for a long day of poker, because you know everyone is going to be playing very tough. But anything can happen because everyone is an elite poker player. It's not surprising when the chips go in the middle. People know they have to play aggressively in certain situations." This is a ninth career cash in Prague for Adams, including two Main Event cashes and a Super High Roller victory back in 2017. He says that it was good to be back in the city. "It's easy in the past to take EPTs for granted, but now that we're back you realise how much you appreciate the staff, the tournament, your opponents and that's me really being honest. I was very happy to see a bunch of familiar faces. The whole vibe is quite joyous and people are happy to be back." The final table featured a different atmosphere to the robotic style of play that High Rollers are often believed to have, and Adams believes that's down to the relationships the players have with one another. "A lot of us are close friends, and everyone respects one another. It's one of those dynamics where...it's not like you're playing in a home game, but they're all people you're really close to. I just think people are very happy to be social again!" Timothy Adams Final Day Recap A stunning turn of events to open the day, saw runaway chip leader Adrian Mateos eliminated inside the first two levels. A series of doubles would see him drop down the counts, before shoving into Chris Brewer's pocket aces to be left short. He was eliminated soon thereafter as Brewer took over as chip leader, with Timothy Adams close behind. Nick Petrangelo was left on the brink of elimination at one point, with just three big blinds, but battled back to double back three times in quick succession. Double-ups were the theme, with Kisacikoglu doubling through Brewer twice in a row, as no one managed to grasp control of proceedings. That was until Brewer was eliminated in fourth place, vaulting Adams into the chip lead. He would relinquish the chip lead only once, to Kisacikoglu, has the double-ups continued with the two short stacks battling it out behind Adams. Nick Petrangelo Orpen Kisacikoglu Timothy Adams And after Adams sent Petrangelo to the rail, he held a more than 2:1 advantage over Kisacikoglu. It wasn't long before the Turk hit the rail, handing Adams the victory and almost three quarters of a million euros. The record-breaking 2021 PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague 2,200 Eureka High Roller has crowned a champion. An additional day was needed to whittle down the record-breaking field of 1,149 entries to a winner and it was Spain's Jose Manuel Gonzalez who defeated [B]Pedro Marques[/B] in a brief heads-up encounter. Both split the lion's share of the 2,206,080 prize pool after entering the extra day as the two run-away chip leaders. Among the six finalists who returned to the King's Casino at the Hilton Hotel Prague was also the 2021 WSOP bracelet winner Romain Lewis, who was unable to mount a comeback from one big blind and finished in sixth place. Final Result EPT Prague 2,200 Eureka High Roller Place Winner Country Prize (in EUR) 1 Jose Manuel Gonzalez Spain 343,750* 2 Pedro Marques Portugal 288,750* 3 Ermanno Di Nicola Italy 166,120 4 Nicolas Vayssieres France 124,860 5 Thomas Lhomme France 95,080 6 Romain Lewis France 69,930 7 John Mooney United Kingdom 53,060 8 Gilles Gauyacq France 37,880 * the final two players agreed to an ICM deal and continued to play for 32,500 in cash and the EPT winner's trophy The day began with a scenario heavily impacted by ICM considerations as four of the six finalists had six or fewer big blinds at their disposal. Lewis was fortunate enough to begin on the button but none of his opponents bowed out in the first orbit to send the Frenchman all-in and at risk when the big blind came around. There was no miracle for Lewis and he had to settle for a payday of 69,930. Next to go was fellow countryman Thomas Lhomme who also hit the rail after being forced all-in from the big blind as well. Nicolas Vayssieres made some moves with his short stack and doubled twice but ultimately fell in fourth place. One hand later, it was all over for Ermanno Di Nicola and the odds-on heads-up duel between the two biggest stacks Gonzalez and Marques was set. Marques, a former EPT Main Event finalist and two-time SCOOP champion, started with a narrow disadvantage but never gained the lead in a duel that stretched almost one hour. Ultimately, the Portuguese jammed with a king on the button and Gonzalez called with an ace. Five blanks later, the celebrations of Gonzalez could be heard throughout the entire tournament room as the Spaniard recorded a career-best score of 343,750. Marques had to settle for a consolation prize of 288,750 and will certainly jump into the ongoing second starting day of the 5,300 EPT Prague Main Event soon. It's a busy day at the King's Casino, as the 50,000 Super High Roller concludes as well. Make sure to follow along as the PokerNews team will provide live updates from all marquee events. The Aiken Department of Public Safety is purchasing a new ladder truck to replace one of the two the department currently has in service the cost is over $1 million. On March 7, four members of the department, including Chief Charles Barranco, traveled to Appleton, Wisconsin, for a preconstruction meeting at the Pierce apparatus manufacturing plant. The group went over the specs of the new truck, a 2022 Pierce aerial truck with a 107 foot ascendant ladder on an enforcer cab. The new truck will replace the department's Ladder 4 truck, a 1996 Pierce that runs out of Station Two on the Southside. The older ladder truck will still run as a reserve vehicle. "Pierce manufacturing is always looking for safety improvements for the operators of any of their apparatus," said Capt. Brian Brazier, who attended the meeting in Wisconsin this week. "We have a lot of Pierce fire trucks they are a very good manufacturer and the safety features of this truck are definitely an improvement of the 1996." Public safety said its current plans show the department keeps a ladder truck in service for about 20 years. "This truck will serve the citizens of Aiken that we offer fire protection to for several years," Brazier said. "It is a big investment for the city, but with cooperation through our council and capital project sales tax funding, we are able to purchase this new truck and hopefully it'll be in the fleet for a minimum of 20 years." The order was placed in July 2021 during the current budget year, and the truck is expected to be delivered in October. "It only actually takes about 10 weeks to build the actual truck, but it's a big process to get all the parts together they build it from the tires up," Brazier said. MONCKS CORNER One of the most valuable and often underused resources in Berkeley County is the areas outdoor recreation sites. Its a resource that Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb, along with Palmetto Conservation Foundation and the Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District, hopes the public will use more often in the future, thus bringing in more tourism dollars to the county. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held March 11 that marked the completion of the Swamp Fox Passage Reclamation Project, a 3-mile passage along U.S. Highway 52, 5 miles north of Moncks Corner. What started as a partnership between the Francis Marion National Forest and Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District in 2017 evolved into a comprehensive, five-year project involving nine partners across the Lowcountry. The rivers, lakes and national forest are huge resources that we need to open up to the public, Cribb said. Passive recreation and trails like this are so important for the county on so many different levels. For one, it brings in ecotourism dollars. Cribb said trails like the Swamp Fox Passage and simple outdoor recreational opportunities can be vitally important for the economy. If you did a survey with folks about recreation, passive recreation opportunities almost always score the highest across the board, he said. Sometimes people are just looking for a short walk, or picnic shelter, or a view of the marsh or river. At 47 miles, the Swamp Fox Passage is the longest section of the cross-state Palmetto Trail. The passage traverses four distinct ecosystems through Francis Marion National Forest, including swamps made famous as hideouts of Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion. Mature longleaf pine forests are home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Grassy savannas with wildlife border Dog Swamp and Turkey Creek, and a cypress pool footbridge offers views of the impressive Wadboo Swamp. The National Forest has been here for a long time, but the ability for the public to get out there and see it hasnt always been there, said Berkeley Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner Barry Jurs. The Swamp Fox Passage Reclamation Project work included: Improvements to 3 miles of trail that bisect numerous wetlands between highways 52 and 17A. Construction of 1,342 feet of turnpikes. Construction of 863 feet of boardwalks. Expanded, leveled and graveled parking area. Posted navigational trail signs from trailhead to S.C. Highway 402. Former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown of Hanahan helped spearhead funding for the Palmetto Trail when he was in the state Legislature and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee in the early 1990s. The Secure Rural Schools Title II program provided the initial $241,000 to kickstart the project. Over its lifespan, that funding was supplemented by grant money, donated materials and volunteer hours. Title II funds are U.S. Forest Service funds generated through multiuse activities, such as grazing, timber production and special-use permits, which are distributed to eligible counties. You can have all the great ideas in the world, but if you cant fund them, they are just ideas, Cribb said. That Title II funding was crucial. The fact that there was a funding commitment is what makes this a unique trail. In the early 1990s, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation devised a plan to make a trail that would stretch across the state. In 1994, the group broke ground on the Lake Moultrie Passage in Berkeley County. The first passage was built on land owned by Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility company. The 27-mile trail rings the northern and eastern shores of Lake Moultrie. Since then, passages have been added to the trail that now stretches almost 400 miles, across 14 counties, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Walhalla to Awendaw on the Lowcountry coast. The trail goes through a half-dozen state parks, three national forests and two Revolutionary War battlefields. GOOSE CREEK No-frills grocer Aldi is ready to open the doors on its fifth store in the Charleston area. The discount food chain will welcome customers March 16 at 205 St. James Ave. in Goose Creek. The store will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. A grand opening celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a $500 gift card giveaway is set for 7:50 a.m. March 24. Customers can enter the sweepstakes on the day of the grand opening at the new store by scanning a QR code with their mobile device. "We have served the Charleston area for more than five years and look forward to continuing to offer Goose Creek residents high-quality, fresh foods and low prices," said Krysta Cearley, regional vice president for the German-based retailer's office in Salisbury, N.C. The new store is less than two miles from rival low-cost grocer Lidl, which opened in 2017 at 435 St. James Ave. Walmart Neighborhood Market, the retail giants small-store grocery format, offers a food-buying option just west of the new Aldi. Aldi, with its U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Ill., is one of America's fastest-growing retailers. It has more than 2,100 stores in 37 states. The company says it is on track to become the third-largest grocery store chain in the U.S. by store count by the end of 2022. Arkansas-based Walmart tops the list with nearly 4,700 stores, followed by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co.'s more than 3,200 supermarkets. Kroger also owns Matthews, N.C.-based Harris Teeter. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! Regional chains that serve the Charleston area such as Publix and Food Lion have more than 1,000 stores each. The penny-pinching Aldi is known for requiring customers to insert a quarter to retrieve a shopping cart and then allowing them to get the coin back when the cart is returned. Also, it does not provide free shopping bags. The chain stocks a variety of standard products, mostly under its own label, as well as fresh meats and produce. The grocer launched its first store in the Charleston region in 2015 off Dorchester Road on the edge of Summerville and North Charleston. The company then followed with a second store on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant in 2017. Aldi opened its third location in 2020 on North Main Street in Summerville, just south of the Earth Fare supermarket. The company added a fourth site later that year in the former Barnes & Noble Booksellers space on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston. Lidl, its competitor that is also based in Germany, is building two new stores in the Charleston area: in the Cedar Grove Shopping Center on Dorchester Road in North Charleston, east of the Aldi location; and in Bowman Place Shopping Center on Bowman Road in Mount Pleasant, about a mile or so north of the Aldi store. Both Lidl locations are nearing completion, but opening dates have not been announced. A company spokesman did not immediately respond for comment March 10. Peninsular Charleston's first new senior-care facility in several years is ready to take in residents along a well-traveled stretch of road near the city's hospital district. The five-story Kempton officially opened March 11 and is the first of two sites slated for the peninsula by Liberty Senior Living. The other will be The Peninsula, a continuing-care facility that will offer a full slate of services for seniors, with nearly 150 rooms for independent living, assisted living and memory care and about 60 or so others for health care, according to Patrick Allen with the Wilmington, N.C.-based company. It will be built on upper King Street on property owned by the former parent company of The Post and Courier. The project is making its way through the city review process, and construction could begin at the earliest in late 2023 or early 2024. The freshly minted Kempton sits on a bend where the Septima P. Clark Expressway meets Spring Street. The 85,000-square-foot property includes units for assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation. It offers 46 assisted-living apartments, from studio to two-bedroom units, on the second and third floors. They come with European-entry showers and kitchenettes. Twenty-one units on the fourth floor are dedicated to memory care. Patients have access to their own dining room and a secure rooftop terrace with greenery-covered walls and live flowers. "It affords them the ability to get outside, relax and enjoy the fresh air," said Lindsay French, executive director. Physical rehabilitation can be found on the top floor through 19 private rooms and two companion units that allow for double occupancy. They are available for short-term residents seeking rehabilitation after a hospital stay. The top floor offers its own dining room. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! The first floor features a living room, kitchen, dining room, salon, park and physical therapy gym. In addition to assisted-living units, the second floor offers two rooftop terraces, a bistro, laundry facilities and a theater. "Our community ... truly lives like a luxury hotel, but it's designed especially for seniors," French said. French said the facility is just beginning to welcome residents, so it's not fully occupied. "We are excited to have a presence in downtown Charleston," said Will Purvis, president of Liberty Senior Living. "We look forward to not only introducing a unique and beautiful community for residents to call home but also in forming strong bonds and relationships with those that live and work within downtown Charleston." The one-acre parcel where the facility sits, which sold in 2018 for $5.6 million, is adjacent to the Medical University of South Carolina campus and other health care providers. When Liberty announced the project two years ago, the senior living company said it would provide an opportunity to enhance its affiliation with MUSC Health's aging department. The health care system, which works with Liberty's 261-residence South Bay at Mount Pleasant continuing care site, is slated to offer the new facility cardiac rehabilitation specialties as well as physician services. One of the last senior care providers downtown was the former Franke Home, which moved from Calhoun Street to Seaside Farms in Mount Pleasant in 1996. The peninsula also has one other senior-care facility called The Canterbury House, which offers independent living. Liberty Senior Living operates 17 locations across the Southeast. COLUMBIA South Carolina's bases will welcome new construction projects thanks to the long-delayed federal budget finally moving through Congress this week. The federal budget includes $273 million for military projects in the state, according to Columbia Chamber Chief Executive Officer Carl Blackstone. That is better than the state has done in past years, Blackstone said. It includes projects from the Army's Fort Jackson in the Midlands to the coast, with major building project set for the air bases in Beaufort and Charleston. The progress reflects a concerted effort by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, to get projects added to the budget during the extended process, he said. "Seniority does have its benefits," Blackstone said, adding "$273 million for South Carolina is huge." In a statement, Graham said the projects being backed were important for South Carolina. "I believe it is important that elected officials have a say in how taxpayer money is spent and not rely on bureaucrats in Washington to protect South Carolinas interests," the senator said. The senator's staff worked with bases across the state to identify important needs related to their missions, said Mary Graham, a former official of the Charleston Metro Chamber who is no relation to the senator. That help should keep the state's bases vibrant and give them a better chance to avoid losing projects in any future rounds of base-closing that the Pentagon could launch in the future, she said. Among the projects funded were $30 million for a new fire and rescue facility at Joint Base Charleston. That's an investment that will help protect both the military and civilian sides of Charleston International Airport, said Mary Graham, who serves as vice chair on the state's military task force. The budget also includes $29 million to build a support facility for the military flight line in Charleston, including administrative offices and warehouse space for the base's C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft. The biggest S.C. military project on the list is at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, where $121 million will be spent on a new maintenance hanger for its squadron of F-35 Lightning II fighters. In Columbia, the budget will fund a $21 million project to construct a new reception barracks on Fort Jackson. The fort has been the basic training site for an increasing number of personnel and needs to add to its capacity to intake arriving recruits, Blackstone said. It also includes $9 million for a new project at McEntire Air Guard Station in Richland County. The money would be used to construct a pad to handle hazardous cargo for the "Swamp Foxes" of the 169th Fighter Wing, who fly F-16 Falcon fighters. The federal spending plan was approved by the House March 9 and expected to head to the president's desk this week. It is months overdue to pass a budget for this fiscal year. The federal government has been operating on a series of temporary budget resolutions since October while Congress debated spending priorities. COLUMBIA Richland One is no longer the sole large school district in South Carolina mandating masks. School board commissioners took several weeks enduring complaints from parents because masks were required in schools despite Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing a lowering risk of COVID-19 in Richland County but they took 10 minutes on March 11 to make masks optional when classes resume March 14. "It's been a rough two years, but it's good to see some light at the end of the tunnel," board Chairwoman Cheryl Harris said. "Our numbers in Richland County are now low, so this is the perfect time for us to have this discussion and to make these moves." Debates over mask rules dominated the past two board meetings with some parents voicing strong objections and noting that Richland One was an outlier after the state's largest districts dropped the requirements. Richland One is the state's ninth-largest district with 22,000 students. The Richland One board tentatively agreed to drop the mandate at a meeting March 8, but members wanted time to consult with Richland County Council, which extended a mask mandate through April. The district hesitated in dropping the mandate in February when the CDC deemed the county as having a "high risk" of COVID-19 spread based on case and vaccination data. The risk dropped to "medium" in March, which ended public health recommendations to require masks. Richland One had kept its mask mandate in place even after the risk lowered, prompting parents to continually ask board commissioners why. "What's Richland Two doing?" an audience member said at the board's March 8 meeting, calling attention to the fact that the neighboring school district dropped its mask requirement. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. CONWAY A 2.5-mile section of a former railroad in Myrtle Beach could be a tourist attraction in the future if a Pennsylvania businessman can convince Horry County and city officials. Stephen Lane, a self-proclaimed train history buff, recently met with a Horry County Council subcommittee to pitch the idea of converting old Atlantic Coastline Railroad tracks located between the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge and the Myrtle Beach Train Depot into a venture where patrons could ride antique trains or trolley cars. Lane said the 45-minute round-trip ride would end back at the historic train depot on Broadway Street in downtown Myrtle Beach where he proposes to rent space from the city for a gift shop, restaurant and office space. The city currently uses the 85-year-old building for event space. Horry County owns the railway where the proposed route is, but the attraction would operate in Myrtle Beach, so the proposal would also need the citys blessing. While Lane told the subcommittee that he has only had preliminary talks with Myrtle Beach city officials, he said he would not be asking for any funding from the county or city at the March 7 meeting. He will be providing his own money though he declined to say how much. Currently the owner of Allegheny Feed and Milling in Northern Cambria, Pa., two hours east of Pittsburgh, Lane said he went through a similar process three years ago when he searched for a way to preserve a 33-mile-long railroad that went through his hometown. Took about a year and a half to do it, but we did the job, Lane said. Lane said he got the idea for the Myrtle Beach venture after reading an online news article about the unused railroad. He has visited South Carolina three times, he said. The attraction, according to Lane, would be the second in the state, with the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro also in operation. He said there will be themed events such as Thomas the Tank Engine and the Polar Express. Lane said he would start out using a lighter antique streetcar to see if he would be able to successfully run a locomotive on the existing rails. But in any event, he said he will need to first shore the line up to allow a train to run from 10-15 miles per hour. There really wouldnt be anything too intense about it, just a slow steam train going out of town, Lane said. Prices would range from $10 to $15 for a ride and Lane told officials that he hopes to average 150,000 riders after five years with an overall economic impact for the local economy of nearly $4.3 million. It sounds like a great idea, Ive always thought they needed something like that, Horry County Councilman Bill Howard said. MONCKS CORNER An employee with the S.C. Forestry Commission was arrested after being accused of starting a string of suspicious wildfires between January and February in northern Berkeley County. Berkeley County sheriff's deputies arrested Brad Chance, 52, of St. Stephen on March 10. He is charged with three counts of willfully burning lands of another, which is a felony punishable with up to five years in prison. The state agency is tasked with protecting South Carolina's public and private forest resources. It also provides support to private landowners who set prescribed fires on purpose to manage their land. Chance has worked as a forestry technician in Berkeley and Charleston counties since February 2021, according to an agency news release. He was suspended without pay following his arrest, the release states. Chance was taken into custody following a joint investigation between the Sheriff's Office and SCFC law enforcement agents. An incident report was not immediately available March 11. Chance was booked into Berkeley County jail March 10. He appeared the next morning before a magistrate, who set a $45,000 personal recognizance bond. A defendant is not required to post money for a personal recognizance bond to be released from jail. COLUMBIA Lawmakers in the S.C. House of Representatives advanced legislation requiring doctors to push a controversial "abortion reversal" procedure after a similar bill stalled against a Democrat-led blockade in the Senate. A Republican-dominated subcommittee of the House Judiciary panel advanced a bill by a 3-1 vote that, if passed, would require abortion providers to inform their patients of an experimental procedure to "reverse" a chemically induced abortion. Charleston Rep. Spencer Wetmore, a Democrat, was the lone "no" vote. Sponsored by Rep. Melissa Lackey Oremus, R-Aiken, the legislation closely resembles a bill that was already being considered in the S.C. Senate. That legislation, however, has stalled indefinitely after a bipartisan group of senators walked out of a hearing on the bill, preventing the committee from reaching a quorum and denying them a vote. The legislation itself and the procedure it describes has elicited significant controversy in each of the states it has been introduced. The concept of an "abortion reversal," the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has claimed, is "not based on science and do not meet clinical standards." The proposal would require physicians to give patients receiving the two-dose drug abortion a statement saying that should a patient change their mind, there is medication that could potentially strengthen the pregnancy even after they have taken the first pill a stance medical experts have disputed. Medical professionals who testified against the bill this session have claimed the legislation would essentially force doctors to lie to their patients by requiring them to push a treatment that has had little serious study and, in some cases, could actually be harmful to patients. "The First Amendment freedom of speech guarantees not only the right to speak freely, but also the right to refrain from speaking at all," Joshua Malkin, a public interest and government affairs fellow with the ACLU of South Carolina, told lawmakers. "When a law mandates or compels speech that communicates a certain message, it is presumed to violate the Constitution." Others said that compelling doctors to give inaccurate or misleading information about experimental medical procedures could cause patients to lose trust in the relationship they typically have with their medical providers. "Bill 4568 terrifies me as a young woman because I should be able to trust my doctor to help me make decisions without the fear of being fed information that could result in severe negative consequences," said Lauren Everett, a Columbia resident. The bill will now go to the full House Judiciary Committee for debate and a vote up or down. A date for that meeting has not been set. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Charleston, SC (29403) Today A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. JONESVILLE Department store chain Belk will shut down its fulfillment center in Union County, laying off about 310 employees. The projected closure date for the product distribution hub is April 30, according to a federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification that Belk filed with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. The notice is required of employers with 100 or more workers for closures or mass layoffs. The Charlotte-based department store said it would close the Jonesville location in the "coming months" as part "an effort to further align our supply chain network with the needs of the company," Belk spokeswoman Jessica Rohlik said in an email. "The decision was made after careful review of internal processes," Rohlik wrote. "We know the closure will affect associates at the Jonesville fulfillment center, and we are committed to working with them in the coming weeks to provide resources during the transition." The Jonesville fulfillment center was established in 2012 at 3805 Furman L. Fendley Highway to handle orders for it online business. Belk invested about $88 million into the campus over the past decade. In 2013, the company spent $9 million to renovate its 500,000-square-foot facility, formerly owned by Disney, and hired approximately 120 workers. The same year, Belk committed an additional $32 million by 2014 to "increase the center's capacity" and planned to add 170 jobs, according to a S.C. Department of Commerce announcement. In 2014, the Union County facility was acquired by a real estate investment trust, CPA 18-Global, which Belk then leased back. The two collectively invested $47 million more in the site and added 20 new positions. This expansion added 345,000 square feet of space to the plant. Like most retailers, Belk took a major financial hit in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down malls, kept shoppers at home and pummeled apparel sales. The planned Jonesville distribution center closing is one first major operational retrenchments for the chain in the 13 months since it emerged from bankruptcy protection. The reorganization provided the retailer with $225 million in fresh capital, cut its debt load to about $1.46 billion and extended its loan repayment deadlines. Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm that bought Belk for $3 billion in 2015, retained control of the business, which named a new CEO last summer. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk, the merchandiser has been catering to Palmetto State shoppers since the early 1890s. DUNCAN A small Upstate town is in search of someone new to lead its police department after its chief submitted his resignation on March 11. Duncan Town Council voted March 8 to have Police Chief Chris Miller removed from the police department a year after he was promoted to police chief. Miller had risen through the ranks over the past 20 years with the police department. "The council made a motion to direct me to accept his resignation or terminate him. " Town Administrator Cam Fant told The Post and Courier. "He had been chief a little over a year. The council wanted the leadership of the police department to go in a different direction." Fant said he had been in contact with Miller since the Town Council voted on March 8 and had given Miller until March 11 to submit his resignation. Otherwise, he would have been fired. Fant said Miller submitted his resignation letter in-person on March 11. The police department had received recent complaints about officers not adequately conducting traffic enforcement, including speeding and crash investigations, Fant said. "His approach to policing was not in line with what council asked for when they hired him," Fant said. "They felt that they had given him the opportunity to get things in the right direction but unfortunately things were not going in the right direction to a point it was time to make a leadership change. There were more complaints of the police department as a whole." Fant said the police department remains short-staffed, with at least five vacant officer positions, with just six full-time officers currently on staff. Three officers resigned in recent months. Fant said plans are to build the police department back up to 11 or 12 officers. "I believe as we make this transition we will come out stronger on the other side," Fant said. "We are talking to several potential replacements and hope to get to a full staff again and make changes in vehicles and uniforms and policies and do more community policing. I am excited about the direction the department is headed." Mayor Rog Rogers said he hopes the department's morale will be boosted as the town searches for its next police chief. Rogers said the leadership change was driven partially by public demand. "There were traffic issues during the rush hours in particular," Rogers said. "The public wanted somebody to get out there and slow these folks (drivers) down and assist." Rogers said with a leadership change he expects the police department's culture to improve and community policing will be a priority. Fant said internal and external candidates will be considered for the next police chief. "We have got somebody we are looking at now not as a chief position but in a leadership role that used to work with us and is familiar with us," Fant said. "We are going to probably look at him. He has a lot of good ideas to help regather, and then we will definitely be looking long and hard on the chief position." Ammo Grrrll continues on THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD a Political History, Part 3: Vietnam the Most Divisive Issue of Our Generation. She writes: To backtrack just a bit, our beloved country had absorbed many body blows in the turbulent 60s, starting with the unimaginable assassination of President Kennedy. (Some of you jumped the gun by discussing that last week. Its OK.) Assassinations were something that happened in some Latin American backwater, not in America. Our High School Girls Service Club had scheduled a dance for November 22nd, 1963. Naturally, it was cancelled. No matter. I didnt have a date anyway. Everyone of a certain age remembers exactly where he was when he heard the news that the President was dead. I was in Senior English, Period 5, though we knew at lunchtime that the President had been shot. When the definitive announcement of his death came over the intercom, we saw our large, scary stern (but excellent) lady English teacher break down in tears. That was almost as frightening as the assassination itself. Then, in 1968, both the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were murdered just a few short weeks apart. On April 4, 1968, Joe and I were hosting in our tiny two-room apartment, a wedding reception for a black man and white woman. Neither set of parents wanted any part of it, and there was already a beautiful baby boy about 3 months old on the scene. Everyone black and white at the little reception was wretchedly aware that Dr. King had been murdered. Talk about an elephant in the room. Eventually, as the dismal party staggered on, Chicago was on fire and the black groom left to try to calm things in his old neighborhood. I took care of the young bride and taught her how to bake bread to distract her. The baby slept peacefully in a cardboard box. Hard to believe he would be 54 years old today, very possibly a great grandfather. Meanwhile, Lyndon Baines Johnson had promised on television prior to his 1964 landslide election against the nuclear warmonger Barry Goldwater, I will nevah send American boys to do what Asian boys ought to do for themselves. Uh-huh. And suddenly, half a MILLION American boys found themselves in the steaming jungles of Southeast Asia. Although I have heard differing opinions of our South Vietnamese allies from GIs who fought with them, I will go to my grave believing that Vietnam was probably the biggest foreign policy disaster in our history, at least before Afghanistan. From that flowed massive distrust of the government (not all bad), and massive eye-opening revelations about the ability of media to manipulate us, not just by what they show, but by what they pointedly and deliberately omit. And Vietnam was the first, but not the last, war to be fought on television, and fought politically rather than militarily. None of which was the fault of the brave and honorable soldiers tasked with fighting it. We can only speculate what would have been the effect of the dreadful images broadcast into our living rooms night after night of the Revolutionary War from Valley Forge, the Civil War, or even World War II, particularly in stages of those wars when defeat looked certain. Try to imagine the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg televised with somewhere between 46,000 to 51,000 casualties from both armies almost 8 years of Vietnam in a single day. Few of our friends at the time certainly a self-selected group went to Vietnam. Strangely, since college, many of our male friends DID serve. We have listened to their stories with open minds and broken hearts and respect bordering on awe. We, too, hated the John Kerrys who sought to demonize the men doing the fighting and the sacrificing. Kerry was a part of the antiwar movement at the time we were active and we couldnt even stand him THEN even as an alleged ally. It could not have been more apparent, even to stupid 20-somethings that he was a lying, preening, self-aggrandizing opportunist, smearing his own comrades to get ahead. And get ahead he did, becoming another lifelong government time-serve and marrying a couple of very wealthy women. God Bless the Swift Boat guys who rose up as one against him. His was the first election (2004) in which I voted Republican, but again I am jumping ahead. While my husband did not volunteer to serve, neither did he do anything illegal or out of bounds to avoid service. Had he been drafted, he would have gone. He got the standard college deferment and then, just when he probably would have been drafted, the Lottery was instituted and he got a number in the 200s. They got to 179 that year. My best friends husband got 363. My number was 10. Figured. Thank God I was assigned to be a girl. There are three things I can promise all my friends and readers who did serve or who waited for those who did: 1) We never, not even once, participated in any demonstration that destroyed any property or engaged in violence. In fact, we were sometimes accused by the more Maoist or anarchist groups of being Feds because we organized parade marshals to ensure order. When we had a permit to march in the streets, we stuck to the route; when we had no permit to march in the streets, we walked peacefully on the sidewalk. 2) At no time did we ever PREVENT anyone and I do mean anyone from speaking. My whole life I have hated people who boo athletes or who shout down speakers. I have always felt if you arent in the arena, you should shut up. If you dont want to hear a speaker, dont go. Its really that simple. (We wont even discuss hecklers at comedy shows) The banning and cancelling and blows against academic freedom on campus are terrifying harbingers of worse things to come. The Free Speech Movement at Berkeley and elsewhere on campuses was organized by Far Left elements who only wanted freedom for THEMSELVES to speak. As soon as they had hegemony anywhere, then other peoples freedom to speak became hate speech. And 3) At no time did we engage in any Kerry-like slander of the troops. Never. There are life experiences that, if you miss them, separate you from those who did have them in a thousand ways. One of the most obvious is having children. And definitely another one is going to war. My father was very suspicious of anyone he met who didnt volunteer in World War II. His best friend was not allowed to enlist because, as a farmer, he was needed on the home front and Daddy did not resent that. An Army has to eat. Right, wrong, or some of each, we were convinced that the Vietnam War was an unprovoked attack on a Third World nation that meant America no harm and was also unwinnable in the manner in which it was being fought. Remember, we were only a couple dozen years from the Holocaust and wondered, where were the German protests against such an obvious wrong? Did we not have a moral obligation to speak out? Dozens of groups comprised the antiwar movement. There was what was called The New Left SDS and its offshoots, and the Maoist Progressive Labor Party, and the good Old Left Stalinist Communist Party, USA, that our Director of the CIA, John Brennan, admitted voting for. How reassuring! Most of these groups of young people had wild, undisciplined, countercultural elements. They held no attraction for us. We had no interest at all in drugs and enjoyed regular showers. We had just moved to the Twin Cities and had few friends. One day we found a radical newspaper in the back seat of an acquaintances car. It included information on how to get in touch. We called the number and were immediately invited to a party in Minneapolis. We were subsequently invited to go on a camping trip on the Apple River and were virtually courted and ultimately invited to join the group. It was a Trotskyist group called The Young Socialist Alliance, which was the youth group of the Socialist Workers Party. That party had helped organize legitimate labor struggles, Civil Rights actions, and had a core of older, serious veteran labor activists we respected. Many were very sincere, committed people. Many had spent their whole lives sacrificing financial security and personal safety to try to achieve their utopian dream. That it was not a dream but a nightmare should have been obvious, but dreams die hard. We are always assured that Communism just hasnt been done right! Yet! Yup, you betcha. But there was no getting around it: It was basically a cult, though we didnt know that yet, and like the tedious metaphor of the frog in tepid water, it happened in stages. Our main interest was stopping the Vietnam War and bringing the troops home safely. Remember those wacky conspiracy theorists who claimed that leftists and even card-carrying Communists were behind the mass demonstrations against the war? Well, I am here to tell you that like about 98 percent of current conspiracies they were right. Through a variety of innocent-sounding front groups, they ran the show. And I know because I was one of them. We learned exactly how easy it was for a relatively small group of hard-core activists to have influence far beyond their numbers (or their IQs). It still is today. Next week, Part IV Life in a Cult. The Biden administration called on the talents of Vice President Kamala Harris to work their wonders in the Ukraine crisis. What were the parties responsible for her mission to Poland President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw yesterday thinking? Ill have to circle back to you on that. Harris responded with a bout of fake laughter when asked about Ukrainian refugees (video below). The New York Post quotes the comment of Iulia Mendel, a former spokesman for Ukraine President Zelensky: It would be a tragedy if this woman won the presidency. The post adds that Mendel later deleted the post. I would only add this comment of my own. It is a tragedy that Joe Biden won the presidency. Kamala Harris tells a joke and bursts into laughter after being asked about Ukrainian refugees. "A friend in need is a friend indeed ha ha ha" pic.twitter.com/dUZNHRnJqT RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 10, 2022 The White House has posted a corrected transcript of the press conference here. Harris located her press conference in terms of Polands geographical position in NATO (video below). As the gentlemen of Firesign Theater might ask, how can you be on two flanks at once when youre not anywhere at all? The Daily Caller does not explore that particular question in its story here. What is at stake here? Justin Danhof is executive vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research and a shareholder gadfly. Earlier this week he spoke in favor of his Disney shareholder proposal seeking to protect Disney from a myriad of legal and reputational risks stemming from its race-based employee training programs. The center has posted background here. It has also posted the text of Danhofs statement here. FOX News covers it here. Danhofs statement builds on the work of Christopher Rufo in the City Journal column The wokest place on earth and heightens the contradictions inherent in the Critical Race Theory claptrap, Alinsky style. The whole thing is of course worth reading and right on the money. Here Danhof heightens the contradictions: Last May, it was reported [by Rufo] that Disney subjected its staff to something called: Reimagine Tomorrow: Where we all belong. In this exercise, among other degrading tasks, participants had to fill out a white privilege checklist and were asked how they could pivot away from white dominant culture. The program culminated in a 21-day challenge for employees to reflect on being raised in a society that elevates white culture over others. Surely us shareholders have a right to see Mr. Chapeks white privilege checklist. His skin tone is the only reason he is at the top of the company, right? And we should also have a look at Ms. Arnolds 21-day reflection on American societys elevation of white culture over others. When you say this out loud, can you all understand how absurd this is? And when Disney and other companies team up with the far left to promote CRT and pretend that America is irreparably and systematically racist, it is doing the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP commits actual human rights abuses by running slave labor camps where it harvests organs and rapes and sterilizes women of the minority Muslim Uyghurs. Yet, when our State Department and others report on this, the CCP simply responds that the United States is no better since it oppresses its black and brown populations. Disney is giving air cover to slave labor. Full stop. The companys hypocrisy on these issues is so profound. It would be impressive if it werent so tragic. Shareholders and the public can also be forgiven for seeing the hypocrisy in the companys recent decision to pull its films from Russia. Yes, Russias actions in Ukraine and Vladimir Putin are evil, but so is the CCP and Disney is mum on human rights issues in China, where it has more business at stake. In fact, if America is such an awful and systematically racist country, perhaps you should pull your films here in the states. Or, at a minimum, stop subjecting your employees to racist and Marxist trainings. That would be a start. In the last 24 hours, a popular Nigerian-born UK pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, has come under intense scrutiny and criticism for attending Davidos O2 Arena concert, vibing to his songs while spraying him wad of pounds at a London restaurant. Before now, the cleric famous for donning designer apparel, bold gold jewellery, and choice cars was popular in the UK, where his church is domiciled. Following the viral video, the question on the lips of many is who this pastor, whose ostentatious and unconventional lifestyle has sparked outrage on the internet. Indeed no preacher in recent times has attracted as much attention as Mr Adegboyega, the leader of the NXTION Family, better known as Salvation Proclaimers Anointed church or SPAC Nation. His church has been described as the fastest-growing church in the UK. https://twitter.com/Rozapepper01/status/1501483641121161220?s=20&t=iGInT-fUVYN51DaH2HblrA SPAC Nation Mr Adegboyega started his pentecostal ministry, SPAC Nation, predominantly with youth members in 2008. The church prides itself on feeding its flock more than mere gospel but turning them from the nadir to the zenith of life. It was previously situated in Croydon, South London, but no permanent church location exists. The church holds its Sunday services at expensive hotels and Conference suites, which seems more like a rap concert than a conventional church gathering. https://twitter.com/NXTIONFamily/status/1500760156375814147 Interestingly, as unconventional as the church is, the sophisticated man of God seems no different from his church, as he has been enmeshed in all manner of controversies. On May 20, 2020, Mr Adegboyega stepped down as Lead Pastor of SPAC Nation and handed over to Samuel Akokhia and Damy Balogun. Defending the move in a video posted on the churchs Twitter account, he tweeted: Handing over to the next generation is what Africans or churches must now learn. How do we talk about leadership without actually putting people in leadership and let us see their mistakes and how they grow? Im handing over a church that started with three people when I was 25 and has grown to over 1,000 people. It grew from the corners of Peckham when people told me that theres no way we could grow. Who is Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Mr Adegboyega hails from a family of pastors; he said his father and brothers were pastors during an interview with Praise Talk in London. He said that he delivered his first sermon at eight. Like many Nigerians who seek refuge beyond the shores of Nigeria, Mr Adegboya left Nigeria after training as a lawyer. He went to London to seek a doctorate before God called him to become a pastor. The celebrity pastor is also a cousin to British star actor John Boyega, with whom he reportedly shared a room when he arrived in Peckham South London in 2005. In one of his interviews with Praise Talk, the pastor said that before he answered Gods call to be a pastor, he was into drugs and many other vices before God saved him. His past antecedents inspired his churchs focus; he once stated that he initially created SPAC Nation for young blacks in London who were once criminals, prisoners, and gang members. He also provides mentorship for people who have no family in the UK and suffer from depression. His famous members include Armstrong Martins, a former X-factor contestant, and Jade Edwards. Advertisements The church, described as a young, dynamic church, has over 55 per cent of young worshippers. Lifestyle The dandy pastor has an exquisite taste for luxury as he often dresses head to toe in superfluity designer wear from head to toe, such as Guchi, Wesvetton, and Dior. He also rocks expensive pieces of jewelry Like his high taste of fashion, Mr Adegboyega also has a high taste for luxury cars. He owns a Rolls Royce and a Lamborghini with a personalised number plate. https://twitter.com/NXTIONFamily/status/1459267887038935040?t=dOd3yYZvf2T2_5_cO7ZymA&s=19 In 2017, Mr. Adegboyega bought an eight-bedroom house with its swimming pool worth 2.5 million Pounds at a private estate in Soho, London. In addition, he accommodates over 20 young homeless ex blacks in London, many of whom are allegedly ex-convicts. The pastor also claimed to have similar size properties across London where he provides sundry aids for vulnerable young people, which his pastors run oversees the houses. Speaking of his pastors, Mr Adegboyega has a group of young pastors below 30 years who work with him in his church. His pastors, like him, live luxurious lives and drive expensive cars in London. Controversies A BBC Panorama investigation accused Mr Adegboyega and other church leaders of financially exploiting church members. Panorama interviewed members of the church who accused the church and suggested Adegboyega be held accountable. The panorama later released a video of Adegboyega, quoted to say he believed it was no big deal for members of the church to give at least 1,000 a month to the church, and that he needed to make 1 million monthly. Also, a church member, Nino, claimed the controversial pastor asked for 20,000, who said he needed it for an investment. At the same time, the church denied these allegations. Again, in 2019, SPAC Nation was accused of pressuring youths to sell blood. In January 2020, his church was accused of financial exploitation and fraud by Croydon North MP Steve Reed, but as of February 2020, the police said they would not launch a criminal inquiry. Many other allegations of financial misappropriation, fraud, domestic abuse, sexual abuse have been raised against his church, SPAC Nation, and pastors of the church A fan = Pastor Tobi Adeboyega of Spac Nation UK. https://t.co/KNFXhx4hzn Ozzy (@ozzyetomi) March 9, 2022 Clarifications However, Mr. Adegboyega, in an interview with Sphere news, said that he started investing in cryptocurrency and a chain of African Food businesses in 2016. He also noted that he is into Property Development, where he buys old and dilapidated buildings, renovates them, and sells them. Then, he said he pulled all the profit into the church. On why he splurges on choice cars, the pastor in the same interview said he never bought or owned those cars. Instead, he said they were businesses owned by people in the church he was advertising. Further explaining, he said, If I drive them, I speak about them or their businesses, and people will patronise them. That is what has been happening. For example, the guy who designs for Louis Vuitton sends me stuff all the time and says, just wear it and talk about it. Reaction to viral video with Davido The social-media-loving pastor addressed the latest controversy on his official Instagram page on Thursday. The pastor responded to the backlash where he said that people insisted that the police probed him for spraying bundles of pounds notes for Davido. He said he should have sprayed more if he was younger and urged people to focus more on themselves instead of him. He said, I think Nigerians should focus on inquiring about why the government and churches threw them into endless, perpetual poverty. The embattled Yoruba actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha, led by his lawyer Dada Awoshika, at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, on Friday, cross-examined the forensic interview conducted by The Cece Yara Foundation. The defence counsel invited Olubenmi Olukolade, a clinical psychologist expert, to examine the forensic interview which was presented to the court by the prosecution counsel at the initial stage of the trial. Baba Ijesha has been enmeshed in a messy rape trial since April 22, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old foster daughter of his colleague, Damilola Daramola, popularly called Princess. Since the defence counsel opened their arguments, Mr Olukolade would be the third witness presented to the court after Baba Ijesha had testified that his alleged love affair with Princess landed him in the ongoing rape mess. Forensic interview The prosecution counsel presented a forensic interview to the court in September 2021. The forensic interview was conducted by Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, a forensic interview specialist, a legal practitioner and cutive Director of The Cece Yara Foundation. In the interview, which was played in the court via a computer and projector, Mrs Ajayi-Kayode had engaged the survivor, 14-year-old Bukumi, in an interactive section where she recounted how Baba Ijesha allegedly sexually assaulted her twice. Alleged loopholes After replaying the forensic interview in the court on Friday, Mr Olukolade, the psychologist expert, explained from his professional point of view, what he felt was not right with the video. Mr Olukolade said the survivor recounted an incident that occurred seven years ago as though it was recent. Citing the cognitive developmental stages of a child, he explained that the survivor was too explicit with her account of what had happened in the past seven years. He listed the four developmental stages of a childs cognitive capacity as the: Sensorimotor stage: which is from birth to 2 years, Preoperational stage: ages 2 to 7, the Concrete operational stage: ages 7 to 11 and the Formal operational stage, which is from 11 till adulthood. Mr Olukolade said, As at (of) when the event occurred, the survivor was only at the second stage of her cognitive development, and could not have been so concrete with the account she gave. The expert also faulted the survivors account, noting that if the survivor was traumatised as claimed, she would not be comfortable around Baba Ijesha. He said according to the forensic interview, the survivor said that after Baba finished assaulting her, he asked her to clean herself up and when she finished cleaning up, she returned to the room where Baba Ijesha was. He said it ought not to be so, judging from a psychological standpoint, for children of that age, once they perceive someone as a threat to them, they tend to hide away from such a person. He said that under normal circumstances the minor was supposed to return to her room or her mothers room and was not supposed to return to Baba Ijesha. The case was adjourned to April 1, 2022. Offence Baba Ijesha, who was arraigned on June 24, is being charged with six counts bordering on the alleged rape of a minor. The six-count includes that of sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault, which contravene sections 259, 135, and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, as well as 135, 263, and 262 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Baba Ijesha had, however, employed the services of two Senior Advocates of Nigeria Dada Awosika and Babatunde Ogala, and other lawyers to defend him. A famous Nigerian actress, Kemi Afolabi, has said her doctor told her that she has five more years to live and has spent one year already. The 43-year-old actress disclosed this in a recent interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo. The actress also said she was diagnosed with lupus. Afolabi made her debut in the Yoruba movie Alagba. However, to the surprise of many, she took a very long break away from the movie industry for nearly five years between 2008-2013. She has featured in numerous Nigerian movies like Gold Statue'(2019), Capones Wife (2019), Ayomi Sandra (2015), Oreke mulero (2006), Obinrin Ale Tinuke (2009), Ayomi Sandra (2015), Obinrin Ale Tinuke (2009) and Omo pupa'(2008). Lupus disease Lupus is an autoimmune, and inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its tissues. It can also be referred to as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). It can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. The actress said the disease can only be managed through medication. I have lupus. Its not curable. You just have to take medications for the rest of your life. Ive spent over N1 million on treatment yet I did not get the desired result. ALSO READ: Actress Mercy Aigbe finally confirms romance with popular Yoruba filmmaker She said her doctor had instructed her to stay around her loved ones since she has only but five years to live. Make sure you are with your loved ones. At least, you still have up to five years. The actress also stated that she was already prepared for death. She said she had prepared her will and booked a funeral ground for herself. I wrote my will and booked a space at Ebony vault in 2021 but God showed me how faithful he is despite my unfaithfulness. Who am I that God is so mindful of my existence? Me, ordinary sand? That was tossed around from a private hospital to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, to Army barracks hospital WAEC and finally LUTH where I spent over three months! Earlier in January, Afolabi took to Instagram to announce that she has been diagnosed with an incurable disease. Finally, I was diagnosed with a condition that has no cure but can be managed by medications and takes me in and out of the hospital at will (SLE). Fluid blocked my lungs, affected my heart from functioning well which was the reason for my breathlessness and that is caused by the condition diagnosed! Surgery was the only option to drain out the fluid fast, she wrote. Weight gain In October 2021, she shared a video on her Instagram where she registered her displeasure with those who chastised her for her weight gain. In the post, she claimed that she had always dismissed criticisms and complaints about her weight gain. The actress also expressed her dissatisfaction with the constant struggle to stay fit despite taking the medications. Claim: On its official Facebook page, the Nasarawa State Government posted a picture of a before and after construction of a road it claims to be in Sisinbaki-Kwarra, Wamba Local Government Area of the state. Verdict: Analysis shows that the after image was truly that of Sisinbaki-Kwarra road in Wamba Local Government Area. The before was, however, an image of a road under construction in Camacari Metropolitan Road in Lauro de Freitas, Brazil back in 2015. As such, this claim is misleading. Full Context Social media has become an acceptable part of our daily lives as a means of information dissemination. While there are ongoing debates about its efficiency, organisations and sectors continually use it to promote their agenda and activities. It is in light of this reality that the official Facebook page of the Nasarawa State Government shared a before and after picture of a road it claims to be in Sisinbaki-Kwarra, Wamba Local Government Area of the state. The Facebook page has over 13,000 followers and contains thousands of other pictures that convey the achievements of the state governor, Abdullahi Sule. The governor, who is an entrepreneur and businessman, was elected in 2019 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Facebook page captures his achievements since assuming office. Comments on the page show that many depend on the page for authentic news about the state and take it as a reliable source. For instance, a user wrote this in praise of the page: It brings to the people what the government is doing with(out) any distortion but as it is. How true is this particular information from the page? Controversy The post, which presents the picture of the before and after road construction, attracted over 200 reactions and over 70 re-shares. Even more, the same picture with apparently the same narrative is featured on other Facebook users pages and also on Twitter. For example, a user, Akashe Abdullahi Ari (@AkasheAri), on Twitter, tweeted a picture of the road with the caption: Before and after construction of 15.5km Sissinbaki-Kwarra Road in Wamba. Thank you, Governor Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule. However, not convincing enough for some users, they challenged the authenticity of the picture. In Wamba Nah halfway to Ibrahim commented. Also, another user, Joan, who doubted the picture challenged that the picture of the road above is not in Nasarawa State. This is not true. Nasarawa State is a state in the North-central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by Taraba and Plateau states, to the north by Kaduna, to the south by Kogi and Benue, and to the west by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Verifying the before picture of the road To verify the before picture in the narrative, a Yandex reverse image was conducted to trace the actual source of the before picture of the road. The Yandex results show the picture was first used in 2015 in a report that details the construction of the Camacari Metropolitan Road in Lauro de Freitas, Brazil. In fact, the Newspaper Grand Bahia, a leading publication in Brazil, reported on several levels of the roads construction. Even more, the article credited the picture to Mateus Pereira of the Jornal Grande Bahia. The current governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Sule, to whom the alleged road was referenced, came into office in 2019, while the before image of the road has been in existence since 2015 as found in the Jornal Grande Bahia. Thus, the alleged image used to depict the before conditions of the road in Sisinbaki-Kwarra, Wamba local government council, Nasarawa state Nigeria, is false. Verifying the after picture of the road When a google reverse image search of the alleged after conditions of the road was conducted, results from multiple credible news sources show the image was truly that of the Sisinbaki-Kwarra road, Wamba Local Government Area. In a news story by Eggonnews, the governor was reported to commission the Sisinbaki-Kwarra road in Wamba local government council, Nasarawa State Nigeria, on May 22, 2021. In another report by Afridailynews, the governor was also reported to commission the same Sisinka-Kwarra road on the same day as that of the initial report, May 22, 2022. Both reports featured the image of the road after completion. Even more, one image shared on Afridailynews showed the governor beside a signpost with the details of the Sisinbaki/Kwarra road project. DUBAWA visited the location to further verify the claim. Findings at the location revealed that the purported after picture of the road is actually true of the road project. Community members who confirmed the claim admitted that the before picture of the road is nowhere near their environment. However, they ascertained that the after picture was genuine and even took DUBAWA to the actual location. Advertisements John Joel, a member of the Sisinbaki community who took DUBAWA around, said that the claim by the state government is indeed misleading. The before picture is not from this part, this is not anywhere in Sisinbaki/Kwarra axis. I was here before and after and I cant recall this location. But the after is true, I even know the location, and I can take you to the exact place. Similarly, Abdullahi Muhammad, a bike rider who acknowledged the same narrative offered to take this reporter to the location. DUBAWAs findings uncovered that the Sisinbaki/Kwarra road project was actually constructed and even commissioned in 2021 by Mr Sule. However, the picture shared to depict the after and before condition of the road is misleading. Further attempts made to contact the Facebook page of the Nasarawa State government for comments were not successful. Neither the messages sent on Facebook nor the ones sent via the email address provided on the page were replied to. Likewise, two of the governors media aides also did not respond to calls and messages placed to their known telephone numbers as of the time this report was filed. Conclusion While DUBAWA has uncovered that the before picture of the completed Sisinka/Kwarra road in Wamba LGC, Nasarawa State is false and extracted from another location, the after picture is truly that of the completed road project. The claim by the state government is misleading. This fact-check was produced by DUBAWA in partnership with Code for Africas PesaCheck, with support from ICFJ. Nigerias electoral body, INEC, has rejected a letter of invitation sent by the interim head of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Bello, to attend its emergency meeting. The APC letter dated March 9, was signed by the controversially appointed chairman of the party, Governor Bello of Niger State, requesting the commissions presence at the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The INEC, in its response, rejected the invitation on the ground that the letter of invitation was not signed by the dismissed chairman, Mala Buni and the partys National Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, as required by the law. The Commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commissions Regulations and Guidelines for Political Party Operations (2018). Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of merger and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective office, the commission noted in the letter. INECs stance appear to aggravate the crises in the ruling party and puts the much anticipated March 26 National Convention in doubt Unless Mr Buni returns to take over the mantle of leadership before the fixed date, the APC may have to extend its convention date again. Buni duly handed over power to Bello, letter suggests Also, contrary to the belief that Mr Buni was kicked out of office, a letter which has been making rounds on social media since Thursday, indicated that the Yobe State Governor duly transmitted power to Mr Bello before leaving the country. This is to please inform you that I will be embarking on a medical trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from today, 28th February, 2022. I will resume office upon my discharge from the hospital. In my absence, I hereby transmit the functions of my office as the National Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to you. This is to enable the Committee to conclude all arrangements leading to the National Convention slated for March 26th, 2022 and other duties that may be required of the office. I invite all members to cooperate with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, by extending to him all the support that I have enjoyed from you, Mr Buni said in a letter. Earlier, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said that the Yobe State governor was removed on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari. Why March 26 may not hold Aside from the underlying leadership issues, there are strong indications that numerous existing court orders against the party which have not been vacated nor appealed pose a greater threat to the convention. Many of the legal suits were filed against the Mr Buni-led committee by aggrieved members after the partys controversial state congresses. The party held parallel state congresses in many of its state branches where at least two separate executives emerged. With the failed attempt to successfully reconcile the divided groups, the Mr Buni-led caretaker committee inaugurated the state factions it recognised. One of the many suits seeking to restrain the APC from holding the National Convention and challenging Mr Bunis leadership is before a Bwari division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The suit, with number FCT/HC/CV/2958/2021, was filed by Salisu Umoru, with the APC, INEC and Mr Buni, as respondents. The suit has not been heard. The court had recently adjourned a hearing of the substantive matter to March 30, four days after the fixed date for the National Convention. American bank, JP Morgan Chase, has faulted the allegations leveled against it by the Nigerian government in the controversial Malabu scandal. The bank also faulted the claim put forward by the government against former President Goodluck Jonathan and a former Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke. PREMIUM TIMES reported how a London high court last week began hearing a lawsuit filed by the Nigerian government against the bank in the long-running case. In the suit, Nigeria is claiming more than $1.7 billion for the banks role in the controversial deal. The nation alleges JP Morgan was grossly negligent in its decision to transfer funds paid by oil giants Shell and Eni into an escrow account owned by Malabu, a company controlled by a former Nigerian oil minister, Dan Etete. Nigerias lawyer, Roger Masefield, argued that the nations case rested on proving that there was fraud and JP Morgan was aware of the risk of fraud but took no action to prevent it. Reports claimed that the government equally informed the court that Mr Adoke contacted JP Morgan through telephone call and email, and acted while he was no longer in the ministerial position, an act linked to impersonation and fraud. In a letter written to the attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, by his counsel, Paul Erekoro, Mr Adoke denied any complicity in the case. The former minister argued that the Nigerian governments argument that he contacted JP Morgan and sent an email using the mail of Aliyu Abubakars shell company was baseless and false. JP Morgans Defense In details of its opening submission for trial, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the bank argued that the Nigerian government cannot establish a fraudulent and corrupt scheme in the matter as alleged. The bank also said that it did not breach the Quincecare duty, neither did it act with gross negligence as claimed by the Nigerian government. The purpose of Quincecare duty is to protect a banks customers from misappropriation by the customers authorised agents, for example where a company director acting dishonestly within the account mandate directs a companys funds to his personal use. The bank said that the release of Malabus claims over OPL 245 was a vital part of the transaction, because without this Shell and Eni would not have been prepared to take on the block, and it would therefore have continued to languish in an unproductive state. The Resolution Agreements were subject to detailed scrutiny by a large number of senior ministers and officials within the FGN, most of whom are not accused of any wrongdoing, the bank said. The agreements were personally approved by President Jonathan, and represented the policy of his administration. The bank said it had no involvement in the settlement discussions, and the Resolution Agreements contemplated that short-term escrow accounts would be used to make the payments which fell due under them. JPMC agreed to provide the Depository Account for this purpose, and charged a fee of $25,000 for its services. Its role was thus intended to be discrete and limited although, as will be explained, in the event JPMC deployed very substantial resources to the account and to the consideration of the instructions that it received to make payments from it. The bank said that although the Muhammadu Buhari government has denounced the 2011 settlement, it has never taken any steps in Nigeria to have the Resolution Agreements set aside, and has been content to retain the significant sums of money and other benefits that it received under them. The government has even positively relied on the agreements in other litigation when it has suited its purposes to do so, it argued. Nor has anyone ever been convicted of any crime in connection with the supposed fraud. Furthermore, the FRN (Nigeria) seems to have taken no steps in Nigeria to recover its alleged losses from the principal beneficiaries of the alleged fraud, such as Mr Jonathan and his associates. Instead, it has authorised recovery agents, remunerated based on a percentage of any amounts recovered, to pursue foreign defendants such as JPMC. The bank said by its pleadings, the Nigerian government failed to provide proof or call witnesses to back its claim that the settlement agreement and the release of funds to Malabu were tainted by fraud. The FRN bears the burden of proving the facts on which its claim depends, the bank argued. On the face of the pleadings at least, these include very serious allegations of fraud and corruption against a number of senior ministers and officials in the democratically elected government of its own country, as well as against senior officers and employees of Shell and Eni. The FRN continues to allege that a former President of the FRN Mr Jonathan was a key participant in the alleged scheme. When pleading fraud, full and specific details of the allegation must be clearly set out. As to the evidence required to prove such allegations, the standard of proof is the ordinary civil standard of the balance of probabilities. However, the more serious an allegation, the more convincing is the evidence required to prove it. The courts have repeatedly emphasised that cogent evidence is required to justify a finding of fraud or other discreditable conduct, reflecting the courts conventional perception that it is generally not likely that people will engage in such conduct. JP Morgan wondered why the Nigerian government is reluctant to call key witnesses (comprising key officials who either participated in producing the settlement agreement or approved payment instructions) to testify in favour of its claims. Advertisements The bank said, The Resolution Agreements and/or the payment instructions issued to JPMC were therefore known about and/or authorised by (at least) President Jonathan, two successive Ministers of Finance (Mr Aganga (who was in post until approximately June 2011) and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (who succeeded him)), the Minister for Petroleum Resources (Ms Alison-Madueke), the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (Mr Adoke), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (Mr Kifasi), the Minister of State for Finance (Dr Ngama), the Accountant-General (Mr Ogunniyi), the Director of Funds (Mr Shehu), the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK (Dr Dalhatu Tafida), the Director of the DPR (Dr Obaje), the Secretary to the FGN (Senator Anyim), and a number of officials and legal advisers from relevant ministries and departments. Of these, allegations of impropriety are only made against President Jonathan, Ms Alison-Madueke and Mr Adoke. None is made against any of the individuals who issued payment instructions to JPMC under the Depository Agreement, namely Dr Ngama and Mr Ogunniyi (who issued the payment instructions in both August 2011 and August 2013 by which the payments to Malabu were made), and Mr Aganga and Mr Kifasi (in relation to other payment instructions). The request for information from the FGN made by David Steel J during the EVP proceedings was escalated to the highest levels of the FGN, including to President Jonathan. Mr Kifasi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance also sent a detailed letter dated 4 July 2011 seeking the Presidents approval of further payment instruction after the first payment was returned from BSI, which the President approved. The detailed scrutiny to which the agreements were subject is clearly incompatible with the theory that the agreements were concluded as part of a corrupt arrangement. The repeated suggestion in the FRNs skeleton that there was no bona fide reason for the deal is, in the face of all of this evidence, completely unsustainable. The FRN is not calling a single witness to support its case or explain any of this. This is despite the fact that there are many individuals, against whom no allegations of misconduct have been made, who could have given material evidence on behalf of the FRN as to the conclusion of the Resolution Agreements and the issuing of the payment instructions to JPMC. In particular: (a) Perhaps most significantly, Dr Ngama and Mr Ogunniyi, who actually issued the relevant instructions pursuant to which JPMC made the payments to Malabu, are not accused of any wrongdoing; yet no explanation has been provided for why they are not giving evidence. The absence as a witness of Dr Okonjo-Iweala is also particularly striking. She was announced as the FGNs new Minister of Finance in July 2011, replacing Mr Aganga (although it seems that she was not formally sworn in until approximately 17 August 2011). She would have relevant evidence to give about both the 2011 and the 2013 payments. In particular, in 2013 she personally intervened to stop any instructions being issued to JPMC until she had been able to investigate allegations of corruption that had been made to her by certain NGOs. Having considered the matter and having been provided with a written explanation from Mr Adoke, she permitted the payments to be made. She is a respected international figure and evidently still close to the FGN, having recently become Director-General of the World Trade Organisation with its support. Mr Shehu, who was involved in relevant events in 2011, apparently co-operated with the FRN for the purposes of its disclosure exercise, but is not being called as a witness. Mr Kifasi gave evidence in the Italian proceedings but is not being called as a witness in this case. In the third place, the FRN has rowed back considerably from its case that President Jonathan took bribes to conclude the Resolution Agreements or to approve the payments to Malabu. This was only ever pleaded in the most vague and generic terms. For example, it is alleged that President Jonathan received illegal payments, 266 and that he approved the Resolution Agreements because he understood that he would receive bribes. Case Against Jonathan weak, unproven Adoke JP Morgan said in its defence that while the Nigerian government still seems to maintain its case as regards President Jonathan, it has now accepted (as was always obvious) that it is impossible to demonstrate conclusively that President Jonathan benefitted from the OPL 245 transaction. The bank said, However, no particulars were provided of any amounts said to have been received, of when or under what arrangements he received them, or of his precise role in bringing about the conclusion of the Resolution Agreements. There does not appear to be any evidence directly supporting the case that President Jonathan received bribes, or that his approval of the Resolution Agreements was prompted by an understanding that he would do so. The case amounts to nothing more than unsubstantiated allegations and rumour. The FRN has nevertheless sought to keep its case against President Jonathan alive, submitting that the evidence shows that it is probable that he took bribes, although this cannot be demonstrated conclusively. The only evidence to which the FRN has referred (at skeleton [163] and [164]) is very thin; the same material also provided the only support for the now abandoned case against Ms Alison-Madueke and General Gusau. It consists largely of snippets of internal communications between representatives of Shell, rather than anything directly implicating President Jonathan or anyone else. For example: (a) The FRN refers to an e-mail apparently sent by Peter Robinson to John Copleston (both of Shell) on 16 July 2010, in which Mr Robinson reported on the view of an unnamed source that President Jonathan expected to receive significant revenues from the sale of OPL 245, and expressed his own view that the approach of President Jonathan and Ms Alison Madueke was about personal gain and politics. It is further alleged that an internal Shell briefing note prepared for Malcolm Brinded (a senior Shell manager) on 23 August 2010 said that President Jonathan wanted to see a deal closed in relation to OPL 245 because of the political contributions that will flow as a consequence. These documents, which date from nearly a year before the Resolution Agreements were concluded, do not come close to proving that President Jonathan agreed to accept, and in fact accepted, bribes in relation to OPL 245 or the Resolution Agreements. They contain nothing more than the unsubstantiated opinions of the Shell personnel who wrote them or their anonymous sources, none of whom are giving evidence. The FRN also relies on a text message apparently sent by Mr Agaev of ILCL to Mr Obi of EVP on 8 May 2011, in which Mr Agaev said: Now I shall receive only if Chief receives, and I am not sure how much and if at all he will receive. Everything is at hands of the FGN, in particular AG and M of Finance, and of course The Big Boss. Even on its face this text message is obviously compatible with other explanations than corruption. When it is said to have been sent, the Resolution Agreements had only recently been concluded but Malabu had not yet received the money due to it. The point that Mr Agaev seems to have been making is that he (or rather his company, ILCL) would only receive commission payments from Malabu if Malabu itself received payment for disposing of its interest in OPL 245. Whether or not that happened was up to the FGN, because it was responsible for paying Malabu under the Resolution Agreements. The message does not suggest that President Jonathan, Mr Adoke and Mr Aganga (the Minister of Finance) were behaving corruptly, and the FRN has not in any event made any such allegation against Mr Aganga. Neither Mr Agaev nor Mr Obi will be giving evidence in these proceedings to explain this remark, so it is hard to see how the FRN will make good this point. But in any event, even if Mr Agaevs message could be read as casting aspersions on the persons mentioned, his apparent opinion in this respect would obviously not provide any proper basis for a finding that such persons were involved in the alleged scheme. The fourth point is that the FRNs case that the Resolution Agreements were the product of bribery is now based more or less exclusively on the allegation that Mr Adoke was corrupted into bringing them about. He is effectively the last man standing after the case against each of the other alleged participants in the scheme has been either abandoned or soft-pedalled. That is therefore the focus of the next section. Evidence concerning Mr Adoke The bank also challenged the claim by the government that former Minister Adoke behaved dishonestly or benefited from bribes following the execution of the settlement agreement and transfer of funds to Malabu. The bank said, In order to make out its case that the Resolution Agreements and the payment instructions issued to JPMC were the product of corruption on the part of Mr Adoke, it is common ground271 that the FRN must prove both: (a) that Mr Adoke caused the Resolution Agreements to be concluded and the payment instructions to be issued; and (b) that he did so in exchange for bribes. As to the first of these requirements, the evidence concerning the conclusion of the Resolution Agreements has been considered in paragraphs 158-162 above. As was seen, the conclusion of the agreements was a substantial piece of government business which involved dozens of FGN ministers and officials who are not alleged to have done anything wrong. Against this background, it is very hard to see how the FRN can prove that Mr Adoke caused the conclusion of the agreements by himself. As Mr Adoke himself said in the letter that he wrote to David Steel J, the agreements were approved by the Nigerian Cabinet. The more pertinent issue is anyway whether Mr Adoke caused the issuing of the payment instructions to JPMC. Quincecare requires the claimant to establish that one of its trusted agents caused the issuing of payment instructions to the claimants bank for the agents own dishonest purposes. Mr Adoke is now the only candidate for the position of the necessary dishonest agent. 175. Here there is a vacuum at the heart of the FRNs case. The FRN has not alleged in any of its pleadings that Mr Adoke had anything to do with the issuing of the relevant payment instructions to JPMC, either in 2011 or in 2013. The relevant instructions were issued by Dr Ngama and Mr Ogunniyi, who (unlike Mr Adoke) were the officers authorised under the Depository Agreement to issue instructions to JPMC. No allegations of impropriety are made against either of them. Importantly, there is no plea and no evidence that when Dr Ngama and Mr Ogunniyi issued the instructions they were acting on the directions of Mr Adoke. Nor can the Court just assume that this was the case in the absence of any evidence. The FRN is not calling Dr Ngama or Mr Ogunniyi (or any other witnesses) to explain how and why they came to issue the instructions when they did. The notion that they would just have done what Mr Adoke told them without challenge is inherently improbable. Dr Ngama was the Minister of State for Finance, and Mr Ogunniyi was the Accountant-General, a high-ranking civil servant in the Ministry of Finance. These were very senior members of the FGN, not simply clerical staff who would just have done as directed by Mr Adoke if not otherwise satisfied that issuing the instructions was appropriate and in accordance with their own obligations as members of the government. The FRN appears to be alive to this problem. In its skeleton at [138] the FRN has referred to the fact that there is evidence that Mr Adoke requested Mr Aganga (then the Minister of Finance) to issue the instruction to JPMC to pay Petrol Service on 24 May 2011.273 There is also a rather unconvincing attempt to attribute some of the later abortive instructions (to pay the funds to BML) to the intervention of Mr Adoke, on the basis that these were actually issued by Mr Kifasi who told the EFCC that he had relied on Adokes advice that the Resolution Agreements were in the interests of all concerned. This statement falls well short of Mr Kifasi saying that Mr Adoke actually directed him to issue the instructions, and in any event Mr Kifasi was a senior civil servant within the FGN who would not just have taken Mr Adokes advice if he did not otherwise believe that it was appropriate to do so. But even if Mr Adoke had told Mr Kifasi to issue the instructions (which seems not to have been the position), it is irrelevant because these are not the instructions against which JPMC actually paid the money to Malabu in either 2011 or 2013. What is conspicuously absent, however, is any evidence at all that the relevant payment instructions (i.e. the ones issued on 16 August 2011 and 3 July 2013, which caused the payments to Malabu) were issued by Dr Ngama and Mr Ogunniyi at the instigation of Mr Adoke. That is the end of any case that Mr Adoke was the cause of the issuing of the payment instructions. As to whether Mr Adoke received bribes in exchange for causing the conclusion of the Resolution Agreements, the FRNs pleaded case contains no particulars at all of any agreement or understanding pursuant to which he is alleged to have taken, or agreed to take, bribes. All that is said is that Mr Adoke played a part in brokering the agreements because he understood that he would receive bribes out of the purchase price of OPL 245. There is, in fact, a wealth of evidence which is inconsistent with the argument that Mr Adoke brokered the Resolution Agreements to assist Mr Etete as part of a conspiracy in exchange for bribes. For example: (a) As set out in paragraph 161 above, Mr Adoke had actively involved the DPR and NNPC (as well as other government agencies) in the negotiation of the Resolution Agreements and indicated that unless the NNPC was satisfied, the deal could not proceed. (b) There was evidence in the Italian criminal proceedings that Mr Adoke had put considerable pressure on Mr Etete to accept the offer of $1.3bn a price which Mr Etete was not happy with by threatening to revoke Malabus licence in November 2010. Indeed, in its report on OPL 245 in 2013, the House of Representatives found that Malabu had been forced to relinquish its interest in OPL 245. That is not the action of a coconspirator. The FRN also relies, as against Mr Adoke, on evidence said to show that he received money representing the proceeds of the funds paid to Malabu from the Depository Account. The FRN makes two principal allegations in this regard: (a) That MrAdoke received a number of cash deposits in his bank account between February 2012 and September 2013, and that the sums received by Mr Adoke were made out of the purchase price of OPL 245. Reference is made to what appears to be a bank statement showing some cash deposits into Mr Adokes bank account. The FRN has not identified any evidence to support the inference that these cash deposits came from the proceeds of the payments made to Malabu. Most of the payments were not made until October 2012, over a year after the 2011 payments from the Depository Account. But in any event, even if the FRN is able to prove that these payments came indirectly from Malabu, that does not come close to justifying an inference that Mr Adoke received bribes, let alone bribes paid pursuant to a prior understanding of corrupt assistance in relation to the Resolution Agreements or payment instructions to JPMC. That the cash payments to Mr Adoke appear to have related to a commercial property transaction pursuant to which Mr Adoke received a valuable property from Mr Aliyu at no cost or a heavy discount.278 In essence it is said that: (i) Mr Adoke purchased a property from a company controlled by Mr Aliyu; (ii) the price was lower than a recent purchase price for the property; (iii) Mr Adoke funded the transaction by way of an overdraft; (iv) he then paid off the overdraft with cash deposits which were the proceeds of the Scheme; and (v) the property at some point thereafter reverted to Mr Aliyu who divided it into two plots which he then sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria for a combined sum which was more than Mr Adoke had paid. This falls far short of evidence of bribery with the proceeds of the Malabu payments: (i) The allegations are based on a selection of documents apparently assembled for the failed Italian prosecution but without full disclosure in these proceedings or any witness evidence (see paragraph 21 above). The Court has little visibility of what took place, and no way of testing the FRNs hypothesis. (ii) There might be many reasons why Mr Aliyus company (and for that matter Mr Adoke) would buy a property at one price and sell for another. For example the prices paid could vary for reasons related to the property market, the condition of the property, planning consents, or the fact that it was under- or overvalued to begin with. This Court cannot assess these factors. There might also be other reasons why Mr Etete, if he was indeed involved, would be willing to confer benefits on Mr Adoke. There was evidence before the Italian court that Mr Adoke was a creditor of Mr Etete, having provided legal services to him. There appears to be no evidence to link the subsequent cash deposits to Mr Aliyu or Mr Etete. Even more significantly, there appears to be no evidence that the cash deposits resulted from the Malabu payments. In short the assertion that these deposits represented the proceeds of the Scheme is completely unsubstantiated. In any event, there is no evidence of what, if anything, Mr Adoke received when the property was transferred to other companies and on-sold. The other evidence on which the FRN relies is another internal Shell e-mail, this time sent by John Colegate to Mr Robinson on 13 June 2010.280 In that message Mr Colegate recounted information that he had apparently obtained from an anonymous source in Nigeria, including that Chief has bought off chief justice. The FRN says that the reference to the Chief Justice should be read as a reference to the Attorney-General. Even if that is right, this is unsubstantiated double hearsay evidence dating from 10 months before the Resolution Agreements were concluded and is based on information received from anonymous sources. That is plainly insufficient to justify a finding that Mr Adoke was involved in any fraudulent and corrupt scheme. Finally, it should be recalled that it is not alleged that JPMC knew or should have known any of the above facts and matters, which are alleged only to have come to light (or, in the case of the alleged money flows from Malabus accounts, only to have happened) after the payments from the Depository Account were made. On the controversial email the government accused Mr Adoke of sending to the bank while he was no longer minister, JP Morgan said, There is also a separate point that in 2011 JPMC had received an e-mail from Mr Adoke from a personal e-mail address agroupproperties@yahoo.com. A Group is alleged to be associated with Mr Aliyu, and it is said that JPMC ought to have known that there was a connection between Adoke and Mr Aliyu as a result of the e-mail and that this ought to have constituted a further red flag486 (although it is not pleaded as one in Schedules 2 or 3). This point goes nowhere: (a) It is not alleged that JPMC actually knew that there was a connection between Mr Adoke and A Group or Mr Aliyu, whether in 2011 or 2013. (b) The argument appears to be that JPMC should, in 2013, when it became aware of the allegations about Mr Aliyu and A Group, have cast its collective mind back two years to recall an e-mail apparently sent by Mr Adoke from a Yahoo e-mail address which might have been associated with A Group. That is far-fetched. Anyway, Mr Adoke apparently denies sending the e-mail and has claimed it is a forgery. Curiously, this allegation has triggered a criminal prosecution in Nigeria against the director of HEDA Resource Centre, a Nigerian NGO, for allegedly circulating the A Group e-mail on Twitter and Facebook knowing it to be false. This prosecution has been specifically authorised by the department of attorney-General Malami, who has also authorised the present proceedings in which the e-mail is positively relied on by the FRN. 488 JPMC is not able to take a position on whether the e-mail is genuine, but the inconsistent positions adopted by the FRN call out for an explanation. The bank also dismissed the Nigerian governments argument that it breached its Quincecare duty, adding that the nation reached this conclusion despite the fact that it was directly contradicted by what it was told by Mr Adoke and other members of the Nigerian government at the time. In particular, the bank said it received express written confirmation from Mr Adoke that the Resolution Agreements had been approved by the Nigerian Cabinet. There is no suggestion by the FRN that this was untrue, the bank said of Mr Adokes claim. Mr Adoke explained that the agreements were designed to bring an end to the acrimonious and multiple disputes which had plagued Block 245 for over 10 years, and to bring the oil-field on tap and achieve very substantial taxation revenues for the Nigerian people. He explained that the FGN believed that the agreements were a good result for the Nigerian people and wanted to have them fully performed to prevent yet further disputes. JP Morgan noted that Nigerias argument that it should have disregarded these express assurances from a senior minister (and most senior law officer) in the Nigerian government and refused to make the payments that the government instructed it to make in satisfaction of its obligations under the Resolution Agreements was wholly unrealistic. The trial is expected to end on April 7. Seven children have been reported killed in a stampede of residents fleeing from bandits in Shimfida, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. The incident occurred Thursday morning, a few hours after soldiers serving in a joint security task force were withdrawn from the community, residents told PREMIUM TIMES. The soldiers were stationed at Government Secondary School, Shimfida, about 27 Kilometres from Jibia town, the local council headquarters, until their withdrawal on Thursday. Kabir Haruna, the councillor for Shimfida ward in the local council, told PREMIUM TIMES that the soldiers had been in the town for about eight years. He said their presence had provided the community a sense of protection from attack by bandits, thus the residents feared that the withdrawal of the soldiers on Thursday had suddenly made the community vulnerable. Their fear appeared to be confirmed when they heard volleys of gunshots in the surrounding hills. A leader of a civil society organisation in the state, Muntari TBO, told PREMIUM TIMES that the deadly stampede was triggered by the sounds of the gunshots, with the residents believing the bandits had launched an attack. It was later found out that the bandits were only celebrating the exit of the soldiers from the area, a resident later said after the town had been deserted. Mr TBO said the military and government did not inform the community ahead of the withdrawal of the soldiers. Barau Muhammad, an indigene of Shimfida, residing in Jibia town, said over 1000 women and children fleeing Shimfida had arrived in Jibia town by Thursday afternoon. They are taking refuge at Tashar Furera in Pilot Primary School, Jibia. Others have crossed to the neighbouring Niger Republic via Gurbin Baure community, Mr Muhammad said, confirming that Shimfida had been deserted. He said many of the fleeing residents trekked to Jibia from Shimfida. Mr Muhammad said the remains of the seven children were buried Thursday evening in Jibia, while the injured persons from the stampede were in hospital in Jibia. The councillor for Shimfida ward joined locals in funeral prayers in Jibia for the seven children who died from the stampede, Mr Muhammad added. The known phone contact of the police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, did not connect as of Thursday evening when the reporter tried to reach him to comment on the incident. Jibia is one of the 13 frontline local government areas in Katsina State for banditry attacks. Last year, the state government cut telecommunications networks in the area among other measures to check the activities of armed criminal groups. At least seven digital loan companies operating in Ikeja, Lagos, were raided in a joint operation with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Friday for a possible violation of consumer rights. The operation led by the commissions boss, Babatunde Irukera, was in response to several complaints of malpractices on the part of the lenders. A PREMIUM TIMES investigation, last December, revealed how these lending companies offer short-term loans to help subscribers meet urgent needs, but resort to unprofessional measures of harassment, cyberbullying, and breach of data privacy of their customers who may have defaulted in loan repayment. The companies GoCash, Okash, EasyCredit, Kashkash, Speedy Choice, Easy Moni owned by Blue Ridge operate on the third floor of a four-storey building in the area. During the operation, Mr Irukera told the over 800 employees of the purpose of the raid and their rights. Soko Loan, another lending company, operates in another location in the area with over 150 employees and some of its employees protested the seizure of their equipment. The operations were carried out by the FCCPC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Addressing the press, Mr Irukere said the loan companies rose to prominence due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 lockdown. Because people were on lockdown due to the pandemic, people started needing small easy loans which is understandable. But over a period of time, people started complaining about the malpractices of the lenders so we started tracking it. Sometime towards the end of last year, after gathering quite a lot of information, we started working with some other key agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, National Human Right Commission, CBN, NCC. And FCCPC led the meeting where we all agreed that there would be a joint effort to look into these businesses. Mr Irukera said the cause of concern was the naming and shaming of borrowers and violation of their privacy with respect to how the loans are recovered. Secondly the interest factor seems to be a violation of the ethics on how lending is done. So those were the two things that we set out to look for, he said. Investigation Mr Irukera said it was difficult tracking the loan companies, adding that it took them several months because some of the lenders moved from one place to the other. He said that some of the officials visited the companies daily to be sure of their location. We found out that most of these companies operate from the same place. We also found out that many of them are actually operated by the same person, he said. They are not Nigerian companies, they dont have addresses in Nigeria and they are not registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission and they do not have any license to do their businesses. Essentially what they have is an App, and so we started gathering more information, we engaged the public and people who have been their victims gave us more information. Mr Irukera said that they presented their findings to the court, and got a warrant to proceed with an investigation into a search and seizure. And sometime last month, a court issued a warrant and between then and now we were preparing a sting operation which is what you are seeing here today because we want to be sure we are hitting at the place where we could get many of them. Mr Irukera also said the commission has issued multiple orders and two of them are going to vendors, App stores and Google stores where some of these apps are available to shut down the loan apps so that people will not be victimised anymore. I must add though that not all money lenders are operating illegally and that is why it has been taking time for us to track these people, he said. Protests When the regulatory team visited Soko Loan company in the Ikeja area of the state to enforce another court injunction, they were denied entry and had to force their way in. One of the employees said he could not answer questions from Mr Irukera. Advertisements But another explained that he gets his salary (cash) from a man identified as Philip, adding that his employer is unknown. Another identified as Ms Tijani clarified that Soko Loan switched its name to Fast Loan recently. Meanwhile, some employees had waited outside to lament the employment crisis in the country and demanded that their equipment that were seized by the team be returned. But Mr Irukera insisted that employing people in furtherance of illegal activities can never be an excuse. This, however, angered some of them and they barricaded the road, thereby preventing the team from leaving but the police swung into action, shooting into the air and removing the barricade. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has rescued 523 Nigerians trafficked to Mali between 2003 and 2021. A senior intelligence officer at the agency, Bori Ogunkanmi, said this Thursday at a workshop organised by ECOWAS in Abuja focused on human rights. The three-day event focuses on counter-trafficking, child rights, protection and child labour, emergency protection which covers refugees and IDPs, mixed-migration and international humanitarian law programmes. Out of the 523 rescued Nigerians from Mali since 2003, a total of 108 were rescued in 2020 and 18 persons in 2021 respectively, Mr Ogunkanmi said. He said NAPTIP has also rescued and rehabilitated 17,246 trafficking victims and empowered some with formal education programmes and vocational skills for meaningful living. It is key to note that out of the numerous numbers enrolled in formal education by NAPTIP, six victims rescued by the agency have successfully graduated from various universities in Nigeria under the Agencys sponsorship, he said. He said the agency has prosecuted hundreds of cases which have led to the conviction of 500 traffickers from inception, while others are at various trial stages in courts or referred to relevant agencies for further investigations and eventual prosecutions. The Nigerian permanent representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Musa Nuhu, said to curb the human rights challenges, the root causes must be identified and addressed. It is my view that without a clear and coordinated plan of action, achieving our goals will be far-fetched. Therefore, the needed approach must be people centred, comprehensive, context-specific and contain prevention-oriented responses with potential to strengthen the protection and empowerment of all Nigerians, he said. He assured the participants that the outcomes from observations and comments will be considered to improve Nigerias human rights records. He called on participants and development partners of the ECOWAS to commit to promote the protection and human security approach in our national development plans and policy actions. A woman has told the #EndSARS panel in Abuja how her 80-year-old father died in June 2018 from health conditions linked to the abuse he allegedly suffered during his wrongful arrest and detention in Lagos. Ifeyinwa Remigus rendered her emotive testimony to the panel probing petitions of police brutality via a Zoom call on Wednesday. She said her father, Pius Ajaegbu, was wrongfully arrested in an evening street raid by the police in Itere, Mushin area of Lagos State, on February 28, 2018. According to her, operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), who allegedly carried out the mass arrest, claimed to be hunting for suspects involved in the killing of a police officer. He said he went to buy roasted yam somewhere around Itere when a police truck pulled up and he was asked to enter, Mrs Remigus said of the conversation she had with her father on his arrest. She recalled her father recounting being physically assaulted by the police to break his resistance to arrest. Recollecting his fathers account of the scene, she said the police officers slapped him severally before he was then hit in the groin with the butt of a gun. While he was trying to resist them, he got hit in the stomach and collapsed and was pushed into the truck, she added. Mrs Remigus narrated to the panel how within days of his arrest, her father was moved from the police headquarters in Lagos to the environmental taskforce facility in Bolade Oshodi, and ended up at the Badagry prison. The woman could not stop crying as she described her fathers ordeal at the hands of the officials in the various places of his detention. She recalled how the strike on his fathers groin caused him a urinary problem. His health condition worsened in detention due to lack of care, yet all efforts to secure his release on bail were turned down, she said. Futile efforts to secure release She described how her efforts to secure his fathers release at the taskforce facility in Bolade Oshodi, where the man was said to have been taken to barely a day after his arrest by the police, met a stonewall, with officials insisting that her father had killed a cop. She claimed she told them her father was an elderly man who could not have done such a thing. I went there and wasnt allowed in. I pleaded but it fell on deaf ears, so I started crying and a police officer told me my father killed a policeman, Mrs Remigus said. When she was finally permitted in, she said, she spotted her father on the floor, but was not allowed to approach him. They rather instructed her to go seek a lawyer because her father would be charged at a mobile court, she said. On the premises, a lawyer approached me and demanded N30,000 from me, Mrs Remigus alleged. She said she returned there the following day but was told her father had been taken to Badagry prison. Poor health condition in prison She painted a picture of a horrible state of his fathers health and physical appearance at the prison. I saw him there looking dirty and tired with swollen face. He said he had not been able to urinate since they brought him to the prison, Mrs Remigus narrated sobbing profusely. She added that her father told him the urinary problem resulted from how the strike on his groin by the police during his arrest. She said she gave him water to drink but it did not help. The petitioner said the mobile court also turned down his fathers application for bail. She said her further attempts to see her father in detention were blocked on two occasions. Deteriorating health condition, death She informed the panel that she later got a call that her father was dying and that she needed to come to get him. The man, according to the petitioner, was brought to the Badagry General Hospital, where a tube was placed into his bladder to allow him to pee. Mrs Remigus said the man was moved from that hospital to other ones to get better care, yet did not survive the ailment. He died on June 24, 2018, according to her. Advertisements Mrs Remigus pleaded with the panel to help her and her siblings to get justice. She asked for N50 million in compensation. Cross-examination, adjournment Fielding questions under cross-examination by a police lawyer, Kenneth Egbochua, Mrs Remigus said her father was arrested in a raid by the police after a police officer was said to have been killed during a fight in Mushin. She said her father had only gone out to buy roasted yam for dinner when he was arrested and was not involved in the alleged killing. The panel after listening to her testimony adjourned the case till March 22 for defence. Remote hearing The case which came up on Wednesday was one of the first few in which remote hearing was adopted by the #EndSARS panel in Abuja. The panel had on Tuesday, started making an alternative provision for petitioners with challenges of travelling long distances to appear before the panel in Abuja to be part of proceedings via Zoom call. Mrs Remigus, who appeared with her lawyer, rendered her testimony remotely through a Zoom call on Wednesday. She and her lawyer were hosted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Lagos and connected to the panel in Abuja. Iduma Igariwey, who was nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, to replace the sacked Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, has asked the embattled governor to vacate the seat in respect of the court judgement. Mr Igariwey, a member of the House of Representatives, stated this while speaking with journalists on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja. He said Mr Umahi must get a stay of execution from the same court that sacked him and not from a court in Ebonyi State. The Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Tuesday, sacked Mr Umahi, his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, along with 15 lawmakers in the state over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court also ordered the PDP to nominate candidates to fill the seats and ordered the Independent National Electoral Committee to issues certificates of returns accordingly. Mr Umahi was elected in 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the PDP before dumping the party in November 2021. He attributed his defection to the partys poor leadership and accused it of playing politics of bitterness and anger. After the court judgement, the PDP named Mr Igariwey and Fred Udogwu as governor and deputy governor-nominees, respectively. Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State High Court in Abakaliki, the state capital, on February 28, dismissed a suit by a former senator, Sonni Ogbuoji, seeking the sack of Mr Umahi and his deputy on account of their defection to the APC. Mr Umahi rejected the latest judgement, describing the judge as a hatchet man. He has since appealed the judgement. PDP must benefit fruit of judgement Igariwey Addressing journalists, Mr Igariwe argued that even though sections 240 to 241 give a party the right to appeal, it does not stop the other party from enjoying the fruit of judgement. He asked Mr Umahi to approach Mr Ekwos court to seek a stay of execution rather than insulting the judge. The Constitution, under sections 240 to 241 allow the party, Umahi in this case, to appeal at the court of Appeal, but that appeal does not stop the person who got a judgement from enjoying the fruit of his judgement. What Umahi would do if he wants to stay in that office is to obtain a stay of execution of the judgement. In the absence of the stay of execution, by a court of competent jurisdiction, we are not asking him to go to Abakaliki High Court and procure a stay of execution, that would not suffice in this situation. He needs to approach this same court that gave this judgement and say, stay this judgement while we pursue this matter at Appeal court. It is this court that will consider the merit of granting that stay of execution, PREMIUM TIMES had in an analysis highlighted how the Nigerian judiciary continues to issue contradictory court pronouncements. The Aviation Operators of Nigeria (AON) has warned that the safety of flights in Nigeria may be in danger because of the persistent hike in the price of aviation fuel. The operators disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the scarcity of aviation of fuel. They also said they are struggling to maintain their aircraft as fuel now takes over 115 per cent of operation costs. The motion On Wednesday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnoli Nnaji, had moved a motion calling for investigation into the scarcity of aviation fuel. Following the adoption of that motion, the House had mandated the chairman alongside those of Petroleum Downstream and Petroleum Upstream to meet with the GMD of NNPC Limited, Airline Operators, Jet A1 marketers and others. Hike in air tickets Last month, major airlines in Nigeria hiked their fares by over 100 per cent. Some airlines now charge N50,000 flat rate for tickets. AON denied that the increment was coordinated. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had ordered airline operators to immediately discontinue the implementation of the new air fares pending the outcome of its investigation. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Nigerians condemned the increment and called for governments intervention to reverse the hike. Hearing Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, said the price of aviation fuel moved from N190 per litre to N670 per litre within two weeks. Mr Onyema, who is the vice president of AON, said the operators would have shut down operations if not for the political season and to support the current administration that has been supportive of the sector. He stated that the operators cannot survive the next 72 hours because they are indebted and risk takeover by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Mr Onyema, while reacting to the claim by Ugbugo Ukoha, the executive director for Distribution System for Storage and Retailing Infrastructure in the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, who had claimed that Nigeria has excess supply of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), said the regulatory authority is not sincere on the state of things in the sector. Mr Ukoha had said the country had 34 days of fuel supply, hence, the report of scarcity is false. ATK is a deregulated product, however, we licence every importer. In our schedule, we have licenced about 28 marketers who are licensed to bring in ATK in the last three months. From our records, we have sufficiencybecause we also monitor the vessels as they come in to discharge. As of today, we have 34 days of sufficiency for ATK. All we can say is that there is enough volume to go round, I will be interested in knowing about this scarcity. With deregulation, the market forces are at play. Mr Onyema, while responding to the presentation by Mr Ukoha, said he was dismayed with the claim that fuel was in abundance, noting that operators have to source the fuel from any marketers at an exorbitant price. To say that I am saddened by certain responses is playing it down. The product is not available, I am surprised that he (Mr Ukoha) is saying there is sufficiency that will last for 34 days, Nigerians know that this thing is scarce. The flight cancellations are unimaginable. We fly 2 am, 3 am whenever we get the fuel. The Air Peace CEO said the House should intervene to make the price of ATK sell for a minimum of N200 per litre. The Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who chaired the hearing, also berated Mr Ukoha. He accused him of being used to blackmail the government in a political season. He warned that no one will blackmail the government. As a politician, I want to tell you that I am concerned. We are moving into an election period, nobody should blackmail our government, he said. He noted that the surge in price is as a result of hoarding by marketers and negligence of the regulatory authorities to do their work. Advertisements Mr Wase also faulted the Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, for not monitoring the activities of the ATK marketers. We are considering grounding some airlines over safety NCAA The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Musa Nuhu, said the hike in the cost of jet fuel is making the NCAA consider grounding some airlines from operating to avoid air mishaps. In the past couple of weeks, we have seen significant rise in the price of aviation fuel, one year ago, it was selling at N170 per litre, as at this afternoon, it is going for N670. What this has done, it has increased the cost of operations of airline operators. Fuel used to be about 30 per cent of aviation cost, now, it has gone to 50 per cent of the cost. This is a significant safety concern, because if airline cannot have significant financial margin to comply with all the mandatory requirements. God forbid, I dont want to come before this committee to explain why A or B happened. It is either we shut them down because they cannot generate enough revenue to operate safely. Kashim Shettima, chairman of Skyjet Aviation Services, said the major distributors are not having the fuel, while some unknown companies are the ones with the fuel and selling at an exorbitant price. We have now begun to compromise our safety. All of us fly here, why are we trying to compromise our safety? he said. Cartel connection Mr Nnaji alleged that big marketers are using proxies to sell their products while some marketers are hoarding the products. He stated that the House should investigate the stock of some of the big marketers. Speaking on cartel hijacking the supply chain, the CEO of Overland, Edward Boyo, said there is a need to act fast before contaminated or adultered fuel will be sold to unsuspecting operators. Jet fuel is only dispense at the airports, the control of the cartel and the operation of the cartel that we are suspecting, are operating within the airport premises, the airports territories are federal government territories. Who controls the regulation of the airports? It is the civil aviation authority. The Director is here. I would ask him to control the sales of jet fuel within his territory before we start finding jerricans of diluted or contaminated Jet A1 fuel being sold to unsuspecting operators, We cannot crash the price of jet fuel to N200 per litre NNPC Mr Kyari, the GMD of NNPC Limited, said the request by the operators for the price of ATK to be crashed to N200 per litre will not be possible. He stated that the current landing price of the product is above N400 per litre, adding that unless the country wishes to start paying subsidy on the product. Mr Kyari said: The Chairman of Air Peace Airline said we should bring it to N200 per litre, it is impossible. As of today, the landing cost of ATK is N418 per litre, we have no control over that, the only way is to subsidise it. Instead, he advised that the operators should have the right commercial arrangement with their suppliers, he said, adding you must take long time position, you must take long time position and edge your position. If you take a long position, you can actually guarantee stability in prices. Resolutions The committee resolved that Mr Ukoha should provide it with the list of all the licenced marketers and the marketers are to meet with the committee on Monday. The relevant agencies are to work to ensure that products are available for the airline operators. Mr Wase stated that the meeting on Monday will look at the progress report on actions taken by all the relevant agencies. The fifth batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine arrived early Friday 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. They were airlifted from Poland where they had fled following the war in Ukraine. A total of 123 Nigerians were evacuated on the fifth flight, according to the federal government. The evacuees, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), also got free SIM cards loaded with airtime to allow them reach their family members courtesy of a partnership between NiDCOM and MTN, a network service provider. The evacuees also received 100 dollars for transportation as did the batches that arrived before them. Another batch is expected to arrive Nigeria from Hungary on Saturday, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. PREMIUM TIMES reported the arrival of 1078 evacuees who arrived in Nigeria last week through Max Air and Air Peace, the two airlines billed to airlift Nigerians returning from Ukraine. The federal government last Wednesday approved $8.5 million for the evacuation of 5,000 stranded Nigerians. The Nigerian government Tuesday said it has begun the evacuation of its students stuck in Sumy, a troubled city in north-east Ukraine. Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, on his official Twitter page, said he was delighted and mightily relieved that the evacuation of our Nigerian students from Sumy has commenced. They are in our thoughts and prayers as they undertake the very long and hazardous trip to safety, the minister tweeted. This was made possible through humanitarian corridors established to evacuate civilians from war-torn areas in Ukraine. Two weeks into the crisis, Russia and Ukraine have yet to reach a ceasefire agreement however, foreign ministers of both countries Thursday met in Turkey in the first face-to-face talk since the war erupted. Nearly two million people have fled Ukraines capital, Kyiv, while hundreds of people have been killed in the war. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has reacted to a trending video showing how its standard guage train got stuck due to insufficient fuel between Ibadan and Lagos on Thursday. NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, explained to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday night that the incident was caused by fuel gauge failure on the passenger train service. The NRC boss also explained that passengers coming to Lagos from Ibadan through the standard gauge train were not stranded as the matter was resolved with an hour. The train gauge had an issue while the engineers thought the diesel in the train tank would take them to Lagos. The train gauge was not reading correctly, so by the time they started moving, the driver discovered that there is no sufficient diesel in the train. Immediately they discovered the challenge, they responded quickly and under an hour they were able to get drum of diesel to fill the tank and continued the journey back to Lagos, Mr Okhiria said. NAN reports that a standard gauge train from Ibadan to Lagos was reportedly stuck while convening passengers to Lagos from Ibadan station on Thursday. (NAN) The chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said Nigerians should be prepared for an impending food crisis within the next two to three months. Mr Dangote, who advised the government to immediately stop the ongoing export of maize abroad by some Nigerians, blamed the development on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He spoke on Tuesday night at the fourth Annual Nigerian Food Processors and Nutrition Leadership Forum where critical and concerned players in the food processing, health and financing sectors had gathered to appraise the food fortification situation in the country. The forum, which was chaired by Mr Dangote, also had in attendance other business leaders in the food processing sector including the representative of the Vegetable and Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria (VEOPAN), Okey Ikoro, among others. According to the business mogul, the government and food processors and other concerned parties need to urgently sit at a round table to seek ways towards averting the impending crisis. Statistics Mr Dangote, who said the effects of the crisis are already being felt in the food processing chain, said prices of fertiliser, wheat, maize, among other products, have already gone up. He said; There will be a shortage of wheat, maize and a lot of products because as we speak, Russia and Ukraine do almost 30 per cent of the worlds urea and 26 per cent of the worlds potash; and even phosphate also, they are one of the largest (producers) in the world. There would be a scarcity of food generally, we would not be able to access fertilizers going forward, we would not see the effects now, but in the next two, three months. Even the US will not be able to do the same number of tonnage they did last year because of this. Right now, you start seeing people exporting maize to earn foreign exchange, which I think we need to stop, so that we dont create shortage; and we need to make sure we grow more so we dont have a shortage. It is about food security, and it is very, very serious. Corroboration Speaking on the same subject earlier, the chief executive officer of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Boye Olusanya, said Nigeria, like other African countries, will be affected by the crisis. He said both Russia and Ukraine are in the first and fifth positions globally respectively, in the production of wheat, describing the volume of their production as almost one-third of global production. Mr Olusanya listed part of the immediate effects to include increased prices and noted that such is already being seen. He said; Today, the prices of wheat have gone up. There is a lag that comes because of inventory control, but it is something that we need to sit down with the government to say what measures can we put in place to alleviate what is coming. The impact is not just on wheat alone; Ukraine is one of the largest producers of maize, which will also have a significant impact on maize because it is an alternative to wheat. He also spoke about what he described as cross-border trafficking of maize, saying more farmers will like to take advantage of the crisis. The last impact is on fertilisers, and the impact is not just short term, because were not looking at a one-off thing. Youre looking at an impact on the production of over a year to 18 months. When you look at all that and what then happens in pricing, obviously, if we dont manage this well, there will be significant volume compression, in terms of material that comes in and therefore the volume of food that is sold, Mr Olusanya added. The chief executive officer, who said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global food situation had not completely healed, said the situation would be compounded by the crisis. Mr Olusanya said; Because of the impact of COVID-19, most people are looking at only one or two meals a day, and as part of efforts towards addressing that is the fortification of the foods with relevant nutrients so that whatever they take will have a significant impact on their health. He said the latest development will subsequently affect the health of the people, and urged the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to appraise the situation and address what is coming down the road. Government reacts Meanwhile, both the ministers of health; and trade and investment, Osagie Ehanire and Niyi Adebayo respectively, pledged the commitment of the government towards addressing the concerns of the business leaders. Also in attendance at the event were the representative of the ministry of finance, Olusola Idowu, and non-governmental organisations including TechnoServe, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Aliko Dangote Foundation, among others. Russia-Ukraine About two weeks into the violent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, there are yet to be signs of a ceasefire agreement. However, there are reports of foreign ministers of both countries meeting to reach a middle ground. Advertisements So far, there are an estimated two million people reported to have fled Ukraines capital, Kyiv, while hundreds of people are said to have been killed in the war. A Yaba Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday ordered the remand of Andrew Omininikoron, a BRT driver, in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for the alleged murder and rape of a 22-year-old lady, Oluwabamise Ayanwola. Magistrate O.A. Salawu ordered that Mr Omininikoron, 47, be remanded for 30 days. She held that the accused was to be remanded pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant is charged with conspiracy, murder, rape and misconduct with regards to corpses. The charge was read to the defendant but his plea was not taken by the court. The magistrate adjourned the case until April 11 for the DPPs advice. Earlier, the Officer in charge of the Legal Department at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yetunde Cardoso., said that Omininikoron committed the offence at 8 p.m. on February 26, along Ajah-Oshodi expressway, on a Lagos State BRT bus with code number 257. She said that Mr Omininikoron, who was on duty as a driver, raped Ms Ayanwola and pushed her out of the moving BRT bus. The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). NAN reports that Sections 223 stipulates the death penalty for the offence of murder, 260 provides for life imprisonment for rape and 165 carries five years imprisonment for misconduct with regards to corpses. (NAN) The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has set up a department on politics and governance, ahead of the 2023 General Elections. The church, with millions of members and over 32,000 branches across the country, said the newly established Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance will help to muster support for members with political ambitions. it directed its branches to appoint a provincial officer across its levels for this new department. You are kindly requested to appoint with immediate effect a Provincial officer for your Province and also ensure that the same is done at all levels of the Church- Zone, Area and Parish. The essence of this Directorate is to help coordinate the engagement of our people who are willing to be involved in politics as well as mobilise support for them when required. Kindly send to the office the undersigned details of your Regional and Provinces Coordinators within the next two weeks of receiving this letter, the church said in a memo dated February 28, 2022. The memo was signed by the CO/AGO on Administration and Personnel, J.F Odesola. A member of the church, Timothy Olaniyan, was appointed to lead the office. While the church gave a blanket reason on why the office was set up, some members of the public, mostly social media users have attributed the move to the speculated presidential ambition of Nigerias Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo. Mr Osinbajo has not officially declared interest in the race but many groups, as well as political gladiators within the APC, have been drumming support for the Ogun State indigene. Before emerging as the party vice-presidential candidate in 2015, Mr Osinbajo was an active pastor of the RCCG, a role which was also counted for in the poll. If the APC eventually zones its presidential ticket to the South-west and he declares interest in the race, Mr Osinbajo would have to contest for the APC ticket with his mentor and National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, among others who have long declared interest in the race. RCCG is headed by a renowned cleric, Enoch Adeboye. Despite a letter issued recently by the electoral body, INEC, an official of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, said the party will conduct its National Convention on March 26 as planned. Their interim National Youth Leader, Ismaeel Ahmed, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. With reference to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission, in a letter dated March 9, had asked the party to send its notice for the convention as stipulated by the Act. The section states that political parties should send to INEC notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of merger and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective office at least 21 days before any of the events. This means the party ought to have sent the said notice latest by March 5. However, the party, in its reaction to this, insisted that it has not breached any law as suggested by the electoral body. Mr Ahmed has been speaking for the party after the party controversially replaced Mala Buni with the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, earlier this week. Since its leadership got reshuffled, the party has been under an intense leadership crisis as power play reigned supreme at its headquarters in Abuja. Mr Ahmed said the party does need to issue another 21 days notice to INEC before holding its convention as suggested by the commission. We have served the notice to INEC for the 26th of February, earlier, we served that notice on the 5th of February, and that was the required 21 days. If you are going to make any adjustment to that date, all you need is a letter making an adjustment to a date. You dont need another 21 days. And that letter was written about two weeks ago when we realised that we couldnt hold it on the 26th of February. The moment the CECPC agreed on the 26th of March, that letter was written to INEC and it was effected. INEC has accepted the letter, so that is long gone, it is not an issue. The issue of the date of convention is not a question, not even to INEC, not even to us. That is settled. It is sacrosanct that that date is the 26th of March and we have complied with all the rules. And we have notified INEC as appropriately expected of us to do. So thats no longer an issue, Mr Ahmed said. Buni remains APC chair, Bello only acts Mr Ahmed also spoke on the raging controversy over who between Mr Buni and Mr Bello is the interim national chairman of the APC. He said Mr Buni remains the partys interim chairman while Mr Bello has only been acting in his absence. I dont know why this is a complicated process for a lot of people to understand. Since the inception of the CECPC on June 25, 2020 whenever the chairman is not around and Governor Sanni Bello is around, he acts on his behalf, as our acting chairman;, it has always been the case, that has never changed. It has always been the case, he said. This newspaper had exclusively reported the power play that led to Mr Bunis removal on Monday. The #EndSARS panel investigating cases of police brutality in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce Abba Kyari over an allegation of enforced disappearance of three persons levelled against his former police unit. The disappeared persons Danjuma Yakubu, Ibrahim Daniel and Choji Dung were reported to have been arrested in 2019 by the operatives of the Inspector-General of Police-Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) which was then being led by Mr Kyari. Family members, who petitioned the panel over the alleged disappearance of the three men, said they had not seen the victims since their arrest by the IGP-IRT in Adamawa, Gombe, and Plateau states in December 2019. Mr Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police, headed the IGP-IRT until he was suspended last year following his indictment by United States authorities for an international fraudulent scheme. While still serving the suspension, the police officer, who has a series of petitions of rights violations pending against him and the IRT operatives before the #EndSARS panel, was arrested over cocaine trafficking-related offences, while the Nigerian government pursues a suit for his extradition to the U.S. in court. The NDLEA subsequently charged him and his alleged co-conspirators with cocaine-related offences at the Federal High Court in Abuja. On March 7, the NDLEA arraigned him along with six co-defendants, including four IRT members. Following the arraignment, the judge, Emeka Nwite, ordered Mr Kyari and the other defendants to remain remanded in NDLEA custody. Why #EndSARS panel ordered NDLEA to produce Kyari Like in many petitions on police brutality filed before the #EndSARS panel, Mr Kyaris name has been mentioned in connection to the disappearance of the three victims whom family members said they had not seen after IRT operatives arrested them in 2019. Earlier on Tuesday, the panel ordered the police to produce the three men on Friday. But at Fridays hearing, police lawyer, James Idachaba, told the panel he had not been able to get the details of their whereabouts. On his efforts to trace them, Mr Idachaba said he was at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to track their records when the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Joseph Egbunike, slumped and died, so he could not get any information. He added that the IGP-IRT that allegedly arrested the victims had been disbanded, further compounding the search for the victims. We have not been able to get details as to the whereabouts of the three allegedly detained persons. We all know the IRT itself has been disbanded and we dont know which of the locations these detainees are, if they are in custody, the lawyer said. Fielding questions from a panel member, John Aikpokpo-Martins, who presided over Fridays proceedings, Mr Idachaba said a member of his team, Malik Taiwo, had also checked the IRTs previous detention facilities and could not find any of the three detained persons. On that basis, the panel ordered the chairman of NDLEA who is currently keeping custody of Mr Kyari, to produce him on March 22. One of the petitioners had said Mr Kyari had promised to help find the families in 2019. The panel hereby orders the NDLEA Chairman to present Abba Kyari before the panel on March 22, Mr Aikpokpo-Martins, who acted as the panels chair, ordered on Friday. Mr Aikpokpo-Martins also reiterated the panels previous orders to the police to produce the detainees and provide documents to aid its investigations. Background PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the families of Messrs Yakubu, Daniel and Choji Dung jointly petitioned the panel over their disappearance. Ismail Mairungo, a brother to Messrs Yakubu and Daniel, as well as Blessing Choji-Dung, wife of Mr Dung, had appeared before the #EndSARS panel on March 3 to testify on their joint petition. During their separate testimonies, the petitioners appealed to the panel to help secure the release of their family members from illegal police detention. They recalled how the operatives of the IGP-IRT allegedly arrested Messrs Yakubu and Daniel, in Jada, Adamawa State, and Todi, Gombe State, respectively, on December 13, 2019. Advertisements They said Mrs Choji-Dungs husband, Choji Dung, who was said to be Mr Yakubus friend, was arrested on December 17, 2019 in Buruku in Plateau State. Mr Mairungo and Mrs Choji-Dung had pleaded with the panel to order an unconditional release of their family members and award N10 million compensation for each of them allegedly detained by the IRT. Serial shunning of panels summons by Abba Kyari Friday was not the first time Mr Kyari would be ordered to appear or be produced before the panel to answer to series of petitions against either him or the IRT. But Mr Kyari has not honoured any of the panels summons. In November last year, long before his NDLEA ordeal started, the panel ordered Mr Kyari to appear regarding the case of one Morris Ashwe, who was said to have been missing after his arrest by IRT operatives in Makurdi, Benue State, on May 1, 2018. The alleged victims brother, Raphael Ashwe, who petitioned the panel, said Morris was detained and paraded at a police station in Makurdi after his arrest. He added that the family had access to the detainee until he was moved to Abuja two days after the parade. According to him, the family has made several appeals and sent many letters to the IRT, asking for information on the whereabouts of his elder brother, all to no avail. Mr Kyari, who was specifically joined as a respondent to the case, was scheduled to appear before the panel on November 26, but never came. The 11-man Independent Investigative Panel was set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the aftermath of the October 2020 #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest, to probe petitions of victims of rights violations perpetrated against them by the defunct Special Anti-Robnery Squad (SARS), and other police units. The panel is expected to recommend compensations to victims and sanctions and criminal prosecution against erring police officers in deserving cases at the end of its hearing. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), an intervention agency set up by the Federal Government to provide supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary institutions, has in the last five years been under the watch of Professor Sulaiman Elias Bogoro, whose non-consecutive second tenure ends on March 18. Both in his first and second coming, Bogoro dominated TETFund like a colossus and built the organisation in his own image that of integrity, transparency, restless achievements and the constant desire to break new grounds. To carry on Bogoros legacy, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Sonny Echono as the new Executive Secretary of TETfund. What do we really know about Echono and what can or will he bring to the table? Well, the new kid on the block is not so new to the education system and the Fund itself. He is not just a reverred top civil servant, he was also a super permanent secretary who was once in charge of Education. Echono was born on December 16, 1962 at Otukpo, Benue State. He had his early education at St. Marys Primary School, Otukpo before proceeding to Jos, then capital of Benue-Plateau State, to complete his primary and secondary education at St. Theresas and St. Murumbas College respectively, after which he enrolled at the Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology (MUCAST), Makurdi for his A Levels/IJMB. He was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1980 to study Architecture and graduated with a BSc. (2nd Class Upper) in 1983 and an MSc. in 1985. After his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1986, Echono had a brief stint with the Benue State Housing Agency before joining the Federal Civil Service in January, 1987. Within the said period, he served in various management capacities at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, including, Secretary, Implementation Committee on National Housing Policy 1991 to 1995; Secretary, Special Projects Task Force 1992 to 1995; Secretary, Committee on Lands and Housing 1993 to 1995; Chief Executive Architect in charge of Administration of the Department 1993 to 1994; Special Assistant to Permanent Secretary 1994 to 1999; Head, Council Affairs and Parastatals 2003 to 2004; Secretary, Ministerial Tenders Board 2004 to 2005. With the advent of procurement reforms in Nigeria, Echono was among the first set of civil servants deployed to the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU) or Due Process Office in February, 2015. In 2016, he was appointed Head of Team A with responsibility for procurement review and certification of projects for Ministries of Works and Housing, FCT Administration, Transport, State House, Defence, Police and all the security agencies. His quest for personal development has seen him acquire the following additional qualifications while in Service: Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), University of Calabar, 2002; Master of Business Administration (MBA), Benue State University, 2004; MSc, Procurement Management, University of Turin, Italy, 2011. Echono put in nearly 35 years of exemplary service at the epicentre of policy formulation and reforms in the Nigerian civil service and its numerous agencies. Echono was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service in October 2014. He later served as Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2014 2015), Federal Ministry of Communications (2015- 2017), and Federal Ministry of Education (2017 to 2022). However, prior to his appointment as Permanent Secretary in October 2014, Echono served as Director of Procurement in five key Ministries namely Defence, Water Resources, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as Power. His service to the profession of Architecture in Nigeria is equally impressive. From being Secretary of the Admissions Committee in 1991, he rose to the position of Honourary General Secretary (HGS) in November 2001. He chaired the Disciplinary Committee of the Institute for two successive terms from 2009 to 2013, when he was elected to the position of the third vice president. He attained the pinnacle of the profession when he was elected president, Nigerian Institute of Architects in November 2019. He also served on several boards and councils, including, Board of Architectural Education in Nigeria (BAE), Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCN); National Environmental Standards, Regulations, Enforcement and Administration (NESREA); International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST); Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); and TETFund. The incoming TETFund boss attended several management courses and workshops at top institutions across the globe including: University of Bradford, U.K.; Oxford University, U.K.; University of Cambridge, U.K.; Japan International Cooperation Agency; Japan Institute of Development Studies; Indonesia International Law Institute; American Institute of Peace and Harvard Business School, U.S.A. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, founding member and trustee of the Procurement Professionals Association of Nigeria. The technocrat is a recipient of several awards of excellence and commendation by the Federal Government, as well as professional and management institutions. He is widely travelled and has presented over 40 papers at national and international fora. With the above impressive resume, Echono brings to the TETFund job, a diverse wealth of experience spanning infrastructure, business administration, procurement management, ICT and in-depth mastery of the education sector. It is very certain that Echono will no doubt continue the impactful works of Bogoro. This is a successor the outgoing TETFunds boss would be proud of. Rahma Olamide Oladosu writes from Abuja and can be reached through: oladosurahma@gmail.com. Advertisements If KWAM 1 or any other musician had done any musical stuff to excite Gov Abiola Ajimobi and his fans to cite their governments accomplishments the same way he recently did for Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dr. Yunus Abiodun Akintundes imprints in government would have been inimitably visible. As Ajimobis first Works Commissioner, my brotherly friend built the spectacle that has become the cynosure of all eyes in Mokola today which is the overhead bridge. It is one intervention Ibadan people and the rest of Oyo citizens and residents alike will not be in a hurry to discuss. Who can controvert the indispensability of the connecting value as well as the traffic decongestion effect of this bridge to all public institutions that matter in Ibadan ranging from the great University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan to the legendary Orita Mefa, as many local folks will like to applaud Nigerias premier teaching Hospital, the University College Hospital? Yunus isnt your regular type of guy but you can hardly ignore him if you find yourself in his company in whatever context. He is a typically independent minded soft spoken Oyo man who wont disagree fiercely with you if you happen to take exception to his stance even if it is obvious that his position is conspicuously flawless and beneficial to the majority. Dr Yunus Biodun Akintunde, my friend of no fewer than three decades, is one person I can claim to know more than most others he has today. For both of us, 1993 was spectacularly testy but turned out to be a watershed in our lives. Having gotten married by then, he provided me with substantial good guidance on all affairs ranging from business to politics and even love life. Theres no explanation, really, till date for the failure of his efforts to get me a wife. Maybe it will still happen. That year, on the eve of Nigerias most historic election, we both travelled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. When the religious rites were over, he insisted I must buy good gifts for the wife he had found for me. I did. I also delivered. Shortly afterwards, we both located an automatic airpump manufacturing company. It was one item we deemed pretty fine as a befitting corporate gift thriving companies in Nigeria may use to express appreciation and courtesy to their clients. We broached our interest with the management and they were excited. The smart businessman that my friend has always been insisted we needed a partner who could speak fluent Arabic. We got one promptly. Eventually, the company agreed, not only to appoint us as the sole distributor for the entire West Africa, but was also ready to sponsor the media campaigns to give the product maximum visibility. Not many businesses could be as interesting as this promised to be. But June 12 happened! We lost that deal forever. But the Akin in my relentlessly business-creative friend was far from being daunted. He moved on to some other commercial transactions including becoming an engineering supplies contractor a foremost bottling company. Far from being boastful, he would readily share his breakthroughs with Baba Ede, as he occasionally applauds yours sincerely. So now that youre involved in international human rights campaigns, we can begin to prepare for your wedding he came nudging one day on returning from yet another trip to Saudi Arabia. The trained physicist had started making money from local supplies and diversifying into imports and exports business. And I can help you invest if you want, into the engineering supplies he had continued. He went on to add: I guarantee you 50% dividend of your principal after every other month. Once youre ready, just bring the money and then we do a written agreement as enjoined by the Islamic faith we both share. It looked so good to me. It turned out to be. Indeed much more. At the end of the first cycle, Baba Oyo, as I also banter with him, brought my dividend of N45,000 having invested N90,000. The next round was no less smooth and then he was ready to fly out again to Saudi. Now that this wedding plan weve been discussing is on course, Baba, youd help us buy golden wrist watches for couple and some other things my wife might need. Baba Oyo promptly agreed. It turned out that Baba Oyo helped me to make the money that relieved me of unusual wedding finance-related expenses. He was one of the few select friends present at my Akdu Nikah which was conducted on the eve of my five-month fellowship at the School of International and Public Affairs, SIPA, at Columbia University in New York late 1998. Resilient and reliable, it was never surprising that my friend had been found fitting for several sensitive positions and consultations by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Senator Teslim Folarin and so forth in recent political configurations in Oyo State and beyond. Only the best is good for my Akintunde and I mean this sincerely. Out of government, Hajj Yunus did not go about brooding or belly-aching anyone. He went back to school. Promptly, he plucked a master degree and then an MBA. Not long after, he called me up: Baba lEde, Ive registered for a doctoral programme intending to research on energy and environment. I told him he didnt have any option with the likes of Prof Adeolu Akande and several others around him. The good story is that, Ajimobi in his second term found my friend now indispensable. He appointed him Executive Assistant and my friend combined this with studies and business, all of which have rolled together into a beautiful story today. As the Akintunde Festival in Ibadan (as I choose to reckon with my pals birthday anniversarys multiple, commemorative events) wind down without hitch to the glory of Allah, it is important to formally join him in appreciating Allahs favours. Alhamdulilah kathiirah. My meeting with him, years back, was purposive, far from accidental. It happened through Professor Iysa Bello, his former teacher at LASU but my own maternal uncle who solely nested me as a post-NYSC Lagosian. Professor Bello, who se story I hope to serve most palatably some day soon, in sha Allah, is one individual who has impacted my life mostly and positively, besides my two parents of blessed memory. My friend was Brother Yunus to most of us being LASUs pioneer president of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN. He bagged a degree in Physics. Brother Yunus received the warmest tolerance and indulgence from my ever warm and urbane uncle. He finished his degree programme promptly, his NYSC too but it was unmistakable that his choice was the road not taken by the rest, even if unclear. Highly cosmopolitan, Yunus took optimal advantage of his exposure through people like Professor Bello, already a global player before he returned home from Canada where he did his PhD after bagging a First Class degree from the University of Medina. Professor Bello combined his teaching position at LASU with being the Africa Representative of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, WAMY, headquartered in Riyadh. Not a few of contemporary muslim leaders in Nigeria today at both subnational and national levels milled around Iysa Ade Bello for mentorship, uncommon inspiration and all as the retired celebrated Sharia university scholar is better known. Brother Yunus worked briefly as the Admin Secretary of National Council of Muslim Youths, NACOMYO housed by the Iysa Bello-led WAMY. But it only turned out that Yunus used the period to shape up his life of independent living. He soon got married to the love of his life, Modinat. Yunus courtship with Modinat earned some of us additional friends including Khalifah Monsur Oloungbebe, Kamal Sanusi, Mutiu Adekola, Sherifat Faleti, the wifes most intimate friend as well as late Prof Abdul Lateef Adetona. Such is the intensity of my relationship with our todays Dr Akintunde that, together, with another mutual friend, Dr Lukman Adam, currently a KWASU Economics don, we had floated a business entity called AKKAD Associates. It is probably time to revive the partnership again now that each of us has had extensive foray in different directions including the public and organized private sectors as well as the civil society locally and internationally. Alhamdulilah for our shared paths and dreams. Dr Yunus Abiodun is genuinely a jolly good fellow. Sixty hearty cheers and congratulations sir. Tunde Akanni is an associate professor of Journalism at the Lagos State University (LASU). Follow him on Twitter: @AkintundeAkanni One of the governors from the North-East geo-political zone was alleged to have protested that, The cabal formed by our other colleagues has suffocated the life out of APC. The party has been reduced to the equivalent of a gang where decisions are now based on who can manipulate President (Muhammadu) Buhari better. This type of behaviour is not just true of the APC but is the same for virtually all the parties. Virtually all Nigeria political parties are in deep crisis. Those who control them have no respect for internal party democracy and due process. They see their positions as party leaders as opportunities to use their organisations to the maximum advantage for themselves. They show absolutely no concern about the possible risks that their reckless behaviours pose for the survival and future of their parties. The party is only a vehicle for their personal ambitions and they are ready to move out to another party at any time, if their own parties collapse due to their reckless behaviours. The current crisis of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is another demonstration of this basic political reality. On Monday, the nation woke up to sensational stories and drama about a coup detat in the APC. One story had it that before his departure to the United Kingdom, President Buhari had sacked the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni as acting APC chairman and replaced him with Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, as sole administrator. Bello did go to the party secretariat to chair a party meeting and inaugurate some committees but would not confirm or deny the party takeover narrative. The other story was that Bello was only holding temporary chairmanship of the party, until the substantive chair, Buni, returns home from his medical tourism. The APC secretary, John James Akpanudoedehe, first said that Bello had no power to preside over any meeting, but seeing the massive security presence around the secretariat, he decided to keep mute while the meeting held. To keep the drama on, Governor Bello sent out a tweet stating that, I am currently presiding over the Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC at the National Secretariat of the Party. The Yobe governor had to be removed because it became clear that he was determined to ensure that no convention takes place and that after some time, his committee would have to organise the Convention, as well as party primaries for the 2023 elections. This created a lot of concerns in the party because it is generally known that he has a political ambition to emerge as a candidate and that he was subjecting the whole party machine to serve this ambition. On Wednesday, Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State finally made a clear statement on Channels TV, saying that the president had indeed given them a directive to remove Mai Mala Buni as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the APC. He added that 19 governors of the party and one deputy governor unanimously agreed to carry out the directive of the president, saying that the remaining three governors are the ones dishing out fake news that Buni has not been removed. This, of course, raises the fundamental question about the partys reality as a vehicle controlled by the president and governors, rather than elected party officials. It would be recalled that the partys crises developed following the removal of Adams Oshiomhole as the chair of the APC in June 2020, following a series of reckless decisions and alleged corruption in the conduct of party affairs by him. The Mai Mala Committee was then appointed to work for six months to organise a party convention, where officials would be duly elected. They did no such thing, and between November 2021 and January 2022, the APC Convention had to be postponed three times because of deliberate refusal to initiate most of the processes required, such as booking the venue for the Convention and serving the statutory three weeks notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Yobe governor had to be removed because it became clear that he was determined to ensure that no convention takes place and that after some time, his committee would have to organise the Convention, as well as party primaries for the 2023 elections. This created a lot of concerns in the party because it is generally known that he has a political ambition to emerge as a candidate and that he was subjecting the whole party machine to serve this ambition. It appears that it was this fear of self-destruction of the party that forced President Buhari to return to Nigeria before proceeding on his medical tourism trip to London. We now understand that thirteen governors elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) were ready to quit the party if the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni was not removed as the chairman of the partys Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). The most concerning revelation was that the Mai Mala group had since November 2022 obtained a Court injunction against the proposed Convention that he was charged with organising, and he was apparently waiting until a few days before the Convention before serving it to the party in order to block the March 26 APC Convention from holding. This would then create the justification that the legal quandary would mean that given the tightness of the INEC time table, the only way forward was for Mai Mala to continue to run the affairs of the party and conduct the partys primary, where candidates for the 2023 elections would emerge. Meanwhile, it has been widely reported that there are on-going deals being concluded for him to emerge as a running mate to some presidential aspirants. What is clear from what has emerged so far is that self-interest, rather than party interest is the dominant interest controlling party dynamics. The reckless pursuit of self-interest was leading the party directly into auto destruction. It appears that it was this fear of self-destruction of the party that forced President Buhari to return to Nigeria before proceeding on his medical tourism trip to London. We now understand that thirteen governors elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) were ready to quit the party if the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni was not removed as the chairman of the partys Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). It was in the context of this threat that the president had to get involved in party matters and allow for the removal. What is interesting is that although the party has been run by governors, who have been peers for almost two years, a small cabal could emerge from amongst them and impose their will on the entire party. They all saw the three attempts to call the convention scuttled by this cabal but were unable to take decisive action to save the party in good time. One of the governors from the North-East geo-political zone was alleged to have protested that, The cabal formed by our other colleagues has suffocated the life out of APC. The party has been reduced to the equivalent of a gang where decisions are now based on who can manipulate President (Muhammadu) Buhari better. This type of behaviour is not just true of the APC but is the same for virtually all the parties. As I have always said, once we accept that parties are organisations run by godfathers rather than party members, democracy can never work within parties and by extension, in the country. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. As for you my brother, then educate yourself about the rights your women folk have on you and help them to fight and remove these chains the non-Muslims are trying to put on them, do this through giving them their due rights, by showing them you love and care for them, by showing them they are important and valued every day of the year. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy All praise is for Allah, we praise Him, we seek His help, we ask for His forgiveness, and we seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our own souls and the wickedness of our actions, whoever Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray, and whoever Allah allows to go astray, there is none that can lead him to the right path. I testify and bare witness that there is no deity worthy of worship in truth but Allah, alone, without any partners. And I testify and bare witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His Servant and Messenger. As for whats after: Dear brothers and sisters! The international day of women is a celebration which was invented to commemorate the movement of womens rights. It was first celebrated on March 8, 1910. Before that the European women where humiliated and disrespected when Islam came to uplift them and give them a high status more than 1400 years ago. Unfortunately, some of our dear sisters who perhaps do not know the importance Islam gave them are seduced by this celebration and take part in this. So what does Islam say about this festival? Respected servants of Allah! To answer this question, I will use some speech and verdict of our late Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Salih Ibn Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy on him) about celebrating Mothers Day. He says: All celebrations which differ from the Eids prescribed in Islam are innovated festivals which were not known at the time of the righteous predecessors (the Salaf). They may also have come from the non-Muslims, in which case as well as being an innovation (bidah) they are also an imitation of the nonbelievers. The festivals which are prescribed in Islam are well known to the Muslims: they are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and the weekly Eid of Jumuah. There is no other festival in Islam apart from these three. All the festivals that have been invented apart from these are to be rejected because they are innovations and are false according to the laws of Allah, because the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected. Meaning: It will be thrown back at him and will not be accepted by Allah Almighty. According to another version: Whoever does any deed that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected. Once this is clear, then it is not permissible to show any of the signs of festivity on the celebration mentioned, namely International Womens Day and Mothers Day. It is not permissible to show joy and happiness, or to offer gifts, and so on. The Muslim should feel proud of his religion and adhere to the limits set by Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) in this religion, which Allah has chosen for His servants, and he should not add anything or take anything away. What the Muslim should also do is not to follow every new idea that comes along, rather his character should be in accordance with the Shariah of Allah so that he will be a leader and example, not a follower, because the Shariah of Allah praise be to Allah is complete in all ways as Allah Almighty says: This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. A womens or mothers right wallahi is greater than having just one day in the year to be honoured, rather the mothers right over her children is that they should take care of her and obey her, so long as it does not involve disobedience towards Allah, at all times and in all places. [Majmu Fatawa of Shaykh Ibn Uthaimin, vol. 2, page 301] The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: The worst of matters are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going-astray. [Narrated by Muslim and al-Nasai] Al-Nasais report adds the words: And every going astray will be in the Fire. Moreover, this innovation has come to us from societies in which bad and evil manners are shown to women. So they think that honouring their women folk for one day will erase their evil treatment towards her during the rest of the year. But we Muslims have been commanded to honour our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. Honouring ones mother or wife does not come to an end even when she dies, for she is honoured in life and in death. That is done by offering the funeral prayer for her, praying for forgiveness for her and honouring her family and friends. Let us adhere to this great religion and follow its etiquettes and rulings, for in it is sufficient guidance and mercy. Abdullah Ibn Umar said: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: Whoever imitates a people is one of them. [Reported by Abu Dawud] Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taimiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This at the very least indicates that it is haram (prohibited) to imitate them, although the apparent meaning is that the one who imitates them is a kafir (nonbeliever). [Iqtida Siratal-Mustaqim] We are therefore forbidden to imitate the non Muslims and we must differ from them in every and any way possible. We do not take anything from their ways especially in Aqidah (belief), Ibadah (acts of worship) and Eid (celebrations). Advertisements This is about the actual Islamic ruling about this. Even the reality of the matter tell us there are no benefits in taking part in this, especially in the African context where we see women falling into sins towards their husbands. Just for one day, some of our sisters and mothers would force their husbands to clean the house, go to the market and cook, claiming they have been doing that throughout the year. We ask them, are you also willing to do your husbands job for one day? They will make problems and disrespect their husbands because they want the uniform of the festival, some of them go to extreme until we heard of women applying glue to their private parts so that their husband wont have intimate relations with them. And Allahs help is sought. It may also be that the man himself doesnt know and recognise the rights that his women folk has on him and maybe this is the reason his female relative make it a big deal to celebrate this. Allah the Most High said: And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: The best of you are those who are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives. [Reported by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah] In another Hadith He said: You never spend anything but you will be rewarded for it, even the morsel of food that you lift to your wifes mouth. [Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim] Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, was asked: What did the Prophet use to do in his house? She replied, He used to keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for prayer he would go for it. [Reported by Al Bukhari] Respected brothers and sisters! Islamic Shariah honours women and raises them to a lofty status, with the aim of protecting them and preserving their dignity. Thus, a womans guardian or husband is obligated to provide for her, support her, answer to her needs and live honourably with her. Allah Almighty states: and live with them honourably. It has been also confirmed that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) stated that: The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best to my family. Moreover, Islam grants a woman all the appropriate rights and legal responsibilities. Allah the Most High states: And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) according to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. In addition, a woman is obligated to carry out the same acts of Ibadah (worship) and commands that men are, such as Taharah (ceremonial purification), Salah (Prayer), Zakah (obligatory charity), Sawm (Fasting), Hajj and many other forms of worship. However, Shariah grants a woman half the share of mans inheritance since she is not obligated to provide for herself, her household or her children, contrary to the man. Add to this that a mans wealth is liable to reduction by means of entertaining guests, paying blood money, paying compensation and the like. In some cases, the testimonies of two women equal the testimony of one man, since women are more prone to forget than men due to their special nature. They have the menses, they become pregnant, they give birth and raise children. All of these things can affect a womans ability to remember accurately. That is why, evidence from Shariah makes it necessary for two woman to bear witness together to be sure. On the other hand, there are some issues that are solely related to women when it is enough for one woman to testify, such as cases of suckling, marital problems and the like. Furthermore, women and men are rewarded equally for their belief (Iman) and righteous deeds, in enjoying the life of this world, and in being recompensed greatly in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty states: Whoever works righteousness whether male or female while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). This proves that women have rights and duties just as men have rights and duties. Some matters suit men better and that is why Allah charges men with them, while other matters suit women better and that is why Allah charges women with them. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions. In conclusion, although many other things can be mentioned, I advice our sisters to learn about the rights their Lord, Allah Almighty and their Prophet have given them and to let then non Muslims women waste their time and energy for something they would have if they came to Islam. My dear sister, may Allah bless you and grant you success, wallahi Allah has elevated you and you do not need one day out of the year to feel important, you are a gem and your value is unestimated. As for you my brother, then educate yourself about the rights your women folk have on you and help them to fight and remove these chains the non-Muslims are trying to put on them, do this through giving them their due rights, by showing them you love and care for them, by showing them they are important and valued every day of the year. May Allah Almighty rectify the Muslims and make them proud and pleased with what Allah and his Messenger legislated for them is all aspects of live. Allah surely knows best and he is the Lords of the universe and May his peace and blessing be on his Messenger, his family, his companions and those who follow them. I ask Allah, the Most High to grant us success and enable us to be correct in what we say and write, ameen. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761. This Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Shaaban 8, 1443 A.H. (March 11, 2022). when South Africans were dying like flies, its then President Nelson Mandela dared the EU and started the production of the drugs, which ultimately saved the lives of millions of people in Africa and the Third World countries. What we need is a leader with the courage of Mandela to call off the EU bluff on the COVID-19 vaccines It is obvious to me that whenever Africa is invited to dine with the EU, and it cannot decline the offer, it should do so with a long spoon. Twenty-seven European countries under their European Union (EU) invited fifty-five African countries under the African Union (AU) to a two-day feast to showcase their legendary partnership which is the oldest in contemporary history. The feast was from February 17-18. I was not enthusiastic about the event because there is always a catch, and I was not to be disappointed, especially on the main issue of COVID-19 and the life-saving vaccines. My position on the partnership between both continents is not because I am a pessimist; of course, I am not! Rather it stems from our centuries long friendship with the European establishment. Historically, the partnership between the two sides has been like one between the sheep and the fox in sheep clothing. This began as trade in commodities, then to that in humans, which today is mainly responsible for the spread of the Black skin in the Caribbean and the United States. Then there was no trade at all, as the Africans became the colonised and the Europeans, the colonisers. The latter felt it had a natural right to lord it over all other peoples, including the right to take their resources without payment or compensation. In the case of Belgium, which was the venue of the 2022 meet, its King Leopold II made no pretentions that its colonisation was to civilise the uncivilised, spread the Christian gospel and free trade. He was honest to show that colonialism was not just an unconscionable one-eyed pirate and bandit but that the Congo was a mere personal undertaking. To extract maximum loot from Congo, the Belgians massacred over fifteen million Africans. After the Democratic Republic of Congo became independent on June 30, 1960, its post-independent governmen,t under elected Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, was allowed to stay for only three months (June-September, 1960) before being overthrown in a Belgian coup assisted by its British and American first cousins. Just to mention one more of Africas oldest partners, France. When our Algerian brothers and sisters demanded independence, France massacred about two million of them. About six decades after many African countries became independent, France continues its stranglehold on them, including controlling their purse strings. It is also noted for its half-hearted defence of African interests in places like Chad, Cote dIvoire, Burkina Faso, and its ongoing altercation with Mali in Bamako, over the war with terrorists. The more recent Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Africa had been problematic over the years mainly due to resistance by Nigeria. It is what I call an agreement between the horse and the horse rider; one in which in the name of free trade and partnership, Europe is striving hard to recolonise the continent. A coalition of 19 critical organisations in Africa exposed the EPA as basically an attempt by the EU to recycle and transfer funds already provided for by simply changing the heading. As the conference drew near, some underdeveloped countries like South Africa sought to focus attention on the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. They asked the EU, which has said it is more than willing to assist Africa in fighting the pandemic, to allow the production of COVID-19 generic drugs and vaccines, which would crash their prices and make them available to all. But the EU refused So much for a partnership. To break the African resolve against the EPA, the EU, which came as a single group, first carved Africa into different regions, then individual countries for negotiations. The 2022 conference was preceded by tantrums from the Moroccan monarchy, which over the years had tried to colonise its Western Sahara neighbour and has been looting its resources, including phosphate and fisheries, which it shares with some EU members. In a February 14 two-page protest letter to the EU, Morocco raged against the participation of Western Sahara, claiming that the country is led by blood thirsty terrorists. But the EU thought it better to ignore the monarch. The AU was upbeat about the meeting. Fred Ngoga Gateretse, head of its Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Division, said that unlike in the past, Africa would not acquiescence to EUs proposals. He added that: What you want from Africa, you should also expect Africa to want from you. Africa, he said, looks forward to a partnership of equals that: maximises our ability to benefit from our own resources. As the conference drew near, some underdeveloped countries like South Africa sought to focus attention on the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. They asked the EU, which has said it is more than willing to assist Africa in fighting the pandemic, to allow the production of COVID-19 generic drugs and vaccines, which would crash their prices and make them available to all. But the EU refused to allow this mass life-saving request. Rather, the European countries and companies want to make maximum profit from the vaccines, even if many are to loose their lives in the continent. So much for a partnership. In the communique, the African leaders agreed with the EU not to attempt manufacturing vaccines locally as: The immediate challenge is to ensure a fair and equitable access to vaccines. So, the EUs sense of equal partnership on COVID-19 vaccines, is for its companies to manufacture the vaccines, make huge profits from them, even if it will cost African lives, and buy some of the vaccines, then donate these to Africa. At the conference proper, EU President von der Leyen was full of the usual rhetoric begining with a declaration that as: Africa sets sail on the future, the European Union wants to be Africas partner of choice. In declaring that: The European Union is the first trading partner and the first investor in Africa, the EU dangled before the African heads of state, a EUR 150 billion investment carrot called the Global Gateway. The EU promised to share at least 450 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. But on the life-saving request to allow a waiver, which would give Africa the opportunity to locally manufacture the vaccines and related drugs, the EU refused, but wrapped this in beautiful words: We have different ways to reach that goal. There must be a bridge between those two ways. It said, it would bring in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Iweala to lay out the rules. In the communique, the African leaders agreed with the EU not to attempt manufacturing vaccines locally as: The immediate challenge is to ensure a fair and equitable access to vaccines. So, the EUs sense of equal partnership on COVID-19 vaccines, is for its companies to manufacture the vaccines, make huge profits from them, even if it will cost African lives, and buy some of the vaccines, then donate these to Africa. This was the same attitude of the Europeans when the HIV/AIDS pandemic broke out. There were cheap anti-retroviral drugs, which could save millions of lives, but the EU forbade Africa from producing or using them. It threatened to wreck any country that dared to do so. For it, it is huge profits before life. But when South Africans were dying like flies, its then President Nelson Mandela dared the EU and started the production of the drugs, which ultimately saved the lives of millions of people in Africa and the Third World countries. What we need is a leader with the courage of Mandela to call off the EU bluff on the COVID-19 vaccines. It is obvious to me that whenever Africa is invited to dine with the EU, and it cannot decline the offer, it should do so with a long spoon. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. Without any further delay, all stakeholders including government, the private sector, and civil society organisations must urgently engage in fast-tracking the process towards quick passage of the draft Data Protection Bill in the National Assembly. The advent of the digital information age has led to a massive increase in the volume of data generated by internet users and stored across cyberspace. Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the security and privacy of their data when they go online. They are cautious about how their data is handled by different businesses. This is because companies, organisations, and hackers are constantly looking for ways to abuse such data for commercial, malicious, and illicit purposes. As a result, many countries have created independent data protection authorities to ensure the protection of personal data shared online and uphold the publics right to control their data. Data protection authorities have the responsibility to supervise, promote and enforce relevant data protection laws. They take enforcement action where necessary to ensure compliance. As such, the public relies on data protection authorities to make sure that organisations adhere and comply with regulations. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), a subsidiary legislation to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007, was issued in January 2019. Its cardinal objective is to help provide guidelines to organisations on the use and protection of the personal data of Nigerians. Being Nigerias answer to Europes General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the NDPR has helped to increase awareness on the need for data protection and privacy. In the effort to enhance the data protection and privacy of citizens, President Muhammadu Buhari, on February 4, approved the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Bureau (NDPB). many stakeholders viewed the NDPR as limited in scope and enforceability because it is not an Act of the National Assembly. This triggered the campaign for the enactment of a single data protection law, as it is obtainable in other digital economies. Based on the recommendation of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, President Buhari also approved the appointment of the extant Director at NITDA, Dr Vincent Olatunji, as the pioneer National Commissioner and CEO of the newly created data protection agency. The NDPB will be responsible for supervising and enforcing the applicable data protection law, in line with global best practices. Data protection agencies are critical to the regulation and implementation of data privacy protection in every country operating in the digital space. In furtherance of the data protection agenda, the minister in charge, Mallam Isa Ali Pantami disclosed that the Federal Government is working with the National Assembly to ensure the enactment of the law that will adequately guarantee the data protection and privacy of Nigerians. Such an Act of the National Assembly will regulate what people do online in terms of how to protect their data privacy, guarantee users freedom, and also mandate companies to file data privacy compliance reports. However, before the creation of the data protection bureau, the NDPR served as the main data protection and privacy regulation for Nigerians both at home and abroad. The regulation made provision for the rights of data subjects, the obligations of data controllers and data processors, and the transfer of data to a foreign territory. But many stakeholders viewed the NDPR as limited in scope and enforceability because it is not an Act of the National Assembly. This triggered the campaign for the enactment of a single data protection law, as it is obtainable in other digital economies. Meanwhile, stakeholders in Nigerias cybersecurity ecosystem are concerned about the draft Data Protection Bill 2020 currently at the Ministry of Justice awaiting presentation to the Federal Executive Council before its transmission to the National Assembly. The Bill is seeking to create a regulatory framework for the protection and processing of personal data and to safeguard the rights of data subjects as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. If eventually passed into law by the legislature, the Bill will become the primary legislation for the data protection and privacy of Nigerians. This ongoing effort is a recognition of the significance of such a piece of legislation to the public. If eventually passed into law by the legislature, the Bill will become the primary legislation for the data protection and privacy of Nigerians. This ongoing effort is a recognition of the significance of such a piece of legislation to the public. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) summary of Data Protection and Privacy Legislation Worldwide (April 2020), reported that only 66 per cent of countries have data protection legislation. UNCTAD emphasised that more countries must have legal frameworks that will adequately protect their citizens and businesses online, while also rebuilding trust between these parties. Advertisements The UN agency, therefore, recommends that after the enactment of relevant data protection laws, countries must put in place strategies to carry out effective enforcement. Consequently, the NDPB is prepared to lead the crusade for creating awareness on data privacy, freedom, and implementation of sanctions on defaulters. But this newly created data protection agency has to be empowered by relevant legislation to enable it to discharge its mandate accordingly. Without any further delay, all stakeholders including government, the private sector, and civil society organisations must urgently engage in fast-tracking the process towards quick passage of the draft Data Protection Bill in the National Assembly. Certainly, the earlier an appropriate law is put in place, the nascent Nigeria Data Protection Bureau would become firmly empowered to satisfactorily deliver on its responsibility to citizens and businesses alike. In conclusion, Nigeria has to reflect international standards by adopting a legal framework that will serve as the bedrock of sustainable data protection and privacy agenda for digital economic prosperity. Inyene Ibanga writes from Wuye District, Abuja; email: inyeneibanga@yahoo.com. the co-existence of modern technology and culture in Nigerian society might be the developmental breakthrough that the country has been waiting for. This is because there will be a high tendency for technological innovations to originate from the country. Moreover, this would foster the technical know-how in many sectors of the economy and guarantee national development. The cultural orientation and conviction of a set of people define the core of their existence. It is the window through which society and its members could be understood. The renowned anthropologist, Edward Tylor, in his badly titled book, Primitive Culture, explains culture as that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Such a complex whole comprises the primary belief system of individuals and explains why it defines their core. As a result, it is easy to understand why technological innovations and their applications could create a subconscious conflict and, in the worst case, a conscious conflict between what people had accepted to be the right way of doing things and what the new approach is trying to enact. Viewing technology from the angle of what Jennifer D. Slack and J. Macgregor Wise refer to as received view in Culture + Technology: A Primer is progress, causality, convenience, and other concepts that put it at a polar position to culture. While this may not be entirely untrue, technology is not a necessary alternative to culture but it could be culture itself. Referring to and relating culture to technology is hinged on the idea that technology is the application of science. In essence, science has existed as long as humans have been able to comprehend and analyse things, and the application of science is the basic definition of technology. This emphasises that technology is also as old as humans, and they adopt and use the different inventions and discoveries of the human species. If then culture comprises the continuous uses, enduring systems and artefacts, knowledge, law, and every other thing captured by Edward Tylor, it is safe to say that todays culture is yesterdays new technological breakthrough. This brings us to the logical conclusion that technology can be old or new, that older technology is todays culture, and that culture and technology can be the same. As a result of this and concerning Africa, technology is not a new concept or idea; it could be said to be as old as the culture of the people themselves. Unlike some ethnocentric scholars who posited that Africa was in a long period of developmental darkness until the discovery and contact with the Europeans, Africas civilisation and technology, like what Hegel proposed in his Lectures on the Philosophy of World History, has been a centre of different technological breakthroughs and have been recorded and discovered to be a centre of various technological civilisations and inventions earlier than some other societies. For instance, different studies like those of Posnansky (1981: 542-47), Harlan et al. (1976), Shaw (1981), Schmidt (1978: 292-96), Shinnie (1971: 93-94), among others, have put the introduction and practice of metallurgy and agriculture in Africa earlier than it was seen in Europe and the Middle East. More specifically, the Egyptian calendar of 4231 BC, although adjusted in 3200 BC and 2773 BC, has evidence of old discoveries of Africa. Other notable examples include the use and designs of terracotta in the Nok culture as early as 1500 BC, the Proto-Saharan writing, mathematical developments, arts, architecture, and medicines, which have shown that technology cannot be said to be new to African society. Over the years, these technological discoveries and practices developed and formed a belief system and concept that we refer to as culture today. Hence, the current conversation on the latest technology should relate to what is now considered modern technology; otherwise, it would undermine the historical breakthroughs in Africa. The introduction of modern technology, especially after the contacts with the Europeans, has clashed with the culture of the people. The first problem is that there had to be a radical adjustment to new ways of doing things that many people are yet to embrace. These technological advancements have not considered the peoples cultural convictions to allow gradual adoption. technology is not necessarily a contradiction of culture, and with understanding, the seeming conflicts might be needless. It is a way of developing the current cultural approaches to things and their distribution and diffusion to other parts of the world. The advancement of technology has been responsible for the spread of European culture. Although using the same for Africa may seem late, it might also spread African culture. Kabiru Kinyanjui in Culture, Technology and Sustainable Development in Africa posits that the influx of modern technological advancements, combined with colonialism, suppressed cultural confidence, creating heavy reliance on them and disregard for indigenous cultural advancement. This was faced with hostile reactions from the indigenous groups, and when they had no choice but to accept them, they found it quite difficult to handle. However, with the development of institutions to promote science and technology, the bridges between them were created, allowing for adaptation and adoption. To bolster this, the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) was established to advance the study of science and technology, with emphasis on research, allowing modern technology to thrive in Nigeria. Also, Africans have tried to resist many Western developments because they believe technology can consume valuable cultural values that are still beneficial to society. When considering the cultural history of the people, social decadence and an increase in social vices are considered possible results of the adoption of new developments and technology without sieving out the parts that are not favourable. The enthronement of technological advancement over African culture could be considered a subtle kind of neo-colonialism. It creates a measure of control when access to these developments is either not directly available in Africa or requires certain commitments. Economic and capitalist interest in introducing technological innovations to replace cultural approaches and materials have also been arguments favouring subconscious neo-colonialism. Another source of concern for Africans about the radical importation of technological advancement without independence is the tendency to unconsciously allow over-reliance on and the preference for modern technology kill the cultures that made it African and break the sociological threads of African society. However, technology is not necessarily a contradiction of culture, and with understanding, the seeming conflicts might be needless. It is a way of developing the current cultural approaches to things and their distribution and diffusion to other parts of the world. The advancement of technology has been responsible for the spread of European culture. Although using the same for Africa may seem late, it might also spread African culture. As observed by Stephen A. Akintoye in A History of the Yoruba People, the culture of Yoruba and Benin had spread all over the world, with evidential practices in Brazil, the United Kingdom, United States, Argentina, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, among others, as a result of heavy immigration from Africa to these places. Presently, there is a reasonable use of African fashion senses and styles worldwide, and the current globalisation and technology drive have taken African cultures across the world. In Africa, some of these technological developments and practices have evolved into specific professions with a long line of history attributed to them. The makers of adire, aso oke, aso ofi in the textile industry, the agbede blacksmiths profession, among others, especially in the Yoruba regions of Nigeria, required an application of specific techniques, which could also be regarded as technological innovations. These professions developed their education systems, and the trade culture is always passed through them. This brings us to the realisation of how technical education has operated throughout Nigerias history. Africas most common teaching method is the apprenticeship system, which is connected with social responsibility and confers social status to those learning and the teachers. Given the relative success of the cultural process of technical education before colonialism and contact with Europe, it is clear that some of these processes can be adapted to improve technical education in the current dispensation. Although there is evidence of the use of apprenticeship in the modern technical educational system, particularly with different internship programmes made compulsory for students in technology disciplines As observed by W. Ahadzie (2009), children are often taken to learn several skills at an early age. Many of these professionals were family professionals, so children are easily incorporated. The apprentice is controlled gravely by the interests of the master, and the master is responsible for the apprentice. Among other things, these systems made the facilitation of technical education easier. Given the relative success of the cultural process of technical education before colonialism and contact with Europe, it is clear that some of these processes can be adapted to improve technical education in the current dispensation. Although there is evidence of the use of apprenticeship in the modern technical educational system, particularly with different internship programmes made compulsory for students in technology disciplines in the form of industrial trainings and SIWES and those taking professional courses, there is still a need for more emphasis and constructive structures for the system. More time should be set aside for students to interact with practising experts in their fields to visualise what they are learning. Also, as observed by Kwesi Kwaa Prah in The Intellectualisation of African Languages for Higher Education, the continuous development in the intellectualisation of African languages is a way of closing the gap between culture and technology. The level of understanding of modern technology will be increased if technical courses or processes are developed and taught, so that African languages have ready representations, explanations, and terms for them. Such endeavour would also embrace the illiterate generation of the population that does not have the opportunity to acquire formal education. This is because technological products are beneficial to everyone, not only to the youth, literate, or the new generation. In conclusion, the co-existence of modern technology and culture in Nigerian society might be the developmental breakthrough that the country has been waiting for. This is because there will be a high tendency for technological innovations to originate from the country. Moreover, this would foster the technical know-how in many sectors of the economy and guarantee national development. There would also exist a comprehensive methodological approach to issues challenging the nations progress. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. This is excerpted from a Public Lecture presented at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, on March 2. there is still an opportunity to redeem our democracy. The House of Representatives will be voting again on three of the Gender Bills; Citizenship, Indigeneship and 35 per cent Affirmative Action in party administration. Nigeria needs both the Senate and the House of Representatives to vote and pass all five gender Bills. We need the National Assembly to pass the gender Bills for generations of women and girls in Nigeria today and in the future. The past week has been a battle and a period of protests for Nigerian women who watched with dismay as the National Assembly failed to pass the five gender bills for constitution amendment. March 1 will be remembered for a long time as the day the Ninth National Assembly voted against freedom, equality and rights, which are intrinsic features of democracy. For Nigerian women who watched the voting on the constitutional bills, the screams of NO and laughter by the lawmakers over basic rights Bills was a psychological abuse to break the resilient spirit of Nigerian women. It was a clear disregard of the hard work of Nigerian women who fought side-by-side with Nigerian men for our independence, democracy and freedom. The struggles of women like Chief Margaret Ekpo, Chief Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti, Wuraole Esan, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, Chief Elizabeth Adekogbe, Tanomowo Ogunlesi, Chief Kudirat Abiola and the host of other great women cannot be forgotten and must not be in vain. They fought hard for freedom! The likes of Hajia Gambo faced many tortures just for the right of women to vote in the North, Fumilayo Ransom Kuti faced violence that led to her death, and Kudirat Abiola died in the fight for our democracy. These women and many more paid the price. Nigeria that they fought for is still failing them and failing the generation of women and girls who fought and still fight for the rights of women. Today, we have a system of government dominated by men, a projection of Nigeria as a country of only men; a falsehood that the patriarchal culture of the power-bearers in Nigeria has maintained through the almost 23 years of democracy. Nigeria deserves to be a nation of truth. These truths remain that; Nigerias democracy will remain stagnant without women. Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful growth and sustainable development if women are excluded from government and if gender inequality persists. Hence the importance of these gender Bills. On a positive note, the House of Representatives on March 8, reversed its decision on three of the five Bills, to vote again on them, after the protests by Nigerian women. Each Bill requires two-thirds majority votes in both the Senate (at least 73 senators) and House of Representatives (240 members) to pass at the national level and two-thirds of the State Assemblies (at least 24 of the 36 state Assemblies) to pass them before presidential assent. It is important to note that there are five gender Bills and each of the five is as important as the other. On Special Seats for Women Bill, late Senator Wuraola Esan, the first woman in the Nigerian Senate in 1960, must be staring down at Nigeria, wondering how 62 years later there are only eight women senators out of 109. A difference of six from 1960. Only 13 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives and 44 of the 991 state legislators are women. 15 of the 36 State Assemblies have no woman. The Bill on citizenship seeks to confer citizenship by registration on foreign spouses of Nigerian women, to correct the injustice in Section 26(2a), which recognises only Nigerian men. An injustice carried on from both the 1963 and 1979 constitutions and which was retained in the 1999 Constitution. The concept of citizenship presupposes a sense of belonging within a political entity, a legal bond with the state, with corresponding rights. A vast number of countries in Africa had discriminated against women by limiting the rights of women to transfer citizenship. However, signs of progress have been made with more countries adopting gender-neutral laws to ensure equality of all citizens. Countries like Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia Botswana, Mauritius, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and others reformed their laws to ensure equality with respect to citizenship rights. The year 2022 was supposed to be for Nigeria to correct this injustice to Nigerian women. This Bill affirms the principle of equality in the Constitution. The Indigeneship Bill seeks to expand indigeneship to; Nigerians resident in other states and; to women who marry from states other than their state of origin. The Bill defines an indigene as a Nigerian born in a state or has lived in a state for a continuous period of 10 years, has evidence of tax payment in the state, or a woman married to an indigene of a state for at least five years. The idea is to ensure that women who marry into other states benefit from employment, appointment and election into a political/public office. Denying Nigerian women indigeneity through marriage is leaving many women stateless in a country where they are full citizens. This Bill promotes national integration and unity. On Special Seats for Women Bill, late Senator Wuraola Esan, the first woman in the Nigerian Senate in 1960, must be staring down at Nigeria, wondering how 62 years later there are only eight women senators out of 109. A difference of six from 1960. Only 13 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives and 44 of the 991 state legislators are women. 15 of the 36 State Assemblies have no woman. This calls for a national emergency on womens political inclusion. The Bill seeks to create 74 seats in the House of Representatives, 37 in the Senate and three in each State Assembly that only women can contest for. It is a positive measure to address historic discrimination/exclusion that impedes womens emergence in political office. The reserved seats will be operational for four electoral cycles and do not preclude women from contesting for the other seats. The idea is to ensure that every state has a woman in the National Assembly and that every State Assembly has at least three women members. Nigeria is a rich, diverse nation that has the potential to wield the power to control the waves of democratic expansion and development in Africa. Sadly, Nigeria has remained the most-timid in taking bold steps to guarantee the freedom and equality of all people in its democracy. We should not forget that our 62 years of independence and 23 years of democracy is a product of the collective efforts of men and women. The Bills on Affirmative Action proposes affirmative action for women in the appointment of ministers and commissioners at the federal and state levels respectively and in party administration. Failure to pass the 35 per cent affirmative action Bills denies women the opportunity of having at least 35 per cent representation in public leadership and in party leadership. Currently, there are only seven female ministers of the 43 ministers in Nigeria; some states have only male commissioners. While in party leadership, except for the office of the national woman leader, there is almost no other position occupied by women. Nigeria is a rich, diverse nation that has the potential to wield the power to control the waves of democratic expansion and development in Africa. Sadly, Nigeria has remained the most-timid in taking bold steps to guarantee the freedom and equality of all people in its democracy. We should not forget that our 62 years of independence and 23 years of democracy is a product of the collective efforts of men and women. When the legislators played in the gallery of ego than reason and danced around the issues of freedom and equality, they set Nigeria on a backward trend. However, there is still an opportunity to redeem our democracy. The House of Representatives will be voting again on three of the Gender Bills; Citizenship, Indigeneship and 35 per cent Affirmative Action in party administration. Nigeria needs both the Senate and the House of Representatives to vote and pass all five gender Bills. We need the National Assembly to pass the gender Bills for generations of women and girls in Nigeria today and in the future. Cynthia Mbamalu is the Director of Programmes in Yiaga Africa with 15 years of experience, working to support sustainable democracies, promote political inclusion, electoral integrity and human rights. She has an LLM in Comparative Constitutional Law from the Central European University (CEU). She tweets @DCynthiaM, please send your feedback to coambamalu@gmail.com. The police in Cross River State have warned those trying to cause a second #Endsars protest to desist from it or be ready to face the full wrath of the law. The police spokesperson in the state, Irene Ugbo, gave the warning, Friday, in Calabar while speaking with reporters. Ms Ugbo said the police would ensure utmost professionalism on the part of officers in the discharge of their duties. She said the command has received several reports pointing towards incitement of young people in the state to engage in a second protest against the police. The spokesperson said the police would not fold its arm and watch hoodlums take a second advantage of the people. There was a distress call from MCC junction a few days ago and a tactical unit responded immediately. Some young men were questioned in the process and the matter was resolved amicably after questioning. We want to use this medium to warn those who want to use this avenue as an opportunity to carry out a second #EndSars protest to be cautioned. We are alert, anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law. We are also mindful that law-abiding citizens have rights and they must be protected. We therefore, implore anyone who feel his rights were violated to approach our office accordingly. We will not allow a second #Endsars protest in Calabar or any part of the state, never again, she added. She assured members of the public that police officers will continue to conduct themselves in the utmost professional manner. Ms Ugbo maintained that no officer would be allowed to molest, harass or brutalise anyone unjustly. (NAN) Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 53F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. WASHINGTON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today AARP applauded Congress for passing the bipartisan Fraud and Scam Reduction Act. The legislation, endorsed by AARP, is designed to address the pervasive increase and growing problem of scams and financial exploitation that threaten all Americans, and older Americans in particular. The Fraud and Scam Reduction Act is sponsored by Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). "AARP is at the forefront of championing laws and regulations that prevent financial exploitation against seniors and empower consumers to protect themselves," said AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond. "Scammers use a wide range of increasingly sophisticated tactics and opportunities to steal money or sensitive personal information, so our nation's laws need to keep up. The Fraud and Scam Reduction Act includes important protections that can benefit all Americans." The Fraud and Scam Reduction Act will establish a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group to prevent scams that target seniors. The Advisory Group will create educational materials and information on model programs to guide retailers, financial services, and wire-transfer companies on prevention. Additionally, it would create an office within the Bureau of Consumer Protection to advise the Federal Trade Commission about preventing fraud targeting seniors and assist with monitoring for mail, television, internet, telemarketing, and robocalls targeting older Americans. The bill was passed as part of the bipartisan 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, which now goes to the President to be signed into law. Since 2013, AARP has provided the AARP Fraud Watch Network as a free resource for people of all ages. Consumers may sign up for "Watchdog Alert" emails that deliver information about scams, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to report scams or get help from trained volunteers in the event someone falls victim to scammers' tactics. The Fraud Watch Network website provides information about the latest fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scam-tracking map and access to AARP's hit podcast series, The Perfect Scam. About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media. SOURCE AARP Native wildflower populations around the country are in decline. In the U.S. Great Plains alone, over 33 million acres of wildflowers and grasslands habitat have been lost since 2009. That's why Air Wick and WWF have teamed up for this three-year reseeding mission to make an impact on these essential flowers that contribute to a healthy ecosystem in the U.S. To date, Air Wick has planted 50 million square feet and looks forward to working towards its goal of one billion square feet reseeded with the help of Americans everywhere by 2024. "As we embark on our second year of our reseeding efforts in partnership with WWF, our goal continues to work towards the reseeding of one billion square feet but to also encourage the public to rally together and take part in the movement and be part of the change," said Raheel Dhaduk, Vice President Marketing, Air Wick. "Air Wick is committed to conserving wildflowers, which are a critical component to the ecosystem, and we only hope to continue to empower and encourage support to help these natural habitats thrive. Our One Square Foot Super Bloom Park is a visual and physical representation of how a single square foot can make a difference, and we hope to see communities engaging with us across the country to bring more awareness and of course, more wildflowers back to the Northern Great Plains." To help bring this to life and create a simple chain reaction of change, Air Wick created a One Square Foot Super Bloom Parka park that is legitimately a single square footto show people everywhere how this one small action can cultivate a better future for native wildflowers. The park features a carefully curated and beautiful selection of wildflowers native to the Northern Great Plains, including: the striking purple Prairie Blazing Star, vibrant yellow Stiff Goldenrod, fragrant Butterfly Milkweed, and the gorgeous violet-lavender Prairie Aster. This single square foot will act as the first in the digital Air Wick Super Bloom, all in effort to help inspire the public to get involved in reseeding our Northern Great Plains alongside Air Wick and WWF. While helping to conserve native wildflowers and grasslands is a massive undertaking, Air Wick believes that with community involvement and the right tools and education, a compilation of small acts can truly make a difference. As a social and community-driven effort to help fight the loss of grassland and wildflower habitats, Air Wick and WWF are encouraging consumers to share their own square of beautiful flowers and wildflower habitats on their social media feeds with the #SquareFootSuperBloom hashtag to partake in an impactful and beautiful, digital Air Wick Super Bloom. For each image shared and tagged by June 1, 2022, with support from Air Wick, WWF will plant a real square foot in the Northern Great Plains to reseed more wildflowers than ever before. The content posted and shared across the digital world will come together and live on Air Wick's Super Bloom Hub, further celebrating and encouraging people to continue to support by contributing their own images by using the #SquareFootSuperBloom hashtag. For those who are interested in planting a square foot in their own community, Air Wick is also continuing to invite people to sign up to receive seeds native to their areavery important to the success of the speciessent directly to their doorstep. A super bloom is a rare botanical phenomenon in which an unusually high portion of wildflowers whose seeds have laid dormant in soil germinate and blossom at roughly the same time. With the help of communities around the nation, Air Wick is looking to help mimic this natural phenomenon with a concerted effort to help wildflower communities flourish with a record-setting amount of wildflowers. "As plow-up for agriculture expansion continues to threaten the beautiful and environmentally rich grasslands and wildflower habitats of the Northern Great Plains, it's more important than ever to invest in protecting and restoring this critical ecosystem," said Martha Kauffman, Vice President, World Wildlife Fund's Northern Great Plains Program. "In year two of our collaboration with Air Wick, we'll continue to advance our reseeding goal while also raising awareness about the important role grasslands and wildflower habitats play in supporting people and wildlife." For those based in the Los Angeles Area, head over to the Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to see the Air Wick One Square Foot Super Bloom Park and get involved. The park will also feature a few fun activities, including a larger-than-life selfie station, Square Foot Flower Wall and more, all in the spirit of educating and supporting the cause. For more information on Air Wick and WWF's reseeding initiative, the One Square Foot Super Bloom or to find which wildflowers are native to your community, visit www.airwick.us/mission. About Reckitt: Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege. Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognizable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always. We are a diverse global team of more than 43,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. Find out more, or get in touch with us at www.reckitt.com *Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies. SOURCE Air Wick DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "APAC Commercial Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Growth Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This study focuses on the Asia-Pacific (APAC) commercial unmanned aerial system (UAS) market. The base year for spending information is 2020, and example market participants and market size estimates for 2021 are provided. It discusses market participants, customers, and government agencies that influence the industry. Japan, China, Australia, and South Korea are the biggest markets; however India and Malaysia aim to be global leaders in the UAS market in the future. The various UAS platform types are outlined by their design and use segment. Also included are insights on the software and services essential to the US UAS market. In addition, market applications, growth opportunities, industry participants, technology trends, and market drivers and restraints are discussed. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry experienced a global shock that proved UAS efficiency. Drone delivery for vaccines has been the main highlight of the industry in APAC proving how drones can assist population in several ways. Technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) in drone platforms will represent an important factor for growth, as well as the need for automation in several tasks due to APAC's aging population. The report also describes important challenges to growth in the region, such as people's safety concerns regarding drones and regulation frameworks. This study concludes highlighting the most important market verticals for drone applications in the region, providing a brief explanation of how they work, and how they can be best taken advantage of by different industry participants. The calls to action are complemented with examples of companies that have successfully taken advantage of said opportunity. Lastly, the most important points of the report are briefly described at the end of the conclusion in the key takeaways section. Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives 2. Growth Opportunity Analysis Purpose/Overview Overview of Some Relevant Companies Types of Commercial UAS by Market Segment UAV Platform Distribution by Market Segment in Asia-Pacific Types of Commercial UAS by Flight Design Main Challenges and Trends Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Representative Industry Participants 3. Growth Opportunity Universe Growth Opportunity 1: Malaysia's Growing Context and Focus on Technology for Companies to Settle in APAC Growing Context and Focus on Technology for Companies to Settle in APAC Growth Opportunity 2: India Terminated its Drone Ban Policy to Leverage Drone Technology Growth Opportunity 3: Precision Agriculture to Pursue a More Efficient Food Production 4. Conclusions and Future Outlook For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ajvea5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets AUSTIN, Texas, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The find of Ernest Shackleton's shipwreck Endurance has sparked interest in some of the most mysterious shipwrecks ever lost. Perhaps the greatest of these is the Flor de la Mar, which disappeared over five hundred years ago and is said to be worth billions of dollars in today's terms. The Flor de la Mar is the subject of a new novel by Dave Gerard, The Law of the Sea. The Law of the Sea The Flor de la Mar was a Portuguese carrack that sank five hundred years ago in the Strait of Malacca, a waterway off the northern coast of Sumatra. It was the flagship of a famed Portuguese conqueror named Alfonso de Albuquerque. Soon after Albuquerque set sail back to Portugal, a terrible storm hit his fleet, sinking the ship. Albuquerque himself made a harrowing escape on a makeshift raft. But the Flor de la Mar, along with its cargo and everyone aboard, was irrevocably lost. The Flor de la Mar was said to have contained the richest treasure ever gathered in the history of the Portuguese Empire. Although the ship has been sought for five hundred years, proof of the wreck has remained elusive. The Law of the Sea is a fast-paced legal and historical thriller that follows young lawyer Texas Jack Carver as he tries to unravel a mysterious death on behalf of a client. Jack soon discovers that the death was linked to the Flor de la Mar. As Jack scrambles to solve the mystery, he is pitted against giant corporations and their powerful lawyers, who force him to fight a legal battle that begins in Texas but soon spreads across the world. The Law of the Sea is based on real history and maritime law surrounding ancient shipwrecks. Dave Gerard is a pen name for Dov Preminger, an Austin, Texas-based lawyer. Dov wrote and published The Law of the Sea during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is his first novel. Dov has a diverse background. Born in Israel to parents from Chile and Zimbabwe, he grew up in Los Angeles before moving to Texas seven years ago. The Law of the Sea has debuted to stellar reviews since it was self-published at the end of summer 2021. One reviewer praised Dov as "without question one of the best young legal novelists in the United States. [The Law of the Sea features] [a] taut, interesting plot with excellent research, finely developed characterizations, compelling court scenes with a wide sweep through maritime history make this the page-turner of the year." The Law of the Sea can be purchased on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats at the below link: https://www.amazon.com/Law-Sea-Novel-Dave-Gerard-ebook/dp/B09DQ6RZ7T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1643572930&sr=1-1 Contact: Dov Preminger +1 (512) 536 4594 [email protected] SOURCE Dave Gerard WASHINGTON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins issued the following statement on the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic: "Throughout the pandemic, AARP has worked tirelessly to protect older adults. As the country moves forward, we must take the lessons we've learned and use them to fight for positive changes to strengthen health, economic security and the fabric of our communities. We will continue to be there at the forefront of helping people age safely, with independence and dignity. "The nation has been through two years of tragedy. We've faced grief, pain, illness, financial hardship and social isolation. The fact that more than 90% of the nearly 1 million COVID deaths in the U.S. have been among those ages 50 and older spotlights the urgent need to address how we support health as we age. "One top priority for the future is the need to reform our long-term care system. It's a national disgrace that around 15-20% of COVID deaths have been among nursing home residents and staff despite being just 1% of the population. "AARP led efforts to improve nursing home issues during the pandemic. We were instrumental in achieving better support for family caregivers and staff, increasing transparency about cases and deaths, improving access to virtual and in-person visitation, and increasing safety and access to vaccines, testing, protective gear and equipment. "As next steps, we must advance new models for nursing homes, including smaller facilities with more private rooms; improving infection control and safety monitoring; increasing staffing and providing better pay and working conditions; and increasing accountability for nursing home operators. AARP will also advocate to truly reform long-term care options. A large majority of Americans wish to age in their own homes, and we will fight for policies that can make this a reality. Some of these include investing in creating a more professional home healthcare workforce with standardized training and better pay; supporting more age-friendly housing; ensuring Medicaid beneficiaries can receive care at home; and providing support, tax credits and paid leave for family caregivers. "Throughout the pandemic, AARP also focused on a wide range of other needs of older adults. We fought to prioritize vaccines for those in nursing homes and older adults and provided information about where, when and how to get vaccinated. We provided connections and support for millions, such as trainings to use technology, supporting the expansion of telemedicine, and opening a Virtual Community Center featuring programs like Connect 2 Affect to combat social isolation and opportunities to learn, grow and have fun. AARP also worked to address long-standing disparities that have been exacerbated during COVID, including creating opportunities for women and people of color who disproportionately lost jobs. "Our experience with COVID has only strengthened our resolve to continue focusing on these issues to make life better for all people as they age. It demonstrated that there is still much work to be done. As a Wise Friend and Fierce Defender for older adults, AARP is committed to stand strong for and with our members and to fight for the needs and interests of all people 50-plus and their families." About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media. SOURCE AARP Bennett Day School's Co-Founder, Cameron Smith, and Greenfields Academy Founder, Rob Huge, met nearly a decade ago after asking the same question, " Isn't there a better way? " Today it's no surprise that Bennett Day School and Greenfields Academy share many of the same values. Both schools reject the notion of simply doing things the way they've always been done, and believe that schools must be innovative and creative now to prepare children for the future. Both schools reject the notion of simply doing things the way they've always been done "The unprecedented impacts of the pandemic were too much for our small school to endure," says Rob Huge. "We are proud to have reimagined school with so many Chicago families, and we are grateful for all of our learners who took control of their education and became heroes on their journeys." Like Greenfields, Bennett has moved beyond the traditional tools of testing and letter grades, using a competency-based approach to guide learners toward depth and mastery. In this system, students can continually work on skills in a manner that isn't time-bound by trimesters, and they can get real, actionable feedback that helps them improve as individuals and learners. "The end of this chapter for our friends in progressive education is truly bittersweet," says Cameron Smith. "Our growing community at Bennett is so excited to welcome more families who believe that students do best when they collaborate, problem-solve, and engage in dynamic project-based learning." About Bennett Day School: Bennett Day School is a Reggio Emilia-inspired PreK-12 school where students learn through dynamic project-based learning. Located in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, the school is committed to advancing creativity, innovation, and the development of lifelong learners and leaders. Bennett Day School currently has 300+ students and is accepting applications for the 2022-23 school year. For more information, visit www.bennettday.org . Media Contact: Samantha Rud 312-236-6388 ext. 1007 [email protected] SOURCE Bennett Day School LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- California Credit Union has partnered with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) to provide urgently needed aid for Ukrainians, offering a $100,000 donation match for the organization's Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund. Through the partnership, California Credit Union will match every dollar donated through its Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund campaign page, up to $100,000, through April 30th. The Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund initially will direct support to immediate humanitarian needs triggered by Russia's continued targeting of civilians, which has caused a crisis for those still in Ukraine and for more than two million Ukrainian refugees who have fled the country. "We have watched this tragic and unnecessary crisis unfold in Ukraine along with the rest of the world, and our hearts are with the brave Ukrainian people and all those impacted by this senseless violence," said California Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell. "Partnering with the WFCU is one way we can support our Ukrainian credit union family along with impacted citizens and communities, and we encourage everyone to support this very important humanitarian cause." WFCU's Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund will help mitigate both short- and long-term impacts to Ukraine's credit union system and those that look to it for support, including both employees and members. WFCU, in partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), is leveraging its global network to identify the immediate priority areas where funding can be used to support displaced credit union members and staff. "We recognize that money is needed to assist the Ukrainian people right now, which is why we are working to identify partner organizations that can put the generous donations from the international credit union community to good use immediately. But we also know that credit unions, their employees, their members and their communities will need long-term assistance to get back on their feet, which is something we have always worked to provide in times of crisis," said Mike Reuter, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Executive Director. WFCU will donate more than half of all dollars collected in the initial weeks of the campaign to vetted non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are providing emergency humanitarian assistance in Ukraine or in neighboring European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. The remaining funds, along with continued fundraising, will go toward longer-term credit union recovery efforts. To keep the international credit union movement up to date on the challenges credit unions in Ukraine are facing, WOCCU has started a Ukrainian Crisis Response Blog. Look for frequent updates on the changing conditions for credit unions in Ukraine, and how credit unions and their industry partners across the world are taking actions to support them. About California Credit Union California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of over $4 billion, California Credit Union has 25 branches throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Visit ccu.com for more information, or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @CaliforniaCreditUnion. About Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) WFCU is the fundraising and engagement arm of the World Council of Credit Unions, the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach. World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 86,451 credit unions in 118 countries serve 375 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org. SOURCE California Credit Union In 2,500 stores across Europe, company will match customers contributions in effort to raise at least 2 million to support Red Cross' efforts in Ukraine and neighboring countries LAVAL, QC, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard") (TSX: ATD) has announced a fund-raising campaign in support of those suffering from the conflict in Ukraine. The campaign primarily includes donations directly to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), who support Red Cross teams and relief efforts in Ukraine and neighboring countries, as well as local relief efforts to Ukrainian refugees. Circle K, the primary global brand of Couche-Tard, has a strong presence in the Baltic countries with over 6,500 team members and over 600 stores located in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Ukraine, Circle K teams located in neighboring countries have worked with various partners to support with fuel and essential products for those displaced by the crisis. Starting today in Europe, the "You Donate, We Match" campaign invites customers to make a donation at the till of any of the 2,500 Circle K stores in the Baltics, Scandinavia, and Ireland. Each donation made by a customer will be matched with an identical donation by Circle K. Through this campaign, Circle K aims to raise at least 2 million to support Red Cross' efforts. "Since the outbreak of the war, we have received many requests from team members and customers to support the people of Ukraine. Through our "You Donate, We Match" campaign, customers can decide as little or large donation as they want, and Circle K will automatically match their donation. We hope to raise as much funds as possible to support the Red Cross with their tireless work to help the Ukrainian people. I want to thank all our teams and customers for their generosity in launching and supporting this fund-raising campaign," said Hans-Olav Hidahl, EVP Operations Europe. For its global employee base, the company has also opened a fundraising campaign for team members who wish to donate to the IFRC. This builds on the $1.5 million already donated by Couche-Tard's leadership team. "Our hearts go out to all those displaced and suffering from this conflict. Through the generosity of our customers, and by collaborating with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, we want to contribute as much as possible to provide relief to the people and communities impacted by this conflict," concluded Brian Hannasch, President and CEO of Couche-Tard. About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and fuel retail, operating in 26 countries and territories, with close to 14,200 stores, of which approximately 10,800 offer road transportation fuel. With its well-known Couche-Tard and Circle K banners, it is one of the largest independent convenience store operators in the United States and it is a leader in the convenience store industry and road transportation fuel retail in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics, as well as in Ireland. It also has an important presence in Poland and Hong Kong SAR. Approximately 124,000 people are employed throughout its network. For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. or to consult its quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis, please visit: https://corpo.couche-tard.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation, including those with respect to the potential transaction. Positive or negative verbs such as "believe", "can", "shall", "intend", "expect", "estimate", "assume" and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Couche-Tard and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of Couche-Tard's control. Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated in or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information available as of the date of the release. SOURCE Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. The Omnibus largely did not include immigration policy provisions, however, it did include H.R. 2471, the provision to update and reenact the EB-5 Regional Center Program. The language includes agreed upon robust legislation that would firmly reauthorize an updated and improved EB-5 Regional Center Program. Next step is for the bill to be considered by the Senate and then sent to the President for his signature. This is slated to take place on or before March 14th by midnight. Below is a summarized version of the updated provisions included in the final agreement of the Omnibus that's currently making its way to the President's desk. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, beginning on page 2609, initially extends the EB-5 program through September 30, 2027, and is to be renewed for 5-year periods thereafter, though the effective date will be 60 days following the date of enactment. The inclusion of this act protects investors from future expirations of the Program and applies to investors who file before September 30, 2026. The bill also revises the determination of High Unemployment Areas (TEA's) by revoking state and other official government authority to determine TEA's and assigning that to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Minimum EB-5 investment amounts will be increased from $500,000 to $800,000 for high unemployment areas (TEAs) and from $1,000,0000 to $1,050,000 in non-designated TEA areas. Also included is a visa set-aside which provides priority for 32% of all EB-5 visas within a fiscal year for specific projects with 20% of visas for rural projects, 10% of visas for high unemployment areas and 2% for infrastructure projects. If set-aside visas remain unused after the following year, they will be made available to all qualifying EB-5 applicants. Grandfathering language has been enhanced and ensures that investors have the ability to proceed with their cases regardless of sunset dates. "We have been working alongside USIF for the last decade and applaud their efforts to lead and advocate for the EB-5 Program and help it evolve in a way that supports the nation's economic goals," said Ronald Klein, a partner with Holland & Knight LLP. "USIF 'S efforts have resulted in getting the industry to a point that welcomes increased integrity measures that further protect investors, eliminate misappropriations, increases economic stimulus and create jobs across America." STAY UP TO DATE WITH USIF Nick Mastroianni, II, Chairman of USIF added, "We have worked tirelessly for years on improving and reauthorizing the EB-5 Program and are happy to see the inclusion of this act in the Omnibus. We're thankful to have worked as a united front over the last 9 months or so with aligned industry stakeholders including The US Chamber of Commerce, Laura Reiffl and The EB-5 Investment Coalition, Holland & Knight, RER, REBNY, and Miller Strategies among others." He continued, "As always, we thank them for their collaboration and support." By working closely with members on both sides of the aisle in Congress and Senate with the goal of creating strong economic development and U.S. jobs across urban and rural areas we were able to have the initial bill that was proposed in July refuted to provide an opportunity to allow for a holistic Program that addressed the economic needs of the United States as a whole and has favorable measures for investors worldwide. With that in mind, USIF and its partners worked to bring all stakeholders together with a unified voice to come up with a legislative policy that was embraced by all stakeholders within the industry. Mastroianni continued, "Today's success in achieving a bill that will work for the industry at-large, while also benefitting investors from all around the world that have put faith in our country and helped to create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the years, will now continue to be a working Program that is of tremendous value to the United States and that is a direct result of the effort put forth by Senator Lindsey Graham in July 2021. There was broad support across the industry for this very valuable, job creating Program, however, we want to give special thanks to Senator Lindsey Graham, Minority leader Mitch McConnell, Senator John Cornyn, Majority leader Chuck Schumer, Senators Chuck Grassley, Patrick Leahy, Cory Booker and Rand Paul, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Chairman Gerald Nadler," he concluded. We will continue to provide you with updates regarding the regional center reauthorization outcome. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE U.S. Immigration Fund Financial Statements for 2021 DALLAS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elah Holdings, Inc. (OTC:ELLH) has released its audited annual financial statements for the 2021 fiscal year. This report and additional company information can be found at www.elahholdings.com under the Financial Releases section of the website. About Elah Holdings Elah Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as Real Industry, Inc.) is a holding company led by experienced business leaders that is seeking to acquire profitable businesses in the commercial and industrial markets to generate sustainable profitability and cash flows, unlock the value of our considerable tax assets, and use creative deal structures that reduce risk and ultimately create long-term value for our shareholders. For more information, visit www.elahholdings.com. Elah Holdings' stock trades on the OTC Pink Market, which is operated by OTC Markets Group, a centralized electronic quotation service for over-the-counter securities under the symbol "ELLH." Contact: Michael Hobey Elah Holdings, Inc. +1 (805) 435-1255 @elah_inc www.linkedin.com/company/elah-holdings-inc/ SOURCE Elah Holdings, Inc. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Farm Aid, Executive Director Carolyn Mugar has issued the following statement on the death of Bobbie Nelson, who passed away on March 10. Bobbie is the sister of President and Founder Willie Nelson and a beloved Farm Aid artist who played every live Farm Aid music and food festival since the organization's founding in 1985. We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bobbie Nelson, Farm Aid artist and beloved "little" sister to our President and Founder Willie Nelson. Bobbie was a cherished member of the Farm Aid family, and her incredible piano talents delighted Farm Aid audiences for more than 36 years. Bobbie's presence on the Farm Aid stage was a hallmark of every festival, and her warm spirit will forever be a part of Farm Aid. Bobbie was a quiet, steadfast champion for Farm Aid and farmers, and we know our entire community is grateful to have experienced her musical gifts. Bobbie Lee Nelson, age 91, was born in Abbot, Texas, on January 1, 1931. A talented pianist and vocalist, Bobbie was a member of her younger brother's band, Willie Nelson and Family, for nearly 50 years. With the encouragement of her grandparents, Nancy and Alfred Nelson, she began playing piano at the age of five and soon could read and write music easily. Bobbie spent much of her early life in rural Texas. To help support the family, she and her brother worked the fields picking vegetables and cotton. Bobbie played piano in several local churches and by age 16, she was playing with Willie and her father in her then-husband's band, Bud Fletcher and the Texans. She joined Willie in the studio for the first time in 1973 to record "The Troublemaker." In addition to her recordings with Willie and Family, Bobbie and Willie released five gospel albums. In 2008, she released her solo debut album, "Audiobiography." She was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Bobbie and Willie published an autobiography, "Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band," in 2020, and together they wrote a children's book, "Sister, Brother, Family: An American Childhood in Music," published last year. Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For more than 35 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $64 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms. SOURCE Farm Aid ATLANTA, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gas South, the largest retail natural gas provider in the Southeast, is celebrating its place as No. 52 on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's (AJC) 12th Annual "Top Workplaces" list in the midsize category. The AJC's 2022 list shines a spotlight on 175 companies in the Metro Atlanta area, breaking them into three categories: small, midsize, and large. The rankings are determined via employee survey responses, which are facilitated through a partnership between the AJC and Energage, a firm that measures employee engagement through data-driven surveys. More than 4,582 companies were invited to participate, representing over 73,397 employees in Metro Atlanta, with nearly 42,712 employees completing the survey. Gas South alone had 343 employees participate in the survey collection process. "It is a tremendous honor to once again be recognized by the AJC as one of Atlanta's top workplaces, and even more of an honor this year after undergoing an acquisition," said Kevin Greiner, president and CEO of Gas South. "Building and maintaining a strong corporate culture is one of our greatest priorities, so we never take recognition like this for granted." This past year, the survey was distributed to a newly blended Gas South team of integrated employees from the December 2020 Infinite Energy acquisition and 80 new hires. In addition to the surveys conducted by Energage, Gas South's human resources team routinely requests constructive feedback from employees on its internal operations, with a constant focus on wellness and satisfaction. "Seeing our name on this list is a testament to the programs we have in place to support our employees and the team that ensures they are implemented," said Secret Holland, VP of human resources and community affairs for Gas South. "Following an acquisition and given the staffing challenges many companies currently face across all industries, we are grateful that our continued commitment to our employees is making a difference that is demonstrated by this recognition." Gas South serves more than 425,000 residential, business and governmental customers in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and 10 other states. For more information, visit www.GasSouth.com. About Gas South: Gas South is a leading provider of natural gas in competitive markets throughout the southeastern U.S. Following the acquisition of Infinite Energy in 2020, Gas South now serves more than 425,000 residential, business and governmental customers in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and 10 other states. Gas South offers simple and straightforward rate plans, outstanding local customer service, and a promise to give back 5% of profits to support children in need. Gas South is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cobb EMC, one of the country's largest electric cooperatives. For more information, visit www.GasSouth.com. Media contact: Adam Schick The Wilbert Group 404-510-9597 [email protected] SOURCE Gas South Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 8; Released: February 2022 Executive Engagements: 3953 Companies: 49 - Players covered include Aspen Avionics, Inc.; Avidyne Corporation; Esterline Technologies Corporation; FreeFlight Systems; Garmin Ltd.; Harris Corporation; Honeywell International, Inc.; Indra Sistemas SA; L3 Technologies, Inc.; Rockwell Collins, Inc.; Thales Group; Trig Avionics Ltd. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Type (ADS-B Out, ADS-B In, ADS-B Ground Stations); Component (Transponder, Receiver, Antenna, ADS-B Ground Receivers, Other Components); Application (Terminal Maneuvering Area (TMA) Surveillance, Airborne Surveillance) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Market to Reach $1.4 Billion by the Year 2026 ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology that allows pilots to determine aircraft position by leveraging satellite navigation. The surveillance technique enables users to broadcast data related to aircraft identify and position as well as other information received from onboard systems like Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The ADS-B market is poised to be driven by increasing demand for advanced surveillance technology for aircraft tracking and safety. The FAA requires all aircraft operators in the US to equip their fleet with ADS-B systems. All aircraft operating within the US airspace are required to transfer specific information by using ADS-B OUT avionics. Similar mandates across countries such as Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the UAE and India are expected to fuel global demand for ADS-B systems. ADS-B systems are anticipated to receive a major boost from rising number of aircraft related deliveries and orders coupled with increasing investments to upgrade commercial airports with sophisticated technologies and facilities. The market growth is also contributed by launch of portable ADS-B systems intended to reduce manufacturing cost along with integration of standard ADS-B. The market expansion is also facilitated by increasing number of UAVs, creating the requirement to integrate these vehicles with advanced air traffic control systems. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) estimated at US$703.2 Million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$1.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.8% over the analysis period. ADS-B Out, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 16.7% CAGR to reach US$743.7 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the ADS-B In segment is readjusted to a revised 17.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 29% share of the global Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) market. ADS-B In and ADS-B Out are the two types of services offered under ADS-B. Both the services can substitute radar for primary surveillance, for aircraft control across the world. ADS-B Out broadcasts information such as altitude, ground speed, GPS location and such other data to both ground station and other aircraft, every second. The ability to receive such information constitutes the functionality of ADS-B In. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) systems are anticipated to report massive gains from the European Commission's mandate that requires all aircraft with a takeoff weight of up to 5,700 kg and cruise velocity exceeding 250 ktas to implement ADS-B Out technology. Favored by the mandate, Europe is witnessing a notable uptick in upgrades related to ADS-B Out systems, with Boeing 747-400, 757-200, and 757-300 models being at the forefront of adoption. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $292.5 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $173.5 Million by 2026 The Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) market in the U.S. is estimated at US$292.5 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 40.6% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$173.5 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 15.3% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 11.7% and 17.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 16.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$259.3 Million by the end of the analysis period. Developed regions including the US and Europe constitute the largest revenue contributors to the global ADS-B market. Established aviation industry and sustained emphasis on aircraft safety and solving airport congestion, have a major bearing on widespread adoption of ADS-B systems in developed world. Developing economies are poised to drive long term growth in the ADS-B market. Increased aviation activity in these markets in the form of increased air travel, as a result of years of positive economic development, has been generating strong demand for ATC equipment market including ADS-B systems. ADS-B Ground Stations Segment to Reach $381.5 Million by 2026 Establishment of ADS-B ground stations improve the surveillance coverage, both domestically as well as globally. More than 30 countries across the globe have implemented ADS-B surveillance programs nationwide and programs where ADS-B provides coverage in no-radar areas. Presently, over 97% of flights in Australia are equipped with ADS-B surveillance, and the country possesses a network of over 60 ADS-B ground stations that offer air traffic control surveillance across the continent. In the global ADS-B Ground Stations segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 16.6% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$130.3 Million will reach a projected size of US$382.8 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$41.4 Million by the year 2026. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Greeting Cards - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Greeting Cards estimated at US$23 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to decline to revised size of US$20.9 Billion by 2026, declining at a CAGR of -1.7% over the analysis period. Birthday Cards, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a -0.7% CAGR and shrink to US$6.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Christmas/New Year segment is readjusted to a revised -2.5% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The Greeting Cards market in the U.S. is estimated at US$7.3 Billion in the year 2021. China is forecast to shrink to US$1.1 Billion by the year 2026 trailing a negative CAGR of -1.2% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to record negative CAGR of -1.8% and -2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to decline at approximately -2.5% CAGR. These markets are witnessing decline in growth, constrained by challenges posed by growing social media proliferation, and surging popularity of digital e-cards. With the advent of digitalization, social media platforms and messaging apps such as WhatsApp, the greeting card business has been affected considerably. This coupled with rising awareness among people about the need to save trees has led to rising demand for e-cards. Despite the challenges posed by the growing social media and e-cards, there still exists a niche consumer base for physical greeting cards, and giving and receiving these cards continues to matter to a set of consumers, albeit a shrinking one. For this niche group of consumers a physical greeting card on special occasions means much more than a Facebook message or an e-card. Greeting card is the most popular gift for valentine day, surpassing flowers and candies. Valentine's Day is the second largest holiday for giving greeting cards. Valentine's Day is popularly celebrated in the US, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. In the global Valentine`s Day segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the -2.4% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$1.8 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$1.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain a major market in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$254.7 Million by the year 2026. Select Competitors (Total 115 Featured) - American Greetings Corporation Carlton Cards Ltd. John Sands ( Australia ) Ltd. ( ) Ltd. UK Greetings Ltd. Archies Limited Avanti Press Inc. Budget Greeting Cards Ltd. Card Factory plc Child Rights and You Crane & Co. Current Media Group LLC Galison Publishing LLC Hallmark Cards, Inc. IG Design Group Plc LovePop, Inc. Party City Holdco Inc. Simon Elvin Ltd. UNICEF Key Topics Covered: 1. MARKET OVERVIEW History of Greeting Cards: A Peek into its Intriguing Origin Global Market Prospects & Outlook Developing Economies Present Growth Opportunities Companies Adopt Proactive Strategies to Boost Demand Low Entry Barriers Make Industry Attractive for Newcomers Key Factors Determining Market Success Summarized Market Players Embrace the E-Card Business Model Consolidation Rife in the Greeting Cards Market Greeting Cards - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E) 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Rising Popularity of Digital Cards Continues to Negatively Impact Sales of Traditional Greeting Cards Increasing Internet Penetration & Growing Smartphone Usage Transforms Digital Greeting Cards Market Demographic Trends Play an Important Role in Market Adoption Millennials: The Most Lucrative Consumer Cluster and the New Marketing Target Advent of Advanced Digital Technologies Fuel Growth for Greeting Cards Market Increasing Popularity of Online Platforms Supports Demand for Greeting Cards A Glance at Other Major Design Trends for Greeting Cards Mobile Phone Apps to Create Physical Greeting Cards: A Growing Trend Greeting Cards Turn Eco-friendly Customized & Personalized Greeting Cards Present Growth Potential Luxury Cards Find Favor Among Consumers Rising Demand for Cards for the Blind Corporate Greeting Cards: An Ideal Marketing & Advertising Tool Workplace Greetings Attain Commonplace Stature Retail Landscape for Greeting Cards Online Emerges as a Lucrative Retail Segment for Greeting Cards Increasing Raw Material Costs Add to Manufacturers Woes 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ja30pd About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets DURHAM, N.C., March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Energia Bogota (GEB) is improving the supply of reliable, affordable electricity to Colombian consumers by using SmartValve technology in the Caribbean region of their network. This marks the second installation of SmartValve in Colombia, with more projects to be delivered in 2022 to further strengthen the national transmission network. SmartValve deployment at GEB substation in Colombia This project at the Termocandelaria substation in Cartagena uses modular power flow control technology, SmartValve, to alleviate inter-regional congestion and unlock 252 MW of new capacity for generation on the existing network. SmartValve intelligently controls the flow of power across transmission lines, and ensure flows are efficient and balanced across the region. Put simply, SmartValve pushes power off overloaded lines or pulls power on to underutilized lines. By using the network more efficiently, SmartValve releases new interconnection capacity for the Termocandelaria power plant on the existing network. This newly released capacity provides greater availability of energy to meet demand and improves reliability of supply, alleviating dispatch restrictions and supporting economic development in the region. "With the implementation of these innovative devices, the Group contributes to the country's energy security. In addition, among their functional advantages, SmartValves offer wide environmental and economic benefits, as they provide solutions to different needs in the short, medium, and long term for the country, since they reduce the obligation to carry out new transmission projects, such as lines and substations, to adequately dispatch the energy generated," said Fredy Zuleta, General Manager of Transmission of Grupo Energia Bogota. "We are instead using SmartValve technology to redistribute power flows across our lines and get more from our existing grid. This technology is a timely and cost-effective way to increase the capacity on this part of our network, without disrupting local communities and the environment," he said. Joaquin Peirano, Smart Wires' Commercial Manager Latin America, said: "Transmission owners in Colombia are advancing progress towards net zero by using modular power flow control technology to future proof the grid." "We are delighted to collaborate with GEB on this pivotal project which is unlocking significant capacity and strengthening supply of reliable, affordable electricity to consumers across the Caribbean region," he said. "This work shows GEB's commitment to improve the lives of people in every corner of Colombia with sustainable and competitive energy." "Colombia has become a global leader in leveraging technology to enable a cleaner, greener future. GEB's project follows a successful initial installation by Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) last year. Further SmartValve projects will be delivered later in 2022 by other transmission owners across the country providing additional capacity for renewables connecting across the grid," said Mr Peirano. The use of FACTS devices (such as SmartValve) is incentivized in Colombia's 2020-2034 Transmission Expansion Plan, published by the national planning agency (Unidad de Planeacion Minero Energetica, UPME). Given the value of this technology to cost-effectively strengthen and optimize the use of the existing grid, the national plan includes multiple FACTS projects over the coming years. About Grupo Energia Bogota With more than 125 years of history, Grupo Energia Bogota (GEB) is a leading business group in the transmission and distribution of electric power and the transportation and distribution of natural gas in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Guatemala. In Colombia, it develops electric energy projects with Transmision. With TGI it is number one in natural gas transportation with more than 4,000 kilometers of gas pipelines. In Peru, it is number one in distribution of natural gas with its companies Calidda and Contugas and has a presence in energy distribution with Electro Dunas. In Brazil it is present with Gebbras and Argo, and in Guatemala it is number one in electricity transmission transmission with Trecsa and Eebis. About Smart Wires Smart Wires is a global power technology company advancing the delivery of affordable, clean electricity around the world. With our innovative technology and advanced analytics, we maximize the grid's capacity. This means more renewables, at a lower cost and with less disruption to communities and the environment. Headquartered in North Carolina, with European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and a global workforce of 150 professionals spread across four continents, we collaborate with our customers to achieve their strategic objectives and help them face an uncertain energy future with flexible, high-impact solutions. SOURCE Smart Wires The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Vendors are adopting several organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Accell Group NV, BH BIKES EUROPE SL, Derby Cycle Holding GmbH, Dorel Industries Inc., Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Grimaldi Industri AB, Klever Mobility Europe GmbH, Merida Industry Co. Ltd., Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., and Trek Bicycle Corp. are identified as the dominant players in the market. The growing disposable incomes of consumers will benefit market players immensely during the forecast period. Improvements in the economic conditions in developing countries and the stable economic growth in developed countries have increased the disposable incomes of consumers globally. This coupled with rising awareness about health and fitness is encouraging consumers to invest in fitness equipment including high-end bicycles. Also, the rise in vehicle traffic is prompting people to consider bicycles for short-distance travel. This is encouraging vendors in the market to launch new models of high-end bicycles to cater to the growing demand. These factors will have a positive impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period. The full report offers detailed insights on the successful business strategies adopted by leading vendors and the various factors impacting the growth of the global high-end bicycle market. Understand more about the scope of the report. Request a Free Sample Now High-End Bicycle Market 2021-2025: Segmentation High-End Bicycle Market is segmented as below: The report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the high-end bicycle market size. Product Hybrid Bikes Mountain Bikes Road Bikes Track Bikes Others Distribution Channel Offline Online Geography North America Europe APAC South America MEA In terms of product, the demand for hybrid bikes will be significant during the forecast period. Hybrid bikes offer stability, comfort, and are easy to use. Also, they have a more upright riding position, making the ride more comfortable and safer. Hence, they becoming increasingly popular among cyclists, casual riders, commuters, as well as children. The market growth in the segment will be significant during the forecast period. Similarly, the offline distribution channel segment accounted for maximum sales of high-end bicycles in 2021. By geography, APAC will provide significant growth opportunities for high-end bicycle manufacturers during the forecast period. The region currently holds 33% of the global market share and is expected to dominate the market through 2025. China and Japan are expected to emerge as key markets for high-end bicycles in the region. Also, the market will witness faster growth in APAC than in other regions. The high-end bicycle market report covers the following areas: High-End Bicycle Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist high-end bicycle market growth during the next five years Estimation of the high-end bicycle market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the high-end bicycle market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of the high-end bicycle market vendors Subscribe to our "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 that enables you to download 3 reports a year and view 3 reports every month. Related Reports: Global Hybrid Bicycles Market 2021-2025: The global hybrid bicycles market is segmented by distribution channel (offline and online) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Mountain Biking Equipment Market: The global mountain biking equipment market is segmented by product (protective gears and mountain biking tools) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report High-End Bicycle Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.00% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 3.88 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.92 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 33% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, UK, France, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Accell Group NV, BH BIKES EUROPE SL, Derby Cycle Holding GmbH, Dorel Industries Inc., Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Grimaldi Industri AB, Klever Mobility Europe GmbH, Merida Industry Co. Ltd., Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., and Trek Bicycle Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization 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 Exhibit 01: Parent market Exhibit 02: Market characteristics 2.2 Value chain analysis Exhibit 03: Value chain analysis: Leisure 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 Service 2.2.7 Support activities 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 ($ million) 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 Hybrid bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 17: Hybrid bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 18: Hybrid bikes - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.4 Mountain bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 19: Mountain bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 20: Mountain bikes - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.5 Road bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 21: Road bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 22: Road bikes - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.6 Track bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 23: Track bikes - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 24: Track bikes - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 25: Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 26: Others - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 27: Market opportunity by Product 6. Market Segmentation by Distribution channel 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 28: Distribution channel - Market share 2020-2025 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Distribution channel Exhibit 29: Comparison by Distribution channel 6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 30: Offline - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Offline - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 32: Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Online - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution channel Exhibit 34: Market opportunity by Distribution channel 7. Customer landscape Technavio's customer landscape matrix comparing Drivers or price sensitivity, Adoption lifecycle, importance in customer price basket, Adoption rate and Key purchase criteria Exhibit 35: Customer landscape 8. Geographic Landscape 8.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 36: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%) 8.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 37: Geographic comparison 8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 38: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 39: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 40: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 41: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 42: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 43: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 44: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 45: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.7 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 46: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 47: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.8 Key leading countries Exhibit 48: Key leading countries 8.9 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 49: Market opportunity by geography 9. Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.1.1 Growing disposable income Exhibit 50: Increase in disposable income (2020) 9.1.2 Growing popularity of e-commerce Exhibit 51: Adoption of Internet 9.1.3 Growing adoption of e-bikes 9.2 Market challenges 9.2.1 High maintenance of e-bikes 9.2.2 Strong dominance of vehicles 9.2.3 Increasing preference for bicycle rentals Exhibit 52: Impact of drivers and challenges 9.3 Market trends 9.3.1 Smart features in high-end bikes 9.3.2 Increasing concerns regarding health and fitness 9.3.3 Reducing costs of lithium-ion batteries 10. Vendor Landscape 10.1 Vendor landscape Exhibit 53: Vendor landscape 10.2 Landscape disruption The potential for the disruption of the market landscape was moderate in 2020, and its threat is expected to remain unchanged by 2025. Exhibit 54: Landscape disruption Exhibit 55: Industry risks 11. Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 56: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 57: Market positioning of vendors 11.3 Accell Group NV Exhibit 58: Accell Group NV - Overview Exhibit 59: Accell Group NV - Business segments Exhibit 60: Accell Group NV - Key news Exhibit 61: Accell Group NV - Key offerings Exhibit 62: Accell Group NV - Segment focus 11.4 BH BIKES EUROPE SL Exhibit 63: BH BIKES EUROPE SL - Overview Exhibit 64: BH BIKES EUROPE SL - Product and service Exhibit 65: BH BIKES EUROPE SL - Key offerings 11.5 Derby Cycle Holding GmbH Exhibit 66: Derby Cycle Holding GmbH - Overview Exhibit 67: Derby Cycle Holding GmbH - Product and service Exhibit 68: Derby Cycle Holding GmbH - Key offerings 11.6 Dorel Industries Inc. Exhibit 69: Dorel Industries Inc. - Overview Exhibit 70: Dorel Industries Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 71: Dorel Industries Inc. - Key news Exhibit 72: Dorel Industries Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 73: Dorel Industries Inc. - Segment focus 11.7 Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Exhibit 74: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 75: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Product and service Exhibit 76: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 11.8 Grimaldi Industri AB Exhibit 77: Grimaldi Industri AB - Overview Exhibit 78: Grimaldi Industri AB - Product and service Exhibit 79: Grimaldi Industri AB - Key offerings 11.9 Klever Mobility Europe GmbH Exhibit 80: Klever Mobility Europe GmbH - Overview Exhibit 81: Klever Mobility Europe GmbH - Product and service Exhibit 82: Klever Mobility Europe GmbH - Key offerings 11.10 Merida Industry Co. Ltd. Exhibit 83: Merida Industry Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 84: Merida Industry Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 85: Merida Industry Co. Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 86: Merida Industry Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 87: Merida Industry Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 11.11 Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. Exhibit 88: Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. - Overview Exhibit 89: Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. - Product and service Exhibit 90: Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. - Key news Exhibit 91: Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. - Key offerings 11.12 Trek Bicycle Corp. Exhibit 92: Trek Bicycle Corp. - Overview Exhibit 93: Trek Bicycle Corp. - Product and service Exhibit 94: Trek Bicycle Corp. - Key offerings 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 95: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.3 Research Methodology Exhibit 96: Research Methodology Exhibit 97: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 98: Information sources 12.4 List of abbreviations Exhibit 99: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio The first course offered in the series is a college-prep class, which is FREE for high school juniors and seniors who are considering attending college. The eight-week course will be held on Saturdays from March 19 through May 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the East Las Vegas Library. Space is limited, and prospective students can register for the class by calling 702-651-2750. "The Library District and CSN share the goal of uplifting lives through education," said Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. "Through this partnership, we are combining the Library District's infrastructure with CSN's educational content to provide local residents with easier access to college classes within our library branches. This is any example of how 21st-century libraries have evolved into the heart of the community, serving people from all walks of life and making room for educational support, activities, conversation, discovery, maker spaces, and hands-on learning for all ages." More classes will be announced in the coming months and include career training, certificate programs, test preparation and more. "CSN is thrilled to partner with the Clark County Library District to deliver the Academic Life Success course that will help students prepare for academic success at the East Las Vegas Library," said Dr. Federico Zaragoza, president, College of Southern Nevada. "Our commitment to helping students achieve, succeed and prosper has never been stronger and we are grateful for this opportunity to help our students pursue their goals in higher education. CSN students will be eligible to receive textbooks and a PC device at no charge." About Las Vegas-Clark County Library District: The award-winning Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is an independent taxing entity that serves a diverse community across 8,000 square miles. Through its 25 branches and website, the Library District offers a collection of 3.2 million items consisting of books, movies, music (including streaming and downloadable), online resources, as well as free programs for all ages. The Library District is a vibrant and vital member of the community offering limitless learning; business and career advancement; government and social services support; and best of all, a place where customers find a sense of culture and community. For more information, please visit LVCCLD.org. About CSN: The College of Southern Nevada empowers our students and communities to achieve, succeed, and prosper. Founded in 1971, CSN is a nationally recognized student success leader specializing in two-year degrees and a select number of bachelor's degrees in specialized fields. Connect with the state's largest and most diverse higher education institution on our Newsroom blog, via our press releases, or by following us on social media. SOURCE Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Marija is a mix of art and science built through a meticulous, creative process. VisitMalta, in collaboration with Reimagine AI, created hundreds of 2D AI-generated models that were narrowed down to a single image. This image was then brought to life in 3D to have Marija look like a typical Maltese woman, with characteristics and features associated with the Mediterranean region. The language was also crucial in the development process. A specific lexicon system was custom-built to consider the pronunciation of Maltese words and the particularities of the vocabulary that are synonymous with a typical Maltese conversation. Marija's neural synthesized voice, which speaks English with a Maltese accent, is based on the voice of a Maltese content creator who recorded many hours of dialogue, and from those recordings, an AI duplicate voice was created. This voice now lives on independently from the original recordings and can vocalize any new information Marija needs to learn and say in the future. "Integrating technology with Maltese tourism is the way forward in this age of acceleration. What was once known as a barren rock in the middle of the Mediterranean today is not only one of Europe's best performers in economic growth but is now climbing up the ladder to become a digital bastion on the international stage. Our sureness of touch, steadfastness, and the ability to bridge alliances together in these difficult times, are those likely to see us continue to steer Malta as a go-to-country in the digital world," highlighted Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Clayton Bartolo. "VisitMalta is looking at this project as another opportunity through which the Maltese touristic product is being developed, by becoming more relevant to the 21st century. In a nutshell, Marija will become an experience which is guaranteed to bring together art and artificial intelligence to provide a holistic and exciting human experience," Mr. Johann Buttigieg, CEO of VisitMalta, stated. "Malta is truly a visionary country. It is a great destination for leisure, fun, business, and innovation. This project was a great testament to the country's vision and implementation of a solid national digital strategy. We are proud to have worked closely with VisitMalta in creating Marija, a purpose-driven and socially interactive AI-powered virtual being we believe will continue establishing Malta as a true next-generation visitor experience destination. We build the interface between AI and the human experience, and we are incredibly excited to help Marija continue to learn and evolve. Marija is the perfect medium to tell the Maltese story and connect in a meaningful way with everyone who comes in contact with her. AI is the future of storytelling, and Malta is at the forefront of it all," says David Usher, President of Reimagine.AI. For more info kindly check this link: https://www.visitmalta.com/en/malta-launches-marija/. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGD558g9Cl4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1728669/Visit_Malta_Virtual_Citizen.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1492931/VisitMalta_Logo.jpg SOURCE Visit Malta SAN DIEGO, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union has partnered with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) to provide urgently needed aid for Ukrainians, offering a $100,000 donation match for the organization's Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund. Through the partnership, North Island Credit Union will match every dollar donated through its Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund campaign page, up to $100,000, through April 30th. The Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund initially will direct support to immediate humanitarian needs triggered by Russia's continued targeting of civilians, which has caused a crisis for those still in Ukraine and for more than two million Ukrainian refugees who have fled the country. "We have watched this tragic and unnecessary crisis unfold in Ukraine along with the rest of the world, and our hearts are with the brave Ukrainian people and all those impacted by this senseless violence," said North Island Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell. "Partnering with the WFCU is one way we can support our Ukrainian credit union family along with impacted citizens and communities, and we encourage everyone to support this very important humanitarian cause." WFCU's Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund will help mitigate both short- and long-term impacts to Ukraine's credit union system and those that look to it for support, including both employees and members. WFCU, in partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), is leveraging its global network to identify the immediate priority areas where funding can be used to support displaced credit union members and staff. "We recognize that money is needed to assist the Ukrainian people right now, which is why we are working to identify partner organizations that can put the generous donations from the international credit union community to good use immediately. But we also know that credit unions, their employees, their members and their communities will need long-term assistance to get back on their feet, which is something we have always worked to provide in times of crisis," said Mike Reuter, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions' Executive Director. WFCU will donate more than half of all dollars collected in the initial weeks of the campaign to vetted non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are providing emergency humanitarian assistance in Ukraine or in neighboring European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. The remaining funds, along with continued fundraising, will go toward longer-term credit union recovery efforts. To keep the international credit union movement up to date on the challenges credit unions in Ukraine are facing, WOCCU has started a Ukrainian Crisis Response Blog. Look for frequent updates on the changing conditions for credit unions in Ukraine, and how credit unions and their industry partners across the world are taking actions to support them. About North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of over $4 billion, California Credit Union has 25 branches throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @northislandcu. About Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) WFCU is the fundraising and engagement arm of the World Council of Credit Unions, the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach. World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 86,451 credit unions in 118 countries serve 375 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org. SOURCE North Island Credit Union Numbers of positions offered, U.S MD and DO Senior applicants highest on record WASHINGTON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) is excited to announce Match Week for the 2022 Main Residency Match and "Match Day" on Friday, March 18. For Match applicants, Match Day symbolizes the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education, the day when they learn which residency training program they will attend as they begin their careers as physicians. It is a day filled with emotion as applicants reflect on all they have accomplished. This year, the NRMP provided matching services to more than 42,000 applicants. The NRMP maintains a highly secure environment for applicants and programs to be able to rank their true preferences, confidentially, without undue pressure. The matching algorithm then attempts to place applicants into their most preferred training program that also prefers them. "Throughout its 70 years of existence, the NRMP has been deeply appreciative of the trust Match participants, applicants in particular, have put in us to accurately and reliably manage their ranking preferences and help launch their medical careers," says NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lamb, DHSc, MBA, BSN. "We are honored to play a small part in their journey, and we wish everyone the best." http://www.nrmp.org/report-archives/ Match Week Schedule Match Week for the Main Residency Match takes place the third week in March. It is the period of time beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on Monday, March 14 when applicants learn if (but not where) they have matched to a residency training program and ends at 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 18, when applicants and programs learn the results of the Match. On Monday through Thursday of Match Week, the NRMP sponsors the Match Week Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) for programs to offer positions that did not fill when the matching algorithm was processed to eligible unmatched and partially matched applicants. On Match Day, Friday, March 18, at 12:00 p.m. ET, NRMP releases the results of the Match. The accomplishments of U.S. students are recognized by medical schools across the country during in-person and virtual Match Day ceremonies that begin at 12:00 p.m. ET on March 18. During the ceremonies, students receive personalized letters showing where they matched. On Friday, March 18, the NRMP also releases the Advance Data Tables which includes key data about Match results. Additional data will be published in early May in the 2022 Main Residency Match Results and Data Book. View reports from previous Matches Join the Match Week Celebration! The NRMP, along with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), invite the undergraduate and graduate medical education communities to celebrate the 2022 Main Residency Match on social media. Match participants and the medical education community are encouraged to post pictures, videos, and congratulatory messages commemorating the event, and those interested in the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education are encouraged to follow #Match2022 on social media for all things Match Week-related. The Match Process For applicants, the Main Residency Match process begins in September during the final year of medical school, when they apply to residency programs of their choice. Throughout the fall and early winter, applicants interview with programs. From February to early March, applicants and program directors rank each other in order of true preference and submit the rank order lists to NRMP, which processes them using a computerized mathematical algorithm to match applicants with programs. Research using the NRMP algorithm was a basis for awarding The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel in 2012. About NRMP The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) is a private, non-profit organization established in 1952 at the request of medical students to provide an orderly and fair mechanism for matching the preferences of applicants for U.S. residency positions with the preferences of residency program directors. In addition to the annual Main Residency Match for more than 47,000 registrants, the NRMP conducts Fellowship Matches for more than 60 subspecialties through its Specialties Matching Service (SMS). To schedule an interview with NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lamb, DHSc, contact [email protected]. Reporters should contact local medical schools and hospitals directly for details on their Match Day activities and residency program activities. SOURCE National Resident Matching Program HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Signet Jewelers Limited ("Signet") (NYSE:SIG) today announced the Signet Love Inspires Foundation will donate $1M to the Red Cross Ukraine humanitarian relief efforts, through its global network. Signet has suspended business interaction with Russian-owned entities since the beginning of the invasion, in unity with all those in the world calling for peace. "At Signet, our Purpose is Inspiring Love. We stand against this invasion and pray for all the innocent people impacted by war," said Signet CEO, Virginia C. Drosos. "We put our purpose into action through the Signet Love Inspires Foundation and the generous contributions from our Signet team members. We give with a grateful heart to support the Red Cross organization's critical mission to provide lifesaving help where it is so desperately needed." The Signet Love Inspires Foundation is donating $1 million to the Red Cross Ukraine humanitarian relief efforts, through its global network. The Red Cross is actively on the ground in the region providing much needed Ukraine Refugee Relief. Through this donation we will help provide much needed food, medical supplies, shelter and ongoing crisis relief. To maximize individual giving, the Signet Love Inspires Foundation will also match donations from Signet team members by 2:1 up to $1,000 per person per year, to the Red Cross and other qualifying organizations to assist with the humanitarian relief efforts. "As the fighting intensifies in Ukraine, so does the dire situation for impacted families," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "We cannot thank Signet Love Inspires Foundation enough for their generous donation, enabling the global Red Cross network to provide humanitarian relief in response to the Ukraine crisis." About the Signet Love Inspires Foundation The Signet Love Inspires Foundation was established in 2021 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the aim of providing grants to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations supporting underserved women and children, and social change advocacy. Additionally, the Foundation provides matching gifts to qualified 501(c)3 non-profit organizations personally supported by Signet team members. Learn more at www.signetjewelers.com/our-company/signet-love-inspires-foundation. About Signet Jewelers Signet Jewelers Limited is the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry. As a purpose-driven and sustainability-focused company, Signet is a participant in the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. Signet is a Great Place to Work Certified company and has been named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for four consecutive years. Signet is a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, an active member of the World Diamond Council, adheres to the Kimberley Process and created the award-winning and open-source Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol. Further information on Signet is available at www.signetjewelers.com. SOURCE Signet Jewelers Ltd MIAMI, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Mobile, a mobility solutions provider specializing in Android development, announced that it was recognized as an honoree by GrowFL for its Florida Companies to Watch awards program.The award was presented last month at a gala event hosted by GrowFL, Florida's only organization exclusively dedicated to support and accelerate the growth of second-stage companies. In its eleventh year, the GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards program honors companies located in Florida for developing valuable products and services,creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout the state. "Social Mobile has made a significant impact on our state's economy," said Russell Slappey, CEO of Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, and event title sponsor."The company deserves to be celebrated as a GrowFL honoree based on its ability to grow and deliver innovative solutions to the marketplace." "We are extremely proud to be recognized by GrowFL," said Robert Morcos, CEO and Founder of Social Mobile."This award validates our company's commitment and dedication to deliver innovative mobility solutions that help organizations solve complex business challenges. We continue to grow our team here in Florida and look forward to expanding our domestic design house in Miami later this year which will enable us to keep pace with growth." Among the nominees,82 finalists were announced earlier this year.Among these, 50 honorees were selected by a panel of independent judges comprised of past honorees, economic development leaders, and GrowFL corporate partners. Companies were judged on several criteria, including growth in number of employees; business impact to the job market; increase in sales and/or unit volume; current and past financial reports; innovativeness of products or services; response to adversity; and contributions to aid community-oriented projects. Company On the Move Earlier this month, Social Mobile expanded its leadership team with the hiring of ex-Google executive Mike Burr as Chief Technology Officer.In December, the company announced a contract with the United States Air Force to begin development of a portfolio of 5G mobile devices. About Social Mobile Founded in 2011, Social Mobile is a Google Mobile Services (GMS) partner, leveraging the Android operating system to design, engineer, and manufacture turnkey solutions that enable enterprise organizations to utilize smart devices to support an array of business-critical operations. A specialist in Android applications, Social Mobile provides US customers with a domestic design partner that can control all aspects of the development supply-chain, ensuring the utmost in security and availability. To learn more about other Social Mobile products and solutions, visit: https://socialmobile.com. Media Contact: Samantha Kretmar 314-660-2315 [email protected] SOURCE Social Mobile WESTFIELD, Ind., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taranis, a leading AI-powered crop intelligence company, today announced it has been recognized as Planet's Agriculture Partner of the Year during the 2022 annual Planet Sales Kickoff, held in San Diego. The Taranis and Planet partnership provided the pathway for delivering ag retailers and farmers, daily Field Health insights and trends, by combining Planet's high quality PlanetScope data with Taranis' powerful AI and machine learning technologies. The partnership highlights Taranis' and Planet's shared commitment to deliver customers precise field health insights Tweet this Planet Labs Agriculture Partner of the Year The generated insights and trends, alongside stand count, weeds, diseases, and other crop threat insights, have been used by more than 100 agribusinesses around the world, helping ag retailers demonstrate value for their customers and build better relationships that allows them to accelerate data-driven decision-making, proactively manage their operations, and improve profitability. Taranis provides the highest-resolution, leaf-level images in the market to help retail agronomists and farmers see exactly what is happening in every field and every acre. By utilizing those leaf-level images combined with the high-frequency satellite imagery from PlanetScope, Taranis not only shows what is in the field, but also how it is impacting the health of the field throughout the year in millions of acres. "We're honored to be awarded the agriculture partner of the year by Planet. The challenges faced by ag retailers and growers are complex in nature, and we believe our partnership with Planet have been essential in helping our mutual customers achieve excellent business outcomes," says Ofir Schlam, Co-Founder and President, "As we built a solution to deliver the most timely, actionable insights for ag retailers, co-ops and farmers, Planet was able to provide us unprecedented daily satellite imagery to pair with our leaf-level drone imagery, allowing our customers to quickly identify deviations from expected crop growth and make the right interventions in the right time." "Our partnership over the years with Taranis has empowered advisors, suppliers and growers," comments John Atkinson, Vice President of Channel Sales at Planet, "Seeing how information and data from our satellite solutions is used, to deliver precise and impactful insights, is a testimony to our success in the agriculture industry. This partnership provides the insights necessary for productive, profitable, and sustainable farming." CONTACT PERSONS: Leah Beyer VP Marketing [email protected] 317-512-4025 SOURCE Taranis Environmental Journal Recognizes Firms for New Practice: Sustainable Planning, Design & Green Infrastructure; and Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions SAN DIEGO , March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Business Journal* (EBJ), a business research publication which provides high value strategic business intelligence to the environmental industry, has honored Terracon with awards for New Practice: Sustainable Planning, Design & Green Infrastructure, and Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions in 2021. "In a year of economic recovery in 2021 that still posed its own challenges, it is a testament to the resilience of the environmental industry and its leaders in business and innovation to have such a fine constellation of winners of the annual EBJ Awards," said Grant Ferrier, president of Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI, Inc.), publisher of Environmental Business Journal. New Practice: Sustainable Planning, Design & Green Infrastructure Environmental Planning Group, A Terracon Company, (EPG) was recognized for adding new services to Terracon, including landscape architecture and planning services, led by Dave Harris, PLA, ASLA, CLARB Certified, principal in landscape architecture and planning. EPG, which joined Terracon in 2021, offers services from its locations in Phoenix and Salt Lake City to local, national and international clients in the private and public sectors. Professionals specialize in: sustainable and environmentally sensitive planning, urban design, community place making, project management, detail design, construction documentation and construction administration, providing site inventory and analysis, master planning, site design, restoration/rehabilitation planning and design, project permitting, and public involvement and outreach services. "Terracon is honored to be recognized by EBJ for the excellent work we're providing for our clients," said Lori Cathcart, a national director of environmental services in Terracon's Orange County office. "Our team of experienced environmental professionals is continually expanding our offerings to meet our clients' current challenges, while providing them with steady guidance in today's rapidly changing environment." Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions Terracon was recognized for Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions, led by Kristi Tahmasiyan, director, mergers and acquisitions. In 2021, amid pandemic and remote operations, Terracon made three strategic acquisitions: GET Solutions, Inc. ( Virginia Beach, Va. ), a full-service geotechnical, environmental, and materials testing firm with 95 employees serving public- and private-sector clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region. ), a full-service geotechnical, environmental, and materials testing firm with 95 employees serving public- and private-sector clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Sport Environmental Services, LLC ( Midland, Texas ), which serves clients in the energy production industry by providing solutions for the oil and gas industry and unique expertise in environmental risks and liabilities. ), which serves clients in the energy production industry by providing solutions for the oil and gas industry and unique expertise in environmental risks and liabilities. Pivvot ( Kansas City, Mo. ) Pivvot streamlines projects with geospatial location intelligence, including renewable energy siting and suitability, electric transmission and pipeline routing, environmental impact analysis, and custom data acquisition. The 2021 EBJ awards will be presented live and in-person at the EBJ Business Achievement Awards banquet at Environmental Industry Summit 2022 on March 16-18, 2022, in San Diego. Environmental Industry Summit 2022 will be EBI's first in-person meeting of the environmental industry since 2019. *Environmental Business Journal provides strategic information and market forecasts for executives involved in 13 business segments, including environmental consulting & engineering, remediation, water & wastewater, air quality & pollution control, hazardous waste, instrumentation, pollution control equipment, waste management, resource recovery, solid waste management, renewable energy and environmental information systems. About Terracon Terracon is an employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 5,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com. SOURCE Terracon WASHINGTON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- truth, the proven-effective and nationally recognized youth smoking, vaping and nicotine prevention campaign from Truth Initiative, is expanding its groundbreaking It's Messing with Our Heads: Depression Stick campaign that first exposed the connection between vaping nicotine and youth mental health. The new Breath of Stress Air effort busts the fantasy that vaping nicotine is a stress reliever and calls the tobacco industry out for promoting e-cigarettes and vaping as a way to deal with stress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in fact vaping nicotine can increase stress levels and amplify feelings of anxiety and depression. Breath of Stress Air The Breath of Stress Air effort comes on the heels of Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issuing an advisory on the state of mental health among young people as an "urgent public health crisis," and coincides with the on-going youth e-cigarette epidemic. According to the latest December 2021 Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) report, nearly 20% of high school seniors used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. Through a multi-platform campaign, Breath of Stress Air employs typical wellness content, tropes and visuals and then flips the script to debunk the myths so that young people can see vaping nicotine for what it can be: an amplifier - not an alleviator - of stress. Breath of Stress Air premieres during March Madness on March 13th and will reach young people who need support and share resources to quit vaping nicotine and prevent others from ever starting in the first place. In addition, truth will partner with TikTok influencers and offer social extensions like a Snapchat lens to turn stress into de-stress and denormalize vaping among young people. "The tobacco industry has a long history of attempting to distort public perception about its products and has even used a global pandemic to promote the false claim that vaping nicotine can relieve stress. We are putting the power back in the hands of young people by spotlighting the truth and raising awareness that vaping nicotine not only impacts physical health, it also can increase stress levels and worsen anxiety symptoms," said Robin Koval, CEO and President of Truth Initiative. "We know that when young people have the facts, they make the right decisions. That's why our goal for the Breath of Stress Air effort is to educate young people about the mental health impact of vaping nicotine, denormalize its use, and normalize quitting by offering resources like This is Quitting, the free quit vaping text message program from truth designed specifically for youth and young adults that is already helping nearly half a million young people quit nicotine for good." Truth Initiative collaborated with creative partner, Mojo Supermarket, to develop the campaign. "As many e-cigarette companies continue to infiltrate the mental health space by positioning their product as a stress reliever, we knew that we needed an equally calculated strategy to debunk that myth so that young people could see vaping nicotine for what it can be: a stress multiplier. With Breath of Stress Air, the goal was to tap into the wellness content Gen Z is actively seeking out every day, and subvert it to reveal the truth that if you're feeling stressed and anxious, your nicotine vape could be making it worse," said Jono Paull, Group Creative Director of Mojo Supermarket. Helping Young People Quit A Truth Initiative survey found that 93% of e-cigarette users reported that vaping negatively affected their lives because it made them feel more stressed, depressed, or anxious, while 90% of those who quit said they felt less stressed, anxious, or depressed. In an effort to bring this core finding to light, truth is uplifting the stories of real young people as part of its "Quitters" series. Each story shares the impact of nicotine addiction on real young people and their mental health, as well as details their journey to quit. One such story comes from Parker, a 20-year-old college student. Parker started using e-cigarettes in high school and recently quit with the help of This is Quitting from truth. He shares: "I recognized that for me, vaping doesn't prevent anxietyit is the cause of it. And since quitting, I am a more healthy person both mentally and physically. I think it's really important to share my experience since I know how much it can help." Connecting young people with resources is a key component of the campaign. This is Quitting from truth is a first-of-its-kind text message quit vaping program that is helping more than 420,000 young people on their journey to quit. The program is free and anonymous. Young people can enroll by texting "DITCHVAPE" to 88709 to get help. A randomized clinical trial found that This is Quitting increased quit rates among young adults aged 18-24 by nearly 40% compared to a control group. Take A Breath And Take Action Breathing exercises can help with nicotine cravings that cause stress and anxiety. For this reason, truth has also launched a partnership with Breathwrk through This is Quitting. Program users can access six months of free membership to Breathwrk Pro including access to custom breaths to help on their quit journey by texting "BREATHE" to 88709. "Breathing exercises have been proven to help manage feelings of anxiety, stress, and cravings," said Davi Brown, Head of Education at Breathwrk. "We are proud to partner with truth and This is Quitting to bring young people science-backed, free breathing techniques to aid those looking to quit e-cigarettes." Young people nationwide are mobilizing online and in person by taking a breath as a means to demand action from decision makers to declare vaping a mental health issue. The campaign will culminate in a Moment of Action on April 27th. Anyone can join the movement by visiting: thetruth.com/mentalhealth2022. Truth Initiative is partnering with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Crisis Text Line to provide resources directly to young people. Additional resources for young people struggling with mental health or those who want to quit vaping are available at thetruth.com. More information about the campaign can be found at BreathofStressAir.com. Additional information about the connection between vaping nicotine, stress and mental health is available at: truthinitiative.org. About Truth Initiative Truth Initiative is a national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where all young people reject smoking, vaping and nicotine and a future where tobacco and nicotine addiction are a thing of the past. In 2020, we celebrated 20 years of saving lives and preventing millions of youth from smoking. Our impact has helped drive the teen smoking rate down from 23% in 2000 to under 3% in 2021. The truth about tobacco and the tobacco industry are at the heart of our proven-effective and nationally recognized truth public education campaign. As youth e-cigarette use threatens to addict a new generation to nicotine, we are leading the fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction in all forms. Our rigorous scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco, and innovation in tobacco dependence treatment are also helping to end one of the most critical public health battles of our time. Based in Washington D.C., our organization, formerly known as the American Legacy Foundation, was established and funded through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. To learn more, visit truthinitiative.org. About truth truth is the longest-running and most successful national tobacco prevention campaign for youth and young adults. The campaign delivers the facts about tobacco use and the marketing tactics of the tobacco industry so that young people can make informed choices and influence others to do the same. We are credited with preventing millions of young people from becoming smokers and are equally committed to achieving the same results in ending the youth e-cigarette epidemic, including by helping young people quit with our first-of-its-kind quit vaping program for teens and young adults This is Quitting. truth is part of Truth Initiative, a national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where young people reject smoking, vaping, and nicotine. Learn more about truth and the organization behind it at thetruth.com and truthinitiative.org. SOURCE Truth Initiative Marc has been a longtime contributor to the Forum and recently made prolific contributions to a 10-document release. Tweet this Marc's selection was supported and applauded by all committee chairs. John Glossner, Forum President commented, "I am honored to be able to recognize Marc's many achievements to the Forum. He has consistently contributed to important projects and this recognition is much deserved." To view the Forum's award winners from previous years, visit https://www.wirelessinnovation.org/sdr_achievement_awards. About the Wireless Innovation Forum Established in 1996 and supported by Platinum Sponsor Thales, the Wireless Innovation Forum (SDR Forum Version 2.0) is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation dedicated to advocating for spectrum innovation and advancing radio technologies that support essential or critical communications worldwide. Members bring a broad base of experience in Software Defined Radio (SDR), Cognitive Radio (CR) and Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technologies in diverse markets and at all levels of the wireless value chain to address emerging wireless communications requirements. To learn more about The Wireless Innovation Forum, its meetings and membership benefits, visit www.WirelessInnovation.org. SOURCE Wireless Innovation Forum The world's first semi-automated crypto trading platform announces a free suite of tools that's ideal for busy traders, part-time investors, and anyone else currently involved in cryptocurrency. It includes computer-generated trade ideas, market scanners, expert updates, and trader education - including one strategy that could help you make profits overnight. SOFIA, Bulgaria, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ProfitFarmers, the world's first semi-automated crypto trading co-pilot, is re-launching their free "Moonbag" - a suite of tools designed to help busy traders save hours of time and improve their profitability. "Moonbag" is crypto slang for a small investment in risky projects in the hope that it'll increase in value exponentially. Here are just a few highlights of this free package: Complete trade plans: Signals including entry zones, take-profit targets, stop-loss, and leverage. Signals including entry zones, take-profit targets, stop-loss, and leverage. Market analysis and predictions : ProfitFarmers team analyzes the crypto market and informs you of trends and helpful strategies. One recent opinion predicted a massive spike in MIR, a cryptocurrency, days before it happened. : ProfitFarmers team analyzes the crypto market and informs you of trends and helpful strategies. One recent opinion predicted a massive spike in MIR, a cryptocurrency, days before it happened. Price scanners: Traders use price-action and relative-strength index scanners to see market behavior at a glance and make more informed trading decisions. These are available free. Traders use price-action and relative-strength index scanners to see market behavior at a glance and make more informed trading decisions. These are available free. Advanced education: Free training videos, live trading sessions, and more - including one strategy that helped a member to make 60% in just hours. You can learn more about their Moonbag here CEO Matthew Tansley believes his company's free package truly benefits traders everywhere, regardless of their trading goals. He had this to say: "We founded ProfitFarmers with the idea of giving traders their lives back. No price alarms. No sitting at the screen all day. No emotional rollercoaster. Our platform automates nearly every time-consuming trading task including research, planning, and monitoring trades. Now, with the free Moonbag, we can save traders hours and hours of time AND improve their strike rate, helping them live better lives free from the emotional rollercoaster of crypto trading." He went on to say: "Crypto is not only confusing - it's intimidating. Not just for beginners, but for everyone.The whole idea of the Moonbag is to help stressed out, confused, or scared traders by giving them a data-driven trading plan, helpful opinions from experts, and advanced market intelligence tools to make researching and planning trades easier. This free package includes everything you need to go from losing trades and being stressed out to winning and actually enjoying life." Why Are They Giving All of This Free? 2021 was a wildly successful year for the Moonbag and the company in general. Thousands of crypto traders everywhere signed up to get free trading ideas and tools, and many even went on to become full members of the platform. And, with Bitcoin recently surging past $40,000, they believe another boom is just around the corner. 2021 was so successful that ProfitFarmers decided to re-open the Moonbag for another run for a limited time. The package includes the following, all 100% free. Trading Signals The core offer of the Moonbag is ProfitFarmer's AI-generated trading signals with an historic 78% win rate on completed signals. Their algorithm dynamically scans the market taking into account dozens of factors, then each signal is vetted by their expert trading team before being passed on to Moonbag members. Unlike most other services, the company has no "VIP" signals group. That means free Moonbag subscribers get the same quality signals as actual paid members of the platform. The company says they focus only on quality not quantity, so they can't guarantee a certain number of signals every week. However, it's typically 2-3 depending on market conditions. Trade signals include full trading plans. For example: Coin pair Entry zone Take-profit targets Stop-loss Leverage Direction Strategy (EX: Futures-Scalp-Trade) Market Updates ProfitFarmers is run by a team of trading experts with decades of combined experience in trading, investing, and market analysis. And each week, this team publishes the results of their analysis and emails their thoughts to subscribers - again, all 100% free. This includes anything from trading ideas and suggestions to coin price theories and more. Recently, their team instructed members to keep their eyes on MIR - a cryptocurrency - and be prepared to "buy the dip" before it spiked back up in price. Within just a few days, the price did exactly as projected, and increased by 40% from their team's suggested "buy zone" - the price at which the experts thought was optimal to purchase the coin. This type of analysis not only will give members confidence, but also can help quell their emotions in volatile markets. Trader Education Moonbag subscribers not only get trading ideas and market updates every week, they also get expert trading education so they can learn how to analyze, research, and trade on their own. Everything from live trading sessions to helpful articles and videos. There's even one strategy that, when combined with their scanners, helped one member make 60% on one trade overnight (see the video on the ProfitFarmers page). "We want to both give traders a fish AND teach them how to fish - so to speak", said Matthew Tansley. "We will literally put high-probability trading ideas in your hand, and in the meantime while your trades are live, you can learn advanced trading techniques from our videos, webinars, and live sessions.That way, you can start making your own trade ideas or fine tune the ones our algorithm creates. It's really the best of both worlds. If you're a new trader, you get everything you need to start making real profits. If you're already trading, you get everything you need to get to the next level. It's that simple." In celebration of their very successful 2021, Profitfarmers wants to help traders everywhere get ready for what looks to be a very promising 2022. So, the Moonbag is once again open for everyone! It will be available for a limited time, so take advantage of this offer while it's still available. Visit ProfitFarmers page to learn more and sign up. It only takes a few minutes to create your free account and to access your tools. And yes, it is 100% free. About ProfitFarmers ProfitFarmers is the world's first crypto co-pilot, a system that handles the most difficult aspects of trading for you. It's a semi-automated trading platform that combines high win-rate signals with copy-trading and advanced trading tools to automate the most time-consuming trading tasks. Their system creates a signal, then you copy the signal, adjust your plan, and enable trading features such as a break-even stop-loss. The system then does the rest. The entire system is designed to help traders optimize work-life balance and to finally live normal lives, all while still earning a full-time income. The company is registered in Bulgaria and run by CEO and founder Matthew Tansley. Get access to the Free Moonbag here SOURCE ProfitFarmers VANCOUVER, BC, March 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Xebra Brands Ltd. ("Xebra") (CSE: XBRA) (OTCQB: XBRAF) (FSE: 9YC), a cannabis company, is pleased to announce that its cannabis cultivation in the Netherlands is in the flowering stage, as Xebra readies to harvest and submit samples of its crop to Dutch authorities, by the end of March. Two samples will be delivered, one with high THC 22%, and one with balanced THC 6% and CBD 8%. As 1 of only 5 companies to be selected by the Dutch government to participate in a medicinal cannabis cultivation pilot trial, Xebra is endeavoring to be awarded 1 of 2 licenses, with a contract for up to 6 years, providing for revenues of up to ~US$80 million (70.5 million), to co-supply all pharma-grade cannabis to be sold though pharmacies in the Netherlands The selection process includes the submission of samples from three cannabis trial crops, evaluated for certain criteria, including consistency and technical parameters."We are extremely pleased with our smooth and successful results to date, as we carefully monitor every growth stage," commented Rodrigo Gallardo, President of Xebra. "Our innovated equipment made it possible for us to automate much of the growing process from germination to flowering, ensuring maximum consistency," further commented Mr. Gallardo. Cultivation in the Netherlands is conducted in Xebra's indoor facility. Xebra's specific genetic varieties are characterized by high production, compact flowers of excellent quality and fine tasting terpene profiles, with a growth cycle of 12-16 weeks. Xebra's Director of Operations in the Netherlands, Harry von Duijne, is a cannabis horticulture expert with more than two decades of horticulture experience. He had a leading role at Bedrocan NL from 2014 and 2017, where he was responsible for managing every aspect of operations of a state-of-the-art cannabis facility, from construction through cultivation and processing, quality management, and GMP certification. Bedrocan produces medicinal-grade cannabis under contract for the Dutch Ministry of Health as the only licensed producer in the Netherlands, and for many years was the only licenced producer in all of Europe. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: Rodrigo Gallardo President Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, these include, without limitation, statements regarding Xebra Brands Ltd.'s expectations in respect of its ability to successfully execute its business plan or business model; its ability to provide economic, environmental, social, or any benefits of any type, in the communities it operates in or may operate it in the future; its ability to be a first mover in a country, or to obtain or retain government licenses, permits or authorizations in general, or specifically in Mexico, Colombia, Canada, the Netherlands, or elsewhere; its ability to successfully apply for and obtain trademarks and other intellectual property in any jurisdiction; its ability to be cost competitive; its ability to cultivate, grow, or process hemp or cannabis in Mexico, Colombia, Canada, the Netherlands, or elsewhere and related plans; financial, operational, or any other term or statement relating to the Company's participation in the Dutch trial medicinal cannabis cultivation; its ability to manufacture cannabis beverages, wellness products, or other products; its ability to commercialize or sell cannabis beverages, wellness products, or other products, in Mexico, Colombia, Canada, the Netherlands, or elsewhere; its ability to launch, commercialize or to sell Vicious Citrus Lemonade in 2022 or at any time, in any jurisdiction, and its related plans and claims; its ability to commercialize or to sell Elements wellness products in any jurisdiction at any time; its ability to create wellness products that have a therapeutic effect or benefit; plans for future growth and the direction of the business; financial projections including expected revenues, gross profits, and EBITDA (which is a non-GAAP financial measure); plans to increase product volumes, the capacity of existing facilities, supplies from third party growers and contractors; expected growth of the cannabis industry generally; management's expectations, beliefs and assumptions; events or developments that XEBRA expects to take place in the future; general economic conditions; and other risk factors described in the prospectus of the Company dated September 30, 2021. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking information and statements. The words "aim", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "intends", "continue", "plans", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", and similar expressions identify forward-looking information and statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by XEBRA as of the dates of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the inability of XEBRA to generate sufficient revenues or to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plan; changes in government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in various countries; risks associated with agriculture and cultivation activities generally, including inclement weather, access to supply of seeds, poor crop yields, and spoilage; compliance with import and export laws of various countries; significant fluctuations in cannabis prices and transportation costs; the risk of obtaining necessary licenses and permits; inability to identify, negotiate and complete a potential acquisition for any reason; the ability to retain key employees; dependence on third parties for services and supplies; non-performance by contractual counter-parties; general economic conditions; and the continued growth in global demand for cannabis products and the continued increase in jurisdictions legalizing cannabis; the impact of DTC eligibility, or lack of, on the liquidity of the shares of XEBRA and the timely receipt of regulatory approval for license applications. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and XEBRA undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the foregoing except as required by law. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies could affect XEBRA's actual performance and cause its actual performance to differ materially from what has been expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, XEBRA. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those set out in such statements. SOURCE Xebra Brands Ltd. DUBAI, UAE, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Britts Imperial University College, UAE is an Academic Center and Education Partner of top-tier, globally recognized British and European universities and offers eager learners from all over the world Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Doctorate degrees. The master's/bachelor's degree is awarded by Euclea Business School, France , a Higher Education degree-granting institution recognized by the State and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. As a part of CDP Group Paris, students benefit from an extensive portfolio of programmes and a truly global educational experience with over 20 member schools, 7500 students per year of which 25% are foreigners, and 25000 trainees in continuing education Britts Imperial University College is a truly global platform for supporting students' global dreams and ambitions, with faculty and students from different nationalities, internationally-recognized degrees from prestigious top-ranking international universities, and global mobility options. Here's an Overview of The Executive MBA The program is structured so that the learning is maximized while still maintaining a balance between work and home life. 12 Months The Executive MBA Program is designed to enable working professionals to move their careers forward without disruption by providing a globally recognized and accredited MBA program. Weekend-only Batches Over 12 months, lectures will be scheduled only on weekends delivering the program with once-in-a-month options, to reduce time away from work. A combination of live and pre-recorded interactive lectures in small bites makes for an engaging and effective learning environment. Dual Masters The opportunity to earn two different master's degrees, one in each specialty, from one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. 3 Networking Symposiums at Dubai , Paris & Hong Kong During a 3-day Symposium, students will receive an on-campus-delivery Workshop-Seminar at different locations for real networking. Flexible Monthly Installments Pay over time with easy and flexible installments. More Than 12+ Specializations International Business Digital Marketing Sports Management Events Management Human Resources Logistics & Supply Chain Management Data Analytics & AI IT Project Management Management Accounting & Finance Banking and Insurance Healthcare Management Hospitality Management For Dual Masters, the following are the available MBA options: MSc Project Management MA Entrepreneurship Contact details: Britts Imperial University College N Block, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, Sharjah- UAE +971 (06) 7675511 / +971 522161590 [email protected] www.brittsimperial.com SOURCE Britts Imperial University College NEW YORK, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris has expressed grave concerns about the Iran nuclear deal emerging from more than eight months of negotiations in Vienna. "If the final result in Vienna is a return to essentially the same inadequate 2015 package, we will be left to wonder on what basis such an agreement advances regional and global security," said Harris in the letter. AJC opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) because the intention to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability "was undermined by the deal's shortcomings, including its time limits on uranium enrichment restrictions and the deployment of advanced centrifuges, and its curbs on intrusive IAEA inspections and, here at home, the failure to achieve any bipartisan consensus in support of the deal," Harris wrote. In addition, the 2015 agreement contained no provisions to curtail Iran's ballistic missile program. "Much of what we feared in 2015 has come true," Harris continued. "In the six-plus years since the deal was implemented, Iran's regional behavior has crossed one red line after another, with periodic missile and drone attacks by Iran and its proxies on U.S., Israeli, and GCC targets. Its missile program has advanced." Following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, Iran "has leapt ahead in the deployment of sophisticated centrifuges and the stockpiling of near-weapons-grade fissile material." The AJC letter acknowledges that the Biden Administration, from its beginning, has faced an Iran even more out of compliance with the JCPOA terms, amassing a substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium, since the 2108 U.S. decision to withdraw and impose multiple sanctions. Harris noted the Secretary's assurances that the Administration's objective in re-entering negotiations with Iran was to produce a "longer and stronger" agreement, implying recognition of the unfulfilled aspirations of the 2015 nuclear deal. "It is AJC's earnest hope that the process underway in Vienna since last spring will yield the agreement you set as your goal," the AJC letter concluded. Read the full AJC letter to Secretary Blinken. SOURCE American Jewish Committee SEATTLE, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc., the parent company of Alaska Airlines Inc. and Horizon Air Industries Inc., today announced it will hold an Investor Relations Day in New York City from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET on March 24, 2022. The event will feature presentations and a Q&A session with members of the Alaska Airlines executive leadership team. The event will be broadcast live at https://investor.alaskaair.com, and a replay of the event will be posted online following the conclusion of the broadcast. Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level Care for our guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK). SOURCE Alaska Air Group MINNEAPOLIS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third week, global humanitarian organization, Alight , is ramping up their work in multiple neighboring countries including Poland, Germany and Moldova, to support fleeing refugees as they arrive, while also responding to the emergency needs of people still within Ukraine. Alight's rapid response teams are flying in from all over the world to help organize and distribute a variety of goods for immediate support, while simultaneously looking towards the future of the displaced, and how to best help people cope with the situation at hand and plan for what's next. "In the face of a terribly difficult and complicated situation like this, Alight is doing the doable for Ukrainians," said Sarah Hartman, Alight COO and Ukraine Emergency Responder. "We're meeting people as they come across the border, listening to what they need, and then helping them get it. And while we take care of immediate needs, we're planning for what comes next." This past week, the Alight team in Poland has been focused on warmth. With constant snowfall, and temperatures dropping below freezing, the migration for families has been made even more difficult as they face extreme weather conditions on their journey. Alight has distributed approximately 2,000 blankets in the last 24 hours, along with hats, mittens and socks, as well as setting up warming tents to get people out of the cold. For those who are not able to make the long trek without support, Alight is also providing access to wheelchairs, helping elderly Ukrainians across the border safely to their waiting families. "Alight has been at the border in Poland for almost two weeks now, and the people who are now coming across are more distressed, traumatized and disoriented," says Igor Radonjic, Alight Emergency Response Team Leader. "We deeply understand the immense trauma that this situation is causing, and are doing everything we can to alleviate the uncertainty of today and tomorrow." Additionally, Alight is responding to the emergency needs of people still inside Ukraine. The team is procuring medical supplies such as freeze-dried plasma transfusion kits, wound dressings, pain relievers and more in Poland and transporting them into Ukraine to groups holed up in bomb shelters or hospitals that need resupplying. Alight is also providing baby food, diapers, sanitary items, blankets and phone chargers so people can stay connected with loved ones. The response team is working closely with locals and organizations that are also helping Ukrainians, to see where they might coordinate and amplify each other's efforts. To stay abreast of Alight's response, and to make a donation for Ukrainian refugee families and fuel the rapid response effort, please visit www.wearealight.org. ABOUT ALIGHT Established in 1978 by founder Neal Ball, Alight , formerly known as American Refugee Committee, provides health care, clean water, shelter, protection and economic opportunities to more than 3.5 million people in over 20 countries each year. Alight believes in the incredible creativity, potential and ingenuity of the displaced and works to shine a light on their humanity, the tremendous amount of good that's already happening and the possibilities to do more. In 2020, Alight received the prestigious 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the tenth consecutive year, celebrating a decade of impactful work. SOURCE Alight HARVEY, La., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Online retailer Ammo.com recorded a recent surge in consumer demand for small arms ammunition the onset of which perfectly coincided with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022. In comparison to the previous two weeks, Ammo.com recorded the following from February 24th through March 10th, 2022: U.S. Ammo Sales Surge Following Russian Invasion of Ukraine 166% increase in revenue 110% increase in transactions 59% increase in site traffic 31% increase in conversion rate 27% increase in average order value Ammo.com also reports their top ten states for ammunition sales during the 2 weeks following the Russian invasion, as well as those states' respective top three types of ammunition ordered by volume: State #1 Ammo #2 Ammo #3 Ammo 1. Texas 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 223 Ammo 2. Florida 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 223 Ammo 3. Washington 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 7.62x39 Ammo 4. Georgia 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 357 Magnum Ammo 5. Arizona 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 223 Ammo 6. Pennsylvania 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 12 Gauge Shotgun Shells 7. Michigan 5.56x45 Ammo 9mm Ammo 7.62x39 Ammo 8. Illinois 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 7.62x39 Ammo 9. North Carolina 5.56x45 Ammo 9mm Ammo 7.62x39 Ammo 10. Ohio 9mm Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 223 Ammo It must be noted that Ammo.com's data do not provide an all-encompassing overview of Americans' recent ammunition buying habits. Various federal, state, and municipal laws have made Ammo.com unable to ship ammunition to residents of Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, as well as Chicago, IL, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Furthermore, Ammo.com also sells non-ammunition goods including apparel, flags, and firearm accessories, although ammunition does account for the overwhelming majority of the retailer's sales. "We noted a similar surge in demand for ammunition during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Alex Horsman, marketing manager for Ammo.com. "As neoconservatives and the mainstream media both began calling for American intervention in the Russian invasion, wary firearm enthusiasts sensed that the products they need to enjoy their favorite hobby could soon become scarce. "Many Americans predict that a war effort would significantly limit the amount of ammunition available to consumers. Others fear that the Biden administration, via executive fiat, will somehow limit private sales of ammunition under the pretext that those products must be shipped overseas in support of the Ukrainian resistance. After all, who knew the CDC could unilaterally put a nationwide moratorium on evictions for almost a year and a half before the pandemic? The Biden administration has demonstrated an eagerness to chip away at the Second Amendment when and where it can, and many Americans anticipate that a 'temporary' ban on ammunition sales would be anything but. "Whether the recent spike in demand for ammunition reflects Americans' apprehensions about potential scarcity, their mistrust of those in power not to use a crisis to advance their own political aims, or a combination of both, the outcome is the same: American gun owners want to stock up on ammo while they can." ABOUT AMMO.COM Ammo.com is an American online ammunition retailer that offers an expansive selection, great prices, fast shipping, and live American customer support. Their real-time inventory management system keeps their stock constantly updated on their website, ensuring no surprises for customers during checkout. But Ammo.com does more than sell ammo. Their mission is to arm Americans both physically and philosophically, to fulfill the actual intent of the Second Amendment, and to protect the United States from its government by keeping the state in check. In addition to the collection of information and resources they offer in their Resistance Library , Ammo.com supports the efforts of pro-freedom organizations through their Freedom Fighter donation program. This program gives Ammo.com's customers the option of donating 1% of their order price to a group which actively preserves our country's liberties at no additional cost. You can follow America's Pro-Freedom Ammo Source on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Contact: Alex Horsman Ammo.com 1901 Manhattan Blvd. Building D PMB #300 Harvey, LA 70058 https://ammo.com 800-604-1094 [email protected] SOURCE Ammo.com DURANGO, Colo., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 1, 2022, the Durango School District 9-R filed a lawsuit against Ascent Classical Academy, claiming the district is prohibited from accepting a charter school application before Aug. 1. However, the 9-R district's policy indicates applications must be submitted "on or before August 1." Ascent Classical submitted its application Feb. 7, 2022, in accordance with the policy. Prior to submission, Ascent Classical approached the 9-R district board to request an early submission, assuming the district policy was in line with state statute. The district board refused to take action on the request. It was later brought to Ascent Classical's attention that another charter application for Juniper Charter School had previously been accepted and reviewed in February 2015 due to the clear language "on or before August 1" in the district's policy. As Ascent Classical explained to the district board, a timely submission and review of its application helps ensure a strong opening for the 2023-2024 school year. "I'm disappointed the school board won't give us a fair chance," said Derec Shuler, executive director of Ascent Classical Academies. Ascent Classical's rigorous academic programs have been recognized as high-quality by the Colorado Department of Education, and the parents of over 530 Durango children have said they would send their children to Ascent Classical Academy of Durango. "I can't believe the 9-R school board is spending tens of thousands of dollars on a lawsuit," said Lyn O'Brien, a member of the school's local steering committee. "We have been proactively working with Durango 9-R to help this school succeed. Our families have been engaged and speaking at school board meetings for months." Ascent Classical Academy of Durango submitted a Notice of Appeal to the Colorado State Board of Education requesting review of the 9-R district's unwillingness to uphold its policy and the state requirements for reviewing charter applications promptly. On March 9, the Colorado State Board of Education voted unanimously to direct the state's Attorney General to intervene and assert the state board's power over charter appeals. "This vote recognizes the proper process is through the Colorado State Board of Education and not the courts," said Shuler. Families interested in learning more about Ascent Classical Academy of Durango are invited to visit durango.ascentclassical.org to learn more about this successful and proven model. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Ascent Classical Academy Initiative to support the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its relief efforts in Ukraine SAO PAULO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Azul announces today a unique initiative to raise funds for the Ukrainian people. Starting today, customers who want to donate to this important cause will be able to purchase seats for virtual flights between Sao Paulo-Campinas, Brazil and Ukraine. While the flights will not be flown, the total value of the purchase will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support their efforts to aid the millions of refugees leaving Ukraine. "We knew we had to find a creative way to help so we decided to keep the sensation that your support was actually flying to Ukraine. We will use all our communication channels to reach out to our 14 million loyalty members and the millions of customers that fly Azul every month. We have scheduled these virtual flights for the next 90 days and we hope that the donations force us to add even more. No amount is too small and we are committed here at Azul to use all the tools at our disposal to generate these important donations for the Red Cross in support of its relief efforts in Ukraine. All of the associated marketing costs and processing fees will be funded by Azul", says John Rodgerson, Azul's CEO. "This is just the first in a series of initiatives and we hope over the next days and weeks we can find even more creative ways to support the people of Ukraine", completes Rodgerson. To make a donation or see further details please visit www.voeazul.com.br About Azul Azul S.A. (B3: AZUL4,NYSE: AZUL), the largest airline in Brazil by number of flight departures and cities served, offers more than 800 daily flights to over 130 destinations. With an operating fleet of more than 160 aircraft and more than 12,000 crewmembers, Azul has a network of more than 200 non-stop routes. In 2020 Azul was awarded best airline in the world by TripAdvisor, the first time a Brazilian Flag Carrier ranked number one in the Traveler's Choice Awards. For more information visit www.voeazul.com.br/ir. SOURCE Azul Airlines "We are always looking for new and innovative ways to reach and motivate DIYers, and what better way to do this than entering the NFT space in partnership with one of the most colorful NFT creators, Doodles," said Andy Lopez, Vice President Brand Marketing, Behr Paint Company. SXSW pass holders, Doodles holders, and the general public are invited to become main characters inside Doodles' colorful world using BEHR paint where land, air, and space unite. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to engage with Doodles' NFT world through a virtual painting wall featuring BEHR paint colors and a chance to collect the first-ever POAP NFT by both brands, featuring a custom design by Burnt Toast printed on limited edition physical BEHR paint cans. The paint colors are conveniently located throughout the event space for anyone who wants to recreate the Doodles experience leveraging Doodles palette in BEHR paint colors. Some of the fun colors include Upbeat P300-5, Periwinkle P530-4 and Lavender Sky P540-4. Plus, attendees are in for a surprise with a secret musical performance to conclude the experience. "I'm excited that we continue finding ways to disrupt the category and stay ahead of current trends while remaining authentic to who we arewith color as the foundation of this incredible partnership." said Jodi Allen, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Behr Paint Company. By joining forces with such a celebrated, community-driven NFT project like Doodles, which has captured the imagination of NFTs through innovation and art, this activation marks a unique opportunity for BEHR to engage with the NFT community at SXSW, the hub for creators and innovators. "BEHR has been an incredible partner to work with since day one," explains Evan Keast, Co-founder of Doodles. "The creative genius of Co-founder Scott Martin aka Burnt Toast is a big part of what has made Doodles such a beloved brand. The diverse and universally relatable characters and the vivid universe they live in are heavily informed by Scott's chosen color palette. So when we brought Doodles into the real world, we knew we needed a partner that could help us bring it to life with all the vibrancy that exists in the Doodles digital world. Behr was the obvious choice." VaynerNFT, the consultancy exclusively focused on building strategic NFT integration for the world's leading intellectual property owners, has brought this collaboration to fruition. "We believe that this collaboration speaks to each brand's core values and mission, bringing their mutual love for color to inspire their communities." said Avery Akkineni, President of VaynerNFT. ABOUT BEHR PAINT COMPANY Founded in 1947, Behr Paint Company is one of the largest manufacturers of paints, primers, decorative finishes, stains, surface preparation and application products for do-it-yourselfers and professionals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based company and maker of the BEHR, KILZ, WHIZZ and E&J brands is dedicated to meeting the project needs of DIYers, professionals, architects and designers with an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation and value. For more information, visit Behr.com. Professional contractors can visit BEHRPRO.com to learn about BEHR products and BEHR PRO services. Behr Paint Company is a subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS). ABOUT DOODLES Doodles is a joyful collection of 10,000 NFTs co-founded by digital artist Burnt Toast and Web3 pioneers Evan Keast and Jordan Castro. Since its launch in October 2021, Doodles has become one of the most beloved brands to arise from the birth of NFTs, thanks to its inclusive characters, colorful world, and passionate communitycombined with its innovative roadmap. Notable collectors include Steve Aoki, Future, Pranksy, Snoop Dog, Fat Joe, Kygo, Diplo, Austin Rosen, and others. ABOUT VAYNERNFT VaynerNFT is a consultancy exclusively focused on building strategic NFT integration for the world's leading intellectual property owners - personalities, athletes, celebrities, artists, brands, and associations. The company empowers its clients to be at the forefront of the NFT revolution. VaynerNFT helps clients achieve long-term value, expands new revenue streams that leverage IP and creates new value-add for NFT holders. For more information, you can visit: https://vaynernft.co/ Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Behr Paint Company ABIQUIU, N.M., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill Boas is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Lifetime Achiever in the Communications Infrastructure field and in acknowledgment of his work at Essential Community Communications Infrastructure. Bill Boas developed expertise in supercomputers, broadband, 5G, and Wifi networks for enterprise sites and community sites throughout his 25 years as a Technology Executive. Bill Boas He attended Clifton College, where he earned his A-Levels in Physics and Chemistry in 1959. He attended Aston University from 1965-1968, earning a BSc. E.E. in Computers and Communications, and became an IEEE Life Member. Mr. Boas next completed an MBA Program at McGill University in 1971. He later returned to school, completing a Management Program in 2005 at the University of California, Los Angeles. At his first job, Mr. Boas was the Regional Sales Manager at Ultra Network Technologies from 1987-1992. He Co-Founded Essential Communications in 1992, and remained the President and CEO until 1997. He took on a Co-Ownership of Abba Technologies from 1996-2002, followed by a role as a Computer Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Continuing to grow his business portfolio, Mr. Boas Co-Founded OpenFabrics Alliance in 2004 in California, and became the VP of Business Development at System Fabric Works in Texas in 2006. As the Shareholder, Chairman, and VP of Business Development, Mr. Boas developed expertise throughout his 12 years at System Fabric Works, and began working as an Advisor for Industry and Partner Outreach at the University of Texas - Center for Electromechanics and Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics for two years in Austin, TX. Here he collaborated in building a campus-wide outdoor laboratory and completing research for the Center of Excellence for Urban Autonomy Infrastructure. Mr. Boas additionally served in the Royal Navy for six years. Today, Mr. Boas is the Founder and CEO of Essential Community Communications Infrastructure LLC, based in Abiquiu, New Mexico. He addresses the evolving capabilities of community communications, adding infrastructure to provide faster internet service and higher bandwidth. This has a sizeable impact on community information, streaming, cultural activities, online learning, and more. Mr. Boas provides software for homes, offices, or other sites, and works with schools, fire, and EMS to bring their technology to the 21st century. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who CHICAGO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new research report, the "Biometric System Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Authentication Type (Single Factor, Fingerprint, Iris, Face, Voice; Multi-factor), Type (Contact-based, Contactless, Hybrid), Offering Type, Mobility, Vertical & Region - Global Forecast to 2027", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Biometric System Market size is expected to grow from USD 42.9 billion in 2022 to USD 82.9 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 14.1%. Increasing the advancements in biometric technology across various sectors and rising demand for authentication and identification solutions as well as security and surveillance solutions in various application areas are the primary factors driving the market growth. Moreover, growing adoption of biometric system in consumer electronics, BFSI as well as automotive verticals will drive the demand for this technology in the near future. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=697 The market has slightly declined in 2020, mainly due to the impact of COVID-19. The supply chains was disrupted in March and April 2020 due to the lockdown imposed by various governments and labor shortages in these industries due to travel restrictions, that affected the biometric system market. Though the market is impacted in 2020, it is expected to fully recover by mid 2022. Single factor authentication is estimated to contribute largest market share in the said market during the forecast period Single-factor biometric systems are cost-effective and fast. Furthermore, the systems with single-factor authentication are much faster and simplified. However, these systems are prone to high-security risks. Nevertheless, technologically improving hardware and software solutions and biometric systems integrated with AI have increased the level of accuracy and security offered by single-factor authentication. Fingerprint recognition technology is the most used modality. The growth of the market for fingerprint recognition is attributed to the increasing demand for solutions based on this technology in travel and immigration Security Verticals for e-passports and e-visas, as well as in the government sector for issuing a driving license. Consumer electronics vertical is estimated to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period Biometrics is one of the revolutionary technologies in the consumer electronics sector owing to its security and cost-effectiveness. In the consumer electronics industry, smartphones are significantly contributing to the growth of the adoption of biometrics technology. Consumer electronic companies are increasingly developing and deploying advanced and cost-effective biometric security features. There have been rapid advancements in the designs of chips and algorithms of voice and facial recognition. Also, the declining cost of biometric technologies installed in consumer electronics is playing a key role in driving market growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "Biometric System Market 256 Tables 54 Figures 321 Pages Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=697 Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest rate The market in APAC will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The biometric system market in APAC is segmented into China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and the Rest of APAC. The presence of prominent biometric system manufacturers including Fujitsu and NEC Corporation, is expected to contribute to the revenue share of this region owing to the rapid economic growth in major countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea The growth of the biometric system market in APAC is also attributed to technological advancements, increased awareness among the masses regarding the use of biometric systems for security purposes, and lowered the cost of devices based on these technologies. Major players in the biometric system market include Thales Group(Paris), Idemia (France), ASSA ABLOY (Sweden), NEC Corporation(Japan) and Fujitsu(Japan), Precise Biometrics(Sweden), secunet Security Networks AG (Germany), Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.(France), Aware Inc (US), Cognitec Systems GmbH(Germany) among others. Related Reports: Access Control Market with COVID-19 Impact by Offering (Card-based Readers, Biometric Readers, Electronic Locks, Controllers, Software, Services), ACaaS (Hosted, Managed, Hybrid), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 Access Control Reader Market by Reader Type (Card-based Readers, Biometric Readers, and Multi-technology Readers), Smart Card Technology Type (iCLASS, MIFARE, DESFire, Advant), Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2024 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/next-generation-biometric-technologies-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.comhttps://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/weather-forecasting-services-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/biometric-technologies.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets HELSINKI, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bioretec Ltd has today published its 2021 Annual Report, Financial Statements and Report by the Board of Directors. The publications are attached to this release and also available on the company's website at www.bioretec.com/investors/investors-in-english/reports-and-presentations. The reports are available in Finnish and English. No printed copies of the reports will be made available. Further enquiries: Timo Lehtonen, CEO, tel. +358 50 433 8493 Johanna Salko, CFO, tel. +358 40 754 8172 Certified Adviser: Nordic Certified Adviser AB, tel. +46 70 551 67 29 Information about Bioretec Bioretec is a globally operating Finnish medical device company that continues to pioneer the application of bioresorbable orthopedic implants. The company has built unique competencies in the biological interface of active implants to enhance bone growth and accelerate fracture healing after orthopedic surgery. The products developed and manufactured by Bioretec are used worldwide in approximately 40 countries. Bioretec intends to introduce a new generation of bioresorbable materials with enhanced strength for improved surgical outcome. The new RemeOs product line is based on a magnesium alloy and hybrid composite. The RemeOs implants are resorbed and replaced by bone, which eliminates the need for removal surgery while facilitating fracture healing. The combination has the potential to make titanium implants redundant and help clinics reach their Value-Based Healthcare targets while focusing on value for patients through efficient healthcare. With the U.S. and EU market authorization for the first RemeOs product expected in 2022, Bioretec is positioning itself to enter the addressable USD 7 billion global orthopedic trauma market and become a game changer in surgical possibilities. Better Healing - Better Life. www.bioretec.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/bioretec/r/bioretec-ltd-s-annual-report-and-financial-statements-2021-published,c3523015 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/20509/3523015/1547367.pdf Bioretec Financial Statements 2021 https://mb.cision.com/Public/20509/3523015/8d87155585104e92.pdf Bioretec Annual Report 2021 SOURCE Bioretec LAS VEGAS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boardsi has announced that Martin Rowinski, their CEO will be participating in the Alma Mater Europaea 2022 conference, 'It's All About The People'. He will be featured on a panel for a question and answer session during the conference. The Alma Mater Europaea is known for their world-renowned conferences and is an honor to be involved. Top scholars from around the world come every year to share, talk and collaborate with their peers. "It's all about people' will be one of the most significant international scientific events this year." Discussions will concentrate on embracing digital transformation for a sustainable and ethical future. "I am very honored to be invited to the Alma Mater Europaea: It's About People 2022 Conference. Being part of the Round Table on March 15th 'THE ROLE OF OUTSIDE BOARD MEMBERS IN CORPORATIONS - ROUND TABLE '," said Martin Rowinski. https://boardsi.com/alma-mater-europaea/ https://submission2022.almamater.si/mobile/#s:56 Martin, a Polish immigrant who came to the country with his mother in search of more opportunities has worked his way to the top. Taking each new opportunity on and treating it as his own, Martin has built the necessary relationships to open new doors each step of the way. Much hard work and determination played a significant role as well. Now the CEO of Boardsi, a modern recruiting company, matching top executives with advisory and board seat roles, Martin fills his days with ALL the company's needs. Marketing, sales, finance, etc. Martin can handle it all, he does this with much respect and poise both with clients and employees. Boardsi Lisa Williams [email protected] SOURCE Boardsi While the world watches in horror at Putin's attempts to subjugate the Ukrainian people, from Friday 11th March brands are rallying together to display their support for Ukraine and push for peace. They are featuring the Brand Solidarity logo, a Ukrainian flag underpinned by 'Brand Solidarity', on as much of their marketing material as possible. LONDON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From advertising, websites and packaging to profile pictures, emails and point-of-sale, the objective is to deliver blanket coverage of this message. Marcel Knobil, founder of Superbrands (the world's independent brand authority) and creator of Brand Solidarity said: "Rarely in history has there been such a brutal attack on an innocent country and virtually universal outcry against it. Most of us have felt powerless to make a real difference, but we can. By expressing our support for the people of Ukraine in such a highly visible manner, we hope we can help raise their spirits during their darkest of days, and push for peace." Knobil says this simple action will intensify the condemnation of Putin's onslaught. While many brands have been taking very direct action, featuring the Ukrainian flag on millions of promotional items will show our overt support for Ukraine. Together we have the power to be a force for good. Numerous pioneering brands (including YO!, Oliver Sweeney, Kirk & Kirk and Janet Reger) are already collaborating with Brand Solidarity and, from today, Friday 11th March, we urge any and every business, irrespective of size, to request the Brand Solidarity logo from [email protected] and use it on as much marketing material as possible, now. Simon Woodroffe, Founder of YO! Company and a Patron of Brand Solidarity says: "Individually it's unlikely any one business can affect the fate of a nation, but what if all the brands, all over the world, upload and print the Brand Solidarity logo across all platforms and on all collateral material? We might just get through to people who could help change Putin's direction of travel. We have to try, but we don't have much time." Other Brand Solidarity Patrons include: Anthea Turner (TV Presenter); Brent Hoberman (Chair, Founders Forum); David Haigh (Chairman and CEO, Brand Finance plc); Jeremy King (Restaurateur); Sir John Hegarty (Founder and Creative Director, The Garage Soho); Sophie Devonshire (Author and CEO, The Marketing Society) and Trevor Beattie (Film-Maker). The brand solidarity logo can be used by any brand owner (or individual) who wishes to display support for Ukraine; simply email [email protected]. For more information about Brand Solidarity, please visit: BrandSolidarity.org Media information: Marcel Knobil: [email protected] or call +44 (0)7956 532784 Sharon Morrison: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1255 830216 Media Contact: Brand Solidarity [email protected] Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12908521 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Brand Solidarity DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Category Creation and Digital Ecosystems in Wearable Technology" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides a well-organized thematic analysis of the statements and activities of wearable technology companies. It deconstructs the business concepts of category creation and digital ecosystems, providing a framework that informs business innovation and investments in new areas. The launch of Apple's streaming service and the recently declared pivot by Facebook, now a subsidiary of Meta Platforms, increased the importance of an up-to-date and forward-thinking understanding of hardware-supported digital worlds. Additionally, the pandemic has made health/wellness-supporting tools more relevant. New or evolving categories might initially allow for higher prices, either to reflect the novelty or the newfound benefit that novelty represents, such as increased convenience or even social status. This is the case with wearable technologies. Through these premiums or sheer volume, category-creating businesses often achieve faster revenue growth, as well as higher valuations, especially if they actively build buzz or rewrite narratives. However, the long-term consumer interest in maintaining pricey subscriptions that add value to wearable technology use is unclear and possibly overestimated. The report is structured as follows: Category Creation in Wearable Technologies: Category creation, in the form of a new product, business model, or combination of both, is often misunderstood. This section deconstructs the approaches that lead to product/market fit and value-creating partnerships. Digital Ecosystems and Data in Wearable Technologies: Market leaders in wearables tend to view their devices as both contributing to and deriving value from broader digital ecosystems. Dominant multinational technology companies have a clear interest in overseeing the construction, development, and legal framework of ecosystems that favorably position their brands, while enabling direct services and partnerships. Innovators and investors alike are shifting their focus to ecosystems, and this section provides valuable insights for them. Management, Culture, and Recruitment in Wearable Startups or Business Units: Remote-first workplaces might help players of all sizes to maintain resilience. Incubators or "skunkworks" projects might help larger companies to maintain relevance by looking ahead or thinking differently. These could be remote workplaces as well, or hybrid. This section examines the operational approaches that may lead to innovation-supporting cultures. This report will provide comprehensive answers to the following key questions: What are the factors that will drive consumer and enterprise adoption/usage for wearable technologies? How are these technologies potentially connected to contemporary challenges and opportunities? How might form factors, utility, and positioning change over time? What are the emerging trends in the wearable technologies market and the reasons behind them? How can wearable technology companies ensure that they're on the right track during acts of category creation? How are these companies approaching academic, medical, and cross-industry partnerships? Why are tech companies increasingly developing and promoting their digital ecosystems? How is data integral to new technologies, ecosystems, and experiences? How can large tech companies ensure that their wearable technology R&D remains synchronized with their operational approaches and the market itself? How can remote-first wearable technology disruptors ensure that they're operating efficiently and effectively? Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1 Key Benefits of This Report 1.2 Target Audience 1.3 Companies Mentioned in This Report 1.4 Methodology 2. Executive Summary 3. Category Creation in Wearable Technologies 3.1 Market Drivers: Personalization/Health Optimization and Dysfunctional Healthcare Institutions 3.2 Consumer Awareness and Education 3.3 New Products and New Business Models 3.4 Product/Market Fit 3.5 Academic, Medical, and Cross-Industry Partnerships 3.6 Staying Competitive While Creating a Category 4. Digital Ecosystems and Data in Wearable Technologies 4.1 Digital Ecosystems 4.2 Company Approaches to Data 4.3 Significance of User Interfaces 4.4 The Need for Accuracy 5. Management, Culture, and Recruitment in Wearable Startups or Business Units 5.1 COVID-19 Impact on Company Trajectories 5.2 Entrepreneurial Approaches and Role of Venture Capital 5.3 Incubators and Divergent Business Units 5.4 Advantages of Multidisciplinary Recruitment 5.5 Resilience of Remote-First Environments Companies Mentioned Withings Oura L'Oreal Levels Motiv/Proxy Apple Samsung Facebook/Meta Platforms Amazon Google Nokia For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e19j55 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Stock Market Symbols GIB (NYSE) GIB.A (TSX) cgi.com/newsroom CGI's initial controlling stake in Umanis to be 70.6%, followed by the launch of a mandatory simplified tender offer; Price of 17.15 per share, representing a premium of 45.96% to last closing price of Umanis shares. PARIS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) announced today that it has entered into an agreement for the acquisition, through its subsidiary CGI France SAS ("CGI France"), of all of the shares of Umanis, a digital company specializing in data, digital and business solutions with annual revenue of approximately 246 million, which has been operating for more than 30 years, mainly in the French market. The proposed transaction values the entire share capital of Umanis at approximately 310 million on a fully diluted basis (excluding treasury shares) and represents a premium of 45.96% to Umanis' shares' last closing price of March 10, 2022 and of 30.40% to their volume-weighted average closing price over the last 30 trading days. Under the agreement, CGI France has the exclusive right to acquire all of the shares held by MURA and Mr. Olivier Pouligny, representing approximately 70.6% of the share capital of Umanis at a price of 17.15 per share (the "Block Purchase"). Subject to completion of the Block Purchase, CGI France intends to launch a mandatory tender offer to acquire the remaining shares of Umanis (the "Offer") at a price of 17.15 per share and, subject to legal and regulatory conditions being met, will implement a squeeze-out transaction to acquire all remaining shares not already tendered as part of the Offer. The signing of the Block Purchase agreement would only take place after completion of the information and consultation procedures of the relevant employee representative bodies of Umanis and CGI France. The completion of the contemplated Block Purchase is subject to certain conditions, including Umanis meeting minimum financial ratios, the obtaining of customary regulatory approvals, the delivery of a fairness opinion by Umanis' independent appraiser, as well as the issuance of a positive recommendation from Umanis' Board of Directors. The Block Purchase is expected to be completed and the Offer is expected to be filed with the French financial markets authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) by the end of the second quarter of the 2022 calendar year. The Board of Directors of Umanis met on March 10, 2022 and welcomed the proposed transaction, without prejudice to its reasoned opinion on the Offer that will be issued following receipt of the independent expert's opinion. To that end, the Board of Directors designated a committee and, upon its recommendation, appointed Crowe HAF as independent expert (subject to AMF's opposition right pursuant to article 261-1-1 III of the AMF General Regulations) to prepare a fairness opinion relating to the Offer. "The combination of CGI's operations and those of Umanis will further deepen our presence and positioning across Western and Southern Europe. This transaction is consistent with the metro market merger element of our Build and Buy strategy for delivering profitable inorganic growth, while acting as a catalyst for future organic growth," said George Schindler, CGI President and CEO. "We are excited to join forces with Umanis to help our clients accelerate their digital transformation and enable them to benefit from our expanded end-to-end capabilities. Umanis and CGI are two very complementary companies in terms of skills, vision and values. We look forward to welcoming Umanis' professionals to CGI," said Laurent Gerin, CGI President of Western and Southern Europe. "I founded Umanis in 1990, went public in 1998, and I am particularly proud of the company's track record and the value created for all of our shareholders over the past years. Looking ahead, Umanis' employees and clients will greatly benefit from the support of CGI, with which we share a common vision and values," said Laurent Piepszownik, Executive Chairman of Umanis. "We are thrilled by this new opportunity and look forward to integrating with CGI with which we are highly complementary," said Olivier Pouligny, CEO of Umanis. The trading of Umanis' shares was suspended this morning and will resume at the opening of the market on Monday, March 14, 2022. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 82,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2021 reported revenue is C$12.13 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com About Umanis Umanis is a digital company specializing in data, digital and business solutions with annual revenue of approximately 246 million, which has been operating for more than 30 years, mainly in the French market. Created in 1990, Umanis supports the digital transformation of many companies with strong expertise in five areas in particular: Big Data & Artificial Intelligence, Infrastructure & Cloud, Digital Experience, Integration of business solutions and BPO. Umanis is headquartered in Paris and gathers approximately 3,000 professionals in France as well as in Spain, Luxembourg, Morocco and Switzerland. Umanis shares are listed on Euronext Growth in Paris (FR0013263878 - ALUMS). Learn more at umanis.com. Societe Generale is the exclusive financial advisor to CGI and will act as the presenting bank for the tender offer. Bredin Prat acts as the legal advisor. Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank is the exclusive financial advisor to Umanis and Mura, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier acts as legal advisor. Forward-looking information and statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable United States safe harbours. All such forward-looking information and statements are made and disclosed in reliance upon the safe harbour provisions of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws.Forward-looking information and statements include all information and statements regarding CGI's intentions, plans, expectations, beliefs, objectives, future performance, and strategy, as well as any other information or statements that relate to future events or circumstances and which do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts. Forward-looking information and statements often but not always use words such as "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "foresee", "plan", "predict", "project", "aim", "seek", "strive", "potential", "continue", "target", "may", "might", "could", "should", and similar expressions and variations thereof. These information and statements are based on our perception of historic trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other assumptions, both general and specific, that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Such information and statements are, however, by their very nature, subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, of which many are beyond the control of CGI, and which give rise to the possibility that actual results could differ materially from our expectations expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not restricted to: risks related to the market such as the level of business activity of our clients, which is affected by economic and political conditions, other external risks (such as pandemics) and our ability to negotiate new contracts; risks related to our industry such as competition and our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, to develop and expand our services, to penetrate new markets, and to protect our intellectual property rights; risks related to our business such as risks associated with our growth strategy, including the integration of new operations, financial and operational risks inherent in worldwide operations, foreign exchange risks, income tax laws and other tax programs, our ability to negotiate favourable contractual terms, to deliver our services and to collect receivables, and the reputational and financial risks attendant to cybersecurity breaches and other incidents, and financial risks such as liquidity needs and requirements, maintenance of financial ratios, and changes in creditworthiness and credit ratings; as well as other risks identified or incorporated by reference in this press release, in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and in other documents that we make public, including our filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators (on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (on EDGAR at www.sec.gov). For a discussion of risks in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, see Pandemic risks in section 10.1.1. of our annual MD&A and section 8.1.1 of our quarterly MD&A. Unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. While we believe that our assumptions on which these forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are based were reasonable as at the date of this press release, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking information or statements. Furthermore, readers are reminded that forward-looking information and statements are presented for the sole purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding our objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook as well as our anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Further information on the risks that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations may be found in the section titled "Risk Environment" of CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A, which is incorporated by reference in this cautionary statement. We also caution readers that the above-mentioned risks and the risks disclosed in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and other documents and filings are not the only ones that could affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial could also have a material adverse effect on our financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation. SOURCE CGI Inc. The purpose of this Circa partnership is to help companies hire individuals from target groups who historically have faced hardships in finding employment. Companies that invest in hiring and retaining a diverse workforce often see significant growth. But beyond the numbers lies a much greater benefit. When you recognize and value the contribution of people with different backgrounds, experiences, capabilities, and perspectives, you attract top talent and innovation soars. Consider According to McKinsey & Company 35% of racially diverse companies are more likely to have greater revenues 15% of gender diverse companies are more likely to have better financial returns 80% of inclusive teams outperform their peers And Harvard Business Review research indicates 70% of diverse companies are more likely to capture new markets The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal tax credit available to employers who hire individuals from target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. Any business can earn tax credits if the hired individual fits one of the program's target groups, such as veterans, disabled persons, and persons who have received government assistance. The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes equal to 50% of the qualified wages an eligible employer paid to employees after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021 and equal to 70% of the qualified wages in 2021. It originated under the CARES Act on March 27, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers can earn up to $26,000 in ERC per employee. With Trusaic, Circa continues expanding its product and service offering through partnerships as customers are seeking a more robust solution from industry leaders. Circa provides OFCCP compliance management and diversity recruiting technology solutions to deliver qualified candidates on an equitable playing field for organizations to build high-performing, diverse teams. "The partnership between Circa and Trusaic symbolizes our profound commitment to building diverse, high-performing teams and accelerating their success," Patrick Sheahan, CEO, Circa said. "Working together to enhance our OFCCP and Diversity Outreach solutions helps our customers not only achieve compliance and build diverse teams but also achieve financial success." "Our partnership with Circa reflects our shared commitment to helping organizations hire the employees they need and support underserved communities," said Robert Sheen, CEO, Trusaic. "Trusaic's seamless solution ensures full compliance and easy tax credit certification without additional administrative burden, allowing companies to make a significant difference in the lives of the individuals they hire, as well as on their bottom line in the process." To drive mutual success, Circa will showcase Trusaic's Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Employee Retention Credit solutions to customers and prospects, feature them in marketing events and on the company's website, as well as work together on thought leadership content. About Circa Circa is a catalyst for 21st century companies to build high-performing diverse teams based on research that shows companies want to shift from diversity as a program to diversity as a business strategy. The companies' robust portfolio of software solutions and unparalleled industry expertise give employers the tools and knowledge they need to radically change how they approach talent acquisition and management. The company was founded in 1994, has 5000+ customers, 15,500 community partner relationships and in 2019 posted 5M+ jobs through its network of 600+ online employment websites. Circaworks.com About Trusaic Trusaic is a leading HR and compliance technology company that focuses on advancing social good in the workplace and solving HR's most complex challenges across people, data, and analytics. Our mission is to create a better working world. We do that by helping organizations achieve pay equity, foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce, assist economically disadvantaged individuals with finding work, and ensure employee access to affordable healthcare. Trusaic.com Media Contact Angel Fischer Product Marketing Manager [email protected] 212-495-9800 Circaworks.com SOURCE Circa "We're proud to be a CARFAX Lifetime Dealer," said Casey Goodnight, eCommerce Director for Passport Auto Group in the Washington, D.C. area. "The power of all three CARFAX programs is an extra level of transparency and trust with our customers at every step whether its vehicle history, listings, or service. It allows us to be a notch above our competition." The CARFAX Lifetime Dealer program launched in January. These dealers receive premium branding and recognition across CARFAX including on Vehicle History Reports, Used Car Listings, in the Business Directory, and on Car Care. They are also able to now track digital badging impressions and incremental trade-in leads on Carfaxonline.com and there is at-a-glance performance comparison reporting for owner groups of Lifetime versus non-Lifetime dealers within their group. New exclusive point-of-purchase items are arriving in dealerships this month to help dealers showcase their distinction. About CARFAX CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides exclusive services like CARFAX Used Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell Show me the CARFAX. S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. SOURCE CARFAX The Dodge brand's performance-inspired, high-impact heritage design cues are once again garnering accolades, this time with Kelley Blue Book naming Dodge a Best Car Styling Brand in its 2022 Brand Image Awards the fourth consecutive honor for the Dodge brand. Kelley Blue Book 2022 Brand Image Awards are calculated among luxury, non-luxury and truck shoppers and are based on annual new-car buyer perception data. "Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Award winners lead the pack when it comes to capturing new-car shoppers' attention," said Vanessa Ton, senior industry intelligence manager for Kelley Blue Book. "As more automotive brands and new models arrive on the scene each year, the increasingly crowded marketplace provides fresh challenges for product designers and planners and marketers alike. The battle for market share starts with perception and consideration among shoppers, so these winners epitomize which brands are most successful in making a positive impact on their target audience for 2022." Dodge has no problem in the capturing attention department, with styling that expresses the legendary Dodge performance attitude straight from the factory. The brand's pure performance image helped drive Dodge Challenger to the No. 1 spot in muscle car total sales in the U.S. in 2021, giving the brand its first ever crown in the segment. Dodge continues to deliver recognizable, high-impact performance models and appearance packages. New 2022 Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Jailbreak models unleash full access to the entire palette of Dodge personalization options and empower customers to create their own customized performance vehicle, while HEMI Orange and SRT Black appearance packages for select Challenger and Charger models provide additional customization options. The brand is also keeping the pedal down on its two-year Dodge Never Lift campaign, which provides a road map to its performance future. To view the 24 Months of Muscle calendar, visit Dodgegarage.com/never-lift. The 2022 Brand Image Awards are based on consumer automotive perception data from Kelley Blue Book's Brand Watch study. Kelley Blue Book's Brand Watch is an online brand and model perception tracking study, which taps into more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers annually on KBB.com. The highly comprehensive study offers insight into how shoppers perceive important factors driving their purchase decisions and captures brand/model familiarity among new-car shoppers. For more information about the 2022 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, visit https://www.kbb.com/awards/brand-image-awards/. Dodge//SRT For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete. Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America's fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup. In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row. Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. Follow Dodge and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Dodge brand: www.dodge.com DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis TOKYO, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") announced today the company will present research from its robust Alzheimer's disease (AD) pipeline, including the latest findings on lecanemab, Eisai's investigational anti-amyloid beta (A) protofibril antibody for the treatment of early AD, at the AD/PD 2022 International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases (AD/PD) from March 15-20 in Barcelona, Spain and virtually. The lecanemab data and additional research findings from Eisai's clinical development programs will be featured in 14 presentations. Lecanemab was granted Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June and December 2021, respectively. Eisai anticipates completing lecanemab's rolling submission of a Biologics License Application for the treatment of early AD to the FDA under the accelerated approval pathway. We expect to complete this rolling submission in the first quarter of Eisai's fiscal year 2022, which begins April 1, 2022. Additionally, the readout of the Phase 3 confirmatory Clarity AD clinical trial will occur in the Fall of 2022. Eisai initiated a submission to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of application data of lecanemab under the prior assessment consultation system in Japan in March 2022. "Four key presentations at AD/PD 2022 advance our understanding of the mechanism of action of Eisai's investigational anti-amyloid beta protofibril antibody lecanemab and the therapy's clinical and safety profile, including amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, or ARIA, from the Phase 2b study and open-label extension, in the potential treatment of early Alzheimer's disease," said Michael Irizarry, M.D., Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Clinical Officer, Neurology Business Group, Eisai Inc. "In addition to lecanemab, Eisai's robust pipeline includes compounds targeting the tau pathway, other pathways leading to neurodegeneration, and the testing of combination therapies that may be the optimal approach to treat or even prevent Alzheimer's disease." The focus on AD has historically been on alleviating cognitive, functional, and behavioral symptoms, but there has been significant progress in understanding the biological mechanisms of the disease. Eisai's investigational pipeline aims to treat the range of underlying pathophysiology, including amyloid, tau and neurodegeneration. "Because of the robust design of the lecanemab Phase 2b study, Eisai was able to design the Phase 3 confirmatory Clarity AD clinical trial to optimally verify lecanemab's clinical efficacy and safety in early Alzheimer's disease," said Ivan Cheung, Chairman, Eisai Inc., President Neurology Business Group and Global Alzheimer's Disease Officer, Eisai Co., Ltd. "Part of the recruitment strategy for the Clarity AD confirmatory trial was to ensure greater inclusion of ethnic and racial populations. While there is still important work to be done in ensuring minority populations' participation in clinical trials, Eisai is proud that approximately 25% of the total U.S. enrollment in Clarity AD consists of African American and Hispanic persons living with early Alzheimer's disease, which mirrors the U.S. Medicare population." This release discusses investigational uses of an agent in development and is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy or safety. There is no guarantee that such investigational agent will successfully complete clinical development or gain health authority approval. Major Presentations Provide Deeper Scientific Insights into Lecanemab's Mechanism of Action and Potential as a Treatment for Early AD Onsite Symposium - A Targeting Therapies in AD 2 Science of the Amyloid Cascade and Distinct Mechanism of Action of Lecanemab Data will be presented to show different anti-A antibodies and their affinities to different A species. AD is characterized by the presence of A plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. Genetic and biomarker studies point to A aggregation as occurring early in the disease. There is a spectrum of aggregated A species, ranging from soluble dimers, oligomers, protofibrils and insoluble fibrillar A, which exist in a complex equilibrium in the AD brain. Soluble aggregated species such as protofibrils are considered to be toxic to neurons and are implicated in the neurodegenerative process in AD. Immunotherapy against A has emerged as a promising treatment for AD. The mouse precursor antibody (mAb158) to lecanemab, was generated based on protofibrils formed by the Arctic mutation, which causes AD due to an enhanced propensity to form protofibrils. Data will be presented to show different anti-A antibodies and their affinities to different A species. AD is characterized by the presence of A plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. Genetic and biomarker studies point to A aggregation as occurring early in the disease. There is a spectrum of aggregated A species, ranging from soluble dimers, oligomers, protofibrils and insoluble fibrillar A, which exist in a complex equilibrium in the AD brain. Soluble aggregated species such as protofibrils are considered to be toxic to neurons and are implicated in the neurodegenerative process in AD. Immunotherapy against A has emerged as a promising treatment for AD. The mouse precursor antibody (mAb158) to lecanemab, was generated based on protofibrils formed by the Arctic mutation, which causes AD due to an enhanced propensity to form protofibrils. Key Trial Design Aspects and Clinical Outcomes of the Lecanemab Phase 2b (Study 201) Trial and Open-Label Extension (OLE) in Early Alzheimer's Disease This presentation shares the latest results from the lecanemab Study 201 Core and OLE exploring the reduction of brain amyloid and the incidence and severity of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). Study 201 was a dose-ranging study that employed a Bayesian adaptive design with response adaptive randomization. The study demonstrated that lecanemab cleared amyloid plaques in a dose- and time-dependent manner and identified the 10 mg/kg IV biweekly dose as the dose most likely to slow cognitive decline in early AD, a hypothesis that will be verified in the Clarity AD Phase 3 study. In Study 201, lecanemab showed an overall rate of less than 10% incidence of ARIA-E at 10 mg/kg biweekly in the Core and OLE (<15% in ApoE4 carriers). The incidence of symptomatic ARIA-E was <2% in Core and OLE. This safety profile enables lecanemab to be initiated at the therapeutic dose without titration. This presentation shares the latest results from the lecanemab Study 201 Core and OLE exploring the reduction of brain amyloid and the incidence and severity of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). Study 201 was a dose-ranging study that employed a Bayesian adaptive design with response adaptive randomization. The study demonstrated that lecanemab cleared amyloid plaques in a dose- and time-dependent manner and identified the 10 mg/kg IV biweekly dose as the dose most likely to slow cognitive decline in early AD, a hypothesis that will be verified in the Clarity AD Phase 3 study. In Study 201, lecanemab showed an overall rate of less than 10% incidence of ARIA-E at 10 mg/kg biweekly in the Core and OLE (<15% in ApoE4 carriers). The incidence of symptomatic ARIA-E was <2% in Core and OLE. This safety profile enables lecanemab to be initiated at the therapeutic dose without titration. Phase 2b (Study 201) Lecanemab Early Alzheimer's Disease Study Biomarker Results and Correlations with Clinical Outcomes Discussion around the key biomarker findings and their correlation with clinical outcomes from the lecanemab Phase 2b Core and OLE studies. As part of this presentation, Dr. E. McDade from Washington University in St. Louis will provide an update on the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU) Tau NexGen trial, which is evaluating lecanemab combined with Eisai's investigational anti-microtubule binding region (MTBR) tau antibody E2814. Researchers will share: Discussion around the key biomarker findings and their correlation with clinical outcomes from the lecanemab Phase Core and OLE studies. As part of this presentation, Dr. E. McDade from in will provide an update on the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU) Tau NexGen trial, which is evaluating lecanemab combined with Eisai's investigational anti-microtubule binding region (MTBR) tau antibody E2814. Researchers will share: Evaluation of the association of amyloid plaque reduction and effects on clinical outcomes by lecanemab with peripheral measures of AD biomarkers in the randomized Core-phase 201. Results and modeling of changes in amyloid plaque and peripheral measures of AD biomarkers after lecanemab cessation in the Gap phase, and implications for lecanemab maintenance therapy. Update on Lecanemab Clinical Development, Including New Subcutaneous (SC) Formulation Eisai will provide the latest information from the Phase 2b OLE study of lecanemab in early AD dosing substudy, Phase 3 study of lecanemab in early AD (Clarity AD), and Phase 3 study of lecanemab in preclinical AD (AHEAD 3-45). The rationale and clinical development strategy for SC lecanemab will be presented. Other Key Presentations An invited presentation exploring the A pathway Across Time and Space in AD will be led by Harald Hampel , MD, PhD, MSc, Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Medical Affairs, Neurology Business Group at Eisai Inc. , MD, PhD, MSc, Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Medical Affairs, Neurology Business Group at Eisai Inc. Baseline Tau PET in Clarity AD: A Phase 3 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, 18-Month Study Evaluating Lecanemab in Early Alzheimer's Disease Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) Amyloid Platform: Multiscale Computational Modeling of A Biology and Its Interaction with Lecanemab Pharmacology Fully Automated Plasma -Amyloid Immunoassays Predict Amyloid Pathology Defined by Amyloid PET Eisai Disease State Virtual Symposium Eisai will hold a virtual symposium titled, "Amyloid Pathway: Evolving Scientific Knowledge and Clinical Implications for Alzheimer's disease," where esteemed faculty will review the effects of A across cellular and systemic context, as well as across AD stages and therapeutic approaches. Featured speakers include Dennis J. Selkoe, MD, Bart De Strooper, MD, PhD, Susan Landau, PhD, Randall Bateman, MD. The symposium will be held virtually Saturday, March 19, 2022, 11:40 a.m. - 1:25 p.m. Central European Time (GMT+1) and will be available online for three months following AD/PD 2022. Complete List of AD/PD 2022 Presentations Relating to Eisai's Key Compounds and Research Below please find a list of important presentations and symposia at this year's meeting. All presentations will be available online to registered participants via the AD/PD virtual platform. Topic, Session, Time (Central European Time) Title, Presenter Lecanemab Scientific Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 2 Friday, March 18; 5:15 - 5:40 p.m., Plenary 115-117 Science of the Amyloid Cascade and Distinct Mechanism of Action of Lecanemab Presenter: L Lannfelt Lecanemab Scientific Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 2 Friday, March 18; 5:40 - 5:55 p.m., Plenary 115-117 Key Trial Design Aspects and Clinical Outcomes of the Lecanemab Phase 2 Trial and Open-Label Extension in Early Alzheimer's Disease Presenter: M Sabbagh Lecanemab Scientific Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 2 Friday, March 18; 5:55 - 6:10 p.m., Plenary 115-117 Phase 2 Lecanemab Early Alzheimer's Disease Study Biomarker Results and Correlations With Clinical Outcomes Presenter: E McDade Lecanemab Scientific Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 2 Friday, March 18; 6:10 - 6:25 p.m., Plenary 115-117 Update on Lecanemab Clinical Development, Including New Subcutaneous Formulation Presenter: M Irizarry Lecanemab Oral Session 1940, A and Other Targeting Therapies in AD Sunday, March 20; 9:05 - 9:20 a.m., Room 113 Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) Amyloid Platform: Multiscale Computational Modeling of A Biology and Its Interaction with Lecanemab Pharmacology Presenter: A Cabal Lecanemab On demand presentation Baseline Tau PET in Clarity AD: A Phase 3 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, 18-Month Study Evaluating Lecanemab in Early Alzheimer's Disease Presenter: A Charil Lecanemab and E2814 Oral Session, Advances in AD, PD and LBD Drug Development Thursday, March 17; 10:25 - 10:40 a.m., Room 133-134 Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU) Tau Nexgen Platform Trial of The Anti-Tau Antibody, E2814, with Background Lecanemab Therapy Presenter: L Schneider A Pathway Wednesday, March 16, 2022 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. Room 112 An invited presentation exploring the A pathway Across Time and Space in AD will be led by Harald Hampel, MD, PhD, MSc, Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Medical Affairs, Neurology Business Group at Eisai Inc. E2814 Oral Session, A and Other Targeting Therapies in AD Sunday, March 20; 10:35 - 10:50 a.m., Room 113 Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Single and Multiple Ascending Doses of the Novel Anti-Tau Therapeutic Antibody E2814: A Phase 1, First-in-Human Study in Healthy Volunteers Authors: P Aceves, et al E2511 Abstract: #882 Poster (onsite and virtual) Details Pending E2511, A Novel Small Compound TrkA Biased Positive Allosteric Modulator, Reinnervates Cholinergic Neuron Via Enhancement of Specific Trophic Signaling of TrkA Authors: T Tomioka, et al Sysmex and LMI On demand presentation Fully Automated Plasma -Amyloid Immunoassays Predict Amyloid Pathology Defined by Amyloid PET Authors: K Yamashita, et al LMI On demand poster Evaluation of Tau Deposition in Amyloid-Positive MCI and Mild-AD Dementia Subjects from the MissionAD Program Using 18F-PI-2620 Authors: S Bullich, et al General AD On demand poster EHR Cohort Development Using Natural Language Processing for Identifying Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease Authors: H Yu, et al General AD On demand presentation Understanding Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease Onset in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment Authors: Y Wang, et al Eisai Disease State Symposium Virtual Symposium / On-Demand Viewing Saturday, March 19, 2022, 11:40 a.m. - 1:25 p.m. and three months following AD/PD 2022 Onsite Plenary: 115-117 Amyloid Pathway: Evolving Scientific Knowledge and Clinical Implications for Alzheimer's disease Presenters: Dennis J. Selkoe, MD, Bart De Strooper, MD, PhD, Susan Landau, PhD, and Randall Bateman, MD Biogen Abstract Presentations for Alzheimer's Disease Topic, Session, Time (Central European Time) Title, Presenter Aducanumab Oral Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 1 Friday, March 18, 3:00 - 3:15 p.m., Room 112 Heterogeneity in symptom progression and treatment response: An analysis of participants with early Alzheimer's disease from the EMERGE aducanumab trial Presenter: J Murphy Aducanumab Oral Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 1 Friday, March 18, 2:45 - 3:00 p.m., Room 112 Evaluating the evidence of aducanumab treatment benefit using standardized test statistics and global statistical tests Presenter: S Dickson Aducanumab Oral Session, A Targeting Therapies in AD 1 Friday, March 18, 3:15 - 3:30 p.m., Room 112 Subgroup analyses of the Plasma P-Tau181 population from EMERGE/ENGAGE, Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating aducanumab in early Alzheimer's disease Presenter: O Hansson Aducanumab On demand poster Aducanumab Phase 3 Studies: Exposure-response analysis evaluating the relationship between amyloid removal and slowing of clinical decline on CDR-SB scores Authors: KK Muralidharan, et al Eisai leads all actions on lecanemab, including clinical development, FDA interaction, and commercialization as part of the collaboration agreement with Biogen. [Notes to editors] 1. About Lecanemab (BAN2401) Lecanemab is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody for Alzheimer's disease (AD) that is the result of a strategic research alliance between Eisai and BioArctic. Lecanemab selectively binds to neutralize and eliminate soluble, toxic amyloid-beta (A) aggregates (protofibrils) that are thought to contribute to the neurodegenerative process in AD. As such, lecanemab may have the potential to have an effect on disease pathology and to slow down the progression of the disease. With regard to the results from pre-specified analysis at 18 months of treatment, Study 201 demonstrated reduction of brain A accumulation (P<0.0001) and slowing of disease progression measured by ADCOMS* (P<0.05) in early AD subjects. The study did not achieve its primary outcome measure** at 12 months of treatment. The Study 201 open-label extension was initiated after completion of the Core period and a Gap period off treatment (average of 24 months) to evaluate safety and efficacy, and is underway. 2. About ADUHELM (aducanumab-avwa) 100 mg/mL injection for intravenous use ADUHELM is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Treatment with ADUHELM should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials. There are no safety or effectiveness data on initiating treatment at earlier or later stages of the disease than were studied. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on reduction in amyloid beta plaques observed in patients treated with ADUHELM. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s). ADUHELM is a monoclonal antibody directed against amyloid beta. The accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain is a defining pathophysiological feature of Alzheimer's disease. The accelerated approval of ADUHELM has been granted based on data from clinical trials showing the effect of ADUHELM on reducing amyloid beta plaques, a surrogate biomarker that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, in this case a reduction in clinical decline. ADUHELM can cause serious side effects including: Amyloid Related Imaging Abnormalities or "ARIA". ARIA is a common side effect that does not usually cause any symptoms but can be serious. Although most people do not have symptoms, some people may have symptoms such as: headache, confusion, dizziness, vision changes and nausea. The patient's healthcare provider will do magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans before and during treatment with ADUHELM to check for ARIA. ADUHELM can also cause serious allergic reactions. The most common side effects of ADUHELM include: swelling in areas of the brain, with or without small spots of bleeding in the brain or on the surface of the brain (ARIA); headache; and fall. Patients should call their healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. As of October 2017, Biogen and Eisai Co., Ltd. are collaborating on the global co-development and co-promotion of aducanumab. Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for ADUHELM. 3. About the Joint Development between Eisai and Biogen for Alzheimer's Disease Eisai and Biogen are collaborating on the joint development and commercialization of AD treatments. Eisai serves as the lead in the co-development of lecanemab. 4. About the Collaboration between Eisai and BioArctic for Alzheimer's Disease Since 2005, BioArctic has had a long-term collaboration with Eisai regarding the development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of AD. The commercialization agreement on the lecanemab antibody was signed in December 2007, and the development and commercialization agreement on the antibody lecanemab back-up for AD, which was signed in May 2015. Eisai is responsible for the clinical development, application for market approval and commercialization of the products for AD. BioArctic has no development costs for lecanemab in AD. 5. About the Collaboration between Eisai and Sysmex Eisai and Sysmex have entered into a comprehensive non-exclusive collaboration agreement aimed at the creation of new diagnostics in the field of dementia in February 2016. Leveraging each other's technologies and knowledge, the two companies aim to discover next-generation diagnostics that will enable early diagnosis, selection of treatment options and regular monitoring of the effects of treatment for dementia. 6. About E2814 An investigational anti-microtubule binding region (MTBR) tau antibody, E2814 is being developed as a disease-modifying agent for tauopathies including sporadic AD. Phase I clinical studies are underway. E2814 was discovered as part of the research collaboration between Eisai and University College London. E2814 is designed to prevent the spreading of tau seeds within the brains of affected individuals. 7. About E2511 E2511 is Eisai's in-house discovered and developed investigational novel molecule that directly binds to tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA); a nerve growth factor (NGF) located on the neural cell membrane. E2511 could potentially promote recovery and synaptic remodeling of damaged cholinergic neurons. A Phase 1 study for E2511 is underway. 8. About Eisai Co., Ltd. Eisai Co., Ltd. is a leading global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. Eisai's corporate philosophy is based on the human health care (hhc) concept, which is to give first thought to patients and their families, and to increase the benefits that health care provides to them. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to realize our hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology. Leveraging the experience gained from the development and marketing of a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, Eisai aims to establish the "Eisai Dementia Platform." Through this platform, Eisai plans to deliver novel benefits to those living with dementia and their families through constructing a "Dementia Ecosystem," by collaborating with partners such as medical organizations, diagnostic development companies, research organizations, and bio-ventures in addition to private insurance agencies, finance industries, fitness clubs, automobile makers, retailers, and care facilities. For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.eisai.com. 9. About Eisai Inc. At Eisai Inc., human health care (hhc) is our mission and is the shared purpose that connects us to those we serve creating a network of powerful relationships that enables us to identify, understand and work to address the needs of people throughout their lives. We boldly push past the boundaries of science and aim to deliver life-changing therapies and health-related solutions that matter to people and society. We bring together science, technology and real-world expertise to pursue a world free from cancer, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Everything we do is guided by the simple principle that patients and their families come first, and we have a responsibility to listen to and learn from them. Eisai Inc. is the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd. The company's presence in the U.S. includes three discovery centers as well as commercial, clinical development and global demand organizations. To learn more about Eisai, please visit us at www.eisai.com/US and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn . For more information on our work in neurology, please visit the Eisai U.S. Neurology LinkedIn page . MEDIA CONTACTS: Eisai Inc. (U.S.) +1-201-753-1945 [email protected] Eisai Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department TEL: +81-(0)3-3817-5120 INVESTOR CONTACT: Eisai Co., Ltd. Investor Relations Department TEL: +81-(0)70-8688-9685 SOURCE Eisai Inc. SAO PAULO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elea Digital and Vertiv announce partnership to deliver edge data center services in Brazil. Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, will provide operation and maintenance services for Elea Digital data centers in key metro areas, including Porto Alegre, Curitiba, and Brasilia. Vertiv's local technicians will provide support for this first of its kind edge services contract in Brazil. Through the partnership with Elea Digital, Vertiv will gain a larger and wider market to support the Brazilian data center industry growth. The partnership between Elea Digital and Vertiv aims at maintaining market growth rates across a continent-wide geographical footprint. Elea Digital's aim is to accelerate the standardization of its multi-location data center platform and, at the same time, to assure to its colocation clients secure services aligned with global best practices. The partnership with Vertiv brings accountability, automated and real time management of key infrastructure. A set of software applications will ensure energy efficiency and cost control to Elea Digital's six data centers. According to recent studies of the Uptime Institute, the major bottleneck in the Brazilian data center industry is the lack of experienced manpower, especially when moving away from the central region of Sao Paulo. By joining forces, Elea Digital and Vertiv will be able to provide knowledge and best practices to less developed but highly demanding metro-areas markets such as Brasilia (where Elea Digital SIG data center is the only Tier III facility), Porto Alegre and Curitiba. The two companies together will be able to bring data center expertise to these edge markets at a faster speed. "We are excited to start working with Elea Digital on services offerings for edge data centers in Brazil. Our goal is to bring Vertiv and Elea Digital experience to less developed metro-markets, but with high demand," said Rafael Garrido, vice president of Vertiv Latin America. "The strategic alliance with Vertiv shows our commitment and enthusiasm with client service as we continue to do our best to ensure that our critical infrastructure is maintained equally secure, miles away from the central cloud region of Sao Paulo," concludes Alessandro Lombardi, Chairman of Elea Digital. About Elea Digital Founded by Piemonte Holding in 2019, Elea Digital is a data center infrastructure platform in Latin American with a differentiated wide geographical spread and interconnection focus across Brazil. Elea Digital's six data centers are at the edge of the central cloud regions in key Brazilian metro-areas: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Brasilia. Currently Elea Digital's core revenues are derived from colocation and cross-connectivity infrastructure services provided to a wide range of customers, mainly concentrated in the information technology, telecom, banking, media, and public sectors. In December 2021, Elea Digital increased its share capital to allow Goldman Sachs Asset Management to co-invest in the platform turbinated growth. About Vertiv Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to ensure its customers' vital applications run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today's data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs approximately 21,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com. SOURCE Elea Digital HELSINKI, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MEYER Group, the leading shipbuilding consortium with three modern, large-scale shipyards in Europe, has joined forces with ADMARES Marine, global leader in floating real estate, to form a new joint venture. The new company, headquartered in Turku, Finland, is named MEYER Floating Solutions, and is focused on developing and manufacturing high quality floating real estate. "MEYER Group had recognized great potential in the floating solutions business and identified ADMARES Marine as the market leader in this developing industry. At the same time, ADMARES Marine was looking for a strategic partner to strengthen its capabilities and maximize its potential in the market. The new venture combines the strengths of both companies and allows us to compete for the mega projects that are being built on the water", says Kaj Casen, CEO at MEYER Floating Solutions. "We are happy to enter additional business areas and use our unique know-how to create floating solutions for housing, tourism, infrastructure and many more. MEYER Floating Solutions is a natural addition to our current product portfolio and with ADMARES we have a great and experienced partner at our side", says Bernard Meyer, Chairman of MEYER Group. The industry of building real estate on water is expected to grow exponentially, as it offers a whole new opportunity to develop high quality property in valuable locations. It has become even more valuable to build on water than by water. For MEYER Group, the joint venture means natural additional business to its core business of shipbuilding. The new company will continue to provide products manufactured and commissioned offsite in a controlled factory environment. Compared to conventional construction work, the company's advanced production methods enable shorter delivery times and minimized environmental impact since traditional construction sites can be completely avoided. "Traditional construction industry is a slow adopter of new technologies. With the two companies' strengths combined, the joint venture accumulates unprecedented expertise in the field of developing and manufacturing floating solutions", Casen says. MEYER Floating Solutions offers a variety of floating real estate from private villas up to the world's largest overwater installations The new company will inherit ADMARES Marine's product portfolio and patents. Thanks to ADMARES Marine's significant R&D investments and pioneering expertise on overwater solutions, the new company can already offer market-ready concepts. The company has a selection of standard floating villas and hotels but also serves clients who are after fully customized overwater solutions. MEYER Floating Solutions will continue to serve clients globally by providing turnkey services including design, manufacturing, transportation, and final installation at destination. Joint mission to supply sustainable lifestyle opportunities on water MEYER Group has recently set a goal to develop a climate-neutral cruise ship concept by 2025, and to achieve carbon neutral shipbuilding by 2030. The newly formed MEYER Floating Solutions will follow this path and has defined sustainability as one of their core values. "The floating real estate solutions are by standard not seagoing vessels and require energy for moving and maneuvering. Therefore, there's a great potential in going into fully energy neutral solutions, where electricity is generated by solar panels and heat pumps use water body to ensure both heating during winter and cooling during summer", says Casen. The entire lifecycle of the products is designed to minimize environmental impact. Overwater buildings are designed with sustainable materials and manufactured in controlled manufacturing facilities. According to studies, this can reduce waste by over 70% and provides significant cost benefits as well as sustainability compared to traditional construction completed on site. The company expects to have a busy year ahead with multiple exciting overwater projects in sight. "We are constantly looking for talents to be part of our team, creating something truly unique on water", says Casen. MEYER Group is an international consortium with three shipyards in Papenburg, Rostock and the Finnish city of Turku, as well as other subsidiaries and companies of MEYER Group. Around 7,000 people work directly for us. We work with our highly qualified network to build cruise ships, river cruise ships, research vessels and ferries for customers around the world. Our vessels are tailored exactly to each market and target group. MEYER WERFT is one of the largest and most modern shipyards in the world. The company has built cruise ships for international shipping companies at its production and construction docks for several decades, including more than 50 luxury liners. ADMARES Marine is the global leader in floating real estate. The company is specialized in real estate on water with pioneering construction methods that combine cutting-edge marine, offshore, land and modular construction technologies. Projects such as the Burj Al Arab overwater terrace extension, world's largest floating villa and multiple smaller private villas showcase that the turnkey solutions guarantee greater returns for developers, shorter project timelines and minimal environmental impact. HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES Download link: https://we.tl/t-pAEOw4Fbya FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Mr. Kaj Casen CEO [email protected] MEYER Floating Solutions Ltd Linnankatu 48 20100 TURKU FINLAND [email protected] www.meyerfloatingsolutions.com MEYER Corporate Communications [email protected] [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/r/entering-additional-business-areas-with-meyer-floating-solutions---meyer-group-teams-up-with-admares,c3523113 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/21428/3523113/1547186.pdf Press Release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-boutique-hotel-02,c3023385 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Boutique Hotel 02 https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-boutique-hotel-01,c3023386 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Boutique Hotel 01 https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-boutique-hotel-04,c3023387 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Boutique Hotel 04 https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-boutique-hotel-03,c3023388 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Boutique Hotel 03 https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-boutique-hotel-02,c3023389 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Boutique Hotel 02 https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-villa-01,c3023390 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Villa 01 https://news.cision.com/meyer-floating-solutions/i/meyer-floating-solutions-floating-boutique-hotel-05,c3023391 MEYER Floating Solutions Floating Boutique Hotel 05 SOURCE MEYER Floating Solutions MUNICH, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoBeta GmbH has today announced a world-first from Australia, with the first patients treated with Rhenium-SCT as part of the global phase IV EPIC-Skin Study (Efficacy of Personalised Irradiation with Rhenium-SCT for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer [NMSC]). These Australian patients are the first of 200 adults in the study, and their progress will be followed over the next 24 months. The international study will be conducted through study centres located in Australia, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. Australia will host multiple study centres in selected capital cities, with these patients the first to be treated globally at South Coast Radiology located within Gold Coast's John Flynn Private Hospital. The first patients in the study were treated on 25th February by GenesisCare's Radiation Oncologist, Associate Professor Siddhartha Baxi, after being successfully trained and certified by the team at OncoBeta. A/Prof. Baxi said, "This study presents an important opportunity for the international medical community to better understand NMSC treatment, and to further evaluate this new non-invasive epidermal radioisotope therapy. Australia has the highest incidence of NMSCs in the world, so it is imperative that we investigate new treatment options and continue to improve patient outcomes." The EPIC-Skin study has an emphasis on Patient Reported Outcome Measures such as quality of life, treatment comfort and cosmetic outcomes, as well as further evaluating the efficacy of Rhenium-SCT for the treatment of NMSC. Patients in the study will utilise OncoBeta's Clinical Study app, providing a simple and streamlined way to record their experiences. There are more than 7.7 million cases of NMSC each year, and incidence rates are increasing globally. 1,2 Traditional treatments for NMSCs predominantly involve surgery, which may have a risk of scarring or loss of function. Treatment with Rhenium-SCT employs a non-invasive superficial application of a paste containing -emitting particles directly to the lesion, which eliminate cancer cells without the need for surgery.3-5 Dr Gerhard Dahlhoff, Medical Director at OncoBeta GmbH, says, "Rhenium-SCT offers a new way of treating NMSC. The role of nuclear medicine in the treatment of many forms of cancers is becoming increasingly important. Rhenium-SCT can be applied directly to an affected area, without harming or scarring surrounding tissue. This can have a profound effect on patient quality of life, where function or aesthetics are concerned." OncoBeta Australia Country Manager, Ken Rikard-Bell, says, "With rates of NMSC on the rise in Australia and around the world, it's vitally important that treatments are continuously improving and innovating. It's exciting what this study could mean for the future of NMSC treatment. Never before has there been such an ability to fit the treatment to the patient." OncoBeta has partnered with Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to produce the Rhenium-SCT compound for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer. Clinicians who are interested in enrolling patients in the study can contact OncoBeta directly at www.oncobeta.com/contact About the Rhenium-SCT (Skin Cancer Therapy) Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common form of cancer in humans.2 The most common cause of NMSC is sun exposure, while other predisposing factors include genetic skin conditions and immunosuppressive diseases or treatments.6 The Rhenium-SCT is a painless*, single session, non-invasive therapy providing for unparalleled aesthetic results, even in cases otherwise considered difficult to treat.3-5 The Rhenium-SCT utilizes the radioisotope Rhenium-188 in an epidermal application with optimal properties for the treatment of NMSCs (non-melanoma skin cancers). The Rhenium-SCT is a precise, personalised therapy that is only applied to the area needed to treat without affecting the healthy tissue. The specially designed device ensures the Rhenium-SCT compound never comes in direct contact with the patient's skin and the application is safe and simple for the applying physician. Most cases of NMSCs (Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas) can be treated using the Rhenium-SCT in one single session.5 Scar-free healing of the treated lesion area and the regeneration of healthy tissue occurs usually within a few weeks after treatment.5 About OncoBeta OncoBeta, with its headquarters located in Garching near Munich, Germany, is a privately held medical device company, specializing in the development and commercialization of state-of-the-art, innovative therapies. Since its foundation, OncoBeta has concentrated its efforts on the development, regulatory approval(s) and commercialization of the epidermal radioisotope therapy Rhenium-SCT (Skin Cancer Therapy), targeting NMSCs. OncoBeta has perfected the customized application and device management system in conformity with all health, safety and environmental protection regulatory standards. Find out more about the Rhenium-SCT at www.oncobeta.com Follow us on social media: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/oncobeta-gmbh/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/oncobeta/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/oncobeta_gmbh/ Forward-looking statements This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of OncoBeta's control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning OncoBeta's plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. OncoBeta undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law. *No reported pain3,4 Complete tumour regression in 98.5% of lesions treated, with 89% after a single application5 References Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration, et al. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5(12):1749-1768. Ciazynska M, et al. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):4337. Cipriani C, et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2020; Jul 22:1-7. Sedda AF, et al. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2008;33(6):745-749. Cipriani C, Sedda AF. Epidermal Radionuclide Therapy - Dermatological High-Dose-Rate. Brachytherapy for the Treatment of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. In: Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine, editor Baum RP; New York : Springer, 2014. Cancer.net. Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma): Risk Factors and Prevention. October 2020 . https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/skin-cancer-non-melanoma/risk-factors-and-prevention (accessed November 2021 ). Photos: https://www.prlog.org/12908561 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE OncoBeta GmbH With chip shortages impacting automotive inventory supply for the second year in a row, competition is higher than ever for dealers to find the right shoppers who are ready to transact and can afford a vehicle. Team Velocity utilizes lease-end insight and information to best identify consumers who are most likely to transact next, helping dealers deliver offers and drive sales conversion to prospective buyers with an average return on investment (ROI) of 26:1. As a sales agent for Equifax authorized to fulfill end-to-end prescreen programs, Qualified Customer can help dealers target and market to individuals who meet a variety of credit and financial requirements, including prospects with current or past automotive loans and leases in accordance with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guidelines. The new subscription service enables dealers to target consumers in their geographic area with an offer across mail, email and online channels. "Equifax has built its business with the understanding that more data powers better decisions. The company's differentiated data assets and extensive geographic coverage is invaluable to our dealers in a post-COVID sales environment," said William Reilly, Chief Operating Officer of Team Velocity. "Our campaign distribution combined with the power of the Equifax data has generated tremendous ROI for our customers." "In 2021, our Qualified Customer programs with dealer customers not only helped increase ROI, but also helped improve inventory through trade-ins. By expanding our cross-media off lease and trade cycle strategy using Equifax data, we expect to build upon our success," remarked Scott Fletcher, partner at Team Velocity and founder of Qualified Customer. "Equifax has a long history and tradition of working with our automotive partners to develop innovative solutions for the industry. We are proud to bring our unique and differentiated data assets to help dealers more efficiently market to in-market consumers and drive sales," said Lena Bourgeois, General Manager of Equifax Automotive Services from Equifax. "We are looking forward to helping Team Velocity bring this next iteration of omnichannel targeting to market with Qualified Customer." Qualified Customer is available now. To learn more about this new subscription marketing service for auto dealers, view this video or visit thequalifiedcustomer.com . You can also visit booth #3507W at the NADA Expo 2022 on March 11-13, 2022. ABOUT TEAM VELOCITY Team Velocity is revolutionizing the automotive industry with cutting-edge technology to help dealers sell and service more cars. Made by dealers, for dealers, we serve our clients with a technology platform that empowers them to execute intelligent marketing across online and offline channels. We aim to deliver a frictionless consumer experience, from the initial engagement to a final transaction. For more information, visit www.teamvelocitymarketing.com . ABOUT EQUIFAX At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 13,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com. FOR MORE INFORMATION Kate Walker for Equifax [email protected] Scott Fletcher for Qualified Customer [email protected] SOURCE Equifax Inc. CHICAGO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Esquire by Cooper's Hawk announces its March 21st opening in Chicago's Gold Coast and welcomes James Beard Award-Winning Chef, Top Chef Judge and Food Activist, Tom Colicchio - the first to join the kitchen as part of Cooper's Hawk's Visiting Chef Series. The concept is from Chicago-based Cooper's Hawk, the parent company led by CEO/Founder Tim McEnery and home to 49 restaurants and 545,000-member wine club. Tom Colicchio Esquire by Coopers Hawk Esquire by Cooper's Hawk at 58 E. Oak Street (formerly known as Cooper's Hawk Esquire) has been reimagined and is the first restaurant to open under the company's "by Cooper's Hawk" brand extension. Guests and wine club members will enjoy a completely new way to experience the Cooper's Hawk brand ethos, which is rooted in building community and celebrating life's moments over food and wine. Esquire by Cooper's Hawk, designed to be a culinary destination, will bring some of the world's best food and wine experiences to Chicago. The restaurant's Visiting Chef Series premieres with a 7-item menu from acclaimed Chef Tom Colicchio. Running through May 21, 2022, the menu is inspired by Chef Tom's commitment to simple, seasonal cooking and will feature some of his favorite ingredients like Peekytoe Crab, Agnolotti & Rohan Duck. Dishes will be served with a wine pairing, curated by Cooper's Hawk Master Sommelier, Emily Wines. "Chicago has always been one of my favorite food towns. I'm thrilled to be the inaugural chef for the Cooper's Hawk's visiting Chef Series," said Chef Colicchio. In addition to Chef Colicchio's menu, (and subsequent menus from future visiting chefs) Executive Chef Nate Henssler (formerly of Tao, Portsmith, Bellagio, Sensi and Michael Mina) will debut an elevated menu based on Cooper's Hawk favorites, in addition to happy hour and a weekend brunch, opening in early summer. Esquire by Cooper's Hawk will also feature menu pairings and happy hour tastings from the venue's highly coveted 1,600 bottle wine collection, twice selected by Wine Spectator for a Best of Award of Excellence. "We are so excited to welcome Chef Colicchio as our first Visiting Chef," said Tim McEnery, Cooper's Hawk Founder & CEO. "He sets a level of excellence that we plan to bring to guests and wine club members throughout this series and beyond. His dedication to food and wine exploration perfectly pairs with our vision for Esquire and future 'by Cooper's Hawk' brand extensions." Built in 1938, the Esquire Theater facade and vertical sign has been retained and the three-level unique structure of nearly 24,000 square feet includes enhancements such as a large digital display of rotating Visiting Chefs along with glamourous art deco inspired furnishings, fresh floral arrangements, and new wine collectables displayed throughout. The highlight of the space is a 50 foot completely glass enclosed wine tower holding over 1,600 bottles of wine from around the world surrounded by two large dining rooms with intimate seating, tasting bar, 5 private dining rooms and an outdoor terrace overlooking Oak Street. Guests and wine club members will continue to have access to a wine pick up counter, The Visiting Chef Series will feature a cast of highly notable chefs presenting quarterly menus that explore the long and celebrated relationship between food and wine. Reservations open March 11th via Open Table. Hours of Operation: Sunday Thursday: 11AM 9PM *(lunch begins Tuesday, March 22) Friday & Saturday: 11AM 10PM Address: Esquire by Cooper's Hawk 58 E Oak Street Chicago, IL 60611 P: (312) 736 9999 About Cooper's Hawk Founded in 2005 by CEO Tim McEnery, Cooper's Hawk was built upon the belief that food and wine hold the power to forge lasting connections. The portfolio currently includes 49 Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant locations, 545,000-member wine club and "by Cooper's Hawk" concepts that showcase a curated selection of some of the best culinary and wine experiences. Cooper's Hawk wines have won over 600 awards and are the Official Wines of the Screen Actors Guild Awards. (www.chwinery.com) MORE Website: www.chwinery.com Instagram: @esquirebyCH + @chwinery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esquirebych + www.facebook.com/coopershawk Contact: Elaine LaPersonerie P: 212 614 2191 | [email protected] SOURCE Esquire by Cooper's Hawk OAKLAND, Calif., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlaw , the cloud-native investigation and litigation platform, today announced it won the Litigation & Discovery category at the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2022, which honor the companies working on precedent-setting, game-changing projects and initiatives. Everlaw was recognized for its use in a high-profile Theranos case, for which lawyers identified potentially incriminating evidence with Everlaw's advanced, modern ediscovery platform. Reed Kathrein, a partner at class-action and plaintiffs' litigation law firm Hagens Berman, was tasked with mining over 1 million documents to find key pieces of evidence for a 2016 investor lawsuit against Theranos. After discovering a note that Elizabeth Holmes had written to herself, Kathrein used Everlaw's metadata search capabilities to quickly find about 40 other similar notes, including one that potentially implicated criminal intent. Kathrein secured a settlement for his client that included continued public access to the depositions, video and exhibits for future criminal litigation. "Everlaw made it simple to find that one key piece of evidence that helped make this case," Kathrein said. "I've been working in fraud and security for decades, we're seeing an unprecedented amount of data to review in emails, chat messages, and other documents. Everlaw is revolutionizing the way we review that information, helping us find a straighter path to the critical documents." Not only was it imperative that Kathrein uncover key evidence, but also he needed to find it quickly. Kathrein was under pressure to reach a positive outcome for his client before Theranos went bankrupt. Everlaw helped him accomplish that with innovative search technology that makes highly complex searches using metadata simple to execute. "It's an honor to be recognized as a leader in litigation and discovery, especially as our platform is crucial in influential, history-making cases such as Theranos," said Everlaw CEO AJ Shankar. "The law is an essential pillar of civil society, and it deserves state-of-the-art technology. Everlaw is at the forefront of modernizing litigation, providing advanced technology to find the exact pieces of evidence needed to break open the case. Thanks to Reed Kathrein and the team at Hagens Berman, and all of our users, for their brilliant work illuminating the truth." This recognition comes on the heels of Everlaw's placement on the prestigious Fast Company Most Innovative Companies list, where it was named fourth in the Most Innovative Enterprise Companies category. Everlaw continues to innovate to keep pace with the ever-changing nature of law and the workplace, as it just released a new feature to help legal teams redact audio and video evidence as multimedia evidence soars within hybrid work environments. About Everlaw Everlaw blends cutting-edge technology with modern design to help government entities, law firms and corporations solve the toughest problems in the legal industry. Everlaw is used by Fortune 100 corporate counsels and household brands like Hilton and Dick's Sporting Goods, 76 out of the AM Law 200 and all 50 U.S. state attorneys general. Based in Oakland, California, Everlaw is funded by top-tier investors, including TPG Growth, CapitalG, Menlo Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, H.I.G. Growth Partners and K9 Ventures. Learn more at https://www.everlaw.com . Media Contact: Mission North Forever Everlaw [email protected] SOURCE Everlaw SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Farallon Capital Management L.L.C. ("Farallon") today issued a statement detailing its belief that Toshiba Corporation ("Toshiba" or the "Company") (6502.T) should carefully evaluate through a comprehensive solicitation process private equity interest in acquiring the Company to put an end to the spiral of mistrust and reposition the Company for the future. Farallon also outlines its current opposition to Toshiba's proposed two-way split (the "spin-off plan"), as it is a premature step prior to a solicitation of privatization proposals. Farallon's key views and voting intentions regarding the upcoming EGM are as follows: Vote NO for Proposal 1 The proposed 2-way spin-off is premature since a privatization was never adequately explored New management has acknowledged they were not involved in the development of the spin-off plan Voting yes would grant the Company the ability to disenfranchise shareholders at a later date Voting no does not preclude choosing the RIGHT spin-off plan with wide support at a later date Vote YES for Proposal 3 Shareholders request the Company continue its strategic review to ensure all alternatives are fully considered and benchmarked against the Spin-Off Plan against the Spin-Off Plan Farallon believes the privatization solution is both (1) the most value maximizing alternative and (2) the only solution for Toshiba to fix its governance, capital allocation issues, and the deep mistrust with its shareholders Farallon issued the following statement: "We are deeply concerned by the disarray at the Company and regret the further erosion of trust Toshiba has caused by changing the method and resulting vote threshold of its proposed spin-off plan while refusing to engage with potential private equity acquirers. Farallon believes that a privatization is likely in the best interest of all of Toshiba's stakeholders and will enable the Company to emerge stronger after a period of focused reform and revitalization. However, as there has been no solicitation of proposals or a request for bids, shareholders cannot with confidence benchmark the appeal of one option versus the other, though it is clear that a "do nothing" status quo is unacceptable. As a result, Farallon intends to vote NO to Proposal 1 and YES to Proposal 3. We believe this is the last chance to fix Toshiba . There have been five years of discord and it is the Board that must finally do the right thing and end the cycle of conflict. We believe that the only viable option to put an end to the spiral of mistrust and reposition the Company for the future is to solicit privatization proposals." About Farallon Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., is a global investment firm founded in 1986 and registered as an investment advisor with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission since 1990. Farallon seeks investments across asset classes and around the world through a process of bottom-up fundamental research and analysis emphasizing capital preservation. More information on Farallon is available at www.faralloncapital.com. Disclaimer This press release is for general information purposes only and is not complete. Under no circumstances is this intended to be, nor should it be construed as an offer, invitation, marketing of services or products, advertisement, inducement or representation of any kind, nor as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any investment products or make any type of investment in securities. This press release should not be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial or other advice. Additionally, this press release should not be construed as an offer to buy any investment in any fund or account managed by Farallon Capital Management L.L.C. or any of its affiliates or representatives (collectively, "Farallon"). This press release is not intended and should not be considered to solicit, encourage, induce or seek for Toshiba shareholders to authorize Farallon or any other third party as their proxy in exercising their voting rights on their behalf. Farallon is not soliciting or requesting other shareholders of Toshiba to jointly exercise their shareholders' rights with Farallon (including, but not limited to, voting rights). Farallon declares that it does not intend to be treated or deemed a "joint holder" (kyo-do hoyu-sha) under the Japanese Financial Instruments and Exchange Act or a "related person" (kankei-sha) under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act with other Toshiba shareholders. This press release is made available exclusively by Farallon and not by or on behalf of Toshiba or its affiliates or subsidiaries or any other person. Farallon is not an affiliate of Toshiba and neither Farallon nor its principals or representatives are authorized to disseminate any information for or on behalf of Toshiba, and nor does Farallon purport to do so. Media Contacts In Japan Propeller Project Labo Inc. Koji Tanimura [email protected] In the U.S. ASC Advisors Steve Bruce / Taylor Ingraham [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE Farallon Capital Management Former ISBG, now BlockQuarry Corp. (BLQC) Executive launches new Web3 NFT Company to IPO in Future Regulation A+ Filing Tweet this Management notes that the Company's in house ability to create, code, and program all their Web3 and blockchain techs is their primary growth drivers, with significant revenue spikes seen over the past months from clients purchasing their NFT collections to enhance their businesses. The company plans to continue to create projects for clients as well as themselves to capitalize on the booming NFT industry and sell their expertise to aid clients in applying their applications to enhance their current business models. Mr. Freiberger continued, "There's a reason why many Fortune 500 companies are now developing their own NFT projects for themselves and for those that are clueless of what NFT's are it's ok. I explain very simply what NFT's are and why they are so important on our websites MediaCoinLLC.com and MusicCryptoGeeks.io Please click on all the pictures for easy video tutorial explanations. If you are a company or investor looking to get info in the NFT, Web3, or Blockchain space we're here to help. MusicCryptoGeeks.io goes live today and we look to have not only a lot of fun with all our projects but change the way we make everyday purchases while protecting personal information from identity theft and finally eliminate online fraud." About MediaCoin LLC: About MediaCoin LLC: MediaCoin LLC is a developer of Web3 applications and blockchain technologies. Based in Indiana, the Companys' expertise lies in their in house ability to create, code, and program all their Web3 and blockchain applications as well as their ability to create, mint, and list all their NFT projects. The Company has extensive expertise in securities, investor relations, as well as sales and product launch experience. MediaCoin LLC is launching a portfolio of NFT, Web3, and blockchain applications to revolutionize many sectors of business over many different types of industries in media, music, automotive sales, tangible goods, luxury brands, and more. More info can be found at MediaCoinLLC.com and MusicCryptoGeeks.io SOURCE MediaCoin LLC ALBANY, N.Y., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global geosynthetics market was worth around US$ 16.1 Bn in 2020. The global market is likely to develop at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period, from 2021 to 2031.The global geosynthetics market is anticipated to attain valuation of US$ 40.7 Bn by 2031. The production of drainage composites, geomembranes, geotextiles, and geogrids is increasing in the global geosynthetics market. The demand for geotextiles and geogrids among these items is likely to drive the expansion of the market in the upcoming years. The geotextile segment is expected to grow considerably during the forecast period, owing to rise in usage of geotextile in the construction industry throughout the world. When used in conjunction with soil, geotextiles are porous fabrics that can be utilized to separate, filter, strengthen, protect, or drain. The flexible and porous character of geotextiles has led to increase in its demand. In addition, increasing adaptability of numerous building projects is likely to drive the demand for geotextile. Geomembranes are another attractive product category that is expected to grow significantly due to its great performance and impermeability. These materials are used in a variety of lining applications, such as tank liners and landfill, to effectively prevent pollutant dispersion. Get PDF Brochure for More Insights https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7934 By 2031, Asia Pacific is predicted to dominate the geosynthetics market, with a market share of over 40%. This can be linked to India and China's growing urbanization and rise in manufacturing industries. ASEAN and GCC are two other profitable regions in the global market. The Asia Pacific geosynthetics market is expanding due to rapid infrastructural development and increase in the number of building projects. Key Findings of Market Report Geosynthetics are used at all phases of construction activities to reinforce infrastructure by strengthening road design, conserving water, controlling erosion, and increasing structural safety, dependability, and overall lifespan. They also work to safeguard the environment and foster energy and resource conservation by developing long-lasting and sustainable solutions. The global geosynthetics market is predicted to grow at a high rate. This is mostly due to increase in demand for budget-friendly civil engineering solutions and technology. The global market is being propelled by a rise in the use of geosynthetics in the building and construction industry due to a number of beneficial attributes. Get Covid 19 Analysis - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=7934 Growing use of geosynthetics in construction, coastal engineering, environmental applications, and civil engineering is expected to strengthen the global geosynthetics market in the near future. Geosynthetics is anticipated to be used in erosion control, soil strengthening, filtration, and separation. Despite strict government regulations on the use of vulcanized carbon and increase in new construction activities in several developing countries are likely to drive demand for geotextiles, geogrids, and geocomposites in the near future. This factor is likely to boost the growth of the geosynthetics market considerably during the forecast period. Request a Sample https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=7934 Geosynthetics Market: Growth Drivers The global geosynthetics market is primarily driven by increase in the number of existing projects to improve civic amenities, developments in the transportation industry, and soaring demand for use of geosynthetics in industrial and hazardous waste Due to their excellent impermeability and performability, geomembranes are a profitable product category that is expected to grow significantly in the future year. They assist in preventing pollutant diffusion and are used in a variety of lining applications, including tank liners and landfill. Global Geosynthetics Market: Key Players Some of the key market players are Propex Operating Company LLC. Suntech Geotextile Pvt. Ltd Officine Maccaferri S.p.A. Low & Bonar PLC. Agru America Inc. GSE Environmental Inc. Make an Enquiry Before Buying - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=EB&rep_id=7934 Global Geosynthetics Market: Segmentation Product Type Geotextiles Geomembranes Geogrids Drainage Composites Others Application Containment Reinforcement Filtration and Drainage Others Energy & Natural Resources Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Energy & Natural Resources: Plastic to Fuel (PTF) Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/plastic-to-fuel-ptf-market.html Adjustable Mode Beam (AMB) Laser Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/adjustable-mode-beam-amb-laser-market.html About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. 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Contact Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/geosynthetics-market.htm SOURCE Transparency Market Research DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Agricultural Sensors Market: Focus on Product, Application, and Country Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2020-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global agricultural sensors market was valued at $4.18 billion in 2020, which is expected to grow with a CAGR of 15.4% and reach $9.79 billion by 2026. The growth is primarily attributed to increased awareness of the benefits of alternative and optimized farming techniques that entail over conventional farming. The key sensor types are humidity sensor, mechanical sensor, water sensor, optical sensor, soil sensor, and others (livestock, electrochemical, pressure) which are being widely used in the agriculture industry for water management, soil management, climate, and dairy management. Market Growth Drivers Higher Yields in Comparison to Conventional Techniques Trending Concept of Indoor Farming Active Innovations by Research Institutions Backed by Government Initiatives Increased Crop Failure Incidents in Conventional Farming Market Challenges Technical Disruption High Volume of Produced Data High Cost of Set-Up Market Opportunities Increasing Popularity of Artificial Intelligence Based Solution Providers Increased Traction of Precision Farming & Indoor Farming Key Questions Answered in the Report What is the estimated global agricultural sensors market size in terms of revenue for the forecast period 2021-2026, and what is the expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period 2021-2026? What are the key trends, market drivers, and opportunities in the market pertaining to agricultural sensors and equipment? What are the major restraints inhibiting the growth of the global agricultural sensors market? What kinds of new strategies are being adopted by the existing market players to expand their market position in the industry? What is the competitive strength of the key players in the agricultural sensors market based on an analysis of their recent developments, product offerings, and regional presence? How is the competitive benchmarking of the key agricultural sensors and equipment companies in the agriculture market based on the analysis of their market coverage and market potential? Which type of players and stakeholders are operating in the market ecosystem of agricultural sensors and equipment, and what is their significance in the global market? Which are the leading consortiums and associations in the global agricultural sensors market, and what are their roles in the market? How does the regulatory landscape differ in different regions for agricultural sensors and equipment? Agricultural Sensors Market Sensors used in smart farming are known as agriculture sensors. These sensors provide data that assist farmers in monitoring and optimizing crops by adapting to changes in environmental conditions. By positioning sensors, farmers can examine crop health at a micro scale, sustain resources, and reduce harsh environmental impact. The smart sensing technology enables farmers to remotely monitor their fields' pest population on a real-time basis. This helps them take immediate action to protect their crops, utilizing online cloud services and a dashboard. With a better adoption of alternative farming techniques, countries with low agricultural production due to climatic conditions and low arable land can reinvent their agricultural sector. This would help the countries diversify and limit their vegetable and fruit imports. The global agricultural sensors market is expected to grow more in the coming years with increased emphasis on alternative and vertical farming and increased government initiatives worldwide for uplifting the global agricultural industry. Market Segmentation Global Agricultural Sensors Market by Application The global agricultural sensors market in the application segment is expected to be dominated by soil management. This scenario is majorly attributed to the fact that soil is the prime part of the crop plantation process. Followed by soil management is water management, which accounts for the second-highest share in the concerned market. Water management forms the second most important step in the growth process. Timely irrigation and monitoring of the water and moisture content is necessary for the crops' healthy growth, so water management is likely to propel the application of related sensors. Global Agricultural Sensors Market by Product The global agricultural sensors market in the product segment is expected to be dominated by electrochemical sensors. These sensors have the highest demand as they help monitor and evaluate critical applications, including soil and water management. These sensors are likely to witness significant growth in the future years on account of the increasing demand for food production. Global Agricultural Sensors Market by Region North America was estimated to hold the highest share of about 24% in 2020, thereby accounting for a value of $1,003.9 million. The highest contributing country in the North America agricultural sensors market is the U.S. due to the prevalence of advanced technology and its implications in the farming sector to increase production. Also, North America is characterized as a tech-savvy region wherein every industry, including agriculture, is actively adopting smart technologies to achieve sustainable and efficient production. Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles Acclima Inc. Acuity Agriculture AgriData AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. BaySpec, Inc. Caipos GmbH CropX Inc. Cubert GmbH Digital Agriculture ( Robert Bosch and BASF) and BASF) FluroSat Gamaya HAIP Solution GmbH Imec Inno-spec GmbH INO Libelium Precision Hawk Pycno The Yield Pty Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f28ab9 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets What's New for 2022? Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 7; Released: February 2022 Executive Pool: 527 Companies: 51 - Players covered include 3D Systems, Inc.; Autodesk, Inc.; BenQ Asia Pacific Corporation; BobCAD-CAM, Inc.; Camnetics, Inc; CAXA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.; Dassault Systemes; GRZ SOFTWARE LLC; Hexagon AB (Sweden); Mastercam (CNC Software, Inc.); MecSoft Corporation; NTT DATA ENGINEERING SYSTEMS Corporation; OPEN MIND Technologies; PTC; Schott Systeme GmbH; Siemens; SmartCAMcnc; SolidCAM; ZWSOFT CO., LTD. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Component (Solutions, Services); Deployment (On-Premise, Cloud0; End-Use (Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Industrial Equipment, Medical Devices & Components, Other End-Uses) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Spain; Russia; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; India; South Korea; Rest of Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Brazil; Rest of Latin America; Middle East; Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Computer-Aided Manufacturing Market to Reach $4.6 Billion by 2026 Computer-aided manufacturing or CAM represents an application technology which uses machinery and computer software for facilitating and automating different manufacturing processes. In the modern industrialized world, CAM has become an indispensable part in people's lives. CAM currently is used alongside CAD (Computer Aided Design) for achieving more streamlined and enhanced manufacturing, superior automation of machinery and more efficient designs. Growth in the global market is set to be driven by rising adoption across end-use industries, rapid industrialization, industrial automation trend and technological advances. The market is expected to gain from increasing use of CAM in the automotive and aerospace sectors. The market is poised to receive a major boost from rapid industrialization along with the industrial automation trend and ongoing technological innovations in the manufacturing industry. Moreover, the emergence of Industry 4.0 coupled with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is bound to create the demand for CAM as these technologies are anticipated to make manufacturing machines connected and smart. CAM is also finding increasing use in the medical industry, especially in dentistry applications. Subtractive milling represents a popular CAM protocol in the field of dentistry as it presents an effective option to fabricate facial and oral prostheses. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Computer-Aided Manufacturing estimated at US$3.2 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.6 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% over the analysis period. Solutions, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 8.2% CAGR to reach US$4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Services segment is readjusted to a revised 9.1% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 20.7% share of the global Computer-Aided Manufacturing market. CAM solutions dominate market share as the easy integration of CAM solutions with designing tools helps engineers in implementing changes and increasing manufacturing efficiency. Cloud-based services are garnering considerable attention owing to their ability to reduce costs and provide scalable, flexible access to desired solutions. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.1 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $492.5 Million by 2026 The Computer-Aided Manufacturing market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.1 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 34.63% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$492.5 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 10.5% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 6.9% and 8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 7.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$549.4 Million by the end of the analysis period. North America enjoys the leading position in the global market, owing to increasing uptake of cloud-based CAM platforms to aid manufacturing and automate production, and increasing shift towards smart factory and Industry 4.0. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. What's New for 2022? Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 10; Released: February 2022 Executive Engagements: 534 Companies: 33 - Players covered include Applied Materials, Inc.; JEOL Ltd.; ASML B.V.; Lam Research Corporation; Hitachi High-Tech Corporation; Nanotronics; NGR Inc. ; Photo Electron Soul Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Type (Less Than 1 nm, 1 to 10 nm, More Than 10 nm); Application (Defect Imaging, Lithographic Qualification, Bare Wafer OQC/IQC, Wafer Dispositioning, Reticle Quality Inspection, Other Applications) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global E-Beam Wafer Inspection Systems Market to Reach $1.4 Billion by 2026 E-Beam Wafer Inspection System is a semiconductor fabrication tool that relies on electron beam scanning to inspect killer defects in a wafer. Wafer defect inspection systems are used for detecting physical defects, such as presence of foreign substances known as particles, as well as pattern defects on wafers, and determining the position coordinates of these defects. E-beam wafer inspection systems are generally used by research and development projects in which accuracy remains paramount. Since e-beam wafer inspection technology is designed to operate in the 2 nm range, the technology is ideal for inspecting semiconductor wafers. Driven by increasing efforts to maximize throughput times, for instance through engagement of multiple beams, the market for e-beam wafer inspection systems holds significant potential for growth. Because of the rapid and sustained advancement being experienced by the semiconductors and electronics industry, defects management is more critical in the present day environment. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for E-Beam Wafer Inspection Systems estimated at US$632.2 Million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$1.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 19.8% over the analysis period. More Than 10 nm, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 19.5% CAGR to reach US$1.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the 1 To 10 Nm segment is readjusted to a revised 20.2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 22.3% share of the global E-Beam Wafer Inspection Systems market. E-Beam Wafer Inspection, with Resolving Power of more than 10nm, extends an inspection system with the flexibility, sensitivity, and production-worthy performance required for inline monitoring of product wafers at >10nm node. E-Beam Wafer Inspection, with Resolving Power in the range of 1 to 10nm, offers superior reliability in scaling the transistor to 10nm. Migrating to 10nm nodes entails numerous challenges, with killer defects being the primary concern. Detecting wafer defects is becoming complicated and expensive at each node, and remains extremely challenging at 10nm, where E-Beam Wafer Inspection extends a reliable model to ensure flawless detection of defects. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $78 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $329.7 Million by 2026 The E-Beam Wafer Inspection Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$78 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 12.44% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$329.7 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 24.8% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 14.2% and 16.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 16.8% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$397.1 Million by the end of the analysis period. Asia-Pacific occupies leadership position in the global market owing to presence of various semiconductor foundries including UMC, SMIC, and TSMC. These foundries are engaged in manufacturing ICs using designs offered by fabless semiconductor players. Taiwan, China, Japan, and South Korea account for majority of revenue generation in the Asian region. Owing to a growing electronics manufacturing industry in the country, India too is becoming increasingly attractive market for e-beam wafer inspection systems. Less Than 1 nm Segment to Reach $100 Million by 2026 E-beam hotspot inspection tools with resolving power of less than 1nm enable detection of the most challenging defects that other technologies fail to notice. E-beam inspection systems with 1nm resolution support are extremely useful in R&D, ramp and production control of multiple patterning, 3D NAND, DRAM, and FinFET formation applications. Advanced e-beam inspection systems such as Applied Materials' PROVision ensure monitor process marginality to seamlessly resolve ramp issues and realize higher yields. In the global Less Than 1 nm segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 22% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$14.9 Million will reach a projected size of US$60 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$38.6 Million by the year 2026. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 10; Released: February 2022 Executive Pool: 4469 Companies: 79 - Players covered include AFL; Alfocom Technology Co. Ltd; Allied Telesis, Inc.; AT&T Inc.; Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited; CommScope; Corning Incorporated; Fibernet Ltd.; Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited; Huawei; MTN Group; Nippon Telegram and Telephone Corporation; OFS Fitel, LLC.; Shanghai Sun Telecommunication; Telkom; Tellabs Access, LLC; Vodafone Group PLC; ZTE Corporation; ZTT International and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Architecture (FTTh/p/b, FTTa, FTTn/c/k); Distribution Network (AON, PON); Product (ONT/ONU, OLT, Optical Splitter); Vertical (Commercial, Residential, Industrial) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Fiber to the x Market to Reach $22.4 Billion by 2026 Fiber to the X or FFTX refers to a broadband network architecture that makes use of a telecom operator's network for delivering broadband connections to businesses, residences and other entities. The 'X' in Fiber to the X can be termed as a variable that indicates the point in the broadband network where optical fiber ends and copper cabling takes over. Continuous advancements in fiber optics technology resulted in enhanced performance of fiber optic cables over their copper counterparts, thereby translating into huge demand for fiber optic components. As computer and data networking evolves and new technologies emerge such as Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and cloud computing, optical fiber is becoming the technology of choice. The ongoing transition to high-speed fiber optic networks, like 40 and 100 Gbps networks, is likely to continue well into the future spawning opportunities for fiber optic components. For instance, upgradations to higher speed networks will generate demand for array type Multiple-Fiber Push-On (MPO) connectors. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Fiber to the x estimated at US$16.4 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$22.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% over the analysis period. FTTh/p/b, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 8.8% CAGR to reach US$10.9 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the FTTa segment is readjusted to a revised 9.3% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 28.5% share of the global Fiber to the x market. The Covid-19 pandemic pushed an unprecedented digital surge, thus bringing fiber communications into the spotlight. With normal life disrupted and employees separated from their offices, video conferencing has emerged into a social and enterprise lifeline. The accelerated pace of digital transformation and the massive forced migration to work from home (WFH) models represent the two major factors driving growth in the market. Home offices, remote networking, cloud computing, remote communication and collaboration, have all stormed into the spotlight as the world scrambles to find digital alternatives to being physically present. Virtual interactions will be the new normal and will be used extensively used to enhance real-world operational abilities of remote teams. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $3.1 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $6.3 Billion by 2026 The Fiber to the x market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.1 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 19.5% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$6.3 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 11.1% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.2% and 7.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 8% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$6.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Asia remains a major consumer, in terms of infrastructure roll-out as well as in promotion and application of the technology to facilitate the digital economy. Asia also remains the major regional market in the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband marketplace, with countries such as South Korea and Japan considered world leaders in this vertical. On the other hand, Europe and North America also have higher penetration of broadband networks, the speed of which is at par or exceeds the networks in Asia. FTTn/c/k Segment to Reach $5.8 Billion by 2026 FTTN, also referred to as Fiber to the Node, is a network that connects optical fiber to a cabinet that is usually located within 1 mile radius of each single customer. Each cabinet is capable of connecting hundreds of customers to the network using existing copper or even coaxial cables. This way FTTN proves to be a cost-effective solution that can provide advanced triple-play telecom services to score of subscribers from a single node, eliminating the need to lay fiber all along till the cable reaches the subscriber premises. In the global FTTn/c/k segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 10% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$2.5 Billion will reach a projected size of US$4.8 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$874.1 Million by the year 2026. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 18; Released: February 2022 Executive Pool: 748 Companies: 49 - Players covered include AMO GmbH; Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre; EV Group; IMS Chips; Micro Resist Technology GmbH; Nanonex Corp.; Nano-Terra, Inc.; NIL Technology ApS; NTT Advanced Technology Corp.; Obducat AB; PROFACTOR GmbH; SET Corporation SA; SUSS MicroTec AG; SVG Optronics Co., Ltd.; Toppan Photomasks, Inc.; Transfer Devices, Inc.; Vistec Electron Beam GmbH and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Technology (UV Nanoimprint Lithography, Hot Embossing Lithography, Other Technologies); End-Use (Consumer Electronics, Healthcare, Foundry, Other End-Uses) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Nanopatterning Market to Reach $3.4 Billion by 2026 Defined as a method or technique to generate functional patterns on a substrate or surface at nanometer scale, Nanopatterning is a high potential, lucrative nanotechnology area. The science of nanopatterning relates to controlling the behavior and structure of a matter at intermediary, nanoscale level varying between 1nm and 100nm. In broader terms, nanopatterning is similar to nanolithography, which encompasses several processes based on light or radiation that are used for imprinting nanoscale patterns on surfaces such as silicon chips. Precise and accurate operation is a key advantage offered by the nanopatterning technology. Other benefits offered by the technology include high efficiency, cost effective, reliability, and low power consumption. The technology facilitates miniaturization process. Nanopatterning is an enabling technology with applications across diverse fields including biotechnology, polymer electronics, nanoelectronics, photonics, sensors, hard drives, and microfluidic devices among others. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Nanopatterning estimated at US$1.9 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% over the analysis period. UV Nanoimprint Lithography, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 13.2% CAGR to reach US$2.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Hot Embossing Lithography segment is readjusted to a revised 8.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 5.6% share of the global Nanopatterning market. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $586.5 Million in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $309.2 Million by 2026 The Nanopatterning market in the U.S. is estimated at US$586.5 Million in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 30.92% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$309.2 Million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 18.1% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 11% and 13.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 11.7% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$370.2 Million by the close of the analysis period. The market is expected to be led by North America, given the presence of several IC (integrated circuit) and IDM producing companies. Also, the considerable investments made by telecom and electronics companies are expected to support market growth. Further, the existence of many providers of nanopatterning technology and the significant use of nano technologies in the medical field also underpin the region's dominance. Europe and Asia-Pacific constitute the other important nanopatterning markets, due to the rising use of connected technologies and equipment in these regions. The Asian nanopatterning market is likely to register strong growth, supported by the increasing adoption of sophisticated processors and semiconductors in various applications. The existence of several semiconductor foundries in the region is particularly propelling the use of nanopatterning. Also, the rising application of the technology in fabrication processes is anticipated to fuel the market in regions such as India, South Korea, and China. The use of this technology is on the rise on account of the small number of producers and the shortage of latest technology in the region, in addition to the emergence of lithography. The use of nanopatterning has significantly increased in the Latin America and Middle East and Africa regions, owing to rising demand for tablets and smartphones and the emergence of digital technologies. By End-Use, Consumer Electronics to Reach $1.6 Billion by 2026 The use of nanopatterning in consumer electronics is also anticipated to increase due to growing demand for wearable products (AI-based), tablets, laptops, and smartphones. While CRT TVs are increasingly being replaced by smart TVs and LEDs, tablets are taking the place of notebooks. Further, various home appliances are being connected, which is resulting in the emergence of smart homes. This is fostering the application of nanopatterning. Global market for Consumer Electronics (End-Use) segment is estimated at US$896.4 Million in 2022, and is projected to reach US$1.6 Billion by 2026 reflecting a compounded annual growth rate of 14.5% over the analysis period. The United States constitutes the largest regional market for Consumer Electronics segment, accounting for 32.5% of the global sales. China is poised to register the fastest compounded annual growth rate of 19.2% over the analysis period, to reach US$176.3 Million by the end of the analysis period. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 10; Released: February 2022 Executive Engagements: 534 Companies: 73 - Players covered include Action Nonwovens Co. Ltd.; Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj; Asahi Kasei Corporation; Avgol Ltd.; Bonar Inc.; Dalian Ruiguang Nonwoven Group Co., Ltd.; Dongguan Wei Chun non-woven Co., Ltd.; DowDuPont, Inc.; Fibertex Nonwovens A/S; First Quality Enterprises, Inc.; Fitesa S.A.; Freudenberg & Co. KG; Georgia-Pacific Corporation; Glatfelter; Guangdong Jofo Enterprises Co., Ltd.; Hengtian Jiahua Nonwoven Co., Ltd.; Hollingsworth & Vose Company; Hubei Huan Fu Plastic Products Co., Ltd.; Japan Vilene Company, Ltd.; Johns Manville Corporation; Kingsafe Group Co., Ltd.; Lydall Inc.; Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.; Owens Corning; Paramount Tech Fab Industries; PegasBaby; Propex Operating Company, LLC; Shandong Kangjie Nonwovens Co., Ltd.; Sunshine Nonwoven Fabric Co., Ltd. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Material (Cellulose-based Fibers, Petroleum-based Materials, Specialty Fibers, Latex Binders); End-Use (Household Wipes, Baby Wipes, Industrial Wipes, Personal Care Wipes) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Non-Woven Wipes Market to Reach US$26 Billion by 2026 Non-woven fabrics are described as web structures or sheet bonded together through entangling of filaments or fiber and perforating films by solvent, thermal, mechanical, or chemical treatment. These fabrics are porous, flat sheets that can be directly manufactured from molten plastic or plastic film or separate fibers. The non-woven wipes market broadly includes baby wipes, personal care wipes, home care wipes, and industrial wipes. Several of these market segments are expected to witness continued growth for many years to come. Home care wipes is one segment that has been most directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak has also led various wipes manufacturers to expand their product portfolio with the introduction of new household disinfecting wipes. In addition to wipes, non-woven fabrics are also widely used in the medical industry for manufacturing products, including isolation gowns, surgical gowns, surgical covers and drapes, surgical masks, surgical scrub suits, caps, gloves, shoe covers, bath wipes, wound dressings, plasters, and filters. The fast development of food industry ensures a steady stream of opportunities for industrial wipes in food service facilities. The stringent regulatory initiatives taken up by governments across the world to equip hospitals with essential safety and hygiene standards, is also one of the major factors pushing the value and importance of non-woven medical wipes. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Non-Woven Wipes estimated at US$20.6 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$26 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% over the analysis period. Cellulose-based Fibers, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 7.9% CAGR to reach US$11.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Petroleum-Based Materials segment is readjusted to a revised 6.5% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 26.6% share of the global Non-Woven Wipes market. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $6.2 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $2.8 Billion by 2026 The Non-Woven Wipes market in the U.S. is estimated at US$6.2 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 29.76% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$2.8 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 9.5% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.8% and 6.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.9% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Specialty Fibers Segment to Reach $5.2 Billion by 2026 In the global Specialty Fibers segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 5.5% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$3 Billion will reach a projected size of US$4.3 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$533 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 7% CAGR through the analysis period. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Ophthalmic Devices Market (By Applications, Products, End Users, Regions), Impact of COVID-19, Major Deals, Trends, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global ophthalmic devices market is predicted to reach US$ 68.2 Billion by 2027 The ophthalmic devices are designed for diagnostics, surgical, and vision correction purposes. These devices are continuously gaining increased importance and adoption due to high prevalence of various ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and other vision related issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO): Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment or blindness, of whom at least 1 billion have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed. Therefore, increasing number of eye related disorders propel demand for vision care devices, which in turn propels growth of the ophthalmic devices market. However, the elements such as the high cost of ophthalmic devices and dearth of skilled professionals with expertise in ophthalmic surgery are projected to hamper the growth of the market. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Ophthalmic Devices Market The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global stress test. As the number of people infected with the virus continues to rise around the world, uncertainties about global economic growth increases. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted the growth of the ophthalmic devices market, primarily in Europe, Asia and the U.S., by social restrictions and other precautionary measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as governments began lifting social restrictions, the negative trend in the revenues of these businesses began to level off and stabilize prior to the third quarter of 2020. In the years to come, ophthalmologists are likely to witness an increase in influx of patients, hence driving the ophthalmic devices market. Market Dynamics Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Growth Drivers Technical Advances in Eye Surgeries to Boost Growth Consistent Efforts by Healthcare Organizations to Fuel Ophthalmic Devices Market Increasing Incidence of Diabetes Globally Drives Demand for Ophthalmic Devices Upsurge in The Geriatric Population Base Favors Market Growth Increasing Incidence of Eye Diseases Across the Globe Fuels Market Growth Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Challenges High Price Factor of Ophthalmic Devices Dearth of Skilled Professionals with Expertise in Ophthalmic Surgery Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast By Application Segment On the basis of application, the vision care segment dominated the overall ophthalmic devices market. Surgical instruments devices held second highest share of the overall ophthalmic devices market, while the diagnostic & monitoring devices segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Diagnosis is an indispensable process in the treatment of eye disorders and is responsible for contributing towards the diagnostics & monitoring segment's growth. By Products On product basis, contact lens held largest share of the ophthalmic devices market, while, cataract surgery devices accounted for second highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market. Retinal surgery devices is the third largest product segment of the ophthalmic devices market in 2021. The global market for fundus camera is predicted to exceed US$ 800 Million by 2027. by 2027. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become the standard of care for the assessment and treatment of most retinal diseases. Introduction of hybrid techniques such as optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can open up new pathways for the market. Glaucoma surgery is currently evolving with introduction of several new devices and those in pipeline have continued to address the focus on safety of glaucoma surgery. The global cataract surgery devices market is projected to surpass US$ 9.3 Billion mark by 2027. By End Users Consumers segment accounted for highest share of the global ophthalmic devices market, as majority of the ophthalmic products such as vision care products are used by the common consumers. Hospitals and ophthalmic clinics & centers captured 2nd and 3rd largest share of the overall ophthalmic devices market respectively in 2021. Ambulatory surgical centers are likely to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period, as these centers provide cost-effective services and a convenient environment that is less stressful than what many hospitals can offer. By Region North America dominated the global ophthalmic devices market in 2021. dominated the global ophthalmic devices market in 2021. In North America , United States captures highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market. , captures highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market. Europe represents a major market for ophthalmic devices, owing to rising chronic eye diseases among geriatric population. represents a major market for ophthalmic devices, owing to rising chronic eye diseases among geriatric population. In Europe , Germany and United Kingdom are the major market for ophthalmic devices. , and are the major market for ophthalmic devices. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies such as China and India . is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies such as and . Japan ophthalmic devices market dominated the Asia Pacific region, while China accounted for around 5% share of the global ophthalmic devices market in 2021. Global Ophthalmic Devices Market Application Segments Diagnostics & Monitoring Devices Fundus Camera Optical Coherence Tomography Scanner Tonometer Others Surgical Instruments Devices Refractive Error Surgery Devices Glaucoma Surgery Devices Cataract Surgery Devices Retinal Surgery Devices Vision Care Contact Lens Others Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - By End Users Hospitals Ophthalmic Clinics and Centers Ambulatory Surgical Centers Consumers Others Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Regional Analysis North America United States Canada Europe United Kingdom Germany France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Japan China India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia UAE Rest of Middle East and Africa Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Company Profiles Alcon, Inc. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Topcon Corporation Bausch Health Companies Inc. (Formerly Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.) Iridex Corporation Ellex Medical Lasers (Acquired by Quantel Medical) Escalon Medical Second Sight Medical Products Inc. Lumenis Nidek Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rt6kwf Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 8; Released: February 2022 Executive Pool: 804 Companies: 187 - Players covered include Actherm Medical Crop.; American Diagnostic Corporation; Becton, Dickinson and Company; Cardinal Health, Inc.; Cosinuss GmbH; DrAgerwerk AG & Co. KGaA; Helen of Troy Limited; Hicks Thermometers India Limited; Hill-Rom Services, Inc.; Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Masimo Corporation; Medtronic plc; Microlife Corporation; Omron Healthcare, Inc.; Procter & Gamble Company and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Product Type (Handheld, Table-Top, Invasive, Smart, Wearable); Application (Pyrexia / Fever, Hypothermia, Blood Transfusion, Anesthesia, Other Applications) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Spain; Russia; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Australia; India; South Korea; Rest of Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; Rest of Latin America; Middle East; Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Rest of Middle East; Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Patient Temperature Monitoring Market to Reach $7.8 Billion by 2026 Maintaining the patient's optimum body temperature is an essential nursing skill. As per WHO, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, and lower respiratory infections were among the top ten causes of death across the world in 2016. Monitoring patient temperature involves keeping an eye on any variations in temperature of the patients. Monitoring the patient body temperature is vital for disease diagnosis. Body temperature tends to rise when a person has a viral infection or any other health conditions. Clinicians and nurses must be armed with accurate temperature monitoring systems that record the core body temperature of patients through the surgical journey. Temperature monitoring systems when used as per directions will reduce the chances of clinician technique inconsistencies. Monitoring of body temperature can help in detecting any fever due to infection, injury, trauma, or other medical conditions. The body temperature is monitored through the mouth, armpits, or rectum. The market for patient temperature monitoring devices depends on the increased awareness to monitor temperature during infectious diseases and chronic conditions. The fast-developing healthcare infrastructure and increased integration with advanced technological platforms for patient temperature monitoring will boost the global market. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Patient Temperature Monitoring estimated at US$5.8 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$7.8 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.2% over the analysis period. Handheld Temperature Monitoring Devices, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 15.2% CAGR to reach US$5.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Table Top Temperature Monitoring Devices segment is readjusted to a revised 7.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 18.7% share of the global Patient Temperature Monitoring market. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.8 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $1 Billion by 2026 The Patient Temperature Monitoring market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.8 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 32.23% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$1 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 14.1% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 8.9% and 9.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 10.1% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$1.2 Billion by the close of the analysis period. The market is driven by an increasing number of medical conditions that need physicians or other users to accurately measure and monitor body temperature for determining the best treatment option. Medical thermometers are diagnostic medical devices intended to measure the body temperature of humans. These devices rely on a digital or mercury based temperature sensor for offering sensitive and accurate measurements. Commonly used in hospitals, clinics and home settings, medical thermometers feature both Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales. Global demand for these devices can be attributed to growing focus on health and fitness, rising geriatric population, increasing awareness about self-care management and growing healthcare spending. The market growth is facilitated by increasing prevalence of various infections, which are often characterized with high fever, requiring doctors to use thermometers to diagnose the infection. Factors like increasing cases of dengue and around 100-400 million incident of infections per year globally have created a strong demand for medical thermometers. While stringent regulations remain key barrier to the market expansion, the increasing demand for safe and fast tests, rising acceptance of digital and infrared thermometers and technological advances are anticipated to favour the market growth in the coming years. The market is also propelled by rising cases of strokes and cardiac arrest coupled with increasing number of surgical interventions that rely on anesthesia administration, which results in drop in body temperature and requires the use of temperature management solutions to prevent the development of intra-operative hypothermia. The demand for these systems is also propelled by rising incidence of cardiac conditions and strokes along with increasing cases of cancer that result in lower body temperature owing to proliferation of cancer cells. The adoption of temperature monitoring systems is also facilitated by their ability to reduce treatment cost and surgical complications. Invasive Temperature Monitoring Devices Segment to Reach $653.6 Million by 2026 In the global Invasive Temperature Monitoring Devices segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 4.6% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$392.4 Million will reach a projected size of US$537.3 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$56.5 Million by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 5.2% CAGR through the analysis period. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 6; Released: February 2022 Executive Pool: 1068 Companies: 93 - Players covered include Arth Infosoft; Beehively; Campus Management Corp.; ComSpec International; NTC Eduware LLC; Ellucian Company L.P; Focus School Software; Foradian Technologies; Illuminate Education; Jenzabar Inc.; Oracle Corporation; PowerSchool; Skyward, Inc.; Tribal Group; Unit4; Workday Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Component (Solutions, Services); Application (Admission & Recruitment, Student Management, Financial Management, Other Applications); End-Use (Higher Education, K-12) Geographies: World; USA; Canada; Japan; China; Europe; France; Germany; Italy; UK; Spain; Russia; Rest of Europe; Asia-Pacific; Australia; India; South Korea; Rest of Asia-Pacific; Latin America; Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; Rest of Latin America; Middle East; Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; UAE; Rest of Middle East; Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Student Information Systems Market to Reach $19.2 Billion by 2026 Student Information Systems (SIS) are sophisticated web-based information management software solutions that help educational establishments in achieving a highly structured and conducive information exchange environment to integrate administration and manage student data. The increasing adoption of these solutions is attributed to growing focus of educational institutions to improve education quality and ensure efficient communication among authorities, faculties and students. These systems are gaining from rising proliferation of mobile devices and the Internet, penetration of e-learning and popularity of over-the-top media services. The market growth is also bolstered by emergence of the Internet of Things, edge computing and 5G telecommunication. Advanced student information systems focus on analytics, mobile applications, behavior tracking and cloud accessibility. The explosion of connected mobile devices is facilitating addition of numerous mobile apps for increasing convenience for students and their parents. In addition, ongoing trends like migration to cloud and mobile accessibility are fostering integration of artificial intelligence to these applications. Emerging technologies such as AI are anticipated to help student information systems deliver enhanced student engagement and contribute to educational outcomes. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Student Information Systems estimated at US$11.3 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$19.2 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 15.5% over the analysis period. Solutions, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 14.2% CAGR to reach US$15 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Services segment is readjusted to a revised 19% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 24.4% share of the global Student Information Systems market. Market growth is led by the solution segment due to robust adoption of student information system software solutions along with factors like easy deployment & maintenance and flexible pricing options. The services segment is witnessing robust growth rate due to increasing focus of educational institutions on integration capabilities for optimization of administration processes. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $3.7 Billion in 2022, While China is Forecast to Reach $2 Billion by 2026 The Student Information Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.7 Billion in the year 2022. The country currently accounts for a 33.37% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$2 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 19.5% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 13% and 14% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 15.2% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$2.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. North America region holds a commanding position owing to rising awareness about these systems across higher educational institutions. The regional market is propelled by increasing penetration of emerging technologies including the Internet of Things, the cloud, big data, digital transformation and mobility. The region is also gaining from introduction of advanced solutions from leading players coupled with ongoing efforts to upgrade SIS solutions with sophisticated technologies. Europe represents the second-leading student information system market due to notable expansion of the educational tourism industry and increasing inflow of foreign students in countries including the UK, France and Germany. The Asia-Pacific region is benefitting from rising focus of educational institutions on digital solutions for pushing operating efficiency. Countries such as China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia are reporting high penetration of student information systems in K-12 Education for aiding school management and providing relevant information to students. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Throughout the afternoon, those in attendance enjoyed craft BBQ while marveling in the debut of the new members lounge and retail space. Various DJs enhanced the vibe, led by none other than Gold's Gym Venice member and March Men's Health cover athlete, Joseph Baena. As a further nod to the important connection between the Gold's Gym community and the surrounding Venice Beach community, a portion of retail sales from the day were donated to the Venice Heritage Foundation. "We are extremely proud of our Gold's Gym Venice bodybuilding community and the communities Gold's Gym has fostered around the world," Gold's Gym CEO Sebastian Schoepe said. "It's heartening to see what Joe Gold started in 1965 still resonates so passionately with people today." "Gold's Gym is such an incredible community because you can see people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, and we support and uplift each other," said celebrity trainer Mike Ryan. "I've been in gyms all over the world and nothing beats the feeling of being here. I love seeing professional bodybuilders working in sets with total beginners everyone is equal and feeds off the energy of being in 'The Mecca' to achieve their goals." The Gold's Gym fitness empire has created a multi-generational enduring legacy beginning in 1965, with an iconic heritage that few brands today can parallel. Uniting legends such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno to the modern-day stars like Simeon Panda, Gold's Gym has spanned decades of history to become one of the world's largest fitness chains, without losing touch of the Venice roots at the heart of the brand. For more information, follow Gold's Gym via Instagram or visit https://www.goldsgym.com . For more images, click here. ABOUT GOLD'S GYM What started out in 1965 as a small gym in Venice Beach, California has since become the most well-known and traditional fitness company in the world Gold's Gym. Over the last 55 years, Gold's Gym has developed into a global brand with over 600 locations spanning 6 continents. Bodybuilding greats such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno and Franco Columbu worked out at the original Gold's Gym, which went on to become the most legendary gym in the world. In the fitness industry, the brand enjoys cult status and universal appeal with 96% aided brand awareness. In 2020, the RSG Group acquired Gold's Gym and integrated the brand into its portfolio, making it the global leader in the fitness sector. For more information, visit https://www.goldsgym.com/ or follow Gold's Gym on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . SOURCE RSG Group DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Perimeter intrusion detection systems represent the foremost like of defense for critical facilities or sites, aligning with the unending pursuit to protect the critical infrastructure from physical attacks, intrusions or thefts. These systems are intended to monitor perimeter of a property to detect and prevent any unauthorized access. Perimeter intrusion detection systems are witnessing increasing demand from various verticals such as electric utilities, logistics, and industrial & commercial facilities due to the pressing need to secure critical infrastructure along with other sites. The construction industry is a major end-user of Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems. Growing number of buildings constructed tends to increase volume of installations of these systems as part of mandatory building security and surveillance regulations. Industrial and commercial verticals are increasingly investing in video surveillance-enabled perimeter intrusion detection systems. The global market for Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems estimated at US$11 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$21.3 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.9% over the analysis period. Solutions, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 11.7% CAGR to reach US$19.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Services segment is readjusted to a revised 13.1% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 16.9% share of the global Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems market. The Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.5 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 30.75% share in the global market. China is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$2.1 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 14.4% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 9.2% and 11.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 10.5% CAGR while Rest of European market will reach US$2.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. North America dominates market growth owing to extensive adoption of perimeter intrusion detection systems in the US and Canada. The Asia-Pacific region is estimated to exhibit substantial growth in the coming years as a result of infrastructure development, government regulations and rising requirement of perimeter security. Select Competitors (Total 295 Featured) - Advanced Perimeter Systems Anixter International Inc Axis Communications AB Cias Elettronica Detection Technologies Limited DeTekion Security Systems, Inc D-Fence Electronic Fencing and Security Systems Fiber SenSys, Inc FLIR Systems Future Fibre Technologies Godrej Security Solutions Harper Chalice Heras Honeywell Jacksons Fencing Johnson Controls International plc PureTech Systems Inc RBTEC Perimeter Security Systems Senstar Corporation SightLogix, Inc Sorhea Southwest Microwave, Inc. Key Topics Covered: 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2022 (E) Fighting Back Against Security Threats is an Ever-Present Need Transportation Emerges as One of the Most Vulnerable Sectors for Incursions Continued Threat of Terrorism Drives the Focus on Surveillance as Counterterrorism Response: Global Number of Fatalities (in '000) Due to Terrorist Attacks: 2007-2017 High Public Perception of Crime Encourages Demand for Security & Surveillance Technologies COVID-19 Leaves the World in Shambles & Industries and Markets Upended: World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2019, 2020 & 2021 A Hurting Construction Industry Among Other Factors Asphyxiates Growth Opportunities for Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Global Construction Industry (In US$ Trillion) Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems - Definition/Scope, Benefits, Components & Types 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Smart City Security and Surveillance Emerge to Provide New Opportunities for Growth Global Smart Cities Opportunity (In US$ Billion) for Years 2021, 2024, 2027 Increased Focus on Border Control & Security Opens New Growth Opportunities for PID Systems Criminalization of Migration Drives Growth of PID in the Perimeter Security Market Crackdown on Illegal Immigration Pushes Up the Demand Momentum for PID Systems in Border Security: Illegal Immigrants in the United States (In Million) (In Million) Critical Infrastructure Protection, a Major Application Area for PID Enhancing Video Surveillance Effectiveness with Perimeter Intrusion Detection: A Major Trend Here's How Artificial Intelligence Will Revolutionize Perimeter Intrusion Detection Modern Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems Feature New Built-In Capabilities and Integration with Other Systems to Offer Multi-Layer Security 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l53o91 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Incisive Consultants, a Healthcare IT digital transformation and optimization consulting firm, announced today that a key Investor and Partner, Shane Adams, has provided a capital infusion following the firm's incredible performance in 2021. Despite the impacts of the global pandemic, Incisive tripled their employee base and doubled their client base in 2021. Most recently, the firm was ranked the 4th fastest growing tech company in Kansas City by the Kansas City Business Journal, realizing 108% revenue growth from 2020 to 2021. Adams has a deep background in healthcare IT and entrepreneurship. After launching his career at Epic Systems in Wisconsin, Adams founded Sagacious Consultants, a Best in KLAS Epic consulting firm that quickly grew to be an industry-leading organization and was later acquired by Accenture in 2015. Adams joined the Incisive team in 2020 as Partner and VP of Strategy and Growth. "Our focus is on the future digital state of healthcare, and we feel as though we are on the forefront of the shift," said Adams. "The capital investment stems from excitement around what the Incisive team has already been able to accomplish, and I really look forward to the continued growth and development over the upcoming years." In 2022, Incisive continues to expand by focusing on Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning within healthcare. The capital infusion from Adams will drive growth, as well as new product and service development. Incisive recently launched their 'Intrapreneurship Program' that aims to guide aspiring entrepreneurs' ideas financially and operationally from ideation to market, whether they are a current Incisive employee or not. The infusion of capital will also support further partnerships with highly notable AI/Automation companies to help healthcare clients with efficiency, optimization, integration, and digital support and care. About Incisive Consultants Based out of Kansas City, Incisive was founded in 2018 and focuses on providing consulting services and resources to guide healthcare providers through the digital transformation of their healthcare services. They provide solutions focused on digital health/telehealth, patient engagement, revenue cycle transformation, operational optimization, and staff augmentation through the full lifecycle of an EHR implementation. Minority owned and highly praised by both expert consultants and healthcare organizations for their high-quality service and dynamic company culture, Incisive is rapidly making their new mark on the evolving industry. Related Links www.incisive-consultants.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/incisive-consultants https://www.incisive-consultants.com/intrapreneur Kansas City Business Journal Fastest Growing Tech Companies in 2021 Media Contact: Jessica Wu 281-685-6143 [email protected] SOURCE Incisive Consultants ZURICH, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Interprefy , a leading provider of cloud-based solutions for multi-lingual online and hybrid conferencing, has integrated its platform with Microsoft Teams. The remote interpreting technology and services company has been invited by Microsoft to collaborate in bringing their real-time language interpretation capabilities to Teams meetings. The add-on for Teams meetings enables meeting organisers to add a language selector to any Teams meetings, allowing participants to speak, listen and engage in their own language. Interpreters can work from anywhere in the world, using the renowned Interprefy platform and deliver interpretation into the required language to Teams in real-time. "We're thrilled to have been working closely with Microsoft in bringing Interprefy's multilingual meeting expertise to Teams users worldwide," says Oddmund Braaten, CEO at Interprefy. "This is a huge step towards inclusivity and accessibility of global meetings to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration." With Interprefy for Microsoft Teams, organisations can tap into Interprefy's global network of Language Service Providers to source vetted professional interpreters for even the rarest language combinations. Interprefy provides technical support throughout the meetings. Commenting on the availability of Interprefy for Teams through the Teams app store, Oddmund Braaten announces the company's next wave of developments: "We've just reached a major milestone in another exciting development, that will bring machine-translated live captions to Teams. Event organisers will be able to flexibly add both simultaneous interpretation and enhanced closed captions to their meetings." The native integration with Teams is the latest milestone in Interprefy's commitment to removing language barriers anywhere, integrating with over 60 meeting and event platforms and a vast range of audiovisual conferencing hardware. About Interprefy Interprefy helps businesses, institutions and NGOs connect in their own language. We provide a powerful cloud-based platform and dedicated event support to make remote simultaneous interpretation and live-translated subtitles available for any meeting, webinar or conference. Headquartered in Zurich, our fully remote team, spread across 29 countries, has supported over 50,000 multilingual events of all shapes and sizes, for clients including The White House, Google, GlaxoSmithKline, or SAP. More info at www.interprefy.com SOURCE Interprefy SAINT PAUL, Minn., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Becker, PLLC, is a nationwide products liability law firm with experience representing victims of pressure cooker explosions. The firm represents over 500 clients who have been severely burned by exploding pressure cookers designed and sold by numerous manufacturers. Johnson Becker filed Complaints on behalf of Mr. Thomas, a resident of California, and Ms. Olguin a resident of Colorado, alleging that Sunbeam Products, Inc., the manufacturer of the Crockpot Express pressure cookers, misrepresented the safety of its pressure cooker. In both of their Complaints, Mr. Thomas and Ms. Olguin allege that Sunbeam mislead consumers about the "safety measures" that Sunbeam touts are designed to keep consumers safe while cooking with their Crockpot Pressure Cookers. Specifically, according to the Complaints, Sunbeam markets the Crockpot Express Pressure Cooker as having a "safety sensors", which are supposed to prevent the unit from both building pressure if the lid is not closed properly, as well as the lid from being removed until all of the pressure is released. However, Mr. Thomas and Ms. Olguin allege that the Crockpot Express pressure cooker contain defects which allow unsuspecting consumers to remove the lid while the cooker is still under pressure causing the scalding hot contents to be projected from the unit. On November 24, 2020, the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced a recall of more than 900,000 of Sunbeam's Crockpot Express pressure cookers after receiving "119 reports of lid detachment, resulting in 99 burn injuries ranging in severity from first-degree to third-degree burns. This suit is filed by Michael K. Johnson, Lisa A. Gorshe, Kenneth W. Pearson and Adam J. Kress of Johnson // Becker, PLLC. Michael K. Johnson is a founding partner of Johnson // Becker, PLLC. Michael, Ken and Adam exclusively handle injury cases, with an emphasis on national products liability litigation, including cases involving burn injuries from defective products. To learn more about Johnson // Becker's product liability cases, or to arrange a free, no obligation case review, please visit Johnson // Becker at https://www.johnsonbecker.com/product-liability/pressure-cooker-lawsuit/, or contact Johnson // Becker directly at (800) 279-6386. SOURCE Johnson // Becker, PLLC CINCINNATI, Ohio, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kao USA Inc. is asking consumers to check their Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer 3 oz and 10 oz products to determine if it is part of a voluntary recall of the product. Select units of Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer could show the presence of Pluralibacter gergoviae, a bacterium which typically poses little medical risk to healthy people. However, people who have certain health problems such as weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to infections. Kao USA is urging consumers to discontinue use of the recalled lotion specified below as a precautionary measure. Further investigation to determine the scope of the issue is still ongoing. However, Kao USA Inc. promptly took the precautionary step of issuing a voluntary recall of the affected product by removing the product in question from warehouses, working with retailers to ensure the product is removed from store shelves, and proactively notifying consumers. Kao USA cares about our consumers' safety. We are committed to manufacturing products that not only meet, but exceed, the highest industry standards. The amount of recalled product is limited to two sizes offered for Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer. Only specific lots of the 3 oz and 10 oz sizes are affected. IDENTIFYING THE AFFECTED PRODUCTS Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer, manufactured between October 1, 2021 and October 18, 2021 , could be impacted. and , could be impacted. The affected lot codes for the 3 oz size can be found on the back of the bottle printed in black ink and begin with the prefix "ZU": ZU712851 ZU712911 ZU712861 ZU722851 ZU712871 ZU722881 ZU712881 ZU722861 ZU722871 The affected lot codes for the 10 oz size can be found on the bottom of the bottle printed in black ink and begin with the prefix "ZU": ZU722741 ZU732791 ZU722771 ZU732801 ZU722781 ZU732811 ZU732781 ZU732821 Kao USA Inc. will inform regulatory authorities of the issue and we are working with our partners on improved cleaning and sanitization practices so that similar issues can be prevented in the future. Anyone who has product from a recalled lot should call the Kao USA Inc. Consumer Care Center for a free product coupon at the following number: 1.800.742.8798 or send an email to: [email protected]. (Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM US ET) A postage paid label and plastic bag will be sent to consumers via mail to easily return the product. Any adverse events with the use of this product should be reported via the FDA's MedWatch Program by one of the following methods: By phone at 888.463.6332 By mail: MedWatch The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville MD 20857-0001 On the MedWatch Web site at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ Another option is to report any adverse events with the use of this product to Kao USA Inc. Consumer Care Center at the following number: 1.800.742.8798 or email us at [email protected]. Kao USA Inc. is a leading manufacturer of premium beauty care brands that are recognized around the world for their innovation and quality. Founded in 1882, Kao USA Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kao Corporation. Media Contact: Stephanie Kennedy, [email protected] SOURCE Kao USA Inc. NEW YORK, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medscape Education will host the second annual Perspectives in Lung Cancer Care virtual conference from March 17-19. This conference is designed to help enhance clinician understanding of the spectrum of lung cancer and provide strategies that can help translate data updates into improvements in patient care. The first Perspectives in Lung Cancer Care conference in 2021 educated more than 13,000 healthcare professionals, and $11,000 was donated to the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer and Cancer Research Institute from registration fees. Lecia V. Sequist, MD, MPH, will act as chair of this year's conference. Sessions held by leading faculty in the field of lung cancer care will include topics on non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, screening and early detection, and more. "Over three days this innovative CME/CE experience will take healthcare professionals on a unique learning journey, which begins when they enter the Virtual Conference Center," said Dr. Sequist. "In this space, eight livestreamed sessions will present the latest education in lung cancer and offer practical application of emerging advances into clinical care." The conference will be powered by MedscapeLIVE! and feature an immersive environment and a dynamic conference experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend content sessions, network with peers and faculty in sessions and in a networking lounge, participate in live quizzing with MedChallenge, and explore a virtual exhibit hall. For more information about the virtual event, visit https://na.eventscloud.com/website/31879/ Perspectives in Lung Cancer Care offers continuing education (CE) credit for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, , and pharmacists commensurate with their participation in the event. About Medscape Education Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses and other educational programs for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. SOURCE Medscape Education Market Dynamics The market is driven by factors such as the growing number of promotional activities, premiumization of menswear, and the evolving menswear fashion. However, the trade policy reforms are hindering market growth. The holistic analysis of the drivers & challenges will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge. Technavio menswear market analysis report also provides detailed information on other upcoming trends that will have a far-reaching effect on the market growth. Company Profiles The menswear market is fragmented and the vendors are expanding their presence worldwide to compete in the market. The menswear market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including H and M Hennes and Mauritz AB, Ralph Lauren Corp., Kering SA, Levi Strauss, and Co., Nike Inc., LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, PVH Corp., and VF Corp. Few companies with key offerings Nike Inc - The company offers a wide range of men's wear products such as running shorts, training tops, bombers, hoodies among others. - The company offers a wide range of men's wear products such as running shorts, training tops, bombers, hoodies among others. The Gap Inc. - The company offers products such as shirts, jeans, and other fashion essentials under the brand name Old Navy. The company offers products such as shirts, jeans, and other fashion essentials under the brand name Old Navy. H and M Hennes and Mauritz AB - The company offers a wide range its clothing, accessories, footwear, cosmetics, home textiles, and homeware to consumers in Asia and Oceania. The company offers a wide range its clothing, accessories, footwear, cosmetics, home textiles, and homeware to consumers in and Oceania. PVH Corp. - The company offers a wide range of fashion products through its sub-brands - Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein & Heritage Brand The company offers a wide range of fashion products through its sub-brands - Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein & Heritage Brand Ralph Lauren Corp. -, The company offers Ralph Lauren branded apparel, footwear, accessories, home furnishings, and related products through wholesale and retail businesses -, The company offers branded apparel, footwear, accessories, home furnishings, and related products through wholesale and retail businesses To know about all major vendors with their key offerings - Download a free sample now! Competitive Analysis The competitive scenario provided in the menswear market report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Market Segmentation Analysis By Product , the market is classified as top wear, bottom wear, CJS, accessories, and others, and intimate and sleepwear. , the market is classified as top wear, bottom wear, CJS, accessories, and others, and intimate and sleepwear. By Distribution Channel , the market is classified as offline and online. , the market is classified as offline and online. By Geography, the market is classified as APAC, Europe , North America , South America , and MEA. Related Reports The leather and allied products market share is expected to increase by USD 138.82 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.59%. Download a free sample now! share is expected to increase by USD 138.82 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.59%. The racing apparel market share is expected to increase by USD 1.20 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.16%. Download a free sample now! Menswear Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.72% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 182.66 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.40 Performing market contribution APAC at 39% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled H and M Hennes and Mauritz AB, Ralph Lauren Corp., Kering SA, Levi Strauss and Co., Nike Inc., LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, PVH Corp., The Gap Inc., and VF Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for 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 Content Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Product Market segments Comparison by Product Top wear - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Bottom wear - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 CJS - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Accessories and others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Intimate and sleep wear - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Product Market Segmentation by Distribution channel Market segments Comparison by Distribution channel Offline - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Distribution channel Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors H and M Hennes and Mauritz AB Industria de Diseno Textil SA Kering SA Levi Strauss and Co. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE Nike Inc. PVH Corp. Ralph Lauren Corp. The Gap Inc. VF Corp. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio TUSCALOOSA, Ala., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NHS Management, LLC ("NHS") is providing notice of an event that may affect the security of certain information. NHS provides consulting services to nursing and physical rehabilitation facilities located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri. On May 16, 2021, NHS discovered that it was the victim of a sophisticated cyberattack. NHS immediately took steps to stop the attack and mitigate the harm. NHS launched an investigation with the assistance of a third-party forensic team to confirm the full nature and scope of the incident and restore functionality to impacted systems. Through the investigation, NHS determined that an unauthorized actor accessed certain NHS systems and information stored therein between February 25, 2021 and May 16, 2021. Although NHS has no evidence of any identity theft or fraud in connection with this incident, the documents on these systems that were determined to have been accessed or potentially accessible were reviewed by a third-party data review team to determine what, if any, personal information was contained within them. On February 4, 2022, this extensive review identified certain personal information was present within the affected documents. NHS then undertook efforts to confirm the identities of the individuals whose information was present in the documents and began providing notice once they located the contact information to do so. To be clear, NHS has uncovered no evidence that any employee or patient information was misused. Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, NHS is working to provide notice to its employees, nursing home residents and patients, and any other individuals whose personal information was contained within the affected systems and involved in the incident. As a precautionary measure, NHS is providing notice to potentially affected individuals for whom they have valid mailing addresses, so that these individuals may take further steps to best protect personal information, should they feel it is appropriate to do so. NHS also notified the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office for Civil Rights and federal law enforcement. The information that may have been impacted by this incident could have included one or more of the following: an individuals' name; address and other contact information; medical history; treatment or diagnosis information; health information; health insurance information; Social Security number, date of birth, and/or driver's license number. However, not every data element would have been impacted for every individual, and there is no evidence of unauthorized access to the database that contains electronic medical records. NHS takes this incident and the security of personal information in their care very seriously. Upon learning of this incident, NHS moved quickly to investigate, to secure the relevant NHS systems, and begin notifying potentially affected individuals. As part of their ongoing commitment to the security of information, NHS is also reviewing and enhancing existing policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of a similar future event. NHS encourages potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, explanation of benefits, and credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors over the next 12 to 24 months. Under U.S. law individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Individuals may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of their credit report, place a fraud alert, or a security freeze. Contact information for the credit bureaus is below. Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below. As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information: Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft. Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below: Equifax, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA, 30348, 1-800-685-1111, www.equifax.com; Experian, P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013, 888-397-3742, www.experian.com; TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, 800-680-7289, www.transunion.com. Potentially impacted individuals may also find information regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes and the steps they may take to protect their information by contacting the credit bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission or their state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement or the individual's state Attorney General. For more information you may write to NHS at 931 Fairfax Park, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. SOURCE NHS Management, LLC NEW YORK, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE: OUT) announced today that Jeremy Male, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the 2022 Deutsche Bank Media, Internet & Telecom Conference on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 9:35 a.m. Eastern Time. A live and replay audio webcast will be available on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.OUTFRONTmedia.com. About OUTFRONT Media Inc. OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in North America. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go. Contacts: Investors Media Stephan Bisson Courtney Richards Investor Relations PR & Events Specialist (212) 297-6573 (646) 876-9404 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc. OSLO, Norway, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (PHO: OSE), The Bladder Cancer Company, announces that its partner Asieris Pharmaceuticals (688176.SH) has obtained approval to conduct a real-world evidence study for Hexvix in Hainan, China, in addition to the Phase III study approved last month. Asieris announced today that the Hainan Provincial Medical Products Administration, in accordance with advice from the National Medical Products Administration Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), has approved the inclusion of Hexvix in the clinical real-world evidence pilot study. In January 2021, Asieris Pharmaceuticals entered into a license agreement with Photocure, obtaining exclusive rights to register and commercialize Hexvix in mainland China and Taiwan. In December 2021, Hexvix was put into pilot use in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province with several patients receiving the procedure to date. The recommendation of combined use of Hexvix and blue light cystoscopy (BLC) for the improved management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has been included in all major clinical practice guidelines, including Chinese Urological Association Guideline. The present approval will allow Asieris to capture real world Hexvix data from the Hainan Pilot in addition to the results generated from the planned randomized controlled Phase III trial in China. Read Asieris' full media release here: https://asieris.com/hexvix-has-obtained-cde-approval-to-carry-out-clinical-real-world-evidence-study/ Note to editors All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin. About Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer ranks as the eighths most common cancer worldwide with 1 720 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)1a, 573 000 new cases and more than 200 000 deaths annually in 2020.1b Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate with an average of 61% in year one and 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.3 Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.4 1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [January 2022]. 2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657 3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295300 4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html About Hexvix/Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl) Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the bladder making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors and better management decisions. Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S. and Europe, and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in China, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Please refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further information on our commercial partners. About Photocure ASA Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Dan Schneider President and CEO Photocure ASA Email: [email protected] Erik Dahl CFO Photocure ASA Tel: +4745055000 Email: [email protected] David Moskowitz Vice President, Investor Relations Photocure ASA Tel: +1 202 280 0888 Email: [email protected] Media and IR enquiries: Geir Bjrlo Corporate Communications (Norway) Tel: +47 91540000 Email: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-partner-asieris-announces-cde-approval-for-hexvix-clinical-real-world-evidence-study-in-ch,c3522675 SOURCE Photocure PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang and Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. signed a Distribution and Marketing Agreement as a commitment to enhance the speed and reliability of Internet Access across Indonesia. This marks a commitment by both PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang and Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. in support of PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) Jakarta Raya, Indonesia PT Indonesian Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) / BDI is the holding company of many Village Owned Enterprises in Indonesia. PT BDI oversees and has network of more than 94,500 business entities spread across villages and remote areas of Indonesia. All are collaborating to transform and improve a range of digital services across Indonesia. Virtual 5G, a first of its' kind, delivers 5G Mobile Broadband speeds, and a globally available 5G service through a worldwide OTT (Over The Top) network, which operates over all existing forms of networks including Cellular Radio, WiFi, Terrestrial, and Satellite. As an OTT, Virtual 5G's service globally interconnects users through any and all service providers. OTT's have rapidly become the dominant platform for rapidly deploying transformative services. Virtual 5G service is accessed through a Mobile (Client) App available through Google Play as Premium Software. Virtual 5G enables all Internet activities by users in Indonesia to enjoy the low latency, high bandwidth, reliable services that Indonesia wants and needs via Mobile Broadband; Social Media, Browsing, News, Download/Upload Multimedia, Email, and Apps. Virtual 5G enables 5G Mobile Broadband on Android phones that support Android 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10, 11 and Android 12, which is the Operating System on the newest generation Android 5G Phones; on every generation of Android Mobile Devices, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G; and on every generation of Cellular Radio Infrastructure, 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE, and 5G where it is deployed. Virtual 5G also delivers 5G Mobile Broadband over all Internet Access Technologies; Cellular Radio, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM, which is the infrastructure which PT BDI operates to bring service to Rural and Urban communities such as Villages, Towns, and Cities across Indonesia. Virtual (Software) 5G rolls out in seconds, scales limitlessly, and compliments Infrastructure 5G. These are just a few of the critical reasons why Virtual 5G can benefit Indonesia. Indonesia presents a unique opportunity for Virtual Internet, with PT ABC and PT BDI. Indonesia has the world's 4th largest population; and Indonesia is the world's largest island nation. Indonesia has unique challenges to deploying nationwide 5G Mobile Broadband Internet access. Almost half of Indonesia, 43%, lives in rural areas; this percentage is twice as great as other regions; 83% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas, 72.5 % of EU-28 inhabitants live in cities, in Latin America and the Caribbean, 81.2% of the population lives in urban areas. Indonesians in both rural and urban areas want and need high speed Internet for online activities. PT BDI is focused on enhancing rural services; and these areas are of special importance to Indonesia. Indonesians are extremely digitally savvy; Indonesia is a world leader in the consumption of Internet and Social Media services. This commercial agreement demonstrates how the digital ecosystem within Indonesia is leveraging existing and new technologies to meet Indonesia's unique challenges to create world class Mobile Broadband service for all Indonesians. Virtual 5G is immediately available at a per device annual subscription of $6 US to the nearly 300 Million in Indonesia that operate almost 450 Million Devices and highlights a major benefit of Virtual 5G. Employing a Virtual (Software) 5G approach enables the immediate roll out of a 21st Century high speed Mobile Broadband service across Indonesia. Using an OTT to deliver 5G Mobile Broadband is an innovative and important commercial step, part of a comprehensive approach to rapidly transforming Indonesia's digital landscape and seamlessly bringing 5G Mobile Broadband service to one of the largest populations of Internet users in the world. As the world's only global 5G Mobile Broadband Network, with millions of users in over 150 countries, Virtual (Software) 5G has already been deployed across multiple traditional Telecom networks, demonstrating that Virtual 5G is complimentary to existing 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G networks in Indonesia and around the globe. Indonesia is experiencing rapid economic growth and is in need of rapid technological improvements, especially in Mobile Broadband, as Indonesia expands its' position as an economic center of opportunity in Asia, and as Indonesia unlocks its' digital potential. Widespread 5G is frequently not projected to appear until the end of the decade, approximately 2030. Virtual 5G bridges this gap, and enhances Infrastructure 5G networks when and where they are built. Virtual 5G is currently available globally, it is portable and borderless, travels with the user, and Virtual 5G available to over 6.5 Billion in 150 countries worldwide, in every continent, on any generation (e.g. 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G) phone, eliminating the wait for 5G service. 5G technology is maturing. Virtual (Software) 5G is part of the strategic focus on 5G. Hardware 5G and Software (Virtual) 5G are complimentary technological approaches to unlocking the benefits of 5G for consumers and enterprises. Virtual 5G works with Infrastructure 5G to address the challenges of deploying 5G Service. Virtual 5G enables Nations and Service Providers, including Telecoms deploying 5G infrastructures and 5G ready Smartphones, to accelerate roll-outs and the creation of new services in building digital economies in post-COVID recovery. With this commercial announcement, Indonesia is showing it will leverage Virtual (Software) 5G as Indonesia nurtures a growing and vibrant local Hardware and Software 5G ecosystem. Indonesia, with a significant portion of the global population, is leading the way to the next chapter of the global digital age. About PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) / BDI PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) Jakarta Raya, Indonesia PT Indonesian Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) / BDI is the holding company of many Village Owned Enterprises in Indonesia. PT BDI oversees and has network of more than 94,500 business entities spread across villages and remote areas of Indonesia. About Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Virtual Internet is a metaverse company, Incorporated in Singapore. Virtual Internet is building a new community of millions of users, connected through multiple networks. Virtual Internet has created and operates on its' own Virtual 5G Global Overlay Network, which allows millions of other applications and services to be delivered over 5G Mobile Broadband Speeds using existing Cellular Radio, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM networks. About ADARA Networks, Inc. ADARA Networks, Inc. is acknowledged as one of the premier providers of SDN and Cloud Networking products. Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Singapore, is a wholly owned subsidiary of ADARA Networks. CONTACT: 408-579-5000 SOURCE Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. TORONTO, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - McLean & Company, the trusted partner of HR and leadership professionals globally, has released a new research blueprint called "Reimagine Learning" to help organizations incorporate learning and development with the new shift in workplace requirements. This timely research blueprint will allow HR leaders to recalibrate the learning and development strategy to address organizational priorities, changing work environments, and the new development needs for today's workforce. The workplace, the workforce, and work itself are all changing rapidly. Learning and development (L&D) must refine and evolve its approach by focusing on getting the right content to the right people at the right time through the right channels. Hybrid work became a standard during the pandemic, and it is here to stay post-pandemic. A modern approach to learning is critical to meet current and future learning needs. Many organizations' L&D functions spend the bulk of their time designing and delivering formal, traditional learning interventions and programs such as virtual or in-person training classes and self-paced eLearning courses. This formal and often static approach detaches learning from the work itself and does not align with immediate business goals and priorities. McLean & Company's HR Stakeholder Management Survey (2017-2021) indicates that L&D ranks fifth in importance among 11 HR priorities, yet organizational leaders are unsatisfied with the performance of their L&D function. This disconnect is endangering L&D's role in driving organizational performance. McLean & Company's framework, found in the newly released blueprint, models the process of how to provide more targeted solutions by reimagining learning content, methods, and delivery channels. This blueprint is intended for HR leaders to identify learning needs, methods, and delivery to transform the learning approach. This type of approach will allow leaders to: Revisit the L&D strategy to analyze how organizational goals and priorities have changed. Evaluate the ability to realistically deliver learning. Assess the work environment impact on L&D strategy. Review data and gather feedback to identify evolving workforce needs. Identify the audience impacted by each prioritized learning gap and create learner profiles. Identify technical requirements for the chosen learning methods and delivery channels. To learn more about McLean & Company and to download all the latest research, visit www.mcleanco.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter. Media professionals are encouraged to register for McLean & Company's Media Insiders program for more research and insights. This program provides unrestricted, on-demand access to HR, IT, and software industry content, as well as subject-matter experts from a group of over 200 research analysts. To apply for access, contact [email protected] Supporting Resources Download the complete Reimage Learning research blueprint About McLean & Company Through data-driven insights and proven best-practice methodologies, McLean & Company offers comprehensive resources and full-service assessments, action plans, and training to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group. SOURCE Mclean & Company MIAMI, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flip Phone Events is thrilled to announce Moira's Party Boat, Ew Cruising! the first ever fan celebration of Schitt's Creek at sea. The event is a homage, to the Rose family matriarch, Moira Rose, and her keen sense of fashion and fun. The inaugural cruise is scheduled to set sail from Miami on the Celebrity Summit. The 2023 sailing is on the recently refurbished Celebrity Summit. The four night cruise will visit Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas. Moira is Ready to Party! Photo by Darin Kamnetz The Rose Family is ready for the cruise During the cruise guests will participate in Schitt's Creek themed trivia, bar crawls, dance parties, costume contests, panels, musical shows and more all inspired by the hit television show. The event will begin with a wig party featuring fruit wine, and end with a with soiree inspired by Moira's hit movie, The Crowening. The cruise is created by and for diehard fans of the show. Guests will experience other events such as A Night of 1000 Moira's, A Little Bit of Rose Pool Party, Jocelyn's Bingo, and even a performance by the Jazzagals! Guests will be instructed to dress as their favorite Schitt's Creek characters throughout the four night cruise. Moira's Party Boat is produced by Flip Phone Events, which has produced the wildly successful, Golden Fans at Sea, a Golden Girls themed cruise and Cindy Levine of Dream Vacations. The cruise will provide an exciting opportunity for diehard fans of Schitt's Creek to come together and celebrate this groundbreaking show. If you need any photos or other material, please email [email protected] Contact: Cindy Levine 480-861-6427 [email protected] SOURCE Flip Phone Events To understand more about Market Dynamics. Download our FREE sample report The Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys Market is expected to increase by USD 964.09 million from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5% as per the latest market forecast report by Technavio. The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys market share growth by the offline segment will be significant for revenue generation. Globalization has spurred investments in traditional commerce and has subsequently increased the number of specialty toy stores providing scientific and educational toys. Customers with impulsive buying behavior prefer to shop STEM toys from the offline channel as they can make an immediate purchase and get possession of the product on the spot after making the purchase. To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments - Download a FREE Sample! Vendor Insights- The Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys 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. Elenco Electronics Inc. - The company provides a range of STEM toys such as the Snap Circuits Beginner, Snap Circuits Jr., Snap Circuits Select, and other toys. Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings. Download Free Sample Report Regional Market Outlook The Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys Market share growth in APAC will be significant during the forecast period. 35% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. Japan and China are the key markets for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. Parents and teachers encourage context-based learning over traditional exam-oriented learning for students in classrooms and related learning environments. Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market Latest Drivers & Trends Driving the Market- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys Market Driver: Growth of a collaborative environment in educational institutions: The growth of a collaborative environment in educational institutions will fuel the growth of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics toys market size. Several countries are adopting new standards in primary and secondary education to promote a collaborative learning environment in classrooms. The education sector has witnessed a shift towards an example-oriented, context-based learning approach. Students are encouraged to understand the subject better through practical examples and illustrative designs in classrooms, as opposed to rote memorization. This heightens student participation and learning in STEM subjects. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) toys Market Trend: Introduction of subscription services for STEM toys: The introduction of subscription services for STEM toys is a major trend supporting the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics toys market share growth. Many online retailers provide subscription services for STEM toys in addition to retail services. The shift toward context-based education has increased the adoption of STEM toys in the learning environment. Amazon launched its STEM toy club subscription service with a focus on working parents. The company provides a STEM toy that encourages learning about core STEM aspects, for a chargeable monthly subscription fee. STEM toys are handpicked by STEM experts to ensure safety and compatibility to age groups (3-5 years, 5-7 years, and 8-13 years) Find additional information about various other market Drivers & Trends mentioned in our FREE sample report . Didn't Find What You Were Looking For? Customize Report- Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our Analyst now! Related Reports: The product life cycle management market share should rise by USD 28.00 billion from 2021 to 2025 at a CAGR of 8.41%. Download a free sample now! share should rise by USD 28.00 billion from 2021 to 2025 at a CAGR of 8.41%. The in-plant logistics market for the automobile OEM industry has the potential to grow by USD 508.82 million during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.38%. Download a free sample now! Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (STEM) Toys Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 964.09 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.86 Performing market contribution APAC at 35% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Elenco Electronics Inc., Hasbro Inc., Johnco Productions Pty Ltd., Learning Resources Ltd., LEGO System AS, Mattel Inc., Melissa & Doug LLC, Ravensburger AG, Smartivity Labs Pvt. Ltd., and Spin Master Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Five Forces Summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Distribution channel Market segments Comparison by Distribution channel Offline - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Distribution channel Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Elenco Electronics Inc. Hasbro Inc. Johnco Productions Pty Ltd. Learning Resources Ltd. LEGO System AS Mattel Inc. Melissa & Doug LLC Ravensburger AG Smartivity Labs Pvt. Ltd. Spin Master Corp. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio The newest innovator in annuity distribution joins forces with the premier product designer DETROIT, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Signal Advisors, the fastest-growing insurance marketing organization (IMO) in the nation, announced today its strategic partnership with Annexus, the leading independent product design and distribution company in America. Annexus designs products alongside leading insurance companies like Nationwide, Athene, AIG, and North American, to help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings. Signal will bring access to these market-leading insurance products through their integrated technology platform. "Signal's technology-driven distribution model is unique. The addition of Annexus-designed products to Signal's platform reflects our organizations' shared commitment to helping financial professionals better serve their clients' needs," said Ron Shurts, Annexus co-founder. "We strive to provide our distribution partners with the most innovative products on the market with the goal of delivering better client outcomes." In 2020, Signal launched with a simple vision to be the first IMO built on a technology backbone. Their end-to-end platform brings together annuities and life insurance, streamlining everything from marketing to new business and case design, to commission management. "We are thrilled to be partnered with Annexus. In a past life, as a financial advisor, the Annexus product suite was core to my advisory practice. I saw first hand how these products can make a positive impact on clients." said Patrick Kelly, CEO and Co-founder of Signal. Out of the more than 400,000 financial professionals, only a small percentage of the top advisors across the United States have access to Annexus-designed products. "We realize how deliberate Annexus is with their distribution strategy," says Kelly. "We're excited for our advisors to be able to offer these solutions to their clients." About Signal Advisors Detroit-based Signal Advisors is a tech-enabled distributor of annuities and life insurance. Their end-to-end platform for financial advisors and insurance producers simplifies licensing and contracting, new business submission, case design, marketing analytics, compliance and more. Additionally, the platform pays advisors within one day of application submission, at no cost. To learn more, visit signaladvisors.com . For more information on career opportunities, visit www.signaladvisors.com/careers . About Annexus Annexus designs solutions to help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings. For over a decade, Annexus has developed market-leading fixed index annuities and indexed universal life insurance products. Annexus has forged relationships with many of the industry's leading insurance carriers and the world's largest investment banks. Find out more about Annexus and its products at www.annexus.com . Neither Signal Advisors, LLC, nor any of its affiliates, are affiliated with Annexus, Nationwide, Athene, AIG, and North American or its affiliates. SOURCE Signal Advisors DALLAS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SMT, a premier distributor and after-sales partner for the equipment and transport industry based in Brussels, Belgium is expanding their network into the United States with the acquisition of ROMCO Equipment Co. and its operations throughout Texas. The closing of the sale was March 9, 2022 and represents the transfer of ownership at ROMCO's twelve offices in Austin, Carmine, Fort Worth, Longview, San Antonio, Buffalo, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, Midland, Rio Grande Valley, and Stephenville. This family-owned company operating under the Mullins family since 1961 is the exclusive Volvo Construction Equipment Distributor in most of Texas. Like ROMCO, SMT is also a family-owned business representing over 75 years of experience in the Construction Equipment industry and currently operates in thirty countries in Europe, Africa, and now the US. The company, considered a high-performing dealer by Volvo, provides advanced solutions to the industry. "We are thrilled to expand our network into the US by acquiring ROMCO's successful operations in Texas" said Jerome Barioz, CEO of SMT group. "We believe ROMCO will benefit from SMT's know-how and global investments in systems and solutions in order to be number one in uptime, productivity, and overall customer satisfaction in this expanding market" he added. Likewise, SMT looks forward to benefitting from ROMCO's sixty plus years of experience in the Texas market and plans to invest further in rental activities, technical upgrades, and employee development programs. "The end has come for involvement of the Mullins family in ROMCO, but it's a bright new beginning under SMT's ownership." shared Robert Mullins, Owner and CEO of ROMCO, Inc. "The construction and mining industries have been in my life ever since I was a young boy tagging along with my father, ROMCO founder Robert O. Mullins" he added. Mullins also expressed, "SMT will provide the leadership and resources needed to meet the industry's future. I will truly miss all the great employees and customers I have had the privilege to be associated with these 50 plus years." Charlie Clarkson, President of ROMCO added, "We are looking forward to writing the next chapter with SMT. With their global reach, we will be able to raise the level of offerings and support to customers." "We welcome SMT as a seasoned partner that brings a wealth of global experience with the Volvo CE brand. I am confident their innovative mindset and advanced approach to customer service will benefit ROMCO and Volvo customers in the territory. We appreciate the legacy for customer support by the Mullins family and wish Robert the best in his future endeavors" said Stephen Roy, President of Volvo Construction Equipment Region Americas. About ROMCO: ROMCO, Inc. is a family-owned company based in Dallas, Texas since 1961 with 290 Employees. It is the parent company of ROMCO Equipment Co., ROMCO Paving Equipment, ROMCO Power Systems, and Material Processing Systems. Each division serves the Texas construction and mining markets with quality products and customer support. ROMCO's wholly-owned subsidiary, Material Producers Construction Services provides installation and maintenance services in support of the products ROMCO sells in the construction materials industry. In addition to Volvo Construction Equipment, ROMCO also carries the following product lines: GOMACO; CemenTech; Sandvik; Hitachi; ASV; Atlas Copco; Yanmar; Finn; Kafka; McLanahan; Superior; Telestack; K-Tec; Terramac; Atlas; Mantsinen; LeeBoy; Bearcat; Phoenix; Kent FRD, and Genesis. For more information, go to www.romco.com. About SMT: SMT is one of the largest-standing partners with Volvo Group with a presence in 30 countries across Europe, Africa and now in the United States. SMT implements its high standards and creates value for their customers and suppliers thanks to their more than 1700 employees. For more information, go to www.smt.network. SOURCE ROMCO EQUIPMENT CO. PALO ALTO, Calif., and LEHI, Utah, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sorenson Ventures today announced that it has raised $150 million for its second fund, Sorenson Ventures II. The fundraise was oversubscribed and limited partners include foundations, endowments, fund of funds, a reinsurance company, a pension fund, and corporate, family office, and experienced individual technology investors. Founded in 2017 by longtime venture capitalists Ken Elefant and Rob Rueckert, Sorenson Ventures has invested in over 30 early-stage companies including Socure , an identity verification platform; CyCognito , a cyber security startup; Oyster , a remote hiring platform company; Vendia , a real-time secure data sharing platform; MX , a data-driven finance solution; Qualio , a quality management system; and Via , a mobile commerce platform. The firm has already had several exits from its first fund, Sorenson Ventures I, including Bridgecrew (acquired by Palo Alto Networks), CloudKnox (acquired by Microsoft), and Openpath (acquired by Motorola).1 "We are product-first investors who partner with entrepreneurs using their engineering vision to change markets," said Rob Rueckert, Founding Partner. "We believe we bring something different to the table, and as such, we've been fortunate to syndicate with firms such as Lightspeed, Battery Ventures, Emergence, Accel, and General Catalyst, among many other high-quality firms. We're going to continue to invest in founders who are building innovative products that have impressive intellectual property and who have the vision to execute." With decades of operational and investing experience in enterprise software and security startups, the Sorenson Ventures team focuses on investing in early-stage companies in sectors that include developer tools, machine learning applications, data infrastructure, management platforms, and security companies protecting new attack vectors. The fund typically invests in companies at the Seed or Series A stages. Sorenson Ventures is a partner firm of Sorenson Capital, a growth equity firm focused on enterprise software and security investments. Sorenson Capital was founded in 2002 and has more than $1.5 billion in assets under management (as of December 31, 2021). While each firm raises its own funds and invests independently, the teams collaborate on investment theses, go-to-market analysis, and building extensive customer, partner, and expert networks that they can leverage for their portfolio companies. "What sets Sorenson apart is our manageable fund size and focused investment thesis," said Elefant, Founding Partner. "We've intentionally structured our firm to allow us to engage deeply as we collaborate with founders and support our portfolio companies. We roll up our sleeves to help portfolio companies identify and validate product-market fit and optimize go-to-market strategies. We don't just provide investment capital. We seek to become a true partner to the companies in which we invest." In addition to Founding Partners Ken Elefant and Rob Rueckert, the Sorenson Ventures team includes Vidya Raman, Eric Hilton, Michelle Moon, Bert Roberts, and Tony Spinelli. Collectively the team brings unique value to early-stage entrepreneurs, especially those who are looking for proven go-to-market support and corporate partnerships. About Sorenson Ventures Sorenson Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in enterprise software and security companies. With offices in Palo Alto, CA and Lehi, UT and more than $250 million of capital under management, Sorenson Ventures invests in product-oriented founders and helps portfolio companies establish a strong foundation to accelerate revenue growth with Global 2000 customers. About Sorenson Capital Sorenson Capital is a growth equity firm that invests in enterprise software and security companies. Sorenson Capital has more than $1.5 billion in assets under management and typically makes investments of $10 million to $50 million in companies with unique strategic positions. Sorenson Capital is based in Lehi, Utah. Media Contact: Mary Magnani, CodePR [email protected] 1 A complete list of Sorenson Ventures investments and exits is available upon request. SOURCE Sorenson Ventures NEW YORK, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shah Nawaz, a distinguished South Asian community leader, successful business owner, political advisor and philanthropist announced his bid for Democratic District Leader Office. A well-known figure, Mr. Nawaz has been a vital component of the community - helping the elderly, disabled and needy, organizing cultural events and representing the demands of the population to elected officials. Shah Nawaz's Campaign Flyer designed by IJ Creative Solutions A member of Community Board 12 and a long-time adviser to various elected officials including Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Assembly member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas among others, Mr. Nawaz brings years of experience in the political sphere to directly represent his community. He is running for the Male Democratic District Leader office from Assembly District 24 A. "I am running to bring crucial and fair representation to the diverse community of Assembly District 24 one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse districts in our beloved city," comments Mr. Nawaz. "While the district is home to a large Asian population with majority of them being South Asians, we never had a member of the community represent us in politics and that is an issue I hope to change," he extends. Mr. Nawaz's campaign is running on the promises of bringing "Fair & Equal Representation," "Transparent Political Decision Making" and "Small Business Empowerment." For more information about the campaign and to help support, please visit www.shahnawaz.nyc. IJ Creative Solutions, a New York based agency is handling public relations for the campaign. The agency can be reached at [email protected] for all PR related inquiries. Contact: Muhammad Rakibul Islam (347) 510-0519 SOURCE Friends for Shah Nawaz "We are pleased to be BBB Accredited because we value building trust with our customers," said AirGigs CEO David Blacker. "Our BBB Accreditation gives our customers confidence in our commitment to maintaining high ethical standards of conduct as a leading online music production and multimedia creation platform." BBB Accredited Businesses must adhere to BBB's "Standards of Trust," a comprehensive set of policies, procedures and best practices representing trustworthiness in the marketplace. The standards call for building trust, embodying integrity, advertising honestly and telling the truth, being transparent, honoring promises, being responsive and safeguarding privacy About AirGigs AirGigs.com launched in early 2012 as the first marketplace platform for hiring professional session musicians, vocalists, and audio engineers online. In 2013 the company moved it's operations from San Diego to the Space Coast area of Florida. Now with members in over 160 countries working from their recording studios, the platform gives music creators direct access to world class studio talent - anywhere there's an internet connection! Songwriters, music producers, bands and creatives can hire talent to enhance their existing productions, or they can produce an entire song from composition to mastering completely online. The company's founders are musicians and audio engineers passionate about opening up new opportunities for music creators and working musicians. AirGigs' mission is to give musicians the freedom, resources, and opportunities to manifest their creative vision and share it with the world. About BBB BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustworthy businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust, encouraging, and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models, and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB is the preeminent resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses and charities. Contact BBB Serving Central Florida at 407-621-3300. Angela Blacker President Blacker Media LLC [email protected] This release was issued through WebWire. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com. SOURCE AirGigs LLC "We're extremely fortunate to have Chance on our team. He is a great fit with our Lift Up culture," says Bryan Lile, National Sales Manager at SPOC. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and a solid reputation to SPOC. Chance knows the industry well and applies that knowledge in helping his customers." Chance joins SPOC Automation after a successful six years in business development and sales roles with E.L. Farmer, leading the charge for oilfield industry transportation services. His account management and sales career has been immersed in the energy industry for the past eighteen years, and his time at SPOC will see continued growth. Prior to 2001, Chance served with the United States Air Force. "When it comes to my customers," Chance says, "my focus is to be a partner for them and serve as a liaison to help them achieve their goals." Having grown up in West Texas, Chance attended Midland College and is a graduate of Angelo State University. After his time in the Air Force, Chance returned home and now resides in the Midland area. When he's not working, Chance enjoys time with his family, motorcycle trips and CrossFit. About SPOC SPOC is a family of innovative companies specializing in variable speed drive automation and inverter technologies serving the oil and gas, marine, critical power and energy industries. Applying over 70,000 drives in the harshest applications within the upstream and midstream markets, SPOC is the leader in drives. SPOC's Inverter Technologies provide electrical alternatives the industry has never seen before with smart grid inverters and energy storage systems. SPOC Automation. Produce More. Spend Less. To learn more about SPOC, visit www.spocautomation.com CONTACT: Tina Willis Account Executive (205) 322-1010 x 702 [email protected] SOURCE SPOC Automation LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Flower, Los Angeles' largest owned and operated cannabis retailer, is introducing "Sweets by Sweet Flower" family of branded products, starting with the launch of the "SWEETS" cannabis flower line, in three cultivars Limoncino Sour, (indica cross of Gelato #33 x Divorce Cake), Strawberry Horchata, (hybrid Wedding Cake cut back-crossed with White Widow x Wedding Cake), and Maraschino (sativa dominant hybrid cross of Cherry Haze x Slymer), each featuring unique terpene profiles. SWEETS' flower is grown in a hybrid indoor facility in Southern California, scientifically engineered to deliver each plant the highest qualitative and quantitative source of light. The benefits of using the Sun to grow cannabis scale beyond decreased power use and overall sustainability initiatives; Sun-grown cannabis has more complex cannabinoids, richer terpene profiles and promotes more desirable structural integrity. Sweet Flower is known for providing representation and visibility for California brands with authenticity and quality across its multiple stores in Southern California, and carrying BIPOC-owned brands in its stores at ten times the state average. In addition, Sweet Flower has established an industry leading track record of multiple successful exclusive product launches and industry collaborations including Seth Rogen's House Plant, Chelsea Handler's Evolution Kit, Tove Lo's Cann X Sweet Flower Passion Peach Mate and Ball Family Farm's co-branded pre-rolls. "The launch of SWEETS builds on Sweet Flower's passion for and understanding of the modern Californian cannabis consumer, and on our demonstrated ability to launch leading brands across our retail platform" said Michelle Mendoza, Sweet Flower's VP of Innovation, "Sweet Flower uniquely operates at premium scale in premium locations across all of Los Angeles, and we look forward to leveraging our best-in-class store footprint, delivery service and customer experience in the launch of SWEETS. Sweet Flower will expand its SWEETS brand to include pre-rolls, edibles and new product lines throughout 2022 and 2023. About Sweet Flower Sweet Flower is Southern California's largest owned and operated cannabis retailer, owning and operating multiple locations throughout greater Los Angeles, including West Hollywood, the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District, Studio City, Culver City and Brentwood/Westwood, with multiple new store openings to come in 2022 throughout California. Learn more about Sweet Flower at sweetflower.com | @sweet.flower.shops SOURCE Sweet Flower BOCA RATON, Fla., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) ("Terran Orbital"), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the aerospace and defense industry, announced today that it will present at Deutsche Bank's 30th Annual Media, Internet & Telecom Conference at The Breakers Palm Beach. Marc Bell, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Terran Orbital, is a panelist on the Eye in the Sky panel hosted by Deutsche Bank Analyst, Edison Yu, on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 4:20 pm ET. Click here to watch the panel. Terran Orbital has previously announced that it entered in a business combination agreement with Tailwind Two Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: TWNT), ("Tailwind Two"), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), pursuant to which Terran Orbital will combine with Tailwind Two. About Terran Orbital Terran Orbital Corporation is a leading vertically integrated provider of end-to-end satellite solutions. Terran Orbital combines satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and in-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. In addition, Terran Orbital is developing the world's largest, most advanced NextGen Earth Observation constellation to provide persistent, real-time earth imagery. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com About Tailwind Two Acquisition Corp. Tailwind Two is a blank check company "for founders, by founders" formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more founder-led businesses in a sector being disrupted by technological change. Tailwind Two's management team and directors have invested extensively in founder-run businesses, with notable success in the space industry. Tailwind Two is led by Chairman Philip Krim, and Co-Chief Executive Officers Chris Hollod and Matt Eby. In addition to the members of its management team and board of directors, Tailwind Two has assembled an Advisory Board that will help position Tailwind Two as the value-add partner of choice for today's leading entrepreneurs. Important Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed business combination with Terran Orbital, Tailwind Two filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented through the date hereof, the "Registration Statement") containing a definitive proxy statement/prospectus (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and has been mailed to Tailwind Two's shareholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the potential transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the potential transaction. Tailwind Two's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the potential transaction, as these materials will contain important information about Terran Orbital, Tailwind Two and the potential transaction. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge at the SEC's website sec.gov. Participants in the Solicitation Tailwind Two and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Tailwind Two's shareholders with respect to the potential transaction. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Tailwind Two is contained in Tailwind Two's final prospectus relating to its initial public offering dated March 8, 2021, which was filed with the SEC and is available free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants is contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Terran Orbital and its directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Tailwind Two's shareholders in connection with the potential transaction. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the potential transaction are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Non-Solicitation This press release and any oral statements made in connection with this press release shall not constitute an offer, nor a solicitation of an offer, of the sale or purchase of any securities, nor shall any securities of Terran Orbital or Tailwind Two be offered or sold, in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the transactions contemplated hereby or determined if this press release is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Nothing in this press release constitutes investment, tax or legal advice or a recommendation regarding any securities. You should consult your own counsel and tax and financial advisors as to legal and related matters concerning the matters described herein, and you must make your own decisions and perform your own independent investment and analysis of the potential transactions. Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain forward-looking statements, estimates, and projections provided by Terran Orbital that reflect management's views regarding the anticipated future financial and operating performance of Terran Orbital. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, including statements regarding operational and financial plans, terms and performance of Terran Orbital and other projections or predictions of the future. Forward looking statements are typically identified by such words as "project," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "may," "will," "should," and "could" and similar expressions. Such statements, estimates, and projections reflect numerous assumptions concerning anticipated results. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example; statements about Terran Orbital's industry and market sizes; future opportunities; expectations and projections concerning future financial and operational performance and results of Terran Orbital; and the potential transactions, including items such as the implied enterprise value, ownership structure, the amount of redemption requests made by Tailwind Two's shareholders, the ability of Tailwind Two to issue equity or equity-linked instruments in connection with the potential transactions or in the future, the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the potential transactions, and those factors set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements; Market Ranking and Other Industry Data" in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. As these assumptions may or may not prove to be correct and there are numerous factors which will affect Terran Orbital's actual results (many of which are beyond Terran Orbital's control), there can be no assurances that any projected results are attainable or will be realized. Terran Orbital and Tailwind Two disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Terran Orbital's actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release. Accordingly, no representations are made as to the accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of such statements, estimates, or projections. CONTACTS: [email protected] 949-508-6404 SOURCE Terran Orbital "One of our key differentiators is to provide a superior customer experience while establishing trust and loyalty with our customers," said Robert H. Kurnick, President of Penske Automotive Group. "Being recognized by CARFAX with 11 dealerships that received a total of nearly 1,900 five-star reviews through CARFAX last year is an extraordinary acknowledgement of our team members that strive to exceed expectations of every customer." "It's truly impressive when you dig into the review numbers on these dealerships," said Gregg Cleary, CARFAX Vice President of Dealer Business. "The CARFAX 100 dealers are taking customer service to the next level. Receiving more than 100 reviews, averaging at least 4.9 stars, is no easy feat and it's something to be proud of. These dealers are raising the industry bar when it comes to cultivating relationships with their customers and providing next-level service." All CARFAX 100 dealers will receive a special award to display in their dealership to help them share their exceptional ratings from CARFAX.com. This is in addition to the suite of digital assets provided to all CARFAX Top-Rated Dealers as well as the highly coveted #GoldenCARFOX, arriving at 2021 Top-Rated Dealers this spring. About CARFAX CARFAX , part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides exclusive services like CARFAX Used Car Listings , CARFAX Car Care , CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell Show me the CARFAX. S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. SOURCE CARFAX The growth of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in APAC is one of the major factors propelling the market growth. The pharmaceutical industry in countries such as China and India will witness significant growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to various initiatives undertaken by governments in these countries. For instance, the Government of India allocated USD 8.80 billion dollars for the healthcare sector in its 2019-2020 budget. The Government of India also eased its FDI rules for existing pharmaceutical companies and increased it to 74% in brownfield projects and 100% in greenfield projects. Many such factors are increasing investments in the pharmaceutical industry, thereby driving the demand for cleanroom and cleanroom consumables. Cleanroom Consumables Market: End-user Landscape By end-users, the market is segmented by semiconductor industry, pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, and others. The semiconductor industry will exhibit maximum demand for cleanroom consumables during the forecast period. The increasing sales of laptops, smartphones, and tablets is one of the major factors driving the growth of the semiconductor industry segment. Also, the steady growth in the electronics industry and the demand for enhanced technologies will foster the growth of the segment during the forecast period. Cleanroom Consumables Market: Geographic Landscape By geography, APAC is going to have a lucrative growth during the forecast period. About 63% of the market's overall growth is expected to originate from APAC. The growth of the electronics and semiconductor industries in APAC will be crucial in driving the growth of the regional market. Also, the presence of a large number of flat-panel display manufacturers is creating significant growth opportunities for market players in APAC. China , Japan , and India are the key markets for cleanroom consumables in the region. , , and are the key markets for cleanroom consumables in the region. The market growth in APAC will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. Companies Covered: The global cleanroom consumables market is fragmented and is characterized by the presence of well-diversified international and local vendors and suppliers. During the forecast period, the competition level in the market is expected to increase with the increase in product extensions, technological innovations, and the growing number of mergers and acquisitions. These are some of the dominant players in the market. Alpha Pro Tech Ltd. Ansell Ltd. Aramark Corp. Berkshire Corp. Cantel Medical Corp. Contec Inc. DuPont de Nemours Inc. Illinois Tool Works Inc. Kimberly Clark Corp. STERIS Plc. Identify other dominant players and major segments and regions in the market. Download a Free Sample Report What our reports offer: Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments Strategic recommendations for the new entrants Covers market data for 2020, 2021, until 2025 Market trends (drivers, opportunities, threats, challenges, investment opportunities, and recommendations) Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements Related Reports: Global Cleanroom Technology Equipment Market 2021-2025: The global cleanroom technology equipment market is segmented by product (consumables and equipment) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Cleanroom Storage Cabinet Market 2021-2025: The global cleanroom storage cabinet market is segmented by end-user (medical, semiconductor, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Cleanroom Consumables Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.06% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 4.61 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.47 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 63% Key consumer countries China, US, Japan, India, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Alpha Pro Tech Ltd., Ansell Ltd., Aramark Corp., Berkshire Corp., Cantel Medical Corp., Contec Inc., DuPont de Nemours Inc., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Kimberly Clark Corp., and STERIS Plc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by End-user Market segments Comparison by End-user Semiconductor industry - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Pharmaceutical industry - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by End-user Customer landscape Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Alpha Pro Tech Ltd. Ansell Ltd. Aramark Corp. Berkshire Corp. Cantel Medical Corp. Contec Inc. DuPont de Nemours Inc. Illinois Tool Works Inc. Kimberly Clark Corp. STERIS Plc. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio SALT LAKE CITY, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study, published by Georgetown University, asserts that Neumont College of Computer Science, located in Salt Lake City, has the best return on investment for low-income students in the nation. Neumont offers six bachelor's degrees, all focused on computer science and information technology, and has been operating in Utah for almost two decades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer science is one of the fastest growing jobs market1. Jobs in computer science fields have meteoric upward mobility and anyone with a CS degree is highly sought after by all sectors of the economy. As College Factual points out, in the 2019-2020 school year there were only 53,200 computer science degrees awarded2. While this may seem like a large number, there are over 351,000 open computer science positions according to Indeed.com3. That equates to 6.5 jobs for every CS grad in the United States. This backlog of open positions that aren't being filled is predicted to get much worse in the next 10 years based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics4. The projected growth in industry demand for technology workers is likely to further fuel the already tremendous return on investment realized by computer science graduates from Neumont College. VANCOUVER, BC, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Vejii Holdings Ltd. (CSE: VEJI) ("Vejii" or the "Company"), a North American online marketplace for plant-based and sustainable products, wishes to announce that subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"), it intends to consolidate its issued share capital on the basis of one (1) new common share without par value for every four (4) existing common shares without par value (the "Share Consolidation"). No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Share Consolidation and any fractional shares arising upon the Share Consolidation comprising less than one-half of one share will be deemed to have been tendered by the shareholder to the Company by way of gift and for cancellation and returned to the authorized but unissued share structure of the Company and any fractional shares arising upon the Share Consolidation comprising greater than or equal to one-half of one share will be converted into one whole share. The Company anticipates the effective date of the Share Consolidation will be March 28, 2022. Following the Share Consolidation, the Company intends to apply to the CSE for the repricing of certain of its outstanding common share purchase warrants (the "Warrant Repricing"). The Warrant Repricing remain subject to approval of the CSE. The Company's name and trading symbol will remain the same. About Vejii Holdings Ltd. Headquartered in Kelowna B.C, Vejii is a unified digital marketplace and fulfillment platform featuring thousands of plant-based and sustainable-living products from a growing list of hundreds of vendors. The platform offers an easy-to-use, omnichannel experience for both vendors and buyers, leveraging big data and artificial intelligence to elegantly connect brands with a targeted consumer base, both organically and through specialized marketing programs. Dynamic fulfillment services empower brands to offer tier-one service, with ongoing engagement being driven through features like smart lists, subscription programs, reordering functions, sampling programs, and more. The Company also owns and operates the US.-based Veg Essentials, a staple of the plant-based community. Vegan Essentials was established in 1997 and contributes more than 20 years of consumer insight, data, and buying power. VeganEssentials.com was awarded best online vegan store from 2005-2018, as well as best online vegan grocery from 2018-2021 by VegNews Magazine. The Company also owns and operates VEDGEco. Headquartered in Kailua, Hawaii, and launched in 2020 VEDGEco is the first nationwide plant-based foodservice distributor, providing restaurants with high-quality plant-based options. With the goal of bringing the freedom of food choice to all restaurants and businesses, VEDGEco distributes plant-based products in bulk to the restaurant and wholesale food industry, as well as to consumers across the US. Information on the Company and its many products can be accessed through Vejii's website. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Kory Zelickson, Director and CEO Find Vejii on Social Media: on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws with respect to the Company. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements relating the proposed Share Consolidation (including the timing thereof) and Warrant Repricing. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward- looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release including, without limitation, that the Company will not obtain the approval of the CSE to the Share Consolidation and the Warrant Repricing or the timeline for the Share Consolidation may be delayed and other factors beyond the Company's control. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws. SOURCE Vejii Holdings Ltd. COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- White Castle, founded in 1921 and known as the nation's first fast-food hamburger chain, has recently achieved some major milestones in its retail division, further strengthening its position as a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry as well as in the restaurant industry. With record sales in 2021, White Castle's retail division is flourishing as it celebrates 35 years. Tweet this Now in its 35th year, White Castle's thriving retail business gives consumers in all 50 states access to the fast-food chain's delicious Sliders. The retail division of the family-owned business sold its 6th billionth retail Slider at the end of 2021 and achieved record sales last year. In fact, 20% of its total historic sales have come in the past three years alone. The division is poised for continued growth as it celebrates its 35th anniversary and expands its manufacturing capacity in 2022. "Retail sales have grown steadily since we launched the division in 1987, but they have really taken off in the past decade and even more so the past few years," said Tiffany Carreker, general manager and vice president of sales for White Castle's retail division. "Our Cravers love our Sliders, whether they're made at a restaurant or purchased from the freezer section at their local store." To keep up with the growing demand for its frozen Sliders, White Castle broke ground last summer on a major expansion of its retail food manufacturing plant in Vandalia, Ohio, near Dayton. The company is investing $27 million in the project, which should be complete by June. The expansion doubles the size of the plant from approximately 75,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet. During the groundbreaking ceremony, White Castle officials named the plant "The House That Bill Built" in honor of former president and CEO Bill Ingram, a third-generation family member who served as president from 1980 to 2015 and was responsible for creating and expanding the retail division. When White Castle introduced its retail division in 1987, it became the first fast-food restaurant to offer its menu items for purchase at grocery stores for preparation at home. Today, "The House That Bill Built" supplies packaged Sliders to retailers, large and small, in all 50 states. "White Castle decided at the outset that an investment in the retail supply chain is the best way to ensure quality and taste for customers," said Dave Rife, chief manufacturing officer and fourth generation family member. "The additional manufacturing capacity coming online this year will allow us to bring even more Sliders to our Cravers nationwide." White Castle's retail division also introduced a new menu item, the Chicken & Cheese Slider, late last year. Until then, White Castle's top-selling non-beef Slider was available only in its Castles. The rollout continues with wide acceptance among major food retailers nationwide for the popular Slider made with all white meat topped with American cheese. The Chicken & Cheese Slider joins five other craveable varieties of White Castle Sliders available in grocers' freezers: Original Sliders, Classic Cheese Sliders, Jalapeno Cheese Sliders, Chicken Breast Sliders and the Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Slider. White Castle, now in its 101st year of business, will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of its retail division this year with consumer activations during National Hamburger Month in May and through the rest of the year. The company will be sharing more details as they are available. About White Castle White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders as a family-owned business for 101 years. Based in Columbus, Ohio, White Castle started serving The Original Slider in 1921. Today White Castle owns and operates more than 350 restaurants dedicated to satisfying customers' cravings morning, noon and night and sells its famous fare in retail stores nationwide. The Original Slider, named in 2014 as Time magazine's "Most Influential Burger of All Time," is served alongside a menu of creatively crafted Sliders and other mouthwatering food options, including White Castle's Impossible Slider, named by Thrillist in 2019 as the "Best Plant-Based Fast Food Burger." White Castle's commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants, bakeries and frozen-food processing plants. In 2021, 100 years after the first Slider was sold, Fast Company named the fast-food pioneer one of the "10 Most Innovative Dining Companies." White Castle is known for the legendary loyalty of its team members, more than 1 in 4 of whom have worked for White Castle for at least 10 years, and also for its faithful fans ("Cravers"), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app, available at iTunes App Store or Google Play, makes it easy for Cravers to access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle's delivery partners. For more information on White Castle, visit whitecastle.com. SOURCE White Castle LONDON, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In dealing with banks, insurance companies, and similar institutions, withdrawing money is usually harder than giving it away. Companies don't tend to postpone clients' requests to deposit their capital, yet they stack difficulties, paperwork, and bureaucracy when the latter wishes that what belongs to them will be returned. Winiford, a well-known brokerage company, pointed out this widely-spread issue and decided to change the way withdrawals work. "It's always so easy and fast to deposit, yet difficult and frustrating to withdraw money from these kinds of establishments," said Rudy Garmand, Winiford's Spokesperson. "That's why we decided to make the process of withdrawal as easy and fast as we could for our clients." Good prices are not enough There is such a vast supply of brokerage platforms today - how should one decide which of them they should work with? It's sometimes complex to understand in advance how one platform can benefit its user more than the others. However, Winiford does stand out from the crowd by offering remarkable service, giving its clients peace of mind, knowing they can trust their broker. "The market is flooded with brokerage platforms, and comparing them in order to choose one might not be easy," added Garman. "At Winiford we believe that in order to expand, offering good prices is not enough. A company must also offer excellent service. Appreciation towards a brand is garnered by trustworthiness, transparency, and treating clients as they are, people with needs and wishes, not as if they are a bother." About Winiford Winiford is a top-tier brokerage platform with which one can access multiple major digital assets, and transact with them in an advanced - yet intuitive - interface, available on all types of devices. As expected from a top-notch brokerage platform, Winiford excels at safety and security and puts it as one of its highest priorities. The expert customer support service is available to answer all questions and issues through various communication channels. Winiford also works hard in order to expand its clients' knowledge about buying and selling - their blog is an excellent source for information. All these traits are combined into one interface to provide the best, user-friendly, seamless brokerage experience. More information regarding this brand can be found online, on Winiford's website, at all times. SOURCE Winiford Press Release March 11, 2022 Lacson Scores Propaganda on Arrests of 'Activists' in Cavite More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/lacson-scores-propaganda-on-arrests-of-activists-in-cavite Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Friday scored the propaganda by some groups that claimed activists were arrested in Cavite after he warned of the possible infiltration by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its legal fronts in the campaign of Vice President Ma. Leonor "Leni" Robredo. Lacson said a fact-check showed the arrests were related to an operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency against illegal drugs in the province. "May naaresto pero drug operation ito sa Bacoor. Ang nag-operate, PDEA, anti-illegal drugs operation (The arrests in Bacoor stemmed from an anti-illegal drug operation)," he said in an interview on Radyo 5. He noted the groups that issued "alerts" tried to make it appear that they were arrested because he had "red-tagged" them for attending Robredo's campaign rally in Cavite earlier this month. "Ganyan ang kanilang ginagawang propaganda. Kaya huwag maligaw ang ma-attend na volunteer (That is the propaganda they are trying to spread. I hope the public and campaign volunteers will not believe them so easily)," he said. Lacson reiterated he has never engaged in red-tagging, and that he merely warned those concerned about entering into a possible coalition government with the CPP, New People's Army and National Democratic Front - with the NPA insurgency having been behind the loss of more than 2,000 deaths, and billions of pesos in revolutionary taxes and the destruction of properties of those who refused to "cooperate" with them. Also, he maintained he has his own intelligence sources who validated the information that members of CPP legal fronts were at Robredo's rally. He added it is natural for the CPP and its legal fronts to discredit ex-New People's Army cadre Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz. "Ang armed struggle hindi ma-justify no matter how you look at it (But an armed struggle can never be justified no matter how you look at it)," he stressed. Avast PLC (LSE:AVST) suspended all its operations in Russia and Belarus, the company confirmed in a statement today. As part of the suspension, it has withdrawn the availability of all its products and suspended marketing and sales operations. The cybersecurity company said it is working to protect and sustain its employees in Ukraine and Russia. According to the statement, in Ukraine it is maintaining and bolstering its product offerings, giving paying users an extension on their licenses for free, with users of Avast freemium products able to premium products for free. The Prague-headquartered company, which is in the process of being taken over by US rival NortonLifeLock, said it is critically important to support Ukrainians access to secure and unrestricted internet with disinformation rife. It added that it is donating US$800,000 to humanitarian organisations through its employee donation program and philanthropic arm, the Avast Foundation. Avast is working with local charities on the ground to address skills-based volunteering opportunities and help Ukrainian organizations avoid cyber threats or recover from a cyberattack. Ukraine, Russia and Belarus collectively contributed around 1.5% of Avast's annual revenue in 2021. Londons Heathrow Airport delivered hugely disappointing passenger numbers last month as the aviation sector struggled to shake the effects of Covid and the shadow of war. The airports passenger numbers remained 50% below pre-pandemic levels as 2.8mln people traveled through its hub, 15% below forecast. The airport, which International Consolidated Airlines Group (LSE:IAG)-owned British Airways uses as a primary hub of operations, said that while outbound travel was improving, inbound travel was still suppressed by testing and quarantine requirements. Rising fuel costs, longer flight times as a result of closed airspace in relation to the war in Ukraine, concerns from US travelers related to the war and variants of concern created huge uncertainty over forecasts this year, Heathrow said. Aviation's recovery remains overshadowed by war and COVID uncertainty, said Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye. Heathrow said good bookings data indicated the summer season could return passenger numbers to 85% of pre-Covid levels, with the company planning to recruit 12,000 staff and reopen Terminal 4 in July. But Holland-Kaye urged the Civil Aviation Authority not to slash investment in capital projects or operating costs in the H7 regulatory review to ensure Heathrow can meet returning demand. We need to ensure we are geared up to meet peak potential demand this summer and are relying on the CAA to make a fair financial settlement that incentivises investment to maintain passenger service and encourages airlines and Heathrow to work together to grow passenger numbers. Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) hailed a decision by an international patent court to rule against 'robot wars' rival AutoStore on all claims. In a case brought by AutoStore against Ocado, the International Trade Commission rejected all 33 claims. Following an initial legal decision in December that found Ocado had infringed the patents asserted by AutoStore, the Commission ruled that the Norwegian company's cavity bot patents were invalid. AutoStore said today that it intends to appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. An Ocado spokesperson said the ITC's decision "comprehensively confirms the judge's original findings last December". "All 33 of the patent claims asserted against Ocado have now been confirmed for a second time to be either invalid or not infringed, demonstrating again how misguided AutoStore's complaint has been. The ITC investigation is now at its end." A UK High Court hearing of AutoStores patent infringement claim against Ocado begins next Tuesday, 15 March and is set to last four weeks in total, with the initial part of the hearing scheduled for 15 to 22 March. The Ocado spokesperson said "we expect further vindication in the High Court in London in the weeks ahead, where AutoStore has already abandoned half of the patents in the case". AutoStore said the outcome of the proceedings "has no effect" on its global operations, saying that it has "secured hundreds of patents since its founding" and stressed that the December determination found that Ocado Smart Platform infringes on three of AutoStores patents but the patents "were invalid based on a narrow legal issue" and "also rejected Ocados assertion that the patents are unenforceable due to inequitable conduct or equitable estoppel". For its part, Ocado said it is continuing to "actively" pursue its claims against AutoStore for infringement of its IP rights in both the US and Europe, including its antitrust "Walker Process" claim against AutoStore in East Virginia and its infringement of five Ocado patents in New Hampshire. Ten Evraz PLC (LSE:EVR) board members, excluding its chief executive, resigned on Friday following the UK governments sanctions on the companys largest shareholder Roman Abramovich (read more). Chelsea Russian oligarch owns 29% of the steel mining business, which had its shares suspended by the Financial Conduct Authority on Thursday. Evraz, which has been supplying the Russian military with steel for its tanks, said it does not believe the sanctions apply to them as Abramovich does not have majority control and it only provides its goods to infrastructure and construction sectors. The 10 board members who quit are Alexander Abramov, Alexander Frolov, Alexander Izosimov, Deborah Gudgeon, Eugene Shvidler, Eugene Tenenbaum, Karl Gruber, Maria Gordon, Sir Michael Peat and Stephen Odell, Evraz said in a statement on Friday. UK government claimed Abramovich has had a close relationship [with Putin] for decades and obtained financial benefit or other material benefit from the Russian state, which the billionaire recently has denied. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals, and illegal occupation of sovereign allies," Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, added. Evraz shares plummeted 52% to 82.5p, before they were suspended, since Russia first invaded Ukraine on 24 February, while they nosedived 81% in the month to date Create your account: sign up and get ahead on news and events NO INVESTMENT ADVICE The Company is a publisher. You understand and agree that no content published on the Site constitutes a recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is... In exchange for publishing services rendered by the Company on behalf of CentralNic Group PLC named herein, including the promotion by the Company of CentralNic Group PLC in any Content on the Site, the Company... Angus Thirlwell is the co-founder and CEO of Hotel Chocolat, he joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam to talk about his family's history in chocolate, the Caribbean connection and their business expansion plans. Hotel Chocolat is a vertically integrated chocolatier, manufacturing and retailing premium chocolate and chocolate-related products direct to customers. The Group sells its products online and through a network of 127 stores in the UK and 31 in Japan. And in the year ended 28 June 2015 had an audited revenue and EBITDA of 81.1 million and 7.9 million respectively. The business was founded in 1993 by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris and has traded under the Hotel Chocolat brand since 2003. Condor Gold's Mark Child talks Proactive London viewers through the latest assay results from 8,004 metres (m) of infill drilling within the Mestiza open pit at its La India project in Nicaragua. Ninety-six holes were drilled as a part of the programme with the best of the results a gold intercept at a true width of 6.3m at a grade of 6.84 grams per tonne (g/t) gold at depth of around 31m. Child explains what doing business in Nicaragua is like, with more than a decade of experience in the country and fresh from a meeting with the country's President on their operations in the country. Bitcoin and Ethereum both retreated, losing some of the gains made yesterday as the US and President Joe Biden move to regulate digital tokens. Bitcoin fell 5.67%, back below US$40,000 to US$39,356, while Ethereum was down 5.18% to US$2,596. The early executive announcement release by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had caused some respite as the markets bounced, with Bitcoin pushing past US$42,000. However, according to Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote, yesterdays unexplained optimism could give way to a soft session, as the news and fundamentals give little reason for optimism right now. But Naeem Aslam, a market analyst at AvaTrade, said the news of regulation in the markets can only be a good thing. Traders are still digesting the crypto regulation news and trying to make sense of them if they are healthy for the crypto industry, Aslam said. One thing is clear and that is the fact that we have regulation for cryptos now. This means cryptos are here to stay and this should encourage other investors and companies to join the trend. In other news, the EU reaffirmed that economic sanctions imposed on Russia include the ban against trading cryptocurrencies, downplaying the risk of oligarchs bypassing sanctions by using digital tokens. According to Ran Neuner, host of CNBCs Crypto Trader, 2022 will be a pivotal year for crypto, claiming many have no option but to turn to digital currency. They (governments) put people in a position where they had no choice but to flee to the other system, Neuner said in Al Jazeera. Russians that are living in the US but have bank accounts in Russia have had their credit cards cut off. Essentially, people are forced onto the alternative financial system, Neuner added. In some of the altcoins, Solana was down 7.73% to US$82.55, Terra was down 2.53% to US$95.33 and Polkadot was 4.83% lower at US$16.93. Electric Royalties CEO Brendan Yurik joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has acquired a 1% Net Smelter Royalty on mining claims at the Sleitat Mountain Tin-Silver deposit in Southwestern Alaska. Yurik telling Proactive the price is tin is a big reason for this. Prices have risen more than 90% in the past year. This project is just one of two identified by the USGS as a potentially economic tin deposit within the United States. Yurik also shared more details about their other assets that some of the work being done on them. Nova Minerals Ltd (ASX:NVA, OTCQB:NVAAF) is on the hunt for a new chairman as it works to advance its cornerstone Estelle Gold Project and become a global gold producer. The move comes after Novas non-executive chairman, David Hersham, resigned from his post with immediate effect. Executive Louie Siemens will serve as interim chairman until Novas next leader is found. The gold explorer and project developer is interviewing well-known global search firms as part of the recruitment phase, while Nova says it has already received some candidates through its directors and investment banking relationships. Specifically, the company is looking for a highly qualified individual based in North America to bring complementary skills to the existing Nova board. The right candidates profile would include: A passion to guide Nova on its journey to become a world-class gold producer; Extensive US capital markets experience and investment banking relationships; Corporate governance and risk management skills, including establishing and chairing all board committees; and Cross-sector and cross-border insight. Snow Lake Lithium update Amid moves on the executive level, Nova also delivered a progress report for its majority-owned Snow Lake Lithium spinout on Friday. The ASX-lister recapped work to date as part of the Mannitoba-based explorers winter drill program, designed to expand the existing defined resource and identify additional targets on the property for further development. Promisingly, Nova says initial indications suggest that these goals have been achieved and improved upon. Despite a slightly delayed start due to winter conditions late arrival, the Snow Lake team has delivered extremely favourable results with the initial drill on the Thompson Brothers resource, Nova stated today. Three drill rigs are currently turning the soil around the clock at the Thompson Brothers asset, and this week each drill returned spodumene-bearing intersections from its location. All samples have been and will continue to be forwarded to SGS Lakefield laboratory for analysis. Based on the early success of the companys winter drilling program, Snow Lake has committed to retain all the drills on-site over the spring and into the summer, utilising airborne support in order to accelerate the progress and further resource expansion. Extending the drill campaign through spring and summer Snow Lake CEO Philip Gross said: The success of our drilling program to date has provided critical validation to our ambitions of delivering a multi-decade resource to market. We could not have hoped for a better start to our campaign and full credit is due to the dedication of our VP of Resource Development Dale Schultz and VP of Exploration Brian Youngs. With the anticipated expansion of the initial deposit at TBL, we now also have spodumene evidence of two additional target resources at Grass River and SG deposits. This will provide us with a tactical advantage of ultimately increasing our resource and providing optimal economic mining conditions. Due to these developments, we are now fully committed to extending the drilling campaign across the spring and summer and adjusting our near-term PFS strategy and resource upgrade to accommodate the results of this program. Cryptocurrencies were relatively stagnant on Friday morning following two contrasting days on news that US President Joe Biden signed an order for US government agencies to assess whether to create a Central Bank digital dollar and other crypto issues. Bitcoin dropped 0.5% back below the US$40,000 mark at US$39,177, while its biggest rival Ethereum rose 0.4% to US$2,607. When Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen released the news on Wednesday cryptos soared but that has proved short-lived. In other news, fiat currencies were a more likely route for Russia to bypass the Wests sanctions, given the US ability to block efforts with crypto, Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said. Meanwhile, Terra, Avalanche, and Polkadot climbed 4.2%, 3.5% and 4.5% respectively. Outside of the top 20, Tron, Elrond and Zcash advanced 3.0%, 10.5% and 8.6% respectively. Although it was a mixed bag of red and green in the digital currency world. BNB and Shiba Inu were the largest fallers in the top 20, easing 1.3% and 1.7%. Fantom and Waves sank 5.0% and 7.4% respectively and were the most significant losses in values seen. Overall, 57 of the leading 100 cryptos were trading in positive territory the most evenly balanced and stationary, on average, digital currencies have been in recent weeks. Mkango Resources Ltd (AIM:MKA, TSX-V:MKA, OTC:MKNGF) has welcomed the European Raw Materials Alliance's (ERMA) commitment to support the development of a rare earth separation plant in Pulawy, Poland. ERMA will support Mkango Resources with securing financing for the plant. The plant will be supplied with rare earth carbonate originating from Mkango's Songwe Hill primary deposit of rare earth elements in Malawi, Africa. The plant will also be able to process other materials supplied by third-party providers thus acting as a future European Hub for rare earth elements separation. The Puawy project will aid the creation of a secure supply chain option for neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium for the European Union. All these rare earth elements are critical in the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy applications that are key to Europe's Green Agenda. "It is the primary role of ERMA to secure raw materials and raw material supply chains for Europe to support industrial ecosystems and create jobs within the European Union. We cannot do this alone which is why diversifying is so key - this is a multi-national project where we have a Canadian partner, Mkango Resources, accessing critical raw materials in Malawi, Africa, processing them in a plant in Poland, all for the benefit of the European economy. The Puawy project is one of the first ERMA projects to get the green light to provide critical raw materials needed to fulfil European goals in the green transition while diversifying the supply chain in the long term, said Dr Massimo Gasparon, ERMAs director. William Dawes, the chief executive officer of Mkango Resources, said the company looked forward to supporting its partners in Europe in creating a more diverse raw materials chain. ERMA's support has been and continues to be important for us, and we are happy to be part of its vast network of leading companies in the raw materials sector. ERMA's underlying principles are a great fit with the Mkango's vision and philosophy for the Puawy separation plant and Songwe Hill deposit in Malawi," Dawes said. Shares in Mkrango were up 8.4% at 25.75p in the first hour of trading. Harvest One is a global cannabis-infused CPG leader that develops and distributes premium health, wellness and self-care products with a market focus on sleep and pain Harvest One Cannabis Inc. (TSX-V:HVT, OTCQB:HRVOF) said its DreamWater and LivRelief subsidiaries have signed a sales and distribution agreement with Nigeria-based distributor Pharmtick to expand their international distribution networks. Under the agreement, Pharmtick will sell and distribute DreamWater and LivRelief products throughout Africa for a term of three years. A leading African consumer goods distributor, Pharmtick represents brands such as Pfizer, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, TEVA, Actavis, Accord and Vitabiotics. It also has a growing number of leading over-the-counter products including cold, flu, allergy, heartburn and immune booster products. "Aligning our core brands with one of Africa's leading healthcare and wellness distributors is an important step in the continuing advancement of Harvest One's international distribution strategy," Gord Davey, president and chief executive officer of Harvest One, said in a statement. "Global expansion is a key priority for Harvest One. Our e-commerce sales in North America have grown significantly and expanded the reach of our brands. Gaining access to additional international markets, such as Africa, is an important milestone for Harvest One. Pharmtick has access to online distribution throughout several prominent countries in Africa and we strongly believe that Pharmtick is the right partner to lead our marketing and product awareness efforts in a new continent," added Davey. Harvest One is a global cannabis-infused CPG leader that develops and distributes premium health, wellness and self-care products with a market focus on sleep and pain. The company is uniquely positioned in the cannabis space with a focus on cannabis-infused and non-infused consumer packaged goods. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Cryptocurrencies were relatively stagnant Friday morning, following two contrasting days, on news that US President Joe Biden signed an order for US government agencies to assess whether to create a Central Bank digital dollar and other crypto issues. Bitcoin dropped back below the US$40,000, while its biggest rival Ethereum rose 0.4% to US$2,607. Overall, 57 of the leading 100 cryptos were trading in positive territory the most evenly balanced and stationary, on average, digital currencies have been in recent weeks. Beyond Medical said it is considering operating Micron Technologies facility at reduced capacity or potentially terminating its mask manufacturing business through a sale of all its inventory and equipment Beyond Medical Technologies Inc has told investors that it is eyeing several opportunities as it rethinks the work being done by its medical face mask manufacturing subsidiary Micron Technologies Inc. Since August 2020, Micron Technologies has been operating at its facility in Delta, British Columbia, where it manufactures medical-grade face masks under its Medical Device Establishment license issued by Health Canada. Micron is also registered with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a corporate update, Vancouver-based Beyond Medical said it is reviewing Microns medical face mask business as many jurisdictions have recently lifted mask mandates, and demand for face masks is rapidly declining. READ: Beyond Medical Technologies offers medical grade face masks to push through Omicron wave Beyond Medical said it is considering operating Micron Technologies facility at reduced capacity or potentially terminating its mask manufacturing business through a sale of all inventory and equipment related to its mask manufacturing business. Micron Technologies makes three-ply medical grade face masks, N95 Model 8800 face masks and face mask filters. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Beyond Medical had cash and equivalents of $1.65 million and total liabilities of $420,541. The company said it expects to file its annual financial statements in the coming weeks. In a statement, Beyond Medical CEO Kal Malhi said: The company is interested in investigating business opportunities in sectors which can offer attractive shareholder returns and offer growth opportunities with the infusion of capital. We are currently reviewing several opportunities and will provide updates as our investigations progress. In addition, Malhi invited good business ideas and submissions from entrepreneurs and institutional investors where Beyond Medicals could channel its current funds and ability to raise additional capital to leverage growth for a business. Beyond Medical also has an investment in the digital telehealth platform Kayan Health, an artificial-intelligence-powered health communications platform that allows doctors to communicate with their patients and monitor them remotely. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive Superior Gold Inc CEO Chris Jordaan joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion to discuss prospects for the Western Australia gold producer. Jordaan touching on Superior Gold's annual results for its 100%-owned Plutonic Gold operations, which showed production at the top end of its guidance at 77,321 ounces, a 23% increase over the prior year. The company also fully repaid a gold loan with Auramet and settled all remaining gold call options to end the year as an unhedged gold producer MAS Gold Corp (TSX-V:MAS, OTCQB:MSGCF) CEO Jim Engdahl joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news that the company has completed drilling on its North Lake Deposit in Saskatchewan. The Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold exploration projects in the prospective La Ronge Gold Belt, said a total of 4,123.5 meters were completed over 34 diamond drill holes. Engdahl telling Proactive that samples are currently being processed and delivered to SRC Lab in Saskatchewans Saskatoon city. Tehran, March 11 : Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the Islamic republic will not give up on its regional presence and peaceful nuclear program, the two factors that contribute to national power. Addressing a meeting with the members of Iran's Assembly of Experts, Khamenei said regional presence increases the country's strategic depth and national power while scientific nuclear progress is tied to the country's ability to meet its needs in the near future, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the leader's office. Thus, to be able to maintain the country's independence in the future, none of those two must be forgone, said the top leader. He stressed that acquiescing to the excessive demands of the US or any other country in the hope of not being sanctioned is a big mistake and a blow to the country's political power. He said there is nothing more naive and amateurish than the proposal to reduce the country's defence capabilities. He noted that the enemies have placed on their agenda targeting Iran's elites and intellectuals in order to deceive the people through them, adding that the world's arrogant powers have waged the biggest soft war against the nation. Paris, March 11 : France's national health agency has reported 74,818 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours on Thursday, a sharp increase compared to previous days. However, the number of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in the past 24 hours has decreased compared to last Thursday, while the total number of patients in ICU has fallen from 2,231 to 1,928 during that time. The number of patients currently hospitalised has also dropped from 23,175 to 21,287 since last Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. Also on Thursday, The Pasteur Institute published an analysis of the Covid-19 situation in metropolitan France. It said the percentage of contamination after the lifting of health restrictions on March 14 will increase by 50 to 130 per cent compared to the previous months of 2022. Daily reported Covid-19 cases could exceed 100,000 in the month of March, the Institute added. Infectologist Benjamin Davido at Raymond-Poincare de Garches Hospital in the department of Hauts-de-Seine told French news channel BFMTV that the government's lifting of health restrictions will contribute "to the rebound of contaminations." The French government has announced that as of March 14, it will no longer be mandatory to wear a mask in indoor areas, except on public transport and in health establishments. The vaccine pass will also no longer be required at most public indoor venues, except hospitals, retirement homes and care homes. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) United Nations, March 11 : Large convoys of armed groups reported in Libya's capital are increasing tensions, a UN spokesman has said. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it follows with concern reports about the mobilisation of forces and movement of large convoys of armed groups in and around Tripoli, Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. The action has increased tensions. "The mission stresses once again the importance of preserving calm and stability in the country and calls on all parties to refrain from any action that could lead to armed clashes," Dujarric said. The spokesman said the political mission urges all parties to cooperate with Stephanie Williams, the secretary-general's special adviser on Libya. She is trying to find a negotiated way out of the current stalemate. In a tweet, Williams urged restraint and the need to abstain from provocative action in word and deed, including the mobilisation of forces. She renewed her offer to use the good offices of the United Nations to mediate and assist Libyans in finding a consensus and a way forward. Technical and legal issues forced the indefinite postponement of the December 24, 2021, general elections, according to the country's High National Elections Commission. A month ago, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah said his government would remain in office until the elections were held and only relinquish his position to an elected government. However, House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh has said Dbeibah's government expired and called for appointing a new one. Last September, the House withdrew confidence in the government but kept it on as a caretaker government. The UN Security Council established UNSMIL to support Libya's transitional authorities' efforts following six months of armed conflict in 2011. Jaipur, March 11 : Stressing that Germany has not criticised India's position on Ukraine, the German Ambassador to India, Walter J. Lindner told IANS that the German government has not put any pressure on India or any other country to take sides on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. "Every country has the right to decide its position," he added. He however stressed that no country has the right to invade a neighbouring one with a massive army, impose its will, change borders and cause death and destruction. "The world cannot be expected to take it lying down," he said. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Lindner asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spun a false narrative and used it as an excuse to invade Ukraine. "The question of NATO membership for Ukraine was not even on the table. By the way, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, most East European countries wanted to join the European Union and NATO out of their free will. It is not that NATO was forcing them to. Putin cannot mould history as per his will and expect no repercussions by invading a sovereign country in this day and age. Also, attacking another country cannot be a way to solve a border dispute." Optimistic that the harsh sanctions imposed on Russia were bound to affect it deeply, the ambassador said that considering Germany is the powerhouse in Europe and a major Russian energy consumer, its participation gives the sanctions more teeth. "We decreased our dependence on Russian oil and gas several years back when Putin annexed Crimea. Now, Nord Stream 2 has been stopped and by the end of the year, energy imports from there will be further decreased. Yes, this would mean looking at alternate sources and also investing more in renewable sources of energy." Considering the fact that Germany has been decommissioning nuclear plants at a rapid pace after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan (2011), the ambassador said that the same had to be done in order to ensure that such a disaster did not take place in Germany. "As I said before, we would be focussing on renewable energy and other sources for our energy needs." Talk to him about the refugee crisis and the willingness of many countries to take in fleeing Europeans, much unlike Syrian refugees, and he pointed out, "For most European countries, this is a war happening very close. Also, let us not forget that Germany took in a huge number of refugees from Syria." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Kiev, March 11 : Reacting to Russia's allegations that biological weapons were made in Ukrainian laboratories, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that "no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed" in his country. In his latest video address posted on Facebook on Friday morning, Zelensky said: "I am the President of an adequate country, an adequate nation. And the father of two children. And no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land. "The whole world knows that. You know that. And if Russia do something like that against us, it will get the most severe sanctions response." Responding further to Russia's claims that "recently found documents" showed components of biological weapons were made in Ukrainian laboratories with funding from the US Department of Defense, the President said that "this makes me really worried, because we've been repeatedly convinced: if you want to know Russia's plans, look at what Russia accuses others of (doing)". "What are these allegations of preparing chemical attacks? Have you decided to carry out 'de-chemicalisation' of Ukraine? Using ammonia? Using phosphorus? What else have you prepared for us?" he questioned Russia which has continued to wage its war against Ukraine for 16 days now. In its latest allegation, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed on Thursday that the US was helping Ukraine to develop biological weapons and use virus-carrying birds that migrate through Russia, the BBC reported. The Ministry, however did not provide any evidence to support the claim. Earlier, Russia had claimed that more than 30 laboratories in Lviv, Kharkiv and Poltava were working with dangerous infectious agents as part of a US-led military biological programme. Meanwhile, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, requested the world body to convene an emergency Security Council meeting on Friday to "discuss the military biological activities of the US on the territory of Ukraine". The US has called the allegations "preposterous", with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki saying in a tweet on Wednesday that it is the "kind of disinformation operation we've seen repeatedly from the Russians over the years in Ukraine and in other countries, which have been debunked". She said "we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them. It's a clear pattern". While testifying to the US Senate Intelligence Committee earlier on Thursday, CIA Director William Burns described Russia's accusations as "false flag efforts in the creation of false narratives". Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka Police have arrested six persons, including two woman on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl in Bengaluru, police said on Friday. The accused had women laced juice with sedatives and sold the girl to customers for over a week after threatening her. The two women who were arrested have been identified as Kalavathi (52), a resident of Agara and Rajeshwari (50), a resident of Bandepalya. Others who have also been arrested include Keshavamurthy (47), Deputy Manager from an automobile company in Hosur; Satyaraju (43), a resident of Koramangala; Sharath (38), a resident of Yelahanka and Rafeeq (38) from Begur. They all raped the girl when she was unconscious. The police said the 16-year-old girl was repeatedly raped for six days. The police have lodged cases under the Protection of Children from the Sexual Offences Act (Pocso), kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, prostitution and life threat against the accused persons. The family of the victim had come to Bengaluru seeking livelihood and settled here. The parents of the girl worked as labourers. Rajeshwari, who was staying in the neighbourhood, ran a tailoring shop and after school hours, the victim went there to learn tailoring. When the girl was resting at her house, the accused Rajeshwari took her to the house and laced juice with sedatives. After she fell unconscious, accused Keshavamurthy raped her. When the girl woke up, she found blood stains all over. The accused had told her that she had fallen unconscious at her house and forced her to take bath before she left. Two days later, Rajeshwari asked the victim to come to her house. When the girl refused to come, the accused threatened and took her to another accused Kalavathy's home. Both the accused threatened her and made the victim entertain other men. The mother of the girl upon noticing blood stains on her daughter's clothes and seeing her reluctance to go to Rajeshwari for learning tailoring became suspicious. On questioning, her daughter revealed the trauma. The mother then lodged a police complaint with the HSR Layout police station. The police formed four teams and nabbed the accused in 36 hours. The police investigation showed that, accused Rajeshwari and Kalavathi, had been working as sex wprkers for the past seven years. They operated individually and got their clients. Rajeshwari and her friend Kalavathi, lured women and girls, who came to the tailoring shop, into prostitution. Kiev, March 11 : The Ukrainian government has said that in the last two days, 60,000 people were evacuated from the besieged region of Sumy and 20,000 others from Kiev amid the ongoing war. In a video address on Thursday, Iryna Vereschuk, Minister of the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, said: "We have evacuated more than 60,000 people from Sumy, Trostyanets, and Krasnopillya to Poltava over the last two days. "We managed to evacuate around 3,000 people from the city of Izyum to the city of Lozova in the Kharkiv region. Aid was delivered to Izyum: medication, food, and water. Over 100 tonnes. "Over the last day, around 20,000 people were evacuated from the towns of Bucha, Hostomel, Irpin, and Vorzel in the Kyiv region. "More than 100 tonnes of aid was also delivered to Enerhodar." However, no evacuation could take place from the humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia due to constant shelling by Russian forces, the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper quoted the Minister as saying. Calling the situation in Mariupol a "humanitarian catastrophe", the Minister further said that Russia has constantly hampered the planned evacuation of civilians from the strategic southern port city. "The worst situation is in Mariupol-Zaporizhzhia. No one has been evacuated. Not a single drop of water has reached people who are exhausted from thirst. "300,000 people today are suffering from lack of water, cold and hunger. The aggressor's revenge is not allowing us to save them," Vereschuk said. She also claimed that currently there was only one road from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, via Orikhiv and Polohy, as all others have been destroyed or mined. "Every day, when our humanitarian cargo sets off for the road, the aggressor fires at the cargo, fires in the direction of movement, not allowing it to pass even a kilometre." On Wednesday, Mariupol witnessed one of the worst attacks since Russia started its war on February 24 when a children and maternity hospital was shelled, killing three people and injuring 17 others. Lucknow, March 11 : The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections that concluded on Thursday, banked largely on the consolidation of OBC leaders in almost all the major political parties. However, the poll results have shown up shocking results as a number of prominent OBC leaders have lost their seats. The most shocking defeat is that of former BJP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who led a revolt of sorts in the BJP in January and joined the Samajwadi Party. Swami Prasad Maurya was made to bite dust in his Fazilnagar seat where he was defeated, ironically, by the BJP. Dharam Singh Saini, another BJP minister who had followed Maurya, also lost his seat in Saharanpur. "The opposition tried to spread confusion among the backward castes, but it was futile and the community stood steadfast with BJP," state BJP OBC Morcha chief Narendra Kashyap. The defeat of deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is a shocker for the BJP which had projected him as the face of OBC in Uttar Pradesh. He had been vigorously campaigning for his party candidate, flitting from one constituency to another but lost his own Sirathu seat to Samajwadi Party's Pallavi Patel. Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and leader of opposition, Ram Govind Chaudhary, was also defeated in his Bansdih constituency. Ajay Kumar Lallu, UPCC president and the OBC face of the Congress suffered a humiliating defeat in his Tamkuhi Raj seat. He trailed at the third position in his constituency. Krishna Patel, president of the breakaway faction of Apna Dal who contested the Pratapgarh seat in alliance with SP, lost her seat even though her estranged daughter Anupriya Patel had withdrawn her candidate from the fray as a mark of respect to her mother. The OBCs had sided with theBJP in 2017 to emerge as an alternate pressure group to the socio-economically powerful Yadav community, which happens to be SP's base. This triggered a realignment of castes and around 60 per cent OBCs voted in favour of the BJP in 2017. Akhilesh tried to shift this balance and wooed the non-Yadav OBC bloc aimed to recalibrate Uttar Pradesh politics. "SP sought a makeover from a party dominated by Yadavs, but it didn't work before the BJP's organisational machinery," said a political analyst. Almost all parties had put OBC leaders at the helm of their campaigns and particularly in the last three phases to test their popularity. Kiev, March 11 : Mayor of Kiev Vitaliy Klitschko said that the Ukrainian capital has become a "fortress" being defended by armed civilians, while half of the city's entire population have left amid the looming threat of a Russian invasion. "The key goal of the Russians is to capture Kiev, to surround Kiev, to take it in a ring, then to attack and overthrow the government. Their plans are not being realised, thanks to our guys in Bucha, Vorzel, Irpen and Gostomel, where fierce fighting is taking place... Our guys are thwarting all plans to surround Kiev," the Mayor said in a video address on Thursday night. According to the latest estimates, every second Kiev citizen has left, he said, adding that under 2 million residents are now living in the Ukrainian capital. Nevertheless, Kiev has now become a "fortress", Klitschko was quoted as saying in the video by the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper. The Mayor also reaffirmed that authorities in Kiev continue to ensure the livelihood of the city. "The utility services are working. Warm, water, light, internet in the capital is. Most pharmacies and grocery stores operate. "The city provides passenger transport. Kiev rescuers meet people at the railway station. And those who want to leave Kiev are sent by trains to Western Ukraine," he added. Klitschko further noted that musicians and other professionals have joined the territorial defence, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. "There has never been such a spirit! Everyone says, 'nothing will happen, we will not surrender our city'. I can repeat these words: the city stood, the people will stand. They won't give up. And the enemy won't pass." The Mayor's remarks came as a senior US defence official said that Russian forces have moved about 5 km closer to Kiev in the past 24 hours, which means the troops were now just 15 km from the city centre, the BBC reported. Kabul, March 11 : A Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has left for Turkey to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, the Foreign Ministry in Kabul announced. The Forum will run through Friday to Sunday. The Ministry said that although the main focus of the Forum will be the Ukraine crisis, the Afghan situation will also be a part of the discussions. "There will be talks with the international countries about Afghanistan and the acting Foreign Minister, on the sidelines of the meeting, will speak with the representatives of other countries regarding Afghanistan," TOLO News quoted Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, as saying on Thursday. The Taliban had earlier said that the Muttaqi-led delegation was invited to attend the Forum, which will be attended by diplomats and representatives of more than 200 countries, by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Bilal Karimi, another Taliban deputy spokesman, claimed that the "Afghan delegation's participation in this meeting, and discussion over various matters, will be helpful, considering the current situation". Muttaqi has so far attended meetings in Turkey, Iran, Russia, Pakistan and Norway, and has called for international recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, reports TOLO News. He is also scheduled to attend a third round of meetings among regional Foreign Ministers later this month in Beijing. Muzaffarnagar : , March 11 (IANS) Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesman Rakesh Tikait has said the BJP worked only to garner the maximum votes and has been successful in doing that. "We held farmer agitation successfully for 13 months. We are 'andolankari' and BJP is 'votekaari'. This time, all political parties took farmers seriously and included their welfare in their manifestos. It does not matter who wins but they must fulfil farmers' demands and needs, and work for their betterment and fulfil the promises they have made," said Rakesh Tikait while talking to reporters. Tikait had been campaigning against the BJP and its policies and had even appealed to farmers to not vote for the party. Asked about the impact of farmers' agitation on Uttar Pradesh's Assembly election, Tikait said, "Farmer movement has done enough damage to the BJP. They have lost several seats in west UP which they had won in the last polls." In Muzaffarnagar, he said, the SP-RLD alliance had wrested four of the six seat seats from the BJP. Among them was Budhana constituency in which Tikait's village is located. Rajpal Baliyan from the RLD defeated BJP MLA Umesh Malik there. "But BJP won as UP is a large state and the party knows how to get votes irrespective of the means it employs to do so. On the one hand, it makes people poor, and, on the other, plays the communal card to divide communities. This strategy is being executed all across the country," he said. Reiterating that farmers' struggle would continue, Tikait said, "We will make a committee now and ensure that the BJP addresses farmer-related issues." Kabul, March 11 : The Taliban government said work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline will resume soon and rejected a media report claiming the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has paused all activities related to the project. The report by a Pakistani news outlet citing an official from the country's Energy Ministry said the ADB had "paused all due diligence and processing activities of TAPI pending the official recognition of the Islamic Emirate by the UN and major global economies". On Thursday, Ahmad Wali Haqmal, a spokesman for the Taliban's Ministry of Finance, rejected the report and said the ADB was active in a consultative capacity while is it "mainly owned by Turkmenistan", TOLO News reported. The TAPI gas pipeline is planned to span 1,680 km and connect Afghanistan's Herat and Kandahar provinces with Pakistan and India. Afghanistan will pay 5 per cent of the project's expenses. Earlier the Islamic Emirate had announced that it will resume the TAPI pipeline project this spring. Lucknow, March 11 : The Congress workers from across Uttar Pradesh will march to Delhi on Monday and reach the party headquarters where they plan to meet Sonia Gandhi, former president Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congressmen want to tell their leaders that the party's miserable performance in the Uttar Pradesh polls was due to the conspiracy of 'betrayers within the party who sold tickets for a price'. "We want to tell our leaders that all is not lost and if the right people are asked to lead UP, we have hopes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Priyanka ji has been misled by a coterie that does not have the Congress DNA and is working for vested interests," said expelled Congress leader Konark Dixit, who is leading the campaign. He said that party workers who are committed to the ideology, are worried that the Congress has forfeited deposits on 385 seats in the elections. "If we want to resurrect the party before the general elections, we need to change the system of working. We are not rising in revolt but we need to discuss certain issues with the party leadership," he said. The Congress workers are also demanding the resignation of Ajay Kumar Lallu, who has not only lost his own elections but has also ranked at the third position. Kabul, March 11 : More than 500,000 Afghan refugees have returned to the country in the past six months, a Taliban government official has claimed. During a visit to the Torkham border, a major crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MRR) Mohammad Arsalah Kharotai told reporters on Thursday that diplomatic efforts were underway to facilitate the release of Afghans being held abroad, reports TOLO News. "Almost 550,000 people are registered with us, but the number could be higher as some of them might have not been registered," he said. The visit comes following repeated complaints of citizens about problems at the crossing, which connects Afghanistan's Nangarhar province with Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During its sixth session, the Taliban cabinet had discussed the challenges at the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings. "To ensure discipline and to resolve the health issues and other problems at the Torkham port in Nangarhar and Spin Boldak port in Kandahar, relevant ministries were instructed to properly activate the departments and appoint sufficient and professional staff to address the problems of the people," the Islamic Emirate said in a statement. There are six official border crossings and trade terminals between Afghanistan and Pakistan, namely Torkham, Chaman, Angur Ada, Badini, Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi. New York, March 11 : An Indian-origin doctor has been killed by persons who allegedly stole his Mercedes Benz and hit him with the car, according to Washington police. Police said that the suspect entered Rakesh Patel's car when he was outside it and hit him while fleeing in the vehicle on Tuesday. Police have announced a $25,000 reward for the capture of the person/s who were involved in the killing. While the car was recovered, the suspects had not been captured as of Thursday. WJLA TV said that when Patel, 33, stepped out of his car to give his girlfriend a package, the thieves entered the car started to drive away. "In a panic, he ran after them somehow getting in front of the car. The car thieves ran him down killing him" while his "girlfriend watched in horror", the TV station reported. According to NBC4 Washington TV, Patel's father and two siblings are also doctors. He was the youngest child and his mother Charulatta Patel told the station: "I always used to call him my baby". Calling the killing senseless, she asked: "For what? A car"? Washington, like places across the US, has seen a huge spike in carjackings, vehicle thefts and major crimes in the aftermath of anti-police protests that followed the killing of an African-American man by police two years ago in Minnesota. The Washington Post reported that carjackings in Washington "spiked 200 per cent from 2019 to 2021, and continue to rise this year". Last March, a Pakistani food delivery person was killed by two girls, 13 and 15 years old, who carjacked his car. New Delhi, March 11 : Twitter has deleted a controversial tweet by the Russian Embassy in London, that claimed a pregnant victim fleeing the site of a hospital bombing in Ukraine's besieged city of Mariupo was an actor in "some very realistic make-up". Responding to a photo of the woman in the aftermath of Wednesday's attack, the Embassy had tweeted: "She has some very realistic make-up. She is also doing well with her beauty blogs. Plus she could not be in the maternity house at the time of the strike, as it has long been taken by the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion who told all the staff to clear the place." The micro-blogging platform immediately deleted the tweet. The Embassy has had at least three tweets removed within a day for violating the platform's rules, reports The Verge. The false claims appeared to have originated in Russian-language Telegram channels. Several Russian Embassy Twitter accounts are sowing misinformation amid the country's invasion of Ukraine. The Twitter account of the Embassy in London has been actively disseminating false information about ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine. On Thursday, Twitter suspended @asbmilitary, an account spreading the fake conspiracy theory that the US holds biological weapons labs in Ukraine. Los Angeles, March 11 : Label Sony Music has suspended all of its operations in Russia, the company has confirmed to 'Variety'. "Sony Music Group calls for peace in Ukraine and an end to the violence. We have suspended operations in Russia and will continue our support of global humanitarian relief efforts to aid victims in need," the company said in a statement, reports variety.com. Sources tell Variety that the company's staffers will continue to receive their salaries for an undetermined time; the artists' situation is still being worked out. Universal Music Group announced that it is suspending its operations in the country on Tuesday. All three major labels "Universal, Sony and Warner" have local labels and operations in Russia; Warner is expected to make an announcement in the coming days. The three companies all have made donations to Ukraine relief efforts. Early Tuesday, the U.K.'s performing rights organisation, PRS for Music, said it has formally and immediately suspended its rights representation relationship with RAO, the Russian collecting society for musical works, "pending confirmation of its separation from the Russian Government and those individuals and companies on the sanctions lists." BMI in the US made a similar statement this week: "BMI has suspended its copyright representation payments to RAO, the Russian collection society for musical works. Additionally, we are working with CISAC on a broader effort that will help benefit creators in the Ukraine and surrounding areas, while also providing humanitarian aid to those who are so desperately in need." CISAC, which is the governing body of all global collection societies, launched a Ukraine relief fund on Wednesday and, sources say, is continuing to assess the status of Russian collection management organisations. Many in the publishing and songwriter community, including songwriter Ross Golan, have publicly called for collection societies to stop doing business with Russia. A representative for France-based label and distributor Believe Music, which has a substantial market presence and 40-employee staff in the country, tells Variety that it has "no plans to suspend operations in Russia for the moment but we are monitoring the situation very closely as it is developing constantly." Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Chennai, March 11 : The announcements made by the Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh governments for restoring old pension schemes in their respective states have kindled the hopes of the government employees in Tamil Nadu. The Himachal Pradesh Government has also taken steps to constitute a committee to set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for restoring the old pension scheme. P. Fredric Engels, state Coordinator of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) abolishing movement told IANS: "The new pension scheme is totally against the interest of the government employees. By reviving the old pension scheme, the government will not lose anything." He said that in Tamil Nadu, some beneficial provisions in the CPS were not implemented. "The CPS in Tamil Nadu does not offer gratuity on superannuation, and if a government employee dies while in service, the family pension is not granted under the new pension scheme," he further said. G. Venkatesan, leader of the movement against CPS told IANS: "As the Tamil Nadu government has not signed an agreement with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA- a regulatory body under the Union government), it would be easy to revive the old pension scheme." He said that Rajasthan even after signing an agreement with PFRDA has revived the old pension scheme and hence Tamil Nadu will not face any problems reviving the old pension scheme. It is to be noted that according to a policy note of the Finance Department for 2021-2022, more than 5.88 lakh employees recruited in Tamil Nadu on or after April 1, 2003, are enrolled under the CPS known as the New Pension Scheme. Patna, March 11 : The Bihar police will take all possible measures, including using drones, to prevent hooligans from creating law and order problems in the state in the run-up to Holi. On Thursday, in a high-level meeting, DGP of Bihar S.K. Singhal directed the field officers to implement the same on priority basis. People of the state are expected to celebrate Holi in a bigger way this year in the wake of reduced Corona threat. The DGP directed IGP, DIGP, SSP, SP and DSP rank officers of the state via teleconferencing to intensify checking in their respective areas. He has asked officials to use drones, motor boats, helicopters, and horses to keep an eye on activities of liquor mafias of the state. He has specially directed officials to make the anti-liquor task force and Vajra more effective. Following the direction, Manavjeet Singh Dhillon, the SSP of Patna directed every SHOs to keep a close watch on the bikers gang. "We will deploy 1,500 additional police force in the district especially on high speed zones like four-lane Atal Path and Digha-AIIMS elevated Patli Path. A QRT and anti-liquor task force will also be deployed in the region. Will press into service 12 teams of dog squad as well," Dhillon said. As per the new rule, if any offender is arrested in a drunken state and refuses to reveal the name of the seller, he or she would be booked under liquor prohibition law and sent to jail. Hyderabad, March 11 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was slightly indisposed on Friday. He visited Yashoda Hospital for a check-up. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), doctors were conducting heart related angiogram tests. KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, was accompanied by his wife Shobha Rao, daughter and legislator K. Kavitha and other family members. Following the indisposition, KCR cancelled his visit to Yadadri temple. He was scheduled to participate in some rituals at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. The chief minister had also planned a meeting to review the arrangements for the reopening of the temple for devotees after the renovation later this month. Kiev, March 11 : Ukrainian authorities said on Friday said Russian troops have bombed a nuclear research facility in the country's second largest city of Kharkiv. In a Facebook post, Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said the bombing of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology on Thursday night has caused a power outage at the Source of Neutron Nuclear Research Subcritical Unit. According to the state regulator, the unit has completely lost power and the exterior of the building has also been damaged. It added that authorities were still assessing further damages at the site. The regulator said the Source of Neutron is designed to conduct scientific and practical studies in the fields of nuclear physics, radiation material science, biology, chemistry and for the production of medical radioisotopes. Russia has been targeting nuclear sites in Ukraine since it started the war on February 24. On the first day itself, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of the world's worst nuclear accident, fell to Russian troops. On Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Ukrainian authorities had informed it that they had lost all communications with the radioactive waste facility at Chernobyl after the plant suffered a power outage. On March 3, another facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency in south-eastern Ukraine, was damaged by artillery fire and captured by Russian forces. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 11 : The Supreme Court on Friday observed that elections must be conducted and the Delhi Gymkhana Club administrator cannot continue perennially, as it gave four weeks to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to conclude the proceedings into the matter. A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar queried Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, "Elections must be conducted sometime, what is the difficulty...administrator cannot continue perennially. Elections have to take place. You cannot have associations without elections." Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing Delhi Gymkhana Club members, said: "We want to hold the elections. The administrator cannot continue in perpetuity." Kaul cited the apex court order, passed on September 30, last year, directing the NCLT to decide the entire matter afresh within four months' time, and if not decided within this period, then the administrator should conduct elections to install a duly elected committee. Kaul said the four-month period was completed in February, yet the administrator is not ready to hold the elections. He added that the allegations of misgovernance have to be decided by appropriate forum and it should not impede the process of holding elections in the club. Justice Khanwilkar told Mehta that a self-operating order was passed in September last year. Mehta requested the court to grant two-weeks to NCLT to complete the proceedings in the matter. Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj submitted that there are allegations of illegal memberships and those members would also vote in the election process. Concluding the hearing, Justice Khanwilkar said: "It must be made clear, if the tribunal is unable to complete the proceedings (within four weeks), the self-operating order will come into play, thereafter the administrator would have to install a committee by conducting elections." The bench made it clear that it will not entertain any request by the Centre to extend the time period for the tribunal to complete the proceedings. An application, filed by retired Major Atul Dev and others (club members), said: "Following the directions passed by this court vide order dated September 30, 2021, the appellants vide email dated February 4, 2022, had also written to the administrator (Om Pathak), Delhi Gymkhana Club to take appropriate steps for reinstituting the elected committee by elections." The application contended that a period of four months has lapsed since the passing of the order and no steps have even been initiated towards the holding of elections. "The applicant vide the instant application requests this court to direct the administrator to take necessary steps for conducting elections without any further delay as the club requires the same for efficient functioning and to restore normalcy," added the application. The NCLAT, on February 15 last year, dissolved the club's General Committee and directed the Centre to appoint an administrator to manage its affairs, after the Ministry of Corporate Affairs moved the tribunal alleging corruption, mismanagement, and nepotism in the club. On September 30, in a major relief for the former general committee of the club, the Supreme Court, while hearing the appeals filed against the NCLAT, remanded the matter back to the NCLT and asked it to settle it within four months. Chennai, March 11 : The police have arrested a 53-year-old quack for running sex determination scan centres in the remote area of Tamil Nadu's Tiruppathur district. Sugumar was arrested on Thursday and produced before a judicial magistrate court and was remanded to judicial custody. According to the police, Sugumar and his accomplice and AIADMK worker, Vediyappan used to charge Rs 8,000 per fetus determination test and daily he scanned around ten pregnant women in the remote areas. Directorate of Medical Service authorities conducted a surprise check at Kathirappati village, 8 km from Tirupathur where there are no proper roads and heavy vehicles cannot reach the place. Officials of the Directorate of Medical services said that he was using a portable scanning machine to run the illegal sex determination scan centres at various places of the district. Tirupathur health authorities told IANS that the portable scanning machines are banned in the country and a proper investigation has to be conducted to find out the source from where he brought the machine. Police and Medical service authority officials said that the women from Dharmapuri and Tiruvannamalai had reached his scan centre to determine the sex of the child in the womb. Sources in the state police told IANS that Sugumar has been arrested earlier also, but after coming out of judicial custody, he continues with the same work but in a different place. New Delhi, March 11 : Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has claimed that an Indian "high speed flying object" fell in Mian Channu located in Punjab province's Khanewal district, Dawn news reported. "It was a supersonic flying object, most probably a missile, but it was certainly unarmed," he told reporters on Thursday. Earlier reports had suggested that a private aircraft had crashed in the area. "On March 9, at 6.43 p.m, a high speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)," the ISPR chief said. "From its initial course, the object suddenly manoeuvred towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan's air space, ultimately falling near Mian Channu at 6.50 p.m. "When it fell, it damaged civilian properties," he said, adding no loss of life was reported. "PAF continuously monitored the complete flying path of the object, from its point of origin near Sirsa in India to its point of impact, near Mian Channu. It initiated requisite tactical actions. "It is important to highlight that the flight path of this object endangered many international and domestic passenger flights - both in Indian and Pakistani air space - as well as human life and property on ground. "Whatever caused this incident to happen, it is for the Indians to explain. It, nevertheless, shows their disregard for aviation safety and reflects very poorly on their technological prowess and procedural efficiency," Dawn quoted the ISPR chief as saying. He added that this could have resulted in a major aviation disaster. "Pakistan strongly protests this flagrant violation and cautions against recurrence of any such incident in the future," he warned. Air Vice Marshall Tariq Zia told the media that at the time this projectile was picked up, there were two airway routes active and several commercial airlines in the area. "If you look at the speed and height of the projectile, it was 40,000 feet high, and the airlines were between 35,000 to 42,000 feet. This could have been very detrimental to the safety of passengers." New Delhi, March 11 : A US lawmaker has called to designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism, while two others have sought a probe into Ambassador Masood Khans alleged links with Kashmiri and Pakistani groups, Dawn reported. The initiator of the move is Scott Perry, a Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania. The bill moved by him seeks to "provide for the designation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism, and for other purposes". The bill has now been referred to the US House committee on foreign affairs. The proposed sanctions include restrictions on foreign assistance; a ban on defence exports and sales; certain controls over export of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions. Others call for penalising persons and countries engaging in trade with a state declared a sponsor of terrorism. Only four countries have been designated sponsors of terrorism so far: Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria. On March 9, three lawmakers, namely Scott Perry, Gregory Steube and Mary E. Miller, sent a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, claiming that Ambassador Khan's close relationship "with domestic actors linked with the Pakistani regime remains a critical concern". Khan, Pakistan's new ambassador to the US, is a senior diplomat who once served in New York as Islamabad's permanent representative to the US. He was also the President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir till August last year, Dawn reported. The three US lawmakers have called for an investigation into allegations that Khan, who has already been confirmed as Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, has links with Muslim groups and organisations in the US. Last month, another US lawmaker tried to block Khan's posting, but President Joe Bien's administration rejected his protest and confirmed the appointment. Los Angeles, March 11 : Streaming portal Amazon has ordered two seasons of an animated comedy from actor Ramy Youssef, 'Variety' has learned exclusively. The series is part of new first-look deal Youssef and his Cairo Cowboy production banner have signed with the streamer, reports variety.com. Youssef leads Cairo Cowboy with Andy Campagna, the former senior vice president of television for Sam Esmail's Esmail Corp. "Ramy has only scratched the surface of his incredible creative gifts," said Vernon Sanders, head of global television for Amazon. "With perfectly measured and heartfelt comedic candor, his work penetrates culture, and we are so fortunate to be working with him and his team." "Family comedies have long tackled some of the most uncomfortable and difficult societal topics, but through animation and Ramy's creative voice, we are so excited to bring this one to audiences." The animated series will explore the experiences of a Muslim-American family that must learn how to code-switch as they navigate the early 2000s: a time of fear, war, and the rapid expansion of the boy-band industrial complex. Youssef co-created the series with Pam Brady. Both serve as executive producers along with Mona Chalabi, a journalist and illustrator whose work has been featured in publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times among others. A24 and Amazon Studios will co-produce. "Amazon Studios has committed to making a show with me that I never could have dreamed of getting made, let alone explore for two seasons," Youssef said. "Anchored by Pam Brady and Mona Chalabi, we've brought together a special group of experienced and first-time writers to make something that I hope will be a genuine contribution to the animated space, and television. I'm excited and grateful to explore making more weird shit with Amazon Studios through this partnership, inshallah." Youssef is best known for creating and starring in the critically-acclaimed series 'Ramy'. He won the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy series for the show's first season, earning Emmy nominations in the same category as well as for best directing for a comedy series. Two seasons of the show have aired to date, with Hulu having renewed it for a third season in July 2020. His other acting credits include 'Mr. Robot' and 'See Dad Run'. HBO released his standup special, 'Ramy Youssef: Feelings', in 2019. He is currently working with his 'Ramy' co-star Mohammed 'Mo' Amer on a scripted Netflix comedy series in which Amer will star. Kiev, March 11 : Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko on Friday said the Ukrainian city is being shelled by Russian forces every 30 minutes. In a social media post, the Mayor acknowledged that the the last few days have been particularly difficult for the city as Russian forces were "ruthlessly and purposely shelling residential buildings" in the strategic port city. "Today, they cynically fired on the State Emergency Services. Every 30 minutes, aircraft flew over the city, working residential areas and killing civilians: the elderly, women and children." He also accused Russia of disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid from Zaporizhzhya to Mariupol, adding that the forces attacked convoys and the 'green corridor' for civilian evacuations. According to preliminary estimates by Mariupol's city council, about 1,300 civilians have died thus far in the 10 days that it has been blockaded. In a video address on Thursday, Iryna Vereschuk, Minister of the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, said no evacuation could take place from the humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhya due to constant shelling by Russian forces, the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper reported. Calling the situation in Mariupol a "humanitarian catastrophe", the Minister said that Russia has constantly hampered the planned evacuation of civilians from the strategic port city. "The worst situation is in Mariupol-Zaporizhzhya. No one has been evacuated. Not a single drop of water has reached people who are exhausted from thirst. 300,000 people today are suffering from lack of water, cold and hunger. The aggressor's revenge is not allowing us to save them," Vereschuk said. She also claimed that currently there was only one road from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhya, via Orikhiv and Polohy, as all others have been destroyed or mined. On Wednesday, Mariupol witnessed one of the worst attacks since Russia started its war on February 24 when a children and maternity hospital was shelled, killing three people and injuring 17 others. New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court on Friday turned down the bail applications filed by Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. Justice Manoj Ohri pronounced the order after hearing the submissions by Michel's counsel Aljo K. Joseph, CBI's counsel D.P. Singh and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju for the ED. A detailed order copy is expected to be made available later in the day. Michel, a British citizen, was extradited to India on December 5, 2018 from the UAE. On his arrival in India, he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and days later, arrested by the financial probe agency, the Enforcement Directorate. Since then, he has been lodged in judicial custody at Tihar Jail. Various courts have rejected the bail petition of Michel in a number of occasions. Michel had recently sought bail in connection with the cases registered against him by the CBI and the ED on the grounds that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concluded his detention was arbitrary. In his petition, James had argued that his extradition from the UAE to India was a quid pro quo for Indian authorities sending back Dubai's Princess Latifa. On September 19, 2020 the CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet against 15 accused, including Michel and accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena, in connection with the alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The CBI had earlier filed a charge sheet in this case on September 1, 2017 against then IAF chief S.P. Tyagi and 11 other accused. On January 1, 2014, India cancelled the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and on charges of paying kickbacks amounting to Rs 423 crore. New Delhi, March 11 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said stranded Indian students who were evacuated from the besieged Ukrainian city of Sumy are returning to India on Friday. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said the evacuation of the students from Sumy "was particularly challenging". "Operation Ganga, undertaken at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has delivered due to both leadership and commitment. "We are thankful to all those who facilitated its objectives. Our particular gratitude to the authorities in Ukraine and Russia as well as the Red Cross for the evacuation assistance," the Minister said. The neighbouring countries of Ukraine -- Romania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Moldova -- "gave us exceptional support" during the evacuation, Jaishankar said, conveying his "sincerest thanks" to the nations. "We are grateful to NGOs, individual volunteers, corporates, our airlines and the Indian Air Force who worked so tirelessly in this exercise." Referring to the "contributions of his four ministerial colleagues, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, and General (Retd.) V.K. Singh", Jaishankar said that their "presence on the ground made a big difference". The Minister also lauded the "efforts of the Indian Embassy in Ukraine and Team MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) for their dedicated efforts in a difficult conflict situation". On Tuesday, the Indian students from Sumy were evacuated and transported to Poltava via a humanitarian corridor. The following day, they were sent to Lviv and from there they crossed into Poland on Wednesday and Thursday. They will arrive in India aboard three flights, including the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster. Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine, has come under heavy shelling and bombing by Russia which began its military invasion of Kiev on February 24. Nearly 700 hundred Indian students were stuck in the city amidst the Russian attacks. On Tuesday, Russia and Ukraine announced a ceasefire and provided a humanitarian corridor. The previous day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine and requested them to provide a safe passage to evacuate the remaining Indian nationals. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Los Angeles, March 11 : Rock band My Chemical Romance have cancelled their upcoming shows in Russia and Ukraine this summer due to the ongoing war. The 'Welcome To The Black Parade' musicians, which has Frank Iero, Ray Toro and brothers Gerard and Mikey Way, were set to perform in both countries this summer, but they confirmed the gigs have been axed in a brief statement on amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reports femalefirst.co.uk. They said: "With deep regret, My Chemical Romance is cancelling our Ukraine and Russia shows in June, 2022. We hope to be able to play for the fans there soon." My Chemical Romance are the latest band to cancel shows in the region, as Green Day recently announced they were scrapping plans for a Moscow show during the conflict. In a statement, Billie Joe Armstrong and co said: "With heavy hearts, in light of current events we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcoming show in Moscow at Spartak Stadium. "We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it's much bigger than that. But we also know that rock and roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future. Stay safe." The likes of Yungblud and Louis Tomlinson also pulled the plug on the shows, with the former One Direction star having to cancel gigs in both capital cities. He wrote on social media: "Due to the recent events in Ukraine, I have to sadly announce that my tour shows in Moscow and Kyiv are cancelled until further notice. "The safety of my fans is my priority and my thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and all those suffering from this needless war." Meanwhile, Russia has also been banned from this year's 'Eurovision Song Contest'. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Sanaa, March 11 : Shelling carried out by the Houthi militia in different areas of Yemen in the past 24 hours has led to the deaths of six children, a security official said. "In two separate incidents, the Houthis launched shelling and killed six children in southwestern province of Taiz and in Sanaa's countryside within the past 24 hours," the official told Xinhua news agency. On Wednesday, the Yemen government's National Committee for Investigating Alleged Violation of Human Rights said that a total of 56 women were killed as a result of shelling carried out by the Houthi militia during the past several months. Due to shelling and bombing of houses, about 280 families were forcibly displaced, the committee said. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution at the end of February that imposes an arms embargo on the Houthi militia in Yemen as an entity. The move was welcomed by the internationally-recognized Yemeni government and several other Arab countries. The Houthi militia currently controls the capital Sanaa and most key northern provinces. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of Hadi after Houthis forced him into exile. New Delhi, March 11 : The Supreme Court on Friday appointed former top court judge A.K. Sikri as chairperson of the High Powered Committee (HPC) to examine the impact of the Chardham project on the entire Himalayan valley. A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant accepted the resignation of professor Ravi Chopra, who was the chairperson of the committee. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, representing the Centre, submitted that Justice Sikri has already been leading the oversight committee, and suggested the court should appoint him as the chairperson. The bench agreed to the AG's suggestion and appointed Justice (retd) Sikri as chairperson of the HPC. In December last year, the top court constituted an oversight committee to ensure all remedial measures are taken in the interest of the environment and the recommendations of the high-power committee are implemented in the project. In January, Chopra had written a letter expressing his desire to resign from the post. On December 14, last year, the top court allowed double lane paved shoulder configuration for Chardham road project, a prestigious project for the NDA government, taking into consideration the recent security challenges, at Indo-China border, and the strategic importance of having double-lane roads for swift movement of armed forces. The top court pointed out that there is no mala fide in the application filed by the Ministry of Defence to widen the roads for the operational requirement of the armed forces. In August 2019, the top court appointed Chopra as chairperson of the HPC. The top court order came on a plea filed by an NGO Citizens for Green Doon' seeking direction to stop felling of trees without clearances on the Ganeshpur-Dehradun Road (NH-72A), which is a part of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway. In 2018, the Centre's notification said that the road width cannot exceed 5.5 meters in the hilly terrains like the one through which Chardham project is proposed. In September 2020, the top court directed the government to keep the width of the Chardham road at 5.5 meters. In December, 2020, the Defence Ministry had sought permission from the top court to widen roads for national security, and contended that three national highways -- Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh -- lead up to the northern border with China, which act as feeder roads. The Chardham highway is a 900-kilometre road project to provide all-weather connectivity to four Hindu pilgrimage centres in Uttarakhand. New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the Centre's clear stand on the reopening of the entire masjid premises in Nizamuddin Markaz for offering, asking why can't the religious place be opened fully. 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). The board was approaching the court for the reopening of the premises in view of the festival of Shab-e-Barat and the coming month of Ramzaan for religious purposes. Markaz has remained shut since March 3, 2020, following a spurt in Covid positive cases on the premises. Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing on behalf of the Centre, in the last hearing, had said that the offering of 'namaz' by five people was allowed earlier, and can be done this year also in the religious festival. During the course of hearing on Friday, the bench asked: "Mr Nair, you please seek instructions as to in case there is no objection to opening of first floor, what objection may be there for opening of remaining portion, de hors your submission that you have no objection as far as religious festivals are concerned. Why not for everyday?" As the counsel reiterated the earlier stand, the Court listed the matter for March 14 for a clarification from the Centre in the matter. Petitioner's counsel argued that there was no reason as to why any restriction should be placed and the mosque premises should not be opened. Paris, March 11 : Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe's approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said. The goal of the two-day summit, the first during France's six-month presidency of the European Union (EU), is to "show, and continue to construct and reinforce the unity of Europe", Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying. "We need to prepare ourselves with all the scenarios," he emphasized, referring to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Faced with rising fuel prices, Europe should not be dependent on Russia for gas, he said, adding that it should also be able to supply its own markets, and defend itself independently. "France depends less than others on gas...but Europe depends on gas, and 40 per cent is Russian gas," Macron added. Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that "this is a defining moment for Europe". At the summit, heads of state and government will discuss how to boost European defence capacities, she said. Europe also needs massive investment in renewables in order to remove its energy dependency, von der Leyen added. During the talks, leaders are also expected to tackle issues related to the accession of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to the European Union. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on Friday said that the Information Technology sector prospered even during the pandemic and has seen a surprising growth in job opportunities. He was presenting the state budget in the assembly. "Considering this, the government intends to set up four IT Corridors parallel to NH 66 which is being developed as a four lane highway. These four corridors will begin from the existing IT centres in Kerala. A new IT park will be set up in Kannur. For the IT Corridor extension, IT facility covering an area of 5,00,000 sq.ft will be set up in Kollam," he said. He informed that Satellite IT parks will be established on 15-25 acres of land in the proposed corridor and 20 small parks covering an area of 50,000 to 2 lakh sq.ft are intended to be built on the acquired land. "The government will initiate expeditious steps to bring 5G system to the state. There are unique favourable factors which help our state to reach the forefront of 5G revolution. Kerala is in the forefront after Delhi in terms of internet mobile expansion. "Almost 60 per cent of our people have smartphones. Mobile network service is available in 100 per cent areas of the state. The government aims to make Kerala a leading state in the country in terms of 5G global revolution," Balagopal added. He highlighted that industrialists voiced concern that they are not getting enough trained people for IT as well as for non-IT industries. "We, therefore, intend to implement a six-month internship training programme for educated candidates in IT and other industrial institutions. The interns will be provided a monthly stipend up to Rs 5,000 as government contribution and appointing institutions should also spend at least the same amount. On completion of the internship, the institutions can appoint the competent people. In the current year, assistance will be provided to 5,000 people for internship," he said. Adding that a common facilitation programme will be held in Technopark and Info Park, which is capable of providing the training required for companies, Balagopal said: "Along with this, a pool of teachers and trainers will be prepared. This will help provide the required type of training to the institutions. Around Rs 20 crore is set apart for this project. The concept of work from home may prevail and continue on a large scale even in the post-Covid period. "We may utilise the possibility of working online from villages and small towns for companies across the globe. Like 'work from home', 'work near home' concept is also getting acceptance. When IT based employment centres become operational across the state, the educated, including housewives, can have jobs. An amount of Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for this project." Mumbai, March 11 : Bollywood superstar Ayushmann Khurrana who recently finished shooting for her upcoming Anirudh Iyer directorial 'An Action Hero' in London says he had an exhilarating experience during the shooting of the film. Sharing his experiecne Ayushmann said, "This was the first time that I shot for a film in London and it has been an exhilarating experience! It's been an amazing leg in London and I can't believe how fast it's over already. I had a great time working with the entire cast and crew of the film and I'm eagerly looking forward to being back on the sets of An Action Hero again." Produced by Aanand L Rai's Colour Yellow Productions and Bhushan Kumar's production house T-Series, the film went on floor in January and it wraps its first schedule this week. Sharing more, Aanand said, "These are exciting times for us at Colour Yellow! We concluded the first leg of An Action Hero in London successfully and I'm happy with the amount of work we achieved during the schedule. It's great collaborating with the A-Team once again for yet another fun project! Ayushmann and Jaideep have done a great job and I can't wait to kick off the next schedule with them!" Bhushan Kumar said, "It's amazing that we have the same team on Atrangi Re coming together for An Action Hero too! It's been a productive first schedule in London! Watching Ayushmann and Jaideep in action has been incredible and we are looking forward to the second schedule of the film together!" Wife applies for divorce after finding hubby already married with 3 kids, man attacks her with machete in Karnataka Image Source: IANS News Wife applies for divorce after finding hubby already married with 3 kids, man attacks her with machete in Karnataka Image Source: IANS News Wife applies for divorce after finding hubby already married with 3 kids, man attacks her with machete in Karnataka Image Source: IANS News Wife applies for divorce after finding hubby already married with 3 kids, man attacks her with machete in Karnataka Image Source: IANS News Wife applies for divorce after finding hubby already married with 3 kids, man attacks her with machete in Karnataka Image Source: IANS News Gadag, March 11 : The Karnataka police have launched a search for a man who brutally attacked his converted wife who was seeking divorce, with a machete in Gadag district of Karnataka. The victim identified as Apoorva Ananth Puranik alias Arfa Banu, is critical and battling for her life at a hospital in the district. Hindu groups have demanded that it is a case of 'Love jihad' and the police department must investigate the case thoroughly to break the network. According to the police, Apoorva (26) had decided to separate from her husband Mohammad Ejaz Shiroor (30) after finding out that he was already married and had three children. The victim had shifted to her parents house with her son four months ago. The accused had attacked Apoorva in a park and hit her with a machete 23 times on her head, shoulders, face and hands on Thursday and fled from the site. Raju Khanappanavar, Coordinator of Sri Ram Sena, said Apoorva has been married fraudulently to a Muslim man. The accused had married a Brahmin Hindu woman and had attempted to kill her. This is a case of Love jihad where the accused had planned to trap the victim after checking her family background which is condemnable and the police should not only arrest the accused but must investigate the network trapping Hindu girls. Apoorva, a graduate and the only daughter in her family, met the accused while he was pursuing his education and driving an auto. The couple fell in love and eventually got married in 2018. Mohammad never told the victim that he was already married and had three children. Apoorva was later converted to Islam. Her family had also accepted her marriage and maintained cordial relations with Mohammad's family. The victim got to know about Mohammad's first wife and his three children which led to a rift between them. The accused started to force Apoorva to wear a burqa, cook non-vegetarian food, follow traditions of Islam and completely abandon Hindu rituals, which Apoorva continued even after her marriage. Not being able to bear the torture, Apoorva had shifted to her mother's house and filed for divorce in a family court. Despite this the accused threatened Apoorva to follow Islam as she had married him. Shivaprakash Devaraju, Gadag Superintendent of Police, said the accused will be arrested soon. New Delhi, March 11 : Union minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Friday morning received another group of students returning from Ukraine. The students took flight from Rzeszow, a city in south eastern Poland, and landed in New Delhi. In a tweet, Thakur said: "Welcome back home, another batch of students returned via #OperationGanga this morning and will reunite with their families and friends. We remain committed to the safety of every Indian citizen from Ukraine." Thakur also met with the airline crew and pilots and appreciated their service and support to the Government's efforts in bringing our citizens back home. In another tweet, the office of Anurag Thakur said: "Union Minister @ianuragthakur receives students safely brought back from Ukraine under Operation Ganga. He also met with the airline crew and pilots and appreciated them for their service and support to the Government's efforts in bringing our citizens back home." 'Operation Ganga' launched to rescue Indian citizens from Ukraine's neighbouring countries started on February 22. Till March 8, about 18,000 Indians have been brought back through the special flights. The number of Indians airlifted by 75 special civilian flights goes up to 15,521. IAF had flown 12 missions to bring back 2,467 passengers, as part of Operation Ganga, and carried over 32 tonne relief material. Among the civilian flights, 4,575 passengers have been brought from Bucharest by 21 flights, 1820 from Suceave by nine flights, 5571 from Budapest by 28 flights, 909 by five flights from Kosice, 2404 from Rzeszow by 11 flights, and 242 persons by a flight from Kyiv. New Delhi, March 11 : The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India, has recommended to the Centre to announce the tourism industry as a 'national priority' sector. "Like agriculture has been a national priority of all successive governments and gets vital focus of the Prime Ministers & the Chief Ministers, tourism too can get due national domestic priority if it is declared as such in the National Tourism Policy," the federation said. Impact of tourism and its footprint across the country is far reaching and in the geographical and cultural fabric across the length and breadth of the country, it said. "If recognised as a national priority sector it will ensure tourism will focus on channelised domestic investments as such more so needed post this worst 24 months ever (of Covid)." Further, the federation seeks the tourism sector to be included in the concurrent list of the Constitution. "The constitution rightfully needs to recognise tourism as a joint and collectible responsibility of centre and states to ensure a shared national vision and development, marketing and skilling synergies among all our individual tourism portfolios across states and segments." In addition, to address multiple issues across the central ministries and across states, it suggested that the policy must provide the instruments of multiple inter-ministerial and intra state task forces headed by the secretary of tourism ministry. Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 : Two-time former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday asked his successor and current Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take necessary steps to ensure that all the students who returned from Ukraine resume their studies in the state. According to Vijayan, there are nearly 3,000 Kerala students, most of whom are pursuing medicine at various universities in Ukraine. "In Karnataka, the universities have agreed to accommodate students coming from Ukraine and that's a model that the Kerala government can replicate," said Chandy. He asked Vijayan how his government could help these students who have taken hefty educational loans. "Since the state government alone might not be able to do anything, the help of the Central government should be sought. And for that if there is a need, an all-party delegation from the state should meet and urge the Prime Minister to write-off the educational loans," Chandy added. In a related development during the first budget of the CPI(M) government, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said the government will provide necessary assistance to those who have lost certificates and other valuable documents. The minister added that these students will continue their studies and a sum of Rs 10 crore has been allocated in the budget. The non-resident Kerala affairs department will prepare a data bank of Malayalee students studying abroad. Chandigarh, March 11 : The Punjab cabinet on Friday gave its approval to recommend to Governor Banwarilal Purohit the dissolution of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha. A decision to this effect was taken during a virtual cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at his official residence here. Disclosing this here, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said the Punjab governor is authorised to dissolve the state legislature as per sub-clause (b) of clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution. This move being a constitutional necessity would now pave the way for the formation of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly). At the end of the meeting, the Chief Minister thanked all his cabinet colleagues, officers, employees and people for overall development and maintaining peace and tranquillity in the state during the tenure of the present government. He also congratulated the incoming government and hoped that it would earnestly implement the promises made to the people. He hoped that the decisions taken by his government in the public interest such as reduction of electricity rates, slashing VAT on oil, besides lowering the rates of sand and gravel would be continued by the next government. Patna, March 11 : Bihar's Panchayati Raj Ministry has decided to provide an arms license to every panchayat representative in the state. Samrat Choudhary, the Panchayati Raj Minister in the Nitish Kumar government, said the decision was taken after many public representatives were killed during the recently concluded panchayat elections in Bihar. "Following several attacks on panchayat leaders and elected members, we have made 13 points pertaining to investigation of cases followed by provision of speedy trials in the court in six months. Now we have decided to provide them arms licenses as well so that they can protect themselves," Choudhary added. "The Home department has directed District Magistrates of all 38 districts to implement the same. The public representatives have to apply for the arms license before the District Magistrate and the same will be recommended to the Home department for the license," he said. "If any public representatives say that they are facing a bigger threat, we will provide them armed guards," the minister added. In Bihar, 2.57 lakh public representatives have been elected in the recently concluded panchayat elections. Panaji, March 11 : A day after the BJP defeated the Congress in the Assembly polls, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting of the outgoing cabinet and passed a resolution to dissolve the Assembly. The cabinet, according to Sawant, also passed a resolution thanking the people of Goa for supporting his government ever since Sawant took charge in 2019. "We had called members of the last cabinet and a resolution was passed to dissolve the Assembly from Monday. It will be sent to the Governor, after which the Assembly will be dissolved and a meeting of fresh legislators would be held," Sawant said. "I was a Chief Minister for the last three years and people gave us a chance to work for Goa. Our work towards infrastructure and human development along with other sectors, was appreciated by the people," he said, The results of the Goa Assembly Election, held on February 14, were announced on Thursday. The BJP won 20 seats, just one short of the majority mark. Its main rival, the Congress, won only 11 seats. Panaji, March 11 : A new BJP-led government will be in place in Goa over the "next two to three days", Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho told the media on Friday after a meeting of the outgoing state cabinet. Godinho said a decision on the next Chief Minister will be taken after discussions with a representative of the BJP's highest decision-making body, the central parliamentary board, who will soon visit the state. "Within two to three days everything will be over. We will have a new government in place," he said, adding that he was not aware when the central BJP official was likely to arrive in Goa. "Central observers will discuss and take a decision and inform us. They will also take our views into consideration over whether a change (in leadership) is required or not. It will be done in two to three days," Godinho said. While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who led the BJP in the just concluded Assembly elections, is tipped to be the front-runner to occupy the top post again, several BJP leaders, including Godinho himself and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, according to party insiders may also be in consideration. Godinho, however, maintained that there was unity in the BJP over the issue of leadership. "There is consensus. Everybody is united and together," the Minister said. The BJP won 20 seats, just one short of a majority, while the Congress got 11 seats. The BJP has already received letters of support from three Independent MLAs and two legislators from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. Wellington, March 11 : New Zealand's annual food prices rose 6.8 per cent in February 2022 compared with February 2021, hitting an 11-year high, the statistics department Stats NZ said on Friday. This was the largest annual increase since July 2011 when prices increased 7.9 per cent, Xinhua news agency quoted Stats NZ as saying. Fruit and vegetable prices were the largest contributor to the annual movement, which increased by 17 per cent, mainly influenced by tomatoes, broccoli, and iceberg lettuce, food prices lead analyst Angus Crowe said in a statement. Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose 0.3 per cent, while meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 0.1 per cent, Crowe said. Beijing, March 11 : China's national observatory on Friday renewed an alert for thick fog in some regions of the country. From Friday to Saturday morning, heavy fog is expected to blanket eastern area of the Bohai Sea, the Bohai Strait, most areas of the Yellow Sea, coastal waters of the Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula and Jiangsu, Xinhua news agency quoted the National Meteorological Centre as saying. Visibility in some affected areas will be reduced to less than 1,000 meters, the Centre said. Drivers have been asked to observe the safe speed limit, and airports, freeways and ports have been told to take appropriate safety measures. Hyderabad, March 11 : After complaining of weakness and pain in the left arm, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday underwent medical examinations, which showed he has no cardiac problem, his personal physician said. The chief minister, who spent a few hours at Yashoda Hospital at Somajiguda here, later returned to his official residence after doctors prescribed medication and advised him rest for a week. CM's personal physician Dr M.V. Rao told reporters that the angiogram test revealed that he has no cardiac problem. He said the pain in left arm could be due to pressure on nerves because of cervical spondylosis. Chief cardiologist Pramod Kumar said he, along with Dr Rao, visited the CM after he complained of weakness and pain in the left arm. After a preliminary examination, they suggested he come to hospital for coronary angiogram and other tests. "I have performed an angiogram. Fortunately, it did not show any significant problem. He was subjected to other investigations like MRI of brain and MRI of neck which showed mild changes which are common to everyone at that age," he said. The doctors said they also did other investigations which they routinely do every year and result of all of those were normal. "We have given some medications and advised rest for one week. After one week he will resume his normal activities with double vigour," Dr Pramod Kumar. KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, was accompanied by his wife Shobha Rao, son and cabinet minister K. T. Rama Rao, daughter and legislator K. Kavitha and other family members. Following the indisposition, KCR cancelled his visit to Yadadri temple. He was scheduled to participate in some rituals at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. The chief minister had also planned a meeting to review the arrangements for the reopening of the temple for devotees after the renovation later this month. Phnom Penh, March 11 : The Unicef in Cambodia said on Friday that 77 per cent of households with children have experienced loss of income since the Covid-19 pandemic started in early 2020. In a statement, the UN agency said that together with the World Food Program and the Asian Development Bank, it has conducted regular Covid-19 Socio-Economic Surveys throughout the pandemic to monitor its impact on vulnerable households, reports Xinhua news agency. The results confirmed that Cambodian households with children were more likely to lose income than households without children, said the statement. It said "77 per cent of households with children experienced loss of income, compared to 69 per cent of households without children". "Similarly, 69 per cent of households with children resorted to at least one negative food-based coping strategy during the pandemic, such as reducing food portions or choosing less healthy ingredients." Foroogh Foyouzat, Unicef's representative in Cambodia, said the study demonstrated that children have faced the greatest hardships as a result of the pandemic. "The Royal Government of Cambodia's notable efforts to combat the pandemic and to alleviate its negative impacts through the introduction of comprehensive social protection have certainly cushioned the harm caused to children, but haven't eliminated it. "We need to expand social protection services for the most vulnerable to give children a chance to recover from the pandemic and be able to access the education, healthcare, nutrition and other social services they deserve," she added. Cambodia has fully resumed its socio-economic activities and reopened its borders to vaccinated travellers since November last year after most of its 16 million population have been fully inoculated against Covid-19. New Delhi, March 11 : A special CBI court in Hyderabad has sentenced 12 accused, including an ex-branch manager of Central Bank of India, to varying jail terms for causing loss to the bank. The court, while awarding rigorous imprisonments to the accused, noted that all were hand in gloves and slapped a combined fine of Rs 11 lakh on them. While the court awarded five years' rigorous imprisonment to K. Raja Rao, the then Branch Manager of Central Bank of India, Bollaram Branch, Secunderabad with a fine of Rs 2.25 lakh, the other private person Sridhar was sentenced to three years Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs 75,000. The CBI had registered a case on September 30, 2004 against Rao, and others on the allegations that they entered into conspiracy to cheat the bank. This was the matter of fraudulent sanction and disbursement of housing loans during February - April 2002 to the tune of Rs 98,43,706, without verifying the authenticity and eligibility of the borrowers. Due to this the bank suffered a loss of Rs 98 lakh. The bank conducted and internal inquiry and found the accused guilty. The bank then filed an FIR with the CBI against them. The CBI formed a team to look into the matter as the matter was serious in nature. After investigation, the CBI filed three chargesheets against the accused. The Trial Court found the accused guilty and accordingly convicted them. Colombo, March 11 : The prices of a number of essential items in Sri Lanka increased on Friday after the country's central bank allowed the country's rupee (LKR) to devalue to 230 per US dollar. On Friday, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association increased the price of a loaf of bread by 30 LKR, and the new price of a loaf of bread is between 110 to 130 LKR, reports Xinhua news agency. The country's biggest wheat importer PRIMA increased the price of a kg of wheat flour by 35 LKR. Meanwhile, Lanka Indian Oil Corporation, the country's second-largest retail fuel distributor, increased the selling price of diesel by 75 LKR per liter and petrol 50 LKR per liter on Thursday midnight. Three-wheeler and bus owners' associations claimed that there will be drastic increases in fares with the hike in fuel prices by Lanka India Oil Corporation, demanding a fuel subsidy. Anjana Priyanjith, chairman of the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association, warned that the minimum bus fare will be between 30 and 35 LKR, urging the government to provide a diesel subsidy for private bus owners. The price of airline tickets was increased by 27 per cent, said Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka on Monday allowed the LKR to devalue considering the severity of the external shocks and recent developments in the domestic front. The LKR on Thursday depreciated to 260 per US dollar from 200 per dollar before depreciation. Chennai, March 11 : Senior leader of the AIADMK and former fisheries minister of Tamil Nadu, D.Jayakumar will walk out of prison after the Madras High court granted him conditional bail in another case. Jayakumar was earlier given bail in two other cases, but due to the third case, he could not walk out of the prison. With the Madras High Court judge granting him bail in the third case also, the former minister will come out of prison on Friday itself. Justice Jagadish Chandra of the Madras High Court granted him bail stating that he should remain in Tiruchi for the next two weeks and report before the Cantonment police station. The court in the order said that he has to appear before the police in the case related to the assault on a DMK worker who was trying to cast a bogus vote. The DMK worker was caught red-handed by D. Jayakumar and forced to parade half-naked in the city. The judge also ordered Jayakumar to appear before the Chennai Police in another case. The former minister was arrested on February 20 in the first case of allegedly forcing a DMK worker to remove his shirt and then parading him. After this, two more cases were filed against the former minister -- one in road blockade and another in a property dispute cases. The third case in which the former minister got bail was regarding a family property dispute between his son-in-law Naveen Kumar and his brother Magesh Kumar. The former minister in his argument said that the property dispute between his son-in-law and brother took place in 2016 and then again in 2020. In the argument before the Madras High Court, the advocate of Jayakumar said that the police had taken action against the former minister only now and that there was no explanation for the enormous delay in registration of the FIR. Jayakumar had moved the high court after the Principal sessions court, Chengalpattu, had rejected his bail application. The former minister informed the court that he was a law-abiding citizen and that there was prima facie no case against him. He said that the content of the FIR was civil in nature but has been given a criminal colour. Johannesburg, March 11 : US drugmaker Pfizer is set to supply Africa's top health body with its Covid antiviral pill Paxlovid. Paperwork for the deal between the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Pfizer is now in the hands of the African Union's legal office - after which a formal announcement will be made, Africa CDC director John Nkengasong was quoted as saying by the BBC. Nkengasong urged health ministries to adopt robust measures spanning vaccines and testing. He added that the Africa CDCA is also seeking Merck's molnupiravir pill. This comes days after Moderna signed a deal with Kenya to build its first mRNA facility. Johnson & Johnson has also inked a pact with South African drugmaker Aspen to sell, package and distribute its Covid shots. In February, researchers at the World Health Organisation-backed Africa's first Covid mRNA vaccine technology-transfer hub made microlitres of the vaccine based on Moderna's Covid shot. The aim was to scale up vaccine production to address those massive shortfalls in the developing world. So far, roughly 12 per cent of people in Africa are fully vaccinated, well below the World Health Organization's 70 per cent vaccination threshold. Expressing concern about countries where vaccination rates were still very low, Nkengasong said African countries should be using a combination of public health measures, vaccines, and testing to overcome the Covid this year, Aljazeera reported. "These molecules have a very unique role to play in a campaign to fight against this terrible pandemic," he was quoted as saying, citing the Pfizer pill. Studies by the pharma giant have shown that Paxlovid is effective against all Covid strains, particularly to the highly contagious and vaccine evading Omicron variant. CEO Albert Bourla estimates that the pills can avert 1,200 deaths and 6,000 hospitalisations for every 100,000 Covid patients who take the pills. Both Paxlovid and molnupiravir have shown to reduce the chances of hospitalisation or death from Covid-19 in high-risk patients by 89 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. The pills should be taken early, within 3-5 days of getting Covid, and require several pills, multiple times a day for five days. --IANS rvt/vd A Hyderabad, March 11 : South India's biggest music label 'Lahari Music' is foraying into film production under the banner -'Lahari Films LLP', which has teamed up with Venus Enterrtainers' for Kannada's acclaimed actor Upendra's next pan-India project. The makers promise a movie with unique storyline, which will be made in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu & Tamil languages. G Manoharan, Chairman and Managing Director of 'Lahari Music Group' and Srikanth KP, Proprietor of 'Venus Enterrtainers' conveyed that they have been looking for an opportunity to invest in a homogenous pan-India project for a long time now. The duo also expressed their excitement about Upendra being on board for the yet-to-be-titled movie. Speaking on the occasion, Upendra said: "I look forward to this exciting collaboration through this Pan India film and I am sure the audience will love this thought-provoking cinematic experience. I dedicate this film to the Indian audience, who he calls 'praja prabhu' (Upendra considers his fans to be the king/majesty of his life) Details on the upcoming pan-India movie will be out soon. New Delhi, March 11 : During a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that volunteers from the Middle East, who are ready to assist Russia in Ukraine, need to be helped to get to the war zone. According to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, more than 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East are ready to come to help the Donetsk and Lugansk republics in Ukraine. "And here, of course, we consider it right to respond positively to requests, especially since these requests are not for money, but according to the true desire of these people. We know many of them, they helped in the fight against ISIS - at the most difficult time, in the last ten years," the Kremlin press service quoted the minister as saying, RT reported. Islamic State" (IS) was recognized as a terrorist organisation by the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia of December 29, 2014. Putin said that it is necessary to meet the needs of people who want to come and help people living in Donbass on a voluntary and free basis. The President spoke about this during a meeting of the Security Council, commenting on the words of Shoigu, who said that Russia receives a large number of applications from volunteers who want to come to the republics of Donbass. According to Shoigu, the countries of the Middle East are leading in this regard, of which about 16,000 applications have been received. Putin has approved mobilisation of volunteers in the war against Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. According to Putin: "If you see people who want to volunteer - especially without financial remuneration - to go and help the people of Donbas, you have to accommodate their wish and help them reach the zone of military action." Putin added that he supports the transfer of "weapons of Western make ended up in the hands of the Russian army" to the troops of the republics of DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LPR (Lugansk People's Republic). Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War London, March 11 : Opinion is divided among western military experts as to whether Kyiv, capital of Ukraine, will fall to Russian forces over the next few days. Retired American Lieutenant General Ben Hodges now a security analyst, who visited the city four weeks ago, speaking from Frankfurt in Germany, expressed doubts to BBC about Russia's ability to capture Kyiv. Most others though are apprehensive that this was inevitable. A 40-mile convoy of Russian armoured vehicles rumbling towards the capital from its north was stationary for over a week. Satellite images obtained from Maxar Technologies released by the United States' defence department known as the Pentagon indicated the vehicles with heavy artillery and thousands of soldiers had moved since Thursday; and some of them were within five kilometres of the city. The US officials claimed the Russians have "largely dispersed and redeployed". Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko told BBC: "Every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified." The British defence ministry said the Kremlin could be close to encircling if not entering a metropolis of three million people, although half its population have left for safer areas within the country or neighbouring countries. "Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days," Reuters quoted the British defence ministry as saying. The lightning strike reportedly launched at first by the Russians was according to western assessment neutralised by a strong fightback by the Ukrainians. After more than two weeks of warfare, while the Russians have surrounded several cities, they control only one, which is Kherson in southern Ukraine close to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. However, TASS reported that the Russian defence ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov in Moscow stated Russia's air defence forces downed three Ukrainian Mil Mi-25 helicopters and eight unmanned aerial vehicles in the past 24 hours. He also said the Russian air force destroyed 107 Ukrainian military facilities in the same period. These are said to include military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk. "Since the start of the operation, a total of 3,213 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities were disabled," Konashenkov claimed. He added: "As many as 98 aircraft, 118 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,041 tanks and other combat armoured vehicles, 113 multiple rocket launchers, 389 field artillery pieces and mortars, 843 military motor vehicles were destroyed." There was no independent verification of the claim. But both Ukrainian and western sources admitted the Russians have inflicted heavy losses on Ukraine's conventional defence capability. Ukraine has therefore adopted guerrilla tactics, with armed citizens involved in the resistance. Reuters also reported social media platform Facebook "will temporarily allow some posts that call for the death of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Poland, according to internal emails to its content moderators." The Russian embassy in Washington demanded that the US stop the "extremist activities" of Facebook. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, March 11 : The International Campaign for Tibet joined Tibetans and Tibet supporters at rallies and events around the world on Tibetan Uprising Day 2022. The day marks the anniversary of the March 10, 1959 against China's rule in Tibet. Chinese forces eventually crushed the uprising and forced the Dalai Lama into exile. Today, under China's brutal occupation, Tibet is now the least free country on Earth, in a tie with South Sudan and Syria, according to the watchdog group Freedom House. A rally was also held in Vancouver at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), at the South Plaza. It was followed by March for Rights from VAG to the Consulate of the People's Republic of China. There was also a protest at the Consulate of the People's Republic of China. Los Angeles, March 11 : 31-year-old convicted criminal Anna Delvey thinks she is "more self-aware" than the fictionalised version of herself in the Netflix show 'Inventing Anna' by actress Julia Garner. Delvey, whose real name Anna Sorokin, doesn't agree completely with the way that Garner portrayed her in the mini-series 'Inventing Anna', which was based on The Cut article by journalist Jessica Pressler, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Speaking to Cosmopolitan, Delvey said: "I think I'm more self-aware of the way I come across. Not all of the time, but I just don't think I'm, like, so brazen and shameless." The fake German heiress, who was found guilty of theft of services and grand larceny in 2019, said to have "moved on" from her grifting days among New York City's elite. She said: "I personally moved on a very long time ago, and I'm absolutely not in the same place. But I'm also being affected by the way the world sees me and by what people think of me. Because I exist in relation to everybody else and to the world, I don't just exist on my own." The streaming service reportedly paid Anna $320,000 for the rights to the story, but a judge ordered her to use the money as restitution to her victims, which include hotels and banks, and towards her $75,000 legal fees. Last month, she claimed nothing about watching the show sounded "appealing" to her. Delvey remarked there was "nothing about seeing a fictionalized version of myself in this criminal-insane-asylum setting sounds appealing to me." "I imagined for the show to be a conclusion of sorts, summing up and closing of a long chapter that had come to an end Currently, Delvey, who was freed from her 12 year jail sentence last February, is fighting with US immigration officials to stop her deportation back to Europe. Los Angeles, March 11 : Actress Rebel Wilson is excited to celebrate the 'James Bond' and 'Harry Potter' franchises at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) as she takes to the stage to front the upcoming awards ceremony. Appearing on Thursday's episode of 'This Morning', she said: "I have presented awards at the BAFTAs before and it's gone pretty well... but it's hard when you're the host because you're in charge of the whole show and you've got the whole responsibility, so I don't know whether they were wise asking me! "But I want to be a good host and I want everyone to have a good time because we've got massive stars coming...we are also celebrating 'Bond' at the BAFTAs. Dame Shirley Bassey is going to be singing with a 'Bond' banger! 'Harry Potter' is twenty... there's so much to celebrate. "Sunday is going to be a big party," reports femalefirst.co.uk. The 'Pitch Perfect' star was appearing during a special segment on the daytime show when host Alison Hammond jokingly asked whether she would like to 'Bond' with 007 star Daniel Craig, with Rebel hoping that - despite him being married to 'Black Widow' star Rachel Weisz - she might get away with some "cheeky flirting." Alison teased: "I heard you want to bond with Daniel Craig, is that right?" Wilson quipped: "Well.. shall we make that public? I think he is married technically... I can still do a little cheeky flirt or something?" The 'Bridesmaids' actress was then handed a BAFTA statue by Alison and joked that she would "do an acceptance rap" as a speech if she ever won one. Bhubaneswar, March 11 : With the decline in Covid-19 cases across the state, the Odisha government on Friday announced to conduct the Summative Assessment-II examination of class 10 students from April 29 in offline mode. Making this announcement here, Odisha chief secretary S.C. Mohapatra said the annual high school certificate (HSC) examination, Madhyama (Sanskrit) examination and state open school certificate examination will be conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha from April 29 to May 6 in offline mode. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the annual board examination for the class 10 students could not be conducted and results were declared by adopting an alternative method of assessment. However, this academic year (2021-22), the situation has been slightly improved and class room teaching has been resumed. So this decision was taken after holding discussion with all stakeholders, said Mahapatra. He said it is mandatory for all class 10 students to appear in the Summative Assessment-II examination. The students will appear for the test in their respective schools while teachers from other schools will be deployed as invigilators. If the examination could not be conducted in any school due to some reason, the students of the concerned school will appear for the exam in a nearby school, said the chief secretary. Keeping in view the Covid situation prevailing since the past two years, the BSE has decided to adopt three methods for awarding marks to the students. Two of those are alternate methods of assessment while another is a new scheme of assessment, he said. Under the first method, the evaluation will be done on the basis of scores achieved in Summative Assessment-I, Internal Assessment while the marks to be obtained in Summative Assessment-II will only be considered in another method. The third method of evaluation will be done giving 20 per cent weightage to Internal Assessment, 30 per cent to Summative Assessment-I and 50 per cent to Summative Assessment-II. The highest scores obtained by a student in any of the above three methods will be considered as the final marks, he added. Chennai, March 11 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Friday told the Vice Chancellors of universities in the state that they have a duty to inculcate scientific temperament in students. In his address at the inauguration of the Association of Indian Universities -- South Zone Vice Chancellors' meet held at the Bharathiar university in Coimbatore district, he said: "As Vice Chancellors, you play an important role in shaping the functioning and quality of universities. You should discharge your duties in such a way to promote scientific temperament among students." Lashing out against the Union government, he said: "The Centre making use of education coming under concurrent list and using its powers to introduce regressive ideas in the syllabus is worrisome." He said the best solution to this issue was to place education in the State List in the Constitution. Stalin told the Vice Chancellors that they should function keeping in mind the people's wish that the universities must follow the state's education policy. He also exhorted them to remember they have a duty to impart an education that makes the students ready. The Chief Minister said the enrollment rate of Tamil Nadu students in higher educational institutions was 57.4 per cent, far ahead of the country's 27.1 per cent. He added that 19 colleges and 33 universities in the state are ranked among the top 100 in the National Institutional Ranking framework. Muzaffarpur, March 11 : In October last year, the plight of women in politics in Bihar was brought to light in a public court held by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna. Pinky Kumari, a ward member of Khutaha panchayat in the Bhagalpur district, demanded action against her husband for hindering her work as an elected representative. "I want to implement the drinking water supply scheme under your dream project 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal', but my husband is hampering my efforts. Please take action against him for creating such hurdles in government work." While the Chief Minister instructed panchayat officers to take action on Kumari's complaint, hers isn't an isolated incident. Kumari's predicament mirrors the helplessness of thousands of women across Bihar, who-despite being elected to the posts of sarpanch in panchayats, as members of panchayats or as ward councillors in municipal corporations-are forced to relinquish their power to the men in their family. In fact, a tour of rural Bihar will fetch you examples of husbands, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law and other men carrying out the responsibilities that were, in reality, handed to these women, rendering them mere rubber stamps with no real authority. Reservation seemingly a farce In an attempt to augment women's participation in public affairs, the Bihar government implemented 50% reservation for women in panchayats in 2006, hoping to ease their access to the chair and populate at least half of the 2.6 lakh panchayat seats with women. Under this reservation, in the Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation, 25 of the 49 wards have female councillors. However, they remain elected representatives only by name because, in reality, their roles remain restricted to their homes, while their public duties are performed by their husbands. Reduced to the stature of puppets, their significant others are called to corporation meetings and make decisions in the name of the true public representative. Nirmala Devi, the elected head of Ward 19, is one such example. A local resident told 101Reporters, "I once approached Nirmala Devi for some work, when her husband openly said he was the one who did the actual work." Similarly, councillors Shahnaj Khatoon of Ward 12 and Surbhi Shikha of Ward 30 aren't the ones in positions of power. Their husbands dominate the workings of the wards under their wives' ambit. In fact, Shikha's partner even openly shares photos of his unjustified authority on Facebook; he can be spotted at Covid-19 vaccination drives as well as at road construction projects. Such is the plight of several female ward councillors in Bihar, with local residents attesting to their situation. One Ranjan told 101Reporters that when they have issues to address, civilians are made to meet their councillors' husbands at civic bodies, while the women stay home. Her role is reduced to merely signing papers at corporation meetings at the behest of their male counterparts. A handful in real power While it wouldn't be incorrect to say that the majority of the women, elected to municipal corporations and panchayats under the reservation, are unable to assume power, there are a select few who take charge. Ranju Sinha, the elected councillor in Muzaffarpur's Ward 29, is well aware of her responsibilities-from taking stock of the state of her ward to overseeing Covid-19 vaccination drives and other projects. "Women get a chance to come to power because of reservation," she told 101Reporters. "But when they do, they remain ignorant of how they must carry themselves, speak at corporation meetings and perform their duties to ensure their participation. That is lacking." The councillor for Ward 42, Archna Pandit, lamented how hard it is for women to shine through in our male-dominated society. "Girls are born in their father's shadow and then move on to their husband's. They get accustomed to being dependent on others, because of which they don't assert their rights," Pandit emphasised. "Women have to prove their ability and raise their voice for their rights." Reservation far from the solution "Politics has always been a male-dominated field, with the power always in their hands," pointed out Kanksshi Agarwal, founder of the Netri Foundation, an organisation that helps train women to be better prepared for politics. "Politics involves being acquainted with the people and the social system. Given that women aren't allowed the same freedom of movement as men, the latter develop a stronger social identity and greater affinity for politics." While Agarwal believes that reservation offers women the first step to climb the political ladder, which, in turn, inspires other women to get involved in the affairs of the state, several experts believe that reservation alone isn't the solution. Kundan Kumar Verma, a researcher from the University of Bihar who has studied the progress of the five-year plan and rural development in depth, said that lack of education among women was the primary reason men continue to assert their dominance in local governance. "The situation will not see any change till women are made aware of their rights and develop confidence," he added. Additional Public Prosecutor Sangeeta Shahi echoed his views. "Most female representatives are illiterate or poorly educated, due to which they are unaware of their rights," said Shahi, who is also the president of Muzaffarpur district's Women's Advocates Association "They are not well-versed with government policies and show no interest in politics. They stand for elections at the behest of their families, after which their husbands assume power." Government officials were unwilling to share their comments on the prevalent situation in Bihar. Muzaffarpur Municipal Commissioner Vivek Ranjan Maitrey and Municipal Corporation Mayor Rakesh Kumar both declined to comment on women in politics in Bihar being pushed to the sidelines. (The author is a Muzaffarpur-based freelance journalist and a member of 101reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Patna, March 11 : A 40-year-old man shot himself in Bihar's Arrah city late on Thursday night, an official said. The victim, Vimal Kishore Singh, resident of Arrah's Pakadi locality, was under a debt of Rs 20 lakh. As per the statement of his mother Kalawati Devi, her son had taken Rs 20 lakh from local lenders to establish his business, but due to the pandemic, his business never took off and he was unable to repay the money. "For the last few months, lenders have been calling him regularly for their money. As Vimal was unable to return the amount, he got depressed," said Kalawati Devi, in her statement to the police. "On Thursday, Vimal returned home around 11 pm. After having dinner, he went to sleep. However, a few minutes later, he called me to his bedroom. When I went there, he said that lenders are continuously calling him to return the money and he is unable to handle the pressure. He then suddenly pulled out his countrymade Katta and shot himself," Kalawati Devi said. "Vimal was depressed for the last few months. Hence, his sister sold her gold jewellery and lent him Rs 12 lakh. However, Rs 8 lakh principal amount along with interest was still remaining," she said. Due to the debt, his wife, Nisha Singh, also left him. "We have recorded the statement of the victim's mother. Besides, the FSL team also reached the spot and took samples, especially the weapon. We are corroborating the statement of the victim's mother along with circumstantial evidence. The body has been sent for postmortem," said RP Sharma, the investigating officer from Arrah's Nawada police station. New Delhi, March 11 : The National Green Tribunal has asked a two-member joint committee to look into a plea alleging illegal sand mining from the Yamuna river bed in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district. As per the plea, due to illegal sand mining, the flow of river Yamuna is shifting from mainstream towards restricted area within 600 metres in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in submergence of land belonging to property owners of the state. The applicant said contractor Mumtaz Ali is engaged in illegal sand mining in a depth of 15-20 feet on the bank of river at Pachagarha Khand village in Ghaziabad, violating environmental norms and causing damage to the environment. Considering the seriousness of the allegations, Justice Brijesh Sethi, in an order pronounced on Thursday, directed the joint committee of the State Pollution Control Board and the District Magistrate to meet within four weeks and look into the matter. The bench also directed the committee to inspect the site and furnish an action taken report within three months. Further hearing in the matter was posted for July 12. New Delhi, March 11 : Satellite images taken by a US firm of a large Russian military convoy near Ukraine's capital Kiev show that it has been "largely dispersed and redeployed", BBC reported. The convoy was last seen near Antonov Airport, north-west of Kiev, and its movement could signal a renewed push towards the city. The firm that took the photos -- Maxar Technologies -- said parts of the convoy were in position in the surrounding towns. Other parts are further north, with artillery now in firing positions, BBC reported. The apparent redeployment came as Russian forces in Ukraine began attacking new targets in different parts of the country. An airfield and jet engine factory were targeted in Lutsk, in the north-west. Explosions also hit airfields at Ivano-Frankivsk in the south-west, according to Russian defence officials. In Dnipro, a major stronghold in central eastern Ukraine, one person was reported dead in air strikes. "Ukrainian big cities are again subjected to devastating blows," said Ukrainian presidential advisor, Mykhaylo Podolyak. He added that the shelling in Lutsk has shut down two central heating compounds. "Russia's destructive war against civilians and major cities continues," he said. Russian state media reported that the Ukrainian city of Volnovakha has been captured by Russian-backed separatist forces. There is no independent confirmation of the capture of the city, which is a northern gateway to the besieged port city of Mariupol. Bengaluru, March 11 : After the resounding victory in four states, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to prepare the ground in Karnataka as the Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in 2023. Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel has said a cabinet expansion would be taken up soon by the party. BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi has said the party is ready to give a tonic to overcome its drawbacks in Karnataka ahead of the 2023 state elections. The leaders, who have been demanding their inclusion in the cabinet are now preparing to board flights to New Delhi for consultation with their political mentors there. At present, four cabinet berths are vacant in the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led government. Senior BJP leaders have openly demanded a cabinet expansion and some of them have asked the party to drop other veteran leaders from the cabinet to give them a chance. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa expects a prominent cabinet berth for his son B.Y. Vijayendra. The BJP's central leadership was completely focused on the just concluded elections in the five states. The cabinet expansion is most likely to happen after the Ugadi festival in the first week of April. According to BJP sources, the party's central leadership is keen on reorganising the party as well as the government in Karnataka. BJP MLA Poornima Srinivas and former Karnataka Minister M.P. Renukacharya on Friday said they are ready to take responsibility if the party chooses them. Another senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal criticised the state government for the complacent attitude of its ministers in the ongoing Assembly session. The aspirants for the cabinet berths have demanded that those who have been continuously getting plum cabinet portfolios during the BJP-led Karnataka governments in 2006, 2008 and 2019 must be dropped. Sources say that the party's central leadership is considering the "Gujarat state" model of complete reshuffle of the cabinet. Chennai, March 11 : More than 11 months after the post fell vacant, the Central government on Friday decided to appoint Debasish Panda, former Secretary, Department of Financial Services, as the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Panda as IRDAI chief, initially for a period of three years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Subhash C. Khuntia retired as IRDAI chief in early May 2021 and the government didn't fill up the post after that. It was then said the post was kept vacant to accommodate Panda who retired in January 2022. "The IRDAI Chairman's post has been vacant since May. It is also not known whether the government is waiting for some bureaucrat to retire so that he/she can be accommodated in IRDAI," an industry official, who did not want to be named, told IANS in October last year. Setting the house in order, working towards its core mission of policyholder's interest, speeding up the new company licensing process, and avoiding micromanagement are some of the important tasks for IRDAI's incoming Chairman, as per a cross section of of industry officials. They also said simplification of its regulations, and levelling the playing field are some of the other areas that he should focus on to make IRDAI a vibrant regulatory body. London, March 11 : The European Union and the UK antitrust authorities have launched parallel probes to assess whether an agreement between Google and Meta for online display advertising services may have breached the Union's competition rules. The investigation concerns a September 2018 agreement, which Google code-named "Jedi Blue", between Google and Meta for the participation of Meta's Audience Network in Google's Open Bidding programme. The Commission is concerned that the agreement may form part of efforts to exclude ad tech services competing with Google's Open Bidding programme, and therefore restrict or distort competition in markets for online display advertising, to the detriment of publishers, and ultimately consumers. If proven, the practices under investigation may breach EU competition rules on anticompetitive agreements between companies (Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and/or the abuse of a dominant position (Article 102 TFEU). "Many publishers rely on online display advertising to fund online content for consumers. Via the so-called 'Jedi Blue' agreement between Google and Meta, a competing technology to Google's Open Bidding may have been targeted with the aim to weaken it and exclude it from the market for displaying ads on publisher websites and apps," Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said in a statement. "If confirmed by our investigation, this would restrict and distort competition in the already concentrated ad tech market, to the detriment of rival ad serving technologies, publishers and ultimately consumers," Vestager added. Google provides advertising technology services that intermediate between advertisers and publishers by real time auctioning of online display advertising space on web sites or mobile apps, including through its 'Open Bidding programme'. Meanwhile, Meta provides online display advertising services and, through its 'Meta Audience Network', participates in auctions for third party publishers' advertising space using Google's and rivals' advertising technology services. The Commission said it will now carry out its in-depth investigation as a matter of priority. The opening of a formal investigation does not prejudge its outcome. The UK's Competition Market Authority (CMA) has launched its own investigation into the agreement between Google and Meta. As is customary, the Commission has been in contact with the CMA and intends to closely cooperate on this investigation following the applicable rules and procedures. New Delhi, March 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asked all the states' police to analyse National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data properly before preparing an annual strategy to control crimes. He also said that all central agencies should join the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS). The Union Home Secretary should hold a meeting with all the chiefs of central agencies in this regard, Shah further said while speaking at the 37th Foundation Day celebrations of the NCRB here. If the NCRB data is made available to states on a right time in a proper format and the states adopt a system to analyse the data, the crime rate in the country would fall drastically, he said. Noting that the analysis of the NCRB data should be shared with all states' police headquarters, district police offices and police stations, the Home Minister also said that data analysis should not be confined to the higher officials but should reach every police station in the country, or it would not be of any use. Stressing that only data cannot give the desired result, Shah further said that awareness and understanding of it is a must for its full utilisations and to achieve this, the NCRB director should have meetings with the DGPs' of state police to make them aware of the crime data analysis and how to implement those data in crime investigations and prevention. The Home Minister also said that the crime data published by the NCRB, the state police should not focus only on IPC sections but on the social angle too. They need to understand why crime graphs are increasing in drought-hit areas or why farmers are involved in disputes, leading to injury and sometimes deaths also. "We can't find a solution for crime control if we look at the NCRB data through the lens of IPC sections. The crime record data should be properly analysed by the NCRB and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) so that these analyses can be utilised by the police to intervene in societal issues," he said. The Home Minister appreciated the successful completion of the CCTNS, an online database of the crime and criminals, connecting all police stations in the country but expressed his displeasure that the central police agencies have not been so far connected to CCTNS. He also asked the Union Home Secretary to hold an initiative to connect all central police agencies with this system. Hyderabad, March 11 : South India's biggest music label 'Lahari Music' is venturing into film production under the banner -'Lahari Films LLP', which has teamed up with Venus Enterrtainers' for Kannada's acclaimed actor Upendra's next pan-India project. Upendra is critically acclaimed for the unusual film titles of his directorial ventures in the past such as 'Sshhh', 'A', 'Om', 'Super' and other movies. His mind blowing plot lines and completely amazing screenplays, which have gone on to become cult classical mega hits down south, are always the topic of conversation. The makers promise a movie with unique storyline, which will be made in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu & Tamil languages. G Manoharan, Chairman and Managing Director of 'Lahari Music Group' and Srikanth KP, Proprietor of 'Venus Enterrtainers' conveyed that they have been looking for an opportunity to invest in a homogenous pan-India project for a long time now. The duo also expressed their excitement about Upendra being on board for the yet-to-be-titled movie. Speaking on the occasion, Upendra said: "I look forward to this exciting collaboration through this Pan India film and I am sure the audience will love this thought-provoking cinematic experience. I dedicate this film to the Indian audience, who he calls 'praja prabhu' (Upendra considers his fans to be the king/majesty of his life) G Manoharan stated "after working on music with each other from the last 25 years, this association was just waiting to happen. Lahari backed "Upendra Ji" from his acting debut film 'A' which went onto become the biggest hit down south and turned out to be a cult classic film during the late 90s. We have enjoyed his films which are always filled with universal vision and we want the entire Indian audience to experience his movies now, across India and abroad." Srikanth K P said: "After having back-to-back successful blockbuster films such as 'Tagarua' and 'Salaga', as a production house, we have worked with him on various projects on different levels in the last two decades. We are extremely happy to work with Upendra and his vision has always appealed to people. I am very sure that the entire country would love this new pan India vision that we have lined up." Details on the upcoming pan-India movie will be out soon. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chandigarh, March 11 : After registering a landslide victory in Punjab Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Chief Minister-designate Bhagwant Mann and his Cabinet colleagues will be sworn-in on March 16, it was announced on Friday. The AAP recorded a thumping win in the Assembly polls by winning 92 of the 117 seats. The ruling Congress won 18 seats, a massive decline from 77 it had won in 2017, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) could manage only three seats. Mann won from Dhuri by a margin of over 58,000 votes. Earlier on Friday, Mann met AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal at the latter's residence in the national capital, where Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also present. After AAP swept Punjab on Thursday, Mann had announced that the new Cabinet would take oath of office at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, and not at the Raj Bhavan. Mann, who dons Bhagat Singh's trademark 'basanti' (yellow) turban, also said that no government office will carry photographs of the Chief Minister. Instead, photos of Bhagat Singh and B.R. Ambedkar will be put up on the walls of all government offices. Meanwhile, outgoing Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit here on Friday and submitted his resignation. Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar tabled the state budget 2022-2023 before the legislature with a revenue deficit of Rs 24,353 crore and a slew of major announcements like an amnesty scheme for GST and reduction in VAT for natural gas, here on Friday. The government estimates revenue receipts of Rs 403,427 crore against a revenue expenditure of Rs 427,780 crore, giving a shortfall of Rs 24,353 crore, in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government's third annual budget. Pawar unveiled a Panchasutri (5-Point) development programme encompassing Agriculture, Health, Human Resource, Transport and Industry, for the state with a total outlay of Rs 115,215 crore, besides other sops and proposals. Under this, the government proposes to spend Rs 23,888 crore for Agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 5,244 crore for Health, Rs 46,667 crore for Human Resources, Rs 28,605 crore for Transport infrastructure and Rs 10,111 crore for Industry and energy sectors, with plans to spend over Rs 400,000 crore in the next three years, said Pawar. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and MVA leaders of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress lauded the budget as 'visionary' while the Bharatiya Janata Party Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar slammed it as 'directionless'. Pawar has introduced a first-ever amnesty scheme 2022 for the Goods & Sales Tax Department which will be applicable from April 1-September 30 this year. Under this, there will be a complete waiver of the arrears of Rs 10,000 or less per year as per any statutory orders for various tax laws in the state, which would benefit around 100,000 small dealers. Another aspect of the amnesty scheme is that those having arrears of Rs 10 lakh or less till March 31, 2022, can pay a lump sum of 20 percent of their total arrears and the remaining 80 percent shall be waived, benefitting over 220,000 such cases of medium dealers. The government has announced a steep reduction in VAT on natural gas - from 13.5 percent to just 3 percent - which will hugely benefit households with piped natural gas and CNG powered vehicles, for which the state will incur a revenue shortfall of around Rs 800 crore. New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Delhi Police to submit relevant documents on record, within two weeks, on an appeal moved by former JNU student Sharjeel Imam challenging a special court order which had rejected his plea. The case relates to his alleged inflammatory speeches in Aligarh Muslim University in Uttar Pradesh and Jamia area in Delhi during Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in 2019. Issuing notice in the matter, a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and A.K. Mendiratta gave the prosecution two weeks time to place relevant documents on record. The same bench had also issued a notice in the matter on Wednesday. When Imam's counsel Tanveer Ahmed Mir pointed out this to court, the bench replied: "Hearing of the appeal will take longer than bail... There will be different considerations while deciding bail and appeal. I have said so in the Ansals judgment and that is upheld by the Supreme Court." The court posted the matter for further hearing on May 26. Imam has approached the High Court against the orders of the lower court which rejected his bail application. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat had, on January 24, framed charges against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sedition, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. According to the police, Imam made the alleged inflammatory speeches in Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019, and in Aligarh Muslim University on January 16, 2020. He has been in judicial custody since January 28, 2020, and is presently lodged in the Tihar Jail in Delhi. "He is accused of delivering seditious speeches and inciting a particular section of the community to indulge in unlawful activities, detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of the nation," the charge sheet said."In the garb of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, he exhorted people of a particular community to block the highways leading to the major cities and resort to 'Chakka Jam', thereby disrupting normal life," it read. Lucknow, March 11 : UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday evening , met Governor Anandiben Patel and handed over his resignation. The Governor has asked him to continue working till the formation of the new government. Earlier, the Chief Minister held a cabinet meeting where he thanked his colleagues for working to fulfil the aspirations of the people which led to the BJP winning the election with a good majority. The Chief Minister's resignation has paved the way for the process of installation of the new government. Sources said that the new government was likely to be sworn in next week, before Holi. New Delhi, March 11 : A man accused of killing a panther and a tigress in 2003 and 2004, respectively, has been arrested by the CBI, 14 years after being declared a proclaimed offender. After killing the animals, the accused sold their skins. His aide was arrested and was convicted in the case in 2019, while the main accused was on the run. A senior CBI official said that the accused has been identified as Balya Bawaria, a resident of Dausa district in Rajasthan. He was held following a tip-off from Malwas in Dausa district. "He was absconding since 2008. He killed two wild animals -- a tigress and a panther -- and sold their skins," the official said. Initially, the Rajasthan Police had lodged two cases against the accused, but later the probe was taken over by the CBI on the request of the state government and the Centre. The first case was registered on the allegation that in 2004, the accused killed a tigress in the forest of Kalighati in Sariska National Park by using a gun and iron traps. The accused then sold the skin of the tigress for Rs 50,000. The second case was registered on the allegation that in 2003, the accused had killed a male panther at a jungle in Alwar by using similar method and sold the skin for Rs 1,800. "The accused and his aide were not apperaring before the court in Jaipur. They were declared proclaimed offenders and a non-bailable arrest was issued against them in 2008. One of the accused was arrested and convicted in 2019. The second accused (Bawaria) was evading arrest," said the official. After being produced before the court in Jaipur, Bawaria was remanded to 14-day judicial custody. New Delhi, March 11: Islamic State's affiliate ISIS-K or Islamic State- Khurasan has claimed that its one Indian suicide bomber recruit has died in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. In the latest issue of its propaganda magazine, Voice of Khurasan, the Sunni radical outfit has identified him by his pseudonym Najeeb Al Hindi from Kerala. Without giving more details, the paper said 23-year-old with a MTech degree, Najib had come on his own travelling from Kerala to Khorasan at the headquarter of the ISKP. "Allah guided Najeeb and opened the doors of Hijra for him," said the paper. The ISIS-K did not give any details about his joining the group. "He was very quiet and spoke when needed, with always a smile on his face. Never complaining about the difficult life of mountains, the only thing going on in his mind was Shahadah." According to the article, Najeeb after being forced by his friends, Najeeb got married to a Pakistani girl who used to work for the ISIS-K. On the wedding night Najeeb volunteered for suicide bombing and achieved "shahadat" in the battle filed like Hanjala ibn Abi Amir, one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, who also went for the battle on his marriage day and achieved "Shahadah". According to Indian intelligence sources there are 25 Indians who have joined the terror group ISIS-K in Afghanistan. In 2019, the previous Afghan government had stated that 408 members of the Islamic State from 13 countries were lodged in Afghanistan prisons. This included four Indian women, 16 Chinese, 299 Pakistanis, two Bangladeshis, two from the Maldives among others. The Indian women had gone to Afghanistan with their husbands to join ISIS-K in 2016-18. Their husbands were killed in different attacks in Afghanistan. According to a report by The Hindustan Times, at least 14 Kerala residents are part of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) terror group after being freed by the Taliban from Bagram jail last year in August. One out of the 14 Keralites contacted his home in the southern state, while the remaining 13 are still at large with the ISIS-K terrorist group. The militant group ISIS-K has also criticised the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) over its statements on disassociating from attacks on the Shias and from the global jihad and asking support from the US. Congratulating the group for the recent attacks in Pakistan including on a Shia Mosque in Peshawar it said that the ISIS-K has resumed its operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan especially in Bajaur, Waziristan, & Peshawar. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Mumbai, March 11 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday presented the state Budget 2022-2023 with a revenue deficit of Rs 24,353 crore, with a slew of major announcements like an amnesty scheme for GST and stamp duty and reduction in VAT for natural gas. The government estimates revenue receipts of Rs 403,427 crore against a revenue expenditure of Rs 427,780 crore, ot a shortfall of Rs 24,353 crore, in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government's third annual budget. Pawar unveiled a 'Panchasutri' (5-Point) development programme encompassing agriculture, health, human resource, transport, and industry, for the state with a total outlay of Rs. 115,215 crore, besides other sops and proposals. Under this, the government proposes to spend Rs 23,888 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 5,244 crore for health, Rs 46,667 crore for human resources, Rs 28,605 crore for transport infrastructure and Rs 10,111 crore for industry and energy sectors, with plans to spend over Rs 400,000 crore in the next three years, said Pawar. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, MVA leaders of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress including Eknath Shinde, Hasan Mushrif, Nana Patole and others lauded the budget as "visionary" while the Bharatiya Janata Party Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar and Union MOS for Finance Bhagwat Karad slammed it as "direction-less". Pawar has introduced a first-ever Amnesty Scheme 2022 for the Goods & Sales Tax Department which will be applicable from April 1-September 30 this year. Under this, there will be a complete waiver of the arrears of Rs 10,000 or less per year as per any statutory orders for various tax laws in the state, which would benefit around 100,000 small dealers. Another aspect of the amnesty scheme for those having arrears of Rs 10 lakh or less till March 31, 2022, can pay a lump sum of 20 per cent of their total arrears and the remaining 80 per cent shall be waived, benefitting over 220,000 such cases of medium dealers. The government has announced steep reduction in VAT on natural gas - from 13.5 per cent to just 3 per cent - which will hugely benefit households with piped natural gas connections and CNG power vehicles, while the state will incur a revenue shortfall of around Rs 800 crore. Pawar also announced an Amnesty Scheme under the Stamp Act from April 1-November 30, for pending penalties dues to the government whereby there will be a shortfall of around Rs 1,500 crore. For any land donations free to any local government bodies, Pawar has announced a complete exemption of the 3 per cent stamp duty on the gift deed or 5 per cent on sale deed, by which the state exchequer will lose around Rs 21 crore. For gold-silver delivery order documents imported in Maharashtra which currently attract a 0.1 percent stamp duty, Pawar announced a complete waiver leading to a revenue shortfall of Rs 100 crore. To boost water transport in the state, he announced a 3-year tax holiday from January 1, 2022 on the tax levied by Maharashtra Maritime Board on passengers, animals, vehicles, goods ferried by boats or roll on-roll off vessels in the state. New Delhi, March 11 : While more common in adults, glaucoma - a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness - can also affect infants and children, experts said on Friday. Although very rare in children, it can effectively damage nerves in the back of the eye called the optic nerve, leading to gradual loss of vision. Glaucoma is more common in the elderly but can develop at any age. Congenital glaucoma happens at birth while infantile glaucoma occurs in the first three years of life. Another form of glaucoma called juvenile glaucoma can happen to children up to ten years of age. "Childhood glaucoma is relatively rare. Primary congenital/infantile glaucoma occurs in the general population at a rate of approximately 1 in 10,000 births. In India, the prevalence of primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is one in 3,300 live births and it accounts for 4.2 per cent of all childhood blindness," Dr Nusrat Bukhari (Mistry), Consultant Eye Surgeon, Masina Hospital, Mumbai, told IANS. "Childhood glaucoma, also known as primary congenital glaucoma, is a fairly rare disease. It exists largely due to a congenital defect that leads to increase in pressure of the eye at birth," added Dr Sandeep Buttan, Global Technical Lead - Eye Health ASIA at Sightsavers. Infants and children with glaucoma typically also have different signs and symptoms than adults. There are few symptoms so that people may not notice for a long time that they are losing their sight. So, the best way to look out for glaucoma in adults is via screening. "But in children, common signs of glaucoma are cloudy cornea, excessive watering of eyes, aversion to light and sometimes also the inability to open eyes," Buttan said. "All these three symptoms are good indicators of a child having glaucoma. In such cases, the child must be taken to a hospital and treatment should begin as early as possible," he added. Many cases of paediatric glaucoma have no specific identifiable cause and are considered primary glaucoma. When glaucoma is caused by or associated with a specific condition or disease, it is called secondary glaucoma. Examples of conditions which can be associated with childhood glaucoma include Axenfeld-Reiger Syndrome - an eye disorder characterised by abnormalities of the front part of the eye, aniridia - an eye disorder characterised by a complete or partial absence of the iris, Sturge-Weber Syndrome - a neurological condition; neurofibromatosis - genetic disorders that cause tumours to form on nerve tissue, chronic steroid use, trauma, or previous eye surgery such as childhood cataract removal, Bukhari said. "Not all patients with these conditions will develop glaucoma, but their incidence of glaucoma is much higher than average, and they should be monitored regularly," Bukhari noted. While many children and adults are prescribed medicines in the initial stages of glaucoma, it is largely a surgical treatment. Bukhari said that paediatric glaucoma is treated by lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) with medicine and/or surgery. Most cases of primary paediatric glaucoma are treated with surgery. Trabeculotomy and goniotomy, which open the drainage canals, are the most common surgical interventions. Other procedures create a bypass route for the aqueous (fluid made by the eye) to drain out of the eye, Bukhari said. Besides, laser procedures can also be beneficial in some cases. Eye pressure lowering drops and oral medications are the primary treatments for secondary and juvenile glaucoma and are often used as additional therapy after surgery in primary paediatric glaucoma. Early treatment is key and delays caused by the ongoing pandemic and lockdown has been a very big factor in the progression of glaucoma cases in the country, which could have been prevented if treated earlier, the experts said. New Delhi, March 11: "I am getting ready to travel from Guwahati to Dimapur in Nagaland. Earlier it used to be a gruelling seven hours of journey-bad roads and poor infrastructure-but today it barely takes four hours and the roads and highways are a breeze," Jesmina Zeliang, Nagaland's leading exporter of handicrafts and textile told India Narrative. Zeliang travelled to Guwahati to meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who held a meeting with northeasten business captains on Thursday. "We had a meeting with the finance minister and one of the issues raised was further improvement in welfare for women, the meeting gave us a chance to present our situation and the problems that need solution," Zeliang said, adding that such interactions were fewer earlier. Recently, Sitharaman proposed to launch another scheme -- PM Development Initiative for North East to boost the growth in the region. That apart, plans are on to cover and develop the villages as well. As the BJP regained power in Manipur, the party has strengthened its hold over the northeastern states. Either the BJP on its own has formed the governments in these states or with allies. Why? Infrastructure development, improved connectivity and successful delivery of social welfare schemes without corruption are the main reasons for the success of the BJP, people hailing from the northeastern states said. "The northeast for years did not receive the kind of attention it deserves. However, the situation is changing now with the Act East policy," Ashish Nath Professor, Department of Economics, Tripura University said, adding that several infrastructure projects are already underway in the northeastern states. In the last five years, the Centre's expenditures towards development of roads and highways have gone up from Rs 2,093.90 crore to Rs 3,374.50 crore in 2020-2021. Besides this, the state governments have also earmarked a significant amount of funds for infrastructure development. Besides, the government has been making special efforts to link the northeast with the 10-nation ASEAN powerhouse under the rubric of the Act East policy. As a result, Assam and Tripura are gateways to Bangladesh, while Manipur and Mizoram provide a physical outreach to Myanmar. The Asian trilateral highway will also link the northeast not only to Myanmar, but also to Thailand, providing an opening to eventually reach Da Nang in Vietmam. "The geographical location of the northeast is very critical as the states in this region share international borders and with the BJP's Act East policy the region is developing rapidly," Nath said. The Centre is also planning to develop international airports in the northeastern states, which has 14 airports at present. Last year, the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim and Rupsi Airport in Assam too became operational. Not just that. Zeliang also said that businesses in the north-eastern states have been receiving regular government assistance during these critical months under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) under the ministry of micro small and medium enterprises. "Support through SFRUTI has given the much-needed fillip to the businesses in the state and other neighbouring areas. Though for us, the assistance under SFURTI had been initiated just prior to the Covid outbreak, there was no disruption during the peak of the pandemic," she said, adding that the economic development in the region has been a steady affair. The Australian Institute of International Affairs in a study noted that although the states of Northeast India are small-physically, numerically and economically-they are increasingly gaining a significant strategic value. "With ASEAN engagement becoming a central pillar of India's foreign policy direction, these states play an important role as the physical bridge between India and Southeast Asia," it said. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, March 11 : Ukrainian intelligence has information that the Russian aggressors are preparing a terrorist attack on the "exclusion zone" in Chornobyl and plan to blame Ukraine. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence officials said, "According to information available, Vladimir Putin has ordered the preparation of a terrorist attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant". The Russian-controlled Chornobyl nuclear power plant plans to create a man-made catastrophe, for which the occupiers will try to shift responsibility on Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. That is, as he is not getting the desired result from the military ground operation or direct negotiations, Putin is ready to resort to nuclear blackmail against the world community for the sake of concessions in support of Ukraine, it added. "Now, Ukraine, the world, and Russia itself understand that the statements about Ukraine's involvement in the creation of a nuclear threat are just a staging of a mediocre scenario," Ukraine officials said. The plant is currently cut off from the electricity and is disconnected from the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) monitoring systems. The Russian aggressors do not allow the Ukrainian repair crew. Instead, so-called "nuclear energy specialists" from Belarus came in, but under their guise, groups of Russian saboteurs came in to organize a terrorist attack. For the sake of propaganda, the Russian invaders are preparing fake "evidence" of the involvement of Ukrainian defenders in the terrorist attack. Allegedly, on the territory of the Antonov airport in Gostomel, the scouts of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine noticed refrigerator cars of the Russian occupiers. According to the available information of Ukrainian intelligence, the Russians are collecting the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers to take them to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and show them as "killed saboteurs of Ukraine" for propaganda, the report said. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at sanjeev.s@ians.in) Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, March 11 : An unarmed supersonic missile "accidentally" took off from Sirsa and landed at a place 124 km within Pakistani territory on Wednesday evening, the Indian Defence Ministry said on Friday, "regretfully" explaining it was "a technical malfunction". The ministry in a statement said: "On March 9, 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile." The Indian government has taken a serious view and "ordered a high-level court of inquiry". "It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident," said the ministry. Earlier in the day, the Pakistan foreign office summoned India's charge d'affaires and lodged a protest over what it termed as unprovoked violation of its airspace. In a statement it has warned New Delhi of "unpleasant consequences" over what it claims was an Indian originated, but unidentified high-altitude supersonic object that crashed in its territory. In its statement it has urged India to take effective measures to avoid such violations in the future. On Thursday, Pakistan claimed a supersonic missile took off from Sirsa and landed within Pakistani territory. The missile was cruising at an altitude of 40,000 feet and endangered passenger flights in both Indian and Pakistani airspace, and also civilians and property on the ground. Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General of the Pakistani Armed Forces Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said at 18.43 hours on March 9, "a high-speed flying object was picked up inside Indian flying territory by Air Defence Operations Centre of the Pakistani Air Force. From its initial course the object suddenly maneuvered towards Pakistani territory and violated Pakistan's airspace ultimately falling near Mia Channu." He was addressing a press conference on Thursday evening on the incident. He said that there were no human casualties. "When it fell it also damaged some civilian property. Thankfully no loss or injury to human life was caused." Major General Iftikhar said "initiated requisite tactical actions in accordance" with the Standard Operating Procedures. "Whatever caused this incident to happen, it is for the Indians to explain," he said. He stated that the missile was picked up at a high-altitude of 40,000 feet and was travelling at a speeding axis of Mach 2.5 and ultimately Mach 3. The total distance it travelled inside Pakistan was 124 km, and from the total flight time of 6 minutes 46 seconds till it hit the ground, it was in Pakistani territory for 3 minutes and 44 seconds. New Delhi, March 11 : Automaker Hyundai Motor India's philanthropic arm Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) has felicitated 25 grantees of "Art for Hope" at the Bikaner House here. An eminent jury shortlisted 25 artists from across the country, whose art renditions were commissioned with the theme centred on "Hope, Solidarity, and Gratitude". The jury members comprised of Dr. Rathi Jafer, Director of Inko Centre (Chennai), Riyas Komu, a critically acclaimed multimedia artist along with Curator, Priya Pall, a popular museum and arts consultant, former Curatorial Director of Bikaner House, Delhi, and a consultant to various popular museums across the country. According to HMIF, the 'Art for Hope' programme aspires to "unearth, and nurture hidden talents in diverse fields of art, craft and culture along with providing a unique platform for these artists to showcase their work, which in turn will benefit them by generating employment and make their art popular among a wider audience base". As a part of the program, the winners were awarded a grant amount of Rs 1 lakh which were used for their projects. "Art is a reflection of a society's values, its culture and the people who are a part of it. It helps us understand our innermost emotions. With that thought, we announce the culmination of 'Art for Hope', unique initiative that enabled post pandemic revival of the arts and culture community in India," Puneet Anand, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Hyundai Motor India said in a statement. "HMIF took the bold step of taking up the cause of artists under their commitment towards 'Progress for Humanity'." A three-day exhibition from March 12-14 will display the art works and performances of the grantees. "The aim of this exhibition is to promote regional and indigenous arts, shedding light on the country's rich, united, and diverse heritage. "This project will illuminate the efforts of 25 artists that highlight India's rich cultural history." HMIF was formed in 2006 with the purpose of 'giving back' to society and to initiate "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in the areas of Community Development, Health Care, Educational and Vocational Training, Environment, Road Safety, Art, Science, Technology, etc". Hyderabad, March 11 : Hyderabad police have booked a case of cheating against Telugu film producer Bellamkonda Suresh and his son and actor Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas for allegedly cheating a financier to the tune of Rs 85 lakh. A case was booked on Friday against the duo by the Central Crime Station (CCS) police on the direction of a city court. V.L. Sravan Kumar had approached the court complaining that the producer and his son took the money in installments from him during 2018 to make a movie. The petitioner claimed that the producer had promised to take him as assistant producer for a film to be made under the direction of Malineni Gopichand. The financier informed the court that believing their word, he paid them the amount but they cheated him. The court had directed the police to file a case against Suresh and Srinivas. The CCS police registered a case under Indian Penal Code's Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 417, 420 (cheating), and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) As part of the investigation, the police asked the complainant to appear before the investigating officer with relevant documents and record his statement. Mumbai, March 11 : The short film 'Verses Of War', produced by Vivek Oberoi, who also plays the lead role in it, bagged the Best Film award at The Great Indian Film Festival held at Expo 2020 Dubai. The Great Indian Film Festival was a three-day event where several short films and documentaries were showcased by global filmmakers under one roof. 'Verses of War', directed by Prasad Kadam, pits an Indian Army Major, Sunil Bhatia, against his Pakistan Army counterpart, after the former is ambushed by Pakistani forces. The short film plays out as a series of conversations and sheds light on the psychology of the Indian soldier who pens poetry and fights for his motherland with the same passion. After winning the best film award, Oberoi said: "This is my first attempt at producing and acting in a short film. The subject of the film, which pays tribute to war heroes and emphasises their contribution to nation-building, is very close to my heart." He added: "The idea behind making this film was to present the Indian soldier as a man who manifests the same passion both for art and for his motherland. Now that it has won the Best Film award at The Great Indian Film Festival, it only goes to show that a good film will always find its audience and be appreciated." The film was released on Republic Day and Oberoi contributed its earnings for the welfare of war widows. Rep. Steve Hopkins and the Mississippi Freedom Caucus called the interstate compact a bad example of regionalism that would give unelected agencies the power of eminent domain. Chennai, March 11 : A total of 76 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram have travelled to Sri Lanka's Katchatheevu island to participate in the annual festival of St Antony's Church, which began on Friday evening and will continue overnight. The pilgrims were granted permission to travel following the intervention of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The organisers of the pilgrimage had earlier denied permission to the pilgrims from India due to the Covid pandemic. The permission was granted after Stalin took up the matter with the External Affairs Ministry and through senior party leaders with the Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister. The Sri Lankan government had earlier given permission for 50 people to participate in the festival but later raised it to 100 as it is a reunion between families in two countries who have not met for several years. Before the pandemic, 2,000 to 5,000 people from Rameswaram participated in the pilgrimage. Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda met the fishermen association leaders from Rameswaram at Katchatheevu and listened to the woes of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu while fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Many fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. Talking to IANS, All Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association President P. Jesuraj said: "This is an annual festival and is important for the fishermen community of both the countries. I do thank the Central government and state government for the initiative to make this pilgrimage possible." New Delhi, March 11 : Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is the first celebrity brand ambassador for ethnic wear brand Libas. Their Spring Summer 2022 campaign, '#TheresAlwaysALibas' features Sara in the brand's latest designs in a series of campaign films and stills. Commenting on the association, Sara Ali Khan, said, "I am overjoyed to share this association with Libas; Libas has the most comfortable ethnic wear styles. The brand gives a refreshing outlook to Indian ethnic fashion and makes the category an effortless choice for all occasions." Speaking of the association, Sidhant Keshwani, CEO & MD, Libas, added, "We are very excited to have Sara on board! Simple, confident and comfortable in her own skin, she perfectly embodies the spirit of Libas; she is someone whose personal style resonates with Libas' philosophy. She organically endorses wearing ethnic wear in her personal style which makes her a natural choice for the brand." The campaign, celebrates a new perspective on Indian ethnic fashion. The brand understands the changing sartorial needs of the modern Indian woman and focuses on providing stylish, versatile, and functional ethnic wear wardrobe solutions for all occasions -- whether navigating a busy day at work, a coffee date with friends or celebrating a festive evening -- whatever the occasion! The campaign was created in collaboration with The Script Room as the creative agency across digital platforms. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, March 11 : A day after suffering a debacle in the Assembly elections held in five states, the Group-23 (G-23) leaders of Congress started assembling at senior party finctionary Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence here on Friday evening. Senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma have reached Azad's residence, while many more are expected to join the meeting virtually, sources said. There is simmering tension within the Congress after the poll debacle, and the G-23 leaders are reportedly miffed with the style of functioning of the party leadership. One prominent leader said that "it is time that the first family of Congress steps aside and paves the way for a new leadership or act in tandem with the party leaders and be available 24x7 for party work, or else there won't be a revival of the Congress in the country". The leaders pointed out that the present set-up is non-performing and it has to be changed as the party is not 'someone's fiefdom' and everyone has a stake in the Congress. They also suggested that leaders like Sachin Pilot or Manish Tewari should be given charge of the party. One leader who worked for Rahul Gandhi and is now a rebel within is Pankaj Shankar. "Accountability needs to fixed for the rejection in recent elections. Failed in your duties, not doing a favour to the Congress party," Shankar tweeted. The Congress' disgruntled group is upset with the party's performance in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. The G-23 group has been sidelined in the party since it raised the issue of reforms in the Congress and demanded election for the top post. Some G-23 leaders, whom IANS contacted, refused to speak on the day after the results, saying they will formalise a strategy. The group said that people have lost confidence in Rahul Gandhi, and now Priyanka Gandhi's team has also failed to perform. Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the party will analyse the poll debacle. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted: "All of us who believe in @INCIndia are hurting from the results of the recent assembly elections. It is time to reaffirm the idea of India that the Congress has stood for and the positive agenda it offers the nation. "And to reform our organisational leadership in a manner that will re-ignite those ideas and inspire the people. One thing is clear - Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed." Rahul Gandhi had said on Thursday that he accepted the people's verdict, as he congratulated the winning parties. New Delhi, March 11 : Fashion designer Nikhil Thampi has joined hands with the premium casual wear brand Crimsoune Club to unveil a collection, 'The Other Realm'. Nikhil's signature style is modern with a grand flair. Not limiting himself to cocktail wear, he has partnered to create this luxe yet affordable and chic collection. Crimsoune Club, a family-run business which holds an eight-decade experience in textiles, quality production and pan India network with nearly 4,000 retail counters, felt the need to widen their audience to the urban consumers and give them exactly what they need, accessible luxe clothing. Through this collaboration, they have also translated Nikhil's unique pret couture into a stylish casualwear line. Inspired by a modern day safari, this range includes contemporary, unisex and eclectic separates and ensembles for the explorer millennials, who are expressive and experimental. Having had a eureka moment while pondering about how the past travellers used the North Star's guidance, 'the gps' print came to life in this travel collection. The line includes elevated neutrals with a tinge of neon and bold prints. Talking about this collaboration, Thampi said, "As an artist, I don't believe in blocking myself to a particular design DNA. With every project, the idea is to do something different and unique, something unpredictable. In this collaboration, we have launched an entire print based collection which we have never done before. We wanted to make good design accessible to modern Indians, this collection is for someone who expresses themselves unabashedly." The lure of the safari inspires an affordable range of separates that views vintage travel clothing from a current context. Crush-resistant fabrics, lightweight outerwear, detachable utilitarian details and versatile styles allow transitions between different holiday spots: urban meets outdoorsy. Cheshta Aggarwal, Director, Crimsoune Club said, "As a brand marketer, I felt that such a collaboration could help us broaden our horizon and connect with the urban millennials who are looking for fashion that is luxurious yet approachable. With this project, we have blended Nikhil's understanding of design with the brand's expertise in bringing quality, thereby making the collection available for the entire country to experience and consume." Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka Anti-Corruption Bureau Court on Friday granted bail to ousted AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala, the close aide of late Tamil Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha and four others in connection with the jail perks case. Sasikala, her relative Ilavarasi and others were present in the court. The court had directed them to provide bonds of Rs 5 lakh each and asked them to be present for next hearing on April 16. Sasikala and Ilavarasi were released last year after their four year term in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. However, it was alleged that they were given preferential treatment in the prison violating all norms and guidelines. The government had formed a team under retired IAS officer Vinay Kumar to probe the matter. The ACB has also lodged a case as allegations of corruption cropped up against jail officers. The ACB, after obtaining permission from the government, had submitted a charge sheet against the accused - Sasikala, Ilavarasi, and prison staff Gangaraju, Suresh and two officers. The Vinay Kumar team was formed after the allegations surfaced and sensational charges by then Karnataka DG (Prisons) D. Roopa, and its 295 page report confirmed Sasikala was given preferential treatment and a separate kitchen functioned for her in the central prison. Sources say that Sasikala was allowed to wear her own clothes and she was given a cook. A pressure cooker and spices were found in her cell. She was also provided a separate visitor's room and the corridor in the jail was barricaded for her. She also enjoyed free movement. The CCTV footage showed Sasikala talking to a visitor for four hours and footage showed Sasikala and Ilavarasi moving out of their block holding a bag, sources said. The investigation was ordered by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Srinagar, March 11 : Northern Army commander, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who is on a three day visit to Kashmir Valley from March 10, visited Rashtriya Rifles formations in hinterland to review the overall security scenario, the army said on Friday. He also visited a Rashtriya Rifles unit conducting counter-terrorist operations. "He appreciated the recent success in operations where the troops successfully eliminated some hardcore terrorists including Pakistani terrorists with minimal collateral damage and no loss of any civilian life. He reiterated the credo of use of minimum force and just conduct by the soldiers involved in counter-terrorist operations. He appreciated the efforts at breaking the cycle of violence for sustainable peace and stability in Kashmir," an army statement said. On Friday, the Army Commander was briefed by GOC Chinar Corps Lt Gen D.P. Pandey at the Chinar Corps Headquarters on the prevalent security situation and measures instituted to counter adversaries' design. "He interacted with the senior officers of Chinar Corps. He lauded the strong counter- infiltration grid along the Line of Control. For the hinterland, the Army Commander complimented Chinar Corps for the conduct of just operations. He was appreciative of the excellent soldier-citizen connect activities, which have resulted in overall reduction in the terrorist recruitments. The Army Commander also commended Chinar Corps for the various activities being conducted with the citizens in fields of education, sports, culture and skilling," the army said. Mumbai, March 11 : Bollywood pop-rock band Imagine Dragons unveiled its new single "Bones", the first track from its forthcoming release "Mercury - Act 2" on Friday. The song, which examines life and death, features an infectious chorus that binds the melody together. Commenting on the release of the single, the band's lead vocalist, Dan Reynolds, said the song articulates his obsession with the fragility of life. He said in a statement: "'Bones' is a reflection of my obsession with the finality and fragility of life. I am forever in search of evidence that will convince me that there is more to come -- that life is truly eternal in some sense." He added: "Having yet to find that, I try to at least dream of what conquering death would feel like in a song." The song has been produced by the Swedish songwriting/production duo Mattman and Robin, who also helmed "Enemy" and two additional tracks on the previous Imagine Dragons album, "Mercury - Act 1". "Bones", incidentally, was mixed by 14-time Grammy winner Serban Ghenea. The band is all set to give a "Bones" live performance during its Mercury World Tour, which comes to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on March 12. New Delhi, March 11 : While there is uncertainty over the next chief minister of Uttarakhand after Pushkar Singh Dhami lost in the assembly polls, the BJP leadership has started consultations with the MLAs. On the other hand, the Goa BJP is waiting for direction from the central leadership to elect its new chief minister. Sources said that BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and others held informal consultations with the MLAs in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun. "To get a sense of the MLAs' mood, Vijayvargiya has met a few of them. The exercise has started to find the next chief minister after the party's victory and Dhami's loss," they said. After Dhami lost in the assembly polls from Khatima constituency, several names have started doing the rounds in Uttarakhand political circles. Minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt is likely to emerge the frontrunner. A party insider said that there is a section in the party which feels that Dhami should be given a chance for the hard work he put in to ensure a BJP victory. "However, there is another section which believes that making Dhami the chief minister will set a wrong precedent and in the future many others will start claiming the post after losing the election," he said. The BJP has retained power for a second term in Uttarakhand by winning 47 seats in the 70-member House. The BJP leadership will soon appoint central observers to select the chief ministers in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur. "The party parliamentary board, a key decision making body, will appoint central observers to call the legislative party meeting to select the chief ministers in four states," a party insider said. The Goa BJP is also waiting for a direction from the central leadership to kick-off the process of forming the next government. A senior party functionary said that the 'best suitable face will be the next chief minister of Goa'. When asked if there is a possibility that incumbent chief minister Pramod Sawant, who successfully led the party in the assembly polls, will be replaced, he said, "Chances of Sawant have not been ruled out, he is the first choice, but the opinion of the central leadership and others will also be taken into consideration." The BJP has won 20 of the 40 assembly constituencies in Goa. New Delhi, March 11 : The Centre on Friday approved the airline's domestic summer schedule 2022, with 3.7 per cent more flights than the pre-pandemic level. This year's summer schedule will also have 10.1 per cent more flights than the corresponding period of last year - when capacity restrictions were imposed on the sector. The summer schedule is effective from March 27, till October 29. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the summer flight schedule of 25,309 domestic flights. The summer schedule 2020 had an approved flight roster of 24,409 flights, while the approved flight strength was 22,980 in 2021. "Summer Schedule 2022 of the scheduled domestic airlines has been finalised after virtual slot conference meeting held in February 2022. The final slots clearances have been received from respective airport operators on 'eGCA' portal," DGCA said in a statement. "It has been observed that 25,309 departures per week have been finalised to and from 112 airports." According to the DGCA, out of these 112 airports -- Gondia, Ziro and Pondicherry -- are the new airports proposed by the scheduled airlines. In terms of airlines, IndiGo had the highest number of flights approved under the schedule. The airline had 11,130 flights approved followed by SpiceJet at 4,192, GoAir (now known as GoFirst) at 2,557 and Air India at 2,456. Furthermore, Vistara had an approved flight strength of 1,741 and AirAsia India at 1,601. In addition, Alliance Air had 982 flights approved, TruJet at 355, Fly Big at 158 and Star Air at 137. --IANS rv/vd A New Delhi, March 11 : The Congress' 'G-23' leaders, at their meeting held on Friday after the party's debacle in the latest round of Assembly polls, are understood to have sought that there be no more delay in electing the new party President while an AICC session should be called to discuss the poll results, sources said. The meeting was held at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence here, and was attended by Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma and Akhilesh Prasad Singh while some other leaders joined virtually. As per sources, the leaders sought accountability for the poll debacle be fixed and changes be made in the composition of the Congress Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making body. The issue of organisational polls was also discussed. The meeting was held a day after results came out for Assembly elections held in five states, with the party losing its stronghold Punjab, failing to mount a serious challenge in Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand, besides getting virtually demolished in Uttar Pradesh. There is simmering tension within the Congress after the poll debacle, and the G-23 leaders are reportedly miffed with the style of functioning of the party leadership. One prominent leader said that "it is time that the first family of Congress steps aside and paves the way for a new leadership or act in tandem with the party leaders and be available 24x7 for party work, or else there won't be a revival of the Congress in the country". The leaders pointed out that the present set-up is non-performing and it has to be changed as the party is not "someone's fiefdom" and everyone has a stake in it. New Delhi, March 11 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a supplementary chargesheet against two accused, Afshan Parvaiz Jarabi and Tawheed Latief Sofi, both residents of Srinagar, J&K, before the Special NIA Court in Delhi under sections 120B, 124A, 153A of the IPC & Section 18, 38, 39 of the UA(P) Act. The case was registered by the NIA in 2021 regarding a conspiracy hatched by proscribed terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to radicalize and recruit impressionable Muslim youth in India to wage jihad against the Indian state. In order to execute its nefarious plans, an organized campaign was launched in cyberspace supplemented by on ground terror financing activities. The case was registered against cyber entity Qasim Khurasani and his associates. Earlier, a chargesheet was filed against four ISIS terrorists in this case on 6 January, 2022. "Afshan Parvaiz is a key ISIS operative and a close associate of chargesheeted accused Umar Nisar. He was also associated with Af-Pak based ISIS operatives and was actively involved in recruitment for the ISIS. After the arrest of Umar Nisar he was appointed as head of ISIS activities in India and was handling the media as well as ground activities of ISIS. He was actively disseminating ISIS propaganda material through various online platforms," said a senior NIA official. The other accused Tawheed Latief Sofi was also a close associate of previously chargesheeted accused persons Umar Nisar and Jufri Jawhar Damudi. He was involved in content editing and poster creation for ISIS propaganda magazine, Voice of Hind and had also carried out a recee of Hindu temples, government buildings including police stations to carry out subversive acts. New Delhi, March 11 : The members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club (DGC) have welcomed the observations made by the Supreme Court on Friday, asking the Centre why it is difficult to hold elections in the club and that the current Administrator, Om Pathak, of the club cannot continue perennially. Former club President, Air Marshal P.S. Ahluwalia (retd) said the club is totally funded by the members and there is no funding by the government, corporates or the public at large. "It is therefore imperative that the members elect their own governing body of the Club. It has been over one year since an Administrator was appointed. Till date no wrongdoing has been established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Therefore, how does it justify the takeover? A duly elected governing body must be given control immediately," he added. Former General Committee member of the DGC, Rajeev Sabharwal said the club members welcome the observations made by the apex court. "This will instill confidence in the minds of members of the club and also reaffirm the faith in the decision at the highest level of judiciary," he said. The Supreme Court on Friday observed that elections must be conducted and the DGC administrator cannot continue perennially, as it gave four weeks to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to conclude the proceedings into the matter. A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, that "Elections must be conducted sometime, what is the difficulty...administrator cannot continue perennially. Elections have to take place. You cannot have associations without elections." Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing Delhi Gymkhana Club members, said: "We want to hold the elections. The administrator cannot continue in perpetuity." Kaul cited the apex court order, passed on September 30, last year, directing the NCLT to decide the entire matter afresh within four months' time, and if not decided within this period, then the Administrator should conduct elections to install a duly elected committee. He said the four-month period was completed in February, yet the Administrator is not ready to hold the elections. Justice Khanwilkar told Mehta that a self-operating order was passed in September last year. Mehta requested the court to grant two weeks to the NCLT to complete the proceedings in the matter. Concluding the hearing, Justice Khanwilkar said: "It must be made clear, if the tribunal is unable to complete the proceedings (within four weeks), the self-operating order will come into play, thereafter the Administrator would have to install a committee by conducting elections." The bench made it clear that it will not entertain any request by the Centre to extend the time period for the tribunal to complete the proceedings. The top court was hearing a plea filed by Sabharwal and other club members challenging the February 15, 2021 NCLAT order, which dissolved the club's GC and directed the Centre to appoint an Administrator to manage its affairs, after the Ministry of Corporate Affairs moved the tribunal alleging corruption, mismanagement, and nepotism in the club. On September 30, in a major relief for the former general committee of the club, the Supreme Court, while hearing the appeals filed against the NCLAT, remanded the matter back to the NCLT and asked it to settle it within four months. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in April 2020 moved the NCLT under sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, 2013, seeking to supersede the club's general committee and allow it to nominate 15 persons as directors to run the club's affairs. The NCLT in June, 2020, had asked the government to constitute a five-member special committee to enquire into the affairs of the club, among other issues. New Delhi, March 11 : The Special Cell of Delhi Police said on Friday that it has arrested two sharpshooters of Kala Jatheri, Lawrence Bishnoi and Naresh Sethi gang, who were involved in the killing of two siblings in Gurugram to establish their supremacy in liquor business in Delhi-NCR. The accused have been identified as Vikash Kant and Hoshiyar alias Rinku. Two pistols and eight live cartridges were recovered from their possession. Special Cell DCP Sanjeev Yadav said that a team under the supervision of ACP Sanjay Dutt was working on a tip-off for some time now. The officer said that in February, the two sharpshooters killed two siblings -- Paramjit and Surjit -- in Gurugram. It was learnt during the investigation that the deceased were aides of jailed gangster Kaushal and they had rivalry with a man named Ajay Jaildar from their own village, who was being supported by the Kala Jatheri gang. "To establish supremacy in liquor business in Delhi-NCR, the accused decided to kill the siblings in order to settle scores with their rival gang," Yadav said. The Special Cell got a tip-off that the accused would visit Dwarka to meet their associates. Accordingly, the police laid a trap and arrested the duo. New Delhi, March 11 : The Ukraine Air Force has claimed that Russian planes turned around above Ukraine, after which they struck the territory of Belarus. According to the Air Force Command: "Russian planes entered the territory of Ukraine, turned over our towns of Horodychi and Tumeni, and then fired on the settlement of Kopani in Belarus." The Air Force added that currently the 9th Border Detachment is observing the occupation of the town of Kopani by enemy troops. "This is a provocation! The goal is to involve the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus in the war with Ukraine!" the statement read, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) stated that the attack aircraft flew into Ukrainian territory from Belarus, bombed the Ukrainian territory, and then executed air strikes on Belarus. The arrival of two planes from the neighbouring state was recorded by border guards at the Dubrovytsia section of the Rivne region. According to the Ukrainian SBGS: "This attack on, and the enemy's actions towards the towns of Belarus are a deliberate provocation to involve the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus in the war with Ukraine!" Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Oleksiy Reznikov, warned that the Russian Federation is planning to fire on Belarus from the territory of Ukraine to involve the country in the war. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, March 11 : After establishing a few bilateral centres with countries such as the US, Germany, France etc, now a new India-Canada Bilateral Centre will be set up for dedicated S&T activities, it was announced on Friday. A delegation led by Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng called on and reviewed the progress of the bilateral cooperation in several key areas with Indian Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology said. Both sides identified the proposed areas of collaboration in areas such as green technologies, advanced engineering and manufacturing, agriculture and food technologies, digital transformation, energy conservation and healthcare. Singh said the renewal of two MoUs between India and Canada is due and is proposed to be signed in the upcoming joint committee meeting in May 2022. The first MoU relates to National Science Engineering Research Centre (NSERC), Canada, which is a project based scientific exchange programme along with the development of human resource in basic and applied sciences. The second agreement relates to the National Research Council (NRC), Canada, which is an industrial R&D project based on scientific collaboration in which industries from both sides jointly develop prototypes and commercialise them. The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has been also supporting Industrial R&D projects with Canada, which have potential for application. Total 10 projects have been supported for Industrial R&D till date. From DBT, three joint Calls for Proposals in the areas of 'Water for Health', 'Portable Diagnostics & Analysers', and 'Creating Wealth from Waste' have been launched in collaboration with the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS). The Canadian Minister expressed desire to deepen cooperation in areas such as bio-technology, renewal energy, and climate change through applied research mode, the release added. Srinagar, March 11 : A Sarpanch, affiliated with the BJP, was shot dead in J&K's Kulgam district on friday, police said. Police sources said that the Sarpanch, identified as Shabir Ahmad Mir, was fired at from close range by militants in Audura village in the evening. "He was immediately taken to district hospital in Kulgam town where doctors declared him brought dead. "Security forces have reached the village to carry out searches to nab the assailants," a source said. On March 9, militants killed a Sarpanch in Khonmoh on the outskirts of Srinagar city. He was affiliated with the PDP. Srinagar, March 11 : An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district late on Friday, officials said. "Encounter has started at Chewaklan area of Pulwama. Police and security forces are on the job," a police officer said. The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire and retaliated. New Delhi, March 11 : US President Joe Biden has said that the American side, together with the G7 and the European Union, will abolish the most favoured nation treatment in trade with Russia. "Each of our countries will take measures to deny Russia the most favoured nation status, which means that the two countries have agreed to trade with each other on the best possible terms," Ria Novosti quoted him as saying, RT reported. The United States has banned imports from Russia of goods from its "characteristic sectors of the economy", including the import of seafood, alcohol, including vodka, and non-industrial diamonds. This was announced by the White House following President Joe Biden's speech on new anti-Russian measures. "This will deprive Russia of more than $1 billion in export earnings," the Biden administration said in a statement. The White House added that the US retains the right to impose additional import bans "as needed". The statement also claimed that the G7 member countries have agreed to deprive Russia of access to financing through international organisations, including through the IMF and the World Bank. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, March 11 : The government has appointed retired Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar as a National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) within the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) under NSA Ajit Doval for creating common purpose among the many ministries, government departments and private players, with a say in matters of maritime security, sources said. However, the scope of the Maritime Security Coordinator's role has not yet been made public. "This will not be an easy task, given the bureaucratic inertia to change, instinctive turf protection tendencies, and sometimes conflicting goals, which are characteristics of government organisations across the world. Admiral Kumar's task will, frankly, be quite unenviable," said a senior government official. Reading between the lines, and when viewed alongside the recent hike in the Budget of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, it offers indications of a fresh seaward outlook in the government. This could be for a multitude of reasons, such as enabling growth to a $5 trillion economy, countering China's advances in the region, increasing employment opportunities, etc. While there is a sea of challenges that the NMSC has to work upon, there is also an ocean of opportunities. "He has numerous low-hanging fruits ready for the picking in the short term," the official explained. Greater integration among agencies involved in coastal security and fast-tracking the National Maritime Domain Awareness project are two such initiatives that could be undertaken on an almost immediate basis. For the medium term, policies and strategies to support initiatives related to the blue economy, climate change and security of energy should be on his priority list. For instance, encouraging and driving formulation of a national maritime strategy may help in aligning efforts across sectors, which are currently operating in silos, the official said. He will also need to align closely with the Niti Aayog, which has already prepared a draft maritime policy. "If the Security Council Secretariat and the Niti Aayog can converge their efforts, the Indian maritime world will receive significant impetus and direction," the official added. For the long term, Admiral Kumar would need to ensure that processes and structures are established to secure and promote India's continued growth as a maritime power, matching its economic and social growth. Some of the greatest powers in history have risen through maritime endeavours -- commercial, scientific, cultural, as well as military. China is doing it today, with an enviable merchant fleet, extensive maritime explorations, and the largest Navy in the world, to name a few. India needs to catch up fast. Beyond these, the single greatest opportunity that this appointment presents is a chance to bring the oceans back into the consciousness and imagination of all Indians. The government has sown the seeds for this, through SAGAR, Sagarmala, Mausam, and many more initiatives. Calling upon all the leadership, management, diplomatic and creative skills that he gained in the Navy, Admiral Kumar will need to don the mantle of skipper once again to guide this ship to its destination, the official said. New Delhi, March 11 : India and Canada have agreed to formally re-launch the negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both the countries might also consider entering into an 'Early Progress Trade Agreement'. The development comes after India and Canada held the fifth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment (MDTI) here on Friday. According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada's Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Minister Mary Ng co-chaired the MDTI. "The Ministers agreed to formally re-launch the negotiations for India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and also consider an 'Interim Agreement' or Early Progress Trade Agreement that could bring early commercial gains to both the countries," a ministry statement said. "The Ministers highlighted the existing trade complementarities between India and Canada and emphasised that the trade agreement would help in expanding bilateral trade in goods and services through unlockingAthe potential across sectors." According to the ministry, the interim agreement would include high level commitments in goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and dispute settlement, and may also cover any other areas mutually agreed upon. "A range of other bilateral trade and investment issues were discussed during the meeting. Both countries agreed to undertake intensified work with respect to the recognition of Canada's systems approach to pest risk management in pulses and market access for Indian agriculture goods such as sweet corn, baby corn and banana etc. "Canada also agreed to examine expeditiously the request for Conformity Verification Body (CVB) status to APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) for facilitating Indian organic export products," the statement said. New Delhi, March 11 : Delhi Police said on Friday that they have arrested five sharpshooters of Sonu Dariyapur Gang, who were involved in a number of criminal cases. A country made pistol, a Scooty and Rs 39 lakh looted cash were recovered from their possession. The accused have identified as Narender, Naseeb, Vicky, Sagar and Deepak Sharma. Recently, they had committed a robbery in central Delhi's Desh Bandhu Gupta Road area. Central Delhi DCP Shweta Chauhan said that on March 7, a person named Manoj Kumar had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that he was robbed of Rs 91 lakh by some unknown robbers. "Manoj was returning to office after collecting Rs 91 lakh from a party in Chandni Chowk area. When he crossed the Faiz Road traffic signal, some unknown persons came from behind and kicked the Scooty he was riding. After that, the accused held Manoj at gunpoint and sprayed pepper spray in his eyes and took away the bag containing money," said the DCP. After receiving the complaint, an FIR of robbery was lodged and a special team was formed to look into the matter. The police scanned the CCTV footages of the nearby areas and learnt that one of the accused was following Manoj from the Karol Bagh area. As they were wearing masks, their identity could not be ascertained. "Later we learnt that the accused were sharpshooters of Sonu Dariyapur gang. We then scanned the CDR of 200 cellphones. Finally, we identified one of them as Narender who was previously involved in a murder case," the DCP said. The police learnt that the accused were hiding in Himachal Pradesh and a team was sent there. However, the accused somehow got a hint, and fled to Punjab. The police then reached Punjab with the use technical surveillance. The accused were finally held from Rajpura in Punjab. New Delhi, March 11 : Though it is a decades old problem, the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) issue has been simmering with renewed rigour since July 2020 when the Supreme Court asked Punjab and Haryana to settle the matter. Of the multiple states in northwest India, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and some part of Uttar Pradesh share the same water infrastructure and are regulated by two bodies and agreements: The Bhakra Beas Management Board and the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board's agreement/MoU between upper riparians of Yamuna, namely Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. In the SYL, it is the two states of Punjab and Haryana that have kept the dispute burning for over four decades now. Delhi has no direct stake in the dispute, but a major share of Delhi's water comes through Haryana and all it is worried about is that it should continue to get uninterrupted water supply of its share. With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) set to form the government in Punjab, the question now is whether the new government will go ahead with the completion of the canal or continue to protest? What exactly is the problem with the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal? The main rivers involved are Ravi and Beas. The states involved are Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Rajasthan. Prior to Punjab's bifurcation, out of 15.85 million acre feet (MAF) water of the two river basins, Rajasthan was allotted 8 MAF, Punjab received 7.20 MAF while J&K had a share of 0.65 MAF. Post 1976, when the Punjab Reorganisation Act was operationalised, Haryana was allotted a share of 3.5 MAF, which earlier Punjab had refused to share. With revision in water flow in 1981, Punjab was given 4.22 MAF, Haryana 3.5 MAF and 8.6 MAF went to Rajasthan. A canal linking Sutlej with Yamuna to provide water to southern parts of Haryana was planned. Work for the over 200 km canal is completed in Haryana but the stretch that runs across Punjab is incomplete. In July 2020, the Supreme Court had directed the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana to negotiate and settle the issue. But why is Punjab opposing? The Green Revolution was responsible for ensuring that India became self-sufficient in food grain production and Punjab had a major role to play in it. The state claimed that the food it grew was for the whole country but the water used was its own groundwater and hence there was no need to share any surface water with any other state. Moreover, given the history of violence in Punjab, the powers that be feel that secessionist tendencies may try to benefit from the opposition to water sharing. Instead, Punjab has been demanding a tribunal to discuss the issue afresh. It has also demanded working out water availability, which, according to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), under which water sharing arrangement works for Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and even Delhi, has gone down over the decades. Will things change now with the change of guard in Punjab? New Delhi, March 11 : A Maoist, carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, was killed while a District Reserve Guard (DRG) trooper sustained a minor injury in a gun fight in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Friday morning, officials said. Inspector General, Bastar range P. Sundarraj also said that the gunfight broke out when the DRG and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were carrying out a joint operation in the jungle under Naimed police station area. CRPF officials said that the gunfight started at around 8.30 a.m. near Kaika and Mosla villages when the security forces came under fire and retaliated. When the exchange of fire stopped, the body of a male Maoist along with a .12 bore rifle and Maoist-related material were recovered from the spot. On February 12, a CRPF official was killed and a trooper injured in an exchange of fire with Maoists at Putkel village under Basaguda police station limits in Bijapur when a team of CRPF's 168th battalion was out on a road domination duty. United Nations, March 11 : As Russia and the West clashed at the UN Security Council over Moscow's allegations about biological warfare plants in Ukraine, India on Friday called for "consultation and cooperation" to deal with the issue. "Any matters relating to obligations under the BTWC (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention) should be addressed as per the provisions of the Convention, and through consultation and cooperation between the parties concerned," India's Permanent Representative to UN, T.S. Tirumurti, said at a Council meeting convened at the request of Russia to consider its allegations that biological weapons were being made in Ukraine. Tirumurti was referring to Article 5 of the 1972 Convention that UN High Representative Izumi Nakamitsu quoted at the meeting: "Parties to this convention undertake to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of or in the application of the provisions of this convention." "We would like to underline the importance attached by India to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as a key global and non-discriminatory disarmament Convention, prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," Tirumurti said. Without taking sides in the clash of allegations between the West and Russia, and without naming any country, he said, "We have noted the recent statements by states and wider information regarding biological activities relating to Ukraine." He added, "It is important to ensure full and effective implementation of the BTWC in letter and spirit." He also "expressed serious concern over the ongoing situation in Ukraine", and said he hoped that direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would lead to a ceasefire. Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia alleged that Russia had discovered a network of laboratories backed by the US Defence Department conducting "very dangerous biological experiments" involving "plague, Anthrax, tularemia, cholera, and other lethal diseases using synthetic biology". He said, "We discovered the truly shocking acts of emergency clean up by the Kiev regime of all the traces of a major biological programme." But Nakamitsu said categorically, "The United Nations is not aware of any biological weapons programmes" in Ukraine. Albania's Permanent Representative Ferit Hoxa called the Rusian allegations "information warfare" targeting health facilities. He said that going by past incidents, Russia was likely setting the stage for itself carrying out a biological attack and then blaming Ukraine. He noted that Russia had used chemical weapons against its own citizens like Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader. US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned that Russia could be setting the stage for a "false flag" assassination with chemical or biological weapons to create a pretext to carry out military operations. She said, "We have serious concerns that Russia may be planning to use chemical or biological agents against the Ukrainian people. The intent behind these lies seemed clear, and it is deeply troubling." "We believe Russia could use chemical or biological agents for assassinations as part of a staged false flag incident or to support tactical military operations," she added. Thomas-Greenfield said, "Ukraine does not have a biological weapons programme. There are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories supported by the United States." "So here are the facts: Ukraine owns and operates its own public health laboratory infrastructure -- facilities [that] make it possible to detect and diagnose diseases like Covid-19 which benefit us all," she said. She added, "The United States has assisted Ukraine to do this safely and securely, clearly and out in the open. This work has everything to do with protecting the health of people. It's absolutely nothing, absolutely nothing to do with biological weapons. "And China too has been spreading disinformation in support of Russia's outrageous claim." Beijing's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun came to the surrport of Russia, saying, "China has noted with concern credible information released by Russia." "The concerns raised by Russia should be properly addressed," he added. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary Di Carlo raised the probability that Russia may be guilty of war crime and called for investigations. She said, "Directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called area bombardment in towns and villages, are also prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes." "All alleged violations of international humanitarian law must be investigated and those found responsible held accountable," she added. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, March 11 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Friday that it has lodged an FIR against an Indore-based firm -- Krishidhan Seeds Private Limited -- and its directors Jainarayan Pusaram Karwa, Ushil Karwa, Mukund Karwa and others -- for allegedly committing a bank loan fraud of Rs 33.09 crore. The Bank of India had lodged a complaint with the CBI on the basis of which the FIR was registered by the CBI. The bank in its complaint said that the accused entered into a conspiracy among themselves and cheated the bank to the tune of Rs 33.09 crore by way of siphoning of bank funds, provided by way of CC facilities and term loan during 2013-2014. The CBI on Friday conducted searches at nine locations in Indore, Pune and Jalna in Maharashtra belonging to the accused. The probe agency has recovered incriminating documents and articles during the search operations. New Delhi, March 12 : A special CBI court in Kerala has sentenced K.S. Chandrasekhar, a former Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Complex, Cochin International Airport, to three years rigorous imprisonment for cheating and fraud. A fine of Rs 1,20,000 was also slapped on him. The CBI had registered a case against Chandrasekhar, and others on the allegations that the accused entered into conspiracy with others during March 2008 to July 2008 and fraudulently misappropriated electronic items viz plasma TV and music sound system received from Kuwait as gift for a Thrissur-based resident. Chandrasekhar did not release the said items to the consignee on the grounds that the consignee would pay duty of more than Rs 1 Lakh which would be more than the price of the said items and thereby making the consignee to abandon the said items. The said electronic items were claimed as used items and got released under transfer of residence rule by paying a customs duty of Rs 4,635 showing the value of the electronic items as Rs 30,000. The electronic items were transported to the wife of Chandrasekhar, at Bengaluru. The accused used the said items as his household articles till their seizure by the CBI from his residence in 2012. After investigation, a chargesheet was filed in 2018 against Chandrasekhar and two private persons before the Court of Special Judge-I, CBI, Ernakulam. The trial Court found the accused guilty, while the two private persons were acquitted. Zanderij International Airport, Paramaribo, Suriname [ PBM / SMJP ] If you are planning to travel to Paramaribo or any other city in Suriname, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Zanderij International Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Zanderij International Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Suriname. Paramaribo Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. 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This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Suriname or traveling to Paramaribo Airport. Details about Paramaribo Airport given here include Zanderij International Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Paramaribo Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Zanderij International Airport Location of Zanderij International Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Zanderij International Airport Time Zone and Current time at Zanderij International Airport Address and contact details of Zanderij International Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Zanderij International Airport on Google Map. General information about Suriname where Zanderij International Airport is located in the city of Paramaribo. General information include capital of Suriname, currency and conversion rate of Suriname currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... PBM - Zanderij International Airport IATA Code and SMJP - Zanderij International Airport ICAO code "We are thrilled to have such an experienced and talented lawyer as Tony on our Board. OCA is an organization devoted to providing the highest quality of legal services to property owners facing eminent domain takings across the country." Owners Counsel of America, a property rights organization fighting for private landowners nationwide, has elected attorney Anthony Misseldine to serve on its Board of Directors for 2022. "We are thrilled to have such an experienced and talented lawyer as Tony on our Board. OCA is an organization devoted to providing the highest quality of legal services to property owners facing eminent domain takings across the country. The work that Tony is known for on behalf of the Arizona property owners he represents exemplifies the dedication and commitment that OCA lawyers bring to their practice and profession," shared Leslie Fields, Executive Director of Owners Counsel of America. Tony is a Shareholder at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law, with offices throughout Arizona. He has been a leading trial litigation attorney for over 25 years. His practice focuses on the areas of eminent domain, land use, title disputes, real estate and other complex commercial lawsuits. Over the span of his professional career, Tony has handled many high-profile condemnation cases, including actions to acquire land for public buildings, electrical power plants, power lines, railroad corridors, access driveways, pipelines, and schools. Tony also represents property owners and businesses displaced by government takings of private property in administrative appeals and litigation over relocation entitlements and benefits. He has served as the exclusive Arizona Owners Counsel of America ember for over 5 years. About JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law Founded in 1983, JacksonWhite, P.C. offers a full-range of services to assist individuals, families, and businesses with their legal needs. Since its inception, the Mesa law firm has grown steadily to include 22 highly experienced attorneys and over 40 paralegals, legal assistants, and staff. At this size, the firm is large enough to offer the efficiency and technical expertise of larger firms, yet small enough to provide clients with individualized, personalized attention. For more information on a specific attorney or area of practice, please visit http://www.jacksonwhitelaw.com. About Owners' Counsel of America Owners Counsel of America is the only organization comprised of skilled attorneys with significant experience and dedication to representing private landowners. The Owners Counsel of America network offers landowners a single source for locating an experienced condemnation attorney to assist with every stage of the eminent domain process from pre-condemnation planning through litigation and appeal. Frank J. Martin "Besides being exceptionally well-qualified, Frank has always thought about lawyering in the broader context of current societal trends and the impact on the future." Frank J. Martin has been hired as Counsel at Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP (CFM). He previously served as President and General Counsel of a multi-billion dollar global investment management firm. Frank is an experienced investment management attorney who served as a Lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Law. At Berkeley Law, he created and taught a course on the regulation of hedge funds and investment managers. In addition to his investment management work, Frank has served as a senior executive, board member, and general counsel to non-profit and social impact organizations, including time as Interim Executive Director and Lecturer at Berkeley Law's East Bay Community Law Center. "We are proud to announce Frank has joined our firm," said Co-Managing Partner Bart Mallon. "Besides being exceptionally well-qualified, Frank has always thought about lawyering in the broader context of current societal trends and the impact on the future. At CFM, we think similarly, and we believe that the result of such thinking has been the significant growth of all aspects of our practice, especially in digital assets." "Frank's practical fund experience makes him a valuable advisor to the clients we serve. His business knowledge adds to the richness and quality of service that Cole-Frieman & Mallon has set out to deliver," said Karl Cole-Frieman, Co-Managing Partner. "We believe in the values he brought to his work at UC Berkeley School of Law and the East Bay Community Law Center, and Frank is a great addition to our growing firm." Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP now employs over 30 professionals across two national locations, serving over 1,500 clients and launching over 200 funds per year. "We could not be more delighted to have so many talented professionals supporting our firm. Our pioneering work with non-traditional asset classes, notably our work with cryptocurrency fund managers, continues to put CFM on the map as a leading investment management law firm," Cole-Frieman added. About: Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP is one of the top investment management law firms in the United States, known for providing top-tier, innovative, and collaborative legal solutions for complex financial services matters. Headquartered in San Francisco, Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP services both start-up investment managers and multi-billion-dollar firms. The firm provides a full suite of legal services to the investment management community, including hedge fund, private equity fund, venture capital fund, mutual fund formation, adviser registration, counterparty documentation, SEC, CFTC, NFA and FINRA matters, seed deals, hedge fund due diligence, employment and compensation matters, and routine business matters. The firm also publishes the prominent Hedge Fund Law Blog, which focuses on legal issues that impact the hedge fund community. For more information, please add us on LinkedIn and visit us at colefrieman.com. 2021 Healthcare Data Breach Trend Report Due to the financial value of patient health information, electronic health records stored in healthcare organizations are a major target for cybercriminals Protected Harbor, a full-service IT solution and consulting firm, just announced the launch of its latest whitepaper on healthcare cybersecurity. The whitepaper, entitled 2021 Healthcare Data Breach Trend Report offers readers an insight into evolving healthcare data breach patterns, predictive threats for 2022, and a playbook on how to increase IT durability to stop future healthcare data attacks. Due to the financial value of patient health information, electronic health records stored in healthcare organizations are a major target for cybercriminals, said Richard Luna, CEO of Protected Harbor. Attacks and exploits are evolving every day, becoming more sophisticated and carrying more devastating payloads. Protections must be implemented at every layer of a system. The healthcare data breach report, conducted by Protected Harbor, included statistics from 686 security breaches of 500 or more healthcare records; as reported by HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). 74% of all healthcare data breaches are from hacking and IT incidents, attributed to understaffed healthcare IT departments, legacy technologies not configured properly for new medical technology, and a lack of interoperability standards. This problem is costing companies around $9.23M per data breach, as reported by IBM. The Threats As the industry continues to evolve and respond to the data growth from increased usage of medical devices and technologies, more vulnerabilities are discovered. The 2021 Healthcare Data Breach Trend Report, by Protected Harbor, has identified the following top healthcare data security threat issues heading into 2022: IoT connected medical devices mHealth & Telehealth technologies The Cures Act & remote patient access Understaffed & underfunded IT departments Lack of employee security training The Solutions Improving healthcare cybersecurity and network architecture will harden healthcare infrastructure, increase application durability, decrease overall costs, and increase public trust. The report also identified the following data protection suggestions for Healthcare IT departments: Fast healthcare Interoperability resource standards Multi-factor authentication Mobile device security strategy Isolated and validated backups Integration of managed service teams Digitalization has drastically increased the amount of data and how the healthcare industry does business. But the original network architectural designs were not meant to handle this size of a workload, continued Luna. Teams need to do more regular penetration tests, malware tests, backup validation, disaster recovery drills, improve monitoring, run compliance scans, and keep to a maintenance schedule. It is not easy to keep track of so many moving parts that have been integrated since Covid-19. That is why so many HCIT departments are teaming up with managed service firms. The Numbers Additional findings from the 2021 Healthcare Data Breach Trend Report, include network server attacks accounting for 53% of all incidents in 2021, followed by email attacks at 27%. 21% of breaches can be attributed to unauthorized access, such as granting too much-privileged access to third parties. Hacking and IT incidents targeting outpatient and specialty clinics have grown 41% in the past year. 30% of all large data breaches in the U.S. are from hospitals. And California has the most healthcare data breaches, making up 10% of all breaches in 2021; followed by Texas (8%) and New York (6%). The full 2021 Healthcare Data Breach Trend Report can be found on http://www.stopthebreach.org, and can be downloaded from here: https://stopthebreach.org/2021-trend-report/ The full, long-form, healthcare data breach trends infographic can be also be found on stopthebreach.org, : https://stopthebreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Protectedharbor-2021-Healthcare-Data-Breach-Trend-Report.pdf About Protected Harbor Protected Harbor is a full-service IT solution company that takes responsibility for the technology and applications that help businesses move forward. Protected Harbor provides a range of Network IT, Remote Desktop, VoIP, Cybersecurity, Data Center Infrastructure Management, and application Durability services for businesses looking to scale their technology. Every client receives a customized I.T. durability plan focused on the uptime of application at the lowest possible cost, regardless of location, and cloud provider. Protected Harbor has achieved a +90 Net Promoter Score, and a 95% client retention rate by putting client experience first. Founded in 2013, the company is located in Orangeburg, NY. Learn more about Protected Harbor at http://www.protectedharbor.com. Fastest-Growing Call Center Managed Services Company in the World "Even as staffing shortages impact traditional contact centers, workers continue to seek Gig opportunities that enable them to be their own boss by choosing where and when to work." - CEO Christopher M. Carrington Omni Interactions (Omni), the premier managed services partner providing on-demand contact center solutions, today announced its business results for the full year 2021. Omni ended the year with 203.6% revenue growth year over year as more companies are leveraging their Gig Economy business model to access talent around the country. Omni recorded more revenue in Q4 2021 than its entire year of revenue in 2020. Revenue for the full year was $45.8 million and the company projects it will continue to grow by 40% or more in 2022. Omni supports its growth profitably with positive cash flow creating a strong partner for its clients. Even as staffing shortages impact traditional contact centers, workers continue to seek Gig opportunities that enable them to be their own boss by choosing where and when to work said Christopher M. Carrington, CEO and Managing Partner of Omni Interactions. This sense of ownership drives greater worker satisfaction and better results for the clients they serve through the Omniverse marketplace. Omnis sourcing engine processes many thousands of Gig applicants every week. Clients and prospects alike are seeking solutions to address the On-Demand reality of our economy, said Greg Hopkins Executive Vice President and Managing Partner of Omni Interactions. While technology provides alternative means to support the customer experience, the average American still appreciates the human connection to finding fast answers to their questions. The Outsourced Customer Engagement Market is estimated at $75 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow 5-7% annually between now and 2024, per a Baird research report from August 2021. Demand for the Omniverse Marketplace continues to grow rapidly as companies are looking for customer experience solutions that offer On-Demand, highly flexible teams on an outsourced basis that can rapidly launch in days, not weeks or months, said David Parkhurst, Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Partner of Omni Interactions. About Omni Interactions Founded in 2016, Omni Interactions (Omni) is the fastest-growing managed services provider of outsourced customer experience solutions leveraging the Gig Economy. Omnis unique business model focuses on working and learning remotely, on-demand scalability and a 100% cloud-based technology platform to revolutionize the handling of omnichannel customer contacts and achieve higher quality outcomes at lower costs. Omni is reimagining the virtual work from home business model by utilizing the burgeoning Gig Economy and shifting workforce engagement practices. By connecting communities of Gig workers with the nations leading brands, Omni delivers consistent, reliable customer experience solutions. Omni reunites the former leadership team of Alpine Access, the leader in cloud-based virtual customer experience solutions. For more information visit http://www.OmniInteractions.com. We invest considerable resources in research and forums such as these events to stay informed of what customers in our target markets need, and how people, processes and technology can be used to solve pressing industry challenges. Apperio announced it will sponsor and present at two separate roundtable events later this month. These roundtables are being held on opposite sides of the Atlantic as part of larger events produced by The Lawyer in London and Private Equity International in New York. The two events are as follows: 1. Smarter Working Week by The Lawyer This hybrid conference runs from March 21-24, 2022. The sessions will focus on how the legal function can work more efficiently and dynamically with the wider business and contribute to meaningful cross-industry change. As a part of the conference, Apperio is sponsoring and facilitating two roundtables focused on demonstrating the value of the legal department. What: Demonstrating the value of the in-house legal team When: Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m. (GMT) Where: etc.venues, Chancery Lane, London Facilitator: Alun Swift, Head of Marketing and Revenue Operations, Apperio Note: This roundtable event will be held in-person; click agenda or registration for more information. 2. CFOs and COOs Spring Roundup by Private Equity International (New York) This one-day event brings private equity finance and operations leaders together to benchmark against their peers and create conversations about strategically navigating new challenges caused by the pandemic. Apperio is sponsoring and co-facilitating a series of roundtables on building relationships with outside partners including law firms. What: Promoting productive and collaborative relationships with outsourced partners When: March 24, 2022, from 8:15 a.m. 5:00 p.m. (ET) Where: Westin Times Square, New York, NY Co-facilitator: Eleanor Selby, Customer Success Manager, Apperio Note: This roundtable event will be held in-person; click agenda or registration for more information. Both of these events provide Apperio with an opportunity to lead discussions about topics that are of interest to our customers. They allow us to listen and interact directly with key market stakeholders and tailor our product accordingly, says Apperio Head of Marketing and Revenue Operations Alun Swift. We invest considerable resources in research and forums such as these events to stay informed of what customers in our target markets need, and how people, processes and technology can be used to solve pressing industry challenges. # # # About Apperio Apperio helps in-house counsel to control legal spend by aggregating matter data, ahead of the invoice, directly from the golden source of truth. Apperios online software provides analytics, real-time visibility and insights on external legal matters. Rather than accumulating invoices, Apperio works by automating the collection of data directly from law firms time recording systems. As a result, a greater level of granularity and analysis is possible, weeks before an invoice is received. In-house teams can therefore work proactively and gain confidence from an accurate picture of their spending. In turn, such insights can also improve the forecasting, budgeting and efficiency of the legal department. Currently, Apperio is used daily by more than 50 in-house legal teams including Epiris, EQT, Network Rail, Royal London and Cornerstone. Apperio is based in London, England. For more information, please visit Apperio.com or follow Apperio on LinkedIn or Twitter. Media Contact: Frank Strong for Apperio, Ltd. +1 202-352-5920 media@apperio.com Backward Day: a delightful tale of simply having fun with friends. Backward Day is the creation of published author Brianna Lee Rivera, an imaginative elementary student who resides in Arizona with her loving family. Rivera hopes to become a veterinarian. Rivera shares, Backward Day follows classmates Percy and Freda getting ready for backward day at school. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Brianna Lee Riveras new book will delight and entertain young readers with silly imagery and a fun storyline. Rivera offers readers a delightful adventure with two friends who are having fun with a backward day at school. Consumers can purchase Backward Day at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Backward Day, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Latin music at Peckerheads in Austin during SXSW, Wednesday March 16 To see all these artists, performing live at a raucous, festive SXSW venue is something not to be missed. Cinq Music, the record label and distributor, and leading digital media company mitu are offering up the best in Latin and Hip Hop music at the upcoming SXSW Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas. Both musical events are free and will be held at Peckerheads, 402 E. 6th St. Austin, Texas 78701. To register for the crema by mitu Latin event, go here. To register for the March 18 Hip Hop event, go here Its amazing that would could get all these great musical talents in one place at one time, says Cinq Marketing Director Diana Schweinbeck. To see all these artists, performing live at a raucous, festive SXSW venue is something not to be missed. On the evening of Wednesday, March 16, the best of the Latin indie music scene arrives at SXSW with crema by mitu and Cinq Music. The music showcase begins at 9pm featuring artists Los Aptos, Dariell Cano, Henao, HI Marcus, Rogelio Martinez, Poe Leos, Alta Elegancia, Isaiah Flowers, with more performers and surprise guests being added. On Friday, March 18, Cinq and Schweinbeck present an incredible Hip Hop exhibition, #INDASTREETS2INDUSTRY. Performances start at 8:30pm and include Money Mu, Kalan .Frfr, DCG, Fastmoney Ant, Squalla, Seddy Hendrinx, MC Beezy, Poe Leos, Peso Montana, T-Hood, Jaas and many more. Overseeing the event is DJ Jay Ill, DJ Homicide and host WIZKIDMONT. About Cinq: Cinq Music is a technology-driven record label, distribution, and rights management company. Cinqs repertoire has won Grammy awards, dozens of Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications, and numerous number ONE chart positions on a variety of Billboard charts. Its repertoire includes heavyweights such as Bad Bunny, Janet Jackson, Daddy Yankee, T.I., Sean Kingston, Anuel and hundreds more. Janet Jackson, Anuel, T.I., Daddy Yankee, Sean Kingston, Bad Bunny and hundreds more. About mitu: For 10 years, mitu has been the leading digital media company dedicated to inspiring, elevating and super-serving U.S. Latinos. As a platform built for Latinos by Latinos, mitu is committed to representing both the collective and unique experiences of the 200% generation - 100% American and 100% Latino - through video, editorial, and social media.mitus music brand, Crema is where music intersects with culture. Crema informs and entertains music super fans, while celebrating Latin culture, artists and uplifting the community.mitu is a subsidiary company of GoDigital Media Group, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with operations in New York, Miami, Chicago, Mexico, Colombia, Belarus, and Sri Lanka. Hector Torres cuts the ribbon to officially open the Allentown, PA branch of Green Lawn Fertilizing The Allentown and Lancaster service markets will be paramount in our long-term growth plans! We look to aggressively grow both markets and create incredible opportunities for our team members while executing on our Mission to deliver a superior customer experience! Green Lawn Fertilizing officially opened two new branches in Bethlehem and Denver, PA at the beginning of March 2022. The company invested in the two properties in response to its expanding base of residential and commercial customers in the Lehigh Valley and Lancaster, PA regions. The two ribbon cutting events were attended by all branch employees, the senior management team as well as President and Owner, Matt Jesson. Jesson spoke about the companys growth initiatives during his time at each event, The Allentown and Lancaster service markets will be paramount in our long-term growth plans! We look to aggressively grow both markets and create incredible opportunities for our team members while executing on our Mission to deliver a superior customer experience! Hector Torres and George Strine, respective Service Managers at Allentown and Denver were given the honor of cutting the red ribbon. Hector Torres has been with Green Lawn Fertilizing for over 14 years. He has done everything, and anything asked of him during his tenure with the company. When the decision to open a new branch in the Allentown area was made it was with Hector in mind to help lead it. George Strine has only been with Green Lawn Fertilizing just over a year, but has worked in the lawn care industry almost his entire career and has a wealth of knowledge to impart to his team. Lawn General Managers, Jon Shuey and Steven Reyes will supervise the operations at Denver and Allentown respectively as well. The company is not slowing down with its real estate expenders to help support its growth. Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions purchased a new headquarters building in West Chester, PA last year which is scheduled to open September of 2022. In the interim extensive construction will take place inside the building to customize and modernize the layout. The new space will have ample community space including a kitchen, game room, and cafe. It will have over 30 offices, multiple meeting rooms and ample space for sales and customer service teams. The company is also investing in a brand new 20,000 foot warehouse next to its current headquarters building, which will become the new West Chester lawn and pest operations building once the new headquarters building is ready. # # # Green Pest Solutions and Green Lawn Fertilizing is an independent lawn and pest control company that was founded in 2004. Under the leadership of Matt Jesson, President and Owner of Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions, the company has grown to over 250 team members and over 180 service vehicles in its fleet. They have a mission to become the leader in the lawn and pest industry by providing superior customer service. Over the last several years, highly reputable publications have taken notice of the company succeeding in that mission. The Philadelphia Business Journal named Green Lawn Fertilizing / Green Pest Solutions one of their Best Places to Work three consecutive years in 2019, 2020 and 2021 as well as one of their Soaring 76 fastest growing private companies in 2020. They were recognized by the Entrepreneurs forum of Philadelphia as one of their Philly 100 four times (2014, 2015, 2020, and 2021). For nine of the last ten years the company received the Inc. 5000 award for being recognized as one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the America. In 2018, Green Pest Solutions was named "Best of Philly Earth-Friendly Exterminator" by Philadelphia Magazine and in 2017 they were named "Best Pest Control by Philly.com. In 2017, the company received the Customer Service Excellence Award by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. We are incredibly honored to be included on Fast Companys list of the Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2022. HopSkipDrive has been named to Fast Companys prestigious annual list of the Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2022. This years list honors businesses that are making the biggest impact on their industries and culture as a whole ultimately thriving in todays ever-changing world. These companies are creating the future today with some of the most inspiring accomplishments of the 21st century. In addition to the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies, 528 organizations are recognized across 52 categories. HopSkipDrive has earned the standing of No. 5 in the transportation category. HopSkipDrive is the innovative school transportation solution of choice for schools and districts. By optimizing routes, helping to maximize all transportation assets, introducing a new driver supply, and solving for critical nationwide school bus driver shortages, HopSkipDrive is reinventing school transportation and ensuring equitable access to education. Currently partnered with more than 300 school districts across the country, HopSkipDrive also provides an opportunity for independent contractors to earn money in a safe and flexible way while making a difference in their community and supporting green initiatives. HopSkipDrive Co-founder and CEO, Joanna McFarland, says, We are incredibly honored to be included on Fast Companys list of the Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2022. HopSkipDrives mission is to create opportunity for all through mobility, and we do that every day by fixing a broken system traditional school transportation with technology-powered transportation optimization. Were proud that we make a difference in the lives of children across the country by enabling access to educational opportunities. HopSkipDrive also plays a vital role in the electrification of student transportation: its CareDriver vehicle network significantly outperforms regular passenger vehicles in the progression to zero-emission. While less than 2% of vehicles in the U.S. are hybrid or EV, 19% of CareDriver vehicles are hybrid or EV. In Seattle, one of HopSkipDrives largest markets, 40% of CareDriver vehicles are hybrid or EV. In 2021, HopSkipDrive raised $25M in Series C funding from Energy Impact Partners, Keyframe Capital, FirstMark Capital and 1776 Ventures. The companys growth in 2021 was further evidenced by more than 100 new school district contracts and four new market launches: Spokane, WA; Milwaukee and Madison, WI; and Austin, TX. Fast Companys editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses across the globe and industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process. The Worlds Most Innovative Companies is Fast Companys signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy. The worlds most innovative companies play an essential role in addressing the most pressing issues facing society, whether theyre fighting climate change by spurring decarbonization efforts, ameliorating the strain on supply chains, or helping us reconnect with one another over shared passions, said Fast Company Deputy Editor David Lidsky. About HopSkipDrive Designed by protective moms and driven by caregivers, HopSkipDrive is the innovative, safe school transportation solution. HopSkipDrives advanced technology platform and industry-leading operational expertise provide flexibility and visibility, while helping to create opportunity for all through mobility. Since 2014, HopSkipDrive has expanded to eight states and D.C., and 18 major markets. HopSkipDrive CareDrivers have driven 1.4M+ Riders over 20M+ safe miles, helping 13K schools. A venture capital-backed company, HopSkipDrive shares investors with well-known brands like Airbnb, Pinterest, Bird and Ring. About Fast Company Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at http://www.fastcompany.com. Media Contact: Aylin Cook, Director of Content HopSkipDrive aylin@hopskipdrive.com Drivers in the Waco, Texas area can purchase a certified pre-owned Hyundai at Greg May Hyundai. Drivers who want to get behind the wheel of a used Hyundai can do so at Greg May Hyundai, an automotive dealership in Waco, Texas. This Hyundai dealership has a wide range of certified pre-owned vehicles at a reasonable price. Interested parties can visit the dealerships website to take a look at their inventory. Moreover, customers who want to test drive a model before buying it can schedule a test drive at the dealerships website. Purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle comes with several benefits. Primarily, these cars are in excellent condition with low mileage. Moreover, these vehicles are backed up by the manufacturer after passing a multi-point inspection of high standards. Additionally, certified pre-owned Hyundai models come with a suite of warranty coverage, including a 10-year/10,000 miles powertrain limited warranty. Individuals interested in buying a certified pre-owned Hyundai from Greg May Hyundai can even trade their old vehicles. All they need to do is fill out a simple form to give their cars details, and the dealerships team will get in touch with them with the offer. Customers who want to purchase a certified pre-owned Hyundai can contact Greg May Hyundai by dialing 254-280-0910. They can also visit the dealership at 1501 West Loop 340 in Waco, Texas, for further information. Buyers taking a test drive of their favorite new or used vehicle at Muskogee's James Hodge Hyundai dealership will receive a $25 Amazon.com, Target, or Visa reward card. Muskogee car buyers looking to take a test drive of their favorite new Hyundai model, or any other used model will receive a $25 Amazon.com, Target, or Visa reward card when they schedule a test drive at their local James Hodge Hyundai dealership. The premier Hyundai dealership dealing with new Hyundai vehicles and pre-owned vehicles in the Muskogee area is currently running a promotional campaign where customers visiting the online vehicle inventory are prompted with test drive offer. As part of the campaign, test drive customers at the James Hodge Hyundai dealership will receive a $25 reward card of their choice. They can select from either a $25 Amazon.com gift card, a $25 Target store credit, or a $25 Visa reward card. Interested customers can visit the dealerships website, https://www.jameshodgehyundai.com, and click on the New Inventory or Pre-Owned Inventory menu on the menu bar to find the pop-up campaign window. If the offer window does not pop up, customers can click on the green test drive offer pop-up button in the top left corner of the inventory pages. Once the test drive offer window appears, customers will need to select the reward card of their choice and enter their contact details. They would then have to provide details of the vehicle they are interested in and click on the 'Get Reward Code' button at the bottom. The offer coupon code will be displayed in the pop-up window and sent to the customer's email address. To redeem the reward code, customers will need to print the coupon or write it down and bring this coupon along when they take a test drive by the date mentioned in the coupon. A James Hodge Hyundai dealership salesperson will discuss their vehicle needs and validate the coupon. For further information and offer related terms and conditions, interested parties can visit the dealerships official website or contact James Hodge Hyundai at 918-687-3646. Customers can also stop by the dealership at 1330 North Main Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. It Had to Happen: a potent story of a mothers journey. It Had to Happen is the creation of published author Joyce Sartin, a native of Mississippi who is currently working on a DrPH in enrolled in public Health at Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi. She received her associates degree from Copiah Lincoln Junior College, Wesson, Mississippi, and a bachelors and masters in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Sartin is also the executive director/founder of a nonprofit organization, Daughters of Baca Inc., which addresses the issue of domestic violence. She is the owner of a small business, Bougie Chic Boutique LLC. Sartin shares, It Had to Happen is a heartfelt journey with God, seeking the promises of things seen and unseen. Why my child? Surely, God could have chosen another seven-year-old for His purpose. Marcus was an adventurous child growing up in Mississippi. He loved playing with his siblings and riding his bike. This all came to a screeching halt on that dreadful day in September 2000. Beeeepppppp! Maam! Were losing him. Standing in the emergency room cloaked in silence, no longer able to comprehend the commands given by the physicians, I was losing the prince God had given me. I mustered enough breath to say, Please, save my child. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Joyce Sartins new book is a powerful memoir that explores an extremely dark time in a devoted mothers life. Sartin offers readers a personal look into her most private moments in hopes of empowering others faced with similar abuse and illnesses. Consumers can purchase It Had to Happen at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about It Had to Happen, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. National Social Security Advisor instructor Tom Doncaster, CLU, CWM, RFC, AIF will lead advanced education workshops on Social Security for advisors. Right now, advisors recognize more than ever that Social Security is not a one-size-fits-all program, and that each of their clients claiming decision depends on his or her specific situation. These workshops will help advisors continue to add value to their clients, said Tom Doncaster. Premier Social Security Consulting has announced that Tom Doncaster, president and owner of Doncaster Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. based in Kennewick, Washington, will be teaching Premiers National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) Certificate program throughout Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Premiers NSSA certificate program is the nations first and only accredited Social Security education certificate program for advisors seeking advanced education, knowledge, and training on Social Security. Im thrilled to help expand the awareness of Premiers NSSA certificate program, including new workshop offerings taking place in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, said Doncaster, who is NSSAs first authorized instructor. Right now, advisors recognize more than ever that Social Security is not a one-size-fits-all program, and that each of their clients claiming decision depends on his or her specific situation. These workshops will help advisors continue to add value to their clients, added Doncaster. According to Doncasterwho will schedule, market, and teach the certificate programs in the regionworkshops will be held quarterly throughout 2022 and beyond. Doncaster Insurance & Financial Services has been serving individuals and businesses in the Kennewick, Washington region for more than 35 years. Doncaster offers clients insurance, strategic planning, investment advisory services, and business exit planning strategies and consulting. Premiers NSSA certificate program is for any advisor who wants a tool to increase their value to clients, commonly including insurance industry professionals, financial advisors, and CPAs, according to Doncaster. Advisors know that Social Security can be increasingly complex when it comes to single individuals, surviving spouses, divorced individuals, married couples, and married couples with large age differences, and many other scenarios. The best decision on when and how to claim goes back to these unique situations, which we call Situational Social Security, said Doncaster. Im looking forward to offering Premiers NSSA program which addresses Situational Social Security and the other ins and outs of the Social Security system for advisors, he added. Additionally, Doncaster said advisors will learn how to ask the probing Social Security questions they should know that uncover additional benefits for clients. The first of the 2022 quarterly classes held by Doncaster will take place on April 29, 2022 from 8 AM to 4:30 PM PST. The class will take place at SpringHill Suites by Marriott located at 7048 W. Grandridge Boulevard in Kennewick, Washington. Attendees can receive continuing education credits for the workshop. Accreditation for the NSSA certificate program is provided by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) in Washington, D.C. The NSSA Advisor certificate is awarded to professional advisors who take the NSSA course and pass an assessment. NSSA Certificate Program tuition rates and sign-up can be found online at http://www.premiernssa.com. If registered by March 31, 2022, attendees will receive an early bird discount rate. Enrollment includes Social Security education and Premiers Gold Standard of Support, which includes questions, monthly webinars, and Social Security open forums throughout the year. Known by his clients for his caring approach to their financial well-being, Doncaster is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals. He is also a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, a group whose members are uniquely qualified to assist individuals in reaching their future financial goals. Doncaster is also heavily involved in his local community. As an authorized NSSA instructor who will coordinate and lead the NSSA classes in new areas for Premier, Doncaster understands the nuances of Social Security, added Marc Kiner, partner at Premier Social Security Consulting. These workshops will help advisors keep their knowledge up to date so that they can readily and accurately answer all their clients questions about deciding when to claim Social Security benefits. With the nations estimated 73 million baby boomers, this is more important than ever today. Were thrilled advisors throughout Washington and the surrounding areas will have even greater access to this in-person workshop now, said Kiner. For more information about the National Social Security Advisors certificate program and to see a full list of dates for the classes, including Early Bird discount codes, visit http://www.premiernssa.com. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC is currently pending in the Sonoma County Superior Court, Case No. SCV-270269. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, and (f) failure to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. Additionally, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Mindray Slated to Connect Health and Care at HIMSS All HIMSS attendees are invited to visit Booth 8240 in the Interoperability Showcase Hall E and experience Mindrays technology in the Pregnancy and Surgical Complications interoperability showcase. Mindray, a global developer of technologies and solutions for patient monitoring, anesthesia, and ultrasound today announced that they will attend the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2022 Annual Meeting live in Orlando, Florida. Mindrays portfolio of medical and interoperability solutions optimize clinicians workflow through intuitive systems and enhance patient care with reliable and safe functionality. All HIMSS attendees are invited to visit Booth 8240 in the Interoperability Showcase Hall E and experience Mindrays technology in the Pregnancy and Surgical Complications interoperability showcase. We are excited to attend HIMSS 2022 this year and showcase Mindrays interoperability solutions and demonstrate how todays healthcare technology efficiently distributes the patient record throughout the care path and the healthcare enterprise, said Preet Singh, Sr. Technical Marketing Manager, Interoperability and Partnerships. Singh continued, Our interoperability showcase features the care journey of a mother and newborn and highlights the importance of providing gapless medical documentation as they move across multiple areas of the hospital receiving care. Technologies highlighted in the interoperability showcase include: A9 Anesthesia Machine: The new A9 Anesthesia Workstation introduces technology to maximize patient safety, help improve patient outcomes, complement the way clinicians work best, and increase efficiency. BeneVision N1 Transport Monitor/Module: A compact 3-in-1 solution designed to adapt to the monitoring needs across an entire hospital and serves as a comprehensive multi-parameter module, a powerful transport monitor, and a versatile bedside monitor all in one. BeneVision N17 Patient Monitor: A premier solution to satisfy patient monitoring needs across diverse care settings. With a platform-wide modular design, expansive parameter options, and specialized Clinical Assistance Applications (CAAs) to support clinical excellence and align with the organizational cost of ownership goals. eGateway: Mindray's solution to integration between patient monitoring and life support systems and the various hospital electronic medical record systems. Mindray believes in solutions that address clinicians' biggest monitoring challenges, such as patient safety, improved patient outcomes, and streamlined workflows. Focused on the human side of healthcare and the clinician's role in providing best-in-class patient care, Mindray creates products suited to clinicians needs that elevates patient safety and care. Team members will be onsite throughout the exhibit detailing Mindrays positive impact in the OR, ICU, and NICU environments and addressing questions from attendees. Visit Mindray at booth 8240 to learn more about these innovative interoperability solutions. About Mindray Mindray is a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of medical device solutions and technologies used in healthcare facilities around the globe. We believe we can change lives by making the most advanced healthcare technology attainable for all. We do this by empowering healthcare professionals through innovative, high-value solutions that help create the next generation of lifesaving tools across three primary business segments: medical imaging, patient monitoring and life support, and in-vitro diagnostics. Mindray maintains its global headquarters in Shenzhen, China; Mindray North America is headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey. Our Ultrasound Innovation Center is located in San Jose, California, with additional facilities in major international markets around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.mindray.com. Nabd and Transsion Partner to Provide Personalized Arabic News to Transsion Smartphone Users in MENA This powerful partnership with Transsion extends our existing strategic alliances with the worlds major smartphone manufacturers, and substantially increases Nabd's reach in the region. It is in line with our strategy to reach Arabic audiences across the world and deliver valuable and personalized Nabd, the largest Arabic News Aggregator, has entered a strategic partnership with Transsion, the leading provider of smart devices and mobile services in global emerging markets, becoming the Arabic News Provider to its smartphone devices in MENA. The partnership between Nabd and Transsion enables millions of Arabic user in the region to have access to latest news and most trending stories, directly from the home screen of their smartphones. Transsions brand portfolio comprises leading mobile phone brands in emerging markets, including TECNO, itel and Infinix . By continuously increasing R&D investment, Transsion has strengthened its competitive advantage in localized technology innovation in emerging markets to improve user experience and create value for consumers. Currently, TRANSSION has a global sales network covering more than 70 countries and regions worldwide, and has a growing presence in MENA region. Catering to the needs of local users, Transsion has established strategic partnership with leading companies such as Nabd to enrich product experience. This powerful partnership with Transsion extends our existing strategic alliances with the worlds major smartphone manufacturers, and substantially increases Nabd's reach in the region. It is in line with our strategy to reach Arabic audiences across the world and deliver valuable and personalized Arabic content for them, said Abdur-Rahman El-Sayed, Chief Executive Officer at Nabd. Nabd has previously established strategic alliances with both Samsung and Huawei, whereby Nabd provides personalized Arabic content for Samsung's devices via an integration with its browser, and for Huawei devices via a tailored newsfeed embedded in both "Huawei Assistant" and "Huawei Browser". These partnerships enable Arabic users in the MENA region to stay up-to-date with Nabd's latest and most trending stories, directly from the home screen of their smartphones. About Nabd (https://nabdapp.com/en/) Nabd is a Personalized Arabic Content Reader, enabling users across the globe to stay up-to-date with their favorite topics on the go. Today, Nabd reaches over 25 million users, generating over 2 billion page views every month, making it the biggest Arabic app globally. It is currently available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, and on the web via the Nabd.com portal. About Transsion (https://www.transsion.com) TRANSSION Holdings is committed to becoming the most popular provider of smart devices and mobile services for consumers in global emerging markets. The company is best known for its high-quality multi-brand smart devices. Mobile phones are its core products, while it also offers mobile Internet services based on a self-developed operating system. To learn more about TRANSSION, please visit http://www.transsion.com. The Battle of the Hopes: a potent reminder of the need for spiritual awareness. The Battle of the Hopes is the creation of published author Peter Joseph McCauley III, a loving husband and father who owns a small business specializing in outdoor living spaces. McCauley III shares, Believing is not the same as having faith! Having faith in Christ is different than having faith in other things. These terms are spoken so loosely and understood so little. It is impossible to please God without faith, yet so many people couldnt identify what it is, even if it is right in front of their faces. This book was created to break all the mysteries about faith and what it looks like so you can walk in it and understand what youre doing when youre doing it. We must be able to identify what it is and what its not. Our faith in Jesus overcomes this world! Our faith is specific and defined! Jesus is the author and finisher of it. Learn about your faith by reading this book! Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Peter Joseph McCauley IIIs new book will encourage and challenge believers both old and new. McCauley III shares in hopes of empowering others on their spiritual journey to know God. Consumers can purchaseThe Battle of the Hopes at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Battle of the Hopes, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. We are so proud of the work our Warriors do every day and are thrilled to see their efforts recognized among this distinguished group of global companies with this top honor. Quantum Health, the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company, has earned the top honor of a 2022 Gold Stevie Award as Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year, presented by the Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service. The Stevie Awards recognize the achievements of leading customer service teams, contact centers, and business development and sales professionals worldwide. This years competition drew more than 2,300 nominations from organizations in 51 nations. Global winners were determined by a panel of more than 150 industry professionals. This is not the first time Quantum Health has been recognized with a Stevie Award. Quantum Health Founder, Board Chair and Senior Advisor Kara Trott received a Silver Stevie Award as Female Entrepreneur of the Year in both 2019 and 2020, and the company received a Silver Stevie Award as Front-Line Customer Sales & Service Team of the Year in 2021. Healthcare complexity has reached new heights in the past two years. Quantum Healths navigation services are now even more essential for people who are reprioritizing their health while weathering continued delays in care. In this challenging environment, our team of Healthcare Warriors continues to help members simplify the experience, make better use of their covered benefits and achieve better health outcomes, said Steven Knight, Quantum Healths chief operating officer. We are so proud of the work our Warriors do every day and are thrilled to see their efforts recognized among this distinguished group of global companies with this top honor. Quantum Healths 2021 groundbreaking research study shows how healthcare complexity continues to negatively impact benefits utilization, patient engagement, and compliance with clinical care plans. Because consumers experience multiple challenges when accessing healthcare, that complexity has a compounding effect on their well-being and workplace productivity. This same study showed that healthcare navigation can reduce complexity and bridge the benefits knowledge gap. By pairing Quantum Healths proprietary early engagement (also called Real-Time Intercept) insights with empathy-based care coordination and in-house clinical expertise, Healthcare Warriors improve benefits utilization and ensure that members get the right care, at the right time. In turn, this model has been shown to reduce healthcare costs by as much as $75,000 per person for high-claims cases such as cancer. Quantum Health, which has experienced consistent growth since its inception, now serves more than 2 million members and has more than 1,600 Healthcare Warriors dedicated to meeting members increasing healthcare needs. #### About Quantum Health Quantum Health is the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience to its members, as well as validated claims savings and high satisfaction rates for its self-insured employer clients. Quantum Healths proprietary Real-Time Intercept model identifies opportunities for early intervention in a members healthcare journey, resulting in better engagement, outcomes, and cost efficiencies. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Dublin, Ohio. Since its inception, Quantum Health has earned numerous awards and honors, including being named among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000, and a Great Place to Work by FORTUNE Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine. The Women Presidents Organization has ranked Quantum Health as one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and Columbus Business First has honored Quantum Health as a Best Place to Work. To learn more about the company, visit http://www.Quantum-Health.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Media Contact: Susan Simkins Quantum Health Corporate Communications Susan.Simkins@quantum-health.com 800-257-2038 x 13494 Teenage Aldabra tortoise rescues at Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital We take a lot of pride in giving rescues a home here at Oakland Zoo. While there are more animals in need out there than we have the space and the caregiving capacity for, were thankful to be able to give at least some of those rescues the best quality of life possible Last Friday, Oakland Zoo welcomed two teenage male Aldabra tortoises needing medical care and a forever home. Both neglected and malnourished these males were confiscated from a roadside zoo in Oklahoma and rescued by Wildcare Foundation in April 2021. After initial treatment at Wildcare, the staff worked with the Chelonian Taxonomic Advisory Group, part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), to find suitable permanent homes for the tortoises found. We take a lot of pride in giving rescues a home here at Oakland Zoo. While there are more animals in need out there than we have the space and the caregiving capacity for, were thankful to be able to give at least some of those rescues the best quality of life possible," says Nik Dehejia, CEO at Oakland Zoo. During their initial intake, the Aldabra teens have shown their Oakland Zoo caregivers a glimpse into their personalities one of the boys is shy while the other is very interactive with Oakland Zoos Veterinary Hospital staff. Were excited to welcome these boys to the family. Weve administered many tests such as bloodwork, x-rays, viral testing, checking for parasites, and administering any necessary treatment, says Dr. Alex Herman, VP of Veterinary Services at Oakland Zoo. Oakland Zoo is no stranger to taking in rescues from the illegal wildlife trade. The vast majority of the Zoos animal residents are rescues and many of those rescues were victims of this multi-billion-dollar industry. Animals confiscated by officials at SFO and the Port of Oakland have been brought to Oakland Zoo for treatment, care, and permanent sanctuary over the years. Many animals victim to the illegal wildlife trade were poached to be sold into the exotic pet industry. Tortoises can reach over 120 years old, most often outliving their owners. They can get quite large, reaching up to 550 pounds, and need space as ample as the Zoos Aldabra habitat to accommodate them. Buyers often cannot adequately or correctly care for these animals, resulting in neglect and unnecessary suffering. Before accepting these two new Aldabra tortoises, Oakland Zoo has been home to six Aldabra tortoises, bringing the total number to eight. The two new males will join their new Aldabra family in a half-acre habitat once theyve fully quarantined and are deemed healthy at Oakland Zoos Veterinary Hospital. Contact: Isabella Linares Oakland Zoo ilinares@oaklandzoo.org Office: 510-632-9525 ext. 239 Erin Harrison Oakland Zoo eharrison@oaklandzoo.org Office: 510-632-9525 ext. 120 ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA: Oakland Zoo, home to more than 850 native and exotic animals, is managed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC); a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community in Taking Action for Wildlife locally and globally. With over 25 conservation partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums. ABOUT THE ALDABRA TORTOISES: The Aldabra giant tortoise is the second largest tortoise species, second only to the Galapagos tortoise. They have high, domed shells that are dark brown or gray. Hind legs are cylindrical and columnar like the legs of an elephant. Thick, often bony scales cover the anterior surface of the foreleg. Toes are short; two-jointed. Snake-like neck and legs are retractile. The tiny, pointed head is covered with scales. The high domed gray shell can measure up to 56' in length. Males can weigh up to 560 pounds, while females average 350 pounds. Males have longer, thicker tails. "As the manufacturing sector continues to grow in the Sacramento region, educators need to keep pace with skill demands in this technologically dynamic sector. said Amy Schulz, Dean of Business and Technology at Sierra College. Sierra College manufacturing faculty and their high school teacher counterparts hosted an event to bring together industry partners and identify skills, pathways and ways to attract a more diverse student population to the dynamic field of advanced manufacturing. As the manufacturing sector continues to grow in the Greater Sacramento region, a skilled manufacturing workforce is essential to meet projected regional workforce needs. Right now, we can work together to align students, with jobs, opportunities, and careers, said Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan to open the event. Smart planning along with our industry partners can help us prepare students to ladder careers, so they can start in an entry level manufacturing job and add on education to grow their career. Keynote speaker Kevin McGrew, Director of Quality Management at Siemens Mobility in Sacramento and President of the Sacramento Valley Manufacturing Alliance shared how Siemens Mobilitys $3.4 billion contract with Amtrak is addressing transportation infrastructure and a heightened demand for a manufacturing talent pipeline, and this work is, a double down on Siemens commitment to manufacture in the United States. McGrew moderated a panel of regional manufacturing industry partners that discussed the current needs across the manufacturing industry in our region. The panel included Michelle Stofan of Garner Products, Courtney Camp of Harris & Bruno, Peter Hawes of PRePlastics, Scott Olsen of TSI Semiconductor, and Jonathan Duckett of M&M Machine. "As the manufacturing sector continues to grow in the Sacramento region, educators need to keep pace with skill demands in this technologically dynamic sector. We value our partnerships with high schools, adult schools, and industry to build a talent pipeline to keep pace with regional demands. Our goal is for students at any level to be able to enter the manufacturing pathway and high-wage careers with little or no student loan debt. This is what breaks cycles of poverty and strengthens our regional economy. This has impact beyond measure. said Amy Schulz, Dean of Business and Technology at Sierra College. More information on Advanced Manufacturing and Applied Technology opportunities at Sierra College, is available at https://academics.sierracollege.edu/applied-technologies About Sierra College Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3200 square miles of Northern CA with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at http://www.sierracollege.edu Independent Coffee Shops Opened through Crimson Cup's 7 Steps to Success program Over the past 30 years, weve helped coffee shops open during the Great Recession and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Most are still going strong. - Greg Ubert, Founder and President, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea The perfect time to open a coffee shop is now, said Greg Ubert, founder and president of Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. So many entrepreneurs wait for the economic stars to align just right, which seldom happens, Ubert said. Over the past 30 years, weve helped coffee shops open during the Great Recession and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Most are still going strong. The award-winning coffee roaster has helped over 300 independent coffee shops in 30 states get off to a prosperous start through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program. For 2022, Crimson Cup has signed contracts with 23 business owners to open independent coffee shops in 13 states. The new owners will learn how to open and run profitable coffee businesses through the roasters 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program. Based on Uberts Book, Seven Steps to Success: a Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee, the 7 Steps program has helped hundreds of independent coffee shops become thriving local businesses. A 7 Steps coffee shop startup consultant will guide each new owner through every step from scouting a profitable location and writing a coffee shop business plan to planning a menu, choosing equipment, hiring staff and providing comprehensive training. As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shops, Crimson Cup also supplies award-winning coffee, the best coffee shop supplies in the business, and ongoing support to help coffee businesses thrive. We set up new business owners to reach their goals, and then we keep working with them until they reach them, Ubert said. After a new coffee shop opens, the 7 Steps team supports them through grand opening celebrations and beyond to ensure ongoing success. Crimson Cup customer Debbie Fulks opened Court Street Coffee in Athens, Ohio in 2007. Tasting the coffee is like Oh my gosh! This is like the best coffee Ive ever had, she recalled. That kind of sold me right there. Over the past 15 years, Crimson Cups 7 Steps team has continued to help Fulks grow her business. Theyre just a phone call away, she said. If I have questions about drinks or equipment, marketing, staff just anything. If the person I talk to first cant answer, they point me to the right person. It has been invaluable. Ubert said he continues to see strong opportunity for new coffee shop owners. Specialty coffee demand continues to grow, he said. There are so many cities and towns that lack a good coffee shop. Were here to help anyone who wants to get started in specialty coffee, he said. Give us a call with any questions you might have. 7 Steps Sales Leader Scott Fullerton is the first contact for all new coffee shop owners. Reach him by emailing sfullerton@crimsoncup.com or by calling 1.888.800.9224. If youve ever dreamed about opening a coffee house, Id love to help you get started, Fullerton said. Weve helped hundreds of entrepreneurs take the leap from dreaming about a coffee shop to opening their doors. Chances are, we can help you! About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities. Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs to run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop. Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram. Only the most elite programs garner three-star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The UT Health San Antonio Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has earned a distinguished three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and lung and esophageal cancer resection outcomes. The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery among the elite for general thoracic surgery in the United States and Canada. The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs in the United States and Canada. The General Thoracic Surgery Database (GTSD) star ratings are derived by testing whether the participant's composite or domain score is significantly different from the overall STS average for lobectomy for lung cancer and esophagectomy for esophageal cancer performed by GTSD participants. STS General Thoracic Surgery Public Reporting offers a comparison of GTSD and national outcomes, demonstrating the high performance of GTSD participants. The latest analysis of data for the GTSD covers a three-year period, from July 2018 to June 2021, and includes 214 participants. Very few thoracic programs achieve this, said Daniel T. DeArmond, MD, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, associate professor and associate residency program director in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The 214 programs nationwide that currently report to the General Thoracic Surgery Database are mostly academic, high-volume centers. Consistently fewer than 10% of these programs in any given reporting period will earn a three-star rating in any of the three examined arenas. The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery achieved three-star ratings in both lobectomy (in the major complications area) and esophagectomy. Earning two three-star ratings in the same period is even rarer. Lobectomy is employed for lung cancers that are limited to a small area of the lung. Esophagectomy treats diseases of the esophagus including cancer. This is a reflection of our awesome teams work from the pre-operative clinic to the operating room, to post-operatively on the floor including early removal of chest tubes, to encouragement of return to full activity on discharge, to talking with patients on the phone after they go home, to follow up in clinic visits, Dr. DeArmond said. The value of exemplary data collection in this achievement cannot be overstated, said John H. Calhoon, MD, professor and chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. If data are not meticulously collected, recorded and submitted, there is no star rating, Dr. Calhoon said. Our thoracic data manager, Nitin Das, deserves a huge round of applause for these efforts. Related news: Dr. John Calhoon announced as new president of STS The Society of Thoracic Surgeons congratulates STS National Database participants who have received three-star ratings, said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Workforce on Quality. Participation in the database and public reporting demonstrates a commitment to quality improvement in health care delivery and provides patients and their families with meaningful information to help them make informed decisions about health care. The STS National Database was established in 1989 as an initiative for quality improvement and patient safety among cardiothoracic surgeons. The Database includes four components: the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), the Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD), the GTSD, and the mechanical circulatory support database (Intermacs). The General Thoracic Surgery Database the largest and most robust clinical thoracic surgical database in the United States and Canada contains more than 616,000 general thoracic surgery procedure records and has approximately 1,000 participating physicians. Almost 45% of GTSD participants are currently enrolled in public reporting. Dr. DeArmond credited Scott Johnson, MD, associate professor who leads esophageal surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Johnson is nationally recognized as an expert in performing complex esophageal surgery including resection of esophageal cancers, redoing previously failed anti-reflux procedures, repairing large hernias of the diaphragm, performing esophageal reconstructions including colon interpositions, and treating end-stage achalasia (difficulty passing food into the stomach). The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is part of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The three-star rating is an example of UT Health San Antonios commitment to quality patient care that saves lives and lowers health care costs, returning care recipients to the workforce and their daily lives. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the countrys leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated 39,700 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways We make lives better, visit http://www.uthscsa.edu. Stay connected with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Van Leeuwen Launches Seven Exclusive Flavors Nationwide Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the cult-favorite brand known for making decadent and delicious dairy and vegan ice cream with high-quality, simple ingredients, has announced the launch of seven flavors to be sold exclusively at Walmart locations nationwide. This exclusive launch includes new and fan-favorite flavors; Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Planet Earth, Pizza, Hot Honey, Royal Wedding Cake, Bourbon Cherries Jubilee, and Wild Blueberry Shortcake Van Leeuwens seven exclusive pint flavors will be available in 3,500 Walmart locations for a 10-week rotation. The new flavors are available in all 50 states starting today. This is the first exclusive rotation that Van Leeuwen is bringing to Walmart stores, and it has plans to refresh the flavors later in the summer. Having started the company with a single ice cream truck, we are beyond excited to bring Van Leeuwen to ice-cream lovers across the nation through Walmart, said Ben Van Leeuwen, Co-Founder and CEO of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Its an honor and a privilege to have Van Leeuwen available at Walmart locations nationwide, especially with Walmart's proven track record of providing reputable brands a national platform for its consumers to fall in love with its products. What inspired us to start making ice cream was the idea that good food, and good ice cream, made from good ingredients, should be widely available on the market. We made these 7 exclusive flavors using the same artisanal processes and ingredients that we have been using to make our ice cream for the past 15 years. We have created a collection of classic flavors using thoughtfully sourced ingredients, from local jam makers to wild blueberries from Maine, to cookie bakers with a social mission. There are also unique and surprisingly delicious flavors that you would never expect to love as an ice cream (mac and cheese, and pizza!), said Ben Van Leeuwen. Van Leeuwen is known for bringing its fans new and exciting flavors, and these are no exception! Kraft Macaroni & Cheese: If this reminds you of the ice cream you grew up with, you might be out of your mind. If this reminds you of the comforting bowl of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese you grew up with, you're getting warmer. Because did we make this ice cream with that buttery, sweet iconic cheese? You bet. Planet Earth: This flavor is truly out of this world. Well, not technically because it's Planet Earth but, flavor-wise, it's otherworldly because of the blue spirulina almond ice cream and pieces of matcha green tea cake. Pizza: Put aside any notion that you can't have your pizza and ice cream together in one crazy, but crazy delicious, flavor. Delicious cream cheese and mozzarella ice cream with a tomato jam swirl and basil crust cookies! Hot Honey: If you've never drizzled hot honey onto your ice cream, raise your hand... Vanilla ice cream with honeycomb and swirls of hot honey. Royal Wedding Cake: Inspired by the cake served at a certain royal wedding in 2018, this is the closest you'll get (and they'll get) to feeling like a royal. Floral, sweet cream cheese ice cream with chunks of lemon sponge cake with layers of elderflower frosting. Bourbon Cherries Jubilee: Not a flame went near this sweet cream ice cream but we did blend in swirls of bourbon cherry compote so this flavor is still lit. Wild Blueberry Shortcake: There was no taming these wild blueberries, who were out late at night getting into trouble. We let them run wild before using them to create a swirl and then blending it into the vanilla ice cream and adding chunks of shortcake. For more information about the new Van Leeuwens exclusive Walmart flavors and to keep up on all things Van Leeuwen, follow the brand on Instagram @vanleeuwenicecream or visit http://www.vanleeuwenicecream.com. ABOUT VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM Van Leeuwen Ice Cream was started out of a yellow scoop truck on the streets of NYC in 2008 by Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura ONeill, who were on a mission to make good ice cream from good ingredients that makes you feel good. Since 2008, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has innovated beyond the original dairy recipe and added vegan ice cream to their scoopable lineup. In 2021, they launched their line of dairy and vegan ice cream bars. Van Leeuwen has now opened 27 scoop shops in NYC, NJ, LA, PA, and TX, has products in grocery stores across the country, and is available to order for nationwide shipping from their website. All the while, continuing the ultimate goal of making good ice cream that makes you feel good. BECAUSE A LIFE WITHOUT ANYTHING GOOD IS BAD. MEDIA CONTACT: Alissa Bremner | Konnect Agency abremner@konnectagency.com 213.225.4420 Award recipients must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the associations membership earning the award. As a 2022 MVP, Wolter, Inc. has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism and good stewardship. To qualify for the annual MVP Award companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas: Industry Advocacy Customer Service & Safety Practices Business Networking Continuing Education Business Best Practices Earning the MHEDA MVP Award is a goal of ours each year and to us, signifies the dedication of our staff and support from our MHEDA network. We are proud to be a member, and the opportunities the organization provides to better the material handling industry. Jerry Weidmann, Wolter President Wolter, Inc. is a family-owned and operated company offering new and used material handling equipment, service and training to robotics and automation, overhead cranes and hoists, standby power & generators, railcar movers, storage solutions, complete engineered systems and more. Wolter has a highly trained staff of over 500 employees and serves more than 20,000 industrial, construction and commercial customers in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri. For more information, visit http://www.wolterinc.com The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier trade association dedicated to serving all segments of the material handling business community. MHEDA represents close 600 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices. For more information, visit http://www.mheda.org. Day three of ABA Snow Days began with a thought-provoking keynote panel on Storytelling in the Cultural Moment, with four authors in dynamic conversation about upcoming fiction. Emma Straub, co-owner of Brooklyns Books Are Magic, moderated the discussion with Jennifer Egan, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and Celeste Ng. All four had read each others work to prepare, and they dropped tantalizing hints (but no spoilers). Straubs fourth novel, This Time Tomorrow (Riverhead Books, May 2022), considers second chances: her protagonist, a 40-year-old woman with an ailing father, goes to sleep in 2020 and wakes up in 1996, age 16, her father still healthy. What does this wishful plot tell us about our present day? The older I get, the more I understand novels are a product of the time in which they are written, Straub said, before asking how the zeitgeist influences the panelists storytelling. Novelist, journalist, and former PEN America president Jennifer Egan jumped in first. Fiction is the artifact of the collective dream life of the culture that makes it, she said. Like Straubs This Time Tomorrow, Egans The Candy House (Scribner, April 2022) concerns the remembrance of things past, but Egans conceit is a utopian technology, Own Your Unconscious, that enables users to download their own and others memories. I came to it out of a desire to look at the world through the eyes of someone else, Egan said. Access to other consciousnesses is of course the thing that fiction does. Egan began writing The Candy House in 2012 with the notion of a rupture that (like 9/11 in her Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit From the Goon Squad) created some sort of before-and-after for her characters. Wrapping it up amid the pandemic and other global shocks, Egan felt her fiction was channeling seismic events. In our cultural dream lives, weve been anticipating something. All of these novels feel like they are about our time, Celeste Ng agreed. Ng, whose Little Fires Everywhere has been adapted as a limited series on Hulu and whose third novel, Our Missing Hearts (Penguin) drops on October 4, said the panelists workfrom sci-fi to historical fictionspeaks to our collective now. In Our Missing Hearts, Ng imagines a dystopian future America in which revolutionaries children can be removed from their families; under this threatening regime, a Chinese American boy copes with the absence of his mother, a dissident poet whose work is deemed unpatriotic. Straub, who said she was slipped a very early copy of Our Missing Hearts, told Ng that this account of repression rings all too true: Its fair to say its in a world that runs alongside our contemporary world, Straub suggested. I tried to imagine a world turned up a little bit, Ng replied. The world kept shifting so that it caught up to the world I had imagined. Pandemic-spurred violence against Asian Americans seemed like something I had to acknowledge in my fiction, Ng added, and it worked its way into my book without me even expecting it. That hasnt happened to me before. She has noticed a change in her risk tolerance: how closely Im willing to look at things that make me uncomfortable for the sake of addressing injustice. Kali Fajardo-Anstine, whose short story collection Sabrina & Corina was a National Book Award finalist, reckons with representation and equity too, albeit from a historical perspective. Her debut novel, Woman of Light (One World, June 2022), takes place in Denver (Fajardo-Anstines home city) during the Depression era. Through the experiences and visions of protagonist Luz Little Light Lopez, Fajardo-Anstine depicts five generations of an Indigenous Chicano family. Egan told Fajardo-Anstine that Woman of Light feels really inhabited in a way I found striking and rich; it feels fully metabolized, and Fajardo-Anstine explained that the book is grounded in archival research and her own place-based memories. Historical research fed her passion for "archival justice and what it means to research as a marginalized person in these spaces, she said, and it enabled her to recognize parallels between 1930s protest movements and 2020s uprisings. She marvels at the disconnect between these two timelines and reflects that there has to be a way to a more just and equitable future through the stories we tell. Im not trying to teach a lesson, Im trying to expand consciousness, Fajardo-Anstine commented, and at this, her co-panelists took to the Zoom sessions chat. Can we please get that on a bumper sticker or T-shirt or both? Ng posted. The One World team is on it, Celeste! chatted Ruth Liebmann, Penguin Random House v-p/director of account marketing. If this chat reminded viewers that the panel was pre-recorded, some saw this as a virtue, not a flaw. Who would have thought that one of the few advantages of doing this on Zoom is that the panelists can comment on the discussion while it's happening? commented David Sandberg of Cambridge, Mass.s Porter Square Books. If only for an hour, the panelists were in two places at once, a sensation familiar to writers and readers of fiction. Straub briskly wrapped up the session, exhorting booksellers to buy one million copies. Thats one million per. New York City, NY (11385) Today A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/10/2022 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Clayton Echard has revealed he firmly believes he was not gaslighting Susie Evans during their breakup conversation, although he admits he handled the situation poorly and harshly.As fans saw on Tuesday night's episode , Clayton had sex and confessed he was in love with both Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia during their overnight Fantasy Suite dates in Iceland, but then he told Susie Evans on his third date of the week that he was "the most in love" with her.Susie, wanting to be Clayton's one and only in order to feel good about possibly accepting a marriage proposal in one week, expressed how she couldn't see herself moving forward in the process due to Clayton's apparent willingness to jeopardize their strong relationship.But just as it appeared Susie was going to quit the show, Clayton essentially beat her to the punch and determined he was "done" with her because he didn't think she viewed their relationship as something worth saving."I woke up with a pounding headache, just stressed out and I'm embarrassed," Clayton told Ashley Iaconetti and Ben Higgins during a March 9 appearance on their "The Ben & Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast," adding he's "not exactly shocked by the reactions online."Clayton said of the reaction, "It's very heavily people are against me and favoring [Susie], but I totally understand now. I totally get what I'm seeing, and yeah, I'm embarrassed. I wish that I could have seen her side in that moment, and I just didn't.""I didn't want to see her side," he added, "because I knew if I saw her side and accepted it, that was the end right then and there."Clayton slammed Susie for not expressing her dealbreaker about sex and/or giving him an ultimatum about behavior in the Fantasy Suites earlier in the process. He was angry at the bachelorette for not forgiving him and trying to understand his perspective in a very unconventional dating process."I did not handle it well. I didn't," Clayton confessed."I mean, it was not handled maturely. I raised my voice to her. I was grasping at straws. I was trying to find anything that I could at that point to get her to stay. Like, I just wanted her to give me a chance. And so I went through this gauntlet of emotions."Clayton, however, said fans have been throwing around some pretty "heavy-hitting terms [he] couldn't disagree with more.Clayton said he doesn't think he gaslighted Susie at all, even though the majority of home viewers and Bachelor Nation viewed Clayton in that light when he scolded Susie for having "invalidated" their relationship by not fighting for it.Before Susie departed the show, Clayton also told her, "I don't even know who I'm looking at anymore... You just dropped a bombshell on me... I think it's B-S, and just, we're done. I'm done... Anything you say to me from this point doesn't matter anymore."Although Ashley accused Clayton of flipping the script on Susie and playing the victim -- considering he was the one who had sex and told two other women that he loved them -- Clayton disagreed."I don't agree that I was gaslighting. I looked it up and it said the definition is trying to convince someone of a different reality than what is actually the true reality of the situation," Clayton said."I think gaslighting is when you have bad intentions and you're trying to manipulate somebody, and I was not at all trying to do that... What was in my head was in my head. I had no bad intentions, I was just voicing my concerns to her at that point, and my frustrations and my feelings."In fact, Clayton went on, "I would not say that at all. No, I totally disagree on the gaslighting concept because I was not trying to manipulate her for my benefit at all. I had no intention of doing that. I am not that kind of person."Clayton acknowledged "gaslighting" actually strikes a chord with him."Because that's not me. I was not trying to tell her that she was wrong," he claimed."I was trying to figure out why she couldn't give me another chance, but I wasn't sitting here saying, 'You're wrong, you have the wrong perspective on this and you need to believe my perspective.'""My whole hope was, 'Hey, we're in a disagreement right now, but can we work past this? Can we fight through this?' That's all I wanted to do," he added.But Clayton said he still accepts "full accountability" for his actions and wishes he had done so many things differently.When looking back on his conversation with Susie at dinner during their Fantasy Suite, he shared how things started off "very cordial at first."But Clayton said when Susie dropped the news on him that she probably couldn't continue on in the process, "I was just crushed watching this person I thought I may get engaged to essentially say, 'Hey, it's done and it's over and there's nothing you can do.' My emotions overcame me."Ashley pointed out, however, that Clayton was essentially the one to tell Susie to leave.It appeared Susie had been thinking things through and trying to justify a reason to stay because she believed what was in Clayton's heart before he told her that he was "done.""I mean, yes and no," Clayton reasoned. "I know from what people saw, she said, 'Hey, I can't look past this.' And multiple times in that conversation, I asked, 'Can we work past this?' And she just said, 'No, I can't. I'm not able to.' And so at that point, I realized there's so more reason for us to talk.""I tried and asked three or four times to work through this and if we could get past this and take some time off-camera to talk this through," he continued, "and she said, 'No, I don't think it's going to change anything.' So at that point, I felt there was no reason to keep it going."Clayton said after the third or fourth time Susie insisted she couldn't work past Clayton's actions in the Fantasy Suites, she got up and walked out."And then I started to have these really dangerous thoughts. I thought, 'Why does it seem like she's not fighting for this? Why does it seem like she can't even give me a chance?'" Clayton said on the podcast.Clayton said he didn't understand Susie's motive for dumping him in that moment and so he "made assumptions" that he wishes he "wouldn't have.""I started to think, 'The way that she's acting, with everything else prior -- like [ Sarah Hamrick ] playing this game of trying to make the other women leave by making up lies... I thought, 'Some of these women came here for other reasons, to push their own agenda," Clayton said."So I started having these really dangerous thoughts, such as, "What if Susie right now is just trying to get out of [ ]? What if she's just saying whatever she needs to say to leave me so that she can be the next Bachelorette? That is a thought I had."Clayton said his tone with Susie changed once he started looking at her as if she was "playing" him "the entire time, as other women had.""I questioned her and that's why I said, 'I don't even know who I'm even looking at anymore,' because, in that moment, I really believed at that point that she was just feeding me whatever she needed to get out of there so she could be the next Bachelorette," he reiterated.But Clayton insisted, "I don't believe that now. I didn't believe it the next day, but I believed it in that moment.""And because of that, I allowed my emotions to take over. Nothing she said was going to get through to me at that point because I just convinced myself, 'You aren't here for me and you never were.'"Clayton recalled losing his cool once he realized their relationship wasn't going forward and they had no future together."I apologized for raising my voice and I knew it wasn't productive any longer. It was too emotional, and I had to step away," Clayton admitted."This is the type of conversation you step away from and revisit the next day, but because of the show, once she's gone, she's gone and that's it. I knew I was not in a good headspace and I had to just stop the conversation from continuing."While Clayton was clearly disappointed Susie couldn't see past his intimate relationships with Gabby and Rachel, he ultimately commended Susie on staying true to herself and not bending to adapt to 's strange format or expectations."The disconnect is that I adapted and she didn't and we were on these two different fields of understanding," Clayton noted.Clayton confirmed that Susie's side makes "complete sense" to him now, but in that moment, he was totally "entrenched in the idea that things work differently there" in environment.A preview for next week's two-night finale shows Clayton saying he's "broken" after Susie's departure.Clayton also tells Rachel and Gabby that he was in love with the both of them and had also been intimate with the both of them in Fantasy Suites, which results in the women storming off and bawling their eyes out .Even Clayton's own father, Brian, told the Bachelor that he had "screwed the pooch" in this situation."I wish I never would've fallen in love," Clayton tells his parents in tears.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Ryan Reynolds leads an all-star cast in The Adam Project, Disney and Pixar present their newest animated feature Turning Red and Zoe Kravitz hosts Saturday Night Live with musical guest Rosalia this weekend. ADVERTISEMENT In addition, Samuel L. Jackson deals with dementia in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, the 2022 Critics' Choice Awards are set to take place and The Snoopy Show returns for Season 2. Here's a rundown on some of the films and television shows that will be released this weekend. Film 'The Adam Project' -- Netflix Ryan Reynolds portrays pilot Adam who travels back in time and teams up with his younger self (Walker Scobell) in the past following the death of their father ( Mark Ruffalo ) in The Adam Project, which premieres Friday on Netflix. The sci-fi action film from director Shawn Levy (Stranger Things) also stars Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldaia. 'Turning Red' -- Disney+ Mei (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) is an accomplished student ready for another successful school year until she wakes up as a giant red panda in Disney and Pixar's Turning Red, which comes to Disney+ on Friday. Mei's mother Ming (Sandra Oh) explains that their ancestors had a mystical connection with red pandas with the ability to transform running in their family. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! TV 'Life After Death with Tyler Henry' -- Netflix Clairvoyant medium Tyler Henry travels across the U.S. to help families find hope, healing and closure in this reality series, which arrives Friday on Netflix. Henry will also be investigating a family mystery to help himself and his mother find out where they truly come from. 'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey' -- Apple TV+ Samuel L. Jackson portrays 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey who is dealing with dementia and is given a chance to temporarily regain his memories in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, which premieres Friday with two episodes on Apple TV+. Dominique Fishback also stars in the series, which is based on the Walter Mosley novel of the same name. 'The Snoopy Show' Season 2 -- Apple TV+ Snoopy, Woodstock and the rest of the Peanuts gang including Charlie Brown are back for Season 2 of animated series The Snoopy Show, which comes to Apple TV+ on Friday. The iconic beagle will be stealing Linus' blanket, pretend to be a king much to Lucy's dismay and go on new adventures in the sky using his dog house in the new season. 'Raven's Home' Season 5 -- Disney Channel Raven-Symone is moving back to her hometown with her son Booker (Ryan Brown) to help take care of her father Victor (Rondell Sheridan) after he has a mild heart attack in Season 5 of Raven's Home, which begins airing Friday at 8 p.m. EDT. The series is a spinoff of classic Disney Channel series That's So Raven. 'Saturday Night Live' with Zoe Kravitz -- NBC, Peacock The Batman star Zoe Kravitz is hosting the next episode of Saturday Night Live, which airs Saturday at 11:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock. Rosalia is serving as the musical guest. 'EE British Academy Film Awards' -- BBC, Britbox The EE British Academy Film Awards, also known as the BAFTA Film Awards, will be airing on Sunday on BBC in the U.K. and through Britbox in the U.S. Check the official BAFTA website for air times. Rebel Wilson is hosting the ceremony, with Dune and The Power of the Dog leading the field of nominees. 'Critics' Choice Awards' -- The CW, TBS The Critics Choice Association is presenting the 2022 Critics' Choice Awards on Sunday, which air at 7 p.m. EST on The CW and TBS. Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer are hosting the ceremony, which recognizes achievements in film. Belfast and West Side Story lead the field with 11 nominations each. Athens, GA (30605) Today Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 87F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Beckley, WV (25801) Today Isolated thunderstorms during the morning. Mostly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 69F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The number of new COVID cases in Connecticut schools dropped in the past week, a time frame that covers the first full week since most students and teachers were given the option to go maskless in classrooms. The latest state data showed there were 542 COVID cases among students between last Thursday and Wednesday, down from 699 the previous week. For teachers and staff, the number of new cases also dropped to 134 this week compared with 147 the previous week. The number of cases reported in school are similar to the levels seen in the first half of the academic year before the surge of infections brought on by the omicron variant in late December and early January. The latest data from the state offers a weeklong picture of COVID-19 infections after the broad school-based mask mandate was lifted Feb. 28. School leaders were given the discretion to institute mandates in their districts, but many opted to make masks optional. Officials have said they believe about 80 to 90 percent of the districts in the state went mask optional, while some larger districts kept the mandate in place for a short time. The overall decline in school cases has mirrored the decline in general COVID-19 metrics across the state. On Thursday, Connecticut reported its first positivity rate below 2 percent since Nov. 5 of last year. According to the latest figures, 291 new cases were discovered among 16,300 for a positivity rate of 1.79 percent. Hospitalizations declined by a net of seven patients on Thursday for a total of 155. The number of newly reported deaths increased to 100 in the past week from 72 the previous week. In schools where masks were optional, there has been a wide range of reports on how many students and staff were still wearing face coverings. In some districts, leaders estimated it to be 10 to 20 percent, while others reported a greater prevalence of masks. In its latest guidance to schools, the state Department of Public Health stressed the importance of supporting students, teachers and staff that still elect to wear masks amid the ongoing pandemic. Given the sharp decline in COVID-19 infections statewide, officials had been confident that it was safe to lift the mask mandate. But the states education department retains the ability reinstate a broad school mask mandate until June 30. Gov. Ned Lamont, who announced plans to lift the school mask mandate in mid-February, said he did not foresee a reason to reinstate the mandate, believing that school leaders will address the matter locally if an outbreak occurs. Giving discretion to school leaders when it comes to mask mandates follows a similar measure Lamont took in giving town and city officials the ability to institute their own mask mandates rather than a broad requirement amid a rise in cases in the fall. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Connecticut is only a few months into this election season, but the campaigns are already well underway. That means that from now until November, voters will hear plenty of claims made by hundreds of candidates for federal, state and local offices. While some of those claims may ring true, others will prove to be misleading, lacking proper context or outright false. To help parse out the fact from the fiction, Hearst Connecticut Media Group is launching ConnectiFact, an occasional series that will examine the truth behind statements made by candidates over the airwaves, in campaign literature or in old-fashioned stump speeches. Each statement will be rated along the following scale: True, Mostly True, Its Complicated and False. There will also be a fifth category reserved for the most outlandish claims that fall outside the bounds of everyday truth-stretching. To start, ConnectiFact examines a March 1 campaign email sent to supporters by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Leora Levy, who is seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. The focus of Levys email were recent claims made in a conservative Washington publication about Blumenthal and financial disclosures he made involving the stock-trading app Robinhood. Heres what Levy said: Claim: "Senator Blumenthals failure to disclose large financial transactions in the required time, which has triggered a Senate ethics investigation, is deeply troubling. ConnectiFact Rating: False Local news outlets quickly picked up on the allegations made against Blumenthal last month in the Washington Free Beacon, including Hearst Connecticut reporter Julia Bergman, who wrote about the senators rebuke of the claims during a campaign stop in Guilford last month. Levys campaign, however, took those existing claims a step further by stating in an email to her supporters that the Senate Ethics Committee had launched an investigation into Blumenthals financial disclosures. However, that is not true. The source for Levys claim appears to be another report published Feb. 28 by the Free Beacon, which was linked to in the Greenwich businesswoman's campaign email. The very first sentence of that article, however, begins A watchdog group is calling for an ethics investigation. The group referenced in the article, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, is a right-wing advocacy organization that has called for investigations into numerous Democratic lawmakers and Biden administration officials. The article makes no claim that the committee acted upon FACTs call for an investigation. According to the rules of the Senates Select Committee on Ethics, anyone can file an ethics complaint against a senator or member of their staff, and the committee staff will look into that complaint as part of a preliminary inquiry to determine whether theres any basis for the alleged violation and whether it falls into the committees jurisdiction. That inquiry does not qualify as an investigation, however, as staff are required to look into every complaint no matter how frivolous. Once staff complete their initial inquiry, the committee itself must vote to dismiss the complaint, issue an admonition for minor violations or move forward with whats formally known as an adjudicatory review which would meet most peoples definition of an investigation. No such vote has occurred, because the committee has not met since the complaint against Blumenthal was filed. A spokesperson for Blumenthals campaign said the senator has not been contacted by Ethics Committee staff, including as part of a preliminary inquiry. There is no Senate Ethics Committee investigation, the spokesperson said in an email. A complaint can be filed by literally anyone. Anyone can call for an investigation, but that doesnt change the facts. Senator Blumenthal owns no individual stock including Robinhood stock. In response to a request for comment from Hearst Connecticut Media, a spokesperson for Levys campaign walked back the candidates claims of an investigation while maintaining the attack on Blumenthal. The fact is Senator Blumenthal failed to report a large financial transaction in the required time, the spokesperson said. He showed that the rules that are in place do not apply to him in this instance, an ethics complaint has been filed and no amount of protesting by his staff will change those facts. Shannon Hamilton, the nonpartisan staff director of the Senate Ethics Committee, did not respond to a request for comment. During the Guilford campaign stop, Blumenthal said the allegations that he purchased and sold stocks in Robinhood were ridiculous. Blumenthal, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, said he does not own individual stocks. The sales of the stocks in question were made by the Peter Malkin Family Fund, which was set up by his father-in-law, the wealthy real estate investor. Blumenthal said he does not have any control over the familys investments. In two separate financial disclosure forms, Blumenthal reported the Malkin Funds four sales of Robinhood stock worth between $1.26 million and $2.55 million during the last three months of 2021. The original Free Beacon article noted the last of those disclosures, filed in February, appeared to violate the 45-day deadline for reporting financial transactions by a little more than a week. According to the Ethics Committees guidelines, the penalty for filing a late report is $200 if submitted more than 30 days after the deadline. Advocates for expanded affordable housing opportunities on Thursday supported legislation that would assess state needs, create plans for every town and city, and provide performance data. During a public hearing on a bill before the General Assemblys Housing Committee, favorable testimony was led by Cheryl Sharp, deputy director of the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, as well as Kevin Alvarez, director of legislative affairs for the city of New Haven. But suburban and rural residents said that state-mandated housing goals would be too far to reach, while their local officials try to balance infrastructure limits, historic character and aging populations. Sharp said that this years version of the so-called Fair Share bill would be a different way to tackle the obstacles of segregation established over generations. It would give towns and planning regions control over development, but would require some degree of development of affordable housing, Sharp said during an afternoon-long, virtual hearing. The commission is well aware of the grave impact impact individual town-based zoning statutes and regulations have had on the segregation of the residents of the state of Connecticut, Sharp said, stressing that zoning restrictions affect educational outcomes, health care, food, jobs and other issues. This legislation looks to change the way Connecticut towns have historically addressed where housing is located and who has the opportunity to live in it. Setting clear standards for every community for what their responsibility is in fixing the problem is also essential, said Alvarez. It cannot just fall to cities like New Haven to provide for the housing needs of the state. Connecticut cities overwhelmingly provide for the need of the entire state and this Fair Share proposal would fundamentally change that. Over the last several decades, the fight over affordable housing hasnt been about actual dwelling units, but rather people, Alvarez said, stressing the issue of racial injustice. As we have this debate, we need to change the way we talk about and more importantly think about the value of every resident of Connecticut, regardless of their economic circumstances, Alvarez said. Tens of thousands of residents are paying too much for housing and are kept economically disadvantaged as a result. Systemic racism has made this fall disproportionately on communities of color. But Alexis Harrison, a member of a group that succeeded in defeating similar legislation in 2021, said the proposal would be very devastating to her town and others throughout the state. A member of the Town Plan and Zoning Commission who testified on a related legislative proposal last week, Harrison said it would force arbitrary housing-development goals. Some towns would have to build thousands of more units, Harrison said. I dont know how that would happen in Fairfield. Maria Weingarten, a Realtor who serves on the New Canaan Board of Finance, said that legislative proposals would assail decades of land use and zoning laws, as well as individual property rights. Only local planning-and-zoning members of the local community, through use of public hearings, can provide critical information necessary to properly evaluate building projects within their own municipality, she said. Why? Because all land is finite and unique. Mike Criss, the Republican first selectman of Harwinton, with a population of about 5,500 in Litchfield County, said that his town is confronting the need to help elderly residents age in place in a region with transportation challenges, half-hour rides to grocery stores, and where growth is limited by water supply and septic and sewer considerations. Criss, also speaking for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said he would also like to attract younger families to his town, but is worried that the legislation would create a less-desirable top-down effect, with orders from the state. Earlier in the day, the committee approved legislation, now heading to the House of Representatives that would requires municipalities with at least 25,000 residents - about a third of the state - to form local Fair Rent Commissions. State Sen. Rick Lopes, D-New Britain, co-chairman of the committee, noted that at a time of sharply rising rents in the lingering pandemic, tenants need more protections. It is kind of a special circumstance, a special year, where were seeing, as you know, property values shooting up very high, and off course rental rates are shooting through the roof and there are people asking for 50-percent rent increases, Lopes said. I think long-term tenants, our seniors, a lot of people are just going to be put in a bad bind if their landlord comes in and says your lease is up, your rent is now $500 more a month. There needs to be at least some sort of buffer that says is this increase reasonable for the area. I understand what this is trying to do and I think it is a good idea, said Sen. Paul Cicarella, R-North Haven, a top Republican on the panel, who voted against the legislation. The mandating of local municipalities to do things, the cost that comes with that, is a concern of mine. But I do understand what the good intentions of this bill is trying to do. State Rep. Larry Butler, D-Waterbury, said hes been fielding many calls from constituents complaining about sharp rent hikes, but his city of 110,000 people - like Bridgeport, the states largest city - does not have a Fair Rent Commission for tenants to file appeals. Many of these people are elderly, and I think it would really, really help, Butler said. We need to get them a venue to go and help adjudicate this, because otherwise, theres really no help out there for them. Masks will no longer be required at 17 college campuses starting April 4, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities President Terrence Cheng announced Thursday. Weekly testing requirements for employees and students will also end that day, Cheng said. The state is turning the corner on the virus, and we therefore can relax on our pandemic response, Cheng said in a message to the CSCU community Thursday. I am very excited that weve reached this point and can move forward having learned many lessons along the way about how to support our institutions, our employees and most importantly our students through a public health crisis. CSCU campuses, including four state colleges, 12 community colleges and an online college, will shift from a pandemic emergency response to routine disease prevention. This means campus leaders will continue to monitor state and federal guidance, as well as the virus conditions in the community. They will be prepared to reinstate mitigation strategies as needed to respond to upticks in cases if and when they occur this spring and in future semesters, Cheng said. On April 4, CSCU campuses will switch to a mask-optional protocol. No employee will have the authority to require others to use masks. However, mask wearing remains an effective prevention strategy against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases, and we fully support and expect all employees and students to respect those who choose to continue wearing masks, Cheng said. COVID Coordinators will continue to make masks available for students and employees who want them. CSCU campuses will also remove social distancing restrictions in lounges, cafeterias, conference rooms and other non-academic settings. In most instances, current classroom arrangements will remain as set for the remainder of the semester, Cheng said. Campus leaders should also prepare for more in-person activities, such as commencements and other events, as well as a full schedule of in-person courses, meetings, convenings, etc. for the summer and fall, Cheng added. CSCU is also stopping its weekly testing of employees and students, as well as its case contact tracing. The campuses will continue PCR testing for any student or employee who wants access through April 1. COVID Coordinators will also have antigen tests available for those who are concerned about potential exposure. Cheng said students and employees should continue to monitor their health. Students and employees should also stay home if they have COVID-like symptoms and follow CDC guidance on quarantine and isolation. If students or employees test positive, they should continue to notify their campus through the appropriate process. TORRINGTON Finding an apartment to rent or a house to buy in Torrington has never been more challenging, according to a recent housing survey. Not only are there fewer places available to rent, but the monthly fees are getting higher by the day. These challenges and other problems with housing were revealed in a recent survey conducted by Torringtons Affordable Housing Steering Committee, which is charged with developing a new affordable houisng plan thats required by the state to be updated every 10 years. Jocelyn Ayer, director of the newly formed Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity and former development director of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments, led the committee in developing the survey and applying its answers to a study. The committee reviewed the surveys results during an online forum Wednesday. Ayer was joined by City Planner Jeremy Leifert, Mayor Elinor Carbone, Torrington Housing Authority director Claudia Sweeney, and members of the committee including former City Councilwoman Sharon Waagner. Torrington used a $15,000 grant from the NWCOG for the study. We know we have a great need for housing that will support our younger generations of residents, whether theyre living here, or were trying to attract them to move here for jobs, Carbone said. A few years ago, we did a call for private development for housing in Torrington that fits that niche. We asked the City Council to use tax incentives or payment in lieu of taxes, to help the developer get across the finish line. That development is an apartment building at Franklin Plaza, now under construction, that has 12 low-income units, 40 affordable units and 10 to 12 units available at the market rate, the mayor said. Its not all affordable, She said. But we know the challenges of providing any type of housing. Another housing proposal, which has not yet been presented to land use boards, could be created using the old mill buildings on Water and Church streets. Last year, developers made a presentation to the City Council to explain their plans a mix of lower-cost and market-value apartments combined with a retail space and underground parking. Two years ago, a developer purchased and renovated the old Libby building on Main Street. Now dubbed The Clayton, the building offers one- and two-bedroom apartments. The Torrington Downtown Partners have also renovated a number of buildings into new apartments over the last 10 years. Meanwhile, the need for housing keeps growing. And the word affordable is still offensive to many, who think affordable equals cheap, subsidized living spaces. But thats not the case at all, Ayer said. Thats why we hold these forums, she said. Theres a lot of misperception on what affordable housing is. Ive worked with 15 towns on various housing plans, and a lot of other communities understand that they need it ... (But) we need to do more to educate folks about what it is, who needs it and what it can look like. We hope this survey process and study can help with that somewhat. Greg Perosino, vic-chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission, said he recognized the need for housing of all kinds. I see the need for it, broadly in Connecticut, he said. My concern is, we dont have the jobs we used to have, in terms of families being able to afford their own homes. We need to be as creative as possible so we have attractive projects ... We have a healthy mix (like the development on Franklin Street), but we need more. Id like to be the leading town to have not only affordable, but attractive development, he said. The committees study had more than 500 responses. According to Carbone and Ayer, 60 percent of Torringtons housing stock was built before 1970s, and many buildings that could be rented arent, because they need to be updated and the landlords cant afford it, the mayor said. If 60 percent predates 1970s, thats when lead paint was identified as a contaminant, creates health issues for children, she said. So I hope that with this housing plan, we recognize theres housing stock thats not being rented because of lead paint; theres help for that. The study also showed the sharp increase in housing prices. Median sale prices in the city have been going up, and thats happening county-wide as well, Ayer said. If youre a renter and you want to buy a home, its been challenging, and its getting even more challenging. Young home buyers are carrying car payments and student loan debt, which is keeping them from being able to buy a new house. Combined with the fact that houses are selling quickly in the real estate market leaves young families and single home buyers out in the cold, Ayer said. We think that leads to a lot more young adults living with their parents a lot longer than they have in the past, she said. So if you cant or arent ready to buy your first home, rental housing costs and availability makes it very challenging. She said the cost to rent a home or apartment has increased 37 percent since 2021. The number of rentals in Torrington declined by almost half, so anyone trying to find a rent is challenged to find available units, because of the decline in supply, Ayer said. She also explained that many families who own their own homes are cost burdened meaning that they are using more than 30 percent of their income on a mortgage and utilities. That means theres not enough money left over at the end of the month to pay for transportation, food clothing and other costs, she said. The survey showed that 4,064 households in Torrington are housing cost-burdened. And about half of those folks, about 2,000 households, are actually paying more than 50 percent of their income for housing. Thats severely cost-burdened. So you still have a fair number of people paying unaffordable rents. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $500 to $900, or $1,100 to $1,800 for a three-bedroom apartment, she said. Torrington has 6.760 households that are earning below the median income; and the city has just under 1,800 units of housing that are deemed affordable meaning they meet the needs of those households. Sweeney explained that public housing is affordable, and applies to people under Section 8, meaning they can apply for reduced-rent housing. But theres a waiting list, meaning people can wait from nine months to two years for a unit. We have 156 applications on our waiting list right now, Sweeney said. Theres a lot of need out there for public housing. But for affordable housing, not public, if you dont have enough of it, your town isnt going to be well balanced, with people having a place to live. You need a place for people to live, who work in the grocery store and other occupations, and you need housing for lawyers and other professionals. You want a good mix of housing to make the town progressive and move forward. Apartment complexes and buildings for senior citizens are also in demand. According to the committees survey, 57 percent of the responders said the lack of housing choices keep seniors from being able to stay in town, and to attract young people. I can identify with all of that, Waagner said. Were aging in place, and were thinking about other options. The housing steering committee is holding another community forum in the spring, where it will present a draft housing plan and ask for more feedback. Wed love to hear about other needs that we didnt talk about today, Ayer said. We are in the middle of the process; our next steps are to draft goals and strategies, and we hope you will all attend, so we can get as much feedback as possible. The committee hopes to have its housing plan completed by June. Information on the committee and the survey is available at torringtonct.org. Your browser does not support the video tag. The red vending machines, stationed in 10 cities around the country, allow a person to purchase items (such as clothing, meals, clean water and livestock) that will later be distributed to those in need by various charities. Some popular items purchased in 2021 were: Funds are being distributed to 44 charities in the United States and five global agencies. A reception was held in New York City on Wednesday, March 9, to celebrate donations with the five global organizations: Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE USA), Church World Service (CWS Global), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and WaterAid. Lacey Stone of USA for UNHCR said the purchased goods will be a boon to many of the more than 82 million refugees around the world. The organization, which has worked with the Church since 1991, is putting its Giving Machine donations toward core relief items such as blankets, solar lanterns, tents and shelters to help those enduring winter in Afghanistan. These efforts absolutely are making a difference for the tens of thousands of children, women and men who have been forced to flee, said Stone, who is her organizations director of private sector engagement and partnerships. For them, it makes all the difference in the world. The donations will also provide critical aid to children hit hard by the pandemic by offering education, routine immunizations and healthy meals. Rachel Steinberg, UNICEF managing director for global cause partnerships, said this help for children is an incredible representation of the partnership (now in its 10th year) between Latter-day Saint Charities and UNICEF. This is because the Giving Machines allow people to give back to children around the world. And that is at the core of the mission of our partnership: coming together and having an impact and a wider reach for children around the world particularly children who are in the most vulnerable and challenged places. Steinberg said its inspiring to see that even when people [in the United States] are going through some of their darkest times over these last two years, that they take a moment and they step outside of that experience and they choose to give something back to somebody else who theyve never met from somewhere else in the world. Robert Hokanson, the Churchs senior manager for humanitarian global priorities, said the faiths partnerships with these organizations are indispensable links to alleviating suffering everywhere. He also said the use of Giving Machines, which have raised US$15 million since their inception in 2017, will likely continue to grow. People are looking for things that they can contribute to and be a part of, Hokanson said. That sentiment is everywhere throughout the world. Giving Machines are a part of the annual Light the World Christmas initiative sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ. The initiative encourages people to follow the example of the Savior of the world by serving others. The Church covers administrative and operational fees (including those for credit card transactions), allowing participating organizations to receive 100% of every penny donated. U.S. Charities Denver, Colorado Jewish Family Services of Colorado Project Worthmore The Crowley Foundation The Denver Rescue Mission Gilbert, Arizona Arizona Brainfood A New Leaf Catholic Charities Community Services Child Crisis Arizona St. Marys Food Bank United Food Bank Honolulu, Hawaii Aloha Medical Mission Family Promise of Hawaii Helping Hands Hawaii The Salvation Army Kansas City, Missouri Hope Faith Hope House Operation Breakthrough The Don Bosco Centers Las Vegas, Nevada Communities in Schools of Nevada EyeCare4Kids Future Smiles Opportunity Village Three Square Nashville, Tennessee ABLE Youth Elmahaba Center Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) One Generation Away Sleep in Heavenly Peace New York City, New York Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York The Actors Fund The New York Board of Rabbis The Mariano Rivera Foundation Oakland, California Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program George Mark Childrens House Tri-Valley Haven Orem, Utah Community Action Services and Food Bank Habitat for Humanity of Utah County Tabithas Way Local Food Pantry United Way of Utah County 5 for the Fight Salt Lake City, Utah American Indian Services Rise Up School of Dance Rose Park Neighborhood Center/Good Samaritan Foundation Utah Refugee Connection 5 for the Fight Global Charities Workers from the NagaWorld Casino hold a banner demanding the release of eight representatives detained by authorities during a demonstration in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 26, 2022. An appeals court in Cambodia Thursday denied bail to eight union leaders from the NagaWorld Casino strike, on the grounds that their case is still under investigation by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Thousands of NagaWorld workers walked off their jobs in mid-December, demanding higher wages and the reinstatement of the eight jailed union leaders, three other jailed workers and 365 others they say were unjustly fired from the hotel and casino, which is owned by a Hong Kong-based company believed to have connections to family members of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Cambodian authorities have called the strike illegal and alleged that it is supported by foreign donors as a plot to topple the government. But a series of mass arrests in recent weeks have been attributed to alleged violations of pandemic health regulations in Cambodias capital. Activists said the charges were trumped up to break up the strike. On Thursday, the appellate courts presiding Judge Khun Leang Meang decided to uphold the municipal courts decision to keep the eight union leaders detained at Prey Sar prison until their trials. He read the decision in front of the eight leaders at the court, which did not allow NGOs to monitor the hearing. They were then taken back to the prison. Both courts ignored requests of the accused, and continuing to detain them is unnecessary, their lawyer Sam Chamroeun told RFAs Khmer Service. We will examine the courts decision to find their mistakes and make an appeal in front of the Supreme Court, he said. The courts decision was saddening, Am Sam Ath of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, a local NGO, told RFA. He said the court failed to take into consideration that the conflict stems from a labor dispute without any solution in sight for over an entire year. The court should have released them because they lawfully expressed their rights through the strike to seek labor solutions and should not be charged and detained, said Am Sam Ath If they are not released, there will be no solution, he said. During Mondays hearing, about 50 workers protested in front of the court. One of the workers told RFA the dispute should be resolved between the union, NagaWorld and the Ministry of labor. This is a labor dispute so dont try to provoke us to have problem with authorities, Sok Ratana said. Through Wednesday, 147 of the 373 laid off workers accepted compensation to end their tenure with NagaWorld, the Ministry of Labor said in a statement Thursday. The statement urged the remaining workers to stop demonstrating so that the ministry can continue to seek solutions. The ministry urges the ex NagaWorld workers and those who are absent from work to stop making more mistakes that can affect their benefits. The ministry will work with relevant authorities to resolve your concerns while also considering the rights of investors rights, the statement said. It also urged that the workers follow the governments COVID-19 measures. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Arrested workers say that authorities are trying to torture them do discourage further protests. Authorities in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh again detained more than 100 striking NagaWorld Casino workers Friday, in the latest in a series of brutal mass arrests since the strike started more than three months ago. Some of the 158 strikers who were detained this time told RFAs Khmer Service that they were forced into buses and taken to a quarantine facility on the outskirts of town but were not allowed to leave the buses for several hours, enduring extreme heat until the point that some of them began to vomit. It was awful. We are just workers. They used such brutal measures. The authorities pushed me into a truck and my arm was injured when they detained me, Pov Raksmey told RFA. Lay Sopheaktra, another detained worker, told RFA that she felt the authorities wanted to torture the workers so that they would not dare to gather for more protests. I am very sad that we are protesting for our jobs, but the authorities are denying our rights and assaulting us, she said. Thousands of NagaWorld workers walked off their jobs in mid-December, demanding higher wages and the reinstatement of eight jailed union leaders, three other jailed workers and 365 others they say were unjustly fired from the hotel and casino, which is owned by a Hong Kong-based company believed to have connections to family members of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Cambodian authorities have called the strike illegal and alleged that it is supported by foreign donors as a plot to topple the government. But a series of mass arrests in recent weeks have been attributed to alleged violations of pandemic health regulations in Cambodias capital. Activists said the charges were trumped up to break up the strike. RFA reported Wednesday that 147 of the fired workers accepted compensation, but the remaining strikers are still calling for their union leaders to be released and for the company to negotiate with them. RFA attempted to reach Phnom Penh Municipal Police spokesman San Sok Seiha for comment about Fridays arrests, but he was not available. Video footage of authorities in Phnom Penh arresting striking NagaWorld workers Friday. A Cambodian labor advocacy group told RFA that the authorities have used similar tactics to break up peaceful protests. The authorities and NagaWorld Casino need to seek a solution. If they continue violence, the crisis will be deepened, said Khun Tharo, the labor program manager for Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights He urged the Ministry of Labor to intervene the release of 11 union leaders and workers who are being jailed to allow the workers and the NagaWorld to resume talks. The workers arrested Friday said authorities released them from the quarantine center after detaining them without medical attentions for a few hours. They said they will continue their fight if there is no solution. RFA reported Tuesday that Cambodias Minister of Interior Sar Kheng was planning to lead a meeting of governmental officials on Wednesday to resolve the dispute. Also on Wednesday, Phnom Penh authorities released around 200 strikers detained a day earlier while they were protesting. On Thursday, an appeals court denied bail to the eight union leaders on the grounds that their case is still under investigation by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been amplifying Russian government propaganda claiming that the U.S. is financing biological weapons labs in Ukraine, as the two countries embark on a "no limits" alliance that appears to include a global disinformation war. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian referred to the claim as if it were factual when speaking to reporters in Beijing on . This Russian military operation has uncovered the secret of the U.S. labs in Ukraine, and this is not something that can be dealt with in a perfunctory manner, Zhao told a regular news briefing. "It is not something they can muddle through by saying that China's statement and Russia's finding are disinformation, and are absurd and ridiculous." Pentagon press secretary John Kirby has dismissed the claim as "Russian malarkey." But CIA Director William Burns said there is grave concern that Russia might be laying the groundwork for a chemical or biological attack of its own, which it would then blame on the fabricated lab operation. This is something, as all of you know very well, is very much a part of Russia's playbook, Burns told the Senate Intelligence Committee on . They've used these weapons against their own citizens, they've at least encouraged the use in Syria and elsewhere, so it's something we take very seriously. Moscow has also claimed that its invading forces had found evidence of hasty attempts to conceal biological weapons research in Ukraine. Russian military figures and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov have repeated the claims, saying they are "ethnically targeted." The story has been picked up in Chinese state media, which has been ordered to publish only pro-Russian material since the start of the war, while video footage of Russian defense officials repeating the claims had garnered more than 10 million views on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, seen in a file photo of a daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020, has repeatedly been called out for spreading conspiracy theories about the coronavirus, Afghanistan and other controversial topics. Changchun lockdown The story was amplified in China as authorities placed the northeastern city of Changchun -- home to some nine million people -- under lockdown, amid a wave of new COVID-19 infections. Residents must stay home, with one person allowed out every two days to buy essential supplies only, and public transportation, schools and businesses shut down. China reported 1,396 new cases of COVID-19 during the past 24 hours, compared with less than 100 just three weeks ago. Meanwhile, authorities in Shanghai have shut down schools, and are requisitioning properties in one residential district, possibly to use as enforced quarantine facilities. The Xuhui district government issued an emergency notice on , requisitioning a long-term apartment-style hotel, making the current residents homeless overnight, they told RFA. Tenants who used the hotel were typically highly-salaried professionals who wanted a place close to the office, and were ordered to leave with no compensation or alternative arrangements, staff said. "Xuhui district government imposed a requisition order," a member of staff who answered the phone on told RFA. "If they are paying monthly to stay, that costs around 10,000 yuan a month." "I don't know anything else about it." A Shanghai resident surnamed Wang said local officials had reported 11 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 64 asymptomatic infections. A resident undergoes a nucleic acid test for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Changchun in China's northeastern Jilin province, March 11, 2022. Credit: AFP Reporters pressed to spread conspiracies Repeated calls to the Shanghai municipal health commission rang unanswered during office hours on , while an official at the Xuhui district health bureau referred inquiries to the district-level center for disease control and prevention (CDC). Calls to the Xuhui CDC also rang unanswered on . One journalist told RFA they had been ordered not to carry out their own reporting into the COVID-19 wave, but instead to repost claims that the U.S. funded a biolab in Ukraine specializing in the study of pathogens that can be transmitted from bats to humans. Media worker Liu Xiao said China's zero-COVID strategy is looking less and less realistic in the face of the new wave of omicron variant infections, which is better able to escape China's homegrown vaccines than imported vaccines. "You can't get the Pfizer jab; they're not approving it," Liu told RFA. "Everyone I know, including the director of a hospital, have all been given the Chinese-made jabs." "My son is still pretty sick, and he's saying that the Chinese-made vaccines aren't effective ... Also, a lot of people are getting their immunity levels tested, but nobody is managing to get a Pfizer jab," he said. "Not even people in Beijing, who are very well-connected." Liu said nobody knows why it's impossible to get imported jabs. "We daren't talk about it too much," he said. Political, not scientific policies Cases continued to surge in Laixi city near the eastern port city of Qingdao, with a number of local officials punished for "allowing" the disease to spread at the No. 7 High School. Shandong province had 121 newly confirmed cases on , including 103 in Qingdao. A Qingdao resident who gave only the nickname John said it made no sense to blame officials when the omicron variant is so highly transmissible. "I don't think it makes any sense, because ... the virus will always spread faster than the speed of human prevention and control," he said. "But after they did that, local officials were walking through the streets every day to oversee prevention and control efforts." Most flights have been canceled at Qingdao International Airport, with online video showing rows of empty check-in desks. Current affairs commentator Zhang Jianping said the zero-COVID policy is political rather than scientific. "This virus will keep coming back, and they always use political means to deal with what should be a matter for science," Zhang said. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping has referred to Russian president Vladimir Putin as his best friend. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine has cast doubts on whether Beijing is a more opportunistic partner wrong-footed by the global backlash against Putin, or a long-term cast-iron ally of the Kremlin. The bilateral relationship is complicated by the fact that China imports a good deal of grain from both Russia and Ukraine, and is facing a poor harvest of its own this year due to heavy rains. Rita Cheng of RFA's Mandarin Service spoke to Tong Zhao, a senior fellow in Carnegies Nuclear Policy Program, about the strategic implications of Russia's war for Beijing: RFA: It's said that Putin and Xi Jinping have similar personalities, and the relationship between China and Russia is largely determined by the personal friendship of the two leaders. What is your observation? Zhao: Russia's political decision-making mechanism is similar to China's. That's to say, there is a strong core leader whose authority is basically absolute and rarely questioned. Those who work for them express strong personal support for them. It's hard for them to understand the concept of different voices, and hard for them to hear ideas different to their own. There are also similarities in the way domestic public opinion works in China and Russia, in that it's carefully managed by the authorities and state media. RFA: Did Putin say anything about his plans to invade Ukraine when he met with Xi Jinping in Beijing at the start of the Winter Olympics? To what extent has China misjudged its strategy? Zhao: My personal belief is that China was likely worried at the outset. It may have believed that this would be a low-intensity, small-scale military operation. But most people in China know that Putin wields geopolitical influence with the build-up of troops, and uses soldiers to achieve his diplomatic and security goals. China may have ... thought this would be a quick-fix war -- more of a surgical strike. I don't think they can have predicted this full-scale invasion, let alone the strong reaction from the international community, nor how badly things would go for the Russian forces. RFA: How will the Russian-Ukrainian war affect China's strategic environment? Have its diplomatic and security circles reached any kind of view on that? Zhao: I am guessing that Chinese foreign and security policymakers haven't reached any consensus at all, and that they are still engaged in heated debate about what to do. No one can predict the outcome of the war, nor what kind of impact it will have on the political situation in Europe, let alone the rest of the world. Some experts believe that the longer the war goes on, the more Russia and the West will be dragged in and consumed by European security issues, which will give China much more strategic space in the Asia-Pacific region. But there are also concerns that this war has had a huge and negative impact on China's international image, and that China is being dragged down by Russia, and that this will make Western countries even more concerned about China. Those of this school of thought say China's economy is very large -- Russia's isn't even as big as that of Guangdong province -- and its hostility to the West is at least as deep as Russia's, so there is even more potential threat there. They think this could make the West even more determined to contain China. I don't think China will make significant adjustments to major strategic issues and foreign policy in the near future, because they have yet to make a final judgement on the way this war will turn out. RFA: But are there channels open for these kinds of policy debates, when China and the West are basically living in parallel universes when it comes to the fundamental facts of this war? Zhao: The channels through which Chinese citizens get their information are different from those in the West. The Chinese government carefully manages their access to information, and living in such a society will definitely put their academics under pressure, too. Anyone whose thinking or suggestions sound too much like the Western point of view won't have their opinions conveyed upwards, and will also face social pressure as an individual. Everyone wants their suggestions to be seen and given recognition by the country's leaders, so academics lack incentive to make policy suggestions that are inconsistent with the CCP line. They will also fear being regarded by higher-ranking officials or the general public as biased towards the West, if they don't speak out for China. So this kind of pressure reduces the diversity of public discourse. It will have a systemic impact, although there are certain risks [to China] in the long run. RFA: What sort of risks? Zhao: Well, in the event of an international dispute, it's quite possible that the international community would regard a decision made by the Chinese leadership as unpredictable and incomprehensible, although it might be very popular within China. So the risk of mutual misunderstanding is quite high. RFA: The late former Chinese ambassador to France, Wu Jianmin, once said that whenever China sees events in the world wrong, its domestic policy will also go wrong. Permitted opinion in China right now is one-sided support for Russia, perhaps more for Putin than the Russians, and they're not talking about past Soviet aggression against China. What do you think of this phenomenon? Zhao: These historical facts exist objectively, but when the mainstream narrative in society is systematically managed, and the government obviously does not want everyone to examine this history too much .. they're not going to make much of an impact. The mainstream consensus in Chinese society at this stage is that Western countries pose a strategic and all-round challenge to China's national rejuvenation and national rise. On this issue, there is no doubt that Russia is China's strategic partner, and Russia can provide China with strategic support; they are seen as like-minded brothers. Mainstream thinking in China believes that there are no permanent partners, only permanent interests, and the interests of China and Russia in this regard are highly consistent. They are 'abandoning past suspicions, not looking back on the past, and consolidating current strategic tasks.' So it doesn't seem as if China is willing to look back at past Soviet aggression. RFA: What kind of lessons can Chinese policymakers learn from this war? Zhao: Well, the outside world has been speculating about whether China will take advantage of the West's focus on Eastern Europe to take unexpected action against Taiwan. I think this is looking less likely, though, because the Russian war in Ukraine has shown everyone how war is never that simple. China will rather want to think about how to run Taiwan after a military invasion. This is more of a constraint on Chinese military action, because if a quick solution can't be achieved, the international community has time to intervene. Military aid and economic sanctions, over time, all take their toll, and possible trigger socioeconomic problems inside China. That's the thing the Chinese government is most worried about. A possible challenge to the security of the CCP regime would be a far worse outcome than not invading Taiwan. So I think there are a number of considerations that will very likely make China recalculate, and rethink its strategy on Taiwan. RFA: Based on the current situation, do you think Russia's invasion of Ukraine is the beginning of World War III? How likely is it to turn into a nuclear war? Zhao: Personally, I don't think it's appropriate to use World War III to describe the nature and potential violence of this war. It is confined to Eastern Europe, and Russia's current strategic intention is not to provoke a larger all-out war with Western countries. The only risk is that Russia faces a huge setback in this war, whether it be the conventional battlefield or the economic system, or even political stability at home. When Putin, as a strongman, is forced into a corner, will he escalate the war in an unexpected way, or even introduce a nuclear factor? I think this risk cannot be completely ruled out, but at present the absolute value is not high. Putin is still a rational man; it's just that his cost-benefit calculations are different from other people's. He has placed Russia's nuclear weapons to a state of high alert. From his point of view, that was to deter military aid and economic sanctions from Western countries, not to initiate the use of nuclear weapons. I don't think he intends to create a nuclear leakage crisis at a nuclear power plant to escalate into a nuclear war. He is still relatively rational. But I do worry that as the war turns more and more unfavorable for Putin, he will start to make unexpected moves. RFA: Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have all called on China to exert influence on Putin. Could China play the role of mediator? Zhao: I think that would be pretty hard for them to do, for reasons of self-confidence and resources. It's not clear whether China has enough resources to wield that kind of influence. What it has said it will do is provide a certain amount of support within its capacity, such as humanitarian aid. But that's a long way from playing mediator. China's views on Russia are complicated. For a long time, China has viewed Putin with admiration and adulation, calling him 'Emperor Putin.' He is regarded as a powerful geopolitical master with great strategic means and is lionized by the Chinese people. China has played the role of younger brother in the Sino-Russian bilateral strategic relationship for a long time. And while that relationship is changing rapidly, particularly with the war ... Beijing doesn't seem to think it can exert influence on Russia, particularly not a figure like Putin, via the bilateral relationship. China doesn't actually seem to understand what kind of strategic goals Putin was hoping to achieve in the war in Ukraine. How could they then put any pressure on Putin or mediate in any way? Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Analyst Hu Ping says China is forcibly imposing an outside culture on local people. Shohrat Zakir (2nd from L), chairman of northwestern China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and officials watch Uyghurs perform a culture dance before a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, July 30, 2019. The promotion of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings theory of cultural nourishment by Uyghurs at this years session of Chinas rubber-stamp parliament points to new efforts to supplant the culture of the Uyghurs with Chinese customs and traditions, Uyghur and Chinese analysts said. The 2022 sessions the National Peoples Congress (NPC), and its advisory body, the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) wind down this week. The largely symbolic meetings ratify decisions made by the Communist Party, which allows no opposition. Slogans from an address to parliament by Xi including cultural nourishment and the consciousness of the whole of the Chinese nation were immediately promoted by pro-government representatives from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), drawing scorn from the Uyghur diaspora. One CPPCC representative, ethnic Uyghur dancer Dilnar Abdullah, advocated the further strengthening of the theory of cultural nourishment proposed by Xi and spoke in favor of investment into the culture and arts of the ethnic groups, according to a report on Tengritagh (Tianshan), the official website of the XUAR government. In her speech, Dilnar emphasized that current research into the theory of culturally nourishing Xinjiang was insufficient, and that educational textbooks did not adequately reflect Chinese cultural tradition, particularly for young people. The Tianshan report quoted Dilnar as promoting introducing consciousness of the unity of the Chinese nation in textbooks at all levels to educate and cultivate artists in Xinjiang, and to bring Chinese classical poetry, literature, and painting into schools there to weave cultural nourishment into school education. The Chinese governments use of Uyghurs like Dilnar to promote the adoption of Chinese culture in Xinjiang is an old and familiar tactic, said Ilshat Hassan Kokbore, the U.S.-based vice chairman of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC). The Chinese government uses them, so of course they champion ethnic unity, he said. What theyre calling cultural nourishment here is assimilation by means of Chinese culture. Ilshat noted that Dilnar is the daughter-in-law of Ismail Amat, a politician of Uyghur ethnicity who held several political positions, including chairman of the XUAR and chairman from 1979 to 1985, and minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission from 1986 to 1998. Some Uyghurs viewed Amat, a prominent Muslim Communist Party member, as a mouthpiece of the Chinese government and its policies concerning ethnic minorities and condemnation of separatist tendencies. Kokbore called Dilnar and other Chinese government appointees puppets officials who have faithfully carried out Beijings policies. She is a puppet of China, Dilnar Abdullah, he said. We can say she is a tool of theirs. If they tell her to do something, she does it. In this way, the Chinese government can say theyre doing things that Uyghurs themselves want. In danger of disappearing U.S.-based political commentator Hu Ping told RFA that Xis cultural nourishment is tantamount to cultural destruction. The governments emphasis on this concept and that of the unity of the Chinese nation are aimed at eradicating the ethnic identities of non-Chinese groups, including Uyghurs and Tibetans, and forcing them to adopt Han Chinese cultural identity with an end goal of eliminating so-called threats to stability, he said. Hu Ping also noted that the Chinese government is using Uyghur-speaking government officials and other individuals to promote the idea of cultural nourishment as a way of forcing Uyghurs to give up their ethnic and cultural identities. What theyre calling cultural nourishment here is in fact forcibly imposing an outside culture on local people, he said. For that reason, we can call this a forcible assimilation of local people, or a destruction of the traditional culture of local people. This is one way they believe they can fulfill the duty of social stability, Hu added. Zubayra Shamseden, Chinese outreach coordinator at the Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project and vice president of WUC, said Sinification is the goal of the cultural nourishment policy and others because the Chinese government sees Uyghurs as a threat to stability and wants to eliminate them. If they are able to assimilate the Uyghurs and make them all Chinese if Uyghurs are all Chinese then, according to the logic of the Chinese regime, China will be peaceful, she said. We are a people in danger of disappearing, and so China is using puppets like these in order to fully realize its rule over and colonization of us, Zubayra added. For years, Chinese authorities have subjected Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang to arbitrary arrests and detentions in internment camps, physical abuse, and restrictions on their religious practices and culture in what the United States and legislatures of several other Western countries say amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity. Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. More than 100 people who were evacuated from a steel plant in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol have arrived in Zaporizhzhya, the Mariupol city council said, as Russian forces resumed their assault on the complex. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The council said in a statement that the people who arrived in Zaporizhzhya -- a city about 230 kilometers northwest of Mariupol -- were receiving assistance after emerging from weeks in the bunkers of the sprawling Azovstal plant. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 156 people were evacuated. She said several hundred more people remained inside the plant and tens of thousands of women, children, and elderly remain in Mariupol. "There is no medicine, water, or communication services," she said at a briefing on May 3, adding that the authorities needed to rescue everyone who wants to escape. The United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross coordinated the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly from the steel works. "We would have hoped that many more people would have been able to join the convoy and get out of hell. That is why we have mixed feelings," Pascal Hundt of the ICRC told journalists on a video conference call. Osnat Lubrani, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said that 101 women, men, children, and older people could finally leave the plant, and several dozen more joined the convoy in a town on the outskirts of Mariupol. Some evacuees decided not to stay with the convoy and headed to destinations other than Zaporizhzhya, Lubrani said. A few women who arrived in Zaporizhzhya held up handmade signs calling on the Ukrainian authorities to evacuate soldiers still holed up in the plant and their relatives and loved ones who are trapped. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped the continued coordination with Kyiv and Moscow will lead to more humanitarian pauses that will allow civilians safe passage from the fighting. WATCH: Current Time reporter Borys Sachalko comes under fire as he accompanies a Red Cross team attempting to evacuate a village that lies between Russian-occupied Kherson and Ukrainian-held Mikolayiv in southern Ukraine. Despite the calls for additional evacuations, Russian troops began to storm the plant soon after the latest group of people got out, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communications under the National Security and Defense Council said in a statement on May 3. According to the Vereshchuk, Russia purposely resumed the assault after some civilians got out. "This was their plan: to allow some civilians to leave and then continue bombing. However, civilians remain there, there are people who did not have time to get out from under the rubble because the blockages were so heavy that in two days they simply could not lift them physically. We need to continue the humanitarian operation, including Azovstal," Vereshchuk said. French President Emmanuel Macron also urged that evacuations from the steel plant be allowed to continue. Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on May 3, calling on Russia to rise to the level of its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council by ending its devastating aggression, an Elysee statement said. The storming of the plant comes days after Putin said he had called off plans for such an operation. Putin instead said he wanted Russian forces to blockade the sprawling plant "so a fly can't get through." Later on May 3, Russian strikes began targeting the western city of Lviv. The strikes happened just before 8:30 p.m. local time. It wasnt immediately clear what was targeted. Mayor Andriy Sadoviy wrote on social media that people in the city should take shelter. Train service out of Lviv was suspended. Sadoviy acknowledged in another message that the attacks had damaged power stations, cutting off electricity in some districts. The governor of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said Russian troops shelled a coke plant in the city of Avdiyivka, killing at least 10 people and wounding 15 more. "The Russians knew exactly where to aim -- the workers just finished their shift and were waiting for a bus at a bus stop to take them home," Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote in a Telegram post. "Another cynical crime by Russians on our land." Kyrylenko said 11 more people were killed in the shelling of four towns in the region. The number includes five killed in the town of Lyman and four in Vuhledar. Kyrylenko said the death toll on May 3 was the highest on a single day since a Russian strike on a train station in the city of Kramatorsk killed 57 people on April 8 and injured 109 others. WATCH: Ukrainian troops southeast of Kharkiv survey heavy damage to a community cultural center, reflecting on the impact on locals, now all but gone. Ukrainian officials say the Russian military also struck railroad infrastructure across the country on May 3. Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the state-run Ukrainian railways, said the Russian strikes hit six railway stations in the countrys central and western regions, inflicting heavy damage. The governor of the Dnipro region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said Russian missiles struck railway infrastructure in the area, leaving one person wounded and disrupting train service. Earlier on May 3, in a video address to the parliament in Kyiv, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced 300 million pounds ($376 million) worth of extra military aid for Ukraine. Britain has already sent military equipment, including missiles and missile launchers, to Ukraine. The new aid will consist of electronic warfare equipment, a battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment, and thousands of night vision devices. In his speech, Johnson referred to a 1940 address by World War II leader Winston Churchill as Britain faced Nazi Germany's aggression. "The British people showed such unity and resolve that we remember our time of greatest peril as our finest hour," Johnson told the Verkhovna Rada. "This is Ukraine's finest hour, an epic chapter in your national story that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come." "We will carry on supplying Ukraine...with weapons, funding, and humanitarian aid, until we have achieved our long-term goal, which must be so to fortify Ukraine that no one will ever dare to attack you again," Johnson said. In Brussels, the EU's executive indicated it was prepared to propose another sanctions package to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. But Slovakia and Hungary will not support sanctions against Russian energy, including on oil imports. The two countries say they are too reliant on Russian oil and there are no immediate alternatives. The sanctions will also target the Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, which will be excluded from the global banking communications system SWIFT, unnamed diplomats said. Fighting also raged in the strategic port city of Odesa and across Ukraine's east. A 15-year-old boy was killed in a fresh Russian strike on Odesa, the city council said. Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv, was under shelling, the military said on May 3, while the General Staff said Ukrainian forces were defending the approach to Kharkiv from Izyum, some 120 kilometers to the southeast. Since Russia launched its unprovoked war on February 24, its troops have failed to completely take over any major Ukrainian city. On the diplomatic front, Germany's conservative opposition leader traveled to Kyiv on May 3 for meetings with Ukrainian officials, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that he wouldn't be visiting Ukraine any time soon. Friedrich Merz, who heads former Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc, visited the town of Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, which has been heavily bombarded by Russian forces. Scholz refused to go to Ukraine because of Kyiv's refusal to invite Germany's head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whom Ukrainians accuse of cozying up to Russia during his time as foreign minister. "It can't work that a country that provides so much military aid, so much financial aid...you then say that the president can't come," Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF late on May 2. The United States warned that Moscow was planning to formally take over regions in Ukraine's east. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the OSCE, said Russia is planning to imminently annex the territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, using referendums after failing to overthrow the government in Kyiv. Russia encountered surprisingly staunch resistance in the north around the regions of Kyiv and Chernihiv, which forced it to redeploy its troops in the south and east, where fighting has intensified in recent days. Ukraine's east and south are seen as key strategic goals for Russia, allowing it a land link to Crimea. Separately, Russia's state news agency TASS quoted the Defense Ministry on May 3 as saying that more than 1 million people, including nearly 200,000 children, had been taken from Ukraine to Russia in the past two months. Defense Ministry official Mikhail Mizintsev said those civilians "were evacuated to the territory of the Russian Federation from the dangerous regions" of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and from other parts that came under Russian control. No details were provided on the location or circumstances of the moves. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, and dpa What began as an attempt by a Russian diplomat to explain his country's position in the ongoing nuclear talks turned into a scolding over how Iranian journalists should refer to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Addressing a small number of reporters during a press briefing in Tehran on March 9, Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan took umbrage to a question about how long he expected the Kremlin's "military attack" in neighboring Ukraine to continue. Before answering, Dzhagaryan advised the Iranian journalists to refer to the deadly conflict as a "special military operation," in keeping with Russia's preferred and official terminology. He then informed the assembled Iranian press that Russia would "continue this operation until we achieve our goals in Ukraine." But Dzhagaryan then appeared to violate Russia's directives to its own media against referring to the conflict in Ukraine as a "war" or an "invasion." "In the eight-year war with Iraq, you had a slogan: 'War, war until victory,'" Dzhagaryan said, referring to Irans bloody 1980-88 conflict with its western neighbor. "And that is our slogan today." Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Iran has reacted with caution, with officials blaming the conflict on Western provocations but also rejecting war as a solution. Tehran also finds itself in a balancing act. On the one hand, it recognizes that it cannot afford to criticize one of its closest allies -- particularly one that is involved in ongoing nuclear talks that can shape Iran's future. On the other, Tehran appears to be taking into account the Iranian people's aversion to war. Iranian media, which is heavily influenced by the state, also appear to be treading carefully. Much of the coverage has focused on the economic impact of Western sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine -- an issue close to home. The measures tie into controversy in Iran over Moscow's suggestion that it could link its approval of any new nuclear deal to how the West's punitive sanctions affect its trade with Iran. The Iranian press has also weaved in statements from Ukrainian officials -- such as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's recent criticisms of the Western NATO military alliance -- while generally following the official Russian line on daily developments in the war. The official response to the war, meanwhile, has for the most part been passivist and accusatory toward the West. On March 10, Iran's Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that chooses the country's supreme leader, called for an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war and echoed the official stance that war is not the answer. Earlier in the month, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran supported ending the war in Ukraine, while saying the country was a "victim of the crises created by the United States." At the presidential level, it has been more of a mixed bag. President Ebrahim Raisi last week told his cabinet that Ukraine had "fallen victim to the United States' evil policies." However, former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, in a March 2 tweet, praised "the great nation of Ukraine" and said that the Iranian nation stood with it. Small anti-war protests were held in Tehran at the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, with some participants chanting, "Death to Putin." But individuals who have openly expressed their opposition to the war have come under criticism. This week, a futsal player playing in Iran's top professional womens league was reprimanded after she displayed a shirt with the slogan "Stop The War" after scoring a goal. Mahsa Kamali's club in the city of Rafsanjan called the player's actions "emotional and personal" and promised that her protest would be "dealt with decisively." Ambassador Dzhagaryans press conference at the Russian Embassy in Tehran was reportedly intended to clear up any controversy about Moscow's position in the ongoing talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Russia has come under criticism in the Iranian media after it recently demanded that Washington provide guarantees that sanctions imposed against Moscow over the war in Ukraine would not harm its trade and military cooperation with Tehran. The demand by Russia, which has also suggested that it would not sign off on any new nuclear deal until it could evaluate the impact of sanctions, has led to concerns that it could kill attempts to revive the nuclear accord just as Iran and Western powers appear to be nearing agreement after nearly a year of negotiations. Discussing the issue, Dzhagaryan told the Iranian journalists on March 9 that Russia wanted the talks to succeed but that "our national interests must be taken into account, because it is necessary to continue fruitful cooperation between Iran and Russia." The press conference came a day after the Russian ambassador was asked in an interview with the semiofficial Tasnim news agency whether Moscow was linking its approval of a revived nuclear deal to its demand for guarantees from Washington. In an apparent swipe at RFE/RL's Radio Farda, which translates as Radio Tomorrow, Dzhagaryan said the situation had been misunderstood. "We ask the Iranian people not to listen to the statements of foreign radio outlets such as 'Radio Yesterday, he said. The day after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Russian lawmaker who also happens to be the grandson of one of the most famous diplomats of the 20th century gave a speech in parliament. In his speech, Vyacheslav Nikonov quoted his grandfather, Vyacheslav Molotov, who negotiated the Molotov-Ribbentrop deal that carved up Poland and much of Eastern Europe -- and made a prediction. 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. The enemy will be defeated and victory will be ours. And I have no doubts about this, he said. Sixteen days into Russias war, Nikonovs prediction, echoed by other Russian politicians, has not come to pass. Bigger, better equipped, more powerful, the subject of extensive reforms and restructuring, Russias military was supposed to steamroll Ukraines much smaller armed forces. In the Kremlins forecasts, Russias forces were supposed to be welcomed -- if not with open arms, then with simple resignation. Ukraines government was supposed to collapse or flee, leaving a vacuum that would be filled quickly by Moscow-appointed officials. None of that has happened. And the mismatch of predictions and reality has sent analysts scrambling to figure out where they went wrong. But it has also raised a question: Are the decision-makers in the Kremlin making bad decisions based on bad information? 'Everything Is Going To Plan' In a March 11 video conference with President Vladimir Putin, Russias defense minister argued against that conclusion. "Vladimir Vladimirovich, everything is going to plan," said Sergei Shoigu, who is one of Putins closest confidants. "We report this to you every day this week." The CIA thinks otherwise. WATCH: In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, instructors are giving last-minute training to members of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade as the Ukrainian military prepares to defend the city from Russian attack. Some of the trainees are new recruits with no previous military experience. Its director, William Burns, told a hearing of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee on March 8 that Putin and his top advisers underestimated the fight that the Ukrainian military would put up. I think Putin is angry and frustrated right now, Burns said. His own militarys performance has been largely ineffective. Avril Haines, the director of U.S. national intelligence, echoed that during the same hearing. Moscow underestimated the strength of Ukraines resistance and the degree of internal military challenges we are observing, which include an ill-considered plan, morale issues, and considerable logistical issues, she said. Black Box Decisions Kremlin decision-making is renowned as a black box, famously difficult for foreign intelligence services to penetrate and understand. For months leading up to the February 24 invasion, U.S. and Western intelligence reported that Putins circle of advisers had markedly shrunk. Its unclear how much of that was dwindling trust in his advisers. Or even if it was a function of the COVID-19 epidemic that led the Kremlin to institute unusually strict rules for quarantining and disinfecting people looking to meet with Putin. Regardless, Putins closest advisers are now widely reported to be some of the most hawkish officials in the government, including the heads of the Federal Security Service, the Defense Ministry, and a handful of others. At least one, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Putins Security Council, has voiced support for conspiracy theories about the Soviet collapse. Another, according to a published report by Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar, is Yury Kovalchuk, a wealthy banker and longtime ally and friend of Putins dating back to his days in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s, before his rise to power. Kovalchuk is an ideologue who shares Putins worldview that combines Orthodox Christian mysticism, anti-American conspiracy theories, and hedonism. In my opinion, our decision-makers not only did not have expertise on Ukraine (as well as on the former space of the U.S.S.R. as a whole), but they did NOT WANT to have [it], Andrei Kolesnikov, a political analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said in an e-mail. They are in the captivity of their own understanding of reality and ideological points, he said, like Russky Mir, or the Russian World -- a loosely defined historical concept promoted by the Kremlin that envisions Russias borders encompassing lands once held by imperial Russia in the 19th century. Like many intelligence services, the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, has units that do political analysis and intelligence that help guide service chiefs decision-making -- and ostensibly the Kremlins. The FSB unit that conducts foreign political analysis -- the Ninth Directorate of the Fifth Service commissioned public opinion polls in Ukraine earlier in February, weeks before the war. According to the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank that said it reviewed the surveys, the polls showed widespread distrust among Ukrainians for government institutions, among other things. It is notable that Putin, in his preinvasion televised address, spoke extensively about the failures of Ukrainian governance in terms that mirrored the picture painted by the FSBs surveys, the RUSI report said. While the FSB survey may have been accurate in measuring opinions at the time it was conducted, it told the Russians little about how sentiments would evolve in the aftermath of an invasion. The information is very good, said Nick Reynolds, a research analyst for land warfare at RUSI and one of the co-authors of the report on the public opinion surveys. "The way theyve utilized it has been suboptimal. WATCH: More than 2 million people have fled from Ukraine to escape the onslaught of Russia's military forces. On March 8, Current Time spoke to Ukrainians on the move in Kyiv and Lviv who hope to find a safe haven inside or outside the country. The surveys were part of the decision-making, and it seems that they misused the data. Its only a snapshot of where public opinion stands, he told RFE/RL. The surveys suggest that Ukrainians main concerns prior to the war were mundane things: food prices, energy prices, corruption. If that was usedif that was the basis for a decision -- If we roll into Ukraine, people will welcome us -- then that info was grossly misused, he said. Kremlin Intrigue Amid the rosy public assessments in Moscow, theres been only hints of criticism and dissent about the war in Russia. Thats due mainly to the fact that Russian authorities have censored any honest press coverage within Russia, forcing independent media and social networks to shut down, and even going so far as to ban the use of the word war or invasion. On March 11, however, a report by another well-sourced Russian journalist said that the head of the FSBs Fifth Service and his deputy had been arrested and suspected of embezzling funds earmarked for Ukraine operations. The report by Andrei Soldatov said they were also accused of knowingly feeding bad information about the political situation in Ukraine. I see by the quality of the analytics that is available in Russia today, by the way it assesses its place in the world, how it assesses its relations with neighbors, how it assesses the ongoing processes-- it's all very far from reality, Mykhaylo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukraines president, said in an interview with Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. In principle, they do not have a real picture of what is happening in the world, including in Ukraine, he said. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. With infrastructure damaged and some ruins still smoldering, residents remain defiant as Russian armed forces maneuver in the vicinity of the Ukrainian capital. Current Time visited Pushcha-Vodytsya, a small spa town just a few kilometers outside Kyiv, on March 10 and spoke to locals. Civilian casualties mounted and outrage spread as Moscow's unprovoked war on Ukraine entered its third week with no clear end in sight. Russia's isolation deepened, with Western businesses from McDonald's to IKEA shutting up shop and the Kremlin turning the clock back toward Soviet times. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. 'Medieval Siege' In December, when Russia presented the United States and NATO with sweeping demands for changes in the security architecture along its western borders and beyond, it was clear that President Vladimir Putin was out to turn back the clock by more than 30 years across Eastern and Central Europe. If he got his way, Ukraine would be stripped of its sovereignty to a large degree and yoked to Russia, as it seems to be in Putin's mind despite a rich history of its own and three decades of independence. From Tbilisi to Tallinn and from Chisinau to Prague, other countries that threw off Moscow's dominion as communism and then the U.S.S.R. collapsed would be cast back into a kind of no-man's-land, transformed into little more than buffer states between what Putin appears to see as the only countries with a real right to exercise free will in the region: Russia and the United States. Instead, two weeks and a day after Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, premised clearly if informally on the refusal of Washington and NATO to accede to those demands and others, it looks more like Putin has turned back the clock in his own country by decades -- and, with an onslaught that the deputy mayor of a bombed and besieged city called "medieval," seems intent on casting Ukraine back several centuries. In Ukraine, the death and destruction from the unprovoked assault is staggering -- hard for many people to imagine and yet undeniably real. Images of apartment buildings and hospitals across much of Ukraine gutted by bombardments, homes in flames, civilians young and old killed by rockets or shells while seeking refuge -- and the tearful stories of incredulous survivors whose lives have been torn apart. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city; Mariupol, a strategic Azov Sea port that has been in Moscow's sights since the war that broke out in the Donbas after Russia fomented separatism in 2014; Chernihiv in the north; once-quiet Sumy near the Russian border: All have been hit hard, as have several suburbs of Kyiv and many other towns and cities in a Russian military campaign that appears to be at once bogged down and increasingly deadly for civilians, with shells and bombs hitting "homes, schools, and evacuation routes -- despite the absence of clear military targets in some areas," as a video analysis by The Wall Street Journal found. The death and destruction in a constellation of cities where many speak Russian as a first language seems to once and for all expose one of the Kremlin's chief narratives about its actions in Ukraine starting with the seizure of Crimea and the backing of anti-Kyiv forces in the Donbas -- that he is protecting ethnic Russians or Russian-speakers -- as an indefensible argument, a fraud. That leaves an explanation that has come out in sharp relief from Putin's writings and remarks over the past year, and particularly in the past few weeks: He wants to subjugate Ukraine. Nuclear Threats How he can possibly do that is increasingly unclear -- even if the current pace of the Russian offensive gives way to a faster advance and greater gains from the Russian military, which has encountered stiff resistance in a country that evidence suggests Putin expected to fold in a few days. Now, every shell blast and civilian casualty may only add to the defiance of millions of Ukrainians and the ire of the West. Also stoking anger at Moscow are its military operations affecting nuclear power plants in Ukraine and its threats -- sometimes thinly veiled, sometimes barely veiled at all -- that it could turn to its nuclear arsenal if need be. The latest of those came from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 10. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov issued one the day before, saying the United States was waging "economic war" against Russia by imposing sweeping new sanctions against Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine. Since Putin launched the offensive on February 24, there has been no evidence that a single shell has landed in Russia. And yet the country has already been transformed in those two weeks, as citizens come to grips with their government's actions in Ukraine, the economic effects of the war and the Western response, and the state's ever tighter clampdown -- or flee if they can. Time Travel Russia may not have become unrecognizable in the past two weeks. But in their efforts to suppress dissent, control information, Putin and the state could perhaps be described as drawing a caricature of themselves, with the most prominent features given additional accentuation -- and making for a frightening picture. An unknown number of Russians have fled a country that many of those hoping for a better future see as headed at breakneck speed toward some point in the past --the chaotic 1990s, some say, or the 1930s, known for dictator Josef Stalin's murderous Great Terror, or 1917, the year the Bolshevik Revolution brought bloodshed and upheaval. Or 1983, a Cold War year when the momentous changes that would come within a decade may have been as unthinkable as a Russian bombardment of Kharkiv or Kyiv was not long ago. A year opposition activist Pyotr Verzilov described as one of "no shops, no money, no food, no cars, and no appliances -- only compote and records from Melodia" -- the Soviet state music distributor. He was exaggerating the situation on both ends of the historical arc, of course -- but the Western response to the invasion of Ukraine, and Moscow's efforts to respond to that response, are changing the economic situation and the fabric of life dramatically as the country's isolation increases and the state cracks down harder than ever on all forms of dissent. The value of the ruble has been cut in half in days, and the state has slapped restrictions on the purchase of foreign currency. The automobile and aviation industries, among others, are struggling. The U.S.-based Institute of International Finance said on March 10 that it was now forecasting Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) to shrink by 15 percent this year, instead of growing by 3 percent as predicted earlier. "The speed and severity of sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine is remarkable. They have led to a drastic and unprecedented tightening in financial conditions, which signals a deep recession," the organization said. If the war gets even worse, so will the economic decline, it said, because "further escalation...may bring more boycotts of Russian energy, which would drastically impair Russia's ability to import goods and services, deepening the recession." In addition to the sanctions, outrage over the invasion has prompted many of the Western companies that flooded in during and after the Soviet collapse to pull out or suspend their operations. In many cases, the Russian state may move in to take over their assets -- to nationalize them, in effect. Heading For The Exits The most symbolic participant in the exodus or operations freeze may be McDonald's, whose opening of a restaurant in central Moscow in January 1990 was a watershed event in the shift from communism to capitalism. "The conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a statement obtained by RFE/RL. A more recent icon that's also shutting up shop in Russia at least for now is IKEA, whose stores on the outskirts of major cities -- with their storage solutions, stuffed toys, and Swedish meatballs -- quite literally made Russia more like the West than it had been before. Now many Russians are fleeing that changing landscape while they can -- to Europe, to the United States, and to other former Soviet republics such as Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. In Ukraine, of course, the landscape is changing in a far more horrific fashion, and the flight of citizens -- in this case, from the mortal danger of an unprovoked invasion -- is occurring on a far larger scale. More than 2 million people had left the country less than two weeks after the invasion began, Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, said on March 8 -- numbers that other parts of the world have seen, he said, but "in Europe, it's the first time since the Second World War." Some have died trying to reach safety. Carrying backpacks and wheeling suitcases though the streets or the Kyiv suburb of Irpin on March 6, Tetyana Perebyinis, 43, her son Mykyta, 18, and daughter Alisa, 9, were killed when a mortar shell landed near them. Anatoliy Berezhniy, a church volunteer who was helping residents evacuate, was also killed. 'I Will Get Out' Tetyana's husband, Serhiy, was in the Donbas caring for his mother, and had been in frequent contact with his wife and children, discussing their evacuation plans in detail. But he could not teach them that day -- and then he saw a Twitter post saying a family had been killed there, according to The New York Times. Then there was another post, this one with a photograph. "I recognized the luggage and that is how I knew," he told the Times. When they had spoken the previous night, Perebyinis said, Tetyana had told him, "'Don't worry, I will get out.'" On March 10, four days after the deaths in Irpin and one day after Ukrainian authorities said three people were killed in a Russian strike on a hospital complex in Mariupol, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was asked by a journalist whether Russia would attack other countries in addition to Ukraine. "As for your question about whether we plan to attack other countries: We do not plan to attack other countries," he said with a little laugh. "And we did not attack Ukraine," he lied. Richmond, KY (40475) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 49F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Written By Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December 2020 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. | (diamonds.net) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has leapfrogged Belgium as the worlds largest exporter of rough diamonds, officials in Dubai said during a week of international jewelry events in the city. The local industry has capitalized on other diamond centers Covid-19 downturns, as well as favorable tax and financing situations. Dubai is also poised to develop as a trade-show venue amid difficulties bringing visitors to Hong Kong. Rough exports surged 98% year on year to $12.96 billion in 2021 and jumped 62% versus 2019s figure, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) reported Tuesday the first time in many years that it had published detailed diamond-trade data. By volume, rough exports climbed 31% to 107.9 million carats. Belgiums rough exports came to $11.12 billion for the same period. Danvers, MA (01923) Today Periods of rain. High 53F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Light rain early. Partial clearing overnight. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Danvers, MA (01923) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Willi and Margarete Kleemeier have spent nearly two-thirds of their lives in North County, but the Escondido retirees say it was the hardships they endured in Germany in the World War II era that shaped their characters. Willi, 97, and Margarete, 93, came of age as Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power in the mid-1930s, sowing fear and suspicion in their native country. During the war, Willi was drafted into the Germany army and spent three years in prison camps, while Margarete slept virtually every night in a bomb shelter. Then things got worse. In post-war Germany, food and material goods were so scarce that people dropped dead in the streets from hunger. By comparison, the Kleemeiers say, America has been a paradise of opportunity where they were able to start a business, build their own home and freely express their opinions against war and prejudice. But they say theyve watched with concern the rising tide of anti-Semitism and neo-Nazi thought in this country. The couple say, however, they dont believe Americans will ever surrender their democracy to a dictatorship. Advertisement Americans have a revolutionary spirit. They dont like to be told what to do, he said. The people saying these things are a small group. The majority of Americans are liberal, and thats a good thing. The Kleemeiers married 62 years ago in Montreal, Canada, where both had immigrated from Germany in 1952. To escape the Northern cold, they picked the furthest spot south on the California map and moved to San Diego in 1960. They settled in Solana Beach, where they opened and ran a Jolly Kone restaurant on Highway 101 for 20 years. In 1999, they moved to Escondidos Redwood Terrace retirement community, where they live today. Their sunny condominium is filled with paintings, etchings and photographs of their German hometowns and relatives. But they havent had the urge to go back and visit in 50 years. They dont belong there anymore. Willi Kleemeier was born in 1921 in the northern German city of Herford, where his father worked in a furniture factory. Margarete Muckenfuss, whose nickname is Gretl, was born four years later in the southern German town of Bretten, where her dad ran a stove and washing machine factory. Both say they remember how their parents generation initially liked Hitler for his building campaign that brought jobs, prosperity and pride back to Germany. But as the Nazi Party imposed increasingly strict laws on freedom of speech, assembly, race and religion, the public was gradually frightened into silence. Margarete remembers seeing Jewish neighbors closing their shops and moving away and one Jehovahs Witness family disappeared overnight without a trace. Willis mother was also a Jehovahs Witness, a religious sect persecuted by the Nazis. One day, the Gestapo arrived at their home and took her to prison, where she was held for six months. At 13, he said he tried to defy his schools mandatory Heil Hitler morning salute and was forced into compliance. Four years later, he remembers emerging from a movie theater one November evening to see a rampage of vandalism under way against Jewish-owned businesses, a pogrom known as kristallnacht (the night of broken glass). Work was scarce and menial for young people like Willi and Margarete who didnt join the Hitler Youth organization. She couldnt find a job in Bretten, so she ended up out in the country, working 12-hour days as a maid for a Nazi party doctor. When she finally returned to her village, she faced near-nightly bombing raids. As the war dragged on, the military draft took more and more men until even the grandfathers were pressed into service. By 1946, there were virtually no men left in Bretten, she said. Willi was drafted at age 19 into the German army infantry corps. After boot camp, he was sent to fight in Libya. Hes still haunted by the memory of seeing an Army buddy emerge screaming from his foxhole with his internal organs spilling out of his chest and abdomen. By the time his company surrendered in Tobruk to advancing British troops in 1943, hed seen enough carnage for a lifetime. War is no good, he said. Theres no point to it. It never solves the problem. It just makes it worse. He would spend two years in a Canadian prison camp and another year in an English camp before returning to Germany in 1946. He was shocked by the devastation he found. Until the Marshall Plan was enacted in 1948, Germanys cities were rubble, there was no infrastructure, no jobs, no food and the German currency was worthless. I had a 1,000 (marks) bill in my pocket and it wouldnt buy a pack of cigarettes, he said. People were so hungry that farmers stood shotgun over their potato fields every night to keep people from stealing what they had. Once a month, German families were given ration cards for supplies that lasted only a few days. One day, Margarete got permission from occupying forces to walk three miles to a farm to pick up her familys ration of 2 pints of milk. But she missed curfew by a few minutes and the soldiers poured her milk out in the street. The Kleemeiers said they were both surprised to learn after the war about the German concentration camps, but by that time theyd seen so much cruelty toward Jews and other atrocities that they were virtually numbed to the sight of suffering. You have no idea what the human body is able to survive, he said, and thats something you cannot explain to anyone unless theyve experienced it for themselves. By the time Willi and Margarete married in Canada in 1955, they were in their 30s and owned little more than they could carry in a suitcase. They felt they were too old and too poor to start a family. Instead, they found solace in each other and their adopted countries of Canada and especially the United States. America has treated us very well, Margarete said. I get so mad when I hear people complaining about this country. Everyday I say people who dont like it should go live somewhere else. Every place has its drawbacks, but this place has given us a good life. Portrait of Willi and Margarete Kleemeier at their home in the Redwood Terrace retirement community in Escondido. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune ) pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com Senate Bill 48 appropriations Senate Bill 48, also known as the junior bill, included $50.4 million for an array of projects and programs across the state. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed the measure this week. The bill included more than $19 million for projects with statewide impacts, according to information provided by state Sen. George Munoz. Bernalillo County projects saw the second-highest amount, at about $6.9 million. Tribes and pueblos would have received a total of $380,000 for projects. There were $1.59 million worth of initiatives in the bill for Santa Fe County, $150,000 for Rio Arriba County and $50,000 for Los Alamos County. The three counties would have shared an additional $360,000, likely allocated for the First Judicial District, which spans the three counties. Santa Fe County also would have had a share in $200,000 for projects benefiting multiple counties, and might have had a share in $310,000 designated for projects in "Northern New Mexico." Following is a breakdown of the total appropriations for each state agency, including both recurring and nonrecurring funds: First Judicial District Attorneys Office: $360,000 First Judicial District Court: $80,000 2nd Judicial District Court: $120,000 3rd Judicial District Court: $150,000 5th Judicial District Attorneys Office: $250,000 5th Judicial District Court: $50,000 6th Judicial District Attorney: $100,000 8th Judicial District Court: $80,000 11th Judicial District Court: $330,000 11th Judicial District Attorneys Office: $125,000 Acequia Community Ditch Fund: $130,000 Administrative Office of the Courts: $610,000 Aging and LongTerm Services Department: $1.365 million Attorney Generals Office: $150,000 Central New Mexico Community College: $555,000 Children, Youth and Families Department: $1.715 million Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: $100,000 Court of Appeals: $200,000 Crime Victims Reparation Commission: $960,000 Cultural Affairs Department: $200,000 Department of Cultural Affairs: $650,000* Department of Finance and Administration: $1.68 million Local Government Division of DFA: $10.665 million Department of Health: $3.21 million Department of Public Safety: $360,000 Department of Transportation: $195,000 Department of Veteran Services: $225,000 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: $90,000 Dona Ana Community College: $100,000 Eastern New Mexico University: $695,000 Economic Development Department: $915,000 Energy, Minerals, Natural Resources Department: $915,000 Environment Department: $840,000 Higher Education Department: $370,000 Human Services Department: $360,000 Indian Affairs Department: $1.19 million Land Grant Council: $380,000 Legislative Finance Committee: $750,000 New Mexico Highlands University: $285,000 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology: $620,000 New Mexico Junior College: $250,000 New Mexico Livestock Board: $350,000 New Mexico School for the Deaf: $10,000 New Mexico State University: $4.625 million NMSU Department of Agriculture: $691,000 NMSU Grants Campus: $100,000 Northern New Mexico College: $260,000 Office of African American Affairs: $100,000 Office of the State Engineer: $1.16 million Office of the Superintendent of Insurance: $790,000 Public Education Department: 3.26 million Regulation and Licensing Department: $260,000 San Juan College: $210,000 Santa Fe Community College: $565,000 Secretary of States Office: $300,000 State Personnel Office: $250,000 Supreme Court: $150,000 Tourism Department: $350,000 University of New Mexico: $3.705 million Western New Mexico University: $200,000 Workforce Solutions Department: $270,000 Luna Community College: $220,000 Clovis Community College: $399,000 *The list includes separate allocations for the Cultural Affairs Department and the Department of Cultural Affairs. Source: Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898 and did not become the 50th state of the Union until August 1959. An isolated peninsula called Kalaupapa in Hawaii was actually a leper colony until the 1960s. Hawaii and Arizona do not observe Daylight Savings Time. But Hawaii is one of the most isolated places with a population in the world. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean about 2,400 miles away from the American mainland, so it has its own time zone, Hawaii Standard Time. Hawaii comprises over 137 islands. And the native Hawaiian language was unwritten until 1820. But the greatest fact about the state is that some of the best paying jobs in Hawaii are waiting to be filled. If you live in Hawaii or are looking to move there, here are some of the best paying jobs in Hawaii. Pharmacist To become a pharmacist, you must obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which is a 4-year degree. A pharmacist is a doctor, but mostly relative to academia and research and not in the physician sense. Pharmacists study the effects of pharmaceutical drugs and other medications on the human body. Physicians give professional advice to consumers and prescription owners about the effects of the medications they need to use. Health practitioners and doctors may consult with physicians to learn more or become up-to-date on new medications. There are probably less than 1,800 pharmacists operating in Hawaii, which means that your skills will be in demand. One of the best paying jobs in Hawaii is being a pharmacist. The average salary of a pharmacist in Hawaii is about $121,000 Electrician You dont need an undergraduate degree to become an electrician in the United States. All that you need to become an electrician is a diploma or G.E.D. However, you should obtain at least five years worth of apprenticing, certifications, and licensing to qualify for the highest paying jobs. The financial worth of an electrician, like most independent contractors, is earned via an earned reputation and word-of-mouth referrals. An electrician installs, repairs, and maintains electrical wiring systems and equipment. As an electrician, you may be called into a job to certify that a structures electrical system is functional and fully compliant with local building codes and zoning laws. Electrician jobs are in high demand in Hawaii. Electricians enjoy continuous job security because the electrical systems of existing buildings always require regular maintenance. And new buildings will always need electrical systems installed. The electrician industry offers some of the best paying jobs in Hawaii and in any state. Job demand for electricians in Hawaii will surge by almost 14% by 2024. The average starting salary for Hawaii-based electricians is $80,000. Air Traffic Controllers Air traffic controllers are always in demand in any state but are one of the best paying jobs in Hawaii. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth in the air traffic controller sector will grow by at least 4% within the next decade. But dont be deceived by that low 4% estimate. There is always a lot of turnover annually in the air traffic controller industry. Many air traffic controllers retire, transfer to other airports, or quit. And since the commercial airline industry cant afford to have a deficit of air traffic controllers, the industry does what it can to keep as many positions filled as possible. There are typically over 2,500 job vacancies for air traffic controllers throughout the United States at any given moment. So, there are typically 200 to 300 open air traffic controller positions in Hawaii at any given time. Aspiring air traffic controllers should have at least an associates or bachelors degree to qualify. Almost all air traffic controllers receive on-the-job training and apprenticeship to transition into the field. Air traffic controllers regulate, authorize, and control the movement and direction commercial airliners take within the vicinity of an airport. Airline pilots require the guidance of air traffic controllers via radio communications to land, takeoff, and approach an airport. An air traffic controller in Hawaii can make as much as $130,000. Nurse Practitioners Nurse practitioners, also known as advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs, are trained to practice in close collaboration and coordination with a licensed physician. The complete set of job duties for nurse practitioners vary from state to state but are numerous in any state. Nurse practitioners are usually trained midwives. It is a nurse practitioner who may perform, order, or analyze various diagnostic tests like X-rays, laboratory, and diagnostic tests before presenting the results to a primary care physician. Doctors may recruit nurse practitioners to collaborate in the diagnostic care of a patient. Depending on their experience and areas of diagnostic expertise, a nurse practitioner may diagnose and treat patients independently or as a member of a healthcare unit. Some nurse practitioners are even allowed to prescribe medication. Nurse anesthetics can also administer anesthesia according to their skills. The nurse practitioner industry will experience a job growth surge of over 45% from 2020 to 2030. And at any given time of the year, there are at least 30,000 open vacancies in the nurse practitioner industry. You will need a bachelors or Masters degree in Science in Nursing to become a nurse practitioner. Becoming a nurse practitioner is one of the best paying jobs in Hawaii it pays over $120,000 annually. The Best Paying Jobs in Hawaii Before you consider moving to Hawaii, keep in mind that the state has one of the highest cost of living standards in the United States. If you are single, you would need to make at least $43,000 to earn a living wage. And if you had three children, you would need to make $136,000. Some of best paying jobs in Hawaii could be waiting for you, but make sure that a move will make sense for your personal finances and budget. Read More 4 Reasons Why Pretty People Earn More 3 Reasons Why College Education Is Still A Good Investment How To Automate Savings For Vacation Come back to what you love! Dollardig.com is the most reliable cashback site on the web. Just sign up, click, shop, and get full cashback! Most components of Washingtons indoor mask mandate will expire at midnight. While that probably feels like a milestone in our states fight against the coronavirus, weve been in this situation before. In June of last year, the state altered a mandate that had been in place since the onset of the pandemic to allow vaccinated people to go without masks. Then, the delta surge hit. Hospitalizations and deaths began to climb, and an indoor mask mandate for all Washington citizens was back in place by August. Now, as the state prepares to terminate that mandate, Gov. Jay Inslees office is warning that a similar mandate could be reinstated should another variant of the virus ravage Washington. [The] governor has said that if we face another significant variant that is overwhelming our hospitals and putting lives at risk, he would implement measures that are proven to work at curbing infection, spokesperson Mike Faulk said. Masks are proven to work at curbing infection. Whether that will happen remains unclear. But for now, heres what Washingtons coronavirus policies will look like going forward. Masks will no longer be required in most indoor facilities. That includes K-12 schools, child care centers, restaurants, bars, libraries, places of worship, gyms, grocery stores and retail establishments. Theyre also no longer required at large indoor and outdoor events. However, masks will be required in health care facilities, in congregate living spaces and on public transit. That includes hospitals, doctors and dentists offices, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, jails, prisons, taxis and ride-hailing vehicles. Local governments can continue requiring masks in their communities if they choose to. Individual school districts, stadiums and businesses can also implement their own masking requirements, and everyone entering those places will be required to comply. Vaccine verification As of now, there is no statewide vaccination verification requirement in place. The state ended one such requirement for large events earlier this month. King County, the largest county in Washington, also ended its vaccine verification policy for indoor businesses. Similar policies currently in place in Clallam and Jefferson counties are set to expire March 12. Just like with masking requirements, individual businesses and other independent entities can implement their own vaccine verification policies if they choose to. Schools After Inslee announced the end of the indoor mask mandate last month, he tasked the state Department of Health with issuing updated coronavirus guidance for K-12 schools. That guidance was released this week. Students and staff are required to stay home if they begin experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The department says that anyone who experiences symptoms should get tested or see a health care provider. If a student or staff member tests positive for the virus, theyre required to isolate at home for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status. However, they can return to school after five days if their symptoms have improved (or if they were asymptomatic to begin with) and if theyve been without a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. If they intend to return to school after five days, they must first pass a COVID-19 test antigen or at-home and wear a mask during all school days that fall within the remainder of their 10-day isolation period. Any student or staff member who reports or shows symptoms while in school is required to immediately isolate from others and return home. Students who need to wait for a ride will be placed in a designated isolation space on school grounds. Theyre to be referred to a diagnostic testing center as soon as possible. Individual districts can implement their own masking policies, but they will not be required by the state. All staff members have already been required to be vaccinated or have received an exemption because of the vaccine mandate Inslee issued last year. Vaccines are not yet required for students, but talks at the state level about implementing such a requirement are ongoing. The state Department of Healths full guidance for schools can be found here. A federal appeals court refused Thursday to order Arizona to pay for a transgender teenage boys chest-reconstruction surgery and said youngsters may not be capable of making such decisions for themselves. But the youths lawyer said the ruling was a partial victory because the court classified anti-transgender bias as sex discrimination. In a 3-0 ruling, a conservative panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a federal judges refusal to require Arizonas Medicaid program to fund surgery sought by a youth identified as John Doe, who was 15 when he appealed the states denial and is now 17. Medicaid in Arizona covers transgender patients hormone therapy and counseling but denies coverage for gender-reassignment surgery, including chest reconstruction, which allows transgender males to remove physically constricting chest binders and can also improve their mental health. Californias insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, said in December 2020 that private insurers in the state must cover such operations when medically recommended, regardless of the patients age. Medi-Cal, Californias Medicaid program for low-income patients, says it funds reconstructive surgery to create a normal appearance for transgender patients whenever physicians decide it is medically necessary. John Doe presented testimony from a psychiatrist recommending the surgery. But the states psychiatric witness disagreed and said young people who identify as transgender, particularly those born female, often change their minds about their gender identity. U.S. District Judge Scott Rash said John Doe had not shown that the operation was medically necessary, and the appeals court declined to overturn his decision. The state presented evidence that some individuals who present as transgender during adolescence revert to their natal gender later on, even after chest-reconstruction surgery, Judge Consuelo Callahan said in Thursdays ruling. She said John Doe was also suffering serious psychiatric issues, further supporting Rushs refusal to order state funding of irreversible surgery. In 2019, another Ninth Circuit panel ordered Idaho to provide gender-reassignment surgery to a transgender woman who was being held in a mens prison, the first ruling of its kind in the nation. The ruling, which the full appeals court later refused to reconsider, also came after conflicting psychiatric testimony before a federal judge, who found the inmates witnesses more credible. John Does lawyers urged the Ninth Circuit to follow its precedent in the Idaho case, but Callahan said the medical evidence differed in the two cases. The court also said, however, that Rush had erroneously failed to consider anti-transgender bias as a form of sex discrimination, and must do so when the case returns to him for further proceedings. The Supreme Courts June 2020 ruling barring employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity applied to all discrimination on the basis of sex, including unequal treatment of transgender patients, Callahan said. Her ruling was joined by Judges Richard Clifton and Daniel Bress. 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 courts inclusion of gender identity in laws against sex discrimination was an important victory, said John Does lawyer, Asaf Norr, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco. He said Arizona, and other states, must now show an exceedingly persuasive justification for any denials of treatment or benefits to transgender patients. Norr said his teenage client, a high school junior in Maricopa County, continues to be denied surgery that he urgently needs. ... His distress regarding appearance of his chest significantly affects his day-to-day life, his ability to sleep, social interaction, and Norr hopes Rush, after proceedings under the new standard, will require the state to pay for the surgery. Arizonas lawyer could not be reached for comment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Guy Wathen / The Chronicle A vehicle that was parked outside of the San Francisco Mint caught fire and spread to a nearby bus stop on Thursday afternoon, authorities said. Firefighters responded to a call of a minivan that was blazing at Fifth and Mission streets at 5:08 p.m. and extinguished the fire, which had hollowed out the van and spread to a bus stop, said San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Jonathan Baxter. Even as millions of California students walk into classrooms Monday without a face covering for the first time since March 2020, the debate over masking in schools continues to rage across the state, with parents pitted against each other and holdout districts standing firm against the pressure to ease pandemic restrictions. Some families are threatening to keep their kids home for fear of viral spread, while others are celebrating a step toward normalcy after two years of COVID protocols. The vast majority of Bay Area districts have announced they will lift the mandate Monday as allowed by the state, while strongly recommending students and staff continue to wear masks. Oakland is among the outliers, requiring outdoor masking for another two weeks, with district officials and labor unions saying they will meet after that to discuss the indoor mandate. In some districts where masks will be optional, students and teachers have threatened to stay home rather than be in classrooms with unmasked individuals. One pro-mandate parent advocate admonished the San Francisco Unified School District for what she said was a rash decision to make masks optional. If even one student, teacher, staff or family member is harmed as a result of this decision, then the district should be held responsible, Michelle Jacques-Menegaz, coordinator of the district Parent Advisory Council, told the school board this week. SF Parent Coalition board member Yvette Byes Edwards also spoke at the meeting, urging education officials to follow the science. Rather than having this pitting families yet again against families and teachers against teachers, I really urge everyone to vote on the side of public health, she said during the public hearing. Dr. Jake Scott, an Oakland parent and infectious disease expert at Stanford, said the debate is understandable given the complexity of the issue, including ongoing research on mask effectiveness. Ive been on the front lines. Its still complex to me. These are not easy decisions, he said. Thats the reason these sorts of decisions should be left to our public health leaders. He said a districts decision to maintain the mask mandate only confuses the community and leads to erosion of trust in health experts as well as education officials. I dont think the kids in one school district should have to continue to mask when neighboring school districts are no longer implementing mask mandates, he said, adding the state is leaving the decision to arbitrary parties not experts in the subject. Dr. Jeanne Noble, a UCSF emergency room physician, said once again state health officials have waffled, lifting the mandate in schools while also saying indoor masking remains strongly recommended. If its strongly recommended, why lift the mandate? she asked, adding that the wording has put district officials in a difficult position and causes excessive fear and anxiety that is not good. Their message is so mixed its become a free-for-all, she said. Theres no reason we should be punting public health decisions to educators. Without clear messaging that lifting the mask mandate is a safe thing to do, the battle lines are still being drawn in communities across the state. Connie Leung, a parent whose second-grade daughter attends school in San Joses Oak Grove School District, says she is angry and terrified that the mask mandate will be lifted Monday. Her daughter still plans to wear a KF94 mask to school but Leung worries that she will be one of the few kids to continue to wear a mask and be bullied for it. We still don't know how COVID affects young children, she said. Last year, Leung fought her daughters school district for an outdoor mask mandate, which they eventually implemented, as well as HEPA filters in every classroom. Her reasoning was that young children still cant always verbalize how theyre feeling when theyre sick, making it that much more difficult to detect COVID-19 symptoms. She also said the potential for long COVID remains. To have the mask mandates disappear so easily is demoralizing, especially when not all of my children are protected, she said of her 1-year-old daughter. My trust in the district and the county office of public health to do what is best for my children has been severely shaken. Early in the pandemic, UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Monica Gandhi was an author on one of the first papers urging universal face masking to control COVID-19. But she said recent research demonstrates schools should drop the mandate, including one study in Georgia that found masking teachers decreased COVID-19 transmission, but masking students did not. Whenever we think of mask mandates in children, we should also consider the harms, Gandhi said. Limited facial observation due to masking of teachers and peers should not be discounted as harmless. 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. Researchers continue to study and debate the academic, social and mental health issues connected to children wearing masks. Still, in San Francisco, more than 295 people have signed a petition to keep universal masking in place across the district, emphasizing how the looser mandate would endanger the most vulnerable, including those who are immunocompromised, disabled or elderly or caregivers to young children who are not eligible to be vaccinated. The petitioners are demanding that the district extend universal high-quality masking until the end of the school year. Students, special education staff, families with children with disabilities, and at-risk parents NEED their voices heard, wrote organizers of the petition. Meanwhile, the SF Parent Coalition polled parents, with an overwhelming majority of 220 parents supporting an end to the mandate. We know parents, teachers and the community dont unanimously agree on this matter nor really on any other public health matter that has come up during the pandemic, said Meredith Dodson, executive director of the parent advocacy group. We appreciate the district aligning with public health guidance. The San Francisco school board Tuesday voted 4-0, with two members absent and one seat vacant, to approve an agreement with district labor unions to lift the mandate starting Monday. Superintendent Vince Matthews noted masks will not be required for middle and high school students starting Monday, but they will still be strongly recommended. Elementary schools will lift the mandate following spring break. This does not mean every student has to take off their mask, Matthews said, noting many students continue to wear masks outdoors even though its not required. The thought all of our students are going to take off their masks is not correct. Jill Tucker and Annie Vainshtein are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, annie.vainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker, @annievain Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Gas prices continue to soar amid the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On March 7, President Biden announced that the United States would be banning Russian oil, gas and coal, as the United States latest round of sanctions against Russia. Biden said this action would inevitably result in Americans paying a higher price at the gas pump. The Chronicle is now charting weekly gas prices in the Bay Area versus the national average. The data comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and is updated every Tuesday. The EIAs Bay Area analysis includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The federal mandate requiring face masks in airports, airplanes and public transit has again been extended, this time to April 18. The extension of the mandate by Transportation Security Administration makes public transit systems, such as BART and Muni, as well as airports, among the remaining places in the Bay Area where face masks are required to be worn. In recent weeks, Bay Area counties have dropped universal indoor mask mandates including places such as grocery stores, gyms and movie theaters as cases and hospitalizations from the omicron surge have plummeted. The state also removed its mask requirement for K-12 schools and many school districts in San Francisco and across the region have followed suit. The TSA said in a statement Thursday that the Centers for Disease Control recommended it extend the federal mask mandate for another month. During that time, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor, the statement said. The president of the American Public Transportation Association lobbied the Biden administration to allow the mask mandate to expire. An extension of the mask mandate beyond March 18 is likely to increase the growing enforcement challenges by public transit agencies today, the associations president, Paul Skoutelas, wrote in a letter. The TSAs decision to extend the mandate another month came as it neared a March 18 expiration date and as airports expect boosts in air travel for spring breaks. 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. Bay Area transit officials have said riding transit is safe, and no outbreaks in the region have been linked to public transportation. Its unclear how the mask mandates extension would impact the Bay Areas sluggish transit recovery. Some riders, though, have wanted transit agencies to more stringently enforce mask wearing on trains and buses. Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate State legislators on Friday proposed a plan to avert a massive cut in UC Berkeleys freshman class next school year, with a bill that would give public universities more time to address environmental issues before going to court. If the bill introduced by Assembly Member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, passes and is signed into law, Berkeley could proceed with sending out acceptance letters this fall. A vote on the bill could come as soon as next week. UC Berkeley planned to cut in-person enrollment next fall by about 2,600 as a result of a recent court ruling in favor of neighbors who sued over the universitys housing plans and the growth of its student body. The California Supreme Court supported a lower court ruling that required the university to conduct further environmental review of an off-campus construction project while it limits incoming enrollment. The legislative fix proposed Friday followed a series of legal setbacks for the university and come as it fends off a handful of lawsuits from neighboring residents who say UC Berkeley is growing too quickly and without proper planning, at their expense. University officials say the multiple lawsuits filed by neighbors have put UC Berkeley in an almost impossible situation: One aims to block it from growing enrollment before building new housing while another is trying to stop it from implementing its long-term plan to do just that build more housing. The lawsuits undermine claims by neighborhood groups that they merely want the university to build more student housing, said Dan Mogulof, a spokesperson for UC Berkeley. If they succeed, that could jeopardize, delay or stop those efforts to build more student housing, he said. The neighbors aim is not to block the university from building housing, said Phil Bokovoy, president of Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods, which filed the suit that forced the enrollment cuts, but he blames the university for growing enrollment without proper planning. The university hasnt accounted for environmental impacts or effects on neighbors and has exacerbated housing displacement and homelessness in the city, he said. Marissa Leshnov/Special to The Chronicle We dont believe (UC Berkeley is) serious about their commitment to build housing, said Bokovoy, a retired nonprofit executive and UC Berkeley graduate who lives near the university and is involved in several lawsuits against it. We want a legally enforceable agreement that they build housing before increasing enrollment. The battle between neighborhood groups and UC Berkeley is similar to fights between residents and university expansions in college towns across the state, said Darrell Owens, an activist with East Bay for Everyone, a pro-housing organization. Students and the states institutions of higher education are paying the price, he said. It is creating a serious housing problem mainly damaging students in these various California cities and towns, Owens said. In Berkeley, however, Owens said, there has always been strong constituency in the affluent neighborhoods around the campus to relegate the population of students to a small number of people. Neighborhood groups should not be able to stifle public education for their aesthetic whims, Owens added. Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods used the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, which requires environmental review of development projects and its impacts, in its case against UC Berkeley. The law has been wielded by antidevelopment forces for decades. The bill introduced Friday gives higher-education leaders 18 months to address CEQA-related issues before a court ruling on enrollment growth can be issued. It also gives them more flexibility by allowing them to include faculty and workers in the campus population, not just students. In addition, State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, unveiled a bill last month that would allow UC, California State University and community college systems to skip the environmental review. The latest case involved the Upper Hearst project, which would have added housing as well as classrooms. The litigation prompted the judges decision to freeze the universitys enrollment. The judge also ordered the university to halt construction. Another case making its way through the courts now is a lawsuit challenging the universitys long-range development plan, which would build housing for 11,730 students by 2037. Make UC a Good Neighbor, the Peoples Park Historic District Advocacy Group, Berkeley Citizens for a Better Plan and UCs largest union employer sued over the plan, arguing that the environmental analysis was inadequate and the university didnt take historic resources into account. At stake are two major housing projects: the Anchor House project that would house 772 transfer students and the controversial Peoples Park project, which would create about 1,100 beds for students and 119 apartments for the homeless. Anchor House has broken ground, and the Peoples Park project is expected to do so in the summer. The next court date is in July. Bokovoy, of Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods, is not involved in that lawsuit, but he said he has donated to one of the neighborhood groups that is listed as a plaintiff. Bokovoys group first sued the university in 2018, claiming it hadnt adequately prepared an environmental analysis on its enrollment growth. A judge agreed. In 2019, Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods filed another suit calling for an analysis on the impacts of the plans to build a 14,000-square-foot beach volleyball complex on its Clark Kerr campus at Dwight Way. The project would have included four courts, locker rooms, 40-foot field lights and a public address system. The judge ruled that the university would have to conduct an environmental review of the project. The neighborhood group said the university broke promises in a covenant they agreed to in 1982 when the state gave the university the Clark Kerr campus. The covenant limits the number of people who can live there and lasts for 50 years. The university has exceeded the limits with about 900 students living there rather than the covenants limit of 853 people, Bokovoy said. Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods is not listed as a plaintiff in the covenant case. Bokovoy as an individual is a party in the litigation. 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. Mogulof said the lawsuit to reduce the number of students living in existing university housing speaks louder than the press releases by neighborhood groups that say they support more student housing. The university believes the interests and actual perspectives of the residents are not captured by the neighborhood groups, he said. City leaders say they believe the neighborhood groups represent only a minority of the citys residents. I feel very strongly that its a vocal minority, said Council Member Rigel Robinson, whose district includes part of the university. Most residents are grateful for the influence, work and the role of the university and are incensed by the actions of these neighborhood groups that are seeking to limit opportunities (for) the next generation of students. Bokovoy said Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods represents about 1,000 people. Patrick Sheahan, president of the Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood Association, who moved about a mile away from the university in 2017, isnt a member of the groups suing UC Berkeley. But he said he supports their efforts to rein in the universitys growth and its impacts on the citys water, sewage and electrical infrastructure. Last year, UC Berkeley agreed to make payments to the city over 16 years that total $82.6 million to address the strain the university has on city services. But some residents say it isnt enough. People are called NIMBYs just because they say they want a better quality life, Sheahan said. Bokovoy said his work challenging UC Berkeley started in 2010 when neighbors began noticing more students living near them. They learned that some of the single-family homes in their neighborhoods had been remodeled into mini-dorms. So residents, including Bokovoy, banded together to create the Southside Neighborhood Consortium. Together, they pressured the City Council to crack down on mini-dorms and they won. We felt that by banding together, we would have more of a voice in things that were happening in the city, Bokovoy said. Thats how the neighborhood groups came together. Sarah Ravani (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani [March 11, 2022] cleverbridge Halts Operations in Russia and Belarus CHICAGO and COLOGNE, Germany, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- cleverbridge, a front runner in global commerce and subscription billing for B2B and B2C organizations, will cease business activities in Russia and Belarus immediately. The current situation and the resulting sanctions on Russia and Belarus are severely impacting the companys ability to effectively serve its clients. To safeguard the success of the software, SaaS and digital good companies it serves across the globe, cleverbridge will terminate business operations in Russia and Belarus. The company recently deactivated Russian Rubles (ISO Code: RUB) and blocked transactions from the Donbas region of Ukraine. We have been extremely troubled as events unfold in Ukraine, said cleverbridge CEO Wendi Sturgis We strongly condemn all forms of violence and hope for a quick and peaceful resolution of this conflict. We will continue to work alongside our clients, customers and partners to make the best decisions we can amid this uncertain, devastating situation. Our top priority remains to provide stellar service to the clients and customers who depend on us for the success of their business. About cleverbridge cleverbridge enables B2B and B2C organizations delivering digital products to achieve their goal of growing. closer to their global customers and delivery needs for increased revenue, improved lifetime value, and business transformation. cleverbridge provides global billing solutions for digital goods, online services and SaaS companies in B2C and B2B markets. Its cloud-based platform simplifies recurring billing, optimizes the customer experience and offers comprehensive global compliance and payment capabilities. For more information on cleverbridge, please visit www.cleverbridge.com. [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Francisco is getting a new French bistro from an accomplished chef with experience in Paris Michelin-starred restaurants and strong connections to the California natural wine world. Chef Kosuke Tada and wife and co-owner Grace Mitchell Tada will open Mijote at 2400 Harrison St., at 20th Street, in the Mission District, in April. The restaurant will serve an ever-changing, four-course menu with dishes like lightly torched yellowtail with pomelo sabayon and Mangalitsa pork with roasted eggplant and fig. There will be a strong emphasis on natural wines from California and France. Tada will draw on his time cooking at upscale Paris restaurants, including Le 6 Paul Bert, but wants Mijote to fall somewhere between a casual bistro and fine-dining experience. For the past five years Tada has been running French pop-up Bistro Kosuke out of popular Oakland natural wine bar Ordinaire, where he got to know winemakers and importers. The congratulatory comments on Mijotes opening announcement read like a whos who of the local natural wine industry, including San Franciscos buzzy Bar Part Time and Stagiaire Wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Alex Bernardo, owner of Millbrae natural wine shop Vineyard Gate, tweeted, Mijote will be a game changer in S.F. Fans of the Bistro Kosuke pop-up can expect similar food at Mijote, like chicken with lobster sauce and grilled pear. The set menu will cost about $82 and will change based on seasonality and the weather (if its cold, for example, Tada may switch to a richer, more comforting entree). Add-ons might include Tadas pate en croute, which Ordinaire and Vineyard Gate also sell. For dessert, Tada likes to play with unusual flavor combinations; a recent creation was celery root ice cream with frozen mandarins and goat milk foam. He described his cooking philosophy as simple, but something different. Mijote, which means simmered in French, might serve an a la carte menu down the line but will start with the set dinner menu five days a week. Mijote will be open Friday through Tuesday to ensure that industry workers, who are often off on Mondays, can eat here. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. We really want and hope that industry people will come. Theyve played such an important role for us in being able to do what were doing, Mitchell Tada said. A native of Japan, Tada went to culinary school in Osaka and worked at restaurants there before moving to France. He credits French chef David Toutain, who runs a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Paris and worked as a sous-chef for Alain Passard, as a major influence. Tada later moved to the Bay Area with Mitchell Tada, who had attended culinary school in Paris. They were on the verge of opening a restaurant there during the pandemic, but were drawn to the Bay Area for its rich natural wine community, Tada said. Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany Yet another popular Bay Area bagel pop-up is graduating to a permanent home: Petalumas Ethels Bagels. The family behind it will open a bagel shop and Jewish delicatessen at 1000 Clegg Court in Petaluma in the coming months. The space was previously home to the cafe April Pantry. There will be fresh, boiled sourdough bagels with house-made gravlax and creative schmears with mix-ins like pickled shallots and black garlic. Moving from a commissary kitchen to a dedicated restaurant space will mean more kinds of bagels, such as seasonal flavors, whole grain and potentially a gluten-free version. On the delicatessen side, Ethels plans to serve matzoh ball soup, Reuben sandwiches on fresh-baked rye bread and smoked white fish. The pop-up has grown a loyal following through farmers markets and home delivery. Chronicle critic Soleil Ho named it among the best bagels in the Bay Area, lauding it as a remarkably chewy and flavorful bagel. Ethels belongs to a wave of fast-growing bagel operations defying the long-standing narrative that there are no good bagels to be had in the Bay Area. San Franciscos Schloks recently opened to long lines, while Midnite Bagel and Oaklands Poppy Bagel recently announced plans for brick-and-mortar stores. Berkeleys Boichik Bagels is expanding to the Peninsula, and Napas Paulies Bagels recently opened a cafe. Famed fine-dining chef Christopher Kostow is gearing up to open a bagelry and Jewish-inspired deli, Loveski, in the Oxbow Public Market in Napa. Nicolas Abrams started Ethels during the pandemic with the help of his wife, Clare, 18-year-old son Oliver and 12-year-old daughter Freya. A longtime chef, he lost his job at the Chalet Restaurant Group in Emeryville when the coronavirus shutdown hit. The loss turned into an opportunity to turn his longtime passion for bagels into a business, selling initially at farmers markets in the North Bay. He also added baked goods like babka and challah to the menu. The entire family chips in: Clare Abrams oversees social media and schmears. Oliver, a high school senior, built Ethels website, helps with accounting and wholesale and works the farmers market stands. (They hope Freya will take his place at the markets when he goes to college.) The bagels meld East and West Coast sensibilities. Theyre boiled in malt syrup New York-style, but made from a sourdough that builds flavor over a 30-hour fermentation. Plus, Lagunitas malt beer is added to the boiling mixture. The family makesclassic flavors like plain and poppy seed, but also Parmesan and black pepper. Bagel sandwiches incorporate ingredients like avocado, garlic aioli and microgreens. Abrams drew inspiration from memories of bagel spreads served at his grandmothers house in Los Angeles (he named the business after his grandmother, who was originally from Brooklyn). But he didnt set out to replicate a New York bagel or any specific category. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. I just wanted to create a good bagel. That was my purpose, he said. The space will be casual, with minimal indoor and outdoor seating. Its conveniently located across the street from the Lagunitas taproom. The larger location will allow the family to increase production, which means Ethels Bagels will start to show up in more markets and cafes throughout the Bay Area. They hope to eventually sell packs of bagels at large and specialty grocery stores. They plan to continue slinging bagels at the Marin Country Mart Farmers Market on Saturdays, Kensington Farmers Market on Sundays and Grand Central Petaluma market every other Friday. Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The tostada raspada, a thin plank of fried corn masa with bubbly ridges, feels like an artistic interpretation of its more common cousin, the tostada. While a tostada is circular, a raspadas shape is more irregular, resembling a snow sled. When done right, as it is at East Oaklands Cenaduria Elvira, its a thrill to eat: a delicate, airy creation with a pronounced crunch that tastes of fresh popcorn. Cenaduria roughly translates to eating house, a place to get a home-cooked meal. Thats exactly what Elvira Varela, a food vendor who specializes in delights from the Mexican state of Jalisco, is doing at her home in the East Bay. Varela, who was born and raised in Oaklands Jingletown, wanted to highlight tostadas raspadas in particular because of the dishs distinctiveness and its scarcity here, giving locals a chance to try something new. She tops her raspadas with shredded pork, beans and tomato sauce; the fragile tostada has just enough strength to support the rich, weighty ingredients while maintaining its snappy texture. Tostadas raspadas arent unknown in the East Bay; some Latino grocers, like Supermercado Mi Tierra in Oakland or La Fortuna in Richmond, sell prepackaged versions. But theyre sold plain and come only in a circular shape. What Varela does is on an entirely different level. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle At Cenaduria Elvira, the tostadas raspadas are freshly fried, ballooning into foot-long foundations of craggy corn. Varela sources them directly from an aunt in the town of Zapotlanejo, Mexico, where much of her family is from. Her aunt also supplies raspadas for many restaurants in Jalisco. The raspadas take shape on a metate, a Mesoamerican tool used to mill corn. Her aunt places a par-cooked tortilla on the slanted stone and scrapes it with a cylindrical milling stone, spreading the masa to the end of the metate. Then the tortilla is carefully peeled off with a thin spatula. The result is an impossibly thin sheet of maize that inherits all of the stones ridges and crevices. All those nooks and crannies obtained from the stone blossom during the fry, resulting in a more airy product. Varelas aunt packs them for the trip to Oakland still with a bit of water content to prevent them from drying out. Varela orders them by the thousands and flies to Zapotlanejo twice a month to pick them up. Before frying them in her home kitchen, Varela puts the tostadas out in the sun so any excess moisture evaporates, then fries her tostadas the morning of service. The final exhaustive step is constructing and dressing the plank of corn with the copious ingredients: a smear of beans flavored with adobo, shredded pork or chicken, tomato sauce, cabbage and crumbled queso fresco. For additional flavor and heat, drizzle your tostada with Varelas house salsa, made with a Jalisco chile de arbol varietal called chile Yahualica and chile Japones. (Use it sparingly.) Stephen Lam/The Chronicle While the tostadas are the star attraction at the cenaduria, there are no misfires on the rest of Varelas menu. Take for example the torta ahogadas. The famed drowned sandwich from Jalisco, beloved for its use of birote salado (sourdough baguette), is a natural fit in the bread-obsessed Bay Area. Varela uses crusty, tangy bread from Concord bakery Casa Del Alfajor. She stuffs the bread with juicy caramelized carnitas and a smear of adobo-flavored beans and pickled onions before drowning it in tomato sauce. Amid all those flavors, the yeasty ferment of the bread is still prominent, especially when you add a squeeze of lime. Order one, and Varela will likely advise: You cant have a torta ahogada without a taco. Its a traditional thing, she explains. Two tortas is too much to eat so you have to have a perfect balance. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Her crispy tacos are elegant, with an ethereal crunch. Using a silver cazo (a frying vessel) filled with clean oil, Varela fries tacos based entirely on intuition, adjusting the heat as she goes. The Cenaduria has three taco options: beans, potato and picadillo her own mixture of ground beef and shredded pork. All are embellished with salsa, cheese and cabbage. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Varela, who works as an accountant, opens Cenaduria Elvira only on weekends for now. She decided to start a home restaurant when her company closed temporarily, early in the pandemic. After a few months of preparation, including trips to Zapotlanejo for special ingredients, she sold her first tostadas in October 2020. Customers can place pedidos (orders) through text, Facebook or Instagram; her address is provided once the order is made. Varelas husband, Benjamin Villasenor, does the carefully packaged delivery orders. But for the best experience, dine at the familys home, where you will find friendly faces and fresher tostadas. You enter her green house through a door to the left of a white staircase and walk to the back, where youll find a patio area with two tables. Varela and her 8-year-old daughter Mia greet each customer, and the chef often strikes up a conversation about where youre from and how you found her. She has ambitions beyond her home operation. She hopes to open a restaurant in the Bay Area, then expand to Los Angeles and Houston. Her menu, she says, may also expand; it already includes suggestions from customers. Cenadurias in Mexico dont offer tortas ahogada, she says. So, to me, I felt like I had to twist it a little bit to my community, so I added the tortas, Varela says. Its a little different than the (cenadurias) from Zapotlanejo, but it still has that flavor where its hecho en Mexico but with a twist of the Bay Area. Cenaduria Elvira. 1 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Follow them on Instagram for address or call/text 510-944-8359 for details. Cash, Zelle, Apple Pay and Venmo. Cesar Hernandez is The Chronicles associate restaurant critic. Email: cesar.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @cesarischafa This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Daniel Pattersons acclaimed fine dining restaurant Coi has permanently closed, marking the end of chefs reign in the Bay Area. Located near North Beach in San Francisco, the restaurant hasnt served diners since the pandemic began. In a statement on Instagram, Patterson claimed lenders refused to let him reopen. I proposed a remodel and to reopen with a fresh vibe, but they still said no, he said. It breaks my heart to lose a restaurant I put so much love and so much of my life into. Coi opened about 16 years ago, showcasing Pattersons version of California cuisine that spotlighted unusual local ingredients prepared with a mix of modern and ancient techniques. When it closed, it held two Michelin stars and at one point earned three, the highest possible rating. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle 2016 Few restaurants have been as visionary as Coi, where Daniel Patterson raised foraged and overlooked ingredients such as seaweed, toasted grains and ice plants to four-star fare, former Chronicle critic Michael Bauer wrote in a 2016 review. The restaurant launched Patterson to stardom, and he started an empire in the Bay Area: Il Cane Rosso in the Ferry Building, Plum in Oaklands Uptown, Haven in Oaklands Jack London Square and Alta CA in San Francisco. In 2017, he teamed up with chef Roy Choi to launch Locol, a fast food restaurant with a community-minded mission, and started partnering with emerging minority chefs. He opened Jamaican restaurant Kaya with Nigel Jones of Kingston 11, upscale Arab spot Dyafa with Reem Assil of Reems and Gujarati restaurant Besharam with Heena Patel. They were efforts to give a leg up to women and people of color in an industry where racial equity was lacking, he said at the time. But all of those restaurants either closed or the partnerships failed, with some minority chefs saying they felt tokenized. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Patterson said hes grateful for his 30 years in the Bay Area, but now he feels at home in Los Angeles. He still runs California-soul food restaurant Alta Adams there. I am grateful for all the ups and downs, and there was plenty of both, Patterson said. Doing new things means taking risks, and risks means sometimes you fail. But the successes and the positive impact made it all worthwhile. Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker A handful of COVID cases caused by an omicron-delta hybrid have been identified in the United States including at least one in California reported by health officials this week but scientists say the so-called deltacron variant looks unlikely to supplant either of its parents and fuel another coronavirus surge. The colloquially named deltacron the World Health Organization has not deemed it a serious enough threat to assign it a letter from the Greek alphabet seems to have developed from a process called recombination, in which a new variant arises in a person infected with two variants at once. A team of scientists at Helix, a genomic sequencing company based in San Mateo, has confirmed two cases of delta-omicron recombination, according to a non-peer-reviewed study set to be published in coming days. Recombination can be cause for concern because it allows the virus to adopt many mutations suddenly, instead of evolving slowly over time. And in theory, recombination can lead to a variant with the most troubling characteristics of the parent strains the incredible infectiousness of omicron mixed with the severity of delta, for example. But that doesnt seem to have happened with deltacron. Scientists have not yet studied the new variant enough to fully describe its traits, but the fact that very few cases have been identified suggests it is not able to outcompete omicron or delta, experts said. The few cases found so far are more biological curiosity than cause for concern, they said. The worst is if you get a virus thats as infectious as (omicron) but caries the virulence of delta. And it doesnt seem like this one has acquired the high infectivity, otherwise it would likely have taken over by now, said Dr. Warner Greene, a senior investigator at the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco. Deltacron was first reported in Europe earlier this year, but those initial cases later were dismissed as likely due to laboratory contamination, which is unusual but not rare with genomic sequencing. More recently, though, more cases have been reported globally, including several that scientists have been able to prove arose from recombination. On Tuesday, a top WHO epidemiologist said on Twitter that viral recombinants are to be expected, especially (with) intense circulation of omicron and delta. In California, Dr. Erica Pan, the state epidemiologist, said this week that at least one deltacron case has been identified, but shed seen no evidence that it was particularly worrying. Bay Area scientists agreed that recombination due to delta and omicron coinfection isnt surprising. The two variants overlapped in much of the world from November to February, before omicron took over and delta all but disappeared. So scientists expected that some people could have become infected with both variants at the same time, and in a few of those cases the variants could have swapped mutations as they replicated in the body. Finding evidence of recombination can be tricky, though, because it requires sorting through massive sets of sequencing data and untangling multiple viral strains. Viruses tend to change characteristics over time by developing mutations when they reproduce. Health experts have long been alarmed by the rampant spread of SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID because more reproduction means more opportunities to mutate and potentially acquire traits that make it more infectious or better able to evade immunity or cause severe illness. Indeed, throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the spawning of new variants has constantly upended efforts to control the spread of disease, leading to new surges every few months. Recombination also has been much discussed as a potential path for forming new variants: Essentially, large swaths of one variants genomic sequence are replaced with material from a second variant. Scientists noted that so far none of the variants of concern that have dominated worldwide from alpha through omicron appear to have developed through recombination. Even omicron, which startled scientists when it was identified in November for its many mutations, is believed to have evolved over some period of time rather than forming spontaneously. Omicron did not result from recombination, but in theory a big jump in evolutionary advantage could happen with recombination, said William Lee, chief science officer at Helix and an author of the recombination paper. 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. Helix has done genomic sequencing for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more than a year and has access to samples from across the country. Scientists there decided to start hunting for examples of coinfection and possible recombination earlier this year. They analyzed nearly 30,000 samples and identified 20 that were coinfections. From those 20 samples, they found two cases of recombination. That so few recombination events were found should be reassuring, scientists said. Its more about the recombination as an additional method to create viral diversity, as opposed to this idea that we need to be super scared of this particular recombinant, said Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, head of the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory, who was not involved in the Helix research. The worst-case scenario would be if it were to recombine such that we get the worst of both worlds. From the evidence so far, it appears thats not the case with this variant. Scientists said they may never fully understand how recombination plays out in deltacron whether it causes more severe illness or evades immunity or has other traits that make it more or less threatening than other variants. Though the potential for a worst case combination of delta and omicron may seem alarming, Pinsky noted that its possible the various mutations from each variant may, in a sense, cancel each other out. Some of the mutations that make omicron more transmissible may also make it less severe, for example, he said. We dont necessarily understand how those characteristics of the virus are intertwined. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday This week was my baby brother Tyrell Wilsons birthday. I remember well the day he was born. I was 10 years old. When I woke up that morning, my mother told me that he would arrive soon. And it was thrilling. For weeks, I had barely been able to keep still in my fifth-grade classroom in anticipation of being called to the office to be taken to the hospital. Thats because my mom wanted me in the room when she delivered. Because I was so young, I attended special classes at Kaiser so that I would be prepared for all that I would see. And so, when the moment finally came, there I was. At one point, my mothers contractions got too strong, and she kicked me out of the room. But as soon as Tyrells head began to crown she and the nurses called me in. She wanted me to see the miracle. And I did. I was the first one to hold him. At that moment things changed. As I held his wrinkled body, I was no longer an only child. I was a big sister. On March 11, 2021, 32 years after I held him in that hospital room, Andrew Hall, a Danville police officer, killed my brother. Lets be clear: I did not lose Tyrell. He was taken. I remember that day, too. My brother didnt respond to my texts. My mother called me during lunch, and, with a strained voice, she began to tell me the reason why. I found out why Ty hasnt been responding ... I listened carefully because she had that I can only say this once voice. They killed him. They shot him. Hes dead. Then her voice cracked, and she hung up. For a moment, I thought my mother had gotten something wrong, or my mind had somehow mixed up someone elses story. I was teaching virtually at the time because of COVID-19. Right after being told that my brother had been killed, I had to put on a smile and welcome my eighth-graders into our Zoom class. My mom flew into Oakland praying for a miracle, but any moments of uncertainty we had left disappeared when she officially identified her sons body. I teach U.S. history. I teach students about the Constitution, and about rights and freedoms. I teach them about justice and equality, about wars, genocide and the darkest moments of American history. Yet none of this prepared me to teach them about the horrible injustice that impacted my family and other families across the country who look like me. Now here we are a year later. The wounds have not healed, and the Danville Police officer who shot Tyrell has not been charged for the killing. He has, however, been convicted of killing someone else. He was sentenced last week to six years in prison for killing an unarmed man, Laudemer Arboleda, by shooting him nine times in 2018. But what about Tyrell? Am I to teach my students that we are all equal under the law unless you are handed a badge and a state-issued gun? Am I to tell them that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness applies to them only until a person with a badge and gun decides that your life doesnt matter? Am I to tell my students that California, the progressive state, has special rules to protect police officers when they commit a crime? I know that officer Hall will be brought up on charges, be convicted and be sentenced to more prison time. That is only just. But when? How many more birthdays are we expected to endure knowing that Tyrells not here that his life was stolen? How many more birthdays will my mother have to barricade herself in her room for the day just to breathe and grieve and muster up the strength to continue fighting again for justice for her son? This week is my baby brothers birthday. I am, once again, an only child because Andrew Hall decided to kill my brother, Tyrell Wilson. IAsha Warfield is a public school teacher in Oakland. In 2013, she was awarded a California Teacher of the Year award by the California Teachers of the Year Foundation. A New York Times photo of a woman and her two children killed by a Russian mortar as they tried to flee Ukraine captured the world's attention this week. The woman was 43-year-old Tatiana Perebeinis, chief accountant at SE Ranking, a Palo Alto tech firm. Her children were 18-year-old Nikita and 9-year-old Alise. The father of the family, Sergii, was not with them as they fled because he was caring for his ailing mother. On this episode of the Fifth & Mission podcast, Chronicle reporter Carolyn Said shares details of Tatiana's life she learned from Sergii with host Cecilia Lei, and SE Ranking's Ksenia Khirvonina talks about what preserving Tatiana's memory means for the world. Photo above: Tatiana Perebeinis and her son Nikita. Tatiana worked in Ukraine for SE Ranking, a Palo Alto company. Gabriel Harber Photography SACRAMENTO Activist and author Michael Shellenberger announced Thursday that he will run for California governor as an independent, adding a well-known Bay Area figure to the thin field of challengers facing Gov. Gavin Newsom. Im running because Im absolutely heartbroken by the humanitarian homeless disaster occurring on our streets, Shellenberger told Inside California Politics. Im also really angry that the politicians wont do what everybody knows must be done to deal with that problem. Last months landslide recall of San Franciscos three school board commissioners drew an outsize amount of attention and commentary, sparking a national debate over what the results tell us about who voted and why. Voting data on individuals is not public, but it is possible to see results by precinct and compare them to the precincts demographics and prior voting behavior. Researchers can examine, for instance, the share of a precinct that is Democratic or estimate its share of Asian American voters, and show how these characteristics relate to voting outcomes. Thats what Boston College Professor Michael Hartney, a political scientist who studies education politics, did once the county finalized the recall results in late February. Hartney, who shared his analysis with The Chronicle, examined a range of characteristics of voters in a precinct to better understand the recall, including a precincts progressivity, its share of registered Democrats, past election results, the demographic makeup of the electorate and even whether a precinct had one of the 44 district schools proposed to be renamed. His analysis pointed to Lowell High Schools admissions change as perhaps the key factor leading to the landslide result, even after accounting for many other possible factors. Hartney found a particularly strong association between views on affirmative action and support for the school board recall. Precincts with larger shares of voters opposing the 2020 statewide Proposition 16 which would have reinstated affirmative action in public education and employment were far more likely to support recalling the school board members. Hartney thinks this connection between the recall and affirmative action relates to the boards decision to replace Lowell High Schools academic-based admissions policy to a lottery-based system. Supporters of the change think lottery-based admissions will improve race equity at a school that is historically overrepresented by Asians and underrepresented by Latino and Black students. In a similar vein, supporters of affirmative action want to make race a factor in admissions, ultimately in pursuit of race equity, said Hartney. The analysis also showed a strong correlation between the share of Asian voters in a precinct and the proportion of people who voted for the recall, regardless of the candidate. This suggests to Hartney that the recall was not a referendum on any commissioners individual actions, but on the entire boards policies and priorities. Hartney thinks the admissions change at Lowell is one such policy that particularly energized Asian voters a demographic that is disproportionately represented at Lowell and may experience a harder admissions process under the new lottery system. The incoming freshmen in the 2020-21 school year the last freshman class admitted through academic-based admissions was 54% Asian, compared to the district-wide Asian freshman share of 40%. The delayed reopening of schools and Alison Collins 2016 tweets in which she wrote that some Asian Americans use white supremacist thinking to assimilate and get ahead were other reasons cited by Asian parents for backing the recall. Data on the share of Asian voters comes from the California Statewide Database and its surname classification algorithm, which categorizes individual surnames listed on voter files using ethnic surname dictionaries. Using this data, Hartney averaged the precinct-level counts of voters with Asian surnames who participated in the 2020 presidential and 2021 Newsom recall elections. David Lee, who is the executive director of the Chinese American Voters Education Committee, agrees that Lowell was a key factor in the election. In comparison, Asian turnout in 2020 and 2021 was lower than citywide turnout by 10 and 12 points, respectively. Moreover, precincts with higher Asian voter participation were associated with higher recall support. His estimates are also based on the last names of San Francisco voters. Hartney also looked at the relationship between recall support and the share of Jewish voters in a precinct data that comes from the Statewide Databases surname matching methodology. He found that precincts with larger shares of Jewish voters were more likely to recall the school board members and hypothesizes that this connection is also explained by the changes at Lowell High School Hartney thinks Lowell has a disproportionate number of Jewish students, but The Chronicle could not find data to support this. While the relationship between recall support and the share of Jewish voters is hard to see in the scatter plots below, Hartney found a significant association between Jewish voters and recall support when he ran a statistical analysis that accounted for other demographic and political variables. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. But the data shows that demographic groups are not monoliths. While majority-Asian precincts have, on average, voted in less progressive ways, precincts with majority Black and majority white residents also have electorates that fall on the less progressive end of the spectrum. Similarly, Asian Americans appear divided on affirmative action. In 2020, while Proposition 16 failed to pass, it brought Asian Americans to the center of the debate, as a group likely to be impacted by the change. At the University of California, for instance, Asian students make up the largest student demographic, and the expectation was that race-based admissions would lead to a dip in Asian enrollment at elite universities. But in San Francisco, results from Proposition 16 show majority-Asian precincts either supported the proposition or were split on the matter. Overall, almost two-thirds of San Francisco voters supported bringing back affirmative action. Of the roughly 600 San Francisco precincts, only 40 had majorities opposing it. And while many of these precincts were in the predominantly Asian Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods, their results were not overwhelmingly in opposition the no vote share fell between 55% and 60%. Although he believes opposition to Lowell was a driving factor behind the landslide victory for the recall, Hartney says its important to remember that more than two-thirds of all voters supported the recall of each commissioner. Even in parts of the city that most supported affirmative action and have the smallest Asian populations, the majority still voted to recall the board members. Nami Sumida is a San Francisco Chronicle data visualization developer. Email: nami.sumida@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @namisumida This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With three new San Francisco school board members tapped Friday following a historic recall, many families in the district want to know what the political shuffling will mean for Lowell High School and whether the new members could tip the scales back to a merit-based admission policy at the academically elite school. The San Francisco Unified School District is expected to reopen the debate this spring over stripping the academically prestigious school of merit-based admissions in favor of a lottery, reviving arguments over equity, racism and achievement in public schools. The three new board members say they want an open and deliberative process to consider restoring some kind of merit-based admissions at Lowell. Mayor London Breed tapped Ann Hsu, an entrepreneur; Lainie Motamedi, a government policy analyst; and Lisa Weissman-Ward, an immigrant rights law professor, to replace the recalled commissioners. Hsu is the most vocal of the three in her support for an academically based admissions process. Merit-based should be restored, she said Friday after the swearing-in ceremony. And things need to be done to prepare more kids from the underserved communities. Motamedi said she wants to embark on a public process to determine Lowells future but is focused on ensuring all high schools are able to offer what families want and need to make them feel confident about their childs future. Weissman-Ward said she is not opposed to merit-based admissions, but the real issue is increasing access to academically rigorous programs and looking at whether test scores are the best way to evaluate students. Lowell was a key factor in the recall, according to a recent data analysis. During the pandemic, the school board voted to switch Lowells admissions to a lottery-based system for one year to address concerns over the lack of grades and test scores. The board then voted to make the switch permanent, sparking a lawsuit from opponents who argued that the school board failed to give the public adequate notice about the vote. After a judge denied the boards decision to switch to a permanent lottery system, the district adopted a short-term fix: a one-year extension of the lottery. The new board is expected to decide on a permanent process moving forward. Over the past few years, opponents of the academic admissions policy argued it was elitist and racist against Black and brown students, who were underrepresented in the school compared with their presence in the district. After switching to a lottery, the school saw diversity soar, with more Black and brown students enrolled. But supporters said moving to a lottery would harm Asian American students, who are overrepresented at Lowell, and harm high-achieving students. 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. Theres also the question of whether merit-based admissions are legal: A 1990s state law generally prohibits the use of academic achievement for admission to regular public schools. The schools alumni association recently sent a letter to the district arguing the policy is in fact legal. Recalled board members Alison Collins, Gabriela Lopez and Faauuga Moliga supported converting Lowell admissions to a lottery, largely to address the disproportionately low numbers of Black and brown students in the school. Current board members Matt Alexander and Mark Sanchez also supported the change. Jenny Lam, who is taking over from Lopez as board president, and board member Kevine Boggess opposed the decision. Its unclear if the new board would want to keep the process lottery-based, revert to the old system of test scores and grades, or find a third, merit-based approach that might result in more diversity than the old system. Lam said that while Lowell is a topic for the board to address, the priorities for the coming weeks and months will be hiring a new superintendent and taking a deep dive into achievement gaps and how to tackle them, using data. In San Francisco, we care deeply about our public schools, Lam said after the mayors announcement and the swearing-in of the board members. We have some core things we need to address first. We need to govern. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker The woman at the center of a San Francisco police scandal after investigators used evidence from her sexual assault exam to link her to an unrelated property crime is planning to sue the Police Department, saying the incident made her feel like she was reliving her trauma all over again. If I cant even trust the police, she said, who can I trust? The woman in an interview with The Chronicle said she was first contacted by police a few months ago, after neighbors called police to her home for a loud fight she was having with her boyfriend. The police soon left but then came back with a warrant for her arrest. She didnt realize at the time that that she had been tied to a recent property crime from a rape exam that she had given in 2016. She was kept in custody until last month, when her attorney told her that her charges were being dropped because of how police linked her to the crime. The woman said she should have been happy to be released but stayed at home depressed for days. When you feel like you have nobody to talk to about it, its a lonely feeling, she said. Im still adjusting how I feel. The woman felt that police failed to protect her privacy, and didnt treat her like a citizen. I kind of absorb pain, she said, wiping tears from her eyes. It was just kind of like, Why is this happening to me? And just making me feel really bad. The Chronicle granted the woman anonymity for this story and does not typically identify victims of sexual assault. While the woman said she used to feel comfortable at least confiding in police, she has long felt they were unable to protect her. Her belief stems from trauma in the womans childhood, when her mother was killed by her boyfriend. The woman said she and her sister were being sexually abused by their mothers boyfriend and that someone from her school reported it to police. The girl and her siblings were taken out of the home, which prompted the boyfriend to confront her mother about the allegations. And he murdered her, the woman said. The officer who investigated the sex abuse came to the funeral, she said, and apologized for not protecting the girl and her mother, which is what I asked for, she said. I asked to be protected and for my family to be protected. Even at a young age, she said, she learned that sometimes going to the police wasnt in her best interest. After the recent incident with her rape-kit DNA, the woman said, Basically Im reliving stuff all over again. Adante Pointer, an Oakland civil rights attorney representing the woman, called the practice Orwellian and has filed a notice of a claim, a precursor to a lawsuit. We hope that the practice of weaponizing victims DNA against them is ended, Pointer said. We also want to ensure that this practice doesnt ensnare anyone else. The womans interview comes nearly a month after District Attorney Chesa Boudin revealed that the Police Departments crime lab stored DNA from rape victims indefinitely in a database. The database, Boudin said, was regularly searched to identify suspects in crimes. At the time, Boudin said his office was aware of one person who was arrested as a result of this practice but did not disclose other details about the woman, other than to say she was arrested for a property crime. Boudin dropped the case against her, saying that her constitutional rights were likely violated. The revelation prompted a national outcry, particularly from sexual assault victim advocates, who said the practice would have a chilling effect on reporting the crimes to law enforcement. The San Francisco Police Department is conducting an audit to determine how many other victims could have been identified or arrested through this practice. Police Chief Bill Scott said he supports legislation that would end the practice in San Francisco and elsewhere and that the department has already implemented an interim policy change. We must never create a disincentive for sexual assault survivors or any crime victim to cooperate with police, Scott said in a recent statement. 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. However, some say that the current policy change doesnt go far enough and would still allow victim profiles to remain in a database thats searched by crime lab employees. Policy documents reviewed by The Chronicle detailed how the crime lab operates whats known as quality assurance database, which held DNA profiles from several categories of individuals including rape victims and was routinely tested against suspect DNA found at later crime scenes. The quality assurance database has two components. One includes every single source and ... evidence profile analyzed since tracking began in 2015, which could include DNA profiles from rape suspects, sexual assault victims, child victims, consensual sex partners of rape victims or other people unrelated to a crime whose DNA may be found at a crime scene. DNA evidence from victims or other non-suspects is collected and stored in order to separate it from that of the suspected offender. The second component is an elimination database that holds DNA samples from lab staff members, visitors and police officers, to test for DNA contamination. According to internal emails reviewed by The Chronicle, the Police Departments new policy does not remove victims DNA profiles from the searchable database. Instead, it states that if DNA from a victims rape kit matched DNA found at another crime scene, analysts would not be allowed to share this information with anyone outside the crime lab. State Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen are both seeking legislation to ban the practice. Ronens measure would would require police to dispose of the DNA samples within 60 days and prohibit police searches against the database within the 60 days. It would also require police to purge all victim DNA profiles by June 1. In an interview, Ronen said she had considered scrapping the proposal after hearing that the Police Department had already ended the practice. However, she said, self-policing doesnt go far enough. Clearly, we cant trust the judgment of the very people who engaged in this practice for years as far as we know, Ronen said. The fact that the (new) policy ... still allows the crime lab to store victim data and potentially search against it is just unacceptable. Megan Cassidy (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, Twitter: @meganrcassidy This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Cruising along Skyline Ridge last month beneath oaks and redwoods flanking the roadway, Brian Malone reflected on his 30-year career with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, most of which he spent as a ranger patrolling forested preserves in the hills above the Peninsula. The Santa Cruz Mountains are a patchwork of nature parks and preserves, each neatly marked with welcome signs, parking areas, restrooms and trailheads. But Malone, one of the longest-tenured employees at Midpen, as the district is known, remembers when many of its properties were acquired and converted. It was comically informal. Wed literally take down the No Trespassing sign and slap up a district sign, he said with a chuckle. That was the cool early part of the district. Lance Yamamoto/Special to The Chronicle Malone was always one of the first to explore the newly acquired lands, and they were full of surprises. Deep in the woods of what is now El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve, above Woodside, Malone remembers stumbling onto a secret off-road motorcycle park where dirt bikers had been tooling around since the 1960s. In earlier eras, the untamed nature of the hills attracted all sorts of countercultural activities, from nude hippie gatherings to mountain biking rallies to illegal marijuana farming. Even after Midpen bought the properties, it often took years for them to become the popular hiking destinations they are today. We had no trail signs, Malone said of El Corte de Madera, which became a preserve in the 1980s. Youd almost have to be in the know to know it was a public parkland. This year, Midpen, a special publicly funded district, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. It has come a long way since its formative years. What began as a conservation passion project of a Palo Alto piano teacher in 1972 has grown into a system of more than 65,000 acres in 26 open space preserves located primarily across the wooded mountains and rolling grasslands above San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Along the way, Midpens ethos has evolved in line with a heightened awareness among Bay Area residents of natures importance to the well-being of people and the planet. Its preserves have helped frame development on the Peninsula providing room for mountain lions and other wild creatures to range just a stones throw from Silicon Valley and are widely considered an asset to the regions quality of life. Theyve become especially important since the pandemic, as more people are getting outdoors. In 2020, visitation at the preserves nearly doubled from previous years to more than 3.8 million visits. We definitely get more attention than we used to, Malone said, which is a good thing. At first, the goal was to shield the wild foothills against development, says Nonette Hanko, the districts 90-year-old founder who lives in Palo Alto. Hanko grew up in Burlingame in the 1930s and remembers jaunting into the mountains for family walks and weekend picnics off Skyline Boulevard. Swaths of the landscape had been logged in the late 19th century, but Hanko doesnt remember visiting designated parklands or seeing more than a few rustic homes. Locals enjoyed the range as one giant backyard forest. Provided by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District By the time Hanko had married and settled in Palo Alto to raise her four children, the subdivisions that had fanned across the lowlands and supplanted the Peninsulas orchards in the 1950s and 1960s were encroaching uphill toward the ridgeline. She would open the newspaper and read about proposals to build thousands of new homes along Skyline and think, that doesnt seem right. I could see some of the plans being made were on the beautiful open spaces that I used to go and play on when I was a little girl, Hanko said. So it just looked like something needed to be done to protect our area. Aided by supportive editorials in the now-defunct Palo Alto Times newspaper and backed by the Palo Alto Civic League, Hanko tried to pressure the City Council to buy foothill parcels and leave them untouched. Eventually, she and a group of friends persuaded Santa Clara County lawmakers to put Measure R on the 1972 ballot supporting a property tax that would fund the creation of a new open space district. They called it the Room to Breathe initiative; it passed with more than 67% voter approval. Lance Yamamoto/Special to The Chronicle The districts first purchase was a 212-acre parcel on Page Mill Road. Today, it is Foothills Preserve, where a single trail leads to a hilltop with panoramic views stretching from San Jose north to San Francisco. There have been some squabbles with landowners and developers over the years, Hanko said, as well as funding challenges, but she feels fortunate to have inspired support for her cause for five straight decades. She attributes it to a shared reverence for the natural beauty. If youve seen the property undeveloped and youve walked through it, you never want to see a house there. You want everyone else to be able to see it the same way you do, she said. It should remain as open space forever. Ten years ago, Midpen managers came to a realization about the land they had acquired. Its 26 properties encompass coastal grasslands, redwood forests, wetlands and watersheds. Visitation had nearly doubled between 1995 and 2010 as the Bay Areas population grew and public sentiment around outdoor recreation swelled. The landscape was capable of supporting a range of benefits both to people and wildlife and with input from its visitors, the district produced a 40-year vision plan. We wanted to further the goals of creating a greenbelt along the Peninsula where we can restore natural resources and preserve habitat, said district General Manager Ana Maria Ruiz. Now, with climate change, were thinking about how we maintain these lands so theyre resilient, so wildlife can adapt to the drought and other impacts. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle In 2014, district voters approved Measure AA, a $300 million general obligation bond to support the districts open space preserves, securing Midpens long-term future. While the district still purchases properties and rolls out new trails and visitor areas, its emphasis has shifted toward rehabilitating the land, Ruiz said. Nurturing fish habitat in the spring-fed creeks threading the slopes that feed into the ocean. Removing an acacia forest to foster native regrowth. Managing forests to better withstand wildfire. Thinking regionally about how its properties fit into wildlife corridors. An example of this is the 19,344-acre Sierra Azul Preserve, the districts largest property, crowned by the 3,486-foot-high Mount Umunhum, which offers panoramic views of the South Bay. The peak of Mount Um, as its known, was bought from the federal government in the 1980s it was formerly the site of a U.S. Air Force radar station but remained largely off-limits to the public. In 2009, the district received funding to remove most of the radar station and make the summit area as a visitor destination. It was outfitted with parking, trails and observation decks and opened to visitors in 2017. We took a landscape that was pretty much devoid of nature, because itd been so heavily disturbed, and brought back more of the natural contours, Ruiz said. Its now quite spectacular. Gregory Thomas / The Chronicle Driving along Skyline last month, Malone expressed pride in his work at the district. It employs 180 people, and its preserves are free to visitors. Whats more, its cause has been reaffirmed time and again by voter and taxpayer support, he said. Weve always felt like a peoples movement, Malone said. One of the things he is excited about is the possibility of establishing a hiking route from Skyline to the ocean, beginning at Purisima Creek Redwoods and snaking downhill through Half Moon Bay. A key piece of property south of downtown that Midpen bought last fall which surrounds the iconic James Johnston saltbox house visible from Highway 1 brings the trail idea closer to reality. Maybe in a decade, Malone said. Now is the districts most active time in my entire career, he said. What makes us so exciting is that were not a static park district hanging onto the same land for 50 years. Were constantly growing and changing, Malone said. Theres never been a time in my work here when we werent working on new things. Gregory Thomas is The Chronicles editor of lifestyle & outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @GregRThomas Want to abandon everything and navigate an event's van during the hot California summer? Then Sierra Nevada may have the job for you. On March 9, the craft beer company announced its latest employment search for its new "chief strainge officer," a position tasked with promoting its hard kombucha brand along the California coast at various events and outdoor spaces. But is it really as dreamy an opportunity as it sounds? Many adult beverage brands are known to create these off-the-cuff gigs with alluring perks to, of course, get consumers abuzz about their latest products. Murphy-Goode Winery, for example, went viral last March with its $10,000 per month salary and free rent in Sonoma County. The description included promises of wine-sippin' amid picturesque backgrounds. In the same vein, beer company Michelob ULTRA also created a position for someone to "explore some of America's iconic national parks in a camper van." Don't worry. The van was equipped with a shower and bathroom. Sierra Nevada's latest position, however, just may be one of California's more ridiculous summer jobs. It pays $20,000 over a two-month touring period in June and July where the would-be candidate is tasked with driving around in the Strainge Beast van, staying in random hotels around the state while slinging its new hard kombucha at various locations. It's a temporary summer appointment that will leave its chosen one to find a new job in August when all is said and done. The first stop is scheduled in Sacramento before heading down to Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and ending the fermented-fueled tour in San Francisco where the chief "strainge" officer will work the Outside Lands music festival. Courtesy of Sierra Nevada Besides driving thousands of miles in a loudly decorated van promoting the brand, a spokesperson for Sierra Nevada, Ashlee Mooneyhan, told SFGATE that the gig also includes a year's supply of hard kombucha, a $200 per city adventure stipend for days off, two plane tickets of up to $5,000 to anywhere in the world, and of course, access to Outside Lands at the end of this strange trip. The application process is now live and open to candidates living in the U.S. over 21 years old with a valid drivers license. Mooneyhan said details on what types of hotels the candidate will stay at are still being determined and that knowing how to change a tire is not necessarily a requirement for the job, in case of unforeseen bumps in the road. "We'll definitely want to make sure that they're in a very safe and comfortable environment. We have a per diem to set aside for the person's food and accommodations," she said. "In the event that those kind of unexpected things happen, we'll certainly have plans in place to make sure that they're well taken care of and that they're able to be safe." So if you have a flexible work situation, or are in need of a temporary summertime job that involves driving a crazy-looking van from Sacramento to San Diego while hawking hard kombucha to thirsty Californians looking for a good buzz, may the odds be in your favor. The good news is that there's finally rain in the forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area that has seen prolonged stretches of dry weather since the start of the year. The bad news is that the chances are slight and what rain does fall is likely to be light. The first weak system arrives on Saturday night into Sunday morning when there's a 25% to 30% chance for rain in the North Bay and a 15% chance in San Francisco and Oakland, the National Weather Service said. "It's going to be an upper-level trough that moves more into Southern Oregon and could extend down into Northern California," said David King, a forecaster with the weather service. "It looks like it could clip the North Bay. The chances are very small but it wouldn't be a surprise if we get some sprinkles in the North Bay." Rainfall is unlikely to be anything too spectacular, and most areas will stay below 0.05 inches with only favored higher peaks such as Mount Tamalpais approaching the 0.10 inch mark. Sunday afternoon and evening are expected to be dry, with a second system arriving Monday night into Tuesday morning and bringing a 30% to 40% chance of rain across the Bay Area. While the system is expected to favor the North Bay, King said models show that it is likely to move southward. "It's certainly no atmospheric river by an stretch of the imagination, but it's still going to be some rain," King said. Rainfall amounts are expected to be the highest for the coastal mountains of Sonoma County with 0.25 inch possible. The interior North Bay will staying closer to the 0.10 inch mark, and areas farther inland and to the south will likely see much less. Afternoon highs on Friday will be in the 60s across the region with some of the warmest inland locations inching into the low 70s. Saturday and Sunday will be slightly cooler than Friday. You are no longer required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test at most indoor locations in San Francisco and the city of Berkeley beginning Friday. This includes businesses serving food and drink, such as restaurants and bars, and places where elevated breathing occurs, such as gyms and fitness studios, public health officials said. Businesses can opt to be more restrictive than local health guidelines and continue to ask for proof of vaccination or a negative test from staff and clients. The cities are still requiring that you show proof of vaccination or a negative test at large indoor events of 1,000 people or more. San Francisco was the first city in the nation to require proof of vaccination before entering indoor businesses, and it's lifting the mandate as cases and hospitalizations go down. The city's seven-day average was 110 cases per day on March 1, compared with 1,346 cases per day on Jan. 1. The city's seven-day average was 105 new cases per day on March 3, compared to 1,531 new cases per day a month ago. "With cases and hospitalizations continuing to fall and our high vaccination rate providing a strong defense against the virus, San Francisco is ready to further reduce COVID-19 restrictions and allow individuals to make their own decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones," Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said in a statement released on Wednesday. "The proof of vaccination and testing requirements served their purpose in keeping these spaces as safe as possible for staff and patrons. Rolling it back is part of coming out of crisis mode and learning to live with the virus." Richard Drew/Associated Press Goldman Sachs is leaving Russia, becoming the first big U.S. bank to exit the country after Western governments imposed a raft of sanctions intended to cripple the Russian economy.Goldman Sachs is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements, Andrea Williams, a spokesperson for the bank, said in an email. We are focused on supporting our clients across the globe in managing or closing out preexisting obligations in the market and ensuring the well-being of our people.The investment banking giant has about 80 employees in Russia and is arranging for the departures of those who have asked to leave, Williams said, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg News. Some employees in Goldmans legal and compliance divisions will remain in the country. At the end of 2021, the New York bank had more than $700 million in exposure to Russia, linked to loans and financial products like stocks and bonds, according to a filing. Although Goldman has had a presence in Russia, its business there is a small slice of the banks global operations. Two years since the start of the pandemic, travel is finally coming back. But a lot has changed in the age of COVID-19. Staying at home allowed many people more time to focus on their health and well-being. As part of that, many patients began using medical marijuana. By mid-2020, it was estimated that 3.6 million people used medical marijuana in the United States. Using cannabis when everyone was staying at home was easy. But using it out-of-state? Thats where things get dicey. If youre navigating travel with medical marijuana for the first time, you might be wondering, how do I bring medical marijuana with me on a plane? Dont worryweve got you covered. RELATED: What THC to CBD ratio is right for me? We asked health experts how to choose the right cannabis product We spoke with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on how Americans can travel with medical marijuana in toe. Heres what they told us: Is it legal to bring medical marijuana on a plane? Short answer? No. Heres how TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers broke it down for us: The TSA operates under federal law. As such, they will report any substances found that are not legal under federal law if found. Since cannabis is not yet legal in the United States, the TSA is obligated to report any cannabis products found to law enforcement. What happens then? RELATED: My dog ate weed. What should I do? We asked veterinarians how cannabis affects canines There are a lot of different ways this could play out. From here, you could simply be stuck at security, waiting for law enforcement, only to have them throw out the substance and send you on your way. There have even been some reports of the TSA throwing out the product and sending passengers along with a warning without ever calling law enforcement, but thats more likely to happen in a state where cannabis is legal. The worst-case scenario? Federal criminal prosecution of up to five years and a $250,000 fine for transporting an illegal drug across state lines. *Gulp.* The federal penalty for transporting cannabis across state lines is harsh and can be inflicted even if you are transporting cannabis from one state where it is legal to another. Dankers says, TSAs response to the discovery of marijuana is the same in every state and at every airportregardless of whether marijuana has been or is going to be legalized. This also covers medical marijuana. Theres one slight exception to this: Albany International Airport and several other airports in New York State announced last year that their police are no longer issuing tickets or making arrests for less than three ounces of cannabis found. But heres the longer answer. RELATED: They say marijuana is stronger these days. But exactly how much stronger is todays cannabis? While traditional cannabis may still be federally illegal, cannabis products containing less than 0.3% THC (i.e. hemp/CBD products) were legalized under the U.S. Farm Bill in 2018. So while you may not want to bring a joint with you on a plane, you wont risk federal punishment by bringing CBD oil or Delta-8 products in your bag. Just be sure your airline doesnt have any rules prohibiting CBD, Delta-8, or hemp products on board. Dankers added that FDA-approved cannabis-derived or cannabis-related drug products, such as Epidiolex, can also be legally transported across state lines. Also, according to Dankers, the TSA is not looking for your weed. No offense, but they have more important things to look for. TSAs focus is on terrorism and security threats to the aircraft and its passengers, Dankers told GreenState. TSAs screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Essentially, the TSA isnt going to actively look for your stash in your carry-on or checked baggageits just not what they're concerned about. So, if you can get your stash past airport security, youre probably in the clear. Of course, you could still be charged with possession if youre flying to a state where medical marijuana is illegal. Bottom line: pack weed at your own risk. No bud is worth time in jail. How should I pack medical marijuana? Weve already covered the dangers of bringing cannabis products containing more than 0.3% THC with you on a plane. But lets assume youve decided to bring a CBD cream with you on vacation. How should you do it? The answer is pretty straightforward: When packing cannabis-related items, dont treat them any differently than your other belongings. If youre bringing CBD oil or CBD cream in a carry-on bag, just be sure its in a 3.4-ounce container or smaller to comply with the TSAs liquids rule. And again, be sure your airline doesnt have any specific guidelines for bringing cannabis-related products on the plane. Concerned about keeping your products fresh in flight? Check out our tips for properly storing cannabis. Should I bring anything to prove Im bringing cannabis for medical purposes, not recreational? Dankers said TSA is obligated to treat cannabis the same way in every airport, regardless of whether it is intended for medical or recreational use, or what the state laws are concerning medical and recreational cannabis. This is because the TSA abides under federal law. Under federal law, both medical and recreational cannabis is illegal. That said, it cant hurt to bring evidence of medicinal use, such as a signed recommendation for medical marijuana from your doctor and/or a medical marijuana card, which could be presented if law enforcement becomes involved at any point on your trip. For patients who rely on medical marijuana, theres no sugar-coating it: air travel with cannabis is difficult, if not impossible. To play it safe, travel with CBD or other cannabis products containing less than 0.3% THC, and bring your medical marijuana card as evidence of medicinal use. You can always travel to cannabis-friendly states where you can replenish your stash on arrival. Elissa Esher is an editor at GreenState. Her work has also appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Guardian, Brooklyn Paper, Religion Unplugged, and Iridescent Women. Send inquiries and tips to elli.esher@greenstate.com. This article first appeared on GreenState, a cannabis lifestyle blog owned by Hearst. The 2022 MLB season was increasingly looking dead on arrival until Thursday, when the leagues owners and players miraculously agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. Reportedly, the offseason will resume in short order like, as soon as Thursday which means clubs will have to move very, very quickly to address the holes on their rosters while also opening up spring training in earnest. (An unfortunate casualty of the shortened ramp-up period is the Bay Bridge Series, though only the preseason version.) San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer seems to recognize as much. On a call with reporters after the MLB lockout news was announced, Baer spoke frankly about the clubs next steps. We are primed to be out there in the market, he said. ... Like a lot of teams, were going to be pretty aggressive. This is going to be a flurry, a frenzied period. Weve been preparing for it. Typically, front offices are pretty careful about the language theyre willing to employ, since you dont want to overpromise and underdeliver. Were going to be pretty aggressive is the sort of thing that can come back to bite you if it doesnt work out. So what moves might the Giants pursue? Their biggest decision revolves around Kris Bryant, the 30-year-old third baseman acquired from the Cubs in the middle of the 2021 season. Hes seeking a big contract and will have plenty of legitimate suitors whove yet to be identified. (So far, all we really know is the Mets might not be interested.) Bryant aside, the Giants are still building out their rotation. Anthony DeSclafani signed a three-year contract to return to the team in November; Alex Wood is also back on a new contract. The only other notable pitching addition thus far is Alex Cobb, formerly of the Los Angeles Angels. There are still a bunch of star-caliber players up for grabs; one, All-Star outfielder Nick Castellanos, was drawing interest from the Giants back in November 2021. Well know whom the Giants decide to go after in the coming days (maybe even hours!). They don't fully control the skies, despite possessing one of the world's most advanced air forces. Their ground assault on the capital has been inching along for days, with a miles-long convoy marooned by supply problems. And all the while, they are taking heavy losses - both in equipment and personnel, as estimates suggest more dead troops than America suffered during 20 years of war in Afghanistan. Two weeks after Russian forces streamed into neighboring Ukraine following months of buildup, evidence is mounting that the invasion has not gone to plan - and that Russia's much-vaunted military may not be the formidable force once feared. "The word I'm hearing from everybody in the government who is watching this is 'surprising.' My own word is 'shocking,'" said Barry Pavel, a former top Pentagon official who is now senior vice president at the Atlantic Council. "It's shocking how incompetent they are in the basics of joint military operations by an advanced country." That doesn't mean Russia won't ultimately seize Kyiv and topple the Ukrainian government. And it doesn't mean Ukraine won't pay a horrific price in both military and civilian casualties, as it continues to do daily. But the stumbling pace of Russia's assault since President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine late last month - marked by apparent confusion among commanders plus viral images of downed Russian planes and tanks set alight - has reset expectations for how the conflict will unfold. And it probably has raised the ultimate cost - to both Ukraine and Russia - of any eventual Russian victory, especially as Moscow appears to have abandoned plans for a lightning advance, relying instead on shelling besieged cities and launching unguided bombs from the sky. "What's the number of civilians killed by days and days and days of artillery? What's the number that leads to a more favorable Russian position?" Pavel asked. "I'm really worried about that." While the invasion has turned into a bloody slog in the face of a fierce Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces have continued to make slow advances around multiple cities - particularly in the south, where several major cities appear in danger of falling in the coming days. Only one major city, Kherson, has so far been taken by the Russians. In the north, progress has been tougher to discern. The British Defense Ministry said Friday that Russia appeared to be repositioning its troops north of the capital and could soon launch new operations against Kyiv, after a protracted stretch in which a long column of Russian vehicles had stalled. Satellite images, meanwhile, appeared to show the column breaking up into smaller contingents. A senior U.S. defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, had said Thursday that leading elements of that advance were nine miles from the center of Kyiv, down from about 12 miles for the prior several days. The official described the movement of the column as "creeping" and said it was "very difficult" to predict how long it could take for Russian forces to make a more serious movement. Another advance on Kyiv from the east was just under 20 miles from the city center. Airstrikes, meanwhile, targeted sites in western Ukraine, authorities said Friday, signaling the possible expansion of the war beyond the country's east and center. As of Thursday, the Russians had launched 775 missiles at Ukraine since the invasion began, the senior defense official said. The number continues to climb by a few dozen per day. But Britain's Defense Ministry said Thursday that there had been a "notable decrease" in Russian air activity over Ukraine in recent days. In an intelligence briefing, officials said the slowdown probably was due to the "unexpected effectiveness and endurance of Ukrainian air defense forces." Officials added that the large Russian column north of Kyiv had "made little progress in over a week and is suffering continued losses." British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament on Wednesday that Russia had nearly twice the number of battalion tactical groups at its disposal than did Ukraine when the war began, and that air superiority tilted the balance even further toward an "overwhelming" Russian advantage. But Wallace said nearly all of Moscow's objectives in Ukraine have remained unfulfilled. "President Putin's arrogant assumption that he would be welcomed as a liberator has deservedly crumbled as fast as his troops' morale," Wallace said. Ukrainian officials have held a series of news conferences in recent days in which captured Russian soldiers have said they regretted their parts in the war and did not know they would be invading Ukraine until a day before the attack began. Assessing the exact number of Russian losses in combat has been complicated by the fog of war and the difficulty of interpreting a steady string of photos and videos flashing across social media that depict weapons and vehicles that were seized by Ukrainian forces, destroyed or abandoned. The Ukrainian military posted on Facebook on Wednesday that since the invasion began, the Russians had lost 12,000 people, 526 vehicles, 335 tanks, 123 artillery systems and 81 helicopters. If those numbers are accurate, the Russians have lost nearly 7 percent of the 190,000 troops they had arrayed at Ukraine's border before the invasion began. It was not immediately clear whether the losses of soldiers include both dead and wounded troops, as well as those taken as prisoners of war. On Tuesday, senior U.S. intelligence officials said they assessed that 2,000 to 4,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, while adding the caveat that they have "low confidence" in those numbers based on the limited information they have. Even the lower American estimate would mark an extraordinary loss of life for the Russian military, which was expected to overwhelm Ukrainian forces. During the entire 20-year U.S. war in Afghanistan, 2,461 U.S. troops died. About an additional 4,500 U.S. troops were killed in the U.S. war in Iraq from March 2003 to December 2011, according to Defense Department statistics. Michael Kofman, director of Russia studies at CNA, a think tank outside Washington, said the U.S. figure probably is closer to the truth than the Ukrainian one, which he said appears to be exaggerated. Still, he said, that scale of loss is significant - especially when coupled with the loss of hundreds of vehicles, including about 160 tanks, according to open-source reporting he has reviewed. "Probably we're going to start looking at exhaustion of their force in the next several weeks," Kofman said. "They're probably going to reorganize and replenish." Replenishing is something Russia can still do. After an erratic showing by the Russian military during a brief war in the republic of Georgia in 2008, Putin went on a spending binge. Moscow has spent about $154 billion annually on defense in recent years, according to Russian state media, though analysts caution that both corruption and a lack of transparency in the Kremlin make it difficult to assess that figure. "Yeah, they've lost a lot of equipment. But they have a tremendous amount of equipment to begin with, and many of the things they've lost are actually pretty replaceable," Kofman said, noting that Russia still possesses the majority of its best jets, all of its submarines and a variety of other weapons. The senior U.S. defense official said Thursday that Russia has "greater than 90 percent of their available combat power" still available for use in Ukraine. The official added that the Pentagon has seen no signs of the Russians sending reinforcements. The past two weeks have shown that just because Russia has the tools of war, that does not mean commanders know how to effectively use them. Francois Heisbourg, a French political analyst who used to advise President Emmanuel Macron on national security, said the Russian advances have been strikingly limited. "They've only taken one regional capital out of the 26 which were free of Russian influence before Feb. 25," Heisbourg said. And with a fight looming against dug-in Ukrainian troops in each of the cities that remain, it is unclear whether Russia has the capacity - or the will - to succeed. "The logistics are pathetic. The soldiers are definitely not motivated," he said. "It's not what you would call a steady advance. There is actually very little terrain occupied." Dominique Trinquand, a retired French general and former head of the French military mission to the United Nations, said the Russians are primarily gaining ground in the south of Ukraine, where there appear to be fewer Ukrainian troops. The Russians have a strong footprint in that part of the country, including an accumulation of tanks, artillery and protected infantry. "And they are attacking from two sides, from Crimea and from Donbas," Trinquand said. He said he expects the Ukrainian city of Mariupol to fall to the Russians within the next four or five days. Other Ukrainian cities in the south, including Odessa, are also at risk of Russian advances. "In Odessa, they will be able to attack from the sea, from the land and from the air," he said. Trinquand said Kyiv - where a large-scale evacuation of civilians is underway - will be far trickier. He does not expect Kyiv to be bombed in the same way as Syria's Aleppo was destroyed. It is more likely, he said, that Russia will use the military pressure it's already putting on the capital as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Ukraine, "meaning: 'We've captured the south, we are putting pressure on the capital, and now let's talk,'" he said. After a call between Macron and Putin last week, a senior French official said his country's assessment is that Putin wants to take control of the entire country. But Trinquand said he is not sure that is the Russians' aim. "They've got roughly 200,000 troops now, to occupy a country which is as large as France," he said. "They don't have the forces." Nor, apparently, do they have the dominance in the skies that had been widely forecast. Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general of RUSI, a London-based think tank, said he's been surprised at the "very poor performance" of the Russian air force, which has yet to knock out all Ukrainian air assets and defenses - something he had thought would take a matter of days. The Russian air force, although old, consists of several hundred high-end fixed-wing aircraft that are roughly equivalent to their Western counterparts. But the Russians, he said, "don't seem to be able to coordinate the use of them together, and deconflict them and ensure they aren't shooting each other." Still, he cautioned against underplaying Russia's strength. It may not have taken the skies or advanced quickly on the ground, but Russia does have the firepower to do immense damage to Ukraine. "Having painted the Russians as 10 feet tall compared with Ukrainians, now some people are painting them two feet tall," Chalmers said. "It's somewhere in between. They are still a formidable adversary." - - - Adam reported from London and Noack from Paris. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) With Congress voting to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, President Joe Biden's action to tighten the U.S. squeeze on Russia's economy now can intensify. The action Thursday by the U.S. House and Senate to revoke Moscow's most favored nation" trade status and ban oil imports intensifies the U.S. response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine amid mounting reports of atrocities. Lawmakers showed overwhelming support for action striking at Russias economy, with the two separate bills each passing the Senate 100-0 and garnering near-unanimity in the House. Last month Biden moved, with European and other key allies, to revoke Moscows normal trade status. He also has taken executive action to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal. Also banned are imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. Biden can now sign the new legislation into law. The bill to end normal trade relations with Russia opens the way for Biden to impose higher tariffs on various imports, such as certain steel and aluminum products, further weakening the Russian economy under President Vladimir Putin. It also ensures that Moscow ally Belarus receives less favorable tariff treatment. And the U.S. is cutting the flow the other way, too: It has barred the export of expensive watches, cars, clothing and other luxury American products to Russia. The U.S. revocation of Russia's long-standing most favored trade status was one in a series of economic and financial sanctions that have been leveled against Russia in response to its brutal war against Ukraine that began Feb. 24. By itself, the downgrade of its trade status won't have an immediate far-reaching effect on the Russian economy. But combined with the other sanctions the U.S. and its allies have imposed, the goal is to intensify the pressure on Putin and force a pullback of his Russian forces. A closer look: ___ WHAT IS MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS? The idea behind MFN status is to equalize the trade treatment in tariffs and import quotas for all of a countrys trading partners. Say, for example, that the U.S. levies a 13% tariff on imported leather gloves. MFN status means that gloves imported from France, China, Brazil and Russia would all be taxed at that same rate. MFN status has been a baseline for global trade, ensuring that countries within the World Trade Organization are treated on a similar footing, with some exceptions that allow, for example, preferential treatment for developing countries. Over the years, the U.S. has revoked the MFN status of more than two dozen countries generally for political reasons, with the Cold War bringing the sanction against the then-Soviet Union and other communist countries, for example. With the exception of Cuba and North Korea, the preferred status of those nations was eventually restored. This was done, for example, after the thaw of the Cold War in Eastern Europe and the opening of U.S.-China relations after the visit of President Richard Nixon. With these latest moves, Russia joins the ranks of those two communist countries in lacking MFN status with the U.S. ___ WHAT ABOUT REAL IMPACT VS SYMBOLISM? For the U.S. at least, removing most favored nation status is a mostly symbolic gesture. The U.S. ban that was announced last month on imports of Russian oil, gas and coal already eliminated about 60% of all U.S. imports from Russia. The import bans against alcohol, seafood and diamonds add up to only about $1 billion in revenue, according to White House figures. Russia provided less than 1% of all U.S. vodka imports in December, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, and less than 2% of U.S. seafood imports by volume, according to federal statistics. But symbolism can be important in war. In debate on the legislation Thursday, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., said innocent Ukrainians were being slaughtered even as lawmakers were meeting. We have no time to waste and must immediately further punish Vladimir Putin," Neal said. Russia's 6-week-old invasion failed to take Ukraine's capital Kyiv quickly, and in the wake of that failure and heavy losses, Russia has shifted its focus to the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's foreign minister begged again Thursday for weapons from NATO and the western alliance agreed, spurred into action by atrocities revealed in the wake of the Russian withdrawal from areas around Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said hundreds of bodies of civilians were found, many lying in the street, in towns around Kyiv. ___ DIAMONDS, VODKA, KING CRAB. WHAT ELSE DOES THE U.S. IMPORT FROM RUSSIA? The U.S. buys mostly natural resources from Russia for which existing tariffs are mostly low or zero oil and metals such as palladium, rhodium, uranium and silver bullion. Imports also include chemical products and semi-finished steel products, plywood and, paradoxically, bullets and cartridge shells. Because the imports from Russia are mostly natural resources, they generally will face little to no increase in tariffs as a result of the lost MFN status, Ed Gresser, director for trade and global markets at the left-leaning Progressive Policy Institute, noted in an online posting. To replace the current tariff rates, U.S. buyers of Russian goods would pay import taxes established under a 1930 U.S. law that disrupted trade during the Great Depression. It would still be zero for the metals. But the rates would soar to levels considered punitive for unwrought aluminum, plywood and semi-finished steel, among other products. "Bioweapon labs in Ukraine prove US criminal activity, diplomat says" - - headline of Tass news article, quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the morning of March 9 "Under oath in an open committee hearing, Toria Nuland just confirmed that the Russian disinformation they've been telling us for days is a lie and a conspiracy theory and crazy and immoral to believe is, in fact, totally and completely true." - Tucker Carlson, remarks on his Fox News show, the evening of March 9 - - - Russian disinformation often begins with a speck of fact, which is then twisted into a full-blown conspiracy theory. The technique makes it easier to spread and take root among the country's supporters. Note how quickly the party line uttered by the Russian Foreign Ministry was embraced by Carlson. In this instance, Russia for years has been seeding the ground to claim that the United States set up biowarfare labs in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. Then, brief remarks by Victoria Nuland, the undersecretary of state, were twisted to provide "confirmation" of the disinformation program. The Russian claims about Ukrainian labs bear the earmarks of the Soviet Union's long-running campaign of false allegations that the United States used biological weapons. The KGB, for instance, in the early 1980s spread false claims that a U.S.-funded research project in Pakistan was sending "killer mosquitoes" into Afghanistan, leading to local outrage that ended the program. After the Soviet Union collapsed, former officials admitted the fabrications. But Russian disinformation about biological weapons resumed again in earnest after Vladimir Putin took control in 1999, according to a 2021 article in the Nonproliferation Review by Milton Leitenberg of the University of Maryland. Leitenberg says the effort is designed to distract from Russian's own biological weapons program. Much as the Soviet Union tried to spread fear in Pakistan, Russian officials and media outlets bit by bit have sought to raise questions about U.S. labs in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. In 2015, the Russian state-owned news channel Rossiya-24 aired an alarming one-hour report. Tens of thousands of pigs in Ukraine and Georgia were dying because of a mysterious disease - and the reporter claimed U.S.-funded biological research facilities in those countries were to blame. This was an enhanced version of an earlier claim. Three years earlier, Gennady Onishchenko, then the chief of Russia's consumer protection agency, accused Georgia of "economic sabotage" by introducing the African swine fever (ASF) virus into Russia. He pointed the finger at the establishment a year earlier in Georgia of the Richard Lugar Center for Public Health Research, named after the former U.S. senator who led efforts to eliminate dangerous weapons in former Soviet states. The facility was the first in the region that met Biosafety Level 3 standards, meaning it was equipped to study serious or lethal human diseases. Onishchenko darkly noted that the lab's director had once been Georgia's intelligence chief and he could not understand why U.S. "military medics" and "epidemiologists" were stationed in Georgia "at our borders." Eventually, Russian officials alleged that ASF - which killed nearly 800,000 pigs in Russia and neighboring countries between 2014 and 2017 - was developed in the Georgia lab with the aim of curtailing Russia's pork imports. (Never mind the outbreak started in 2007, four years before the lab was constructed.) The attacks on the U.S.-funded labs in the region became even more pronounced after Britain in 2018 said the Russian government was responsible for the attempted killing of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal via the nerve agent novichok. Here are the specks of truth that Russian officials are using to spread their propaganda. The labs were initially funded by the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), as part of its cooperative biological engagement program. And the labs do study African swine fever - but with the aim of preventing its spread. At a 2017 conference hosted by the DTRA, for instance, a Ukrainian official outlined laboratory efforts at improving the diagnosis, surveillance and prevention of ASF in wild boar populations. Another official discussed how Ukrainian scientists had implemented a program to monitor certain soft ticks, which transmit the disease to pigs. Then a third official presented on efforts to trace tularemia and anthrax in animals such as wild boars. All of those efforts are in line with a statement posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine - that the program helps "ensure Ukraine can detect and report outbreaks caused by dangerous pathogens before they pose security or stability threats." The United States and Ukraine in 2005 had signed an agreement under which the Defense Department, at no cost to Ukraine, would assist the Ministry of Health in ensuring that Ukrainian labs studying diseases could not be used to develop biological weapons and to better detect, diagnose and monitor infectious-disease outbreaks. "The Russian charges that the Lugar Center and other biological labs in the Caucasus and Central Asia are making banned bioweapons are unfounded," wrote biological threat expert Filippa Lentzos in 2018. "Last week a group of international experts, including this author, visited the Lugar Center by invitation of the Georgian government. We were given access to all areas of the site, examined relevant documentation, and interviewed staff, and concluded that the Center demonstrates significant transparency. Our group observed nothing out of the ordinary, or that we wouldn't expect to see in a legitimate facility of this sort." Nevertheless, despite the constant debunking, the Russian propaganda that the United States has bioweapons labs in Ukraine has taken root, especially on the right, with the hashtag #usbiolabs trending on Twitter as the Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced. "Would the Russian invasion of Ukraine be justified if it were for biodefense?" asked Robert W. Malone, a prominent vaccine skeptic, on March 9. The latest iteration of this claim was sparked by a brief exchange during a Senate hearing on March 8 between Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Nuland. Rubio asked whether Ukraine has biological or chemical weapons. Nuland responded by talking about the research labs and the U.S. concern that Russia would get access to them. "Ukraine has biological research facilities, which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian troops, Russian forces, may be seeking to gain control of," Nuland replied. "So, we are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach." Following the lead of the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman - who asserted Nuland's comment was proof of the United States' "illegal and criminal activity on Ukrainian soil" - Carlson and many others on the right jumped to the conclusion that this meant the labs really were biological weapons facilities. Carlson briefly acknowledged numerous fact checks that previously had debunked the claim but then embraced the latest Russian spin as the truth. Russian state TV then featured Carlson's take the next day, completing the circle. Donald Trump Jr. gleefully tweeted a clip of Nuland, saying: "Well that went from conspiracy theory to Senate testimony in about 6 days . . . It used to take six months to go from conspiracy theory to fact." (Never mind that in 2020, during Trump's father's presidency, the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine expressly denied Russia's renewed claim that Ukraine possessed U.S.-funded bioweapon labs after China's Foreign Ministry echoed that falsehood to distract from scrutiny of the origins of the coronavirus.) In reality, Nuland's statement about "biological research facilities" did not confirm allegations of bioweapons labs. African swine fever, for instance, is not a human pathogen. But it does devastate pigs and can be used as an economic weapon, so it is considered by the United States to be a potential biowarfare agent - especially in countries (such as the United States) with little experience with it. In 2019, a group of Eastern European experts assessed that a "lone wolf" without any special training in microbiology, financial support or specialized lab equipment could launch such an attack. They said the ASF virus was especially dangerous because of its high virulence, lack of vaccine and devastating impact on pork production. Asked on Thursday to expand on Nuland's comment, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said medical facilities "all have equipment, pathogens or other things that you have to have restrictions around because you need to be sure it is being treated and handled appropriately." She said there was a concern the Russians could misuse materials, even if not designed for weapons, "in dangerous ways or create challenges for the population." The World Health Organization, a U.N. agency, told Reuters Thursday that it had "strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills." Gigi Gronvall, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who for 10 years was on the Defense Department's Threat Reduction Advisory Committee, said that it's likely the Russians would not find much more at the labs on ASF than they already know, given the prevalence of ASF in Russia. But she recently published a study on the state of Russia's life sciences research and found it to be anemic. "If there was not a lab, the Russians still would say there was a lab there," Gronvall said. Under Putin, Russia has a biological weapons program, one that it has clearly used to target its opponents. Yet it tried to provide cover for its activities by repeatedly charging that the United States, through facilities it has funded in countries like Ukraine, has its own bioweapons program. As we said, it's straight out of the old Soviet playbook. But that doesn't mean prominent commentators like Carlson should be so quick to fall for it. Four Pinocchios. Scrambling to short-circuit a court-ordered enrollment freeze at the University of California, Berkeley, state legislators Friday unveiled a proposed change to a landmark environmental law that would let the university admit students at its previously planned level despite a lawsuit charging that its growth is polluting the city. If this passes and is signed, it will allow Berkeley to go forward with full planned enrollment and no reduction, said Phil Ting, who is the chair of the Assembly budget committee and helped craft the proposed legislation. In an order that the California Supreme Court let stand this month, the university had been instructed to limit the number of students it admits after a neighborhood group filed a lawsuit seeking to slow growth on campus by leveraging the California Environmental Quality Act. The university had previously said it would have to enroll 2,629 fewer students than it had planned to in order to meet the cap of 42,347 students who were enrolled in 2020-21. The reprieve, which legislators hope to pass quickly, would affect only a small portion of the act that deals with the environmental impact reports required as part of long-range development plans at public universities in California. It would give higher education leaders 18 months to remedy deficiencies when the courts determine that a campus population exceeds projections and would ensure that any remedy being sought now would not apply to current enrollment. It also would allow them to adjust the number of faculty and staff members on campus, rather than just the number of students. Legal challenges have arisen because of long-standing legislative pressure to make room at public universities for more California students despite an acute shortage of housing. Demand for admission to the highly ranked University of California system is intense, and economic projections indicate that the supply of highly skilled workers is far short of the level the state needs. The University of California system has on-campus beds for about 106,000 students, leaving roughly two out of three students to compete for off-campus housing in some of the nations most expensive housing markets. Over the past decade, the state has added a little over three times as many people as housing units, driving its median home price, at $800,000, to more than twice the national figure. Ting said lawmakers were also pushing for a $5 billion fund to underwrite campus housing. We all know how hard students work to get into college, and UC Berkeley is a huge accomplishment for any student the time they spend to achieve that is a lifetime worth of work, he said. This was really our responsibility. A Berkeley campus spokeswoman, Janet Gilmore, said the proposal will help ensure that students arent harmed because of uncertainty around current policy. The legal furor at Berkeley has highlighted tensions throughout the 10-campus University of California system, which guarantees spots for the top 12.5% of high school graduates in the state. The systems enrollment, which now stands at 300,000, has grown by more than 63,000 students since 2011, but housing has not kept up. In Berkeley, the university houses fewer of its undergraduates than any other campus in the system, about 22%. The crowding has ratcheted up tensions in the famously liberal city, where longtime residents have repeatedly filed lawsuits over campus housing projects. The litigation that led to the enrollment freeze stemmed from an environmental impact report that the plaintiffs, including a local critic of university development, said failed to adequately analyze and address the impact of campus enrollment, which has exceeded the universitys prior estimates by at least 30%. That analysis was required under the California Environmental Quality Act, also known as CEQA, which was enacted in the 1970s to protect the states natural resources from development but has also been weaponized in the courts to block housing. Calls to overhaul the environmental act have been rising for decades, but state lawmakers have been loath to delve into the sprawling and complicated statute, nipping and tucking it instead with myriad carve-outs and workarounds. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Ukraines most sophisticated attack drone is about as stealthy as a crop duster: slow, low-flying and completely defenseless. So when the Russian invasion began, many experts expected the few drones that the Ukrainian forces managed to get off the ground would be shot down in hours. But more than two weeks into the conflict, Ukraines drones Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 models that buzz along at about half the speed of a Cessna are not only still flying; they also shoot guided missiles at Russian missile launchers, tanks and supply trains, according to Pentagon officials. The drones have become a sort of lumbering canary in the wars coal mine, a sign of the astonishing resiliency of the Ukrainian defense forces and the larger problems that the Russians have encountered. The performance of the Russian military has been shocking, said David Deptula, a retired three-star Air Force general who planned the U.S. air campaigns in Afghanistan in 2001 and the Persian Gulf in 1991. Their failure to secure air superiority has been reflected by their slow and ponderous actions on the ground. Conversely, the Ukrainian air force performing better than expected has been a big boost to the morale of the entire country. The people of Ukraine are singing songs about the Bayraktar drone and repeatedly posting online footage of destroyed Russian armor. They have given the name Bayraktar to a lemur born last week at the zoo in Kyiv, the capital. A senior Pentagon official confirmed that Ukrainian forces had successfully used armed Bayraktars to carry out several attacks on the huge Russian military convoy that has been making its way toward Kyiv. The drones have also been used for reconnaissance, hunting for targets for Ukrainian ground troops. The Pentagon official said he could not confirm the authenticity of videos posted online that purported to show Bayraktar airstrikes. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Bayraktar TB2s were already punching above their weight. The drones, with a 39-foot wingspan, are assembled in Turkey but rely extensively on electronics made in the United States and Canada. A growing number of countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe have bought them because, at about $2 million apiece, they are much cheaper than manned combat aircraft. In recent years, TB2s have been used to attack targets in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh each time against opponents armed with Russian-made tanks and anti-aircraft systems, and each time landing devastating blows on enemy ground forces. But military planners and civilian experts cautioned that the drones which have no self-defense systems, are easily spotted by radar and cruise at only about 80 mph would be sitting ducks for Russias many-layered air defense system. Russian forces have long-range cruise missiles that can destroy the drones on the ground, short-range missile systems that can easily knock them out of the air and electronic jammers that can block the drones communications, leaving them to drop lifeless from the sky. Even with the drones record of success, everyone expected that, once they really faced the full gamut of Russian defenses, they would stand no chance, said Lauren Kahn, who studies drone warfare at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. Their survival and continued use is really raising questions about the Russians capabilities, she said. Pentagon officials remain puzzled by the Russians failure to dominate the skies over Ukraine, at least so far. Moscow built up sophisticated missile defenses and air power on Ukraines borders, but it has not been using them effectively to complement its ground forces, U.S. officials and analysts said. And Ukrainian air defenses have been surprisingly effective at downing Russian aircraft. We arent seeing the level of integration between air and ground operations that you would expect to see, John Kirby, chief Pentagon spokesperson, said Monday. Not everything theyre doing on the ground is fully being supported by what theyre doing in the air. There does seem to be some disconnect there. Ukraines success at keeping Russia from dominating its airspace not only allows the country to fly its drones; it also limits Russias ability to send drones to hunt for the small teams of Ukrainian ground troops who have used shoulder-fired missiles and other weapons to knock out hundreds of Russian vehicles. It is so perplexing, and no one is quite sure what went wrong, said Samuel Bendett, an expert on the Russian military at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based research group. Russia has a large number of drones, and the assumption was they would be using them for strikes, he said. That assumption has been completely undone. The Russian forces seemed to be using drones very little so far, Bendett said, perhaps because they are afraid the drones will be shot down, with Ukraines air space still contested. Without air superiority, the Russian offensive has been bogged down, claiming little new territory in recent days while losses mount. The Pentagon estimated Wednesday that 5,000 to 6,000 Russian troops had been killed, and observers said the number of tanks, missile launchers and trucks that Russia had lost ran into the hundreds. At the start of the war, Ukraine had five to 20 Bayraktar TB2s in service. Russia claims to have shot down several of them, and it is unclear how many remain. Still, Ukraine continues to release video images that appear to show the drones destroying Russian vehicles. Air superiority is seen as a critical first step in modern warfare, and armed forces spend a great deal of time and money trying to ensure that they can quickly dominate the skies when fighting starts. Strategists studying Russia assumed that it would immediately use missile strikes to destroy Ukraines air force and surface-to-air missile batteries before they could be used, and then move in scores of fighter jets, radar jammers and missile trucks to take control of Ukraines air space. With air superiority established, Russia could freely use its fighters, bombers and drones to annihilate the Ukrainian military. That has not happened. In the first days of the invasion, the Russian military appeared to hold back much of its air power, perhaps assuming that the Ukrainian military would not put up much of a fight. Instead, Russian forces met stiff resistance; when they tried to move in mobile missile launchers and electronic warfare vehicles to control the airspace, the convoys were ambushed by Ukrainians before they could reach the fight. Its certainly not the way we would prosecute an air campaign, said Michael Kofman, director of Russia studies at CNA, a defense research institute in Arlington, Virginia. But then again, this war didnt start the way the Russian military organizes and trains to fight, either, he said. It was a bungled regime-change operation that became a war they didnt really plan for. But lack of a quick victory for Russia did not mean victory for Ukraine, Kofman added, noting that Ukraine continues to lose aircraft to Russian missiles and that it was not possible to glean the true state of the air war from official statements and news reports alone. Paradoxically, experts say, Ukraines early success in the skies may only prolong the war and increase the destruction, as the much larger Russian military appears to be shifting from precision strikes to widespread shelling and bombing of civilian neighborhoods. Russia is believed to still have forces in reserve that it could use to try to establish the air superiority that it fumbled at the start. Defense officials say few Ukrainian aircraft are now flying, and they must pick their targets carefully to avoid areas where strong Russian defenses might shoot them down. For the time being, Ukraines drones are still flying, U.S. defense officials say. And Thursday, video footage appeared on social media claiming that one of the Bayraktar drones had destroyed a Russian mobile missile launcher exactly the kind of expensive, sophisticated weapon system that Russia fielded to wipe out the inexpensive drones that had destroyed it instead. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Of the 100 wealthiest people in America, 26 live in California. Thats more than any other state, and not simply a byproduct of Californias large population. If the countrys 100 top billionaires were evenly distributed, we would expect just 12 of them to reside here. Yes, this is largely because of Silicon Valley. But its also a reflection of the fact that California has the fifth-largest economy in the world, said Richard Walker, an emeritus professor at UC Berkeley who studies economic geography. California has been the main engine for American growth for the last 50 years, Walker told me. This is not sufficiently acknowledged how immense the California economy is. Before we dive in: Im going off the official Forbes 2021 billionaire rankings, but they shift daily with the stock market. All of these figures should be viewed as estimates, as there is no system or requirement that Americans report their total wealth to the government. Now on to the good stuff. There are 724 billionaires in the United States, and California is home to 189 roughly a quarter of the total, according to Forbes. The states open, experimental culture has long attracted entrepreneurs, Walker said. Thats contributed to the movie and aerospace industries flourishing here, and, of course, the tech industry. Forty-four percent of Californias billionaires made their fortunes in tech, followed by 23% in finance and 7% in real estate, according to Forbes. The three richest Californians are tech titans: Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Zuckerberg invented Facebook while a student at Harvard, but then he moves to Silicon Valley because thats where the action is, Walker told me. Thats been going on for two, three, four generations now you come to Silicon Valley if youre in tech. Silicon Valleys tendency to mint billionaires has led to a startling trend: Of the 26 Californians who rank among Americas 100 richest people, 19 live in the Bay Area. (The wealthiest person in Southern California is Donald Bren, Americas richest real estate baron.) Perhaps youre wondering about Elon Musk, who relocated Tesla headquarters to Texas, or Oracles Larry Ellison, who moved to Hawaii. But it turns out theyre outliers. Thirty-five people made Californias billionaire list for the first time in 2021, Forbes reported, and more than half of them had the tech industry to thank. California still has more billionaires than any other state; New York is second with 126. Adam Sterling, executive director for the Berkeley Center for Law and Business, said that people whove made their fortunes in California prefer to stay here, close to their professional and personal communities. The high cost of living and higher taxes probably arent much of a deterrent if youre a billionaire, he said. Plus, the cachet of a California billionaire think a wealthy techie in a hoodie may not translate in a place like New York, where the rich are more likely to have inherited their wealth. Theres a lot of stickiness in California, Sterling told me. This is where your billionaire community is. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. SHELTON The Plumb Memorial Library will be offering a special series of computer classes beginning in April. The classes will be taught by Mike Ingber, computer consultant and owner of Upward Business Systems of Oxford. Ingber received an M.S. Degree in Computer Science from Cornell University in 1979, and a B.S. Degree in Computer Science and Applied Math from Stony Brook University in 1977 The first class is a Microsoft Office Overview. Microsoft Office has been incredibly popular for decades. The three core components of Office are Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This class will provide an overview of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and demonstrate the usefulness and power of each product. Microsoft Office Overview will be held on April 12 at 1 p.m. in the first floor Meeting Room. Participants are asked to bring a top or a device to practice on during the class. The second class will be Staying Safe Online. This class is designed to help avoid many of the risks that are lurking online. These risks can infect your computer, can steal your personal information, and can scam you in many ways. Among the assorted topics will be security software, passwords, updating your software, social engineering, phishing, ransomware, malware, popular scams, recognizing fraudulent emails, avoiding dangerous links, and the importance of backups. Staying Safe Online will be April 26 at 1 p.m. in the first floor Meeting Room. Participants do not need to bring a device or laptop to this class. Registration is required as space is limited and can be done by calling the Plumb Memorial Library at (203) 924-1580 ext. 5102, or visiting www.sheltonlibrarysysytem.org. The public is invited to register for either or both of the classes. Contributed photo Im excited to have recently been selected as the School Management Partner for the proposed Danbury Charter School because I believe there is added value in increasing high-quality school choice options for families in any community. I have more than 25 years of experience in education, with more than 20 of those leading schools, and I firmly believe access to a high-quality education is a birthright for all children. Currently, I serve as the executive director of Booker T. Washington Academy (BTWA), a Connecticut State Department of Education-recognized Charter School of Distinction in New Haven. BTWA serves 540 students in kindergarten through grade 8, most of whom are from under-resourced and economically disadvantaged communities. Despite these obstacles, BTWA students have performed at or above state averages in reading and math each year since the schools opening in 2014. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the schools faculty and staff and their commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities. This level of commitment is what we intend to bring to the families of Danbury with the opening of the Danbury Charter School. In addition to expanding educational options for students, we will also focus on innovative and culturally responsive instruction to improve overall student achievement. Try out LudingtonDailyNews.com for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, $9.99 a month after. Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Highlighting global innovation and technology in the medical, healthcare and wellness sectors, MEcareX Turkey Virtual Exhibition & Business Matching took place from 1 3 March 2022 on the Bee2Bee platform. MEcareX Turkey was organised by Worldex GEC Thailand, and managed by Worldex India Exhibition & Promotion Pvt. Ltd. The India Pavilion was formed by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with the support of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. MEcareX Turkey was also supported by The Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India; The Indian Analytical, Scientific, Medical Lab Instruments Manufacturers Association; Ayurveda Drug Manufacturers Association (ADMA), The Surgical Manufacturers and Traders Association, The Sri Lanka Chamber of Medical Devices Industry amongst others. With the growing demand for quality healthcare in Turkey, this international virtual meetings platform assisted in establishing business tie-ups between 70+ exhibitors from India, Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka amongst others and business visitors from Turkey and neighbouring markets. The online platform will be open until 17 March 2022 for business visitors to connect with exhibitors and continue their interactions to explore business and sourcing opportunities. MEcareX Turkey was inaugurated by Chief Guest Ms. Sudhi Chaudhry, the Honorable Consul General Designate of India to Istanbul, Turkey, who said, This is a good initiative and I look forward to Indian and Turkish companies getting together and strengthening the partnership and building stronger bonds between our countries. I am confident that efforts like Mecarex Turkey would further help in realizing the vast untapped potential between our economies. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Nikom Lertmalligaporn, the Group President of Worldex G.E.C, Thailand and organiser of MEcareX Turkey, said, The world is now holding exhibitions on digital platforms like Bee2bee Asia. Our platform is successful because we offer face to face meetings and business matching similar to physical shows. Our aim is connect appropriate visitors and sellers together and help everybody to grow their business by finding the right business partners. South and South East Asia are well-known as exporters for medical equipment and wellness products. I am confident that this digital trade fair will create stronger business ties between our regions and Turkey. The India Pavilion organiser, Mr. Rohit Sharma, Director & Head of Europe, CIS & Turkey of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) said, Mecarex is a great initiative and is very important for the Indian industry. Both Turkey and India can offer a lot in terms of medical equipment, tele-medicine and other sectors and this initiative is a stepping stone for all the companies who are part of the India pavilion. Turkey is a very important market and also ideal destination for also entering the EU and European market. We are confident this platform will bring new and sustainable business opportunities for both Indian and Turkish industry to access a large bank of globally renowned companies. The buyers interacted virtually with quality manufacturers & suppliers of medical, healthcare and wellness companies via pre-fixed video meetings and access the benefits of a physical trade fair from the comfort of their own locations through the virtual platform, Bee2Bee an exclusive online business matching platform developed by Worldex India. More than 300 B2B meetings were successfully arranged at MEcareX Turkey which offered buyers excellent opportunity to source quality products to fulfill the growing demand for innovative and smart medical and healthcare products in Turkey. The products showcased at MEcareX Turkey includes Laboratory Equipments & Supplies, Medical Equipments & Devices, Hospital Equipments & Furniture, Face Masks, PPE Kits, Surgical Gowns, Hospital Curtains, Imaging & Diagnostics, Herbal & Wellness Products, Dental Equipments, Disinfectant Supplies, Hygiene, Sanitary and Medical Disposables and more. A number of joint ventures, collaborations and long-term business collaborations and partnerships took place during the course of this Virtual Expo. This comprehensive and must-attend trade show is making its mark in in a sector vital to the health of all nations. With 200+ Buyers from over 10 countries attending the Virtual Expo and 300+ pre-fixed business meetings conducted, the show was a success and has proved to be the ideal event for both Government and Private healthcare institutions To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! [March 11, 2022] Matthew Cooleen Joins Altada's Advisory Board Altada Technology Solutions, a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that supercharge data-driven decision making in the financial services, travel/security, and healthcare sectors, today announced that Matthew Cooleen has joined the company's advisory board. Cooleen will serve as a strategic advisor to Altada, assisting the company in refining its market position and commercial offerings moving forward. He brings deep experience in mortgage company and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, having served as a frequent business transformation advisor to a number of large private equity firms that work with non-bank mortgage companies. In this capacity, he is an expert in organizational transformation, digital strategy, change management, customer experience, cost reengineering, servicing transformation, and origination strategy. "We are thrilled to welcome Matthew to our advisory board," said Allan Beechinor, Altada CEO. "His experience in organizational transformation across the banking, mortgage and consumer finance industries will be critically important to Altada as we expand our AI solutions in the financial services sector and continue to refine our market fit." Cooleen is currently a partner in Grant Thornton's Financial Services Consulting Practice and serves as the Global Head of the Banking Industry where he focuses on governance, framework matters, and operational and organizational transformation, as wel as working with banking, mortgage, private equity clients on transactional and strategy services related to mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters. Prior to Grant Thornton, Cooleen worked at Deloitte Consulting as a leader in the firm's financial services consulting practices. He also served in senior positions at Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, ING Bank, AIG, and HudsonCross Financial. "I'm proud to become an advisor at Altada, because the company is leading the charge and blazing new trails in AI for the banking and mortgage industries," said Cooleen. "AI doesn't need to be complex; it always begins with a journey benchmarking enterprise data and architecture to key business objectives and strategic goals. Altada's approach, which integrates applicable use cases, represents the 'holy grail' by incorporating a collaborative workshop approach. Given their unique approach to the market, I am truly looking forward to being part of Altada's evolution." About Altada Founded in 2017, Altada is a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that supercharge data-driven decision making in the financial services, travel/security and healthcare markets. The company's Data Intelligence Platform integrates the first AI engine that leverages optical character recognition (OCR) and natural language processing (NLP) to analyze large volumes of structured and unstructured data, enabling users to not only make sense of their information but to also gain meaningful market insights that drive competitive advantage. Altada is headquartered in Cork, Ireland, with additional offices in Dublin and Limerick, Ireland. It also has offices in Malta, London, New York, and San Francisco. Privately-held, Altada is backed by venture investment from Rocktop Partners, Elkstone Partners and Enterprise Ireland. To learn more, please visit https://www.altada.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220311005061/en/ [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] In 2021, the company saw a 40 per cent jump in new patients coming in for services. At fellow ASX listed provider Virtus Health, new IVF cycles were up by 26 per cent in the same year. IVF patient Grace McDonald said she was not deterred from undergoing treatment when new coronavirus surges occcured in 2021. Private equity has clocked the opportunity. As Victorian patients were grappling with a temporary pause in treatments due to the Omicron surge at the start of the year, a bidding war for Virtus was brewing. UK-based CapVest and Australias BGH Capital have been going head-to-head in a fight for the company, which started with BGH lobbing a first bid at the end of last year for shares at $7.10 each. In January, however, Virtus was telling shareholders it had entered an exclusive courtship with CapVest, which had offered $7.60 per share. The announcement saw BGH Capital apply to the Takeovers Panel, arguing the move was anti-competitive. The panel agreed and Virtus and CapVest amended some terms of their due diligence, then BGH upped its bid to $7.65. Earlier this month, Virtus told shareholders that CapVest had again stepped up its offer to $7.80. BGH made a second application to the Takeovers Panel, arguing that Virtus should have come back to BGH to discuss the higher bid, but the panel this week denied those claims. The process has pushed Virtus shares to five-year highs. The company entered a trading halt before the market opened on Friday, pending an announcement about the takeover. Virtus Health boss Kate Munnings wouldnt comment on the specifics of the bids for her business, but says she can see why the investors are interested. I think that the innovation that is likely to occur in IVF and assisted reproductive services is going to accelerate. Private funding does lend itself to investing in organisations like ours and accelerating that potential, she says. Munnings says the pandemic has shown a patient cohort that was determined to advocate for themselves and their treatments. It is the most inherent human instinct to want to reproduce. It is something that we never underestimate the emotional impact of or the impact on people, she says. IVF under the microscope But as the sector has grown and technologies have advanced, the fertility treatments sector has faced scrutiny. In December 2020, a class action lawsuit was lodged against Monash IVF in the Supreme Court of Victoria on behalf of more than 100 women and men, with the company facing allegations it may have inadvertently destroyed healthy embryos during a now-abandoned pre-implantation genetic testing program. Knaap says the court action is in the discovery stage, which he expects to last for at least another month. We are defending it its at a stage of discovery at this particular point in time and our insurers have indemnified it, he says. A report in News Corp papers on Friday claims the company knew the testing program had risks months before it was stopped.The company says it stopped the testing program in October 2020 after a review. In a statement on Friday, the company said it had acted in the best interests of patients and suspended the test shortly after the preliminary findings suggested that further review may be warranted. Monash IVF has robust quality assurance processes in place and these have been followed throughout this process. The consumer watchdog also has its eye on fertility treatment providers. Back in October, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took Virtus to court to try to pause its $45 million acquisition of the Adora fertility business, owned by fellow ASX-listed operator Healius. The watchdog wanted a full evaluation of the competition implications before the sale went through, raising concerns it could impact competition for fertility services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Fertility treatment is an expensive and difficult process. A reduction in competition is likely to result in increased IVF prices, adding to the financial impact on consumers seeking to fulfil their wish for having children, chair Rod Sims said at the time. Virtus eventually shelved its plans to buy Adora, citing the uncertainty caused by the court action. The testing future It has been just four decades since the first child was born via IVF, and in that time the industry has ridden the wave of growth in genetic screening, big data and artificial intelligence (AI). Despite the continued scrutiny on the reliability of these technologies, fertility businesses believe they will only improve and end up delivering better outcomes for patients in the long term. Virtus Health chief executive Kate Munnings said investors are interested in the ability of the sector to harness technology. Credit:Louie Douvis There is government support for some of these initiatives, too. Last November, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced expanded Medicare rebates for five types of pre-implantation genetic screening (PGT), which looks to identify embryos at risk of carrying serious disease before they are implanted in a mother. Knaap hopes subsidies will one day extend to genetic testing of prospective parents. At home screening kits from the company currently cost $695 per person. I would expect that in the medium term, Medicare would cover that, he says. Meanwhile, Virtus is undertaking a range of R&D work including an artificial intelligence tool called Ivy, which is designed to select embryos with the best chance of success for conception. The company is also launching a platform called Precision Fertility, which will eventually bring patient information together with AI tools in hopes of generating better outcomes. Let us not forget that Germanys extreme dependency on Russian gas is the result of a choice, unlike the legacy dependency of the former captive states of eastern and central Europe. Berlin chose to increase the Russian share of its primary energy after the annexation of Crime. It did so because it was offered a sweetheart deal by Moscow. It tied the ribbons with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a mercantilist arrangement dressed up by the Social Democrats as high-minded Ostpolitik. We are financing the very war that we are otherwise denouncing. We must put a stop to these deliveries. Former French president Francois Hollande Berlin brushed aside warnings from critics within Germany, and ignored pleas from Poland and the Baltic states that it was undermining European energy solidarity. Western policy should not now be bent to Berlins particular sensitivities. Former French president Francois Hollande, who learned his lesson negotiating with Putin over the Minsk accords, has called for a total and immediate embargo of Russian gas, coal, and above all crude, the Kremlins primary source of revenue. We are financing the very war that we are otherwise denouncing. We must put a stop to these deliveries, he said. Kobolyev said the EU should at least cut off sales of Russian LNG, which hits the Yamal project, with ties to the Kremlins siloviki mafia [the strong men around Putin]. Better yet, it should insist that revenues from Gazproms pipeline gas go into an Iran-style escrow account that will be released only once Russia calls off the invasion, with sums deducted to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine. They cannot stop their gas flows without severely damaging their own wells. And would take months to shut them down in any case. Putins threat to cut off Nord Stream 1 is just bluff, he said. The EU imports 155 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian gas. It aims to reduce this by over 100bcm before the end of December, a task described by commission vice-president Frans Timmermans as hard, bloody hard. It is also bloody vague. They have just picked a round number, but they dont explain how they are going to do it. They are relying on the same magic maths weve seen for the last 15 years in EU energy policy, said Thierry Bros, former head of energy security at Frances economy ministry. The EU plan is to find 14bcm by lowering home heating by 1 degree Celsius, 20bcm from extra wind and solar beyond what is already in the works - with much pious talk about faster planning that leaves you rolling your eyes if you have ever dealt with French or Italian bureaucracy. There will be 10bcm through other pipelines from places such as Algeria or Azerbaijan, and 50bcm from global LNG from US, Qatar, or Africa, with a few heat pumps thrown in. All storage sites will be required to raise depleted gas inventories to 90 per cent of capacity by the end of October, with 100 per cent rebates for utilities to cover the extra cost. Loading The Bruegel think tank in Brussels has crafted a credible plan that cuts off all Russian gas. It argues that there is enough spare LNG capacity through the low-season months to replenish stocks before the winter frosts, and extra capacity currently under construction could plug part of the gap. The LNG fleet gained 50 new tankers last year, and there will be 30 more this year. LNG vessels do not appear to be a limiting factor, it said. But buying in an extremely tight market would cost an estimated 370 billion ($552 billion), compared to 60 billion in the last normal year before the pandemic. It would also require slashing demand by 10 per cent to 15 per cent. Rationing on this scale is precisely what the EU is not yet prepared to face, although the experience of Japan after Fukushima shows that it can be done in extremis. Energy-intensive industries are already in trouble. The commission says half of the blocs aluminium and zinc smelters have temporarily closed or are operating at restricted volumes. The EU has shut in 30 per cent of its primary aluminium capacity. There is going to be a massive economic downturn, but we are in a war situation and the only choice is to get out of Russian coal, gas, and oil completely. It is time the EU acted instead of reacting all the time, said Bros. Loading Western policy is a work in rapid progress. Perhaps EU leaders rose to the occasion at a dinner on Wednesday night in the Hall of Mirrors, the same room at Versailles where Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd George, and Woodrow Wilson grappled with intractable ethnic problems left by the collapse of four empires - and were unjustly caricatured by a bumptious John Maynard Keynes. I reserve judgment. There has been too much self-congratulation by Brussels insiders over the unity of the EUs response, as if unity rather than substance is what matters, and as if it were the EU rather than NATO that is helping to hold back 90 Russian battalion tactical groups. Some seem more interested in using this beneficial crisis as a federalysing catalyst, a chance to force the pace towards EU fiscal and defence union, whether or not these architectural ambitions have any relevance to the slaughter before the worlds eyes. The Chinese briefings after Xi Jinpings video meeting this week with Germanys Olaf Scholz and Frances Emmanuel Macron are revealing and unsettling. The state-controlled media said the talks showed that Chinese and European leaders share similar stances and interests on the Ukraine situation. This is a remarkable claim. The evidence - rather than platitudes - is that the Chinese communist regime is supporting Vladimir Putin to the hilt. What Beijing seems to be telling us is that the Franco-German couple signalled an unhealthy level of distance from both the US and the EUs front-line states at a critical moment for the Western democratic alliance. Let us be clear: European and Chinese interests in Ukraine are not remotely similar. Jade is another Gold Coast blow-in, and like Sarah, is looking to connect with likeminded people, albeit with slightly different creative pursuits. With 1.2 million Instagram followers, he calls himself the number one most followed male influencer in Australia, but not everyones buying it. Theres something off about him, remarks sass-queen Alex, as we see the cynical manager sleuthing through Jades Instagram, luring us in with the promise of future drama. Its not the only drama fermenting like kale kraut in this group. Buddies Nathan and Elias, who fans might recognise from The Bachelorette and Love Island respectively, are both quite taken with newbie Sarah. Nathan and Elias find themselves in love triangle territory. Credit:Paul A. Broben/Netflix And any reality fan worth their salt will know a love triangle makes for spicy TV, especially when those involved are objectively good-looking. A dramatic confrontation between the boys is teased in the opening scenes, and we cant wait to see it play out. Meanwhile, theres prior beef brewing between former best friends Hannah and Jess. Byron born and raised, the pair were close pals until a misunderstanding derailed their friendship. One of the most intriguing cast mates, Hannah works hard to exude an enlightened hippie persona, describing her personality as bohemian, eclectic and a little bit strange. She could easily be the type of pseudo-spiritual person we love to hate, but theres something about her that draws us in. Hannah invites Jess to a party shes hosting, hoping to patch up the relationship. Theres only one rule guests must dress entirely in white, something that could prove a tricky task for photographer and tattoo artist Cai, whos all-black wardrobe exudes a punk rock, non-conformist ethos. On the flip side to Hannah, Cai has a tough exterior, with Sid Vicious hair and ink up his arms, yet he radiates an effortlessly down-to-earth, truly bohemian attitude. This person knows exactly who he is, and welcomes new friends and experiences without getting hung up on labels or external validation. People like Cai are what give Byron Bay the reputation of being a cultural and creative heartland. He takes the dress code in his stride and his op shop styling placates the aesthetically-minded crowd. Emotions are already running high as everyone gathers at Hannahs white party. Luckily, shes recruited a sound healer to realign the energy of the group with a relaxing singing bowl ceremony. The foreign ritual proves too much for sceptical Alex, who likens the entire performance to a dystopian drama scene before making a hasty exit. What cult is this? he mutters as he smokebombs from the poolside festivities. Byron Baes Cai Leplaw, Jessica Johansen-Bell, Simba Ali and Saskia Wotton. Credit:Paul A. Broben/Netflix Byron has earned its reputation as a hippie town, but if this show is any indication, its evolved beyond hemp and tie-dye, bursting with a new generation eager to hustle, create, connect and be seen. But will they all survive? As Hannah points out, Byron Bay has this strong power that if it wants you here, it sucks you in, and if it doesnt, it literally spits you out. Gird your loins, this is going to be one intense and unmissable debut season. Byron Baes Now Streaming, only on Netflix. Former army boss Sir Peter Cosgrove, who led the response to Queenslands Cyclone Larry, says relying on the military in disasters is unviable and states need a paid, highly trained civilian emergency response force that is modelled on the Army Reserve. The debate over the militarys role in disasters comes amid a decline in traditional emergency volunteering, with a major research project warning of high turnover rates, older volunteers, and growing levels of burnout due to more frequent disasters. The ADF is increasingly called upon in crises; it helped during the Black Summer fires and COVID-19, while on Friday 6000 personnel were on the ground in Queensland and NSW assisting with the flood recovery. They were also deployed to Tonga to help with tsunami recovery in January. Sir Peter Cosgrove surveys damage after Cyclone Larry in Queensland in 2006. Credit:AAP However, defence experts warn that too much reliance upon the military in these events is stretching it too far and distracting from its main focus, which is defending Australias sovereignty. There have also been calls for a new, semi-civilian emergency response unit within the army. The architect of landmark Gonski school funding reforms has called on governments to fully finance his review a decade after it was launched and says he regrets not recommending that the money be distributed directly to schools. Businessman David Gonski said he was disappointed that many schools were not receiving all the needs-based per-student funding that his report had intended. David Gonski has called on his reforms to be fully funded. Credit:Kate Geraghty Speaking at an education forum at the Opera House on Thursday night, Mr Gonski said 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), considered the minimum money required to educate students adequately, should be funded. If the government cant afford it and has to find other sources, its up to them how they do that, he said. Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, who died of a suspected heart attack on Thursday, was being treated for a thyroid problem that was contributing to heart problems. The 52-year-old foreign policy hawk had been dealing with the thyroid issue and taking medications since it was identified last year. She had been experiencing symptoms, but her condition had since improved, The Age and the Herald has confirmed. Kimberley Kitching is embraced by her friend, then opposition leader Bill Shorten, after her first speech in the senate at Parliament House in 2016. Credit: Andrew Meares It is unclear if the thyroid troubles contributed to her suspected heart attack, which caused her to pull her car over in Strathmore to call her husband Andrew Landeryou on Thursday afternoon. An ambulance was called but the Brisbane-born, former union official and Melbourne city councillor could not be revived. A malfunctioning thyroid can cause problems that masquerade as heart disease or make existing heart disease worse, according to a Harvard study. Women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid problems than men. Its one of the most contentious questions to come before the court in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case. Were there, or were there not, Afghan men hiding inside a secret tunnel, discovered by Australian special forces in a village compound dubbed Whiskey 108 on Easter Sunday 13 years ago? The tunnel question is significant, for this reason. Lawyers for Nine, the defendants in this case, say two Afghan males were discovered in the tunnel when its concealed entrance was exposed by one of Roberts-Smiths SAS comrades that day. Nines case is that the fugitives gave up without a struggle, were searched and handcuffed, but later executed on site: in one case by Roberts-Smith, and in the second instance, by another soldier, Person 4, at Roberts-Smiths direction. Execution of unarmed prisoners is a war crime under the international rules of combat Australia has signed up to. One of the two men had a prosthetic leg, later souvenired by the troop and taken back to be used as a drinking vessel at the SAS bar, the Fat Ladys Arms, at Tarin Kowt. Thirty-three people perished in the fires, and many more deaths may have been caused by the pall of smoke that covered the east coast. More than 3000 homes were destroyed. What was unprecedented is now our future, the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements report to the Morrison government in October 2020 said. The death toll from the floods stands at 22 after Sydney police on Wednesday found the body of a man who was reported missing in floodwaters in the citys west. Almost 3000 homes have already been written off in the Northern Rivers region of NSW alone. Loading It is a shame that Morrison couldnt make this connection for voters. The floods, like the fires, respected no state or local boundary. Yet Morrison talked himself into a needless argument over which local government area was more deserving of relief. He couldnt see the continent for the epicentre when he landed in Lismore. He sounded mean, while trying to demonstrate to all Australians that what happened here was off the charts. What were seeing here, particularly in Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Lismore, is on a whole another scale to the floods being experienced in other parts of the country, he told the local community. As bad as they are, whether that be in Brisbane Ill be up in Queensland tomorrow or down further south in Sydney and out in the Hawkesbury and Nepean, where theyre also used to floods. The next day in Queensland, he faced the obvious question: what about us then? Journalist: Will Gympie and Maryborough get the catastrophe assistance thats been in place now in NSW, parts of NSW? Prime Minister: Well, these things are being assessed. As I said yesterday, we moved firstly on those three areas in NSW, where were talking about a flood event that was two metres higher, actually more than two metres higher, than any flood in recorded history. The press conference ended with that pointed exchange. Just two questions from the local media, and he was off. He would have registered the problem, even if he is not ready to accept the policy implications. As he told people in Lismore, the environment has changed. We are dealing with a different climate to the one we were dealing with before. I think thats just an obvious fact. In other words, events politicians once viewed as unprecedented acts of mother nature are the new normal. But Morrison doesnt believe, yet, that the role of government should change in any meaningful way to meet this particular existential threat. Loading To paraphrase Morrisons technology, not taxes slogan for net-zero, his approach to climate disasters remains doggedly reactive, and performative: troops, not targets. More broadly, Morrison remains fixated on the formulas of the 1980s lower taxes and smaller government almost in defiance of the evidence before him. He told a business summit on Tuesday via zoom that he isnt following the big-government lead of his allies in the United States and Britain. Ive never really (got) caught up in the hoopla, of the Build Back Better camp, that opportunistically sees the post-COVID recovery as some opportunity to replace our market-based, business-led growth economic system, with a government-centred re-imagination of global capitalism. It was a revealing thing to say the day before his trip to Lismore. For Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, accelerated climate action is at the heart of their build back better programs. Loading Just as telling was the announcement Morrison made in Queensland on Thursday. Standing alongside the Defence Minister and potential leadership rival Peter Dutton, he promised an employment boom for our men and women in uniform. The government aims to have more than 100,000 personnel in the Australian Defence Force by 2040. The detail was less impressive than the headline the total increase is just 18,500, or 950 per year, over the existing plan. But it did show that Morrison is prepared to intervene when it suits. The irony is that Morrison has been sounding more like Labor leader Anthony Albanese lately, even as he pretends to honour the market. He is matching or trying to outspend Albanese, from aged care to returning manufacturing to Australia. But Morrison adds the rider that he will also cut taxes and reduce the size of government. He cant do both, of course. But neither he nor Albanese is ready for the debate on tax reform. The challenges of the 21st century the New Cold War, coronaviruses and global heating all demand a re-invigoration of the idea of government. This doesnt mean the federal government returns to its former role of running businesses in competition with the market, or as the monopoly provider. No one is suggesting we buy back the Commonwealth Bank, Telstra or Qantas. But it does mean a larger government by the standards we are used to. Taxes will eventually have to rise to meet the new demand. Meanwhile, the market is already making an adjustment, and it is not the one politicians anticipated. Our economy is increasingly geared towards caring and creative work. There are more people employed today in the female-dominated economies of healthcare and social assistance and education than there are in the old male domains of construction, manufacturing, mining and agriculture. And the professions another majority female sector along with the arts, media and information technology now employ more people combined than retail and wholesale trade. The market hasnt got softer; it is smarter and, dare one say it, more compassionate. It has completed a transition from an economy that prioritised the making of things and shopping to caring, education and innovation. Its high time that government shifted its thinking along similar lines not only to meet the existential threats and raise the standards of care from cradle to grave, but to help Australia educate and recruit the skilled workers we will need for our brain economy. Loading Australia, like its democratic peers, has been edging towards more active government since the global financial crisis of 2008-9. But we are stuck in emergency response mode. Politics still operates with a male-only brain. In crisis, it waves big cheques, calls in the troops and blame-shifts when the environment wont bend to a press release. While all the attention is on Morrison at the moment, the problem is structural. It goes back to Tony Abbotts decision to kill bipartisanship on emissions trading in 2009, the very year that began with the Black Saturday fires in Victoria, which claimed 173 lives. Hindsight tells us that a tragic pattern was set on Black Saturday, which repeated with the fire and floods on Morrisons watch. The data said the event was off the charts; but the response was business as usual. Lets hope the warnings are heeded, and the lessons learned, before the next catastrophe. Peter Hartcher is on assignment. The West Australian government is playing a power game by keeping the details of its COVID-19 modelling top secret, says the president of the states Australian Medical Association branch. Mark Duncan-Smith said knowledge was power, and the state governments refusal to release the most recent modelling was part of the power game of the government. There are three people in intensive care with COVID-19. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola No one else knows where we are, because only the government has their top secret modelling, Dr Duncan-Smith said. Typically, modelling as was done for Delta by [UWA Professor George Milne] was published, it was subject to peer review, it had his name on it, he was the author. It would be a lie to say no-one ever said a nasty word about her. When Kimberley Kitching entered Federal Parliament in October 2016, she was lugging enough political baggage to fill a commercial airliner. A veteran warrior of Victorian Labors vicious factional feuds, Kitching was a former lawyer, policy adviser, Melbourne City councillor and senior official at the scandal-plagued Health Services Union. Kimberley Kitching, posing with dogs Ronnie and Nancy-Jane for a 2018 Good Weekend profile. Credit:Kristoffer Paulsen Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull derided her Senate appointment as a union stitch-up; her Labor enemies, speaking anonymously, were even more scathing. She had big fans too including then-opposition leader Bill Shorten, a longtime friend of her husband, the controversial blogger Andrew Landeryou. I was working as a press gallery reporter and thought Kitching would make a fascinating subject for a Good Weekend magazine profile. To make it work I needed her to agree to participate, but that was far from guaranteed. Labor senator Kimberley Kitching was a key driver of Australias Magnitsky laws, which are now being used to sanction Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, with conservative senator Eric Abetz praising her for securing support for the laws in Parliament. Some of the nations most conservative voices have joined Labor parliamentarians in paying tribute to Senator Kitching, remembering the 52-year-old as an approachable and genuine colleague who was loved on all sides of politics. The late Kimberley Kitching has been honoured by colleagues across the political aisle. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, Senator Abetz and fellow Liberal James Paterson, and independent senators Jacqui Lambie and Rex Patrick joined Labor leader Anthony Albanese and frontbencher Bill Shorten in expressing their sadness at Senator Kitchings passing on Thursday from a fatal heart attack. We were all shocked, Senator Lambie told RN Breakfast on Friday morning. She was really loved on all sides ... She had a very unique way of doing things. How did she do that? I think it was her friendships and the way she communicated. Rising petrol prices are not only hurting at the bowser but will affect the cost of fresh food through the year, with warnings inflation could hit levels not seen in decades. Experts are predicting petrol prices could reach $2.50 a litre in coming weeks. In Sydney on Friday afternoon, unleaded petrol was more than $2.20 a litre at many service stations across the city. In Melbourne, prices averaged about $1.92 a litre in the inner city but were as high as $2.20 in the outer suburbs. Petrol is over $2.20 a litre in parts of the country as the Ukraine conflict puts pressure on oil prices. Credit:James Brickwood CommSec chief economist Craig James said households tended to notice petrol price rises more than those for other goods. When people think petrol, they think filling up the car and they think about the direct influence on their budget, he said. But of course it [affects] a whole raft of other things. In the past 50 years, Melbournes CBD skyline has changed phenomenally, but the Yarra River keeps on flowing. And another constant has been Fran Hynes. As one of the organisers of the Moomba Masters water-skiing tournament, she will be back beside the Yarra again this week, presiding over one of the sports biggest global events. Since 1972, Fran Hynes has helped organised the Moomba Masters, an international water skiing tournament. Credit:Jason South She is not paid, but for a week, she works 17 hours a day to ensure proceedings go smoothly. Moomba is more than a fun festival to Nan Fran, as Mrs Hynes is known to skiers. Shes helped organise the Masters since 1972. We are triallingon some articles. Share your thoughts Victoria has taken a major step towards negotiating treaties with Indigenous residents, with leaders saying the first treaties could be signed as early as next year. The Andrews government this week gave in-principle support to the design of a treaty authority, which will become Australias first institution to help deliver a treaty for First Nations people. Marcus Stewart from the First Peoples Assembly. Credit:Justin McManus This moment is enormous, said Marcus Stewart, the co-chair of the First Peoples Assembly the body elected by Indigenous Victorians to help develop a treaty framework. It is a true credit to our members, but also a true testament to our community who have driven this, designed this, and were now building it. We are now in the process of decolonisation. The hot competition for lifestyle properties in Melbournes outer suburbs has started to cool after a two-year rush for more space, new figures show. Auction clearance rates have posted double-digit falls in the outer east and the Mornington Peninsula, down 14.1 percentage points and 13.7 percentage points respectively this February compared to a year earlier, and sharper than falls elsewhere, Domains February auction report shows. Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula has been a popular pandemic hideaway. Credit:Jessica Shapiro The number of people attending open for inspections there has dropped after a busy end to 2021, agents said, as have the number of offers for properties in popular coastal or tree-filled suburbs. Lifestyle areas boomed in the height of the pandemic as remote workers searched for more spacious accommodation near beaches and parks. But as many prepare to return to CBD offices at least part of the week, competition in far-flung suburbs has cooled. Pokies heir strikes it lucky A block of six apartments on the harbour at Manly has seen a slew of top sales in quick succession totalling more than $34 million, of which one of the biggest beneficiaries is Paul Ainsworth, son of billionaire pokie baron Len Ainsworth. The apartment sold by Paul Ainsworth was just the latest of four in the block sold in quick succession. Ainsworth scored more than $9 million for his two-level spread in the Oyama Avenue block, despite it being in need of a bit of a renovation and last trading for $2.05 million when his investment company, Writeman, purchased it in 2001. It is the latest sale making the most of pent-up buyer demand that was first tapped last September when Clarke & Humels Helene Taylor and Michael Clarke sold a three-bedder for $8.6 million to Elizabeth Copeland, a former investor in business technology start-up Avoka Technologies. Transport Asset Holding Entity chairman Bruce Gordon is downsizing from Cammeray. Credit:Fairfax Media A month later another apartment sold for $6.875 million to Julie Morgan, wife of Transport Asset Holding Entity chairman Bruce Morgan, both of whom are downsizing from their recently sold $11.5 million Cammeray home. Still with buyers circling in January, the Clarke & Humel team then sold the largest apartment in the block for $9.6 million on behalf of insurance industry veteran Damien Sullivan and his wife Kathryn, which no doubt paved the way for Ainsworths bullish sale last week. Ainsworth still owns property locally, but corporate records show he is now a local in Gladesville, where he bought an ultra-contemporary home for about $4.3 million in 2019. His former high-end Manly home is the Mediterranean-style villa on Fairy Bower he sold in 2004 and which is now owned by former Channel Seven chief Tim Worner. Top hopes for Top of the Town Investment banker Michael Rothner was just days away from settling on his $7.3 million purchase of the sub-penthouse in Darlinghursts landmark Top of the Town building recently when he listed it with a guide of $10 million to $11 million. The four-bedroom sub-penthouse has been listed with $10 million to $11 million hopes. How did the price jump so quickly? It was a long settlement. The head of AsheMorgan and leading figure in Sydneys Jewish community has already been living in the four-bedroom spread for almost two years, having exchanged to buy it back in 2020. At the time the building record was $10.9 million set when property developer Duncan Hardie and his wife Lyn bought the penthouse in 2016, but dropped to $10.5 million a year ago when the Hardies sold it for $10.5 million to Kerry Paramor, wife of property veteran Greg Paramor. The protracted settlement and quick resale is reminiscent of billionaire Brett Blundys Rose Bay mansion, which he agreed to buy in 2013 for a then jaw-dropping $33 million, only to settle on it in 2016 and within weeks list it for $45 million. Rothner is no stranger to a trophy deal of his own. He and his former wife Lisa sold their Darling Point residence in 2014 for $23.2 million to freight boss Terry Tzaneros, who then sold it four years later for $31.8 million to Winky Chow, the daughter of Chinese-Australian billionaire Chau Chak Wing. Michael Rothner exchanged on the sub-penthouse in the Top of the Town building in 2020. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Rothner has listed it with Richardson & Wrenchs Jason Boon and 1st Citys Julian Hasemer. Woollahras fast-moving market Venture capitalist David Klinger is no doubt relieved he never managed to sell his Woollahra home when he listed it in 2019 with $9 million hopes. Thats because hes now selling it with a $14.5 million guide through Richardson & Wrench Double Bays Michael Dunn. The Rosemont Avenue residence was first listed by David Klinger in 2019. In his favour, the ceiling has been raised considerably on the suburbs highest sales in the years since thanks to Mike Cannon-Brookess $18.5 million purchase of Germanys former consul-general official residence, Kerri-Anne Kennerleys $22 million house sale of a year ago, and the $45 million sale of Rosemont estate by Lady Margot Burrell a few weeks later. Venture capitalist David Klinger is selling in Woollahra. Credit:LinkedIn Klingers Federation residence boasts a whos who of previous owners, such as developer Andrew Richardson, who sold in 1999 for $2.82 million to recruitment boss Phil Kerry and his wife, former Olympian Anne-Maree Kerry, who in turn sold to lawyer Chris Murphy a year later for $3.35 million. Klinger, a former executive at Macquarie Bank, purchased it in 2007 for $5.695 million from investment manager Craig Goodman, and recently scored DA approval for a third-level addition with a lift and three-car garage. Rob Deutschs home upgrade F45 co-founder Rob Deutsch has set an April 2 auction on his Bronte home, given plans to upgrade to more family-friendly digs near the harbour. F45 gym founder Rob Deutsch is selling his Bronte house for $17.5 million. Credit: A trio of agents Pillingers Brad Pillinger, PPDs Alexander Phillips and Ray White Double Bays Ashley Bierman have been appointed to sell the three-level residence with a guide of $17.5 million. F45 co-founder Rob Deutsch is planning a home upgrade. Credit:Peter Braig Deutchs home upgrade comes less than two years after he stepped down as chief of the fitness giant, and since expanded his property portfolio to include the Patchway estate in Burradoo for $4.8 million, and a $2 million house on Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. Deutsch purchased the Bronte house in 2018 for $11.2 million, renovated it a year later, and listed it briefly in 2020 before a slew of local sales set successive suburb records, most recently at $25 million for the house long owned by the late Seven chief Maureen Kerridge. Hunters Hills latest high hopes Chinese billionaire Sam Guo may have set the Hunters Hill house price record when he sold Windermere for $19 million late last year, but the peninsulas all-time high has been held by the Woolwich residence Vailele since 2017 when Chinese-born Wang Xiande purchased it for $22.18 million from Christine Salter, widow of Salmat co-founder Phil Salter. Madrid: Children and babies could be responsible for up to a quarter of prehistoric rock paintings, a study has found, suggesting it was often a family-oriented group activity rather than the exclusive high-art form it is seen as today. Researchers from Spains University of Cantabria and Cambridge University looked at 180 examples of art involving outlines of hands - made by blowing pigment through a hollow reed or bone - from more than 20,000 years ago in Spanish caves. When they analysed the hand sizes, they found that, in some caves, up to 25 per cent of prints seemed to involve children no more than 12 years old. These hand tracings are at the El Castillo Cave in Spain and are thought to be more than 40,000 years old. Credit:AP/Pedro Saura From the real hand to the one on the wall there are always a few centimetres of error, because the silhouette comes out larger. We calculated that error and many more childrens hands came out than we expected, said Veronica Fernandez-Navarro, the leader of the study, which is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Mariupol: A massive Russian convoy outside the Ukrainian capital appears to have split up and fanned out into towns and forests near Kyiv, with artillery pieces raised into firing position in a potentially ominous movement of the Russian military. Satellite photos of the new formations have emerged amid more international efforts to isolate and sanction Russia, particularly after a deadly air strike on a maternity hospital in the port city of Mariupol that Western and Ukrainian officials decried as a war crime. The US and other nations were poised to announce the revocation of Russias most favoured nation trade status, which would allow tariffs to be imposed on Russian imports. The UN Security Council has scheduled a meeting at Russias request on Friday (Saturday AEDT) to discuss what Moscow claims are the military biological activities of the US on the territory of Ukraine, allegations vehemently denied by the Biden administration, which says Putin is using these false claims as a cover for plans to use its own chemical weapons. Ukrainian reservists with the kind of anti-tank weapon being supplied by Western powers. Credit:AP Unbowed by the sanctions, Russia kept up its bombardment of Mariupol for a sixth day, even as Russian defence officials argued that the maternity hospital that was bombed a day before was either empty or a stronghold for militants. London: Englands High Court has ruled that police acted unlawfully when they used COVID social-distancing rules to force campaigners to cancel an outdoor vigil for a London woman who was raped and murdered by a police officer. Hundreds of people mostly women and including Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge gathered peacefully in defiance of the ban in Clapham Common in south London in March 2021. The vigil ended with police using heavy-handed tactics to arrest several women. People gathered in Clapham Common, south London, even though the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard had been officially cancelled. Credit:Getty Images The disappearance of marketing executive Sarah Everard as she walked home shocked Britain and provoked a huge outpouring of dismay at the failure of police and wider society to tackle violence against women. Wayne Couzens, a police officer whose job was to guard diplomatic premises in the British capital, was jailed for life without the possibility of parole for the abduction, rape and murder of Everard. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), would like to inform the general public, the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic will reopen on Monday, March 14. The new hours of operation of the CPS Vaccine Clinic at the Vineyard Office Complex in Philipsburg are as follows: Mondays 8:30 AM 12:30 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM 3:30 PM; Fridays 8:30 AM 12:30 PM. Paediatric vaccines will continue via appointment on Wednesdays 3:00 PM 5:00 PM. Everyone 12-years and older are now eligible for the booster dose vaccine. You must bring with you your vaccination card and a form of Identification (ID). Everyone is urged to come and get their COVID-19 vaccine. Walk-ins are welcome for their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd doses of the vaccine. PHILIPSBURG:--- Fire Officers, Ambulance Officers, and Police Officers took part in a joined leadership training for middle and senior management officers from February 28 to March 4 at the Government Administration Building. The leadership training for middle management and upcoming leaders within the emergency services is called JOLA, short for Junior Officer Leadership Academy. The training for the senior management is SOLA (Senior Officer Leadership Academy). This leadership training was organized through cooperation between the Fire Department, Ambulance Department, and the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC). The theme of the JOLA and SOLA training was 21st Century Emergency Service Leadership and contained sessions on: Leadership Philosophies like servant leadership and transformational leadership. Understanding emotional intelligence. Conflict Resolution. Understanding the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the workplace. The training included a week of classes with group activities, individual assignments, and role-playing. Participants got to improve their knowledge on management and leadership, exchange experience, and their network and at the end, participants received a certificate of participation. Both JOLA and SOLA training were provided by the instructors Reginald Freeman and Dr. Kwame Cooper, who are experienced in providing this training within the Caribbean since 2008 at the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs. Reginald D. Freeman is the CAFC Training Director and the Fire Chief of Oakland, CA. Dr. Kwame Cooper is a retired Deputy Fire Chief with over 38 years of experience in the Los Angeles, CA, Fire Department and Community Safety education. The course is organized by the Fire Department and Ambulance Service and is geared to lifelong learning and continuous growth and leadership within the emergency services. Participants are leading officers from emergency services ranging from the Sint Maarten Government Fire Department, the Ambulance, the Police Department, the Airport Fire and Rescue, and Fire officers of the Fire Department of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. The candidates and management of the Fire Department, Ambulance, and the Police were very impressed and satisfied with the training. The instructors also expressed their gratitude to the government of Sint Maarten, for granting them the possibility to provide this training, which will result in a higher level of functioning of the organization. PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Honorable Silveria E. Jacobs paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Andre Haspels today, March 10, during her work visit in Washington D.C. Prime Minister Jacobs had a fruitful meeting with His Excellency Haspels where they were able to discuss the operations and efforts of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United States. Prime Minister Jacobs stated, The Government of St. Maarten continues to seek ways of enhancing opportunities for St. Maartens engagement with the US and the United Nations on various areas of interest. It was imperative for me to meet with Ambassador Haspels in the US as his office also represents St. Maarten. Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Jacobs also met with Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba Joselin Croes who is the Arubian representative at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On behalf of the government and people of St. Maarten, Id like to thank His Excellency Haspels and Minister Plenipotentiary Croes for their warm welcome in Washington. St. Maarten can now look forward to future strategic discussions and collaboration with and through the Dutch Kingdom embassy aimed at forwarding our agenda, concluded Prime Minister Jacobs. BONAIRE:--- Due to the recent number of challenges for the Protected Area Management Organizations of the Dutch Caribbean, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) has recently hired a professional Fundraising Manager. The severely underfunded parks almost did not survive the COVID crisis, and in order to create more capacity within DCNA and its member organizations Maartje de Jonge has joined the DCNA Secretariat Team as Fundraising Manager, a position generously funded by BirdLife Conservation Netherlands The Protected Area Management Organizations of the Dutch Caribbean play a vital role in designing, implementing, and managing nature conservation efforts on their respective islands. Due to COVID-19, these organizations have seen both a significant drop in income due to the disappearance of user fees, and also due to the non-consideration by local, national, and kingdom governments on structural funding for the execution of their critical conservation work. This has resulted in the real possibility of Protected Area Management Organizations having to scale back or cease operations. The protection of natural areas and the associated critical ecosystems and habitats are crucial for the sustainable economic development of the islands, especially considering the severe economic impact the pandemic has had on communities at the highest risk of climate change impacts within the Dutch Kingdom. The DCNA conservation network provides support to the Protected Area Management Organizations on all six islands of the Dutch Caribbean: Aruba National Parks Foundation, STINAPA Bonaire, CARMABI Curacao, STENAPA St. Eustatius, the Saba Conservation Foundation and the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation. DCNA has been able to provide emergency funding through DCNAs Conservation Trust Fund to the parks to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, but this is only enough to provide operational support in the short term. In order to ensure structural fundraising capacity, DCNA has created a Fundraising Committee to help bridge the aforementioned financial gaps. However, there is a need for a dedicated staff member to execute and coordinate fundraising activities as outlined by the Fundraising Committee. The parks require long-term, consistent funding to ensure they are able to plan for and enact critical conservation strategies for years to come. Maartje de Jonge brings with her expertise in the fields of education, renewable energy, sales, and the introduction of a sustainable, technical solution for the Dutch Waddeneilanden. Together with DCNAs Fundraising Committee, de Jonge will work out strategic plans to raise funds for the conservation of nature in the Dutch Caribbean. Edith (Edi) Marie Smith, daughter of the late Glen Lester and Dorothy Jane Allison, was born in Youngstown, OH on Friday, October 11th, 1963, and she departed this life on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, having attained the age of 59 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death b Waterbury Police Department / Contributed Photo A man who lived in Waterbury was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday after special agents found more than 60 grams of fentanyl outside of his bedroom, according to federal prosecutors. The sentence stems from when Daniel Jimenez De La Cruz, 36, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in February. WINDSOR A driver was killed after crashing into a pole early Friday, according to police. First responders were dispatched to the area of 600 Day Hill Road around 2 a.m. for a reported crash where a driver hit a utility pole. Police said individuals at the scene reported the driver was unresponsive. Arriving units got the driver out of the vehicle and performed life-saving measures before the person was pronounced dead, police said. There was no one else in the vehicle. The medical examiners office responded and removed the body from the scene. Police said next of kin notifications are in progress. Traffic on Day Hill Road headed east was temporarily rerouted at Baker Hollow Road while authorities investigated. Eversource responded to the scene to repair the pole. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 860-688-5273. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MUKACHEVO, Ukraine - The United States and its allies have intelligence that Russia may be preparing to use chemical weapons against Ukraine, U.S. and European officials said Friday, as Moscow sought to invigorate its faltering military offensive through increasingly brutal assaults across multiple Ukrainian cities. Security officials and diplomats said the intelligence, which they declined to detail, pointed to possible preparations by Russia for deploying chemical munitions, and warned the Kremlin may seek to carry out a "false-flag" attack that attempts to pin the blame on Ukrainians, or perhaps Western governments. The officials, like others quoted in this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter. The accusations surfaced as Russia repeated claims that the United States and Ukraine were operating secret biological weapons labs in Eastern Europe - an allegation that the Biden administration dismissed as "total nonsense" and "outright lies." Any use of poison gases in Ukraine would violate a decades-old international treaty banning such weapons, and represent a dangerous turn in Russia's two-week-old military offensive against its neighbor. Russia, which possessed vast stocks of chemical and biological weapons during the Cold War, has used outlawed nerve agents in at least two assassination attempts against political foes of President Vladimir Putin in the past three years, including at least once outside its borders, Western intelligence agencies concluded. Because the U.S. and European officials declined to describe the nature of the intelligence pointing to a possible Russian chemical attack in Ukraine, it was impossible to determine how significant it might be. U.S. officials have been warning publicly for days that Russia might carry out a false flag operation, after the Kremlin alleged the United States had supported a bioweapons program in Ukraine. "It's more than an urgent concern," one European official said of the prospects for a Russian chemical attack. "Clearly there's been an increase in the threat." A senior NATO official added that Russia "is preparing the ground for a chemical or bioweapons attack." Elsewhere on Friday, Russian forces intensified a relentless bombing and artillery campaign against cities and towns across a widening swath of southern and central Ukraine. Four Ukrainians were killed and six others were wounded Friday in missile attacks by Russian forces on a military airfield in Lutsk, said Yuriy Pohulyayko, governor of the surrounding Volyn region. Another military airfield in Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine, was also struck by missiles. New satellite imagery, meanwhile, showed a massive Russian convoy outside Kyiv maneuvering in possible preparation for an assault against the capital. According to the latest figures from the United Nations, 564 civilians have been confirmed killed and 982 injured, though the true toll is probably far higher. Russian forces continued to suffer substantial losses, as Ukrainian troops armed with antitank weapons and armed drones beat back invading forces along several fronts. But the methodical demolishing of Ukrainian urban centers by Russian missiles and artillery has contributed to a mounting humanitarian catastrophe, according to Ukrainian officials and international relief agencies. The mayor of Mariupol described his besieged southern port city as going through "Armageddon." The United Nations' human rights office said it has received "credible reports" of Russia using cluster bombs, including in the key eastern city Kharkiv, which could constitute war crimes. Almost 2.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine during Moscow's attack, according to the U.N. In the latest economic salvo against Russia, President Joe Biden called on Congress Friday to end normal trade relations with Russia and announced a new slate of bans on Russian imports and exports. Meanwhile, YouTube joined a growing number of Western companies to restrict business in Russia, announcing that it was blocking Russian state media channels worldwide. The move followed an announcement by Russia that it intended to block the social media platform Instagram and to declare Facebook an extremist organization - actions that show how the Kremlin is increasingly willing to censor free expression and retaliate against tech companies. Fears that Moscow might introduce nonconventional weapons into the Ukrainian conflict have intensified in the wake of Russian failures to quickly to capture major Ukrainian cities. As the war's momentum has slowed, Russian diplomatic and military officials have stepped up accusations about supposed secret biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine. On Friday, Russian representative to the U.N., Vasily Nebenzya, told the body's Security Council that Russia had discovered "truly shocking facts" related to what he said were at least 30 Ukrainian laboratories working on diseases including anthrax, cholera, and "the plague" with funding and oversight by the U.S. military. He said the "reckless" activity included research related to diseases born by birds, lice and fleas. The claim recycled unproven accusations voiced by Russian officials since the start of the Putin era, and amplified by state-run Russian news media. No verifiable evidence has ever been put forward to substantiate the allegations, which a Pentagon official dismissed on Friday as "absurd and laughable." The United States helped Ukraine improve security at several Soviet-era biological research facilities at the end of the Cold War under the Pentagon's Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. Ukraine has five biological research centers that are focused on disease prevention and treatment, under guidelines set by the Biological Weapons Convention and approved by countries around the world, including Russia, current and former Pentagon officials said. On Friday, the U.N.'s high representative for disarmament affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said the world body was unaware of any biological weapons program in Ukraine. Still, Russia's sudden vehemence in repeating the accusations has stoked fears that Moscow may be creating a pretext for its own use of chemical or biological agents in Ukraine. "Russia is attempting to use the Security Council to legitimize disinformation and deceive people to justify President Putin's war of choice against the Ukrainian people," Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said at Friday's Security Council meeting. She also accused China of echoing the false allegations, effectively "spreading disinformation in support of Russia's outrageous claims." Britain's representative to the United Nations, Lady Barbara Woodward, called the bioweapons claim "utter nonsense." "Russia is sinking to new depths today, but this council must not get dragged down with it," she said. During Syria's civil war, Russia repeatedly provided diplomatic cover and logistical aid to President Bashar al-Assad when Syrian forces used chemical weapons against opposition-held neighborhoods. The Syrian chemical attacks, intended to undermine rebel morale and drive insurgents out of urban barricades, included sophisticated and highly lethal nerve agents, as well ordinary industrial compounds such as chlorine. In the worst attack, in August 2013, deadly sarin gas seeped into basements used by Syrian families as bomb shelters, killing an estimated 1,400 people. The Syrian attacks often were accompanied by false-flag claims - repeated frequently by Russian officials - suggesting that rebels themselves were behind the attacks. According to the NATO official who described the growing angst about potential chemical attacks in Ukraine, the concern is being driven by new "intel, and also Russia's previous record of the tactics." The official described the tactics as consisting of "heavy bombardment, flattening of cities, then chemical weapons use to clean basements of fighters, then denying and planting false flags." A second European official also cited new intelligence suggesting possible preparations for a chemical attack, but decline to elaborate. U.S. officials declined to comment on intelligence assessments. A senior Defense official said that Ukraine's government has not requested protective equipment for defending against a chemical attack. Ukrainian forces, facing slow but steady advances from Russian troops, have urgently appealed for other assistance, including advanced weaponry. NATO countries want to help, officials say, but can only provide what Ukraine's troops can actually use based on their existing training. The most useful weapons systems are Soviet- and Russian-made ones that are in the arsenals of former communist countries in Eastern Europe. Among other things, Ukrainian officials are seeking stepped-up deliveries of antitank weapons because they see it as the only way to break the progressive encirclement of their cities, according to a senior European diplomat. The weaponry would be used to create humanitarian corridors in and out of the cities, the diplomat said. Putin, meanwhile, on Friday approved recruiting foreign "volunteers" to reinforce the Russian military's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. "If you see that there are people who want to come voluntarily, especially free of charge, and help people living in the Donbas, you need to meet them halfway and help them move to the war zone," Putin told his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, during a televised Russian Security Council meeting Friday. Donbas is a region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists have declared independent "republics" and where Putin has baselessly accused Ukraine of committing a genocide against Russian speakers. Shoigu said that Moscow has received "a colossal number of applications" from across the world to join what it is calling a "Ukrainian liberation movement." The defense minister said the Kremlin got more than 16,000 applications, of which most came from the Middle East. - - - The Washington Post's Adela Suliman in London, and Timothy Bella, Maite Fernandez Simon and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report. Gasoline prices have reached a record level in Connecticut, pushed higher, in part, by a global conflict. And its not the first time. In 1973, oil prices were also high when the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries placed an embargo on nations that had supported Israel during the Yom Kippur War. Then-President Richard Nixon responded by suspending the switch to and from Daylight Saving Time for two years. Daylight Saving Time on a year-round basis, which will result in the conservation during the winter months of an estimated equivalent of 150,000 barrels of oil a day, will mean only a minimum of inconvenience and will involve equal participation by all, Nixon said at the time. Kristine Larsen, an astronomy professor at Central Connecticut State University, said there is no scientific basis for Daylight Saving Time. Theres no there there for Daylight Saving Time, she said. Its a cultural thing, not an astronomical thing. Larsen was living in Meriden when the federal government briefly made Daylight Saving Time year-round. I was 11 years old, fifth or sixth grade, she said. The only real vivid remembrance I have is being at the bus stop and it being uncharacteristically dark. I remember my mother grumbling. I can still picture it, she said. That was not the first time the government attempted to suspend switching to and from Daylight Saving Time. According to a 2017 Office of Legislative Research report, in 1918, the United States enacted An Act to Preserve Daylight and Provide Standard Time for the United States, which established standard time zones and set summer Daylight Saving Time. By World War II, then-President Franklin Roosevelt enacted year-round Daylight Saving Time as a war measure. It lasted three full years, between 1942 and 1945. Then, in 1966, the Uniform Time Act was passed that established standard time within time zones and, provided for advanced time to advance clocks one hour beginning at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in April and turn them back one hour at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in October, the OLR report says. Seven years later, Nixon made Daylight Saving Time year-round in response to the oil crisis. The experiment ended in 1975, the public act stating the experiment shall terminate at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the last Sunday of April 1975. Though it was supposed to last a full two years, Congress amended the timing. It began on the last Sunday in October 1974 and ended the last Sunday in February 1975. During the oil crisis, Larsen recalled her mother being allowed to put gas in her Pinto on alternate days, depending on the last digit of the license plate. After the oil crisis ended, a U.S. Department of Transportation study on the effects of the experiment found modest overall benefits in the areas of energy conservation, overall traffic safety and reduced violent crime. In 1986, Daylight Saving Time was lengthened from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in April. It was again lengthened in 2005, with the federal government moving the start date to the second Sunday in March and the end date to the first Sunday in November, according to the OLR. Larsen is an astronomer and, as such, would prefer it to get darker earlier. I like to refer to Daylight Saving Time as night time wasting time. State Rep. Kurt Vail, R-Stafford, has been trying for years to end the shift Daylight Saving Time. His effort failed again this year, but he plans to raise the issue again in 2023. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect former President Richard Nixon suspended the shift to and from Daylight Saving Time. HAZLETON CAN DO Inc. shared news of closing on additional land sales in its industrial parks one for a 17-acre site in the Humboldt Industrial Park North as the board of directors met Tuesday. The areas economic development corporation saw the deal for Site 27 on Parkview Road, across from Gonella Frozen Foods, close along with two other properties going to the same Texas-based developer. One of those sites is an 11-plus acre site on Stony Creek Road near the AutoZone and the other is a 12.8-acre site in Humboldt East at Forest Road and Commerce Drive. Land sales such as these will be less frequent as the organization continues to move forward in its mission of improved quality of life in Greater Hazleton and job creation, said Jocelyn Sterenchock, director of economic development. We may not have as many (land sales) in the pipeline as weve seen, she said. Thats definitely not an indication of our organizational strength or tenacity or ability through the community, she said. Its simply where we are as an economic development agency and how much land we have left in our industrial parks. CAN DO President Joe Lettiere elaborated, saying that there is an evolution occurring in the area and with the organization. CAN DO is not going to be the primary land developer moving forward, he said. Other developers have significant chunks of land in the community and plans for development in the queue, Lettiere said. CAN DO is still focused on meeting with companies and job creation, but will be playing more of a supporting role, he said. The mission remains the same, Lettiere said. I dont think the mission to create jobs in the community ever stops. Its just the evolution of our organization, approaching economic development, may be shifting. The organization remains mindful that another recession or shift in the economy could change what has been a great period of growth and job creation, he said. CAN DOs land sales wont stop, Lettiere said, and it will be some time before the organization runs out of land, but the large sites that outside developers are interested in are dwindling. And thats OK, he said. We were always the developer of last resort in this community. I think the evolution is healthy and shows that our market has arrived. Now the organization will focus on supporting job creation and workforce development to move Greater Hazleton forward, he said. The board did not discuss any details of the recent land sales or the developers plans for the sites. Corporate center The board heard an update on the development of Site 19 in CAN DOs Corporate Center in Drums. Cold temperatures through the winter have created challenges, said Greg Kurtz, director of operations. The project remains on time for the September deadline, he said, and they are working with Butler Twp. to deal with mud, inherent to a construction site, being carried onto the roads. Lettiere thanked Butler Twp. for being a good partner. In November, Amapharm LLC, a global nutraceutical manufacturer, announced plans to locate its first American facility in the Drums park. The company will occupy a 43,500-square foot building being built by CAN DO Construction, and expects to be operational by the fall. The company will employ 50 to 100 people. This is archive content that is no longer updated. Go to the up-to-date statistics page. Published: 11 March 2022 Managers wages and salaries vary most in the private sector According to Statistics Finlands Structure of Earnings statistics, the median for total earnings of full-time wage and salary earners was EUR 3,228 per month in 2020. The median pay of wage and salary earners in manager occupations was EUR 7,200 in the private sector, EUR 6,995 in the central government sector and EUR 5,176 in the local government sector. The dispersion of managers' salaries was biggest in the private sector, where the lowest salaries (1st decile) were EUR 4,279 and the highest salaries (9th decile) were EUR 11,890 per month. Among private sector managers the highest earning decile earned at least 2.8 times more than the lowest earning decile. The corresponding pay differential was 1.8 in the central government sector and 2.3 in the local government sector. Distribution of total earnings of full-time wage and salary earners in manager occupations by sector in 2020 For the final release of the Structure of Earnings statistics for 2020, data were produced on previously missing salaries of private sector managers. Especially data on the occupational group of managing directors and chief executives (category 112) are missing from the previously published Structure of Earnings statistics. Due to this addition, managers' earnings can be better compared between different sectors and the statistics give a better picture than before of the salaries of enterprises' top management. Total earnings described in the statistics do not include one-off items, such as performance-based bonuses, which in the private sector in particular can form a significant part of total remuneration for managers. Wages and salaries of enterprises top management grow by enterprise size Measured by the number of wage and salary earners, the total earnings of managing directors and chief executives were, on average, the higher the larger the enterprise in which the manager was working. In enterprises with under 100 wage and salary earners, the median earnings of top management were EUR 9,500, while in enterprises with over 250 wage and salary earners the earnings were EUR 13,871. The biggest enterprises also had the largest dispersion in salaries. In enterprises with over 250 wage and salary earners, the highest paid decile of managing directors and chief executives earned at least 4.2 times as much as the lowest paid decile, while in enterprises with under 100 wage and salary earners the corresponding figure was 3.0 and in enterprises with 100 to 249 wage and salary earners 2.9. Median for total earnings in occupational group 112 (managing directors and chief executives) in the private sector by the enterprises number of wage and salary earners in 2020 Highest pay and largest variation in pay in Uusimaa Of the regions, median earnings were highest in Uusimaa, EUR 3,564. Median earnings were lowest in South Savo, EUR 2,919. The earnings of the highest earning decile in Uusimaa were clearly higher than in other regions. The highest earning decile earned EUR 6,254 or more in Uusimaa while in the other regions the earnings of the highest decile were EUR 4,886 or more. The earnings of the lowest earning decile in Uusimaa do not differ as much from the corresponding earnings level in other regions. In Uusimaa, 10 per cent of full-time wage and salary earners earned EUR 2,357 or less, while in the rest of the country the lowest decile earned EUR 2,226 or less. Distribution of monthly total earnings of full-time wage and salary earners: 1st and 9th deciles and median by region in 2020. Differences in average earnings and dispersion of earnings between regions are partly caused by differences in the structures of wage and salary earners between regions. More people work in manager and professional occupations in Uusimaa than in other regions. In Uusimaa, around five per cent of wage and salary earners worked in manager occupations and over 30 per cent in professional occupations. In other regions, the corresponding proportions were around 3 and 23 per cent. In these occupational groups the earnings level was on average higher than in other occupations. The data in the release derive from Statistics Finland's Structure of Earnings statistics. The Structure of Earnings statistics for 2020 provide data on the earnings of around 1.4 million full-time wage and salary earners and altogether 1.7 million full-time and part-time wage and salary earners. The Structure of Earnings statistics describe all wage and salary earners for the public sector and those working in enterprises with more than five employees for the private sector. The earnings data released in the statistics are total earnings. Apart from earnings for regular working hours, total earnings also include pay for any possible overtime and working hour supplements, premium pays, supplement for location and adverse working conditions, supplements based on duties, professional skills and years of service, performance-based pay components, compensation for standby and on-call work and benefits in kind, but not one-off pay items, such as performance-based bonuses. Total earnings are in gross, so taxes or other payments have not been subtracted from them. Source: Structure of Earnings 2020, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Matti Lahdenmaki 029 551 3690, Olli Ruuska 029 551 3274, palkkarakenne@stat.fi Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala Publication in pdf-format (217.1 kB) Updated 11.3.2022 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Structure of Earnings [e-publication]. ISSN=1799-0092. 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 4.5.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/pra/2020/pra_2020_2022-03-11_tie_001_en.html Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (471) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (81) More than 1,800 Ukrainian nationals have entered Romania in the last 24 hours through the border crossing points in Botosani County, the county Prefect's Office informed on Friday morning. According to data reported by the Prefect's Office, 1,804 refugees and 533 vehicles entered Romania through the Stanca-Costesti and Radauti Prut-Lipcani crossing points on the border with the Republic of Moldova between Thursday at 8.00 a.m. and Friday at 8.00 a.m. More than 473 Ukraine refugees were being housed as of Friday at 8.00 in the temporary accommodation facilities organized in Botosani County, Agerpres informs. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs on Friday that on March 10, during the 24 hour interval, 70,974 persons have entered Romania, of which 21,003 Ukrainian citizens (fewer by 10.8% from the previous day). 8,080 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania from the border with Ukraine (fewer by 8.8%), and 11,299 entered through the border with the Republic of Moldova (fewer by 12.9%), according to a press release sent to AGERPRES. According to the quoted source, 93,417 persons have carried out formalities for exiting Romania, including 23,653 Ukrainian citizens (fewer by 3.3%). As many as 365,518 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania and 282,497 have exited since the start of the Ukrainian crisis until March 10, at 00:00. The Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dincu, had a phone discussion with the American Secretary of Defence, Lloyd J. Austin III, the two highlighting the need of a continuous and constant dialogue given the complexity of the current security situation in Europe, which requires solid actions in regards to countering the actions of the Russian Federation, as well as the support granted to Ukraine, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informs. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday, the two ministers highlighted, in the context of the deteriorating situation in the region, as a result of the Russian Federation's invasion into Ukraine, the courage of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian army's fight for independence and the territorial integrity of their country. Vasile Dincu congratulated the US's contribution to the efforts of implementing defence and deterrence measures on the Eastern Flank, with emphasis on the Black Sea region. He mentioned of the special role of American soldiers within the Task Force (TF) Cougar, deployed at the southeastern Mihail Kogalniceanu military base. Furthermore, the two high officials also addressed the process of establishing a NATO battle group in Romania, where France would be the leader nation. Dincu presented Romania's actions dedicated to supporting Ukraine, where the recent operationalization of the humanitarian hub in Suceava was reminded. The Romanian authorities' decision of supplementing the budget allocated to Defence, from 2% to 2.5% of the GDP was also highlighted, MApN mentions, Agerpres informs. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the State of Israel, Yair Lapid, will begin on Saturday evening diplomatic visits to two countries that have a common border with Ukraine - Romania and Slovakia, announces the Israeli Embassy in Bucharest. According to a post on the Facebook page of the diplomatic mission, on Sunday, March 13, Yair Lapid will meet, in Bucharest, with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu. The two foreign ministers will deliver press statements at the end of the meeting. Also, the Israeli official will visit the northeastern Siret Border Crossing Point and "will meet with the staff who have been at customs for over two weeks in order to save the Israeli citizens and the Jews of Ukraine and to support the refugees who cross the border". On Monday, the Israeli official will take off for Bratislava, Slovakia, informs Agerpres. The Minister of Justice, Catalin Predoiu, had a work meeting on Thursday with Gallina A. Vincelette, the regional director of the World Bank for the EU, Europe and Central Asia, the main topic being ensuring financing for the erection of the Justice Neighborhood and digitization of the judicial system. According to a press release sent by the Ministry of Justice, secretary of state Bogdan Ilea and members of the leadership of World Bank in Romania, as well as teams of experts, were also present during the meeting. "The discussions were focused on ensuring financing and construction of the Justice Neighborhood and digitizing the judicial system, from concept, technical assistance, elaboration and implementation of the entire project. Both projects will have a radical positive impact for litigants, by streamlining the way the judicial system works, cutting costs, simplifying procedures, reducing terms for processing information and documents and implicitly, upon the quality increase of the Justice act," the Ministry of Justice says. On this occasion, current programs and ongoing projects for the judicial system are being reviewed, namely: refundable loan agreement for preparing the "Justice Neighborhood" projects for the feasibility study stage (May 2023); agreement for financing project "Improving Judicial Services" (December 2023); agreement for refundable consultancy services regarding functional analysis of Romanian judicial system (February 2023), financed through the Administrative Operational Capacity Program 2014-2020. Aspects regarding the projects were discussed during the meeting, Minister Catalin Predoiu requesting the teams from both the Ministry of Justice, as well as the representatives of the World Bank to find solutions for speeding up terms for accomplishing the project components. Furthermore, seeing that the current programs expire in 2023, talks were initiated for a new intervention dedicated to the digital transformation of the judicial system, in the broader context of the future program for the Justice Neighborhood. Catalin Predoiu congratulated the cooperation between the two parties for "transforming the judicial system to be digitized as soon as possible," appreciating that implementation actions should be accelerated in a short timeframe. Furthermore, he mentioned the importance of consultation and collaboration in achieving the project for digitizing the judicial system with the Superior Council of Magistrates (CSM), the guarantor of the independence of Justice, in line with the concept policy of the Ministry of Justice of permanently consulting with the representatives of the court authorities. Also, the Ministry of Justice supported the need of ensuring complementarity with the Government's actions of promoting digitization at the level of the entire administration, as well as correlating with the enforcement of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience plan (PNRR). The Justice Neighborhood implies the gathering of all justice institutions of the Capital City into a single real estate area. Located in the vicinity of Romania's National Library (Mircea Voda boulevard), the neighborhood will group spaces intended for court rooms, as well as prosecutors' offices with their headquarters in Bucharest (court rooms, archives, offices for judges and prosecutors, clerks, contractual and auxiliary staff, technical spaces), as well as other institutions from the judicial system, Agerpres informs. The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) asks the Executive to convene the Tripartite National Council for Social Dialogue, with the objective of setting up working groups to elaborate, as a matter of urgency, plans of concrete measures regarding Romania's energy security, food security, revitalization of the national defense industry and support to compensate for the economic and social effects of the war, and in this regard, the BNS Executive Office decided on Thursday to organize a march and a rally on April 6. "The economic and social environment in Romania is feeling more and more consistently the effects of the war in our immediate vicinity. Economic ties with Russia or Ukraine unknown to the general public until now and sometimes even by the authorities are becoming more visible, especially since this war is not just a conventional one, as it moves from the purely military area to the deeply economic area! In the last period, the European institutions have assumed numerous decisions as sanctions measures towards Russia in the energy field, as well as in the financial banking field, with repercussions difficult to quantify in the near future! The effects of the war in Ukraine are not visible only in the form of massive flows of refugees seeking shelter. The loss of markets or supply markets is already affecting the economic environment, but also the jobs of Romanians. At the same time, in the human dimension, war is already creating unexpected social behaviors," the BNS said in an open letter to the Romanian Government. According to the trade unionists, in this period the only institutions that really function are the "Facebook Ministry" and the "Ministry of Tik-Tok", "which without hindrance spread rumors, mystify truths, manipulate larger and larger masses of people. The consequences were the massive cash withdrawals from ATMs, the huge queues at the passport issuing offices, an unusual appetite to purchase properties outside the country, away from the war area, but also the "huge and hysterical" queues in the gas stations. "We have drawn the attention of the President of Romania, but also of the Prime Minister, that we will face such situations, but it was preferred to wait and for the moment non-action. The Government has limited itself to rallying to the actions of the European or international authorities, disregarding the fact that placing Romania in the immediate vicinity of the war will produce more consistent and nuanced effects! Today we feel abandoned by the Government of our country! We are going through a turbulent period and we find that we do not have mechanisms to protect ourselves from speculative behaviors," says the BNS. In the opinion of the National Trade Union Bloc, these days we are witnessing a forced alignment of prices in Romania, especially for basic products, at the level of European prices. But the Romanians' incomes are much lower than those in the member states because "we have made a country objective from the poorly paid workforce!" "BNS supports international efforts to restore peace in the region, but Romania must be prepared for more! We are involved, through our member organizations, in support actions for refugees in Ukraine. We support these initiatives, whether they are public or private, but from the Romanian Government we expect a complex approach to the problems we face. We need a strategic approach oriented both economically and socially and a clear voice at European level to support the cause of Romania and its citizens," the release reads. The strategic approach the BNS proposes to the Government must aim at least at 4 pillars: Romania's energy security, food security, revitalization of the national defense industry and support to compensate for the economic and social effects of the war. As for Romania's energy security, according to the BNS, it is urgently necessary to identify solutions in order to eliminate dependence on energy resources imported from Russia, given that access to these resources is no longer possible. Romania must also bear in mind that the liberalization of the electricity and natural gas markets has led to a strong interconnection of the Romanian energy products markets (electricity, gas and fuel) with the European ones, with effects especially regarding the increase in prices. In the case of food security, agricultural crops in Ukraine are significantly compromised. Economic sanctions imposed on Russia are blocking food imports from this area. "We went through a totally atypical cold season with little rainfall. The pressure exerted by the provision of food for the increasing number of refugees will be felt more and more strongly. We still have in mind the image of the waste of agricultural products that happened last year and inevitably we wonder how we organize ourselves and what we will do to avoid such situations," the unionists draw the attention. "In support of our objectives, we inform you that the BNS Executive Office has decided today, 10.03.2022, to organize a march and a rally on April 6. We appeal to the other trade union confederations, but also to the Romanian citizens who feel like we are abandoned in their own country, to join our approach, the problems for which we take to the streets are not only ours, they are of all Romanian citizens!" the National Trade Union Bloc says. There are no data indicating that Romania would be targeted by an aggression, President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday in a joint press statement with visiting US Vice President Kamala Harris. "I can emphasize that we have no data indicating that Romania would be targeted by an aggression. On the other hand, it is very clear that this action by Russia, this war launched against Ukraine has certainly produced a visible, firm, clear result and that is the unity of NATO and the determination of NATO allies to stand together and defend themselves together," said President Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. For her part, Kamala Harris reiterated that an attack on one NATO member state is an attack on all other member states of the alliance. As the Romanian people know, as we all know, it is a dynamic situation and, as time goes on, we always evaluate the situation that exists. As for what might happen ... in terms of Putin's behavior, I can't speculate, but we are very firm and it is clear that as members of NATO, an attack on a country is an attack on all, she said. AGERPRES The National Institute for Statistics (INS) is organizing on Friday a press conference on the topic of the launch of the Population and Housing Census. The event will be attended by INS chair, Tudorel Andrei, Minister of Internal Affairs, Lucian Bode, and the director of the Special Communications Service, Ionel-Sorin Balan. The first stage of the census, that of inputting data from administrative sources, started on February 1, and the second, which consists of self-census, will take place between March 14 and May 15. The self-census will be available on any smartphone-type phone, tablet, laptop or computer, the self-census questionnaire being available in Romanian and the languages of national minorities, as well as in English. The third stage of the census, the collection and processing of data will run exclusively online. According to the INS, the information collected will be processed in accordance with the legislation in force regarding the protection of personal data (EU Regulation no. 679/2016) and made anonymous immediately after entry into the system. The population and housing census is done, starting last year, in all EU member-states, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on population and housing censuses, as well as the corresponding implementation regulations. In Romania, the population and housing census will take place in accordance with the provisions of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 19/2020 regarding the organization and conduct of the Population and Housing Census in Romania in 2021, approved with amendments and completions through Law no. 178/2020. By the way it managed the crisis at the border with Ukraine, Romania has proved that it has the capacity to be a member of the Schengen Area, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Lucian Bode, said Friday, on the occasion of the visit he and his French counterpart, Gerald Darmanin, paid to the northeastern Siret Border Crossing Point, but also to the mobile camp of Ukrainian refugees set up in the Siret city of Suceava County. The two ministers discussed the need to involve Romania and France in the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, but also about the security situation in the region. "We are witnessing a humanitarian tragedy. More than two million people have fled the war and are asking for Europe's help. Every blow given to Ukraine by the Russian invading army is a blow to the democratic and free world. In a context where unity, solidarity and cooperation are needed more than ever, we received today the visit of Mr. Gerald Darmanin, Minister of Interior of the French Government, on which occasion we discussed issues of common interest, in the context of the humanitarian and security crisis in Ukraine," Bode said. The Romanian official stressed "the professional way in which the Romanian authorities manage the large number of people arriving from Ukraine", thanking the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs involved in the management of refugees, but also the civil society, which is "a model for many other states". "Our effort at the moment is very big, but we manage it properly from all points of view. Romania has adopted all the necessary measures for the optimal management of the borders, so that we have the technical, logistics and human resources capacity to organize an adequate response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine," added Minister Bode. Lucian Bode also pointed out that Romania has proved, by the way it has managed the crisis at the border with Ukraine, that it can respond effectively in such situations and that it has the capacity to be a member of the Schengen Area. "The situation in Ukraine and the discussions on Romania's efforts to respond to people fleeing the war have overlapped with the discussions on the Schengen Area. As the (French) Minister could also see, the way in which the Romanian authorities have reacted in this humanitarian crisis represents a new concrete example of our ability to provide an immediate and effective response when the situation requires it. Although the visit was mainly aimed at the situation in Ukraine, in the discussions I had with the Minister, I pointed out that joining the Schengen Area is a major objective for Romania. We continue to count on France's support for its accomplishment, especially by virtue of the strategic partnership relations between our countries," the Interior Minister said, Agerpres informs. As many as 2,974 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were registered in the last 24 hours in Romania, by 591 fewer than on the previous day, on 31,793 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Thursday. Of the new cases, 333 are in re-infected patients who tested positive more than 90 days after the first infection. Most new cases of infection compared to the previous report are in Bucharest - 886 and the counties of Cluj - 434 and Timis - 242. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 2,787,625 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have been registered in Romania. - Hospitalisations - There are 3,900 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals across the country, by 168 fewer than the day before; 208 of this total are children. 608 patients are hospitalised in ICUs, by 22 fewer than the previous day, 2 of whom are children. Of the total number of ICU patients, 550 are unvaccinated. - Deaths - According to the Health Ministry, 50 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours in patients infected with the novel coronavirus - 31 men and 19 women (including three cases previously unaccounted for). The age of the deceased ranges from 60-69 to over 80. All deaths were in patients with underlying conditions. Out of the total of 50 fatalities, 39 were unvaccinated. The vaccinated patients were in the 60-90 age group. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 64,276 people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania, Agerpres informs. The Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, who will arrive in Bucharest on Friday for her first visit in Romania since taking on mandate, will be welcomed by President Klaus Iohannis, at 14:00, at the ceremonial plateau of Cotroceni Palace. The two officials have scheduled face to face and official talks, and at the end of the talks, at 15:30, they will make joint press statements. Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca will attend the official talks, the government informs. Thursday, before participating in the informal reunion of the European Council, which is taking place in Versailles, President Klaus Iohannis declared that he will discuss with the US Vice President Kamala Harris, regarding NATO's position on the Eastern Flank, the allied Battle Group that will be hosted by Romania and about the American soldiers that arrived in our country. * According to the Presidential Administration, the presence in Bucharest of Vice President Kamala Harris reconfirms the solidity of the bilateral strategic partnership and the USA firm commitment to supporting Romania's security and NATO allies on the Eastern Flank, while also reflecting appreciation of the American Administration for the responsible and involved approach of our country in the context of the current security threats generated by the illegal aggression of the Russian Federation, as well as in managing the flow of refugees at the borders and granting humanitarian aid. The meeting is subscribed within the allied and transatlantic tight coordination efforts in order to manage the security situation, especially in the Black Sea, with an impact on Euro-atlantic security and comes after the consultations at the highest level between the allied leaders on February 11, 18 and 28, attended also by President Iohannis and which took place at the initiative of President Joseph R. Biden. "In this context, President Klaus Iohannis and Vice President Kamala Harris will discuss about the allied measures of consolidating NATO's deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank, including the perspective of increasing American and allied military presence in Romania, as an additional measure of ensuring our country's security and the entire region's. Furthermore, coordination will continue being discussed, of the transatlantic community in regards to adopting new sanctions against Russia," the Presidential Administration specified. The visit of Vice President Kamala Harris also takes place in the context of 25 years since the bilateral strategic Partnership was launched. Furthermore, according to the Presidential Administration, the meeting between Kamala Harris and Klaus Iohannis will represent a good opportunity for reaffirming shared attachment for consolidating transatlantic relations and promoting values and democratic resilience. * The Bucharest Police recommends drivers to avoid traveling on National Road 1 (DN1) on Friday between 12:00 and 17:00 hrs, in the context of the implementation of a series of measures generated by the visit to Bucharest of the US Vice President, Kamala Harris. "The authorities involved have in view for the instituted security measures to interfere as little as possible with the population's daily activities. Thus, for participants in traffic there will be measures to improve the flow of traffic and, in this context, the Bucharest Road Police Brigade requests drivers respect the signals and indications of policemen. Drivers are recommended that on Friday, in the interval between 12:00 and 17:00 hrs, they avoid traveling on National Road 1, in order to prevent the formation of traffic jams," mentioned the Bucharest City Police General Directorate (DGPMB), in a release on Thursday. ST. LOUIS Anheuser-Busch InBev said Friday it would forfeit "all financial benefit" from its joint venture in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The world's largest brewer, which has its North American headquarters in St. Louis, said it had also asked the controlling partner in the venture to suspend the production and sale of Budweiser in Russia. "We are focused on supporting our employees, their families and the humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine while wishing for peace," the company said in a statement. The decision follows similar decisions from other international brewers earlier this week. Dutch brewer Heineken NV and Danish brewer Carlsberg both said they would stop advertising, producing and selling their namesake brands there. They join a long list of Western companies pausing Russian operations, including Apple, Boeing and McDonalds. A-B InBev said joint venture employees in Ukraine and Russia will continue to be paid. It also said it was providing housing for its Ukranian employees and their families and working with other organizations to provide food, water, blankets and medical supplies to the besieged country and refugees. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MARYLAND HEIGHTS Hours at Schnucks are about to spring forward, too. Starting Monday, most Schnucks stores will return to a 10 p.m. closing time, and most meat, deli and seafood counters will be open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. The changes add back hours cut in December. The Maryland Heights-based grocer said the changes made sense then amid a labor shortage and changing shopping patterns. But now, with the days growing longer and spring and summer activities on the horizon, Schnucks is expecting to see more customers in the evenings, said Ted Schnuck, the company's executive vice president for supermarkets. Stores in Downtown St. Louis, the city's Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood, Spanish Lake and Cahokia will maintain alternative hours. Schnucks will host a companywide career fair across all 111 stores and the bakery plant in Vinita Park from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, March 31, according to a news release. Schnucks also announced that all stores will again close for Easter on Sunday, April 17. Stores will reopen the next day. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. COLUMBIA, Mo. Im sorry I seem so sad, said the young man on the stage. Dressed in a voluminous dark hoodie, he both did and did not look like a filmmaker introducing his award-winning documentary on the first night of the True/False Film Fest. Where Are We Headed? won two awards at last years International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Capturing a year in the life of a big-city metro system, it encompasses a panoply of human experiences the blank-faced morning commute, the peaceful burden of a sleeping child, a raucous New Years celebration, police taking positions to quell a demonstration. But this metro is in Moscow, its baroque stations a reminder of the Soviet Unions abandonment of churches for proletarian sacristies, and the films focus on ordinary life cannot help but serve as a reminder of what is no longer possible in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. No one is more aware of that than the man who made it, Ruslan Fedotow. It has been an intense time, he said. I read the news every minute. My friends and I did not vote for our current dictator, and we just want this war to end. I hope this film will help explain some of what is happening in Russia. He was not the only filmmaker to introduce work at the annual documentary festival March 3-6 with an air of protest and apology. Nastia Korkias GES-2 lyrically chronicles the conversion of a Moscow power plant into a Renzo Piano-designed cultural center directly across from the Kremlin. I think its important to make a statement about the war, she said in lieu of introducing her film. It should be over, and the troops should be withdrawn. My friends and fellow filmmakers, we are against and totally devastated and sad for it. Indeed, GES-2 is prefaced by an open letter from Russian directors against the war, which drew widespread applause from a packed theater. True/False is the first international film festival to be held in the wake of Russias attack on Ukraine and the ensuing sanctions and boycotts. As other festivals grapple with what to do about Russian filmmakers, True/False organizers stated: We are showing films by singular, independent Russian filmmakers. The filmmakers are not subsidized by Russian oligarchs or the government. Prohibiting artists from expressing themselves is not what True/False is about. Audiences certainly agreed. Both films were well attended and roundly applauded for what they were films made by artists who actively deplore the Russian governments decision to attack its neighbor. Fittingly, the lineup also included Sergei Loznitsas four-hour chronicle of how Lithuania became the first republic to leave the USSR. Mr. Landsbergis, which focuses on how the quiet music professor of the title came to lead his country to freedom, chronicles Soviet politics in the early 90s in almost excruciating detail. But the final hour and a half documents a Soviet army attack on unarmed Lithuanians and the Baltic states near-miraculous survival. Both the Russian brutality and the nations resilience feel resonant. Loznitsa, who is Ukrainian, has spoken out against the war, as well as the boycotting of Russian filmmakers. He was unable to do press at the festival because, it was announced before his film screened, he was traveling across Poland to meet his parents who were fleeing Ukraine. Korkia and Fedotow, who are a couple, currently live in Hungary; they had also considered skipping the festival. It is difficult to be here, Korkia said in an interview. To be going to parties and talking to audiences. We are checking the news all the time. I have family in Moscow and many friends in Ukraine. That is what is so unbelievable. Russia and Ukraine are so close my grandmother, who just passed away, spent her best years in Ukraine. Korkia had worried about how she and her film would be received by Americans and was amazed by the warm reception. During the Q&A portion of the screening I attended, however, its hopeful ending did draw a comment. GES-2, commissioned by the V-A-C Foundation to capture the creation of this building, ends with Piano saying, among other things, that beautiful cities are important because they make good citizens, and good citizens make a better world. The stark contrast between his message and the ongoing destruction of Ukrainian cities was the subtext of a question about what Russian artists and Americans can do. Korkia reiterated her stance against the war, adding that many of her friends have been arrested for protesting. As I see this film now, I would probably change the ending, she said. All activities in GES-2 have stopped. All the artists have closed their shows and left the building, which is sad but the only thing they could do, considering what is happening in Ukraine. She is glad she came to True/False so she could let Americans know all this. And now I can spread the word that Americans want our films. Films are supposed to build bridges. With its multilayered consideration of what makes a work of art, GES-2 is both very Russian one segment captures a man singing (in Russian, obviously) the words Sorrow conquers happiness over and over to different melodies and wonderfully universal. The construction workers digging and lifting and joining and scraping could be anywhere; a GoPro-aided series of scenes that chronicles the completion of a smokestack is astonishing in any language. Where Are We Headed? is a very different sort of film, though Korkia served as producer (and Fedotow shot some scenes in GES-2). Originally from Belarus, Fedotow lived for many years in Moscow and became fascinated by the altered state of life in its metro. First I wanted to represent that kind of trance, that mode people go into, but the first day I began shooting was Victory Day (in which Russians celebrate the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945), and I realized that everything that happens above also happens below. So he spent a year documenting life beneath the surface, a year that included protests over the arrest of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which led, in one scene, to police swarming and closing at least one metro station. Fedotow also now wishes he could do a different edit on his film in light of Russias invasion. To attack a brother no one could believe it, he said. We thought (Putin) wanted to talk big to Biden, to Macron we didnt think he would invade. His original cut had, in fact, focused more on the state, the military presence, but after showing it to people, he realized he was more interested in the people, the space, the time. Now Fedotow wishes he had emphasized the military more. Or not. I dont know, he said. Art is art and should not change its identity. But Both he and Korkia are worried about family and friends in Moscow a new law now makes speaking out against the war punishable by 15 years in jail and Ukraine. We are checking news every minute, Fedotow said, but we just lost our free press entirely. The last one shut down yesterday. Neither filmmaker knows what the war or the boycotts will mean for these films or future projects. But, Korkia said, this is a small problem compared to what is happening. Until Russian troops leave Ukraine, it does not matter; that is what matters. What the world needs now is the empathy it takes to live in a small town, says Jenny Bicks. Small towns represent what we all should be aiming for. Thats why she and Paul Feig, a former producer of The Office, created Welcome to Flatch, a new Fox mockumentary series about life in a small town. Theres a real honesty to the comedy in the Midwest, Feig says. Were much less tolerant of things that feel fake to us. In the series, actor Sam Straley and comedian Holmes (she goes by one name) play Shrub and Kelly, cousins who are trying to make the most of life in Flatch. Theyre always looking for the next thing that can make them rich, and theyre not afraid to poke fun at authority. Straley, who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Holmes, who grew up in Omaha, are well aware of the mindset. If you drive 15 minutes out of (Cincinnati), youll find yourself in a Flatch, Straley says. I think theres a real beauty in small towns that I think our series explores in a really nice way. Adds Holmes: I would go to summer camps in different places, and people would say, Oh, do you play with cows every day? And Id say, Not really, but I have met a few. I feel grateful for it because you get creative with how you learn to have fun. Many others in the cast have Midwestern roots as well. Seann William Scott, who plays the town minister, was born in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Aya Cash, who plays his ex-girlfriend, went to school in Minneapolis, and Justin Linville, who plays Shrubs friend Mickey, grew up on a military base just outside Box Elder, South Dakota. Theres not so much to do, but we just tried to make the most out of what we did have, Linville says. For the series, which is based on the British comedy This Country, Feig and Bicks encouraged their actors to improvise. When you have actors who are great on the fly, you can catch things super quickly, Bicks says. You dont do a lighting setup for half an hour and then turn around and do another lighting setup. Everything moves more quickly, so the comedy flows much more clearly. Holmes says doing improv for four years helped prepare her for Flatch. Having the camera feels like you have an audience there, she says. The Office has always been this huge inspiration for me. Working with Paul and Jenny to do a docu-comedy was really just a dream of mine. Straley says the format adds another character to the story, which is the documentary crew. Like The Office, Flatch has those confessional moments where characters address situations directly to the camera. It takes some time to get used to, the actors say, but quickly theyre in the fold and ready to try more. While Scott says he never thought of himself as a minister, my mom definitely could. When I said, Im playing Father Joe, shes like, Amen. Finally. Thank you, Jesus. Used to less sedate characters, Scott says he enjoys playing someone whos just trying to keep it together. But I definitely should never be a pastor, ever. Because there are so many characters in Welcome to Flatch, episodes can focus on different combinations of residents. They join forces at town festivals and dance classes and show it takes more than a village to make a village. If were not representing the world on screen the way that it actually is in real life, then weve completely failed, Feig says. Even in all our scouting, the smallest town wed go through, there was diversity there. We just wanted this to be very inclusive in a very honest way. What Welcome to Flatch When 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, starting March 17 Where Fox More info fox.com/welcome-to-flatch Andy Cohen slammed the passage of Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill, saying that Republicans are pretending to solve a problem that doesnt exist by voting to approve the vague, hateful legislation. The St. Louis native and host of Bravos Watch What Happens Live ended Tuesdays show with a scathing rebuke of lawmakers who voted to pass a bill that would ban teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students. The controversial legislation officially called the Parental Rights in Education bill passed the state Senate on Tuesday in a 22-17 vote, just days after passing the states House of Representatives 69-47. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law. In a two-minute Jackhole of the Day segment, Cohen noted that theres not a mass conspiracy of kindergarten teachers who are plotting to teach children to be gay and that the issue the law supposedly addresses simply does not exist. This is one big dog whistle, he said. Youre scaring people into spewing hate and discrimination at the LGBTQ community. While the words dont say gay dont explicitly appear in the bill, as a gay parent, Im concerned that its deliberately vague language leaves room for it to be interpreted that way, he said. Cohen also criticized supporters of the bill for spreading disinformation, including the governors press secretary, Christina Pushaw, for suggesting that only groomers would oppose (the bill). You cant groom someone to be gay. Youre born gay, he said. Speaking about Miami Sen. Ileana Garcia, who justified her support for the bill by saying that being LGBTQ was not permanent, Cohen pointed at himself and said, Sweetie, with all due (respect): It is permanent. Trust me. Cohen ended by saying he thought the whole point of sending our kids to school was to educate them and prepare them for the real world. Well, newsflash: The real world has gay people in it. It has people of all different gender identities, he said. You can draft all the homophobic and transphobic bills you want youre not going to erase us. I just wonder how many children and families need to suffer before our politicians figure that out. Aisha Sultan Aisha Sultan is home and family editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Aisha Sultan 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 If a Missouri lawmaker has her way, the state would allow its residents to stalk pregnant women and sue anyone helping them get an abortion out of state. We know this idea sounds ludicrous at best and fascist at heart, but its an escalation of the war against women being waged in a number of GOP-controlled states. Anti-abortion soldiers have been preparing for this for decades, normalizing the idea that women cannot make their own medical decisions or control their own bodies or destinies. In this worldview, a two-celled zygote has more value and rights than a living, breathing girl or woman. Their extreme religious values must be imposed by the threat of criminality on everybody capable of carrying a child, regardless of the individuals beliefs. Republicans have been laying the foundation for these measures for years. Missouri was home to U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, who infamously said victims of legitimate rape rarely get pregnant. This is the state where the Department of Health tracked the menstrual cycles of women seeking health care at Planned Parenthood. Its the same state that recently tried to ban IUDs, a form of birth control. We are among the states with the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. This forces residents to seek abortion care across state lines, which is a new frontier for anti-abortion zealots. The Supreme Court is likely to roll back the protections of Roe v. Wade this summer. Proposed legislation reveals the mentality of the GOP that has taken over our state and others and the direction those states are headed. Where do we think this ends? Each election cycle, Republican candidates need to move further to the right to appeal to a base that has lost touch with reality and the values of freedom and human dignity. How long before birth control pills are contraband in red states? When will we see a proposal that doctors must report pregnancy outcomes to a state database for tracking and criminal investigation? When will doctors be required to turn in patients who miscarry? There is a danger in ignoring or dismissing each new attack as too dystopian or absurd to be implemented. A few years ago, we would have said the same about the Draconian and cruel Texas bounty law, enacted in September, that restricts abortion. The effect is to strike fear in the hearts of anyone who must deal with an unwanted pregnancy. The state is watching. Your neighbors are watching. If you live in one of these states, a girl or woman of child-bearing age can be raped and have no say in what happens to her if she becomes pregnant. She can face heart-wrenching medical choices that would change the entire trajectory of her life and be trapped. The sad reality is that things will get worse before they get better. Missouri, and most of the country, wasnt like this even 20 years ago. Pamela Merritt, executive director of Medical Students for Choice, an independent nonprofit, says a law like this would target more than the lives of people who face an unplanned pregnancy. It would allow bullies and abusers to file a ruinous lawsuit against a college student who drives a desperate friend across the river for an abortion in Illinois. It would threaten the accreditation of medical schools that must provide abortion training to students. Why would doctors or nurses practice in a state that would criminalize them for providing health care to women? Missouri was among the handful of states that experienced its slowest decade of growth ever beginning in 2010. Economic development is tied to growth. Dystopian hellscapes are not where innovation happens, Merritt said. We cannot let our daughters stay in a state that treats them like second-class citizens, where their opportunities are limited and the government dictates their most private medical decisions. For those of us who have raised bright, ambitious, compassionate daughters in places like this, it is a heartbreaking realization. My daughter left home for college last year, and Ive missed her more than I could have imagined. But those fortunate enough to find safer and more promising states must be allowed to go. The fundamental question facing the decent men and women of Missouri is: Do we want our daughters and grandchildren to have a future in our state? If so, this is our fight. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today I cant really blame the federal Bureau of Prisons for not wanting to talk about its contract for reentry services for former federal detainees in the St. Louis region. For the past several years, the management of that contract has been a comedy of errors that has cost taxpayers millions of dollars. The troubles with the contract started in earnest in 2006. Thats when the Rev. Joseph Kohler died. He had been one in a long line of Catholic priests to run the Dismas House of St. Louis, the oldest halfway house in the nation for federal detainees. It was founded in 1959 by a Jewish lawyer with alleged ties to the mob and a Jesuit priest named the Rev. Charles Dismas Clark. After Kohler died, John Flatley and his sister, Vivienne Bess, took over management and turned the halfway house into their personal piggy bank. Between 2011 and 2016, according to federal tax records, Flatley and Bess, who is married to former city and county parks director Gary Bess, were paid more than $4.9 million in salary. Money from the Dismas House contract was used to buy an Arkansas lake house. Properties were moved to a real estate company owned by the family. Even after I reported the massive transfer of assets funded by the more than $40 million contract, there was nary a peep out of the Bureau of Prisons. Then, two years ago, the contract was put out for bid again. A reconfigured Dismas board submitted a bid. So did a group that involved St. Louis University and a conglomeration of nonprofits with experience in state reentry programs. The final bidder was a man named Thomas Utterback, and his nascent nonprofit, Exodus Reentry Villages. Utterback, who had been convicted in 1998 of trying to launder $3.2 million in drug money by flying it first to Panama and then Switzerland, lined up some strong community leaders to back his effort, including former St. Louis County Executive Gene McNary and St. Louis County NAACP President John Bowman. Utterback won the bid. Then the problems started. His deal for a school in Wellston as the location for the halfway house fell through. So did a deal on the former Little Sisters of the Poor facility in north St. Louis. People started questioning Utterbacks bid. He wouldnt reveal his full list of board members. His application contained numerous inaccuracies. In late February, after I reported on Utterbacks ongoing problems and inability to meet the March 1 deadline set in the contract, I asked the Bureau of Prisons for an update on the contract. All I received was a no comment. I tried again earlier this week. We have no further updates, a spokesperson told me. Then, on Thursday, I got an update from the Freedom of Information office at the BOP. I had filed a request seeking emails between Utterback and various officials. One of those officials left the BOP shortly after the contract was awarded. He went to work for a company that provides GPS services to organizations, like halfway houses, that have to track detainees. Utterback had told people that he was going to contract with the specific company where the former BOP official went to work. The FOIA office wanted to know if I still wanted to see the records. We were informed that the contract has been terminated, they told me. That was news to me. It was also news to Bowman, one of Utterbacks board members. Bowman had been concerned with Utterbacks lack of communication to the board, and inability to nail down a site for the halfway house. When I talked to Bowman Friday morning, Utterback had not told him the contract for Exodus had been canceled. But, Bowman was not surprised. It is understandable that the BOP would find it necessary to move forward in another way, he told me. Its my hope that they wont hold on to the present contract with Dismas. Once I told the BOP communications office that the FOIA office had spilled the beans, they gave me the news they had been keeping from the public. The Exodus contract had been canceled a few days after my last column on Utterback. The contract with Exodus Reentry Villages, Inc. was terminated on February 25, 2022, a spokesperson emailed. The services for residential reentry and home confinement services will be resolicited by the Bureau of Prisons. The current contract with Dismas House of St. Louis was extended through March 31, 2022. So what happens now? Based on how badly BOP botched the last bidding process, at least one of the nonprofits that was part of the St. Louis University bid, Criminal Justice Ministry, is having second thoughts. In the meantime, yes, I still want the records I was seeking. Perhaps by the time the next bids are opened, the Bureau of Prisons will provide them. From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS COUNTYA St. Louis County jury convicted a 40-year-old Clayton man of sodomizing young girls who were related to his then-wife. Gerardo Gonzalez was found guilty on Wednesday of two counts of statutory sodomy of a child under the age of 12 and acquitted of a third sodomy charge in the same trial, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys office. Investigators said he assaulted three young girls, all of whom were related to his then-wife, in Woodson Terrace and Overland between Dec. 20, 2003, and July 6, 2010. He was indicted by a grand jury Sept. 30, 2020. Those three girls, now women, testified at the trial along with Woodson Terrace and Overland detectives. "Child victims of sex crimes frequently come forward many years later, if at all, for complex reasons that this dedicated and compassionate jury clearly understood," said St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. He faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison and also must register with the state of Missouri as a sex offender. A sentencing hearing was set for April 29. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A Florissant man has been sentenced to probation in a drunken driving crash in 2020 that killed his passenger. Frederick Schaljo, 24, pleaded guilty March 4 to one count of DWI-death of another. He admitted driving while intoxicated May 24, 2020, and crashing into a fence pole. His passenger, 21-year-old Nathaniel Hei, was killed. Schaljo told police he and Hei had been drinking on the Black River "all day." Schaljo's lawyer could not be reached. Police found open and closed alcohol containers inside Schaljo's vehicle, charges said. A test of Schaljo's blood two hours after the crash revealed a blood-alcohol content of .235%. The legal limit to drive a vehicle in Missouri is .08 percent. Circuit Judge David Vincent accepted Schaljo's guilty plea and suspended a 10-year prison term, placing him on probation for five years. Terms of his probation include 30 days in jail that he's allowed to serve on weekends within a year. He also must complete substance abuse awareness classes and attend alcoholics anonymous. If he fails to complete probation, he could go to prison for up to 10 years. Last year, Hei's family settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Schaljo and his insurer for $200,000, according to court records. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hong Kong: More medical supplies arrive The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau today said various kinds of medical supplies are arriving in Hong Kong in batches, with the task force working closely with its Mainland counterparts. The task force has so far procured more than 55 million rapid antigen test kits. More than 20% of them have been distributed to the Department of Health and other government departments continuously. They have also been given to frontline anti-epidemic personnel, COVID-19 patients, people undergoing home quarantine and specified high-risk groups. More than 880,000 pulse oximeters have been relayed to the Hospital Authority for patient use. Additionally, the task force has received over 83 million N95, KN95 masks and surgical masks, as well as more than 8.6 million of items of other protective equipment including protective coveralls, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, shoe covers, and surgical and examination gloves. Among the 450,000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the central government, 170,000 have been passed to Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link and local organisations to dispense to the community. RTHK TV 32, as a channel dedicated for disseminating anti-pandemic information, has produced editions for the public to better understand the efficacy of the Chinese medicines and the points to note when taking them. This story has been published on: 2022-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Our company requires wood pellets. Diameter: 6-8 mm. Packaging: 15-29 kg bags, on pallets per 23 tons. Point terms of delivery and export price. O'FALLON, Mo. A former Normandy police chief is being promoted to the top position in this city's police department, officials announced Friday. Capt. Frank Mininni will serve as assistant under Chief John Neske for the state's seventh-largest city until Neske retires May 31. "I look forward to working with Chief Neske in creating a smooth transition," Mininni said in a written statement. "As always, we will continue to make O'Fallon a safe place to live, work and play." Mininni started his law enforcement career with the Normandy Police Department in 1997 where he rose through the ranks and was promoted to chief in 2009, according to an O'Fallon news release. He was placed on paid leave amid an internal investigation in late 2020, though the city did not provide records about the investigation when requested by the Post-Dispatch last year. A spokesman for the O'Fallon Police Department said no wrongdoing was found. Mininni retired from Normandy in 2020 and was then hired as captain with the O'Fallon Police Department in May 2021. Mininni received his master's degree from Lindenwood University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Neske has been serving as the O'Fallon department's chief since June after former Chief Philip Dupuis resigned after just nine months on the job citing the "unintended consequences" of a new Missouri law seeking to invalidate federal gun laws, plus interference from city council members. In a statement, O'Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy highlighted Mininni's reputation as a "respected leader" in the department. "It was clear he was the best fit for our city, department and our residents," Hennessy said. Updated at 1:30 p.m. to correct when Mininni retired from Normandy, add a comment about the investigation from the O'Fallon Police Department and add a statement from Mayor Bill Hennessy. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Chief Judge William A. Mudge announced Friday he will retire Dec. 4, marking the end of his current term and his more than two decades as a prosecutor and then judge. Mudge served as Madison County States Attorney for eight years from 2002 to 2010, following that he was elected as a circuit judge in the Third Judicial District, where he has served since 2010. He was elected as chief judge in 2019. Prior to his time serving the state, Mudge was a partner for 16 years at Brown and Mudge, a private general practice law firm in Edwardsville. My professional career has been incredibly rewarding. I was privileged to be a law partner with Bill Lucco and Joe Brown two of the best human beings and lawyers anyone could have been lucky enough to be associated with, Mudge said in a prepared statement. They, along with my step-father Jim Gorman, were my mentors. It could not get any better than that. Mudge noted his time as Madison Countys States Attorney was particularly rewarding, given the officer achieved a record setting run of trial success during those years. He also said his years as a circuit judge could not be more rewarding. I have been honored to wear the robe and administer justice fairly and impartially for them and the people of Madison and Bond counties," Mudge said. Mudges replacement will be determined by voters in Novembers general election. ST. LOUIS A former St. Louis police officer who canceled plans last month to plead guilty to a federal misdemeanor connected to the beating of an undercover colleague has reversed course. Christopher Myers, who had been scheduled to go to trial May 2, has once again agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of probation, his lawyer said Friday. The plea is now scheduled for Tuesday. Myers lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. On Feb. 23, U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber recused himself from the case, and two days later, Myers lawyers moved to cancel his planned March 1 guilty plea. Prosecutors say Myers damaged Luther Halls cellphone in order to impede any investigation into the attack on by his fellow officers during protests against police violence in 2017. Uniformed officers mistook Hall for a protester and attacked and arrested him without probable cause, prosecutors have said. Myers was one of five police officers charged in the case. Former officers Bailey Colletta and Randy Hays pleaded guilty. Colletta got probation for lying to the FBI and a grand jury about the attack, and Hays received four years and four months in prison for beating Hall. In March of 2021, a jury acquitted Myers and Officer Steven Korte of a felony civil rights charge, and acquitted Korte of a charge of lying to the FBI. Jurors could not agree on charges against Myers and Dustin Boone, another former officer. Boone was convicted by a different jury in June of aiding and abetting the deprivation of rights under color of law. The jury again could not reach a verdict on Myers charge. Webber sentenced Boone to a year and a day in prison in November, well below the 10-year sentence requested by prosecutors and recommended under the advisory sentencing guidelines. Boones lawyers asked for 26 months. Hall, who was left with permanent injuries from the attack, settled a civil lawsuit against police for $5 million. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS Two people were seriously injured early Friday when a tractor-trailer plunged off an entrance ramp to the Poplar Street Bridge, authorities said. The truck lost control on eastbound Interstate 44 (northbound I-55), on the ramp to the bridge, and toppled onto South Second Street about 4 a.m. The St. Louis Fire Department said two people were rushed to a hospital with serious injuries. More than an hour after the rescues and after emergency responders had gone, the cab of the truck caught fire. Fire crews were back at the crash site about 5:30 a.m., putting out the blaze. Staff writer Kim Bell can be reached at kbell@post-dispatch.com Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS An infant girl has died and three members of her family were taken to a hospital after spending several hours in an idling car early Friday in north St. Louis. Police were called at 8:23 a.m. and found a woman and three children, including the baby, in a car in the 3700 block of Lincoln Avenue. The car appears to have been parked, its engine idling loudly, for five hours or more, apparently as the family was trying to keep warm, police said. They were found slumped in the car. The baby, a 10-month-old girl, died at a hospital. Police have not released her name, or the names of the three hospitalized in serious condition. The woman is 28 years old; the older children are girls, ages 8 and 9. Child-abuse investigators with the St. Louis Police Department are taking over the case. Police are working to confirm if the family suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. Rescuers said the cars interior smelled of exhaust. Temperatures hovered in the upper 20s, and snow flurries were falling in the area, about 3 a.m., when a neighbor first spotted the car parked with its engine running. Temperatures bottomed out around 25 degrees by 8 a.m., when they were rescued. St. Louis police Lt. Keith Barrett said investigators think the family was in the car trying to stay warm. We dont know if there was any type of vehicle defect that caused them to be unresponsive, he added. A loud idle could be explained by a missing or stolen catalytic converter, which could release deadly carbon monoxide into the car's passenger area. But police haven't said what defects, if any, they found. The car was in the citys Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. Natasha Edwards, who lives in the house the car was parked in front of, said she watched as they pulled a baby in just a T-shirt and diaper out of the back seat of the car. Edwards said the baby was limp. That part was disheartening, because the baby just had on a T-shirt and a Pamper no kind of snow shoes, socks, anything like that. I think that was the hardest for me the baby, Edwards said. She watched as the older children were removed from the car as well, noting the child in the back did not appear to be moving at all and the girl in the front seat was moving a little but paramedics had to give her oxygen. Edwards said she first heard the car around 3:15 a.m. when she awoke in her back bedroom to a loud engine sound. She thought it was a truck idling out front. Edwards came out to the front of her house to find a sedan with its windows rolled up and music playing. It was on Lincoln, between East Prairie and North Spring avenues. The car, a silver Saturn with a sunroof and no license plates, was seen midmorning Friday parked at a slight angle and more than a foot from the curb. Among the items in the car were a blanket, a pink-and-gray child car seat and a soda cup. When she woke up and looked outside, Edwards thought they had probably parked there to hang out or get high, which she said happens occasionally on the block. She did not recognize the car but noted there was movement inside. Another neighbor told the Post-Dispatch he also did not recognize the car. Edwards could confirm the car was not there Thursday, and when she checked her Ring doorbell footage, it did not capture when the car showed up overnight. Because of the noise, Edwards and her boyfriend couldnt sleep. Around 6:30 a.m. she said she saw something in the cars back seat move, but could not make out any detail other than it was white in color. Edwards doesnt know who called, but authorities confirmed police were called about suspicious occupants of an auto at 8:23 a.m. An ambulance and fire truck showed up and crews found the four people inside. St. Louis fire Capt. Garon Mosby noted in the morning that the infant was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, and two older children and the woman were in serious condition. When the firefighters opened the door to the car, there was a strong smell of exhaust inside, Mosby said. The St. Louis medical examiner's office said an autopsy will be performed on the infant. Police didnt say where the woman and the children lived, or if they lived out of their car. St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley, whose ward includes that stretch of Lincoln Avenue, said he didnt know details about what happened and wondered if she was homeless or among the many residents evicted during the pandemic. Mosby said its likely the family was using the car to keep warm, but he wasnt sure. Short of talking to mom or one of the children, I wouldnt be able to confirm, he said. Churches, neighborhood groups and the nonprofit Heat Up St. Louis are good resources, Mosby said, for people who need help paying heating bills in colder months. Theres help available, Mosby said. David Carson of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kim Bell Kim Bell is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Kim Bell 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 CLAYTON Cora Faith Walker, chief policy officer in St. Louis County, former Democratic state representative and a fierce health care and reproductive rights advocate, died Friday morning at age 37. A cause of death was not announced, but multiple sources said Walker was transported to a hospital for an urgent health complication. Her family could not be reached for comment. Walkers death prompted innumerable condolences and expressions of grief from lawmakers, progressive activists and others in St. Louis and across Missouri. We are devastated to learn of Cora Faith Walkers passing, the Missouri Democratic Party said in a tweet. She was a perfect example of a dedicated public servant who deeply cared for the St. Louis community. Weve lost someone very special and too soon. We are all shocked and heartbroken at the sudden loss of an incredible friend and a brilliant advocate for so many, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said in a statement. Cora Faith will be remembered as a fighter and a person who dedicated her life to making the world better. Walker, of Ferguson, led policy direction for County Executive Sam Pages administration since 2019, and was one of three top county staffers reporting directly to Page for much of that period. In that role, she was instrumental in guiding the countys response to the COVID-19 pandemic and led the distribution of $173.5 million in federal aid to local municipalities, businesses, nonprofits and community groups for critical efforts including free meals, housing assistance and support for small businesses. Walker also led the creation of county policies on public health and welfare, including a recent order Page signed to increase support and access to contraceptive services through the countys public health centers, providing patient counseling and clinical and anti-bias training for employees. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Cora Faith Walker, Page said in a statement. Cora walked into my office every day with a hundred ideas and the determination to do them. She was a passionate public servant who advocated for women, newborns, survivors of sexual violence, reproductive rights, seniors, and frontline health care workers. She will be greatly missed by her St. Louis County government colleagues and me. We offer our condolences to her husband, Tim, and her parents. Walker, earned a Bachelor of Arts and masters in public health from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a member of the inaugural masters in public health class at the Brown School of Social Work. She earned a law degree from St. Louis University School of Law with a certificate in health law. Her legislative career began when she was elected to the Missouri House in November 2016 after winning the August primary in the heavily Democratic 74th District, which includes all or parts of Florissant, Ferguson, Jennings, Calverton Park, Dellwood, Country Club Hills and Norwood Court. Walker was reelected in 2018. Among other bills, Walker sponsored efforts to provide tax credits for contraceptives, require cultural competency training for health care providers and expand health benefits for postpartum women. She was the ranking Democrat on the Health and Mental Health committee and also served on the Budget committee, as well as subcommittees on Medicaid and health care reform. Both in and outside her public roles, Walker was a vocal advocate for the expansion of Medicaid across the state and for greater equity in health care, including efforts to eliminate racial and economic disparities in maternal mortality rates. And Walker was an outspoken defender of womens reproductive rights, earning ringing endorsements from groups including NARAL Pro-Choice America, which in 2018 honored Walker with a Rising Star Award for her work leading the way for women and families. God has called this glorious and amazing warrior home, Pamela Merritt, executive director of Medical Students for Choice and a board member of NARAL Pro Choice Missouri, said in a tweet. I am devastated, but find comfort in knowing she has been welcomed by the ancestors with song and joy. Walkers advocacy and public policy work made her a star in local and state progressive circles and a prominent voice in Democratic politics. A spokesman for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, a close friend of Walker, issued a statement on behalf of the mayors office: We in the office of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden loss of Cora Faith Walker. She was a fixture in the St. Louis region, a powerful advocate for her community, and a fiercely loyal friend to all who knew and loved her, especially to Mayor Jones. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and colleagues. In a short statement on Twitter, Jones added that Walker was a sister to her. Today our region and the world lost a giant, Jones said. Its not often in life that we find friends that become members of our family. I am so grateful to have had a sister in Cora. Her light and her energy is something she shared with many of us. She made it her mission to help others as a public servant, a fighter and as a mentor. My heart aches for her parents, her siblings, and her husband Tim and Id like to ask everyone to hold your loved ones tight. Faith the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Richard Callow, a political consultant to both Page and Jones, said in an interview that Walker was a fierce fighter for the progressive causes she championed, even when it meant disagreement with her fellow lawmakers or co-workers in county government. She was a spark plug on the ninth floor, Callow said. There is not an apple cart she wouldnt happily knock over. And then with the apples make a pie and bring it to you. Gentry Trotter, founder and CEO of Heat Up St. Louis, said Walker was also a champion for local nonprofit and social service agencies. Walker knew how to use her experience in politics to advocate for them, Trotter said. That normal routine obstruction in government she knew how to move it out the way, Trotter said. Its a huge loss as well for charities like us who need someone in government to understand how to get from Point A to Point B, and understand what exactly we need to do to help those in need. The first words out of her mouth were always, How can I help? Rep. Sarah Unsicker, D-Shrewsbury, said in a tweet that Walker was one of the smartest people Ive known. Heartbroken to learn of the passing of my friend, Cora Faith Walker, Unsicker said. She was energetic, compassionate, and one of the smartest people Ive known. I will miss her light and her advocacy. Before she joined the House, in September 2016, Walker wrote a public letter to House leaders alleging Steven Roberts Jr., who was also running unopposed for the House, of raping her in his apartment after a night out together. Roberts, D-St. Louis, denied the claims and contended that he and Walker had consensual sex. No criminal charges were filed after a special prosecutor determined there was not enough evidence to indicate the sexual relations were not consensual. Roberts later filed a defamation suit against Walker in October 2016. Walker then countersued Roberts in 2017. Both dismissed their lawsuits later in May 2019. Originally posted at 4 p.m. Friday, March 11. Updated at 8 p.m. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY While most other states have finished work on new congressional boundaries, Missouri is one of just four without a map, as lawmakers here remain mired in personal feuds and disagreement over the lines. The acrimony within the Missouri Senate became even more pronounced in recent days as the small group of GOP senators opposed to party leadership worked to block bipartisan bills such as a sexual assault survivors bill of rights. Lawmakers, some frustrated by the intraparty squabbling, headed out of the capital city Thursday for a weeklong spring break. They come back to the Capitol next Monday, eight days before candidate filing for the Aug. 2 primary election ends. All 163 seats in the House and half in the 34-member Senate are up for grabs in November. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said Thursday the candidate filing deadline is on the radar and didnt shoot down the possibility of moving against his fellow Republicans to force a vote on the blueprint. Everything is on the table, Rowden said. Well find a path and I want the path to be as smooth as possible. While the Senate has traversed a rocky road with little to show for its efforts, the House has sent more than 35 pieces of legislation to the other chamber since the session began in early January. To date only one measure, a supplemental budget bill, has received final approval in what has been a muddled, fractured Senate thus far. GOP leaders spoke to Gov. Mike Parson last week about various options for congressional districts, Rowden told reporters as the Senate took its break. He said he wanted to get a map to the governors desk to avoid having the courts draw congressional boundaries. Such a scenario could turn U.S. Rep. Ann Wagners suburban St. Louis 2nd Congressional District more competitive, putting the Republican seat in jeopardy, Rowden said. Another thing he dislikes about not approving a congressional map: It makes us look bad. A lawsuit calling on the courts to intervene in the stalled redistricting battle has already been filed, adding to the tension that has enveloped the debate. Dysfunction Dysfunction among Senate Republicans was on full display last week as the GOP faction blocked the sexual assault survivors bill of rights. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, R-Sikeston, held a press conference to excoriate the group of men. These guys need to halt their campaigning and work for the job that they are currently elected to do, she said. Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, had introduced an amendment to Rehders bill dealing with obscene material in schools. Rehder said both Democrats and Republicans had concerns and that Brattin should have worked through them during the committee process. Brattin is running for Congress in what is currently the 4th Congressional District. The incumbent, Republican U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Roy Blunt. The press conference, in which Rehder was flanked by 12 Republicans and nine Democrats, didnt calm tensions. Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, said the Democrats were eager to exploit the rift within the GOP caucus. With a mandatory adjournment date of May 13, Democrats best weapon to kill bills they dont like is to run out the clock on the legislative session. Democrats havent had to filibuster much this session; the GOP faction is doing most of the heavy lifting for them. I would expect you (the Democrats) to be there any time theres a fracture or a rift within the majority caucus, Eigel said after Rehders press conference. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, chided Republicans for the fissures, saying Democrats are unified. I imagine if we went to dinner we could all sit at the same table, Rizzo said. Wed like to have a functional Senate. My own playground While the Senate spent much of Thursday morning conducting no business, the House rammed through more than a dozen pieces of legislation, sending a variety of bills to an uncertain fate in the Senate. House members have expressed frustration with the bottleneck, but a top GOP leader said he has no plans to intervene in the fighting. We can only worry about what we can control, said House Majority Leader Dean Plocher, a Des Peres Republican who is set to become speaker of the chamber next year. Plocher said the House has worked to send the Senate some high profile legislation that will benefit Missourians, including a bill that would prohibit hospitals and nursing homes from limiting the number of visitors during a pandemic or other emergency. Weve had some good debate on the floor. Weve had some good priorities that I think reflect the values of Missouri citizens, Plocher said. Hopefully the Senate will get to work on those in their due time. Despite concerns that the Senate will continue to flounder, Plocher said he does not plan to personally urge senators to set aside their grievances. I choose to play in my own playground and Im not going to play in someone elses sandbox, Plocher said. Its their purview to handle their business. Theyll do their job. Its an election year, meaning individual lawmakers seeking higher office are angling for attention from voters on hot button issues, including GOP talking points on abortion, anger over pandemic restrictions and education issues. House Republicans think theyve done their part to get their members voting records lined up for the August primaries. Our members have worked hard during these first months of session to address the issues the people of Missouri care about deeply. Were extremely proud of what theyve been able to accomplish and were hopeful the Senate will be able to take up many of these measures and pass them into law in the final eight weeks when we return from break, House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, said in a joint statement with House leadership. Senate Republican leaders have had less success in the party discipline category. Rowden, addressing a lack of decorum in the upper chamber, said, We can do better and we should do better. Rowden gave the Senate a grade of C for its first half. We salvaged a little here at the end, he said. Exchanging words The Senate pushed through several bills Thursday after Rehder and Onder exchanged words on the Senate floor. The priorities included legislation boosting the amount of money Kansas City has to direct to the Kansas City Board of Police, and a bipartisan measure promoting literacy in Missouri schools. Rehder said she held the press conference to push back against the pontificating taking place in the Senate. You mean like your press conference? Onder asked. My press conference was far from pontificating, Rehder said. It was calling (out) the three, four angry mens caucus. Members of the faction in question include Onder, Eigel, Brattin, as well as Sens. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, and Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove. Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, who some hope can act as a bridge between the regular Republicans and the faction, called for peace on Thursday. He said he hoped we can have a week where we can cool off. Like Brattin, Burlison also is running for Congress. He wants to take over for U.S. Rep. Billy Long, a southwest Missouri Republican who is seeking Blunts Senate seat. The Legislature comes back to town March 21. Originally posted at 1 p.m. Friday, March 11. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kurt Erickson Kurt Erickson is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Follow Kurt Erickson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today JEFFERSON CITY Missouri Gov. Mike Parson temporarily handed over power to the states No. 2 officeholder when he headed to Europe Friday for a trade mission. The move to cede his gubernatorial powers to Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, a fellow Republican, will last through March 19, when Parson is scheduled to return from visits to Ireland and the United Kingdom. I spoke with the governor about his trade trip and share his excitement and optimism for the opportunities that will stem from it. Gov. Parson remains governor even when out of the country, though he has granted me specific authority to assure continuity. The governor believes this is the right thing to do, and I am grateful for his confidence and trust in doing so, Kehoe said Friday. The maneuver is relatively rare. Parson transferred duties to Kehoe in 2019 for a similar European trade junket, allowing Kehoe to sign legislation on Parsons behalf, including a proposal that transferred oversight of the Missouri Arts Council from the Department of Economic Development to the lieutenant governors office. As acting governor this time around, Kehoe is expected to sign a proclamation honoring two Joplin police officers involved in a fatal shooting Tuesday. Officers Ben Cooper and Jake Reed were shot responding to a disturbance call. Cooper died of his injuries Tuesday. The Joplin police chief announced Thursday that Reed is not expected to recover. Kehoe, who is planning to run for governor in 2024, also will see a slight bump in his paycheck. For the week Parson is away, hell be paid the governors salary rate, netting Kehoe an estimated extra $910. In transferring power, the governor is relying on a clause in the state constitution that allows the chief executive to grant his powers to the lieutenant governor. Under that provision, he must submit a letter declaring he is effectively absent and unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Before departing, Parson said the goal of the trip is to build relationships with key international figures to promote Missouris strong capacity for trade. This is an exciting opportunity to support relationships with international companies, which are important to our states economic growth, Parson said. Missouri-made products are sold and shipped to locations across the globe. I look forward to meeting with leaders and officials in the U.K. and Ireland as we continue promoting our state as an ideal location to grow and expand business. The governor is scheduled to visit Cambridge, London and Dublin. In the U.K., Parson will take part in a roundtable discussion with Agri-TechE, a farming organization, as well as aerospace and advanced technology companies to discuss their future growth plans. In Ireland, Parson is scheduled to receive political, economic and commercial briefings from the U.S. Embassy Irish Country team and meet with several Irish companies that have an existing presence in Missouri. The 15-member delegation includes first lady Teresa Parson; Sen. Elaine Gannon, R-De Soto; Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City; Rep. Donna Baringer, D-St. Louis; Rep. Derek Grier, R-Chesterfield, and Jeff Pittman, chancellor of St. Louis Community College. Prior to the 2019 transfer, the last time the event occurred was in 2005 when then-Gov. Matt Blunt ceded power to former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder for a short period. Costs of the trip will be shared between state taxpayers and the Hawthorn Foundation, a public/private partnership created by then-Gov. Kit Bond to help fund gubernatorial travel expenses. Originally posted at 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 11. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY State ethics regulators have rejected allegations that one of the leading candidates for U.S. Senate in Missouri violated state campaign finance laws. In a decision issued Friday, the Missouri Ethics Commission said former Gov. Eric Greitens did not illegally use his state campaign account to fuel his bid for the U.S. Senate, where polls show he is leading a large field of Republicans. Greitens finances have been the subject of scrutiny since he took office as governor in 2017 and were partly the reason he left office in 2018 under the cloud of scandal. In December, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group filed a complaint with the MEC suggesting Greitens spent more than $100,000 from his state-level campaign account to bankroll the costs of his political comeback. The MEC dismissed the claims, saying it did not find evidence of wrongdoing. Rather, commission executive director Elizabeth Ziegler wrote that payments out of Greitens state account were made for services provided to the campaign before he announced his bid for the Senate seat now held by Republican Roy Blunt. In one case, payments made to a vendor for digital services were made in January 2021 for work done in early 2020, Ziegler wrote. Expenditures were not reported at that time due to ongoing disputes between (Greitens for Missouri) and the vendor, she said. In another instance, payment to a media booking service paid in March 2021 was for services rendered in August 2020, not for a March 22 television appearance related to his Senate campaign, the MEC report noted. Greitens campaign aide Dylan Johnson praised the decision. It was clear from the beginning no wrongdoing ever took place. The truth came out today and Governor Greitens has once again defeated the woke, radical liberals, RINOs and the weak political establishment, Johnson said in an email. The dismissal means Greitens did not violate a clause in a separate 2020 consent decree with the MEC in which the campaign agreed to not commit further campaign finance violations for two years. If the MEC had determined the allegations were true, Greitens could have owed the state $178,000 for an ethics violation dating to his short stint as governor. In addition to Greitens, who is casting himself as the most pro-Donald Trump candidate in the race, other candidates in the primary include state Attorney General Eric Schmitt, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, state Senate President Dave Schatz of Sullivan, and St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey, who was pardoned by Gov. Mike Parson after he pleaded guilty to waving an assault-style rifle at racial injustice protesters who were passing by his Central West End mansion. Greitens left office in 2018 under a cloud of scandal linked to his relationship with his hair dresser and accusation that he committed a felony by taking his former charitys donor list and using it for political fundraising without the charitys permission. Federal law prohibits Senate candidates from using state campaign funds to support their run for federal office because state-level contributions are subject to different rules than federal-level contributions. Originally posted at 1:20 p.m. Friday, March 11. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS Nearly 300 more police cameras and license plate readers could be installed around the city after the Board of Aldermen endorsed a $2.5 million appropriation for the effort. The money comes from $5 million in federal pandemic relief funds allocated to police overtime last year but which has remained unspent. Bill sponsor Tom Oldenburg, the alderman who represents the area surrounding Francis Park, said the allocation is at the request of St. Louis police Chief John Hayden and the departments Real Time Crime Center. Police overtime has bucked historical trends this year, Oldenburg said, running about $1.4 million lower than budgeted. In years past, he said, the department has exceeded their overtime budget by anywhere from $4 million to $11 million. The $2.5 million will allow police to purchase around 200 license plate readers and 100 police cameras, placed at the discretion of the department. Most of them will be new, though about 35 to 40 existing cameras need to be replaced, Oldenburg said. The money would also let the department make $450,000 to $600,000 worth of network upgrades to service the cameras. The Real Time Crime Center monitors around 1,000 cameras, including 200 to 300 maintained by private businesses or groups that are voluntarily connected to the system, Oldenburg said. Some of the money could also go to a third-party analysis of camera placement in the city, something Public Safety Director Dan Isom has indicated he wants, Oldenburg said. Several aldermen from the more progressive flank of the board were wary of the plan, citing concerns about privacy and how the money would be spent exactly. Its unclear to me sort of a line item breakdown of where this money is going to go, said Alderman Annie Rice, who represents the area north of Tower Grove Park. It feels a bit like a blank check over to the Real Time Crime Center. Supporters, though, argued the cameras help solve crimes. Others pointed out cameras are everywhere and cellphones regularly track peoples movement and send it to private companies. We are designated as one of the most unlawful cities in America right now, said Alderman Marlene Davis, whose ward covers Midtown and some of north St. Louis. All of the rhetoric that wants to talk about peoples privacy, you have no privacy. The cameras funded by the police money are separate from another $1 million allocated in a capital spending bill, also sponsored by Oldenburg, that would allow police and the citys refuse division to upgrade about 100 outdated alley cameras and sync them with the Real Time Crime Center. The city operates about 220 alley cameras, which use older technology that require staff to download their footage on location. Aldermen ultimately voted 21-4 to give initial approval to the police camera appropriation, with three members voting present. Voting against the camera appropriation were Rice and Aldermen Megan Green, Anne Schweitzer and Jesse Todd. Aldermen Shane Cohn, Bill Stephens and Sharon Tyus voted present. Aldermen also gave final approval to new rules barring soda and sugary drinks on childrens menu packages in restaurants and drive-thrus. They also approved creating a new slavery reparations fund that will accept voluntary donations. The board plans to meet next on March 25, in the middle of what is normally its spring recess, to take up bills appropriating the remainder of the citys first round of $249 million in pandemic aid. Originally posted at 4:50 p.m. Friday, March 11. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CLAYTON The fate of two of four recent appointees to the St. Louis County Port Authority remained in question Thursday amid a yet-unresolved dispute over whos in charge of naming members to the agencys board. A bipartisan council majority has questioned why County Executive Sam Page is involved in selecting the appointees when, under an ordinance he sponsored as council chair in 2018, each council member gets to name someone to the Port Authority board. At the time the ordinance was adopted, the Port Authority was playing a central role in advancing then-County Executive Steve Stengers pay-to-play schemes, which ultimately led to his indictment, resignation and conviction. The ordinance was designed to strip Stenger of his ability to control that board. So when Pages four Port Authority appointments came before the council on March 2, Councilman Tim Fitch, R-3rd District, questioned why the current county executive was involved in this discussion. Fitch also took issue with guidance from County Counselor Beth Orwick who, citing a legal opinion by her predecessor, said the county charter trumps the 2018 ordinance, meaning the county executive is responsible for making the appointments. Page, in an interview with Post-Dispatch last week, said he sought a compromise meant to comply with the charter and the goal of the ordinance, by choosing people the council members themselves had recommended. Yes, the ordinance doesnt line up with the charter in any sort of ideal way. But weve worked it out over the past three years and its worked fine, Page said. Whats different now is that its an election year. (Page is running for reelection this year; elections are also scheduled for four of the seven council districts, including three districts currently represented by Page opponents.) On Tuesday, the council appeared to split the difference, voting to confirm the appointment of Ruth Lee, CEO of the nonprofit Connections to Success, who was nominated by Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, D-4th District, and Marianne Ojile, a retired business owner nominated by Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-6th District. But it delayed action on two other appointees named by Pages two Democratic council allies until it could hold a closed-door session with Orwick to discuss the matter. That meeting was supposed to start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, but was cut short because the county buildings doors were locked, preventing public access. It was unclear Thursday when the council would reschedule; the legislative body is in recess until March 21. The two Page appointees still waiting for the council to act are Beth Kistner, a former Creve Coeur councilwoman who was nominated by Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, D-2nd District, and Kevin OMalley, an attorney and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, who was nominated by Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, D-5th District. Fitch on Tuesday questioned Kistners appointment because her husband, Elkin Kistner, had represented the County Council in the lawsuit brought by Stenger. I see your husbands name all over these documents with Sam Pages name on it and Im wondering if youre here for Sam Page or for the community, how youre going to represent the community on this Port Authority board, Fitch said. Kistner said she had never discussed the Port Authority with her husband. She pointed to her experience in Creve Coeur government and said she would act independently. I am most definitely here to represent the community, to do my best, my integrity, my willingness to see the right things done, Kistner said. Dunaway said Kistner was recommended by many people and encouraged her to serve with your integrity at the center of your decision-making, even if that meant disagreeing with her. Trakas, who along with Councilman Mark Harder, R-7th District, was on the council at the time it battled Stenger for control of the Port Authority, blasted Fitch for an ad hominem and political attack. Elkin Kistner is one of the most ethical people I know, Trakas said. Trakas and Harder also said they felt it would be a conflict of interest for OMalley to serve on the Port Authority board unless he gives up his seat on the board of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, a regional agency that oversees economic development boards in both the county and city of St. Louis. Page appointed OMalley to the 15-member Partnership board in December 2020. The county has 11 seats on the board; four seats are appointed by the St. Louis mayor. Trakas said he wanted to OMalley to avoid even the appearance of a conflict. OMalley said no one had raised the question until Tuesday. Ill listen to the facts and it wouldnt take much to convince me, he said. The St. Louis County Port Authority, which is largely funded by rents paid by the River City Casino in Lemay, owns the site of the defunct Jamestown Mall, among other properties in the county. Posted at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Those liberal wimps down in the Texas Legislature apparently dont know how to write an anti-abortion law. The recent Texas ban on abortions, which gave anyone the right to sue those in Texas who aid in providing an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, left a giant door open for Texas women to get abortions by leaving the state. Now, a very persistent Missouri lawmaker wants to close that door here with legislation that would basically mirror the Texas law but would also authorize lawsuits against anyone outside the state who assists with an abortion involving a pregnant Missouri woman. The legislation by state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, would effectively tell Missouri women that anywhere they go to seek abortion services that are declared illegal in Missouri over the border into Illinois, for example the long arm of Missouris draconian laws will follow them, threatening monetary damages against doctors, hotline workers and anyone else who helps them, anywhere in the country. If your neighboring state doesnt have pro-life protections, it minimizes the ability to protect the unborn in your state, Coleman told The Washington Post. She is apparently oblivious to the constitutional fact that, in a federal republic, thats how it works: States can enforce their own laws within their own borders (to the extent they dont conflict with federal law), but they emphatically cannot reach over and enforce their own laws in another state just because one of their citizens has traveled there. Put another way: How would Coleman and her fellow Missouri Republicans react if Illinois, which has more stringent gun restrictions than Missouri does, decided it had the authority to reach into Missouri and enforce its own gun laws any time an Illinois resident traveled here? Were guessing they wouldnt react well. In addition to sounding like some Orwellian construct from the old Soviet Union, the notion that anyone who happens to reside in Missouri should be forever under the glowering eye of this state and its policies no matter where they might travel is unconstitutional on its face. Its tempting to dismiss such a bizarre proposition as press-release fodder rather than serious legislation except that Missouris ruling Republicans have already gone down the equally unconstitutional rabbit hole of declaring federal gun laws null and void here, inviting a federal lawsuit that the state will inevitably lose. Constitutional fidelity, it seems, means absolutely nothing to these extremist ideologues. Colemans bill is so beyond the constitutional pale that even todays conservative Supreme Court would almost certainly strike it down if it ever got that far. But it should nonetheless serve as a warning: With Roe v. Wade facing possible reversal, red states like Missouri will have more power to limit womens autonomy within their own borders. And some of them have no intention of stopping there. Hail to Howard mentors A dozen students from Howard University, the acclaimed historically Black university in Washington, are spending their spring break in St. Louis under a longstanding program their school calls the Alternative Spring Break. This year their attention has been focused on Sumner High School, founded in 1875. It was the first school west of the Mississippi established to educate Black students. The Howard students are working with small groups of Sumner students, shadowing the high school kids, helping with homework and offering up suggestions on how they can advance their education, the goal being to inspire them to have faith in themselves. As one of the Sumner students stated to reporters from KSDK, it seems only fitting that students from Howard whose notable alumni include the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Vice President Kamala Harris and actor Chadwick Boseman would head for storied Sumner High School, with a coterie of famous alumni as well, including Margaret Bush Wilson, Arthur Ashe and Tina Turner. The Howard students plan to also visit the children at the Annie Malone Childrens Home, adjacent to Sumner, and a couple of other elementary schools nearby to offer their assistance. Better late than never The list of American companies that gladly stepped up and shut down their operations in Russia after its invasion of Ukraine was lengthy and impressive. It included candy bar maker Mars, chemical maker Dow, aircraft maker Boeing, oil giant Exxon, hotel chain Hilton and pizza maker Papa Johns. In all, those companies stood to lose billions of dollars in revenues, but they took the hit after recognizing two important facts of life: First, that Russia needed to receive the strongest-possible message, through tough economic sanctions, that it would pay a heavy price for invading Ukraine. And second, that there could be an even heavier price to pay in the West if those companies were seen continuing to generate profits in Russia despite its wanton bloodshed and destruction. But three key brand names were missing from that list: McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Starbucks. Somehow, they either didnt get the memo or they got the impression that they could skate through without notice. Fortunately, clearer minds at those companies prevailed, and all three announced this week that they would be withdrawing from Russia after all. Let the Russians find their own fast food and fizzy drinks. And maybe deprivation of their grande mocha frappucinos will help make Russians realize that their over-caffeinated leader is the one who needs to withdraw not just from Ukraine but from any leadership position anywhere. Back of the line for Black Ukraine refugees Even in the midst of the horror of the war in Ukraine, racial discrimination appears to be on full display. Black people and other people of color fleeing to safety are still being forced to the back of the bus or, in this case, to the back of the train. Grace Kass, a Black woman originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, told Time that she had come to Ukraine to study engineering and stayed, making a career for herself there. Fleeing Kharkiv for the train station, Kass reported that she and other African women were forced to wait outside in the cold and denied food, while white women were allowed to board trains for Poland. One African resident of Ukraine, Alexander Orah, recounted to CNN multiple attempts to get on trains headed to Poland. He told of being kicked off the train (despite there still being room) and being told it was for Ukrainians only. Only after jumping on the door of a departing train was he finally able to gain admittance. But once at the border of Poland, he and his friends were beaten and kicked by Ukrainian guards as they tried to cross into Poland by bus. It appears that compassion in wartime also has racial limitations. Trailer trash Mark Meadows, former congressman from North Carolina and then-President Donald Trumps White House chief of staff, is being scrutinized for the very act he was bemoaning voter fraud in the 2020 election. The New Yorker recently reported that Meadows and his wife, Debra, submitted voter registration forms six weeks before the 2020 election and listed their residential address where you physically live as a 62-foot, 3-bedroom mobile home in rural North Carolina. According to The New Yorker, Meadows and his wife have never lived there. Virginia voting records show that in September 2021, Meadows and Debra registered to vote in Alexandria, Virginia, listing a property they purchased in 2017. Getting to the bottom of that fraud thing In Mesa County, Colorado, the top elections official turns out to be an ardent Trump supporter who takes her cues on election fraud from a pillow salesman who insists that the 2020 election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump. Amid GOP outcry over such trumped-up nonsense, Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters took it upon herself to tamper with local voting machines, according to a 10-count criminal indictment. The indictment includes attempting to influence a public servant, criminal impersonation and identity theft. She is alleged to have conspired to tamper with voting machines in order to secure confidential information, which she planned to distribute to unauthorized people. Peters is running as a Republican in the statewide race to become secretary of state the job that would empower her to oversee all elections in Colorado. The state GOP has asked her to withdraw her candidacy. Regarding Catholic schools in St. Louis area prepare for sweeping changes in parish reorganization (March 7): The claim that in the 1800s and early 1900s, the Catholic church in St. Louis served to lift immigrant communities out of poverty is like accepting that the mission of the Confederacy was to protect states rights. I believe the U.S. Catholic school system was explicitly founded to protect Catholic children from Protestant teaching, which was part of the American public school system until very recently. The GI Bill did more to get Catholics out of poverty than our school system ever did. Its laudable and a matter of institutional self-preservation that the Catholic schools (left behind by the exodus of the Catholic population from the city and inner suburbs) have pleaded for survival based on their service to mostly non-Catholic poor, but that does not accurately represent their original mission. Now that public schools are prohibited from sectarian teaching and from praying, it is time for Catholics to integrate themselves into the public school systems, instead of the Archdiocese running its own school system. Catholic parishes need to turn their attention to improved religious education, parallel to the Protestant systems. Use some of the excess real estate to build affordable housing so the poor are better able to work themselves out of poverty. The private, college preparatory schools are already supported by their graduates and the families of their students and can continue to compete with other private preparatory schools. Tom Poelker University City Regarding the letter Bushs apartheid accusations dont match hospitals reality (March 7): After my trip to Israel two years ago, I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that Rep. Cori Bush is correct in claiming that Israel is an apartheid country. A commission of the United Nations has also given them that designation. One example is Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, which is completely surrounded on all sides by the combination of a 40-foot wall and electronic fencing. People coming and going from the city must go through a checkpoint where they show passport-type documents, say where they are going, and when they expect to return. Its just like crossing between different countries. The Israeli government regularly understaffs these checkpoints, which surround all of the places where Palestinians live. So there are frequently long lines of people waiting to get through, making it very difficult to get to their jobs or other activities. Of course, our busload full of American tourists was waved right through. Israel is a wonderful place to visit, especially if you want to connect biblical stories to their locations, and to learn from archeological sites. And Im glad that the letter writer was treated very well when she needed medical care. But if you go, please talk to some Palestinian people there, both Muslims and Christians (of whom there are many). They can help to open your eyes about how to look for the signs of apartheid all around you. There are all too many. Rev. Jeffrey Lindgren St. Louis Regarding Kevin McDermotts column Ukrainian courage shames the cowards of the Republican Party (March 6): I know that a columnist has an opinion, but that being said, I believe McDermotts tarring the Republican Party goes too far. Also, I believe the Democratic Party is rife with feckless members who were put in place only because of their race and gender as their qualifications, as opposed to their knowledge and skill. I dont mean just ambassadors; both sides have been doing that for years. Id say McDermott is doing a sad job. Regarding Missouri lawmakers look to throw a little shade on the Sunshine Law (March 7): Currently, Missouri has one of the best Sunshine Laws in the nation, but there are a handful of measures aimed at restrictions. One of the proposals is to charge exorbitant fees for public records. The state already has the ability to charge for requested records. What is being proposed are fees so high that they would be beyond the ability of most to pay. Public records belong to the public, the people who have paid for them. Another proposed changes could also seriously restrict which government meetings are considered public and open for Missourians to attend. This would limit citizen participation in government meetings. Attending public meetings provides an opportunity for members of the public to make their opinions known and to be part of the decision-making process. If we want to know about proposed projects in our communities, such as an asphalt plant, an incinerator or a fertilizer plant, we need a strong Sunshine Law. Limiting public access to government records and meetings threatens the publics right to know. Governmental accountability through transparency and citizen participation is the fundamental basis for democracy. The existing Sunshine Laws must be protected. Barbara Chicherio University City Regarding China calls Russia its chief strategic partner despite war (March 7): As we stand by and helplessly watch the Ukrainian people lay their lives on the line for liberty, we are forced to see the consequences of the choices made by our own leaders (of both parties) that have bankrupted us and put us at the mercy of our enemies. As much as we may want to help the people of Ukraine, we are fearful of Russia, with its Chinese backing. How can we confront totalitarianism when we have to borrow money from them in order to pay for it? For over a decade the U.S. Navy has been trying to move away from partisan efforts to get warships named for anyone or anything politically divisive. Congress passes or modifies the rules for warship names. The latest change was a 2021 directive to establish a commission to remove ship names that honored American Civil War confederate (rebel) personalities or events. The navy and sailors taking these ships to sea are hope that this does not backfire, like so many earlier attempts to that resulted in politically correct names that were no help for crew morale. Despite all the political influence the navy is generally allowed to follow traditions for choosing ship names that are more helpful than harmful. The large aircraft carriers are still named after major politicians but for the rest of the fleet more traditional naming conventions persist. Current official rules, or suggestions for ship names include using state names for nuclear submarines, although the first of the new Columbia class SSBNs (nuclear missile subs) is named after the District of Columbia (not a state) and the second one Wisconsin (is a state). The first of the new class of SSNs (attack subs) was called the Virginia (also a state) but now the navy is using the names of famous World War II diesel-electric submarines. The new FFG frigates are using names of the first frigates of the new U.S. Navy, back when frigates were sailing ships. The less successful LCS ships these frigates replace were named after American cities and communities. Amphibious ships are named after battles in which American marines participated. Support ships like are named after names or places important to U.S. Marines. Towing, salvage and rescue ships are named after pre-1492 tribes or members of those tribes. Oilers, that bring fuel to ships at sea, are being named after political activists. A decade ago, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy announced that names for warships would in the future be "more traditional." That means ships would be named after war heroes, battles, states, and cities. This came after an uproar from veteran groups and a lot of people in general when the navy was ordered to name warships after political activists and politicians. That, in itself, was part of a decades old trend. The U.S. Navy came under fire for reneging on that promise after naming a new ship after a politician (member of Congress Gabrielle Giffords) who survived being shot at a political event in 2010. Another ship was named after a labor organizer who, although he had served in the navy, was very vocal about how much he hated the experience. This sort of pushback is not unique to the United States. In 2011 Prince Charles of Great Britain interceded to change the name of a new aircraft carrier from Prince of Wales (his current title) to Ark Royal, used as the name of five aircraft carriers over the last century and of the flagship of the fleet that defeated the Spanish Armada in 1547. Prince Charles sought the name change at the behest of Royal Navy officers who pointed out that it would be good for morale. Such appeals have had no effect on American politicians. All this goes back to the period right after World War II, when the American military procurement system became more corrupt, largely the result of so much more being spent on defense. One aspect of that corruption was the growing custom of naming major warships after influential politicians. This was a way for the navy, and warship builders, to curry more favor and money from Congress. The worst example of this was the Nimitz class carriers, which could also be called the "Politician Class." All but one of the ten carriers was named after political figures that helped the navy. The sole exception was the lead ship, which was named after the World War II Pacific theater commander, Admiral Chester Nimitz. The successor to the Nimitz class continues the tradition, being named after president Gerald Ford. But at least Ford served, with distinction, on a carrier (the USS Monterey) during World War II. Some of these namesakes were contemporary politicians and some of those were still living. Naming ships after living persons is rare but not uncommon. George Washington had four warships named after him before he died. In fact, over a dozen U.S. warships were named after notable revolutionary period leaders. Up through the U.S. Civil War about one American warship a decade was named after a living person, usually a politician. In 1900, the first modern U.S. submarine was named after the fellow who developed it (John Philip Holland). Throughout the 20th century, but especially after World War II, warships were named after living people, mainly politicians who were helpful to the navy. So far in the 21st century ten warships have been named after living Americans. These were USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), USS Nitze (DDG-94), USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108). Gerald Ford (CVN-78) John Warner (SSN-785, Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), John Lewis (TAO-205) and John Lehman (DDG 137). Some of those with ships named after them made considerable contributions to the navy but achieved little public fame for it. Admiral Wayne Meyer was (who died in 2009), was, well, a geek, and the man most responsible for development of the Aegis air defense system. American carriers go to war surrounded by Aegis equipped ships for protection against enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles. The most debased example of using warship names to attract political favor, and defense dollars, was the recent 2010 U.S. Navy decision to name a smaller carrier (actually an amphibious ship, LPD 26) after a recently deceased member of Congress, John Murtha. This really angered the troops, especially marines. That was ironic, as Murtha had spent 37 years in the marines, 33 of them in the reserves. He served a year in Vietnam as a staff officer. He parlayed that military experience into a political career, first at the state level then in Washington. Murtha was known as a particularly easy guy to do business with and a supreme opportunist. He was nicknamed the "King of Pork" for his ability to get projects (often useless but lucrative ones) approved for his district. What made Murtha especially unpopular with the marines was his willingness to join the chorus of accusers condemning seven marines accused of murdering Iraqis in 2005. All but one of the accused eventually had the charges dismissed or were acquitted. It was a witch hunt and marines saw Murtha as one of the more eager hunters. Murtha had also been in trouble before on ethics issues and was known to play dirty when it suited his purposes. But guys like Murtha loved to spend federal money, especially for the navy and marines. While most sailors and marines loathed the man, the brass were more respectful and held firm on the decision to name an amphibious ship after him. The navy does still name ships after their combat heroes, when it has a chance. Two new destroyers were named after SEAL commandoes, including one who was awarded a Medal of Honor. But the largest ships are still named after the people who expose themselves to paper bullets, not the real ones. Now the navy promises to cut back on using ship names to honor corruption rather than valor. FILE PHOTO: A man shelters under an umbrella as he walks past the London Stock Exchange in London, Britain, August 24, 2015. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's London Stock Exchange Group said on Friday it is suspending all products and services for all customers in Russia, days after suspending the distribution of news and commentary in the country following new laws in Moscow. "LSEG confirms it is suspending all products and services for all customers in Russia, subject to any regulatory requirements," the company said in a statement. "We continue to support our employees in the region. We are also engaging with our customers outside Russia who depend on us for data and pricing information inside Russia. We are evaluating alternative options to continue providing these services." The company joins an exodus of Western firms severing ties with Russia after it was slapped with heavy sanctions in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a special operation. London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) had already suspended access in Russia to products containing news and commentary since Wednesday this week, and had suspended all new sales of products and services. However, at the time it did not suspend access to data products for existing customers in Russia. LSEG distributes news and commentary from Reuters as part of its products. Thomson Reuters, the parent of Reuters News, holds a minority stake in the LSE after the exchange bought data and analytics company Refinitiv from it. A new Russian law makes it possible to jail journalists who report any event that could discredit the Russian military. Ukraine's central bank the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) wrote to data platform Refinitiv and rival Bloomberg last week to urge them to ban Russian and Belarussian financial institutions from accessing their platforms. The NBU argued such a move would "cripple their access to the international financial markets". Reuters declined comment. Bloomberg was not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Iain Withers; Additional reporting by Marc Jones and Huw Jones; Editing by Louise Heavens and Howard Goller) LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's state Centre for Strategic Communications said it could not rule that Belarus would launch an invasion of Ukraine on Friday after a meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. "According to preliminary data, Belarusian troops may be drawn into an invasion on March 11 at 21:00 (1900 GMT)," the centre, which was established under the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, said in a statement. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Writing by Alessandra Prentice, Editing by Timothy Heritage) DALLAS, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Happy birthday to us, or happy birthday to you? To celebrate our 47th candle on the molten chocolate cake on Sunday, March 13, Chili's Grill & Bar is making moves with the official launch of an e-commerce shop featuring epic, Chilified swag. We know it's not exactly traditional to give on your own birthdaybut what good is #ChilisLove if it's not shared? Get in Guests, We're Going Shopping Starting at 10 a.m. CDT on March 13 aka the best day of the year fans can visit welcometochilis.com to see what kind of swag we're serving up in the shop. We've got all of the essentials covered with everything from trendy tees to functionally fabulous fanny packs, pool floats perfect for pampering and more, ranging from $10 to $60. So, whether you're looking to become the TikTok trendsetter you've always dreamed of, refresh your remote work uniform or figure it's about time you finally replace the holey socks in your dresser, we've got you covered. Supplies are limited, so make sure you mark your calendars! Basically: you want it, we got itbut only for so long. "Our Guests have told us how much they love Chili's merch, and that means the world to us," said Chili's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Michael Breed. "We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Chili's birthday with our Guests than to officially launch the store, and we look forward to commemorating more big moments with them and our Team Members in the future." But Wait, There's More To keep the good times rolling after you've e-shopped 'til you've dropped, stop by a Chili's location near you on March 13 to snag one of our beloved Presidente Margaritas for only $3.13! Hand-shaken 25 times with Sauza Conmemorativo Tequila, Patron Citronge and E&J Brandy, and available in classic, mango and strawberry flavors, this deliriously delicious deal is one you definitely don't want to miss. So, with that, we'll say cheers to us, cheers to you and cheers to another year together come celebrate with us! About Chili's Grill & Bar Hi, welcome to Chili's! We're a leader in the casual dining industry and the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT). We're known for our big mouth burgers, Texas-sized ribs, full-on sizzling fajitas and hand-shaken margaritas. We take our food seriously but not ourselves because dining out should feel like a celebration even if there is nothing to celebrate. Our passion is making every Guest feel special, and every day, our ChiliHeads make it their job to spread #ChilisLove across our more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories. And Chili's cares. We host local Give Back Events to support kids, education and hunger, and have raised more than $70 million through our annual Create-A-Pepper campaign benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, because giving back is a big part of who we are. Find more information about us at chilis.com, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, like us on Facebook @Chilis or join us on TikTok @chilisofficial. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chilis-celebrates-its-47th-birthday-with-launch-of-new-e-commerce-shop-301500609.html SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar KATY, Texas, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gotcha Covered, a leader in custom window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada, increases its presence in Texas with the opening of Gotcha Covered of South Katy. The new center is owned and operated by Rafael and Maria Garzon. With an emphasis on end-to-end consultations, this business will provide the best in soft and hard window treatments to homeowners in Fort Bend County, Katy, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear and Memorial while offering a variety of blinds, draperies, smart solutions and much more. "At Gotcha Covered, we champion our excellent end-to-end consultative services and pride ourselves in delivering an experience that is second to none," said Paul Linenberg, president of Gotcha Covered. "We are confident in Rafael and Maria's ability to provide the residents in South Katy and the surrounding areas with a top-tier experience. We are proud to have them as part of the Gotcha Covered family." Rafael Garzon started his career in the fashion industry. With over 20 years of experience, he served in several roles with some of the most well-known companies in the retail industry including being the general manager at Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. While searching for great business opportunities, Garzon discovered Gotcha Covered after being approached by a franchise broker. After further research and learning more about the business model and the company's human capital, he knew it was the franchise for him. "I have worked with many different retailers and had the opportunity to learn various businesses, so I developed the ability to identify and see good opportunities within different markets," Garzon said. "Gotcha Covered was very interesting to me from the very beginning, and the more I learned about it the more I realized that I wanted to be a part of it. "The team is nothing short of amazing. As a brand new entrepreneur and franchisee with no experience in the window treatment market, I have felt very supported in all aspects of the business. The team is very approachable, and the execution and follow-up of the entire process have been professional and timely." As for the overall goal of Gotcha Covered of South Katy, Garzon said he wants to make sure each customer's interaction is meaningful and creates an experience that the customer values and treasures. "I want them to always feel like their investment was worth every penny, from the service we provided to the quality of the product they received," Garzon said. Adding 27 new franchise locations in 2021, Gotcha Covered currently has over 130 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. The franchise has been operating under the Gotcha Covered name since 2009. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Gotcha Covered of South Katy, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com/south-katy/. About Gotcha Covered Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom soft and hard window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada. Flying under their Gotcha Covered flag since 2009, they offer custom window treatments including blinds, draperies, shutters and much more. They offer end-to-end consultation with the customer's specific needs and goals in mind. The company currently has over 130 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather RipleyRipley PR865-977-1973 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gotcha-covered-opens-new-center-in-south-katy-texas-301500345.html SOURCE Gotcha Covered JAKARTA, Indonesia, SINGAPORE and SAN JOSE, Calif., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang Indonesia is now officially collaborating with Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Singapore, a wholly owned subsidiary of ADARA Networks, Inc. San Jose, CA, in support of PT BUM Desa Indonesia to realize the vision of advancing digital transformation in villages, towns, and cities across all of Indonesia. Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, PT. ABC, PT BDI, to offer Virtual 5G Mobile Broadband Service to 300 Million in Indonesia PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang and Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. signed a Distribution and Marketing Agreement as a commitment to enhance the speed and reliability of Internet Access across Indonesia. This marks a commitment by both PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang and Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. in support of PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) Jakarta Raya, Indonesia PT Indonesian Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) / BDI is the holding company of many Village Owned Enterprises in Indonesia. PT BDI oversees and has network of more than 94,500 business entities spread across villages and remote areas of Indonesia. All are collaborating to transform and improve a range of digital services across Indonesia. Virtual 5G, a first of its' kind, delivers 5G Mobile Broadband speeds, and a globally available 5G service through a worldwide OTT (Over The Top) network, which operates over all existing forms of networks including Cellular Radio, WiFi, Terrestrial, and Satellite. As an OTT, Virtual 5G's service globally interconnects users through any and all service providers. OTT's have rapidly become the dominant platform for rapidly deploying transformative services. Virtual 5G service is accessed through a Mobile (Client) App available through Google Play as Premium Software. Virtual 5G enables all Internet activities by users in Indonesia to enjoy the low latency, high bandwidth, reliable services that Indonesia wants and needs via Mobile Broadband; Social Media, Browsing, News, Download/Upload Multimedia, Email, and Apps. Virtual 5G enables 5G Mobile Broadband on Android phones that support Android 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10, 11 and Android 12, which is the Operating System on the newest generation Android 5G Phones; on every generation of Android Mobile Devices, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G; and on every generation of Cellular Radio Infrastructure, 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE, and 5G where it is deployed. Virtual 5G also delivers 5G Mobile Broadband over all Internet Access Technologies; Cellular Radio, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM, which is the infrastructure which PT BDI operates to bring service to Rural and Urban communities such as Villages, Towns, and Cities across Indonesia. Virtual (Software) 5G rolls out in seconds, scales limitlessly, and compliments Infrastructure 5G. These are just a few of the critical reasons why Virtual 5G can benefit Indonesia. Indonesia presents a unique opportunity for Virtual Internet, with PT ABC and PT BDI. Indonesia has the world's 4th largest population; and Indonesia is the world's largest island nation. Indonesia has unique challenges to deploying nationwide 5G Mobile Broadband Internet access. Almost half of Indonesia, 43%, lives in rural areas; this percentage is twice as great as other regions; 83% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas, 72.5 % of EU-28 inhabitants live in cities, in Latin America and the Caribbean, 81.2% of the population lives in urban areas. Indonesians in both rural and urban areas want and need high speed Internet for online activities. PT BDI is focused on enhancing rural services; and these areas are of special importance to Indonesia. Indonesians are extremely digitally savvy; Indonesia is a world leader in the consumption of Internet and Social Media services. This commercial agreement demonstrates how the digital ecosystem within Indonesia is leveraging existing and new technologies to meet Indonesia's unique challenges to create world class Mobile Broadband service for all Indonesians. Virtual 5G is immediately available at a per device annual subscription of $6 US to the nearly 300 Million in Indonesia that operate almost 450 Million Devices and highlights a major benefit of Virtual 5G. Employing a Virtual (Software) 5G approach enables the immediate roll out of a 21st Century high speed Mobile Broadband service across Indonesia. Using an OTT to deliver 5G Mobile Broadband is an innovative and important commercial step, part of a comprehensive approach to rapidly transforming Indonesia's digital landscape and seamlessly bringing 5G Mobile Broadband service to one of the largest populations of Internet users in the world. As the world's only global 5G Mobile Broadband Network, with millions of users in over 150 countries, Virtual (Software) 5G has already been deployed across multiple traditional Telecom networks, demonstrating that Virtual 5G is complimentary to existing 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G networks in Indonesia and around the globe. Indonesia is experiencing rapid economic growth and is in need of rapid technological improvements, especially in Mobile Broadband, as Indonesia expands its' position as an economic center of opportunity in Asia, and as Indonesia unlocks its' digital potential. Widespread 5G is frequently not projected to appear until the end of the decade, approximately 2030. Virtual 5G bridges this gap, and enhances Infrastructure 5G networks when and where they are built. Virtual 5G is currently available globally, it is portable and borderless, travels with the user, and Virtual 5G available to over 6.5 Billion in 150 countries worldwide, in every continent, on any generation (e.g. 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G) phone, eliminating the wait for 5G service. 5G technology is maturing. Virtual (Software) 5G is part of the strategic focus on 5G. Hardware 5G and Software (Virtual) 5G are complimentary technological approaches to unlocking the benefits of 5G for consumers and enterprises. Virtual 5G works with Infrastructure 5G to address the challenges of deploying 5G Service. Virtual 5G enables Nations and Service Providers, including Telecoms deploying 5G infrastructures and 5G ready Smartphones, to accelerate roll-outs and the creation of new services in building digital economies in post-COVID recovery. With this commercial announcement, Indonesia is showing it will leverage Virtual (Software) 5G as Indonesia nurtures a growing and vibrant local Hardware and Software 5G ecosystem. Indonesia, with a significant portion of the global population, is leading the way to the next chapter of the global digital age. About PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) / BDI PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) Jakarta Raya, Indonesia PT Indonesian Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) / BDI is the holding company of many Village Owned Enterprises in Indonesia. PT BDI oversees and has network of more than 94,500 business entities spread across villages and remote areas of Indonesia. About Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Virtual Internet is a metaverse company, Incorporated in Singapore. Virtual Internet is building a new community of millions of users, connected through multiple networks. Virtual Internet has created and operates on its' own Virtual 5G Global Overlay Network, which allows millions of other applications and services to be delivered over 5G Mobile Broadband Speeds using existing Cellular Radio, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM networks. About ADARA Networks, Inc. ADARA Networks, Inc. is acknowledged as one of the premier providers of SDN and Cloud Networking products. Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Singapore, is a wholly owned subsidiary of ADARA Networks. CONTACT: 408-579-5000 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pt-animus-bersama-cermerlang-and-virtual-internet-pte-singapore-implement-the-virtual-5g-program-in-support-of-pt-bum-desa-indonesia-301500723.html SOURCE Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. GRAFENWOEHR, Germany Sausages and a big pretzel exactly what youd expect from a traditional Bavarian meal awaited Fort Stewart, Ga.-based soldiers on Friday morning, courtesy of the states governor. Bavarias Markus Soeder joined Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, and the commander of 7th Army Training Command, Brig. Gen. Joseph Hilbert, in welcoming the soldiers, who are deployed to Grafenwoehr Training Area as part of a mission to reassure NATO allies in the wake of Russias new invasion of Ukraine. This is a friendship for eternity, we hope, Soeder told hundreds of soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Armored Infantry Division. Bavaria is the largest region for U.S. (soldiers) in Europe. Grafenwoehr is (an) important place for the troops. Information sheets placed on the dining tables provided guidance about weisswurst, a white sausage considered one of the southern German states signature foods. Its traditionally made from a mixture of finely minced veal and back bacon. It is usually served with stone-ground mustard, a large salted pretzel and a Bavarian wheat beer. Soeder joked that that the generals would never approve the beer for breakfast. After the soldiers who first arrived waited about 30 minutes with their trays, they all were allowed to dig in. The Bavarian Broadcasting Channel reported that Soeder had ordered 4,000 of the sausages to be served at rural Grafenwoehr, which hosts the Armys largest training area in Europe. The brigade is expected to provide 3,800 of the 7,000 service members deployed to bolster NATOs defensive posture. NUMAZU BEACH, Japan U.S. Marines piled out of their landing craft and onto the rocky shore near Mount Fuji to simulate an amphibious landing Wednesday, part of monthlong exercises with their counterparts in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The landing exercise was a departure for the Marines, who for decades rarely visited the Numazu Beach Training Area at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, part of a 34,000-acre military reservation at the foot of its namesake mountain. But that attitude is changing, along with the arms-length relationship the Marines held with their Camp Fuji neighbors, the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The two are rebuilding their relationship as China asserts a claim of dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. Before last year, we had really not been using this beach to train for about a 30-year period, Camp Fuji commander Col. Robert Bodisch told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. Last year, we started using the beach more that was one of my lines of effort to try and modernize our training environment. Bodisch, who took command of Camp Fuji in 2020, said modernizing Fujis training regiments and building a closer relationship with the Self-Defense Forces are his primary goals. You might be surprised to find out that in the 70 years that Camp Fuji has been there we have rarely, if ever, done any bilateral training or exercises with the Japanese, even though were surrounded by five other [Japanese] bases, he said. The event, dubbed Maritime Defense Exercise-Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, launched March 6 and is scheduled to conclude March 25. Along with the training and support units at Camp Fuji, the exercise players include elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade of the Ground Self-Defense Force. On Wednesday, members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit landed on the beach aboard a craft dispatched from the dock landing ship USS Ashland. Seven Joint Light Tactical Vehicles rumbled off the boat and stood watch over the Marines unloading their gear. Col. Rikiya Kondo, commander of Japans Fuji Training Center, stood nearby with a contingent of Japanese officers. As the Marines maneuvered on the beach, Kondo told Stars and Stripes that he shares Bodischs goal for a stronger relationship between their respective forces, one that will produce innovative practices. My understanding is that we need to challenge new capabilities in a totally new operating environment; this is something different from what I expected, Kondo said. We need to create a new way of amphibious assault. A close partnership also ensures strategic deterrence, particularly when demonstrating force-on-force exercises between the two nations, Kondo said. Future Maritime Defense Exercises will include amphibious assaults, sniper training and helocasting a maneuver in which Marines jump from a helicopter hovering just above the oceans surface. The exercise is also taking place simultaneously on Guam between a separate component of the 31st MEU and British Royal commandos, 31st MEU commander Col. Michael Nakonieczny told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. He said the scale of the exercise is unique. This is part of something called Noble Arashi, which is broken into two parts the part thats taking place here at Camp Fuji and theres also a part taking place in Guam, Nakonieczny said. Everything that youre seeing here will be done in one form or fashion in different, varying scales not only here on mainland Japan, but in Guam as well. Nakonieczny said the exercise helps the U.S. and its allies prepare for any threat or crisis in the region. Left unsaid at this level is where that threat may originate. The Defense Department, however, considers China its pacing challenge in the Indo-Pacific. So, any threat to that free and open Indo-Pacific is what were prepared to respond to, Nakonieczny said. The Navy, as part of a move since summer 2020 to diversify its ranks, has reinstated its Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program, partly as a means of attracting officer candidates from minority communities. The program is set up to assist college students and graduates who want to become commissioned officers, the Navy Recruiting Command announced March 7. The program helps qualified applicants complete their final two years of college on their way to a naval commission. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 19 years old and already have at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or university. If accepted into the program, candidates must complete the requirements for a bachelors degree within 24 months, according to the command. There are other qualifying factors, including age limits and a minimum 2.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The Navy phased the program out in 2003 due to budgetary considerations and replaced it with other programs, including several pre-service and post-enlistment programs that allowed students to receive financial incentives, food and housing while attending the Navys training schools. The bachelors degree program was one effort to diversify the service by providing more opportunities to minorities to succeed, according to the Navy. Bringing [the degree completion program] back widens the talent pool in our officer ranks by offering opportunities to students at universities without an existing NROTC program, recruiting command spokesman Cmdr. Dave Benham said in an email Thursday to Stars and Stripes. Reinstating the program was one of about 60 recommendations in a 142-page report released in January 2021 by Task Force One Navy. It looked for ways to enhance diversity in the service by soliciting feedback from hundreds of sailors through focus groups and surveys. Task Force One Navy arose at Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gildays direction in July 2020 following nationwide protests over U.S. race relations in spring and summer that year, the report states. The report found that the bachelors degree program had previously produced opportunities for minorities seeking a commission and provided financial assistance to help them achieve that goal. One change is the stipulation that this is only for universities that don't already have a Navy ROTC, Benham said. This way, we are ensuring we reach new markets without an existing Navy presence. The recruiting command, based at Millington, Tenn., highlighted the many benefits to those who enroll. Students automatically start receiving the full pay and allowances of an officer candidate petty officer third class, the same paygrade as an E-4, according to the March 7 announcement. Candidates in the program may also advance in paygrade, for example, by making the deans list in two successive semesters. A lot of college students have a job on the side while they study, Cmdr. Howard Bryant, director of outreach and diversity at Navy Recruiting Command, said in the announcement. This program will help free up time so they can focus on their studies, as well as guarantee a job after they graduate. The program allows students to commission as officers in surface warfare, special warfare, explosive ordnance disposal and as naval pilots and flight officers. It is also available to sailors in the active or inactive Navy Reserves and other reserve service branches. NAPLES, Italy Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. Martin Luther King Jr. said those words on April 3, 1968, a day before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. They continue to inspire Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny Smith, a 28-year-old yeoman assigned to Submarine Group 8. Amid uncertainty about his future and grief over his fathers death, which deprived him of the opportunity to fix their strained relationship, Smith found hope from a fellow sailor who shared an unknown bond. A little more than a year after arriving at Naval Support Activity Naples in January 2019, Smith developed a casual, professional relationship with Cmdr. Hasan Abdul-Mutakallim, who worked in a separate command but in the same building and on the same floor as Smith. Abdul-Mutakallim, 48, seemed like a role model and someone you could look up to, Smith said. He was easy to talk to and good at listening, Smith recalled. Even though I was just a random person asking him for advice and things of that nature, he was really just helpful in giving me instruction and guidance, said Smith, who was having doubts about staying in the Navy as a submariner and wanted to apply to be a commissioned officer. Smith struck Abdul-Mutakallim as a quiet, reserved young man focused on his education and his goals. Yet he knew there was more behind that introverted exterior. Theres a side of him that I havent had a chance to fully know, said Abdul-Mutakallim, who joined the Navy in 1996, ultimately earning an undergraduate degree and attending flight school in 2001. He now is the C4/Cyber deputy director for U.S. 6th Fleet overseeing information support and technology. Smith grew up without his father, Raymond, for much of his childhood. As a senior in high school, Smith reconnected with his dad, but the relationship later grew distant. Not long after visiting his father, who had suffered a stroke, Smith returned to Naples in May 2021, when his brother Carl called with the news that their father was dead. I caught myself punishing him, Smith said, adding that in retrospect, he realized that although he had forgiven his father for leaving the family, he was still angry. I never would have thought in a million years that he would (die) while I was making emotionally rash decisions, he said. At the same time, Abdul-Mutakalli learned of the death of Uncle Ray from his grandfather. He talked about it with his cousin Carl Smith, a senior chief culinary specialist and submariner in Washington state. It was during that call that Abdul-Mutakallim learned not only that Carl Smith had a brother but also that the brother was in the Navy and working at NSA Naples. Im like, You have a brother? I think Ive spoken to him, Abdul-Mutakallim recalled. Sure enough, it was (Danny Smith) and we were related. Because they had spoken informally just a couple of times and knowing it was a sensitive time, Abdul-Mutakallim reached out to Danny Smith through a mutual acquaintance, saying he thought they might be cousins. During a subsequent phone call, Danny Smith and Abdul-Mutakallim confirmed their family connection. It was pretty cool. It was pretty random but awesome, Smith said. Since then, the two have built a friendship, met each others wives and attended family events, including a baby shower for Abdul-Mutakallims wife. This week, Smith leaves NSA Naples for an assignment in Maryland. In May, Abdul-Mutakallim also will leave for an assignment at another base, serendipitously in Maryland. Each of them is looking forward to getting to know the other better, hanging out and attending family events, including reunions. Everything we didnt get to do here, well get a chance to do there, Abdul-Mutakallim said. While nothing will replace having his father, Smith said his relationship with Abdul-Mutakallim and the opportunity to meet his new family helps fill the void. It was like God took away this part, but he also introduced a whole new world of relationships and people I can meet now, Smith said. I cant do it through my dad or with him, but I have an extension of him now. SAN DIEGO (Tribune News Service) The San Diego sailor charged with setting the devastating fire on the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard was arraigned Thursday in a Navy courtroom just 1,000 feet from where the 844-foot warship burned over four days in July 2020. Seaman Recruit Ryan Sawyer Mays, 20, a former deck seaman on the ship, is charged with aggravated arson and the willful hazarding of a vessel. He denies the charges. While the sailor has been arraigned and his general court-martial is officially underway, it will be months before the trial begins as prosecutors and defense attorneys each requested start dates no sooner than August. Navy Capt. Ryan Stormier read the charges to Mays during Thursday's arraignment but the defense elected not to enter a plea until a trial is scheduled. Mays, via an attorney, has previously denied starting the fire. Mays also asked to delay choosing a trial by judge or jury until the Navy settles on a trial date. Gary Barthel, a San Diego-based civilian lawyer who has been representing the sailor pro bono since 2020, is no longer representing the sailor, he told The San Diego Union-Tribune Thursday after the arraignment. Mays is represented instead by two Navy defense attorneys Lt. Cmdr. Sharlena Williams and Lt. Tayler Haggerty, who were present at a preliminary hearing held on the base in December. Barthel said he'd been working for Mays pro bono on the assumption the Navy would not send the case to trial. According to Barthel, the hearing officer presiding over Mays' December hearing, recommended against sending the sailor to court-martial over concerns about the evidence. The preliminary hearing officer's report was not released by the Navy and Barthel previously declined to provide the document to the Union-Tribune. However, during witness testimony at the December hearing, defense attorneys questioned witnesses about statements made to investigators over several interviews after the fire. One witness said he saw Mays go into the lower vehicle storage area where the fire began just minutes before the first sign of smoke. However, the sailor's certainty that he saw Mays seemed to increase during interviews with Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents in the days after the blaze, defense attorneys said during the December hearing. Navy prosecutors did not submit physical evidence leaking Mays to the fire during that hearing. In court Thursday, Mays again appeared to be wearing the wrong rank insignia on his uniform. According to the Navy, Mays was reduced in rank to seaman recruit, or E-1, in January. However, in court Thursday, Mays wore two white stripes on his sleeve indicating his rank as seaman apprentice, or E-2. At Mays' December hearing, he wore the three stripes of a seaman, or E-3, while his actual rank was E-2, prosecutors said in court at the time. Mays declined to comment on the case or his rank when asked by the Union-Tribune after Thursday's arraignment. The Bonhomme Richard burned more than four days blanketing the neighborhoods nearest the base in noxious black smoke. In late 2020, the Navy decided repairing the ship would be too costly and elected to send it to the scrapyard. It was decommissioned in April and towed to a Texas ship-breaker. 2022 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. South Korean president-elect Yoon Seok-youl has had a relatively short career in politics, but his policy vision sheds some light on how military relations with the United States may shape up during his five-year term. Yoon, a former chief prosecutor, defeated Lee Jae-myung, the ruling Democratic Partys candidate, by a scant 0.73 percentage points, or around 247,000 votes, in Wednesdays election to become South Koreas 20th president. He takes office May 10. As the conservative People Power Party candidate, Yoon voiced support for closer U.S. ties and a tougher stance against neighboring North Korea. The president-elect said in a statement Thursday he will deal sternly with North Koreas unlawful and irrational behavior by principle, but at the same time open the door of inter-Korean dialogue anytime. We will rebuild the [South Korea]-U.S. alliance and boost the comprehensive strategic alliance, sharing liberal democracy, a market economy, the key value of human rights, he said. Yoon has voiced willingness to resume large-scale military drills with the United States. Those exercises were suspended in 2018 and replaced with low-key computer simulations after President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in described them as costly and an impediment to lowering tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea opposes the U.S-South Korea military drills and in state-run news reports has described them as a precursor to a full-scale invasion. Yoon, in a February column in Foreign Affairs magazine, also suggested deploying another U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile defense system as South Koreas sovereign right to protect its people. In the U.S., diplomats are breathing a sigh of relief at Yoons victory, according to professor Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar of Korean and East Asian studies and a specialist on North Korea at the Fletcher School at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Yoons foreign policy platform coincides far better with Americas interests than Mr. Lees, Sung-Yoon Lee told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday. The president-elects comments indicate he will mend fences and develop closer relations with Japan, the professor said. Historical differences between Seoul and Tokyo, such as the comfort women issue and an ongoing dispute over the ownership of islands known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, have often derailed U.S. efforts to develop a more structured security umbrella in East Asia. But Japans role, for instance, in detecting and analyzing North Koreas missile tests have been used in conjunction with South Korean and U.S. intelligence assets to develop a fuller picture of Pyongyangs weapons program. Usually, the conservatives are the people who value Japans role in the U.S.-led alliance structure, Sung-Yoon Lee said. To the United States, this ongoing spat between the two democracies in the region to hear from Yoon that he will reach out to Japan and be more pragmatic, thats welcomed news. Yoons policies would place a heavy emphasis on reinforcing the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, according to Hahm Sung Deuk, dean of Kyonggi Universitys Graduate School of Political Studies in Seoul. Rather than unilaterally trying to develop closer ties with Pyongyang, Yoon would "emphasize the sound and good relationship with South Korea and the United States, first, Hahm said by phone Friday. The Moon administration views the U.S. as an obstacle to inter-Korean relations, Hahm said. In contrast, the Yoon administration would likely believe "the U.S. is a critically important country to make new relations with Pyongyang. In addition to scrapping joint military drills, Moons administration detracted from his conservative predecessors hardline approach in dealing with North Koreas provocations. Moon spearheaded a so-far unsuccessful effort to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War with North Korea, which, he said in September would make irreversible progress in denuclearization and usher in an era of complete peace. Moons critics say tensions on the Korean Peninsula are no less today than when he took office, particularly after North Korea conducted nine rounds of missile tests so far this year. The communist regime on Jan. 30 tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, and recent satellite photos have indicated very early signs of activity at a North Korean nuclear testing facility, according to analysts. Under President Moon Jae-in, however, dialogue with the North has become an end in itself, Yoon wrote in the magazine column. Meanwhile, as U.S.-Chinese tensions have grown, South Korea has failed to adapt, maintaining an approach of strategic ambiguity without stating a principled position. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. TOKYO The coronavirus may not be on the run in Japan but its grip is loosening in the capital city and at U.S. military installations across the country. Tokyo on Friday said another 8,464 people had tested positive for COVID-19, according to public broadcaster NHK. The city ended the work week with a six-day average of 8,735.8 new cases per day, down from an average 11,204 for the same six days the preceding week. Japan on Thursday reported 61,063 new COVID-19 infections and 188 related deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. There was an average of 53,914 new cases between Sunday and Thursday. The average for the same six days the week prior was 64,402. U.S. Forces Japan reported 99 new cases as of Thursday, 23 more than the previous day. Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan accounted for 33 over both days; Kadena Air Base on Okinawa had 32, according to USFJ. Yokosuka Naval Base south of Tokyo registered 28 and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima had 19. None of the new cases were considered serious and none of the infected individuals were hospitalized, according to USFJ. The command between Monday and Thursday reported 346 people tested positive for COVID-19. USFJ averaged 86.5 new cases each day during that period. It averaged 88.5 new cases per day during the four days it reported the prior week. Separately, Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, the headquarters for USFJ, had 22 people test positive between Tuesday and Thursday, according to an update on the base website. Okinawa prefecture said 744 people tested positive there Friday, and 32 people in the U.S. military population, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care. The prefecture ended the work week with 3,814 new COVID-19 infections, down from the 4,848 it recorded the previous week. Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report. As the Russian invasion enters its third week, most Ukrainians want to keep up the fight, according to a new poll. Conducted by Kyiv based-Info Sapiens, the poll, released Wednesday, offers the clearest snapshot yet of Ukrainian public opinion as Russian forces continue to shell and encircle cities in a war that analysts say is bent on toppling Ukraines pro-European government to replace it with pro-Russian proxies. The fighting has killed and injured hundreds, according to a conservative United Nations count, and thousands according to official Ukrainian figures. Millions more civilians have fled across borders or to perceived safer places in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly expected to be warmly welcomed by Ukrainians - and as the war drags on, public opinion appears to continue to harden against him, according to the latest poll. The study was commissioned by the British Research Agency ORB International and carried out using a random sampling of cellphones from March 3 and 4. Most notably, 67% of Ukrainians polled 78% of men and 59% of women said they were willing to put up armed resistance to stop Russias advance into Ukraine. A smaller subset, 14% of people, said they were strongly unwilling to fight back with arms. Eighty-eight percent of Ukrainians said they support President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has defiantly remained in the capital to rally Ukrainian and international support, despite reportedly facing repeated assassination attempts. Zelensky was elected in 2019 on an anti-corruption platform, and before the Feb. 24 invasion had faced waning support. Publics often rally around leaders during crises. But when it comes to some of Putins key demands on Ukraine, which he has dangled as possible concessions to end the war, a majority of Ukrainians remain opposed to accepting them. Info Sapiens found that 79% of Ukrainians reject Moscows recognition last month of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine as part of Russia, even if doing so would end the fighting. Pro-Russia separatists have been battling the Ukrainian government for control of this area since 2014, when a Ukrainian uprising ousted its pro-Russian president. Similarly, 75% oppose Putins official recognition of Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Both Crimea and the occupied Donbas and neighboring Luhansk region were excluded from the poll. One of Putins key demands in the lead-up to the invasion was for NATO to pledge never to accept Ukraine into the western military alliance, which Moscow perceives as an existential threat. Info Sapiens found that 56% of Ukrainians opposed a ban on NATO membership as a guarantee for ending the war, compared to 30% who would accept it. A smaller subset, 46%, opposed the full implementation of the Minsk agreements reached in 2014 and 2015 by Moscow and Kyiv to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine. From the start, Ukraine was unhappy with the accords, which it said it was effectively forced into signing and were stacked in Russias favor. Though opposition to the agreements was lower than other possible offers, support was not relatively higher: just 23% of Ukrainians said they would accept the Minsk agreements, with another 31% marking themselves as dont know. Russia and Ukraine have deep ties, with many cross-border families, friends and businesses going back generations. But the Info Sapiens poll offered a snapshot of how divides may be deepening: 66% of Ukrainians surveyed said ordinary Russians are to be blamed for armed aggression, while 30% disagreed. Media in Russia is banned from calling Putins attack on Ukraine a war or invasion; instead, state media euphemistically says it is a special military action, one it falsely claims was needed to denazify Ukraine and stop its genocide of Russian speakers. Accurate polling in Russia is always difficult to ascertain: An all-out assault on independent media in recent days has made it even more challenging. Still, there are some useful snapshots. A Russian national survey carried about between Feb. 28 and March 1 by an independent Russian research firm found that 46% of respondents fully supported the war, compared to 23% who opposed it. The poll also found a clear generational divide, with support highest among older Russians and lowest among those aged 18 to 24. Far-reaching international sanctions on and boycotts of Russian leaders, banks, and businesses imposed since the invasion began have greatly impacted ordinary citizens. Polls conducted in the fog of war in Ukraine are also limited in what they can capture with so many Ukrainians on the run or without consistent means of communication. Over 2 million mainly women and children have fled Ukraine over the last two weeks. Most men between the ages of 18 to 60 are barred from leaving so they can be conscripted to fight. Of Ukrainians who remain, 51% reported being afraid of running out of food and 38% said they feared not having water. Fifty-one percent told Info Sapiens that they stayed because its my home and I wont leave. LVIV, Ukraine In the first hours of the Russian invasion, Stas Dikiy joined hundreds of people crammed into an underground metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, to shelter from thunderous missile strikes shaking the ground above him. I dont know how realistic it is, Dikiy, 22, said at the time, but Id like to hear in a few hours some news saying: We have survived. Kharkiv has been saved. Everythings great. There are no more occupiers. Everyone can go back home and keep living their normal lives. Two weeks later, Dikiy had fled and was sleeping on a relatives floor, his life, along with every other Ukrainians, transformed as the nation has gone from tense peace to total war at blinding speed. This has to end at some point, right? he said when reached by phone Thursday. In interviews across the nation, Ukrainians described unthinkable changes in their lives that would have seemed absurd less than a month ago, when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was still reassuring his country that Russia would not launch a full-scale invasion. In some places, much of life is now happening underground: Babies are being born in basement maternity wards. Wounded fighters are being treated in bunkers. Entire apartment buildings full of families have relocated their lives to subterranean parking garages. The cities of Kharkiv and Mariupol have been crushed as Ukraines enormous neighbor continues its devastating campaign of shelling across the country. Once known for their grand boulevards and architecture, these cities have joined Dresden and Aleppo as symbols of the utter destruction of war. More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine with countless more displaced inside the country in the fastest and most thorough exodus Europe has seen since World War II. Lviv and other cities in the west, and even tiny villages in the Carpathian Mountains, are overrun with people who have abandoned their homes elsewhere. Half of Kharkivs population has fled, as have hundreds of thousands more from the capital, Kyiv, and the cultural capital and seaport of Odesa, which are bracing for brutal sieges that seem all but inevitable. Amid the chaos, even the most basic facets of life have changed. No one says Hello anymore; they say Glory to Ukraine. Adults dont have offices. Children dont have schools. In Kyiv, once-teeming squares are almost empty at midday as air raid sirens blare and Russian troops work to encircle the capital. Most streets are blocked by makeshift barriers to slow down the tanks most believe will soon flood the city. Grocery stores and pharmacies are the only businesses open. Sales of alcohol, in a country that loves to drink, are banned. Bars have become bunkers. Posters from before the war opera schedules stretching into the spring, reminders to wear masks indoors have been plastered over with exhortations to join the resistance. People from all walks of life have learned to handle Kalashnikov rifles. Throughout western Ukraine, where Russian shelling is less regular, every bed and couch is occupied as virtually everyone helps host and feed the unending stream of refugees who arrive each day from the east. It took just days for Maryna Potikha, 48, to transform into a warrior. She was an experimental artist, not given to patriotism. She described herself as motherly and she still drives around the city of Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, spreading cheer with her wide smile and enveloping hugs, delivering homemade pickles, cured pork fat and freshly baked bread to soldiers manning checkpoints. She has cleared out her art studio, where soldiers now sleep on the floor. But the thought of all the children who are suffering enrages her. Im ready to kill for my country, and Im ready to kill violently, she said, even though she had not taken up a weapon yet. Thats something new for me. Potikha is typical of a national transformation in which people have shifted from normal lives to spending every minute on the war effort. Suddenly, everyone is willing to help one another. Potikha said the war had made her realize how beautiful her country and countrymen are. I knew it before, she said. But now I really feel it. Volodymyr Iksar would have normally found it strange that his high school classmate Valya, whom he had seen only occasionally over the past 40 years, called to ask him to do something dangerous to drive her elderly mother from the city of Odesa to the Moldovan border, at least a three-hour journey each way. But she said only he could do it. She said she trusted him fully, that she knew he was the right choice. He did it without hesitation. This is the time where people just help without asking questions, he said. It doesnt matter how well you do or dont know the person. You just reach out your hand and help. Trust, once hard-won, is now freely given and received out of necessity. Some have become guardians of family heirlooms belonging to people they barely know. Fighters on the front lines, at the request of worried mothers, never let their sons out of their sight. The trust and the sense of unity has become a source of strength even among those who once felt weak. With only a five-day supply of her antidepressants left, Sasha Diachenko, 24, joined a line snaking outside a jam-packed pharmacy in central Kyiv on Thursday. Ahead of her was a crowd of shivering civilians who had been lined up for hours in freezing conditions. With supplies dwindling, they prayed that the medications they needed would be in stock. Two weeks ago Diachenko was a film student. Now she is volunteering as a kitchen worker to help feed volunteer troops. Despite the horrors of the war unfolding around her, taking on her new role was actually the first time I felt less depressed, she said, glancing at the yellow tape stuck to her jacket sleeve, signaling that she belonged to the volunteer territorial defense forces. I just knew what I had to do. In Lviv, the historic western city now filled with the displaced, Halyna Butenko, 65, smiled as she recounted her 650-mile journey from Kharkiv, focusing on the silver linings. After decades working as an anesthesiologist, she lived alone. Her husband had died, her son had emigrated to New Zealand. A soldier had helped her get to the citys railway station, where thousands frantically jostled for space. In her retirement, she had taught herself how to embroider by watching YouTube videos, and she carried a suitcase full of her creations, which she hoped to sell to keep cash in her pocket. But it was too heavy. She deserted it on a staircase. And amid the crush of people, she almost gave up. Then, on the platform, an angel appeared, she said. At first, Butenko was so exhausted that she didnt notice 25-year-old Marynas fuchsia-dyed hair. But the unlikely pair the punk girl and the babusia stayed together on the train until Lviv. There, Maryna left Butenko at a shelter in a converted warehouse where, before the war, Goths and geeks and techno-heads threw raves and made art. Butenko is now under the tutelage of Sasha Horondi a man who has the Chinese character for respect tattooed on his neck and who would not look out of place in Brooklyn or Berlin. He ran a hugely successful business making fashionable backpacks. His sewing machines are now devoted to stitching body-armor vests for the front line. Im an old woman now, Butenko said. But the war has meant that Ive kept learning. Ive learned how to distinguish the sounds of different missiles. Ive learned how to survive without my husband and my son. Ive learned how to make these vests. A grin spread across her face and she said, Let me show you something. She reached into her backpack and pulled out an embroidered purse. Somehow, one of her creations had made it, she said with wonder. It would become a good-luck charm. The most important thing Ive learned, she said, is that being Ukrainian means fighting to the end. Khurshudyan reported from Kharkiv and Odesa. The Washington Posts Siobhan OGrady and Sudarsan Raghavan in Kyiv and Loveday Morris in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, contributed to this report. RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany American personnel overseas are paying a lot more for gas amid record-high prices across much of the U.S. in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The cost of gas at U.S. bases in Germany soared by more than $1 a gallon Friday, following an Army and Air Force Exchange Service announcement that fuel prices may be adjusted as often as daily instead of weekly. A gallon of super unleaded at the Ramstein shoppette cost $5.29, up from $4.29 a week ago. Super plus was up to $5.58, compared with $4.56 last week, and diesel skyrocketed from $4.36 to $6.35 a gallon. Pump prices will largely reflect current costs to provide uninterrupted fuel services at overseas installations, said the AAFES statement, which was shared Friday morning on social media pages in several European commands. The measure, AAFES said, will allow it to adjust prices more quickly as market conditions improve, while also protecting dividends generated for quality-of-life programs for service members and their families. A portion of the companys earnings supplements Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs on U.S. bases. AAFES typically releases a price update for its gas stations in Europe every Thursday. This weeks message instead read: Due to the recent volatility in the global markets, The Exchange is unable to provide weekly updates regarding fuel pricing. Fuel prices had steadily been rising over the last month in Europe but only incrementally. AAFES bases its overseas fuel prices on the U.S. Energy Departments weekly average for each grade of gas in the continental United States. Unique incremental costs incurred in each overseas market are added to the average, according to AAFES. While gas stations in Germany are affected now, prices in other countries are being reviewed and will adjust as the market requires, said Julie Mitchell, AAFES vice president of marketing and customer engagement. The company purchases fuel daily as deliveries come in, up to three times a day in some locations, Mitchell said. The Exchange is providing fuel services at cost and purely as a community service at locations requiring daily price updates, she said. Auto club AAA said this week that the war in Ukraine is causing crude oil prices to soar, leading to higher pump prices. The national average for a gallon of unleaded Monday was $4.06, 45 cents higher than the cost a week ago and 62 cents higher than the cost a month ago. At Ramstein on Friday, civilian spouse and retired service member Rick Roberts paid $60 for half a tank of gas, about twice as much as he typically pays, he said. Since we dont buy gas from Russia, I dont know why our gas prices are going up so much, he said. Analysts say the reduction in global supply from sanctions on the Russian energy sector is driving up prices worldwide. Roberts has no immediate plans to curtail driving, though. Were going on a road trip this weekend, he said. At Wiesbaden, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Fox said he isnt too worried about paying more for gas. I really dont even look at the prices, he said with a laugh. I look at it as a necessary expense. Even with the increase, gas is still cheaper from AAFES than off base, where prices are also climbing. In Kaiserslautern, the average price per liter for super unleaded Friday was 2.19 euros, or about $2.41. For a gallon, that equates to about $9.12. Stars and Stripes reporters David Edge and Michael Abrams contributed to this report. (Tribune News Service) World powers and Iran suspended their efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear accord, reigniting a crisis thats set to roil already surging oil markets and potentially plunge the energy-exporting Persian Gulf into a new cycle of violence. A pause in the Vienna talks was required due to external factors, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Twitter, without elaborating. Borrell said the sides had come very close to agreement but didnt say when or if the negotiations would be able to resume. The rupture follows escalating tensions between the Kremlin and the White House. Russia warned on Saturday that it wanted U.S. guarantees that sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine wouldnt affect its planned partnership with Iran. Oil prices briefly extended gains on the break in negotiations as traders discarded cautious expectations that the U.S. would eventually lift its sanctions on Irans economy and ease an effective blockade on the OPEC members oil exports. U.S. and European officials had warned for weeks that the window for a deal was closing, urging an agreement on a handful of outstanding issues. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the pause wasnt necessarily the end of the road, and could provide momentum to resolve the outstanding issues. The U.S. and its European and regional allies must now decide how they respond if Iran continues to advance a nuclear program that has already enriched uranium to just below the level needed for atomic weapons. Absent the deal, Irans nuclear work has been racing ahead, with its engineers threatening to make the original accord obsolete because of their new advances. International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors reported last week that Irans stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity rose more than fourth fifths in the last three months. The 2015 nuclear deal unraveled after then-U.S. President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions almost four years ago. Iran responded by escalating its uranium enrichment way beyond limits set by the accord. The standoff fueled conflicts in the Middle East and a series of attacks on shipping in waterways key for global trade. After Vladimir Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine, fresh barriers to resurrecting the accord arose. Undoubtedly the war in Ukraine has made it more difficult to get an agreement, said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who helped facilitate the talks, this week. Diplomats had been trying to push for a deal before Russias war in Ukraine happened because we knew that it would create a lot of complexity. Russia weighed in with its new condition just hours after the head of the worlds nuclear watchdog announced from Tehran that one of the last major hurdles to a deal had been cleared. Up until that moment, diplomats had said on and off the record that a deal could be announced within days. In Vienna, Moscows envoy to the talks sought to spread the blame for Fridays suspension. The conclusion does not depend on Russia only, Mikhail Ulyanov said at a briefing. There are others that need to settle their issues among themselves. As expectations of a breakthrough diminished this week, both the U.S. and Iran said lingering disagreements over the scope and timing of sanctions relief looked difficult to overcome. Sticking points have also included Irans demand that the U.S. guarantee it would never again leave the pact. Regardless of Moscows stance, EU officials said a deal to salvage the accord could still have been reached if Tehran and Washington had been able to compromise. While Irans economy has remained surprisingly resilient to U.S. sanctions even as it was struck down by the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East unrest and protests have become increasingly frequent and the countrys clerical leadership will be wary of fresh outbreaks of dissent in response to the deals collapse. Enrique Mora, the European Union envoy charged with coordinating the talks, said that diplomats were pausing in order to maintain a good spirit. Its better to pause and I will be working obviously with all delegations to overcome this situation, the sooner the better, and come back and end our negotiations successfully, he told reporters outside the Palais Coburg hotel where the talks have been taking place in Vienna. 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday approved recruiting foreign volunteers to reinforce the Russian militarys invasion of neighboring Ukraine. If you see that there are people who want to come voluntarily, especially free of charge, and help people living in the Donbas, you need to meet them halfway and help them move to the war zone, Putin told his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, during a televised Russian Security Council meeting Friday. Donbas is a region of eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed separatists have declared independent republics and where Putin has baselessly accused Ukraine of committing a genocide against Russian speakers. Shoigu said that Moscow has received a colossal number of applications from across the world to join what it is calling a Ukrainian liberation movement. The defense minister said the Kremlin got more than 16,000 applications, of which most came from the Middle East. There have been numerous reports that Russia has been trying to recruit Syrians for its assault on Ukraine, and a senior U.S. defense official said this week that it is noteworthy that [Putin] believes he needs to rely on foreign fighters. During the same meeting on Friday, Putin criticized Ukraine for trying to enlist foreigners to counter Russian aggression. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has created a unit called the International Legion to enlist foreign volunteers to aid the Ukrainian army. It estimated that more than 20,000 volunteers and veterans from 52 countries have expressed a desire to join. As for the gathering of mercenaries from all over the world and sending them to Ukraine, we see the Western sponsors of Ukraine and the regime do not hide it. They do it openly, dismissing all norms of international law, Putin said. Earlier this week, Britain said the Kremlin, despite its denials, had deployed conscript troops to Ukraine. Russia would likely also be forced to draw on personnel from across its armed forces and other sources to replace losses, as casualties mount, a briefing said. Up to 4,000 Russian troops may have died since Putin launched Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, a senior U.S. military officer said Tuesday. The British Defense Ministry also said this week experienced mercenaries from Russian private military companies were also likely deploying to fight in Ukraine. However, the British army was also forced to issue a statement this week acknowledging that it was aware of a small number of individual soldiers from the U.K. who had disobeyed orders and gone absent without leave, and may have traveled to Ukraine in a personal capacity. A British army spokesman told The Washington Post by email: We are actively and strongly encouraging them to return to the UK. Despite warnings from the Biden administration, a wave of U.S. military veterans have also inserted themselves into the war. Some want to take on the Russians directly, while others are seeking to offer military support, first-aid training and humanitarian supplies. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has suggested it would be wiser to donate to agencies responding to the humanitarian crisis. We urge them not to go. And if any are still there, we urge them to leave, Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. Meanwhile, thousands of Russians have been leaving for countries in Europe this week, with many describing themselves as angry or ashamed about the Ukraine invasion. Others have been concerned by the impact of U.S. and European Union economic sanctions. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov had harsh words Friday for Russians who have criticized Russias actions in Ukraine. A real Russian is not ashamed that he is Russian and if he is ashamed, then he is not Russian and is not with us, Peskov said Friday in a conference call with reporters. In Washington, some Russians have also joined antiwar protests in front of the Russian Embassy. The war has divided opinion in Russia. While one recent survey suggested that a majority of Russians back the war, human rights groups say thousands have also been arrested for attending antiwar protests. Shortly after the invasion began, Peskovs daughter also posted a black banner on social media with the words, No to war. It was swiftly deleted. The Washington Posts Andrew Jeong contributed to this report. Side-by-side photos of Ukrainian dancer Oleksii Potiomkin, posted recently on Twitter, capture the stark irony of his life. In one shot, hes an elegant ballet prince, snapped midair in a magnificent leap. In the other, hes standing in the snow, wearing military fatigues and carrying a weapon. The ballet dancer has joined up, wrote Natalia Antonova, the Washington, D.C.-based journalist who posted the photos, like many people from all walks of life in Ukraine. Her post, from March 2, has been shared about 25,000 times. Potiomkin is a first soloist with the ballet company of Kyivs National Opera of Ukraine, where hes earned the title honored artist of Ukraine. At this point in any ordinary spring season hed be in a studio rehearsing the leading roles in, say, Swan Lake or Giselle. Needless to say, none of that is happening now. As the war in Ukraine is forcing the world to fundamentally reassess its actions and allegiances, artists are not immune. A number of ballet dancers are making drastic, career-altering decisions and some are finding themselves, like Potiomkin, in life-threatening situations. Among these is Lesya Vorotnyk, also with the Kyiv ballet company. She is identified as the striking young woman in a recent Twitter post wearing a khaki military cap and holding a rifle in her slender fingers. (Her trigger control has earned admiration from followers.) In Russia, two principal dancers have broken ties, at least temporarily, with the famed Bolshoi and Mariinsky companies. Xander Parish has quit the Mariinsky, his artistic home since 2010, when he became the first English dancer invited to join the St. Petersburg company, where such ballet royalty as Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova once danced. Tonight I was supposed to be performing Giselle at the Mariinsky Theatre, Parish wrote on Instagram this week, but instead, due to the awful crisis I have taken the difficult decision to leave Russia, at least until peace comes. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. Italian dancer Jacopo Tissi has left the Moscow-based Bolshoi Ballet, writing on Instagram in English and Italian: I find myself unable to continue with my career in Moscow, for the time being. The Bolshoi suffered another abrupt departure when Alexei Ratmansky, the renowned St. Petersburg-born choreographer who once ran the company, stopped working on a ballet he was creating there and flew home to New York. According to the New York Times, Ratmansky decided to leave the day Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, and hes not sure when hell return to the Bolshoi to finish the production. I doubt I would go if Putin is still president, he told the Times. Ratmansky, who is artist in residence of American Ballet Theatre, grew up in Kyiv and still has family there. His decision and those of other dancers protesting Russias aggression have impressed Kateryna Derechyna, a Ukrainian member of the Washington Ballet who grew up in Odessa and trained at the Odessa Ballet Academy. It really warms my heart to hear of people helping, Derechyna said. Ratmansky has been amazing, reaching out to dancers on social media all over the world. Ballet is a highly international art form, and we are one big ballet family. So for us to feel like we could be at war with each other is surreal. I have never been in a ballet company where there arent dancers from all over the world, and we all support each other. Derechyna said that when she saw the photos of the Ukrainian dancers Vorotnyk and Potiomkin, who is the father of a young child, she felt an instant bond. She understands the dancers strength and courage. It is unbelievable to go from all the grace and beauty of creating this art form, she said, and then to have the complete opposite, standing with a gun. Its just unbelievable to see that that would be your reality when one week ago you were dancing onstage. But thats the fearlessness doesnt matter, women or men. We are very strong and fearless. Im not shocked that the women are willing to do anything for their country and their family. Derechyna spoke wistfully of the beloved Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, where she danced as a teenager. Its the most magical place Ive ever been. The smell, the beautiful chandelier, the red velvet seating, the balconies. Its just so grand. She worries about her mother, who still lives in that city on the Black Sea. Her worst fear, she said, is not to be able to walk on the streets where I grew up. Her voice broke off, and then she added the sentiment that is surely animating her fellow artists who have taken up arms: Not to have my country anymore. WASHINGTON Russian troops launched long-range ballistic missiles Friday at two airfields in western Ukraine, which could indicate invasion forces are preparing to push deeper into that region of the country, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday said it launched missile attacks on military airfields in Luska and Ivano-Frankivsk, which are about 70 and 130 miles from the Polish border, respectively. While it wasnt the first time Russia has targeted areas in western Ukraine, its forces have largely stayed away from the part of the country that borders NATO nations such as Poland and Slovakia, and their ground forces remain in the east. "It's not like there hasn't been any airstrikes in western Ukraine since the beginning of this operation 16 days ago, it's just that we haven't seen that as a routine, Kirby said. Now you've got two in one day. That's notable." The Pentagon spokesman said it's unclear whether the Russians struck the two western Ukraine airfields in response to international attention placed on Polands offer of MiG-29 fighter jets to the U.S. with the expectation American forces would deliver them to Ukraine. U.S. officials rejected the plan, but they said they cannot stop Poland from providing the aircraft to Ukraine on its own. More so, a senior U.S. defense official said Friday that Pentagon officials do not believe the jets would make much difference in the war, as the Ukrainians still have about 80% of their fixed-wing fighter aircraft available only a fraction of which are flying daily. "It's not clear to us that additional fixed-wing aircraft are actually going to be a contributing factor in helping Ukraine mount the defense that they've been mounting so effectively, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. They have 56 available to them now fully operational, and then only flying five to 10 a day." The official said other weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, man-portable air-defense systems, anti-armor weapons and drones are being used against the Russian forces with great effect. I think we all understand that [Ukraine is] being careful in marshaling their fixed-wing inventory, the official said. But it's [unclear] to us how additional fixed-wing aircraft is going to have somehow solve all this problem. The U.S. continues to send security-assistance packages to Ukraine, including during the past 24 hours, Kirby said. Russia has launched nearly 810 missiles since the start of the war almost half have been fired from inside Ukraine and the other half from Russia and Belarus, the official said. Six were shot from Russian vessels in the Black Sea. To this point in the war, the Belarus military has not invaded Ukraine, though that country has allowed Russia to launch missiles from its territory and move troops into Ukraine. On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told his defense ministry in a note that the army must prevent rear attacks on Russian forces advancing south from Belarus into Ukraine. That's the first time that he's ever said anything about Belarus getting involved, but [there are] no indications at this time that they have, Kirby said. We haven't seen any indications that Belarusian troops or forces have moved inside Ukraine. Russias challenges Lukashenko was referring to the Russian troops who have been stuck for nearly two weeks in a 40-mile convoy outside the Ukraine capital of Kyiv, Kirby said. On Friday, some forces started to slowly disperse off the road. However, the movement doesnt mean the convoy is making progress toward Kyiv or regrouping for a renewed mission, Kirby said. It might be they are simply taking cover from Ukrainian attacks. I don't want to make too much of the fact that there's satellite imageries [of] the convoy moving off into tree lines or dispersing, he said. That could just be force protection because Ukrainians have continued to threaten that convoy and its progress." U.S. officials have said they believe food and fuel shortages, as well as Ukrainian resistance, have stalled the convoy. A defense official on Friday criticized Russias poor planning and execution of its invasion, especially with logistics and sustainment of its forces during the invasion. I think what you're seeing is poor planning running up against actual execution ... this is not a military that has great expeditionary experience or capability, the official said. This is an operation that theyve never [done] before not since World War II. That inexperience also led to challenges for Russian forces with integrating its ground and air forces. For a military operation of the size and scope that Russia has launched in Ukraine, the official said ground operations must be supported by air forces. For all [Russia's] advanced capabilities and they have resourced their military fairly well, they have bought sophisticated systems it doesn't appear ... they have developed the proper operational concepts to use these modern capabilities, the official said. Russian advance Kyiv was under heavy fire Friday from several Russian lines of attack, but there are still no indications that Russian forces have further progressed toward Ukraines capital city, the official said. The closest line of advance remains about 9 miles from the Kyivs center, but Russia has moved rear elements up closer to the advanced elements [headed for Kyiv,] so they're still trying to make some progress there." In northeastern Ukraine, Russia continues closing in on Kharkiv, the official said. Invading forces are on the outskirts of Ukraines second-largest city, but Ukrainian troops continue fighting them to prevent Russia from taking control of Kharkiv. "We are seeing more reports of internet outage there, the official said. It seems to be part of the [Russian] playbook, right? When you encircle a town you start shutting off the communication so that people can't communicate outside of it." In southern Ukraine, where Russian forces have had more success, Russian troops have isolated Mariupol and they are trying to increase their pressure with heavy bombardment as the Ukrainians fight back to defend the city of about 450,000 people. Russia is also increasing pressure on Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, though it has not taken control of the city, the official said. The Ukrainians are continuing to defend the city, and the Russians are just outside the city, mostly to the northeast, the official said. But it continues to be heavily fought over." Kirby said Ukrainians are "fighting skillfully, bravely, quite creatively throughout the country as the war drags into its third week. The fighting isn't just by their armed forces average citizens ... [are] getting arms [from] the government and learning how to use them and using them, he said. Some of the resistance has been nonviolent ... with crowds of Ukrainians blocking city streets and actually stopping in their tracks some Russian units." About 300 Afghan evacuees arrived this week to a Department of Homeland Security processing center in Northern Virginia whose use has been opposed by nearby residents, local and federal officials said Thursday. The National Conference Center, in the Lansdowne area of Loudoun County, is expected to host each month as many as 1,000 Afghans who were evacuated out of their native country as part of a massive airlift that started when the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August. The first group arrived to the 40-acre conference center Tuesday, DHS officials said. Most of the more than 76,000 Afghan evacuees who have been resettled across the United States so far were processed at military installations, which, in many cases, were not ideal for hosting so many families at a time, resulting in several families sharing tents, DHS officials said. Because many of those individuals arrived without any documents, it often took several months to process them and pair them with resettlement agencies working to find them permanent homes in various U.S. communities, including in the Washington region. The use of the National Conference Center is part of a more expedited phase of U.S. resettlement efforts. Now, those arriving from refugee sites in other parts of the world have already had most of their documents processed, resulting in a stay of between two and four weeks before they move on to permanent homes, DHS officials said. The evacuees to be processed at the site either helped in the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan or are female leaders, human rights activists or journalists who were evacuated because of likely retribution from the Taliban, DHS officials said. At the conference center, where families will get their own temporary homes, the evacuees will be able to apply for U.S. work authorization. They will also receive services, such as health care and mental health counseling, and will participate in workshops on U.S. laws and civic education, DHS officials said. All Afghan evacuees undergo a multilayered, rigorous screening and vetting process before arriving in the United States, the DHS said in a statement, adding that the evacuees have received vaccinations, including for the coronavirus, and were tested for the coronavirus before being allowed to enter the United States. We will continue to work closely with state and local partners to ensure we can continue to resettle our Afghan allies as quickly, safely, and successfully as possible, the DHS said in the statement. Some residents in the resort-style Lansdowne community have not been comforted by such assurances. During a town hall meeting last month, attended by about 200 mostly local residents, many expressed frustration over not being consulted before the owners of the conference center signed a contract with DHS to host the Afghan evacuees through September. Some argued that the busloads of arriving evacuees from nearly Dulles Airport would clog traffic in the area. Others shared dark theories about the evacuees, arguing that some could be criminals or terrorists and that their presence at the conference center, a short walk from two schools, posed a risk to the community. Now that the first group of evacuees has arrived at the site, Loudoun County officials planned to hold a virtual town hall meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday to address any additional concerns, county officials said. The Biden administration, under pressure to expand the arsenal of weapons that Ukraine has in its conflict with Russia, is working with European allies to expedite more sophisticated air-defense systems and other armaments into the war zone, U.S. officials said Friday. Discussions were ongoing ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins planned trip next week to meet with NATO allies in Brussels and Slovakia, which along with Poland and Romania has indicated a willingness to transfer military aid to its embattled neighbor. Slovakia also possesses the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, which is used to shoot down enemy aircraft and is familiar to the Ukrainians. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the United States is committed to arming the government in Kyiv with the kinds of capabilities that we know the Ukrainians need and are using very well. He declined to specify what types of weapons could be included in the next wave of shipments. Some of that material we have and are providing. Some of that material we dont have but we know others have, and were helping coordinate that as well, Kirby said. The administration is facing backlash over its decision earlier this week to scuttle Polands proposal that would have sent a number of its MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine via a transfer free of charge to the United States. Washington, citing concerns that Russia would view the move as a provocation from Washington, said the offer from Warsaw was not tenable. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have pleaded for the MiG-29 transfer. And while they have support from a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, the Biden administration, citing assessments from senior American military commanders in Europe, has said the additional aircraft would offer only minimal value to Ukraine given the contested nature of its airspace. We believe the most effective way to support the Ukrainian military in their fight against Russia is to provide increased amounts of antitank weapons and air defense systems, which is ongoing with the international community, said Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, the chief of U.S. European Command. The Ukrainians are making excellent use of these weapons now. NATO countries have been limited in what they can send to Ukraine due in part to the Ukrainian militarys training, which centers heavily on Soviet- or Russian-made weapons that exist in dwindling stock. Ukraine has sought the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, said a senior European official familiar with the situation. There are ongoing talks about that possibility, the official said, but questions remain about whether there are any that can be spared. Nobody wants to mishandle expectations, said the official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Ukrainian troops also are trained on the Buk surface-to-air missile system - the same type of weapon that shot down a Malaysia Airlines civilian jet over a part of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists in 2014. Some eastern European countries possess both systems, but in small numbers, the European official said. Austins upcoming visit to Slovakia could be used to secure additional agreements to use its railways to facilitate faster transfers of humanitarian aid and fuel into Ukraine, the European official said. Unlike some other countries nearby, Slovakia has a shipping hub that operates on both European standard-gauge rail and the wider-gauge rail used in Ukraine, making it an appealing option. Assessments of how long the Ukrainians can continue to hold out against the Russian onslaught are intertwined with what weapons they already have. On Friday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the United States sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to transfer manned and unmanned aircraft to Ukraine, saying that despite heroic and skilled resistance, the Russians had achieved air superiority over the Ukrainians. That went farther than U.S. defense officials, who have noted the Russians have a significantly larger air force but had been unable to control the skies over Ukraine. Russias advantage in this domain could soon develop into air dominance if the Ukrainians do not receive necessary military aid, the lawmakers said. The lawmakers called for the continued delivery of Stinger missiles, man-portable antiaircraft weapons, but also called for the United States to facilitate the transfer of S-300 systems. Providing Soviet-era platforms that Ukrainian servicemembers have previously operated and maintained will be essential to their success on the battlefield and will also protect U.S. defense technology from falling into the hands of the Russians, lawmakers said in the letter, which was first reported by Politico. They also urged the president to reconsider the Polish MiG decision and said the Biden administration should look for ways to send more armed drones and Su-25 aircraft to Ukraine. The jet is used by a handful of U.S. allies and partners, including Bulgaria, a NATO nation. The lawmakers signing the letter Friday included numerous U.S. veterans. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger who is among the signatories, said the administration was drawing a nonsensical distinction between acceptable weapons and those it considers potentially too escalatory. I dont believe there is a distinction between providing a MiG and providing a Javelin and a Stinger, he said. These are defensive systems; we are not providing offensive capabilities because Ukraine is not on the offense, all theyre doing is fighting for their survival and trying to maintain their democracy against a Vladimir Putin invasion. Crow also said that while the provision of Javelins and Stingers has been useful thus far, the West must step up its contributions to give Ukraine a chance to sustain its resistance - particularly in the skies, where Zelenskys forces are trying to prevent Russia from achieving superiority. Short of MiGs, they need more advanced ground-to-air missile systems, Crow said, noting that the Stingers provided to Ukraine work well against helicopters and planes conducting low-altitude bombing runs, but arent enough to ground the Russian air force. They need something that can reach out and conduct regional air defense, higher altitude air defense. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., who has served in Special Forces units and also signed the letter, said that transferring S-300 systems and components of them, such as radar, could be helpful. Among Western weapons, the Ukrainians also could benefit from the Avenger system, which allows Stinger missiles to be mounted to vehicles, he said. Other American air-defense systems, including Patriot missiles, require too much training to make them practical in the near term. The Ukrainians could benefit, too, from counter-battery radar systems, which scan for the originating locations of incoming artillery fire, and its equipment theyve asked for before, Waltz said. At a minimum, once the Russians know you have that, they wont be able to just sit there and lob round after round after round, Waltz said. It degrades their ability to just sit there and pummel you. They have to move, obviously, because now you have the ability to counter-battery. The Ukrainian military has 56 fighter jets left and is using them just five to 10 hours per day, a senior U.S. defense official said Friday. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon, cited that as one reason the administration had decided against transferring the MiGs to Ukraine, noting that Russian surface-to-air missile systems can reach just about anywhere over the war zone. U.S. officials continue to speak to the Ukrainians regularly, the defense official said, and the things they need the most are antiaircraft and antiarmor weapons, such as Javelin missiles. For items the Ukrainians need that the United States does not have, the administration is working with allies and partners who might have inventory. Were trying to help them further that defense in ways and with systems that they know how to use already, the official said. Theyre good at it, and its having effect on the Russians. The Washington Posts Ashley Parker contributed to this report. WASHINGTON U.S. officials on Thursday warned Russia could be airing false claims of having discovered a U.S.-supported biological weapons program in Ukraine as cover to launch a bioweapons assault of its own. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday announced Russia had discovered components of biological weapons were being developed in Ukrainian laboratories in direct proximity to Russian territory. During the special military operation in Ukraine, the Kyiv regime was found to have been concealing traces of a military biological program implemented with funding from the United States Department of Defense, she said. Russia found messages directing Ukrainian biolaboratory staff to eradicate hazardous pathogens of plague, anthrax, rabbit-fever, cholera and other lethal diseases from stored reserves of highly hazardous pathogens from Feb. 24 the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Zakharova said. She claimed the messages proved the U.S. was supporting biological weapons development in Ukraine. The Pentagon and White House have each denied the claims repeatedly. We have picked up indications that the Russians could be making these false claims about U.S. and Ukrainian work in biodefense as a way of creating a pretext of their own to perhaps use these kinds of agents in an attack, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday, declining to provide evidence of such indications. The U.S. is one of 183 states including Russia and Ukraine that signed on to the Biological Weapons Convention that effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons, a senior U.S. intelligence official said Thursday. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity. Biological research While Russia asserts the documentation proves the existence of a biological weapons program, the claim might stem from Ukraines five biological research laboratories in Kyiv that focus on diagnostics, therapeutics, treatment prevention and vaccines, the intelligence official said. They're looking at pathogens that infect humans and animals with an emphasis on those that are endemic to Ukraine: anthrax, tularemia, tuberculosis, botulism, classic swine fever, Crimean hemorrhagic fever, avian flu, those types of things, the official said. The U.S. has contributed about $200 million to support Ukrainian labs, health facilities and diagnostics sites since 2005 as part of the Pentagons Cooperative Threat Reduction Program activities in Ukraine, the intelligence official said. However, no U.S. personnel work in the Ukraine labs. [The Defense Departments] CTR program began its biological work with Ukraine to eliminate the remnants of the Soviet Union's illegal biological weapons program, the intelligence official said. There are no DOD bioweapon labs in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world. On Wednesday, the White House and Pentagon issued similar statements accusing Russia of using the propaganda to justify its future use of biological weapons. "We have seen one of [Russia's] playbooks is to accuse the other [of] what you are doing or what you plan to do and to create a narrative that of victimhood and blaming somebody else for something that you're in fact going to do, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. Hours later, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Twitter said Russia could be using the false narrative as cover to launch a similar initiative, noting shed also seen Chinese officials echo these conspiracy theories. Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them, she said. Russia has a track record of accusing the West of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating. Psaki also said Russia accused the U.S. in December of deploying contractors with chemical weapons in Ukraine. President Joe Bidens administration for weeks has been warning the world of possible Russian plots to launch a false flag operation in Ukraine, first to justify an invasion and more recently to create reason to overthrow the government. Psaki said the biological weapon accusation is the latest attempt of such an operation, and the U.S. does not develop or possess such weapons anywhere. Russia advances The claims of bioweapons come as Russias war on Ukraine enters its third week. Nearly all 170,000 troops and combat equipment that Russian President Vladimir Putin had spent months stacking along Ukraines borders with Russia and Belarus before Feb. 24 have been in Ukraine since Monday. Russia is making multiple lines of advance toward Kyiv, the defense official said Thursday. After some stagnation, Russian forces approaching from the northwest moved about 3 miles closer to Kyiv since Wednesday. However, the closest line of advance remains about 25 miles from the citys center, where it has been for days, according to the official. We don't assess that major [Russian troop] elements are in Kyiv, and it'd be very difficult to predict with any certainty how long it's going to take the Russians to move closer to the city and eventually to get in there, the defense official said. The Ukrainians are putting up a very stiff resistance. About 90% of Russias inventory of surface-to-air missiles remain available to them inside and outside Ukraine as of Thursday, the defense official said. There's very little territory of Ukraine that is not covered in some way or in some fashion [umbrellaed] by Russian surface-to-air missile systems, the official said. As Russians advance toward cities such as Chernihiv, Russia has increased their long-range missile fires from aircraft as well as from mobile launchers on the ground [that are] hitting populated areas and [causing] a lot of damage, the official said. The increase in long-range fires come as Russia has "struggled to overcome the challenges in momentum that they suffered in the first couple of weeks when logistics and sustainment problems, as well as the Ukrainian resistance, slowed its advance, the official said. As we said back then, we expected them to adapt and to try to overcome these challenges, the official said. "You're starting to see a little bit of that happening in just the last 24 hours as they begin to creep a little closer toward Kyiv ... and certainly even around Mariupol." Still, the official said Russia has not taken Mariupol, but its forces have encircled the southern Ukrainian city where Russian troops on Wednesday killed and injured children and pregnant women when they launched a missile strike at a maternity hospital. It remains to be seen whether and to what degree these long-range fires have contributed to this ability for [Russia] to achieve a sense of momentum in certain places, the defense official said. WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence officials on Thursday dispelled Russian propaganda and warned of looming national security threats as senators urged for more support for Ukraines battle against Russian forces. Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, dismissed Russian claims Ukraine was developing biological and nuclear weapons in labs affiliated with the U.S., calling the accusations a classic move by Russia to peddle disinformation. In testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Haines described her growing concern for Russias perpetual war on information, as well as Chinas active role in disseminating disinformation about the war in Ukraine. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said he asked Haines to publicly address Russian propaganda to deny the Kremlin the opportunity to create a pretext for a biowarfare attack against Ukraine. I think weve learned from all this that the best way to combat disinformation is transparency, he said. Senators praised the unprecedented flow of declassified intelligence leading up to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine last month, crediting the disclosures for preventing Russian false-flag operations. CIA Director William Burns told the committee that publicized intelligence also helped thwart Russias plans for a quick capture of its neighboring country. In all the years I spent as a career diplomat, I saw too many instances in which we lost information wars with the Russians. In this case, I think we have had a great deal of effect in disrupting their tactics and their calculations and demonstrating to the entire world that this is a premeditated and unprovoked aggression, built on a body of lies and false narratives, Burns said. This is one information war I think Putin is losing. Competition in the information and technology is one of the main national security challenges facing the U.S., Haines said. Chinas investment in cyber technology and espionage threatens intellectual property while Russias well-known cyberattacks continue to wreak havoc around the world, she said. U.S. intelligence predicted vast cyberattacks on Ukraine prior to a ground invasion but those forecasts have proved wrong, National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone said. Ukraine has experienced three or four cyberattacks so far, an unexpectedly low number that Nakasone attributed to either a strategic move by Russia or successful U.S. efforts to shore up Ukrainian cyber defenses. A tremendous amount of work was done prior to the actual invasion that was done by my agency, by cyber command, by interagency, by a series of private-sector partners that hardened the infrastructure of Ukraine, he said. Were sharing information and sharing our expertise with our partners. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the committee, pressed the U.S. intelligence officials to continue to work with allies to advance space and cyber technology, and fortify networks against Russian and Chinese penetration. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified Thursday that the agency has seen a 1,300% increase in economic espionage investigations tied to the Chinese government in the past decade. I truly believe that whoever wins the technology race, in the 21st century, will lead to economic and other levels of dominance, Warner said. I think that ability to compete against China will require, frankly, not only the United States, but working with our allies around the world. The budding relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping could morph into a powerful alliance that further endangers the U.S. and its partners in NATO, warned Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine. It seems if were talking about worldwide threats, thats one of them, he said. Haines said she anticipates the Russia-China partnership will strengthen in the military, economic and political sectors but the two nations becoming full allies is years away. The announcements that were made during the Olympics are an indication of how close they're becoming, but at the same time, we do see it as not yet at the point where we are with allies they have not achieved that kind of level of cooperation, she said, referring to a 5,000-word joint statement by Russia and China announcing their friendship. And we anticipate it is unlikely in the next five years that they will. Burns said Russias invasion of Ukraine has likely unsettled Beijing officials who fear reputational and economic damage from the increasingly bloody war. Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Ben Sasse, R-Neb., challenged Haines and other intelligence officials on Thursday to explain why the U.S. is not doing more to help Ukraine, pointing to the White Houses refusal this week to facilitate the transfer of aircraft to Ukraine from Poland. Intelligence analysts determined that providing the embattled country with Soviet-era planes from a NATO ally could escalate into a NATO conflict with Russia or a U.S. war with Russia, Haines said. The U.S. continues to send Ukraine anti-tank missiles, anti-tank rocket systems, grenade launchers and ammunition. Cotton questioned the distinction between supplying weaponry and planes while Sasse called on the intelligence community to work out a solution. Its not impossible to figure out a way to solve the problem if we wanted to solve the problem. Women and children are being bombed, Sasse said. Nobody on this committee is calling for U.S. boots on the ground in Ukraine but there's more we can do and we should be going faster. Police in Cobb County, Ga., are planning to destroy a live Civil War artillery round found at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park last month. But do they really need to? Civil War collectors and munitions experts are saying detonating the artifact to neutralize it will unnecessarily obliterate a piece of history. Live shells of this nature are easily defused and rendered safe by soaking them in water. Oh, you can get hurt by this thing - if you drop it on your foot, remarked Jack Melton, publisher of the Artilleryman Magazine, a specialty publication about Civil War cannons and shells. A propane tank in the back of your car would cause more damage. The live round was discovered by archaeologists at Kennesaw Mountain, the scene of a major Civil War battle in 1864. Located near Marietta, Ga., this hallowed ground is where Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army charged into Confederate forces headed by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston during Shermans famous March to the Sea. Kennesaw Mountain was a tactical defeat for the North but also a strategic loss for the South, which could not prevent Sherman from reaching Atlanta. On Feb. 28, a survey crew was mapping a new hiking trail when it unearthed the live round in about 10 inches of dirt. Using metal detectors, the team found what was identified as a 10-pound Parrott shell - a kind of ordnance typically used by Union artillery during the Civil War. According to a Facebook post by the Southeast Archaeological Center, the intact round had a percussion fuse that did not ignite when it hit the ground. The bomb squad from the Cobb County Police Department was contacted. The squad removed the explosive to a bunker and planned to counter charge the cannon shell to make it harmless, according to a post on its Facebook page. That action would likely destroy the round, which is nearly 160 years old. The reaction on social media - or on the small corner of it that concerns itself with Civil War-era munitions - was swift and fierce. What a waste of a perfectly good historical artifact, responded the Depths of History Facebook page, which is managed by a user called Britain, who claims to be a treasure hunter, scuba diver, metal detectorist. Any historian would know that these items can be defused, preserved and put on display. Its time to preserve history instead of destroying it. Britain also shared a link to a YouTube video showing an identical shell being defused by an expert. The Cobb police countered on Facebook that the bomb squad stated that they would love nothing more than to preserve this piece of history, however there is no way to safely render it without counter charging it. Not so, said Melton, who also produces the Civil War News and Military Antique Collector for Historical Publications in Charleston, S.C. All the bomb squad needs to do, he said, is put the round in a bucket of water. These shells used paper fuses and black powder, which is not unstable, he said in an interview. Black powder becomes inert when it gets wet. Given that it was found 10 inches below the surface, it probably already is inactive. Im sure it got wet from rainwater more than a few times in the past 157 years. Over the course of his lifetime, Melton said he has disarmed about 1,400 similar shells. The Civil War artillery enthusiast claimed it is a simple process of submerging the unexploded ordnance in water. Once it has been soaked, you can carry the shell around and nothing will happen, he said. When black powder gets wet, thats it. You can take out the detonator and remove the main charge, which probably included case shot, a kind of antipersonnel round. According to the Marietta Daily Journal, the shell was probably fired by a Union battery commanded by Capt. Francis DeGress of the 1st Illinois Light Artillery. The unit included four Parrott cannons, a rifled artillery weapon invented by Capt. Robert Parker Parrott of the U.S. Army in 1860. Unlike round cannonballs, Parrott projectiles are shaped more like modern artillery shells, with a long body and conical front piece. The shells featured explosive charges with paper fuses that burned at specific rates for different ranges. Because of the rifled barrels, Parrott cannons could fire shells farther and with greater accuracy that smoothbore cannons. Melton hopes the bomb squad at the Cobb County Police Department will rethink its decision to blow up the historical artifact. He even is offering the services of a volunteer expert who is willing to defuse the live round at no charge. I have a friend who lives five minutes from Kennesaw Mountain, he said. He has done this a thousand times and said he would do it for free for the police. Like me, he wants to see this shell be displayed in a museum at the park. The Cobb County Police Department did not respond to several phone calls and emails. Stillwater, OK (74074) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High around 65F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view. A murmur of relief spread across the room as Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced Tauranga City Councils election will be delayed until July 2024 and a commission remain in place. But, this relief is not mirrored by the entire community, with some expressing their disappointment and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges has labelled the decision plain wrong. Mahuta made the announcement, alongside the commissioners, to a room of key stakeholders invited by council. They included iwi and hapu representatives, business leaders, Western Bay of Plenty District Council mayor Garry Webber and Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder. The Minister says she had not made the decision lightly and the current commissioners had accomplished some impressive achievements in their tenure. These included, strengthening relationships with the community, improving culture with the council and producing a long-term plan for 2021-2031. They have acted on many hard decisions that are essential to building a prosperous and sustainable future for Tauranga. But it is clear there is more to be done, says Mahuta. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive. Having a commission beyond October will ensure that the council have the stability needed to maintain its current pace. They will be able to deliver on several complex programmes of work, including plans for the new civic centre precinct and investment plans for future growth. Significant investment in infrastructure and services will be vital for Tauranga City and the wider Bay of Plenty region, she says. Commission chair Anne Tolley says the decision recognised the complex processes required to get Tauranga moving and the risks associated with introducing a new set of elected members mid-way through some significant decision-making processes. That extended timeframe will allow a commission to continue implementing the work plan now underway to address the citys severe housing shortage and underinvestment in community facilities and infrastructure, she says. Four commissioners took over in February last year after Mahuta deposed the previous councillors in December 2020. This was because of significant governance problems among elected representatives and the findings of an independent review. Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley says he is relieved rather than celebrating. It's a shame that we're in the situation when government needs to intervene, he says. The relief comes from knowing that the city can focus on the issues rather than discussing personality clashes. Cowley says because the commissioners have only been in a year, There is a good chance that the local political environment is still quite toxic. Mahuta was asked if her decision was also about avoiding the return to personal politics of the previous council. She responded: This decision is about Tauranga. She says the decision ensured Taurangas interests first, were able to be stewarded through in a way that gave certainty. The commissioners are a way of achieving that, she says. Tenby Powell: Photo: Daniel Hines/SunLive. Previous mayor Tenby Powell, who resigned in November 2020 and called for the appointment of commissioners, is relived and thrilled by Mahutas decision. We need consistency, we need stability and we've got it with the commissioners, Powell told Local Democracy reporting. They've had the courage to make the right decisions for Tauranga City, which is 20 years behind where it should be. Reflecting on his resignation Powell says: While no mayor wants to hand a city over to commissioners, in my heart I knew it was the right thing to recommend. Looking back, it was definitely the right thing to have recommended, and it has overwhelming support. Others were disappointed by the delay of elections claiming a lack of democracy. Local Government New Zealand president Stuart Crosby says: Were disappointed the minister needed to make this decision. Local Democracy is at the heart of local government and this decision does not reflect that, says Crosby, who was also the mayor of Tauranga from 2004 to 2016. We do acknowledge this has been a difficult decision for the Minister. Former Tauranga mayor Greg Brownless. File photo/SunLive. Greg Brownless, who took over the mayoralty in 2016, told Local Democracy Reporting: Its a sad day for democracy. Government has broken the contract with the people for democracy it espouses, he says. The issue isnt whether the commissioners have done a good or bad job. Its that its up to the voters to choose their representatives. Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says: Todays decision by Nanaia Mahuta is plain wrong. Everywhere else will have local body elections this year apart from us and for no good reason other than power and control and convenience, he claims. In response to Taurangas perceived lack of democracy, Mahutas says a commission is not the long term future for Tauranga. The real challenge for democracy is to ensure confidence that decisions can be made, she says. The fact that we had to appoint commissioners, because that was not the situation here in Tauranga, is a salient lesson. What we have is a group of commissioners who have engaged, been able to deliver on significant planning documents and have positive partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders. I hope its an indicator to political aspirants, at the local governance level, that the expectation should be no less than working for the benefit of their great city, says Mahuta. Her goal is for a smooth transition back to elected representation with elections in July 2024. Although the current commissions term is due to end in October, the minister indicated her intention for the current set of commissioners to remain. We're mindful that continuity is important. The way in which this community has responded to the flavour of this commission and they really highlighted that engagement is a significant part of their obligation. Further announcements about appointees and terms of reference of the commission will be made in the coming weeks. Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. The Minister of Immigration, Kris Faafoi, says the return of working holidaymakers and more skilled workers from this coming Monday will accelerate New Zealands economic recovery from Covid-19 by helping to fill workforce shortages and support tourism. Before Covid-19 we welcomed around 50,000 working holidaymakers to New Zealand each year, so its a key milestone in our economic recovery that were opening our doors to this group of tourists and workers again, says Faafoi. From Monday, the critical worker border exception for roles lasting longer than six months will also be widened by reducing the salary criteria to 1.5 times the median wage and removing the requirement to have skills not readily obtainable in New Zealand." Faafoi says the expanded settings will benefit a variety of sectors seeking to attract skilled workers, including early to mid-career professionals for roles in the tech sector, business and accounting services, education, construction and the primary industries. Getting more working holidaymakers and skilled migrants into the country in the coming weeks and months is a priority for the Government in order to accelerate our recovery, which is why we have reopened this category early in our reconnection plan," says Faafoi. In order to get people coming to New Zealand as soon as possible weve granted a new 12-month visa to the approximately 19,500 people offshore who previously held a Working Holiday Visa but were unable to use it because of our border restrictions. They will need to use this new visa within the next six months. Working holidaymakers returning to New Zealand will be welcome news for employers, especially those in hospitality and the primary sectors, who are facing worker shortages right now." Faafoi says the primary purpose for a Working Holiday Scheme is to travel. "So the return of working holidaymakers also provides a much-needed boost for our tourism sector ahead of the reopening of our borders more generally to tourists," says Faafoi. Working holidaymakers tend to travel to multiple regions during their time in New Zealand, which is beneficial for the tourism sector and local economies right across the country. Our response to Covid-19, including having the lowest number of cases and deaths in the OECD for the last two years, makes New Zealand an attractive place for working holidaymakers to visit, and we look forward to welcoming them very soon, says Faafoi. The Working Holiday Schemes will reopen in stages, with all uncapped schemes, which account for around three quarters of all working holidaymakers, opening for applications at 10am on Monday March 14. Capped schemes are being staggered after that. All schemes will be reopened by September 13. The uncapped schemes opening on March 14 are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, and USA. Other capped Working Holiday Schemes will re-open in the following order: Malaysia: 16 March Israel: 7 June Portugal: 17 March Singapore: 14 June Mexico: 22 March Taiwan: 23 June Estonia: 30 March China: 30 June Philippines: 31 March Malta: 6 July Hong Kong: 5 April Lithuania: 7 July Slovenia: 7 April Thailand: 14 July Hungary: 20 April Turkey: 21 July Spain: 21 April Vietnam: 4 August Slovakia: 3 May Croatia: 10 August Austria: 4 May Peru: 11 August Luxembourg: 10 May Brazil: 18 August Poland: 11 May Argentina: 30 August Korea: 17 May Chile: 6 September Latvia: 24 May Uruguay: 13 September Czech: 31 May More information about the Working Holiday Schemes can be found on Immigration New Zealands website . The new income criteria for the critical worker border exception for roles longer than six months is $40.50 per hour (1.5 times the current median wage) or $84,240 a year for a 40-hour week. The family reunification border exception for highly skilled workers will be aligned with the expanded settings for long-term critical workers to allow more families to reunite. Border exceptions for workers will be phased out once applications open for the new Accredited Employer Work Visa in July. New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) An anti-terrorism court in Karachi has charged Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen and four other leaders with sedition, declaring them absconders and ordering their bank accounts be frozen and their national identity cards blocked, Friday Times reported. Pashteen, Muhammad Akhtar, Ikramullah, Ahsanullah, Noorullah Tareen, Muhammad Sher Khan, Waheed Khan and M. Idrees were charged with delivering a hate speech against the security establishment on May 13, 2018. The ATC judge admonished the investigating officer on the case for not arresting the suspects, despite their notable presence in the provincial capital, and the non-bailable warrants against them. The judge also issued perpetual warrants for the arrest of the five men, as reported in Dawn news. The party leaders are currently in Karachi, staging a sit-in before the Sindh Assembly calling for the release of incarcerated PTM members, and MNA Ali Wazir, who has been booked on three identical sedition cases and has remained in Karachi Central Prison since December 2020. The sit-in is currently in its 23rd day. Pashteen was booked in two identical cases under sections 124-A (sedition), 148 (rioting with deadly arms), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 500 (defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Email Laura Bacon at lbacon.ant@gmail.com This story contains original reporting by the News Telegraph staff. If you are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one because local journalism is only possible with your support. A subscription to News Telegraph plays a vital role in making this reporting possible. Thank you for your support and helping us continue to connect our community. Today Cloudy skies. High 56F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 47F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Tomorrow Rain likely. High 52F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Get website access for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, then $7.50 a month after. Cancel anytime! Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. Mountain_Deep Newbie Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Kolkata Posts: 20 Thanked: 328 Times re: How I met my Renault Duster AWD Ownership Transfer: The transfer of ownership at Salt Lake RTO, Kolkata is pretty straightforward. Initially, the touts had given quotations ranging from Rs 9000 to Rs 23000. My father decided to leave his workplace in the afternoon one day and drop by at the RTO. The documents were submitted and the fee was paid in less than 30 minutes. The total cost incurred was approximately Rs 1500. The following week, the buyer and the seller had to visit the RTO for signature purposes and the new RC was given to us a month later. Posing with Glory The First Dealing with the infamous Renault A.S.S.: The car had a 2+2 years warranty when I had bought it and during the inspection, I was informed that it's valid till October and I can purchase the extension of 5th year anytime before that. After acquiring the car, in two weeks, I called up the A.S.S where I had gone for inspection for the purchase of the extended warranty for the 5th year. I was given my first shock, and I was informed that there is a clause that the extended warranty had to be bought a fixed number of days before it expired and I had crossed that deadline by 2 days. I contacted the Service Manager but to my unfortunate luck, there was nothing that could be done. I even tried to escalate the issue with Renault directly but they redirected me to the service centre again and nothing came fruitful. The other Duster owners tried to contact some higher-ups for this and the contacts tried to help but unfortunately, nothing could be done. Bhpian Samba got me in contact with Renault BudgeBudge where most of the Dusters in our group gets serviced and the manager told me not to worry and he will help me out with any issue I face and also informed me about the Anytime Warranty that can be purchased after the completion of the present warranty period. This Anytime Warranty covered the major parts (Read: Injectors) but missed out on the smaller parts. This can be bought for a year till the 7th year of the car. This is comparatively costlier but assured peace of mind. I had nothing else to do than to accept it as it was impossible to buy the extended warranty otherwise. September - October 2020: (21,500-22,000 km) 1st Visit to Service Center: (14/09/2020) As the warranty was ending, I wanted to get the issue around windshield fogging sorted. I took the car to Renault A.S.S. at BudgeBudge to get the car checked. They asked me to keep the car at their place as there was a huge rush. They also suggested I get my 4th Year/40,000kms servicing done as it was due in a month. I thought it would be a good idea to get the car some new consumables and have everything checked. I also procured their AMC package for 4 periodic services as I was told that the 4th year service was pretty costly with multiple parts needing replacement. I felt the deal made sense and went ahead with it. They informed me in the following days that the fogging issue was due to the malfunctioning HVAC Unit and that they would replace it under warranty but due to the unavailability of parts, there will be a slight delay in the delivery of the car. After regular follow-ups and 10 days later, I was given the car back for usage with the servicing done. Replacement of the HVAC unit was pending as the part hadn't arrived yet. They informed me they will drop in a call when the part reaches them. In the meantime, I had noticed a few cracks on the sidewalls of the stock MRF Wanderer Tyres. So, decided to get a set of 4 new tyres as the car would be doing highway runs mostly even though the old sets had run only 20k kms. I had contacted IndoWheels and was given a quotation of Rs 33,000 for a set of 4 Yokohama Geolander A/T Tyres. Went to their store and got a fresh set of tyres. Checked the manufacturing dates and they were all less than 3 months old. Got the alignment and wheel balancing done as well. The following week, the car was given back to the A.S.S and they took another 6 days to get the HVAC Unit replaced and deliver the car. My Duster Getting New Shoes The Old MRF Wanderer Tyres The New Set of Yokohama Geolander A/T Tyres The Fogging Issue for which the HVAC Unit was replaced The Old MRF Wanderer TyresThe New Set of Yokohama Geolander A/T TyresThe Fogging Issue for which the HVAC Unit was replaced November 2020: Trip to Neterhat:(23,230-24,574 km) This was Duster's first major trip. It covered 1344 km during this trip and returned an average of 15.1 km/l. I realised how effortless it is to drive the Duster on this trip as I covered the distance as a solo driver with minimum fatigue. The route taken was Kolkata-Kharagpur-Ghatshila-Jamshedpur-Ranchi-Bero-Lohardaga-Ghaghra-Neterhat. Covered a distance of 556 km in a little less than 10 hours with breaks in between. The next day, we went to local tourist attractions such as Neterhat Lake, Koel View Point, Upper Ghaghri Waterfalls, Lower Ghaghri Waterfalls, and then to Lodh Falls, Sugga Falls, and Sunset Point in the evening. We left for home the next day and covered the return journey effortlessly at a similar timing as the onward journey. The car performed flawlessly and gave me no reason to complain. At high speeds, the car was rock stable. There's nothing else to say about it except that it's very comfortable and fun to drive. Sharing a few pictures of the trip: 2nd Visit to Service Centre: (24,789km) Visited the Service Centre to get the Anytime Warranty. This has a validity of 1 year and can be purchased anytime after the completion of the extended warranty and till the car reaches 7 years. A survey was done and I was confirmed in an hour after which I made the payment and left. It was completely hassle free and was a good experience. Damage to pocket was around Rs 16,000. December 2020: Trip to Shantiniketan: (25,110-25,470 km) A small weekend gateway to Shantiniketan. It was a one-night trip, and the Duster felt at ease driving me there with a smile on my face. On this trip, I didn't take many photos. Trip to Dhenkanal, Odisha: (25,779-26,741 km) This time we decided to visit Gajlaxmi Palace in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha. It was Duster's second major trip, and it's*first to Odisha. It covered 962 km during this trip and returned an average of 13.6 km/l. The car was packed completely ferrying 5 adults and a boot full of luggage. My father and I drove in turns on this trip. My grandfather was also excited and took charge of the wheels for around 100 km. My Grandfather behind the wheels of the Duster for the first time: The route taken was Kolkata-Kharagpur-Balasore-Cuttack-Dhenkanal-Gajlaxmi Palace. Gajlaxmi Palace is a palace of the royals of Dhenkanal and the royal family still stays there and run this place as a getaway spot. Mostly the tourists that come here are foreigners. The host was very hospitable and we had a very good time there feeling at home. We had a great time with great food, bonfires, and great conversations with the host and his family. This palace is located on a small hillock surrounded by forests all around. We did a bit of offroading in the trails as well as long walks in the woods. There is a lake behind the palace and it is really beautiful. A perfect relaxing trip of 2 nights in Odisha. Sharing a few pictures of the trip: The transfer of ownership at Salt Lake RTO, Kolkata is pretty straightforward. Initially, the touts had given quotations ranging from Rs 9000 to Rs 23000. My father decided to leave his workplace in the afternoon one day and drop by at the RTO. The documents were submitted and the fee was paid in less than 30 minutes. The total cost incurred was approximately Rs 1500. The following week, the buyer and the seller had to visit the RTO for signature purposes and the new RC was given to us a month later.The car had a 2+2 years warranty when I had bought it and during the inspection, I was informed that it's valid till October and I can purchase the extension of 5th year anytime before that. After acquiring the car, in two weeks, I called up the A.S.S where I had gone for inspection for the purchase of the extended warranty for the 5th year. I was given my first shock, and I was informed that there is a clause that the extended warranty had to be bought a fixed number of days before it expired and I had crossed that deadline by 2 days. I contacted the Service Manager but to my unfortunate luck, there was nothing that could be done. I even tried to escalate the issue with Renault directly but they redirected me to the service centre again and nothing came fruitful. The other Duster owners tried to contact some higher-ups for this and the contacts tried to help but unfortunately, nothing could be done. Bhpian Samba got me in contact with Renault BudgeBudge where most of the Dusters in our group gets serviced and the manager told me not to worry and he will help me out with any issue I face and also informed me about the Anytime Warranty that can be purchased after the completion of the present warranty period. This Anytime Warranty covered the major parts (Read: Injectors) but missed out on the smaller parts. This can be bought for a year till the 7th year of the car. This is comparatively costlier but assured peace of mind. I had nothing else to do than to accept it as it was impossible to buy the extended warranty otherwise.As the warranty was ending, I wanted to get the issue around windshield fogging sorted. I took the car to Renault A.S.S. at BudgeBudge to get the car checked. They asked me to keep the car at their place as there was a huge rush.They also suggested I get my 4th Year/40,000kms servicing done as it was due in a month. I thought it would be a good idea to get the car some new consumables and have everything checked. I also procured their AMC package for 4 periodic services as I was told that the 4th year service was pretty costly with multiple parts needing replacement. I felt the deal made sense and went ahead with it.They informed me in the following days that the fogging issue was due to the malfunctioning HVAC Unit and that they would replace it under warranty but due to the unavailability of parts, there will be a slight delay in the delivery of the car. After regular follow-ups and 10 days later, I was given the car back for usage with the servicing done. Replacement of the HVAC unit was pending as the part hadn't arrived yet. They informed me they will drop in a call when the part reaches them.In the meantime, I had noticed a few cracks on the sidewalls of the stock MRF Wanderer Tyres. So, decided to get a set of 4 new tyres as the car would be doing highway runs mostly even though the old sets had run only 20k kms. I had contacted IndoWheels and was given a quotation of Rs 33,000 for a set of 4 Yokohama Geolander A/T Tyres. Went to their store and got a fresh set of tyres. Checked the manufacturing dates and they were all less than 3 months old. Got the alignment and wheel balancing done as well. The following week, the car was given back to the A.S.S and they took another 6 days to get the HVAC Unit replaced and deliver the car.This was Duster's first major trip. It covered 1344 km during this trip and returned an average of 15.1 km/l. I realised how effortless it is to drive the Duster on this trip as I covered the distance as a solo driver with minimum fatigue.The route taken was Kolkata-Kharagpur-Ghatshila-Jamshedpur-Ranchi-Bero-Lohardaga-Ghaghra-Neterhat. Covered a distance of 556 km in a little less than 10 hours with breaks in between. The next day, we went to local tourist attractions such as Neterhat Lake, Koel View Point, Upper Ghaghri Waterfalls, Lower Ghaghri Waterfalls, and then to Lodh Falls, Sugga Falls, and Sunset Point in the evening. We left for home the next day and covered the return journey effortlessly at a similar timing as the onward journey.The car performed flawlessly and gave me no reason to complain. At high speeds, the car was rock stable. There's nothing else to say about it except that it's very comfortable and fun to drive.Sharing a few pictures of the trip:Visited the Service Centre to get the Anytime Warranty. This has a validity of 1 year and can be purchased anytime after the completion of the extended warranty and till the car reaches 7 years. A survey was done and I was confirmed in an hour after which I made the payment and left. It was completely hassle free and was a good experience. Damage to pocket was around Rs 16,000.A small weekend gateway to Shantiniketan. It was a one-night trip, and the Duster felt at ease driving me there with a smile on my face. On this trip, I didn't take many photos.This time we decided to visit Gajlaxmi Palace in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha. It was Duster's second major trip, and it's*first to Odisha. It covered 962 km during this trip and returned an average of 13.6 km/l. The car was packed completely ferrying 5 adults and a boot full of luggage. My father and I drove in turns on this trip. My grandfather was also excited and took charge of the wheels for around 100 km.My Grandfather behind the wheels of the Duster for the first time:The route taken was Kolkata-Kharagpur-Balasore-Cuttack-Dhenkanal-Gajlaxmi Palace.is a palace of the royals of Dhenkanal and the royal family still stays there and run this place as a getaway spot. Mostly the tourists that come here are foreigners. The host was very hospitable and we had a very good time there feeling at home. We had a great time with great food, bonfires, and great conversations with the host and his family. This palace is located on a small hillock surrounded by forests all around. We did a bit of offroading in the trails as well as long walks in the woods. There is a lake behind the palace and it is really beautiful. A perfect relaxing trip of 2 nights in Odisha.Sharing a few pictures of the trip: Last edited by Mountain_Deep : 3rd March 2022 at 13:40 . In context: Over the past two weeks, Russian netizens have found themselves increasingly deprived of online services like Facebook, Twitter, global news sites, and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, that could accelerate the Russian government's plan to create a "sovereign Internet" and fundamentally change the way Russians connect to and access information from the rest of the world. Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor forced Google this week to remove tens of thousands of search results that link to resources used by Russians to circumvent bans placed on certain news sites and social media platforms. Internet users in the country have been flocking to VPN services to get access to restricted sources of information, with one analysis estimating that demand for the top 10 most popular VPN apps has surged by 1,092 percent between February 24 and March 9. A different market research firm says that downloads across Google Play and Apple's App Store for the past week totaling over 4.6 million -- a 4,375 percent surge compared to the week before the start of the military conflict in Ukraine. While the uptick in demand for VPNs isn't unexpected, Russian authorities are already taking steps to enforce the Internet blockade. They have yet to ban VPN use, but they've ordered Google to remove thousands of VPN-related URLs from its search results, and the number of requests is increasing every day. Over the past few years, Russia has been exploring ways to build what it calls a "sovereign Internet," where authorities can block VPN traffic at the network level, censor the "internal Internet," and even cut it off from the outside world. Recently, the Russian state created its own domestic analog of a trusted TLS certificate authority to aid its efforts to intercept encrypted web traffic. Of course, the deep level of internet traffic monitoring and filtering envisioned by Russia is a massive undertaking that won't be possible overnight. But the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and the barrage of sanctions levied by Western governments and companies has only accelerated plans to disentangle Russia's Internet sphere from the rest of the world. Image: Christiaan Colen US-based Internet providers like Cogent have started cutting off Russian customers who rely on them to direct their data flows through the backbone of the Internet, presumably for fear of enabling state-sponsored cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Companies like Cloudflare, that try to speed up the web and defend it from various types of threats, believes shutting off all service in the country isn't the best idea if the goal is to enable Russian citizens to see past the propaganda. Either way, it's only getting harder for online tech firms to decide how -- or if -- they want to manage the information flow. Leaving Russia altogether will allow its government to centralize network control and lead to further fragmentation of the Internet. That phenomenon, also known as the "Splinternet," would deprive Russian citizens of a powerful tool for sharing information, fighting misinformation, and connecting with people who have a different view of the world. The Russian Ministry for Digital Technology, Communication and Mass Media has maintained that there are no plans to disconnect Russia from the rest of the Internet. However, its "sovereign Internet" legislation does allow the Roskomnadzor to intervene in how Russia's ecosystem of over 5,000 autonomous networks communicates with the global Internet -- and that includes fully disconnecting its homegrown RuNet from it if deemed necessary. In a nutshell: Last week's news that Disney+ would be introducing a cheaper, ad-supported tier has left us with several questions, including whether rival Netflix will do the same. Now, we have the answer: no, at least not anytime soon. Disney didn't reveal too many details about its ad-supported tier that's set to arrive on its streaming service later this year. The company never announced any pricing, but it will presumably offer a cheaper alternative to its $7.99 per month / $79.99 per year up-front cost; much like the Disney-owned Hulu, whose $12.99 per month subscription is cut almost in half to $6.99 if you can stand the advertisements and don't mind missing out on 4K. With others doing it, will the world's biggest streamer, Netflix, also offer a cheaper, ad-supported tier for those who won't or can't pay its $9.99 per month Basic plan? CFO Spencer Neumann said it's "not something that's in our plans." "It's hard for us to kind of ignore that others are doing it, but it now doesn't make sense for us," said Neumann, speaking at Morgan Stanley's 2022 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference (via Variety) That might sound quite definite, but Neumann hinted that Netflix wouldn't be ruling out the idea permanently. "We have a really nice scalable subscription model, and again, never say never, but it's not in our plan," he added. With Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu, and soon Disney+ offering ad-supported tiers, it seems Netflix will be the only top streamer without such an option. January saw Netflix increase its prices for all US users, and it lost a quarter of its value a few weeks later due to slowing subscriber growth. But while an ad-supported tier sounds like it could make sense, don't expect to see one in the near future. What just happened? Facebook and Instagram come down hard on those who post anything advocating violence or death against others, but it is making a temporary exception. Users in some countries will be allowed to call for harm or even death to be inflicted on Russian soldiers and politicians such as Russian president Vladimir Putin or Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. Reuters reports that Meta sent internal emails to Facebook and Instagram content moderators confirming a change in its hate speech policy. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders,'" a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. Any calls for violence against Russian civilians remain off limits. "The Hate Speech policy continues to prohibit attacks on Russians," the email confirmed. The rules calling for the death of leaders are slightly different. These posts are allowed providing they do not include other targets or have "two indicators of credibility," such as the location or method. "These are temporary measures designed to preserve voice and expression for people who are facing invasion. As always, we are prohibiting calls for violence against Russians outside of the narrow context of the current invasion," Meta added. The policy change only applies to users in certain countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. "We are issuing a spirit-of-the-policy allowance to allow T1 violent speech that would otherwise be removed under the Hate Speech policy when: (a) targeting Russian soldiers, EXCEPT prisoners of war, or (b) targeting Russians where it's clear that the context is the Russian invasion of Ukraine (e.g., content mentions the invasion, self-defense, etc.)," read the email. The message also said that the change came about because "Russian soldiers" is being used as a proxy for the Russian military. The change isn't without precedent. Vice reported that Facebook allowed people to post the words "Death to Khamenei" or feature videos of people saying or chanting this phrase for a limited two-week period last year. We demand that authorities stop the extremist activities of @Meta, take measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. Users of #Facebook & #Instagram did not give the owners of these platforms the right to determine the criteria of truth and pit nations against each other. https://t.co/1RkrjRmEtA pic.twitter.com/sTacSm4nDt --- Russian Embassy in USA (@RusEmbUSA) March 11, 2022 The Russian Embassy in the United States responded to the policy change with a statement on Twitter calling for US authorities to stop the "extremist activities" of Meta. "Users of #Facebook & #Instagram did not give the owners of these platforms the right to determine the criteria of truth and pit nations against each other," the Embassy tweeted. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have all been blocked by the Russian government in the wake of the Ukraine invasion. In the case of Facebook, it came after the social network blocked state media outlets RT and Sputnik in the European Union. Meta also started demoting content from Facebook and Instagram accounts worldwide that were linked to Russian state media. What just happened? A Ukrainian national arrested in Poland last year who is alleged to be a key member of the notorious, Russia-linked REvil ransomware group has been extradited to the United States. Yaroslav Vasinskyi, 22, was arraigned in a Dallas federal court on Wednesday, where he is charged with computer hacking and fraud. In October last year, it was reported that REvil accounted for a significant portion of Q2 2021 ransomware attacks, with government entities the biggest targets. Its best-known victim was Kaseya's VSA cloud-based system management platform---used for remote monitoring and IT management---which is thought to have impacted over 1,500 businesses. REvil was also behind the attacks on JBS, for which the world's biggest meat processor paid an $11 million ransom, and tech giant Acer. REvil operates a ransomware-as-a-service plan in which it rents out the malware to other criminals for a cut of the victims' ransom; at one point, those renting the ransomware complained REvil was stealing their ill-gotten gains. In January, Russia claimed to have shut the group down, arrested 14 members, and seized millions of dollars in cash and assets. Below is a video of the FSB's REvil raids pic.twitter.com/Oh7Ef2GpQO --- Catalin Cimpanu (@campuscodi) January 14, 2022 Vasinskyi was arrested in Poland on October 8, 2021, and brought to Dallas, Texas, on March 3. He is accused of accessing multiple victim firms' internal networks and installing REvil ransomware. The US Justice Department says he is responsible for the attack on Kaseya that exploited a zero-day bug. The DOJ said Vasinskyi made $2.3 million from ransoms after demanding more than $760 million from companies infected by REvil's ransomware. He faces a 115-year sentence if convicted. "Just eight months after committing his alleged ransomware attack on Kaseya from overseas, this defendant has arrived in a Dallas courtroom to face justice," said U.S. deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco in a statement. "When we are attacked, we will work with our partners here and abroad to go after cybercriminals, wherever they may be." h/t: TechCrunch Something to look forward to: PC Building Simulator became one of the surprise hits of the year when came out of its lengthy early access period back in 2019. As is the case with most things that are successful, a sequel is in the works, and it arrives this year. PC Building Simulator 2 retains the basic premise of the original while adding several improvements. As you might notice in the video, the graphical fidelity of the components you'll be manipulating has been improved, giving a more immersive experience. There are over 1,200 individual PC parts available at launch from more than 45 brands, including Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and a range of boutique manufacturers; the developer says the hardware is "true to life." You also get more customization options, a "deeper simulation" of the PCs you'll be putting together, and parts with RGB lighting, of course. PC Building Simulator 2 also comes with a career mode promising 30+ hours of gameplay focused on the "repair shop experience." This will innovate on the original's career mode, adding an improved and expanded feature set incorporating years of community feedback, according to the press release. "It's a chance for us to do a lot of the things we couldn't do before on a technical level. We're aiming to simultaneously add more depth to the simulation, increase options for customization, improve the ability to tinker, and to make a better-looking game [...] It's hard work but right now everyone on the team is really hyped," said Sam 'Caliburn' Hills, Senior Community Manager of PC Building Simulator. The upcoming game is being created by UK Studio Spiral House, which has been developing and assisting companies with games as far back as the Commodore 64 days. The original was developed by Kiss Claudiu in partnership with The Irregular Corporation, the latter of which saw its parent company, Tonic Games Group, acquired by Epic Games last year, explaining why PCBS 2 will be an Epic Games Store exclusive. No word on exactly when PC Building Simulator 2 will arrive, but it is launching sometime this year. The original and its DLC sold over 2 million copies, so expect the sequel to be popular, too. Why it matters: As the world continues to grapple with the semiconductor shortage, Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens to put a severe strain on one more important chip component. How long the war lasts will determine the severity of the disruption. Around half of the world's supply of neon---needed for the lasers used in chip manufacturing---comes from two companies in Ukraine. Reuters reports that both have ceased production since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Market research from Techcet notes the US gets just under 50 percent of its supply from the region. One of the companies, Ingas, is based in Mariupol, which is currently under attack from Russian forces. Mariupol is the same city in which a Russian airstrike hit a maternity hospital earlier this week. The other company, called Cryoin, stopped production the day the invasion started, though the city where it's based, Odessa, hasn't come under attack yet. Soon after the invasion, chipmakers tried to downplay fears of further supply disruption. While they recognized Ukraine's importance in neon production, they also noted that manufacturers tend to keep stockpiles for emergencies. It's difficult to say how much neon various companies and their clients have stockpiled, but the production stoppage could cause severe problems within months. Cryoin thinks it can hold out for three months with production stopped but may face more problems if its facilities are damaged, and it may face trouble getting raw materials needed for purifying neon. The central bank and economic ministry of Taiwan, where TSMC is based, say companies in that country have neon stockpiles. Even though companies in other countries could supply neon, the invasion could increase prices. Other companies that aren't already producing neon could take months to years to ramp up, and it isn't yet clear how long the war or the semiconductor shortage will last. A TSMC R&D executive recently said that the chip shortage could last until 2024. What just happened? Ubisoft in a recent security advisory said it experienced a "cyber security incident" last week that caused a temporary disruption of service across some of its platforms. Nothing concrete has come of the incident thus far, and hopefully it'll stay that way. The French video game company said its IT teams are working with leading experts to investigate the incident. Out of an abundance of caution, Ubisoft initiated a company-wide password reset so if you've suddenly asked to update your password, you know why. While you're at it, it's not a bad idea to go ahead and enable two-factor authentication on every account you own that offers it. As of the latest update on March 10, Ubisoft said all of its games and services are functioning normally. Furthermore, the company said it has found no evidence that any personal information was exposed or accessed as a result of the incident. No hacking group has publicly come forward to claim responsibility for the deed. If nothing was stolen as Ubisoft claims, that could very well remain the case. After all, why publicly brag if there's not really anything to brag about? Ubisoft joins a growing list of hacking victims as of late. Earlier this week, Vodafone said it was investigating a claim that its security was breached by the same group that recently targeted Nvidia and Samsung. Image credit Tima Miroshnichenko A new NASA competition is now asking anyone to help it create an efficient Earth-to-moon power transmission technology. Right now, the international space union still finds power transmission from Earth to the natural satellite quite difficult. Because of this, NASA's capability to explore the moon is still limited. But, the space agency has been making drastic efforts to make a human presence on the heavenly body long-term. However, it seems like NASA needs your help further to enhance the long-term human presence on the moon. You can participate in the new competition under the latest Artemis program if you are interested. NASA Looks for Earth-To-Moon Power Transmission Solution According to ZDNet's latest report, the new competition of NASA is the 2nd phase of the ongoing "Watts on the Moon" challenge. Also Read: NASA Psyche Spacecraft Receives Massive Solar Panels-Helping Billion-Mile Mission in Low-Light Space Areas "Challenges like Watts on the Moon give us the chance to utilize the creativity of the industry, academia, and the public to power our return to the Moon," said NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate Associate Administrator, Jim Reuters. NASA's Watts on the Moon challenge was first introduced back in 2020. After that, the space agency's challenge created new competitions. The latest one is the Phase 2 competition, which includes the prize money of $4.5 million. Participating individuals can receive this reward if they prove that their Earth-to-moon power transmission solutions are the best among the rest. Watts on the Moon's Phase 2 If you want to participate in the latest Watts on the Moon Phase 2 challenge, you can visit HeroX's official website. But, before you participate, you need to know the things that need to be accomplished. The latest competition of NASA requires innovators to develop techs. These are power transmission and energy storage. NASA said that the power transmission solution needs to be efficient to transfer more energy to the moon. The space agency is interested in both wired and wireless models. Meanwhile, the energy storage needs to have enough endurance to survive extreme space conditions. In other news, the NASA Curiosity Rover recently discovered an ancient rock. Meanwhile, NASA JWST will soon study the Kuiper Belt. For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: NASA Is Awaiting Approval Of $24.4 BILLION Budget For 2022: Here's A Closer Look At The Money This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A 22-year-old Ukrainian national who was reportedly a member of the famous REvil ransomware group has been arrested. Should the hacker be found guilty and charged, he could face up to 100 years in prison. A Ukrainian Hacker Will be Facing 100 Years in Prison According to the story by TechCrunch, federal authorities are saying that an alleged member of the famous REvil ransomware group was responsible for the recent Kaseya hack. The attack encrypted thousands of different customers' networks. After a long process, the 22-year-old Ukrainian national Yaroslav Vasinskyi was arrested in Poland on October 8 and was just extradited to Texas in order to face charges from the United States. Should Vasinskyi be convicted, he will be facing 100 years in prison. Vasinskyi was Part of the REvil Ransomware Gang Vasinskyi was just extradited and arraigned in a federal court in Dallas to directly face accusations of fraud and hacking. According to the indictment filed back in August, this was just recently unsealed. For quite a long time, the REvil gang was known as one of the most prolific ransomware groups. In addition, the Russian-speaking "ransomware-as-a-service operation is allowing affiliates to rent certain access to their infrastructure as long as they get a share of the profits. Notable REvil Ransomware Gang Hacks Notable attacks that happened since its emergence was a food product delay after JBS, a meat processing plant, was attacked and private information was leaked. Other hacks include the hack on Acer, a popular computer maker, and Invenergy, an energy giant. However, the hack that garnered the most attention was the Kaseya attack. Kaseya is an IT and networking monitoring software company with thousands of its customers' networks infected with ransomware. Read Also: Man Tries to Scam Toyota for $4.3 Million but Gets Six Years in Prison, Taking Advantage of 150% Buyback With 350 Trucks US Government Launched a $10 Million Bounty A massive $10 million bounty was launched by the US government for information that could help bring these hackers to justice. Just a few weeks after the attack on Kaseya, the company was able to get decryption keys for its customers, allowing them to bypass millions of dollars worth of ransomware payments and unlock their systems. The Washington Post said the FBI could obtain the key in secret and plan a takedown that did not happen. The hackers soon vanished from the internet for a short span of time after being blamed for the attack on Kaseya. The US government, in October, said that it was working with a multinational effort in order to force the gang to go offline. The group started to dismantle, and millions in crypto and cash were seized after Russian law enforcement was arrested in Romania. Related Article: Rivian Faces Lawsuit from Shareholder After Jacking Up Prices for Electric Pickup and SUV: Company CEO Apologized This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If Roscosmos leaves ISS, will the space station actually survive? This question appeared after some of the Russian astronauts claimed that they would de-orbit the International Space Station if the sanctions continue. "There is also the option of dropping a 500-ton structure to India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect?" said Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian space agency's director general. He added that the ISS is not passing through the air space of Russia, which makes them safe if there's a sudden de-orbiting activity in the space station. Now, space experts shared what will happen if ever Roscosmos leaves the ISS, and it's not a good one. Roscosmos Leaving ISS? Here's What Will Happen According to Quartz' latest report, Joanne Gabrynowicz, a space law expert, said that Roscosmos needs to follow some processes if ever they decided to leave the International Space Station. Also Read: Roscosmos Says US Sanctions Might Affect ISS Cooperation! Russia Warns Deorbiting Space Station For example, they need to receive the consent of other space agencies working with it in the ISS. But, if Russia really did unhook its space laboratories from the space station, the ISS will still survive. Space experts explained that the giant space laboratory will remain in space despite the mission Russian modules. However, it will take money and time to get back on track. As of the moment, the Russian rockets are responsible for keeping the ISS in orbit. Meanwhile, the United States provides electricity and stability control to the International Space Station. Leaked Video of ISS Abandonment Posted in Russia? Boing Boing reported that a state-owned news agency in Russia called RIA Novosti (RIAN) published a video of Russia abandoning the International Space Station. Because of this, many critics claimed that the video shows that Roscosmos is clearly threatening the ISS. But, the Russian space agency hasn't confirmed if they were the ones who made the video. In other news, laser-powered rockets are now considered more efficient compared to conventional spacecraft. Meanwhile, a new NASA competition seeks help from anyone to develop an efficient Earth-to-moon power transmission solution. For more news updates about Roscosmos, ISS, and other space topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Russia's Roscosmos to Halt Delivery of Rocket Engines to the US This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Multi-gigabit internet services are now on the rise as various ISPs (Internet Service Providers) increase their WiFi speeds. Ever since the global pandemic began, the internet has become more essential since more people prefer shopping online. On the other hand, many individuals are also still working remotely. Meanwhile, many students are still conducting online classes. These are just some of the reasons why many people are now looking for faster internet services. Multi-Gigabit Internet Services Arrive! According to CNET's latest report, fiber internet providers are now offering new speed tiers for their WiFi services, with some of them reaching up to 5Gbps. Also Read: Chinese Lab Announces 6G Speed Breakthrough, While the 5G Technology Hasn't Completely Rolled Out Yet As of the moment, the majority of the households in the United States only use around 143Mbps internet speed. Although this is the case, many ISPs claimed that they are receiving more demand for high-speed tiers. A few years ago, internet speeds are not much of a big deal since many people didn't need them. Aside from this, some individuals also find faster WiFi services quite expensive. But, a new survey revealed that more households in the United States are increasing their connected devices. Back in 2020, the average household connected device is only 10. However, this number increased as more people tend to work at home and conduct school activities remotely. ISPs Offering Multi-Gigabit Internet Services Right now around eight ISPs are offering multi-gigabit internet services in the United States. These include AT&T, Google Fiber, Verizon Fios, Ziply Fiber, and other internet service providers. But, only two of them are offering WiFi speeds up to 5Gbps. These are specifically AT&T (AT&T Fiber 5000) and Ziphy Fiber (Ziply Fiber 5 Gig). As of the moment, 5G is still the fastest internet speed available in the market. But, News 18 reported that the 6G WiFi speed might soon arrive around 2028. Once that happens, there's a chance that ISPs will also adopt this faster internet speed tier. In other news, a massive internet outage in Europe happened because of a new cyberattack. Meanwhile, some experts claimed that old internet routers should be replaced. For more news updates about the internet and other related tech topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: 6G Connectivity To Arrive Around 2028! South Korea as First Country To Commercialize It as Mobile Services This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United Airlines is now embracing its unvaccinated employees back to work after previously forcing them to take their unpaid leaves or even asking them to switch their roles. United Airlines Embraces 2,000 Unvaccinated Employees As per a news story by CNBC, United Airlines announced to its workforce that the firm will now be allowing its employees that do not have their COVID-19 vaccines to go back to work beginning on March 28. The vice president of the human resources of United Airlines, Kirk Limacher, said in a meme to its employees that the lowering number of new COVID-19 cases is one of the reasons why it is relaxing its vaccine mandates. On top of that, the United Airlines exec also cited the massive drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations, as well as the more relaxed mask mandate in various localities in the US. Limacher went on to note that all of these "suggest that the pandemic is beginning to meaningfully recede." The United VP adds that it further shows that the airlines could start allowing its exempted unvaccinated employees to go back to their roles in the company. Read Also: Airlines to Have Electric Planes as Zero-Emission Solution! But, is This Possible for Commercial Flights? United Airlines vs. Unvaccinated Employees It is worth noting that the airlines previously required all of its employees in the United States to take their jab against the novel coronavirus, threatening those who would not comply with termination. According to a recent report by Business Insider, United previously required its employees to get their COVID-19 jabs until September 27, noting that those who do not get inoculated will be losing their jobs. As such, the airlines had to let go of about 200 workers as they failed to get their COVID-19 vaccines before the deadline. However, the strict mandate of United also made it possible that 99% of their employees in the United States already got inoculated before the September deadline last 2021. Meanwhile, though, there were around 2,200 employees of United Airlines who are still unvaccinated, but are staying in the firm. It comes after these workers have either got a medical or religious exemption, allowing them to keep their jobs. However, these folks were forced to either take unpaid leave or opt for a new position in the company that does not require facing customers. Related Article: United Airlines Requires Employees to Get COVID-19 Vaccination or They Could Risk Termination This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla is now benefiting from the ongoing U.S. fuel price hike. The automaker confirmed that its EV orders have increased by around 100%. This means that Americans are now trying to avoid paying for the hefty crude oil prices by purchasing their own electric cars. As of the moment, the fuel prices in the United States continue to go up as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine worsens. U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday, Mar. 8, that all imported Russian energy products will be banned from entering the United States. Of course, crude oil is included. Tesla Benefits From US Fuel Price Hike According to Teslarati's latest report, Tesla EV orders in the United States are now rising. Right now, crude oil barrels cost around $100 each. Also Read: Free Tesla Supercharger Expands in Slovakia and Poland | ALL Stations Available for Use This means that a gallon of car fuel can cost more than $4. Some regions in the United States even see a $5-per-gallon increase, as reported that USA Today. Since nobody wants to empty their wallets just to use their gas-based cars, many U.S. residents are now turning toward electric vehicles. Of course, Tesla remains the top EV maker and provider in the United States. Around 80% of all the electric cars in the nation are made by Elon Musk's automaker. But, consumers also need to expect longer delivery timelines since Tesla also has shipment backlogs. Aside from the American EV maker, other automakers transitioning to EV production are also expected to experience higher demands. These include Volkswagen, Hyundai, and other car developers. Gas Prices in the United States As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, the crude oil prices in the U.S. are also expected to keep on going up. "Oil prices play a leading role in pushing gas prices higher. Consumers can expect the current trend at the pump to continue as long as crude prices climb," said the American Automobile Association. Now, here are the current gas prices in some of the U.S. states: California Regular: $5.694 Mid-grade: $5.834 Premium: $5.976 Diesel: $6.212 Arizona Regular: $4.548 Mid-grade: $4.768 Premium: $5.033 Diesel: $5.024 Arkansas Regular: $3.901 Mid-grade: $4.176 Premium: $4.47 Diesel: $4.774 Georgia Regular: $4.269 Mid-grade: $4.561 Premium: $4.9 Diesel: $5.091 If you want to see more details about the gas prices in other states, you can visit this link. In other news, Tesla EVs covered the January Top 3 BEV sales in the U.S. Meanwhile, Elon Musk agreed that Tesla FSD can lead to insane traffic levels. For more news updates about Tesla and other EV makers, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Tesla China EV Sale in February Increases More Than 200%! Making It as One of the Premier Automakers This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 got new leaks from insiders and speculators about its new infrared temperature health sensor that it will include on its next release of the wearable tech. The feature is a first for wearable technology, and it is something that Samsung is allegedly aiming to bring on its next-generation smartwatch to pair to its smart devices. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Leaks: New Health Sensor for Wearable Samsung got leaks and rumors regarding its next release of the Galaxy Watch 5, and Korea's ET News first reported about this new health sensor coming for the wearable. While the feature is not exactly high-tech like the blood pressure monitor and the blood sugar sensor initial rumors spotted, it still brings an additional tool for users to experience. It is the infrared temperature sensor, and it will help on looking at one's condition via their body heat, may it be lower or higher than regular readings. The new feature may help have more information on one's body, and different diagnostics will help point to a specific occurrence in one's body, courtesy of the new technology. Read Also: Are Smartwatches Ready for Blood Pressure Monitoring? Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit Pursue Studies Infrared Temperature Health Sensor on Galaxy Watch? According to Android Central, Samsung would not be the first manufacturer to bring the temperature sensor on a tech wearable. Still, it will pioneer a more accurate one on the watch. That is because of its infrared capabilities that focus on situating itself on a person's wrist for a precise read, allegedly coming in the fall season. Smartwatch and its Tech Capabilities Smartwatches are devices that tell more than the time and notifications for users now, as it focuses on many monitoring features for health and fitness. Essentially, various takes on smartwatches include the Android operating system from Google, Apple's watchOS, and the many variations on its systems to power the device. Samsung is rivals with many tech companies that focus on these wearable technologies, including Fitbit, Garmin, Fossil, Apple, and even the famous Swiss luxury watchmaker, TAG Heuer. These are not the only companies that feature a smartwatch on their lineup, as other smartphone manufacturers also bring their device versions to users. Technology and health are heavily working together to give the public what they need to monitor their health and keep up with the times to assist the medical field. Samsung and other manufacturers' smartwatches are shaping to be a massive help for the future, especially with the many features it tries to bring for the public's use. Related Article: How To Set Up Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Google Pay? Steps, Wear OS-Supported Cards, and More! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Verizon's "Up" program was launched in 2017 for customers who want to get additional perks from the smartphone carrier. One of the most notable bonuses that users can take advantage of is the "Device Dollars." For those looking forward to buying a new tablet, laptop, or any gadget, you can maximize your purchase experience by claiming these monthly rewards. Since then, many changes have been implemented in the program. Let's see the latest update on how this works for the customers. Major Change in Verizon Up Program Amid the tight competition between carriers, Verizon is looking forward to a unique way to attract more customers to the platform. By rolling out several incentives, many people might stick to it as long as they feel satisfied with its service. However, it's important to know that a big change is expected to arrive soon on the Verizon Up program. According to a report by Android Headlines on Friday, Mar. 11, customers should prepare for what's coming here in the next few months. The New York-based network operator guaranteed that the program would "evolve" into an entirely new experience intended for all people and the things they love. Although the company did not specifically mention what that new experience is, it could be pertaining to the most used service for the customers. The tech site added that it's good because of the new content that is coming. On the other side, it will be bad because the user's data might be used for this update. In the succeeding months, we expect that Verizon will bring more anniversary sales on top of exclusive access to Super Tickets and Travelpass. Related Article: 3G Shutdown: AT&T Goes First; T-Mobile, Verizon to Follow-Are There Signifcant Changes? Verizon Wants Customers to Spend Their Device Dollars In another report from Android Police, Verizon customers reportedly received an email from the carrier about the Up program. One important thing they saw in the message is the Device Dollars. It was mentioned there that they are set to expire on "6/30/2022." If not, it will end 24 months before you claim the Device Dollars. This means that Verizon customers have until June 30 to spend on a purchase. Another thing that caught their attention is the Monthly Rewards which is slated to be finished on May 1. However, the company did not clearly point out the exact thing that would happen in the program. Whether the firm has plans to improve or make some changes regarding it, that's up to Verizon itself. To stay updated about this, always check your email for more updates. You can also visit the FAQ site to clarify your Verizon Up queries. Back in August 2021, the smartphone carrier announced that it would offer free access to AMC for those people who recently bought a 5G phone along with its payment plan. Earlier, Verizon and AT&T's 5G expansion was pushed to Jan. 5 despite the FFA's request to postpone the rollout. Read Also: Verizon Selects Program Allows Data Collection For Web Browsing, User's Location, and More | Here's How You Can Opt Out AGAIN This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The 2022 PS5 DualSense controller variants secretly received some upgrades from Sony. These new changes solve many annoying issues that consumers continuously suffer from. Shout out to the Galactic Purple PS5 DualSense controller fr Gotta be one of my favorite genders pic.twitter.com/2lZsSEPYU5 Tom (@tommievuitton) March 5, 2022 Recently, the giant tech manufacturer announced new models of the popular DualSense controllers. These brands are the Galactic Purple, Nova Pink, and Starlight Blue variants. SO, on M&KB I'm used to user customization BUT Eldin Ring is the first PS5 game I've REALLY chunked hours into... aaand the Dualsense is a good controller but it can be BETTER. ...sooooo I made it better. pic.twitter.com/JvISTvAnvf (@JesVillaArt) March 3, 2022 At first, fans thought the new console controllers offered different color variants. However, YouTuber TronicsFix published a tear-down video that reveals the secret upgrades made by Sony. 2022 PS5 DualSense Controller Secret Upgrades According to TomsGuide's latest report, Sony did not confirm the enhancements it made on its new PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers. However, thanks to the new tear-down video, the upgrades were confirmed since some internal parts are different from the ones integrated into the previous versions. Also Read: GameStop PS5 Restock 'Digital Bundle' Up: Pro Tip Says Wait a Few Minutes But, some people claimed that the enhancements found in the new Galactic Purple, Nova Pink, and Starlight Blue DualSense models are also integrated into the red and black versions. huntella. offers American Edition [Region one] PS5 Console + extra controller bundle N550,000 | DualSense Controller white N45,000 red or black N50,000 | Pulse 3D headset N70,000 Follow @HuntellaDotNet and DM to order. whatsApp: https://t.co/HdC2UzCaUP RT pic.twitter.com/Rwb2WUDzxt Laptops | HP | DELL | Lenovo | apple (@HuntellaDotNet) March 6, 2022 "Any controller that has the model number followed by a smaller capital "A" on the back will have these changes. Even the white and red/black if anyone is curious, a great way to tell without opening it up," said a YouTube user in the tear-down video's comment section. Now, what are these upgrades, and why did Sony release them? PS5 DualSense Controller's Upgrades One of the major enhancements made by Sony is the stronger spring on the DualSense controller's back shoulder buttons. This component upgrade is around thicker compared to the recent one. Sony specifically released this improvement to make the trigger buttons of the new DualSense stronger. Aside from this, the console developer also fixed the analog stick drift by replacing a small black piece with an identical green version. Right now, the giant tech manufacturer is still focusing on its other products, such as its upcoming smartphone called Xpersia Ace III. But, you will still see more DualSense controller improvements from Sony since it is one of the most popular gaming products in the market. If you want to see the exact appearances of the enhancements, you can view the actual tear-down video below. In other news, Amazon PS5 restock has been confirmed, which might happen this coming Mar. 31. Meanwhile, some rumors claimed that Sony would also release the most-awaited PS5 VRR support. For more news updates about PS5 DualSense controllers and other products of Sony, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: [RUMOR] New PS5 Pro Now Being Shipped by Sony! Mysteriously Delivering 1500 Pounds of Consoles This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Kevin Bhagat) iPhones Authorities in Alexandra, Virginia, had sentenced a Chinese citizen to prison for participating in a plan to defraud Apple out of $1 million. Man Tried to Defraud Apple The suspect, Teang Liu, together with two other Chinese nationals, had successfully defrauded Apple by sending out defective fake iPhones and demanding a real one as a replacement, according to MacObserver. According to the criminal complaint, the three Chinese nationals defrauded Apple out of more than 2,500 new iPhones and even tried to defraud Apple out of more than 600 real iPhones. Liu pleaded guilty in February 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was sentenced to a year in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Also Read: Buyer, Beware: This $100 Fake iPhone X Is A Security Nightmare Aside from imprisonment, Liu will have to pay a total of $577,780 in restitution and $57,780 in a forfeiture money judgment. Once Liu is released, he will be under supervision for a year, as per the Department of Justice's instructions. In 2016, Haiteng Wu, another Chinese citizen, recruited Liu. He also recruited his own wife, Jiahong Cai, also a Chinese citizen, to undertake fraudulent activities. From 2016 to 2018, the three Chinese citizens sent defective and fake iPhones to Apple and demanded a replacement. The fake iPhones came from Hong Kong and carried fake IMEI and serial numbers that corresponded to those from in-warranty iPhones. After getting real iPhone units as a replacement, the conspirators then sent them to their contacts abroad, including their contacts in Hong Kong, so they could sell them at standard prices. As for Liu, he was in charge of opening commercial mail agency mailboxes, mostly from UPS. Using fake IDs given to him by Wu, Liu would return inauthentic iPhones to different retail stores. He traveled as far as the Rocky Mountains and Florida to defraud Apple stores. The three Chinese citizens were able to pull off the scheme for years, and they got a total of $1 million from defrauding Apple. That is until they were caught in 2019, and they have been detained by the authorities since. They all pleaded guilty to their charges back in 2020, and their sentence was read to them earlier this year. Aside from Liu, Wu was sentenced to two years and two months in jail, while Cai was sentenced to 5 months in D.C jail. They are also ordered to be deported as soon as they've completed their jail time. Chinese Citizen in Oregon Defrauded Apple This is not the first time that Apple has been defrauded. Back in 2019, a Chinese man from Oregon was able to defraud Apple of 1,500 iPhones, according to Bloomberg. According to ABC News, Quan Jiang pulled off the scheme for two years. He sent fake iPhones to Apple, claiming that they would not turn on and needed to be replaced under warranty. He was able to get 1,500 authentic iPhones, which is $600 in total. The 30-year-old suspect was a former engineering student at a community college in Albany, Oregon. He pleaded guilty in federal court in May 2019 to trafficking in counterfeit goods. Related Article: How to Spot $160 Fake iPhone With Five Clear Signs! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By revoking Russia's "Most Favored Nation" status, the United States is creating an insurmountable rift within the international trade order it created after World War II. After 16 days of the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Russian troops are very close to Kiev. Below are the latest developments in this conflict as they happen. The U.S. will revoke the "Most Favored Nation" status for Russia. On Friday, President Joe Biden announced new trade sanctions which include a ban on importing Russian vodka, caviar, fish, shellfish and diamonds. The United States also decided to put an end to the principle of "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) in its commercial dealings with Russia, thus breaking with multilateral trade regulations and opening the door to the imposition of higher tariffs on Russian products. According to Biden, the elimination MFN principle would also be adopted by the Group of Seven (G7), which includes Germany, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Now, the withdrawal of the MNF treatment must be approved by the U.S. Congress, which is expected to happen easily since Democrats and Republicans are united on issues related to Russia. Revoling this principle of the World Trade Organization (WTO) implies that the United States and its allies could deny Russian firms access to their services markets and not protect their intellectual property rights. A Kremlin spokesperson says that "the U.S., undoubtedly, declared an economic war against Russia and they are waging this war. " https://t.co/pWnp16Bnrm Common Dreams (@commondreams) March 10, 2022 The Turkish President criticizes the United Nations and calls for its reform. During the Diplomatic Forum held in Antalya city, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that the United Nations is "bankrupt" because they failed to prevent the conflict in Ukraine. "Since the decisions of the United Nations General Assembly are not binding, no action has been taken to end the fighting", Erdogan pointed out, calling for a reform that annuls the "right to veto" within the UN Security Council (UNSC). "The world is bigger than five," he said, criticizing the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France, all of which have the power to veto decisions that might otherwise be made. Russia will react to Ukraine's use of foreign fighters. On Friday, President Vladimir Putin harshly criticized the presence of mercenaries from all over the world in Ukraine and pointed out that his country would react to their actions. "The Western sponsors of Ukraine and the Ukrainian regime do not hide it. They do it openly, in defiance of all norms of international law," he said. NATO does not want an open war with Russia. During the Diplomatic Forum taking place in the Turkish city of Antalya, the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said that his organization has "the responsibility to prevent this conflict from escalating beyond Ukraine's borders and becoming in an open war between Russia and NATO. | People dig trenches around the city in #Kyiv. Volunteers who want to defend the capital Kiev, while Russia's attacks on Ukraine continue, are digging trenches around the city. pic.twitter.com/0Y8ezyrqGd EHA News (@eha_news) March 11, 2022 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko meets with Putin in Moscow. This is their firts bilateral meeting since Russia began its special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24. President Putin is expected to talk with his counterpart about the current military situation and the development of negotiations with the Volodymyr Zelensky regime. Russia dismantles military airfields in western Ukraine. Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov announced attacks on military targets in the cities of Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, emphasizing that his country's forces are targeting exclusively military infrastructure. So far, however, the United Nations has recorded the deaths of at least 516 civilians. German public television reports again from Moscow. The two national German public television channels, ARD and ZDF, are reporting again from Russia. Last week, these chains decided to interrupt their activities from Moscow as a result of a new law that contemplates penalties of up to 15 years for the dissemination of false information. However, after an "in-depth analysis" of the scope of this law, the German public media decided to resume operations in their studios in Moscow. In 1888, Emile Zola was a writer covered in glory. However, from the top of his 48 years, he is overweight, suffers from shortness of breath and has the impression of having missed his life. Zola grows tired of his wife Alexandrine, who lets herself go and with whom he cannot have a child. In this new episode of the Europe 1 Studio podcast "At the heart of history", Clementine Portier-Kaltenbach recounts the meeting of the famous novelist with the one who will upset the course of his existence: the young and pretty Jeanne Rozerot. Robin Putnams life will be honored next weekend in Salt Lake City with a pair of performances of Maurice Durufles Requiem, Op. 9. Craig Jessop is Professor of Music at Utah State University and was one of the last people to see Robin alive while taking a train trip with his grandson. (Photo courtesy of Cindy and Doug Putnam) Ada, OK (74820) Today Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 72F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Nadia Sverida holds a sign she made to show her support for Ukraine at Lafayette Square where she was joined by about with about one hundred other people showing their support for the people of Ukraine and to oppose the Russian invasion of the Eastern European country in New Orleans, La. Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Several people in attendance had family members in Ukraine or Poland where over a million Ukrainian refugees have fled. Helena Moreno, the New Orleans councilmember at-large, authorized the displaying of the Ukrainian flag in the council chambers in support of the country. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) Andre Johnson pulls VOTE HERE signs from the storage unit to be added to the lot as voting machines are sorted for delivery from the BR storage warehouse for the Tuesday national and local general elections Monday November 2, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. Spencer Hudson was making drinks March 20 behind the bar at the Cats Meow in the French Quarter when he crumpled dead to the floor, shot in t The co-working sector is bouncing back as landlords emulate hotels with lifestyle amenities to lure tenants and employees back into the office. Embracing the new push to fill empty office floors, global real estate firm JLL has partnered with developer Goldfields in Melbourne to launch the first floor of luxurious The Loft in May. Landlords are emulating hotels to attract tenants with lifestyle amenities and location. The three-level, 3243-square-metre co-working space is in the $300 million Goldfields House commercial tower at 627 Chapel Street, South Yarra. It offers tenants the opportunity to flex up or down their leases as needs change, without the financial commitment of a long-term contract. Members will have access to all amenities in the A-grade commercial tower, not just within the office area, including a rooftop bar under construction, a business lounge, private bathrooms and infrared saunas, and technology such as contactless entry facilities, smart touch-screen showers and app-based monitoring of car chargers. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Those looking for plus-size models on the runway at this seasons ready-to-wear shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris were left with a serious case of the Emperors New Size 16 Clothes. Industry leaders have spoken for years about improving the approach to size inclusivity, culminating in Valentinos haute couture show in January, when designer Pierpaolo Piccioli dispensed with a traditional thin fit model and sent women with a variety of curves down the runway. This season the fit model was back working harder than ever, with only two of the 81 models straying from sample sizes. Sadly, two out of 81 was good odds compared to other shows in Paris, with Saint Laurent, Miu Miu and Stella McCartney failing to cast plus-size or even average size models. Balenciaga and Giorgio Armani both committed to moving tributes to the war in Ukraine but left plus-size talent out of the picture. I just dont understand it, says Chelsea Bonner, founder of Australian modelling agency Bella Management. Bonner specialises in curve talent, an industry term for plus-size models, having helped Robyn Lawley find international fame on the cover of Vogue Italia in 2011. Our agency is doing better than ever with more magazine work and advertising opportunities. We had two models that are really curvy work with Harpers Bazaar and theres a lot of television work, which used to be the land of size 6 and 8 models. What is the reluctance on the runway about? At the Paris ready-to-wear shows Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney and Miu Miu cast traditional models while Chloe used a plus-size model. Credit:Getty At the start of the fashion season in New York, historically the most size diverse city, there were signs of hope with reports of 51 plus-size model appearances on the runway. Its less impressive when that works out to 5.09 per cent of total models and a drop from 68 plus-size model appearances in September 2019. Advertisement Australian designer Dion Lee, returning to the New York Fashion Week line-up, failed to cast any plus-size models in his show, despite the label offering items in a size 16. We do use curve models for campaigns, shoots and sometimes for e-commerce but not necessarily all our shows, Lee said, immediately following his autumn/winter 2022 show. During New York Fashion Week Zimmermann released its collection with a short film featuring a plus-size model, after last year adding a new, larger size to its dress range. The size 4 is equivalent to a size 16 dress. In Australia, the average dress size is between sizes 14-16. Representatives for Zimmermann said that adding the size to their collection required no significant adjustments to their business. You would think that after COVID-19 designers would be looking for new customer bases and appealing to more women on the runway, Bonner says. The issue is also that the designers casting plus-size models tend to use the same ones again and again. They are not casting them in the same way as regular models. A model on the runway at New York Fashion Week for Dion Lees autumn/winter 2022 show and a model in Zimmermanns short film for their autumn/winter 2022 collection. Feeling the pressure of representation is Bedi Othow, one of the plus-size models participating in the Melbourne Fashion Festival. The South-Sudanese Australian is tackling the barriers of race as well as size. I dont want to just be the one, Othow says. I am the one plus-sized, dark-skinned model on the runway and to me, thats not representation. For every tall, thin beautiful model that I see, I want there to be another two, three, four curvy models. To me, thats representation. Advertisement By you having me as the only one on the runway might help break barriers but just make sure that next time there are more of us. Growing up in Melbourne, Othow had an interest in fashion but never thought about modelling because the models that she saw at that time were predominantly white and skinny. While in London, she was scouted on the street and found an agency before having to return to Melbourne for the COVID lockdown. Othows London agency encouraged her to continue her modelling journey in Australia. I just didnt think Australia would be ready, she says. In London its natural to see advertisements for models of all sizes and colour, but I feel as though its only starting to happen here. And then I decided to go for it because my whole life has been about breaking this bias. Within days of being in Melbourne Othow was signed by the People modelling agency, after being impressed by their inclusive approach of not segregating models into different divisions by size. Even the word plus-size Im not a fan of, Othow says. What is plus and what is minus? Its not maths. We are all different. I am just a model. Models Bedi Othow and Mikey Nguyen at the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit:Simon Schluter Advertisement Friends in Melbournes queer and creative communities have helped push model Mikey Nguyen onto the runway and through the doors of Chadwick modelling agency. After being approached to appear in this years runway shows Nguyen had to sign with an agency to meet the Melbourne Fashion Festivals protocols. Im incredibly proud to be a queer, Asian, person of colour and a bigger bodied person in the industry, Nguyen says. I never saw people who looked like this when I was growing up. I am what I needed when I was younger. At the menswear show for Melbourne Fashion Festival, featuring MJ Bale, Bassike and Nobody Denim, Nguyen drew rapturous applause when he applied his dancing skills, acquired in the vogueing and ballroom scene, to the runway. Maybe its a Melbourne thing, he says. There is a great sense of community here cheering each other on from the sidelines and elevating each other. Its an attitude and sense of camaraderie that should spread further in the world. Models Bedi Othow in the Independent Runway Show at the Collingwood Yards and Mikey Nguyen in Homie for the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit:Lucas Dawson Melbourne Fashion Festival has actively attempted to address size diversity in the industry, receiving increased support following the appearance of plus size US supermodel Ashley Graham on their runway in 2019. As a consumer-facing fashion event it has been an organic evolution in our casting with size inclusivity delivered as a customer expectation, in balance with industry machinations that have had to evolve to facilitate the production realities that go alongside such changes, says Yolanda Finch, acting chief executive for the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Advertisement Loading About the only trouble missing was a flood. Instead, rural Australia was beginning to be gripped by the Millennium Drought. Howard knew he was going to cop it. And so he set off to the city hall to listen to all those protesting voices. When he took the stage before the packed ranks of angry faces and journalists expecting a prime ministerial pratfall, he made an announcement. He would take every question. He promised he wouldnt leave until hed answered every one. More than an hour later, there were just three people left in the hall: John Howard, a woman whose rage at an unfair world could not be satisfied, and me. Outside, there seemed an exhausted respect, even among the hippies. The PM had at least listened, hadnt he? This week, another prime minister went to Lismore. A flood had become a catastrophe, and shock had turned into anger. Morrison, everyone knew, had been in enforced isolation with COVID-19, but to many rendered homeless and worse around the Northern Rivers for two weeks, the government had gone missing with him. Where was the declaration of a state of emergency? Loading Why, Morrison had promised and delivered a giant planeload of weapons and aid to Ukraine in less time than it had taken for the Australian Defence Force to be sent in worthwhile numbers to an Australian disaster. It was time for national leadership. Beyond time. Scott Morrison, however, knew what it was to be scorched during a national emergency. He was surely haunted by the memory of his post-Hawaii arrival in the bushfire-ruined community of Cobargo in January 2020, only to be heckled by survivors. Worse, there was toe-curling vision of him grabbing the limp arm of a firefighter who told him he didnt want to shake his hand. He was reduced to all but forcing a distraught young woman to accept the days second-most awkward handshake. The vision has followed him around like a vengeful wraith ever since. And so, when Morrison arrived in Lismore on Wednesday, a federal election a couple of months down the track, he didnt initially announce he was there. He went off to visit flood-struck households and a farmer, or so it was told later. Abandoned reporters and TV crews learnt he had taken with him his ever-present, taxpayer-funded personal photographer. Outrage ensued, and there was talk of boycotting any pictures that emerged from the PMs office. (This masthead has a policy of not using such pictures anyway). The PMs office, perhaps sensing a public relations disaster in the making, sent a message that the people being visited by Morrison hadnt wanted cameras intruding, and, by the way, no pictures from the personal photographer would be issued. So why had the PMs photographer been tagging along in the first place? Hadnt the PMs office heard of the tradition that when a prime minister and his guests didnt want a media circus, a pool would be arranged: one press photographer and one TV crew would record the event, and all media organisations would agree to use their work? It satisfied competing demands: the PMs movements would be recorded without a media whirl. After much silence, the PMs office issued a media alert by email. Morrison, it advised, would visit the Lismore Emergency Operations Centre at the city council chambers at 1.45pm. The email went to the media at 1.36pm. After waiting around all morning, reporters and camera crews had precisely nine minutes to scramble. When Morrison eventually arrived, he was driven around the back of the council chambers, shielded by a line of police. Out the front, protesters chanted the water is rising, no more compromising. But having waited hours, they didnt get to see their Prime Minister, let alone ask questions. Finally, much later, still safely sealed away in the council chambers, Morrison announced to the gathered media the declaration of a state of emergency. By then, of course, with a vacuum to be filled, those old scenes from Cobargo had been replayed on every TV screen. The implication, fair or not? Prime Minister Scott Morrison is afraid to face Australians when they are hurting. They might embarrass him. He needs a new adviser. John Howard might be a good start. When a distressed Bill Shorten wondered in an interview on Friday whether Kimberley Kitching would have been better off never going near politics, he was clearly admonishing Labor Party colleagues who he felt had treated his friend badly. He was also quite possibly, in his grief, taking himself to task. Kitching, who died on Thursday at the age of 52, owed her parliamentary career to Shorten. In September 2016 Stephen Conroy resigned suddenly from the Senate, leaving behind a plum spot in the upper house that belonged to the ALPs Right faction. As the Rights most senior member, Shorten used his position as federal leader to propose Kitching. Senator Kimberley Kitching is congratulated by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten after delivering her first speech in the Senate in 2016. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen To say this was a surprise is to put it mildly. Kitching and her husband Andrew Landeryou were longstanding pals of Shorten and his family. Landeryou had previously attracted public attention by publishing a controversial political news website. Kitching had served as a Melbourne City councillor and worked for the Health Services Union, itself mired in controversy, but had not been a major player in Labor politics. Her candidacy was either queried or opposed by many of Shortens colleagues across the ALP. They simply didnt think she was up to the task of replacing one of the caucuss most influential figures. Significantly, Anthony Albanese, still smarting after his failure months earlier to gather sufficient support to mount a leadership challenge to Shorten in the days after the 2016 election defeat, criticised her nomination and its captains pick foundations. The NSW government must help people move away from flood-prone areas and Australians need to adapt to the realities of a changed climate, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says following a visit to flood-ravaged Lismore this week. Mr Joyce told the Herald that residents should not be ordered off the floodplains but assisted to move through subsidies. However, this was the responsibility of state governments only, and he was sick of this idea that every time theres a problem that involves money its a federal government issue. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen It comes as NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts announced a review of development in flood-prone areas, including future housing projects and existing developments. It would be independent of government and completed within months, he told a budget estimates hearing on Friday. But Labor and the Greens said that was cold comfort for people whose homes had been destroyed by the recent floods and needed certainty about whether they would be allowed to rebuild. Labour Day is Victorias forgotten public holiday. The significance of the events it commemorates the 8-hour-day working day have faded from public memory. This is a great shame because Labour Day celebrates a homegrown achievement that is one of Melbournes greatest contributions to humanity. It comes from a glorious era between 1850 to around 1910 when Australia led the world in the advancement of human rights and democratic principles. The monument on the corner of Lygon and Victoria streets, Carlton, commemorating the 8-hour-day Credit:Wayne Taylor The 8-hour-day was a campaign by the labour movement in the 1850s that brought about a revolution in workers rights. It was led by skilled tradespeople who had immigrated to Australia for the gold rushes and had been influenced by the Chartist movement in Britain and the democratic crucible of the United States. In the 1800s, most Victorians worked up to 14 hours a day, six days a week, on a piece rate. There was no sick leave, no holiday leave and employers could sack employees at any time, without giving a reason. This story contains descriptions that may cause distress. A woman who used petrol to set her husband alight as their young children watched television nearby will spend at least eight years in jail for his death, after a judge labelled her crime horrific. On Friday, the Supreme Court heard Angela Surtees, 35, had shown little remorse and merely self-pity for Daniel Surtees senseless death, and even sent letters to her dead husbands brother a year after the killing, blaming him for turning off her husbands life support. Daniel and Angela Surtees. Credit:Facebook The court also heard harrowing details of how Ms Surtees 11-year-old son, who has autism, saw the glow from the sunroom and ran to grab a jug of water to try to extinguish the flames before calling triple zero as Mr Surtees, 36, writhed in pain on the front lawn. London: A British police officer has pleaded guilty to the rape and kidnapping of 33-year-old Sarah Everard who went missing while walking home in London earlier this year. Her body was found in a bag in woodland in the county of Kent one week after she vanished in a case that outraged Britain. Her death prompted Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William, to pay tribute at a vigil for Evarard. Sarah Everard. Credit:Metropolitan Police Police officer Wayne Couzens, who joined the Metropolitan police force in 2018, was charged in March with Everards kidnap and murder. On Tuesday, he admitted to kidnapping Everard unlawfully and by force or fraud and raping the marketing executive. He did not enter a plea for her murder, but those gathered in court heard that he had accepted responsibility for her death. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In the besieged city of Kharkiv, where nobody can ever rest, seven-year-old Volodymyr Baklanov sleeps in tranquillity in his hospital bed more than a week after an attack that killed his mother. The bandages on Volodymyrs head cover the wounds where bullets struck the top of his skull. Apart from the bandages, a little scratch on his nose is the only evidence of the attack. His uncle Sergei Baklanov watches over him. When Volodymyrs eyes flicker open briefly, his uncle leans over to caress his cheek. Volodymyr Baklanov was badly hurt in the same hail of gunfire that killed his mother. Credit:Kate Geraghty This is Kharkiv Number 4 Hospital, a major trauma hospital on the front line of the invasion, in the heart of a city that has been bombed daily for a fortnight. The hospital is bearing the brunt of the attacks, with 15 to 20 wounded civilians being treated every day. It is also the first aid point for wounded soldiers, before they are sent to a nearby military hospital. Advertisement All is calm in reception, where Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by the Eurythmics plays over the speakers. There is no sense of panic, just a few empty stretchers. But even inside the hospital, we hear artillery shots to the north as Ukrainian and Russian troops exchange fire. Fifteen to 20 wounded civilians, such as this man with facial injuries from a mine explosion, are rushed into the hospital every day. Credit:Kate Geraghty We enter another room, and the war hits us hard in the face. A man in a wheelchair has bloody bandages all over his pulsating face, as one of his swollen hands grasps onto a single white tissue. The doctors tell us he has just been injured by an exploding mine, before he is rushed off to surgery. As the war rages outside, we are introduced in one of the intensive care wards to a nine-year-old boy with shrapnel wounds all over his face and an intubation tube in his mouth. He was hit by a rocket attack a few days ago and is still struggling to hold on to life. One hand is loosely tied to the bed to prevent him from moving in a panic when he wakes. The nine-year-old boys wrist is tethered to the bed with some bandage to stop him flailing around when he wakes. He was severely inured when a mine exploded. Credit:Kate Geraghty The Baklanov family still doesnt know if they were shot by Russian or Ukrainian soldiers. It all happened on February 28, the fourth night of the invasion, and tensions were high. Advertisement Volodymyrs mother Dariya was trying to move her two boys - Volodymyr and his three-old-old brother Viktor - from the Saltivka district on the firing line in the north-east to Sergeis place in a safer part of the city. The windows of their home had all been smashed; a Russian air strike had destroyed a building nearby. Dariyas husband Stanislav Baklanov was in Uzbekistan on a business trip, so Sergei and his wife came to help them move. Dariya rushed her two little boys into one car, while Sergei and his wife followed in theirs. When they came to a checkpoint, they were fired at. Dariya was shot directly in the head and killed instantly, while Volodymyr was struck in the same string of rapid gunfire. My wife was shot and she was killed, and my first child Volodymyr - he got shot in the head, says the boys father, a 34-year-old engineer, who is now staying underground at the hospital. They were shot at by an automatic gun... I dont know from whose side [Russian or Ukrainian] because that day was a very dangerous day - there was a lot of shooting. Advertisement Asked what his message was for Russia, he said: Stop the war. Because its not only politicians who pay. Civilians struggle from this war. I want to work and live with my family and grow with my children, I dont want war, he says. As Kharkiv endures daily shelling, families huddle in the hospital basement for safety. Credit:Kate Geraghty Stanislav, who did not want to have his photo taken, is one of about 1000 people - including patients, family and staff - who are currently staying in the hospitals basement, which resembles an underground metro station. Three-year-old son Viktor, who survived the attack without any physical injuries, sits on a bed in the hospitals underground playing a game on his electronic tablet. Everywhere in Kharkiv, there are long lines outside pharmacies and petrol stations. After a fortnight of daily shelling, many districts lie in ruins and over 300 residential buildings have no heating. The death toll is still unknown in a city with no time to count the dead. Stanislav fears the city is running out of medicine. We have a whole hospital of injured people, but without medicine, he says. Advertisement Director of neurosurgery Oleksandr Dukhivskyy outside the intensive care ward. Credit:Kate Geraghty The hospitals managing director of neurosurgery, Oleksandr Dukovskyy, says there are currently 55 civilians in the hospital who are being treated for trauma from rocket attacks and shelling. Rockets attack every day. Two days ago, we had a big rocket attack over all of the perimeter of the city Kharkiv, he says. The Russian aggressor is shooting at civilian buildings where people live. He says the war is shocking for my people and for my country. In the hospital, every day and every night we jump in the operating room and we make first aid for soldiers and civilian citizens of Ukraine. Sergei Baklanov and many other family members of the wounded are staying in the hospitals basement while their loved ones are treated upstairs. Credit:Kate Geraghty Advertisement Chicago: Actor Jussie Smollett, one-time star of the TV drama Empire, has been sentenced in a Chicago court to 30 months probation and 150 days in jail for staging a hate crime against himself. Smollett, 39, was also ordered to pay $US120,000 ($163,000) in restitution and fined $US25,000 by Cook County Circuit Court Judge James Linn. The city of Chicago released two 911 calls made after Empire actor Jussie Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack. Credit:AP Smollett was found guilty by a jury in December of five of the six felony disorderly conduct counts he faced, one for each time he was accused of lying to police. Prosecutors said Smollett, who is black and gay, lied to police when he told them he was accosted on a dark Chicago street by two masked strangers in January 2019. This month, Kate Baldwin returns to the stage to take on the role of Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County at New Jersey's Axelrod Performing Arts Center. Based on the novel by Robert James Waller, the Jason Robert Brown-Marsha Norman musical tells the story of Baldwin's Francesca, a war bride who develops an unexpected affair with photographer Robert Kincaid (Aaron Lazar) in Winterset, Iowa. The highly anticipated production is directed by original Broadway cast member Hunter Foster and runs March 11-27. Baldwin spoke with TheaterMania about the role of Francesca, reuniting with co-star Lazar every decade or so, and the message that will resonate with audiences when they walk out of the theater. Kate Baldwin ( Tricia Baron) This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. How did you get involved with this production of The Bridges of Madison County? I think it was in October or November when they offered me the role of Francesca. I spoke with my friend Hunter Foster about his ideas for the show, and we talked about what it could be. Francesca is a role that is really attractive. It's a fabulous score with some of the most beautiful music you've ever heard written for musical theater. What was your first introduction to The Bridges of Madison County? I saw the movie in theaters when it came out and admired it. It was the mid-'90s, and I was probably in college. A story about two people later in life finding each other was a little over my head. I didn't really grasp the real depths of what they were doing. I went to the closing night of the Broadway production and I remember Kelli O'Hara came forward and gave a speech. I've been talking to her about our production. I loved the musical, and I thought it should've had a longer life on Broadway so more people could've seen it. When Hunter offered the part to me, I picked up the book. So I had all three versions of the story to marinate on. Tell us about Francesca. Francesca is an immigrant from Italy. She's a war bride who came to the United States at the end of World War II. In our version, she was born in and grew up in Naples, Italy, which was one of the hardest hit cities in World War II. It was devastated by the bombs and occupied by Germans. The city itself was a dangerous place to live. In my imagination, Francesca escaped the way that many women did. She married an American soldier and came over to the United States not really knowing anything about it. She was hoping for the best and for the American dream she heard about to become a reality for her. She comes to Winterset, Iowa, at a farm that was owned by her husband's family for over 100 years, and becomes a farm wife in rural Iowa. It's a very different existence than what she had dreamed of as a girl growing up studying art. In our production, I pull out my sketchpad and I draw the bridge and the cornfields. I sort of leaned into the idea that she was an artist first. Maybe her artistic eye and love of something that is seen as less than useful in Iowa makes her an outsider in a rural community. Francesca's Italian heritage also makes her an outsider and still has her accent, even though she speaks perfect English and has lived in the US for 20 years. What do you bring to the part that is different from those who previously played Francesca? My version of Francesca always tends to go towards humor. I always want to go for a joke because I think life is funny and the absurdity of life is a great thing to play. I think audiences enjoy watching awkwardness and a person who is trying really hard to keep themselves together but failing. That's what lights me up when I look at a person like Francesca who is pulled in so many different directions. Part of my vision in telling the story is to make the audience root for Francesca and Robert and believe in them. I think humor is a great way to do that, showing how the two of them get each other and lighten each other's burdens. What has it been like working with Aaron Lazar again? It's fabulous. We've worked together every 10 years and have known each other for 20 years. We worked on a show that didn't go anywhere and became friends. About 10 years ago, we reunited for another show. Here we are 10 years later, at the beginning of the third decade of our friendship working on this show together. He is just fabulous. He is a terrific actor, spontaneous and fun, and also incredibly real onstage. He has a voice that just won't quit, and he's gonna be so good in this show. Do you have a favorite scene or song from the show? My favorite song is the one I get to sing at the very end; it's called "Always Better." It's a song that, when I saw the show, made me well up with tears. I finally stepped back and said, "OK, I get it. I get what they're trying to do here." The message of the song is that love is always better when you have a choice. Choose to love. That's a wonderful message. What do you hope audiences will take away from The Bridges of Madison County? That love is always better. There's room for all kinds of love in the world and in your heart. For tickets to The Bridges of Madison County, click here. We're just beginning to appreciate the flowering of creativity sown during the pandemic, when so many writers were cloistered inside their homes (and their own brains). That includes songwriters, 21 of whom have come together under the banner of Prospect Theater Company for Notes From Now, the new theatrical concert now enjoying its world premiere (and likely only production) at 59E59. The form of the show is not novel, and will feel familiar to fans of Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World or (more appropriately) William Finn's Elegies (written in response to grief accumulated through the AIDS crisis and the September 11 attacks). Seven talented actors perform 17 numbers, all of which revolve around the pandemic years. "Don't Swat the Bee" (music and lyrics by Adam Gwon) is about a man (a sympathetic John Yi) whose isolation has left him depressed and anxious. "Ovid" (music and lyrics by Jeff Blumenkrantz) is a sassy little ditty about a man whose self-esteem rises and falls with sourdough (performed by Josh Lamon, who could sell burnt Wonder Bread to a French baker). "Mr. What's-Your-Name" (music and lyrics by Paulo K. Tirol) sets remote learning to a rocking beat; "The Lights in the Kitchen" (music and lyrics by Masi Asare) turns one woman's makeshift Zoom set into the Copacabana (marvelous old-school showmanship from Ashley Blanchet); and "Craving You" (music and lyrics by Jay Adana) imagines one very unlucky couple who have been on 41 Zoom dates, but have never met in person because one or the other keeps testing positive for Covid. The sight of performers Thani Brant and Aline Mayagoitia sensuously probing their own nostrils with antigen swabs as they sing of their red-hot desire is simultaneously the most hilarious and revolting part of the evening. Thani Brant, Judy McLane, Josh Lamon, Aline Mayagoitia, Darron Hayes, and John Yi perform "Polarized" by Peter Mills in Notes From Now at 59E59. ( Richard Termine) It's not until the ninth song, the driving and melodic "Under the Snow" (music by Jaime Lozano, lyrics by Georgie Castilla, and powerfully performed by Aline Mayagoita) that Notes From Now finally escapes the oppressive cloud of Covid. Personally, I heaved a sigh of relief from behind my mask. That quickly turned to laughter in the full-cast number "Polarized," which brilliantly tells the story of political tribalism through the image of polar bears on ever-fracturing ice sheets (music and lyrics by Peter Mills, who is consistently one of the cleverest songwriters in New York). Mills returns later with the torch song "Coming Back to You" (performed by Lamon), which is destined to become a sleeper hit among musical theater fanatics. It easily earns the biggest cheers of the night. Other songs touch on the social upheaval of 2020: "We Are Building Our Future" (music and lyrics by Troy Anthony) is an anthem for the most generous aspirations of those who marched in the streets with Black Lives Matter (Darron Hayes glowingly leads the ensemble). Numbers like "Mount Beacon" (music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver) and the slightly underdeveloped "A Song for Now" (music by Ethan Pakchar and Douglas Lyons, lyrics by Lyons) examine the personal ramifications of these two years of grueling, often painful change. In no song is this better crystalized than "Soon" (music and lyrics by Michelle J. Rodriguez), about a woman who moved to New England right at the beginning of the pandemic and who has just lost her only companion in this strange territory her cat (Aline Mayagoita pulls our heartstrings while lucidly conveying every lyric). Aline Mayagoitia performs "Under the Snow" by Jaime Lozano and Georgie Castilla, one of 17 songs in Notes From Now. ( Billy Bustamante) The emotional effect is not as palpable (nor are the circumstances as plausible) in "Still Got a Hold on Me" (music and lyrics by Gretchen Cryer), in which Judy McLane plays a woman who discovers her 60-year-old partner's twentysomething lover following his death from Covid, prompting her to drivesomewhere. The memory of her dead beau may have a hold on this woman, but we are left wishing that she would keep both hands on the steering wheel. Such quibbles aside, director and choreographer Billy Bustamante helms a competent staging that gives each song due deference while leaving little dead air between numbers. Rodrigo Munoz costumes the actors in street clothes that are easily modifiable with accessories depending on the needs of the number. The audio balance is perfect under the sound design of Ben Scheff, conveying the dynamic nuances in the music direction of the delightfully named Sean Peter Forte. The central piece of Riw Rakkulchon's set resembles a giant Zoom light ring made of building blocks, with compartments for stowing props. This allows Bustamante to create endless configurations, which are further differentiated by Shannon Clarke's lighting. John Yi, Thani Brant, Aline Mayagoitia, Darron Hayes, Josh Lamon, Ashley Blanchet, and Judy McLane star in Notes From Now, directed by Billy Bustamante for Prospect Theater Company at 59E59. ( Richard Termine) A network of fake flowering vines hangs over the stage. They seem out of place floating in the void of the black-walled theater, but they all point to the finale number, "Bloom" (lyrics by Alexandra Elle, music by Stephen Schwartz), a hymn of resilience celebrating those of us who made it through the last two years. It is a more appropriate visual metaphor than the creators might realize. While I have no doubt that many of these songs will find their way into audition binders, as a theatrical venture Notes From Now is doomed to wither like wisteria in June. Already, with mandates and masks falling everywhere, it feels an awful lot like Notes From Then an artifact of the theater's lingering obsession with Covid. The real challenge for theatermakers going forward will not be to reckon with the effects of the pandemic, but to find a way to move beyond them, as so much of the world already has. Mitsubishi Motors Announces Santander Consumer USA As New Preferred Finance Partner FRANKLIN, Tenn. and DALLAS, March 10, 2022 -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) and Santander Consumer USA Inc. (SC) today announce a new partnership to provide customer and dealer financing programs that will help MMNA achieve its goal of making the car-buying experience fast, fair and fun. The announcement comes as Mitsubishi Motors experiences record-breaking sales success, led by the all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, and welcomes a new generation of customers into the brand. "Mitsubishi Motors is celebrating 40 years of doing business in the U.S. in 2022, and our future has never been brighter. We are turning heads with one of the freshest showrooms in the industry, we are shattering sales records, and our new partnership with Santander is going to play a key role in taking our success to the next level," said MMNA Chief Operating Officer Mark Chaffin. "Santander's history of delivering outstanding customer service to both dealer partners and customers will be the foundation for the next chapter in MMNA's growth." Santander Consumer USA is a full-service consumer finance business focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to dealers and customers across the full credit spectrum. Santander has more than 25 years of experience in auto financing and servicing. "Our experience creating and managing relationships, supporting dealer success and delivering industry-leading platforms, programs and training makes Santander Consumer USA the perfect finance and servicing partner to support the tremendous momentum that Mitsubishi Motors is experiencing," said Santander Consumer USA President of Auto Relationships Bruce Jackson. "We look forward to putting more customers in Mitsubishi vehicles, providing best-in-class service and celebrating many more successes in the future." For more information on Mitsubishi Motors' full lineup, visit mitsubishicars.com. About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA was the top-ranked Japanese brand in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality Study, ranking third overall and tied with Lexus. In its Environmental Targets 2030, MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has set a goal of a 40 percent reduction in the CO2 emissions of its new cars by 2030 through leveraging EVs with PHEVs as the centerpiece to help create a sustainable society. With headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, and corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Virginia, MMNA directly and indirectly employs more than 8,000 people across the United States. For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at 615-257-2698 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com. About Santander Consumer USA Inc. Santander Consumer USA Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a full-service consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to our more than 3 million customers across the full credit spectrum. SC, which began originating retail installment contracts in 1997, had an average managed asset portfolio of approximately $64 billion (for the first quarter ended December 31, 2021). The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc., and is part of Madrid, Spain-based global banking leader Banco Santander. For more information about Santander Consumer USA, please visit www.santanderconsumerusa.com. 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. Indiana looks to become a nuclear power state with passage of bill to OK small nuclear reactors Citizen Soldiers and Citizen Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard collect specimens for COVID-19 testing Sept. 1, 2020, at the Waukesha County Expo Center in Waukesha. Instant unlimited access to all of our E-Editions and content on thechronicleonline.com. The Chronicle E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Du Bois, PA (15801) Today Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. High 62F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High around 55F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. 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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 Adriana Cohen is a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. To find out more about Adriana Cohen and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. An award-winning political journalist, John L. Micek is Editor-in-Chief of The Pennsylvania Capital-Star in Harrisburg, Pa. Email him at jmicek@penncapital-star.com and follow him on Twitter @ByJohnLMicek. Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. Forest City, NC (28043) Today Variable clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon hours. High 84F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Mayor Eric Garcetti's path to becoming U.S. ambassador to India hit a potential snag Thursday when a senior senator said he wants the confirmation vote delayed pending an investigation into whether the mayor knew about, and ignored, sexual harassment and assault allegations against his former senior advisor. In a letter made available by Politico, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said he would object to Garcetti's nomination because of "numerous credible allegations from multiple whistleblowers" alleging the mayor had knowledge of an ignored cases of sexual alleged harassment by a close advisor. "Mayor Garcetti may very well be fully qualified, but at this time, the Senate needs to look at these allegations further," he added. In February, the nonprofit law firm Whistleblower Aid filed a complaint on behalf of Garcetti's former communications director accusing the mayor of perjury while he was questioned during his nomination hearing in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the sexual harassment allegations against his former advisor, Rick Jacobs. Jacobs was accused in a 2020 lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Matthew Garza, who claims Garcetti witnessed the misconduct but turned a blind eye to it. Garcetti has denied the allegations in the past -- and did so again during his hearing, telling the Senate panel he has a "zero tolerance" policy for sexual harassment. The mayor has previously claimed he didn't know about Garza's accusations at the time or until the lawsuit became public in July 2020. In response to Grassley's letter, the mayor's office said in a statement to City News Service Thursday afternoon: "Repeating a malicious falsehood will never turn a lie into the truth. The Mayor has testified under oath multiple times, including before the U.S. Senate, and stands by his testimony unequivocally: he absolutely did not witness nor was he informed of any of the behavior being alleged. The Mayor has spent the better part of his life advocating aggressively on this issue, and had he been aware of any such behavior, he absolutely would have acted to stop it." The White House stood by Garcetti in a statement to Politico, saying that the mayor "has been clear that he takes any allegations of harassment very seriously and has made clear this type of misconduct is unacceptable in his office in any form ... the president has confidence in Mayor Garcetti and believes he'll be an excellent representative in India." Major General Borys Kremenetskyi, defense attache with the Embassy of Ukraine, listens to Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova as she speaks during a news conference at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) 100 Americans Approved to Join Fight Against Russia: Ukrainian Officer Approximately 100 U.S. citizens have been cleared to join Ukrainian forces fighting against Russia, part of a wave of some 20,000 foreigners who have been approved after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for help. The Americans include veterans who fought in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including helicopter pilots. They and other foreigners who have moved to help really feel that this war is unfair, unprovoked, Ukraines military attache, Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenetskyi, said in Washington after meeting with U.S. defense officials. They feel that they have to go and help. Despite top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, discouraging Americans from going to fight in Ukraine, the embassy in Washington has heard from at least 6,000 people inquiring about volunteering for service since Russia invaded Ukraine. The vast majority of that group are American citizens, according to Kremenetskyi, who oversees the screening of potential U.S. recruits. Half the potential recruits were quickly rejected and didnt even make it to a Zoom interview, the general said. They lacked the required military experience, had a criminal background, or werent suitable for other reasons such as age, including a 16-year-old boy and a 73-year-old man. Some who expressed interest were rejected because the embassy said it couldnt do adequate vetting. The general didnt disclose the methods used to screen people. Those approved must make their own way to Poland, where they are to cross at a specified point, with their own protective gear but without a weapon, which they will get after they arrive. They will be required to sign a contract to serve, without pay, in the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine. A source from the legion told The Epoch Times in a Facebook message that volunteers need military or combat experience. At least 550 Canadians and over 1,000 Americans have joined the legion, according to the source. Fight for Ukraine, a group helping interested Canadians prepare to apply, recommends getting a pack that includes a satellite phone, a battery charger, and a pair of walkie-talkies. A poster instructs foreigners how to apply to join the Ukraine military. (Courtesy International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine) A lot of volunteers come with many years of military experience. Many have been in various combat situations and thus can help Ukrainian Armed Forces right upon arrival. This saves time that Ukraine would have to spend on training new fighters and can save lives of both fighters and civilians, the legion source said. Provided Americans who join arent violating international rules or committing war crimes and are adhering to Ukrainian law, they should avoid legal problems, Mary Beth Long, former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs and a professor at the Penn State School of International Affairs, told The Epoch Times. Under U.S. law, Americans need to steer clear from exporting technology or techniques to Ukraine that the Ukrainians cant obtain elsewhere. Retired military personnel, meanwhile, arent supposed to fight for another country, though getting paid through a third party, if payment is rendered, could help them avoid repercussions for joining the fight. As long as they are, as a practical matter, on the Ukraine side of the conflict, and theyre not taking and handing over the kind of technical equipment that Ukraine would not otherwise be authorized to have, theyre pretty safe, Long said. The U.S. government has said Americans shouldnt take part in the war. U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine, deputy White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in a recent briefing. Weve been very clear for some time in calling on Americans who may have been resident in Ukraine to leave, and making clear to Americans who may be thinking of traveling there not to go, Blinken added later. Other countries have threatened prosecution of certain nationals if they join; still others have encouraged interested citizens to apply to join. Zelensky, Ukraines president, issued a call on Feb. 27 for help from foreigners. The invasion is the beginning of a war against Europe, against European structures, against democracy, against basic human rights, against a global order of law, rules, and peaceful coexistence, according to his office, which added that Zelensky was appealing to all citizens of the world, friends of Ukraine, peace and democracy while making clear anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe, and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals. Ukrainian law lets foreigners join the Ukrainian military on a voluntary basis. The international legion, a group inside the armed forces entirely composed of foreigners, was formed at the time. Two foreign fighters from the UK ready to depart toward the front line in Lviv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. (Kal Pfaffenbach/Reuters) Incentives for joining include being eligible for Ukrainian citizenship. People on their way to the front line have spoken of seeing a need to act. Everybody likes to talk about freedom but freedom only really goes to people who are willing to show up and fight for itwhether it be at the ballot box or the war, Eric Creager, a Minnesota resident, told CTV Canada on his way to Ukraine. Im a little nervous, to be honest, Michael Ferkol, an American, told Reuters in Lviv. But at the same time, its not about me. Its about the people that are suffering. Ukrainian officials estimated as of Wednesday that some 20,000 foreigners had volunteered. Ukraine was also seeing a response from Ukrainian nationals, with nearly 12,000 arriving in the 24 hours leading up to March 9, according to the legion. Not everybody who made it to the region ended up fighting. Keiran Murphy, a Briton who used to serve in the military, wanted to join the Ukrainian military but decided against it because he was told hed have to stay for months. My boys 11. So to leave him for maybe six months is too long, Murphy told The Epoch Times in Poland, near the border with Ukraine. He is now helping out with a humanitarian mission. The number of volunteers matters less than their skills, experience, and potential for cohesion Long, the military expert, said. Deploying foreigners in their own groups is a smart move, because they can be used for precision missions very tactically, she added. Russian officials have warned the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine, saying they will not enjoy the status of prisoners of war. At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told state media recently. Kremenetskyi, the Ukrainian military official, said the volunteers are not mercenaries who are coming to earn money, describing them as people of goodwill who are coming to assist Ukraine to fight for freedom. Dan Skorbach, Jack Phillips, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Four people were killed when a vehicle, shown here at the Harvey police station, collided with a train near 155th and Halsted streets in south suburban Phoenix, on March 9, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS) 4 Killed When SUV Hits Freight Train in Chicago Suburb, Officials Say By Shanzeh Ahmad From Chicago Tribune CHICAGOFour people from the Chicago area who were found dead in an SUV that burst into flames after the vehicle hit a freight train early Wednesday in south suburban Phoenix have been identified, officials said. The driver, Jeremy Robinson, 37, of Riverdale, and the passengers Xavier Moore, 23, of Chicago, Tieasha Rush, 28, of Chicago, and Jada Moore, 39, of Chicago were killed, said Jason Baumann, a spokesman for the city of Harvey and the Harvey police. Harvey police and firefighters responded to the train tracks at East 155th Street and South Halsted Avenue after being contacted by Phoenix police around 2 a.m. for a report of a vehicle crashing into the last rail car of a moving CSX freight train, Baumann said. For an unknown reason, the vehicle, a 2018 Dodge Durango, went through the protective gate that stops cars from going on the tracks and hit the last rail car of the train as it was passing by. Baumann said the CSX freight train was just about finished going through the tracks at that spot, and they hit the final end of the train. The SUV started on fire upon impact and was found in flames when authorities arrived. The fire was put out, and the four occupants were deceased. The SUV was taken to the Harvey Police Department where victims were extricated from the vehicle. The Cook County medical examiners office was involved, and the families of the four who died have been notified. No other injuries were reported, and Baumann said there are no signs of foul play. Baumann said the Harvey polices part in the investigation has concluded as of Wednesday afternoon, and the case has been returned to Phoenix police for processing. 2022 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Russian troops in uniforms without insignia are seen atop of a tank with the letter "Z" painted on its sides, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters) Around 16,000 Volunteer Foreign Fighters to Help Russia in War Against Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday gave the green light for volunteers from abroad to head to combat zones in eastern Ukraine to bolster Russian forces in the war. Putin made the remarks at a Security Council meeting, according to Russian state news agency Tass, which described the move as the provision of military assistance to Donbass on a no-cost basis, apparently in a bid to distinguish between volunteer fighters and paid mercenaries. Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations of sending mercenaries into the conflict. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu was cited by Tass as saying that there have been over 16,000 requests from so-called volunteers, mostly in the Middle East, who are ready to come to the pro-Russian separatist-controlled regions of Lugansk and Donetsk and take part in what they believe is a liberation movement. The 16,000 figure mirrors the number cited by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky when he announced several days ago that foreign volunteers would be coming to Ukraine to help resist Russian forces. Ukraine is already greeting foreign volunteers. The first 16,000 are already on their way to protect freedom and life for us, and for all, Zelensky said in a video posted on Facebook. Ukrainian law allows foreigners to join the Ukrainian military on a voluntary basis, with incentives including being eligible for Ukrainian citizenship. Around 100 U.S. citizens have been cleared to join Ukrainian forces fighting against Russia. Two foreign fighters from the UK are ready to depart towards the front line in Lyiv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. (Kal Pfaffenbach/Reuters) Putin, in his remarks to the Security Council, accused the West of openly sending mercenaries to fight on the side of the government in Kiyv. As for the mercenaries from all over the world being sent to Ukraine, we see that they do not conceal it, the Western sponsors of Ukraine, the Ukrainian regime, do not hide it, they do it openly, neglecting all norms of international law, Putin said. Ukraines Ministry of Defense, for its part, has accused Russia of enlisting mercenaries affiliated with the Wagner group, an off-the-books private military outfit reportedly run by Putin associate Yvgeney Prigozhin, to fight in Ukraine. Prigozhin has always denied any links to Wagner. That followed a report from British newspaper The Times claiming that over 400 Wagner-linked mercenaries had been sent to Kyiv with orders from the Kremlin to assassinate Zelensky. There have been reports of a surge in demand for private military contractors in the context of the war in Ukraine. Robert Young Pelton, a Canadian American author and expert on private military companies told the BBC that there was a frenzy in the market for private military contractors to take on missions in Ukraine, including for help with logistics to extractions. Tass also cited Putin as saying Russia should meet its volunteers half way and help cover the costs of transporting them to combat zones. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Having dark skin does not mean you are protected from skin cancer. (Fuse/thinkstockphotos.com) Australia Trials Painless Skin Cancer Treatment A new non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) treatment is being trialled in Australia for efficacy and comfort, quality of life and cosmetic outcomes for patients. Australia has the highest incidence of NMSCs in the world, so it is imperative that we investigate new treatment options and continue to improve patient outcomes, Siddhartha Baxi, a researcher of the study, said. Non-melanoma cancers-the less serious form of skin cancer-currently account for about 99 percent of skin cancers diagnosed each year, with the Cancer Council predicting that around two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70. The international EPIC-Skin clinical study led by OncoBeta GmbH will be testing the companys Rhenium-SCT, a radioactive paste that kills cancer cells when applied by doctors to the affected area. Two hundred Australian patients will be treated with Rhenium-SCT and monitored over the next two years, and as a part of the international study, trials through study centres located in Australia, Austria, Germany, and the UK will also be conducted. Rhenium-SCT, the single-session radiotherapy was made to be a painless, personalised, and non-invasive radiotherapy for eliminating skin cancer. The treatment uses a paste that contains radioactive Rhenium-188 isotopes that releases electrons capable of penetrating human tissue of up to 2 to 3 mm deep. The electrons kill the targeted cancer cells and in doing so encourages immune repair. The half-life of Rhenium-188 is only 17 hours and allows for a short treatment duration of 30 minutes to 3 hours. Apart from evaluating efficacy of Rhenium-SCT, the EPIC-Skin study also has an emphasis on patient reported outcomes such as quality of life, treatment comfort and cosmetic outcomes. OncoBetas statement released on Mar. 10 wrote that patients in the study will utilise OncoBetas Clinical Study app, providing a simple and streamlined way to record their experiences. Gerhard Dahlhoff, Medical Director at OncoBeta said that Rhenium-SCT offers a new way of treating NMSC. Rhenium-SCT can be applied directly to an affected area, without harming or scarring surrounding tissue. This can have a profound effect on patient quality of life, where function or aesthetics are concerned. Jan McGrath was one of the first Australian patients to have Rhenium-SCT and received her treatment on Feb. 25 for a basal cell carcinoma found on her ear. McGrath, who has previously undergone traumatic surgeries for other skin cancers, told the AAP that it was a very pleasant experience. I had to wait nearly three hours to let it do its thing. So, I just sat in a nice chair and watched the telly. Rhenium-SCT is currently approved for use in Australia, Europe, and South Africa. More people will be able to participate in the trial as its rolled out in clinics in NSW and Western Australia. The AAP contributed to this report. An arriving Qantas Airbus A330 aircraft taxis at Auckland international airport in Auckland, New Zealand on Feb. 28, 2022. (David Rowland/AFP via Getty Images) Australian Airlines to Charge More for Flight Tickets Australians will have to pay more the next time they book their flight tickets as airlines are going to pass the steeply rising fuel costs on to customers soon, Qantas CEO has warned. During his speech at the Australian Financial Review Business Summit in Sydney on March 8, Alan Joyce, the chief executive of Qantas, said that airfares would go up by seven percent if oil prices were staying at US$120 a barrel. Although the seven percent increase was not massive compared to the 30 percent rise in petrol prices, it would have an impact considering the levels of travel out there, he said. In addition, Joyce mentioned that if oil prices surpassed the US$120 level, airline ticket prices would rise by one percent per US$4 increase in fuel costs. Now, unfortunately, if they stay at these levels, airfares are going to have to go up, and were going to have to pass them on, he said. Additionally, Joyce said the extent of the increase in flight ticket prices depended on demand. As demand was currently ahead of supply in both domestic and overseas markets after Australia reopened the border with the rest of the world, airlines were confident in their ability to push up prices. So our ability to get those airfares up, our ability to recover that is there on the international, and a lot now depends on what happens here domestically, that continued recovery and how the market reacts in the second half, he said. Regarding Qantas, Joyce said the airline was in a better position than a lot of domestic and international competitors and could take time to react to higher fuel prices because the company was protected by financial hedging, a risk management practice used by businesses to offset potential losses in investments through investing in a related asset in the opposite position. So our hedging position is we are 90 percent hedged until June. The following quarter were 50 percent hedged, and the last quarter of this calendar year, were around 30 percent, he said. However, the Qantas CEO emphasised that hedging was not the solution to increasing fuel prices, and the company could not hedge for infinity. So airline prices would eventually increase. Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce speaks during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 23, 2017. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Meanwhile, global oil prices (U.S. light crude) currently stood at US$106 per barrel on March 10 after a sharp fall due to the UAEs announcement the country would encourage other OPEC+ members to increase production to relieve high fuel costs. The move came shortly after the U.S. government imposed a ban on Russian oil imports on March 8, which caused disruptions in global energy shipments and pushed fuel prices in the country to an all-time high level. There have been forecasts from JP Morgan Chase & Co and Bank of America that oil prices could soar to US$185 to US$200 per barrel following the disruptions to Russian oil flows. At the same time, more countries around the world have started to take action to curb fuel prices to prevent economic and political risks. For instance, Ireland announced on March 9 that it would cut the excise duty on petrol and diesel until the end of August, while Portugal would reduce the special tax on fuels from March 11. So far, the Australian government has not implemented any measure to deal with rising prices despite calls to halve the countrys fuel excise tax from 44 to 22 cents (32 to 16 U.S. cents) a litre. Experts have also expressed concerns that Australians in many cities would have to pay more than $2 for a litre (US$5.56 a gallon) of petrol in the upcoming weeks if Russia continued its invasion of Ukraine and the impacts of the sanctions from the United States kicked in. Insitu designed "Integrator" UAV drone contains six payload spaces can be customised with cameras, communication capabilities, and other advanced mission-specific technologies. (Supplied/Boeing Insitu Pacific) Australian Army Buys 24 Uncrewed Drones in $650 Million Deal The Australian army is set to acquire 24 unmanned surveillance drones in an AU$650 million (US$477 million) deal with Boeings Insitu Pacific. The Integrator drones will be manufactured locally in Brisbane while using suppliers from across the state of Queensland. The move is the latest in a series of defence-focused announcements by the federal government amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the drones would perform intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and acquire targets for weapons systems. This project will enhance the Australian Armys capabilities by harnessing the innovation and cutting-edge technologies being developed right here in Australia, he said in a statement. To support the delivery of this capability, the Morrison government will also invest AU$56 million in facilities at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera, he added. We will also see an upgrade to a number of our Bushmasters, and associated sustainment over the next decade. Dutton said 80 percent of the $650 million would be devoted to Australian suppliers and technology. Liberal MP for Brisbane, Trevor Evans, said the investment will grow local advanced manufacturing jobs. This contract is supporting 130 new and existing jobs here in Brisbane and across Australia, he said. People may not have always associated Brisbane with defence industry in the past, but projects like this demonstrate the real opportunities advanced manufacturing can offer now and into the future. Production has already commenced, with delivery expected in 2023 and 2024. The latest move comes a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Dutton outlined a new plan to expand the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by 30 percentits biggest expansion in 40 years. The build-up will see personnel numbers swell from the current active force of 59,095 to around 80,000 by 2040, far above the 12,500 additional troops recommended last year by the Department of Defence. The eventual total number, when counting defence employees and public servants, will be closer to 101,000. The government will invest AU$38 billion (US$27.8 billion) into the expansion and will see the defence department embark on a recruitment drive to man Australias incoming nuclear-powered submarine program, cyber warfare operations, intelligence, electronic warfare, long-range fires capabilities, and a rapidly expanding naval fleetincluding the Royal Australian Navys Hunter-class frigates and Arafura-class patrol vessels. Our world is becoming increasingly uncertain so its important we take steps now to protect our people and our national interest over the coming decades, Morrison said. Cars and a building of a hospital destroyed by an aviation strike amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this handout picture released on March 9, 2022. (Press service of the National Police of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters) Australias National Press Club Withdraws Invitation to Russian Ambassador Australias National Press Club has withdrawn an invitation to the Russian ambassador to speak in response to alleged war crimes and the bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine. The Press Club, the countrys leading journalist association which regularly engages political, business, and social leaders to speak, said it was withdrawing an invitation sent weeks prior to the Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky. The invitations were issued at a different stage in the conflict in Ukraine before allegations of war crimes and bombing of civilian targets and the Board now considers it inappropriate to continue with the invitation to the Russian ambassador, according to a statement from Press Club President Maurice Reilly. He said the organisation would continue encouraging free speech and promote balanced national discussion on major issues of the day while reserving the right to extend an invitation for a later date. The National Press Club is a vigorous champion of media freedom and strongly condemns the media censorship in Russia, he added. Under new laws in Russia, both local and international journalists face charges of high treason and 1520-year jail terms for reporting the facts. This situation should not be tolerated and has no place in a democratic society. Press Club board member David Crowe said the invasion and its atrocities change everything. He can call a press conference at any time. But a national platform for a 30-minute speech? No, he said on Twitter. A separate invitation to Ukrainian Charge d`Affaires Volodymyr Shalkivskyi was sent around the same time and was honoured with the representative making his address on March 10. Shalkivskyi has called for the Russian ambassador to be expelled. Im a diplomat. I have to play along with my diplomatic narratives, he told reporters at the Press Club. But when you have more than 50 children killed in your country due to the shelling, yes, Id like the Russian ambassador to be expelled. The diplomat also wanted Australia to boycott all Russian supplies, goods, and services and counter propaganda. On March 8, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced a new tranche of sanctions, including financial restrictions and travel bans, targeting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and six senior military commanders The Australian government is placing new sanctions on Moscows propagandists and purveyors of disinformation, who are trying to legitimatise Russias unprovoked, unjustified invasion with false narratives such as the de-Nazification of Ukraine, she said. Australia and partners will continue to impose costs on Russias egregious, unlawful and completely unjustified war on Ukraine. We again call upon Russia to withdraw its military forces immediately from Ukraine. Barr: John Durham Will Get to the Bottom of Trump-Russia Investigation Former Attorney General Bill Barr said special counsel John Durham will get to the bottom of how the TrumpRussia investigation unfolded. I think whether or not there are more indictments, I think Durham is going to get to the bottom of it as well as anyone can, Barr told Fox News as he promoted his book, claiming Durham will release a lengthy report that lays out the facts. Durham, a former U.S. attorney in Connecticut, was tapped by Barr to head the investigation into the FBIs original investigation into former President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign, which led to Robert Mueller being appointed as special counsel. Muellers investigation revealed no evidence of conspiracy or collusion on behalf of Trumps campaign and Russian officials. However, some Democrat elected officials and some corporate news outlets have continued to claim that Russia interfered to help Trump win the presidency in 2016. I do think that there will be, as far as humanly possible using the justice system, there is going to be a disclosure of the relevant facts, he continued in his interview with the network, which aired on Friday. Whether that supports more criminal indictments, I have no idea. Barr said that he hopes that certain individuals, if they did commit crimes, and we can prove it, that theyre going to be held accountable. Ive never seen an adequate basis for launching a counterintelligence investigation against the Trump campaign, Barr added to Fox. The FBI, Barr continued to say, used FISA surveillance, which is spying and employed agents and informants and confidential sources to meet and surreptitiously tape conversations they were having with people involved in the campaign. On March 4, Durham submitted a filing to a federal court not to dismiss a charge against Michael Sussmann, a lawyer who had worked on behalf of Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign. Durhams team alleged that Sussmann in 2016 passed along information to the FBIs former general counsel, James Baker, with documents that purportedly claimed there was a link between a Russian bank and the Trump Organization. Sussmann, who previously worked for the Democratic Party-aligned Perkins Coie, was charged with making false statements to the FBI because when he spoke with Baker, he allegedly did not say he was representing the Clinton campaign, according to federal prosecutors. Weeks before that, Durham wrote in a filing that a technology executive who was allegedly aligned with the Democrat Party and the Clinton campaign surveilled Trumps residences and the White House after he became president. Trump and Republicans seized on the claim, which was filed in connection to Sussmanns case, saying it is evidence that his campaign and presidency were unfairly targeted. It shows how totally corrupt and shameless the media is, Trump said at the time. Can you imagine if the roles were reversed and the Republicans, in particular President Donald Trump, got caught illegally spying into the Office of the President? On Twitter, Clinton has denied the latest charge from Trump, saying the former president and Fox News are desperately spinning up a fake scandal to distract from his real ones. President Joe Biden announces new economic actions against Russia in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on March 11, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Biden Calls for End to Normal Trade Relations With Russia President Joe Biden has announced the latest round of sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies against Russia in response to the now weeks-long Russian military campaign in Ukraine. In an address Friday, Biden said he will sign bipartisan legislation that will revoke Russias permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status with the United States, making it more difficult for Russia to do business with the West. Biden says the move to end normal trade relations with Russia was done in coordination with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin must pay the price, Biden said. He cannot pursue a war that threatens the very foundations of international peace and stability, and then ask for financial help from the international community. Biden also says the United States is banning Russian imports of goods such as seafood, vodka, and diamonds. Its also banning the export of luxury goods into Russia and increasing the list of Russian individuals to be sanctioned. These latest measures come in addition to a U.S. ban on Russian energy imports as well as sanctions already placed on Russian financial systems and individuals in Putins inner circle. Biden touted the effectiveness of the sanctions, noting the decreased value of the Ruble, the Russian stock market continuing to remain closed, and assets being seized from Russian oligarchs. Following Bidens announcement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put out a statement saying the House is already ready with legislation to revoke PNTR from Russia, building on the Russian oil ban passed Wednesday. When the House returns next week, we will take up legislation to formalize this revocation, and it is our hope that it will receive a strong, bipartisan vote, Pelosis statement reads. Putins premeditated, unprovoked war is an attack on the Ukrainian people and an attack on democracy. Russian airstrikes intensified Friday in western Ukraine as satellite footage suggested Moscows forces outside Kyiv had regrouped after remaining more than a week outside the city. Leaders from around the world have endorsed a United Nations probe into war crimes allegations against Russia following reports of civilians being bombed, including a maternity hospital earlier this week. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland stated before a Senate hearing this week that biological research facilities have been operating in Ukraine. This came alongside a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense accusing Ukraine of having destroyed pathogens being studied at a lab in Ukraine that the ministry says is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Prompted by a reporter on Friday, Biden said that while he wouldnt discuss intelligence, Putin would pay a severe price if he used chemical weapons. Biden and other administration officials have said repeatedly that they do not want to escalate the conflict in Ukraine into a war between the United States and Russia and that the United States does not intend to send troops to fight in Ukraine. The United States has upped its direct assistance to Ukraine over the past two weeks by $107 million and Congress passed a spending plan that included $13.6 billion in aid to the country. The United States also continues to send military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as the conflict has created about 2 million Ukrainian refugees. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before the start of a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington on March 3, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Biden: Direct Conflict Between Russia and NATO Is World War III President Joe Biden said the United States and NATO should avoid fighting Russia in Ukraine because it would lead to a third world war. Were going to continue to stand together with our allies in Europe and send an unmistakable message. We will defend every single inch of NATO territory with the full might of the united and galvanized NATO, Biden said after he announced more economic penalties against Moscow on Friday from the White House. The United States and NATO, he added, will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine because a direct conflict between NATO and Russia is World War III, something we must strive to prevent. Since the start of the Feb. 24 invasion, Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have warned of Russias capabilities as a nuclear weapon-armed nation. Several days after the conflict started, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his countrys strategic deterrence forces, which oversees some of the countrys nuclear arsenal, on high alert. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in early March that Western sanctions were pushing Russia towards a third world war, while Lavrov told Al Jazeera that World War III will be a devastating nuclear war in an apparent warning to the United States and NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other members of Kyivs government have called for a NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine, which isnt a member of NATO or the European Union. Dont wait for me to ask you several times, a million times, to close the sky. You [will] have to phone us, to our people who lost their children, and say sorry we didnt do it yesterday,' Zelensky told Sky News on Thursday. White House and NATO officials have said such an agreement is a non-starter, as that would represent a sharp escalation. Russia has warned that any country that attacks Russian forces in Ukraine would be considered to have entered the conflict. Instead of getting directly involved, the United States and other NATO members have provided Ukraines military and defense forces with weapons, ammunition, intelligence, and supplies. Theyve also hit Russias economy with heavy sanctions. Bidens comment came as a column of Russian forces heading to Kyiv is regrouping northwest of the Ukrainian capital, satellite pictures from Maxar Technologies have revealed, according to Reuters. The vehicles, according to satellite pictures, apparently were positioned outside the capital for weeks with little-to-no movement. Images released by U.S.-based Maxar showed armored vehicles traveling through towns and an airport near Kyivs northwestern part. Ukraine on Friday also accused Russias military of shelling and bombing cities across the country, including in the little-touched western part of the country. Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days, Britains Ministry of Defense said on Friday. This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv. After spending the past decade imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, blogger and activist Raif Badawi was freed Friday. Badawis wife, Ensaf Haidar, who lives with the couples three children in Sherbrooke, Que., confirmed his release on social media. After 10 years in prison #Raifisfree! she wrote in a post on Twitter on March 11. A spokesperson for the family said it had no other comment and that it isnt clear what sentence conditions remain for him. Badawi was jailed in 2012, and in 2014 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and a fine of one million Saudi riyalroughly CAD $340,000for criticizing the countrys clerics in his writings. His sentence drew widespread international condemnation, and numerous organizations, governments, and advocacy groups have called for his release over the years. Montreal-based human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler, who represented Badawi internationally since 2014, said last month that discussions between the European Union and Saudi representatives gave rise to hopes that the blogger would be released sometime in March. Cotler, Canadas former federal justice minister and founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, also warned that while his prison sentence was at an end, Badawi still faced a 10-year travel ban, a media ban, and a punitive fine that was handed down at the time of sentencing. Were talking about a kind of prison without walls where hes deprived of travel for the next 10 years, Cotler said at the time. That would be continuing the punishment outside of prison that he was having inside prisonthe severe pain of being deprived of being with his wife and children. Last year, both the House of Commons and Senate voted in favour of a motion calling on the immigration minister to use his discretionary powers to grant Badawi Canadian citizenship, but that hasnt happened yet. Badawis family and supporters had been calling for his release since his sentence expired on Feb. 28. Rebecca Vincent, director of operations and campaigns for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said on social media that she felt overwhelmed with relief at his release, despite that he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. Burger King Latest Food Company Restricting Russian Operations The move comes after similar actions by McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and PepsiCo Inc. Fast-food chain Burger King, with around 800 fully franchised outlets in Russia, has decided to pause all corporate support within the country, joining other companies taking similar retaliatory measures following Moscows incursion into Ukraine. In a statement March 10, Restaurants Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Burger King, said there are no corporate Burger King locations in Russia. The business is fully franchised and managed by a local master franchisee. Burger King has suspended all of its corporate support for the Russian market, including operations, marketing, and supply chain in addition to refusing approvals for investment and expansion, the company stated. Earlier, RBI had announced that it would redirect profits earned from franchised operations in Russia toward humanitarian efforts, beginning with a $1 million donation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Burger King committed $3 million to support Ukrainian refugees. The brand also announced that its franchises in more than 24 European nations will partner with local nongovernmental organizations to distribute free meal vouchers worth $2 million to the refugees. Several other American fast-food outlets already announced pausing operations in Russia. Burger Kings rival, McDonalds, declared a temporary closure of all restaurants and halted operations in the country. McDonalds has around 850 locations in Russia, with a majority being owned by the company. This means that McDonalds is poised to suffer heavy losses by ceasing operations there. The boycott will cost the company roughly $50 million a month, McDonalds CFO Kevin Ozan said at the recent UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference. We expect this to be temporary, and we certainly dont take this decision lightly. But for us, this is about doing what we think is the right thing to do, both for the global business and for our people locally, Ozan said. McDonalds pledged to continue paying the roughly 62,000 employees who live and work in Russia during the work stoppage. The company will also pay employees leases and other expenses. Yum Brands, parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut, also announced suspension of operations in Russia. The company pledged a $1 million donation to the Red Cross to support people affected by the RussiaUkraine war. There are about 50 Pizza Hut locations and 1,000 KFC locations in Russia. PepsiCo Inc. has suspended the sales of Pepsi-Cola, Mirinda, and 7UP soft drinks in Russia, and the company will cease all advertisement and promotional activities, as well as capital investments, in the country. However, PepsiCo Inc. said it will continue offering other products such as baby food and dairy products. By continuing to operate, we will also continue to support the livelihoods of our 20,000 Russian associates and the 40,000 Russian agricultural workers in our supply chain as they face significant challenges and uncertainty ahead, said PepsiCo Inc. CEO Ramon Laguarta in a letter to associates March 8. What's left of Mariupol Hospital after an attack, in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 9, 2022, in this image taken from video provided by the Mariupol City Council. (Mariupol City Council via AP) Canada Will Match Donations for Ukraine up to $30 Million, Trudeau Says Canada will match individual donations made to the Canadian Red Cross in support of Ukraine up to $30 million, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday while visiting Poland. Trudeau said this was being done because Canadians have been so incredibly generous in being concerned about the people of Ukraine. Canadas original commitment was to match donations up to $10 million. The Canadian Red Cross says that its Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal has collected $59 million as of March 10, not including the matching funds from the government. The NGO has already committed $45 million of those funds to the International Red Cross response, with funds being used to provide assistance such as medical supplies, psychosocial support, food, water, and shelter. The prime minister also said $50 million out of the $100 million promised in humanitarian aid has been allocated to organizations like the World Food Program and Save the Children. Trudeau made the announcements during a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose country is seeing a massive influx of Ukrainian refugees. The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates the number of people fleeing Ukraine is over 2.3 million since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, and reports say over a million have entered Poland. Poland was involved in a controversy earlier this week when it said it would be responding to Ukraines call for fighter jets by offering its aging Russian-made MiGs to the United States in exchange for being replenished by U.S.-made fighters, with the intent being that the MiGs would then be provided to Ukraine. The Pentagon rejected the offer, saying Polands proposal was not tenable. Such support would likely not be tolerated by Russia and risk expanding the conflict outside Ukraine. Despite the limited nature of military support that Western countries can provide Ukraine, Trudeau said Russian President Vladimir Putin will lose the war, having made a terrible mistake. Hes going to lose this war because the ferocity and strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people defending their territory is inspiring us all, he said. He added that it is very clear that [Putin] has made the choice to specifically target civilians now. Trudeau mentioned at the opening of his remarks the bombardment of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, which reportedly killed three people and injured 17. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the claim the hospital was targeted on purpose, saying Russian forces do not fire on civilian targets, Reuters reported. On March 9, a Canadian official addressed the issue of Russia targeting civilians during a meeting of the House of Commons National Defence Committee. What we have seen is that humanitarian corridors have been targeted, whether [its] intentional or not, its where we have a gap in intelligence, said Kevin Hamilton, director general of international security policy at Global Affairs Canada. In an initiative led by the UK, 38 countries, including Canada and Poland, have joined together to file a referral to the International Criminal Court calling for an investigation into alleged Russian war crimes. Poland was the last stop of Trudeaus European visit, with other stops in Germany, Latvia, and the United Kingdom. A video screen displays French President Emmanuel Macron (bottom left), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (bottom right), and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (top) attending a video conference to discuss the Ukraine crisis at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 8, 2022. (Benoit Tessier/AFP via Getty Images) China Attempts to Undermine the Wests Sanction Resolve Beijing courts Europe, Russiaand claims 'America is the real problem' News Analysis Beijing has said it will retaliate if the United States attempts to sanction Chinese firms over the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In the process of settling relations with the Russian Federation, the US is not entitled to impose so-called sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reportedly said on March 10. Otherwise, China will provide a resolute and serious response. Zhaos warning was likely in response to statements made a day earlier before by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Speaking to The New York Times, Raimondo warned Beijing of the severe repercussions that Chinese companies would face if they attempt to aid Russia. The United States has previously stated that any attempt to engage in economic activity that helps Russia to evade sanctions will be met with retaliatory measures. In other words, if Beijing undermines the U.S. attempt to punish Russia over Ukraine, China will be opening itself up to economic sanctions. Was Zhaos response just an attempt to appear strong in front of the global community, and signify that the Beijing regimes policy choices wont be dictated or influenced by Washington? Or is the implication that China actually is getting ready to engage in economic activity that the United States would deem hostile to its Russia policy? It would be unlikely that China is willing to sacrifice its robust economic relationship with the United States and the European Union in favor of Russia, the worlds 11th largest economy (based on nominal GDP). As has been previously written in this publication, a massive trade relationship and an interrelated financial system form the foundation of ChinaWest relations. Verbal defiance to Washingtons dictates for the sake of public image may be part of the answer, but theres likely another motive at work as well: fracturing the anti-Russia, pro-sanction Western front. If Beijing can weaken the resolve of the political and economic alliance that is currently aligned against Russia, it could simultaneously maintain its advantageous relationship with the Western world while reducing the likelihood of sanctions for doing business with Russia. At the end of his statement, Zhao said that Washingtons actions are beneficial to no one and in reality only have a [negative] impact on the political settlement process. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian speaks during a daily briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Beijing on Feb. 24, 2020. (Andy Wong/AP Photo) China may not be willing to sacrifice its relationship with the United States, but its strengthening relationship with Europe ensures that it has increased leverage to split Western opinion. Theres one area in particular that Beijing has identified as a possible area to cause a rift between Washington and Brussels: energy. A recent editorial by Chinese state media outlet Global Times focuses on the negative effect that the U.S. decision to cut off energy imports from Russia is having on its European allies. Under the subhead Washingtons selfish tactic erodes EU autonomy, the article denounces the United States as attempting to create a vassal state out of the continent by making it entirely dependent on U.S. energy. It isnt entirely wrong in its analysis that there are potential rifts in Western policy, however. The Global Times article draws attention to the fact that Germany has indeed broken ranks with the United States in its refusal to ban Russian oil and gas imports. It additionally features an infographic aimed at demonstrating the selfish impact of U.S. sanctions and their deleterious consequences for the EU. A collapse in Russian energy trade would precipitate power rationing in parts of Europe, which in turn would rupture supply chains, the infographic alarmingly asserts. Rupture supply chains is a phrase that has become extremely powerful in the Chinese international relations lexicon. The heavy (over)reliance on China in global supply chains was made painfully clear over the past couple of years during the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic, the effects of which are still being felt. As such, Beijing is additionally keen to remind the Western world of the impact that increasing sanctions on Chinanot to mention its continued denunciation of unilateral sanctions placed on Russiawill have for global markets and supply chains. Sanctions may impede the functioning of the ChinaEurope freight chain service as well, according to Chinese officials. This will threaten the entire system of intercontinental trade. Feng Xubin, vice chairman of the ChinaEurope Railway Express Transportation Coordination Committee, told Global Times that many exporters have ceased shipping to the entire European continent due to economic uncertainty. This is especially true of companies that operate on a system of cash-on-delivery. In other words, payment is made on delivery of the product rather than in advance upon initial purchase. Widening Western sanctions may threaten this entire process. If the West cuts off Russias intermediate settlement channel in the international financial system, it means that the settlement system for freight charges between China and Russia will not be able to proceed normally, Feng said. Even if the United States views this as a beneficial move to weaken the ChinaRussia relationship, the impact will be much more strongly felt in Europe. A crane transfers a container to a train of the China Railway Express to Europe in the Chinese border city of Erenhot, Inner Mongolia Region, on April 18, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) At the same time as the CCP is attempting to sow doubts in Europe over the price of Washingtons sanction regime, Beijing is additionally taking tangible steps to increase its influence on the continent through diplomatic engagement and economic capture. On March 8, CCP leader Xi Jinping held a video summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The three discussed the usual litany of advancing cooperation and promoting peace talking points. This, of course, also included the call to increase their green partnerships to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. This is always a winning strategy for the leadership in Beijing: gain accolades among Western populations who prioritize climate policy, subtly promoting low-growth strategies in foreign capitals, while continuing to prioritize economic expansion and industrial development in China. In this way, Xi gets to be a climate champion abroad while maximizing growth at home, using loopholes such as that China is still considered a developing nation, freeing it from some of the more stringent measures passed down from multilateral climate-focused organizations. While countries such as Germany had to fight for natural gas to be considered a form of green energy, China signed $117.5 billion in oil and gas deals with Russia. It also continues to build high-carbon emitting coal-fired power plants. Meanwhile, it builds more inefficient but cleaner forms of energy production in Europe, such as a recent Chinese-built wind farm in Croatia. Another win-win for Beijing: increase Chinese-owned debt in a European country, while simultaneously having a photoshoot to flaunt in Brussels for disconnected green-energy obsessed politiciansall the while, firing up dirty energy factories at home. The CCP isnt entirely duplicitous, however. For example, it seems very genuine in its commitment to reaching its recently set 5.5 percent growth rate for the upcoming year. With an economic forecast that suggests Western markets shifting from consumption to services, a cooling real estate market, a questionable investment environment, and the Chinese domestic populations penchant for saving, China needs to be firing on every economic cylinder. The economic relationship with Russia is almost guaranteed to grow exponentially because of the Ukraine crisis; however, that doesnt mean that Beijing can sacrifice its ties with Europe and the United States. Better to try and undermine the resolve of the latter union, hindering the sanctions regime to a more narrowed focus by reminding the West that it is economically interconnected with China. A compromise would allow sanctions to continue on Moscow, while (at least partially) freeing Beijing to provide Russia with an economic outlet. China positions itself to achieve the maximum benefit from any geopolitical situation, free of commitment to abstract principles or values. The United States must be aware of this fact. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen speaks to the media about charges and arrests related to a computer intrusion campaign tied to the Chinese regime by a group called APT41 at the Department of Justice in Washington, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Pool/Getty Images) China Hacks America Again Millions vulnerable, including states using agricultural software News Analysis China is hacking into state governments in the United States, stealing sensitive data, and propagandizing the world with disinformation that favors Russias invasion of Ukraine. The regime most recently hit at the heart of America, in part, by using an obscure livestock app called USAHERDS. Cowboys everywhere should strap-on their chaps, saddle up, and get ready to rumble. The most recent hacks could have targeted any state government in the United States such as Texas, Nebraska, California, or Alaska. Few know which states were breached, as the American company that discovered the breaches is keeping mum. The company is called Mandiant, which Google will purchase for $5.4 billion, according to a March 9 announcement. What we do know is that the hackers left digital fingerprints that have APT41 written all over them. APT41 is Chinas regime-backed hacking group, made infamous when the U.S. Justice Department indicted five of its members in 2020. APT41 hacks for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but also for criminal profit, across the United States, Europe, and Asia. France, Britain, Australia, and Chile are all targets. The CCP hackers conduct cyberespionage and cybercrime, including ransomware and the theft of virtual currency. They go beyond normal methods to insert their code surreptitiously into automatic updates to software you may already have on your computer. Most recently, the hackers used vulnerabilities in normal programs that professionals use, including not only USAHERDS, used by 18 U.S. states, but Log4J, loaded on millions of computers worldwide that run online services. Its very unnerving to see this group everywhere, Mandiant analyst Rufus Brown told Wired Magazine. APT41 is going after any external-facing web application that can give them access to a network. Just very persistent, very continuous targeting. A hacker uses his computer in Dongguan, Chinas southern Guangdong Province, on Aug. 4, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Naive institutions that didnt take quick action after a Dec. 10 warning from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), likely got hijacked. The warning probably alerted some of the CCPs hacker army as well. Within hours they set about using the vulnerability for its own malign purposes, including credential harvesting that steals passwords and backdoor code implantations that provide hackers with ongoing access to victimized computers. While much of the world focuses on the cyberthreat from Russia, given the Ukraine invasion and recent warnings from the government about an increased Russian hacker threat, the latest APT41 hack should remind us that the bigger long-term danger emanates from Beijing. The CCP buys its way into computers as well, most recently by purchasing 21 Facebook ads in Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and likely, many other countries. These ads repeat Russian propaganda about the Ukraine war, including anti-NATO messaging. Another CCP campaign augments Russian conspiracy theories about dangerous U.S. biolabs in Ukraine. This propaganda could be part of a false flag operation to blame the United States for any future use, by Russia, of chemical or biological weapons. On March 9, the U.S. State Department denied the allegations. The United States does not own or operate any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine, it is in full compliance with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention, and it does not develop or possess such weapons anywhere. It is Russia that has active chemical and biological weapons programs and is in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention. The American public needs more transparency about not only the threat from Russia, which is increasingly serious, but from China as well. The U.S. State Department should denounce not only Russia, but China for its Ukraine-related propaganda against the United States. Google should also be more transparent, fully disclosing to the public the states that APT41 breached to put them on public notice: improve cybersecurity or get voted out of office. The Chinese regimes global hacking and propaganda campaigns make clear that its organizations are criminal actors coordinating with other rogue states against democracy. Their links to Russia, Iran, and North Koreaall of which use hacking and propaganda as tools of illiberalityshow that we need better protections of American and allied businesses and local governments. We should more effectively exclude these countries hackers from the global internet. The U.S. Justice Departments indictment of the five APT41 hackers in 2020 was in absentia, meaning that none of them were around to actually get convicted and serve time. Clearly, such symbolic slaps on the wrist are ineffective. Its time for the spirit of the American cowboy to bring out bigger guns: economic sanctions against the entire Chinese economy, only to be removed when the regime stops its hacking of Americas information privacy and ends its dangerous propagandizing, once and for all. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. China Hit by Worst COVID Resurgence Since 2020 China is experiencing its worst COVID-19 resurgence since the end of the Wuhan outbreak in 2020, as it spills over to most of the country. On March 10, China reported 837 domestic infections throughout March 9, a record high for a single day in two years, including confirmed and asymptomatic cases. Reports of the new Omicron-variant surge come from more than 20 provinces and four municipalities under direct control of the central government, including Beijing. Chinas new daily domestic infections have exceeded 500 for the fourth day in a row. The Epoch Times cannot independently verify the official figures due to Chinas lack of transparency in pandemic disclosure. Notably, asymptomatic infections accounted for most of the total cases, according to state media outlets. Shanghai Outbreak The recent outbreak in Shanghai hit 11 of its total 16 districts, including the districts of Pudong and Minhang that have huge populations, as of March 8. Hospitalized and confirmed new cases keep setting record highs in the Chinese financial hub, according to Wu Jinglei, director of the citys health commission, at a press conference. Sixty-six residential communities are sealed off in our district of Minhang, a Shanghai local surnamed Gao told The Epoch Times. All affected communities are going to undergo nucleic acid testing and screening. She reported that domestic cases couldnt be traced and that residents contracted COVID without knowing the source. Some tested positive many days after having a nuclear acid test. Currently, residents in her district are required to stay at home, Gao said. In Shanghai University, students protested on social media over harsh restrictions, which prevented them from going out for meals and taking showers as normal, according to a student surnamed Chen, who declined to be named for security concerns. Jilin Province In northeastern Chinas Jilin Province, domestic cases surged dramatically. Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University is the worst-affected area amid cluster outbreaks. For days, students and their parents have posted desperate messages on social media, criticizing local authorities for covering up the situation. The outbreak first appeared in the No. 9 dorm building, a mother using the pseudonym Mai Yinghua whose son is in the school told The Epoch Times on March 10. The third and fourth floors are full of positive cases, totaling at least 200 or 300. The [authorities] cant cover it up any more. None of my phone calls to the school authorities went through, she said. No information [has been] disclosed at all. Parents received no message from the school. She said she tried to seek help by repeatedly calling the mayors hotline and the local health commission on March 9. Most of the time, however, she couldnt get through. When she at last succeeded, the person who answered told her they would register her call and hung up. An employee at the school surnamed Zhu told The Epoch Times that the current local situation was definitely serious and they were back in lockdown. He said media outlets are hesitant to report the outbreak, worrying that fear might spread quickly among the thousands of parents who have children attending the school. He said coverage of the outbreak would undermine the reputation of their school and make it look incompetent. Meanwhile, the citys government would be down on its luck, the interviewee said. One of the citys three mobile hospitals has been put into use while the other two will open within two days, according to state media. They can accommodate 1,186 patients in total. The Epoch Times couldnt reach the schools publicity department and headquarters for comment despite repeated attempts. Gu Qinger and Hong Ning contributed to this report. Residents queue to undergo nucleic acid tests for the COVID-19 at a residential area in Changchun city, Jilin Province on March 11, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) China Locks Down City of 9 Million Amid New Spike in COVID-19 Cases The Chinese regime on Friday ordered a lockdown of the 9 million residents of the northeastern city of Changchun amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the area attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant. Residents are required to remain at home, with one family member permitted to venture out to buy food and other necessities every two days. All residents must undergo three rounds of mass testing, while non-essential businesses have been closed and transport links suspended. The latest lockdowns, which also include Yucheng with 500,000 people in the eastern province of Shandong, show the Chinese communist regime is sticking to the draconian approach to the pandemic it has enforced for most of the past two years, despite some earlier indications that authorities would be implementing more targeted measures. A resident undergoes a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 in Changchun city, Jilin Province, China, on March 11, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese regime reported another 98 cases of local transmission in Jilin province that surrounds Changchun, a center of the countrys auto industry. In the entire province, cases have exceeded 1,100 since the latest outbreak first struck late last week. Just two cases were reported within Changchun itself on Friday, bringing its total to 78 in recent days. The actual number of COVID-19 infections is difficult to verify, as the Chinese regime routinely suppresses or alters information. Authorities repeatedly pledged to lock down any community where one or more cases were found under the Chinese regimes zero tolerance approach to the pandemic. Authorities have also ordered a partial lockdown in the nearby city of Jilin that bears the same name as the surrounding province and severed travel links with other cities. At Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, students complained on social media that those who tested positive were being confined in school libraries and other buildings in poor conditions. The school has transferred more than 6,000 people to quarantine, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Aerial images showed students in hazmat suits lining up in the cold and dark waiting to be transferred. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Chinese communist regime has infiltrated every level of the United Statesfrom how we get our food, to our education, and even our leaders. Its been said that economic power is political power. But just how does that translate to Chinas manufacturing dominance, and Americas reliance on it? It turns out the Chinese regimes influence reaches all the way from the top levels of government down to the agriculture supplies for a state. In this special report, we look at how the communist regime has managed to do that, whats at stake, and what can be done. Have other topics you want us to cover? Drop us a line: chinainfocus@ntdtv.org And if youd like to buy us a coffee: https://donorbox.org/china-in-focus Subscribe to our newsletter for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit us on Gettr and Twitter. Chinas Employment and Tourism Data Reveal a Sinking Economy Commentary A recent Chinese state media report once again recognized the Chinese market is facing pressure due to weak consumer spending and high unemployment. The last time the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mentioned the weakened market was in December 2021, when Party leader Xi Jinping presided over an annual central economic work conference in Beijing. But each time the economy is mentioned, the regimes mouthpiece would conceal reality by touting that the sound momentum of the Chinese economy has maintained a high quality economic development in the world under the unified leadership of the Party. What Is the Actual Unemployment Rate? A recent official report on employment inadvertently revealed the true situation of the job market. On March 3, Beijing released its 2021 work report on achieving economic goals, touting employment. In 2021, 12.69 million new urban jobs were created, meeting 115% of the target, the report reads. That means the actual target quota for the number of jobs created in 2021 was 11.03 million. Earlier on Feb. 9, Beijing announced that at the national level, 200 million people had temporary employment at the end of 2021 and more than 16 percent of this group graduated from higher education in both 2020 and 2021. Whats not clear is whether or not the 12.69 million new urban jobs include temporary employment. On Feb. 28, China released its 2021 economic and social development statistical bulletin, claiming positive growth in most aspects, including population. A total of 13.879 million students graduated from general and vocational colleges and higher educational institutions. Thats 1.189 million people more than the new urban jobs. Even if all the new jobs were designated to the graduates, many of them would be occupying entry-level positions or labor-intensive jobswhich means even less opportunities for other job seekers. The CCPs latest employment data should have been carefully calculated to avoid embarrassment. But unfortunately, the harsh reality cant be covered up. According to the official data released at the end of 2021, there were 746.52 million people employed nationwide, including 467.73 million urban workers, and 292.51 million migrant workers who relocated to the cities from rural areas. However, the total of urban workers and migrant workers add up to a total of 760.24 million workers, thats 13.72 million more workers than the published nationwide employment of 746.52 million. Its unclear if the 13.72 million workers are categorized as unemployed or if Beijing just made a mistake in making up the number. According to the statistics bureau, migrant workers are not counted in the urban population, and naturally they are not included in the urban employment population figure. Thus, the 12.69 million new urban jobs in 2021 did not include jobs held by migrant workers. Under the current economic situation, the number of new jobs for the nonurban population in 2021 should be far less than what Beijing had reported, and the number of unemployed migrant workers should be higher than previously reported. When Beijing admitted there were 200 million people with temporary employment at the end of 2021, its in fact admitting that, of the 746.52 million people employed nationwide, its approximately 26.79 percent of the unemployment rate in Chinaa more realistic number. As for the 12.69 million new urban jobs, I highly suspect that its a fabricated number. In 2021, the CCP cracked down on the internet sector and the after-school tutoring programs, which led to massive layoffs and wiped out tons of jobs. Moreover, the strict pandemic lockdown measures in cities have only further weakened the job market. So where are the so-called new jobs? A Chinese security guard wears a mask to protect against COVID-19 as media and staff scan their health code before visiting the National Speed Skating Oval during an organized tour in Beijing, China, on Jan. 22, 2021. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Weak Tourism Industry Beijing proposed in both 2020 and 2021 that all Pary administrative organs should adopt a tight fiscal policy. On Feb. 22, the various departments had set a fixed budget for the long term. A decrease in consumer spending is a key indicator of an economic downturn. The massive unemployment and a substantial reduction of income will inevitably cut down spending. The 2021 data on income and consumption revealed the clues. According to the 2021 statistical bulletin, there were 3.25 billion domestic tourists, a 12.8 percent increase from 2020, the year when COVID-19 broke out. There were 6.01 billion domestic tourists in 2019, according to official data. In 2020 and 2021, the number of domestic tourists was cut by more than half. Likewise, domestic tourism revenue has also dropped significantly. The domestic tourism revenue announced in 2019 was 5,725.1 billion yuan ($905.84 billion) and dropped to 2,919.1 billion yuan ($461.87 billion) in 2021. In 2019, the CCP reported international tourism revenue of $131.3 billion; and 169.21 million Chinese citizens went on vacation abroad. There was no such data in the 2021 statistical bulletin. It can be assumed that when international travel is limited, people would conduct more domestic travel. But Chinas actual domestic travel and revenue did not show such a trend. This reflects the overall downturn of the domestic consumption by the Chinese. The halved tourism revenue is a clear indication of the severe impact on related tourism servicessuch as transportation, accommodation, food, and shoppingthat certainly would only worsen the situation of the job market. Perhaps all the aforementioned realities make it difficult for the CCP to continue fabricating data without inadvertently exposing the truth. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Chinese Students Left Behind in Ukraine Refute Chinese Regimes Complete Evacuation Claim Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) embassy in Ukraine announced on March 8 that all Chinese nationals had been evacuated from the dangerous areas in Ukraine. But a Chinese student trapped in Glukhov, along with three others, told The Epoch Times about his failed attempt to escape from the war zone with no help from the regime. The Chinese regimes official media Global Times quoted the CCPs embassy in Ukraine as saying that on March 8, all Chinese nationals in Ukraine had been evacuated from Sumy, including 115 Chinese students who were the last group to leave. However, Lin Yunfei (pseudonym), a Chinese student stranded in Glukhov revealed on March 9 that there were 119 Chinese students in Sumy, meaning 4, including himself, were still trapped in Glukhov, which is under the jurisdiction of Sumy. Lin Yunfei told Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, My heart sank, when I saw the report. There were originally 119 people in Sumy and now 115 of them have been evacuated but there are still 4 people here. We also belong to Sumy Oblast. Four of us were left behind. Glukhov is located in northeastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border. On Feb. 24, the first day of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the battle broke out at Glukhov. The embassy said that there were too few of us over here, and they couldnt do anything [to help]. They told us to come over by ourselves and find our own way, he said. What could we do? We did get a car but it wasnt allowed through. We would have to walk 150 kilometers (93 miles). Every day we are very anxious. Lin said that the local air defense alarm started on Feb. 24, and the larger supermarket nearby was already all sold out. Although they wanted to evacuate at the time, they didnt have a car and couldnt leave. So he contacted the Chinese embassy in Ukraine for help. Lin said: I called the the embassy. They told me to fill out a form to register [for evacuation]. We thought that the embassy would come and pick us up, so we didnt leave on our own at that time. As a result, we were left out of the last trip. On March 8, he attempted to hitch a ride to the evacuation point by himself. He said: We passed the first checkpoint. When we reached the second checkpoint, we were blocked by the militia and they told us it was dangerous ahead. They had to turn back. Lin is also worried about food. He said: On Feb. 25 or 26, there were no more supplies, and there was less and less food in the supermarket. Now [everything] is gone. We go to a nearby market early every day, but it wont last long. I have only a bag of rice, a bottle of oil, and two loaves of bread. It is more difficult to find food, there are no vegetables. Ukrainians give us bread every day, and they often call us to have a meal with them during the day. Lin said this painful experience woke him up, You cant believe the mainland Chinese reports, and I dont believe them anymore from my own experience. I just want to leave now. Lin said. The Chinese students who had been evacuated from Ukraine to Poland revealed on Chinese social media Weibo that they were charged 18,000 RMB ($2,850) per ticket for the flight back to China on March 10. Furthermore, they were required to rehearse and sing the Chinese communist propaganda song Me and My Motherland at the airport collectively when they were leaving. Zhao Fenghua and Gu Xiaohua contributed to the report. People in line to undergo a nasal swab for nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 as it snows in Harbin in Heilongjiang Province on Mar. 2, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) COVID-19 Outbreak Surges Across China Despite COVID Zero Policy Since the COVID-19 surge in Hong Kong, the virus has quickly spread across China to Guangdong, Shandong, Jilin, and other provinces, despite the regimes strict COVID Zero policy. Four areas in Shanghai are listed as medium-risk areas and under lockdown. More than 10 million residents of Wuhan had to undergo three nucleic acid tests starting last Friday. Some experts said that the pandemic situation in Qingdao, Shandong Province may have super spread in schools. Since March 1, locally confirmed cases have been found in Huangdao District and Laixi City of Qingdao City in Shandong Province, and all were identified as the Omicron variant. The outbreak in Laixi City was mainly concentrated in Laixi No. 7 Middle School. The Chinese regime officially announced on March 7 that since the outbreak in Laixi began on March 4, the city has reported a total of 251 cases. Among them, are 116 students and 10 teachers, and most of them are from Laixi No. 7 Middle School. The authorities also announced that since March 4 all middle schools, elementary schools and kindergartens in Laixi have moved to online teaching until April 1. Jin Dong-yan, a professor of biochemistry at the Li Ka Shing School of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong and an expert in virology, told the media that over 100 infections means the virus may have super spread in schools. Xing Xiaobo, deputy director of the Qingdao Municipal Health and Health Commission, said that the epidemic had been spreading in schools for some time. Laixi No. 7 is a day school, which means that there is a huge risk of spreading the virus to family members and causing community outbreaks. According to public information, Laixi No. 7 Middle School has more than 3,000 students and nearly 300 teachers. Residents queue to undergo a nasal swab for COVID-19 testing in Suzhou, China, on Feb. 16, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) A COVID-19 outbreak in Chinas northeast province Jilin has also re-emerged, and the number of cases has continued to rise. Most of the infected people are students in the same classes. Traffic control has been implemented at the entrance and exit points of Jilin City, and railway services have been suspended. The Jilin Provincial Health and Health Commission reported 35 confirmed cases. Most of them are students in the same classes. The local authorities issued a notice on March 6 that the passenger trains departing and stopping at Jilin Station will be temporarily suspended, and the Jilin Station waiting room will be closed at the same time. Passengers who have already purchased tickets are required to return the tickets for a refund. Traffic control has been implemented at all street entrances and exits in Jilin City since March 4. Those who really need to leave the city must report to their workplace and community where they live, hold a negative nucleic acid test result within 24 hour, and have a green health code. A resident in Jilin city, surnamed Wang, told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that schools, transportation, and banks in Jilin are now closed, and all citizens are required to take nucleic acid tests, and the control is very strict. They were told that anyone who didnt have nucleic acid testing will be held legally accountable if they are infected. Residents line up to give a sample for nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 in Wuhan, Hubei Province on Feb. 22, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) COVID-19 outbreaks are also popping up in other parts of China and increasing quickly. On March 7, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine suspended outpatient and emergency and fever clinic services in the East Campus in Pudong district. There are currently four medium-risk areas in Shanghai. In northwest China, since March 7, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Qujiang New District, Hanting Hotel in Xincheng District, and the Golden City of Wenbei Second Community in Beilin District in Xian city of Shaanxi Province have been upgraded to medium-risk areas. Since March 7, all classes in primary and secondary schools (including private schools), kindergartens, various training institutions in the urban area of Kaihua County, Quzhou City in Chinas eastern province Zhejiang have been suspended due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Passenger lines, chartered tours, urban and rural buses, intercity express buses, taxis, and online ride-hailing services within the county are also suspended. The rise in COVID-19 outbreaks has also been reported in other parts of China, such as Yunnan Province in the southwest. One mainland Chinese netizen posted on social media: Its all over the country. Another post said, Im so annoyed by it, I cant go anywhere unless I have nucleic acid negative test result and the green health code. The test has to be done within 48 hours, and I have to wait in line for a day to get tested. If everything continues to be blocked like this, what will you do when you need to go to work, go to school, take exams, what will happen to everyones life, and what will happen to the economy? Luo Ya and Gu Xiaohua contributed to the report. President and Chairman of the Board of MMC Norilsk Nickel Vladimir Potanin attends a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russia on June 6, 2019. (Maxim Shemetov/File Photo/Reuters) Dont Take Russia Back to 1917, Russian Metals King Potanin Warns LONDONConfiscating the assets of companies that have fled Russia since the invasion of Ukraine would shatter investor confidence for decades and take Russia back to the calamitous days of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, metals magnate Vladimir Potanin has said. Potanin, president and biggest shareholder of Norilsk Nickel, the worlds largest producer of palladium and refined nickel, said Russia should respond with pragmatism to its exclusion from swathes of the global economy. We should not try to slam the door but endeavour to preserve Russias economic position in those markets which we spent so long cultivating, Potanin, 61, said on the Telegram messaging app. Potanin, one of the most prominent Russian billionaires who is not sanctioned by the West, said confiscating assets from companies that had left would put Russia out in the cold for decades, as far as investors were concerned: It would take us back 100 years to 1917. And the consequencesa global lack of confidence in Russia from investorswe would feel for many decades. Russias economy is facing the gravest crisis since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union after the West imposed sweeping sanctions across Russias financial and corporate sectors following Moscows Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday that the government proposed putting companies that had left Russia into external administration. The exact mechanisms of that are unclear, though there is a fierce debate within the Russian elite about how severe Moscows reaction to Western sanctions should be, officials and businessmen said. Putin said Russia would remain open for business and did not intend to close itself off from those who still wanted to do business. But many do notat least for now. BP said last month it was abandoning its stake in Russian oil producer Rosneft while companies ranging from McDonalds and Coca-Cola Co. to Toyota and IKEA have shuttered their businesses in Russia. We Must Be Wiser Potanins upbringing was the son of a high-ranking Soviet trade official and educated at Moscows elite diplomatic academy. Besides being the worlds largest producer of palladium and high-grade nickel, MMC Norilsk Nickel is a major producer of platinum and copper. It also produces cobalt, rhodium, silver, gold, iridium, ruthenium, selenium, tellurium and sulphur. Potanin said some countries used sanctions as a way to edge out competition, urging Moscow to consider its moves carefully. He also urged Moscow to remove restrictions on servicing Russias foreign currency debt, which he said totalled $480 billion. He said a technical default on interest payments could trigger demands for the full principal to be paid. This fully applies to major public companies, Potanin said. Russia said on Sunday that sovereign bond payments will depend on sanctions. We see that the Wests own economies have suffered by imposing sanctions against Russia. So we must be wiser and avoid a scenario under which our sanctions hit us, Potanin said. By Guy Faulconbridge Gabriel Weinberg, CEO and founder of DuckDuckGo, in Washington for a congressional hearing in a file image. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) DuckDuckGo Updates Search Engine, Will Penalize Sites Associated With Disinformation The search engine DuckDuckGo has begun penalizing sites linked to Russian disinformation amid the RussiaUkraine war, according to the companys CEO. Like so many others I am sickened by Russias invasion of Ukraine and the gigantic humanitarian crisis it continues to create, Gabriel Weinberg, the CEO, wrote on social media. At DuckDuckGo, weve been rolling out search updates that down-rank sites associated with Russian disinformation, he added. DuckDuckGo is also placing boxes with information at the top of the search results page to highlight quality information for rapidly unfolding topics, Weinberg added. DuckDuckGo is an alternative to Google that has been growing in popularity in recent years in part because it doesnt track users. Weinberg has in the past promised unbiased results as part of his pitch to people to switch from Google. Some users quickly questioned the CEOs update, including Tom Fitton, president of the Judicial Watch nonprofit. DuckDuckGo, contrary to its implicit promises to the contrary, is now in the censorship business, he wrote on Twitter. Are there any search engines that respect users? Today, you are removing Russian disinformation Tomorrow you will be removing genuine protests, another user wrote. DuckDuckGo did not respond to a request for comment. Weinberg later responded to some of the critics. Search engines by definition try to put more relevant content higher and less relevant content lowerthats not censorship, its search ranking relevancy, he said. Google has been placing Russian state media posts lower on its results since 2017. We dont want to ban the sites. Thats not how we operate. I am strongly not in favor of censorship. I am very strongly in favor of ranking. Its what we do, Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, said at the time. Russia Today, one of the outlets, pushed back then, saying, His colleagues admitted three weeks ago that RT did not violate any rules of the platform. Google also suspended selling online advertising in Russia in early March. Around the same time, Katie McInnis, a senior public policy manager for DuckDuckGo, told a congressional panel that the company suspended its relationship with Yandex, a Russian search engine. In light of Russias assault on democracy and Ukraine, we have paused our relationship with Yandex, McInnis told the House Committee on Energy & Commerce. The index was used to provide traditional links, meaning non-news links, in Russia and Turkey. Sesame Street's Luis (R) and Muppet Rosita chat during the introduction of the "You Can Ask!" program in N.Y.C., on June 25, 2003. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images) Emilio Delgado, Iconic Sesame Street Star Who Played Luis, Dead at 81 Emilio Delgado, a Mexican-American actor who appeared on the longtime family TV series Sesame Street for 45 years died on Thursday. He was 81. Delgado was surrounded by family when he died at his home in New York City, his wife, Carole Delgado, told TMZ. In late 2020, Delgado was diagnosed with blood cancer, multiple myeloma, but he was still making appearances and giving interviews throughout 2021 until his health started to decline. Sesame Workshop mourns the passing of Emilio Delgado, known the world over for his role as Luis on Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop said in a statement. A beloved member of the Sesame family for over 50 years, his warmth and humor invited children to share a friendship that has echoed through generations. Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken Een bericht gedeeld door Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit organization behind the TV series, said Delgado claimed the record for the longest-running role for a Mexican-American in a TV series. Born in 1940 in Calexico, CaliforniaDelgado joined the show starting with its third season in 1971. He said the producers embraced his suggestion to sprinkle Spanish terms into the script. The first time that I saw Big Bird walk on, my line was, Big Bird!' Delgado said in the 2021 interview. But I didnt say Big Bird, I said, pajaro!' After a quick meeting in which Delgado explained that pajaro meant bird, the producers decided to keep it in. Big Bird (L) and other Sesame Street puppet characters pose next to a temporary street sign at West 64th Street and Broadway in N.Y., on Nov. 9, 2009. (Stan Honda/AFP via Getty Images) Delgado made appearances on the show for 45 years and played Fix-It Shop owner Luis Rodriguez until 2016. The fictional character often sang in the series and sometimes played his guitar. He married Maria Figueroa, played by Sonia Manzano, in a ceremony on the show in 1988. The storyline allowed the show to teach children about marriage, love, and childbirth. Beyond Sesame Street, Delgado also appeared in other popular American TV series such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He also played a recurring character on the newspaper drama Lou Grant, and made multiple appearances on Quincy M.E., and Falcon Crest. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News In Texas, officials announced that theyve discovered about 10,000 uncounted ballots from last weeks primary election. This is similar to what happened over in New York City just last year (as well as what was just reported in Canada last month). However, there is a measure working its way through the House of Representatives that might address this problem. Meanwhile, while I was in Florida, I took the unique opportunity to sit down and speak with Congressman Ralph Norman, and we discussed the balancing act that America has found itself in: how do we be punitive toward Putins government without pushing Russia closer into Chinas orbit, while at the same time dealing with the skyrocketing national debt thatif you include unfunded liabilitiessits close to $150 trillion. Resources: Sekur: https://ept.ms/3yW0Wul Texas: https://ept.ms/3J3WAqm https://ept.ms/3MDETjF https://ept.ms/3KyObeP NYC: https://ept.ms/3J2Acxr Canada: https://ept.ms/34wJVgy VOTE Act: https://ept.ms/3tORibH Stay tuned for our newsletter so you wont miss out on our exclusive videos and private events. Facts Matter is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube. Follow Roman on Instagram: @epoch.times.roman Listen to Podcasts: iTunes Podcast: https://ept.ms/FactsMatterApplePodcast Spotify Podcast: https://ept.ms/FactsMatterSpotifyPodcast Google Podcast: https://ept.ms/FactsMatterGooglePodcast Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Parler: https://parler.com/#/user/EpochTV Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was allegedly the target of a kidnapping plot. Whitmer is pictured during a speech in Lansing, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor/via AP) FBI Informant Gave Marijuana to Whitmer Kidnapping Defendant, Court Hears Coordinated demolitions, snipers taking out armed guards, and a getaway with two helicopters were some of the wild details of an alleged conspiracy by the Wolverine Watchmen militia to kidnap Michigans governor in the summer of 2020. But according to the Watchmen standing trial for this alleged plot, these plans were hatched after they were drunk and highsometimes at the hand of an FBI informant. Defense attorney Josh Blanchard made that argument during his opening statement on March 9, responding to multiple recordings of his client, Barry Croft, calling for violence against law enforcement, government officials, and civilians. I might kill a cop, Croft allegedly said at a June 6, 2020, meeting of Three Percenters in Dublin, Ohio. You can tell the feds Barry Croft did it. These quotes and others were captured by former FBI informant Steve Robeson, who had organized the Dublin meeting. Blanchard told the jury on March 9 that Robeson supplied marijuana to Croft before he made his calls for violence. They [the FBI] ignored that their snitch was rolling blunts with [Croft], Blanchard said. The use of drugs and alcohol by the defendants has been highlighted by other attorneys, too. Julia Kelly, whos representing Daniel Harris, noted that Robesons wife can be heard laughing at Croft in the same recording of the Dublin meetingasking Croft if hes too high to stand. Defense attorney Christopher Gibbons, who is representing Adam Fox, also noted that copious amounts of marijuana was smoked at a July 2020 barbecue where his client allegedly spoke of capturing Whitmer. The informant recording Fox at that barbecuea man whos only been identified in court as Markonly had one Bud Light while Fox and other people at the party imbibed heavily, Gibbons said. FBI informants supplying targets of investigations with drugs is a clear violation of the Attorney Generals Guidelines Regarding The Use of Confidential Informants, former FBI agent Marc Ruskin told The Epoch Times. Among other provisions, the AG Guidelines prohibit informants from obtaining information in a way that would be unlawful if conducted by a law enforcement agent, as well as restrictions on informants providing their targets with gifts. Even though cannabis is legal in Michigan, its still a federally prohibited substance. In my experience, you cant authorize informants to provide drugs to anyone whos a subject of an investigation. I just dont see it, said Ruskin, author of The Pretender: My Life Undercover for the FBI. I can conceivably see an informant being authorized to smoke marijuana if he has no other choice, but this seems beyond the bounds. Ruskin, also a former defense attorney and a former Brooklyn assistant district attorney, said informants supplying defendants with cannabis doesnt make their statements inadmissible in court. But it does give defense attorneys plenty of fodder for the jury, he said. If the case is being done with integrity and in an aboveboard manner by the DOJ, they wouldnt accept it because it would be in violation of the AG guidelines, Ruskin said. And one of the reasons for that is the credibility of the informant would be so compromised that the jury wouldnt give it any weight. In this case, prosecutors wont be using Robeson as a witness. Prosecutors have said they wont use Robeson because he was actually a double agent who warned the defendants about the FBIs investigation, but the defense argues that the real reason is the one offered by Ruskin: Robesons credibility is shot. Instead, the defense has subpoenaed Robeson to testify about his role in the investigation. I just talked with their investigator, and I still dont understand why, Robeson told Michigan news station Target 8 outside the courthouse on March 8. I dont have nothing against them, but I dont know what I can do to help them. Robeson also denied being a double agent. Thats not true, and Im not anti-government on this. I dont know whats being discussed. Theres a recording for everything thats happened, and the recordings will show themselves for what they are, he said. All four of the defendants have pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, the trial has been delayed due to COVID-19, according to a court document filed on March 13. The document says that an essential trial participant has developed potential COVID-19 symptoms over the weekend. Pending further complications, the court hopes to reconvene for trial on March 17. A girl receives a gift during a giveaway for people in need in a file photo. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images) FBI: Nonprofit Spent Tens of Millions From Children Hunger Program on Cars, Property Federal authorities say tens of millions of federal dollars meant for child nutrition funds funded a fake St. Antony-based nonprofit called Feeding Our Future (FOF) that instead used the donations to buy numerous vehicles and 14 properties. The companies and their owners received tens of millions of dollars in federal funds for use in providing nutritious meals to underprivileged children and adults, FBI Special Agent Travis Wilmer wrote in an affidavit. Almost none of this money was used to feed children. Instead, the participants in the scheme misappropriated the money and used it to purchase real estate, cars and other luxury items. Court documents say the nonprofit received $307,000 in federal child nutrition program funds in 2018. In 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) eased its rules for feeding hungry kids to allow restaurants and other places to distribute food, including multi-day meals consumed off-site, citing COVID and closed in-person schools. Court documents say FOF reported $42.7 million in meals disbursed in 2020 and, by 2021, boosted that number to $197 million. We are driven by a single goal; making participation in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program safe and easy for our community partners, Feeding Our Futures website says. We ensure programs are easily able to receive funding to purchase nutritious meals and snacks. Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) reimburses local organizations with federal dollars. In summer 2020, reporting deficiencies and rapid growth in FOF-sponsored sites grabbed MDEs attention. Once FOF couldnt explain the drastic increase of meals or multiple paperwork errors, MDE reported the nonprofit to the USDA Office of the Inspector General in October 2020 and tried to stop payments. A month later, FOF sued MDE tried for not processing more than 50 applications for millions of dollars and won. By May 2021, authorities were investigating. On Jan. 20, 2022, more than 200 law enforcement personnel searched more than a dozen Twin Cities locations linked to the probe but no arrests were made. Afterward, MDE moved to terminate the contract and issued a stop pay order. Attorney General Keith Ellison said hes investigating FOF for alleged violations of state nonprofit law. Ellison filed a petition in Dakota County District Court for a court-supervised dissolution of the group. The crackdown ensnared Abdi Nur Salah, who was a senior policy aid at the office of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey before his firing, the Sahan Journal reported. Court documents say Salah co-purchased a south Minneapolis apartment building with money traceable to the fraud and money laundering scheme involving FOF. The U.S. Attorneys Office listed 14 properties, including the one Salah allegedly helped purchase thats connected to the alleged fraud. FOF Director Aimee Bock has denied any wrongdoing. The group has filed for dissolution after the feds froze all remaining funds. The warrants say FOF employees and multiple business operators enacted shell companies to conceal the stolen funds. To date, the conspirators have stolen millions of dollars in federal funds, the FBI said in January 2022. The scheme is ongoing. In February, Senate GOP members called for the state to audit federal food aid programs and account for billions of COVID spending. Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, said the alleged crime was outrageous. Its simply outrageous that nearly $200 million of money provided to feed children in need was abused in this way, Chamberlain said in a statement. With resources precious, its imperative government agencies ensure every dollar is going to programs with robust track records so we can know not a single dime is wasted. By Scott McClallen The logo of Deutsche bank is seen in Hong Kong, on July 8, 2019. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) For Practical Purposes, That Isnt an Option: Deutsche Bank Defends Decision Not to Exit Russia Deutsche Bank on Thursday defended its decision not to cease its operations in Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, stating that it is not practical to do so. Speaking to CNBC, the German banks chief financial officer James von Moltke said exiting the country would not be the right thing to do with regards to its clients that still operate in Russia. The CEO did not specifically name any of the banks clients in Russia. Were there to support our clients. And so, for practical purposes, that isnt an option thats available to us. Nor would it be the right thing to do in terms of managing those client relationships and helping them to manage their situation, Moltke said. However, Moltke acknowledged that the bank would monitor the situation going forward and would reconsider its current stance if the political situation between Ukraine and Russia were to further escalate, prompting its clients in the latter country to exit. Of course, well need to look at how this situation evolves and consider our footprint in Russia as we gain some greater clarity as to the direction of travel here, he said. As that [client presence] diminishes, so too will our presence in Moscow. The bank previously on Wednesday said that its exposure to Russia was very limited and had been since 2014, along with further reductions in its local footprint in recent weeks. Our direct exposures are currently very limited and tightly managed. Second- and third-order effects of the current situation, including sanctions and cybersecurity risk, are being carefully evaluated and monitored, said Stuart Lewis, Chief Risk Officer and Member of the Management Board. Deutsche Bank operates in a string of countries around the globe and serves both local and international clients in Russia. However, the German lender said that credit exposures to both Russia and Ukraine make up for a very small portion of its overall loan portfolio and are protected by a number of risk mitigants. As of Dec. 31, 2021, Deutsches net loan exposure to Russia stood at .6 billion euros ($660 million) after taking account of guarantees and asset collateral while its gross loan exposure was 1.4 billion euros ($1.54 billion), about 0.3 percent of its overall loan book. Meanwhile, its net loan exposure to Ukraine was 42 million euros ($46 million) as of Dec. 31. In respect of market risk exposure, at the time of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Deutsche Banks Russia/Ukraine market risk exposure was well contained and the bank had a modest defensive position, the bank said. Von Moltke told CNBC that the bank had managed the market risk quite successfully in the early days of Russias invasion of Ukraine to get it under control and was working closely with its clients to manage their reaction to the situation. Elsewhere, the banks $200 million capital in its Moscow subsidiary had been fully hedged from a currency perspective, Moltke said, adding that Ukraine has continued to operate its bank which he said was pretty incredible under the circumstances. Deutsche Bank in 2015 pulled back on its investment in Russia amid an investigation into potential money laundering by Russian clients. Moltkes comments come after Goldman Sachs became one of the first major global investment banks to leave Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. A bank spokesperson told CNBC in a statement that it is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements and is focused on supporting our clients across the globe in managing or closing out pre-existing obligations in the market and ensuring the well-being of our people. Americas largest bank, JPMorgan Chase, made a similar announcement saying it was actively unwinding its Russian business, citing compliance with directives by governments around the world. Current activities are limited, including helping global clients address and close out pre-existing obligations; managing their Russian-related risk; acting as a custodian to our clients; and taking care of our employees, the bank said. The Epoch Times has contacted Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase for comment. Michael Madigan on the floor as the Illinois House of Representatives convenes at the Bank of Springfield Center, in Ill., on Jan. 8, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/TNS) Former Illinois Speaker Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges By Jason Meisner and Ray Long From Chicago Tribune CHICAGOIn his nearly four decades atop Illinois political power structure, former House Speaker Michael Madigan was well-known for his aversion to talking on the phone. His arraignment Wednesday on federal corruption charges was no different. Madigan didnt say a word during the brief telephone hearing, instead of letting his attorney, Gil Soffer, enter a not guilty plea on his behalf to a 22-count indictment alleging a nearly decadelong racketeering conspiracy that included numerous acts of bribery and extortion. During the 10-minute session, which, over the objection of prosecutors, was held remotely due to the buildings COVID-19 protocols, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole went over the terms of Madigans bond, which doesnt require the former speaker to put up any money. He also had prosecutors recite each of the counts Madigan faces along with the maximum penalties, which range from five years in prison for bribery up to 20 years behind bars for the main count of racketeering. With that, the hearing was over. Madigans case was up next for a status hearing on April 1 before U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey, who will set a schedule for discovery and pretrial motions. Its likely Madigans appearance would be waived for that hearing, Cole said. Also appearing at the arraignmentafter a bit of a technical snafuwas Madigans longtime confidant, Michael McClain, 74, of downstate Quincy, who was charged with four counts in the 106-page indictment. McClain also pleaded not guilty through his attorney. Unlike Madigan, he did try to speak at one point. This is Mike McClain. Id like to apologize. Im electronically challenged, he said, before the judge suggested he let his attorney do the talking. The arraignment was a far cry from the hoopla created by other prepandemic political corruption cases at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where politicians from Alderman Edward Burke to Gov. Rod Blagojevich have been forced to walk through a gantlet of reporters and television news cameras. But the entering of a formal plea had the same effect, essentially starting the legal clock on Madigans case ticking toward a potential trial. It could also mark the only time in the foreseeable future when Madigan will be required to participate in a hearing in the case at all, since most judges have waived defendants appearances in nonviolent criminal cases, particularly during the pandemic. The indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week comes after a yearslong federal investigation and alleges Madigan participated in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 20112019 aimed at using the power of his office for personal gain. The long-awaited charges punctuated a stunning downfall for Madigan, the longest serving leader of any legislative chamber in the nation who held an ironclad grip on the state legislature as well as the Democratic Party and its political spoils. He was dethroned as speaker in early 2021 as the investigation swirled around him, and soon after resigned the House seat hed held since 1971. Both Madigan and his attorneys denied the allegations in written statements after the charges were filed, and said they intended to fight them in court. McClain, a former state legislator and lobbyist, is also facing separate charges alleging he orchestrated an alleged bribery scheme by Commonwealth Edison. That same alleged scheme forms the backbone of the indictment against Madigan, outlining a plan by the utility giant to pay thousands of dollars to lobbyists favored by Madigan in order to win his influence over legislation the company wanted to be passed in Springfield. The indictment also accused Madigan of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development. Though the land deal never was consummated, its been a source of continued interest for federal investigators, who in 2020 subpoenaed Madigans office for records and communications hed had with key players. Then-Alderman Daniel Solis, who was secretly cooperating with the investigation, recorded numerous conversations with Madigan as part of the Chinatown land probe, including one where the speaker told Solis he was looking for a colleague to sponsor a House bill approving the land sale. I have to find out about who would be the proponent in the House, Madigan allegedly told Solis in the March 2018 conversation. We gotta find the appropriate person for that. I have to think it through. The indictment also alleged that Madigan met with then Gov-elect J.B. Pritzker in December 2018 in part to discuss a lucrative state board position for Solis, ostensibly as a reward for helping Madigan win law business. Before that meeting, Solis allegedly recorded Madigan telling him the speakers communication with Pritzker did not need to be in writing, according to the indictment. I can just verbally tell him, Madigan allegedly said. His office issued a statement last week saying Pritzker does not recall Madigan ever asking him to consider Solis for any position and that the administration has no record of the alleged recommendation. A spokesperson for Pritzker also revealed the governor was informed by federal law enforcement that he was only a witness in the investigation, and that he agreed to a voluntary interview in his home in late February. Pritzker spoke to investigators for about an hour about his experiences with and knowledge of Mike Madigan and that he was pleased to cooperate and provide information. In addition to the criminal charges, the indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation against both Madigan and McClain seeking $2.8 million in alleged ill-gotten gains. In his written statement Wednesday, Madigan said he never engaged in any criminal activity and that prosecutors were attempting to criminalize legal political actions such as job recommendations. That is not illegal, and these other charges are equally unfounded, the statement read. Throughout my 50 years as a public servant, I worked to address the needs of my constituents, always keeping in mind the high standards required and the trust the public placed in me. I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois. His criminal defense lawyers, Sheldon Zenner and Soffer, said in their own statement the charges were baseless overreach by prosecutors and that the evidence would prove so in court. McClains attorney, Patrick Cotter, said in a statement that the government for years has been trying to force him to cooperate in its quest against Madigan and that the latest charges are nothing more than a continued attempt to pressure him to do prosecutors bidding. He remains innocent of the recycled and new charges in this latest indictment, Cotter said. He will never testify falsely about himself or anyone, no matter how many indictments are brought against him. We will fight to prove his innocence. A major focus of the indictment is what prosecutors call the Madigan Enterprise, an ongoing arrangement with Madigan, McClain, the speakers 13th Ward Democratic organization, Madigans chairmanship of the state Democratic Party and his property tax appeals firm, Madigan and Getzendanner. The purpose of the enterprise was to exercise, preserve and enhance Madigans political power and financial well-being, reward his political allies and workers financially for their loyalty, and to generate income for members and associates through illegal activities. The indictment alleges the illegal acts ranged from Madigan using his vast power as a speaker, including his ability to virtually pass or block legislation, to reward friends and political allies. The indictment was the culmination of a long-running federal probe of Madigan that broke wide open in summer 2020, when prosecutors identified him as Public Official A in bribery charges against ComEd. Four people, including McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former lobbyist John Hooker, and Jay Doherty, a consultant and longtime leader of the City Club of Chicago, were charged that November with bribery conspiracy and are awaiting trial. A fifth, former ComEd Vice President Fidel Marquez, has pleaded guilty to his role and is cooperating with investigators. In May 2021, chief of staff Timothy Mapes, another key member of his inner circle, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury about Madigans relationship with McClain as well as other matters involving the ComEd scheme. The probe came on the heels of another bombshell casethe racketeering indictment against Chicago Alderman Edward Burke, who like Madigan represented one of the last vestiges of Chicago machine politics. Burke has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. 2022 Chicago Tribune. Visit at chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Maajid Nawaz, author of "Radical: My Journey out of Islamist Extremism," in Washington on March 3, 2022. (Bao Qiu/The Epoch Times) Former Islamic Extremist: Elites Using Radicalization Techniques on Population Maajid Nawaz, author of the book 'Radical,' explains his argument Maajid Nawaz knows what its like to be radicalized by outside influences, because it happened to him. Nawaz, a former Islamic extremist and author of the book Radical, said recently that hes seeing the elites in power using the same tactics his extremist organization used to undermine peoples belief systems with specific narratives. I do believe we, as citizens of open democratic societies, are in a war, Nawaz told Jan Jekielek, host of American Thought Leaders, during a March 10 interview. Call it ideological warfare, call it information warfare. Its a war over narrative, he said. And the reason is that I believe whoever gets to define narratives around world events gets to define how those world events are perceived, and therefore how we respond to them. You have to destroy before you build. So, you undermine the belief system that the person already has, to a point where they dont know who they are anymore, and then you package an alternative for them. Nawaz explained how the process of radicalization manipulates peoples feelings of unfairness. It relies on a grievance, you have to have something that the person is so agitated by, and they want a solution to, to be able to demonstrate that the status quo doesnt solve the problem. Nawaz said his anger about the way he was treated as a Muslim in the U.K., and his grievance about the killings of nearby Bosnian Muslims, were exploited to recruit him into an extremist Islamic group when he was 16. Thats what enraged us. We felt that if, you know, if we had been there, we could have defended the community, he said. So, we had to organize, and that was the beginning of that journey of anger, seeking an alternative paradigm because the current paradigm, we felt, failed us. He said the people who recruited him and his friends fed them news and information about the Bosnian genocide of Muslims, which heightened their anger. Thats part of the recruitment process. We were, you know, given this information, given the news, and we were able to verify that all of that was true. Of course, it being true doesnt mean your conclusion is true, and thats where narrative comes in. Nawaz said the most effective narratives arent based on lies, but rather on truth. In his autobiography, he calls them half-truths, and said the way the truth is packaged serves an ideological agenda. Now, he sees governments and the leaders of various thought disciplines pushing a specific narrative to gain more control over people. White House Chief Medical Adviser on COVID-19 Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., on Feb. 11, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Traditional disciplines such as science, academia, geopolitics, and journalism have been weaponized in the elites pursuit of power, Nawaz said. Thats the purpose of it, so that were all confused and in disarray, and we dont know where the truth lies anymore. And if you look to the genius of George Orwell, in 1984, he perfectly demonstrates why that serves tyranny. Nawaz continued, saying there is a concerted effort among those in power to convince the public that theres no such thing as objective truth. If you have succumbed to this concerted effort that theres no such thing as truth, then theres no point in pursuing truth, he said. Everything is relative and is defined by the material circumstances that you find yourselves in. When people have legitimate grievances, and those grievances are not addressed or remedied, they will be vulnerable to radicalization because of their anger and frustration. We need to work out where our mistakes have been to make sure that we dont perpetuate those grievances, because then you end up with this reciprocal radicalization process, he said. And thats what we call the cycle of violence. Infiltration and the World Economic Forum Nawaz explained that when he was a member of an Islamic extremist group, his group actively recruited members of the military and high-ranking government officials, who would carry out the work of the group from the inside. On a global scale, Nawaz said the worldwide COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates were rolled out simultaneously in an attempt to consolidate power, as outlined by Klaus Schwab in his book, COVID-19: The Great Reset. Well, the great reset is actually this process in action. Its why I have been able to recognize it. Thats why I warn against it. If youve got the World Economic Forum (WEF) saying that we need this opportunity in this global crisis and the COVID emergency, for a great reset, thats the destroy part, because a reset is, lets get rid of it and start again, Nawaz said. Schwab, founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has boasted in the past about the fact that members of his Young Global Leaders program, who are ideologically aligned with the WEF, have penetrated the cabinets of several countries around the world, including Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand. We know that half of this cabinet, or even more than half of this cabinet, are actually Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum, Schwab said in 2017, referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. World Economic Forum founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab during the WEFs annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 20, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) This is why theyre telling us to Build Back Better after the chaos, Nawaz said. To build order from chaos, you need control and that requires centralization. The phrase Build Back Better, an alternative phrase for the great reset, has been used repeatedly by President Joe Biden to describe his economic plan, but other world leaders, including Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, also use the term. Nawaz said groups like the Canadian truckers, who surrounded Ottawa beginning in late January 2022 and demanded an end to vaccine mandates across the country, are being falsely labeled as extremists because they are pushing back against the WEF narrative. A sign on the front of one of the trucks participating in Freedom Convoy 2022, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Melissa Perepelkin) They just didnt want mandates. If you look, the majority of those truckers were vaccinated, Nawaz said. Its not anti-vaccine, and definitely not a racist thing either. Trudeau accused the truckers of being a radical right-wing racist group, and he ordered the police to crack down on the trucker protest. The prime minister also instructed Canadian authorities to financially sanction those who took part in the trucker protest in Ottawa by freezing their bank accounts. You ended up in a situation like China, the social credit system, where a political opponent is punished, merely for peaceful protest, by having their accounts frozen, having their social credit damaged, having their livelihoods jeopardized, simply for speaking against a policy, Nawaz said. Thats how you get total control over society, he said. Nawaz said governments and global leaders are losing control of the narrative because of widespread access to the internet and decentralized cryptocurrency, so protests against government overreach are being met with violence and false labels. But Nawaz said Trudeau and his allies may have gone too far, too fast. I think they overplayed their hand, and they underestimated the power of these truckers and people power, he said. Nawaz said governments like Trudeaus will continue to push for centralized power with banks and digital currency so they can consolidate power. He said citizens of the United States are fortunate to live in a society that has founding documents ensuring basic civil liberties such as free speech and states rights, something other developed countries dont guarantee. Nawaz praised the United States religious freedoms, and said that religious communities were at the forefront of opposing mandates because they know their rights come from God or a higher power. Its why religious diversity is a strength, because the more diversity you have in doctrine and spirituality, and culture, the harder it is for the state to monopolize. And the harder it is for the state to monopolize, the harder it is for the state to become authoritarian, he said. Nawaz criticized big governments, because that machine only ever grows that monster, the more you feed it, the bigger it gets. And we need community leaders with strong moral compasses. And individuals that have their relationship with their higher moral hierarchy, who can guide people to good as opposed to relying on government, he continued. Having a higher moral guide, he said, can counter the governments attempt to mislead us. What I really care about is that theres a moral hierarchy you believe in some higher purpose, right? If you take that away from society, then you end up in a situation where theres a void, and the state fills that void, and your moral hierarchy becomes the state, and youre blindly following the moral compass the state sets for you. Masooma Haq Follow Masooma Haq began reporting for The Epoch Times from Pakistan in 2008. She currently covers a variety of topics including U.S. government, culture, and entertainment. A view of the Goldman Sachs stall on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on July 16, 2013. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan to Exit Russia in Wake of Ukraine Invasion Goldman Sachs is one of the first major global investment banks to exit Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs told The Epoch Times in a statement that it is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements and is focused on supporting our clients across the globe in managing or closing out pre-existing obligations in the market and ensuring the well-being of our people. According to Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs total credit exposure to Russia was $650 million at the end of 2021, most of which was tied to non-sovereign counterparties or borrowers, making it a relatively small market for the bank, which has $1.46 trillion in assets (pdf). Americas largest bank, JPMorgan Chase, made a similar announcement March 10, stating it was actively unwinding its Russian business, citing compliance with directives by governments around the world. JPMorgan Chases activities involving Russia will be limited to helping global clients with preexisting obligations there, and managing their Russia-related risks, the company told The Epoch Times. The bank had previously announced a $5 million contribution to support humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine, and company officials said they would continue to monitor the situation and stay connected with employees in affected areas. A spokesperson from Goldman Sachs said: Goldman Sachs is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements. We are focused on supporting our clients across the globe in managing or closing out pre-existing obligations in the market and ensuring the well-being of our people. In compliance with directives by governments around the world, we have been actively unwinding Russian business and have not been pursuing any new business in Russia. Current activities are limited, including helping global clients address and close out pre-existing obligations; managing their Russia-related risk; acting as a custodian to our clients; and taking care of our employees, a spokesperson from JPMorgan told The Epoch Times. While the majority of banks have a small presence in Russia, Citigroup Inc. has the largest footprint, with nearly $10 billion as of year-end 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company said March 9 that it is assessing its future in Russia and working toward an exit. As we work toward that exit, we are operating that business on a more limited basis given current circumstances and obligations, the company stated. We are also supporting our corporate clients in Russia, including many American and European multi-national corporations who we are helping as they suspend or unwind their business. With the Russian economy in the process of being disconnected from the global financial system as a consequence of the invasion, we continue to assess our operations in the country, Citigroup Inc. stated. The multinational investment bank also said it has started humanitarian efforts on the ground and has donated $1 million from its foundation to a number of relief organizations and will match contributions from workers, which could add an extra $500,000 in donations. In 2021, Citigroup Inc. announced plans to exit from its consumer franchises in 13 markets, including Russia. While all three of the banks are preparing to cut ties with Russia, Deutsche Bank defended its decision not to do so, stating that it was not practical to cease operations in Russia. Speaking to CNBC March 10, Chief Financial Officer James von Moltke said exiting Russia would not be the right thing to do, citing Deutsche Banks clients in the country. Were there to support our clients. And so, for practical purposes, that isnt an option thats available to us. Nor would it be the right thing to do in terms of managing those client relationships and helping them to manage their situation, Moltke said. However, the CFO added that Deutsche Bank would reconsider its stance going forward if the political situation between Ukraine and Russia were to further escalate and its clients were to exit the country. Have Investors Surpassed Peak China? Commentary This is the first article of a two-part series on the growing risks of China investment. U.S. companies renewed their investments in China in the latter half of the 20th century once President Richard Nixon opened diplomatic relations with the country in 1972. For 40 years, after Congress excepted China from the rules otherwise required for Most Favored Nation (MFN, now normal trade) status and granted it to China, U.S. policymakers have hoped that foreign direct investment (FDI) and other elements of a market economy would grow the seeds of democracy. But nearly two generations after opening Americas doors and pocketbooks to Chinese exports and FDI, an intransigent Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has retained a firm grip on power over the Laobaixing, Old Hundred Names; the average Chinese man in the street. Democracy is really no further along in China after 40 years than it was during the Cultural Revolution. We realize now China is not the malleable enterprise that we thought we could remake into a Western-style democracy. And as we realize our naive mistake, investors are souring on our old view of China as a trading partner. That realization will likely have a significant negative effect on investors risk calculus, as will changes within China itself and heightened concerns about supply chain resiliency for goods originating there. Western Nations Awaken to Chinas Aberrant Behavior The ratings for NBCs Winter Olympics this year were the worst in history. In the influential Washington and New York media markets, a group called Consumers Research is running TV ads excoriating BlackRock fund manager Larry Fink for his multiple investments in China. Americans and Europeans learn of the CCPs horrific forced organ harvesting, its genocide against the Uyghurs and Falun Gong, and its persecution of Roman Catholics and other people of faith almost daily. We see the Chinese regimes recurrent incursions into Taiwans air defense identification zone, and its rapid build of multiple amphibious assault ships as clear signals of its intention to invade the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwans official name), a notion as repugnant to America and other democratic nations as Russias current invasion of Ukraine. Chinas Internal Issues Have Only Exacerbated Investor Risk On Wall Street, Evergrandes default on payments due foreign investors has highlighted Chinas over-built property sector, a veritable Potemkin Village replete with ghost cities of newly built, but entirely unoccupied, residential real estate. Investors now rightly fear the kind of real estate bubbles seen in Japan in the 1990s and the United States in 2008, but probably geometrically worse. The fear of those bubbles popping also suggests reduced provincial revenues, as land sales to developers help supplement local government coffers. Chinas aging demographics, exacerbated by the CCPs rigidly, brutally enforced one-child policy from 1980 to 2016, will likely produce labor shortages. And Chinas pension schemes are in such disarray that the CCP is pushing to raise the retirement age, and to shift to a national pension system from its provincial system so that better-funded provincial pension schemes can subsidize those that cannot meet their obligations. A woman plays with a child near elderly people on wheelchairs sunbathing on a compound of a commercial office building in Beijing, China, on May 10, 2021. (Andy Wong/AP Photo) Supply Chain Resiliency Supply chain resiliency became of considerable concern during the pandemic, when the risks for supply chains for critical products, like pharmaceuticals and personal protective equipment, were exposed. Chinas robust industrial policy to monopolize production in those sectors has largely succeeded in making foreign competition virtually non-existent. The shortages during the pandemic, as well as the costly blockages of the Suez and Panama canals, is causing many companies to rethink their sourcing. Even independent Amazon sellers, for example, who fulfill their sales via Amazon (for example, Fulfillment by Amazon or FBA) have alternative fulfillment sources outside China. Summary China is an economic and geopolitical competitor. It has explicitly stated its hope to surpass the United States by 2050. Even if that does not happen, it certainly seeks to end U.S. hegemony in the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. The CCP most certainly intends to take over control of the ROC, as it has repeatedly asserted the fiction that Taiwan is part of China. Foreigners who have bet on the CCP becoming a Western-style governmental steward of their investments have seen those hopes dashed multiple times, from Alibaba to Evergrande, to municipal finances. Chinas betaits risk to investors relative to alternative investmentshas grown exponentially in the last several years. Moreover, Chinas failure to adopt and enforce International Financial Reporting Standards in its commercial sector (as of 2018, only 30 percent of Chinese companies had)so commonplace among Western businessesgreatly exacerbates the risk. Companies may be hiding non-performing loans, foreign creditors may find their debts held Zombie banks, or that their suppliers have no ability or intention to fulfill contracts. All this should make foreign investors view China through increasingly jaundiced eyes. But it should also encourage policymakers in the United States, the European Union, and the democracies of the western Pacific to implement trade and industrial development strategies to ameliorate the economic and geopolitical riskas well as the potentially belligerent interests of Chinainherent in doing business with the CCP. Well talk about those strategies in the second part of this series. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Homeless Providers Optimistic About Newsoms Court-Ordered Care Proposal SACRAMENTOCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom recently unveiled a new proposal to force some homeless suffering from drug addiction and mental illnesses into substance abuse treatment amid sprawling encampments and homelessness on the streets. The move has become a buzzing conversation among activists for the homeless, residents, and providers alike. Amid a wave of progressive reforms across the state, and the Housing First model that seeks to house all homeless individuals, some say Newsom is finally addressing the root of the problem in his new proposal. The new plan, termed the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court, will summon homeless people dealing with substance abuse and mental illnesses to receive a court-ordered treatment plan lasting up to two years. If an individual denies treatment and they are deemed unfit to make decisions for themselves, they will be placed into conservatorship. I think the governor definitely is tapping into the real deal, co-founder of Venice-based HELPER Foundationa gang intervention nonprofitAnsar El Muhammad told The Epoch Times. Addiction and mental health, youve got to address those two issues before you even deal with housing. A woman walks past a homeless encampment in Venice, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Muhammad, who was formerly involved with gang activity in his 20s, said his only concern with the proposal is that the larger agencies dont gobble up all the resources and dont deliver the services. His foundation is one of several small nonprofits in Los Angeles that dont rely on city or state funding to do outreach. Newsom visited Kress House, a residential facility, in Los Angeles on March 10 and met with clients, health care and service providers, and local and judicial officials to discuss his CARE Court proposal. This is the first of many visits Newsom said he plans to have with community groups across the state. With new tools and a focus on accountability, CARE Court will empower communities to help those in the greatest need get critical services to put them on a path to recovery and healing, Newsom said in a statement. In the weeks ahead, well be hearing firsthand from everyday Californians and their families, service providers, health care professionals, first responders, members of the judiciary, local officials and other stakeholders whose partnership is foundational to our community-based approach. California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses the states plan for homelessness initiatives in Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) As of January 2020, California had more than 150,000 homeless individuals living on the streets. According to the last homeless count in LA, there were 66,000 homeless countywide and more than 41,000 across the city. Those with boots on the ground in some of the states hardest-hit areas of homelessness applauded Newsoms action but want to see more of the details fleshed out before they get fully on board. SHARE! Housing President and LAPD Community Police Advisory board member Brian Ulf told The Epoch Times anything is better than nothing when it comes to addressing mental illness and substance abuse among the homeless. The CARE programs got to not only have treatment, but its got to have detox, Ulf said. You have to be able to meet people where they are, but get them where they need to go. Youve got to be able to put them in the programs directly from the street. A homeless man looks for food in a trashcan in Venice Beach, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Ulf said the current process of getting an individual treatment and into interim housing can take up to a week or longer, which is a critical time frame once someone agrees to be helped. Outreach workers have told The Epoch Times in previous interviews that it can take an individual up to ten points of contact before they agree to receive help. Court-ordered responses for individuals to be admitted to CARE Court can be triggered by family members, homeless providers, behavioral specialists, or first responders. If Newsom receives enough legislative support to make the program a law, all counties will participate in CARE Court. If local municipalities do not meet their specified duties under court-ordered Care Plans, the proposal states the court will have the ability to order sanctions and, in extreme cases, appoint an agent to ensure services are provided. Funding for CARE Court will come out of Newsoms $14 billion multi-year investment to build 55,000 new housing units and treatment programs, including over $10 billion annual investment in community behavioral health services. A staff cleans Akash, a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on the second day of the 5-day, of Aero India airshow at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bangalore on Feb. 21, 2019. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images) India Confirms It Accidentally Fired Missile Into Pakistan Indias government on Friday confirmed that it accidentally fired a missile into Pakistans airspace, blaming the incident on a technical problem. The Indian Defense Ministry stated that a technical malfunction during routine maintenance was the cause of the accidental firing of the missile before it landed in a part of Pakistan on March 9. An investigation was launched into how it occurred. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the incident, the Defense Ministry added in its statement. A day earlier, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Pakistan, said in a social media post that the country recorded an unprovoked violation of its airspace by a super-sonic flying object' that came from India. The imprudent launch of the flying object not only caused damage to civilian property but also put at risk human lives on [the] ground, Ahmad wrote. Besides, the flight path of the flying object endangered several domestic/international flights within Pakistani airspace and could have resulted in a serious aviation accident as well as civilian casualties. An Indian diplomat was summoned by Pakistans Foreign Office on Thursday after the incident. That official was told by Pakistans government to convey its strong condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistani airspace in contravention of the established international norms and aviation safety protocols, it said, adding that such irresponsible incidents were also reflective of Indias disregard for air safety and callousness towards regional peace and stability. Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Babar Iftikhar said in a Thursday evening press conference that the missile crashed near the city of Mian Channu, originating from the Indian city of Sirsa. And when it fell, it also damaged some civilian property. Thankfully, no loss or injury to human life was caused, he said, adding that there were no sensitive military installations nearby. Pakistan and India, which both possess nuclear weapons, have clashed over territory in recent years. The two nations have been embroiled in a conflict over the area of Kashmir for decades. Military experts have repeatedly warned about the risk of miscalculation or nuclear accidents between the two neighbors. The two countries came close to a war in February 2019 when Pakistans air force shot down an Indian fighter jet and captured its pilot over Kashmir. The two nations have waged several wars since they gained independence in 1947 from British rule. A 'wanted' notice for the ISIS jihadist group leader Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi is seen in a handout image obtained by Reuters on Feb. 3, 2022. (U.S. State Department Rewards for Justice Program/@RFJ_USA/Handout via Reuters) ISIS Confirms Death of Its Leader, Names New Chief CAIROISIS confirmed on Thursday the death of its leader Abu Ibrahim Al-hashemi Al-Quraishi and its spokesperson Abu Hamza Al-Quraishi, and announced Abu Al-Hassan Al-hashemi Al-Quraishi as its new chief. Quraishi, a religious scholar and soldier in former Iraqi leader Saddam Husseins army who led ISIS from the shadows for a little over two years, died in a U.S. special forces raid in northern Syria in February when he detonated a bomb that killed him and family members, the U.S. administration said. The death of Quraishi, 45, was another crushing blow to ISIS two years after the violent Sunni Muslim group lost longtime leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a similar raid in 2019. The group did not deny or confirm the U.S. narrative and the new ISIS spokesman, Abu Umar al Muhajir, said in a recorded speech on Thursday that Quraishis last battle was at Ghuwayran prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka. At least 200 prison inmates and militants as well as 30 security forces died in an ISIS attack on the jail in January in a bid to free their members, officials have said. By Alaa Swilam Actor Jussie Smollett appears at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, in Chicago, Il., on March 10, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Pool/Chicago Tribune) Jussie Smollett Sentenced to 150 Days in Jail Over Lying About Attack, Declares Hes Not Suicidal Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police about being a victim of an attack he was accused to have orchestrated himself. At the hearing, Smollett repeatedly declared he is not suicidal. The one-time star of the TV drama Empire had asserted the attack happened in January 2019. A jury in December 2021 found Smollett, 39, guilty of five of the six felony disorderly conduct counts he faced, one for each time he was accused of lying to police. Cook County Judge James Linn on Thursday sentenced him to 30 months of felony probation, including 150 days in the county jail. Smollett was also ordered to pay restitution of $120,106 to the city of Chicago, and a $25,000 fine. The judge denied a request to suspend the sentence, and ordered that Smollett be immediately placed in custody. I know that there is nothing that I will do here today that can come close to the damage youve already done to your own life, said Linn. Youve destroyed your life as you knew it. The damage youve done to yourself is way beyond anything else than can happen to you from me, Linn also said. You are now a permanently convicted felon. Smollett has the right to appeal and said in court on Thursday that he was innocent. Actor Jussie Smollett listens as his grandmother Molly testifies at his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on March 10, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Pool via Getty Images) I would just like to say, your honor, that I am not suicidal. Thats what I would like to say. Im not suicidal. Im not suicidal. I am innocent and I am not suicidal, Smollett said. If I did this then it means I stuck my fist in the fears of black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBT community. Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this. He then turned to the court, saying: And I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself. And you must all know that. I respect you, your honor. I respect your decision. Jail timeI am not suicidal, he added. After the hours-long sentencing hearing, while being led out of the courtroom, he shouted, I am innocent. I could have said I am guilty a long time ago. He also raised his fist into the air. Actor Jussie Smollett is led out of the courtroom after being sentenced to jail time at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago on March 10, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Pool via Getty Images) A spokesman for the Cook County Sheriffs Office said Smollett will be given a comprehensive medical, mental health, and security assessment and will be placed in appropriate housing, the same process used for all people entering the jail. Read More Prosecutors in Smollett Case Lied to the Public, Special Prosecutor Finds According to Smolletts version of events, he was accosted on a dark Chicago street by two masked strangers. Smollett told police the attackers threw a noose around his neck and poured chemicals on him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs and expressions of support for former President Donald Trump. Police arrested the actor a month after the reported attack and said that Smollett paid two brothers $3,500 to orchestrate the attack to raise his show-business profile. Prosecutors said Smollett, who is black and gay, lied to police about the matter. Smollett, who knew the men from his work on the television show Empire that filmed in Chicago, testified that he did not recognize them and did not know they were the men attacking him. Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building for his sentencing hearing in Chicago on March 10, 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) In March 2019, the Cook County states attorneys office abruptly dropped all charges against Jussie Smollett, in exchange for Smollett agreeing to forfeit the $10,000 hed posted for his bond and perform community service, without admitting any wrongdoing as alleged in the 16-count indictment. In 2019, a special prosecutor assigned to the case recommended charging Smollett again and a grand jury returned an indictment. Smollett was convicted in December 2021. Smollett had pleaded not guilty to all six counts of felony disorderly conductthe charge filed for lying to policeof which he was convicted for five of them. He faced up to three years in prison for each of the five counts. Because Smollett does not have an extensive criminal history and the conviction is for a low-level nonviolent crime, experts did not expect him to be sent to prison. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Students walk to their classrooms at a public middle school in Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) LA Unified Enrollment to Drop Below 400,000 in 2 Years: Officials LOS ANGELESEnrollment for the nations second-largest school district, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)is down by 40 percent, from 747,000 students in 2003 to 437,000 this year. District officials project the district may continue to face steep enrollment declines in the coming years. Contrast that with 20 years ago, when LAUSD was so populated, it had to offer year-round classes for some students. In a March 8 report (pdf) before the LAUSD education board, officials predicted enrollment would begin to drop by about 4 percent each year over the next decadereaching below 400,000 in just two years. The district previously saw an enrollment decline rate of about 2 percent in the past five years. Because state funding is based on enrollment, several schools in the district are facing the possibility of closing, merging, or downsizing based on enrollment numbers. LAUSD Chief Financial Officer David Hart said during the presentation that the board intends to look into the declining enrollment numbers to understand what is transpiring with regards to a reduction in our enrollment. The report indicated that new charter schools operating in district boundaries may impact the districts enrollment. There are currently more than 270 active charter schools with over 112,000 students enrolled in LAUSD, according to the states education department. In addition, charter schools in the district have seen an enrollment increase of about 1 percent per year since 2018, according to EdData. Despite an expected drop in overall enrollment, the district is expecting an increase in students switching to online study programs as the district expects to enforce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students at the beginning of the 20222023 school year. Under the mandate, unvaccinated students would no longer be allowed to attend on-campus classes. About 87 percent of LAUSD students over the age of 12 were vaccinated as of December 2021, meaning potentially more than 34,000 students remain unvaccinated. Parents of those students will be faced with a choice: go online or leave the district. We anticipate [online learning program] enrollment increasing, not decreasing, so it does cause us to think about planning in a different way, LAUSD Chief of Schools David Baca said at a board meeting in early February. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalhowho took office last monthsaid he was less concerned about charter schools impacting enrollment, choosing instead to focus on expanding school choice in the district. Im less concerned about the dynamic of dialogue that usually separates people into two camps: charter versus non-charter, Carvalho told EdSource last week. Im more interested in programmatic offerings that benefit kidsperiod. The superintendent announced last month the district intends to open six new independent online learning programs to accommodate up to 15,000 students who are unable to attend classes in person or prefer remote learning, as well as unvaccinated students, who will no longer be allowed on campus after the start of the next school year. The City of Angels online learning programthe districts only long-term independent study program this yearsaw enrollment increase more than 10 times, from almost 1,500 students last school year to more than 17,000 students this school year, according to Baca. A spokesperson for the LAUSD Board of Education, as well as a spokesperson for the California Charter Schools Association, didnt respond to requests for comment by press time. Rubble is seen at a psychiatric hospital, which was hit by an enemy shell, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the village of Oskil, Izyum district, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on March 11, 2022. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters) Russia-Ukraine (March 11): Ukraine Accuses Russia of Damaging Cancer Hospital With Shelling The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, March 11. Click here for updates from March 10. Ukraine Accuses Russia of Damaging Cancer Hospital With Shelling Ukrainian officials accused Russia of damaging a cancer hospital and several residential buildings in the southern city of Mykolaiv with shelling from heavy artillery. The hospitals head doctor, Maksim Beznosenko, said several hundred patients were in the hospital during the attack but that no one was killed. The assault damaged the building and blew out windows. Russian forces have stepped up their attacks on Mykolaiv, located 470 kilometers (292 miles) south of Kyiv, in an attempt to encircle the city. Ukrainian and Western officials earlier accused Russia of shelling a maternity hospital in the southern city of Mariupol on Wednesday. Three people died in that attack. ___ US Imposes New Sanctions on Russian Billionaire, Putin Spokesmans Family The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, three family members of President Vladimir Putins spokesperson, and lawmakers in the latest punishment for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russia has faced a slew of measures since launching its Feb. 24 invasion, the biggest attack on a European state since World War II. Those hit by Fridays sanctions include 10 people on the board of VTB Bank, the second-largest lender in Russia, and 12 members of the Duma, Russias lower house of parliament, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement. Treasury continues to hold Russian officials to account for enabling Putins unjustified and unprovoked war, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was targeted on March 3. Fridays measures extend to his wife and two adult children. They lead luxurious lifestyles that are incongruous with Peskovs civil servant salary, the Treasury said in a news release. ___ UN: Ukraine War Could Trigger 20 Percent Food Price Rise International food and feed prices could rise by up to 20 percent as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, triggering a jump in global malnourishment, the United Nations food agency said on Friday. The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said it was not clear whether Ukraine would be able to harvest crops if the war dragged on, while uncertainty also surrounded the prospects for Russian exports in the coming year. FAO said Russia was the worlds largest exporter of wheat and Ukraine was the fifth largest. Together, they provide 19 percent of the worlds barley supply, 14 percent of wheat, and 4 percent of maize, making up more than one-third of global cereal exports. Russia is also a world leader in fertilizer exports. The likely disruptions to agricultural activities of these two major exporters of staple commodities could seriously escalate food insecurity globally, FAO Director General Qu Dongyu said in a statement. Read the full article here ___ State Department Warns Americans Not to Travel to Ukraine The U.S. State Department on Friday said that U.S. citizens who travel to Ukraine, including those who go to participate in the conflict, face a very real risk of capture or death as it warned that Washington would not be able to facilitate evacuation. They may be subject to potential attempts at criminal prosecution and may be at heightened risk for mistreatment, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters. ___ Facebook Parent Company Defends Policy on Calls for Violence Facebook owner Meta Platforms said Friday that a temporary change in its content policy, only for Ukraine, was needed to let users voice opposition to Russias attack, as Russia opened a criminal case after the company said it would allow posts such as death to the Russian invaders. Russian prosecutors asked a court to designate the U.S. tech giant as an extremist organization, and the communications regulator said it would restrict access to Metas Instagram starting March 14. The company said the decision would affect 80 million users in Russia. A criminal case has been initiated in connection with illegal calls for murder and violence against citizens of the Russian Federation by employees of the American company Meta, which owns the social networks Facebook and Instagram, Russias Investigative Committee said. Meta Global Affairs President Nick Clegg responded with a statement saying that the company aimed to protect rights to speech as an expression of self-defense reacting to the invasion of Ukraine and that the policy only applied to Ukraine. ___ Just Over 7,000 People Evacuated From Ukrainian Cities Friday, Mariupol Blocked: Zelensky A total of 7,144 people were evacuated from four Ukrainian cities on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address, a sharply lower number than managed to leave in each of the two previous days. Zelensky accused Russia of refusing to allow people out of the besieged city of Mariupol and said Ukraine would try again to deliver food and medicines there on Saturday. Almost 40,000 people left a number of cities through humanitarian corridors on Thursday, on top of the 35,000 who fled on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. ___ Ukraine Says Russia Wants to Drag Belarus Into War, Warns of Invasion Plan Ukraine said Belarus could be planning to invade its territory on Friday and accused Russia of trying to drag its ally into the war by staging air attacks on Belarus from Ukrainian air space. Belarus has served as a staging post for Russian troops, missiles and aircraft, both before and after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, but it has not deployed its own forces in active battle. The alleged attacks took place as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko was meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, according to Ukraines State Centre for Strategic Communications. Last week, Lukashenko, a close Kremlin ally, said Belarusian armed forces were not taking part and would not take part in what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. ___ IAEA: Power Line Repairs Begin at Chernobyl Ukraine told the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday that technicians have started repairing damaged power lines at the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant in an effort to restore power supplies, the U.N. nuclear agency said. On Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said that Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, was knocked off the power grid, with emergency generators supplying backup power. The Ukrainian nuclear regulator said Friday that workers repaired one section of the lines, but there still appears to be damage in other places, the IAEA said. Repair efforts would continue despite the difficult situation outside the plant, which was taken by Russian forces early in the invasion, it said. The Ukrainian regulator said additional fuel was delivered for generators, but it remains important to fix the power lines as soon as possible. The IAEA reiterated that the disconnection will not have a critical impact on essential safety functions at the site. ____ Deutsche Bank to Wind Down in Russia, Reversing Course After Backlash Deutsche Bank, which faced stinging criticism from some investors and politicians for its ongoing ties to Russia, said on Friday in a surprise move that it would wind down its business in the country. Deutsche joins the ranks of Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, which were the first major U.S. banks to exit after Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Those moves put pressure on rivals to follow. Deutsche had resisted pressure to sever ties, arguing that it needed to support multinational firms doing business in Russia. But on Friday evening in Frankfurt, the bank suddenly reversed course. We are in the process of winding down our remaining business in Russia while we help our non-Russian multinational clients in reducing their operations, the bank said. There wont be any new business in Russia, Deutsche said. A day earlier, Deutsche Banks Chief Executive Christian Sewing explained to staff why the bank was not withdrawing. The answer is that this would go against our values, he wrote. We have clients who cannot exit Russia overnight. ____ Kharkiv Nuclear Facility Safe but War Poses Big Risks, Says Institute Director The head of a nuclear research facility in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv said on Friday that the grounds of the institute had been struck by Russian shells during recent fighting, but the core housing nuclear fuel remains intact. He warned, however, that any future damage to equipment in the core could pose a danger. The facility, in working condition, doesnt present any danger whatsoever, said Mykola Shulga, director general of the National Science Centre Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology. However, if there is physical damage, a nuclear fuel leak is possible, radioactive elements (could escape) outside, he told Reuters, speaking inside the facility. This obviously would be a huge, huge problem for the environment. In other words, what would happen would be comparable to a similar situation at any nuclear power station. While the inner areas of the institute were unscathed, some of the outer walls of the building were damaged by shrapnel and windows were blown in. Ukraine and its allies are concerned about the risk Russias invasion poses to nuclear facilities across the country, including power plants and research centres. Zaporizhzhia, Europes largest nuclear power plant, is now in Russian hands. During fighting with Ukrainian forces in the area, a blaze broke out in a building at the site. ____ Ukraine Says Situation in Encircled City of Mariupol Is Critical Ukraine said on Friday the situation in Mariupol was now critical as Russian forces tightened their noose around the Black Sea port city and the death toll from Russian shelling and a 12-day blockade reached almost 1,600. Russias defence ministry was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying Mariupol was now completely surrounded, and Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberately preventing civilians getting out and stopping humanitarian convoys getting in. Russian shelling prevented evacuees from leaving the city again on Friday. Elsewhere, Russian forces also stopped some buses of people trying to flee the Kyiv region, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a video address. Interior ministry adviser Vadym Denysenko expressed doubt that the latest attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol would succeed, and a new effort to evacuate civilians appeared to have failed. The situation is critical, Denysenko said. ____ Ukraine Claims Russian Jets Fired at Belarus in False Flag Attempt Ukrainian officials on Friday said that Belarus could be planning to invade its territory, accusing Russia of attempting to drag its ally into the conflict. Ukraines Air Force Command, on March 11, alleged that border officials obtained information detailing how Russian aircraft took off from a Belarus airfield, crossed into Ukraine, and fired at the Belarussian village of Kopani. The Ukrainian State Border Service received information that Russian aircraft took off from Dubrovytsia airfield (Belarus), entered the territory of Ukraine, turned over our populated areas of Horodychi and Tumen, and then launched an airstrike on the populated area of Kopani (Belarus), said the Air Force Command on social media. It included a video that purported to show part of the incident. The claim could not be immediately verified by The Epoch Times. Russias Ministry of Defense has not publicly responded to the allegations. Read the full article here ____ Russia Says It Has Enough Fossil Fuel Buyers Even With Sanctions The Russian Federation has signaled once again that it does not expect serious harm to befall its fossil fuel industry amidst economic sanctions and international isolation, arguing that it will continue to find buyers, even if Europe and the United States cease doing business with Russian oil exporters. We will not persuade anyone to buy our oil and gas, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 10. If they want to replace it with something, they are welcome, we will have supply markets, we already have them. While the international community has responded to Russias invasion of Ukraine with resounding disapproval, the economic isolation is not universal. Russia remains closely aligned with China, Cuba, Venezuela, Belarus, and Syria, and the country will likely continue trading with Turkey, which has become increasingly dependent on Russian exports in recent years. Read the full article here ____ Finnish Leader Urges Ceasefire in Call With Putin Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke in a phone call Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine. Niinistos office said in a statement that he informed Putin that he, earlier in the day, had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and that Zelenskyy was prepared to talk directly with Putin. The statement said Niinisto called for an immediate ceasefire and the safe evacuation of civilians, but also spoke to Putin about the security of nuclear energy facilities in Ukraine. Niinisto is one of the few Western leaders who has kept a regular dialogue with Putin ever since the Finnish leader took office in 2012. ____ Biden: Direct Conflict Between Russia and NATO Is World War III President Joe Biden said the United States and NATO should avoid fighting Russia in Ukraine because it would lead to a third world war. Were going to continue to stand together with our allies in Europe and send an unmistakable message. We will defend every single inch of NATO territory with the full might of the united and galvanized NATO, Biden said after he announced more economic penalties against Moscow on Friday from the White House. The United States and NATO, he added, will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine because a direct conflict between NATO and Russia is World War III, something we must strive to prevent. Read the full article here ____ UN: Credible Reports of Cluster Munitions The United Nations human rights office has received credible reports that Russian forces are using cluster munitions in Ukraine, including in populated areas which is prohibited under international humanitarian law, the U.N. political chief said Friday. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told a U.N. Security Council meeting that residential areas and civilian infrastructure are being shelled in Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv, and the utter devastation being visited on these cities is horrific. Most of the civilian casualties recorded by the U.N. human rights office564 killed and 982 injured as of Thursdayhave been caused by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and airstrikes, she said. Indiscriminate attacks, including those using cluster munitions, which are of a nature to strike military objectives and civilians or civilian objects without distinction, are prohibited under international humanitarian law, DiCarlo said. Directing attacks against civilian and civilian objects, as well as so-called area bombardment in towns and villages, are also prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes. ____ Ukraine Loses Communication With Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant: IAEA Ukraine lost all communications with the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on March 10, the countrys regulatory authority informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Just a day earlier, the site had lost all external power supply, following which, the plant made use of emergency generators. The loss in communication means that the Ukraine operator cannot provide IAEA with updated information about the site. Prior to the loss of communication, power lines on the site were damaged, disconnecting it from the electric grid. To ensure the site receives continuous power, either the power lines have to be repaired or diesel deliveries must be made. The generators have a capacity of two days worth of fuel. Read the full article here ____ Biden Calls for End to Normal Trade Relations With Russia President Joe Biden has announced the latest round of sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies against Russia in response to the now weeks-long Russian military campaign in Ukraine. In an address Friday, Biden said he will sign bipartisan legislation that will revoke Russias permanent normal trade relations status with the United States, making it more difficult for Russia to do business with the West. Biden says the move to end normal trade relations with Russia was done in coordination with Canada, France, Germany, Italy Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. [Russia President Vladimir] Putin must pay the price, Biden said. He cannot pursue a war that threatens the very foundations of international peace and stability, and then ask for financial help from the international community. Read the full article here ____ Russian Strikes Hit Western Ukraine as Offensive Widens: Officials Russian airstrikes intensified on Friday in western Ukraine as satellite footage suggested Moscows forces outside Kyiv have regrouped after remaining more than a week outside the city. Airstrikes hit the Lutsk airfield that left two Ukrainian servicemen dead and six people wounded, the head of the Volyn region, Yuriy Pohulyayko, told media outlets a statement. The strikes also targeted an airport near Ivano-Frankiivsk, where residents were ordered to shelters after an air raid alert, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv said on social media. Explosions were heard in Frankivsk. The military and the State Emergency Service are working. Details will be released later! React to sirens, he wrote Friday. Read the full article here ____ Zelensky Says Ukraine Military Forces Reach a Strategic Turning Point Ukraines president says his countrys military forces have reached a strategic turning point, while Russias president says there are certain positive developments in talks between the warring countries. Neither leader explained clearly what they meant, however. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday: Its impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it because we have reached a strategic turning point. He didnt elaborate. He spoke on a video showing him outside the presidential administration in Kyiv, speaking in both Ukrainian and Russian about the 16th day of war. Meanwhile, in Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin said there have been positive developments in talks between the warring countries, but he didnt offer any details about what those developments were. ____ Russias Putin Sees Positive Shifts in Talks With Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday some progress had been made in Moscows talks with Ukraine, while the Kremlin said the conflict would end when the West took action to address Moscows concerns. At a Kremlin meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said Western sanctions would not hinder Russian development and that Russia would end up stronger. He then said Ukrainian negotiations were taking place practically every day. There are certain positive shifts, negotiators on our side tell me, Putin said. I will talk about all of this later. Lukashenko told Putin that both of them were from Soviet generations which had endured sanctions and that the Soviet Union had developed well. ____ Russian Prosecutors Ask Court to Name Meta as Extremist Organization Prosecutors have asked a Russian court to designate Facebooks parent organization Meta Platforms as an extremist organization, Interfax reported on Friday. The state prosecutor also asked Russias communications watchdog to restrict access to Metas Instagram social networking service. Reuters reported on Thursday that Meta would allow Facebook and Instagram users in some countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers in the context of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Another Russian news agency, TASS, reported that Russian investigators had opened a case about Metas actions. ___ Ukraine Civilian Deaths Exceed Military Losses: Defense Minister Russian forces invading Ukraine have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, according to Ukraines Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. I want this to be heard not only in Kyiv but all over the world, Reznikov said, without providing further details. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed across Ukraine since Russian forces invaded two weeks ago. The United Nations human rights office said Thursday it had recorded the killings of 549 civilians in Ukraine since the invasion began, including 26 children. Read the full article here ____ Russia to Allow More Than 16,000 Middle East Volunteers to Fight Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that so-called volunteer fighters should be brought into Ukraine. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia knew of more than 16,000 applications from countries in the Middle East, many of them from people who he said helped Russia against the ISIS terrorist group, according to a Kremlin transcript. They want to take part in what they consider a liberation movement, Shoigu said, on the side of Russia-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Putin told Shoigu that Russia should help would-be volunteers to move to the combat zone and contrasted them with what he called foreign mercenaries fighting for Ukraine. ___ Deutsche Bank Defends Decision Not to Exit Russia Deutsche Bank on Thursday defended its decision not to cease its operations in Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, stating that it is not practical to do so. Speaking to CNBC, the German banks chief financial officer James von Moltke said exiting the country would not be the right thing to do with regards to its clients that still operate in Russia. The CEO did not specifically name any of the banks clients in Russia. Read the full article here ___ Russia Calls for UN Security Council Meeting Over Biological Activities in Ukraine Russia has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss alleged U.S. military biological activities in Ukraine. Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, said in a Twitter post on March 10: Russian Mission asked for a meeting of #SecurityCouncil for 11 March to discuss the military biological activities of the US on the territory of #Ukraine. Reuters reported that diplomats have indicated the U.N. Security Council will convene on Friday, March 11, to discuss Moscows claims of U.S. biological activities in Ukraine. Late on March 9, the United States denied Russian accusations that Washington is running labs in Ukraine geared toward developing bioweapons. Read the full article here ____ Russian-Backed Separatists Capture Ukraines Volnovakha: RIA Russian-backed separatists have captured the Ukrainian city of Volnovakha north of the besieged Azov Sea port of Mariupol, the RIA news agency quoted Russias defense ministry as saying on Friday. Volnovakha is strategically important as the northern gateway to Mariupol. ___ Russia Says Military Airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk Taken Out: Agencies Russian troops have launched a high-precision, long-range attack on two military airfields in the Ukrainian cities of Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk and taken them out of action, Russian news agencies quoted Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying on Friday. He also said that Russian forces had destroyed 3,213 Ukrainian military installations since the launch of what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine. ___ Air Strikes in Ukraines Dnipro Kill One, Emergency Services Say Three airstrikes early on Friday in Ukraines central city of Dnipro killed at least one person, state emergency services said, adding that the strikes were close to a kindergarten and an apartment building. The strikes came amid preparations by the United States, together with the Group of Seven nations and the European Union, to revoke Russias most favored nation status over its invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday, Ukraine had warned that Russia was mustering forces to encircle Dnipro, home to about one million people before the invasion started. ___ US Plans to Revoke Russia Favored Trade Status President Joe Biden will announce Friday that, along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the United States will move to revoke most favored nation trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Thats according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcement. Bidens move comes as bipartisan pressure has been building in Washington to revoke what is formally known as permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The move would allow the United States and allies to impose tariffs on Russian imports. ___ Russian Convoy Redeployed: Maxar Satellite photos show that a massive Russian convoy that had been mired outside the Ukrainian capital since last week appeared to have dispersed. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed the 40-mile (64-kilometer) line of vehicles, tanks, and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported. The convoy had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. Satellite image of convoy with trucks and equipment in Stoyanka, Ukraine on March 10, 2022. (Maxar Technologies via Reuters) ___ WHO Says It Advised Ukraine to Destroy Pathogens in Health Labs to Prevent Disease Spread The World Health Organization advised Ukraine to destroy high-threat pathogens housed in the countrys public health laboratories to prevent any potential spills that would spread disease among the population, the agency told Reuters on Thursday. Biosecurity experts say Russias movement of troops into Ukraine and bombardment of its cities have raised the risk of an escape of disease-causing pathogens, should any of those facilities be damaged. Ukraine has public health laboratories researching how to mitigate the threats of dangerous diseases affecting both animals and humans including, most recently, COVID-19. Its labs have received support from the United States, the European Union, and the WHO. In response to questions from Reuters about its work with Ukraine ahead of and during Russias invasion, the WHO said in an email that it has collaborated with Ukrainian public health labs for several years to promote security practices that help prevent accidental or deliberate release of pathogens. As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills, the WHO, a United Nations agency, said. The WHO would not say when it had made the recommendation nor did it provide specifics about the kinds of pathogens or toxins housed in Ukraines laboratories. The agency also did not answer questions about whether its recommendations were followed. Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and at their embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. ___ Zelensky Says 100,000 Evacuated Amid Blockade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs. But he said the Russian refusal to allow evacuations from Mariupol, a port city in the south, was outright terror. They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it, Zelensky said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor. The city of 430,000 has been without food supplies, running water, and electricity for 10 days. Ukrainian officials say about 1,300 people have died, including three in the bombing of a maternity and childrens hospital on Wednesday. Mimi Nguyen Ly, Katabella Roberts, Tom Ozimek, Jack Phillips, Nick Ciolino, Naveen Athrappully, Nicholas Dolinger, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Lloyds TSB bank sign is displayed outside a bank branch opposite the Lloyd's Building, the home of the insurance institution Lloyd's of London on Sept. 25, 2008, in London, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Lloyds of London Facing Billions in Losses After Russia Proposes to Retain Foreign Leased Aircraft Lloyds of London, a UK-based insurance and reinsurance market, is staring at potential losses worth billions of dollars after Russia threatened that it would seize planes owned by foreign entities. According to proposals made by the Russian transport ministry, based on multiple media reports, if foreign leasing companies that have leased planes to Russian airline firms wish to terminate contracts, an import substitution government commission will decide whether the planes can be returned or have to remain in Russia. If Russian airlines continue using foreign planes under the lease, the airlines will make lease payments in rubles rather than U.S. dollars or other foreign currencies for the remainder of 2022. Airline companies in Russia have 980 jets in service. Of these, 777 are leased, and among the leased aircraft, two-thirds are rented from foreign leasing specialists. Due to EU sanctions against Moscow, leasing firms in the region only have until March 28 to cancel contracts with Russian airline firms and repossess their jets. Taking back the jets seems like a difficult job for the leasing firms with Russias new rules. Moreover, most of the planes are now in Russia, out of the firms reach. As such, insurance policies are likely to be triggered by a clause that provides protection to leasing companies against any repercussions from such situations. Lloyds, the leading aviation insurance provider, is expected to face a significant number of claims arising from the situation. It is now increasingly likely that there will be hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions, in losses written-off by aircraft lessors, Paul Jebely, an asset finance specialist at law firm Withers, told The Telegraph. Insurers, being rational economic actors, are likely to fight tooth and nail for years to resist billions of dollars of potential claims. Though the value of planes under threat is estimated to be around $10 billion, Lloyds may not be liable for the bulk of the risk as the companys insurance underwriters tend to offload the risk onto other reinsurance companies. Among aircraft leasing firms, the general fear is that the planes cannot be repossessed. The firms have retrieved only a couple dozen of the over 500 aircraft rented to airline companies in Russia. The more we talk with insurers and other people at this conference, the clearer its becoming that these aircraft arent coming back, George Dimitroff, head of valuations for consultant Ascend by Cirium, who attended the annual ISTAT Americas convention in San Diego, told Bloomberg. With 152 aircraft, AerCap Holdings NV, based in Dublin, has the most number of planes leased to Russian airlines. Aviation consultancy IBA calculates the combined value of these planes to be $2.5 billion. The authors of the Great Barrington Declaration at the American Institute for Economic Research, (LR) Martin Kulldorff, Sunetra Gupta, and Jay Bhattacharya, on October 2020. (Taleed Brown/[CC BY 4.0 (ept.ms/2htXG3C)]) Lockdown Debate Was Skewed Because Skeptical Scientists Had Less Twitter Firepower: Study Social media influence helped shape the narrative that shielding the vulnerable while allowing natural immunity to build up was unethical, data expert says Scientists opposed to COVID-19 lockdowns were viewed as fringe partly because those calling for draconian restrictions had more social media influence, a study has shown. John Ioannidis, a Stanford University professor and expert in medical data science, analyzed the expertise of scientists that signed either the Great Barrington Declaration (GBD) or the John Snow Memorandum. The GBD, first published in October 2020, called for a more nuanced approach to the one-size-fits-all restrictions that had been imposed on much of Western society. The scientists behind the declaration prioritized the protection of vulnerable people while allowing immunity to build up in the rest of the public to avoid collateral damage on society, education, and public health. The John Snow Memorandum (JSM) was signed in July 2021 by over 12o scientists as a rebuke to the GBD. The memorandum was printed in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, which argued that such a policy of herd immunity was unethical. Martin Kulldorff, a prominent American epidemiologist and statistician, is one of the three authors of the GBD. He told The Epoch Times in February that a key was to break the pretense that there was scientific consensus for the lockdowns, which he says there wasnt. Ioannidis wrote that he sought to determine whether the prevailing narrative that the GBD was only a minority view among experts. In his paper published in BMJ Open Research, he found that Twitter firepower had helped shape the narrative. While Ioannidis said that both letters were backed by well-cited experts, he noted that the JSM signatories had much greater social media influence, which swayed belief that their view had more support. In April 2021, when both strategies for handling the pandemic were still being hotly debated, 13 of the key signatories of the JSM had more than 50,000 Twitter followers each, compared with just four key signatories of the GBD. Both the Great Barrington Declaration and John Snow Memorandum include many stellar scientists, but JSM has far more powerful social media presence and this may have shaped the impression that it is the dominant narrative, Ioannidis concluded. The study notes that the JSM scientists Twitter superiority may have also reinforced their argument as superior in news media coverage. In a darker vein, it may also have been responsible for some bad publicity that the GBD received. The researcher highlighted that Google suppressed the GBD in online searches, while Wikipedia pages for key signatories of the GBD have often smeared their reputations while discrediting their argument. This creates a situation where scientific debate becomes vitriolic, and censoring, including self-censoring, may become prominent, the study reads. Kulldorff, who has authored more than 201 peer-reviewed published journal papers, told The Epoch Times that the appearance of a scientific consensus for lockdowns was first formed through high-profile U.S. public health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Francis Collins, and Dr. Deborah Birx. This led to further stifling from corporate media along with big tech censorship on opposing viewpoints. Emails uncovered in December 2021 provided the public a first-hand look into how swiftly dissenting voices were maligned. Following a Freedom of Information Act request, emails were released that involved Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). An email to Fauci from Collins, then-director of the National Institutes of Health, was sent days after the GBD was published. This proposal from the three fringe epidemiologists seems to be getting a lot of attention, Collins told Fauci in the Oct. 8, 2020, email. There needs to be a quick and devastating published takedown of its premises. I dont see anything like that online yetis it underway? Fauci appeared to be on board with Collinss proposal to tear down the authors and their declaration, sending a one-line reply. I am pasting in below a piece from the Wired [magazine] that debunks this theory, he wrote. Collins replied: Excellent. Within a day of the CollinsFauci exchange, Google began to censor search results for Great Barrington Declaration. Ioannidis said signatories of the John Snow Memorandum had also contributed to the vilification of authors of the GBD through their tweets and op-eds. Ioannidis said his study reveals how social media can cause knowledgeable scientists, such as signatories of the GBD, to become victims of misinformation, animosity, and loss of decorum. When prominent scientists have their voices supressed, it creates negative consequences for society, he added. The Great Barrington Declaration is clearly not a fringe minority report compared with John Snow Memorandum, as many social media and media allude, Ioannidis wrote. Given the magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis, it is important to ensure that scientific disciplines can collaborate dispassionately and that different views can be juxtaposed and integrated. I was anti-democracy. I was an Islamist revolutionary that wanted to establish a caliphate. And I was imprisoned in Egypt and sentenced to five years because I was attempting to overthrow the Egyptian government. A former Islamist revolutionary, Maajid Nawaz would later become a leading anti-extremism activist, founding the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam. In this two-part episode, Maajid Nawaz explains how he radicalized other young Muslims, and why he became a vocal critic of COVID-19 mandates and lockdown policies.You can watch part two here. What I saw in COVID mandates were exactly the mindset that I was opposing when it came to opposing Islamist theocracy, that authoritarian mindset The psychology behind it and the levers behind it are identical. Jan Jekielek: Maajid Nawaz, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders. Maajid Nawaz: Thank you for having me. Ive always wanted to come and sit here with you. Weve been speaking for a while. Im glad it finally happened. Mr. Jekielek: Same here. Not too recently, you were on the Rogan podcast and you said something that really captured my attention, and inspired the theme for what we want to talk about today. Im going to read it briefly. When theres no such thing as truth, you cant define reality. And when you cant define reality, the only thing that matters is power. How does this work? Mr. Nawaz: Well, Im glad you began with that quote, Jan. I think thats the heart of the problem of modern ideological warfare that we find ourselves in. So let me be very clear. I do believe we, as citizens of open democratic societies, are in a war. But what people understand by the term war isnt necessarily the traditional meaning that people would ascribe to it. When I say were in a war, I dont mean you and I are right now in the trenches shooting guns, though the word hybrid warfare would cover that aspect too. But the element of that hybrid war that we are in is the ideological element. Its an ideological warfare that we are involved in against ourwe didnt choose to be. Its been imposed upon us. Call it ideological warfare, call it information warfare. Its a war over narrative, and the reason is because I believe whoever gets to define narratives around world events, gets to define how those world events are perceived, and therefore how we respond to them. And this is what I meant by the quote that youve just read there. If you notice around us, over the last few years in particular, this effort has heated up. There is an almost concerted effort to destroy this idea that there is any way of agreeing upon truth. Now its important here to mention that nobody can claim a monopoly on truth. Thats not my intention. Thats why I say we have to seek the truth. Its the pursuit of truth that matters. Because if you are a truth seeker, if you are engaged in the business of pursuing truth, youd be willing to adjust your position as and when the evidence becomes available. If you have succumbed to this concerted effortI believe almost concerted effortthat theres no such thing as truth. Then there is no point in pursuing truth. Everything is relative and is defined by the material circumstances that you find yourselves in and, including you and your personality, is purely a product of society and the conditions you were subjected to as you were raised. Now, what that means on a philosophical level is theres no such thing as truth, everythings relative, and reality around us has been shaped by the circumstances we find ourselves in. But if thats the case, if you think about it, justice reliesfor justice to exist as a concept, for us to pursue justiceit relies on the pursuit of truth. If you aggressed against me and I seek justice, I need to be able to establish the facts. Which means I need to be able to have some form of commonality or common understanding between us as to how we establish those facts that we and a third party whos arbitrating between us can arrive at. And then say, yes, Jan aggressed against Maajid; that was an injustice. Let us deliver justice by delivering a verdict that that was an aggression. Now broaden that example out. If there is no longer any such thing as truth, and everythings relative, and we have no common basis that we can engage with each other on to define reality, then you dont have that pursuit of truth to deliver justice. In that instance, how do you get your way? Well, if everythings relative and theres no grounds to stand upon, the only way you can get your way through is through force. Because theres no more reason involved, right? And thats why power becomes the only thing that matters in the absence of the pursuit of truth. If you notice those people that push relativism heavily through the media narratives, through their educational programsthose who push this ideology of materialism, and that our morality itself is defined only, and purely, and solely by our material conditions, and we are products of thatits why theyre so obsessed with attaining power. Because for them, its power that is the ultimate aim. If they could take power, they could then shape the reality that they find objectionable into their own interests. And its why I believe were in the middle of this power struggle as we speak. Its been imposed upon us. It wasnt our choosing. And that explains the ideological war I believe were in. If you look to any event, weve just been through two years of COVID mandates. Look, again, Ill mention this just so we dont get distracted. I dont want anybody to hear me say this and go off on a tangent. I wouldnt be here with the Capitol behind me if I wasnt double-jabbed. I have to be to get into America, right? This is, for me, not aboutthough, its an interesting conversationits not about the pros and cons of the vaccines. Ive had that conversation out of interest, but what matters more to me are mandates. Now, in the context of mandates, what weve just been through in the last two years, you saw how the goal posts kept shifting. And you saw how, one thing we were told yesterday, suddenly the opposite was true today. You can see that now, even post-Omicron. On the back end, hopefully, of COVID, and hopefully its in our past now. Lets see. But again, you see how the narrative keeps changing. People that were saying something yesterday are, its almost as if they never said it. And now theyre saying the exact opposite, and were expected to believe it. The reason is because their objectives were met. Narratives were deployed during the COVID mandate. Two years of imposing mask mandates, and vaccine mandates, and no jab, no job policies. Narratives were deployed. Science was weaponized to achieve a policy objective. Once the policy objective was met, the resistance to the narrative; people saying, for example, the science doesnt support your position, there was no longer a need to resist those who were correcting the unscientific stance that the officials took because the policy objective had been met. Just as soon as that was the case, they stopped defending the unscientific. They achieved what they needed to achieve. Whether that was the infrastructure for vaccine passports being set up like in New York. Whether that was a vaccine rollout with, in the UK at least, over 90 percent of adults in the UK having acquired antibodies. Once the aims were met, the narrative was no longer needed. What we see therefore is whether its science, academia, political conversation, geopolitics, journalism, what were traditional disciplines and professions that relied on their own set of standards in the pursuit of truth in their own fields, were weaponized to simply achieve political objectives for those in power. And that is, I believe, whether its on the COVID mandates topic, whether its on foreign policy, whether its on US domestic left-right shenanigans, thats what I believe were witnessing. Were witnessing the weaponization of traditional disciplines in the pursuit of power. Mr. Jekielek: So many things I want to talk about now. Mr. Nawaz: Take your pick. Mr. Jekielek: I think I want to start with something a little bit different though. Youve had a very interesting life path that I think helps you look at all this through a very, I guess, maybe a wise lens. I dont know if thats a fair way of describing it. Mr. Nawaz: Experience. Life experience. Mr. Jekielek: Life experience. So why dont you tell me about that from the beginning? Mr. Nawaz: Well, in fact, the first time. So I was blacklisted from entering the United States of America. The first time I came was to testify at the Senate. I think it was 2007. I was the lead witness in the radicalization hearings at the Senate in 2007, as somebody that had left a Islamist revolutionary organization. The reason I had been blacklisted is I was opposed to all of this. The entire system. I was anti-democracy. I was an Islamist revolutionary that were wanted to establish a caliphate. And I was imprisoned in Egypt and sentenced to five years for that ideology because I was attempting to overthrow the Egyptian government. I was sentenced to five years, and then adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience being blacklisted. When I was invited here to testify at the Senate, they had to, I couldnt get a visa. So they had to find an exception to get me into the country because they needed to hear from me. At the time, in those days, I was the only one willing to speak about these ideological debates from the Islamist side. So they found this loophole to get me in. It was a visa thats called a parole visa. I dont know if youve ever heard of this thing. Imagine youre working in the federal government, and youre in crime, and prosecutions for criminal offenses. And you have a mafia boss that you need to bring into the country from Italy, but that mafia boss has already been convicted of crimes, and therefore cant get into the US through traditional means. A parole visa, if that persons in prison, and you need them as an expert witness to testify, allows that person in, but it says what it does on the tin. Its a parole visa. They are here under parole, and they have to be under 24/7 armed guard as if theyre on parole coming out of a normal prison. So they got me this parole visa. I entered the United States for the first time to testify there in that building. I was under 24/7 armed guard. I had snipers in the roofs of my hotel room watching out for any attempts. I dont know if they were protecting America from me or me from America. I mean, its interesting because the guy that was running the team on behalf of ICEthe Immigration Customs Enforcementon the last day after the testimony, and as theyre seeing me out, and they were with me, I mean, 24/7. So if this is my hotel room, they were in the room opposite. As hes seeing me out, and were in different days now, but that was the peak of war on terror. Bush was president. Blair was prime minister. Everything was kicking off. Everyone was really paranoid. On the way out, he said, You know, when I first met you, Maajid. His name was, I think it was Brian, actually, if I remember correctly. Hes a lovely guy. On the way out, he said to me, When I first met you, he said, I thought we were protecting America from you. After I heard your testimony, I realized were actually protecting you from what they might do to you if they hear what you have to say, the terrorists. So he ended up changing his view a bit. But thats how I first got into the US. To cut a long story short, then, in answer to your question, from the age of 16, Ive been engaged in ideological debates. And have been on the opposite side of this ideological war. Have long attempted to undermine open democratic societies from within by ideological critique. But not for the purposes of establishing a caliphate here in the US or in the UK where I was born. But for the purposes of recruiting Muslims who are born and raised in these countries, and doing what I did. Which was then to go to Pakistan, as I did, go to Denmark, go to Egypt, and export this ideology. I traveled to three countries. I helped to set up the Islamist revolutionary group that I joined in the UK, helped to set it up in Pakistan. Then I helped set up the Danish Pakistani branch, and then in Egypt is where I was eventually detained. I arrived one day before the 9/11 attacks, and a few months after that, because the rules of the game had changed. Thats where I was detained. Mr. Jekielek: You talk about this so casually, right? I think to people watching, its kind of like, what? What were you doing? I mean, how did you get to doing that in the first place? Mr. Nawaz: There was a lot of heartache and pain. I joined at 16. I had to be looking for an alternative. As a 16-year-old born and raised in the Jersey equivalent of the UK; its called Essex. Theres a show called Jersey Shore. That actually was a rip-off of a show in the UK called The Only Way is Essex. Or maybe the other way around, but we have a very similar show because where Im from in Essex, its that kind of community. Its a working-class area on the outskirts of London close enough to the city. But how does a 16-year-old from there end up on that path? Well, its interesting. The Bosnia genocide, which today I dont think impacts the current generation in the way we were. Imagine in our continent, in terms of flight time, its like were here now in DC. Youre flying to California. Imagine, just for the American audience, theres a genocide against, lets say, Hispanics, God forbid, in California. And you are here as a Hispanic in DC. And I mean a genocide. I mean, theres no. Srebrenica massacre. Six thousand Bosnian Muslim men and boys were put in a mass grave. Youre on the east coast, and its happening on the west coast. Thats what was happening. I was in the UK and, in Bosnia, a couple of hours flight. I mean, the Olympics had just been held there. Muslims who looked European were being genocided. So why that mattered for us was because were in the UK, ostensibly, and visibly looking non-European and being Muslim. We felt, if they didnt stand a chance, and that was going to happen to them, what could happen to us here? Thats what began the process of Islamist revolutionary groups seeking that opportunity to recruit out young, angry Muslims like me, who felt that we were being attacked on our own continent. And it was true, by the way. The genocide was happening, and also nobody was doing anything about it. If you look back to the news, youll remember Dutch UN peacekeepers were there, but they werent allowed to intervene. So the blue helmets were standing, and they were literally observing the Srebrenica genocide because they didnt have orders to stop it. Thats what enraged us. We felt that if we had been there, we could have defended the community, so we had to organize. That was the beginning of that journey of anger. Seeking an alternative paradigm because the current paradigm we felt failed us. That alternative paradigm was this idea that a caliphate. Now, again, to my 16-year-old mind, that made a lot of sense. How did Islam get to Bosnia in the first place? Oh, the Ottoman Caliphate. Well, that was destroyed after World War I in 1924 so theres no more protector. Theres no more patriarch to protect Muslims in Bosnia. Thats why that happened. Look, the UN didnt care, the Dutch peacekeepers didnt care. There was an arms embargo, which meant Bosnians couldnt arm themselves. Meanwhile, Russia was arming the Serbs. We knew all of this. Thats part of the recruitment process. We were given this information, given the news, and we were able to then verify that all of that was true. Of course, it being true doesnt mean your conclusion is true. And thats where narrative comes in. But we arrived at the conclusion that we had to have an Islamist ideological state. We took the word caliphate from traditional Muslim theology, which is a legitimate traditional Muslim concept, but of course we modified it for our ideological purposes. That began the journey of organizing Muslim communities to try andand it was very specific, by the way. We werent vague in any way. The purpose was organizing ideological hierarchical groups. Very much like a Bolshevik structure and recruit from the armed forces. Recruit Muslims from Muslim majority societies who were serving officers with the purpose of eventually, once we had enough recruits in the armed forces, inciting military coups to take over in those countries, and establish this ideological caliphate. That was what we were seeking to do. Mr. Jekielek: And then you were imprisoned in Egypt while you were trying to do exactly what you were just saying. Mr. Nawaz: Spread the group to Egypt from, yes. I had succeeded in helping to co-found this organization in Pakistan. I had then set up the Danish Pakistani chapter. I was 19 years old. By the time I got to Egypt, I wouldve been 21. As I say, one day before the 9/11 attacks. Thats when the rules of the game; if you remember, Tony Blair said the rules of the game changed after 9/11. We were acting with impunity because we knew we werent directly breaking any laws. The only time it would become illegal is in the minute you are planning the actual military coup; not just spreading the ideas or proselytizing. So we had continued to act with impunity thinking, Im just proselytizing for this grand idea of a caliphate. But of course in a dictatorship, because as you know that doesnt matter. So Hosni Mubarak, all he needed to know we were members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which was the name of the group that I subscribed to. My house was raided around 3:00 AM in Alexandria. I had a wife who was also affiliated at the time. Im no longer with her, and we together had a child and he was one. I remember it was roughly 3:00 AM and I was comforting him. She was asleep and I was taking my turn to try and help him go back to sleep in the middle of the night. Thats when they busted through. They ripped him from my arms. They basically blindfolded me, tied my hands behind my back with rags, and then put me in this van. Then the journey from there was quite a nightmare, to be honest. You can imagine in their dungeons, in the underground dungeons in a dictatorship, theres a lot of abuse that happens. And we were subjected to quite horrific treatment until we were eventually sentenced to five years in prison. The prison was Tora Prison in Cairo. I was held there with a whole array of political prisoners. Like the whos who of Egypt political opposition across a range of ideological persuasions were all there. From the assassins of the former presidentAnwar Sadat was killed in 1981 by this group called Jihadi Islami, which was the precursor to Al-Qaeda. The assassins of that president were in jail with me. Those who hadnt been executed, but instead those who had been given life sentences. Then from that end of the spectrum all the way through to the Muslim Brotherhood leadership through to, on the other end of the spectrum, Egyptian communists, and those accused of being Israeli spies. Those that had converted to Christianity. Those who had converted to Islam from Christianity. I mean, we had a running joke in Egypt in prison in those days. Under Hosni Mubarak, if you change your mind from anything to anything, hed throw you in jail. Because what he wanted of course was the status quo. Mr. Jekielek: Then you mentionedand I think I know a little bit of the story, but maybe you can reprise this for usthat somehow Amnesty International taking an interest in you started to tweak your thinking, even though in these years of jail, they also did. Because you talked to a lot of different people. Maajid Nawaz: It was a great education, but youre correct. Amnestys campaign for me was, I think what Id say, the beginning of my change of heart. What Ive said in my autobiography Radicalits available in a US edition as wellis that where the heart leads, the mind can follow. Up until that point, Amnesty I had considered were to be very precise. A soft power tool of Western colonialism to colonize the minds of Muslim majority societies. Human rights, we believed, had been weaponized and we rejected. Though they are weaponized, human rights, by the way; regularly. But that doesnt mean you reject the principle of civil liberties. We rejected the entire package. So Amnesty for me were ideological foes. Then, here they were, adopting us as prisoners of conscience at the peak of the war on terror after 9/11. Thats what moved me because we knew there was this hybrid war context. There was an actual war going on. Not just the ideological element; 9/11 had happened. There was an actual war going on. We were, in that context, on the other side of the war, and yet here was Amnesty saying, actually these guys hate our guts, but they deserve some rights. They dont deserve to have gone through torture in Egyptian dungeons. And they certainly didnt deserve to be put in jail just for their ideas. Even if we disagree with their ideas. There was no, even by the way, in terms of the charges, there was a suggestion whatsoever of anything other than ideas being propagated. That was the actual charge in Arabic. Ill quote it for you. I memorized it. [Arabic quote, 21:35]which was what we were formally charged with under the suspended Constitution of Egypt under their emergency law. The Constitution prior to the assassination of Sadat did protect belief, but the assassination kicked in, and then they had a state of emergency that lasted way beyond our imprisonment. By the time of my imprisonment, it was 20 years until the Arab uprisings. By that time, it was 30 years they stayed in that state of emergency that was originally declared in 1981. So we were convicted under a state security [Arabic, 22:09], state security emergency court [Arabic, 22:13]. And the judge and the state prosecutor were members of the security services. So we were tried under the security apparatus as a foreign, whatever, assets of whatever they decided we were. The charge in that context was [Arabic, 22:29], the propagation by speech and writing, [Arabic, 22:32], for an organization that is prohibited. The second charge was possession of literature. Its those two charges that we were given five years for in prison, and thats what moved Amnesty. When Amnesty adopted us and began campaigning for our release; not that it worked. We had to serve our full sentence, but it worked on me. It made me feel, hold on, these guys are. Theyve stood on principle, which is what I was doing, right? Imagine. You go through a torture dungeon. And I say this literally. This is not figurative. We went through a torture dungeon. You know what it means to stand on principle, and you appreciate that somebody else who you disagree with stands on principle. Its why I got on with the communist prisoners in Egyptian jail, as well as the jihadi prisoners. Even though we disagreed with communism. We hated communism. I still hate communism as an idea, by the way; not the people. But its why I got on with all of these prisoners, because they were making principled stands. Thats what earned my respect and thats what Amnesty did. So it softened my heart. It began the process of looking at why they did it. Considering a relational human bond, human-to-human bond, as opposed to an ideological bond. Then I began debating in prison with the whos who of that political spectrum. Liberal political prisoners, communists, jihadis, Islamists. And I began reading. I just read everything I could get my hands on. Over the course of that five years, I was still a student, so I was in that study mode. I hadnt finished my degree yet in university. So I just read everything I could get my hands on, debated with whoever I could debate with. One of the most interesting debates I had, actually, was with these Chechen Dagestani friends of mine who were in prison for bomb-making. They had gone from; well, that was what they were convicted for. Lets not say they did it or didnt do it. I dont want to get into trouble with them. I mean, they were charged and convicted for bomb-making. They went from Dagestan through Afghanistan, maybe a bit of Pakistan in the middle, through Egypt. They tried to go through the Rafah crossing into Gaza to teach Hamas how to make bombs that they learned from the Taliban in Afghanistan. They got convicted. One of them, 17 years. I had a long debate with this guy, the Dagestani guy, Omar. Were really good friends. Because when the 7/7 bombings happened in London, the bombings happened right outside my university, and that made me feel, hold on. I could have been in class when that happened. And do remember, the group I belonged to was a Islamist revolutionary organization, it didnt believe in terrorism. Though we shared the ideology, we didnt share the methodology of Al-Qaeda. We didnt believe in blowing things up. And the group until this day, its why it remains legal in America, legal in the UK, legal across Europe, legal in Australia, Canada. In any open democratic society, it hadnt been banned, and still hasnt because it didnt subscribe to violence. So there I was with the same ideology as this guy but with a fundamental disagreement on how to achieve it. Then people he supported blew up two bombs outside my university. One was Tavistock Square, which is one block from my university, and the other was on Russell Square, where SOAS where I studied Arabic and lawthe School of Oriental and African Studies, one of the worlds leading Western colleges for studying the Arabic language. There was a bomb on the tube on Russell Square, and on the bus on Tavistock Square. That made me feel sickened because these could have been my classmates, it could have been me. It could have been my family. So I began this debate with him in prison. It lasted about four days. And this guy was a big; think Chechen, Russian wrestler. Big, stocky guy. Their wrists are like their ankles. Big guys. And it got quite heated at one point. I remember him leaving the cell. He went back. The next morning, I was asleep and I had a knock on my cell door, and it was Omar. I opened the thing and he said, Ive been sleeping a lot. He said, I think youre right. It was wrong to attack civilians. What got him in the end was, his justification had been that in democracies, we vote for our leaders, and our leaders invaded Iraq, and therefore were culpable. That was the jihadi logic. If you vote for that leader, like Tony Blair, who was elected four times or whatever it was, and hes invaded Iraq, you chose that leader so you take responsibility for the consequences of that act of war. The argument I gave him was that Turkey is a member of NATO. I said, Look, does that mean you can go start blowing up Turkish Muslims now as well? Your logic, where does it stop? It was that, getting into the consequences of his logic, that made him realize that, actually, he was arguing from a pragmatism that could lead to evil. It was those kinds of debates, and that kind of open conversation, and reading, and discussing with the liberal political prisoners, the communists, those accused of being Israeli spies, to jihadists who had abandoned their violent ideas and had written books about why they had abandoned them. With that kind of softening of the heart that Amnesty caused, and eventually over the course of the five years, led to me no longer being able to subscribe to this ideology. I had been 24 years old when I was thrown into the dungeons; 28, 29 when I was released. I often say that its when I was released. I never left the group as a prisoner. I didnt want anyone to think it was because I was in jail. I left as a member, served my full sentence, got back to the UK. It was roughly a year afterwards that I; in fact, it was a week after they asked me to become the leader of the group in the UK. I knew that I couldnt sustain it because I no longer believed in the ideology so I unilaterally declared not only my resignation from their leadershipI was sitting on their leadership committeebut also that I could no longer subscribe to the ideology of what I call Islamism. I should probably just in one sentence say what I mean by Islamism. Not the religion of Islam. I still am a Muslim. When I say Islamism, I mean the desire to impose one or any version of Islam over society. I dont mean a Muslim who follows Islam. What we had subscribed to was this desire that we would enforce a version of Islam over society, and thats what I could no longer justify. Mr. Jekielek: So a couple of things strike me from everything you just said. One of them is that you were an information warfare specialist. Mr. Nawaz: Thats what I was trained to do. Mr. Jekielek: You were trained to convert people to the cause. I think we have to talk about what you did, how you operated. Because I imagine that you started seeing some of these same things happening in the broader society. Mr. Nawaz: Yes. Mr. Jekielek: Thats one piece. And the second piece is somehow you launched yourself on this alternate path that led you to the Capitol in 2007. Mr. Nawaz: Yes. That part was easy because in the, if you think 2007, there wasnt anybody that had left the leadership of those groups that had been through the journey Id been through that was prepared to speak about the dangers of totalitarian thinking. So the invitation to the Senate was people needed to hear that, because it was the peak of the war on terror. The hard part wasnt that. The hard part was leaving in the first place, and having that ability to self-correct, and go through your own thinking process, and work out where youve gone wrong and how to correct it. Keep in mind, that alone sounds; okay, he had to go and think through his past mistakes. But if you think about peer pressure, if you think about the fact that, if I was captured as I was, my entire realitysocial circles, marriagewas surrounded by people that subscribe to those ideas who would consider that it was heresy and treachery to question that ideology. So now you are incentivized not to question it. Even if you get as far as saying, I need to have this conversation, then there are obstacles because your wife is going to say, Well, we married and you want to leave this group? Why am I with you then? So then you have emotional reasons not to question it. That was the really hard part. It was having; because everything fell apart. As I say, the wife I was with, Im no longer with her. Thats heartbreaking in itself because I dont blame her. She waited five years for me while I was in Egypt as a loyal, committed wife and also committed to the cause. And I come back, and Im not the same person anymore. So the hard part was getting through that fundamental reinvention of self. Then the only thing you have to latch onto, because they recruited me at 16, is the period that you are aware of. From roughly 11 to 15 and a half, to 16 years old. Thats your sense of self before you join that organization. How do you reconstruct yourself from that very brief period? Luckily, the teenage years are quite impactful on your psyche, and on your sense of self. The hard part was finding and reinventing my idea of self outside of that organization. That journey, and it has to be a journey, is the pursuit of truth. And its a really difficult thing because it comes with a lot of sacrifices. Mr. Jekielek: Tell me about your arsenal here that you used. I mean, maybe. Mr. Nawaz: You want some trade secrets. Mr. Jekielek: Well, I frankly; sometimes when you verbalize these things, you can start seeing them where you didnt see them before. Maybe thats what Im trying to get at. Because this helped you see the picture that you started our conversation with, right? I imagine, greatly. Mr. Nawaz: The best way I can describe it, because its; what I dont want to is lose people in the conversation. So let me give an analogy that may sound very simple, but actually, genuinely, I think it will help. Think of martial arts. And think of how you use in martial arts, how you use your opponents strength against them as a weakness by pivoting on that. A bit like jujitsu, where youre using your opponents weight against them. Now, when you come to ideological war, thats what you have to be able to do on an intellectual battlefield. You have to be able to use the strengths of the arguments of the society youre attempting to subvert against that society. And thats what I mean by the weaponization of ideas. So if you takeone of the things we used to do often in Muslim majority societies, and communities in the West isif you take the idea of, say, democracy, and you want to unpick that, you would look at the various angles, whether they be politicalwhat wed say, intellectual and scriptural. How to break democracy down so that the person youre speaking to no longer reveres this idea. Because if you want them to work with you for a caliphate, you dont need them subscribing to some open democratic idea. And so there you then look for world events, news stories that would confirm the idea to weaponize democracy, you want to confirm that its not good for that person. Take the example of democracy, and say, well, you think this is a democratic society. Why was dictator Hosni Mubarak in Egypt the second largest recipient of US foreign funding after Israel? Now Israel, internally at least, has this kind of idea that its a democracy. But Egypt certainly doesnt evenunder Hosni Mubarakdidnt even pretend to. So youd say, you believe in democracy, but youre funding these dictators in the Middle East. So do you really believe in democracy or is it only because its convenient for you when it suits you? You get into those sorts of conversations to shake the conviction of the person youre speaking to. To get them to begin believing that, actually, democracy is a convenient tool for colonialism. Now you can make that case, actually very easily because there will always be a reality you can point to demonstrate that. I call it half truths in my autobiography Radical. The best narrative is the one that doesnt rely on lies, but rather relies on truth. But then the way in which the truth is packaged serves an ideological agenda. So thats what you could do very easily with democracy. That would be the political assault. Then you got the intellectual attack on it, which would be a very different one. Looking at the history, and the kind of origins of the idea, and discussing what does a demos mean and how. Did you know that the slaves didnt use to be able to vote in Ancient Greece? The people that invented democracy didnt even believe in it. You have these kinds of conversations. What does that mean? Direct democracy? Swiss referendums? What about during the COVID mandates? The majority of people wanted to lock you in your home. Is that democracy? You start having these. Now, imagine Im a 16-year-old Muslim having these conversations with another 16-year-old Muslim, and the genocide in Bosnia is happening. You can see how it becomes very easy, if youve got that relationship already, to begin influencing that person in the context of a broader genocide going on. Then of course the scriptural is eventually, if that would resonate; in the case of a Muslim, it would. To talk about Gods law and how do you know if God says dont eat pork, even if 99 percent of the people voted that you should eat pork, whos right? The people? And youre talking to a Muslim who takes it seriously that you dont eat pork. So there were; this is how you weaponize arguments for the purposes of serving an agenda. You have to destroy before you build. So you undermine the belief system that the person already has to a point where they dont know who they are anymore, and then you package an alternative for them. Now that cant begin; that whole process cant begin unless theres a grievance. Now were stepping back a bit and were seeing; were talking of the process of radicalization. It relies on a grievance. You have to have something that the person is so agitated by, and they want a solution to, to be able to demonstrate that the status quo doesnt solve the problem youre trying to fix. Bosnia genocide, classic case in pointthe status quo failed. The UN troops stood by and 6000 Muslims were killed. So now youve got a grievance you want a solution to, and the solution isnt in the democratic set-up, so you need a solution that exists outside of that. And thats where we brought in the idea of a caliphate. Now I can adapt that today, and I can talk about any given number of circumstances. But if you look at the COVID mandates, you can see how legitimate grievances, like Bosnia was, like being locked in our homes, I believe a legitimate grievance. A deprivation of our civil liberties. You can see how nefarious actors could use those legitimate grievances to radicalize society. Now the problem, of course, is that, if you dont want that to happen, then we have to make sure those grievances are fixed as well. This is where people get; they get a bit too simplistic and they think the problem is the extremist. Thats a very one-dimensional approach. Before Islamist extremism rose in Europe, the problem was the Bosnia genocide. If people are worried about people becoming, and I use my words carefully because Im very upset with the way in which radicalization has been weaponized by this administration against Trump voters. Its important because I take these ideas seriously. Trump voters are not domestic terrorists. Its very important because we are talking about people that will blow civilians upthats terrorismblowing up a hotel with civilians in it. Its an abuse of ideas that Ive spent over a decade talking even to people in that building. To take those ideas for political purposes, and apply them onto Trump voters. However, radicalization can occur where theres a grievance. So part of that is, if you dont want to abuse that process, we have to look at not just making sure that people dont start subscribing to dogmatic ideas which leads to extremism, but a holistic approach also includes making sure that the grievances that weve brought about through our own actions are addressed. If theyre false grievances, then the perception needs to be addressed. If theyre real grievancessuch as the invasion of Iraq, the Bosnia genocide, COVID mandates, real grievancesthen we need to work out where our mistakes have been to make sure that we dont perpetuate those grievances. Because then you end up with this reciprocal radicalization process and thats what we call the cycle of violence. Mr. Jekielek: Cycle of violence. You said that you have to destroy first before you. Mr. Nawaz: Before you build. Mr. Jekielek: Before you build. Mr. Nawaz: Build Back Better. Ring a bell? Mr. Jekielek: Well, okay. Why are you saying that? Mr. Nawaz: Well, the Great Reset is actually this process in action. Its why I have been able to recognize it. Its why I warned against it. If youve got the World Economic Forum saying that we need this opportunity, and this global crisis, and the COVID emergency for a Great Reset, thats the destroy part. Because a reset is lets get rid of it and start again. Mr. Jekielek: Until recently, this is really, everyone just said this is some conspiracy theory stuff, right? Mr. Nawaz: But look, Fourth Industrial Revolution. They are telling us its a revolution. Now I take people seriously. If bin Laden says hes going to blow up something, take him seriously, man. Hes not alive anymore, but; and not that Klaus Schwab is bin Laden, no. People that are committed to a cause, when they say, I am in a revolution, obviously, unless theyre amateurs. I dont think the World Economic Forum are amateurs, right? Theyre telling us they believe this is the Fourth Industrial Revolution. You dont have a revolution without a reset. In other words, you cant build something before you destroy something. The other thing you need in a revolution, as we realized we needed, which is why they tend to have hierarchical structures, is you cant change unless you have control, and you have chaos. Thats the reset part. But to build back better, which is their phrase not mine, and hes got a book called The Great Reset, right? So this is not; this is what theyre telling us. To build back better after the chaos, to build order from chaos, you need control. Thats why you see a lot of an authoritarian power grab happening. Because the building back part requires control, and that requires centralization. Mr. Jekielek: And so Build Back Better. Thats often associated with the Biden administration here, but youre saying it originally started with the World Economic Forum? Mr. Nawaz: If you do a quick Google search, its fascinating. All of the world leaders use that phrase, not just Biden. Johnson used it. Trudeau used it. You look in Australia and New Zealand. They all used it in very, very similar timeframes. Its a World Economic Forum phrase. Then you start realizing theyre all graduates of the same World Economic Forum Young Leaders program. Then you start hearing clips of Klaus Schwab, the leader of the World Economic Forum, saying, direct quote, the graduates of our Young Global Leaders have penetrated the cabinets of the world. And then he goes on to say, Half of Canadas cabinet are members of our World Economic Forum. Hes particularly proud of Trudeau and Macron. This is what theyre telling us. Forgive me for studying what theyre telling us, and saying take that seriously. Because theyre organized, and theyre wealthy, and theyre powerful, take it seriously. If I were talking to you about Hizb ut-Tahrir, my former group, and I were to present to you their literature, youd take it seriously. Youd say, Okay, yeah, these guys want a caliphate. They tell us there and, look, theyve got groups in the world trying to get the caliphate. Its the same thing except for a different cause. Im able to spot that very easily. Spot the ideological element of this, and realize what it requires. When you say you are penetrating the cabinets of the world, and half of Canadas cabinet are members of your World Economic Forum, thats literally what we did. I just said it to you. We tried to recruit officers from the military. We penetrated governments with our ideology. I have been doing that for a large part of my life. I know what that looks like. Mr. Jekielek: I mean, it may be just an ideology, not some sort of grand master plan. I mean, this is; of course, Klaus Schwab has written the book The Great Reset. Its not a secret. Hes written the book The Great Narrative subsequent to that. I think the question people have is are these people ideologically aligned or is there some kind of command and control structure like there might have been in your organization? Those are, frankly, profoundly different things, right? Mr. Nawaz: So when you are; see, youve got the ideological element, and thats contained in his book The Great Reset. The ideas are there, but we know that theres an administration behind it. We know there were annual meetings in Davos. We know that the Young Global Leaders had meetings outside of Davos, and we know that the purpose was to send those Young Global Leaders into various positions of office to bring about change. We know that because theyve told us that. Whether you call that a conspiracy or an ideology, I mean, I dont really mind what word you use, frankly, as long as you agree thats happening. And if you- Mr. Jekielek: It could just be bluster. Bragging. Look, look what weve accomplished. Mr. Nawaz: It could be. If we hadnt just been through two years of what just happened, then great. Two years ofagain, remember this, and your viewers will remember this because weve all just lived through itof synchronized measures applied in multiple countries at the same time that didnt make sense. And were now off the back end of it. Thankfully, the narrative crumbled a bit so we can now have this conversation, otherwise we wouldnt be able to. Off the back end of this, we can say, hold on. This passport idea that made no sensevaccine passportsbecause the vaccine didnt stop infection or transmission. It reduced infection for a period of 12 weeks, now we know, and the booster about six to eight weeks. So this vaccine passport was illogical, and unscientific, and discriminatory. Despite the fact that it was illogical, unscientific and discriminatory, these global leaders, all of whom coincidentally were members of this organization were so insistent on enforcing this around the world, even against all evidence, that they were prepared to face the shutdown of their country to achieve itas Canada and Trudeau demonstrated. So now, listen. Call that a conspiracy or call it an ideology or call it a coincidence. The fact is it doesnt matter what their intentions were. I look at actions, and I look at what I see in front of me and I say, whether or not you think youre doing good, thats bad and it needs to stop. The fact that youre all doing it at the same time in multiple countries around the world, and youre all singing from the same hymn sheet, thats actually even worse. Youre reinforcing each other, and it needs to stop. Thankfully, it did stop. And were in another crisis now, which is another story. Mr. Jekielek: Right. It is remarkable, the apparent coordination of ideas. You imagined, at least early on, that the reason for people assuming similar measures was that it was a good idea. But actually whatand it took some time even for myself, a deeply skeptical person to understand thisthat this is actually a huge departure for many normal pandemic policy. Frankly, just using normal pandemic policy wouldve been a much better idea, right? Mr. Nawaz: Unprecedented. I think, again, lets zoom out, and look at the forest for the trees. Lets not miss the forest for the trees. Its historically unprecedented Jan. Its never been done before. And it began in China. This lockdown Im talking of. Never been done in history in this way. A global lockdown, think about it, synchronized across the planet for what we now know was an illness that had the infection fatality rate, according to official UK figures, of 0.96 percent quoted in UK Parliament. Thats a factual figure that they have there officially quoted in the Hansard documents, you can look it up0.96 percent infection fatality rate for COVID. Thats similar to the flu. Its an unprecedented assault on our civil liberties for something that has an IFR similar to the flu, which they knew because this IFR was public and open knowledge. Then you add to it Trudeau with the trucker situationthat when England began realizing, when, like you saw in Florida, in Tennessee, and in Texas where they didnt enforce these vaccine passports, and they were relatively similar results to those that did. In fact, California and New York probably fared worse. If you look at the figures, we know that Scotland and Wales, where they had these passports fared worse than England that never enforced them. We know that Texas, Tennessee, and Florida never enforced them, and you compare the age-adjusted data. Florida has an older population. You adjust it, and you realize actually they fared better than California. So you start looking at this, and the evidence was clear. When England started abandoning this stuff, and ditched the whole idea before even enforcing it because of the fierce opposition of the people, Trudeau is what exposed all of this. Because Trudeau got to a point where the Five Eyes nations: the Anglo-Saxon, five English-speaking countries of the worldNew Zealand, Canada, Australia, UK, USthey went over the edge on this to the point where theyd reached the peak, and were descending down the other side, saying, were going to retreat from these mandates because of the opposition. Trudeau had already gone too far, a bit like New Zealand and Australia, and thats what demonstrated that this was something a bit more suspect. Because he could have very simply done what Boris Johnson did and say, okay, you know what? Were going to let go of this now. This protest, these truckers, they want their rights back. The majority of whom were vaccinated by the way, right? They just didnt want mandates. If you look to Canada, the majority of those truckers were vaccinated. Its not anti-vaxx thing. And definitely not a racist thing either, which we can talk about. That really winds me up; the abuse of this phrase racism for people that are asking for their freedoms. So he had a chance there of retreating, but they overestimated their hand. Keep in mind, Klaus Schwab says half their cabinet had been penetrated by the World Economic Forum, and that was a particular stronghold for them. They overplayed their hand. Instead, what they did, rather than retreat, is cancel. First of all, the GoFundMe money that was sent for these truckers, that was canceled. And then GiveSendGo, a Christian alternative to GoFundMe, they received money. That was then. Legislation was brought and said it would be criminal for you to distribute this money. Once the charitable side was dealt with, they then started freezing the bank accounts, the corporate accounts, of those truckers. Started saying all manner of things. Were going to take your licenses. You ended up in a situation like China. The social credit system, where a political opponent is punished merely for peaceful protest by having their accounts frozen, having their social credit damaged, having their livelihoods jeopardized simply for speaking against a policy. Now, we know what that is. Theres a word for that. Its called tyranny. Thats exactly what we criticize Putin for. Its exactly what we criticize Xi Jinping for, and yet we were doing it in open democratic societies. Then the worst part of it is the minute that narrative switched, now all of a sudden in Canada, look at Canada now. Suddenly protest is good again because its against Putin. When it was against Trudeau, it was banned and he was seizing accounts. Now that theres a thing that Putins done, everyone needs to protest again, and the narrative switched again. This is what tells you that these ideas were being weaponized; that something wasnt right. And what is that thing? If Trudeau got his way, the vaccine passports would be used to put an infrastructure in place for the QR code checking in and checking out system. Now, once you have that in place, the fiat money paper currencies are on the way out. Weve been printing our way out of economic disaster, quantitative easing, and our money system is just, its falling apart. Inflation is through the roof in the UK. I know its 5.4 percent. Here its going up as well. Energy prices are spiking. So you need to have some form of solution to the problem of money and how we keep having these boom bust cycles. So if youve got that passport infrastructure in place domestically and then you switch from a paper money system, which is already; we have historic precedentBretton Woods agreement. We went from gold standard to paper money with no backing apart from a government guarantee. Now thats come to the end of its shelf life. So now, as we know because weve been told by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK, Rishi Sunakas leader of the G7 nationshas given an open speech saying that they want to bring central banking digital currencies. If you replace paper money with digital money that is controlled by government, the central banks, that sits on a ledger. The difference being that this digital money, as The Telegraph in the UK reported, is programmable. Thats where you end up with a Chinese social credit system because I can say to you, Im going to send you a universal basic income, X amount per month, to meet your basic necessities in the Maslow context. Then Im going to say but if you, like in Canada, if you oppose me, I can switch that off. I can say you cant even use your digital money to get on the bus, to get on the train, as is in China. Thats why I dont call it money. What theyre calling the central banking digital currencies, its like food stamps; they are vouchers. Because if a government, as theyve told us in the Telegraph, if a government can program these digital vouchers to tell you what you can and cannot buy, and this week youve met your quota in meat, you can only buy bugs and locusts, then thats a voucher. Thats how you get total control over society. Why would you want total control? Why would you destroy your own open democratic societies? Its because weve come at a crossroads. And the crossroads I believe we are at is analogous to the Gutenberg press momentthe invention of the printing press. The crossroads we are at is what the printing press did to democratize access to the Bible, and thereby undermine the authority of absolute monarchies in Europe, which led to a 30-years war and disruption, but eventually led to the end of those absolute monarchies. Were in a period today where, because of the advent of the modern day printing press, which is the internet, weve democratized access to information and to money supply. Whats the money supply part? Crypto. And whats the information part? Online information gathering. So the narrative through the traditional, what I call corporatist legacy media, you can no longer control the narrative. Remember the beginning of our chat. Whoever controls the narrative controls your perception of reality. Because the state can no longer control the narrative, because access to information has been democratized through access to the internet, add money supply to that because of crypto, and youve lost control. When youre losing control, as any abusive husband will tell you, you get violent. You get controlling. You clamp down. You try and maintain your grip on power. I think were in that 30-years war moment in historic terms and thats why I think we are in for a bit of a rough ride, unfortunately, until the dust settles. Mr. Jekielek: Coming up next on American Thought Leaders. Mr. Nawaz: How do you oppose tyranny? How do you uphold the government to account if you dont know where the truth is? Thats the purpose of it, so that were all confused, and in disarray, and we dont know where the truth lies anymore. Mr. Jekielek: In part two of my interview with Maajid Nawaz, we dive deeper into what he sees as an ideological war ripping the Western world, and how bad actors are using propaganda, and obfuscation to radicalize society. Mr. Nawaz: If you dont have that spiritual grounding, then theres a void. That void is filled by the state, and your morality then gets defined by the state. Mr. Jekielek: We live in an age of censorship and disinformation where some of the most prominent voices, most important voices, arent actually being heard because theyre being suppressed. I invite some of these people on to the show, on to American Thought Leaders. To stay up to date on the most recent episodes and our exclusive content, you can actually sign up for our newsletter at theepochtimes.com/newsletter. Just hit the checkbox for American Thought Leaders. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Subscribe to the American Thought Leaders newsletter so you never miss an episode. Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Yacht, Crashing Into Docked Vessels NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.A man was taken into custody Thursday after stealing a docked yacht and joyriding with it before colliding with other vessels in Newport Harbor, police said. Joel Siam, 38, of San Diego, was taken into custody on suspicion of stealing the 60-foot yacht, according to Carrie Braun, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department. Police were called about 9:20 a.m. regarding the stolen yacht, which was being serviced when it was taken, Braun said. Because it was being serviced, the keys were left on board. It was stolen when the person repairing it had stepped away, she added. Siam allegedly crashed the yacht into multiple other boats, damaging at least two and perhaps a third while joyriding around the harbor before it eventually slammed into the sea wall next to the Lido Island Bridge, Braun said. One person was injured on board one of the boats that were damaged, Braun said. Debora Dolly, who was inside one of the vessels the man collided with, told CBS2 the force of the collision caused part of her boat to crash in on her and hit her head. However, she told the station she was not seriously injured. No further injuries were reported. The extent of the damage caused during the theft was not immediately known. Law enforcement work the scene after a Lapeer County Sheriff's Deputy was shot serving a warrant in Brown City, Mich., on March, 9, 2022. (Jenifer Veloso/The Flint Journal via AP) Michigan Sheriffs Deputy Stable, Suspect Killed in Shooting BROWN CITY, Mich.A man who shot and wounded a Michigan sheriffs deputy serving a felony warrant was fatally shot by a second deputy after the suspect opened fire from an outbuilding at a home, police said. Charles Raymond, 47, of Imlay City, was pronounced dead at the shooting scene in Brown City, Michigan State Police said in a statement on Twitter posted Wednesday evening that indicated the wounded deputy remained in stable condition. State police said the agencys preliminary findings indicate that at about 9:20 a.m. local time Wednesday a homeowner allowed Lapeer County deputies to check the premises for Raymond, who was wanted on a felony criminal sexual conduct warrant. As a door to a detached outbuilding was opened, police said Raymond fired on the deputies, striking one of them multiple times, while a second deputy returned fire, striking Raymond. The wounded deputy was hospitalized in stable condition. Police said the second deputy was not shot but he was being treated at a hospital for injuries that werent considered life-threatening. Brown City is a community of about 1,300 residents thats located in both Lapeer and Sanilac counties, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Flint. State police were investigating the shooting. Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and currently a national security expert at the Heritage Foundation James Carafano on NTD Capitol Report on March 8, 2022 National Security Expert: US Needs to Act, Not React Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Carafano, a national security expert at the Heritage Foundation, said the United States needs to act quickly and decisively to ensure our national security, not react to what our adversaries, such as China and Russia, decide to do. You never want to be in a situation where the enemy gets to decide what to do, and youre just reacting to them. Thats the worst possible scenario. You always want to be in the situation where you are pushing them and making them react to you, Carafano told Steve Lance, host of NTDs Capitol Report, during a recent interview. Everything this presidency has done is responding to external threats, Carafano said. Shortly after taking office last year, President Joe Biden shut down the Keystone XL pipeline and increased oil imports from Russia, but those imports stopped Tuesday when Biden signed an executive order to ban Russian oil imports. The ban was a response to Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Carafano said the solution to Russian aggression is the same as the solution to Chinese aggression, and thats energy independence. He said it makes no sense to beg other countries for oil, especially when those countries often act against American interests and values. If you want the price of oil to go down, you have to rapidly increase domestic oil production, Carafano said. Whats so incredibly frustrating about this is we know the United States can do this, he said. We just did it. I mean, over four years under the last president, we rapidly moved to a point where we were actually driving global energy markets. Saudi Arabias Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud and Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak are seen at the beginning of an OPEC and Non-OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria on Dec. 6, 2019. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters) Carafano said the Biden administration is killing the oil and gas industry to appease progressive climate change activists who want to shut down American energy companies, and making the United States dependent on Russia and other countries for energy supplies. Whats holding America back is our government and government policies, which are designed to strangle American energy production, and it makes no sense, he said. Carafano said oil refined in the United States would do more to address climate issues because it is the most environmentally friendly with the highest emission standards. Many of those things are actually innovated by the private sector, driven by the private sector, created with private sector innovation. And rather than just letting American companies do their thing, we have this nonsense plan that were going to somehow get through this crisis by being more dependent, he said. Carafano outlined a plan that he said would put the United States in a stronger position against its adversaries. What undergirds that is a strong military that can defend our interests, energy independence, and a roaring economy, he said. If we got those three fundamentals right, and we secure our border I think Americas position in the world would be very secure. Masooma Haq Follow Masooma Haq began reporting for The Epoch Times from Pakistan in 2008. She currently covers a variety of topics including U.S. government, culture, and entertainment. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Declines Invite to Debate Challengers Holding a lead in two recent independent polls and facing a challenge from three GOP opponents, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wont attend an upcoming debate, a campaign spokesperson announced March 10. We will respectfully decline the invitation to participate in the Ohio Debate Commissions Primary debate, Brenton Temple wrote to the commissions Jill Miller Zimon. Organized by the commission, primary debates for the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races will take place later this month at Central State Universitys Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Wilberforcefour miles from DeWines home in Cedarville. Senate Democrats are scheduled to take the stage on March 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while Senate Republicans will gather that evening from 7 oclock to 8:30 p.m. Republican gubernatorial candidates will debate on March 29 from 11 a.m. to noon, and their Democratic Party counterparts will appear that night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Withstanding the Onslaught Every Senate candidate who was invited to attend has said they will be there. Former Cincinnati mayor John Cranley and former Dayton mayor Nan Whaley are opponents in the Democratic Party race for governor. Both candidates have said they will attend. DeWine refused the Ohio Debate Commissions offer to take the stage with Canal Winchester farmer and restaurant owner Joe Blystone, former state Rep. Ron Hood, and former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci. All three challengers are outspoken about DeWines handling of the COVID-19 crisis, which has included business closures, mask mandates, and vaccine lotteries. The governor has also drawn rampant criticism for implementing a gas tax as his first act in office in 2019 and his recent comment saying that he will not sign a bill that would temporarily repeal that gas tax increase. So far, though, DeWine is withstanding the onslaught from opponents. A poll by The Hill/NBC4i/Emerson College that was conducted Feb. 25-26 showed DeWine at 34 percent support followed by Blystone (20 percent), and Renacci (9 percent). Thirty-six percent are undecided. The poll also showed that 45 percent of voters approve of DeWines job as governor while 37 percent disapprove, and 18 percent are neutral or have no opinion. DeWine has 47 percent approval among Democrats, 46 percent approval with Republicans, and 42 percent from independents, according to the survey. On Monday, a Fox News poll conducted by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research between March 2-6 placed DeWine in first place on 50 percent, followed by Blystone (21 percent) and Renacci (18 percent). Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gives his victory speech after winning the Ohio gubernatorial race at the Ohio Republican Partys election night party at the Sheraton Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 6, 2018. (Justin Merriman/Getty Images) Mike DeWine is the most publicly accessible governor in Ohio history, Temple said. Gov. DeWine meets with constituents on a daily basis and regularly takes questions from the media. Ohioans know where he stands on the issues and that he is fighting and winning for them. Ohio Debate Commission president Dan Moulthrop expressed his disappointment in DeWines decision. We convene these debates to help voters and, frankly, to help campaigns and candidates connect with voters across the state, Moulthrop said. We would welcome the governor reconsidering and joining us. Renacci also hopes that DeWine will change his mind and take the stage at Central State. Mike DeWine has spent his term governing like a blue state liberalshuttering our economy, irreparably harming our kids access to education, trashing Donald Trump, and turning Ohio into ground zero for public corruption, Renacci said. And now hes refusing to answer for any of it. As a pro-Trump, committed conservative who has a clear plan to lead Ohio out of the mess DeWine has created, Im not surprised hes terrified to debate me, Renacci added. But what does shock me is that Gov. DeWine thinks so little of the countless Ohio families whose lives hes harmed, futures hes ruined, and businesses hes destroyed, that he wont even take the debate stage to attempt to justify itlet alone apologize for it. Hood has not responded to the commissions phone calls and emails, the organization said. To date, Blystone is the only candidate who has committed to attend the GOP gubernatorial debate. Its our responsibility as candidates to be available to discuss the issues, Blystone said. Im willing to go anywherewhether its a church, a dive bar, an American Legion hall, or a political eventto talk to Ohioans, tell them my ideas, and answer their questions. Ill be there on March 29 even if Im the only one on that stage. Parents Should Ask These Questions Before Giving Their Child a COVID-19 Vaccine: ER Doctor For parents who are contemplating whether their child should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Joseph Fraiman, an emergency medicine physician, says they should ask the following two questions to help them decide. The first thing that you want to do for harm/benefit analysis [is to ask], is there a mortality benefit for these vaccines for your child, Fraiman said at a roundtable discussion hosted by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 7. Experts say that children are at much lower risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19 compared to other age groups. The majority of studies havent been able to find a single healthy child whos died from COVID. The studies that say they have found them, they cant confirm that they were healthy children, Fraiman said. Researchers of three studies, two have been peer-reviewed and published, found that there were 25 deaths from COVID-19 in children younger than 18 in England between March 2020 and February 2021a mortality rate of about 2 for every million children in that age group. Of the 25 deaths attributed to COVID-19, 15 had a life-limiting condition. Fraiman, who is also a clinical scientist focused on analyzing the methodology and interpreting the risk/benefit analysis of clinical studies, was one of the health experts invited to speak at the event. For children with underlying health conditions that may make them at risk for COVID-19, Fraiman says, thats a discussion with your pediatrician. But if you have a healthy child, the chances of that child dying are incredibly low, essentially close to zero, if not actually zero, Fraiman said. Of the 73 million children under 18 in the United States, 894 children have died of or with COVID-19 during 20202022 as of March 9, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics. Whereas, there were 72,781 deaths from all causes within the same timeframe for this age group. Screenshot of total deaths from presumed or confirmed COVID-19 in different age groups from 20202022. (CDC/screenshot by The Epoch Times) The second question that parents should ask is what are the adverse effects from infection versus the vaccine for healthy children, according to Fraiman. As COVID-19 overall is very mild for most children, its important to ensure that the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the harms. While many children experience mild to no symptoms with COVID-19, some do experience symptoms of long COVID or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) several weeks after infection. But that is very rare. Doctors say that MIS-Cwhich can cause different body parts to be inflamedis treatable with many children making a full recovery, including those with long COVID. MIS-C has also been observed in children and young adults ages 12 to 20 after being injected with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, according to a study funded by the CDC and published in the Lancet. Twenty-one cases of MIS-C were identified from December 2020 to August 2021 after receiving at least one dose of the Pfizer injection. Our findings suggest that MIS-C after COVID-19 vaccination is rare, the authors concluded. Continued reporting of potential cases and surveillance for MIS-C illnesses after COVID-19 vaccination is warranted. Myocarditis and pericarditis, or inflammation of the heart or the lining around it, have also been found in both infection with COVID-19 and after injection with a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. But higher-than-expected reports of myocarditis, especially in young males ages 12 to 24, following the second dose of the mRNA injection, prompted the Food and Drug Administration in June to add a warning of heart inflammation to the fact sheet for both COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Federal health authorities continue to recommend the vaccine saying that the benefits outweigh the risks. A COVID-19 Moderna vaccination being prepared at Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, Calif., on March 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Martin Kulldorf, a former professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said that it is unethical to mandate the vaccines for children with the risks of myocarditis and other adverse reactions that may surface in the future. We know that theres a risk of myocarditis, especially for young boys and young men, but also for girls. There might be other adverse reactions that we dont know about yet and we dont know what the risk-benefit ratio is. I think, under those circumstances, its unethical to mandate vaccinations for children, Kulldorf said. He added, But for children who havent had COVID, the question was, we dont know to what extent it helps against death and serious disease, Kulldorf said. Right now in the U.S., the Omicron wave is going down. Right now I think the benefits of vaccinating children are very small. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said that children should receive the COVID-19 vaccine even though they are less likely to be severely infected. Although it is true that children are less like to be infected and it is true that children are less likely to be severely infected, they can still be infected and they can still be severely infected. Offit told CNN, adding, And if you have a vaccine which is safe, which this is, and is effective, which this is, then you give it. But data from New York state showed that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines effectiveness against infection declined rapidly in children 5 to 11 years old. Protection against hospitalization also declined but was not as steep as in preventing infection. The authors of the pre-print study (pdf), waiting to be peer-reviewed, said that vaccine effectiveness against infection in the fully vaccinated declined from 66 percent to 51 percent in children aged 12 to 17, and from 68 percent to 12 percent for those in the 5 to 11 age group from December 2021 to January 2022. Dr. Robert Malone, a pioneer of mRNA vaccine technology, says there is no reason to vaccinate children. There is no justification for mandating vaccines for children, full stop, Malone said. Were of the strong opinion that if there is risk, there must be choice. This is fundamental medical bioethics 101. Malone and Kulldorf were also part of the panelists at the roundtable. Pennsylvania Democrats Celebrate Abortion Provider Appreciation Day The Pennsylvania Womens Health Caucus took time Thursday to acknowledge Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, a national movement. State Sens. Judy Schwank and Amanda Cappelletti, along with Rep. Morgan Cephas and Rep. Mary Jo Daley, all Democrats, released a joint statement thanking abortion providers for their services. We would like to take the opportunity to thank abortion providers across Pennsylvania as they continue to provide vital healthcare services in the face of these unprecedented attacks on the right to choose, and under the additional pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement read. While we are facing attacks on abortion access at every level, and in every shape and form anti-abortion legislators can imagine, it is crucial that we uplift abortion providers who are persevering through this political climate to provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare for their patients. Join us in thanking abortion providers across the nation today! The 52-member Democratic Womens Health Caucus of the Pennsylvania legislature has a strong pro-abortion stance. Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, March 10, was launched in 2017 by the Abortion Care Network, which has social media memes on its website with slogans such as, To provide abortion care is to believe in the future. Other slogans, printed on colorful graphics mimicking tarot cards, encourage abortion workers by saying their work provides magic, love, strength, justice, hope, and liberation. It is a sad day when people celebrate abortion, which is the taking of an innocent, unrepeatable life, and leave the woman to grieve the child, Maria Gallagher, legislative director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, told The Epoch Times. Pregnant women deserve compassion and care, not a cold-hearted offer to abort their offspring. Safeguarding womens health means offering them life-affirming options which protect both their health and the lives of their babies. Abortions in the state were up by 3.5 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 32,123 abortions in 2020, the most recent year available. It is 1,105 more than 2019. The increase coincides with the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns that began in 2020. That year, as part of his COVID-19 response, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a moratorium on elective surgeries and other medical procedures, but abortion clinics were allowed to remain open. Pennsylvanias Abortion Battle Abortion access and funding are the subject of a current lawsuit and upcoming legislation in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide the case of Allegheny Reproductive Health Center and Planned Parenthood vs. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, in which abortion providers are suing the state to use tax dollars for abortion services. Unlike neighboring New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania bans the use of Medicaid for elective abortions. Medicaid is allowed to be used in Pennsylvania for non-elective abortions and elective abortions involving rape or incest. The ban is a violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the lawsuit states, and it is costing providers too much money because many who use their services are eligible for medical assistance. Providers frequently perform abortions at a financial loss and must invest their own time and resources to find and secure private funding to help low-income women pay for their abortions, and this results in a loss of time and productivity for staff, court papers say. As a result of the Pennsylvania coverage ban, there are Pennsylvania women who are forced to carry their pregnancies to term against their will, the lawsuit states. The case also asks the court to declare abortion a fundamental right under the Pennsylvania Constitution. It has the potential to change many current state abortion laws, Gallagher said. We would lose the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act, which would mean no more ban on late-term abortion, no more informed consent for abortion, no more parental consent for abortion, no more 24-hour waiting period for abortion, she said. We also lose our Abortion Center Regulation Law, which would mean hair and nail salons would have greater scrutiny in Pennsylvania than abortion facilities, because they wouldnt be subject to state inspections. In response to the lawsuit, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation has advocated for a state constitutional amendment, Senate Bill 956, with Republican Sen. Judy Ward as the prime sponsor. What the abortion industry is asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to do is to bypass both the legislative process and the constitutional amendment process and to manufacture out of thin air a right to elective abortion and taxpayer funding of elective abortion, presumably during all nine months of pregnancy, Ward wrote in a memo about the amendment. To prevent Pennsylvanias abortion laws from being struck down, I am proposing a simple amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution clarifying that there is no right to an abortion or abortion funding within Pennsylvanias constitution, Ward said. This amendment is designed to maintain our laws regulating abortion and preventing the taxpayer funding of elective abortion. The amendment was passed out of the Senate Health and Human services committee and awaits a floor vote. A constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania requires passage in two consecutive legislative sessions. Then it must go on a statewide ballot to be decided by voters. Many women who have had abortions live with long-term regret that is difficult to discuss, pro-life advocates have said. Across the nation, pregnancy centers have added services for these women. There are a number of pregnancy centers throughout Pennsylvania which offer hope and healing to women who have suffered the loss of a child to abortion. We are also very fortunate in Pennsylvania that we have Rachels Vineyard which offers healing retreats to women who have had an abortion and who now regret the decision. Its very important that we show compassion and understanding to these women who may, in fact have been forced into the decision to have an abortion, said Gallagher. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla talks during a press conference at the factory of Pfizer in Puurs, Belgium, on April 23, 2021. (John Thys/Pool via Reuters) Pfizer to Ask US Regulators to Authorize Second Booster Due to Waning Effectiveness: CEO Pfizer plans to ask U.S. regulators to grant emergency use authorization for a second booster of its COVID-19 vaccine, CEO Albert Bourla said March 11. Clearly there is a need in an environment of Omicron to boost the immune response, Bourla said on CNBCs Squawk Box. Pfizers vaccine waned over time in protection against both infection and hospitalization when the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 was dominant in the United States, real-world data and studies showed. The issue has grown more pronounced since Omicron displaced Delta in late 2021. Bourla said data Pfizer executives have seen indicates the vaccine protection is very good after three doses when it comes to protecting against severe disease. But that protection doesnt last long, he added, with waning starting after several months. Waning immune responses is [sic] higher for people if they have high age, they are older, or they have underlying conditions, but the immune responses are waning for all, Bourla said. Moderna executives have also said they believe a second booster will be necessary. Americans 12 and older with weakened immune systems are already able to get a second booster, but the rest of the population can only get one at this time. Children 5 to 11 can only get a primary series of Pfizers vaccine, while children under 5 are not allowed to get any of the vaccines. Recent studies show that the protection from vaccines against severe disease drops over time, including one from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, data show the vaccines provide little to no protection against infection from Omicron. Some experts have raised concerns about repeated booster shots, though some later reversed the stance. The WHO also reversed its guidance on March 8 after recommending against booster shots. Dr. Robert Malone, who helped invent the messenger RNA technology on which the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are built on, told The Epoch Times that currently available data from Israel and the rest of the world indicates that further boosting does not provide a durable protection against this virus and is associated with significant adverse events, as documented by the nine-page listing of adverse events recently disclosed under court order. Malone was referring to a document (pdf) released by the Food and Drug Administration to a transparency group. Additionally, further boosting may impair immune system function and may increase risk of infection by current SARS-CoV-2 strains, Malone said, referencing how in some areas, hospitalized patients are more likely to be vaccinated than not. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2. A sign adorns the building where mining company Rio Tinto has their office in Perth, Western Australia, on Nov. 19, 2015. (David Gray/Reuters) Rio Tinto Slashes Ties With Russian Businesses Over Ukraine War Rio Tinto on Thursday became the first major mining company to announce it was cutting all ties with Russian businesses, joining a raft of leading Western companies in a pullout following Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The global miner has previously said it has no operational assets or employees to pull out of Russia, or Ukraine, but the move comes as Western firms come under increasing pressure to exit Russia since the invasion began on Feb. 24. Leading U.S. companies like McDonalds, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks stopped trading with Russia this week. Moscow describes its actions there as a special operation. Rio Tinto is in the process of terminating all commercial relationships it has with any Russian business, a Rio spokesman said in a message sent to Reuters. It wasnt immediately clear with which companies Rio has done business in Russia. The announcement from the Anglo-Australian firm comes after a top executive said on Wednesday the company was looking for alternative fuel sources for its Mongolian copper operations at Oyu Tolgoi, but did not believe it can stop buying from Russia altogether. The company did not immediately respond to questions on whether it would continue to buy Russian fuel and other products through non-Russian third parties. The miner owns an 80 percent stake in Queensland Alumina Ltd. in a joint venture with Russias Rusal International PJSC, the worlds second-largest aluminum producer. The company did not comment on how its decision to cut ties with Russian businesses would affect Queensland Alumina dealings with Rusal. Rusal purchased its 20 percent stake in Australias second-largest refinery processing alumina, the chemical compound that contains aluminium, in 2005 from Kaiser Aluminum. In 2018, Rusal was covered by U.S. sanctions against Russian businessmen and companies. Queensland Alumina was not affected by those sanctions and isnt affected so far by curbs put in place since the Ukraine invasion began. Rio has said previously that it was actively reviewing any existing commercial ties to Russia across its global business. Rio rival BHP Group did not immediately comment on whether it had any business links with Russian firms and would consider terminating them. With the record number of illegal immigrants allowed into the United States, there is a growing number of hardened criminals who were already convicted of violent crimes prior to their arrival here. Tens of thousands of such foreigners have crossed the southern border from Mexico in recent years, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, with a notable acceleration during President Joe Bidens first year in office. U.S. border officials track the number of people who cross the border illegally, and who have a findable criminal record, either in the United States or in a country that shares its information. During President Obamas last year in office, the number of illegal immigrants arrested at the border with a known criminal record was 12,842. Under President Trump, the number steadily declined. His first year, 2018, the number was cut by one-third to 8,531. Even as Trump opponents and open-border advocates fought border enforcement initiatives, the number of convicted criminals crossing into the United States and getting arrested dropped about 2,000 per year, until it was down to 2,438 in 2020. Then under President Bidens relatively open-border policy, the number bumped back up to well past 10,000 in 2021. (10,763) Noted by type of crime committed, border officials counted more than 1,100 (1,178) assault, battery, and domestic violence convictions among noncitizens illegally crossing the border in 2021. When it comes to sexual offenses, including rape, there were 156 known convictions discovered among illegal border crossers during Trumps last year in office. The number more than tripled to 488 during Bidens first year. There are also dozens of stone-cold killers among the illegal border crossers: 60 convicted of homicide or manslaughter last year alone, shattering what was the recent high of 8 during Obamas final year, and a 1000 percent spike over Trumps last year in office (3). Up more than 500 percent last year: the number of convictions for Driving Under the Influence (DUI); assault, battery and domestic violence; illegal drug possession and trafficking; and burglary, robbery, larceny, theft, and fraud. Up nearly 700 percent in Bidens first year: illegal gun possession and trafficking convictions. The numbers dont count the untold number of illegal immigrants who are not captured. The Biden administration has taken no publicly announced steps to stem the flow of illegal traffic across the U.S. Southern border. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has defended the administrations lack of border enforcement by saying, Sometimes, the tools of deterrence defy values and principles for which we all stand, and claiming that border policy today is more consistent with our values than it was under President Trump. A dog survived an icy ordeal in the small city of Wyandotte, Michigan, at the end of what has been a cold winter. As the weather warms up and frozen rivers thaw, they grow increasingly more dangerous. An adopted labradoodle, Lucy, found this out the hard way when on February 28 she somehow escaped her owners custody and ended up stranded on an ice floe in the Detroit River. The water was freezing cold, and she sat helplessly, but calmly, for hours while dozens of feet from shore. Thankfully, local neighbors spotted her and called in professionals who would save the day, before it was too late for Lucy. The bystanders who called 911 lived near where the dogs owners lived, on the 200 block of Biddle, and had witnessed her run away, the Detroit Free Press reported. That call, placed at 4:15 pm, was received by Detroit Police, who were the first to respond. The dog had floated out some 40 to 50 feet from shore, and the officers considered calling the Coast Guard or venturing into the river themselves. But when the fire department arrived, they were able to nudge the ice closer to the bank to facilitate a rescue. According to Wyandotte Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton, the neighbors who reported Lucy truly saved her life. If not for that [911 call], that dog would have froze to death or drowned, he said. The officers had previously been trained for such rescues, as animals getting lost or ending up in precarious situations, such as being stranded on an icy river, is commonplace. Wyandotte Assistant Fire Chief Tom Lyon said that pet rescues from such ice hazards happen approximately twice a year. The team sent a rescuer from the fire department, Derrek Azzopardi, to get closer and capture the pup. The operation was captured on video footage, which the Wyandotte Police Department posted on Facebook. (Courtesy of Wyandotte Police Department) Donning dive gear, Azzopardi stepped down the slippery ladder, waded into the frigid water, reached out with a catchpole dog snare, and looped it around her neck. He then nudged her off the ice into the water and pulled her across the gap into his arms. He hoisted her up the ladder to his team, who wrapped her in a warm blanket, and also made sure their go-to man got back up safely. The water recovery was a success, and Lucy survived, despite experiencing some symptoms of hypothermia. It will take some time for her to recover, but the lucky dog will, perhaps, be a wiser creature from this brisk brush with death. Lucy is now safe and sound at home. It had such a happy outcome, said Fire Chief Lyon. She just had those big brown eyes, and she couldnt talk, but she probably was just so grateful. 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 Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia, permanent United Nations representative of the Russian Federation, speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York City on March 7, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Russia Calls for UN Security Council Meeting Over Biological Activities in Ukraine Russia has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss alleged U.S. military biological activities in Ukraine. Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, said in a Twitter post on March 10: Russian Mission asked for a meeting of #SecurityCouncil for 11 March to discuss the military biological activities of the US on the territory of #Ukraine. Reuters reported that diplomats have indicated the U.N. Security Council will convene on Friday, March 11, to discuss Moscows claims of U.S. biological activities in Ukraine. Late on March 9, the United States denied Russian accusations that Washington is running labs in Ukraine geared toward developing bioweapons. Russia on March 8 repeated its longstanding accusations the United States is working with Ukrainian laboratories to develop biological weapons. The United States and Ukraine maintain that the laboratories seek to prevent bioweapons and pathogens, not develop them. Ukraine, like many other countries, has public health laboratories researching how to minimize the threats of dangerous diseases affecting humans and animals. Fact sheets featured on the U.S. Embassy of Ukraine website, found via Internet Archive, link to several documents detailing what appears to be U.S. government investments for select laboratories in Ukraine. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on March 8 said Ukraine has biological research facilities and the United States is working to prevent Russians from taking control of them. In a statement released on March 9, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia is inventing false pretexts in an attempt to justify its own horrific actions in Ukraine. Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday that it has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills. Russia Is Just Bidens Scapegoat for Rising Gas Prices Commentary President Joe Bidens announcement that the United States would ban Russian oil imports in response to the attack on Ukraine was met with serious concern from both sides of the aisle because of the impact it could have on already record high gas prices. This criticism is validand, to be fair, Biden acknowledged in his announcement that gas prices will continue to rise. But Biden is likely grateful for a scapegoat to blame for higher energy prices. Though turmoil in Europe is consuming news cycles, prices had already been climbing steadily for months. Russias war on Ukraine will have an impact, but it was far from the first domino in the chain. Bidens radical climate policies had already done much of the damage. The solution to our energy problems, war or no, lies right here onand just offour shores, if the Biden administration will get out of the way and let American energy producers flourish. It wasnt long ago that America was energy independent. In 2019, the United States became a net energy exporter for the first timefinally achieving the mission that brought about the creation of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the 1970s. After achieving net export status, even the Iran missile controversy barely affected our oil prices. DOE estimated that Americas newfound energy dominance saved the country more than $200 billion a yeara healthy $2,500 annually for the average family of four. But since President Biden took office, all that progress has been undone. The price of oil has doubled in the last year (at which point prices had already recovered from a pandemic-induced slump), and our dependence on foreign crude oil imports has increased. It took less than a year of Bidens anti-American energy policies to strangle our energy industry once again. If the federal government continues making climate conformity its priorityand Biden keeps nominating radicals like Saule Omarova and Sarah Bloom Raskin, who overtly pledge to destroy the fossil fuel industrywe can expect more of the same disastrous effects. The Russia crisis will exacerbate pricesbut we were already headed down this road. We shouldnt be surprised by this. The disastrous consequences of the anti-energy agenda have been unfolding in Europe for years. Germany, supposedly the worlds leader in the renewable transition, has seen energy costs rising steadily for years and now pays the highest prices in the entire European Union. The country is now subsidizing coal and is dependent on heavily polluting biomass (also known as burning wood) when the wind doesnt blow. Its not unusual for a German today to pay more for utilities in a month than they used to in a year. Likewise, in the United Kingdom, energy price caps are scheduled to increase a painful 54 percent next month. Freezing deaths were already on the rise as low-income Brits struggled to keep their homes at safe temperatures in the wintertime. The consequences of further cost increases could be deadly. But even if were not up-to-date on current events across the globe, weve been told point-blank by our elected leaders what their agendas would do. On the campaign trail in 2008, President Obama boldly declared to the nation: Under my plan electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Somehow, we were just supposed to be okay with that. President Bidens plans to follow in Obamas anti-fossil footstepsand even take the radical climate agenda furtherwere crystal clear from the get-go. Were simply witnessing firsthand the consequences to Bidens whole of government approach to radical environmental politics. So what can we do? For once, the answer is remarkably simple. We can get the federal government out of the way and allow Americas energy producers to thrive. The United States has massive oil reserves capable of powering our nation (and our freedom-loving allies) for decades at least, and technological innovations mean were growing our reserves far faster than were depleting them. And despite the anti-fossil fuel rhetoric perpetuated by culture and the media, we produce energy more responsibly in America than anywhere else in the world. Weve become a global leader in clean air, cutting harmful pollution by 78 percent since 1970, even while our economy and energy usage have grown significantly. Instead of ceding power to foreign oil producers, most of whom operate with little regard for the environment or human rights, we should unleash the full power of the American energy industry to improve our quality of life, reduce costs, and promote freedom around the world. Ultimately, President Bidens decision to ban Russian oil matters little to the price we pay at the pump. But if his anti-energy policies continue unchecked, filling up our tank to get to work or school will be painful for many years to come. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Airbus A350-900 aircraft of Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot takes off during a media presentation at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia, on March 4, 2020. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters) Russia Looking at Sourcing Aircraft Spare Parts From Asia Russia is working on sourcing spare parts for aircraft from China and other Asian countries, the transport ministry said on Friday, and has not yet decided whether to buy foreign airplanes leased by Russian airlines. Sanctions have already cut off the supply of most aircraft and parts to Russia and forced its carriers to cancel many international flights for fear their aircraft will be seized by foreign lessors or banks. Questions of supplies of spare parts from China and other Asian [countries] are being worked out, said Alina Malysheva, director of the transport ministrys legal support department, in a meeting with lawmakers from the Federation Council, the Russian parliaments upper house. She said 739 of Russias 1,367 airplanes are currently registered abroad and that Russian aircraft may be able to be registered in Russia without being taken off foreign registers. A decision on buying (planes) has not yet been taken, Malysheva said. Russia on Thursday published a draft law that could prevent its airlines returning leased aircraft, raising the stakes in a showdown with Western finance over $10 billion of jets. The lower house of parliament, the State Duma, passed the legislation on Friday at the first reading, which would offer relief to the transport sector in the face of sanctions. The law seeks to preserve the fleet of foreign aircraft with Russian operators and allows for changes in the way airworthiness certificates can be issued. Russia to Brand Facebook Parent Company an Extremist Organization Russias Prosecutor General asked a court to formally designate Facebook and Instagram owner Meta as an extremist organization. Consistent with the Federal Law on Countering Extremist Activities, the Russian Prosecutor Generals office has lodged a motion with a court for designating Meta Platforms Inc. as an extremist organization and banning its operations in the territory of the Russian Federation, said the office on Friday, according to the Interfax news agency. At the same time, the Russian Investigative Committee said it was probing the social media company in light of unlawful calls for violence against citizens of the Russian Federation by employees of the U.S. company Meta. It came after Meta spokesman Andy Stone said that Facebook temporarily lifted a ban on calls for violence against Russian soldiers on its platforms. The Russian Prosecutor General cited Stones remark for the ban. As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as death to the Russian invaders. We still wont allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians, Stone said in a statement to news outlets on Thursday. Reports citing internal Meta emails indicated that the new policy applies to countries such as Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. At the same time, Russias Prosecutor General demanded the Russian communications agency, Roskomnadzor, started restricting access to Instagram. The agency last week took action against Facebook and Twitter, effectively blocking the platforms inside Russia. In light of that, the Russian Prosecutor Generals Office has demanded that Roskomnadzor block access to the Instagram social network, the Prosecutor General said in a statement Friday. Several weeks ago, Facebook confirmed that it would allow the praise of Ukraines Azov battalion, which openly uses Nazi imagery and symbols. Azov also has been alleged to have carried out war crimes and torture since 2014. Joe Osborne, a spokesman, told CNN that the company was for the time being, making a narrow exception for praise of the Azov Regiment strictly in the context of defending Ukraine, or in their role as part of the Ukraine National Guard. Amid the flurry of requests, its likely that all Meta-owned services will be banned in Facebook in the near future, said a top official in Russias Duma, Sergei Boyarsky. He said the new policy shift endangers the lives of Russians, as reported by Interfax. In the past week or so, major social media companies have announced new content restrictions or outright bans of Russian media outlets, including state-run Russia Today and Sputnik News. The Epoch Times has contacted Meta for comment. People queue outside a branch of Russian state-owned bank Sberbank to withdraw their savings and close their accounts in Prague on Feb. 25, 2022, before Sberbank closed all its branches in the Czech Republic later in the day. (Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images) Sanctions on Russia Point Way to Stopping Beijings Economic Aggression: Expert The unified response of Western democracies to Russias invasion of Ukraine, and their swift unleashing of a panoply of tough economic sanctions, offer lessons for any governments that seek to grapple with Beijings abusive trade and economic practices, economic coercion, and potential aggression toward Taiwan. Thats according to Robert D. Atkinson, President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Perhaps the most important question related to these sanctions besides whether they will deter Putin, is whether this kind of economic cooperation to punish global norm transgressors can and will continue, and will it be applied to China? Atkinson wrote in the March 9 column in the Korea Times. In Atkinsons view, the breadth of the sanctions brought to bear on Russia offers a useful precedent when assessing other economic and geostrategic problems. He notes that besides the far-ranging sanctions slapped on Russias banking system, the U.S. Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued six new export control rules targeting Russia. One of these rules extends existing controls to such products as microelectronics, sensors, aircraft components, and navigation gear. With a view to limiting Russias imports of such items from other nations, BIS instituted another rule that establishes control over products utilizing software and technology developed in the United States. That means that firms in other countries manufacturing products on the BIS export control list with the aid of U.S. technology or software are barred from exporting those products to Russia on penalty of U.S. legal action. Exemptions may be available for those foreign countries, like Korea, that have stated their intention to implement their own export controls concerning Russia, Atkinson noted. Many companies have taken dramatic actions in response to Russias aggression. The most far-reaching steps, from the point of view of technology, range from yanking products from the market to shutting down online services and platforms. Apple has pulled Sputnik and RT News from its App Store, has disabled some Apple Pay services, and has ceased selling iPhones and other products in Russia. In Atkinsons analysis, the cumulative effect of sanctions already imposed and sanctions still to come will have nothing less than a crippling effect that will compel Russia to change course. He believes that the lessons are salient when it comes to addressing Beijings flouting of its World Trade Organization commitments, violation of Phase One trade deal promises, economic coercion, illegal import bans, and brazen promotion of intellectual property (IP) theft and forced technology transfers, to say nothing of possible future aggressive moves and against the self-ruled island of Taiwan. The Time Is Now The U.S. Commerce Department has already issued stern warnings to Chinese firms not to try to help Russia work its way around the myriad sanctions imposed since the invasion, and has signaled its willingness to effectively shut down manufacturers in China that supply Russia with advanced technology. Atkinson believes that some of the measures that the Commerce Department has signaled its readiness to put to use will be highly effective. In an interview with The Epoch Times, Atkinson said that the case of Russia affirms that while unilateral sanctions may have limited results, the collective effect of sanctions imposed by a broad array of allies is overwhelming. If we all stand together, we can counter aggression. We should use the same practices to counter Chinese industrial aggression, Atkinson said. Nor does Atkinson believe that sanctions should come into play in the future when the level of daily economic and trade violations by the Chinese regime runs so high. I think we should do it now where its clear that firms have been benefiting from intellectual property theft, and have been benefiting from pretty significant Chinese government subsidies. Those are both completely unfair ways to compete, he said. If we know that a Chinese firm is doing that, we should say that were not going to buy their product. Atkinson identified the semiconductor trade in China as an example of a sector benefiting unduly from massive subsidies as well as IP theft and technology transfers. He envisioned a scenario where Beijing launches an invasion of Taiwan, and suggested that some lawmakers in America are only just starting to wake up to the ramifications of such a development. Theres not a lot that Russia can do to us economically, but theres a lot China can do, he said. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company holds a dominant position in the global semiconductor industry, and if Beijing were to take over that firm and all its operations, this would have drastic consequences for the ability of U.S. firms to acquire computer chips. That would bring America to its knees, Atkinson said. First responders including Santa Ana Police Department SWAT teams and Orange County Fire Authority HAZMAT crews secure Santa Ana High School as parents and family members wait for students on lock down after bomb and weapon threats circulated at the school in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Santa Ana High School Placed Lockdown After Possible Bomb Threat, Armed Student SANTA ANA, Calif.Santa Ana High School went on lockdown on March 10 after reports emerged of a possible bomb threat and armed student, officials said. Officers responded to the school at 520 Walnut Street around 1 p.m., according to the Santa Ana Police Department. Santa Ana Police, SWAT, a bomb squad, and sheriffs deputies were on scene. Police confirmed at 3 p.m. there was no active shooter, no injuries to anyone, and there is only a threat at this point, the Santa Ana Unified School District announced. First responders including Santa Ana Police Department SWAT teams and Orange County Fire Authority HAZMAT crews secure Santa Ana High School as parents and family members wait for students on lock down after bomb and weapon threats circulated at the school in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Around 100 peoplemany of them parents weeping for their childrenwere watching the scene from the outskirts of the high school. I feel anxiety. Im anxious for my daughter, a parent of one of the students on lockdown, who declined to provide his name, told The Epoch Times. LIVE: Bomb threat at Santa Ana High School, possible armed student. pic.twitter.com/2OtmVdAu6K Drew Van Voorhis (@DrewVanVoorhis) March 10, 2022 News reports show one person, conscious and alert, wheeled away into an ambulance by emergency personnel. The persons condition was unclear. Police received a bomb threat from a student and there is a possible armed suspect in the area, the district announced. Investigators later said a suspect was not found. Police cleared the Santa Ana High School campus and the lockdown has been lifted, the district announced at 4:35 p.m. During the lockdown, no one was allowed in or out of the campus at the time. First responders including Santa Ana Police Department SWAT teams and Orange County Fire Authority HAZMAT crews secure Santa Ana High School as parents and family members wait for students on lock down after bomb and weapon threats circulated at the school in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Please know that student and staff safety is always our top priority. The Santa Ana Police Department and Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department are on site responding to the incident. Students are safe and all security protocols are being followed, the district announced. First responders including Santa Ana Police Department SWAT teams and Orange County Fire Authority HAZMAT crews secure Santa Ana High School as parents and family members wait for students on lock down after bomb and weapon threats circulated at the school in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Students at Heninger Elementary School, which is adjacent to Santa Ana High School, were also instructed by police to lockdown. They have since been released. Police urged residents to avoid the area. Out of an abundance of caution, #SAHS has been placed on lockdown due to a report made to police. Students and staff are safe, and all security protocols are being followed. More information to come. Details: https://t.co/MLrZfOmOgn pic.twitter.com/bqOdqyYS50 Santa Ana USD (@SantaAnaUSD) March 10, 2022 First responders including Santa Ana Police Department SWAT teams and Orange County Fire Authority HAZMAT crews secure Santa Ana High School as parents and family members wait for students on lock down after bomb and weapon threats circulated at the school in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 10, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) This file photo shows packs of menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products at a store in San Francisco, Calif., on May 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Santa Ana Moves Forward With Ban on All Flavored Tobacco Products SANTA ANA, Calif.The Santa Ana City Council will vote on finalizing a full ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products on March 15 after months of discussion. We are in the midst of a huge tobacco use epidemic, [in] which tobacco companies are luring kids into [a] lifetime of nicotine addiction, Councilwoman Nelida Mendoza said at a March 1 meeting. If passed on March 15, the ordinance will go into effect 30 days after its signed by the mayor and attested by the city clerkusually within a few days of the final vote, Santa Ana spokesperson Paul Eakins told The Epoch Times. Mendoza originally proposed the ban in late December. In terms of what to ban and when to ban, the council had multiple options to consider. The main options considered by the council include an immediate ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco products, an immediate ban excluding hookah, or a regular ordinance with either a full or partial banto exclude hookahthat requires a second reading to pass and takes effect about one month after being passed. Some councilors have been worried a full ban would make it difficult for residents with specific cultural traditions to smoke hookah. When discussing the possibility of preventing flavored tobacco products from getting into childrens hands without a ban, suggestions are also made for implementing stricter screening measures for flavored tobacco sales, such as the photo ID scanning required at cannabis retailers. However, Mendoza argued on March 1 that stricter screening measures wouldnt be effective. On March 1, the council went with a full ban that requires a second reading and voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the ordinance, which would ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including hookah. Mayor Pro Tempore Phil Bacerra said during the meeting that all flavored tobacco products were harmful and a full ban would protect the community. Whether its a hookah, whether its an old pipe, regardless of the apparatus is, regardless of where it is, does it cause harm? Yes or no, Bacerra said. Its our obligation on this dais to try to protect those in our community when we can. I believe that this ban would do that. Voting in favor of a first reading would also allow for flavored tobacco store retailers to have a longer time span to sell their remaining goods and make a profit before the law becomes effective 30 days after the second reading. Many vendors especially small retailers buy stock in advance to sell, and so many of them might not have the opportunity to sell it back to the wholesaler or find other ways to get rid of it, Councilwoman Thai Viet Phan said in support of a buffer period. Some retailers and hookah organizations spoke in opposition to the ban and urged the council to vote against it. Ive been in business for the last 15 years, a local smoke shop owner said as he attempted to hold back his tears. Were really proud of having such a policy to control who is coming to the store. While the owner insisted his strict policies prevent flavored tobacco products from getting into the hands of minors, the council questioned the chances of various possibilities where the products could still circulate among youth. Mayor Vincente Sarmiento further urged the residents and speakers that have advocated for the ban in the city to extend their efforts into neighboring cities where easy access to flavored tobacco is still possible for Santa Anas minors. We have invisible boundaries between cities, Sarmiento said. To the extent that youre accomplishing something here, its very narrow. A closeup view of fires in an industrial area and nearby fields in southern Chernihiv, Ukraine, during the Russian invasion, on March 10, 2022. (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP) Satellite Images Appear to Show Russian Convoy Near Kyiv Has Dispersed, Redeployed Satellite images taken on Thursday appear to show that the large Russian military convoy that had been slowly advancing towards the Ukraine capital city of Kyiv has dispersed and redeployed into nearby locations. The convoy, which stretches for as much as 40 miles, was last seen northwest of Kyiv near Antonov airport. On March 7, U.S. Press Secretary John Kirby said the convoy remained stalled but noted that the Pentagon doesnt have perfect visibility on the convoy. However, satellite imagery from U.S. company Maxar Technologies showed the line of vehicles, tanks, and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units moving into positions in surrounding towns. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported, adding that images also show parts of the convoy further north have repositioned near the town of Lubyanka with towed artillery in firing position. Still, the immediate threat to Kyiv remains unclear. The convoy originated in Belarus and had been slowly advancing south toward Kyiv but last week it appeared to have stopped entirely amid reports of food and fuel shortages. Its a very, very long convoy. We dont even know if its all, we cant even say that, that its all one convoy and not several. But it does remain as our best assessment as it remains stalled, Kirby said during a press conference last week. Kirby said the Pentagon believes the convoy was heading to Kyiv to resupply. When you look at the images from the air, you can see a lot of it but they dont look like armored vehicles so much as they look like resupply trucks. Thats not to say that there arent combat vehicles in there, he said. We dont have perfect visibility on it. But the assessment is that it was largely meant to help resupply and it is still stalled. Its still stuck. U.S. officials previously said the large Russian convoy had been targeted by Ukrainian troops with anti-tank missiles, adding that they likely slowed down its progress and even stopped it in some places. Kirby said the Russian military likely did not anticipate such problems or the extent of Ukrainian resistance. But on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces continued concentrating in the eastern, northwestern and western outskirts of Kyiv for an assault on the Ukrainian capital in the coming 24-96 hours. Meanwhile, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that half of the citys population has fled, and that the city has been transformed into a fortress while every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified. The convoys re-deployment comes shortly after Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko called for a no-fly zone to be implemented over Ukraine after a reported Russian airstrike devastated a maternity hospital, leaving 17 people injured during what was meant to be a temporary ceasefire in Mariupol. In a video message posted to Telegram, Boichenko asked for the global community to close the sky over Ukraine. Today I am asking the global community for help. Close the sky over Ukraine. Our will has not been broken, we will fight to the end, Boichenko said. We have motivated soldiers and officers who defend our homeland. But today we need support. Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning that he would view any country that declares a no-fly zone over Ukraine as a participant in the armed conflict. Meanwhile, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russias first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said reports that Russian forces had bombed the maternity hospital in Mariupol were fake news and accused Ukraine of having set up the hospital as a combat site. On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the hospital building, due to its favorable tactical location close to the city center, was re-equipped into a stronghold of the Azov National Battalion, an insurgent group with strong allegiance to neo-Nazi ideology that has been battling Russian forces or forces aligned with Russia. There were two separate staged explosions near the hospitalmore specifically, [a]n underground explosion and another of minor power, aimed at the hospital building, the ministry claims. Senate Fails to Pass Measure to Bar Funding for COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates One Republican senator missed vote The U.S. Senate on March 10 rejected a measure that would bar funding for COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The party-line 5049 vote saw all Democrats vote against the amendment, offered by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and all Republicans vote for it. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) did not vote because he was experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms, his office said. I want to express my explicit support for defunding vaccine mandates, Inhofe said in a statement. Like I have said before, these mandates are unconstitutional and wrongthey would put over half a million Oklahoma workers at risk of losing their jobs over a personal medical decision. The measure required a simple majority, but wouldnt have passed even if Inhofe had joined his Republican colleagues, due to the tiebreaking vote held by the vice president. The amendment was introduced to prohibit funding for COVID-19 vaccine mandates. It would have altered H.R.2471, or the Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act. The mandates, imposed by President Joe Biden and top officials in his administration on health care workers, government employees, and members of the military, among others, are fundamentally immoral in addition to being wildly and increasingly unpopular, Lee said on the Senate floor in Washington before the vote. President Joe Biden announces COVID-19 vaccine mandates at the White House in Washington on Sept. 9, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) The secret is people dont like the government doing things that are immoral, and all of us understand that you dont render someone unemployed, unable to put bread on the table for their children, simply because they wont bow to presidential medical orthodoxy. Thats not right. Thats not American. Its not constitutional. But more than anything, its not moral, he added. Another key point of contention is the fact the mandates dont include carveouts for natural immunity, or the protection one enjoys after recovering from COVID-19. Studies show natural immunity is superior to vaccination. Most of the mandates have been blocked by courts, but the Supreme Court upheld the health care worker mandate while the mandate for military members remains in effect. If the amendment were approved, it would have gone to the House of Representatives next. The Senate recently passed two measures related to COVID-19 that have not yet been taken up by the House, which is controlled by Democrats. Later Thursday, the Senate passed H.R.2471 in a 6831 bipartisan vote after rejecting two other amendments. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Democrats in passing the bill. No Democrats voted against the act, which repeals existing requirements for reporting of assistance to Haiti and directs the State Department to undertake certain actions, including moving to promote press and assembly freedoms in the Caribbean country. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) listens, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Aug. 4, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Senate Approves $13.6 Billion to Help Ukraine as Part of Huge Government Funding Bill The Senate on Thursday night passed a $1.5 trillion budget bill to fund the government through the end of September after months of back and forth between lawmakers. The Senate voted 6831 to pass the bill, which will fund the federal government through Sept. 30, with 18 Republicans joining all Democrats voting in support. The billion-dollar spending package had earlier been passed by the House on Wednesday night. Its passing means the government will avert a shutdown that would have started on Friday night, when funding runs out. The bill now heads to President Joe Bidens desk where he is expected to sign the measure into law before Friday night. Among other things, the bipartisan spending measure contains emergency funding requested by the White House to provide humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine amid Russias invasion, which has forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes. Specifically, it contains $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support the people of Ukraine, split between humanitarian and security assistance. Among the more than $13 billion set aside to help Ukraine, $100 million is for Food for Peace grants to support in-kind agricultural commodity donations for food assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. Another $22.1 million has been pledged to support economic and trade-based analysis, enforcement, and coordination with partners on Russian and American vulnerabilities related to global trade and export ramifications of the conflict in Ukraine. Millions more would be directed toward helping Ukraine tackle cybercrime, deploying personnel to the region to offer intelligence support, and replenishing US stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine through drawdown. A total of $4 billion will help displaced refugees. Ahead of the vote, Republican senators called for the Biden administration to send Ukraine fighter jets after the countrys President Volodymyr Zelensky requested them. But the Biden administration has expressed reluctance to do so for fear of dangerously escalating the conflict, even if the jets were supplied by Poland and sent to Ukraine by America. Along with support for Ukraine, the spending measure funds regular U.S. military programs and a number of non-defense operations through Sept. 30, including money for infrastructure projects authorized by an earlier bipartisan package. About $782 billion is allocated for military spending under the Defense Department, while an additional $125 billion has been allocated to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Notably, the government funding bill does not include the $22 billion that the Biden administration said was needed for things like treatments, vaccines, and other measures in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. White House press secretary Jen Psaki called on Congress to provide those funds earlier Thursday, telling reporters at the White House, We will need that funding in order to continue to fight the pandemic. Without additional resources from Congress, the results are dire, Psaki said, adding that testing capacity would decline this month and that in April, free testing and treatments for tens of millions of Americans without health insurance will end. In May, Americas supply of monoclonal antibodies will run out, Psaki said. So, failing to take action now will have severe consequences for the American people. Thats why we requested $22.5 billion to avoid severe disruptions to our COVID response. Biden had earlier called on lawmakers to approve the $22.5 billion in new spending during his State of the Union address. However, the billions of dollars were negotiated down to $15.6 billion before pandemic funding was ultimately left out of the bill entirely as Republicans objected to the additional spending. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also noted that lack of additional spending for COVID-19, but said that the bill is overflowing with very good things for our troops, for American jobs, for our families, and for America, NBC reported. It will give our troops a raise, provide more money for schools and Head Start programs and Pell grants, reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, fund the presidents Cancer Moonshot, and open the floodgates for funding the bipartisan infrastructure law, he said ahead of the vote. Reuters contributed to this report. Senator Seeks Delay on Mayor Garcettis Ambassadorship Nomination LOS ANGELESMayor Eric Garcettis path to becoming U.S. ambassador to India hit a potential snag on March 10 when a senior senator said he wants the confirmation vote delayed pending an investigation into whether the mayor knew about, and ignored, sexual harassment and assault allegations against his former senior advisor. In a letter made available by Politico, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, I will object [to Garcettis nomination] because I have received numerous credible allegations from multiple whistleblowers alleging that Mr. Garcetti, while mayor of Los Angeles, had knowledge of sexual harassment and assaults allegedly committed against multiple city employees and their associates by his close advisor, and that he ignored the misconduct. the United States owes it to the Republic of India to send them a qualified Ambassador that will represent the values of the United States. Mayor Garcetti may very well be fully qualified, but at this time, the Senate needs to look at these allegations further, he added. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Oct. 14, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) In February, the nonprofit law firm Whistleblower Aid filed a complaint on behalf of Garcettis former communications director accusing the mayor of perjury while he was questioned during his nomination hearing in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the sexual harassment allegations against his former advisor, Rick Jacobs. Jacobs was accused in a 2020 lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Matthew Garza, who claims Garcetti witnessed the misconduct but turned a blind eye to it. Garcetti has denied the allegations in the pastand did so again during his hearing, telling the Senate panel he has a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment. The mayor has previously claimed he didnt know about Garzas accusations at the time or until the lawsuit became public in July 2020. In response to Grassleys letter, the mayors office said in a statement to City News Service Thursday afternoon: Repeating a malicious falsehood will never turn a lie into the truth. The Mayor has testified under oath multiple times, including before the U.S. Senate, and stands by his testimony unequivocally: he absolutely did not witness nor was he informed of any of the behavior being alleged. The Mayor has spent the better part of his life advocating aggressively on this issue, and had he been aware of any such behavior, he absolutely would have acted to stop it. The White House stood by Garcetti in a statement to Politico, saying that the mayor has been clear that he takes any allegations of harassment very seriously and has made clear this type of misconduct is unacceptable in his office in any form the president has confidence in Mayor Garcetti and believes hell be an excellent representative in India. The whistleblower complaint, filed on Feb. 2, alleges that Garcetti committed felony perjury on Feb. 8, 2021, during his deposition as part of the lawsuit, and on Dec. 14, 2021, when he told the Senate committee under oath that he never witnessed nor was it brought to my attention the behavior thats being alleged. The committee in January advanced the nomination, which needs to be confirmed by a majority of the U.S. Senate. Whistleblower Aid filed the complaint on behalf of Naomi Seligman, a former director of communications for Garcetti who says she was forcibly kissed by Jacobs and that Garcetti knew about Jacobs alleged pattern of harassment. The complaint includes a previously reported photo of Garcetti and Jacobs from 2017, in which Jacobs hand is in front of another mans genital area. A picture is worth a thousand words, the complaint alleges. Garcetti, the letter notes, denies having seen Jacobs hands placement during the photo. Seligman claims Jacobs sexually assaulted her in City Hall in April 2016 when he allegedly forcefully grabbed her lower back, pinned her arms down, pressed himself against her, and held and kissed her for an extended amount of time, according to the complaint. The document contends that Seligman notified the mayors former chief of staff Ana Guerrero, who the complaint said did not act surprised and allegedly said that no complaints would be tolerated because Mr. Jacobs was important to the mayor. According to the complaint, in July 2016 the mayor emailed his staff from a personal account that Jacobs would be taking a leave of absence to work on civic and political matters, but that Jacobs continues to be a dear friend, and one of [his] most trusted advisers. The complaint notes several allegations against Jacobs, including one in 2017 in which the mayor was allegedly present. According to Seligman, the mayors then-chief counsel Julie Ciardullo was in an elevator with Jacobs and Garcetti when Jacobs blocked her into a corner and started pushing into her, back and forth, and she was asking, begging Jacobs to stop the mayor had to intervene and tell him to get off of her. Christopher Rufo, director of the Discovery Institutes Center on Wealth and Poverty. (The Epoch Times) Sex Education Camps for Children Offer Seminars on Questionable Adult Themes An organization that promotes sexual education for children has been holding seminars laden with explicitly controversial themes. Journalist Christopher Rufo first reported on the organization in March. He told The Epoch Times that the workshop is for children as young as 13. Having sex on drugs, sex working, self-pleasure, self-managed abortions, and other explicit themes are among the seminars offered at the Sexy Sex Ed girls workshop in Kentucky. One description states this workshop will include discussion, games, and some hands on practice (on hands!). The Sexy Summer Camp Schedule began in July 2021 and ended in August. According to their website, the organization started in 2012. Sexy Sex Ed is a workshop series that compels teenagers and people of all ages to openly discuss personal and political consent, sexual safety, and anatomy, the website states. Using visual & performance art, open dialogue, and popular education methods, Sexy Sex Ed fills a vital gap in reproductive education as a creative, cultural healing solution in rural Appalachia. In a video that was posted on the website, its founder Tanya Turner criticizes current sex education that promotes abstinence as a failure. The data shows that abstinence-only education isnt working, Turner said. She said in her Appalachia region of Kentucky there is a higher unplanned pregnancy rate than the national average, which she attributes to strict abortion laws. As a part of her sexual education, she states, Masturbation is really healthy and I recommend it to people of all ages. All ages. As soon as my nephews could talk, they were doing that. Donations to the organization are facilitated by ActBlue, a progressive nonprofit online fundraising software and political action committee. According to its website, the organization has a dozen educators in five states and is supported by the Appalachian Community Fund and the Kentucky Health Justice Network, two organizations self-described as social and reproductive justice outreach groups. On March 8, Rufo reported a screenshot from the organizations website that showed that a page had been deleted, which Rufo said was an attempt to scrub their information from the internet. Many of the screenshots Rufo shared, such as the biographies of the volunteers, can no longer be found on the website. The founder of Sexy Summer Camp, Tanya Turner, identifies as a witch, Rufo said on Twitter. She says she was raised by a host of witchy women in a coven-like mountain matriarchy. She uses tarot cards, crystals, and sex toys as part of her practice and encourages people to join her coven. The website described her as a femme, fat, queer, magical pleasure worker, educator, & artist who was raised in rural Kentucky. Sexy Sex Ed didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times for comment. Lets Talk About Sex Ed with Ms. Ashley A similar sexual education group in Indiana called Lets Talk About Sex Ed with Ms. Ashley was reported on by Tony Kinnett, co-founder and executive director of the Chalkboard Reviewan education commentary organization that examines issues of intellectual diversity. The group, founded by Ashley Robertson, scheduled a June Sex Ed Summer Camp for grades 3rd through 5th in Indianapolis. Her classes are described as non-binary, sex-positive, body-affirming, inclusive, and are based on the principle that people can make informed choices for their own bodies based on their own values given science-based information. On Lets Talk About Sex Eds Facebook page, Robertson describes herself as trained by the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program, a Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) sexual education initiative for children. According to UUAs website, OWL, which is offered to kindergarten to adults, is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities. Kinnett reported that the sex education summer camp is $250 per ticket and that it will involve condom demonstrations, as well as examine transgender and kink topics. Kinnett said he found the course through Eventbrite, though many of the pages he linked have since been removed. In the summer camp class, he reported that the 3rd through 5th graders would participate together so they can learn that Gender is a spectrum and not a binary. Everyone needs to learn about all bodies so they can be supportive friends, partners, and parents if that happens in their futures, according to Robertson. Robertson didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times for comment. Arguments have been made stating that because of easier pornography access online, children need to be introduced earlier to sexual education, while those in opposition point to a growing trend in the sexualization of children in schools and in popular culture that could make them more susceptible to sexual predators, as well as lead to mental health issues, division within the family unit, and premature sexual activity. In many schools nationwide, sexual reading material and curriculums are surfacing alongside math, science, and English courses that have sparked outrage in parents who have demanded that the themes of the material exceed inappropriateness. 3rd Grade can see kids as young as 7 & 8 years old, Kinnett wrote on Twitter. Sexualization at these ages shouldnt be normalized, much less accepted in any form. Shootings No Excuse for Gun Control Commentary Whenever a mass shooting occurs, the gun controllers trot out all their usual arguments to attack the Second Amendment right of the people to keep and bear arms. A good example is George Skeltons recent column, California has the toughest gun laws in the U.S. Thats irrelevant if theyre not enforced. He writes, How much money are we willing to spend to seize guns from the likes of the disturbed father who shot and killed his three daughters in a church? And are Sacramento Democrats now willing to retool Californias controversial sanctuary law after it probably protected the father living here illegally from federal immigration agents days before he killed his kids? We should always remember guns are used not just to commit horrible crimes, but to prevent them. According to the 2021 National Firearms Study conducted by Georgetown University, [G]uns are used defensively by civilian firearms owners in approximately 1.67 million incidents per year. Handguns are the most common firearm employed for self-defense (used in 65.9% of defensive incidents), and in most defensive incidents (81.9%), no shot was fired. Thats on top of criminals shying away from mayhem because they dont know if a homeowner is armed, or if a woman on the sidewalk has a pistol in her purse. Inaccuracies In the horrible shooting Skelton writes about, killer David Mora indeed was here illegally. But the solution is not, as Skelton says, to retool Californias controversial sanctuary law, but to repeal it entirely. Because they were born here, Moras children were American citizens. But Mora himself was not here legally and should have been deported long ago, keeping him away from them. Skelton writes, On Feb. 28, Mora and his daughters were visiting in a Sacramento church when he opened fire with a ghost AR-15-style assault rifle. It was equipped with an illegal high-capacity 30-round magazine. In all, 17 shots were fired, killing the girls, ages 9, 11 and 13, and the chaperone, a mutual friend of Mora and Rios. The mother, who was not there, is Ileana Gutierrez Rios. Theres so much here thats inaccurate. First, has Skelton ever fired a semi-automatic weapon, such as an AR-15 or something similar? In this incident, its irrelevant that the magazine held 30 rounds. It takes a fraction of a second to pop out one 10-round magazine and pop in another. Second, given that Mora was already breaking the law by being here illegally, why would he care about having an illegal magazine, which he easily could get legally in Arizona, or on the black market? Third, Skelton brought up the bugaboo about so-called ghost guns. He quoted Attorney General Rob Bonta, who said, Ghost guns are a new challenge we need to rise to. President Biden also attacked them in his March 1 State of the Union address, And I will keep doing everything in my power to crack down on gun trafficking and ghost guns you can buy online and make at homethey have no serial numbers and cant be traced. But its an impossible task because the ghost guns can be made on 3D printers, which get better every day from technological advances, much as do cell phones and computers. Fourth, Skelton writes, Five days before the Sacramento shooting, Mora was arrested near Los Banos on suspicion of drunk driving and assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer. He also was booked for attacking a hospital emergency room technician. Aside from his status as an illegal alien, why was he released after just one night in jail? Drunk driving often means one night in jail, at least for a first offense, but attacking an officer and a hospital technician multiplies the seriousness of the offenses. Fifth, Skelton wants more money spent on red flag programs aimed at people judged by a court to be potential killers. Their weapons are confiscated immediately. Red flags are underutilized, Bonta says. There is no trial before the confiscation. But just last year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously, 9-0, against red flag laws in Caniglia v. Strom et al. It held, The very core of the Fourth Amendments guarantee is the right of a person to retreat into his or her home and there be free from unreasonable governmental intrusion. Florida v. Jardines, 569 U. S. 1, 6. Sixth, Skelton writes, Mora was subject to a domestic violence restraining order that forbade him from going near his former girlfriend, Ileana Gutierrez Rios, the girls mother. In seeking the order last May, she warned a Sacramento court that he was dangerous and had threatened her and to kill himself. That brings up the terrible state of family law in California. Ive gone to family court with friends of mine, and its just a long torture session for all involved, especially the children. The Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange, which handles family law, juvenile and domestic violence cases for Orange County, is built like a prison. The securityunderstandablyis even more strict than in the other courts. I dont know what the solution is. But before the government took over family life beginning in the 1960s, so many family problems were resolved instead by elder family members, clergy, and friends, as had been done since time immemorial. It also might be useful if the government stopped discouraging people from getting married, as tax and welfare laws do. Conclusion Skelton writes, California has the toughest state gun laws in the nation. But thats irrelevant if theyre not adequately enforcedand theyre not. He quotes Bonta saying, We need to enforce more of the laws that we have. The rise in violent crime throughout the country is almost entirely because of guns. He is wrong. Until the uptick in the past two years after the George Floyd riots, crime had declined for almost three decades since the early 1990s. Thats precisely the same time as gun laws had been relaxed, especially in most states allowing concealed-carry weapons, and gun ownership had increased to more than 400 million in the country. And its hard to see how any of Skeltons or Bontas policy changes would have helped prevent the horrible shooting by Mora. The one thing that would have helpedtotally ending Californias absurd sanctuary policy, not just retooling itthey do not endorse. Worse, with Biden opening the borders to 2 million more illegal aliens the past year, not even vetting them to keep out criminals, guns, and drugs, we can expect even more horrors to come. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Micajah J. Jackson, 26, confronts a man he believes to be a government informant who was allegedly armed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Twitter @TheJFKReport/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Social Media Posts, Political Speech Become Big Issues in Jan. 6 Sentencing Hearing Prosecutors rap Micajah J. Jackson for his 'false-flag conspiracy theories' and walking with the Proud Boys Although Micajah Joel Jackson was in federal court Thursday to be sentenced on one count of parading, picketing, or demonstrating at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, much of the hearing was dominated by discussion of his social media activity and the political content of his postings. Jackson, 26, of Phoenix, was set to be sentenced in Washington D.C. as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors, who are especially upset with his prolific postings on Twitter and other social-media outlets. The parading charge is a petty misdemeanor that carries a possible six-month jail sentence. Prosecutors sought 60 days in jail (pdf), while the defense argued (pdf) for 60 days of home detention. The U.S. Marine Corps veteran was accused of being near some of the rioting at the U.S. Capitol, shouting oath breakers at police, and spending about 30 minutes walking through the building. Prosecutors repeatedly cited Jacksons interviews and posts on video podcasts, Twitter, and other social-media outlets, and his propagation of alleged misinformation. The sentencing was adjourned until March 24 to allow defense attorney Maria Jacob to provide more information to the court on why she believes Jackson cannot be sentenced to incarceration and probation on a petty misdemeanor. Micajah J. Jackson walks from the Ellipse to the U.S. Capitol with some of the Proud Boys on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice / Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Conspiracy Theories Rapped Prosecutor Sean P. Murphy criticized Jacksons false-flag conspiracy theories, his comments that we will not concede the 2020 presidential election, and a March 8 interview with Alex Sheppard of Red Voice Media as proof Jackson has no remorse for the charge on which he was convicted. Since the government filed its sentencing memorandum, the number of posts on the defendants Twitter account has gone up by nearly 2,000, Murphy told U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. When discussing Jacksons interview with Sheppard, Murphy said, I hate to give public voice to them, because unfortunately sometimes this just ends up drawing more people. Micajah J. Jackson says he is not a member of the Proud Boys, but prosecutors said on Jan. 6 he wore gloves and an armband with Proud Boys colors. (U.S. Department of Justice / Screenshot via The Epoch Times) I didnt have time to watch the whole thing, but he appeared to go line by line through the governments sentencing memorandum and talking about why hes being politically persecuted, why this is a psy-op and why the FBI is out to get him, Murphy said. The sheer volume of what the defendant said and continues to say on a near daily basis is absolutely overwhelming, Murphy said. This has become his brand. This has become his platform. This has become his springboard to notoriety. Its only after this January 6th notoriety that hes been able to build that brand of false-flag conspiracy theories, Murphy said. Murphy submitted an undated photograph believed to be from before Jan. 6 showing Jackson wearing a USA hat and what appear to be boxer shorts with AK-style rifles on them while aiming what appears to be a firearm or a replica of a firearm while taking a mirror-style selfie. On Jan. 6, Jackson wore what appeared to be a carefully curated outfit, Murphy said. He has the bright yellow gloves; yellow of course being one of the colors of the Proud Boys, Murphy said. Jackson said he is not a member of the Proud Boys, but did walk alongside some of them on the way from President Donald J. Trumps speech to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Jackson also wore an orange armband. There is severe danger in misinformation, Murphy said. Misinformation often does go viral thats very dangerous, with very dangerous effectsnone of which the defendant seems to be considering when he opens his mouth and spreads these statements. Murphy cited comments from several federal judges in the District of Columbia Circuit who said defendants statements and posts on social media were aggravating factors that weighed in favor of jail time. The American Psyop In most of those cases, the defendants only had one or two or maybe a few posts on social media that the court could reference, Murphy said. Here, again, there are literally hours worth of videos and volumes of posts that this court could reference. Murphy cited a Jan. 24 interview Jackson did with Vicky Richter in which he called Jan. 6 the American Psyop with police inciting crowds by attacking protesters with pepper spray and steel batons. Nothing he has said has seemed humble or apologetic, Murphy said. Micajah J. Jackson posted this selfie on social media, shown wearing AK-style shorts and pointing a handgun at the mirror. (U.S. Department of Justice / Screenshot via The Epoch Times) I do believe that in order to promote respect for the law and reflect the seriousness of the offense, the governments requested a sentence of a 60-day term of incarceration followed by 36 months of probation is sufficient but not greater than necessary. He said Jackson has done nothing in particular to back down or attempt to heal that damage that he caused on that day through his insistence on digging his fingers into the wound and continuing to rip it apart. Jacob said while prosecutors tried to strike a balance between their recommended sentence and what they see as a lack of remorse, I think at times they crossed the line. Jackson has admitted regret for some of the things he said and posted on social media, but the majority of his social media posts since Jan. 6 do not have bearing, do not have any bearing on his conduct on January 6th or his acceptance of responsibility in this case, Jacob said. She referred to the governments sentencing memo that talked about Jacksons belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Im just failing to understand the relevance of that belief in regards to an appropriate punishment here. Judge Moss said statements that police waved protesters into the Capitol on Jan. 6, and that the prosecution is some type of political vendetta against him and others leaves him thinking that Mr. Jackson is not sincere. Jacob said many people involved have had these beliefs that theyre entitled to have, that the election was stolen. Jackson regrets his presence at the Capitol, but he did not take part in any of the violence, she said. The government has still not identified why his actions on January 6th warrant a 60-day jail sentence, she said. That is a significant sentence. I dont think it is supported by past cases, past sentences that have been imposed. The U.S. Probation Office said Jackson is not a danger to the community, and has complied with the pre-trial release conditions, Jacob said. More than 30 days in jail or confinement in a halfway house would cause Jackson to lose his Veterans Administration benefits, she said, and require a very long and arduous process to get them back. Murphy said well-established Supreme Court precedent holds that the First Amendment does not prohibit the evidentiary use of speech to prove elements of the crime or to prove motive or intent. He stressed that the Department of Justice offered the examples from Jacksons social media only for that purpose. Confronting Gun-Toting Jan. 6 Attendee Jackson is well known for a video of his discussion with a man in Arizona that he suspects of being a government informant who carried a handgun on Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. Luke P. Robinson was originally listed as No. 343 on the FBIs Jan. 6 most-wanted page, but his photograph was later scrubbed from the site. As of March 10, his photo is still missing from the FBI site. He has not been arrested or charged for being at the Capitol or for allegedly carrying a weapon. Why were you removed from 343 on the FBI wanted list? Jackson asked Robinson, who replied, I dont know. Jacksons co-host in the video, Kyle Clifton, asked Robinson, Are you a federal informant? Robinson said, No. Jackson then asked, Were you a crisis actor? Robinson said, No, I wasnt. Jackson then asked, Did you make a deal with the feds to spy on me because you had a firearm on you on Jan. 6? Robinson said, No, I didnt. You had a firearm on federal property. Thats serious stuff, Jackson said, pointing to a photo of the pistol. I got charged with a misdemeanor for parading and picketing. Thats a firearm, man. Jackson said he originally met Robinson 10 days after the FBI visited Jacksons house regarding Jan. 6. A page on the Sedition Hunters website nicknamed Robinson #GingerGun. It shows a closeup photo of a waistband with what online sleuths identified as a tan Sig Sauer P320 9mm handgun. He also appeared to be wearing an earpiece in his left ear, according to a Sedition Hunters photo. Are you cooperating with the FBI? Clifton asked. I just really dont want to talk, Robinson said. Students File Lawsuit Against Santa Clara University Over Vaccine Booster Mandate SANTA CLARA, Calif.Two Santa Clara University students and nonprofit Childrens Health Defenses California chapter announced during a March 9 press conference that theyre suing the school over its COVID-19 vaccine booster mandate and related injuries. I love school. I love learning. I love being with my friends. Any day that I get to be here with my friends is a good day, and I just dont want that to be taken away because of this, Harlow Glenn, a Santa Clara University student and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, told NTD Television after the press conference. According to the Santa Clara University website, students and staff must submit proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot by March 17. Students who dont provide proof of a booster shot will have their spring courses dropped. Glenn is a neuroscience major. She said the lawsuit is about her and other students medical safety. In September 2021, she received a Pfizer vaccine dose. She said she was okay at first, but soon experienced adverse reactions to the vaccine. After I came back from visiting some friends out of state, I was immediately taken to the ER, Glenn said. I had severe numbing in my legs. I was urinating blood. I was fainting and throwing up and [having] migraines. Her doctor gave her a medical exemption to allow her to attend school. I had two medical exemptions for the vaccine and for the booster that were denied by the school, Glenn said. Ive spoken to the school a number of times and doctor a number of times, and theyre not relenting. Ive exhausted my options, and [the lawsuit] was kind of my last resort. Jackson Druker speaks during a press conference at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., on March 9, 2022. (Minjoo Jang/NTD Television) The other student involved in the lawsuit is her friend, Jackson Druker. He agreed that the lawsuit isnt about politics and asked supporters to lower their signs while he spoke during the press conference. I dont think that people should be forced to live by other peoples standards and then threatened to have their lives ruined or jeopardized because of that. I dont think thats fair, Druker said. He said he believes in vaccines, having received his, but agrees that there should be a choice. This issue is not about me. Its about Harlow and other students who legitimately cannot get the booster, who face the choice of their health and well-being or get kicked out of school, Druker said. A crowd of people hold signs opposing vaccine mandates during a press conference at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., on March 9, 2022. (Minjoo Jang/NTD Television) According to Childrens Health Defense California, the lawsuit was filed recently, and more students have reached out to be added to it as plaintiffs. As of yesterday, weve had three or four new students join the case, so theres quite a few that have been too scared to speak out and have been worried about being kicked out of school or having to leave and transfer, Glenn said. According to the group, the lawsuit alleges 18 causes of action against SCU, including violations of students fundamental rights to bodily autonomy, interference with the doctor-patient relationship, the free exercise of religion, and equal protection of the law, as well as a violation of federal emergency use authorization law, which requires individuals being offered emergency use products be given the right to refuse them. This is the first suit against a college in California seeking damages for injured plaintiffs, Alix Mayer, co-founder of Childrens Health Defense California, told NTD Television. This has to be a choice. It is legally a choice. These are emergency use authorization products; its illegal to mandate them. Santa Clara University declined NTD Televisions request for comment on the lawsuit. Artificial aromas have been linked to asthma, headaches, and other health issues When Barbara Parshley went to church last month, she was unable to stay for the entire sermon. Another congregant was wearing such strong-smelling perfume that Parshley had to leave. I made it through the first hour, Parshley, 70, who lives in Wilder, Idaho, said. But by the second hour, I was wheezing and my lungs felt like they had a hot iron on them. It was horrible. I came home. That spritz of perfume or cologne has been specially designed to entice others with its sweet smell. But most of us dont realize that each time we apply scented products to our skin, hair, or body, these products may emit noxious chemical vapors into the air. And even if you dont have an extreme reaction like Parshley, these sweet-smelling chemicals may be souring your health. What Are VOCs? The fragrant odor you are smelling comes from chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs for short. These are substances that easily turn into gas or vapor at room temperature. Organic, in this case, simply means that the compounds are part of the same organic chemistry that makes up your bodythat is, molecules that consist mainly of different arrangements of carbon and hydrogen. Some of the more toxic VOCs are easily recognizable: that strong smell at the dry cleaners when you pick up your work attire and dress clothes, the noxious fumes coming from the exhaust pipe of the car ahead of yours at the stoplight, and the cloying chemical smell of nail polish. Other sources of VOCs are less obvious: the white-out you just used to correct mistakes; the furniture you recently bought for your preschoolers room; that pesticide to kill ants in your home; and the clean smell of fabric sheets you put in the dryer. Even natural products, like a wooden-framed bed, can give off these compounds. The VOCs in fragrances used in conventional perfumes, as well as in a host of other consumer products, have been linked to outdoor and indoor air pollution as well as to adverse health effects. VOCs arent always harmful, of course. The delicious smell of the orange you just peeled is from volatile organic compounds, but its not going to make you sick unless youre allergic to oranges. Yet many of the ingredients in conventional perfumes and colognes, as well as in perfumed laundry detergents, scented candles, and many beauty products, are known to cause harm. And not just to people like Parshley, who are aware that the smells are making them sick. Some People More Sensitive Than Others Different people tolerate VOCs differently. According to the British Lung Foundation, people with preexisting lung conditions (like asthma or bronchitis) are more likely to get sick from indoor air pollution. Age also matters: Childrens lungs are still developing and their airways are smaller, so inflammation caused by VOCs and other pollutants are more likely to cause them harm. One 2013 study from French researchers found that people over 65 who were exposed to certain VOCs (toluene and o-xylene) were more likely to experience breathing difficulties than people between the ages of 15 and 65. Even if you dont react to it like I do, some of these chemicals are very bad for you, said Parshley, a geologist by training and profession who has also worked as a special education teacher before retiring recently. Theyre absorbed into your body, and they can still cause damage and side effects that may not show up for years. Hidden Ingredients According to an article in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, scented products have been found to emit more than a hundred different VOCs. A single fragrance may contain hundreds of different chemicals. One study, led by researchers at the University of Washington, published in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review, found that the average number of VOCs detected in the 25 fragranced consumer products they tested was 17, including between one and eight hazardous chemicals, some of which were known carcinogens. The chemicals detected included acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, and methylene chloride. Although its one word on an ingredient label, fragrance can contain dozens, even hundreds, of chemicals, explains the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a nonprofit that works to protect consumers from toxic chemicals, especially to help people avoid using cancer-causing chemicals, on their website. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, [The] personal care product and cosmetic industry continues to avoid full fragrance disclosure. Without which consumers cannot make informed decisions about products they are exposed to daily. In 1966, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act was passed. This act requires cosmetic companies to list the ingredients in their products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for overseeing the act as it applies to food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. However, fragrance wasnt included in that federal requirement. What that means is that, because of a legal loophole, consumers dont have the right to know what types of VOCs are in our perfumes, colognes, or deodorants. If you call the customer service number of your favorite perfume company and ask them to disclose the ingredients in the fragrance listed on the bottle of the perfume, they will likely tell you that this is proprietary information. The cosmetic industry (along with plastic diaper manufacturers and many other industries) insists that disclosing the ingredients would be giving away valuable trade secrets to their competitors. The skin is the largest organ in the human body and a point of entry for toxins to get in. If these ingredients were disclosed, it is possible you would put your favorite synthetic perfume back on the shelf instead of on your skin. Health Problems Caused by VOCs The Environmental Protection Agency lists more than a dozen negative health effects that can be caused by VOCs. These include everything from eye and nose irritation to dizziness, liver damage, and even memory loss. This dovetails with the observations of Barbara Parshleys doctor who has more than 40 years of experience in Family Practice and Emergency medicine. I have multiple people in both my clinic and the Emergency Room come in for exposure to chemicals, including perfumes, colognes, and deodorants, the doctor explained in a handwritten letter sent to me via Parshley. These chemicals are unregulated and toxic, and it astounds me that people purchase these and apply them to their skin. It creates stress on the body to eliminate these products, wrote the doctor, who did not want to be identified for fear of backlash from medical colleagues. The negative health problems this doctor has seen, especially among chemically sensitive patients, include asthma, allergies, brain fog, rashes, and sinus issues. We banned secondhand smoke, the letter continues. But we refuse to ban these scents? It is an inconsistent policy. According to an extensive report published by the Environmental Working Group, the undisclosed ingredients in perfume may include chemicals that have a propensity to accumulate in human tissues. These ingredients include phthalates, which have been found to cause genital abnormalities and other reproductive harm in humans, and the synthetic fragrance musk ketone, which can accumulate in human fat tissue and be secreted in breast milk, according to a 2014 study in the journal Environmental Health. A PDF of the EWGs full 44-page report can be downloaded at its website. Safer Scents You dont want to be stinky. And you dont want your perfume or other personal care products to make youor anyone elsesick. So what can you do? 1. Read the Ingredients If the word fragrance is listed on the perfume, even if its a natural product, dont buy it. Keep in mind that the word natural is often a meaningless marketing term. 2. Choose Products That Disclose All Ingredients Make sure you recognize the ingredients of perfumes and other products. If youre not sure theyre safe, look them up at the Environmental Working Groups Skin Deep Database, available on their website. 3. Use Less If you really cant live without conventional products, start getting in the habit of using less. The French have a great word for this: un soupcon de (a touch of, just a tad). Wear less perfume. Use conventional laundry detergent as a flavoring and a fragrance-free non-toxic detergent as the main dish. Its not a perfect solution but this way you give your clothes the scent you like without exposing yourself to high concentrations of potential toxins. 4. Spray Your Clothes, Not Your Skin Your skin absorbs everything you put on it, which is why nicotine patches are effective. Instead of putting perfume on your skin, try dabbing on your clothing (beware that it can stain). That doesnt solve the problem of other peoples chemical sensitivities or of the airborne particles, but at least you wont be absorbing the perfume transdermally. 5. Make Your Own A spritz of homemade rose water makes a lovely non-toxic and inexpensive perfume. A few drops of lavender essential oil or your other favorite skin-safe scent also works as a gentler perfume substitute. And instead of slathering yourself in scented lotions, repurpose the organic coconut or avocado oil in your cupboard as skin cream. 6. Just Use Soap and Water Parshley believes the best solution is the most old-fashioned one. Soap and water is my suggestion, she said. Theres really no reason to put on toxic chemicals onto your body to smell different. Ive never really noticed any offensive odors from people. 7. Pay Attention to Indoor Air Quality If people are using conventional beauty products in your home or you are concerned about off-gassing from new furniture and other housewares, you can make the air safer by having a variety of houseplants. These indoor plants will help filter some of the VOCs out of the air, according to an extensive study conducted by NASA in 1989. Though recent research conducted by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that air purifiers vary in efficacy, a system using activated carbon air filters, which the MIT scientists called a tried-and-true technology, may also help. Readers share their treasured recipes Submitted by Janet Gerber Weeks, Harmony, Florida My Mama and Pa owned and operated a deer hunting camp, pack outfit, and guest ranch in the beautiful Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada. Mama did all the cooking for everybody. Our family and guests all ate meals together family-style in a big rock-walled room that had been one of the original pioneer homes in the valley. The rest of our house was attached to that room later, but even our house was very old. We had a lot of famous guests (movie stars and politicians). They would come to stay with us just to hide out from the hubbub of the world. We werent impressed with them at the time because we didnt have television and rarely went to the movies. (Janet Gerber Weeks) I think it was Mamas good cooking that made our place famous. Pa said he was the one who taught her how to cook and I believe that must have been true. Mama was born a cowgirl and hardly ever stepped a foot inside the house to learn cooking from Grandma when she was a girl. As a result, Mama was Pas right-hand man. She always went along on the mountain pack trips to serve as the camp cook. She was a great conversationalist and entertainer. Pa was also a good storyteller. Both were hard workers, so they made a great team together. A typical pack trip would start off with Pa trying to get the panniers evenly weighted on both sides of the pack saddles. This process took a long, tedious time and everybody, horses included, would get so tired and antsy. One time, one old horse, who had been a rodeo bucking bronc in his younger days, got spooked and started bucking before Pa could get everything tied down. Everything Mama had planned to cook for our cowboy breakfast, like eggs, bacon, potatoes, and onions, even the knives and forks, came flying out of the panniers. We got everything gathered back up and Mama got the broken eggs replenished from the house. Then we were off for the pack trip. About halfway up the mountain, we were hit with a cloudburst. We arrived at Boulder Lake camp soaked but were able to get dried off and eat one of Mamas delicious dinners. Then as Pa unpacked the sleeping bags, he found that Mamas bag was the only one that had gotten wet. Poor Mama. It was always freezing cold at night on the mountain, but there was nothing that could be done. Everybody else got into their dry sleeping bags, but Mama was left by the fire. Pa might have planned to switch off with her through the night, but she sure looked sad sitting there by herself. Then, a genius thought came to her. She pulled her wet sleeping bag over by the fire, took the hot rocks from around the fire pit, and placed them around her bag. And, voila, her bag became toasty warm. In the morning when Mama got up, she said she felt so refreshed. It was like she had slept in a warm sauna and had taken a steam bath all night. The next night, her bag was totally dried out, and we all got bedded down. We never took tents unless guests specifically asked for one. We just slept under the open, nighttime sky. That was such a beautiful experience, laying up there on the mountain, watching the shooting stars and learning the constellations from Pa. (Janet Gerber Weeks) The next morning, Pa had already gotten up before sunrise to catch the horses and get the coffee boiling. Everyone was peacefully sleeping when a gentle clanking sound woke Mama, and there, straddled over Mama and me both, was the ol hobbled boss mare. Mama was looking straight up to her underbelly. She reached over and gave me a nudge, and my eyes opened to our awful situation. Mama whispered, Roll over and crawl out as fast as you can. I did, just in the nick of time. Buttermilk Bess made another lunge and her hobbled hind feet came right down in the middle of my sleeping bag. I was pretty shaken up for a few minutes. I could have been a dead duckbut the thought of getting to eat Mamas Cowboys Breakfast really helped me rally around. Cowboys Breakfast Potatoes, with skins Bacon Onions Eggs Grated cheddar cheese Salt and pepper Boil or bake the potatoes, then dice. Fry the bacon and cut into pieces. Dice the onions and fry in the bacon drippings. Stir the above ingredients together in the frying pan. Beat the eggs with a fork and add to mixture. Add grated cheddar cheese after the eggs have begun to set up. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mm-mm good. This recipe still brings back those wonderful pack trip memories, even after all these years, and Im three-quarters of a century old. ___________________________ Do you have a treasured family recipe that holds a special place in your family history, heritage, or traditions? We would be honored if you would share it with us. Along with the recipe, tell us its storywho gave it to you, its journey through the generations, and the personal meanings and memories it carries. Is it a special-occasion dish, or an everyday family favorite? Does it connect you to your cultural heritage, or to a certain loved one? How have you kept the recipe alive, and why is it important to you to do so? Send your recipe and comments, along with your full name, state, and contact information, to home@epochtimes.com, or mail it to: Home, The Epoch Times, 229 W. 28th St., Floor 7, New York, NY 10001. Police watch an Anti Austerity demonstration at the Bank of England in London, on June 20, 2015. (Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images) There Is No Such Thing as a Thought Crime, Watchdog Tells UK Police Police forces should stop declaring certain thoughts are crimes, the UKs police watchdog has warned, stressing that thought crimes do not exist in the countrys legal system. Sir Tom Winsor, the outgoing chief inspector of constabulary, said that chief constables cannot declare something that is not a crime to be a crime in their force area, as it is not illegal to think anything. There is no such thing as a thought crime, he wrote in his final annual assessment of the state of policing in England and Wales (pdf), which was published on March 10. He said it is not appropriate for senior police officers to assert a right of the police to declare anything criminal, least of all what people may think. They have no legal power to create criminal offences in their police areas or anywhere else. It is important that no-one is misled: the police enforce the law, they do not make it, he wrote. He said that hating someone or something is not criminal, though hate can be an aggravating factor that should be reflected when sentencing criminals. His comments follow reports that some police forces now treat misogyny and transphobia as hate crimes. Sue Fish, who served as police boss in Nottinghamshire before she retired in 2017, was said to have led the trend by declaring misogyny as a hate crime in 2014. Winsor told reporters: From time to time, one turns on the radio and theres [sic] retired chief constables declaring certain things to be crimes which are not crimes. I think its necessary for me as chief inspector of constabulary to make it perfectly clear that is no part of our legal system. So for a former chief constable or for any police officer to say in my police area, such and such being a thought is a crime is completely unsustainable, he said. Among his wide-ranging findings, Windsor said fraud is indefensibly a low priority for police and needs to be taken far more seriously, adding that the detection rate was woefully low despite a tsunami of offending. His report said it was unjustifiable for any police force to decline to attend and properly investigate crimes of a serious nature, such as burglary or domestic abuse. Some forces plead inadequacies of resources and the need to prioritise more serious crimes, he told reporters. But domestic abuse is a serious crime and can be a murder in slow motion. PA Media contributed to this report. Attorney Ian Hayes and Starbucks workers speak during a news conference to react to a decision by the National Labor Relations Board to postpone a scheduled union vote count in Buffalo, New York, on Feb. 23, 2022. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Three More Starbucks Locations in NY Vote to Unionize Employees at three Starbucks stores in the Buffalo metropolitan area of New York have voted to unionize after a ballot count on March 9, bringing the total number of unionized stores to six. Labor activists in at least two dozen states have been leading the charge to unionize. The workers will join Starbucks Workers United following a months-long campaign, marked by legal wrangling and workers accusations of intimidation by management within the nations largest coffee chain. The votes were close, with store employees in Cheektowaga, Amherst, and Depew winning by a narrow margin in favor of unionizing, according to the National Labor Relations Board. The tally was 87 in Cheektowaga, 1512 in Amherst, and 1512 in Depew. Although the Starbucks employees at those locations had cast their votes weeks ago, their ballots were temporarily impounded on Feb. 23, after Starbucks filed a request for review with the NLRB. The union has won two other elections in New York and one in Mesa, Arizona, with one lost election so far, becoming one of the most closely watched unionization efforts in years. Unionization has become an increasingly partisan issue, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The proportion of Americans who say labor unions have a positive effect remained static at 55 percent from 2019 to 2021. Approval among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents over that period rose from 66 to 74 percent and fell among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents from 44 to 34 percent. Progressive politicians have been increasingly vocal in support of these efforts, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), as well as Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). Union membership has fallen dramatically across the U.S. in recent decades, from 20.1 percent of workers in 1980 to 10.3 percent in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only 1.2 percent of workers at food service and drinking establishments were unionized in 2021, reported the BLS. After about two decades of staving off labor organizing drives, Starbucks lost a series of pro-union votes in two Buffalo-area locations in December, followed by a Mesa, Arizona store on Feb. 5. Since last year, Starbucks managers have been holding meetings with workers to discourage them from unionizing, while the companys lawyers have attempted to stall the efforts through litigation at the NLRB. The labor activist strategy has been to seek elections at individual stores, while Starbucks has argued that the NLRB should group the stores into larger elections on a regional basis, which benefits the company, as wider elections tend to dilute the unions support at individual sites. Starbucks has failed with that legal argument in each case, with a recent labor board ruling rejecting an appeal from Starbucks that could make it harder for the company to delay votes moving forward. Labor organizers have accused Starbucks of using underhanded tactics to sabotage the campaign, but the company has said that it has bargained in good faith with the union. Union supporters believe that the narrowly close decision to unionize was due to the use of threats, firings, and emotional manipulation by management to intimidate workers as they weighed their votes, including the placement of out-of-town managers. On March 4, Buffalo Starbucks employee and union organizer Daniel Rojas was allegedly fired for violating what Starbucks Workers United claimed were selectively enforced policies. Starbucks has fired a number of open union supporters, including seven workers in Memphis, Tennessee, but the company said the workers were fired for legitimate reasons. Starbucks has not made this about whether or not you want to vote for a union, theyve made it about whether you want to keep your job, whether you want to keep your hours, whether or not you want to be bullied at work, said Starbucks union organizer Casey Moore, after the March 9 vote. The union has filed charges against the company at the NLRB, alleging illegal retaliation by Starbucks and demanding that the fired workers be reinstated. The coffee chain has been honest about its opposition to unions in its stores and it has steadfastly denied accusations of anti-union activity. Starbucks has denied using intimidation tactics, but it is fiercely opposed to the unionization efforts, saying that its more than 8,000 company-owned U.S. stores function best with direct relations with employees. Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on June 15, 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Tributes Flow for Deceased Australian Senator and China Hawk Kimberley Kitching Tributes have poured in from human rights advocates and across the political spectrum for Australian Senator Kimberley Kitching. Kitching, one of the most vocal critics of Beijings human rights record in the Australian Labor Party (ALP), passed away from a suspected heart attack on March 10, aged 52. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Victorian senator had a passion for Australias national interest and argued for it. She demonstrated that her passion for her country was always greater than any partisan view. She clearly loved her country and it genuinely showed, he said in a statement. She followed her conscience and was fearless and I admired that. She was respected by those on both sides of the Parliament. ALP and opposition leader Anthony Albanese said the party was in shock at the loss of Kitching. No one could have anticipated this, and people were ringing each other, I think multiple times to get confirmation because it was such a shock, he told ABC TV on March 11. Kimberley looked fit, she had got fitter in recent times and there was no history of heart condition and that is why its such a tremendous shock for the entire Labor family today. Tributes are flowing for Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching, who died from a suspected heart attack, aged 52, in Melbourne on Thursday night** Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching appearing at a Senate Estimates Committee at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Oct. 23, 2017. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton described Kitching as a real hawk on national security. Our countrys poorer for her passing, at 52, its devastating, obviously, for everyone who knew her, he said in comments obtained by AAP. Liberal Senator James Paterson and a fellow member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the death of his friend. She was a warrior for her cause, a friend of freedom and a true patriot who had an enormous impact in her short time in the Senate. A huge loss to the parliament, the ALP and her family, the chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security wrote on Twitter. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten gave a tearful interview on ABC Radio and described the circumstances leading to her passing, saying Kitching had been driving before she had to pull over. She was in the next suburb when she passed. So (my wife Chloe and I) immediately drove over, and we sat with a couple of other dear friends of Kimberley and Andrew on the side of the road as we waited for the undertakers van, he said. When someone close to you passes, theres only one thing that you want people to do, its to bring them back, and you cant, he said, adding, You do wonder if she would have been better off never going near politics. Former leader of the Opposition and leader of the Australian Labor Party and member of parliament for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten in Melbourne, Australia on July 06, 2020 (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Kitching played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Magnitsky Actgiving Australia the power to sanction human rights abusersshe was also a founding member of IPAC and engaged regularly with human rights advocates and think tanks to discuss the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The senator was also a member of The Wolverines, an influence group comprised of several Australian MPs critical of Beijings influence. Bill Browder, behind the worldwide Magnitsky movement, said Kitching was a brave justice warrior and was not intimidated by the evil regimes she advocated against. We will carry on in her memory and I hope others will too, he said in a statement in a post on Twitter. IPAC, comprised of 100 MPs from 20 democracies, released its own statement saying Kitching advocated tirelessly and fearlessly for the rights of oppressed individuals in Tibet, the Xinjiang region in China, and Hong Kong. We join with her family, friends, and colleagues from across the world in grieving her loss, according to a statement. John Deller, committee member of the Falun Dafa Association in Australia, said it was a great loss for all Australians. She understood the threat of CCP influence and made immense contributions in national security, human rights, and the Australian Magnitsky Act, he told The Epoch Times. Falun Dafa, a peaceful meditation practice with over 100 million adherents worldwide is heavily persecuted by the CCP. Meanwhile, cyber-expert Robert Potter, who played a key role exposing Beijings intelligence gathering operations, said there was no better, stronger voice on China. While student activist Drew Pavlou, who made headlines when he was confronted by pro-Beijing students at the University of Queensland for his stance on Hong Kongs democratic rights, said Kitching was one of his greatest ever inspirations. I so admired her strength standing up to the CCP in Parliament. Such a big loss, I know I will be telling my grandkids about her one day, he wrote on Twitter. Trudeaus Emergency Measures Will Accelerate Decentralized Finances Importance Commentary In recent years, the financial sector has become a key target of progressive activists seeking to implement their agenda. Activists have used a variety of methods to persuade and pressure financial institutions to do their bidding. They have successfully pressured the financial sector to adopt standards on environmental impact, social impact, and broader corporate governance, collectively referred to as ESG standards; they have targeted the financial sector for remaining accessible to industries deemed to conflict with ESG standards, such as oil, natural gas, and firearms. Following 9/11, the United States Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, which, among other things, 1) required financial institutions to establish due-diligence mechanisms to detect and report money laundering through private bank accounts; and 2) encouraged regulatory agencies and law enforcement to share information with financial institutions if an individual or entity is engaged in or reasonably suspected of engaging in terrorist acts or money laundering. Western nations followed the United States governments leadership in broadening anti-money-laundering rules to include anti-terrorist-financing measures. Since the 2008 global financial recession, financial institutions have been heavily scrutinized for their role in exacerbating the economic collapse. To prevent intense scrutiny, financial institutions have since stayed more in line with regulators goals. This partnership has seemingly meant that financial institutions mostly succumb to regulatory demands on topics ranging from climate risk to social issues and other sensitive topics. As financial institutions have become more captured by the state, decentralized digital currencies have become increasingly popular. In the late 2000s, bitcoin emerged as a decentralized digital currency that can be sent from user to user without the need for financial intermediaries. Over time, crypto assets like bitcoin have ballooned to enormous popularity. As of Feb. 23, bitcoins market capitalization was well over $700 billion. As the crypto-asset market continues to grow, governments and regulators have debated the best approach to constraining its utility in escaping government oversight. The Ontario Securities Commission reported tweets by the CEOs of two major crypto-asset exchanges that informed crypto users about ways to avoid the governments ability to seize crypto-assets. As Canadian protesters recently learned, the financial system could become a weapon against them if the current government finds their political views to conflict with the its current priorities. On Feb. 19, NBC News reported that hundreds of police officers in riot gear retook control of Ottawa after weekslong protests occupied the citys streets. This forceful action comes days after Canadian minister of finance Chrystia Freeland announced a government crackdown on the Freedom Convoy. In fulfilling Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Emergencies Act declaration, the Ottawa interim police chief threatened the remaining protesters with financial sanctions and criminal charges. According to NBC News, Canadian authorities seized 76 bank accounts totaling around $3.2 million in connection with the protesters. The Canadian governments seizure of those bank accounts follows the Emergency Economic Measures Order, which was published on Feb. 15. Trudeau and Freelands stated intent was to require crowdfunding platforms and payment service providers to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and disclose to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service the existence of property in their possession or control that they have reason to believe is owned, held or controlled by or on behalf of a designated person; and any information about a transaction or proposed transaction. In addition, the Emergency Economic Measures Order requires applicable entities to cease 1) dealing with designated persons or individuals acting on behalf of designated persons; 2) facilitating any transactions with those designated persons; 3) making funds or virtual currency available to the designated person or an individual acting of the behalf of the designated persons; and 4) providing any financial or related services for the benefit of a designated person. In broadening Canadas anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorist-financing law, Trudeau has all but designated the Freedom Convoy protesters as terrorists, or as David Sacks refers to them, a caste of untouchables. On Feb. 16, CoinDesk reported that the Ontario Provincial Police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police ordered all regulated financial firms to cease facilitating any transactions from 34 crypto wallets tied to funding trucker-led protests. Freeland told reporters on Feb. 17 that the names of both individuals and entities as well as crypto wallets have been shared by the [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] with financial institutions and accounts have been frozen and more accounts will be frozen. Kraken CEO Jesse Powell tweeted that Kraken would be forced to comply with any demands by the Canadian government; however, he noted that those worried about it should not keep their crypto funds with any centralized/regulated custodian. We cannot protect you. Kraken is a popular crypto-asset exchange with more than 6 million customers. Similarly, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted an insightful thread about the necessity of protecting the freedom to transact. According to reporting, the Ontario Securities Commission has reported both Powells and Armstrongs tweets to law enforcement, as both CEOs recommended storing crypto assets in noncustodial, off-exchange wallets. The asset freezes serve not to end an emergency but to incapacitate and intimidate protesters after the fact, writes the editorial board at The Wall Street Journal. Why does any of this matter? For one, financial institutions and payment service providers can cease doing business with anyone deemed a designated person by the Canadian government without due process. Second, the Emergency Economic Measures Order states that no proceedings under the Emergencies Act and no civil proceedings lie against an entity for complying with this Order. Third, these actions run in direct contradiction to the promise of mainstreaming crypto assets. As Protocol writes, Crypto wallets may not have personally identifiable information, but wallets hosted on a centralized exchange are linked to an identifiable user account. And transactions on the blockchain can be traced from point to point. Lastly, the financialization of the broader economy has led to the increasing importance of access to financial institutions and payment service providers; this importance has made threats of financial censorship much more serious. Crypto assets and decentralized finance (DeFi) have emerged as a potential workaround to the possibility of financial censorship. DeFi uses a secure distributed ledger to break the banking sectors near-monopolistic control of money, financial products, and financial services. There are no centralized authorities who can block payments or deny you access to anything, writes Ethereums webpage. The potential of DeFi appears limitless as banks continue to face pressure to deny access to specific individuals and industries. The financial sectors submission to the activist agenda has allowed activists to, successfully, in some situations, target the financial sectors funding of private prisons, oil and natural gas, other politically disfavored industries, and even right-wing political figures. Activist shareholders have become increasingly vocal about using their leverage to change corporate policy on issues ranging from climate change to guns. The Obama administrations Department of Justice was caught using its regulatory authority to force financial institutions to cut off banking services to politically disfavored industries, threatening those that did not with prosecution. Just a few weeks ago, the Los Angeles County district attorney urged Visa, Mastercard, and American Express to show responsible corporate citizenship by stopping online payments for the purchase of ghost gun kits. As we have seen, these financial intermediaries continue to face pressure from government agencies and activists, with many of these pressure campaigns resulting in less freedom to transact. The past few weeks have demonstrated that financial institutions and payment service providers play a critical role in our economic freedom. While the Toronto Star reported that the Canadian government is working with financial institutions to unfreeze bank accounts, the assistant deputy minister of finance noted that some bank account holders may still be subject to other court orders freezing their assets, even after Trudeau ended the Emergencies Act declaration. The aftermath of these draconian measures will likely lead to further use of the financial sector as a weapon against political opponents. If Trudeaus recent tyrannical actions are any indication, the future of political warfare is financial. by Mitch Nemeth Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Ukrainian refugees Anna Gorpenich (R) and her children wait for a bus after arriving in Poland through the Medyka border crossing on March 10, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) UK Government to Ask Citizens to House Ukrainian Refugees The UK government will ask the British public to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the fighting in their country, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed. The Daily Telegraph reported that ministers will ask individuals, charities, businesses, and community groups to offer rooms to Ukrainian refugees through a hotline and a webpage. Johnson told Sky News on Thursday that Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, will unveil the programme on Monday. A government spokesman said the details of the scheme are still being worked on. The routes we have put in place follow extensive engagement with Ukrainian partners, the spokesman said. This is a rapidly moving and complex picture and as the situation develops we will continue to keep our support under constant review. Technology minister Chris Philp told Sky News on Friday that the details of the plan will be set out in the very near future. The UK government has come under pressure from both Conservative and opposition lawmakers to do more to take in Ukrainian refugees. While the European Union allows visa-free travel for Ukrainian refugees, the UK has insisted that visas are necessary to guarantee security. On Thursday, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that the visa procedures for Ukrainian refugees have been simplified. Under the new rules, Ukrainians with passports will be able to apply for visas fully online and will not need to submit their biometric information until they have arrived in Britain. According to the United Nations, 2.5 million refugees have now fled the war in Ukraine. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi wrote on Twitter on Friday: The number of refugees from Ukrainetragicallyhas reached today 2.5 million. The UN also estimates that about 2 million people are displaced inside Ukraine. On Thursday, the prime minister warned that the cynical, barbaric Russian regime appeared to be preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. The stuff which you are hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook, he told Sky News. They start saying that there are chemical weapons that are being stored by their opponents or by the Americans, so that when they themselves deploy chemical weaponsas I fear they maythey have a sort of a maskirovka, a fake story, ready to go. It comes as the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) warned Russia could be re-posturing for a renewed offensive in Ukraine. This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv, a MoD statement said. PA Media contributed to this report. Residents of Irpin in Ukraine flee heavy fighting via a destroyed bridge as Russian forces entered the city on March 7, 2022. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Ukraine Civilian Deaths Exceed Military Losses: Defense Minister Russian forces invading Ukraine have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers, according to Ukraines Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. I want this to be heard not only in Kyiv but all over the world, Reznikov said, without providing further details. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed across Ukraine since Russian forces invaded two weeks ago. The United Nations human rights office said Thursday it had recorded the killings of 549 civilians in Ukraine since the invasion began, including 26 children. Most of the casualties have been caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, it said. It believes the real toll is considerably higher, however, noting that the numbers dont include some areas of intense hostilities, including Mariupol. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Turkey on Thursday in a bid to secure a ceasefire so that civilians could be evacuated via humanitarian corridors but thislike prior peace effortsended with no progress. In an extraordinary claim following their meeting, Lavrov claimed that Russia did not attack Ukraine while dismissing concerns about Russian shelling of a Ukrainian childrens hospital in Mariupol as a pathetic outcry. Lavrov claimed the hospital had earlier been seized by Ukrainian far-right radical fighters who were using it as a base. Cars and a building of a hospital destroyed by an aviation strike amid Russias invasion of Ukraine, in Mariupol, Ukraine, in this handout picture released on March 9, 2022. (Press service of the National Police of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters) On his way back to Ukraine, Kuleba visited Poland, where he was received by Polish President Andrzej Duda. Their discussions focused on Ukraines efforts to join the European Union and on practical steps to protect the people of Ukraine amid the Russian onslaught. Duda said he was told by his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelensky, that Russian troops were still not ready to storm Kiyv and were instead bombing residential buildings and hospitals to try to break the will of the Ukrainian defenders. Tomorrow another attempt will be made to evacuate civilians from Mariupol. RU are shelling non stop. God save UA! the Polish president said in a tweet. The Red Cross on Wednesday estimated more than 400,000 people were trapped in Mariupol without humanitarian aid and evacuation corridors, with a spokesperson describing the conditions in the city as apocalyptic. Ukrainian authorities say theyve been trying to evacuate their citizens from the besieged city, but that this requires cooperation from the Russian side, which they say has been lacking. They accuse Russian forces of shelling civilian areas to terrorize civilians and pressure Kiyv into capitulation. Poland has been a staunch ally to Ukraine during the war, taking in around 1.5 million refugees, more than any other country, according to the latest U.N. data. Ukrainians cross an improvised path under a destroyed bridge while fleeing Irpin, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 8, 2022. (Felipe Dana/AP Photo) A somber milestone was hit on Friday, with the total number of people fleeing the war in Ukraine hitting 2.5 million, according to Filippo Grandi, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. We also estimate that about two million people are displaced inside Ukraine. Millions forced to leave their homes by this senseless war, Grandi said in a tweet. Top officials from NATO and the U.N. have called the war in Ukraine the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War Two. Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russias invasion of Ukraine is truly is a crime against humanity. This is something that has to end, and it has to end soon, Trump told Fox News in an interview. Roman Brovko, a Ukrainian filmmaker living in Kyiv, told The Epoch Times in a phone interview that hes witnessed the destruction of civilian infrastructure first-hand by Russian shelling. He said that, even if Russia prevails in its military campaign, he believes Moscows efforts to control the country will be met with staunch resistance via insurgency. Ukrainians are ready to give up their lives for freedom. A partisan resistance movement is already starting to take shape, he said. We dont want to live under a dictatorship, Brovko added. In this file photo, a Russian Air Force MiG-31K jet is seen. (Alexander Zemlianichenko, File/AP Photo) Ukraine Claims Russian Jets Fired at Belarus in False Flag Attempt Ukrainian officials on Friday said that Belarus could be planning to invade its territory, accusing Russia of attempting to drag its ally into the conflict. Ukraines Air Force Command, on March 11, alleged that border officials obtained information detailing how Russian aircraft took off from a Belarus airfield, crossed into Ukraine, and fired at the Belarussian village of Kopani. The Ukrainian State Border Service received information that Russian aircraft took off from Dubrovytsia airfield (Belarus), entered the territory of Ukraine, turned over our populated areas of Horodychi and Tumen, and then launched an airstrike on the populated area of Kopani (Belarus), said the Air Force Command on social media. It included a video that purported to show part of the incident. The claim could not be immediately verified by The Epoch Times. Russias Ministry of Defense has not publicly responded to the allegations. The Command said it is watching the occupation of this settlement, adding: This is a provocation! The goal is to involve the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus in the war with Ukraine. Belarusian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Ina Harbachova said the Ukrainian Air Force Command made a false statement. The Defense Ministry unequivocally states that the information about a missile strike at a Belarusian village is nonsense, Harbachova said. Several Belarussian media outlets reported that they found no confirmation of an airstrike in Belarus. Russia stationed troops and armored vehicles in Belarus in the weeks leading up to the invasion, using the Eastern European nation as a launching point. Belarus, however, has not deployed its own forces in active battle. The alleged attacks took place on Friday, the same day that Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. We also understand that the Belarusian government has been doing everything possible to avoid joining this war, Ukrainian deputy interior minister Yevheniy Yenin said on national television on Friday. It comes as Russias main attack force has been reportedly stalled on roads north of Kyiv, having failed in what Western analysts say was an initial plan for a lightning assault. But images released by private U.S. satellite firm Maxar showed armored units maneuvering in and through towns close to an airport on Kyivs northwest outskirts, the site of fighting since Russia landed paratroopers there in the first hours of the war. Other elements had repositioned near the settlement of Lubyanka just to the north, with artillery howitzers in firing positions, Maxar said. Britains Defence Ministry said Russia appeared to be gearing up for new offensive activity in the coming days that would probably include operations against Kyiv. Reuters contributed to this report. A worker makes a phone call in the control room of Reactor 2 inside the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Chernobyl, Ukraine, on Sept. 29, 2015. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Ukraine Loses Communication With Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant: IAEA Ukraine lost all communications with the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on March 10, the countrys regulatory authority informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Just a day earlier, the site had lost all external power supply, following which, the plant made use of emergency generators. The loss in communication means that the Ukraine operator cannot provide IAEA with updated information about the site. Prior to the loss of communication, power lines on the site were damaged, disconnecting it from the electric grid. To ensure the site receives continuous power, either the power lines have to be repaired or diesel deliveries must be made. The generators have a capacity of two days worth of fuel. The diesel generators were powering systems important for safety, including those for spent nuclear fuel and water control and chemical water treatment, the agency said in a March 10 press release. However, the operator was not able to maintain some functions such as radiation monitoring, ventilation systems, and normal lighting. The operator confirmed that there would be no impact on essential safety systems of the spent fuel storage facility even in case of a complete power loss. This includes the scenario where even the diesel generators fail. The operator also stated that spent fuel storage pool systems and structures have not suffered any damage at present. However, the loss of emergency power is not encouraging for staff members as they have to continue working under worsening radiation safety conditions. Im deeply concerned about the difficult and stressful situation facing staff at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the potential risks this entails for nuclear safety. I call on the forces in effective control of the site to urgently facilitate the safe rotation of personnel there, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi had said on March 8. Though the Chernobyl plant no longer produces nuclear power, the radiation at the site is consistently monitored. Located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Ukraines capital city Kyiv, Chernobyl was taken over by the Russian military during the first day of the invasion. There are about 210 technical experts and guards who have been living at the site ever since Russia took control. The staff has access to water, food, and medicine. Foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine held talks in Turkey which failed to produce any positive result on Thursday. However, Grossi met with both ministers after the Turkey meeting, and is hopeful that both nations can arrive at an agreement as to how to manage nuclear sites. I am quite encouraged on one important thingUkraine and the Russian Federation want to work with us and agreed to work with us, Grossi said in a news conference. We have to move fast. The Russian energy minister claimed on March 10 that specialists from Belarus had restored power to the Chernobyl plant. Grossi has not yet received confirmation regarding the issue. Taiwanese air force pilots run to their armed U.S.-made F-16V fighter at an air force base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan on Jan. 5, 2022. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine War Is a Study Case for Taiwans Defense Against China: US Defense Official Ukraines fierce resistance against invading Russian forces could be a model for how Taiwan should defend itself in the event of an invasion by the Chinese regime, a senior defense official told senators at a congressional hearing on March 10. I think the situation were seeing in Ukraine right now is a very worthwhile case study for them about why Taiwan needs to do all it can to build asymmetric capabilities, to get its population ready, so that it can be as quickly as possible should China choose to violate its sovereignty, said Mara Karlin, assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities. Karlin added: It is absolutely a priority to ensure that Taiwan is getting the asymmetric capabilities that it needs, that is most appropriate for the challenge that it faces. Russias invasion of Ukraine has drawn widespread concerns that the Chinese regime might follow through with its long-awaited plan of taking over Taiwan. Chinese leader Xi Jinping openly declared his desire to rule the island in October last year, when he vowed that the reunification of Taiwan with China would definitely be realized. China sees Taiwan as a part of its territory, even though the island is a de facto independent entity with its own democratic government. Xi could be more emboldened now to invade Taiwan since he would likely have Moscows political support. Under the current no limits partnership, Beijing has provided tacit support for Russias invasion of Ukraine by refusing to condemn Moscow over the military aggression and abstaining twice at United Nations votes. The United States and Taiwan are currently not formal allies, since Washington changed its diplomatic recognition in favor of Beijing in 1979. However, Washington has been Taiwans main arms supplier, selling Taiwan military equipment such as F-16V fighter jets, advanced drones, missiles, and M1A2 Abrams tanks. So far, Ukraine has been able to stall Russias military advancement through the use of mobile weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger portable air-defense systems. The success of these weapons showed that asymmetric warfare is effective when fighting a superior military force, said Ma Cheng-kun, director of the Graduate Institute of China Military Affairs Studies at Taiwans National Defence University, during a forum in Taiwan on March 1, according to the islands media outlet Taipei Times. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, since taking office in 2016, has emphasized the importance of the island adopting an asymmetric defense strategy. In May 2019, Tsai said the island would speed up the production of domestically-manufactured submarines and anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles as a way to improve the islands asymmetric warfare capabilities. Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said at the Senate hearing that Taiwan should continue to procure asymmetric military systems from the United States, given how they had been used to great effect in Ukraine. Lewis suggested Taiwan prioritize short-range air defense systems, naval sea mines, and coastal defense and cruise missiles. She added that the two sides have increasingly shared the same understanding of what constitutes an asymmetric system. We are working on that with them today. I think we have a much deeper understanding of that right now, Lewis explained. She also suggested that Taiwan learn from Ukraine about the countrys reserve force reforms that make it possible for its population to be quickly ready to fight. To that end, Lewis said Taiwan is working with the U.S. National Guard in establishing an all-out defense mobilization organization. US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price holds a news briefing at the State Department in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) US State Department Warns Americans of Risk of Capture in Ukraine The U.S. State Department on Friday warned that Americans risk being captured or killed if they travel to Ukraine. U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Friday, adding that Americans should depart immediately if it is safe for them to do so using commercial or other privately available options. Since the start of the Feb. 24 Russia-Ukraine conflict, there have been reports of American citizens and other foreigners trying to enter the country to fight on behalf of the Kyiv government. A Ukrainian official, Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenetskyi, said Thursday that about 100 U.S. citizens have been cleared to join Ukraines forces. But Prices Friday statement said that any citizens who travel to Ukraine with the purpose of participating in fighting there can face significant risks, including the very real risk of capture or death. Previously, State Department and White House officials have warned Americans from going to the conflict-ridden country. His remarks come as Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Russia has begun to make advances toward Ukraines capital, Kyiv, in recent days. An explosion in an apartment building in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 11, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo) Theres Russian bombardment and shelling going on quite violently as we speak, Kirby told reporters on Friday. And we do assess that the Russians are beginning to make more momentum on the ground towards Kyiv, particularly from the east. Not quite so much from the North. On Thursday, private satellite imagery company Maxar Technologies told Reuters it had taken images that showed vehicles in a convoy near Kyiv had dispersed and possibly have taken up offensive positions. Kirby told reporters he is not making too much of this dispersal stuff, although U.S. officials have, for weeks, said that Russia will try to encircle Kyiv to overthrow the government. Russian forces have made the largest advances on cities in the east and south, including Mariupol and around the Sea of Azov. On the economic and political front, the United States and its allies moved to further isolate and sanction the Kremlin. President Joe Biden announced the United States will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia and also ban imports of Russian seafood, alcohol, and diamonds. And a move to revoke Russias most favored nation status was taken in coordination with the European Union and Group of Seven, or G-7, countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin said via state-run media there were certain positive developments in talks between Ukraine and Russia, but he did not provide any details. It came as he spoked in Moscow with Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A general view of the U.N. Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York on Feb. 28, 2022. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) Washington Kowtows to Beijing About Ukraine Commentary The Keystone Cops were a highly incompetent police force that was depicted via slapstick comedy in silent films in the early 1920s. Their antics stuck in the public consciousness to the point where the label has become an idiom, which is often applied to an individual or a group that appears extremely incompetent while exhibiting an uncommon amount of energy in the pursuit of failure. For example, the Biden administrations foreign policy in regards to the Russo-Ukrainian war is a Keystone Cops operation. Before getting into the Biden administrations kowtowing to Beijing, let us examine its other feckless actions over the past couple of months. The Red Flag of NATOs Open Door Policy The expansion of NATO has been a top security concern of Russia since the demise of the Soviet Union. Yet the Biden administration publicly dangled NATO membership for Ukraine while not giving the Ukrainians any security guarantees. On Jan. 26, during the Russian military buildup along Ukraines border, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that there will be no change to Washingtons support for Ukraines right to pursue NATO membership. A video of Blinkens short press statement after that meeting is available from The Guardian here. No Apparent Deterrence The Russian military buildup provided indications and warnings that were sufficient for the Biden administration to choose to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Feb. 14just 10 days prior to the Russian invasion. But the embassy should have been kept open as a strong statement on the defense of Ukrainian sovereignty as part of a blunt warning to Moscow of a certain U.S. response to any invasion or special military operation. Did President Joe Biden pick up the phone and warn Russian President Vladimir Putin about the consequences before making the decision to close the embassy? Unlikely. Weaknessa feature of the Biden administrations diplomacyis not a deterrent. Workers unload a shipment of military aid delivered as part of the United States of Americas security assistance to Ukraine, at the Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo) Hydrocarbon Policy Hypocrisy From Inauguration Day last year onward, the Biden administrations green policies have driven the price of oil to over $100 per barrel (and climbing) by shutting down U.S. domestic production through a series of executive orders: Terminating the Keystone XL pipeline. Freezing permits for oil exploration on federal lands. Implementing new regulations aimed at eliminating fracking in the United States. Shutting down oil exploration and production in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR). At the same time, the administration endorsed the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will increase Germanys dependence on Russia for natural gasa complete reversal of the Trump administrations policy. Washington also pulled the rug out from under the EastMed pipeline, which would have supplied Europe with another source of gas that would have helped decrease dependency on Russia. Oil Options Biden announced that the United States would ban crude oil from Russia on March 8the same day that the average price of gasoline in the United States hit a record $4.17 per gallon. With continuing stubborn resistance to taking immediate steps to increase domestic production, the Biden administration is trying to find other oil supplies to ease price pressures. U.S. officials have approached Venezuelaa Russian allyto supply the United States with oil in exchange for sanctions relief. Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, refused to take Bidens call because U.S. support was pulled out of the Saudi war effort in Yemen. The Saudis also apparently didnt forget Bidens campaign promise to make the Saudis pay the price, and make them in fact the pariah that they are, as reported by The New York Times. Biden refuses to reopen the Keystone XL pipeline even though Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stated on March 7 that oil from the pipeline could replace the Russian conflict oil thats filled with the blood of Ukrainians, as reported by Business Insider. Iran Deal A worst-kept secretperhaps the Biden administrations top foreign policy priorityis restoring and improving former President Barack Obamas non-treaty Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran. President Barack Obama, standing with Vice President Joe Biden, conducts a press conference in the East Room of the White House in response to the Iran Nuclear Deal, in Washington, on July 14, 2015. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images) Another reversal of Trump policy, this actionwhen completed through negotiations in Viennawill be tantamount to providing Iran an expedited pathway to develop a nuclear device. And incredibly enough, the Russians are key players in the negotiations, with Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov essentially running the show. The deal being negotiated behind closed doors is worse than the JCPOA, as noted by the New York Post. It includes the lifting of sanctions under E.O. 13876 on 112 of Irans worst terrorists and torturers, as well as leading officials in the regimes weapons of mass destruction (WMD) infrastructure. The deal could also actually end up lifting sanctions on the Iranian Republican Guard Corps, which is the primary means by which Iran supports terrorists throughout the Middle East. Sanctions will also be lifted on the Central Bank of Iran and the National Development Fund. Both were sanctioned under U.S. counterterrorism authorities for providing billions of dollars to the IRGC, the Quds Force, and Hezbollahall of which still fund terrorism. Basically, the Biden administration is giving Iran a clean slateall with the help of the Russians whom the United States is now sanctioning for invading Ukraine. What did Washington promise Moscow behind closed doors in return for assistance in concluding this Iran deal travesty? That the United States would close the American Embassy in Kyiv and slow-roll military assistance to Ukraine, giving time for the Russians to achieve their objectives? Polish MIG-29s Speaking of slow-rolling, how about the tragicomedy involving the Polish MIG-29s? On March 6, Blinken announced the United States was considering sending aircraft to Ukraine and discussing the issue with NATO countries, while claiming to be coordinating specifically with Poland to guarantee that any Polish aircraft provided to Ukraine would be backfilled by the United States. Not so fast, said a Polish spokesman from the prime ministers office, who dismissed reports that Poland would provide aircraft to Ukraine. Then, on March 8, Poland announced a plan to transfer all of its MIG-29 aircraft free of charge to Ramstein AFB in Germany, with the assumption that the United States would ship those aircraft to Ukraine. The Pentagon then announced later that same day that the Polish plan was untenable. According to Fox News, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby stated, It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it, and that is was too risky. Well played, Keystone Cops! Negotiate in public for something that could have a real impact on the ground in Ukraine, and then pull the rug out from under Poland after deciding the plan was too risky. Playing the (Nonexistent) China Card Perhaps the most feckless and absurd of the machinations of the Biden administration was the attempt to try to get communist China to help in forestalling the Russian invasions. That would be the same China that many Americans recognize to be an existential threat to the United States, and which has been angling to replace America as the worlds leader for years. The U.S. intelligence community just released its 2022 Annual Threat Assessment that identifies China as the number one threat to the United States! Yet apparently, with the same indications and warning data that precipitated the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv (and who knows what other classified information in hand), the Biden administration urged Chinas government behind the scenes to help persuade Moscow against going to war in Ukraine, according to the Times News UK. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haleyamong otherssaid she was mortified by this action, stating: You cant trust Xi. You cant trust China. You never ask an enemy for help with another enemy. Yet thats what the Biden administration did, even after the Russians and Chinese announced their budding alliance in a joint statement on Feb. 4. Did the administration really believe that the United States had any leverage at all in trying to convince China to dissuade Russia from the invasion? Conclusion There was no aggressive Biden administration plan to deter the Russian invasion of Ukraine, nor were there any pre-planned responses after the invasion started. The U.S. diplomatic chaos on the world stage is embarrassing. The behind-the-scenes actions in restoring Obamas JCPOA with Iranand removing almost all sanctions against Iran with the help of the Russiansare against Americas best interests and will reignite the flames of Iranian-backed aggression in the Middle East. Lastly, Washingtons kowtowing to Beijing in order to solicit Xis assistance in preventing the Russian invasion is the ultimate Keystone Cops action. The Chinese Communist Party must be having a good laugh at Americas expense. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell (L) arrives after a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (not pictured) at the foreign ministry in Seoul on July 17, 2019. (Ahn Young-Joon/AFP via Getty Images) We Are in a New Cold War With China: Former US Assistant Secretary of State The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and United States are engaged in a cold war, according to a former senior state department official. As such, the Chinese regimes burgeoning alliance with Russia has broad implications for the future of the Indo-Pacific region. People dont really want to have to ponder things like global devastation, but its here and its with us, David Stilwell, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs and retired Air Force Brigadier General, told EpochTVs China Insider program on March 10. The PRC [Peoples Republic of China] has nukes and are building out their nuclear arsenal considerably right now, he said. We are in a new Cold War. Stilwell said that Chinas effective alliance with Russia, wherein the CCP has tacitly supported a war of aggression against Ukraine, had already drawn nations throughout the Indo-Pacific closer to the United States hardened their resolve against the CCP. The worsening ties between states like Japan and South Korea with China were unavoidable, Stilwell said, because of CCP leaderships choice to give cover to Russias war in spite of the fact that China previously pledged to defend Ukraine from nuclear threats. Its unavoidable, Stilwell said. The PRC named themselves in the negotiations with Russia going into the war. They declared themselves to be basically on board with the invasion of Ukraine and all those things. They cant walk that back. Thats out there. Its commitment. But, I have to think that Chinas rethinking it given how poorly this has gone for the Russians. Rethink? Stilwell said that this strategic rethink was important for CCP leader Xi Jinpings plans to forcibly unite Taiwan with mainland China, and that Russian failures in Ukraine would likely render Chinese military strategists more cautious in their ambitions regarding Taiwan. The CCPs initial goal for forcing the unification of Taiwan with the mainland was to be achieved by 2049, Stilwell said. Xi, however, appeared to advance that goal to 2035. U.S. military officials, meanwhile, have warned that it could happen as soon as 2027. Stilwell agreed with that assessment. He said that, should Xi obtain a third term as leader of the CCP later this year, Xi would likely try to solidify his personal legacy by taking Taiwan before that term ends in 2027. Concerning how greatly the war in Ukraine has affected CCP plans for Taiwan, Stilwell said that the performance of the Russian military, which has struggled to take basic objectives and even to adequately supply its own troops with fuel and food, had done more to temper CCP aggression than anything. The big thing that changed, in my mind, is how badly the Russian military did, Stilwell said. He said that, had the Russians been greeted as liberators, which their propaganda said they would be, then China would likely be much more eager to take Taiwan and shape the Indo-Pacific more broadly. The comments are in line with recent testimony from CIA director William Burns, who said that CCP leadership was unsettled by the continued failures of the Russian military and the overwhelming and unified Western response to Russian aggression. The PRC always looked to its northern Russian brothers militarily as, you know, their big brother, as someone that they could learn from, Stilwell said. By [Putin] going for everything, by going for the capital Kyiv, by burning nuclear reactors, and by getting his military shot up pretty bad, that message cannot have been lost on the PRC. That lesson would temper CCP zeal for a military conquest of Taiwan in the short term he said, as the CCPs military wing contend with the fact that an attempt to seize Taiwan would also include an amphibious assault over a hundred-mile-wide maritime border. Other Forms of Warfare That would not prevent efforts to coerce Taiwan into CCP control, however. Its just as easy to win by dominating the economy and forcing them to capitulate as it is to kill everybody, Stilwell said. The first lesson we all have to relearn is that warfare comes in many different forms, and kinetic, bombs and guns and stuff is [just] one Its the last one that they want to use, because its basically a roll of the dice. Youre gonna win, youre gonna lose. Theres no middle ground. To that end, Stilwell said that the most important thing the United States could do throughout the short, medium, and long terms was to maintain a consistent policy regarding Taiwan. Additionally, he said, the United States and its allies would need to consider more fully the available economic levers of power in their efforts to deter CCP aggression. I think something like an economic Article Five is a good idea, Stilwell said, referencing NATOs framework for mutual self-defense. An attack on one is an attack on all. He added that there should be an agreed-upon collective response to acts of Chinese economic aggression, such as when the regime attempted to boycott Australian goods last year in the hopes of forcing Australia to cease questioning the origins of COVID-19. The United States and its allies, Stilwell said, could counter these acts effectively, and deter CCP bullying, by collectively agreeing to purchase from those nations affected by CCP economic coercion, and responding in kind by temporarily halting purchases from China. A bully only understands one language, Stilwell said, and thats force. Andrew Thornebrooke Reporter Follow Andrew Thornebrooke is a reporter for The Epoch Times covering China-related issues with a focus on defense, military affairs, and national security. He holds a master's in military history from Norwich University. What Can the Stanford Prison Experiment Tell Us About Life in the Pandemic Era? Commentary Late in the summer of 1971, a young man was taken from his home in Palo Alto, California. Then another. And another. Nine in all, they were each spirited away. Eventually brought to a place with no windows and no clocks, they were stripped, and they were chained. They were costumed in dress-like gowns. They were given numbers to be used in place of their names. Minor pleasures were redefined as privileges, as were such basic acts as bathing, brushing ones teeth, and using a proper toilet when one pleased. In essence, they had become the playthings of the nine other young men who now kept them in that windowless place. Uniformly dressed in khaki pants and shirts, along with large reflective sunglasses, wearing whistles around their necks and brandishing clubs, these nine other young men could have been their classmates, their co-workers, or their friends had they met in another place or time, but instead now possessed near-absolute control over them, often exercising it for no other purpose than to humiliate and emasculate and to remind their prisoners of their subordinate state. These uniformly dressed young men in khakis and sunglasses were the guards of the Stanford County Prison. They were acting at the behest of Dr. Phillip G. Zimbardo. The research that Zimbardo carried out that August would go on to become one of the most renowned and most infamous studies in the history of psychology. As the story is told in most introductory psychology texts, Zimbardo set out to study the power of situational forces and social roles on identity and behavior. To do this, he randomly assigned seemingly normal college students with no criminal history or mental illness to the role of guard or prisoner in a simulated prison, providing little to no instruction. However, because of the spontaneous and increasingly sadistic actions of the guards and the extreme emotional breakdowns of the prisoners, Zimbardo had to call off the experiment prematurelybut not before making some important discoveries about how social roles and oppressive environments can alter the psyches and actions of normal people in pathological ways. Zimbardos own descriptions of his work tend to be somewhat more grandiose, sometimes bordering on the telling of a Greek myth or biblical tale, a story of something surrealor as Zimbardo once put, something Kafkaesque. The way the story is presented in the transcript of a slideshow put together by Zimbardo, all who entered that mock prison he constructed seemingly drifted into a dream. The minds of those who stayed too long were fractured. Soon, everyone who remained began to metamorphose into nightmarish vermin. Fortunately though, the good doctor was awakened by the pleas of a young man, who, in the midst of a mental breakdown, begged not to be released so he could prove he was a good prisoner. This is when Zimbardo knew it was time to bring the world he had created to an end. Critics, however, have questioned many aspects of Zimbardos telling of the tale and its often uncritical, albeit less dramatic, retelling in psychology texts. Only a third of the guards actually behaved sadistically. Some of the prisoners may have faked their emotional breakdowns for early release after being led to believe that, as volunteer prisoners, they were not permitted to leave the pretend prison. But perhaps the most damning critique is that from the beginning, Zimbardo, who took on the role of prison superintendent, made it clear that he was on the side of the guards. He did this along with his undergraduate warden, who had researched and designed a rudimentary dorm-room version of the simulation three months prior for a project in one of Zimbardos classes. He provided the guards with detailed instructions for how to manage the prisoners at the start, then continuously pressed them to be tougher on the inmates as the Stanford experiment went on. In a documentary, Zimbardo acknowledged that, although he forbade the guards from hitting the prisoners, he explained to them that they could instill boredom and frustration. Video from orientation day shows the charismatic professor in his prime instructing his guards. We can create fear in them, to some degree, he said. We can create a notion of arbitrariness, that their life is totally controlled by us, by the system. Some participants later admitted to leaning into their assigned roles deliberately. Given that Zimbardo was paying them $15 per day for their participation, he was essentially their boss at their summer job. Despite these additional details though, it remains difficult to deny that Zimbardos study can tell us something important about human nature. Maybe like the pre-teen boys with whom Muzafer Sherif played Lord of the Flies in the summers of 1949, 1953, and 1954, the young men of Stanford County Prison came to internalize the identities associated with their arbitrarily assigned groups, but here in an environment intelligently designed for oppression and with a pre-established social hierarchy. Maybe like the seemingly normal Americans that Stanley Milgram instructed to deliver what they thought were increasingly painful shocks to forgetful learners in an alleged memory experiment, they were just obeying authority. Maybe they simply knew they were getting paid by the day and wanted this arrangement to continue. Maybe it was a combination of the above. In the end though, at least a portion of guards and prisoners acted in accordance with their arbitrarily assigned roles, with perhaps members of both groups accepting the authority of those above them, even if it meant behaving with casual cruelty or accepting degradation. The Current Experiment: Year One In the early days of the pandemic era, our superintendents and wardens took control over all aspects of daily life. They costumed us in masks. Minor pleasures, as well as basic acts such as spending time with family and friends, were redefined as privileges. They created fear. They instilled boredom and frustration. They created a notion of arbitrariness, that our lives were totally controlled by them, by the system. We were their prisoners. We were their playthings. In the early days of the pandemic era, there werent true guards or arbitrary groupings beyond authorities and prisonersat least not any with which many truly came to identify. We had actual law enforcement who could be said to have acted as guards in some places, following the orders of the superintendents and wardens, arresting lone paddle boarders and harassing parents for letting their children have playdates. Yet most people throughout much of the United States, at least, never quite experienced that level of direct tyranny. Early on, we had the designations of essential and nonessential, but no one really knew what those categories meant. No one derived real power or status from them. The only distinctions that could be said to have meant anything for year one of the pandemic era were obedient and dissident, masked and unmasked, good prisoner and bad prisoner, although even these lost some meaning by virtue of the fact they were impermanent and fluid and that revealing ones affiliation was generally a matter of personal choice. The obedient granted themselves the occasional indulgence, meeting up with romantic partners and taking off their masks in the company of intimates. The unmasked reluctantly donned the symbol of their oppression when required. No one had to state their cognitive dissonance. It was not until the COVID-19 vaccines became available that more meaningful groups began to emerge. The Current Experiment: Year Two As the COVID-19 vaccines became widely available, the objective groups of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated took shape, and it was clear which group our superintendents and wardens favored from the start. Sometimes they provided direct instructions. Sometimes they did not. But, in locations and institutions where their power was strongest, our superintendents and wardens encouraged and coerced their prisoners to be part of the favored group, allowing them to earn back such privileges as education, employment, and minor pleasures from the lives they once lived. They also made it clear that no one could fully rise from their present state until virtually everyone chose to do so. Before long, presumably normal people came to support vaccination requirements for travel, work, and education. Some, however, seemed to go a step further and began to fancy themselves as guards. As in the Stanford County Prison, physical violence was out of the question. So was the kind of pushing, shoving, and nighttime raids Sherif observed among the arbitrarily divided boys chosen for his summer camps. However, various forms of ostracism were deemed fully acceptable, if not encouraged and condoned. Most explicitly, this came in the form of those newly deputized guards who, acting in an official or professional capacity, obediently enforced the orders of our superintendents and wardens, turning unvaccinated patrons away from restaurants, having unvaccinated doctors removed from hospitals, and putting unvaccinated pilots on indefinite unpaid leave. Yet more subtly, it also took the form of a kind of casual cruelty within families, offices, and schools. Loved ones required one another to show proof of vaccination to attend weddings and holiday gatherings. Those who had received medical or religious exemptions from employers and universities with vaccine mandates had, in some places, supervisors that barred them from certain corners of their workplaces and co-workers and classmateswho long ago stopped masking and social distancing around one anotherthat reminded them to keep their distance and demanded that before entering a room they stand in the doorway and give those present time to mask up. Although maybe not sufficient to foment the kind of alleged breakdowns noted by Superintendent Zimbardo at the Stanford County Prison, at least in the short term, it does not take much to imagine how such day-to-day humiliations could erode ones sense of belonging or meaning. Long-term, it would seem only natural for such constant reminders of ones subordinate state to engender feelings of depression, alienation, and worthlessness. A considerable body of research on ostracism and social exclusion would suggest such feelings would be only natural. Additional work in the area indicates that those that have been ostracized, to some degree, come to see themselves and their social aggressors as losing elements of their human nature, changing into cold and rigid things lacking agency and emotion. In other words, our modern prisoners, with time, come to see themselves and their guards as metamorphosing into nightmarish vermin. Future Directions: Year Three As time passes though, it is becoming increasingly clear that the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines is not quite what was initially promised. Numerous studies from California, Israel, Ontario, and Qatar, along with others, have consistently shown that fully vaccinated individuals can still contract and presumably transmit SARS-CoV-2, especially following the rise of the Omicron variant. Hence the basis for ascribing any real meaning to the groups of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, or at least any real meaning from which the former could be granted or derive some form of social or moral superiority over the other, has been demolished. Subsequently, it would only make sense that these groupings dissolve. Yet research has shown that people still find meaning in even the most meaningless groupings, even when there is no objective reason to do so. After a year of our superintendents and wardens publicly impugning the unvaccinated as a literal and figurative blight on society standing in the way of a return to normalcy, it is even more understandable that some continue to find meaning in these designations. Thus, even as some cities and companies drop vaccine mandates, not all have been willing to return the same rights, now termed privileges, to both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated alike. Additionally, the family, friends, co-workers, and classmates of some unvaccinated individuals still experience no qualms about behaving with casual cruelty toward them. Some unvaccinated individuals are even still willing to accept their casual degradation. Maybe like the pre-teen boys with whom Muzafer Sherif played Lord of the Flies, these modern guards and prisoners have come to internalize their new identities, but in an environment intelligently designed for oppression and with an implied social hierarchy. Maybe like the seemingly normal Americans that Stanley Milgram instructed to deliver what they thought were increasingly painful shocks to forgetful learners in an alleged memory experiment, they are just obeying authority. Maybe they are trying to do their part to please their superintendents and wardens in the hope of earning some imagined reward. Maybe it is a combination of the above. A Final Lesson From Superintendent Zimbardo Given the world in which we have been living for the past two years, despite the numerous flaws critics have found in both Zimbardos work, as well as Zimbardo the man and Zimbardo the legend, it would seem that both he and other members of social psychologys golden age can still tell us a lot about how social roles, oppressive environments, and powerful authorities can alter the psyches and actions of normal people in pathological ways. But perhaps one of the last lessons Zimbardo can teach us is more a reminder of something George Orwell wrote in 1984: Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past. Throughout his career, Zimbardo appears to have actively worked to write his own myth and influenced the fields of psychology and criminal justice for decades. Hence, perhaps as long as those who worked to give social or moral meaning to the groupings of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated are allowed to write the myth of how the public policies and interpersonal behaviors that followed contributed to delivering us to our returning semblance of normalcy, the more likely we will be to continue to have a society of guards and prisoners who act with casual cruelty and accept degradation as we move forward into the future. From the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. U.S. President Joe Biden announces new actions against Russia for its war on Ukraine, during remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, on March 11, 2022. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) What Would Joe Do? Commentary A thought experiment: Suppose Vladimir Putin said tomorrow that any country sending aid in the form of lethal weaponsweapons certain to be used to kill Russian soldiersto Ukraine would be retaliated against with a 10-megaton nuclear bomb detonated over its capital city. What would a Western leader contemplating sending such aid do, or say, in response? The answer isnt obvious. I think such a leader would not do what Western leaders have been doing so far, which is murdering Putin with their mouths and promising that he and his army will pay a price, presumably in blood, for his aggression. Joe Biden might continue to say such things, but his handlers, like other responsible leaders, would surely think twice before continuing with their threats and promises. But then what would they do? Youve heard the expression losing face. No one wants to lose face, but politicians and others in authority really dont want to lose face. If they do, their authority and, thus, their effective power goes with iteven if they manage to cling to office. Putin would lose face if he made such a threat and didnt follow through on itwhich may be why he hasnt made it (yet). But he is still living in the old-fashioned world of honor among nations. It was on behalf of what he sees as Russias national honor that he undertook the invasion of Ukraine. Defeat there would mean to him the loss not only of his own honor but that of his country. Such ways of thinking may seem strange to us, but they were taken for granted by everybody 100 years ago. Then, in the wake of the unprecedentedly destructive World War I, advanced thought in the nations of the enlightened West, especially Britain, France, and the United States, decided that the old idea of wars fought for national honor was out of date. Germany didnt. Hitler, who rose to power with the help of the stab in the back theory of Germanys humiliation and loss of honor in that war, was his countrys answer to Western pacifists who thought wars for national honor were things of the past. Subsequently, Western enlightened thought was forced to come to terms with the fact that it wasnt possible for a country unilaterally to opt out of the system of honor among nationsnot, at any rate, while retaining its identity as a country. Except that the supposedly enlightened ones who remained in power in the Western democracies never really did come to terms with it. In opposing Hitler and his Axis partners, the allies tacitly acknowledged that they were fighting for their countries honor, only they were ashamed to admit it. They would have lost face to admit it. Thats why ever since, in America anyway, we always must insist that we only go to war with the purest and most moral intentions against enemies whom we accordingly treat as pure evil. How could wethe worlds good guysever go to war against any enormity of less than Hitler-like proportions? And each time when, with the publication of the Pentagon Papers or the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, its revealed that our moral motives were not of the purest and we were only fighting for national honor after all, its treated by the media as scandalous. You would think that such a cartoon version of geopolitical strife, constantly promoted by the enlightened media, would sooner or later get us into real troubleas false ideas about the way the world works always do get people into trouble. But so far, weve been lucky. The worlds supervillains who have dared to incur our righteous wrath have mostly not been in a position to do us much damage in the homelandto which we can always withdraw, as we did from Afghanistan last year, if they hurt us elsewhere. More formidable potential enemies, meanwhile, such as the Soviet Union during the 50 years of the Cold War, have assumed that all our moralizing is just fluff, for domestic consumption only, and that if they were to attack us, we would respond as if we were as jealous of our national honor as anybody elseas we did against the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. In the light of the Afghan withdrawal, however, I wonder if our potential enemies still make the same assumption. In our haste to beat a retreat from that forever war, we cast away all considerations of national honor, all sense of obligation to the Afghans, who looked to us for promised protection, and abandoned all that remained of our reputation for national resolution and fortitude in the face of a declared enemyalong with 80-odd billion dollars worth of military equipment for the use of such enemies, past and future. And yet this shameful and ignoble collapse, our president told us, was an extraordinary success. You may not see the Afghan debacle as a loss of national honor, but I guarantee you that Putin does. So does Xi Jinping. Maybe were not the same country we were on Dec. 7, 1941. Maybe this time, we really believe that honor is nothing much to lose, and certainly not worth the loss of millions of innocent lives because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know little or nothing. If I were Putin, thats what Id be thinking right about now. Its what I would have been thinking of for months as I contemplated the likely consequences of invading Ukraine. And so we return to the little scenario I sketched at the beginning of this column. What would any Western leader do in the face of such a horrifying threat? What would Joe Biden do? As he has shown that he is capable of rationalizing any national failure as a personal success, I wouldnt count on its bringing him back to reality. But what do you think? More importantly, what does Putin think? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Police take back the streets at around midnight after firing copious amounts of tear gas to disperse protesters and rioters outside the Minneapolis Police 5th Precinct during the fourth night of protests and violence following the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis on May 29, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) When Police Pull Back, Violent Crime Rises, Data Show The drastic decline in proactive policing likely contributed to the nationwide spike in violent crime over the past two years, data show. The Epoch Times reviewed data for police stopsa classic proactive policing tacticand violent crime for five cities, showing that, in many instances, when police stops dropped, violent crime rose and vice versa. In Minneapolis, data show that the number of officer-initiated stops dropped by 80 percent in June 2020, right after the George Floyd protests started. During that time, violent crime rose to a historic high. The same pattern was observed in four other cities that were examined: Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Although violent crime typically rises in the summer, the drastic surge in 2020 was out of the ordinary for many locations. In Minneapolis between 2017 and 2019, the high points during the summer barely reached 400. Yet, in the summer of 2020, the high point jumped to almost 600. The Epoch Times follows the FBI definition of violent crime, which includes four major categories: murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Several reasons were said to be behind the historic surge in violent crime, such as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, firearm purchases, rising unemployment, and de-policing. The Minneapolis Effect University of Utah professor Paul Cassell examined those reasons and found de-policing to be the most plausible explanation, particularly for the homicide surge. Timewise, March 2020 was the month when pandemic restrictions started, firearm purchases peaked, and unemployment surged, Cassell said. Yet violent crime only started to jump significantly in June 2020, the very month that proactive policing dropped across cities, according to the data. Proactive policing can effectively reduce crime in the short term, especially in high-crime areas, according to a consensus study report by the National Academy of Sciences. The academy convened a panel of leading scholars to review decades of research on proactive policing and issued the report in 2017. For example, during police stops, officers might search a suspicious person (or the car) and find an illegal gun, thus preventing a gun-related crime. Or the stop might lead to the discovery of a warrant, and the suspect is arrested on the spot. Cassell called the phenomenon the Minneapolis Effect, where the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis triggered nationwide protests against police, which led to a great decline of proactive policing and a historic surge in homicide and shootings in 2020. He compared it to the Ferguson Effect, which is a theory used by some experts to explain a similar crime surge and unrest following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. The Year 2021 In Seattle, the number of stops largely went further down from the 2020 level, while violent crime rose above the 2020 level. The number of stops dropped the most in July 2021, the month that several police reform measuresincluding new limitations on the use of forcewent into effect in the state of Washington. Since then, the number of stops was at a new historic lowlower than that of 2020, while violent crime climbed above the 2020 level. In Los Angeles, a similar pattern was noted. The number of police stops trended downward in the latter half of 2021 to a level lower than 2020, while violent crime trended upward to a level higher than 2020. In Minneapolis, violent crime normally goes up in March and down in October, based on data between 2017 and 2019. But in 2021, it went slightly down in March and went up in Octobertwo abnormalities likely caused by a change in proactive policing. Data show that the number of stops increased in March 2021 and declined in October 2021. In August 2021, then-Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo halted traffic stops for minor violations, which likely drove down the number of stops recorded in September 2021 and October 2021. Since the Floyd protests, many police departments have tightened their policies, and at least 26 states approved police reform legislation to put more restrictions on policing. In Philadelphia, a review of 2020 and 2021 data also suggests that theres likely a strong association between police stops and violent crime. As police stops were on a volatile trajectory in 2020, so was violent crime. Also, when stops moved steadily down in 2021, violent crime moved steadily up. Why Police Pulled Back When the Floyd protests broke out, officer numbers were stretched thin to maintain order, and they had less time for discretionary activity, such as stops, according to Cassell. Then as the protests abated, stops remained low. In some cities, they dropped even further, data show. Thats most likely because officers pulled back under public criticisms, according to Michigan State University associate professor Scott Wolfe. Police officers serve the public, and they are sensitive to public calls for change, Wolfe said. When we saw the biggest protests in the aftermath of Floyds murder, police were looking at it [like this], Well, if the public doesnt want us to police, we wont. The Epoch Times reviewed 911 call data for Minneapolis and Los Angeles and found that the number of 911 calls police responded to have remained rather steady since Floyds death. This suggests that what police really pulled back from was proactive policing, the kind of discretionary activity that hinges on self-initiation. Shrinking police forces and mounting restrictions on policingboth from the departments themselves and from the state legislatureslikely also played a role. White House Says Lack of New COVID Funding Will Have Severe Consequences The White House says some government programs meant to deal with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus will end soon if Congress doesnt approve new funding. Additional spending for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was ultimately left out of the $1.5 trillion omnibus bill approved by Congress Wednesday to fund government operations through September. This is despite the call from President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address for Congress to approve $22.5 billion in new spending for treatments, vaccines, and other measures. That amount was negotiated down to $15.6 billion and then ultimately left out of the bill as Republicans objected to the additional spending. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reports Thursday the omission will have severe consequences. We need this money, said Psaki. So, without additional resources from Congress the results are dire. Psaki says that in the absence of new COVID funding federal testing capacity will decrease later this month, pretesting and treatmentincluding vaccines and antiviralsfor Americans without health insurance will end in April, and in May Americas supply of monoclonal antibodies will run out. All told, the federal government has approved more than $7 trillion meant to address health and economic losses related to the CCP virus and subsequent government lockdown measures. And almost $3 trillion remains on the table designated as uncommitted including $200 billion meant for health spending, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budgets COVID Money Tracker website. The website notes that its amounts may not reflect all spent funds, as official data often lags by several weeks or months. The website was updated at least as recently as Feb. 24. Psaki did not respond to request for comment from The Epoch Times asking whether the COVID programs will end despite there being more than $3 trillion available. If we had that money to move around, we would be moving it and our assessment is we need this additional funding in order to meet the needs of the American public, she said during Thursdays briefing. The Office of Management and Budget made Bidens request for additional funding to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a letter last week, calling for $18.25 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services and $4.25 billion to the State Department and United States Agency for International Development. In their objection to new CCP virus spending, a group of 35 Republican senators led by Utah Sen. Mitt Romney penned a letter to Biden on the same day requesting an accounting of already approved pandemic relief funds. Since passage of the American Rescue Plan in February, questions are mounting about where exactly the additional money has gone, the GOP letter reads. The Biden administration has raised concerns of waste with its COVID spending. Two weeks ago, it was reported that nearly half of the 500 million free COVID-19 tests the administration made available to the public had still have not been claimed as demand for tests dropped with the decline in cases. On Thursday, Biden announced the Department of Justice has selected a chief prosecutor for pandemic frauda watchdog meant to go after criminals who have stolen COVID relief funding through fraud. The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force has already initiated more than 1,000 criminal cases, aiming to recover billions of dollars for the American people, the presidents statement reads. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A sign of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 24, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) WHO Says It Advised Ukraine to Destroy Pathogens in Laboratories: Report The World Health Organization (WHO) said it advised Ukraine to destroy pathogens in the countrys public health laboratories, according to a report. The United Nations agency told Reuters that it has been collaborating with Ukrainian public health laboratories for several years to ensure lab safety practices to prevent accidental or deliberate release of pathogens. As part of this work, WHO has strongly recommended to the Ministry of Health in Ukraine and other responsible bodies to destroy high-threat pathogens to prevent any potential spills, the WHO told the news agency. The WHO said it encourages all parties to cooperate in the safe and secure disposal of any pathogens they come across, and to reach out for technical assistance as needed, and offered to help with technical guidance and coordination. The WHO did not disclose when it made the recommendations nor shared what pathogens are in the laboratories, and did not answer questions about whether the pathogens were destroyed as per its recommendations, Reuters reported. The statement made no reference to biowarfare. The Epoch Times has reached out to the WHO for comment. Ukrainian officials in Kyiv and at their embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment, per Reuters. Ukraines laboratory capabilities are amid an information war since Russia began moving troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Russia has repeatedly accused the United States of having funded laboratories in Ukraine that are developing biological warfare weapons, but the United States and Ukraine maintain that the laboratories seek to prevent bioweapons and pathogens. Ukraines main security agency, the Security Service of Ukraine, said back in May 2020 there are no foreign biological laboratories in Ukraine, and that laboratories involved in helping mitigate bioweapons and pathogens are owned and funded by the Ukrainian government. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that documents found by Russian forces in Ukraine showed an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programs by destroying lab samplesa claim The Epoch Times cannot independently verify. In response, a Ukrainian presidential spokesperson said, Ukraine strictly denies any such allegation. U.S. government spokespeople have also denied Zakharovas accusations, and say that Russia may be preparing to use its own chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine. Russias movement of troops into Ukraine have raised fears that disease-causing pathogens may escape if any Ukrainian laboratories are damaged. The United Nations Security Council will convene on Friday at Russias request to discuss Moscows claims of U.S. biological activities in Ukraine, Reuters reported. Ukraine has public health laboratories that authorities say are researching how to curb threats of dangerous diseases for humans and animals. The labs in Ukraine have received support from the United States, the European Union, and the WHO. Reuters contributed to this report. Widespread Sexual Abuse of Girls Plagued Los Angeles County Detention Camp, Women Allege By Richard Winton From Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELESAt least 20 women say they were sexually assaulted over the course of a dozen years at Camp Scott, Los Angeles Countys all-girls juvenile detention facility, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday. The women allege a culture of abuse at the Santa Clarita Valley military-style boot camp, where they say no fewer than 10 staff members subjected them to repeated sexual assault. The incidents occurred between 1996 and 2008, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Many of the women say the violations started with staff at the detention center watching them shower and progressed to unwanted touching and eventually forced sex acts. In at least one case, a deputy probation officer is accused of impregnating a teenager, court documents show, while another staff member continued to victimize a different girl even after she was released, meeting her at a motel for sex. The perpetrators used this position of trust and authority to repeatedly sexually abuse juvenile females in their custody, care, control and direction, the lawsuit states. Don Meredith, a member of the L.A. County Probation Oversight Commission, said he could not comment on any ongoing litigation or criminal or internal investigations of Camp Scott. Camp Scott was originally opened as a boys facility in 1958 and converted to house only girls in 1987. At the time, the facility was said to resemble a summer camp more than a detention camp. It was once touted by county officials and judges as a model for rehabilitating youthful offenders. In the mid-1990s, the camp transformed into a military-style boot camp, where squadrons of girls in combat boots and khaki uniforms marched in strict drill formation across a concrete exercise field. In the lawsuit, all the plaintiffs are identified by Jane Doe aliases, but one spoke with the Los Angeles Times using her name. The Times does not name victims of sexual assault unless they choose to be identified. Akeila Jefferson, 38, said she was 16 when she entered Camp Scott a second time, and deputy probation officer Thomas Jackson began grooming her for sexual favorsslipping her toiletries, including soaps and lotions her grandmother couldnt get to her. First, he began touching her sexually, and eventually assaulted her four or five times in the laundry room, guard shack and camp office. He warned her he would make her time at camp difficult if she told anyone. When Jackson was made acting assistant camp director, he ordered her to his office, where he forced her to perform oral sex, the lawsuit states. I know. Now that Im thinking about it, it sounds like I should know that that was crazy, that I should ever feel like were in some type of relationship, Jefferson told the Times. When the girl was released a second time from the camp, Jackson took her out to eat, to shop, and to a rented motel room for repeated sexual encounters, court records show. I always felt I had to go. It never crossed my mind otherwise, she said. The abuse continued when she returned to the camp for the third time, the suit alleges, and even after her release at age 18 in 2001, Jackson continued to demand sexual acts. Jefferson said she was once questioned by probation officials about her interactions with Jackson. I told them none of this was happening and stuff like that, so he wouldnt get in trouble. Because he told me that, you know, hell go to jail for a long time, she said, adding that Jackson had told her he had been investigated several times before. She said the sexual relationships at the camp were common, and officers claimed girls like property. Other girls were with other probation officers, Jefferson said. Its not really a secret whats going on. Everybodys talking about it. The camps staff, made up of deputy probation officers, controlled every aspect of the girls lives and could cut off mail or visitations as well as decide punishments, including a day or more in the box, a solitary confinement unit. These young girls were treated as sexual property by the very people meant to protect them, said attorney John Manly, whose prior litigation helped expose pedophile priests and well as the sexual abuse of USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nasser and physicians at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. We have law enforcement officers trading girls and rating them, and one even ended up pregnant. The suit reflects a pattern of sexual abuse similar to that shown in a 2018 U.S. Department of Justice survey that found hundreds of teens are raped or sexually assaulted in juvenile facilities. The vast majority were victimized by staff, with the perpetrators overwhelmingly male. Only 6 percent of teens in the facilities reported the abuse, the report showed. In 2008, a two-year federal investigation found systemic abuse of youth in Los Angeles camps. A staff member at Camp Scott, which failed to report to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services an inappropriate relationship between a girl and a staff member, was implicated in two prior abuse reports. Threatened by a federal lawsuit, county supervisors opted to hire a team of independent monitors to improve safety at L.A.s 19 facilities. Two years later, a Times investigation in 2010 found that at least 11 employees working in juvenile detention halls and camps had been convicted of crimes or punished for inappropriate conduct involving current or former probationers, although many more had escaped discipline. Wednesdays lawsuit alleges the county did not take adequate corrective or preventative action and failed to comply with child sexual abuse reporting laws. Manly said the Camp Scott staff targeted the most vulnerable, knowing their accounts would not be believed over those of the sworn officers. Jane BA Doe was in her second 15-month term at the camp when a deputy probation officer identified only as Santana began groping her in the laundry room and watching her shower. Under threat, the lawsuit states, he lengthened the 16-year-olds sentence, then escalated the assaults, forcing (her) to engage in oral copulation and sexual intercourse two or three times a week. Court records show the girl became pregnant with his child and thereafter experienced a miscarriage, which he demanded she keeps a secret. The officer continued to harass the girl after she was released, according to the lawsuit. After telling her guardian about the miscarriage after being raped by the probation officer, the sexual abuse was reported, and the county responded by transferring Santana to another facility, the lawsuit states. Another camp supervisor is identified in the lawsuit as Mr. Petty. A 1996 Times article identified then-Assistant Director James Petty, who said at the time that each new arrival to the camp begins as a private, just as I did in the military and noted that the strict atmosphere is an important step toward rehabilitation. One of the women said Petty ordered her to undress and shower at the camp while he watched. After she told her parents, her father confronted Petty, who then reassigned her to a less desirable work assignment, stopped delivering mail from her family, and terminated visitations. A staff member found the undelivered mail and, along with the girls parents, filed a complaintwhich led to an investigation, but no apparent punishment, the suit alleges. Some of the deputy probation officers, including Jackson and a man identified only as Officer Broadhead, are accused by multiple women. The suit alleges that Jackson began to sexually abuse 16-year-old Jane HR Doe in 1999, ordering her to show her breasts as he masturbated. He threatened to make her life difficult if she did not give in to his sexual orders. She reported him to a female administrator, who dismissed her, saying it was difficult to believe her allegations given Jacksons standing. Jane EJ Doe recalled in court papers how Jackson and another deputy probation officer identified as Marks grabbed her breasts and buttocks. When she reported their behavior to Petty, the assistant director, he scolded her. Another woman in the suit recalls how Marks and Petty openly ranked the female wards, in relation to the physical attractiveness of, and their respective interest in sexual acts with them. While the sexual abuses alleged in the lawsuit date only through 2008, the Times investigation in 2010 and the federal probe in 2018 showed evidence of lingering exploitation. In 2017, Oscar Calderon Jr. was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of felony assault for inappropriately touching two girls at Camp Scudder, another all-girls facility in Santa Clarita. In a lawsuit settled for $1 million over that abuse, the victims alleged Calderons supervisor, a therapist and as many as 10 probation staff knew about the abuse but did nothing to intervene. County juvenile custody facilities have come under heavy state scrutiny again in recent years. A state corrections board decided in November that the countys juvenile halls were suitable to house youths after previous inspections had placed the facilities in danger of closing. In 2020, county officials approved the eventual dismantling of the countys juvenile probation system in favor of a new agency that will focus on emotional support, counseling and treatment. Federal monitoring of the facilities had only ended in 2015. Last January the county reached a settlement agreement with the California attorney generals office to improve conditions at juvenile facilities after a state probe found that detention officers unnecessarily used pepper spray, confined minors in cells for long periods forcing them to urinate into milk cartons, and prevented them from receiving medical care and attending classes. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Supporters of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) Wife of Jan. 6 Prisoner: Were Being Targeted, Its All About Revenge 'I know my husband is innocent' The events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the United States Capitol have been described by some as an attempted coup, domestic terrorism, and a deadly capitol insurrection. Angel Harrelson of Titusville, Florida, is convinced the Democrats in power are targeting Jan. 6 participants just because they are Trump supporters. She believes its all about revenge. I know they are definitely being targeted, especially in the jail, and us as a family, Harrelson told The Epoch Times, whose husband, Kenneth Harrelson, is in jail on charges of sedition and conspiracy related to his presence at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Harrelson said her husband has received death threats in jail and that she and her family have been targeted and harassed by the media. She said her husband also received a postcard in jail that included the familys home address. Theyve threatened his whole family and theyre allowing those cards to get through over there, she said. According to its website, the purpose of The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is to investigate circumstances, and causes relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex (hereafter referred to as the domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol) and relating to the interference with the peaceful transfer of power, including facts and causes relating to the preparedness and response of the United States Capitol Police and other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in the National Capital Region and other instrumentalities of government, as well as the influencing factors that fomented such an attack on American representative democracy while engaged in a constitutional process. The words, domestic terrorist attack are reiterated seven more times describing the committee and its function. In July 2021, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) formed the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, but only two RepublicansReps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinoisagreed to participate after Pelosi rejected candidates recommended by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Republicans have criticized the committee, stating the investigation is politically driven. Despite claims to the contrary by several politicians and media figures, the FBI found no evidence that the breach of the Capitol was a coordinated attack, Reuters reported. Angel and Kenneth Harrelson in the parking lot of SpaceX in Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida just before a rocket launch in July 2019. (Courtesy of Angel Harrelson) Kenneth Harrelson, 41, is a U.S. Army veteran. His wife said he traveled to Washington on Jan. 6 to protect Trump supporters from Antifa, a violent left-wing activist group that often disrupts conservative events. Kenneth and Angel Harrelson have four children, including an 18-year-old son who will be graduating this year. He enlisted in the Army and will leave for boot camp a month after graduation. They also have a 15-year-old daughter who is mildly autistic and suffering terribly in her fathers absence, Harrelson said. Shes a daddys girl, she said. Angel Harrison said her husband and other Jan. 6 defendants are served rotten food, and that its up to family members to raise money for the defendants commissary accounts. Political Prisoner of War T-Shirt from an online store created by Angel Harrelson to raise money to buy her husbands food at the jail commissary. (Courtesy of Angel Harrelson) We spend about $125 at the commissary per week, and care packages cost about $125 per month, she said. She has set up a GiveSendGo account to help cover the continued costs, as well as an online store, selling products in support of those being persecuted as Political Prisoners of War (PPOWs). Angel Harrelson said she hasnt seen her husband since he went to jail a year ago, and that hes become depressed. She said prosecutors are angry that he rejected a plea deal. Kenneth Harrelson was first charged with obstruction, then conspiracy and sedition, his wife said. Angel Harrelson also said her husband is accused of obstructing police officers by surrounding Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, but Harrelson said the protestors were protecting Dunn from rioters who had become violent. Dunn is the officer who made unsubstantiated claims that the Jan. 6 protesters used a racial slur against him. Prosecutors argue Harrelson was a leader for the Oath Keepers, with access to high-powered firearms. They allege Harrelson is present in photos captured at a Comfort Inn outside Washington, and that hes seen in photos rolling a cart down the hallway after a riot. Authorities insist there is at least one rifle case on the cart. Brad Geyer, attorney for January 6 defendant, Kenneth Harrelson. (Courtesy of Brad Geyer) Brad Geyer, attorney for Kenneth Harrelson, told The Epoch Times there were no unlawful firearms involved in the Jan. 6 events. According to Geyer, the Oath Keepers were there in an official capacity to protect VIPs who were speaking during different events during the rally, and it was standard operating procedure for the Oath Keepers to provide a strong defense in that environment, he said. Geyer insists the Oath Keepers were never in an altercation with Capitol Police, and that the groups members kept their legal weapons in Virginia because firearms are not allowed in Washington. Harrelson is also accused of searching for Pelosi during the breach and engaging in text messages threatening the House speakers life. Geyer said Harrelson did not participate in those messages, which were part of a group chat, and that his phone wasnt working while he was inside the Capitol Building. There was some kind of jamming going on, which makes it difficult for people to communicate with each other, Geyer said. If there was something bad going on, people couldnt warn others to stay away. I dont think that was a mistake. Geyer also noted video showing Capitol Police moving barricades and waving people toward the Capitol Building. Another video shows police holding doors open while protesters file peacefully inside. A third video shows police standing back to allow an orderly group of protesters to pass by peacefully while one officer is seen waving the protesters along, contradicting reports that the crowd forced their way into the building. Protesters are seen taking pictures inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) There was no breach, Geyer said, noting that prosecutors are fond of using that word. No breach. Opening the door from the inside and inviting them in makes them invitees. Geyer said he will try to identify the police who ushered Harrelson up the steps and held the doors open to invite him inside. If Kenneth Harrelson is convicted, his wife said the family will lose the veterans benefits they rely on for their house payment, car payment, and daily needs. She said shes always looked up to the police and trusted the government to find the truth about the situation, but now, she said she feels betrayed. Ive known police officers all my life and a few are my best friends, she said. But how am I supposed to trust any of them now when they lie? I know my husband is innocent. Geyer agreed and said Kenneth Harrelson is totally innocent. I assumed that on some level, there would be some level of guilt, that you would be able to find something that he did, Geyer said. But his level of innocence is so overwhelming, it was a wake-up call for me. Geyer said the fallout from Jan. 6 has led to a strange, mass psychosis event surrounding defendants, and that the federal government maintains the facade of the Jan. 6 investigation by demonizing Harrelson and other defendants so they appear dangerous. He poses no threat of flight, and any suggestion to the contrary is concocted or made up, but theyre never going to let him out, Geyer said. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, pose for a picture after signing an agreement in Tehran, Iran, on March 27, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images) With Chinas Blessing, Iran Grows in Power Commentary Last year, in an attempt to strengthen economic, political, and military ties, Beijing and Tehran launched a 25-year cooperation deal. The two countries, both victims of U.S. sanctions, have become incredibly close. On a recent trip to Beijing, Tehrans top diplomat, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, announced that the implementation of the highly ambitious agreement had officially begun. As the world becomes increasingly atomized and chaotic, with authoritarianism on the rise, and major global powers invading sovereign nations, this strategic alliance should concern all readers, especially those of whom reside in the United States. In November 2018, under then-President Donald Trump, the United States officially reinstated all sanctions against Iran. Six months later, the Trump administration threatened to sanction any country found to be purchasing oil from Tehran. Most countries listened. One country, however, chose not to, and still chooses not to. That country is China. According to a recent Reuters report, Beijings purchases of Iranian oil have risen to record levels in recent months. In fact, purchases now exceed a 2017 peak when the trade was not subject to U.S. sanctions. For the month of January, Chinese imports averaged more than 700,000 barrels per day. For some reason, as the Reuters piece noted, President Joe Biden has so far chosen not to enforce the sanctions against Chinese individuals and companies. Millions of Americans believe that Biden is weak on China. If the Reuters report is anything to go by, their beliefs appear to be extremely valid. Although Iran has been hit with a number of embargoes and economic sanctions, it has found ways of easing the financial pain. Its medicine? Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency favored by despots (and young men in basements) around the world. According to research carried out by the Elliptic, bitcoin mining allows, and continues to allow, the Iranians to circumvent trade embargoes and earn hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto assets. These crypto assets are then used to purchase imports and bypass sanctions. Last year, the Iranian Presidential Center for Strategic Studies, a think tank closely associated with the Iranian government, published a rather telling report outlining the ways in which bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could generate extra revenue for the country. Increasing mining efforts, according to the authors, could generate roughly $2 million a day in direct revenue. Yes, thats more than $700 million annually. As I previously discussed, another problematic country that has benefitted from bitcoin is North Korea. Last year alone, hackers in the Hermit Kingdom stole close to $400 million in cryptocurrencies. As I write this, the Russians, watching in horror as the ruble tumbles in value, also appear to be benefitting from bitcoin. Couple the Iranian regimes use of bitcoin with its willingness to embrace the digital yuan, Chinas new digital currency, and you have a recipe for genuine danger. A digital yuan clearly allows some countriesthe likes of Russia, North Korea and, of course, Iranto avoid U.S. sanctions. At the same time, the digital yuan helps the Chinese regime in its quest to dethrone the U.S. dollar. A sign for Chinas new digital currency, electronic Chinese yuan (e-CNY) is displayed at a shopping mall in Shanghai, China, on March 8, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Again, there is ample reason for concern. In 2020, Neha Narula, a digital currency researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), described a simulation carried out by Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center, a simulation that Narula was part of. As CNBC reported at the time, One of the situations involved North Korea developing a missile that had the capability to reach the U.S. In the simulation, the missile development was funded by the digital yuan which allowed North Korea to bypass the global banking system and U.S. sanctions. In the words of Narula, the results of the simulation made it really clear that this (development of digital yuan) is a national security concern. Narula is right. The Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the United States Institute of Peace, already has the largest and most diverse ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East. Moreover, its the only country to develop a 2,000-km missile without first having a nuclear weapons capability. A quarterly report published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last November put Irans nuclear breakout time at somewhere between three to six weeks. Breakout time refers to the time required for the Iranian regime to produce weapons-grade uranium (WGU) for one nuclear weapon. Weaponization, however, takes considerably longer; roughly two years, to be exact. In November of last year, around the very same time the IAEAs report was published, Israels finance minister said the likelihood of Iran possessing nuclear weapons by 2026 was quite high. Whether the nukes arrive in 2024, 2026, or 2028, they are coming. Very few things in life are guaranteed. But the Iranian regime possessing nuclear weapons is a virtual certainty. Like communist China, its close ally and primary enabler, Iran is an incredibly dangerous country. With the backing of the Chinese regime, both financially and politically, Iran looks likely to become even more dangerous. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has urged Illinois residents interested in supporting relief efforts during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis to be on the lookout for fundraising scams by individuals seeking to exploit the crisis for their personal profit. "Many Illinois residents are looking for ways to help the people of Ukraine, and while making a charitable donation is a great way to do so, it is important that people exercise vigilance and research the charity before donating," Raoul said in a statement Thursday. "It is reprehensible that individuals would exploit this humanitarian crisis for personal gain, but taking the time to research a charity will help ensure that your donation goes to legitimate organizations engaged directly in providing aid to the people of Ukraine." Last week I went on vacation with a friend from my childhood. So on her computer we picked the Netflix film, The Weekend Away for me to review because it seemed so appropriate for two friends in an exotic location to watch. Thank heaven our time away in no way resembled Kate and Beths weekend away. Two best friends Kate (Christina Wolfe) and Beth (Leighton Meester) look forward to leaving their regular lives for their annual weekend away. Croatia is the place they chose for this years get away. Everything is fun and games until Beth wakes up to find Kate missing. With only a hazy memory of the previous evening, the police are impervious to Beths fears when she tries to register her friend as a missing person. Ziad Bakri plays Zain, a cab driver who befriends Beth and tries to help her solve her friends disappearance. Or does he? Luke Norris is Kates husband who is home babysitting their infant daughter. Amar Bukvic is Pavic, the policeman who refuses to pursue the case, which seems unusual. The Weekend Away has the structure of a decent suspense thriller and I love mysteries. My friend and I tried to figure out if Kate was just missing or was she killed and, if she was, who done it? I thought one person was the killer and my friend chose someone else. We were both wrong. For mystery fans there are so many red herrings in this film it will keep you on your toes for the entire movie. The acting was adequate, but we focused more on the story which was anything but dull. Screenwriter Sarah Alderson had her character Beth making all sorts of stupid decisions. I felt like I was watching the Geico commercial where the kids leave a perfectly good car with the engine running to hide in a barn with thousands of knives, saws, sickles and a madman. The screenplay was written by Alderson based on the novel The Weekend Away, also by Alderson. The film was directed by Kim Farrant. Set in Croatia, the cinematography by Noah Greenberg was exquisite. Croatia may be my next vacation site. We enjoyed the film. It kept us on our toes guessing what was going to happen next, and usually we were wrong. We agreed that The Weekend Away gets 3 stars. You can see it on Netflix. Salida, CO (81201) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 54F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low around 35F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on thenewsguard.com. The News Guard E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Emergency food relief reaches Koh Samui PHUKET: Living Waters Phuket (LWP) this week continued its efforts to support vulnerable communities in need, only this time expanding beyond the Phuket and Phang Nga areas and onto the communities in Koh Samui. charityCoronavirusCOVID-19health By The Phuket News Friday 11 March 2022, 04:39PM The LWP Foundation was set up to build brighter futures for communities in need by providing financial grants for projects around essential relief areas including food security, education requirements, renewable energy and environmental issues. It was established in Nov 2021 to help registered charities, foundations, private companies and government organisations by funding essential initiatives. Their latest food relief donation saw LWP purchase supplies, pack and deliver over 1,800 super life bags (supporting around 7,200 people) across Koh Samui over a three day period which started today (Mar 11). This marks the first of numerous planned aid projects on this island from LWP. The super life bag is named so because each one contains enough staple food items and household products to feed a family of four people for an entire week. The bags include dried and tinned foods such as rice, noodles and fish, as well as oils, sauces and cleaning household products. After visiting Koh Samui, meeting with community leaders and talking with villages our opinion is that Koh Samui is roughly nine months behind Phuket on the recovery timeline, commented Shaun Stenning from LWP. Many shops are still closed, hotels are operating at very low occupancy rates and the community is in need. While we will still continue our operations in Phuket, we feel its time to reach out to other tourism destinations such as Koh Samui." The execution was a collaborative effort between LWP and the local community leaders in Koh Samui. Mr Muensilp Poolsawat (Advisor to the Koh Samui Mayor) in particular proved essential in helping with logistics including identifying families most in need of assistance, due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on this island, another tourism dependant destination. Over 300 local community members who also received the food relief, lent a helping hand by packing these supplies which will now help feed over 7,200 people in Koh Samui. Chris Parker, from Retired Working For You, helped make this initiative come to life, having undertaken multiple community relief projects on this island previously and his input was greatly appreciated. Right now, the LWP Foundation is focussing its efforts and funds to go directly to the most vulnerable in Phuket, the surrounding islands and now Koh Samui; those in village quarantine, without work, and those in need of basic food or education supplies. Grants and Donations If you would like to apply for a grant for funding or find out more about applying, please click here. Your donations are greatly appreciated and will help directly fund more sustainable, community projects in and around Phuket. To donate please click here. Further Information on Living Waters Phuket: https://www.livingwatersphuket.com/ https://www.facebook.com/livingwatersphuket https://www.instagram.com/livingwatersphuket/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1UUvFHaT1BGZ6FQUxvE3Ow https://twitter.com/livingwaters_th Phuket call centre to help Russians, Ukrainians stuck in Thailand well received PHUKET: The tourist call centre launched to provide assistance to Russians and Ukrainians stuck in Phuket due to cancelled flights or unable to pay for hotel or other accommodation due to sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine has already helped more than a dozen people, Phuket officials have announced. tourismRussianUkraine By The Phuket News Friday 11 March 2022, 02:56PM NNanthasiri Ronnasiri, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, at the call centre yesterday (Mar 10). Photo: PR Phuket The centre helped 15 people on its first day of operations on Wednesday (Mar 9), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office Director Nanthasiri Ronnasiri said yesterday. In announcing the opening of the call centre, Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong on Wednesday said that the number of Russians and Ukrainians stuck in Phuket due to the invasion totalled about 5,000 people. The call centre has Russian speakers available to provide assistance, Ms Nanthasiri said. Most tourists have asked for help with airlines, flights, visas, credit cards and the cost of accommodation and return travel expenses to their home country, she said. Ms Nanthasiri noted that not only tourists in Phuket and neighboring provinces had contacted the call centre, but also tourists in Bangkok, because the call center in Phuket was the first to launch to assist stranded tourists, she said. We will compile a list of all travelers who request assistance and separate them into two groups: travelers wishing to return to their home country; and those who want to stay but are unable to access funds to pay for services, she said. The list will be presented to the Governor of the TAT to expedite further assistance to the tourists, Ms Nanthasiri added. Somwong Pruksalamats, a Russian-speaking guide now working at the call centre, said he had fielded calls from both Russians and Ukrainians. "For visa issues, we coordinate with Phuket Immigration to assist," he said. Mr Somwong added that most tourists are very happy with the assistance provided. They felt that they were not abandoned," he said. The call centre can be contacted at 093-9372086 or 094-8191124, or by email to hktasst@gmail.com The centre is open from 8:30am to 7pm each day. The centre is currently expected to remain open until at least Mar 22. Thailand affirms neutral stance BANGKOK: Thailand has confirmed its neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying it remains committed to a balanced foreign policy that is in the countrys best interests. CoronavirusCOVID-19politicsRussianUkraine By Bangkok Post Friday 11 March 2022, 08:35AM A Ukrainian solider is seen in position in Kyiv on Wednesday (Mar 9). Photo: AFP Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana clarified the governments stance on the Russia-Ukraine situation yesterday (Mar 10), saying that since the start of the conflict, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had laid down a policy of supporting dialogue to find a peaceful resolution in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Evacuating Thais out of Ukraine has been a top priority and it has been carried out successfully, he said. As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Thailand has also made its position clear via a statement by the blocs foreign ministers calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and make the utmost effort to pursue dialogue through all channels to de-escalate tension, reports the Bangkok Post. Given the threat posed by COVID-19, Thailand does not want to see any international conflict and tension to compound the public health crisis, and strongly believes a solution to the conflict can be achieved through peaceful means, Thanakorn said. Tanee Sangrat, spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the ministry has approved B2 million for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, after it received a request for help from the Ukrainian embassy in Bangkok. Tanee said the donation will be sent to the Thai embassy in the Polish capital Warsaw, which borders Ukraine. The money will be used to buy daily necessities for people in Ukraine affected by the fighting. The items will be handed out via the Ukrainian Red Cross Society or other international organisations, he said. This marks the governments second humanitarian donation to Ukraine. The first donation worth B1mn was made back in 2019 to assist in procuring humanitarian and medical relief for people displaced in the countrys eastern region. That donation was made via the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Thai Red Cross Society, Tanee said. Pairoj Chotikasathien, director-general of the Department of Employment, said he has ordered a delay on any Thai workers planning to go to Russia. There are currently 441 Thai workers in the country, with some paying for travel expenses out of their own pocket, Pairoj said. Most of them are spa workers or massage therapists. Travelling to work in Russia is dangerous so Thai workers must wait until the situation eases, he said. He said Russia has closed its airspace to European Union countries and their allies that have imposed sanctions on it. Therefore, commercial flights from those countries to Asia have to be rerouted, leading to longer travel times and higher ticket prices, he added. Yacht tourists return to Phuket PHUKET: The first group of tourists to arrive in Phuket under the latest revision of the Test & Go entry measures docked at Ao Po Pier, on Phukets east coast, earlier this week. tourismmarineCOVID-19economics By The Phuket News Friday 11 March 2022, 11:16AM Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office director Nanthasiri Ronnasiri confirmed that four Indonesian nationals arrived from Singapore on the private yacht The Maggie, which dropped anchor at Ao Por on Tuesday (Mar 8). The four were the first to enter Phuket under new Test & Go measures that came into effect on Mar 1, she said. In accordance with the revised measures for arriving by sea, the four were fully vaccinated and were required to be tested by RT-PCR on arrival. The four were required to remain aboard the yacht until their results were released. Ms Nanthasiri said the easing of the entry measures would be good for stimulating tourism to Phuket. Tourists who prefer to travel by yachts and cruise ships are another group of tourists with high spending potential, she said. This group will travel mainly from European and Mediterranean countries. They may travel to Phuket by plane then charter a boat to travel in Phuket and nearby waters, and then come back to Phuket to travel home. Others might arrive on a boat from a neighbouring country to relax on Phuket, she added. There are many boats requesting to travel to Phuket under Test & Go, Ms Nanthasiri said. In 2021, 91 boats with a total of 323 people on board arrived in Phuket. In January-February this year, 27 yachts arrived with 92 passengers, she noted. Phuket is ready to welcome tourists on yachts. This includes ports that can accommodate boats of various sizes, facilities for boat repairs as well as tour excursions, accommodation, spas and shopping, all of which cater very well to the lifestyle of this group of tourists, Ms Nanthasiri said. Phuket has one deep seat port for large vessels as well as 30 government and privately operated piers to welcome arriving yachts, she said. Ms Nanthasiri noted that the return of tourists arriving by sea was much welcomed. It is another tourism business that has been suffering heavily during the COVID-19 epidemic for more than two years, she said. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 87F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill. Roanoke, AL (36274) Today Mostly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. WATCH: RHCP pay tribute to Taylor Hawkins at New Orleans Jazz Festival RHCP stepped up to replace the Foo Fighters, who were supposed to be headlining at the festival. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy with periods of light rain. High 14C. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 4C. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Justin Pare is president of the North Attleboro Town Council, and is responsible for Business Insight for VMware Worldwide Partner and Commercial Sales. Reach him at Jpare79@yahoo.com ALTON Each week award-winning photographer John Badman of The Telegraph captures images of the Riverbend. Here is a sampling of his photographs from this week. They also appear in the weekend issue of The Telegraph. Rep. Rodney Davis joined a number of his fellow Republicans on June 14, 2017, for an early morning baseball practice on a field in Alexandria, a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C. They were getting ready for an annual charity game that Republicans and Democrats have played for over 100 years, and the recurring time and place of their practice was not something anyone thought needed to be kept secret. The first gunshots rang out about 30 minutes into practice, and if it had not been for two Capitol Police officers who happened to be at the field, theres a good chance that Davis and most, if not all, of his colleagues would have been massacred that morning. The shooter, who does not deserve to have his name in print, had approached one of the members of Congress before practice began to make sure that those were indeed Republicans on the field that morning. In other words, had they been Democrats, he would have not pulled the trigger. Davis has continued to represent Illinois in Congress despite that mornings attempt on his life, and we are better off for it because he is a thoughtful legislator with integrity and commitment to making this country better. While performing this public service, he continues to routinely receive death threats, sometimes for being a Republican and other times for not being Republican enough. The other side of the political aisle is not exempt from the very real possibility of violence against them or their families. Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, said that threats are expected and come with the job. He should know, since his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in the head and nearly died in 2011 while holding a campaign event in her district. The number of death threats against members of Congress actively investigated by police reached an astounding 3,939 in 2017. By 2020, that number had more than doubled. The next year it almost tripled to nearly 10,000. That means that on average a member of Congress receives a message that the police classify as disconcerting or a direct threat every three weeks. And when I say a member of Congress receives, what I should say instead is the staff of a member of Congress receives because the person picking up the phone and being harassed, screamed at with vicious and profanity-laden language, and told in no uncertain terms that the world would be better off without them, is usually an intern or the most junior staff member. Public service comes in many different forms, and the health of our communities depends on citizens stepping up to the plate, either by volunteering or by foregoing more lucrative private-sector opportunities. They pay a price, which is why it is called public service. However, in our age of riling each other up via social media and call-to-arms cable news, the sacrifice we are asking of our public servants is much too steep a cost. School board members across the country dread town hall meetings because they know they will be shouted at for hours. Many need security to make it out the door to their cars, and quite a few are reminded that we know where you live. Police officers, who have to assess the danger of a situation in a split second in order to keep themselves and the public safe, are as a group lumped in with every bad apple who ever put on the uniform. And teachers have been fully thrust into the middle of the mask mandate debate, having to deal with angry parents on both sides of the dispute. The great Ive done my part, but now Im done with this crap tsunami is headed our way, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We are losing members of Congress with years and years of experience and a track record of actually legislating. Congressional staffers at all levels are analyzing their quality of life and monthly paychecks and then updating their resumes as a result. Classroom sizes next year and for years to come will only get bigger because well have fewer teachers for more students. Police officers are working more and longer shifts because there are fewer bodies to help keep our communities safe. And on school boards across the country, there are now countless opportunities for extremists from either side of the political spectrum to pick up vacated seats and transform what and how our children are learning. It is crucial that we as a society figure out how to tone down our disagreements. We each have the responsibility to take the spotlight away from those whose business model is anger and division. It is time to come to our senses and stop empowering those who peddle tribalism and belligerence for personal gain, be they on the airwaves, internet or Capitol Hill. They are the ones who are actively stoking the flames of anger and threats, and they are the ones preventing Americans from living up to the best versions of ourselves. London, KY (40741) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 69F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Cybersecurity firm Avast has become the latest London-listed firm to suspend all sales and marketing in Russia and Belarus due to the war in Ukraine. The FTSE 100 company also said it would give paying users in Ukraine free extensions on their product licenses. Ukraine, Russia and Belarus collectively contributed around 1.5 per cent of Avast's 941.1million of revenue last year. Avast has suspended all marketing and sales of its products in Russia and Belarus 'With disinformation rife, supporting Ukrainians' access to a secure, unrestricted internet connection to obtain and share accurate information about the conflict is critically important,' said the company in a statement. Avast, which is in the process of being bought by US rival Norton in a 6.2billion deal, added it was donating over $800,000 to humanitarian organisations. 'Avast is also working with local charities on the ground to address skills-based volunteering opportunities and help Ukrainian organizations avoid cyber threats or recover from a cyberattack,' it added. The company has become the latest of a string of British and international companies pulling out of Russia in the past week, from tech giants Microsoft and Apple to retailers Boohoo and JD Sports. Avast shares were little changed at 641.80p towards market close on Friday. Sir Michael Peat, Prince Charles' ex-aide and the Queen's former treasurer, has quit Evraz board The entire board of directors of Russian steelmaker Evraz has resigned, the company announced today. It comes just a day after London-listed shares in the FTSE 100 group were temporarily suspended as the UK sanctioned oligarch Roman Abramovich, the group's biggest investor with a 29 per cent stake. In a statement to investors on Friday, Evraz said that in light of the sanctions and shares suspension, all of its 10 non-executive directors have resigned from the board with immediate effect. The directors stepping down include three Britons - Sir Michael Peat, Stephen Odell and Deborah Gudgeon - all of whom previously refused to stand down from the board. Peat, Prince Charles' ex-aide and the Queen's former treasurer, has been with the company since 2011 and has earned 1.9million from Evraz in the last decade. He was going to stand down at the end of this month regardless, once part of Evraz's business has been split into a separate firm a process that started long before the war with Ukraine. Ex-Ford Motor Company executive Stephen Odell who made 105,000 from Evraz last year and former Deloitte director Deborah Gudgeon have also now finally announced their resignation. Last week, British director James Rutherford became the first to step down from Evraz board in a moral stand against Putins regime. Other directors quitting the company are chairman Alexander Abramov, Alexander Frolov, Alexander Izosimov, oligarch Eugene Shvidler, Chelsea FC director Eugene Tenenbaum, Maria Gordon and Karl Gruber. Chief executive Alexey Ivanov will remain as the sole director of the company, Evraz said. It added: 'Evraz is deeply concerned and saddened by the Ukraine-Russia conflict and hopes that a peaceful resolution will be found soon.' The raft of resignations comes after a set of highly damaging claims about the Russian company. Yesterday, the Foreign Office said Abramovich has 'been involved in destabilising Ukraine' and is the 'controlling force' of FTSE 100-listed Evraz. And Evraz itself, officials said, potentially supplies 'steel to the Russian military', which may have been used in the production of the tanks lurking on the outskirts of Kyiv - a claim that Evraz has denied, saying it provided steel only to the 'infrastructure and construction sectors'. The London Stock Exchange and Financial Conduct Authority have still refused to take measures to boot out Evraz and the 36 other companies that have had their shares suspended over the Ukraine crisis. SPARKS [mdash] Mrs. Mattie L. Clements Martin, 93, of Sparks, Georgia, passed away at her granddaughter's home on April 25, 2022. Mrs. Martin was born on January 17, 1929 in Colquitt County to the late Ivey Lane Hart and Ola Gay Hart. She lived most of her life in Cook County and was of the Instant unlimited access to all of our content on tillamookheadlightherald.com. The Headlight Herald E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Cumberland, MD (21502) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 73F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Local Montpelier Mask-less in Montpelier? Council scraps expiring mandate MONTPELIER When it comes to face coverings you can add Montpelier to the parade of communities that has essentially adopted a wear them if you want them alternative to a local mask mandate. With public sentiment shifting, state guidelines changing and science at least for now no longer on the side of the indoor masking requirement they adopted in December, councilors unanimously agreed Wednesday night to immediately terminate the local emergency order less than 48 hours before it was set to expire. Unable to justify what would have been a third 30-day extension and facing growing resistance from downtown business owners, councilors sought to bolster the trust some suggested theyd need to impose a similar pandemic-related requirement in the future. Mayor Anne Watson kicked off the conversation noting the absence of an administrative recommendation and her receipt of an email from Dan Groberg, executive director of Montpelier Alive. A majority of businesses downtown are hoping we do not renew the mask mandate, Watson said, citing Grobergs email. It quickly became clear a majority of the council was on the same page, though some for different reasons. Councilor Cary Brown, who was elected last Tuesday, said up-to-date information about COVID-19 case counts in Washington County compiled by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) undercut the rationale for extending the expiring mandate. Were not falling under the CDC recommendations for indoor masking currently, she said. Councilor Lauren Hierl agreed. My inclination is to let it lapse, she said of the emergency order that would have expired today absent a decision to either extend or terminate it. Hierl, who credited the council for following the science when adopting the local mask mandate in December, extending it in January and again in February, suggested approving another 30-day extension would do more harm than good. It sounds like businesses and others are having trouble enforcing it, she said, suggesting lifting the mandate when it doesnt appear to be warranted might bolster support for bringing it back if case counts suddenly rise. Id like to keep it in the tool box if we see other times we need to use it, she said. Barring legislative action, the authority to enact local mask ordinances will expire April 30. Councilor Conor Casey said the law passed late last year was a sorry substitute for a statewide mask mandate and led to a negligent patchwork approach that saw some communities enact masking requirements and many others pass. That said, Casey agreed with Hierl. We should follow the science and listen to the community, he said, adding: We need residents to trust us in case theres a future need for a mandate. Casey went on to note the mandate that was still in place at the time wasnt terribly effective. Its not being enforced, he said. Some businesses are being openly defiant calling City Hall, saying were not going to do it anymore. While Casey said he would vote against extending the ordinance, Councilor Dona Bate said the council didnt need to vote at all. If we dont do anything, it will expire on Friday, she said. It briefly appeared thats what the council might do before one member Jack McCullough said he arrived at Wednesday nights meeting inclined to vote for another 30-day extension. McCullough acknowledged the council wasnt inclined to approve another extension and he had no problem with lifting the order. I dont like wearing a mask any more than anyone else, he said, shortly before making the motion to terminate the mask mandate effective immediately. Though something of a surprise, McCulloughs motion was unanimously approved, but not before Stephen Whitaker weighed in. Fresh off his failed mayoral bid, Whitaker told the council it should cut its losses and immediately end a mandate that contained no enforcement mechanism unless you count selectively shaming local businesses. Youve made a real farcical embarrassment out of the whole thing, and now youre trying to pretend youre going to save face here, he said. The councils decision to lift the mandate doesnt preclude businesses from requiring masks be worn in their establishments, or anyone from wearing them. Barring additional action, it does lift the requirement in City Hall and other municipally owned buildings. Councilors, who had previously agreed to meet remotely this month because of COVID-related concerns, agreed to resume in-person meetings on March 23 while retaining a remote option for residents. In a related matter councilors are poised to approve a temporary ordinance that will allow businesses to create curbside parklets starting April 15. That ordinance is expected to be adopted later this month, even as work on a more permanent version continues. During the pandemic, parklets, a street-side seating option for retail establishments, provided valuable space for restaurants that was invaluable when indoor capacity was limited due to COVID. david.delcore @timesargus.com Barre, VT (05641) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 52F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. The United States, together with the Group of Seven nations and the European Union, will move on Friday to revoke Russias most favoured nation status over its invasion of Ukraine, multiple people familiar with the situation told Reuters. Stripping Russia of its favoured nation status paves the way for the United States and its allies to impose tariffs on a wide range of Russian goods, which would ratchet up pressure on an economy already heading into a recession. Washingtons moves to tighten the screws on Moscow come as U.S. and European officials accuse Russia of war crimes over its bombardment of civilians in Ukrainian cities, amid repeated violations of ceasefires in which each side blames on the other. Russias defence ministry said it would declare a ceasefire on Friday and open humanitarian corridors from Mariupol as well as Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Chernihiv, although previous ceasefires have failed. About 222,000 people have been evacuated to Russia from Ukraine and its two Russian-backed rebel regions, the TASS news agency said on Friday, citing an unidentified source. Satellite images showed a Russian military column threatening Kyiv from the north had dispersed to new positions, private U.S. company Maxar Technologies (MAXR.N) said, possibly in preparation for an assault on the capital. On Friday, three air strikes in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least one person, state emergency services said, adding that the strikes were close to a kindergarten and an apartment building. Russian troops launched a high-precision, long-range attack on two military airfields in the Ukrainian cities of Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk and took them out of action, Russian news agencies quoted defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying on Friday. He also said that Russian forces had destroyed 3,213 Ukrainian military installations since the launch of what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine. Russian-backed separatists have captured the Ukrainian city of Volnovakha north of the besieged Azov Sea port of Mariupol, the RIA news agency quoted Russias defence ministry as saying. Volnovakha is strategically important as the northern gateway to Mariupol. Russias invasion of Ukraine is the biggest assault on a European country since World War Two. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a special operation to disarm Ukraine and unseat leaders it calls neo-Nazis. Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war of choice that has raised fears of wider conflict in Europe. ECONOMIC PRESSURE Removing Russias status of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the United States would significantly escalate pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the largest conflict in Europe since World War Two. The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to approve legislation providing $13.6 billion to help Ukraine finance ammunition and other military supplies, as well as humanitarian support. Biden had on Tuesday imposed an immediate ban on Russian oil and energy imports. The European Union will not impose sanctions on Russian gas or oil, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a video posted on his Facebook page on Friday, amid a summit of EU leaders in France. Images provided by Maxar showed armoured units manoeuvring in and through towns close to Antonov airport northwest of Kyiv, while other elements further north had repositioned near Lubyanka with towed artillery howitzers in firing positions. Reuters was unable to independently verify the images but the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said late on Thursday Russian forces had regrouped after heavy losses, without specifying which elements they were referring to. After three weeks of war, Russia has failed to reach its stated objectives of disarming the Ukrainian military and ousting the democratically elected government, but it has caused thousands of deaths and forced more than 2 million people to flee the country, where several cities are under siege. Putin on Thursday acknowledged there had been problems and difficulties in Ukraine but said Russia would emerge stronger from the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the operation was going to plan, after holding talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, in Turkey on Thursday, the highest-level meeting since Putin ordered the invasion on Feb. 24. Media in Russia are barred from reporting anything other than the Kremlins line on events in Ukraine, including allegations this week that the United States is secretly developing biological weapons there. The United Nations Security Council will convene on Friday at Russias request, diplomats said, to discuss Moscows allegations, which Washington has described as disinformation. The information war picked up on social media as well, with Russia demanding that Washington stop the extremist activities of Facebook owner Meta Platforms (FB.O), which temporarily lifted a ban on calls for violence against the Russian military and leadership. The social media company will temporarily allow some posts that call for the death of Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in countries including Russia, Ukraine and Poland, according to internal e-mails to its content moderators. CIVILIANS TRAPPED Hundreds of thousands of civilians remained trapped in Ukrainian cities, sheltering from Russian air raids and shelling despite repeated Russian promises to provide humanitarian corridors for evacuations. Officials in Mariupol said Russian warplanes again bombed the city on Thursday, a day after a maternity hospital was pulverised in an attack the United States said was evidence of a war crime. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Washington was working with others in the international community to document the crimes that Russia is committing against the Ukrainian people. They constitute war crimes; there are attacks on civilians that cannot be justified by any in any way whatsoever, she said in an interview with the BBC. Lavrov said the hospital struck on Wednesday had stopped treating patients and had been occupied by Ukrainian radicals. Russias Defence Ministry later denied having bombed the hospital at all, accusing Ukraine of a staged provocation. Source: Reuters Russian forces are continuing their offensive toward Kyiv on Friday from the northwest and east, notably trying to break through Ukrainian defenses from Kukhari, 90 kilometers (56 miles) to the northwest through to Demidov, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Kyiv, the general staff of Ukraines armed forces said in a statement. The general staff said Russian troops had been halted in efforts to take the northern city of Chernihiv, notably by Ukraines re-taking of the town of Baklanova Muraviika, which Russian troops could use to move toward Kyiv. Russian forces are blockading Kharkiv and pushing their offensive in the south around Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, Volodymyr Zelenskyys hometown. Rough weather on the Azov and Black Seas has stalled Russian ships efforts to come ashore, the general staff said. Three Russian airstrikes hit the important industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Friday, killing at least one person in strikes that hit near a kindergarten and apartment buildings, according to Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. One strike hit a shoe factory, sparking a fire, he said. He released video showing flashes over residential areas of the city, home to nearly 1 million people. ___ WASHINGTON President Joe Biden will announce Friday that, along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will move to revoke most favored nation trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Thats according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcement. Bidens move comes as bipartisan pressure has been building in Washington to revoke what is formally known as permanent normal trade relations with Russia. The move would allow the U.S. and allies to impose tariffs on Russian imports. __ SOURCE: Associated Press Paul Buckowski/Times Union BRUNSWICK - State Police said they arrested a 36-year-old man from Petersburgh on rape and other charges Monday. The suspect was charged with five counts of felony rape, two counts of criminal sex acts, two sex abuse counts and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child in addition to forcible touching. He was charged after police received information indicating he had sex with a youth he knew under the age of 15 multiple times, according to police. The investigation began in January. ALBANY The pandemic is still dealing blows to the restaurant industry in the form of labor shortages, record-high inflation and supply chain issues. So, its possible reduced hours are a new normal at least for a while. Skinny Pancake, a creperie and new kid on the block on Albany's restaurant scene, was closed Monday and Tuesday. A chalkboard posted outside of the restaurants Steuben Street entrance offered a sincere apology to customers for the closure, citing low staffing levels. We want to ensure that our remaining employees still have time outside of work while we diligently try to re-staff the restaurant, the message said. The Skinny Pancake has several locations in Vermont and opened its first in Albany in December. Michael Cyr, the restaurants marketing director, said staffing has been tough across the board, although not as challenging in Albany as it has been in Vermont. At other locations, the Skinny Pancake decided to only open for breakfast and lunch two days a week but offers everything through dinner three days a week. But Cyr said that became confusing for customers, which is why they opted to close for two whole days instead and have a full day of offerings available five days a week in Albany. Returning to its desired seven days a week schedule means the restaurant needs to bring on six more employees. Cyr is hopeful the reduced hours will be temporary, anticipating the Skinny Pancake will be back to business as usual in a few weeks. Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) said the industry as a whole remains understaffed, which has forced some to cut their hours in half and sometimes more. I do think you're going to see a slower pace in the industry for quite some time and that's going to make it harder for the recovery to happen quickly, she said. These changes, coupled with inflated costs, will keep hurting restaurants bottom lines. They wont be able to serve as many guests or may have to raise prices, despite their desire to refrain, to ensure patrons are still getting quality service and meals. Fleischut expects takeout will maintain strong demand and be slightly more popular than delivery, particularly in the Capital Region where she has seen some restaurants outright stop delivery services. And unfortunately, theres more bad news for the industry. The restaurant revitalization fund, a federal source of aid that many banked on for help, might not be distributed this year. According to Fleischut, the average New York restaurant received about $280,000 from the program. Without its renewal, that means roughly 17,868 operators, bars, restaurants and caterers that applied for supplemental funds almost a year ago are now not going to receive that money anytime soon. This is devastating, she said. Regardless of the odds not favoring restaurants, Albany eateries are holding onto a glimmer of hope. Some are even moving upward against the tide. Yonos DP, an American brasserie on Chapel Street, for example, will open on Thursday nights again starting next week after cutting back those hours since last summer. Its a sign that business is improving. The Skinny Pancake, too, feels some theres hope on the horizon. As people sort of emerge from their winter hibernation, they'll be coming out to support us, Cyr said. On one of their first dates, Ben Davidson took Pippa Biddle to see the storage unit where he kept his antiques as one will do, he says jokingly. It may not have been dinner and a movie, but Biddle loved it. Both of us grew up with antiques and a deep family history, she says. For us, its the most normal thing in the world. Their shared interests antiques, history and design led to love, marriage and a baby carriage (their son, Crowe, is six months old), but it didnt stop there. Davidson, 30, and Biddle, 29, are the proprietors of Quittner, an antiques, housewares and lighting restoration business founded in Germantown in 2018. The original shop featured inventory from Davidsons storage unit, displayed in the front two rooms of their house. Having a store in their home was romantic, Biddle says, but then the pandemic hit and it stopped being so romantic. They closed shop in October 2020 and re-opened in their current location 2 miles from the center of town on Rte. 9G in December 2021. During Quittners retail hiatus, Davidson continued his restoration work as they developed new products. The new store occupies a former welding shop that has also housed a furniture maker and a florist. Quittner displays a selection of curated objects including art, lighting, furniture and household items made by Hudson Valley artisans, many with input from Biddle and Davidson. Everything is a partnership, Biddle says. We ask ourselves: How can we bring in as many local people as possible? For example, Quittner sells a bronze drawer pull in the shape of an upturned hand, which can be ordered in left or right. Davidson and Biddle came up with the idea and had it fabricated by Eznic Karakashian of Eznik Metal Arts in East Durham. Quittner also sell two other items made by Karakashian brass drawer pulls in the shape of asparagus stalks, seemingly bowed from steaming, and a small sculpture of two flat, dark-brown bananas, past the point of banana bread, cast in bronze. Emma McCann Zauder Quittner also sells table linens, which Biddle used to sew herself. I couldnt keep up with the demand, she says, so going forward they will be fabricated by Made X Hudson. Blank letterpress greeting cards printed with a rocking chair were made by Lilah Friedland in Tivoli. Vintage coat hooks in bright colors were powder-coated by K&S Powder Coating in Poughkeepsie. The list of collaborations goes on. Much of their antique lighting is sourced in the Hudson Valley, Albany and New England, sometimes from houses that are being demolished. Davidson restores them in a black building next door to the shop. In some cases, the lights are modified to create an original object. We work with a lot of local designers who want something totally unique, says Biddle. What we offer is not based on a particular trend. Were interested in a mixture of old and new, sustainability and local production. The Hudson Valley is flush with new, affluent weekenders from New York City, and Biddle and Davidson say they are keen to ensure that the local community continues to feel welcome. A lot of local people feel alienated from the new businesses, she says. Id rather have stuff so a local person can get as a gift for a friend for $25. The people we care most about are the people who are here every day of the week. Quittner was designed as a meeting place as well as a store. A low table surrounded by six wooden chairs sits at the center of the room, and theres a hot water dispenser with loose Harney & Sons teas for visitors who would like a complimentary cuppa. The space is wheelchair accessible and child friendly. I want to see kids hiding in a trunk, Biddle says. When they leave the doors open, chickens from their coop behind the store wander in. Whence the name? Quittner is Davidsons middle name and his great-great-grandmothers maiden name. We wanted a single word, Biddle says. Just Quittner. From childhood sweethearts to business partners Family history plays a role in their collective calling. Davidsons grandmother, Joan K. Davidson, chaired the New York State Council on the Arts and was commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation under Governor Mario Cuomo. Davidson says she was a huge influence on his aesthetic. Biddle, who grew up in a house that was built in 1760, says she was instilled with a similar sensibility. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. Biddle admits they are something of an anomaly in the antiques business, where twentysomething dealers are uncommon. Vintage is a young business, antiques is not, Biddle says. But its an amazing experience to learn from those in the business. A lot of people are generous with their time. Their clients also tend to skew young, ranging in age from 30 to 50. Michelle Falkenstein Biddle and Davidsons path to Quittner was anything but a straight line. They first met as kids at Camp Treetops in Lake Placid. It was seven weeks of taking care of animals, picking carrots and going barefoot, Biddle recalls. They were boyfriend and girlfriend when she was 10 and he was 11, but lost touch for years. In the ensuing time, Biddle worked for English primatologist Jane Goodall and attended Lewis & Clark College and Barnard College before joining a startup. She went back to college and graduated from Columbia University with a degree in creative writing. Davidson attended Bennington College, spent a year at Oxford University, and graduated with a degree in history and constitutional development. He spent 15 months as live-in caretaker at the Rose Valley Museum at Thunderbird Lodge in Pennsylvania, site of a former utopian artists community, where he learned restoration from master craftspeople. He then moved to Philadelphia, where he traded restoration work for free rent and farm-fresh vegetables. Biddle, who was working as a journalist, and Davidson got back in touch when he sent her a Facebook message after reading one of her articles. Today the pair co-author an original feature for The Magazine Antiques called Object Lesson. (In the March/April issue, they discuss model ships made of bone and hair that were created by French prisoners in Britain during the Napoleonic Wars.) Biddle and Davidson also contributed to the 2021 Wildsam Field Guides: Hudson Valley & Catskills. Both Biddle and Davidson are happy to be in the Hudson Valley. Its a really lovely area to work in, Davidson says. Biddle enjoys how the area is so alive with the past. Many of our clients are people who want to explore the historical aspects of the area, she says. Its such a joy for us. Thats why we got into it, the storytelling. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY Julia Long stood next to the tall woman wearing a faux leather jacket who was in front of Judge Ricja Rice. The woman was among the hundreds, if not thousands, of city residents facing possible eviction. The landlords attorney made it clear: The tenant violated her lease by keeping dogs on the property and the lease ended several months ago. A neighbor running an Airbnb next door was threatening legal action because of the barking dogs. The landlord had no interest in a new lease. The tenant needed to go. Longs left hand, clutching a phone, never left the back of the woman she had met less than an hour ago. From time to time she whispered in the womans ear, giving advice on what to say and what point to make. Long, 53, occupies a unique position in the citys housing court system. She is a court advocate for tenants facing possible eviction. And currently she does it for free. The tenant quietly made her case to Rice. She promised to get rid of the dogs like she had repeatedly vowed to do in the past. She had children in the city school districtmoving in the middle of the school year would be an incredible hardship. After Rice announced she would mail both parties a decision within a week, Long and the woman stepped outside the courtroom. She started crying, I started crying, Long said after the court appearance. I told her, Look, youve got seven days, you need to get serious about finding a new place.' Long isnt an attorney, but she is trying to become one. She completed a legal degree, as well as two master's degrees. She considered working in criminal law but decided it wasnt for her. I feel this is just as important because you have to have housing, she said. Its your foundation. She is working with Albany Law School to set up Alternatives to Displacement, a nonprofit that would support her and her work. Shes applied to the city for some of the American Rescue Plan money offered to community projects and is setting up a GoFundMe account in hopes it will get her nonprofit off the ground. She recognizes many of her clients have never read a legal document. For some, the eviction process is the first time theyve been in a courtroom. They can be easily swallowed up by a system theyve never had to understand. But since she hasnt passed the state bar exam, she cant speak for them to a judge. She can only stand beside them, offering a whisper of advice and a comforting pat on the back. Long is well known by landlord attorneys and judges in the city's court system. When a dispute arises during an appearance or a tenant arrives without an attorney, Long offers to speak with them. Her approach, one of direct honesty with tenants and landlords alike, has won her the respect of attorneys she works alongside. Long approaches the disputes with empathy and avoids trying to push someones buttons, said David Green, an attorney for landlords who is also a Colonie town judge. That's what she's been so good at doing - simplifying something that can often times get out of hand and just come into a resolution, he said. That's good for everyone. Everybody leaves the table somewhat satisfied. Unlike the criminal justice system, civil matters like eviction cases do not come with a right to an attorney. Most landlords can afford one. For tenants, it's a different story. In 2018, in Albany City Court landlord-tenant cases, only 2.4 percent of defendants had attorneys, compared to 85.7 of plaintiffs, according to right-to-counsel legislation recently introduced in Albany County. There is similar proposed legislation at the state level. New York City passed legislation that guarantees representation for tenants in certain ZIP codes and for those who fell under a certain income cap. The difference matters: A one-year study of New York Citys program found that 86 percent of households with attorneys were allowed to stay in their homes. Locally, court advocates from nonprofits like Legal Aid and United Tenants of Albany fill in where they can. But both of those nonprofits are strapped for resources and rely on clients who contact them, rather than being in court daily to speak with tenants as they arrive. Long got her start as a courtroom advocate working under United Tenants of Albany in 2019. The position was funded through Catholic Charities. When the funding ran out at the beginning of this year, Long was unemployed. The legal system rolled on regardless, which meant her clients were still calling her. So she kept showing up. For awhile she met with clients at her house before the Community Loan Fund provided her with office space on Orange Street at a reduced price. Long works mainly in Albany, although shes also appeared in Troy, Colonie, Cohoes and Watervliet courts. Most cases follow a similar pattern. Wednesday mornings docket in Albany had 30 cases. By 11:30 a.m., the hallway outside the courtroom was filling up with tenants, landlords and attorneys in discussion. Some brought their children or clutched legal pads and stacks of papers. Others sat quietly in the courtroom, waiting to make their appearance. One tenant, after a brief conference in the hallway with his landlords attorney, agrees to a summary judgment of $3,500 in back rent in exchange for having the rest of the month to find a new place to live. In another case, a landlords attorney asks for $4,900, seven months of back rent. Rice refusedshe can only grant the amount due when the landlord filed for eviction, which was $3,500. She adds that the landlord is free to file another petition asking for a judgment to cover the remaining time the tenant has stayed. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Not all cases go as quietly or smoothly. Early Wednesday, a man and a woman burst out of the courtroom. A courtroom officer and the woman tried to calm the man, a landlord who has been trying to remove a tenant for months. Shes using drugs, shes tearing up the place! he tells the officer. Eventually the man goes back inside the courtroom, running his hand over his head as he walks back in, visibly frustrated. In more cases than not, the tenant didnt show up and the landlords attorney did. The results in those cases are predictable: An eviction warrant and summary judgment for back rent. For tenants who dont show up to court, Long understands. Some work. Others just move on. And some don't want to be seen as a failure, she said. Its especially difficult because most of the tenants also have children, so they feel ashamed to be seen as a failure to their children, she said. Longs approach in most landlord-tenant disputes is to seek a middle ground. She is direct with tenants, asking them how much they owe, how much they make, do they want to stay or find a new place to live. And if theyre in the wrong, they hear that as well. She has no time for tenants she thinks are trying to pull a fast one on their landlord, she said. But she believes those are a small minority of tenants facing eviction. She calls the landlord or their attorney and sees what kind of resolution they can work out. Will the landlord accept partial payments? Will they give the tenant more time? Most of the time the landlord will go for that, she said. Long said she tries to make her clients understand that often both parties feel wronged. The landlords rely on tenants rent to pay mortgages, taxes and for income. Those taxes fund the school system the tenants children attend. But she fights when she sees a tenant wronged. Long has repeatedly advised tenants at trial who have had their power illegally shut off or been forced to live in substandard housing. And she said shes never seen those cases go the landlord's way. When shes not working with clients in court, shes often on the phone, trying to find soon-to-be evicted clients a place to live. Along with her business card she carries copies of a spreadsheet that lists affordable housing options for those who end up being evicted. Other times shes calling shelters but more often than not, the citys shelters are all full. Its bad, she said, shaking her head. The need is dire. Last year she worked with over 200 families, she estimates. This year it's closer to 100 clients a month. As of Thursday morning, 13 people had called her this week, referred through United Tenants or other avenues. Until theres a right to counsel in New York state, all the tenant has is me, she said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SCHENECTADY Saying it was a difficult decision, the owners of F. Cappiello Foods are closing the downtown destination known for selling Italian specialty foods for just over a century. The grocery shut down for a time after family matriarch and proud owner" Mary Cappiello died at age 91 in February 2019. But this time, the business is closing for good. This decision wasn't easy at all to come to, it was made due to a combination of supply, economic and health reasons but ultimately it comes down to following Mary's final verbal and last will wishes for us to close and sell the business upon her passing," according to a March 5 post on the business Facebook page that was written by her daughter Serena Cappiello and grandson Adrien Washington-Cappiello. We understand that this news will probably come as a shock to many, we've worked here for over 50 and 30 years, respectively, and it was always our intention to keep our family business going strong (even during a pandemic) but sadly we are at a point where the reality of things outweighs that vision. Established in 1921, the wholesale business and retail store at 510 Broadway, sold milk, cheese and Italian delicacies. The store will officially close March 19 with the customary pizza, stuffed breads and sandwiches available while supplies last. The social media post also thanks the community for all your patronage, love and happy memories throughout the years. On Friday, Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy called Cappiellos an institution that will be badly missed. Everybody going in there gets treated like family, their products were local, its just a sad day for Schenectady where were seeing this transition happening, he said. Were sad to see them go. That was the overwhelming response from customers who on the Facebook post wrote hundreds of comments, wishing the Cappiello family well and lavishing them with praise for their decades running a great business. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Ive been coming to your beautiful store for close to 60 years, and have treasured every visit, Joan Guiffre China wrote. "Since moving to Florida, twice a year when we are back home I order 25 pounds of sausage to bring back to Florida. It is the best sausage ever. She lamented not being able to come back for one last visit before the doors close. Loretta Tarquini Cozza wrote that many of my best meals and special occasions were made because of the food and supplies I purchased at your store. Cappiellos will always hold a special place in our hearts, she added. You will be greatly missed. The impending closure of the store was first reported by the Daily Gazette. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY About 35 percent of households in the state live in environmentally disadvantaged communities according to a draft plan that outlines how the benefits of shifting to green energy should be distributed. A draft map of these communities, based on census tracts, was released this week by a subcommittee of the Climate Action Council, the group charged with creating a road map for switching from a fossil fuel-based economy to one based on renewables like solar and wind power. Parts of Albany, Cohoes, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Troy as well as Ravena and Watervliet have been deemed disadvantaged communities according to the draft map. None are in Saratoga County. The map culminates more than two years of planning and debates on what constitutes a disadvantaged community. Essentially, neighborhoods with high poverty rates, high numbers of minority residents and areas with a history of being affected by pollution or threatened by natural disasters like floods fall into these categories. Other factors used to define a disadvantaged community include disproportionate numbers of people with health problems like asthma or pulmonary disease. A total of 45 indicators were used in defining these communities. Going forward, these neighborhoods are supposed to get extra consideration in the shift toward green energy, with jobs, energy efficiency subsidies and other benefits flowing to them in order to make up for what planners said was a history of environmental injustice. This marks a significant milestone in New Yorks efforts to advance climate justice, state Environmental Commissioner Basil Seggos said. As the state works to reach economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, it must direct funds to reduce pollution and provide economic opportunity to those who need it most, added Raya Salter, an environmental lawyer who served on the Climate Action Council. Climate justice, the idea that certain groups have been disproportionately harmed by pollution as well as climate change, is an important aspect of the Climate Action Councils work. The group created a subcommittee to develop the criteria for choosing disadvantaged communities. The efforts stem from the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, or CLCPA, which calls for a carbon-free economy by 2050. That law requires the state to invest or direct resources to help ensure that disadvantaged communities receive at least 35 percent of the benefits from spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs. Those benefits could come in a variety of ways, including job opportunities for people living in disadvantaged communities. Or they could come from enhanced energy-efficiency programs to subsidize insulating or weatherproofing homes. Our members will have to pay attention to these (census) maps when developing their programs, remarked Anne Reynolds, executive director of the state Alliance for Clean Energy, an association of solar, wind and other renewable energy companies. For instance, a company building an offshore wind project or solar farm, might offer job training in a disadvantaged community or purchase supplies from stores and companies located in those communities. Its not absolutely clear what companies will have to do but it is clear that they will have to steer investment to these communities one way or another, said Reynolds. In the Capital Region, for example, the companies planning to build wind towers at an expanded Port of Albany might offer training or apprenticeships from residents of the nearby South End of Albany, which is lower income and has a high number of minority residents. Parts of the South End also have been challenged by proximity to a rail siding and heavy truck traffic serving the port yet another factor that helps define a disadvantaged community. Other working class communities should benefit. "It is both encouraging and important to us the state is looking for opportunities and pathways to make sure that communities like ours can take advantage of clean energy funding," said Theresa Bourgeois director of operations for Cohoes. The city has recently been recognized for planning to put floating solar panels in a municipal reservoir. City officials hope the designation as a disadvantaged community will help fund the project. 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 disadvantaged community concept is also being embraced by the Biden administration with similar considerations and goals playing a part in the presidents plans to combat climate change. Those plans, though, were criticized last month as they excluded race as a factor in identifying disadvantaged communities, noted Salter. Tax break concern Barbara Heinzen, a Capital Region consultant and environmental activist, said she worries that the mantle of helping disadvantaged communities could become an excuse for handing out unneeded tax breaks to businesses. Im skeptical, said Heinzen. The village of Ravena, for instance, is listed as a disadvantaged community in the draft map and its also the home to the Port of Coeymans. The port will be constructing platforms for offshore wind turbines, but there is local opposition to the expansion plans there, due to traffic and other concerns. Heinzen wonders if those concerns could be glossed over by the prospect of bringing jobs to the community. The draft maps can be seen here. This list is here. Thursday marked the beginning of a 120-day public comment period for New Yorkers to provide feedback on the draft before the criteria are finalized. New Yorkers can submit comments via the online public comment form at DACComments@dec.ny.gov and by mail to Attention: Draft DAC Comments, NYS DEC, Attn. Office of Environmental Justice, 625 Broadway, 14th Floor, Albany NY 12233. Information about the public hearings will be released soon. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY One of New York's oldest supportive housing programs, which serves 20,000 people, is is not included in Gov. Kathy Hochul's $500 million commitment to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for human services workers. It comes at a time when nonprofits employing people in high-stress jobs, including working with homeless people, continue to compete with the rising minimum wage in the service sector. Hochul outlined her broad pledge to provide a 5.4 percent cost-of-living adjustment for human service workers in her executive budget proposal, but it came with certain exceptions. The New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP), a $40 million endeavor, provides housing for adults who are or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. Upon receiving stable housing from a nonprofit, they pay monthly rent and have no substantial restrictions on their tenancy beyond what would be expected of any other renter. Since a cost of living adjustment for human service workers was enacted in 2006, the supportive housing program has been excluded from it, according to the state Division of Budget. The reason NYSSHP was excluded more than 15 years ago from the living adjustments was an "oversight" that "left out an essential part of the supportive housing workforce," according to Laura Mascuch, executive director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York. "They richly deserve a raise and if the governor cannot fix this long-standing problem, we look to the Legislature to right the wrong, Mascuch said in a statement. The adjustment would amount to about a $2.2 million addition for a program that advocates point out is relatively cheap compared to other housing services for people experiencing homelessness. The staff costs primarily cover case management services. "When people are so underpaid, there's a consequence to the tenant," Mascuch said. She described a scenario in which case managers leave after less than a year on the job, leaving tenants without consistency that could benefit their needs. "Some people can go to box stores or fast food and make more money, so we already lost people and we don't want to lose anymore because we can't give them a cost of living adjustment," Mascuch said. Nonprofits receive between $180 and $275 monthly reimbursement from the state per housing unit for individual and family supportive housing, according to the program. Nearly all of the funding goes to staffing, while no more than 10 percent can be spent on administrative costs. Comparatively, the $110 million Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, a similar program, provides $2,000 a month per unit reimbursement, according to Kevin O'Connor, executive director of Joseph's House and Shelter, which is based in Troy. "So you see the significant cost disparity there between historical supportive housing programs, which have been around for decades as ours has, versus brand new ones," O'Connor said. "It's the same type of clients that we would be serving." O'Connor, who has been working in supportive housing for three decades, explained that the concept of the programming came out of a time when people were being priced out of their homes and with nowhere to go. The program ensures a tenant does not pay more than 30 percent of their income on rent, which is the widely accepted standard for someone who is "burdened" by their rent payments. In the Capital Region, O'Connor's programming for permanent, supportive housing provides tenancy to 208 individuals, served by about 40 employees. For every case worker, they service 18 clients, he said. O'Connor said he tries to pay staff $16 an hour to compete with the rising minimum wage and other human services programs that receive a higher reimbursement rate. A degree is not necessary to become a case manager, O'Connor said, but experience with dealing with homelessness is welcomed. Homelessness has risen during the pandemic, he said. Last year, in Albany County, his program served 1,000 individuals. O'Connor emphasized that when people are out on the street, they run into physical and mental health issues for themselves and then can end up being an expensive cost on publicly funded services. They often go to emergency rooms or cycle through the criminal justice system. Oftentimes when a person enters supportive housing, which he said is always on their own account, they no longer rely on those same services as heavily, or if at all, O'Connor said. Last year, 90 percent of the program's tenants stayed through the year and typically people stay for about five years. Some of them move onto other permanent housing options or move home with family, while others encounter worsening health conditions and need more affirmative care. "We're trying to keep up, but we're still not keeping up yet with Target, that's for sure," O'Connor said. Workers tend to stay for five years, he added, some for decades. "Clearly, the mission drives a lot of the workers, but at the same time, they have to make ends meet, they've got to pay rent." The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is advising parents that children up to 4.5 years of age should not consume rice milk as substitutes for cows' milk, breast milk or infant formula. The FSAI posted the notice yesterday (Thursday March 10) after previously warning on the danger of such products due to findings indicating rice milk contains low levels of inorganic arsenic. The reiterated warning comes as the sale of a follow-on formula called Premibio Premiriz via a co.uk website has come to the attention of the FSAI. In yesterday's issued warning, they state: "Such infant formulas are not legally permitted to be sold on the European market, as they do not meet the legal compositional and nutritional requirements for infants. The FSAI is in contact with authorities in the UK and other Member States to discontinue the sale of this product in Europe from this website. The FSAI is contacting the relevant hospitals and public health professionals to inform them of these online sales." Chief Executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, believes the product should not be placed on the European market. She said, "Rice-based infant formula and follow-on formula are not legally permitted to be sold on the European market, as they do not meet infants nutritional requirements. Also, there is a concern around the inorganic arsenic content of rice-based products intended for young children. The FSAI is aware from published studies that low levels of inorganic arsenic have been detected in rice milk in the past and the recommendation is that infants and young children up to 4.5 years are not exposed to these products. "Arsenic is present in the environment and, therefore, can be present in a range of foods, including rice, at low levels. The toxicity of arsenic depends on the form in which it is present, this being either organic or inorganic. The inorganic form is the more toxic form and the FSAI states that exposure to this should be kept as low as reasonably practicable. "As a precaution, to reduce exposure to inorganic arsenic, parents and guardians should not give these foods to infants and young children up to 4.5 years." This week we've been talking about the consumer & political angle of rapidly rising gas prices but there's a more concerning trend which threatens to impact this town. To wit . . . STEALING GAS IS THE NEW HOTNESS FOR AMERICAN CROOKS AS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE!!! What's worse is that the practice is devastating to working poor targeted by thieves who want to cash in on an increasingly valuable commodity. A quick description and glimpse at the tactics . . . "These car owners would later find out that someone drilled holes in the tank, and used a bucket to collect the precious gas, leaving them with nothing but a hefty bill to pay for the damages. Ive got almost $2,000 worth of damages, not just in the gas tank, but also damage the fuel pump, which is a pretty big issue, one person said." This is a devastating crime and TOP ECHELON INSIDERS warn us that we could see that kind of thievery right here in Kansas City . . . "If gas prices start to exceed five dollars a gallon or maybe even seven bucks . . . We're looking at a whole new world. From a criminal standpoint, it's a safe bet. They can resell the gas they've taken at a premium or use it themselves . . . Meanwhile, the damage they cause would threaten to destroy a family's finances. Already Kansas City has seen an uptick in crime related to COVID and the economy, we can't afford to pretend that this also won't have a n impact." Read more on this trend via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . Police Investigating After Car Owners in Atlanta Report That Thieves Drilled Holes in Their Tank to Steal Gas WSB-TV reports several people in Atlanta have complained about suddenly discovering that they were completely out of gas, even after filling up their tank not too long ago. These car owners would later find out that someone drilled holes in the tank, and used a bucket to collect the precious gas, leaving them with nothing but a hefty bill to pay for the damages. Petrol theft and 'siphoning' on rise in France as fuel costs soar Cases of petrol thefts and aggression of fuel tanker drivers are growing in France as the price of fuel increases. A litre of petrol or diesel now costs just under or around 2 (depending on fuel station and area), due to the impact of the war in Ukraine. Thieves drilling holes in cars to steal gas :: WRAL.com Gas is expensive right now -- but you know what's more expensive? Repairing a damaged fuel tank. Developing . . . The "warm-up" is really more of an after-party now . . . Here's the word . . . Brookside reschedules the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Warm-Up Parade to Saturday, March 19th at 1 pm. KANSAS CITY, MO, March 10, 2022The Brookside Business Association and Community Improvement District have postponed the 2022 St. Patricks Warm-Up Parade to Saturday, March 19th at 1 pm. Due cold temperatures, the potential for slick spots, and numerous cancelations, Brookside has postponed the parade one week and changed the start time to 1 pm. The purpose of a parade is to help people have fun--both within the parade and watching. Standing, walking, riding in wintry weather, after arriving in even colder temperatures, is just miserable, said parade organizer Jennifer Gamble. Because of the cold, weve lost bagpipers, bands, cars, dogs, and many other crowd favorites. Postponing to the 19th means more people can participate and we can have so much more fun. Although the date and start time have changed, the location and parade route will remain the same. The new 1 pm start is an adjustment due to other events on the 19th. District Manager Sean Ackerson said the change helps minimize conflicts with activities already planned that day. Our community partners plan around the parade, and we wanted to do our best to do the same around their activities. We value our Brookside community and want to be good neighbors. We apologize for any inconvenience, but in light of the circumstances we believe postponing is in the best interest of safety for our participants, and participation by the majority. We believe that by delaying one week the community can enjoy a safe and wonderful event. ############# Developing . . . Here's what's most important and we're very THANKFUL that insiders took the time to explain it to us: The real debate is ABOUT ACCOUNTING FOR THE KANSAS CITY BUDGET . . . Many denizens of the MSM are being exceptionally disingenuous in their reporting. They're accepting 12th & Oak talking points at face value. Here's the thing . . . Mayor Q adds up the budget one way and Missouri GOP officials want a more "comprehensive" accounting. Then the politics of the ordeal come into play . . . KCMO officials underestimated the power of the state when targeting police funds to be shifted to control of city hall. This bill is one part of the Missouri GOP reprisal for that mistake. Even better . . . Notice bitter resistance to the accurate and effective "defund" terminology. Most importantly from our perspective . . . Mayor Q's "community" crime prevention ordinance simply creates a slush fund. The Mayor isn't offering any more transparency or oversight than what already exists. Here's tonight's summary . . . The bill comes in response to the city councils attempt last year to reallocate $42 million of the KCPDs budget to community policing and prevention, an effort to exercise some local control over the departments budget. A Missouri court later ruled that the move was illegal. Those opposed to the councils move, including Luetkemeyer, accused Kansas City officials of defunding the police, even though it would not have resulted in any decrease in the police budget. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas testified against the bill in January, arguing it would give the KCPD a blank check. But Councilwoman Heather Hall voiced support for it and urged the legislature to pass it so it could take effect before the city council approves the 2022-2023 budget at its March 24 legislative session. The Senates passage of the bill comes amid Kansas Citys annual budget cycle, which calls for the KCPD to receive $269 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. That surpasses the 20% state funding threshold. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Missouri Senate passes bill that would increase Kansas City's police funding requirements The Missouri Senate passed a bill Thursday that would increase Kansas City's minimum funding threshold for the Kansas City Police Department by 5%, a move its sponsor, Republican Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, says pushes back on Kansas City's "radical attempts to defund the police." Increase in Kansas City police funding bill passes Missouri Senate JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Current Missouri law requires Kansas City, Missouri, to spend 20% of the city's general revenue on the police department. But Republican State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer from Parkville, who also represents some in Kansas City, is sponsoring a bill to increase that funding to 25%. Developing . . . Brevard, NC (28712) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the morning. High 81F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sponsored By: Dorsett Automotive Jamie McDonald is no stranger to feeding people in crisis. In 2017, the owner of Bear's Smokehouse BBQ and his son drove to Florida towing Cookshack smokers, joining Operation BBQ Relief to feed residents affected by Hurricane Irma. Three years later, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Bear's spent months donating food to healthcare workers and first responders. His restaurants in Hartford, New Haven, South Windsor and Windsor also regularly partner up with local organizations for fundraisers. As McDonald saw tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, watching hundreds of thousands of people flee their homes as Russia invaded, he again knew he wanted to help. "I just saw that...and in my mind, you can't have the opportunity and the ability to help these people and not do it," he said. McDonald has been following the efforts of World Central Kitchen, founded and run by chef Jose Andres, which is currently on the ground helping Ukrainian refugees. Andres' team is feeding people in Ukraine and at a border crossing in southern Poland, according to the WCK website, and the organization has also expanded its efforts to serve people across the region in Romania, Moldova and Hungary. McDonald registered to volunteer with WCK less than a week ago. Just a few days later, leaving his restaurants in the care of his team, he was on a plane to Poland, he said, arriving Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he joined a team cooking for thousands of refugees arriving in Medyka, a Polish village on the Ukraine border. "It is insane how quickly they mobilize," he said of WCK. "In a week, they have a whole huge commercial kitchen built...it's amazing. We cook all day, and I've been going to the border to help serve." Courtesy of Jamie McDonald McDonald described a "constant stream" of Ukrainians entering Poland all day and night, with volunteers ready to feed them at all hours. The WCK teams are cooking hot, nourishing meals like borscht and other soups and stews, and offering coffee and hot chocolate to the people who've been waiting for hours in the cold winter temperatures. McDonald also brought along pounds of candy to hand out to children, he said. "They've been traveling for days to get there, in overcrowded conditions, and their whole world is on their backs, in a backpack, [in a] suitcase. They're sometimes carrying their dogs and cats, babies, kids...they're crying, or they've been crying," he said. "You just try to keep a smile on your face, be pleasant and encourage them to eat." Courtesy of Jamie McDonald He's been documenting his experience on social media, posting photos and video to Instagram. There are heartwrenching moments, like a lost young woman in a pink parka wandering with a suitcase and parents trying to hold back tears in front of their young children. But they're contrasted with moments of heartwarming humanity, including a video of a German man playing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on a piano for the refugees and volunteers. "It's really horrific what these people are going through," he said. "You wish you could do more. ...They're running for their lives. It's totally senseless. There's no reason for this." The Polish community that's turned out to help is "absolutely incredible," McDonald said, explaining that many have friends and family from Ukraine or who currently live there. Those who speak Ukrainian have been helpful with any language barriers, but food is a universal language. "That's what's so nice about food, is everyone understands it and the comfort gotten from it," he said. Courtesy of Jamie McDonald McDonald expects to volunteer in Poland for another week, but is ready to stay longer if needed. Back home, Bear's Smokehouse BBQ is raising money for World Central Kitchen, donating 25 percent of the sales from its sauces and rubs. McDonald is also hosting a WCK fundraiser through Facebook, with a $50,000 goal. Elsewhere in the state, five other Connecticut chefs are teaming up for an April 4 dinner to benefit World Central Kitchen. Carlos Perez of @ The Corner in Litchfield, Xavier Santiago of The Place 2 Be in Hartford and West Hartford, Emily Mingrone of Tavern on State in New Haven, and Ashley Flagg and Kristin Eddy of Millwright's in Simsbury will produce a five-course meal at the Litchfield restaurant, with all proceeds going to WCK. Offer a personal message of congratulations... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each announcement. By sharing a positive thought you add happiness to the lives of those who are reaching a new life milestone. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. (BPT) - A significant majority of parents want to be home every night to tuck their children into bed (based on a OnePoll and Amazon Glow survey of 2,000 American parents*). Thats not always possible if you work long hours or are among the more than six million Americans who have a job that Well the full results are in for the Trinity Masters Open Waters Swim Meet and there's a new On Thursday, March 10, more than 38,000 citizens have been evacuated through organized humanitarian corridors. "Today, with joint efforts, we have evacuated more than 38,000 people: 16,000 people from Kyiv region, 20,000 from Sumy region, and 2,000 from Izium in Kharkiv region," Deputy Head of Presidents Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He reminded that evacuation on all routes is free of charge and called to ignore provocative offers of paid transportation. The official added that the authorities continued to work towards organizing the evacuation of people in other areas. As noted, humanitarian aid has been delivered to Enerhodar town, Zaporizhzhia region, and Izium town, Kharkiv region. As reported, on March 10, humanitarian corridors from Mariupol, Volnovakha, Izium, Sumy, Trostianets and Krasnopillia, as well as from a number of towns near Kyiv Bucha, Borodianka, Irpin and Hostomel opened. ol Since the beginning of the war, the number of Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian invaders exceeds the number of military of all defense sectors fallen in fighting. "Having suffered devastating losses, the Russian occupiers launched a terrorist war. They behave like criminals and cowards. They kill and take civilians, women, and children hostage. As of March 10, the number of Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian invaders exceeds the number of military fallen in fighting. I want this to be heard not only in Ukraine, but all over the world. The Kremlin is bombing schools, clinics, and maternity hospitals. Moscow does not protect anyone it destroys. They are not able to fight against our army, national guard, territorial defense, so they attack the most vulnerable," Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov posted on Facebook. He assured that Ukraine would take vengeance for every Ukrainian, and every Russian terrorist would be held accountable for crimes against humanity. The lists of participants in the invasion and their accomplices will be submitted to all relevant institutions. No one will go unpunished for all the horrors and evil they have brought to Ukraine and the world, the minister said. Reznikov also said that now the state leadership was working towards saving the lives of Ukrainians. The priority is to organize humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens from the most vulnerable cities: primarily Mariupol, towns in Sumy region, Kharkiv region, some suburbs of Kyiv as well as to deliver humanitarian goods. The defense minister stressed that the Ukrainian army was being strengthened around the clock. "I will not comment on arms supply. I can say that tens of thousands of helmets and bulletproof vests, medicines, and other important things are moving to Ukraine. I am in constant contact with the command of the Armed Forces. Our army has enough fuel. But we are still forming additional reserves, strengthening ourselves in all possible directions. We place additional orders at our manufacturers," Reznikov said. He also said that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had joined the ranks of territorial defense and more than 200,000 Ukrainian citizens had returned from Europe to defend their country. In addition, there are foreign volunteers who are ready to fight against Russian Nazism. Reznikov called on all Ukrainian conscripts to stay in touch with recruitment and social support centers. He also assured that no one would take unprepared people to the army and send them to the front. "We will not defeat Russia in quantity, we will overcome it in quality. Those who have the appropriate skills, weapons, and equipment will be sent to combat units," Reznikov said. ol Russian troops have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage and to torture it, but Ukraine is doing everything to help the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in a video address, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. According to Zelensky, one of the main tasks for the Ukrainian authorities on Thursday, March 10, was to organize humanitarian corridors. He said that almost 40,000 people had been evacuated during the day. In addition, he said that humanitarian goods had been delivered to some cities. He said that the country's leadership is doing everything to save Ukrainians in cities that the enemy simply wants to destroy. Zelensky noted that due to the work of humanitarian corridors, about 100,000 people were evacuated in two days. "But Mariupol and Volnovakha remain completely blocked. Although we did everything necessary to make the humanitarian corridor work, Russian troops did not cease fire. Despite this, I decided to send a convoy of trucks to Mariupol anyway. With food, water, medicine. I am grateful to the drivers - brave people who were ready to fulfill this mission. An extremely important mission. But the invaders started a tank attack exactly in the area where this corridor was supposed to be. Corridor of life. For the people of Mariupol. They did it consciously. They knew what they were disrupting. They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to torture it, to carry out constant bombardment," Zelensky said. He added that on March 10, the attackers destroyed the building of the main department of the State Emergency Service in the Donetsk region. He said that right next to this building was the place where Mariupol residents were to gather for evacuation. Zelensky called such actions by Russia outright and blatant terror committed by experienced terrorists. "The world needs to know that. It has to admit it. We are all dealing with a terrorist state," he said. At the same time, he assured that attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol will continue. Zelensky stated that the invaders are doing everything to deceive Ukrainians in the besieged cities. In particular, they block communication and prevent the provision of information. However, he said that the state is doing everything to help the city. "Everything to tell the people of Mariupol: we are fighting. And we will not give up this fight. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to talk to the people of Mariupol, to write to the people of Mariupol, spread the truth. Remind them that Ukraine is with them wholeheartedly and is doing everything to stop the torture of the city," he said. Invaders from the Russian Federation killed Oleksiy Zdorovets, former secretary at Brovary City Council and deputy of the city council of the 7th convocation. Brovary Mayor Ihor Sapozhko announced this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "The tragic news of the death of Oleksiy Zdorovets, former secretary at Brovary City Council and deputy of Brovary City Council of the 7th convocation (Svoboda All-Ukrainian Association), killed by non-human aggressors, has arrived today," the statement reads. Sapozhko noted that Zdorovets died in the occupied town of Nova Bohdanivka, where he lived with his wife and young son. "What these scoundrels are doing on our land is a crime against humanity! I express my sincere condolences to the family and relatives on behalf of Brovary City Council, the executive committee, on my own behalf and on behalf of everyone who knew Oleksiy," Sapozhko wrote. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that as of March 10, the number of Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian invaders exceeded the number of military from all defense sectors fallen in fighting. On March 10, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed two columns of enemy military vehicles and 10 air targets. The relevant statement was made by the Command Center of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Over the past day, 10 air targets and two columns of enemy vehicles have been hit, the report states. During this period, bombarder and attack aircrafts of the Air Forces, with the fire support of the helicopters of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, dealt a devastating blow to two large columns of Russian military vehicles. According to the preliminary data, it was a whole regiment of airborne troops with tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, Grad systems, etc. According to the data from the anti-aircraft missile forces, four air targets were hit, namely Russias three Su-25 aircrafts and Su-34 aircraft, which was unable to reach an airfield and crashed in Russia afterwards. According to the data from the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they hit at least four air targets, mainly Su-25 aircrafts. There is also good information from the Ground Forces, confirmed by photo materials, which downed two Su-25 assault aircrafts of the Russian occupation troops in different directions, including one of them with American Stinger, the command center noted. In addition, the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles destroyed a Buk M-1 missile system and other targets. A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile strikes on residential houses in Ukraine. mk Since the Russian invasion started, Russian troops have shelled a building of Greeces Consulate General and an office of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Mariupol, as well as the honorary consulates of Slovenia, Azerbaijan and Albania in Kharkiv. The relevant statement was made by Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council. It looks like Russia wants to liberate Ukraine from diplomatic missions as well. Over a few days, as a result of Russian missile and air strikes, a building of Greeces Consulate General and an office of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Mariupol have been damaged. In addition, the honorary consulates of Slovenia, Azerbaijan and Albania in Kharkiv were destroyed, Tsymbaliuk told. In his speech, Tsymbaliuk also noted Russias acts of nuclear terrorism and the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The only grid providing the supply of power for Chornobyl NPP and its nuclear facilities has been damaged. The situation is getting extremely dangerous. Putins barbaric war is threatening the entire Europe. He must be stopped! Tsymbaliuk stressed. According to Tsymbaliuk, Russia has trapped itself and has to come up with new and new excuses to continue its aggressive war against Ukraine. In his words, these excuses are not for the international community, which understands everything, but for the Russian people to keep the Kremlin regime alive. In a few days, Russia may even declare that it was Ukraine that started the war. In order to survive, Russia needs to stop the war, withdraw its troops and restore Ukraines territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea, and, of course, take responsibility for all the crimes committed against the Ukrainian people, as well as provide guarantees that aggression will not repeat, Tsymbaliuk noted. mk The Government of the Hellenic Republic has endorsed a decision to send buses or planes to Poland to voluntarily accept and resettle some Ukrainian refugees. The relevant statement was made by Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarakis, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to kathimerini. According to Mitarakis, this decision was taken after an appeal by the Polish government, as more than 1.2 million Ukrainians had already sought refuge in Poland. Mitarakis noted that Greece could accept about 30,000 Ukrainian refugees. If there are more refugees, Greece could apply for emergency EU funding to cover the costs. Currently, more than 7,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Greece. According to Mitarakis, they are almost immediately granted a 12-month residency permit. The majority are staying with fellow Ukrainians who already lived in Greece. mk European Union leaders, who gathered for an informal summit in Frances Versailles, said "yes" to Ukraine's European integration. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda wrote this on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. A historic night at Versailles. After five hours of heated discussions EU leaders said yes to Ukrainian eurointegration. The process started. Now it is up to us and Ukrainians to accomplish it fast. Heroic Ukrainian nation deserves to know that they are welcome in EU, he wrote. As reported, EU leaders gathered at Versailles for a summit to discuss strengthening European defense and reducing dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russia's war against Ukraine the main topic of the summit. iy In Kherson region, the enemy is trying to create a system of commandant's offices to maintain "order" in the temporarily occupied settlements. According to Ukrinform, the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced this on Facebook as of 06:00 on March 11. It is noted there have been no significant changes in the position of Ukrainian troops and enemy troops in the last six hours. Regarding the actions of the enemy. Aggressive Russian propaganda is beginning to work actively in the temporarily occupied territories. By spreading pro-Russian messages, the occupiers are trying to reach an agreement with the local population. In Kherson region, the enemy is trying to introduce an administrative-police regime, creating a system of commandant's offices to maintain "order" in the temporarily occupied settlements, the report says. During the clashes with units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which continue in Chernihiv region, the invaders continue to suffer significant losses. As a result, the personnel of the occupying forces in this area have been demoralized and are being taken prisoners. According to the General Staff, in some settlements, the enemy, in violation of international humanitarian law, commits robberies, hostages and executions of civilians. In the urgent need to replenish units of the Russian Armed Forces and other illegally created terrorist armed groups, in the Rostov region, in correctional colonies, there is continues a work among prisoners with a proposal to join the occupying forces in exchange for amnesty. The armed forces of the Russian Federation is ready to take everyone for the service, even those who have no experience of military service, the report says. iy The people of Ukraine have shown extraordinary courage and skill in the fight against Putin's war and Russian aggression. Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris wrote this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. They [Ukrainians] have shown extraordinary courage and skill and their willingness and, yes, ability to fight against Putin's war and Russia's aggression, Harris wrote. According to her, in solidarity with Ukraine, the United States will do everything to support what is necessary for the humanitarian and security needs of the Ukrainian people. Earlier, Harris said that Russia would pay a high price for aggression in Ukraine. As reported, on February 24, Russia declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure. Missiles hit residential buildings. iy Leaders of the European Union, who gathered in France on Thursday, fully united in backing Ukraines resistance against Russian aggression and acknowledged Kyiv's European aspirations. Ukraine reports this with reference to AP. After many hours of talks, heads of states and government ended the first day of discussions with an agreement on language acknowledging Ukraines European aspirations. It was an opportunity to show unwavering, firm support for Ukraine, that is, to be committed financially, materially, said EU Council President Charles Michel. It is clear that Ukraine is a member of the European family and we want to support all efforts to strengthen and consolidate the ties with Ukraine. Earlier, Ukraine applied for a fast-track integration with the bloc, which has warm support in Eastern Europe. At the same time, EU officials emphasize that this process can take years, as the admission of a new member to the organization requires the unanimity of existing members. French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU must send a strong signal of support for Ukraine, but ruled out the possibility for the country to join the bloc any time soon. Its also important to show a clear open door for EU membership for Ukraine, that the path is open for them to take and that we as a family of democratic nations would want them, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said earlier. Thats very, very important for the Ukrainians right now as a very important signal. Leaders also discussed possible ways to wean the bloc off its Russian energy dependency and bolster the regions defense capabilities. In addition, the focused on possible new sanctions against Russia and its ally Belarus including cutting all their banks from the SWIFT dominant system for global financial transactions were also on the table, according to an EU official who was not authorized to speak publicly. As reported, EU leaders gathered at Versailles for a summit to discuss strengthening European defense and reducing dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russia's war against Ukraine the main topic of the summit. iy Ukraine will never, never be a victory for Putin, U.S. President Biden told journalists ahead of bilateral meeting with President of Colombia Ivan Duque on Thursday. And the United States and the people around the world are going to continue to support the Ukrainian people, I believe, as they defend their country. Ukraine will never, never be a victory for Putin, Biden said, the White House informs. The U.S. leader thanked Colombia for "immediately condemning Russias unjustifiable invasion the atrocities they are committing in Ukraine, and calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops." Biden called the war unleashed by Russia not just a threat to Europe and Ukraine, but its a threat to the international peace and stability. The American people and the entire world have rallied to support the Ukrainian people. We have donated, thus far, a billion dollars in security assistance and more shipments of defensive equipment are on the way as I speak. Were coordinating deliveries of anti-armor and anti-air capabilities with a wide range of our allies and and partners, and were providing tens of thousands of tons of humanitarian needs, from food, water, and medicine, Biden noted. The U.S. President also reminded that the economic sanctions were crippling the Russian economy right now. The ruble has lost half its value. It now would take literally almost 200 rubles to equal $1 because of how its been so damaging We cut off U.S. imports of Russian oil and gas, targeting the main artery of Russias economy, he noted. As reported, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the United States banned Russian oil and gas imports. ol Two servicemen were killed and six more were wounded as a result of the shelling of the Lutsk military airfield, northwestern Ukraine. "On March 11, four missiles were fired on the military airfield in Lutsk from a Russian army bomber as we assess. Unfortunately, there are human losses. At present, two servicemen have been killed and six have received wounds of varying severity. The rubbles are being cleared away," Head of the Volyn Regional Military Administration Yuriy Pohulyayko said in a video address on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. Read also: At least one person killed in Russian air strike on Dnipro As reported, several explosions were heard in Lutsk on the morning of March 11 at 5:45 as missiles hit a military airfield. Due to the explosions, Lutskteplo heat provider temporarily suspended the operation of two boiler houses. On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure, missiles are hitting houses. Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the support of the entire nation, are courageously resisting aggression. ol Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine: "You can compromise, but..." (an interview with Bild) He is THE hero in Putin's bloody war: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 44. In the front line he defends his city, his country against Vladimir Putin's invasion. BILDs Vice Chief Editor Paul Ronzheimer met Zelensky in Kyiv for an exclusive interview. BILD: Mr. President, people in Germany are asking themselves: how do you keep it up, do you ever sleep? Volodymyr Zelensky: "In all the occupied areas of the country and also where our yellow-blue flag is still flying, people don't sleep much. We have been defending our country for two weeks already. We see numerous videos of your wife and family. You are on Moscow's death list. What does that do to your family? Zelensky: "They are proud of me. They are proud that we are Ukrainians. They understand that I could have escaped long ago or be safe. But they understand me and support my decision. Because it is a decision for our country. They want Kyiv to stay strong. Of course, as humans, they worry about me, but their hearts are always with me. It is the history of our country and we are living in this moment. Later we will remember how difficult that time was and how bad it was for every single person in our country now. But we will remember much more the moments when we changed something. Our goal is to strengthen our country, no matter how difficult it gets. Im doing this for my children and my grandchildren. I don't want to be a weak man." The world wonders how close the Russians are maybe days, hours from Kyiv. How bad is Kyiv surrounded? How bad are you surrounded, Mr. President? Zelensky: "What, me?! The access roads to Kyiv are blocked. But we are here. And you can assess the situation in Kyiv personally, Mr. Ronzheimer. I don't worry where the enemy is hiding or how close he got to us. I worry about our country, about water supplies, about food supplies. About Mariupol, Donetsk, Zaporozhia region, Melitopol, Volnovakha, Kharkiv the situation is terrible there. The people have no water and food there. What is happening now in Mariupol is a humanitarian catastrophe. Humanitarian aid convoys were sent from various cities of our country. But they are being shot at, and the Russian soldiers won't let them through. We have very brave drivers who keep going despite the shelling. Yesterday we agreed to work with the Red Cross. I understand that, as human beings, we always worry about our own lives. Nevertheless, we must put humanitarian aid first. We don't have any universal solutions here or steps we can take right now. Were seeing real terror in our history. I'm afraid that Kyiv will be surrounded. Are you not afraid? Zelensky: "I'm not afraid. Also, afraid of what? I must not be afraid, I remain calm. Do you know how someone can overcome their fear? What can be worse than fear? What's the worst that could happen? With their country, with my country? The worst that could happen has already happened. We have a war, Russia against Ukraine. So many people have already fallen. The country is being destroyed. What worse could happen to people who have lost their children? But we believe in the future. We will not give up, we will not sell out our land." Germany still opposes an embargo on oil and gas imports from Russia. Are you disappointed in Chancellor Olaf Scholz and in the German people for not supporting you anymore? Zelensky: "I cannot judge Germanys actions. The government thinks first and foremost of its own country and that goes without saying. Many people in Germany support Ukraine. The Chancellor's government was elected by the people and I think we have to be more restrained. Were seeing some steps that Germany is supporting us with Nord Stream 2, sanctions, and so on. We see what Germany is doing. I don't want to judge Mr. Scholz and his government. I will do that afterwards, when we see the results of that time and see how the war ends, how many victims it brings. For us, every minute is precious, every minute people can die. I just got the news that a maternity hospital in Mariupol was attacked. I still have no information about victims. But I really hope that people were able to find shelter. How can such a thing happen? These are beasts, causing something like this. What's going on in their heads? If a missile hit a maternity hospital in Germany, what would happen then? Imagine yourself in our situation we would discuss and negotiate. This is our pain TODAY and I need the solution TODAY. And what about EU membership? Zelensky: The governments that do not support our membership in the EU point to reforms that are still to happen. They don't see us as equals. I still have a lot of unanswered questions." Many people complain about the high gas and oil prices. Why is it still important that we boycott Russian gas and oil? Zelensky: You know, there are certain values that are very difficult to explain until there is a war in your own country. Then you no longer think about reforms. You don't think about wanting to buy anything or about regulations, about price increases on gas or electricity. You no longer think about saving to go on vacation. You no longer think about the fact that taxes increase every year. All of that fades into the background when war breaks out and its not a priority anymore. That's not the true value of life. The true value of life is that you live, you don't get murdered. And that is what Europe must do: defend average lives and also put true values first. I wish that your priorities in life remain true values. What is happening to us now could also happen to you. And that is very important to me: were dying for you, too. What do you say to the demand to accept the independence of Donbas and accept that Crimea goes to Russia? What are you willing to give up for peace? Zelensky: The question here is not what I can give up. In every negotiation, my goal is to end the war with Russia. And I'm also ready to take certain steps. Compromises can be made, but they must not be about betraying my country. And the other side must also be willing to make compromises that's why they're called compromises. This is the only way we can get out of this situation. We can't talk about any details yet. We haven't had direct contact between presidents yet. Only after the direct talks between the two presidents can we end this war. What do you tell your children when they ask you: Dad, we have to get out of Ukraine? Zelensky: My children say I should stay here. But they shouldn't waste the wonderful time of their childhood trying to convince their father to leave their own country." Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to carry out a terrorist attack at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant that has fallen under the control of the invading forces. Thats according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports, referring to the agencys Facebook page. The available intelligence says Putin has ordered that his troops prepare a terror attack at the Chornobyl NPP. At the Russian-controlled Chernobyl NPP, they intend to cause a man-made catastrophe, for which the Russian invaders will try to blame Ukraine. "Currently, the Chornobyl NPP remains completely disconnected from the monitoring systems run by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The station has been de-energized. The resource of diesel generators available is designed for 48 hours of safety systems support, the statement reads. The Ministry of Defense notes that the enemy refuses to provide a Ukrainian repair team access to the NPP. Instead, "Belarusian specialists" went there on the instructions of Alexander Lukashenko. Among them, posing as nuclear power experts, Russian saboteurs are also arriving to set up a terror attack. At the same time, in recent days, Putin's troops have struck at the Zaporizhia NPP and Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, which is home to the experimental nuclear reactor. "In order to imitate the involvement of the Ukrainian military in the Chornobyl accident, the occupiers are trying to create fake evidence to back their version. In particular, Russian automobile refrigerators have been spotted, collecting the bodies of the fallen Ukrainian defenders near the Antonov Airport in Hostomel. There is a possibility that they will be portrayed as saboteurs killed at the Chornobyl zone," the Ministry of Defense said. That is, without receiving the desired result from the ground military operation and direct talks, Putin is ready to resort to nuclear blackmail of the international community for the sake of concessions as regards support for Ukraine, the GUR stressed. "Currently, Ukraine, the world, and Russia itself understand that the statements claiming Ukraine's involvement in posing a nuclear threat are just a talentless scenario. Nevertheless, such actions by Putin will have catastrophic implications for the whole world. It seems that this is exactly what the Russian dictator is counting on, demanding unacceptable concessions, the GUR said. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on March 10 insisted on Russia's immediate withdrawal of troops from the Chornobyl and Zaporizhia nuclear power plants to prevent a nuclear catastrophe in Europe. Chornobyl was captured by Russian troops on February 24. ZNPP has been under the control of the Russian army since March 4. Russian aircraft launched an air strike on the village of Kopani in Belarus from the Ukrainian airspace. The Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. Today at 14:30, the State Border Service received information that Russian aircraft took off from Dubrovytsia airfield (Belarus), entered the territory of Ukraine, turned over our populated areas of Horodychi and Tumen, and then launched an air strike on the populated area of Kopani (Belarus)," the report says. "Currently, the 9th Border Detachment is watching the occupation of this settlement by the enemy! This is a provocation! The goal is to involve the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus in the war with Ukraine!" the Ukrainian military emphasized. In addition to Kopani, Russian aircraft attacked two more settlements in Belarus. The Command of the Ukrainian Air Force reported this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform. "There is information about the shelling of Bukhlichi and Verkhnii Terebezhov (the Republic of Belarus)," the statement said. Earlier reports said that Russian aircraft launched an air strike on the settlement of Kopan in Belarus from Ukrainian airspace. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Telegram that Su attack aircraft flew into Ukrainian airspace from Belarus, bombed Ukrainian territory and then launched air strikes on Belarusian territory. NATO Allies will continue to provide comprehensive assistance to Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defense and will exert coordinated pressure on Putin's regime, including through economic sanctions, so as to make him stop aggression against Ukraine and return to diplomacy. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "We have stepped up, so NATO Allies are now providing more support, both military support and humanitarian support, and fiscal support, financial support. And then of course, we are imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia. And all this is actually crippling the Russian economy. So the combination of concrete support and sanctions on Russia puts heavy pressure on President Putin and increases the reasons he will have to at some stage sit down and engage in good faith in the diplomatic effort," Stoltenberg said. He noted that these sanctions are costly for the whole world, including for those countries which are imposing sanctions. But at the same time, the world has to react when it sees Russia is blatantly violating international law, invading in a brutal way an independent sovereign country: Ukraine. "Every war has to end at the negotiating table. The question is how long we have to wait for that. And therefore with the pressure on Russia, both by the sanctions, but also by providing support to Ukraine they are on the front line, they are paying by far the highest price. But NATO Allies and other countries all over the world are helping them, supporting them, including with military support," Stoltenberg said. He recalled that NATO and some Allies have been supporting Ukraine for many years since 2014 with equipment, but not least. Over this period, many Allies have trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian forces, and this proves extremely important now because so many of these troops are on the frontlines fighting invading Russian forces, he said. "It is of course first and foremost the courage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian leadership that has stopped and slowed down the Russian invasion, but the support that NATO Allies have provided with training and equipment since 2014 has proven to be extremely important in support for those efforts," Stoltenberg said. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has warned of a high probability that Russia will intensify terrorist methods of warfare in Ukraine. According to Ukrinform, the General Staff announced this on Facebook. According to operational information as of 18:00 on March 11, the enemy continues to conduct an offensive operation against Ukraine. At the same time, Russian invaders did not achieve the main goals of taking control of certain cities and territories. "There is a high probability that the Russian Federation will intensify terrorist methods of warfare, launch missile and bomb strikes on civilian infrastructure, residential areas, intimidate the local population, conduct informational, psychological actions to undermine public confidence in local authorities, spread disinformation, and take the local population hostage," the statement reads. Russian occupying forces still attempt to continue the offensive in all directions. To do this, they are taking measures to form reserves in the Russian Federation. A significant part of Russian units are restoring their combat capability. The enemy is trying to establish logistical support for units conducting hostilities. The invaders continue to conduct air reconnaissance of Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk, Tavriya, Southern Bug and Bessarabian operational districts. "In order to involve the Republic of Belarus in the war against Ukraine, the enemy is resorting to provocative actions. According to available information, Russian Air Force aircraft struck settlements on the territory of the Republic of Belarus near the state border of Ukraine. As a disguise, the Russian Federation carried out an attack from Ukrainian airspace," the General Staff said. The General Staff stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in close cooperation with other components of the security and defense sector, give a decent rebuff to the occupiers, causing him significant losses in manpower and military equipment. "The morale of the enemy is extremely low. They are demoralized, and in some directions the occupiers surrender," the General Staff added. As of March 11, the Russian army has already lost 140 planes and helicopters since the start of a full-scale war against Ukraine. Volunteer fighters from 52 countries have already joined the International Legion of Territorial Defense that was created in Ukraine in connection with an attack by the Russian Federation. That's according to a video interview with a volunteer fighter from Norway, which was posted to Facebook by Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, Ukrinform reports. "When you see bombs and rockets falling on Ukrainian cities every day, destroying hospitals, schools, houses, it's hard to imagine, it looks like madness. You see what's happening and there seems to be nothing you can do. When the creation of the International Legion started, I immediately realized that I had to join," said volunteer fighter Damien. According to him, the legion includes people from many countries and as of yesterday (March 10) there were representatives from 52 countries. In particular, volunteer fighters come from countries neighboring Ukraine: Poland, the Baltic and Nordic countries, the United Kingdom and the United States. On March 6, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and IT volunteers created a website to accept applications for admission to the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine. As of March 6, up to 20,000 foreigners expressed their desire to fight. Colombian President Duque Marquez has met with Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova and assured her of strong support and readiness to provide all possible assistance to Ukraine. The relevant statement was made by Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova on her Facebook page, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. I was glad to meet Colombian President Duque Marquez, who is paying a visit to Washington. Since February 24, 2022, Colombia has taken a very clear public position condemning Russias aggression at both the United Nations and the Organization of American States, where I am also acting on behalf of Ukraine, Markarova wrote. In her words, Marquez highly praised Ukrainian President and the Ukrainian people defending their homes and freedom, assured the Ukrainian side of strong support and expressed readiness to provide all possible assistance. mk Ukraine belongs to the European family, so the EU leaders invited the European Commission to submit its opinion on the country's EU membership application. This is stated in the resolution of the informal EU summit, which began yesterday in Versailles, France. The full text of the document has been published on the European Council's website. The European Council acknowledged the European aspirations and the European choice of Ukraine, as stated in the Association Agreement. On 28 February 2022, exercising the right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny, the President of Ukraine submitted the application of Ukraine to become a member of the European Union. The Council has acted swiftly and invited the Commission to submit its opinion on this application in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties. Pending this and without delay, we will further strengthen our bonds and deepen our partnership to support Ukraine in pursuing its European path. Ukraine belongs to our European family, reads the document. In the document, the EU leaders noted that Russia had brought war back to Europe two weeks ago. Russias unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermines European and global security and stability. This aggression is inflicting unspeakable suffering on the Ukrainian population. Russia, and its accomplice Belarus, bear full responsibility for this war of aggression and those responsible will be held to account for their crimes, including for indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian objects. In this respect, the EU leaders welcomed the decision of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation. We call for the safety and security of Ukraines nuclear facilities to be ensured immediately with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We demand that Russia ceases its military action and withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine immediately and unconditionally, and fully respects Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders, says the statement. The EU heads of state and government commend the people of Ukraine for their courage in defending their country and our shared values of freedom and democracy, noting that they will not leave Ukrainians alone. The EU and its Member States will continue to provide coordinated political, financial, material and humanitarian support. We are committed to provide support for the reconstruction of a democratic Ukraine once the Russian onslaught has ceased. We are determined to increase even further our pressure on Russia and Belarus. We have adopted significant sanctions and remain ready to move quickly with further sanctions, the EU leaders underscore. As noted, countless people are fleeing the war in Ukraine and the EU countries offer temporary protection to all war refugees from Ukraine. The EU heads of state and government commend European countries, notably at the borders with Ukraine, for showing immense solidarity in hosting Ukrainian war refugees. The EU and its Member States will continue to show solidarity and provide humanitarian, medical and financial support to all refugees and the countries hosting them. The leaders call for funds to be made available without delay through a swift adoption of the proposal on Cohesions Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) and through ReactEU. We call on Russia to fully abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law. It must ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the victims and internally displaced persons in Ukraine, and allow safe passage for those civilians who want to leave, the document reads. On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure, missiles are hitting houses. Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the support of the entire nation, are courageously resisting aggression. ol Speech by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Dear Mr. President, my friend Andrzej! Dear Mrs. Marshal of the Sejm! Dear Mr. Marshal of the Senate! Ladies and gentlemen deputies and senators! Dear Sirs! Polish brothers and sisters! When I became President in 2019, it felt like we had a long way to go with Poland. Because our relationship was pretty cold, our attitude towards each other wasnt too warm. This was the situation. But I wanted to go this way fast. The path to warmth. Because we are such nations. I knew that we were akin by nature - Ukrainians, Poles. I remember my first meetings with Andrzej Duda. From meeting to meeting everything changed. The coolness disappeared. We understood each other. As a Ukrainian and a Pole. As Europeans. As friends. As parents who love their families and realize that our children must live in a world of equal good values. Our shared values. They must live in a world where nations are independent, where freedom reigns, where the family matters, and where no one ever has the right to war, to invasion. It is believed that the number seven brings happiness. That is how many neighbors God has given to Ukraine. Does it bring us happiness? The whole world knows the answer today. And 78 Ukrainian children who died from rockets and shelling of the Russian Federation know it better than others. A neighbor who brought trouble and war to our land. A neighbor who obviously acts without God. When there is someone who beats like a savage, it is very important to have someone who will lend a hand. And when the foot of the enemy enters your house, he will lend you a helping hand. On the morning of February 24, I had no doubt who it would be. Who will say to me: "Brother, your people will not be left alone with the enemy." And so it happened. And I'm grateful for that. Polish brothers and sisters are with us. And this is natural. Just in one day, on the first day of the war, it became clear to me and to all Ukrainians, and, I am sure, to all Poles that there are no more borders between us, between our nations. No physical ones. No historical ones. No personal ones. During the 16 days of this war, Ukrainian pride and Polish honor, Ukrainian courage in battles and Polish sincerity in helping us allow me to say very important words now. Words that there is real peace between our nations. Peace between relatives. Peace between brothers. And now I really want these words to be heard by our common Belarusian neighbors. Peace between relatives, peace between neighbors, peace between brothers. We have to come to this with them as well! We will definitely come! Dear Sirs! Polish brothers and sisters! For a long time, various "stakeholders" tried to create an impression that Ukrainians and Poles live differently. And separately. Why did they do all this? I will recall the words of President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski said in Tbilisi in 2008: "We know very well: today - Georgia, tomorrow - Ukraine, the day after tomorrow - the Baltic countries and then, perhaps, the time will come for my country - Poland. On February 24, this terrible "tomorrow" for Ukraine came, which President Kaczynski spoke about. And today we are fighting for such a bad time for Poland and the Baltic States to never come. We fight together. We have strength. Remember, there are 90 million of us together! We can do everything together. And this is the historical mission, the historical mission of Poland, the historical mission of Ukraine to be leaders who together will pull Europe out of this abyss, save it from this threat, stop the transformation of Europe into a victim. Dear Sirs! We can do it. We saw yesterday what the countries of the European Union talked about and in what manner. We saw who was the real leader and fought for a strong Europe. For common European security. And who tried to stop us, tried to stop you. We understand why it is so important for Poles to fight with us. Together with all those who are for freedom. For us and for you, for Europe. We remember the terrible tragedy of 2010 near Smolensk. We remember all the facts of the investigation into the circumstances of this catastrophe. We feel what this means for you. And what does the silence of those who also know all this mean to you, but... But they still feast their eyes on Russia. Polish brothers and sisters! I feel that we have already formed an extremely strong alliance. Even though it is informal. But this is an alliance that grew out of reality, not words on paper. Of the warmth in our hearts, not of the speeches of politicians at summits. Of the way you treated our people. Ukrainians who fled to your country to escape from the evil that came to our land. More than one and a half million citizens of Ukraine! The vast majority are women and children. They do not feel like they are in a strange land. You met our people in your families. With Polish delicacy. With fraternal kindness. Although we did not ask for it. And you did not ask anything for it. It's just the way it is between relatives. That's why I address so simply: friend Andrzej, dear Agata! That's why I claim that we have already united. We united to constantly gain and create freedom, as a great Pole, a close friend of Ukraine John Paul II said. Today, I cannot be sure of all the leaders of all European nations, but I am sure that we will definitely be with you in defending freedom. As much as needed. I am grateful for all the help we have already received from your state, from your people. I am grateful for your efforts so that we can secure the Ukrainian sky. I believe that we will be able to achieve the result in this, the result that we all desperately need. If God allows and we win this war, we will share the victory with our brothers and sisters. This is our greatness. And your greatness. This is a struggle for our freedom, this is a struggle for your freedom. This is the common history of great nations! May God help us win! Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published March 11, 2022 Just over three years since the University of Louisiana Monroe launched the Educators Rising pilot program in two local high schools, more than 75 future educators and guests are expected on Thursday, March 17, for the first ULM Educators Rising Campus Day and a new scholarship opportunity supported by Regions Bank is enabling more future educators to launch successful careers. Students, administrators, and personnel from three partner school districts will learn more about becoming professional educators during the March 17 event. Participating high schools are Monroe City Schools Neville, Wossman and Carroll, Caldwell Parish, and Richland Parish. "In Louisiana, there is a critical shortage of qualified and committed teachers. From the success of Educators Rising, we developed the first Pre-Educator Pathway program in the state for high school students." Dr. Amy Weems Assistant Professor School of Education "It's a day where attendees can attend education classes with our currently enrolled students, participate in panel discussions, learn about careers in education, and showcase their own presentations related to current topics in education, said organizer Amy Weems, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Education. "In Louisiana, there is a critical shortage of qualified and committed teachers. From the success of Educators Rising, we developed the first Pre-Educator Pathway program in the state for high school students. The goal was to create a comprehensive education pathway that includes key content and development of skills to prepare high school students for their transition in a teacher preparation program such as the ULM School of Education," Weems said. The event will be based in The Hangar on the second floor of the Student Union Building. President Ron Berry will open the day by welcoming the Educators Rising guests. The closing keynote speaker will be Louisiana Principal of the Year 2019 Eric Davis, Ed.D., principal of Carroll High School at 1:15 p.m. Following the closing speaker, a press conference to announce a $100,000 grant from Regions Bank will conclude the campus visit day. The five-year grant will provide two Regions Bank ULM Educators Rising Program Scholarships per year and assist in retaining students in the School of Education. Special guest will be Kevin Smith of Regions Bank, who will encourage students in their choice to pursue education as a lifework and offer insight into Regions commitment to invest in Educators Rising. Education and workforce readiness are two of Regions Banks top priorities for uplifting and supporting our communities. They are key to building inclusive prosperity and ensuring more people have more opportunities to succeed, said Smith, Monroe market executive for Regions. Often the difference between those who succeed, and those who do not, is whether they can access the training they need to launch a career. We know these scholarships will help empower ULM students with the tools they need to become excellent educators of tomorrow. Regions Bank Scholarship recipients must be in good standing with the university and have a 2.5 GPA. Recipients must have completed a Regions Bank ULM Educators Rising partner program. The scholarships are renewable if a 2.5 GPA is maintained up to a maximum of eight total semesters for incoming freshmen only. All other recipients may receive the scholarship for the remaining semesters needed to complete a four-year degree. For more information about the ULM Pre-Educator Pathway or Educators Rising, contact Weems at weems@ulm.edu or 318-342-1280. About ULM Pre-Educator Pathway The ULM Pre-Educator Pathway was recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. In 2020, the program was adopted statewide by the Louisiana State Workforce Commission Workforce Investment Council. About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $163 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nations largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,300 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com. About Educators Rising Educators Rising is a nonprofit organization designed to cultivate future educators by providing college-credit classes, support, and guidance while still in high school and through university graduation. The National Education Association, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and the Walton Family Foundation are among its partners. | By Office of Communications and Public Affairs The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has honored three University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) faculty members as recipients of the 2022 USM Regents Faculty Awards. USM Regents' Faculty Award winners (l-r): Gregory Carey, David Marcozzi, and Joseph Scalea The awards are the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary faculty members. The awards honor excellence in the following categories: Teaching; Mentoring; Public Service; Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity; and Innovation. Faculty members of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) represented UMB by winning awards for mentoring, public service, and innovation. The recognition of these faculty members by the University System is well-deserved, said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. I deeply appreciate the vision, creativity, and commitment they bring to UMB and to improving the lives of others. The winners are: EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING Gregory B. Carey, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, assistant dean of student research and education, and executive director of student research and community outreach, UMSOM, was recognized for increasing participation of underrepresented Baltimore youth, undergraduate, and graduate students in science and medicine. With funding secured from the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State and the National Institutes of Health, Carey administers PRISM, UM Scholars, STAR-PREP, UMB CURE, and BUILD ASCEND. These pipeline programs prepare students to enter the biomedical and health care workforce and boast excellent success rates for students who move on to undergraduate medicine/science tracks and graduate programs. EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE David E. Marcozzi, MD, MHS-CL, MHS-CL, FACEP, chief clinical officer for the University of Maryland Medical Center and professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, UMSOM, was honored for his steady leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. With his expertise and experience in emergency medicine, he became the UMB-University of Maryland Medical System COVID-19 incident commander. Under his leadership, a systemic approach to the pandemic was developed and implemented, with the protection of the workforce and students given priority. Additionally, Marcozzi serves as Gov. Larry Hogans COVID-19 senior medical advisor on the Coronavirus Response Team. EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION Joseph R. Scalea, MD, former associate professor of surgery, UMSOM, was recognized for his novel use of drone technology to save lives. Partnering with friends and colleagues from UMB; the University of Maryland, College Park; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and the unmanned aircraft systems test site, Scalea led the team that pioneered the use of drone technology to innovate organ shipment. A successful test of the drone system in 2019 led to a $16 million investment to build two Baltimore-based startups, MediGo and MissionGO. Scalea left UMSOM earlier this year. (Read about all the winners at this link.) Institutional faculty nominating committees make recommendations to the institutional presidents, who review nominations and supporting material and forward recommendations to USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman, MD. The Regents Faculty Review Committee makes the final recommendations. Perman and Board of Regents chair Linda R. Gooden, MBA, will recognize the winners as part of the scheduled meeting of the full board April 29 at Towson University. It is a pleasure every year to recognize these outstanding faculty members, Gooden said. I am especially grateful for their dedication throughout the many phases of the pandemic and pleased we can plan to recognize them in person, thanks to the work our campuses have done to keep their communities safe. Said Perman: The bedrock of the University Systems quality, its prominence, its power to transform lives and change the world is, quite simply, our faculty. Its a privilege to be able to honor them and celebrate what they make possible every day possible for each individual student and for the body of scholarship that advances our progress and deepens our humanity. Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the USM Foundation. Until recently, students filled the halls and rooms of this dormitory in Mukachevo State University in western Ukraines Zakarpattya region. Now, the building throngs with activity of a different kind, as families driven from their homes by heavy shelling and fighting in other parts of the country find temporary accommodation within its walls. Among them is Oleksandra, 28, who arrived with her daughters Milana and Polina, and mother Natalia, at the start of the military offensive on 24 February. They fled their home in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk, when like many others they woke to the sound of shelling. "At five o'clock in the morning, we heard loud sounds of explosions, and we knew that the war had started. So, we packed and left immediately," says Oleksandra, carrying seven-month-old Polina on her hip while Milana, 6, plays on three single beds pushed together at one end of the small dorm room where the family sleeps. "We packed and left immediately." As the bombs fell, they piled into their car with a few belongings and the familys two dogs and headed west. My husband drove us here and went back because there is conscription to the army. All men aged 18 to 60 must serve. I worry about him very much, says Oleksandra. We miss him, daughter Milana adds. "When I go home, I will visit my grandma" six-year-old among Ukranians seeking shelter in university (Victoria Adrievska, Producer/ Linda Muriuki, Producer/ Melik Benkritly, Editor) Within the space of 15 days, the military offensive in Ukraine has triggered the fastest-growing displacement crisis since World War II. It is estimated that at least 1.85 million people have been newly displaced inside the country, with many fleeing west to escape fighting in eastern, southern and northern regions. A further 2.5 million people have crossed borders into neighbouring countries. Staff from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are present in key locations in eastern, central and western Ukraine to respond to the rising humanitarian needs. Together with its partners, the agency has delivered relief items for displaced families and others affected by the conflict, including blankets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, and shelter materials to reinforce homes damaged in the fighting. In addition to existing warehouses in Kyiv, Sloviansk and Luhansk, UNHCR has relocated humanitarian supplies to new stockpiles in Vinnytsia, Uzhhorod, Chernivtsi, and two in Lviv to enable immediate dispatch to areas in need. To help people like Oleksandra, UNHCR is working closely with local authorities to significantly expand the temporary reception capacity for internally displaced people (IDPs), and identify buildings for rehabilitation to serve as collective centres for longer-term stays. This will be one of UNHCRs main areas of engagement in the emergency response to the displacement crisis. Finding a secure place to live is among the top priorities for people who have been forcibly displaced or whose homes have been destroyed. UNHCR is also scaling up programmes to help provide vital services such as legal aid, psychosocial support, child protection services and measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. A multi-purpose cash assistance programme is being set up to help displaced people meet basic needs, such as paying rent. Mukachevo State University is one of many facilities in western Ukraine that has opened its doors to provide accommodation for displaced people. UNHCRs local NGO partner NEEKA is supporting the centre by providing warm clothes, food, water and much-needed equipment for the kitchens, including freezers and microwaves. Oleksandra holds 7-month-old daughter Polina in their room at the Mukachevo State University dormitory. UNHCR/Igor Karpenko A UNHCR staff member speaks to Milana in her family's room. UNHCR/Igor Karpenko Milana fled her home in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, with her mother, sister, grandmother and two dogs. UNHCR/Igor Karpenko Oleksandra finds warm clothes for her children from among donations sent to the Mukachevo State University. UNHCR/Igor Karpenko Oleksandra takes blankets and warm clothes back to her family's room at the dormitory. UNHCR/Igor Karpenko Study areas and common rooms in the dormitory are full of donations for people who have fled with few belongings. One room is filled with baby strollers, cribs and highchairs for those with infants. Another has with blankets and warm clothes, while the kitchens are stacked with fresh fruit and vegetables, tinned goods and milk. "Zakarpattya oblast currently hosts around 100,000 displaced people. This is the largest number of people ever coming here, explains Tetiana Shcherbak, rector of Mukachevo State University. Many churches, schools and universities have opened their doors because there is no more capacity in local hotels or the private sector." "We have heating in our dormitory, so usually the local Administrative Services Centre sends mothers with children here," Tetiana says. Up to 250 people come to the dormitory each day, with some spending only a night before continuing their journey to seek asylum in neighbouring countries, while others like Oleksandra and her family stay longer. "I have no idea how long we will stay here." Young Milana draws a picture with a heart for her father at the desk in their dormitory room. She is hopeful that the family will soon return home and be reunited. The war will be over soon. We will go home in four days, and I will see both my grandmas and my granddad," she explains happily. Oleksandra does not share her daughter's optimism, and wonders how long they will have to call the dormitory home. "We are very grateful that the University hosts us in this room, [but] I have no idea how long we will stay here." donate After a long journey, we had a house, but an empty house with only walls, doors, windows. We were in a new country with a new culture, a new language and new environment. First time we met En Utstrackt Hand, they surprised us. They had decorated the cold and empty house and even gave us toys for our children. You can imagine what it means for small children. This is how Ahmet, a refugee in Sweden, describes his first meeting with the civil society organization En Utstrackt Hand (A Helping Hand) in Taby and Danderyd municipalities, Sweden. When refugees arrive in a new country, another journey lies ahead getting to know the host community and the local language and customs. At the same time, the host community is receiving new neighbors from places that may seem far away, geographically and culturally. To make sure that integration becomes a two-way process, both the host community members and the refugees themselves need to be equally included and involved. For UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, a fundamental part of the approach is participation, ensuring that refugees and the host communities are involved in the decisions and activities that affect their lives. Participation was also the topic, when UNHCR hosted an online knowledge-sharing seminar during the Week of Neighbors conference in February 2022 in Sweden. The seminar was facilitated by Integration Officer Karolis Zibas and Senior Durable Solutions Associate Erika Lofgren from UNHCRs Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries. The event brought together three organizations who shared their experiences with different approaches to inclusion of refugees in their host communities: the Arts agency ARTSCAPE from Lithuania, the Community Sponsorship Program for Refugees in Lismore, Ireland, and En Utstrackt Hand from Sweden. The event shows that integration is a two-way process in which refugees are not seen as beneficiaries of services, but as active members of the local communities. It is the essence of an inclusive and cohesive society, which is so much needed to commit to solidarity with those fleeing war and conflicts, says Karolis Zibas, Integration Officer at UNHCRs Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries. We are so happy to see the incredible commitment and engagement of civil society, grassroots movement and volunteers in integration work, he adds. Watch the seminar and learn more about the approaches to involve refugees in the integration process here. Families from the city of Baidoa in southern Somalia flee their homes in search of humanitarian assistance due to the severe drought that is affecting much of the country. Courtesy of South West Commission of Refugees and IDP's UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is scaling up assistance to thousands of people displaced by severe drought in Somalia following three consecutive failed rainy seasons that have decimated crops and livestock. Peoples coping mechanisms have been eroded, forcing thousands to flee their homes in search of humanitarian assistance including food, shelter, and safe drinking water. In the first week of March alone, more than 17,000 people in the countrys southern Bay region were internally displaced by the drought, joining tens of thousands of people similarly displaced across the country between January and February this year. If the current trend holds, UNHCR estimates that in 2022 alone half a million Somalis will likely be displaced before the end of March. The majority are reported to be children, older people, and pregnant and lactating mothers. Families are arriving to urban centres or existing settlements for internally displaced people, where living conditions are often difficult and there are few resources to cover the additional needs of the new arrivals. Many children have dropped out of school to help their families earn a daily income and search for water and pasture. This has made them particularly vulnerable to risks such as forced marriage, family separation, and sexual violence and abuse. Women and girls, who make up half of the displaced population, are at heightened risk. UNHCR is working closely with humanitarian partners to deliver much-needed assistance. So far, shelter materials, hygiene items, and other necessities have been delivered to 36,000 drought-affected people in the country, including 24,000 people in Galmudug and Puntland regions where the situation is most dire. Separated and unaccompanied children are being provided with medical assistance, psychosocial support, and counselling as well as safe spaces to protect them against forced child recruitment. Families at risk of being evicted from their homes due to loss of income are also receiving legal assistance. In the coming weeks, at least 200 entrepreneurs will receive grants to help revive their businesses. Globally, the climate crisis is accelerating, and the consequences of inaction are mounting. Many ecosystems are at a tipping point, and we are already seeing devastating effects on human health and life. Vulnerable communities are being hit the hardest, among them refugees, displaced, and stateless people. Over 80 per cent of refugees and internally displaced people come from the most climate vulnerable countries worldwide. A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last week highlighted the uneven impacts of the climate crisis on communities that have less capacity to adapt. Vulnerabilities are being amplified where people are already facing poverty, limited access to basic services and resources, conflict, and climate-dependent livelihoods. Urgent investments are needed to build up strong adaptive capacities where they are most needed. Without them, we will witness greater suffering, loss of life, and increasing displacement. In 2022, UNHCR requires US$157.5 million to deliver critical aid and protection to approximately 2.9 million internally displaced people in Somalia, 40,000 refugee returnees, some 31,000 refugees and asylum seekers, and up to 15,000 new arrivals from Ethiopia and other countries. As of 1 March 2022, only 5 per cent of that amount had been received. For more information on this topic, please contact: UNHCR staff organizes payments of cash assistant to refugee from Ukraine in Warsaw. UNHCR/Rafal Kostrzynski UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has significantly stepped up its assistance in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries receiving refugees in response to acute humanitarian needs as the fighting intensifies. In Ukraine, the UN estimates that there are now at least 1.85 million internally displaced people, and an additional 12.65 million people directly affected by the conflict. They are also contending with freezing temperatures. Access to conflict-affected communities in hard-hit areas like Mariupol and Kharkiv remains very restricted due to the ongoing military activities and increased presence of landmines, exacerbating humanitarian needs by the day. Food, water, medicines and medical care, shelter, basic household items, blankets, mattresses, cash, building materials, generators and fuel are urgently needed. The UN continues to negotiate to secure access, safety and security for the delivery of lifesaving aid. UNHCR repeats its urgent call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and again thanks neighbouring countries for keeping their borders open to those fleeing. UNHCR staff are on the ground in Ukraine and like the civilian population remain caught up in the hostilities. We are committed to stay and deliver assistance when and where access and security allow. Our Office has scaled up its presence and operations in central and western Ukraine, where conditions enable more humanitarian access, and where needs are also growing as people evacuate to the west and onwards and become internally displaced. We are also coordinating with the local authorities to improve the reception conditions at the international border crossing points where people are waiting in line for hours. UNHCR in Central and Western Ukraine UNHCR has opened warehouses in Vinnytsia, Uzhhorod, and Chernivtsi and two in Lviv. Core relief items for around 1.5 million people are being prepared for dispatch from UNHCR global stockpiles. On 26 February, UNHCR delivered core relief items for 2,000 people, including blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans, kitchen sets and buckets to Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, where thousands of IDPs have arrived. On 8 March, four trucks with 8,600 thermal blankets and 3,000 mattresses arrived in Lviv from Poland. These will be used to scale up the capacity of reception centres for IDPs. In Lviv, 200 mattresses and 400 blankets have been distributed to reception centres run by local authorities. In Vinnytsia, UNHCR distributed over 1,000 blankets, 230 mattresses and sleeping mats to three transit centres with the most urgent needs. We also conducted needs assessments in 13 transit centres to inform forthcoming support. A humanitarian cargo departed for Dnipro on 10 March, for distribution in heavily affected areas in Mariupol as soon as safe passage is secured. UNHCR is working closely with authorities and partners to establish and expand reception capacity for IDPs particularly in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi, and other localities and to provide key protection services. In Chop, UNHCR and partners are working with local authorities to support accommodation for 4,300 people and to provide legal, psychological and information support at reception points. Many stores in Ukraine now require payments in cash, making cash support critical. UNHCR is preparing to roll-out a pilot multi-purpose cash assistance programme, with WFP, through six registration centres to help IDPs meet their basic needs in Lviv. It will then be quickly expanded to other IDP-receiving region. At the international border crossing points, we are working with partners to provide heating points where people with specific vulnerabilities, such as pregnant women, people with disabilities, and older persons, can sit and stay warm while they wait for hours at the border. UNHCR partner NEEKA has been providing hot tea and snacks at border points with Poland. UNHCR is working with local authorities in western Ukraine to produce information materials that include QR codes for UNHCR Help sites, hotline numbers, referral roadmaps, and other resources to distribute at checkpoints. Southern Ukraine In Odessa, UNHCR is supporting a partner delivering food, tea and blankets at transit points in the train station, where evacuees from Mykolaiv arrive daily to move to western Ukraine. In Eastern Ukraine UNHCR is coordinating with partner Proliska to supply humanitarian assistance from the west to the east; 1,400 square meters of tarpaulin and rolls of plastic films were delivered to households damaged in the shelling in Popasna, Novomykhailivka and Slavne to protect them from the cold, as well as baby food and hygiene items. UNHCR also delivered humanitarian supplies, including 2,000 cans of stewed meat and 700kg of frozen meat, to Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and Popasna. In Luhansk, UNHCR supplied emergency shelter kits for onward distribution in Shchastia. Thermal blankets, plastic sheets, mattresses and jerry cans have been loaded in Dnipro to depart to Luhansk as soon as it is safe to drive. Working with the Donbas Development Center, UNHCR has delivered critical supplies such as bedlinen sets, towels, hygiene items to conflict-affected individuals in Donetsk NGCA. Outside Ukraine, the number of refugees in neighbouring countries has exceeded 2.5 million, and UNHCR commends the efforts of hosts and the immense solidarity shown by locals, volunteers and humanitarian organizations, who have been providing support for accommodation, transport, food, and financial and material donations. In all neighbouring countries, reception and assistance is being provided by State authorities, civil society and volunteers. UNHCR is working with the authorities and partners to roll out emergency cash programmes. The payments will tide refugees over, allowing more dignity and independence, until they can work or receive social support. It allows refugees to prioritize, while providing a boost to local businesses. In Poland, UNHCR, Caritas Poland and other partners, have worked to get financial assistance to refugees, with the first families receiving payments today in Warsaw. The programme will quickly expand to towns and cities hosting large numbers of refugees. The project also partners with Santander Bank, using its BLIK instant payments system. Initial one-off payments, of the same value as the social assistance in Poland, will be made available to registered refugees. In the Republic of Moldova, UNHCR, with the Ministry of Social Protection and a local partner, started emergency cash distributions on 28 February, while the mechanism for larger-scale assistance is being set up with more payments reaching vulnerable refugees in coming days. A one-off cash grant for host families is also being set up with the authorities. For more information on this topic, please contact: Sunset at the Dietrich Dome at Walla Walla Community College, May 23, 2021, after a total lunar eclipse. Laurie Zaleski, owner of Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, is photographed with her blind lamb inside her home in Mays Landing, New Jersey, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. The farm has around 600 animal rescues. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) Milledgeville, GA (31061) Today Thunderstorms this morning, then partly cloudy during the afternoon hours. High 91F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. March 11 2022 North Lanarkshire Council has reached an agreement in principle to purchase a sixties-era megastructure known as The Centre Cumbernauld, to enable town-centre regeneration. The authority will take ownership of the sprawling complex with the intent to demolish the 1967 structure as part of its decade-long ambition of establishing a new town hub with modern retail, offices and a library. A flagship component of the council's drive to establish a network of town hubs across the region the move seeks to provide enhanced amenity while reducing reliance on the car through the provision of active travel alternatives. Council leader Jim Logue commented: While the building represented the future in the 1960s, it is clear that it does not fit with residents vision of what they need from a modern town centre. "While these plans will have a significant positive impact on Cumbernauld, they will take a number of years to realise. During that time, Cumbernauld remains open for business and the council will support retailers and other businesses throughout to maximise their potential and continue to attract custom. The decision ends hopes that the historically significant structure could be salvaged as a Brutalist Mecca. (@FahadShabbir) Vienna, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Mar, 2022 ) :The EU said Friday that the talks it is chairing on the revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear accord must be paused, days after fresh demands from Russia complicated negotiations. The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted that the pause was "due to external factors," despite the fact that "a final text is essentially ready and on the table". The current round of negotiations started in late November between Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia, with the US taking part indirectly. They had reached most of the way toward their aim -- the revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which began unravelling when former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018. However, last week Russia said it was demanding guarantees that the Western sanctions imposed on its economy following its invasion of Ukraine would not affect its trade with Iran. As with the original JCPOA in 2015, Moscow had been expected to play a role in the implementation of any fresh deal, for example by receiving shipments of enriched uranium from Iran. (@FahadShabbir) GENEVA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Mar, 2022 ) :United Nations human rights expert has accused the Indian government of tacitly allowing incitement to violence against Muslims in a report that documents the state-driven and tolerated hatred, discrimination and violence against minorities in India. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmad Shaheed, who presented the report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, also denounced the wide-ranging Indian atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Stung by the damning report on 'rights of religious or belief minorities in situations of insecurity and conflict', India rejected the UN expert's findings, without offering any substantive arguments. On his part, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, echoed the report's references about human rights situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir and called on the UN expert to continue monitoring and reporting on the situation, especially the Kashmiri people's inalienable right to self-determination. . In his report, Special Rapporteur Shaheed said that the Indian authorities had failed to address impunity for human rights violations in Kashmir - including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and rape - and have enacted special laws to impede accountability and obstruct victims' access to remedies. In fact, he wrote that India had increased restrictions on movements of the predominantly Muslim Kashmiri population, already under strict lockdown since the 2019 revocation of Kashmir's special autonomous status, and sent more troops. "These measures, combined with internet shutdowns, have hampered Kashmiris' ability to protect themselves from the virus or receive outside help," the special rapporteur said. The UN report went on to say that Indian armed forces in Kashmir have arrested local politicians, by invoking the Public Safety Act that permits them to imprison someone for up to two years without a charge or trial, following the forces' dispatch to quell protests and unrest sparked by the Government's introduction of controversial amendments to the Indian Constitution. (Under those amendments, India annex the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law.) In India, the report said that the spread of derogatory slurs against Christians and Muslims, such as "rice bag converts" and conspiracy theories that Muslim men marry Hindu women to convert them ("love jihad"), foster an environment where discrimination is not just tolerated but sanctioned by political leaders. "Various authorities in the country have adopted anti-conversion bills that target Christians and Muslims in recent years. "Online activities can also inflict intersectional harm, such as websites in India that promote mock 'auctions' of Muslim women, especially those who are politically outspoken, as a means to compel their withdrawal from public life," it added. According to the report, interlocutors report that the Indian government has tacitly allowed incitement to violence against Muslims, failing to condemn a December 2021 video of Hindu religious leaders calling for a Muslim genocide until India's Supreme Court took up judicial notice. (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his close associates have not condemned those statements, including one by monk Yati Narsinghanand Giri, that encouraged Hindus to carry out The Indian authorities also omitted Muslim migrants from citizenship fast-tracking and excluded Bengali-speaking Muslims from the national citizen registry, the report said. "In Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar, State and non-state actors have accused Muslim minorities of importing the virus or increasing infection rates, sometimes with deadly consequences," the report added. "Social media has proven a dangerous tool for spreading these conspiracy theories, with the "corona jihad" hashtag (#coronajihad) going viral on Twitter in India after the Government announced high infection rates in the Muslim population." The Indian state of Karnataka, according to the report, is attempting to single out Christian organizations, including hospitals and schools, for a census survey, amidst rising regional hostility against that minority group. In his comments on the report, Indian delegate Pawankumar Badhe said, "We reject the Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, which is full of unfounded, unjustified, irresponsible and presumptuous allegations against my country based on unverified information and far-fetched conclusions," Taking note of the report's findings, the Pakistan ambassador said many of them findings were relevant to the grim human rights conditions in UN-recognized situations of foreign occupation. "Even as people living in these situations do not meet the legal threshold of minority, occupation regimes have often instrumentalized religion to perpetrate and justify atrocity crimes against them," Ambassador Hashmi said. "In doing so," the Pakistani ambassador added, "they invariably aim to eliminate the distinct identity of these people, pursuing legitimate freedom struggle. "As chronicled by the Report, this dangerous trend alarmingly resonates with the post-05th August situation in occupied Jammu & Kashmir. "Under the so-called "Final Solution", the occupying Power is illegally colonizing the internationally recognized disputed territory, transforming the indigenous Kashmiri into a minority, and disenfranchising them of their distinct religious, cultural, and linguistic rights and identity. "From arbitrary restrictions on religious gatherings to curbs on burial rights; from illegal detentions of Kashmiri leaders and activists to changes in status of languages associated with Kashmiris; and from illegal land garbs to plans for building Hindu temples in place of mosques, the "Hindutvatization" of the occupied territory remains unabated." (@ChaudhryMAli88) Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar Thursday said an unarmed supersonic projectile object detected by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) since its flight from the Indian side crashed on Pakistan's soil near Mian Chunnu RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Mar, 2022 ) :Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar Thursday said an unarmed supersonic projectile object detected by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) since its flight from the Indian side crashed on Pakistan's soil near Mian Chunnu. The ISPR DG told a media briefing that at 18:43 hours (6:43 p.m.) on March 9, the high speed flying object was picked up inside the Indian territory by the PAF Air Defence Operation System, which suddenly manoeuvred from its initial course and intruded into the Pakistani territory. The projectile ultimately fell near Mian Chunnu and damaged some civilian property, however, no loss of life was reported, he added. (@FahadShabbir) RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Mar, 2022 ) :As many as four terrorists on Thursday were killed by the Security Forces during two separate Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) on reported presence of terrorists in general area Maddi Khel and Bobar Gap in North Waziristan District. During intense exchange of fire, the four terrorists were killed whereas weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorists, said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release. It added that the killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against the security forces. The locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the area. The European Union on Friday eyed an extra 500 million euros for military support for Ukraine and fresh sanctions on Russia, as Moscow's war spurred vows to bolster the bloc's defences Versailles, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Mar, 2022 ) :The European Union on Friday eyed an extra 500 million Euros for military support for Ukraine and fresh sanctions on Russia, as Moscow's war spurred vows to bolster the bloc's defences. EU leaders meeting for a summit in France's Palace of Versailles described Moscow's attack on Ukraine as a wake-up call for the 27-nation bloc to take a more muscular approach to ensuring its security. "There's no denying the fact that two weeks ago we woke up in a different Europe, in a different world," European Council chief Charles Michel said. The EU's executive put forward a proposal to double its financing for sending weapons to Ukraine to one billion euros as the West scrambles to back Kyiv's forces in the face of the Kremlin's onslaught. The bloc last month broke a long-standing taboo by agreeing to pay for arms deliveries to Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of his pro-Western neighbour. The move was part of a broad push by Ukraine's allies to send weapons amid desperate pleas from Kyiv for air defence systems after calls to impose a no-fly zone were rebuffed. Alongside further arms supplies, EU leaders also said they were readying a fresh round of economic punishment as they look to keep up pressure on Putin over the bloodshed. The West has already hit Moscow with a barrage of unprecedented sanctions but the EU has so far failed to agree to follow the US lead in hitting Russia's key oil and gas exports. French President Macron said he would talk to Putin again in the coming hours with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Macron warned the Kremlin leader of further "massive sanctions" if he steps up the bombing or seeks to beseige Ukraine's capital Kyiv. "In that case, nothing is off the table, nothing is taboo," Macron said. "We will do whatever we deem to be effective and useful to halt Russia in its aggression." - 'Invest more' - As the EU has broken new ground in sending arms abroad it has also been shocked into reconsidering its approach to security after decades relying on US-led NATO to ensure Europe's defences. Leaders agreed in a declaration "to increase substantially defence expenditures" and bolster cooperation on military projects between member states. "We must resolutely invest more and better in defence capabilities and innovative technologies," the declaration said. Leaders have described the Russian assault that began last month as a turning point on a level with the September 11 attacks that rocked the US over two decades ago. "On defence, I think everybody has agreed that things have changed since 24th of February and we should go back to the fundamentals," said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. She said the bloc was looking at issues such as whether to "procure common capabilities, for example, that are too expensive for any individual state to buy on their own." She also called for all EU members states -- six of which are not in NATO -- to mirror the military alliance's commitment to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defence. Collective security in the European Union is primarily handled by the US-led NATO alliance, but France, the EU's biggest military power, has been spearheading calls for an enhanced role for the bloc. The assault on Ukraine has now pushed some other major economies that have typically been more wary of spending big on their militaries into stark about-turns. Germany tore up decades of policy by agreeing to send weapons to Ukraine after the start of the war and has pledged an extra 100 billion euros ($110 billion) to help improve its armed forces. Iran on Thursday said the United States has made extra demands and accused it of working to "complicate" efforts to restore a 2015 nuclear deal, after new Russian requests linked to the Ukraine war raised concerns of fresh delays Tehran, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Mar, 2022 ) :Iran on Thursday said the United States has made extra demands and accused it of working to "complicate" efforts to restore a 2015 nuclear deal, after new Russian requests linked to the Ukraine war raised concerns of fresh delays. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in major state policies, meanwhile, stressed his country will not give up on elements of "national strength", such as nuclear progress and regional influence. Tehran is locked in negotiations with world powers to revive the nuclear deal that offered it sanctions relief in return for curbs on its atomic programme. Its arch-foe the United States, under former president Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from the accord known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. "There is no rational justification for some of the new demands made by the United States, and it contradicts the country's position on reaching an agreement swiftly," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, his ministry reported. Amir-Abdollahian did not specify the demands, but said "the US cannot pass on a new and different message to us every day through the coordinator", in reference to the EU. Borrel called on the US and Iran to be "more flexible in exchanging messages and make efforts" to reach an agreement quickly, according to the ministry. Earlier on Thursday, Iran's top security official Ali Shamkhani tweeted that "Vienna negotiations are becoming more complicated every hour without a political decision by the United States." "US approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties," he added. - Russian factor - For its part, Moscow has said it wants written assurances from Washington that sanctions imposed on it over the Ukraine war will not affect its economic and military cooperation with Tehran. The negotiations to revive the deal involve Iran as well as France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China directly, and the United States indirectly. Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the accord and its reimposition of biting economic sanctions prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments. Negotiators have signalled that talks had progressed into a "final phase", but pending issues were still unresolved. The United States has described Russia's new demands "irrelevant", while France warned they could dash hopes for a revived nuclear accord. "Some people are trying to blame us for protracting the talks. I must tell you that the talks have not yet been finalised, even the text of a final agreement is not yet finalised," Russian chief negotiator Mikhayil Ulyanov said Wednesday. "Like any other participant we have the right to ask for something... It's normal business," he added. "We have the right to protect our interest both in the nuclear field, as well as in the wider context," he said. "All our trade and economic relations with Iran should be exempt from current and future EU or US sanctions". - 'National strength' - The July 2015 deal gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities to guarantee it could not develop a weapons capability -- an ambition it has staunchly denied. Western countries have also voiced concern over other Iranian capabilities, including its ballistic missiles program and regional influence and ties to armed groups from Lebanon to Yemen. Iran's supreme leader said Thursday that matters of "national strength" were not up for negotiation. "Regional presence gives us strategic depth and more national strength. Why should we give it up?" Khamenei asked, in a statement on his official website. "Nuclear scientific progress is also related to meeting the needs of the country in the near future, and if we give it up, from who and where we should ask for that in a few years?" Sam Chang and Jeanny Aragon-Ching discuss treatment and survival differences in patients with urothelial versus non-urothelial bladder and upper tract carcinomas an analysis from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). There is an increased need for learning more about urothelial and non-urothelial cancers because non-urothelial cancers typically have been known to have a worse prognosis than urothelial cancers. Dr. Aragon-Ching highlights a retrospective review she presented at GU ASCO 2022 in which the objective was to further describe the patterns, demographics, stage, metastasis, and response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy explored through the National Cancer Database.Jeanny Aragon-Ching, MD, Clinical Program Director of Genitourinary Cancers, the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Associate Professor of Medical Education, University of Virginia, Fairfax, VA Sam S. Chang, M.D., M.B.A. Patricia and Rodes Hart Endowed Chair of Urologic Surgery Professor Department of Urology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Sam Chang: Hello, everyone. My name is Sam Chang. I'm a urologist in Nashville, Tennessee, and I work at Vanderbilt University. And we are all quite fortunate to have Dr. Jeanny Aragon-Ching. Jeanny's the Clinical Program Director of GU Cancers at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, Virginia. And she's going to be giving an updated presentation for what she presented at GU ASCO 2022. And then we'll spend a few minutes kind of asking her and probing her thoughtful mind of where the next steps are going to be in terms of urothelial carcinoma. So we'll start off with Jeanny. Jeanny, thank you so much for spending time with us. Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Sam, thank you so much and for UroToday, too, for giving us a little bit of insights on the abstract that I presented at GU ASCO. So this is the treatment and survival differences in patients with urothelial versus non-urothelial bladder and upper tract carcinomas and analysis from the National Cancer Database. And as we all know, bladder cancer occurs in about 81,000 patients, and there is an increased need for learning more about urothelial and non-urothelial cancers because non-urothelial cancers typically have known to be worse prognosis than urothelial cancers. So the objective really of this dataset is to further describe the patterns, demographics, stage, metastasis, and response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy explored through the NCDB. So this is what we did. It was a de-identified dataset from NCDB ranging from 2004 to 2017. And we used these different histologic terms to define transitional cell or urothelial cell carcinoma versus the non-urothelial cancer cell cohorts. And using chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank tests, a statistical analysis to look at the data. And in total, we had 649,000 patients and as expected, there were more urothelial cancers compared to the non-urothelial cancer patients. Majority of patients were men, as expected, again. Upper tract cancers, 62%, 75% for bladder for men. And median age is actually very similar across the board. Majority were Caucasian men. And interestingly enough, there were more African-American patients in the non-urothelial cancer cohorts, about twice as much, 10.8%, compared to 5.26%. Now, primary surgery occurred more frequently in the patients with urothelial cancer, 94.7%, compared to the non-urothelial cancer cohorts. And this is the high-level data that we saw. In stage zero and one patients you will see that urothelial cancer patients had a better median overall survival compared to the non-urothelial cancer patients. On the other hand, as stage increases towards stage two and three, as well as stage four cancers, we see that the curves soon to be are overlapping. Whereas on the right-hand side of your slide, you will see the effects of chemotherapy. So effects of chemotherapy on the urothelial cancer cohort certainly is more favorable, median survival's about 73 months compared to only 17 months for the non-urothelial cancer cohorts. On the other hand, immunotherapies affects similarly is more favorable for the urothelial cancer, about 115 months median survival compared to only about 64.5 months. So in summary, urothelial cancer of both bladder and upper tract origin compared to the non-urothelial cancer cohort tend to have a better prognosis in both presentation, as well as even treatment with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. This highlights the need for better therapeutic strategies for patients with non-urothelial cancers. And with that, thank you so much for your attention. Sam Chang: Jeanny, thank you so much. I think the presentation, just like every great presentation, just asks many more questions that are out there. So some of the questions I had in mind are, and you may not know this because it's tough sometimes in the NCDB, but were there certain subtypes, and this is dangerous whenever you go back and you try to parse out more, certain subtypes that seem to be worse than other subtypes in the non-urothelial cancers? Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Yes. And we actually had an earlier dataset that looked at the fine-tuning or details of the non-urothelial cancer subsets. On the other hand, we know that certain histologies, like adenocarcinoma tend to do worse than, let's say, as well as like small cell carcinoma patients, for instance. But to your point, Sam, we have yet to dissect all the non-urothelial cancer cohorts to see which one of the group actually fares a little better than the others. Sam Chang: And then, did you notice, as you parsed out kind of the urothelial versus non-urothelial and you had different stages, as a group, did the non-urothelial, and you may, again, not be able to tell this, but did they tend to present at a similar stage for a stage or they tended to be later and more progressive in terms of disease? Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Yeah. It tends to be later and more, and that's what we see in clinical practice too, which is they typically present at the later stage and metastatic for whom the opportunities for early cure unfortunately, is not available to everyone. Sam Chang: So, as you consider non-urothelial carcinomas... As our medical oncologists struggle with, we don't really know, there's no best set regimen that we know of. And each one may have nuances, a squamous cell versus an anode, versus a small cell. We're basically guessing. In terms of these kind of very small populations, but clearly that do worse, where do you think the next step should be in terms of study? Should we parse them out only for small cell or do we start off with, as a group, non-urothelial? What are your thoughts regarding that? Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Yeah. Again, by sheer numbers alone, the limitation of the numbers, I think creating or designing a trial that would encompass all of the non-urothelial cancer patients as a catchment, for instance. And of course, several studies come to mind, including ICONIC, which will capture all of the patients with rare GU cancers. And from that sort of basket trial, we can hopefully glean a little bit more on the treatment paradigms and the treatment in general. And the one thing I would say about the limitation from a lot of these cancer databases is of course the lack of granularity, right? So when we look at the outcomes from chemotherapy or immunotherapy, for instance, there is no real detail about, is it cisplatin-based chemotherapy or toxin base? What about the immunotherapy, what drugs were used? So there's no ability to fine-tune what those treatments are. Sam Chang: Right. Jeanny Aragon-Ching: One thing I would also say is the database captured until 2017. So, that was around the time when immunotherapy drugs were starting to first come to the clinic. So there's still a lot of data we have not captured. So I would say stay tuned for more. Sam Chang: Right. Yeah, I think very interesting would be that from 2017 to say, 2022, these next five years when we really have incorporated kind of standard of care for those patients that are not eligible for chemotherapy, what happens when they get immunotherapy? And we may have already selected out the worst actors early on. Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Exactly. Sam Chang: It'll be very interesting. As you look at the NCDV, which is, you just pointed out some of the weaknesses, but it is very real world. Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Right. Sam Chang: It captures the data from 70, 80% of the cancer centers, and this is what happens and this is where you go. What is your group's next project? What are you guys interested in looking at and why? Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Yeah. I think the next project really would be, and there is a lot of interest really in the non-urothelial cancer cohorts, especially because, again, we see time and again, that they are the worst actors, poor prognosis group of patients. And I think developing strategies in order to help them as a whole would be really the next step, using this databases again, as you pointed out, Sam, as a real-world pattern so that we can further glean from this database so that we can apply it to our next generation of clinical trials. Sam Chang: Last question then, what did you find out about urothelial cancers that you found interesting or unique or different? Because clearly just like you, and I think many others, we're looking at this non-urothelial, because we're trying to gain as much information from that as possible, because we don't have a lot of good information. Was there anything on the urothelial side that you found interesting, intriguing, maybe kind of fodder for the next trial, anything on the urothelial side? Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Yeah. I do think there may be still a lot of room to evolve with this. So notice that our project actually encompass bladder and upper tract urothelial cancer. And even among urothelial cancers in the GU tract, I do think there is a difference between upper tract and bladder, even amongst the set of urothelial cancers. So I think that would be the next step to further dissect. We know in a lot of big databases, the adjuvant immunotherapy trials, the upper tract patients, even though they are urothelial, they behave differently. And I think that would be very important for us to tease out, because there definitely would be regular differences, behavioral differences, why they act differently or actually behave differently in terms of treatment as well. Sam Chang: Well, Jeanny, thank you again for spending some time with us and really appreciate all the efforts that you've made. And obviously the folks at GU ASCO also wanted to show their appreciation as you presented it. So thanks again. And we look forward to future projects from your group. Jeanny Aragon-Ching: Yeah. Thanks for having me here too. Sam Chang: Absolutely. My Harrison, a native of Tampa, Florida, earned a BA from USF and was a Special Agent in Charge for the FBI's Memphis Field Offices. Prior to her appointment with the FBI, Ms. Harrison was employed by the University of South Florida Police Department. After that, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Tampa, Florida, where she served as a Deputy Sheriff, Patrol Corporal, Undercover Narcotics Detective, Prescription Fraud Detective and Internal Affairs Investigator. She retired from the Sheriff's Office in February 1985. In April 2004, Ms. Harrison was promoted to the position of the Section Chief in the Administrative Services Division at FBI Headquarters. The promotion made her the third African-American female to enter the FBI's Senior Executive Service. In February 2005, Ms. Harrison was designated as the Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office. Law enforcement is a vital part of My's family legacy. Her great-great grandfather provided plantation security on a Florida Plantation; her cousin, Alfonso Lofton, is the first African-American State Trooper in Florida; her mother was a Probation Officer; and her sister is a sergeant within the Florida Department of Transportation Police. My has two daughters; Natika, who served as a Deputy Sheriff in Hillsborough County and Ronnee, who was Criminal Justice major at Bethune-Cookman College. For the past six years, Pasco Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Chris Nocco's leadership has teamed up with Dr. Bryanna Fox to collaborate on a variety of projects benefitting USF Criminology students and the local community. From implementing and evaluating offender profiles to help address unsolved burglaries with Major Jeff Peake, to collaborating on a major new study on the risks and needs of inmates in the Pasco County Jail alongside Major Stacy Jenkins, the Pasco Sheriff's Office has been the model partner agency to conduct impactful evidence-based research. Recently, Pasco Sheriff's Office and Dr. Fox were awarded a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance to implement and evaluate a new focused deterrence strategy aimed at reducing violent crime and opioid related offenses in Pasco County. This grant will provide funding for several USF Criminology doctoral students. Incredibly, Pasco Sheriff's Office also allowed Dr. Fox and graduate students in her Forensic Psychology seminar to help "investigate" a cold case homicide that has remained unsolved for the past 30 years. Graduate students in Dr. Fox's course learned the fundamentals of forensic psychology and applied their knowledge as they "worked" a cold case alongside detectives and crime analysts from Pasco Sheriff's Office. This once-in-a-lifetime experience allowed students to experience the challenges law enforcement commonly face when investigating crimes, particularly cold cases, and how criminological research can be used to help gain insights needed to solve the case. They read hundreds of pages of case files, visited the original crime scene, acted out the offense circumstances, learned from detectives and analysts, and spent hours after class working the case. Throughout the semester, Pasco Sheriff's Office was incredible in terms of the training, mentorship, and partnership they provided to USF Criminology students. Later, students in this course reported that this experience was one of the most beneficial and impactful they had in their academic careers, further illustrating the value of Pasco's contribution and collaboration with USF Criminology over the years. Chief Robert Johnson served with the USF Police Department for 30 years (1976 2006). He began his career at the USF/New College Campus in 1976 and transferred to the USF Tampa Campus in 1978. Over the next 30 years he served as a Patrol Officer, Detective Sergeant, Public Information Lieutenant, Patrol Commander, Operations Commander, Assistant Director (Major), and as Chief of Police prior to his retirement 2006. After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, Chief Johnson graduated from Florida State University with a bachelors in Criminology. As part of his studies at FSU, he served as an Investigator for the 2nd Circuit Public Defenders Office in Leon County, Florida. He received his masters in Criminology from USF in 1995 focusing his studies on community policing. Chief Johnson is also a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcements Senior Leadership Program, as well as the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institutes Chief Executive Program. During his time as Operations Commander, overseeing the Patrol and Investigative sections of the department, Chief Johnson was responsible for developing, implementing, and training officers in community policing on the USF Campus. This included surveying the public, developing programs based on the surveys, and implementing programs to meet those communitys needs. As the Assistant Director, he was responsible for overseeing the operation of the St. Petersburg Campus and the USF/New College Campus in Sarasota. Chief Johnson received the USPPD Officer of the Year Award in 1981 and in 1987. He was also awarded the Administrative Staff Outstanding Service Award in 1992. Malawis Catholic Bishops, over the weekend, commemorated the 30th anniversary of a 1992 Lenten Pastoral Letter that shook Malawis political landscape, helping to usher-in multiparty democracy. Paul Samasumo Vatican City. To mark the 30-year milestone, this week, Malawis Catholic Bishops issued the Pastoral Letter, Commemorating Living Our Faith -Lent 2022. True to its 1992 precursor, the new Pastoral Letter, in plain and straight language, seeks to rouse the consciences of Malawis political leaders and those of its citizens. The Bishops want Malawians, in general, to have a hard look at their society today and possibly start a conversation about the direction of their country - thirty years and beyond. It all started on 8 March 1992, when Malawis Catholic Bishops took the unusual step of publicly challenging the authoritarian regime of President Hastings Kamuzu Bandas one party state. The 1992 Lenten Pastoral Letter was the first public criticism of President Kamuzu Banda within Malawi. It was a scathing attack and, as expected, did not go down well with the Kamuzu Banda establishment. The Bishops were publicly vilified and threatened. For some time, there were fears for the safety of some of them. Three decades later, the same vices The present environment in which the people of Malawi live can be described as very dehumanising. Vast numbers of men, women and children today, like Lazarus in the Gospel (Luke 16: 19 -31) are languishing in abject poverty while wealth and luxury are enjoyed by a few who are unconcerned about these dehumanising conditions of the majority, said the Malawian prelates in the new Pastoral Letter. The Bishops are irked by the fact that three decades later, the country has not made progress and is still struggling with the same ills. It is sad that a generation later, we are grappling with the same vices. In actual fact, it is regrettable that these vices, which the Catholic Bishops condemned three decades ago, have become even more deeply engrained and are tearing our society and our nation apart while keeping the vast majority in grinding poverty. If we are not careful as a nation, we are heading towards social disaster, admonished the Bishops. Bishops want a judiciary system that works for all The Bishops further decry deteriorating education and health care services delivery and a Judiciary struggling to assert its independence. Of particular concern is the perception that the Judiciary sometimes administers justice selectively to the advantaged and powerful in Malawian society. There have been accusations of the Judiciary itself being involved in corruption, allegations the Judiciary vehemently denies. Nevertheless, the Bishops acknowledge positives in this vital organ of government. In this area, we must applaud the Judiciary, which has, on several occasions recently, demonstrated that it is acting with the independence required and expected of it. However, as has always been the case, there are, unfortunately, some whose actions, decisions and judgements threaten to tarnish the image of the judicial system. The Judiciary must always remember that it has a key role to play in the administration of justice and especially in the fight against corruption, the Bishops explained. They remind the Judiciary to ensure that corruption cases are expedited and that everyone is seen to be treated fairly and similarly before the law. The need to lead a credible corruption fight The Catholic Bishops overall assessment of corruption in the country will make for uncomfortable reading among politicians. The Bishops criticise President Lazarus Chakweras indecisiveness when faced with corruption matters. They want him to demonstrate political will and executive political leadership. For a government that campaigned heavily on tackling corruption, the Bishops message is a rebuke that should call for a new strategy. We believe that a President who campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption, and promised to deal with the vice, will not keep any of his ministers and aides when there is sufficient information about their involvement in corruption, the Bishops said. A gracious government response Keen to avoid an all-out fall-out with the Catholic Bishops as happened in 1992, this time around, Malawis government has been gracious even in the face of such a critical Pastoral Letter. Information Minister and Government spokesperson Gospel Kazaka told local media that President Chakweras government was thankful to the Catholic Bishops for being open in pointing out governance issues. He said the Malawian Government was addressing the issues raised by the Bishops. Malawi: A country vulnerable to climate change Malawi is a land-locked country in southern Africa. At the last count, the population was expected to reach 19.55 Million by the end of 2021. The country has one of the lowest per capita income levels in the world. Almost 90 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, mostly engaged in smallholder, rain-fed agriculture. Malawi has been on the receiving end of climate change especially in recent years. The population seems to alternate between the effects of drought and tropical Cyclones. A synodal conference gathering African Catholics reflects on the concerns and challenges of African Catholics, as the universal Church continues on the two-year synodal process leading to the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. By Benedict Mayaki, SJ A Theological Colloquium on Synodality held on 9 11 March in Nairobi, Kenya, sought to reflect and propose a vision of synodality based on characteristics and dimensions of the synodal process from an African perspective. Organized by the African Synodality Initiative (ASI) in collaboration with the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), the three-day event gathered Catholics of different backgrounds theologians, professionals, academics from several Church and academic institutions at the headquarters of the Jesuit Conference of African and Madagascar (JCAM) to share experiences, challenges and particularities of the Church on the continent, in tandem with other synodal activities of local Churches. The initiative falls into the two-year process on the Synod on Synodality was launched last October by Pope Francis with the theme For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission. With the diocesan listening stage of the process underway, the Synod on synodality encourages everyone to have their voice heard on crucial Church issues. Listening and discernment The sessions at the Colloquium featured presentations (in English and French) from theologians, group discussions, personal statements on the synodal process from participants, open conversations which culminated in the drafting of a statement illustrating a vision of synodality for the Church in Africa. Among the speakers at the sessions on the first day of the Colloquium was Sr. Natalie Becquart, Under-Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, who highlighted that we are living the most ecclesial moments and events in the life of the Church since Vatican II with the universal Church carrying everyone along in this synod. She highlighted that a key element of the Second Vatican Council is a working collaboration and dialogue between theologians and bishops, giving birth to reflections that are critical to the theology of a synodal Church. Sr. Becquart further underlined the importance of listening and continuing on a creative path of discernment as it is important to be open to the sensus fidei, accompany local synodal processes, gather the fruits of the process and share them to the entire Church. She also underlined that young people and women are an essential driving force of synodality. A screenshot of participants at the Colloquium Challenges of the African Church Further sessions of the Colloquium reflected on the challenges faced by the African Church, including the interface of cultural beliefs and practices with the Christian faith and the role of women and how to involve them more deeply in leadership and engagement with the Church. The participants also reflected on the synodal experiences in different parts of the continent, highlighting the resistance to embrace change, the laitys expression of uncertainty about the consideration that will be given to their opinions, and confusion caused by insufficient awareness creation and wrong conceptions about the synodal engagement. Dr. Philippe Tine, a research professor from the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal, gave a presentation on some elements to consider as the African Church strives to become a synodal Church. He stressed the importance of examining the lived experience of Africans as the first point of departure, in order to identify the obstacles through attentive listening. On this note, he also invited Africans to explore the links between synodality and African cultures in order to nourish the process with the riches of our culture. Furthermore, he encouraged formation in synodality by the creation of inclusive spaces for reflection, sharing and discernment. He also stressed the need to bridge the gap between the clergy and laity by reducing structures that promote clericalism. A vision of the African Church as a synodal Church Proposing steps on the path toward a greater synodality, the Colloquiums participants highlighted the entire process as a journey of reformation that should include, among others identifying the needs of the Church, building openness and systems of trust that respect confidentiality and a change of mentality at all levels of the Church in order to break down characters that foster rigidity. They also recommended living in solidarity with all of creation in our common home, the promotion of inter-religious and ecumenical encounters, a greater appreciation for the value of the different charisms, including those of the laity and encouraging a mutual evangelization of both the laity and the clergy. Expressing their conviction that the Church of the third millennium should embrace the path of synodality, the participants restated their commitment to serve as facilitators to promote awareness and build a culture of synodality. A statement by the Scandinavian Bishops, expressing outrage for Russias invasion of Ukraine, appeals for peace, and says the attack on a maternity hospital is a terrible symbol of this war. By Linda Bordoni The attack this week on a childrens and maternity hospital in Mariupol, geographically remote from any military target, stands as a terrible symbol of this war. The blood of mothers and children cries out to heaven from the ground. With these powerful words that come in the wake of the Russian bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol on 9 March, the Bishops of the Scandinavian Bishops' Conference express their outrage at the war of aggression. The Bishops say, the Russian Federation shows disdain for Ukraines sovereignty and causes untold suffering to millions of people. Signed by the President of the Bishops' Conference, Bishop Czelaw Kozon, along with all of its members, the statement contains an appeal for conversion that regards ourselves, our Churches, and our countries; but it also regards our whole beloved Europe. Lest a fratricidal war be allowed to assume even more terrifying dimensions. Appeal to Russian President, people, Church The Bishops turn directly to the Russian President imploring him to Stop to this unjust war! And they appeal to the Russian people calling on them not to permit this iniquity to be perpetrated in your name! The Scandinavian Bishops also express their sadness for recent statements from certain quarters of the Russian Church, which present this war of flagrant aggression as a combat for Christian values. To engage in such terms is to engage in mere rhetoric, to hold moral values hostage to a political agenda. The Bishops note that some of their Nordic countries share a border and historical ties with Russia and with Ukraine. This war, they say, touches us deeply, and they give their assurances that they are praying for the homeless, the frightened, the sick, and wounded, that the dead may rest in peace, and: That the hearts of the mighty may be open to the prompting of the Prince of Peace, to pursue the path of peace in justice. Bishop Varden's comment Following the release of the Bishops' statement, Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway, told Vatican News' Charlotta Smeds that the Scandinavian Bishops felt it was important to express their condemnation of the war in Ukraine. "We wanted to state very clearly our compassion for the Ukrainian people, and our condemnation, even as the Holy See has condemned this war," Bishop Varden said. He added that Russia's war in Ukraine is "clearly a war of aggression, which cannot be dressed up as some sort of 'moral combat', as it has been in certain quarters, even in the last days." Bishop Varden said the Scandinavian Bishops stand with the people of Ukraine and will do whatever they can to welcome "refugees who come our way." As more than 2.5 million people flee Ukraine, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Institute in London and former British Ambassador to Ukraine, Robert Brinkley, speaks about the destruction of a country he knows so well, the importance of welcoming refugees, and the powerful voice of leaders like Pope Francis at this time. By Lydia OKane More than two weeks on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine the humanitarian crisis continues to grow. The United Nations said on Friday that more than 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine as of March 11. That figure is an increase of 200,000 refugees since the International Organisation for Migration's last report through to March 10. Meanwhile, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Friday that at least 1.85 million people were displaced inside Ukraine. Humanitarian corridors Aid agencies working in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries have stressed the need for humanitarian corridors to give people the opportunity to flee intense bombardments. The medical humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has stressed that one-off humanitarian corridors can be helpful, but are not enough. It adds that safe passage for those willing and able to escape should be urgently assured across war-affected areas inside Ukraine, regardless of the existence of humanitarian corridors or ceasefires that may temporarily be put in place. Robert Brinkley is a former British Ambassador to Ukraine and Chairman of the Ukrainian Institute in London. Speaking to Vatican Radio, he said it was horrific to see the destruction of a country he knows so well. The situation is appalling and its heartbreaking particularly as Ive lived in Ukraine and know many people there. Its tragic the way in which Russia is bombarding innocent civilians in cities, and trapping them, not allowing them safe passage out or food and medical supplies in. Plight of refugees Since the start of the war, European countries have been welcoming refugees fleeing Ukraine. The European Union is allowing Ukrainians a three-year residency without the need for a visa. But the UK has taken in only 1,000 refugees so far and is retaining controls on entry. On Wednesday, London Church leaders called on the British Government to make it easier for Ukrainians fleeing war to come to the UK. Facing criticism, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson Friday announced a new scheme that would allow Britons to welcome Ukrainian refugees into their homes. Addressing this issue, Mr. Brinkley said the way in which the countries of central Europe are welcoming Ukrainian refugees was tremendously heartening. He noted that the British Government had already announced two new routes for Ukrainians to get visas to come into the UK. However, he said, I think they could have acted faster and they can probably still go further. Listen to the interview Promoting peace Around the world, millions of people are showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine, whether it be peace rallies or prayer vigils in order to bring this war to an end. At last Sundays Angelus, Pope Francis called for the armed attacks to cease and that "negotiation - and common sense - prevail. The voice of Pope Francis is one which is listened to throughout the world, said the former ambassador. Im constantly, like many other people around the world, praying for peace, praying for Ukraine to be delivered from evil. I know the Pope is praying hard as well, and I hope that he will discern a way he can use his great influence to bring peace. Generosity and compassion Mr. Brinkley is the current Chairman of the Ukraine Institute in London, which is a centre for Ukraine-related educational and cultural activities. It also highlights important contemporary and historical issues affecting not just Ukraine but also the wider world. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine over two weeks ago, staff at the Institute have been rushed off their feet doing what they can to help, and have also been liaising with the Ukrainian Eparch of the Holy Family Cathedral in London, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski. The Institutes website also provides information for those who want to support the people of Ukraine through donations. Read also 10/03/2022 Ukraine: London Church leaders call for action to aid refugees coming to UK As the number of Ukrainian citizens seeking shelter outside the borders of the country surpasses two million, London Church leaders are calling on the British Government to take ... Futility of war In just a short space of time, the effects of this war have already been catastrophic. Over 2.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country, many have been killed, the countrys cultural heritage is being reduced to rubble and many children have had their education interrupted. This is the horror and devastation of war and this war is completely unnecessary, said Mr. Brinkley, adding, this is not a war of the Russian people. He went on to say that it flies completely in the face of Russias commitments under international law, under the United Nations Charter, and it must be brought to an end as soon as possible. Victoria, TX (77901) Today Windy. Cloudy skies will become mostly sunny this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. SEAN MORRISON is a News and Features Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at sgmorr1@ilstu.edu. Follow Morrison on Twitter at @ seanmorr122 IF YOU SUPPORT THE VIDETTE MISSION of providing a training laboratory for Illinois State University student journalists to learn and sharpen viable, valuable and marketable skills in all phases of digital media, please contribute to this most important cause. Thank you. An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2022 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam.... Julie Reeder Publisher The California legislature supermajority of Democrats, not immune from pharmaceutical contributions, has introduced the most pro-pharmaceutical, oppressive, and strictest set of COVID-19 bills to date in the nation, including outlawing doctors freedom of speech. Become a goose stepper or else! Science doesnt matter. A goose stepper according to the Urban Dictionary is someone who blindly follows a political or religious movement for the sake of nationalism or imposing their views onto others. The term refers to the way Nazis used to march in line with each other. These California bills, in addition to killing freedom of speech or medical freedom for doctors and patients, continue to push mRNA shots on almost everyone, despite what is feared to be millions of adverse effects (A recent Harvard study suggests only 1% of people/doctors report their adverse events we currently have about 800,000 in the U.S. and about 25,000 deaths.) These new laws would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, put more burden on businesses and workers, and infringe on the health privacy of children. They further reduce individual rights and parental rights, forcing people to get shots that we now know in a majority of the cases doesnt prevent transmission of COVID-19 as previously promised. They may prevent severe disease in seniors who are already unhealthy, but the science is showing they are unnecessary for young healthy people and in fact dangerous for many. This week, data reviewed by researchers and the State of New York showed that the Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds has little effectiveness in preventing the disease among kids. That science wont matter to California goose-steppers. Now our oppressors even want to discipline our frontline previously celebrated doctors if they dont goose-step to the pro-pharmaceutical political lobby in Sacramento and Washington. They cant be spreaders of misinformation or be involved with unapproved treatments. We dont want to allow them the freedom to prescribe those early treatments that are safe, effective, and cheap because that interferes with the profits of pharmaceutical companies who line politicians coffers with huge contributions. Renowned leaders, like Dr. Pierre Kory, are just outright calling it fraud. These frontline doctors in California saved thousands of lives with early treatment of COVID-19 and there doesnt seem to be any temperance insight for allowing the politicians drunk with power to catch up with what science is proving. These medical experts already know first-hand what works for COVID treatment with their patients and what doesnt. Again, its goose-step or else. Science doesnt matter. Freedom of speech doesnt matter. Doctor-patient privacy doesnt matter. Medical freedom doesnt matter only compliance. Meanwhile, thank God, the FDA recently put off approving the vaccine for infants and toddlers under 5 until they can get more data, and more pharmaceutical-related whistle-blowers continue to come forward. See IAmBrookJackson.com. And its not just California. If President Bidens administration had it their way, there would be no free red states to escape from the goose steppers. Washington, D.C. is stepping up the heat on goose-stepping and further abolishment of states rights. Last Thursday, March 6, as part of President Bidens National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, https://www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan/, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy formally requested that the major tech platforms submit information about COVID-19 misinformation on all their platforms, networks, search engines, crowdsourcing platforms and instant messaging. They are becoming the Ministry of Misinformation and the national media has, for the most part, goose-stepped to their ever-changing science and now they are reaching out to the tech companies, families, and neighbors of people to ensure goose-stepping compliance, thought control, and likely punishment. The request demanded that the tech companies send the data and analysis on COVID-19 misinformation starting with vaccine misinformation as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on their website, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html. A major issue is that the CDC's misinformation has changed over the last two years as the science has caught up with their information. First, we now know COVID-19 wasnt as deadly as we thought. A COVID death included anyone who tested positive with a PCR test we later found reported far more false positives. For instance, people shot to death were included in the COVID deaths. Secondly, CDC said masks were unnecessary, then they were mandatory, now we know that the masks most people wear are ineffective at best. We were told locking down was the way to flatten the curve. As it turns out, we now know that it was the worst thing to do to put everyone in close quarters and keep them from going outside in the sunshine. In fact, it also was a huge detriment to mental and physical health as well as financial stress and there was more abuse reported as a consequence. We were first told the vaccines were 90% effective and would protect us from the contracting and transmission of COVID. That has been totally disproven and now, in addition to being less effective than natural immunity, we have more vaccinated people actually contracting COVID and Omicron than unvaccinated. At first, the CDC told everyone to wash surfaces regularly, but now we know that didnt really help to stop the spread. We were told to stand 6 feet from each other. Now we know that was an arbitrary figure, a guesstimate. We were initially told the COVID-19 death rate was estimated to be much more dangerous than the flu and over 3%. Now the WHOs report has found the median COVID infection fatality rate was 0.27%. Other studies support this finding with IFRs of between .32% - .01%. By comparison, the flu has an IFR of .1% - .2%. The former Director of Israels Health Ministry said, Youre not more at risk of dying of coronavirus than the flu. The Median COVID-19 infection fatality rate was 0.27%. In addition to the misinformation, President Bidens Surgeon General notice also asks the companies to report how many users saw or may have been exposed to the misinformation, demographics data (?), the sources of COVID-19 misinformation and information regarding those who engaged in the sale of unproven COVID-19 products. (Read: unprofitable for the pharmaceutical companies.) May 2, 2022, is the deadline for submission for the tech companies to report to the federal government. While there may not be an immediate penalty, it represents the first formal request from the Biden administration for the tech companies to submit what they, in all their wisdom, consider misinformation. Of course, its not stopping there. The Surgeon General called on health care providers and the public to submit information about how COVID-19 misinformation negatively influenced patients. Under Bidens COVID 19 Preparedness Plan, the misinformation point reads, Continue vaccination outreach and education efforts and combat misinformation and disinformation. HHS will continue its work to equip Americans with the tools to identify misinformation and to invest in longer-term efforts to build resilience against health misinformation. Ill continue to report studies, first-hand accounts and findings that are inconvenient or unpopular, even if they go against the latest government wisdom. The free exchange of information and ideas is key to our democracy and survival as a country. Im hoping for a regime change because the pursuit of truth, especially when it comes to our health, requires open dialogue. The newspaper is obligated to not just present the government rhetoric, but both sides. If this overreaching, oppressiveness continues, the newspapers future doesnt look bright and Ill probably be in big trouble because Im not doing the goose step. Hong Kong holds the world's worst death rate for COVID-19, though the worst wave of the coronavirus has peaked, according to health experts. Faced with unprecedented spread of the omicron variant, Hong Kong has seen cases spiral, which has led authorities to impose tough measures and compulsory testing. But cases are finally beginning to drop, health experts say. Gabriel Leung, Dean of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, has cited an updated study from the university stating the number of coronavirus cases peaked last week. "5th wave has peaked on March 4. (Number) of daily infections to fall below 1,000 by end (April) and to below 100 by mid May" was part of Leung's tweet. Mixed messages Last week, Hong Kong recorded a daily record high of 56,827 new coronavirus cases. The increasing number of positive cases in recent months has prompted residents to scramble for goods on supermarket shelves as the government has sent mixed messages over a potential citywide lockdown. In recent days, however, those infection numbers have dropped. Hong Kong recorded at least 28,475 cases Tuesday, the fourth day since new infections were below 50,000. "I think we peaked 3-4 days ago. Should drop pretty quickly and back to low per day by end (of) March. (This was) following exactly the trajectory I was predicting, a steep and sharp ascent and descent," Dr. David Owens, honorary assistant clinical professor at the University of Hong Kong, told VOA. More cases could be revealed soon, though, as the Hong Kong government Monday launched an online system for residents to record their infection status after taking a rapid antigen test. Dr. Karen Grepin, associate professor at the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, urged caution on whether the peak has passed. "It is hard to tell given how incomplete our data are at this moment. But there are some promising signs. But to be clear, even if we are past the peak, rates of infections are still high," Grepin told VOA. Mass testing In efforts to get the coronavirus under control, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam recently announced a universal testing plan for the entire population this month, with each resident undergoing three nucleic acid tests. Local media had reported the universal testing scheme would commence March 26 and last nine days. But new reports say the testing could be postponed until April in an effort to focus on reducing the soaring death rate in the city, the South China Morning Post reported. "Postponing the CUT (Compulsory Universal Testing) scheme makes sense in order to focus on the real priority at the moment, saving lives," Grepin added. Record death rate Experts and researchers at the University of Hong Kong have been regularly publishing their forecasts about how severe Hong Kong's fifth wave will turn out to be. One scenario stated that Hong Kong's current status quo could see more than 5,000 deaths by May, and that would be affected by whether the city's health systems would become overburdened. But one grim forecast published in February said Hong Kong could face up to 7,000 deaths by June. As it stands, Hong Kong's COVID-19 death rate per million people already is the highest in the world. According to data by health publication Our World in Data, Hong Kong has 29.18 new deaths per million over a seven-day moving average as of March 7. Despite the city administering more than 13 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to a population of 7.4 million, low vaccination levels for elderly residents are contributing to a high death rate. Only 61% of those over 70 and 32% of those over 80 have been considered fully vaccinated with two doses, according to government data. And 91% of Hong Kong's 2,578 total deaths have occurred in the past three months, with the majority over 70 years old. The city recorded 160 new deaths Tuesday. Zero-COVID strategy For two years, Hong Kong has prioritized a "zero-COVID" strategy, aligned with Beijing's effort to control infections across China, which has brought some success. But this year alone, Hong Kong has seen more coronavirus cases than 2020 and 2021 combined. Several health experts in the city have said the prospects of Hong Kong returning to zero cases is unrealistic. But Chinese health official Liang Wannian told China state-affiliated media the strategy can be achieved, but in stages, and that the death rates must be reduced first. "Reducing infection, severe cases and deaths is Hong Kong's most urgent and top-priority target at the current stage. After we achieve the first target, we will then move on to the second and third goals," Liang said. The University of Hong Kong study also shows that making more beds available for infected patients is crucial to lowering the death rate in the city. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority said last month that hospitals were at 89% capacity citywide. That has prompted the government to seek help from construction contractors in China to rapidly build new medical facilities to ease the pressure on Hong Kong's health system. Desperate scenes in recent weeks have seen dozens of sick patients in hospital beds facing cold weather waiting to be admitted into fully occupied hospitals. One health worker from Hong Kong's Caritas Hospital described how her elderly patients from care homes are facing bleak circumstances. "They cannot do self-isolation, as they are from the same care center. The staffs from those centers (are) probably infected. Therefore, the patients literally have nowhere to go even if they turn negative," she said. Amir Aman Kiyaro, a freelance journalist accredited to The Associated Press, marked 100 days in detention without charge in Ethiopia this week, prompting the news organization and press freedom advocates to reiterate their calls to free him immediately. "Kiyaro has not been charged with any crime and is being held unjustly," AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said in a statement Thursday. The video journalist was detained November 28 in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, under the country's war-related state of emergency powers. The state of emergency was lifted last month, with the government citing changing conditions in the deadly conflict between Ethiopian forces and those of the northern Tigray region. "As we have said, Kiyaro is an independent journalist who has done important work in Ethiopia on all sides of the conflict. It is clear he is being targeted for his journalism," Pace said. Kiyaro's last court appearance was Monday, when a judge denied him bail. The judge granted more time for the police to investigate his case and set March 18 as the next court date. Officials with the Ethiopian Media Authority, the prime minister's office, the Foreign Ministry and other government offices have not responded to repeated requests from the AP for information about Kiyaro. Another arrest State media, citing federal police, have said he is accused of "serving the purposes" of what they called a terrorist group by interviewing its officials. Local journalist Thomas Engida was arrested at the same time and is facing similar charges. "They arrested my son for doing his job. He hasn't committed any crimes," Amir's mother, Foziya Tewoldebirhan, said. Federal police inspector Tesfaye Olani has told state media that the journalists violated the state of emergency law and Ethiopia's anti-terrorism law, and that the violations could lead to sentences of seven to 15 years behind bars. That alarms Kiyaro's wife, Sisay Tadele, who married him last year and is eight months pregnant. "Because of Amir's arrest, both the family and Amir himself are going through tremendous physical, emotional and psychological pain," she said. "And as a pregnant woman, I myself am put through a horrible situation. I say and also believe my husband shouldn't have been in jail in the first place, let alone spend more than 100 days away from his family, and ask the Ethiopian prime minister and government for the immediate release of my husband." After three months of arbitrary detention, "it cannot be any clearer that authorities have no case against Amir Aman Kiyaro and Thomas Engida," Muthoki Mumo, sub-Saharan Africa representative with the Committee to Protect Journalists, said. 'Retaliation' Terara Network editor Temerat Negara also remains behind bars in Ethiopia's Oromia region and faces allegations that include incitement and defamation of officials, Mumo said. "The ongoing detention of these journalists, and the police's transparent abuse of the judicial system to keep them behind bars, can only be seen as retaliation for their journalism work and a message to Ethiopia's broader media community that authorities remain intolerant of independent journalism," she said. Kiyaro's supporters have launched a social media campaign calling for his release, using the hashtag #FreeAmirAmanKiyaro. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 with sweeping political reforms that in part led to his being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the following year. Several journalists were released from incarceration, and for a brief period, no journalist in Ethiopia was in prison. But media advocacy groups that once praised those reforms have since criticized the dramatic backsliding that followed, notably since Ethiopia's war began in November 2020. This week, more than a dozen Ethiopian journalists in an open letter condemned the persecution of journalists including Kiyaro, saying that "the hostile environment so many of our colleagues in Ethiopia currently find themselves in has them intimidated, languishing behind bars, living in fear of the very real risk of arrest, and contemplating either quitting their jobs or fleeing the country." The war on disinformation has been an uphill fight since before Russia invaded Ukraine, with media and fact checkers sifting through thousands of claims about alleged provocations, missile strikes, atrocities, and gains and losses. The Kyiv-based StopFake and the Eyes on Russia Project are among the groups sorting fact from fiction. And the stakes are high. From Russias Vladimir Putin saying the invasion is needed to de-nazify Ukraine, to posts claiming Ukrainian forces are placing explosives under their own buildings, a barrage of disinformation is swirling on social media, websites, messaging platforms like Telegram and Viber, and even TV, analysts say. Left unchecked, these posts and propaganda can sow confusion or even sway public opinion. Fact checkers, they ruin the reputation of Russian media as a reliable source of information, said Ruslan Deynychenko. The co-founder of StopFake, and a journalist who previously contributed to VOAs Ukrainian Service, added, For me as a journalist, it is a rewarding thing when you know that you do something important to help other people not to be brainwashed. Chasing facts On the Russian side, posts seek to justify the invasion, like Putins widely debunked claim that he seeks the de-nazification of Ukraine, or to tout Russias battlefield successes while it downplays casualties. From the Ukraine side, the focus tends to be more on acts of bravery or failings of Russias army, such as videos of soldiers criticizing the invasion. Lili Bivings, a New York-based contributing editor to the Kyiv Independent, says it can be difficult to ascertain the origin of some claims. But the purpose of the Russian posts is clear. They are part of [Russias] disinformation campaign to make Ukrainians look bad. Its creating chaos, she told VOA. On the Ukraine side, Theres information thats put out there thats not necessarily meant to cause further destruction but actually make people feel better, Bivings said. She cited the case of the so-called Ghost of Kyiv, a fighter pilot alleged to have shot down six Russian planes. Posts on his war efforts quickly circulated on social media. While Ukraines military has said it downed several aircraft, no evidence has shown one pilot to be responsible. One video circulating of the alleged Ghost in action was found to be a composite made from a 2008 game, U.S.-based Snopes reported. Trying to verify what is or isnt real can be tough. But, said Bivings, the best antidote is for local media to report only verified information. In making the effort to publish information that has been confirmed, or at least as best as possible, youre not spreading that disease, that virus, Bivings said. Home audience Organizations focused on Russian disinformation say Moscow has two main targets: selling the war to a domestic audience and trying to demoralize Ukrainians. Russia is skillful at targeting different audiences, said Ukrainian government and military adviser Liubov Tsybulska. As the founder of the Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security, which operates under Ukraines Ministry of Culture, Tsybulska has been monitoring Russian disinformation for several years. Currently, the main audience for them is the internal one. They are trying to convince people that this a special military operation, that they are cleaning the country and the world of Nazis, and that civilians are not hurt, she told VOA via a secure messaging app. A former journalist, Tsybulska previously led the Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group. The group monitors and counters disinformation as part of the Kyiv-based nongovernmental Ukraine Crisis Media Center, which was set up in response to Russias 2014 occupation of Crimea. In terms of disinformation in Ukraine, they [Russia] try to intimidate people and demoralize them, Tsybulska said. The main goal is to spread this panic, chaos, demoralization. So far, Tsybulska said, Russias propaganda has not been effective because those in Ukraine are witnessing the difference between what disinformation says is happening and what they are experiencing. Every time people see a real, material threat, they are able to filter this disinformation, she said. Ross Burley, executive director of the London-based nonprofit Center for Information Resilience, said Putins primary audience is Russians because he remains terrified of losing power, of being undermined. Burleys organization runs the Eyes on Russia Project, where a team of about 150 staff and volunteers monitors Russian disinformation. He walked VOA through the project's process, using as an example the claim that Ukrainians, not Russians, launched a recent missile attack on the city of Kharkiv. The team analyzed several factors source material, video footage, geolocation, metadata, even shrapnel and injuries to determine where the weapon came from. For us to find the right video with the right resolution, to be able to slow it down to actually have a freeze frame of the weapon system itself, and then were able to ID, he said. Through that analysis, Burley said, we know that this [weapon system] is only owned by Russia, only deployed by Russia, so therefore it is Russia. Tsybulska and Burley both said its too early to gauge whether such disinformation is effective. Despite efforts to sell the war as necessary to demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine, and the state Duma's introduction of legislation banning anything Russia deems as false news about the conflict, thousands of Russians have gathered at anti-war rallies. As of March 6, upward of 13,000 anti-war protesters had been detained across Russia, according to OVD-Info, which tracks arrests. Russias Washington embassy did not respond to VOAs request for comment. Its officials and media regulator accuse Western media of false news, including over Russias alleged targeting of civilian areas, despite copious photographic and video evidence showing strikes in those areas. Key battleground Back in Ukraine, analysts at StopFake review thousands of online posts every day, Deynychenko said. Its a time-consuming process. It might take five minutes to create a fake, but sometimes it takes weeks to debunk it, Deynychenko said. We try to debunk and to verify the most important information that we see that might influence the situation in Ukraine. But being based in Kyiv means StopFakes team is fighting on two fronts: the digital battle against disinformation and the physical one. Our fact checkers, they are regular citizens. They need to care about their families, about security. So, its much more difficult for them to be dedicated only to their work, Deynychenko said. The 50-year-old has taken part in efforts to protect family and neighbors, and he said others on the team joined military and paramilitary units. I still am not in a very safe place, Deynychenko said. But still, I monitor Russian media. I monitor Russian social networks for propaganda, for disinformation. He sympathized with colleagues who joined military efforts, adding, If we lose our country, there will be no need to fact check" anyone's reports. Liam Scott is a freelance journalist focused on China, mass atrocities, press freedom and human rights. He is a student at Georgetown University and a research associate at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. President Joe Biden on Friday announced that the U.S. will seek to revoke "most favored nation" (MFN) status for Russia. If approved by Congress, the move effectively ends normal trade relations between the two countries and allows the administration to impose new tariffs and sanctions in response to the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. Biden is making the move in coordination with the Group of Seven countries (G-7) and the European Union, marking further escalation of economic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "As Putin continues his merciless assault, the United States and our allies and partners continue to work in lockstep to ramp up the economic pressures on Putin and to further isolate Russia on the global stage," Biden said in remarks from the White House as he outlined steps designed to "squeeze Putin and hold him even more accountable for his aggression against Ukraine." MFN status is given based on the non-discrimination principle enacted by 164 members of the World Trade Organization. WTO members commit to treating each other equally so everyone can benefit from lower tariffs, fewer trade barriers and higher import quotas. Taking away MFN formally allows Western allies to increase import tariffs or impose quotas on Russian goods, or even ban them, restrict services out of the country and potentially sidestep Russian intellectual property rights. To enact it they must do so in accordance with their own national laws, which in the United States requires the approval of Congress. In the U.S., MFN status is also referred to as permanent normal trade relations. Biden is likely to find bipartisan support in Congress as American lawmakers have already begun efforts to review and reduce trade relations with Moscow. Earlier this week a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed legislation that if passed would ban imports of Russian energy into the United States and suspend normal trade relations with Russia and its ally, Belarus. The bill was on hold as the White House asked for more time to get allies on board. Economic impact Following U.S. sanctions applied to Moscow in 2014 to punish Putin for his annexation of Crimea, the vast majority of Russian exports to the U.S. are oil and gas. Washington had already announced a ban on Russian energy imports ahead of Friday's announcement, which means stripping MFN may not affect much of the remaining bilateral trade. The move is mostly about isolating Russia as much as possible in all international fora, Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, told VOA. "It's not that this is 'symbolic only', but the effect on it is far less than U.S. oil sanctions or the financial sanctions imposed," he said. EU's stripping of Russia's MFN status will have a more significant impact as the bloc trades much more with Russia. But as the EU is also winding down energy imports from Russia, Kirkegaard pointed out, there may not be much non-energy sector left to punish. He said taking away Moscow's MFN status also means that non-MFN tariffs will apply, which often is not much different from MFN levels. Ending MFN would also be much more impactful if the West can galvanize more countries to join, said Claude Barfield, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, speaking with VOA. The Biden administration is already pushing for a broader coalition of WTO members beyond the G-7 to announce their revocation of Russia's MFN status. An important question will be whether Russia retaliates by banning G-7 exports to Russia. "If so, Russia would ironically be helping isolate itself further and reduce trade with the West," Kirkegaard said. In addition to stripping Moscow's MFN status, the U.S. is also banning imports of goods from several signature sectors of the Russian economy, including seafood, vodka and diamonds. The G-7 is also trying to deny Russia the ability to borrow from leading multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Unlike the ban on Russian oil imports which affect what Americans must pay at the gas pump, the impact of further limiting trade with Moscow on the U.S. economy is likely very limited due to the small amount of trade affected. Companies take action Beyond steps taken by Western governments, multinational companies are also reexamining their ties with Moscow. Under pressure from stakeholders, many companies including Starbucks, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Nike have shut down operations and ended sales. Financial entity Goldman Sachs is winding down its investments in Russia, while energy companies including Shell, BP and Exxon Mobil Corp. are reducing business ventures there. Barfield said these actions hit the Russian psyche more than its economy as they negate Kremlin propaganda that the invasion is intended to liberate Ukraine from Nazi oppressors. "It's a way of showing the Russian consumers that something else is involved here," he said. Moscow is planning retaliatory steps against companies leaving the country. Earlier this week, Putin said he would find legal ways to seize the assets of these international firms by introducing "external management." The Russian economic ministry said it could take temporary control of some of these departing businesses. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Friday by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the White House said, updating him on U.S. and ally moves to further raise the cost of war for Russia. Biden also highlighted how the United States is continuing to surge security, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine. Earlier Friday, Zelenskyy said in a broadcast video without elaborating that his military had reached a strategic turning point. Its impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it because ... we have reached a strategic turning point, Zelenskyy said. The United States, the European Union and the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations will suspend normal trade relations with Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, they announced Friday. Revoking Russias most favored nation trade status allows the U.S. and its allies to begin the process of raising tariffs on many Russian goods, further weakening Russias economy, which the International Monetary Fund predicts will slide into a "deep recession" this year. Each country must change Russia's trading status in accordance with its own national procedures, U.S. officials said. In the U.S., the move requires an act of Congress, and both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have signaled their support. The U.S. and other allies previously imposed an unprecedented array of sanctions and export and banking restrictions designed to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending his war against Ukraine, the largest in Europe since World War II. A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence, said Friday that Ukrainian forces were continuing to mount an adaptive and nimble defense that was frustrating Russian forces. The official also told reporters the U.S. was seeing signs that Russian forces, and the Russian air force in particular, were displaying a general risk aversion, while also showing their inexperience. This is not a military that has great expeditionary capability and experience, the official said. "Nothing on this scale." But the official also warned there were indications that Russian forces were learning from their early missteps, with some advanced elements now fighting in the northwestern suburbs of Kyiv, 15 kilometers from the city center. Other major cities, like Mariupol and Chernihiv, are increasingly isolated. And the U.S. confirmed Russia has begun targeting sites in western Ukraine hitting airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk on Friday part of a salvo of more than 800 missiles launched since the start of the invasion. One day after Washington warned Moscow about what some observers described as war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said during a visit to Romania that Putin had shown no willingness to pursue a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Putin disputed Harris claim Friday, saying without offering details that there had been positive developments in talks with Ukraine and that the negotiations are now being held almost on a daily basis. Harris spoke in Bucharest as she met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and other officials on the second stop of a three-day trip to Eastern Europe to discuss the worsening refugee crisis. No progress was reported after high-level talks between the warring parties Thursday and U.S. officials said Russia was turning to a strategy of laying waste to population centers in Ukraine. "We've seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians, which would under the Geneva Conventions constitute a war crime, said State Department spokesman Ned Price, though he did not specifically accuse Russia of committing such crimes. Russia has denied targeting civilians in its invasion of Ukraine. War crime allegations Harris said in Poland earlier this week that she supported a U.N. inquiry into Russias invasion of Ukraine that would look at all alleged rights violations and abuses, and related crimes. Absolutely there should be an investigation, and we should all be watching, the vice president said before a meeting in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda in a show of support for NATOs allies in Eastern Europe. Harris comments came one day after a Russian airstrike on a childrens hospital with a maternity ward in Mariupol killed at least three people, including a child, according to Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy called the hospital attack genocide and again called on NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, declaring, You have power, but you seem to be losing humanity. Russia called reports about and videos of the hospital bombing fake news and said the building had been taken over by Ukrainian troops. Security Council meeting Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. representative for disarmament affairs, said at an emergency Security Council meeting Friday that the U.N. was not aware of biological or chemical weapons being developed in Ukraine with help from the U.S., as Russia had alleged, without evidence. The U.S. and Ukraine have denied Russias allegations. Russia had requested the meeting after its production of biological weapons was the subject of questioning by the council during a session on Syria. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told council members the Biden administration was "deeply concerned" about Russias allegations, saying they were part of a "false flag effort" to lay the groundwork for its own use of biological or chemical weapons in Ukraine. A senior U.S. defense official said earlier Friday, This harping ... could be building some sort of pretext for a false flag event. National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Pakistan has formally commissioned a first batch of six Chinese J-10C fighter aircraft into its air force at a special ceremony, with Prime Minister Imran Khan and heads of the country's armed forces in attendance. A Pakistan Air Force commentary during a nationally televised induction event Friday called the Chinese jet the "Dragon from the East," saying the "omni-role" aircraft is armed with advanced electronics weapons. Last month, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed disclosed the purchase of the jets at a public event, saying the aircraft will serve as a counterweight to India's deployment of French Dassault Rafale planes. Ahmed said a full squadron of 25 Chinese J-10C aircraft will take part in the Pakistan Day military parade on March 23 in the capital, Islamabad. Pakistani officials said the agreement with China to acquire the J-10C was signed in June 2021. "I am especially grateful to China and thank China on behalf of my nation for providing us these jets in record time of around eight months," Khan said during Friday's ceremony at the Kamra air base, about 74 kilometers northwest of the capital city, where Chinese diplomats and military officials were also in attendance. "An attempt is being made to create a (security) imbalance in the sub-continent," the prime minister said, referring to an Indian defense buildup. "This is a big addition today to our defense system to address the security imbalance." Pakistan and India, bitter nuclear-armed adversaries, have fought three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. The long-running territorial dispute over divided Kashmir remains the primary source of bilateral military tensions. Air force chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber described Friday's induction of J-10C jets as a historic moment in the history of Pakistan. "Today, after a gap of almost four decades, the Pakistan air force is inducting (a) next generation combat system," Baber said. "The last such event was in 1982 when F-16 aircraft joined the Pakistani fleet," he added, referring to a U.S.-built aircraft. The United States has sold and upgraded F-16 jets to Pakistan, a major non-NATO ally. The J-10C is not the only advanced weapons system Beijing has delivered to Pakistan recently. Earlier this year, the Pakistan navy in its fleet inducted the first of four Type 054A/P frigates developed by China under a bilateral agreement. Friday's ceremony came a day after Pakistan alleged an unarmed surface-to-surface Indian "supersonic missile" landed deep inside its territory, causing minor damage to civilian property but no casualties. Islamabad also lodged a protest over what it condemned as a "flagrant" violation of Pakistani airspace by the neighboring country. New Delhi confirmed Friday that "in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile." An official statement said the government has taken "a serious view" and ordered an inquiry into the incident. Analysts say Islamabad's often strained ties with Washington have prompted the South Asian nation to increasingly rely on close ally China to augment Pakistan's defenses and restore ties with bitter Cold War adversary Russia. Khan visited Moscow last week and met with President Vladimir Putin hours after the Russian leader ordered his military to invade Ukraine. Islamabad has since resisted U.S.-led Western pressure to condemn Russia, instead advocating dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis. Some policy analysts say the Russian action has intensified Pakistan's diplomatic tensions with the Biden administration. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, speaking earlier this week, dismissed suggestions his country's ties with Washington had come under renewed pressure over Khan's visit with Putin. "I think our relationship with the United States is a good one. We consider the United States an important partner and we would like continued support from the U.S.," Qureshi told VOA in an interview. Kenyan artisans say they are losing the market for their products to Chinese imports. According to the crafts persons, the high quality and lower prices of Chinese-made goods put them at a disadvantage. Jua kali, popularly known in Kenya as artisanal work such as toolmaking or textiles, has been a livelihood for more than 7,000 crafts persons at an open market in Kenya's capital for decades. Njoroge Macharia has been making charcoal stoves, commonly known as jikos in Swahili, for four decades. He says imports from China have edged out his business. Jikos from China are affecting us, he says, because we used to sell a lot before they started bringing them here. He said, Now we don't sell as many as we used to. They are cheaper than ours, but those from China are not better than ours. Ours are really good. National data show that Kenya spent nearly $4 billion on imports from China in 2021. Kenya sources a vast array of consumer and capital products from China, while exporting $1.5 billion worth of goods to the Asian market. Traders like Magdalen Vivi, who sells imported kitchenware, say customers demand modernized products like nonstick cooking pots, commonly known as sufuria in Swahili. "If you suggest the aluminum or the stainless steel, they keep on asking for the nonstick." Vivi said "(I dont understand why) they prefer to have the nonstick over the ones that are locally produced in Kenya, because for me, I have not seen any nonstick sufurias made in Kenya." An African Union study on international trade finds that the African continent is the largest market for Chinese goods. Some Kenyan consumers prefer the wide variety of the cheap products. Mary Wambui is one such buyer. "There is always variety," Wambui said. "All the time, you get new products, and they have different types. You don't get the same ones all the time. Every time you come, there is something new that has come up." Wohoro Ndhoho, an economist in Kenya, says a lack of strong automation and technology in Kenyan manufacturing means most products made locally are by crafts people, not machines. ''The jua kali sector in Kenya has very much been human-power-driven rather than machine-driven," Ndhoho said. "So, you find that inevitably means that when things are made in China, they can be made in bulk. Which, if today you go to Gikomba, they still beat those karais, for making mandazi (fried bread) with (their) hands. So, for every one hour they make one, a machine can make 1,000." The Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations told VOA that imports from China have cost them the regional market. Engineer Charles Kalomba is the secretary-general of the artisans federation. "The energy-saving jikos, which have got liners, clay liners, and they are just fabricated metal and clay liners.," Kalomba said. "And we used to produce a lot of them for the East African market. Today, there is a lot of influx of the same into the market." Data from the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency show that South Africa is the only African country among the top 25 nations exporting to China. Kenyan authorities are banking on trade agreements to sell more to China. The agency's chief executive officer, Wilfred Marube, explains. "There was a bilateral agreement in January where some of the areas were agreed upon," Marube said "And also, a joint committee established was to basically ask the question, How does the Chinese government work together to increase market access for Kenyan products, especially agricultural products?" Tiku Shah is profiting from China's massive market. Shah exports up to 100 containers of frozen avocados annually to more than 1.4 billion people. "Now, we have avocados, but it's got to be very high quality, very big volumes," Shah said. "And a lot of us are not ready for that scale of business. It's a big business on a big scale. It requires a lot of investment, and it requires a very dedicated market focus." China ranked 11th among Kenya's top export destinations and accounted for 2.3% of the total exports in 2020, according to national data. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service journalist Maryan Kushnir suffered a concussion during a Russian rocket attack on Ukrainian forces outside of Kyiv in the early hours of March 11. Kushnir, who was embedded with the Ukrainian troops, reported that the attack occurred at about 3 a.m. in the town of Baryshivka, about 35 kilometers east of the capital. There were an unspecified number of other casualties, he said, but no one was killed. Local emergency workers and military medics provided assistance. Kushnir has worked for RFE/RL since 2015 and has been covering the war with Russia since Moscow attacked Ukraine on February 24. Fighting in the Kyiv area has grown increasingly intense in recent days as Russian forces seek to surround the city in the face of stubborn resistance. New satellite pictures appeared to indicate that a 64-kilometer-long military convoy outside Kyiv has spread into towns and forests near the capital, with towed howitzers nearby in for an assault on the city. Armored units were observed in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. The Ukrainian armed forces' General Staff said in a statement that Russian troops were advancing toward Kyiv from the northwest and east. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people had left the city and its environs. Majorities of Americans in both major parties think voting rules in their states are appropriate and support a voter identification law, but Democrats are increasingly worried about progress in voting rights for Black Americans. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed voting was the only one of eight subjects including education and treatment by police in which fewer Americans now than four years ago said African Americans had achieved significant progress since the civil rights era. Concern about a lack of progress is much higher for Democrats, 86% of whom believe more must be done to secure racial equality in voting rights, compared with 40% of Republicans. That's a reflection of the continuing partisan fight over election procedures that spawned more restrictive laws in 19 GOP-controlled states last year. "I'm concerned that the more conservative elements are attempting to create a Jim Crow 2," said Richard Barnett, a retired attorney who volunteered as an election judge in his Chicago suburb, echoing the term President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, used to attack the new Republican laws. "They're making it hard for the other people to vote to consolidate their power." Still, even Democrats are fairly happy with the voting laws in their own states red and blue. About 3 out of 4 Americans think the laws in their states are "about right," according to the poll. Recoa Russell, a 67-year-old retired machine operator in Mobile, Alabama, who is Black, lives in a state with some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. But he said the rules there "work well. Just show your ID and pull the lever." Indeed, voter identification is the most popular of a series of voting reforms in the poll, with 70% favoring requiring photo identification before casting a ballot. Smaller majorities were in favor of automatic voter registration of eligible citizens and sending mail ballots to all registered voters, two top Democratic priorities. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to support the voter ID law, 87% to 55%. The poll illustrates why Democrats have had such problems in their push for a federal overhaul of voting laws. An attempt to pass sweeping election changes stalled in the Senate earlier this year amid unanimous Republican opposition. For months, Democrats hesitated to even bring the bill to a vote because they couldn't get their entire 50-member Senate caucus to agree to it. One of the bill's provisions would have banned partisan gerrymandering, or the contorted redrawing of legislative lines to make it easier for one party's representatives to win elections. The poll found that 69% of Americans believe that's a major problem, with Democrats more likely than Republicans to say so, 80% to 58%. The GOP had great success in the prior round of redistricting and has pushed to lessen legal oversight of the once-a-decade drawing of legislative lines. Lisa Thomas worries about gerrymandering. The 48-year-old janitor in Lakeland, Florida, believes the Republicans who control her state government have been drawing lines to weaken the votes of African Americans like her. She links it to changes in the state's voting laws implemented by the GOP last year even though Republicans touted Florida's system as an example of a well-run election system. Thomas, who says she leans Democratic but is an independent and hungers for more viable parties, dismissed arguments that voter identification laws hurt minorities because they have a harder time getting a government ID. "There are a lot of situations where you have to show who you are," she said. Although she likes Florida's voting laws, she's worried that the changes new procedures for mail ballots and limitations on drop boxes where they can be deposited will ruin things. "It seems like in the past several years, it's been going the opposite direction, it's reversing," she said of progress on voting rights for African Americans. Just 32% of Black Americans say there has been significant progress in racial equality in voting rights since the civil rights era, compared with 52% of white Americans. Majorities of Black and white Americans say more needs to be done, but Black Americans are much more likely to say a lot more is needed, 57% to 29% of whites who feel that way. Thomas, like roughly three-quarters of all Americans regardless of party, also worries about the future of the country's democratic system. "We're still a two-party system, and they both fail us on a daily basis," she said. Peggy Orr, 66, who lives in rural Nebraska, is also concerned, but for very different reasons. She's convinced there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, echoing former President Donald Trumps false claims that that is why he lost. Repeated audits and investigations have shown no widespread fraud in the election, but Orr, who described her profession as "a farm wife," isnt satisfied. "There were too many unexplained things going on," she said. Orr, who is white, was baffled at the concerns Thomas and others have about Black Americans' voting rights. "I think African American voting rights just like women's voting rights are settled," Orr said. "We don't make a big issue about women having a hard time voting." Facebook said Thursday that because of the invasion of Ukraine, it has temporarily eased its rules regarding violent speech. Moscow's internationally condemned invasion of its neighbor has provoked unprecedented sanctions from Western governments and businesses, but also a surge of online anger. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders,'" Facebook's parent company Meta said in a statement. "We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," it added. Facebook made its statement after a Reuters report, citing the firm's emails to its content moderators, which said the policy applies to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Facebook and other U.S. tech giants have moved to penalize Russia for the attack on Ukraine, and Moscow has also moved to block access to the leading social media network as well as Twitter. Russia thus joins the small club of countries barring the largest social network in the world, along with China and North Korea. Since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last month, Russian authorities also have stepped up pressure against independent media. Blocking of Facebook and restricting of Twitter last week came the same day Moscow backed the imposition of jail terms on media publishing "false information" about the military. In this context, Facebook had played a key information distribution role in Russia, even as it endures withering criticism in the West over matters ranging from political division to teenagers' mental health. The war is, meanwhile, taking place during a period of unprecedented crackdown on the Russian opposition, with has included protest leaders being assassinated, jailed or forced out of the country. Big U.S. tech firms like Apple and Microsoft have announced halting the sale of their products in Russia, while other companies have paused certain business activities or ties. Ukrainian officials have been campaigning heavily for Russia to be cut off from everything from Netflix to Instagram. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis heads to Turkey Sunday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries. As Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, the escalating tensions have already claimed victims. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is in Bucharest on Friday, after her visit Thursday to Warsaw, where she underscored the U.S. commitment to NATOs eastern flank and supported calls for a probe of Russia's alleged bombing of a Ukrainian hospital. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports. Hundreds of troops from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division have deployed in the forested mountains of eastern Poland, just a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border. That puts them in close proximity to recent Russian airstrikes on targets in western Ukraine. The contingent is part of a wider deployment of some 5,000 U.S. troops sent to Poland in recent weeks and is in addition to the 4,000 American soldiers already in the country. NATO has said the deployments send a message to Moscow: that the alliance will defend "every inch" of its territory. Hotline However, there are growing concerns of an accidental engagement between the U.S. and Russia. Communication channels have been set up to avoid that scenario. There are also fears that NATO troops in eastern Europe could be targeted in the event of escalation. Russia's President Vladimir Putin last month raised the alert level of its nuclear forces, in response to what he described as NATO's "aggressive statements." "NATO still is saying that it will not intervene on Ukrainian territory, but increasingly Western weapons are flowing into Ukraine through NATO member states," notes Constanze Stelzenmuller, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "It is possible that Putin will, or in fact already sees such military support which it has to be said on our side is not particularly controlled or accompanied by careful messaging as NATO joining the fight. In other words, the discussion, to some degree, is now about whether Putin would be willing to use tactical nuclear weapons against NATO forces on NATO territory. That would be a new world," Stelzenmuller told The Associated Press. 'Nuclear blackmail' The alliance must not let Putin get away with nuclear blackmail, says Fabrice Pothier, a former head of policy planning at NATO. "I think it's a huge mistake to have, so far, left Putin unchecked on his nuclear blackmailing. And I'll tell you why. I think accepting the Putin nuclear red line, which is essentially, 'I do whatever I want within that specific area of operation (Ukraine), if not I am to use strategic weapons' not pushing back is a huge mistake, because what will stop Putin from doing the same next time, possibly including against a NATO ally?" NATO has repeatedly said it will not get directly involved in the conflict. Pothier says the alliance should do more. "Are we fully aware of the danger of not doing anything? If I look at that recent history, actually the risk of standing on the sidelines and clamouring that we are covering the NATO allies' backs but our mission stops at the NATO border, that risk I think is no longer acceptable." Flashpoint Ukraine's border with Poland has become the major gateway for refugees fleeing the conflict. It is also becoming a key strategic frontier: a conduit for NATO weapons heading into Ukraine and a potential future flashpoint. For decades, Ukraine has acted as a buffer zone between Russia and NATO. But if the Kremlin's forces seize all of Ukraine, there is little to separate NATO troops and Russian soldiers. At Arlamow, and along much of the frontier, there is no border fence just mountains and forests. India on Friday confirmed an accidental firing of a missile into rival Pakistan, calling it deeply regrettable. The confirmation comes more than a day after the Pakistani military said an Indian unarmed supersonic missile had struck its territory Wednesday evening, damaging civilian property but causing no casualties. Pakistani officials demanded an explanation from New Delhi for the irresponsible act that could have endangered regional security. An official Indian statement explained Friday that in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile. It noted that the Indian government had taken a serious view and ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan, the statement said. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of [life] due to the accident. Pakistani National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf swiftly raised questions and criticized Indian assertions. He said in a statement that it had taken more than two days for New Delhi to accept this was their missile launched ostensibly caused by a technical malfunction during maintenance. The world must treat this incident with the urgency, sensitivity & alarm it deserves, the adviser demanded Yusuf stressed the need for New Delhi to also investigate to ascertain if this was an inadvertent launch or something more intentional. Pakistan army spokesman Maj-Gen Babar Iftikhar officially disclosed details of the incident at news conference late Thursday, denouncing it as a flagrant violation, saying the rocket landed in the town of Mian Channu in the eastern border province of Punjab. Whatever caused this incident to happen, it is for the Indians to explain. It nevertheless shows their disregard for aviation safety and reflects very poorly on their technological prowess and procedural efficiency, Iftikhar lamented. Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said the accidental strike shows how quickly an incident of this kind could escalate into something worse. This was a case of an Indian missile flying at supersonic speed across nearly 80 miles of Pakistani territory. Had this happened amid an actual security crisis, the escalation potential would be profound. And that's nothing to sneeze at, given that we're talking about two nuclear-armed states here, Kugelman told VOA. Mistake or not, an incident like this has the potential to be escalatory in nature. The good news is this incident was handled well by both sides, to prevent any escalation. General Iftikhar said that the incident could have resulted in a major aviation disaster and civilian casualties on the ground. It is important to highlight that the flight path of this object endangered many international and domestic passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace, as well as human life and property on the ground, Iftikhar said. Iftikhar said Pakistans air defense system picked up the surface-to-surface missile as soon as it took off from the Indian city of Sirsa, about 104 kilometers from the border between the two countries, and "continuously monitored its complete flight path. The general explained that the rocket was flying at an altitude of 12 kilometers and stayed in Pakistani airspace for roughly 204 seconds before ending up 124 kilometers inside Pakistan. He would not say whether the Indian missile was shot down. Pakistani Federal Minister Asad Umar claimed in a tweet from Fridays that the countrys air force had shot down the Indian missile. Both India and Pakistan, bitter adversaries, are nuclear armed and have fought each other in three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Bilateral ties have deteriorated in recent years and disrupted official talks over the divided Kashmir region, which both countries claim in its entirety. A nearly year-old rift between journalists and managers at Slovenia's public broadcaster has been widened by disagreements over coverage of the war in Ukraine. Journalists at Radiotelevizija Slovenija, or RTV, held a press conference outside the broadcaster's building in the center of the capital, Ljubljana, this week to air concerns over changes implemented recently under a director installed last April who, staff say, has reduced in-house news programming. Staff say they are feeling political pressure, including from the government's communications office, which publishes regular posts accusing RTV of bias in its reporting. "We are being attacked because we are critical, are asking questions and are not in line with expectations of a certain political option," senior journalist and anchor Erika Znidarsic said at the news conference Monday. A breaking point came when RTV managers decided to use the BBC rather than its own staff in the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The broadcaster streamed a total of four hours of BBC reporting during prime viewing hours, over two days. RTV managers say they used the BBC to better inform viewers of developments. But journalists say that decision and other programming changes are damaging the station's reputation. RTV is one of the country's most popular channels, with a monthly combined audience of about 700,000, according to station data. But Prime Minister Janez Jansa and his administration and supporters have accused it of bias, saying the station favors opposition parties. The appointment of RTV's supervisory board chair Andrej Grah Whatmough as director general last year, while ostensibly made by an independent board, was seen by the staff as an effort to ensure more favorable coverage of the prime minister and his party. The European Parliament, the European Union's directly elected branch, in December passed a nonbinding resolution condemning Slovenia's government for verbal attacks and attempts to discredit both public and privately owned media outlets. It called on EU member Slovenia to ensure RTV has sufficient funding and to "cease all political interference in its editorial policy." The use of BBC footage to cover the Ukraine war has particularly angered the journalists in RTV's foreign policy editorial office, who are calling for the resignations of acting TV Director Valentin Areh and news editor Jadranka Rebernik. By streaming the BBC, "management showed that it wants to completely devalue and marginalize the work of the foreign policy editorial office of TV Slovenia (RTV)," a February 28 letter signed by 25 journalists read. Grah Whatmough defended the decision, saying RTV was unable to prepare similar programs when Russian forces suddenly began moving into Ukraine at the end of February. The broadcaster's communications office told VOA it has previously streamed foreign TV with simultaneous translation. "The same was done in 2003 when American forces attacked Iraq, so we used identical approach in similar war conditions," RTV said in a statement sent to VOA. But critics say most Slovenians already have access to BBC programs though internet or cable, albeit without translation into Slovenian, and see the decision as undermining the station's own reporting. RTV also sent one reporter to Ukraine and several journalists to neighboring countries at the start of the war, and their reporting has been used extensively since. Retired journalist Tone Hocevar, who used to work for the broadcaster, believes RTV used the BBC footage "to humiliate TV Slovenia journalists who are doing a very good job." Hocevar had worked as a foreign correspondent, news editor and foreign policy journalist at the broadcaster for over 10 years until 1992, when he left to work for print media. "What is happening to TV Slovenia is tragic," Hocevar said. "There is no doubt that the government wants to curb critical reporting." Bias claims Slovenia's Government Communication Office welcomed the move to stream the BBC. "Maybe @RTV_Slovenia could for some time only transmit @BBCWorld on its second channel so that Slovenian journalists could learn at least a bit about the basics of journalism and journalistic standards," GCO Director Uros Urbanija tweeted on February 26. Urbanija's office in recent months has posted articles to its website titled "Analysis of Reporting of RTV Slovenia." The articles list RTV content that the GCO believes shows bias against the government, includes hate speech or fails to seek a government response. Laurens Hueting of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), says the GCO articles "fit an ongoing pattern of sustained political pressure on RTV." In recent years, that has "included relentless disparaging smears and attempts to discredit their work by elected politicians," Hueting, a senior advocacy officer, told VOA. Dejan Vercic, a professor at the Ljubljana University's Faculty of Social Sciences, shared a similar view. "The GCO analyses "are not analyses but some sort of political commentaries, which is improper and undignified," Vercic, who specializes in public and media relations, told VOA. The GCO told VOA in a written statement that it "does not understand how public and transparent analyses concerning the breach of journalistic standards could be seen as pressure." No one has dismissed claims flagged in the analyses, the statement said, adding a list of cases in which the GCO says the previous center-left governments put pressure on RTV and other media. RTV Director General Grah Whatmough was cited by the broadcaster as saying Monday that he supports all employees and "will not allow any political pressure." But Vercic and other analysts say that pressures have only increased since Grah Whatmough took over last April after being appointed by the 29-member Program Council, which is mandated to act independently. Twenty-one of the council members, however, are appointed by parliament, and Grah Whatmough, who has denied being under any pressure, has rejected claims from critics that his appointment was political. Election coverage The ECPMF has raised concerns that changes at the public broadcaster could affect its coverage of the run-up to parliamentary election, which is scheduled for April 24. Several polls show Jansa's center-right Slovenian Democratic Party is likely to emerge as the strongest party but will need to form a coalition. The ECPMF believes changes at RTV Slovenia will marginalize public interest reporting and jeopardize the broadcaster's core mission to provide professional and informative reporting on domestic and foreign affairs. "Especially around election time, fair and balanced public service media are of the utmost importance for citizens' informed participation in the democratic process," Hueting told VOA. "RTV Slovenia has historically ranked among the best and most independent public service broadcasters in the region," he added. Kenya has lifted COVID-19 prevention measures, including wearing face masks in public and restrictions on gatherings, after sustaining a less than one percent positivity case rate. Announcing the lifting of the measures Friday, Kenyas health minister, Mutahi Kagwe, said that, among other provisions, people are exempted from wearing a face mask in public. There has been a lot of debate and discussions on the continued use of facemasks as one of the containment measures. The mandatory wearing of facemasks in open public spaces is now lifted, Kagwe said. Like the rest of the world, Kenya imposed mandatory mask-wearing in early 2021 to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Failure to wear a mask came with a fine of up to $200. The ministry urged the public Friday to continue hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers to curtail the spread of the virus within the community. Kagwe called on people to maintain their distance from others and wear masks to avoid getting infected. People are encouraged to maintain social distance and avoid crowding in public spaces to ensure the risk of spread is limited. We, however, encourage the use of masks in all indoor functions. The East African nation has vaccinated at least 16-and-a-half-million people, so far. More than seven million people are fully vaccinated. More than 26 million are yet to get a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Kenya is one of five countries, with the help of the African Union, set to benefit from the establishment of a facility that will produce COVID-19 and other vaccines. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST: 11:22 p.m.: The New York Times reports that a $700 million superyacht docked in Italy could be Russian President Vladimir Putin's. 10:52 p.m.: A 2020 COVID policy is keeping Ukrainian refugees out of the U.S., NBC News reports. 10:20 p.m.: Mariupol's death toll from the Russian invasion has topped 1,500, The Associated Press reports. 9:49 p.m.: Yahoo News has a look at Ukraine's war-wounded children: "A plaster on his eye, 8-year-old Dima Kasyanov lies unconscious on a hospital bed in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv after a Russian missile blasted through his home. "He was in his family flat when it hit on Monday, sending shrapnel shooting through his upper jaw and into the base of his neck, his doctor Oleksandre Dukhovsky says. 9:18 p.m.: The Associated Press fact-checks a video that purports to show footage from Ukraine. 8:49 p.m.: In an attempt to tighten the financial screws on Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the invasion of Ukraine, countries around the world are seizing the prized possessions of oligarchs believed to be close to him. VOA's Laurel Bowman has the story. 8:14 p.m.: Al Jazeera has a graphic detailing which countries are most reliant on Russian for oil. 7:30 p.m.: Deutsche Bank announced Friday it would wind down its business in Russia, according to news reports. The bank, which had faced criticism for its ties to Russia, joined Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, the first two U.S. banks to exit Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine. 7:10 p.m.: European Union leaders met Friday outside Paris to discuss the situation in Ukraine and its own military preparedness, Lisa Bryant reports for VOA. French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the two-day meeting at Versailles Palace, said nothing was off the table when it came to further sanctions against Moscow. But while backing Ukraine's bid to join the EU, the 27-member bloc says it won't fast-track it. 6:30 p.m.: Div Venter is a South African man whose wife, Natalia, is Ukrainian. Natalia was in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began and has refused to leave, staying to care for her family and to help those needing medicine and food, reports Vicky Stark for VOA. In stepped Gift of the Givers, which has been doing disaster relief work for 29 years. 5:15 p.m.: An 11-year-old boy, Hassan Al-Khalaf, is being called a hero in Slovakia, after he arrived there a week ago from Zaporizhzhia. His mother, who couldn't leave his grandmother behind, sent him alone on the 1,000 km journey to Bratislava, where his older brother is studying. "I want to say a big thank you to the volunteers, because they are helping people they don't even know," Hassan said. 4:45 p.m.: Mykhaylo Shtekel, a correspondent for RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports that the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has been turned into a "fortress." He said barricades and checkpoints had been erected throughout the strategic city and that patrols of pro-Ukrainian volunteers from Belarus had captured Russian saboteurs. 3:37 p.m.: Ukraines nuclear regulator on Friday provided updated information to the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about nuclear power plants now under the control of Russian military forces. Highlights of the report were sent out by the IAEA on Twitter. 4:08 p.m.: The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions that target Russian and Kremlin elites, oligarchs, and Russias political and national security leaders who have supported Russian President Vladimir Putins brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, according to a Treasury release. 2:27 p.m.: The war on disinformation has been an uphill fight since before Russia invaded Ukraine, with media and fact checkers sifting through thousands of claims about alleged provocations, missile strikes, atrocities, and gains and losses. VOAs Liam Scott has more. 2:20 p.m.: Obstetrician-gynecologist Kyrylo Ventskivskiy was working a night shift when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. He delivered the first baby born in wartime Ukraine. Hes only gone home once since then. The work of his perinatal center in Kyiv has moved to the more primitive conditions of a bomb shelter. Current Time, a co-production of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and VOA, has his story. 2:14 p.m.: A woman who was injured this week during Russian shelling of a maternity hospital in Ukraines besieged port city of Mariupol has given birth to a daughter, the Associated Press reports. A photo published by the AP show Mariana Vishegirskaya lying in a hospital bed after giving birth to her daughter, Veronika, on Friday. Another photo shows her husband Yuri cradling their newborn daughter as Vishegirskaya rests. A pregnant Vishegirskaya was photographed Wednesday as she was being evacuated from the hospital, following the Russian airstrike, and the images of her predicament were published in news reports sent around the world. The strike on the hospital, which Russia claimed was a legitimate target, killed at least three people, including a child, officials said. Officials say at least 1,200 civilians have been killed in Mariupol since Russia invaded Ukraine last month. On Friday, the U.N. World Health Organization raised the number of healthcare facilities that have been attacked in Ukraine to 30 so far, VOAs UN Correspondent Margaret Besheer reported. The European Union Friday confirmed its Temporary Protection Directive will grant immediate protection in the EU for refugees from Ukraine. All those fleeing the war will be provided with a secure status and access to schools, medical care and work, according to Anitta Hipper, the EUs spokesperson for home affairs, migration and internal security who provided VOA with a statement Friday. The directive applies to Ukrainian nationals, as well as their family members displaced by the conflict, stateless persons and nationals of other third countries who benefited from international protection or equivalent protection in Ukraine, as well as their family members, she said. Non-Ukrainian nationals of third countries and stateless persons who can prove that they were legally residing in Ukraine on the basis of a valid permanent residence permit and who cannot return in safe and durable conditions to their country of origin are eligible for either EU temporary protection or adequate national protection, depending on the EU country they are in. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday declared that Ukraine had reached a strategic turning point in its fight with Russia, which he said was relying on conscripts, reservists and Syrian mercenaries to prop up its invasion force. In a daily televised address in Kyiv, Zelenskyy called on the international community to ramp up sanctions pressure on Russia if it didn't back down. 1:19 p.m. The United Nations is not aware of any 'biological weapons program' in Ukraine, the U.N. disarmament chief told a Security Council meeting on Friday. Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, spoke at the meeting requested by Russia to discuss Moscow's claims of U.S. "biological activities" in Ukraine, which were presented without evidence. Diplomats from several western nations strongly objected to Russias accusations, terming it disinformation. Frances representative Nicolas de Riviere said Neither disinformation nor the veto can mask this harsh realityRussia can fool neither Russians nor the world. Britains representative said, We do not sit in this chamber to be an audience for Russias domestic propaganda. We shouldnt allow Russia to abuse its permanent seat to spread disinformation and lies." Were not going to let Russia get away with lying to the world or staining the integrity of the Security Council by using it as a venue for legitimizing Putins violence, said U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield. VOAs UN Correspondent Margaret Besheer followed the proceedings and captured some of the comments on Twitter. 1:13p.m.: As civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine grow, United Nations aid agencies warn indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure may amount to war crimes. The U.N. human rights office so far has recorded 1,564 civilian casualties, including 564 killed and 982 injured since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. 12:57p.m.: In the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, instructors are giving last-minute training to members of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade as the Ukrainian military prepares to defend the city from Russian attack. Some of the trainees are new recruits with no previous military experience. The training includes how to operate anti-tank weapons provided by Western allies. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report. 12:41p.m.: A massive Russian armored column thats been at a standstill for days north of Kyiv has been dispersed on three sides of the Ukrainian capital, prompting fears the deployment is a prelude to a redoubled offensive. American defense officials say the Russian forces have moved 5 kilometers nearer to Kyiv, and artillery has taken up what are described as firing positions. The movement coincides with further military developments, including the shelling for the first time of the strategic eastern city of Dnipro, an industrial hub on the Dnieper River and Ukraines fourth-largest city. 12:24 p.m.: U.S Vice President Kamala Harris Friday reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to its eastern European NATO allies in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speaking alongside Romanian President Klaus Iohannis following talks in Bucharest, Harris said U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO charter - an attack against one, is an attack against all - is iron clad. Harris said, We will defend every inch of NATO territory. 12:15 p.m.: A senior U.S. defense official briefed reporters Friday about military movements in Ukraine. Russian forces were in the northwest suburbs of Ukraines capital Kyiv Friday, the senior U.S. defense official said. However, from the northeast, Russians were still bogged down in Chernihiv he added. Russia is facing challenges because of Ukraines stiff, determined, and creative resistance. They are being adaptive and nimblealmost a hit and run kind of a style here, the U.S. defense official said. Russia does not have a military that has great expeditionary capability and experience, he said, adding that Russian air and ground operations were struggling with coordination. Ukraines air force has about 56 fighter jets still operational, the senior official said, noting that Ukrainian forces are flying only 5-10 sorties per day, as they rely more on other weapons systems. Ukraine is also making good use of its drones, he said. Theyre using them with terrific effect, especially against Russian ground movements. VOAs National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin monitored the briefing and has more information. 11:51 a.m. : Reuters reports on fears that the war could disrupt Ukraines vital agriculture sector and cause food shortages to come. 11:33 a.m.: Hundreds of Nigerian students who were sheltering from Russian bombing in northeast Ukraine have been evacuated and flown back to Nigeria. VOAs Timothy Obiezu reports that 123 evacuees including an infant arrived at Abuja international airport from Poland early Friday. Nearly 1,100 Nigerians have been evacuated since Russian forces invaded Ukraine last month. Officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission say students who were trapped for more than a week in Sumy, a northeastern Ukrainian city, were among the latest evacuees. Authorities say another flight carrying evacuees is expected to arrive Saturday from Hungary. Jessica Otumara was one of hundreds of Nigerians trapped in Sumy. "Being in Sumy for a week and three days as the war had been happening, it was really really scary, she said. You could see the panic in the city. She says making her way out of the besieged city with others this week was a risk she had to take, but that the experience was traumatic. 11:23 a.m. Journalist Maryan Kushnir, a reporter with Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys Ukrainian Service, suffered a concussion during a Russian rocket attack on Ukrainian forces outside of Kyiv early Friday. Kushnir, who was embedded with the Ukrainian troops, reported that the attack occurred in the town of Baryshivka, about 35 kilometers east of the capital. 11:15 a.m.: As Russias crackdown on media organizations intensified this week, VOA said in a statement late Thursday that it would continue its efforts to reach people in the region with news and information. In spite of the Russian governments attempts to criminalize fact-based journalism and block access to VOAs content on Russian social media platforms, the Voice of America remains resolute in its approach to support the free flow of news and information not only in Russian but in every language we broadcast around the world, said Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lpez. We will continue to provide our Russian audience the necessary tools to access timely, accurate and truthful information. 10:51 a.m. : Russia said Friday it is opening a criminal case against Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, over reported changes in its rules that allow some users to call for violence against Russia's army and its leadership in the context of the war in Ukraine. Russias Prosecutor-General's Office requested that the social-media giant be branded "extremist" and called for Instagram to be blocked in the country. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has the story. 10:40 a.m, U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday announced that Washington and its allies will strip Russia of its most favored nations status, allowing countries to further restrict Moscow's economic ties with the world. This move comes as civilian deaths and injuries continue to climb as Russia presses its offensive in Ukraine. Taking questions from the press after his statement, Biden said Russia would pay a severe price should it use chemical weapons, as VOAs White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports. 10:08 a.m, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of being willing to engage in diplomacy. She is in Romania as part of a three-day visit to the region in a show of support for NATO allies following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Harris warned of uncertainty around what Putin will do next, reports The Independent. The vice president made the remarks at a joint press conference in Bucharest with Romanian President Klaus Johannis. 9:53 a.m.: Russian officials have been shifting their explanations in the past two days about why their forces struck a maternity hospital in the besieged Ukrainian seaport of Mariupol, one of more than a dozen health care facilities to have been attacked since Russia launched its invasion of its neighbor. Jamie Dettmer has this report. 9:12 a.m.: Praise for the way U.S. agencies secured and shared intelligence on Russia's plans to invade Ukraine are being tempered by growing concern that one of the Kremlin's disinformation campaigns is starting to take hold in the United States and the West. VOAs Jeff Seldin reports. 8:57 a.m.: The UN human rights office said Friday there are credible reports that Russia is using cluster munitions in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. We have received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions, including in populated areas, said Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. Due to their wide area effects, the use of cluster munitions in populated areas is incompatible with the international humanitarian law principles governing the conduct of hostilities, she said. Civilian casualties are rising daily, as is general human suffering, Throssell noted. We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called area bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes, she said. 8:37 a.m.: A shrinking number of well-known companies are still doing business in Russia, even as hundreds have announced plans to curtail ties. The Associated Press reports. 8:10 a.m.: VOA news reporter Celia Mendoza visited the village of Medyka, in Poland, one of the busiest border crossings since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine. This is what she saw. 6:58 a.m.: Beijing is controlling messaging on the war in Ukraine, analysts and observers say, as social media companies and traditional Chinese state media outlets have been suppressing voices critical of Russia's invasion. VOAs Asim Kashgarian has this report. 7:45 a.m.: Kira Yarmysh, the spokeswoman for jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, has been added to Russia's wanted list on unspecified charges. Yarmysh's name appeared on the Interior Ministry's registry of wanted individuals on Friday, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 7: 38 a.m.: Jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has called for protests this weekend against Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine to combat the "propaganda" machine created by President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin's most vocal critic urged the anti-war movement in a post on Instagram Friday to put aside their fears of being arrested and take to the streets in what is "definitely not a futile fight." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has the story. 7:02 a.m.: China's Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called the situation in Ukraine "grave" and offered Beijing's help in playing a "positive role" for peace while continuing to refuse to criticize Russia, according to The Associated Press. China has offered to serve as a facilitator of talks between the sides, although it has little experience in such a role and would not likely be viewed as a neutral party. 6:47 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that foreigners should be allowed to join the war against Ukrainian forces and approved the handover of captured Western missile systems to Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Putin, speaking at a Russian Security Council meeting on Friday, said he supported the idea of allowing foreign individuals to join Russian-backed forces in Ukraine after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said some 16,000 "volunteers" from the Middle East were ready to come to fight in the war on the Russian side. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 6:25 a.m.: A $13.6 billion emergency package of military and humanitarian aid for besieged Ukraine and its European allies easily won final congressional approval Thursday, hitching a ride on a government-wide spending bill that's five months late but loaded with political prizes for both parties. 6:12 a.m.: South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has been asked to help mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, after having spoken to his counterpart Vladimir Putin. Some analysts are questioning whether South Africas historic ties to Russia could impact its neutrality. VOAs Linda Givetash reports from Johannesburg that the prospective role of mediator comes after the country abstained from a United Nations vote to reprimand Russia over its invasion of neighboring Ukraine. It's a very tricky situation, because South Africa, by the way, has ties with both countries, said Bheki Mngomezulu is a professor of political science at the University of the Western Cape. But in principle, I think that South Africa did the right thing on this Russian-Ukrainian issue by not siding with either side. South Africa is being looked at as a country that does not believe the use of force, but believes in negotiation, he added. Earlier this week, Ramaphosa called upon Russia and Ukraine to move toward a mediated cease-fire in a public statement on Twitter. 5:13 a.m.: Agence France-Presse has a map showing major attacks in Ukraine. 4:46 a.m.: ABC News has more on Russia's "volunteer fighters." 4:10 a.m.: The Associated Press reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved bringing in "volunteer" fighters to join the invasion of Ukraine. 3:50 a.m.: A member of Ukraine's parliament shares photos: 3:24 a.m.: Reuters reports Russian-backed separatists have captured Volnovakha, Ukraine. 3:12 a.m.: The International Atomic Energy Agency warned of trouble at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The New York Times has the story. 2:37 a.m.: China's premier speaks about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reuters has the story. 2:10 a.m.: A Romanian hotel is sheltering Ukrainian refugees. ABC News has the story. 1:37 a.m.: The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday on alleged manufacture of biological weapons in Ukraine at the request of Moscow, whose credibility on chemical weapons was questioned during a session on Syria. Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, which has faced an assault by tens of thousands of Russian troops since Feb. 24. Agence France-Presse has the story. 1:10 a.m.: President Joe Biden will announce Friday that, along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will move to revoke most favored nation trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. That's according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcement. The person said each country would have to follow its own national processes. Stripping most favored nation status from Russia would allow the U.S. and allies to impose tariffs on Russian imports, increasing the isolation of the Russian economy in retaliation for the invasion. The Associated Press has the story. 12:37 a.m.: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is in Bucharest on Friday, after her visit Thursday to Warsaw, where she underscored the U.S. commitment to NATOs eastern flank and supported calls for a probe of Russia's alleged bombing of a Ukrainian hospital. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports. 12:02 a.m.: Acts of vandalism. Cancel culture. Financial hits. Putins war on Ukraine is causing problems for some Russians living in the United States. As VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports, many oppose Moscows aggression and are speaking out for peace. 12:01 a.m.: CNN reports that on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden will announce that the U.S. will try to revoke Russia's "most favored nation" status. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. A Malian delegation is expected in Mauritanias capital Friday to discuss the alleged disappearance of several Mauritanians on Malian territory. The delegation is scheduled to arrive in Nouakchott after the Mauritanian government accused Mali of criminal acts against Mauritanians on Malian territory. According to a French news agency report, a Mauritanian member of parliament, Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Henenna, says at least 15 of his countrymen have been killed in Mali. Social media posts have accused the Malian army of being responsible for the killings. In a March 9 press release, Mali's military government said its ambassador to Mauritania was summoned to a meeting with Mauritanias foreign affairs minister over the alleged assassination of Mauritanian citizens in Mali. The release denied the Malian army is responsible for the killings and pledged to investigate the crimes. Malian officials visited Mauritania in January to strengthen the relationship between the two countries after the West African bloc ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali, in response to the military government delaying elections. Mauritania is not a member of ECOWAS and does not support the sanctions. The West African country, along with Guinea, remains one of the only ways Mali can have access to a port and international trade. The Malian army has also been accused of disappearing several Fulani men in Malis Segou region, with the U.N. and Human Rights Watch conducting investigations. Hassan Al-Khalaf, 11, clung to hope when he trekked across Ukraine by himself, safely reaching Slovakia after joining the masses of refugees escaping Russia's invasion of their country. Hassan arrived in Slovakia in early March, drawing wide media attention after local police posted his story on their Facebook page, calling him a hero after his long journey by train and on foot from Zaporizhzhia in southeast Ukraine. "I got my hope from my mom wanting me to go," Hassan said in an interview before appearing as a guest at a pro-Ukraine demonstration in the Slovak capital in Bratislava on Friday. "My hope carried me on my way," he said through an interpreter. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation." Hassan's widowed mother could not leave his grandmother at home, so she sent the boy off alone on the trip of more than 1,000 km to Slovakia, where his older brother studies. He arrived with nothing but a plastic bag, passport and a phone number written on his hand. "This brings tears to our eyes. This is the biggest hero of last night," Slovak police wrote on March 5 after Hassan appeared at the border crossing. Hassan is one of more than 2.5 million refugees who have fled Ukraine, mostly to Poland, but also Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, to reach the European Union. At least 176,000 have crossed Slovakia's border in an exodus that the United Nations has called the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. "I want to say a big thank you to the volunteers, because they are helping people they don't even know," said Hassan, who is hopeful of seeing his mother again. "I believe that there will be a happy end." North Korea's last two missile launches were tests of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, U.S. officials said Thursday, as they announced fresh sanctions on Pyongyang and warned of a "serious escalation" in tensions. The launches on Feb. 26 and March 4 did not demonstrate ICBM range but were likely meant to evaluate the new system before conducting a future test at full range, potentially disguised as a space launch, according to a statement from Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby. North Korea had not given many details about the tests other than to say they were in preparation for the launch of a military spy satellite. On Friday, state media reported North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the country's Sohae Satellite Launching Ground. Pictures showed Kim, wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses, speaking with top defense officials as they stood in front of a launch tower. Kim announced plans to "build a number of new elements in the launching ground so as to launch the military reconnaissance satellite and other multipurpose satellites by diverse carrier rockets in the future," said a report by the Korean Central News Agency. A day earlier, Kim said the spy satellite would provide "real-time information" on the movements of "the aggression troops of the U.S. imperialism and its vassal forces" in the region. None of the reports said when such a launch would occur. North Korea had not conducted an ICBM launch since 2017, during the height of tensions between Kim and former U.S. President Donald Trump. A year earlier, North Korea had attempted to launch a satellite. The United States and its allies view North Korean satellite launches as thinly disguised tests of long-range missile technology banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions. A satellite launch would dramatically raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On Thursday, conservative former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol was declared the winner of South Korea's presidential election. Yoon has promised a much more forceful approach to North Korea. In his first press conference Thursday as president-elect, Yoon promised to "sternly" address North Korean provocations but insisted he is open to dialogue with Pyongyang. 'Monster missile' That dialogue will not happen anytime soon, it appears. So far this year, North Korea has launched 13 missiles during nine rounds of launches. The tests are seen as part of an effort to systematically work through a wish list of strategic weapons laid out by Kim last year. On Kim's wish list is an ICBM large enough to carry multiple warheads a capacity that would make it much harder for U.S. missile defenses to intercept. North Korea unveiled such an ICBM, the Hwasong-17, during a parade in October 2020. Experts dubbed it the "monster missile." According to U.S. officials, North Korea's last two launches involved the Hwasong-17, although only in some limited capacity. The tests likely only involved the first stage of the two-stage rocket, said Joshua Pollack, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. The South Korean and Japanese militaries had reported the missiles only flew for about 300 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 550-600 kilometers. The Hwasong-17 is estimated to have a maximum range of about 13,000 kilometers. At the time, North Korea said one of the launches was meant to test "attitude control devices" on the rocket, suggesting it was experimenting with a system that could control a camera on a spy satellite. But "the attitude control system used to point the camera is likely the same system one would use to aim multiple warheads," tweeted Jeffrey Lewis, an expert in nuclear nonproliferation with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. "Drop a warhead, turn around, drop another, and so on," Lewis said. Missile defense complications Such a system, known as a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, or MIRV, would be much harder for U.S. missile defenses to intercept, according to Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. If the North Koreans were to launch 10 ICBMs with a single warhead each, the U.S. technically, although our interceptors dont work very well, has the number of interceptors necessary to deal with that scenario, Panda said. If the North Koreans placed two, three, four, or more warheads on a single missile, the arithmetic for U.S. ballistic missile defense begins to look incredibly unfavorable. Another reason North Korea is developing MIRVs is their shortage of mobile launch systems, known as transporter erector launchers, or TELs. The North Koreans have had a difficult time building very large trucks that are reliable and capable of carrying and launching these missiles, Panda said. Putting multiple warheads on a single missile reduces the need for mobile launchers. Not only are MIRVs more cost effective, they're actually a necessity If the North Koreans want to enhance their ability to deal damage to the United States with their nuclear weapons, which is what they need for nuclear deterrence to actually work, Panda added. In its previous two tests, North Korea apparently used a mobile launch system placed at an airport near Pyongyang. But Kims visit to the Sohae satellite launch facility suggests the upcoming satellite launch will use the facilities there. 'Serious escalation' Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, a U.S. official described the tests as a "serious escalation" in North Korea's missile program. The U.S. Treasury on Friday will announce new sanctions meant to prevent North Korea from "accessing foreign items and technology that enable it to advance its weapons programs," the official added. Early Friday, South Korea's military also released an assessment saying it believed North Korea had tested an ICBM. "Our government strongly condemns North Korea's launch of such ballistic missiles, which are in violation of many United Nations Security Council resolutions, and urges North Korea to immediately stop acts that create security anxiety on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and heighten tensions," it said. A shrinking number of well-known companies are still doing business in Russia, even as hundreds have announced plans to curtail ties. Burger King restaurants are open, Eli Lilly is supplying drugs, and PepsiCo is selling milk and baby food, but no more soda. The pace of businesses exiting Russia accelerated over the past week as the deadly violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine worsened, and as Western governments ratcheted up economic sanctions to punish Russia for its two-week-old invasion. Major oil companies BP and Shell walked away from multibillion-dollar investments. McDonald's and Starbucks stopped serving customers. The companies that still have a presence in Russia say they have franchise owners or employees to consider; they don't want to punish Russians by taking away food or medicine; or they provide software or financial services for Western businesses that aren't easy to replace. "It's a business calculation. On the stay side: How much revenue do they earn in Russia? Do they provide an essential service?" said Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. "Each day that passes, though, calculations change. Sanctions against Russia are likely to last a long time, along with rising revulsion." Some companies in lower-profile industries like agriculture have been able to fly under the radar and avoid the type of social media pressure that had been directed at brands such as McDonald's, Uniqlo and Starbucks, before they decided to cut ties this week, if only temporarily. But in this era of hyper-awareness that some customers and even employees have about the positions companies take on social and moral issues, those still doing business with or in Russia are putting their reputations on the line. Take Japanese clothing chain Uniqlo, which drew negative attention after the CEO of its parent company told the Nikkei newspaper in a story published Tuesday that the reason to keep nearly 50 Russian stores open was that: "clothing is a necessity of life." By Thursday, Uniqlo said it would close the stores. "There's potentially a big downside of companies to be on the wrong side of this," Lovely said. Many large multinationals didn't flee Russia at the start of the war. But that changed as the invasion led to increasing violence and more than 2 million refugees fleeing Ukraine. There are now more than 300 companies that have curtailed operations in Russia, according to a list maintained by a team at Yale. Apple stopped shipments. Google paused ad sales. Automakers halted production. Hollywood studios ceased releasing films, and Netflix stopped streaming. Some of these decisions were driven by the need to comply with the sanctions Western governments leveled at Russia; others came because of supply chain issues or the fear of a hit to their reputations. Sanctions have already taken a toll on Russia's economy and global trade. Some companies that plan to sever ties with Russia say it isn't so simple. Citigroup said Wednesday that selling its 11 Russian bank branches will be difficult because the country's economy has been cut off from the global financial system. Until then, Citi said it is "operating the business on a more limited basis" and is helping its U.S. and other corporate clients suspend their businesses in Russia. Likewise, Amazon says its biggest cloud-computing customers in Russia are headquartered elsewhere. The company said Tuesday it has stopped accepting new cloud-computing customers in Russia and that it plans to suspend e-commerce shipments to Russia. Fast-food companies often have franchising agreements that complicate an exit, because they don't own those locations. That helps explain why Restaurant Brands International, owner of Burger King, is keeping its 800 restaurants open in Russia. And why Yum Brands, parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut, announced the closure of 70 company-owned KFCs across Russia, but not the nearly 1,000 franchisee-owned KFCs, or its 50 Pizza Hut locations. This sometimes applies to hotels as well: Marriott says its Russian hotels are owned by third parties, and it's evaluating their ability to remain open. "I think a lot of these companies are expecting a backlash if they're staying," said Susanne Wengle, a political science professor and Russia expert at Notre Dame. McDonald's action in Russia was easier: it owns most of the 850 restaurants in Russia it will temporarily close. But there are companies that remain in Russia whether in whole or in part and say that it's because they view their products as essential. Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is one of them. "We continue to distribute medicines in Russia as patients with cancer, diabetes and auto-immune diseases everywhere count on us to support them," said spokesperson Tarsis Lopez, noting that EU and U.S. sanctions do not apply to medicine. PepsiCo said it will stop selling soda but will continue to supply milk, baby formula and baby food in Russia. And Unilever said it will keep selling "everyday essential" Russian-made food and hygiene products to Russians, but that it will stop exporting and advertising these products. Tech companies have their own balancing act. Providers of internet-based services like Google, Twitter and Facebook have been mostly reluctant to take actions that could deprive Russian citizens access to information other than what they get from state media. (Russia blocked Facebook and Twitter, however, and then TikTok largely suspended its service in the country.) The response from industrial food producers has been complicated by Russia's role as a major exporter of wheat and other commodities. Bunge, which has assets of $121 million in Russia, said Thursday that its Russian oilseed plant will operate and serve the domestic market, but that it has suspended "any new export business." Farm equipment maker John Deere said it has stopped machine shipments to Russia; it is monitoring a Russian plant that makes seeding equipment and its dealer network in the country "day-by-day." Cargill and ADM, other agriculture companies, have not responded to questions. These companies don't want the Russian government to seize their assets should they close up shop, said Vincent Smith, an economics professor at Montana State University. Other companies point to their employees' livelihoods in rationalizing decisions to stay, or not completely sever ties. Starbucks initially expressed concern for its 2,000 Russian employees before reversing course Tuesday. The Kuwaiti company that franchises its 130 Russian stores is closing them but continuing to pay employees. British American Tobacco on Wednesday said it would keep making and selling cigarettes in Russia, where it has 2,500 employees, citing a "duty of care" for employees. Britain's Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II would not attend the Commonwealth Day events scheduled for Monday in Westminster Abbey. In a statement, the palace said, "After discussing the arrangements with the Royal Household, the Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty" at the Commonwealth Day service. The statement said the queen would continue with other scheduled events, including in-person audiences, next week. Last month, Elizabeth tested positive for COVID-19 but apparently recovered. She was well enough on Monday to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle. Apart from that, she has mainly carried out duties virtually from her Windsor Castle home. A massive Russian armored column thats been at a standstill for days north of Kyiv has been dispersed on three sides of the Ukrainian capital, prompting fears the deployment is a prelude to a redoubled offensive. American defense officials say the Russian forces have moved 5 kilometers nearer to Kyiv, and artillery has taken up what are described as firing positions. The movement coincides with further military developments, including the shelling for the first time of the strategic eastern city of Dnipro, an industrial hub on the Dnieper River and Ukraines fourth-largest city. The movements are accompanied by a series of airstrikes on air-defense facilities and military airfields in western Ukraine, about 130 kilometers south of Lviv, the city where more than 200,000 Ukrainian evacuees from across the rest of the country are sheltered. Ukrainian officials have been bracing for days for a concerted Russian push on Kyiv after satellites identified the buildup last week of a Russian column that at one point stretched for 60 kilometers. They and Western military officials were surprised when the column stopped advancing and remained stationary, with opinion divided over whether the Russians were encountering fuel shortages and other logistical re-supply problems or were preparing a slow regrouping and dispersal. Michael Kofman, an analyst with CNA, a Washington-based defense think tank, says the former scenario is likely, tweeting: Looking at the Russian operation so far, they're having tremendous problems with logistics and communications. He added: The whole effort seems shambolic. Whatever the reason for the sluggish dispersal of the column, the forces now have redeployed and are in much more menacing positions to mount an assault on the city. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies, an Earth-observation and space technology company, show the column of armored vehicles, tanks and artillery have been redeployed mainly in the forests and towns to the northwest of Kyiv, near Antonov military airport. Russian armored vehicles also have been advancing nearer to Kyiv from the northwest, according to city Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who says, every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified in the capital in readiness for a Russian offensive. Klitschko said about 2 million people, half the population, have left the capital. In its regular public update on military developments in Ukraine, Britains defense ministry said Russia is engaged in a general reset of its force posture with a redoubled offensive likely in the coming days. This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv, it said. But the British defense ministry said Russian invasion forces still likely are being plagued by logistical problems and are having major issues overcoming stiffer-than-expected Ukrainian resistance. Poor Russian battlefield tactics also have been on display, according to independent military analysts. They point to the ambush Thursday by Ukrainian artillery in the town of Brovary, east of Kyiv, of a Russian tank convoy, forcing it to retreat after two tanks were taken and its commander was killed. The ambush was captured on video, with some analysts questioning why the tanks proceeded in line in close formation and had not been dispersed more widely. Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Friday that Russian forces conducted long-range missile attacks on two military airfields in the western Ukrainian cities of Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk. Ukrainian military officials confirmed the strikes but denied Russian claims the air-defense facilities at both airfields had been destroyed. Local authorities said two Ukrainian servicemen were killed and six people were wounded at the Lutsk military airfield. While the redeployment around Kyiv continued Friday at pace, Russian leader Vladimir Putin struck some surprisingly positive notes about possible talks, saying in Moscow there have been some certain positive shifts and that those negotiations with Ukraine were continuing on a daily basis. His remarks came despite any lack of progress in talks Thursday between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in Turkey. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also surprised reporters in Moscow by mentioning the chance of a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although translations differed on whether he meant a meeting isnt being excluded or is possible. Military investigations have found poor leadership, inadequate training and a "culture of complacency" among U.S. forces undermined efforts to fend off a 2020 attack by militants in Kenya that killed three Americans, U.S. officials familiar with the probes told The Associated Press ahead of the release of the findings, expected Thursday. Two military reviews of the attack by al-Shabab militants are scathing in their conclusions that there were failures across the board at the Manda Bay air base, where senior military leaders said there was a "deeply rooted culture of a false sense of security." The attack also wounded three people and destroyed six aircraft; at least six insurgents were killed. Army General Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, which did the first review, told the AP that while the actions of no one person caused the attack or the casualties, the reviews concluded that security, intelligence, training and command failures contributed to the losses. Air Force Major General Tom Wilcox, who was part of the team that did the second review, said that "none of the negligence that we found contributed to the primary cause of the loss of life or damage. However, we did find that they potentially contributed to the outcome, to vulnerabilities on the airfield." Defense officials said that a number of Air Force personnel were reviewed for possible disciplinary action and, as a result, eight have received some form of administrative punishment, including written reprimands and loss of certification. The eight range from junior enlisted airmen to officers below the general ranks. A written reprimand can end an officer's career. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe personnel discipline. The Manda Bay base, in the Kenyan seaside resort, was overrun by 30 to 40 al-Qaida-linked insurgents on January 5, 2020, marking al-Shabab's first attack against U.S. forces in the East African country. The pre-dawn assault triggered a lengthy firefight and daylong struggle for U.S. and Kenyan forces to search and secure the base. Second review The initial investigation into the attack was completed a year ago by U.S. Africa Command, but last April, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a new, independent review led by General Paul Funk, commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command. The new report largely mirrors the findings in the initial investigation but expands its scope. Both are sharply critical of the inadequate security, training and oversight at the base. Austin has accepted the reports and their findings. The base at Manda Bay has been used for years by the U.S. military, but it only became a full-time airfield in 2016, with increased personnel, aircraft and operations. According to the reviews, the military there never adjusted security to account for the expanded use and was lulled by the fact the base hadn't been attacked in 16 years. The complacency, said the Africa Command review, permeated every echelon and existed for several years. The reviews criticized leadership at all levels, from the Air Force wing and security forces to special operations commanders and U.S. Africa Command. They found there was an inadequate understanding of and focus on the threats in the region. Townsend said a vague intelligence report prior to the deadly attack referred to an al-Shabab plan to attack U.N. aircraft. But that report didn't get to the right people because of staff shortages, And, he said, those who saw it "didn't connect the dots" that it could be referring to the unmarked contract aircraft the U.S. has at Manda Bay. He also noted, "We get these every day al-Shabab is going to attack. Most of them never happen." The reviews also said that the various command and service units at the base didn't communicate or coordinate well with each other or with the local Kenyan forces. Militants fire grenades As a result, at 5:20 a.m., 20 to 30 al-Shabab militants were able to slip through a forest and fired rocket-propelled grenades onto the Magogoni Airfield at the base. In the first two minutes, the RPGs killed Army Specialist Henry Mayfield in a truck and killed two contractors, Dustin Harrison and Bruce Triplett, in an aircraft. Another soldier and a civilian contractor were wounded. About a mile down the road, another smaller group of the militants fired on Camp Simba, a section of the adjacent Kenyan navy base where U.S. forces are housed. The reviews say security troops at the airfield were unprepared to respond to the attack and several never really engaged the insurgents. Instead, Marines at Camp Simba about a mile away responded first. "Someone starts shooting, and Marines are going to go to the sound of the guns. And so they did. They mounted up, and they led the counterattack," said Townsend, who visited Manda Bay three weeks ago. It took about 20 minutes for the Marine special operations team to get to the airfield and begin to fight back against the militants, who had made it onto the flightline and into buildings. As Kenyan and additional U.S. security forces responded, al-Shabab attacked again. It took until midnight for the military to search the airfield and adjacent buildings and declare the area secure. During the counterattack, one Marine and one Kenyan service member were wounded. Changes made In interviews, Townsend and Wilcox said that substantial changes and improvements have been made some in the first hours after the attack and others that have continued and grown over the past year. Almost immediately, Army infantry soldiers were brought in for added security, and now the protection force is more than double the size it was during the attack. Fencing and other barriers now ring the entire base, including Camp Simba. And there have been overhauls of intelligence sharing and Air Force security training. The Air Force now trains all deploying security forces together before they depart for the country, and it requires that personnel be more experienced in force protection to get senior jobs at the bases. In addition, the reviews recommended that one senior commander at each base be in charge of force protection for the entire facility and that the commander be able to order training for all troops there. That would include units that may report to other commands such as special operations forces or Space Force teams that may be housed at the base. The U.N. refugee agency said Friday that drought in Somalia was causing a humanitarian and displacement crisis, with thousands of people fleeing their parched lands in search of fertile territory and humanitarian assistance to help them survive. In Somalia, experts say, climate change is kicking in with a vengeance. For the past three years, the rains have largely failed to come, decimating crops and livestock. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that about half a million people this year alone are likely to have been displaced by the end of March. The majority reportedly are children, the elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers. UNHCR spokesman Boris Chershirkov said most arrive in urban centers or existing settlements for displaced people, only to find difficult living conditions. Additionally, he said, the hoped-for aid is in short supply, forcing them to resort to extreme measures to survive. This, he said, exposes them to exploitation and multiple dangers. Children have dropped out of school to help their families earn a daily income and search for water and pasture," Chershirkov said. "This has made them particularly vulnerable to risks such as forced marriage, family separation, and sexual violence and abuse. Women and girls, who make up half of the displaced population, are at heightened risk. Meteorologists forecast a good rainy season in the Horn of Africa. And as of now, World Food Program spokesman Tomson Phiri said, no area is reported as being either in a state of famine or on the verge of famine. However, hunger and malnutrition are worsening across all drought-affected areas. ... One rainy season may not be enough to wash away three consecutive drought seasons," Phiri said. "And if immediate humanitarian support is not received, this could rapidly change, and millions of families could find themselves facing starvation. Aid agencies are facing the specter of the 2011 famine in Somalia, which killed more than a quarter-million people, half of them children. The UNHCR has appealed for $157.5 million to deliver critical aid and protection to nearly 3 million internally displaced people in Somalia, and tens of thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers. So far, only 5 percent of that amount has been received. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has been asked to help mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, after having spoken to his counterpart Vladimir Putin. But some analysts are questioning whether South Africa's ties to Russia could impact its neutrality. The prospective role of mediator comes after the country abstained from a United Nations vote to reprimand Russia over its invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Bheki Mngomezulu, a professor of political science at the University of the Western Cape, said the request shouldn't come as a surprise. "It's a very tricky situation, because South Africa, by the way, has ties with both countries," Mngomezulu said. "But in principle, I think that South Africa did the right thing on this Russian-Ukrainian issue by not siding with either side. South Africa is being looked at as a country that does not believe the use of force, but believes in negotiation." The presidency did not specify whether it was Russia or another party that made the request. This lack of clarity is just one instance contributing to questions about South Africa's neutrality. The country has also flip-flopped on its position on the conflict. South Africa's international relations department issued a statement last month calling on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. Since then, the call has been removed from official statements, and Ramaphosa has taken a softer stance. "Putin was very happy that he had what Putin regards as an even-handed, balanced approach to the situation," said Piers Pigou, a senior consultant on Southern Africa for the International Crisis Group. "That's certainly not the perspective from many other people. It's inexplicable for some people why South Africa cannot take a firmer stance on calling for cease-fire." South Africa does have a reputation for conflict mediation. That stems from the peaceful transition out of its own racist apartheid regime to supporting other African nations in conflict, like Sudan. But the ruling African National Congress party that led those negotiations also has decades-old ties to Russia. "The ANC historical ties to the old Soviet Union and currently, Russia, may pose questions for the Ukrainians as to whether South African leader, like Ramaphosa, could be regarded as an honest broker," said Charles Nupen, an attorney and executive chairman of the consulting firm StratAlign. "But I've got no doubt that if he were acceptable to all parties, he's certainly got the skillset, and the right approach and experience to lead a mediation delegation." However, Pigou is not as certain of South Africa's current expertise. "I think that there is a tendency to kind of try and live off the legacy of a post-apartheid South Africa that was birthed in negotiations. The question, though, remains whether South Africa really has the competencies and capacities to deliver on mediation," Pigou said. Regardless of who mediates negotiations, Nupen said there remain other questions on how it will play out. "Under whose auspices would this mediation take place? Where would it be held? How would the table be set? And, you know, what would the mediation agenda be?" he asked. Nupen said he imagines the first priority would be to get a cease-fire in place. Russian officials have been shifting their explanations in the past two days about why their forces struck a maternity hospital in the besieged Ukrainian seaport of Mariupol, one of more than a dozen health care facilities to have been attacked since Russia launched its invasion of its neighbor. Midweek, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a news agency that Russian forces do not fire on civilian targets. Later, as international criticism over the bombing mounted, Peskov appeared to adopt a more defensive line saying Moscow will seek information from the Russian military about the incident. We will certainly ask our military about this, since we dont have clear information about what happened there. And the military are very likely to provide some information, he told reporters at a news briefing in the Russian capital. The next day, Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Turkey, shortly after concluding peace talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, that Mariupols maternity hospital was a legitimate target because Ukrainian militiamen had seized it and expelled all the patients and doctors long ago. In a coordinated effort, Russian embassies around the world have been echoing Lavrovs contention on social media platforms, describing the hospital as a legitimate military target. The truth is that the maternity hospital has not worked since the beginning of Russia's special operation in Ukraine, tweeted Russias embassy in Israel. The doctors were dispersed by militants of the Azov nationalist battalion, it added. But the photograph the embassy posted to show where the Ukrainian militiamen are based was geolocated by investigators affiliated with Bellingcat, an investigative journalism group, as being 10 kilometers away from the maternity hospital. The bombing in which three people including a child were killed and 17 people injured has drawn fierce international criticism with the United Nations Secretary General describing it as horrific. But Western diplomats and independent analysts, including former generals who have followed Russian war tactics in Syria, say that while they are horrified by the strike, they arent surprised by the targeting of the Mariupol hospital and Russian strikes on 18 other clinics so far in Ukraine, all documented by the World Health Organization. They say Russia has a history of bombing of hospitals as a tactic of war, notably in Syria, with the aim of demoralizing opponents and weakening the will of civilians. Michael Clarke, former director-general of Royal United Services Institute, a defense think tank in London, told Sky News: It's an attempt to create terror in the population and to break civilian morale. In Mariupol, they just want the city to give in. Physicians for Human Rights, a U.S.-based advocacy group, which has been documenting attacks on health care facilities stretching back to 2011 in Syria by Russian and Syrian government warplanes, say striking at hospitals has been a defining feature of the war in Syria. As a strategy of war, it is effective. It is also illegal, the non-profit group says. Syria is among the worst examples of targeting medical care as a weapon of war, with hundreds of attacks on hospitals and medical facilities since 2011, and nearly 900 medical personnel who have been killed. Action on Armed Violence, a British NGO monitoring and researching the causes and consequences of weapon-based violence, says attacks on hospitals have been a consistent and devastating feature of Russias air campaign in Syria, and this inhumane tactic is now being seen in Ukraine. The pace of the targeting of health care facilities in Syria has been roughly consistent throughout, say analysts. But there have been notable upticks ahead of ground offensives, as well as before cease-fire and peace talks, they add. In July and August of 2019, just as a ground offensive by Bashar al-Assad's Russian-backed forces was ramping up, 40 health care facilities were struck in the northwest province of rebel-held Idlib. The hospital-targeting airstrikes coincided with a wide bombing and shelling campaign of civilian infrastructure, which left more than 800 civilians dead and hundreds more wounded in what U.N. officials at the time described as a scorched-earth tactic. What especially alarmed U.N. officials was that the GPS coordinates of the hospitals and clinics in Idlib had been shared by them with the Syrian government and the Russian defense ministry to try to ensure the hospitals would remain safe. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ordered an inquiry into the attacks with the aim to establish whether the coordinates provided by the U.N. to Russia had been used to target the hospitals. The most dangerous place to be in Idlib is a hospital, wrote visiting British surgeon David Nott in 2019. That is the chilling fact I was told by doctors when I was in northern Syria teaching surgeons how to treat blast injuries and gunshot wounds, he wrote on his return to Britain. To avoid being struck, many health care professionals in Idlib copied what counterparts in the neighboring war-struck province of Aleppo learned to do in 2014 and 2015 open underground, improvised facilities and relocate them frequently. Thousands of refugees in Indonesia are finding themselves shut out of public services including travel and shopping because of a bureaucratic glitch that prevents them from proving they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Indonesia is a transit country for 13,175 refugees, more than half of whom are from Afghanistan. Unlike some countries where refugees are kept In camps, refugees in Indonesia can roam freely and use public facilities. Most live around the Jakarta greater metropolitan area. In 2020, the country launched Peduli Lindungi, a digital COVID-19 contact-tracing app giving vaccinated residents access to public facilities and mass transit. The program, however, requires people to upload their 16-digit government-issued civil registry number before they are vaccinated. Only citizens, permanent residents and foreigners with work visas have the number; refugees more than 56% of whom have been vaccinated -- do not. The U.N. Refugee Agency, UNHCR, with the support of Indonesian state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma, developed a system to generate a different registration number to allow refugees to register in the app. However, the Jakarta Health Agency, which oversees the public plan, does not have the authority to generate the new numbers. The issue is now under discussion among the Health and Foreign ministries and the UNHCR. Therefore, the refugees who received their vaccinations at local health clinics under the public vaccination plan did not receive an electronic vaccine certificate that would otherwise be uploaded to the Peduli Lindungi app. They also have no proof of vaccination other than a handwritten slip. Somali refugee Ahmed Sheikh described the problem he faced when stopped by security guards asking for proof of vaccination at public transportation facilities or shopping malls. When we show them a handwritten slip issued by health workers at the public health clinic, they dont believe it. . Its hard to explain to them when they dont speak English too, he told VOA. Dr. Ngabila Salama, the head of the Jakarta Health Agency acknowledged the administrative hurdle, telling VOA the agency is limited by legal uncertainty; it does not have the legal authority to generate a useable civil registration number. We need to be accountable for every vaccine that we give out. Its a shame if we cannot register all the vaccine recipients onto the Peduli Lindungi app. Imagine if we give out over 5,000 vaccines to refugees that are not registered on the Peduli Lindungi app. How can we be accountable for every vaccine, when we must undergo an audit by the Financial Audit Board? They may think we wasted a lot of the vaccines. she said. Some refugees are considering postponing getting their first vaccinations or second doses until this administrative problem is solved. Although Sheikh is already vaccinated, he doubts he will let his wife be vaccinated soon, considering the circumstances. I dont think Im going to bring my wife to a Puskesmas [local health clinic] to get vaccinated because even if they give her the vaccine, they wont enable the Peduli Lindungi app for her and cant give her the electronic vaccine certificate she needs. I dont want her to get the vaccine if we cant get an [electronic] vaccine certificate. Thats what all refugees want. The UNHCR and nongovernmental organizations are trying to draw attention to the issue. Zico Pestalozzi, campaign and advocacy coordinator at Suaka, an NGO that handles refugee issues, said the Refugee Task Force under the Ministry of Political, Security and Legal Affairs should better coordinate [with relevant stakeholders] and ensure inclusive access to the Peduli Lindungi App. The UNHCR and NGOs are nongovernmental bodies, so it is up to the government to take charge of this issue and not simply divert responsibility back to the UNHCR, he said. Dicky Budiman, an Indonesian epidemiologist at Griffith University in Australia warns that If we dont protect this vulnerable population fast enough. We will be keeping a possible pocket of infection. It will become a big problem because then it could produce a new variant or at least a new cluster among the refugee community. Pestalozzi agreed with Budiman, saying that if this problem lingers, it could turn into a public health risk and set back all the positive initiatives from the Indonesian government to improve refugees lives, including providing free vaccines, establishing learning centers and access to vocational learning. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday declared that Ukraine had reached a strategic turning point in its fight with Russia, which he said was relying on conscripts, reservists and Syrian mercenaries to prop up its invasion force. In a daily televised address in Kyiv, Zelenskyy called on the international community to ramp up sanctions pressure on Russia if it didn't back down. "It is impossible to say how many days we still have to free Ukrainian land. But we can say we will do it. For we have already reached a strategic turning point," he said. He said Ukraine is battling an enemy, "who collects reservists and conscripts from all over Russia to throw them into the hell of war, who came up with the idea of bringing in mercenaries against our people. Thugs from Syria." Earlier Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light for the deployment of up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East, doubling down on an invasion the West says has been losing momentum. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said the move was a sign of the Russian army's weakness. "Where's the powerful Russian army if they can't get by without Syrians? If they want us also to kill 16,000 Syrians - let them come," Arestovych said at a televised briefing. As civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine grow, United Nations aid agencies warn indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure may amount to war crimes. The U.N. human rights office so far has recorded 1,564 civilian casualties, including 564 killed and 982 injured since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. U.N. aid agencies are calling for an immediate end to the attacks in Ukraine, noting the civilian death toll is probably much higher than has been reported. The World Health Organization so far has verified 26 attacks on hospitals and other health facilities resulting in 12 deaths and 34 injuries. This includes the deadly airstrike on a maternity hospital Wednesday in the port city of Mariupol, which killed at least three people and injured 17. The latest facility reportedly to be hit was a psychiatric institute near the city of Kharkiv. Ukrainian authorities say 330 people were in the hospital when it was attacked Friday morning and 73 were evacuated. Speaking from Lviv in western Ukraine, WHO spokesman Tarek Jasarevic says investigations are underway. We really condemn all attacks on health care facilities, health care personnel and patients. This is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. It deprives people access to health care. It puts in danger lives of patients and health care workers, Jasarevic expressed. Russia denies targeting civilians in Ukraine and claims it is carrying out a so-called special military operation against Ukrainian nationalists and neo-Nazis. The U.N. human rights office reports civilians are being killed and maimed in what appear to be indiscriminate attacks. It says Russian forces have been using explosive weapons in or near populated areas. Besides airstrikes, it says Russian combatants have been hitting residential areas and civilian infrastructure with missiles, heavy artillery shells and rockets. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights spokeswoman Liz Throssel says there are credible reports of Russian forces having used cluster munitions in several cases, including in populated areas. Such attacks, she notes, violate the rules of war. Civilian casualties are rising daily, as we are seeing as is the general human suffering. We remind the Russian authorities that directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as so-called bombardment in towns and villages and other forms of indiscriminate attacks, are prohibited under international law and may amount to war crimes. Separately, the U.N. refugee agency reports more than 2.5 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to neighboring countries for safety. At this rate, the UNHCR says it is likely its original estimate of 4 million refugees fleeing Ukraine will be exceeded. The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday on alleged manufacture of biological weapons in Ukraine at the request of Moscow, whose credibility on chemical weapons was questioned during a session on Syria. Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, which has faced an assault by tens of thousands of Russian troops since Feb. 24. Both Washington and Kyiv have denied the allegations, with the United States saying they were a sign that Moscow could soon use the weapons itself. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia's allegations in a video address on Thursday, saying, "No one is developing any chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction" in Ukraine. Western states have charged that Russia is employing a ruse by accusing their opponents and the United states of developing biological and chemical weapons to lay the ground for their possible use in Ukraine -- something Moscow has been accused of doing in Syria. At a monthly Security Council meeting on the use of chemical weapons in Syria -- a case that remains unresolved and continues to suffer from a U.N.-denounced lack of information from Damascus -- both Washington and London raised Ukraine. "The Russian Federation has repeatedly spread disinformation regarding Syria's repeated use of chemical weapons," the deputy U.S. envoy to the U.N., Richard Mills, said. "The recent web of lies that Russia has cast in an attempt to justify the premeditated and unjustified war it has undertaken against Ukraine, should make clear, once and for all, that Russia also cannot be trusted when it talks about chemical weapon use in Syria." Mills' U.K. counterpart, James Kariuki, denounced Moscow's attack on Ukraine and said the "parallels with Russian action in Syria are clear." "Regrettably, the comparison also extends to chemical weapons, as we see the familiar specter of Russian chemical weapons disinformation raising its head in Ukraine." In 2018, Moscow accused the United States of secretly conducting biological weapons experiments in a laboratory in Georgia, another former Soviet republic that, like Ukraine, has ambitions to join NATO and the European Union. The Security Council meeting Friday is slated to begin at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT). Praise for the way U.S. agencies secured and shared intelligence on Russia's plans to invade Ukraine are being tempered by growing concern that one of the Kremlin's disinformation campaigns is starting to take hold in the United States and the West. For days, officials at the White House, State Department and Pentagon have been pushing back against Moscow's claims increasingly repeated by far-right and far-left social media channels, as well as by some mainstream media in the United States that Russian forces have found, and in some cases destroyed, Ukrainian biological weapons labs funded by the U.S. "I'm fearful that this could be the new direction of a Russian false flag operation," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, a Democrat, told top U.S. intelligence officials at a hearing Thursday. The committee's ranking Republican, Senator Marco Rubio, said the Russian accusation, combined with recent comments by some U.S. officials, have "got some people fired up." U.S. intelligence officials echoed their concerns, noting that while there are more than a dozen so-called biolabs in Ukraine, their work is focused on understanding and preventing pandemics and the spread of infectious disease, and nothing more. "Let me be clear. We do not assess that Ukraine is pursuing either biological weapons or nuclear weapons ... the propaganda that Russia is putting out," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the lawmakers. Haines said that while Washington has in the past provided some assistance, it has been in the context of biosafety, and mirrors U.S. outreach to other countries that have similar medical research facilities. "This influence campaign is completely consistent with long-standing Russian efforts to accuse the United States of sponsoring bioweapons work in the former Soviet Union," Haines added. The U.S. spy chief was equally blunt. "Unlike Russia, which does have chemical weapons and has used them and has done biological research and has for years, Ukraine has neither," Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns told the Senate panel. The threat from biological research facilities, like the ones in Ukraine, "is in no way akin to the kind of threats that would be posed by weapons research and development," Burns said. Instead, Burns raised concern that Russia might be telegraphing one of its next moves in its now two-week-old invasion of Ukraine. "This is something ... that's very much a part of Russia's playbook," he said. "They've used those weapons against their own citizens. They've at least encouraged the use in Syria and elsewhere, so it's something that we take very seriously." Rumors about supposed U.S.-backed Ukrainian bioweapons facilities first began popping up months ago but appear to have started to gain traction among some U.S. and Western audiences in late February. "You're asking me about bioweapons sites in labs in Ukraine, and by my count there are more than 20," Joe Oltmann, the co-host the Conservative Daily Podcast, told VOA this past Monday, after having debated the charge on his show the previous week. "I promise you that the U.S. Department of Defense did not give somebody money for drywall to renovate it or couches," he said. Talk about such facilities seemed to gain additional momentum on Tuesday, after Rubio asked about the labs during a hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Ukraine has biological research facilities, which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian troops, Russian forces may be seeking to gain control of," replied Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland. "We are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach," she added. Russian accounts and Russian-affiliated media seized on the comments, taking to social media to reinforce the narrative. "The information received from various sources confirms the leading role of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency in financing and conducting military biological research on the territory of Ukraine," Russia's Ministry of Defense posted on its English-language Telegram channel Thursday. "It is highly likely that one of the objectives of the U.S. and its allies is to create bioagents capable of selectively targeting different ethnic populations," the Russian ministry added. The Pentagon on Wednesday rejected the allegations by Russia and others, calling them "absurd." "In the words of my Irish Catholic grandfather, it's a bunch of malarkey," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters. "We are not, not developing biological or chemical weapons inside Ukraine." U.S. intelligence officials Thursday told lawmakers that contrary to the Kremlin's accusations, the real danger from the labs comes if or when Russian troops capture the facilities. The medical research labs "all have equipment or pathogens or other things that you have to have restrictions around because you want to make sure that they're being treated and handled appropriately," Haines said. "We have to be concerned the same way we have to be concerned about a nuclear power plant." U.S. authorities allowed a Ukrainian woman and her three children to seek asylum Thursday, a reversal from a day earlier when she was denied entry under the Biden administration's sweeping restrictions for seeking humanitarian protection. The 34-year-old woman and her children ages 14, 12 and 6 entered San Diego for processing after authorities blocked her path hours earlier, triggering sharp criticism from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats. Blaine Bookey, legal director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, was returning to San Diego on Wednesday from Tijuana, where she was helping Haitian migrants. She saw the Ukrainian woman crying with her children, looking "very uncomfortable" with a reporter "in her face." Bookey's tweets and media coverage sparked renewed criticism of a Trump-era order to deny people a chance to seek asylum under an order to prevent spread of COVID-19 known as Title 42 authority. Schumer raised the Ukrainian woman's case as he called for an end to use of Title 42, which the Biden administration has defended as health risks from COVID-19 have subsided. "They requested refuge in one of the ports of entry on our southern border, but were turned away because of Title 42," Schumer said on a conference call with reporters. "This is not who we are as a country. Continuing this Trump-era policy has defied common sense and common decency." U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Migrants have been expelled more than 1.6 million times since Title 42 was introduced in March 2020. The Ukrainian woman, who identified herself to reporters only as Sofiia, tried entering the U.S. in a car with a relative this week but was blocked, Bookey said. Another attempt on foot Wednesday was also stopped, but Bookey found her before she returned to her Tijuana hotel to wait for news. Erika Pinheiro, litigation and policy director for Al Otro Lado advocacy group, said she got a call from CBP early Thursday, telling the woman to pack her bags and be ready on short notice. She was told to come hours later. "She's just been very stoic for her kids, and I think she let herself get emotional," Bookey said. The woman left Ukraine with her children February 27 as friends warned her that Russia might invade. She went to Moldova, Romania and Mexico, arriving in Tijuana on Monday. She plans to settle with family in the San Francisco area and seek asylum. The woman pulled a small red suitcase and carried a pink backpack patterned with tiny dogs as she walked into the U.S. with her 6-year-old daughter beside her and her older children behind. Mexico accepts citizens from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who are expelled under Title 42 authority. People of other nationalities are subject to expulsion, but many are released into the United States to seek asylum because of the difficulties involved in flying them home. They must be on U.S. soil to claim protection, though, and authorities often block their path. Thousands of Russians have sought asylum at San Diego border crossings in recent months after flying to Mexico. People from Ukraine and other former Soviet republics use the same route but in much lower numbers. In January, 248 Ukrainians crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, with three out of four in San Diego. A 27-year-old Ukrainian who asked to be identified only as Kristina was left behind on the Mexican side of the border Thursday with her fiance, a U.S. citizen. She said she had been living in Kyiv when the fighting started. "It was so scary," Kristina said. "We just woke up and there was bombing. We never expected this." Kristina fled to Poland, but hotels and apartments were full. She flew to Mexico where her fiance was trying to help her get into the U.S. They spent hours waiting at the border. "They don't listen to us," she said. Russias efforts to recruit foreign mercenaries to bolster Russian forces fighting in Ukraine do not appear to be paying off just yet. Reports of Russian attempts to pull experienced troops from other conflict zones Syria, in particular have been circulating for weeks. But the United States says that so far, the effort is all talk. We haven't seen indications that their recruiting efforts have borne fruit and resulted in the actual arrival of a foreign fighters from that part of the world, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence. Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday formally approved the deployment of up to 16,000 fighters from the Middle East, and videos purporting to show Syrian forces expressing their willingness to fight have spread on social media. The Syrian-based news outlet DeirEzzor24 quoted sources on Friday as saying that the commanders of at least one Russian-backed militia have already agreed to send fighters to Ukraine. It also quoted sources as claiming that the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization whose owner has close ties with Putin, has already gotten more than 4,000 Syrian volunteers. But the U.S. official said it was unclear to what extent Russia is counting on help from Syrian foreign fighters and to what extent it is a propaganda ploy. We don't know if 16,000 is really a target or just a talking point for them, the official said. It's hard to say, but we'll keep watching it. Videos on social media have also shown militia members in Africa promising to join Wagner mercenaries already in Ukraine. But U.S. officials say, so far, there is no evidence to suggest African mercenaries are prepared to join the fighting. Ive seen nothing in the information that we have that indicates they're trying to recruit in Africa, the U.S. official said in response to a question from VOA. I'm not saying it couldn't happen. Just saying I can't confirm it. Ukrainian officials have sought to portray Russias call for mercenaries as a sign of weakness. "Where's the powerful Russian army if they can't get by without Syrians? Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in a televised briefing. If they want us also to kill 16,000 Syrians - let them come. Some information in this report came from Reuters. U.S Vice President Kamala Harris Friday reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to its eastern European NATO allies in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speaking alongside Romanian President Klaus Iohannis following talks in Bucharest, Harris said U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO charter - an attack against one, is an attack against all - is iron clad. We will defend every inch of NATO territory, said Harris. The American vice president noted the United States has added an additional 1,000-members to its NATO force in eastern Europe in recent weeks, bringing the total number of U.S. troops in the region to 2,000. President Iohannis expressed his gratitude to Harris for the continued U.S. presence in the region, noting Russian President Vladimir Putin had launched his invasion of Ukraine from the Black Sea. Romanias eastern coastline is on the Black Sea, and he was particularly grateful for the help in strengthening the nations vulnerable eastern flank. When asked if she saw a discernable end to the situation in Ukraine, Harris said the U.S. and its allies have attempted to address the situation through diplomatic channels, but, she said, Putin has shown no sign of engaging in serious diplomacy. We are now witnessing the Russian playbook, which includes lies, misinformation and acts of aggression, the vice president said. Harris noted Russia is paying a price for its aggression through economic sanctions the U.S. and its Western allies have implemented, effectively strangling its economy and financial systems with more sanctions on the way. When asked about the price U.S. consumers are paying through high gas prices Harris said there is a price to pay for democracy, and for standing by your friends with shared values. Harris also thanked President Iohannis for welcoming Ukrainian refugees into his country. The U.N. says Romania - a nation of about 19 million people - had taken in more than 84,000 displaced people as of Tuesday. More than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine as of March 10, according to the United Nations, which has warned that up to 5 million people could flee the conflict. That would make it the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War Two. Vice President Harris arrived in Bucharest after she spent Thursday in Poland, where she met in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Ukrainian refugees. Poland has welcomed some 1.5 million Ukrainians since the invasion began. While in Poland, Harris told reporters that she supports a U.N. inquiry into Russias invasion of Ukraine that would look at all alleged rights violations and abuses, and related crimes a point she reiterated Friday in Bucharest. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. WASHINGTON Washington on Thursday warned Moscow about what some observers describe as war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine. U.S. officials say Russia is "turning to a strategy of laying waste to population centers" in Ukraine, as high-level talks between the warring parties made no progress. "We've seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians, which would under the Geneva Conventions constitute a war crime," said State Department spokesman Ned Price, though he did not specifically accuse Russia of committing such crimes. Russian President Vladimir "Putin's plan to quickly capture Ukraine, it is clear now, has failed," Price said of the two-week-old invasion. "So, he is now turning to a strategy of laying waste to population centers to try to break the will of the people of Ukraine, something he will not be able to do." Russia has denied targeting civilians in its invasion of Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris said in Poland that she supported a United Nations inquiry into Russia's invasion of Ukraine that would look at "all alleged rights violations and abuses, and related crimes." Harris spoke before meeting in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda in a show of U.S. support for NATO's allies in Eastern Europe. "Absolutely, there should be an investigation, and we should all be watching," she said. Duda added, "It is obvious to us that in Ukraine, Russians are committing war crimes. Friday, the U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting concerning Russian allegations that Ukraine is producing chemical weapons. The meeting is being held at the request of Russia. Russias production of biological weapons came under questioning by the council during a session on Syria. Russia has also accused the United States of funding Ukraines research into biological weapons. The U.S. and Ukraine have denied Russias allegations. Also Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to announce that the United States, the European Union and the Group of Seven countries are taking steps to revoke Russias most favored nation trade status because of its invasion of Ukraine, according to anonymous sources quoted by major news outlets. The move would open the way for the U.S. and its allies to impose tariffs on Russian imports. On Wednesday, Amnesty International said an investigation it conducted into the March 3 Russian airstrike that reportedly killed 47 civilians in the city of Chernihiv concluded that the events there "may constitute a war crime." The global human rights group said interviews and video analysis indicated unguided aerial bombs known as "dumb bombs" were used to mostly target civilians standing in line for food. Harris' comments came one day after a Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol killed at least three people, including a child, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the hospital attack genocide and again called on NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, declaring, "You have power, but you seem to be losing humanity." Russia responded to allegations it bombed the hospital by calling it "fake news." It said the building was a former maternity hospital that had long been taken over by troops. "Russia has definitely been violating international law since the beginning of the aggression," Ivana Stradner, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who researches international law, said via Skype. "We are seeing the killings of civilians. They're using weapons that are contrary to international law. So certainly, there is numerous evidence that we can use to argue that Russia has been committing war crimes." She agreed with calls for an inquiry, but added, "I have to be very realistic about these things. I'm not very hopeful that we can hold Russia and Vladimir Putin accountable." The two bodies that prosecute war crimes, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, are limited in what they can do, she explained. War crimes cases are often referred to the international court by the U.N. Security Council, but Russia's position as a permanent member of that council means it can easily veto such a referral. Furthermore, Russia, Ukraine and the United States are not signatories to the statute that established the International Criminal Court, though Ukraine has accepted its jurisdiction. And finally, she said, these international courts don't have their own police forces. They count on states to cooperate, which they do not always do. War marches on Ukrainian officials also said no progress was made Thursday during high-level talks in Turkey. Speaking at a news conference at the conclusion of the talks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he and his Russian counterpart made no progress toward negotiating a 24-hour cease-fire, adding it appeared Russia would continue its offensive until Ukraine surrendered, something he said Kyiv would not do. "I want to repeat that Ukraine has not surrendered, does not surrender, and will not surrender," Kuleba said. Speaking separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia's military operation was going according to plan and accused the West of "behaving dangerously" over Ukraine. Lavrov said Russia was ready to resume talks and added Putin would not refuse a meeting with Zelenskyy to discuss "specific" issues. He blamed Western powers for the war, maintaining Russia was forced to invade Ukraine because the West had rejected "our proposal on security guarantees." U.S. President Joe Biden applauded Turkey's "efforts to support a diplomatic resolution to the conflict" after a telephone call Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a White House statement. The Turkish initiative is among several diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the escalating conflict. Both Israel and France are hoping to find a solution through direct talks with Putin. VOA's Jamie Dettmer, Anita Powell and Cindy Saine contributed to this report. The Citizens Coalition for Change has taken police to the High Court seeking an order to allow the party to hold a star rally in Marondera as Zimbabwe prepares for the forthcoming council and parliamentary by-elections. Police had indicated that they were given a short notice by the party to hold its rally in Marondera and as a result they did not comply with some provisions of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA). CCC deputy spokesperson, Ostallos Siziba, said police informed the party that they violated MOPA provisions as they submitted late their request to engage in vehicle parades before attending the Marondera rally. But we are hopeful that the courts will address this issue today so that we will hold the rally. In a tweet, CCC spokesperson, Fadzai Mahere, said, I cant wait for #YellowSaturday in MARONDERA tomorrow where our Change Champion in Chief, President @nelsonchamisa will inspire hope & a thirst for change for the citizens in Mash East! As was said yesterday, every citizen has a duty to ACT for change! Lets all play our part! Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. Reports say the CCCs rally also scheduled for Binga has not been given a nod by the police who are citing similar violations of MOPA. Party spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, said their rallies will go ahead as scheduled in Marondera, Binga, Tsholotsho and Beitbridge following meetings they held with the police. Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, has been attacked by unknown assailants in Harare. Maheres deputy, Ostallos Gift Siziba, says the attackers smashed one of the car windows and seized some documents in her car. He was not drawn to comment on her condition, noting that CCC will issue more details today. Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. A CCC supporter, Mboneni Ncube, was recently bludgeoned to death with sharp objects while he was attending a party rally in Kwekwe, Midlands province. Police blamed Zanu PF supporters for the attack, resulting in the arrest of several ruling party activists. Some of Zanu PF activists were arrested and released without any charges laid against them. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Prior to late 2020, the Lamoille County courthouse and sheriffs department paid about $1,200 a year in water and wastewater expenses. After the village of Hyde Park radically altered its rate structure, that cost ballooned to over $55,000 a year, according to assistant judge Joel Page. Now, after paying exorbitant new rates under protest, Page and fellow assistant judge Madeline Motta have lawyered up on behalf of Lamoille County and sued the village for water and wastewater rate structures they allege are unfair, inequitable and unreasonable; discriminatory; and arbitrary and capricious, according to a lawsuit filed in January. The suit seeks to compel the village to invalidate the current water and wastewater rate structure and to require the village to instead adopt a fair, just and reasonable rate structure. The county enters the fray armed primarily with a report objecting to rate structure changes made by village trustees after Hyde Park residents approved a $4.9 million bond to make state-mandated improvements to the villages water and wastewater system in 2019. The report, based on analysis conducted by financial consulting firm Economic & Policy Resources Inc. and commissioned by the Tarrant, Gillies and Shems law firm hired by the county, is a damning indictment of the villages alleged attempt to shield the in-village residential users from the significantly increased costs associated with the required water and wastewater improvements and pass them on to taxpayers throughout the rest of the county. The lawsuit and the report were paid for by the county, made up of all Lamoille Countys 10 towns including Stowe, whose residents foot the bill for over half of the countys expenses along with Morristown, Cambridge, Johnson, Eden, Elmore, Waterville, Belvidere, Wolcott and the town of Hyde Park itself. Since 2020, village trustees have argued the rates are justified. Village general manager Carol Robertson claimed in a court hearing Tuesday that village residents didnt benefit from the bond and the rate change was an attempt to place the highest burden of paying for the bond on the institutions that stood to benefit the most, primarily the courthouse and Hyde Park Elementary School. Robertson did not respond to an interview request prior to press time. Neither equitable nor reasonable The Economic Policy and Resources report in support of the countys lawsuit seeks to demonstrate the unfairness of the villages rate changes. While the report recognized the village was mandated to raise rates in an equitable way to meet its financial obligation to the state, the analysis found that the new rate structure was neither equitable nor reasonable nor fair, in that it discriminates against its large, institutional users. Prior to the rate change, all water and wastewater customers were charged a fixed service charge and fixed consumption charge, $15 per month for water and $35 for wastewater plus $5 for every 1,000 gallons of water used, regardless of the type of building or its owner. Charges are slightly higher for wastewater. Under the rate change in 2020, residents saw a slight uptick. The fixed service charge for water for 168 in-village residents rose to $20.25 per month and to $32.40 for 22 out-of-village residents. A commercial class was allocated even more of the financial burden: 25 multi-family dwellings, apartments and non-residential businesses saw their fixed water rate rise to about $72 per month. But a small group of governmental and public business were allocated a massively outsized rate to pay for the villages water expenses. The Lamoille County courthouse, sheriffs department, town of Hyde Parks fire department and Hyde Park Elementary School saw fixed service charges for water rise to $1,417.50 per month, a 9,350 percent increase from the prior monthly rate. A mysterious class of five users labeled Godin & Free are supplied water without being charged at all, though the report notes that the Vermont Bond Bank made the recommendation of no free water in March 2020. There is a Godin Road in the town of Hyde Park, and its unclear who these users are. The report is clear in the implications of this disparity: a significant proportion of the funding of the bond debt was assigned to the (governmental/public business) user class who could not have voted and were not represented in the villages vote. Theres also no other utility in Vermont that structures its utility rates like the village of Hyde Park has since late 2020, the report claimed. Most are either fixed rate, as the village was prior to the bond, or are based on the meter size of the user, like in Morrisville, or user consumption, as in the village of Johnson. The report accuses the village of assigning the rates arbitrarily. Justifications The report alleges that the village has been opaque in its justifications for overburdening county institutions, though it acknowledges the village has claimed village residents deserve to pay less toward the bond because they already pay taxes to defray that cost of the debt and that buildings like the courthouse have a dedicated fire hydrant. The fire hydrant point is a hotly contested one between the county and the village. At Tuesdays court hearing, Robertson reiterated that the courthouse and the other buildings in its class benefit from dedicated hydrant placement and that the bond funds primarily addressed issues with the fire hydrant system. At this same hearing, Page testified that there were 23 hydrants in the village and though some were in the vicinity of the courthouse, they were not limited to use at the courthouse. Robertson testified that the reason the four county institutions should shoulder a vastly higher burden came down to property value, that the average value of the average Hyde Park home was far less than a building like the courthouse. When the villages lawyer, William Grigas of Stackpole & French, asked Robertson whether she thought the village was overcharging the county, she said, No. As a residential customer, I would say theyre undercharging, because they pay a higher burden for their cost of service. Alternative structures As part of its report, Economic & Policy Resources also presented two alternatives to the current water and wastewater rate structure that it believes are more reasonable while also meeting the villages revenue requirement. One proposal recommended a return to the previous flat rate structure. Under this scenario, every structure that uses village water would pay a $59.30 per month fixed service charge, a 295 percent hike from the pre-September 2020 rate for residents and county institutions alike. A second proposal recommended a fluid rate structure more evenly dispersed among various building classes. Residents both in and outside of the village would pay a little over $51 per month fixed service charge, a 243 percent hike from the old rate structure; the governmental public class, like the courthouse or elementary school, would pay a $149 per month fee, still an 895 percent increase from the old rate; and the biggest cost burden would shift to one unidentified building that occupies the industrial class, which would pay $478 per month for an over 3,000 percent increase. This rate structure would, according to the report, help incentivize conservation while being more generally equitable. The report proposes similar rate structure changes for wastewater. Costs accrue As the opening salvos of this court battle sound, costs continue to accrue for the 10 towns of Lamoille County which have been stuck holding the bag for the village of Hyde Parks utility bond. For fiscal year 2022, the first budget formed after the villages new rate structure went into effect, the county budget grew about $50,000, an 11 percent increase, and included greater contributions from every town in the county. The amount each town contributes is determined by the size of its grand list. For the projected budget for fiscal year 2023, the county budget has again grown by over $35,000 to over $531,000, an 8 percent increase, attributable mostly to the change in the village of Hyde Parks water and wastewater rate structure, according to Page. Stowe, which foots a little over half of the countys overall budget, is on the hook for most of this growing bill. The towns contribution in the year immediately following the rate change increased by over $25,000 and will increase again in fiscal year 2023 by over $26,000 to a budgeted amount of over $286,000. The second highest contributor is Morristown, which will contribute over $75,000 to the budget. The town of Hyde Park will contribute over $31,000, about $5,000 more than it was contributing prior to the rate change. Onerous rate structure The county is seeking to put a stop to the villages onerous rate structure as soon as possible, even while the court case plays out. The county is seeking to put a stop to the villages onerous rate structure as soon as possible, even while the court case plays out. At a hearing held in Washington County Tuesday the case cannot be tried in Lamoille County due to potential conflicts of interest the county sought a preliminary injunction, hoping that Judge Robert Mello will find the countys evidence compelling enough to force the village to revert to charging their customers a fixed service charge of about $56 for water per month and about $113 for wastewater per month while the case is decided. After testimony from Page, Robertson and Jeff Carr, president of Economic and Policy Resources, the judge gave both sides in the legal battle until March 22 to submit post-hearing memorandums, after which hell rule whether to grant the injunction. Stowe, VT (05672) Today Periods of rain. High 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with light rain this evening. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Commuters continue to face inconvenience on Metro B1 line. Rome's Metro B1 was out of action again for several hours on Friday, due to lack of available trains, in the latest disruption to the troubled subway line in recent days. The city's public transport provider ATAC apologised for the inconvenience, saying that the B1 line linking the Bologna and Jonio stops was closed in both directions and that substitute buses had been activated. The service reopened at lunchtime but not before ATAC came under a hail of criticism on social media from commuters tired of delays and unscheduled closures. The disruption comes as capital prepares to carry out "important maintenance and safety works" on both Metro A and B which will result in prolonged early closures on both lines. Metro B is to close at 21.00 every night from 19 April to 6 June, while Metro A line will close at the same early time, for about 18 months, from 15 June. For the duration of the works the A line is expected to stay open at weekends until the usual hour of 01.30. Rome's underground recently made international news after the city decorated a Metro A train in the colours of the Ukraine flag, with the words for 'peace' in Italian and Ukrainian. Photo La Repubblica Placeholder while article actions load Ukraine has most of the world on its side. It now has as many as 20,000 foreign fighters, too. From former members of the U.S., British and Canadian militaries to citizens from Japan, Jamaica and Europe and an Edinburgh grandfather, volunteer soldiers from across the globe have signed up at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy himself to help fight Russias invasion. Many are arriving at the borders with suitcases full of medicines and other first aid material, ready-to-eat meals, helmets and body armor. Theyve been joined by an influx of Ukrainians living abroad who are returning to fight for their home country. With images flooding social media of the aftermath of a Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital in Mariupol and some 400,000 citizens still trapped in the besieged city, it is easy to see how such suffering could compel people to act. But will this be a blessing or a curse for Ukraine and for the rest of the world? Advertisement Previous conflicts have inspired similar outpourings of service but have also left rancorous legacies. The anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan in the 1980s the first modern conflict to see high levels of foreign-fighter participation was the genesis of a global militant community. Volunteers also mobilized a decade later in Bosnia and Chechnya. As the Center for Strategic and International Studies noted, many of these were veterans of Afghanistan or were funneled into the Balkans by guerrilla networks that had sprung up in Afghanistan. Reporting from the Syrian conflict, I interviewed men from Europe to Australia, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa who had flocked to fight alongside the then-pro-democratic rebel forces aiming to bring down the brutal regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The Kurdish struggle for independence continues to attract people from around the globe willing to fight for their cause. Internationals also enlisted with more hardline groups across Syria like the Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, while Islamic State used social media to draw nearly 40,000 foreign fighters from around 120 nations. But the risk of complications from this influx of fighters is high. Most who arrive in Ukraines shattered cities wont have the combat experience of a marine, or indeed any skill set that would be useful in this conflict. And they probably wont speak the language. Some will be captured, some will die and many will return home physically injured and emotionally traumatized after serving with the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. Advertisement In terms of the battle for dominance of the information war, Zelenskiys call has, so far, been effective. The number of foreign fighters is a tangible demonstration of global support. Its galvanized the international community and boosted the morale of the Ukrainian resistance, said Lydia Khalil, a research fellow at the Sydney-based Lowy Institute who holds an academic appointment with the Alfred Deakin Institute at Deakin University. There are military veterans and others with special skills who are signing up, but there are also many others with no combat experience or training who will be a risk and limited value, Khalil told me. Some foreign fighters are also bypassing official Ukrainian government processes and going straight to the front or joining up with militias. So who takes a long flight halfway around the world to go up against the might of the Russian military? Some are veterans disillusioned by their time in previous conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns that were strategic failures and by their own governments who started and sanctioned the campaigns that were part of the global war on terror, Khalil said. Participating in Ukraine could offer a sense of redemption, a chance to fight for a purer cause and against a clear aggressor as well as renew their faith in democracy. Advertisement Theres even a small number of soldiers who are suspected of disobeying orders and going absent without leave to fight in Ukraine, Sky News reported, citing a British army spokesman. Along with safety concerns, theres also the risk of exposure to the many right-wing and neo-Nazi extremist groups operating in eastern Europe and the implications for regional and domestic security. Since Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine has been a magnet for fighters from around the world, many of them linked to far-right organizations. The Azov battalion is the best known on the frontline fighting in Ukraines war against pro-Russian separatists in the east. To Ukraines credit, it has been turning people away who were likely to cause serious danger, said Raffaello Pantucci, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the author of We Love Death As You Love Life: Britains Suburban Terrorists. Advertisement But now the situation has been supercharged by the Russian invasion, Pantucci told me. Not all of them are motivated by right-wing ideas, although some probably are. And we need to worry about what happens when these people with battle experience go home. On the other side, you have others going to join the Russian fighters, buying into President Vladimir Putins muscular narrative about denazification and the defense of the Orthodox church. Russia, says Pantucci, has also been very open about recruiting Syrians, as it did in Libya. Still, its not clear how useful Arabic-speaking fighters will be in this war. U.K. Defence Intelligence has also reported that experienced mercenaries from Russian private military companies are likely deploying to fight in Ukraine to support the Russian invasion, noting Russia maintains extensive links with these outfits despite repeated denials. These groups have been accused of committing human rights abuses in several countries, such as Libya, Syria and the Central African Republic while operating on behalf of Russia, according to the March 9 statement. Advertisement So, it is already a complex battleground, with a lot of room for error. A look back to the Spanish Civil War shows just how deadly those mistakes can be. From 1936-39, almost 40,000 men and women from 52 countries including 2,800 Americans joined the International Brigades in the fight against fascism. The U.S. volunteers were known as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade: Around 900 were killed in action. But whats most striking is that the political reaction to the current crop of volunteers has been markedly different to those who made their way to Syria. U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss even publicly backed Britons going to Ukraine to fight Russia. It wasnt long ago that governments were investing millions of dollars in deradicalization programs and prosecuting some of the returnees from the Middle East. Now they need to ask themselves: Are they really prepared to go there again? Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Putins Goodbye Will Be a Long One: Clara Ferreira Marques Aiding Ukrainian Resistance Would Be Risky for U.S.: Hal Brands Ukraine Sees Bad Omens in Putins Assault on Syria: Ruth Pollard (Adds an academic affiliation for Khalil, 7th paragraph) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Ruth Pollard is a columnist and editor with Bloomberg Opinion. Previously she was South and Southeast Asia Government team leader at Bloomberg News. She has reported from India and across the Middle East and focuses on foreign policy, defense and security. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article ?? En vivo | El jefe de Estado, @PedroCastilloTe, participa en la ceremonia de transmision del mando presidencial de su homologo electo de Chile, @gabrielboric.#CambioDeMandoChile https://t.co/gU2sHvZcmf Placeholder while article actions load The City of Londons legal profession has been thrown into the dock by Russias invasion of Ukraine. The charge is that it has bent over backwards to provide services to oligarchs from Russia and elsewhere, in particular to help secretly stash funds in the U.K. capitals high-end property market. As with banks after the financial crisis, this is surely the moment to explore tougher supervision of the industry. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that the legal profession and everybody involved in assisting those who wish to hide money in London were on notice. U.K. lawmakers have been naming and shaming lawyers in parliament. A services industry that was previously held up as a great British export is suddenly having to defend itself against the accusation that it has facilitated the so-called London Laundromat. True, perfectly legal structures exist that enable hidden property ownership by using a corporate entity or trust possibly in an offshore jurisdiction to do the buying. These have generated a lot of business: More than 85,000 U.K. properties are owned offshore, according to the nonprofit organization Transparency International. Advertisement Lawyers are supposed to, and doubtless do, perform checks on a potential client when providing services for the anonymous purchase of a property. To even the casual observer, red flags might likely appear early on in the process. For example, the approach could come from a go-between, requesting that their clients name was to be kept off all relevant correspondence and title deeds. Under money-laundering regulations, a law firm must satisfy itself it has accurately identified the real buyer, that their funds arent derived from criminal activity, and that they have good reason for using the desired transaction structure. The central question is whether the regulatory framework pushes firms to delve deeply enough into these matters. Is it too easy to swallow the supposedly acceptable justifications that may be given? These may include personal safety, protecting the identity of heirs, or making a future sale more convenient. The incentives to be incurious are obvious: The fees on the deal, and the career boost from securing potential lucrative future business. On the other side of the ledger are the severe penalties for breaching anti-money laundering rules, which include disbarment and unlimited fines. Advertisement It may sound like the checks and balances are there. In practice, its debatable whether the system overall imposes sufficient fear on practitioners to vet high-risk assignments with sufficient rigor. For starters, there is a potential get-out clause, says Susan Hawley of Spotlight on Corruption. This is the so-called adequate consideration defense, which protects solicitors from being prosecuted for being paid out of what turns out to be criminal funds, subject to certain conditions including that the fees were commensurate with the services rendered. Moreover, the supervisory framework is fragmented, with nine regulatory agencies involved with the profession. The body that covers those practicing in City law firms, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has about 700 staff but is responsible for overseeing more than 150,000 practicing solicitors in England and Wales. Money-laundering cases can take years to conclude and only a handful of law firms have been prosecuted, with fines totaling just over 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) in the last five years. The risk is that the industry sees this more as a cost of doing business than a deterrent. Advertisement It is surely time for a public debate on whether to create a more powerful, unified legal supervisor something more akin to the Financial Conduct Authority in the finance sector. Heightened regulation would, of course, mean more costs. For example, there could be regular random inspections of law firms work. And talented enforcement staff need decent pay to divert them from commercial practice. But not all reforms need to be expensive. Speak-up channels for lawyers in particular junior ones encouraging them to voice reservations about work they are doing, even if only to an internal compliance officer or to an external supervisor, can help. The global financial crisis exposed flaws in the oversight of banking, ending the era of so-called light-tough regulation. In the U.K., that meant breaking up the old watchdog, the Financial Services Authority. The drive was to refocus the banking sector on serving its core domestic corporate customers and ordinary individuals. The repercussions from the war in Ukraine should prompt a similar rethinking of how to keep tabs on the legal profession. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement Putins War Shows West Must Clean Up Dirty Money: Paul J. Davies Oligarchs Dont Matter as Much as They Used To: Timothy OBrien The Wests Embrace of Russian Influence Has to End: Martin Ivens This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Chris Hughes is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering deals. He previously worked for Reuters Breakingviews, as well as the Financial Times and the Independent newspaper. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Didi Global Inc. is preparing to delist from the New York Stock Exchange, after its initial public offering there last year drew the wrath of Beijing. The Chinese ride-hailing giant said it plans to list in Hong Kong instead, allowing existing shareholders to convert their holdings in the company. There are challenges ahead -- for Didi, its shareholders and other Chinese companies looking to go public. Meanwhile, the governments ongoing investigation and new regulatory measures have hit Didis bottom line hard. 1. Why is Didi going to delist? Chinese regulators opposed the U.S. listing, saying it could expose Didis vast troves of data to foreign powers. The firm pressed ahead with the June 2021 IPO anyway, in a move that Beijing saw as a challenge to its authority. Days after the listing, the government announced a cybersecurity probe into the firm and forced its services off domestic app stores. Later the Cyberspace Administration of China, the agency responsible for data security, was said to have asked Didis top executives to devise a plan to delist because of concerns about leakage of sensitive data. Advertisement 2. How will it work? Didi said it aims to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and ensure that its American depositary shares can be swapped for freely tradable shares of the Company on another internationally recognized stock exchange, according to a statement. The firm was said to have been planning to file for the Hong Kong listing around March, but suspended preparations after being informed by regulators that its proposals to prevent security and data leaks had fallen short. (Didi had put forward several ideas, including ceding management of its data to an outside party in China.) When the filing finally comes -- assuming it does -- the entire process could still take months from that point. 3. What are the challenges? Prior to its U.S. IPO, Didi had weighed a potential Hong Kong listing but abandoned the effort after the citys exchange questioned its compliance with Chinese regulations, such as having licenses in all the cities where it operated. (The Hong Kong exchange makes far more stringent demands on companies seeking a listing than its New York peers.) In preparation for its new listing, the company is said to be planning to reduce its headcount by as much as 20%, not including drivers. Didi in December disclosed a $4.7 billion loss in the September quarter after revenue slid 13% from the previous three months. Even if Didi pulls off a listing in Hong Kong, some investors may choose to sell rather than swap their U.S. shares, which have fallen drastically. Technically speaking, swapping them for stock in Hong Kong should be relatively straightforward for most institutional shareholders. But the new securities may trade with a valuation discount: Hong Kong has long been home to some of the worlds lowest price-to-earnings ratios. Advertisement 4. Why is this such a big deal? Didis blockbuster IPO was the second-biggest in the U.S. by a company based in China (Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s was bigger) and gave Didi a market value of about $68 billion. The listing, which was shepherded by a whos who of Wall Street banks, appeared to be a model for how international investors could tap into Chinas red-hot tech sector. Didis largest shareholder was Japans SoftBank Group Corp., with more than 20%. 5. Will China force other companies to change listings? Didis exit is unlikely to be the last. The Chinese internet regulator began probing two more U.S.-listed companies, Full Truck Alliance Co. and Kanzhun Ltd., soon after launching the review into Didi. In December the government unveiled tighter regulations for Chinese companies seeking to go public abroad using the so-called variable interest entity (VIE) structure, as Didi did. Meanwhile, the U.S. is moving to implement a new law that mandates foreign companies open their books to U.S. regulators or face delisting starting in 2024. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says that only two jurisdictions historically have not allowed the required inspections, China and Hong Kong. Advertisement 6. Will this end Didis troubles? Unlikely. The cybersecurity probe into Didi is ongoing, and regulators may still impose an array of punishments such as a fine, suspension of certain operations or the introduction of a state-owned investor. The municipal government of Beijing, where Didi is based, was said to have proposed that the Shouqi Group -- part of the influential Beijing Tourism Group -- and others acquire a stake in Didi, which would give control to state-run firms. Media including the South China Morning Post have reported that regulators may force Didi to reshuffle its top management. President Xi Jinpings campaign to achieve common prosperity has heaped pressure on platform companies like Didi to offer better wages and benefits to its army of drivers. More fundamentally, the Chinese government is expected to maintain strict curbs on and scrutiny over big tech enterprises that amass sensitive data. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load In the fantastically terrifying HBO miniseries Chernobyl, the scientist Valery Legasov warns, If we dont find out how this happened, it will happen again. The same could be said, I fear, about the predations of a revanchist Russia, where President Vladimir Putin seems as blinkered to reality as the most deluded members of the Soviet Politburo. The explosion of the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant outside Pripyat, Ukraine, in April 1986 was one of the great failures of the Communist regime. Now, in trying rebuild that Soviet empire, Putins troops have seized not just the radioactive ruins at Chernobyl but also the functioning nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhia, the largest in Europe. What are the odds of another Chernobyl-scale disaster? I asked that of Serhii Plokhy, the author of the forthcoming Atoms and Ashes: A Global History of Nuclear Disasters. Plokhy, who grew up in Ukraine, is the director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University. He also wrote a fantastic book on another potential nuclear catastrophe: Nuclear Folly: A History of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Here is a lightly edited transcript of our discussion: Advertisement Tobin Harshaw: The Chernobyl site is no longer transmitting data to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the electricity has been cut off. How much of a concern is that? Serhii Plokhy: The concern is enormous, and the threat of a nuclear accident is very real. The emergency generators can work for only 48 hours; after that there will be no electricity to keep the equipment going. In the new 1.5 billion euro confinement over the damaged 4th unit of the station, electricity is needed to keep the pressure lower than in the atmosphere, not allowing the radioactive particles to get out of the structure. But the biggest concern is the spent-fuel facility that contains 20,000 fuel assemblies. One needs electricity to keep the assemblies from overheating, or they can start disintegrating and releasing enormous amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. Advertisement TH: How dangerous is it that an exhausted skeleton crew of Ukrainian prisoners of war is now overseeing the ruins? SP: The Ukrainian personnel at the Chernobyl facilities are kept in virtual captivity, are not allowed to communicate with their superiors or loved ones, have no medicine, little food which they are saving, as no one knows what comes next. They are doing their best, working in shifts to keep the equipment functioning and radiation levels under control. With the recent damage to the power supply by the military action in the area, a lot depends on their professionalism. But they are under enormous stress, and if this is not a recipe for a nuclear disaster, I do not know what is. TH: More generally, how stable is the facility now, in terms of a potential disaster in either war or peacetime? Is the new safe confinement that covered the old steel and concrete sarcophagus a lasting solution? Advertisement SP: Yes, it is a lasting solution. The structure should be good for another 100 years or so. But there is one caveat: There should be no war in the area, no shelling, no disruption of the supply of electricity, etc. The facility prevents the escape of radiation from the damaged reactor, but does nothing to deal with the source of that radiation the remains of the fuel and radioactive debris in the damaged reactor. The removal of that source of radiation is a task for the next few decades. That is, of course, if the current war ends and the Ukrainian nuclear regulating authorities restore their control over the facility and the unpopulated Exclusion Zone as a whole. TH: When the Russians were seizing the Zaporizhzhia plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned in a video message that an explosion there could spell the end of Europe. Was that hyperbole? SP: The continuing occupation of the Zaporizhzhia plant could lead to a nuclear disaster that could dwarf Chernobyl. The reactors have been shut down by the Ukrainian personnel. But it takes a long time for their active zones to be cooled. If the war continues, the electricity can be cut like happened at Chernobyl.(1) Advertisement What could follow is well known from the story of the Fukushima plant in Japan. There, four reactors either experienced a partial meltdown, or their containment structures exploded, because of the lack of electricity needed to pump water and cool the reactors. In Fukushima, the prevailing direction of winds was toward the ocean. There is no ocean around Ukraine, just European landmass. So, yes, the end of Europe as we know it was and still is a distinct possibility. TH: Why have the Russians apparently made taking these plants a high priority? To scare the West? SP: The Chernobyl nuclear power plant was in the way of the Russian troops moving from the Belarus border to Kyiv, the shortest route available to the aggressors, and they used it, raising radiative dust in the Exclusion Zone with their tanks and equipment. The Zaporizhzhia plant happened to be on the way from Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, toward central Ukraine. But the Russians could easily have passed it by. The point was indeed to scare Ukraine and the world. We are dealing here with nuclear terrorism. Advertisement TH: Apparently people are stockpiling against disaster. Bloomberg News reports that the price of a bottle of potassium iodine pills on Amazon has more than doubled since the beginning of the year. Is this sort of precaution smart or silly? SP: Ukrainians lived through Chernobyl, so for them a threat of another Chernobyl happening is not purely theoretical. The new nuclear crisis is happening literally in their backyards; the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located next to the city called Enerhodar [energys gift] of over 50,000 inhabitants. Under the circumstances, it would be silly not to take precautions. The media outlets put on their sites instructions on what to do in case of a nuclear emergency. TH: Finally, you grew up mostly in Ukraine. What are your hopes and fears right now about the war? Advertisement SP: My hope is that it ends soon, and that Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, along with the basic principles of international order, are restored. My fear is that the war drags for a long, long time. Out of that fear comes another hope, for the international action, not just solidarity, that would not allow that to happen. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Ukraine Nuclear Plant Attack Shows Bigger Is Safer: David Fickling Why Would Russia Attack a Nuclear Power Plant?: Tyler Cowen Six Scenarios for How Putins War Could End: Andreas Kluth (1) After this interview was concluded, the IAEA reported a partial power outage at Zaporizhzhia. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Tobin Harshaw is an editor and writer on national security and military affairs for Bloomberg Opinion. He was an editor with the op-ed page of the New York Times and the papers letters editor. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Irans leaders thought the interruption of Russian oil and gas supplies would strengthen their hand at the negotiating table in Vienna, where the world powers have been discussing reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement. Instead, the Islamic Republic has found itself outmaneuvered by its supposed Russian allies, who on Friday halted the talks in a bid to block Iranian oil from returning to the market. The U.S. and its European partners can now press their advantage to get a better deal. Soaring fuel prices, the regime in Tehran believed, would make President Joe Biden desperate for an accord that quickly lifted sanctions and brought Iranian supplies into the market. The reluctance of major producers like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to increase their output their rulers refused even to take Bidens phone calls would only make the U.S. more anxious to accommodate Iranian demands, which include the complete lifting of all sanctions, even those unconnected to its nuclear activities. So, the Iranians talked up their ability to ramp up oil and gas production in a matter of weeks, even though this was always unlikely, given the parlous state of their extraction infrastructure. And they signaled their willingness to act against the interests of the Russians, who have been in their corner throughout the negotiations in Vienna. Vladimir Putins ability to threaten the Wests energy supplies would be undermined if Europe had access to alternative supplies from Iran. Advertisement The Iranians calculated that Russia, having invested much sweat equity at the Vienna negotiations, would stay by their side. (Russia is one of seven countries that must sign off on the accord; along with the U.S. and Iran, the others are China, Germany, France and Britain.) Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may have thought he could mollify Moscow by parroting Putins line that the war is the fault of the U.S. and its allies. For good measure, Iran abstained in the United Nations vote to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But Putin isnt so easily placated, and the war has changed his calculations. With his invasion of Ukraine running into unexpectedly fierce resistance and an avalanche of sanctions descending upon Moscow, he needs his oil weapon more than ever. While Biden has imposed a ban on all fuel imports from Russia and the U.K. has said it will stop taking Russian oil, Europeans and especially the Germans remain reluctant. That divide represents Putins best hope to extract concessions from the West. This explains Russias decision to put the kibosh on the Vienna talks. Only days after Moscows lead negotiator expressed optimism that the revival of the nuclear deal was close at hand, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week abruptly introduced a new demand: that the sanctions imposed on Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine shouldnt prevent it from doing business with Iran. Advertisement This is tantamount to one jailed criminal demanding that another inmate, on the verge of being released, be allowed to send him file-shaped cakes. Moscow must know the U.S. and Europe would never allow a loophole through which Russia can escape sanctions pressure. But the demand was enough to bring the negotiations in Vienna to a halt, which was the real objective: By postponing a revival of the nuclear deal, Russia is in effect keeping the West from getting its hands on Iranian oil and gas. This wont only inconvenience the West, though. China, the principal buyer of Iranian crude as well as the worlds largest importer of fuel, will chafe at the high prices. This might give the U.S. and Europe an opportunity to isolate Russia and pursue a separate deal with Iran. It might even create an opening for the Biden administration to push back against Tehrans demands. Deprived of its chief supporter in Vienna, Tehran is vulnerable to pressure. Advertisement But taking advantage of the moment would require Biden to hold his nerve in the negotiations, and find other sources of oil and gas to compensate for the loss of Russian supplies. His officials have signaled a willingness to ease some sanctions on Venezuela for this purpose, and the UAE this week hinted it might be persuaded to pump more. For their part, Iran is left in the awkward position of being abandoned by the very allies it had hoped to abandon. Reluctant to blame Russia, Tehran is claiming the U.S. is responsible for the suspension of the negotiations. Nice try. More From Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Another Chernobyl? Russian Invaders Are Taking the Risk: Tobin Harshaw Beware an Isolated Russias Splinternet: Parmy Olson War Crimes Charges Wouldnt Scare Putin: Stephen L. Carter This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs. A former editor in chief of the Hindustan Times, he was managing editor of Quartz and Time magazines international editor. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load With tensions escalating between Washington and Moscow over Russias invasion of Ukraine, world powers and Iran have suspended their efforts to revive the 2015 accord limiting Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement was designed to slow Irans nuclear program to the extent that, had it decided to ditch the accord altogether, it would have needed a year to produce enough fissile material to fuel a nuclear weapon. That so-called breakout time had been estimated at a few months before the deal went into effect. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the accord in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, Iran has gradually accelerated its own violations of the agreement. Now, its thought to need only weeks to produce a bombs worth of the necessary enriched uranium. Iran would still have to master the process of weaponizing the fuel before it would have an operable nuclear device that could hit a remote target. 1. How has Iran gotten closer to having the makings of a bomb? Under the 2015 accord, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed because of suspicions around its nuclear program, Iran agreed that for 15 years it would not enrich uranium beyond 3.7% -- the concentration of the fissile isotope uranium-235 needed for nuclear power plants. Iran also pledged to limit its enriched-uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms (661 pounds), or about 3% of the amount it held before the deal was struck. But starting a year after the U.S. left the accord and reimposed sanctions that have denied Iran the economic benefits the deal promised, it began to ramp its program back up. Iran has accumulated enough enriched uranium to construct several bombs should its leaders choose to purify the heavy metal to the 90% level typically used in weapons. Moreover, it has not only returned to enriching to 20% but has for the first time gone to 60%, a level of purity the International Atomic Energy Agency says is technically indistinguishable from weapons-grade fuel. International inspectors reported that as of Feb. 16, Iran had stockpiled about 2,670 kilograms of uranium enriched from 2% to 5%, 182 kilograms of the material enriched to 20% purity, and 33 kilograms enriched to 60%. Advertisement 2. Why is enrichment so important? Obtaining the material necessary to induce atomic fission is the most difficult step in the process of making nuclear power or bombs. Countries need to develop an industrial infrastructure to produce uranium-235 isotopes, which comprise less than 1% of matter in uranium ore but are key to sustaining a fission chain reaction. Thousands of centrifuges spinning at supersonic speeds are used to separate the material. The IAEA keeps track of gram-level changes in uranium inventories worldwide to ensure the material isnt being diverted for weapons. Iran has always maintained it was pursuing nuclear energy, not nuclear weapons, but world powers have doubted that claim. 3. What else is needed for a nuclear bomb capacity? In addition to the fissile material, theres the bomb and the means of delivering it. Iran likely already has the technical knowhow to produce a simple gun-assembly implosion device such as the one the U.S. dropped over Hiroshima in 1945. An Iranian pilot would have to survive an incursion into enemy territory to dispatch it, or conceivably such a device could be delivered inside a container packed aboard a ship. In order to strike a remote target, Iran would still need to design and build a device that was miniaturized sufficiently to ride atop a missile and could survive re-entry into the earths atmosphere. Estimates for how long it might need for this task range from four months to two years. Iran already has ballistic missiles to deliver such a device. Its most powerful missile has an estimated range of as much as 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), putting all of Europe within reach. Advertisement 4. Why did the talks stumble? On Twitter, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a pause in the talks was required due to external factors, without elaborating. Russia, a participant in the deal and in the talks to revive it, had earlier said it wanted U.S. guarantees that sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine wouldnt affect its planned partnership with Iran. Before the talks were called off, both the U.S. and Iran said lingering disagreements over the scope and timing of sanctions relief looked difficult to overcome. Sticking points have also included Irans demand that the U.S. guarantee it would never again leave the pact. U.S. officials have scoffed at the idea that they can ensure a future president wont again exit the deal. 5. Could the talks be revived? Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the pause wasnt necessarily the end of the road, and could provide momentum to resolve the outstanding issues. Borrell said the sides had come very close to agreement. Advertisement 6. What if theres no deal? After entering the original deal in 2015, then-President Barack Obama said the alternative might have been a military conflict with major disruptions to the global economy. Israeli officials have repeatedly implied that their military will strike Irans nuclear infrastructure if it reaches the brink of weapons capability. An alignment taking shape between China, Russia and Iran could raise the stakes on armed intervention by potentially opening new fronts for conflict. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Environmental, social and governance investors believe they can lower the risk of a portfolio and maybe even boost its return by investing in companies with robust ESG policies. The idea is that companies that take ESG seriously are better stewards of the environment, are less likely to be in the path of climate change, take better care of workers, suppliers and customers and are better managed. Those attributes keep them out of trouble and help them realize their full potential, all to the benefit of shareholders. (ESG is not to be confused with socially responsible investing, or SRI, which tries to align money and values.) But if ESG is a crucial part of companies success, then the ESG-related policies of their home governments should be just as important. After all, governments have more influence than anyone over many of the issues ESG cares about, including environmental and climate policy, the health and education of their people and the rules governing companies rights and responsibilities. If government has little regard for the environment, its citizens or the rule of law, then the ESG policies of companies within its borders may not be much help to investors. Recent events in Russia have made that clear. Its companies were a small but growing component of emerging-market ESG funds in recent years, presumably on the strength of their ESG policies. But none of that matters now that Russias stock market has imploded in response to Vladimir Putins brutal invasion of Ukraine and the devastating economic sanctions heaped upon Russia. The MSCI Russia Index dropped 65% from its February high through Tuesday, the last day for which a quote is available. Top index providers, including S&P Global Inc., MSCI Inc. and FTSE Russell, are pulling Russian companies from their indexes, essentially declaring their stocks worthless. Theyre not far off. The forward price-earnings ratio for the MSCI Russia Index plummeted to 2.5 on Tuesday, which is among the lowest single country valuations ever recorded. Advertisement The invasion of Ukraine, however, merely highlighted what was already in plain sight. Russia, an autocratic, repressive state fueled by oil and gas, has long been an ESG nightmare. Cato Institutes Human Freedom Index ranks countries based on more than 80 indicators of personal and economic freedom, including the rule of law, property rights, security and freedom of movement, assembly and expression. Russia ranks 126 out of 165 countries in the latest index and regularly places in the bottom quartile. Fraser Institute has a similar freedom index, and it ranks Russia only slightly higher. ESG adherents would no doubt say that any company with Russias dreadful ESG record is unlikely to prosper and may even be a ticking time bomb. There are good reasons to think the same applies to countries. Those that rank highest in freedom indexes tend to be among the richest and most developed nations. Their stock markets are also more highly valued. Its no accident that the MSCI Russia Index has never had a higher forward P/E ratio than the MSCI World Index, which tracks stocks in 23 developed countries, including the U.S., all of which rank highly in freedom indexes. It makes little sense, therefore, to focus on companies ESG policies and ignore those of their governments. Not everyone made that mistake with Russia. Perth Tolle is the founder of the Freedom 100 Emerging Markets Index, a stock index that favors countries ranked highest on Cato Institute and Fraser Institutes freedom metrics. ESG typically looks at companies, not countries, Tolle told me. But if country level governance is poor, company governance doesnt matter much. There is no price at which Russia is investible. Autocracy risk cant be quantified, so theres no way to value the future earnings of Russian companies. Tolles stock index has never had an allocation to Russia. Advertisement In hindsight, ESG investors should have held Russia to the same standard as its companies, but its not too late to apply that lesson to other countries. While Russia had a modest allocation in emerging-market ESG funds, China does not. Chinese companies had a weighted average allocation of 28% in U.S.-based emerging-market ESG stock mutual funds and exchange-traded funds at the end of last year, according to Morningstar. And China is no less concerning than Russia. China ranks near the bottom and below Russia in both the Cato Institute and Fraser Institutes freedom indexes. Tolles stock index has never had an allocation to China, either. Still, some investors will see Russia as a historic buying opportunity. Russia isnt going anywhere, and more than likely neither are its industries and top companies. As long as thats the case, Russian stocks will eventually recover from their fire-sale valuations. The vultures are already circling, including China and Russias government. ESG is still a young investing style, at least in practice, so its too soon to know whether it will ultimately be profitable for investors. But what Russia shows is that when governments have little regard for ESG, their companies ESG policies may be the least of investors concerns. Advertisement More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Cathie Woods Flock Isnt Worrying About Risks: Jonathan Levin Wheat ETF Teaches the Meme Crowd a Costly Lesson: Jared Dillian Putin Gets in the Way of Buy the Dip: Mohamed A. El-Erian This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Nir Kaissar is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering the markets. He is the founder of Unison Advisors, an asset management firm. He has worked as a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell and a consultant at Ernst & Young. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies promise transactions across borders in relative anonymity, mostly free of state oversight and unbothered by the formalities of traditional international banking. In normal times, those attributes inspire talk of privacy, freedom and community. Less clear is how cryptos anarchic culture works in a time of war. As governments around the world use the global financial system to impose sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, crypto is one potential way for Russia to skirt the consequences. At the same time, digital currencies could have a positive role to play in helping victims of Russias aggression. 1. How is crypto being used for good? Donors have supported Ukraine using crypto payments after the government set up digital wallets to receive currencies including Bitcoin and Dogecoin. The Kyiv government and non-governmental organizations had received the equivalent of $63 million as of March 9, according to analytics firm Elliptic Enterprises Ltd. Suppliers of everything from food to bulletproof vests were accepting tokens including Bitcoin and Ether to help the military quickly purchase goods, Ukraines Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, Alex Bornyakov, told Bloomberg. The ministry was even working on a potential collection of non-fungible tokens that could raise money for the war effort, he said. Coinbase Global Inc. said ordinary Russians were also using crypto as a lifeline after their currency collapsed. Advertisement 2. How might crypto be used to evade sanctions? The risk is that Russian individuals and entities targeted by sanctions will turn to digital currencies to buy goods and services and invest in assets outside the country, avoiding financial institutions that could trace the transactions. Cryptocurrencies can change hands without intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network and it can be hard to tie a digital identifier to the person behind it. Some users have multiple digital wallets (accounts that store encrypted payment information), which makes it easier to conceal undeclared crypto payments among regular transactions. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren called crypto a shadow world that Russians and other nationals could use to help sanction-proof themselves. 3. Are Russians getting around sanctions that way? Advertisement Theres no proof for now that any Russian individual or organization has used crypto to skirt sanctions. Early in the conflict, there was a spike in the amount of Bitcoin being traded in rubles. However, some observers attributed that to Russian retail investors buying crypto as an alternative to the ruble after its value plummeted. Since then, Russian crypto trading appears to have continued in relatively small volumes. 4. What can be done so crypto doesnt undermine sanctions? Its possible to identify digital currency addresses associated with sanctioned people, as the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control did for the first time in 2018 in a case involving Iranians accused of ransomware schemes. Some analytic services allow law enforcement to trace where money has flowed, including through the dark web or for illicit payments. Another opportunity to spot suspicious activity comes when crypto is converted back into traditional currencies via the regular banking system. Its very difficult to move millions -- tens, hundreds of millions -- of dollars in and out of crypto without touching a legacy financial institution, Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer of crypto fund-provider CoinShares, told Bloomberg TV. Advertisement 5. Do crypto exchanges police their networks? Yes, but oversight can be patchy. The platforms used to buy and sell cryptocurrency are subject to different requirements depending on where they operate. Exchanges licensed in the U.S. or the U.K., such as Kraken and FTX US, must comply with local laws similar to those that banks follow, including on sanctions. So-called know your customer rules in those countries force banks to obtain some form of official identification from clients and establish where their money came from. Other exchanges operate in countries that havent imposed sanctions on Russia, and some dont require detailed customer identification, making it harder to impose curbs. Some arent even sure how to comply with the restrictions. 6. Is any action being taken? Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, said it has blocked 25,000 addresses from its platform related to Russian people or businesses that may be engaging in illicit activities, although most were identified prior to the Ukraine invasion. Other major exchanges, including Binance, Circle and FTX, have pledged to comply with government-issued sanctions. However, Circles chief executive officer, Jeremy Allaire, acknowledged theres not always complete information to spot when people are circumventing them. Finance ministers from the Group of Seven nations and the European Union are working on a maximum sanctions toolkit that includes crypto assets. On March 9, under pressure from Senate Democrats, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order to probe the national security and economic impact of digital assets and explore potential changes to regulations around crypto. Advertisement 7. What bigger issues are raised? Some crypto advocates see the war as an opportunity for digital coins to prove their worth as a refuge for ordinary citizens from economic turmoil. But if they end up blunting the impact of sanctions, it could add to the pressure for tighter controls on the industry. Governments are already trying to crack down on digital tokens being used for money laundering. Theyre also wary of their potential to undermine the effectiveness of everything from capital controls to monetary policy. If they end up forcing digital platforms to enact the kind of detailed oversight and costly compliance expected of banks, much of cryptos utopian vision of borderless and stateless money may no longer hold. Crypto is finding it hard to escape geopolitical facts on the ground, said Bloomberg Opinions Lionel Laurent. Bloomberg Opinions Tim Culpan writes about crypto and the Ukraine conflict A Bloomberg newsletter on the existential threat to crypto from sanctions A Brookings Institution article on Bitcoin, money laundering and sanctions Bloomberg QuickTakes on the rise of Bitcoin and the role of crypto in cybercrime More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The European refugee crises of 2015 and 2022 have at least one thing in common. Russian President Vladimir Putin played a big part in causing the former, with his bombing in Syria. And he is solely responsible for the latter, with his unprovoked attack against Ukraine. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight But beyond that, the two humanitarian calamities are very different. Therein lies an opportunity for the European Union, and the bloc should seize it. In 2015, the EU was divided, with the fault line running roughly along the former Iron Curtain. To the west, member states led by Germany tried to find an orderly but humane way of treating asylum seekers; to relieve countries like Greece on the blocs outer periphery; and to reform and strengthen Europes refugee system as a whole. To the east, member states led by Hungary and Poland closed their doors to the arriving refugees, then resisted attempts to reform Europes migration regime. In effect, Budapest and Warsaw told Brussels that the arrival of tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free was Berlins problem, or maybe Brussels, but certainly not theirs. Advertisement These two governments both on the populist far right then used the specter of Muslim hordes to wage a propaganda campaign against Brussels and shore up their position at home. In the process, they undermined the rule of law, press and academic freedoms, the rights of LGBTQ people and more. The EU started legal proceedings against both. The bloc appeared to be fraying, or even breaking up. The situation could not be more different this time. In numbers, the current crisis is much larger. More than 2 million Ukrainians have already arrived in the EU after only two weeks of Putins war more refugees than arrived in all of 2015. Millions more are expected. And yet the reception offered to them so far has been uniformly warm and compassionate. About half the refugees are children, the rest mostly women (Ukrainian men must by law stay home to fight). Most have gone to Poland, others have crossed into Slovakia, Hungary or Romania. Many are traveling onward to places like Germany. Advertisement Poles, who are culturally similar to Ukrainians, have embraced them. So has the entire EU. With uncharacteristic speed, Brussels has written new rules. The Ukrainians dont have to apply for asylum, and they will automatically get protection for three years. They can move freely (literally, since most train operators arent charging them) to any of the 27 member states, where they will get accommodation, education and work permits. Rarely, if ever, has the EU displayed such harmony, coordination and purpose. Its as though a penny had finally dropped from Lisbon to Warsaw: Whatever may divide Europeans, much more unites them. That applies to threats from ruthless bullies like Putin to pandemics, climate change and more. It also applies to values, from human dignity to democracy. And it could extend to the creation of a military union a European army to stare down, hand in hand with NATO, the likes of Vladimir Putin. Hence the opportunity. The blocs divisions between east and west, north and south suddenly look small enough to overcome. The old fractiousness is at least temporarily gone, replaced by a spirit of solidarity and resolve. With luck, Europeans will recognize this historic moment and seize it. The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The horrific carnage in Ukraine has led to cries across the world for Vladimir Putin to be charged with war crimes. I share the outrage, and would like to see the Russian president punished. But the threat of a future war crimes trial isnt likely to prove much of a deterrent. Lets start at the top. Although for many people, war criminal is a political category, legally the conclusion follows indictment, arrest, trial and conviction none of which are easily obtained. Nowadays, the trial is typically held in the Hague before the International Criminal Court, but special courts can also be established. (Under U.S. law, war crimes can also sometimes be tried in federal courts. ) Could Putin face formal charges? Easily. Under the Rome Statute, the 1998 treaty that created the ICC, targeting civilians is a crime. Since 2010, launching a war of aggression has also been a crime. We can make the list as long as we like. Its easy to imagine that an investigation of the invasion opened by the ICC on Feb. 28 will result in Putins indictment.(1) Advertisement Then the problems begin. For one thing, its tricky to get him arrested. The ICC has not held trials in absentia. As the then-president of the court pointed out in 2007, without sufficient support in arresting and surrendering persons, there can be no trials. Recent hints that the court might be reconsidering this principle have been met with derision by international lawyers. So Putin might avoid trial simply by staying put. However, a court established for a limited purpose can set up the rules however it wants. When the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was established in 2009, for example, many observers were surprised by its reintroduction of trial in absentia. A special Ukraine court could hear the case against the Russian president without his participation. But such a process would make it easier for Putin and his supporters to reject the outcome for violating fundamental norms of fair process. Advertisement Even if Putin somehow does wind up facing trial, conviction is often difficult, even when the world expects it to be easy. The ICC acquits most defendants. Small wonder. Conviction of a war crime requires proof of intention. Deaths of noncombatants wont automatically lead to an inference of intent not without evidence clearly indicating a plan or policy to attack them. Moreover, even when evidence abounds, at the ICC the wheels of justice grind exceeding slow. Consider the case of Laurent Ggabo, the former president of Ivory Coast, who in 2011 was sent to the Hague to face charges, including murder, stemming from the violence that followed his 2010 electoral defeat. The trial did not begin until 2016, at which point Ggabo had already spent nearly five years in custody. Presentation of evidence took two years more. In January 2019 three years after the trial began charges were dismissed. The prosecution appealed. Ggabo was finally released in March of 2021, nearly a decade after his arrest. Its no defense of Ggabo, whom most observers believe has lots of blood on his hands, to say that 10 years is a long time. As attractive as we might find the image of Putin languishing in jail for a decade, stripped of wealth and power, awaiting a final verdict, that cant happen unless its possible to arrest him. Advertisement If Ukraine wins the war and Putin is toppled from his throne, his successors might be only too happy to turn him over. (Assuming they havent already dealt with him.) But if Putin prevails annexing, say, the eastern third of Ukraine as a new Russian province then there would be a contest of wills. An indicted Putin could be arrested if he set foot in any signatory nation, but he could choose simply to remain at home, testing the mettle of the West. Sanctions cant last forever, particularly once the war ends. Putin might reason that the West wont be willing to go on sacrificing economically if the only justification is enforcing a warrant. There are political obstacles, too. Enthusiasm for the ICC has been waning of late, in part because of its large budget, in part because it acquits more often than it convicts, and in part because its increasingly seen as a tool of the West. Moreover, the court isnt exactly flavor-of-the-week in Washington just now. ICC prosecutors are currently looking into crimes allegedly committed by the U.S. (and the Taliban) in Afghanistan.(2) Although President Joe Biden has revoked his predecessors sanctions on the ICC over the investigation, his administration continues to insist that no probe of the conduct of U.S. forces is necessary. Advertisement If the ICC process proves too cumbersome, alternatives might be available. Ukraine (aided by my Yale Law School colleague Harold Koh) is currently suing in the International Court of Justice, demanding an injunction to halt the invasion. Purely symbolic? Maybe not. Ukraine could then pursue war reparations. As of this writing, the estimated damage from the invasion exceeds $10 billion. An award of, say, triple the final figure, to be paid in a currency of Ukraines choice on top of the astonishingly high cost of Russias military losses might prove a stronger deterrent than a war crimes indictment of Putin. But none of this is likely to matter unless Russia is first defeated on the field of battle. Tribunals rarely convene to punish winners. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: America Should Ignore the ICC, Not Sanction It: Eli Lake Advertisement The Unbearable Slowness of War Crimes Justice: Noah Feldman This Time the Hague Got It Wrong: Marc Champion (1) The ICC investigates an event, not a person. Thus the investigation will be wide enough to encompass crimes by either side. (2) The U.S. has not formally consented to the jurisdiction of the ICC.Neither has Russia.Neither has Ukraine. But a country that isnt a signatory may still accept the ICCs jurisdiction for a limited purpose, a path Ukraine has followed before. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Stephen L. Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down Americas Most Powerful Mobster. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load This is one of a series of interviews by Bloomberg Opinion columnists on how to solve the worlds most pressing policy challenges. It has been edited for length and clarity. Clara Ferreira Marques: As the founder and former CEO of Girls Who Code, youve been an advocate for female economic empowerment for more than a decade. Youve now written a manifesto for working mothers, a group disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Women, as you put it at the start of your book, are burned out, exhausted, depressed, enraged, and at a breaking point. Reshma Saujani, founder, Girls Who Code, and author, Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work (And Why Its Different Than You Think): Women are in crisis. One out of three women is considering leaving her job, and 51% of women say that theyre anxious and depressed. Its never been a worse time to be a working woman. But we dont have to waste a good crisis. We have the opportunity to rebuild workplaces that were never, ever built for us. I wanted to write this book to say nows the time, were not going back to the old system. Advertisement CFM: Youve chosen to tell the story of this crisis in very personal terms. RS: I started the pandemic with a newborn baby. I was running Girls Who Code, we had a Super Bowl ad, I was on top of the world. Then the pandemic hit and I went back to work when my son was a few weeks old I had to save my non-profit. My entire leadership team were mothers of young children and all of us were saying to ourselves, just hold on, hold on until September, everything will be okay.But schools didnt open. You saw millions of women get pushed out of the workforce, because they could not literally do two-and-a-half jobs anymore. There was no plan; now, two years later, still no one has a plan. We havent passed the Build Back Better legislation in Congress. Employers today are saying, Come back to work five days a week. Half the daycare centers are shut down. So you wonder why women are feeling extreme burnout? Im not expecting a thank you, but I am expecting some help. CFM: What happened to the idea of leaning in, of women determining their success, having it all, grabbing a seat at the table? Advertisement RS: I spent the past 10 years telling girls to storm the corporate board room, to girl-boss their way to the top, to lean in and take that express train to the corner office. What weve realized is that having it all is just a euphemism for doing it all. And it didnt matter how many leadership courses you took, how many mentors you had, how much you leaned in, you were never going to get there, because until we get to equality in the home, youre never gonna get to equality in the workplace. You have companies like Goldman Sachs celebrating womens month, having people come in and talk about how to color code your calendar, how to get a mentor or a sponsor, how to raise your hand and speak up in meetings. The reality is they should be having talks on a how to get men to do the laundry and do more care-taking. We need corporate policies like paid leave. Corporations play a huge role in creating gender inequality at home. CFM: The concerns you describe are even greater for mothers who are not in corporate jobs. Advertisement RS: Weve always told working women that childcare is their problem. We dont have affordable structures of care. We dont provide support because we dont recognize that three out of ten families are run by single mothers who dont have another partner to rely on. Thats wrong. Then we ask ourselves, why do we have the lowest birth rate in decades? Its because young women look at us and say, no thank you. CFM: So lets talk about some of the solutions. Youve advocated for a Marshall Plan for Moms, which suggests a strong view of the role of government. But of course, Congress has not pushed through legislation to provide working women with paid leave. Given that paralysis, what can we really expect from the government? RS: Nothing. But I wrote this book because we have got to start demanding. We have a unique opportunity with the Great Resignation to actually get what we should have been getting from the government and from our employers. So were mobilizing women to say, I cant come back to work unless I have affordable childcare. Right now less than 11% of companies provide some sort of childcare benefits. We can change that. Advertisement On paid leave, if were going get to gender equality in the workforce, you cant continue to have companies that tout their paid leave programs, but dont tell you whos actually taking it. The vast majority of American dads take less than 10 days off after they have a child. We need gender neutral paid leave, and we need to increase the uptake. Tie executive performance reviews to how well they implemented paid leave policies. How many men took it? For how long? We need to know how companies are doing on reducing gender inequality at home. The third thing is mental health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study recently saying that there were two subgroups that were experiencing severe anxiety and depression: 18-to-24-year-olds, and mothers. We cannot continue to expect that mothers just show up and show up and show up, with no support. Office time is still a signal of your productivity and your commitment to your job. So women are quitting and, you know, the cost of attrition to companies is more expensive than providing childcare. CFM: The corporate self-interest argument is a powerful one support women or face the cost of attrition and lost talent why are we not hearing that more? Advertisement RS: Weve tried different ways of getting around this issue, arguing its the right thing to do. But I think we have to speak the language of companies. It just makes financial sense. Its cheaper for you to provide or support childcare than deal with losing people. We know that when you provide childcare, it creates loyalty and commitment and people are more likely to stay with companies. The same thing with paid leave and its good for men too. We know that when men actually participate in taking care of their children, they have less diabetes, fewer heart attacks, they are happier, they live longer. I think CEOs are talking about this. I think theyre getting it. And its time now for not just moms, but all of us to demand it. Its interesting to me, how many men I talk to who work in financial services or work in the legal profession, who dont want to go back to the office five days a week. They want to walk their kids to school. They want to make dinner. CFM: The rise of environmental, social and governance concerns can help accelerate some of this change, but it also means considering metrics. What should investors look for and demand from the companies they invest in, when it comes to gender and family policies? Advertisement RS: I think that we have to demand clarity. Ill give you an example. If you look at studies on paid leave, some studies will say, well, 85% of companies offer paid leave. But thats because some of those surveys are asking companies whether they offer paid leave, yes or no. But we need to know more. How many weeks? Who takes it? Do you penalize people when they do? When I was [starting out], I was reluctant to ask companies about their policies about maternity and paternity leave. It was like an indication that you werent committed to your job. But now employees can say that we will only come work for you if you are the kind of company that prioritizes mental health, that ties performance reviews to men taking paid leave, that celebrates flexibility. And that doesnt just offer it for some but mandates that people actually take it. CFM: What would progress look like inside companies? Advertisement RS: I want every company to have a womens jobs czar. A lot of CEOs say to me, well, you know, weve gotten a lot of women back. No, no, no. Youve gotten women back, but mothers are still missing from the workforce. Any form of childcare support whether thats backup care, cash subsidies, or in-home daycare lowers your companys attrition rate. CFM: Youre very clear about the need to be transparent on paid leave and benefits, but what about the gender pay gap? RS: The pay gap has always been between mothers and fathers, you know, not between like childless women and childless men. We could get rid of the pay gap if we commit to stop penalizing women when they exit and enter the workforce. There are also AI solutions to help, companies that can come in and do your data analysis, tell you where the gaps are, create transparency, and then monitor it. All of this is very, very possible. Advertisement CFM: A lot of mothers will read your book. What is your word of advice to them? What can mothers do for themselves? RS: Sleep. You cant be brave if youre tired, and were all so exhausted. We cant let them make us so exhausted that were not able to fight. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and member of the editorial board covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Even the roller-coaster world of commodities trading has rarely seen anything like nickels spectacular blow-out. The metal that ends up in goods from kitchen appliances to electric-vehicle batteries rocketed 250% in just two days, prompting a trading halt in London March 8 and leaving a short-squeezed Chinese tycoon, Xiang Guangda, facing potential losses in the billions of dollars. The founder of Tsingshan Holding Group Co. is suddenly famous well beyond the niche metal hes come to dominate. He is nickels big short, and now he has to decide whether and how to unwind a bet thats gone terribly wrong. 1. Whos the Big Shot with the big short? In Chinese commodities circles, Xiang is known as Big Shot because of Tsingshans unrivaled clout in nickel production and trading. Like many modern Chinese tycoons, his roots are in hard-scrabble entrepreneurship: in his case, a late-1980s business making frames for car windows. He started trading stainless steel in the early 1990s -- that grew quickly as China urbanized rapidly. After turning to producing stainless steel, Xiang took on a singular mission: making the metal as cheap as possible to produce. Through a series of technological innovations, he upended how and where the raw material -- nickel -- gets made. About a decade ago, he made major investments in Indonesia, turning Tsingshan into the worlds top nickel producer. That, together with a penchant for big bets, means his decisions regularly rattle markets. He helped drive prices sharply higher in 2019 by snapping up inventories, and triggered a brief tumble in early 2021 after unveiling a cheaper way to produce nickel for high-performance EV batteries. Advertisement 2. Why is he shorting nickel? Tsingshan started betting that prices would fall in 2021 in part because Xiang expected a nascent surge in nickel prices to fade, according to people familiar with the matter. The tycoon has long believed that because he was the worlds biggest player with ultra-low costs, he could wield unprecedented influence over the nickel market, the people said. He had a rule of thumb that whenever prices rose above $20,000 he would consider shorting nickel, the people said, because his production costs in Indonesia were as low as $10,000 a ton. 3. Why did the market go so wild? The spike in prices was fueled by a powerful cocktail of geopolitical surprise and the peculiarities of the 145-year-old London Metal Exchange. War in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia have upended commodities markets, not least in nickel where Russia is a significant producer. As prices went up, shorts like Tsingshan hurried to exit positions. But they were at the mercy of big traders who demanded higher and higher prices, resulting in a short squeeze. Xiang himself was quoted by Chinese media saying foreigners making some moves were behind nickels spike. There were also LME margin calls, where brokers with deep paper losses must offer up extra funds or be forced to liquidate their clients positions at the elevated prices. Tsingshan and others struggled with the margin calls, and with prices shooting up to more than $100,000 a ton at one point on March 8, the LME suspended trading. The days canceled trades were worth about $3.9 billion according to Bloomberg calculations -- but the turmoil had put some of the LMEs participants at risk of failure. Advertisement 4. Whats at stake for Xiang? Xiang incurred mark-to-market losses of at least $2 billion on March 7 alone, and his short position through Tsingshan was still in the region of 150,000 tons as of March 10. The LME has begun an unusual process in which it wants to match longs and shorts at agreed prices, in order to reduce outstanding positions and minimize the risk of a greater squeeze to come. Xiang has to decide how much of his short position to exit, and negotiate a price for doing so. If he decides to weather the storm instead, theres the risk of facing even bigger margin calls, steeper losses and perhaps more chaos on the LME. 5. So whats he likely to do? Early signs suggest he wants to weather the storm. Hes told banks and brokers managing his nickel trades that he still thinks nickel prices will fall, and that he doesnt intend to reduce his position, according to people familiar with the matter. The LME also noted that were was little appetite for a voluntary agreement particularly from those with short positions. That would be a bold move in keeping with a career-long belief in cheap nickel, but much may depend on whether banks are willing to finance the continued risk. Another option -- for Tsingshan to deliver its obligations in the form of hard metal -- is complicated by the fact that the companys own output doesnt match the LMEs product specifications. Advertisement 6. Whats the impact beyond nickel? Not only is nickel a crucial element in everyday appliances, but its also important for the worlds transition away from fossil fuels. Higher prices for nickel mean higher costs for the battery-makers and auto giants in the midst of electrifying the worlds car fleet. Elon Musk, Tesla Inc.s chief executive officer, once said that nickel was the metal he worries about most. Also, the fact that such a vital commodity can rocket in price so suddenly because of machinations on a relatively obscure exchange might also grab the attention of regulators. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Many Western observers seem to think that the Ukrainians, armed with an indomitable spirit and a charismatic president, have a fighting chance to defeat the Russian army. This is not the view of most Israeli military strategists. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Israelis assume that without western air support or the intervention of NATO forces, Ukraine will not hold out very much longer. They largely agree that Russian forces have not performed brilliantly or, in some cases, competently. But they also believe that the Russians have yet to unloose major air strikes and naval bombardments, attacks for which the Ukrainian army has no real answer. Sheer firepower, these strategists say, will overcome heroic resistance. This is a clinically professional opinion. Most generals here, like the majority of all Israelis, are rooting for Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a Jewish fighter punching way above his weight class, evokes ethnic pride and admiration. But there are limits. The Israel Defense Forces is planning to build and staff a full field hospital in Ukraine, and has sent in humanitarian aid. But, at least so far, it has not been willing to sell Kyiv the Iron Dome anti-rocket systems or other military gear that it has been publicly begging for. Advertisement The main reason is pragmatic. Russia is the de facto ruler of neighboring Syria. A good working relationship with the Kremlin has long been seen as an essential component of Israeli national security. The IDF flies over Syrias airspace to prevent Iran from extending its power into Lebanon by arming its proxy, Hezbollah, with advanced weapons. Targets include Iranian command and control in Syria, weapons depots and factories, and anti-aircraft defence systems. IDF and Russian commanders in Syria use a deconfliction mechanism that coordinates IDF activity and allows Israel to operate without endangering Russian assets. This is well understood by Israelis. A poll published this week shows 67% of the public supports the governments cautious approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and favors not taking a firm stance against Russia. Only 21% disagree. This could be a short-sighted view. Some Western analysts argue that Ukraine may lose the military stage of the war but will win the occupation against an impoverished and degraded Russia. Israeli analysts do not necessarily disagree. They note that Ukraine is the size of Texas, so holding it, especially the big cities, would be extremely difficult. Russia would have to garrison its own troops. Some observers here anticipate a long civil war that pits Russian-Ukrainians in the east of the country against anti-Russian Ukrainians in the west and which would end in a formal or de facto division of the country. Advertisement There is, of course, the possibility that Putin will himself be replaced. But that could be a long wait. Hes only 69, a young man compared to Biden and in firm control of his military and security apparatus. Its hard to imagine Russians themselves mounting a resistance, given the blackout of accurate information and the high levels of support Putin has enjoyed. The policy of punishing Russia with draconian economic sanctions, isolation and international pariah status is not a problem for Israel, which has comparatively little bilateral trade. And many Israelis are skeptical that Europe, the U.S. and the U.K. will follow through by cutting off Russian energy imports. Israelis also look at the big-power dynamic between Russia and China and see an out for Putin if things get worse. Only a few days after Biden announced his plan to turn Russia into a bankrupt, isolated international villain, the foreign minister of China, Wang Yi, publicly declared Russia to be his countrys most important strategic partner. The partnership, he said, is one of the most crucial bilateral relationships in the world. Advertisement On the same day of the Wang Yi declaration, Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid met Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Riga. Both sides blasted Russias unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine, and Blinken reiterated the longstanding American promise that Iran will never be allowed to get nuclear weapons. But Lapid did not thank Blinken for the reassurance. He pointed out that the U.S. is on the verge of signing a nuclear agreement with Iran that Israel considers to be an existential threat. If anything, the Ukraine war has brought Israel back to first principles. Lapid echoed the opinion of Israels government and military leaders. This war is a reminder to the State of Israel: We have friends and we have allies, but our security always needs to be in our hands. What keeps us alive in a dangerous world is the fact we have an army. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Zev Chafets is a journalist and author of 14 books. He was a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the founding managing editor of the Jerusalem Report Magazine. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load An immensely brave Ukrainian army, aided by civilians equipped with Molotov cocktails and small arms, is vastly outmatched by Russian armed forces. NATO countries are trying to help by providing more weapons: rifles and machine guns from the Czechs, missile-launchers from the Dutch, antitank missiles from the Estonians, munitions and more antitank weapons from the United States. Even Germany, which has shied away from direct military actions since World War II, is sending Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other shoulder-launched rockets. At best, this will prolong the carnage of the Russian invasion. While Ukrainians have fought tenaciously, they almost certainly cannot win a conventional military conflict against Russia. (An extended guerilla war is a different matter.) The longer the fighting goes on, the more people will die, including many civilians. Much of Ukraines great cities could end up as rubble. Its fair to ask, then, what is the point of providing more arms for a war that cannot be won, at least in the short term? The same question arose during the last great war in Europe, too. During World War II, people in several countries, some better organized than others, tried to resist their Nazi occupiers with violence. German soldiers and local collaborators were assassinated. Railway lines were blown up. Military convoys were ambushed. Advertisement The mostly young men and women in these shadow armies took enormous risks for all kinds of reasons, patriotism being one of them. Many of them paid the ultimate price: death by torture or execution. Their actions also caused much suffering among ordinary civilians, who did not take any part in the violence. The Nazis were ruthless in their reprisals. For every German killed by a resister, many more innocent people were rounded up and murdered. Not surprisingly, violent resistance was not universally popular among occupied populations. In the eyes of many people, it caused more trouble than it was worth. Other forms of resistance did save lives: hiding Jews and other victims of persecution, providing intelligence to allied troops, keeping people informed through the underground press and more. In military terms, however, the assassinations and small acts of sabotage were almost useless. They didnt bring the allied victory any nearer. That was achieved in Europe by the massive battles fought on the eastern front by the vast Soviet Red Army and by allied forces in on the western front. Advertisement Resistance is nonetheless valuable for different reasons. For one thing, it boosts the morale of demoralized populations. Being occupied by a brutal foreign enemy is a deeply humiliating experience. Even with superior arms, an occupier cannot control an entire population by military force alone, as the Russians might soon find out. The occupier must create an impression that its authority is absolute and unassailable. When the victims of such a regime start to believe this, they are no longer citizens but slaves in their minds at least. However puny in military terms, armed resistance undercuts that projection of omnipotence. It reveals the vulnerability of the aggressor, just by showing that people can fight back. That sense of vulnerability can grow over time. Once an occupying power no longer believes in its own invincibility, the ground is prepared for future collapse. Even more importantly, resistance shows its worth once the enemy is defeated. Every nation that has been humiliated by invasion and occupation faces issues with political legitimacy when freedom is regained. Local elites that collaborated with the occupiers obviously no longer have a legitimate claim to govern their countries (which doesnt always prevent them from trying). Former resisters have a much greater right to rule. They can raise a degraded nation from the ruins and build a new political order on the moral basis of their sacrifice. Advertisement This is how Charles de Gaulle led the first government of France after liberation in 1944. Having stood up against Nazi Germany from the beginning of the war, he had the right credentials. De Gaulle then turned resistance into a national myth. To avoid a civil war between former collaborators and resisters and to restore the morale of the French people, he pretended that every French citizen had fought bravely against the common German enemy. This was very far from the truth. But it was a necessary myth to patch up a divided and desecrated nation. Ukraine in 2021 is not France in 1940. So far, the country west of the Russian-occupied region appears to be quite united. Poisonous fissures between collaborators and resisters have not yet appeared. If national solidarity had not existed before, Vladimir Putin has greatly strengthened it now. Most Ukrainians feel that they are on the same side. Nevertheless, they need weapons from the West because a long and tenacious resistance will surely pay off when the Russians finally go back home. Then, a sovereign Ukraine can stand up knowing that its citizens did everything they could to fight for their freedom. They will cherish that freedom all the more knowing how richly deserved it is. Advertisement More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Aiding Ukrainian Resistance Would Be Risky for U.S.: Hal Brands U.S. Can Turn Europe Into Putins Nightmare: James Stavridis This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Ian Buruma is professor of human rights at Bard College. His latest book is The Churchill Complex. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Jamestown, site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, is seen last month, sandwiched between the James River and a swamp. (Julia Rendleman for The Post) Retropolis The Past, Rediscovered Como parte de sus actividades en Chile, el presidente @PedroCastilloTe y su homologo de Argentina, @alferdez, abordaron la agenda bilateral para fortalecer la cooperacion social, en ciencia y tecnologia y en temas vinculados a la reactivacion economica, en favor de ambos paises. pic.twitter.com/wooUr1da0l Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. The development of Australian coal interests in Canadas Rocky Mountains have taken a further blow as the Alberta government backtracked from a controversial policy to open up the province to new mines. But the door has not been shut completely on billionaire Gina Rinehart, whose $800 million metallurgical coal project could still go ahead if an ongoing federal court challenge is successful. Australian billionaires Gina Rinehart and Tim Roberts have been backers of efforts to start new metallurgical coal mines in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Credit:WAtoday Two years ago, the Alberta government wound back a 1976 policy protecting the eastern slopes of the mountains which act as a border between the province with the more coal-friendly British Columbia and other areas from new developments, only to face a fierce public backlash. The backlash prompted a temporary reinstatement of the policy until an independent committee, set up by the government, could finish a community consultation. Last week the committee recommended all exploration and new coal activity should stop not just in the mountains but in other parts of the province. Movie director Ryan Coogler was briefly handcuffed by Atlanta police after a bank teller mistook him for a robber when he passed her a note while trying to withdraw a large amount of cash from his account, police said. The Black Panther director, who is black, walked into a Bank of America branch on January 7 and passed the teller a withdrawal slip with a note written on the back asking her to be discreet when handing him the cash, according to a police report. Director Ryan Coogler at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Credit:Getty He was trying to withdraw more than $US10,000 ($13,500), and the teller received an alert notification on her computer and quickly alerted her manager that Coogler was trying to rob the bank, the report says. The bank employee is a black woman, the report says. Police responding to the bank branch in the upscale Buckhead neighbourhood saw a black Lexus SUV parked out front with the engine running. An officer talked to the male driver who said he was waiting for Coogler, who was inside the bank. A female passenger gave police the same information. Its an age-old feminist adage that a man is not a financial plan, but its a clarion call still too few Australian women are remembering to heed, experts warn. Women aged 55 and over are the fastest growing group of homeless Australians, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission. llustration: Monique Westermann. Credit: Older women often experience homelessness for the first time in later life, after leading conventional lives working and raising families, a 2019 report found. It is likely this trend will continue given the ongoing shortage of affordable housing, the ageing population and the significant gap in wealth accumulation between men and women across their lifetimes. Within relationships, a lack of financial independence can also leave women vulnerable to various forms of financial abuse, says Jess Hill, author of See What You Made Me Do. "Convocamos a los empresarios para que sigan invirtiendo en el Peru. Somos un Gobierno de apertura y de confianza. El crecimiento economico tiene que estar equilibrado con el desarrollo", presidente @PedroCastilloTe en reunion de trabajo con Camara de Comercio Chileno Peruana. pic.twitter.com/VhFZrksXCo Former opposition leader Bill Shorten has described his close friend Kimberley Kitching as a woman of conviction and warmth who made friends across the floor of the Senate, but who was also under great political stress in the lead-up to her death. She was a human rights advocate, she was fierce about dictatorships and autocracies around the world, the distraught Labor frontbencher said of the late senator during a radio interview on Friday morning. Former Labor leader Bill Shorten has paid tribute to his close friend Kimberly Kitching after her sudden death. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen She was a senator who was a conviction politician, and she wouldnt cut the cloth of her views to fit the fashion of the day. Mr Shorten broke down multiple times during the ABC radio interview, during which he openly wondered whether the former Health Services Union official wouldve been better off never going near politics. It was only last weekend that one of CBDs favourite gruesome twosomes, Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull, both former prime ministers (for different political parties, we have to remind ourselves) were spotted having dinner together. KRudd and MBull took the stage at the Adelaide Writers Week to do what they do best: rubbishing News Corp and being the loudest proponents of a royal commission into the Murdoch news empire. But the antics of this political Thompson & Thomson duo are nothing compared to what proponents of the Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission (AFMRC) have planned for the election: a rolling media fact-checking and evidence collecting unit aimed squarely at Newss metropolitan tabloids including The Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd holds up the Daily Telegraph during his address to the National Press Club of Australia in March 2021. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen No doubt KRudd is still smarting from the famous 2013 Telegraph front page Kick This Mob Out which ran on day one of the federal election campaign and was the brainchild of then editor Paul Whittaker, now chief executive of Sky News. That front page lost the paper readers in its western Sydney Labor heartland, but theres no denying the voting public did just that when it ushered into power Tony Abbott (who didnt ever blame News Corp when it was his turn for his party to knife him in the back). This week the anti-Murdoch gang held two Zoom brains trust meetings to thresh out campaign proposals. National director Sally Rugg claims the movement is 40,000-strong and they stand ready for the election. Mr Richter was a completely innocent victim in this matter. Loading Ms Sleeth said Hausler had suffered a psychotic episode, and it was the opinion of two experts that he had some sort of undiagnosed psychotic-based disorder. She submitted that Hausler did not know why Mr Richter was the target of his psychotic belief. He went into the tunnel where Mr Richter was, initially to confront him about the beliefs that he believed the ASIO community at the mine site held about him, she said. He did grab him and wrestle him to the ground and he died. Ms Sleeth put it to the court the assault would not have normally resulted in death, but happened in combination with Mr Richters heart condition. What is not contested is how Hausler then backed up a ute into the tunnel, wrapped Mr Richter in a tarp secured with ropes and tried to get assistance from another colleague who arrived on the scene to dispose of the body. The prosecutor said the worker thought Mr Richter was playing around but realised he was dead and left the scene before returning with another colleague. An extract from a witness statement read out by Mr Hobson stated how Hasuler told his colleagues Mr Richters body was shit, weve got to get rid of it and throw it in the tip. Mr Hobson said the attempt at disposal was a callous act, although Ms Sleeth said her client had low moral culpability, as he did for the killing, because of his state of mind. She said his actions in thinking his colleagues would help move the body was further evidence of his delusions. Toby Richters family completely heartbroken two years on Mr Richters only sibling, his sister Vanessa, read out victim impact statements from herself and their mother Roswitha. They detailed how Toby was a caring father and uncle with so much life left to live. Vanessa said she was still haunted by seeing her brothers body in the state morgue and she now had PTSD, constant nightmares and had left her job. She said her family had barely any time to process the loss of her own daughter to cancer six months before Mr Richters death. My mum tries to be tough like me ... I know exactly what she is going through because it is as close to hell as you can get, Vanessa said. A statement from Mr Richters father Gosta detailed how he felt guilty for bringing his family to Australia from Germany in the 1980s because he had done so to raise his children in a safe environment. Mr Richters former partner Toni Stephenson, who had four children before she met him, talked about how they got together in 2009 and had two kids of their own. She said he was a role model to her older children and the younger ones were like his shadow whenever he was home. I lost my best friend, my rock, the person I could tell everything to and not be judged, Ms Stephenson said. I already had so much trauma in my life and suffered so much tragedy ... and then Toby died. She said she could hardly function properly and was in fear someone close to her was going to die. Family members pleaded for answers from Hausler as to what happened at the mine on the day of Mr Richters death. Hausler hid his mental illness Initially, the case was supposed to go to trial but Ms Sleeth said Hausler had been ashamed of his mental illness and had been good at hiding symptoms and his thoughts while in prison. It was not until 18 months after he was incarcerated that he went to the Frankland Centre, a maximum security mental health facility, and started receiving treatment. Ms Sleeth said once he started to get better he had realised what he had done and suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts realising the impact his actions had. The defence lawyer said her client wanted the court to hear how he thought about Mr Richters family a lot, understood their anger towards him, and did not expect forgiveness but was truly sorry. The war in Ukraine has descended so quickly into crimes so great that the moral case for a powerful response grows stronger by the day. The latest atrocity, the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, only adds to the urgency about what else can be done to stop the Russian invasion. The primary hope is to break the Russian economy. Australia has joined global sanctions to impose a crushing financial penalty that might be enough to halt the attacks, impose extreme pressure on Vladimir Putin and convince other autocrats that similar ventures will trigger the same costs. The headquarters of Russian gas monopoly Gazprom in St Petersburg. Credit:AP But the economic assault is yet to stop the Russian President after almost two weeks of radical steps designed to crash his currency and paralyse his central bank. These steps are certain to bring severe financial hardship to millions of ordinary Russians, with hyperinflation in prospect, yet success depends on whether this pain can force Putin to relent, if not retreat. Yet, the reality is that Australia has few ways to add to this pressure. It is doing less than in recent conflicts: there are no Australian boots on the ground, aircraft in the sky or ships nearby. This reflects the essential calculation, which is cold but correct, that NATO and its allies must not go into direct combat with Russian forces and risk turning this into a nuclear confrontation. Salisbury, MD (21801) Today Light rain this morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Wilmington, DE (19810) Today Steady light rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 74F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. In recent days, taking advantage of the whole world's and especially Russias preoccupation with the situation in Ukraine, the provocations and threats carried out by Azerbaijan against the peaceful population of Artsakh have drastically increased, the State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan said in a statement, calling for an immediate stop of Bakus ruthless behavior. In recent days, taking advantage of the whole world's and especially Russias preoccupation with the situation in Ukraine, the provocations and threats carried out by Azerbaijan against the peaceful population of Artsakh have drastically increased. Over an extensive period, the agricultural works in the fields near the front line are hindered due to the firing and other ceasefire violations. For several days, large-caliber weapons have been fired in the direction of our settlements. Yesterday, 50-year-old Suren Baghryan from Khramort village was wounded with a mortar shell while doing agricultural work in the yard of his house. On the night of March 8, in the territory under Azerbaijan's control, the only gas pipeline entering Artsakh exploded. By now, Russian peacekeepers and our representatives have not been allowed to approach the pipeline and restore the gas supply. With support of Russian peacekeepers, we continue negotiations for peaceful regulations of the issues. At the same time, we are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our population. Azerbaijan should immediately stop its ruthless behavior against the peaceful population of Artsakh, Beglaryan said. Louisville Metro Council's Women's Caucus is partnering with the Metro Office for Women to host a Diaper Drive through March benefitting the St. Bernadette Diaper Bank. (Photo provided by Louisville Metro Council Women's Caucus) A person was shot and killed at Shorty's Food Mart at 35th and Broadway in Louisville's Shawnee neighborhood on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (WDRB photo) Jason Cross, 44, is charged with stealing more than $25,000 from the city of Columbia, Kentucky. (City of Columbia Facebook photo) YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Around 10:20, March 11 the Azerbaijani forces fired two 120mm mortar shells in the direction of the Khnapat village (Askeran region) in Artsakh. The shells hit the area near the village school, the Artsakh Ministry of Interior said. No one was hurt in the attack. In addition, the Ministry of Interior said that now the Azerbaijani military deployed in positions adjacent to the Taghavard village in Martuni region are using loudspeakers to threaten the villagers, telling them to leave the territory. The Ministry of Interior said the regional police departments are preparing materials over the incident. Weatherford, TX (76086) Today Foggy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Womens Herstory Month Keynote Speaker: An Afternoon with Photojournalist Lynsey Addario An Afternoon with Photojournalist Lynsey Addario Tuesday, March 15 Noon - 1 p.m. Virtual Event (Zoom) or watch party at WSU Elizabeth Hall 323! Register Request Questions You Want To Ask Lynsey Photojournalist Lynsey Addario covers major conflict zones across the globe, including the Middle East, South Asia, Haiti, and Africa. A Pulitzer Prize winner, she is a regular contributor to National Geographic, The New York Times, and TIME magazine. In 2015, American Photo Magazine named Lynsey one of five Most Influential Photographers of the past 25 years for changing the way we see world conflict. Most recently, she has covered the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Syrian refugee crisis, the ISIS advance in Iraq, the civil war in South Sudan, and the flow of African and Middle Eastern migrants into Sicily. Lynsey has been the recipient of numerous international awards throughout her career, including a MacArthur Fellowship or 'Genius Grant' in 2009, the Overseas Press Clubs Oliver Rebbot award for her series Veiled Rebellion: Afghan Women, and the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for her photographs in the New York Times Talibanistan. In 2010, Lynsey was named one of 20 women on Oprah Winfreys Power List for her Power of Bearing Witness and one of Glamour Magazines 20 women of the year in 2011. Sponsored by the Women's Center; the Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Student Involvement & Leadership; Department of Communications & Lampros Family Foundation; Honors Program; Women & Gender Studies Program; The Signpost; Goldenwest Credit Union; Society of Professional Journalists Replay of keynote Join us for a live replay of Lynsey Addario's keynote! Thursday March 17 7 - 8 p.m. Virtual Event (Zoom) Register for Replay Event YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Acting President Alen Simonyan signed a decree March 11 on relieving Vahagn Khachaturyan from duties as Minister of High-Tech Industry. Khachaturyan is the President-elect of Armenia and will be inaugurated as the 5th President of Armenia on March 13. Honor Flight of Southern Indiana is gearing up for their first flight in two years. They are asking for the community to take part in writing "thank you" letters to the 85 veterans taking the free trip to Washington D.C. this spring. There are collection boxes where the letters can be dropped off at each of the eight Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (EVPL) locations, and in the lobbies of Old National Bank branches. On April 23, 44News Evening Anchor Jessica Hartman will have the exclusive honor of traveling with our area veterans to capture the emotional journey. Watch for our upcoming coverage in the coming months, as Honor Flight Southwest gears up for the big day. Today Rain ending this morning. Remaining cloudy through the afternoon with some late day peeks of sunshine. Tonight Turning out partly cloudy. Tomorrow Pleasant with times of clouds and sun. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced about the necessity for holding a meeting of the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CSTO member states to work out decisions to countereffect the sanctions against Russia, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, Lukashenko said during the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We must gather within the CSTO, we must gather within the EEU, unite together. After all, everyone is talking about that we should be together. I suggest and I think you will support me. We have to gather in Moscow and sit down at the negotiating table," Lukashenko said. The President of Belarus noted that Russia has always helped its allies. According to him, by uniting the markets, they will forget in a month about the sanctions. YEREVAN, 11 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union prepares the fourth package of sanctions against Russia. As ARMENPRESS reports, citing Interfax, the President of the European Commission said after the end of the unofficial summit in Versailles. We will come up with the fourth package of sanctions. Those sanctions will further isolate Russia from the global economic system, announced von der Leyen. Available for Roku, Fire TV, AppleTV WFMZ+ STREAMING NEW WAY TO WATCH! Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. This year's winner of the Women's Prize for Playwriting has been revealed. Karis Kelly won out of 850 entries for her piece Consumed, and spoke to WhatsOnStage last night, describing how "this play is the first time when I didn't write it for anyone or for a particular theatre, but for myself. It's me working and processing a lot an exercise in understanding myself and my family. I have OCD, and it's about how that has passed down through the generations. I'm so surprised people are so moved by it it might be because it's so personal." The show, set in Bangor, Northern Ireland, is now set to be staged at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in 2023. Kelly explains where the ideas came from: "Whenever you see plays about Northern Ireland, they tend to be Troubles-based. They also tend to be written by men. "Rarely do you see a Northern Irish women on stage. The idea for the play came from me saying 'right, I want to see four generations of Northern Irish women together.'" The prize is created by Ellie Keel and Paines Plough, with Principal Partner 45North and in association with Sonia Friedman Productions. The judges were Arifa Akbar, Mel Kenyon (chair), Lucy Kirkwood, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Winsome Pinnock, Indhu Rubasingham, Jenny Sealey, Nina Steiger, Nicola Walker, and Jodie Whittaker. Keel added: "To say that I'm delighted with this outcome would be an understatement - I'm so thrilled that this warm, funny, deft, sharply observed play has won the Prize in our second year. We've got a long way still to go in terms of parity between male and female writers on major stages and I hope that the exceptional plays brought together under the banner of this Prize demonstrates that there's no shortage of talent: only, in some places, a reluctance to recognise it or give it a chance. "It is time for the theatre industry to make sure it's putting as much faith in female writers as they have to put in themselves to get plays written. It's an exciting time - we can't wait to produce Consumed in 2023, along with all the other producing activity that's planned for the prize this year and next." The subject matter that inspires Ron Hutchinson's Ghosts of the Titanic is at least interesting in itself. Curiosity and intrigue that surround why the boat actually sank is what prompted the Belfast playwright to pen a five-part series for Radio 4 a few years ago, diving into the ship's folklore. It is not impossible to imagine this kind of story working in radio format or that these myths might be excellent material for a late-night television documentary. Sadly it is a difficult task to craft an entertaining play out of the same fables. Set in 1912 New York, Ghosts of the Titanic focuses on the trauma of a fiancee who loses her husband during the disaster. Emma, played by Genevieve Gaunt, is initially approached by an opportunistic journalist named Molloy (John Hopkins), on the hunt for an exclusive headline to please his editor and pay his rent. But as the play develops, events that once seemed fit only for the back pages of a tabloid newspaper become very murky indeed and begin to implicate some of the most powerful figures in early 20th century America. In reality, the plot feels very tenuous. Whilst you can allow that most thrillers are granted a degree of artistic licence and not supposed to be completely believable, Ghosts of the Titanic pushes this too far. Plot twists and big reveals come across less as moments of shock or climax, and are more likely to leave you scratching your head. The play also has quite a strange and frustrating relationship between serious drama and attempts at light-hearted comedy characters continually deviate from supposedly vital moments in the story to make weak wisecracks. The effect of these forced jokes is to make the whole affair feel less like a slick neo-noir detective story, and more corny and contrived by comparison. Arguably the best moments involve Fergal McElherron as McBride, a guilt-ridden engineer who blames himself for the ship's fate. These scenes have a modicum of charisma and offer respite from what can otherwise be quite a monotonous experience. Tone of voice is one of this production's largest problems, as though every line in the play has an exclamation mark at its end. The saddest thing you could say about Ghosts of the Titanic is that at no point does it feel especially exciting or as though there is much at stake. Rather than being an active participant, you find yourself simply drifting through the experience and waiting patiently for the journey to reach its conclusion. YEREVAN, 11 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on March 11 met with Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg in the framework of Antalya Diplomacy Forum. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ministers Mirzoyan and Schallenberg referred to the agenda of cooperation between Armenia and Austria. In the context of issues related to regional security and stability Minister Mirzoyan drawed the attention of his partner to the provocative actions by the armed forces of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and in the border zone of Armenia-Azerbaijan and violations of ceasefire, putting psychological pressure on civil population in Artsakh and facts of creating artificial problems in restoration of infrastructure of vital significance, the message says. According to the source, the necessity of comprehensive and lasting resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the mandate of the Minsk Group of the OSCE was emphasized. It is mentioned that the interlocutors shared thoughts on normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions. Issues of common interests of the international agenda were discussed. Quincy, IL (62301) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 64F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Young Professional (Health Systems Research), Geneva, Switzerland Organization: World Health Organization (WHO) Country: Switzerland City: Geneva Office: WHO Geneva, Switzerland Grade: P-1 Closing date: Wednesday, 16 March 2022 Young Professional (Health Systems Research) ( 2201116 ) Grade : P1 Contractual Arrangement : Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4 Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 18 months Job Posting: Feb 23, 2022, 8:35:56 AM The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (the Alliance) is a hosted partnership within the Science Division, that aims to promote the generation and use of health policy and systems research to improve the performance of health systems as a means of achieving organizational goals of UHC and SDGs. The objectives of the Alliance are to : Stimulate the generation and synthesis of policy-relevant health systems knowledge, encompassing evidence, tools and methods; Promote the dissemination and use of health policy and systems knowledge to improve the performance of health systems; and Facilitate the strengthening of capacity for the generation, dissemination and use of HPSR knowledge among researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders. As part of its core priority to strengthen capacities for health policy and systems research, the alliance offers the opportunity to early-career researchers, communicators, decision-makers, and other health policy and systems actors through its Young Professionals programme to increase their exposure to, and develop competencies for health policy and systems research. The Young Professionals programme aims to: Provide real-world experience in health policy and systems research for early-career professionals; Expose early-career researchers, communicators, decision-makers and other health policy and systems actors to the UN system through work in the WHO; and Strengthen capacities in the field of health policy and systems research. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES Each Young Professional will work with a Technical Officer in one of the Alliances key thematic areas, as well as develop her or his own research/communications/policy project. The incumbent will have a supervisor who will be able to provide support and guidance as the incumbent contributes to these projects. Following a brief orientation, the incumbent and supervisor will agree to work on a programme of work which may include some of the following activities: Undertake research and data collection to support specific projects; Support the delivery of research and other projects; Assist in, and where appropriate, take the lead in drafting, formatting and editing a range of publications and reports; Assist in, and where appropriate, take the lead in organizing dissemination and communications activities including events, webinars, data visualizations, digital and online content relevant to the projects with which the Young Professional is involved. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education: Essential: A university degree in a field relevant to public health and/or health policy. Desirable: Postgraduate degree in public and/or health communication/ advocacy. Experience Essential: One year of work experience (including internships) in the field of health policy and systems research, preferably in low- or middle-income countries. Demonstrated leadership experience either during or after school. Desirable: Publications (peer-reviewed, as well as a newspaper or other popular outputs). Conference presentation(s). Skills Skills and ability to: conduct literature reviews and synthesize research findings. Prepare clear and concise written communications; Set up and maintain database files, perform queries and retrieve data to prepare reports; c8SKs3r Dh7qKS Communicate effectively with diverse groups; Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships. WHO Competencies Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Moving forward in a changing environment Knowing and managing yourself Use of Language Skills Essential: Expert knowledge of English. REMUNERATION WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 38,523 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2636 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test may be used as a form of screening. In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply. For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int. WHO is committed to workforce diversity. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice. WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world. Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged. *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220. Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1645643096189 Senior Travel Assistant, Vienna Organization: OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Country: Austria City: Vienna Office: OSCE Vienna Grade: G-6 Closing date: Monday, 21 March 2022 Background: The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis. The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions. The Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit. Mission Support Section (MSS) provides the working framework for OSCEs procurement and contracting assets, logistics, transport, travel and facilities management activities. It also acts as the policy development and co-ordination point for resource administration in the OSCEs Executive Structures in relation to these activities, including providing on-site assistance and technical training programmes. Tasks and Responsibilities: The Assets, Logistics and Travel Support Unit (ALTSU) of Mission Support Services is responsible for the effective and efficient management of OSCE assets at all levels which includes administration and support in delivering travel-related functions. The target start date for the new incumbent of the post is 20 June 2022. Under direct supervision of the Travel Officer, as Senior Travel Assistant, your tasks will be the following: Supervising the procurement of air, train and other transportation tickets for official travel purposes, ensuring adherence to established organizational policies; Auditing airfare offers to ensure best value for money; processing immediately upon receipt all official travel authorizations issued by various departments; Creating purchase requisitions (PRs) for all travel office related expenditures; checking and receiving invoices and closing purchase orders in the Oracle finance system; Generating and reviewing periodic travel management reports; ensuring accuracy and monthly updates of relevant forms and exchange rates; Monitoring and consulting the list of airline safety ratings; providing routine low-complexity clarification of travel policy and procedures across the Organization; advising, guiding and supporting all Executive Structures on all matters pertaining to the interpretation of the travel Common Regulatory Management System (CRMS); Serving as a Travel Reviewer and Chief Fund Administration (CFA) alternate as well as Deputy System Administrator for corporate e-travel system "Notilus" and demonstrating high-level technical skills in administrating it; Assisting with various tasks during roll-out of "Notilus" for other OSCE Executive Structures; communicating directly with stakeholders and end-users to provide practical problem resolution; contributing to the development of Notilus training materials and delivering technical training sessions, as and when required; Assisting in arranging visas for OSCE staff and visitors and advising on visa requirements; ensuring the timely delivery and pickup of visa applications and passports; Performing other duties as assigned. For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Secretariat, please see https://www.osce.org/secretariat Necessary Qualifications: Completed secondary education supplemented by formal studies or training in travel, tourism or hotel/hospitality services; Minimum six years of administrative experience including working in travel industry, corporate business travel industry, travel agencies/airline negotiations, issuing air or travel tickets; Professional fluency in English, with excellent written and spoken communication skills; knowledge of other OSCE official languages is a plus; Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities; c8uOIUD Dh7qKS Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity; Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications. Remuneration Package: Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deduction, is EUR 4,641 (12 times a year). OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Austria. Social benefits will include possibility of participation in the Cigna medical insurance scheme and the OSCE Provident Fund. Please note that appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCEs online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/. The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted. Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model. Please note that for this position the OSCE does not reimburse expenses such as travel in connection with interviews, tests, visas and relocation. Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process. Additional Information Issued by: OSCE Secretariat Requisition ID: ASS00000G Contract Type: Local Contracted Grade: G6 Job Level: General Services Job Type: Contracted Number of posts: 1 Location: OSCE Secretariat, Vienna Posting Date: Feb 28, 2022 Closing Date: Mar 21, 2022 Employee Status: Fixed Term Schedule: Full-time Education Level: High School Diploma / (GED) Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1646057646315 Williamson, WV (25661) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 69F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 52F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. US company Meta will permit its Facebook and Instagram social networks not to block users calls for violence against Russian citizens and soldiers in particular, Reuters reported citing internal emails. March 11, 2022, 10:13 Facebook, Instagram to permit calls for violence against Russians STEPANAKERT, MARCH 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: The changes in the companys policy was due to Russias military operation in Ukraine. According to Meta letters, calls for violence against Russians are permitted when the message clearly mentions the military operation in Ukraine. The changes in the companys policy are applicable for users from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and Estonia. The company will also not delete calls for death of the presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, made in Poland, Russia and Ukraine. Company spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed the information in a Twitter post, adding that although calls for violence against the Russian military are permitted, such calls against civilians will remain prohibited. "We have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as death to the Russian invaders. We still wont allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," he said. The spokesperson did not specify how such content will be monitored or moderated. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, but aims to demilitarize and denazify the country. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure, therefore there are no threats to the civilian population. Subsequently, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and some other countries announced sanctions against Russian companies and individuals. Willmar, MN (56201) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 61F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable. Winchester, VA (22601) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High around 75F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will not send troops and aircraft to Ukraine, news.am informs. March 11, 2022, 17:06 Stoltenberg: NATO will not send troops and aircraft to Ukraine STEPANAKERT, MARCH 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: Stotenberg told Reuters in an interview that it was important to find a political, diplomatic solution to the current situation. NATO Secretary General reiterated that the alliance will not send troops and aircraft to Ukraine, the agency said in a statement. It also noted that the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine with a high probability will lead to an escalation of the war into a full-scale war between NATO and Russia. A pair of downtown breweries have tapped into nearly $1 million in federal funds in order to expand production capacity, explore new markets and streamline operations. A pair of downtown breweries have tapped into nearly $1 million in federal funds in order to expand production capacity, explore new markets and streamline operations. On Thursday, Dan Vandal, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced Little Brown Jug Brewing Co. and Nonsuch Brewing Co. received funds from the governments Business Scale-Up and Productivity Fund, which offers assistance to businesses looking to scale up and potentially break into other markets. After approved projects are completed, businesses are given a one-year grace period before paying back the funds interest free. "PrairiesCan is all about investing in industries that are growing, that are going to create new jobs, local jobs," Vandal said while on a tour of Little Brown Jugs William Avenue brewery and taproom. "The craft beer industry in Winnipeg and Manitoba has shown a lot of life." Little Brown Jug received $400,000 from the fund, which helped fast track the addition of four 80-hectolitre tanks, ramping up their production capacity significantly. They also expanded their on-site lab capacity for product testing, and will be pursuing market development initiatives beyond Manitoba. Nonsuch Brewing Co., located at 125 Pacific Ave. in the east end of the Exchange District, received $562,600 from the fund; theyve earmarked to increase production, including their canning process, and to expand strategically. 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. "Weve made a lot of investments in the core equipment this has really allowed us to scale up," said Kevin Selch, founder of Little Brown Jug. "Whether youre scaling up in capacity or market development or anything else, it takes cash. The funding is an accelerant to growth it allows you to do things faster than you would have otherwise." Beyond the provinces borders, Little Brown Jugs flagship 1919 Belgian Pale Ale is already available in Saskatchewan, although Selch noted theyd not yet been able to give the beer the needed support in the market, something the PrairiesCan funding will allow. "We got in there just before the pandemic, so its been a bit touch and go because of restrictions. I think we would have thought about going in there with a bit more of a boots on the ground strategy." Vandal sees the funding as a means to help business emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with some hope and stability. "We know the last couple of years have been difficult for everybody, including local businesses, downtown businesses. Winnipeg has suffered a lot downtown our entire city has and this, I hope, is part of the solution, part of the recovery." Beyond the funding announcement, Vandal indicated more help could be on the way for some industries in the Prairies, including tourism. "Thats something thats been hit the hardest during the pandemic. Were working to help tourism-related industries all over the Prairies theres going to be more coming out on that very soon." ben.sigurdson@freepress.mb.ca REGINA - For nearly 10 years, Dr. Tomi Mitchell has operated a family clinic, but she says she's now at a breaking point. Saskatchewan's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday, July 6, 2020. Data from Saskatchewan's Medical Services Branch shows at the end of last March, there were 454 family doctors actively practising in Regina and Saskatoon, which was a decrease of 43 physicians, or 8.7 per cent, from the previous year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld REGINA - For nearly 10 years, Dr. Tomi Mitchell has operated a family clinic, but she says she's now at a breaking point. Within 90 days, she will be closing the Pasqua South Medical Centre in Regina to focus more on consulting and her two children. "The system is broken, and I cannot carry the system on two cents," she said. Mitchell, who has been a family doctor since 2011, said she can no longer sustain her clinic because of pressures on health care which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mitchell said she gets paid a $30 flat fee for every patient she sees. Out of that, she says, she has to pay staff and cover bills and other administrative costs. "Some days you actually make less than minimum wage." Finding qualified health-care workers has also become too much of a challenge. "Trying to find trained employees in a medical clinic is hard. Trying to find physicians who actually want to stay in Saskatchewan is almost next to impossible," Mitchell said. "They come here, and they may leave after doing their three-year return-of-service program." Mitchell isn't the only family doctor who is leaving her practice behind. Data from Saskatchewan's Medical Services Branch shows that at the end of last March, there were 454 family doctors practising in Regina and Saskatoon a decrease of 43 physicians, or 8.7 per cent, from the previous year. The number of family doctors in rural areas was 235, a decrease of eight physicians, or 3.3 per cent. "We are losing. The tsunami is here. The poop has already hit the fan," Mitchell said. Fewer family doctors has resulted in patients waiting longer to get help and physicians taking on more pressures with little support from the government. "I literally carried the health region's responsibility on a shoestring budget I don't have the resources to do this anymore," she said. "Leadership has told us we're not exhausted. We're not burnt out. As front-line workers ... we're like, 'Really? Are you even listening? We've been saying this from the beginning of the pandemic.'" Health Minister Paul Merriman said health care in the province has challenges, but the Saskatchewan Party government is working to address them. "The best thing I can say is stay tuned and look for budget (day)," Merriman said Thursday. The province's 2022-23 budget is to be tabled March 23. Merriman did say the province is looking to recruit doctors from out of province and will provide more education funding for health care. But Mitchell, who said she has seen problems persist for 10 years, doesn't think it's enough. "We're top-heavy with administration and policies, but low on the bottom side," she said. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. NDP Opposition Leader Ryan Meili said the problem is a direct reflection of Premier Scott Moe's policies. the number of family doctors started declining in 2018, the year Moe first took office, Meili said. Data from Saskatchewan's Medical Services Branch shows there's been a sustained three-year decline since 2018. During 2018-19, there were 982 active family doctors in Saskatchewan, but in 2020-21 that dropped to 900. "Having a shortage is extremely problematic. There's a real risk of a vicious cycle where you see doctors publicly saying I've had enough of a government treating me badly," said Meili, who is himself a physician. "How do we then say to new grads, 'Stay.' How do we say to doctors across the country, 'Come here and make a life here in Saskatchewan when the best and brightest in Saskatchewan are saying we've had enough?'" This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2022. ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Canadian Coast Guard says three large tug vessels are en route to help a large bulk carrier ship adrift off the southeastern coast of Newfoundland. The Canadian Coast Guard ship Cygnus, shown here in an undated handout photo, was en route Friday afternoon to assist a bulk carrier ship that was adrift off the southeastern coast of Newfoundland. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canadian Coast Guard, *MANDATORY CREDIT* ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The Canadian Coast Guard says three large tug vessels are en route to help a large bulk carrier ship adrift off the southeastern coast of Newfoundland. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The agency says it received a report from the MV Comanche early this morning that its engine had failed. The coast guard said in an email today the bulk carrier vessel was adrift about 35 kilometres off the coast of Cape St. Mary's, which is along the southern coast of the Avalon Peninsula. The email says coast guard ships Terry Fox and Cygnus are also en route to help out and that two other tug boats hired by the ship's owners are already on scene. Marine traffic websites say the MV Comanche is 292 metres long and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag. The coast guard says there are no reported injuries or pollution events stemming from the ship's engine failure. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022. MONTREAL - CGI Inc. has announced a deal to expand its business in Europe with an agreement to buy Umanis, a French digital services company. CGI Inc. has announced a deal to expand its business in Europe with an agreement to buy Umanis, a French digital services company. The CGI headquarter is seen Thursday, May 31, 2012 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - CGI Inc. has announced a deal to expand its business in Europe with an agreement to buy Umanis, a French digital services company. The Montreal-based technology and business consulting firm says the transaction values Umanis at about 310 million euros (C$436 million). Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. CGI chief executive George Schindler says the combination of CGI and Umanis will deepen the company's presence and positioning across western and southern Europe. Under the agreement, CGI France has the exclusive right to buy all of the shares held by Mura and Umanis chief executive Olivier Pouligny, representing a 70.6 per cent stake in the company at 17.15 euros per share in a block purchase. Subject to completion of the block purchase, CGI France intends to launch a mandatory tender offer to acquire the remaining shares of Umanis at the same price. CGI says the block purchase, which is subject to conditions, is expected to be completed and the offer filed with French regulators by the end of the second quarter of this year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022. Companies in this story: (TSX:GIB.A) BEIJING (AP) China on Friday ordered a lockdown of the 9 million residents of the northeastern city of Changchun amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the area attributed to the highly contagious omicron variant. People line up for coronavirus tests as part of mass COVID-19 testing in a residential community in Shanghai, Thursday, March 10, 2022. China is tackling a COVID-19 spike with selective lockdowns and other measures that appear to slightly ease its draconian "zero tolerance" strategy. (AP Photo) BEIJING (AP) China on Friday ordered a lockdown of the 9 million residents of the northeastern city of Changchun amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the area attributed to the highly contagious omicron variant. Residents are required to remain at home, with one family member permitted to venture out to buy food and other necessities every two days. All residents must undergo three rounds of mass testing, while non-essential businesses have been closed and transport links suspended. The latest lockdowns, which also include Yucheng with 500,000 people in the eastern province of Shandong, show China is sticking to the draconian approach to the pandemic it has enforced for most of the past two years, despite some earlier indications that authorities would be implementing more targeted measures. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. China reported another 397 cases of local transmission nationwide on Friday, 98 of them in Jilin province that surrounds Changchun, a center of the country's auto industry. In the entire province, cases have exceeded 1,100 since the latest outbreak first struck late last week. Just two cases were reported within Changchun itself on Friday, bringing its total to 78 in recent days. Authorities have repeatedly pledged to lock down any community where one or more cases are found under Chinas zero tolerance approach to the pandemic. People line up for coronavirus tests outside a hospital in Shanghai, Friday, March 11, 2022. China has ordered a lockdown of the 9 million residents of the northeastern city of Changchun amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the area. (Chinatopix via AP) Another 93 cases were confirmed in the nearby city of Jilin that bears the same name as the surrounding province. Authorities have already ordered a partial lockdown in the city and severed travel links with other cities. Officials of the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University have been sacked after a cluster of infections was reported on campus and students complained on social media that those who tested positive were being confined in school libraries and other buildings in poor conditions. The school has registered 74 confirmed cases and transferred more than 6,000 people to quarantine, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Aerial images showed students in hazmat suits lining up in the cold and dark waiting to be transferred. NEW YORK (AP) Kara Trainor composed herself, looked into a camera and began to speak to the drugmakers she holds responsible for two decades of suffering that has extended from her to a son born dependent on opioids. FILE - Fake pill bottles with messages about OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma are displayed during a protest outside the courthouse where the bankruptcy of the company is taking place in White Plains, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 2021. Purdue Pharma is expected to ask a federal judge Wednesday, March 9, 2022, to approve a nationwide settlement that will transform the company into a public trust and contribute up to $6 billion from members of the Sackler family, with most of the money going toward efforts to abate the nation's ongoing overdose and addiction crisis. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) NEW YORK (AP) Kara Trainor composed herself, looked into a camera and began to speak to the drugmakers she holds responsible for two decades of suffering that has extended from her to a son born dependent on opioids. Three members of the family that owns OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma watched silently or listened to the virtual court hearing as Trainor described giving birth to a baby who rapidly plunged into withdrawal the screaming will haunt you for the rest of your life and what it's been like to raise him. At 11, he still uses a sippy cup and diapers. Trainor and others who have suffered from or lost relatives to opioid addiction had waited years for this moment: a direct, if virtual, confrontation with members of the Sackler family in court over the consequences of the painkiller that made them a fortune while helping fuel a deadly drug epidemic. The opportunity finally came for about two dozen victims or their relatives at an extraordinary bankruptcy court hearing Thursday. FILE Kathleen Scarpone, left, of Kingston, N.H., and Cheryl Juaire, second from left, of Marlborough, Mass., protest in front of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, at Harvard University, April 12, 2019, in Cambridge, Mass. Scarpone, who lost her son to OxyContin addiction, addressed three Sackler family members during a virtual U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File) Some emerged exhausted, others angry, others relieved, and all unsure whether the Sacklers, who weren't allowed to respond during the session, had been moved. Still, several people who gave statements said they valued being able to speak for their lost loved ones and show solidarity, and that they had gotten a grain of resolution. I can feel, as a mother, that my son was seen and heard by the family, said Trainor, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who got an OxyContin prescription at 21 and soon became addicted. She's now 40, in recovery and working with others who struggle with drug abuse. Its going to be part of my healing and part of a closure of 20 years," she said, "finally being able to be heard. The hearing, highly unusual for U.S. Bankruptcy Court, was suggested by a mediator who helped broker a potential settlement of thousands of lawsuits against Purdue. If it wins final approval, the deal will generate $10 billion or more to fight addiction and overdoses, with the Sacklers chipping in as much as $6 billion in exchange for protection from civil lawsuits. Up to 149,000 people who have struggled with addiction or who lost loved ones to it are due to split $750 million under the settlement. Ryan Hampton speaks to reporters after making a statement during a hearing in New York, Thursday, March 10, 2022. Victims of opioids and those who have lost loved ones to the addiction crisis are unleashing their emotions on members of the family they blame for fueling the deadly epidemic. Thursday's unusual hearing is being conducted virtually in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. It is giving people the chance to confront members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and tell them about the lasting pain that addiction and overdoses have had in their lives. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) One after another, victims logged in from Hawaii to New Hampshire on Thursday with accounts of surgeries and illnesses that led to OxyContin prescriptions, followed by dependency, despair, rounds of drug-abuse treatment, personal and financial ruin and, all too often, death by overdose or suicide. Vitaly Pinkusov described waking up to find his 32-year-old wifes body cold in their bed. Kristy Nelson played a recording of her frantic 911 call reporting that her son was unresponsive. Stephanie Lubinski recounted how her husband went into their basement and shot himself in the chest. Former Purdue president and board chairman Richard Sackler listened by phone, a sore point for some victims who found it disrespectful that he didn't face them. His son, David Sackler, and another family member, Theresa Sackler, appeared on camera, appearing attentive but showing little reaction. They just sat there, alone but stone-faced, and never changed their expression, never, a frustrated Lubinski of Blaine, Minnesota, said afterward. Linda Zebrowski, right, and her daughter Jill Cichowicz pose for a picture with a photo of Zebrowski's son, Scott Zebrowski, and Cichowicz son, Carter Cichowicz, after they made a statement during a hearing in New York, Thursday, March 10, 2022. People who lost loved ones or years of their own lives to opioid addiction are getting their first and perhaps only chance to confront members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma. Thursday's virtual court hearing is being run by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The Sacklers have never unequivocally apologized. They released a statement last week saying they had acted lawfully but regret that OxyContin "unexpectedly became part of an opioid crisis that has brought grief and loss to far too many families and communities. OxyContin, a pioneering extended-release prescription painkiller, hit the market in 1996, while Purdue and other drug companies funded efforts to suggest that prescribers consider opioids for a wider range of pain conditions than previously thought appropriate. Purdue asserted that far fewer than 1% of people prescribed opioids developed addictions, though there werent rigorous studies to support the claim. Waves of fatal opioid overdoses followed, from prescription drugs, heroin, and most recently fentanyl and similar drugs. Purdue documents made public in lawsuits appear to show family members at times downplaying the crisis. Tiffinee Scott asked the Sacklers whether they had ever revived one of their children from an overdose, as she did for her daughter before finally losing her to an overdose at age 28. Tiarra Renee Brown-Lewis had been prescribed OxyContin for sickle cell disease pain, the mother said. Tiffinee Scott poses for a picture with a photo of her daughter, Tiarra Renee Brown-Lewis, after making a statement during a hearing in New York, Thursday, March 10, 2022. People who lost loved ones or years of their own lives to opioid addiction are getting their first and perhaps only chance to confront members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma. Thursday's virtual court hearing is being run by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Shame on you, she told the Sacklers, though she said later that she hadn't expected a reaction from people she sees as heartless. To her, the point of the session was the impact of the families' unity and their joint message. For once, we felt to have a sense of power over privilege, as it pertains to the Sacklers, she said. After her 21-year-old son, Chris Yoder, died from an overdose, Dede Yoder used to swear at the Sacklers as she drove by Purdue's headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, near her Norwalk home. She's felt vindicated by the bankruptcy case and public scrutiny of the Sacklers. Being part of this court record is very important, and my sons story being part of the record, she said after making her statement during the hearing. Ryan Hampton of Las Vegas found a level of catharsis in testifying Thursday about the years of addiction, overdoses and periods of homelessness he endured after a knee injury. But it bothered him that victims and their relatives were delivering a message that, in his view, should come from authorities. Like several of those who testified, he wants the Sacklers to be criminally charged. There's no sign that will happen, although seven U.S. senators last month asked the Department of Justice to consider it. Purdue Pharma, meanwhile, has twice pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Cheryl Juaire, meanwhile, is looking ahead to the potential for money to flow to addiction treatment programs and start to heal this country. Juaire, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, lost two adult sons, Corey Merrill and Sean Merrill, who died just last June. Jill Cichowicz, who lost her twin brother, Scott Zebrowski, hopes that Thursday's uncommonly personal hearing sets the tone for future companies, and they understand the ramifications of their actions. For a long time, she had thought about what she might say to the Sacklers if she ever got the chance. And then, when youre actually in the room facing them, eye-to-eye, you're not as angry. You're hurt, said Cichowicz, of Richmond, Virginia. "It was a sense of closure, but in the same sense, Im still suffering, being hurt by their actions. ___ Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Diageo PLC, the U.K.-based spirits giant, is investing $245 million in a new Crown Royal distillery in southern Ontario, but company officials say it will not impact its other Canadian production sites, including the one in Gimli, which has been making the award-winning whisky since 1968. Diageo PLC, the U.K.-based spirits giant, is investing $245 million in a new Crown Royal distillery in southern Ontario, but company officials say it will not impact its other Canadian production sites, including the one in Gimli, which has been making the award-winning whisky since 1968. The new plant in St. Clair Township, Ont., will operate with 100 per cent renewable energy and will be carbon neutral and zero-waste to landfill from its direct operations. The Crown Royal distillery in Gimli has been making award-winning whisky since 1968. Diageo, which operates in more than 180 countries and produces in more than 140 sites around the world, has stated that it is committed to reaching net-zero carbon across its direct operations by 2030 and is working to achieve net zero carbon across its entire supply chain by 2050 or sooner. Additional Crown Royal production is needed because of strong sales increases Crown Royal sales are up 12 per cent in the first half of Diageos fiscal year but to achieve carbon-neutral status at the plant some kind of upgrade will be required at some point. According to company figures, Canadian whisky made up 7 per cent of Diageos global net sales in the same period. Thats no small feat in a company which produces some of the worlds biggest and most well-known alcohol brands, including Johnnie Walker Scotch, Captain Morgan Rum, Don Julio Tequila and Guinness Stout. Diageo also owns some of the most highly-regarded single malt scotch brands, including Lagavulin, Talisker and Oban. Last year, Diageo announced plans to transition its Valleyfield, Que., manufacturing site to become carbon neutral by 2025, and it recently opened its first carbon-neutral whiskey distillery in North America in Lebanon, Kentucky, where is makes Bulleit Bourbon. A company official told the Free Press, "We are developing site-by-site road maps as part of our action plan to reach net-zero carbon across direct operations and harnessing 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and this includes our operations in Gimli." The Gimli plant was built in the late 1960s, when the company was owned by Seagrams. It is exclusively dedicated to distilling, maturing, blending and aging Crown Royal. Bottling, which is not done in Gimli, takes place in Diageo facilities in Valleyfield and Amherstburg, Ont. Lynn Greenberg, the mayor of Gimli, said he does not believe that news of the new Ontario development will change the companys commitment to Gimli. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Diageo is has a huge economic impact in Gimli," he said. "It underpins our tax base and inject lots into the local economy. Most of the employees live around the Gimli area." The company employs about 70 people in the town on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. "It has been a very good economic driver for the area ever since it was built," he said. "Small rural communities, we are all looking for industry, We are fortunate to have Diageo here." On a global scale, three of Diageos distilleries in Scotland have achieved carbon neutrality, and the company announced recently that it is also building a carbon neutral whisky distillery in China. With file from Toronto Star martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Police and small retailers are preparing for an increase in "gas-and-dash" thefts as gasoline prices across Canada soar following sanctions against Russia that have put the squeeze on global oil supply. The prices for a litre of various grades of gasoline are displayed on a pump at a Shell gas station in Vancouver on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Police and small retailers are preparing for an increase in "gas-and-dash" thefts as gasoline prices across Canada soar following sanctions against Russia that have put the squeeze on global oil supply. The invasion of Ukraine just over two weeks ago has prompted some countries, including the United States, to ban imports of Russian oil or to move toward phasing them out. Gasoline costs ranged between $1.60 and $1.90 per litre for the past week, says the gas-price tracking website GasBuddy.com. A spokesman for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police said it has started hearing from the retail industry about concerns related to theft. "There's a national suspicion that some people may resort to (theft)," Joe Couto, the association's director of communications, said in an interview. "People's budgets are really being pressed these days ... it would not surprise us if some people, out of desperation or otherwise, resorted to this type of behaviour," Couto said. "These are difficult times for Canadians as a whole." The group has been working with the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, which represents 7,500 retailers, to lobby the provincial government for legislation that requires people to prepay similar to what's already in place in British Columbia and Alberta. "That would really prevent a lot of the gas and dash," said Couto. "Primarily for us it's an issue of the safety of the folks who work at gas stations, but for our police services it represents a significant cost to not only respond but to investigate." The Convenience Industry Council of Canada said high gas prices have already spurred an increase in gas-and-dash thefts. The council noted many stores are still trying to recover financially from the COVID-19 pandemic and argued provincial governments should be doing more to help offset costs. "These are global issues that we have little control over and I think it's probably going to get worse before it gets better," said Anne Kothawala, president of the council. Some police agencies in the country said it's too soon to say what effects record-breaking gas prices will have on thefts, but many had already reported a growing trend of such thefts during the pandemic. The Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement it has noticed more gas theft across all its divisions over the last few years. The service said it hasn't noticed a notable increase or change since gas prices began to rise, but added it will be monitoring thefts to see if there are any developing trends. In Winnipeg, Const. Dani McKinnon estimated police have had a handful of reports of gas thefts recently. "When people get desperate, they look at crimes of opportunity and they take that opportunity. It's something we're certainly going to continue to monitor." McKinnon said while theft at the pumps is always a concern, investigators were faced with a unique case this week. Carol Jones arrived at Little People's Place Monday morning to the smell of gasoline near the daycare centre's three transport vans. The executive director thought someone had siphoned gasoline out of the 15-seat passenger vans, but she soon found out that wasn't all. "We discovered later that the thieves had actually drilled into the gas tanks, destroying the gas tanks," she said in an interview. The centre uses the vans to transport more than 80 children to and from eight different schools. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Jones said there was an estimated $700 worth of gas in the vans and it will cost thousands of dollars to repair the tanks. "It's definitely a time-sensitive situation and it's turning into a bit of a nightmare for everyone," she said. The Insurance Bureau of Canada said agencies do not specifically track personal vehicle gas thefts. It noted that any data on vehicle damage relating to thefts would be included under theft of parts or under vandalism claims, so it's hard to determine how often these thefts are happening. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March. 11, 2022. ___ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship The Kremlin does not rule out a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine but it should be thoroughly prepared to produce results, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday, Tass informs. March 11, 2022, 16:36 Kremlin does not rule out meeting between Putin, Ukrainian president. Peskov STEPANAKERT, MARCH 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: "No one rules out the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. In theory, it is indeed possible," he said, commenting on Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalins remark that a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents might take place in the near future. At the same time, the Kremlin spokesman pointed out that "first, delegations and ministers need to do their part of the work to make sure that the presidents dont meet just for the sake of the process and a conversation but hold a meeting to achieve results." "Russias position is no secret, it has been formulated and brought to the attention of Ukrainian negotiators. We are waiting to receive their clarifications," Peskov added. OTTAWA - Canada's labour market showed signs last month of finally shaking off the shock COVID-19 delivered two years ago, with the share of workers with a job and the unemployment rate besting levels seen just prior to the pandemic. Pedestrians walk past Scotia Plaza in the financial district in Toronto on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler OTTAWA - Canada's labour market showed signs last month of finally shaking off the shock COVID-19 delivered two years ago, with the share of workers with a job and the unemployment rate besting levels seen just prior to the pandemic. A gain of 337,000 jobs in February more than offset the loss of 200,000 jobs in January and dropped the unemployment rate to 5.5 per cent, falling below the 5.7 per cent level where it was at in February 2020. Statistics Canada said Friday the unemployment rate would have been 7.4 per cent last month had it included in calculations people who wanted a job but did not look for one. The majority of the decline in the ranks of Canada's unemployed came from people called back to work in February after a temporary layoff one month earlier as provinces tightened restrictions to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. As restrictions eased, eight provinces saw job increases, although Alberta and New Brunswick stayed flat. Gains were notable in sectors hardest hit by public health restrictions, including accommodation and food services, which added 114,000 jobs. The proportion of the working-age population with a job also rose in February to 61.8 per cent, marking the first time that rate returned to its pre-pandemic level. The employment and participation rates for core-age working women reached their highest levels on record. Overall, Statistics Canada said the labour force in February was 1.9 per cent, or 369,100 jobs, above levels recorded in February 2020. "From an overall labour markets perspective, it's more than healed from the losses that have occurred during the course of the pandemic," RBC economist Claire Fan said. Underneath the top-level figures were indicators of scars yet to heal. The Canadian Labour Congress noted that accommodation and food services was 17 per cent below pre-pandemic employment levels. Wages, while rising as businesses jostle for workers, also still lag inflation. Congress president Bea Bruske said hidden in the rosy job numbers were hundreds of thousands of workers being left behind. The number of Canadians who have been out of work for six months or more remains 32,000 higher than in February 2020, although their ranks have dwindled for four straight months to 212,000. Kaylie Tiessen, an economist with Unifor, noted the proportion of part-time workers who wanted full-time jobs had risen anew after dropping earlier in the pandemic. While the employment rate for racialized worker returned to pre-pandemic levels, Tiessen said it remained higher than rates for non-racialized workers. "We've gotten back to a pre-pandemic level and this is something to celebrate, but is it good enough? If we want an inclusive economy, we have to put in the effort," she said. It is one of several challenges facing policy-makers in the coming months. Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy at Desjardins, said with low unemployment and record-high job vacancies across the country, the labour market may have reached capacity, or full employment. The pool of available workers may also be shrinking. Fan pointed to the participation rate for those over 55 being below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting the pandemic may have accelerated retirement plans for some older workers. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. While the number of employed youth is back to pre-pandemic levels, where they work has shifted from accommodation and food services to professional and technical services, as well as health care. Statistics Canada said affordability concerns and workers' desire for more flexible work could influence companies' ability to attract and retain employees through return-to-office plans. "Workers feel like they have more leverage these days with the tight labour market, it could be they're realizing that their needs for what they're looking for in their jobs have changed drastically," Fan said. "More workers might be stepping back and re-evaluating, 'What exactly do I want?'" Leah Nord, senior director of workforce strategies for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, warned the situation is going to make it difficult to fill the nearly one million job vacancies across the country. She cited the need for a strategy that includes immigration and skills training. Asked about labour shortages earlier this week, federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said both issues were part of federal efforts, adding so too was tapping into untapped labour pools like Canadians with disabilities and Indigenous people. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022. TOKYO (AP) Japans top automaker Toyota will scale back domestic production over the next three months because of a supply crunch in chips and other parts that have slammed the global auto industry. FILE - The Toyota logo on a dealership is seen in Manchester, N.H. on Aug. 15, 2019. Japans top automaker Toyota will scale back domestic production over the next three months because of a supply crunch in chips and other parts that have recently slammed the global auto industry. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) TOKYO (AP) Japans top automaker Toyota will scale back domestic production over the next three months because of a supply crunch in chips and other parts that have slammed the global auto industry. Toyota Motor Corp. will cut back vehicle production in Japan by about 20% in April, by 10% in May, and 5% in June, compared to what was planned, spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said Friday. Under a recovery plan, Toyota had raised production targets starting in April to catch up on lost production caused by parts shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. So production will still be at a high level, said Hashimoto. We will continue to do our best to deliver vehicles to our customers as soon as possible. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The topic of production came up in recent talks between management and workers to address the hardships at production lines and suppliers, according to Toyota. The numbers may still change, as conditions remain fluid. Toyota did not give specific numbers or other details. Toyota, which makes the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury models, produced 2.88 million vehicles in Japan last year. When including group companies, truck maker Hino and smaller car maker Daihatsu, production totaled 3.89 million vehicles in Japan. Globally, Toyota, Hino and Daihatsu produced about 10 million vehicles. All the worlds automakers have been hit hard by production delays in suppliers as regions observed lockdowns and other restrictions during the pandemic. Toyota has customers waiting for months for the products to be delivered. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama MONTREAL - After a decade in a Saudi prison, blogger and activist Raif Badawi was released Friday, his Quebec-based wife confirmed, but questions remain about when he will be permitted to join his family in Canada. Ensaf Haidar, wife of blogger Raif Badawi, arrives for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Sherbrooke, Que., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. Haidar, who lives with the couple's children in Sherbrooke, Que., tweeted Friday that Badawi had been released from prison. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - After a decade in a Saudi prison, blogger and activist Raif Badawi was released Friday, his Quebec-based wife confirmed, but questions remain about when he will be permitted to join his family in Canada. Ensaf Haidar, who lives with the couple's three children in Sherbrooke, Que., said she was relieved and happy her husband was free. In an interview, she said Badawi called her to inform her of his release. I had dreamed of this day for a long time," she said, adding that she and her children were overcome by the news. His family and supporters had been calling for his release since his sentence expired on Feb. 28. Evelyne Abitbol, a spokesperson for the family, said it wasn't clear what conditions remained for Badawi, who was jailed in 2012 and sentenced two years later for criticizing Saudi Arabia's religious ruling class. "Raif is released from the prison walls but we have no indication as to the rest of the sentence," Abitbol said in an email. "It is now up to the Canadian government to grant him safe passage or a travel document so that he can come and join his family here in Quebec." Last month, Montreal-based human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler, who represents Badawi internationally, said the release from prison had been expected sometime in March. Cotler, a former federal justice minister and founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, had warned that Badawi would be in a sort of "prison without walls" as he still faces a 10-year travel ban, a media ban and a punitive fine that was handed down at the time of sentencing. "While we await further information on the conditions of his release, we hope that Saudi authorities will compassionately allow for his reunification with his wife and young children in Canada, who have been deprived of their husband and father for 10 years," Cotler said in a statement on Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was relieved that Badawi has finally been released. "My thoughts are with his family and friends who have been tirelessly advocating for him for nearly a decade," Trudeau said on Twitter. "Our officials are now working to seek clarity on the conditions of his release." Badawi was jailed in 2012 and sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a fine of one million Saudi riyal about $340,000 for criticizing the country's clerics in his writings. He received 50 lashes in January 2015 during a public flogging, but he is not believed to have been whipped since. Badawis sentence has drawn widespread international condemnation, and numerous organizations, governments and advocacy groups have called for his release over the years. Cotler said Badawi's writings call for a more open Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also personally advocated for a more moderate Islam. In a letter addressed to the crown prince earlier this week, before word of his release, Cotler called for Badawi to be allowed to reunite with his family in Canada. "Mr. Badawi was convicted for founding a website for peaceful, open dialogue," Cotler wrote. "He poses no security concerns whatsoever. His only wish is to reunite with his family over 10,000 kilometres away so that he may live out his days as a devoted husband and father." Last year, both the House of Commons and Senate voted in favour of the immigration minister using his discretionary power to grant Badawi Canadian citizenship, but that hasn't happened yet. Bloc Quebecois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, who tabled that motion in 2021, said he jumped for joy at the news when Haidar, a Bloc candidate in the last federal election, called him before it was made public. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "You have to look at what Ensaf has done: she never let go. She has been fighting this fight for 10 years," Brunelle-Duceppe said in a phone interview. "It's the fight of a lifetime, I think. Today he is free. It's thanks to his fight too." Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly tweeted that "Canada is relieved to hear news that Raif Badawi has been released." Quebec Premier Francois Legault also welcomed the news. "At last!" Legault wrote on Twitter. "I keep thinking about the children who will finally be reunited with their father." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022. with files from Emilie Bergeron in Ottawa. Former Quebec premier Jean Charest launched his bid for the Conservative leadership Thursday night by saying he wants to unite the party, which he believes has spent the past years "badly distracted" and "fractured." Former Quebec premier Jean Charest speaks to reporters as he arrives for an event in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Former Quebec premier Jean Charest launched his bid for the Conservative leadership Thursday night by saying he wants to unite the party, which he believes has spent the past years "badly distracted" and "fractured." Charest appeared at a brewery in Calgary to kick off his campaign, which he acknowledged is going to be a tough fight. The 63-year-old told the crowd that he decided to launch his leadership bid in Calgary to show he believes Alberta needs a better seat at the federal decision-making table and that Canada's prosperity depends on the province. Charest talked about the importance of the oil and gas industry and his willingness to stand up for pipelines in areas of the country where support for them is more tepid, such as his own. He also said he believes it's wrong for the federal Liberal government to go ahead with its planned increase of the carbon price on April 1. "We can do a lot better," he said. Charest emphasized his experience in both federal and provincial politics as having prepared him for the leadership, promising to deliver Conservative party members a win in the next election He spent 20 minutes shaking hands and talking with the audience but didn't win everyone over. Josh Hart, 17, said he really didn't know much about Charest but was impressed with his speech. "I'm open to supporting Jean. I liked his speech but I want to wait a little longer and see some more concrete proposals," he said. Margot Aftergood and her husband David have known Charest since 1984 and voted for him in the leadership race against Kim Campbell. But she said she isn't ready to support him until she has seen all the other candidates. "To be fair, I have not met Pierre Poilievre and I've not met Leslyn Lewis. I'd like to meet everybody first but I don't know where I'm at," she said. Poilievre supporter Alexandra Carlile said Charest gave a fine speech. "But he really danced around the carbon tax issue ... Albertans have very out loud said they're against the carbon tax and all conservatives have said they're against the carbon tax," she said. "He has sort of sabotaged his campaign in his opening speech." Charest's bid to lead the Tories means he's re-entering federal politics for the first time in more than 20 years and he has hopped onto social media for the occasion. "Let's be proud to be ambitious. Let's be proud to be united. Let's be proud to be conservative," said a message from a newly launched Jean Charest Twitter account Thursday morning. Charest is running under the slogan "Built to Win." A campaign website was also launched Thursday highlighting points from his career as both a federal political leader and as Quebec's premier from 2003 to 2012. Charest was first elected as an MP in 1984 in former prime minister Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservative government and became a cabinet minister before he was 30. He went on to lead the Tories from 1993 until 1998, when he left federal politics to lead the Quebec Liberal Party. Charest served as Quebec's premier until 2012 before he was defeated in an election. "There is no time for amateur politics," Charest's website reads. "Our democracy is at stake. We need a leader who understands that winning a national government is built through consensus and unity, not through division and alienation. Jean Charest is a conservative leader who is built to win." Earlier Thursday, Charest did a series of media interviews, where he expressed his opposition to Bill 21, a controversial secularism law in Quebec that prohibits public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols on the job. Some Conservatives want the party to sharpen its stance against the legislation. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has already forcefully rejected the law. He is expected to join the race Sunday. Poilievre, a high-profile and long-serving Ottawa-area MP who was the first to declare his candidacy for the Conservative leadership, has been dismissing Charest as favouring policies that the Liberals use, such as the federal carbon price that many party members detest. As Quebec's premier, Charest ushered in a cap-and-trade program. His website calls him "a credible advocate on resource development coupled with strong environmental performance." The Conservatives hold 30 out of 34 seats in Alberta, considered part of the Tory heartland along with neighbouring Saskatchewan, where the party holds every seat. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. By launching in Calgary, Charest also hopes to bring a message of national unity and signal support to party members who are concerned about Western alienation. Some Alberta and Saskatchewan MPs who recently attended a reception for Charest in Ottawa acknowledged the former Quebec premier could be in for a tough fight with the region's grassroots. Charest is to appear at a meet and greet Friday morning before travelling to Vancouver. Conservatives will learn who their new leader is on Sept. 10, and candidates have until April 19 to declare they're running and June 3 to submit new membership applications. The other declared candidate in the Conservative leadership race is Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber. -- With files from Bill Graveland in Calgary This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2022 A Winnipeg police officer has been acquitted of logging into a police database to fix his own speeding ticket, despite the judge acknowledging his defence was almost implausible. A Winnipeg police officer has been acquitted of logging into a police database to fix his own speeding ticket, despite the judge acknowledging his defence was "almost implausible." Patrol Sgt. Sean Cassidy, dressed in a suit and seated in the front row of the court gallery beside a supporter, showed no visible emotion as provincial court Judge Cindy Sholdice signalled her verdict in the opening minutes of her 30-minute decision Thursday. Cassidy was tried on a charge of unauthorized use of a computer, fraud and obstruction of justice. Cassidy had testified he was conducting an "integrity check" when he entered his own licence plate number into the Winnipeg Police Services photo radar database on Oct. 1, 2019. "While his explanation is highly suspicious, convenient and almost implausible when considering his evidence in the context of all the evidence I am left in doubt of his guilt," Sholdice said. While his explanation is highly suspicious, convenient and almost implausible when considering his evidence in the context of all the evidence I am left in doubt of his guilt. Judge Cindy Sholdice Court heard evidence Cassidy was driving his personal vehicle following a breakfast meeting with co-workers when he was caught by a photo radar camera speeding in a school zone. Cassidy drove up to the radar vehicle and talked to the operator, who confirmed he would receive a ticket. Cassidy, who at that time was assigned to the photo radar unit, testified that when he returned to work that morning he received an email with the licence plate numbers of four vehicles to be added to a database of vehicles exempt from photo radar and red light camera enforcement. Cassidy testified when he added the four licence plate numbers to the database, one of them did not appear, causing him to be concerned. Cassidy said he wanted to "test the integrity of the system" and submitted his own plate number several times to see if it would show up. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Manitobas police watchdog had charged Patrol Sgt. Sean Cassidy with fraud, obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a police computer system. When another officer in the unit asked Cassidy about a report an officer had approached a photo radar operator that morning, Cassidy readily admitted it was him, defence lawyer Lisa LaBossiere told court in a closing argument last November, noting Cassidy continued to try to enter his plate number into the database two more times that day. "It makes no sense whatsoever that after being caught, he would go into the software with the intention of zapping his ticket," LaBossiere said. "That is just not consistent with an individual who has just been confronted about doing something bad." Cassidy testified he had little training in the database software and was fumbling through trial and error to figure out the problem. "It is plausible that a police officer for 24 years and a sergeant since 2014 responsible for investigating, identifying, and solving issues would attempt to figure out something on his own before seeking assistance," Sholdice said. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A Winnipeg police officer has been acquitted of logging into a police database to fix his own speeding ticket. Wednesdays acquittal doesnt end Cassidys legal woes. In a separate case, a judge is scheduled to rule later this month whether Cassidy is guilty of assaulting a man following a prolonged highway chase from La Salle to Winnipeg in March 2017. Cassidy is accused of punching Jamie Cote in the head during what was described in court as a "high-risk" traffic stop. Cote testified at trial he and a roommate were in La Salle to deliver flyers for Cotes landscaping business when a van started following them from house to house and ultimately followed him to Winnipeg, where Cassidy pulled him from his truck and allegedly assaulted him. It makes no sense whatsoever that after being caught, he would go into the software with the intention of zapping his ticket. Lisa LaBossiere, defence lawyer Cassidy, who testified he suspected Cote might have been involved in a rash of break-and-enters in the area, told court he thought he saw a weapon in Cotes hand when he pulled him from his vehicle. In 2019, Cassidy was charged with unsafe storage of a firearm, a charge which was later stayed, and possession of a restricted weapon at an unauthorized place. Cassidy pleaded guilty to the second charge in 2020 and received an absolute discharge. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Raymond Hill and Justin James boarded a city transit bus as strangers May 24, 2020. Minutes later, Hill collapsed outside the bus, and died from a stab wound to his abdomen as police took James into custody. James, 48, pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday. This really was such an unprovoked, avoidable attack that took Raymond Hills life, Crown attorney Colin Soul told provincial court Judge Murray Thompson, recommending James be sentenced to 10 years in prison. Court was told Hill, 57, and James got on the bus outside Portage Place mall around 3 p.m. James, who was drinking from a king can of beer, sat down at the front of the bus and Hill took a seat near the back. Bus security video showed James at the rear exit as the bus approached the University of Winnipeg when for unknown reasons, James called Hill an asshole, pulled out a knife and stabbed Hill in the left side of his abdomen, Soul said. Hill can be seen raising his shirt and looking at his stomach while still on the bus, Soul said. Hill stumbled out of the bus and called out to a police cruiser that happened to be there. Then he fell to the ground. The attack was witnessed by several passengers on the bus, including a man and his two grandchildren. James was belligerent and confrontational with police, but complied with their arrest demands when officers pulled out their Tasers, Soul said. Defence lawyer Crystal Antila recommended Thompson sentence James to just two more years in jail and three years of supervised probation, arguing his behaviour was exacerbated by a traumatic brain injury he suffered after being hit by a car two years ago. He has been dealing with the effects of that brain injury ever since, Antila said. Antila said James has made repeated trips to hospital with debilitating headaches only to see his complaints dismissed. He wanted actual medical help, not just a handful of (Tylenol 3s), she said. The morning Hill was killed, James was at the hospital again, where he was provided a prescription for 20 Tylenol 3 tablets. He took about 10 of them and started drinking, Antila said. James, who Antila said suffers from paranoia as a result of his head injury, believed Hall was somebody from his home reserve. A pre-sentence report prepared for court says James has a family and personal history marked by residential school involvement, substance abuse and violence. Its very distressing to Mr. James that he has caused this loss to this family but we cannot neglect the circumstances (he) was in at the time, Antila said. But for James high level of intoxication, he would have been charged with murder, Soul said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Hills former partner and daughter described him as a fun-loving jokester who always put his family first. He didnt have much, but what he did he would share, said Nana Fagnan, who had two children with Hill and remained close. Your life was taken too soon, your life was robbed. My Raymond, the pain is real. Daughter Cree-Anne Hill said Hill would panhandle to help her and her two children get by. He was a vey humble man, she said. He was the best grandpa. James remains in custody. He will be sentenced at a later date. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca All nine provincial jails and correctional facilities started running critically low on toilet paper and medical supplies just a week after the first case of COVID-19 reached Manitoba in March 2020. All nine provincial jails and correctional facilities started running critically low on toilet paper and medical supplies just a week after the first case of COVID-19 reached Manitoba in March 2020. Those details were revealed in hundreds of pages of newly released government records which paint a picture of pandemic procedures and problems in Manitoba jails over the past two years. The documents, along with thousands of other records from the federal government and every province and territory in Canada, were obtained through access to information and freedom of information requests filed by Prison Pandemic Partnership researchers, led by University of Winnipeg associate criminal justice Prof. Kevin Walby. "One of the big things for me It shows in the beginning, Manitoba was really scrambling, like every other jurisdiction, so much so that they couldnt get some very basic supplies for the prisoners, let alone PPE they couldnt get soap or toilet paper for prisoners, let alone masks and face shields," Walby told the Free Press on Friday, noting it appears the department caught up after a few months. Another standout in the records for Walby was the release of inmates in the first wave of the pandemic, which didnt appear to happen in subsequent waves. "Manitoba did release some prisoners, about a dozen a day throughout April and May of 2020, (as part of) the strategy to manage population levels and prevent COVID transmission," he said. "They showed they can de-carcerate, they showed they can reduce jail, prison populations, that we dont need to throw so many people behind bars. We can have different ways of working on sentences in the community." The slowing of prisoner releases later in the pandemic showed corrections agencies across the country didnt learn the lesson "that was right there in front of them," Walby said. "They didnt do that in the subsequent waves and then we saw 26,000 COVID cases behind bars in Canada and 6,000 cases for workers and a transmission and infection rate six times higher than the general population," he said. JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRES Manitoba's provincial jails and correctional facilities couldnt get soap or toilet paper for prisoners a week after the pandemic began in 2020, a government study found. (Jesse Boily / Winnipeg Free Press files) Walby also runs the U of Ws Centre for Access to Information and Justice, which uses public records laws for public interest research. The wider pandemic papers research team was motivated to create the database for three main reasons: information disclosure for the families and friends of people in jails and prisons; open access to research; and as an audit of freedom of information legislation nationwide, he said. "We sent the exact same requests to every single jurisdiction, and you can see some of the jurisdictions did a pretty good job of responding and some of them just did terribly like Alberta really demonstrated they have no interest in freedom of information," said Walby, who was pleased with the way Manitoba responded. "I was almost kind of surprised, because sometimes Ive had some difficulties using FOI in the province." As Manitoba tensely waited for the pandemic to begin in earnest in early 2020, inmate programming was cancelled on March 18, while access to recreation was limited to small groups. No one was allowed to visit facilities, apart from legal services. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. By March 24 12 days after the first case was confirmed in the province corrections received hand sanitizer from an alcohol distillery. By March 25, in light of shortages of critical cleaning supplies, the accommodation services division began working with the custody division on proper disinfection procedures for isolation cells for COVID-positive inmates. All jails had supply rationing plans in place, while the department worked with alternative suppliers as countries around the globe raced to procure cleaning products and personal protective equipment. That same day, the number of inmates in isolation in provincial corrections facilities was 18; a Manitoba Justice COVID-19 central co-ordination team status update said the number in isolation was increasing daily. By Aug. 28, 233 inmates across the provincial system were in isolation, most of which were in the Winnipeg Remand Centre (141). erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @erik_pindera Yevgeniya Tatarenko knew she had to help. Yevgeniya Tatarenko knew she had to help. The Ukrainian-Canadian Red River College Polytech marketing instructor, who moved to Morden in 2016, has been worried about her mother back home since Russia invaded two weeks ago. SUPPLIED Feigala Khaverman with tactical medical bags (first aid kits) being made for volunteers and paramedics in Ukraine. Tatarenkos not alone in her concern. She and others from the southern Manitoba community banded together just over a week ago to form Help UkraineMorden and Pembina Valley to raise support and cash for civilians and the military in their home country. First, the group sewed Ukrainian flags to raise donation money, and began accepting humanitarian aid (such as medical supplies) and cash last week. The groups latest project is more ambitious: sewing thousands of tactical first aid bags to send to the Ukrainian army reserves paramedic teams, with the support of Mordens Deasil Custom Sewing Inc., which is offering free labour. It can save a lot of lives, Tatarenko told the Free Press on Thursday. We launched this project because all of us Ukrainians here in the Morden area all have families in Ukraine, so its been pretty tough for us Hard to go through all of the news and not be able to help. Tatarenko runs a Ukrainian school in Morden, where she and others teach the language, history and culture on Saturdays. That location turned into a drop-off point for the newly formed aid group. We got so many different items baby food, diapers, clothing for babies, sleeping bags, travel mats, she said, noting the local hospital donated medical supplies, which were quickly sent to Ukraine via Poland with a friend. Tatarenko spoke with people in Ukraines army reserve and paramedic volunteers, who told her medical bags and first aid kits are sorely needed. Deasils owner said the business could help, making a prototype Monday. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Were raising money each day, each week, Tatarenko said of the cash needed to buy the material needed. Its really hard in Ukraine to find a facility that can make those bags quickly. Its been difficult for Tatarenko, recently, as she works full-time and organizes dozens of volunteers all while absorbing news from the front. I decided to keep myself busy That helps, being organized and helping Ukraine, but I try to communicate with my mom, shes alone there Its pretty tough, but I try to do my best, she said. Tatarenko said initially she tried to get her mom to flee, but conditions became to difficult; instead, shell stay until victory. erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @erik_pindera The Progressive Conservative government hinted at legal action and demanded the NDP retract its accusation Premier Heather Stefanson had a conflict of interest in awarding a contract to a company for which her husband did business. The Progressive Conservative government hinted at legal action and demanded the NDP retract its accusation Premier Heather Stefanson had a conflict of interest in awarding a contract to a company for which her husband did business. "Comments made by the NDP outside the legislative chamber are not protected against legal liability," said Olivia Billson, the premiers press secretary, in a statement late Thursday. The accusations are false, she stated. The premier, her husband Jason Stefanson and the companies involved "all followed the appropriate disclosure responsibilities under legislation," Billson said. During question period, NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine said the premier was a member of Treasury Board and a cabinet committee that awarded a $23-million contract to Exchange Income Corp., which owns several air carriers, including Keewatin Air. Jason Stefanson, working with CIBC World Markets, was one of several underwriters for $100 million in bonds issued for the company in 2017 and another $70 million in 2019, after the company was awarded the government contract. Fontaine asked the premier why she didnt recuse herself from discussions about the contract awarded to the company to transport justice officials to rural courts. The premier said its "disappointing" the NDP was "taking shots" at family members of those in the chamber, and that Fontaine didnt know what she was talking about. "The member opposite is proving that she has no idea how banking works," Stefanson said. The underwriters of the two bond offers were awarded fees of $4 million and $2.8 million, according to the prospectus information which does not indicate how much Jason Stefanson and CIBC World Markets would have received. Fontaine told the house Exchange Income Corp. does "millions of dollars of business" with Stefansons family. "This is a clear conflict," the NDP justice critic said. Ministers must recuse themselves if they have a dependent or spouse who has financial interests in the matter, she told the legislature. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine said the premier was a member of Treasury Board and a cabinet committee that awarded a $23-million contract to Exchange Income Corp., which owns several air carriers, including Keewatin Air. Jason Stefanson, working with CIBC World Markets, was one of several underwriters for $100 million in bonds issued for the company in 2017 and another $70 million in 2019. There is no record Jason Stefanson had a financial interest in the company that was awarded the government contract. The contract was awarded through a request-for-proposal process that doesnt include financial information that would have identified him and CIBC World Markets as one of the underwriters. Still, Fontaine said, the premier should have known about work her husband had been doing for the company and recused herself from awarding the contract, she told reporters outside the chamber. "She should know that her husband is doing business with (Exchange Income Corp.) and stands to profit from the decisions being made," said Fontaine. "I cant prove that a wife knows what her husband does Shes the premier of Manitoba. She should know what her husband is doing." In the house, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen called the NDPs claims "false" and suggested they study the Tiger Dams report if they want to understand "a true conflict." The Manitoba ombudsman found that civil servants were directed to waive the competitive tendering process for the purchase of Tiger Dams flood-protection devices in 2014. The report found the NDP minister at the time, Steve Ashton, directed staff to recommend the purchase even though senior civil servants expressed concern about it. "Not only did things not go to the Treasury Board," Goertzen told the house, "there was no proper documentation." Outside the chamber, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont questioned the NDPs allegations. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "It doesnt look great but theres a difference between not looking great and meeting the legal threshold for a conflict," said Lamont. "If the NDP were really, really serious about this, theyd write an affidavit and take it to the courts," he said. Conflict of interest commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor said Manitobas conflict of interest legislation does not give him any investigative powers but any voter can pay a fee and ask the court to rule on an alleged breach. When new legislation takes effect after the 2023 provincial election, the commissioner will have the power to investigate and determine whether conflict rules have been broken, Schnoor told the Free Press. If an MLA has contravened the act, the commissioner could recommend penalties ranging from a reprimand to a suspension, to a fine of up to $50,000. In an extreme case, the member could lose their seat. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca *With apologies to Al Green Once in a while, theres a memory some social media website reminds you of that makes you feel older than dirt. For me that came in the form of a Facebook memory that popped up last week, which let me know that on that day in 2008 I had filed Uncorked No. 122. Ive long stopped numbering the wine/beer/spirits articles/columns Ive written, but some quick math (52 weeks x 14 years since then = 728, plus the 122 written before that, minus maybe 10 for weeks I didnt file because of illness or holiday) tells me Ive written around just shy of 850 columns. Theres no question theres always something new to learn about wine and all manner of drinks, but when youve been writing about the stuff for over 16 years youre bound to run into the occasional mental roadblock. Wine country in winter can be just as beautiful as in warmer months, as is evident in this photo of Meyer Family Vineyards McLean Creek Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley. (Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press files) In the last 16-plus years, Ive been fortunate enough to visit wineries on four continents, some multiple times, including numerous visits to wineries in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia. Ive bent the ear of winemakers, had lunch/dinner with fellow wine writers and producers, and explored various nooks and crannies of wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms all quite memorable and perfect fodder for Uncorked. Higher-altitude vineyards such as this one in Chile, visited in 2015, typically offer pretty stunning views. (Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press files) Some trips are memorable for non-wine-related reasons. In 2011, during a two-and-a-half-week trek through Australia, I went out for a nice dinner with a long-time Tasmanian winemaker. After our lovely dinner I was dropped off at my hotel, traded my business casual garb for a T-shirt and jeans and walked over to a grungy bar to see Propagandhi. Because what else do you do when youre 15,000-plus kilometres from home than see a bunch of your pals from Winnipeg play a rock show? A more embarrassing memory: On my very first wine trip to California in 2007 I spat Pinot Noir all over the beige khakis of one of Canadas best-known wine writers after hearing a story that simply cannot be repeated here. I looked at him in horror, and he at me, and we both suddenly burst out laughing. Were now good pals either in spite of or because of this event. Witness the holy crap Im in a helicopter look on my face while above Niagara Falls en route to Ontarios Trius winery in 2015. (Magdalena Kaiser photo) Ive seen tarantulas in Chile, seals sunning themselves on the San Francisco wharfs, packs of kangaroos hopping their way through vineyards (Ill let you guess where that was). Ive travelled through wine country by foot, by bike, in the back of a pickup truck, in tour buses jammed with other writers, in dusty 4x4s and even, once, in a helicopter (in Ontario, first over Niagara Falls). Hacking up some Cabernet Sauvignon vines at St. Superys Dollarhide Ranch in Napa Valley in 2016. (Paula Oreskovich photo) Ive had the chance to taste Riesling in Germany from the 1945 vintage, Malbec from the 1950s in Mendoza, 100-year-old port-like fortified wine in Barossa. I pruned vines (poorly!) at the late Peter Lehmanns Stonewell vineyard in Australia and in St. Superys Dollarhide Ranch vineyard in Napa. Ive crawled into holes in the ground in Portugal, Argentina and in Australias Coonawarra region to look at different layers of soil that impact the ability of vines to reach water. In this 2017 photo, an Argentine winemaker (whose name escapes me) describes the soil from a hole cut in the ground in the vineyard. (Ben Sigurdson / Winnipeg Free Press files) Since my last international trip in late 2019, Ive been on one wine trip a quick trek to the Okanagan Valley to judge at WineAligns 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada. Most of our time was spent in a room at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre tasting flight after flight of Canadian wines, and the few winery visits we did in the evenings were carefully choreographed to ensure social distancing, etc. And while that 2008 Facebook memory did make me feel old, it got me thinking about how ridiculously fortunate Ive been to do this wine/drinks writing stuff, how much fun Ive had in being able to travel, and just how much I miss the travel component of all this. (I know, very first-world problem-ish.) Visiting wine country instantly gets my brain whirring at breakneck speed with potential column topics meeting winemakers and seeing where and how wines are made is instantly inspiring. Heck, at this point (if it felt safe) Id even take the packed-to-the-rafters, elbows-out royal rumble that is the Winnipeg Wine Festival public tasting at the RBC Convention Centre (sounds like that beast is coming back in September, by the way). For two years now Ive been ordering wines online, doing curbside pickup and/or quick dashes into stores, breweries and the like not exactly mentally stimulating. The wine-related Zooms Ive attended, while highly informative, still happen under the same roof where Ive spent most of the pandemic (we moved in October 2020). At times, its tough to find my proverbial mojo. But things are opening back up (for better or worse), and it looks like Ive got my first trip of 2022 lined up for this June (albeit within Canada best to start with baby steps, perhaps). Heres hoping it can spark my excitement and curiosity about all things wine again, which has admittedly waned since March 2020. Ben Sigurdson, literary editor and drinks writer THE City of Winnipegs water and waste department has once again publicly stated that it is not able to achieve phosphorus compliance at the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) to protect Lake Winnipeg. Opinion THE City of Winnipegs water and waste department has once again publicly stated that it is not able to achieve phosphorus compliance at the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) to protect Lake Winnipeg. On March 3, two brief letters were innocuously published on the Manitoba governments online registry of environmental assessments. Together, these letters represent the culmination of nine months of work by city engineers and provincial regulators to arrive at a plan to address ongoing non-compliance with phosphorus limits at the North End plant. Guess what? No plan. Quick recap: the citys largest wastewater treatment plant is not compliant with the provincial phosphorus limit of 1.0 mg/L, set 17 years ago, in 2005. An interim phosphorus-reduction solution proposed by the Lake Winnipeg Foundation (LWF) was approved last year. However, the city says this will only reduce phosphorus to 2.5 mg/L because of limited biosolids capacity in the plants aging infrastructure. Now, that aging infrastructure needs to be replaced. With the detailed design of new high-capacity biosolids facilities scheduled to start this year, the city has the opportunity to meet the 1.0 mg/L phosphorus limit using the approved interim solution. With three levels of government poised to fund this critical infrastructure project, phosphorus compliance can be fully and proactively integrated into the detailed design and construction of the new facilities from the ground up. Except none of the people in charge of our public services seems at all interested in making that happen. On Dec. 29, 2021, City of Winnipeg engineers responded to a provincial request from May 2021 to submit an assessment of options to enhance interim phosphorus reduction to meet a phosphorus limit in effluent of 1.0 mg/L following construction and commissioning of the upgraded biosolids facilities. The citys Dec. 29 letter provides no defensible analysis, and zero commitment to use the opportunity of new biosolids facilities to address the plants decades-long phosphorus pollution. Instead, city engineers fall back on the same old excuse: not enough sludge capacity. To be clear: Winnipegs water and waste department, with this letter, is projecting the functional inadequacy and regulatory non-compliance of municipal wastewater infrastructure that hasnt even been designed yet let alone built. (Also worth flagging: this brand-new, $550-million facility has a design life to 2037. It wont even be completed till 2029 thats a working life of eight years, at a cost of half a billion dollars.) Coming hot on the heels of the Free Presss compelling and concerning reports of incompetence and/or corruption in the Citys traffic branch (Feb. 19-26), this latest NEWPCC response from the city calls to mind Canadian Taxpayers Federation prairie director Todd McKays comments. Very rarely is (this) a problem in only one place, says McKay. And weve seen enough problems at city hall in Winnipeg over time that we know its very, very unlikely this infection is only in one appendage. We will all undoubtedly have to wrestle with this larger issue in the 2022 civic election campaign. For now, though, its way past time to get serious about NEWPCC phosphorus compliance. Its time for provincial regulators to stop accepting excuses and stop granting extensions. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Manitobas environmental approvals branch took a full two months to respond to the citys letter, finally concluding the letter did not meet NEWPCC license conditions. But rather than upholding its 2005 phosphorus limit, the province equivocates. The provincial response asks the city to again assess phosphorus reduction to as low as the 1.0 mg/L effluent phosphorus limit. Why is phosphorus compliance being left to the discretion of the city? At what point will the province actually address 20 years of non-compliance from the single largest source of phosphorus to Lake Winnipeg? Provincial water legislation and environmental licensing are now overseen by Environment Minister Jeff Wharton, a longtime resident of Winnipeg Beach on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Under his leadership, its time to change the NEWPCC licence to set down in writing the clear expectation that the 1.0 mg/L limit will be achieved through biosolids facilities upgrades. The detailed design process for NEWPCCs new biosolids facilities will soon be underway. Based on the bureaucratic exchange that took place earlier this month, this design will cement in place an incredibly expensive and farcically ineffective piece of infrastructure leaving Winnipeggers stuck with the price tag and Manitobans around the lake stuck with the dangerous consequences of failed environmental protection. Alexis Kanu is executive director of the Lake Winnipeg Foundation. MAJOR wars are often watershed moments in history. Their outcomes define governance structures, politics and policy directions for decades, even centuries, to come. Russias invasion of Ukraine already seems certain to have these kinds of effects at the national, regional and global scales. Opinion MAJOR wars are often watershed moments in history. Their outcomes define governance structures, politics and policy directions for decades, even centuries, to come. Russias invasion of Ukraine already seems certain to have these kinds of effects at the national, regional and global scales. The invasion has quickly come to dominate political and policy agendas, displacing the focus from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. But the war in Ukraine will have major implications for these questions, particularly around energy and climate change, for Canada and the rest of the world, far into the future. Beyond the immediate horror of Russias assault on Ukraine, perhaps its most obvious effects in climate and energy policy terms have been to provide Europe with a powerful imperative to accelerate the process of decarbonizing its economies. The risks associated with European dependence on Russian oil and gas have always been an underlying rationale for energy transitions in Europe. A ban on Russian oil and gas imports, a significant portion of Europes energy supplies, may be one of the few measures left, short of direct military action, that could cause Putin to pause his attack. While Canada faces no immediate threat to its energy security, it will likely face pressure to expand its role as a geopolitically stable and secure source of fossil fuels, reinforced by the economic opportunities offered by rising oil and natural gas prices. These developments could present significant challenges for Canadas current efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent relative to 2005 by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Not sure on nuclear Europe stands to see further increases in energy prices and potential shortages if it cuts off Russian oil and gas. But there is already strengthened interest in renewables, energy storage and other technologies that reduce Europes dependence on fossil fuels for space heating, transportation, industry and electricity generation. There might also be renewed interest in nuclear energy, but that path is far from certain. The economics of new nuclear facilities remain profoundly unattractive even with massive governmental support. In addition, Russias seizure of Chernobyl, its attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and President Vladimir Putins thinly veiled nuclear threats have provided stark reminders of the security, safety and weapons proliferation risks associated with a nuclear-heavy pathway to decarbonization and energy security. Pressure at home and abroad For Canada, the implications of these developments are quite different. Prices for gasoline and other fuels have surged in response to concerns about global oil and gas supplies. Russia is the worlds second-largest crude oil producer, contributing about 13 per cent of world oil production in 2020. Governments need to be vigilant around the possibilities of the old problem for war profiteering. The fuel now being sold at elevated prices was made from supplies bought and paid for long before Putins invasion. Russian oil is an utterly marginal element of Canadas energy supply, and should be terminated immediately, as the United States is considering. More likely, Canada will face both domestic and international pressures to expand its role as a secure source of fossil fuels for western Europe and other consumers of Russian oil and gas. But moves to increase the countrys output of oil and natural gas will pose direct challenges to Canadas existing climate change commitments and policies. Canadas current oil reserves are overwhelmingly concentrated in the western Canadian oilsands. Their extraction is highly energy and carbon intensive, and the federal governments current climate policy trajectory is to move the upstream oil and gas sector towards net-zero emissions by 2050. New export infrastructure At the same time, there is currently no direct route for a major expansion of exports of Canadian oil to Europe. Additional exports would have to move through the U.S. Gulf Coast, but that option is now constrained by, among other things, President Joe Bidens rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. The situation may lead to calls for new export infrastructure. There are already calls for the revival of the Alberta to New Brunswick Energy East pipeline a pathway that could lead to renewed conflict between Quebec and Alberta. Canadas conventional natural gas production has already been in decline, but the geopolitical situation and rising world prices may renew interest in British Columbias largely stalled liquid natural gas export initiatives. Such developments would further complicate the national climate policy landscape, as accessing B.C.s gas resources would be highly carbon-intensive. Proposals may also re-emerge for LNG export facilities in Canadas East Coast. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. None of this could happen quickly enough to affect the immediate global energy security situation, and the economic viability of such projects would remain uncertain against the ongoing backdrop of widespread decarbonization in response to climate change. The trajectory of Canadas recent greenhouse gas emissions has already been drifting upwards, making the achievement of the federal governments 2030 and 2050 goals increasingly difficult. The pressures to expand fossil fuel exports will deepen these challenges, even as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has again highlighted the growing impacts of a changing climate. One potential positive aspect at this stage may be that the prospect of oil and gas prices remaining elevated for the long term will accelerate public interest in Canadas own energy transition, particularly around electric vehicles. The new relationships between energy, geopolitical security and climate change policy flowing from the invasion of Ukraine are only beginning to emerge. Their ultimate directions along with the outcome of the war remain uncertain, but the implications for Canada, particularly in terms of reconciling the goals of security, energy and climate change policy, may be enormous. Mark Winfield is a professor of environmental and urban change at York University. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. We have, it seems, a problem with oversight. Many observers, including a city councillor who this week resigned in dismay from the Winnipeg Police Board, think the Winnipeg Police Service requires more of it. The people who lead the service, including its top commander, Chief Danny Smyth, seem more inclined to believe it is already subjected to too much. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) on Monday stepped away from the police board because "the boards relationship with city council has become dysfunctional, with ongoing arguments over respective roles and jurisdictions." He urged the province which is currently preparing legislation to reform the Police Services Act to "consider other alternatives for civilian oversight of policing," and in a subsequent interview said, "I dont know if (the board is) a productive use of anyones time." Meanwhile, at a time when the WPS is under intense scrutiny for its handling of or, some critics argue, its failure to handle the anti-mandate protest/occupation that disrupted Winnipegs downtown for several weeks, Mr. Smyth and other top officials have opted to join a subscription-based U.S. online publishing platform in an effort to disseminate their perspectives on policing in an unfiltered and unchallenged manner. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth complains of an ideological shift and a harshness about reporting on police that too often serves to undermine trust and confidence in policing. In a post on the WPSs Substack page, which is titled "Tried and True," Mr. Smyth opens by asking, "How do we tell our story? What is the best way to communicate with our employees or with the public?" He acknowledges the service employs social-media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) to get its message out, but laments the manner in which the WPS is portrayed in more conventional media. "There was a time when traditional/legacy media could be relied upon to tell a balanced story," Mr. Smyth writes. "Sure, they could ask tough questions, but at the end of the day, they usually portrayed stories involving the police fairly. I am not so sure about that anymore." He complains of an "ideological shift" and a "harshness about reporting on police that too often serves to undermine trust and confidence in policing." Substack, he concludes, is "worth a try" as a means to "tell our story." There was a time when traditional/legacy media could be relied upon to tell a balanced story... Sure, they could ask tough questions, but at the end of the day, they usually portrayed stories involving the police fairly. I am not so sure about that anymore." Chief Danny Smyth Except, it really isnt "worth a try," because the concern of the WPS should not be shaping public opinion in its favour by skirting traditional mechanisms of accountability and instead offering a concocted rendering of its "story" in a forum that is more familiarly used by creative writers and journalists seeking to be freed of editorial oversight. The WPSs concern should be protecting the public and, as it is afforded the discretion of employing force up to and including the deadly variety when circumstances dictate to do so, it should be fully willing to answer publicly for the actions it takes in upholding the law. Mr. Smyth can be excused for feeling the glare of the public-accountability spotlight has grown exponentially more intense. Particularly after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020, law-enforcement practices everywhere have been analyzed and criticized, and large-scale protests have called for the "defunding" of police services as they are currently configured. Particularly after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020, lawenforcement practices everywhere have been analyzed and criticized, and largescale protests have called for the defunding of police services as they are currently configured. But the response to such scrutiny should be dialogue, reflection and reform, not a defensive retreat to a bunker from which glorified blog posts are dispatched in the hope of "telling our story." Police behaviour itself, not media reporting about it, will dictate public opinion. By dint of its role as a protector of citizens, the WPS must be fully accountable. The promised legislative reforms must create the mechanisms that assure it is, and its top officer should focus on reforming WPS practices accordingly rather than defiantly seeking to reshape the narrative. War and the potential for further unrest in eastern Europe has redirected at least one Manitoban seeking an end to their time on the provinces surgery wait lists. War and the potential for further unrest in eastern Europe has redirected at least one Manitoban seeking an end to their time on the provinces surgery wait lists. Former radio DJ and current Great Tastes of Manitoba host Dez Daniels will be on an operating table today, getting her right hip replaced in a Mexican hospital, instead of a facility in Lithuania. Daniels, who like some Manitobans tired of waiting in pain due to long surgical wait times made even worse by COVID-19 pandemic delays, had originally opted for getting out-of-pocket surgery in the Baltic country, but the initial build up of Russian forces which has since culminated in the invasion of Ukraine changed her mind. DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Dez Daniels, host of Great Tastes of Manitoba, had originally opted for getting out-of-pocket surgery in the Baltic country, but the initial build up of Russian forces which has since culminated in the invasion of Ukraine changed her mind. "I was booked for surgery in Lithuania in April," the 48-year-old said Thursday by phone from Mexico. "Then, there was all this potential unrest near there and I decided as much as I wanted to go to Lithuania, I didnt feel safe. I pivoted and have come to Mexico. "When you cant walk, you dont want to be in a position where you have to run." Lithuania, part of the former Soviet Union that declared its Independence in 1990, shares a border with Belarus, which has supported the Russian invasion. If it hadnt been for a bout of COVID-19, Daniels would already be weeks into recovery. When you cant walk, you dont want to be in a position where you have to run. Dez Daniels "I was originally booked for surgery in Lithuania on Jan. 27, but then I contracted COVID over Christmas," she said. "The policy is if you had a positive test, you cant have surgery for three months even if you have a negative test. So I pushed it back to April." However, Daniels said, whether Lithuania, Mexico or even Winnipeg she needed the surgery now and wasnt willing to wait 18 months, a length that didnt appear to be changing. Her hip had deteriorated due to osteoarthritis. "Ive been in so much pain I havent been able to do many things," she said. "Its a constant pain. I cant even lie down in any position without feeling it. SUPPLIED Dez Daniels on her way to Mexico for a hip replacement. "It is almost a negotiation with my body all the time. I can walk short distances, but then the pain becomes intolerable. These are things I never thought of before. I was a runner. It seems cliche, but it is the simple things I miss doing. "But as wonderful as Mexico is, I would 100 per cent rather be doing this at home." Daniels isnt the only Manitoban so fed up waiting for surgery they have paid for the procedure elsewhere. In recent months, Max Johnson, former owner of a local travel agency, travelled to Lithuania for a knee replacement. Other Manitobans have paid to have surgical procedures in Latvia, the United States, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS In recent months, Max Johnson, former owner of a local travel agency, travelled to Lithuania for a knee replacement. Doctors Manitoba said Thursday the overall backlog of diagnostic and surgical procedures due to the pandemic has jumped by 7,748 in the last month, to 161,585. The backlog for hip and knee replacements has actually dropped dramatically but not because of a surgeons scalpel. Doctors Manitoba said it had estimated the backlog for those surgeries at 9,616. However, spokesman Keir Johnson admitted Thursday the organization had based its original number on a 2019 statistic, which was later updated by Manitoba Health. "We didnt notice it had changed," Johnson said. "(The surgical wait time) task force bought it to our attention. But, in the end, it doesnt mean any changes for the people on the list." Johnson said he knows why people who can are opting for surgeries elsewhere. "I totally understand why people are doing it," he said. "We really need to bring more capacity here to get more done here." I totally understand why people are doing it... We really need to bring more capacity here to get more done here. Keir Johnson, spokesperson for Doctors Manitoba Daniels said it was to cost about $15,000 to have surgery in Lithuania; moving it to Mexico will cost her an extra $5,000-$6,000. "I looked elsewhere in Canada for the surgery and it would have cost me $30,000, so it is still less to be here," she said. "This isnt an option for a lot of people I dont take this for granted." Daniels called for "immediate government intervention" to clear wait lists. "A new hip or knee means a return to a basic quality of life for people, including everything from being able to work at full capacity, care for our families and, honestly, just take a walk around the block as a means of helping support ones mental health." kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. LVIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia's airplanes and artillery widened their assault on Ukraine on Friday, striking airfields in the west and a major industrial hub in the east, as Moscow's forces tried to regroup from recent losses and their onslaught fast reduced crowded cities to rubble. Relatives and friends attend the funeral of senior police sergeant Roman Rushchyshyn in the village of Soposhyn, outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Lviv. Rushchyshyn, a member of the Lviv Special Police Patrol Battalion, was killed in the Luhansk Region. Temporary cease-fires to allow evacuations and humanitarian aid have repeatedly faltered, with Ukraine accusing Russia of continuing its bombardments. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) LVIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia's airplanes and artillery widened their assault on Ukraine on Friday, striking airfields in the west and a major industrial hub in the east, as Moscow's forces tried to regroup from recent losses and their onslaught fast reduced crowded cities to rubble. American defense officials offered an assessment of the Russian air campaign, estimating that invading pilots are averaging 200 sorties a day, compared with five to 10 for Ukrainian forces, which are focusing more on surface-to-air missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and drones to take out Russian aircraft. New commercial satellite images appeared to capture artillery firing on residential areas between Russian forces and the capital. The images from Maxar Technologies showed muzzle flashes and smoke from the big guns, as well as impact craters and burning homes in the town of Moschun, outside Kyiv, the company said. In a devastated village east of the capital, villagers climbed over toppled walls and flapping metal strips in the remnants of a pool hall, restaurant and theater freshly blown apart by Russian bombs. Russian President Vladimir Putin created this mess, thinking he will be in charge here, 62-year-old Ivan Merzyk said. In temperatures sinking below freezing, villagers quickly spread plastic wrap or nailed plywood over blown out windows of their homes. Firefighters help a woman to evacuate from a damaged by shelling apartment building in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) We are not going away from here, Merzyk said. On the economic and political front, the U.S. and its allies moved to further isolate and sanction the Kremlin. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia and also ban imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The move to revoke Russia's most favored nation status was taken in coordination with the European Union and Group of Seven countries. Relatives and friends mourn the body of senior police sergeant Roman Rushchyshyn in the village of Soposhyn, outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Lviv. Rushchyshyn, a member of the Lviv Special Police Patrol Battalion, was killed in the Luhansk Region. Temporary cease-fires to allow evacuations and humanitarian aid have repeatedly faltered, with Ukraine accusing Russia of continuing its bombardments. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) The free world is coming together to confront Putin, Biden said. On the ground, Russia's forces appeared to be trying to regroup and regain momentum after encountering heavier losses and stiffer resistance than anticipated over the past two weeks. Britain's Ministry of Defense said Russia is trying to re-set and re-posture its troops, gearing up for operations against Kyiv. Its ugly already, but its going to get worse, said Nick Reynolds, a warfare analyst at Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a long line of people and cars waiting by the damaged Irpin River bridge during the Russian invasion, in Irpin, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP) With the invasion in its 16th day, Putin said there had been certain positive developments in Russia-Ukraine talks, but gave no details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Ukrainian forces had reached a strategic turning point," though he did not elaborate. Its impossible to say how many days we will still need to free our land, but it is possible to say that we will do it," he said via video from Kyiv. Ukrainian refugees wait at Przemysl train station, southeastern Poland, on Friday, March 11, 2022. Thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.3 million have fled the country since Russian troops crossed into Ukraine on Feb. 24. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Zelenskyy said authorities were working on establishing 12 humanitarian corridors and trying to ensure food, medicine and other basics get to people across the country. Thousands of soldiers on both sides are believed to have been killed in the invasion, along with Ukrainian civilians. He accused Russia of kidnapping the mayor of one city, Melitopol, calling the abduction a new stage of terror. The Biden administration, citing American intelligence but no evidence, warned before the invasion of Russian plans to detain and kill targeted people in Ukraine. Zelenskyy himself would be a likely top target. So far, the Russians have made the biggest advances on cities in the east and south while struggling in the north and around Kyiv. A Ukrainian serviceman takes a photograph of a damaged church after shelling in a residential district in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Russia said it used high-precision long-range weapons to put military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west out of action. The attack on Lutsk killed four Ukrainian servicemen, the mayor said. Russian airstrikes also targeted for the first time Dnipro, a major industrial hub in the east and Ukraines fourth-largest city, with about 1 million people. One person was killed, Ukrainian officials said. In images of the aftermath released by Ukraines emergency agency, firefighters doused a flaming building, and ash fell on bloodied rubble. Smoke billowed over shattered concrete where buildings once stood. People carry a giant Ukrainian flag to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a celebration of Lithuania's independence in Vilnius, Lithuania, Friday, March 11, 2022. Lithuania celebrated the 32th anniversary of its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on Friday, recalling the seminal events that set the Baltic nation on a path to freedom and helped lead to the collapse of the U.S.S.R. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) The bombardment continued in Mariupol, where a deadly strike on a maternity hospital this week sparked international outrage and war-crime allegations. Unrelenting attacks have thwarted repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians from Mariupol, a city of 430,000. In a statement, the Mariupol mayor's office said Friday that the toll of people killed during the now 12-day siege had risen to 1,582. In the face of the unrelenting bombing, the dead aren't even being buried," the mayor's office said. A Ukrainian woman stands as other refugees arrive from Lviv to Przemysl train station, southeastern Poland, on Friday, March 11, 2022. Thousands of people have been killed and more than 2.3 million have fled the country since Russian troops crossed into Ukraine on Feb. 24. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Elsewhere, temperatures were forecast to hit -13 degrees Celsius (8 Fahrenheit) in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which has come under heavy bombardment. About 400 apartment buildings in Kharkiv lost heat, and Mayor Ihor Terekhov appealed to remaining residents to descend into the subway or other underground shelters where blankets and hot food were being distributed. The latest assaults came a day after satellite photos appeared to show that the huge armored column that was stalled for over a week outside Kyiv had spread out near the capital. Protesters hold banners during a rally against Russia's invasion of Ukraine,Friday, March 11, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Military analysts were divided over whether the maneuvering by the Russian convoy signaled the imminent start of a siege of Kyiv or was just an effort to disperse some vehicles to more protected positions. The photos showed howitzers newly set up in firing position, and armored units staged near the Antonov Airport north of the city, according to Maxar. Americans point instead to other forces that are moving toward Kyiv from the northeast and are now about 20 to 30 kilometers (about 10 to 20 miles) east of the city center. Hundreds of miles to the south of Kyiv, at Mykolaiv, shelling damaged a cancer hospital, according to the head doctor, Maksim Beznosenko. No one was killed. A woman who was evacuated from Irpin cries kissing a cat wrapped in a blanket at a triage point in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022. A large scale evacuation operation of residents of a satellite area of capital Kyiv continued Friday, with more and more people deciding to leave areas now under Russian control. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) The United Nations says it has verified 26 attacks on medical centers, medical workers or ambulances since the invasion began, with 12 people killed. The U.N. political chief said Friday that the international organization had received credible reports that Russian forces were using cluster bombs in populated areas. The bombs scatter smaller explosives over a wide area and are prohibited in cities and towns under international law. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Russians and Ukrainians have held multiple rounds of talks near the Belarus border, and the two countries' foreign ministers met again Thursday with no apparent progress. Various third countries have also made attempts to broker a stop to the fighting. Galina helps clean the house of a neighbour that was damaged by a Russian bombing in Baryshivka, east of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Some 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the United Nations. ___ Associated Press journalists Felipe Dana and Andrew Drake in Kyiv, Ukraine, along with other reporters around the world contributed. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine In the two weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine on the orders of Vladimir Putin, thousands have died, and the attacks reached a new level of horror when a Russian airstrike targeted a maternity and childrens hospital in the city of Mariupol Wednesday. As Ukrainians scramble to evacuate and find refuge in neighboring countries, Ukraine native Olena Belka of La Crosse is working tirelessly to bring her own family to the U.S., fearful for the lives of her siblings and their children. While the exact death toll is unknown, reports estimate some 600 to 800 civilians, at least 50 of them children, and 2,000 to 4,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed. When Belka was visiting family in Ukraine last month, residents were not anticipating an attack, with Belka saying officials stated, Do not worry about it. Belkas flight home had just landed when she learned the bombing had started. The Tribune talked to Belka the day after she arrived back in La Crosse, and now some 12 days later Belka says, We view this conflict completely differently being the second week into it. It is clearly a war against the Ukrainian people as the free European nation. And they fight for all of us with remarkable heroism. Belka interviewed with the Tribune this week, sharing her thoughts on government responses, local support, and her fight to get her relatives out of Ukraine her brothers, she says, are still in high spirit to resist but also very scared None of us believe anymore that the Russian government is rationalizing their actions at all. How has your view of the crisis in Ukraine changed since we last spoke? Belka: I am watching Russian news almost every day. They see this war as a defensive act, calling soldiers to become national heroes by killing so called Nazis among Ukrainians. (There is no) common sense Russians bombing suburbs and downtowns of the big cities where no military bases are present or despite the fact that President (Volodymyr) Zelensky is Jewish and gained 73% of all votes. Then suddenly threatening nuclear power? Our nation performs a great resistance but we dont know how long we can stand without help that President Zelensky (is requesting from) the U.S. and allies. What are Ukrainians supposed to do? (Must) we give up and let Putin take over our land because Ukraine is outside of the NATO bloc and has no real help? Wouldnt it be a green light to invade non-members of NATO such as Moldova, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and Switzerland? Would NATO refuse to help if tomorrow the Russian army invades Sweden or Finland? Would Finland withstand this aggression on its own like Ukraine now does? (The) message (that) we send Putin may just be what we receive. How do you feel about the response from the U.S. government? What actions would you like to see from President Biden or local legislators? Belka: We all, as Ukrainian Americans and many American born-citizens, are ready to accept our brothers and sisters as refugees. We have the ability to help them to learn English, provide them with shelter, food and jobs. Most of the Ukrainians have bachelors and master degrees and helping these people will (benefit) our economy and international politics. The U.S. cares and this is the message we should immediately send to the world. We are endlessly thankful to all European countries for opening borders to Ukrainians. But shame on us! I called two senators in Wisconsin and was told there is nothing they can do to bring refugees (here) even for those Ukrainian Americans who live and have businesses in the States. If the U.S. government doesnt acknowledge the refugees, it doesnt acknowledge the fact that Russia has declared war on a European country. Would you vote for leaders of the greatest nation who dont take responsibility for their actions and guarantees of peace in the war time? If Biden and the administration cant make those executive decisions to accept refugees, people will make them for the U.S government. How are your efforts to help your family come to the U.S. going? What obstacles are you facing? Belka: So far, we hit the wall. I spoke to an immigration officer from Milwaukee and I explained that I would like to take full responsibility for two families, provide them with housing and sponsor them so they dont burden the government (with those responsibilities). Unfortunately, the officer said with the current policies on this crisis it will take me from five to 10 years to reunite with my sisters and brothers. We dont have 10 years we have days that usually start with the bombing on Ukrainian citizens and cost them lives. Do you feel U.S. residents, and the La Crosse community, are showing support for Ukraine? Belka: (Its been the) greatest support I have ever experienced. I am being (flooded) with messages (about) How can we help your family? Recently I was invited by my Danish friend Lisbeth Reynertson to the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center (for a concert which was adapted in response to the crisis) and dedicated to Ukrainian music. I sent my family a video of the choir singing a song in the Ukrainian language right from the middle of the deep Midwest: La Crosse. I also keep in contact with (family) every single day and send them messages (from) people who they dont know, who speak a different language (English) and who deeply care about them. I want them to be inspired and stay alive. Belka requests anyone who is able to assist with bringing her family to the states, or direct her to resources, to email her at lemsbelka@gmail.com. Any help would be highly appreciated, Belka says. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Gods Little Miracles, a preschool program for 3-year-old children at St. Katharine Drexel School in Beaver Dam, is expanding to five days a week in fall. The preschool program is open to children of any faith who are 3 years old by Sept. 1 of the year enrolled. Not too long ago it moved from two to three days a week. We found that of the other schools in our deanery (Catholic regional area), we were the only school that did not have a five-day preschool program, said Principal Jennifer Crombie. Were excited to be able to offer it for the 2022-23 school year. Class time will be from 8:15 to 11 a.m. weekdays, with before and after preschool care available. Crombie said school families were surveyed about their wants and needs and it was determined that changing the program to five days would be welcome. We have more families coming in that are looking for a full-day experience, she said. According to the schools website, its philosophy is to encourage the full development of each individual physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and morally with the help of parents, who are a childs primary teachers. Crombie said the curriculum for 3-year-old students is play-based and by expanding it allows more opportunities for kids to explore their world. She noted that the coronavirus did impact the number of kids currently attending the preschool program. Were hoping that more will join us next year and see what a wonderful place this is to be, she said. The program is available for up to 20 children, with instruction provided by a teacher and classroom aid. St. Katharine Drexel School is also a Beaver Dam Unified School District 4K site for four-year-old students. The district is offering a full-day 4K section for the first time at Jefferson Elementary School in fall. SKDS will continue to offer its daily morning and afternoon 4K program. For more information on registration and tuition, call SKDS at 920-885-5558. Follow Kelly Simon on Twitter @KSchmidSimon or contact her at 920-356-6757. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JUNEAU A 45-year-old Milwaukee man was bound over for trial on Thursday for charges related to allegedly firing a gun at his girlfriend while he was driving through Dodge County on I-41. Daniea Lanier, currently housed in the Dodge County Jail, is charged with felony counts of second degree recklessly endangering safety, use or attempted force while intimidating a victim, possession of firearm by a convicted felon and a misdemeanor count of operating firearm while intoxicated. If convicted of all the charges, Lanier could face up to 30 years in prison. Lanier appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger who found enough evidence during his preliminary hearing to move the case along. According to the criminal complaint, a Dodge County deputy responded to a domestic incident complaint on Feb. 24 around 10:45 a.m. on I-41 and Highway 49 in the town of Lomira. The vehicle had been stopped by the Wisconsin State Patrol and Washington County Sheriffs Office on I-41 following a 911 call with no voice contact with the caller. Dispatch could hear a man saying he was going to kill the woman. The deputy interviewed the woman who said that the two had been dating for about two years and they were out for a drive. According to the complaint, she said that she began yelling at Lanier because of his driving habits and they started arguing. She said that he had hit her with a closed fist at one point and did so about five times. The woman said they were around Lomira when he had the gun out and was threatening to shoot her. At one point, the woman said Lanier shot at her but the bullet went in the glovebox. A bullet hole was seen on the glovebox door. A 9mm pistol, a small amount of marijuana and two liquor bottles were found in the vehicle. Lanier spoke to officers, but denied anything happening besides the argument and denied having a gun. Lanier submitted to a preliminary breathalyzer test which resulted in the reading of .105. A second reading had shown a result of .074, and was taken about an hour later. An arraignment is scheduled April 11. Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail for lying to police in hate crime hoax No one injured after bullet shot through apartment window in Rome Ukrainian forces have claimed to have killed a top Russian commander in an ambush on tanks that they forced into retreat outside Kyiv. Footage showed a column of Russian tanks being fired at in the town of Brovary, on the northeastern outskirts of the capital. Huge explosions are seen when a number of tanks are hit by projectiles in a residential area of the town. Ukraine has claimed that Colonel Andrei Zakharov was killed, but this has not been independently verified. Ukrainian troops said they forced the tanks to retreat during the ongoing Russian invasion that has seen Vladimir Putins forces fail to capture Kyiv. Russian troops had to move to the defence as a result of losses of personnel and equipment, according to Ukrainian defence intelligence quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency. It added: In particular, the commander of the regiment, Colonel A Zakharov, was liquidated. At least five other Russian commanders have been killed since the invasion was launched two weeks ago, Ukraine has claimed. Andrei Zakharov awarded the Order of Courage by Vladimir Putin in 2016 (Kremlin.ru) The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that Russia was facing continued losses. Mr Putin could be forced to draw from other sources of fighters, the MoD said, because of dwindling manpower as a result of the high number of casualties within his armys ranks. He could also resort to hiring mercenaries from the Wagner Group, it has previously been reported, as a number of troops from ally Belarus are said to be refusing to engage in combat. Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian ally Alexander Lukashenko (EPA-EFE) Despite Mr Putins forces having so far failed to capture Kyiv, they have continued their heavy bombardment of many towns and cities since he ordered the invasion on 24 February. On Wednesday, in the Black Sea port city of Mariupol, three people including a child were killed when a maternity hospital was bombed during what was meant to be, a ceasefire, according to Ukrainian officials. An injured pregnant woman after the maternity hospital was bombed (AP) The attack drew fierce condemnation from leaders around the world, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky describing it as a war crime and his British counterpart Boris Johnson said it was barbaric. Story continues Mariupol is surrounded by Russian forces who are besieging the city, but it is still in Ukrainian hands, officials said. Mr Zelensky warned Russian leaders that the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine will backfire and make Russian citizens hate them. He said in a video released on Thursday: You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes. Mariupol. Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity. pic.twitter.com/FoaNdbKH5k (@ZelenskyyUa) March 9, 2022 Russians will also feel the consequences of harsh economic sanctions imposed by the west on individuals and entities, he added. Mr Zelensky said: And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens everyone you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children. Meanwhile, Mr Putin said the sanctions were illegimate and Russia would solve the problems posed by them in a calm fashion. Addressing a government meeting, he also said Moscow a major energy producer which supplies a third of Europes gas would continue to meet its contractual obligations. Speaking at the same meeting, finance minister Anton Siluanov said the west had defaulted on its obligations to Russia by freezing its gold and foreign currency reserves. Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui (F) delivers a speech at Fructuoso Rodriguez secondary school in Havana, Cuba, March 7, 2022. [Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua] HAVANA, March 7 (Xinhua) Samuel Zayas, a 12-year-old secondary student from the Havana District of Plaza de la Revolucion, was happy to start learning Chinese as an optional subject. He is among nearly 130 seventh graders from Fructuoso Rodriguez secondary school who will benefit from Chinese classes during the new academic year. "I am opening the doors to my future," he told Xinhua. "China is a very important economic power in the international arena. Learning Chinese will be difficult in the very beginning, but I feel I have made a wise decision." Marcelo Rodriguez, 12, said that the course will help him better interact with the world of technology and get insights into the impressive achievements of China over the past decades. "If I travel to China, I will be able to communicate with native speakers," he said. "No one knows what the future holds for me." For the first time in this Caribbean nation, Cuban Ministry of Education on Monday introduced a Chinese language course into secondary education. Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui said the two countries have taken a significant step to develop their relations through culture and education. "Learning a foreign language is very important," he said at the opening ceremony of the course. "I am fully convinced that knowing about Chinese culture and language will bring many opportunities for students in the future." The Chinese Embassy in Cuba has provided the school with textbooks, dictionaries, handbooks, and traditional toys to be used as teaching aids during the Chinese language lessons. School principal Carlos Camejo voiced confidence in the success of the course, saying more educational centers across the country would join the initiative in the coming years. "China and Cuba have a solid brotherhood," he told Xinhua. "I do not doubt that Chinese language classes will be very positive for the intellectual development of our students." Over the past few years, the interest in studying Chinese has grown in Cuba as Cuba-China relations continued to strengthen. Chinese language teacher Hou Jiaqi, 26, told Xinhua that she felt honored to be working in Cuba as part of a new professional experience. "I hope that my pupils can eventually become proficient speakers of Chinese and this course could continue to pave the way toward enhancing the bonds between China and Cuba," she said. Chinese language teacher Hou Jiaqi (1st, L) teaches Chinese language course at Fructuoso Rodriguez secondary school in Havana, Cuba, March 7, 2022. [Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Adnan Sayed was convicted in 2000 of irst-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping and false imprisonment in the 1999 death of Hae Min Lee. The case was the subject of the popular podcast "Serial." Conservation agriculture, a system-based approach to soil and water conservation, high crop productivity and profitability, has significantly expanded over the last several decades, and has a growing foothold across the Finger Lakes region. Yet, as a knowledge-intensive and complex system to develop and implement, and due to the fact that many generations-old family farms maintain steadfast traditions, adoption rates have only recently accelerated. New Yorks largest dairy farms, which optimize field crop yields and milk production using sophisticated technologies, also leverage a system-based approach to improve farm efficiency and meet the demands of permitting guidelines provided by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Concentrated animal feeding operations that make up some of the largest dairies in the state use sophisticated Certified Nutrient Management Plans for guiding conservation agriculture, with the ultimate aim to conserve soil and water and improve sustainability over the long term. Owners and operators from the four CAFOs having a footprint within the Owasco Lake watershed have demonstrated soil and water stewardship not only through their recent advancements in conservation agriculture, but also through their volunteered time and engagement with local partners to get projects underway that further advance conservation measures toward soil health and watershed protection. For example, the recently recommended community consensus Owasco Lake Watershed Rules and Regulations, which are currently under review by the state Department of Health, had critical stakeholder participation by agricultural leaders within the farming community. The compromises that were made as part of that community process would never have come to pass if it were not for the involvement of those local leaders. Conservation agriculture utilizes soil science to evaluate soil conditions and drive actions that maintain a nutrient mass balance across an entire farmstead. For example, producers do not experience conservation and therefore financial benefits for garnering soils that are depleted in nutrients, minerals and beneficial bacteria. Likewise, the same holds true for soils that have those critical soil constituents in excess. Spruce Haven Farm, which has a small footprint in the Owasco Lake watershed, has identified this paradigm and has taken a big step to acknowledge and handle excess manure phosphorus. Over the past several years, Spruce Haven has supported a state Energy Research and Development Authority-funded pilot project to evaluate the physical and chemical removal of phosphorus from excess manure on the farm. Doug Young, owner of Spruce Haven, expressed his desire to provide an industry service toward improved farm efficiency and optimization. According to the farms soil tests, there was a period of time when some of Young's fields exhibited phosphorus in excess. Rather than spread manure on those fields or incur associated transportation and distribution costs to spread on more distant fields, the farm welcomed a new solution. Spruce Haven offered to pilot an innovative technology aimed at creating a concentrated phosphorus product that could reduce distribution costs, better situate farms to reduce manure volume, and improve the agronomic value of manure to advance precision applications for phosphorus depleted soils. Mr. Young, a self-described person of faith, explained Theres a duty for stewardship. We have a moral drive to make positive strides toward improving efficiency and protecting the environment. Adam Effler, Ph.D., is executive director of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council. For more information, visit olwmc.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 First minister urges public to have their say as draft terms of reference for UK-wide covid-19 inquiry published The first minister is encouraging people across Wales to take part in a consultation about the terms of reference for the UK-wide Covid-19 inquiry. Yesterday the prime minister released the draft terms for the inquiry, which will examine, consider and report on the pandemic preparations and response in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The draft terms, which can be viewed in full here, will explore the central, devolved and local public health decision-making and its consequences, the economic impact of the pandemic and the response of the health and care sector across the UK. The Welsh Government, together with the other devolved governments, were consulted ahead of the publication of the draft terms of reference. First Minister Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government has made concerted representations to the Prime Minister to ensure the experiences of people in Wales will be properly and thoroughly reflected in the inquiry. However the Welsh Government has resisted pressure from opposition parties and campaign groups to hold a Wales-specific coronavirus inquiry. Mr Drakeford has continually argued that provided there is a specific Welsh focus in the UK-wide inquiry, he believes that is the best way to move ahead. The consultation will be led by the chair of the inquiry Baroness Heather Hallett. The first minister said: The pandemic has touched all of our lives in different ways and I would encourage everyone to take part in this process and provide their feedback. I have met representatives from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group. Their experiences and comments were also directly reflected in our representations to the Prime Minister about the terms of reference. I am strongly committed to an independent inquiry and I have always believed the best way to achieve this is through a UK-wide, judge-led inquiry. Joint investigation leads to identification of North Wales soldier killed almost 105 years ago A combined investigation has enabled the grave of a Flintshire born member of 10th Battalion The Welsh Regiment to be rededicated nearly 105 years after his death. Second Lieutenant Sam Hughes was 25 when killed during trench raids in the La Boutillerie Subsector, south of Armentieres in France, on 6 November 1917. He was born in Bagillt and lived in Wrexham before the war. He enlisted into The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, arriving on the Western Front on 2 December 1915. On 25 January 1917 he was Commissioned and joined The Welsh Regiment. His only sibling, Gunner Isaac Newton Hughes was killed just two weeks after him on 20 November 1917 and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial. New headstones now bear the names of 2 Lt Hughes along with Company Serjeant Major David Jones DCM, who was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, in 1890. The headstones were the centrepiece of a rededication service that was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions (CWGC) Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, in northern France on Thursday 10 March. The service was organised by the MODs Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the MOD War Detectives. The final resting place of 2 Lt Hughes was identified after evidence collated by researcher Steve John and was submitted to the CWGC. Further research by the National Army Museum and MODs JCCC led to the location of 2Lt Hughess grave being confirmed. Whilst investigating the case, Rosie Barron a caseworker within MOD JCCC, confirmed the adjacent grave must belong to CSM Jones. Rosie Barron, JCCC said: It has been a privilege to organise this rededication service for 2Lt Hughes and CSM Jones. These men died on the same day and are likely to have known each other well. It seems fitting that we now know they lie next to each other in Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery and that we have been able to honour their memories today in the presence of their regimental family. The service was attended by serving soldiers of The Yorkshire Regiment and The Royal Welsh as well as veterans of The Royal Welsh Association and was conducted by the Reverend Ben Norton CF, Chaplain to 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. The Reverend Norton said: To be able to lead the rededication services for Second Lieutenant Sam Hughes and Company Serjeant Major David Jones DCM from The Welsh Regiment is a tremendous honour. Reading their names and hearing their stories brings home to me personally their stoic courage and love for their fellow men. We walk in their footsteps and embrace the light of hope that they have passed to us through their sacrifice. We hold them in our prayers as we commend them to God. 2Lt Hughes and CSM Jones, were killed during trench raids in the La Boutillerie Subsector, south of Armentieres in France, on 6 November 1917. They were recovered and buried by the Germans in Beaucamps Communal Cemetery German Extension. After the war, their remains were moved into Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery and the two men were buried next to each other. As their identities were unknown, their names were recorded on the Ploegsteert Memorial. In October 1917 CSM Jones had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). The citation for his medal published in the London Gazette read: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. Reorganising part of his company, which had become detached, he led them forward and regained touch with the main body, and afterwards with four privates he attacked and captured an enemy strong point and killed the garrison. He showed fine qualities of resource and initiative. Sadly, CSM Jones did not live to receive the medal, which was instead presented to his parents following his death. The headstones over their graves have been replaced by the CWGC. Xavier Puppinck, CWGC Area Director for France said: We are grateful to the dedicated researcher who submitted the case for the identification of Second Lieutenant Hughes. We were delighted when the MOD JCCC was able to expand their investigation to the adjoining grave, which has now been established as that of Company Sergeant Major Jones. Commemorated on a Memorial to the Missing for almost 100 years, their graves can now be marked by CWGC headstones bearing their names. Wrexham to be part of new family court pilot to stop victims and their children feeling re-traumatised by process Victims of domestic abuse will receive better support as part of a new approach being piloted in family courts with Wrexham part of the scheme. UK Government have said the new pilot launched at family courts in North Wales and Dorset aims to improve information sharing between agencies such as the police, local authorities and the courts. This could include local domestic abuse professionals sharing risk assessments with the court to spare victims and parties in the case the trauma of having to unnecessarily repeat their experiences. Crucially they say it will also boost the voice of children at every stage of the process, ensuring they are listened to and their views are taken into account when decisions are made about their futures. It will see children given more opportunity to explain how they feel and, following a court order, to say whether it is working for them. The pilots work by allowing judges to review gathered information and request more documentation before a case gets to court. It avoids the circumstances of the case being debated in the courtroom, which can often exacerbate conflict between parents. The pilot will also encourage proceedings to be less adversarial so that more emphasis can be put into investigating and addressing allegations of domestic abuse and other harmful behaviours rather than allowing confrontation in the courtroom to take place. Between three months and a year after a ruling is made, in most cases the courts and the agencies involved will carry out a review to ensure decisions made are working well. This includes assessing whether court orders are being followed and whether additional support is needed. Justice Minister Lord Wolfson QC said: This government is doing everything we can to protect victims, make them feel safer, and give them greater confidence in the justice system. These pilots will help ensure victims of domestic abuse arent further traumatised by the court process and that better decisions are made about their and their childrens lives. This, alongside our landmark Domestic Abuse Act, will ensure that victims are loudly heard and fully supported. The pilot follows from a review of Family Courts which found that an adversarial process often worsened conflict between parents and could have a damaging impact on victims and their children. The announcement forms part of UK Governments reforms to transform the way family courts operate, contained in the Domestic Abuse Act. These include a ban on perpetrators cross-examining their victims as well as measures to prevent them from repeatedly bringing their ex-partners back to court which can be used as a form of continuing domestic abuse. Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales said, Every day I hear from domestic abuse survivors about their experiences in the family courts. Many victims and their children feel re-traumatised by the process which is why seeing improvements in the family courts is one of my top priorities as Commissioner I am delighted to see the Harm Panels recommendation to test a more investigative approach to domestic abuse cases now being piloted. Crucial to the success of these pilots will be ensuring that domestic abuse particularly coercive control and the impact it has on adult and child victims is fully understood and the risk it poses to survivors and children is taken into account throughout the proceedings. Rhian Lewis, Head of Operations / Deputy CEO, Domestic Abuse Safety Unit (DASU) North Wales added, DASU are very excited to be actively involved in the pathfinders pilot in North Wales. Many of the families that we support have felt let down by the Family Courts system stating that they felt that no one was listening to their experiences of domestic abuse and that perpetrators were able to continue to control and abuse them through this process. Survivors of domestic abuse have suffered enough. The Pathfinder pilot is a real opportunity to change the way that we support families that experience domestic abuse by recognising the risk, addressing safeguarding issues, reducing re-traumatisation and putting children and their non-abusive parent at the heart of the process. This system will improve their quality of life and put a stop to perpetrators being able to use the Family Courts as a means of exercising their control. The investigative pilot will be tested initially in Wrexham as well as Bournemouth and Weymouth in Dorset, and Caernarfon, Mold, Prestatyn in North Wales for up to two years before a full evaluation. AUBURN A man who robbed an Auburn bank in 2019 and then fled the state was sentenced Thursday in Cayuga County. Dustin W. Hall, 34, was accused of stealing more than $21,000 in a robbery in which he used a gun at Generations Bank on North Seward Avenue in June 2019. He was found in Pennsylvania around a month later following a multi-state manhunt. He pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court to a charge of first-degree robbery, a class B felony, in December. On Thursday, Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Valdina said Hall's previously agreed-upon sentence of 10 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision for the robbery count was contingent on if he paid the rest of the restitution owed to Generations Bank up front. Valdina noted that at one point during the Auburn Police Department's investigation, they found $9,250 in Hall's truck. Valdina said that Hall admitted that money was a part of the proceeds from the robbery. Hall needed to pay the remaining sum of around $12,000 as restitution to the bank and pay more than $6,000 in worker's compensation to a bank employee affected by in the incident. Joseph Centra, Hall's attorney, said that the money was set aside in escrow to be paid. At one point, Valdina said Hall "accepted responsibility fairly promptly." Valdina later mentioned that a bank teller at the scene was "absolutely traumatized." Before Judge Thomas Leone gave his sentence, he asked Hall if there was anything he wanted to say. Hall expressed regret for his actions. "I apologize to everyone who's been affected by this series of events," he said. But Hall also seemed to dispute the way the case was handled, saying "there's a lot wrong with this." Leone said Hall accepted responsibility in his pre-sentence investigation report, but the judge noted that "it sounds like you're trying to step back a little bit." Leone still accepted Hall's sentence of 10 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision. The DA's office previously said state police in Pennsylvania arrested Hall in July 2019, adding that Hall had two illegal handguns, one of which was believed to have been the weapon used in the Auburn robbery. Hall was convicted of felony gun possession in Pennsylvania and was sentenced to two years in prison there. After Hall served that time, the DA's office previously said, Hall was brought back to New York for his Cayuga County charges. The APD released photos and a description of Hall about a week after the robbery, seeking the public's help in finding him but warning that he was considered armed and dangerous. In early July, Auburn police started getting license plate reader hits on a vehicle connected with Hall in western New York near the border with Pennsylvania. Authorities in that area were contacted to be on the lookout, which resulted in Hall being located at a TA Travel Center in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. About 1 in 8 US high school students -- more than 2 million total -- said they had used tobacco products in the previous 30 days, the vast majority being e-cigarettes, according to results from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey. On the anniversary of her death 109 years ago, Harriet Tubman's life was the focus of an Auburn church's celebration, an event that had people NATOs long-planned conflict with Russia over Ukraine has triggered an explosion of imperialist militarism. British capitalism is fighting to keep its place as lead dog in the US war drive. After Brexit, the UK based its foreign policy on cleaving as closely as possible to US imperialism. It sought to strengthen its naval power in the Asia-Pacific, targeting China, while carrying on as Americas chief anti-Russian sabre rattler in Europe. The run up to and aftermath of the Ukraine war have been touted by Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government and its supporters as proof of the success of this policy, proclaiming Britains ability to marshal Europe behind the US even from outside the EU, by leveraging its military credentials. Tanks uploaded on military truck platforms as a part of additional British troops and military equipment arrive at Estonia's NATO Battle Group base in Tapa, Estonia, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Sergei Stepanov) However, Russias invasion has been used to justify a massive rearmament of the UKs European rivals. This is led by Germany, now planning a 100 billion German Army Special Fund and at least an additional 24 billion a year for the defence budget, meeting NATOs minimum 2 percent of GDP mandate. An open discussion has begun on the transformation of Europe into an independent military bloc. The Telegraph writes that the war in Ukraine has supercharged efforts to build an EU [European Union] army. Leading member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt told the Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung, We need a united EU military. The member states were always against it, now hopefully they are waking up. These moves, especially by the much larger economy of Germany, threaten to crowd Britain out of its coveted position as the premier military power in Europe. It has so far attempted to carry out its foreign policy objectives while maintaining defence spending at just over 2 percent GDP. Its two new multi-billion-pound aircraft carriers have been built as troop numbers have been steadily cut, from 24,940 in 2010 to a planned 19,400 by 2024/5. Europes military ambitions prompted the Guardian to argue in an editorial for the UK to seek a more balanced relationship with the EU and the US-dominated NATO. Declaring Putins military aggression a threat to both, the editors concluded, For the foreseeable future, British interests will require institutional partnership with the EU on the level of foreign and security policy. The Tory Brexiteers counter that there must now be a massive increase in UK military spending to maintain Britains standing on the world stage. On Tuesday, former Thatcher aide Nile Gardiner argued in the Daily Express, Defence spending should double from two percent to four percent in the coming years if Britain is serious about being a world power again that can stand up to the likes of Russia and China. Britain has demonstrated tremendous political leadership on so many fronts with regards to Ukraine but the reality is, we need to be able to fight and win a ground war against the Russians in Europe. We have to have that capability we had generations ago. UK military spending was almost 8 percent of GDP in the mid-1950s, a decade after World War Two, and was still 4 percent in 1980. Gardiners call is echoed in the highest echelons of the military and government. Sir Michael Fallon, defence minister under prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, told the Sunday Telegraph that the case for more spending was now unanswerable. He called for an immediate 25 percent increase building beyond 2.5 percent by the end of the Parliament. Thats the kind of ambition we need. General Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff intervened to demand an end to cutting the size of the army any further. Lord West, formerly a Labour government minister responsible for security and an adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, demanded, we should be looking at a minimum of 3 percent of GDP for defence. Tobias Ellwood, the Tory chair of the House of Commons defence select committee, argued for a minimum of 3 percent of gross domestic product if Britain wants not only to defend its interests but play an enhanced leadership role on the international stage in these uncertain times. The first mammoth increase will be announced in Chancellor Rishi Sunaks March 23 spring statement. Sky News reported Sunday that the Treasury received almost 9bn more in tax receipts in January 2022 and that two sources told the broadcaster most of this windfall was earmarked for military spending. This is only a down payment. Far more will come from savage cuts to social spending. Ben Zaranko, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, penned a revealing article for The Conversation on Monday, Defence cuts effectively paid for UK welfare state for 60 yearsbut that looks impossible after Ukraine. He writes, The peace dividend from lower spending on defence has, in effect, allowed successive governments to pay for a growing welfare state without having to increase the overall size of the state. In other words, more healthcare without a higher tax burden. Thats been a handy trickbut you can only repeat it for so long. Zaranko explains, If Germany succeeds in meeting its 2% of GDP target, the UK would need to boost its own spending by around 20% to retain its number two spot within Nato. Healthcare, pensions, welfare and education currently account for nearly 60 percent of all government spending. Total military spending, including military defence, civil defence, foreign military, foreign economic aid, and defence R&D, consumes 5 percent. Making resources available for a stepped-up military confrontation with Russia means radically shifting this balance. Within days of the outbreak of war in Ukraine, all social spending is being spoken of as an unaffordable luxury to be done away with. Sunday Telegraph editor Allister Heath spelled out how brutal the offensive will be: The post-Blairite era of social-democratic largesse must end: the state needs to refocus on its core function of defending lives, liberty and property. We require less redistribution, and enhanced resilience. This implies large spending cuts. The social care plan will need to be abandoned, the pensions triple-lock axed, the NHS reformed and numerous wasteful subsidies, pseudo-levelling-up policies and other programmes and handouts ended. The Blairite Labour Party has no differences with this agenda. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer was calling on Johnson even before the Russian invasion to reverse the governments plans to axe 9,000 soldiers and 79 tanks from the army after a decade of decline in the armed forces, in the words of the Times. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said yesterday he expects a big boost to defence in the Chancellors spring statement. Workers must be warned: This devastating onslaught on the living standards of millions is not being readied for the future. The offensive is underway, with the ruling class on a war footing abroad and at home. The government has already funnelled hundreds of millions of pounds to Ukraines government in the first weeks of the war and on Wednesday Defence Minister Ben Wallace vowed to step up its supply of arms, with the UK now sending anti-aircraft missiles. It has already sent over 3,600 anti-tank weapons as well as other small arms and ammunition. The cost of every one of these weapons will be clawed out of the backs of the working class. Recent statistics from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) show that three more children (ages 0-17) have died of COVID-19. On March 3, New York City updated its COVID mortality data with 2 new child deaths. On March 4, it reported another. This brings the total number of children that have died from COVID-19 in New York City during 2022 to six so far, and a total of 35 since the pandemic began. No information on these children and their families has become publicly available, although if it were, it is unlikely that the corporate media would report it. These tragic and avoidable deaths elicited no response from Democratic politicians, including Eric Adams, the mayor of the city, or Kathy Hochul, the states governor. The corporate media almost universally has blacked out even a mention of the deaths, although the online news site Gothamist noted them, even going so far as to question an official from the DOH. People line up to receive test kits to detect COVID-19 as they are distributed in the Lower East Side neighborhood in the Manhattan borough of New York Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) Predictably, the outlets own comment on the deaths was in tune with the months-long government-media propaganda effort to eliminate all COVID-19 mitigation. Pandemic interruptions to education and business have consequences, too, and people are ready to move on from the pandemic, the Gothamist noted glibly. Testing for COVID-19 in the city is at an all-time low from a peak of 185,000 on January 4 during the Omicron surge, to less than 40,000 a day this week. This may be partly due to the thousands of home tests that the city has given out, in addition to over-the-counter sales, whose results are not recorded in any public database. The city, as a result, has no reliable measure for the COVID-19 positivity rate. New York City announced last week that it will wind down its Test & Trace program on April 30, in keeping with the intention of state and federal authorities to stop tracking infections. On March 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it was rescinding its guidelines for contact tracing. While COVID-19 mitigations such as testing, contact tracing and social distancing have never been rigorously implemented, they did at least provide in some tools to slow the spread. The notable exception was in the school system, where systematic under-testing gave artificially low figures of infection that allowed Mayor Adams and his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, to claim that schools were the safest place in the city as a part of their campaign to keep schools open during the pandemic. The result was tens of thousands of student and staff infections and community spread of the virus during the Omicron surge that, according to one study, sickened some 47 percent of New Yorkers. Adams open-schools policy sparked widespread dissent from educators and parents and student walkouts in January. The most egregious and dangerous abandonment of COVID-19 mitigations in the city came on Monday, when students and staff were no longer required to wear masks in schools. This, too, followed a policy set by the Biden administration and implemented by the CDC and Democratic state governors. Already the masking mandates had been abolished in New York state outside of schools and public venues. Students between 2 and 5 years old will be required to mask because they are too young to be vaccinated. According to city statistics, however, only 56 percent of children between 5 and 17 are fully vaccinated. The figure is lower in poorer neighborhoods. The city has also lifted the already inadequate social distancing guidelines in school classrooms and auditoriums. Children who have been infected with COVID-19 are not required to test negative before they return to school. In a public statement, Adams repeated the unmasking canard that has been circulating in right-wing circles for months, and is now adopted by the Democrats, 'We want to see the faces of our children. Adams linked the dropping of this last COVID-19 mitigation to his plans to drop vaccination requirements for restaurants and other businesses. As he toured restaurants around the city on Monday, Adams remarked, I got to get my businesses open. I have to get people back in their offices. The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) fully endorsed Adams decision to drop the masking mandates. It issued a statement saying, Our unions doctors agree with the city that it is the right time to safely move to an optional mask system as long as all testing remains in place. As it has since March 2020, the UFT is doing whatever it can to facilitate the needs of the ruling class among educators. The consequences have been deadly. When the UFT says that it is the right time, to drop the masking mandate, it is condemning its membership to sickness and death. Infections from the BA.2 variant of COVID-19 are doubling every two weeks in New York State as a portion of positive tests that are genetically sequenced, now accounting for about one in ten of those cases. This follows a pattern internationally and, in the US, where BA.2 is now supplanting the omicron BA.1 variant. BA.2 is estimated by some scientists to be 30 percent more contagious that BA.1. Other studies show that the variant may be more vaccine-evading than BA.1 and that previous infection with BA.1 may offer little immune protection. The working class of New York City has been abandoned to mass infection from COVID-19 by the Democratic Party. This is nowhere truer than with educators, who, during the Omicron surge, endured their own sickness and that of children, absent colleagues and students herded into auditoriums. The dangers of removing masks and other COVID-19 mitigations have been suppressed in the corporate media. When serious discussion or doubts do emerge, they are completely overlaid by war hysteria on the Ukraine conflict, one of the desired purposes of the Biden administration in provoking conflict in the region. That has not muted a forceful reaction by educators, in particular to the lifting of the masking mandate. Most understand very well that it well further spread the virus. One educator on Twitter remarked in response to Adams, The whole idea of Take off your mask! I want to see you smile! is so ghoulish to me because it uses sweetness as a package for what is really an aggressive attempt to dominate and exercise power over someone weaker. Another educator said, @NYCMayor has made the entirety of NYC unsafe for medically vulnerable people. A New York City parent commented, consider the implications of making these decisions based on politics rather than the science. A Brooklyn teacher told the World Socialist Web Site: Instead of listening to experts and acting in accordance, we listened to businessman [and Bidens pandemic Czar] Jeffery Zients and discarded social distancing measures and lifesaving restrictions. We sacrificed eradication to protect corporations; the safety of our working families to protect the sanctity of profit; remote learning to protect our politicians war chests; and the safety of our workers to protect the economy. But nowhere in that equation, was one iota sacrificed to save the life of a child or a parent. Dropping the mask mandate is nothing less short of criminal. In a month to six weeks time, hospitals will be full again, deaths will rise; and politicians will say they never saw it coming. AGAIN. How much longer do we continue to tolerate such malfeasance before it becomes a crime against humanity? Linda, a parent from the Bronx told the WSWS: I feel our mayor doesnt care enough to know what's right and wrong or knows enough to stop telling lies to the people and the world that we're safe and you can unmask yourself when you don't actually know we are all safe from this virus. It has been here for two years. I don't feel this virus is gone. If that's the case, three kids wouldn't have passed on at such early age. The pandemic is not over, and the danger of world war has now become a threat to the lives of millions. The Northeast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee met on March 4 to discuss the relationship between the war drive against Russia by the American ruling class, both in its historical origins since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, and its relationship to the herd immunity policy now being imposed on the working class. Teachers on the committee emphasized the need for a break with the UFT and for action to eliminate COVID-19. The need for independent organizations of workers to fight the drive to world war was also raised during the meeting. In particular, the meeting focused on the class issues that lay at the root not only of war and the spread of COVID-19, but also in the development of an international movement by the working class to stop war and to eliminate the pandemic. Educators, parents and students who would like fight against world War III and for the elimination of COVID should join the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. On Tuesday, Philadelphia police announced the termination of the officer responsible for killing 12-year-old Thomas Siderio Jr. On March 1, Siderio was shot in the back as he ran away from two plainclothes police officers. While police initially claimed that Siderio, who is white, was holding a gun when he was shot, police sources told the Philadelphia Inquirer that video from neighbors indicates that Siderio may have tossed a weapon and was therefore unarmed when the fatal shot was fired. The officers were not wearing body cameras, as, according to Philadelphia policy, only uniformed police wear them. Police records obtained by the Inquirer report that on March 1, four undercover officers were in an unmarked car around 7:20 p.m. in South Philadelphia, allegedly staking out an area after a 17-year-old boy and 20-year-old man were seen on social media brandishing weapons. Thomas Siderio (family photo) Siderio and a 17-year-old boy were on bicycles when the plainclothes officers unmarked car approached them. The officers say they turned on their flashing lights, heard gunfire, saw their back window shatter, and then two of them gave chase to the two boys, firing four shots at them as they fled. At a March 8 press conference, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that the two officers, identified as Kwaku Sarpong and Edsaul Mendoza in police records, chased after Siderio, firing one shot each. According to Outlaw, while Sarpong maintained cover, Mendoza continued to pursue the boy, firing two more shots, one of which fatally hit him in the upper right back, exiting through his left chest. Kim Tomasetti, the mother of the 17-year-old who was with Siderio, disputed much of the official story. Her son told her the officers did not turn on their emergency lights or identify themselves as police before firing shots at the two boys. Tomasetti added that the boys were afraid that someone in the car was about to attack them and had no idea they were police officers. At the March 8 press conference, Outlaw announced the termination of Mendoza, although she refused to identify him by name, citing unspecified potential threats to his safety, and referring to him only as officer number 1. Police sources, however, confirmed to the Inquirer that Mendoza was the officer who will be terminated. It was clear that the use-of-force policy was violated, Outlaw said. Under Philadelphia police policy, officers should not shoot at a fleeing suspect who presents no immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury. She said it was certain that officer number 1 was the one who fired the shot that killed Siderio. In 1985, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Tennessee v. Garner that it violates the Constitution to shoot an unarmed, non-dangerous fleeing suspect, and that an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury is required before the police can open fire. Outlaw declined to specify where Siderios purported gun was located at the time Mendoza fired the final two shots or how close Siderio was to him. Given the unusual decision to terminate a police officer and Outlaws reference to the violation of the use-of-force policy, it is clear Siderio posed absolutely no threat when Mendoza shot him in the back. Outlaw, however, did continue to claim that Siderio fired a shot into the unmarked car, which Siderios familys lawyer, J. Connor Corcoran, disputes. Its unbelievable that [Outlaw] would refuse to provide factual evidence to the press about the details of the shooting that she has in her current possession, and then speculate egregiously as to whether or not my client had a gun in his hands, let alone fired one, he said. On Tuesday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that an investigation of the shooting is ongoing, but he did not indicate whether any criminal charges would be filed against Mendoza or the other three officers. When it is appropriate for us to do so, we will disclose findings of our currently active investigation and decision on whether or not to pursue any criminal charges, he said. Siderios death is only one of the latest in a long string of police killings, with over one thousand people losing their lives at the hands of police in the United States on average every year. The middle schoolers murder is particularly shocking given his youth. JoAnne Moore, a family friend, started a GoFundMe for Siderios funeral expenses last week. The death of a child is not only devastating but it is a tragedy no matter what the situation, she wrote. These grandparents must now say goodbye to their only grandchild, the grandchild they could not save. No matter the circumstances he was just a boy, wrote a relative in another social media post. There is a family and community of children mourning and trying to understand the death of another child. While the Democratic Party and groups aligned with it, such as Black Lives Matter, treat all police killings as a question of racism against blacks and other minorities, in fact a plurality of those killed each year in the United States are, like Siderio, white. The overwhelming majority of victims of police shootings are from the working class. There is no way forward against this epidemic of violence against workers through either the Democrats or Republicans, who both continue to increase police budgets year after year, and who agree with President Joe Bidens recent State of the Union speech in which he proclaimed, We should all agree the answer is not to defund the police. Its to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them. Fund them with the resources and training resources and training they need to protect our communities. Police in capitalist class society, far from protecting workers, defend the ruling class against workers. It is only through the unity of the working class, regardless of race, against the capitalist system, that police violence can be ended. The Biden administration and the corporate media are continuing to cover up the acknowledgment by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland that biological weapons laboratories have been operating in Ukraine under US direction. State Department Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria J. Nuland speaks during a briefing at the State Department in Washington, Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool) During her testimony before a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, when asked by Senator Marco Rubio (Republican of Florida), Does Ukraine have chemical or biological weapons?, Nuland responded that there are biological research facilities in the country. While she did not discuss prior US government involvement in these facilitiesand Senator Rubio also did not ask her about thisNuland said that the State Department is working with the Ukrainians on how we can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach. As the scripted exchange continued, Senator Rubio said reports that Russia had, uncovered a plot by the Ukrainians to unleash biological weapons in the country, and with NATOs coordination, were propaganda. Then Nuland went on to say that it is a classic Russian technique to blame the other guy for what they are planning to do themselves. As numerous international news outlets began reporting Nulands comments as confirmation that US-backed biological weapons labs did in fact exist in Ukraine as the Russians have maintained, the State Department was forced to issue a denial on Wednesday in an official statement by department spokesperson Ned Price. Price did not confirm or deny or even refer to the statements by Nuland. Instead, he wrote that the Kremlin is, intentionally spreading outright lies that the United States and Ukraine are conducting chemical and biological weapons activities in Ukraine. He called the Russian reports disinformation, and total nonsense, that had been debunked conclusively and repeatedly over many years. Price then repeated the claims made in a lengthy tweet on Wednesday by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, stating that the US, does not own or operate any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine and is in full compliance with both the Biological and Chemicals Weapons Conventions of the UN. Price also said that Russia has a track record of accusing the West of the very crimes that Russia itself is perpetrating. None of these assertions were backed up with substantiating facts or evidence. At a press conference on Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby was asked by a reporteronce again without mentioning Victoria Nulands commentsto explain, to us what the relationship if any, there was between the Pentagon and the Ukrainian side on any biological labs, and, When was the last cooperation and what do you say about these Russian accusations? Kirby refused to answer the question and replied by saying the Russian accusations were absurd and laughable, and added, Theres nothing to it. Its classic Russian propaganda. And, and I wouldnt, if I were you, I wouldnt give it a drop of ink worth paying attention to. As of Thursday evening, no national daily newspaper in the USincluding the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and USA Todayhad reported on the statements of Nuland before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday. CNN buried Nulands comments in an article on Thursday that accused China of promoting Russian disinformation. In its summary of the events on day thirteen of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Times mentioned Victoria Nulands Senate testimony, but only concerning the proposal from Poland to deploy Soviet-era MiG-29 aircraft to the US airbase in Germany. Fox News aired a 16-minute segment by Tucker Carlson on Wednesday evening that included a clip of Nulands testimony and accused the Biden administration and Pentagon of lying about Ukrainian bio labs for reasons connected with the networks promotion of the Wuhan lab conspiracy theory about the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. The State Department replied to an inquiry by Fox News stating, The US Department of Defense does not own or operate biological weapons labs in Ukraine. Under Secretary Nuland was referring to Ukrainian diagnostic and biodefense laboratories during her testimony which are not biological weapons facilities. These institutions counter biological threats throughout the country. Late Wednesday, Newsweek published a report saying an unnamed State Department official had clarified the nature of the biological research facilities mentioned by Nuland that were at the center of dueling accusations between US and Russian officials. It is very clear that the exposure of US-sponsored biological warfare operations in Ukraine explodes the entire narrative concocted by the Biden administration and faithfully propagandized by the corporate media that Russia is solely responsible for the present war crisis. The anonymous State Department spokesperson admitted this fact to Newsweek, saying that the US has maintained all along that, Russia is continuing to invent false pretexts to justify their horrific actions in Ukraine. Neither the United States nor NATO has any desire or intention for conflict with Russia. Recognizing expressions of culpability in the hysterical denials emanating from the US, UK and Ukrainian officials, the head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, Konstantin Gavrilov, described the reactions to allegations about the bio labs as amazing. In an interview with the Russian language Rossiya-24 outlet, Gavrilov added that he had seen nothing like it in his 30-year diplomatic career. Referring to representatives of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), of which all four countries are a part, Gavrilov said they have done everything to evade the issue in their speeches, emphasizing that Russia is conducting a war, aggression, twisting the facts and everything like that. Both in the media and here. Nothing new. But they are avoiding this topic in every possible way, Gavrilov added. We raised it proactively and generated a flurry of reactions. Documents have been published by the National Pulse that show the Obama administration signed an agreement with Ukraine for the construction of biolabs handling especially dangerous pathogens. The documents, which have since been removed, include a post from June 18, 2010, entitled, Biolab Opens in Ukraine explains how Barack Obama while serving as an Illinois Senator helped negotiate an agreement to build a Level 3 bio-safety lab in the Ukrainian city of Odessa. The National Pulse also quotes a 2011 report from the US National Academy of Sciences which said, This laboratory was reconstructed and technically updated up to the BSL-3 level through a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Defense and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine that started in 2005. The collaboration focuses on preventing the spread of technologies, pathogens, and knowledge that can be used in the development of biological weapons. The report went on, The updated laboratory serves as Interim Central Reference Laboratory with a depozitarium (pathogen collection). According to Ukrainian regulations, it has a permit to work with both bacteria and viruses of the first and second pathogenic groups. The lab provided special training for specialists on biosafety and biosecurity issues during handling of dangerous biological pathogenic agents. As with all Pentagon-directed technologies, operations and facilities, the use of the terms defense, security and safety are euphemisms for US imperialist strategic military superiority and war preparations. For example, in March 2017, when hackers breached the CIAs cybersecurity servers, nearly 9,000 documents were stolen from what was called Vault 7. These documents were essentially a massive arsenal of offensive malware, viruses and weaponized zero day exploits that had been part of the CIAs international hacking and cyberwarfare operations. The state of Arkansas has recorded more than 824,000 cases and 10,760 deaths, according to OurWorldInData.org, placing it in the top ten of US state for per capita infections and deaths. With 258 deaths for every 100,000 residents, only seven other states have seen a worse fatality rate than Arkansas. As of Wednesday, March 9, an average of 462 Arkansans were confirmed positive for COVID-19 every day. The states hospitals reported 429 COVID patients, of which 117 were in ICUs. Arkansas National Guardsmen assist University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with screening and testing for the COVID-19 virus April 2, 2020, in Little Rock, Ark. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Brian Mason) Despite the continued spread of COVID-19 and an average of 27 deaths per day, mask-wearing recommendations have been lifted in 32 of the 75 counties in the state, where schools have witnessed a particularly sharp increase in COVID-19 cases amongst students and educators. BA.2, the more infectious subvariant of the Omicron variant, is spreading in the state, with the first case identified in mid-February. Across the United States, with nearly 80 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 962,000 deaths, more than half of all counties, approximately 70 percent, no longer require mask-wearing, including more the 40 percent of Arkansas state counties. This is in accordance with new guidelines issued two weeks ago by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prior to its change in guidelines, the CDC had recommended wearing masks in areas with high levels of transmission, which included more than 95 percent of US counties and all of Arkansas. The justification for this about-face, which factors in hospital admissions and capacity with new confirmed cases, is reliant upon a purposeful skewing of the data and suppression of testing. Amongst the counties hardest hit is Pulaski County, which encompasses the state capital and largest city, Little Rock. On January 10, 2021, 228 new cases were reported with a 7-day average of 355. However, a year later, with the spread of Omicron and the Biden administrations embrace of herd immunity and re-opening policies of the Trump administration, cases have more than quadrupled. On January 10, 2022, 1,975 new cases were reported with a 7-day average of 1,419. Pulaski County has had more than 102,000 infections and 1,140 deaths, followed by Washington County reporting 67,588 cases and 594 deaths, and Benton County, the headquarters of Walmart, the worlds largest retailer, with 66,058 cases and 793 deaths. Regarding infection rates in counties across the country, the CDC notes on its website that the labelling of counties as either low, medium, or high are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases. However, with hospitals exceeding maximum occupancy in Arkansas and across the country, the lifting of mask-mandates will only contribute to accelerating the deterioration of the already-crumbling infrastructure of the United States. During a teleconference with reporters, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky revealed the pro-business intentions of the policy shift: This updated approach focuses on directing our prevention efforts towards protecting people at high risk of severe illness and preventing hospitals and healthcare systems from being overwhelmed. In other words, the CDC has embraced the false claim that COVID-19 is endemic and therefore the only suitable course of action is to treat the sick, not to prevent infections from occurring. In downplaying the significance of the Omicron variant, Walensky also mentioned in the midst of the Omicron wave, many, many of our infections did not result in severe disease. And what of the unknown, long-term implications of having contracted the disease? Walensky went onto say the risk of severe illness from the virus has been reduced due to the American populace gaining immunity through vaccination or infection. We recognize that we need to be flexible, she said, by relaxing prevention measures when things are looking up. (Emphasis added.) In other words, prevention, in any capacity, is no longer an option for the ruling corporate and financial oligarchy. She went on to say that some people, particularly those in a counties labelled high risk, may choose to take extra precautions. Anybody is certainly welcome to wear a mask at any time if they feel safer wearing a mask, Walensky said. (Emphasis added.) Moreover, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Dillaha at the Arkansas Department of Health called the new CDC masking guidelines very helpful, elaborating, If it's in the low[-risk] area, I would say masks are not needed at this point in time. Just before the CDCs new masking guidelines were announced, speaking at his weekly news conference at the state Capitol, Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson said he spoke with Walensky on February 25, mentioning he was gleefully looking forward to seeing the agencys stripped-down recommendations, saying, We do need to move from the pandemic to a more normal state, and I think thats true across the board whether youre looking at a Democrat governor saying that or whether youre looking at a Republican governor thats where we are in America. On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a record $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package which includes nearly $800 billion in military spending and nothing for the COVID-19 pandemic, the most significant public health crisis in over a century. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) At the last minute, $15.6 billion in federal pandemic funds was completely removed from the bill due to opposition from over a dozen Democratic representatives from Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, Maine and other states after they learned that the COVID funds were not actually new money, but would be drawn from pandemic monies previously allocated to their states. The $15.6 billion diversion of funds was secretly negotiated by the House Democratic leadership, whose own states would not have been impacted, likely in coordination with the White House. While the $15.6 billion would not have been new funding per se, its removal marks the cutoff of all federal funding for key components of the fight against the pandemic, including continued testing and the purchase of the anti-viral drug produced by Pfizer. This takes place just as the more infectious, immune-resistant and virulent BA.2 Omicron subvariant is spreading across the US and globally and causing surges in infections, hospitalizations and deaths in Hong Kong, England, Denmark and other countries. It also transpired the day before the Deltacron variant, a recombination of Delta and Omicron which has been detected in France, Denmark and the Netherlands, was officially recognized by the World Health Organization. Summarizing the significance of the collapse of US pandemic funding, the Associated Press reported, This could be the end of the line for congressional funding to fight COVID-19. What started a month ago as a $30 billion request from the White House to prepare for the next phase of the pandemic has been slashed, reduced and fallen apart on Capitol Hill. A White House official told AP that the situation will be dire, adding, Simply put, failing to take action now will have severe consequences for the American people. The official stated that COVID-19 testing capacity will decline in March. Funding to test and treat people who are uninsured will dry up in April. By May, the federal supply of monoclonal antibodies will run out. Preventative treatments for immunocompromised people will only last until July. The federal stockpile of antiviral pills such as Pfizers Paxlovid, which is highly effective at reducing hospitalizations, will be empty by September or earlier. The Biden administration will now be unable to purchase further vaccine doses if a fourth shot is deemed necessary due to waning immunity. Already limited vaccine donations to other countries will be further hampered. Funding will not materialize to mass produce a much-hyped pancoronavirus vaccine which is currently in Phase 1 trials. By early summer, there will no longer be funding for federal studies on new coronavirus variants, treatments such as antivirals, and other measures to prepare for future surges. The Biden administrations National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, released last week, which made grandiose claims that all of the above programs and more would be expanded in the coming weeks, stands exposed as so much hot air. It is widely acknowledged that any standalone bill to provide additional federal funding for the pandemic and Bidens Preparedness Plan will not pass the 60-vote threshold required in the Senate, where Republicans are cynically demanding that all prior pandemic funding be fully accounted for before any new appropriations. The Preparedness Plan, previewed by Biden in his State of the Union address, was always window dressing meant to provide cover for the Democrats complete capitulation to the pandemic revealed most sharply during the Omicron surge. Since mid-December, nearly 30 million Americans were officially infected with COVID-19 (not counting infections detected by at-home rapid tests) and over 160,000 have succumbed to the disease, with an average of 1,120 continuing to die each day. By the end of March, the official death toll in the US will surpass 1 million. The Democrats will now blame the cutoff of federal pandemic funds on Republicans, but in reality, there is bipartisan agreement that the pandemic should be erased from public consciousness and all internal social tensions diverted outwards towards war with Russia. Since mid-January, as the surge of infections from the BA.1 Omicron subvariant began to subside, the entire political establishment and corporate media have sought to present the pandemic as over. They have propagated the myth that COVID-19 is now endemic and that a new normal of stability and predictability now exists. In reality, the pandemic continues to rage globally, with the BA.2 Omicron subvariant now dominant throughout much of the world and causing another surge in global daily new cases. As the World Socialist Web Site has analyzed, the new normal will be one of unending mass infections, deaths and long-term debilitation, forced upon society by a rapacious ruling elite that subordinates public health to private profit. As a result of this propaganda effort, American society is once again totally unprepared for the next surge of the pandemic. Misled by the pro-corporate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people have removed their masks and fully resumed pre-pandemic activities. Vaccination rates in the US have completely stalled, with only 65 percent of the population having received two doses of vaccine and only 28 percent having received a necessary third dose of vaccine. While average daily new cases have declined significantly from the peak of 821,888 infections reached on January 13 to an average of 38,684 daily new cases this Wednesday, they are clearly plateauing and could begin surging once again in the coming weeks. According to the CDC, as of March 5 the BA.2 subvariant accounted for 11.6 percent of all variants circulating in the US, nearly double the figure the week prior of 6.6 percent, meaning that by the end of March it will likely be dominant. In the Northeast states, BA.2 now accounts for 24 percent of all cases. The disastrous pandemic policies of the entire American political establishment stem from the subordination of public health to the capitalist ruling class, which adamantly opposes lock-downs that would suspend the flow of profits and sees the decline in life expectancy as a positive good. Both the Democrats and Republicans are impervious to appeals from below and will only deepen their criminal and reckless pandemic policies. The bipartisan support for the unprecedented military budget sharply expresses the nature of US imperialism, which is preparing for a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia and China. The American working class must develop a powerful mass movement to both stop the drive to World War III and stop the pandemic, both of which require the socialist reorganization of world society. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has come under attack from the Democratic Party apparatus after issuing two brief statements on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The backlash from the Democratic Party, including many elected officials that the DSA endorsed and campaigned for, has caused a crisis within the already unstable organization. A Ukrainian soldier, donning U.S. made equipment, takes his front line position at destroyed Butovka coal mine in the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, Ukraine in 2021. (AP Photo/Vitali Komar) The first statement was issued on January 31 by the DSA International Committee under the headline DSA IC opposes US militarization and interventionism in Ukraine and Eastern Europe and calls for an end to NATO expansionism. The statement proclaimed opposition to the ongoing US brinkmanship, which only further escalates the crisis and reiterated the organizations long-standing call for the US to withdraw from NATO. A month later, on February 26, the DSA National Political Committee published their official statement on the conflict, On Russias invasion of Ukraine, which was significantly watered down even from the earlier statement. Following on the long-standing tradition of the DSA to say as little as possible on the most complicated and consequential topics, it came in at a whopping 266 words. The only lingering political content was a reaffirmation of the demand for the US to withdraw from NATO. After the DSA published its second statement, a whole host of Democratic Party politicians took to social media to denounce it as anti-democratic and pro-Putin propaganda. Some even claimed it could cost the Democratic Party the midterm. The attack was clearly discussed and coordinated at the highest levels of the Democratic Party. Mike Gwin, Director of Rapid Response at the White House, retweeted the DSAs post of the statement calling it shameful. Mikie Sherrill, Democratic representative from New Jersey, tweeted: I could not disagree more strongly with the DSAs call to pull out of NATO. That we would leave NATO, the security alliance that helped end the constant cycle of war in Europewars we were pulled intois irresponsible, not supportive of democracy, and contrary to our ideals. Similar posts were made by Conor Lamb, a Democratic representative from Pennsylvania running for the Senate, and Kathleen Rice, a Democratic representative from New York. On Tuesday the New York Times weighed in, publishing an article headlined: Socialists Response to War in Ukraine Has Put Some Democrats on Edge, by Dana Rubinstein and Katie Glueck. The Times article notes that the center of the DSA-Democratic Party conflict is in New York, home to the DSAs largest chapter and the greatest number of DSA elected officials. Rubinstein and Glueck explain that the DSAs position has created a challenging dynamic for politicians aligned with the organization. In other words, the so-called left Democratic Party politicians endorsed by, and in some cases even official members of the DSA, are rushing to distance themselves from even a hint of criticism of US foreign policy and the drive to war against Russia. Perhaps most notable is the response from New York Democratic congressman and DSA member Jamaal Bowman. Bowman was enthusiastically endorsed by the DSA and hailed in the pages of Jacobin magazine as an insurgent socialist that would take on the establishment Democrats. Bowman issued a statement declaring that he said he support[s] NATO and will continue to do so during this crisis. Bowman criticized Putins unchecked imperialism and went on to add that he fully backs the actions of President Biden: The decision to involve the U.S. military in war is the constitutional responsibility of Congress, which is why I recently joined more than 40 of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in reaffirming Congressional War Powers. I applaud President Biden for his commitment not to involve our troops in direct conflict, and urge the international community to avoid further conflict. Now Vedat Gashi, a Democrat challenging Bowman in the next election, is calling on Bowman to fully and publicly disavow the DSA stance. Bowman produced a controversy within the DSA last year for his two back-to-back votes to provide $1.1 billion for Israels Iron Dome armament program and $3.3 billion to the Israeli military. Bowman later traveled to Israel as part of a Democratic Party delegation, taking a photo op with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and present leader of the far-right Yamina Party. The DSA decided against revoking Bowmans membership despite his open support for US imperialism. In January of this year Jacobin wrote that all of the DSA electoral victories represented more state power than New York City socialists have enjoyed since the 1920s. However, at every turn these officials toe the Democratic Party line with great enthusiasm. The Times notes that none of the nine New York City candidates that the DSA endorsed and campaigned for this year would consent to an interview on the war drive and their stance on the DSA line. Bowman is not the only one who has made public statements openly disagreeing with the DSA statement. Rana Abdelhamid, a DSA member challenging Rep. Carolyn Maloney in a New York City district, recently stated, I dont agree with the DSAs stance on the US exiting NATO. She continued: NATO is one of the primary lines of defense that we have to address Russian aggression towards Ukraine. That is, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which all socialists must oppose, the answer is to aggressively back the US and NATO, which have worked for decades to expand NATOs borders to the edge of Russia, militarize Eastern Europe and do whatever possible to incite an invasion of Ukraine. Ironically, the DSAs position has been openly supported by only one elected official, Kristin Richardson Jordan, a councilwoman from Harlem and member of the DSA who was not backed by the organization in her campaign for office. Moreover, neither of the most prominent political figures promoted by the DSA, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have made any criticism of the Biden administrations policy. In an extensive tweet thread posted last week, Sanders sought to bolster the US war drive against Russia by pointing to the fact that Russia is a country riven by inequality and controlled by billionaires. Sanders made no mention of the fact that almost every argument he made against Russia could be made about the US. The DSAs pretense of opposition to war has always been fraudulent. It functions as a faction of the Democratic Party and is continuously seeking to provide cover in some form for the right-wing, pro-war policy of one of the two parties of the American corporate and financial oligarchy. The statements of the DSA are typical in this regard. They call on the Democrats to end a conflict that they themselves have been instigating for years. It should be recalled that it was under Barack Obama that in 2014 the US orchestrated a far-right coup in Kiev that overthrew a pro-Russian government that had opposed Ukrainian membership in NATO. The more recent preparations for war with Russia and the arming of Ukraine were at the center of the Democrats first attempt to impeach Donald Trump in 2019. However, confronted with a staggering domestic crisis, the Democratic Party is signaling that even the most timid opposition is out of bounds. They are acutely aware that war with Russia does not have broad popular support within the working class. Moreover, social tensions have risen to an all-time high within the US, triggered above all by the enormous crisis brought on by the disastrous handling of the pandemic by both parties. The reaction of Democrats to the timid DSA statements on the conflict in Ukraine only expose the utter bankruptcy of the DSAs claim to be shifting the framework of politics to the left. The campaign for war, moreover, will be used by Biden and the Democrats to quickly jettison its pretense of a social program. This was seen in the Democrats decision to remove a meager $15.6 billion COVID pandemic allocation from a massive $1.5 trillion measure to fund the entire federal government, which included nearly $800 billion in military spending and $14 billion for the US intervention in the Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict has clearly thrown the DSA into crisis. Its official publication, Democratic Left, has published nothing on the war crisis and has not posted an article to their online site since February 23. The right-wing and warmongering policies of the Biden administration make the DSAs effort to provide the Democrats with a pseudo-left cover difficult, but there is no doubt that the DSA will do whatever it can to rise to the occasion. On Sunday, the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees across the West Coast, the South and the Northeast regions of the United States held online meetings to discuss the recent developments with the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the serious dangers posed by the USNATO provocations toward World War III. In attendance were educators, graduate students and other workers from California, Washington, New York, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Florida. Kindergarten students sit in their classroom on the first day of in-person learning at Maurice Sendak Elementary School in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) The discussions focused on the connection between the criminal and catastrophic mishandling of the pandemic, with nearly 1 million official deaths in the US, and the reckless drive to war. At the meeting in the South, an Alabama teacher spoke about the relationship between the working class and the ruling class. She explained that the war drive is already being used as justification for attacks on workers wages and livelihoods, stating, We have to realize that without workers things dont run and corporations dont make anything. We have to realize that we can shut things down to eliminate COVID and stop war. We are saying no to COVID, and no to World War III, and we need to do this ourselves. A graduate student in Alabama spoke about the dangerous changes to masking recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which he said open up most of the country to mass infection and death. He spoke about recent studies on the BA.2 subvariant and the fact that through mass infection, the virus has been allowed to evolve to be more transmissible and more vaccine-evading. A student in Florida made the point that the recent CDC changes have already emboldened far-right and anti-science forces. At a recent press conference at the University of South Florida, fascistic governor Ron DeSantis verbally attacked and intimidated students who were wearing masks, leading some of them to remove their masks. There was also an important exchange about the nature of the rank-and-file committees and the difference between fighting for day-to-day survival and fighting for a political strategy for the working class. The working class faces a conscious policy of mass infection by the Democrats and Republicans, but it also has the power of labor and can end the pandemic and war. The meeting in the Northeast was attended by retired and active New York City educators, student teachers, and health care workers. How do you fight against war? one of the moderators asked. Our answer is that it is the same way you fight COVID: through the political independence and international unity of the working class. A report on the war reviewed the historical background of the Ukraine crisis, in particular the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and the American/EUsupported 2014 coup in Ukraine, which conditioned the events in the region today. During the discussion, a Brooklyn middle-school teacher stated, The reality on the ground in the New York schools is that there are still COVID cases. I only know this because I happened to overhear it being discussed when a parent called to let them know a child had tested positive. No one was notified of any of these cases. Most of the staff in my school are going to keep their masks on. The union has totally abandoned us. They are doing nothing. They are looking out for ruling class interests. We need someone to represent us. We cannot trust them. Her remarks sparked a discussion on the role of rank-and-file committees in supervising the unions. A retired transit worker spoke on this and said that it was impossible to oversee the unions. Theyll never let us do that. They will do everything in their power to suppress the workers and that has been accelerated by the war drive. They are obligated to suppress all workers. Following the discussions, each committee presented and voted to pass the following resolution. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is a desperate and reactionary response by the Putin government to the eastward expansion of NATO and the efforts of US imperialism to maintain its global hegemony. Ukraine is the initial battleground for what threatens to become a global conflagration between the USNATO powers and Russia, with the potential to spiral out of control and into a nuclear world war with catastrophic implications for the entire planet. After decades of unending war throughout the Middle East and North Africa, American imperialism is once again clamoring for war under the hypocritical pretense of defending human rights and democracy. The corporate media seeks to inure the population to war through propaganda, lies and the promotion of xenophobia. They cover up Washingtons years-long funneling of billions of dollars in armaments to Ukraine and promotion of fascist groups including Svoboda, the Right Sector, and the Azov Regiment. The American ruling class sees the drive to war as a way out of the escalating domestic crisis. After allowing mass infections and deaths from COVID-19 for over two years, the US government seeks to deflect mounting internal tensions outward against Russia. The creation of a foreign and external enemy coincides with the disastrous surge of the Omicron variant, which will cause the death toll in the US to surpass 1 million within weeks. Contrary to the false claims by the entire political establishment that COVID-19 is now endemic and essentially harmless, infections and deaths from Omicron remain catastrophic worldwide while the BA.2 subvariant surges in many countries. In the US, an average of 1,700 people are dying every day from COVID-19. Children have been immensely impacted by Omicron, facing mass infection and record deaths over the past two months. Recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift mask mandates and end contact tracing places millions of lives in danger. All remaining mitigation measures are being dropped in unison across states, counties and school districts throughout the country. Our committees reject these efforts to remove all mitigations to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the open adoption of herd immunity policies that serve only the interests of the corporations and financial elite. We call for the building of a mass movement of the working class to stop the drive to world war and end the pandemic through a global strategy to contain and eliminate the virus using all available public health measures. Despite warnings from the White House that an escalation of US involvement in the Ukraine-Russia war could rapidly trigger a third world war, there are growing calls from within both the Democratic and Republican parties for a more aggressive US military intervention. A Royal Air Force Typhoon jet, foreground, intercepts a Russian Su-30 Flanker fighter over Estonia in 2019. (UK Ministry of Defence via AP) As the war enters its third week, the fighting in Ukraine is rapidly intensifying, causing surging casualties among both military forces and civilians. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Joe Lieberman, the former Connecticut Senator and Democratic candidate for vice president, laid out the case for a no-fly zone in Ukraine. The North Atlantic Treaty Organizations refusal to give Ukraine no-fly protection from the continuing, indiscriminate and inhumane Russian attacks from the air is strategically weak and morally wrong, Lieberman wrote. Responding to similar demands, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said Tuesday setting up a no-fly zone would require shooting down Russian planes if they fly into your no-fly zone So that would still havewe would still have concerns about that being an escalatory action that could lead us into a war with Russia, which is not something the president intends to do. Responding to the White Houses warnings, Lieberman wrote, The other argument against establishing a no-fly zone is that it might anger Mr. Putin and trigger World War III. But inaction based on fear usually causes more conflict than action based on confidence. Fearing to act not only makes it easier for Mr. Putin to win his inhumane war but also encourages such nations as China to believe they too can invade neighbors without fear of a U.S. response. Lieberman concluded, Sending American or other NATO planes into the air over Ukraine to keep Russian aircraft away would protect Ukrainian lives and freedom on the ground, making it possible to defeat Mr. Putins brazen and brutal attempt to rebuild the Russian empire, undercut U.S. global leadership and destroy the world order that we and our allies have built. Asking Why the West needs to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, one op-ed in the Washington Post asserted: NATO must step up to help prevent further devastation by declaring a no-fly zone over Ukraine. In the past, the West has imposed such zones over Libya, Bosnia and Iraq. Is Ukraine less deserving of its help? Similar calls were made by Bartosz Cichocki, Polands ambassador to Ukraine. Every day of delay costs hundreds of human lives, he told a Turkish broadcaster Thursday. This is an extension of the conflict that could be ended much faster precisely thanks to the closure of the airspace. On Tuesday, Poland announced a plan to transfer all of its Soviet-era MiG-29 aircraft to the United States and fly them to Germany, from where they would be flown into Ukrainian airspace to engage Russian aircraft. The authorities of the Republic of Poland... are ready to deployimmediately and free of chargeall their MIG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America, Polands foreign ministry said. For now, however, the US military has rejected this proposal. In a tersely worded statement, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said, We do not believe Polands proposal is a tenable one. The prospect of fighter jets at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America departing from a U.S./NATO base in Germany to fly into airspace that is contested with Russia over Ukraine raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance, Kirby warned. These warnings by the White House were furiously denounced in the US press. Send Ukraine planes now, demanded Washington Post columnist Marc A. Thiessen. The Wall Street Journal, for its part, called the White Houses rejection of Polands offer a fiasco, declaring: What happened between Mr. Blinkens endorsement and the Pentagons rejection? Its hard not to conclude that the White House blinked for fear of provoking Mr. Putin, who is demanding that the West stop arming Ukraine. But NATO countries are already sending all sorts of weapons into Ukraine. Is a Polish MiG with a Ukrainian pilot somehow more provocative than a Turkish drone or an American antitank missile? Transferring planes isnt the same as NATO aviators directly shooting down Russian jets. In a chilling statement, the Journal added, As he escalates, will he use chemical weapons or tactical nukes? Will NATO refuse to respond then because it fears World War III? The MiG mistake may let Mr. Putin believe his threats will make NATO stand down. Russian officials are taking such statements with utmost seriousness. Earlier on Thursday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was asked if he believed a nuclear war between the United States and NATO is possible. Lavrov replied: British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that she foresees war between Russia and the NATO powers. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that if NATO wanted, atomic weapons would be deployed on the territory of the Eastern members of the Alliance. Mr. Le Drian said that Putin should keep in mind that France also has nuclear weapons. And the French economics minister [Bruno Le Maire] said with pride that the West is declaring against Russia total war. Lavrov used the German translation of the term: Totaler Krieg, invoking the German invasion of the Soviet Union in the Second World War. So, of course this puts us on our guard, Lavrov said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, said the sanctions being imposed against Russia are absolutely unprecedented. He concluded, There had never been an economic war like the one that was started against our country, so it is very difficult to predict anything. The intensification of the fighting comes as the campaign to demonize Russia reached a fever pitch. On Thursday, Reuters reported that Facebook and Instagram will change their hate speech policies to allow the incitement of violence against Russian public officials and military forces. Reuters also reported that Emails also showed that Meta (Facebooks parent company) would allow praise of the right-wing Azov battalion, which is normally prohibited. As war fever grips the affluent middle classes after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the French Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) and its international affiliates are issuing anti-Russian statements indistinguishable from CIA propaganda. They are irresponsibly whipping up a war fever that could lead to a conflict between nuclear-armed powers. Soldiers take part in an exercise at the Yavoriv military training ground, close to Lviv, western Ukraine, Friday, Sept 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Pavlo Palamarchuk) The international Pabloite web site International Viewpoint, the NPA weekly LAnticapitaliste and the Podemos-linked Viento Sur site in Spain published a statement on the war by Professor Gilbert Achcar. A professor at Londons School of African and Oriental Studies who is a paid advisor to the British military, Achcar applauded NATO military interventions in Libya and Syria. His statement, titled A memorandum on the radical anti-imperialist position regarding the war in Ukraine, argues that a military defeat of Russia is essential for world peace. He begins: The fate of Russias invasion of Ukraine will determine the propensity of all other countries for aggression. If it fails in turn, the effect on all global and regional powers will be one of powerful deterrence. If it succeeds, that is if Russia manages to pacify Ukraine under Russian boots, the effect will be a major slide of the global situation toward unrestrained law of the jungle, emboldening US imperialism itself and its allies to resume their own aggressive stances. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), which publishes the World Socialist Web Site, opposes Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. This invasion divides Russian and Ukrainian workers and has already led to thousands of deaths. However, it rejects the absurd lie that a defeat of Russia by NATO would inaugurate a golden era of world peace. The main source of military aggression in world politics is not Russia but the NATO imperialist powers. The 1991 Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union, by eliminating the main military counterweight to the NATO powers, freed them to pursue a wave of neo-colonial wars that claimed millions of lives and forced tens of millions to flee their homes. Among the countries devastated by these wars over the last 30 years are Iraq, Somalia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Libya, Syria and Mali. In a conflict with NATO, Russia is neither the more powerful nor the more aggressive side. The yearly Gross Domestic Product of the NATO countries is around $40 trillion. Russias is $1.7 trillion. NATOs population is about 900 million with 3.3 million under arms, compared to Russias 144 million with one million active-duty troops. It is the NATO countries banks that are seizing Russias export earnings, not the other way around. Achcar, however, endorses NATO military and territorial demands on Russia, trying to disorient his reader with emotive slogans presenting support for NATO as an inescapable moral duty. To give those who are fighting a just war the means to fight against a much more powerful aggressor is an elementary internationalist duty, Achcar writes. He adds, We are in favor of the delivery of defensive weapons to the victims of aggression with no strings attachedin this case, to the Ukrainian state fighting the Russian invasion of its territory. That is to say, Achcar is lining up behind NATOs provision of massive amounts of weapons, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and even biowarfare laboratories to the Ukrainian regime. He is proposing an action agenda for the armed forces of the NATO imperialist powers. Moreover, as NATO weapons flood into Ukraine, it is apparent that Ukraine is not fighting a defensive war. Rather, the imperialist powers, acting in conjunction with layers of the Ukrainian armed forces and far-right nationalist militias, have chosen Ukraine as the ground to fight a war against Russia. Achcar is clearly well aware of this. He supports it because he and the entire political milieu for which he speaks are representatives of imperialism. The NPA and its affiliates represent affluent layers of the middle class that, especially in the last 30 years since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union, have moved far to the right. As the professors, union bureaucrats and professionals in the Pabloite organizations grew more affluent, they have become ever more fully aligned with the state and the imperialist militaries. The fact that the Pabloite parties give the task of replying to these events to Achcar, an imperialist operative and paid advisor of the British military, speaks to their essentially right-wing character. The task of a Marxist party, facing the danger of world war, is to unify workers internationally against war propaganda in which the ruling class tries to drown public opinion in every country. Exposing the historical falsifications and political lies each ruling class uses to argue for war arms the working class to intervene, as the Bolsheviks did in the October 1917 revolution in Russia during World War I, to stop the war and overthrow the social order that gave rise to it. Achcar, on the other hand, endorses the war as a noble struggle for Ukrainian freedom from Russia: [W]e should demand not only the cessation of the aggression but also the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. The demand of Russian withdrawal applies to every inch of Ukraines territoryincluding the territory invaded by Russia in 2014. When there is a dispute on the belonging of any territory anywhere in the worldsuch as Crimea or provinces in Eastern Ukraine, in this instancewe never accept that it be solved by naked force and the law of might, but always only through the free exercise by the people concerned of their right to democratic self-determination. In reality, one cannot determine what caused and who is responsible for war simply by asking who fired the first shot. Achcars promotion of this conflict as a just war against Russia, tearing the war out of its historical and international context, is a political falsification. While he claims his demands are radical internationalist, he is in fact only demanding that NATO continue its current war policy: pouring massive amounts of arms into Ukraine to tie Russia down in a bloody war that Washington and its European NATO allies have been long been preparing. Achcar falsifies the origins of the Russia-Ukraine conflict Achcars brief for supporting NATO against Russia in a war in Ukraine is rooted in a tissue of lies. The conflict over Crimea and Eastern Ukraine that began in 2014 was not, as Achcar writes, the result of a Russian invasion. It flowed from the February 2014 far-right putsch in Kiev, supported by the NPA and its international affiliates, that installed a pro-NATO Ukrainian regime not by democratic self-determination, but by force. Professor Gilbert Achcar (Credit: Wikipedia) Crimea and eastern Ukraine, which NATO and Achcar demand that Russia return to Ukraine, broke away after the November 2013February 2014 Maidan protests in Kiev. These protests were held around demands that Ukraine join the European Union (EU). The Maidan protests were intertwined with a US- and EU-led regime change operation in Ukraine. German and US officials, including current Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, came to Kiev to visit and whip up the protests. The Maidan protests ended in a putsch by the neo-Nazi Right Sector group in February 2014, bringing to power the far-right Svoboda Party, boxer Vitaly Klitschkos Udar (Punch) party, and banker Arseny Yatsenyuk. Official US and European media now routinely hail the Maidan protests as a democratic revolution and dismiss reports of the neo-Nazis role in them as Russian propaganda. To establish what occurred, therefore, it is useful to quote the NPA and its allies, who supported and joined the Maidan protests and cannot be accused of being biased against them. From the Maidan, the NPAs Ukrainian affiliates reported that the protests were led by the far-right. Their statement, titled A mass revolt for democracy and written by Zakhar Popovych, declared: The first attacks against the anti-riot police of the Berkut were organized mainly by the neo-Nazis of Right Sector, who are even more radical than the far-right Svoboda movement. He added that people at Maidan [were] mostly Ukrainian-speaking people from villages in western Ukraine. The leader of the NPAs Russian allies, Ilya Budraitskis of the Russian Socialist Movement, backed Popovychs orientation. He wrote: I understand completely how vulnerable my reasoning will look, but I still feel that this conversationabout the possibility of a Left Sector and its struggle for hegemony in the protestis important not only in the Ukrainian context, but also for the future, in which we will face similar (if not worse) circumstances every time. The NPA similarly endorsed the Maidan putsch, declaring: While the main organized forces are, for now, from the right and far right, we support the social and political forces which are trying to build a left opposition within that movement. With staggering cynicism, the NPA took this position though it admitted that the movement itself has no progressive program on democratic, national, and social issues, and predicted that it would lead to the disintegration of the country. The NPAs prediction that the Kiev putsch would trigger civil war did not, in truth, require great insight. The policies of the new regime made it all but inevitable. The Svoboda Party, which the EU parliament had condemned in 2012 for promoting ethnic hatred, had outlined a genocidal policy in Russian-speaking areas in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On its website, Svoboda had declared: To create a truly Ukrainian Ukraine in the cities of the East and South we will need to cancel parliamentarism, ban all political parties, nationalize the entire industry, all media, prohibit the importation of any literature to Ukraine from Russia...completely replace the leaders of the civil service, education management, military (especially in the East), physically liquidate all Russian-speaking intellectuals and all Ukrainophobes (fast, without a trial shot. Registering Ukrainophobes can be done here by any member of Svoboda), execute all members of the anti-Ukrainian political parties. Once in power, Svoboda and the other putschist parties indeed attacked Crimea and the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. The new Kiev regime backed far-right militias such as Right Sector, the Azov Battalion and the Ukrainian National Guard, which organized raids on eastern Ukraine and mass killings of anti-Kiev protesters in Odessa and Mariupol. It was under these conditions that Russian-speaking areas of UkraineCrimea, and Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbasseceded. In Crimea, a Russian-speaking area, a referendum to rejoin Russia passed with a 97 percent vote, on 83 percent voter participation. Russia did not need to invade Crimea, as Achcar writes. The Russian military had leased the naval base at Sevastopol from Ukraine since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and its forces quickly disarmed a few troops loyal to Kiev. Crimea had been part of Russia for centuries before it was transferred to Ukraine in 1954when the decision had no great practical significance, as Ukraine and Russia were both part of the Soviet Union. Fighting in eastern Ukraines Donbas region has continued with brief lulls ever since 2014. This year, Putin decided to invade amid an explosion of fighting in the Donbas and NATOs threats to include Ukraine in the NATO alliance, potentially paving the way for the deployment of NATO missile bases and biological and even nuclear weapons to Ukraine. All of this is, of course, well known to Achcar and to the leaderships of the NPA and its allies. Their decision to hide the fascistic origins and appeals to race murder of the forces they are supporting in Ukraine, so as promote NATO despite the danger of world war arising from its policies, exposes their utterly reactionary role. It has been 69 years since the political ancestors of the Pabloite organizations split from the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in 1953, claiming that Stalinism and the Soviet regime would provide revolutionary leadership to the working class for centuries. Having broken with working-class politics, they have evolved as petty-bourgeois groups for decades. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, they rapidly reoriented to NATO: the NPAs predecessor, the Revolutionary Communist League, helped run supplies to pro-NATO forces in Bosnia in 1995. Today, they primarily play the role of disorienting layers of voters and of workers who could become the base of a left-wing movement and disorienting them with right-wing propaganda such as the current anti-Russian hysteria. The task of building a movement against war and the danger of a nuclear world war requires irreconcilable opposition to the reactionary politics of Pabloism. On the anniversary of her death 109 years ago, Harriet Tubman's life was the focus of an Auburn church's celebration, an event that had people from around the nation watching Thursday night. The Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Memorial Service held at the Harriet Tubman Memorial AME Zion Church on Franklin Street featured spoken word, liturgical dancing, a gospel choir and more. The memorial service on the date of her death in 1913 was part of a series of events taking place this week and throughout the year marking the 200th anniversary of the iconic abolitionist's birth. With about 100 people viewing a livestream through the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center YouTube channel joining a few dozens in the pews at the church, Tubman's story was retold and honored at the Auburn church. "Thank you, Harriet," said Bishop Dennis V. Proctor, who leads the AME Zion Church's North Eastern Episcopal District in one of several recorded messages played to viewers. "What you've done will live in us and live in time immemorial. God breathed it, and you made it so. Happy birthday." The comments section on the livestream was filled with messages of inspiration, and many noted where they were watching from. "Greetings from Long Island. Reach back," one viewer posted, referring to Tubman's actions on the Underground Railroad to bring slaves to freedom. Others said they were watching from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Kansas. The church is the same congregation Tubman belonged to when it was the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church on Parker Street, where her funeral service was held prior to her burial in Fort Hill Cemetery. More Auburn events commemorating Tubman's bicentennial year are planned for this weekend. On Friday, March 11, the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn will present a talk by historian Dr. Carolyn Roberts of Yale University. Roberts will speak about her upcoming book, "To Heal and to Harm: Medicine, Knowledge and Power in the British Slave Trade," from 7 to 9 that evening via facebook.com/equalrightsheritage. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12, the Equal Rights Heritage Center at 25 South St., Auburn, will be the site of a Harriet Tubman 200th Birthday Celebration, which will feature cards, cake, speakers, tours and more. Admission is free and open to the public, and a livestream will be available. The events take place as exhibits about Tubman are featured at the Seward House Museum, 33 South St., Auburn, and the Cayuga Museum of History & Art, 203 Genesee St., Auburn. The Seward House is featuring "Forged in Freedom: The Bond of the Seward-Tubman Families," an examination of Tubman's life through her relationship with Secretary of State William H. Seward and his family. The Cayuga Museum is featuring "Auburn in Harriet Tubman's Time: 1859-1913," an exploration of changes in the city during the Underground Railroad conductor's 54 years living there. For more information, visit equalrightsheritage.com. READ: Harriet Tubman's 1913 obituary in The Citizen On this day in 1913, Harriet Tubman passed away in Auburn. Her age was unknown, but it was s Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On March 9, New Zealand police announced that they had taken images of two more bodies inside the abandoned Pike River coal mine. Twenty-nine workers were killed in a series of underground explosions which started on November 19, 2010. Their bodies have not been recovered. Placards from a protest on the road to Pike River mine in July 2021 [Source: Pike 29 Fight for Justice Facebook page] The latest images were captured in a roadway leading to an area known as the goaf. Police had already reported the discovery of four bodies, and two possible bodies, in November and December last year, meaning a total of 6 or 8 bodies have now been sighted. After drilling 10 boreholes since June 2021, police announced they will not drill any more, abandoning the search for the remaining bodies. Pike River was among the worst workplace disasters in New Zealands history. It was also a crime. A royal commission of inquiry in 2012 established that Pike River Coal had placed production ahead of workers safety. The company cut corners and broke numerous laws and regulations. More than eleven years later, no one from Pike Rivers management has been held accountable; nor have the state regulators or the union bureaucrats who allowed the mine to operate, despite knowing about the dangers. The Labour Party-led government promised before the 2017 election to re-enter the mine to look for bodies and to determine the precise cause of the disaster, in order to prosecute those responsible. Last year, however, the government aborted the re-entry after exploring just the drift, or entrance tunnel. It refused to allow investigators into the mine workings, despite experts saying this could be done safely. The mine was permanently sealed last yeara decision that the majority of the victims families opposed. The government locked away the 29 bodies and vital evidence, including the underground fan, which may have sparked the first explosion. It is extremely unusual, and dangerous, for coal mines to place their main ventilation fan underground. Minister for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little was the leader of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which had about 70 members at Pike River, at the time of the disaster. His immediate response to the explosion in 2010 was to defend the company, falsely declaring that it had a good safety record. With the decision to seal the mine, he has continued the cover-up of what took place there. Detective Superintendent Peter Read told the media that the latest discovery of remains was significant, but he was very aware that it still leaves many unanswered questions for the mens loved ones. None of the bodies have been publicly identified and the images have not been released. Superintendent Read said the borehole drilling program had provided valuable information to inform our investigation into the underground activity that led to the first explosion. He did not explain why police have decided not to attempt to locate all 29 bodies. Nor did he say what sort of evidence could be obtained from the images, without a forensic examination of the bodies. According to Stuff, police have drilled a borehole into the area containing the main ventilation fan. No details have been released about this. Again, it is unclear how much information can be gleaned without physically inspecting this area. According to Radio NZ, Read said he expected the criminal investigation would be concluded in months, rather than years. Nigel Hampton QC, a lawyer for some of the families, said he was optimistic that there would be prosecutions. Police, however, have not said whether they are considering charges against anyone. In October 2021, Stuff reported that police told the families their investigation had found gas content in the mine during October and November 2010 was high. There is evidence that management knew this and some evidence that they actively chose to ignore it. Furthermore, they either omitted or chose not to install gas monitoring devices that would have warned them of the dangers with absolute clarity. This statement echoed the findings of the royal commission in 2012. The following year, police suspended their initial investigation into the disaster without laying charges, saying that they could not do so without retrieving physical evidence from inside the mine. Gordon Dixon, whose brother Allan was killed in the disaster, told Stuff that the family was feeling pretty gutted that now they have sealed the mine they are now coming out with images of bodies. They should have kept the mine open until all the boreholes were done in case they could get in and get the bodies out. But money has dictated once again. Dean Dunbar, whose 17-year-old son Joseph was underground for the first time when the mine exploded, pointed out to Newshub that the latest discovery of bodies was in exactly the same location where a borehole was drilled in 2011 and an image of a body was taken at the time. He questioned why it had taken more than a decade for police to revisit the area and obtain more images. Asked by the World Socialist Web Site about the likelihood of prosecutions, Dunbar noted that Pike Rivers chief executive Peter Whittall and the rest of the management have been under an umbrella of protection for more than a decade. He said they probably have evidence about what occurred in the mine that implicates government agencies. Bernie Monk, whose son Michael died in the mine, denounced the cheque-book justice which allowed Whittall to avoid prosecution in 2013 on health and safety charges. The states prosecutors dropped the charges in exchange for an unsolicited payment to the families. Monk told the WSWS that the discovery of bodies vindicates those families and supporters who protested last year to try and stop the mine being sealed before the investigation was concluded. Monk and Dunbar believe some of the 29 men could have survived the first explosion on November 19. A second explosion occurred five days later, prompting rescue attempts to be abandoned. Monk said survivors would have gathered behind a roof-fall at the end of the drift, where a ruptured pipe was sending compressed air into the mine. The police refuse to investigate this area. I think the families have the right to know, Monk said. If they dont go in and get the guys out, then at least they should put a borehole down. Dunbar criticised police for refusing to say whether they have seen deployed self-rescue devices near any of the bodies, as Newshub reported there were last November, which would indicate that at least some of the miners survived the first explosion. Its a simple question. If police are continuously refusing us access to that footage, then [they should] answer the question, he said. Monk hoped that electrical gear recovered from an area of the drift known as Pit Bottom in Stone would assist in building a case against Pike Rivers management. He was not sure whether this was being thoroughly examined by police. Monk pointed to the series of lies and false promises made to the families over the past eleven years. In 2011, then-Prime Minister John Key promised that the mine would be re-entered, but the National Party government later reneged on this. Labour then made the same promise, only to seal the mine without retrieving bodies. There is widespread anger over the lack of accountability for the disaster. A typical comment on the One News Facebook page said: 12 years and still no remains removed from the mine, and nobodys been held accountable, cant imagine the toll this has taken on those poor families. A comment on Newshubs report asked: Why havent the mine owners been made to recover the bodies and do the investigation or at least paid for it? Many similar comments appeared in Facebook groups such as Uncensored Pike and Supporting the Recovery of our Pike 29. Workers should have no illusions: the experience of the last decade proves that the justice system is rigged in favour of the rich and powerful. New Zealands Pike River is far from unique. Last month, the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor in Queensland, Australia, refused to charge anyone over an underground explosion at Anglo Americans Grosvenor Mine, which left five mineworkers with horrific injuries. This was despite an inquiry last year finding that the company failed to control methane gas levels and exposed workers to unacceptable risks. As the right-wing Coalition pour lavenir du Quebec (CAQ) provincial government eliminates the last mitigation measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality statistics are revealing the catastrophic consequences of its pursuit of a profits before life policy during Canadas Omicron variant-fueled fifth wave. A member of the Canadian Armed Forces working at a Quebec nursing home. (Canadian Dept. of Defence) According to the latest data from Quebecs Institute of Statistics, Quebec saw 24 percent more deaths in the third week of January 2022 than prior to the pandemic. This is the highest level of excess mortality since the pandemics first wave in spring 2020, when the excess mortality rate peaked at 57 percent. In the first wave, Quebec had one of the highest per capita mortality rates in the world, due in part to the ruinous conditions in seniors nursing homes, public and private alike. In total, Quebec recorded 7,900 deaths in January 2022, a 13 percent increase in mortality from the month of January in the years that preceded the pandemic. According to Statistics Canada, excess mortality represents mortality above what would be expected based on the non-emergency mortality rate in the target population and is a better indicator than officially-recorded COVID deaths for monitoring the magnitude of the pandemic and making comparisons. The Omicron wave is proving to be the deadliest in absolute numbers since the second wave (October 2020January 2021) when vaccines were not yet widely available. According to Quebecs official tally of COVID-19 deaths, since the beginning of December 2021 the Omicron wave has caused approximately 2,550 deaths, or more than 18 percent of the 14,100 COVID deaths the province has recorded since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago this month. It is the deadliest wave for people under 60 years of age since the first wave, causing at least 116 deaths in this age group. Discussing the Omicron waves impact at the pan-Canadian level, University of Toronto Professor Tara Moriarty recently explained that deaths in the 19 and under age group during the Omicron wave account for more than 42 percent of all COVID deaths in this age group throughout the pandemic. Omicron is also responsible for nearly 45 percent of all intensive care hospitalizations for COVID among those 19 and under, and 57 percent of all hospitalizations. These figures are a tragic exposure of the lying propaganda promoted by the Justin Trudeau-led federal Liberal government, its provincial counterparts, and the corporate media that the Omicron variant is mild. Canadas political establishment has also claimed that schools are safe and the virus impact on young people is benign or akin to that of a cold. This propaganda has had only one objective: to silence opposition to the elimination of any public health measures that might impede the accumulation of profit by big business, the banks and the rich. In Quebec, the CAQ government, led by multi-millionaire and ex-Air Transat CEO Francois Legault, is rushing to eliminate whatever limited and insufficient anti-COVID mitigation measures remain. In a matter of weeks in February, the government allowed restaurants to operate at maximum capacity and allowed all businesses to reopen, announced plans to completely phase out vaccine passports by March 14, and removed the mask mandate in elementary and high school classrooms. During this period, hardly a day went by without the government making a new announcement that an anti-COVID public measure was being rolled back or completely scrapped. On March 2, the CAQ government announced that the requirement to wear masks in public places will be eliminated by mid-April at the latest. This announcement was accompanied by the now customary statement that Quebecers must learn to live with the virus, which means, as Legault himself admitted, accepting more hospitalizations and deaths. Quebecs Public Health Director Dr. Luc Boileau said that wearing a mask would become a personal choice as part of a progression towards a normal life. Since most of the population no longer has access to PCR tests to detect the virus and data on the extent of mass infection is otherwise increasingly unreliable and difficult to obtain, the government is leaving this choice to be made blindly by each individual. Premier Legaults office confirmed that in the future, vaccines and masks will be the insurance policy to avoid new lockdowns. Made in conjunction with the governments announcement of the closure of some vaccination centres and the impending elimination of the mask mandate, this statement confirms that the CAQ is determined to declare the pandemic over. And this, even as scientists are sounding the alarm about the danger of a new, more deadly wave fuelled by the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant, which recent studies have found to be more contagious, more virulent, and more vaccine resistant than its BA.1 parent. For the ruling class and its political representatives, the entirely preventable deaths of 2,500 Quebecers in less than 100 days are of no consequence. This is underscored by the recent announcement that the government will not hold a ceremony this year to officially mark the March 11 National Day of Remembrance for the victims of COVID-19. In January, government officials publicly rejoiced that 2 million Quebecers had been infected during the Omicron wave, falsely claiming that this would confer immunity to the coronavirus. This figure was later revised upwards to about 3 million, provoking further expressions of joy from Quebecs Chief Medical Officer Dr. Boileau, who declared that everything is going in the right direction. In the up-side-down world that these ruling class mercenaries inhabit, the shocking revelation that about 40 percent of Quebec children were exposed to the virus during the Omicron wave in COVID-infested schools was the occasion for announcing not a tightening of measures to protect children, but the lifting of the mask mandate in classrooms. By putting profits ahead of lives, the ruling class has not only condemned thousands to die. It is also covering up the other perverse health consequences of the pandemic. According to a recent study published in the medical journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 5.2 million children worldwide have lost a parent or primary caregiver to the pandemic. This figure has doubled in the last six months. In Canada, some 2,000 children have lost a parent. Legault, Boileau and Health Minister Christian Dube, who all frequently invoke the mental health of children in arguing for schools to be kept open and the mask mandate ended, have nothing to say about the psychological wounds inflicted on children who have lost a parent. Nor will they address the trauma suffered by children who know or fear that they have involuntarily infected a deceased relative. According to Dr. Joanne Liu, a pediatrician at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal, the trauma of children who have infected a loved one is very real: We feel the impact of the psychological distress experienced by children who have unfortunately infected one of their grandparents. The CAQ government is also blithely ignoring the devastating impact of Long COVID. It is scientifically established that a significant number of people who have contracted COVID-19 suffer from long-term symptoms such as heart problems, brain fog, headaches, muscle pain, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. Studies suggest that 10 to 20 percent of people stricken with COVID-19, including children, experience such symptoms three months after their infection. For some, symptoms have persisted for a year or more. Experts say that at least 9,000 Quebecers currently suffer from the disease. The three clinics that specialize in caring for people with Long COVID have waiting lists of hundreds of names. Across Canada, there are an estimated 170,000 people suffering from Long COVID. By knowingly allowing millions of people to be infected with a disease that is likely to have such a long-term impact, the ruling class is creating a generation of sick and disabled people. With the federal governments elimination of pandemic assistance to workers, those who suffer from Long COVID to the point of being unable to work are threatened with destitution. This situation is exacerbated by the widespread official denials of the severity or even existence of Long COVID. For the thousands of people who have contracted the virus in the workplace, the process of having their occupational disease recognized and receiving compensation is in most cases a long road that ends in a refusal. Some worker compensation boards, such as WorkSafe NB in New Brunswick, simply do not recognize the existence of Long COVID syndrome, dismissing evidence of its existence as anecdotal. In Quebec, the Workplace Health and Safety Commission (CNESST) claims to recognize Long COVID as an occupational disease or syndrome, but many workers have reported that their claims have been rejected. This is either because the CNESST has deemed the medical evidence of post-COVID symptoms as insufficient or because they were unable to demonstrate to the agencys satisfaction that they had contracted COVID at work. Due to the absence of PCR testing, it will henceforth be almost impossible for a worker to prove that they were infected at work and thus satisfy the CNESST bureaucrats. On February 23, despite objecting in the strongest terms, the Socialist Equality Party in Australia was deregistered by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). The AEC invoked the anti-democratic electoral laws that were jointly rammed through parliament last August by the Liberal-National Coalition government and the opposition Labor Party. SEP members speaking with JBS meat workers in Melbourne during 2019 federal election. [Source: WSWS media] In the middle of the COVID pandemic, this legislation suddenly trebled to 1,500 the number of members whose details had to be supplied to the AEC to retain registration, and gave parties just three months to do so. As a result, the SEP has been struck off the list of registered parties, and just weeks before a scheduled federal election. This prevents the party from standing candidates under the SEPs name. Despite this blatant political censorship, the SEP will stand candidates in the election, if and when it is called, and conduct the broadest possible campaign for a genuine socialist alternative to the entire capitalist political establishment. In a brief formal statement, AEC Assistant Commissioner Joanne Reid flatly rejected the SEPs letter of objection, which was filed on January 17 along with a list of 700 electoral members. Without answering any of the partys submission, she insisted that the party had sufficient opportunities to comply with the increased membership requirement, even with the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The SEPs statement of objection denounced the legislation as a naked attempt to prop up the existing parliamentary parties and stifle popular rising discontent, which has been intensified by the disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, this political disgust and disaffection has been intensified further by the refusal of governments, both Labor and Coalition, to protect and assist ordinary people in the ongoing floods catastrophe, just as they failed to do during the 201920 bushfire disaster. There is also developing unease and opposition to the bipartisan line-up behind the reckless and aggressive US-led war drive against Russia and China, which is raising the danger of a nuclear war. At the same time, the lifting of virtually all COVID safety measures in the profit-driven live with the virus program adopted by the bipartisan National Cabinet of federal, state and territory government leaders is already responsible for the deaths of thousands of ordinary people. Moreover, this is creating the conditions for a new resurgence of infections and deaths, and the letting loose of even more transmissible and deadly mutations, such as Omicron BA.2. The imposition of this anti-democratic legislation underscores the necessity for our fight for the development of a mass movement of the working class internationally to overturn capitalism and establish workers governments that will protect peoples livelihoods, health and lives, not corporate profit. The legislations attack on dissent and democratic rights is far-reaching. As well as the SEP, 12 other parties have been now struck off since the laws were imposed, and another 8 have been sent notices by the AEC of its intention to deregister them. That is about two-thirds of the registered parties and more may follow. The struck-off parties include various protest groups and right-wing entities, as well as former parliamentary parties such as the Australian Democrats. The political establishment, dominated by the two-party Labor-Coalition setup, fears any expression of opposition. Above all, however, it is haunted by the prospect that opposition will turn markedly to the left toward a socialist alternative, particularly under conditions of emerging struggles of the working class. Any eruption of major working-class struggle, like the strikes that have already emerged among nurses, rail workers and teachers, or explosions of political disaffection in the looming election would not just shatter Morrisons unpopular and fragile Coalition government. It would blow apart the capacity of any Labor government, backed by the trade unions, to impose the demands of the corporate boardrooms for further pro-business economic restructuring. As the SEP pointed out in its statement of objection, the sudden three-month deadline set by the legislation to recruit 1,000 new members was clearly calculated to block the SEP, as well as other parties with no current parliamentary members, from contesting the election. The deadline was imposed knowing that the pandemic made it highly unsafe, a risk to public health and at times illegal, for our members to conduct normal political campaigns and public meetings, including to recruit the extra members needed to submit to the AEC. As well as simply brushing aside these objections, the AEC ignored the SEPs legal arguments for suspending any party deregistration process until after the election. These included that the legislation itself violates the implied constitutional freedom of political communication by making a mockery of elections. That is, the laws rob voters of the right to cast informed ballots, not have the government or its agencies determine which parties can contest elections with their candidates identified. This week, the High Court dismissed a constitutional challenge to the laws by the Liberal Democrats, a business-backed right-wing party. That case related to another provision in the legislation, which gives a first-registered party the power to object to any other party using a common political label, such as liberal or socialist, in its name. The judges have yet to deliver their reasons for that ruling, which was handed down quickly to ensure that it applied to the election. But the courts verdict demonstrates that these profoundly anti-democratic laws cannot be defeated by legal appeals. What is required is a mass political movement of the working class, fighting for a socialist program. We appeal to all our electoral members, WSWS readers and workers and youth more broadly: Support and join our election campaign. If you have not already done so, become an electoral member of the SEP. Even more importantly, seriously consider applying to become a full member of the SEP, based on agreement with our Statement of Principles, to help build a new leadership in the working class. Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers and locations in Indiana... White River at Edwardsport and Elliston. Wabash River at Montezuma. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days, including today, will lead to minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions on the Wabash River. Additional rainfall later this week should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through Saturday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT TO SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...From late tonight to Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM EDT Tuesday the stage was 9.1 feet. - Forecast...The river will oscillate around flood stage with a maximum value of 16.4 feet early Saturday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && All the interns are government officials working on trade-related matters. The WTO Secretariat selected participants from across the world, with priority given to Sub-Saharan Africa, LDCs, small, vulnerable economies (SVEs) and countries with small missions in Geneva. In his welcome remarks, DDG Xiangchen Zhang thanked France, Ireland and the Netherlands for renewing their contribution to these capacity building programmes. He urged the participants to make the most of their experiences at the WTO despite these challenging times and to observe, listen, learn and contribute. A total of 19 interns are participating in the 2022 edition of the French Irish Mission Internship Programme funded by France and Ireland. The objective of the programme is to build trade-related capacity in beneficiary countries by providing government officials with an opportunity to develop their expertise on WTO activities. The interns work in their respective missions in Geneva and can represent their countries at WTO meetings. Priority is given to missions of LDCs and small, vulnerable economies. France's WTO Permanent Representative, Etienne Oudot de Dainville, said: France's support for the French-Irish Mission Internship Programme is a clear indication of our commitment to building an inclusive multilateral system. Technical assistance is an important part of the WTO's work it keeps the organization relevant by allowing as many people as possible to play a part in shaping the multilateral trading system and to ultimately reap its benefits. Congratulating the participants on their selection for the programme, Irelands WTO Deputy Permanent Representative, Eugene Forde, said: Ireland is committed to strengthening the participation of LDCs and small, vulnerable, economies in international trade through the work of the WTO. Our support for the Mission Internship Programme is especially important in these challenging times and as WTO members are preparing for the WTOs 12th Ministerial Conference. The 2022 Netherlands Trainee Programme is hosting 13 interns. Funded by the Netherlands, the programme seeks to help LDCs, lowincome countries and SVEs gain valuable experience in the economic and development aspects of trade policy, allowing them to participate in ongoing activities within the WTO Secretariat. The objective is to familiarize participants with the work of the WTO and help them enhance their understanding of the multilateral trading system. The Netherlands' WTO Deputy Permanent Representative, Marcel Vernooij, said: The Netherlands is pleased to support government officials from developing economies undertaking an internship at the WTO. With their enhanced understanding of the WTO, they will be in an even better position to promote trade as an engine for sustainable economic growth and job creation in their countries. The interns were joined both in-person and online by WTO Ambassadors and representatives of their countries of origin. The two internship programmes will run from March to December 2022. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in the transport field. The discussion took place during the meeting between Azerbaijans Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev with the delegation headed by Kazakhstans Samruk-Kazyna JSC Board Chairman Almasadam Satkaliyev, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the parties discussed the optimization of transport tariffs along the corridor and the synchronization of customs procedures to increase the volume of freight traffic along international transport corridors passing through the countries. Rashad Nabiyev noted that transport links between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are developing on the basis of positive trends. He expressed confidence that the discussions held at the meeting will be useful for further expansion of ties. The minister noted that corridor efficiency, regularity of transport, tariff optimization, and simplification and harmonization of regulatory and customs procedures for transit cargo from countries along the corridor are important to attract transit cargo to the Middle Corridor in the face of the competition created by neighboring transit corridors. The parties noted that the developments in the region and the geopolitical situation have created a new reality that dictates the need to consider a new framework for cooperation and the establishment of transit transport links. It was emphasized that the geographical features of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, i.e. their location between the largest economic centers of Europe and Asia, create real conditions for the full use of the existing transport network between the countries. A further impetus for the development of the route was the completion of the construction of the Baku Tbilisi Kars railway line. This made it possible to reduce the delivery time of cargos from China to Turkey via Kazakhstan to 12 days, the statement reads. Moreover, the parties stated that general guidelines should be established for starting a joint company and conducting transport and logistics activities, simplifying customs operations as part of the project to create an integrated transport system. The meeting continued with discussions on various aspects of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the field of transport. With more than a dozen events scheduled, St. Patrick's Day in the Cayuga County area will look the most normal it has since the COVID-19 pande COVID-19 news for March 10 ahead: How has the pandemic changed after two years? More countries are shifting toward a return to normal and learning to live with the virus. Safe, effective vaccines have been developed and there's better understanding of how to treat people sickened by the virus. Two years after the pandemic began, questions remain about the coronavirus. But experts know a lot more about how to keep it under control. Read more here: US extends mask rule for travel for another month Federal officials are extending the requirement for masks on planes and public transportation for one more month through mid-April while taking steps that could lead to lifting the rule. The mask mandate was scheduled to expire March 18, but the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday that it will extend the requirement through April 18. Read more here: Wastewater testing might tell a different story about COVID cases The federal government has taken clear steps toward a new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in recent weeks: The Biden administration released the National Covid-19 Preparedness Plan, and new guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped masking recommendations for most of the country. As many Americans try to move on from the height of the pandemic and as testing wanes, detecting coronavirus levels in wastewater offers an alternative to monitoring community spread. Read more here: No really. How will it end? Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the world has seen a dramatic improvement in infections, hospitalizations and death rates in recent weeks, signaling the crisis appears to be winding down. But how will it end? Past epidemics may provide clues. The ends of epidemics are not as thoroughly researched as their beginnings. But there are recurring themes that could offer lessons for the months ahead, said Erica Charters of the University of Oxford, who studies the issue. Read more here: Read more about coronavirus news from today here: *** Japanese auto giant Suzuki's Hungarian factory has suspended car exports to Russia and Ukraine as of March due to the ongoing conflict. This comes as one of the first signs of the conflict hitting the broader economy in the region. Suzuki has said that it exports around 10,000 cars to Russia and Ukraine every year and added that it is trying to shift the affected orders to other markets in order to maintain its planned production volumes. (Also Read: Planning to buy a new car? Better start saving more money. Know why) The automaker's production and sales data projects that Russia and Ukraine account for roughly a tenth of Suzuki's annual exports from the Hungary plant. The move comes at a time when several automakers around the world have announced the suspension in the shipping of their vehicles to Russia. Also, Some automakers have announced a suspension of their production or assembly plants in Russia showing solidarity to Ukraine. The global auto industry is facing a larger crisis looming ahead due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While the surging oil price is threatening the auto industry to witness slumping sales in the coming days due to potential price hikes, the shortage of critical automotive parts is another problem the automakers could face. Russia is a key supplier of steel and other raw materials used in vehicle manufacturing. Ukraine too is a major supplier of wire harnesses that are used by several automakers. With the war going between these two countries and the US, UK and EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia, the supply chain for the auto companies are likely to be impacted severely, affecting production at a large scale. The auto industry has been reviving from a massive chip shortage that impacted its production and sales for more than a year. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is expected to bring a second wave of the crisis, as both countries supply raw materials used in making semiconductors. First Published Date: Chinas vehicle sales, production, and export volume saw a month-over-month drop in February because of the one-week long Chinese New Year holiday and sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks, but the market remained stable with year-over-year sales increases in the first two months of this year. The sales and production volume represented a growth of 10% when compared with the same period of 2019. Chinas auto sales jumped 18.7% year over year in February to 1.737 million units, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The total sales in the first two months of this year amounted to 4.268 million units, representing a year-over-year growth of 7.5%. Compared with January, February sales saw a decline of 31.4%. Regarding production volume, the country built 1.813 million vehicles last month, down 25.2% month over month but up 20.6% year over year while the year-to-date outputs increased 8.8% from a year earlier to 4.235 million units, the association said. The passenger vehicle segment had a double-digit decline from a month ago in both monthly sales and output, but they managed to see a double-digit year-over-year jump. The combined sales volume of the sector went up by 14.4% from a year earlier to 3.674 million units. The market share of Chinese brands passenger vehicle sales stayed flat in February compared with the same month of last year. Passenger vehicle sales of Chinese brands jumped 28% from a year earlier to 634,000 units, with a share of 42.6%. Throughout February, Chinese brands have sold a total of 1.637 million passenger vehicles this year, increasing 20.3% year over year. The share of year-to-date sales rose 2.2 percentage points to 44.6%. The sales of locally-made passenger vehicles from premium brands amounted to 268,000 units, surging 31.6% from a year ago, 20.5 percentage points higher than that of January. By the end of February, sales of premium-branded passenger vehicles edged up 20% year over year to 656,000 units. Commercial vehicles had a narrower year-over-year decrease in February than the previous month. The production and sale volume of the sector totaled 279,000 and 250,000 vehicles, down by 18.3% and 16.6% respectively versus the results of February in 2021, 9.7 and 8.5 percentage points fewer than the previous month. New energy vehicle (NEV) production and sales continued to have rapid growth last month. The biggest automotive market made and sold 368,000 and 334,000 NEVs, surging 200% and 180% year over year. Monthly sales of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle segment soared 340% to 75,000 units while the sales of fuel cell vehicles stood at 178 units with a year-over-year growth of 540% thanks to low base. Chinas NEV sales amounted to 765,000 vehicles in the first two months of this year, up by 150% from a year earlier. The market share of this segment was 17.9%. Last month, the country exported 180,000 vehicles to other markets, falling 21.9% month over month but jumping 60.8% year over year. The results included 146,000 passenger vehicles and 34,000 commercial vehicles. 52% of the monthly export growth came from NEVs. The Jan.-Feb. export volume grew by 75% to 412,000 units, including 331,000 passenger vehicles and 81,000 commercial vehicles. The consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict may be seen in the export results of March, the association added. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Geely's CV group partners with Industrial Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group (GCV or Geely Commercial Vehicles Group) announced on March 11 the strategic partnership with Industrial Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. Both parties entered into a cooperation intent involving 5 billion yuan ($789.552 million). Photo credit: GCV EVE Energy's subsidiary to build manufacturing lines for prismatic LFP, energy storage batteries Chinese power battery maker Huizhou EVE Energy announced on March 10 its subsidiary EVE Power Co., Ltd. intends to build two manufacturing lines with an annual production capacity of 20 prismatic LFP batteries and 48GWh energy storage batteries. Total investment in fixed assets will be around 12.6 billion yuan ($1.99 billion). Denza's new high-end MPV seen in freehand sketching The freehand sketching of Denza's new high-end MPV was unveiled on the twitter-like Weibo account of Zhao Changjiang, general manager of Denza Automobile Sales and Service Co., Ltd. 2022 Hongguang MINIEV hits market The 2022 Wuling Hongguang MINIEV has already hit the market. Coming with six trim levels, the new product is priced between 34,800 yuan ($5,495) and 50,600 yuan ($7,990). The old version is still available for sale. Human Horizon delivers over 5,000 HiPhi Xs in ten months of delivery In the second month of 2022, Chinas luxury EV brand, HiPhi, from the startup Human Horizons, delivered 355 units of its only model on the market, the HiPhi X, the startup announced on March 11th. NavInfos NaviSystem to develop parking system for Alpine China Chinas leading navigation servicer, NavInfo, announced on March 11th that its subsidiary, NaviSystem, has struck a deal to develop a panorama parking image system for Alpine Electronics China (Alpine China). China auto sales up 18.7% YoY in February 2022 Chinas auto sales jumped 18.7% year over year in February to 1.737 million units, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Joyson Electronics projects RMB7.4 billion in Jan.- Feb. revenue Joyson Electronics, Chinas leading component supplier for global automotive manufacturers, is projected to see its Jan. to Feb. revenue reach RMB7.4 billion ($1.17 billion), the company announced on March 10th. Changan Ford, Changan Mazda manage YoY growth in Feb. sales Changan Auto saw its two jointly-owned brands outdo themselves in February sales performances, with positive growth compared to a year ago, Changan Auto reported on March 10th. Two men were arrested in Southern California Wednesday and charged with the death of an elderly man whose body was found encased in concrete in a bathtub in Honolulu, authorities said. On Monday, patrol officers were sent to a home in the east Honolulu neighborhood of Hawaii Loa Ridge to check on the 73-year-old owner who was reported missing, according to Honolulu police. When authorities arrived at the house, they spoke with a man, later identified as Juan Tejedor Baron, 23, who said he knew the owner and lived in the home. Baron allowed detectives to search the home, but they did not find the owner. They did find a bathtub filled with concrete. Authorities say they saw Baron leave the home later with Scott Hannon, 34. Hannon and Baron were taken in for questioning but were released early Tuesday, according to Hawaii News Now. The Honolulu Police Department turned over the investigation to homicide investigators, and on Tuesday, detectives began to chip away at the concrete. They discovered a decomposing body later identified as the missing man. Lt. Deena Thoemmes of the Honolulu Police Department Criminal Investigation Division told Hawaii News Now that coffee grounds were on top of the concrete, probably to hide the smell. "When we entered, we smelled coffee no doubt," Thoemmes said. "The body was in the stand-alone tub, and it was in a state of decomposition once we chipped away at the concrete mixture." But the coffee grounds weren't enough to hide a "decaying smell" in the home. "The victim and one of the suspects were involved in an intimate relationship. It is alleged that after the murder, the two suspects were living in the victims house and on the victims money until the neighbors complained about a decaying smell from the victims location," the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. Authorities then named Baron and Hannon as suspects, and the Honolulu Police Department said they were "considered dangerous" and their whereabouts were unknown. With the help of U.S. marshals, police learned the two had fled the island of Oahu to Los Angeles. Story continues About 5 p.m. PT, U.S. marshals and LAPD officers found and arrested Baron in Anaheim, less than 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Police said Baron pulled back a metal plate under a bench inside a Greyhound bus bound for Mexico and was hiding in the crawl space. Less than two hours later, authorities located Hannon at an intersection in Inglewood, southwest of Los Angeles. Baron and Hannon were booked into the LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center. They were being held without bail pending extradition hearings to be returned to Honolulu to face murder charges, authorities say. The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office didn't release the identity of the deceased man on Thursday. Contributing: The Associated Press Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 men arrested in CA after body found in concrete in bathtub in Hawaii Ashley Judd is reflecting on her "very traumatic" fall in Democratic Republic of the Congo just over one year ago and how it changed her life. The 53-year-old actress and humanitarian, who nearly lost her leg in Feb. 2021, spoke about her recovery on the Sex, Body and Soul With Kate Roberts podcast. Ashley Judd says she was "like an animal" in the 55 hours it took her to get to hospital after rain forest fall. (Photo: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) "It was very traumatic," said the Double Jeopardy actress, who had to learn to walk again after suffering nerve damage and undergoing an eight-hour surgery to save her limb. She explained that twice a year for six weeks in January and a month in June she travels to Congo to study bonobos in the rainforest. Her partner, Martin Surbeck, heads the Kokolopori Bonobo Research Project. "I get up at about 3:30, 3:45 [a.m.] and start walking to where the bonobos made their nests in the tree tops the night before," she explained of her morning routine there. "We walk in the dark and I use a headlamp. My head torch was dim that day ... even though I had put batteries in the night before. I just had a long, powerful stride going because I was trying to catch up with the person in front of me to borrow light from their lamp. I was looking ahead, not at my feet... I think my toe got stuck in a root and then I tripped over a fallen tree. I knew my leg was breaking as I was falling." Her leg was broken in four places and she suffered deep nerve damage to the peroneal nerve. It took 55 hours before she received any medial treatment. The research camp is 2.5 miles from the closest town and she was deep in the rainforest, away from camp, when she fell. Judd said the day before she hurt herself, she finished reading the book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr which has a chapter about suffering and why God allows suffering. She said during her ordeal, she "chose to believe that there was something suffering with me while I was like an animal. I just let my body be totally wild and animalistic." Story continues Judd initially spent five hours on the forest ground while someone went to the camp to get help without so much as an ibuprofen. She was then carried out on a makeshift stretcher, which took three hours. From there, she was on motorbike for five hours while holding her leg together. She also slept on the floor of a hut and flew on a bush plane, ultimately getting to a hospital in South Africa. "I really don't know how the mind and the body and the soul come together to endure the unendurable," she said. "I bit a stick, I screamed, I howled, I convulsed. I never did pass out, I wished that I could." Judd said Surbeck wasn't with her during her fall. He wasn't tracking that day, so he was still asleep at the camp. It took him over two hours to get to where she fell, then he stayed by her side. She said Surbeck, a Harvard professor, was "traumatized too" by her ordeal. When Judd arrived at the hospital in South Africa, "My leg didn't have a pulse and I was hemorrhaging," she said. "If I had been medevaced to Europe" on a longer flight "I would have bled to death." Nine days later, she was medevaced home to Tennessee where she had an eight-hour surgery. She had to relearn to walk. She returned to Congo in January nearly one year after her near-fatal accident. While speaking about how the accident changed her, Judd said all the work she's done on herself over the years through therapy, learning meditation and other work she's done to heal from childhood trauma and sexual abuse helped her in that moment. "As animalistic as I was, my mind was pretty skilled and I think it showed me that all the work I've done and the development of my meditation practice and how hard I've tried to heal, that really was with me throughout those 55 hours," she said. "That doesn't make me good, right and perfect. I'm not trying to toot my own horn. But there was a certain grace that stayed with me. I knew that I couldn't have expectations about when I might get help or if there was a painkiller. I just had no expectations. I knew that I could only do it one breath at a time. I was able to say 'please' and 'thank you' and 'may I have a drink of water?'" She added, "I didn't make it anybody else's fault. And I didn't take it out on the people around me." Judd said the people who helped her along the way, whom she has thanked several times, could offer only their presence, compassion and empathy, "And that had to be enough." She said she also remembered a talk from dharma teacher Tara Brach, who said: When you get to your edge, soften. "I was at my edge, you know. Then I would get to the edge of my edge and I would try to soften and try to find more spaces inside me," she said. "So all the work I put in, it coalesced in those 55 hours." Judd also spoke about having the means to get help, knowing the average Congolese person in that situation wouldn't have been able to. "I was carried through the rain forest for three hours on a makeshift stretcher, but then I had the $30 to pay for the motorbike transportation for the five hours where I sat holding my leg together with my bare hands," she said. "If I hadn't had that $30, I would have stayed there and..." However, despite all the work she's done on herself, Judd also admitted she's been hard on herself because she still internalizes misogyny and patriarchal attitudes. "With the accident that had, I gained 20 pounds and I find myself being intimated to go out in public because I'm afraid of the public critique," admitted Judd, an activist who has traveled the world promoting empowerment and equality. "That's just nothing but projecting onto society what they're going to reflect back to me..." Judd who authored All That Is Bitter & Sweet: A Memoir in 2011 also revealed during the interview that she's writing a second book. It will include the accident, her work in Congo with the bonobos, being among the first women to go on record about being sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein as well as her 2013 divorce from former race car driver Dario Franchitti. She also spoke about Weinstein and the Franchitti split on the podcast. On the topic of the latter, she revealed that she's the godmother of Franchitti's elder child with his second wife, Eleanor Robb, and spoke about how she's grown close with Robb despite the societal norm that a first wife and second wife shouldn't get along. The UK retailers helping with humanitarian needs and donations for Ukraine. (Getty Images) In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, many of us are searching for ways to help the millions who are suffering. There are numerous charitable efforts to help the ongoing humanitarian relief efforts, from volunteering at a local donation centre to giving a charitable donation to organisations such as the British Red Cross and UNICEF. Many brands, both big and small, are also doing what they can to raise proceeds to help those who have fled Ukraine. Where to donate From substantial charitable donations from high street stores, to supermarkets sending food, clothes and medical supplies and independent brands banding together to create an auction to raise proceeds, these are all the UK retailers currently helping to provide support to the families, children, of Ukrainians impacted. UK retailers helping to support the people of Ukraine John Lewis In an Instagram post shared last week, John Lewis' Partner & Chairman, Sharon White, released the following statement: "I am deeply distress by the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine - innocent people losing their lives, their loved ones, their home and families being separated. Today, the John Lewis Partnership is making a first donation of 100,000 to the British Red Cross directly in support of their Ukraine Crisis Appeal." In addition, the British high street store will also match customers donations up to an additional 150,000. Marks & Spencer Marks & Spencer announced last Thursday that it will be donating 500,000 to the UN Refugee Agency. The supermarket has also allocated 500,000 for UNICEF through matching colleague and Spark card donations. Sparks customers can select UNICEF as their chosen charity while using the loyalty card, M&S will then make double donations every time you shop with M&S. The retailer is also providing 20,000 items of winter clothing for the families and children who have had to flee their homes. Story continues Tesco The supermarket has pledged 1 million to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal to support their vital work. Tesco has also sent supplies in the form of food, hygiene items and clothing to help refugees, made Tesco Mobile calls to Ukraine free for those trying to reach friends or loved ones and Tesco Bank has also waived any fees for anyone who needs to send money from the UK to Ukraine. Roxanne First London-based Fine Jeweller, Roxanne First, is donating a LOVE necklace to raise money for British-Ukrainian Aid. Donations made to the Just Giving page will go directly to support those suffering in Ukraine, and Roxanne First will randomly select one of the donators to give the necklace to, as well as donating 3,000. House of Hackney House of Hackney we will be donating 15% of all retail sales to Choose Loves Ukraine appeal from the 7th to 13th of March. The Choose Love organisation is currently helping to provide medical care, food, shelter, mental health services, as well as and important protection for the LGBTQIA+ community. Kurt Geiger The shoe brand announced on Instagram that it has donated 100% of last week's store profits to the sum of 50,000 to the British Red Cross' Emergency Appeal who are working with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide vital shelter, medical supplies and more. eBay To support the humanitarian effort on the ground in Ukraine, eBay is raising funds for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. eBay has made an initial donation of 150,000 and is also matching all employees donations up to 150,000. If youre selling items on eBay, the site is also now allowing you to donate between 10-100% of the proceeds to the British Red Cross. Chinti & Parker The fashion brand has decided to donate 100% of profits, of its 195 Love sweater and 65 Love T-shirt, to Save The Children and Disaster Emergency Committee. It's expected that at least 110 for sweater and 35 for T-shirt sales will go to the chosen charities. Dunelm The homeware store are working with its stores, warehouses and suppliers to help provide vital items such as blankets, quilts and pillows. So far, over 200 pallets of products are in the process of being sent to Poland. Grenson Sustainable shoe brand, Grenson, created a run of its iconic bench-made "66" sneakers using Ukraines flag as the colourway. 50 pairs were made in both men's and women's sizes and 100% of the sales will be donated to the UN Refugee Agency. Robert Dyas Robert Dyas is supporting Ukraine with donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee. The garden store said on Instagram: "our colleagues will be encouraging donations from our in-store customers and Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust will match all colleague fundraising up to 50k across our group of retailers." Home Bargains The affordable homeware shop has shared on Instagram last week that "we have made a donation of 100,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal which we hope will help to provide the people of Ukraine with some of the essential items that they so desperately need." Currys The electrical company shared on Instagram that they have made a donation of 100,000 to the Red Cross to help those affected. CEO, Alex Baldock, said: My horror and revulsion at the invasion of Ukraine is shared by thousands of Currys colleagues and we are a determination to help the victims of this act of aggression. NEW YORKBBW performer Curvy Mary will be celebrating the launch of her official XXX website www.curvymary.com Friday night at East Village lounge Key Bar from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. New York has been my home away from home since I broke into the adult industry so I thought it fitting to celebrate this milestone in the Big Apple, Mary said. Lets party and super-size it! There will be no cover charge for the event. For VIP seating, press and photographers may RSVP to [email protected]. Key Bar is located at 432 E 13th St, New York, NY 10009. Follow Curvy Mary on Twitter @curvymary8, Instagram @curvymary8xx and Only Fans @curvymary8, and visit her new website at www.curvymary.com. To complement Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchis grieving, soft-spun vision for Drive My Car, which has received four Oscar noms including director and best picture, the choice of composer to create a melodramatic and delicate score was crucial. Enter Eiko Ishibashi, an experimental Japanese multi-instrumentalist whose 2018 The Dream My Bones Dream was a turning point in an already decade-long career of scores for theater and short films. More from Variety Ishibashis 2018 album of haunting soundscapes and its electro-acoustic mix of noise, oddball pop, improvisational jazz and minimalist, modern classical music made her a cinematic force equal to Hamaguchi. The more textural and sweeping aspects of Ishibashis bittersweet melodies were an elegant match for Hamaguchis vision. It was a very unique experience for me to be able to create music with relative freedom and enjoyment, says Ishibashi of her cinematic compositional scope. After being known for crafting blunt, short films since 2001, Japanese director Hamaguchis romantic Asako I & II of 2018 signaled an aesthetic shift, a turn toward sweeping narratives with shadowy, but tactile, atmospheres. Such expanse was necessary for 2021s Drive My Car, a tale of a theater director reckoning with the finality of death while working on a stage production of Uncle Vanya during long car rides. To that end, Ishibashis contemplative song-score for Drive My Car, re-released in February on major streaming services with bonus tracks, is as distant and off-putting as it is intimate and readily engaging. Typically, I dont use a lot of music in my films, but hearing the music Ishibashi made was the first time I thought this could work for the film, says director Hamaguchi, who was introduced to her music by Drive My Car producer Teruhisa Yamamoto as filming was set to commence. Hearing her work, I was struck by how wonderful her talent and technique was. It reminded me of a band I enjoyed in my 20s, Tortoise. It had a similar feel that really matched with my taste, so I was very happy to work with Eiko. The director says he and Ishibashi share similar backgrounds, generationally, as well as a shared career trajectory. I think that comes from listening to the same things around the same time. We also share similar tastes in film. She watches a lot of movies and loves John Cassavetes, Douglas Sirk, Rainer Werner Fassbinder and all these filmmakers who I really enjoy. Our film language was very similar. Story continues Ishibashi a cinema enthusiast who spends far more time with films than with music, with a love for John Barry scores such as Midnight Cowboy and Walkabout has spent the past decade working with avant-garde composer-instrumentalist Jim ORourke. A post-rock contemporary of Tortoise, ORourke also happens to be a member of Ishibashis band for the recording of Drive My Car, and her duet partner for their recently released For McCoy, an album in sonic celebration of actor Sam Waterstons Law & Order character, Jack McCoy. I am very lucky because I have been allowed to make music for many films rather freely so far, says Ishibashi, while making a note of previous works such as a feature-length live-action narrative score for 2019s Blade of the Immortal anime. Thanks to director Hamaguchis wonderful talent, I feel that all the hard work I did on Drive My Car was rewarded by his good use of the music. Giving credit where credits due, Ishibashi notes how crucial ORourke and additional musical collaborators have been to her experimental aesthetic. Without ORourkes support, I would have quit music a long time ago. Listening to Jims music and mixed-sound sources is like breathing delicious air. Through my collaborations with Jim and Masami Akita [Japanese noise producer Merzbow] I have come to see sound itself as a living thing, that the intensity of sound is not about volume or sound pressure. After writing to Drive My Car author Haruki Murakami with a detailed plot schematic for his film, Hamaguchi and producer Yamamoto called on Ishibashi to create a score. Working with her ensemble in lines similar to how she crafts her solo projects (not at all apart from what I do with my albums, she says with emphasis), Ishibashi and her team fashioned an intuitive score, from scratch, based on drum patterns and using synthetic and organic instrumentation. For a cinematic vibe both pastoral and sinister, Ishibashi wanted to faithfully reproduce the sounds that came to her from reading the script and watching the visuals the director presented her. It was very important for me to be able to experiment with whatever came to my mind without any restrictions on what kind of music should be used, and to be able to hand over the results of my experiments to the director in their entirety, says the composer of free music without genre or boundaries. What I felt from the images and the script became the axis of the project. The director told me, I want the music to be like a landscape, and I want the music to connect the audience to the film, because the images will be the ones that separate them, and, For the theme song, I want a melody like Henry Mancinis that people will remember even after they finish watching the movie. Hamaguchi agrees with his composers estimate of events while adding how Ishibashis music, very rich in emotion, and very thick, aided in creating another layer of catharsis and intellectualism. Her music is compressed, and at times you could even say its flat because it is so compressed, notes the director. Something that I asked of Ishibashi early on was that the music feels almost like the scenery the landscape of where this story is taking place. With that, it just feels as if its there as part of the environment, not so much matched to the emotion of the moment, but more like a natural part of that environment. When the depiction emotionally became somewhat cool in the visual, we decided to expand emotionally on that musical palette. I think we did that well and I think she brought out this amazing flat and calm, yet at the same time, a very emotional flavor that suits the film. Hamaguchi and Ishibashi both agree that making the music of Drive My Car in spurts before and after the pandemic shutdown, as well as during the shoot itself was a huge help in making her compositions for his cinematic vision their own living, breathing entity. Working on it step-by-step with director Hamaguchi while he was filming was very gratifying for me, says Ishibashi. The director continues: We shot the first 40 minutes of Drive My Car in its first chunk, around mid-2020, but had to stop because of COVID. We had Ishibashi work on that chunk first she would send us motifs of different moments, and we would add those pieces into the edit as we went. That process of combining the edit and the music worked really well. Based on those motifs she came up with, I would give notes and she would record a final version after more back-and-forth. It wasnt this abstract way of communicating an idea of what I wanted it was visual to begin with. That went very smoothly and I will use that way of working with a composer in the future. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Thousands of Ukrainian refugees shelter in a converted shopping mall in Poland, near the border with Ukraine. Nicola Marfisi/Getty Images A mall in Poland has been turned into a massive transit center for thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia's invasion. Over 12 hours on Wednesday, there were 3,500 arrivals and 2,200 departures at the refugee center, volunteers told Insider. "I've been better," one Ukrainian refugee told Insider. "They're bombing schools...They're bombing everywhere, just everywhere." KORCZOWA, POLAND What was once a shopping mall here has been transformed into a massive transit center for thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia's invasion. Buses constantly come in and out, bringing new arrivals out of a warzone and sending them off to cities in Poland and beyond. In the course of roughly 12 hours on Wednesday alone, there were 3,500 arrivals and 2,200 departures at the refugee center, volunteers told Insider. A child plays on Wednesday at the refugee center in the defunct shopping mall. John Haltiwanger/Insider The center was filled with cots and offered free food and other services to refugees, but lacked showers and other amenities. Many of those in the facility showed visible signs of trauma, having just escaped an unprovoked war that's seen civilian population centers pummeled by Russian airstrikes and artillery. Viktoria, 36, of Kharviv became emotional as she told Insider that she left her parents behind they didn't want to leave. She said she had to get out of Ukraine to protect her daughter and niece. "I've been better," Viktoria said when asked how she's feeling. "They're bombing schools... They're bombing everywhere, just everywhere," she said of the Russian military. People rest on cots at the crowded refugee center. John Haltiwanger/Insider More than 2.3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its war with the eastern European country just over two weeks ago, according to the United Nations, which says the exodus has become "Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II." Story continues Poland alone has taken in more than 1.4 million refugees mostly women, children and elderly people according to the UN, while other countries bordering Ukraine like Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania have taken in hundreds of thousands more. The UN refugee agency said it has teams at the borders in Poland and other neighboring countries to help national authorities in providing assistance to fleeing Ukrainians. "We try to find solutions for them," UNHCR Poland's Katarzyna Oyrzanowska said. "We try to find solutions for them. They have been torn from their familiar surroundings, miss their fathers and do not understand the situation. All this is difficult for adults to cope with. What must it be like for children?" Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's military assault on Ukraine in the early morning hours of February 24. Since then Russian troops have targeted key cities throughout the country with military strikes, but have been met with fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces. The Russian invasion has already left hundreds of Ukrainian civilians, including children, dead. The UN human rights office said on Thursday that at least 549 civilians had been killed in Ukraine since Russia launched its attack on the country. However, the UN human rights office said it believes the real death toll is "considerably higher." Read the original article on Business Insider Masks are optional for public school children in New York City from Kindergarten and above, but as of March 7, students and teachers at Yung Wing School P.S. 124 in Manhattan's Chinatown were still wearing them. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) Students are back in class amid the coronavirus pandemic, and to keep you posted on whats unfolding throughout U.S. schools K-12 as well as colleges Yahoo Life is running a weekly wrap-up featuring news bites, interviews and updates about the ongoing situation. CDC study finds masking reduces COVID-19 cases in schools A large new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that masking reduced COVID-19 transmission in schools by nearly 25%. The study's release, however, coincided with the lifting of school mask mandates in states across the country. The study analyzed data from 233 public school districts in Arkansas from August through October 2021, and found that districts that required masking in school buildings had a 23% lower rate of COVID-19 cases among students and staff than those without mandates. About one-third of the districts required universal masking, a fifth required masks under certain circumstances, and half had no masking policies in place. "Masks remain an important part of a multicomponent approach to prevent COVID-19 in K12 settings, especially in communities with high levels of COVID-19," the authors of the study concluded. Related video: Many states and cities are dropping their mask mandates for schools The timing is interesting, given that many school districts across the country have now gone maskless, but infectious disease doctors say it's time to move forward without mandates. "There are always going to be cases in schools, and masks will help decrease cases," Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Yahoo Life. "But increasingly, we're not so much worried about cases and more worried about severe disease. Policies will have to reflect serious cases, and you shouldn't revert to virtual learning every time you have cases. If they're mild, that's a win." Story continues Cases across the country are dropping, which bolsters the case for the end of mask mandates, Dr. Richard Watkins, an infectious disease physician in Akron, Ohio, and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Yahoo Life. "It seems like the country is on a downward trajectory for new cases," he says. However, Dr. Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, tells Yahoo Life that "We will likely see a bump in cases with the lifting of mask mandates, while there is still COVID out there." He doesn't anticipate, though, that it will be a large one. San Diego students will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 next year San Diego Unified School District board members voted unanimously on Tuesday for a resolution that will carry out the districts student COVID-19 vaccination requirements for the 2022-23 school year. The district's previous vaccine requirement for students was disrupted by a lawsuit. However, a stay of that ruling was granted on Feb. 1. "The district's intention in establishing a student vaccine mandate has always been to protect the health of students and create a safe learning environment," school officials say on the district's website. Under the mandate, students will need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as it received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration for their age group. Right now, the FDA has only fully approved the vaccine for children ages 16 and up. All others are eligible to be vaccinated under an emergency use authorization (EUA). The San Diego Unified School District will start implementing the mandate in August, but will allow for "narrow medical exemptions," noting that "religious or personal belief exemptions will not be permitted." Unvaccinated students without medical exemptions will not be allowed to participate in in-person learning or extracurricular activities, district officials say. Summer school students will also need to follow the vaccine mandate. Students who want to participate in extracurricular activities during the fall semester need to get their first dose of the vaccine by Aug. 6. Everyone else must have their first shot by Sept. 6. The Los Angeles Unified School District, previously passed a vaccine mandate for students. It has also been deferred until fall 2022. Experts expect more districts to follow."I both hope and anticipate more districts will approve COVID vaccine mandates," Russo says. "COVID is not going away. Therefore, vaccination is the best way to keep our schools safe." Watkins, however says this is unlikely to be the case across the country. "It will more likely have to do with the local political situation," he says. Adalja agrees. "It will probably be a school district-by-school district thing, although it may eventually be statewide, as states usually set requirements for vaccinations," he says. Still, he doesn't anticipate vaccines being required for each age group until they are approved by the FDA. Hawaii makes outdoor masking optional for students The Hawaii State Department of Education announced this week that it will make outdoor masking optional on all public school campuses months after the CDC updated its guidance for schools to say that outdoor masking is unnecessary in many situations. The requirement was lifted on Wednesday, but indoor masking continues to be required. Masking has been required indoors and outside "as an added protection" since the start of the school year, the state's Department of Education said in a press release. "It's encouraging to see our indicators trending in the right direction to allow us to make this change," interim superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a statement. "We're seeing COVID case counts at our public schools continue to decline for the seventh straight week, and weekly rates are down 98% from January's Omicron surge peak." CDC guidance for COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools, which was updated in early January, states, "in general, people do not need to wear masks when outdoors." However, the agency recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or "during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people." "The risk of infection is low in the outdoor setting," Russo says. "However, individuals at increased risk for severe disease should consider wearing a mask when there is ongoing spread of COVID in the community and they anticipate being in close quarters with other individuals for a prolonged period." Watkins agrees. "If someone is in a large crowd and can't socially distance, then wearing a mask might still be a good idea," he says. "Otherwise, wearing one outdoors probably isn't needed at this point." Spring break looms as COVID restrictions lift across the country Spring break starts in many colleges and K-12 schools across the country this month, and infectious disease experts expect COVID-19 cases to follow. "When there's social interaction, there are going to be cases," Adalja says. However, he adds, the majority of these cases will be in low-risk patients who may be vaccinated. Russo agrees. "Travel and spring break-related activities increase the risk of COVID," he says. "Hopefully, a bump in cases will be minimized or not realized, due to the decreasing amount of COVID in most locales in this country." To help people stay safe, Russo recommends getting vaccinated (if you haven't already), wearing a mask in crowded situations where COVID-19 cases are high, and practicing good hand hygiene. For children who are too young to be vaccinated, he recommends focusing on outdoor activities, just to be safe. "Immunity is way better for this break than the last, but is still imperfect," he says. More than 81% of the U.S. population over the age of 5 have had at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Watkins is hopeful that this, combined with the fact that a huge wave of people who were recently infected during the Omicron wave, will help keep new cases to a minimum. "Hopefully, there have been enough people who are either vaccinated or have gotten COVID, that we won't see a spike in cases over the next couple of weeks," he says. Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Video courtesy of NBCUniversal and NBC News. For more, check out Today. Nearly three dozen Ukrainian women, children and elderly people have been evacuated from Ukraine because of the efforts of Iowa-based company Sukup Manufacturing Co. Headquartered in Sheffield, Sukup is the world's largest family-owned and operated manufacturer of grain storage equipment. The company's European counterpart, Sukup Europe, is located in Denmark but has business ties to Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Sukup Europe knew its business partners at the Grain House Company in Ukraine were desperate to evacuate their families. Sukup Europes Managing Director Jens Erik Iversen and Grain House Company co-founder Andriy Semenovych began working on a plan to help families get from Ukraine to Denmark, according to a news release. Back in Sheffield, Sukup President and CEO Steve Sukup wanted to get involved and made a financial commitment. "After the weekend, Steve gave us the go-ahead to develop an assistance plan, whatever was needed, to aid our Ukrainian counterparts," said Chief Administrative Officer Emily Schmitt. "I called Jens, our Sukup Europe CEO, and asked for permission to leverage any business relationships we had between the route from Ukraine to Denmark. He says hes proud to have such a supportive parent company." Sukup Manufacturing Co. on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, in Sheffield, Iowa. The nearly three dozen people evacuated include members of 16 different families of Sukup Europe and Grain House Company employees. After the 1,200 mile journey, the evacuees were greeted in Denmark with food, clothing and mental health services. "Denmark is currently passing immigration laws that would provide asylum for the refugees," Schmitt said. "That would allow them access to the Danish education and medical systems, as well as provide them with a livable stipend" Schmitt said the company is working with U.S. elected officials to obtain temporary work visas in hopes of offering support to bring refugees to Iowa. The company also launched a fundraiser through the Sukup Family Foundation to support humanitarian needs. Grace Altenhofen is a news reporting intern for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Sukup Manufacturing helps evacuate 30 people from Ukraine to Denmark (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Vice President Kamala Harris was holding a joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis about the response to Russias invasion of Ukraine when the broadcast feed unexpectedly cut out. The break in transmission occurred midway through a response by Mr Iohannis and occurred across all networks carrying the transmission as well as on the official website of the Romanian presidency. The vice president was meeting with the Romanian president at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest on the third day of her visit to Europe. Shortly before the feed from Romania was lost, Ms harris said that there are no clear signs that Russian President Vladimir is interested in relenting on his assault on Urkaine. The United States has been attempting sincerely to engage in diplomacy actively. And from everything that we know and have witnessed, Putin has shown no sign in engaging in serious diplomacy, she said. Ms Harris said that Russian is deploying its playbook of lies, misinformation and acts of aggression in Ukraine. Her remarks come as the US Senate just passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill that includes aide to Ukraine. More follows Corkscrew on marble table ATU Images / Getty Images Opening a bottle of wine is full of anticipation: Once you extract the cork from the bottle, you might pour a small taste of the wine to make sure it's not faulty before pouring for yourself and your guests. Since wine is a living, breathing sample of biological matter that's constantly evolving (and can potentially be spoiled), this is a smart thing to do. Still, the wine tasting ritual is often fraught with confusion over one key element: Should you smell the wine cork? Even wine professionals disagree to some extent over the necessity of the "sniff" in the tasting ritual, so it's no wonder that wine lovers are unsure of the etiquette around this practice. Related: What's the Best Way to Chill Wine? What Can the Cork Tell You? When ordering wine in a restaurant setting, your server should present the cork after opening a bottle. According to the Court of Master Sommeliers, this is an official standard of proper wine service. Most restaurant guests aren't aware of the two main reasons for thisor the fact that they have nothing to do with the smell of the cork. First and foremost, the cork is presented so that you can authenticate the bottle. Most corks are stamped with the name of the winery and sometimes even the vintage year as a way of letting you know that the provenance of the juice in the bottle is consistent with what you purchased. When you see the official cork, you know that the bottle is authentic (historically, some less than ethical restaurants were known to refill empty bottles of fine wine with cheap swill and re-cork them with a generic, plain cork to sell them again!). Even today, counterfeit wine is an ongoing problem in the world of wine collectors and auctions. When presented with a cork at a restaurant, you're simply meant to examine it to ensure your wine is the real deal. The condition of a wine cork can also help you check for quality. Marcelo Doffo, founder of Doffo Winery in Temecula Valley, California, says, "The cork tells the story. You can see the quality of the closure the winemaker used and whether the wine was properly stored." According to Vinfolio, if the cork is soggy, crumbling, or soaked with wineit's a sign the wine might be spoiled due to poor storage (the cork should only have slight staining at the base). Story continues The reason some wine professionals will sniff the cork is that they're looking for early evidence that the wine could be infected with a bacteria called 2,4,6-trichloroanisoleor TCA for short. Jon McDaniel, head of wine education for Texas-based, female-founded and owned winery Scout & Cellar, offered the following insight: "If you smell the cork and it smells like a wet dog, a musty basement, wet cardboard, odds are that chemical has gotten into the wine through the cork and spoiled it." Most wine industry estimates indicate that anywhere from 2-7 percent of wines are infected with TCA (although there's still never been a definitive study on this). It's the Smell of the Wine, Not the Cork, That's Important TCA is not harmful, but it can evoke these unpleasant flavors in wine or sometimes leech the wine of its vibrant, fruity flavors, tasting stale and flat. The presence of TCA is also known as "cork taint" (and you might hear your favorite sommelier declaring the wine is "corked"). "Corked" is a bit of a misnomer, thoughalthough TCA can infect corks and enter the wine that way, it can also come from old crates, sink drains treated with chlorine, humidifiers used around the winery, and even the inside of an oak barrel. So, sniffing a cork that smells musty might indicate TCA in the wine, but it doesn't always reflect what's in the bottle. For this reason, many sommeliers consider the "sniff" inconclusive. Carrie Lyn Strong, sommelier and brand development manager at Sommation, says: "It's unnecessary. I've smelled corks that smell 'corked,' and the wine is fine and vice versa. It's an antiquated tradition that could alienate a person who purchases a bottle that is not sealed with a cork." Missy Neill, wine director of Aska in New York City, also advises against smelling the cork. "Smell the bottle. Then pour it into a glass. Smell that. The cork does not always tell the true story, and smelling it will only tell you that the wine is corked if the cork reeks of [TCA]. Sometimes it doesn't, and the wine is corked, nonetheless," she explains. It's important to note that TCA is only one potential fault in a wine. Smelling a cork will not tell you if a wine is oxidized, suffers from reduction (producing a sulfur smell), or is microbially infected or heat damaged. To catch these kinds of faults, you must smell the wine itself, not the cork. And screw caps and synthetic or composite corks won't tell you much about the wine if you sniff those. To Sniff, or Not to Sniff? Although smelling the cork won't tell you the whole story of the wine's fitness, it's a harmless practice if you really enjoy it. Some wine drinkers love the ritual of giving the cork a sniff, even as a quick snapshot and part of the tasting process. Devin Parr, DipWSET, founder and managing Partner of Devin Parr & Associates, admits: "If I am opening a bottle of wine at home, I do smell the cork. In some ways, it's just a habit and part of the ritual for me. I know some people inexplicably think this is gauche, but you really can get a quick preview of any flaws from that initial whiff. I won't, however, do it in a restaurant if it's presented to me, as I trust the sommelier or wine server to do the first pass and then will confirm with the wine in my glass." YouTube says it will now block channels linked to Russia-backed media outlets worldwide. Last week, it blocked channels from the likes of RT and Sputnik in Europe following an EU directive. The updated policy takes effect immediately, though YouTube's systems will take a little time to fully block the channels. 2/ In line with that, we are also now blocking access to YouTube channels associated with Russian state-funded media globally, expanding from across Europe. This change is effective immediately, and we expect our systems to take time to ramp up. YouTubeInsider (@YouTubeInsider) March 11, 2022 The service also said "denying, minimizing or trivializing well-documented violent events" is not allowed under its Community Guidelines. YouTube is taking down videos about the conflict in Ukraine that violate the rule. On Thursday, Twitter and Facebook removed posts from Russia's embassy in the UK that denied the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine. YouTube has also deleted more than 1,000 channels and over 15,000 videos related to Russia's invasion ok Ukraine for violating various policies, such as those on hate speech, misinformation and graphic content. Google stopped all ad sales in Russia last week and it has now paused all YouTube monetization and payments in the country. YouTube says it may take further action in Russia as the conflict continues. In addition, it's directing users to trusted sources of news regarding the invasion. Liz Ibbotson, chair of the Anderson County Democratic Party. The Anderson County Democratic Party condemns Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and fully supports the United States of America as it marshals its allies to respond to this aggression. Russias invasion of Ukraine is unacceptable; there must be consequences. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his intentions clear; he wants to overthrow the legitimate democratic government of Ukraine. Those in our county who argue we appease Putin by vowing to never allow Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) sorely misunderstand the situation. First, there is no appeasing a bully. A bully does not stop upon getting what it wants. Second, in 2010 the people of Ukraine voted against joining NATO. Regardless, even if Ukraine wanted to join NATO, in what reality does a non-member bully get to dictate who can and who cannot join an organization? The thought is preposterous. We recognize the severe sanctions being imposed by President Biden and the G7 will not deter Russias unlawful attack, but the sanctions are devised to cause cutting financial pain to Vladimir Putin and the oligarchs that support him. The Russian economy will also suffer as the sanctions kick in and they lose access to the world banking system, and their ability to trade or otherwise interact with the international financial establishments will be impeded. Perhaps the people of Russia will begin to consider the merits of democracy and understand the value of being able to replace leaders who lead their country into ruin. We do not believe that Putin is a genius! We believe that he has threatened the peace of the world as has not been seen since Hitler. The Anderson County Democratic Party calls all Americans to support the people of Ukraine and Democracy. May God protect the people of the Ukraine, and may God bless our troops. The Anderson County Democratic Party, chaired by Liz Ibbotson. This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Anderson County Democratic Party condemns Putin's invasion of Ukraine Connecticut and the United Kingdom, amicable rivals in the insurance business, agreed Thursday to a cooperative arrangement intended to ease the way for tech firms looking to expand in each others markets. The so-called InsurTech Corridor is seen as a way for participating U.S. and UK companies to increase their knowledge of markets, connect with business development and investment opportunities and make trans-Atlantic connections to accelerate business growth. We look forward to new ideas cross-pollinating across the Atlantic, state Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais said at a ceremony signing a memorandum establishing the relationship. The agreement, touted as the first state level financial services agreement between the two countries, had its start in 2019 with a U.S.-UK financial innovation partnership, said Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majestys Trade Commissioner to North America. As the home to one of the oldest and largest insurance industries in the United States, Connecticut is a perfect fit for the UK, she said. And as a strong supporter of innovation globally we believe the UK is the right partner for Connecticut. John Warburton, founder of Konsileo, a commercial insurance and risk management company in London, said British insurers really want to come to the U.S, seeing it as the most attractive destination for their expansion plans. Connecticut, which is competitive with New York, is an intrinsically attractive destination in a general sense, he said. The cooperative agreement is intended to help British insurers navigate their way through a web of state regulations and overcome challenges making contact with investors and other businesses, Warburton said. America is a big place. Its a scary place from an insurance regulation point of view because youve got 50 different insurance jurisdictions, he said. Challenges that UK insurers face when they look to operate in the U.S. include determining the best market and regulatory steps and learning about networks of brokers and carriers, Warburton said. These are the barriers this initiative addresses, he said. Story continues InsureTech is a growing segment of the insurance industry that includes startups selling niche insurance products and relying on data and digital technology. Connecticuts financial activities sector, which comprises the finance and insurance sector and real estate and rental and leasing businesses, employed 118,500 workers in December, according to the state Department of Labor. Its down 3.6% from early 2020 before COVID-19 shut businesses. Employment in the sector fell more steeply, 18.6%, from a pre-recession peak in 2007, partly brought on by corporate mergers that pared workforces and headquarter exits to other states. Job losses also followed the advent of digital technology disrupting insurance that the industry is now trying to harness by drawing more startups to Connecticut. The agreement is the first step in developing an online platform of free resources for interested companies. The platform will launch this year. Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com. Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/Getty In the wake of Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine, theres a question worth asking: If Donald Trump gets re-elected in 2024, is NATO toast? It is axiomatic that free countries have a harder time guaranteeing long-term commitments, but Trump is incomparable as a wild card. What is more, the possibility that Trump will be re-elected isnt implausible. Theres a general consensus that the Republican nomination is his for the taking. President Joe Biden is currently enjoying a post-State of the Union bounce, but his approval numbers are still underwater. His party is well-positioned to get absolutely trounced in the midterms. And if we havent already learned that anything can happen from the 2016 electionas well as Trumps failed coup attempt in 2020then we never will learn. The Power of False War Propaganda Divides Families During his presidency, Trump harshly criticized our allies, while lavishing praise on dictators like North Koreas Kim Jong Un. I have NATO, I have the UK, which is somewhat in turmoil, and I have Putin. I think Putin may be the easiest of them all, who would think! he said. Trump also undermined the U.S. intelligence community, most infamously in Helsinki, when he sided with Russia over the FBI. During a 2019 NATO summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson were caught on camera mocking Trump. These are just a few of the many examples of how in four short years, Trump buddied up to dictators while simultaneously straining Americas relationship with our allies. It could have been even worse. Former National Security Adviser John Boltons memoir says that he had to talk Trump out of quitting NATO in 2018. In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO, Bolton said recently. And I think Putin was waiting for that. Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker, authors of the book I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trumps Catastrophic Final Year, buttressed this belief; they reported that some of Trumps advisers warned of the political fallout that could come from leaving NATO in his first term. Story continues Well do it in the second term, Trump reportedly decided. Trump may still get that second term. Then the question could shift from What happens to non-NATO states like Ukraine and Taiwan to What happens to the Baltic states? What happens to Poland? What I am saying is that Americas ability to maintain the trust of our allies and preserve NATOs principle of collective defense is incredibly tenuous. Regardless of the messages of deterrence that the West is now sending Russia (and China), it could all be upset by an incoming president with little regard to preserving past systems. In a mere two-and-a-half years, we may (re-)elect a leader of the Free World who is hostile to the idea of preserving the post-World War II rules-based international system and the institutions and alliances that have supported it for more than 70 years. If that happens, a lot of the hard work and sacrifice that is taking place right nowby Ukraine and, to a far lesser extent, the Westcould be in vain. Of course, it could be that Russias cold-blooded invasion has finally done what Trumps past comments about John McCain, the Access Hollywood tape, and a zillion other third rails could not do. National Journals Josh Kraushaar thinks Trumps Putin praise, coupled with his lack of moral clarity about the invasion, may prove to be his kryptonite. During a recent conversation, Kraushaar told me, I think this is a tipping point moment where the Republican Party may be returning more to its Reaganite roots Right-Wing Ultra-Nationalists Are Putins Useful Idiots Time will tell, but there is little doubt that Trumpian populism has been dealt a blow. In North Carolinas May 17 primary, a Republican candidate is already using the pro-Putin comments of a Trump-endorsed candidate against him. But theres also a chance that Trump could win the 2024 election at the same time that already-hawkish Republicans (think Sens. Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, et al.) become simultaneously more anti-Russia. The assumption has always been that a second term for Trump would be one where he was more liberated from establishment advisers and deep state interference. But its at least conceivable that, when it comes to Russia and NATO, Trump would trim his sails. Sure, this transformation is possible. But I wouldnt want to bet the future of the free world on it. Who would believe that Trump could be fenced in by Republican senators who care more about the countrys interests than they do about not offending the rabid Trumpist base, much less that he learned his lesson and has grown into the role of president? So long as the potential for a President Trump Part 2 looms on the horizon, our friends and allies will have to look over their shoulders, and our enemies will have good reason to believe they can bide their time. Thats no way to run a railroad, let alone the Free World. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Coconino County residents will have a chance to voice their opinions on the proposed district maps that will dictate the Board of Supervisors and the Coconino Community College District Governing Board for the next 10 years. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will present five different scenarios to the public over the next several weeks via Zoom. The first virtual public input session has been scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. Additional sessions are set for March 17 at 4 p.m., March 23 at 6 p.m. and March 29 at 2 p.m. State law requires the county board to reappropriate districts based on the population identified in the most recent U.S. Census. Each redrawn district must have a relatively equal population. The 2020 census identified Coconino County's population as 145,101. Experts say the 2020 census, however, likely undercounted Native Americans living on reservations due to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and an ever-changing deadline, according to a report released Thursday from The Associated Press. That aside, the board must draw five districts with a minimum population of approximately 27,569 residents. The established districts will also cover the Coconino Community College District Governing Board. Creating the new districts is a major balancing act for the county. It must meet the new population requirements while also complying with the Voting Rights Act, which mandates that the strength of racial- and language-minority groups can't be diluted through the redistricting process. Ideally, the new districts must preserve communities of interest, as well as the majority-minority districts' ability to elect representatives of their choice. The existing districts must be maintained as much as possible, too. "You can see -- it's hard. We're trying to accommodate all these interests and they come into conflict," Supervisor Matt Ryan said during a review Tuesday of the proposed maps. "We're trying to achieve multiple objectives to keep consistency for the sake of communities while looking at priority amongst our people." Each scenario shifts the boundaries of each district, as well as the demographic breakdown and party affiliations. Some would result in major shifts for certain districts -- while others would stay relatively the same. Each scenarios is available for review at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9d8d38db97b34ff691d2b8940428ba30. "As we consider draft maps, public input is essential to adopting final maps for our County," Board Chair Patrice Horstman said. "I encourage our residents to take a look at the proposed maps and submit a comment. Following the public input process, the Board looks forward to adopting a final map that reflects the needs and interests of our community. The maps will be presented during each feedback session and they can be modified further based on the response. Supervisors seemed split over which scenario is best. Some, like Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez, said they likely won't know the right option until they hear from the public. "Every district is going to have to give something to gain something," Vasquez said. "I want to base my decision on public feedback and where the public is on this." The adopted maps, which are set to be approved at the April 12 board meeting, will go into effect after the upcoming 2022 election cycle. Supervisors will campaign based on the new boundaries in the 2024 election cycle, but will not represent them until January 2025. Comments can be submitted to redistricting@coconinoaz.gov until April 12. Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Jeff Pelley with his attorneys Alan Baum, left, and Andre Gammage, right in July 2006. SOUTH BEND Jeff Pelley will be in court Monday for the first time in more than a decade as he seeks a chance to be exonerated in the murders of his father, mother and two step-sisters in Lakeville. The hearing is the latest chapter in the saga of the "prom night murders," the name given to the 1989 quadruple homicide in which Jeff Pelley's father Robert, stepmother Dawn and stepsisters Janel, 8, and Jolene, 6, in their Lakeville home on prom night in 1989. The case is now set for a multi-day hearing in St. Joseph Superior Court starting Monday. Jeff Pelley: Legal team hopes to show prosecutors lied, hid evidence in 'prom night murders' case Why is Pelley getting this hearing now? Monday's hearing is the result of a post-conviction relief petition by Pelley who says he did not receive a fair trial. Judges do not have to grant evidentiary hearings in cases where a person has already been convicted, but St. Joseph Superior Judge Stephanie Steele in September granted Pelley a day in court. What is the purpose of the hearing? Pelley's goal with the hearing is to get a new trial. This is the first chance in over 10 years he has had the chance to present evidence on his behalf. Jeff Pelley arrives at the St. Joseph County Courthouse Wednesday morning, July 19, 2006, in South Bend. How did we get here? Pelley was 17 at the time of the murders in 1989, though he was not charged until 2002. After a trial, Pelley was convicted of the murders in 2006 and sentenced to 160 years in prison. Pelley appealed immediately following the trial and his conviction was briefly overturned by the state appeals court before being upheld by the Indiana Supreme Court in 2009. Since then, Pelley has worked with attorneys at the Indiana University law schools Wrongful Conviction Clinic to file a petition for post-conviction relief. Pelley was booked into the St. Joseph County Jail last month ahead of the hearing. He had been incarcerated at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. 'Prom night murders': True crime podcast reignites case as Jeff Pelley seeks new trial Story continues What evidence will be presented? Court filings show that Pelley will highlight what he calls deceptive and reckless actions by prosecutors at his original trial. Specifically, prosecutors told the jury at the trial that a pair of jeans supposedly belonging to Pelley had been washed in the laundry machine, when they had not been. Pelley is also expected to point to testimony from a woman named Toni Beehler that was not allowed at the previous trial which set up his father's financial dealings in Florida as a potential motive for the killings. Jeff Pelley What do prosecutors say? In their recent filings, prosecutors have maintained that Pelley's legal team was given video and a transcript of Beehler's police interview. Even if it wasn't, they say, Beehler's testimony and Pelley's other pieces of new evidence would not lead to a different outcome at a new trial. When will the judge make a decision about the new trial? Judges are not bound by a set timeline to make rulings in such cases. It could take weeks or even months for Steele to issue a decision. Andy Royer: Case dismissed after overturned conviction in 2002 Elkhart murder What will happen if the judge rules in Pelley's favor? If Steele rules in Pelley's favor, he will be entitled to a new trial where he could either be convicted again, or found not guilty. It's also possible that prosecutors dismiss the charges against Pelley if the judge finds there were problems with the original trial. The hearing in front of Steele is Pelley's best remaining chance at exoneration. If the judge rules against him, Pelley can appeal in federal court, however the likelihood of success would become smaller. Email Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@sbtinfo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marek_mazurek This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Prom night murders case set for hearing as Jeff Pelley seeks new trial Confiscated firearms at Providence Safety Complex. PROVIDENCE Police have charged a man and a woman with more than 30 felonies linked to an arms-trafficking operation. Amado Vagas Duverge, 36, was arrested on Wednesday after trying to send weapons to the Dominican Republic, Maj. David Lapatin said. Alba M. Moronta-De Espinal, 31, who police believe may be Duverge's ex-girlfriend or ex-wife, was also arrested. Both are from Providence. The investigation was sparked two months ago when Massachusetts State Police gave Providence police information about narcotics trafficking in the city that led authorities to discover the illegal firearms distribution. A search of Duverge's Clarence Street home turned up three handguns, two shotguns, two rifles and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, Lapatin said. The guns of which police are aware were purchased legally at local stores in Rhode Island. Shots fired: Burrillville crypto-currency investor found with hundreds of guns Lapatin described an "alarming" finding, explaining that "one of the shotguns and a couple of the handguns were contained in a big white plastic barrel, a shipping barrel, and within that barrel was also thousands and thousands of rounds." The rounds, Lapatin said, were buried in coffee cans that had been emptied and resealed. Capt. Roger Aspinall of the narcotics bureau noted that handguns were duct-taped and stored the same way, "in coffee grinds and then resealed on top of it to make it look like they were going to send the packages of the coffee grinds." More news: Four men face firearms charges after weekend arrests in Providence The large barrel in which the guns and ammunition were kept was then filled with a mix of birdseed, chicken feed and corn. Duverge was arrested at the Pocasset Avenue Walgreens before police searched his home. Aspinall called the scene there "a little chaotic" because three children were found inside, none older than age 4. Family Service of Rhode Island was called to the scene and has custody of the children. Story continues Duverge, who faces 24 felonies, and Moronta-De Espinal, who faces nine, were released on bail. Police are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine whether the charges should be federal. Lapatin said that since January, police have taken around 50 guns off the street, still addressing bundles of firearms bought earlier in the pandemic by straw buyers who may later sell them illegally. Lapatin feels that limiting the number of weapons an individual can purchase should be considered. "I'm not saying to limit people from buying them or to stop people from buying them, but I think to look at limits would be a good idea," he said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Arms trafficking to the Dominican Republic from Providence alleged bella hadid Bella Hadid/Instagram Bella Hadid is standing with Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion. In an Instagram post Wednesday, the 25-year-old supermodel announced that she's giving all the money she earns during Fashion Week to organizations supporting the war-torn country. In the first image of a carousel of photos, the model was seen behind the fashion scenes in a blue and gold top, reminiscent of the Ukrainian flag. "To watch my Ukrainian friends and colleagues working hard here in Europe, so close but so far from their families/friends/homes in Ukraine who are experiencing one of many brutal occupations and invasions happening right now in the world is a very emotional and humbling experience for me," Bella began. "Taking after Mica and my amazing Sis, I will be donating all of my earnings from this Fashion Week directly to organizations that are providing help, refuge and medical aide to those in need on the ground in Ukraine," she continued. The supermodel follows her sister Gigi Hadid in donating her Fashion Week earnings to Ukraine. On Sunday, the 26-year-old supermodel announced her plans and said she was following in the footsteps of her "friend" and fellow model Mica Arganaraz in doing so. Gigi Hadid Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images RELATED: Gigi Hadid Says She's Donating Her 2022 Fashion Show Earnings to Ukraine Aid amid Russian Invasion "Our eyes and hearts must be open to all human injustice. May we all see each other as brothers and sisters, beyond politics, beyond race, beyond religion," Gigi wrote on Instagram. "At the end of the day, innocent lives pay for war - not leaders." The Hadid sisters also said they would continue supporting those going through similar conflict in Palestine their ancestral home. In closing her post, Bella also shouted out Yemen, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Haiti, Myanmar, Somalia, Lebanon and "every country dealing with power trippers." The last photo in her carousel was a shot of the model protesting in support of the Palestinian cause. Story continues Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid walk the runway at the Versace fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022/2023 on February 25, 2022 in Milan, Italy. Daniele Venturelli/WireImage (2) RELATED: See Gigi and Bella Hadid Model Michael Kors at NYFW with Irina Shayk, Emily Ratajkowski Russia's attack on Ukraine continues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 the first major land conflict in Europe in decades. Details of the fighting change by the day, but hundreds of civilians have already been reported dead or wounded, including children. More than a million Ukrainians have also fled, the United Nations says. The invasion, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has drawn condemnation around the world and increasingly severe economic sanctions against Russia. With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for peace talks so far unsuccessful while urging his country to fight back. Putin, 69, insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy, 44, vowed not to bend. "Nobody is going to break us, we're strong, we're Ukrainians," he told the European Union in a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, "Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness." The Russian attack on Ukraine is an evolving story, with information changing quickly. Follow PEOPLE's complete coverage of the war here, including stories from citizens on the ground and ways to help. By David Gaffen HOUSTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Oil industry conferences usually feature protesters of some kind, but the small group holding signs all week just a block away from the CERAWeek energy gathering aren't championing the environment - their cause is Ukraine. The group of roughly a dozen people gather not far from the Hilton Americas Houston, where several thousand energy industry officials are meeting as growing sanctions against Russia, after its invasion of Ukraine, threw oil and gas markets into turmoil. "We're here to call out people in power who are attending CERAWeek this week to remind them there are people dying, children dying, mercilessly, needlessly," said Iryna Petrovska Marchiano, who was born in Ukraine and lives in Houston, where she works in the oil industry. Petrovska Marchiano and other Houston-based Ukrainians and Ukrainian-Americans formed HTX4Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion. She said she supported President Joseph Biden's move to ban Russian oil and gas imports, but said the United States and its allies need to move faster to provide military support to Ukraine. Russia, which calls its actions in Uktraine a "special operation", is the world's largest exporter of crude oil and fuel products at roughly 7 million to 8 million barrels a day. Numerous companies have moved to cut off purchases of Russian supplies, though few countries besides the United States and Canada have banned imports outright. Several million barrels of Russian oil are now stranded at sea without destinations. Prices have skyrocketed, with crude oil hitting $139 a barrel earlier this week and gasoline prices reaching record highs in numerous nations including the United States. Four out of five Americans said they support a ban on buying Russian oil in a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week. They also said they would pay more for gasoline, even though many are concerned about the rising costs of goods. Story continues "The prices will go up but people are starting to recognise that a potential temporary inconvenience for countries around the world is worthy of actual human life that is actually being saved by taking these drastic actions," Petrovska Marchiano said. Unlike other protests targeting energy industry events, attendees leaving the conference were supportive. One convention-goer walked by saying, "If I had a horn, I would honk it." Charles Valceschini, chairman of Ukrainian energy producer JKX Oil & Gas, said earlier this week at the conference that employees have taken refugees into their homes. "There's potential for artillery shells and acts of war arriving on their doorstep," Valceschini said. "(I) can't overstate the horrors of this situation." Petrovska Marchiano, who moved to Houston to work in the oil industry, said companies could use the profits they will make off higher prices to aid Ukraine. She also called on energy services companies and other majors still doing business in Russia to divest after some others said they would leave. Her most pressing concern were family members, including her brother, who still live in Ivanovo-Frankivsk, located in western Ukraine, where she was born. "My main goal is to keep them alive," she said. (Reporting By David Gaffen; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) In recent months, local school boards and leaders across the country, and in Indiana, have banned a record number of books in what must be understood as a large-scale capitulation to right-wing groups. School authorities defend their actions as avoiding divisiveness or making everyone happy. That, however, is irrelevant to our most important job as educators and parents: putting students and their learning first. Effective leadership calls for consistent focus on students even when there are outrageous demands from a very few parents. It calls for always centering decisions on students rights and their realities and the needs of our inclusive public. It calls for consideration of all students. What is occurring today in a growing number of districts is not spontaneous parental concern. Book-banning is driven by social media, conservative websites, and well-funded, right-wing political organizations that direct followers to go after specific books. Join the conversation: How to submit a letter to the editor or guest column to The Herald-Times Whatever concerned parents assert, based on handbooks produced by right-wing foundations and PACs, profanity or mature content is not what the attacked books share. The overwhelming majority of the targeted books tell stories of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, or otherwise marginalized people. If the issue were sex or profanity, as the parents and right-wing politicians claim, far more of the targeted books would be about white, straight, middle-class characters. Those books account for the lions share of mature content in high school libraries. Those books are not being vilified. But in 2021, books like "Out of Darkness" began being attacked across the country. The author Ashley Hope Perez was a resident of Bloomington, Indiana, for 7 years, and she served for three as a public high school English teacher. She is intimately aware of the capacities of the teenagers who read her books and writes with real young people in mind. "Out of Darkness" received numerous literary awards and was on school library shelves for more than five years without a single complaint. Yet "Out of Darkness" was removed this year, without a full review process, at the direction of the Hamilton County Schools superintendent. Story continues Removing books because of the objections of a handful of parents disregards the rights, perspectives, and interests of the rest of the community and the young people schools must serve. It is also an infringement upon young peoples First Amendment rights to open access to information. The Supreme Court has affirmed, in no uncertain terms, that books are not to be removed from school libraries because of any one groups values or viewpoint on their content. When it comes to judgments of mature content, literary passages must be evaluated, not in isolation, but in the context of the book as a whole and in light of its overarching themes. Books that engage with sexuality have long been judged to be of value for readers in their teens. These include the Bible and the works of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and many other classic authors. More in opinion: What's the difference between a Guardian Ad Litem and a CASA volunteer? Parents concerned about mature content would do well to consider the immediacy of access to unvetted media on any smart phone. A book like "Out of Darkness" and other thoroughly vetted titles is not what they should be afraid of. It is a grave mistake to believe that removing stories that reveal painful aspects of human experience will protect teens. That is a dangerous myth. Further, high school students are not children. They are maturing young adults, sometimes only months away from military service, full-time jobs, relationships with people from other communities, and university classes. Book removals impoverish learners by depriving them of a safe way to examine difficult issues. Reading and learning are gateways for engaging young minds and supporting their understanding of diverse and conflicting human experiences. In most cases, parents have not read the books they demand be removed. This is the new illiteracy: Unlike book banners from the Counter Reformation through McCarthyism, those opposing diverse representations take pride in not reading beyond the inflammatory posts and hand-picked passages that drive the bans in the first place. In fact, this is not even about the books. The books are proxies in a political-culture war for supremacy in which the real objective is asserting control. School boards at all levels must follow their own district policies. They must calmly discuss with parents the diversity of experiences that students bring to schools and the ways in which library materials meet the needs of a wide range of young people, not just those who share the identities, experiences, and values of a particular group of parents. When school leaders deviate from accepted intellectual and community standards for preserving youth access to books, they elevate the extreme and narrow views of a small minority of parents over the professional discretion and training of librarians and educators whose focus is meeting the needs of young people. It cedes control of the educational process to individuals unwilling even to read the books they are challenging. This amounts to a public, official endorsement of the disenfranchisement of marginalized students and an unconscionable disservice to the interests of the public. The greatest threat posed by attacks on youths access to books is their broadly chilling effect. Will a librarian in a community beleaguered by book banners quietly forego ordering the next teen sexual health guide or other books that might cause controversy, even when they are highly recommended by library professional guides? Reports of this soft censorship are multiplying, and they are as harmful as public attacks on literature. When book bans succeed, officially and unofficially, learners miss out on the literature and information they need to become thoughtful readers and capable citizens. Dont wait for book bans to come to your schools. Young people need community members to speak up now in support of their right to read diverse books. Ashely Hope Perez is an assistant world literature and comparative studies professor at Ohio State University who earned a Ph.D. in from Indiana University. She is also a former high school English teacher and a parent. Harvey Graff is a professor emeritus of English and history and Ohio eminent scholar at Ohio State University. His expertise includes the history of literacy and of children and youth. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Book bans deprive young people of chance to become thoughtful readers Mar. 10Take a breath. It's not going to be raining spiders over Maine this summer. There is a slight chance that a warm, southerly breeze could bring the invasive but harmless joro spider into the state, but entomologists here said it's nothing to worry about. Joro spiders, Trichonephila clavata, have been in the news lately following publication of a study out of Georgia that said the spider is capable of withstanding the cold temperatures of New England and could quickly spread throughout the region. Joros are native to Asia and have been in the southern United States for about a decade. They are on the large side about 3 inches when their legs are fully extended and colorful and travel through the air by spinning small silk, balloon-like threads. Like the spider, the story has grown legs and quickly began circulating with predictions of biblical size hordes of joros parachuting into northern states looking like the opening scene from "Red Dawn." Nothing could be further from the truth, according to spider experts. "Just think of the black and yellow garden spider we are all familiar with," said Jim Dill, entomologist and pest management specialist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension. "The joro is very similar to that maybe more elongated and with longer legs." Joros are in the spider family Araneidae and often referred to as orb weavers. It's the most common group, and they are the ones that build those spiral-shaped webs seen in the corners of buildings and outside in gardens, fields and forests. Like all orb weavers, baby joro spiders called spiderlings disperse by weaving a small strand of silk that acts like a kite and carries the tiny arachnid on the wind. "When they are 'parachuting' they will be very small," said Allison Kanoti, state entomologist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. "They are just cute little babies." Story continues Despite the fact joros have been labeled venomous, entomologists said they pose little danger to humans. For one thing, the mandibles of an adult joro simply are not strong enough to pierce human skin. For another, any venom they possess is not considered toxic to humans. "All spiders are venomous," Dill said. "How venomous is this one? Not really, unless you are allergic." If joros make it to Maine, Dill predicts it will be by land rather than air. Like many invasives, they are quick to exploit humans for their travel needs. "Like so many spiders they come from the south into the north, and they are expected to arrive in Pennsylvania this summer," Dill said. "It could then hitch a ride on a car or piece of wood coming here and all of a sudden it's in Maine." If they do arrive, they will likely become part of the state's food chain. "Spiders are predators so they have the potential to disrupt the food web," Kanoti said of the joros, "[but] they have not observed any negative effects in the south. Because they are predators they have the potential to have more impacts on some of our pests and that can be a positive around our homes they are nothing to be scared of." Correction: An earlier version of this report misspelled Allison Kanoti's first name. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) addresses reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. More than 40 Republican senators called on President Biden to speed up the transfer of air power and air defense systems, among other support, to Ukraine after the Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the U.S. did not support transferring Polish fighter jets to Ukraine. "While we commend the lethal aid that your Administration has sent to Ukraine thus far, we strongly disagree with your decision to delay and deny Poland the option to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine," the senators wrote. "Your Administration champions the $1 billion in defense articles provided to Ukraine over the past 13 months and has definitively stated there are no restrictions in your current suite of authorities to adequately respond to Russia's lawless and bloody invasion of Ukraine," they continued. "We implore you to direct your Department of Defense to facilitate the transfer of aircraft, air defense systems, and other capabilities by and through our NATO partners immediately," they said. The letter to Biden was led by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and included most of their Republican Senate colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the upper chamber's No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). The development comes after Poland earlier this week offered to send all of its MiG-29 fighter jets to an American air base in Germany so the U.S. could facilitate their transfer to Ukraine. But the Pentagon explained on Wednesday that the U.S. government did not support their transfer at the moment, worrying the move could be perceived as escalatory. "The intelligence community has assessed that the transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine may be mistaken as escalatory and could result in significant Russian reaction that might increase the prospects of a military escalation with NATO," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters. "Therefore, we also assess the transfer of the MiG-29s to Ukraine to be high-risk," he said. Story continues Kirby also told reporters that the U.S. was continuing to send Ukraine weapons. "We believe the best way to support Ukrainian defense is by providing them the weapons and the systems that they need most to defeat Russian aggression. In particular, anti-armor, and air defense. We along with other nations continue to send them these weapons and we know that they're being used with great effect," he said. In addition to Kirby's comments, the White House referred The Hill to a statement European Command Commander Gen. Tod Wolters issued on Thursday. "We believe the most effective way to support the Ukrainian military in their fight against Russia is to provide increased amounts of anti-tank weapons and air defense systems, which is on-going with the international community. The Ukrainians are making excellent use of these weapons now," Wolters said. Ukraine has urged for the establishment of a no-fly zone - which has been met with resistance from the U.S. and international allies - and the transfer of MiG-29s, which Ukrainian pilots have already been trained to use. - Updated at 11:48 p.m. Mar. 10MASSENA A coalition has joined with state Senate and Assembly leadership to urge Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul to include in the fiscal year 2023 budget funding that would ensure schools are fully reimbursed for all meals they serve. On Wednesday, they joined together to urge the inclusion of Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids in the budget. The bill, which was introduced by Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, D-East Elmhurst, would supplement the cost of providing school meals not covered by the federal government. Since March 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided waivers to schools, allowing them to serve meals at no cost to all students. Those waivers are set to expire in June. However, according to the nonprofit organization Hunger Free America, while many New York schools offer meals at no cost for all students, 270 eligible schools do not participate, in large part because they are unable to make it work financially. Many of these schools are in small school districts in rural communities. Hunger Free America said that, if the waiver isn't extended beyond June, more than 2,000 schools and nearly 800,000 students in the state will be without access to free school meals. "Every child in our state deserves to have access to a healthy breakfast and lunch. This is a matter of racial and economic equity and our federal government recognized this when they provided a waiver to states to provide healthy school meals for all," Assemblywoman Gonzalez-Rojas said in a statement. "Unfortunately, after June of this year that waiver will expire, and 2,000 schools and 800,000 students will lose access to this program." "This is unacceptable in one of the richest states in the nation," she added. "If Maine can do this then New York state certainly can. So I call on our Legislature and governor to fund universal school meals for all of our children in our FY23 Enacted State Budget." The director of governmental relations for the New York State School Boards Association agreed. "Students need proper nourishment to be successful," Brian C. Fessler said in a statement. "This is why the NYS School Boards Association calls on New York state to act now to launch a statewide universal school meals program to ensure all public-school students are offered breakfast and lunch, free of charge. Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids is a critical investment to support students' ability to thrive academically and to bolster educational equity." West Hams top scorer Jarrod Bowen remains a major doubt for next weeks Europa League second leg against Sevilla. England hopeful Bowen has undergone scans on the heel injury he suffered in last weekends defeat at Liverpool, which forced him to miss the 1-0 first-leg loss in Spain, but the club are still in the dark about the extent of the problem. I have no idea at the moment, said manager David Moyes. Were still trying to clear up exactly the injury. In all the scans and information we have it does not look too bad, but his action coming off the pitch at Anfield made it look more serious than we thought. And that has not added up. Since then Jarrod is slightly improving but not as fast as we hoped. We did not think it was anything serious. So we are still trying to get to the bottom of it. Maybe well get back and Jarrod is OK. It could just be one of those things. Moyes confirmed on Friday afternoon that Bowen would definitely not be available for the home Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday. Bowens absence was keenly felt at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium as West Ham missed two gilt-edged chances, through Nikola Vlasic and Manuel Lanzini. Instead it was a fine finish from Moroccan forward Munir which gave six-time winners Sevilla the slender advantage in the last-16 tie. Nevertheless, right-back Ben Johnson believes the Hammers can prolong their European adventure. Of course, Niko had a chance and Manu had a chance and there were plenty of other opportunities and openings that didnt just quite come off for us, he said. Its unfortunate, but at least we have another opportunity in the second leg to put it right. Our fans will be behind us and hopefully we can get an early goal and see what we can do. Of course, the away goal isnt part of it now, but we would have liked to have got a goal. But I think were a good threat, and hopefully that will stand us in good stead. A Flagstaff man was sentenced to 11 years in prison Thursday for shooting his friend and attempting to make his death look like a suicide in 2020. Lemuel Anthony Littleman, 31, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and misconduct with weapons as part of a plea deal. Judge Fanny Steinlage sentenced him to 11 years in prison for the manslaughter conviction and six years for the weapons charge in Coconino County Superior Court Thursday. The sentences are to be served concurrently and he must serve at least 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Littleman was on probation for a prior felony conviction in Maricopa County at the time of the murder. Multiple members of Lawrence Morrissey's family said they worried that Littleman would be a danger to society upon his release, and Steinlage said their concerns were justified. Littleman will get another chance at life after his release, she said. He had a chance before, but he threw that away when he violated his probation by relapsing. Officers found Littleman passed out drunk in the alleyway behind the home with blood on his clothing following the murder. "It is going to be in your hands," Steinlage said. "You've seen what happens." She added: "If there wasn't a stronger message for what you need to do for your future, it doesn't get any stronger than this." Morrissey and Littleman had been friends for decades. They met as children in the south side of Flagstaff and their bond lasted long into adulthood -- up until Littleman shot and killed him. "I can tell you Anthony has nothing but sympathy and sorrow for Lawrence's loved ones," defense attorney Andrew Graham said. "I can assure the court that Anthony loved Lawrence and he would never intentionally harm him." Graham urged Steinlage to consider Littleman's difficult childhood when determining the sentencing. Littleman's mother was an alcoholic and he found her following a suicide attempt as a child, Graham told the court. He was later removed from the home and placed into foster care where he was abused before turning to illegal drugs. He bounced in and out of the juvenile justice system. "I'm deeply remorseful for being part of such a tragedy," Littleman wrote in a brief statement read by his attorney. But Morrissey's family didn't want leniency. Multiple family members described how Morrissey's death destroyed their lives. Some were filled with rage at Littleman for taking Morrissey away and for having the "audacity" to attempt to stage his death as a suicide. They wanted him to face the maximum sentence. "Mr. Littleman, this is the result of a coward," Morrissey's father, Ray, said directly to Littleman while holding his son's ashes. "This is the result of your actions. You are fortunate today to be surrounded by people who protect vermin such as yourself." Every statement was filled with grief and sorrow as they remembered the tremendous son, brother and father they lost. Morrissey was a tremendous light with a radiating smile, family member after family member recounted to the court. He battled cancer for six years and had to have a knee and hip replacement after chemotherapy treatment ravaged his body. Yet it didn't faze him. He was always positive and there for his family. He was the greatest dad to his daughter, his mother, Kathy Magana, recalled. "We lost an amazing son, father, friend," Magana said. "You, Lemuel Littleman, have taken Lawrence's life, along with mine. We have lost the most amazing man in the truest sense." There was little comfort in the sentence for Morrissey's family. A huge of each of them died along with him that day, Morrissey's longtime partner and the mother of his child said. "Regardless of the sentence, he still has his life and his daughter still has her father," she said. Reporter Bree Burkitt can be reached at 928-556-2250 or bburkitt@azdailysun.com. Love 20 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 13 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Remember that time Donald Trump hid in a bunker The author of Monday's Letter to the Editor ("Zelenskyy a hero the world can get behind") was snarkily critical of the writer's perception of what President Joe Biden would do in Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's situation: "..the difference between the American leader's attitude when placed at risk and a leader who is totally committed to his country.." More: Zelenskyy is a courageous leader. He deserves both America's admiration and support. President Donald Trump holds up a Bible outside St. John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House on June 1, 2020. I question how the author knows what Biden would do in this situation. I doubt that the author even knows what he himself would do. More: Trump briefly taken to underground bunker as protests grew outside White House But we do know what another president did in a situation that was not nearly as dire or dangerous as the Ukranian war. Recall May 29, 2020, when Donald Trump hid in a bunker to 'escape' from non-violent protesters in Washington? No tanks, no bombs, no direct threats, just American people trying to exercise a constitutional right. ' More: Trump says he went to White House bunker for 'inspection,' not because of protests No speculation needed; the facts speak for themselves. Marie Kalinowski, Pataskala Letters to the Editor More: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch Frank LaRose to blame for May primary delay Lets be clear about why we are facing a delay in the May primary, in case you havent been paying attention. The same guy that is desperate for the delay is the guy that continues to vote for district maps that have twice been deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court: Frank LaRose. Susan Miller, Columbus LaRose on the right track with later primary In regard to the primary date, Secretary of State Frank LaRose is right. Move the entire primary to June. Ohio primaries used to be in June. Peg Rosenfield, Columbus LaRose has had almost four years to come up with better plan Story continues Frank LaRose keeps lamenting that he doesn't have enough time to run a proper primary in Ohio. Sorry, but he was elected in 2018, the three full years after Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Ohio constitution designed to overhaul the process for redrawing state legislative districts. More: Ohio's top election official: It's impossible to see a way to hold a complete May 3 primary And three years after that, the same year he was elected secretary of state, Ohio voters once again overwhelmingly voted to change the redistricting process. LaRose, like Gov. Mike DeWine and other top Republicans have shown their complete contempt since then by ignoring the will of all Ohio voters to insure their political dominance in Ohio. More: Disingenuous Ohio Republicans disregard will of people to maintain dominance LaRose has had almost four complete years to develop a plan that reflected the will of Ohio voters, not just the Republican elite. But he chose not to. He's just another RepubliCANT. Larry Garrison, Dublin Making guns easier to own, carry adds to violence problem For some time now, the gun lobbies have been pushing legislation to make it easier for individuals to own and carry firearms to protect themselves. If more people have guns, we'll be better able to protect ourselves. Right? More: Ohio passes bill to end gun training requirements for concealed carry, eliminate permits Around the nation, much gun legislation has been passed to make us safer by making it easier to be armed. Has this worked? I don't think so I think the violence has increased! So to correct this danger, do we need to make it even easier to own and carry? Too many guns out there, so should we get more out there to make us safer? William J. McCormick, Columbus This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Taking away gun training, permits will make violence worse Mar. 11Some local county health departments are again offering $100 gift cards to encourage people to get COVID-19 vaccines, but most passed on obtaining federal money for the incentives. Montgomery County saw success with a cash incentive program in the fall and winter, but didn't tap into $45,700 available from the Ohio Department of Health to offer 457 $100 gift cards to the public this year. "We believe we have approached the limit as to the number of people who will be motivated by a monetary incentive due to their strong convictions about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine," said Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County spokesman Dan Suffoletto. The Ohio Department of Health is using federal Coronavirus Relief Fund money to make $1 million available to 90 health departments statewide to offer 10,000 gift cards to people getting vaccinated. Last year, the state provided nearly $4.9 million to 39 health departments. "Incentives have been effective at boosting vaccination rates," ODH spokesman Ken Gordon said. Butler, Clark and Miami counties are tapping into those funds to obtain $56,300 for 563 cards combined. "I do think the gift cards were effective and offered opportunities to start conversations that led to educational moments," said Butler County General Health District spokeswoman Erin Smiley. "We experienced many instances where people stated they came specifically to receive a gift card." A Dayton Daily News reporter recently visited a vaccine clinic in Springfield, where workers said they see the number of people coming in for first shots increase when they make gift cards available. Greene, Warren and Champaign counties didn't offer gift cards last year, nor do they plan to this year. They could have had $35,700 available for 357 gift cards combined this year. Counties forego vax incentive funds The Ohio Department of Health is offering $1 million to 90 health departments statewide this year to buy $100 gift cards for people getting their first COVID vaccine shot. But some local health departments aren't applying for the funds. Story continues Health Department Amount available Number of cards Using funding? Butler County Health Department $32,600.00 326 Yes Champaign Health District $4,300.00 43 No Clark County Combined Health District $12,700.00 127 Yes Greene County Public Health $14,600.00 146 No Miami County Public Health $11,000.00 110 Yes Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County $45,700.00 457 No Warren County Health District $16,800.00 168 No Source: Ohio Department of Health "While the incentive cards worked well for some counties, they were not a fit for all counties," Greene County Deputy Health Commissioner Noah Stuby said. "Throughout the pandemic response, Greene County Public Health and many other local health departments chose to utilize COVID grant dollars to support our multifaceted response that included such activities as contact tracing, case investigations, vaccination clinics, testing events and more," he said. Stuby said Greene County's vaccination rate is one of the highest in the region once you take into account Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where workers were required to get vaccinated. The Ohio Department of Health also lists Warren County as having one of the region's highest vaccination rates. Ohio Medicaid managed care providers are offering $100 gift cards statewide for Ohioans on Medicaid who get their first shot. Ohio Medicaid officials say 100,050 cards were issued to Ohioans who received their first vaccine dose as of Feb. 13. The next local event where gift cards will be available is 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 11, at Horizon Science Academy in Dayton. Medicaid managed care providers, such as CareSource, are also offering other incentives as part of a push to get kids vaccinated. The first 100 Medicaid members getting a vaccine will get in free at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 19. Some events also have gift card raffles for Kroger and Walmart. These incentives only apply to people on Medicaid, which many low-income Ohioans do not qualify for. A recent Dayton Daily News analysis of vaccination rates by zip code found that low-income neighborhoods tended to have lower vaccination rates. The lowest-vaccinated ZIP codes in Montgomery County were 45417 in West Dayton and 45345 in New Lebanon. The Montgomery County health department doesn't discourage agencies or businesses from offering incentives for vaccinations, and notes the availability of gift cards for Medicaid recipients. "At this point, we have seen a steady decline in all vaccinations, including boosters," Suffoletto said. "Public Health has made the decision that the best use of Public Health's resources at this time is to focus our efforts on trying to make individual connections with people to help answer their concerns." ------ CareSource has the following events in March where Medicaid recipients ages 5 and up can get $100 gift cards for getting their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine: Horizon Science Academy charter school, 121 S. Monmouth St., Dayton: 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 11 Salvation Army Kroc Center: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12 Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 19. The first 100 Ohio Medicaid members receiving a COVID vaccine will also get free admission to the museum The Dakota Center: 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 YWCA downtown Dayton: 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 25. Marketing to after school programs and women and children shelter on site A time for sacrifice. Are we up for it? We are all watching the wanton destruction of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin. More than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine to escape Russian oppression and aggression. This has turned out to be Europe's largest exodus of refugees since World War II. They keep asking, when will the West help them from being annihilated? The United States and our European allies have already put strong sanctions on Russias economy, and global companies are now pulling back from Russia. Unfortunately, its obvious Putin does not care about anything except proving he can bring Ukraine to its knees and back under Russias control. No one can predict how far this madman will go, but it looks like Putin will never leave Ukraine without a victory. Will Americans be willing to sacrifice a little by paying higher gas prices and more inflation to really cripple Putin? Will Americans stand up for democracy like we did in World War II? Since we were so divided about COVID vaccinations and wearing masks, I wonder if we will be up to the challenge. Roxie Bivinetto, Palm Desert Holding Putin accountable Unless you have been in a coma the last two weeks, you are aware that Russia, unprovoked, invaded a neighboring country, Ukraine. With the aid of modern technology, we have been able to see the atrocities of war in our living rooms. This is reminiscent of Sept. 1, 1939, when Germany, unprovoked, marched into Poland. We are seeing indiscriminate bombing and killing of citizens, including children. The Russians have attacked a nuclear reactor, exit corridors for refugees, cluster bombs in residential areas, and today a hospital. These are acts of crimes against humanity. I believe Vladimir Putin and those aiding in the war effort must be charged with crimes against humanity. Will the current situation lead to World War III? I certainly hope not. But Russia must be held responsible for the damage they have caused and must pay to rebuild Ukraine. Story continues I have heard comments that Putin is insane, mentally unbalanced. I don't think so. Evil people appear to be insane, but they make rational decisions based on their value system. He must pay for his crimes. Paul Williamson, Palm Springs This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Ending Russia-Ukraine war requires Americans to sacrifice. So will we? A third person believed to be connected to a Jan. 27 fatal shooting during a suspected home-invasion robbery at a short-term rental house in Erie was arraigned and jailed Thursday on drug charges related to the incident. But the Arizona man's decision to turn himself in provided police with no more insight into the events of that day, according to investigators. Deontray E. Keomany-Smith, 19, arrived at the Erie police station with a lawyer late Thursday afternoon to face the drug charges filed against him on Feb. 1. But he declined to speak to detectives who are investigating the fatal shooting of Erie resident Shannon Crosby, Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said Friday. Erie lawyer Justin Panighetti, who said he is representing Keomany-Smith, said Friday that he is reviewing the case against his client. Erie 2nd Ward District Judge Ed Wilson arraigned Keomany-Smith late Thursday night on a felony count of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance and placed him in the Erie County Prison on $150,000 bond. No one had been charged in Crosby's killing as of Friday. The fatal shooting Crosby, 30, died after officers who were called to the 3800 block of McClelland Ave. on a report of a shooting on the early morning of Jan. 27 found him lying in the street. Officers soon learned that another man, 18-year-old Kortez L. Murray, of Arizona, had also been shot and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. Authorities said they determined that the shooting occurred during a suspected home-invasion robbery at a short-term rental house at 3904 McClelland Ave. where four Arizona residents were staying. Police found evidence of a shooting, including shell casings of multiple calibers, at the scene, according to investigators. Detectives said they spoke with Arizona resident Saul Felix, 21, who had accompanied Murray to the hospital. According to information in Murray's criminal complaint, Felix told investigators that he and three others had traveled from the Phoenix area to Erie after one of the group made contact with a person from Erie who wanted to purchase fentanyl pills. Story continues Erie police ID victim in fatal shooting: Short-term rental shooting victim ID'd; police say Arizona group traveled to Erie to sell drugs Felix told detectives that arrangements were made to travel to Erie with a number of pills to sell for $30,000. He said they arrived in Erie on Jan. 25, and a drug deal took place that day at an apartment complex near the McClelland Avenue rental house in which pills were provided to an Erie contact for $23,000. He said another drug deal took place at the same apartment complex the next day, investigators wrote in the complaint. An Arizona man wanted on drug charges filed in connection with a fatal shooting at a short-term rental house on McClelland Avenue in Erie on Jan. 27 turned himself in to Erie police on March 10. No one has been charged so far in the homicide, which remains under investigation. Detectives found text message threads and photographs that corroborated Felix's statements after he gave police consent to search his cellphone, according to information in the complaint. Felix and Murray were arraigned and jailed on drug charges. Each waived their criminal cases to court at their preliminary hearings in February. Murray remains in the Erie County Prison on $250,000 bond. Felix's bond was reduced to $100,000 at his Feb. 23 preliminary hearing, and he is free after posting it on Feb. 28, according to online court records. Detectives said they identified Keomany-Smith and 19-year-old Abner L. Gonzalez as other members of the Arizona group that came to Erie to reportedly sell fentanyl, and they issued arrest warrants for the pair on drug charges. Gonzalez remained at large Friday. Pair waive drug charges in Erie case: Details scant in Erie short-term rental killing as AZ residents tied to incident waive drug cases The homicide case Crosby died of a gunshot wound to the trunk and Murray was shot in the face and the torso during the suspected shootout on Jan. 27, according to investigators. Police said that they did not recover any guns, but have not commented on any other evidence collected in the investigation beyond the shell casings found at the short-term rental house. Erie police reach out to feds in case: Erie police reach out to feds in fentanyl probe tied to fatal shooting at short-term rental Investigators have also not commented on who they suspect might have fired gunshots during the confrontation. Detectives are still trying to determine who was with Crosby on the morning of Jan. 27, Lorah said. "They are still following up on some leads," he said Friday. Anyone with information that could assist in the ongoing homicide investigation is asked to call Detective Sgt. Michael Hertel at 814-870-1260 or Detective Patrick Ginkel at 814-870-1161. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie homicides: Man jailed on drug charges as Jan. killing probe continues YouTube/Hector Retamal via AFP An American pastor who moved to Haiti to teach impoverished residents marketable job skillsadopting two Haitian orphans and opening an evangelical pre-school along the wayis now facing U.S. charges for engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a child while living in the Caribbean nation. Corrigan Clay, 43, was arrested Thursday by federal agents, according to a newly unsealed indictment first obtained by The Daily Beast. He is being prosecuted by the Justice Departments Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, documents filed in Pittsburgh federal court state. Clay sexually abused the unidentified child from January 2014 to December 2017, the indictment states. No further details are provided in the filing, except that the alleged victim was under 18. But Clays ex-wife, with whom he had two biological children in addition to the pair they adopted, told The Daily Beast on Friday that the illicit conduct involved one of their own kids. Shelley Jean Clay, who split from Clay more than a decade ago and now operates a Haitian-focused crafts market in Florida, declined to provide further details about the allegations, emphasizing that she was not involved and had no idea what was happening. It was my child, but I dont think I am at liberty to talk about it because the court case is in process, she told The Daily Beast. Im not opposed to the truth coming out, but I don't want to jeopardize the case. Shelley did not specify whether or not the alleged victim was one of the adoptees or a biological child. Clay operated his ministry, the Apparent Project, with a stated goal of building future leaders in Haiti, alongside a tattoo and body piercing parlor in Port-au-Prince. He parted ways with the organization in 2013, according to Shelley. Clay remains detained in a Pennsylvania lockup pending a court hearing on Mar. 15. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Both devout Christians, Corrigan and Shelley Jean Clay left Washington State and headed to Haiti in 2008. There, they took jobs as house parents at an orphanage, where they were in charge of 25 boys ranging in age from 7 to 17. After a year or so, the couple began a workshop that taught locals how to earn money by making jewelry and handicrafts. Story continues Their products were sold locally and in partnerships with large companies abroad, including the Gap, Donna Karan, and Macys. The project boasted celebrity clients such as Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller, and Kim Kardashian, according to Clay. Currently, in addition to teaching adults, they are sponsoring classes for children, offering lunch-time parties to feed street kids, and offering food and in some instances shelter to those with little to nothing to call their own, an arts blogger wrote of the Clays in 2010. By 2016, the couples desire to continue their care increased, and they opened the AP Preschool, according to the post. The year was a success, and in 2017, we added our AP Kindergarten, it explains. The goal is to grow with our AP children by adding a class to our school each year! And to provide quality education, along with character development based on Biblical principles! We are working to raise leaders who will be able to bring positive change to their world! By this time, Clay had already been abusing his victim for roughly three years, according to the feds. Clay and his then-wife launched the nonprofit Apparent Project with an inheritance Clay received from his late father, who died in a plane crash in 2003. The two had struggled with fertility issues for years and had decided that if they were going to add to their family, they may as well adopt from a country where thousands of children are abandoned each year, according to a 2012 profile of the couple in the Deseret News. Because Haiti requires a two year wait for international adoptions, Clay decided to move into the orphanage where her future son lived. They bought a house in Port-au-Prince, began collecting garbage from the streets, the profile explains, and the Apparent Project soon started to take shape. Once they got established, Clay began working on a documentary about Haitian children living in slavery. Abandoned by their parents, most work as indentured servants for family members, but some end up in the sex trade, explained the Deseret profile. Clay, who earned a degree in visual arts at Seattle Pacific University, a private Christian liberal arts school, was also building his tattooing and body art business, called Ayiti Ink. Corrigan enjoys training amature [sic] and professional artists in multiple mediums, his shops still-live website says. He is currently establishing an apprenticeship course for Haitian tattoo artists to raise the national standards for health, safety, and artistic excellence. He strives to change the negative cultural stigma of the tattoo art form in Haiti by focusing on positive subject matter, beautiful composition, and demanding integrity and ethical business practices from those he trains. The site now carries a disclaimer at the bottom, reading: We are no longer based in Haiti. As of late December, the Apparent Project said it employed 25 Haitian teachers and support staff, had enrolled 70-plus Haitian children in its school, had more than 25 teens and adults participating in job training programs, and had enlisted a software engineer to teach Haitians how to code. From my experience in the past decade Haitians have always welcomed prayer, current executive director Marilyn Monaghan wrote in a blog post. They have always cried out to God. They still do. Ive seen their cries of desperation. But now I often see joy & gratitude in their times of prayer & worship! They are experiencing a new life! The seeds you sowed into their lives are producing good stuff in their hearts & is evident in their daily lives! Their lives have changed. Officials with the Apparent Project, which is still registered as a 501(c)3 and has brought in annual donations as high as $715,000, according to tax records, did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment. Clays lawyer, William H. Difenderfer, was out of the office on Friday afternoon and unavailable to comment, his assistant said. If convicted, Clay faces up to 30 years in federal prison. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Editor's note: This page recaps the news from Ukraine on Thursday, March 10. Follow here for the latest updates and news from Friday, March 11, as Russia's invasion continues. Russian forces bombarded the Ukrainian city Mariupol again on Thursday amid international outrage over the bombing of a children's hospital there, while a massive convoy that has been stalled for over a week outside Kyiv appeared to split up into surrounding towns and forests. Civilians in the port city of Mariupol are facing increasingly dire conditions with scarce food, fuel and electricity. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The Kremlin displayed harried confusion in its response to criticism Thursday, at times completely denying the Mariupol hospital bombing and at other moments alleging an elaborate propaganda ploy by the West. Photos and video of the bombing's aftermath clearly show severely injuried people - including a pregnant woman - being taken by stretcher from the rubble. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, has said the building was a hospital and called the attack an "atrocity." The hospital complex in Mariupol bombed Wednesday resulted in at least three deaths, including one child, Ukraine authorities say. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the claim Thursday, saying the hospital had been emptied of patients and was being used as an extremist base. The attack was condemned internationally and branded a "war crime" by Ukrainian and Western leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a shameful and immoral act of war. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said it was "horrific" and "barbaric." "This is not the first time when we see pathetic cries about so-called atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces," Lavrov said. "Our delegation presented facts at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council proving that the maternity hospital had long been seized by fighters of the Azov battalion and other radicals. They kicked all patients, all nurses, and all service personnel out." Story continues GET UKRAINE UPDATES: We'll email you the latest news once a day VISUALS: Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine Later, Russia denied responsibility entirely and claimed the attack was staged to make the Kremlin look bad. Russias Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov denied the strike. He claimed that the two explosions that ravaged the building were caused by explosive devices planted nearby in what he described as a staged provocation to incite anti-Russian agitation in the West. Meanwhile, the highest-level talks yet failed to reach agreement on a humanitarian cease-fire aimed at protecting Ukraine cities battered by fierce Russian assaults. In Poland, Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated the U.S. commitment to NATO and defense of its members is "ironclad." Harris, during a joint news conference in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda, said America is deeply appreciative of Poland's efforts to aid refugees fleeing the carnage in Ukraine. "This is a moment that requires severe and swift consequences for Russian aggression against Ukraine," Harris said. "What is at stake, this very moment, are some of the guiding principles around the NATO alliance." The meeting came after the Biden administration rejected a plan from Poland that would involve U.S. involvement in providing fighter jets to Ukraine, a decision drawing questions from some Republican senators. U.S. defense officials also have distanced themselves from Ukraine requests for a NATO-backed no-fly zone over the country. In Turkey, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov met, the most pressing issue the southern port of Mariupol. The city has been rocked by two weeks of unrelenting bombardment leaving inhabitants struggling to obtain, food, water, shelter and other basic necessities. Multiple rounds of talks aimed at protecting Ukraine's civilians have also failed to make headway toward peace. Latest developments: Congress passed $13.6 billion in humanitarian aid money for Ukraine and allies as part of a larger spending package that received bipartisan support in the Senate on Thursday. In addition to the more than 2.3 million people who have fled the war in Ukraine, an estimated 1.9 million people are displaced within the country, according to the U.N. Russian President Vladimir Putin shrugged off sanctions from the West, saying they are nothing new for Russians. Just as we overcame these difficulties in the previous years, we will overcome them now," he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He acknowledged the sanctions create certain challenges. Former Vice President Mike Pence and wife Karen visited Thursday with Ukraine refugees at the Korczowa border crossing in Poland. "The impact of the Russian invasion on these families is heartbreaking and the need for support is great," Pence said on Twitter. The U.N. refugee agency says more than 2.3 million Ukrainians have fled the country, over 1.4 million of them through Poland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Thursday that about 100,000 people have fled over the last two days through evacuation corridors. A Ukrainian man learned his family was killed through graphic images circulating on Twitter. Serhiy Perebyinis told The New York Times he first recognized the luggage in the photo where the lifeless bodies of his wife and two children were lying on the ground after being hit by shrapnel from a Russian mortar shelling Sunday. Biden to call for suspending Russia's preferential trade status over Ukraine President Joe Biden will announce Friday the U.S. will join the European Union and G7 allies in calling to revoke Russia's permanent normal trade relations status, which would allow new tariffs on Russian imports, according to a source familiar with the decision. The move, which requires congressional action, comes as a group of bipartisan lawmakers has pressured the president to take more aggressive action to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. The source said Biden looks forward to working with Congress on legislation to revoke Russia's permanent normal trade relations status. Biden's expected announcement would put Moscow's trade relationship with the U.S. in the same category as North Korea and Cuba. Read more here. Courtney Subramanian Zelenskyy worries Russia could use chemical or bioweapons in Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied Russias accusation that Ukraine is preparing to attack with chemical or biological weapons, and he said the accusation itself was a bad sign. That worries me very much because we have often been convinced that if you want to know Russias plans, they are what Russia accuses others of, he said in his nightly address to the nation. Russia said it uncovered plans to create secret laboratories in Ukraine to produce biological weapons. I am a reasonable person. The president of a reasonable country and reasonable people. I am the father of two children, Zelenskyy said. And no chemical or any other weapon of mass destruction has been developed on my land. The whole world knows this. His comments came as the U.S. and other Western leaders expressed similar concerns that Russia was hinting as its possible next move in using such weapons in the war in Ukraine. Nuclear research facility hit by Russian shelling Russian forces shelled a nuclear research institute in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city on Thursday, setting buildings ablaze, said Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraines Interior Ministry. A shell hit a building where there is equipment that could release radiation if it were damaged, Gerashchenko said. According to the presidents office, there has been no change in the background radiation. The shelling caused a fire, but firefighters were able to put it out. Russian forces have already taken over two nuclear power plants in Ukraine, raising concerns about the security of nuclear facilities in the country. State Department vows to hold Russians responsible for war crimes The United States has seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks by Russians on Ukrainian civilians that would qualify as a war crime under international law, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday. That could include the recent assault on the maternity and childrens hospital complex as well as strikes on schools, residential buildings, public buses and ambulances, he said. Price said the U.S. will do everything possible to hold accountable every Russian political leader, military commander and service member who participates in a war crime. Criminal prosecutions are one possibility, he said. The U.S. has the ability to conduct its own in-depth investigations and will support the appropriate international investigations, Price said. The International Criminal Court announced last week its investigating possible war crimes by Russia in Ukraine. Price was also pushed on the administrations rejection of Polands offer to transfer Soviet-era fighter planes to the U.S., which could then give the planes to Ukraine. Price repeated the administrations argument that having the planes pass through U.S. hands would risk escalating the war. Asked if the U.S. would still support the original goal of having Poland transfer its planes directly to Ukraine, Price said thats up to Poland. Individual NATO allies, individual countries are going to make sovereign decisions on what they deem to be in their best interest, he said. Maureen Groppe Twitter to start labeling Belarus state media content Twitter announced Thursday it will label accounts and tweets linked to state media content in Belarus, a Russian ally. The move comes after the company launched labels on Kremlin-linked media accounts last week. "As is standard with these labels, well reduce the visibility of labeled Tweets and accounts, and show a prompt before you can share labeled Tweets," said Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of site integrity. Roth said adding labels to Russian state media has shown a decrease of 30% in impressions on its content. Big tech companies have had to grapple with how to approach state media and propaganda. Google said it would block YouTube channels linked to Russian state media. Read more here. Some U.S. universities cutting financial, academic ties to Russia Some public American universities with investments in Russia are cutting financial and academic ties to the country following its invasion of Ukraine, including all of Arizonas public universities. Obviously we see the invasion of Ukraine as the actions of a mad despot and so we want to do as little as possible to help him in any possible way, said Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, one of the largest public institutions in the country. Similar actions have been taken by the Texas A & M University and the University of Colorado systems. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology also recently cut ties to a Russian university it helped launch, and Middlebury College withdrew students that had been studying in the country. Chris Quintana, USA TODAY; Alison Steinbach, Arizona Republic Ukrainian man discovers family was killed after seeing Twitter post A Ukrainian man waited to hear that his wife and children had safely evacuated to Kyiv amid the Russian invasion. Hours later, he learned his family was killed through graphic images circulating on Twitter. Serhiy Perebyinis told The New York Times he first recognized the luggage in the photo where the lifeless bodies of his wife, Tetiana Perebyinis, 43, and their two children, Mykyta, 18, and Alisa, 9, and church volunteer Anatoly Berezhnyi, 26, were laying on the ground after being hit by shrapnel from a Russian mortar shelling on Sunday. They were attempting to cross a bridge to safety when the mortar detonated 12 yards away from the family in the town of Irpin. Serhiy told the outlet he was in eastern Ukraine trying to help his sick mother when Tetiana decided it was time to flee to Kyiv. I told her, Forgive me that I couldnt defend you, he said. I tried to care for one person, and it meant I cannot protect you. Asha C. Gilbert Ukrainian Paralympic athletes protest at China games Ukrainian athletes at the Paralympics Games in China held a demonstration on Thursday at the Athletes Village, donning blue and yellow and holding a large banner that read, "Peace For All." The group held a minute of silence and called for peace before noting how personally impacted they have been by the war. Andriy Nesterenko, the head coach of the delegation, noted how members of their team were from areas that have been ravaged by the war. He said "some of them doesnt have the possibility to come back. Their flats, their private houses are already destroyed," he told reporters at the demonstration, according to The New York Times. Already, a Ukrainian biathlete had to withdraw from a competition at the games after her father was captured by Russian troops. Anastasiia Laletina did not race in the biathlon middle distance sitting event Tuesday after she heard her father, a soldier in the Ukrainian army was taken prisoner by Russian soldiers, team spokesperson Nataliia Harach confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. He was beaten and being treated by doctors. The games barred Russia from competing in the games, citing tensions in the Athletes Village. The Russian Paralympic Committee called the decision absolutely politicized. Republicans attack Bidens handling of Polish fighter jet proposal Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday attacked what he called the Biden administrations confusing mismanagement and mixed signals on the Ukraine crisis. The Kentucky Republican was referring to the Polish governments surprise offer this week to give its Soviet-era fighter jets to the U.S., which would then give the planes to Ukraine. The administration, which had anticipated Poland would directly provide the planes to Ukraine, called Polands offer untenable. Involving the U.S. and a NATO air base would run a high risk of escalating the war, the Pentagon said Wednesday. At least a dozen senators urged the Biden administration to reconsider. Some accused the White House of abandoning an ally in its time of need, while others implored it to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin or risk having him try to conquer other U.S. allies or even America itself. Republican senators continued to rail against the administration at a press conference Thursday afternoon. I just want to let people know that on March the sixth, the United States policy was green-lighting MiGs to Ukraine if Poland did it. Now that Poland's asked us to be part of the transfer system, we all of a sudden say no, said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. And here's what breaks my heart. This is dishonorable. It's one thing to be incompetent. It's another thing to be dishonorable. Fellow Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said the U.S. isn't sending the right message to Putin. If we continue to blink every time Vladimir Putin says Boo, he's not going to stop in Ukraine, he's not going to stop in Europe, Cotton said. Maureen Groppe and Josh Meyer CIA chief: Putin cant bottle up the truth indefinitely Russian President Vladimir Putin has masked the costs of the Ukraine invasion in his own country through the dominance of state media and the strangulation of independent media but wont be able to hide the truth indefinitely, according to CIA Director William Burns. Burns, a former ambassador to the Russian federation, told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday that many Russians have virtual private network accounts and retain access to YouTube and other sources of independent information. As the damage mounts, Burns said Putins propaganda bubble would be punctured by the number of troops killed and wounded, the economic consequences of a worldwide trade embargo and the horrific scenes of hospitals and schools being bombed. I dont believe that he is going to be able to seal Russians off entirely from the truth, Burns said. I dont think he can bottle up the truth indefinitely. Bart Jansen Haines: No evidence Ukraine is pursuing biological, nuclear weapons Ukraine is not pursuing biological or nuclear weapons, as Russia has falsely spread through propaganda, the top U.S. intelligence official told a Senate panel Thursday. Russia has accused the U.S. of sponsoring biological weapons research in Ukraine since invading the neighboring country two weeks ago. Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, accused Ukraine of preparing a chemical attack. Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, testified that Ukraine has a dozen biological research labs developing countermeasures and how to prevent the spread of pandemics, but not weapons labs. I want to be absolutely clear that we do not believe that Ukraine is pursuing biological or nuclear weapons. Weve seen no evidence of that, Haines told the Senate Intelligence Committee. This influence campaign is completely consistent with longstanding Russian efforts to accuse the United States of sponsoring bio weapons work in the former Soviet Union. This is a classic move by the Russians. Borislav Bereza, former member of Ukrainian parliament and member of Ukrainian delegation in Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, posted a statement on social media warning that Russia could have a dangerous motive: "This is actually an announcement and confession that Russia is planning to use chemical weapons in the near future." Bart Jansen Harris: UN will investigate Russian assault on hospital Vice President Kamala Harris said Russias airstrikes on hospitals were atrocities of unimaginable proportion and said the United Nations has a process to review and investigate to investigate such attacks. The World Health Organization says at least 18 attacks have been conducted on medical facilities since the invasion began Feb. 24. Harris noted that the eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities. Ukraine said Russian bombs severely damaged a maternity and children's hospital complex in the besieged city of Mariupol on Wednesday, killing at least three people including a child and wounding at least 17 more. Russians are committing war crimes," Polish President Duda said. I hope that also in the future, it will be obvious for a court investigating those issues who bears responsibility for that." Kyiv mayor: Half the city has fled Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday that about 2 million people half the population of the capitals metropolitan area have fled the city amid constant bombings from the Russian military. But he said the spirit of the city remains strong. Fighting is fierce, and the city has become a fortress, he said. Everyone says 'Nothing will happen, we will not surrender our city,'" Klitschko said. "I can repeat these words: The city stood, the people will stand. They won't give up. And the enemy won't pass." World champion British soccer team, owned by Russian, hit with sanctions Roman Abramovich's attempt to sell British soccer team Chelsea has been halted after the Russian oligarch was sanctioned by the U.K. government. Last year, Forbes magazine estimated Chelsea's value at $3.2 billion. Abramovich put the team up for sale last week, shortly before his assets were frozen. The team cannot sell game tickets or merchandise. The British government is allowing the team to play its games, including one scheduled for Thursday night. Ticket-holders will be allowed to attend matches and staff will be paid. Abramovich, who made his fortune in oil and aluminum, has not condemned Russias invasion. Suffering increases for Ukrainians Ukrainian leaders say civilians are increasingly suffering and dying as Russia's assault on Ukraine enters its third week. Multiple hospitals have been shelled, more than 2.3 million people have fled the country and more are struggling to leave. On the outskirts of Kyiv, hundreds of residents in towns occupied by Russian troops fled Wednesday. Some said they hadn't eaten in days, while others told harrowing tales of war. Occupiers came to our house and they were ready to shoot us," said Iuliia Bushinska, a Vorzel resident. "They took away our house, our car, they took away our documents. So we need to start our life from the beginning. We survived things that I never experienced in my life." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine recap: Russia denies hospital strike amid world outrage You are the owner of this article. AVONDALE When Candie Halberg is called in to substitute teach, she brings a collection of musical instruments, from a recorder to a viola, playing songs as a reward for well-behaved students. The retired music teacher began subbing, or guest teaching, in the Litchfield Elementary and Agua Fria High School districts because she missed working with kids and wanted to be in the classroom a few days a week. But the 69-year-old soon was back to teaching full-time, thanks to a dire statewide shortage of substitutes. When Halberg opens her list of schools requesting her help each day, there are at least 20 jobs I can pick from. Gregg Sawyer, 69, retired from teaching high school after 46 years and felt much like Halberg. I thought, This is a way to get out of my house for a couple days a week, he said. But its turned into this craziness. I have to turn my phone off sometimes because principals secretaries are calling the house. If they cant fill it, theyll call at 8 oclock and ask if I can be at a school by 9. Substitute teaching always has been difficult: moving from school-to-school or grade-to-grade, often with students who think they can have a free-for-all when their teacher is away. But during the pandemic, fears of getting COVID-19 coupled with a deep teacher shortage have added additional stress to the job in Arizona schools. According to the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association, as of January, 78% of classrooms in 143 districts surveyed were either without full-time teachers or being taught by people who dont meet state standards. The crisis prompted the state Board of Education to relax regulations for subs. In essence, any classroom can be taught long-term by people without college degrees, let alone teaching certificates. Larena Barnett-Noel, an adjunct professor in the College of Education at Grand Canyon University, said many of her students have been working as emergency substitutes while still completing their teaching degrees. Sawyer said schools are so desperate he has seen some subs entering schools with walkers and requiring assistance to get to their classrooms. The teacher shortage existed before the pandemic, with low salaries causing many to leave their jobs and move to other professions. That was happening despite the Red for Ed walkouts during the 2017-18 school year, when Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law a 20% raise by 2020. However, the pandemic drastically exacerbated the shortages. Arizona schools in recent weeks have faced record breaking absences, with up to 1,500 teacher vacancies per day during the height of the omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, said Andy Shirk, whose company, Subsource, contracts with school districts for substitutes. A large number of substitutes, including Halberg and Sawyer, are former teachers. The average age of those employed by Subsource is 56, Shirk said, adding that because his substitutes are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, 10% to 20% arent able to work. Some, like Sawyer, dont want long assignments working full time. School districts scramble daily to fill teacher vacancies. On one day, Feb. 14, the Tempe Elementary School District could fill only 87% of their vacancies, leaving the other rest to be covered by teachers or staff willing to give up their prep time, Gabrielle Dunton, assistant director of strategic partnerships and communication, said in an email. If somebody doesnt have a substitute, Halberg said, all the other teachers have to spend their prep period and chime in and help out with that class. And that happens almost every day that I go to a school, thats happening somewhere in the school. On Jan. 24, the Board of Education passed new regulations to relax the requirements for substitute teachers, including allowing certified substitutes to teach indefinitely. The previous limit was a maximum of 120 days per school. It also relaxed certification for emergency substitutes, who need no more than a high school degree or GED if a school is suffering a severe shortage. In the past, subs had to renew their certificates every year; now its every two years. Its a small step, but a very important step, Shirk said of the new regulations. He said he hopes that with the extra leniency, more people will be able to step up into emergency substitute positions for longer periods of time, and that districts will have a lot less headaches. Barnett-Noel at GCU doesnt agree. It kind of stresses me out because they (substitute teachers) dont have all the tools yet, she said. And theyre offering jobs to people who just have a degree in anything. That kind of worries me, too. Because just because you know everything about math doesnt mean youre a teacher. But with the shortage, there are some advantages. Barnett-Noel, 48, said after teaching for 20 years, she decided to stay home when her daughters were born. But she took up substitute teaching a few years ago to make extra money because the pay rates for subs have increased with the shortage. In north-central Phoenixs Madison School District, she said, daily pay rates have risen about 18% in the last three years. They couldnt get anybody, she said. They were so happy to have me. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Greensboro, NC (27407) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. What do you do if youre an artist and your country is suddenly under attack? If youre Svitlana Lana Prouty, the answer is you make and sell art. And then send most of the proceeds to her hometown, Poltava. Last Wednesday, at Mountain Sage Gallery, where she is a co-owner, Prouty was holding back tears as she worked in the back room to get packages of paintings, cards, silk scarves and jewelry ready to mail. She spoke of news from home. Theres no fear right now, she staunchly stated, because theres no place to run. This is our land. Located in Central Ukraine, Poltava is not currently under attack by Russia. But we have a lot of people running to Poltava from the east, particularly from the City of Kharkiv. Poltava is the center of a defense and humanitarian organization. City of Kharkiv in ruins, but not give up. On the news, one does see fear, but also great resilience by citizens across Ukraine. Since Feb. 24 when it was invaded by Russian troops, over 1.7 million Ukrainians have fled the war-torn country, according to the United Nations on Monday. An accurate count of war casualties is unavailable. The United Nations listed 1,123 civilian casualties, as of March 6. The Ukrainian government was posting a number of 2,000. By Tuesday, Prouty had raised nearly $4,000, which she sent via Western Union, to people in her hometown to distribute where it is most needed; 80% of money goes for all kinds of supplies like medical, food, clothing, protection clothing for people who defend my city Poltava and region, 20% for regular people who need money for food and medication, many of them my colleagues and friends. Her news about what is happening back home comes minute by minute via Facebook friends. She sees regular posts online and spoke of one showing a man walking the streets of Kyiv looking for food for his family. A store owner was giving food away to those who really needed it. What I now see is that God is alive, she said. I see he stepped into a different reality. I never so much in my life believe in God. And never see so many expressions of God in people. Please dont show Ukraine as victim, she urged. She resists the news that people are fleeing. People standing in line to give blood. People are staying in Ukraine to fight. They do things. They make camouflage. A friend who is a dress designer and artist took all her linens and silks and cut them into strips to make camouflage. Another friend, a potter, is making Molotov cocktails, using old wine bottles. Another friend just joined the Ukrainian army. They fight back! In each tiny town, crowds of people stand in front of tanks. She was cheered by a video of someone driving a piece of agricultural equipment hauling away a Russian tank. She feels pride for her country and their resistance. And also, for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. My president for two years 75% of Ukrainians voted for him. Its somebody the people have chosen. She knows people criticized him leading up to the war, but thats the big difference between Ukraine and Russia, she said. We can criticize our president. Proutys major source of news is social media from Ukraine and from friends. I found out a few minutes after the first strike, she said of the invasion. I just felt completely helpless. I came to the gallery. I made a live video, which she posted. I just propose people, please come to my website, https://www.svitlanaprouty.com/works. I created a Support Ukraine Collection, https://www.svitlanaprouty.com/collections/173461. When you click on it, youll see this message: Buying art from this collection you help to support people in Ukraine. 80% sales going to my homeland. And there youre greeted by a cheerful and spring-inspired array of Proutys art: A festive, uplifting watercolor in yellow and blues of sunflowers Ukraines national flower; A hand-painted golden yellow silk scarf decorated with blue irises and orange daffodils; A rainbow array of bold silk necklaces; and A few of her distinctive folk-art paintings of young Ukrainian women wearing floral crowns who seem to have stepped from pages of a fairytale. As soon as Prouty posted her video, she began to get orders and theyve kept coming, which is helping not only Ukraine but also Prouty. I make myself as much busy as I can so I dont have time to think. Like her fellow countrymen and women, she wants to be part of the war effort. I just shipped 28 boxes. The orders are coming from Helena, Missoula and Bozeman, but also as far away as Texas. What she likes about sending money directly is that its getting to people immediately, and she knows and trusts those shes sending it to. Every day, the organization defending the city puts out a list of what it needs and people just fill the list. In addition to people sending money, friends have been stopping by Mountain Sage Gallery, 433 N. Last Chance Gulch, to help with the mailings. Prouty said she has been making art most of her life. My mom was a director of a club for kids with different art and craft classes. I pretty much grew up in that place. My aunt was a professional artist. I grew up with art all around me. I have an art degree from college in my city Poltava. I am an art teacher. I have been working as a professional artist all my life. I had my own art studio in Ukraine, organized many art and cultural projects in my hometown, and worked as a volunteer with kids in boarding school for seven years. She moved to Helena five years ago after she got married, but had just returned to Ukraine for a visit, leaving the country just days before the invasion. Shes found an amazing network of friends in Helena, she said. Some are fellow Ukrainians, some are immigrants from other countries Japan, Colombia, Latvia and some are co-workers and Helenans. I feel like people carry me through in their hands. Some ask, You need help? Some just hug me. Some cry with me. Im in a safe place. In addition to Proutys website, some other options for helping Ukraine can be found at https://www.philanthropy.com/article/charities-struggle-to-deliver-humanitarian-aid-into-ukraine; and https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/ukraine. Contact Prouty at 406-437-3809. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The United States Supreme Court ruled on March 15, 1896 that Greer County belonged not to Texas but the recently organized Oklahoma Territory. The questionable decision raised doubts about the justices impartiality and stole from the Lone Star State a million acres held since the Revolution. In the Compromise of 1850, crafted by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster to postpone the Civil War, Texas ceded to the federal government a giant western realm. Vast portions of the future states of New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas were relinquished for a mere $10 million. Land lasts forever but money had a way of disappearing even in the 19th century. In time Texans decided they had been taken and determined never to give up another square foot of their sacred soil. As a result, the fight to keep Greer County escalated into an affair of honor. The complicated issue first cropped up during the days of Lone Star sovereignty. A chance encounter caused an international incident between the United States and its pugnacious frontier neighbor. While inspecting the upper reaches of the Red River in 1843, a party of Texas explorers was apprehended by an eager beaver U.S. Army captain. Accused of trespassing on American land, the Texans were disarmed and left practically defenseless in the wilderness. A strong protest lodged by Republic representatives produced an apology from Secretary of State John C. Calhoun. He publicly chastised the captain for his excessive zeal and acknowledged the conflicting claims of the two countries. The boundary separating the Lone Star Republic and the United States was set by the terms of the Adams-Odonis Treaty of 1819. This U.S.-Spain accord designated the 100th meridian and the Red River as the lines of demarcation, and the same limits were adopted for the Texas perimeter at the time of annexation. However, a pair of perplexing problems soon arose. First, the original location of the 100th meridian erred by nearly 100 miles to Texas disadvantage, and the correction would drastically shrink the Panhandle. Second, the Red River was found to have two northern tributaries. With typical arrogance Washington declared the true 100th meridian plus the south fork of the Red River had to be accepted as the legitimate confines of the State of Texas. In response Lone Star spokesmen emphatically insisted upon the status quo. After all, Texans asked, why should the feds benefit from the revision of an old map and the discovery of a rivers twin forks? Compromise was clearly not in the cards, and in spite of lengthy deliberations a joint commission made no progress. Anticipating years of negotiations, the Texas legislature took the farsighted step of creating Greer County to encompass the disputed region. As the debate heated up, congress granted de facto recognition of the Texas claim. In 1879 Greer was lumped together with other Lone Star counties to form the northern judicial district. Had the Potomac powers backed off? No such luck. In the summer of 1884, the Army abruptly warned Greer County settlers they faced immediate eviction as illegal squatters. President Chester A. Arthur followed with a stern statement declaring the Indian Territory off-limits to white pioneers. As another commission tried to deal with the dilemma, Greer citizens took matters into their own hands. A full-fledged county government along with a state-supported public school system were organized. By 1890 over 2,000 students attended classes in Greer County, Texas. The next year, the U.S. filed suit to take possession of Greer County. The positions argued before the Supreme Court in October 1894 had not changed in 40 years, and Texas attorneys believed they had a strong case. But the opinion handed down the following March supported the U.S. attorney-general on every point. Congress decreed on May 4, 1896 that all property held by Greer County reverted to the Territory of Oklahoma. To their relief anxious residents were not compelled to move. The State of Texas was compensated to the disappointing tune of $50,000, hardly enough to cover legal expenses, and 11 years later Greer rejoined the Union as part of the 46th state. Yet another revision of the wandering 100th meridian revealed in the 1920s that Texas was entitled to a partial rebate of the confiscated land. In 1941, nearly a century after the Calhoun apology, Oklahoma restored 40 square miles to the Texas Panhandle. Greer County still exists but in a Sooner sea. Adding insult to injury is the galling fact the kidnapped county, lying six miles inside Oklahoma, does not even touch the state of its birth. Texans do, however, retain visiting rights. A.D. Johnston High School sophomores Makayla Montgomery, 15, and Ethan Auftencamp, 15, get seated on a charter bus outside the school in Bessemer Thursday morning as Keweenaw TRIO advisor Michelle Jacob from Finlandia University checks on other students on the bus. The bus planned to make stops to picked up other Upper Peninsula students who are participating in Trio pre-college programs, on their way to Ann Arbor for a student leadership summit at the University of Michigan. Other Bessemer students participating include Emily Johnston, 16, Elaina Johnston, 16, Josh Ollanketo, 17, and Ava Ledin, 16. By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] Bessemer - Eleven high school students in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties will participate in the Michigan College Access Program Personnel Student Leadership Summit at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this week, as part of the TRIO pre-college programs. This includes six students from Bessemer, one from Wakefield-Marenisco, one from Ewen-Trout Creek and three from Ontonagon. In total, the Keweenaw TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Talent Search programs took 54 students representing school districts in Gogebic, Ontonogan, Houghton, Baraga, Iron and Keweenaw counties. Keweenaw TRIO is based at Finlandia University and is aimed at pre-college ages students. The students left via charter bus on Thursday morning and will return on Sunday evening. The TRIO program pays for the students' expenses of transportation, hotel and meals. According to a press release, the summit brings students from all over Michigan together to strengthen leadership skills and celebrate accomplishments. The conference will have keynote speakers, workshops, and activities. Along with attending the conference, the students will also tour the university and area museums. "The Student Leadership Summit is a great opportunity for our students to enhance their leadership skills, meet other TRIO students, learn about new cultures, and attend workshops that will increase their academic and social awareness to become better students in high school, college and life," said Dave Kamrad, director of the TRIO Pre-College Programs, in a press release. The group will also speak with members of the university's U.P. Scholars program - comprised of students from the U.P. enrolled at the university. "This is pretty exciting for us because we haven't been able to go on a trip for two years," said Catherine Jordan, academic advisor for Keweenaw TRIO Talent Search at Finlandia in Hancock. She said they generally take at least two trips a year, but have not been able to because of the pandemic. She said the trips usually start as tour of a local college and as the students age, the trips get further away and longer. According to a press release TRIO Pre-College Programs exists to empower potential first-generation students and/or students from income eligible homes to be successful in middle and high school and prepare for college. "Somebody can be in a TRIO program from middle school through getting a doctorate, depending on where they go to college. There may or may not be a TRIO program there to assist them," said Jordan. There are three main types of TRIO federally funded programs - Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services - hence where it got its name. The Talent Search program is for students in grades 6-12 and provides the students with tutoring, as well as opportunities to learn about future scholastic opportunities. Trio Upward bound is for high school students and has more activities for students including study labs, tutoring and a summer program, and can provide them with a monthly stipend in exchange for good grades. The Student Support Services is for college students. "We like to say that talent search is more of an informational program, even though we provide opportunities for travel and things of that nature," said Jordan. "But with Upward Bound, their opportunities are greater per month since the students can do after school study sessions, they can get stipends for their grades and they do cultural activities." The Keweenaw TRIO pre-college programs are already gearing up for their next trip which will be a spring break trip to East Lansing for an off-Broadway production of "Hamilton," and a tour of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, near Grand Rapids. For more information about the Keweenaw TRIO pre-college programs, visit keweenawtrio.org. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Hungarian hotels can expect to lose 10,000 guest nights to cancellations in the three spring months due to the Russo-Ukrainian war, president Csaba Baldauf of the hotel and restaurant association Mszesz estimated in comments to Portfolio. Russian and Ukrainian tourists have disappeared, but fewer guests are arriving from other countries as well, due to the war. Booking cancellations especially affect rural spa towns, such as Heviz and Hajduszoboszlo. The mood of domestic travellers is unbroken, as Hungarian guests are arriving, but Western European tourists have clearly become more cautious, Baldauf added. Typically, elderly foreign tourists cancel their trips, especially those from Germany, as they dare not come to Hungary because of war in a neighbouring country. In addition, the hotel sector remains depressed by the fivefold increase in the price of natural gas, which has risen further in recent days. We are currently making money just to cover energy bills, said Baldauf. A pro-government pundit, known for his highly opinionated comments, finds it natural that the German chancellor doesnt want gas and oil imports from Russia to stop. He lambasts the left-wing Hungarian media, which regularly accuse PM Orban of being subservient to Russia if he expresses similar views. In separate statements, both Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany cautioned against extending Western sanctions on Russia to include the energy sector. Any abrupt interruption of Russian gas and oil supplies, they explained, would be too hard for their populations to bear. Last week, Ukraines ambassador to Hungary reproached the Hungarian government for what she described as an exaggerated concern to keeping utility tariffs low. At the same time, she thanked the Hungarian population for their outpouringof support and solidarity for Ukrainian refugees, and she expressed her appreciation of the governments decision to join Western sanctions. In Magyar Nemzet, Zsolt Bayer quotes a statement by German Chancellor Scholz on his decision to continue cooperation with Russia on energy supplies and remarks that most left-wing outlets have not even deemed the news worthy of mention. Whenever similar statements are made by Hungarian officials, he complains, opposition commentators immediately denounce the Prime Minister as Putins poodle. Bayer also dismisses the reproach ofby the Ukrainian ambassador and asks whether she ever complained when the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine were violated, or when they were threatened by far-right organisations there. Opposing views on gas imports from Russia A left-wing commentator proposes that Hungarians cut back their consumption of natural gas, to reduce the countrys dependence on Russian supplies. A pro-government columnist accuses the left of betraying the national interest on this issue. On Wednesday, PM Viktor Orban reiterated his decision not to follow the United States in cutting oil and gas imports from Russia. He argued that such a step would impose unbearable burdens on Hungarians since Hungary depends on Russian supplies for 85 percent of its gas consumption and 65 percent of its crude oil needs. In Nepszava, Istvan Marnitz lambasts the government for leaving Hungary at the mercy of Russian energy supplies, although it has been repeatedly warned of the dangers of just such unilateral exposure. He suggests that Hungary should cut back gas consumption (without jeopardizing consumers comfort) and increase the use of renewable energy sources. He ends his comment by calling on readers to vote for the opposition in three weeks time, lest we become servants of the Moscow dealer. Magyar Nemzets Tamas Pilhal, by way of contrast, sees the opposition as simply subservient to the United States, by wanting to conform to its policies even when they are not required to do so. Scrapping energy imports from Russia, he argues, would have unavoidable catastrophic consequences on Hungarian households. He calls opposition front-runner Peter Marki-Zay an American hoover salesman who cannot accept that Hungary is maintaining pragmatic and mutually advantageous relations with Russia. 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. Click here to Share Your Story More than 200,000 refugees have arrived in Hungary from Ukraine since the start of the war, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told lawmakers on Thursday. Hungary is undertaking the largest humanitarian aid operation in its history, as it has taken in 201,706 refugees in the last two weeks, Szijjarto said. State institutions are prepared to handle all refugees, the minister said, adding that those staying in the country for an extended period will be given work, while children will be offered school, kindergarten or creche placement. So far some 115,000 people have received help at the aid points set up at the border, while the governments Bridge for Transcarpathia aid campaign had collected 638 million forints (EUR 1.7m) in donations, he said. The government has delivered 800 tonnes of food and 200 tonnes of hygiene products worth a total of 583 million forints to western Ukraines Transcarpathia region and has offered full medical care to children in need of hospital treatment, Szijjarto said. Hungary is currently in talks to take in 128 sick children, he added. Szijjarto underlined the importance of communicating clearly and responsibly about the war, stressing that Hungary condemned Russias military aggression and supported Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty and the Ukrainian people. It is terrible and shocking that at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century were seeing cities under siege and brutal acts of war in Europe, Szijjarto said. Its horrible to see that the lives and achievements of families are being destroyed and theyre forced to stuff all the fruits of their labour into a suitcase or a backpack and depart from an uncertain and life-threatening situation in the hope finding refuge. Szijjarto said the governments top priority was to ensure the security of Hungarians, and this was why the Hungarian military had reinforced its presence near the eastern border. He also emphasised that Hungary must be prevented from getting dragged into the war. Szijjarto underscored the importance of maintaining European unity, noting that Hungary has taken part in every consultation on the war and was involved in all the decisions on sanctions. He added, at the same time, that threats to Hungarys energy security constituted a red line, and that the government would not support the introduction of an embargo against Russia. Natural gas supply is not an ideological, political or philosophical issue but a physical one, Szijjarto said. Either there are gas resources or there arent. Either there are pipelines or there arent, he said, adding that Hungarians must not be made to pay the price of war. MTI Photo: Attila Balazs By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and British Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan Baroness Emma Nicholson have discussed the possibilities of expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy transformation and restoration of the country's liberated lands. During the meeting, the minister stressed the importance of developing relations between the two countries and expanding ties in various areas of the economy. Noting that there is effective bilateral trade and investment cooperation, he highlighted that the UK is the biggest investor in Azerbaijan. Jabbarov also gave an update on joint energy projects, renewable energy sources, and BP's successful activities in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, the importance of forming a working group between the Economy Ministry and the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Azerbaijan to strengthen economic ties was emphasized. In turn, Baroness Emma Nicholson noted that the UK attaches great importance to the development of trade and economic relations with Azerbaijan. She added that the British companies are interested in participating in projects in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. In addition, Nicholson noted that the first meeting of the working group between the Economy Ministry and the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Azerbaijan will be important in trade and economic relations development. Furthermore, the first meeting of the working group between the Economy Ministry and the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Azerbaijan was held. During the meeting, the participants expressed confidence that the newly established working group will promote the development of relations between business circles. They expressed hope that the working group will work effectively and will be useful in stimulating bilateral economic relations. The parties briefed on simplifying desk tax audits, optimization of tax reporting, simplifying the process of exemption from taxation of non-residents. Azerbaijan and the UK are cooperating in different spheres of the economy. There are already 30 years of successful cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector, which entered a new stage of development in line with the challenges of the global energy sector. The energy sector accounts for $ 28.8 billion out of $ 30.6 billion of the UK investments in Azerbaijan's economy. The UK is also the biggest investor in Azerbaijan. It should be noted that the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $667.8 in 2021. Of the total turnover, Azerbaijani exports to the UK amounted to $396.6 million while import was $271.1 million. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UK resulted in $145.9 million in January 2022. Montanas 406 area code is rapidly running out of room for new numbers and the states Public Service Commission has asked the Federal Communications Commission for an extension on adding a second area code to Big Sky Country. PSC commissioners recently voted to contact the FCC's Wire Line Competition Bureau about granting the state a waiver so it can keep 406 as the states only area code for a few years longer. Currently 406 is set to max out in 2027, though the numbers using the area code represent only 37% of its capacity. The quirky nature of having a single area code for an entire state has become a brand for Montanans' identity. Roughly 400 Montana businesses have incorporated 406 into their names since 2007, according to registration information with the Montana Secretary of State. The FCC recognizes and prioritizes the retaining of area codes because of their geographical identity to an area so we're not just running uphill on this whole thing, said PSC Commissioner Tony ODonnell, who represents Billings and southeast Montana. Michael Dalton, commission rate analyst, explained to commissioners that the reason the 406 is running out of room for new numbers is because of the way the FCC pre-assigns blocks of numbers to specific prefixes. Missoulas 728, for example, is frontloaded with room for 1,000 phone numbers, with the unused ones ending in 0000 until filled. Those unused numbers still count against the total, Dalton explained. And, in rural Montana, communities where a few hundred phone numbers might be the only numbers issued for a prefix, the block of numbers availible is still 1,000. Just a few years ago, the standard number blocks, or prefixes, were large enough for 10,000 individual numbers. The PSC would like Montana included in a program that allows numbers to be assigned one at a time instead of in blocks of a thousand. We should check with the folks in Flaxville and make sure theyre OK with no longer having 1,000 phone numbers each, said Brad Johnson, PSC commissioner for the northern Rocky Mountain district anchored by Flathead, Lake, and Lewis and Clark counties. The issue arose because the Wire Line Competition Bureau is considering waivers to prolong the lives of area codes for Maine and North Dakota. Maines area code is set to expire in 2025, North Dakotas in 2026. Commissioners voted to support waivers for those states. On a state level, the 406 area code, which ought to support approximately 8 million Montana phone numbers, should not be on the verge of exhaustion in a state that has only about 1.1 million residents, commissioners said in a draft letter to the Wire Line Competition Bureau. This isnt the first time the PSC has chosen to ride for the 406 brand, which has been approaching exhaustion for about a decade. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 5 Sad 2 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Prime Minister Viktor Orban travelled to France on Thursday to attend an emergency summit of European Union leaders in Versailles on the war in Ukraine and its effects. Before he left for Versailles, the PMs press chief said Orban would make clear that Hungary was opposed to imposing sanctions on Russian energy. Orban said at international talks ahead of the summit that the economic impact of the sanctions imposed on Russia over the war was high, but would have even more severe effects if they were to be applied to Russias oil and gas networks. Orban has made it clear that Hungary could not follow the example of the United States and extend its sanctions to those sectors. This would be an unbearable burden for Hungary, so joining these sanctions is out of the question, the prime minister has said. We continue to require the gas and oil that is arriving from Russia. Several other EU leaders and economic interest groups have expressed similar positions on potential sanctions against Russian energy this past week, the statement said. MTI Photo: Tamas Kovacs The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. All business leaders will have noticed that since the end of last year, banks have been paying close attention to the due diligence of business ownership, updating actual ownership declarations. You should take this request seriously, because a failed identification could result in your business being blacklisted, even if it is otherwise operating in accordance with the law. Companies not only have an obligation to keep up-to-date information in the actual ownership register, but it is also in their best interests. Increased attention should be paid to companies where the ownership circle is - a foreign national owner or - a company (especially if it is a foreign company), - there has been a change in ownership following bank identification. We recommend that you contact your account-holding bank urgently if you have not yet received a request to identify the beneficial owner. The new rules came into force on 1 February 2022. The register of UBOs - ultimate beneficial owners - has been created, based on data provided by banks. This database is accessible to tax and other authorities, prosecutors, courts, and supervisory bodies for identifying the beneficial owners of businesses. The register contains the company data and its TT-index, an indicator of trustworthiness. The firms index is initially set to 10 if the bank can identify the company owners. If the bank fails to do so, then the company is not entered in the register, and the account-holding service is instantly terminated. As of the 1st of July 2022, the maximum score may be reduced by penalties. If the actual ownership data of a company is not identical with the registered data, then penalties are applied. Discrepancies can be reported by the authorities, banks, or service providers. A discrepancy in the actual ownership data reported by public authorities will reduce the value of the enterprise's TT index by 2 points, while a discrepancy reported by service providers will reduce the value of the enterprise's TT index by 1 point. If an entity's TT-index falls below 8 points, its rating becomes uncertain, and if it falls below 6 points, its rating becomes unreliable. In the case of an unreliable classification, the Tax authority (NAV) will publish the name and tax number of the entity on its website immediately. In the case of an uncertain classification, the publication comes 180 days after the classification is enforced. This may occur even for a company that is operating in a basically transparent form, if this stricter reporting obligation is not fulfilled. Furthermore, a company with unreliable beneficial ownership data will be required to be treated as partner with high risk by the service provider, and to implement corresponding (stricter) customer due diligence measures. From the 1st of July 2022. the service provider will be obliged to refuse executing transactions above HUF 4.5 million initiated by the company in case until the beneficial ownership data is confirmed or amended. The legislation imposes an obligation to verify the identity of their customers on certain service providers. These are: lawyers, accountants, auditors, tax advisors, notaries, trustee foundations, seat service providers and even trade partners (!) who receive cash of HUF 3 million or more from their business partners. These service providers are required to check the information provided to them against the UBO's records - which they must also keep up to date - as part of the checks required by the Money Laundering Act. If they find discrepancies in the actual ownership data of their customers, they are obliged to report them to the registry (NAV). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact us on e-mail: nemeth.melinda@colling.hu. Click here to virtually visit Colling 1041 Budapest, Istvan ut 16. +36 1 452 6900 Just a day after landslide victories in four states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did a roadshow at the poll-bound Gujarat. During his two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state, PM Modi held the roadshow from the Ahmedabad airport to the Gujarat BJP headquarters. At the roadshow, PM Modi was seen riding the open-top Mahindra Thar SUV standing behind the front seats. This is for the first time Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been spotted in a Mahindra Thar SUV and that too in an open top variant. #WATCH | PM Modi shows victory sign as he greets the crowd during roadshow in Ahmedabad, post BJP's win in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. pic.twitter.com/ITcaNnXF4g ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 Given the VVIP security given to the PM, he is often spotted in armoured vehicles ranging from Toyota Fortuner to Range Rover and newly acquired Mercedes-Benz S-Class. However, there has been a long demand to include India-made cars in the PM's security detail. Companies like Mahindra and Tata have been making some world-class SUVs for long now and have been used avidly by the political class of India, including vehicles like Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Safari. However, the newly launched Mahindra Thar has been gaining a lot of traction in India. Also read: Mahindra offering massive discounts up to Rs 2.2 lakh on THESE SUVs It's not clear if PM Modi was standing in a SPG-sourced vehicle or a vehicle belonging to a someone else. Usually, PM's cars are black in colour and doesn't have any open area that increases threat to the security of the Prime Minister. This means, the SUV belongs to someone else. The green-coloured Mahindra Thar was dressed with flowers at the bonnet and at the back area where PM Modi was standing along with other members of BJP. The car was driven by his security detail. Live TV #mute Chandigarh: Haryana government on Friday declared that the movie 'The Kashmir Files' will be tax-free in the state. An official notification issued by the Excise and Taxation Department on Friday stated that the order will remain in force for six months from today. It also stated that the Government of Haryana has allowed for reimbursement of State GST on entry to an exhibition of the film 'The Kashmir Files' in cinemas theatres of the State from the date of this order subject to conditions. "The cinema theatres/multiplexes shall neither make increase in the amount of entry free nor shall make any change in the capacity of seats of different classes," read the first condition. As per the order, the registered taxpayer (multiplex/cinema theatres) during the period of reimbursement allowed by this order should not charge State GST from the customers and the tickets will be sold at a price-reducing the amount of State GST. "The tickets sold for entry to an exhibition of the film during the period of this order should bear prominently the words 'State GST not collected by the orders of Government of Haryana'," it read. "The registered taxpayers of the multiplex/cinema theatre shall file returns and deposit tax on the entry fee charged from the customers on entry to an exhibition of the film 'The Kashmir Files' from its own resources in a similar manner as being deposited for other films," it stated. The state government also said that State GST collected prior to the date of the order or collected after the date of the order shall not be reimbursed.Separate guidelines are being issued regarding the procedure for reimbursement of State GST, the government said. The order regarding reimbursement of State GST on entry to an exhibition of the film 'The Kashmir Files' in cinemas theatres of the State will be issued separately by Finance Department, Haryana. 'The Kashmir Files' stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumar, and Pallavi Joshi. The film revolves around the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and was released in cinemas on March 11. Live TV New Delhi: It is indeed that time of the year when 'Bura Na Mano Holi Hai' cheers can be heard loud and clear. The colourful festival of Holi will be celebrated this year on March 18. From gulal, abeer to thandai and sweets - every Indian household is stuffed with these ahead of the festival. However, it is also important to take care of hair and skin while enjoying the festival of hues. The unnatural colours in the market not only harm the skin but can even damage eyes, hair etc. Therefore, Harsh Jain, Co-founder, OSIA OSIA, Indias leading natural and organic skincare brand, for a natural and organic Holi has shared some steps to take care of your skin this festival: 1. Play with organic colours and natural flowers You can either go in for homemade and natural colours derived from flowers and vegetables or you can buy organic and natural colours from the market. Avoid other colours as they are laden with chemicals and can harm your skin and eyes and hair. 2. Put oil on your body and hair before playing Holi Just in case, someone uses chemical-laden colours on, the oil will act as a protective layer to your skin. Oil creates a greasy protective layer on hair and skin. This layer acts as a barrier stopping colours from settling into follicles of hair and our skin. An oil-based layer helps the colour wash out easily post the celebrations. Choose from oils like coconut, olive, almond and others depending on your skin type. These oils not only protect but also nourish and hydrate your skin. 3. Post Holi, bathe with natural soaps The herbal soaps will not only remove the colour gently but will also nourish the skin. The best soaps to use post-Holi are soaps made of Sandalwood and Turmeric, Kumkumadi Oil with Saffron, Activated Charcoal, Honey and almond oil. They will rejuvenate, nourish and balance your skin. Hope it helps you rejuvenate and at the same time relish the festival. Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Holi! New Delhi: India is keeping a close eye on the Russia-Ukraine war situation, said Union Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad, adding that the Central government is making efforts to check the rise in edible oil and fuel prices. "We are keeping a close eye on the war situation in Ukraine and Russia, our efforts are to not let common citizens suffer due to the price rise in edible oil or fuel. We have our eyes on the fuel and edible oil prices, due to the war situation in Ukraine. There is a committee of a group of senior ministers who are observing the situation closely," Karad said while responding to a question on the possibility of the rise in edible oil and fuel prices triggered by the Ukraine crisis. "Being an MoS, I am unable to comment on these right now. It is difficult to comment on what exact decision government will take but we will not let the common man suffer," he added. Bhagwat Karad was in Pune on Friday to hold various meetings with industry leaders. The rising fuel prices, concern for the environment, and increasing enthusiasm towards electric vehicles is leading to growth in the adoption of 2-wheeler electric vehicles along with other factors. However, as per a new report, this growth can be hindered. As per Crisil report, the chances are that the price of electric scooters can go up by up to Rs 45,000 in the fiscal year 2025. The reasons for increased adoption can be seen in the form of government support for the use of electric vehicles. This support comes in the form of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME) scheme under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. In addition, there are subsidies offered by states. Apart from the government support, other factors contributing to the growth can be better cost economics, the availability of different models, and the viability of home-charging choices, to name a few, which are all factors to consider. Also read: Tata Power partners Vatika Group to install 59 EV chargers in Gurugram As per the new Crisil report the subsidies, which bridged the cost gap between EVs and traditional, internal combustion engine (ICE) options, have been a primary driver of EV penetration in India. In fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023, the total cost of acquisition of electric scooters will be Rs 7,500-9,500 lower than that of ICE counterparts, according to the report. This is due to the FAME II subsidy, which is set to expire in fiscal 2023, a year later than the government's timetable. After the expiration of the scheme, electric scooters will cost Rs 45,000 more in comparison to fiscal 2023. A Rs 45,000 FAME II subsidy and a Rs 10,000 registration incentive would be included in the breakdown. The total cost of acquisition is also expected to rise by Rs 18,000-20,000 during fiscal years 2023 and 2025, according to the research. After the FAME scheme ends, the EV adoption can be supported by the new PLI scheme supporting the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and EVs starting from 2023. The PLI scheme is expected to keep a leash on the total cost of acquisition and control increase in prices. Source Live TV #mute New Delhi: We have often seen how a person becomes famous overnight - all thanks to the power of social media. This time, the luck has favoured Kisbu - a young teenage girl from Kerala, who is a balloon seller. After a photographer named Arjun Krishnan spotted her on the streets of Kerala, Kisbu became a sensation on social media. Her glamourous makeover went viral, with many sharing the photos online. These photos are clicked by professional photographer Arjun Krishnan, who posted them on his Instagram handle: This is not the first time that we have seen someone gain fame through social media power. Remember the beautiful Pakistani girl who became an overnight internet sensation after her roti-making videos went viral? Netizens couldn't help but praise her simplistic beauty sans any cosmetic touch-up. The gorgeous beauty is reportedly named Aamina Reyaz and hails from Karachi in the Sindh province of Pakistan. She is a nomad and lives with her family on the outskirts of the city. Sometimes, the internet can prove to be a game-changer for hidden talent! NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday announced that it will hold the Term-II examinations for Classes 10 and 12 from April 26, 2022. The central board further said that this time, the exam timings will be 10:30 AM and it won't be conducted in two shifts. "Further details are available on the official website,'' the CBSE Board said. Term-II examinations for classes 10 and 12 to be held from April 26, 2022. This time exam timings will be 10:30 am and won't be conducted in two shifts. Further details available on the official website: CBSE pic.twitter.com/x51FrkN9CL ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 In an official notification issued recently, the Central Board additionally said that the date sheet for CBSE classes 10 and 12 Term-2 exams will be released shortly on its official website - cbse.nic.in. The CBSE term 2 date sheet for classes 10th and 12th will be right there on the official website of CBSE, the board had said. Last year, the CBSE had announced that board examinations for 2022 will be conducted in two terms. The Term I exams have already been held, while the term-II exams commence from April 26 for both classes. While releasing the date sheets for Term-II exams, the Board said on Friday that it has given a considerable gap between the two exams keeping in mind that the schools were closed due to the pandemic. "As the schools were closed due to pandemic which has led to learning losses, therefore, more gap has been given between the two examinations in almost all the subjects in both the classes," it said. It also said that other competitive examinations including JEE-Main have been taken care of while preparing the date sheet. "These date sheets have been prepared by avoiding nearly 35,000 subject combinations to ensure that no two subject examinations of a student fall on the same date," the CBSE Board said. The Central Board of Secondary Education usually announces the date sheet in January for board examinations. But in 2022, no date sheet has been released yet except the dates for beginning the exam which is April 26, 2022. The Board has not come up with a tentative date sheet either, and right now, teachers and experts are curious to know when the board will come up with the date sheet in consideration of exams. Meanwhile, practical or internal examinations for classes 10th and 12th have started in the month of March. The board is also likely to release the CBSE term 1 results soon as well. Some experts are expecting that the Board will most likely release it in the last week of March, and some are saying that after March 15, students will be able to download it from the official website. But so far, there is no official notification released by the CBSE board considering the date to release results. However, some officials have stated that CBSE Term 1 result is expected to be released today. Live TV Judge Jim Manley, who has presided over district court in Sanders and Lake counties since 2013, is set to retire in June. "It's time," the 72-year-old said in a phone interview Thursday. "I'm of that age and you know I just see a lot of judges go one term too many, and I want to do it while I still have my health." Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath issued a notice to Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday of the upcoming vacancy. The notice to the governor initiates the process for Gianforte to pick a new appointment for the bench in northwest Montana. Manley was an attorney for 38 years prior to taking the bench, primarily working cases in the courtroom in a career that included prosecuting criminals, defending them and civil work that took him outside of Lake County and around the state, with a few cases in Wyoming. Manley was appointed to the 20th Judicial District Court bench in 2013 by then-Gov. Steve Bullock. Manley said Bullock's appointment of a trial lawyer with a mix of experience was an outlier at the time; most judges were elected after a career in the prosecutor's office, where they had gathered some name recognition over the years. "My thinking was we needed a broader cross-section of judges in this state," Manley said. After some time wielding the gavel, Manley said he found the judgeship easier than being a civil attorney, although "judges will hate me for saying this," he joked. "It's very interesting," he said. "Plus, everybody laughs real loud at your jokes and acts like you're the smartest person in the room, even when you're not." But over the years, Manley said, the notion of becoming a judge appeared to be less appealing to the legal community. Caseloads have grown a great deal, although the state rarely funds new judges for the districts to handle the demand. Manley said he may not have run for re-election in 2020 had he found a young, capable attorney to take his place. Manley thinks the other hurdle to staffing the courts in Lake County is what he called the intense politicization of the judiciary. He referenced the ongoing conflict between state Republican officials and the judicial branch, as well as the changes lawmakers made to the judicial appointment process last year, which eliminated the vetting committee that once forwarded names to the governor for appointment. Under the new arrangement, the governor is able to select their appointment directly, as long as the applicant has three letters of support. The changes came about as Republicans accused the judicial branch of leaning Democratic. Much of the judiciary opposed eliminating the vetting committee. The GOP's majority's leadership in the state Senate said it would give Gianforte, a Republican, the opportunity to pick more conservative judges. "I think it's become for a lot of judges, and potential judges, unpleasant because it's become politicized and subject to so much criticism and partisanship," he said. "The Legislature and the attorney general and the governor have made it very clear that what they want is to change the judiciary so it's more like them, in other words more politicized and that's a really, really bad sign for the future. "What they need is a qualified, hard-working judge," he added. "Not someone who's politically certified." Gianforte has already appointed three judges, one of whom has ties to the governor, in Yellowstone, Gallatin and Cascade counties, under his new powers granted by the 2021 Legislature. Still, the governor has so far compiled localized vetting councils to carry out a similar function as the nominating committee lawmakers eliminated ahead of each appointment. Manley said Thursday the politics encroaching on the judiciary did not factor into his decision to retire. And despite his concerns, Manley said his appreciation for those who carry out the tasks of government in rural counties like his has only grown over his legal career, and he praised court security and election officials alike. "There are a lot of good people in these small, rural governments," he said. "So things are still working well, despite all the problems in the big world out there." The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on April 11. The applicants will be announced afterward and the public may submit letters of support or opposition through May 11. Applicants need three letters of support to be considered for the appointment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CBSE Class 10th, 12th Term 1 Result 2022: The Central Board of Secondary Education is likely to announce CBSE Class 10th and Class 12th Term 1 exam results today. According to media reports, the result can be declared anytime soon. However, the Board has not made any such official announcement yet. Once CBSE Class X and Class XII Term 1 results are declared, students can check them via different methods. CBSE Class 10th, 12th Term 1 2022 Results: How to check Once announced, students need to visit CBSE's official website (cbse.nic.in) to check their CBSE Class 10th and Class 12th results. On the homepage of the CBSE website, students need to click on the ' results ' link. ' link. Students will be redirected to a new page (http://cbseresults.nic.in) where they need to click on the ' CBSE Class 10th Result 2022 ' or the ' CBSE Class 12th Result 2022 ' link. ' or the ' ' link. Students will then have to enter their credentials including their roll numbers and click on the 'submit' option. Students can check their CBSE Class 10th or Class 12th Term 1 Result 2022 displayed on their screens. Other ways to check CBSE Class 10th, Class 12th Term 1 2022 Results? CBSE Class 10th and Class 12th students can also check their Term 1 2022 results via the DigiLocker app and the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) app. It is notable that the Board had announced that the practical exams for Term 2 examinations for class 10th and class 12th will begin on March 2 and the board exams will be conducted in offline mode from April 26. "The board after discussion with various stakeholders and taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation in the country has decided to conduct second-term board exams in offline mode only. The theory exams will begin from April 26, 2022. The datesheet for classes 10 and 12 will be released soon," CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj had said on February 9. "The pattern of the question papers will be same as that of sample question papers hosted on the board's website. The students will appear in the examinations from the allotted examination centres as done during the preceding years," he had said. Live TV New Delhi: The Defence Ministry on Friday said that a "technical malfunction" in the course of routine maintenance led to the "accidental firing of a missile'' into Pakistan on March 9. The Defence Ministry said the missile landed in an area of Pakistan and noted that the "incident is deeply regrettable". The Pakistan military on Thursday said that a high-speed projectile launched from India entered the Pakistani airspace and fell near Mian Channu in Khanewal district. The Defence Ministry said the Government of India has taken a serious view of the incident and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry into it. "On March 9, in the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile," it said in a statement. "It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident," it added. Live TV Delhi Police Special Cell on Friday arrested two sharpshooters of Kala Jatheri gang - Lawrence Bishnoi and Naresh Sethi Gang. Two pistols and 8 live cartridges were recovered from their possession, police said. Delhi Police had arrested two sharpshooters associated with gangsters Goldie Brar and Kala Jathedi after an encounter earlier this month. The suspects were part of a conspiracy to kill gangster Sunil also known as Tillu Tajpuria and a constable, as per the Delhi Police. As many as 22 rounds of bullets fired from both sides, police said. Two pistols, four live rounds and eight empty rounds, and a stolen bike had been seized. Vietnam is known for its beaches, rivers, and busy cities. It is also known for its good social media appeal for tourists. Places like Ha Long Bay and Da Nang are good places for tourists. Do you know what else makes Vietnam special, the country's food culture? Vietnam has one of the most nutritious meals in the world. The country is known to have some of the most diverse, delicious, and healthy gastronomy in the world. The major ingredients found in most of their meals are rice, fish sauce, and vegetables. It also has a wide range of rice-related dishes. Visit Vietnamese restaurants near you to have a taste for yourself. The following are nine characteristics of Vietnamese food culture: Historical background Zero fat Lots of spice A tasty combination of ingredients and spices Delicious and nutritious Chopsticks Community Hospitality Vegetable Historical Background: To properly understand the Vietnamese food culture, we have to look back at their history. The history of the Vietnam people played a huge role in their diversity. Before we move further, it's worth nothing that Vietnam is an agricultural-producing state. And rice is one of their biggest produces. As such, rice is a major piece in most Vietnamese cuisines. Its a very important part of the Vietnamese people's lives. Rice is used to eat any meal, from rice porridge to steamed rice bringing out the creativity in the people. Another important use case of rice in Vietnam is in the brewing industry, where many companies (e.g., Ba Muoi Ba" in Vietnamese, which means "thirty-three) leverage the product in the making of beers and alcoholic drinks. You can have a taste of Vietnamese beer at any best beer bar near me in your country. Also, Vietnam is blessed with a good climate, nature, and large mountains surrounding the country. It makes it easy to plant fruits and other vegetables. The people of Vietnam fought many wars with the Chinese and the French, which affected their food culture. Although the French played a huge role in their food culture, a bit was copied from the Chinese people. Zero Fat Fat is one thing you won't find in Vietnamese dishes - unlike other food cultures where meals are filled with lots of fats and calories. The Vietnamese dishes are made with a lot of vegetables and fruits, which are mixed with spices and herbs. Their food is highly nutritious as it helps to boost the immune system and reduces calories consumption in their meals. Lots of spice Another thing you will find in Vietnamese dishes is their use of spices and herbs. These spices are used to give the food a good taste. Its no news that the dishes made in Vietnam are highly nutritious to eat. Their meals are made from fresh ingredients like fruits and vegetables. Yes, their sauces are so unique, and it is used to eating almost any meal. The sauces range from fish sauces to soy sauce and shrimp sauce. A tasty combination of ingredients and spices A lot of ingredients are combined in the Vietnamese dishes in order to give them a balanced taste. This ingredient ranges from meat, fruits, and spices. Two regions in Vietnam play a vital role in the food culture of the country. This region- , the North and South, have different ways of cooking their meals. The North makes use of a light and balanced ingredients combination. Notable meals from the North include the Pho, Bun Rieu, etc. The south makes use of fruits and vegetables as its ingredients when making its dishes. The big advantage the south has is its warm weather which makes it easy to get the fresh ingredient. The ingredient you will find in this area includes garlic, fresh herbs, etc. Chopsticks Chopsticks are used as kitchen and eating utensils in most Asian countries. It is also a dominant feature in Vietnamese food culture. You need to be perfect in using the chopsticks to pick food like meat, fish, etc. the chopsticks are just like using a spoon or fork, just that it's a bit complex but easy to learn. Nutritious Vietnamese cuisine is a unique blend of dishes and flavors. Although many of the ingredients are cheap, the meticulous taste of these meals show how mich mastery Vietnamese have done over the years. The people use a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits as they have them in abundance. It's how they make use of simple ingredients to make delicious meals that make them stand out. They believe in balance in their mixture and tend not to go overboard with it. These elements correspond to five flavors: sour, bitter, spicy, sweet, and salty. Each meal contains these different flavors, which balance each other out. Nutritious Vietnamese cuisine is a unique blend of dishes and flavors. Although many of the ingredients are cheap, the meticulous taste of these meals shows the many years of work that go into maing them. The people use a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits as they have them in abundance and it's easy to access. It's why they use simple ingredients to make delicious meals. They believe in balance in their mixture and tend not to go overboard with it. These elements correspond to five flavors: sour, bitter, spicy, sweet, and salty. Each meal contains all of these different flavors, which balance each other out. Community The Vietnamese people have a form of belonging. They like to do things together, especially when it comes to food. The Vietnamese love to eat in groups. If you have Vietnamese restaurants around you, you must have noticed this already. They tend to carry this culture with them everywhere they go. Even their restaurants encourage them to. In a way, thats a form of cheap business advertising idea to let other Vietnamese know that they are there. Furthermore, in most restaurants, foods are served in bowls, and everyone helps themselves to a meal. It is also rude to reject food in Vietnam. So when you are visit that Vietnamese colleague of yours at his place of residence and he offers you a meal, do ensure to accept it with a smiling face. Hospitality It is part of the Vietnamese food culture to serve foods in trays. On these trays, rice bowls and other dishes are placed on it. Chopsticks are also placed on the trays to pick food from bowls and other food items on the table. Meals are shared with family members and friends alike. They are also welcoming and treat strangers like family. Vegetable A constant thing you will always find in the Vietnamese dish is vegetables. Vietnam has been blessed with lots of vegetables and fruits. During the war, the Vietnamese had to look for other ways to survive. The ingredients were easy to find and cheap to find. They could use them to make decent meals and in the end turn out nice. (Sponsored Feature) New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her first address after the assembly election results in five states launched a fiery attack on BJP and said that she is willing to make a grand alliance against the saffron party for the 2024 general elections. The leader invited Congress to join hands with Trinamool for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. If Congress wants we all can fight (2024 general elections) together. Don't be aggressive for now, be positive. This winning (Assembly polls in 4 states) will be a big loss for BJP. This (2022 election results will decide the fate of 2024 polls) is impractical, ANI quoted Banerjee as saying. The TMC supremo also lashed out at those saying that the BJP victory in the states will set the tone for the Lok Sabha elections. Attacking BJP, Banerjee also alleged EVM tampering and asked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, whom she campaigned for during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls, to demand a forensic probe into the machines. Meanwhile, briefing the media after the state budget was presented on Friday, she accused the Centre of delaying the release of Rs 90,000 crore fund to the state. She also claimed that only West Bengal provides pension to retired state employees, whereas all the other states have discontinued pension. All BJP ruled states have discontinued pension, she said. Reacting to the BJPs protest, Mamata said, BJP has no shame after losing polls in Bengal. They are trying to disrupt the budget speech. Here they maintain no courtesy. They cant win in their wards and screaming on top of their voices. Live TV Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the Panchayati Raj system is very important to fulfill the dream of Gram Swaraj. Maha-Panchayat Sammelan at GMDC Ground in Ahmedabad, PM Modi said, "Gujarat is the land of Bapu and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Bapu always talked about rural development, self-reliant villages. Today, as we are marking `Amrit Mahotsav`, we must fulfil Bapu`s dream of `Grameen Vikas`." Gujarat is the land of Bapu and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Bapu always talked about rural development, self-reliant villages. Today, as we are marking 'Amrit Mahotsav', we must fulfil Bapu's dream of 'Grameen Vikas': PM Modi at Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/zYbnXPgqtV ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 "Panchayati Raj system is very important to fulfill the dream of Gram Swaraj. The work of giving direction to this system, all of you representatives, Panch-Sarpanch are doing the work of giving it momentum," he added. The Prime Minister also aksed village representatives to plant 75 trees in every village during 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to mark 75 years of India's Independence to help environment recover. He further said that in Gujarat, women are representing more than men in the panchayat system. "More than 1.5 lakh elected public representatives should sit together and discuss the bright future of Gujarat, there can be no greater opportunity than this, there can be no greater power of democracy than this," he said. PM Modi also congratulated the village representatives for their efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19 with protocols. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister hold a roadshow from Gujarat airport to Kamalam (BJP`s office). This roadshow holds importance as Gujarat is scheduled to go for Assembly Elections this year. On Saturday, the Prime Minister will dedicate the building of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to the nation at 11 AM. He will also deliver the first convocation address of the RRU as the Chief Guest.At around 6:30 PM, Prime Minister will declare open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh and deliver an address on the occasion. Live TV Amritsar (Punjab): This was a typical case of David defeating the Goliaths! In Amritsar East, it was expected to be a political battle between heavyweights Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Bikramjit Majithia. But it was Jeevan Jyot Kaur of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who defeated the duo to emerge as the winner. AAP has bagged a historic victory in Punjab, winning 92 seats. The Congress could win only 18 seats while SAD+ got 4. Jeevan Jyot Kaur definitely emerged as the giant killer. Speaking to ANI, Kaur said that Punjab has overcome identity politics. Thanking the voters for giving AAP and the "tried and tested Delhi model" of Arvind Kejriwal a chance, she said, "It's the victory of the people of Punjab. My ticket was announced around December 30... Got positive indication during door-to-door campaigns that Punjab has overcome identity politics." She further added that the party was confident of forming a government with a majority in Punjab "because the people here were already frustrated with other political parties." "These parties (Congress and SAD) have interchangeably ruled Punjab. The people of Punjab felt looted and the youth, since they saw no opportunities here, has been running abroad," Kaur said. Kaur is popularly known as pad woman even her Twitter bio refers to her as so since she used to run a programme under which woman prison inmates were provided sanitary napkins in jails across Punjab. The 50-year-old was born in Hoshiarpur and has been a philanthropist for the larger part of life/ Mocking parties over vendetta politics, she said that AAP is not here to do politics "but to change the politics" and therefore, talks about issues and not personal rivalries."People have voted for a change. I believe that a leader becomes big through their work, but they (big leaders) have not even done the minutest of people's work. When we would go for door-to-door campaigns, people would say that we don't see the large elephants, we just see jhadu," she said. Sharing her vision for the constituency, Kaur said that several issues such as cleanliness, water availability and drugs are among the major and initial issues she`d like to deal with. "I consider this as an opportunity to work for the people, and as a social activist, I will help people in whatever way possible, especially the health and education sector," she added while saying that it is good to be a part of good politics. Talking of women's representation in politics, the newly elected MLA said, "This is a big win for the women. I have always said that women need equal representation in politics. While campaigning, I have felt that the ladies were relieved seeing a female candidate." Kaur won the Amritsar East constituency by bagging a total vote of 39,679. Trailing second behind the AAP candidate was Congress' Sidhu with 32,929 votes. Majithia finished at the third spot with 25,188 votes. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the assembly polls in Punjab getting a three-fourths majority in a strong electoral performance that pushed most of its rivals in the state to the margins. (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Amid questions and concerns from the opposition on the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make an official statement on Operation Ganga in the Parliament during the second phase of the Budget Session, reported ANI. Many opposition leaders including Congresss Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Senas Priyanka Chaturvedi have targeted the Centre for not taking timely and appropriate steps to evacuate Indian students from conflicted Ukraine. Operation Ganga Operation Ganga is the Indian government's mission to evacuate Indian students from the war zone in Ukraine. The Central government launched Operation Ganga on February 24 to bring back stranded Indians stuck in Ukraine. The Modi government has also sent four central ministers Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia and General VK Singh to coordinate the efforts for the rescue of India via other countries. Evacuation from Ukraine So far, India has been able to rescue around 20,000 stranded citizens in more than 80 special evacuation flights. Through its Operations Ganga, India has also been able to rescue several citizens who hail from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. During the operation, buses and trains brought Indians to the western borders of Ukraine and they were flown back to India via locations like Bucharest, Budapest, Suceava, and Warsaw. The last batch of over 600 students who were evacuated from Sumy was brought back to India via Poland. The second part of the Budget Session will begin on March 14 and will go on till April 8. In recent months, this has been India`s largest evacuation drive to bring back stranded Indians after operation Devi Shakti was launched by the Modi government in Afghanistan last year. Live TV Kulgam: Shabir Ahmad Mir, Sarpanch of village Adoora in Kulgam district succumbed to his critical bullet injuries after he was shot by some unknown terrorists. The injured was immediately shifted to district hospital Kulgam where doctors declared brought dead. Unknow terrorists Friday (March 11) late evening barged into the house of Sarpanch fired upon him in which he suffered critical injuries, said area police officer confirming the incident. Sarpanch had bullet injuries in the abdomen and was brought dead to the hospital, reportedly. The area where the attack took place was cordoned off and a manhunt was launched to nab the assailants. This is the second killing of an elected panchayat member in the last 48 hours. On March 9, Terrorists barged inside the house of a Sarpanch Sameer Ahmad Bhat in the Khonmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar and fired upon he was immediately rushed to hospital but he succumbed while he was being operated. The continuous two attacks on elected panchayat members have created fear among hundreds of Panchs and Sarpanchs in the valley. Live TV Noida: Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad had voted in the first phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 and had a voter turnout of 56% and 55% respectively. And it was a happy outcome for BJP in these NCR areas. Gautam Buddh Nagar: BJP MLAs from Noida, Dadri and Jewar emerge winners BJP MLAs from Noida, Dadri and Jewar in Gautam Buddh Nagar district emerged victorious from their respective seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2022, according to official results. Pankaj Singh won the Noida seat by a whopping margin of 1.81 lakh votes, according to official results. Pankaj Singh got 2.44 lakh (or 70.16 per cent) of the total votes cast as he crushed the nearest rival Sunil Choudhary of Samajwadi Party, who polled in 62,806 (or 18.04 per cent) votes, the Election Commission website showed. Singh, BJP's UP vice president and son of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, had got 1.62 lakh (or 64.29 per cent) of the total votes polled. In Dadri, Tejpal Nagar retained his seat by bagging 2.18 lakh (or 61.64 per cent) votes. SP's Rajkumar Bhati was the next in line with 79,850 (or 22.57 per cent) of votes. The victory margin stood at 1.38 lakh, the EC showed. In 2017 polls, Nagar had got 1.41 lakh (or 53.57 per cent) of the total votes. In Jewar, Dhirendra Singh got 1.17 lakh (50.53 per cent) votes as he registered his second straight assembly win over nearest rival Avtar Singh Bhadana of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, who polled in 60,890 (or 26.25 per cent) votes. The victory margin was 56,315 votes, according to the result on the EC website.cIn 2017, Dhirendra Singh had got 1.02 lakh (or 49.01 per cent) of the total votes polled. All five MLAs of BJP win from Ghaziabad Meanwhile in Ghaziabad, all five BJP MLAs, including minister Atul Garg, retained their seats, even as Sunil Kumar Sharma, contesting from Sahibabad constituency, won with a record 2.14 lakh vote margin, poll results showed. Sharma got 3.22 lakh (or 67.03 per cent) of the total votes counted, defeating his nearest rival Amarpal Sharma of the Samajwadi Party who polled 1.08 lakh votes, the Election Commission website showed. In 2017, Sharma was the biggest winner in terms of vote margin. His victory margin was over 1.50 lakh then. Atul Garg, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, retained his Ghaziabad seat with a victory margin of 1.05 lakh votes over nearest rival SP's Vishal Verma. Garg got 1.50 lakh (or 61.37 per cent) of total votes counted, while Verma bagged 44,668 (or 18.25 per cent) votes, EC data showed. In Loni, BJP's controversial MLA Nandkishor Gurjar won in a close contest with RLD's Madan Bhaiya, a former MLA and influential leader of the Gurjar community. Nandkishor won with a margin of 8,676 votes. In Muradnagar seat, Ajit Pal Tyagi emerged victorious once again as he crushed the nearest rival RLD's Surendra Kumar Munni by 97,095 votes. In Modinagar, Manju Siwach continued her winning streak. She got 34,619 more votes against nearest rival RLD's Sudesh Sharma. BJP and Adityanath break the 'Noida jinx' With BJP securing a comfortable win in Uttar Pradesh, for the second consecutive time, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday seems to have successfully busted what was dubbed as the "Noida Jinx". Adityanath also looked set for a victory from Gorakhpur Urban seat while all three BJP candidates in Gautam Buddh Nagar district secured a win. A myth was nurtured for nearly three decades that any chief minister of Uttar Pradesh who visited Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar district was doomed to go out of power. In recent history, Mayawati, who took oath as the UP CM in March 2007, had visited Noida in November that year to attend the wedding of close aide Satish Mishra's relative. However, the BSP supremo's bold move, which was seen as a myth-buster at the time, was followed by her ouster from power from the state in 2012. Mayawati hails from Badalpur village in Greater Noida. Her predecessors Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, BJP's Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh had also avoided visiting Noida during their chief ministership. Mulayam's son Akhilesh Yadav, who became the CM in 2012, had continued the trend of avoiding in-person visit to Noida, often dubbed as the show window to Uttar Pradesh. In 2013, former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav did not attend the Asian Development Bank Summit organised in Noida, when the then prime minister Manmohan Singh was the chief guest. The "Noida jinx" took root after chief minister Veer Bahadur Singh had to step down in June 1988, a few days after he returned from Noida. Yogi Adityanath, who had stormed to power in UP in 2017, has visited Noida nearly a dozen times since becoming the UP chief minister and launched the Noida Metro, among other development projects in the region over the years. In January this year, Adityanath visited Gautam Buddh Nagar to review the COVID-19 pandemic situation and hit out at Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav and said coming here becomes important for him as the chief ministers who preceded him always hesitated about visiting the district. "They were afraid. Their own life and political power were the only things important for them. But they had no agenda for economic prosperity, health and well-being of the people of the state and hence they were hesitant about visiting Gautam Buddh Nagar," Adityanath had said. The Senate erupted into a shouting match Thursday over how to pass funding for Ukraine as a few Republicans, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, attempted to carve the aid out of a must-pass spending bill due for a vote soon. The debate livestreamed from the Senate floor turned heated when Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who earlier shepherded the defense package through committee, warned that what conservative lawmakers were attempting would push the Ukraine aid into the next week, not as Florida Sen. Rick Scott said, Send this to the presidents desk today. At issue is a $13.5 billion aid package for Ukraine, which includes $625 billion in defense spending. The aid package was tucked into a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through September. The omnibus bill was a must pass by midnight Friday, to keep the federal government from shutting down, something that hasnt happened since the record shutdown of 2019. But late Thursday, omnibus passed, complete with the Ukraine aid package to counter the Russian Federation's invasion, which has killed thousands and forced over 2 million people to flee. The Senate approved the bill 68-31, with Tester voting for the bill and Daines voting against. Earlier in the day, led by Sen. Scott, nine Republicans who were opposed to the omnibus spending bill, including Daines and Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, launched a plan to put the aid package to a stand-alone vote. What I'm asking is to pass the exact text, the exact text that both Democrats and Republicans have already agreed to, Scott said. We can send this to the President's desk today. But Scotts take was incorrect. No bill passes the Senate and heads straight to the president without also passing the House of Representatives. And the House had already gone home for the week, having passed the omnibus bill Thursday, with the Ukraine aid package included. The fast track to the president was for the Senate to pass the omnibus bill Thursday. The House is not in the session, Tester fired back, in a blast best described as the Big Sandy edition of Schoolhouse Rock. To say that we're going to pass this and presto chango that goes right to presidents desk, that's not how the process works, Sen. Scott, that's not how the process works. The good Senator from Florida is blocking this bill, or wed be voting on it right now, Tester said. You want to talk politics. Thats what this is about, politics. Tester said. You can be unhappy with the omnibus bill, but the matter has been negotiated over the last year by Democrats and Republicans. And that's where we're at today. "We need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about Ukraine, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about feeding hungry people in this country, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about child care, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about housing, we need to pass this bill. If you're concerned about the high cost of gasoline, we need to pass this bill. And if you're concerned about the threat that China has to this country, we need to pass this bill. Enough excuses, lets get the job done. The federal government has been running on borrowed time since the end of September 2021, with short-term funding approved through continuing resolutions. But congressional leaders had agreed back in December that by midnight March 11, there would be a bill passed to fund the government through the end of the federal fiscal year, which is in September. Several Republicans objected to the size of the omnibus. Lummis produced a bill of special projects written into the bill by House lawmakers who last year brought back member-directed spending. Better known as earmarks, member-directed spending gave lawmakers the ability, for the first time since 2009, to direct spending on particular projects rather than allowing government agencies to do the choosing. After banning the practice for years, this omnibus contains around $10 billion in earmarks for pet projects around the country. Here's the book of earmarks. Look how thick this is, Lummis said, waiving a thick stack of pages. Its printed on both sides in about a four-point font. You almost have to have a looking glass to see what it says here, 4,000 earmarks after we've gotten away from this. I'm sympathetic to the argument that earmarks are a more direct way of addressing problems around the country, but historically they've been used as a way for leadership to whip votes on bad legislation and a way to fund unnecessary pet projects to curry favor back home. Lummis said adding the Ukraine aid package to the omnibus bill was a cynical way to assure the spending passed over the objections of opposing lawmakers. We should have a standalone vote on the aid for the people of Ukraine. This issue is entirely separate from the omnibus spending bill that Congress is considering and should be recognized as such on the Senate floor, Lummis said. Anything less does a disservice to the people we're trying to help and to the American people we serve. Lummis reiterated Scotts assurance the Ukraine aid package advance to the president without House approval. I want to be very, very clear on what this move would mean, Tester responded. If we don't pass the rest of the omnibus, the Pentagon is going to shut down that night on Friday, OK? Now all our eyes are on Ukraine as they well should be. But don't forget for a second that China is a pacing threat in this world. We're going to shut the Pentagon down on Friday? I don't think that's a smart move. As soon as the effort to carve out the Ukraine aid package for a separate vote failed, Daines emailed the following statement. Im disappointed to see my colleagues across the aisle choose politics over reason and block my bill that would have provided $14 billion in assistance to Ukraine in response to Russias ongoing invasion, Daines said. He outlined the provisions in the standalone bill, which were the same terms as the aid in Ukraine. Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Montana Republican voted against the omnibus bill and by extension the aid package for Ukraine. Wednesday evening, Rosendale sent an email explaining his vote. This years omnibus spending package is just another wish list fulfilled for the Radical Left to expand the size of the federal government while ignoring the needs and priorities of Americans, said Representative Rosendale. It is far past time to rein in federal spending and start paying off our national debt, and the American taxpayer deserves a government that is fiscally responsible and prioritizes their needs. This article will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 11 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 12 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. UP ELECTION RESULTS 2022: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has not been able to save its deposits in 99 seats out of 100 that it had contested in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Although the party got a few more votes than what it had got in 2017, the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party failed miserably even in Muslim-majority areas and could not win a single seat. It may be noted that AIMIM had fielded most of its candidates in those constituencies where Muslim population and percentage of voters is very high. In the last Assembly elections also, the AIMIM had given tickets to 38 candidates from such Muslim-dominated seats. All of its candidates had forfeited their deposits that time too. However, party spokesperson Waris Pathan told Times Now that the party is growing in Uttar Pradesh. The only candidate to save his deposit is Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali from the Mubarakpur constituency. He was earlier in the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). After leaving the BSP, he first approached the Samajwadi Party but the party denied him a ticket. Then he joined AIMIM and contested the Assembly elections from the Mubarakpur seat. According to the latest update on the Election Commissions official website, he has got about 24% votes. Deoband was one of the most important Assembly constituencies among the major Muslim-majority seats. Deoband is home to Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary of the Deobandi sect of Sunni Islamic sect. AIMIM had given a ticket to Maulana Umair Madani, who could get only 3501 votes in the land of one of the biggest schools of Islamic doctrine. It is the Deobandi version of Sunni Islam that is followed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. BJP candidate Brijesh Singh won from Deoband. Interestingly, AIMIM had given ticket to non-Muslim candidate Harish Mishra from the Varanasi North assembly seat. This social engineering move by AIMIM in Varanasi was seen as the equivalent of an alliance in Maharashtra with Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi in the 2019 general elections. In those elections, all the Dalit candidates of VBA contested on the symbol of AIMIM. New Delhi: A day after scoring victories in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now shifted focus to poll-bound Gujarat and held a huge roadshow in Ahmedabad on Friday (March 11, 2022). Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, his home state, and held the roadshow from the Ahmedabad airport to the Gujarat BJP headquarters. At around 4 PM, Prime Minister will also participate in Gujarat Panchayat Mahasammelan and address the gathering. #WATCH | PM Modi shows victory sign as he greets the crowd during roadshow in Ahmedabad, post BJP's win in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. pic.twitter.com/ITcaNnXF4g ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 PM Narendra Modi begins a roadshow in Ahmedabad, Gujarat post BJP's win in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. pic.twitter.com/jDhV1KtlMw ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the building of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to the nation at 11 AM. He will also deliver the first Convocation address of the RRU as the Chief Guest and around 6:30 PM, he will declare open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh and deliver an address on the occasion. He will also hold meetings with party leaders and later address over one lakh village, taluka and district panchayat members in Ahmedabad. It is notable that the term of the Gujarat assembly ends on January 8 next year, and the state is expected to go to the polls this December. Besides Gujarat, elections are also due in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress had sprung a surprise by defeating the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in three assembly bypolls in Himachal Pradesh in October last year. The BJP had also lost the bye-election to the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in the hill-state. Elections are also due in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura early next year where the BJP or its alliance partners are in power. Earlier on Thursday, BJP became the only party in over 30 years to get re-elected for a second term in Uttar Pradesh and also retained Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. The saffron party increased its vote share in almost all the states that went to polls including a marginal rise in Punjab. Following the win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a celebratory gathering at BJP headquarters in Delhi. He hailed the victories as an 'emphatic endorsement of BJP's pro-poor and proactive governance' and a 'vote for political stability'. Here are key highlights of PM Modi's victory speech: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that such a grand and decisive victory for the party is a guarantee for India's bright future. PM Modi asserted that the BJP's emphatic win in four state polls underscores people's stamp of strong approval for its government's pro-poor and pro-active governance. "In all the five states that went to the polls, our Party Karyakartas worked tirelessly among the people. They spoke about our good governance agenda and highlighted our pro-people efforts," he said. The Prime Minister also referred to the next Lok Sabha polls, scheduled for 2024, and said that he hopes that political pundits will note that his party's win in the four states has also made clear the verdict for the next general election as they had linked its win in 2019 to its sweep of the Uttar Pradesh elections in 2017. He hailed the BJP's "jeet ka chauka" (a boundary of wins) in distant states like Goa and Manipur besides Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and said that the results have signalled that the sun will set on the dynastic politics in the country one day. "People have blessed us from all directions", the prime minister told jubilant BJP workers. He also hit out at opposition parties without directly naming them for trying to save the corrupt following action of institutions acting independently against them and expressed concern that critics have invoked caste, religion and region in their efforts to impede the probe. "People should shun such voices", he said and asserted that his government is not only expected to work with integrity but also act against those who have been involved in corruption. He said he is not against any individual or any particular family, but his concern is about democracy. The Prime Minister also slammed rivals for augmenting fear among Indian students stranded in war-hit Ukraine and their families, and accused them of using regionalism to target "Operation Ganga", launched by his government to evacuate students, most of whom have been brought home. "The BJP's win in the four states where it was in power augurs well for the country in its 75th year of independence and shows people's faith in the party's policies and its vision for the country for the next 25 years leading to the nation's centenary year of freedom," he said. "Earlier, people could not reach governments for basic amenities such as electricity, gas and water. Now we are delivering the poor their rights," he said and asserted that he will not rest until the poor get their due. PM Modi also lauded BJP workers for ensuring an early Holi by making the party victorious in four states and said that its vote share has increased in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Goa even though it was in power in the states. "All exit polls were proven incorrect in Goa, and the people of Goa have given the BJP the chance to serve them for the third consecutive time," he said. In Uttar Pradesh, people have reelected a chief minister for the first time after he had served a full term and also for the first time in 37 years, brought the same party to power again, PM Modi said. He also hit out at those who believe that caste rules politics in Uttar Pradesh and asserted that the BJP's straight four wins since 2014, two Lok Sabha and assembly polls each, has highlighted that people have voted for development and good governance. People's vote for stability in the polls shows that democracy flows through their veins, he said. "It is a day of zest and festivities and this enthusiasm is for India's democracy," PM Modi expressed. He also praised young voters and women voters as well, saying they have played a crucial role in these elections. "They have blessed us - we've won splendidly in areas where women voters have dominated. Our Nari Shakti has been our partners in this victory," he said. It is notable that in the 403-member UP assembly, the saffron party won 255 seats, 53 more than the halfway mark of 202. In Uttarakhand, the BJP clinched 47 seats, 11 more than the magic figure of 36, and is now all set to form a second successive government, the first in the state's 21-year history. The saffron party won a simple majority in insurgency-hit Manipur, where it bagged 32 seats, having won 37.83 per cent votes. In Goa, BJP overcame anti-incumbency and emerged as the single largest party by winning 20 seats, just one shy of the halfway mark, and quickly enlisted the support of regional outfit MGP, which won two seats, and three Independent MLAs to form its government for a third consecutive term in the state. (With agency inputs) Alleging EVM malpractices following BJPs victory in UP polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav shouldnt be disheartened and he should seek forensic test of the same EVM machines. Akhikesh Yadavs vote percentage increased from 20% to 37% this time. When they formed the govt last time, the vote percentage was 36%. There was a loot and malpractices of the EVM, Mamata alleged. CM Mamata declined to comment on Congress. Meanwhile, briefing the media after the state budget was presented on Friday, she accused the Centre of delaying the release of Rs 90,000 crore fund to the state. She also claimed that only West Bengal provides pension to retired state employees, whereas all the other states have discontinued pension. All BJP ruled states have discontinued pension, she said. CM Mamata also claimed that unemployment has reached 40%. She further said that now, petrol, diesel and gas prices will increase. BJP MLAs protested on the Floor of the Assembly against the state government and walked out in the middle of the presentation of the budget. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari protesting outside the Assembly in Kolkata said, This is a false budget. They renamed all the schemes of the Central Government and presented the Budget. PM Modi's schemes have been renamed, and speech is being made in the House. We are protesting. Reacting to the BJPs protest, Mamata said, BJP has no shame after losing polls in Bengal. They are trying to disrupt the budget speech. Here they maintain no courtesy. They cant win in their wards and screaming on top of their voices. New Delhi: Congress Party might lose the leader of the opposition status in Rajya Sabha owing to its poor performance in the five assembly elections 2022, reported ANI additing that the party is staring at the possibility of such demotion. The possibility arises as the number of Congress MPs in the upper house is expected to be at its historic low and likely to be close to the minimum strength required to maintain the Leader of the Opposition status. Whats the hope for Congress? The partys only hope to maintain its leader of opposition status in Congress is to do well in the upcoming Gujarat and Karnataka Assembly Polls or it could lose this status in the subsequent biennial elections to the Upper House next year. Current status of Congress in Rajya Sabha Congress currently sits as the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha with 34 members but is on course to lose at least seven seats this year to hit a record low. The Congress numbers will also come down in Assam, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh this year. While a few seats will be vacant next year in the upper House due to the retirement of members Criteria for being the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha According to the norms, to maintain the leader of the opposition status in Rajya Sabha, a party must have 25 per cent of its members in the Upper House. Presently, Congresss Mallikarjun Kharge is the Leader of Opposition in the House. The Congress does not have the leader of the Opposition status in Lok Sabha as its present strength in the House is less than 10 per cent of the membership of the House, which is the required limit. The Election Commission had earlier this month announced elections on March 31 to fill 13 vacancies in the Rajya Sabha -- five from Punjab and eight from Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Nagaland and Tripura. The members retiring next month from Punjab include two of Congress Good news for AAP The Aam Aadmi Party, with its three-fourth majority in the new Punjab assembly, will substantially boost its numbers and will be in a position to win at least six out of the seven seats in the state for which elections will be held this year to fill vacancies in the Upper House. Live TV New Delhi: BJP has delivered big, once again, in the recently-concluded Assembly Elections, winning four of the five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa - with Punjab going to Aam Aadmi Party. Yogi Adityanath has managed to silence his critics who had accused him and his party of divisive politics and mishandling of the Covid-19 situation, especially the second wave. Holi has indeed come early for Yogi and BJP with this big victory in the 2022 UP Assembly polls where BJP+ have bagged 273 seats. The party and its CM beat anti-incumbency to hold on to the hot seat. Here are 10 key highlights about CM Yogi Adityanath: - Contesting his first-ever Assembly election, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath won by a margin of 1,03,390 from Gorakhpur Urban constituency. He defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Subhawati Upendra Dutt Shukla. - This is the first time that Adityanath has been elected as an MLA. Earlier, he had become the chief minister for the first time after being elected as a Member of the Legislative Council. - Before being sworn as UP chief minister in 2017, he was Gorakhpur MP for five consecutive terms from 1998 to 2017. At 26, Adityanath was the youngest Lok Sabha MP. - After BJP chose him to be the chief minister of UP after winning the 2017 polls, Yogi kept 36 ministries under his direct control, including Home, Economics and Statistics, Sainik Welfare, Home Guard, Personnel, and appointment, as well as Civil Defence. - He is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math which is a Hindu temple in Gorakhpur. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has frequently endorsed him by praising his work as UP chief minister. PM Modi coined a new slogan on "UP plus Yogi bahut hai upyogi" (UP plus Yogi is very useful). - The Gorakhpur Sadar seat had also been a bastion of the BJP, which the party had never lost since 1967 since the days of the Jan Sangh. - Yogi Adityanath is the first CM to return to power after Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. Congress stalwart ND Tiwari was the last chief minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh to secure consecutive terms in 1985. - After the win, Yogi slammed the opposition. "We were working, but they were running a massive misinformation campaign," the Chief Minister said. - Yogi also hailed BJP's performance in other states. "Everyone had their eyes on UP, given the vastness of the state," Yogi Adityanath said. "I am thankful to the people for making us win with a majority... Under PM Modi's leadership we will be forming governments in UP, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand," the Chief Minister said. Also Read: Keshav Prasad Maurya, 10 other ministers in Yogi Adityanath govt lose their seats (With ANI inputs) Live TV Social media is a fantastic platform to promote your brand, business, and services. While many people and companies succeed on Instagram, the global market is highly competitive, and it can take a lot of time and effort to increase your followers, likes, and views. One of the most effective ways to improve your visibility online is to buy real Instagram followers from a reputable website. 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(Sponsored Feature) New Delhi: In good news for the railway job aspirants who had protested against irregularities in the Railway Recruitment Board Level-1 and NTPC examinations, the national transporter agreed to all their demands on Thursday. The decision that came soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) poll victory in four of the five states was taken after a high-level committee submitted its report to the Railway Board. In a major reversal of its policy to hold the Level-1 exams to recruit Group-D employees through two computer-based tests (CBTs), the Indian Railways has now agreed to conduct only a single test. The recruitment drive for the Non Technical Popular Categories (NTPCs) for 35,281 vacant posts in various categories ranging from junior clerk, train assistant, guard, time-keeper to station master was at the centre of widespread protests in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand in the past few weeks. ALSO READ | Why are students protesting over RRB-NTPC result? The aspirants alleged that while over seven lakh "applications" were shortlisted, the actual number of candidates was around 3.84 lakh, as the same person might have been shortlisted for more than one post. The railways on Thursday said the number of "unique candidates" shortlisted pay level wise will be 20 times higher than that of vacant posts for the second-stage computer-based test (CBT) for the NTPCs. It also said the candidates already announced qualified will continue to remain qualified and the list of the additional candidates getting shortlisted will be notified at each pay level. The railways also said the revised results of all the pay levels will be declared by the first week of April, the second-stage CBT for pay level 6 will be held in May and the second-stage CBT for the other pay levels will be conducted after a reasonable gap. Railway Committee addresses the concerns of candidates for Non Technical Popular Categories. https://t.co/uy1zuJ5tL7 pic.twitter.com/C9quieNyJv Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 10, 2022 Railway Committee addresses the concerns of candidates for Non Technical Popular Categories. 20 times unique candidates will be shortlisted for Non Technical Popular Categories. Revised results of all Pay Levels to be declared by the first week of April, 2022. pic.twitter.com/0dEDfUXiiX Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 10, 2022 "It has been decided to follow revised methodology with special conditions for conduct of CBT for Level-1 due to elimination of 2nd stage CBT etc. "This will involve mobilising of additional infrastructure and logistics to conduct CBT for Level-1 with significant increase in per shift requirement. Efforts will be made to have the exam conducting agency (ECA) on board to conduct the CBT for Level-1 as early as possible. Hence, CBT for Level-1 is planned to be held tentatively from July 2022 onwards," the railways said in a statement. Live TV New Delhi: The Bigg Boss 14 winner Rubina Dilaik, who battled COVID-19 last year and thereafter opened up on gaining a few kilos afterwards has opened up on being fat-shamed. She talked about facing the trolls online who drop mean comments if an actor puts on weight. In an interview with ETimes, Rubina Dilaik she said, "there are so many people even my contemporaries who go through this body-shaming, fat-shaming. You gain one extra inch here and there and they start commenting Arre buddhi Lagne lagi hai, charm chala gaya hai, look at the way she walks, arre bhains hogayi hai. They write nasty things because social media has given them freedom to go and comment whatever they want on anyones page. People are inconsiderate about others' feelings. That time I feel there would be so many people who would be getting directly affected by such comments why not voice it. If the almighty has given me that position where I can create an impact or turbulence why not? People should know that respecting somebodys choice of being how they want to should be there. There is no one to talk about it. If they talk about it, we on the other side should know how to handle it and not let them affect us. It is like a way of letting the trolls know that there is a boundary which they should not cross." On trolls targetting her family, Rubina gave a fierce reply, "Honestly, I dont read comments and dont really give a damn about what people think. Especially trollers, but when they start trolling my family it affects their state of mind. Like they literally find out my mothers page or my sisters page or for that matter even Abhinavs page and they start bugging him, thats when I feel my family is getting affected. Mujhe life mein itna kuch bhi affect nahi karta jitna Abhinavs state of mind. If something bothers him, if hes not in a right state of mind that affects me the most, same with my parents, sisters. Then the Durga inside me takes charge and comes out and I decide ab ruko Tum sabko main bataati hoon. You mess with me its fine, you mess with my family, its going to be the worst thing you ever do. Thats when I voice my opinion." On the work front, Rubina Dilaik was last seen in Shakti: Astitiv Ke Ehsaas Ki season 2. She will next be seen in Ardh, her Bollywood debut movie which is being directed by Palash Muchhal. New Delhi: Actress Alia Bhatt is currently riding high on the success of her latest release 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'. The film has generated positive reviews from both the audience and critics and has sailed into the Rs 100 crore club. Yesterday, we saw her celebrating the feat by munching on burger and fries and treating her fans with a photo. Now, a day later, Alia was papped by the shutterbugs on a shoot location. The actress was spotted in a printed red maxi dress with her hair tied. The photos were clicked from a distance. Take a look at Alia's latest photos: (Photo courtesy: Viral Bhayani) On Wednesday, Alia Bhatt was spotted on a dinner date with Ranbir Kapoor. The couple twinned in black and looked extremely adorable. Alia looked stunner in a black off-shoulder jumpsuit with matching heels. On the other hand, Ranbir looked uber cool in a black sweatshirt and denim. The duo walked hand-in-hand post-dinner. Alia and Ranbir have been in a relationship for three years. Alia and Ranbir met on the sets of Ayan Mukerji's 'Brahmastra', and since then have been going strong. Buzz of them tying the knot surfaces on the internet every now and then. They often get papped together inspecting his construction site in Bandra. The bungalow is going to be Ranbirs new residence. This house is special for the Kapoors in many ways, as before Rishi Kapoor passed away, the veteran actor would often visit the construction site to check on the progress. As per Indian Express sources, Ranbir and Alia will move into the Krishna Raj bungalow once they tie the knot. Live TV New Delhi: Actress Yami Gautam was papped in the city some days back for the success party of her recent release 'A Thursday'. Flashing her gorgeous smile, the Bollywood stunner posed for the waiting shutterbugs. However, after getting out of her car, Yami had a sort of oops moment which she averted. Yami Gautam wore a feather dress and posed for clicks. Somehow the actress knew her outfit could give her trouble so she looked mindful of the fact and tried to avoid any slip here and there. Famous celebrity pap Viral Bhayani posted the video on Instagram. While some fans appreciated Yami's glam look while others were unhappy with the dress, the actress was wearing. Check out the video and the comments below: On the work front, Yami Gautam is basking high after the success of her thriller film 'A Thursday' which streamed recently on Disney+ Hotstar. The actress's intense character in 'A Thursday' has unfolded a new shade of her acting spectacle. She received rave reviews from critics for her role as 'Naina'. Yami will next be seen in films including Lost, OMG2, Dhoom Dham, Dasvi, among others which are to be announced soon. Former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton announced Thursday that he is testing the waters for a potential run for president of the United States. Stapleton, 54, said in an announcement on Twitter that he has formed an exploratory committee to determine the feasibility of running for president in 2024. His website includes a donation portal to contribute to the committee. I am incredibly hopeful for the future of America, the Billings Republican wrote on his website. But I am greatly troubled by the current direction of our country. A testing the waters committee is an official designation under the Federal Election Commission. It allows fundraising for someone to explore a run but not to campaign for office. While testing the waters, an individual may carry out a variety of activities, such as conducting polling, traveling around a district or state, and placing telephone calls to see if there is sufficient support for a candidacy, according to the FEC. Stapleton told the Montana State News Bureau Thursday that the decision of whether to formally file as a candidate will depend on whether he can raise funds necessary to operate a winning campaign. That means having staff, and being able to travel throughout the U.S., he said. I'm not too focused on the things I cannot control, of which there are many. The country is so divided, right now. At some point, I have to simply decide if there's an appetite for a problem-solving conservative candidate like me. Stapleton, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served in the Montana Legislature from 2001-2009. In 2012 and 2014 he ran unsuccessfully for governor and Congress respectively. In 2016 he was elected Secretary of State, serving one term before a second unsuccessful bid for Congress, losing to Rep. Matt Rosendale in the primary. Stapleton most recently launched a country music career, releasing his first album earlier this year. Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources. Love 0 Funny 27 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 4 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi: Insurance giant Life Insurance Corporation of India provides a variety of plans to help people secure their financial future. However, LIC has issued a warning about a 'Kanyadan Policy.' According to numerous news publications, the insurer is giving this policy in which the holder must deposit Rs 121 daily and will be entitled for Rs 27 lakh after 25 years. However, LIC's official Twitter handle issued a statement in this regard on Thursday. "There is some inappropriate and deceptive information on online/digital platforms suggesting that LIC is giving 'Kanyadaan Policy,'" according to the warning. LIC would like to state unequivocally that the company does not offer any insurance of this name." The insurance company also encouraged individuals to visit https://licindia.in/ to view a range of LIC products. If you have seen any news about the LIC Kanyadaan policy, or if you have been contacted by an insurance agent who is trying to sell you this policy, do not fall for it. Meanwhile, the capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approved the public offering of state-run insurer Life Insurance Corporation on Wednesday (LIC). The decision came just 22 days after India's largest insurer by market share filed the initial IPO documents. On February 22, LIC submitted its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DHRP) to the regulator. The government, which owns 100% of the corporation, intends to sell 5% of its stock, or $3,162,49,885, through the IPO. It is predicted that the government might earn anywhere between Rs 60,000 and Rs 75,000 crore from the LIC IPO, valuing the insurance behemoth between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 15 lakh crore. It should also be highlighted that the Indian government's disinvestment target for the current fiscal year is contingent on the successful listing of LIC. Live TV #mute NEW DELHI: Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Mann is likely to take oath as Punjab chief minister on Wednesday (March 16, 2022), news agency ANI quoted sources as saying on Friday. According to reports, Mann, who was the partys main face and its chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, has also invited Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to attend the swearing-in ceremony. AAP's Punjab CM candidate Bhagwant Mann to take oath on March 16. He has invited Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for the swearing-in ceremony. He will hold a roadshow in Amritsar on March 13 along with Delhi CM and party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal (File pic) pic.twitter.com/EmPcEPvq0J ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 He will also hold a roadshow in Amritsar on March 13 along with Delhi CM and the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal. A day after the Aam Aadmi Party's stupendous victory in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann met Delhi CM and party convener Arvind Kejriwal at his residence here on Friday. Mann arrived in the national capital this morning. This was Mann's first meeting with Kejriwal after the assembly election results were declared on Thursday. AAP leader Raghav Chadha, who has been overseeing the party's Punjab affairs, and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was also present in the meeting. He also touched Kejriwal`s feet and sought his blessings. Mann has earlier said the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in the Nawanshahr district. On the party's resounding poll victory, Mann said, The people defeated arrogant persons and they made the common people victorious. The AAP had a registered landslide win in the Punjab Assembly polls by winning 92 seats to form its government in the state with a three-fourth majority in the 117-member legislative assembly. The chief minister-elect also took a dig at horse-trading politics saying, "We can call our legislative party meeting anytime we want. We don`t have to rush or worry as our MLAs are honest they are not running away to other states. Punjab witnessed a multi-cornered contest with key players being Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh`s Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt) led by SS Dhindsa. Congress` Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu all lost to AAP candidates. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won 77 seats whereas Shiromani Akali Dal could win only 15 seats, BJP netted three and independent candidates won two seats. AAP had emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats. Live TV New Delhi: Apple has officially released the third-generation iPhone SE in India, at a starting price of Rs 43,900. On Amazon and Flipkart, the iPhone 12 is available at a discount and with special deals just a few days after its launch. The iPhone 12 64GB storage variant costs Rs 53,999 on Amazon, the 128GB storage variant costs Rs 60,999, and the 256GB storage variant costs Rs 69,999. Buyers can enjoy a 10% instant discount up to Rs 1,000 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card, a 10% instant discount up to Rs 1,500 on Bank of Baroda Credit Card EMI transactions, and a 10% instant discount up to Rs1,250 on Citibank Credit EMI transactions when purchasing an iPhone 12 on Amazon. In terms of the exchange offer, clients might save up to Rs 14,900 depending on the handset they trade. On Flipkart, the Apple iPhone 12 (128GB) costs Rs 64,999. In terms of promotions, consumers can get a 5% cashback on their Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card. The 64GB and 256GB varieties of the iPhone 12 were out of stock on the e-commerce platform. For the uninitiated, the iPhone SE 2020 has vanished from the Apple India website following the release of its successor, the iPhone SE 2022. The second-generation iPhone SE, on the other hand, is still available on Flipkart for Rs 29,999. Flipkart will provide 5% "Unlimited Cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card." The newly released iPhone SE 3 5G comes in three colour options: midnight, starlight, and Product (Red). It will be available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options, with prices starting at Rs 43,900 in India. According to Apple, the iPhone SE 2022 will be available for pre-order in India on March 11 and for purchase on March 18 through Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers. The A15 Bionic technology, which powers the iPhone 13 series handsets, is one of the highlights of the recently released iPhone SE. Live TV #mute Lucknow: A day after his party's resounding victory in assembly elections 2022, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday met Governor Anandiben Patel at the Raj Bhavan here and handed over his resignation to her, paving the way for the formation of the new government. The Governor accepted Adityanath's resignation and requested him to continue as the caretaker chief minister along with his cabinet till further arrangements are made, according to an official release issued by the Raj Bhavan. UP CM Yogi Adityanath tenders his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow as his first tenure comes to an end. The party swept #UttarPradeshElections and the CM won from his seat Gorakhpur Urban. pic.twitter.com/Y3Wdn4mMV2 ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 11, 2022 Before going to the Raj Bhavan, Adityanath chaired the last meeting of his outgoing cabinet and thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for extending their support to the BJP in the state assembly elections, an official spokesperson said. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and guidance, the spokesperson said. #WATCH UP CM Yogi Adityanath tenders his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/WM3TzqBwcF ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 11, 2022 During the meeting, the cabinet passed a resolution stressing that the people of the state have not only expressed confidence in the policies of the BJP but also paved the way for it to form the government once again by giving it a sweeping mandate, he said. The BJP won 255 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. Its allies Apna Dal (S) and Nishad Party bagged 12 seats and six seats, respectively. The Samajwadi Party won 111 seats and its alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal got six and eight seats, respectively. The Congress and the Jansatta Dal got two seats each and the Bahujan Samaj Party bagged one. Live TV New Delhi The day after Aam Aadmi Party's massive victory in the state of Punjab Punjab CM candidate Bhagwant Mann arrived in Delhi to meet AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia on Friday (March 11). In the first meeting with Kejriwal after the assembly election results were declared on Thursday (March 12), Mann touched his feet while Kejriwal welcomed him with a hug. Mann also touched Manish Sisodia's feet and received a hug in return. Watch: #WATCH | Aam Aadmi Party CM candidate for Punjab Bhagwant Mann meets party convener Arvind Kejriwal and party leader Manish Sisodia, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/4WbTsMqPfM ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2022 Mann won from the Dhuri seat by a huge margin of 58,206 votes while the Aam Aadmi Party romped home in 92 of the 117 assembly seats. Talking to reporters in Sangrur before leaving for the national capital, Mann said he would meet Kejriwal to congratulate him on the party's victory in Punjab elections. Mann has said the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Nawanshahr district. On the party's resounding poll victory, Mann said, "The people defeated arrogant persons and they made the common people victorious." (With agency inputs) Live TV Aam Aadmi Party made history in Punjab with a landslide win in the 2022 state Assembly polls. AAP won 92 seats to form its government in the state with a three-fourth majority in the 117-member legislative assembly. While AAP is celebrating and so is AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, a hilarious video has surfaced on social media. The edited video shows the Delhi CM dancing with Punjab's Chief Minister-elect Bhagwant Mann, to the tunes of the popular Bengali viral song, 'Kacha Badam'. As the video started getting popular on social, it was also shared by the party on its official Instagram handle. The original video shows a man who pretends to fall down the stairs but then breaks into a dance. The video shows a friend joining him and the duo dancing, while people near them look on, all confused. In this edited video, not just Kejriwal and Mann, but Congress's Charanjit Singh Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi pictures have been superimposed on the face of the five characters and it appears as in Kejriwal and Mann are dancing to 'Kacha Badam' as Channi, Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi look, least amused! Watch the video here: Meanwhile, Mann - won from Dhuri constituency - will be meeting Kejriwal in Delhi. In the election results which were declared on March 10, the ruling Congress managed to secure 18 seats while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended up with two seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) bagged three seats while Bahujan Samaj Party managed to win a solitary seat. Punjab witnessed a multi-cornered contest with key players being Congress, AAP, Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh`s Punjab Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt) led by SS Dhindsa. Congress' Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu all lost to AAP candidates. Live TV On 24th February, 2022, a larger part of the world woke up to the threat of an all-out war in Europe after the President of Russia Vladimir V. Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine. The news left millions of people in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, United States and others to wonder how the conflict will be affecting their lives. Russia has launched a catastrophic attack on Ukraine which is a European democracy of 44 million people by the means of air, land and sea. Russian forces are prompting a mass exodus of refugees by bombarding Ukraine leading to a great number of deaths. The conflict so far looks like the gravest war in Europe since 1945. This war scenario depicts that all of humanity is at risk. Be it pandemic or nuclear war, it has much graver consequences for humanitys future than we realize as catastrophes only cause loss therefore strong countries should come forward and help ending the war, added Neyaz Khalid Noor. RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS AND ITS GLOBAL IMPACT The bravest action a leader can take in such cases is to withdraw his soldiers and not to kill as its an attack on the entire European security order. The rising energy costs and potentially slowing supply chains will be taking their toll on consumers. Ukraine being the breadbasket of Europe sends more than 40 per cent of its wheat and corn to the Middle East or Africa. Therefore, countries like Turkey, Egypt will be severely affected as almost 70% of their grain imports come from that flow. Turkey is currently in the midst of an economic crisis so it will be under enormous pressure. All this clearly shows that Russias invasion of Ukraine carries immense risks for a world economy thats yet to fully recover from the pandemic shock. (Sponsored Feature) NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing war with Ukraine, the Indian embassy in Russia on Friday issued a fresh guideline for the Indians staying in that country, reassuring them that they need not panic and that there was no need for them to flee the country. The communication issued by the Embassy of India said that at present the government sees no security reasons for them to leave. It was issued as the Embassy has been receiving messages from Indian students in universities in Russia seeking advice on their continued stay in the country. In its advisory, the Indian embassy said it would like to reassure all students that at present we see no security reasons for them to leave. The Indian Embassy said that it is in regular contact with relevant authorities with respect to the safety and security of the Indian nationals, including students. Latest guidelines for Indian students studying in Russia. Read -https://t.co/9pm1ZCu5wr pic.twitter.com/srApqRw389 India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) March 11, 2022 It, however, added that certain disruption of banking services in Russia and direct flight connectivity from Russia to India is taking place. If students have concerns regarding these aspects and would like to travel back to India, they may consider doing so, it said. Regarding the academic programs, the Embassy said that it has been informed by a number of universities that they have already shifted to the online distance learning mode. Students are advised to exercise their discretion in consultation with their respective universities on the appropriate course of action regarding continuation of their academic activities without disruption, it added. In other developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light on Friday for up to 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East to be deployed alongside Russian-backed rebels to fight in Ukraine, doubling down an invasion that the West says has been losing momentum. The move, just over two weeks since Putin ordered the invasion, allows Russia to deploy battle-hardened mercenaries from conflicts such as Syria without risking additional Russian military casualties. At a meeting of Russia`s Security Council, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said there were 16,000 volunteers in the Middle East who were ready to come to fight alongside Russian-backed forces in the breakaway Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. "If you see that there are these people who want of their own accord, not for money, to come to help the people living in Donbass, then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone," Putin said from the Kremlin. Shoigu also proposed that Western-made Javelin and Stinger missiles that were captured by the Russian army in Ukraine should be handed over to Donbass forces, along other weaponry such as man-portable air-defense systems, known as MANPADS, and anti-tank rocket complexes. "As to the delivery of arms, especially Western-made ones which have fallen into the hands of the Russian army - of course, I support the possibility of giving these to the military units of the Lugansk and Donetsk people`s republics," Putin said. "Please do this," he told Shoigu. The exchange was shown on Russian state television. Putin says the "special military operation" in Ukraine is essential to ensure Russia`s security after the United States expanded NATO up to its borders and supported pro-Western leaders in Kyiv. Ukraine says it is fighting for its existence while the United States and its European and Asian allies have condemned the Russian invasion. China has called for calm. Live TV New Delhi: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that the country has made some legal proposals to Ukraine during the latest and third round of talks between the two conflicted parties. Russian MFA in a Twitter post wrote, "During the latest round of talks in Belarus, the Russian delegation made highly specific proposals, this time in the form of a legally binding draft document, adding that the Ukrainian delegation took it to Kyiv for further discussions. #Lavrov: During the latest round of talks in Belarus the Russian delegation made highly specific proposals, this time in the form of a legally binding draft document. The Ukrainian delegation said they would take them to Kiev for discussion. https://t.co/QJ7fwRmreA pic.twitter.com/NnTPjoyPHh MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) March 11, 2022 The third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine took place on Monday. So far, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have failed to reach a common ground and achieve a permanent ceasefire in the last three rounds of peace talks. Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, said that there was some minor progress in improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors in Ukraine during the latest peace talks. Podolyak, who is also an advisor to the head of Volodymyr Zelenskyy`s office, said intensive consultations continued on the main political block of the settlement along with a ceasefire and security guarantees. "The third round of negotiations has ended. There are small positive subductions in improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors... Intensive consultations have continued on the basic political block of the regulations, along with a ceasefire and security guarantees," Podolyak tweeted. On February 24, Russia launched a military operation on Ukraine that it dubs as retaliation in response to the calls from Donetsk and Luhansk people`s republics to defend themselves against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. So far, over 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine amid constant shelling and bombarding. Live TV Burials in mass graves, death of a dehydrated child, alleged damage after a Russian strike on a maternity hospital - disturbing news kept emerging from the city of Mariupol. Talks between Ukraine and Russia's foreign ministers made little apparent progress as the Russia-Ukraine war stretches to its third week. On Thursday (March 10), hundreds of thousands of civilians remained trapped in different cities of Ukraine. Officials in Mariupol said Russian warplanes again bombed the encircled southern port city where a maternity hospital was reportedly pulverised on Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian authorities had managed to evacuate almost 40,000 people from the cities of Sumy, Trostyanets, Krasnopillya, Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel and Izyum, but Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said not a single civilian was able to leave Mariupol on Thursday as Russian forces failed to respect a temporary ceasefire to allow evacuations, reported Reuters. Shocking reports of human suffering Efforts to send food, water and medicine into the city of Mariupol failed when Russian tanks attacked a humanitarian corridor, President Zelenskyy said. Reports have been emerging about mass graves where scores of dead are being reportedly buried unceremoniously. Many reports have said that the morgues are overflowing and in the face of continuous attacks, city officials decided that waiting around isn't an option, and therefore scores are being buried in mass graves. To make matters worse, there's a severe shortage of water and gas. Shocking news reports also came of a six-year-old girl dying of dehydration, as she was exhausted and alone, with her mother killed in the bombing. "We cannot say how long our little, strong Mariupol citizen has been fighting for her life. We cannot imagine how much suffering an innocent child had to endure," Mayor Vadym Boichenko said in an online post, sharing only the girl's first name: Tanya, reported Reuters. The death of the child is yet to verified. Mariupol hospital 'bombing' Mariupol is the site of an intense battle. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said three people including a child had been killed in the bombing on Wednesday. The attack also left more than dozen injured, reports stated. This news sparked criticism worldwide. After an international condemnation of a Russian strike on a hospital in Mariupol and Moscow's claims the building no longer served as a healthcare facility, the Kremlin said it would investigate further. The defence ministry later denied hitting the hospital. But Ukraine President Zelenskyy rejected Russian assertions there had been no patients there. "Like always, they lie confidently," said Zelenskyy, who has accused Moscow of waging genocide in the war it launched two weeks ago. Also read: Facebook allows posts calling for violence against invading Russians Like in many countries, Canadian media had condemned the alleged hospital attack. The Russian Embassy in Ottawa, Canada said, "Russia unequivocally rejects (the) Canadian government's groundless accusations of having allegedly attacked a maternity hospital in Mariupol. Video and photo footage attempting to present a damaged hospital building as a result of a 'Russian airstrike' is nothing but a blatant lie. It is yet another outrageous provocation by the Kyiv regime. A climax of the fake news dissemination campaign," the Russian Embassy said in a statement on Thursday. The Russian Embassy condemned the story saying it was staged and noted that Canadian media has not made any attempt to independently verify the veracity of Kyiv's claims. The Russian Defense Ministry has kept insisting the operation was solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and has emphasized the civilian population is not in danger. (With Agency inputs) Live TV 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. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Washington: Amid escalating war between Russia and Ukraine that entered sixteenth day, US President Joe Biden announced on Friday that the US, along with the G7 and European Union, will call for revoking "most favoured nation" status for Russia. The move would hold Russian President Vladimir Putin "even more accountable for his aggression against Ukraine," said Biden. "Each of our nations will take steps to deny `most favoured nation` status to Russia," added US President. A most favoured nation status designation means two countries have agreed to trade with each other under the best possible terms -- low tariffs, few barriers to trade and the highest possible imports allowed. The US President explained what the move means, "In the United States, we call this permanent normal trade relations, PNTR, but it`s the same thing. Revoking PNTR for Russia is going to make it harder for Russia to do business with the United States and doing it in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another crushing blow to the Russian economy that`s already suffering very badly from our sanctions." The step requires an act of Congress. The move was one of the multiple new actions on trade expected to be made by the Biden administration toward Russia. The United States will also ban imports of alcohol and seafood, such as vodka and caviar, from Russia, a White House official told CNN. Each country is expected to implement this measure based on its own national processes. Sources familiar with the move made note of congressional efforts to revoke Russia`s permanent normal trade relations. Congress is expected to introduce legislation following Biden`s announcement. CNN reported on Thursday that bipartisan talks in the Senate had been taking shape to take more aggressive action on Russia`s trade status -- after the White House effectively watered down the House-passed bill banning importing Russian oil, natural gas and coal into the US. Further, Biden warned that Russia will pay a "severe price" if the country uses chemical weapons in Ukraine. "I am not going to speak about the intelligence, but Russia will pay a severe price if they use chemicals," Biden told CNN announcing further sanctions and export controls against Russia. The US government has previously found that the Russian government used chemical weapons in both the 2020 poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny and in 2018 against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in England, reported CNN. Both determinations by the US led to sanctions under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, which requires the President to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions if a country is found to have used chemical weapons. Additionally, Syria`s Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is supported by Russia, used chemical weapons in an attack in 2017. Biden also said the G7 is adding sanctions to more Russian oligarchs and their families as the invasion of Ukraine continues. "The G7 also stepping up pressure on corrupt Russian billionaires. We`re adding new names to the list of oligarchs and their families that we`re targeting, and we`re increasing coordination among the G7 countries to target and capture their ill-begotten gains," Biden said at the White House. "They support Putin. They steal from the Russian people, and they seek to hide their money in our countries. They`re part of that kleptocracy that exists in Moscow, and they must share in the pain of these sanctions," he said. Biden said Russian imports of seafood, vodka and diamonds will be banned. "While we`re going after their super-yachts and their vacation homes, and worth hundreds of millions of dollars, we`re also going to make it harder for them to buy high-end products manufactured in our country, banning the export of luxury goods to Russia. They`re also the latest steps we`re taking, but they`re not the last steps we`re going to take," he continued. Live TV New Delhi: Russia on Friday gave a stern warning to Meta Inc and all the associated social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram that the companies operation will be halted In Russia if calls for violence against the country and its troops are allowed on the platform. The warning comes after Reuters found that reports of company allowing users in some countries to call for violence against Russians and Russian soldiers on its platforms is true. "We don`t want to believe the Reuters report - it is just too difficult to believe," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We hope it is not true because if it is true then it will mean that there will have to be the most decisive measures to end the activities of this company," he added. Meanwhile, a Meta spokesperson told Reuters that the company had temporarily eased its rules for political speech, allowing posts such as "death to the Russian invaders", although it would not allow calls for violence against Russian civilians. The temporary change aimed to allow for forms of political expression that would normally violate its rules on violent speech, the company said. Internal emails seen by Reuters showed it had also temporarily allowed posts that call for death to Russian President Vladimir Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. An influential parliamentarian called on Friday for Meta`s Instagram to be blocked in Russia. (With inputs from Reuters) Live TV Driving an electric vehicle in Montana will soon be easier. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality recently allocated $12.6 million to build more than a dozen charging stations statewide. Here in Big Sky Country, there are over 1,000 registered electric vehicles. And that number is growing. Carmakers are rushing to meet demand. There's a new electric Ford F-150 truck, a Jaguar alternative to a Tesla, and a plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler on the horizon. Auto dealerships like mine are responding enthusiastically. We're modernizing our showrooms and training our technicians to service these vehicles. Were helping our customers, many of whom have been with us for generations, go electric. Unfortunately, some EV manufacturers want to push us out of the market. They argue dealers are middlemen slowing EV adoption. They want the state to allow them to sell directly to consumers, rather than working through dealerships as manufacturers have for decades. The EV manufacturers primary objective is to increase profit margins. By bypassing independent dealerships, manufacturers can create vertically integrated distribution systems to sell EVs on their terms. But manufacturer-direct EV sales arent in the interests of Montana consumers or communities. Local dealerships are important parts of our communities. Montanas more than 100 car and truck dealerships employ more than 5,000 people. We educate and train technicians across the state. We pay millions of dollars in taxes and support thousands of jobs at other local businesses. EVs are the future of the auto industry. But in the rush to embrace the future, we shouldn't turn away from the tried and true. Local auto dealerships have been linchpins in their communities for decades. And well be key to the transition to electric vehicles, too. James Johnson Chairman Montana Automobile Dealers Assoc. James Johnson is Chairman of the Montana Automobile Dealers Association and President of Glasgow Auto Sales in Glasgow. Love 1 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 From the day Matt Rosendale took office he has proven he does not understand the role of a Congressman, which is to represent his constituents. Just recently he voted against supporting Ukraine against Putin. The U.S. House of Representatives, with tremendous unity, bipartisanship and patriotism voted 426 to 3 to demand the immediate withdrawal of Putins forces from Ukraine. Rosendale voted with two other of the weakest members of Congress against the bill. Rosendale stated that the U.S. has no legal or moral obligation to come to the aid of Ukraine in their conflict. Recently Rosendale and fellow Representative Paul Gosar proposed denying aid to Ukraine until a 30-foot wall is built on our southern border. His newsletter shows him uncomfortably riding horseback at the border. You are a coward Matt. Why are you afraid of Putin and his apologists in the U.S.? Through your focus on conspiracy theories and antagonism towards the facts that dont support those conspiracy theories you have become Montanas biggest embarrassment, a difficult feat. Who is this guy? He voted against honoring the U.S. Police Force in the heroic defense of the Capitol on Jan. 6. He voted against certifying the electoral college vote affirming the election of the new president. He opposed refugee status for heroes in Afghanistan who sided with the U.S. 9/11 attack. His newsletter is vile. His consistent negativity is exhausting. He has not passed a single bill since he has served and has surfaced no plausible efforts to help the U.S. or Montanans while acting as our Congressman. I am a political independent, having served a half dozen Republican and Democrat governors in Montana over the last 40 years. I have never heard the level of disgust amongst Republicans of an elected Republican. They join Democrats and Independents with the same revulsion over Rosendales actions. Helena voters of all stripes are in a state of shock about being moved to Rosendales district. Just listen to the voters in Billings, Livingston, and Great Falls over their reaction to having to be represented again by this coward. Montana Voters will not vote again for someone who abandons Ukraine, fails to support our law enforcement and uses their leadership role to attack democracy. Vote him out. Gary Buchanan of Billings was Montana's first Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. He is a former chairman of the Montana Board of Investments and former chairman of the Montana Banking Board. Love 99 Funny 6 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 Vladimir Putin drummed up a pretext and ordered the first-land invasion into a European country since the end of World War II. Putin assumed that Ukraines fall would be as easy as annexing Crimea in 2014, or as easy as helping his puppet Lukashenko in Belarus quash his democratically-elected opponent in 2020. But the invasion of Ukraine has been different. Putin didnt expect President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet the moment with inspiring heroics, turning down the U.S.s offer for safe passage for his entire family with the words of The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride. He didnt expect that the Ukrainian people would display a fierce will to defend their country, with men and women of all ages signing up to fight. Lastly, Putin did not anticipate that the whole world would work together to impose the most powerful, swift, severe economic sanctions ever on one country. This diplomatic accomplishment is a remarkable one. The U.S., UK, Japan, Canada, and European countries have cut off Russias banks from SWIFT, an international banking exchange. This action has frozen Russias $630 billion rainy day fund that it had set aside to weather sanctions. The European Union is sending weapons to Ukraine, a first for many countries. Germany stopped the Nord 2 Pipeline, and for the first time in 30 years, increased its funding to NATO. Even Switzerland has joined in by freezing assets held by Putin and Russian oligarchs. But Republicans are sniping away at President Biden and the international effort he has so effectively led. Ryan Zinke is criticizing the President for being weak. Is he asking for us to send our military to Ukraine? Is he risking plunging the world into total war? Or does Zinke think its strong to believe Putins lies, like Putins claim that Russia had not interfered with the 2016 elections? Matt Rosendale is asking the US to look away and just shrug our shoulders as a ruthless aggressor commits war crimes, killing innocent civilians. It is clear that the strong, swift, and large international response is the one we need at this time. Sanctions, by their nature, will take time to be fully felt and they will also hurt the countries imposing them. But already, the ruble collapsed, Russians are isolated and unable to fly almost anywhere, and they are unable to purchase foreign-made goods. In a country where dissent has been nearly wiped out, more than 8,000 Russians have been arrested for protesting the Ukrainian invasion. And this is week one of the war. Working together is the only way forward. Whatever our country can do on its own, it can do even better faster and with more and lasting impact when we work with our allies and neighbors. President Zelensky has been rallying international support by defiantly framing the fight for Ukraine not as his fight, but as a fight to defeat a Russian war against Europe, against democracy, against basic human rights, against a global order of law, rules, and peaceful coexistence. The war for democracy is here. Jimmy Carter poignantly observed that even when war is necessary, it is still an evil. Those words will be tragically true for the millions who will be displaced and the unknown numbers of civilians and soldiers who will be killed. But our country cannot turn away. We all must ensure that the US becomes the critical partner in the global effort to save, rebuild, and renew democracy. Monica Tranel grew up in eastern Montana with her nine siblings and is an attorney and candidate for Montanas U.S. House seat MT-01. Love 19 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 Chronic wasting disease in western North Dakota deer appears to be spreading from two directions, and state wildlife officials are hoping to stem the tides before they meet in the middle. That might not be possible, but at the very least "we hope that's decades away," said Charlie Bahnson, wildlife veterinarian with the state Game and Fish Department. Linking landowners and hunters in areas of highest concern could be key to slowing the spread of the disease. "Hunter access is a big tool that we're working on developing," Bahnson said. Twenty-six deer killed by hunters last fall tested positive for the fatal disease that strikes the nervous system in deer and also in elk and moose. Fourteen of the cases were from hunting unit 3F2 in the south central part of the state, and eight were from 3A1 in the northwest corner. That's not surprising -- two-thirds of the 70 documented CWD cases in the state since the first detection 13 years ago have been in 3F2, and one-fifth have been in 3A1. The cluster in south central North Dakota might have started with a deer that wandered in from South Dakota, where CWD is more established, and the cases in northwest North Dakota likely came from Saskatchewan, where the disease also is more prevalent. But surveillance from North Dakota's hunting season last fall also documented a second CWD case in Unit 3B1, to the south of 3A1, along with single cases in three units to the north and east of 3F2. The cases in 3D1, 3E2 and 3C are the first confirmed in those three units. North and south Confirming a single case in a unit between the south central and northwest parts of the state "is not the end of the world," Bahnson said. "When you see localized pockets of CWD, you kind of expect to see a slow increase out from those areas, and that's probably what we're seeing in those three new units," he said. But eight hunting units now have confirmed CWD cases, and Bahnson said it's likely that the northward and southward progression of the disease will continue. What the department hopes to do is keep infection rates below levels at which they reach a "tipping" point and the disease begins having an impact on deer population levels. "It's maybe more of a termites-before-a-house-fire type of thing -- this slow increase of a problem from year to year, until all of a sudden you have a major problem," Bahnson said. Game and Fish has long had baiting bans and carcass transportation restrictions in place aimed at slowing the spread of the disease, with violations carrying a $200 fine. The agency also is now studying ways to link landowners with hunters to increase the deer harvest in areas of higher disease prevalence. "So far, the discussions and effort toward access have primarily involved a core area of 3F2," Bahnson said. "The last few years of surveillance have started to show a small portion of 3A1 that warrants this same attention. Well likely start making contacts up there in the next year." Stemming the tide CWD has been an issue in North America for years. Its been detected in wild deer, elk or moose in 24 states, as well as in Saskatchewan and Alberta north of the Canada border, according to the U.S. Geological Surveys National Wildlife Health Center. North Dakota was considered CWD-free until 2009, when the first case was confirmed in 3F2. Officials confirmed one or two cases in the state just about every year after until 2018, when three were detected. That was followed by 12 cases in 2019 and 18 cases in 2020, and the 26 during the 2021 hunting season. The notable increases in recent years means the disease could be on the verge of accelerated growth in the state. "A single positive deer, they're kind of a symbol to be on guard," Bahnson said. "The next step we get concerned about is when you find positive deer year after year. "We're kind of in that Phase Two in two different areas of the state," he said, referring to the south central and northwest units. Infection rates become concerning when they reach 5-10%, because "this means you are getting close to the point at which you can expect large annual increases in infection rates," Bahnson said. The infection rate in mule deer in the northwest jumped from about 2% in 2020 to 7% in 2021, he said. It's around 5% for mule deer in the south central unit. Those rates are still relatively low when compared with other states where they've reached 30-60% in some areas. Rates that high are something North Dakota's Game and Fish Department "is hoping to put way into the future or prevent entirely," Bahnson said. The infection rates at which CWD begins affecting deer population levels aren't exact. "Every population can sustain some level of added mortality, but eventually the disease reaches an infection rate that outpaces the populations ability to compensate," Bahnson said. "Some studies in Western states have found this to be at 25-35%, whereas Eastern states with higher deer productivity can probably sustain a higher infection rate." Any significant acceleration in the spread of CWD would impact an industry that contributes tens of millions of dollars to North Dakota's economy annually. Deer populations already have been impacted in recent years by a loss of habitat due to oil development and changes in farming practices, three straight harsh winters beginning in 2009, and a significant outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease last year. But the 72,200 deer licenses made available to hunters last year was the highest level in a decade. Game and Fish hopes to keep the license numbers up, and to get more hunters to take part in the CWD surveillance program. Participation around 10% in focused units typically gives the department a sufficient sample size for testing, according to Bahnson. Just under 5% of hunters last fall participated in those units. In south central North Dakota -- where Bahnson said hunters are "more engaged" due to the higher prevalence of the disease -- participation in 3F2 dropped from 9.5% in 2020 to 8.5% in 2021. "That is a little discouraging," Bahnson said. For more information on CWD, go to https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/faq. Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A preservation group is claiming that the Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge is property of the state of North Dakota, not BNSF Railway, a move the railroad says comes in the 11th hour of a yearslong permitting process for a new bridge. The Friends of the Rail Bridge nonprofit wants to stop the railway from demolishing the 139-year-old bridge spanning the Missouri River to make way for a new structure. The preservation group and the railroad signed an agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard in early 2021 outlining paths to either keeping or removing the bridge. The Coast Guard decides on projects proposed along that part of the Missouri River, and the permitting process has been ongoing for more than four years. FORB's claim is based on the Equal Footing and Public Trust Doctrines, according to a memo it sent the Coast Guard. The Equal Trust Doctrine guarantees that all states that enter the union are on the same footing as the original 13. The Public Trust Doctrine is the principle that the government owns and protects certain natural resources for public use. The nonprofit is arguing that based on those doctrines, Congress held in trust navigable rivers such as the Missouri and any structures in the riverbed, even after it granted Northern Pacific Railway permission to build a railroad in Dakota Territory in 1864. Northern Pacific Railway merged with other railways over the years and is now BNSF. The preservation group is arguing that North Dakota took over ownership of navigable rivers from Congress when it became a state in 1889, and since Congress did not transfer ownership of the bridge to the railway before the state joined the union, the state retains property of the bridge. "Determination of ownership will make a big difference in how this process moves forward," FORB Board President Mark Zimmerman said. "Significant properties" receive certain protections under North Dakota Century Code and cannot be destroyed without approval from the State Historical Board, according to the nonprofit. The railway is working on a response to the claim, BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said. "It's interesting this comes up now, five years and 20 meetings into this process," she said. McBeth added that she is not aware of this specific issue occurring with similar projects. Zimmerman said the group had no knowledge of the issue until it had an attorney willing to do the research. The Coast Guard did not respond to Tribune questions about how the claim will affect the timeline of the permitting process. A final environmental impact statement was set to be released in April. The preservation group also filed with the Coast Guard to remove itself from the programmatic agreement it signed in January 2021 that outlines the permitting process, citing in part undue burden. The agreement outlined the responsibilities of the Coast Guard, the railway and the nonprofit whether the bridge stays or is demolished. Part of FORB's duties as a signatory on the agreement included finding a public partner to assist with preservation efforts. It failed to do so by its deadline but was given permission by the Coast Guard to move ahead with its efforts without a partner. "This allows us to go public and say we're not going to agree with this agreement and the stipulations thereof," Zimmerman said. The group lists three reasons for moving to terminate the agreement, one of which is the issue of ownership. The "undue burden" is another. A 2019 feasibility study conducted by North Dakota State University estimated the cost to turn the rail bridge into a foot bridge at just under $7 million. The nonprofit says the financial burden placed on the public-private partnership to pay for design and construction costs, permits and analysis is unprecedented. "All deadlines assigned to FORB and the public private partnership in the (agreement) are unreasonable," the preservation group wrote in its termination notice. FORB also said the tone of some meetings has not been collaborative. A meeting likely will take place next week with the Coast Guard and BNSF to discuss next steps, according to Zimmerman. The Coast Guard did not respond to questions about how the permitting process would work if FORB leaves the programmatic agreement. The railway last April asked the Coast Guard to shift its efforts from preserving the bridge to removing it due to concerns about the nonprofit's progress with its tasks from the agreement. McBeth said if the bridge remains, the additional cost of building the new bridge could be $50 million or more. The project would also be delayed several years to account for new design work and efforts to mitigate a rise in the Missouri River. McBeth said this week that the state ownership claim and agreement withdrawal happened a year after the preservation group signed the agreement with actions it couldn't meet. "At a certain point, one has to wonder if FORB has a specific plan beyond delaying," she said. Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Small and Medium Business Development Agency Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov has met with Qatari officials on the sidelines of the 9th International Agricultural and Environmental Exhibition 2022, which began on March 10 in Doha. At the meeting with Qatar's Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Sultan Bin Rashid Al-Khater, they discussed opportunities for collaboration in small and medium businesses as well as the exchange of experience in supporting SMBs. Mammadov detailed services provided to entrepreneurs, as well as support for foreign businessmen in building partnerships and investing with local businesses. He also held a meeting with Qatar's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani. The parties focused on opportunities to expand cooperation between SMBs, develop business relations between entrepreneurs by organizing mutual trade and business missions. Azerbaijan is currently taking part in the 9th International Agricultural and Environmental Exhibition 2022, which is being held in Doha, Qatar from March 10-14. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Nebras Power CEO Khalid Mohammed Jolo earlier discussed cooperation for the construction of 100 MW wind power plants in Azerbaijan's liberated Lachin and Kalbajar regions. They also talked about the possibility of working together to build a gas turbine with a capacity of up to 550 MW in these territories. The Azerbaijani-Qatari trade turnover totaled $1.6 million in 2021. Qatar, which has been cooperating with Azerbaijan since September 1994, was one of the first countries to express support for Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity amid bloody clashes going in and around Karabakh from late September to early November in 2020. The three Republican members of North Dakotas congressional delegation were among numerous lawmakers pushing for the United States to stop imports of Russian oil -- and they got their wish Tuesday. But the lawmakers, along with Gov. Doug Burgum, say the Biden administration needs to do more to increase domestic oil production. Their comments come as President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced that he would ban energy imports from Russia amid that countrys war against Ukraine. This action is a necessary step for the world, Sen. Kevin Cramer said. Vladimir Putins war chest is dependent on revenue that comes from selling energy -- some of it to Americans when we have more than enough oil and gas for ourselves and most of the rest of the world. He added that this move is not an opportunity for the Biden administration to turn to other despots and dictators for help while domestic energy production could be further tapped. Biden officials met with representatives of Venezuela over the weekend to discuss the possibility of easing U.S. sanctions on oil from that country. News reports say the administration is considering a visit to Saudi Arabia. The United States should not respond to shocks in the global energy market by increasing reliance on foreign countries, we should be championing energy production at home, reads a letter to Biden signed by Rep. Kelly Armstrong. Armstrong and Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, on Monday invited Biden to visit the Bakken oil patch of western North Dakota and the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico to see firsthand the essential work that happens every day in domestic oil fields. Burgum also sent an invitation to Biden. North Dakota produces 1.1 million barrels of oil per day. The United States imported 672,000 barrels of oil and other petroleum products per day from Russia in 2021. Sen. John Hoeven called Biden's import ban "an important step to help increase pressure on the Putin regime, but it's not enough." "We need to work with our allies to ensure Russia cant sell its oil elsewhere, and most importantly, the Biden administration needs to take the handcuffs off our ability to produce energy here at home and unlock Americas abundant and affordable oil, gas and coal resources," he said. Burgum echoed members of the congressional delegation in a statement Tuesday, adding that "American energy powerhouses like North Dakota stand ready to restore energy independence in the United States, because energy security, national security and global stability are one and the same. The North Dakota lawmakers have introduced or endorsed federal legislation in recent days related to the crisis. Among their goals is to get the Biden administration to resume oil leasing on federal lands. The federal leasing program has paused -- first because of an executive order from Biden last year and, more recently, in the wake of a court order blocking the administration from using calculations it had made of the social costs of greenhouse gases. Those calculations are part of its environmental analysis in lease sales. Biden addressed oil drilling on federal lands when he announced the import ban Tuesday, saying, Its simply not true that my administration or policies are holding back domestic energy production. He added that 90% of onshore oil drilling occurs on nonfederal land, and that energy companies are sitting on 9,000 permits they have already secured to drill on federal land. Let me be clear. They are not using them for production now, he said. That is their decision. Drilling for oil on federal land requires that energy companies secure a lease that gives them the right to develop the minerals, and later a permit that allows them to drill. The permitting process remains active even as leasing has stalled. Biden acknowledged that his decision to stop Russian oil imports would lead to higher gasoline prices. He said transforming the American economy so that residents drive more electric vehicles powered by clean energy, and establishing tax credits for winterizing homes will help the nation become energy independent. If we do what we can, it means no one will have to worry about the price at the gas pump in the future, he said. Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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 an 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 Sept. 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 is president of The Alturas Institute. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A federal judge has sentenced a woman to eight years in prison for providing the fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a 16-year-old Porcupine boy. Twenty-four-year-old Tarriah Provost earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute a controlled substance as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Louis Sandoval died of an overdose on Dec. 2, 2020. An autopsy found fentanyl in his system, which Provost admitted to giving him. Provost told the judge that Sandoval was like a little brother to her and she wouldnt have given him the drug if she thought it would kill him. The build-up to the attack on Ukraine by Russia on 24 February saw widespread warnings from cyber security companies and government agencies that the world was on the verge of a devastating cyber war. In this E-Guide, we will explore some of the more impactful cyber security stories that have unfolded around the war. - Prepare, but dont panic, over supposed Russian cyber threat - No imminent cyber threat to UK from Russia - Why security professionals should pay attention to what Russia is doing - New wave of cyber attacks on Ukraine preceded Russian invasion - SunSeed malware hits those involved in Ukraine refugee relief - Ukraine cyber attacks seen spiking, but no destructive cyber war yet - Direct action is a risky business for Ukraine's volunteer hackers - Use of encrypted Telegram platform soars in Ukraine, Russia Eric Lander, director of the Office of Science and Technology, resigned after it was disclosed he had disparaged and humiliated subordinates. To add insult to injury, he abused taxpayers, too. [] Allegations of abuse appear to be only the tip of the iceberg in the case of disgraced Biden administration official Eric Lander. According to Politico, the Office of Science and Technology Policy director faces scrutiny for failing to disclose financial interests in a major COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer while publicly advocating for vaccinations in his capacity as a top White House science adviser. These conflicts-of-interest concerns arose just days after Politico reported that an internal White House investigation found credible evidence Lander regularly targeted subordinates for humiliation and disparagement. Lander has since announced his resignation, but the consequences of his workplace abuse run deepnot just for his subordinates but also for the taxpayers who paid his salary and provided millions of dollars for his department. Its costly to leave dozens of staffers unable to perform their work properly and to recruit and train new staff to replace those who quit out of fear and frustration. Taxpayers are victimized every time a government agent acts unethically or incompetently. The expectation of the social contract requires that those entrusted with the publics money act in the publics best interest and take that responsibility seriously. Like every elected official and bureaucrat, the taxpayers are Landers employer, not the government. Unsavory actions by a high-ranking Cabinet official are no less outrageous than sexual abuse committed by a TSA agent against a female passenger in 2019. Ultimately, Congress and the president set the standard for how the federal government manages taxpayer dollars, which is perhaps why so many problems exist. When Congress shoveled COVID-19 relief funding at Americans, an estimated $100 billion of that money was stolen; felons also legally received money while behind bars from both the 2020 and the 2021 relief programs. Policymakers and bureaucrats were so focused on spending taxpayer money that they didnt take the time or energy to invest in protecting it. And whether its $100 or $100 billion, whether it funds workplace abuse or criminals lifestyles, every government-funded outrage is an affront to taxpayers whose leaders arent doing their job. Congress rushed trillions of taxpayer dollars in Covid aid without ensuring the integrity of the payments, said OpenTheBooks.com CEO Adam Andrzejewski, who recently wrote about money received by Boston Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. When serial murderers are allowed to collect stimulus checks, it points to a much larger problem. Without Politicos reporting, Lander may very well have survived the abuse scandal, and the White House would have gone on with business as usual. Unfortunately for taxpayers, few members of Congress are willing to protect our pockets. It wasnt fiscal conservatives, for example, who exposed how defense contracts often go to companies that commit fraud. That responsibility fell to Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), himself a supporter of expanding the fraud-laden Medicare and Medicaid programs. Like Lander and the aforementioned TSA agent, contractor fraud is a powerful example of taxpayer victimization. On the surface, fraud is a misuse of funds that delays the completion of work. However, fraud wastes money; this often leads to taxpayer-funded investigations, which can result in taxpayer-funded jail time for offenders. And after all that, taxpayers still have to fund the original projects completion for a second time. Military spending may be down as a percentage of the overall budget, but the Pentagon seems to be making the same mistakes as Congress. European airplane manufacturer Airbus is in the running for a contract worth billions of dollars less than two years after paying a $4 billion fine for bribing government officials. The bribes took place over many years in multiple countries, earning the company $1 billion in illegal revenue that hurt U.S. interests. A recent lawsuit by Airbus investors has once again drawn attention to the companys corruption, so it makes no sense for the Pentagon to open taxpayers pockets to such a company. At the end of the day, Eric Lander is just a symptom of a system gone expensively bad. And whether a department has $5 million or $500 billion, each and every abuse is really a victimizing of taxpayers. A missing person's case was solved quickly Tuesday when police entered the man's house in upscale Hawaii Loa Ridge and found a bathtub filled with concrete and topped with coffee grounds. The 73-year-old owner of the home was "encased" in it, Lt. Deena Thoemmes told ABC 7 News, "in a state of decomposition once we chipped away at the concrete mixture." Police questioned a 23-year-old man who claimed to live there. He and a 34-year-old man with him were allowed to leave after determining there were no signs of foul play outside the home. Police later learned the 23-year-old man had been in an intimate relationship with the victim, believed to be the 73-year-old owner of the home. Baron, 23, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and Los Angeles police detectives on a Greyhound bus in Anaheim that was headed for Mexico. He was found "hiding in a crawl space under an enclosed bench at the rear of the bus. Baron had pulled back a metal plate near the bus's rear bathroom and crawled under the enclosed bench seat," the statement said. Well, at least they learned that smells go though concrete. I realize I am perhaps talking out of my ass, but I think the book the Assistant Principal Toby Price chose to read to a 2nd-grade class was perfectly fine. I Need a New Butt! seems pretty much in line with about 1/3rd the books that were on hand at my daughter's co-op when I had to read to the kids, 10 or more years ago. The letter from the School District is hilarious in what it is trying to portray as somehow evil! Are they mad about the bad rhyme in the fart joke? Being mad at "Everyone has a butt: the book" shows a distinct lack of creativity in their attempted oppression. Pen America asks us to sign a petition protesting the firing: Longtime Canisius College supporters John and Valerie Rowe donated $1 million to help fund ongoing renovations to Science Hall, a work in progress at the former HealthNow headquarters turned academic building. John Jack Rowe, a 1966 Canisius alum who is now a professor at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, and his wife, a retired professor of education at Fordham University, previously gave $2 million to launch the renovation of the building in 2007, Canisius President John Hurley said. Jack and Valerie supported the Science Hall project at its inception, and are now providing a lead gift for (the next) critically important phase of the project, Hurley said in a statement. The college has spent more than $47 million to purchase and renovate the building as a science center and has been holding classes there since 2012. Science Hall currently houses the departments of mathematics, computer science and physics as well as the George E. Schreiner MD Pre-Medical Center, the Institute for Autism Research and most recently, the colleges new physician assistant studies program. Catholic Health System occupies the third floor. Hurley said the next phase will be $17 million to develop 60,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory and office space for the biology, animal behavior, ecology and conservation and anthrozoology programs. After earning a bachelors in biology from Canisius, John Rowe earned an medical degree from the Rochester School of Medicine in 1970. He served as a professor of medicine and founding director of the Division on Aging at Harvard Medical School and chief of gerontology at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston before joining Mount Sinai Hospital in 1988. There, he conceived and executed its merger with NYU Medical Center to form Mount Sinai NYU Health, one of the largest hospital system mergers in history. From 2000 to 2006, he served as CEO and chairman of Aetna, where he is credited with a turnaround that increased Aetnas market value by more than $23 billion. He joined Columbia University in 2006. As a graduate of the colleges science program, Jack understands the importance of this investment for Canisius, Hurley said. We are deeply grateful for the Rowes generosity and commitment to Canisius. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. YOUNG ADULT All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir; Razorbill Books, 384 pages ($19.99) Ages 14 and up. ... This eloquent, heart-rending tale of the Muslim-American immigrant experience, of the heartache experienced in leaving one's birthplace for a foreign land, of family trauma burdening the next generation was inspired by best-selling author Sabaa Tahir's experience growing up in a town in the Mojave Desert in California where her Pakistani immigrant parents operated a motel. The beautifully written narrative shifts back and forth in time between the voices of Juniper, Calif., high school seniors Noor and Salahudin, and to Salahudin's parents' younger years in Pakistan and in the U.S. Noor, the only survivor of an earthquake that leveled her family's home in Pakistan when she was 6 years old, dreams of becoming a doctor and escaping from Juniper. She must deal with the constant bullying of a classmate at school while trying to keep her college plans secret from her uncle, who runs a liquor store and bitterly resents having abandoned his engineering studies to care for his niece. As the novel opens, Noor is estranged from Salahudin, her closest friend. Salahudin's family is in such dire fiscal straits, he has no college plans. Misbah, his mother, is seriously ill but has no health insurance; his alcoholic father, Toufiq, is no help, and as bills pile up for the family's struggling motel, Salahudin weighs taking drastic action. From her unsympathetic first grade teacher to the racist classmate who taunts her mercilessly (publicly interrogating her about her green card status, an incident from Tahir's own high school years), Noor has experienced years of being treated as "other." She finds solace in music and her faith. Both Noor and Salahudin are also burdened with particularly terrible personal trauma, the nature of which is not revealed until late in the novel. Tahir, author of best-selling fantasy trilogy "Ember in the Ashes," spent 15 years working on "All My Rage," which ultimately is a tale of love triumphing over the direst of circumstances. CHILDREN'S The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill; Algonquin Books for Young Readers, 400 pages ($19.95). Ages 10 and up. ... Kelly Barnhill, a Newbery Medalist for "The Girl Who Drank the Moon," offers both inspiration and enchantment in this exquisite fantasy, a thrilling tale of dragons and ogresses and orphans and pies and talking crows and a clever philosophical meditation on the question: "Who is my neighbor?" Something has gone horribly wrong in in the once lovely town of Stone-on-Glen. It began "one terrible night" when "the Library burned." Then the school burned. A sinkhole opened in the town park. Once abundant with fruit trees, the town lost all its trees and was left with glaring sun, the light "a constant, searing whiteness, and difficult to bear." "Neighbors glared at one another... ... retreated into their homes.... locked their doors and latched their shutters." They blamed their misfortunes on the ogress who has taken up residence on an abandoned farm at the edge of town. The Mayor, a silver-tongued, self-proclaimed world-famous dragon-hunter, at first assures the townspeople that all is well and then, after one of the orphans goes missing, agrees the ogress is to blame. Meanwhile, the town ("a drab, tightfisted, mean little place") has forgotten its promise to fund the orphanage, and its kindly elderly caretakers despair about feeding their 15 charges when boxes of produce and baked goods start to mysteriously appear on their doorstep at regular intervals. All the townspeople are left gifts of food accompanied by delicate drawings. Even the mayor finds a delectable pie on his doorstep. Barnhill offers a vivid portrait of what love looks like in a community, in the Orphan House, with its marvelous array of children including the eldest, 13-year-old Cass and Anthea, its kindly caretakers and its library of books saved from the flames. Barnhill also offers a telling depiction of the subtle and sinister ways in which kindness can be abandoned and neighbor can turn against neighbor and the ways in which generosity can multiply. In press materials provided by the publisher, Barnhill says her book "started as a conversation with my twin nieces about philosophy. My niece Adeline informed me that the problem with philosophy is that there arent enough animals in it. And not enough people being nice. I told her ... that if I were to write a book about philosophy, it would absolutely be about kindness. And generosity too. What happens to usat our very corewhen we give to others? What happens to the soul when we turn away? Jean Westmoore Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held another foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), Trend reports referring to the CBA. According to the CBA, the demand of local banks for foreign currency amounted to $54.6 million and was fully met. The average weighted exchange rate of the manat to the US dollar amounted to 1.7 AZN/1 USD based on the results of the auction. The CBA has begun to conduct foreign exchange auctions through a one-way sale of currency in a competitive environment since mid-January 2017. Dave Zale just wanted to do some good in the community. Zale, the owner of a chain of marijuana sticker shops who is fighting felony drug charges in Cheektowaga Town Court, arranged to donate at least $40,000 worth of supplies to a pair of school districts in the town. Thursday morning, a crew from Green Vision Wellness dropped off scores of boxes filled with backpacks, gym equipment and table games at a loading dock outside Cheektowaga Central Middle School. A few hours later, the district told Zale it could not, in fact, accept donations from his business, and he would have to return Monday to take back all of the materials. "I couldn't believe it," Zale said in an interview. "I was astonished." Friday morning, Maryvale Superintendent Joseph D'Angelo told The News his district, too, could not accept a similar donation of supplies made by Green Vision Wellness. Zale operates four stores in Erie and Niagara counties that sell stickers for up to $300 and "gift" marijuana to customers as part of the transaction. Police raided the Green Vision Wellness store in Cheektowaga last month and state officials have sent warning letters to stores that "gift" marijuana. But Erie County's top prosecutor doesn't believe this is a criminal matter. The stickers can be expensive. The pot is free. But is it legal? The state Office of Cannabis Management insists marijuana "gifting" is, in fact, an illegal sale and the agency recently sent out cease-and-desist letters to businesses engaged in the practice. To Zale, the reaction from Cheektowaga Central and Maryvale illustrates that not everyone is on board with the decriminalization and full legalization of marijuana. Still, he said the drug is gaining acceptance even among generations taught to stay away from what he called "the devil's lettuce" and he hopes to get formal permission to sell marijuana once the state begins issuing those licenses. The dispensaries are coming. Theres nothing they can do, Zale said of marijuana's critics. But we want to show that the dispensaries can do better for the communities, more so, than take away from the communities. Marijuana sticker stores operate in a gray area of the law. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn has deemed marijuana gifting a sham transaction but doesnt see it as a violation of penal law. State officials and other local law-enforcement authorities say its an illegal drug sale and theyve started cracking down on some of the shops. Cheektowaga police last month raided the Green Vision Wellness store on French Road in the town. They seized more than 1,800 packages of marijuana along with cardboard boxes containing thousands of individually wrapped cannabis edibles, drinks and pills. A store clerk is charged with unlawful sale of cannabis or concentrated cannabis, a violation. Zale was charged with two counts of criminal possession of marijuana and one count of possession of a forged instrument, all felonies. In his first public remarks since his arrest, Zale decried the police raid and said evidence in the case would vindicate him. For example, he said, the gummy candies seized by police are laced with a compound derived legally from hemp plants and not from the marijuana plant. It was an illegal search and seizure, said Zale. When this case unravels it is not going to be what it seems in the news. Citing the ongoing criminal case, Zale declined to discuss his business operations in detail. He said his stores in South Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Amherst and Lockport remain open. But he declined to say whether they still are engaged in marijuana gifting. And he would not say whether Green Vision Wellness received one of the warning letters sent to sticker shops across New York by the state Office of Cannabis Management. But Zale was more than willing to talk about donations that he and his employees have made to thank the public for its support in recent months. They started last December after Zale obtained the names of four needy families with young children, to whom he gave as much as $10,000 in electronics and other holiday gifts. Zale said hes planning to make donations to schools in the neighborhoods near each of his four stores. On Thursday, employees in a U-Haul truck dropped off a load of donated school and gym supplies at Cheektowaga Central Middle School on Union Road, with items ranging from a foosball table to dumbbells. Between this and a similar donation made later that morning at Maryvale Middle School, the donations could total $40,000 to $50,000, said Zale, who noted his employees cleared out the entire section of school supplies at a Dollar General store. Its all about supporting our community, he said. Zale said he or his employees spoke to an official from each district Thursday morning to get permission to make the donations. Asked whether he made clear the gifts came from a marijuana sticker shop, Zale said, I did say that we were coming from Green Vision Wellness. However, after The News reached out to the Cheektowaga Central superintendent's office, a district official reached out to Green Vision Wellness and said the district couldn't accept the donated items because the Cheektowaga School Board did not approve the gifts. The official said, according to Zale, "They will not accept any donations from an organization like mine." "He wouldn't hear me out," Zale added. In a brief interview Friday afternoon, Cheektowaga Central Superintendent Steven Wright said he did not speak to Zale directly but confirmed the district would not accept the gift. D'Angelo, the Maryvale superintendent, called The News early Friday to say the donation had not been reviewed by the Maryvale School Board, as required. The legal pot business is coming soon. People who dabbled in the illegal one could benefit New York State plans to offer the first 100 to 200 licenses for dispensaries to "justice involved" people, New York residents with a prior arrest or conviction in the state for a cannabis-related offense, according to the New York Times. "And that's why we can't accept the donations at this time," D'Angelo said. A frustrated Zale said he'll send a crew on Monday to collect the donated items from both schools, and he plans to find another organization to give them to so they don't go to waste. Cheektowaga Police Chief Brian Gould declined to comment on the donations. He said his department's investigation into the Green Vision Wellness store in the town continues. Zale defended his business, saying his stores have created jobs and provided a boost to neighboring businesses because of the foot traffic they generate. These community benefits only will grow with the full legalization of the drug, Zale said, and he believes he's just the kind of entrepreneur the state should want in the industry once those sales begin. We are perfect candidates for it, Zale said. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For years the city-owned Meidenbauer House, an endangered 19th-century brick structure in Buffalo's Fruit Belt neighborhood, looked to be on borrowed time. After preservationists objected to a plan to tear it down in 2019, the city tried one last time to find a buyer only to have a designated developer back out last year. Now enter Douglas Jemal. The developer who has an array of projects in Buffalo wants to add the Meidenbauer House to his list of properties to rescue, and the city which brought him to look at the site is happy to oblige. "Douglas Development has submitted a proposal to redevelop the site, and we are going to talk to the community about that," said Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the city's Office of Strategic Planning. "They have an incredible reputation with historic preservation, with a history of doing the most difficult historic preservation projects that don't work for many developers. "This is preservation first and then development," he said. Jemal called saving the building a no-brainer. "Let's preserve it and see what happens," Jemal said. "All I really want to do is just stabilize and restore it," Jemal said. "Whatever the market is going to be for the property at a later date it will be, but the property just can't be sitting there the way it is. More than anything else, it's a residential neighborhood, kids go in there and it is dangerous." His company has developed numerous properties in Buffalo. Among its holdings are the Hyatt Regency Buffalo hotel, Seneca One tower, the Statler, the Police Apartments, and the former Mahoney State Office Building, which he plans to convert to a boutique hotel. And he's building a nine-story apartment-and-parking structure on a highway-loop parking lot. Last month, he was named the designated developer to transform the Mohawk Ramp, with plans for 200 apartments, 800 parking spaces and ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Jemal said he's confident the Meidenbauer House can be restored despite its deteriorated condition. "I put a lot worse buildings back together again than that one, so it is absolutely salvageable," Jemal said. "And it's great architecture, which is what makes Buffalo special." The two-story, 5,400-sqare-foot house, which achieved local landmark status as part of the High Street Historic District, was built by a German malting family at a time when breweries were commonplace in the Fruit Belt. The building is a combination of two Italianate brick houses built in 1871. What to do with the property, located just east of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, has been the subject of sharp disagreements among developers, preservationists and community residents for years. Mehaffy said if the proposal is well received by Fruit Belt residents when they meet on March 16, a designated developer agreement will be filed with the Common Council. Jemal is prepared to begin stabilizing the property once that happens and engage the community about how it should be used, he said. The city has issued four requests for proposals seeking a buyer since taking ownership of the property in 2005. Dr. Gregory Daniel's Tanaka Development was named designated developer in 2020. Daniel announced plans for housing for low-income Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus employees, but the option expired in the fall and he decided not to proceed. Activists' objections in 2014 scuttled a plan by the Fruit Belt Community Development Corp., an arm of St. Johns Baptist Church, to demolish the property for use as a parking lot next to a planned grocery store. Last week, the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture wrote a letter to Mayor Byron Brown, offering to pay a symbolic $1 to preserve and rehabilitate the building. Mark Sommer covers preservation, development, the waterfront, culture and more. He's also a former arts editor at The News. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State officials are doubling down on efforts to collect more than $500 million they say the Seneca Nation owes New York under a casino revenue sharing agreement. The state warned the Senecas in a letter this week to pay up by Wednesday or face enforcement and collection efforts. The money is in an escrow account with Fifth Third Bank and the state will seek a court order for the bank to turn over the funds. The state and Seneca Nation battled in federal court for years until reaching an agreement earlier this year for the Senecas to turn over $539.7 million in disputed casino revenue payments by Jan. 22. But some Senecas said Seneca President Matthew B. Pagels acted on the agreement without properly consulting Nation members, and the Nations 16-member Council decided in February to authorize release of the funds only until after the federal government completes a review of the revenue-sharing arrangement between the state and the Senecas. That review is ongoing, and Pagels on Friday said it was not the time for state officials to revert to bullying and greed. Pagels said the review by the National Indian Gaming Commission was out of the Senecas hands, and he urged the state not to circumvent the review. We have pressed, and continue to press, the agency for an update. We hope that an official report from NIGC will come soon, Pagels said in a statement. Rather than threatening aggressive action, the State should permit the federal agency responsible for overseeing Indian gaming issues the time it needs to complete its work. Commission spokeswoman Mary Parker said she could not comment on when the review will be finished. The state sent a letter earlier this week demanding payment by Wednesday under the terms of its Jan. 12 agreement with the Nation. Otherwise, Gregory M. Starner, an attorney hired by the state, said the state will attempt to collect on all amounts due under a 2019 federal court judgment that state officials maintain obligate the Senecas to pay nearly $565 million, plus interest and recovery of fees and costs to enforce the judgment. "The Seneca Nation has been obligated to make these payments since April 12, 2019," a spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "The State has patiently waited almost three years for the Nation to fulfill its obligation. It is now time for the State to protect its own interests. Governor Hochul looks forward to this matter being resolved soon and resuming discussions on a new compact." As part of a 2002 compact with the state, the Senecas received exclusive rights to operate casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca, with the understanding that 25% of slot proceeds would be shared with the state, which passed along a portion of that money to the casino host cities. The annual casino revenue sharing payments amounted to more than $100 million, and local municipalities counted on the funds to help balance their budgets. The compact, which runs through 2023, included an automatic renewal at the end of 2016 that took effect for the remainder of the compact term when neither side objected to it. The Senecas stopped paying in 2017, maintaining that the renewal of the original agreement didnt specifically call for further payments to the state. Three federal court rulings upheld a 2019 arbitration panels determination that the Nation should pay up. But the National Indian Gaming Commission expressed reservations about whether the amount the Senecas were expected to pay the state was fair and legal per the requirements of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and began a review last fall. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I watch the news each night as Ukraine undergoes a vicious attack by Russian forces and the death and despair put upon these brave people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the United States and NATO for military assistance in saving Ukraines democracy. However, the U.S. and NATO allies have been slow to react and unwilling to fully commit to help Ukraine. Our friends in Ukraine have asked that we establish a no-fly zone around Ukraines borders. This is the same country that supported NATO in Afghanistan and who orchestrated a rescue mission to evacuate Ukrainian and Afghani citizens from the Taliban after U.S. forces left the country. They have asked for our help, yet we have not given them what they need most. Why? Is it because Vladimir Putin has stated that any NATO nation that helps establish a no-fly zone in Ukrainian air space will be considered an enemy that will constitute an act of war? These are dangerous times, but fear should not dictate our foreign policy. We should stand for our friends and freedom much like France, Spain and the Netherlands did during our Revolutionary War. We should not let tyrannical dictators like Putin dictate our actions or define our foreign policy. I would hope that our elected leaders are brave enough to support what the United States stands for and stand against tyranny. I ask our leaders and American public to truly support Ukraine and be willing to sacrifice and stand against this aggression. James Randolph West Seneca March 10-13 WNY Sport and Travel Expo, Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg. eriepromotions.com March 13 Niagara Region 3D Winter Archery League continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. Sign in time from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Other participating clubs include Wood and Brook Sportsmens Club, Erie County Conservation, Alden Rod and Gun, Double T and Allied Sportsmen. 14 weeks long. Contact is Marty at 870-2653 or John at 725-5822. New shooters and walk on shooters welcome. March 13 WNY Winter 3D Archery League continues at Evans Rod and Gun, 864 Cain Road, Angola, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. $10 per week for 13 weeks. 3-6 person teams. There are classes for kids with a 20-yard maximum to open shooters with a 50-yard maximum. All targets are at known distances and range finders are allowed. The hosting clubs are Collins, West Falls, Evans, and Glen Coe. Contact Jerry Gorski at 698-3008. March 13 Winter trap league continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is a scratch league, 300 birds, every other Sunday. There will be open and league shooting every Tuesday, including nonmembers, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more info contact Jim at 683-2224. Next shoot is March 27. March 14 1791 Society special meeting has been changed. Guest speaker will be Lee Zeldin, and it will be held at Weber VFW Post located at 2909 South Park Ave., Lackawanna, at 7 p.m. March 15 Double Tap Action Pistol Shoot at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. First and third Tuesday each month through March at 6:15 p.m. For more info contact Fred Weymer at 359-2475. March 15 Final season closing date for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky. March 15 Erie County Fisheries Advisory Board monthly meeting at Bison City Rod and Gun Club, 511 Ohio St., starting at 7 p.m. March 17 Indoor 3D Archery League (14- week) continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, at 6:30 p.m. First line is 6:45 p.m. and second line is at 7:30 p.m. Shoot any night or all 14 weeks. Cost is $10 per night. Any questions call John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. March 17 Southtowns Walleye Association monthly meeting at the clubhouse located at 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg starting at 7 p.m. March 18 SPOT Shoot/League continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, at 6:45 p.m. You can shoot a single spot, a 3-spot, or a 5-spot target for whatever practice you are looking for on the 15-position range. Cost is $10 each night for 14 weeks. Any questions call John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. March 18 Ten X Shooting Club Junior Shooting Program continues for ages 9 to 20. Club is located at 853 Ransom Road, Lancaster. First-time shooters arrive at 6 p.m. for instruction. Shooting at 6:30 p.m. Air rifles for 9 and up; .22lr for ages 12-20. Everything is provided by the club. Cost is $5 per night, which includes ammo. Membership not required. For more info visit tenxshootingclub.com. Next session is April 1, 2022. March 18 National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament at the Center of Progress Bldg., NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse, starting at 10 a.m. March 19 Ninth Fishermans Paradise Flea Market at the Alexander Firemans Rec Hall, 10708 Route 98 in Alexander. Doors are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $2. Children under 12 are free. Call Joe Kugel at 440-0004 or Jim Thompson at 585-591-0168 for more info. March 20 Winter Trap League continues at Alden Rod and Gun Club, 12 County Line Road, Alden. Scratch league, shooting every other Sunday. This is the final shoot-off. For more info call Tom Ess at 431-9292. March 20 Indoor 3-D archery league continues at Alden Rod and Gun Club, 12 County Line Road, Alden. Noon to 3 p.m. every other Sunday. A total of 24 arrows each week. For more info call Phil Williams at 553-7445. March 20 Niagara Region 3D Winter Archery League continues at Erie County Conservation Club, 13319 Miller Road, Chaffee. Sign in time from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Other participating clubs include Wood and Brook Sportsmens Club, Erie County Conservation, Alden Rod and Gun, Double T and Allied Sportsmen. 14 weeks long. Contact is Marty at 870-2653 or John at 725-5822. New shooters and walk on shooters welcome. March 20 WNY Winter 3D Archery League continues at Collins Conservation Club, 2636 Conger Road, Collins, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. $10 per week for 13 weeks. 3-6 person teams. There are classes for kids with a 20-yard maximum to open shooters with a 50-yard maximum. All targets are at known distances and range finders are allowed. The hosting clubs are Collins, West Falls, Evans and Glen Coe. Contact Jerry Gorski at 698-3008. March 21 Niagara County Fisheries Development Board Meeting will be held at Maxwell Station, Olcott, starting at 6 p.m. Call Chairman Mike Johannes at 523-1727 for more info. March 22 Wood and Brook Sportsmans Club, 13712 Genesee St., Crittenden, start date for spring Trap/Skeet league. 12 rounds of trap or skeet (300 birds in any combination), 5-7 persons on a team. Open for shooting on Tuesdays from 6 -10 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more info contact Ben Baker at 983-0026 or James Winship at 937-790-0654. March 22 38th Annual indoor Precision Pistol league at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden. Held every second and fourth Tuesday through March. Cost to shoot is $10 per week. For more information contact John Floriano at 725-5822. March 24 Indoor 3D Archery League (14- week) continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, at 6:30 p.m. First line is 6:45 p.m. and second line is at 7:30 p.m. Shoot any night or all 14 weeks. Cost is $10 per night. Any questions call John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. March 24 Annual Sampling of rainbow trout on Naples Creek starting at 9 a.m. at the Route 245 bridge just north of the village of Naples with DEC Fisheries personnel. March 25 SPOT Shoot/League continues at Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, at 6:45 p.m. You can shoot a single spot, a 3-spot, or a 5-spot target for whatever practice you are looking for on the 15-position range. Cost is $10 each night for 14 weeks. Any questions call John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. March 27 Fishing Tackle and Outdoor Show at Clute Park Community Center, 155 South Clute Park Drive, Watkins Glen, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry $3. Kids 10 and under free. Call 607-426-5919 for more info. March 27 Deer Search of WNY educational "Blood Tracking Seminar" at West Falls Conservation Society, 55 Bridge St., West Falls, from 2 to 4 p.m. Free, open to the public. If you have an NYS Leashed Tracking Dog license or are interested in information, please attend. Contact 648-4355 if you are attending. March 27 Spring trap league begins at Boston Valley Conservation Society, 9624 Zimmerman Road, Boston, for 10 weeks. Sunday shooting 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Targets may be ATA registered. Call Ernie Miller at 335-4111 for more info. Submit calendar items to billhiltsjr@gmail.com at least three weeks in advance. Actor Willem Dafoe is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee next month. University officials announced Friday that Dafoe will receive the doctorate of arts on May 22. He's slated to speak at the school's two graduation ceremonies that day. He'll receive the degree during the second ceremony of the day. Dafoe attended UW-Milwaukee in 1973 and 1974 before leaving to become part of Theatre X, an independent experimental theater company. He appeared on stage at UW-Milwaukee in Phaedra and A Moon for the Misbegotten. Dafoe has appeared in more than 100 films, including Platoon" and the Spider-Man franchise. He's currently appearing in The Northman. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova A photo exhibition "Bridges of Europe '' has opened at Art Tower Gallery as part of the FantazEU Cultural Heritage Festival. Cultural and scientific figures, representatives of diplomatic missions and creative youth attended the opening ceremony. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko noted that the European Union and the participating countries are committed to supporting and preserving cultural diversity. "The EU strives to maintain cultural ties with Azerbaijan. The main purpose of this festival is to develop cultural partnership between the EU, Azerbaijan and other countries," he said. The head of the Arts Council Azerbaijan and the project organizer Dadash Mammadov said that FantazEU Cultural Heritage Festival contributes to the acquaintance with cultural diversity and is an important event in the field of the country's art and its promotion in the international arena. "We believe that it is more important than ever to build cultural and educational bridges. We always strive to build positive relationships, mutual understanding and trust between people. Bridges serve to connect people and connect them with each other. Bridges do not share views and common ideals, but unite the will and the desire for progress They serve to establish the common ideal of a developed and democratic country in which every citizen will find opportunities for a better life and a progressive future", said Mammadov. The project curator Sona Guliyeva said that the photo exhibition "Bridges of Europe" made it possible to view Europe without leaving Baku. The exhibition features stunning photos of European bridges. Some of the works were taken by Aydin Sadikhov and Agdes Baghirzade. Rustam Farman's photo "Khodaferin Bridges" in Jabrayil region was also showcased as part of the exhibition. Notably, FantazEU Cultural Heritage Festival aims at promoting European cultural diversity, with particular focus on European cultural heritage in Azerbaijan, including demonstrating links between European and Azerbaijani cultural heritage. The event was organized in partnership with the EU Member States, with the active participation of Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden. The Arts Council of Azerbaijan provided organizational support under a contract financed by the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan. The FantazEU festival is the successor of the Fantazia Cultural Heritage Festival, which has been organized by the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan since 2018. The festival took its name from the Fantazia Hamam, which was built in Baku at the end of the 19th century and featured European and local architectural elements. The event featured numerous indoor and open-air photo exhibitions, concerts, literature evenings, workshops, film screenings and guided tours. FantazEU Cultural Heritage Festival 2022 was held at various cultural and educational venues in Baku, including the International Mugham Center, ADA University, Nizami cinema, the Baku Book Center, Art Tower Gallery, as well as the Landmark Hotel and Business Centre. Media partners of the event are Azernews.az, Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az. Photo credits: Rustam Farman In a three-hour presentation earlier this month on his investigation into the November 2020 election, Michael Gableman, the conservative former state Supreme Court Justice and special counsel to Republican lawmakers, aired videos of interviews with eight voters who appeared to be in no condition to have cast an absentee ballot. Seemingly confused and unable to answer simple questions, all eight nevertheless voted in 2020, Gableman said. Seven of them lived in what one investigator called nursing homes, although two were actually living in assisted living facilities, and two were at facilities that provide both nursing and less-intensive care. Earlier that year, the Wisconsin Elections Commission told municipal clerks they were not required to send special election workers into nursing homes to assist with the election because of the pandemic. Gableman's clear insinuation was that someone not qualified to conduct an election improperly influenced these vulnerable voters or, worse, cast ballots on their behalf. And it wasn't just this handful of voters, Gableman said. In his report to the Legislature, Gableman claimed to have discovered that 100% of the registered voters in nursing homes in heavily Democratic Dane and Milwaukee counties, and in Racine County, home to the Democratic-leaning city of Racine, cast ballots in 2020. In Kenosha and Brown counties, home to the Democratic-leaning cities of Kenosha and Green Bay, the figures were 97% and 95% respectively. While the videos certainly raise questions about the fitness of some of those who voted from Wisconsin nursing homes, the Wisconsin State Journal could find no evidence to support the claim that turnout in nursing homes was anywhere close to what Gableman claims. Ron Heuer, president of the Wisconsin Voter Alliance, said he compiled the turnout numbers when he worked for Gableman from about Oct. 1 to mid-December. His Kewaunee County-based group touts itself as "promoting and protecting the integrity" of Wisconsin's voting system and has unsuccessfully sued to overturn Wisconsin's 2020 presidential election results. Heuer said he used the state's voter database as of August 2021 to look at whether every registered voter at every nursing home in the five counties voted in the November 2020 election. As an example of his work, he provided the State Journal with a one-and-a-half page document that appears to show turnout rates as high as 213% for 31 facilities in Dane County, many of them not nursing homes. There are only 18 licensed nursing homes in Dane County, according to the state Department of Health Services, and the additional facilities he lists are community-based residential facilities, residential care apartment complexes types of assisted living or clinical laboratories," according to DHS. One of the facilities listed is now closed. Senior citizens have long been more likely to vote than the population at large. But after reviewing thousands of pages in the 2020 poll books from the 10 Dane County municipalities in which nursing homes are located, the State Journal could find only one where turnout was 100%: Nazareth Health and Rehab Center in Stoughton, where all 12 people listed as registered in the poll book had their ballots tallied. Turnout among all the others ranged from 42% to 91%. In the case of the facility with 91% turnout, Capitol Lakes in Downtown Madison, its likely that number includes mostly independent living residents along with nursing home residents because both types of voters registered at the facility's main address, 333. W. Main St., according to Capitol Lakes executive director Tim Conroy. Even those turnout figures are inflated, since the state Elections Commission considers turnout to be the number of votes cast divided by the voting-age population, not the number of registered voters, since that number can change up to Election Day. It's not known how many voting-age residents lived at the nursing homes in 2020. The DHS list of nursing homes does not include all types of long-term care, which also includes various kinds of assisted living care, but the list provides a snapshot of one county's nursing facilities as defined by a state agency. Turnout figures compiled for city of Milwaukee nursing homes by city elections administrator Claire Woodall-Vogg also call into question the 100% turnout figure Gableman reported for all nursing homes in Milwaukee County. Woodall-Vogg found turnouts of between 36% and 97% for 32 city nursing homes. Gableman and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who appointed him, did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Only two incompetent Under state law, a court may appoint a guardian for an adult only if it finds by "clear and convincing evidence" that "because of an impairment, the individual is unable effectively to receive and evaluate information or to make or communicate decisions." The courts can bar those deemed incompetent from voting, but nursing home residents can retain their right to vote even if they are under the guardianship of a relative. Only two of the eight people shown in the videos Gableman presented to the Assembly elections committee on March 1 have been found incompetent by a court and are therefore ineligible to vote, said Erick Kaardal an attorney for the conservative Thomas More Society who conducted the interviews in December, more than a year after the election. One of them, Sandra Klitzke, was deemed incompetent by an Outagamie County judge in 2000, Kaardal said. The guardianship order for the other, Wally Jonkowski, "goes back to the 1970s due to brain injury," he said. The other six were all registered and allowed to vote according to the state's voter database, he said, although their families maintain they were unaware of what they were doing. Kaardal said the families of the eight "want us to get the story out" about their relatives voting, but he and Heuer declined to provide the families' names or contact information. Kaardal said Heuer had contacted three of the families, but none wanted to speak with a reporter. At Skaalen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton, where 84% of residents who were registered voters voted in November 2020, administrator Kristian Krentz said staff worked with the local clerk's office to obtain ballots for residents who wanted to vote, then acted as witnesses or assistants if necessary. No residents found to be incompetent voted at Skaalen, he said. "Everybody that we had (voting) was competent," he said. 'Not really my thing' Altogether, Gableman pointed to at least 13 instances of voting irregularities in nursing homes in seven counties, although he did not name the nursing homes where they allegedly occurred or the people involved, making it impossible to verify the claims. In one case, Gableman reported that a resident of a Dane County nursing home received an absentee ballot for the November 2020 election but hadn't requested one. The person's guardian intercepted the ballot and the person didn't vote, then told the facility that the resident wouldn't be voting again. Nevertheless, Gableman alleges, the resident voted again in the spring 2021 elections. In another Dane County case, a nursing home resident who had been adjudicated incompetent since 1972 voted in 2020, Gableman said. The report doesn't speculate on who might have requested the ballots in either case. Under state law, a person who is indefinitely confined due to age or infirmity may ask to become a "permanent absentee voter," which allows them to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election. If the voter fails to return a ballot in one election, however, the clerk is supposed to notify the voter that they will no longer receive a ballot if they do not reapply for permanent absentee status within 30 days. Gableman points to other cases in which residents allegedly voted more than once or voted despite being found to be incompetent. Some degree of fraud is present in every election, but usually the numbers are far too small to have any effect on the outcome. After the 2020 election, election officials referred 31 cases of potential fraud to prosecutors in 12 of the state's 72 counties. After reviewing them, prosecutors declined to bring charges in 26 of those cases. President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes in 2020. If Gableman found actual evidence of fraud, there is no evidence he or his investigators have referred their findings to prosecutors. District attorneys for five of the seven counties mentioned Brown, Dane, Milwaukee, Outagamie and Washington either said they'd received no voter fraud referrals related to the November 2020 election or no referrals related to nursing homes. Racine County DA Patricia Hanson, a Republican, declined comment for this story. In February, she declined to file charges against members of the Elections Commission or workers at the Ridgewood Care Center nursing home in Racine after the county's Republican sheriff, Christopher Schmaling, alleged the commission's instruction to clerks not to send special voting deputies into nursing homes amounted to voter fraud. But in a statement at the time, she appeared to endorse the notion that something illegal had occurred. It is appalling to me that an appointed, unelected group of volunteers has enough authority to change how some of our most vulnerable citizens access voting, Hanson wrote, referring to the commission. Residents who did not request ballots voted because someone else made a request for a ballot on their behalf and then voted on their behalf. If even one persons right to freely choose to vote or not to vote was diminished, then a travesty of justice has occurred. Kenosha County DA Michael Graveley did not respond to requests for comment. Asked if he planned to forward allegations of election fraud based on his interviews of voters to prosecutors, Kaardal said "that's not really my thing," adding he was only trying to help the families involved. State Journal reporter Lucas Robinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A couple of weeks ago, Jodi and Kendal Loseke were remodeling a home in Columbus when they happened to find some letters behind a bathroom mirror. One was written by 8-year-old Sue Marshall dated June 7, 1967. The other - written on the same piece of paper - was authored by Mike Gokie who wrote his on Feb. 24, 1995, at the age of 27. In the initial letter, Marshall said whoever finds the letter, Good luck." Meanwhile, Gokie asked whoever discovered his note to take care of the house and God bless. After discovering the messages, it didnt take Jodi long to track the pair down as they both live in Columbus. Jodi said she is friends with Gokie and his wife, Tara. Marshall and Jodis stepmother have known each other for several years. On Thursday, the Losekes, Marshall and Gokie all gathered at the home to reminisce about the homes previous features and more. I thought it was so cool because it was like finding a message in the bottle, Jodi said. Its like a time capsule. I love history and to be able to find a sweet little note like that in the wall, it was so touching. Kendal, who along with Jodi buys houses and renovates them, said they started remodeling the home about a month ago before they started working on the bathroom. Lo and behold, (the letter) was behind the mirror, he said. Kendal added he was amazed that Marshall's letter was drafted before he was even born. The original letter writer, Marshall, said she doesnt remember drafting the message but believes it was a project created by her parents. She added when she looked at the letter, she could identify that that was her handwriting. Marshall grew up in the area and graduated from Columbus High in 1977. She then spent the next 40 years of her life in Texas before relocating to Columbus again about four years ago. I moved back in 2018 because I had a class reunion in 2017, Marshall said. I stayed for about a week and just fell in love with Nebraska again. Gokie who owns Fast Mart in Columbus - said he bought the house back in the '90s, later moving out about five years later. He was amazed by the changes to the house, noting the mirror in the bathroom was much bigger than it is now and the paint was a different color. Who knows how many coats of paint are on these walls because this wasnt (the color before), said Gokie. Jodi said the experience has warmed her heart. Jodi, who teaches at Lakeview High School, told her students about the letters and the teens were amazed by the tale. They even thought it was a really cool story, Jodi said. To make it full circle, Marshall wrote another letter about what had happened recently and hopes whoever discovers the letters sometime in the future, "Good luck." The message ended by saying, "Go Big Red!!!" Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State Police have arrested and charged a Chambersburg man for sharing a video of child pornography through the social media platform Snapchat and storing images of child pornography at his home. State Police at Chambersburg said in a news release Friday that they began their investigation after Snapchat made a report to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that a user shared a video of child pornography using their server. The investigation led to a user located on Lantern Lane in the Chambersburg Borough. Magisterial District Judge Glen Manns approved a search warrant for the home and police executed the warrant Tuesday at approximately 6 a.m. where they found Lamont Lovett in possession of the images. Police said Lovett, 21, and an employee at the Chambersburg YMCA, was taken into custody and charged with the possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, criminal abuse of a communication facility and tampering with evidence. Lovett posted the $100,000 bail and was released from custody. Trooper Megan Ammerman, Public Information Officer for the Pennsylvania State Police, said that at this time no further information will be released. Maddie Seiler is a news reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com covering Carlisle and Newville. You can contact her at mseiler@cumberlink.com and follow her on Twitter at: @SeilerMadalyn 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. After a snow-filled day and 30 degree temps Wednesday, Cumberland County welcomed sunshine and 50 degree weather Thursday. But it wont last, not in March ... not in Pennsylvania. Fridays forecast calls for more sun and a high of 58 in the county, but winter jumps back into the picture for the weekend. That includes rain, snow and wind for Saturday and high temperatures in the 30s for Sunday. The Accuweather forecast says rain will hit the region Saturday morning until colder temperatures force a switchover to snow by 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. That snow will stick in the area through the afternoon with 1-3 inches of accumulation expected in Cumberland County. That matches the ABC27 weather team forecast that calls for 1-2 inches of snow Saturday before wind ushers in a sharp drop in temperatures Saturday night. The forecast calls for winds at 15-20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and a low into the teens Saturday night. Bursts of snow could eventually add up even though temperatures at the ground should stay above freezing for quite some time into the late morning and early afternoon, ABC27 meteorologists Eric Finkenbinder and Dan Tomaso said in their forecast. But overall accumulation will be tough, especially on roadways given the mild spell of weather from Thursday-Friday. Sundays forecast stays windy and cold, with a high of 39 and winds at 10-15 mph during the day, before temperatures jump back up into the 50s and 60s Monday through Wednesday next week. Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ukraine Military/Handout via Reuters Russias senseless invasion of Ukraine, which has destroyed a maternity hospital among the many confirmed civilian targets, is shifting its focus west, with an attack on an airport Friday just 70 miles from the Polishread NATOborder. It is the first time previously unaffected cities in the countrys west have come under attack with heavy mortars since the first day of the invasion. The airport at Lutsk took substantial fire, pocking its runway and rendering it useless. The airport had been a key link in the supply chain to this point. High precision long-range weapons attacked Ukraines military infrastructure, Russian Defense tweeted Friday. The military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk were put out of action. The regional governor confirmed that four missiles were fired from a Russian bomber, killing at least two people. The airport at Ivano-Frankivsk was hit on the day Russia invaded the country, now more than two weeks ago, but has been spared since. On Friday, the United Nations also suggested Russia has used cluster bombs in civilian populations, which constitutes a war crime if proven to be true. Due to their wide area effects, the use of cluster munitions in populated areas is incompatible with the international humanitarian law principles governing the conduct of hostilities, UN human-rights spokesperson Liz Throssell said in Geneva on Friday, according to Reuters. The change in tack was also evident in the disbursement and redeployment of the now infamous 40-mile column of Russian tanks and other machinery that has been idling outside the capital Kyiv for more than 10 days. According to satellite images disseminated by Maxar Technologies, elements from the column, which have been hit hard by Ukrainian forces from air and land, are now in forests and along tree lines near Lubyanka, some with their howitzers in firing position. Experts say they believe Russia will increase its assault on the capital Kyiv in the coming hours based on the movements of the military. It is possible that an attack on Kyiv will be carried out in the next few days, Pascal Ianni told France2 TV on Friday. But actually taking control of Kyiv is a whole other matter and will take a long, long time. Story continues The U.K. Ministry of Defense echoed the general sentiment that Russias attempt to reset and reposture is a reflection of its failure to see any significant gains so far in the war. It remains highly unlikely that Russia has successfully achieved the objectives outlined in its pre-invasion plan, the British defense ministry said Friday. Logistical issues that have hampered the Russian advance persist, as does strong Ukrainian resistance. Part of the restructuring also appears to be introducing foreign fighters. Ukraine has had more than 20,000 people express interest in joining its defensive forces. And now Russias propaganda television is showing footage of Syrian volunteer combatants skilled in urban warfare lining up to help Russia, which provided substantial military assistance to the Syrian government under Bashar Al-Assad during their bloody civil war. Putin is said to have endorsed the move, citing mercenaries from the West helping Ukraine fend off his invasion. Russian defense minister Sergey Shoigu said 16,000 volunteers from the Middle East had expressed interest in joining Russia, according to ABC News, which added that the fighters will be paid a few hundred dollars. The Russian Defense Ministrys TV channel just shared this footage of Syrian combatants ready to volunteer in Ukraine. (Putin moments ago endorsed such deployments, claiming that the West is openly sending mercenaries.) pic.twitter.com/ouCfjAcSde Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 11, 2022 Meanwhile, panic appears to be setting in within Putins inner circle, with the Russian leader allegedly firing eight generals and putting the head of his FSB spy arm Sergei Beseda and his deputy under house arrest, according to Andrei Soldatov, a Daily Beast contributor and head of argentura.ru media outlet. Russia instead insists that the war is on target. All is going according to the plan, we report to you here every day this week, Sergei Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a televised Security Council Meeting on Friday, according to CNN. While the battle rages on and now spreads west, more than 2.5 million people from Ukraine have fled through Romania, Poland and Moldova, and are now making their way into the rest of Europe. Germany has so far accepted more than 100,000 refugees and other countries are preparing for tens of thousands of displaced people. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A woman with two children after crossing the Slovak-Ukrainian border in Ubla, eastern Slovakia on 25 February, 2022 (Getty) In the two weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, over two million Ukrainian refugees have left the Eastern European nation. Those that have stayed have been living in shelters across the country in order to stay safe. But for the women, of whom there are two million more than there are men in Ukraine, they have another pressing thing to worry about: their periods. Most women, from their early teens to around their mid-fifties, menstruate once per month. This can be anywhere from three to seven days per month, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. A womans period can also come with period pains or cramps, which can make it difficult to perform regular tasks without the aid of pain medication. While their period arriving may be the least of their worries for women currently in a war zone, or for those who have fled as refugees, when the time of the month comes, access to period products is crucial but it might not be possible. People who are forced to leave their homes in a war zone are unlikely to be able to carry everything they need, or to be able to plan ahead its a crisis, Rachel Grocott, communications and public fundraising director of Bloody Good Period tells The Independent. If period products are available, they are often sold at such high prices that women are forced to choose between [the products] and other essentials, including food. UN Women UK executive director Claire Barnett says that families have told the organisation that they are leaving with only a few items they can carry and that women will not be able to bring the supply of period products with them that they need. She adds: Some will have travelled for days without access to proper facilities. Shops are closed and many women fleeing will not have their own source of income to buy non-food items. Grocott adds that access to period products isnt about dignity, but rather necessity. She says: We dont say that access to food, water or medicine is about dignity, and periods should be as much a part of humanitarian relief as any of those things. Story continues Not having access to sanitary products can be life-threatening, too. Barnett explains that a lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities can be deadlier than deaths directly as a result of war. She adds: Reusing items like pieces of rubbish and rags as sanitary towels, which women often resort to in conflict situations, can cause serious infection as well as discomfort. A 2017 study from Global One of refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon found that 60 per cent of female refugees did not have access to underwear and more had no access to sanitary products when they had their period. The study found that half of the women surveyed suffered from untreated urinary tract infections (UTIs) as a result. War can result in heavier, more painful periods which require more access to menstrual products Terri Harris, Bloody Good Period Bloody Good Periods education programme manager Terri Harris, who has worked in a refugee camp in Lebanon, says lack of menstrual products among refugee women is one of their greatest concerns. We had reported cases of women using old rags, pieces of moss, pieces of mattresses. The use of such items coupled with poor water and sanitation facilities led to infections and other health problems, she explains. We also have to take into consideration that war is obviously an acute stressful condition, which will inevitably result in menstrual abnormalities. This might result in heavier periods, more painful periods, irregular periods - all issues which require more access to menstrual products. A separate study from UN Women and its partner in Cameroon found that 99 per cent of women dont feel safe in refugee camp toilets. Barnett adds that women and girls who dont have safe places to change period products or go to the toilet are at higher risk of sexual violence. Aside from the danger of violence caused where women will need to go to the toilet and change pads outside proper facilities, we are very concerned about the escalation we often see in conflict situations of sexual violence being used as a weapon, Barnett says. We are also hearing reports from the borders of traffickers and exploitation of women and children leaving Ukraine. Passengers depart the railway station after disembarking trains from the east on March 11, 2022 in Lviv, Ukraine (Getty Images) Barnett adds that, during conflict, womens specific needs are often overlooked, even in terms of the products people are sending across the border. Period products are likely to be neglected. But as the majority of adults fleeing are women, the need will be great. The fact that period products are often overlooked when it comes to donation drives points to the way periods are regarded in general, Grocott says. Theyre simply not factored into how we think about how society functions on a daily basis, because weve been taught that its better not to talk about them, she adds. UN Women is asking for urgent donations to help those misplaced in Ukraine, while other other initiatives like Hey Girls allows you to buy one, donate one with their range of period products. When it comes to donating period products, Grocott says its best to seek out a charity on the ground that can get local products directly to the women in need. Its vital that women have choice and autonomy, and are not just expected to be okay with whatever products theyre given, she says. In the middle of conflict and crisis, no-one should be trying to manage with products that dont suit them. Since the war in Ukraine broke out, Grocott says Bloody Good Period has received orders for 790 packs of period products for organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, including those from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Albania and Sierra Leone. Those are all crises no longer in our daily newsfeeds, but their impact is still very much being felt. Human remains found on private property in northern Washington County on Saturday have been identified as Norvel Robert Bobby Nelson III, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. The decedent has now been identified as Norvel Nelson III. Nelson has been missing since January 2012 and was reported missing under suspicious circumstances, the press release issued Thursday afternoon stated. The Sheriffs Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol have actively been investigating this case since Mr. Nelson was reported missing. This case remains active and under investigation. The Missing Norvel Robert Bobby Nelson III Facebook Page posted, Today is sad but peaceful now we know they found you. Nelson, who was legally blind and had a scar on the left side of his face, reportedly was last seen in the Mineral Point area on Jan. 5, 2012. He was 37 at the time of his disappearance. Nelsons mother, Cathy Politte of Festus, told the Festus newspaper in February 2012, that he went to Mineral Point to get some of his wifes belongings from a trailer. She told the newspaper she thought he was dead because he always calls her once a week. She said she received calls from someone claiming Nelson was a victim of foul play. The sheriff's office stated no further information is being released at this time. The Daily Journal will update the story as more information becomes available. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 31 Angry 3 Quilt blocks representing Cape Girardeau and communities across the state are featured in the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt, which will be on display for a final stop in the southeast Missouri area at the State Historical Society of Missouri Cape Girardeau Research Center, 347 N. Pacific St., Pacific Hall, on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. The quilt exhibition runs March 15-April 29. A public reception for the quilt will be held March 15 from 4-6 p.m. For the six-week exhibition, the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt will be on display during regular visiting hours at the SHSMO Cape Girardeau Research Center. The complete, upcoming Missouri Bicentennial Quilt Traveling Exhibition's stops include: March 15-April 29 at SHSMO Cape Girardeau Research Center May 3-June 14 at SHSMO Rolla Research Center June 15-July 29 at SHSMO Springfield Research Center Aug. 2-Sept. 15 at SHSMO Kansas City Research Center Using one block from each of Missouris 114 counties and the independent city of St. Louis, the quilt showcases the diversity of Missouris culture, people and geography. To honor Missouris 200 years of statehood, the State Historical Society, Missouri Star Quilt Company and the Missouri State Quilters Guild teamed up to find quilters for each of the individual quilt blocks. Quilters from across the state sent in 6.5 x 6.5-inch blocks to represent the county where the live or have a connection. Over the winter of 2019-2020, Missouri Star Quilt Company stitched the blocks together and gave the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt its final look. Due to popular demand, we are excited to extend the tour of the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt into 2022 so more people can see it in their region before it is placed at the Missouri Quilt Museum, said Beth Pike, Missouri Bicentennial coordinator for the State Historical Society of Missouri. The quilt has brought many people together to tell a story of who we are and how we see ourselves and fellow Missourians in other counties. One of our goals for the bicentennial commemorations was to help start and continue that conversation across the state, said Pike. Once the exhibition at the SHSMO research centers ends in September 2022, the quilt will be on long-term loan at the Missouri Quilt Museum in Hamilton. The community is also home to the Missouri Star Quilt Company, which attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year to the small town in Caldwell County, northeast of Kansas City. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Supporters of a pending law to keep records of closed criminal cases secret from the public have invoked the trauma of the families of murder victims who dont want their tragedies revisited by others. That is understandable. These families are victims as surely as their lost loved ones. The law passed the House and Senate and now rests with a conference committee working to tweak definitions. Unfortunately, the debate to overturn the year-old change in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) that unsealed certain records in closed cases largely ignored another kind of victim. They have names and tragedies, too. One name, according to the Innocence Project at the University of Virginia, is Emerson Stevens. He served 32 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Innocence Project director Jennifer Givens summarized his story in a letter to a state senator explaining why the legislature should study the law unsealing some closed case records before once again removing them from public view. We began investigating Emerson Stevenss case in 2009, Givens wrote to state Sen. Jill Vogel. In 2016, a major break came in the case when a Lancaster official voluntarily turned over exculpatory documents and evidence never before seen by the defense. Had the current FOIA law been in place years ago, that disclosure would have been mandatory, and it would have happened years sooner. Mr. Stevens, who served nearly 32 years for a murder he did not commit, was finally exonerated in 2021. In her letter, Givens said the Innocence Project used the open records law passed last year to help obtain a conditional pardon for Messiah Johnson. We uncovered exculpatory evidence in the case of Messiah Johnson, she wrote. Mr. Johnsons case was litigated back in 2016 without the benefit of the transparency that the current FOIA law allows. When we were finally able to gain access to Mr. Johnsons investigative file, we uncovered evidence that police knew that the eyewitness identifications made in his case were obtained in an inappropriate manner and should not have been used against him. A review of the case against Lamar Barnes conducted under the law passed last year revealed prosecutorial misconduct, Givens wrote. The law that unsealed closed case records a year ago came after discussions involving all the stakeholders. The law to reseal records, offered by Albemarle Rep. Rob Bell, was driven by a request for records in the high profile sexual assaults and murders of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham and Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington by Jesse Matthew. Albemarle authorities never released those records after quoting a $76,000 price to the media company that requested them, the Richmond Times Dispatch discovered by using the VFOIA. Even if those records had been released, they would not have included crime scene photos of the victims. Other restrictions on personal information and privacy would have applied. Meanwhile, the risk to those wrongly convicted increases with resealing the closed case records. It is sad, but true, that some police and prosecutors misbehave in their eagerness to win convictions. Sealing closed case records protects people who abuse their power, not the majority of law enforcement and commonwealths attorneys who play by the rules. Blind faith in a justice system administered by fallible humans invites miscarriages. That is easy to forget, even among journalists who rely on freedom of information laws. The volume of jail mail from aggrieved inmates often gives way to gallows humor and the cynical joke that obviously, there are no guilty people in prison. People like Emerson Stevens and Lamar Barnes arent laughing. They cannot get the lost years of their lives back. While they may be the exception to the rule, they are hardly alone. The UVa Innocence Project has succeeded in winning releases, pardons or both for six clients since January. The most fundamental tenet of the American legal system demands due process and presumed innocence. It requires that those accused of crimes receive an equally zealous prosecution and defense that follows rules. This includes victims of police and prosecutorial misconduct, as surely as it does those who were victims of violent crimes and their families. A fleet of electronic scooters could be coming to downtown Albany as soon as this spring, connecting commuters to more transit options or just helping people get around. The 12-month pilot program will see 50 e-scooters from Bird Ride Inc. deployed around the downtown's historic district with the possibility for 20 more in the near-term. Each e-scooter will be activated through a smartphone app and charge riders by the minute along preprogrammed routes. On Wednesday, March 9, the Albany City Council debated the finer points of the pilot program as spelled out in a memorandum of understanding between the city and Bird, which it approved during a virtual meeting. Under the informal agreement, the standing vehicles will be subject to the same traffic laws as bicycles. The e-scooters must be ridden on streets, and where available, in bike lanes or bike paths. Helmet and DUI laws will also apply to the e-scooters, which are capable of reaching a top-speed of 24 miles per hour on level ground. Hours of operation will range from 4 a.m. to midnight for riders age 18 and older. Riders will be required to watch and read educational material before hopping on an e-scooter. Bird will be responsible for insuring the fleet and sharing ride data with the city. No new installations will be needed to bring the e-scooters to town. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express. Albany City Manager Peter Troedsson told city councilors on Wednesday that e-scooters represent an eco-friendly solution to surging gas prices pinching commuters at the pump. "This is the free market moving in to solve a problem," Troedsson said. "The feedback will be from the market." The memorandum of understanding between Albany and Bird may be terminated with 30 days' written notice by either party. Mike Butler, a senior account executive at Bird, said the rollout should happen in roughly five to six weeks. Members of the City Council echoed concerns shared by the Albany Traffic Safety Commission this week that abandoned e-scooters could become a big headache for small business owners. "People in Seattle are crazy with these things," Traffic Safety Commission member Nolan Streitberger said during a virtual Monday meeting. "They're all over the streets and sidewalks. Nobody cares about any of the rules." Contacted separately, Derald Wooten Jr., the manager of the Mattcave comics and collectibles store on Jackson Street Southeast, said he's not concerned about neglected e-scooters taking up too much space in his part of town. As far as his commuting habits are concerned, it probably won't involve an e-scooter. "I doubt there will be a station for them near where I work," Wooten said. "If I'm going anywhere other than work, I usually need one of my vehicles because I got groceries and stuff to carry." Cities like New York City and Chicago have set so-called "exclusionary zones" limiting where e-scooters can and cannot be parked when not in use. Albany has the same discretion to set such boundaries, city staff said on Wednesday. Albany Councilor Matilda Novak said she was hesitant to see e-scooters out in the wild so soon. "I don't feel like we're in a super big rush," Novak said. "Let's get things in place." Among the other issues brought up at Wednesday's meeting was the risk of litigation against the city from injured riders. Albany City Attorney Sean Kidd said any potential lawsuits related to e-scooter accidents against the city would likely be considered frivolous without burden of proof. "We get sued several times a year for people falling on the sidewalk," Kidd said. "It happens." Butler told the City Council the agreement approved on Wednesday is intended to set a high bar for not only litigation but the same public safety standards in its current partner cities nationwide. "People get into accidents," Butler said. "It's not necessarily a private business's responsibility." Albany City Councilor Bessie Johnson shared the same sentiment and said e-scooters are worth taking a chance on in the near-term. "You can't fix stupid," Johnson said. "I'm sure there's going to be citations, but I think it's worth a try." Troedsson told the City Council that Albany has ample time to polish the details of its agreement with Bird over the course of the pilot and beyond. "Inevitably, we will learn from it, and I'm sure Bird will learn from it," Troedsson said. The Albany City Council's next online regular session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 23. Editor's note: This article has been edited to clarify where e-scooters are able to be driven. Tim Gruver covers the city of Albany and Linn County. He can be contacted at 541-812-6114 or Tim.Gruver@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @T_TimeForce. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Vafa Ismayilova Illegal Armenian armed groups have shelled Azerbaijani military positions located in liberated Aghdam, Khojavand, and Fuzuli regions, the Defence Ministry reported on March 10. From 0950 to 1710 on March 10, members of the illegal Armenian armed detachment on Azerbaijani territory, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, used various caliber weapons to fire on Azerbaijan Army positions in the Aghdam, Khojavand, and Fuzuli regions, the ministry said. The Azerbaijani army units took appropriate retaliatory measures to suppress the opposite side in the said directions, the ministry said. It ruled out any casualties among the Azerbaijani army's military troops and equipment. Currently, the situation in these directions is stable, with Azerbaijani army units totally controlling the operational situation, the report added. The illegal Armenian armed groups earlier fired on Azerbaijani positions in Aghdam. 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. A public march will be held at the Corvallis Fred Meyer at noon Saturday, March 12 to call awareness to alleged racial discrimination experienced there by Black shoppers, specifically Black women. The Linn Benton NAACP Branch is leading its "Fred Meyer Anti-Discrimination Campaign" after several Black women came forward with racial profiling experiences at the Corvallis location. A Corvallis-based Fred Meyer denied Mid-Valley Medias request for comment regarding the campaign. A corporate spokesperson sent the following statement: "At Fred Meyer, we have a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of discrimination. In fact, our company has been awarded a top score in Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2022 Corporate Equity Index for a fourth year in a row." The news release from the local NAACP branch, however, tells a different story. While racial profiling is hard to prove," says the news release, "it happens more often than it should in Fred Meyer stores. The blame rests with the administration, whose job it is to set policies that treat everyone the same, and to train their employees to steer away from racial profiling. The news release highlights several incidents. An unidentified Albany woman said both stores refused to take her checks to pay for supplies, but when her white husband presented the same check, they cashed it. It made me mad, the Albany woman is quoted in the news release. Im not going to shop there anymore. Its humiliating, too. I was in line, with people behind me. An unidentified Corvallis woman said she was repeatedly monitored at the self-checkout stand while white customers around her were not. The NAACP branch said both women asked that their names not be used in fear of retaliation. The Corvallis woman said staff treatment at both Fred Meyer stores varied depending on how she wore her hair and whether her white mother was with her. Close patrolling or monitoring happened most often if she was alone or she wore either an ethnic or braided hairstyle, rather than straight. I was totally fed up, I was done. And it takes a lot to bring that out in me, the Corvallis woman is quoted as saying in the news release. A third woman described as being born and raised in Oregon said she has suffered racial profiling at Fred Meyer for years. The release did not offer details. Here are the demands the branch is directing at Corvallis Fred Meyer: March 16: By this date, the store apologizes to all persons offended by the behavior of the Fred Meyer staff and publicly commits to adopting a non discriminatory approach to customer service April 6: By this date, Corvallis Fred Meyer requests to meet with Jason J. Dorsette, president of the Linn Benton NAACP Branch, alongside Fred Meyers local and regional management to further discuss the issue of discrimination at the business. June 1: By this date, Fred Meyer retains a local equity, diversity and inclusion consultant to facilitate workshops for managers concerning bias, equity and inclusion. Fred Meyer designs a customer-facing protocol for shoppers to report discrimination, provide quarterly reports of findings to local newspapers and display these findings on the Fred Meyer website. Dorsette first announced the campaign publicly during a speech after the Oregon State University Martin Luther King Jr. peace march. A planning meeting was held via Zoom Feb. 6, and the march will be the first action in the campaign. More information about the campaign and the march is available at https://linnbentonnaacp.com/End-Racism-Fred-Meyer. Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. Love 1 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The city of Uzhhorod in western Ukraine, a Corvallis sister city, is seeing daily waves of refugees fleeing the war with Russia, according to the Corvallis Sister Cities Association. The association is raising money to send to its trusted colleagues in Uzhhorod, according to a news release, which says the residents of Uzhhorod are mobilizing to provide comfort, support and humanitarian aid to those who are fleeing the violence. The Uzhhorod citizens are working so hard, but supplies are running low and many refugees are arriving each day, the news release says. There are two ways to donate: Checks and cash can be dropped off at any Citizens Bank branch in Oregon. Be sure to let them know the donation will be going to the Uzhhorod Refugee Fund. Checks should be made out to Uzhhorod Refugee Fund. Donations can also be mailed to Citizens Bank, 978 NW Circle Blvd., Corvallis, Oregon 97330. Also, a GoFundMe has been set up for online donations. To date it has raised around $7,000 of a $100,000 goal. The association said because of the urgent nature of this fund, and for expediency of the transfer of money, donations are not tax deductible The lives of Uzhhorod citizens have changed overnight due to the war, the GoFundMe page states. They are generously taking refugees into their own homes, but they cannot accommodate the thousands arriving from other locations. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Not only does it provide critical services for youth (swim team, water safety, etc.), it also provides much-needed services for adults in the community, such as lap swimming, water aerobics, etc. Services that cater to older adults are much needed as well. Please support the Lebanon pool. The Turkey Wealth Fund has acquired 55% of shares in Turk Telecom from LYY Telekomunikasyon (LYY), a consortium of banks, for US$1.65 billion. The fund has been in negotiations with Turk Telecoms majority shareholder LYY since December 2021, reported Reuters. The transaction needs approval from regulators before being finalised said the sovereign wealth fund in a statement. "As (Turkey's Wealth Fund), we believe that we will add extra value to the telecommunication sector by contributing in the digitalisation process, while focusing on efforts to further strengthen the technological infrastructure of our country," said Turkey Wealth Fund CEO Salim Arda Ermut. The fund has been mulling the acquisition since October 2021. In 2018, the 55% share Turk Telecom was bought by LYY from former owner Ojer Telekom (Otas) after being given approval from the countrys communications regulator. Otas had to surrender its shares as it failed to keep up with debt repayments on a US$4.75 billion loan to acquire the operator. Nokia is currently in discussions to replace Huawei 4G gear in Vodafone Ideas network in India, a potentially large contract for the Finnish vendor. Sources speaking to Reuters said the deal will see Nokia rolling out 12,000 5G-ready radio sites and 4,000 small cells in the capital city of Dehli, for the operator. Operators in the country have been reducing purchases from Huawei due to security concerns. Experts say other operators may follow Vodafone Idea's hardline move, which would further dent the companys plans to sell more gear in the Indian market. Western countries have notably banned the vendor from their networks including the US, the UK and Sweden. The company has been accused of providing backdoors into operator infrastructure for espionage, Huawei has long denied it is a security risk. "Unfortunately, there is no choice but to move out of Huawei because of the security concerns and government pressure," said Vivekanand Subbaraman, a telecom analyst at India's Ambit Capital. "Those concerns are not something you can wish away." Nokia has previously been selected to replace Huawei gear for operators including BT, Orange Belgium and Proximus. Huawei and Nokia declined to comment. Although the Indian government has not banned Chinese firms from bidding for contracts, Huawei was not included on an approved list of providers to carry out 5G trials despite the companys status among telecoms equipment vendors. According to research company DellOro, Huawei has a 29% share of the global telecoms equipment market, while its closest rivals Nokia and Ericsson possess 15% each. This follows from reports of Cisco replacing its Chinese made equipment to set up manufacturing hubs in India itself. Today, the IPv6 Forum themed "IPv6: Release Connectivity Potential, Boost Digital Economy" was held at MWC22 Barcelona. Steven Zhao, Vice President of Huawei Data Communication Product Line, delivered a keynote speech titled "IPv6 Enhanced, the Cornerstone of Digitalization," envisioning the future of IPv6 Enhanced. He pointed out that digitalization has swept across the world. More than 100 countries have released their digitalization strategies. IP networks, as the cornerstone of digitalization, play a key role in connecting everything and applications. Against the backdrop of digitalization, IP networks face many new requirements, such as massive IoT, cloud-network convergence, and deterministic services. IPv6 Enhanced will become a major trend for network upgrade and evolution, as well as the cornerstone of digitalization for numerous industries, such as finance, manufacturing, and healthcare. Zhao noted that the rapid development of digitalization poses new requirements on IP networks. The first requirement is massive IoT. By 2030, there will likely betens of billions of IoTdevices, meaning that massive access will become an important basic capability for IP networks. With the advent of the cloud era, more and more enterprises adopt multi-cloud connection, posing requirements on network flexibility and real-time performance. In the future, not only will office services be moved to the cloud, so will production services. This poses higher requirements on deterministic network quality. To meet these new requirements, IPv6 Enhanced will further unleash the value of connectivity in terms of deterministic quality, programmability, intelligent O&M, and more. IPv6 Enhanced not only drives innovation and entrepreneurship, digital economy transformation, S&T development, and economic growth in the post-pandemic era, but also plays an important role in the digitalization of numerous industries. In the operator sector, the IPv6 Enhanced Cloud-Network Express solution helps operators build differentiated cloud access private lines by leveraging their advantages in network resources. This allows operators to provide fast and good cloud access experience for users. On the access side, the one-box multi-connection solution helps users quickly access clouds. On the aggregation side, the pan-private line scheduling solution enables unified access and smooth evolution. And on the backbone side, the SRv6-based intelligent cloud-map algorithm enables optimal scheduling of cloud-network resources. In the financial sector, new services such as online transaction and online payment are emerging one after another. While pursuing stability, this sector also needs to enhance the agility of financial services. SRv6 enables branches and outlets in different regions to access cloud services in one hop. Based on the current load status of the clouds and networks, the corresponding scheduling algorithm flexiblyschedules cloud and network resources. Intelligent O&M based on technologies such as in-band flow measurement ensures the stable and reliable running of financial service networks. In the manufacturing sector, the transmission of industrial control signals has very strict requirements on the network. In the smart manufacturing industry, IPv6 provides sufficient addresses for the large volume of sensors, while network slicing provides dedicated network-level assurance for different services. After IP-based reconstruction, massive production data can be quickly transferred to the cloud, and the computing power and intelligence of the cloud can be efficiently transferred to the production sites to guide production lines more accurately and efficiently. From connecting people only to connecting everything, IPv6 Enhanced has been put into commercial use in more than 100 countries, effectively supporting the digitalization of various industries, such as finance, manufacturing, energy, education, and healthcare. Let's embrace IPv6 and IPv6 Enhanced technologies to accelerate towards a new digital world. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov From 1945 on March 10 to 0835 on March 11, Azerbaijani army positions came under Armenian fire from various directions, the Defence Ministry has reported. Members of the illegal Armenian armed detachment on Azerbaijani territory, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed, used various caliber weapons to fire on Azerbaijan army positions in Fuzuli, Khojavand, Aghdam, and Khojaly regions, the report added. Furthermore, from their positions on the state border in Basarkechar region's Zarkand, Ashagi Shorzha, and Azizli settlements, Armenian armed forces fired on Azerbaijani army positions in the direction of Kalbajar region's Yellija, Barmagbina, and Yukhari Ayrim settlements. The ministry ruled out any casualties among the military personnel or equipment. The Azerbaijani army forces stationed in these areas reacted appropriately. The situation in these directions is currently stable, with 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. Moscow, ID (83843) Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low near 50F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Dothan will pay $2.2 million for the Houston County Farm Center if the citys offer is approved by county commissioners on Monday. While discussing the offer during the Houston County Commissions Thursday administrative meeting, county commissioners seemed comfortable with the offer. We believe that the property is a good location for things other than what it is currently being used for, Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said. It has certainly been and is a drain on the county. We do not have the funding to turn it into what it possibly might need to be. Originally the City of Dothan offered $2.5 million for the farm center property, but the original survey inadvertently included buildings that house the Alabama Department of Human Resources and a SpectraCare office at the corner of Prevatt Road and the Ross Clark Circle properties that are not part of the sale. When the survey excluded those buildings and land, it reduced the total acreage and, therefore, the price, Culver said. The possible purchase by the city came up after the county commission received an offer from a Florida real estate development company. When the county considered its first formal offer during a December 2021 meeting, it took many people by surprise because they didnt realize the property was even for sale. Houston County had never advertised the Houston County Farm Center as being for sale but had put the word out that the county would consider offers after the idea of selling the property came up during budget meetings in 2020. Because the City of Dothan owns 16.8% of the farm center property, the county needed a quitclaim deed from the City of Dothan to move any sale forward. Instead of a quitclaim deed, the Dothan City Commission voted to make an offer on the property. The main curved arena has been used to store Homeland Security equipment since the building was deemed unsafe for public events years ago. The farm center holds a lot of memories for many Wiregrass natives as it hosted events and concerts and was once home of the National Peanut Festival. A large open field on the back side of the property once served as the festivals midway. The city will be buying about 42 acres. Along with metal buildings rented for events and the curved arena building, the complex is also home to offices for the Houston County Water Authority, the local Extension System office, and the Veterans Affairs building. Those offices will have to be relocated, and there is already a plan to put local veteran agencies in with the redevelopment around the old Moody Hospital building in downtown Dothan. Theres also been talk about developing an agriculture complex for entities like the Extension System, and Culver said the city is working with the county on property for a building to store Homeland Security equipment. I think overall this is a good opportunity to, again, work to resolve a problem we have and let the city work with us on the relocation, Culver said. County Commissioner Doug Sinquefield, whose district includes the farm center property, said residents are curious about the City of Dothans plans for the property. Would there be a possibility that were looking at retail, restaurants, something that would enhance that east side? Sinquefield asked Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper, who attended Thursdays meeting. Were glad to see all directions of the county grow the west, north, south but the east side is certainly one that I am pushing to see a lot more growth. Cowper, however, said the city commission has not agreed on any definitive plans for the property. Dothan has initiated a program focused on redeveloping the citys older commercial corridors, and the farm center property fits into the goals of that program, he said. What I can tell you is that they desire to acquire this property with an eye toward redeveloping that property for the public good, Cowper said. I think it is reasonable that that property could be redeveloped as some sort of commercial mixed-use development going forward. Cowper said theres still a lot that has to be done to get to that point, however. County Commissioner Brandon Shoupe said selling the property to the city is the fiscally smart move. There are things that the county does a good job at; there are things that county could do a better job at; and there are things the county doesnt do a good job at, Shoupe said. Having an event space in a highly developable area of town is not one of those things that should be high on our priority list. 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. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MONTGOMERY In celebration of National Peanut Month, Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed a proclamation declaring March as Peanut Month in Alabama. Ivey presented a proclamation to Alabama Peanut Producers Association president Carl Sanders in front of the state capitol. Sanders was joined by board members Jerry Byrd, Billy Hixon, Thomas Adams, and APPA Executive Director, Jacob Davis. In addition, the APPA staff and board members grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and handed out peanuts in front of the Alabama State House for legislators. On Thursday, House Bill 350, designating the peanut as the official state legume, was passed. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. The bill was introduced by Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy). Peanuts are a $211.4 million industry in Alabama, and the state currently ranks second in peanut production in the U.S. with 33 out of 67 counties producing peanuts in 2021. For more information, visit www.alpeanuts.com. A little over a year into Brandy Whites first term as superintendent, the Houston County school board gave high marks and praise during his first evaluation. Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) issued the test that all seven board members contributed to by voting on a scale of 1 to 5, with a score of 1 signaling unsatisfactory performance, 3 indicating meets expectations and 5 meaning demonstrates excellence. Based on an average of 44 indicators that describe his performance in 10 job duty areas, the board gave White, who was elected in 2020 over the incumbent, a score of a 3.7 a rating that means members believe he has exceeded their expectations despite being in office for a short time. The areas scored the highest is communication and interpersonal skills, 4.1, CEO for the school board, 4.0, professional development and leadership, 3.9, and facilities management, 3.8. There was a very clear sense that you have gotten the leader that you hoped to get to run your school system, Susan Salter, director of leadership development for the AASB, said while reviewing evaluation results to school board members on Wednesday. Individual indicators spread among several job duty descriptors show the highest scores in the evaluation are in areas of leadership and communication: Updates board on status of programs, personnel and operations; recommends actions as appropriate, 4.1 Demonstrates decision-making skills, 4.2 Ensures system recruits and retains effective employees, 4.2 Performs duties in professional manner, consistently displaying integrity, honesty, and genuine concern for students and employees, 4.3 Establishes and uses effective communication processes, 4.1 Provides accurate data to board and other agencies as requested, 4.1 Prepares long- and short-range plans for facilities and sites, 4.1 This is the best shape I think this board has been in that I can remember and Ive been here a long time, board member David Hollinger said. Hollinger and board members Vince Wade and Chris Lasseter agreed that the boards leadership is much better than it was two years ago. They all mentioned how White was well-researched and communicated effectively about the recommendations he asked the board to approve during meetings. Annual evaluations and the public process are required by board policy. Members believe its a good way to communicate areas of improvement to their CEO. The superintendent was scored the lowest in the areas of technology management, 3.4, and community relations, 3.5. I think were communicating well. I think were dealing with personnel well, White said following feedback on his evaluation. I think a lot of what I could improve on is just understanding and knowing the job and I think thats going to come with time. I think Ive learned a lot in the first year and I hope to continue learning and growing. Whites performance was also evaluated by the employees who directly report to him, including all central office staff and school principals; 27 qualifying personnel agreed to evaluate his first year on the job. In a set of 30 separate uncategorized indicators, scores average 4.4, signaling that Whites performance well exceeds his staffs expectations. Out of the individual markers, the highest average was a 4.7 for is a positive person who maintains his composure in difficult situations. The second highest scores were 4.6 for actively seeking resources for schools, speaking and writing clearly and coherently, managing financial resources well, and using information gained from many sources to lead improvement. The lowest scored marker was a 4.2 for established routines and procedures that contribute to teaching and learning. The variation in the boards overall score and the direct reports score is common for most AASB sets of superintendent evaluations. The board and superintendent also evaluated the Chief School Financial Officer Kerry Bedsoles performance through AASB. The board and superintendent both indicated that Bedsole exceeded expectations with average scores of 3.7 and 4.9, respectively. Her peer group rated her performance at a 3.4. Sable Riley is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at sriley@dothaneagle.com or 334.712.7915. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com . By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov The Azerbaijani army's engineer-sapper units have defused 233 mines and munitions since early 2022, the Defence Ministry reported on March 10. Over 955 hectares of land have been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance as a result of demining activities. In total, engineering-sapper units cleared 14,448 hectares of land in liberated areas. They discovered and destroyed 6,092 anti-personnel, 2,159 anti-tank, and 9,237 unexploded ordnances of various types. Mine and unexploded ordnance detection and decontamination, as well as other necessary engineering measures, are underway on the liberated territories. Demining towns, agricultural plots, roads, and other infrastructure are the focus of the majority of efforts in liberated areas. Engineering-sapper units are clearing mines and snow from the roads, and new supply roads are being built to ensure the safe movement of vehicles to Azerbaijani army positions in mountainous and difficult-to-access areas. As a result of talks mediated by the Russian Defence Ministry on December 4, 2021, Armenia handed over all mine maps for liberated territories to Azerbaijan. On March 2, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that the low accuracy of Armenia's minefield maps of Azerbaijani liberated territories slows the mine-clearance process. "The demining operations are underway, but people are still losing their lives. From the end of the 44-day Second Karabakh War to the present, over 200 people have become victims of mine explosions in liberated lands," Bayramov said. He added that the high mine contamination of the liberated territories hinders the return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands. It should be noted that Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency, along with the partner countries, carries out demining activities on its liberated territories. Moreover, the State Border Service and the Defence Ministry also demine the liberated lands. Armenia deliberately and constantly planted mines on Azerbaijani territories, in violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, thereby being a major threat to regional peace, security and cooperation. Previously, on June 12, Azerbaijan handed over 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for a map detailing the location of 97,000 mines in formerly-occupied Aghdam. On July 3, Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan maps of about 92,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines planted during the occupation of Fuzuli and Zangilan regions. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered peace agreement on November 10, 2020, to end 44 days of fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution. The Second International Conference on Intelligent Systems and Networks (ICISN 2022) will be hosted by Swinburne Vietnam on March 19, gathering industry leaders and experts in the technology field. ICISN 2022 received nearly 200 studies and projects by authors from more than 10 countries, including Egypt, India, China, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Korea... Among the submissions, 74 studies were approved by the ICISN panel. The ICISN is an annual international research conference where international scholars, scientists and industry experts gather to exchange ideas in the field of electronics, information technology and communication. This year, ICISN welcomes four renowned keynote speakers whose research and applications have made significant contributions to their field and community. Associate Professor Chutiporn Anutariya is a faculty member of the Department of Information and Communication Technology and currently serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET) - Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. Dr. Chutiporn Anutariya completed her Ph.D. in Thailand and received her postdoctoral fellowship from Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 2003. Her doctoral thesis won the Dissertation Award from the National Research Council of Thailand in 2003. Dr. Chutiporn Anutariya currently serves as associate sean for Academic Affairs of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET) - Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. Photo courtesy of Chutiporn Anutariya Her recent projects and contributions in MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) were among Thailand's pioneering works in online education and learning technologies. Her research interests and expertise are in data and knowledge modeling, data analytics and applications, open (government) data, and enhanced learning technologies. Her presentation on "Tourist Behavior Analysis using Taxi Trajectory and Social Media data" at ICISN this year is expected to attract attention and inspire more applications in the field of community services. Associate Professor Rafidah Md Noor is the Head for Center of Research for Mobile Cloud Computing and Deputy Dean (Science) at Institute for Advanced Studies. She also served as the Head of Department of Computer System and Technology from 2011 to 2014, and she has been an active faculty member of Computer Science and Information Technology at University of Malaya. Dr. Rafidah Md Noor, deputy dean (Science) at Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Rafidah Md Noor Dr. Rafidah Md Noor's works apply computer science to solving problems related to transportation systems. Her research framework on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is being tested in large computational experiments in hopes of improving road transport systems for urban environments in Malaysia. Dr. Md Noors topic at ICISN 2022 is "An Optimized Routing Algorithm for Cognitive Radio Vehicular AdHoc Network." The findings of the study open new paths in terms of capacity, latency, packet delivery rate, packet loss rate, and communication costs. Professor Lam Kwok Yan is a Professor of Computer Science at the School of Computer Science and Engineering and Director of the Nanyang Technopreneurship Center at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He also serves in various specialized and leadership roles, such as Director of the Strategic Center for Research in Privacy-Preserving Technologies and Systems (SCRIPTS), and Director of NTUs SPIRIT Smart Nation Research Center. Dr. Lam Kwok Yan is a professor of Computer Science at the School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Photo courtesy of Lam Since 1998, he has received prestigious awards and recognition for his contributions, like the Singapore Foundation Award and founded multiple startups specializing in AI technology and data analytics for smart city applications. From 2017-2019, he served as the Program Chair (Secure Community) of the Graduate College of NTU. In August 2020, Professor Lam joined Interpol as a consultant on technological innovation and cyberspace. He has taught at many major universities, including Tsinghua University, National University of Singapore, University of London..., and acted as a visiting professor at the Isaac Newton Institute of Cambridge University and European Institute for System Security. Professor Lam Kwok Yan's research interests include distributed and intelligent systems, multivariate analysis for behavior analytics, distributed protocols for blockchain, biometric cryptography, homeland security, and cybersecurity. Professor Lam will share his findings and perspectives on the topic AI-Enabled Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysis for Enhancing Productivity of Cyber Ops" at ICISN this year. Associate Professor Tran Duc Tan worked as a faculty member of the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Technology, Vietnam National University from 2006 to 2019. He was promoted to associate professor in 2013 and became the youngest associate professor in Electrical - Electronics - Automation since. In 2016, Dr. Tran Duc Tan was appointed as the vice dean of the Electronics and Telecommunications Faculty, University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. From 2019, he was appointed as the vice dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Phenikaa University. Dr. Tran Duc Tan, vice dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Phenikaa University. Photo courtesy of Tan Dr. Tran Duc Tan has served as program director of various specialized conferences. In addition, he was invited to serve in the review board for more than 20 international journals (under the ISI category) in the field of Electronic Engineering - Signal Processing. At ICISN 2022, he will present on "Some IoT-based systems for emerging applications", a topic of interest to the scientific community. "Digital transformation promises to improve efficiency in various aspects of management, education, engineering, and technology. This process enables innovation and reduces costs for a wide range of business processes. This topic is also a special session of ICISN this year. Along with digital transformation, urban development trends are moving towards optimizing natural resource consumption, sustainable development, better health care, improving operational efficiency and welfare, along with bringing safety and convenience to the people," Dr. Tan commented on the significance of ICISN. ICISN 2022 also welcomes presentations from Vietnam's industry leaders and experts in technology solutions, including Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT Corporation; Vu Anh Tu, CTO of FPT Corporation; Truong Quoc Hung, CEO of VinBrain; and Le Nhan Tam, CTO of IBM Vietnam. ICSN 2022 will take place on March 19 at Swinburne Innovation Space. Boxes of the Lianhua Qingwen Covid-19 drug are sealed away by the police in HCMC's Binh Tan District, March 10, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy Over 56,000 Covid-19 test kits and 76,000 Covid-19 pills of unknown origins were seized by authorities in Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Tan District on Thursday. Police raided an ADN Care warehouse, represented by 39-year-old Nguyen Thanh Thao, and found many Covid-19 test kits and the Lianhua Qingwen Covid-19 drug featuring Chinese characters. Thao failed to present relevant documents to prove the products' origins, which are worth around VND4 billion ($174,900). However, he said they were bought from a Cambodian acquaintance on Facebook. Thao transferred the acquaintance the money via online banking before receiving the goods in Binh Tan District. Thao said his company also manufactures products like masks and alcohol for disinfection without a license. An investigation is ongoing. Former Deputy Health Minister Cao Minh Quang has been detained pending investigation of charges of negligence leading to losses for the state, police announced Friday. The losses have to do with failure to check implementation of drugs imported by a pharmaceutical company. Duong Huy Lieu, 74, former head of the Financial Planning Department under the Ministry of Health, is also being investigated for "negligence resulting in serious consequences" and has been placed under house arrest. Police said Quang and Lieu had failed to check and evaluate terms to buy drug ingredients at discounted prices negotiated by the Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company. The failure led authorities to miss the fact that the drug firm was able to get a discount of $3.848 million on a purchase, the obscuring of which led to losses. It was not clear how the firm hid the discount obtained and what was done with the money. Another former head of the financial planning department, Nguyen Nam Lien, is also being investigated on similar charges. In the same case, police had previously investigated Luong Van Hoa, former director of the Cuu Long firm, and Nguyen Thanh Tong, former deputy director, for "abuse of power or position in performance of official duties." Late last year, Quang had also been pulled up for disciplinary action by the Communist Party's Central Inspection Commission for "misconduct" at the health ministry. He had also been relieved of all his Party positions. Quang was the head of the Drug Administration of Vietnam from 2004 to 2007, then deputy health minister until 2013 before retiring. The Cuu Long Pharmaceutical Company, in the southern Vinh Long Province, has operated for over 40 years and owns four factories. Aerial view of the Itu Aba Island, part of Vietnam's Spratly Islands. Photo by AFP The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Taiwan holding military drills off Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) as a violation of its sovereignty. "Organizing live-fire drills by Taiwan in the sea area surrounding the Itu Aba, part of Vietnams Spratly Islands, is a serious violation of Vietnams sovereignty over the islands, threatening peace, stability, safety and maritime security, causing tension and complicating the situation in the East Sea," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Friday. The East Sea is known internationally as the South China Sea. "Vietnam resolutely opposes and requests that Taiwan ends its illegal activities and not repeat them in the future," Hang said. Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence under international law to assert its sovereignty over both the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Spratly archipelagoes, she added. The Itu Aba, the largest naturally occurring island in the Spratly archipelago, is illegally occupied by Taiwan. Since 2000, Taiwan has replaced the garrison with a marine police unit, equipped with weapons such as machine guns and long-range mortars. This year, the United States and Lithuania celebrate a century of diplomatic relations. Were NATO Allies. Were economic partners. And we share together a deep commitment to democracy, to human rights, [and] to the international rules-based order, declared Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his recent visit to the Baltic nation. Lithuanians understand the importance of freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, having lived through decades of Soviet occupation. In the face of the current crisis, the United States and Lithuania are united in their resolve to stand with Ukraine. Were surging security assistance to strengthen Ukraines capacity to defend itself. Were increasing humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. . . . And were bolstering our shared defense so that we and our allies are prepared to meet any threat, declared Secretary Blinken. The United States commitment to Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty, which states that an attack on one NATO ally is an attack on all allies, remains sacrosanct. No one should doubt our readiness, said Secretary Blinken, no one should doubt our resolve. The United States has authorized allies to provide U.S.-origin defense equipment to Ukraine. Lithuania stepped up with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, M-72 light anti-tank weapons, and other supplies to help the Ukrainian people. Vilnius is also sending about 4 million euros in emergency medical assistance for Ukraine. Fleeing Ukrainians who may arrive in Lithuania will join hundreds of anti-corruption activists, opposition candidates, journalists, and human rights defenders who already have found a safe haven after being forced to flee from harassment, threats of violence, and harsh prison sentences in Russia and Belarus in recent years. Vilnius also provided refuge for Belarusian blogger and dissident Roman Protasevich until last May, when a commercial plane that Protasevich and his companion were on was forced to land in Minsk, where they were arbitrarily detained. The U.S. calls for his immediate release and the release of all people being unjustly detained in Russia and in Belarus. The Lithuanian government recognizes that a threat to the rules-based international order anywhere has the potential to weaken it everywhere. That is why the United States respects and supports Lithuanias decision to expand cultural and commercial ties with democratic Taiwan. The United States stands by Lithuania and the right of every nation to choose its own path. As Lithuania continues to stand for these principles, it can count on the United States to stand with Lithuania. The United States is expanding on the existing economic measures that it imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. In mid-March, President Joe Biden announced that the United States will stop importing Russian fossil fuels and fossil fuel-based products. Oil and gas represent 63 percent of Russias exports, generating around 40 percent of the countrys federal revenues. Coal represents Russias fifth largest source of revenue. Thus, the United States is targeting the main artery of Russias economy, said President Biden. Were banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports, and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putins war machine. On March 8, President Biden signed an executive order banning the importation of crude oil and certain petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal from Russia into the United States, thus depriving the Kremlin of billions of dollars in revenue. The executive order also forbids new U.S. investment in Russias energy sector. This ensures that American companies and American investors are not financing Vladimir Putins efforts to expand energy production inside Russia. For the same reason, Americans are prohibited from financing or enabling foreign companies that invest in Russias energy production. The United States did not act alone in making this decision, said President Biden. We made this decision in close consultation with our Allies and our partners around the world, particularly in Europe, because a united response to Putins aggression has been my overriding focus, to keep all NATO and all of the EU and our allies totally united. The United States produces far more oil domestically than all the European countries combined, said President Biden. So, we can take this step when others cannot. Last year, about 45 percent of all natural gas imported into the European Union came from Russia. On the same day President Biden announced a ban on imports of Russian fossil fuels, the EU announced its own plan to reduce its purchase of Russian gas by two-thirds before the end of the year. Were working closely with Europe and our partners to develop a long-term strategy to reduce their dependence on Russian energy as well, said President Biden. Americans have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and made it clear we will not be part of subsidizing Putins war. A new report shows credit card debt has been on the decline. But could rising interest rates and inflation upend the better money habits you may have built? Host Teri Barr is talking with Sara Rathner, a Personal Finance Expert at NerdWallet, to learn what to expect in the months ahead. Sara also shares a few ideas you can take action on right now to manage your credit card debt during big fluctuations in the economy. Previous Pennywise episodes featuring Sara: High gas prices have you down? Try these 4 simple tips to save at the pump! How to protect yourself from debt collectors using this new tactic Ready for Spring Break? Things to consider before booking vacations in 2022 Financial Resolutions: Tips for Better Budgeting in 2022 Life after Debt? How to Manage Debt so it Stops Managing You! Ten Things a Digital Wallet can do to Simplify Your Finances Money and Your Emotions: How to Make Your Values Your Spending Guide More from Sara at NerdWallet: How Millennials Can Take Their Money Beyond the Basics Revamped PayPal Cashback Card Will Earn 3% on Purchases Via PayPal Forget the Fed, Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt How to Avoid Credit Card Interest or at Least Reduce It How One-Income Couples Can Remain Equals Support the show: https://omny.fm/shows/pennywise See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Kinross Gold Corp. has streamlined management of the companys two Nevada mines Bald Mountain and Round Mountain although the two operations will continue to be independent while opening more opportunities for efficiency and cost savings. This mainly involved adjusting roles and responsibilities of some leaders at both sites to optimize and streamline our management functions. We were able to make this improvement by leveraging natural attrition without a need for layoffs, said Joe Kemp, vice president and general manager at Bald Mountain. Additionally, with the Kinross Nevada model, we are better able to serve our rural communities, as well as the entire state through collaborative efforts between Bald Mountain and Round Mountain, particularly related to our CSR (corporate social responsibilities) initiatives and resources, he said in an email. The one-team approach improves collaboration, sharing of best practices and leverages expertise between the two operations and will help optimize the mine life of both Bald Mountain and Round Mountain, he said. Round Mountain is in Nye County. We are excited about this new operating model and the benefits it will bring, said Kemp, who also provided an update on Bald Mountain, which is in White Pine County, although many of the workers come from Elko and Spring Creek. Mining is going on at Top Pit, Duke II and Saga 5, Kemp said. We are currently focused on the North area of the property, since completing the Vantage Complex Project in the first half of 2019, he said. Mining of the Vantage open pit ended in August 2021. The Vantage Complex Project in the southern portion of the property involved a new heap leach pad and processing facilities, as well as a new carbon adsorption plant, maintenance shop, administrative building and supporting infrastructure. Bald Mountain employs between 600 and 615 people, and roughly 86% of the workers live in Elko, Eureka, and White Pine counties. The company offers busing from Elko, Spring Creek and Ely. Kemp said the mine also employed 2,126 contractors in 2021. Bald Mountain has felt the impact of labor shortages but has developed strategies to mitigate the impact. We invest in our people and offer on-the-job training. This means that employees who join us in entry-level roles can develop into technical roles, which are typically more challenging to source, Kemp said. Kinross Nevada also offers high-paying jobs, well above the average income in larger urban centers such as Las Vegas and Reno, excellent benefits, a 401k, flexible work schedule, tuition reimbursement programs and more to attract and retain talent, he said. Bald Mountain has 84 pieces of equipment, including 28 haul trucks, eight loading units, nine drills, seven graders, 16 dozers, seven graders, five water trucks, two excavators and two tow hauls. Exploration also continues at Bald Mountain, and Kemp said that year-over-year we have consistently added to our mineral reserves and resources. There was roughly 64,632 feet of drilling completed in 2020, focused on the North Operations Area, and last year the mine focused its $6.5 million exploration budget on the encouraging pre-identified drill targets for deposits that can be potentially converted to mineral resources, he said. Near-mine targets in the North area such as Duke, Galaxy, Bida and Royale were the key exploration focuses, he said. Bald Mountain has more than 3.5 million ounces of measured and indicated gold resources and a pipeline of high-quality targets for further exploration, according to Kemp. Reclamation is ongoing at Bald Mountain. At all Kinross operations, including Bald Mountain, reclamation is an important part of our culture. Our reclamation planning begins before construction, is regularly updated throughout the life of mine, and we complete reclamation as we mine. We recognize the responsibility to return land disturbed by mining to stable and productive post-mining land uses, Kemp said. Bald Mountain continues to evaluate concurrent reclamation activities, and when technically, safely, and economically feasible, open-pits will be backfilled, either partially or completely depending on material availability, availability of mineral resource, and consideration of other influencing factors, he said. Bald Mountain has won several awards for its reclamation efforts, including the Nevada Excellence in Mine Reclamation Award for concurrent reclamation and wildlife habitat restoration. Kemp said that there are mule deer migration areas close to the property and the award committee specifically noted Bald Mountains concurrent reclamation of approximately 1,100 acres of land that reduced disturbance within and adjacent to a mule deer migration corridor near the mine. At the end of 2020, Bald Mountain had increased the reclamation footprint by roughly 930 acres in the North Operations Area. Bald Mountain also is dealing with the impact of Covid-19, including starting paid leave for vaccinated employees experiencing a breakthrough event. We have also put out many education pieces from our benefits administration team to help educate our workforce, Kemp said. On a few occasions, we have had a significant number of people off, but we encourage employees to stay home if they are not feeling well to avoid the spread of Covid-19 and other flu strains. As we know, based on public health guidelines, vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of Covid-19. As such, we instituted a vaccination incentive program to encourage employees to consider vaccination; however, it is not mandated, he said. Bald Mountain is unique among surface mines because there are many small pits that are mined or have been mined and reclaimed on the vast property. Barrick Gold Corp. acquired Bald Mountain when it acquired Placer Dome, and Kinross acquired the mine in 2016 while Barrick retained 50% of the Central Zone for joint venture exploration. Kinross acquired 100% ownership of Bald Mountain in 2018. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Great Basin Resource Watch, an environmental organization based in Reno, announced this week that they have filed an appeal to the Nevada State Environmental Commission challenging the Nevada Division of Environmental Protections Water Pollution Control Permit for the Thacker Pass lithium mine. NDEP issued the Water Pollution Control Permit along with a Mine Reclamation Permit and Class II Air Quality Operating Permit for Lithium Nevadas Thacker Pass project on Feb. 25. Thacker Pass, which is north of Winnemucca, is the largest known lithium deposit in the United States. GBRW Executive Director John Hadder said his organization is concerned that there has not been adequate analysis of the potential for leakage from the proposed mines tailings facility, and there has not been adequate study of the possibility of neutralizing all the tailings. In response to GBRWs appeal of the Thacker Pass Water Pollution Control Permit, Lithium Nevada Vice President of Government and Community Relations Tim Crowley said, Lithium Nevada has spent a decade designing an exceptional project that will meet and in most cases exceed the requirements that protect Nevadas precious water. Weve always focused on doing things the right way, which is why were confident that our state-approved permits will be validated through this administrative process. He said the State Environmental Commission has to hold a hearing within 20 days from when the appeal was filed. With the acidic nature of the filtered tailings, the drainage will be not only acidic but will contain a lot of heavy metal toxins, so its going to be very toxic drainage, at least as far as we can tell from the data thats been provided, Hadder said in a February interview. Were very concerned that the mine company has not submitted any kind of plan to neutralize all of the tailings or a feasibility study on that, Hadder said. We know that the state would like to see that happen. I know that the company has made statements about it, but its not going to happen, according to their permit application. We feel this is an environmental hazard that can be avoided by just neutralizing the tailings, Hadder said. If theres a problem in doing it feasibly then the company should submit a plan for why thats the case. Were also concerned that the actual volume of seepage has not been properly analyzed either. Will they be able to manage the drainage that does occur from the tailings facility is a big question for us. Were having an independent analysis done on that aspect. Weve hired tailings expert. This weeks GBRW press release said, Despite some constraints imposed by the state of Nevada, under the state permit Lithium Nevada Corp. will be allowed to dump at least 60 million tons of wet acidic mine tailings on Nevadas landscape, and this will likely increase to 300 million tons with later permit modifications. According to the permit the tailings facility is designed to handle a maximum drainage rate of 74 gallons per minute, but GBRWs independent tailings experts analysis shows that drainage is likely to exceed this rate to hundreds of gallons per minute, the release said. The appeal contends that at such a rate the facility will be overwhelmed with toxic water in violation of Nevada law and will pollute Thacker Pass. GBRW quotes Day Hinkey of the People of the Red Mountain and a McDermitt Tribal member saying, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection should protect people, animals, and plants around/on Peehee Muhuh. Instead they issued permits to Lithium Nevada to contaminate Indigenous sacred land, air, and water for generation after generation for hundreds of years at Peehee Muhuh. NDEP is not doing what their name stands for, its heartbreaking. NDEP is blatantly misleading the public, and needs to be held accountable for their actions. In other news on the Thacker Pass project, on March 10 NDEP issued a Reclamation Permit to Lithium Nevada for the Thacker North-South Exploration Project. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ELKO One of three men charged in a brutal robbery at an Elko convenience store last summer has been sentenced to two prison terms. Norbert L. Lenoir III, 23, of Carlin was originally arrested on charges of robbery, battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, conspiracy to commit criminal contempt, grand larceny and burglary. Police said he Steven R. Mondragon, 29, of Las Vegas and Norman Wasson, 37, of Elko were involved in the incident at the Maverik on Mountain City Highway around 12:25 a.m. Aug. 13. A police report said a California couple was in the store when Wasson appeared to be distracting the male as Mondragon hit him on the back of the head with a wine bottle. Then, Mondragon and Lenoir began beating and kicking the victim. An estimated $25,000 worth of jewelry was stolen. Lenoir pleaded no contest to principal to battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, and principal to grand larceny. He was sentenced March 4 by District Judge Kriston Hill to up to 15 years in prison on the battery charge and up to five years on the larceny charge, to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to make restitution to the victim in the amount of $8,297, jointly and severally with the two other defendants. Lenoir was credited with 192 days already served in jail. He will be eligible for parole after serving seven years. Wasson was released on bail and arrested again in December on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. Mondragon was located two months after the crime in Montana, and he remains in Elko County Jail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 8 By Trend Azerbaijans Baku city could be an ideal place for negotiations between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Kyrgyz politician Djoomart Otorbaev said in an interview with Trend. The Russian proverb says "A bad peace is better than a good war" so the sides should start an intensive dialogue to stop hostilities, Otorbaev said. Many organizations, including Azerbaijans Nizami Ganjavi International Center, express such an opinion. I fully support this opinion. It is necessary to deal with the issues related to the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed, start a dialogue. The politician thinks that Azerbaijan must take the position of a moderator. I remember that while discussing the topic related to the venue for holding the negotiations, Baku was considered and is still considered as an ideal place thanks to the reasonable and sensible policy of the Azerbaijani leadership, understanding of the situation by the leadership, Otorbaev added. The politician added that this is the only correct position. The same position was taken by, for example, the Central Asian countries, which call for launching the real negotiations, Otorbaev said. This is the only way to start restoring trust, which is missing now. Azerbaijans multi-vector policy gives rise to the conclusions. Azerbaijan is located in a very difficult geographical region, but finds mechanisms, common ground for holding the reasonable discussions. The politician said that all this is being done to improve the lives of the country's citizens for the country to continue to move towards a successful future, development, coexistence, cooperation. ELKO Clayton CJ Anderson is in line to be chosen as the long-term superintendent for the Elko County School District, but the determination is now slated for discussion at a special meeting March 15 because of issues with the March 8 agenda. The school board voted Tuesday to begin the hiring process to change his status from interim superintendent and negotiate a contract, but some trustees said they hadnt expected the hiring proposal based on the vagueness of the agenda item, which stated any action deemed appropriate to the evaluation of Interim Superintendent Anderson. The board president, Teresa Dastrup, said the agenda item was written just the way it has been in the past for decisions on naming a superintendent but we dont want any concerns like issues with the open meeting law, and we want the public to have a chance to see it (the agenda) in more detail and give feedback. We will do a special meeting so no one can misinterpret the intent of the agenda item, Anderson said on March 9, after he and the board received advice from legal counsel that it would be in the best interest of the board to do it again. He said no one was trying to do anything sneaky. We want to be sure we are doing things on the up and up, so there is no violation of the open meeting law. Dastrup said legal counsel will help decide whether the motion that passed on March 8 needs to be rescinded. Trustee Ira Wines said in making the motion that weve put a lot of pressure on CJ, and hes done a good job. Its a lot of work to find a superintendent, but I think we have found one who will do good things in this district. Trustee Jeff Durham said he didnt see how we can do any better. Im really happy with what hes doing. Trustee Dr. Joshua Byers said he couldnt speak highly enough about CJ. Anderson took over as interim superintendent on Dec. 14 to replace another interim superintendent, Jeff Zander, a retired superintendent who came back when former Superintendent Michele Robinson resigned last year. The board evaluated Anderson, and each board member presented their scores on Feb. 22. His overall score was 4.03 out of 5, and he said the following day that the school board might talked about the superintendent position on March 8, and he was interested in the job. He also said then that if he wasnt chosen, a search for a permanent superintendent needed to start in March. Trustee Matt McCarty said Tuesdays motion was a surprise, but Anderson had performed admirably. McCarty said he supported hiring Anderson but would vote no because of the timing. Trustee Susan Neal said Anderson was doing a great job but she also voted against the motion. Wines amended his motion at the end of the discussion to say start the hiring process rather than the original motion to hire Anderson as permanent superintendent. Dastrup told the board that the contract with Anderson still needs to be negotiated, and the contract will come back to the board for final action and be attached to the board agenda. The negotiating committee will consist of Dastrup, Wines and Neal. Anderson said on March 9 that the hiring process is lengthy for anyone the district hires. He was director of school improvement for six months before becoming the interim superintendent, and earlier was the principal at the Wells Combined School, beginning in 2019 when he came to Elko County from Texas. I am happy to continue to serve the district in any way I can and work with our school board, who has the best interest of students at heart, Anderson said by phone. I do appreciate the vote of confidence I got from the school staff and community members, and I am excited to work with them, as well. He also said he appreciates the votes of confidence from the school staff and community and is excited to work with them, as well. The special meeting to discuss and possibly appoint Anderson as permanent superintendent of schools is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 15. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Most people like moose. These long-legged herbivores, largest of the deer family, do not generate much controversy. They are solitary creatures and not apt to chow down on a haystack. As Nevadas, and specifically Elko Countys, moose population grows, people are happy. I talked with Kari Huebner, Nevada Department of Wildlife Game biologist for Area 7. She likes moose and likes knowing their numbers are increasing. This area now has a permanent population of moose. During aerial surveys this winter to classify mule deer and elk by gender and age, the surveys also classified 34 moose. If you have ever asked an NDOW biologist for a population estimate, you know they hate to guess. The farthest Kari would go is to say Elko County probably has more than 50 resident moose. Radio collars have been placed on 10 moose to track their movements. Having moose move into an area on their own is rare across the West. What is bringing moose to this area are healthy riparian areas, streams with dense stands of willows. Sixteen moose have been observed to winter in the Goose Creek area and summer in southern Idaho. In winter, moose will browse aspens and mountain mahoganies along with willows. With those long legs, they can spend winter in areas having 2-3 feet of snow, where elk cannot. These moose are believed to have moved into Nevada from southern Idaho and western Utah. Kari does not feel Idaho wolves are somehow pushing moose south. The closest established wolf pack in Idaho is more than 80 miles away across desert landscape. Most likely, moose are doing well in Idaho and Utah, and naturally spreading out. Of course, I asked Kari where I could see a moose. She hedged by saying it is tough to spot moose since they spend a lot of their time in thick willows. The best area seems to be in NDOW units 071 and 072, around Jarbidge and Elk Mountain. They have not stopped their outward spread. Moose have been seen as far west as the Santa Rosa Mountains and south into the Ruby Mountains. How far could they spread through Nevada? Kari feels good habitat exists in the mountains of central Nevada, but moose would probably need to be transplanted to those areas. She wonders if the limiting factor on their spread south would be summer heat, since it is known moose cannot tolerate higher temperatures. NDOW gets a lot of good information from people reporting moose sightings and they have recorded 500 such sightings. Some moose also carry ear tags, so reporting those also help. Kari urged people to call 775-777-2300 or email ndowinfo@ndow.org to report any moose sightings. Most of the past sightings have come from hunters who are in the field at the same time as bull moose are moving around during their October rut. It is much too early to consider a moose hunting season. No moose have been accidently harvested mistaken for elk in the last three years. Signs are posted around northern Elko County stating Know your target, moose have been documented in this area which seems to be helping reduce the accidental harvest. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Data from the Social Security Administration shows that last year more than 65 million people received payments from one of the support programmes offered by the agency. That figure has grown every single year since 1982 and has risen from just 50 million in 2008. The changing demographics of the United States, with people typically living longer and the birth rate decreasing, means that the population is getting older and more people are eligible for Social Security support. However this trend could have severe consequences for the fate of Social Security. A report from Social Security Trustees found that the current funding system will become unable to cover the programmes payments by 2034, meaning that recipients may start to receive a reduced benefit. The report estimates that retirees will only be able to receive 78% of their full entitlement by then. There has been no major Social Security legislation passed since the early 1980s but change is now needed to ensure that vulnerable Americans are not left without sufficient support. Funding concerns for Social Security programmes Funding for the SSAs programmes comes from payroll tax deductions from working people in the US. The payroll tax rate for Social Security is 6.2%, meaning that both the employee and the employer must contribute 6.2% of the workers salary to the SSA to fund the programmes. If youre self-employed you have to cover the whole 12.4%. The system is designed to run with a rolling surplus in the Social Security Trust Fund, a reserve of money that ensures that the payments can continue through fluctuations in the labour market. However in recent years that excess has been drained by the growing number of Social Security claimants and it is now projected to run dry in just 12 years. Kathleen Romig, senior policy analyst from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, explains: You want to have the worker to beneficiary ratio at a sort of healthy level where you dont have too few [working] people paying for too many beneficiaries. She adds: People are having fewer children and because the birth rate is declining you just have fewer workers paying for beneficiaries. There are efforts in place to secure the future of Social Security payments but they are yet to get much traction in Congress. Rep. John Larson of Connecticut has proposed a package known as Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust, which aims to expand upon and boost the funding of Social Security. In announcing the proposals in a Congressional hearing, Larson said: Nobody understands better than the president of the United States that Social Security is a sacred trust between the people and its government. Legislative intervention will be vital to ensuring that vulnerable Americans are not hit with a sudden loss of income when the programmes fund becomes insolvent, but it remains to be seen if Larsons bill will have the votes to pass the Senate. * Ethnic unity and food security are among the policy priorities stressed at this year's "two sessions." * The "two sessions" have showcased China's "whole-process people's democracy." * Economic stability must be a top priority in the government's work in 2022, and progress must be pursued while ensuring stability, noted this year's government work report. BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A crucial political event gathering Chinese national lawmakers and political advisors has showcased the country's "genuine and effective" democratic model, and stressed a slew of policy priorities including ethnic unity, food security and economic stability. The annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), dubbed the "two sessions," are convened this year against the backdrop of a protracted COVID-19 pandemic and international uncertainties. The fifth session of the 13th NPC has seen lawmakers consider a law amendment honing the people's congress system. It is also reviewing a government work report promising measures to stabilize the economy. President Xi Jinping joined lawmakers and political advisors in deliberations and discussions, delivering important speeches that mapped out plans for strengthening ethnic unity, promoting the country's rural revitalization, and enhancing the rule of law in national defense and military building. ETHNIC UNITY, FOOD SECURITY Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Saturday. He hailed ethnic unity as the "lifeline" of Chinese people of all ethnic groups and stressed efforts to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Any work that can help forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be done in a thorough, meticulous and solid manner, he said. Joining national political advisors in a joint group meeting on Sunday, Xi said that in promoting rural revitalization, the supply of major agricultural products, grain in particular, must be secured as the top priority. "Despite China's industrialization, food supply should never be considered an insignificant issue, and we cannot rely solely on the international market to solve it," Xi said, warning against slacking off on the food security issue. China should be well-prepared, remain vigilant on food security, and adhere to the principle of self-sufficiency based on domestic grain production, guaranteed production capacity, moderate food imports and technological support, he said. GENUINE, EFFECTIVE DEMOCRACY China practices a "whole-process people's democracy," which is "the broadest, most genuine, and most effective" democracy. The notion, first raised by Xi during an inspection tour in Shanghai in 2019, has become a buzzword during this year's "two sessions." Lawmakers are deliberating a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, which will make "upholding whole-process people's democracy" a guiding principle. Lawmakers are also mulling giving more seats in the next-term national legislature to people from the grassroots level and women, with a draft decision on the quota and election of deputies to the 14th NPC submitted for deliberation. According to a work report of the NPC Standing Committee, all 473 proposals deputies put forward during the fourth session of the 13th NPC were reviewed by NPC special committees, and all 8,993 suggestions submitted by deputies during that session were forwarded to 194 organizations for examination and handling, which has now been completed. The proposals and suggestions covered various areas including measures to improve people's wellbeing, ecological protection and green development. Responding to a question about whether China and the United States are vying for a greater say in democracy, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the CPPCC session, said the United States convenes the so-called "Summit for Democracy" to suppress others and divide the world while maintaining its hegemony. Guo said the United States uses democracy as a pretext to serve its own interests. "Democracy is diverse in its forms, and is not a patent held by a few countries," he said. "The democratic systems of countries should be chosen independently by their own people based on national conditions." STABLE GROWTH TOP PRIORITY Economic stability must be a top priority in the government's work in 2022, and progress must be pursued while ensuring stability, noted this year's government work report. "In the face of new downward pressure, the task of ensuring stable growth needs to occupy an even more prominent position," the report said. China has set its economic growth target for this year at around 5.5 percent, representing a medium-high rate of growth given the country's massive economic aggregate. Along with the GDP target, China aims to create over 11 million new urban jobs, keep a surveyed urban unemployment rate of no more than 5.5 percent, keep grain output at over 650 million tonnes and lower the ratio of its deficit to GDP to stand at around 2.8 percent in 2022. China will ramp up efforts to pursue prudent and effective macro policies, continuously energize market entities, and expand reform and opening-up, said the report. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Accordingly, the Japanese government has officially announced the easing of entry restrictions, permitting foreign labourers, international students and family visa holders to enter the country. VNA reported that the country allows a maximum of 5,000 people to enter per day from March instead of just 3,500 like before. Japans authorities have also allowed online applications for entry permits through the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS), starting from 10am on February 25, 2022. Regarding the number of Vietnamese guest labourers working abroad in the first months of 2022, the Department of Overseas Labour Management said although foreign markets have begun to resume the reception of Vietnamese workers, requirements for COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control are more stringent. The quarantine period for both Japanese people and foreigners after entering Japan can be reduced from seven days to three days. Those who have been vaccinated three doses of COVID-19 vaccines and from a country considered not to be at high risk of the pandemic, will be exempted from quarantine. Vietnam told to remove hurdles to attract FDI from Europe Vietnam has been advised to remove a number of bottlenecks in a bid to further improve the local business climate and attract high-quality FDI inflows from Europe, reported VOV. Vietnam needs to further improve the local business climate to attract high-quality FDI inflows from Europe (Photo: congthuong.vn) Dang Tuyet Vinh from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), revealed that the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which hit Vietnam last April had dealt a blow to European operations locally, causing Eurochams Business Climate Index (BCI) to drop to a record low level. Despite this fall, Vinh pointed out that leaders of many European firms remained optimistic about the local trade and investment environment, particularly when the BCI rose to 61 points in January, representing a jump of 42 points since the third quarter of last year. These positive signs can largely be attributed to the countrys rapid vaccination coverage coupled with the Governments strong determination to gradually reopen the economy. Alongside COVID-19 containment efforts, the EuroCham representative also highlighted the governments efforts to improve the investment climate in recent times, a factor which has served to turn the country into an attractive destination for financiers. Most notably, Vinh spoke highly of the various achievements obtained from the effective implementation of the Governments Decree No.15 relating to food safety management which has helped the local food industry experience high growth, even during the pandemic. In addition, with the enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the impending EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), Vietnam will seize the opportunity to attract fresh waves of FDI from European investors, Vinh added. The trade official went on to underline the need to resolve existing issues relating to infrastructure, human resources, the business environment, as well as simplifying administrative procedures and deploying institutional reforms to further attract FDI from Europe. Vietnamese firms urged to expand ties with Japanese investors amid new trends Domestic firms should consider expanding partnerships with Japan in new areas like smart city and startup incubation, VOV cited the saying by Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Director of the Institute of Branding and Competition Strategy. BTATN9321dailyvietnamesefirm.jpg A store of Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo in Vietnam (Photo: baodautu.vn) Unleashed potential for Vietnam-Japan cooperation remains huge, he said. However, we are living at a time when the frequency and intensity of uncertainties are growing, he said, adding that changes in geopolitics and finance-monetary affairs, together with the pandemic, climate change and natural disasters are creating new landscapes, which trigger a shift in global supply and value chains. He highlighted several noteworthy factors in the supply chain shift that are relatively relevant to the regional situation, saying first of all, Asia Pacific remains crucial to the global production network thanks to its competitive advantages as well as trade and investment liberalisation which have been accelerated over the past several decades. Secondly, the fourth Industrial Revolution and the digital transformation have optimised supply chains, leading to shortened or shrank supply chains, he continued. Thirdly, geopolitical tensions like the trade dispute between the US and China, and the COVID-19 pandemic has set the scene for the development of new trends. Many countries now are more interested in strategic items like masks and medical supplies as well as in developing core technologies and identifying trusted partners. Regarding bilateral cooperation in the value chain, Japan remains one of Vietnams largest foreign investors, with more than 65% of FDI flows from Japan poured into the manufacturing and processing sector in Vietnam. Vietnam imports Cambodian rice with preferential tax on offer According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam is set to offer a special preferential tariff for rice and dry tobacco imported from Cambodia this year. The total quota for rice and dry tobacco this year stands at 300,000 and 3,000 tonnes, respectively. Rice and dry tobacco imported from Cambodia must have certificate of origin form S (C/O form S) issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, or by agencies authorised by the Cambodian Government. Photo for illustration (Source: vietnamnet.vn) The circular is due to take effect from April 15 to December 31. Photo for illustration. (Source: congthuong.vn) According to International Trade Center data as quoted by the Ministry of Industry and Trades Import-Export Department, in 2021, Japan purchased 409,800 tonnes of coffee, worth approximately 1.32 billion USD, up 2.7% in volume and 11.6% in value compared to 2020. It is noteworthy that Japans coffee import from Brazil and Vietnam increased in 2021, but declines were seen from other key suppliers, such as Colombia, Guatemala and Ethiopia. The share of Vietnamese coffee in Japan saw a slight drop to 24.62% last year from 25.25% in 2020. Coffee consumption in the market is expected to increase in the near future after a downward trend in imports triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years. According to estimates, Vietnams coffee shipment in February 2022 reached 130,000 tonnes, worth 304 million USD, down 20.4% in volume and down 18% in value from the previous month. In the first two months of the year, the country exported 293,000 tonnes of coffee abroad, valued at 674 million USD, representing a year-on-year rise of 3.4% in volume and 35.6% in value. Notably, export of robusta coffee to Germany, Belgium and the UK witnessed remarkable growth. According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan, Vietnamese coffee firms are advised to capitalise on chances offered by free trade agreements (FTAs) to bolster shipments to Japan, as Vietnamese coffee is being favoured by local consumers amid an increasing demand for instant type./. Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh (right) hosts a reception for Erex Chairman and Representative Director Honna Hitoshi in Hanoi on March 11. (Photo: VNA) At a reception for Erex Chairman and Representative Director Honna Hitoshi in Hanoi on March 11, the top legislator noted that Erex and Vietnams T&T Group signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in biomass energy in Vietnam. He said the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia is thriving across spheres, adding that Japan continues to be Vietnams leading economic partner, biggest official development assistance (ODA) supplier, second biggest investor, third biggest tourism partner and fourth biggest trade partner. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the bilateral trade and economic ties have still grown, creating an important foundation for the Vietnam-Japan cooperation to expand in all fields, the host said. In reply, Hitoshi stressed that the Japanese government wants to help Vietnam fulfill its target of reducing carbon emissions, saying Vietnam has huge potential for biomass energy development which would contribute to ensuring stable electricity supply. He told the Vietnamese leader that Erex and its Vietnamese partners studied biomass resources in 16 Vietnamese cities and provinces last month, and 19 projects with capacity of 1400MW would be rolled out in Vietnam by 2035. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that Erexs investment plan in biomass power matches Vietnams national strategy on green growth for 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050, as well as the countrys commitment made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Vietnam is also working to complete the Power Development Plan VIII under which increasing the ratio of renewable energy, including biomass power, is taken into account. The Vietnamese legislature always supports and facilitates sustainable and long-term investment of businesses in the country, he pledged./. The statement was made by representatives of the Vietnamese community in some countries during a recent online working session with leaders of the Foreign Ministry's State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV); the Vietnamese embassies in Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, and Hungary; and the union of Vietnamese associations in Europe. Vietnamese from Ukraine supported by the Vietnamese Embassy and community in Hungary (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, Head of the SCOV, expressed his pleasure when most of Vietnamese in Ukraine have been evacuated, adding that the Party and State have always paid due attention to and given early direction to ensure safety of lives and assets of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine. Accordingly, the first flight operated by Vietnam Airlines repatriating 287 Vietnamese people evacuated from war zones in Ukraine landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at noon on March 8. He stressed the need to carry out more realistic measures to support overseas Vietnamese in Ukraine, as well as strengthen connection and coordination among overseas Vietnamese associations in this work. Deputy Head of the SCOV Ngo Trinh Ha said that with the spirit of initiative, urgency and efficiency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and sectors, and the Vietnamese representative agencies abroad have been focusing on a number of measures to support and protect Vietnamese people in Ukraine. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had phone talks with his counterparts and ambassadors of related countries on the work, he said. Meanwhile, direct liaison channels between the SCOV and Vietnamese associations abroad have been established, providing guidance, information and support and organising evacuation, he added. Mr. Ha expressed his belief that with the solidarity of the Vietnamese community abroad, and efforts made by agencies inside and outside the country, Vietnamese people in Ukraine will soon overcome difficulties. On the occasion, the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic donated 10,000 EUR each to the Vietnamese embassies in Poland and Romania to help Vietnamese evacuated from Ukraine./. Vietnamese citizens fill in necessary forms at the embassy in Romania. (Photo: VNA) This will be the second repatriation flight bringing Vietnamese people home from Bucharest. The VN68 flight is to depart from Bucharests Henri Coanda international airport at 5:20pm on March 12 and land at Hanois Noi Bai airport at 4:40am on March 13 (local time). It is projected to carry 276 passengers. Vietnamese Ambassador to Romania Dang Tran Phong said passengers include under-12 children accompanied by adults, elderly people, pregnant women, persons with illness, students, and people in disadvantaged circumstances. In addition, the embassy and the Vietnamese community in Bucharest are assisting more than 600 compatriots with procedures and accommodations while waiting for upcoming flights to Vietnam./. The four Vietnamese crewmembers (Photo: VNA) On March 8, the embassy received a notice by a representative of the Panama-flagged MV Toyo Star cargo ship in Thailand, which informed that the ship hit and caused the Vietnamese seafood logistics vessel to sink earlier the same day when it was on the way to Thailand through Vietnam's waters. The MV Toyo Star rescued four crew members of the Huy Hoang ship, three of them residing in Vietnams Ben Tre province and one in Ca Mau province. The Panama ship arrived at the Kerry Siam port in Thailands Chonburi province on the night of the day. On March 9-10, the embassy sent officials to visit and provide basic necessities for the four citizens at the port, and work with representatives of MV Toyo Star and Chonburi provincial authorities concerning procedures to bring them to the mainland and back home. However the repatriation work is facing difficulties due to Thai regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the morning of March 10, the MV Toyo Star moved to the Klong Toei port in Bangkok with four Vietnamese crew members onboard and is expected to leave for Indonesia on March 12. Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Bangkok, Le Trung Kien, first secretary in charge of citizen protection at the embassy, said the embassy has sent a note to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting coordination with relevant local authorities to allow the Vietnamese crew members to come ashore before the cargo ship departs for Indonesia. Kien said that the embassy will closely coordinate with the Thai immigration authorities to carry out procedures to bring the citizens back to Vietnam./. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Police have seized a large number of Armenian-left weapons and munitions in liberated Zangilan, Azertag reported on March 11, citing the Interior Ministrys press service. One submachine gun, one "Fagot," 13 different types of grenades, 25 different types of shells, 20 submachine gun magazines, 4,752 cartridges of various calibers, and other ammunition were discovered as a result of a joint operation conducted by the Zangilan region police department and representatives from the State Security Service and the Mine Action Agency. The munitions were handed over to the appropriate authorities. Intensive measures are being taken together with the relevant agencies to clear the liberated territories of mines and other explosive devices, and to collect the weapons and ammunition left by the Armenian military units, the report added. Azerbaijan and Armenia resumed the second war after the 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 ceasefire agreement stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Armenian-occupied Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions. Before the signing of the deal, the Azerbaijani army had liberated around 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historic Shusha city. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw all its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it had occupied since the early 1990s. The editorial of Pasaxon Newspaper on March 10 emphasized that young people need to better understand the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos. (Photo: NDO) According to the editorial, 2022 is a year full of great events between the two countries, especially two major events that are the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Vietnam and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty. Therefore, during the official visit to Vietnam from January 8-10, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh co-chaired the launching ceremony of the Year of Solidarity and Friendship between Vietnam and Laos. These activities will build deeper understanding and awareness in Laos and Vietnam about the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation. The editorial encouraged Lao people, under the leadership and direction of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, to unite and work together so that 2022 is the year to raise awareness of the pure and loyal friendship, making it become a solid foundation for promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The Pasaxon Newspaper editorial said that, from previous experiences in organizing the celebration of the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year 2017, the National Steering Committee have met many times to perfect the apparatus as well as divide the work for the sub-committees. For this anniversary to have even better results, the editorial emphasized that Party committees at all levels need to be clearly aware of and focus on fostering political ideology so that Party members as well as people, especially the young people, better understand the tradition, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, which is forever a precious heritage of the two nations. At the end of February 2022, at the conference to discuss the preparation to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022 under the chairmanship of comrade Bounthong Chitmany, Politburo member, standing member of the Secretariat and Vice State President, the National Steering Committee to celebrate the Lao-Vietnamese Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 decided on many important issues related to the organization of the year./. People wearing masks walk along Orchard Road in Singapore on October 1, 2021. (Photo: CNA) Singapores daily caseload totalled around 22,000 on March 8, compared to some 26,000 two weeks ago. Among them, 1,499 were hospitalised, including 49 in intensive care units. Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Health, said clinics run by general practitioners, as well as hospitals and healthcare workers, are still under pressure caused by the Omicron wave. Much of this pressure comes from people who remain unvaccinated. He said 3 percent of the countrys adult population who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 25 percent of ICU cases and deaths. Against this, people who have received their booster shots are 33 times less likely than those who are not fully vaccinated, to die from COVID-19, he emphasised. Singapore is still enforcing vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) to protect people who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated while allowing the others to resume normal activities. To step up ICU beds significantly, as of January, the country has provided training for more than 800 non-ICU nurses as a reserve to augment ICU nursing manpower by up to 57 percent./. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanges views on the situation in Ukraine with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian via video link on March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine respectively with his French and Italian counterparts via video link. When meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Wang said the major consensus reached by Chinese, French and German leaders during a virtual summit held on Tuesday should be well implemented. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the summit. China's stance is consistent and clear, Wang said. "We would like to see an early ceasefire and cessation of fighting, which is also the common aspiration of the international community." Concerning the three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Wang said that although there remain obvious differences between the two sides, the differences will be reduced each time the two speak, the hope for peace will increase, and the goal of a ceasefire and cessation of fighting will be further advanced. China hopes that the international community will continue to encourage and support Russia-Ukraine negotiations and create the necessary environment and conditions for these negotiations, Wang said. Concerning the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Wang said that China has not only made great efforts to evacuate Chinese nationals, but has also played a positive role in evacuating citizens of other countries, especially students. "China has put forward a six-point proposal to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and is ready to step up communication with France and push the UN Security Council to reach a relevant consensus," he said. He noted that China always opposes long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. He said that in the case of weak global economic recovery, unlimited sanctions will undermine the stability of international industrial and supply chains, aggravate the food and energy crisis, and hurt people's livelihoods in all countries. For his part, Le Drian said that France supports efforts to promote peace and hopes that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will continue. France is ready to continue cooperation with China at the UN Security Council, and contribute to preventing a humanitarian crisis and promoting the diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine issue. During the meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Wang said that the Ukraine crisis is closely related to European security and stability, and China fully understands the great concern of European countries and is deeply grieved that the situation in Ukraine has reached its current state. "China is not a party involved, but as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, we will continue to make efforts to ease tensions and seek peace in our own way," he said. Wang stressed that behind the Ukraine crisis lies the issue of European security. He said European countries should conduct in-depth and comprehensive discussions with Russia on the basis of the agreement reached so far and in accordance with the principle of the indivisibility of security, so as to form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework and achieve lasting peace and stability in Europe. Di Maio said that Italy is paying close attention to China's six-point humanitarian proposal and stands ready to strengthen communication with China and make joint efforts to promote peace talks. The European security mechanism requires equal consultation among all parties to achieve win-win outcomes, the Italian foreign minister said. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanges views on the situation in Ukraine with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio via video link on March 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Editor: JYZ By Zhang Zhou Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met the press after the closing of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2022. Li took questions from Chinese and foreign journalists via video link. A 5.5-percent increase on the basis of over 110-trillion-yuan (about 17.4 trillion U.S. dollars) GDP in China today would generate the same amount of output equivalent to the size of a medium economy, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Friday. China will increase government spending and extend tax and fee cuts to enable steady growth in 2022. China, U.S. economic competition should be healthy, fair. China has opened fast-track lanes and green corridors to keep business exchanges and ensure the normal running of companies and projects in key areas since the outbreak of the pandemic. Mainland will continue sharing development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots. China will continue to make its COVID-19 response more scientific and targeted based on the epidemic situation and new developments and features of the virus. China will prevent and control the epidemic to protect people's life, health and safety to keep up the normal running of work and life, and ensure security of industrial and supply chains. Protecting and improving people's livelihood is the fundamental purpose of the government efforts in growing the economy. China will give priority to small and micro enterprises in its tax rebates to help them navigate difficulties. Small and micro firms are of a large amount and cover a wide range of sectors, helping create a great number of job opportunities. China has streamlined administration, delegated power, improved regulation and upgraded services to improve its business environment. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: WXL The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already transferred $1.4 billion (SDR1.006 billion) of emergency financial support to Ukraine under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), a decision on which was made in Washington on March 9. "The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday approved a disbursement of $1.4 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument to help meet urgent financing needs and mitigate the economic impact of the war," Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Managing Director and Chair, said at a press conference in Washington on the evening of March 10. The Defense Forces of Ukraine rebuff and hold back the offensive operation of the Russian armed forces in all directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. In Polissia direction, the occupier tries to break through the defense in the areas of settlements of Polisske, Kukhari, Zhovtneve, Andriyivka, Kopyliv, Motyzhyn, Buzova, Horenychi, Bucha, Demydiv and block Kyiv. In the Siversk direction, the enemy was stopped while trying to break through the defenses of the city of Chernihiv. In Kharkiv direction, the aggressor continues unsuccessful attempts to block Kharkiv from the north. It is known that rifle regiments formed by the use of Russian reservists involved in the conduct of hostilities in the city area. On Donetsk and Tauride directions, the enemy is trying to capture Mariupol and Severodonetsk. In Pivdenny Buh direction, the Russian aggressor tried to establish control over the city of Mykolaiv and develop an offensive in the direction of the cities of Zaporizhia and Kryvy Rih. In the Black Sea and Azov operational zones, due to weather conditions, the ships of the invaders returned to the naval bases and bases. It is noted that "the Russian invaders are stopped, demoralized and suffer significant losses." Two servicemen were killed and six were injured as a result of an air strike by Russian troops on the airfield in Lutsk on Friday morning, head of Volyn Regional Military Administration Yuriy Pohulyaiko said in a video message posted on his Telegram channel. "At about 5:45 this morning on March 11, four missiles were launched, which, according to estimates, were fired from a bomber of the Russian army at the facilities of Lutsk military airfield. Unfortunately, there are casualties. Information about the dead at the moment: two killed servicemen have been found. There are six wounded of varying severity," Pohulaiko said. According to the head of the regional administration, the debris at the site of the airstrike is currently being cleared. He promised to provide more information later. The EU will not impose sanctions against oil and gas imports from Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. "The most important issue for us was resolved in a favorable way: there will be no sanctions on gas and oil, so that Hungary is provided with a reliable energy supply in the coming period," Orban was quoted as saying by Western media. The prime minister made such a statement against the backdrop of an informal EU summit taking place in Versailles. Earlier on Friday, it was reported that EU leaders announced their intention to continue supporting Ukraine and help it recover. The heads of state and government of the community also declared their determination to "further increase (...) pressure on Russia and Belarus." Earlier this week, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he did not support the idea of immediately abandoning the import of Russian oil and gas, as it is not rational for the countries of the European Union. By Trend Main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was elected South Korea's next president on Thursday, Trend reports citing Yonhap News Agency. Ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung conceded defeat and congratulated Yoon in a statement read at the party headquarters. "I did my best but failed to live up to your expectations," he said. "All responsibility lies with me. I extend my congratulations to candidate Yoon Suk-yeol." Yoon of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) emerged from his home in southern Seoul and thanked his supporters before heading to the party's headquarters. With 98 percent of the vote counted, Yoon had 48.59 percent of the vote against Lee of the liberal Democratic Party (DP)'s 47.79 percent. No significant changes in positions of troops over past six hours General Staff Over the past six hours, there have been no significant changes in the situation of the Ukrainian troops and the aggressor troops, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. In the temporarily occupied territories, the enemy is spreading pro-Russian messages, the invaders are trying to negotiate with the local population. On the territory of Kherson region, the aggressor is trying to introduce an administrative-police regime, creating a system of commandant's offices to maintain "order" in the temporarily occupied settlements. During clashes in Chernihiv region with units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the invaders continue to suffer significant losses. As a result, the occupying troops in this direction are demoralized and surrender. Number of refugees from Ukraine reaches almost 2.5 mln, over 1.5 mln go to Poland Since February 24, when Russia launched a war against Ukraine, the number of refugees from Ukraine to Poland has reached 1.52 million, the Polish Border Guard Service reported on Twitter on Friday. According to it, on March 10, some 87,000 people from Ukraine crossed the Polish border, and on March 11, as of 7:00, another 25,400. According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at 13:00 Kyiv time on March 10, in general, the Russian military offensive against Ukraine forced 2.473 million people to leave the country in 15 days of the war in search of security, protection and help. The department clarifies that 60.6% of all refugees fell on the share of the Ukrainian-Polish border, while Hungary received 225,050, Slovakia 176,090, Moldova 104,930, Romania (data as of March 8 ) 84,670, and other European countries (data as of March 9) 258,840. According to the OHCHR, 99,300 arrived in Russia from Ukraine, and 860 arrived in Belarus. The department indicates that after a slight decrease, the flow of refugees has increased again: if, after a peak of 208,940 on March 6, the next day it decreased to 200,900, on March 8-9 to 185,180 and 174,620, respectively, then on March 10 it jumped again to 190,430. "As the situation continues to evolve, about 4 million people may leave Ukraine," the OHCHR notes. According to it, as of mid-2021, there were 53,470 Ukrainian refugees in the world who applied for the appropriate status, of which 36,490 were in Europe. As of mid-2020, the OHCHR estimated the Ukrainian diaspora in the world at 6.1 million, including 5 million in Europe. The organization clarifies that the right to free movement within the Schengen area means that there are very few border controls in the European Union, so arrivals in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia only reflect border crossings in these countries, however, according to the UN, a large number of people moved to other countries. In addition, the OHCHR does not take into account persons from border countries who leave Ukraine and return home. Shoigu says more than 16,000 volunteers from Middle East ready to fight for 'LPR/DPR' Russia's Ministry of Defense has received more than 16,000 applications from volunteers from the Middle East who want to fight for the so-called "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Shoigu at the meeting said captured Ukrainian weapons - armored vehicles and anti-tank systems would be transferred to the "republics" ("LPR/DPR"). Against the backdrop of the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine, Shoigu proposed to supply the "DPR" and "LPR" with air defense systems. "We have a proposal - to ensure a higher combat capability of the fighters of the "LPR" and "DPR," to transfer to them air defense systems, in particular MANPADS, and anti-tank missile systems," Shoigu said at a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with permanent members of the Russian Security Council. According to Shoigu, this step is necessary "against the background of the fact that there are absolutely uncontrolled deliveries of weapons, various weapons to Ukraine from all sides." "In my opinion, no one there already counts who, where, how much is distributed, this has been said more than once today," Shoigu said about the supply of weapons to Ukraine by Western countries. "We have accumulated a large number of weapons, Ukrainian weapons: these are tanks, armored vehicles and all types of small arms, quite a lot, and artillery. In addition, there are many Javelin and Stinger systems, which can be used there to defend their republics," the Russian Defense Minister said. He stated that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation received more than 16,000 applications from volunteers from the Middle East who want to fight for the "DPR" and "LPR." "And here, of course, we consider it right to respond positively to requests, especially since these requests are not for money, but at the true desire of these people. We know many of them, they helped in the fight against ISIS (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation) in the most difficult time, in the last ten years," Shoigu said. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has announced the opening of criminal proceedings after an air strike on the city of Dnipro on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). "On March 11, 2022, at about 05:50 a.m., the Russian armed forces carried out rocket attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in the Novokodaksky district of the city of Dnipro. As a result of three aircraft-guided missile strikes, an apartment building, the regional migration service and the building of the regional administration were damaged. One of the shells fell near the kindergarten. Also, due to a shell hitting a two-storey shoe factory, a fire broke out, which has not yet been eliminated. According to preliminary information, one person died," the PGO's Telegram channel reported. At the same time, the Office of the Prosecutor General emphasized that there are no military facilities in the affected territory. An investigative team and employees of the explosive service police are working at the scene of the incident, the circumstances of the incident are being established. Prosecutors continue to take measures to document war crimes committed by representatives of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Police officers, together with representatives of the territorial defense, detained 29 Russian servicemen in Sumy region, the National Police of Ukraine reports. "Thanks to the caring residents of Romensky district, near one of the villages, a group of suspicious persons in military uniform was seen in the field. The police, together with representatives of the territorial defense, responded to the appeal and detained 29 servicemen of the Russian Federation," the National Police said on the Telegram channel. According to the report, the Russian military told the National Police that they "were walking according to the map to the border." "Currently, all the detainees have been transferred to the appropriate authorities, where all the circumstances under which they ended up on the territory of Romensky district will be clarified," the National Police inform. Academicians of the National Agrarian Academy of Ukraine (NAAU) on March 10 terminated all relations with the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, and also withdrew from the foreign members of the RAS, according to the website of the academy. "Unfortunately, the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as the core of the scientific community of Russia, did not take appropriate actions aimed at stopping the aggression of the Russian Federation against the people of Ukraine. Under the current conditions, we do not consider further cooperation with the Russian Academy of Sciences possible and with this statement we announce our withdrawal from the foreign members of the Russian Academy of Sciences," NAAU said in its message to RAS. Eight Ukrainian academicians resigned as members of the RAS: V.Busol, V.Verhunov, P.Kovalenko, V.Rybalko, V.Saiko, P.Sabluk, B.Bedrenny and A.Shevchenko. The academicians said that on February 24, 2022, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, without declaring war, carried out an act of military aggression against Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of civilians, including children, and the destruction of residential buildings, social, civil and scientific infrastructure. Under the procedural leadership of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, a pretrial investigation of the shelling of Zolochiv was launched, as a result of which one woman died, two more were hospitalized. According to the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, criminal proceedings have been opened under Part 2 of Article 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. "It was established that on March 10, 2022, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation fired artillery at the town of Zolochiv... As a result of the shelling, a 56-year-old local resident died. Two women with injuries of varying severity were hospitalized in Bohodukhivska central district hospital. They have now been operated on," the statement said. According to the regional prosecutor's office, as a result of the shelling, two residential buildings were also completely destroyed, and two more were damaged. The pretrial investigation is being carried out by investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region. Since the beginning of the war, Russia has fired 328 Iskander and Kalibr, TochkaU and X-class operational-tactical land- and sea-based missiles at civilian settlements in Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny has said. "Since the beginning of the open invasion, Russia has fired 328 Iskander, Kalibr, TochkaU and X-class operational-tactical land- and sea-based missiles against peaceful cities and villages of Ukraine," he said on Facebook. There were 219 missile strikes. Zaluzhny emphasized that this "bloody crime of the Putin regime" is a flagrant violation of the norms of International Humanitarian Law and requires an investigation by The Hague Tribunal. The European Commission aims to double the volume of military assistance to Ukraine and to allocate another EUR 500 million for this purpose, EU diplomat Josep Borrell said on Friday. "I propose to double the contribution of the EU to send additional EUR 500 million to armaments in support of the Ukrainian army," BFM TV quoted him as saying during the second day of the informal summit of EU leaders in Versailles. "Everyone is fully aware that we are forced to increase our military support to Ukraine. I am sure that the leaders will approve the allocation of these funds," he continued. He noted that the EU is also studying the possibility of imposing more sanctions against the Russian economy and Russian entrepreneurs. The day before, the representative of the head of EU diplomacy, Peter Stano, recalled that, given Ukraine's requests for armaments, the EU undertook to support the Ukrainian armed forces, having determined their needs at EUR 500 million. "I will add that the member states agree with this decision and that support for the Ukrainian armed forces is also being carried out bilaterally. Of course, it is up to the EU states to decide what they will supply to Ukraine as part of the use of these EUR 500 million," Stano said, evading a direct answer to the question about the prospect of providing combat aircraft to Ukraine by the European Union. The sixteenth day of Ukraine's heroic opposition to the Russian military invasion is underway, now Kyiv, Mariupol, and advancement in Kryvyi Rih, Kremenchug, Nikopol and Zaporizhia remain the main areas of concentration of efforts of Russian troops, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported. "Kyiv and Mariupol, as well as advances in Kryvyi Rih, Kremenchuk, Nikopol and Zaporizhia, remain the main areas of concentration of the enemy's efforts. Unable to achieve success, the enemy continues to carry out missile and bomb attacks on cities located deep in the territory of Ukraine - Dnipro, Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk," it said on Facebook. It is noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted significant losses on Russian troops, which forced them to retreat from the previously captured settlements of Kyiv region. In Siverske direction, active offensive actions are not carried out by the enemy. In some areas, the enemy carried out fire raids and reconnoitred the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to the General Staff, the formation of enemy reserves and their transfer to the areas of combat operations on the territory of Ukraine continues, the air defense system of the occupying troops in Donetsk and Tavriyske directions is being built up. In Slobozhanske direction, the enemy keeps Sumy surrounded and partially blocks Kharkiv from the north, and is regrouping troops. "In Donetsk and Tavriyske directions, the enemy does not abandon attempts to capture the cities of Mariupol and Severodonetsk, but unsuccessfully. The enemy did not implement plans to establish control over Mykolaiv, advance in the directions to Zaporizhia and Kryvyi Rih. Due to significant losses, the invaders are forced to go on the defensive and are trying to carry out comprehensive support," it says. In Volyn, the threat of sabotage at military and civilian infrastructure remains. By Trend The trade turnover between Georgia and Uzbekistan in January 2022 totaled $11.1 million an increase of 101.8 percent, compared to $5.5 million over the same month of 2021, Trend reports via the National Statistics Office (Geostat). In particular, Georgias imports from Uzbekistan over the reporting period of 2022 amounted to $2.6 million, which is an increase of 179.6 percent, compared to $941,190 over the same period of 2021. Georgias exports to Uzbekistan in January 2022 amounted to $8.5 million, which is an increase of 86.8 percent, compared to $4.5 million over the same month of 2021. According to Geostat, Uzbekistan ranks 10 among Georgias top trading partners by exports over January 2022. Meanwhile, Georgias foreign trade turnover (excluding non-declared trade) in January 2022 increased by 41.1 percent, compared to $786.2 million over the same period of 2021, and by 20.4 percent, compared to January 2020 ($913.3 million) and amounted to $1.1 billion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine protests in connection with the baseless, politically motivated decision of the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don dated March 10, 2022, on the conviction on trumped-up charges to imprisonment of five citizens of Ukraine in the so-called case "the second Simferopol group Hizb ut-Tahrir." "Along with the ongoing cynical and barbaric killings of the civilian population of Ukraine, the bombing of Ukrainian cities and other settlements, the regular disruption of agreements on the opening of humanitarian corridors, the destruction of critical infrastructure, the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear power plants and their personnel, the Russian Federation continues the shameful practice of political persecution of Ukrainian citizens who were illegally detained in the temporarily occupied territories of our state," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary on Friday. The court verdict imprisoned public journalist of Crimean Solidarity Ramzi Bekirov and human rights activist Riza Izotov for 19 years, Shaban Umerov for 18 years, Raim Aivazov for 17 years, and Farkhod Bazarov for 15 years. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said, the mentioned citizens of Ukraine were detained on March 27, 2019 by security forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea during mass searches and detentions, and subsequently, with complete disregard for the fundamental norms of international humanitarian law, they were illegally transferred to Russia in the city of Rostov-on-Don, groundlessly accused by the Russian side, among other things, of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization. "The judges' ignoring evidence that the defendants were not involved in the alleged actions, as well as not allowing lawyers and relatives to enter the territory of Russia to participate in the court session when passing the verdict, is additional evidence of the political motivation of the decision to deprive the citizens of Ukraine of their liberty," the commentary says. The Foreign Ministry stressed that the Russian Federation must immediately stop its atrocities in Ukraine, withdraw its armed forces, mercenaries, their weapons and equipment from the territory of Ukraine, and release all illegally convicted citizens of Ukraine, including Remzi Bekirov, Riza Izotov, Shaban Umerov, Raim Aivazov, and Farkhod Bazarov. It is also indicated that the Russian Federation and its military-political leadership should be held accountable for the internationally illegal acts committed in Ukraine, violation of international humanitarian law, mass crimes against civilians. "We call on the international community to condemn the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law by Russia on the territory of Ukraine, the long-standing practice of political persecution of citizens of Ukraine who disagree with the occupation, and also to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation and its political leadership. We call on our partners to more resolutely support Ukraine, which today, at the cost of thousands of human lives, is protecting Europe from the spread of the 'Russian order' and Russian aggression. Closing the skies over Ukraine and strengthening the air defense system of our state will help end the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Russian armed aggression against the Ukrainian people as soon as possible," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. More than 78 children killed, more than 100 wounded following Russian invasion Denisova Since the start of Russia's further invasion, 78 children have died, more than 100 have been injured, Liudmyla Denisova, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, has said. She said it is still impossible to establish exact data on the number of killed and wounded residents of Mariupol, Volnovakha in the Donetsk region and the city of Irpin in Kyiv region. Yesterday a father with a 15-year-old son turned to the Brovary hospital from Skibin, Kyiv region, who came under fire from Russian militants in their own car. They have shrapnel wounds. In Nizhyn, Chernihiv region, 17 secondary schools, children's educational institution No. 25 and outpatient clinic for family medicine No. 6 were damaged due to shelling by Hurricane (Uragan) rockets. "Such actions of the Russian occupation troops are a direct violation of The Hague and Geneva conventions. The aggressor continues to violate the fundamental rights of children - the right to life and health, guaranteed to every child in the world by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child," Denisova said. Four civilians were injured as a result of a rocket attack on Baryshivka on Friday night, head of Kyiv regional military administration Oleksiy Kuleba said. "There was a rocket attack at night, the town of Baryshivka was hit. Many houses were destroyed. We are now investigating which missile was used to strike. Four wounded civilians are known," he said in a video message on the Telegram channel. As of March 11, more than 400 houses were left without heating due to constant shelling and bombing by the Russian army in Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. "A lot of houses are destroyed today, it is impossible to restore heating in them. These are more than 400 houses. Despite the fact that our public utilities, our thermal workers, our gas workers, our power engineers, our water workers heroically, under bullets, under shelling, do their job, but today we cannot restore heat supply in 400 houses," Terekhov said in a video message posted on his Telegram channel. He urged residents whose houses were left without heat due to shelling to go to the subway, bomb shelters, as well as heated schools and kindergartens during the frost. "Severe frosts are coming. I call on all citizens whose houses were left without heat due to the shelling of Kharkiv to go to the subway, basements and bomb shelters. Also go to schools and kindergartens that are heated. There we will provide you with everything you need for life, including hot meals," Terekhov said. Over the past day, the Russian invaders have lost 266 personnel, and since the beginning of the war more than 12,000, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informs. "The total combat losses of the enemy from February 24 to March 11 approximately amounted: personnel more than 12,000 people, tanks 353 units, armored fighting vehicle 1,165, artillery systems 125, multiple rocket launchers 58, air defense systems 31, aircraft 57, helicopters 83, automotive equipment 558, ships/boats three, tanks with fuel and lubricants 60, and UAVs of the operational-tactical level seven," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook on Friday. The report notes that over the past day, the Russian armed forces have lost 266 people, tanks 18 units, armored fighting vehicle 60, artillery systems two, multiple rocket launchers two, air defense systems two, and automotive equipment 32. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the losses of the enemy are being specified, and the calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov says that UAH 12.5 billion has already been transferred to military units to pay additional remuneration for the duration of martial law to all categories of military personnel. "The situation at the front is and will be difficult. There are many Russian occupiers. For now. But they have already lost the initiative. Our soldiers carry out active defense and carry out successful counterattacks in all directions," Reznikov wrote on Facebook. The minister said that on March 10, UAH 12.5 billion was transferred to military units to pay additional remuneration for the duration of martial law to all categories of military personnel established in pursuance of decrees of the President of Ukraine. "This is the first tranche for February - early March. After the systematization of combat orders, other tranches will follow. The monetary allowance of the combatants will be UAH 100,000 per month, not counting bonuses for destroyed equipment, etc. We make advance payments because we want the military to feel secure," he said. In addition, according to Reznikov, a system of defense purchases for budgetary funds has been established. "We are following a certain procedure, we are constantly working on procurement, everything is fine. Reports on their results in the electronic system will be made public after the termination or cancellation of martial law in accordance with the decree," the minister said. Reznikov noted that the authorities are concentrating on ensuring that deliveries are guaranteed and carried out on time. "This applies to everything from food to clothing to ammunition. Significant reserves of fuel have been formed. Now we are developing the logistics, because many delivery routes have changed, our troops are actively maneuvering," he added. According to available information, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the preparation of a terrorist attack at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the Defense Intelligence Agency of the Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has said. "According to available information, Vladimir Putin ordered the preparation of a terrorist attack at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. A man-made disaster is planned to be created at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant controlled by Russian troops, the responsibility for which the occupiers will try to shift to Ukraine," the Intelligence Agency said on Facebook on Friday. As noted, at present, Chornobyl NPP is completely disconnected from the monitoring systems of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the plant is de-energized, and the resource of the existing diesel generators is designed for 48 hours to maintain the safety systems. "The occupiers refused to give Ukrainian repairmen access to the plant. At the direction of Alexander Lukashenko, 'Belarusian specialists' also entered there. Among them, under the guise of nuclear workers, Russian saboteurs also enter to organize a terrorist attack. At the same time, over the past few days, Putin's troops have attacked Zaporizhia NPP and Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology [an experimental nuclear reactor is located there]," the Intelligence Agency said. The agency informed that in order to imitate the involvement of the Ukrainian military in the Chornobyl accident, the occupiers are trying to create fake "evidence" in support of their version. "In particular, near the Antonov airport in Hostomel, Russian automobile refrigerators were seen collecting the bodies of the dead Ukrainian defenders. There is a possibility that they will be passed off as killed saboteurs in the Chornobyl zone. That is, without getting the desired result from the ground military operation and direct negotiations, Putin is ready to resort to nuclear blackmail of the world community for the sake of concessions to support Ukraine," the agency said. It is noted that at present, both Ukraine, and the world, and Russia itself understand that statements about Ukraine's involvement in the creation of a nuclear danger are only staged according to a mediocre scenario. "Despite this, such actions by Putin will have catastrophic consequences for the whole world. It seems that this is exactly what the Russian dictator is counting on, demanding unacceptable concessions," the Defense Intelligence Agency of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said. Russia intends to bring militants from Syria to Ukraine who will come to kill on land that is foreign to them, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on Friday afternoon. "The enemy came up with the idea of bringing mercenaries against our people. Thugs from Syria. From the country that was destroyed in the same way as now the invaders are destroying Mariupol and Kharkiv, Okhtyrka and Chernihiv, Volnovakha and Izium," he said. According to him, "this is how the Russian troops treat the Russian-speaking people, about whose "protection" there has been so much talk in Moscow. Rockets, bombs, artillery. And now here are the Syrian mercenaries who do not distinguish at all who speaks what language here, what church they go to and what party they support." "Mercenaries who are just going to kill on a foreign land in every sense of the word - a foreign land," Zelensky said. Ivano-Frankivsk mayor asks residents of three districts of city to leave their homes because of danger of shelling Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Martsinkiv appealed to residents of the city with a request to use shelters, and residents of three microdistricts adjacent to the airport - Opryshivtsi, Krykhivtsi and Chukalivka - to leave their homes, if possible, because of the threat of shelling. "You know what happened in the morning, so let's be extremely careful. Please, if someone has an opportunity to hide, I recommend that you now stay in cover as long as possible. For those who do not have the opportunity, then really move away from the windows. Unfortunately, this alarm is now in all regions, throughout western Ukraine," Martsinkiv said in a video message posted on Facebook on Friday. I would also like to ask the residents of the microdistrict Opryshivtsi, Krykhivtsi and Chukalivka - eventually, after this alarm, leave your housing if possible and move. Please react to the alarm. We hope that this will only be an alarm, there will be no more explosions in Ivano-Frankivsk," the mayor said. An air strike on the airport was reported on Friday morning. The Ukrainian prosecutor's office begins the procedure for the international search for Russian journalist Margarita Simonyan for supporting the war in Ukraine, said Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. "Simonyan Margarita Semyonovna, your procedural status in Ukraine is a suspected person. I hasten to inform you that the investigating judge of the Ukrainian competent court, having heard the arguments of the Ukrainian prosecutors set out in the relevant petition, found them justified and motivated. Thus, the Ukrainian court allowed that you, Margarita Semyonovna, to be arrested and taken to court for a preventive measure," the Prosecutor General's said on Facebook. Venediktova noted that Ukrainian prosecutors intend to initiate the process of putting the suspect on the international wanted list in the coming days. "You must understand that you will be detained when crossing the border of another state for the purpose of subsequent extradition to Ukraine," the prosecutor general stressed, referring to Simonyan. The Prosecutor General explained to a Russian journalist: "Mother Russia, take Donbas home" - this is one of the hundreds of reasons that forced Ukrainian prosecutors to pay attention to you. Today, Ukrainian prosecutors, following the spirit of your ideology, want to invite you to our home." Vietnam Embassy in Thailand works to repatriate crewmembers in distress The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand is urgently coordinating with sides involved to support the repatriation of four crew members of the Vietnamese-flagged Huy Hoang ship, which encountered an accident on March 8. The representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand visits the four crew members of Huy Hoang ship. (Photo: VNA) On March 8, the embassy received a notice by a representative of the Panama-flagged MV Toyo Star cargo ship in Thailand, which informed that the ship hit and caused the Vietnamese seafood logistics vessel to sink earlier the same day when it was on the way to Thailand through Vietnam's waters. The MV Toyo Star rescued four crew members of the Huy Hoang ship, three of them residing in Vietnams Ben Tre province and one in Ca Mau province. The Panama ship arrived at the Kerry Siam port in Thailands Chonburi province on the night of the day. On March 9-10, the embassy sent officials to visit and provide basic necessities for the four citizens at the port, and work with representatives of MV Toyo Star and Chonburi provincial authorities concerning procedures to bring them to the mainland and back home. However the repatriation work is facing difficulties due to Thai regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the morning of March 10, the MV Toyo Star moved to the Klong Toei port in Bangkok with four Vietnamese crew members onboard and is expected to leave for Indonesia on March 12. Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Bangkok, Le Trung Kien, first secretary in charge of citizen protection at the embassy, said the embassy has sent a note to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting coordination with relevant local authorities to allow the Vietnamese crew members to come ashore before the cargo ship departs for Indonesia. Kien said that the embassy will closely coordinate with the Thai immigration authorities to carry out procedures to bring the citizens back to Vietnam. By Trend US will allocate $50 billion for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through the UN World Food Program, US Vice President Kamala Harris said, Trend reports citing Interfax. "Today we are also announcing... that we will provide another $50 billion - through the United Nations World Food Program for humanitarian assistance," Harris said at a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda. The Vice President stressed that the United States "supports the people of Ukraine". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects new sanctions against Russia after devastating city bombings. "Humanitarian catastrophe two words that have become a full-fledged synonym for other two words. Synonymous with the Russian Federation," he said. At night, the invaders bombed a shoe factory, an apartment building and a kindergarten in Dnipro. For what? How did they threaten the Russian state? They destroyed residential buildings in the villages of Sumy region. They continued to torture Mariupol residents. Kharkiv. They fired missiles at Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk," he said in a video message on Friday afternoon. According to the president, "if this continues, then the sanctions packages against Russia are not enough. I expect new sanctions decisions of our partners already today." "Russia must pay for this terrible war. Pay daily!" he said. Yermak: Ukraine does not consider joining EU by 50%, our people choose 100% Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak says that Ukraine is not considering joining the EU by 50%, the Ukrainian people choose 100%. "An EU summit was held this night to discuss the prospect of Ukraine's membership. We are grateful for the decisions made. But Ukraine does not consider joining the EU by 50%. Our people choose 100%," Yermak wrote on Twitter. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is very concerned about the events at Chornobyl nuclear power plant and calls for the plant to be returned to safe operation. "The EBRD, which has been managing over EUR2.5 billion in international funds to transform Chornobyl since 1995, believes that recent events are putting in jeopardy the achievements of decades of successful international collaboration to secure the site," the bank said. "The bank's position on Chornobyl NPP is fully aligned with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is based on the following safety and security considerations: uninterrupted power supply must be maintained for the Chornobyl facilities. Any loss of power is potentially a serious threat to their nuclear safety; since monitoring and control systems on site do not work, operators will not be aware of possible risks. They must stay in operation; the Chornobyl facilities have been operated by the same depleted shift of employees for more than two weeks. Normal shift rotation as well as supplies to operating staff must be ensured; any military action on site is extremely dangerous for the old spent fuel storage facility housing around 20000 RBMK fuel assemblies; inspections by the Ukrainian regulator and the IAEA must be allowed; beyond Chornobyl, there are 15 VVER-type units across Ukraine. They have a relatively weak containment and will not withstand a direct hit, which may result in irreversible consequences," it said. "Transforming Chornobyl was a long-term challenge. Through the EBRD-managed funds the international community, together with Ukraine, has managed to transform Chornobyl into an environmentally safe and secure site. It has created the foundations to develop and implement a national nuclear safety strategy for the coming decades. The ongoing war must not be allowed to ruin these achievements," the report says. Head of Kyiv regional military administration Oleksiy Kuleba announced the arrival of the first buses with evacuated residents of the city of Bucha, Kyiv region, to the village of Bilohorodka, from where they will go on to Kyiv. "The first buses and cars with evacuees from Bucha arrive in Bilohorodka. Here they receive first medical and humanitarian aid, after which people will be transported to the capital," Kuleba wrote on Telegram on Friday. As reported, the evacuation from Bucha was planned for March 9, but the invaders did not let the buses into the city. Subsequently, agreements were reported on the organization of a "green corridor" for the organized departure of civilians from the city on March 10 and 11. In total, about 20,000 people were evacuated from Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, Vorzel in Kyiv region on Thursday. Retail chains Lidl, Rossmann and other retailers have sent humanitarian aid, food and hygiene products to Ukraine, Serhiy Voitsekhovsky, a member of the board of directors of BGV Group Management, has said. "Lidl, Rossmann and other European retailers support Ukraine. A few figures from our volunteer team: as of March 10, some 33 twenty-tonne trucks of humanitarian cargo from Europe have already been delivered to Kyiv and shipped to the warehouses of the capital," he wrote on Facebook on Thursday evening. According to him, one of the largest chain stores in Europe, Rossmann, organized the transfer of 150 tonnes of essential products - canned food, drinking water, baby food. About 340 tonnes of groceries, drinking water, confectionery, baby diapers, personal hygiene products, pet food were delivered to Ukraine from the German discount retail chain Lidl. In addition, Austria sent a truck of medicines for patients at the Okhmatdyt hospital. "No one plans to slow down, and European retailers and associations continue to cooperate with us to send products and goods to Ukraine. In the next few days, another 38 trucks will arrive from Europe to the warehouses of Kyiv, which is 760 tonnes of humanitarian cargo for Ukrainians," Voitsekhovsky said. Together with Rossmann, another 11 trucks of humanitarian aid were organized. Manufacturer DS Produkte will send two trucks with sleeping bags, blankets, first aid kits, Media Chain Products - 80 tonnes of sanitizer, German association Helfen statt Hamstern - six trucks of humanitarian aid. In addition, around 80 tonnes of water and beverages are supplied by various German producers. Voitsekhovsky said there are plans to send humanitarian cargo to Ukraine from Mannheim, Germany (six trucks of long-term storage products), Cologne (food, sleeping bags), Offenbach (hygiene products for women), as well as three trucks of food, medicines and clothes from the consulate of Ukraine in Milan. BGV Group Management is an investment company with assets in the mining industry, retail (Kolo network), development, and logistics. All facilities located in the exclusion zone of the State Specialized Enterprise Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant continue to be under the control of the military of the aggressor country, the State Nuclear Regulation Inspectorate of Ukraine has reported. "Starting from 11:22 on March 9, 2022, there is no power supply at the Chornobyl NPP site and, accordingly, there is no communication with the personnel located at the Chornobyl NPP. Regulatory control of the state of nuclear and radiation safety at the site of Chornobyl NPP and on the territory of the exclusion zone, as well as control of nuclear materials at the enterprise is impossible," the inspectorate said. The operation of the Automated System for Radiation Monitoring of the Exclusion Zone has not yet been restored. The actual situation on the site is not yet known. According to the management of Chornobyl NPP, which is located in the city of Slavutych, the site of the nuclear power plant was able to provide an additional supply of diesel fuel for diesel power plants that provide emergency power to spent nuclear fuel storage facilities, as well as the New Safe Confinement above the Shelter. Efforts are ongoing to restore external power supply to the site. China has always pursued an independent peaceful diplomatic policy towards the situation in Ukraine and stands for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and observance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang told reporters on Friday after the completion of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC). According to the press service of the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine, the well-founded security interests of all states should also be taken into account, he said. Based on this, the Chinese side develops its own opinion and, together with the international community, is ready to play an active role in restoring peace. "The current situation in Ukraine is of great concern. Every effort must be made to maintain the Russian-Ukrainian dialogue to overcome difficulties and reach a peaceful solution. We support and encourage all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The task of paramount importance is to avoid escalation of the tense situation, to the point of losing control," the press service said. On this occasion, the embassy said that the international community and all parties have reached a consensus. "The Chinese side calls for maximum restraint to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis. China has already put forward an initiative to respond to the situation in Ukraine and, in particular, to the humanitarian situation, and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," the diplomatic mission said. Over the past day, the SBU detained two Russian infiltrators in Donetsk region, and captured militants of the so-called "LPR" are being interrogated. "In Donetsk region, the intelligence service revealed and detained two accomplices of the occupier local residents who were passing information to the enemy about the equipment and relocation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In Severodonetsk, the SBU seized Russian artillery gunners who were helping the enemy to shell the city," the SBU said in its Telegram channel. According to the Ukrainian intelligence service, in Luhansk region, the SBU began interrogating 10 captured members of the so-called "military units of the LPR," defeated in the battles near Severodonetsk. In Poltava region, as stated in the SBU report, three local residents were detained for treason, who took part in the propaganda campaign of the Russian media, urging the Ukrainian military to go over to the side of the enemy. The amount of direct losses incurred by Ukraine's infrastructure from full-scale Russian military aggression has already reached $119 billion, work is underway to compensate for them at the expense of the seized gold and foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Denys Kudin has said. "When the president's office yesterday or the day before yesterday announced over $100 billion, this figure is somewhat clarified. It is $119 billion. Unfortunately, it will grow with every next day of the war," he said on Ukrainian TV channels. According to Kudin, one of the ways to compensate for losses and restore infrastructure is to work through cooperation with Western governments. "Western governments have already seized the gold and foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank of Russia in the amount of $415 billion. In fact, this amount is almost enough to cover these direct one-time losses," the first deputy minister said. According to him, the Ministry of Economy expects that in the near future, together with partner governments of other countries, a legal mechanism will be found, how this money can go to Ukraine for further recovery. The first deputy minister said that the Ministry of Economy from the first day began to count the losses that the state suffered due to Russian aggression. According to him, in addition to the direct approach to determining the damage (how much it will cost to restore bridges, roads, infrastructure facilities, hospitals, kindergartens, schools destroyed by Russia), there is a second approach the amount of GDP losses. "We see that in cities and towns where active hostilities are taking place, economic activity has decreased by 75%. In the rest of Ukraine, only every second business operates. This is a loss of 50% of economic activity," Kudin said. He added that most of the metallurgical plants, most of which are located in the east of the country, have ceased their activities. "The blocking of sea routes by the Russians, of course, does not make it possible to fully export corn, wheat, sunflower oil traditional agricultural export products," the first deputy head of the Ministry of Economy said. According to him, among other ways for Russia to compensate for these losses is the judicial, claims work of the government of Ukraine against the Russian Federation in international courts. "We are talking about the International Criminal Court, and about the ECHR, and about commercial arbitrations around the world. In each of these courts, Ukraine files lawsuits against the Russian Federation," Kudin said. He said that the collection of evidence from Ukrainians about the destruction has begun in electronic form, since it is important to document every fact of destruction jointly by all the people so that this becomes the material basis for claims. The first deputy head of the Ministry of Economy also named a third way to receive compensation for damage from the aggressor "the way of reparations after the signing of a peace treaty and the actual surrender of the enemy." "They [reparations] can be in two forms in cash and in kind. In the form of reparations, they could receive energy resources and other types of material values that Ukraine needs," Kudin said. As reported, Ukraine's GDP in 2021 for the first time amounted to about $200 billion. The military-political situation in Ukraine remains manageable as of March 11, adviser to the head of the President's Office Oleksiy Arestovych said at a briefing in Kyiv. "The situation remains under control by the leadership of the Armed Forces. The enemy did not make a single significant advance during the day," he said. According to him, there were counterattacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the north and west of Kyiv, the same counterattacks were in Kharkiv direction. "During the night, aviation attacked the concentration of the enemy. As revenge, the enemy launched missile attacks on the airfields of Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, in Kyiv region, Kharkiv region, Poltava region, and in Dnipro. "This is an attempt to stop the actions of our aviation, but since the professional training of the Russian military is known, most of these strikes hit civilian targets. In particular, in Dnipro, in a shoe factory," he said. "The whole situation will be resolved, and on the battlefield, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other defense forces will put an end to the Russian aggression," Arestovych said. He also cited enemy losses per day, some 266 personnel, some 18 tanks, some 60 armored fighting vehicles, two artillery systems, two multiple missile launchers, two air defense systems, some 32 vehicles. According to the recent data, he added that six enemy planes were shot down. By Trend Another armed incident between the border guards of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has occurred in the Kyrgyz-Tajik section of the state border at about 02:50 on March 11, press service of the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic stated, Trend reports citing Kabar. On the section of the Batken-Isfana highway in the Eki-Tash area of the Batken region, the Tajik border patrol began throwing stones at cars passing along the highway. The border guards of Tajikistan ignored the demands of the border squad of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan to stop throwing stones at vehicles. Kyrgyz border guards were forced to fire warning shots in the air to stop the illegal actions of the Tajik military. At this time, another border detachment of Tajikistan, which served in this area, opened fire on the observation tower, where there were Kyrgyz border guards. A skirmish between the border detachments of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began, which lasted about 20 minutes and ended at 03:10. There are no casualties or wounded from the Kyrgyz side. In order to prevent further escalation of the conflict, the border representatives of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan held telephone conversations, and then a meeting at the scene of the incident. Switzerland to provide CHF 80 mln for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, other countries of region The Swiss Federal Council has decided to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine and other countries of the region to CHF 80 million. "In response to the refugee crisis, the Federal Council, at its meeting on March 11, decided to increase humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to CHF 80 million. With this contribution, Switzerland expresses its solidarity with the people of Ukraine in difficult times," the Federal Council said in a statement on Friday. A quarter of this amount will go to help Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries. Three quarters are intended to help those who remained in Ukraine. The funds will benefit the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies, international and local NGO and projects implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Ukraine. About 12 million people are currently dependent on emergency assistance as a result of Russia's attack on Ukraine. During the first ten days of the war, Ukrainian IT companies raised UAH 710 million for the needs of the country, the press service of the IT Ukraine Association reported on Friday. It is noted that IT companies allocated UAH 352 million for humanitarian purposes, UAH 183 million to pay taxes in advance, UAH 175 million to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "Ukraine's IT industry has successfully adapted to work in a new environment thanks to pre-prepared business action plans in extreme situations. The industry's first priority is people, so companies direct large resources to support the army and humanitarian projects. IT specialists with military experience have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Territorial Defense Forces, and those of them who have not yet taken up arms, protect the country on the cyber front, work at their jobs and ensure the flow of currency into the national budget. Thus, everyone makes a contribution to our victory," executive director of the IT Ukraine Association Kostiantun Vasiuk said. In addition to financial assistance, IT companies support numerous volunteer initiatives, in particular raising funds abroad, supplying medicines, protective equipment and computer equipment to territorial defense units, supporting doctors, creating online platforms for volunteers, and others. The building structures of Neutron Source nuclear facility based on a subcritical assembly driven by a linear electron accelerator, located at the site of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology received minor damage amid Russian bombing on the evening of March 10. "According to updated information, the building structures of the Neutron Source nuclear facility received minor damage. The power supply to safety-important systems/elements has been resumed. No damage that affected the state of nuclear and radiation safety has been identified. The radiation situation at the site is within normal limits," the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said. The personnel of the operating organization continue to work to eliminate the consequences of the bombing. The inspectorate draws attention to the fact that the Neutron Source nuclear facility, like any other nuclear installation, is not designed for operation in combat conditions. "The continuation of its bombardment can lead to severe radiation consequences with contamination of nearby territories," the inspectorate said. As reported, since February 24, the Neutron Source nuclear facility has been switched to a deep subcritical state. Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov, commenting on the military-operational situation around Odesa, suggested that the Russian troops plan to encircle and cut off Odesa from Voznesensk, unrecognized Transnistria and the Black Sea, the city is preparing for defense. "According to the information that we have today, the ships [of Russia], which were not far from Odesa, have now relocated to Crimean region. A separate grouping of the aggressor has moved to Voznesensk. Thus, we assume that the aggressor plans to take our city through Voznesensk and Transnistria. Thus, the city will be cut off and surrounded," Trukhanov said at a briefing for foreign media at Odesa Information Defense Center. He also suggested that Russian amphibious assault ships would surround the city from the sea. According to Trukhanov, Odesa is preparing for a possible invasion, and strategic stocks of food, medicines and long-term food products are being formed. He also said daily humanitarian aid from all over the world comes to the city. Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that Russian aviation is preparing to strike at a number of settlements on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, located near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. "I appeal to the Belarusian people, friends. According to information in which we are fully confident and which we have confirmed, at present the command of the Russian occupation forces is preparing a series of bloody provocations. According to their criminal plan, Russian aviation is preparing to strike at a number of settlements on the territory of the Republic of Belarus located near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border," Reznikov wrote on Facebook. In particular, according to the minister, they are going to strike a settlement of Kopany, Stolin district, Brest region. "To mask the crime, Russia intends to carry out an attack from the airspace of Ukraine," Reznikov said. The minister said that the purpose of the provocation is to force the current leadership of Belarus to start a war against Ukraine. "I guarantee that the Ukrainian army did not plan, does not plan and will not plan any aggressive actions against Belarus... Do not let your country be drawn into this war! Save the lives of your loved ones! Don't let the Kremlin destroy the future of Belarus!" Reznikov said. Zelensky congratulates Lithuania on Restoration of Independence Day: Your holiday is our holiday, our victory is your victory President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the people of Lithuania on the Day of the Restoration of Independence of the country and thanked for the assistance provided by the Lithuanian people to Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invasion. "Congratulations to the fraternal people of Lithuania on Independence Day! We are deeply grateful for large-scale assistance and support in the war with the invader provided by Lithuania, President Gitanas Nauseda and all Lithuania people. Your holiday is our holiday! Our victory is your victory!" Zelensky said on Twitter. State-owned PrivatBank (Kyiv) has launched a website to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and humanitarian programs, the bank's press service said on Friday. According to the information on this website, the bank accepts assistance through Visa, Mastercard, Prostir and UnionPay cards in hryvnia, dollars and euros. According to the statement, the maximum transfer amount is UAH 900,000, but the number of transfers is not limited. Russian planes attack Belarusian settlement on border with Ukraine to involve army of Belarus into war Air Forces Command of Ukraine Russian aircraft launched an air strike on the Belarusian settlement of Kopani, located near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, on Friday to involve the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus into the war with Ukraine, the press service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported. "Today at 14.30, information was received from the State Border Guard Service that Russian planes took off from an airfield in Belarus, entered the territory of Ukraine, turned around over our settlements of Horodysche and Tumen, after which they inflicted a fiery defeat on the settlement of Kopani (Belarus)," the Air Force Command said on Facebook. At the moment the 9th border detachment is watching the occupation of this settlement by the enemy. "This is a provocation. The goal is to draw the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus into the war with Ukraine," the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. At the same time, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said that in addition to strikes on Belarus, Ukrainian territory also came under attack by Russian aircraft. "SU attack planes flying into the territory of Ukraine from Belarus bombed the Ukrainian territory, after which they launched air strikes on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. The flight of two warplanes from a neighboring state was recorded by border patrols in Rivne region," the State Border Guard Service said. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has already responded to the actions of the Russian army. "We officially declare: the Ukrainian military did not plan and do not plan to take any aggressive actions against the Republic of Belarus! We appeal to the Belarusian people do not let yourself be used in a criminal war! You have never been occupiers and murderers! Do not become them now for the sake of the interests of the Kremlin," the Ukrainian intelligence service said. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Energy and Housing and Public Utilities appealed to the parliaments of all foreign states, the European Parliament and international parliamentary assemblies with a request to impose trade restrictions in the energy sector against the Russian Federation in connection with its military aggression against Ukraine, Chairman of the committee Andriy Gerus has said. "We are asking you to introduce an absolute trade embargo on Russian oil and gas. This will become an effective and tough measure to isolate the Russian economy, cutting it off from the main source of filling the budget," the committee said in a statement posted on the Telegram channel of Gerus on Friday. The committee said that the Russian budget is heavily dependent on the hydrocarbon sector, as almost 40% of Russia's income comes from oil and gas exports, and energy exports in 2021 accounted for 54.3% of total merchandise exports from Russia. "Using blackmail, Russian President Putin has led European markets into an unprecedented energy crisis. Russian gas giant Gazprom doubled its revenues in 2021 to $55.5 billion. However, natural gas futures on the wholesale market in Europe are valued at more than in EUR 90 per MWh five times more than in the first half of 2020," the committee said. Its members said that rising prices for petroleum products could bring additional billions of U.S. dollars to the Russian budget. "The people of Ukraine are confident that only effective and tough sanctions will stop Russia from this terrible aggression. This will help prevent a tragic catastrophe in Ukraine, Europe and, finally, in the entire democratic world," the Energy Committee said. The deputies said that Ukraine appreciates the adopted sanctions, due to which the Russian financial system is experiencing significant damage, and its cash flows will be slowed down and constrained, but they are not enough. "Nevertheless, Russia still has the main sources that generate these financial flows and form the federal budget, the money from which is sent to further kill Europeans," the members of the committee said. Russian planes attack Belarusian settlements on border with Ukraine to involve army of Belarus into war Air Forces Command of Ukraine Russian aircraft launched an air strike on the Belarusian settlements of Kapani, Bukhlichy and Verkhni Terebezhov located near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, on Friday to involve the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus into the war with Ukraine, the press service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported. "Today at 14.30, information was received from the State Border Guard Service that Russian planes took off from an airfield in Belarus, entered the territory of Ukraine, turned around over our settlements of Horodysche and Tumen, after which they inflicted a fiery defeat on the settlement of Kapani (Belarus)," the Air Force Command said on Facebook. At the moment the 9th border detachment is watching the occupation of this settlement by the enemy. "This is a provocation. The goal is to draw the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus into the war with Ukraine," the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. Later, they reported that the Belarusian settlements of Bukhlichy and Verkhni Terebezhov also came under fire from Russian aircraft. At the same time, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said that in addition to strikes on Belarus, Ukrainian territory also came under attack by Russian aircraft. "SU attack planes flying into the territory of Ukraine from Belarus bombed the Ukrainian territory, after which they launched air strikes on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. The flight of two warplanes from a neighboring state was recorded by border patrols in Rivne region," the State Border Guard Service said. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has already responded to the actions of the Russian army. "We officially declare: the Ukrainian military did not plan and do not plan to take any aggressive actions against the Republic of Belarus! We appeal to the Belarusian people do not let yourself be used in a criminal war! You have never been occupiers and murderers! Do not become them now for the sake of the interests of the Kremlin," the Ukrainian intelligence service said. Acwa Power, a leading developer of power generation projects, has signed a power purchase agreement with Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) for the 700 MW Ar Rass solar photovoltaic independent power plant (IPP) in the kingdom's Al Qassim province. The Ar Rass IPP is expected to reach its financial close in Q4 this year, said a statement from Acwa Power. Valued at SR1.7 billion ($450 million), Ar Rass is the largest PV project that has been tendered as part of Saudi Arabias National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) to date, for which Acwa Power has been earmarked to deliver 70% of the total 58.7 GW target. The agreement was signed in the presence of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia. As per the agreement, Acwa Power will sell energy produced by the project to SPPC for a period of 25 years. Acwa Power will hold a (40.1%) stake in the facility, along with (20%) by the Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel), a wholly-owned PIF Portfolio Company, and (39.9%) will be owned by the State Power Investment Corporation from China. When fully functional, the project will be able to produce energy to power around 132,000 homes in central Saudi Arabia. According to preliminary information, the mayor of the city of Melitopol (Zaporizhia region) Ivan Fedorov was abducted by the Russian military, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Tymoshenko has said. "According to preliminary information, the mayor of the city of Melitopol, Ivan Fyodorov, was abducted an hour ago by the invaders," Tymoshenko wrote on his Telegram channel. Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko also wrote on the Telegram channel that "in Melitopol, a group of invaders of 10 people abducted the mayor of the city, Ivan Fedorov, who refused to cooperate with the enemy." "During the abduction, they put a plastic bag over his head. The enemy detained him in the city crisis center, where he dealt with the life support of the Ukrainian city. There was a Ukrainian flag in Ivan Fedorov's office," he said. More than 1,500 residents of Mariupol killed by invaders during blockade of city, shelling of residential areas city council More than 1,500 residents of Mariupol were killed by Russian troops during the blockade of the city and the shelling of residential areas, the Mariupol City Council has reported. "Some 1,582 civilians of Mariupol were killed by the Russian occupation troops during the 12 days of blockade of the city and merciless shelling of residential areas. Blessed memory of those who died in this terrible war," the city council said in its Telegram channel. "Every invader will burn in hell. We will never forget and never forgive this crime against humanity, against Ukraine, against Mariupol!" the city council said. The United States bans the supply of luxury goods to Russia, complicates the purchase of expensive goods for oligarchs in the country, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday. Referring to the measures against representatives of major Russian businesses, Biden said the U.S. Administration is also going to make it harder to buy luxury goods in the United States for Russians. "We're banning export of luxury goods to Russia," the U.S. president said. He also said that new names of billionaires from Russia and their families will be included to the U.S. sanctions lists. In addition, this decision also applies to Belarus. The U.S. Department of Commerce released a statement saying that its Bureau of Industry and Security has imposed restrictions on the export, reexport and transfer (in country) of luxury goods to all end users in Russia and Belarus, as well as to certain "Russian and Belarusian oligarchs." This decision is expected to come into force on March 11. The Russian state holding Rosatom, which unites several hundred enterprises of the nuclear industry of the aggressor country, including nuclear power plants, is participating in the seizure of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Head of Energoatom Petro Kotin has said. "Today, a group of civilians arrived in Enerhodar, among whom we identified the chief engineer of the Rostov NPP and the deputy chief engineer of the Balakovo NPP. There were eight more people who tried to take control of Zaporizhia NPP into their own hands. They were not allowed there, but all these cases indicate that that the Rosatom concern also participated in this aggression, is practically raiding now, trying to seize the nuclear power plant and establish control over it," Kotin said during the nationwide UA together telethon on Friday. According to him, Energoatom has already prepared an appeal to the relevant international organizations, including the IAEA, so that they pay attention to the role and participation of Rosatom in aggressive actions against Ukrainian nuclear power plants. He also said that before the visit of these civilians, another group of people came to the station, who called themselves representatives of the so-called civil-military administration, without giving their names, and declared Zaporizhia NPP to be the territory of Russia, which belongs to the sphere of control of Rosatom. "These statements are nonsense, but they say it. And our personnel have to work at gunpoint of the invaders. There are a lot of enemy soldiers and equipment both at Zaporizhia NPP site and in Enerhodar," the head of Energoatom said, describing the situation. Asked about possible terrorist attacks at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (the intention of the Russian military to carry them out was announced on Friday by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine), Kotin said that many nuclear facilities are located on its territory, which contain radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. "In theory, you can do anything with this nuclear material. It is now within the limits and structures in which it should be, so that it does not go out into the environment. But if the invaders want, of course, they can blow it up or something "someday, and it will spread throughout the territories. Then everything depends on the direction of the wind. Of course, this is suicide for them too, if they dare to do it," Kotin said. Ukraine and Poland have already formed a strong union that has grown on reality, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, speaking via video link in the Polish Sejm. The text of the speech was posted on Facebook by Deputy Head of the President's Office Andriy Sybiha. "I feel like we have already formed a very strong alliance. Let it be informal. But the alliance that grew out of reality. Not from words on paper. From the warmth in our hearts, and not from the things of politicians at summits," he said. "From the way you treated our people. To the Ukrainians who escaped on your land from the evil that came to our land. More than 1.5 million citizens of Ukraine. The vast majority are women and children. They do not feel like they are in a foreign land, they do not feel like visiting. You met our people in families. With Polish delicacy. With fraternal kindness," the President of Ukraine said. Zelensky also thanked Poland for "the ongoing efforts so that we can secure the Ukrainian skies." "For 16 days of this war, Ukrainian pride and Polish honor, Ukrainian courage in battles and Polish sincerity help us... Allow me to say important words now. Words that true peace reigns between our peoples. Peace between relatives. Peace between brothers," the President of Ukraine also said, adding that "now I really want these words to be heard by our common neighbors. Belarusians." Zelensky also noted Poland's assistance in supporting Ukraine's European integration. "We saw yesterday [at the meeting of EU leaders] how and what the EU countries were talking about. We saw who was the real leader and fought for a strong Europe. For common European security. And who tried to stop us. Who tried to stop you," he said. "I am grateful for all the help that we received from your state, from your people. I am grateful for the efforts being made so that we can secure the Ukrainian skies. I believe that we will be able to achieve results in what we all really need. If God willing and we win this war, then we will share the victory with our brothers and sisters. This is our greatness. And your greatness. This is a fight for our freedom and yours. This is the common history of great nations," Zelensky said. Biden updates Zelensky on new actions taken by US against Russia White House U.S. President Joe Biden held a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him about the actions taken by the U.S. in coordination with the EU and G7 against Russia on Friday, the White House said on its website. "He also updated President Zelensky on the actions the United States is taking today in coordination with the G7 and the EU to further raise the costs on Russia," reads the statement. President Biden highlighted how the United States is continuing to surge security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine. EU to present new package of sanctions against Russia on Saturday statement The European Union will present the fourth package of sanctions against Russia on Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement released on Friday. "Tomorrow, we will take a fourth package of measures to further isolate Russia, von de Leyen said in the statement. The statement says the purpose of the sanctions will be to "drain the resources" Russia uses for the special operation in Ukraine. The new EU sanctions will include scrapping Russia's most-favored-nation status, measures against the Russian elite, denial to the Russian state and elite of access to cryptocurrencies to bypass the sanctions, and other restrictions. As a result of the use of cluster munitions by Russia in Ukraine, some 13 people were killed and 47 were injured, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Throssell said. "We have also received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions, including in populated areas. On 24 February, a cluster munition exploded at the Central City Hospital in Vuhledar, in government-controlled Donetsk, killing four civilians, injuring 10 others, and damaging ambulances, civilian vehicles and the hospital itself. There were other cluster munition attacks in several districts of Kharkiv, in which nine civilians were killed and 37 injured," Trossel said at a briefing on Friday. She said that due to their wide area effects, the use of cluster munitions in populated areas is incompatible with the international humanitarian law principles governing the conduct of hostilities. In addition, Trossel drew attention to the fact that the UN received information that the hospital in Mariupol, which was attacked by Russia, was clearly identifiable and functioning at the time of the shelling. "On 9 March, a Russian airstrike hit Mariupol Hospital No.3 injuring at least 17 civilians. We are still investigating reports that at least three civilians may have been killed in the airstrike. We spoke to different sources in Mariupol, including local authorities, indicating consistently that the hospital was both clearly identifiable and operational when it was hit," she said. Trossel said the UN has recorded 549 civilian deaths and 957 injuries since the armed attack began on 24 February, although the actual figure could be much higher. The world must react to the seizure of two Ukrainian nuclear power plants by Russian invaders as nuclear terrorism, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has said. "What is happening at our two plants, which are currently captured by terrorists, is called nuclear terrorism. And the world should have reacted to it in this way. But so far, some countries are helping us a lot, and some are pretending that nothing is happening. But I can say when trouble comes to these countries, then they will realize what they have done," Danilov said during the national telethon on Friday. Danilov said that the IAEA should control all nuclear stations and facilities. "This is their function, but, unfortunately, today a lot of global, European institutions behave like cowards. This must be recognized," the NSDC Secretary said. Rada leadership urges FATF to add Russia to blacklist, remove it from list of member countries as soon as possible The leadership of the Ukrainian Parliament sent an appeal to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) with a request to include the Russian Federation in the "FATF blacklist" and remove the Russian Federation from the list of FATF member countries as soon as possible, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk has said. "As long as the Russian Federation continues to finance terrorism at the state level, the system for preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism of this state de facto does not work. This is the basis for adding the Russian Federation to the FATF blacklist," Stefanchuk wrote on his Facebook page. At the same time, Stefanchuk said that in view of the obvious disregard for the requirements to prevent the financing of terrorist activities of the Russian Federation, this state should not have a place among the FATF member countries. Between the politics of muscle power and money power in Purvanchal, Alam Badi has made a mark for himself due to his simplicity and truthfulness. Aakil Hussain | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles UTTAR PRADESH Samajwadi Party leader Alam Badi, 86, has won the election from the Nizamabad Assembly of Azamgarh. Alam Badi is known as one of the most honest leaders of Uttar Pradesh. He defeated Manoj Yadav of BJP by more than 35,000 votes. Alam Badi has been elected for the fifth time from this constituency. Between the politics of muscle power and money power in Purvanchal, he has made a mark for himself due to his simplicity and truthfulness. Nizamabad is one of the hot seats of Purvanchal. Nizamabad is home to the tomb of the Sufi saint Nizam-ud-din; Guru Nanak Dev stayed in the Gurdwara here; it is also the birthplace of the famous poet of the modern era, Ayodhya Singh Hariodh. Alam Badi is a mechanical engineer. After completing his studies, initially, he did a job in Gorakhpur but taking inspiration from Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi, he started doing social service. Alam Badi won his first election in 1996 from Nizamabad Assembly on Samajwadi Partys ticket. In 2002, he again contested the elections on SP ticket and won. In 2007, Alambadi lost the election to BSPs Bahubali Angad Yadav. In the 2012 assembly elections, he won the election on an SP ticket and retained his victory in 2017 as well. Alambadi has six sons. Three of them are studying abroad; one has a private job; one runs a small furniture shop. Apart from this, his youngest son stays with him as his PA and helps him in work. The house where MLA Alam Badi lives is like a normal old house with a tin shed lying in an outside part where he meets the people who have come to meet. It is said about Alambadi that many times he even sweeps his house and there are no servants at Alam Badis house, all the work is done by his sons and grandsons. Alam Badis body language is very simple. He is often seen in kurta pyjama, modest slippers, a hearing machine and a basic mobile phone. Where leaders nowadays travel in large vehicles with caravans, Aalam Badi travels mostly in UP roadways bus. Alam Badi is among those who still roam and walk in the constituency. He drives a second-hand Bolero. While politicians spend crores of rupees in elections, Alam Badi does not resort to money to win elections. He does not use posters and banners in his promotion. He leaves his house every day at 9 am and stays with the people till 5 in the evening. MLA Alam Badi spends the entire money of the fund in the service of the public under his supervision. Alam Badi has turned down the ministers post several times in the SP government. He has got four big gates built in the name of martyrs of the Nizamabad region in his tenure. Alam Badi believes that these will inspire the coming generation. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine says that Warsaw and Krakow can no longer accept refugees. "Warsaw and Krakow can no longer accept refugees," the State Border Guard Service press service said in a statement. It is noted that in two weeks about 80,000 to 100,000 Ukrainians arrived in Krakow, and Warsaw has already received 200,000 refugees from Ukraine, and is not able to accept more. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that in order to stop the crimes of the Russian military on the territory of Ukraine, Kyiv needs aircraft. "Besieged Mariupol is now the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet. 1582 dead civilians in 12 days, even buried in mass graves like this one. Unable to defeat the Ukrainian Army, Putin bombs the unarmed, blocks humanitarian aid. We need planes to stop Russian war crimes," Kuleba said on Twitter on Friday. Information about the future participation in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine was brought to the attention of the Russian command in January 2022, a captured Russian pilot, deputy commander of the 47th bomber aviation regiment of the Russian Federation Maxim Krishtop said. "In January 2022, the regiment commander informed us about the future participation in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. After that, the delivery of ammunition and aviation weapons to the territory of our airfield began. In parallel with this, we started training in flights at extremely low altitudes, according to overcoming air defense, tactical launches of air-radar missiles," Krishtop said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, this was officially presented as preparation and participation in the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises "Allied Resolve 2022." "After they were completed, in which we did not take part, we continued to prepare for hostilities. The combat order to launch air strikes on the territory of Ukraine came to the unit on February 23 from 18.00 to 20.00. The regiment commander issued a corresponding order - to strike at Ukraine, starting from February 24," he said. Answering a clarifying question, "Is it true that, at least a month in advance, his air regiment knew about the impending invasion of Ukraine?" Krishtop answered positively, specifying that "specifically in January 2022, the specific dates for the invasion were not brought up." He said that from February 24 to March 5 he managed to make three sorties. Two of them, with the aim of defeating the forces of the Ukrainian army south of Balakleya and destroying an armored column near Izyum with the help of three-tonne high-explosive bombs, were completely carried out by him. The third sortie was made to bombard Kharkiv, with four tonnes of high-explosive bombs on board, but was shot down by Ukrainian air defense. The prisoner of war said the high-explosive bombs were unguided [free-fall], caliber 250 and 500 kilogram, with a radius of destruction of 60 meters. "We did not use guided air bombs with a laser guidance system, since the command did not set such a task...," he said. According to major of the 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment Alexei Golovensky, the very order to start the Russian operation to invade Ukraine and further seize the state was brought to the unit on February 23. "... but throughout February, exercises of the navy, ships in the entire waters of the Black and Azov seas were conducted, there were missile firing, and we, as naval aviation, provided them with intelligence. Accordingly, the aircraft of our regiment [by February 24] already were ready. All personnel were on high alert," he said. From March 24 to March 5, Golovensky carried out seven sorties in order to identify radio-technical and radio-emitting air defense systems for their further destruction. He also said that during the exercises, the command conveyed to the military "false information about the weakness of the Ukrainian air defense forces and outdated equipment." "I was shot down by the air defense of Ukraine and taken prisoner in Mykolaiv region. It follows that my leadership simply sent me, like bait, to death, without bringing me anything. The air defense on the territory of Ukraine works perfectly. Why are they sending us like gun fodder, incomprehensible," Golovensky said. He also said he has relatives in Poltava region in Ukraine. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has united the space community in our country and worldwide. International space companies are supporting their Ukrainian colleagues, and Ukrainian companies are deploying volunteering directions of work because they have to secure their employees and help the army. From the first days of the war, world space organizations have stood on our side. To support the Ukrainian Army, captain of the Spacex Inspiration 4 crew Jared Isaacman personally brought aid to the Ukrainian military. Satellite images of the movement of Russian troops were provided by the company Capella, and Ukrainians received Starlink satellite Internet reception stations as a gift from Elon Musk at the request of Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. Elon Musk said that SpaceX had reprioritized its work to ensure the cybersecurity of its Starlink stations. Because of this, the company even postponed planned releases of new versions. As the world watches Ukraine fighting against Russian aggression, Ukrainian companies must ensure the safety of their employees. To do this, most companies have switched to remote work formats and flexible schedules. Several Ukrainian space companies, including both startups and large companies, have managed to continue operations, combining work responsibilities with volunteering. Some high-tech companies are opening up new fields of operation to support the military and the population. For example, the mobile application Reface has launched a logistics project called KOLO to supply ammunition to the Ukrainian army. Their engineering team is now working on new software to analyze enemy movements in satellite images. Space companies during the war Many private and state aerospace companies in Ukraine develop spacecraft, aircraft, and parts. They include SETS (Space Electric Thruster Systems), Kurs Orbital, Flight Control Propulsion, startups Orbit Boy, Promin Aerospace, and Elliscope. The state-owned Pivdenne and Pivdenmash enterprises are develop rocket engines and rockets in collaboration with the Orbital Sciences Corporation and the European Space Agency. All of these companies have continued their normal work.. At the beginning of the war, some of them adopted remote working, but they already had experience with this from the pandemic. Most companies have also created volunteering programs. The former head of Ukraines State Space Agency and founder of Kurs Orbital stressed that Ukrainian space companies have great potential that will be fully shown after victory over the invaders. "No one believed that Ukraine could resist the Russian army crossing our borders, but we are doing it. New space startups have appeared almost every month, and there will be more," he said. The engineering team at Promin Aerospace remains in Ukraine and is continuing its work on developing our rocket. Our other team members are working remotely. They have also added responsibilities for territorial defense and volunteering to their daily routine. "Each of us has had to be flexible for the needs of wartime and to perform new duties to protect our country. Some are strengthening the defense of their cities, some are helping refugees and the armed forces, while others are arranging supplies of medicines, ammunition, and food," wrote Misha Rudominsky, CEO and co-founder of Promin Aerospace. Sanctions against Russia The Russian invasion has sparked serious responses by the international community in the field of space. Several countries have imposed sanctions against the aggressor, making previously planned international projects impossible. Thus, the withdrawal of OneWeb satellites from the Russian cosmodrome at Baikonur was canceled, the Russian-European Mars mission was suspended, and more than half of high-tech imports were frozen, which will do considerable damage to Russia's state space program. Moreover, Russia has also cut itself off from activities which did not fall under sanctions. Roscosmos has refused to export RD-181 rocket engines and cooperate on the ISS. The aggressor's withdrawal from international projects opens up more opportunities for other space companies. Press center Promin Aerospace Contacts: Volodymyr Kravchuk, Head of Communications Promin Aerospace volodymyr@prominaerospace.com +38(050)545-99-69. After a video of her confronting male students went viral, 18-year-old Hiba Sheik has emerged as a face of the fight against the Hijab ban in Karnataka. She said she is facing online harassment and a police case has been filed against her after the incident. Zafar Aafaq | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Until last Friday, 18-year-old Hiba Sheik was an ordinary student in the Mangalore town of Karnataka. One episode at Dayanand Pai-Sathish Pai Government First Grade College has changed her life. After a video of her confronting male students went viral, she has emerged as one of the faces of the fight by Muslim girls against the ban on the Hijab (Muslim headscarf) in schools and colleges of her state. The viral video shows Hiba in hijab, confronting a bunch of male students as she asks them fiercely, Is this your dads college? We also pay fees and come here. She was not allowed to enter the premises by some male students to write exams in Hijab after the college principal had allowed her and several other Muslim students to write the exams. The male students attempted to heckle her but the police and college officials who are present on the scene eventually help in pacifying the situation. "Is This Your Father's College? We Are Also Paying The Fees" Spoken by brave @sheik_hiba when she was not allowed from writing exam in hijab even after being allowed by principal in Mangalore's Dayanadna pai govt first-grade college!#StandWithHibaSheikpic.twitter.com/2LpbaykwMC Muslim Spaces (@MuslimSpaces) March 7, 2022 Ever since her video has gone viral, Hiba said she has faced a barrage of online harassment by right-wing Hindu trolls, and a case has been filed against her by Mangalore police. Talking to TwoCircles.net, she alleged she was facing death threats. Trolls targetted me by saying We will murder you and even your body will not be found, she said. This is because I chose to defy them and stood up for herself and other Muslim girls. A day before the incident, Hiba said, a group of students led by one Sai Sandesh, affiliated with Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), barged inside the exam halls and snatched the answer sheets of some Muslim girls writing their exams who were wearing Hijab. He asked me to get out of the exam hall. He sounded like he was giving me an order. ABVP is a right-wing student organization affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Muslim girl students had been given permission by the principal to sit in the exams and a separate arrangement was made for them in the library, Hiba said. Hijab has become a contentious issue in the state after a group of Muslim girls at a college in Udupi in December last year demanded that they should be allowed to wear the headscarf as it was part of their faith and identity. Many other colleges in the state have since banned the Hijab, pending the High Court verdict on the issue. However, the principal of our college had allowed us to cover our heads with the dupatta of the uniform, she said. But after Sandesh objected, the lecturers evicted Muslim girls from exam halls, she said. Hiba said that the Muslim students felt humiliated and angry asking what authority Sandesh (who is a student) had to stop Muslim girls from appearing in exam halls when the principal had allowed them to appear in exams with heads covered. She further alleged that Sandesh filmed videos of Muslim girl students without their consent even though phones are not allowed in the library. The next day the Muslim girls were stopped at the gate and not allowed to enter the campus by the college officials. We asked the principal for permission but he did not let us in. He was under pressure from ABVP, she said. After waiting for several hours, Hiba confronted Sandesh and his colleagues as soon as they came out of the campus. The altercation was caught on camera. As soon as the video surfaced on the internet, it went viral and Hiba was being hailed for putting up a courageous response. After the altercation, Hiba showed up at North Mangalore police station to file the complaint against Sandesh and others. She said that the police instead of registering the case asked questions to her for hours. It was after five hours the case was registered when the commissioner arrived and heard my plea, she said. However, three days later on Monday March 7, the police in Mangalore booked Hiba and seven other Muslim students including the girl whose video of confronting a group of ABVP affiliated students who were blocking her way to the college went viral on the internet last week. Have been receiving threats on social media and have been framed over fake allegations but I would like to tell them that I'll never give in. #HijabIsMyPride and I'll continue to fight till the end. pic.twitter.com/d8SnK3fAZ4 Hiba Sheik (@sheik_hiba) March 7, 2022 The police have charged Hiba and others of threatening and insulting the complainant and booked them under Indian Penal Code sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). A police official in Mangalore told TwoCircles.net the FIR was filed on the complaint of Kavana Shetty, a female student who is also a local leader of the ABVP. He said they have filed the case using viral video as evidence, adding any further action including the arrest of the accused would depend on what the investigation reveals. The complaint said that Hiba and others used foul language against Shetty and threatened her, he said. Hiba, however, denied all the charges alleging she and her friends were being framed and that the case was a pre-planned conspiracy against them. She said that Shetty was not even present at the spot during the altercation. After her viral video, and threats and the subsequent case against her, Hiba has received support from student groups and the Muslim community. Student group Campus Front of India, which has been rallying in support of Hijab, has condemned the FIR against Hiba. The group also provided space for Hiba to hold a press conference after the FIR. The groups state president Athavulla Punjalkatte said that police have resorted to victim-blaming. He warned that the case would help embolden the goondaism (bullish behavior) of ABVP. Finding herself at the center of attention is not something Hiba wanted. I do not want to be famous. I just want my right to wear a Hijab. I want to wear the Hijab like we used to before this issue started and mingle with our non-Muslim friends, she said. The teenager who is in the second year of college wants to be a police officer. It is my childhood dream to be an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer. I am working hard for my goal. When asked why she wants to join the force that has filed a case against her, she said, The police are colluding with criminals and corrupt people. Those who deserve justice do not get it. I want to join the police to make a change. Hiba, who has done her schooling in Kerala, said her mother and her aunt are her inspiration in life. For her, wearing a Hijab is a matter of faith and choice. It is part of my faith and I should be allowed to wear a hijab. It is my individual choice and no one is forcing me to wear it, she said. She said the online threats and FIR are aimed at silencing her. I would continue to fight to wear a Hijab. It is a fight for our rights, she added. Zafar Aafaq is a journalist based in New Delhi. He tweets at @ZafarAafaq Al-Azhar condemned Friday terrorist attack on a mosque in Afghanistans capital Kabul that left dozens of worshippers dead and injured. Russia's two-week-long war in Ukraine has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians and forced more than 2 million people to flee the country, shaking the foundations of European security. Across Ukraine, civilians still trapped in besieged or destroyed areas are suffering from electricity outages and shortages of food, medicines and other vital services. Thousands were hoping the six humanitarian corridors agreed on so far would hold during an expected daylong cease-fire in these areas Thursday _ even as talks for a broad truce failed. A Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital in the port city of Mariupol that killed three people Wednesday, including a child, has drawn outrage, with Ukrainian and Western officials branding it a war crime. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on a visit to Poland Thursday embraced calls for an international investigation, though she stopped short of directly accusing Russia of having committed war crimes. ``We'll pray we can get people out of Mariupol,'' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia met Thursday in Turkey in their highest-level talks thus far, but it appeared little progress was made at the meeting. The two-week-long war has forced 2 million people to flee the country, half of them children. Here's a look at key things to know about the war: WHAT HAS THE AP DIRECTLY WITNESSED OR CONFIRMED? In AP video of Wednesday's airstrike on a maternity ward in Mariupol, the wounded streaming out of the hospital included women waiting to give birth, children and doctors. Rescue workers evacuated the injured, including a pregnant woman on a stretcher. Her face was pale and she grabbed her belly before she was loaded into an ambulance. Outside the hospital, a woman holding a small child cried while a Ukrainian soldier bandaged another woman's head. The World Health Organization says it has confirmed 18 attacks on medical facilities since the Russian invasion began two weeks ago. Workers in Mariupol on Wednesday also unceremoniously buried at least 70 people, some soldiers and some civilians, in a trench dug in a cemetery in the heart of the city. Some had died from the war, others of natural causes. AP photographers and journalists documented civilians from towns northwest of the capital making their way toward Kyiv on Wednesday through a humanitarian corridor. With sporadic gunfire echoing behind them, firefighters dragged an elderly man to safety in a wheelbarrow, a child gripped the hand of a helping soldier, and a woman inched her way along, cradling a fluffy cat inside her winter coat. ARE PEOPLE BEING SAFELY EVACUATED? The Mariupol city council posted a video Thursday showing buses driving down a highway, saying a convoy bringing food and medicine was trying to reach the city. That convoy could be used to ferry back evacuated citizens. There are plans to also evacuate civilians from other cities, including Izyum and Volnovakha, on Thursday. Ukraine's president said three humanitarian corridors operated on Wednesday out of Sumy in the northeast near the Russian border, from suburbs of Kyiv and from Enerhodar, the southern town where Russian forces took over a large nuclear plant. WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND? Russian forces have captured several cities in the Kyiv suburbs and are still trying to take Chernihiv in the north, as well as advance on the cities of Mykolaiv, Kryviy Rih, Voznesensk and Novovorontsovka in the south, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said Thursday. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday that about 2 million people _ half the residents of the Ukrainian capital's metropolitan area _ have left the city, which has become virtually a a fortress. ``Every street, every house . is being fortified,'' he said in televised remarks. ``Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands.'' Civilian authorities reported Russian bombing overnight in the suburbs of Kyiv, and two other cities, as well as artillery fire on Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, in the east. Russia has deployed more than 150,000 troops and retains large and possibly decisive advantages in firepower, despite facing fierce Ukrainian resistance and global financial pressure aimed at crippling its economy. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk pleaded Thursday with the Russian military to allow access for repair crews to restore electricity to the Chernobyl nuclear plant, and to fix a damaged gas pipeline that has cut off heat from Mariupol and other towns in the south. WHAT DEFENSIVE ASSISTANCE IS UKRAINE GETTING? European nations have sent weapons to Ukraine's military. Furthermore, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday night that would rush $13.6 billion in American aid to Ukraine and its European allies, nearly half of that for sending troops and weapons to Eastern Europe and equipping allied forces there. The bill is expected to pass through the Senate as well in the coming days. NATO and Washington, however, have rejected the idea of a ``no-fly zone'' over Ukraine to suppress Russia's Air Force as an unnecessary risk of escalation. The Pentagon also slammed the door on a Polish proposal for providing Ukraine with fighter jets. The Ukrainian government says about 20,000 foreigners have joined the so-called the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine, where they are given weapons to fight when they arrive. Several thousand U.S. citizens have requested to join the war in Ukraine, but there is concern among independent security experts that the fighting could also draw more white supremacists, who are believed to be fighting on both sides of the conflict. WHAT'S THE VIEW FROM INSIDE RUSSIA? Scattered protests against the war continue in the country, but people in Russia are losing sources of information about what is happening. The U.K. announced asset freezes and a ban on travel to the U.K. on seven wealthy Russians, including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who was trying to sell the Premier League club in anticipation of sanctions. The list of companies halting operations in Russia grew Thursday to include German fashion brand Hugo Boss, which has temporarily closed its stores, and the U.S. Hilton hotel chain, which is closing its corporate office in Moscow and suspending new hotel development in Russia. Hilton's 26 hotels in Russia, which remain open, are owned and operated by franchisees. Already, Heineken, Universal Music, Discovery TV, McDonald's, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and General Electric have suspended operations in Russia. Amazon too is suspending shipments of goods sold on its website to Russia and Belarus. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian and French naval forces carried out joint drills at Egypts Berenice Naval Base in the Red Sea governorate, Egyptian military spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said in a statement on Thursday. The drills, which were held in the southern fleet zone, witnessed the participation of the Egyptian frigate Alexandria, the French helicopter carrier Mistral and stealth frigate Courbet. The drills included a set of different naval combat activities, including signalling communication, organising command and control in dealing with simultaneous threats, aerial photography, launching artillery attacks, and carrying out joint air defence exercises. The drills underscore the strategic partnership and the extended relations between the Egyptian Armed Forces and their French counterparts, which contribute effectively to maintaining security and maritime stability in the region, the spokesman said. In February, Egyptian and French naval and air forces launched joint military exercises in Egypt dubbed Ramses 2022. Search Keywords: Short link: While the situation regarding Ukraine's nuclear facilities is 'complex and difficult', the head of the UN nuclear agency said Thursday that he is in contact with all sides to ascertain how to help ensure the safety of the country's nuclear facilities. Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters Thursday evening in Vienna that the nuclear watchdog has ''scheduled physical inspections'' of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. He would not give any details on when or how those inspections would take place citing the sensitivity of the situation. Grossi added that the IAEA also has ``a number of remote monitoring devices'' in operation. When it comes to nuclear facilities based in conflict zones, the director-general said ``we are trying to make sure that we will not have again added suffering because of any radioactive release or anything having to do with nuclear facilities.'' Grossi said he does not expect any side to intentionally target nuclear reactors, but there was the risk of unintentional shelling. He also stressed that at facilities taken by the Russian military, but operated by Ukrainian staff, it was paramount that employees get enough rest to be focused while working. Grossi told reporters that there was not immediate danger of power cuts at the decommissioned Chernobyl plant, which Russian forces seized last week, and that even in the case of power cuts there would be ``ample time'' to restore it before anything dangerous could happen. Search Keywords: Short link: The hissing of a water hose spraying the ground reverberates around the walls of the dimly lit Empire Cinema in Lebanons northern city of Tripoli. From the floor of a paint-chipped room that was once a ticket office, a man sorts through rusty bolts and screws, while in the adjacent foyer, a woman sweeps dust off a mirror. The person leading the restoration efforts is 35-year-old actor and director Kassem Istanbouli, known for his theater work throughout Lebanon. Several days a week, his team which includes a Syrian, a Palestinian, a Lebanese and a Bangladeshi drives three hours from their homes in the countrys south to work on the space, built in the early 1940s but abandoned for decades. The restoration project launched last month is the first of its kind in hardscrabble Tripoli, Lebanons second largest city more often known in recent years for sectarian and other violence. What we are trying to say is that Tripoli is a city of culture and art, Istanbouli said. When you open a cinema and a theater, people will come and attend. But if you give them a gun, of course they will shoot at each other and kill each other, he added. For much of the rest of Lebanon, Tripolis artistic history is considered a relic of the past, overshadowed by crushing poverty, corruption, and migration. But Tripoli has an especially long cinematic tradition, once boasting up to 35 movie houses, including Lebanons first. Cinema Empire is the last of five historic cinemas still standing in Tripolis Tell Square, which encircles a clock tower gifted by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II in the early 20th century. It shut down in 1988 as massive cinema complexes opened inside malls, and home video players grew in popularity. Istanbouli, founder of the Tiro Association for Arts in the southern city of Tyre, has already transformed three abandoned cinemas there into theater and film venues. Much like Tyres Rivoli theatre which he restored in early 2018, Istanbouli aims to transform the Empire into a multi-purpose venue featuring not only arts festivals and plays, but also a library, a visual arts studio and area for workshops. Thats no small order these days, given a crippled economy and over 80% of the population living in poverty. Even before a financial crisis led to the current depression, Tripoli was already Lebanons poorest city plagued by government neglect and a lack of investment. It has been a major point of departure for illegal migration, with Lebanese now following the same precarious path as Syrians fleeing their civil war, trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean. The directors project was inspired by his father, an electrician who used to repair movie houses in the south, and his grandfather, who was a sailor and hakawati a storyteller who sported a red fez while recounting folkloric tales in Tyres old cafes. This project will improve the city economically. It will bring tourism and change to its reputation, Istanbouli said. Charles Hayek, a 39-year-old historian and conservationist said that Istanboulis project will do more than just fight negative perceptions. Kassem is saving one of the heritage buildings and giving it back life, he said. Tripoli has lost much of its architectural heritage especially around Tell Square in the past decade due to neglect. Before the 1975-1990 civil war, the squares oldest cinema, Inja, once attracted two of the Arab worlds biggest music celebrities: Umm Kalthoum and Mohamed Abdel Wahab. That building has now been demolished, replaced by a parking garage. For rehabilitation funds, Istanbouli has partnered with the DOEN Foundation and The Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders. The cinema contract from a private owner is for five years, and he hopes to officially open within six months. One afternoon, Istanbouli led volunteers who had finished with repairs through acting exercises. Pretend that youre an animal, he said to a woman who then announced she was a panda. Now I want you to face off against a dog who wants to be a dog? he asked. Maha Amin, one of the attendees from Tyre who was sweeping dust off mirrors in the morning and was now on stage, never thought about the possibility of acting, let alone visiting Tripoli. The environment we live in doesnt accept a woman who is my age to do this, the 57-year-old special needs teacher said. She initially went to Istanboulis Rivoli theater in Tyre to enroll her seven grandchildren, but ended up joining them. Especially in the tough times today, people need to breathe and express themselves, she said. Its here on stage after a long day of work that Im able Im able to say what I want, in total freedom. Search Keywords: Short link: The third flight to repatriate Egyptian nationals from Ukraine via Poland will take off from Chopin International Airport in the capital Warsaw on Friday at 9pm local time, the Egyptian Embassy in Warsaw announced. The embassy called on all citizens who crossed the Ukrainian-Polish borders to urgently contact its hotlines to arrange their return to Cairo on more upcoming flights for free. The embassy stressed that the Polish government gave a 15-day stay period for foreigners escaping war-ravaged Ukraine to Poland. Egyptian nationals escaping from Ukraine and willing to return to Egypt should contact the embassy in Warsaw on +48514154166 (phone calls & WhatsApp) or +48516459923 (WhatsApp) or +48511538378 (phone calls only), the embassy said. Prior to the Russian invasion, around 6,000 Egyptians lived in Ukraine, including 3,000 students. Since the Russian invasion, Egypt has repatriated more than 550 citizens who had fled to Ukraines neighbour countries after launching an air bridge to bring nationals home. On Tuesday, Egypt repatriated 71 Egyptian nationals from Bratislava, Slovakia. Earlier last week, Air Cairo flew home 350 Egyptian nationals who escaped Ukraine to Poland. Egypt also repatriated 175 expats from Romania and 30 from Hungary. Search Keywords: Short link: Facebook has temporarily eased its policy on violent speech after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, allowing statements like "death to Russian invaders" but not credible threats against civilians, the tech giant said Thursday. Moscow's internationally condemned attack on its neighbour has provoked unprecedented sanctions from Western governments and businesses, but also a surge of online anger and debates over social media's role in the war. The policy decision from Facebook and Instagram's parent Meta was met immediately with controversy, but the social media giant defended its change. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders,'" Meta said in a statement. "We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," it added. Meta's statement followed a Reuters report that said the policy applies to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine, citing the firm's emails to its content moderators. The firm did not reply to a request seeking confirmation of the policy's geographic boundaries. Meta, which counts billions of users globally across its apps, has previously struggled with what it would allow people to post in moments of upheaval. In July 2021, the firm temporarily allowed posts calling for "death to Khamenei", referring to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during protests that rocked the country. Opening Pandora's Box? Tech platforms have had to navigate a slew of thorny issues related to the war in Ukraine, such as when US Senator Lindsey Graham called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a televised interview and on Twitter. "The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out," says Graham's tweet from March 3, which Twitter has not taken down. Meta's decision drew sharply contrasting views. "The policy regards calls for violence against Russian soldiers," said Emerson Brooking, a disinformation expert at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab. "A call for violence here, by the way is also a call for resistance because Ukrainians resist a violent invasion," he added. But some expressed deep concerns, like Lehigh University professor Jeremy Littau who tweeted: "'We don't allow hate speech except against certain people from a certain country' is one hell of a can of worms." Facebook and other US tech giants have moved to penalize Russia for the attack on Ukraine and Moscow has also taken steps to block access to the leading social media network as well as Twitter. Russia thus joined the very small club of countries barring the largest social network in the world, along with China and North Korea. Since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last month, Russian authorities have also stepped up pressure against independent media, though press freedoms in the country were already rapidly waning. Moscow blocked Facebook and restricted Twitter the same day last week that it backed the imposition of jail terms on media publishing "false information" about the military. In this context, Facebook had played a key information distribution role in Russia, even as it endures withering criticism in the West over matters ranging from political division to teenagers' mental health. The war is running parallel with a period of an unprecedented crackdown on the Russian opposition, which has included protest leaders being assassinated, jailed or forced out of the country. Big US tech firms like Apple and Microsoft have announced they are halting the sale of their products in Russia, while other companies have made public their "pauses" of certain business activities or ties. Last week, US internet service provider Cogent Communications said it had "terminated its contracts with customers billing out of Russia." Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Foreign Minister and president-designate of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Summit (COP27) Sameh Shoukry held a virtual meeting on Thursday with COP26 President and UK Minister of State Alok Sharma. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said the meeting took up the current efforts exerted by Cairo to prepare for the upcoming round of the UN Climate Change Conference to be hosted by Egypt in November 2022. The meeting comes as part of Egypt's keenness to coordinate and consult with all the parties involved in the COP26 held in Glasgow and follow up international efforts to confront the impact of climate change on all fronts. The spokesman also noted that the meeting covered Egypt's attaching special importance to moving from the phase of climate pledges to the phase of actual implementation of such pledges on the ground in light of the agenda proposed by Egypt during its presidency of COP27. Egypt has been engaged in talks with a host of international partners amid preparations for COP27, which will be held in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh next November. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has stressed that the COP27 summit will support efforts to reduce carbon emissions and provide funding for developing countries to deal with the repercussions of climate change. Egypt has vowed to speak for Africa's aspirations on addressing climate change at the COP27. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has condemned in the strongest terms the drone attack that targeted an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. Egypt deplores such terrorist acts that target vital Saudi installations, as well as the security and safety of energy supplies in the kingdom, the statement said. Egypt also supports the measures Saudi Arabia takes to protect its security and sovereignty in the face of terrorist attacks, the foreign ministry added. The attack took place early Friday morning, but did not cause any casualties or affect production, according to Saudi Arabias energy ministry. The Houthi militias claimed credit for the attack, according to a Houthi spokesperson. During a short visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated to King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Egypts support to Saudi Arabia against the Houthis attacks, stressing that the kingdom's security is part of Egypts national security. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt reported on Thursday 861 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak began in February 2020 to 494,519 according to the daily update of the country's Ministry of Health and Population. The ministry also recorded 12 coronavirus-related fatalities over the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally of deaths to 24,269. The daily report added that the total number of recoveries increased to 424,098 after 641 patients were discharged from hospitals nationwide in the past 24 hours. Following a remarkable rise in the two preceding months driven by the fifth wave of the pandemic, Egypt's daily coronavirus infection toll has been on the downward curve since last week of February. On Monday, daily coronavirus cases recorded in Egypt fell below 1,000 for the first time since 13 January, with the country reporting 923 new cases. Presidential Advisor for Health Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din said on Monday that Egypt has passed the difficult phase of the latest wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt plans to vaccinate 70 percent of citizens in two months, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, the acting health minister, told media on Monday. Egypt has fully vaccinated more than 50 percent of the target groups of citizens aged above 18 years of age and has administered first vaccine shots to 65 percent of them, Abdel-Ghaffar added. More than 30,805,992 million citizens have been fully vaccinated to date, and over 41,403,964 million citizens have received their first dose, according to the ministry figures. Moreover, over 1,439,495 million citizens have received their booster shots. Search Keywords: Short link: The US Senate backed on Thursday with an overwhelming majority in an 81-18 vote a massive arms sale, including military cargo planes, to Egypt worth $2.2 billion, according to US news website Politico. In late January, the US administration first announced the deal including 12 Super Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and related equipment, in addition to air defence radar systems. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said at the time the sale "will improve Egypt's capability to meet current and future threats by providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment and people." The aircraft can also be used for maritime patrol and rescue missions, it added. The US has been providing Egypt with foreign aid, including military assistance, since Cairo's 1979 peace deal with Israel. Search Keywords: Short link: Libya's parliament-appointed prime minister said Friday that armed groups backing him had withdrawn from positions around Tripoli, after the UN warned of a new escalation in the divided country. Libya has had rival administrations since the eastern-based assembly swore in a prime minister earlier this month in a challenge to interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah. Dbeibah has refused to hand over power to Fathi Bashagha, arguing that his own administration, installed last year under a United Nations-led peace process, has the mandate to rule until elections. Pro-Bashagha forces had deployed on the eastern edges of Tripoli on Thursday, prompting the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to warn against any escalation. But Bashagha's office said in a statement in the early hours of Friday that the groups had "opted not to use arms, and to return to their bases". The groups had mobilised "to provide security, not to wage war", it said. Libya has been riven by conflict since the 2011 revolt that toppled dictator Moamer Gadhafi, and has had two rival governments before: from 2014 until Dbeibah was sworn in last year. Washington's ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, had also warned Thursday against spiralling tensions. Late Thursday evening he said he had spoken to both Dbeibah and Bashagha, praising what he said were moves to resolve the standoff peacefully. He commended Dbeibah's "commitment to protect lives" and Bashagha's "willingness to de-escalate tensions". "Libya's stability and unity can only be sustained through dialogue and respect for the right of freedom of movement throughout the country," he tweeted. 1/2 Amb. Norland: "As part of ongoing consultations with all sides, I spoke tonight with HoR-designated PM Fathi Bashagha and commended him on his willingness to deescalate tensions today and seek to resolve the current political disagreement through negotiations, not force. pic.twitter.com/7UiD2DOC8u U.S. Embassy - Libya (@USEmbassyLibya) March 10, 2022 Search Keywords: Short link: From Nubia to Alexandria and back. The magic of the western and eastern deserts is also here. Meet all the colours of Egypts most talented handicraft artists at Diarna. Hosted at the premises of Cairo Festival City, New Cairo from 24 February to 7 March, Diarna the much anticipated annual handicrafts market is back with a colorful Nubian theme. Since Nubia is the guest of honour this year, Nubian motifs and Nubian greetings are the official decoration theme of the exhibition that will showcase hundreds of local artistic talents from all over Egypt. Diarna is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and in partnership with the Ebdaa men Masr flagship initiative by ALEXBANK, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, WE Telecom, and Cairo Festival City Mall. The exhibition will feature live crafting shows and workshops that cannot be missed. Diarna 24 February to 7 March Cairo Festival City (CFC), New Cairo Search Keywords: Short link: The dancers are torn between body and mind physically on stage in Paris but in spirit back home in Kyiv. In other circumstances, the Kyiv City Ballets residency at the Theatre du Chatelet would be a dream come true, but the stranded company of young dancers feels little but heartbreak. We are both physically and emotionally exhausted, Ekaterina Kozlova, the companys deputy director, told The Associated Press. Everyone in the ballet is worried about their families, loved ones, friends, colleagues at home. Its been very difficult. The Theatre du Chatelet, in the heart of the French capital, offered them the stage on Tuesday for the last show of a French tour that has left the company stranded after the war broke out in Ukraine. (Photo: AP) The dance director of the Paris Opera along with some of her companys best joined them for an open class before performing together a medley of ballet classics, with excerpts from Russian composer Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovskys Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Being given the opportunity to train and dance was for many a chance to focus on something other than the conflict in Ukraine, Kozlova said. One of the dancers will be headed to the Ukrainian border in the coming days to pick up her young daughter who was accompanied out of the country. (Photo: AP) Only a part of the company was travelling around France performing a shortened version of The Nutcracker for young audiences most of the dancers in Paris are in their early 20s. Many of the ballets star dancers stayed behind, waiting to join their friends after they reached Paris. Most of our artists are stuck in Ukraine, Director Ivan Kozlov told the crowd. The city of Paris and the ballet community have helped find temporary accommodation for the Ukrainian dancers who say they wish to continue dancing in France and elsewhere. The Chatelet theater offered the entire group a residency, although Tuesdays last-minute performance is their last for now. (Photo: AP) All proceedings from their performances will go to nongovernmental organizations collecting and shipping humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighboring countries. Ukrainian dancers have also sought refuge elsewhere. The Romanian National Opera offered six ballet dancers fleeing from the war in Ukraine a chance to work with their ballet corps, and some of them could be performing in a month. (Photo: AP) Search Keywords: Short link: Thanks to Egypts strategic reserves, the international hike in corn prices will not affect the country in the short term. The prices of many commodities the world over have hiked as a result of the Russian incursion into Ukraine, sending tremors across economies and fears among peoples of an impending crunch. Corn is one such commodity, with Egypt, which imports 75 per cent of its needs of the crop, preparing to embrace the impact of shortages or rising prices. Besides being an alternative to wheat in some products, corn is also an essential ingredient for protein production, such as poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products. Russia and Ukraine produce one fifth of the worlds production of corn, and this has led to a rise in the price of the crop with the beginning of the war between the two countries. Ukraine is the worlds sixth-largest producer of corn and one of the leading exporters to Egypt thanks to its location on the Black Sea that ensures that cargos can reach Egypt in less than a week. This translates into lower freight costs, rendering Ukrainian corn the best option at the best value. Abdel-Aziz Al-Sayed, head of the Poultry Division at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, said the price of a ton of corn had increased by LE1,000 and the price of a ton of feed by LE1,500 since the crisis began. Feed consists of corn (70 per cent) and soy (30 per cent). At present a ton of feed is sold for LE10,500, up from LE9,000, he added. Al-Sayed, also a member of the Commodities Committee in the cabinet, said Egypt has a seven-month reserve of corn after President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi had instructed an increase in the reserves of staple foods in 2020 following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. He said there was no reason why corn prices should have risen in the domestic market, adding that corn shipments that have yet to arrive in Egypt were contracted at the old price. Egypt imports the majority of its corn needs from Argentina, Brazil, the US, and Ukraine, he said, adding that Ukrainian corn imports account for 30 per cent of Egypts needs. The country also plants a million feddans of corn and produces 3.1 million tons. The domestic market consumes about 15 million tons. Abdel-Aziz said that Egypt should plant another million feddans with other types of corn that have higher productivity and that can yield six million tons of corn per million feddans. He added that in this case Egypt would be able to produce 12 million tons, or 80 per cent of its consumption. Minimising the need to import corn would mean that Egypt would not be at the mercy of international price fluctuations, he stated. Producing two kg of poultry requires 3.5 kg of feed, he noted. Abdel-Aziz stressed that the market should be closely monitored to prevent unnecessary price hikes, warning that these could result in a crisis with the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. Egypt has been importing increasing amounts of corn in recent years. In 2014, it imported 4.3 million tons, increasing to 10 million tons in 2021 for more than $2 billion. The price of corn has been rising since the beginning of the year. A ton of corn was being sold for $231, a 22 per cent increase on last year, even before the war broke out. After the Russian invasion, a ton of corn recorded $294, and it is likely to increase further as fears rise of decreased production in Argentina and Brazil due to lower rain levels. Mohamed Al-Gammal, a marketing and grain consultant at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), expects an increase in Egypts consumption of corn, especially yellow corn, due to the resumption of poultry exports after years of hiatus. Egypt produces 1.4 billion poultry annually, of which 3.3 million were exported in 2021, Al-Gammal said at the Middle East International Conference on Cereals and Oils held in October. He added that higher exports of poultry will prompt an increase in the consumption of corn, especially the yellow corn that is used in the manufacture of feed. Hussein Abdel-Rahman, head of the Farmers Syndicate, said the problem was not that Ukraine is the largest exporter to Egypt, but that there are risks that the other exporting countries are facing with regards to transportation and the increase in freight prices. He said that the war between Ukraine and Russia had led to an increase in prices by about five per cent, and in Egypt they had risen by about 10 per cent, adding that the war would lead to Egypts importing more from more distant countries such as Brazil and Argentina, inevitably leading to an increase in transport costs and thus a higher final price. Recent efforts to increase the crop will limit corn imports. They include the expansion of other crops that can be used as fodder. Abdel-Rahman gave the example of the cotton crop, since cotton seeds when pressed can be used as fodder. The expansion of corn cultivation might be difficult in Egypt due to limited land, especially since corn is a summer crop when there is limited water for cultivation. *A version of this article appears in print in the 10 March, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The European Union says it is willing to play a greater role in pushing for an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Minister of Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Ati, and EU Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Annette Weber linked regional integration and cooperation to resolving the ongoing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Last week, Abdel-Ati said that an agreement on GERD between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia would pave the way for future cooperation and regional integration, though he added, during his meeting with Weber in Cairo, that finalising any agreement on the filling and operation of the dam would require Ethiopia to exhibit the necessary political will. He stressed that unilateral operation of the dam could only lead to disruptions in water management that will harm Egypt and Sudan. Weber called for a tripartite agreement that would enhance regional integration, and in a meeting with the press during her visit, expressed the EUs readiness to play a greater role in resolving the dispute between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia over GERD. The EUs present role is to follow and observe the African Union (AU)-sponsored talks that ground to a halt in April 2021, explained a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity. Now the bloc is saying it wants to engage more to help reach an agreement. What it needs to clarify is whether that will be under the umbrella of the AU or not, and how the EUs role might differ from that in previous negotiations. Whatever happens, it needs to be done quickly, and within a set time frame, because time is tight, he said. Abbas Sharaki, professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, agreed with the diplomat that time is running short, and there is an urgent need to reach an agreement before Addis Ababa takes further steps towards a third filling of the dam. Ethiopia has already started generating electricity from the dam, with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declaring last month that GERDs first turbine was now operational. The Ethiopian News Agency has reported that preparations for the operation of the second turbine are currently underway. In response, Egypt sent a letter to the UN Security Council describing the operation of the turbine as another fundamental breach of the Declaration of Principles (DoP) signed in 2015 in the Sudanese capital Khartoum by the then leaders of the three countries. The letter, which was handed last month to Vassily Nebenzia Russia is the current president of the UNSC stated that Cairo categorically rejects Ethiopias unilateral decision to begin operating the dam, and pointed out that Ethiopia has consistently failed to conduct studies assessing GERDs hydrological, social, economic, and environmental impacts. The letter is an attempt to remind the world of Addis Ababas unilateral actions, including the filling of the dam in 2020 and 2021, said the anonymous diplomat. These have now been followed by the pilot operation of the first turbine, yet another breach of the DoP which stipulates clearly that a legally binding agreement must be reached ahead of any filling and operation of the dam. Sudan characterised Ethiopias unilateral action in operating the turbine as incompatible with the spirit of cooperation and a fundamental breach of Addis Ababas international commitments. In the absence of any corroborating evidence, Addis Ababa continues to insist that GERD will cause zero harm to downstream states. Dina Mufti, spokesperson of Ethiopias Foreign Ministry, described Egypt and Sudans criticism of the operation of the first turbine as absolutely absurd. But is the turbine actually working? Satellite images taken two weeks after Ahmeds announcement, says Sharaki, show no sign that the turbine is operating. Instead, they reveal that water is still running through the central passage of the dam, and the basin that is supposed to receive water from the turbine appears to be empty. It would appear that Ahmeds announcement was directed towards appeasing domestic opinion, Sharaki told Al-Ahram Weekly. If anything was done during the supposed test run, it was for far too short a duration to have produced any electricity, he added. Whatever the substance of Ahmeds announcement, Sharaki warns that it is yet another sign that Ethiopia has no intention of abandoning its unilateral actions, and that restarting the negotiation and reaching a deal are urgently required to avoid more unilateral steps. Egypt and Sudan, that do not oppose the construction of the dam, have been engaged in on/off negotiations with Ethiopia for a decade in an attempt to agree rules for the filling and operation of GERD, only for their every suggestion to be rejected by Addis Ababa. Egypt fears that the continued filling of the dam in the absence of an agreement will reduce the flow of Nile water on which Egypt depends. Sudan is worried Ethiopias unilateral actions will endanger its own dams. *A version of this article appears in print in the 10 March, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Western leaders spent the first two weeks of the Russia-Ukraine crisis threatening Moscow with sanctions and promising Kyiv aid. Financial sanctions were imposed on Russian companies, banks, and individuals. But Russia, which has dealt with different rounds of international sanctions since its military operations in Georgia and eastern Ukraine in 2008 and 2014, has become somewhat sanction-proof. It has developed methods to avoid the effects of such measures, such as cutting it off from the SWIFT financial system. The ball was therefore in the Western camps court countries to show that strong statements about the unity of the West and its determination to punish Russia will turn into actions. But results were disappointing. The Wests unity showed some cracks only three weeks into the war. There is already disquiet and tension in many European capitals, led by Germany and France, over American policies that Paris and Berlin fear could plunge Europe into a long multilateral war with catastrophic security and economic repercussions. The disquiet began when the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US is in very active discussions with our European partners about banning the import of Russian oil and gas. Shortly after, oil prices surged to a 14-year high, while Benchmark gas prices for Europe rose 79 per cent to 345 a megawatt-hour. Meanwhile, UK gas prices hit a fresh record of 800p per therm at one point in early trading on Monday. They had started the working week at around 460p per therm. The US imports more than 500,000 barrels of Russian crude per day. That accounts for only about 8 per cent of its overall oil imports, while the European Union imports about a quarter of its oil needs, and about half of its gas needs from Russia. Germany, Europes largest economy, which is dependent on Russia for imports of more than 55 per cent of its gas, 50 per cent of its coal, and 35 per cent of its oil, rejected the proposed embargo on Russian oil imports, preferring sustainable pressure on Moscow that would not impose too heavy a burden on Germans. All our steps are designed to hit Russia hard, and be sustainable over the long term, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement on Monday. At the moment, Europes supply of energy for heat generation, mobility, power supply, and industry cannot be secured in any other way. It is therefore of essential importance for the provision of public services and the daily lives of our citizens.The German government has been working hard for months with its partners within the EU and beyond to develop alternatives to Russian energy. However, this cannot be done overnight, Scholz said. That is why it is a conscious decision on our part to continue the activities of commercial enterprises in the area of energy supply with Russia. France and the Netherlands agreed with the German position and, although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that a ban on energy imports from Russia is on the table, he too stated at a joint press conference with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Dutch Premier Mark Rutte, that breaking dependency on Russian oil and gas will need time and co-operation, arguing that Europe cant simply shut down the use of oil and gas overnight. There are different dependencies in different countries, and we have to be mindful of that. You cant simply close down the use of oil and gas overnight, even from Russia, Johnson said. He conceded that we can go fast in the UKbut what we need to do is make sure we are all moving in the same direction. For his part Rutte acknowledged that dependence on Russian energy supplies was still there in many parts of Europe, and he called for any imposed to be done diligently, arguing that it would have to be a step-by-step process. The painful reality is we are still very dependent on Russian oil and gas, he said, adding that there would be enormous ramifications if EU countries applied an immediate ban. But differences between Western countries are not limited to the severity and nature of sanctions against Russia. There are disputes about arming Ukraine with combat aircraft from neighbouring countries such as Poland and Hungary. America supports this and is holding talks with Poland to discuss possibilities for the Polish government to give Ukraine MiG-29 combat planes. In return, the US would replace them by sending F-16 jets to Warsaw. The Ukrainian government is demanding that the West provide it with Russian-made fighter jets because that is the type of aircraft that the Ukrainian army is familiar with. But in addition to the logistical difficulties of transporting aircraft from one country to another, there are fears that the move will lead to an expansion of the war in Europe after Moscow warned that it would consider any country actively participating in the conflict a declaration of war. A European diplomat told Al-Ahram Weekly that France and Germany have doubts about the American idea because it would mean dragging other European countries into a possible confrontation with Russia. For Berlin and Paris, there must be a balance between pressure on Russia and diplomacy. This balance has not yet been achieved in the eyes of some. We are walking with open eyes towards a long war in Europe, which will affect European security for years to come and that will put a nail in the coffin of European strategic independence from America. Hence the efforts of France and Germany to leave the door ajar for the Russian president to return from his military escalation to the negotiating table. But even Washingtons most trusted ally in Europe, the UK has not given resounding support to the idea. The UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Tuesday that he would support Poland, a fellow NATO member, to supply MiG-29 jets to Ukraine if they chose to do so. Wallace told SkyNews that Poland will understand that the choices it makes will not only directly help Ukraine, which is a good thing, but also may bring them into the direct line of fire from countries such as Russia or Belarus They will have to calibrate that. Thats a really big responsibility on the shoulders of the president of Poland and, indeed, its defence minister. Initial talks about the idea were faced with dismissal from the Polish president and his defence minister, and there is little evidence that they will change their stand. Polish President Andrzej Duda said his country would not send any planes to Ukraine because it might be seen as interfering in the war. Moreover, the proposal is struggling to gain traction in the Biden administration, and the US is reviewing whether the plan is feasible, according to three US officials who talked to NBC. Its a lot easier to give hand-held weapons than it is to transfer a plane, a source familiar with the discussions said. The US does not have a surplus of F-16s, officials have also added. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki referred to the layers of different, difficult logistical challenges surrounding the proposal. This is Polands sovereign decision to make, Psaki told reporters. Psaki added that sending F-16s to Poland and replacing them in the US would carry its own challenges. Procuring new planes and transferring serious weapon systems often take years to do from the United States, she said. The third issue that has set off intra-Western quarrels is related to the reception of about two million Ukrainian refugees who fled Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. Frances Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, has accused the British government of showing a lack of humanity when it comes to helping the Ukrainian refugees who are now waiting in Calais for permission to join their families in the UK. In a letter to the UK home secretary, Priti Patel, Darmanin called on the British government to set up a proper consular service in Calais, adding that its response so far was completely unsuitable. So far, the UK has resisted demands to loosen visa restrictions for Ukrainians fleeing the war. While Poland has taken in more than a million Ukrainian refugees, Britain has only taken in about 300. The British government said it will only take in refugees who have relatives in the UK, a position that exposes it to European criticism. Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls for Britain to ease visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees, saying the UK would not abandon controls altogether on those wanting to come to the country, adding it was sensible to have some basic ability to check who is coming in and who isnt. This stance was criticised by opposition parties in Britain, who said it recalled a Brexit rally talk. From a European perspective, Britain cannot use its border policies and the fact that it is not in the Schengen zone to avoid fulfilling its humanitarian obligations on an equal footing with poorer countries such as Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states. Now the war is still in its first three weeks, and it is expected to last for months if not years, due to the Ukrainian resistance and the slowdown of Russian military advances, but already the cracks in Western unity are significant and some fear they will only grow deeper. *A version of this article appears in print in the 10 March, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada), announced in the early hours of Friday that the Russian forces attacked Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, which it said contains an Experimental nuclear reactor inside of it. Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada), announced in the early hours of Friday that the Russian forces attacked Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, which it said contains an Experimental nuclear reactor inside of it. The parliament said in a tweet that the shelling caused a fire in a neighbouring hostel. Russia just attacked #Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology Experimental nuclear reactor is located inside. The shelling caused a fire in a neighbouring hostel; the fight continues.#StopRussia #StopRussia #ClosetheSkyoverUkraine pic.twitter.com/H88CYHGl9C Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (@ua_parliament) March 10, 2022 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said late on Thursday that Ukraine nuclear regulator told IAEA that it had lost all communication with Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and that it it 'can no longer provide updated information'. Director Gneral of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said in a tweet that the IAEA is aware of reports that power has now been restored to the site, but needs confirmation. #Ukraine nuclear regulator told IAEA today it had lost all communication w/ #Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, can no longer provide updated info. @RafaelMGrossi says IAEA's aware of reports that power has now been restored to the site, need for confirmation. https://t.co/GhdMceMgRP pic.twitter.com/8iwjPzmef1 IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) March 10, 2022 Ukraines nuclear regulator had told IAEA that diesel generators were powering systems important for safety at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and that the operator is not able to maintain some functions such as radiation monitoring, ventilation systems and normal lighting. IAEA said that If emergency power were lost, it would still be possible for Chernobyl staff to monitor the water level and temperature of the spent fuel pool. IAEA warned that they 'would do this under worsening radiation safety conditions and would not be able to follow operational radiation safety procedures'. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian strikes hit fresh civilian targets in central and eastern Ukraine on Friday, including a care home for disabled people, as Moscow's troops edged closer to the capital Kyiv. Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped and under fire in Ukrainian cities, including besieged Mariupol, following Russia's invasion on February 24. The first high-level talks between the two sides ended Thursday without any progress in halting a conflict that the UN says has caused 2.5 million people to flee in the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Russian strikes continued overnight across the country, including on the central city of Dnipro, which local officials said killed one person. They hit an area near a chemical plant, leaving a shoe factory completely destroyed, and breaking the windows on a nearby kindergarten. Elsewhere, a care home for disabled people was hit in the village of Oskil, near Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, in Russian strikes which also destroyed five houses, local officials said. There were no reports of casualties. At the care home, all 30 staff members and 330 mostly elderly patients -- 10 of whom require wheelchairs -- had been sheltering at the time. Military targets were also hit early Friday, with four Ukrainian servicemen killed in strikes on the Lutsk military airport in the northwest, local officials said. Moscow said the airfield had been "put out of action". Meanwhile, the advance of Russian forces continued against the capital Kyiv, which risks being entirely surrounded. 'Nowhere To Run' The Ukrainian military warned Russia was trying to "block" Kyiv by taking out defences to the west and north of the capital, adding that there was also a risk to Brovary on the east. Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday that half the city's population had fled and the capital "has been transformed into a fortress". "Every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified." The northwest suburbs, including Irpin and Bucha, have already endured days of heavy bombardment but Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the northeastern edge of Kyiv. Ukrainian soldiers described fierce fighting for control of the main highway leading into the capital, and AFP reporters saw missile strikes in Velyka Dymerka just outside Kyiv's city limits. "It's frightening, but what can you do?" said Vasyl Popov, a 38-year-old advertising salesman. "There is nowhere to really run or hide. We live here." Britain's defence ministry said in an intelligence update that "Russian forces are committing an increased number of their deployed forces to encircle key cities". "This will reduce the number of forces available to continue their advance and will further slow Russian progress," it said. The Kremlin said Friday that fighters from Syria and the Middle East would be allowed to fight for Russia in what Moscow calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine. The Russian army this week admitted conscripts were taking part, after President Vladimir Putin previously said only "professional" soldiers were involved. Desperation In Mariupol The southern port city of Mariupol has suffered relentless bombardment, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said attempted aid deliveries had been hit. He said Moscow had launched a "tank attack" targeting a humanitarian corridor where he had dispatched a convoy to try to get food, water and medicine into the city. The attack, which Zelensky described in a video statement as "outright terror", came a day after the bombing of a children's hospital there that local officials said killed three people, including a young girl. Zelensky branded that attack a "war crime", a position backed by top Western officials, while Russia's army claimed the bombing was a "staged provocation" by Ukraine. In a video, Mariupol mayor Vadym Boichenko said Russian warplanes had targeted residential areas in the city "every 30 minutes" on Thursday, "killing civilians, the elderly, women and children". The situation in the city has been described as "apocalyptic", with more than 1,200 civilians killed in days of constant attacks, according to the mayor. The International Committee of the Red Cross said some residents had started fighting for food, and many had run out of drinking water. Yulia, a 29-year-old teacher who fled Mariupol, said her mother-in-law was still there and told them "the attacks don't stop". "There are many corpses on the street and nobody buries them," she told AFP. Some humanitarian corridors out of cities under attack have been held. Around 100,000 people have been able to leave the northeastern city of Sumy, the eastern city of Izyum, and areas northwest of Kyiv in the last two days, Ukrainian officials said. Moscow said it would also open daily humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians to Russian territory, but Kyiv has rejected routes leading to Russia. 'Full-fledged' NATO War In Turkey, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his talks on Thursday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov ended with "no progress", even on a 24-hour ceasefire. Lavrov said the two sides would keep talking, but also insisted Russia's invasion was purely defensive. Asked by a reporter if Moscow was planning to attack other nations, he insisted "we don't plan to attack other countries" and Russia "did not attack Ukraine". Russia has also ramped up its claims about alleged biological weapons development in Ukraine, which Western officials have said could be an attempt to lay the ground for their possible use by Moscow's forces in the country. On Friday, the UN Security Council will hold an urgent meeting on the subject at Moscow's request. A nuclear research facility near Kharkiv was damaged for a second time overnight, local officials said Friday. The UN atomic watchdog previously said the site's inventory of radioactive material is "very low". Western nations and allies have offered military and humanitarian support, and late Thursday the US congress passed a budget including $14 billion in humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. But the US has ruled out enforcing a no-fly zone and rejected a Polish plan to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine via a US airbase for fear of being drawn directly into the conflict. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told AFP Friday the military alliance had "a responsibility to prevent this conflict from escalating beyond Ukraine's borders to becoming a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO". The European Union meanwhile on Friday proposed to double financing for military aid to Ukraine by an additional 500 million euros ($550 million), which was expected to be backed by EU leaders. Search Keywords: Short link: Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers met at a Turkish Mediterranean Sea resort Thursday but failed to end the fighting in Ukraine, with mutual recriminations. Both ministers indicated the diplomatic door remained open. Speaking at a news conference after the meeting in Antalya, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticized what he called Russia's lack of sincerity. Kuleba said, "We cannot stop the war if the country that started the aggression has no desire to do so. We are ready for diplomacy but ready to defend ourselves." At his news conference, his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, accused Ukraine of not being serious in seeking a diplomatic solution. In a possible gesture to Kyiv, however, Lavrov said Russian President Vladimir Putin could be ready to hold a summit with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Since the start of Russian-Ukrainian tensions, Zelenskyy has called for direct talks with Putin. Lavrov also warned the West it was playing a dangerous game by arming Ukraine with sophisticated weapons, including surface-to-air missiles. He said, "Therefore the threat is set to last for years. There will be risks for civil aviation, and not only in the Ukrainian sky. They [the risks] can spread across Europe." U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday phoned president-elect Yoon Seok-youl to congratulate him on his election win. The two "affirmed the strength of the U.S.-[South Korea] alliance, which is the linchpin for peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," according to the White House. Biden said he hoped to deepen cooperation in tackling global challenges, such as climate change and the pandemic and added that South Korea has played a core role in supporting Ukraine. Yoon and Biden also pledged to work closely together in response to the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. According to a statement released by Yoon's People Power Party, Biden asked him to visit the White House after taking the office, and Yoon expressed hope to meet Biden at an early date. Genres : Drama : Drama Running Time :117 min. :117 min. Directed by : Park Dong-hoon : Park Dong-hoon Starring : Choi Min-sik, Kim Dong-hwi Synopsis : A student at a prestigious private high school becomes an outcast because of his different social background to his richer peers. This loner then meets another hermit, the school security guard who is actually a mathematical genius defecting from North Korea. The pair slowly open up to each other but when the boy is framed for an incident at school, their friendship is put to the test. North Korea hopes it will soon be able to launch its own surveillance satellites to spy on South Korea and the U.S. During a recent visit to the National Aerospace Development Administration, leader Kim Jong-un pledged to put several "military reconnaissance satellites" into orbit within five years, the official Rodong Sinmun reported on Thursday. But the technology for a space rocket that takes a satellite into orbit and an intercontinental ballistic missile is more or less the same, so one could be camouflage for the other. That would mean Kim is scrapping what remains of a moratorium declared in 2018 on long-range missile tests. "This urgent project is the supreme revolutionary task, a political and military priority task..." Kim added. President-elect Yoon Seok-youl became famous for saying at a National Assembly audit in 2013, "I am not loyal to any person." That led to his removal from a prosecution team investigating a major political scandal at the time but mobilized legions of supporters in the latest presidential election. Later, as prosecutor-general, Yoon became even more famous as a thorn in the side of the president who had appointed him as he spearheaded an investigation into fly-by-night justice minister Cho Kuk and his wife. The ruling camp bristled at the probe and others liked it, which were getting ever closer to President Moon Jae-in's inner circle, but the public rallied behind Yoon, whom they saw as an honest man in a sea of corruption. Born in Seoul on Dec. 18, 1960, Yoon has one younger sister. He majored in law at Seoul National University and is said to be sociable and apparently makes it a point never to miss major gatherings of people around him. He was no academic high-flyer, however, passing the national bar exam in 1991 after failing no fewer than nine times. Still, his dogged persistence meant he became a prosecutor at the age of 34 and had a steady career until he revealed in the 2013 audit that he was being pressured by ranking government officials in an ongoing investigation. After being sent to the Siberia of provincial prosecutors' offices for years, he returned to the spotlight in 2016, when he was appointed to head an investigation of Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye's toxic confidante and ultimate downfall. Just 10 days after he was elected to replace Park, Moon appointed Yoon prosecutor-general. When he presented Yoon with his letter of appointment, he instructed him to "sternly investigate even those in power." Yoon obeyed those words to the letter, to the growing fury of his erstwhile patron. Cho Kuk's successor in the revolving-door post of justice minister, veteran lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, was appointed in a bid to rein in Yoon but stumbled over her own machinations instead. But that only strengthened Yoon's maverick image in the face of government pressure and catapulted him to the top of opinion polls as the nation's favorite presidential candidate. Since adopting direct presidential elections in 1987, South Korea had more or less seen the government shift back and forth from conservative to liberal every 10 years, so few expected the presidency to revert to the conservatives so soon after Park Geun-hye disgraced them. When president-elect Yoon Seok-youl quit his job as prosecutor-general in March last year and left his lifetime career behind to pursue his political ambitions, not many thought he would succeed. There have been too many like him, who created a buzz early on but fizzled as the election approached and reality took over. In that sense, Yoon's election win is unprecedented in South Korean politics. He achieved it largely because many people wanted to see the back of a disastrous government which they had elected without great enthusiasm after Park's ouster five years ago. This is their victory. Now they want Yoon to correct the errors of the Moon Jae-in administration. The outgoing administration has made a mess of government, from Moon's hasty nuclear phase-out to his failed experiment in "income-led growth" and punitive taxes to tame real estate prices. These must be corrected based on market principles. Most importantly, the country must be saved from the swamp of populist policies. Over the last five years, the Moon administration caused South Korea's sovereign debt to swell by a staggering W415 trillion (US$1=W1,227). To put that into perspective, the country's sovereign debt from 1948 until Moon took office only totaled W600 trillion. That shows just how reckless Moon has been. What's even more lamentable is that the W415 trillion in borrowed money practically disappeared without a trace. Once blinded by populism, politicians end up competing with each other to shower more money on voters. This is exactly what happened in this election campaign as candidates pledged hundreds of trillions of money in government spending. Unless this stops, the country could end up walking down the same path as Argentina, Greece and Venezuela. Yoon must be willing to take the flak and have the courage to retract pledges that cannot be realized. Although assistance for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic is needed, such help must be realistic. South Korea's diplomacy and national security also suffered over the last five years. Seoul's alliance with the U.S. has deteriorated badly, which is probably why U.S. President Joe Biden telephoned Yoon as soon as he won the election and asked him to meet soon. South Korea's relations with Japan have also sunk to a new low, while ties with China have left Seoul in a position of extreme vulnerability. This must all change. The Moon administration damaged South Korea's diplomacy and national security because of the president's crush on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Moon would be intent on recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power and easing sanctions as he dreamed of new photo-ops with his friend. This culminated in the absurd spectacle of the military declaring that it will protect the borders through "dialogue." Moon's government has been reluctant even to describe North Korea's missile launches as "provocations," so sensitive is it to any whisper of displeasure from the dictator in Pyongyang. What it has reaped is an increased nuclear threat from the North. Pyongyang did not hesitate to launch another missile as South Koreans elected a new leader, because Kim probably wanted to scare the new president. Such provocations will probably intensify, and North Korea is now expected to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile or even conduct another nuclear test. That might be one of the first challenges the president-elect faces. Yoon also needs to unite a deeply divided public. He scraped in by just a 0.73 percentage margin or 247,000 votes over his rival, the thinnest of any presidential election. Many people view the vote count as a sign of a deep ideological rift in society. Moon has often divided the public when it came to implementing his populist policies. The new administration must ensure that these rifts heal. Yoon would have a difficult time implementing his policies without the help of the National Assembly, where the Minjoo Partiy still has a super-majority for two more years, so cooperation is of the essence. The only support Yoon will have is from the public that voted for him to achieve a change of leadership. The people want Yoon to lead the country differently. He must take full responsibility for his actions and make sure his words match his deeds. Nobody needs another president who pretends to be an idealist while politicking all the time to protect his own. Favoritism must end. Yoon's leadership skills will be tested first in the appointments of key officials. People want him to choose officials based only on their merits. That will ensure the least amount of resistance from the opposition. The public, too, will be the judge when the majority opposition seeks to stymie appointments of talented officials simply to give the new president a hard time. Yoon has pledged to move the top office from Cheong Wa Dae to the government complex in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul and speak to the media often. But Moon made the same pledge five years ago and never got around to it. Voters will watch closely if Yoon lives up to those pledges. Yoon said he never dreamed of becoming a politician. Every time he faced a wall, he said, he "thought about why the public called on me." Let us the hope continues to ask himself that question over the next five years. KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 01:06 | All, World The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face cease-fire talks Thursday in Turkey but said no progress was made. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov came out of their meeting in the resort city of Antalya empty-handed, with Kuleba saying in a press conference Kyiv "will not surrender" to Moscow. Kuleba added he called for a 24-hour truce to allow civilians to evacuate during the meeting but to no avail. Still, Kuleba expressed willingness to hold more talks with Lavrov. Meanwhile, Lavrov said in a separate press conference that cease-fire negotiations will continue to be held by high-ranking officials from both sides in Belarus, whose government has been helping Moscow's military action. Lavrov also said the two ministers discussed the possibility of a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but aired his view that the time is not ripe for such a meeting since "specific outcomes" will be needed for the leaders' talks. The talks at the mediation of the Turkish government came as Russia's aggression continued to intensify and after previous cease-fire talks failed to halt the conflict. During the past cease-fire negotiations, Ukraine demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory, while 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 the former Soviet neighbor. The deputy mayor of hard-hit Mariupol, Sergei Orlov, said Wednesday that 1,170 civilians had died in the 10 days since Russian forces began to lay siege to the southern port city. Shelling by Russian forces severely damaged a maternity hospital in Mariupol, injuring pregnant patients and trapping civilians in the rubble. Russian military activity also cut power to the Chernobyl nuclear complex in northern Ukraine on Wednesday. But the International Atomic Energy Agency said the situation was not critical and the volume of cooling water in the site's spent fuel storage facility was sufficient to cool the fuel without electricity. Russia's energy ministry said Thursday that the power supply at Chernobyl has been restored with electricity from neighboring Belarus, according to the Interfax news agency. Turkey, which borders Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea, has been offering to mediate between the two countries. Related coverage: IN PHOTOS: Ukrainians in Japan seek support for their home country By Takaki Tominaga, KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 21:12 | Sports, All, Paralympics The battle of Beijing for snowboarder Keiji Okamoto ended Friday with a 13th-place finish in the banked slalom event, but the Japanese Paralympic debutant departs China with his head held high and knowing how he must improve. Okamoto, a former able-bodied snowboard pro, competed in the SB-LL2 classification at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, northern China, and finished eighth in the snowboard cross event for the same class earlier in the week. "To be honest with you, I am not satisfied with the result," said the 40-year-old after Friday's race in which compatriots Takahito Ichikawa finished eighth and Shinji Tabuchi 18th in the same class. "But the second chapter for us starts here," said Okamoto, whose hunger to win and make the most of his opportunities at the Winter Games drive him forward with equal force. The Olympic Games are not just about winning medals, and that may hold even truer for the Paralympic Games which feature athletes who in many cases have endured life-changing events. Their stories of overcoming hardship to be able to perform on the global stage have the unique ability to touch people's hearts. "For a person like me, whose life was almost over at one point because of a serious accident, it is absolutely amazing to reach this stage where people want to listen to what I have to say," Okamoto told reporters after the snowboard cross competition. The native of Kobe, western Japan, was an accomplished freestyle snowboarder and founded a team in 2007, but an accident seven years ago when he was riding in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, changed his path. He had a 10-meter fall off a cliff and injured his spinal cord when he suffered a fracture to his third lumbar vertebra. The doctor told him he will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, but through intensive rehabilitation and the support of his family and friends, Okamoto was able to take up para snowboarding in 2016. After emerging from such a traumatic experience, he is sure to appreciate the experiences he is having. "How it is possible for anyone not to enjoy the moment at a stage like this?" asked Okamoto, who suffers more severe impairment to his right lower limb as compared to his left. Okamoto, who used his history as a slopestyle rider to become involved in snowboard park construction, also launched a mobile app in 2018 that helps users find places to ski and snowboard in Japan. After failing to win a medal in Beijing, he promised the Japanese men's snowboarding team will be stronger and more competitive now they better know their weaknesses. "I will improve my strength by gaining more muscle and weight," Okamoto pledged. Among the six-member Japanese men's snowboarding team, only Daichi Oguri competed in the 2018 Pyeongchang Paralympics. The rest of the team got their first taste of the Paralympics in Beijing. "We would like to improve in the next four years so that we all can earn medals in the next games," he said. By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 10:55 | World, All, Japan, Feature China may try to cozy up to Japan in the short run to curb a possible economic downturn, as President Xi Jinping has been keen to secure a controversial third term as leader at the ruling Communist Party's twice-a-decade congress in fall. But Tokyo is unlikely to take a softer approach toward Beijing, with the two Asian powers recently at odds over China's security challenges to Taiwan, its temporary detention of a Japanese diplomat and its unwillingness to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At this year's annual session of parliament that ended Friday, China's top leadership mapped out steps to stabilize economic development to prevent social disorder from eroding public support for the ruling party headed by Xi. On the diplomatic front, China has refrained from making policy decisions provoking its neighbors such as Japan, while avoiding expressing clear support for Russia's attack on Ukraine, launched just four days after the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics. At last year's National People's Congress, China adopted a resolution to alter Hong Kong's electoral system to exclude pro-democracy activists from its political arena, sparking harsh criticism from democratic countries worldwide. One month before parliament in 2021, Beijing also enforced a law allowing its coast guard to use weapons when foreign ships involved in illegal acts in waters it claims disobey orders, making Sino-Japanese ties more fragile over maritime security. "It appears that President Xi has prepared the groundwork for his re-election at the party's congress. There was no storm at this year's congress. The next aim is to prop up the economy for real," a diplomatic source in Beijing said. In a bid to offset tame domestic demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, China might attempt to increase exports, especially those to Japan, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations, he said. As China "does not want to run into trouble" in the diplomatic field ahead of the party's congress, the 50th anniversary "would give Xi a good incentive to get closer to Japan in economic terms," the source said, but he added, "Things may not go as China expects." In 2021, China's economy expanded 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. During his policy speech at the opening of this year's seven-day National People's Congress, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the government has cut a gross domestic product growth target for 2022 to around 5.5 percent from last year's over 6.0 percent. "China is under the triple pressures of shrinking demand, disrupted supply and weakening expectations," Li said, pledging to implement economic stimulus measures including corporate tax breaks and subsidies for local governments. "In our work this year, we must make economic stability our top priority," the premier said. Li, meanwhile, voiced fears about the prospects of the global economy, but he added China will "continue to expand international economic cooperation and trade," suggesting that the Asian nation has been eager to boost exports to shore up the broader economy. He also said, "The prudent monetary policy should be both flexible and appropriate, with reasonably ample liquidity being maintained," with some analysts saying China might be hoping to keep the yuan, also known as the renminbi, lower against other currencies. The yuan's depreciation usually bolsters exports by making products of Chinese companies cheaper abroad and driving up the value of overseas revenue in yuan terms. Although the future of the world economy hinges on how the Ukraine crisis will develop, China has "adhered to the policy of aggressively utilizing foreign capital," said Toru Nishihama, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo. Gao Hong, a former director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in an interview with Kyodo News that Beijing and Tokyo have a "relatively strong foundation" for economic cooperation. "The Japanese business community is friendly to China," Gao said, adding that if economic cooperation, a "stabilizer" for bilateral relations, functions effectively without interruption, Beijing and Tokyo can "secure stable political ties to some extent." Nevertheless, the relationship between the two Asian countries became frayed after former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in December said any emergency concerning self-ruled Taiwan would be an emergency for Japan and for the Japan-U.S. security alliance. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, still heads the biggest faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after stepping down as the nation's leader in 2020. 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. Tokyo severed diplomatic ties with Taipei and established them with Beijing in 1972. A joint communique signed that year stipulates China "reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory" of it and Japan "fully understands and respects this stand." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Monday on the sidelines of this year's parliament, "There are always some people in Japan who are reluctant to see the rapid development of China and stable China-Japan relations." "Major sensitive issues such as history and Taiwan are foundational to mutual trust between our two countries," advising Japan to "avoid serious disruption to our bilateral relations in the future." China's brief detention in late February of a Japanese diplomat in Beijing while on duty, which Tokyo claims violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, has also triggered a backlash from the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The international treaty requires the hosting state to prevent any disturbance of the peace of a diplomatic mission or impairment of its dignity. Japan "cannot overlook" the incident and "will never accept it," Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters following the detention, adding the government lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels. A source familiar with bilateral ties said Japan "will not extend an olive branch to China even if China tries to move closer to Japan economically." (Shinsuke Osawa in Beijing contributed to this story) KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 22:49 | All, World South Korea's defense ministry on Friday said it has detected activity at North Korea's nuclear test site to restore tunnels that were dismantled in 2018. In May 2018, North Korea said it had demolished the Punggye-ri site, which the secretive regime had announced it would close the previous month, apparently to signal its commitment to denuclearization. But subsequent direct talks between North Korea and the United States on Pyongyang's denuclearization failed to make headway before then President Donald Trump left the White House in January last year. Earlier this week, a U.S. nuclear expert said construction is under way at the test site for the first time since the announcement of its closure, based on commercial satellite photos. North Korea hinted in January that it could resume nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, both of which were last conducted in 2017, saying it should take "practical action to more reliably and effectively increase our physical strength" to counter the United States. Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that Pyongyang is thought to have started work to remove South Korean-built facilities at Mt. Kumgang. The tour program to the mountain was a major inter-Korean cooperative project, and the move to get rid of the facilities is likely to stoke tensions with South Korea, which on Wednesday elected Yoon Suk Yeol of the country's conservative main opposition People Power Party to succeed President Moon Jae In. Related coverage: North Korea's Kim seeks to expand key missile facility amid ICBM concern North Korea tests ICBM system in "serious escalation": U.S. official North Korea's spy satellites aimed at collecting info on U.S. military KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 22:35 | All, Japan A Japanese court ordered the central government Friday to compensate a man over his forced sterilization under a now-defunct eugenics protection law, the second such ruling among similar suits filed nationwide, potentially affecting the outcome of future cases. Overturning a lower court decision, the Tokyo High Court found the 1948 law unconstitutional and awarded 15 million yen ($128,000) in damages to the 78-year-old plaintiff, who uses the pseudonym Saburo Kita. The Tokyo resident had demanded 30 million yen. Kita had been sterilized without informed consent in 1957 when he was around 14 years old and placed in a child welfare facility for alleged delinquencies in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi. He sued the government in May 2018 at the Tokyo District Court. "It was a long road. I feel like I'm dreaming to have gotten this ruling and full of emotion," Kita said at a press conference following the high court ruling. Presiding Judge Yutaka Hirata made a comment after the ruling, which is rare for a judge to do, saying, "I want the plaintiff to live happily after this. It is, of course, the government's responsibility, as well as everyone within society, to create a society where discrimination does not exist." Starting in 2018, similar suits have been filed with nine courts across Japan, but until now, only the Osaka High Court had ordered state compensation in February. Some Japanese courts had earlier underlined the law's unconstitutionality but rejected claims of damages because the statute of limitations had expired 20 years after the forced surgeries. In the Kita case, the Tokyo District Court recognized in June 2020 that the forced surgery infringed on his freedom to choose whether to have a child guaranteed under Article 13 of the Japanese Constitution. But it turned down the damages claim, saying the statute of limitations had expired. Last month, the Osaka High Court became the first to award damages over forced sterilization, saying the statute of limitations should not be applied as it "extremely contravenes justice and fairness." It told the state to pay a total of 27.5 million yen to three plaintiffs. The lawyers who represented the plaintiffs at the Osaka High Court released a statement describing the Tokyo High Court as fulfilling its responsibilities, and it also urged the government not to appeal to the Supreme Court as had been the case after they won at the Osaka High Court. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday the government will consider whether to appeal the Tokyo High Court verdict after examining it with relevant ministries. "For the victims who had most of their lives stolen, the last atonement that the government can make is not to appeal the Tokyo High Court ruling," they said. Between 1948 and 1996, the eugenics protection law authorized the sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses or hereditary disorders. About 25,000 people were sterilized, including 16,500 who were operated on without their consent, according to government data. The Osaka court also accused lawmakers from that time of being "negligent" for enacting the law even though it was clearly "inhumane and discriminatory." Legislation was enacted in 2019 to pay 3.2 million yen in state compensation to each person who underwent forced sterilization. As of late February, the government has authorized the lump-sum payment to 974 people, according to the welfare ministry. The law was finally scrapped in 1996 after a disabled Japanese woman called for its abolishment at the U.N.-coordinated International Conference on Population and Development two years earlier. Related coverage: Japan court orders damages over forced sterilization for first time KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 14:31 | All, World, Japan The Japanese government decided on Friday to disburse 8.8 billion yen ($75.3 million) from fiscal 2021 reserve funds for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine following its invasion by Russia since late last month. Japan will offer the assistance to relevant international organizations including the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and help fund the activities of Japanese nongovernmental organizations helping Ukraine, the Finance Ministry said. The amount is part of the emergency humanitarian aid worth $100 million that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged last month. On Friday, the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, told a press conference that the aid would include food, water and shelter for affected people in Ukraine and those fleeing to neighboring countries. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered a third week without progress in talks between the countries on a cease-fire deal. The conflict has resulted in civilian casualties and led to an exodus of more than 2 million refugees, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Earlier in the week, Japan granted short-term residency for 90 days to eight displaced Ukrainian nationals who have relatives or acquaintances in the country. KYODO NEWS - Mar 11, 2022 - 13:39 | All, World, Japan, Coronavirus Japan's official development assistance totaled about $20.3 billion in 2020, the second highest on record, as loans grew to developing nations due to the coronavirus pandemic, the government said Friday. The annual white paper on development cooperation issued by Japan's Foreign Ministry showed ODA in 2020 rose 7.3 percent from the previous year. After $22.4 billion in 2013, the figure was the highest for any year since 1960, when comparable data became available. Calculated by international standards under the "grant equivalent" method, Tokyo's aid amounted to $16.3 billion. Japan's ODA includes grant aid, yen loans and technical cooperation. Japan was the fourth-largest aid provider on a grant-equivalent basis following the United States, Germany and Britain among the 30 members of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with its position unchanged from 2019. "We believe the increase in ODA was caused by the coronavirus" first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, which forced many governments to rely on yen loans for emergency budget support, a ministry official told reporters. The COVID-19 pandemic hit many developing nations hard in 2020 as it halted social and economic activities across the globe and travel restrictions were imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, damaging economies dependent on tourism. The white paper said Japan has set up a framework for a maximum 700 billion yen ($6 billion) in loans for two years from 2020 to help countries suffering from the economic impact of the pandemic. The world's third-largest economy has also vowed efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccines to developing nations, offering 42 million doses to 26 nations and areas as of late February this year, according to the paper. Japan had given 13.7 billion yen in grant assistance to 59 nations and regions by the end of 2021 in "Last One Mile Support," which includes the provision of refrigerated trucks and other cold chain equipment necessary to distribute vaccines to remote areas, the paper said. The document also said the international community has been condemning "debt trap" financing, which saddles recipient countries with loans they cannot repay, in a veiled reference to China's huge infrastructure projects in developing nations. By Miya Tanaka, KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2022 - 06:03 | All, World The United States, Japan and other Group of Seven industrialized nations on Friday agreed to take steps to strip Russia of trade benefits it has enjoyed as a member of the World Trade Organization, ratcheting up pressure on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine. Ending benefits such as low tariffs and few trade barriers in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another "crushing blow to the Russian economy," U.S. President Joe Biden said at the White House as he announced a fresh set of sanctions the G-7 leaders have agreed on. According to a joint statement, each member of the group -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union -- vowed to take independent actions to revoke Russia's "most-favored nation" status, which has granted the country the best possible trade terms on key products. Such a revocation, which in the United States will require a legislative process, would pave the way for the United States and other countries to impose higher tariffs on Russian products. The G-7 members also said they are working to collectively prevent Russia from obtaining financing from leading multilateral financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and stand ready to impose further restrictions on Russia's exports and imports of key goods and technologies. The latest punishment will build on what the G-7 calls "expansive restrictive measures that have severely compromised Russia's economy and financial system," which have been taken since Russia launched its military attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24. The G-7 has worked to isolate key Russian banks from a major international payment system known as SWIFT, blunt the Russian central bank's ability to use its foreign reserves to halt its currency's depreciation, and impose export bans and controls to cut Russia off from advanced technologies. Russia's ruble has been plummeting and its government credit rating has been downgraded to "junk" status, while many foreign companies, including McDonald's Corp. and Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, are pausing operations in Russia amid global condemnation of the military aggression. Biden unveiled on Friday a ban on the export of luxury goods to any person located in Russia, such as high-end watches and apparel, and a ban on the import of goods from several signature sectors of Russia's economy, such as seafood, vodka and diamonds. The U.S. export value of the products covered by the luxury goods restrictions is nearly $550 million per year, while the import ban will deny Russia more than $1 billion in export revenues, the White House said. The White House also announced additional sanctions targeting Russian elites and their family members. As concerns grow over supply disruptions stemming from the invasion, the G-7 said they will work to preserve the stability of energy markets as well as ensure food security globally. Russia is one the world's largest oil producers, while Russia and Ukraine are among the most important producers of agricultural commodities, supplying a total of about 30 percent of the world's total wheat exports. The G-7 members said they will make further efforts to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, while ensuring the process happens "in an orderly fashion and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative and sustainable supplies." The United States has already announced a ban on oil and other energy imports from Russia, and Britain also plans to phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of the year. "We continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and the government of Ukraine. We will continue to evaluate the impacts of our measures, including on third countries, and are prepared to take further measures to hold (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin and his regime accountable for his attack on Ukraine," the G-7 said in the statement. For the United States, Russia is the 26th-largest goods trading partner, with $28 billion in total goods trade during 2019, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Under WTO agreements, countries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners. Granting a special favor, such as reduced tariffs on imported goods, would obligate the country to do the same for all other WTO members. Revoking Russia's "most-favored nation" status, also called "permanent normal trade relations," would put the country in the same category as North Korea and Cuba in terms of trade relations with the United States. Military vehicles and equipment are seen at a show during celebrations of Kuwait's National and Liberation Days in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Feb. 25, 2022. Celebrations were held on Friday to mark Kuwait's National and Liberation Days, which are observed annually on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations were held on Friday to mark Kuwait's National and Liberation Days, which are observed annually on February 25 and 26. Residents in Kuwait City watched as fighter jets flew over the Kuwait Towers. To commemorate the day, Kuwait's Ministry of Defense held a show of military vehicles and equipment. In many parts of the country, citizens took part in various celebrations. Following a steady decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases, the country loosened restrictions on Feb. 14, allowing more activities to take place and the unvaccinated people to travel if they adhere to health regulations. The celebrations this year amid the easing of COVID-19 restrictions have been warmly received by many residents. Originally, June 19 was designated as Kuwait's National Day, but due to the intense heat waves in June, the country chose to move it to Feb. 25. Kuwait's Liberation Day is celebrated every year on Feb. 26. The holiday commemorates the liberation of Kuwait in 1991 after a seven-month Iraqi occupation. People visit a military show during celebrations of Kuwait's National and Liberation Days in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Feb. 25, 2022. Celebrations were held on Friday to mark Kuwait's National and Liberation Days, which are observed annually on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Military vehicles and equipment are seen at a show during celebrations of Kuwait's National and Liberation Days in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Feb. 25, 2022. Celebrations were held on Friday to mark Kuwait's National and Liberation Days, which are observed annually on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) A helicopter is seen during celebrations of Kuwait's National and Liberation Days in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Feb. 25, 2022. Celebrations were held on Friday to mark Kuwait's National and Liberation Days, which are observed annually on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) People march during celebrations of Kuwait's National and Liberation Days in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Feb. 25, 2022. Celebrations were held on Friday to mark Kuwait's National and Liberation Days, which are observed annually on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) BAGHDAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of seven Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in Iraqi airstrikes in Kirkuk and Salahudin provinces, including a local leader of the extremist group, security sources said on Friday. In the northern Kirkuk province, Iraqi security forces conducted two airstrikes on Thursday night on an IS hideout in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. The airstrikes killed four IS militants, including the local leader, it said. Meanwhile, three IS militants were killed in an airstrike during the army's operation to hunt down IS militants near the city of Samarra in Salahudin province, north of Baghdad, Spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces Yahia Rasoul, said in a statement. Over the past few months, Iraqi forces have carried out deadly attacks to crackdown growing IS activities. The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the IS in 2017. Yet the group's remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Photo taken on Jan. 11, 2022 shows a view of Banks Peninsula, where the town of Akaroa is located, in New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) The year of 2022 is the reopening of tourism industry in New Zealand as the government signalled. However, the question remains when and how many of the international travellers will come back. WELLINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- After nearly two year's border closure, the year of 2022 is the reopening of tourism industry in New Zealand as the government signalled, "but it will still be bumpy road ahead," Head of Tourism New Zealand Rene de Monchy told Xinhua on Thursday. New Zealand government removed COVID-19 isolation requirements, one of the biggest obstacles for tourism recovery, for full-vaccinated Kiwis from early March and the policy is expected to cover eligible international travellers later this year. According to the government's current five-step phased plan, eligible work visa and student visa holders will be allowed to enter the country with no quarantine requirement by April, and international visitors from all over the world are free to come to New Zealand no later by October. A Pohutukawa tree is seen at the port in Akaroa, New Zealand, Jan. 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) Tourism was one of the pillar industries for New Zealand economy, but it was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years with tourism operators even describing the state of their industry as decimated. Lisa Li, managing director of China Travel Service NZ, whose business mainly depends on tourists from China, said her company is fortunate to maintain one third of its workforce after two years of struggling. However, most of the travel agencies now are short of experienced staff. De Monchy acknowledged the hit the industry had taken, but said "I think the industry will be very focused on reopening, coming out of being dormant, reopening their doors, rehiring and hiring new staff," he said. For Tourism New Zealand, part of their plans was a ramp up in travel trade with the organization training up to 80,000 travel agents to ensure the promotion of New Zealand in post-COVID era, he said. However, the question remains when and how many of the international travellers will come back. Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2020 shows a view of Fox Glacier on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. (Photo by Yang Liu/Xinhua) EYES ON CHINA Before 2020 when the pandemic hit the country, New Zealand is a popular destination for global tourists with Australia, China and the United States being the top three international markets for the country's tourism sector, according to De Monchy. The tourists from the three countries generate around 60 percent of the value at the international market of New Zealand before the pandemic, with China ranked No. 2 international value market for New Zealand's tourism industry. The Chinese market is crucial to New Zealand tourism industry. "That will remain our key focus areas," and they have always put emphasis on the Chinese market, said De Monchy. "Even during the last two years when the border has been closed, we've been continuing to contact with Chinese market, using social media to make Chinese tourists dream of New Zealand, including the consumers as well as the travel trade," he said. Chinese tourists visit Glenorchy, New Zealand, May 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Su Liang) De Monchy anticipated Chinese travellers may come back to New Zealand by the end of this year as "the travelling period for Chinese tourists historically has been December and January, during New Zealand summer time as well as the Chinese New Year." New Zealand reported 21,015 new community cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. The surge number of Omicron across the country has already made New Zealand one of the highest infection rate countries in the year of 2022 as recently the U.S. government listed New Zealand as "very high risk destinations". Lisa said the potential travellers abroad are still uncertain about the pandemic situation in New Zealand as Omicron is still widespread in the country, but traders have prepared themselves for international visitors. Aerial photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows the automated production line of a technology company in the Economic Development Zone of Anji County, Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo by Xia Pengfei/Xinhua) China has made important contributions to promoting world economic recovery, providing development dividends, and boosting global sustainable development, said overseas experts, noting that China's development experience can also be helpful for other countries. BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's commitment to pursuing high-quality development and building a community with a shared future for mankind has drawn global attention during its annual "two sessions," and will further benefit the world, say experts worldwide. This year's "two sessions," the gatherings of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, held closing meetings on Friday and Thursday respectively. Such topics as expanding high-level opening-up, promoting green development and boosting global cooperation have received intense global attention. China has made important contributions to promoting world economic recovery, providing development dividends, and boosting global sustainable development, said overseas experts, noting that China's development experience can also be helpful for other countries. China-donated COVID-19 vaccines are transported at the Nsimalen airport in Yaounde, Cameroon, Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) BOOST GLOBAL COOPERATION Munshi Faiz Ahmad, former chair of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, said since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has been playing a very constructive role in an effort to enhance cooperation among countries to combat the virus in a coordinated manner. He also said that China has been sharing resources with many countries, rich and poor, in an effort to defeat the pandemic, adding that "China has succeeded in doing this because the democratic will of the people of China was fully behind the government policies as well expressed through the two sessions." Antoine Roger Lokongo, a professor of international politics and strategies at the Joseph Kasa-Vubu University, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noted that Africa and other developing countries could learn from China's development. China's aid and investment are "profoundly transforming Africa, especially in fields of infrastructure and rural development," said Lokongo. Staff members promote coffee machines via livestreaming at the Consumer Goods Exhibition Area of the 4th China International Import Expo in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) PRIORITIZE OPENING-UP It is "enormously reassuring" that China continues to be committed to the process of opening-up at the "two sessions," said John Pang, a senior fellow at Bard College, New York. Pang noted that it is good to see China's support for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a major free trade deal which came into force on Jan. 1 in China and nine other countries. Khairy Tourk, a professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, said "We see foreign direct investment flowing into China," adding that giants like Tesla and Apple are expanding their operations in China. "I think the world feels grateful to China and its economic planners to keep the country on a trajectory that would promise better economic conditions not only in China but in the rest of the world," Tourk argued. 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) PROMOTE GREEN DEVELOPMENT China is taking good steps to promote a green and low-carbon economy, said Alexandre Sebuhura, a senior lecturer of development studies at Kigali Independent University, Rwanda. Global challenges, for example climate change, will be dealt with once all countries push for co-existence between human and nature, Sebuhura added. Kostas Gouliamos, former rector of European University Cyprus, noted that China, sticking to people-centered policies, has moved faster to nurture green new drivers with the purpose of establishing a green technology innovation system. Najma Minhas, an editor of the Global Village Space, a digital media outlet in Pakistan, said to deal with the Ukraine crisis, the West should realize that it cannot solve an issue through military means, but through talks and negotiations. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Minhas said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) going eastwards towards the Russian border is seen by Russia as crossing the red line. Produced by Xinhua Global Service TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The head of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said Friday that Iran is ready to supply required oil for the world market and stabilize the prices, official news agency IRNA reported. The Iranian government has made every effort to regain Iran's oil share in the market and to increase it, Mohsen Khojasteh Mehr, the CEO of NIOC told IRNA. "Necessary measures are being taken for the sanctions and post-sanctions time" for Iran to return to the world market, he was quoted as saying. Iran's position in supplying the world with oil is special, he said, adding that European refiners are confident that Iran is a sustainable supplier of energy. "At the NIOC, we are ready to meet the needs of the European companies, along with other companies," he noted. Iran is fully prepared to supply whatever the market wants from Iran's oil, Khojasteh Mehr stressed. Iran's oil industry and its exports have been under U.S. unilateral sanctions since summer 2018, after the former U.S. president withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal and reinstated new sanctions against the country. People enjoy themselves on Times Square in New York, the United States, March 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Two years later, American states and many countries are rushing to drop public health precautions, reduce testing and lift restrictions, citing the swift decline of the Omicron surge -- and the WHO is saying: Not so fast. NEW YORK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Just 2 percent of the United States population, about 7 million people, lives in a county where the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends universal indoor masking, according to the CDC's COVID-19 data on Thursday. This is 16 million fewer people than just last week, when about 7 percent of the U.S. population lived in a county considered to have a "high" community level. Two weeks ago, when the CDC first released the new metrics, about 28 percent of the U.S. population lived in a county considered to have a high community level. Meanwhile, according to Thursday's update, nearly 73 percent of the U.S. population now lives in a county considered to have a "low" community level, where there is no recommendation for masking. Some 21 percent live in a county considered to have a "medium" community level, where the CDC recommends that immunocompromised people and those at high risk for severe disease consider taking extra precautions against COVID-19. People wearing face masks get off a train at Union Station in Chicago, the United States, on Feb. 28, 2022. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson/Xinhua) MEASURES EASED The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is extending the mask mandate on public transportation until April 18, NBC on Thursday quoted White House and TSA officials as saying. The requirement was set to expire on March 18 after having been extended twice before. The CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when the mask rules can be lifted during this time, according to the report. Meanwhile, United Airlines, citing a steep decline in COVID-19 cases, told staff on Thursday that it will allow unvaccinated workers to return to their jobs starting March 28, a shift from a company that had one of the country's strictest inoculation mandates. Last August, United said it would require U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face termination. More than 96 percent of United's roughly 67,000 U.S. workers were vaccinated, the company said. Photo taken on March 30, 2021 shows an exterior view of the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia) NOT SO FAST On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that a pandemic was underway. Two years passed, the organization stressed that many countries are being too quick to declare it over and let down their guard. "Two years later, American states and many countries are rushing to drop public health precautions, reduce testing and lift restrictions, citing the swift decline of the Omicron surge -- and the WHO is saying: Not so fast," reported The New York Times on Friday. Meanwhile, The Washington Post (WP) said that "it will take years to fully absorb and assess how profoundly this virus transformed the country. Illness, grief, anxiety and disruptions to daily life still afflict millions." The official tally of U.S. coronavirus cases to date is about 80 million, but that reflects only confirmed cases reported by the states. Some people have been infected more than once; many others never got tested, according to the report. To arrive at a more accurate number, health authorities look at blood tests that detect antibodies from infection. These estimates indicate that more than 140 million Americans, about 43 percent of the population, have had the virus. "That's about double the rate reflected in national case counts," added the WP report. Centre has already said that it was framing guidelines for handling bodies of those who die of COVID-19. (Photo Credit: IANS) New Delhi: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has withdrawn its circular stating that all bodies of coronavirus patients will be cremated irrespective of the religion of the deceased. The information was shared by Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik on micro-blogging site twitter. Malik said that the circular issued by the BMC has now been withdrawn. This is to bring to your kind attention that I have spoken to @mybmc Commissioner Mr. Praveen Pardeshi regarding the circular issued by him for the cremation of those who have lost their lives due to the #CoronaVirus. The said circular has now been withdrawn (sic)," he tweeted. ALSO READ | India Is Still In Local Transmission Stage, No Community Transmission So Far: Health Ministry This is to bring to your kind attention that I have spoken to @mybmc Commissioner Mr. Praveen Pardeshi regarding the circular issued by him for cremation of those who have lost their lives due to the #CoronaVirus. The said circular has now been withdrawn. Nawab Malik UU U UU aaaa aaaa (@nawabmalikncp) March 30, 2020 Earlier, BMC announced that bodies of all those who died due to COVID-19 in Mumbai will be cremated irrespective of the religion of the deceased. According to a circular issued by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, only five persons can attend the funeral of a COVID-19 patient and rituals of touching the body should be avoided. All bodies of COVID-19 patients should be cremated irrespective of religion. Burial will not be allowed. The funeral should not involve more than 5 people, Pardeshi said. He said that if someone insists to bury the body, then it needs to be done out of Mumbai city. If someone insists to bury the body, they will only be permitted if the body is taken out of Mumbai city's jurisdiction, the BMC commissioner said. ALSO READ | Counter Misinformation, Superstition On Coronavirus: PM Narendra Modi To Social Worker Maharashtra, known as the financial capital of India, is going to be the worst-hit among states in economic term due to the coronavirus -induced lockdown. Most of the manufacturing units have completely stopped their activities due to the lockdown, water resources minister Jayant Patil said on Monday. The RBI has proposed to change the convenors of State Level Bankersa Committee (SLBC). (Photo Credit: File) Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on Monday proposed to change the convenors of State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) in view of the merger of 10 public sector banks into 4 with effect from April 1. With the mega merger, 6 public sector banks will cease to exist from April 1, necessitating changes in the convenorship. The convenorship of merged banks will be transferred to anchor banks. The government on March 4 notified the amalgamation scheme as part of its consolidation plan to create bigger and stronger banks in the public sector. As per the scheme, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will be merged into Punjab National Bank (PNB); Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank; and Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank into Union Bank of India. Following the merger, PNB will become the SLBC convenor of Delhi. Currently, the responsibility rests with Oriental Bank of Commerce, RBI said in a notification. For Tripura and West Bengal too, convenorship will be transferred to PNB from United Bank of India, it said. The new SLBC convenor for Andhra Pradesh will be Union Bank of India as Andhra Bank is being amalgamated with the Mumbai-based lender. Even for Karnataka, Syndicate Bank will transfer the responsibility to Canara Bank which is going to acquire the former. Similarly, district lead bankers would also be revamped. As many as 111 districts will see new lead bankers beginning next fiscal. SLBC came into existence under Lead Bank Scheme as per RBI guidelines. SLBC is an inter-institutional forum at state level ensuring coordination between the government and banks on matters pertaining to banking development. The forum plays a vital role in various matters including financial inclusion and promotion of government schemes. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Pakistan PM Imran Khan appealed Pakistanis living overseas to contribute to the relief fund in nationas fight against coronavirus. (Photo Credit: File Photo) New Delhi: With number of coronavirus cases surging worldwide, Pakistan too finds itself pitched against the COVID-19 outbreak. The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 1,500 on Saturday with 12 deaths reported so far. Earlier, the Imran Khan government had authorised the deployment of troops of Pakistan army in Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan province, PoK to curb the transmission of coronavirus outbreak. The highest number of positive cases for coronavirus has been reported from Pakistans Punjab province. In Sindh, there are 469 cases of COVID-19 till latest update. Moreover, in a recent press conference, Pakistan PM Imran Khan appealed Pakistanis living overseas to contribute to the relief fund in nations fight against coronavirus. Meanwhile, China has extended assistance to Pakistan in order to combat the spread of coronavirus. A special plane from China carrying a team of eight medical experts and relief assistance landed in Islamabad on Saturday. The medical experts were welcomed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood at the Islamabad airport. Also Read: Coronavirus: Pakistan Government Authorises Deployment Of Army In Provinces To Curb COVID-19 The Chinese experts will help the Pakistani doctors and health experts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Pakistans foreign office said in a statement. "The Pakistan-China All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership has acquired greater strength and depth in recent years, guided by the shared vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and (Chinese) President Xi Jinping", the foreign office said. "China's assistance to Pakistan so far includes 12,000 test kits, 3,00,000 masks, 10,000 protective suits, and support to build an isolation hospital," the statement added. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Supreme Court said it would not create more confusion by issuing directions on measures. (Photo Credit: File Photo) New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday observed that the migration of labourers out of panic and fear is becoming a bigger problem than the coronavirus. Hearing petitions seeking relief for thousands of migrant workers, the top court said it would not create more confusion by issuing directions on measures that the government is already taking to deal with the issue. Supreme Court, however, sought a status report from the Centre by Tuesday on the measures taken in view of the large-scale migration of labourers to their native villages. Many migrant workers are leaving big cities en masse as they lack resources to sustain during the 21-day coronavirus lockdown issued to contain coronavirus outbreak. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justice L Nageswara Rao took up two separate PILs filed by advocates Alakh Alok Srivastava and Rashmi Bansal on the issue of migration of labourers through video-conferencing. "We don't want to deal with the things government is already handling," it said. "We were noticing that your petition had prayers, some of which have already been taken care of by the government." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the migration of labourers needs to be stopped to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Centre as well as the states concerned have taken the requisite steps to deal with it. The bench posted the matters for hearing on Tuesday. ALSO READ: Coronavirus Lockdown To Be Extended After 21 Days? Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the 21-day lockdown on March 24. Since then, there has been an exodus of migrant workers from big cities to their villages due to the lockdown. These migrant workers, who worked as daily wagers in big cities, have started journeying towards their native villages. Many of these workers have been walking to their destination as there is no public transport. Centre has asked all state governments to seal the borders to stop the movement of migrants in an attempt to stop community transmission of coronavirus. State governments have been asked to provide food and shelter to these migrants at wherever they are. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. As of now the facilities could be availed by present and retired railway staffers only (Photo Credit: Image for representation/Pixabay) New Delhi: Indian Railways has extended services of all its hospitals and dispensaries to all central government employees and their families in view of the spread of coronavirus, a Railway Board order said. The services include those of all 128 hospitals and 586 dispensaries of the Indian Railways all over the country. "In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Railways has decided that the services of railway hospitals and health units across the country would be available for use by all Central government employees, on showing their identity cards, at railway hospitals and health Units," the order stated. As of now the facilities could be availed by present and retired railway staffers only. Meanwhile, thirteen lakh employees of the Indian Railways will donate their one day's salary to PM-CARES emergency situation relief fund to fight COVID-19. A day's salary of all 13 employees is amounting Rs Rs 151 crore. In addition to that, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS Suresh Angadi will also donate one month's salary to the fund to fight the pandemic. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced setting up of the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES) to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. A number of union ministers, private entities, industrialists and government organisations have responded to the prime minister's announcement and contributed to the fund. So far, India has recorded a total of 979 positive cases of coronavirus and 25 deaths. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) on Monday pledged to donate Rs 500 crores to PM-CARES Fund to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak in India. Additionally, Reliance Industries has donated Rs 5 crore each to the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat to support their fights against the COVID-19. In a statement, Reliance Industries confirmed that it will donate 500 crore to PM CARES Fund in response to the call by the Prime Minister to support the nations fight against the Coronavirus onslaught. Reliance Industries has also provided contributions of Rs. 5 crore each to the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat to support their fights against the Covid-19, the company said. The Mukesh Ambani-led company further said, RIL also continues its 24x7, multi-pronged, on-the-ground effort to do its bit to ensure the nation remains prepared, fed, supplied, safe, connected and motivated to fight and win against the unprecedented challenges brought upon by the Coronavirus pandemic. RIL has already deployed the strengths of the Reliance Family on this action plan against COVID-19. RIL and its motivated team have stepped up in the cities and villages, on roads and lanes, clinics and hospitals, grocery and retail stores, and it has pressed additional capabilities into the service of the nation, it concluded. In India, the death count has reached 30 due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country. According to the latest update, a total of 1,071 cases of coronavirus has been reported in India. Also Read: Coronavirus | Ramdev Pledges Rs 25 Crore To 'PM CARES Fund' It is worth mentioning here that the novel coronavirus, which originated in China, has claimed over 34,000 lives across the world. With no known cure so far for the coronavirus, the deadly disease has become a major issue for the entire world. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lahore: A Pakistani court has exempted ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for treatment, from personal appearance in a money laundering case. Sharif, 70, has been in London since November last year. The Lahore Accountability Court on Monday exempted Sharif from personal hearing in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case till the filing of a formal case. Sharif in his petition had requested the court that he should be granted exemption as his doctors in London are not allowing him to travel. The three-time premiers daughter Maryam Nawaz was also given exemption from personal appearance. She has also filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking permission to go abroad to look after her father. This case is pending in the court. The National Accountability Bureau has accused Sharif along with two others of money laundering under the garb of sale/purchase of the sugar mills shares. According to Sharif's brother Shahbaz, the former premier will undergo a heart procedure this week. He said Sharif cannot return the country till he gets well. The Imran Khan government has already declared Sharif an ''absconder'' after refusing to extend his four-week bail granted by court on medical grounds. The Pakistan government says it is not satisfied Sharifs medical reports and he should return to the country forthwith. The Lahore High Court in October last year granted bail to Sharif on medical grounds for four weeks, allowing the Punjab government to extend it further in the light of his medical reports. The Islamabad High Court had also granted bail to Sharif in the Al Azizia Mills corruption case, in which the former prime minister was serving a seven-year jail term, clearing his way to travel abroad for medical treatment. According to Sharif's physician, he is suffering from complex multi-vessel coronary artery disease and substantial ischemic and threatened myocardium for which he is due to undergo surgery. According to a media report, Sharifs physician David Lawrence said that his heart surgery will have to wait until the prevailing uncertainty of Covid-19 settles down, hinting at his extended duration of stay abroad. According to the doctor, Sharif at his age, with significant disease burden, falls in the category of patients who if exposed can develop serious Covid-19 symptoms with adverse effects. The doctor further said that Sharif has been advised to stay in close proximity of advanced health facilities in London. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: NASAs Mars rover 'Perseverance' is all set to take the names of more than 1 crore people to the Red Planet. Yes, you read it right. It is to be noted that NASA's "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign had invited people across the world to submit their names to ride aboard the agency's next rover to the Red Planet. Well, as many as 10,932,295 people have sent their names to NASA. According to a statement from the US space agency, the names were stenciled by electron beam onto three fingernail-sized silicon chips, along with the essays of the 155 finalists in NASA's "Name the Rover" contest. The chips were then were attached to an aluminum plate on NASA's Perseverance Mars rover at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 16, 2020. This comes days after NASA announced the name of the agencys next Mars rover (Mars 2020) as Perseverance. The name Perseverance was suggested by seventh-grader Alexander Mather, who submitted the winning entry to the agencys "Name the Rover" essay contest, which received more than 28,000 entries from K-12 students from every US state and territory. NASA further stated that the coronavirus has not impacted the Mars Perseverance rover launch schedule so far. The Perseverance rover is a robotic scientist weighing just under 2,300 pounds (1,043 kilograms). It will search for signs of past microbial life, characterize Mars' climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and help pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, is building and will manage operations of the Mars Perseverance rover for NASA. The agency's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for launch management. The Mars 2020 project with its Perseverance rover is part of a larger program that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. Charged with returning astronauts to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans. Importantly, the Mars 2020 alias Perseverance will be launched towards the red planet in July 2020. The rover will land in a crater called Jezero, about seven months (February 2021) after departing Earth. Jezero is an area on Mars where liquid water flowed once. Perseverance will use a suite of high-tech tools to scout for signs of ancient alien microbes. The robot will have a laser blaster to analyse interesting rocks from afar. Also Read: Coronavirus: Indian Scientists Reveal Microscopy Image Of COVID-19 Perseverance weighs 2,314-pound (1,050-kilogram). The rover currently is at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Kennedy is responsible for launch management. The rover is part of a larger exploration program that includes missions to the Moon to prepare for human missions to the Red Planet. Charged with returning astronauts to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA's Artemis program. (With NASA Inputs) For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid the deluge of false claims and fake news on the social media, one story that is doing rounds is that of impending declaration of 'Emergency' by the Narendra Modi government. Several people have posted comments claiming that since the lockdown is not helping in containing the spread of coronavirus infections, the Modi government will impose 'Emergency' in the country as soon as the period of lockdown ends. There were claims that the Indian Army will also seek to induct civilians during the Emergency. Taking the note of the viral claim, the Indian Army on Monday issued a clarification over the matter. "Fake and malicious messages are circulating on social media about likely declaration of emergency in mid-April and employment of #IndianArmy, #Veterans, NCC and NSS to assist the civil administration. It is clarified that this is absolutely FAKE," the Army said via its official Twitter handle. (Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates) Fake and malicious messages are circulating on social media about likely declaration of emergency in mid April and employment of #IndianArmy, #Veterans, NCC and NSS to assist the civil administration. It is clarified that this is absolutely FAKE. pic.twitter.com/YnbLnBZGY0 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) March 30, 2020 The mid-April Emergency declaration is not the only rumour doing the rounds. Earlier, there were claims on the internet that to curb the community transmission of the coronavirus, the Modi government will extend the 21-day lockdown. The government on Monday said there was no plan to extend the 21-day lockdown which came into force on February 24 midnight. India is under day six of the lockdown aimed at checking the spread of the coronavirus. People have been asked to stay indoors while only those providing or availing essential services are being allowed outside. There have been several reports and speculations that the lockdown may be extended beyond April 14. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India crossed 1,000 on Sunday. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting tweeted, saying Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has denied media reports claiming that the government will extend the lockdown. "There are rumours & media reports, claiming that the Government will extend the #Lockdown21 when it expires. The Cabinet Secretary has denied these reports, and stated that they are baseless," it said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday observed that the migration of labourers out of panic and fear is becoming a bigger problem than the coronavirus. Hearing petitions seeking relief for thousands of migrant workers, the top court said it would not create more confusion by issuing directions on measures that the government is already taking to deal with the issue. The Supreme Court, however, sought a status report from the Centre by Tuesday on the measures taken in view of the large-scale migration of labourers to their native villages. Many migrant workers are leaving big cities en masse as they lack resources to sustain during the 21-day coronavirus lockdown issued to contain coronavirus outbreak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the 21-day lockdown on March 24. Since then, there has been an exodus of migrant workers from big cities to their villages due to the lockdown. These migrant workers, who worked as daily wagers in big cities, have started journeying towards their native villages. The Centre on Sunday asked state governments and Union Territory administrations to effectively seal state and district borders to stop movements of migrant workers during lockdown, officials said. During a video conference with Chief Secretaries and DGPs, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked them to ensure that there is no movement of people across cities or on highways as the lockdown continues. "There has been a movement of migrant workers in some parts of the country. Directions were issued that district and state borders should be effectively sealed," a government official said. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The nationwide tally of confirmed Coronavirus cases crossed the 1,000-mark and the death toll reached 27 on Sunday, even as the central government ordered sealing of all state and district borders to check community transmission of the deadly virus by migrant workers and asked those having left already to be quarantined for 14 days. The national capital alone reported 23 fresh positive cases, taking its count to 72, while more people tested positive in adjoining Noida as also in Maharashtra and Bihar, among other states. The new cases included a SpiceJet pilot with no history of international travel. The total number of positive cases has increased by 106 in the last 24 hours to reach 1,024 and eight more persons died in this period to take the nationwide toll to 27, according to the latest official figures. As the 21-day lockdown entered its 5th day, the exodus of migrant workers from big cities continued unabated, desperate to return to their villages after being left jobless and many of them without food or shelter. Charitable organisations, volunteers, religious institutions and government bodies including Railway Protection Force fed tens of thousands of people across the nation but many more remained outside the safety net. Also Read | Coranavirus | Transportation Of All Goods, Essential And Non-Essential, Allowed During Lockdown: Home Ministry Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast, sought the nation'AAAs forgiveness for the hardships caused by the stringent nationwide lockdown, saying it was necessary because the country was fighting a battle between life and death. He, however, expressed confidence that 'we will definitely win the battle' against the coronavirus menace and praised the front-line workers in this fight against as well as countless workers delivering the essential services. The government announced some more exemptions to the lockdown by allowing movement of all goods, irrespective of those being in essential or non-essential categories. But, a panic-like situation emerged due to mass exodus of migrant workers from various parts of the country, including the national capital, Maharashtra and Kerala, where a large number of people came out of relief camps and demanded being allowed to go to their homes. A migrant worker reportedly died of heart attack in Uttar Pradesh after walking more than 200 kms on way to his hometown in Madhya Pradesh from Delhi. "People are talking about the danger of some virus which can kill all of us. I don'AAAAt understand all these. As a mother, I am pained when I cannot feed my children. No one is there to help. All are equally worried about their lives," Savitri, 30, a New Delhi slum dweller, told PTI as she walked along the Mathura Highway carrying her belongings on her head. Also Read | Coronavirus: Labour Ministry Allows EPF Withdrawal Amid Lockdown "We will die of hunger before any disease if we stay here,"AAA she said, determined to walk 400 kms to her village in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district. Hundreds of migrant workers also gathered again near the Anand Vihar terminus near the Delhi-UP border, hoping to board buses to their villages but they were turned back by police. A large number were seek walking in groups on highways and even on railway tracks. Concerned over such movements causing the risk of a community spread, the Centre asked state governments and Union Territory administrations to effectively seal all state and district borders and said those having already left be quarantined for 14 days. During a video conference with chief secretaries and DGPs, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked them to ensure that there is no movement of people across cities or on highways as the lockdown continues. "There has been movement of migrant workers in some parts of the country. Directions were issued that district and state borders should be effectively sealed," an official statement said. States were directed to ensure that there is no movement of people across cities or on highways and there should be strict implementation of the lockdown. Only the movement of goods and of those involved in delivery of essential services is allowed during the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Modi on March 24. States have been also told to ensure timely payment of wages to labourers at their place of work during the period of lockdown without any cut. House rent should not be demanded from the labourers for this period. Action should be taken against those who are asking labourers or students to vacate the premises, the government statement said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Maharashtra's Uddhav Thackeray, among other state leaders, asked migrant workers in their respective states to stay put and promised them food and other facilities. The Indian Railways said it will now run special trains of parcel vans to ferry essential commodities. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also wrote to Modi, saying the sudden lockdown has created immense 'panic' and 'confusion'AAA. He called for steps other than a total lockdown announced by some developed nations to tackle the deadly disease. Gandhi said the number of poor people in India who are dependent on a daily income is too large to unilaterally shut down all economic activities in the wake of the pandemic. "The consequences of a complete economic shut down will disastrously amplify the death toll arising from COVID-19,"he feared. The Prime Minister's Office said Modi is interacting with over 200 people on a daily basis to get a first-hand feedback on India'AAAs fight against the coronavirus crisis. These include phone calls to governors, chief ministers and state health ministers, as also with doctors, nurses, health workers and sanitation staff in various parts of the country. The PMO also constituted 10 different high-level committees to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people as quickly as possible post the 21-day lockdown period. In its latest update on Sunday evening, the Union Health Ministry said the death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 27 and the total number of positive cases has risen to 1,024 as on 7.30 pm. The number of active COVID-19 cases in the country was 901, while 95 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated. So far, Maharashtra has reported 6 deaths, Gujarat 5, Karnataka 3, Madhya Pradesh 2, Delhi 2, Jammu and Kashmir 2 and Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh have reported one each. An earlier update, released at 10 am Sunday, had put the total positive cases at 979 and deaths at 25. No fresh cases were reported from Punjab on Sunday. The Health Ministry also issued guidelines on disinfection of public places including offices and the standard operating procedure for transporting suspect and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Several ministers, as also various government departments, announced donations towards the coronavirus fight, while a number of corporates also announced their own contributions to relief funds. The government said such contributions by companies would qualify as their statutory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending. While the total number of deaths in India is still low compared to many other countries, there are widespread concerns including among the experts that the count may see a sudden spike and social distancing remains the only way to prevent community spread. Globally, the death toll crossed 31,000 on Sunday with more than 20,000 deaths in Europe itself, while Spain and Italy have reported more than 800 deaths in a day. Nearly one-third of the world population is under lockdown to check the spread of this virus with the jobs, manufacturing and all economic activities coming to almost a standstill. The confirmed infections worldwide has topped 6,67,000, with the US topping the list with more than 1,04,000 cases. Ironically, authorities in China'AAAs Wuhan, from where this deadly virus is said to have begun before eventually becoming a worldwide crisis with a 'pandemic'AAA declaration, began steps towards partial re-opening of the city after more than two months of near total isolation for its 11 million people. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Two more trains arrive for HCM City metro line The 12th and 13th trains for Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project in HCM City arrived at Khanh Hoi Port on Friday morning after nine days departing Japan's Kudamatsu Port. The 12th and 13th trains for Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project in HCM City arrived at Khanh Hoi Port on March 11. The trains, which are each 21 metres in length, three metres in width and four metres in height, will be transported to the Long Binh Depot, the routes technical and service station in Thu Duc City, on March 14. According to the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), the 14th and 15th trains will be imported at the end of March to prepare for the trial run of the line in the third quarter of this year. HCM City's first metro line serving the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien route will have 17 trains. Each train comprises three carriages measuring 61.5 metres long allowing a maximum speed of 110 kilometres per hour. It can transport 930 passengers. MAUR said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the import of the projects equipment and machines from countries such as Germany, Spain, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan had been slowed. The pandemic has also affected the entry of foreign experts. The construction has also suffered delays, and MAUR recently said the work would be completed in late 2023 or early 2024 after the latest delay caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 20-km Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line which had an initial investment of VND17.38 trillion consists of 14 stations along 19.7 kilometres, including a 2.6-kilometre underground section and 17.1 kilometres of elevated tracks. New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced that its employees will contribute Rs 21 lakh to the PM CARES Fund to fight the outbreak of novel coronavirus. It is a voluntary contribution from the CBSE Employees of Group A, B and C, who have stepped forward and paid a part of their salary for the cause of nation. After PM Narendra Modi urged nation to contribute to the fund, people from all walks of society extended their support. Many institutions have contributed to the PM Cares Fund, set up specifically to help country fight the Coronavirus pandemic. In a letter, CBSE offers its services to the nation. It states, 'The country is facing Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic' and calls it a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude which poses serious health concerns for the country. It notes that not only is it a health hazard, but it is also detrimental to the life and economic security of millions of Indians. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar on Saturday announced that he will be donating Rs 25 crore towards Prime Minister Narendra Modis PM-CARES fund to help the government in its fight against cornavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Taking to Twitter, Akshay said that safeguarding the lives of the people is of paramount importance right now. "I pledge to contribute a25 crores from my savings to @narendramodi ji's PM-CARES Fund. Let's save lives, Jaan hai toh jahaan hai,"Akshay wrote in tweet on Saturday. His wife, former actor and author Twinkle Khanna, praised Akshay for the step. "The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said, 'I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing," she wrote. A number of celebrities have come forward to donate money so as to help people in crisis. South superstar Rajinikanth was the first celebrity to come forward by donating a50 lakh to help daily wage workers. Several A-listers from the south, including Prabhas, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, Ram Charan and others have also donated money. In Bollywood, Hrithik Roshan and Kapil Sharma too had come forward to fund relief work. The "War" star said he has procured masks for BMC workers and caretakers, while Kapil had donated Rs 50 lakh to the Prime Minister Relief Fund. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered action against those who sprayed disinfectant on a group of migrant workers Bareilly in a bid to disinfect them amid the coronavirus outbreak. Condemning the incident, the chief minister has asked officials to ensure that such an incident does not repeat in the future, Awanish Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, told reporters on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday, District Magistrate of Bareilly Nitish Kumar has promised action against the guilty persons. The DM also directed the chief medical officer (CMO) to provide medical treatment to people who were sprayed with sodium hypochlorite. Senior officials of the state government went into action after videos showed migrants including women and children were sprayed with disinfecting chemical by a team on sanitising duty at the Bareilly bus stand. According to media reports, the incident took place in Bareilly and many of them complained of burning sensation in their eyes after the incident. ALSO READ | India Is Still In Local Transmission Stage, No Community Transmission So Far: Health Ministry The district magistrate, in a tweet, said that the fire brigade and Nagar Nigam personnel became over-zealous in their sanitization drive and sprayed the chemical on the people. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the action in a tweet. "I appeal to the government in UP... all of us are fighting together against this crisis (coronavirus). Please don't indulge into such inhuman actions. The labourers have already suffered a lot. Don't spray chemicals on them. This won't protect them... rather it would harm their health," she wrote in Hindi, along with the clip. ALSO READ | Coronavirus Lockdown: Shocking Video Shows Migrant Workers Being Sprayed With Disinfectant In UP The apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has demanded disciplinary and penal action against officials responsible for forcefully sanitising a group of migrants. The NCPCR has asked the Bareilly District Magistrate to submit a report in the matter within three days. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: With the number of COVID-19 positive cases nearing 1100 mark, Union Health Ministry on Monday clarified that there India is still in the local transmission and that it will admit it reaches the community transmission. The ministry also said that a total of 92 new coronavirus positive cases were have been reported in the last 24 hours. 92 new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking total cases to 1071 & number of deaths to 29 in India, Lav Aggrawal of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said. There are four stages of a disease outbreak. In the third stage, the transmission is considered to reach a community level. During this, a person with no history of getting in touch with infected patient tests positive. Officials find it difficult to point out the source of the infection at this stage. ALSO READ | Shocking Video Shows Migrant Workers Being Sprayed With Disinfectant In UP The health ministry also confirmed that they are still at less than 30 per cent of thier testing capacity. In the last 3 days, 13,034 tests have been done in private labs. 38,442 tests have been conducted till now out of which 3,501 were done yesterday, it means we are still at less than 30% of our testing capacity. In the last 3 days, 13,034 tests have been done in private labs, R Ganga Ketkar, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Meanwhile, migrants - returning to their homes in Uttar Pradesh - were sprayed with disinfecting chemical by a team on sanitising duty at the Bareilly bus stand. According to news agency IANS, the incident took place on Sunday. According to reports, the migrants had walked down from Noida and Delhi and were waiting for buses and food. ALSO READ | Coronavirus: Send Your LIVE WhatsApp Location, Para Forces Tell Troopers On Leave, Working From Home They were sitting together at the bus adda when some men in protective suits came and began spraying water on them. The video of the incident shows the group, including women and children, sitting on the road while a man can be heard asking them to close their and their children's eyes. (Apni ankhen band kar lo. Bacchon ki ankhen band kar lo). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Hit by the exodus of the migrants from neighbouring Delhi during the coronavirus lockdown, the Yogi Adityanath government has come up with a unique solution. In an unprecedented move, the Uttar Pradesh government took over the entire Jaypee Yamuna Expressway township to shelter the migrants. The order was issued by the District Magistrate of Gautam Budhha Nagar. According to the order, the decision was taken by the authorities under the power granted by the clauses of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897. This means that the authorities can use the buildings and other places in the areas as shelter homes and medical facilities for the migrants. (Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates) In another order on Monday morning, the Lucknow administration took over four hotels in the state capital for the medical staff. "Hyatt Regency and Fairdeal Hotel have been acquired for the doctors/medical staff of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences. The Piccadily hotel and Lemon Tree Hotel have been acquired for the doctors/staff of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences," the order said. The Chief Minister will be visiting Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut to take stock of the situation. Yogi Adityanath has also written a letter to other Chief Ministers appealing them to take care of the migrants. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has also transferred Rs 611 crores in the accounts of 27.15 lakh MNREGA labourers. The amount was transferred electronically to help the labourers in the situation of lockdown due to coronavirus. The Centre on Sunday asked state governments and Union Territory administrations to effectively seal state and district borders to stop movements of migrant workers during lockdown, officials said. During a video conference with Chief Secretaries and DGPs, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked them to ensure that there is no movement of people across cities or on highways as the lockdown continues. "There has been a movement of migrant workers in some parts of the country. Directions were issued that district and state borders should be effectively sealed," a government official said. (With agency inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kathmandu, March 11 Bottlers Nepal Limited, the countrys only Coca-Cola franchise holder, has been indicted for a reported tax evasion case. The Department of Revenue Investigation has filed a case claiming the company evaded Rs 7.43 billion in taxes. The departments chief Prakash Paudel says the case lodged at the Patan High Court demands the company pay the remaining taxes, plus the same amount in fines. Bottlers Nepal has been accused of evading capital gains taxes in relation to the sale of more than half shares of the company. The department had launched an investigation into the case some months ago. Before you begin the adventure of travelling the world, you will have taken time preparing. A part of the preparations involves saving money. But, have you thought of how you will earn more money when you travel out of Nepal as Nepali citizens? Finding a way to earn extra cash will ensure that you have fewer budget-related issues. This way, you can do everything you want to do and even extend your trip for longer than you originally planned. Having money to spend while travelling for long periods may not be easy. But for some, this is a reality. They are able to do this even without a huge bank balance. From getting a location-independent job to picking up casual work, there are many options out there for Nepali citizens travelling abroad. You just have to figure out what works for you while travelling. Lets find out how easy it is for Nepali citizens to travel and work abroad. 1. Investment in citizenship Investment in citizenship makes it easy for Nepali citizens to obtain a second citizenship certificate. Some people think that investing in dual citizenship is not a good idea because it will put a strain on their wealth. But, there are reasons as to why this is important for people travelling as Nepali citizens. Making economic contributions to a foreign country such as the US and Saint Kitts and Nevis enable you to gain citizenship by investment. Acquiring Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment makes it easy for non-citizens such as Nepali citizens. Saint Kitts and Nevis is an attractive location where you would love to own a second home. Apart from contributing to the development of your host nation, you would need to be an adult of 21 years. Nepali citizens are also required to invest capital that has been legally acquired if they are to invest in the US. Ensure that you have proof of the source of your funds. 2. Investment in property Property investment is something to consider as Nepali citizens who love to travel. But, you need to have the means and inclination. Invest in a foreign property without the same tax penalties associated with investing in foreign stocks. Based on what country you are living in, the returns can be profitable when you finally sell the property. Ensure you work with a reputable real estate agent and a lawyer to ensure your investment is safe. If Nepali citizens plan to return to Nepal in a few years, they can purchase a Nepal-based property to rent out while abroad. Ensure you have a reliable property manager in Nepal to handle the rental while you are away. Real estate is a long-term investment that anyone who wants to invest abroad should think about. Before investing in a property in the US, you need to understand the taxes and fees involved in the purchase. Know that some of the one-off costs involved with purchasing a property are taken care of by you, the buyer. The rest is the responsibility of the seller. Representational image 3. Investment in gold funds There are two reasons why gold comes to mind for travellers intending to invest overseas, and it includes Nepali citizens too. First, investors can trade it from anywhere. Second, gold is an asset that is trusted to gradually gain value with time. These are convincing reasons to make Nepali citizens want to invest overseas. You might also want to invest in gold ETFs rather than pure gold. ETF trades a lot of different investments as a sort of package deal. ETF focuses on gold, but on different assets like gold futures and leveraged gold prices. The best gold ETFs take some of the hassles out of gold trading. This causes investors to land a greater return over time. The following are the requirements for Nepali travellers intending to invest in gold funds: Buy shares in gold-related firms like mining companies Invest in gold using exchange-traded funds or exchange traded commodities. 4. Online freelancing Freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to get jobs. You only need demonstrable skills in a sought-after area. The only limitation for beginners is that winning projects is not easy. That is because you need a proven track record of what you say you can do. Once you have positive feedback on your profile, you can be guaranteed work. Web design and content writing are examples of lucrative fields in freelancing. If you consider travelling full-time, how about work exchange, also known as work travel? This is where you get to exchange your time and abilities for accommodation. You can also find a host looking for some help in hostels, restaurants, or small businesses. You can lend them a hand for some time and get accommodation or other benefits in exchange. Conclusion Several countries have been making it easy for investors to get dual citizenship. It is important, however, to note that different countries have different requirements. They also have different laws when it comes to opportunities for travellers to work and invest. A Nepali would have to do the research and find out what is expected of them in their new country. Thousands more people could soon have their student loan balances wiped clean as the Biden administration works to identify borrowers who are eligible for student loan forgiveness for public service. It's the latest effort by the Education Department to provide relief for borrowers burdened with billions of dollars in student loan debt. The number of student loan borrowers eligible for forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is up to 100,000, the Education Department said Wednesday, of the approximately 550,000 they anticipated would ultimately be granted forgiveness sooner after changes to the program last fall. The latest group amounts to approximately $6.2 billion in loans eligible for discharge. "Our nation's public service workers must be able to rely on the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The Biden-Harris administration is delivering on that promise by helping more and more eligible borrowers get their loan balances forgiven," said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. "The PSLF announcement made today means more of our dedicated teachers, nurses, first responders, servicemembers, and many other public service workers will get meaningful relief." Read about what will happen when the pause on federal student loans lifts in May The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program cancels the balances of direct loans for eligible borrowers who are employed full-time in government or not-for-profit organizations once they've made 120 monthly qualified payments on loans under qualified repayment plans. The program was part of a larger package of education legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007. In October, the Biden administration announced an overhaul to the program allowing borrowers to receive credit for past loan repayment periods that may not have otherwise qualified. Prior to the rule changes, only 16,000 borrowers had ever received forgiveness through the program. As of January, the changes had helped more than 70,000 borrowers qualify for forgiveness totaling nearly $5 billion. Story continues The total 100,000 borrowers now identified as eligible for forgiveness through the public service program is the latest effort in an ongoing push by the Biden administration to help student loan borrowers find relief. According to the Education Department, some 675,000 borrowers saw more than $15 billion in federal student loans discharged during President Joe Biden's first year in office. That included $1.5 billion to borrowers who were found to have been taken advantage of by their institutions; $7 billion for more than 400,000 borrowers who were permanently disabled; and $1.26 billion for more than 100,000 borrowers who attended the now-shuttered ITT Technical Institute. The Biden administration also extended the freeze on federal student loan payments amid the coronavirus pandemic by more than a year until May 2022. But while the Biden administration has been ramping up relief for some student loan borrowers, some advocates and lawmakers say the efforts so far do not go far enough. There is more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt in the United States. More than 43 million borrowers hold federal student loan debt. Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have called for the Biden administration to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. Mr. Biden has expressed general support for canceling student loan debt but has urged Congress to send him legislation. But the Democratic lawmakers calling for student loans debt to be canceled argue Biden has the authority to cancel it unilaterally. Amid escalating pressure last year, the Biden administration said it would examine the president's authority to cancel student loan debt, but officials have not yet made any announcement. President Biden issued a warning to his party about the possibility of Republicans taking control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections during remarks to Democratic National Committee members on Thursday evening. He encouraged Democrats to use the same work ethic, enthusiasm and energy they had in the 2020 election as they seek to keep control of the House and Senate, and to add seats. "If we don't do that, don't do that, it's going to be a sad, sad two years. Think about Republicans if they controlled the Congress these last two years," the president said to members at their winter meeting in Washington, D.C. He praised Democrats' record and told them to use it when campaigning for the midterms. "I believe we have a record to be incredibly proud of ... a message that resonates: Build a better America. Now we have to do the work," Biden said. "Now what we have to do is we have to sell it with confidence, clarity, conviction and repetition," he said. The president listed Ukraine as an issue for Democrats to run on, touting the unity of NATO and the U.S. against Russia's ongoing invasion into its neighboring country and saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "failed to divide Democrats and Republicans." He also noted the record-high price of gas and called it "Putin's price hike," rhetoric that the White House has been using to discuss gas prices since Biden announced a ban on Russian energy imports earlier this week. The president also mentioned the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law a year ago; the vaccination rate among Americans; and the 6.5 million jobs created in the U.S. in 2021. And he touted the bipartisan infrastructure deal, which he signed into law in November, noting that some Republicans voted for the legislation, while he said that others who didn't are "taking credit." "Every new bridge or highway, the Republicans who voted against it are standing there taking credit. As my mother would say, God love then. God love them. We got it done though, and we did get some Republican support and I'm thankful for it," he said. He further argued that his administration is taking steps to lower prices for Americans, including prescription drug costs, while the country faces high inflation. "At a time when food and gas prices are rising, if you can lower other major costs for families ... you can help their standard of living," he said. Fortune Business Insights Key Prominent Players Covered in the Bioprocess Technology Market are Emerson Electric Co., UNIVERCELLS, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Abbott, BD, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Sartorius AG, Danaher, Merck KGaA Pune, India, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The increasing cases of infectious diseases is predicted to create sales opportunities for the market during the forecast period, states Fortune Business Insights, in a report, titled Bioprocess Technology Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Products (Instruments [Bioprocess Analyzers, Gas Analyzers, Osmometers, Cell Counter Systems, Bioreactors, Incubators], Consumables Accessories[Culture Media, Reagents]), By End-Users (Biotechnology & Biopharmaceutical Companies, Research & Academic Institutes, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. The growing advancements in bioprocessing technology are likely to enable speedy expansion of the market in the forthcoming years. Notable Development: March 2019: Merck KGaA announced the introduction of the BioContinuum Buffer Delivery Platform, which is a combined solution for more efficient buffer delivery for next-generation bioprocessing that offers a way to streamline buffer management. February 2019: UNIVERCELLS announced the launch of a scale-X carbo that is a bench-scale automated cell culture system. March 2018: Sartorius AG unveiled an ambr 250 HT perfusion bioreactor system for cell culture process development. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/bioprocess-technology-market-103097 Extension of Bioprocess Technologies to Promote Growth The growing research and development investments for the advancement of bioprocessing technology are predicted to facilitate the healthy growth of the market. The rising government support for the production of biofuel in various countries is expected to spur lucrative business opportunities for the market. The growing demand for biosimilar and biopharmaceutical products is expected to improve the potential of the market in the forthcoming years. Bioprocessing is a combination of biology, mathematics, and engineering which consists of activities such as designing bioreactors, biocatalysts, substrates, and media volume production, downstream processing, and purification. The growing need for bioprocess technology in the pharmaceutical sector is predicted to enable speedy expansion of the market. The growing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer is expected to foster the need for biotechnology, which, in turn, will boost the healthy growth of the market. The heavy demand for vaccines especially in the time of pandemics is predicted to foster healthy growth of the market. Story continues Nevertheless, strict supervisory policies and high technological costs are factors predicted to dampen the growth of the market. Quick Buy Bioprocess Technology Market https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/103097 An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market: The coronavirus crisis has disrupted the supply chain of every industry around the world. We understand that this health emergency has negatively impacted various sectors across the globe. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly infectious virus. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. More or less, nearly every sector is estimated to be impacted by this pandemic. We are making endless efforts to uplift businesses in this crucial need of the hour. Our expertise and experience can offer enormous benefits to help regain during this global pandemic. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/bioprocess-technology-market-103097 The report on the bioprocess technology market contains: In-depth analysis of the regions Latest market drivers and restraints Latest industry developments Competitive landscape Rising Prevalence of Cancer to Fuel Demand in North America Geographically, the global bioprocess technology market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to lead the global market. The growth in the region is attributed to the growing demand for superior quality biologics. The increasing R&D investments by key players are expected to promote the healthy growth of the market. Europe is predicted to hold the largest share during the forecast period due to the rising demand for biosimilars. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is predicted to enable speedy expansion of the market. Asia Pacific and Latin America are expected to account for the largest share during the forecast period in the foreseeable future. The growth in the region is attributed to the flourishing biopharmaceutical industry. The rising government support is expected to enhance the development of the market in the forthcoming years. Ask for Customization https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/bioprocess-technology-market-103097 The Report Lists the Main Companies in the Bioprocess Technology Market Emerson Electric Co. UNIVERCELLS Koninklijke Philips N.V. Abbott, BD Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Sartorius AG Danaher Merck KGaA About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2022) - BluMetric Environmental Inc. (TSXV: BLM), a full-service environmental consulting and engineering cleantech firm, is pleased to be among the finalist proposals for the Department of National Defence's (DND) Pop Up City contest. The DND's Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program called on innovators to propose and develop solutions that provide integrated energy, water and waste management systems for the Canadian Armed Forces Relocatable Temporary Camps (RTC) deployed in national and international operations. BluMetric and five other companies are contributing to SNC-Lavalin's Integrated Utility Management System. BluMetric will provide the design and development of a state-of-the-art Mobile Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWWTP) based on the experience gained from decades of providing real-world support to military deployments. The MWWTP is modular, scalable, self-cleaning, and can be assembled in four hours. The system will have the potential to recycle 90 per cent of the black/grey water, which could revolutionize the way deployed camps deal with their wastewater under the harshest conditions. The DND recently announced the Round Four finalists for the Pop Up City Contest. There are three finalists, who have each been awarded contribution agreements valued at $1.5 million, funded through the IDEaS program. These agreements will be used to fund the development of a testable prototype for the final competition in October 2022 with a grand prize of an additional $2 million. "We're proud to be included in this effort and honoured to be a part of the top three teams supporting the DND," says Scott MacFabe, CEO of BluMetric. "BluMetric has been delivering innovative water solutions for decades, and that experience allows us to make meaningful contributions to solve important infrastructure challenges." About BluMetric Environmental Inc. Story continues BluMetric Environmental Inc. is a publicly traded environmental consulting and engineering company with expertise across professional and trade disciplines and technologies that allow for the design, fabrication and delivery of sustainable solutions to environmental and water challenges. BluMetric has more than 160 employees operating in ten offices and over 40 years of expertise. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, BluMetric's team of industry experts serves Commercial and Industrial, Military, Mining and Government clients in Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.blumetric.ca or please contact: Scott MacFabe, CEO BluMetric Environmental Inc. Tel: 613.839.3053 Email: smacfabe@blumetric.ca Vivian Karaiskos, CFO BluMetric Environmental Inc. Tel: 613.839.3053 Email: vkaraiskos@blumetric.ca Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release, including those relating to the Company's quarterly and annual results, future products, opportunities and cost initiatives, strategies, and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116399 Growing up in Canton in the 1950s, Maria Kaczaniuk embraced her Ukrainian heritage, learning to embroider traditional dresses and pillows, dance in the Ukrainian style and cook Ukrainian food. When she married a fellow Ukrainian American in Baltimore, they spoke to their children in Ukrainian at home. It was important for my children to know where we came from, who we are and what we stand for, Kaczaniuk said. We still refer to it as our country. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Melanya Humeniuk checks the pierogi to make sure they are tightly pinched together before they are boiled. Volunteers at St. Michael The Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church have been busy all week making Ukrainian specialties, including potato and sauerkraut pierogi. (Amy Davis/Amy Davis) On Thursday, Kaczaniuk, 71, sat with members of her congregation in the basement of their church, St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church on Eastern Avenue, folding pierogies, small dumplings eaten in Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe. In the kitchen, volunteers kneaded and flattened out dough, scooped potato filling and boiled the finished product, placing them on trays to cool. We have it down to a science, said Daria Hauff, Kaczaniuks daughter, who coordinates this and other church events. Advertisement This month, proceeds from the churchs regular pierogi sale will assist with aid efforts in Ukraine. Preorders have been double their usual numbers as people looked to find ways to help the beleaguered nation. Hauff needed to cut off orders the church is sold out through May and recruit more volunteers than usual to meet the demand. This month was really unbelievable, she said. With the momentum going were considering adding more sales. Though its numbers have declined since Kaczaniuk was a girl, St. Michaels remains a pillar of the areas Ukrainian American community, with about 200 families in the congregation. COVID has reduced attendance at Sunday services even further, she said. Clockwise from left, volunteers Jamie Kaczaniuk, Melanya Kozak, Taras Wojtowycz and Helena Sivinska shape, roll and cut pierogi dough at St. Michael The Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church. Volunteers have been busy all week making Ukrainian specialties, including potato and sauerkraut pierogies. All the profits will be donated to help Ukrainians at war with Russia. (Amy Davis/Amy Davis) Its members say they are devastated by Russias ongoing invasion of their mother country, which has seen hospitals targeted along with women and children. Many have family in the country and receive daily updates on attacks. Kaczaniuk said a recent phone call with a cousin in Lviv was cut short when her relative heard sirens and had to take cover in an underground shelter. The ease of communication makes you feel like youre part of whats going on there, she said. Its very very hard. Some older parishioners of St. Michaels fled Ukraine during Soviet rule, when Ukrainian Catholics and members of other religions were persecuted. Church leaders in the U.S. have warned that a return to Russian domination could force its followers underground. I feel like its genocide of our heritage, our tradition, our church, our livelihood, said Katelyn Brewer, 36, of Pasadena. Ukrainian through her father, Brewer attends services at St. Michaels and holds her heritage close. So when the church needed volunteers to make pierogi, she dropped everything to help, bringing her 4-year-old son, J.J., who snacked on goldfish while his mom got to work. Advertisement Treat it like a little pie crust, said Brewer, as she pinched closed an ivory disc of flour. Slowly curve and mold the dough over top. Make sure you have enough of an overhang that you can pinch it closed. She sprinkled flour around the seam to keep it from getting sticky. Founded in 1912, St. Michaels was originally located at another building on the 500 block of Wolfe Street, moving to its current space in 1992. The new building was paid for, in part, through pierogi sales. Back in the 1950s, Hauff said, her grandmother often coordinated women in the church community as they gathered every week to make pierogies, which they sold on Fridays during Lent, when practicing Catholics abstain from meat. During Lent its a big thing, Hauff said. But pierogies are a necessary dish at any holiday meal, along with stuffed cabbage and a sweet Ukrainian bread called paska. Advertisement As she folded pierogies, a skill she learned from her Ukrainian father, Olga Kulnich, 78, wore a yellow and blue apron that said the best cook in the world in Ukrainian. The colors echoed the Ukrainian flag, blue for the sky, yellow for the wheat fields that covered the land, she explained. Ola Kulnich of Catonsville pinches each round of dough topped with potato filling to form a pierogi. They have to be well sealed before being boiled. Volunteers at St. Michael The Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church have been busy all week making Ukrainian specialties, including potato and sauerkraut pierogies. All the profits will be donated to help Ukrainians at war with Russia. (Amy Davis/Amy Davis) Dish Baltimore Weekly Get the scoop on that new restaurant, learn about chef changes and discover your favorite new recipe. All your Baltimore food news is here. > Late last month, Kulnichs brothers headstone at a Ukrainian cemetery in Dundalk was toppled, one of some 49 gravesites to be disturbed by vandals over the course of two separate incidents the church says is now being investigated by police. Outside the church, with its striking gold domes, two blue and yellow flags bore a message: Stop Putin/Stop War and Pray for Ukraine. Kaczaniuk said helping out with the pierogi sale and other church projects to assist Ukraine has given her a boost at a time when she needed it most. Her husband died of complications from the coronavirus in December 2020, just shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. We were like two peas in a pod, she said of her late husband. In her grief, Kaczaniuk struggled to find a reason to go on. Advertisement But more recently, shes found renewed purpose. Upstairs sat bags of clothes and diapers, collected by the church to send to Ukrainians in need. Within the church community, there has been talk of how to sponsor refugees and to help them start new lives in Baltimore. Kaczaniuk is ready to assist. Maybe God saved me for something, she said. BOUSSARD AND GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED (GBP) Boussard & Gavaudan Holding Limited a closed-ended investment company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registration number 45582 (the Company) Legal Entity Identifier: 5493002XNM3W9D6DF327 Board Changes Andrew Howat has today assumed the role of Chairman of the Company, replacing Andrew Henton who is retiring as a director having served on the Board for ten years. The transition is part of a planned succession programme, with Andrew Howat providing an important element of ongoing Board continuity. The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Julia Goh as a non-executive director, replacing Andrew Howat as Chair of the Audit Committee. She will also be a member of the Management Engagement Committee. Ms Goh is a Chartered Accountant and has 27 years of broad-based financial services experience in London. She was a Managing Director at Barclays Investment Bank from 2010-2018 in various senior front office positions including from 2017 the COO of Global Markets. She was a Managing Director and the Global Head of Prime Services Risk at Credit Suisse from 1998-2009. Prior to that, she was a risk manager at Nomura International. She is currently a non-executive director of Schroder AsiaPacific Fund plc (FTSE 250 investment trust), Pension Insurance Corporation plc and a director of the charity, Children of the Mekong. The appointment of Ms Goh followed an extensive search process led by a professional search firm. There is no further information is to be disclosed in respect of paragraphs 9.6.13 (1) - (6) of the FCA Listing Rules. 11 March 2022 For further information, please contact: Boussard & Gavaudan Holdings Limited Andrew Howat c/o JTC Fund Solutions (Guernsey) Limited +44 1481 702 400 Boussard & Gavaudan Investment Management LLP Emmanuel Gavaudan +44 203 751 540 Winterflood Securities Limited Neil Langford +44 203 100 0000 Attachment Precedence Research The drug discovery outsourcing market size is expected to hit US$ 6.55 billion by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period 2021 to 2030. Ottawa, March 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Precedence Research, the global drug discovery outsourcing market size was estimated at US$ 3.62 billion in 2021. The technological advancements in the pharmaceutical industry, increasing investments in the research & development, rising prevalence of various chronic diseases, and rising popularity of the biologics are some of the most important drivers of the global drug discovery outsourcing market. The surging demand for the biologics across the globe is expected to be a significant driver of the market. The growing geriatric population and growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes is encouraging the pharmaceutical companies to outsource the drug discovery activities to the third-person service providers. Get the Sample Pages of Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1549 As per the United Nations, the geriatric population across the globe is estimated to reach 2 billion by 2050. The presence of numerous contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations are facilitating the drug discovery activities and contributing significantly towards the market growth. Report Coverage Details Market Size by 2028 USD 5.71 Billion CAGR 6.8% from 2021 to 2030 Base Year 2021 Forecast Data 2022 to 2030 Largest Revenue Holder North America Companies Covered Albany Molecular Research Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, EVOTEC, GenScript, Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC., Charles River, Merck & Co., Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Dalton Pharma Services, Oncodesign, WuXiAppTec, Jubilant Biosys, DiscoverX Corporation, QIAGEN Report Highlights Based on the workflow, the lead identification & candidate optimization segment accounted for a market share of around 32% and dominated the global drug discovery outsourcing market in 2020. This is attributed to the economy of scale and higher efficiencies associated with this workflow. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of computer aided drug discovery and silico techniques is supplementing the market growth. Based on the therapeutic area, the respiratory is estimated to be the most opportunistic segment. The growing number of respiratory patients is attracting investments towards the drug discovery for the treatment of respiratory diseases. According to the World Health Organization, around 65 million people across the globe suffers from COPD and around 3 million dies due to it every year. Based on the drug type, the small molecules segment dominated the market in 2020. The small molecule drugs are most effective drugs and have minimal side-effects, which fuels the demand for the small molecule drugs. This fosters the growth of the small molecules segment as it attracts higher investments. Story continues Get Customization on this Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1549 Regional Snapshot North America dominated the global drug discovery outsourcing market in 2020. This is attributable to the presence of several top CROs, CMOs, and pharmaceutical companies in the region. Moreover, the favorable government regulations pertaining to the development and manufacturing of the new drugs is fueling the development of the drug discovery outsourcing market. Furthermore, the increased prevalence of chronic diseases among the US population has increased the investments in the drug discovery activities. It is estimated that around 60% of the US population is suffering from one or more chronic diseases. The geriatric population in US is estimated to reach around 90 million in US by 2050. Thus the drug discovery outsourcing market is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is estimated to be the most opportunistic market during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is the home to few top contract research organization. Further, the favorable government policies is attracting FDIs and supplementing the expansion of drug developing companies in the region. Moreover, the rising awareness of the biologics, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing geriatric population is estimated to have a significant impact on the market growth in Asia Pacific. Market Dynamics Driver Growing investments on the R&D by the pharmaceutical companies The pharmaceutical companies are increasing their investments in the research and development for the development of new drugs. As per the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, the pharmaceutical industry spent around US$150 billion in the research & development activities. It is estimated that on an average, a pharmaceutical company spends around 17% of its revenues on the research & development. Therefore, the spurring investments in the R&D is expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period. Restraint High costs involved in the drug discovery activities A high cost is involved in outsourcing the drug discovery activities. Moreover, the research and the clinical trials associated with the new drug development involves huge cost and involves huge amount of time to properly estimate the effects and side-effects of the newly developed drugs. Hence the high costs involved in drug discovery may restrict the small and medium pharmaceutical companies to indulge in the drug development process. Opportunity Rapid growth of the biologics industry The recent developments of the various drugs in the biologics industry that can effectively treat the diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and diabetes is encouraging the biopharmaceutical companies to invest in the drug discovery activities. Related Reports Challenge Candidate attrition rate is higher The attrition rate of candidates is higher during the clinical trial phase of the drug development. This is a major challenge for the manufacturers as it involves huge cost and time for the retention and acquisition of new candidates. Segments Covered in the Report By Workflow Target Identification & Screening Lead Identification & Candidate Optimization Target Validation & Functional Informatics Preclinical Development Others By Therapeutic Area Oncology Cardiovascular Gastrointestinal Neurology Respiratory Others By Drug Type Biologics Small Molecules By Geography North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa (MEA) Click Here to View Full Report Table of Contents Buy this Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1549 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact at sales@precedenceresearch.com | +1 9197 992 333 About Us Precedence Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Precedence Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/precedence-research/ https://www.facebook.com/precedenceresearch/ https://twitter.com/Precedence_R Appointment reinforces Envestnet's focus on Data and Analytics to Power its Financial Wellness Ecosystem CHICAGO, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE: ENV) announces that Farouk Ferchichi has been named Global Head of Envestnet Data and Analytics, bringing together the combined capabilities of Envestnet | Yodlee, Envestnet Analytics (Wheelhouse), and Abe AI. This strengthened data and analytics focus under Mr. Ferchichi's leadership is integral to Envestnet delivering on its vision to empower all individuals to live an Intelligent Financial Life. Farouk Ferchichi In this role, Mr. Ferchichi will advance the data and analytics business for Envestnet's financial wellness ecosystem, harmonizing and connecting all parts of a person's financial life so that their daily actions speak to and help support their long-term financial goals. "As our financial lives become more digital, data-powered, and intelligent, Envestnet Data and Analytics is incredibly well positioned to drive the industry change that is immediately ahead, and Farouk is the best person to lead us on our path forward," said Bill Crager, CEO of Envestnet. "Envestnet uses data and technology to support millions of decisions people make about money every single day. Farouk and his team will drive the execution of our global data strategy, and further strengthen our leadership in the data and analytics industry." Mr. Ferchichi joined Envestnet in March 2021 as Chief Data and Analytics Officer and has been focused on transforming Envestnet's data strategy and laying the foundation to introduce innovative solutions to new markets. Prior to joining Envestnet, Mr. Ferchichi held global Chief Data Analytics roles at USAA and Toyota, global consulting partner roles with Accenture and Gartner, as well as functional roles in risk management, manufacturing and non-profit. "I am humbled and ready to take on this unique opportunity to lead our Global Data and Analytics business," said Mr. Ferchichi. "Across Envestnet, we have a shared mission of helping our customers guide their clients toward financial wellness, and our data and analytics business is the foundation by which we can create and deploy personalized and actionable insights and intelligence into the Envestnet ecosystem." Story continues About Envestnet Envestnet refers to the family of operating subsidiaries of the public holding company, Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE: ENV). Envestnet is Fully Vested in empowering advisors and financial service providers with innovative technology, solutions, and intelligence to help make financial wellness a reality for their clients through an intelligently connected financial life. Over 108,000 advisors and more than 6,000 companiesincluding 18 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 47 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, over 500 of the largest RIAs, and hundreds of FinTech companiesleverage Envestnet technology and services that help drive better outcomes for enterprises, advisors, and their clients. For more information on Envestnet, please visit www.envestnet.com and follow us on Twitter @ENVintel. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envestnet-names-farouk-ferchichi-leader-of-data-and-analytics-business-301499479.html SOURCE Envestnet FILE PHOTO: The logo of Russian oil producer Surgutneftegaz is seen on a board at the SPIEF 2017 in St. Petersburg By Florence Tan SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Russian producer Surgutneftegaz has allowed Chinese buyers to receive oil without providing guarantees known as letters of credit (LC) in order to bypass Western sanctions, three people with knowledge of the matter said. The change in terms is allowing Surgutneftegaz to continue to sell ESPO Blend crude from the port of Kozmino in Russia's Far East to China, the world's top oil importer. Russian ESPO crude exports, at 754,000 barrels per day in April, provide China's biggest source of spot crude. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine that began on Feb. 24, oil prices have risen to 14-year highs on global markets. Russia is the world's top exporter of crude and oil products combined. [O/R] Western sanctions in response to the invasion, which Russia describes as a "special military operation", have led banks to halt the issuance of LCs for all oil that originates from Russia. China has repeatedly voiced opposition to the sanctions, calling them ineffective and insisting it will maintain normal economic and trade exchanges with Russia. To get round the restrictions, Chinese companies are using open accounts that allow the customer to buy goods on a deferred payment basis, with a requirement to pay in full up to three days after the cargo is loaded, the sources said. They could not be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. It was not immediately clear which banks were involved. Surgut declined to comment. A letter of credit, which allows 30 days for payment and is backed by a bank, is seen as the strongest guarantee for both sides. The parties have been forced to find a solution for cargoes that have already been traded and due for loading in March and April, the sources said without giving quantities. One of the sources said payment in U.S. dollars was still possible during a grace period until June for the implementation of U.S. sanctions on Russia's access to the SWIFT international payment system. Story continues The sources said arrangements were also being worked out with buyers of Russian Urals crude. Since late February, Surgutneftegaz has failed to award most of the spot tenders for March-loading Urals as potential buyers did not bid after banks halted the issuance of LCs for Russian oil. (Reporting by Florence Tan; additional reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis in Oslo; editing by Barbara Lewis) Meta relaxed its policies on hate speech to permit Facebook and Instagram users in certain countries to call for violence against Russia and its military on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin continues the countrys war against Ukraine. In a memo sent to employees, and seen by Reuters, Meta said it would also permit some posts that call for the death of Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenkoone of Putins closest foreign allies, who has aided in Russias war in Ukraine. "As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as 'death to the Russian invaders.' We still won't allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians," a Meta spokesperson told Reuters in a statement. Reuters reports Meta will still block posts calling for the death of Putin or Lukashenko if the messages include two indicators of credibility, such as detail on how or where to kill them. Meta didnt respond to Fortunes request for comment. The countries Meta now allows to call for Putins death are mostly Russias neighbors. The permitted list covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. According to the Intercept, Meta is also temporarily permitting users to post messages in support of the Azov Battalion, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi paramilitary group, so long as the posts explicitly praise the far-right militia for resisting Russia's invasion. Metas move to increase its tolerance for hate speechwhich comes after Russia blocked Facebook access in retaliation for the platform allegedly censoring Russian state mediamight be a first for the social media platform, which has previously been accused of too rigidly imposing its policies on marginalized groups. During the Black Lives Matter protests that swept the U.S. in 2020, for instance, activists claimed Facebooks policies censored posts calling out racism and white supremacy. Facebook said any instances of such censorship were mistakes, and they were certainly not intentional. Story continues Conversely, Facebook has at other times failed to protect marginalized groups by not censoring or containing hate speech enough. Last year, a treasure trove of internal documents leaked by a whistleblower and dubbed the Facebook Papers showed how hate speech ran rampant on Facebook in Indiaparticularly when it targeted the nations Muslim minorities. According to the documents, some of Facebook's staff were concerned that the company wasn't doing more to censor calls for violence against Indian Muslims. In 2018, after the Burmese military led a genocide against the countrys Muslim minority, Facebook admitted it had failed to prevent hate speech circulating in Myanmar. Facebooks failure led to the platform being used to foment division and incite offline violence against the local Rohingya minority population, the company said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Forbes 2021 Social Entrepreneurship Leadership Award winner is incentivising the first 15 million investors in Freedom Coin by adding an extra 20% to their investment. ACCRA, GHANA / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2022 / Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Freedom Jacob Caesar, a well-known African philanthropist and entrepreneur, is making waves with his latest announcement: "I will invest 20% back into the first 15 million people who invest in Freedom Coin." Freedom Coin is a native African utility token that arose from Freedom's desire to educate the youth about investing and development. Freedom is the driving force behind the Freedom Movement, which is working to restore the riches and social health of African nations and the continent as a whole. Through social investment, Freedom has been bringing the freedom of hope to Africa for decades. Whether it's investing in the education of a blind man and helping him to become a journalist, or financing a disabled man and helping him start an uber-type industry run by other disabled men and women. With the mission to rebuild and implant African riches, which begins with African integrity, Freedom has fed countless children across the continent, purchased homes and cars for those in need. Freedom is a source of pride and aspiration for the youth of Africa. His journey is instructive as it demonstrates the power of investing. "With Freedom Coin, I am looking forward to Africans rediscovering the worth of our legacy. My forebears bestowed riches and intelligence to me, and I intend to return the favor. That's why I am giving away billions of Freedom Coins to the first 15 million investors across Africa. I believe in our collective power to build this great continent together," says Freedom. This financial philanthropic giveaway is a message to Africans everywhere. He added, "Now is the time to believe and invest in the currency of Africa. The gold of Africa. The future of Africa. The Freedom of Africa. Now is the time to reclaim your ancestral heritage and restore your independence through the Freedom Coin." Furthermore, Freedom is building a technology hub in Petronia City, which will be home to the world's first and largest free zone enclave enabling international, continental, and local crypto miners to access data centers and power generators, ensuring the crypto industry's long-term survival. In order to establish value among African nations, the Freedom Coin is integrated into these technical development hubs. Story continues The pioneering tech investor, ICICB Group, based in Dubai, has acquired one of the major shares in the project and revealed the plans to reinvent technological solutions in Africa. The Group has made a US$ 100 million strategic investment in the project with the notion to digitise Africa and connect it to the rest of the world in the digital realm. The new initiative by the Group arises after the company's successful launch of an all-inclusive blockchain solution, ICICB Chain. The firm's innovative wallet, metaverse world, NFT, and gaming technologies are all built on top of an all-interactive environment. About Freedom Freedom Jacob Caesar was named Ghana's CEO of the Decade in 2021, and chairs Kwarleyz Group, which comprises 5 companies: Wonda World Estates, Petronia City Development, New Africa Construction, Belfast City & Property Management and New Africa Foundation. For more information on Freedom, visit www.fjcfreedom.com About ICICB ICICB is an investment holding company specialized in financial services and investment offerings. Emerging as one of the fastest-growing multinational investment companies, they are based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The group serves a variety of industries including digital banking, consulting, medical care, commercial real estate, and more. Over the past few years, ICICB's mission has been the development and advancement of digital technology, integrated with everyday life to increase efficiency and sustainability. For more info visit, www.icicb-group.com Contact ICICB info@icicb-group.com SOURCE: ICICB View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/692692/Freedom-Jacob-Caesar-West-Africas-Well-Known-Philanthropist-is-Trailblazing-with-His-Latest-Project-the-Freedom-Coin DUBLIN, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Ophthalmic Devices Market (By Applications, Products, End Users, Regions), Impact of COVID-19, Major Deals, Trends, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research_and_Markets_Logo The global ophthalmic devices market is predicted to reach US$ 68.2 Billion by 2027 The ophthalmic devices are designed for diagnostics, surgical, and vision correction purposes. These devices are continuously gaining increased importance and adoption due to high prevalence of various ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and other vision related issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO): Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment or blindness, of whom at least 1 billion have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed. Therefore, increasing number of eye related disorders propel demand for vision care devices, which in turn propels growth of the ophthalmic devices market. However, the elements such as the high cost of ophthalmic devices and dearth of skilled professionals with expertise in ophthalmic surgery are projected to hamper the growth of the market. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Ophthalmic Devices Market The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global stress test. As the number of people infected with the virus continues to rise around the world, uncertainties about global economic growth increases. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted the growth of the ophthalmic devices market, primarily in Europe, Asia and the U.S., by social restrictions and other precautionary measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as governments began lifting social restrictions, the negative trend in the revenues of these businesses began to level off and stabilize prior to the third quarter of 2020. In the years to come, ophthalmologists are likely to witness an increase in influx of patients, hence driving the ophthalmic devices market. Story continues Market Dynamics Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Growth Drivers Technical Advances in Eye Surgeries to Boost Growth Consistent Efforts by Healthcare Organizations to Fuel Ophthalmic Devices Market Increasing Incidence of Diabetes Globally Drives Demand for Ophthalmic Devices Upsurge in The Geriatric Population Base Favors Market Growth Increasing Incidence of Eye Diseases Across the Globe Fuels Market Growth Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Challenges High Price Factor of Ophthalmic Devices Dearth of Skilled Professionals with Expertise in Ophthalmic Surgery Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast By Application Segment On the basis of application, the vision care segment dominated the overall ophthalmic devices market. Surgical instruments devices held second highest share of the overall ophthalmic devices market, while the diagnostic & monitoring devices segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Diagnosis is an indispensable process in the treatment of eye disorders and is responsible for contributing towards the diagnostics & monitoring segment's growth. By Products On product basis, contact lens held largest share of the ophthalmic devices market, while, cataract surgery devices accounted for second highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market. Retinal surgery devices is the third largest product segment of the ophthalmic devices market in 2021. The global market for fundus camera is predicted to exceed US$ 800 Million by 2027. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become the standard of care for the assessment and treatment of most retinal diseases. Introduction of hybrid techniques such as optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can open up new pathways for the market. Glaucoma surgery is currently evolving with introduction of several new devices and those in pipeline have continued to address the focus on safety of glaucoma surgery. The global cataract surgery devices market is projected to surpass US$ 9.3 Billion mark by 2027. By End Users Consumers segment accounted for highest share of the global ophthalmic devices market, as majority of the ophthalmic products such as vision care products are used by the common consumers. Hospitals and ophthalmic clinics & centers captured 2nd and 3rd largest share of the overall ophthalmic devices market respectively in 2021. Ambulatory surgical centers are likely to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period, as these centers provide cost-effective services and a convenient environment that is less stressful than what many hospitals can offer. By Region North America dominated the global ophthalmic devices market in 2021. In North America, United States captures highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market. Europe represents a major market for ophthalmic devices, owing to rising chronic eye diseases among geriatric population. In Europe, Germany and United Kingdom are the major market for ophthalmic devices. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies such as China and India. Japan ophthalmic devices market dominated the Asia Pacific region, while China accounted for around 5% share of the global ophthalmic devices market in 2021. Global Ophthalmic Devices Market Application Segments Diagnostics & Monitoring Devices Surgical Instruments Devices Vision Care Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - By End Users Hospitals Ophthalmic Clinics and Centers Ambulatory Surgical Centers Consumers Others Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Regional Analysis North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Global Ophthalmic Devices Market - Company Profiles Alcon, Inc. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Topcon Corporation Bausch Health Companies Inc. (Formerly Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.) Iridex Corporation Ellex Medical Lasers (Acquired by Quantel Medical) Escalon Medical Second Sight Medical Products Inc. Lumenis Nidek Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rt6kwf Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-ophthalmic-devices-markets-report-2022-2027-focus-on-diagnostics--monitoring-devices-surgical-instruments-devices-vision-care-301500886.html SOURCE Research and Markets Image Leading provider of rented medical equipment, US Med-Equip, expands to Greensboro to support front-line healthcare workers. Featured Image for US Med-Equip Featured Image for US Med-Equip GREENSBORO, N.C., March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whether treating a COVID-19 patient with a ventilator or nurturing premature infants with incubators, clinicians across North Carolina need the highest-quality equipment for patients in their care. US Med-Equip (USME), the nation's leading provider of rented medical equipment, is expanding to Greensboro, N.C., to meet the growing equipment and service needs of hospitals and other healthcare partners throughout the Eastern U.S. USME partners with top hospitals across the nation for the rental, sales, service and asset management of movable medical equipmentdiagnostic and clinical devices ranging from infusion pumps and telemetry monitors to ventilators and more. US Med-Equip is rapidly opening new branches to meet extraordinary demand from hospitals turning to USME, which continues to invest heavily in its equipment fleet and the technology and services to support it. "Clinicians work with urgency to help their patients heal and need equipment to be patient-ready and within reach at a moment's notice," USME CEO Greg Salario said. "We're here in Greensboro now so we can provide faster-than-ever support to front-line healthcare workers across the region." From major medical centers to rural hospitals, US Med-Equip serves thousands of hospitals from nearly 50 locations across the country with more on the way. The nine-time Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company designated as a Top Workplace is hiring in Greensboro and nationwide. Learn more at www.usme.com/careers. ### MEDIA CONTACT: US Med-Equip, 713-883-8860, news@usmedequip.com Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Editor, Register-Mail: As we witness what is going on in the Ukraine to innocent civilians who are suffering and dying because of Putin's asinine invasion, we must empathize with the people, be deeply touched, and enraged at what Putin is doing to them. During the Cold War, Russia did not rattle, or use, its nuclear capabilities because of the strategy and harsh reality of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). If either side utilized nuclear weapons, neither nation would survive both would be annihilated. Putin's atrocities in Ukraine should result in massive air support for Ukraine's military forces. More: Roundtable: What U.S. actions in Ukraine would you support? NATO and the U.S. need to react strongly and let Putin know, in no uncertain terms, that there will be no more Russia or Putin should he unleash any nuclear weapon toward the West as we provide all necessary support. Unless Putin is totally insane, he will not follow through on his threat. I can't believe his generals are ignorant enough to allow the use of nuclear weapons either. Biden is a weak commander-in-chief and a milquetoast president a president in name only and Putin knows that! Trump would not put up with Putin's atrocities in the Ukraine, his bombing of civilians, his use of illegal and terrible vacuum bombs, or his nuclear threats. If Putin takes Ukraine, it will only whet his appetite to re-initiate and re-institute the USSR by taking Poland and the Baltic countries. Yes, it has been stated that stupid is as stupid does, but stupid also is what stupid does not do when necessary. Biden and NATO need to get a spine and stand up to Putin's demonic idiocy by providing all necessary weaponry and air support for the Ukraine military. Rest assured, Putin will not stop with Ukraine. Kamala Harris responded to a reporter's question during her Poland visit by saying we must be "nimble and swift." She is right but she has no idea of what that should entail as Commander-in-Chief Biden responds weakly. It is obvious that Biden is not up to confronting this Russian tyrant. If we do not respond appropriately in Ukraine, guess what China will do as they have Taiwan in their sights! More: LETTER: Science worth following, our best bet against challenges Side note: I see no difference in our providing anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles and our providing air cover in this war. Either way, to Putin's thinking, we are participants. Thomas Mosher, Victoria This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: LETTER: U.S., NATO need to react strongly to Putin For years, advocates for civilian oversight of Baltimore police have complained about what they call a toothless tiger: the citys Civilian Review Board. Since it was created by the state legislature in 1999, the panel of volunteers has convened to hear cases of certain types of misconduct. It uses subpoenas to compel testimony from witnesses, as well as police records. However, many people, including its members, say the board is hampered by a lack of funding and independence from the city. Advertisement Meanwhile, Marylands counties are gaining Police Accountability Boards under sweeping reforms passed by the General Assembly last year. Thats created a dilemma for Baltimore, which will get one, as well: How to merge the new panel with the old, without losing its powers? Advocates are pushing a new state bill that they say would solve the issue for Baltimore while resolving some of the current city boards problems, too, strengthening civilian oversight here overall. Advertisement Transforming the Civilian Review Board into the Police Accountability Board makes sense, said Sen. Jill P. Carter, the Baltimore Democrat sponsoring the new bill. The Civilian Review Board already had statutory authority, and combining both entities would expand authority. However, Democratic Mayor Brandon Scotts administration has criticized the bill: Rather than enable the city to lead transformation efforts, [it] maintains the status quo, according to written testimony the administration sent last month to the city delegation to the House of Delegates. The bill would require the city to assign 2% of its $555 million police budget to cover the costs of the boards work, such as staff salaries and payments to outside counsel, rather than the board continuing to work with attorneys in the city solicitors office, which also represents the police department. Supporters say these changes would significantly boost the boards independence. The board sued the city in 2018 after a dispute with the then-solicitor over board members nondisclosure agreements, with members at that time citing what they called a conflict of interest in their legal representation. Combining both models under the proposed legislation would allow Baltimores oversight panel to retain subpoena and investigatory powers. In contrast, the Police Accountability Boards rely on reports from officers in their departments internal affairs sections, which investigate their colleagues. Its a step backward for civilian oversight, said Tiera Hawkes, the Civilian Review Board chair. They wont be able to investigate, she said of the new accountability boards. They just get the case, and they just send them up. Advertisement Advocates who support combining the panels said if the city board lost its subpoena and investigatory powers, that would leave Baltimore woefully short of the level of community oversight required by 2017 consent decree. A federal judge is supervising reforms after the city acknowledged widespread unconstitutional and discriminatory policing. A task force created under the consent decree called for disbanding the Civilian Review Board in 2018 and replacing it with a more powerful independent police accountability agency with designated funding, further investigatory and subpoena powers, and an expansion of the types of misconduct that the panel could investigate. Those changes also would have required legislative approval, and such as agency has not been created. About 50 people gathered outside City Hall recently to rally in support of Carters bill. Some held handwritten signs with slogans reading Strong police oversight NOW and Mayor Scott, Baltimore needs real police accountability. The rally was organized by two coalitions, the Baltimore-based Campaign for Justice, Safety and Jobs and the statewide Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability. Darlene Cain, founder of Mothers on the Move, said she started her activism after Baltimore police killed her son in 2012. This is my passion, from pain to purpose, she said. A robust independent oversight body is key to figuring out what is really going on in the police department. Advertisement The new bill also would broaden the types of complaints the panel can investigate. Currently, the Civilian Review Board is permitted to hear only a handful of misconduct allegations, including abusive language, false arrest, false imprisonment, harassment and excessive force. Board members have said many acts of misconduct fall outside of those categories, such as when a sergeant was accused of coughing on a woman on purpose at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Carter said the expansion is necessary because when she previously oversaw the citys Office of Equity and Civil Rights, which includes the Civilian Review Board, the police department often downgraded a complaint an officer faced to keep a case from going before the board. For example, an abusive language complaint might be watered down to a discourteous language complaint, which did not fall under the boards purview, she said. Ray Kelly, executive director of the Citizens Policing Project, said reform advocates fought to establish the Civilian Review Board powers and cant allow the new law to walk those back. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > We fought hard for a civilian oversight entity that is independent of the politics that continue to hinder true accountability in Baltimore, Kelly said. We are far from a place where we can blindly trust our elected officials to work in our best interest. Scotts administration cited concerns that the Civilian Review Board would be at the mercy of the General Assembly should any legislative changes be required. Baltimore City would be held to a different standard, where the General Assembly would continue to serve as the gatekeeper for the city, the administration said. Advertisement Natasha Mayhew, a member of Scotts administration, testified on Feb. 16 against merging the panels, saying it creates an unworkable framework, would undermine the citys authority and would be contrary to local control efforts. At the recent rally, Kelly criticized Scott for failing to present a substantive plan for dealing with the existing and future oversight bodies and called for more transparency. In my opinion, duplicity is divisive and smells like another political maneuver to create unnecessary conflict by creating confusion about who Baltimores oversight entity will ultimately be accountable to, he said. Mr. Mayor, whats your plan? Asked to comment on the bill, a spokesman for Scott referred to the administrations earlier written testimony. WARSAW, Poland, March 11, 2022 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today concluded a successful trip to Europe, including visits to the United Kingdom, Latvia, Germany, and Poland. The Prime Minister met with leaders and allies to continue our coordinated response against Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine. The Prime Minister conveyed Canada's support to European partners as they seek to address the emerging security and humanitarian challenges in the region. Canada, alongside our European allies, is supporting Ukraine by providing military aid, imposing significant sanctions on Russia, and addressing the emerging humanitarian crisis in the region. Canada is also increasing its military presence in Europe to support NATO Allies and reinforce NATO's eastern flank. Today, the Prime Minister announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations. These new measures will impose restrictions on 32 entities working in Russia's defence sector and on five current and former Russian senior officials and associates of the regime who are complicit in President Putin's choice to invade a peaceful and sovereign country. These measures build on a growing number of sanctions previously announced. While in Poland, the Prime Minister announced additional measures and investments to continue supporting Ukraine amidst Russia's ongoing aggression, including: Matching an additional $20 million in donations from Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross, for a total of $30 million in government contributions to support immediate and ongoing relief efforts in the region; Allocating $50 million, from Canada's $100 million contribution for humanitarian aid in the region, to: the World Food Programme, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, HelpAge, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages, and others to provide immediate assistance where it is needed most; and Investing an additional $117 million to implement Canada's new immigration measures to welcome those fleeing the war in Ukraine. This funding will help set up new immigration pathways, expedite the processing of applications, and provide support to newcomers once they arrive in Canada. Story continues During his visit to Poland, Prime Minister Trudeau met with President Andrzej Duda, to discuss regional defence and security challenges and to broaden the bilateral trade relationship. Prime Minister Trudeau commended President Duda on Poland's response to the rapidly growing refugee crisis, as more than one million refugees have fled to Poland, and he thanked the President for hosting Canada's embassy staff following relocation from Ukraine. He also emphasized the formidable and longstanding military cooperation between Canada and Poland. Prime Minister Trudeau also met with the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, to discuss continued coordination on further sanctions and support to Ukraine. Following bilateral meetings, Prime Minister Trudeau visited the Atrium Centrum temporary refugee shelter in Warsaw for Ukrainians and other people fleeing Russian aggression. During the visit, Prime Minister Trudeau met with representatives from non-governmental organizations providing support to refugees. Since the beginning of Russia's invasion, the City of Warsaw has welcomed and cared for over 130,000 refugees. While in Poland, the Prime Minister also met United States Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss next steps in their coordinated response to Russia, as well as continued work on energy security. Canada and the United States will continue to impose severe economic consequences on Russia and on those complicit in Russia's invasion. Quotes "Russia's ongoing illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine is not going unpunished. Canada will continue to stand alongside our European allies and partners to advance our shared commitments to support Ukraine and its people, and defend democracy against authoritarianism everywhere." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "Over the past days, I have been on the ground in Moldova and Romania with partners such as Save the Children and the UNHCR seeing the humanitarian assistance that they provide. The people of Moldova and Romania have shown great compassion to their neighbours. I have heard from these organizations about the needs of those impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has disproportionally impacted women and children. This $50 million worth of assistance will help those partners in providing critical and live-saving assistance." The Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada Quick Facts During the trip to Europe, the Prime Minister made additional announcements, including: Canada and Germany agreed to further securing energy supply chains by launching a clean hydrogen initiative to bring governments and industry in both countries together to develop a safe and secure supply of clean energy. On February 24, 2022, the Prime Minister announced measures to support Ukrainians and people residing in Ukraine, and to make it easier and faster for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their accompanying family members to return to Canada. On March 3, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that it will introduce two new immigration streams for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily or permanently, including: Related Product Associated Links This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2022/11/c9700.html Strive for Advances in Mobile Broadband and Internet Access in Rural and Urban areas across Indonesia to unlock Indonesia's Digital Potential JAKARTA, Indonesia, SINGAPORE and SAN JOSE, Calif., March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang Indonesia is now officially collaborating with Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Singapore, a wholly owned subsidiary of ADARA Networks, Inc. San Jose, CA, in support of PT BUM Desa Indonesia to realize the vision of advancing digital transformation in villages, towns, and cities across all of Indonesia. Virtual 5G PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang and Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. signed a Distribution and Marketing Agreement as a commitment to enhance the speed and reliability of Internet Access across Indonesia. This marks a commitment by both PT. Animus Bersama Cermerlang and Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. in support of PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) Jakarta Raya, Indonesia PT Indonesian Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) / BDI is the holding company of many Village Owned Enterprises in Indonesia. PT BDI oversees and has network of more than 94,500 business entities spread across villages and remote areas of Indonesia. All are collaborating to transform and improve a range of digital services across Indonesia. Virtual 5G, a first of its' kind, delivers 5G Mobile Broadband speeds, and a globally available 5G service through a worldwide OTT (Over The Top) network, which operates over all existing forms of networks including Cellular Radio, WiFi, Terrestrial, and Satellite. As an OTT, Virtual 5G's service globally interconnects users through any and all service providers. OTT's have rapidly become the dominant platform for rapidly deploying transformative services. Virtual 5G service is accessed through a Mobile (Client) App available through Google Play as Premium Software. Virtual 5G enables all Internet activities by users in Indonesia to enjoy the low latency, high bandwidth, reliable services that Indonesia wants and needs via Mobile Broadband; Social Media, Browsing, News, Download/Upload Multimedia, Email, and Apps. Story continues Virtual 5G enables 5G Mobile Broadband on Android phones that support Android 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10, 11 and Android 12, which is the Operating System on the newest generation Android 5G Phones; on every generation of Android Mobile Devices, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G; and on every generation of Cellular Radio Infrastructure, 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE, and 5G where it is deployed. Virtual 5G also delivers 5G Mobile Broadband over all Internet Access Technologies; Cellular Radio, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM, which is the infrastructure which PT BDI operates to bring service to Rural and Urban communities such as Villages, Towns, and Cities across Indonesia. Virtual (Software) 5G rolls out in seconds, scales limitlessly, and compliments Infrastructure 5G. These are just a few of the critical reasons why Virtual 5G can benefit Indonesia. Indonesia presents a unique opportunity for Virtual Internet, with PT ABC and PT BDI. Indonesia has the world's 4th largest population; and Indonesia is the world's largest island nation. Indonesia has unique challenges to deploying nationwide 5G Mobile Broadband Internet access. Almost half of Indonesia, 43%, lives in rural areas; this percentage is twice as great as other regions; 83% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas, 72.5 % of EU-28 inhabitants live in cities, in Latin America and the Caribbean, 81.2% of the population lives in urban areas. Indonesians in both rural and urban areas want and need high speed Internet for online activities. PT BDI is focused on enhancing rural services; and these areas are of special importance to Indonesia. Indonesians are extremely digitally savvy; Indonesia is a world leader in the consumption of Internet and Social Media services. This commercial agreement demonstrates how the digital ecosystem within Indonesia is leveraging existing and new technologies to meet Indonesia's unique challenges to create world class Mobile Broadband service for all Indonesians. Virtual 5G is immediately available at a per device annual subscription of $6 US to the nearly 300 Million in Indonesia that operate almost 450 Million Devices and highlights a major benefit of Virtual 5G. Employing a Virtual (Software) 5G approach enables the immediate roll out of a 21st Century high speed Mobile Broadband service across Indonesia. Using an OTT to deliver 5G Mobile Broadband is an innovative and important commercial step, part of a comprehensive approach to rapidly transforming Indonesia's digital landscape and seamlessly bringing 5G Mobile Broadband service to one of the largest populations of Internet users in the world. As the world's only global 5G Mobile Broadband Network, with millions of users in over 150 countries, Virtual (Software) 5G has already been deployed across multiple traditional Telecom networks, demonstrating that Virtual 5G is complimentary to existing 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G networks in Indonesia and around the globe. Indonesia is experiencing rapid economic growth and is in need of rapid technological improvements, especially in Mobile Broadband, as Indonesia expands its' position as an economic center of opportunity in Asia, and as Indonesia unlocks its' digital potential. Widespread 5G is frequently not projected to appear until the end of the decade, approximately 2030. Virtual 5G bridges this gap, and enhances Infrastructure 5G networks when and where they are built. Virtual 5G is currently available globally, it is portable and borderless, travels with the user, and Virtual 5G available to over 6.5 Billion in 150 countries worldwide, in every continent, on any generation (e.g. 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G) phone, eliminating the wait for 5G service. 5G technology is maturing. Virtual (Software) 5G is part of the strategic focus on 5G. Hardware 5G and Software (Virtual) 5G are complimentary technological approaches to unlocking the benefits of 5G for consumers and enterprises. Virtual 5G works with Infrastructure 5G to address the challenges of deploying 5G Service. Virtual 5G enables Nations and Service Providers, including Telecoms deploying 5G infrastructures and 5G ready Smartphones, to accelerate roll-outs and the creation of new services in building digital economies in post-COVID recovery. With this commercial announcement, Indonesia is showing it will leverage Virtual (Software) 5G as Indonesia nurtures a growing and vibrant local Hardware and Software 5G ecosystem. Indonesia, with a significant portion of the global population, is leading the way to the next chapter of the global digital age. About PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) / BDI PT BUM Desa Indonesia (BUMDES) Jakarta Raya, Indonesia PT Indonesian Village Owned Enterprises (BUMDES) / BDI is the holding company of many Village Owned Enterprises in Indonesia. PT BDI oversees and has network of more than 94,500 business entities spread across villages and remote areas of Indonesia. About Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Virtual Internet is a metaverse company, Incorporated in Singapore. Virtual Internet is building a new community of millions of users, connected through multiple networks. Virtual Internet has created and operates on its' own Virtual 5G Global Overlay Network, which allows millions of other applications and services to be delivered over 5G Mobile Broadband Speeds using existing Cellular Radio, Wi-Fi, and SATCOM networks. About ADARA Networks, Inc. ADARA Networks, Inc. is acknowledged as one of the premier providers of SDN and Cloud Networking products. Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd, Singapore, is a wholly owned subsidiary of ADARA Networks. CONTACT: 408-579-5000 SOURCE Virtual Internet Pte. Ltd. JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cakap, one of the largest EdTech companies in Indonesia, collaborated with Asparnas (Association of National Tourism) and Loccal Collection Hotel to offer an empowerment program for tourism human resources in Labuan Bajo. The program is an English language training scholarship program for 5000 tourist professionals. The training, which will be directly instructed by Cakap certification teachers, will take place in the next three months through the Cakap platform. MoU Signing between Cakap and Asparnas The collaboration program between Cakap, Asparnas, and Loccal Collection Hotel will be a strategic initiative in reviving Indonesia tourism. Labuan Bajo is predicted to become a popular tourist location for international visitors after the release of new legislation allowing for free quarantine in Bali as of March 7, 2022. As a super-priority destination, the readiness of tourism actors in Labuan Bajo to welcome international tourists should be enhanced. The program launch was attended by Julie Sutrisno Laiskodat, Member of House of Representatives of Indonesia, and also Head of Family Welfare Movement (PKK) in East Nusa Tenggara and Head of Regional National Craft Council (Dekrasnada) for East Nusa Tenggara. "We appreciate Cakap, Asparnas, and Local Collection Hotel for the effort in facilitating the program. NTT has Labuan Bajo as a world tourism charm. The development of the tourism sector in this area is certainly needed. Thus, Labuan Bajo continues to become a target destination for tourists from various countries. This includes human resource development in the tourism sector through English skill training as an international language," Julie explained. It is known that the Indonesian government has assigned Labuan Bajo as a super-priority destination. In the future, Labuan Bajo will be expected to host international events, such as the side event of the G-20 Summit and the 2023 ASEAN Summit later. Therefore, the role of the English language is essential for tourism actors in Labuan Bajo. This is also useful to attract more international tourists to visit Indonesia post-COVID-19. Story continues Ngadiman, Chairperson of Asparnas, who also participated in inaugurating this program, was pleased to welcome Cakap as a collaboration partner. "The use of technology can be utilized to restore and revive the Indonesian tourism sector, especially in increasing the capacity of its human resources in the field of international languages. We are targeting Labuan Bajo to leverage the access to quality education for the people here. Cakap as EdTech is the right partner in providing access to this learning. We hope that Asparnas can also target other Indonesian tourist areas in need." said Ngadiman. In recent years, Cakap has carried out various initiatives to empower the tourism sector in improving the competence of Indonesian human resources. Previously, Cakap collaborated with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and PHRI (Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association) in providing English language training and hospitality skills. Moreover, as a driver in the education sector, Cakap always strives to expand access to quality learning to eastern Indonesia through various other initiatives. "As an online learning platform, expanding access to education has become Cakap's mission to create inclusive education. It is an honor for Cakap to be able to join this program by providing training to 5000 tourism sector actors in Labuan Bajo. We also see the urgency that tourism sector actors must be equipped with English language skill. Especially considering the latest tourism trends since the pandemic took place through health protocol policies, it is important for tourism actors to build good communication with international tourists through English." said Jonathan Dharmasoeka, Chief of Business of Cakap. "We hope that Cakap's efforts to provide access to quality education can continue to reach other areas in Indonesia. And we hope that the government will continue to support our efforts. In line with Cakap's vision, which is to elevate people's lives through education." closed Jonathan. About Cakap Cakap is one of the biggest Edtech platforms in Indonesia that develops online learning applications with a two-way interaction among students and professional teachers through video calls and text conversations. Our proprietary education platform enables two-way learning interactions for life skills learning across the Asia Pacific. Available on Google Play and App Store to reach different segments of students because everyone deserves a quality education. CAKAP provides educational solutions with an international standard learning curriculum to provide the best online learning experience. #MakinCakap SOURCE Cakap A Red Cross official warned in an interview with The Associated Press Friday that the world must not forget Yemen and other war-torn nations amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The head of the delegation in Yemen for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Katharina Ritz, said the country is still in need of aid as the deadly war between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels, which has lasted for over seven years and resulted in thousands of civilian deaths, continues. "I think our duty is to respond equally to the needs and do our best," said Ritz, per the AP. "I think it's not about is it Ukraine or not? Now it's Ukraine and Yemen and Syria and Iraq and Congo and so on. ... We have to add Ukraine on all the crises, but we shouldn't shift." Her comments come after the head of the United Nations food agency said in an interview with the AP last month that 13 million people in Yemen were facing starvation amid the ongoing conflict in the country. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could further exacerbate the threat of famine in Yemen, the AP noted, as it imports roughly 40 percent of its wheat from the two countries. "Now obviously, we have the wheat supply, which will have an impact on the food supply for Yemen," Ritz said, according to the wire service. "The coping mechanism in the country is very limited, and I think that is going to be a major struggle." Ritz also said that a possible prisoner swap is being discussed by the Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition fighting for the exiled Yemeni government. A major swap between the two sides has not occurred since 2020, the AP noted. "The dialogue between the parties is ongoing. The negotiation has never stopped," said Ritz. "I think it is an important part also to keep the parties on the table engaged." Houthi rebels seized control of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in late 2014, banishing the Yemeni government to Aden, Yemen, according to the AP. Months later, the Saudi-led coalition entered Yemen in support of the exiled government. Celebrities are stepping up to help Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio donated to several humanitarian groups to aid those impacted by Russia's invasion. "Leo had privately made several donations to humanitarian groups CARE, IRC, UNHCR and Save the Children. All directed at Ukraine," a source close to the actor told PEOPLE. Previous reports that DiCaprio donated $10 million to the war-torn country, in addition to having a familial connection to Ukraine, were ultimately found to be untrue. Separately, actress Hayden Panettiere started a relief fund in response to the tragedy. Her ex-boyfriend is Wladimir Klitschko, a former Ukrainian professional boxer and the brother of Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko (also an ex-pugilist). On Wednesday, Panettiere launched Hoplon International, an organization which aims to raise critical funding for medical supplies and protective gear to aid Ukrainians fighting on the frontlines. In a video message posted to YouTube (GOOGL), the 32-year-old said, "There are no words to describe what it's been like to watch the war on Ukraine unfold. It's gut-wrenching knowing that the people of Ukraine and people I call my friends and family are desperately trying to defend their way of life and the country that they love." A woman reacts as people flee Russia's invasion on Ukraine, in Irpin outside Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Mikhail Palinchak A-list couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis revealed earlier this week that they are over halfway to their goal of raising $30 million for the people of Ukraine. The "That 70s Show" alums created a GoFundMe page that's currently north of $18 million and climbing. Kunis, who was born in Ukraine in 1983, emigrated to the United States in 1991. In an Instagram (FB) video, the actress described herself as "a proud Ukrainian." The couple committed to match up to $3 million. Another Hollywood "it" couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledged to match donations up to $1 million after participating in a fundraiser led by the nonprofit USA for UNHCR. Story continues Reynolds wrote on Twitter, "In 48 hours, countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries. They need protection." In 48 hours, countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries. They need protection. When you donate, well match it up to $1,000,000, creating double the support. https://t.co/xCFL1Lptuw https://t.co/CHp48E1KLQ Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 26, 2022 And "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling also announced that she will be matching donations up to 1 million British pounds ($1.32 million) in support of "some of the most vulnerable children in Ukraine" through her Lumos Foundation. The foundation launched an emergency appeal following the Russian invasion. I will personally match donations to this appeal, up to 1m. Thank you so, so much to all whove already donated, youre enabling @lumos to do crucial work for some of the most vulnerable children in Ukraine. https://t.co/XK8yTtB1nl J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 7, 2022 Entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel and her disaster relief initiative BStrong has raised more than $25 million in aid for impacted Ukrainians, in addition to providing over 100,000 crisis kits and other types donations like cash cards to refugees. The former reality star told Yahoo Finance that BStrong, which operates in partnership with Global Empowerment Mission and provides emergency funds to people in crisis, is "moving every single day to where the need is." Meanwhile, model Gigi Hadid who has also shown support for Palestine amid the country's continuing conflict with Israel pledged to donate all of her fall 2022 runway show earnings. She pledged "to aid those suffering from the war in Ukraine, as well as continuing to support those experiencing the same in Palestine." Hadid added in an Instagram post that "our eyes and hearts must be open to all human injustice. May we all see each other as brothers and sisters, beyond politics, beyond race, beyond religion. At the the end of the day, innocent lives pay for war - not leaders." So far, at least 2 million people have fled Ukraine and over 1,000 civilians have been killed. Editor's Note: This article has been updated to accurately reflect Leonardo DiCaprio's charitable contributions to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. Alexandra is a Producer & Entertainment Correspondent at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193 Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit (Updates with President Zelenskiy, Meta criminal case) * Biden to call for an end of normal trade with Russia - source * Satellite images show Russians redeploy north of Kyiv * Britain says Russia could launch assault on Kyiv within days * Putin cites "positive shifts" in talks By Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets LVIV, Ukraine, March 11 (Reuters) - Russian forces bearing down on Kyiv are regrouping northwest of the Ukrainian capital, satellite pictures showed, in what Britain said could be preparation for an assault on the city within days. Ukraine accused Russian forces on Friday of bombing and shelling cities across the country, including hitting a psychiatric hospital near the eastern town of Izyum where hundreds of patients were sheltering in the basement. In Russia, prosecutors asked a court to declare Meta Platforms an "extremist" organisation on Friday, after the owner of Facebook and Instagram allowed posts calling for the death of invading Russian troops. Russia has been pounding Ukraine's cities while its main attack force north of Kyiv has been stalled on roads since the invasion's early days, having failed in what Western countries say was an initial plan for a lightning assault on the capital. Images released by private U.S. satellite firm Maxar showed armoured units manoeuvring in and through towns close to an airport on Kyiv's northwest outskirts, site of fighting since Russia landed paratroops there in the first hours of the war. Other elements had repositioned near the settlement of Lubyanka just to the north, with towed artillery howitzers in firing positions, Maxar said. "Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days," Britain's Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update. "This will probably include operations against the capital Kyiv." The British update said Russian ground forces were still making only limited progress, hampered by persistent logistical issues and Ukrainian resistance. Story continues President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had "already reached a strategic turning point" in the conflict. "It is impossible to say how many days we still have to free Ukrainian land. But we can say we will do it," he said in a televised address. In an overnight statement, the Ukrainian general staff said Russian forces were regrouping after taking heavy losses. Ukraine had pushed Russians back to "unfavourable positions" in the Polyskiy district, near the Belarus border to the rear of the main Russian column heading towards Kyiv, it said. 'WAR CRIME' Emergency services said no one was hurt in the psychiatric hospital struck in eastern Ukraine, as the patients were already sheltering in the basement. But Oleh Synegubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said 330 people had been in the building and called the attack "a war crime against civilians". Reuters could not immediately verify the report and there was no immediate comment from Moscow. It came less than two days after Russia bombed a maternity hospital in the besieged southern port of Mariupol. Ukraine said pregnant women were among those hurt there; Russia said the hospital was no longer functioning and was occupied by Ukrainian fighters when it was hit. For a seventh straight day, Russia announced plans to cease fire to let civilians leave Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of people trapped with no food, water, heat or power. All previous attempts to reach the city have failed with both sides accusing each other of failing to observe ceasefires. Ukraine said it would try yet again to help people leave: "We hope it will work today," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. Moscow denies it has been targeting civilians in what it calls a "special operation" to disarm and "de-Nazify" Ukraine. PUTIN SEES 'POSITIVE SHIFTS' President Vladimir Putin has tried to project an air of calm since ordering the invasion on Feb. 24. At a meeting with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Friday, Putin said there were "certain positive shifts" in talks with Ukrainians, though he did not elaborate. Earlier, at a meeting of his security council, Putin approved a proposal to recruit 16,000 fighters from the Middle East. The Russian state prosecutor's office said it had asked a court to designate Meta "extremist" and ban it from Russia. The country's investigative committee also said it had opened a criminal case "in connection with illegal calls for murder and violence against citizens of the Russian Federation" by Meta employees. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its spokesperson had said on Thursday the company had temporarily eased rules to allow posts such as "death to the Russian invaders", though not calls for violence against Russian civilians. Reuters reported that internal emails sent to content moderators showed guidelines had allowed some posts calling for the death of Putin or Lukashenko. "We don't want to believe the Reuters report - it is just too difficult to believe," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We hope it is not true because if it is true then it will mean that there will have to be the most decisive measures to end the activities of this company." European Union leaders were holding a summit at France's Versailles Palace, expected to be dominated by calls for more action to punish Russia, assist Ukraine and cope with an influx of nearly 2.5 million refugees in just two weeks. In the two weeks since the invasion, Western countries have swiftly moved to isolate Russia from world trade and the global financial system to an extent never before visited on such a large economy. In the latest move, sources said U.S. President Joe Biden would ask the Group of Seven industrialised nations and the EU to strip Russia of normal rights under global trading rules, known as most-favoured nation status. While Russia's advance on Kyiv has been stalled and it has failed so far to capture any cities in northern or eastern Ukraine, it has made more substantial progress in the south. Moscow said on Friday its separatist allies in the southeast had captured the town of Volnovakha north of Mariupol. Residents of Ukrainian cities have packed into underground metros for shelter. Nastya, a young girl lying on a makeshift bed on the floor of a metro train carriage in Kharkiv, said she had been there for more than a week, unable to move around much and ill with a virus that had being going around. "I'm scared for my home, for the homes of my friends, very scared for the whole country, and scared for myself of course." On Friday, three air strikes in the central city of Dnipro killed at least one person, state emergency services said, adding that the strikes were near a kindergarten. Ihor Polishshuk, the mayor of the city of Lutsk, said four people were killed and six wounded in an attack on an airfield there, a rare strike on a target deep in western Ukraine far from the battlefields in the north, east and south. (Reporting by Reuters bureaus Writing by Peter Graff Editing by Tomasz Janowski) One of the more than 50 speakers at the Nov. 15, 2021, Spotsylvania School Board meeting was Lauren Mullikin, a junior at Courtland High School. It was the first meeting after the board voted to remove sexually explicit books from school library shelves and the community had lots to say about the issue. If you are scared of a community you are supposed to represent, this is not the job for you, said Mullikin, accusing several members of the board of displaying anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments. Since then, Mullikin and students at other county high schools havent stopped speaking at School Board meetings and advocating for better representation of student interests. Among other requests, they are asking for the establishment of a student advisory board and for a student representative to be seated on the dais at School Board meetings. I think a lot of times, people overlook what we say and disregard us, Mullikin said. Weve seen people online saying they dont think we write our speeches, but its all been us. This is our idea. There has been an uptick in student participation at School Board meetings since last year, when students were among community members asking for school to be open for in-person instruction and then for personal choice in whether or not to mask. There has been even more student participation since two board members spoke in favor of burning books at the Nov. 9, 2021, meeting, and there are signs that the board is listening. Last month, in response to requests, the board agreed to create time for student comments at the beginning of the public comments section of each regular meeting, to prevent students from having to wait until late in the evening for their chance to address the board. Mullikin and a group of Courtland High School students are working on setting up student town hall meetings with School Board members. These town halls would be open to students and staff only, not the general public, and only students would be able to ask questions. The idea is to give them a chance to question board members without the influence of parents, according to Mullikin and fellow organizers Brody Barr and Nick Bartram. Barr said he started paying attention to School Board meetings last summer and his involvement ramped up since the board fired Superintendent Scott Baker without cause in January. He said he doesnt like what he sees as the blatant politicization of the boards actions. They are public servants and I strongly believe they should not be political at all, Barr said. It isnt whether the board skews left or rightits that they skew at all. I think they should be there for the students and should listen to what the students have to say. Barr said he and the students he is working with want to fight disinformation about the school system and tone down the tense rhetoric theyve heard from parents and board members about issues like critical race theory and explicit library books. The adults are very passionate, but I dont know if they are going about it the right way, he said. They could take some notes from the kids. Bartram, who is an Eagle Scout, said he doesnt like seeing the board not follow its own policies. As a Boy Scout, I have to follow the rules of the troop, he said. I dont necessarily like them, but I have to follow them, and the board should have to follow their own rules. In addition to helping organize the town halls, Bartram said he has been busy researching board policies and parliamentary rules. Mullikin is planning to initiate a student letter-writing campaign, so those who cant attend board meetings can tell School Board members what they dont like and what they want to see happen. Mullikin said she has been involved in her school community through volunteer work and club participation, but this is her first time using my voice to change policy. She said she now looks forward to addressing the board during public comments. I research and I come prepared, she said, adding that her goal is to be nonaggressive and non-oppositional. Riverbend High School student Olivia Morse has been organizing student demonstrations before recent School Board and supervisor meetings. She said the message she wants to share is that Spotsylvania is a diverse community and that the School Board should represent all of it. There are so many different kinds of families here, Morse said. When you hold up one type of family and try to represent them on a board that is open to everyonethat is what irks me. During school budget negotiations, the students have been advocating for a fully funded budget under the hashtag #fundourfuture. They are asking for staff bonuses, for teacher pay raises, for student and teacher mental health needs to be addressed and for critical infrastructure needs to be met. Massaponax High School senior Dante Braden said those are the issues that matter to most students. He said its been painful for him to hear parents in the community accuse his teachers of indoctrinating him or trying to slip divisive concepts into the curriculum. Whats more a concern to me is not an abstract idea that something might be in the curriculum, but the leaking roof at Massaponax, having to attend classes in the auditorium because theres no substitute teacher to cover my class, or students who miss class time because their bus was late. Braden and other students are now working toward their top goal: getting the School Board to establish a student advisory board. Virginia Code permits the appointment of a student representative to the School Board. The student representative cant vote, but can advise, make motions and attend closed sessions. The students would like to see an advisory board made up of students from each high school either elected by their peers or appointed by each School Board member from a teacher-recommended list. That advisory board could then choose a member to attend School Board meetings, Braden said. Everyone says, Its for the students, he said. But what do the students really think or want? We need a student to communicate with them. The board members havent been in a classroom in years, but I was in one just a few hours ago. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Another wintry blast is due into Fredericksburg on Saturday. The term weather whiplash fits March weather, as it can be quite variable. That will be true this weekend as well. But first, an important note about Saturday night: Its Spring Forward time!! Yes, Daylight Saving Time officially arrives at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, when those automatically adjusted timepieces will jump ahead to 3 a.m. Manually adjusted clocks should be pushed forward an hour before going to bed Saturday night to avoid being late on Sunday. Now, back to Fredericksburg area weather. TodayFridayis the bonus day of the weekend, with bright sunshine, light winds and temperatures which will boost from morning lows near freezing to afternoon highs in the low 60s. Overall it will be a glorious March day. But then comes Saturday A cold front will slowly traverse eastward across the Ohio valley Friday. Meanwhile vigorous upper air dynamics will help create a low pressure center along the southern end of that boundary tonight. That will open the door for plenty of Gulf of Mexico moisture to surge northward into Fredericksburg. Rain will begin before midnight and will add up to perhaps three-quarters of an inch in area gauges. That low pressure will quickly intensify as it crosses southern Virginia on Saturday morning on its way up the East Coast, becoming a powerful noreaster which will slam into New England. Ironically, during this Severe Weather Awareness Week, one result of this setup is the potential for severe weather across the eastern half of Virginia on Saturday (left graphic panel). Meanwhile, a second cold front bearing Arctic air will barge into the region early tomorrow morning. That will help kick-start the intensification of the aforementioned low pressure. The bitterly cold air behind that second front will switch the Fredericksburg areas rain over to snow by mid-morning Saturday. Yes, you read that right! The right graphic panel shows an expectation for 12 inches of snow in and around Fredericksburg on Saturday, likely mixing with sleet at times. To add to that weather whiplash Saturdays official highs will occur before dawn, when local temperatures will top out near 50 degrees. By late morning, Fredericksburg area temperatures will plunge to near freezing, dropping into the 20s by sunset. Thanks to roaring northwest winds gusting over 40 mph at times wind chills will be brutal on Saturday, averaging 1015 degrees below air temperatures. That snow and sleet plus the Arctic cold will sting exposed skin tomorrow. Folks who have packed away the winter gear should haul it back out in order to withstand the January-like conditions expected on Saturday. Sundays weather looks much quieter, with westerly and southwesterly breezes in the 1015 mph range. Clear skies and the strong March sun will help push temperatures from morning lows in the teens to afternoon highs in the upper 40s. The good news? Next week looks much warmer. One last note about Severe Weather Awareness Week: Fridays emphasis is on lightning. This video provides more information on this dangerous weather feature common to all thunderstorms, not just the severe ones. The fiscal year 2023 budget presented by Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody during a City Council meeting earlier this week calls for a 3 cent real estate tax rate increase, as well as increases in water and wastewater rates. The water rate increase is 8 percent in the proposed budget and the wastewater increase is 10 percent. Baroody also submitted an updated five-year capital improvement plan. There will be work sessions to further discuss the proposed budget on March 29, April 5, April 12 and April 19. The April 5 meeting will be a joint session with the School Board. A public hearing will be held April 19 following the work session on that date. Another work session will take place April 26 before the first-read City Council vote later that evening. The plan is for the budget to be finalized May 10 with a second-read vote. The plan submitted by Baroody calls for a general fund budget of $110,954,755a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year. The general fund transfer to schools is recommended at $30.5 million, an increase of $450,734 from last year. The school system requested an $850,000 increase, as well as $413,000 for capital improvement projects. The proposed budget includes nearly half of the increase requested and none of the capital requests. Baroody suggested Superintendent Marci Catlett examine the school systems fairly robust fund balance of $5 million and federal COVID-19 relief funds to make up for the approximately $812,000 gap. The proposed real estate tax rate of 86 cents per $100 of assessed value comes a year after another 3 cent increase. Its likely not the end of increased taxes in the city, because a few major capital improvement projects are on the horizon, including a new school, fire station and upgraded wastewater treatment plant. This pivotal time in our history demands significant investment in our aging infrastructure, our neighborhoods, our schools, public safety, our environment and our organizational competitiveness, Baroody said. This significant investment is not easy, but is required to continue our fast-growing communitys momentum in achieving the quality of life our community desires. Baroodys proposed budget includes a $57 million placeholder for a new middle school. The placeholder was $40 million last year when it was believed the School Board was pursuing a new elementary school. The total cost of wastewater upgrades is $101 million. Baroody is hopeful that a $27 million allowance from the state for the wastewater treatment plant will be finalized by the General Assembly in its current session. The recommended budget includes funding for a new fire station, called a superstation, along the Cowan Boulevard corridor that will be more than double the capacity of the existing Fire Station No. 2. The new station will eventually need between 16 and 18 full-time employees and will demand other operational expenses in addition to the cost to build. I think we have so much going on, it is going to require extra care to make sure were maximizing things, City Councilman Tim Duffy said. There is a 4 percent raise for city staff in the proposed budget. Thats in addition to a 4 percent pay increase last July and a one-time $1,000 raise in annual salary earlier this year. Baroody said the pay raises are to keep the city competitive with nearby localities. There were 29 requests for additional city personnel but only 13 of those were included in the budget proposal. Also, two of the 14 positions that were eliminated in 2020 after the pandemic began will be reinstated. An additional three positions would be created, as well. The city is increasing its contribution to the Central Rappahannock Regional Library system by 2.6 percent. The budget also includes an increased amount to the Fredericksburg Area Museum. Thats because city officials are partnering with FAM to hire a curator to tell a more inclusive history of Fredericksburg. In other business Tuesday night, City Council voted to pass a resolution of support for the people of Ukraine during the Russian invasion. The resolution states that City Council proudly stands alongside Ukraine, its people and its leaders during this horrific and unnecessary war and vows to support Ukraine and hold Russia fully accountable for its catastrophic decision to invade. Taft Coghill Jr: 540/374-5526 tcoghill@freelancestar.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ukrainian soldiers and emergency employees work at the side of the maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Civilians trapped inside Mariupol desperately scrounged for food and fuel as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the port city Thursday, while satellite photos showed that a massive Kremlin convoy that had been mired outside the Ukrainian capital split up and fanned out into towns and forests near Kyiv. International condemnation escalated over an airstrike in Mariupol a day earlier that killed three people at a maternity hospital, with Western and Ukrainian officials calling the attack a war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian refusal to permit evacuations from the port city amounted to outright terror. Advertisement Meanwhile, the highest-level talks held since the invasion began two weeks ago yielded no progress, the number of refugees fleeing the country topped 2.3 million, and Kyiv braced for an onslaught, its mayor boasting that the capital had become practically a fortress protected by armed civilians. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed that 40-mile (64-kilometer) convoy of vehicles, tanks and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reported, with artillery pieces in firing positions nearby. Advertisement The convoy had massed outside the city early last week, but its advance appeared to have stalled amid reports of food and fuel shortages. U.S. officials said Ukrainian troops also targeted the convoy with anti-tank missiles. In Mariupol, a southern seaport of 430,000, the situation was increasingly dire. More than 1,300 people have died in the 10-day siege of the frigid city, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Residents of the southern seaport of 430,000 have no heat or phone service, and many have no electricity. Nighttime temperatures are regularly below freezing, and daytime ones normally hover just above it. Bodies are being buried in mass graves. The streets are littered with burned-out cars, broken glass and splintered trees. They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to mock it, to constantly bomb and shell it, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. He said the Russians began a tank attack right where there was supposed to be a humanitarian corridor. On Thursday, firefighters tried to free a boy trapped in the rubble. One grasped the boys hand. His eyes blinked, but he was otherwise still. It was not clear if he survived. Nearby, at a mangled truck, a woman wrapped in a blue blanket shuddered at the sound of an explosion. Grocery stores and pharmacies were emptied days ago by people breaking in to get supplies, according to a local official with the Red Cross, Sacha Volkov. A black market is operating for vegetables, meat is unavailable, and people are stealing gasoline from cars, Volkov said. Places protected from bombings are hard to find, with basements reserved for women and children, he said. Residents, Volkov said, are turning on one another: People started to attack each other for food. The local fire department and the citys State Technical University were bombed. Advertisement An exhausted-looking Aleksander Ivanov pulled a cart loaded with bags down an empty street flanked by damaged buildings. I dont have a home anymore. Thats why Im moving, he said. It doesnt exist anymore. It was hit, by a mortar. Repeated attempts to send in food and medicine and evacuate civilians have been thwarted by Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said. They want to destroy the people of Mariupol. They want to make them starve, Vereshchuk said. Its a war crime. All told, some 100,000 people have been evacuated during the past two days from seven cities under Russian blockade in the north and center of the country, including the Kyiv suburbs, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy told Russian leaders that the invasion will backfire on them as their economy is strangled. Western sanctions have already dealt a severe blow, causing the ruble to plunge, foreign businesses to flee and prices to rise sharply. Advertisement You will definitely be prosecuted for complicity in war crimes, Zelenskyy said in a video address. And then, it will definitely happen, you will be hated by Russian citizens everyone whom you have been deceiving constantly, daily, for many years in a row, when they feel the consequences of your lies in their wallets, in their shrinking possibilities, in the stolen future of Russian children. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed such talk, saying the country has endured sanctions before. We will overcome them, he said at a televised meeting of government officials. He did, however, acknowledge the sanctions create certain challenges. In addition to those who have fled the country, millions have been driven from their homes inside Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 2 million people half the population of the metropolitan area have left the capital. Every street, every house is being fortified, he said. Even people who in their lives never intended to change their clothes, now they are in uniform with machine guns in their hands. On Thursday, a 14-year-old girl named Katya was recovering at the Brovary Central District Hospital on the outskirts of Kyiv after her family was ambushed as they tried to flee the area. She was shot in the hand when their car was raked with gunfire from a roadside forest, said her mother, who identified herself only as Nina. Advertisement The girls father, who drove frantically from the ambush on blown-out tires, underwent surgery. His wife said he had been shot in the head and had two fingers blown off. Western officials said Russian forces have made little progress on the ground in recent days and are seeing heavier losses and stiffer Ukrainian resistance than Moscow apparently anticipated. But Putins forces have used air power and artillery to pummel Ukraines cities. Early in the day, the Mariupol city council posted a video showing a convoy it said was bringing in food and medicine. But as night fell, it was unclear if those buses had reached the city. A child was among those killed in the hospital airstrike Wednesday. Seventeen people were also wounded, including women waiting to give birth, doctors, and children buried in the rubble. Images of the attack, with pregnant women covered in dust and blood, dominated news reports in many countries. French President Emmanuel Macron called the attack a shameful and immoral act of war. Britains Armed Forces minister, James Heappey, said that whether the hospital was hit by indiscriminate fire or deliberately targeted, it is a war crime. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, on a visit to Ukraines neighbor Poland, backed calls for an international war-crimes investigation into the invasion, saying, The eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities. Advertisement Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed concerns about civilian casualties as pathetic shrieks from Russias enemies, and denied Ukraine had even been invaded. Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held talks in a Turkish resort in their first meeting since the invasion. The two sides discussed a 24-hour cease-fire but made no progress, Kuleba said. He said Russia still wanted Ukraine to surrender but insisted that will not happen. Lavrov said Russia is ready for more negotiations, but he showed no sign of softening Moscows demands. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > Russia has alleged that Western-looking, U.S.-backed Ukraine poses a threat to its security. Western officials suspect Putin wants to install a government friendly to Moscow in Kyiv as part of an effort to draw the former Soviet state back into its orbit. In Vienna, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said it had scheduled inspections of Ukraines nuclear facilities. Rafael Grossi would give no details on how or when the inspections would take place. Advertisement Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors at four power plants across the country, plus the closed plant in Chernobyl, scene of a 1986 nuclear disaster. Fighting around Chernobyl and another plant have raised global fears of another disaster. In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, 91-year-old Alevtina Shernina sat wrapped in a blanket, an electric heater at her feet, as cold air blew in through a damaged window. She survived the brutal World War II siege of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. Her daughter-in-law Natalia said she was angry that Shernina began her life in Leningrad under the siege as a girl who was starving, who lived in cold and hunger, and shes ending her life in similar circumstances. There were fascists there and there are fascists here who came and bombed our buildings and windows, she said. Associated Press journalists Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Ukraine, and Felipe Dana and Andrew Drake in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed along with other reporters around the world. GOV. GLENN YOUNGKINS determination to remove divisiveness from public education is driving a wedge between public schools and parents. And the tactics hes employing are fraying the fabric of trust our government depends on to function properly. It started with an anonymous tip line that allows parents to report any teacher they suspect of teaching divisive material that offends or upsets their children. When news organizations filed Freedom of Information Act requests to learn what type of information was being collected, Youngkin refused. First of all, he told ABC 13 News, all constituent services are confidential. Its a communication between Virginians and the governor. it would be wrong for me to disclose the things that were hearing in the tip line. Now, Youngkin is taking this argument a step further, blocking a FOIA request by VPM to examine who has made public records requests about the tip line, how those FOIA requests were handled, and how many the governors office received. Citing the working records and correspondence exemption afforded the governors office by Virginias FOIA law, Youngkin not only is forbidding the public to know who is being targeted by calls to the tip line, but he is refusing to let the Fourth Estate explore how seriously he is taking FOIA requests on this topic. Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, tells VPM that Theyre giving [the FOIA law] a reading that says pretty much the governor is exempt from FOIA. And that is definitely not how the law has been written or has been interpreted over the years. There is much here that is deeply troubling. Republicans were once the party that fought against government overreach. Asking the governor to reprimand your childs teacher because he or she feels a bit uneasy with a history lesson would seem the very definition of government overreach. Not only does Youngkin want to be the mediator in disputes about divisive topics, however, he wants to keep the Fourth Estate from knowing anything about how he goes about doing this. He has also denied FOIA requests for a document that would appear to show how he would enforce his Day One executive orders. The idea for FOIA was first pushed in the dark days of the Cold War, when government went to chilling levels to prevent citizens from knowing what it was doing. Both major parties were guilty of this transgression. Even President Lyndon Johnson, who signed the FOIA Act in 1966, had deep misgivings about the law. FOIA, however, has consistently proven itself one of the most powerful tools media and individual citizens have in making sure that their government is acting appropriately, and legally. It was FOIA that enabled us to expose the corruption scandal in Gov. Bob McDonnells administration. As unsettling as the lengths the current administration is willing to go to keep the public in the dark about his tip line, however, is what this tip line effectively does. Youngkin is asking citizens to turn on one another. This is a tactic long associated with more-oppressive-oriented governments. The worry becomes that this is a first step toward more Draconian tactics that are being employed by leaders in other states. Texas, Florida, and Missouri governors and legislators are turning to ordinary citizens and giving them the authority to sue people and institutions who violate laws around issues like abortion, transgender therapy and yes, even critical race theory and the teaching of divisive topics. Youngkins policy doesnt go that far. But by turning Virginians against one another, he is taking the exit ramp that leads us down that road. Trust is the stitching that holds democracies together. Youngkins tactics are designed to undermine that trust. He is pitting parents against their schools. Media against the state. And citizens against one another. Communities work when we can turn to one another in times of need and in times of intense debate to work out solutions to our problems. Conservative or liberal, pro-public schools or pro-charter schools, its important that we have our policy debates in the open. The states effort to turn citizen against citizen, and to keep its enforcement actions veiled in secrecy, should be a warning to us all. No less than the threads of trust that bind us together are at stake. Paul Weston knows exceptional work when he sees it. He watched his friend and coworker, Alfred Pete Peterson, go from building corncribs to building churches, schools and large homes, eventually focusing on making furniture. He is a master craftsman, Weston said. After working several years as a union carpenter in Omaha, Peterson established his own business, Alfred Peterson Construction Co., in Fremont. Some of the houses Pete built were huge, Weston said. And they were beautiful. When Peterson began limiting his work to furniture, one particular piece became his passion: The rocking chair. Its the most complicated, Peterson said, when telling why he chose this one piece. To make a rocking chair truly comfortable, Peterson makes sure it fits the person who will be using it. While attending a woodworking show in Warwick, Connecticut, Peterson recalled experiencing some back pain. I sat in one rocking chair, but it wasnt comfortable. Then I sat in one that Hal Taylor had on display. It was so comfortable, I fell asleep, he said. Taylor, according to Peterson, is the best rocking chair maker in the world. Alfred contacted me in November 2020, Taylor said, and asked if I would like to make a Hal Taylor rocking chair. After a lot of consideration, I said I would love to but only if he would be my mentor. Taylor documented in a Shutterfly book his Chair Project, which he began on Dec. 4, 2020, with Alfred Peterson, his favorite student, and completed it on Jan. 16, 2021. It was Petersons love of woodworking had which prompted him back in the early 1980s to help form the Omaha Woodworkers Guild. I was one of about 20 charter members, Peterson said. Randy Crawford is one of the people who learn from Peterson how to build a rocking chair. Now retired, Crawford was the superintendent for the Forest Lawn Cemetery in North Omaha. We had to cut down an ash tree that was dead, Crawford recalled. I saved the wood, and Alfred made three rocking chairs from it. One of the guilds newest members is Barb Osborn, a retired nurse living in Omaha. In talking about what drew her to join the guild, she said it was, all the years of experience combined with knowledge and the willingness to share it. To show her appreciation for all that the guild has taught her, Osborn said she enjoys bring cookies to the meetings. Peterson helped her make a wooden box to carry them in. Making wooden boxes has become a significant part of the Omaha Woodworkers Guild. In partnership with the Beads of Courage Program, members of the guild have made wooden boxes for children to store their beads in. Each bead prescribed by a health care professional represents a milestone in a childs journey toward wellness while undergoing treatment for various conditions such as cancer, coronary issues or burn injuries. Osborn is one of several guild members who have learned, under the guidance of Alfred Peterson, how to build a rocking chair. He is a very generous and patient man, said Osborn, who built a rocking chair for her husband. The sanding alone took four days. Born in Hooper, Peterson, 87, has long since retired from carpentry and uses his shop behind his garage to pass along to others his woodworking skill. My daughter-in-law comes in to make toys for her grandson, the Fremont man said. Peterson is particularly proud of the fundraising benefit to making his rocking chairs. I donated a kids rocking chair to the Fremont Area Art (Association), and it got raffled off for $3,200, he said. Interest in an Alfred Peterson rocking chair has spread to other states. I have sent them to Alaska, Minnesota and Iowa, he said. One of the rocking chairs Peterson made was purchased by a doctor and his wife, who then donated it to the Mount Michael Catholic School in Elkhorn. It brought over $12,000, Peterson said. Another was raffled off for close to $20,000. In addition to building rocking chairs, Peterson also has spent his retirement years making wooden greeting cards and personally engraved picture frames. Membership in the Omaha Woodworkers Guild is $30 per individual. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m., the first Wednesday of each month at the Creighton Prep Wood Shop, 72nd and Western Avenue. For more information about the Omaha Woodworkers Guild, visit their website, omahawoodworkers.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As Cedar Bluffs Public Schools prepares for a Career Day to attract students into teaching careers, educational leaders here are calling for help from lawmakers to address the teacher shortage. Cedar Bluffs will host Create Your Future Day on March 24 at the school. This is the first time we have made it a schoolwide initiative. We had done things in the past like with juniors and seniors, but we never did this from middle school through high school, said Kate Chrisman, curricular and instructional assessment supervisor. The event will encourage students from fifth grade and up to focus on future careers, taking practice or placement exams and presenting Cedar Bluffs alumni to tell students about life during and after high school. Cedar Bluffs Public Schools Harlan Ptomey talked about the schools and the nations current problem with teacher staffing. We generally have a few positions to add each year, but this year we have seen hard-to-fill positions leave for a variety of reasons, Ptomey said in a news release. Unlike other years when the district receives numerous applications, Ptomey said he can see the effects the pandemic and politics have had on educators. Chrisman expressed similar thoughts about the problems the district is facing. Everyone talks about teacher shortages, but you dont really see how it impacts your students locally, Chrisman said. Five teachers leaving are Cedar Bluffs, all with different reasons for leaving the job. Chrisman pointed out the demand for teachers. One thing we are noticing, that we didnt see in the past, is that because of the teacher shortages, teachers can kind of go anywhere. Every place has openings for teachers, Chrisman said. Additional openings are available not only because of the shortages, but changing accommodations as well. At Cedar Bluffs, some teachers dont leave their school, but left their original classroom. We have moved some of our personnel around, Chrisman said. When some teachers are certified in different areas that are needing more staff, we have moved them to fit those needs. Recently, we had a fourth grade teacher move to seventh/eight grade. In those instances we didnt lose a teacher, but we did move them around. Chrisman also said that besides being able to move with ease, teachers also can opt to find jobs other than teaching. Its not just education with a lack of workers, but almost every field. On top of all of that, just the number of applications we are seeing is much lower than usual, Chrisman said. Chrisman cites another factor in teacher shortages Kids are not going through the certification programs, Chrisman said. The college teaching programs are not filled. The number of open teaching positions compared to the number of college certified graduates dont match up. Ptomey also mentioned in his release that the burden does not fall directly on districts for these issues, but one the governing bodies have the ability to help or hinder school districts. He said its not just Nebraska facing this shortage, its a national crisis as teachers are underpaid and asked to do more than teach every day. The Nebraska Legislature has brought bills forward to the floor this year that would reward teachers, incentivize teachers and/or help teachers pay off student loans because they too see this data, Ptomey said. However, there are also just as many legislative bills to reduce school funding, cap school spending or require new curriculum, new rules or additional requirements in the classroom. Chrisman echoed the points made by the superintendent. I would venture to say that every person in education would say that we need the support of the Legislature, Chrisman said. The requirements as a teacher, the requirements to become a teacher, the cost to become a teacher, its all on the legislature. The amount of money required in all of that is not equal to the wages that we can pay in the public school system. In recent years, Cedar Bluffs also has been pushing access and instructional help for technical schools or trades much further. This recent initiative, according to Chrisman, maintains that thought by mentioning the ACT isnt just for access to universities. The ACT is not just to get into a four-year college, Chrisman said. Even two-year or technical schools look at those tests and determine if you need to take, for example, another math class. So we help kids understand that it isnt just about a four-year college, but it helps create your future in any track that a student might be taking. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nebraska Public Media has teamed up with Bright by Text to put expert tips, games and resources in the hands of parents, family members and other caregivers through a new text messaging service. When parents and caregivers including grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters and nannies sign up for Bright by Text messages, theyll receive helpful information that focuses on raising little ones from pregnancy through age 8. The free service includes two to five text messages per week with links to short videos, related resources and educational activities. Messages are available in English or Spanish. To sign up, text NEKIDS to 27448 or register at NebraskaPublicMedia.org/brightbytext. Message and data rates may apply. Texts include topics like child development, early literacy, STEM, health and safety. Texts will also focus on Nebraska-specific resources from Nebraska Public Media and local partner, the Nebraska Department of Education and its Step Up to Quality program. More than 100,000 caregivers have signed up for Bright by Text in all 50 states, which has partnered with nearby PBS affiliates, United Ways, Childrens Hospitals, Office of Early Childhood Initiative and more across the country. Funding for Bright by Text is provided by the Nebraska Department of Education and its Step Up to Quality program. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Since it first emerged in 2015, Islamic States local affiliate in Afghanistan has focused its violent campaign within that country, fighting against Afghan and foreign forces as well as the Taliban, a rival militant group. But experts say Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) is now shifting its war to neighboring Pakistan as it comes under mounting pressure from the Taliban, which has waged a fierce war against IS-K militants in Afghanistan since seizing power in August. IS-K has claimed responsibility for a string of high-profile attacks in Pakistan, underscoring the growing threat it poses to the predominately Muslim nation of some 220 million people. In the deadliest attack, an IS-K suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar on March 4, killing at least 64 people and wounding scores of others. It was the most lethal attack in Pakistan in nearly four years. Experts believe IS-K militants have moved from their bases in Afghanistan and established cells in major Pakistani cities. IS-K has no political agenda, which pushes it to rely on violence as its only instrument, Sami Yousafzai, a veteran journalist and commentator, told RFE/RL. Their mounting attacks inside Pakistan are a sign that they want to use violence to stay relevant, he said, adding that small IS-K cells can survive better in Pakistans populous cities compared to the sparsely populated mountains in eastern Afghanistan. Bigger Threat The IS-K assaults have provoked fear and alarm in Pakistan, which has also witnessed a dramatic surge in attacks by the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a rival extremist group that has close ties with the Afghan Taliban. Abdul Sayed, a Sweden-based researcher who tracks IS-K, says the TTP claimed responsibility for 257 attacks in Pakistan last year compared to 19 attacks by IS-K. Both groups have focused their attacks on the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan. But the target of IS-Ks attacks, he says, are more worrying for Pakistanis. The TTP has restricted its attacks to the security forces while [IS-K] is choosing soft targets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where ordinary civilians are the victims, Sayed said. IS-K has already carried out five attacks this year. On March 8, IS-K claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb that killed five members of the security forces and wounded 28 people others in southwestern Pakistan. The growing attacks prompted Moazzam Jah Ansari, the police chief in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to declare IS-K a "bigger threat to peace and security in the province compared to the TTP." Muhammad Amir Rana, director of the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, a think tank based in Islamabad, says despite its smaller numbers IS-K is a growing danger to Islamabad's security. They lack the manpower the TTP possesses, which is why we do not see a continuity in their attacks, he told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal. Militant Rivalry Sayed says IS-Ks rising number of attacks in Pakistan is part of its rivalry with the TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban. The main strategy appears to be that [IS-K] wants to undermine the value of the TTPs terror in its main target area, Sayed said. Many IS-K fighters are former members of the TTP, which was thrown into disarray and driven out of its bases in Pakistans northwestern tribal belt by a massive military offensive in 2014. Disgruntled members of the TTP founded the IS-K in eastern Afghanistan in early 2015, according to Sayed. But the TTP soon found itself fighting turf wars with the Afghan Taliban. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the rivalry has intensified. The Afghan militants have waged a nationwide hunt for IS-K members and even targeted the countrys small Salafi minority to curb alleged support for the group from among its members. There is information suggesting [IS-K] members have fled Afghanistan for Pakistan because of their fear for the Taliban, Sayed said. Underscoring the rivalry, the Afghan Taliban condemned IS-Ks deadly attack in Peshawar. The TTP, meanwhile, said that such attacks do not align with its jihad, or holy war, in Pakistan. Hamid Mir, a Pakistani journalist and TV presenter, says the growing threat of IS-K showcases Islamabads failure to tackle terrorist groups despite repeatedly claiming to have defeated them. We claim that we have broken the backbone of terrorists. Yet the terrorists continue to launch almost daily attacks, he told Radio Mashaal. Radio Mashaal correspondent Majeed Babar contributed to this story. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen talks about the Myrle Bratcher fraud case during Tuesday's hearing in Washington. (U.S. Senate ) Things I did not know or appreciate until the last month or so: 1. The United States is not a party to the International Criminal Court, a disappointing fact in light of the keen interest here in seeing Russian President Vladimir Putin and his generals one day prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine. Advertisement 2. St. Michael The Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, the focus of local media attention since the Russian invasion, is not the only such parish in Baltimore. Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Curtis Bay, has served immigrants from western Ukraine and their descendants for nearly 110 years. 3. Louis Lautier, a Washington reporter for the Baltimore Afro-American and other publications, was the first Black journalist admitted to the White House Correspondents Association. That was in 1951. His application to the National Press Club met resistance in 1955 but the membership ultimately voted him in. Advertisement 4. The Aerospace Engineering Department at the Naval Academy has developed several small satellites over the last 20 years. Sixteen have been launched into space, either as free flying satellites or attached as payloads to host satellites. Two more are scheduled for launch this year and next. 5. The problem of victims failing to testify as witnesses in criminal cases is worse than I understood, accounting for more than half of all cases the Baltimore States Attorneys Office had to drop in recent years. A list of reasons prosecutors cited in dropping cases is available in a summation of conviction data on the offices website. (stattorney.org/10-year-conviction-data) 6. You cannot sue your bank or credit card company in a financial dispute. Most consumers who get a credit card or a checking account are probably not aware that they sign away the right to sue and agree only to an arbitration process. This is the main subject of todays column, a follow-up to those Ive written recently about Myrle Bratcher and her loss of $175,000 from a checking account with PNC Bank. Recap: Mrs. Bratcher is 88 years old not yet 89, as I reported in my first column about her, nor 87, as I reported in my second column about her (sorry about that) and she lives with a niece in Reisterstown. Last year, she was able to afford to live in an assisted living community in Carroll County. But Mrs. Bratcher had a habit of signing blank checks for people she trusted and who did things for her. That raised enough concerns among employees of the retirement community that one of them contacted her son, Eric Bratcher. The warning came too late, however. Someone Eric Bratcher suspects a person who knew how much money she had in her account obtained one of Mrs. Bratchers checks and made it out for $175,000 to a Chinese technology company for home renovations. The sketchy check ended up being accepted in New York City by JPMorgan Chase and, later, by PNC. Advertisement No red flags. No phone calls. The money, mostly representing the proceeds from the sale of Mrs. Bratchers house in Finksburg, was gone in days. How both of those banks accepted that check is beyond me. Nicholas Bonadio, one of the attorneys representing the Bratchers, said the banks did not take ordinary care to protect Mrs. Bratcher from fraud. And apparently PNC is neither apologetic nor sympathetic. The bank, Bonadio said, is saying that, because Mrs. Bratchers signature is on the check, because she signed a blank check, that, once she did that, the bank doesnt have to do anything. So why not have Mrs. Bratcher sue to get at least some of her money back? Advertisement She cant. The fine print of her agreement with PNC states that arbitration is required to settle the dispute; she cant go to court. This is a common contractual requirement. Consumers cant take a dispute before a judge or jury; they must go through a private process conducted by attorneys selected as arbitrators. In 2017, the Republican Congress repealed a rule change that would have made it easier for consumers to sue big banks and credit card companies. Former President Donald Trump signed the repeal, and Wall Street cheered. This week, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the Democratic chair of the Senate banking committee, filed legislation to do away with forced arbitration clauses, arguing that the system is rigged in favor of large financial institutions. At a hearing on Tuesday, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen held up Mrs. Bratcher as a prime example of a consumer who deserves her day in court. Consumers who are ripped off by big banks or corporations should be able to seek fair redress, but they are stripped of their right to their day in court by forced arbitration requirements that are buried deep in the fine print of purchase agreements, Van Hollen said. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, argued against allowing lawsuits in financial disputes, saying they would not help consumers and be a bonanza for trial lawyers. Advertisement Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat, bluntly called forced arbitration a scam. Van Hollen said he had reached out to PNC and Chase about helping Mrs. Bratcher, but had not heard back from either institution. Just in case those banks feel shame about this and I know thats probably wishful thinking heres an idea: Mrs. Bratcher turns 89, finally, on April 4. How about the two banks pitch in and give her a check for $175,000? That would be the perfect birthday gift. The Polis administration said Colorado is sending hundreds of ballistic helmets and scores of body armor to Ukraine, which is ferociously fighting the Russian invasion. The Polis administration also asked other law enforcement agencies to donate their surplus body armor and ballistic helmets A Douglas County judge has ordered the county's board of education to stop communicating in the manner that it did in the run-up to its decision to fire then-Superintendent Corey Wise on Feb. 4, ruling that those communications violated the purpose of the state's open meetings laws. School Resource Officers are detrimental to Black youth In a recent op-ed, gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler calls for more School Resource Officers (SROs) to keep students from falling into the criminal justice system. (School resource officers keep kids safe and out of the criminal justice system; we need more of them, March 2.) There are no data showing that SROs make schools safer; in fact, research shows that youth of color, particularly Black youth, fare worse in schools with SROs, incurring higher suspensions, expulsions and referrals to juvenile court including increased arrests for non-criminal, youthful behavior. This is particularly troubling in Maryland, which leads the nation in incarcerating young Black men, at a rate 25% higher than the next nearest state: Mississippi. Advertisement The explosion of SROs was justified as preventing school shootings, which have mostly occurred in suburban schools by white students; yet SROs are disproportionately placed in schools that are predominantly Black or Latinx. Schools with 25% to 50% Black or Latinx youth had a higher rate of SROs than schools with fewer than 10% Black or Latinx youth. As schools closed due to COVID-19, we got a glimpse into a world without SROs. Between Feb. 1 and April 1, 2020, youth admissions to secure detention decreased by 52%, and racial disparities narrowed. While there are many reasons for this, fewer SROs should not be discounted. Estimates suggest that since Columbine in 1999, close to $1 billion has been invested in SROs, particularly in communities of color. We should redirect taxpayer dollars to approaches that will make schools safer including well-trained counselors, social workers and teachers, and alternative and restorative justice practices. Maryland should be closing the school-to-prison pipeline, not widening it. Advertisement Keith Wallington and Ryan King The writers are, respectively, director of advocacy and director of research & policy at the Justice Policy Institute. Invest in educators and mental health professionals, not school cops I strongly disagree with Douglas Ganslers assertion that our schools should invest in more police officers. I am alarmed he correlates Black students with perpetrators of crime, when a majority of school shooters do not fit this description. His plan, under the guise of protecting Black children, reinforces biased beliefs that children of color should be feared. This mentality is what created the school-to-prison pipeline, which Mr. Gansler was complicit with as Maryland attorney general during the peak of mass incarceration. No child is born at-risk.. Risk is created by engineered circumstances. The goal is not to support at-risk students; it is to prevent students from becoming at risk in the first place. Well-funded schools where students and families needs are met keep everyone safe. I am concerned that if, given the chance to be governor, Mr. Gansler would not understand systemic harm or restorative practices. We need a governor who understands on Day 1. Listen closely to past favorable testimony for more police funding, and the message is clear. The accomplished school resource officer is atypical and emphasizes wraparound services over policing. They clearly prove the position of organizations such as Schools Not Jails, Bmore Police Free Schools and others that we need to invest in social workers and counselors, not law enforcement. SROs are typically reactionary. They respond after an incident has occurred. Many who do not have traumatic lived experience in this area assume throwing money at the reaction will make us safer. As a result, there is too little investment in prevention. The goal for our kids, including my toddler Vinny, is to have minimal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). Ensuring that all children have low ACE scores creates a healthier society where less harm is done. I have an ACE score of seven. The professionals who kept me from incarceration were school therapists and counselors, not cops. There are many students dealing with life circumstances they did not create carrying burdens that would crush some adults. In the midst of a crisis, a highly trained counselor is the quickest path toward healing and safety. In most crises, call a trauma-informed professional, not a police officer. Advertisement Doug Ganslers plan would make the first contact of struggling students police officers. We should instead connect students to the medical professionals they need when they need them most. Using expensive punitive SROs as mental health triage is not a comprehensive plan. I encourage Mr. Gansler to listen to students with these lived experiences. They are the subject matter experts of these stories. Lets invest in more skilled educators and mental health professionals in our schools, not more cops. Ashley Esposito, Baltimore The writer is an at-large candidate for Baltimore City Board of Education. Pikes Peak Community College is planning to institute a name change that officials say will reflect its desire to expand services and degrees as well as eliminate a stigma that is often attached to a community college education. Pending approval by Colorado state legislature, PPCC will officially change its name to Pikes Peak State College. It will be the colleges second name change since it was established in 1968. The school was originally called El Paso County Community College. The name change is in keeping with the colleges intention to grow at a rate commensurate with the growth of the Colorado Springs community, President Lance Bolton told The Gazette. Were looking to get bigger, so we can better serve our community, but we're already quite large, Bolton said, pointing to the 17,500 students currently attending the college. Were in a growing community that is adding significant population, we serve major school districts in the area, and were seeking an aspirational name to reflect that. Sponsored by state senators Mark Snyder and Tony Exum, as well as representatives Paul Lundeen and Pete Lee, the proposed bill House Bill 22-1280 has enjoyed bipartisan support in the state legislature, Bolton said. As far as we can tell, theres nobody opposing the name change, he said. The college currently has about 200 students studying for Bachelors Degrees in emergency management and nursing, and Bolton said he plans to add three or four more programs including emergency medical services and interior design in the near future. Weve been looking for niches where the larger university programs have not been meeting a community need, said Bolton, a community college alum. We want to step into those niches, help people looking for degrees in those areas, and meet some workforce needs as well. The name change is also a deliberate effort to combat a sometimes-negative perception of community colleges. Consciously or not, many employers look unfavorably upon job applications and resumes that include a community college education, Bolton said. A major television network even built a comedy series around that stigma, Bolton said. Community, which ran for five seasons on NBC before airing a sixth season on Yahoo! Screen in 2015, billed itself as a lighthearted take on junior college life. But Bolton said it often made fun of the perceived quirkiness of people who teach at, and attend, two-year colleges. I was not a fan, to say the least, he said. But I thought (the show) was culturally relevant to how the world perceives community colleges. This modernizing of the name is designed to help us overcome some of those challenges. For instance, look at our nursing program which, by the way, has the highest pass rates of any nursing program in the state, Bolton continued. More than half the students in that program are military or military spouses. Many of them will end up working out of state, and will perhaps face difficult conversations trying to get hired at top magnet hospitals because they got their bachelors degree from a community college. The college has enjoyed a robust working relationship with area military for decades. Recently, Military Friendly, an organization that measures a colleges commitment, effort and success in supporting the military, named PPCC No. 2 of all large community colleges in the country. More than 25% of PPCCs student body is made up of active-duty military and spouses, Bolton said. We see (the name change), in part, as one more thing were doing to try to support our military, he said. If approved by the state legislature, the name change is expected to go into effect around July 1, but it could take up to two years to fully reflect the change, Bolton said. Youll start seeing it on our website immediately, because thats a quick change, he said. But the physical changes the buildings and the signs that could take a while. Regardless of the name, Bolton said, PPCC will continue to provide its two-year degree and certificate services, availing students myriad opportunities from A (accounting) to Z (zookeeping technology). I want to be clear there will be no change in mission for us, he said. We are growing on the four-year, bachelors degree side, but we will remain committed to the two-year mission we currently have." This story has been updated to correct the byline. The Cerro Gordo and Mitchell counites' sheriff's departments, are asking for information surrounding the disappearance of a rural Cerro Gordo County, after remains found near Mitchell were positively identified. In a shared statement on Friday, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals and Mitchell County Sheriff Gregory Beaver disclosed that remains that were discovered last July along the Cedar River Greenbelt Trail belong to 29-year-old Angela Bradbury of rural Cerro Gordo County. Bradbury was last seen in Mason City on April 6, 2021, but was not reported missing until Feb. 1. In a statement last month, the Cerro Gordo sheriff's office said no foul play was suspected at that time. The remains were discovered by a hiker on July 12. The joint investigation is ongoing, with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Medical Examiner's office each assisting. Anyone with information about the disappearance or death of Angela Bradbury is asked to call the Sheriff Beaver at 641-732-4740 or Sheriff Pals at 641-421-3000. Bradbury is described as white, 5-foot 5-inches, about 115 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair. Bradbury also has tattoos on her back, thigh and the right side of her abdomen. Anyone with information on Bradbury's whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at 641-421-3000. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The main burden of assuring that the resources of the federal government are well managed falls on relatively few of the five million men and women whom it employs. Under the department and agency heads there are 8,600 political, career, military, and foreign service executivesthe top managers and professional who exert major influence on the manner in which the rest are directed and utilized. Below their level there are other thousands with assignments of some managerial significance, but we believe that the line of demarcation selected is the best available for our purposes in this attainment. There is no complete inventory of positions or people in federal service at this level. The lack may be explained by separate agency statutes and personnel systems, diffusion among so many special services, and absence of any central point (short of the President himself) with jurisdiction over all upper-level personnel of the government. Top Presidential appointees, about 500 of them, bear the brunt of translating the philosophy and aims of the current administration into practical programs. This group includes the secretaries and assistant secretaries of cabinet departments, agency heads and their deputies, heads and members of boards and commissions with fixed terms, and chiefs and directors of major bureaus, divisions, and services. Appointments to many of these politically sensitive positions are made on recommendation by department or agency heads, but all are presumably responsible to Presidential leadership. One qualification for office at this level is that there be no basic disagreement with Presidential political philosophy, at least so far as administrative judgments and actions are concerned. Apart from the bi-partisan boards and commissions, these men are normally identified with the political party of the President, or are sympathetic to it, although there are exceptions. There are four distinguishable kinds of top Presidential appointees, including 1. Those whom the President selects at the outset to establish immediate and effective control over the government (e.g., Cabinet secretaries, agency heads, his own White House staff and Executive Office Personnel). 2. Those selected by department and agency heads in order to establish control within their respective organizations (e.g.assistant secretaries, deputies, assistants to, and major line posts in some bureaus and divisions). 3. High-level appointees whothough often requiring clearance through political or interest group channels, or bothmust have known scientific or technical competence (e.g.the Surgeon General, the Commissioner of Education). 4. Those named to residual positions traditionally filled on a partisan patronage basis. These appointees are primarily regarded as policy makers and overseers of policy execution. In practice, however, they usually have substantial responsibilities in line management, often requiring a thorough knowledge of substantive agency programs. 1. No complete inventory exists of positions in the three highest levels of government service because (A) no one has bothered to count them (B) computers cannot handle all the data (C) separate agency personnel systems are used (D) the President has never requested such information (E) the Classification Act prohibits such a census 2. Top Presidential appointees have as their central responsibility the (A) prevention of politically motivated interference with the actions of their agencies (B) monitoring of government actions on behalf of the Presidents own political party (C) translation of the aims of the administration into practical programs (D) investigation of charges of corruption within the government (E) maintenance of adequate controls over the rate of government spending 3. One exception to the general rule that top Presidential appointees must be in agreement with the Presidents political philosophy may be found in (A) most cabinet-level officers (B) members of the White House staff (C) bipartisan boards and commissions (D) those offices filled on a patronage basis (E) offices requiring scientific or technical expertise 4. Applicants for Presidential appointments are usually identified with or are members of (A) large corporations (B) the foreign service (C) government bureaus (D) academic circles (E) the Presidents political party (A) no one has bothered to count them(B) computers cannot handle all the data(C) separate agency personnel systems are used(D) the President has never requested such information(E) the Classification Act prohibits such a census(A) prevention of politically motivated interference with the actions of their agencies(B) monitoring of government actions on behalf of the Presidents own political party(C) translation of the aims of the administration into practical programs(D) investigation of charges of corruption within the government(E) maintenance of adequate controls over the rate of government spending(A) most cabinet-level officers(B) members of the White House staff(C) bipartisan boards and commissions(D) those offices filled on a patronage basis(E) offices requiring scientific or technical expertise(A) large corporations(B) the foreign service(C) government bureaus(D) academic circles(E) the Presidents political party With COVID-19 vaccinations at all-time lows across the nation, some areas are in warp-mode to get the shots of protections into arms before the doses expire. Since the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District does not stockpile vaccines, waste isnt much of a factor. With daily COVID-19 cases plummeting following record highs in January, the number of Virginians stepping up to get vaccines has dipped to the lowest levels in the pandemic. For example, the Virginia Department of Health reports only about 2,000 doses of COVID-19 shots are being administered daily. By comparison, in Januarys peak of the omicron wave a variant that caused the skyrocketing caseloads about 30,000 shots were given daily. Low vaccination rates plague rural areas. In Danville and Pittsylvania County, slightly more than half of residents are considered fully vaccinated. Only about 1-in-4 have received a booster dose of protection experts urged during the omicron surge. Vaccination remains the cornerstone to prevention and minimizing serious consequences of COVID, Dr. Scott Spillmann, director of the local health district, told the Register & Bee last week. If you are eligible, please complete your full vaccination series along with the booster. Over the past six months, the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District only discarded about 36 doses of vaccines, according to Katherine Waller, a nurse supervisor with the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District. We do not stockpile vaccine, nor is there any need to do so with the abundance of vaccine available, Spillmann explained to the newspaper. All our health departments in Pittsylvania-Danville Health District and Southside Health District continue to offer vaccinations weekly, and we still consider special clinics. As of March 4, the local district had about 1,030 doses of COVID-19 shots on hand. Among the Moderna version, 350 will expire at the end of March; 200 expire at the beginning of April; and 200 doses expire during May, Waller said. Additionally, 170 doses of the pediatric Pfizer will expire at the end of March and 60 doses will expire in April, she said. There also are about 50 doses of the Johnson and Johnson version that will expire in late April. The Associated Press recently reported the national rate of wasted doses is about 9.5% of the more than 687 million doses that have been delivered as of late February, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That equates to about 65 million doses. Daily infection rates continue to drop in Danville and Pittsylvania County. The two localities are now only averaging about 50 new infections per day, and that number includes an artificial bump last week with lagging data added from January. That represents about a 78% decrease from the height of the omicron wave about two months ago. Based on new guidance from the CDC, masks arent needed for most people in Danville and Pittsylvania County. However, with both areas in the medium level, the federal agency recommends those at risk for severe illnesses talk to their health care providers to see if they should continue the mask wearing. In the previous benchmark community transmission both localities remain highly elevated. On Wednesday, Danvilles positivity rate was 11%, well above the 5% threshold to indicate the virus is under control in an area. In Pittsylvania County, about 1-in-5 people who undergo a COVID-19 test yield a positive result. 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. Entering the third year of the coronavirus pandemic, local hospital visiting hours will be back to normal in a few days. With COVID-19 numbers decreasing in the region and throughout the state, Sovah Health officials in Danville and Martinsville are restoring the hospitals regular visitation rules beginning Monday. At a virtual news conference on Thursday, Spencer Thomas, Sovah Health-Martinsville chief executive officer, said the hospitals in both communities are returning to visitation hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week for all areas except the intensive care unit. Two well visitors will be allowed at one time for regular patients. For COVID-19 patients, one visitor at a time will be allowed and will be offered personal protection equipment. Emergency room patients also will be allowed one visitor at a time, Thomas said. We gone through 732 days of this and for the better part of two years weve restricted visitation, but we feel were in a spot now that we can change this, said Alan Larson, market president of Sovah Health and chief executive officer of Sovah HealthDanville. Visitors are an important in the art of healing. The hospitals will continue screening for COVID-19, Thomas said. Chief Medical Officer Sheranda Gunn-Nolan said the relaxed Centers for Disease Control guidelines regarding masking for the public do not apply to health care facilities. Our staff continues to use PPE per the CDC, so our staff will continue to be masked and so will visitors, Gunn-Nolan said. If you have a fear of coming to the emergency room because of COVID, please dont. There are currently six COVID patients in the hospital at Martinsville and three in the Danville, officials said Thursday. In the market, this is the lowest number weve had in quite some time, said Gunn-Nolan. In Virginia, the unvaccinated is still 4.3 times more likely to get COVID-19. Announcements Healthy Communities A3 has planned a hike for 2 p.m. March 13. Participants will hike the Loop Trail that goes around the base of Mount Shepherd Retreat Center, 1045 Mount Shepherd Road Extension in Asheboro. Hikers should meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Asheboro Farmers Market, 134 S. Church St., for directions and carpooling. If it rains, the hike will likely be canceled. Dogs are welcome. For information, contact Jim Rich at 336-625-2993 or jrichjr@triad.rr.com. * * * * The Kiwanis Club of Greensboro will welcome Jim Dodson, editor of O.Henry magazine, as guest speaker March 15. The meeting will be at noon at the Starmount Forest Country Club, One Sam Snead Drive in Greensboro. Guests are invited. To make a reservation, call 336-337-7230 or 336-314-9295. * * * * The Salvation Army Womens Auxiliary of High Point will host its annual Game Day Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13 at the High Point Country Club at Emerywood, 800 Country Club Road. Proceeds support the programs of the Salvation Army of High Point. Lunch will be served at noon. Tickets are $30, which includes a buffet lunch, as well as a chance to win numerous door prizes. Participants can bring a favorite card or board game. To purchase tickets, contact Betty Cadick at 336-802-9721 or Susan Hedgecock at 336-802-6836. * * * * The Piedmont Bird Club will meet at 7 p.m. March 17 at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Library, 1420 Price Park Drive in Greensboro. Lynn Moseley and Ann Van Sant will present the program, "Land of Fire and Ice, Birds of Iceland." Also, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will offer a webinar, "Preparing for Spring Birding Ask An Ornithologist," from noon to 1 p.m. March 15 over Zoom. To register, visit tinyurl.com/3nupej38. * * * * The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of High Point is registering children in kindergarten through eighth grades for the S.T.E.A.M Summer Day Camp. The program runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, June 20-Aug. 12, at 121 SW Cloverleaf Place in High Point. The cost is $85 per week. To register, visit tinyurl.com/nhzr2zzc. For information, call 336-881-5444. * * * * American Legion Cone Post 386 holds hot dog sales from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Masks are now optional. Hot dogs are $2 and chips are 50 cents. The post is at 1206 American Legion St. in Greensboro. For pick-up orders, call 336-375-3265. Awards Summit Rotary Club's January Students of the Month were Daniel Allison, an eighth grader at Guilford e-Learning University Prep, and Olivia Kanyinda, a sophomore at The Middle College at UNCG. The award recognizes students who have made notable progress in academics, attendance and attitude despite significant obstacles. Each monthly winner receives a $100 gift card and is invited to a Summit Rotary lunch meeting with their family to receive a plaque. Nominators receive $50 gift card. The monthly winners are eligible to be selected as the Student of the Year and receive $1,000. The Student Improvement Award program is a partnership of Summit Rotary Club and Greensboro Parks and Recreation. Send press releases to people@greensboro.com. A former state trooper from Browns Summit faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to unlawfully transporting and dealing in firearms some of them decommissioned law enforcement weapons which he often sold from the trunk of his patrol car while on duty. Timothy Jay Norman, 47, pleaded guilty Thursday to dealing in firearms without a license, according to a release from Sandra J. Hairston, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors wont oppose the dismissal of two charges of disposing of a firearm to a prohibited person, court documents show. Sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on June 2 at the federal courthouse in Greensboro before U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles. Norman also faces up to three years of supervised release and monetary penalties. The Highway Patrol previously told a local TV station that Norman, who had been with the department since 2012, resigned the day he was arrested. An affidavit attached to the DOJs criminal complaint shows the months-long investigation began with a tip from a confidential informant in January 2021 and later led to three controlled buys by the FBI. According to the DOJ, 33-year-old felon Tommy Lee Hudson of Reidsville served as a middleman in the sale of weapons. He and Norman had known each other since they both graduated from basic law enforcement training in 2010, the DOJ said in court documents. Hudson, who was convicted in Rockingham County in 2016 for felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, offered to introduce the informant to Norman, whom he described as his source for buying ammunition and firearms, according to the affidavit. Hudson told the informant that hed bought many firearms from Norman, and hed done so while the trooper was on duty and in uniform, according to the affidavit. Hudson also said he didnt know of any other cop that would sell a felon a gun. RALEIGH The Wake County district attorney said she has started dismissing some criminal cases involving a Raleigh police officer whom federal agents arrested last month for allegedly selling cocaine while on the job. Six people arrested in cases that involved officer Keven Rodriguez have had their pending cases dismissed so far in the ongoing review, District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The News & Observer this week. Freeman's office is reviewing about 25 additional pending criminal cases to assess Rodriguez's involvement in them as a charging officer, a necessary witness or another essential role, she said. "This strikes at the very trust of the system," Freeman told The N&O in an interview. "We're going to do our due diligence to make sure that we do not move forward in cases in which it is not appropriate to move forward in." On Feb. 24, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley Jr. announced that Rodriguez, a field operations officer, was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Agency on charges he allegedly selling 56 grams of cocaine in January. He was charged with distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm in connection with that offense, Easley said. Freeman said she expects to dismiss about half of the 25 pending cases involving Rodriguez, depending on his involvement in them. "We have to just kind of figure out: 'What was his role in these cases, and did it have any effect on the outcome of the case?'" Freeman said. "I do want to be clear that if he was a primary officer or a primary witness, we are not moving forward (with prosecuting) those cases." If he played a more limited role, Freeman is assessing whether the case should be dismissed. The review of the cases goes back to November 2021, when Rodriguez's suspected misconduct began, Freeman said. Investigators with the Raleigh Police Department told the District Attorney's Office that the allegations against Rodriguez were not "a longstanding issue." He joined the police force on July 30, 2018. "At some point, if it becomes evident that the conduct in question has been going on long enough to call (more) cases into question, then we will go back and review those," Freeman said. In November, two confidential sources informed the Raleigh Police Department and the DEA that Rodriguez was selling drugs in Raleigh, according to an affidavit that's part of the federal criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Upon receiving the tips, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said last month that the department "moved swiftly" to begin an investigation. The DEA collaborated with an informant to arrange a drug deal with Rodriguez in Raleigh. On Jan. 24, Rodriguez sold the informant cocaine for $2,600 in cash while in uniform, carrying his service weapon and driving his patrol car, according to a federal complaint. After the transaction, Rodriguez offered to follow the informant to their destination to offer security, the affidavit states, but instead returned to the Raleigh Police Department station. The transaction was recorded on audio and video and observed live by agents, according to an affidavit. Rodriguez is being held in jail indefinitely without bond and waived his right to a detention hearing, WRAL reported this month. The case is set for trial in the Eastern District of North Carolina on May 3 in Wilmington. Which cases get dismissed? The cases under review are "overwhelmingly misdemeanor offenses or low-level nonviolent felony cases," Freeman said. A majority of the cases are for misdemeanor charges, such as marijuana possession, driving while impaired, speeding, resisting arrest and other traffic stops, according to a list the District Attorney's office provided to The N&O. There are a few that involve assaults, including one charge for an assault on a law enforcement officer. In that case, Rodriguez was a witness on the scene but was not a charging officer. The list of cases includes six drug-related charges and at least four DWI charges. The list did not include the six cases that already have been dismissed and had their charges expunged, Freeman said. No criminal cases resulting in prison time or incarceration have been identified for review at this point in the Raleigh Police Department's investigation, Freeman said. The review will likely be completed by April. Rare situation Situations like these are rare, but have happened before in Freeman's career. In each case, it is a tedious and careful process to review which cases must be dismissed, she said. In September 2020, 14 drug trafficking charges were thrown out after fired Raleigh police detective Omar Abdullah and others were investigated for fabricating heroin trafficking offenses that led to an illegal raid, excessive force and false imprisonment, The N&O reported previously. The city agreed to pay 15 plaintiffs $2 million in that case after a federal lawsuit contends Abdullah and other officers worked with a confidential informant to frame people on drug trafficking charges. "In terms of the number of cases and types of cases to be dismissed, this is not the most voluminous situation I've seen," Freeman said about cases involving Rodriguez. In March 2016, Freeman dismissed over 100 DUI cases and over 70 other traffic cases when former deputy Robert Davis of the Wake County Sheriff's Office was determined to have been lying in those cases. The states highest court ruled Friday that victims of domestic violence in same-sex relationships can obtain emergency restraining orders, nullifying a law that made North Carolina the only state in the nation that lacked such protections. As written, the state law allows same-sex couples to seek domestic violence protection orders only if theyre married or divorced. The N.C. Supreme Courts decision, though, upholds a 2020 appeals court ruling where judges declared that the measure violates the state constitutions guarantee to equal protection under the law. The high courts ruling ends, once and for all, North Carolinas status as the only state in the country that prevented victims of domestic violence in unmarried same-sex relationships from obtaining protective orders. The case reached the N.C. Supreme Court years after a breakup and domestic dispute between two women listed in court filings only by their initials. The plaintiff, known only as M.E., appealed after a Wake County district court ruled she was ineligible for a domestic violence protection order because the couple had never been married. The plaintiffs attorney, Amily McCool, said in a statement Friday that the victory belonged to her client. She has courageously and tirelessly fought for almost 4 years to ensure not only that she has the protection she deserves, but that all victims in same-sex dating relationships in N.C. do as well, McCool said. I have been humbled and honored to advocate on her behalf with the ACLU of NC and others. Attorneys at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, who represented the unnamed defendant, have not responded to a request for comment as of Friday afternoon. The justices, however, didnt question whether the state law was constitutional at all. They instead considered several technical arguments from the defendant in her appeal to the high court. That included an issue with the paperwork the plaintiff filed during her original domestic violence complaint. But the courts liberal bloc didnt find those arguments convincing, noting that the plaintiff essentially corrected her mistake within an hour. The resulting decision, Justice Robin Hudson wrote for the four-member majority, left the constitutional ruling undisturbed. For well over a century, North Carolina courts have abided by the foundational principle that administering equity and justice prohibits the elevation of form over substance, Hudson wrote. A number of high-profile LGBTQ advocacy organizations submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in the case, arguing the state law was unconstitutional. So did Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, who on Twitter Friday called the decision an important win for equality in North Carolina. It doesnt matter who you are every person in NC deserves to be treated equally under the law & be safe from their abusers, Stein wrote in the tweet. Conservative Justice Phil Berger Jr. authored the dissent, joined by Justice Tamara Barringer and Chief Justice Paul Newby. RALEIGH A General Assembly annual work period that stretched 14 months while a state budget was finalized and district maps were redrawn twice essentially concluded Thursday with passage of a clean-up bill and backing a resolution supporting Ukraine. With a House vote now complete, the legislature will send to Gov. Roy Cooper's desk an omnibus measure that included both technical and substantive changes to items contained in the current two-year state government budget and other recently approved legislation. Provisions included helping more businesses with a COVID-19 economic recovery grant program and expand a federal crop loss program to a hard freeze last spring. There were also changes to how money for local capital projects is distributed. The 52-page bill, which already received Senate approval Wednesday, also ensures that any runoffs from the May 17 primary elections are held July 26. State law would have required so-called second primaries to be held July 5 if none of them were for U.S. Senate or U.S. House nominations. Election officials were concerned about finding workers for the day after Independence Day. The House also voted unanimously on Thursday for a resolution stating it stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom against the Russian invasion. It also urges the federal government to hold the Russian government accountable for its actions and take steps to reduce the United States dependence on foreign oil by increasing domestic energy production. The resolution also asks that federal law be changed so that state pension funds can seek financial damages in courts should they lose money from corrupt regimes and foreign state-owned corporations. That could lead to the seizure of Russian assets as compensation, according to the office of State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who backs the idea. Senators offered a somewhat similar request on Wednesday. When the legislature officially ends Friday a work session that began in January 2021 itll mark the longest uninterrupted session since at least 1965, when calculated by the number of days that lawmakers hold chamber floor meetings, according to legislative data. The House had gaveled in 198 daily floor sessions after Thursday, with the Senate 196 legislative days. We have set a record," House Speaker Tim Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, said to colleagues, and I hope it is a record that we dont try to break. I certainly won't. Historically, the first, odd-numbered year of the General Assemblys biennial session ends in the summer. But that didnt happen in 2021, as COVID-19 precautions and federal aid, a later tax filing deadline, a multibillion-dollar revenue surplus and lengthy budget talks between Republican legislative leaders and the Democratic governor pushed the work well into the fall. Everything in the world happened this year, said Rep. Robert Reives of Chatham County, who had just become the chambers Democratic leader in early 2021. And while redistricting was completed in early November, litigation over the maps and resulting uncertainty prompted legislative leaders to keep the session open, leading to many pro forma floor meetings. The General Assembly returned for votes in late November, mid-January and ultimately in mid-February, when a state Supreme Court ruling that struck down the congressional and legislative maps as illegal forced maps to be redrawn. The approved resolution formally closing the 2021 regular session gives the General Assembly the option to hold three days of meetings in early April and early May, but a top senator said its unlikely theyd be used. If true, the legislature wouldnt need to return until May 18 for the start of its traditional session in even-numbered years. CHARLOTTE U.S. Senate candidate Pat McCrory wants to make Russias invasion of Ukraine a pivotal issue in the North Carolina Republican primary, accusing GOP rival Rep. Ted Budd in a television ad of being soft on President Vladimir Putin and Russian sanctions. The commercial, which began airing Wednesday, uses pieces of recent TV interviews that Budd gave to attempt to paint him as being complimentary of Putin. The ad marks the first in the race for McCrory, who was governor from 2013 through 2016. It seeks to counter a wave of commercials that the Club for Growth Action super PAC has run backing the congressman and attacking McCrory. These are serious times and we need serious senators, McCrory says in the commercial. I dont compliment our enemies. I stand for truth and freedom. The ad doesnt mention by name former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Budd for the Senate seat and has taken heat for praising Putin as smart. The ad allows McCrory to differentiate from Budd without squarely criticizing Trump as well. The commercial shows a snippet from Budds interview with a Raleigh TV station last week after he filed as an official candidate. In it, Budd referred to Putin as a very intelligent actor. The ad omits what Budd said before and after. I would say Putin is evil, but that doesnt mean hes not smart. Hes a very intelligent actor, although I would say hes been quite erratic in his approach to the Ukraine, Budd told a local TV station. It was very predictable what he would do, but at the same time, Putin is evil. Hes an international thug, but he is intelligent, so we have to treat him as such. Budd campaign adviser Jonathan Felts said Budd accurately described Putin as an evil, intelligent threat to be taken seriously and called McCrory a desperate candidate flailing about. McCrory also accused Budd of opposing sanctions against Russia, citing legislation going back to 2017. Felts said the congressman opposed some of those bills because he believed they were power grabs to strip power from the president. McCrorys commercial was running on Fox News in North Carolina as part of the campaigns accumulated ad plans for the primary, campaign spokesperson Jordan Shaw said. He declined to give a price tag for ad spending but said Wednesdays commercial would run on over-the-air channels soon. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors Helena City Manager Rachel Harlow-Schalk said in her Feb. 16 letter of resignation that she decided to abruptly leave her job because of issues with her bosses. Based on recent exchanges with the City Commission, I believe I am no longer the right person to serve as City Manager for Helena, she wrote in an email to the commission, according to documents requested Feb. 18 by the Helena Independent Record and released March 9 by the city. She does not offer details on the "exchanges" in her email. Harlow-Schalk also asks for a mediated exit from the city as soon as possible. My contract 90-days is not realistic for the current situation, she wrote, and I wish to reduce the impact of this transition as much as possible on this team. So as to make this exit as easy as possible, I am requesting mediation, Harlow-Schalk wrote. She ends by thanking the commissioners for their consideration. City Commissioner Emily K. Dean said in a Feb. 16 response within a half hour of Harlow-Schalk's resignation that the commission would talk with counsel and get back to her. It was two days later that Harlow-Schalks resignation was announced. Harlow-Schalk, whose salary was $154,000, declined to comment Thursday. Helena is a wonderful community with an excellent team of employees," she said in a Feb. 18 city news release announcing her departure. "I wish nothing but the best for its future." The commission hired City Attorney Thomas Jodoin to serve as interim city manager from March 2-April 1, with compensation of $14,713. Jodoin had planned to resign from the city Feb. 25 to become deputy director of the Montana League of Cities and Towns but agreed to delay his departure. The city accepted applications for the position of interim city manager through March 7 and has received six letters of interest from people who want to serve. The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the candidates. The meeting will be in Conference Room 326, of the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave. Candidates include Helena residents Mark C. Barry, Tim Burton and Gene Walborn. Other candidates include David W. Johnston of Fort Wright, Kentucky, Alan D. Lanning of Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Gregg Schuster of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. This person will serve as the chief administrative officer, provide leadership for department directors and its nearly 350 employees and oversee the daily business of government. The salary is $14,713 per month, along with a $200-per-month automobile allowance. The successful candidate would begin on or before April 1 and would be expected to serve in the position for up to nine months, through Dec. 31. Mayor Wilmot Collins appointed city commissioners Sean Logan and Melinda Reed to an ad-hoc recruitment committee to lead in the hiring of the interim city manager. This committee may later assist in any recruitment process for a permanent city manager. Helena has had two city managers and two interim city managers since Ron Alles retired in June 2018 after nearly eight years in the position. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 3 Funny 5 Wow 6 Sad 8 Angry 22 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Key takeaways from China's crucial political gathering Xinhua) 08:09, March 11, 2022 * Ethnic unity and food security are among the policy priorities stressed at this year's "two sessions." * The "two sessions" have showcased China's "whole-process people's democracy." * Economic stability must be a top priority in the government's work in 2022, and progress must be pursued while ensuring stability, noted this year's government work report. BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A crucial political event gathering Chinese national lawmakers and political advisors has showcased the country's "genuine and effective" democratic model, and stressed a slew of policy priorities including ethnic unity, food security and economic stability. The annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), dubbed the "two sessions," are convened this year against the backdrop of a protracted COVID-19 pandemic and international uncertainties. The fifth session of the 13th NPC has seen lawmakers consider a law amendment honing the people's congress system. It is also reviewing a government work report promising measures to stabilize the economy. President Xi Jinping joined lawmakers and political advisors in deliberations and discussions, delivering important speeches that mapped out plans for strengthening ethnic unity, promoting the country's rural revitalization, and enhancing the rule of law in national defense and military building. Women of the Miao ethnic group show their costumes during an event celebrating the harvest season in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) ETHNIC UNITY, FOOD SECURITY Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Saturday. He hailed ethnic unity as the "lifeline" of Chinese people of all ethnic groups and stressed efforts to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Any work that can help forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be done in a thorough, meticulous and solid manner, he said. Joining national political advisors in a joint group meeting on Sunday, Xi said that in promoting rural revitalization, the supply of major agricultural products, grain in particular, must be secured as the top priority. "Despite China's industrialization, food supply should never be considered an insignificant issue, and we cannot rely solely on the international market to solve it," Xi said, warning against slacking off on the food security issue. China should be well-prepared, remain vigilant on food security, and adhere to the principle of self-sufficiency based on domestic grain production, guaranteed production capacity, moderate food imports and technological support, he said. A farmer harvests wheat in Pingyi County of Linyi City, east China's Shandong Province, June 8, 2021. (Photo by Wu Jiquan/Xinhua) GENUINE, EFFECTIVE DEMOCRACY China practices a "whole-process people's democracy," which is "the broadest, most genuine, and most effective" democracy. The notion, first raised by Xi during an inspection tour in Shanghai in 2019, has become a buzzword during this year's "two sessions." Lawmakers are deliberating a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, which will make "upholding whole-process people's democracy" a guiding principle. Lawmakers are also mulling giving more seats in the next-term national legislature to people from the grassroots level and women, with a draft decision on the quota and election of deputies to the 14th NPC submitted for deliberation. Staff members of the secretariat of the fifth session of the 13th NPC sort out suggestions from lawmakers in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin) According to a work report of the NPC Standing Committee, all 473 proposals deputies put forward during the fourth session of the 13th NPC were reviewed by NPC special committees, and all 8,993 suggestions submitted by deputies during that session were forwarded to 194 organizations for examination and handling, which has now been completed. The proposals and suggestions covered various areas including measures to improve people's wellbeing, ecological protection and green development. Responding to a question about whether China and the United States are vying for a greater say in democracy, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the CPPCC session, said the United States convenes the so-called "Summit for Democracy" to suppress others and divide the world while maintaining its hegemony. Guo said the United States uses democracy as a pretext to serve its own interests. "Democracy is diverse in its forms, and is not a patent held by a few countries," he said. "The democratic systems of countries should be chosen independently by their own people based on national conditions." Students look for jobs during a campus job fair in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, March 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) STABLE GROWTH TOP PRIORITY Economic stability must be a top priority in the government's work in 2022, and progress must be pursued while ensuring stability, noted this year's government work report. "In the face of new downward pressure, the task of ensuring stable growth needs to occupy an even more prominent position," the report said. China has set its economic growth target for this year at around 5.5 percent, representing a medium-high rate of growth given the country's massive economic aggregate. Along with the GDP target, China aims to create over 11 million new urban jobs, keep a surveyed urban unemployment rate of no more than 5.5 percent, keep grain output at over 650 million tonnes and lower the ratio of its deficit to GDP to stand at around 2.8 percent in 2022. China will ramp up efforts to pursue prudent and effective macro policies, continuously energize market entities, and expand reform and opening-up, said the report. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Tiernan Irish Dancers to perform Tiernan Irish Dancers will perform at venues around Helena and East Helena over the next week in celebration of St Patricks Day. Saturday, March 12 Non-St Patricks Day Parade downtown Helena 1 pm Bert & Ernies 361 N. Last Chance Gulch 2 pm Windbag 19 S. Last Chance Gulch 3:30 pm Missouri River Brewing Co., 451 Spencer Court, East Helena Sunday, March 13 1:30 pm Son Heaven Assisted Living 2510 Ferndale Lane 2:30 pm Edgewood Assisted Living 3207 Colonial Drive, 3:30 pm Legacy Assisted Living 624 Ptarmigan Lane Thursday, March 17 - St Patricks Day 8:15 am Capital rotunda 1301 E. 6th Ave. 9:15 am Smith Elementary 2320 5th Ave. 10:15 am Radley Elementary 226 E. Clinton Ave., East Helena 11:15 am Warren Elementary 2690 Old York Road 1:05 pm Cathedral Brondel Center 530 N. Ewing, 1:45 pm Hawthorne Elementary 430 Madison Ave. 2:30 pm Kessler Elementary 2420 Choteau St. 3:30 pm Touchmark 915 Saddle Drive 4:15 pm Lewis & Clark Brewery 1517 Dodge Ave. 5:30 pm Bert & Ernies 361 N. Last Chance Gulch Tiernan Irish Dancers are an Irish Dance troupe based in Helena. We are a sister school of Trinity Irish Dance in Chicago and teach students ages 3 and up. For more information please visit www.tiernanmontana.com. Homebuyer education class offered Rocky Mountain Development Council offers a monthly homebuyer education class. The class teaches potential homeowners about the process of purchasing a home. Homebuyer education and counseling involves a one-on-one counseling session followed by an eight-hour class covering the intricacies of purchasing a home. It is designed for both first-time homebuyers and repeat homebuyers. Homebuyer education classes provide in-depth information on many aspects of homeownership including budgeting, finding a home, choosing a lender/closing on a loan, homeowners insurance, home inspection, maintenance and energy savings. The class features local guest speakers with expertise in finance, insurance, property inspection and real estate. The class will be offered in a one-day, in-person format on Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register for the March class, visit www.rmdc.net or call 406-457-7461. Sudoku puzzles focus of Memory Cafe event Memory Cafe, presented by the Rocky's Agency on Aging, will surely jog your noggin. Were welcoming Mark Ulett from Ways2Wellness to come and teach us how to solve Sudoku puzzles. Ways2Wellness creates puzzle books deigned to stimulate your brain, keeping you sharp. Join us on March 16 from 9:30-11 a.m. in the Senior Center Card Room, 200 S. Cruse Ave., to put your brain to the test. These puzzles are created for seniors with several different difficulty ratings, so theres something for everyone. Memory Cafe is a safe and welcoming community event for people living with memory loss and their caregivers. Memory Cafe offers a time to socialize and an opportunity to learn where to find support and services. Each Memory Cafe consists of a social and snack time, a presentation or class, and time to get in touch with local resources that are there to help you. To register, email Katie at klinjatie@rmdc.net or call 406-603-4157. Supplemental food available to seniors Rocky Mountain Development Council, Inc. will have supplemental foods available for Helena- and East Helena-area seniors. Pick up will be at the United Methodist Church (East Helena Food Share Pantry), 50 Prickly Pear Ave., on Monday, March 21 from 2-3:30 p.m. Pick up at the Helena Food Share, 1616 Lewis St., will be Wednesday and Thursday, March 23-24 from 8-10:30 a.m. There is no charge for the food. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is a program where seniors can receive regular allocations of free food every other month. The program guidelines mandate that the person receiving the food must be 60 years of age or older, a resident of Montana, and meet an income requirement. Food typically consists of canned fruit, vegetables, meats, juice, cereals, dry milk, shelf stable milk, cheese, pasta or beans and peanut butter. For further information or questions, call Rocky at 406-447-1680. Ballot Initiatives topic of LWV meeting The Final Four Open Primary with Ranked-Choice Voting are the topics of discussion at the 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, webinar meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Helena Area. Both these items could be Citizen Initiatives on Montanas fall ballot. Melinda Leas, a LWV member who is one of eight private citizens filing paperwork to put these Initiatives on the ballot, will be the guest speaker. Ranked-Choice voting gives you the ability that instead of voting for one candidate for an office, you can rank your choices 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. In many ways it gives you more voice and more options when you vote, Leas says. Not only will she help participants understand Ranked-Choice Voting, but she will also explain the Final Four Open Primary and its relationship to Ranked-Choice voting. The public is welcome to join this online meeting. For a link to join the meeting via Zoom, email LWV.Helena@gmail.com. Please note that the time is 7 p.m. instead of the usual noon meeting. Nurses honored with DAISY awards St. Peters Health registered nurses Rick DePaso and Jannine Vogley-Turner received DAISY Foundation Awards for Extraordinary Nurses. DAISY awardees are selected quarterly from nominations submitted by St. Peters patients and their family members. DePaso has been with St. Peters since 2015, most recently caring for patients in the Intensive Care Unit. In DePasos nomination, a patient relayed a number of reasons why their care was above and beyond thanks to DePaso, including that we was polite, compassionate and calm. Vogley-Turner has over 38 years of experience as a registered nurse, most recently providing care to patients in the St. Peters Emergency Room and Urgent Care at the Regional Medical Center (hospital). In the words of a patient who nominated her, "her care made a normally stressful and annoying situation so much more bearable. I am grateful to have had her as a nurse." Vogley-Turner has been with St. Peters since 2008. The DAISY Award was established to honor the super-human work nurses do to care for patients and families every day. The award is presented in collaboration with The American Organization of Nurse Executives. St. Peters administration and staff select the winner from those nominated. Recipients receive a certificate and a sculpture called A Healers Touch, which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. HHS educator receives fellowship Claire Pichette of Helena High School has been selected by the non-profit organization Ecology Project International to participate in an eight-day teacher fellowship in Baja, Mexico. EPI is a field science and conservation organization that partners scientists with local and international students and educators in ecologically hotspots including in Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Belize, Mexico, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. During the upcoming EPI Fellowship, Pichette and a small group of selected teachers will experience the field course for themselves, gaining skills and resources they can bring back to the classroom. On this years 10th annual EPI Fellowship, Pitchette will be immersed in the diverse ecology of the area, home to 39% of the worlds marine mammal species. Days will be spent on Espiritu Santo Island, a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve, and will involve underwater data collection and lessons in incorporating field studies into the classroom. This EPI teacher fellowship takes place April 2-9. For more information on EPIs programs or how teachers can apply for next years EPI Teacher Fellowships, visit their website at https://www.ecologyproject.org/teacher-fellowships. Voting rights experts to speak at LWV webinar The program Montana Constitution Celebrates 50 Years -- Your Right to Vote -- Save It or Lose It! will explore Montanans right to vote. The 7 p.m. event Tuesday, March 29, is co-sponsored by the Montana League of Women Voters Helena Chapter and Lewis & Clark Library and is part of a series of events the LWV is holding this year to mark the Montana Constitutions 50th anniversary. The four speakers include: Jeremy Johnson, chair of political science and international relations at Carroll College, specializing in American politics, is director of Carrolls Constitutional Studies Program. A frequent commentator on Montana politics, he earned his masters and Ph.D. from Brown University and his B.A from the University of Pennsylvania. Mike Meloy, a Helena-based trial practice attorney focusing on constitutional issues, operates the Freedom of Information Hotline and was active in drafting and enacting the implementing legislation for the Right-to-Know provision of the Montana Constitution. He is also a former Montana legislator who also taught constitutional law at Carroll College. Alex Rate is the legal director at ACLU of Montana and has been involved in numerous legal challenges to laws restricting voting rights in Montana. Keaton Sunchild is the political director for Western Native Voice and has been active to ensure Native Americans have a voice in politics. He will address the history of the Native vote and the voting rights barriers that we faced and continue to face even now. The speakers will specifically address current legal challenges to laws passed by the 2021 Montana Legislature that end same day voter registration, prevent ballot collecting, restrict political campaign activities on campuses and change voter ID laws. To sign up for the zoom webinar, use this link https://lclibrary.libcal.com/event/8780546 and an invitation will be emailed to you. Humanities Montana awards $38K to projects Humanities Montana recently awarded $38,350 to humanities projects across the state through their research fellowship and regular grants. The grant program supports projects that engage Montanans in meaningful discussion about the human condition, strengthen cooperative relationships among communities and cultural organizations, and enrich civic discourse among the states diverse cultures and geographic regions. Humanities Montana regular grants program makes awards of $1,000 or more, three times a year. Their research fellowships grant awards of up to $4,000 annually. In February, the seven organizations to receive funding included: Philosophy Symposia Series, Merlin CCC, Helena, $3,750: The 2022 Philosophy Symposia Series will highlight military life and the ethics of war, freedom of speech and humans relationship with nature. The symposia will occur fall and winter 2022. Foundation grant cycle adds funding The Helena Area Community Foundation announced that in addition to the $19,000 in grant funds currently available for the 2022 City of Helena fund, $23,750 in grant funds are also available from Lewis and Clark County, bringing the total funding currently available to $42,750. Nonprofit organizations are able to apply for grants from either fund with one application. Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $2000 to 501(c)(3) organizations in our region. Applications are due on March 15, 2022. All nonprofits in the greater Helena area are invited to apply. Grant determinations will be finalized by April 20, 2022. Grant applications and additional criteria and selection information are accessible at the HACF website, helenaareacommunityfoundation.org. While the City of Helena fund and Lewis and Clark County fund have different geographic limitations, both funds seek to fund nonprofit organizations serving residents of our community. HACF is seeking a limited number of community members to serve on the review committees for each grantmaking cycle. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Emily Frazier. For questions, information, or interview requests from HACF, please contact Emily Frazier, HACF executive director at emilyf@helenaareacommunityfoundation.org or call 406-441-4955. Red Cross seeks blood donations The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help end the ongoing critical need for blood with a blood donation. The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to give now and help ensure lifesaving transfusions are on the sidelines for those who rely on them. Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Nar-Anon family group meeting The Helena Nar-Anon Family Group, a 12-step program for families and friends of addicts, meets Mondays and Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Library of St. Pauls Methodist Church, 512 Logan. The library is located on the lower level of the main church building. Please enter using the Cruise Avenue entrance. The group observes COVID-19 protocols required by the church. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The inaugural event for a newly formed group that encourages people and businesses to "invest in Helena" brought in nearly 200 folks who met Thursday at the Helena Regional Airport for a panel discussion and networking. It feels like theres some energy in the community right now that creates opportunities for all of us, said Brian Obert, executive director for Montana Business Assistance Connection and Gateway Economic Development District. Invest in Helena was created to facilitate community education and provide networking opportunities to spark interest in people who want to invest in the Helena community, according to their website. And ultimately, the goal of such investments is to keep Helena an authentic Montana community. It is a collaborative effort between CWG Architecture + Interiors, Montana Business Assistance Connection, Helena Leaders Network, Helena WINS, Helena Area Chamber of Commerce and Joe Mitchell -- State Farm agent. Thursdays event began with a panel discussion run by Obert. The panel included Alice Santos, a commercial broker with Keller Williams Commercial; Mark Runkle, owner of P&D Partners and Mountain View Meadows; Jason Egeline, vice president of CWG Architecture + Interiors; and Mark Menke, director of lending for Montana Business Assistance Connection. The panel discussion opened with a variety of comments recommending thorough research and preparation to prospective entrepreneurs prior to getting too far into a potential investment deal. A pretty big component is educating yourself, said Santos. If you dont know how to calculate and look at what a good investment is, I think its going to be really hard for people to help you. The panelists all stressed that surrounding yourself with a strong team of lenders and professionals is critical to the success of any investment opportunity. The earlier you can get a lender engaged the better they will be able to help you, said Menke. We have talented lenders in this community and market. I encourage you to stay local as much as possible when building a team. Sometimes the relationship is more valuable than the cost of the funds. As architects we sit down with engineers on the mechanical, structural, electrical and civil side, plus our own architects, plus our owner, plus the city, said Egeline. Our practice involves developing and helping build that team, which of course also involves developers and lenders. That team is really important. The sooner you can get that entire team put together, the better. There was also discussion on the logistics of developing a project. For Runkle, the concept is simple. If you want to start developing, start thinking about one block at a time, said Runkle. But in tackling development one block at a time, Runkle also said it is important to always keep one eye on the future to ensure responsible development. It starts with sustainability, which means that what you do is not going to compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs, he said. The panel later answered several questions from the audience that covered a variety of topics from development tactics for giving back to the community, the debate of building versus buying investment property, and deciding when a good time to invest is. Its always a good time to invest, said Santos. But that doesnt mean every opportunity is going to be good for you. Following Thursdays panel discussion, attendees were invited to partake in a cocktail social and network with other professionals in attendance. Our intent is to get you exposed to who you need to talk to in order to get started with investing, said Obert. Due to the large interest in Invest in Helenas first panel discussion, the group already has future dates set for a three-session educational series diving deeper into topics related to investment and development. For more information about the series and to sign up, visit investinhelena.com/theevent. Love 5 Funny 5 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 In 1999, the Montana Legislature did the right thing when it passed a law requiring state agencies that manage public lands to rename any place containing the derogatory word squaw. Now is the time for the U.S. Board on Geographical Names to take a step in the same direction of justice and inclusion and rid Jefferson Davis name from public lands in Montana. That includes Jeff Davis Gulch northwest of Helena, a name that honors the president of the Confederate States of America and a zealous defender of slavery, white supremacy, and racism to his dying days. A number of human rights, social justice, and conservation groups joined last year with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in petitioning the Board on Geographical Names to change the name of Davis Gulch, as well as Jeff Davis Peak and Jeff Davis Creek in Beaverhead County. We wholeheartedly support their petition and join in asking the Board to change the names of these places. As MSU-Billings history professor Keith Edgerton points out in a recent guest column that, although Davis never set foot in Montana, many of the early mining camps in western Montana were populated by southerners and ex-Confederates fleeing the war-torn South. They brought their hero-worship and racist baggage with them and thus named landmarks for their leaders and fellow seditionists, marking their territory against the stream of northerners who were also trickling in. By continuing to invoke Davis name when referencing these lands in question, we perpetuate the racist baggage these seditionists brought to Montana, something that strikes us as particularly galling to find on public lands. After all, these lands serve as a foundation for the quality of life we enjoy in Helena. They nourish us, helping us feel a sense of belonging to our natural world and a sense of connection to each other. But that sense of belonging and connection can vanish instantly for many people when faced with a place name that honors someone who championed slavery and white supremacism and denied human rights to entire races of people. The petition to the Board on Geographic Names asks the Board to change the name of Davis Gulch to In-qu-qu-leet a rough phonetic rendering of the Salish word that means place of lodgepole pine. This choice honors the Salish and other Indigenous nations that gathered these trees in and around what is today Helena and used them for tipi poles. It also brings a small measure of justice to our Indigenous neighbors, who found their cultures and histories buried under American expansion and colonialism. Anyone who claims that removing Davis name from Montanas maps is erasing history might spend some time learning about what actual historical and cultural erasure is as Native Americans have lived through. Learning our states Confederacy-related history is still as easy as visiting a library or conducting a Google search. As elected representatives of Helena, we know our constituents well. And we know that the vast majority of Helena and Lewis and Clark County residents would not want to honor the likes of Davis or any other white supremacist. Until recently, many residents did not know whom Davis Gulch is named for. Now that we know the truth, we cant ignore it. So lets change the name and take a small step toward ensuring all people feel welcome on the lands we share. Editor's note: Column updated to reflect correct name and location of gulch. Rep. Kim Abbott (D) is the House Minority Leader, representing House District 83, Helena. Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell (D) represents HD84, Helena/East Helena. Sen. Janet Ellis (D) represents SD41, Helena. Rep. Mary Caferro (D) represents HD 81, Helena. Rep. Moffie Funk (D) represents HD82, Helena. Rep. Robert Farris-Olsen (D) represents HD 79, Helena. Sen. Jill Cohenour is the Senate minority leader representing SD 42, Helena. Love 6 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Shareholders of the Herald & Review's parent company on Thursday reelected three directors despite attempts by hedge fund Alden Global Capital to install its own through proxy votes, part of an ongoing attempt to take over the company. Lee Enterprises Chairman Mary Junck, CEO Kevin Mowbray and Lead Independent Director Herbert Moloney were retained with more than 70% of the vote each, with more than 75% of shareholders casting votes. Mowbray said the results are subject to official tabulation and certification by the Independent Inspector of Elections, which is expected to be completed in a few days. "The results represent a resounding rejection of Alden Global Capitals campaign against Lee," the company said in a news release. Prior to the meeting, Lee sent an email to shareholders urging them to vote only for the board's proposed nominees and asking them to disregard any promotional materials sent to them by Alden. Citing pending litigation by Alden against Lee, the company said no proxies or votes in favor of Alden's director nominees would be recognized or tabulated at the annual meeting. The directors were ensured they would be reelected because Lee used a plurality standard in the elections. That meant that the directors only had to get one yes vote to get reelected more than any other candidate could receive because the directors were running unopposed. Alden tried to force the directors to have to win a majority of the votes to keep their seats, but a judge rejected that suggestion. Junck said after the meeting that no one from Alden was present at the annual meeting. Alden affiliates own about 6.3% of Lee stock. "Our shareholders supported the candidates for reelection and importantly, the company is focused on driving our digital transformation strategy, delivering strong local journalism as well as providing value to all of our shareholders," Junck said. Mowbray said the company's Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy is succeeding, as evidenced by growth in digital-only subscribers. "We've made really good progress; our digital-only subscriber growth has exceeded the industry exceptionally for the last 12 quarters, beating both Gannett and the New York Times," Mowbray said. "Our digital agency revenue growth is also industry-leading and that revenue is up about 45% to the prior year. We are really excited about our future. "There is a lot of upside in our stock and we've got a very detailed five-year strategic plan that we're right in the middle of executing," Mowbray said. "We've made good progress." Lee owns daily newspapers, digital products and over 350 weekly and specialty publications serving 77 markets in 26 states. Its newspapers include the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Buffalo News, Omaha World-Herald, The Lincoln Journal Star, The Times of Northwest Indiana and Tulsa World. Aldens titles include the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun, which it acquired this summer in its takeover of Tribune Publishing. The Associated Press contributed to this reporting. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR Although she has lived near the Decatur Airport for the past 25 years, Tammy Mitchener, 50, said she normally would not book a flight out of Decatur due to it costing more than driving to airports in St. Louis or Peoria. But when her son was looking for flights to New Jersey, tickets from Decatur were actually cheaper than she thought, especially since gas prices continue to rise. "Back then it was cheaper for me to drive to Peoria ..., so it made sense," Mitchener said. "It just happened to be the first time we tried to book a flight here where it financially made sense." Even with flights being affordable enough for most to book, SkyWest Airlines announced Thursday it is seeking to end its contract to provide commercial service at Decatur Airport, citing a pilot shortage. The Decatur Park District manages the airport, but Decaturs commercial air service is subsidized through the federal Essential Air Service program, which ensures people can fly in less populated areas of the country. The airline, a regional partner of United Express, is seeking to end its service at 29 airports, including Decatur where it currently offers 13 flights a week to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. "It was a surprise to us and it's been a surprise to the other communities affected," said Decatur Airport Director Tim Wright. "SkyWest is our only provider in Decatur so we'll wait to see how many other airlines submit a proposal." Before SkyWest made the request to end their service to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the airline also cited the pilot shortage last month when announcing scheduled changes to its flights in Decatur. Now, the federal agency will solicit bids from carriers interested in providing service to the Decatur market. Wright said they will continue to work with SkyWest until the selection of a new provider and there will be no gaps in service to Chicago. Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe said she was surprised by the news and how soon it came since SkyWest was selected in 2019 to bring in the jet service that was highly sought after by local businesses and brought an end to air service to St. Louis Lambert International Airport. "This is not something that was on my radar at all or a cause for concern," Moore Wolfe said. "You can understand trying to recover from the shortage of travel due to COVID and all the implications of that but this is the shot that came out of nowhere." To accommodate the larger flights, Moore Wolfe said the city and park district spent roughly $94,000 to expand and upgrade the airport waiting area for passengers passing through security. Not to mention that parking is already free and the security lines are shorter than ones at O'Hare or St. Louis. But the start of SkyWest's service in March 2020 came days before the coronavirus pandemic escalated in Illinois and nationwide, leading to stay-at-home orders and challenges for the airline industry, Moore Wolfe said. "It got off to a rocky start through nobody's fault, but my understanding was that this was a very successful service, that it would be used and we were excited to have a jet service," Moore Wolfe said. "I'm very disappointed and I'm sure everybody at the park district is as well." Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce President Mirinda Rothrock said local businesses, whether they be a small shop or something as big as Archer Daniels Midland Co., utilize the air service frequently and could affect the local economy by leaving. "It's critical to our community to have reliable air services for our businesses and we have an absolutely high-class airport and runway system," Rothrock said. "It's very disheartening to learn that this is happening." Rothrock said the Chamber has always been a connector between businesses and the community and welcomes any invitation to be part of the solution to finding a new and reliable air service. Coming off a flight from Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said he was told about the service leaving by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on Wednesday and was disappointed to hear that less options would be available in the area. Although ridership is not an issue, Davis said it's time to put together a system that can give pilots the training they need but also a graduated system to get them in planes and passengers where they need to be. "I'm blessed I represent a district with many regional airports. I have options. I got to leave D.C. today at 6:45 a.m. and I'm here to be able to do a full day of events out in my district," Davis said. "Convenience is what matters ... and that's what this air service provides. That's why we have essential air service programs that serve communities like Decatur. We're going to continue to fight for them." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Millikin University senior Katie Yelaska spent a long night in January studying Decaturs homeless population where they are. We were walking around buildings just canvassing, really anywhere, to better understand our community and those experiencing homelessness, she said. Mary Garrison, a professor of social work at Millikin University, and Yelaska traveled throughout Decatur collecting the data and discussing concerns among those living without permanent housing. One night a year, how individuals experience homelessness, Garrison said about the research. I learned very quickly how difficult this process is. Other Millikin students also to analyze the finding, which were brought together to help address issues facing local homeless people. Results of the annual Point-in-Time Survey of Macon County's homeless population were then announced Thursday at a community breakfast of the Macon County Homeless Continuum of Care Advisory Council. According to Fred Spannaus of Spannaus Consulting, the annual study is titled Point-in-Time for a reason. It measures one 24-hour period, he said. Over the course of the year, you're going to see many more people. The survey is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night this year, from 8 a.m. Jan. 27 to 8 a.m. Jan. 28, according to Yelaska. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to conduct research on their homeless populations. This years findings counted 93 people defined as homeless, according to HUD. Of those, six were veterans. The community members that attended Thursdays meeting included Doves Homeward Bound staff, Salvation Army staff, Gods Shelter of Love administration and others. Macon County began the count in 1995. Millikin took over the project 10 years ago. The goal of this count that we hope to accomplish is identifying community resources that can help connect individuals experiencing homelessness and also reduce homelessness in our community, Yelaska said. The group found various updates since last years project. The pandemic continued to influence their findings. Many of the services were closed, causing people to seek shelter and services in other places. We rallied together, said Darsonya Switzer, program director for Doves Homeward Bound. We tried to make sure people were being connected to services. During the night in January, Garrison and Yelaska were assisted by a homeless youth. As someone whos currently experiencing homelessness, they were able to offer us a lot of insight on some of those day-to-day experiences, Yelaska said. Their presence was very impactful. Youth services became a priority in their findings. Millikin junior Rolande Umuhoza studied the data available, including the ages, race and genders of the homeless community, from the January night and other yearly Point-in-Time counts. We had a down trend since 2013 to 2022, she said. Our lowest it has ever been was in 2021 when we had 83. Shay Buchanan, a sophomore, studied the conditions the group observed. We want to know who were serving and how we can better help them, she said. Understanding where most of our conditions lie will help us with that. Those dealing with mental illness, domestic violence, substance abuse disorders, PTSD, and physical and mental disabilities were part of the study. The information collected was used to help the organizations serving the homeless community. The agencies include Crossing Healthcare, Heritage Behavioral Health Center, Salvation Army, and several others. The individuals who are boots-on-the-ground, knowing these folks, Garrison said about the agencies. Weve put a lot of effort into really understanding and tracking folks and being able to hopefully get them into housing and get them into services sooner. The information collected will also be used to help the agencies and organizations designed to help the homeless community. Weve taken this into our community and made it user-friendly for us, Garrison said. We can make more connections and help get people what they need. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR The Boys & Girls Club of Decatur was awarded a $40,000 Lift Zone Opportunity Fund grant from Comcast on Thursday. The grant was given to support digital skills training at the organizations Lift Zone. Comcast opened the WiFi-connected safe space a year ago. Students are able to do schoolwork and adults learn new digital skills and access services. The local Lift Zone is one of more than 1,000 throughout the country, with nearly 80 in this region. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Walter Jackson, a senior music education major at Millikin University, said when news of Russia invading Ukraine first rolled out he was surprised by how unexpected the war was. "From the outside looking in, it seems like Ukraine is just getting invaded all of a sudden and I think most people could empathize with that," said Jackson, who is apart of the History and Political Science Club on campus. "I just want to help out in any way I can and learn more about the country itself." Decatur residents and Millikin students gathered Wednesday night in the third-floor Bob and Debi Johnston Banquet Room at the University Commons for a panel discussion on the war in Ukraine. Hosted by the Office of Campus Life, Center for International Education, and History and Political Science Department, the panel featured Roman Ivashkiv, the director of Ukrainian studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as University of Illinois graduate student Sofia Dunets, and was moderated by Laura Dean, an associated professor of political science at Millikin. The panel members discussed the origin of this invasion and the war focusing on the humanitarian response and political outcomes while touching on their own connection to Ukraine. Before they began, Dean did offer a brief history lesson on Ukraine going back to the founding of Kyiv in 482 to the creation of the Ukrainian People Republic in 1917. Dean offered background on the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013, which led to annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas, but she shared a recent photo of a yellow building in downtown Kharkiv where she lived for a year between 2012 and 2013. The apartment was bombed on March 1 by the Russian military in a residential area of downtown near the Freedom Square. "On the city tourism camera I watched as Russian bombs landed in the city that I once lived in and I'm thinking about all the people in different areas of the city that I knew, wondering if they were alive," Dean said. "We don't know the true number of civilians that have been killed so far. We know that the humanitarian price paid by the people of Ukraine is high." Ivashkiv, who still has family and friends in Ukraine, said he does think about going back to support his fellow Ukrainians but he sees his role in this terrible situation as someone raising awareness and spreading information about the war and history of Ukraine. "After almost two weeks of heavy shelling, particularly of civilian infrastructure including hospitals, apartment buildings, even a Holocaust memorial in Ukraine ... I'm beginning to think of this as genocide," Ivashkiv said. "In fact, the people that I'm in touch with both in Ukraine and my friends in this country, scholars and experts are beginning to lean towards this idea that Putin is not pursuing some geopolitical goals." These unprovoked attacks have also been a unifying factor for Ukrainians who decided to stay in the country or others who have traveled back to do the same, said Sofia Dunets, who has family in the western regions of Ukraine. Dunets said she even knows people with families and relatives in Russia who are saying there is nothing to worry about in Ukraine which is showing the constant problem of misinformation spreading throughout Russia and beyond. "Some of their parents would say 'That's not true, they're just killing Nazi's and not civilians' but bombs don't discriminate," Dunets said. "Access to that information has also been helpful to unite people." As for what's to come next, Ivashkiv said no matter how this war ends, whether Putin succeeds or Ukrainians win, the country will be left in ruins and the rebuilding process will not be simple. Dunets mentioned that there are talks of guerrilla military groups, possibly funded by Russia, that could stay in regions of Ukraine to continue destabilizing through terrorism. "Only recently did Ukraine start looking like a civilized European country, following Poland's example, and the reforms were slow but they were happening," Ivashkiv said. "All of this is now wasted but most importantly it's people's lives." Towards the end of the panel, photographer Michael Jouanneau and Liana Creamer, both of which are from Ukraine, shared their own thoughts of the war and what it has meant for them. Creamer, who is from the western city in Ukraine of Ternopil, wore her great-great grandmother's dress that is 130 years-old and spoke about the importance of preserving Ukrainian culture through a saying "Slava Ukraini!" which translates to "Glory to Ukraine!" "Ukrainian's know we are fighting for our land, for our homes, for our family, for our friends and we will wait. I do not know how many lives it will take but we will fight," said Creamer, who lives in Assumption. "From that point of view, you will never ever know what war means." Those who did not attend can still reach out to their local politicians to ask them to support Ukraine or donate to organizations like Nova Ukraine, a humanitarian organization in Ukraine, and Razom's Emergency Response which provides critical medical supplies to Ukrainians during the war. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, said she wants to ensure quicker and better responses in future cases of virus outbreaks at state homes for veterans after what she called a failure to adequately protect residents at the LaSalle Veterans Home during a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Shes reintroduced legislation to address shortcomings in the states response to the outbreak, but on Thursday called for more help from lawmakers to advance the bills which remain in the Assignments Committee. The residents of the Veterans Home served and protected our nation when we needed it, Rezin said during a news conference Thursday at the Capitol in Springfield. But when they needed us to serve and protect them, our state and our governor failed. The LaSalle home notified the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs on Nov. 1, 2020, of two veterans and two employees at the facility testing positive for COVID-19. Within a week, 60 veterans and 43 staff members had the coronavirus. A state watchdog report found multiple failures that contributed to 36 veterans' deaths during the outbreak. The Illinois Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector Generals investigation determined that a lack of comprehensive, documented COVID-19 plans and policies which included the absence of any standard operating procedures in the event of an outbreak played a significant factor in the LaSalle facilitys inability to contain the virus. Two weeks after the outbreak began, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs visited the site to observe infection control practices. Rezin also called it a failure of his administration that Gov. JB Pritzker wasnt fully briefed on the outbreak until nine days after it began. So Rezin is sponsoring Senate Bill 3170, which would require that a veterans home administrator provide written notification to IDPH and IDVA within 24 hours of learning of a second case of an infectious disease. Another bill, SB1471, would require facilities licensed and operated by the state to conduct outbreak-related preparedness drills. The Human Services departments report found that the LaSalle home had not created a COVID-19 task force or committee for leadership and supervisors to establish responsibilities for managing and monitoring the virus. That, the report said, resulted in confusion among staff and led to tasks being left undone. The unstructured approach caused complications and cross-contamination of positive and negative veterans, the report said. The report recommended staff be retrained on personal protective equipment requirements, replacing the nonalcohol-based hand sanitizers with alcohol-based ones, and improving the temperature check process for employees arrival at work. The report also documented the leadership failures at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, former LaSalle Home Administrator Angela Melbrech, former IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia and her chief of staff, Tony Kolbeck. It further states that the lack of preparedness caused confusion among staff members and that several employees indicated one of the COVID-19 units was unprepared to deal with the influx of COVID-19 positive residents. Its stated that the unstructured approach caused complications and cross-contamination of positive and negative veterans. A third bill, SB1445, would provide the inspector general subpoena powers that ensure cooperation with state investigations after LaVia refused to cooperate with the investigation. Rezins bills have been stuck in the Senates Assignments Committee for the past year waiting to be assigned to a substantive committee. Rezin said she has written letters to get the bills called out of Assignments, but has been shocked and frustrated that she has not gotten these bills called from her Democratic colleagues. We must put these policies and procedures into state law ensuring proper and effective responses undertaking no matter who is in charge, Rezin said. Its time we honor the obligation we have to our veterans and their families by solidifying these into law. When a person with a serious mental illness living in supportive housing has a troubled night, a third-shift housing worker consoles and supports them. When that same person is working through serious depression and past trauma, a Masters-prepared therapist helps them overcome their depressive episode. When a client with an alcohol use disorder is scared, sick and admitted for residential addiction treatment, a nurse and addiction counselor treat and stay with them. These essential workers have always been hard to find and keep. Now it is harder than ever. The private, not-for-profit community behavioral health sector in Illinois is experiencing the worst workforce crisis in its more than 50-year history. There are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 vacancies in Illinois community behavioral health agencies while demand for services is at an all-time high. Agencies are losing staff en masse because we cannot pay essential workers enough to stay. Some leave the field entirely or take early retirement. Behavioral health for-profit companies, digital behavioral health start-ups, large health systems and private group practices hire away other workers by offering more money, less documentation, increased flexibility and easier, less complex clients. Meanwhile, community behavioral health programs report surging waitlists, shrinking access and even closure of some critical programs too often in communities of color and rural areas. These agencies mainly care for those with low incomes, living at or near poverty level and lacking access to behavioral health care. The lions share of community behavioral health funding comes from Medicaid public insurance funded by the state and federal governments and from Illinois Department of Human Services grants. Community behavioral health agencies need to attract and retain workers with the right skill set and focus on our core mission. It starts with addressing untenably low wages. Failure to modestly invest to improve access now will inevitably lead to significantly higher downstream costs to society in the form of more arrests, jail days, emergency room visits, problems in schools and admissions to state hospitals, nursing homes and foster care. How do we stabilize the workforce? The plan must include passage of legislation to preserve and expand access to Medicaid-covered behavioral health care in Illinois. I am grateful for the champions in the Illinois General Assembly Majority Leader Greg Harris and Senator Elgie Sims for pursuing State Medicaid rate increase legislation. The Rebuild Illinois Mental Health Workforce Act would infuse $130 million into mental health services and an additional $41 million into substance use services. I am also encouraged that Governor J.B. Pritzker called attention to the workforce crisis in his recent budget address and called for greater funding to support community behavioral health agencies. Many years ago, as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, I attended a lecture by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar who said, The purpose of government is to help those who cannot help themselves. That quote has stuck with me. Im pleased to see our General Assembly, the Governors office, the Department of Human Services under Secretary Grace Hou and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services under Director Theresa Eagleson putting Governor Edgars memorable quote into action and acting in unison to make the preservation of community behavioral health services in Illinois a priority for fiscal year 2023. David A. Sharar is Chief Executive Officer of Chestnut Health Systems. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy early then partly cloudy and windy later in the day. High near 90F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. BRISTOL, Tenn. The Bristol Tennessee City Council heard funding requests from five nonprofits during a Thursday work session. Branch House, the Sullivan County Family Justice Center, introduced itself for the first time to the Bristol Tennessee City Council and gave a presentation about the work they are doing in assisting women who have been abused or sexually assaulted in Sullivan County and Bristol, Tennessee. The group explained they provide victims of domestic abuse with resources, legal aid and space they need to heal. Branch House is asking for $25,000 from City Council to help them better meet the needs of these individuals. During the presentation, Bristol Tennessee Mayor Mahlon Luttrell was visibly shocked with the statistics and stories related to abuse and sexual assault in Sullivan County presented by the Branch House representatives. Sitting here listening to this, I think everybody is pretty emotional about whats going on. I had no idea. Its hard to describe, Luttrell said. The Birthplace of Country Music received $30,000 from City Council in 2021 and is now requesting $50,000 to fund its exponential growth in the region. The Bristol Chamber of Commerce received $7,500 in the citys previous budget and is asking for $15,000 to fund its Bristol Youth Leadership Program and Keep Bristol Beautiful. Family Promise of Bristol, which received $9,000 in the 2021 budget, is now asking for $12,000. The Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia YWCA received $25,000 from the council in 2021 and asked for the same amount in this coming budget. City Council will meet Monday, March 21, at 9 a.m. to hear from five more nonprofits, including the United Way, Believe in Bristol and the Paramount Center for the Arts. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TAZEWELL, Va. A Tazewell County teacher is facing 176 felony charges after being indicted by a Tazewell County grand jury Tuesday. John Michael Sharpe, a music teacher at Tazewell Middle School and Tazewell High School, faces a minimum of more than 200 years in prison if convicted on all counts placed against him by the grand jury. The 29-year-old Tazewell resident had been employed as a teacher in Tazewell County for four years. Before that he had worked in McDowell County, West Virginia. Tazewell County Sheriff Brian Hieatt said his office received a complaint of inappropriate conduct with students against Sharpe last December resulting in his office beginning an investigation. The investigation led to Sharpe being indicted on 148 counts of possession of child pornography, 27 counts of enticement and one count of electronic procurement. Hieatt said the investigation was conducted outside the school system, but said the school system was cooperative throughout the process. Commonwealths Attorney Chris Plaster said all of the charges are class six felonies and carry prison time that could total 2,280 years if Sharpe is convicted on each count. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 260 years. Plaster said the case is a story about broken trust. It is my offices job to make sure the victim receives justice, Plaster said. Although no physical relationship or violence is alleged at this point, this is an ongoing investigation. This is a story about broken trust. Trust a young girl placed in a person of authority. Trust the school system placed in him to protect our children and not abuse or exploit them. Tazewell County Public Schools issued a statement Friday saying Sharpe had been relieved of his duties with the school system. We hold all employees to high standards of conduct and share in the concern over the allegations, a written statement from Tazewell School Superintendent Dr. Chris Stacy said. We will continue to cooperate and work with law enforcement and other agencies involved in this matter. Plaster said the case was not the fault of the school system or social media, but of John Sharpe. He said the school system did nothing wrong. Plaster and Hieatt said there is an appropriate level of contact outside of school, and encouraged parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children. They also encouraged anyone who feel they may have been a victim of Sharpe to come forward. We sincerely hope there are no more victims out there. At this point we fear there may be, Plaster said. Major Harold Heatley of the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office said all the indictments against Sharpe involved one victim. He said the office has interviewed 20 to 25 people emphasizing the investigation was ongoing saying the office is receiving phone calls about the situation. Sharpe, who has no previous criminal record, was arrested and has retained counsel. A $10,000 secured bond was set. A court date has not been scheduled. The convoy of rebels without a cause driving laps around the Capital Beltway is a metaphor for a nation spinning its wheels. Like so much of the take-back-our-country vitriol, this movement is awash with nostalgia for a time and place where the lamented lost freedoms did not exist for a wide swath of American citizens. But what better vehicle of nostalgia than a gas-guzzling big-rig truck barreling along a federal interstate highway system whose roots date back to the 1950s? As a kid, I was not immune to such charms, tugging my arm in a trucker salute in hopes that hed blast his horn. The 1970s were a peak time for trucker love, with a hit song C.W. McCalls Convoy and a same-name movie about truckers protesting government regulation and law enforcement. The epitome of cool among my teenage peers was to have a citizens band radio, or CB, as a companion to your cars 8-track tape player. Weve always romanticized truckers, says University of Richmond historian Julian Maxwell Hayter, whose dads best friend drove a truck. Hayter has fond memories of sitting in that truck cab as a child. Truckers embody Americas nostalgia for independence and its love affair with the open road, he said. Hayter calls the national interstate highway system one of the greatest feats of American engineering. But the highway, in connecting urban, suburban and rural America, had the effect of breaking up American cities, as we know all too well in Richmond with Jackson Ward. That legacy is the subtext of a gerrymandered, hopelessly divided nation in which truckers rather than protesting a reduced national speed limit have become a fulcrum for all sorts of strange but strident grievances that are the hallmark of U.S. politics. In that vein, the American Freedom Convoy trek is the epitome of ill timing, tactics and public support in its effort to build off the Canadian trucker protests of January and February that led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to declare a national public order emergency. In an America transfixed by the subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine, this protest barely moved the needle. When I heard that U.S. truckers were staging their protest on the perpetually gridlocked beltway surrounding Washington, I thought: How would anyone know the difference? Peaceful civil rights marches changed many hearts and minds. Blocking traffic never won any sympathy or support, said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University in Fairfax County. A lot has happened between the Canadian protest and today, not the least being the unthinkable threat of World War III. But vaccine and mask mandates have been widely rolled back, including in Virginia. The most effective time to protest is when policy is still being formulated, not after-the-fact when the issues largely are being settled, Rozell said. Who did they think they were persuading, after two years of this pandemic and most of the public long ago decided on their positions? Protest works best when there is a public that is receptive to the message. Even with COVID numbers in rapid decline in much of the country, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region, there remains strong public support for continued safety measures to limit the spread of the virus. So what were left with was a protest out of Seinfeld a show about nothing. But too often nowadays, the noise is the point. These cries of government overreach ring hollow with inconsistency. The most pervasive government overreach going on nowadays is among conservative jurists who once decried judicial activism but now appear to be making it up as they go along on issues such as voting and abortion rights. Or among Virginian Republicans intent on stifling classroom instruction. In our cynical political moment, metadata is being employed to manufacture crises that galvanize the aggrieved, Hayter said. Do you think CRT came out of nowhere? he asked, adding: Any issue is fair game now, because its not about the issue at all. Decades spent on the right discrediting credible media has shoved a considerable chunk of the nation into the embrace of propaganda. In America, propaganda translates into the credulous belief in the lie of the stolen election; elsewhere, a brainwashed Russian mom refuses to believe that her daughters Ukrainian city is under bombardment. We co-exist in a similar alternate reality as our fellow citizens travel in circles, railing about phantom problems. As long as anger and disruption remain the vehicle of choice, were destined to crash. HICKORY Ten students from the Catawba Valley Community College Career and College Promise (CCP) program recently finished in the top five during the SkillsUSA High School Regional Rallies held Feb. 25 and Feb. 28. Two CVCC CCP students in electrical construction wiring and eight in welding competed in the events, which were held at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (Southwest Regional Rally) and Wilkes Community College (Northwest Regional Rally). Our welding and electrical systems technology programs are under the direction of a dynamic and passionate team of instructors, said Tammy Muller, executive director for CVCCs SkillsUSA chapter. We are incredibly proud of our students, both who placed and everyone who competed. This is a testament to the instruction students receive at Catawba Valley Community College." In electrical construction wiring, Canyon Eckard from Alexander Central (CVCC) finished in first place, and Riley Houk from Bunker Hill High School (CVCC) finished in second place. Getting back to in person competitions was fabulous, said Ramie Robinson, CVCC electrical systems technology instructor. Our students grow from these environments because it pushes them beyond the four walls of the classroom to new heights. Both Canyon and Riley represented CVCC and SkillsUSA well, and we are excited to move on to the state level in April. Eight CVCC/CCP welding students received medals from the rallies four from each rally. Elija Godfrey (St. Stephens) finished in first place at the Southwest Regional Rally. Jospeh Levix and Larry Ballew finished second and third, respectively, in the competition, while Marcus Sigmon (Challenger) placed in fifth. At the Northwest Regional Rally at Wilkes Community College, Colten Matthews (Alexander Central/Alexander Technical Education center) took first place. Braden Huffman (Bunker Hill), Nathaniel Strother (Challenger) and Isaac Rueda (Bunker Hill) also received medals in second, third and fourth place, respectively. Our welding and electrical construction wiring students brought home 10 medals and all 10 qualified for the state conference in April, said Mark Sigmon, department head for CVCC welding technology We are so proud of our students. They are great examples of the work being done in our classrooms to prepare these students for greatness. All 10 students now advance to the SkillsUSA State Conference, which takes place April 27-29 in Greensboro. For more information on the Career and College Promise program at CVCC, visit https://www.cvcc.edu/Academic-Resources/Career-College-Promise. To learn more about the SkillsUSA program at CVCC, visit https://bit.ly/3gwWnPR or contact Tammy Muller at 828-327-7000 x4323 or email tmuller@cvcc.edu. Dean's Update March 11, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD Friends, In the early parts of the week, I spent time talking and emailing with students, faculty, and alumni working to support people in Ukraine. I spoke with a student with Ukrainian family whose home was destroyed on Sunday. Their relatives are ok for now, but obviously, this is hard for our student. Its difficult just hearing the stories; imagine the struggle to keep focused on caring for patients when you have people in peril. One of the colleges alumni, Mary Marshall, MD, FN, FAAFP, reached out to me after last weeks Deans Update to ask for help getting supplies to Ukraine. Marys daughter-in-law is a medic in Ukraine helping the wounded, and she is in need of basic medical supplies. Mary found that the Michigan State Medical Society has set up a system to get supplies to the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren, Mich., who will get the supplies into Ukraine. You can reach their website here. Mary and a couple of our students, Anne Opalikhin and Emily Cushman, are working to help transfer supplies to Warren for shipment to Ukraine. In the Lansing area, they have arranged a drop-off site at the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians (2164 Commons Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864). Supplies collected at the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians will be taken to the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren for shipment to Ukraine. And: At the same time, two of our students, Emily Cushman and Svetlana Donato, have set up a Go Fund Me to help support the work of the international relief agency, CARE. One of our most accomplished alumni, former Ukrainian Health Minister, Ulana Suprun, is on Twitter and has been a remarkable leader for her country before the war and again now. Dr. Anna Moore has also been working on ways to get help to Ukraine and recommends Razom. During the week, Ive been in a conversation with Dr. Marshall and offered her the chance to provide a paragraph for this weeks update: Thank you, Dr. Sousa, for allowing me this space to share my daughter-in-law, Olena's, story. She is a courageous young, Ukrainian woman with whom our son fell in love and married on December 28, 2018. They are both experienced combat medics who have served their respective countries honorably in times of war, he during Iraq and she in Crimea in 2014 and now in Kyiv. She has been unable to obtain a US visa as a spouse to be with him due to a myriad of technicalities over the last two and a half years. As she saw the possibility of the Russian invasion become a reality, she began to teach civilians in Kyiv to be medics. She promised us she would be safe in her beloved city of Kyiv and that she would stay in Ukraine to defend it and her people. During the last 14 grueling days, she has been selflessly caring for many wounded men, women, and children. In the brief and very sporadic messages that I have received, she has never once complained about the hardships that I know she must be facing. This past Saturday, she messaged me asking if I could send bandages and harnesses for the wounded soldiers. I can only interpret this as bandages, tourniquets, ACE wraps and other assorted emergency items. And so, my mission began. I found the Michigan State Medical Society site this past weekend offering a list of items and where to send them. Thank you to Anne and Emily, CHM Class of 2023, for reaching out to me so quickly to help. Today, there is a little more hope but we have much work to do. Please feel free to join us. You can reach me, Mary Marshall, MD (CHM 1997), at Netdocmm@comcast.net, or cell # 810-423-7116. We will be taking medical supplies at least weekly to the Ukrainian Culture Center in Warren, Mich. My heartfelt thanks for your help and your prayers. Thank-you, Mary, and we all hope Olena and her people are soon safe. Following town halls and updates, I have received touching and heartfelt notes in support of the people of Ukraine. I know this is a very difficult time for our people with connections to Ukraine and the surrounding region. Equally, this is difficult for all with loved ones in harms way around the globe, even, or especially, if those conflicts have not resulted in the kind of media and social notice as the war in Ukraine has received. As I have done before, I want to remind you of resources available to help folks who are struggling for whatever reason (for example, ThrivingCampus, MSU Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS), MSU Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the colleges Culture of Caring, and student affairs support resources for students.) In happier news this week, the college had its first in-person chairs and directors meeting in two years. It was great to have people in the same room, and it was clear that everyone enjoyed being together. We scheduled part of the meeting to allow time for folks to mill around and talk to each other, and when I went to restart the meeting, no one wanted to leave their conversations. We even had a guest join us. We had a conversation with Steve Kalkanis, CEO of Henry Ford Medical Group, about the new campus in Detroit and the work our faculty are doing together. It was pretty wonderful even for a registered introvert like me. About a third of folks chose to wear masks, which worked out fine. Nearly all of Michigan is in the low community spread range, which is terrific news. Tuesday is Give Green Day! Our focus is on raising money for scholarships, and there are some special opportunities this year! There are many challenges throughout this campaign, some specific to faculty and staff. It would be wonderful to see some of your names on this page, and maybe the College of Human Medicine can even make it to #1 in the faculty and staff challenge? Here they are: MSU Faculty & Staff Match Challenge (all day) - All MSU faculty and staff who make their first gift to Michigan State University will have their gifts matched 2:1 up to $250, until matching funds are exhausted. - All MSU faculty and staff who make their first gift to Michigan State University will have their gifts matched 2:1 up to $250, until matching funds are exhausted. MSU Faculty & Staff Challenge (9-10 AM) College with the most MSU faculty & staff gifts between 9-10 a.m. EDT earns a $1,000 bonus. Thank you for all you do to make the college such a special place and the world a better place. Serving the people with you, Aron Aron Sousa, MD Interim Dean Friday, March 11 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcome at 704-782-1785. Sunday, March 13 The Piedmont Prime Time Community Band is presenting a spring concert titled American Cameos at 4 p.m. at Kannapolis Middle School, 1000 Virginia Dare St. The band consists of community members of all ages from the local area. This will be the first concert directed by Chris White, who is also the band director at Hickory Ridge High School. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Monday, March 14 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Wednesday, March 16 The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome. Friday, March 18 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Old Courthouse Theatre is hosting an Antiques Appraisal Event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $10 for one item and $15 for two items. Bring your treasures in to find their monetary worth. No written appraisal given. Owner can write all information given down. Email info@octconcord.com with any questions. The Annual Country Ham and Fried Chicken Day at St. Stephens Wesleyan Church at Georgeville off Highway 200 will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A large plate consists of one-half fried chicken or a center slice of country ham, green beans, potato salad, slaw, bread, drink and dessert for $10. A small plate is the same except one-fourth fried chicken or one-half slice of country ham for $8. A large combination plate consists of one-fourth fried chicken and one-half slice of country ham, plus all the extras. Children under 6 years of age eat free. Call 704-782-6677 for information and 704-723-1143 for food orders. BBQ Chicken Dinner at New Gilead Reformed Church, 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Concord, 11 a.m. until sold out. It will be dine in or carry out. A plate includes: half barbecue chicken, beans, slaw, roll, chips and dessert for $10. Other prices are a whole chicken for $8, and a quart of slaw for $5. Sunday, March 20 Old Courthouse Theatre is hosting an Antiques Appraisal Event from 2-5 p.m. The cost is $10 for one item and $15 for two items. Bring your treasures in to find their monetary worth. No written appraisal given. Owner can write all information given down. Email info@octconcord.com with any questions. Monday, March 21 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Friday, March 25 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcome at 704-782-1785. Monday, March 28 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Tuesday, March 29 Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Ceremony Honoring Vietnam War Veterans will be held at American Legion Post 51 on 165 Wilshire Ave. SW in Concord. The program, which includes a social gathering and refreshments, will last from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Cabarrus Black Boys Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and The Cabarrus Veterans Coalition. To RSVP, call 703-371-6850 by March 15. A Memorial Service at Vietnam Veterans Park will be open to the public at 2 p.m. The park is at 760 Orphanage Road in Concord. An RSVP is not required. Friday, April 1 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.. Monday, April 4 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Wednesday, April 6 The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join us on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome. Friday, April 8 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcome at 704-782-1785. Monday, April 11 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Friday, April 15 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Monday, April 18 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Got news or events? Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com. Food Trucks on Market at Mac Tabbys Cafe Join friends and furry ones this Saturday March 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. on the front porch at Mac Tabby Cat Cafe. This weekends truck is Lobster Dogs Food Truck. The cafe is open to all. Reservations are strongly recommended to visit the Cat Lounge. Mac Tabby Cat Cafe is located at 25 Market St. SW. Visit mactabby.com for more information.or to schedule a visit. INdeavor luncheon at Flywheel Cafe Join the members of Flywheel on Wednesday, March 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for their monthly INdeavor luncheon. This month's INdeavor guest speaker is Emma Sellers, the City of Concord's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator. INdeavor is a monthly luncheon, featuring a local leader, focused on topics relevant to local business and the inner workings of local economy. Family Day March 19 Family Day returns to Cabarrus Arts Council on Saturday, March 19, from 1-4 p.m. Make a beaded dragonfly, a collage character made out of bubble wrap, and other texture-inspired crafts during this special Family Day on the front lawn. Visit the latest exhibition Texture, and stay for Green Eggs and Ham, a free show performed by Opera Carolina. Registration for the show is required. (Showtimes are at 1:30 and 3 pm). Family Days are free and open to the public. For more information and to register go to cabarrusartscouncil.org/current season/family- shows?. Masks are required at craft stations on the lawn and inside the Cabarrus Arts Council The Cabarrus Arts Council is located at 65 Union Street, South. Spring Shop n Stroll The North Union Merchant Association is hosting a Spring Shop n' Stroll on Saturday, March 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the north block of downtown. There will be special promotions as well as early bird deals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at participating locations. 11th Annual Future Designer contest at Ellis The 11th Annual Future Jewelry Designer Contest at Ellis Jewelers is underway now! Students from Cabarrus County Public Schools (grades 3 - 12) are encouraged to design a ring or pendant for contest consideration with the winning design being manufactured and presented to the student. One winner will be selected from three grade level groups (3-5, 6-8, 9-12). For more information including rules and judging criteria go to ellisfinejewelers.com/page/future-designers-contest. Deadline to enter is April 15. Art Walk on Union Art Walk on Union is an all-day arts festival for artists and makers to sell their handmade artwork. An extension of past art walks, Art Walk on Union features live music, food trucks, local brews and wines, along with participating galleries, shops and restaurants throughout Downtown Concord. The next Art Walk on Union is Saturday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Art Walk on Union is a joint partnership event with the City of Concord. The Charlotte Observer Charlotte-based Belk department store is laying off more than 300 workers starting next month and closing a South Carolina fulfillment center. The Jonesville, S.C., fulfillment center at 3805 Furman L. Fendley Highway will close in the near future, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter sent Feb. 28 to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. The layoff of 310 workers is expected to run from April 30 through May 28, Tim May, general vice president of supply chain operations said in a WARN report filed March 9. All positions and jobs at this location will be eliminated, May said in the letter. Some employees may be offered employment at other Belk locations. However, we do not know at this time which employees, if any, will be given this option, May said in the letter. Meeting distribution demand While other stores in cluding Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes and Amazon are adding fulfillment centers in the Charlotte region to meet distribution demands, Belk is cutting back. The decision to close the Jonesville center meets the needs of the companys supply chain network after review of internal processes, Belk spokeswoman Jessica Rohlik told the Observer on Thursday. We know the closure will affect associates at the Jonesville fulfillment center, and we are committed to working with them in the coming weeks to provide resources during the transition, Rohlik said. The Union County center filled thousands of online orders each day, according to a 7News report. Two years ago, Belk said it would invest $2.5 million to upgrade its Blythewood, S.C., distribution center over the next five years, The State newspaper in Columbia reported. The facility employs up to 103 people. Belk bankruptcy a year ago Its been just over a year since Belk, owned by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Feb. 23, 2021. It had a plan to restructure and eliminate $450 million of debt. Belk emerged from bankruptcy protection a day later. At that time the company said it did not intend to close stores or layoff any employees. Last summer, Belk promoted Nir Patel from president and chief of merchandising officer to CEO, replacing Lisa Harper. Patels background included e-commerce and marketing for Belk for five years. In July, Belk said it would sublease its corporate office on Tyvola Road where about 1,200 employees work. Last month, retail experts told the Observer the iconic, Charlotte-based department store hasnt been doing enough since emerging from bankruptcy. The 134-year-old company has nearly 300 store in 16 southern states. Belk has about 17,000 full- and part-time workers at its stores and distribution centers. The federal government extended its mask mandate on public transit for another month, even as COVID-19 cases drop precipitously around the country. The mask mandate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention covers all forms of public transit, including buses, planes and transit hubs such as airports. It has been in place since for more than a year and now lasts until April 18. The mandate had been set to expire March 18. Over the next month, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor. This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science, the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement announcing the extension. Public transit is one of the last places in South Carolina where masks are still required. The state largely left mask rules up to local governments during the pandemic, and most cities and counties ditched them last year. We are prepared and ready for a busy spring, and are doing our part to ensure the traveling public is safe and secure by continuing to deploy new technologies within the checkpoint, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. Previously the CDC said masking while indoors in public is no longer recommended in 90% of the country, including much of South Carolina. However, health experts advise against ditching masks completely. Keep them just in case cases rise again, as they have several times in the past after periods of decline. On March 7, the World Health Organization said the virus continues to evolve and the risk of future emergence of variants is high. Public transit is one of the few places where masking is still required because people are more likely to be exposed in close quarters to others outside their household more so than almost anywhere else, health officials have said. The mask mandate extension for transit comes as much of South Carolina and the country are either in the middle of, or getting ready for, spring break travel. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported just 150 new COVID-19 cases across South Carolina Thursday. Less than 5% of COVID-19 tests are coming back positive. The CDC has said 5% or lower means there is a low level of community spread. Nearly 54% of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and about 62% have received at least one dose, health officials say. The only people exempt from the public transit mask mandate are children under 2 and those with certain disabilities. Subscribers of Kyivstar mobile operator will receive UAH 250 bonus in nine countries - Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Hungary, as well as in Germany, Italy, Lithuania and the Czech Republic, to communicate with their relatives, the company's press service reported on Friday. "If a subscriber arrives in one of the indicated countries, then during the day he is automatically credited with bonus funds and is given the opportunity to use special tariffs throughout Europe: 1 Mb of Internet costs UAH 0.10; one minute of an incoming call or an outgoing call within the host country or to Ukraine - 1 UAH; 1 SMS - 1 UAH," the message says. So, at the expense of bonuses, Kyivstar subscribers receive 250 minutes for calls, 250 SMS, 2500 MB of mobile Internet, without paying for these services on their own. Bonuses will be valid for 30 days. MATTOON During the past two years, COVID-19 took away the many of the traditional opportunities for loved ones to mourn and celebrate those who passed away. Before the pandemic, a typical service at Schilling Funeral Home in Mattoon consisted of a visitation, service and burial with casket. But times have changed. It has become common to see more direct cremations and graveside services with families also opting to schedule a celebration of life or memorial service at a later date, said Schilling funeral directors in a joint press release. Masks and social distancing are also commonplace. With the easing of COVID-related restrictions, representatives of local funeral homes said they are beginning to plan and schedule more full traditional services. According to Bryan Mose, funeral director for Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, the services are designed to provide the surviving loved ones with support from friends and family, not just honor the deceased. There was a community outpouring and the ability for folks to gather and remember a life well lived, he said. But COVID really made us pivot. In Phase 1 of the Restore Illinois mandates following the arrival of COVID-19 in early 2020, social gatherings were limited to 10 people, altering traditional funeral plans. The Brintlinger and Earl funeral staff allowed mourners to enter the funeral home in shifts. We held people outside the funeral home, Mose said. As five left, five could come in. Families also chose to delay services or keep the ceremony private. Determining when the families and friends could safely gather is a difficult decision, Mose said. We have these waves, he said. A funeral service months after the loved one had passed was an opportunity several families utilized. It was an option the funeral directors were surprised to see. Theres that initial sense of grief and mourning, people kind of worked through that. I thought a lot of families might be hesitant to reopen those old wounds, Mose said. According to the funeral directors, the loved ones unfortunately had to go without the community support they needed during a difficult time. And people still value that tradition of being able to receive that support, Mose said. The funerals arent just for the survivors. The deceased had lives of their own as well. Other people close to them were usually the first to be separated from the funeral services. All of those people really didnt get to express their grief because of the limitations, Mose said. Through some creative and technical opportunities, services were shown as they happen through Facebook Live or Livestreamed on the funeral homes website. So that friends and families can participate in services that are being streamed over the internet in real time, Schilling Funeral Home directors said. Its not usually the first choice, Mose said. But as opposed to not being able to do it all, I would do it that way. With COVID-19 cases on the life slowly returning to normal, funeral staff said they are beginning to see some of the traditions return. Were starting to see the crowds come to gather again, Mose said. But it does follow a wave. Everybody wants to be safe. Mike Seitz, owner of Seitz Funeral Home in Moweaqua and Assumption, agreed. Not much like we did pre-COVID, he said. But we are still having a return to large funerals and visitations. Private services have become more popular. And I dont know if that will go away after COVID, Seitz said. A lot of families like that. Its a little more quaint and private. Graveside services were used more often during the pandemic. Another swing Seitz observed are services held on Saturdays. Its really stretched cemetery workers and vault companies to have enough staff to man all the services on Saturdays, he said. Cremations have become more popular in the last 20 years. According to funeral directors, the value in a cremation does not take away from the services. Its a time to meet with family and friends, Seitz said. Funeral directors and staff have been busier during the pandemic. Not necessarily because of COVID-19 deaths, but because of the conditions the world is living in. Its just been a rough two years, Seitz said. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Honking horns and loudspeaker chants to the tune of We Are Family echoed down 79th Street Thursday morning, as marchers celebrated the birthday of abolitionist Harriet Tubman and called for increased attention to local Black women and girls who are missing. We are Har-ri-et! I got all my sisters with me! called out Steven Davis, a Morgan Park community leader, throughout a 2.22 mile walk down the road in Tubmans honor. The mood among the dozen marchers, nearly all women, was festive as they raised fists and danced. But it was underscored by a somber mission: Raising awareness for Black women and girls who have gone missing in the city with many of their cases unresolved. The marchers started with a larger group under a portrait of Kierra Coles, a postal worker who went missing in 2018, when she was 26 years old and three months pregnant. They called for Chicagoans and Chicago police to continue looking for missing women, including Coles. Coles mother, Karen Phillips, spoke at the rally and said it was heartbreaking to continue life without her daughter, wondering whether she is safe. Its like a routine I have to go through, to keep myself together from not breaking down or just totally losing my mind, Phillips said. Its hard to wonder when you go from seeing your child every day to not seeing her in almost three years. Coles portrait, smiling over the corner of East 79th Street and South Prairie Avenue in Chatham, was the first public mural completed for Still Searching, an art and film project dedicated to missing women, said muralist Damon Lamar Reed. Keep searching, Reed said at the rally. We want to be the voice to the voiceless. The Cook County sheriffs office started a project last year to focus on dozens of unsolved, long-term disappearances, including Coles. Rallygoers included representatives from youth advocacy organization Pink Lemons and woman-led construction company Pink Hard Hatz. Delece Williams, founder of youth community organization Kidz Korna, organized the march. Others, such as Linda Griffin, a cleaning services business owner who lives near the South Side rally site, came upon the event accidentally. Griffin said she passes Coles portrait every morning while walking her Shih Tzu, Winter, and prays for the missing woman. She joined the march to support the postal worker and Tubman, a recent reading subject, she said. The local grandmother held the rallys microphone in one hand and Winters leash in the other as she danced east down the right lane of 79th, with We are Family blasting from the speakers in front of her. The group occupied a lane of 79th from South Prairie to South Vincennes avenues and back, but most drivers seemed to support the march. Drivers honked consistently when Davis asked for their support of Tubman or the missing women. Theres always been a plan to not elevate and uplift, encourage or support African people, which is ironic and awful because African people built this country, said marcher Afrika Porter. The activist said she was trying to set an example for her two sons and grandson to always be on the right side of history. Everything is about seeking justice and elevating people that are doing great things in the community, Porter said. After the march ended, Williams expressed hope for the future. There was so much love as we were walking down the street, with the little bit that we had, so I can imagine if we do more of this ... we can really bring the violence and everything else down, Williams said. She also briefly spoke to Rita Daniels, a descendant of Tubman, on a phone call over speakers in front of marchers. Daniels asked the group to support the founding of the Harriet Tubman Learning Center in Georgia. Its our job to step up to the plate and help our young children, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Watching TV shots of Vladimir Putins army deliberately bombing and shelling civilians is like watching a movie of the London Blitz in 1940, when Adolf Hitlers air force rained death down from the air. No wonder the British Parliament jumped to its feet in applause when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed them virtually Tuesday and paraphrased Winston Churchill. He insisted: We will not give up, we will fight on the sea, on land, whatever the cost. We will not lose. But then came the painful punch line, repeating the plea Zelenskyy has been making over and over to no avail to the Europeans and to President Joe Biden: Please make sure our Ukrainian skies are safe. The White House and NATO allies must respond to that plea, even if they reject Zelenskyys request for a NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine. They must think outside the box on how to stop Russias slaughter from the skies. No matter how bravely Ukrainian ground forces are fighting the Russian Goliath, they are still unable to stop the rain of Russian missiles, rockets, and bombs that are smashing cities and civilians, including those trying to flee. Nor will more economic sanctions on Russian banks and oil while necessary for the long term halt Putins vicious air campaign. A NATO no-fly zone would require U.S. or European planes to destroy Russian air defenses and confront Russian planes. Understandably, the West does not want to go to war with Russia to defend a non-NATO member, Ukraine. But there are other ideas out there for protecting Ukraines skies. Retired Air Force general and former NATO commander Philip Breedlove and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker have proposed a humanitarian no-fly zone that could extend over western Ukraine, which Russia hasnt yet heavily attacked and where hundreds of thousands of refugees are taking shelter. Perhaps it could be extended over Kyiv. It would be designed to protect civilians and permit the delivery of humanitarian aid and the safe exit of refugees. Of course, it is easy to imagine the objections to such an idea, starting with, What if the Russians refuse? Yet, the alternative is for NATO to sit by and watch Putin turn Ukrainian cities into death zones. Russias attacks on Ukrainian nuclear reactors already constitute a nuclear threat. Putin is constantly playing the nuclear card, hinting at nuclear war and claiming sanctions mean the West is at war with Russia. Americans should remember that the United States has faced down the Russian nuclear weapons before, during the Berlin airlift and the Cuban missile crisis. Weve been in a nuclear standoff during the Cold War and have faced the Russians for decades, I was told by retired Adm. James Stavridis, also a former NATO commander. It is critical to the Western order [in which dictators dont launch unprovoked wars and destroy other countries] that Putin not be rewarded for his actions. We should be prudent, but demonstrate the U.S. and its allies are capable of dealing with his threats. The White House should also be focused on how to send Ukraine ground-based air defense systems that are capable of hitting Russian planes and missiles at medium and high altitudes. The bottom line: As fast as the West has awakened over the past two weeks, it must act even more swiftly to prevent Putin from wreaking destruction from the air that rivals what Hitler did to London. If Putins nuclear blackmail prevents us from saving Ukraine, who knows where he will threaten next. Trudy Rubin is a columnist for the The Philadelphia Inquirer. trubin@phillynews.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 British American Tobacco Plc said Friday it has decided to exit the Russian marketplace in response to the military invasion in Ukraine. The manufacturer, which owns Reynolds American Inc. of Winston-Salem, said in a statement that we have concluded that BATs ownership of the business in Russia is no longer sustainable in the current environment. Russia is the fourth-largest cigarette market in the world, according to Forbes magazine. BAT has a 23.5% market share, according to Cowen & Co., trailing Japan Tobacco at 36.7% and Philip Morris International at 31.7%. BAT did not provide a timeline for completing the exit. Today, we have initiated the process to rapidly transfer our Russian business in full compliance with international and local laws, BAT said. Beyond continuing to pay our 2,500 employees, we will do our utmost to safeguard their future employment. BATs Ukraine operations are based in Kyiv, and its Russia operations are based in Moscow. BAT said it has 1,000 manufacturing employees in Pryluky, Ukraine, and 2,500 in St. Petersburg, Russia. BAT said the decision to exit Russia came after a two-day review of our presence in Russia. The context is highly complex, exceptionally fast-moving and volatile. On Wednesday, BAT said it would continue to operate in Russia, but halt all planned capital investments and new product introductions. Barclays analyst Jain Gaurav said BAT likely accelerated its decision once Russian president Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday he was backing a plan to nationalize assets of western companies exiting Russia. "On Friday, the Russian prosecutor generals office said that companies pausing operations need to comply with labor laws," Gaurav said. "We think this likely led to BAT's decision and revised guidance." BAT said in its statement that we join together as one company to call on all leaders and governments to find a peaceful and sustainable resolution to this tragic conflict through the power of dialogue and diplomacy. The decision comes with a financial cost, though not as significant as what could face Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco if they make a similar decision. Russia is among nine key markets for BATs heated cigarette product glo, which has not been approved for U.S. usage by the Food and Drug Administration. The decision to exit Russia and suspended Ukraine operations led BAT to revise its full-year financial guidance. In 2021, Ukraine and Russia accounted for 3% of group revenue and a slightly lower proportion of adjusted profit from operations. We now expect constant currency group revenue growth of 2% to 4% and mid-single figure constant currency adjusted diluted earnings per share growth," the company said. On Feb. 11, BAT projected mid-single figure adjusted earnings per share growth, reflecting continued COVID-19 impacts. Other responses On Wednesday, Imperial Brands Plc said it had suspended operations in Russia and Ukraine in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Imperial, which owns ITG Brands LLC of Greensboro, said in a statement it has halted all production at its plant in Volgograd, Russia, as well as ceasing all sales and marketing activity in Russia. It also suspended its operations in Ukraine, where it has 600 employees. Imperial said both countries comprise combined about 2% of its net revenues and 0.5% of adjusted operating profit for fiscal 2021. Philip Morris International, which has the largest manufacturing presence in Russia, said Wednesday it has suspended all capital investments in the country, which includes all new product launches and commercial, innovation, and manufacturing investments. The manufacturer also said it has activated plans to scale down its manufacturing operations in Russia amid on-going supply chain disruptions and the evolving regulatory environment. We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. Philip Morris International has about 800 employees in Ukraine. It said it would continue to pay salaries to all Russian and Ukrainian employees. A third major tobacco supplier to Russia and Ukraine, Japan Tobacco, said Thursday it has suspended operations in Ukraine, as well as all new investments and marketing in Russia. It also halted the launch of its heated cigarette product Ploom X in Russia. Japan Tobacco has about 1,000 employees in Ukraine. Russia is one of Japan Tobaccos largest markets with four manufacturing plants and nearly 4,000 employees, which is 6.7% of its overall workforce of 58,000. The company said all employees in Russia will be retained for the foreseeable future. BAT, Japan Tobacco and Philip Morris International had drawn criticism in the past two days from U.S. anti-tobacco advocates questioning why they were still doing business in Russia when other international manufacturers had exited. For example, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids claimed the three manufacturers were showing once again that they lack a moral compass and always put profits before lives. These companies have issued press releases with slippery language that they are scaling down operations in Russia. But empty PR gestures cannot disguise the fact that these tobacco companies continue to do business in Russia, boosting both their own profits and Russias economy as it continues its brutal assault on Ukraine. BAT and the other tobacco manufacturers are demonstrating the geopolitical risks of global businesses, said David Sweanor, an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa and the author of several e-cigarette and health studies. From a health standpoint, the move to buying locally owned cigarettes in place of foreign ones makes no difference. But Russia and Ukraine were big markets for reduced risk products, especially the heated tobacco category, and losing access to these products will invariably lead to substitution by lethal cigarettes, Sweanor said. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local chef Sammy Gianopoulos has received a 2022 Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. Gianopoulos is part owner and the creative force behind Fratellis Italian Steakhouse in Winston-Salem, Sammy Gs Tavern in High Point and Three Bulls American Steakhouse in Clemmons. As a partner in in ZorAbility run by Sam Ballas of East Coast Wings + Grill Gianapoulos recently helped develop the menu and concept for myfrii, a new fast-casual concept that plans to start franchising soon. Gianopoulos is a graduate of Reynolds High School, who went on to attend Johnson & Wales Universitys culinary program. He cooked at Biltmore Estate in Asheville and Louie Blues Seafood Grill in Winston-Salem before opening his first restaurant, Giannos, in High Point in 2000. He followed that with Aquaria Seafood Grill in High Point in 2004. Later came a restaurant and catering business called The Factory by Sammy G, established mainly to meet the needs of Furniture Market clients. He also worked on 2520 Tavern in Clemmons, oSo Tavern in High Point and oSo Eats in Winston-Salem. Gianapoulos won his Silver Plate Award in the category for Independent Restaurant/Multi-Concept. It was the second time he was nominated for the award; the first time was 2021. Gianapoulos previously was named High Point Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year in 2007. He currently is a board member of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and has served as a co-chair of the annual Greek Festival in Winston-Salem. The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association is a trade organization for food and beverage industry that established its Silver and Gold Plate Awards in 1954 to pay tribute to the most outstanding and innovative talents in nine segments of food service operations, according to the associations website. For more information, visit www.ifmaworld.com. 336-727-7394 @mhastingsWSJ Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Forsyth County has had an additional COVID-19 related death as the local daily case count continues on a slow decline, according to Thursdays update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. A total of 13 deaths have been reported in the county so far in March, following 69 in February and 73 in January. Those months represent the highest and second highest totals since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Altogether, there have been 774 COVID-related deaths in Forsyth. Statewide, 28 additional COVID-related deaths were listed in Thursdays update, bringing North Carolinas total COVID-related deaths to 22,892. DHHS listed Forsyth with 36 new cases, compared with 38 in Wednesdays report and 20 Tuesday. The Forsyth case count is at 91,610 for the pandemic, with the daily count below 100 for nine consecutive updates. The statewide new case count was 1,783 in Thursdays update, compared with 1,833 Wednesday, 894 Tuesday and 528 Monday. DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so people could have been infected or may have died days or weeks before their cases were counted. Forsyth health director Joshua Swift has said some of the recent deaths in Forsyth are among people who had been battling COVID-19 for weeks, if not longer. Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 4.9%, down from 5.2% on Wednesday. The statewide rate was 3%, down from 3.9% Wednesday. Thursdays update had Forsyth averaging 8.6 cases per 100,000 residents over the most recent 14-day period. Thats down from 82 per 100,000 residents in the Feb. 11 report. Local public-health officials say it may be several weeks before communities learn what effect ending mask mandates will have. Those officials still encourage residents to wear a mask in indoor public settings if they believe there is a risk for exposure. COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide dropped from 1,093 on Wednesday to 1,012 on Thursday. Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region had a combined 199 COVID-19 patients Thursday, unchanged from Wednesday. Statewide, 111 patients are on ventilators, including 22 in the Triad region. There were 21 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including four in the Triad region. MerleFest policies MerleFest disclosed its safety protocols for its 2022 festival in Wilkesboro from April 28 to May 1. Organizers will not require a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination to enter. However, masks will be required on shuttle buses to and from the festival, and in the artist-only area. Updated cleaning protocols and handwashing stations will be in place festival-wide, while all buildings have been upgraded with bipolar ionization air filters. Gates will be opened day earlier to avoid crowding at the main entrance. A pedestrian-only exit has been added for greater social distancing. Childrens craft activities will be pre-packaged, and work areas will be preset with social distancing in mind. Representatives from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Wilkes EMS, Wilkesboro Fire Department and local law enforcement will be on site throughout the festival to handle health and safety needs. Representatives from the Wilkes County Health Department will be on site to monitor health practices in all areas. MerleFest strongly encourages everyone to vaccinate to protect themselves and others, said Wes Whitson, the festivals director. All health and safety policies are subject to change as more science-based information becomes available to health officials. For more information, go to merlefest.org/safety. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Buffalo, WY (82834) Today Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 54F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low near 40F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Worst tactics In the March 8 Washington Post, columnist Catherine Rampell writes: Republicans are setting a trap for President Biden. Theyre demanding he take actions that will raise gasoline prices with obvious plans to attack him politically after the prices rise. Shes right, of course. Republican legislators cant even condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin without criticizing Biden. Why are Republicans playing politics while Russia is attacking Ukraine and threatening the rest of the world? For that matter, why were they attacking doctors, nurses and medical professionals while COVID was ravaging our communities? Why are they always playing politics? Is there nothing that will unite them with the rest of America? I am so sick of the all campaign, all the time tactics of the GOP. Theyre not interested in helping the American people. They just want power and theyll resort to the worst tactics to get it. Sheila Kendall Winston-Salem Personal freedom I take exception to the March 6 letter Tyranny. The writer defends his vaccination refusal based on the grounds of personal freedom. I have heard this repeatedly from many of the more selfish citizens in our midst. We live in a community and with freedom in a community comes responsibility; its a two-sided coin. Simply put, your freedom ends where my nose begins. We have to learn to live together and that means compromise; give and take, respecting the greater good. You do not have the right to, possibly, contract COVID, pass it to friends, coworkers and family members, cause the deaths of others and possibly cost the community thousands of dollars for your health care simply because you have the right. Do you think you have the right to drive in the left lane or go 100 mph in a 35 mph zone as an expression of your personal freedom? Speaking personally, I viewed this lifesaving vaccine as a great gift of science and I couldnt wait to receive it. Indeed, over the last 15 months Ive voluntarily and eagerly received four doses (the original two plus two boosters, each six months apart) and I consider it a privilege to have lived where this was possible. I was not compelled to get the vaccine; I willingly chose to and did not relinquish one iota of personal freedom in the process. Kenneth R. Ostberg Winston-Salem Gun violence To stop killings, bring back stop-and-search laws. Felons are carrying guns because they know they will not be stopped and searched. Others carrying guns will not want to be stopped and arrested. Most who are carrying guns are not carrying them for protection, but theyre having fun, like its a sport. They are shooting at houses, cars, people on the streets and in their homes. Whoever is doing the killings, be it whites, Blacks, Hispanics or Asians, racism should not be used as a excuse to stop the law. The law will stop the killings of innocent people. Everyone knows that the present gun laws are not working. Talk and promises will not stop the killings. Its time to use strict action and bring back the stop-and-search laws. Lives will be saved and American citizens will feel safer. Ron Kirkpatrick Kernersville A telling announcement Mark Walkers announcement that he wants every boy and girl to know that their rights dont come from the federal government but from their creator, God almighty (Walker, Robinson speak at W-S church, March 7) is both depressing and telling. Apart from being patently false, he is cunning in that he is focusing on children to spread his disinformation. After all, what enlightened, intelligent adult would believe in childish drivel such as talking snakes, burning bushes and arks full of animals? Additionally, if we are to believe our rights come directly from the 10 Commandments (as Pastor Walker probably does), why are so many of them illegal with the first actually prohibited by the First Amendment? Fortunately, all children grow up and most stop believing in nonsense. This is what enables us to solve real problems in the real world, the only one we know of. With hope, Pastor Walker can return to the pulpit, where he can be restrained to lying only on Sundays. Tracy Long Pfafftown Lincoln has made the list of stops for country music legend Alan Jackson's final tour. Pinnacle Bank Arena announced Friday that Jackson's Last Call One More for the Road Tour will be rolling into Lincoln for a show Aug. 26. Jackson, who is in the Country Music Hall of Fame, is known for songs such as Chattahoochee and Its Five O Clock Somewhere." He has played at Pinnacle Bank Arena once previously, in 2016. He also played a concert at Pershing Auditorium in 1995. This will be the final tour for the three-time Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year, who announced last year that he has a rare nerve disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth that affects muscle function, movement and balance. Jackson said in a news release that $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to the CMT Research Foundation. Tickets go on sale March 18 at 10 a.m. at alanjackson.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 26-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for conspiring to sell more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine in the Lincoln area in 2019. Enrique Abarca was found guilty at trial in December of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture with two prior serious drug felonies. U.S. District Judge John Gerrard sentenced him Thursday to the prison time, plus 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp said Abarca had prior convictions for delivery of meth in Platte County in 2016 and conspiracy to deliver cocaine in Dodge County in 2017. As a result of the prior convictions, he faced a statutory minimum sentence of 25 years. The case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force with assistance from the Saline County Sheriffs Office. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The window to act was closing. At the urging of her daughter, Yuliia, and a Lincoln family she had only met over Zoom, Oksana Iziumova quickly packed a small bag into her car and drove west out of Odessa, the Ukrainian city of 1 million people on the shores of the Black Sea. A three-hour trek to Moldova turned into a 27-hour ordeal at the border before Oksana was cleared to enter the former Soviet republic among other refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Out of harms way, at least for the time being, Oksana found a quiet rural area dotted with farmhouses about an hours drive northwest of Chisinau, Moldovas capital, and hunkered down. But over the next two weeks, amid the fog of war and rumors the Moldovan government was planning to declare martial law, Yuliia Iziumova could see her mother had not fled far enough from the conflict. On a Zoom call with her daughter and her host family in Lincoln Matthew Wegener and Donna Gould Oksana expressed fears of not knowing where to go or finding a place she could stay. There was so many reasons for her to be worried, said Yuliia, a junior at Nebraska Wesleyan University. It was really hard to watch her be that upset. As the two families talked through the situation and their options, Wegener offered an idea, a kind of worst-case scenario proposal, he said in a phone interview earlier this week. The self-described serial entrepreneur from Lincoln could fly to Europe and meet up with Oksana, and help drive her the rest of the way to Germany, which was accepting Ukrainian refugees. The idea was to get Oksana into a member country of NATO, where she would be safer and in reach of resources being marshaled for those fleeing the worsening conflict, Wegener explained. Yuliia translated the proposal to her mother: You could see the relief on her face. The Iziumovas signaled they wanted to move forward with the plan, and Wegener and Gould started figuring out the details. They found an affordable plane ticket from Chicago to Budapest, Hungary only $580, Wegener said and drew up directions for Oksana to download that would get her out of Moldova, through Romania and into Hungary. On Thursday, Wegener boarded a flight in Lincoln, with the plan he would meet Oksana in person for the first time Friday. We didnt really need to talk about it, Wegener said. Shes part of our family; you do whatever you need to do to take care of them. * * * As Oksana Iziumova prepared to head west out of Moldova, the plan to bring her to safety began to take shape. More than a decade ago, Donna Goulds parents, Jack and Harriet Gould, played host to Marshall Fellows visiting from Europe as part of an annual program in Lincoln. Along with other farm families, we had hosted numerous groups over a number of years, Harriet Gould said. Some of the guests you kind of connect with a little bit more than others. One of the deep connections forged was with Borbala Kriza, a documentary filmmaker living in Budapest. Harriet had reconnected with Kriza on social media long ago, but the two had not communicated in years, she said. Still, knowing her son-in-laws plan to meet with Oksana in Budapest, Harriet sent her friend a message on Facebook. Bori, as Harriet knows her, responded quickly, telling her former host family she would do anything she could to help. Soon after, Kriza met Yuliia, Oksana, Wegener and Donna Gould via Zoom, and they hammered out the details for getting Oksana to Budapest. She was just a godsend, Harriet said. Not only was she going to help (Wegener) in Budapest, but she has connections in Romania and all these other places where Yuliias mother is going to be traveling through. It was just wonderful. Oksana made it Suceava, Romania, on Wednesday, the first leg on her multi-day journey to Hungary. If all goes according to plan, Wegener said, he should arrive in Budapest at about the same time as she does. The two will stay in the city of 1.8 million people for a few days, Wegener said, which will give him an opportunity to assess the organizations helping Ukrainian refugees. Yuliia, meanwhile, reached out to Professor Jo Ann Fuess, her German instructor at Nebraska Wesleyan, to ask if she knew anybody in western Europe who would be willing to give her mother a home until the next step could be worked out. Fuess, who has taught at the liberal arts university for 30 years, said she couldnt make any promises but would reach out to friends and family living in Germany and Austria. She sent out the plea Saturday. By early the next morning, there were a large number of replies, including from former students. Among the replies was a message from Johanna Schwerdtle, a longtime friend, former office mate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and former German and French professor at Nebraska Wesleyan. Schwerdtle, who moved back to Germany with her husband, Guenter, after his diagnosis of dementia, had discussed the situation with friends and family living in Neu-Ulm. Fuess wasnt looking for her friend to take on the extra responsibility, but after Schwerdtle said there was a team of people in the town on the Danube River ready and willing to help, it made sense to send Oksana that direction. Among those ready to receive Oksana were Russian and Ukrainian speakers, people who understood the German bureaucracy, as well as the U.S. immigration and refugee system. The Schwerdtles grew up in post-World War II Germany and understand the ravages and traumas of war, Fuess said, and were touched by Yuliias story and connection to their home in Lincoln. She has plenty of space and a huge heart, and I thought That would be a good landing place for Yuliias mother, Fuess added. Reaching that landing place is going to be an experience, Wegener said. He doesnt speak Russian, Hungarian or German. Oksana has limited English skills. The two will work it out, he said, and hell stay in Neu-Ulm for a few days to help Oksana get settled. Since she left home with only a small suitcase, the family has set up a GoFundMe to help Oksana buy new clothes and anything else she needs as she makes a new home more than 1,200 miles from Odessa. Whatever funds arent needed will be donated to an aid organization, Wegener said. The plan came together quickly, but with so many questions being aired about what can be done to help those in need, Wegener said he saw a way to act. My whole premise has been, Im just going to go, he said. Thats the only thing I know how to do. * * * Yuliia Iziumova also left Lincoln this week, bound for Disney World in Florida. The spring break trip planned long before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, before the bombings of civilian areas and the swift penalties enacted by Western countries in response has been a welcome distraction. Watching as the plan to bring her mother to Neu-Ulm has fallen into place with help from people shes never met all with some connection to Lincoln Yuliia says shes overwhelmed. The surrealism of watching her home country be the center of a war has transformed into the surrealism of experiencing compassion shown by her American host family, as well as strangers in Hungary and Germany. Its still hard to believe this is happening to me, she said. I am full of gratitude. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Zach Hammack K-12 education reporter Zach Hammack, a 2018 UNL graduate, has always called Lincoln home. He previously worked as a copy editor at the Journal Star and was a reporting intern in 2017. Now, he covers students, teachers and schools as the newspapers K-12 reporter. Follow Zach Hammack Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Being able to tell what's true and what's not when you scroll through Twitter or check Facebook is perhaps more important than ever. The pandemic, and now the crisis in Ukraine, has taught us as much. Ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of the East European country last month, misinformation has become increasingly more difficult to spot on social media. At Lincoln Public Schools, social studies teachers and school librarians are equipping students with the skills needed to navigate these misinformation pitfalls. The district's work in teaching media literacy is even garnering national attention through a soon-to-be-published study between LPS and the Stanford University History Education Group that explored how students search for and evaluate information online. The Stanford researchers studied lateral reading a fact-checking process that includes verifying sources and determining author intent and its efficacy in the classroom. LPS ended up being a perfect match since media literacy was already a part of the district's civics curriculum. As part of the study, lateral-reading lessons were taught in senior government and politics classes at three LPS high schools, while the other three high schools did not teach it. The students were then tested on their ability to discern credible information online. The findings were clear: The researchers found that those who received the lateral-reading lessons performed better than those who did not. The LPS-Stanford study, funded by Google, will soon be published in the Journal of Education Psychology and was recently featured in a Wall Street Journal piece on misinformation amid the Ukraine crisis. "Within social studies, we feel like it's our responsibility because (media literacy) is so closely tied to being an informed citizen," said Jaci Kellison, LPS social studies curriculum specialist at LPS. "The checklist mentality that I learned growing up to use with websites just doesn't fly anymore because you can make a very professional-looking website. A .org does not necessarily equal reliability, whereas 15 years ago, maybe it did." In 2020, the lateral-reading instruction was expanded to more middle and high school social studies classes, although media literacy has been an important part of the curriculum since the district rolled out its one-to-one Chromebook program about eight years ago. "We realized they're going to have information literally 24/7 at their fingertips," Kellison said. Back in the day, the focus of information literacy was more on finding reliable historical sources, but the arrival of social media made the ability to discern credible information a part of daily life. The skills librarians teach from kindergarten and beyond remain the same, said Chris Haeffner, LPS director of media services. "That's been the job of librarians for eons: To teach kids to think critically about the information that they're using, and whether it is relevant and accurate and up to date and what the perspectives might be that would be coloring that information in different ways," she said. The war in Ukraine has become a perfect opportunity to talk about misinformation and media literacy in Ellen Jorgenson's civics classes at North Star High School. Her students primarily get their news from social media, including apps such as TikTok and Snapchat. Making sure they can tell the difference between fact and fiction is especially important in light of the Ukraine crisis. One day, a student showed a post in class she had found on Facebook of a child standing in the middle of a battlefield as war raged on in the background. The post claimed it was from Ukraine. "So she checked it in class. She went through all the fact-checking websites and immediately a thing that pops up says it is a video that is circulating that is not from Ukraine but from Syria from a few years ago," Jorgenson said. "So that was really cool to see in real-time and just really helpful for them understanding what's going on and how social media can impact what's going on." Jorgenson's brother, Dave Jorgenson, runs the Washington Post's popular TikTok account, so she's had him talk to her classes about media literacy and accuracy. The Stanford curriculum, called Civic Online Reasoning, has expanded to other districts and also includes lessons specific to lateral reading and social media, Kellison said. "It's been great, because it does pinpoint very specific skills that we can target," she said. "It's not just this big abstract concept, there's this specific skill of lateral reading that research showed was effective in helping students discern information online." Haeffner says media literacy is more important than ever, especially since the skills go beyond the classroom. "This isn't a fly-by sort of skill set that they can just pick up, nor do students pick it up by accident," she said. "These are the kinds of skills that have to be intentionally taught, and practiced, and reinforced over and over and over again." Study: Masks prevented spread Schools that required face masks saw roughly 72% fewer cases from in-school COVID-19 transmission compared with schools with less-restrictive policies. That's one of the findings from a National Institutes of Health study unveiled Thursday that looked at 61 school districts spread across nine states during the delta variant surge last fall. For every 100 community-acquired cases, school districts with mandatory masking had just more than seven in-school infections, while districts with optional or partial mask policies saw more than 26. The study also found that students and staff primarily contracted COVID-19 outside school just 10% were linked to in-school transmission. The NIH researchers tracked 1.1 million students and 157,000 staff members in schools in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, California, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee, Kansas and Texas. The data is from July-December of last year, so it did not account for the omicron variant surge at the start of 2022. LPS was one of the few districts in Nebraska that has required masking for most of the 2021-22 school year, in part because of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department's countywide mask mandate. Contact the writer at zhammack@journalstar.com or 402-473-7225. On Twitter @zach_hammack Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Reeling from a psychotic break and diagnosed depression, Jacob Muhle thought the only solution was to kill himself and the method he chose was suicide by cop. After researching mass shootings, Muhle, who at the time was 21, first headed to a school in an attempt to target a populated site. But the date was March 17, 2020 mere days after Nebraska had reported its first case of community spread of COVID-19. The day before, officials with the Omaha, Millard, Papillion-La Vista and Bellevue school districts announced schools would close indefinitely to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. No one was at the school Muhle had selected. So Muhle headed for the next-busiest site nearby, a Hy-Vee Supermarket near 180th and Q streets. Chaos ensued as Muhle began firing outside the store. After Muhle entered the store, a 50-year-old Omaha man tackled him. An off-duty Omaha deputy police chief then wrestled Muhles gun away from him. No one was struck by gunfire, thanks to the actions of Omahan Tom Wenzl and Deputy Omaha Police Chief Scott Gray but also, Muhles attorney argued, because Muhle didnt actually intend to hurt anyone. Douglas County District Judge Kimberly Miller Pankonin said Thursday that she wasnt sure about that. The court was disturbed by the fact that you had gone to a school prior to this and luckily the one time you can say for the pandemic the school was closed, she said. You pose a very high threat to harm society, to harm yourself. And I cannot find anything to think that this would not happen again. In January, Muhle pleaded guilty to six felonies, including shooting a gun at an occupied vehicle, terroristic threats, attempted assault and firearm use. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed five additional felonies. The charges he pleaded to carried a punishment of anywhere from 11 to 176 years in prison. Thursday, the judge sentenced Muhle, now 23, to 42 to 64 years. Muhle will serve 26 years in prison before he is eligible for parole and must be discharged after 37 years, counting mandatory minimums and the states good-time law that cuts sentences in half. Muhle already has spent nearly two years behind bars. Muhle declined an opportunity to address the court. Assistant Douglas County Public Defender Leslie Cavanaugh said a psychologist who evaluated Muhle after he was arrested diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder, for which he had never been treated. That, a depression diagnosis and fear of losing his job led him to a desperation that put him in a tailspin, Cavanaugh said. Cavanaugh said she had discussed with Muhle the option of pursuing an insanity defense, but Muhle rejected that idea. He wanted to take responsibility for what he could for his actions, Cavanaugh said. I just ask the court and the victims to look at Mr. Muhle with some mercy in their hearts and some understanding about this situation. I dont think Mr. Muhle had any intent to harm anybody or shoot anybody, honestly, I tell you, but I know it didnt look that way from the victims viewpoint. After hearing Cavanaughs comments, Wenzl told the judge he could tell that Muhle just wanted to die that day. Wenzl started to weep as he asked the judge for leniency for Muhle. I ask that you show some empathy toward the situation, Wenzl said. I lay awake nights thinking about him. Muhle had shot into two vehicles in the Hy-Vee pharmacy drive-thru one with a father and a daughter inside and another driven by a grandmother who later said she was thankful her grandson wasnt with her, as he usually was. Muhle then went inside the store, shot toward Wenzl and hit a security camera. Gray had his gun drawn when Wenzl tackled Muhle. Muhle put the gun to his head but then lowered it, and Gray wrestled it away. Amy Jacobsen, a deputy Douglas County attorney, recalled listening to the 911 calls and referenced two that stood out one from the grandmother in the car and the other from a pharmacy worker who reported that seven people were hiding in the pharmacy. Both callers, she said, were in fear for their lives. I think safety of the public does demand prison time, Jacobsen said. We could have had a lot of dead people in this circumstance, not just Mr. Muhle, but a lot of other people. Gray, who broke his hand in the scuffle with Muhle, said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon that it was a sad situation. I just hope that he gets treatment, some help and maybe someday hell be able to return to society in a better way, Gray said. Wenzl said that after he tackled Muhle, Muhle kept repeating, Youre no hero. In court, a week shy of two years later, Wenzl said, Im his hero, damn it. Wenzl said he plans to send Muhle his address and give him the option to write him. Wenzl said he may even visit Muhle. Wenzl said he has children who are Muhles age and knows the importance of taking care of ones mental health. This is all about mental illness. Youve got avenues where you can go and get free mental health, Wenzl said. We all have issues ... if someone tells you, Im perfectly perfect ... No way. Because at some point in time, everybody has fought something. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LEXINGTON Jurors who heard Kathleen Jourdan describe a decade of strife in her marriage found the former physician not guilty on all counts in the 2020 shooting death of her husband. Jourdan, a 33-year-old who had been part of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Family Medicine Residency Program, was charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. She said she acted in self-defense. A Dawson County District Court jury of 10 women and two men were presented the case at 11 a.m. Friday. The verdict was returned just before 3:30 p.m. Investigators have said Kathleen Jourdan and her husband of nine years, Joshua Jourdan, got into an argument while driving back from Scottsbluff, where the family was in the process of moving. During the argument, Joshua pulled over along Interstate 80 near Cozad and called a friend in Georgia to mediate. Kathleen said Joshua gave her a look during the call while raising his arm. Kathleen told police she feared for herself and children when she pulled a handgun from the center console and fired two shots into her husbands chest. The couples two sons, who were in the backseat, werent hurt. Testifying on Wednesday, Kathleen Jourdan fought back tears on the stand, saying she was sorry the relationship had reached that point. Jurors heard Kathleen Jourdan describe how her husband had forced her to drink alcohol by pushing her to the floor and pouring a drink in her mouth, how she emerged with scratches on her neck and bruises on her chest, forearm and legs after he knocked her to the floor after ordering her to undress, urinated on her head and dumped baby powder on her as a form of punishment. They heard of how they lost a daughter to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and how Joshua Jourdan had moved with their two sons to his native Washington state while Kathleen Jourdan was in her medical residency in Omaha. Kathleen Jourdan testified that Joshua emailed her a list of conditions that he told her to notarize before he would move to Omaha. They stated a legal separation would take place and that he would get 30% of her income while she was in school and 50% while she was working throughout her life. She said he later emailed another condition to allow him unlimited sexual intercourse with her. The email exhibits were shown to the jury. Jourdan said she complied because I wanted to see my children. During cross examination, Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman asked Jourdan if she ever took any effective steps to leave with the boys. Jourdan said she did not. Waterman then asked Jourdan how she felt about Joshua being dead. She said she is relieved the abuse is over (that Im) done with this bad life. She said that she is not relieved that the father of her children is dead. I regret killing Josh. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 With raw emotions erupting on the floor of the Legislature during a morning of intense debate, state senators voted Friday to free Sen. Tom Brewer's "constitutional carry" gun rights bill from a filibuster and sent it on the way to second-round consideration. The bill advanced on a 35-9 vote following a 36-9 vote to end debate. Thirty-three votes were required to break the filibuster that threatened to trap the bill and eliminate it from this session's agenda. The action represented a big step forward for gun rights advocates and a huge victory for Brewer of Gordon, who shepherded the bill through a gantlet of opposition mounted by senators from Lincoln and Omaha. "We live in a place much different outside of Lincoln," Brewer told his metropolitan colleagues, suggesting that on occasion undermanned law enforcement in rural areas could welcome the assistance of law-abiding citizens in "protecting themselves and their families." The bill (LB773) would allow people to carry a concealed handgun in Nebraska without paying for a $100 permit. How they voted A bill (LB773) to allow people to carry a concealed handgun in Nebraska without paying for a $100 permit advanced 35-9 to the second round Friday. Voting yes (35): Aguilar, Albrecht, Arch, Blood, Bostelman, Brandt, Brewer, Briese, Clements, Day, Dorn, Erdman, Flood, Friesen, Geist, Gragert, Halloran, B. Hansen, Hilgers, Hilkemann, Hughes, Jacobson, Kolterman, Lindstrom, Linehan, Lowe, McDonnell, Moser, Murman, Pahls, Sanders, Slama, Stinner, Wayne, Williams. Voting no (9): Bostar, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, DeBoer, M. Hansen, Lathrop, Morfeld, Pansing Brooks, Vargas. Present, not voting (4): McCollister, McKinney, Walz, Wishart. Excused, not voting (1): Hunt. But Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, who proposed a compromise that would eliminate current fees charged for both permitting and required training for people who carry a concealed handgun, said the bill would also "remove training and background requirements (and) that is a bridge too far." "I want to be sure that gun owners have the requisite training they need," he said. Brewer said the bill does not remove the background check requirement that concealed-carry gun owners still would need to clear. Noting the opposition expressed to the bill by Lincoln senators, Brewer asked "have we forgotten the chaos in Lincoln?" that erupted during Black Lives Matter protests near the state Capitol in 2020. All of the nine votes to maintain the filibuster and in opposition to the bill itself were cast by senators from Lincoln and metropolitan Omaha. The proposal is opposed by the Lincoln Police Department. During the intense debate, Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha strode angrily out of the chamber after her shouted demands for a point of order were ignored during remarks by Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling personally criticizing her. "Wow!" Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln said following that eruption, which grew out of an earlier exchange between Cavanaugh and Brewer prompted by the Omaha senator's expressed concerns about allowing people who might be armed into the gallery overlooking the floor during Thursday's debate. "This is ridiculous," Pansing Brooks said. "That (criticism of Cavanaugh) should have been stopped. It was not kind, and it embarrassed our state, our colleague and our friend." Friday's debate often turned angry and confrontational, prompting Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha to remark on the changes in the Legislature he has experienced since he returned as a senator in 2019 after being term-limited out in 2015 following two consecutive terms. Lathrop, who decided not to seek reelection this year, said "I've been lied to in the last four years," declaring that "lying has become a tool" in the Legislature now. "This culture has changed," he said, and it reflects the national political culture now. "The culture has gone to hell," he said. "Everything's decided before it gets to the floor. This is choreographed now." Responding to Lathrop's remarks and his approaching departure, Brewer said: "You have been a true professional. I do hate to see you leave. We are lesser for it." Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk said Friday's decision for senators could be simply stated: "Where are you on gun rights?" Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 5 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Nebraska lawmakers gave initial approval Wednesday to a grant program for small businesses that are hit by natural disasters, pandemics or other emergencies, but it won't get any money this year. The bill advanced, 32-0, through the first of three required votes in the Legislature. Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln said she introduced the measure to help local businesses that face future hardships beyond their control. Wishart said it was inspired by assistance that went to businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Business groups support the measure, but some lawmakers questioned whether it was necessary. The original measure would have included $20 million in funding, but that portion was stripped out of the bill before lawmakers advanced it. If approved, the program would exist with no funding until money is allocated for it. With compromise amendments in the air, the Legislature headed Thursday toward a showdown vote that could end a filibuster blocking Sen. Tom Brewer's bill to allow people to carry a concealed handgun in Nebraska without paying for a $100 permit. A vote on a cloture motion to end debate on what is widely described as a "constitutional carry" gun bill should come Friday before senators head home for the weekend; if that vote fails, the bill is dead. The proposal (LB773) was pulled out of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee on a 30-12 vote Tuesday, leaving it within striking distance of the 33 votes required to end the filibuster waged by its opponents and place the proposal in position to move forward with potential amendments. Chief among them appears to be a proposal to eliminate the cost of currently mandated gun training and perhaps allow that training to take place online rather than in person as currently required. Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, a supporter of the bill, also suggested a potential compromise amendment that would delay implementation of the bill until 2023, when the next Legislature could make any needed refinements. While the Omaha Police Department has taken a neutral position on an amended version of Brewer's proposal, the Lincoln Police Department is opposed to the bill. Brewer said the U.S. Constitution already guarantees a right to bear arms without restrictions. The Second Amendment states that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." "There's a difference between a privilege and a right," Brewer said. "You don't have to pay to vote; you don't have to jump through a hoop." Although gun owners, some of them bearing arms, have rallied in sufficient numbers to fill the Capitol hallways, overflow committee rooms and crowd the legislative gallery during previous consideration of gun legislation, Thursday's debate opened with only about 30 people watching from the gallery. "I asked them to stand down," said Brewer of Gordon. "I asked them 'Do not bring guns.'" Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln said he is a gun owner who believes training requirements need to be maintained, but he proposed amendments to remove fees for permitting and for required training. A Morfeld amendment to eliminate a permitting fee was pending when the Legislature adjourned for the day Thursday. Morfeld, who said he is "a strong supporter of the Second Amendment with reasonable restrictions," noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has approved "reasonable regulations" for gun ownership. "Let's pay for the training," Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln said. Opponents of the bill, at least in its current form, dominated Thursday's debate in order to maintain the ongoing filibuster. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE An alleged drug dealer with a warrant out for his arrest nearly collided with another vehicle during police chase, according to police, before being taken into custody. Jalon S. Malone, 24, of the 1000 block of College Avenue, was charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine less than 40 grams, possession with intent to deliver/distribute/manufacture marijuana between 200-1,000 grams, possession of a firearm by a felon, maintaining a drug trafficking place, neglecting a child where specified harm did not occur and child is under 6 years of age, attempting to flee or elude an officer and second degree recklessly endangering safety and misdemeanor counts of alter identity marks of manufacturer property, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and possession of a controlled substance. According to a criminal complaint: At 8:22 p.m. on Tuesday, officers saw a car deviate from its lane of traffic without signaling and accelerating through the intersection in the middle of both lanes of traffic on Sixth Street. A traffic stop was initiated and the car pulled over to the curb lane as if it was going to stop. But then it accelerated quickly, failed to stop at a stop sign and nearly collided with another vehicle, causing that vehicle to stop during a green light. Eventually the fleeing vehicle parked on Wilson Street. The driver, police said, got out of the car and ran on the 1400 block of West Street, running through several properties before being caught by officers. He was identified as Malone. Police said they searched him and found a baggie containing three pills of Alprazolam in addition to $1,046 in cash. Malone had an active warrant for an Oct. 15 report where police arrived to his apartment for a domestic abuse call and found: 97.2 grams of cocaine 611.6 grams of marijuana $148,972 in cash, much of it in grocery bags or in bundles elsewhere Multiple boxes of ammunition A loaded semiautomatic magazine A loaded semiautomatic firearm with the serial number scratched off An empty gun case Creatine muscle powder, which police noted is a common substance used to dilute cocaine A safe Malone was given $40,000 in cash bonds in Racine County Circuit Court on Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for March 17 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE A woman took the stand on Thursday and testified she may have known years before that a Racine County Jane Doe was Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder, but did not act upon that knowledge to protect her mother from homicide charges. However, once investigators knocked on the door, the woman felt relieved. I felt terrible; I felt torn up inside, Linda LaRoches daughter H.K. said of her cooperation with the investigation that led to her mothers arrest. When she was asked, do you still love your mother, she said: Yes I do. Linda LaRoche, 67, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Schroeder, who was 23 at the time of her death. The defendant also is accused of driving from McHenry, Illinois to rural Racine County to dump the womans body in a cornfield, for which she is charged with hiding a corpse. LaRoche pleaded not guilty to the charges and has denied having a hand in the womans death. Closing arguments in the case are expected Monday. History The Racine County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to Raymond on July 21, 1999 after a Department of Public Works employee found a young womans body in the first row of a cornfield. The woman was badly beaten, malnourished, and 25% of her upper body had burns, evidence of torture. She also had an infection that her weakened body could not fight. The woman had never been arrested, so her fingerprints did not turn up an identification. She was buried in a Jane Doe grave and went nameless for 20 years until modern DNA testing turned up an identification. Once she was identified, investigators learned that Schroeders father had abandoned his family when she was young and her mother was deceased. She was described in court as cognitively slow. She met LaRoche at a free clinic where the older woman was working as a nurse. LaRoche offered the young woman a job helping in her home with housework and her six children, according to testimony. Schroeder was invited to live in the house, in the room of LaRoches daughter, who would soon be going off to college. Testimony LaRoches oldest child and her only daughter, H.K., was an adult when Schroeder came to live with the Laroches. The defendants other children were very young when Schroeder moved in, and could not remember an exact timeline for events, but HK placed the year as late 1995 when she (H.K.) was 20 years old. H.K. appeared fond of Schroeder and said: You couldnt help but love Peggy. She said Schroeder was gentle, naive, and a good-hearted person but someone who had mental limitations. H.K. was not home much after she left for college, but there were a few incidents she remembered involving potential abuse inflicted on Schroeder. She remembered her mother telling her that she (LaRoche) beat the crap out of her (Schroeder) for allowing the twins to walk home from the store alone. H.K. remembered LaRoche saying: I really beat her. She told the jury she remembered two incidents that occurred after the family moved into a farmhouse while their new house was being constructed. The first incident was seeing Schroeder with a black eye. She asked Schroeder if her mother had caused the black eye, and she nodded an affirmation. During the same visit, she also overheard her mother screaming at Schroeder, calling her names, and saying the worst things you could say to a person, along the lines of youre so stupid and no one could love you. I remember it seemed to go on and on, she said. She told the jurors: My mom could be a screamer. She explained her lack of response was due to her belief if there was a serious problem, her stepfather would step in. Her stepfather, Robert Johnson, previously testified he was rarely home at the time and never saw any abuse. Years later, a comment by a family member caused HK to go looking for Schroeder on Jane Doe websites. In 2016, she came across Jane Doe Racine County and felt she had found Schroeder; however, she took no action, fearing if she was wrong she could harm her mother. She said she asked herself: What if I am blowing this out of proportion? Does this merit calling the police? I dont know. I didnt know what to think. She said if her mother had passed away she would have come forward, but investigators knocked on her door in 2019 with questions about the disappearance of Schroeder. H.K. agreed to cooperate with the investigation and make two calls to her mother, asking about Schroeder. The calls were recorded and played for the jury, who heard H.K. say the police had been to her house asking a lot of questions about Schroeder. They heard LaRoche tell her daughter that in 1999 she dropped Schroeder off at a restaurant and her grandmother picked her up, and that was the last time she ever saw the young woman. LaRoche also said that she had heard Schroeder moved to Las Vegas years ago to live with her father. On the second call, the defendant also was critical of Schroder, saying she wandered around the neighborhood, and suggested she was promiscuous. At her daughters insistence, she went to the Jane Doe website and looked at the pencil drawing of Racine County Jane Doe. LaRoche told her daughter she did not think the pencil drawing of Jane Doe Racine County was Schroeder without knowing investigators had already made a positive identification. Im not seeing it, LaRoche said. LaRoche read the Jane Doe Racine County page and said: Whoever it was was abused and thats kind of sickening. LaRoche also told her daughter that a secretary called from her ex-husbands business two years after Schroeder left. She claimed the secretary said that Schroeder had called and wanted to come back to the family. That supposed call would have been two years after Schroeders body was found in a Raymond cornfield. 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. MOUNT PLEASANT Kelly Gallaher, a frequent critic of village government, is being sued for defamation by the villages attorney. The attorney, Chris Smith, is suing Gallaher. He is suing her personally, not through his official capacity as a representative of Mount Pleasant in legal matters. The Village of Mount Pleasant is not involved in the litigation in any way, Village Administrator Maureen Murphy said in an email. Neither Smith nor Gallaher agreed to comment directly on the lawsuit, which was filed Monday. Smith v. Gallaher Since 2015, Gallaher has operated the A Better Mount Pleasant social media pages, through which she primarily criticizes Mount Pleasant village government and, more recently, Foxconn. In a social post to Tuesday, Gallaher alleged via A Better Mount Pleasant that the village is trying to intimidate her with the lawsuit. The post reads, in full, ...aaand now they are suing us. #intimidation. The lawsuit is related to allegedly baseless claims Gallaher made about: The length of time the village has been internally considering extending the length of its elected officials terms from two years to three . An allegedly false allegation Gallaher made regarding a statement Smith made to The Journal Times. Two to three Gallaher opposes the change to the lengths of the terms. She asserts it is a move to give the current board members more power, while village officials have said the longer terms could be more enticing to potential candidates and also could create more stability in local government. The change would prevent more than half of the Village Board trustee seats from being flipped in a single election. Currently, four trustee positions out of seven are up for election one year, then three positions the next, then four again, then three, etc. If three-year terms are put in place, no more than three trustee seats would be up for election in any single year. Currently, the lengthening of terms from two years to three will not go in effect until 2023. If put into place, Mount Pleasant would become the only municipality in Racine County with three-year terms for municipal representatives. Contested Mount Pleasant elections have been rare. Even since controversies involving Foxconn controversies have arisen, trustee elections have been more likely to be uncontested than contested. Gallaher has been leading the circulation of a petition which she said she plans to submit Monday that could force a referendum to be passed by village voters before the term extension could be put in place. The change would not affect any current trustees terms; they would need to win their next election to serve a three-year term. Allegedly false claims The village said changing the length of trustees terms has been a matter of internal discussion since 2018, as stated in a Feb. 10 Journal Times report that is at the heart of the lawsuit. After the publication of that story, on March 3, Gallaher posted to A Better Mount Pleasant Facebook: The Village Attorney lied to The Journal Times saying term length discussions date back to 2018 ... They are lying to you and the media. It matters ... Please share. She provided no evidence to support that assertion. According to the lawsuit, Smith reported he suffered emotional distress because of Gallahers defamatory conduct. Smith said he contacted Gallaher on March 3, demanding that she remove the defamatory post from the AMBP Facebook page and Gallahers Twitter account. The post has since been deleted. On March 4, Smith reported that he sent a proposed correction to Gallaher that he wanted her to post, seeking to have her set the record straight. The suggested correction said, in part, we (A Better Mount Pleasant) posted a statement which falsely accused the Mount Pleasant Village Attorney of lying to the media regarding the dates in which the Village Board discussed the length of terms for village officials. The Village Attorneys statements were truthful, and that is why yesterdays post was removed. That correction was posted online. On a social media post containing the correction, Gallahers husband, Dan Dimler, commented: So, they threatened a lawsuit, huh? Typical. Also on March 4, Smith said he demanded that Gallaher email the Correction to any individuals to whom she emailed with the allegedly false claims. On Wednesday, March 9, two days after the lawsuit was filed, The Journal Times received an email containing the correction, although reporters were already aware of the correction Gallaher posted on social media. Next steps The lawsuit states that Smith is seeking judgment against Kelly Gallaher in the form of general and actual damages, punitive damages, costs and attorneys fees, (and/or) such other relief as the Court deems just and proper. Gallaher has until April 21 to reply to the allegations in court. Past controversies Gallaher has been embroiled in allegations relating to Mount Pleasant before, but this is the first time shes being sued over it, according to online Wisconsin court records. To combat Gallahers A Better Mount Pleasant, someone set up a blog called Lets Make A Better Mount Pleasant, a website that no longer exists. Posts on the website, which pointed toward conservative viewpoints as opposed to Gallahers more liberal stances, targeted and criticized Gallaher by name. Gallaher publicly alleged it was Village President Dave DeGroot who was running the page; she made the allegation in the Reply All podcast. But the person running the page was revealed to likely be South Shore Fire Chief Robert Stedman, although he denied involvement. Stedman was not reprimanded for his conduct because, according to an outside investigator brought in by the village, there was no evidence that he (Stedman) engaged in the alleged conduct while at work or on village time, or that he was speaking in his capacity as fire chief. A Better Mount Pleasant has fewer than 250 followers on Twitter and 2,200 on Facebook. The description of the allegations against South Shore Fire Chief Robert Stedman have been updated in the online version of this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE Construction of the proposed Racine Community Health Center could start this year, after Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that the state will contribute $20 million to the project. Coupled with $15 million in housing funds announced separately for the same Lincoln-King neighborhood, Racine Mayor Cory Mason said the state is making its largest financial commitment ever to a Racine neighborhood. It feels like Christmas morning, Mason said as he joined the governor in announcing the health clinic funding Friday inside the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center, just a couple of blocks from the clinic site. With the state donation provided through federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds the mayor said the clinic project could break ground this year, with about $40 million raised toward a goal of $60 million. This is the greatest partnership the state and the city have ever known, he said. Evers said the new Racine clinic, once constructed, will improve health care in a neighborhood where many families are living in poverty and many are unable to access adequate health insurance. Planned on a vacant site next to Julian Thomas Elementary School, 930 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the health center will redress disparities, Evers said, by allowing people in the Lincoln-King neighborhood to get the same quality of care available in more affluent areas. This facility will really break down barriers, he said. As a state, we are so glad to be part of this. Great day for the city A crowd of health care providers, advocates and even students from Gateway Technical College broke into applause and delivered a standing ovation when the $20 million donation was announced at a Friday morning news conference in the King Center. Shebaniah Muhammad, board president for the Racine Community Health Center, told the crowd that the state funds would strengthen his groups commitment to building a state-of-the-art clinic. This is a great day for the City of Racine, Muhammad said. The same Lincoln-King neighborhood is receiving an unrelated $15 million boost from the state, announced earlier this week, as part of an effort to expand affordable housing in the area. Mason and other city leaders announced plans for the health center in May 2019, saying that Racine was the largest city in Wisconsin without what is known as a federally qualified health center. Such facilities serve low-income families who have poor or no access to health insurance. The center set up shop temporarily in Julian Thomas Elementary, while organizers planned to build a stand-alone facility on adjacent vacant land. The temporary operation being assembled inside the school is on schedule to begin seeing patients soon. Meanwhile, donations have slowly moved the construction project forward, including $1 million pledged by Ascension All Saints Hospital, the largest private supporter so far. Ascension Regional Medical Director Janice Litza joined the governor and others for Fridays announcement inside the gymnasium at the King Community Center, 1134 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Accompanied by other Ascension officials and employees, Litza told the crowd that her company can attest to the need for better health care for Racines low-income families. With the new clinic, she said, Well build a stronger, healthier community. No schedule has been announced for getting the new Racine Community Health Center built and opened at its new site. Use of states ARPA funds The $20 million state contribution comes from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program. The state program uses funds sent to Wisconsin through the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan signed by President Joe Biden one year ago Friday to help the nations economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Other state officials traveled with the governor to announce the health care center grant in Racine. Officials said competition for the state grants was stiff, but that they recognized the significance of Racines new clinic. State Health Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said improving access to health care means that healthy children can stay in school and healthy parents can go to work raising the quality of life for entire families and neighborhoods. The whole community thrives, Timberlake said. Singling out Mason as an amazing advocate for the project, Timberlake added: You have our commitment to be full partners with you. Mason, now in his sixth year as mayor, said the funding for both the health center and for affordable housing constitutes what he regards as the states largest-ever investment in Racine. Reaching back to shake hands with the governor, Mason said that expressing gratitude on behalf of Racine residents did not seem adequate. Noting the others who have offered financial support for the health center, the mayor said: We are indeed a community working together to do what no one of us could do alone. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE Oil is like heroin, Mark Denning says. Were addicted to it and cant stop taking it even though we know its bad for us. Denning knows oil and opioids more intimately than he would like: In 2019, his son, Sawyer, died due to an opioid addiction. Now, Denning, a member of the Sturgeon Clan of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, is among the indigenous people fighting the expansion of Americas fossil fuel use, even if winning that fight would lead to increased costs. Oil pipelines are like heroin. Take a needle, put it into your arm, and tell the person across from you Oh dont worry about it. It wont go into a vein. Itll go underneath that vein, as oil pipelines go around and through our rivers and underneath them, he said during a speech last week outside the Cesar Chavez Community Center in Racine. Denning continued: Were hooked, as heroin addicts are. Were hooked on oil. Were hooked on gas. Were hooked on degrading our world. And we need to think about what its doing to us, because those oil pipelines again are like putting that needle into your arm and saying, This wont do anything. This pipeline, into our mother, will do nothing. Its the same thing. These things are all connected. The purpose of the March 4 gathering Denning spoke at, attended by about 25 people, was to question why Americans are looking to expand the use of fossil fuels even as humanity moves closer to the widespread viability of renewable, nonpolluting energy. Those who attended and spoke didnt advocate for cutting off gasoline outright; most of them wouldnt deny having driven to the Chavez Center in gasoline-powered cars. But they dont want the country to be increasing its reliance on pollutants like gasoline and natural gas. Gasoline The group is part of a statewide effort focused on opposing the expansion of Line 5, a pipeline that runs through northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Few in government are treating this situation with as much seriousness as these advocates are, although there is growing momentum to get Americans away from using gasoline as they have been. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat who said in December 2020 climate change is a real, immediate and growing threat to national security, public health and our economy, is among the bipartisan legislators pushing for expansion of American fuel production as the crisis in eastern Europe driving up gas prices intensifies. In a statement Wednesday, reacting to the U.S. ban on Russian oil imports approved, Baldwin said she is calling for American biofuel to be unleashed with bipartisan legislation to replace Russian oil with clean, American-made renewable fuels that are available right now. She and a bipartisan group of legislators are pushing for E15 (15% ethanol, 85% unleaded gas) fuel to be able to be sold year-round; right now, it cannot be sold in the U.S. in the summer, a ban that aims to limit smog. While E15 is cleaner than E10 and conventional gasoline, it still emits carbon dioxide, just not as much as what youre probably filling your car up with at the pump right now. According to Baldwins office: The current excess ethanol capacity domestically is nearly the same as the amount of Russian gas the U.S. had been importing: roughly 83 million barrels versus 87 million barrels. Line 5 Every day, Line 5 carries about 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. Environmental groups and Indigenous tribes contend they risk a spill that could pollute hundreds of miles of water and shorelines. Enbridge says theyve never leaked and are in sound condition, an assertion environmental groups contend is a lie. In 2017, the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Ojibwe-Chippewa nation voted to not allow the pipelines easements by renewed. Two years later, the band sued Enbridge in federal court, while still planning on rerouting the pipeline around the Bad River Reservation but still within the watershed. According to Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization representing that is representing the Bad River Band, the 69-year-old pipeline has ruptured at least 30 times in the past 50 years, releasing more than 1 million gallons of oil. The pipeline crosses over 280 rivers and streams that flow indirectly into the Great Lakes, waters that supply drinking water to over 40 million people. In a statement, Naomi Tillison, director of the Bad River Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department, said: I cant overstress how devastating a spill in the watershed would be. As progressive outlet UpNorthNews reported in February: The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed a lawsuit in summer 2019 to halt use of the 12-mile line on its property. The tribe argued the pipeline threatens the ecology of the Bad River, part of the Lake Superior watershed. Enbridge said it was disappointed by the Bad River Bands decision, and is fighting the Bad River Band in court. In November 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Enbridge to close the 68-year-old line, revoking a 1953 state easement allowing its placement in the straits. The Canadian company ignored the Democratic governors shutdown deadline of May 12, 2021, and filed a federal lawsuit opposing her order. Whitmer later abandoned the effort. More info The Biden administration has pledged to set the U.S. on the path to being carbon neutral by 2050. The State of California plans to be running on 100% carbon-free electricity that by 2045; Washington D.C. and Rhode Island plan to achieve essentially that by 2032. Two small countries, Bhutan and Suriname, are already carbon neutral. Germany and Sweden plan on getting there by 2045. Definitions Carbon neutral: All carbon emissions are offset by actions that reduce carbon use elsewhere and/or all carbon emissions are offset by pollution-reducing actions Carbon negative: Carbon emissions are surpassed by carbon savings elsewhere Drilling still allowed There is no current ban on drilling in America. In the U.S. right now, there are 9,000 approved drilling permits that energy companies have yet to use. Those permits have sat dormant largely because it was not viewed as a profitable move until very recently for those companies to increase domestic production of gasoline. Texas, not Tehran Allowing the continuance and expansion of Line 5 would likely be a cost-saver for consumers, at least in the short term. If it were to be shut down, annual expenditures on fuel for transportation would likely grow by $4.8 billion to $5.9 billion combined for residents of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania; the equivalent of $115.42-$142.11 per resident. Those estimates come from a 2022 report by the Consumer Energy Alliance, a pro-fossil fuel group that explicitly advocates on behalf of Line 5. As stated on the CEAs website: Because of these fuels (from pipelines like Line 5), weve been able to advance our society, improve our personal health and environment, and, quite literally, fuel our economy. Environmental advocates argue Line 5s long-term effect will only delay the U.S. from achieving an energy infrastructure that doesnt harm the planet. Our natural gas should come from Texas, not Tehran, Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, tweeted Thursday. Our oil should come from California, not Caracas. Climate change New data is making it increasingly undeniable that humans are changing the Earths climate for the worse. According to NASA, from 798,000 B.C. to 1950, there was never a time when the carbon dioxide level in the Earths atmosphere surpassed 300 parts per million. Since 1950, it has consistently been above that mark. In 2020, a record was set: 412.5 carbon dioxide parts per million. High levels of CO2 (carbon dioxide) can displace oxygen and nitrogen (the most abundant element in the air), potentially causing health problems, states the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels have consistently been growing since the beginning of the 20th century, from approximately 600 million metric tons of carbon in 1900 to 6,500 million metric tons in 2000 to nearly 10,000 in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Energy; the U.S. accounts for more than one-tenth of all global carbon dioxide emissions, the second most of any country behind only China. Since 1970, CO2 emissions have increased by about 90%, the Environmental Protection Agency reported, with emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes contributing about 78% of the total greenhouse gas emissions increase from 1970 to 2011. Agriculture, deforestation, and other land-use changes have been the second-largest contributors. As National Geographic reports, Greenhouse gas levels are so high primarily because humans have released them into the air by burning fossil fuels. The (greenhouse) gases absorb solar energy and keep heat close to Earths surface, rather than letting it escape into space. That trapping of heat is known as the greenhouse effect Greenhouse gases have far-ranging environmental and health effects. They cause climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog and air pollution. Extreme weather, food supply disruptions, and increased wildfires are other effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gases. Denning, of the Sturgeon Clan, called those disasters crimes that are being done against humanity, crimes that are being done to this Earth. Right now, we are at the edge, he continued. We have a choice of two roads. One road leads to certain destruction, and the other road leads to life itself where the original instructions of our Creator are laid out for us and for us to follow. Associated Press reporting contributed to this article. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, spoke with MyPillow CEO and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell about the efforts of Lindell and former President Donald Trump to have the 2020 Wisconsin presidential election decertified, a Vos spokeswoman said Friday. According to Angela Joyce, spokeswoman for Vos office, Vos told Lindell: We couldnt do that (decertification) its not a possibility. We cant do this. Its not going to happen. Lindell said during a podcast episode Thursday that he spoke with Vos for 90 minutes; Joyce said that Vos and Lindell had actually spoken for 30 minutes. Election law experts and the nonpartisan counsels to the state Legislature agree that it is impossible for the 2020 presidential election to be decertified. Michael Gableman, the former state Supreme Court justice leading the Vos-ordered probe of the 2020 election, has asserted that decertification is possible and encouraged the Legislature to look into doing that. Gableman on Thursday appeared on the conspiracy-minded podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser facing multiple criminal charges related to contempt of Congress and fraud. Gablemans appearance was followed by an appearance by Lindell. Gableman is now reportedly scheduled to appear later this month at an event in Utah, hosted by a group that disputes the validity of President Joe Bidens election victory. The event reportedly may also feature former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, who on Wednesday was indicted on criminal counts of conspiracy related to election tampering and misconduct. Vos has been publicly complimentary of Gablemans work, even as elections officials have noted multiple inaccuracies in his reports and as Gableman continues to make unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market. 2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image. 3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers. 4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while. Vote View Results KEARNEY Cases of COVID-19 are falling fast. The Two Rivers Public Health Department lowered its COVID-19 risk dial into the moderate level. This is the lowest the dial has been since Aug. 4, 2021. Just 40 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Two Rivers seven counties between March 2-8. which is six fewer than the week before, and fewer than half the 86 new cases reported Feb. 16-22. Its dramatically down from the 313 cases reported one month ago, and the 1,172 cases recorded in late January when the omicron variant was surging. As of Thursday, Kearney Regional Medical Center had just one COVID patient, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney reported a single new case this week. CHI Health Good Samaritan had nine COVID patients Wednesday afternoon, but that is fewer than half the 19 new cases reported three weeks ago and the 26 cases recorded in late January. Two Rivers said overall test positivity rate is around 3%, with 6% reported for tests conducted outside of long-term living and residential facilities. As of Tuesday morning, about one-third of all ICU beds in Two Rivers were available, along with 31% of medical-surgical beds. As cases fall, vaccination rates are inching upward. As of Tuesday, 52% of the Two Rivers total population of 97,000 has received at least a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one Johnson & Johnson shot. Almost half of those fully vaccinated people have received either a booster dose or are within the 2 or 5-month waiting interval between a vaccine dose and a booster. Due to the drop in cases, Two Rivers is now doing COVID-19 testing 9:30-11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at its office at 516 W. 11th St., and no longer at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. Pre-registration is required at trphd.org before tests are done. Despite the plunge in new cases, Two Rivers strongly urges all unvaccinated vaccine-eligible residents to get vaccinated at area pharmacies or medical offices. Two Rivers continues to offer vaccination clinics in its seven counties, which include Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney and Phelps. For a schedule, visit trphd.org/covid-19/event-calendar. KEARNEY Fellowship applications for Nebraska Leadership Education/Action Development Group 41 are available now for men and women involved in production agriculture or agribusiness. The Nebraska LEAD Program prepares the spokespersons, problem-solvers and decision makers for Nebraska and its agricultural industry. Up to 30 men and women with demonstrated leadership potential will be selected from five geographic districts across the state. The safety of LEAD participants and all who are associated with the program will be first and foremost during this global pandemic, said Terry Hejny, Nebraska LEAD Program director. Nebraska LEAD Fellows participate in three-day seminars each month from mid-September through early April. They also participate in a 10-day national study/travel seminar and a two-week international study/travel seminar. Seminar themes include leadership assessment and potential, natural resources and energy, agricultural policy, leadership through communication, Nebraskas political process, global perspectives, nuclear energy, social issues, understanding and developing leadership skills, agribusiness and marketing, advances in health care and the resources and people of Nebraskas Panhandle. Now in its 38th year, the program is operated by the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, a nonprofit organization, in collaboration with the University of Nebraskas Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and in cooperation with Nebraska colleges and universities, business and industry, and individuals. Applications are due by June 15. They are available at leadprogram@unl.edu. They can also be requested in writing at 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0940; or by calling 402-472-6810. To learn about the selection process, visit www.lead.unl.edu. KEARNEY The University of Nebraska at Kearneys Study Abroad program came to a halt for nearly two years during the pandemic. The program had just resumed last fall, and 15 students and two faculty members have been eagerly planning their trip this spring to the Czech Republic. Just as COVID-19 seemed to be releasing its choke hold on the world, Russia invaded Ukraine and started a war. Despite the fighting that continues nearly three weeks later, the students and professors left for Europe this week, taking all the extra precautions to ensure their safety while in the country that is buffered from Ukraine by Poland and Slovakia. Dr. Rebecca Nelson, an assistant professor in teacher education, and Jake Jacobsen, a senior lecturer in the communication department, will be leading the trip with 14 students from UNK and one student joining from a university in Pennsylvania. Nelson expressed her interest in taking part in a Study Abroad trip in 2020. She originally had applied to go to Ireland when she was asked if she would consider the Czech Republic. Being in Central Europe I would have access to a whole bunch of other countries whereas Ireland, it would be just Ireland, right? You just stay on that island, which is gorgeous and I would love to do that eventually, but I could do that on my own. So the Czech Republic, I was like, this is the fit for me, she explained. Jacobsen and Nelson have been working together for months to plan the trip. Theyve had two orientations with the students to prepare everything from paperwork to COVID-19 testing to the amount of clothes they will need for three months in Europe. With the war breaking out so close to their departure date, students and their families have expressed concerns about safety. The university has been getting regular updates about the situation in Europe, and everyone taking part in the trip has registered with the U.S. Department of States Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. It is a free service that will enroll them with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and they will receive safety information about any country they visit. They will be contacted by the U.S. Embassy if there is a natural disaster, civil unrest or family emergency. The University of Nebraska has created a new app that they are encouraged to download. With location services turned on, the app will be able to track where each person is at all times and notify them of security alerts. The students will study and live in the dorms at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic. UNK history professor, Dr. Doug Biggs, has taken part in Study Abroad trips and taught at Palacky University through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2020-21. The UNK students will have peers at Olomouc who are from Ukraine and have been affected by the war. Their homes might be destroyed. Their bank accounts might be ruined. Who knows? Especially if theyre on the eastern part of the country getting visited by the Russian army. So theyre trying to figure out ways to help all those students, Biggs explained. Its a very different world. Youre going to see from what my colleagues over there have been telling me youll see military equipment flowing right through the Czech Republic because all that stuff has got to go to Ukraine somehow, and western borders are still open through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland. Much of the trip will be spent in the Czech Republic, but the group also plans to travel throughout Europe during their stay. They will visit Prague, Czech Republic, in March and Vienna, Austria, and Venice, Italy, in April. They will have a 10-day spring break, and all of the students have expressed interest in traveling during that break. Some of the students plan to stick with Jacobsen and Nelson on spring break to visit Croatia, Greece and Amsterdam. At the beginning of May, they will visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former concentration and extermination camp near Krakow, Poland. The trip to Poland may be affected by the war, but their plans have not changed yet. Were not going to stress about the things we cannot control. Thats kind of become my motto, Nelson said. Nelson and Jacobsen know this is an opportunity for not just the students but for themselves to broaden their views of the world. We had one of our students who came in to talk to us the other day, and I can already see that hes looking at the world differently. The University of Nebraska is giving the opportunity to students to keep traveling, and I think thats the biggest gift, Jacobsen said. Im an advocate for understanding your world, and thats what travel does. Travel helps you see the world through a different perspective. Maybe the most important component is that students learn so much about who they are and who they are going to be, Biggs added. LEXINGTON Kathleen Jourdan testified on Wednesday during her murder trial, saying she acted in self-defense in shooting her husband in front of their two children while stopped along Interstate 80 in June 2020. Jourdan, a 33-year-old former resident physician in the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Family Medicine Residency Program, is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. She was arrested along I-80 near Cozad after shooting her husband amid an argument while driving back from Scottsbluff, where the family was in the process of moving. Jourdan, of Omaha, told a Dawson County District Court jury details of nearly a decade of strife in their relationship. They met in January 2011, while they both volunteered at the same fire district, and married March 24, 2011, when Jourdan was pregnant with their first child. At first, Jourdan said, her husband was absolutely perfect. But the good times only lasted two or three months, she said. At one point, her husband forced her to drink alcohol, she said, even pushing her to the floor and pouring alcohol into her mouth. Joshua began limiting Jourdans contact with her mother and isolating her from friends. He would demand she return home immediately after work or church, she said. If she was late, he accused her of infidelity. Jourdan said she had an affair in 2017 with one of Joshuas friends who was providing emotional support. Joshua found out after a neighbor mentioned seeing someone else in the driveway. She also said she had another relationship early on, while dating Joshua, calling it a stupid mistake. When Jourdan learned she was pregnant with their daughter, Amelia, Joshua initially demanded a paternity test. He also spoke about surrendering their children for adoption, which Jourdan did not want to do. From 2014 on, Jourdan said Joshua stayed at home with their children and said he was going to be the trophy husband, because Jourdan was pursuing a career in medicine. Jourdan said the abuse escalated in 2015, when the family was living in Grenada. On Aug. 29, 2015, they argued after both had a couple of drinks. Joshua said she deserved to be punished and ordered her to undress and go into the bathroom. He then urinated on her head and then dumped baby powder on her, telling her to wash her hair in the toilet, Jourdan said. Fearing he might do something worse, Jourdan said she did as she was told and then walked out of the bathroom when Joshua suddenly knocked her to the floor and began to strangle her. Their two sons were in the room. She said she thought he was going to kill her. Jourdan went to a medical clinic where a medical report showed she had scratches on her neck and bruises on her chest, forearm and legs. Jourdan later filed for divorce, but the couple decided to reconcile. Their daughter Amelia was born in 2018. The next year the couple was traveling in Nebraska and while on Interstate 80 near Grand Island, Jourdan said, she turned around and saw Amelias skin was blue and blood was coming out of her nose. Jourdan attempted CPR and 911 was called, but Amelia died. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. During cross examination, Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman mentioned an incident where one of her sons dragged Amelia off of a couch and she hit the floor not long before her death. Jourdan said she had been watching all three children and cooking and turned her back for a second when the incident occurred. Jourdan said Joshua blamed her and alleged that her yelling during an argument in the car had caused daughters death. Jourdan said she began drinking to cope with the loss. Later, Jourdan was accepted into medical residency in Omaha. Joshua threatened not to move to Omaha and keep their sons with him in his native Washington state. Joshua emailed her a list of conditions that he told her to notarize before he would move. They stated a legal separation would take place and that he would get 30% of her income while she was in school and 50% while she was working throughout her life. She said he later emailed another condition to allow him unlimited sexual intercourse with her. The email exhibits were shown to the jury. Jourdan said she complied because I wanted to see my children. Joshua later moved to Omaha but at one point took the children back to his parents home in Washington. When cross-examined, Waterman asked Jourdan if she ever took any, effective steps to leave with the children despite fearing for her life. Jourdan said she did not. Jourdan said she needed the job for the income and couldnt support them without it. In 2020, Jourdan was set to move for a two-year residency at the Scottsbluff hospital. In June she was going to see a house the family could rent. After leaving at 3 a.m. with the children, she made it to Scottsbluff about 11 a.m., saw the house and signed the lease. On the return trip, 30 minutes outside of Scottsbluff, her cars transmission failed. She said she called Joshua, who blamed her for the breakdown but said he would go to her as it was his responsibility. Joshua had brought a pickup and trailer to take the car back, but they couldnt load the car on the trailer, Jourdan said. On June 17, 2020, the family was driving back to Omaha, and Jourdan said another argument broke out. Joshua called Calvin, a mutual friend who often acted as a mediator. She said she tried to make her case to Calvin, but eventually Joshua switched the call over to his headset, cutting her off. She said Joshua began to speak to Calvin about how bad she was. She then said something in her own defense, and Joshua slammed on the brakes hard enough to throw her against her seat belt. When the pickup came to an abrupt halt, Jourdan testified, Joshua turned toward her with the same look in his eye that he had when he was strangling her in Grenada and he raised his hand toward her. Jourdan said there was no decision, I reacted. She lifted the center console with her left hand and withdrew the handgun that Joshua habitually kept loaded, with the safety off. In the same instant that Joshua said to Calvin on the phone, Shes got the gun, shes got the gun, Jourdan said, she pulled the trigger and fired two shots. When asked if she had contemplated shooting Joshua, Jourdan said, I didnt have time; I just thought to protect myself. She said later, I thought he would kill me. I knew something was going to happen. She saw Joshua was bleeding from the chest and applied direct pressure to the wound. She said her next thoughts were, My husband is shot, he is going to die. She called 911, keeping one hand on the chest wound. Law enforcement arrived soon after, and Jourdan responded to their commands to exit the vehicle. Jourdan fought back tears on the stand, saying she was sorry the relationship had reached this point; she had wanted out in the past but did not follow through. She wished she had divorced Joshua earlier, she said. Waterman asked Jourdan how she felt about Joshua being dead. She said she is relieved the abuse is over (that Im) done with this bad life. She said that she is not relieved that the father of her children is dead. I regret killing Josh. What do you do when your trip to sunny California to see loved ones is cancelled due to the Omicron surge? Enter a snowshoe race, of course! I began to snowshoe in earnest after committing to the Book Across the Bay snowshoe/skate ski/classic ski race, last month, from Ashland to Washburn, across the Chequamegon Bay. I was nervous. I usually did my training runs in early afternoon on familiar trails, up and down our hills, with animal tracks and trees for diversion and interest. The race was at night on a dark, frigid plane. I would be surrounded if I wasnt left completely in the dusty snow by faster racers by snowshoers and skiers. Up until I began to train, I would often snowshoe with my hands behind my back in a sort of saunter. This had to end. I needed to use my arms to propel me forward. Wearing my timing watch, I expanded my 40-minute route by five minutes each time I went out, trudging around a field more than once, taking a loop twice, then three times. By race day I had worked up to a steady, fast course of 1 hours. I was ready! I met my niece Jeannette, and her friend Meaghan who drove up from St. Louis, at our Airbnb in rural Washburn. Both had done this race before. What made it especially meaningful for me is that my great-grandparents, Simon and Stella Schultz, German and Polish immigrants, had lived in Washburn, where they raised 17 children. I have history there. At the Airbnb, we watched the trail-groomers through the large window facing the Chequamegon Bay. The race would go right past our cabin. We checked our lists, gathering supplies like ibuprofen, gum, lip balm, chocolate, power drinks, hats, gloves, layers for arms and legs, snowshoes, to the theme from the movie, Chariots of Fire. Meaghan drove us to the Thompsons West End Park in Washburn where we picked up our number. We hopped a shuttle bus to the Maslowski Beach in Ashland where the race would begin. We stood in a huge warming tent, shoulder-to-shoulder with snowshoers and skiers, trying to stay warm, out of the biting wind. I was amazed by all the people standing around outside. Even with the huge bonfire, I couldnt imagine that they were staying warm. We had a long wait, over an hour, during which time my feet did what they always do when Im not moving became ice-cold. Shortly before 6:00 we made our way to the start. Despite two layers on my legs, consisting of long underwear and my vintage red and black wool hunting pants, and four layers on top, I was shivering. Jeannettes goal was to beat her time from her last race. She chose Wave 1 for competitive racers. I have learned over my short career of racing, that I do like to win, but I didnt want to get in the way of REALLY FAST RACERS. I chose Wave 3, as did Meaghan. Six oclock sharp the alarm sounded, and Jeannette was off! Five minutes later, Wave 2 racers took off, then Meaghan and I responded to the alarm, launching ourselves onto the wide expanse of snow-covered ice. Ive never been fond of the metric system, never able to get my brain around it since it was introduced to me in the sixth grade. I guess thats why I didnt major in science. I can visualize a mile, but not a kilometer. Book Across the Bay is a 10K. Thats 6.2 miles. I was 40 the last time I attempted a 10K, and that was a summer foot race. As darkness fell, the 1,000 luminaries made of ice and candles began to shine, lining our trail from start to finish. Trudging along in a slow, steady jog, I found that each kilometer was marked with a bonfire, a port-a-potty, and a drink table monitored by a boisterous team of volunteers. My racing motto is, Always finish, never stop. No way was I going to join the skiers and snowshoers who were out more for camaraderie than for competition. They stopped at each marked kilometer, took photos, had something to drink, then set off, again. The temperature was 12 degrees with winds up to 15 mph, making it feel well below zero. Wind gusts of 21 mph pushed at our backs. I dont know if it helped my speed, but I was grateful I wasnt racing into it! I even broke into a sweat, and wished I could stop and take off one layer. I knew that if I slowed to a walk even once, Id do it again and again, so I kept up my jog, even though it was uncomfortable, using each luminary shining ahead as a mini goal, and each bonfire to mark one kilometer closer to the finish. Bill Murrays character Bobs mantra, I feel good I feel greatI feel wonderful. ran through my head, keeping me going, helping me to keep my pace. I was about three kilometers to the finish when I heard a kids voice, Dont you find that squeak annoying? I hadnt even noticed that squeak, the sound my snowshoes make when its really cold out. I found his comment funny, but I was concentrating so hard on my goal, I couldnt even smile. There, ahead was the FINISH banner. Just a few more steps. and I was across! I staggered to a hay bale, sat to take off my snowshoes, then went into a little tent that looked warm and inviting. Numbers on a monitor scrolled through the classic ski, skate ski, and snowshoe statistics, listing times for each category. There it was, women, 40-49, Jeannette took first place, and Meaghan, just in, took fourth! Then 50s, then 60-69. I took first place! And I beat my own goal by nine minutes. We found each other and celebrated with something cold and delicious to drink. Despite all my fears, Book Across the Bay was a lot of fun. And winning was icing on the really cold cake. Doreen moved to the woods from Green Bay in 1984, married back-to-the-lander Steve ODonnell, and stayed to raise their three children after he died in 1997. Dave Short joined her there in 2016. Doreen welcomes feedback at doreenshort2021@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A La Crosse man faces charges of child exploitation after an indictment returned Thursday by a federal grand jury in Madison. The indictment charges Harry L. Euler, 45, with two counts of producing child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography. The indictment alleges the crimes took place in May 2021. The charges are announced by Timothy M. OShea, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. The indictment was unsealed following Eulers arrest in La Crosse. Euler made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison Friday and remains in federal custody pending a trial date in July. If convicted, Euler faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on each production charge and a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years on the other charges. Each charge also carries a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum term of life on supervised release. The charges against Euler are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and La Crosse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 21-year-old La Crosse man is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $10,000 cash bond after being charged with domestic abuse and a weapons offense. Marcelle Davis Jr. was charged Thursday in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony counts of strangulation/suffocation, false imprisonment and felon in possession of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of battery. According to the criminal complaint, La Crosse police were called to a Gould Street address, where a woman described as "very frantic and afraid" was outside holding a firearm. The complaint says the woman had multiple bruises on her face and told police that she believed Davis was going to kill her. After police convinced the woman to relinquish the firearm, she was interviewed by police. She said she was sleeping when Davis woke her up by punching her in the face. She said Davis was enraged by text messages she had sent to a previous boyfriend. The woman said Davis struck her in the face numerous times with a closed fist, including a punch to the nose that caused profuse bleeding. She said Davis later forced her onto a bed, placed both hands around her throat and caused her to lose consciousness. She also said Davis, who has several handguns in the apartment, threatened her with a firearm and pointed the weapon directly at her face multiple times. The woman was treated for her injuries at a local hospital. Davis, who also has a probation hold, has a preliminary hearing set for March 17. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 51-year-old Onalaska man faces drug and theft charges after a March 9 traffic stop in Onalaska. Pedro M. McGee Sr. was charged Thursday in La Crosse County Circuit Court with felony charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and driving a vehicle without the owners consent and a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property. According to the criminal complaint, McGee was pulled over shortly before midnight near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Locust Street for operating a vehicle without proper tags. McGee reportedly told police he had purchased the vehicle five days earlier but paused when police asked for the name of the person who sold the vehicle. Police traced the VIN number to a stolen vehicle from St. Paul and placed McGee under arrest. A license plate on the front of the car was reported as stolen from a parked vehicle. Police searched McGee and the vehicle and allegedly found 20.69 grams of methamphetamine, 1.75 grams of cocaine, 1.43 grams of marijuana, 1.13 grams of heroin and $498 in cash. La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Gloria Doyle ordered $500 cash bail for McGee, who has a preliminary hearing set for March 17. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The La Crosse City Council agreed to another month of renting rooms at a local hotel to house the citys unsheltered population. By a 10-3 vote, the council approved extending a lease to rent rooms at the Econo Lodge hotel through the end of April. Council members Larry Sleznikow, Barb Janssen and Chris Kahlow voted no. The original resolution before the council contained a two-month extension through the end of May funded by $387,000 of federal relief money. However, council members sliced the extension in half after voting 11-2 in favor of an amendment authored by Rebecca Schwarz and seconded by Scott Neumeister. Schwarz said the Econo Lodge isnt a long-term solution but something was necessary to help people avoid sleeping outdoors in the next three weeks. I would much prefer that this be written month by month, not two months at a time, Schwarz said. I want that flexibility to be there for us because it seems like we all have a lot of questions. Several council members said the money being spent on hotel rooms should be applied to a more permanent solution. Thats a lot of money for two months, Sleznikow said. Im not sure how many people will use the Econo Lodge once the weather warms up. Janssen said it wasnt an easy decision to say no to the Econo Lodge, but preferred the money go more toward the more permanent transitional housing, which I think is what we want. I dont see extending one month at the Econo Lodge as making any difference, she said. Last month, the council approved $1.5 million to purchase Maple Grove Motel located at 5212 Mormon Coulee Road. Plans call for the building to be used temporarily as a site where individuals can transition from homelessness. The city also hopes to build tiny shelters that will be used as additional bridge housing units, similar to ones built by the city of Madison. Maple Grove will accommodate 32 residents, but thats only a fraction of the citys unsheltered population, 100 of whom are living at Econo Lodge. Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department director Jay Odegaard said unsheltered residents are already staying outside at various places in the city. Many are expected to return this spring to a tent encampment at Houska Park. However, council member Mackenzie Mindel said the weather is still too cold for people to stay in tents. I just want to remind everyone what the temperature is in April, Mindel said. If we decide to go against this ... the people who are really paying the price for this are the unhoused folks at Econo Lodge. The council rejected a separate resolution to repeal the designation of Houska Park as an campground for the unsheltered. The resolution was offered by Chris Woodard, whose district includes Houska Park. Woodard said he has received multiple emails from constituents who believe the encampment has rendered the park unusable for the general public. In District 9, we have two parks, and we have only one after taking (Houska Park) to a campground, he said. Woodard was the only council member to vote in favor of repealing the designation. Mayor Mitch Reynolds said the only long-term solution is for the city to address what he called the crisis housing shortage we have in our community. He said the citys current 1.7% vacancy rate is not tenable. The most important thing we can possibly do as a city council is to facilitate the development of housing housing of all kinds, Reynolds said. He touted the 1,500 homes in the planning, development or construction stage in our city. The more homes we have ... the more likely we are going to get people into permanent housing, Reynolds said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gundersen Health System is assisting with the crisis in Ukraine, partnering with a local dentist and Ukraine native to bring medical supplies to the country. Victoria Alexander, DDS, contacted Gundersen to ask for medical supply donations and was provided on Thursday with a car full of catheters, dressings, IVs, exam gloves, hand sanitizer, surgical masks, skin care products, wound care cleansing solutions, chest tubes and ankle braces. Alexander will bring the items to Ukraine in the coming days. Additional supplies will be given next week, with Gundersen planning to have enough to possibly fill a semi truck. The hospital says it will continue to partner with Dr. Alexander to support the people of Ukraine. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The La Crosse Fire Department is reminding residents to check their smoke alarm batteries this weekend when they change the clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Clocks are scheduled to move ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, and local fire officials said the change is a perfect time to make sure their smoke alarms are working. "Having working smoke alarms is one of the most important things people can do to keep their home fire safe," said Pat Corran, fire department community risk educator. Corran cited National Fire Protection Association statistics showing the risk of dying in a fire is 55 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms. La Crosse and town of Medary residents who can't afford smoke alarms can contact the fire department to set up a free smoke alarm installation. For rental units, the program is set up through landlords because Wisconsin requires working smoke alarms for all rental properties. Renters who don't have working smoke alarms are encouraged to contact their landlord. If that isn't successful, they can notify the fire department. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Viterbo University has been designated a Top 10 Gold Military Friendly School for 202223. Viterbo is one of only four total colleges, and one of two private colleges, in Wisconsin to earn this high designation. It is also one of only 10 schools in the private college offering a doctorate category in the nation. Viterbo University is committed to giving back to and serving those who have selflessly given so much of themselves for our nation through their military service and this includes military family members, said Keith Purnell, director of military aligned student support and recruitment. Being a veteran myself, I consider it a privilege to be able to assist and support those who have served, are still serving, and their families. We are proud to earn the Top 10 Gold Military Friendly School designation because it means we are doing right by our military aligned students. The Military Friendly ratings program was started in 2003 as an advocacy vehicle to encourage civilian organizations to invest in programs to recruit, retain, and advance veterans as employees, entrepreneurs, and students. Institutions earning Military Friendly Schools Awards distinctions were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey on a variety of criteria, including retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically, for student veterans. More than 1,800 schools participated in the survey. The Military Friendly Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazines May issue and is available now at www.militaryfriendly.com. Receiving a Silver Military Friendly School ranking in 202122, Viterbo surpassed the Gold ranking this year to earn Top 10 Gold status for 20222023. Viterbos commitment and gratitude to the nations veterans is reflected in the many services offered to military and veteran students. The university offers competitive financial aid packages, an academic resource center with a wide variety of tutoring services, and a career services office to help students land internships and employment. There is an active Student Veterans Association and a center exclusively for military aligned students. Director of military aligned student support and recruitment Keith Purnell is dedicated to assisting military aligned students throughout their time at the university and ensuring they have the best possible experience. Viterbo President Rick Trietley is a combat veteran who retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after a 22-year career in the U.S. Army. For more information about Viterbos esignation, visit www.militaryfriendly.com/viterbo-university/. For more information about Viterbo University, visit https://www.viterbo.edu. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lee Enterprises reelected three directors at its annual shareholders meeting Thursday, despite attempts by Alden Global Capital, a Wall Street hedge fund, to install its own directors through proxy votes in ongoing attempts to takeover the company. Chairman Mary Junck, CEO Kevin Mowbray and Lead Independent Director Herbert Moloney were retained with more than 70% of the vote each, with more than 75% of shareholders casting votes. Mowbray said the results are subject to official tabulation and certification by the Independent Inspector of Elections, which is expected to be completed in a few days. The results represent a resounding rejection of Alden Global Capitals campaign against Lee, the company said in a statement. Prior to the meeting, Lee sent an email to shareholders urging them to vote only for the boards proposed nominees and asking them to disregard any promotional materials sent to them by Alden. Citing pending litigation by Alden against Lee, the company said no proxies or votes in favor of Aldens director nominees would be recognized or tabulated at the annual meeting. The directors were ensured they would be reelected because Lee used a plurality standard in the elections. That meant that the directors only had to get one yes vote to get reelected more than any other candidate could receive because the directors were running unopposed. Alden tried to force the directors to have to win a majority of the votes to keep their seats, but a judge rejected that suggestion. Junck said after the meeting that no one from Alden was present at the annual meeting. Alden affiliates currently own about 6.3% of Lee stock. Our shareholders supported the candidates for reelection and importantly, the company is focused on driving our digital transformation strategy, delivering strong local journalism as well as providing value to all of our shareholders, Junck said. Mowbray said the companys Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy is succeeding, as evidenced by growth in digital-only subscribers. Weve made really good progress; our digital-only subscriber growth has exceeded the industry exceptionally for the last 12 quarters, beating both Gannett and the New York Times, Mowbray said. Our digital agency revenue growth is also industry-leading and that revenue is up about 45% to the prior year. We are really excited about our future. There is a lot of upside in our stock and weve got a very detailed five-year strategic plan that were right in the middle of executing, Mowbray said. Weve made good progress. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It all began in 1978 at a flea market in York. Tucked between glass baubles and scuffed treasures, Marjorie Birch spotted a faded, blue-and-white typewriter ribbon tin with Chesapeake brand printed on it. The palm-sized canvas featured calm waters beneath puffy clouds and a sailboat in the distance. Being from Maryland, it was a must-have. Later, Birch found another tin at a consignment shop to keep the other one company, she says. Finding those bright, lithographed tins displaying a playful array of designs, fonts and themes became somewhat addictive. Forty-some years later, Birch has a unique and enviable collection of about 165 vintage typewriter ribbon tins dotting her home. I like the graphics and the colors, says Birch, 69, of East Petersburg. I have a thing for things obsolete. Birch started collecting her tins on foot, browsing antique shops around the region. She says that antique malls are a good source as they showcase multiple vendors. Some, like Shupps Grove Antique Market in Adamstown, occasionally have advertising antiques theme week, which Birch enjoys perusing. Just get there early, she says. While Birch enjoys certain tins made in the United States especially those with cute animals and typewriters the international market is even more alluring. She says France and England are great sources for typewriter ribbon tins, and some countries less so. India has some, but the ones Ive seen are pretty battered, she says. Sometimes, the shipping cost is more than the tin itself Birch usually skips those. However, she has ribbon tins from Hungary. I was OK with that postage, as I got four tins in that shipment, she says. She also has a tin from Serbia, the most far-flung country in her collection, which took weeks to arrive. Birch says her collection increased during the plague as her time spent at home on lockdown led to some cool eBay finds. She bids on the vintage tins she likes, but knows when to bail. The most she has paid for a tin is $65. Some tins go for much more. Etsy is another good online source for collectibles, But they tend to sell in groups of four tins, when I really only want one, she says. Thats how I end up with duplicate tins. Birch takes advantage of the zoom-in feature for online purchases, as there can be significant scratches and other damage to the tins, while others are remarkably unscathed. The typeface and artwork on the typewriter ribbon tins reflects the aesthetic of the day, between the 1870s and the 1960s, note scholars and collectors. An online search reveals colorful, earthy, flamboyant, simple, elegant and whimsical designs, often with striking fonts. Victorian, art nouveau and art deco styles, post-war slogans, and images of secretaries in action were used liberally to sell the ink ribbons inside, along with place names like Gibraltar, Panama, Manhattan and Woodstock. Artwork includes maps, dogs, typewriters, airplanes, skylines, mountains, battleships, women and silhouettes. The tiny tins are round or square in shape, with a snug lid to keep the inked ribbons from drying out and ready to hold thumbtacks and bobby pins in their next life. Panama was a popular motif used by Manifold Supplies in Brooklyn, New York, perhaps reflecting interest in the Panama Canal, an astounding engineering achievement completed in 1914. One Panama tin design in Birchs collection even has paper clips, hooks and other doodads printed on the inside of the tin. Birch says she feels like each tin illustrates that an art major got a job, which she feels good about, having a penchant for words, typeface and art herself. Over the years, Birch has been an accidental graphic designer by trade and currently works as a typist/proofreader at Lancaster Farming. Birchs typewriter ribbon tin collection is artfully arranged on her built-in bookshelf, loosely echoing the titles, and on antique tables in themed travel groupings or by color. Her cats deftly stroll between the tins, occasionally knocking one onto the floor. A thoughtful collector by nature she also has a bevy of her favorite childrens books and ranks as a conchologist with her assemblage of seashells Birch acknowledges shes the antithesis of Japanese organizing maven Marie Kondos philosophy. But she insists her collectibles bring her joy. I just look at them and I feel good, she says. Please enable JavaScript to properly view our site.